Category: Nevin Manimala

J Med Internet Res. 2021 Dec 10;23(12):e34051. doi: 10.2196/34051.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There are limited evidence-based strategies that have been shown to increase the rate at which peer-reviewed articles are cited. In a previously reported randomized controlled trial, we demonstrated that promotion of article links in an online cross-publisher distribution platform (TrendMD) persistently augments citation rates after 12 months, leading to a statistically significant 50% increase in citations relative to the control.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate if the citation advantage of promoted articles upholds after 36 months.

METHODS: A total of 3200 published articles in 64 peer-reviewed journals across 8 subject areas were block randomized at the subject level to either the TrendMD group (n=1600) or the control group (n=1600) of the study. Articles were promoted in the TrendMD Network for 6 months. We compared the citation rates in both groups after 36 months.

RESULTS: At 36 months, we found the citation advantage endured; articles randomized to TrendMD showed a 28% increase in mean citations relative to the control. The difference in mean citations at 36 months for articles randomized to TrendMD versus the control was 10.52 (95% CI 3.79-17.25) and was statistically significant (P=.001).

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate how a postpublication article promotion intervention can be used to persistently augment citations of peer-reviewed articles. TrendMD is an efficient digital tool for knowledge translation and dissemination to targeted audiences to facilitate the uptake of research.

PMID:34890350 | DOI:10.2196/34051

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Dec 10;15(12):e0009990. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009990. eCollection 2021 Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Discovered by Nicolle and Comte in 1908 in Tunisia, Leishmania infantum is an intracellular protozoan responsible for zoonotic canine leishmaniosis (CanL) and zoonotic human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL). It is endemic in several regions of the world, including Tunisia, with dogs considered as the main domestic reservoir. The geographic expansion of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) has been linked to global environmental changes that have affected the density and the distribution of its sand fly vectors.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey on CanL was carried out in 8 localities in 8 bioclimatic areas of Tunisia. Blood samples were taken from 317 dogs after clinical examination. Collected sera were tested by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT; 1:80) for the presence of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies. The overall seroprevalence was 58.3% (185/317). Among positive dogs, only 16.7% showed clinical signs suggestive of leishmaniosis. Seroprevalence rates varied from 6.8% to 84.6% and from 28% to 66% by bioclimatic zone and age group, respectively. Serological positivity was not statistically associated with gender. The presence of Leishmania DNA in blood, using PCR, revealed 21.2% (64/302) prevalence in dogs, which varied by bioclimatic zone (7.3% to 31%) and age group (7% to 25%). The entomological survey carried out in the studied localities showed 16 species of the two genera (Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia). P. perniciosus, P. papatasi, and P. perfiliewi were the most dominant species with relative abundances of 34.7%, 25% and 20.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The present report suggests a significant increase of CanL in all bioclimatic areas in Tunisia and confirms the ongoing spread of the infection of dogs to the country’s arid zone. Such an expansion of infection in dog population could be attributed to ecological, agronomic, social and climatic factors that affect the presence and density of the phlebotomine vectors.

PMID:34890393 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009990

J Med Internet Res. 2021 Dec 10;23(12):e22557. doi: 10.2196/22557.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGS) may fail to adhere to their treatment regimen for many reasons. Among these, one of the most important reasons for nonadherence is the inadequate training of such patients or training using inappropriate methods.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effect of gamification and teach-back training methods on adherence to a therapeutic regimen in patients after CABGS.

METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 123 patients undergoing CABGS in Tehran, Iran, in 2019. Training was provided to the teach-back group individually. In the gamification group, an app developed for the purpose was installed on each patient’s smartphone, with training given via this device. The control group received usual care, or routine training. Adherence to the therapeutic regimen was assessed using a questionnaire on adherence to a therapeutic regimen (physical activity and dietary regimen) and an adherence scale as a pretest and a 1-month posttest.

RESULTS: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparing the mean scores of teach-back and gamification training methods showed that the mean normalized scores for the dietary regimen (P<.001, F=71.80), movement regimen (P<.001, F=124.53), and medication regimen (P<.001, F=9.66) before and after intervention were significantly different between the teach-back, gamification, and control groups. In addition, the results of the Dunnett test showed that the teach-back and gamification groups were significantly different from the control group in all three treatment regimen methods. There was no statistically significant difference in adherence to the therapeutic regimen between the teach-back and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the use of teach-back and gamification training approaches may be suggested for patients after CABGS to facilitate adherence to the therapeutic regimen.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20111203008286N8; https://en.irct.ir/trial/41507.

PMID:34890346 | DOI:10.2196/22557

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Dec 10:1-9. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1984131. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Vaccine hesitancy is a major obstacle to the achievement of universal child vaccination, which has been studied extensively in Western countries but much less so in Asian countries, especially China. This cross-sectional survey is aimed to assess the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and to explore the reasons for vaccine hesitancy among parents in Guangzhou. In January 2020, a questionnaire adapted to the Chinese setting from a widely-used hesitancy scale was administered to a sample of parents who brought their children aged <13 years to Community Health Service Centers for vaccination in Guangzhou. The incidence of vaccine hesitancy among those parents was 6.6% (50/755). Regression analysis showed that differences in socio-economic characteristics were not associated with the occurrence of vaccine hesitancy among parents in Guangzhou. However, strong distrust of domestic vaccine quality (OR = 10.9, 95% CI = 1.5-81.4), being required to have their children vaccinated for nursery and school entry (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.7-7.7), and not being aware of which vaccines are officially required and which are optional (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.1-4.3) were the risk factors significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. In order to increase parents’ trust in domestic vaccine quality and reduce the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy, it is essential to strengthen quality control in domestic vaccine manufacturing and to proactively disseminate clear and accurate information about vaccines to parents. Furthermore, advocating the value of vaccination among all citizens of Guangzhou is crucial.

PMID:34890304 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2021.1984131

Optom Vis Sci. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001839. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

SIGNIFICANCE: Corneal haze remains a frequent postoperative finding in patients undergoing corneal crosslinking. It has been shown that autologous serum tears promote epithelial healing and reduce postoperative pain; however, the role in the prevention of corneal haze has not been reported.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of autologous serum tears vs. preservative-free artificial tears on the prevention and resolution of post-crosslinking corneal haze.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a sample population from one surgeon at a tertiary eye center from 2016 to 2019. Seventy-six eyes of consecutive patients who underwent crosslinking were included. Records were reviewed for corneal Scheimpflug densitometry values and maximum keratometry (Kmax), epithelial healing time, and the use of either autologous serum tears or preservative-free artificial tears. Corneal densitometry values, expressed in standardized Grayscale Units (GSU), were recorded for the anterior 150 μm corneal stroma and in the 0.0-2.0 mm and 2.0-6.0 mm zones.

RESULTS: 44 eyes received autologous serum tears, while 32 eyes received preservative-free artificial tears. The baseline GSU of the anterior stromal 0-2 mm annulus and the 2-6 mm annulus did not significantly differ between groups (P = .5 and P = .4, respectively). There was a statistically significant increase in mean GSU for both anterior 0-2 mm and 2-6 mm zones between baseline and 1 month (P < .001) and 3 months (P < .001). When comparing the two groups, no statistically significant difference was found postoperatively between the mean GSU at one month for the anterior 0-2 mm (P = .38) nor the 2-6 mm zone (P = .12); or for the third month (P = .60 and P = .44, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Using Scheimpflug densitometry, we did not find a significant difference in the post-crosslinking corneal haze at 1 and 3 postoperative months between patients that use autologous serum tears or preservative-free artificial tears.

PMID:34889859 | DOI:10.1097/OPX.0000000000001839

Optom Vis Sci. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001840. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

SIGNIFICANCE: Digital devices usage among children has increased significantly in recent years. Prolonged screen exposure can have adverse effects on the eye, especially on the ocular surface.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the duration of screen exposure and its effect on the ocular surface in healthy children aged 10-18 years.

METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 200 healthy children. Screen exposure times of the children were ascertained, and the effect of screen exposure on the ocular surface was evaluated using tear breakup time, kerato-epitheliopathy (Oxford) score, and Schirmer test. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess subjective dry eye symptoms. Findings for subjects with a daily screen exposure time of fewer than two hours were compared to those reporting more than two hours of screen time. Statistical evaluation included the Shapiro-Wilk test, Student’s t test and Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS: The mean age was 14 ± 2.6 years and 88.5% of the participants used mobile phones or computers every day. The mean tear breakup time was 10.3 ± 4.1 seconds, and Schirmer test was 15.6 ± 4.7 mm. The Oxford score was 0.4 ± 1, and no corneal staining was detected in 83.5% of the subjects. The mean OSDI score was 23.5 ± 17.8, and 67.5% of subjects had a mild-to-severe ocular surface disease. When daily screen exposure times below and above two hours were compared, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in tear breakup time, Schirmer test, Oxford score, and OSDI score. While there was a statistically significant weak positive correlation (r = .307, P = .001) between OSDI score and screen exposure time, there was no correlation between tear breakup time, Schirmer test, and Oxford score and screen exposure time.

CONCLUSIONS: Screen exposure in healthy children may cause ocular surface symptoms without causing changes in ocular surface findings.

PMID:34889855 | DOI:10.1097/OPX.0000000000001840

Niger J Clin Pract. 2021 Dec;24(12):1841-1845. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_32_21.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pull-out bond strength of fiber post when cemented with a self-adhesive dual-cured resin luting cement and a conventional light-cured resin luting cement. In addition, the influence of a light-emitting diode (LED) and halogen (QTH) curing lights on the pull-out bond strength was assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 extracted human teeth were selected. Post-space preparation of 10 mm was done and two types of resin cement i.e. RelyX Unicem (RXU) and variolink esthetic LC (VLE) were used for cementation of a translucent RelyX fiber post. Light activation for 60 s was done with LED and QTH curing units. The pull-out test was performed parallel to the long axis of the tooth and the post at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min using a universal testing machine. The load required to dislodge each post was recorded in Newton (N). Statistical analysis was done and a value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: The RXU showed a mean (SD) pull-out bond strength of 203.5N (47.1) and 207.3N (31.3) when light activated with LED and QTH curing lights, respectively. For VLE, the mean pull-out bond strength was 78.9N (21.5) and 87.7N (30.7), when light activated with LED and QTH curing lights, respectively. Moreover, LED and QTH curing lights did not influence the pull-out bond strength for both the test materials.

CONCLUSION: It is concluded that a dual-cured resin luting cement should be used for the cementation of fiber post. Further research is required to understand the light transmission of translucent fiber posts.

PMID:34889794 | DOI:10.4103/njcp.njcp_32_21

Otol Neurotol. 2022 Jan 1;43(1):e64-e71. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003407.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Compare speech perception performance growth and benchmark score achievement among adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients with single-sided deafness (SSD) versus bilateral moderate to profound hearing loss.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective matched cohort analysis.

SETTING: Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: Adults with SSD or bilateral moderate to profound hearing sensorineural hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation from 2014 to 2019.

INTERVENTIONS: Cochlear implantation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time-to-benchmark speech perception score (CNC, AzBio in quiet) and speech performance within first postoperative year.

RESULTS: Thirty-three SSD patients were matched to 66 bilateral hearing loss patients (referent cohort) for duration of deafness and preoperative ipsilateral CNC scores. Although SSD patients were more likely to achieve benchmark CNC scores more quickly compared with matched referents, this difference did not reach statistical significance (HR 1.72; 95% CI 0.78-3.82; p = 0.18). AzBio scores showed similar trends (HR 1.40; 95% CI 0.66-2.98; p = 0.38). At last follow-up, the SSD cohort had lower CNC (median 54% vs. 62%; p = 0.019) and AzBio scores (median 72% vs. 84%; p = 0.029) compared to the referent cohort.

CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference in speech perception performance growth (i.e., time-to-benchmark speech perception score) was identified between SSD and bilateral hearing loss CI recipients, although patients with bilateral hearing loss achieved higher scores in the implanted ear within the first year of follow-up.

PMID:34889843 | DOI:10.1097/MAO.0000000000003407

Niger J Clin Pract. 2021 Dec;24(12):1835-1840. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_469_20.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aims to comparatively evaluate the flexural strength, internal adaptation, elastic modulus, and maximum deflection of a newly introduced, strengthened injection-molded semi-flexed polyamide resin (Deflex) and a conventional heat-cured resin containing cross-linking polymethyl methacrylate denture base polymers (QC-20).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A vinyl polysiloxane film replicating the gap between the denture base and the metallic master model of an edentulous maxilla was weighed using an analytical balance with an accuracy of 0.0001 g for the measurement of internal adaptation. The measurements were performed immediately after surface finishing. Seven rectangular test samples measuring 65 × 10 × 3.3 mm³ were set up for flexural strength test. Flexural strength test (three-point bending test) was performed using a universal machine under axial load at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. One-way ANOVA (α = 0.05) following by t tests was utilized in statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The difference between the flexural strength of the denture base resins of Deflex and QC-20 was found to be statistically significant. The injection-molded resin demonstrated better internal adaptation compared to the conventional heat-polymerized resin. Evaluation of the physical test results revealed that the polyamide samples were more flexible than polymethyl methacrylate and did not break during flexural strength tests.

CONCLUSION: Some properties of denture base resins, such as resin types, internal adaptation, and mechanical strength, may play a significant role in clinical performance of complete dentures and removable partial prostheses. Because of the superior flexural strength properties and internal adaptation characteristics, Deflex may prove to be a useful alternative to conventional denture base resin.

PMID:34889793 | DOI:10.4103/njcp.njcp_469_20

Niger J Clin Pract. 2021 Dec;24(12):1814-1823. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_371_20.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent reports have shown that left-and right-sided colon cancers display different clinical and biological features. Chromosomal instability, epigenetic alterations, and defects in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mismatch repair (MMR) system may lead to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Besides microsatellite instability (MSI) caused by DNA MMR activity degradation increases the risk for CRC.

AIM: We aimed to show the differences between CRCs in different locations, to research the cause of these differences, to present whether there is a relation between MMR and MSI, and to evaluate their effects on prognosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 641 CRC cases were divided into three groups: Group 1 (right-sided), Group 2 (left-sided), and Group 3 (rectum). Demographics, cancer stages, location of the tumors, number of the lymph nodes removed, MMR deficiency or proficiency, MSI status, and survival were assessed by retrospective review of the patients.

RESULTS: Among 641 patients, 64.9% were males. Group 1, 2, and 3 comprised 31.2%, 45.7%, and 23.1% of all the cases, respectively. There was a significant difference in terms of survival and location only in stage II tumors. Stage II left colon cancer (LCCs) had a statistically significant lower survival rate. There was no significant difference in survival between both MSI and MMR statuses. In addition, cases were also stratified by stages. According to this data, 10.1, 45.7, and 44.2% of the patients had stages I, II, and III disease, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Although it was not statistically significant, tumors with MMR deficiency (dMMR) and high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) are more common in right-sided colon tumors.

PMID:34889790 | DOI:10.4103/njcp.njcp_371_20