Category: Nevin Manimala

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023 May 20:glad129. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glad129. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how depressive symptoms and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) concentrations taken together may influence cognitive functioning. Understanding this relationship may inform strategies for screening and early intervention to decrease rate of cognitive decline.

METHODS: This study sample includes 1,169 participants from the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), consisting of 60% Black participants and 40% White participants, and 63% female participants and 37% male participants. CHAP is a population-based cohort study of older adults with a mean age of 77 years. Linear mixed effects regression models tested the main effects of depressive symptoms and GFAP concentrations and their interactions on baseline cognitive function and cognitive decline over time. Models included adjustments for age, race, sex, education, chronic medical conditions, BMI, smoking status, and alcohol use, and their interactions with time.

RESULTS: The interaction of depressive symptomology and GFAP (β= -.105 (SE=.038), p=.006) on global cognitive function was statistically significant. Participants with depressive symptoms including and above the cut off and high log of GFAP concentrations had more cognitive decline over time, followed by participants with depressive symptoms below the cut off and high log of GFAP concentrations, depressive symptom scores including and above the cut off and low log of GFAP concentrations, and depressive symptom scores below the cut off and low log of GFAP concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms have an additive effect on the association between the log of GFAP and baseline global cognitive function.

PMID:37209409 | DOI:10.1093/gerona/glad129

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28777. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of RCC, and accurate grading is crucial for prognosis and treatment selection. Biopsy is the reference standard for grading, but MRI methods can improve and complement the grading procedure.

PURPOSE: Assess the performance of diffusion relaxation correlation spectroscopic imaging (DR-CSI) in grading ccRCC.

STUDY TYPE: Prospective.

SUBJECTS: 79 patients (age: 58.1 +/- 11.5 years; 55 male) with ccRCC confirmed by histopathology (grade 1, 7; grade 2, 45; grade 3, 18; grade 4, 9) following surgery.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T MRI scanner. DR-CSI with a diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging sequence and T2-mapping with a multi-echo spin echo sequence.

ASSESSMENT: DR-CSI results were analyzed for the solid tumor regions of interest using spectrum segmentation with five sub-region volume fraction metrics (V_A , V_B , V_C , V_D , and V_E ). The regulations for spectrum segmentation were determined based on the D-T2 spectra of distinct macro-components. Tumor size, voxel-wise T2, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were obtained. Histopathology assessed tumor grade (G1-G4) for each case.

STATISTICAL TESTS: One-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s correlation (coefficient, rho), multivariable logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and DeLong’s test. Significance criteria: P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found in ADC, T2, DR-CSI V_B , and V_D among the ccRCC grades. Correlations were found for ccRCC grade to tumor size (rho = 0.419), age (rho = 0.253), V_B (rho = 0.553) and V_D (rho = -0.378). AUC of V_B was slightly larger than ADC in distinguishing low-grade (G1-G2) from high-grade (G3-G4) ccRCC (0.801 vs. 0.762, P = 0.406) and G1 from G2 to G4 (0.796 vs. 0.647, P = 0.175), although not significant. Combining V_B , V_D , and V_E had better diagnostic performance than combining ADC and T2 for differentiating G1 from G2-G4 (AUC: 0.814 vs 0.643).

DATA CONCLUSION: DR-CSI parameters are correlated with ccRCC grades, and may help to differentiate ccRCC grades.

EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 2.

PMID:37209407 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.28777

J Adv Nurs. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1111/jan.15702. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Turkey is on the transit route of immigrants as it is located between countries where poverty and wars are intense and European countries. Therefore, there are countless immigrants from different countries in Turkey. Migrations affect every sector, especially the health sector. The aim of this study was to determine how cultural awareness of nurses, who are the cornerstone of the health system, affects brain drain and xenophobia. The problem of health care is not only on the agenda of immigrants, but also on the agenda of health service providers in their countries due to economic and working conditions.

DESIGN: This research was designed as descriptive and relationship-seeking.

METHODS: The data of the research were collected through Google Forms between December 5 and 26, 2022. A total of 231 nurses working in a public hospital in south-east Turkey participated in the study. Data were evaluated with descriptive statistics as well as reliability, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and linear regression analysis.

RESULTS: It was determined that the attitudes of the participants towards brain drain were moderate, their cultural awareness was low and their xenophobic attitudes were high. In addition, it was determined that 44% of the change in the total score obtained from the intercultural awareness scale was explained by the scores obtained from the xenophobia and brain drain scales.

CONCLUSIONS: In this context, it may be possible to reduce xenophobic attitudes by giving intercultural awareness trainings to nurses. In addition, it is important to provide working conditions and economic support by health policy makers to prevent the brain drain of nurses.

IMPACT: Nurses may need to provide care for individuals from different cultures due to the regions in which they live. For this reason increasing their cultural awareness and reducing xenophobia may ensure that they provide improved care to their patients.

PMID:37209393 | DOI:10.1111/jan.15702

Am J Clin Dermatol. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1007/s40257-023-00786-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Nail changes are frequent clinical findings in patients with cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, often causing significant impairments in quality of life. Numerous targeted therapies have been previously studied for treatment of nail psoriasis, however, newer agents have not been captured in prior systematic reviews. With over 25 new studies published since 2020, the landscape of nail psoriasis systemic treatments is rapidly evolving, warranting analysis of recently approved therapies.

METHODS: An updated systematic review of all PubMed and OVID database studies assessing efficacy and safety of targeted therapies for nail psoriasis was performed, with the goal of incorporating clinical data of recent trials and newer agents, namely brodalumab, risankizumab, and tildrakizumab. Eligibility criteria included clinical human studies reporting at least one of the nail psoriasis clinical appearance outcomes (Nail Psoriasis Severity Index, modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index).

RESULTS: A total of 68 studies on 15 nail psoriasis targeted therapeutic agents were included. Biological agents and small molecule inhibitors included TNF-alpha inhibitors (adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, certolizumab, golimumab), IL-17 inhibitors (ixekizumab, brodalumab, secukinumab), IL-12/23 inhibitors (ustekinumab), IL-23 inhibitors (guselkumab, risankizumab, tildrakizumab), PDE-4 inhibitors (apremilast), and JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib). These agents all demonstrated statistically significant improvements in nail outcome scores, compared with placebo or with baseline values, at weeks 10-16 and weeks 20-26, with some studies assessing efficacy up to week 60. Safety data for these agents were acceptable and consistent with known safety profiles within these timepoints, with nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infections, injection site reactions, headache, and diarrhea being the most reported adverse events. Specifically, the newer agents, brodalumab, risankizumab, and tildrakizumab, showed promising outcomes for treatment of nail psoriasis on the basis of current data.

CONCLUSION: Numerous targeted therapies have shown significant efficacy in improving nail findings in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Data from head-to-head trials have shown greater efficacy of ixekizumab over adalimumab and ustekinumab, as well as brodalumab over ustekinumab, while prior meta-analyses have demonstrated superiority of ixekizumab and tofacitinib to other included agents at various assessed timepoints. Further studies on the long-term efficacy and safety of these agents, as well as randomized controlled trials involving comparison with placebo arms, are needed to fully analyze differences in efficacy of newer agents compared with previously established therapies.

PMID:37209391 | DOI:10.1007/s40257-023-00786-4

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28788. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic stiffness and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) are potential imaging biomarkers for pancreatic fibrosis. Clinically relevant postoperative fistula (CR-POPF) is one of the most severe complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Which imaging biomarker performs better for predicting the risk of CR-POPF remains unknown.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ECV and tomoelastography-derived pancreatic stiffness for predicting the risk of CR-POPF in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.

STUDY TYPE: Prospective.

POPULATION: Eighty patients who underwent multiparametric pancreatic MRI before pancreaticoduodenectomy, among whom 16 developed CR-POPF and 64 did not.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3 T/tomoelastography and precontrast and postcontrast T1 mapping of the pancreas.

ASSESSMENT: Pancreatic stiffness was measured on the tomographic c-map, and pancreatic ECV was calculated from precontrast and postcontrast T1 maps. Pancreatic stiffness and ECV were compared with histological fibrosis grading (F0-F3). The optimal cutoff values for predicting CR-POPF were determined, and the correlation between CR-POPF and imaging parameters was evaluated.

STATISTICAL TESTS: The Spearman’s rank correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and logistic regression analysis was performed. A double-sided P < 0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference.

RESULTS: Pancreatic stiffness and ECV both showed a significantly positive correlation with histological pancreatic fibrosis (r = 0.73 and 0.56, respectively). Patients with advanced pancreatic fibrosis had significantly higher pancreatic stiffness and ECV compared to those with no/mild fibrosis. Pancreatic stiffness and ECV were also correlated with each other (r = 0.58). Lower pancreatic stiffness (<1.38 m/sec), lower ECV (<0.28), nondilated main pancreatic duct (<3 mm) and pathological diagnosis other than pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were associated with higher risk of CR-POPF at univariate analysis, and pancreatic stiffness was independently associated with CR-POPF at multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 18.59, 95% confidence interval: 4.45, 77.69).

DATA CONCLUSION: Pancreatic stiffness and ECV were associated with histological fibrosis grading, and pancreatic stiffness was an independent predictor for CR-POPF.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 5.

PMID:37209387 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.28788

Matern Child Health J. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1007/s10995-023-03676-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women especially in the developing countries resort to herbal medicines to manage their unpleasant conditions in pregnancy. The study examined the utilization of herbal medicine among pregnant women in Asante Akim North District of Ghana.

METHODS: Purposive, random and convenient sampling techniques were used to select pregnant women visiting antenatal clinics in the selected health institutions. The theoretical underpinning of the study was the theory of planned behaviour. The sequential mixed method approach was used to draw data from the respondents. The research was a cross-sectional study and instruments used for data collection were structured questionnaire and interview guide. Data were analysed using statistical tools such as frequencies, percentages and chi-square test of independence.

RESULTS: Results indicate that over 82% of respondents had ever used herbal medicine during pregnancy and they derived greater part of their medication from herbalists. Ginger and leaves of the neem tree were the herbs regularly used and the major health problems they faced during pregnancy were waist pains, malaria and anaemia. The factors that exhibited a statistically significant association with the use of herbal medicine were income (X² =41.601; p=0.014) and religion (X²=9.422; p=0.045).

CONCLUSIONS: The rate of use of herbal medicine by pregnant women is high in the district. The theoretical underpinning of the study has been vindicated. The findings have implications for global health given that maternal health issues engage serious attention of international donor organisations. Recommendations have been made to improve the efficacy of herbal medicine and to integrate herbal medicine into orthodox medicine.

PMID:37209378 | DOI:10.1007/s10995-023-03676-7

Sports Med. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01864-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Players in contact sports frequently experience mild traumatic brain (concussion) injuries (TBI). While there are known disruptions to balance following acute head trauma, it is uncertain if sport-related concussion injuries have a lasting impact on postural control.

AIM: To assess postural control in retired rugby players in comparison to retired non-contact sport players, and to evaluate any association with self-reported sport-related concussion history.

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, 75 players in the NZ-RugbyHealth study from three sports groups (44 ± 8 years; 24 elite rugby, 30 community rugby, 21 non-contact sport) took part in this study. The SMART EquiTest^® Balance Master was used to assess participant’s ability to make effective use of visual, vestibular and proprioceptive information using standardised tests. Postural sway was also quantified using centre of pressure (COP) path length. The relationship among sports group, sport-related concussion history and postural control was evaluated using mixed regression models while controlling for age and body mass index.

RESULTS: Limited significant differences in balance metrics were found between the sports groups. A statistically significant (p < 0.001) interaction indicated a relationship between COP path length and sport-related concussion history in the most challenging balance condition, such that path length increased as the number of previous sport-related concussions increased.

CONCLUSION: There was some evidence for a relationship between sport-related concussion recurrence in sports players and postural stability in challenging balance conditions. There was no evidence of impaired balance ability in retired rugby players compared with non-contact sport athletes.

PMID:37209367 | DOI:10.1007/s40279-023-01864-7

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27583-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Oil and natural consumption are non-renewable energy sources that are the main drivers of economic growth, but these energy sources are also the main causes of environmental degradation in Northeast Asian countries. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of renewable energy consumption, non-renewable energy consumption on CO₂ emissions, and economic growth in seven selected Northeast Asian countries during the period 1970-2020. First, the cross-sectional dependence test recommended by Pesaran, Ullah, and Yamagata (2008) concludes that there is no cross-sectional dependence in the panel data model, so it is feasible to use the first-generation panel data methods. Later, cointegration tests proposed by Pedroni (Oxford Bull Econ Stat 61:653-670, 1999, Economet Theor 20:597-625, 2004), Kao (J Econom 90:1-44, 1999), and Westerlund (2007) were adopted, revealing long-term cointegration relationships among model panel variables. Long-term variable coefficient elasticities were detected using the estimation techniques of panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS). Two-way causality of variables was detected using the Dumitrescue-Hurlin (Econ Model 29:1450-1460, 2012) panel causality test. The results of the analysis highlight the significant progressive effects of renewable energy consumption, nonrenewable energy consumption, employed labor force, and capital formation on long-run economic growth. The study also concluded that renewable energy consumption significantly reduced long-term CO₂ emissions, while non-renewable energy consumption significantly contributed to long-term CO₂ emissions. Estimates from the FMOLS technique reflect a significant progressive effect of GDP and GDP³ on CO₂ emissions, while GDP² has a significant adverse effect on CO₂ emissions, thus validating the N-shaped EKC assumption in selected group of countries. Furthermore, the feedback hypothesis is supported based on the two-way causality between renewable energy consumption and economic growth. Strategically, this evidence-based empirical study demonstrates that renewable energy is a valuable process that can protect the environment and contribute to future economic growth in selected countries by addressing energy security and reducing carbon emissions.

PMID:37209352 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-27583-0

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27721-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The occurrence, mobilization, and origin of Potentially Toxic Eelements (PTEs) in the environment is always a difficult research question that has not been fully addressed to date; solving this problem would be a major achievement for environmental science and pollution research, a significant scientific breakthrough, and an important contribution to environmental analysis and monitoring. The lack of a holistic methodology that uses chemical analysis to determine the origin of each PTE in the environment is the main motivation for this project. Therefore, the hypothesis tested here is to develop a scientific approach applied to each PTE to determine whether its origin is geogenic (i.e., water-rock interaction with dominance of silicate or carbonate mineral phases) or anthropogenic (i.e., agricultural practices, wastewater, industrial activities). A total of 47 groundwater samples from the Psachna Basin in central Euboea, Greece, were used and plotted on geochemical mole ratio diagrams (i.e., Si/NO₃ vs. Cl/HCO₃) and used to perform a robust geochemical modeling analysis. The proposed method showed that elevated groundwater concentrations of various PTEs in groundwater were mainly related to intensive fertilization (e.g., Cr, U), water-rock interaction (e.g., Ni), and saltwater intrusion. (i.e., As, Se). This work highlights that a comprehensive framework with sophisticated molar ratios combined with modern statistical methods, multi-isotope signatures, and geochemical modeling could provide answers to unresolved scientific questions about the origin of PTEs in water resources and improve environmental resilience.

PMID:37209349 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-27721-8

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 May 20. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27471-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Environment-friendly textile processing is the demand of the current global scenario, where the application of sustainable technologies such as microwave radiation has been gaining fame in all global fields due to their green and human-friendly nature. This study has been conducted to employ sustainable technology such as microwave (MW) rays for dyeing polyamide-based proteinous fabric using Acid Blue 07 dye. The fabric before and after MW treatment for up to 10 min has been dyed using an acid dye solution. Spectrophotometric analysis of the dye solution was performed before and after irradiation at a specific selected level. Using selected dyes and irradiation conditions, a series of 32 experiments using a central composite design has been employed. The shades made at selected conditions of irradiation and dyeing were assessed for colorfastness as per ISO standards. It was observed that for dyeing silk, 55 mL of Acid Blue 07 dye solution containing 1 g/100 mL salt solution at 65 °C for 55 min should be employed after MW treatment for 10 min. In comparison, for dyeing wool, 55 mL of Acid Blue 07 dye solution containing 2 g/100 mL salt solution at 65 °C for 55 min should be employed after MW treatment for 10 min. Physiochemical analysis shows that sustainable tool has not altered the chemical nature of fabric but has modified the fabric surface physically to enhance uptake ability. Colorfastness shows that the shades made have offered good resistance to fade and have given good to excellent ratings on the gray scale.

PMID:37209341 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-27471-7