Category: Nevin Manimala

Rom J Intern Med. 2023 Jan 19. doi: 10.2478/rjim-2023-0002. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is still a global health problem nowadays. A particular COVID-19 patients develop severe symptoms. Some biomarkers can be used to determine disease severity and improve outcome. Homocysteine is one of the novel biomarkers. The objective of this study is to determine the role of serum homocysteine level in stratifying severity of COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Medan, Indonesia from May to December 2021. Subjects were obtained using consecutive sampling method. Inclusion criteria was COVID-19 patients aged 18 years or older and willing to participate in the study. Patients with malignancy, chronic kidney disease, thyroid disease, coronary heart disease, and who consume several medications including cholestyramine, metformin, methotrexate, fibrate, and contraceptive pill, were excluded. Data regarding demographic, laboratory, and biomarker were gathered from each subject. Statistical analyses were conducted at 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 100 patients were enrolled. Most subjects were males (59%) and from Batak ethnicity (64%). Twenty percent subjects had severe COVID-19. The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), D dimer, homocysteine, and procalcitonin were significantly higher in severe COVID-19 subjects. D dimer had the highest sensitivity (91.7%) and specificity (94.7%) in stratifying severe COVID-19, followed by hs-CRP (91.7% and 85.5%, respectively), homocysteine (87.5% and 78.9%, respectively), and procalcitonin (58.3% and 74.0%, respectively). Conclusion: Homocysteine can be used as a biomarker to determine COVID-19 severity.

PMID:36657014 | DOI:10.2478/rjim-2023-0002

Int J Nurs Educ Scholarsh. 2023 Jan 20;20(1). doi: 10.1515/ijnes-2022-0016. eCollection 2023 Jan 1.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate effectiveness of a multisite program promoting the successful transition of baccalaureate and graduate entry (with a prior degree) students into pre-licensure curricula. Faculty concern around nursing students’ successful completion of nursing programs and passage of the nursing licensure exam stems from challenges students encounter in core courses, study habits, and civility.

METHODS: One hundred eighty-five students participated in a quasi-experimental pre-post-test mixed-methods study. Students completed content modules and open-ended surveys.

RESULTS: Most students found the program helpful. Statistically significant improvements were shown in medication calculation, reading comprehension, and medical terminology. No statistically significant improvement was shown in anatomy and physiology.

CONCLUSIONS: Our Transition to Nursing program shows promise and adds to proactive strategies in preparing students for a successful transition into nursing programs. Our innovative approach may serve as a model to nursing schools and colleges around the world to promote student success.

PMID:36656999 | DOI:10.1515/ijnes-2022-0016

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2023 Jan 19. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2022-1256. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This tutorial shows how to perform a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies (DTA) based on a 2 × 2 table available for each included primary study. First, univariate methods for meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity are presented. Then the use of univariate logistic regression models with and without random effects for e.g. sensitivity is described. Diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) are then introduced to combine sensitivity and specificity into one single measure and to assess publication bias. Finally, bivariate random effects models using the exact binomial likelihood to describe within-study variability and a normal distribution to describe between-study variability are presented as the method of choice. Based on this model summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curves are constructed using a regression model logit-true positive rate (TPR) over logit-false positive rate (FPR). Also it is demonstrated how to perform the necessary calculations with the freely available software R. As an example a meta-analysis of DTA studies using Procalcitonin as a diagnostic marker for sepsis is presented.

PMID:36656998 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2022-1256

Science. 2023 Jan 20;379(6629):228-233. doi: 10.1126/science.adg6746. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

ABSTRACT

Richard Gill is fighting the shoddy statistics that put nurses in prison for serial murder.

PMID:36656931 | DOI:10.1126/science.adg6746

Science. 2023 Jan 20;379(6629):232. doi: 10.1126/science.adg6747. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36656930 | DOI:10.1126/science.adg6747

Science. 2023 Jan 20;379(6629):278-283. doi: 10.1126/science.ade7651. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

ABSTRACT

Synthesizing many-body quantum systems with various ranges of interactions facilitates the study of quantum chaotic dynamics. Such extended interaction range can be enabled by using nonlocal degrees of freedom such as photonic modes in an otherwise locally connected structure. Here, we present a superconducting quantum simulator in which qubits are connected through an extensible photonic-bandgap metamaterial, thus realizing a one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model with tunable hopping range and on-site interaction. Using individual site control and readout, we characterize the statistics of measurement outcomes from many-body quench dynamics, which enables in situ Hamiltonian learning. Further, the outcome statistics reveal the effect of increased hopping range, showing the predicted crossover from integrability to ergodicity. Our work enables the study of emergent randomness from chaotic many-body evolution and, more broadly, expands the accessible Hamiltonians for quantum simulation using superconducting circuits.

PMID:36656924 | DOI:10.1126/science.ade7651

PLoS Genet. 2023 Jan 19;19(1):e1010054. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010054. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We introduce a fast, new algorithm for inferring from allele count data the FST parameters describing genetic distances among a set of populations and/or unrelated diploid individuals, and a tree with branch lengths corresponding to FST values. The tree can reflect historical processes of splitting and divergence, but seeks to represent the actual genetic variance as accurately as possible with a tree structure. We generalise two major approaches to defining FST, via correlations and mismatch probabilities of sampled allele pairs, which measure shared and non-shared components of genetic variance. A diploid individual can be treated as a population of two gametes, which allows inference of coancestry coefficients for individuals as well as for populations, or a combination of the two. A simulation study illustrates that our fast method-of-moments estimation of FST values, simultaneously for multiple populations/individuals, gains statistical efficiency over pairwise approaches when the population structure is close to tree-like. We apply our approach to genome-wide genotypes from the 26 worldwide human populations of the 1000 Genomes Project. We first analyse at the population level, then a subset of individuals and in a final analysis we pool individuals from the more homogeneous populations. This flexible analysis approach gives advantages over traditional approaches to population structure/coancestry, including visual and quantitative assessments of long-standing questions about the relative magnitudes of within- and between-population genetic differences.

PMID:36656906 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1010054

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2023 Jan 19:llad028. doi: 10.1093/ced/llad028. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vitiligo shows regional variance. Recently, an association between vitiligo and extracutaneous conditions, including other autoimmune, metabolic, and dermatologic disorders, has been suggested. Despite its increasing incidence, the epidemiological trends and comorbidities of vitiligo have rarely been quantified in Asia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, incidence, and associated disorders of vitiligo using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database.

METHODS: We included all vitiligo patients, classified by the International Statistical Classification of Disease, 10th revision (ICD-10) code of L80, with ≥3 documented visits from 2003 to 2019. Incidence and prevalence of vitiligo were estimated along the study period. Age, sex-, insurance type-, and income level-matched controls (ratio 1:5) were selected to compare comorbidities. The odds ratios between comorbidities and vitiligo were calculated through conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS: The incidence and annual prevalence of vitiligo in Korea increased from 2003 and 2019, with incidence peaking in summer. Age-specific incidence showed a bimodal distribution, with the steepest increase in the group aged < 20 years. Many comorbidities, including alopecia areata, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, chronic hepatitis, anxiety disorder, and mood disorder, showed higher odds ratios in vitiligo patients than controls.

CONCLUSION: The incidence and prevalence of vitiligo are increasing, particularly among younger patients in Korea. In addition, various comorbidities are associated with vitiligo. Therefore, if vitiligo patients present extracutaneous symptoms, physicians should consider the possibility of other comorbid diseases.

PMID:36656897 | DOI:10.1093/ced/llad028

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023 Jan 19;17(1):e0011065. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011065. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

La Crosse virus (LACV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that causes more pediatric neuroinvasive disease than any other arbovirus in the United States. The geographic focus of reported LACV neuroinvasive disease (LACV-ND) expanded from the Midwest into Appalachia in the 1990s, and most cases have been reported from a few high-risk foci since then. Here, we used publicly available human disease data to investigate changes in the distribution of geographic LACV-ND clusters between 2003 and 2021 and to investigate socioeconomic and demographic predictors of county-level disease risk in states with persistent clusters. We used spatial scan statistics to identify high-risk clusters from 2003-2021 and a generalized linear mixed model to identify socioeconomic and demographic predictors of disease risk. The distribution of LACV-ND clusters was consistent during the study period, with an intermittent cluster in the upper Midwest and three persistent clusters in Appalachia that included counties in east Tennessee / western North Carolina, West Virginia, and Ohio. In those states, county-level cumulative incidence was higher when more of the population was white and when median household income was lower. Public health officials should target efforts to reduce LACV-ND incidence in areas with consistent high risks.

PMID:36656896 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0011065

Fam Med. 2023 Jan;55(1):51-55. doi: 10.22454/FamMed.55.284433.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstetric care is a core element in family medicine education. New interns typically learn the sterile cervical exam on the job by examining women in labor. This can be uncomfortable for patients and may increase the risk of infection. Simulated training could minimize these challenges, but manufactured models are expensive and not widely available in residency programs. We sought to evaluate a simple, homemade sewn model using stretchy fabric and pipe cleaners that could improve teaching and acquisition of cervical examination skills and common obstetrical procedures.

METHODS: We used the model to teach cervical examination skills to students and new interns and assessed participant satisfaction. We evaluated examination accuracy by grading practice exams on the model before and after a workshop teaching obstetrical procedures including the sterile vaginal exam. We calculated satisfaction using summary statistics. We evaluated pre- and postscores for exam accuracy using paired t tests.

RESULTS: Interns demonstrated a significant improvement in cervical exam skills using the model, and participants reported very high satisfaction with the workshop utilizing the model.

CONCLUSIONS: We developed a simple, low-cost cervical exam model that was shown to be well-regarded by trainees and could be duplicated by other residency programs. This approach provides a unique and accessible way to offer hands-on simulation during obstetrical training. The model may improve trainees’ understanding of the procedures which would lead to better experiences for obstetrical patients.

PMID:36656888 | DOI:10.22454/FamMed.55.284433