Category: Nevin Manimala

J Pharm Policy Pract. 2023 Jun 8;16(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s40545-023-00573-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Medication reconciliation is an effective strategy to reduce medication errors upon hospital admission. The process involves obtaining a best possible medication history (BPMH), which can be both time-consuming and resource-intensive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telepharmacy was used to reduce the risk of viral transmission. Telepharmacy is the remote provision of pharmacy-led clinical services, such as obtaining BPMHs, using telecommunications. However, the accuracy of telephone-obtained BPMHs has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of patients who have an accurate BPMH from the telephone-obtained BPMH compared to an in-person obtained BPMH.

METHODS: This prospective, observational study took place in a large tertiary hospital. Recruited patients or carers had their BPMH obtained by a pharmacist over the telephone. The same patients or carers then had their BPMH conducted in-person to identify any deviations between the telephone-obtained and in-person obtained BPMH. All telephone-obtained BPMHs were timed with a stopwatch. Any deviations were categorised according to their potential consequence. An accurate BPMH was defined as having no deviations. Descriptive statistics were used to report all quantitative variables. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for patients and medications for having medication deviations.

RESULTS: In total, 116 patients were recruited to receive both a telephone-obtained and in-person obtained BPMH. Of these, 91 patients (78%) had an accurate BPMH with no deviations. Of the 1104 medications documented across all the BPMHs, 1064 (96%) had no deviation. Of the 40 (4%) medication deviations, 38 were deemed low-risk (3%) and 2 high-risk (1%). A patient was more likely to have a deviation if they are taking more medications (aOR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01-1.22; p < 0.05). A medication was more likely to have a deviation if it was regular non-prescription medication (aOR: 4.82; 95% CI: 2.14-10.82; p < 0.001) or ‘when required’ non-prescription medication (aOR: 3.12; 95% CI: 1.20-8.11; p = 0.02) or a topical medication (aOR: 12.53; 95% CI: 4.34-42.17; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Telepharmacy represents a reliable and time-efficient alternative to in-person BPMHs.

PMID:37291672 | DOI:10.1186/s40545-023-00573-w

Eye Vis (Lond). 2023 Jun 9;10(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s40662-023-00341-6.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the refractive prediction error of common intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formulae in patients who underwent intrascleral IOL fixation using two different techniques.

METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized, longitudinal, single-site, single-surgeon study. Patients who underwent intrascleral IOL implantation using the Yamane or the Carlevale technique were followed up for a period of six months postoperatively. Refraction was measured using the best-corrected visual acuity at 4 m (EDTRS chart). Lens decentration, tilt and effective lens position (ELP) were assessed using an anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). The prediction error (PE) and the absolute error (AE) were evaluated for the SRK/T, Hollayday1 and Hoffer Q formula. Subsequently, correlations between the PE and axial length, keratometry, white to white and ELP were assessed.

RESULTS: In total, 53 eyes of 53 patients were included in the study. Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients were in the Yamane group (YG) and 29 eyes of 29 patients were in the Carlevale group (CG). In the YG, the Holladay 1 and Hoffer Q formulae resulted in a hyperopic PE (0.02 ± 0.56 D, and 0.13 ± 0.64 D, respectively) while in the SRK/T formula the PE was slightly myopic (- 0.16 ± 0.56 D). In the CG, SRK/T and Holladay 1 formulae led to a myopic PE (- 0.1 ± 0.80 D and – 0.04 ± 0.74 D, respectively), Hoffer Q to a hyperopic PE (0.04 ± 0.75 D). There was no difference between the PE of the same formulae across both groups (P > 0.05). In both groups the AE differed significantly from zero in each evaluated formula. The AE error was within ± 0.50 D in 45%-71% and was within ± 1.00 D in 72%-92% of eyes depending on the formula and surgical method used. No significant differences were found between formulae within and across groups (P > 0.05). Intraocular lens tilt was lower in the CG (6.45 ± 2.03°) compared to the YG (7.67 ± 3.70°) (P < 0.001). Lens decentration was higher in the YG (0.57 ± 0.37 mm) than in the CG (0.38 ± 0.21 mm), though the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.9996).

CONCLUSIONS: Refractive predictability was similar in both groups. IOL tilt was better in the CG, however this did not influence the refractive predictability. Though not significant, Holladay 1 formula seemed to be more probable than the SRK/T and Hoffer Q formulae. However, significant outliers were observed in all three different formulae and therefore remain a challenging task in secondary fixated IOLs.

PMID:37291668 | DOI:10.1186/s40662-023-00341-6

J Eat Disord. 2023 Jun 8;11(1):94. doi: 10.1186/s40337-023-00789-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) have high rates of suicidal ideation (SI) and attempts (SA). Fasting, body dissatisfaction, binge eating and purging have been associated with SI in non-clinical samples, individuals with anorexia nervosa or low-weight EDs, and a multi-diagnostic sample. However, few studies have examined how ED symptoms contribute to risk for SI in conjunction with other well-established risk factors, such as nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and past SA. The aim of this study was to examine which ED symptoms contribute unique risk for current SI in a multi-diagnostic, clinical sample when statistically adjusting for gender, NSSI, past SA, and past SI.

METHODS: We conducted a chart review of 166 individuals who presented for ED treatment at an outpatient facility and signed informed consent. Initial intake interviews were coded for the presence versus absence of fasting, fear of weight gain, binge eating, purging, excessive exercise, restriction, body checking, self-weighing, and body dissatisfaction, as well as NSSI, past SA, past SI, and current SI.

RESULTS: A total of 26.5% of the sample endorsed current SI. In a logistic regression analysis, identifying as male (n = 17) or having a non-binary gender identity (n = 1), the presence of fasting, and past SI were all significantly associated with increased odds of current SI, whereas excessive exercise significantly decreased odds of current SI. Fasting was equally common across all diagnostic groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Future research should establish the temporal relationship between fasting and SI to better inform intervention.

PMID:37291663 | DOI:10.1186/s40337-023-00789-w

BMC Chem. 2023 Jun 8;17(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s13065-023-00972-9.

ABSTRACT

Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zuccagni) Trotter] is an indigenous crop in Ethiopia, and Amhara region is the predominant teff producing region in the country. This study was aimed at developing an analytical methodology useful to determine the geographical origin of teff produced in the Amhara Region, based on multielement analysis combined with multivariate statistical techniques. For this, a total of 72 teff grain samples were collected from three zones (West Gojjam, East Gojjam, and Awi) and analysed for K, Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Cd contents using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The digestion and ICP-OES analysis method were accurate, with percentage recovery ranging 85.5 to 109% across the different metals analysed. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to discriminate samples based on their production regions. Magnesium, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Zn were the most discriminating elements among the samples. The LDA model provided 96% correct classification of samples into production regions and varietal types, with an average prediction ability of 92%. Hence, the multielement analysis combined with statistical modeling can be used in the authentication of the geographical origin and varietal type of teff from Amhara region.

PMID:37291660 | DOI:10.1186/s13065-023-00972-9

Angiology. 2023 Jun 8:33197231183087. doi: 10.1177/00033197231183087. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Endocan, as an endothelial cell damage marker, plays role in several cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the role of endocan as a potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). International databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for relevant studies assessing endocan levels in OSA patients compared with healthy controls or within different severities or comorbidities of OSA. Random-effect meta-analysis was performed in order to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of serum/plasma endocan in all comparisons. A total of 10 studies were included in our systematic review, among which seven were used in meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that endocan levels were significantly higher in patients with OSA compared with healthy controls (SMD 1.29, 95% CI 0.64-1.93, P < .001) and this was not different between serum and plasma subgroups. However, there was no statistical difference between severe and non-severe OSA patients (SMD .64, 95% CI -.22 to 1.50, P = .147). Considerably, higher endocan levels in patients with OSA in comparison with non-OSA individuals might have clinical implications. This association warrants further research due to its potential use as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.

PMID:37290048 | DOI:10.1177/00033197231183087

Evol Comput. 2023 Jun 8:1-35. doi: 10.1162/evco_a_00335. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We contribute to the efficient approximation of the Pareto-set for the classical NP-hard multi-objective minimum spanning tree problem (moMST) adopting evolutionary computation. More precisely, by building upon preliminary work, we analyse the neighborhood structure of Pareto-optimal spanning trees and design several highly biased sub-graph-based mutation operators founded on the gained insights. In a nutshell, these operators replace (un)connected sub-trees of candidate solutions with locally optimal sub-trees. The latter (biased) step is realized by applying Kruskal’s single-objective MST algorithm to a weighted sum scalarization of a sub-graph. We prove runtime complexity results for the introduced operators and investigate the desirable Pareto-beneficial property. This property states that mutants cannot be dominated by their parent. Moreover, we perform an extensive experimental benchmark study to showcase the operator’s practical suitability. Our results confirm that the subgraph based operators beat baseline algorithms from the literature even with severely restricted computational budget in terms of function evaluations on four different classes of complete graphs with different shapes of the Pareto-front.

PMID:37290030 | DOI:10.1162/evco_a_00335

J Am Coll Health. 2023 Jun 8:1-8. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2222830. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: College students experience stressors that can increase the risk for mental health concerns and negatively impact retention rates. It is crucial for practitioners working on college campuses to find creative ways to meet the needs of their students and cultivate a campus culture that is dedicated to bolstering mental health. The purpose of this study was to explore if implementing 1-h mental health workshops covering stress management, wellness, mindfulness, and SMART goals was feasible and advantageous for students. Participants: Researchers hosted 1-h workshops in 13 classrooms. Participants included 257 students who completed the pretest and 151 students who completed the post-test. Methods: A quasi-experimental 1-group pre- and post-test design was utilized. Results: Means and standard deviations were utilized to examine knowledge, attitudes, and intentions in each domain. Results indicated statistically significant improvements in each. Conclusion: Implications and interventions are provided for mental health practitioner working on college campuses.

PMID:37290001 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2023.2222830

J Am Coll Health. 2023 Jun 8:1-5. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2217725. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The primary goal of conducting this research was to gain insight into what characteristics of a community pharmacy college students may find appealing and how community pharmacies can tailor their services toward college students. Participants: The survey was distributed to 3,000 college students at The University of Mississippi from various schools and majors across campus. A total of 188 students participated by completing questions from the survey. Methods: The research was performed by using a cross-sectional online survey, and basic descriptive statistics, including frequency counts were used to characterize the findings. Statistical analyses, including crosstabs and chi-square analyses, were used to determine if there were any significant (p < 0.05) associations between characteristics such as pharmacy preferences and other variables. Results: Results of this survey indicated that the majority of respondents have used a community pharmacy in the past six months, and a small number of participants are interested in using a pharmacy for more than the sole reason of filling a prescription. Results also showed that insurance and convenience were the two most influential factors in choosing a community pharmacy. Conclusion: The findings presented in this study show a number of opportunities for community pharmacies to improve the health of college students and their communities.

PMID:37289988 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2023.2217725

J Am Coll Health. 2023 Jun 8:1-14. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2217717. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Limited research exists on the simultaneous effects of family functioning, social competence, and social support on the well-being and depression, anxiety, and stress of college students and the power of these effects. We examined these predictors in two models to determine each variable’s impact on students’ mental health.

PARTICIPANTS: From October 2018 to November 2018, 726 students from 18 institutions of varying sizes across the United States participated in an online survey.

METHODS: Stratified random sampling with institution size and setting as the strata; descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to test study hypotheses.

RESULTS: Variables predicted mental well-being and symptoms across both models, with social competence being the largest predictor, followed by perceived social support and family functioning.

CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners should consider the impact of social influences on student mental health and design interventions to strengthen social competence and support.

PMID:37289975 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2023.2217717

Adv Physiol Educ. 2023 Jun 8. doi: 10.1152/advan.00060.2022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Online Flipped Classroom (OFC) differs from the traditional flipped classroom as it does not involve face-to-face interaction between teachers and students. Instead, the class meeting is conducted online, and it is focused on active and collaborative learning (e.g., discussion，rather than lecturing). To evaluate the effectiveness of the Physiology OFC, we compared it with online live teaching (OLT) offered in the same school and semester. We analyzed the exam scores of the Physiology course as well as the scores for other courses offered in the same semester and after the Physiology course. Our analysis found no statistically significant difference between OFC and OLT in terms of overall exam scores for all students. However, high-achieving students in OFC scored higher on the total exam score and short answer questions (SAQs) but the score of case study questions (CSQs) of low-achieving students was lower. Furthermore, students in OFC scored higher in Medical Immunology and courses dominated by logical thinking such as Pharmacology and Diagnostics than students in OLT. In conclusion, our findings suggest that OFC can achieve the same teaching effectiveness as OLT, with a more positive impact on high-achieving students. The positive impact extends beyond the Physiology course to other courses where logical thinking is critical. However, the lower performance of low-achieving students in CSQs highlights the need for further research to determine the reasons for their lower performance and potential strategies to improve their learning outcomes.

PMID:37289950 | DOI:10.1152/advan.00060.2022