Category: Nevin Manimala

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2023 Jan 7;79:102884. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102884. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Statistical methods, especially machine learning, learning(ML), are pivotal for the analyses of large data generated by multiomics human gut microbiota study. These analyses lead to the discovery of microbe-disease associations. Furthermore, recent efforts for more data transparency and accessible analytical tools improved data availability and study reproducibility. Our recent accumulated knowledge on microbe-disease associations brings light to the next questions: what is the role of microbes in disease progression and how can we apply our knowledge of microbiome in clinical settings? Here, we introduce recent studies that implemented ML to answer the questions of causal inference and clinical translation.

PMID:36623442 | DOI:10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102884

Theriogenology. 2022 Dec 13;198:264-272. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.12.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The stem cell-based research for reproductive biotechnology has been widely studied and shows promise for repairing defective tissue or degenerated cells to treat different diseases. The adipose tissue and amniotic membrane have awakened great interest in regenerative medicine and arises as a promising source of mesenchymal stem cells. Both types, adipose and amniotic derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) are multipotent cells with an enhanced ability to differentiate into multiple lineages.. We aimed to evaluate the effect of basal supplementation of exosomes in cell cultures with canine amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Mesenchymal stem cells derived from canine amniotic and adipose tissue were isolated and cultured performing cell passages until 80-90% confluence was reached. The growth curve was determined and peak cell growth was observed in the second passage. The cells were then characterized and differentiated into adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages. Extracellular vesicles from amnion were isolated using an ultracentrifugation protocol and characterized by nanosight analysis. To evaluate their ability to improve cellular viability in naturally inefficient passages, exosomes were co-cultures to the MSC cells. The results showed a 15-20% increase in the expansion rate of cultures supplemented with vesicles extracted in the first and second passages when compared to the control group. Statistical analysis using the Dunnett test (p ≤ 0.05) corroborated this result, showing a positive correlation between supplementation and expansion rate. These results indicate not only the importance of exosomes in the cell communication process but also the feasibility of the culture supplementation protocol for therapeutic purposes. The potential of the AMSCs for reproductive biotechnology is undoubted, however, their application to repair reproductive disorders and the involved mechanisms remain elusive. The strategies to enable the Adipose Stem Cells and AMSCs application in reproductive biotechnology and optimize their use for tissue regeneration open new venues using exosomes interactions.

PMID:36623429 | DOI:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.12.012

J Infect Public Health. 2022 Dec 30;16(2):280-285. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.12.018. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition causes diverse alterations in the immune system, and COVID-19 is an infection affecting the immune system, consequently leading to malnutrition.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the use of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and selected inflammatory indices for malnutrition screening among COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: This is a single-center retrospective study that enrolled 289 hospitalized COVID-19 patients between 1st January to 30th April 2021, their median age was 59 years. Demographic and biochemical data were collected from patients’ records. The PNI, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and an early warning score to predict mortality risk (ANDC) were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: about 30 % of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and ICU patients had significantly higher levels of white blood cell (WBCs) count, neutrophils, C-reactive protein (C-RP), and D-dimer (P < 0.05). On the other hand, they had significantly lower levels of lymphocytes and serum albumin (P < 0.001; for both). Those with high ANDC scores were more likely to develop severe conditions affecting nutritional status compared to non-ICU (OR = 1.04, 95 % CI:1.014-1.057; P < 0.001). ANDC showed good discrimination ability with an AUC of 0.784 (cut-off value > 68.19 score).

CONCLUSION: It is suggested that ANDC could be used as a predictor for nutritional status and severity in COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

PMID:36623422 | DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2022.12.018

Cortex. 2022 Dec 17;159:118-130. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.12.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cerebral achromatopsia is an acquired colour perception impairment caused by brain injury, and is generally considered to be rare. Both hemispheres are thought to contribute to colour perception, but most published cases have had bilateral or right hemisphere lesions. In contrast to congenital colour blindness that affects the discrimination between specific hues, cerebral achromatopsia is often described as affecting perception across all colours. Most studies of cerebral achromatopsia have been single cases or case series of patients with colour perception deficits. Here, we explore colour perception deficits in an unbiased sample of patients with stroke affecting the posterior cerebral artery (N = 63) from the Back of the Brain project. Patients were selected based on lesion location only, and not on the presence of a given symptom. All patients were tested with the Farnsworth D-15 Dichotomous Colour Blindness Test and performance compared to matched controls (N = 45) using single case statistics. In patients with abnormal performance, the patterns of colour difficulties were qualitatively analysed. 22% of the patients showed significant problems with colour discrimination (44% of patients with bilateral lesions, 28% with left hemisphere lesions and 5% with right hemisphere lesions). Lesion analyses identified two regions in ventral occipital temporal areas in the left hemisphere as particularly strongly related to impaired performance in colour perception, but also indicated that bilateral lesions are more strongly associated with impaired performance that unilateral lesions. While some patients only had mild deficits, colour perception impairments were in many cases severe. Many patients had selective deficits only affecting the perception of some hues. The results suggest that colour perception difficulties following PCA stroke are common, and that they vary in severity and expression. In addition, the results point towards bilateral processing of colour perception with a left hemispheric domination, contradicting previous reports.

PMID:36623418 | DOI:10.1016/j.cortex.2022.12.001

Neuroimage Clin. 2023 Jan 5;37:103311. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103311. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lesions in the periventricular, (juxta)cortical, and infratentorial region, as visible on brain MRI, are part of the diagnostic criteria for Multiple sclerosis (MS) whereas lesions in the subcortical region are currently only a marker of disease activity. It is unknown whether MS lesions follow individual spatial patterns or whether they occur in a random manner across diagnostic regions.

AIM: First, to describe cross-sectionally the spatial lesion patterns in patients with MS. Second, to investigate the spatial association of new lesions and lesions at baseline across diagnostic regions.

METHODS: Experienced neuroradiologists analyzed brain MRI (3D, 3T) in a cohort of 330 early MS patients. Lesions at baseline and new solitary lesions after two years were segmented (manually and by consensus) and classified as periventricular, (juxta)cortical, or infratentorial (diagnostic regions) or subcortical-with or without Gadolinium-enhancement. Gadolinium enhancement of lesions in the different regions was compared by Chi square test. New lesions in the four regions served as dependent variable in four zero-inflated Poisson models each with the six independent variables of lesions in the four regions at baseline, age and gender.

RESULTS: At baseline, lesions were most often observed in the subcortical region (mean 13.0 lesions/patient), while lesion volume was highest in the periventricular region (mean 2287 µl/patient). Subcortical lesions were less likely to show gadolinium enhancement (3.1 %) than juxtacortical (4.3 %), periventricular (5.3 %) or infratentorial lesions (7.2 %). Age was inversely correlated with new periventricular, juxtacortical and subcortical lesions. New lesions in the periventricular, juxtacortical and infratentorial region showed a significant autocorrelative behavior being positively related to the number of lesions in the respective regions at baseline. New lesions in the subcortical region showed a different behavior with a positive association with baseline periventricular lesions and a negative association with baseline infratentorial lesions.

CONCLUSION: Across regions, new lesions do not occur randomly; instead, new lesions in the periventricular, juxtacortical and infratentorial diagnostic region are associated with that at baseline. Lesions in the subcortical regions are more closely related to periventricular lesions. Moreover, subcortical lesions substantially contribute to lesion burden in MS but are less likely to show gadolinium enhancement (than lesions in the diagnostic regions).

PMID:36623350 | DOI:10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103311

Poult Sci. 2022 Dec 26;102(3):102449. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102449. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chicken chaphamaparvovirus (CkChpV) is a novel parvovirus species that belongs to the Chaphamaparvovirus genus and is frequently detected in different vertebrates exhibiting diarrhea symptoms. In this study, screening tests were performed on samples from 478 chickens, including 357 with diarrhea and 121 healthy, collected from 25 farms in China to investigate CkChpV infection in China. CkChpV, avian nephritis virus, rotavirus, chicken parvovirus, Newcastle disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, chicken proventricular necrosis virus, and chicken circovirus were all detected in the samples at a positivity rate of 32%, 9%, 6%, 2%, 2%, 1%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. Statistical analyses suggested a correlation between the infection by the virus and diarrhea (P < 0.05). The genome of 9 strains from the CkChpV-positive samples, whose length was 4,432 nucleotides, have been completely sequenced. The strains shared 97.2 to 98.7% genomic similarity, 98.1 to 99.1%, and 98.2 to 99.2% amino acid similarity, respectively, for NS1 and VP1 compared with CkChpV strain RS/BR/15/2S in GenBank. The genetic relationship between these strains and CkChpV was established through phylogenetic analysis. These findings indicated the infection existence of CkChpV in China, which enriches our understanding of the diversity of the chaphamaparvoviruses and its host spectrum.

PMID:36623336 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2022.102449

J Forensic Odontostomatol. 2022 Dec 30;3(40):2-21.

ABSTRACT

Objective of work: The aim of this study was to determine the most frequent injuries and their relationship with gender, age and aetiology. Materials and Methods: An Epidemiologic Systematic Review was carried out, in the databases PUBMED and Scopus, between 2010-2020. We used Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist to access the Risk of Bias and Grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and the evaluations (GRADE) method was applied to assess the quality of the evidence of the 78 included articles. Results and Conclusions: Out of the 78 articles included, 14 were classified as moderate-risk bias and 58 as low risk. Only 20.5% had a prospective design and the male/female ratio ranged from 0.299 to 11.83. The majority of the studies described fractures (67) and only 26 reported dental injuries. The studies were distributed into five regions of countries: Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Muslin regions. The results showed that road traffic accidents (55.37%) were the most frequent type of trauma, followed by assault (17.56%) and falls (10.21%). Fractures were the most prevalent injuries (84.3%). It was possible to establish an association between road traffic accidents and Asian countries. Assaults were more frequent in Africa, predominantly males, whilst falls increased with age, amongst women, in European countries. Fractures were usually observed in Muslin regions.

PMID:36623294

Obes Rev. 2023 Jan 9:e13544. doi: 10.1111/obr.13544. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and impact of youth involvement in policy processes within public health, education, and social work. Youth involvement in policy processes may enhance the relevance of policies and strengthen democratic practices. This scoping review aims to explore the nature, extent, and impact of youth involvement in policy processes in public health, education, and social work, with a focus on health, well-being, and obesity prevention. Empirical studies published from 1989 and evaluating involvement of youth aged 10 to 19 years old from all socioeconomic backgrounds and countries. Studies will be searched in seven databases. Data will be extracted and synthesized narratively by rights-based perspectives on youth involvement, practical processes of the involvement, and social experiences using descriptive statistics and visuals.

PMID:36623282 | DOI:10.1111/obr.13544

Orthopedics. 2023 Jan 10:1-3. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20230104-01. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Patellofemoral complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are some of the most commonly cited complications in the literature, accounting for up to 50% of secondary procedures in the literature. Lateral dislocation of the patella, while rare, is one of many causes of extensor mechanism dysfunction. We sought to evaluate a novel patellar centralization procedure by comparing patients’ pre- and postoperative clinical and radiographic data. A retrospective case-series study was performed on 12 patient knees (5 male and 7 female) presenting with ambulatory dysfunction due to laterally dislocating patella. All of the knees had component revision combined with hamstring autograft tendon weave and medial reefing of the retinaculum and vastus medialis. The results revealed reliable stabilization of the patella and improved extensor lag at a mean 2.2±2.2 years’ short-term follow-up, which correlated with improved postoperative radiographic measurements. Range of motion in both flexion and extension was improved postoperatively. Improvements in radiographic measures of patellar tilt and patellar displacement were statistically significant, with reductions in the mean patellar tilt from 41.5°±25.9° to 3.9°±13.7° (P=.004), and in the mean patellar displacement from 2.8±2.1 cm to 0.8±0.9 cm (P=.012). Our study findings support the use of the extensor mechanism centralization procedure with autograft hamstring in management of laterally dislocating patella after TKA. [Orthopedics. 20XX;XX(X):xx-xx.].

PMID:36623271 | DOI:10.3928/01477447-20230104-01

Adv Mater. 2023 Jan 9:e2209094. doi: 10.1002/adma.202209094. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Room-temperature interaction between light-matter hybrid particles such as exciton-polaritons under extremely low-pump plays a crucial role in future coherent quantum light sources. However, the practical and scalable realization of coherent quantum light sources operating under low-pump remains a challenge because of the insufficient polariton interaction strength. Here, at room temperature, we demonstrate a very large polariton interaction strength, g ≈ 128 ± 21 μeVμm² realized in a 2D nano-layered Metal-Organic Framework (MOF). As a result, a polariton lasing at an extremely-low pump fluence of P₁ ≈ 0.01 ± 0.0015 μJcm^-2 (first threshold) was observed. Interestingly, as pump fluencies increase to P₂ ≈ 0.031 ± 0.003 μJcm^-2 (second threshold), a spontaneous transition to a polariton breakdown region occurred, which was not reported before. Finally, an ordinary photon lasing occurred at P₃ ≈ 0.11 ± 0.077 μJcm^-2 (third threshold), or above. Our experiments and statistical model reveal new insights on the transition mechanisms characterized by three distinct optical regions. This work introduces MOF as a new type of quantum material, with their naturally formed polariton cavities, as a cost-effective and scalable solution to build micro-scale coherent quantum light sources and polaritonic devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36623260 | DOI:10.1002/adma.202209094