Category: Nevin Manimala

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Mar 3;17(3):e0011173. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011173. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the use of numerous methods of control measures, mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases are still increasing globally. Evidence-based action thresholds to initiate or intensify control activities have been identified as essential in reducing mosquito populations to required levels at the correct/optimal time. This systematic review was conducted to identify different mosquito control action thresholds existing across the world and associated surveillance and implementation characteristics.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Searches for literature published from 2010 up to 2021 were performed using two search engines, Google Scholar and PubMed Central, according to PRISMA guidelines. A set of inclusion/exclusion criteria were identified and of the 1,485 initial selections, only 87 were included in the final review. Thirty inclusions reported originally generated thresholds. Thirteen inclusions were with statistical models that seemed intended to be continuously utilized to test the exceedance of thresholds in a specific region. There was another set of 44 inclusions that solely mentioned previously generated thresholds. The inclusions with “epidemiological thresholds” outnumbered those with “entomological thresholds”. Most of the inclusions came from Asia and those thresholds were targeted toward Aedes and dengue control. Overall, mosquito counts (adult and larval) and climatic variables (temperature and rainfall) were the most used parameters in thresholds. The associated surveillance and implementation characteristics of the identified thresholds are discussed here.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The review identified 87 publications with different mosquito control thresholds developed across the world and published during the last decade. Associated surveillance and implementation characteristics will help organize surveillance systems targeting the development and implementation of action thresholds, as well as direct awareness towards already existing thresholds for those with programs lacking available resources for comprehensive surveillance systems. The findings of the review highlight data gaps and areas of focus to fill in the action threshold compartment of the IVM toolbox.

PMID:36867651 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0011173

PLoS One. 2023 Mar 3;18(3):e0282497. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282497. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Early evaluation of writing readiness is essential to predict and prevent handwriting difficulties and its negative influences on school occupations. An occupation-based measurement for kindergarten children has been previously developed: Writing Readiness Inventory Tool In Context (WRITIC). In addition, to assess fine motor coordination two tests are frequently used in children with handwriting difficulties: the modified Timed Test of In-Hand Manipulation (Timed TIHM) and the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT). However, no Dutch reference data are available.

AIM: To provide reference data for (1) WRITIC, (2) Timed-TIHM and (3) 9-HPT for handwriting readiness assessment in kindergarten children.

METHODS: Three hundred and seventy-four children from Dutch kindergartens in the age of 5 to 6.5 years (5.6±0.4 years, 190 boys/184 girls) participated in the study. Children were recruited at Dutch kindergartens. Full classes of the last year were tested, children were excluded if there was a medical diagnosis such as a visual, auditory, motor or intellectual impairment that hinder handwriting performance. Descriptive statistics and percentiles scores were calculated. The score of the WRITIC (possible score 0-48 points) and the performance time on the Timed-TIHM and 9-HPT are classified as percentile scores lower than the 15th percentile to distinguish low performance from adequate performance. The percentile scores can be used to identify children that are possibly at risk developing handwriting difficulties in first grade.

RESULTS: WRITIC scores ranged from 23 to 48 (41±4.4), Timed-TIHM ranged from 17.9 to 64.5 seconds (31.4± 7.4 seconds) and 9-HPT ranged from 18.2 to 48.3 seconds (28.4± 5.4). A WRITIC score between 0-36, a performance time of more than 39.6 seconds on the Timed-TIHM and more than 33.8 seconds on the 9-HPT were classified as low performance.

CONCLUSION: The reference data of the WRITIC allow to assess which children are possibly at risk developing handwriting difficulties.

PMID:36867627 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0282497

PLoS One. 2023 Mar 3;18(3):e0282235. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282235. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Internalizing and externalizing problems account for over 75% of the mental health burden in children and adolescents in the US, with higher burden among minority children. While complex interactions of multilevel factors are associated with these outcomes and may enable early identification of children in higher risk, prior research has been limited by data and application of traditional analysis methods. In this case example focused on Asian American children, we address the gap by applying data-driven statistical and machine learning methods to study clusters of mental health trajectories among children, investigate optimal predictions of children at high-risk cluster, and identify key early predictors.

METHODS: Data from the US Early Childhood Longitudinal Study 2010-2011 were used. Multilevel information provided by children, families, teachers, schools, and care-providers were considered as predictors. Unsupervised machine learning algorithm was applied to identify groups of internalizing and externalizing problems trajectories. For prediction of high-risk group, ensemble algorithm, Superlearner, was implemented by combining several supervised machine learning algorithms. Performance of Superlearner and candidate algorithms, including logistic regression, was assessed using discrimination and calibration metrics via crossvalidation. Variable importance measures along with partial dependence plots were utilized to rank and visualize key predictors.

FINDINGS: We found two clusters suggesting high- and low-risk groups for both externalizing and internalizing problems trajectories. While Superlearner had overall best discrimination performance, logistic regression had comparable performance for externalizing problems but worse for internalizing problems. Predictions from logistic regression were not well calibrated compared to those from Superlearner, however they were still better than few candidate algorithms. Important predictors identified were combination of test scores, child factors, teacher rated scores, and contextual factors, which showed non-linear associations with predicted probabilities.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the application of data-driven analytical approach to predict mental health outcomes among Asian American children. Findings from the cluster analysis can inform critical age for early intervention, while prediction analysis has potential to inform intervention programing prioritization decisions. However, to better understand external validity, replicability, and value of machine learning in broader mental health research, more studies applying similar analytical approach is needed.

PMID:36867610 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0282235

PLoS One. 2023 Mar 3;18(3):e0282195. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282195. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Electronic health has the potential benefit to the health system by improving health service quality efficiency effectiveness and reducing the cost of care. Having good e-health literacy level is considered essential for improving healthcare delivery and quality of care as well as empowers caregivers and patients to influence control care decisions. Many studies have done on eHealth literacy and its determinants among adults, however, inconsistent findings from those studies were found. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the pooled magnitude of eHealth literacy and to identify associated factors among adults in Ethiopia through systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHOD: Search of PubMed, Scopus, and web of science, and Google Scholar was conducted to find out relevant articles published from January 2028 to 2022. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Two reviewers extracted the data independently by using standard extraction formats and exported in to Stata version11 for meta-analysis. The degree of heterogeneity between studies was measured using I2 statistics. The publication bias between studies also checked by using egger test. The pooled magnitude of eHealth literacy was performed using fixed effect model.

RESULT: After go through 138 studies, five studies with total participants of 1758 were included in this systematic review and Meta-analysis. The pooled estimate of eHealth literacy in Ethiopia was found 59.39% (95%CI: 47.10-71.68). Perceived usefulness (AOR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.36, 3.12),educational status(AOR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.11, 4.68), internet access (AOR = 2.35; 95% CI: 1.67, 3.30), knowledge on electronic health information sources(AOR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.78, 3.78), electronic health information sources utilization (AOR = 2.55; 95%CI: 1.85, 3.52), gender (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.38, 2.41) were identified significant predictors of e-health literacy.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that more than half of study participants were eHealth literate. This finding recommends that creating awareness about importance of eHealth usefulness and capacity building to enhance and encouraging to use electronic sources and availability of internet has para amount to solution to increase eHealth literacy level of study participants.

PMID:36867600 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0282195

PLoS One. 2023 Mar 3;18(3):e0280496. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280496. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The heightened vulnerability of women to mental health issues during the period of pregnancy implies that seeking and receiving support for mental health services is a crucial factor in improving the emotional and mental well-being of pregnant women. The current study investigates the prevalence and correlates of seeking and receiving help for mental health services initiated by pregnant women and health professionals during pregnancy.

DESIGN: Using a cross-sectional design and self-report questionnaires, data were collected from 702 pregnant women in the first, second and third trimesters from four health facilities in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: It was observed that 18.9% of pregnant women self-initiated help-seeking for mental health services whereas 64.8% reported that health professionals asked about their mental well-being, of which 67.7% were offered mental health support by health professionals. Diagnosis of medical conditions in pregnancy (i.e., hypertension and diabetes), partner abuse, low social support, sleep difficulty and suicidal ideation significantly predicted the initiation of help-seeking for mental health services by pregnant women. Fear of vaginal delivery and COVID-19 concerns predicted the provision of mental health support to pregnant women by health professionals.

CONCLUSION: The low prevalence of individual-initiated help-seeking implies that health professionals have a high responsibility of supporting pregnant women achieve their mental health needs.

PMID:36867597 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0280496

PLoS One. 2023 Mar 3;18(3):e0282751. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282751. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) at risk for future dementia are still debatable. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is used to evaluate cortical excitability and the underlying transmission pathways, although a direct comparison between males and females with mild VCI is lacking.

METHODS: Sixty patients (33 females) underwent clinical, psychopathological, functional, and TMS assessment. Measures of interest consisted of: resting motor threshold, latency of motor evoked potentials (MEPs), contralateral silent period, amplitude ratio, central motor conduction time (CMCT), including the F wave technique (CMCT-F), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation, and short-latency afferent inhibition, at different interstimulus intervals (ISIs).

RESULTS: Males and females were comparable for age, education, vascular burden, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Males scored worse at global cognitive tests, executive functioning, and independence scales. MEP latency was significantly longer in males, from both sides, as well CMCT and CMCT-F from the left hemisphere; a lower SICI at ISI of 3 ms from the right hemisphere was also found. After correction for demographic and anthropometric features, the effect of sex remained statistically significant for MEP latency, bilaterally, and for CMCT-F and SICI. The presence of diabetes, MEP latency bilaterally, and both CMCT and CMCT-F from the right hemisphere inversely correlated with executive functioning, whereas TMS did not correlate with vascular burden.

CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the worse cognitive profile and functional status of males with mild VCI compared to females and first highlight sex-specific changes in intracortical and cortico-spinal excitability to multimodal TMS in this population. This points to some TMS measures as potential markers of cognitive impairment, as well as targets for new drugs and neuromodulation therapies.

PMID:36867595 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0282751

Prehosp Emerg Care. 2023 Mar 3:1-10. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2023.2187103. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Position StatementEmergency medical services (EMS), similar to all aspects of health care systems, can play a vital role in examining and reducing health disparities through educational, operational, and quality improvement interventions. Public health statistics and existing research highlight that patients of certain socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity are disproportionately affected with respect to morbidity and mortality for acute medical conditions and multiple disease processes, leading to health disparities and inequities. With regard to care delivery by EMS, research demonstrates that the current attributes of EMS systems may further contribute to these inequities, such as documented health disparities existing in EMS patient care management, and access along with EMS workforce composition not being representative of the communities served influencing implicit bias. EMS clinicians need to understand the definitions, historical context, and circumstances surrounding health disparities, health care inequities, and social determinants of health in order to reduce health care disparities and promote care equity. This position statement focuses on systemic racism and health disparities in EMS patient care and systems by providing multifaceted next steps and priorities to address these disparities and workforce development. NAEMSP believes that EMS systems should:Adopt a multifactorial approach to workforce diversity implemented at all levels within EMS agencies.Hire more diverse workforce by intentionally recruiting from marginalized communitiesIncrease EMS career pathway and mentorship programs within underrepresented minorities (URM) communities and URM-predominant schools starting at a young age to promote EMS as an achievable profession.Examine policies that promote systemic racism and revise policies, procedures, and rules to promote a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment.Involve EMS clinicians in community engagement and outreach activities to promote health literacy, trustworthiness, and education.Require EMS advisory boards whose composition reflects the communities they serve and regularly audit membership to ensure inclusion.Increase knowledge and self-awareness of implicit/unconscious bias and acts of microaggression through established educational and training programs (i.e., anti- racism, upstander, and allyship) such that individuals recognize and mitigate their own biases and can act as allies.Redesign structure, content, and classroom materials within EMS clinician training programs to enhance cultural sensitivity, humility, and competency and to meet career development, career planning, and mentoring needs, particularly of URM EMS clinicians and trainees.Discuss cultural views that affect health care and medical treatment and the effects of social determinants of health on care access and outcomes during all aspects of training.Design research and quality improvement initiatives related to health disparities in EMS that are focused on racial/ethnic and gender inequities and include URM community leaders as essential stakeholders involved in all stages of research development and implementation.

PMID:36867425 | DOI:10.1080/10903127.2023.2187103

Drugs. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s40265-023-01842-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many clinical trials have reported that low-dose aspirin decreases the risk of pre-eclampsia in women with prior pre-eclampsia. However, its impact in a real-world population has not been fully assessed.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rates of low-dose aspirin initiation during pregnancy in women with a history of pre-eclampsia, and to evaluate the impact of low-dose aspirin in prevention of pre-eclampsia recurrence in a real-world population.

STUDY DESIGN: CONCEPTION is a French nationwide cohort study which uses data from the country’s National Health Data System database. We included all women in France who gave birth at least twice between 2010-2018, and who had pre-eclampsia during their first pregnancy. Every dispensing of low-dose aspirin (75-300 mg) between the beginning of their second pregnancy and 36 weeks of gestation (WG) was identified. We used Poisson regression models to estimate the adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) of receiving aspirin at least once during their second pregnancy. In women who had early and/or severe pre-eclampsia during their first pregnancy, we estimated the IRRs of pre-eclampsia recurrence during their second pregnancy according to the aspirin therapy.

RESULTS: In 28,467 women who were included in the study, the aspirin initiation rate during the second pregnancy ranged from 27.8% for women in whose first pregnancy the pre-eclampsia was mild and late, to 79.9% for those women whose pre-eclampsia was severe and early. Just over half (54.3%) of those treated with aspirin-initiated treatment before 16 WG and adhered to treatment. Compared with women with mild and late pre-eclampsia, the aIRRs (95% CI) for receiving aspirin at least once during the second pregnancy were 1.94 (1.86-2.03) for women with severe and late pre-eclampsia, 2.34 (2.17-2.52) for those with early and mild pre-eclampsia, and 2.87 [2.74-3.01] for those with early and severe pre-eclampsia E. Social deprivation was associated with a lower initiation of aspirin (IRR = 0.74 [0.70-0.78]). Aspirin was not associated with a lower risk of mild and late pre-eclampsia, severe and late pre-eclampsia, or mild and early pre-eclampsia during the second pregnancy. The aIRRs for severe and early pre-eclampsia during the second pregnancy were 0.77 (0.62-0.95) for women who received prescribed aspirin at least once, 0.71 (0.5-0.89) for those who initiated aspirin therapy before 16 WG, and 0.60 (0.47-0.77) for those who adhered to aspirin treatment throughout their second pregnancy. The risk of severe and early pre-eclampsia was lower only when the prescribed mean daily dose was ≥ 100 mg/day.

CONCLUSION: In women with a history of pre-eclampsia, aspirin initiation during a second pregnancy and adherence to the prescribed dosage were largely insufficient, especially for women experiencing social deprivation. Aspirin initiated before 16 WG at a dose ≥ 100 mg/day was associated with a lower risk of severe and early pre-eclampsia.

PMID:36867398 | DOI:10.1007/s40265-023-01842-3

Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s40256-023-00574-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antithrombotic regimens and their combinations in preventing thrombotic incidents in patients with stable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (S-ASCVD).

METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The primary comprehensive endpoint was a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction, while the secondary endpoints were cardiovascular death, all-cause stroke, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death. The safety endpoint was major bleeding. Bayesian network meta-regression analysis in R software was used to calculate the final effect size and to correct for the effect of follow-up time on the outcome effect size.

RESULTS: Twelve studies reporting 122,190 patients with eight antithrombotic regimens were included in this systematic review. For the primary composite endpoint, low-dose aspirin plus clopidogrel 75 mg (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33-0.87) and low-dose aspirin plus rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.82) showed significantly better efficacy than clopidogrel monotherapy, and the efficacy was comparable among the first two regimens. Unfortunately, none of the active regimens significantly decreased all-cause death, cardiovascular death branch, and all-cause stroke as part of the secondary endpoints. Low-dose aspirin plus ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.69-0.94) and low-dose aspirin plus ticagrelor 60 mg twice daily (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74-0.95) had a significant advantage in myocardial infarction compared with low-dose aspirin monotherapy, while low-dose aspirin plus 2.5 mg rivaroxaban twice daily (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.94) was better than low-dose aspirin in the treatment of ischemic stroke. In the major bleeding branch, low-dose aspirin plus ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.70-2.90), low-dose aspirin plus ticagrelor 60 mg twice daily (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.70-2.60), low-dose aspirin plus rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.30-2.00), and rivaroxaban 5 mg twice daily (HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.20-1.90) showed higher major bleeding risk compared with low-dose aspirin.

CONCLUSIONS: Considering MACEs, myocardial infarction, all kinds of stroke, ischemic stroke, and major bleeding, low-dose aspirin plus rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily should be considered the preferred regimen for S-ASCVD patients with low bleeding risk.

PMID:36867384 | DOI:10.1007/s40256-023-00574-9

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-25742-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The construction of supplier transaction is one of the strategic choices of many firms. However, the impact of business strategies on the persistence of earnings remains to be further investigated. The innovation of this paper lies in interpreting the impact of supplier transaction on earnings persistence from the perspective of characteristics of the top management team (TMT). We consider Chinese listed manufacturing firms from 2012 to 2019 to examine the relationship between the supplier transaction and the persistence of earnings. Statistical results show that supplier transaction characteristics of the TMT have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between the supplier transaction and the persistence of earnings. This implies that the behavior of TMT can be vital to the firm in maintaining sustainable performance. The higher age level or longer average tenure of TMT can significantly improve the positive effect of the supplier transaction tenure heterogeneity of TMT that will significantly improve the negative effect. This paper expands the literature on supplier relationship, and corporate earnings from a new perspective that improves the empirical evidence of the upper echelons theory, and also provides evidence support for the construction of supplier relationship and TMT.

PMID:36867336 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-25742-x