Category: Nevin Manimala

J Eval Clin Pract. 2022 Oct 3. doi: 10.1111/jep.13776. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36193625 | DOI:10.1111/jep.13776

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Sep 30;246:114142. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114142. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Benzene is a common industrial chemical and environmental pollutant. However, the mechanism of hematotoxicity caused by exposure to low doses of benzene is unknown. Let-7e-5p pathway regulatory networks were constructed by bioinformatics analysis using a benzene-induced aplastic anemia (BIAA) mouse model. The MTT assay, EdU staining, flow cytometric analysis, dual luciferase reporter gene assay, and RIP assay were utilized to evaluate the effects of benzoquinone (1,4-BQ) on let-7e-5p pathway. This study consisted of 159 workers with a history of low-level benzene exposure and 159 workers with no history of benzene exposure. After the confounding factors were identified, the associations between let-7e-5p expression and hematotoxicity were assessed by multiple linear regression. Furthermore, we used four machine learning algorithms (decision trees, neural network, Bayesian network, and support vector machines) to construct a predictive model for detecting benzene-causing hematotoxicity in workers. In this study, compared with respective controls, let-7e-5p expression was decreased in BIAA mice and benzene-exposed workers. After 1,4-BQ exposure, let-7e-5p overexpression negatively regulated caspase-3 and p21 expression, protected cells from apoptosis, and facilitated cell proliferation. RIP assays, and dual luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed that let-7e-5p could target p21 and caspase-3 and regulate the cell cycle and apoptosis. The support vector machines classifier achieved the best prediction of benzene-induced hematotoxicity (prediction accuracy = 88.27, AUC = 0.83) by statistically characterizing the internal dose of benzene exposure and the oxidative stress index, as well as the expression levels of let-7e-5p pathway-related genes in benzene-exposed workers. Let-7e-5p may be a potential therapeutic target of benzene-induced hematotoxicity, provide a basis for evaluating the health hazards of long-term and low-dose benzene exposure in workers, and supply a reference for revising occupational health standards.

PMID:36193590 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114142

Clin Exp Dent Res. 2022 Oct 3. doi: 10.1002/cre2.671. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare two cohorts of 75-year-old persons, born 10 years apart, in regard to reported symptoms related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial complaints with special reference to gender differences.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2007, a questionnaire comprising questions on social factors, general and oral health, and a series of attitude-related questions was mailed to all individuals born in 1932 living in two Swedish counties (N = 5195), and in 2017 to all born in 1942 (N = 7204). The response rate for the cohort examined in 2007 was 71.9% (n = 3735) and 70.7% (n = 5091) for the cohort examined in 2017. Bivariate statistical analyses were applied.

RESULTS: Reported bruxism and pain from the temporomandibular joint were significantly higher in the 1942 cohort compared to the 1932 cohort, while reports of oral lesions and daytime dry mouth were lower. Women reported problems significantly more frequently in most of the domains investigated in both 2007 and 2017, that is, TMD, burning mouth, sensitive teeth, oral lesions, taste changes, daytime/night-time dry mouth, except bad breath.

CONCLUSIONS: TMD-related symptoms increased while complaints from oral lesions and daytime mouth dryness decreased between 2007 and 2017. Temporal changes were otherwise few, but the findings underline the gender inequalities that exist, to the disadvantage of women. This must be considered when planning for clinical care/dental education to appropriately address the needs of older people.

PMID:36193569 | DOI:10.1002/cre2.671

Heliyon. 2022 Sep 22;8(9):e10684. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10684. eCollection 2022 Sep.

ABSTRACT

This paper introduces an almost unbiased modified ridge-type estimator (AUMRTE) to avoid problems arising from multicollinearity. This estimator has the important features of the two important shrinkage estimators, the modified ridge-type estimator (MRTE) and almost unbiased estimator (AUE). We investigated the theoretical excellence of the proposed estimator according to the mean square error (MSE). We found that it has the superiority than the (MRTE) and almost unbiased two-parameter estimator (AUTE). Moreover, we run the simulation study, which depended on the simulated MSE (SMSE), squared bias (SB) and generalized cross-validation (GCV) as criteria to compare the estimators. The simulation results showed that the proposed estimator has the superiority than the estimators under comparison at several factors and at the same time, it works well at the high level of correlation. In addition, we investigated the behavior of the present estimator applying the real data. Under this trend, we applied the estimator to the tourism sector data in Egypt, which the results were consistent with the theoretical results.

PMID:36193526 | PMC:PMC9526164 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10684

Heliyon. 2022 Sep 22;8(9):e10687. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10687. eCollection 2022 Sep.

ABSTRACT

Cereal crops account for 88.52% of grain production in Ethiopia and 87.6% in the Guji Zone. Despite its size, its contribution to household welfare has yet not been studied. Besides, there are limited studies with rigorous methodological approaches regarding the effects of commercializing cereal production on household welfare. This paper is set out to measure the commercialization of cereal crops and examines its welfare effects measured as food and nonfood consumption expenditure. The study was based on cross-sectional data collected in 2019 from 288 sample farm households selected through a multistage sampling technique. A Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc Dunn’s test were employed to examine the welfare effects of commercialization. The study shows that about 48.33% of cereal production was sold to the market, suggesting a moderate level of commercialization. Moreover, the finding indicates that the welfare effects differed across various levels of commercialization at p < 0.01, p < 0.05, and p < 0.1 significance levels. This implies that at least one of the commercialization categories had a different mean. The effects of cereal crop commercialization were statistically significant in terms of monetary expenditure on coffee and sugar, edible oil, clothes and shoes, education, medications, farm implements, durable goods, and aggregate expenditure. The study showed the positive welfare effects of cereal crop commercialization between comparisons considered (moderate vs. low, high vs. moderate, and high vs. low commercialization categories). It also pinpointed the possibility of further improving their consumption expenditure by enhancing their intensity of commercialization if appropriate strategies are designed and implemented. Thus, stakeholders involved in cereal subsector development should work collaboratively to enhance the farm-level intensity of commercialization by improving public service delivery in rural areas. Besides, farm households should work on value addition and market linkage to achieve a better commercial status, thus, improve their welfare.

PMID:36193521 | PMC:PMC9526161 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10687

Clin Ophthalmol. 2022 Sep 27;16:3155-3164. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S369797. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate absolute prediction errors following phacoemulsification with implantation of a multifocal toric intraocular lens (IOL) using intraoperative aberrometry for IOL power selection and to compare findings with the globally optimized and manufacturer’s recommended lens constants and regression coefficients.

METHODS: Data from the Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA SYSTEM) were analyzed retrospectively. Absolute prediction errors from surgeries performed before and after the first optimization of the manufacturer’s recommended lens constant and non-optimized regression coefficients for the multifocal toric IOL (SND1T3-6) were compared. Optimization was based on outcomes of procedures performed using the ORA SYSTEM and archived in its database (AnalyzOR). Outcome measures included the proportion of eyes with absolute ORA SYSTEM prediction errors ≤0.25 D and ≤0.5 D and the mean and median absolute prediction errors.

RESULTS: The pre-optimization group included 1027 eyes operated on by 184 surgeons, and the optimized group included 419 eyes operated on by 143 surgeons. The proportions of eyes achieving absolute ORA SYSTEM prediction errors ≤0.25 D (52.5% vs 35.0%, p < 0.0001) and ≤0.50 D (83.1% vs 66.2%, p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the optimized than in the pre-optimization group. The mean ± standard deviation (0.30 ± 0.25 D vs 0.43 ± 0.32 D, p < 0.0001) and median (0.24 D vs 0.36 D, p < 0.0001) absolute ORA SYSTEM prediction errors were significantly lower after than before optimization. Prediction errors following optimization were reduced more in eyes of average than of long and short axial lengths.

CONCLUSION: Global optimization of the manufacturer’s IOL lens constants and regression coefficients resulted in lower absolute prediction errors when compared with the initial manufacturer labeled lens constants and non-optimized regression coefficients. Reductions in absolute prediction error can result in lower postoperative residual refractive error, which can improve post-operative uncorrected visual acuity and provide the potential for greater patient satisfaction following cataract surgery.

PMID:36193510 | PMC:PMC9526440 | DOI:10.2147/OPTH.S369797

Dis Markers. 2022 Sep 22;2022:5062591. doi: 10.1155/2022/5062591. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognosis and influencing factors of early microsurgery for severe hypertensive brainstem hemorrhage.

METHODS: The clinical data of 19 patients with severe hypertensive brainstem hemorrhage treated in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University between January 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical efficacy and risk factors affecting the prognosis were analyzed by chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS: A total of 19 patients with severe hypertensive brainstem hemorrhage were treated by early microsurgery, including 14 cases by subtemporal approach and 5 cases by retrosigmoid approach. After 3 months of follow-up, 6 patients died and 13 patients survived. The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were 21.1% and 31.6%, respectively, and the good prognosis rate was 15.4%. Univariate analysis showed that hematoma volume and hematoma clearance rate might be the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with severe hypertensive brainstem hemorrhage; the observed difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis further confirmed that hematoma volume was an independent factor affecting the death of patients with brainstem hemorrhage (P < 0.05), while hematoma volume (B: 2.909, OR: 18.332, 95% CI: 1.020-329.458, P: 0.048) was a risk factor.

CONCLUSION: Hematoma volume resulted as an independent factor affecting the death of patients with severe hypertensive brainstem hemorrhage. Early microsurgical clearance of brainstem hematoma contributed to reducing the 30-day and 90-day mortality and improving the prognosis of patients.

PMID:36193500 | PMC:PMC9526571 | DOI:10.1155/2022/5062591

Dis Markers. 2022 Sep 23;2022:2191294. doi: 10.1155/2022/2191294. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the correlation between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level, cardiac function, and prognosis in patients with diabetes mellitus combined with myocardial infarction.

METHODS: Ninety-three patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with acute myocardial infarction who were hospitalized and treated in our hospital from January 2021 to June 2021 were recruited for prospective analysis and equally divided into group A (HbA1c < 6.5%), group B (6.5% ≤ HbA1c ≤ 8.5%), and group C (HbA1c > 8.5%) using the random number table method, with 31 patients in each group. General data of patients were collected on admission and blood glucose and cardiac function indexes were measured; the incidence of myocardial infarction and death during the follow-up period was recorded at 6 months after discharge.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference in blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c levels at fasting between the three groups (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in plasma levels of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and uric acid (UA), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and cardiac function classification of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) among the three groups (P < 0.05). By statistical analysis, the HbA1c level was positively correlated with FBG, NT-proBNP, UA, LVEDD, LVESD, and NYHA grades but negatively correlated with LVEF (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of myocardial infarction and mortality was significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: HbA1c level in patients with diabetes mellitus combined with myocardial infarction is closely related to the degree of cardiac function damage. Glycated haemoglobin levels are associated with the development of cardiac insufficiency in patients with acute myocardial infarction; glycated haemoglobin is also an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events. Reasonable and effective blood glucose control is of great significance to the prognosis of patients.

PMID:36193498 | PMC:PMC9525741 | DOI:10.1155/2022/2191294

Dis Markers. 2022 Sep 22;2022:6971717. doi: 10.1155/2022/6971717. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of karelizumab combined with apatinib in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS: The published databases were searched by computer, Chinese: China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang Journal Database, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP); English: Embase, Cochrane library, and PubMed. The search time is from the establishment of the database to May 2022, and clinical randomized controlled trials (RCT) with advanced gastric cancer as the research object and karelizumab combined with apatinib as the research variables are collected. According to the bias risk evaluation standard of Cochrane System Evaluator’s Manual, the literatures meeting the inclusion standard were evaluated for bias risk, and the meta-analysis was conducted by Review Manager 5.3. Results. A total of 20 articles with 1150 patients were included in this study. All the included 20 articles reported objective remission rate (ORR), and the heterogeneity among 20 studies was low (P > 0.05, I ² = 0%). The ORR of gastric cancer patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the blank group [odds ratio (OR) = 1.97, 95% CI [1.53, 2.62], P < 0.01). All the included 20 articles reported disease control rate (DCR), and the heterogeneity among 20 studies was low (P = 0.87, I ² = 0%). The ORR of gastric cancer patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the blank group (OR = 3.09, 95% CI [2.29, 4.16], P < 0.01). Three articles in the included literature reported the median OS, and the heterogeneity among the three studies was low (P = 0.70, I ² = 0%). The median OS of gastric cancer patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the blank group (MD = 3.97, 95% CI [3.61, 4.39], P < 0.01). There are three reports on median progression-free survival (PFS) in the included literature, and there is high homogeneity among the three studies (P < 0.00001, I ² = 86%). There is no statistical difference between the median PFS of gastric cancer patients in the observation group and the blank group (MD = 1.21, 95% CI [-1.20, 3.70], P = 0.29). The incidence of hypertension in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the blank group [OR = 6.19, 95% CI (1.91, 20.20), P = 0.003]. The incidence of proteinuria in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the blank group [OR = 3.97, 95% CI (1.08, 14.59), P = 0.03]. There was no significant difference in the incidence of other adverse reactions such as hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, and myelosuppression between the observation group and the blank group. The levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the blank group (P < 0.0001). The levels of IL-10, IL-4, and tumor markers in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the blank group (P < 0.05). Egger’s test showed that there was no publication bias in the 20 included studies (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Karelizumab combined with apatinib is effective in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer, with low incidence of adverse reactions and high safety. However, a large number of multicenter, large sample size, and high-level RCT are needed for clinical verification.

PMID:36193493 | PMC:PMC9526574 | DOI:10.1155/2022/6971717

PeerJ. 2022 Sep 28;10:e14049. doi: 10.7717/peerj.14049. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The intensity of strength training exercise is generally regarded to be the most essential element in developing muscle strength and power. The exercise intensity of strength training is known as one-repetition maximum (1RM). Velocity-based training (VBT) has been proposed as a different approach for determining training intensity. VBT relies on the use of linear position transducers and inertial measurement units, providing real-time feedback to objectively adjust the exercise intensity based on an athlete’s velocity zone.

METHODS: This study investigated the effects of two different training interventions based on individualized load velocity profiles (LVP) on maximal bench press strength (i.e., 1RM), maximum throwing velocity (TV), and skeletal muscle mass (SKMM). Twenty-two university handball players were randomly assigned to Group 1 (low-movement speed training) or Group 2 (high-movement speed training). Group 1 exercised with a bar speed of 0.75-0.96 m/s, which corresponds to a resistance of approximately 60% 1RM, whereas Group 2 trained at 1.03-1.20 m/s, corresponding to a resistance of approximately 40% 1RM. Both groups exercised three times a week for five weeks, with strength and throwing tests performed at baseline and post-intervention.

RESULTS: A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was applied, and the results showed the interaction between group and time was not statistically significant for SKMM (p = 0.537), 1RM (p = 0.883), or TV (p = 0.774). However, both groups significantly improved after the five weeks of training: SKMM (3.1% and 3.5%, p < 0.01), 1RM (15.5% and 15.0%, p < 0.01), and throwing velocity (18.7% and 18.3%, p < 0.01) in Group 1 and 2 respectively. Training at both prescribed velocities in this study elicited similar changes in strength, muscle mass, and throwing velocity.

PMID:36193438 | PMC:PMC9526411 | DOI:10.7717/peerj.14049