Category: Nevin Manimala

Pain Res Manag. 2021 Jul 14;2021:7396466. doi: 10.1155/2021/7396466. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate pain trends and characteristics of different facial districts in patients undergoing rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and its possible correlations with age and gender.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 85 subjects (45 males and 40 females) undergoing RME were selected and analyzed during first two weeks of treatment. Patients rated daily two types of pain perception: the general perceived pain (GPP), i.e., the pain overall perceived in the face, and the local perceived pain (LPP), i.e., the pain perceived locally in the following anatomical areas: anterior palate (APA), posterior palate (PPA), nasal (NA), joint (JA), and zygomatic (ZA). Patients were provided the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (FPS) to correctly assess their GPP and LPP. Pearson correlation coefficient and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were, respectively, used to define the linear relationship between all the variables considered and to verify whether the response variables (gender and age) were significantly different (α < 0.05).

RESULTS: Sample’s mean age was 10.11 years. Average pain values of GPP and LPP progressively rise from day 1 to days 2-3 (pain peak) and tended to decrease until day 14, with a linear decrease for GPP and a not linear decrease for LPP. PPA and APA resulted the most painful areas, followed, respectively, by JA, ZA, and NA. Statistically significant differences resulted in average pain values according to patients’ age and gender, both in GPP and LPP.

CONCLUSION: RME causes perception of pain in several maxillofacial areas. Pain reported during RME resulted positively correlated with age and gender of patients.

PMID:34336069 | PMC:PMC8295004 | DOI:10.1155/2021/7396466

Arch Med Sci. 2020 Oct 12;17(4):1100-1108. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2020.99800. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a continuing, inflammatory process of the pancreas, characterised by irreversible morphological changes. The identification of pancreatic stellate cells resulted in the development of research on the pathogenesis of CP. Erythropoietin (Epo) regulates the interaction between apoptosis and inflammation of the brain, kidney, and heart muscle. Erythropoietin receptors were also found in the pancreas, in particular on the islet cells. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of Epo on fibrosis and apoptosis in experimental CP.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The experiments were performed on 48 male Wistar rats (250-350 g). The animals were divided into six equal groups (I – control, II – chronic cerulein – induced pancreatitis, III – 1 ml of Epo sc, IV – 0.5 ml of Epo sc, V – CP treated with 1 ml Epo, VI – CP treated with 0.5 ml Epo). The blood for gelatinases and pancreata for the morphological examinations and immunohistochemistry were collected.

RESULTS: A slight reduction of interstitial oedema and less severe fibrosis were noticed in the groups treated with Epo. Reduced expression of caspase-3 and α-actin, and a lack of Bcl-2 expression were observed in areas with inflammation. There was no expression of caspase-9 observed in all groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the activity of gelatinases.

CONCLUSIONS: Erythropoietin seems to have the effect of reducing fibrosis and apoptosis in an experimental model of CP.

PMID:34336038 | PMC:PMC8314426 | DOI:10.5114/aoms.2020.99800

Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2021 Jul 17;2021:8860705. doi: 10.1155/2021/8860705. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of various guidelines, rules, and strategies, hand hygiene adherence rates among healthcare workers are reported significantly lower than expected. The aim of this meta-analysis is to determine the most effective interventions to improve hand hygiene and to develop a logic model based on the characteristics of the most effective interventions.

METHODS: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect databases up to December 21, 2019, with no time limit. Randomized clinical trials which had designed interventions to improve hand hygiene were reviewed. Data were extracted independently by two authors. All statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software (version 2.0). A random-effects model was used to estimate odds ratios.

RESULTS: Although 14 studies were initially reviewed, only 12 studies entered the meta-analysis, since they had identified percentage rates of hand hygiene compliance. The most effective intervention (odds ratio 18.4, 95% CI (13.6-24.8)) was a multilevel strategy that influenced the determinants of hand hygiene behavior at individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels. Following this, a theory-driven logic model was mapped out to promote hand hygiene, based on situational analysis.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that designing integrated interventions based on a multilevel socioecological approach has the greatest potential to improve hand hygiene compliance in healthcare workers. The logical model proposed in this study can thus provide a useful guide for designing and conducting future experimental research.

PMID:34336066 | PMC:PMC8313351 | DOI:10.1155/2021/8860705

Theranostics. 2021 Jul 6;11(16):8008-8026. doi: 10.7150/thno.61832. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Rationale: Children usually develop less severe symptoms responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) than adults. However, little is known about the molecular alterations and pathogenesis of COVID-19 in children. Methods: We conducted plasma proteomic and metabolomic profilings of the blood samples of a cohort containing 18 COVID-19-children with mild symptoms and 12 healthy children, which were enrolled from hospital admissions and outpatients, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed to identify molecules specifically altered in COVID-19-children. We also developed a machine learning-based pipeline named inference of biomolecular combinations with minimal bias (iBM) to prioritize proteins and metabolites strongly altered in COVID-19-children, and experimentally validated the predictions. Results: By comparing to the multi-omic data in adults, we identified 44 proteins and 249 metabolites differentially altered in COVID-19-children against healthy children or COVID-19-adults. Further analyses demonstrated that both deteriorative immune response/inflammation processes and protective antioxidant or anti-inflammatory processes were markedly induced in COVID-19-children. Using iBM, we prioritized two combinations that contained 5 proteins and 5 metabolites, respectively, each exhibiting a total area under curve (AUC) value of 100% to accurately distinguish COVID-19-children from healthy children or COVID-19-adults. Further experiments validated that all the 5 proteins were up-regulated upon coronavirus infection. Interestingly, we found that the prioritized metabolites inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, and two of them, methylmalonic acid (MMA) and mannitol, also suppressed coronaviral replication, implying a protective role of these metabolites in COVID-19-children. Conclusion: The finding of a strong antagonism of deteriorative and protective effects provided new insights on the mechanism and pathogenesis of COVID-19 in children that mostly underwent mild symptoms. The identified metabolites strongly altered in COVID-19-children could serve as potential therapeutic agents of COVID-19.

PMID:34335977 | PMC:PMC8315065 | DOI:10.7150/thno.61832

Cogn Neurodyn. 2021 Jul 26:1-10. doi: 10.1007/s11571-021-09701-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we make long-term predictions based on numbers of current confirmed cases, accumulative dead cases of COVID-19 in different regions in China by modeling approach. Firstly, we use the SIRD epidemic model (S-Susceptible, I-Infected, R-Recovered, D-Dead) which is a non-autonomous dynamic system with incubation time delay to study the evolution of the COVID-19 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province and China Mainland. According to the data in the early stage issued by the National Health Commission of China, we can accurately estimate the parameters of the model, and then accurately predict the evolution of the COVID-19 there. From the analysis of the issued data, we find that the cure rates in Wuhan City, Hubei Province and China Mainland are the approximately linear increasing functions of time t and their death rates are the piecewisely decreasing functions. These can be estimated by finite difference method. Secondly, we use the delayed SIRD epidemic model to study the evolution of the COVID-19 in the Hubei Province outside Wuhan City. We find that its cure rate is an approximately linear increasing function and its death rate is nearly a constant. Thirdly, we use the delayed SIR epidemic model (S-Susceptible, I-Infected, R-Removed) to predict those of Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces. We find that their cure rates are the approximately linear increasing functions and their death rates are the small constants. The results indicate that it is possible to make accurate long-term predictions for numbers of current confirmed, accumulative dead cases of COVID-19 by modeling. In this paper the results indicate we can accurately obtain and predict the turning points, the end time and the maximum numbers of the current infected and dead cases of the COVID-19 in China. In spite of our simple method and small data, it is rather effective in the long-term prediction of the COVID-19.

PMID:34335995 | PMC:PMC8312358 | DOI:10.1007/s11571-021-09701-1

Dis Markers. 2021 Jul 17;2021:2217663. doi: 10.1155/2021/2217663. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) critically impacts the modulation of tumor developments and progressions. Our study is aimed at investigating the expressing patterns, clinical significance, and biological roles of lncRNA TSPEAR-AS2 (TSPEAR-AS2) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Material and Approach. The expressing states achieved by TSPEAR-AS2 were examined in OSCC specimens and cell lines by RT-PCR. The clinical significance of TSPEAR-AS2 was statistically analyzed. OSCC proliferating, invading, and migrating processes were examined with the use of wound healing assays, transwell, colony formation, and cell counting kit-8. Additionally, the downstream molecular mechanism of TSPEAR-AS2 in OSCC was explored.

RESULTS: TSPEAR-AS2 was overexpressed in OSCC tumors and cells. High TSPEAR-AS2 was associated with advanced TNM stage. Patients with high TSPEAR-AS2 expression displayed a shorter disease-free survival and total survival of OSCC patients than those with low TSPEAR-AS2 expressing level. It was found that knockdown of TSPEAR-AS2 could inhibit the proliferating, invading, and migrating processes pertaining to OSCC cells. Luciferase reporter tests and RNA pull-down results revealed that TSPEAR-AS2 enhanced the expressions of PPM1A by regulating miR-487a-3p, and TSPEAR-AS2 could be adopted as a miR-487a-3p sponge to inhibit PPM1A expression.

CONCLUSION: Our study highlighted the significance of the TSPEAR-AS2/miR-487a-3p/PPM1A axis within OSCC progression and offered a novel biomarker and novel strategies for OSCC treatments.

PMID:34336002 | PMC:PMC8313349 | DOI:10.1155/2021/2217663

Exp Ther Med. 2021 Sep;22(3):959. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10391. Epub 2021 Jul 7.

ABSTRACT

The present study constitutes a retrospective study for patients with hyperparathyroidism surgically operated on at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Central Military Emergency University Hospital ‘Dr. Carol Davila’, Bucharest, Romania (SUUMC), over a period of 6 years. The study aimed to elucidate the diagnostic and surgical attitude for an effective treatment, practiced at SUUMC, Romania. The study group included 55 patients: 41 women and 14 men, diagnosed at the endocrinology department, who underwent various personalized surgeries (Kocher modified incision) for typical and ectopic locations of parathyroid pseudotumor formations (hyperplasia and parathyroid adenoma), to cure the disease. The recommended protocol was followed by immediate and 30-day postoperative evaluation which showed normalization of the blood tests, and improved clinical and imaging anomalies. In conclusion, the thoracic surgeon has the necessary knowledge to perform surgery at the cervical, thoracic-cervical and mediastinal levels. Postoperative, the results of laboratory tests for calcium (Ca) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) gradually returned to normal, as can be seen from the statistical study.

PMID:34335901 | PMC:PMC8290464 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10391

Exp Ther Med. 2021 Sep;22(3):961. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10393. Epub 2021 Jul 7.

ABSTRACT

Silicone oils are effective intraocular tamponade agents in the treatment of severe retinal detachments, because they maintain the adhesion between neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium, thanks to their ability to remove aqueous humor from the surface of the retina. To understand their effectiveness, it is important to know the characteristics of silicone oils. Patients should be closely monitored due to many complications associated with intraocular silicon oil, such as inflammatory reaction, raised intraocular pressure, refraction disorders, cataract, and emulsification. This study presents corneal endothelial changes and some intraocular complications caused by silicone oil used as an intraocular tamponade agent in the case of vitrectomy for complex retinal detachments. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the damage of corneal endothelial cells after the use of silicone oil in patients with retinal detachment surgery. Endothelial specular microscopy measurements were performed and the changes of the following parameters demonstrated the corneal damage: Mean cell density, coefficient of variation, average cell area, percentage of hexagonal cells, and corneal thickness. Three months postoperatively, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the following analyzed parameters: Mean cell density (P=0.04), and percentage of hexagonal cells (P=0.002); the remaining parameters also had a linear decrease (coefficient of variation, average cell area), but were statistically insignificant. Three months postoperatively, the corneal thickness presented a slight increase. Silicone oils are powerful tools when used wisely and within the limits of their use. These are often recommended in cases of severe detachment of the retina in patients at high risk of experiencing intraoperative complications.

PMID:34335903 | PMC:PMC8290465 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10393

Exp Ther Med. 2021 Sep;22(3):955. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10387. Epub 2021 Jul 6.

ABSTRACT

A major myomectomy-associated problem is excessive blood loss. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of glypressin on blood loss during laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) in women with uterine myomas. A total of 188 women scheduled for LM for uterine myomas were divided into two groups. The one group of women (n=64) received a 5-ml intramyometrial injection of glypressin 0.2 mg/ml (glypressin group; group 1). The other group of women (n=124) (group 2) had an LM performed without any other method to reduce blood loss. The decrease in postoperative hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), morbidity and duration of hospital stay were assessed. The results revealed that Hb and Ht (as it was presumed) exhibited similar changes in our study. Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were obtained between the two groups in terms of Hb and Ht; after LM both Hb and Ht were decreased. In conclusion, the impact of glypressin administration in hemorrhage control in uterine leiomyomas may establish new future perspectives, regarding its administration in gynecological hemorrhagic pathologies.

PMID:34335897 | PMC:PMC8290438 | DOI:10.3892/etm.2021.10387

J Perinat Med. 2021 Aug 2. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0157. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBEJCTIVES: Worldwide, the overall cesarean section is rising. Trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) is an overall safe option with an immediate impact on neonatal and maternal short- and long-term health. Since the use of prostaglandins in cervical ripening is associated with an increased risk of uterine rupture, mechanical methods as balloon catheters or osmotic dilators have been suggested for cervical ripening prior to induction of labour. Here we are analyzing and comparing the VBAC rate, as well as maternal and fetal outcome in cervical ripening prior to TOLAC.

METHODS: This prospective dual center study analyses maternal and neonatal outcomes of TOLAC in women with an unfavorable cervix requiring cervical ripening agent. The prospective application of an osmotic dilator (Dilapan-S, n=104) was analysed in comparison to the retrospective application of off-label dinoprostone (n=102).

RESULTS: The overall fetal and neonatal outcome revealed no significant differences in both groups. Patients receiving cervical ripening with the osmotic dilator delivered vaginally/by ventouse in 52% of cases, compared to 53% when using dinoprostone (p=0.603). The interval between application to onset of labor was significantly higher in the osmotic dilator group (37.9 vs.20.7 h, p=<0.001). However, time from onset of labor to delivery was similar in both groups (7.93 vs. 7.44 h, p=0.758). There was one case of uterine rupture in the dinoprostone group.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that the application of the osmotic dilator leads to similar outcomes in VBAC rate and time from onset of labor to delivery as well as safety in both groups compared to off-label use dinoprostone. Cervical ripening using the mechanical dilator is a viable and effective option, without the risk of uterine hyperstimulation.

PMID:34333894 | DOI:10.1515/jpm-2021-0157