Category: Nevin Manimala

Sci Data. 2022 Oct 15;9(1):628. doi: 10.1038/s41597-022-01732-5.

ABSTRACT

We present an integrated database suitable for the investigation of the economic development of countries by using the Economic Fitness and Complexity framework. Firstly, we implement machine learning techniques to reconstruct the export flow of services and we combine them to the export flow of the physical goods, generating a complete view of the international market, denoted the Integrated database. Successively, we support the technical quality of the database by computing the main metrics of the Economic Fitness and Complexity framework: (i) we build a statistically validated network of economic activities, where preferred paths of development and clusters of High-Tech industries naturally emerge; (ii) we evaluate the Economic Fitness, an algorithmic assessment of the competitiveness of countries, removing the unexpected misbehaviour of economies under-represented by the sole consideration of the export of the physical goods.

PMID:36243877 | DOI:10.1038/s41597-022-01732-5

Syst Rev. 2022 Oct 15;11(1):220. doi: 10.1186/s13643-022-02090-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal blood pressure control among people living with diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the primary causes of cardiovascular complications and death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, there is a paucity of evidence on the prevalence and associated factors of suboptimal blood pressure control in SSA. Therefore, this review aimed to estimate its pooled prevalence and associated factors among people living with DM in SSA. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, African Journals OnLine, HINARI, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and direct Google to access observational studies conducted in SSA. Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was used to extract the data, which was exported into STATA/MP version 16.0 for further analyses. Heterogeneity across studies was checked using Cochran’s Q test statistics and I² test, and small study effect was checked using Funnel plot symmetry and Egger’s statistical test at a 5% significant level. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence and associated factors of suboptimal blood pressure control at a 95% confidence interval (CI) and significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Of the 7329 articles retrieved, 21 articles were eligible for the meta-analysis. After performing random-effects model, the pooled prevalence of suboptimal blood pressure control was 69.8% (95% CI: 63.43, 76.25%). Poor adherence to antihypertensive treatment (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.03-2.80, I² = 0.0%, p = 0.531) and overweight (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.57-3.68, I² = 0.00%, p = 0.47) were significantly associated with suboptimal blood pressure control.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of suboptimal blood pressure control among diabetic patients in SSA was high, and poor adherence to antihypertensive treatment and overweight were significantly associated with suboptimal blood pressure control. Hence, there is an urgent need for initiatives to improve and control hypertension, and preventive measures should concentrate on modifiable risk factors.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020187901.

PMID:36243876 | DOI:10.1186/s13643-022-02090-4

Clin Epigenetics. 2022 Oct 15;14(1):129. doi: 10.1186/s13148-022-01348-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alterations in the epigenome are a risk factor in multiple disease states. We have demonstrated in the past that disruption of the epigenome during early pregnancy or periconception, as demonstrated by altered methylation, may be associated with both assisted reproductive technology and undesirable clinical outcomes at birth, such as low birth weight. We have previously defined this altered methylation, calculated based on statistical upper and lower limits of outlier CpGs compared to the population, as an ‘outlier methylation phenotype’ (OMP). Our aim in this study was to determine whether children thus identified as possessing an OMP at birth by DNA methylation in cord blood persist as outliers in early childhood based on salivary DNA methylation.

RESULTS: A total of 31 children were included in the analysis. Among 24 children for whom both cord blood DNA and salivary DNA were available, DNA methylation patterns, analyzed using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip (850 K), between cord blood at birth and saliva in childhood at age 6-12 years remain stable (R² range 0.89-0.97). At birth, three out of 28 children demonstrated an OMP in multiple cord blood datasets and hierarchical clustering. Overall DNA methylation among all three OMP children identified as outliers at birth was remarkably stable (individual R² 0.908, 0.92, 0.915), even when only outlier CpG sites were considered (R² 0.694, 0.738, 0.828).

CONCLUSIONS: DNA methylation signatures in cord blood remain stable over time as demonstrated by a strong correlation with epigenetic salivary signatures in childhood. Future work is planned to identify whether a clinical phenotype is associated with OMP and, if so, could undesirable clinical outcomes in childhood and adulthood be predicted at birth.

PMID:36243864 | DOI:10.1186/s13148-022-01348-x

Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s11845-022-03189-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of disposable continuous positive airway pressure (DCPAP) system in decreasing the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P_aCO₂) levels in patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients treated in the emergency department (ED) with respiratory distress and P_aCO₂ > 45 mmHg. Patients were divided into two groups (DCPAP and non-DCPAP), depending on the treatment received to treat AHRF. The difference between the baseline P_aCO₂ levels in the first blood gas obtained from patients at the time of admission and the follow-up blood gas after treatment. Then, the calculated P_aCO₂ decrease was divided by the time elapsed to obtain the rate of decrease in PaCO₂ levels in mmHg/min. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 software. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 61 patients were included in the study, 31 patients in the DCPAP group and 30 patients in the non-DCPAP group. The mean age of the patients was 74.03 ± 10.04, and the male/female was 23/38. The study demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the DCPAP and non-DCPAP groups in terms of P_aCO₂ decreasing rate, and it was found to be twice higher in the DCPAP group (0.11 ± 0.07 mmHg/min) than in the non-DCPAP group (0.05 ± 0.06 mmHg/min).

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the treatment of AHRF patients with a DCPAP provides a faster decrease in P_aCO₂ levels in hypercapnic patients compared to standard medical therapy alone.

PMID:36243821 | DOI:10.1007/s11845-022-03189-2

Abdom Radiol (NY). 2022 Oct 15. doi: 10.1007/s00261-022-03702-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe ultrasound (US) quality for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening/surveillance using the US LI-RADS scoring system, and to assess predictive factors of worse US quality scores.

METHODS: This retrospective study included adult patients (n = 470; M/F 264/206, median age 59y) at risk for HCC that underwent US for HCC screening/surveillance. US examinations were independently reviewed by 2 radiologists that assigned a visualization score (A: no/minimal, B: moderate, C: severe limitation) and US diagnostic category (US LI-RADS 1: negative, US LI-RADS 2: subthreshold, US LI-RADS 3: positive) to each study. A generalized linear mixed model was used to assess the predictive factors of worse visualization score using OR (odds ratio) statistics. Simple Kappa coefficient (K) assessed inter-reader agreement.

RESULTS: For readers 1 and 2, 295/320 (62.8%/68.1%) cases were scored A, 153/134 (32.6%/28.5%) were scored B, and 22/16 (4.6%/3.4%) were scored C, respectively. There was moderate inter-reader agreement for US LI-RADS visualization score (K = 0.478) and 100% concordance for US diagnostic category (K = 1), with 30 (6.4%) cases scored as positive (US LI-RADS 3). Cirrhosis and obesity were significant independent predictors of worse visualization scores (B/C) (cirrhosis: OR 10.4 confidence intervals: [4.25-25.48], p < 0.001; obesity: OR 3.61 [2.11-6.20], p < 0.001). Of the 30 lesions scored as US LI-RADS 3, 9 were characterized as probable or definite HCC on confirmatory CT/MRI, yielding a PPV of 30% (9/30) and a false-positive rate of 70% (21/30).

CONCLUSION: Moderate to severe limitations in quality of US performed for HCC screening/surveillance was observed in approximately one-third of patients. Patients with cirrhosis and/or elevated BMI have poorer quality US studies and may benefit from other screening modalities such as CT or MRI.

PMID:36243829 | DOI:10.1007/s00261-022-03702-2

Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 15;12(1):17323. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22335-5.

ABSTRACT

The potential of the surface dielectric barrier discharge technique (SDBD) was evaluated to decontaminate the date palm fruit. Preliminary investigations emphasized that Aspergillus niger fungus was predominant in most date samples as a post-harvest infestation. The influence of SDBD techniques on the viability of A. niger isolated from date varieties was investigated and documented. Physical and chemical characterizations of treated dates were assessed, and statistical correlation coefficients were calculated and elucidated. A 4 log₁₀ reduction of A. niger radial growth was observed at 3 min exposure/15 days of incubation. Simultaneous reductions in pH, water activity, and moisture content of treated dates were observed when compared to untreated dates. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between physical and chemical variables with the viability of A. niger in treated samples. Therefore, we believe that SDBD treatment will be a promising technique for decontaminating date fruits from attacked fungi, which will positively impact sustainable food security and consumer health.

PMID:36243776 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-22335-5

Sci Data. 2022 Oct 15;9(1):626. doi: 10.1038/s41597-022-01736-1.

ABSTRACT

The holistic nature of omics studies makes them ideally suited to generate hypotheses on health and disease. Sequencing-based genomics and mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics are linked through epigenetic regulation mechanisms. However, epigenomics is currently mainly focused on DNA methylation status using sequencing technologies, while studying histone posttranslational modifications (hPTMs) using MS is lagging, partly because reuse of raw data is impractical. Yet, targeting hPTMs using epidrugs is an established promising research avenue in cancer treatment. Therefore, we here present the most comprehensive MS-based preprocessed hPTM atlas to date, including 21 T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines. We present the data in an intuitive and browsable single licensed Progenesis QIP project and provide all essential quality metrics, allowing users to assess the quality of the data, edit individual peptides, try novel annotation algorithms and export both peptide and protein data for downstream analyses, exemplified by the PeptidoformViz tool. This data resource sets the stage for generalizing MS-based histone analysis and provides the first reusable histone dataset for epidrug development.

PMID:36243775 | DOI:10.1038/s41597-022-01736-1

J Health Popul Nutr. 2022 Oct 15;41(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s41043-022-00328-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A school provided healthy lunch might help to improve the nutritional quality of children’s lunches. However, in the Netherlands, school lunch programs are not common. The aim of this study was to identify factors that promote or inhibit the implementation of a school lunch program at primary schools, from the viewpoint of school professionals.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 204 primary school professionals. The normalization process theory and its four constructs (i.e. coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, reflective monitoring) were used to develop questions and interpret findings. Descriptive statistics were used for 14 multiple choice questions (yes, no, don’t know) and thematic content analysis for qualitative responses.

RESULTS: Participants had a shared understanding about how a lunch program differed from current practices. Most participants had the same view on the rationale for implementation (coherence), such as equality among children. Sixty percent expected that a healthy school lunch will contribute to healthier eating by the children. Participants showed different degrees of cognitive participation (46% indicated that healthy school lunch is good idea). Commitment depended on their belief whether providing a healthy lunch was part of their responsibility as school and 30% expected a large effect on their daily work (collective action). When appraising school lunch implementation (reflective monitoring), participants’ concerns focused on feasibility and adaptability of a program in their own school.

CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of a school lunch program will require substantial effort, although there is considerable support and understanding about potential benefits. The findings point to a number of preconditions for large-scale introduction, including the need for support-both financially and organizationally-bottom-up involvement of teachers, children and parents and freedom to adapt the program.

PMID:36243766 | DOI:10.1186/s41043-022-00328-4

BMC Res Notes. 2022 Sep 22;15(1):326. doi: 10.1186/s13104-022-06217-7.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed in Razi Hospital, Rasht, Iran, between March 2016 and August 2018 on a population of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (56 as COPD exacerbation group and 56 as COPD stable group). Study variables include age, sex, occupation, body mass index (BMI), cigarette consumption, duration of COPD, annual hospitalization, dyspnea, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), FEV1, and FEV1/FVC indices.

RESULT: The mean age of the participants was 63.92 ± 10.75 years. There was a significant difference in the hospitalization between the patients with both exacerbation and normal state of COPD (P ≤ 0.001). HbA1c in the patients with exacerbation of COPD was significantly higher than stable status (P = 0.001). Logistic regression showed that HbA1c levels and hospitalization were predictors of exacerbation of COPD. HbA1c levels were statistically significant in terms of hospitalization in patients with COPD exacerbation. There was a significant difference between the HbA1c levels and MMRC in patients with COPD. The percentage of HbA1c was associated with exacerbation of COPD and HbA1c is a good predictor of disease severity in patients with COPD. It also shows that patients with COPD exacerbation and severe COPD are at the higher risk of hyperglycemia.

PMID:36243756 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-022-06217-7

J Orthop Surg Res. 2022 Oct 15;17(1):454. doi: 10.1186/s13018-022-03348-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the utility of Hounsfield units (HU) obtained from different regions of interest in opportunistic lumbar computed tomography (CT) to predict osteoporosis coupling with data of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

METHODS: A total of 100 patients who attended a university hospital in Shanghai, China, and had undergone CT and DXA tests of the lumbar spine within 3 months were included in this retrospective review. Images were reviewed on axial sections, and regions of interest (ROI) markers were placed on the round, oval, anterior, left, and right of the L1-L4 vertebra to measure the HU. The mean values of CT HU were then compared to the bone mineral density (BMD) measured by DXA. Receiver operator characteristic curves were generated to determine the threshold for diagnosis and its sensitivity and specificity values.

RESULTS: The differences in CT HU of different ROI based on DXA definitions of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and normal individuals were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The HU values of the different ROI correlated well with the BMD values (Spearman coefficient all > 0.75, p < 0.01). The threshold for diagnosing osteoporosis varies from 87 to 111 HU in different ROIs, and the threshold for excluding osteoporosis or osteopenia is 99-125 HU.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study on osteoporosis diagnosis of different ROI with routine CT lumbar scans. There is a strong correlation between CT HU of different ROI in the lumbar spine and BMD, and HU measurements can be used to predict osteoporosis.

PMID:36243720 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-022-03348-2