Category: Nevin Manimala

J Affect Disord. 2021 Sep 4;295:604-611. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.101. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Caregivers of children with disabilities might face high risk of anxiety, but the specific influencing factors may be different between parents and grandparents. This study is to explore the influencing modifiable factors from personal and environmental dimensions, so as to provide practical reference for effectively preventing and alleviating anxiety of this population.

METHODS: A total of 504 primary caregivers were investigated in Shanghai, China, of which 496 parents and grandparents were included in the analysis. Risk of anxiety was measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and multivariable logistic regression were performed to describe the personal and environmental characteristics of parents and grandparents, risk of anxiety, and identify the significant factors.

RESULTS: 35.1% of the total caregivers had the risk of anxiety, parents (35.8%) were slightly more anxious than grandparents (33.1%). Among parents, children’s stable emotion (AOR=0.263, 95% CI=0.113, 0.611), higher household income (AOR=0.664; 95% CI=0.519, 0.850), owning a house (AOR=0.326; 95% CI=0.174, 0.610), and better barrier-free construction (AOR=0.400; 95% CI=0.170, 0.941) were associated with lower odds of anxiety. As for grandparents, significant association was merely found in caregiving time (AOR=2.936; 95% CI=1.064, 8.107).

LIMITATIONS: Given the cross-sectional design, we would not infer causal relationships.

CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety among family caregivers of children with disabilities was not encouraging and need to be urgently concerned. To reach optimal efficiency, intergenerational differences should be considered when health care providers and policy makers taking measures to facilitate the mental health of this population.

PMID:34509076 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.101

J Affect Disord. 2021 Sep 4;295:492-497. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.092. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The negative effect of abdominal obesity on cognitive function has been widely reported, especially on memory function, however, it is unclear how the effect is mediated. We aim to investigate the mediating role of hypertension and depressive symptoms.

METHODS: Data were collected from wave 6 (2012-2013) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference (WC) ≥88cm for women and ≥102cm for men. Hypertension was determined on the basis of objective blood pressure measurement and previous physician diagnosis. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the 8-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies (CESD) scale. Memory function was measured with the 10-word immediate and delayed recall tests. Baron and Kenny’s causal steps and Karlson/Holm/Breen (KHB) method were used to examine the mediating effect.

RESULTS: A total of 7,448 participants aged ≥50 years were included in this study. We found a negative effect of abdominal obesity on memory function (β=-0.047, p=0.031). KHB method identified significant mediating effect of hypertension and depressive symptoms on the relationship between abdominal obesity and memory function, they explained 16.92 and 6.32% of the total effect of abdominal obesity on memory function, respectively.

LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by its cross-sectional design and possibility of residual confounding.

CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension and depressive symptoms might be possible pathways linking abdominal obesity and poor memory function, suggesting that collaborative interventions of abdominal obesity, hypertension and depressive symptoms are beneficial in maintaining memory function.

PMID:34509063 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.092

J Affect Disord. 2021 Sep 1;295:569-577. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.075. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate disparities in sleep quality between sexual minority and heterosexual college students, and to examine the serial multiple mediation effects of interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms on sexual minority disparities in sleep quality. We also explored the sex differences in the mediating effects.

METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2019 School-based Chinese College Students Health Survey using a multi-stage, stratified-cluster, random-sampling method to examine the risk factors of sleep disparities and the mediation effects. Measures included sexual orientation, perceived interpersonal relationships (i.e., family, teachers, and peer relationship), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and other covariates.

RESULTS: Of all the college students in the analysis, 95.8% were heterosexual, 4.2% were sexual minorities. In the adjusted model without mediation, sexual minority students were at a higher risk of poor sleep quality (P < 0.001). Serial multiple mediation analysis revealed that: both interpersonal relationships and depressive symptoms mediated the link between sexual orientation and sleep quality; a serial indirect pathway (i.e., sexual orientation → interpersonal relationships → depressive symptoms → sleep quality) existed. Moreover, the serial indirect pathway might be moderated by sex.

LIMITATIONS: Causal inference is limited due to the cross-sectional design.

CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to prevent or manage sleep disorders of sexual minority college students may yield better results if they consider the effects of improving interpersonal relationships and depression symptoms comprehensively than targeting sleep problems alone.

PMID:34509072 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.075

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2021 Aug 27;264:120322. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.120322. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: One of the consequential and alarming complications of diabetes mellitus is diabetic neuropathy (DN). DN is assured to be caused chiefly by excess sorbitol levels in the body. The harmful consequences of DN alike peripheral nerve damage with extremity ulcers may be dodged with timely detection and treatment. The therapeutic methods for DN are scarce and expensive. Therefore economic and user friendly methodologies to prevent acquiring the disease need proper attention.

OBJECTIVE: The present research has been conducted (1) to analyse the levels of sorbitol in diabetic blood samples and compare them with non-diabetic ones and (2) to study the reduction in sorbitol levels upon addition of an important biochemical compounds caffeine in both sample groups.

RESEARCH DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND METHOD: Sorbitol-caffeine interaction analysis of blood samples of 16 patients with type 2 diabetes from KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India was made. The spectroscopic analysis and their interpretations were compared with 16 healthy subjects.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Present work describes that caffeine can be helpful in reducing the sorbitol level in diabetics, so the chances of development and progression of diabetic neuropathy can be controlled with the introduction of caffeine.

RESULTS: A total number of 32 blood samples of patients (aged 35-70 years); mean age ranges were 52.06 ± 2.68 and 53.50 ± 2.66 years for non-diabetic and diabetic ones respectively, glucose and sorbitol screening examination were done by enzymatic methodologies where concentrations were assessed by means of either absorption or fluorescence spectroscopy. The calibration range was 18.2-1119.3 mg/dL (Linear regression analysis r² = 0.996). The sensitivity of this screening program in detecting DN with the healthy adults has been inquired and found efficient. Results of fasting insulin analyses have also been analysed for HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment – insulin resistance) and HOMA-B (homeostasis model assessment – pancreatic β cell function) values. Statistical significance of the results in non-diabetic and diabetic groups were performed and found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: We have defined the relationship between blood glucose level, insulin level, sorbitol and caffeine in human body and utilized them in the plausible remediation of DN.

PMID:34509062 | DOI:10.1016/j.saa.2021.120322

Placenta. 2021 Sep 6;114:100-107. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.09.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In this study we examined the hypothesis that a hypoxic intrauterine environment causes mitochondrial dysfunction of trophoblasts in fetal growth restriction (FGR).

METHODS: The mtDNA content, mRNA levels of mitochondrial encoded genes (ND6, COX I), mitochondrial membrane proteins (COX I, COX IV and VDAC), HIF-1α and BINP3 (mitophagy receptor) protein levels were examined in FGR placentas and normal placentas. The mitochondrial function (ATP production and mitochondrial membrane potential-ΔΨm) and above related proteins were further examined in hypoxic HTR-8/SVneo cells induced by cobalt chloride (CoCl2). Mitophagy and its regulating mechanism under hypoxia in FGR was also investigated.

RESULTS: Compared with normal controls, both FGR placentas and CoCl2-treated trophoblast cells demonstrated statistically lower mtDNA content, reduced mRNAs of mitochondrial encoding genes, and decreased mitochondrial membrane proteins, accompanied by increased HIF-1α. Mitochondrial functions were impaired as demonstrated by decreased ATP production, and, reduced ΔΨm in CoCl2-treated cells. Meanwhile, mitophagy was markedly enhanced as indicated by increased LC3 fluorescent puncta in mitochondria of hypoxic trophoblastic cells. The upregulated BINP3 expression was demonstrated in FGR placentas as well as in hypoxic trophoblastic cells.

DISCUSSION: We demonstrated that hypoxic conditions lead to impaired mitochondrial function in trophoblasts in FGR. Reduced mtDNA may be associated with enhanced mitophagy via activating HIF-1α/BINP3 signalling pathway, that may, in turn, affect nutrition and energy transfer to the growth-restricted fetus.

PMID:34509037 | DOI:10.1016/j.placenta.2021.09.003

Gait Posture. 2021 Sep 6;90:190-196. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.09.163. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although the effects of medial wedge insoles on lower limb biomechanics have been investigated, information about the effects of different magnitudes of medial posting is still lacking.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the dose-response effects of medial wedge insoles with postings varying between 0 °, 3 °, 6 °, and 9 ° of inclination on the lower limb biomechanics during walking and running in individuals with pronated feet?

METHODS: Sixteen participants with an FPI ≥ 6 were recruited. Four arch-supported insole conditions with varying degrees of medial heel wedge were tested (0°, 3°, 6°, and 9°). A 3D motion analysis system with force plates was used to obtain the kinetics and kinematics of walking and running at self-selected speeds. To compare the ankle, knee, and hip angles and moments among conditions, a time series analysis was performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM).

RESULTS: A reduction in ankle eversion angle was observed during walking for all insoles. For running, the 6° and 9° insoles decreased the ankle eversion angle during early stance and increased this angle during the propulsive phase. A decrease in ankle eversion moment was observed in walking and running for 6° and 9° insoles. An increase in knee adduction moment occurred in walking and running for all insoles. For hip, the 6° and 9° insoles showed, during walking, a decrease in hip adduction angle and an increase in hip adduction and external rotation moments. For most variables, statistical differences were found for a greater period across the stance phase as the medial wedge increased, except for ankle eversion moment and hip external rotation moment during walking.

SIGNIFICANCE: The biomechanical effects over the time series for many of the parameters increased with the addition of insole inclination, showing a dose-response effect of medial wedge insoles on the lower limb biomechanics during walking and running in adults with excessive foot pronation.

PMID:34509041 | DOI:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.09.163

Chemosphere. 2021 Sep 4;287(Pt 2):132172. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132172. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The increasing presence of microplastics in marine environment is a critical issue and the plastic-metal contamination has received much attention. However, conventional methods for heavy metal determination are time-consuming, need sample pretreatments, require a strict operation environment, or have high limits of detection. In this study, heavy metals contaminated microplastics samples collected from a remote coral island were quantified and analyzed by using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). The characters of the trace metals in microplastics were used to determine the sources of the contaminants, and the potential origins of the metals were demonstrated from the statistical analysis. LIBS is a facile and non-destructive trace analysis technique and the strategy led to rapid and multi-metals detection of individual samples. Heavy metals such as copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr) were detected and quantified in the individual microplastics samples. The findings showed that LIBS is a promising strategy for the characterization of microplastics and for the analysis of the source of heavy metals contaminants present in the microplastics particles.

PMID:34509006 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132172

Soc Sci Med. 2021 Sep 4;287:114373. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114373. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study explores the relationship between formal home care provided by paid professionals and spousal health outcomes. We use data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe, a panel of older adults living in several European countries. We match new formal home care users to non-users to eliminate baseline (t-1) differences between couples who decide to seek formal home care in t and those who do not. After considering several potentially confounding changes between baseline and t, and looking closer at specific subgroups, we conclude that in the short run, use of formal home care is unlikely to affect spousal physical or mental health.

PMID:34509032 | DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114373

Eur J Cancer. 2021 Sep 8;157:114-123. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.08.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: CD73 overexpression has been reported in several malignancies and is considered to be a novel immune checkpoint. However, the role and significance of CD73 in gastric cancer (GC) still remain obscure. We aim to investigate the role of CD73 expression in predicting prognosis, shaping immune contexture and guiding therapeutic strategy in GC.

METHODS: The study enrolled four independent cohorts with a total of 902 patients with GC. CD73 expression and immune contexture were examined by immunohistochemistry, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis and flow cytometry. Clinical outcomes of patient subgroups were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS: CD73 was identified as an independent adverse prognostic factor for survival in GC. CD73^high tumours showed a specific microenvironment with more CD8+ T cell infiltration, but these CD8+ T cells displayed a dysfunctional phenotype. Furthermore, the CD73 (NT5E) mRNA level was associated with the Cancer Genome Atlas molecular subtypes, and NT5E high tumours showed significant fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 activation and vascular endothelial growth factor and receptor enrichment. In addition, CD73^high tumours indicated better chemotherapeutic responsiveness to fluorouracil yet a worse objective response rate to pembrolizumab in GC.

CONCLUSIONS: High CD73 expression indicated an immunoevasive contexture with CD8+ T cell dysfunction and represented an independent predictor for adverse clinical outcomes. As a potential immunotherapeutic target, CD73 could potentially be a novel biomarker for adjuvant chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy. The crucial role of CD73 in the therapeutic landscape of GC needs further validation retrospectively and prospectively.

PMID:34508993 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejca.2021.08.006

Eur J Cancer. 2021 Sep 8;157:124-131. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.08.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Patients with cancer are at an increased risk for severe coronavirus disease of 2019, thus data on the safety and efficacy of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are essential. We conducted this prospective study of patients with cancer vaccinated with BNT162b2 and monitored for antibody response and safety. The aim was to evaluate the rate of seropositivity and define predictors for non-reactive immune response. Furthermore, we evaluated the frequency and the severity of adverse events.

METHODS: The study included patients with solid tumours undergoing anticancer treatment and immunocompetent health-care workers serving as controls. Serum titres of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralising antibodies were measured 2-4 weeks after each vaccine dose.

RESULTS: The analysis included 129 patients, of which 70.5% patients were metastatic. Patients were treated with chemotherapy (55%), immunotherapy (34.1%), biological agents (24.8%), hormonal treatment (8.5%) and radiotherapy (4.6%), that were given either alone or in combinations. The seropositivity rate among patients with cancer and controls was 32.4% versus 59.8% (p < 0.0001) after the first dose and 84.1% versus 98.9% (p < 0.0001) after the second dose, respectively. Median RBD-IgG titre was lower among patients than controls (p < 0.0001). Patients who were seronegative after the second dose had significantly more comorbidities than that with patients with seropositivity (77.8% vs 41.1%, respectively, p = 0.0042).

CONCLUSION: Adequate antibody response after BNT162b2 vaccination was achieved after two doses but not after one dose, in patients with cancer vaccinated during anticancer therapy.

PMID:34508994 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejca.2021.08.007