Category: Nevin Manimala

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1007/s00787-023-02185-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult health has been extensively examined, but the association between ACEs and sleep, emotion, behavior and academic outcomes of children and adolescents is not well known. A total of 6363 primary and middle school students were included to examine the effect of ACEs on sleep quality, emotional and behavioral problems and academic achievement and further explore the mediation role of sleep quality and emotional and behavioral problems. Children and adolescents with ACE exposure had 1.37 times risk of poor sleep quality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-1.55), 1.91 times risk of emotional and behavioral problems (adjusted OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.69-2.15) and 1.21 times risk of self-reported lower academic achievement (adjusted OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.08-1.36). Most types of ACEs were significantly associated with poor sleep quality, emotional and behavioral problems and lower academic achievement. There were dose-response relationships between cumulative ACE exposure and risk of poor sleep quality, emotional and behavioral problems, and lower academic achievement. Sleep quality and emotional and behavioral performance mediated 45.9% of the effect of ACEs exposure on math scores and 15.2% of the effect of ACEs exposure on English scores. Early detection and prevention of ACEs among children and adolescents are urgent and essential, and targeted interventions for sleep and emotional and behavioral performance as well as early educational interventions are recommended for children with ACEs exposure.

PMID:36869931 | DOI:10.1007/s00787-023-02185-w

Clin Oral Investig. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1007/s00784-023-04928-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess the behavior of dual-cure and conventional bulk-fill composite materials on real-time linear shrinkage, shrinkage stress, and degree of conversion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two dual-cure bulk-fill materials (Cention, Ivoclar Vivadent (with ion-releasing properties) and Fill-Up!, Coltene) and two conventional bulk-fill composites (Tetric PowerFill, Ivoclar Vivadent; SDR flow + , Dentsply Sirona) were compared to conventional reference materials (Ceram.x Spectra ST (HV), Dentsply Sirona; X-flow; Dentsply Sirona). Light curing was performed for 20 s, or specimens were left to self-cure only. Linear shrinkage, shrinkage stress, and degree of conversion were measured in real time for 4 h (n = 8 per group), and kinetic parameters were determined for shrinkage stress and degree of conversion. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA followed by post hoc tests (α = 0.05). Pearson’s analysis was used for correlating linear shrinkage and shrinkage force.

RESULTS: Significantly higher linear shrinkage and shrinkage stress were found for the low-viscosity materials compared to the high-viscosity materials. No significant difference in degree of conversion was revealed between the polymerization modes of the dual-cure bulk-fill composite Fill-Up!, but the time to achieve maximum polymerization rate was significantly longer for the self-cure mode. Significant differences in degree of conversion were however found between the polymerization modes of the ion-releasing bulk-fill material Cention, which also exhibited the significantly slowest polymerization rate of all materials when chemically cured.

CONCLUSIONS: While some of the parameters tested were found to be consistent across all materials studied, heterogeneity increased for others.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: With the introduction of new classes of composite materials, predicting the effects of individual parameters on final clinically relevant properties becomes more difficult.

PMID:36869923 | DOI:10.1007/s00784-023-04928-0

Childs Nerv Syst. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1007/s00381-023-05905-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI) as a monitor of peri-operative nociception-anti-nociception balance has not been studied in paediatric neurosurgery. The objectives were to study the correlation between ANI (Mdoloris Education system) and revised FLACC (r-FLACC) score for the prediction of acute postoperative pain in paediatric population undergoing elective craniotomies and to compare the changes in ANI values with heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and surgical plethysmographic index (SPI) during various time points of intraoperative noxious stimulation and before and after opioid administration.

METHODS: This prospective observational pilot study included 14 patients between 2 and 12 years of age undergoing elective craniotomies. HR, MAP, SPI, ANI instantaneous (ANIi) and ANI mean (ANIm) values were recorded intraoperatively and before and after opioid administration. Postoperatively HR, MAP, ANIi and ANIm, and pain scores (r-FLACC scale) were recorded.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant negative correlation between ANIi and ANIm with r-FLACC during the time course of PACU stay (r = – 0.89, p < 0.001 and r = – 0.88 and p < 0.001 respectively). Intraoperatively, in patients with ANIi values < 50, with additional fentanyl administration, there was an increasing trend in values beyond 50, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05) at 3, 4, 5 and 10 min. The trend in changes of SPI after opioid administration was not found to be significant for patients irrespective of the baseline SPI values.

CONCLUSION: The ANI is a reliable tool for objective assessment of acute postoperative pain as assessed by r-FLACC in children undergoing craniotomies for intracranial lesions. It may be used as a guide to nociception-antinociception balance during the peri-operative period in this population.

PMID:36869908 | DOI:10.1007/s00381-023-05905-4

Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1007/s00431-023-04904-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine trends in serum uric acid (SUA) levels over a recent 5-year period according to age, sex, obesity, and abdominal obesity among Korean children and adolescents. We conducted a serial cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2016 to 2020. The study outcome was trends in SUA levels. SUA trends were analyzed by survey-weighted linear regression analysis considering the survey year as a continuous variable. SUA trends were also analyzed for subgroups based on age, sex, abdominal obesity, or obesity. This study included 3,554 children and adolescents aged 10-18 years. SUA increased significantly over the study period in boys (p for trend = 0.043), but not in girls (p for trend = 0.300). In age-specific analyses, SUA increased significantly in the 10-12 years group (p for trend = 0.029). After adjusting for age, SUA increased significantly in the obese group of both boys (p for trend = 0.026) and girls (p for trend = 0.023), but not in the overweight, normal, or under-weight groups of either sex. After adjusting for age, SUA increased significantly in the abdominal obesity group of boys (p for trend = 0.017) and girls (p for trend = 0.014), but not in the non-abdominal obesity group of either sex. Conclusion: In the current study, SUA levels significantly increased in both boys and girls with obesity or abdominal obesity. Further studies of the effect of SUA on health outcomes in boys and girls with obesity or abdominal obesity are needed. What is Known: • High serum uric acid (SUA) is a risk factor for various metabolic diseases, including gout, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. What is New: • SUA levels increased in boys and the 10-12 years group of Korean children and adolescents. • SUA levels increased significantly in Korean children and adolescents with obesity or central obesity.

PMID:36869902 | DOI:10.1007/s00431-023-04904-6

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1007/s00432-023-04664-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In testicular neoplasms, the interrelationship of elevations of the novel serum tumor marker microRNA-371a-3p (M371) and traditional markers with other clinical features is still incompletely understood. The present study evaluated marker expression rates in relation to various other clinical parameters.

METHODS: The following data were retrospectively registered from 641 consecutive patients with testicular neoplasms: histology, such as seminoma (n = 365), nonseminoma (n = 179), benign tumor (n = 79), other malignant tumor (n = 18); patients age (years); clinical stage (CS1, CS2a/b, CS2c, CS3); and preoperative elevation of beta HCG, AFP, LDH, M371 (yes/no). Descriptive statistical methods were employed with comparisons of various subgroups to disclose associations of marker expression rates with age, histology and CS, and of age with histology.

RESULTS: The histologic subgroups revealed significantly different expression rates of tumor markers. M371 performed best with expression rates of 82.69% and 93.58% in seminoma and in nonseminoma, respectively. In germ cell tumors, all markers had significantly higher expression rates in metastasized stages than in localized disease. All markers except LDH have significantly higher expression rates in younger than in older patients. Nonseminoma is most prevalent in the youngest age category, seminoma predominates in patients > 40 years, other malignancies were restricted to patients > 50 years.

CONCLUSION: The study documented significant associations of serum marker expression rates with histology, age and clinical staging, with highest rates in nonseminomas, young age and advanced clinical stages. M371 showed significantly higher expression rates than other markers suggesting its superior clinical usefulness.

PMID:36869885 | DOI:10.1007/s00432-023-04664-8

Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig. 2023 Mar 6. doi: 10.1515/hmbci-2022-0104. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The present study sought to examine the relationship of betatrophin with certain key enzymes, namely lactate dehydrogenase-5 (LDH5), citrate synthase (CS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 (ACC1), in insulin-resistant mice.

METHODS: Eight-week-old male C57BL6/J mice were used in this study (experimental group n=10 and control group n=10). S961 was administered using an osmotic pump to induce insulin resistance in the mice. The betatrophin, LDH5, CS, and ACC1 expression levels were determined from the livers of the mice using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Moreover, biochemical parameters such as the serum betatrophin, fasting glucose, insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were analyzed.

RESULTS: The betatrophin expression and serum betatrophin (p=0.000), fasting glucose, insulin, triglyceride (p≤0.001), and total cholesterol (p=0.013) levels were increased in the experimental group. In addition, the CS gene expression level was statistically significantly decreased in the experimental group (p=0.01). Although strong correlation was found between the expression and serum betatrophin and triglyceride levels, no correlation was found between the betatrophin gene expression and the LDH5, ACC1, and CS gene expression levels.

CONCLUSIONS: The betatrophin level appears to play an important role in the regulation of triglyceride metabolism, while insulin resistance increases both the betatrophin gene expression and serum levels and decreases the CS expression level. The findings suggest that betatrophin may not regulate carbohydrate metabolism through CS and LDH5 or lipid metabolism directly through the ACC1 enzyme.

PMID:36869875 | DOI:10.1515/hmbci-2022-0104

Biometrics. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1111/biom.13849. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We consider theoretical and practical issues for innovatively using a large number of covariates in clinical trials to achieve various design objectives without model misspecification. Specifically, we propose a new family of semiparametric covariate-adjusted response-adaptive randomization (CARA) designs and we use the target maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) to analyze the correlated data from CARA designs. Our approach can flexibly achieve multiple objectives and correctly incorporate the effect of a large number of covariates on the responses without model misspecification. We also obtain the consistency and asymptotic normality of the target parameters, allocation probabilities, and allocation proportions. Numerical studies demonstrate that our approach has advantages over existing approaches, even when the data-generating distribution is complicated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36869863 | DOI:10.1111/biom.13849

Epilepsia. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1111/epi.17574. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess determinants of seizure outcome following pediatric hemispherotomy in a contemporary cohort.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the seizure outcomes of 457 children who underwent hemispheric surgery in five European epilepsy centers between 2000 and 2016. We identified variables related to seizure outcome through multivariable regression modeling with missing data imputation and optimal group matching and further investigated the role of surgical technique by Bayes factor (BF) analysis.

RESULTS: 177 (39%) children underwent vertical and 280 (61%) lateral hemispherotomy. 344 (75%) children achieved seizure freedom at a mean follow-up of 5.1 years (range 1 to 17.1). We identified acquired etiology other than stroke (odds ratio (OR) 4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-18.0), hemimegalencephaly (OR 2.8, CI 1.1-7.3), contralateral MRI findings (5.5, CI 2.7-11.1), prior resective surgery (OR 5.0, CI 1.8-14.0), and left hemispherotomy (OR 2.3, CI 1.3-3.9), as significant determinants of seizure recurrence. We found no evidence for an impact of the hemispherotomy technique on seizure outcome (the Bayes factor for a model including the hemispherotomy technique over the null model was 1.1), with comparable overall major complication rates for different approaches.

SIGNIFICANCE: Knowledge about independent determinants of seizure outcome following pediatric hemispherotomy will improve the counseling of patients and families. In contrast to previous reports, we found no statistically-relevant difference in seizure-freedom rates between the vertical and horizontal hemispherotomy techniques when accounting for different clinical features between groups.

PMID:36869851 | DOI:10.1111/epi.17574

Brief Bioinform. 2023 Mar 3:bbad071. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbad071. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Alignment is the cornerstone of many long-read pipelines and plays an essential role in resolving structural variants (SVs). However, forced alignments of SVs embedded in long reads, inflexibility of integrating novel SVs models and computational inefficiency remain problems. Here, we investigate the feasibility of resolving long-read SVs with alignment-free algorithms. We ask: (1) Is it possible to resolve long-read SVs with alignment-free approaches? and (2) Does it provide an advantage over existing approaches? To this end, we implemented the framework named Linear, which can flexibly integrate alignment-free algorithms such as the generative model for long-read SV detection. Furthermore, Linear addresses the problem of compatibility of alignment-free approaches with existing software. It takes as input long reads and outputs standardized results existing software can directly process. We conducted large-scale assessments in this work and the results show that the sensitivity, and flexibility of Linear outperform alignment-based pipelines. Moreover, the computational efficiency is orders of magnitude faster.

PMID:36869850 | DOI:10.1093/bib/bbad071

Brief Bioinform. 2023 Mar 3:bbad045. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbad045. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The rapid development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology allows us to study gene expression heterogeneity at the cellular level. Cell annotation is the basis for subsequent downstream analysis in single-cell data mining. As more and more well-annotated scRNA-seq reference data become available, many automatic annotation methods have sprung up in order to simplify the cell annotation process on unlabeled target data. However, existing methods rarely explore the fine-grained semantic knowledge of novel cell types absent from the reference data, and they are usually susceptible to batch effects on the classification of seen cell types. Taking into consideration the limitations above, this paper proposes a new and practical task called generalized cell type annotation and discovery for scRNA-seq data whereby target cells are labeled with either seen cell types or cluster labels, instead of a unified ‘unassigned’ label. To accomplish this, we carefully design a comprehensive evaluation benchmark and propose a novel end-to-end algorithmic framework called scGAD. Specifically, scGAD first builds the intrinsic correspondences on seen and novel cell types by retrieving geometrically and semantically mutual nearest neighbors as anchor pairs. Together with the similarity affinity score, a soft anchor-based self-supervised learning module is then designed to transfer the known label information from reference data to target data and aggregate the new semantic knowledge within target data in the prediction space. To enhance the inter-type separation and intra-type compactness, we further propose a confidential prototype self-supervised learning paradigm to implicitly capture the global topological structure of cells in the embedding space. Such a bidirectional dual alignment mechanism between embedding space and prediction space can better handle batch effect and cell type shift. Extensive results on massive simulation datasets and real datasets demonstrate the superiority of scGAD over various state-of-the-art clustering and annotation methods. We also implement marker gene identification to validate the effectiveness of scGAD in clustering novel cell types and their biological significance. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to introduce this new and practical task and propose an end-to-end algorithmic framework to solve it. Our method scGAD is implemented in Python using the Pytorch machine-learning library, and it is freely available at https://github.com/aimeeyaoyao/scGAD.

PMID:36869836 | DOI:10.1093/bib/bbad045