Category: Nevin Manimala

J Obstet Gynaecol. 2022 Jun 2:1-5. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2022.2062226. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to examine the levels of vitamin D in postterm pregnancy. The study consisted of two groups: Group 1: women with postterm pregnancy in whom labour has not started (n = 40). Group 2: pregnant women with spontaneous labour between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation (n = 40). Demographic characteristics of individuals, age, body mass index, gravida, parity, living child, number of abortions and birth characteristics were recorded. Prepartum and postpartum haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) values ​​and vitamin D levels of pregnant women were measured. We found no significant differences in vitamin D levels, smoking, mode of delivery, induction of labour, methods of cervical ripening and maternal and perinatal complications between the groups (p > .05). D vitamin in the model had a statistically significant effect on prepartum Hb (p < .05). Vitamin D levels seem not to be associated with postterm pregnancy. Vitamin D had a statistically significant effect on prepartum Hb.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The aetiology of post term pregnancy is not clearly known, factors such as foetal anencephaly, foetal sex, placental sulfatase deficiency, genetic factors, and high pre-pregnancy body mass index play a role.What do the results of this study add? Vitamin D levels seem not to be associated with postterm pregnancy. Vitamin D had a statistically significant effect on prepartum Hb.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between vitamin D levels and postterm pregnancy.

PMID:35653770 | DOI:10.1080/01443615.2022.2062226

Psychol Methods. 2022 Jun 2. doi: 10.1037/met0000493. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Psychologists have become increasingly interested in the geographical organization of psychological phenomena. Such studies typically seek to identify geographical variation in psychological characteristics and examine the causes and consequences of that variation. Geo-psychological research offers unique advantages, such as a wide variety of easily obtainable behavioral outcomes. However, studies at the geographically aggregate level also come with unique challenges that require psychologists to work with unfamiliar data formats, sources, measures, and statistical problems. The present article aims to present psychologists with a methodological roadmap that equips them with basic analytical techniques for geographical analysis. Across five sections, we provide a step-by-step tutorial and walk readers through a full geo-psychological research project. We provide guidance for (a) choosing an appropriate geographical level and aggregating individual data, (b) spatializing data and mapping geographical distributions, (c) creating and managing spatial weights matrices, (d) assessing geographical clustering and identifying distributional patterns, and (e) regressing spatial data using spatial regression models. Throughout the tutorial, we alternate between explanatory sections that feature in-depth background information and hands-on sections that use real data to demonstrate the practical implementation of each step in R. The full R code and all data used in this demonstration are available from the OSF project page accompanying this article. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:35653725 | DOI:10.1037/met0000493

Vascular. 2022 Jun 2:17085381221106326. doi: 10.1177/17085381221106326. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Transcarotid revascularization (TCAR) is a minimally invasive hybrid surgical carotid stenting technique which utilizes cerebral flow reversal as embolic protection during carotid lesion manipulation. This investigation was performed to define the perioperative risks associated with this operation in the obese patient.

METHODS: A retrospective review of tandem carotid revascularization databases maintained at two high-volume health systems was performed to capture all TCARs performed between 2015 and 2022. A threshold of body mass index of 35 kg/m² defined the “obese” patient. Demographics, intraoperative, perioperative, and follow-up characteristics were compared using univariate analysis.

RESULTS: We performed 793 TCAR procedures that qualified for study inclusion within the prespecified time. After applying our obesity definition, 129 patients qualified as obese and were compared to the remainder. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics as comparable Charlson Comorbidity Indices were noted between groups; however, obese patients had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Intraoperative, case complexity in the obese patients did not seem to be increased, as measured by operative time (68.4 ± 23.0 vs 64.2 ± 25.8 min, p = 0.09), fluoroscopic time (4.9 ± 3.2 vs 4.6 ± 3.6 min, p = 0.38), and estimated blood loss (40.6 ± 49.0 vs 46.6 ± 49.4 min, p = 0.22). Similarly, no disparities were observed with respect to ipsilateral stroke (3.1 vs. 1.7%, p = 0.29), contralateral stroke (0 vs. 0.2%, p > 0.99), death (0 vs. 1.1%, p = 0.61), and stroke/death (3.1 vs. 3.0%, p > 0.99) in the 30-day perioperative period. Both cohorts were followed for approximately 1 year (12.0 ± 13.4 vs 11.6 ± 13.4 months, p = 0.76). During this period, rates of ipsilateral stroke (3.1% vs. 2.7%, p > 0.99), contralateral stroke (1.1 vs. 0.8%, p > 0.99), and death (4.7 vs. 6.2%, p = 0.68) were similar.

CONCLUSIONS: TCAR performed in the obese population was not more challenging by intraoperative characteristics and did not result in a statistically higher incidence of adverse events in the perioperative phase.

PMID:35653693 | DOI:10.1177/17085381221106326

J Food Prot. 2022 Jun 2. doi: 10.4315/JFP-22-051. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The health and economic burden of foodborne illness is high, with approximately 2.4 million cases occurring annually in the United Kingdom. A survey to understand the baseline microbial quality and prevalence of food-related hazards of fresh beef mince on retail sale could inform risk assessment, management and communication to ensure the safety of this commodity. In such a survey, a two-stage sampling design was used to reflect variations in population density and the market share of five categories of retail outlets in Scotland. From January to December 2019, 1009 fresh minced beef samples were collected from 15 Geographic Areas. The microbial quality of each sample was assessed using Aerobic Colony Count (ACC) and generic E. coli count. Samples were cultured for Campylobacter and Salmonella and PCR was used to detect target genes (stx1 all variants, stx2 a-g, and rfbO157) for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The presence of viable E. coli O157 and STEC in samples with a positive PCR signal was confirmed via culture and isolation. Phenotypic antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of cultured pathogens and 100 generic E. coli isolates were determined, mostly via disc diffusion. The median ACC and generic E. coli counts were 6.4 x 105 (Inter-quartile range (IQR):6.9 x 104 to 9.6 x 106) and <10 cfu per gram (IQR:<10 to 10) of minced beef respectively. The prevalence was 0.1% (95% confidence interval C.I. 0 to 0.7%) for Campylobacter, 0.3% (95% C.I. 0 to 1%) for Salmonella, 22% (95% C.I. 20% to 25%) for PCR positive STEC and 4% (95% C.I. 2 to 5%) for culture positive STEC. The evidence for phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detected did not give cause for concern, mainly occurring in a few generic E. coli isolates as single non-susceptibilities to first-line active substances. The low prevalence of pathogens and phenotypic AMR is encouraging but ongoing consumer food-safety education is necessary to mitigate the residual public health risk.

PMID:35653627 | DOI:10.4315/JFP-22-051

J Clin Rheumatol. 2022 Jun 1. doi: 10.1097/RHU.0000000000001853. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This post hoc analysis assessed efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) golimumab in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with early disease (ED) versus late disease (LD).

METHODS: The phase 3, double-blind, GO-ALIVE study randomized patients to IV golimumab 2 mg/kg at weeks 0 and 4 and then every 8 weeks through week 52, or placebo at weeks 0, 4, and 12 with crossover to IV golimumab at week 16. Clinical efficacy was assessed by ≥20% improvement in Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society response criteria (ASAS20), ≥50% improvement in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI 50), and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) <1.3 (inactive disease). Using self-reported duration of inflammatory back pain (IBP), patients were grouped into quartiles: first = ED and fourth = LD. Descriptive statistics summarized efficacy and safety findings through 1 year.

RESULTS: Early disease patients (n = 60) were ~10 years younger and had shorter median AS (IBP) symptom duration (2-3 years) versus LD patients (n = 52; 21-24 years). At week 16, numerically higher proportions of golimumab- than placebo-treated patients achieved ASAS20 (ED: 71% vs. 32%; LD: 67% vs. 21%), BASDAI 50 (ED: 40% vs. 12%; LD: 33% vs. 7%), and ASDAS <1.3 (ED: 17% vs. 4%; LD 8% vs. 0%) regardless of IBP duration. Efficacy was durable through 1 year of treatment; however, response rates were numerically higher in patients with ED versus LD. Through week 60, adverse events and serious adverse events, respectively, were reported by 46% and 3% of ED patients and 61% and 2% of LD patients.

CONCLUSION: Prompt diagnosis of AS and early treatment with IV golimumab may yield more robust improvements in disease activity.

PMID:35653615 | DOI:10.1097/RHU.0000000000001853

Oper Dent. 2022 Jun 2. doi: 10.2341/20-217-C. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study collected and analyzed clinical data regarding the repair of dental restorations in patients treated in the clinics of a dental school over 10 years.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data related to repair procedures for permanent tooth restorations were extracted from the digital dental records system and filtered according to year (January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2017), age (<30, 30-60, >60), tooth group, and dental surfaces. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics in terms of the absolute and relative frequency, and chi-square tests (95% confidence) were used to compare the frequency of repairs between years, age, tooth, and dental surfaces.

RESULTS: A total of 48,915 dental records were accessed by searching for general restorative procedures, of which 1,408 were repairs of dental restorations on permanent teeth. The number of repairs per year increased over the period assessed, and there was a significant increase in the years 2016 and 2017. Individuals aged between 30 and 60 years received the largest number of repairs, with significantly more repairs than the other groups. Regarding the tooth group and surface, the canines and the incisal and lingual surfaces received the least number of repairs.

CONCLUSIONS: The number of repairs increased over the study period. When comparing frequencies between groups, those belonging to the 30- to 60-years of age group received more repairs; the least repaired surfaces were the lingual and the incisal.

PMID:35653602 | DOI:10.2341/20-217-C

Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Jun 2:ciac443. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac443. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Paxlovid was granted emergency use authorization for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19, based on the interim analysis of EPIC-HR trial. Paxlovid effectiveness needs to be assessed in a noncontrolled setting. In this study we used population-based real world data to evaluate the effectiveness of Paxlovid.

METHODS: The database of the largest healthcare provider in Israel was used to identify all adults aged 18 years or older with first ever positive test for SARS-CoV-2 between January and February 2022, who were at high risk for severe COVID-19 and had no contraindications for Paxlovid use. Patients were included irrespective of their COVID-19 vaccination status. Cox hazard regression was used to estimate the 28 day HR for severe COVID-19 or mortality with Paxlovid examined as time-dependent variable.

RESULTS: Overall, 180,351 eligible were included, of them only 4,737 (2.6%) were treated with Paxlovid, and 135,482 (75.1%) had adequate COVID-19 vaccination status. Both Paxlovid and adequate COVID-19 vaccination status were associated with significant decrease in the rate of severe COVID-19 or mortality with adjusted HR 0.54 (95% CI, 0.39-0.75) and 0.20 (95% CI, 0.17-0.22), respectively. Paxlovid appears to be more effective in older patients, immunosuppressed patients, and patients with underlying neurological or cardiovascular disease (interaction p-value <0.05 for all). No significant interaction was detected between Paxlovid treatment and COVID-19 vaccination status.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that in the era of omicron and in real life setting Paxlovid is highly effective in reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 or mortality.

PMID:35653428 | DOI:10.1093/cid/ciac443

Trop Med Int Health. 2022 Jun 2. doi: 10.1111/tmi.13786. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Loa loa and Mansonella perstans are two very common filarial species in Africa. Although microscopy is the traditional diagnostic method for human filariasis, several polymerase chain reaction methods have emerged as an alternative approach for identifying filarial parasites. The aim of this study is to compare three molecular methods and decide which is the most suitable for diagnosing human loiasis and mansonellosis in non-endemic regions using dried blood spot (DBS) as a medium for sample collection and storage.

METHODS: 100 DBS samples, with their corresponding thin and thick blood smears, were selected for this study. Microscopy was used as the reference method to diagnose and calculate the microfilaraemia. Filarial DNA was extracted using the saponin/Chelex method and the DNA isolated was assayed by Filaria-real time-PCR, Filaria-Nested PCR, and cytochrome oxidase I PCR. All PCR products were subsequently purified and sequenced. The statistical values for each molecular test were calculated and compared.

RESULTS: Overall, 64 samples were identified as negative by all tests and a further 36 samples were positive by at least one of the methods used. The sensitivity and specificity were similar for the different molecular methods, all of which demonstrated good agreement with microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, and from a practical point of view (single and short amplification round), the optimal technique for diagnosing filarial infection in non-endemic regions is Filaria-real time-PCR, which presents high sensitivity and specificity and is also able to detect a wide range of human filariae.

PMID:35653502 | DOI:10.1111/tmi.13786

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jan 12. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14753. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. The pathogenesis of HS is not clear, and the triggering mechanism for the initiation of the disease is still a controversy.

AIMS: The present study aims to investigate the relationship between thiol-disulfide homeostasis (TDH), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), and HS. To our knowledge, this will be the first report evaluating TDH and IMA status in HS.

PATIENTS/METHODS: The study included 30 patients with HS as the patient group and 30 healthy individuals as the control group. For determination of HS severity, Hurley and Hidradenitis suppurativa physician global assessment (PGA) scores were used. One tube venous blood specimen from every participant was obtained. IMA and TDH tests were analyzed in sera of participants. The results were evaluated statistically.

RESULTS: Disulfide (p < 0.001), Index I (p = 0.001), and Index II (p = 0.001) levels in HS group were significantly higher than control group. IMA levels in patients with higher Hurley scores are significantly higher (p = 0.032, r = 0.39). A positive correlation was observed between IMA level and disease duration (p = 0.021, r = 0.42).

CONCLUSIONS: The shift in thiol/disulfide balance toward disulfide and significant increase in IMA levels put out the importance of oxidation status in HS etiopathogenesis.

PMID:35653419 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.14753

Biomed Chromatogr. 2022 Jun 2:e5421. doi: 10.1002/bmc.5421. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is regarded as a progressive neurodegenerative dementia, characterized by degeneration of distinct neuronal populations. A case-control study was carried out by using high resolution mass spectrometry to explore AD associated urinary metabolic biomarkers from 30 AD patients and 30 cognitively normal (CN) individuals, respectively. In total, 49 metabolites were determined and validated as known compounds by LC/MS analysis. With two sample t-test statistical analysis (p<0.05), 19 metabolites were shown to be significantly differed from AD to CN. A diagnostic model of receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed with a combination of 9 selected metabolites and yielded a separation with an area under the curve value of 0.976 between two groups. This study indicated urinary metabolites showed a significant expression between AD and CN. AD related metabolites enable to satisfy the diagnostic power of disease discrimination. Additionally, as a non-invasive approach, urine collection provides its convenience in clinical diagnosis of AD.

PMID:35653409 | DOI:10.1002/bmc.5421