Category: Nevin Manimala

J Nurs Adm. 2023 Jul-Aug 01;53(7-8):392-398. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001305.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to synthesize previous findings and provide practical guidance for maximizing nurse manager and nurse performance.

BACKGROUND: Two recent studies have linked nurse manager job design factors and individual differences to a variety of valued outcomes, but practical implications remain unclear.

METHODS: A large US sample of nurse managers was divided on the basis of nurse and patient outcomes. Various characteristics are compared across the highest and lowest performers.

RESULTS: Wider nurse manager span of control is associated with negative outcomes; the availability of support positions does not fully alleviate the consequences of wide spans. Nurse managers with fewer subordinates can effectively manage multiple units. Nurse manager experience is critical for success and cannot be fully replaced by leadership training programs.

CONCLUSIONS: Staffing and job design decisions have critical downstream implications. The present research provides guidance for effective staffing and job design.

PMID:37463262 | DOI:10.1097/NNA.0000000000001305

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2023 Jul 19. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003021. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bombings are the most common cause of civilian deaths in wars, and unfortunately, a large proportion of civilian victims are children.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of blast lung injury (BLI), to evaluate lung injury patterns on tomographic images, and to document the relationship between blast lung and mortality in children exposed to the blast effect.

METHODS: Thirty-six children (25.3% of pediatric patients brought to our hospital with blast injury) with BLI were included in the study. The pediatric trauma score evaluations made in the emergency department in the first admission were recorded. Lung injury findings in the computed tomography images of the patients were examined, and injuries detected in other systems were recorded.

RESULTS: The most common lung injury pattern was contusion (right: 69.4%, left: 80.6%). The incidence of brain damage (52.4%) and intra-abdominal injury (76.2%) in children with low pediatric trauma score value was statistically significantly higher (P = 0.049, P = 0.017, respectively). There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of lung injury, injury patterns, and mortality. The incidence of brain damage in deceased patients (61.5%) was statistically significantly higher than the incidence of brain damage in surviving patients (26.1%) (P = 0.036). Low pediatric trauma score was observed in 11 (84.6%) of the deceased children and in 10 (43.5%) of the survivors (P = 0.016). The mean age of children with hemothorax in the right lung was statistically significantly lower than those without (P = 0.014).

CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that pediatric BLI is common after a blast, that it is associated with other system injuries, and that a multimodal radiological approach is required in child victims.

PMID:37463251 | DOI:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003021

JMIRx Med. 2023 Jul 3;4:e34598. doi: 10.2196/34598. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants have been attributed to the occurrence of secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and quinary COVID-19 epidemic waves threatening vaccine efforts owing to their immune invasiveness. Since the importation of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa, with the first reported COVID-19 case on March 5, 2020, South Africa has observed 5 consecutive COVID-19 epidemic waves. The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has played a major role in the resurgence of COVID-19 epidemic waves in South Africa and across the globe.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to conduct descriptive and inferential statistical analysis on South African COVID-19 epidemiological data to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineages and COVID-19 vaccinations in South African COVID-19 epidemiology.

METHODS: The general methodology involved the collation and stratification, covariance, regression analysis, normalization, and comparative inferential statistical analysis through null hypothesis testing (paired 2-tailed t tests) of South African COVID-19 epidemiological data.

RESULTS: The mean daily positive COVID-19 tests in South Africa’s first, second, third, fourth, and fifth COVID-19 epidemic wave periods were 11.5% (SD 8.58%), 11.5% (SD 8.45%), 13.3% (SD 9.72%), 13.1% (SD 9.91%), and 14.3% (SD 8.49%), respectively. The COVID-19 transmission rate in the first and second COVID-19 epidemic waves in South Africa was similar, while the COVID-19 transmission rate was higher in the third, fourth, and fifth COVID-19 epidemic waves than in the aforementioned waves. Most COVID-19 hospitalized cases in South Africa were in the general ward (60%-79.1%). Patients with COVID-19 on oxygen were the second-largest admission status (11.2%-16.8%), followed by patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (8.07%-16.7%). Most patients hospitalized owing to COVID-19 in South Africa’s first, second, third, and fourth COVID-19 epidemic waves were aged between 40 and 49 years (16.8%-20.4%) and 50 and 59 years (19.8%-25.3%). Patients admitted to the hospital owing to COVID-19 in the age groups of 0 to 19 years were relatively low (1.98%-4.59%). In general, COVID-19 hospital admissions in South Africa for the age groups between 0 and 29 years increased after each consecutive COVID-19 epidemic wave, while for age groups between 30 and 79 years, hospital admissions decreased. Most COVID-19 hospitalization deaths in South Africa in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth COVID-19 epidemic waves were in the ages of 50 to 59 years (15.8%-24.8%), 60 to 69 years (15.9%-29.5%), and 70 to 79 years (16.6%-20.7%).

CONCLUSIONS: The relaxation of COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical intervention health policies in South Africa and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 were associated with increased COVID-19 transmission and severity in the South African population. COVID-19 vaccination in South Africa was strongly associated with a decrease in COVID-19 hospitalization and severity in South Africa.

PMID:37463043 | PMC:PMC10337479 | DOI:10.2196/34598

Oncologist. 2023 Jul 18:oyad200. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad200. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: HER2 overexpression/amplification in patients with RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) may be associated with resistance to standard-of-care anti-EGFR therapies. Given the lack of comprehensive investigations into this association, we assessed the prognostic or predictive effect of HER2 amplification/overexpression on anti-EGFR treatment outcomes.

METHODS: A systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library (2001-2021) identified studies evaluating progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), and overall survival (OS) in HER2-positive vs. HER2-negative patients with RAS WT mCRC who received anti-EGFR treatments and whose HER2 status was known. Meta-analyses of proportions (ORR) and hazard ratios (PFS, OS) were performed using random-effect models with pre-specified sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS: Five high-quality retrospective cohort studies were included in the meta-analyses representing 594 patients with mCRC. All patients received anti-EGFR treatment, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. Meta-analysis of PFS demonstrated a 2.84-fold higher risk of death or progression (95% CI, 1.44-5.60) in patients with HER2-positive (vs. HER2-negative) RAS WT mCRC treated with anti-EGFR regimens. The odds of response to anti-EGFR treatment were 2-fold higher in HER2-negative vs. HER2-positive (odds ratio, 1.96 [95% CI, 1.10-3.48]). Differences in OS were not statistically significant. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the base-case estimates.

CONCLUSIONS: While this study could not account for all confounding factors, in patients with RAS WT mCRC who received anti-EGFR therapy, HER2 overexpression/amplification was associated with worse PFS and ORR and may therefore predict poorer outcomes. HER2 testing is important to inform treatment decisions and could optimize outcomes for patients.

PMID:37463037 | DOI:10.1093/oncolo/oyad200

JMIR Form Res. 2023 Jul 18;7:e46476. doi: 10.2196/46476.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) refers to people’s ability to find, understand, and use health information in order to make appropriate health decisions. Health literacy among students is important so that tomorrow’s health professionals can deliver high-quality health care and enhance patient education and communication.

OBJECTIVE: In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the HL level of Faculty of Medical Technical Sciences (FMTS) students in order to shed light on this underresearched topic in Albanian settings.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 193 FMTS students of various study branches (nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, and laboratory technician) was carried out during June 22-29, 2022, on the premises of the FMTS Faculty in Tirana, Albania. The international European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q) standardized questionnaire, validated in Albanian, was used to collect information about FMTS students’ general HL through a face-to-face interview. Basic sociodemographic information was collected as well. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with inadequate, problematic, or limited HL.

RESULTS: The mean level of general HL was 37.2 (on a scale from 0 [minimum HL] to 50 [maximal HL]). About one-quarter of FMTS students had inadequate (9/193, 4.7%) or problematic (38/193, 19.7%) HL, 51.3% (99/193) had sufficient HL, and 24.4% (47/193) had excellent HL. The prevalence of limited HL (inadequate and problematic HL) was higher among male than female students (6/12, 50% vs 41/181, 22.6%, respectively) and those with lower social and economic status. Upon adjusting for confounding effects, the only factor significantly increasing the likelihood of limited HL was male gender (odds ratio 8.13, 95% CI 1.68-39.39). Findings suggested that low social and economic status also increased the likelihood of limited HL, but such associations did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study exploring the level of HL and its associated factors among FMTS students in Albania. The prevalence of limited HL was relatively high among FMTS students. There is a need for targeted interventions to increase the HL of nursing and midwifery students, such as the inclusion of HL subjects in the nursing curriculum.

PMID:37463034 | DOI:10.2196/46476

J Endourol. 2023 Jul 18. doi: 10.1089/end.2023.0269. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technical evolution and perioperative outcomes of vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA) in Transvesical (TV) Single-Port Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (SP-RARP).

METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 189 patients who underwent TV SP-RARP by a single surgeon using the purpose-built SP robotic platform. VUA was completed from within the bladder using two unidirectional V-loc sutures in a continuous, semicircular fashion with greater emphasis posteriorly. The most recent 20 cases of TV SP-RARP were selected to evaluate the anastomosis technique and to compare the perioperative outcomes with the first 20 cases of TV SP-RARP performed at our institution. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the prospectively maintained database and statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS: VUA was successfully completed in all cases using the aforementioned technique without any suture breaks, conversion, or evidence of intraoperative complication including urine leak. Marked improvement in the learning curve was observed, resulting in significant reduction in the number of VUA sutures (median: 13 vs. 15, p<0.05) and faster anastomosis time (median: 19.1 vs. 33.5 minutes, p<0.05). The number of anastomotic sutures did not correlate with the prostatectomy specimen weight or volume, especially with both being significantly greater in the latest cases (median weight: 45.1 vs. 37.6 grams, p<0.05; median volume: 40.9 vs. 36.2 mL, p<0.05). Postoperative outcomes were favorable with immediate continence achieved in 51.3% of our total cohort and with no patients demonstrating evidence of bladder neck contracture.

CONCLUSION: We provided a detailed technical description of VUA in TV SP-RARP. The improved maneuverability of the SP robotic platform allowed for unique movements to facilitate suture placements from within the confined space of the bladder. The learning curve of a single surgeon was shown in our study, which resulted in notable reduction in the number of sutures, faster anastomosis time, and improved perioperative outcomes.

PMID:37463019 | DOI:10.1089/end.2023.0269

Oncologist. 2023 Jul 18:oyad206. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad206. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The patient selection for optimal adjuvant therapy in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is provided by nomogram based on tumor size, mitotic index, tumor location, and tumor rupture. Although mutational status is not currently used to risk assessment, tumor genotype showed a prognostic influence on natural history and tumor relapse. Innovative measures, such as KIT/PDGFRA-mutant-specific variant allele frequency (VAF) levels detection from next-generation sequencing (NGS), may act as a surrogate of tumor burden and correlate with prognosis and overall survival of patients with GIST, helping the choice for adjuvant treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, hospital-based, retrospective/prospective cohort study to investigate the prognostic role of KIT or PDGFRA-VAF of GIST in patients with radically resected localized disease. In the current manuscript, we present the results from the retrospective phase of the study.

RESULTS: Two-hundred (200) patients with GIST between 2015 and 2022 afferent to 6 Italian Oncologic Centers in the EURACAN Network were included in the study. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis was used to classify “low” vs. “high” VAF values, further normalized on neoplastic cellularity (nVAF). When RFS between the low and high nVAF groups were compared, patients with GIST with KIT/PDGFRA nVAF > 50% showed less favorable RFS than patients in the group of nVAF ≤ 50% (2-year RFS, 72.6% vs. 93%, respectively; P = .003). The multivariable Cox regression model confirmed these results. In the homogeneous sub-population of intermediate-risk, patients with KIT-mutated GIST, the presence of nVAF >50% was statistically associated with higher disease recurrence.

CONCLUSION: In our study, we demonstrated that higher nVAF levels were independent predictors of GIST prognosis and survival in localized GIST patients with tumors harboring KIT or PDGFRA mutations. In the cohort of intermediate-risk patients, nVAF could be helpful to improve prognostication and the use of adjuvant imatinib.

PMID:37463014 | DOI:10.1093/oncolo/oyad206

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Jul 3;64(10):21. doi: 10.1167/iovs.64.10.21.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The relative ellipsoid zone reflectivity (rEZR) has been proposed as an innovative biomarker for photoreceptor integrity. This study evaluates the rEZR in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) eyes of different disease stages.

METHODS: The mean rEZR (ratio ellipsoid zone [EZ]/external limiting membrane [ELM] reflectivity [arbitrary units {AUs}], grey level range = 0-1) was analyzed for an entire spectral domain optical coherence tomography volume scan (global) and for each subfield of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid (topographic) in patients with MacTel and controls. MacTel disease severity was classified according to Gass and Blodi.

RESULTS: Linear mixed-model analysis of 145 eyes of 74 patients and 50 eyes of 25 controls revealed globally lower, yet not statistically significant, rEZR values in MacTel eyes. Topographically, most pronounced decreases were found in stages 3 and 4/5 for the temporal inner (coefficient estimates [CEs] = -25.4 [-38.2; -12.6] and -34.1 [-48.7; -19.6] AU, both: P < 0.001), the inferior inner (-29.9 [-44.6; -15.6] and -35.3 [-52.1; -18.5] AU, both: P < 0.001), the nasal inner (-21.5 [-35.52; -7.4] and -31.6 [-47.6; -15.6] AU, P = 0,003 and P < 0.001), and in the superior inner subfield of stage 4/5 (-25.0 [-42.0; -7.9] AU, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: The rEZR showed association with disease severity and the predilection area of MacTel. Given the current understanding of the pathophysiological concept of MacTel, these findings underscore the value of the rEZR as a potential novel biomarker for outer retinal integrity. Longitudinal studies are demanded to better characterize its value as a biomarker for early photoreceptor alterations and disease progression in MacTel.

PMID:37462978 | DOI:10.1167/iovs.64.10.21

JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Jul 3;6(7):e2324018. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.24018.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Exposure to stressful life events (SLEs) before and during pregnancy is associated with adverse health for pregnant people and their children. Minimum wage policies have the potential to reduce exposure to SLEs among socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant people.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of increasing the minimum wage with experience of maternal SLEs.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This repeated cross-sectional study included 199 308 individuals who gave birth between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015, in 39 states that participated in at least 2 years of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey between 2004 and 2015. Statistical analysis was performed from September 1, 2022, to January 6, 2023.

EXPOSURE: The mean minimum wage in the 2 years prior to the month and year of delivery in an individual’s state of residence.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcomes were number of financial, partner-related, traumatic, and total SLEs in the 12 months before delivery. Individual-level covariates included age, race and ethnicity, marital status, parity, educational level, and birth month. State-level covariates included unemployment, gross state product, uninsurance, poverty, state income supports, political affiliation of governor, and Medicaid eligibility levels. A 2-way fixed-effects analysis was conducted, adjusting for individual and state-level covariates and state-specific time trends.

RESULTS: Of the 199 308 women (mean [SD] age at delivery, 25.7 [6.1] years) in the study, 1.4% were American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.5% were Asian or Pacific Islander, 27.2% were Hispanic, 17.6% were non-Hispanic Black, and 48.8% were non-Hispanic White. A $1 increase in the minimum wage was associated with a reduction in total SLEs (-0.060; 95% CI, -0.095 to -0.024), financial SLEs (-0.032; 95% CI, -0.056 to -0.007), and partner-related SLEs (-0.019; 95% CI, -0.036 to -0.003). When stratifying by race and ethnicity, minimum wage increases were associated with larger reductions in total SLEs for Hispanic women (-0.125; 95% CI, -0.242 to -0.009).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this repeated cross-sectional study of women with a high school education or less across 39 states, an increase in the state-level minimum wage was associated with reductions in experiences of maternal SLEs. Findings support the potential of increasing the minimum wage as a policy for improving maternal well-being among socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant people. These findings have relevance for current policy debates regarding the minimum wage as a tool for improving population health.

PMID:37462972 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.24018

Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2022 Mar;28(3):227-231.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the result of the artificial intelligence (AI) recognition-based fluorescence method and that of traditional flow cytometry in the examination of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and assess the reliability of the AI-based fluorescence detection.

METHODS: Using flow cytometry and the AI-based fluorescence method, we examined the sperm DFI in the semen samples collected from 338 outpatients. We analyzed the correlation between the results and compared the positive rates detected by the two methods. We repeated the AI-based fluorescence method twice for each semen sample to observe its technical stability in the detection of sperm DFI.

RESULTS: The result of flow cytometry was well correlated with that of the AI-based fluorescence method in the detection of sperm DFI (R2 = 0.7131), but poorly correlated for low-concentration, sticky semen and some other extreme samples (R2 = 0.2065). No statistically significant difference was found between the two methods in the positive rate of detection. The AI-based fluorescence method exhibited an excellent technical stability (R2 = 0.9671).

CONCLUSION: The AI-based fluorescence method has an excellent technical stability in the detection of sperm DFI and the result is not significantly different from that of traditional flow cytometry.

PMID:37462961