Nevin Manimala

Am J Epidemiol. 2021 Jun 18:kwab177. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwab177. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We examined the association between early-life participation in collision sports and later life cognitive health over a 28-year period in a population-based sample drawn from the longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (1987-2014). Cognitive measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination and performance across multiple cognitive domains (e.g., global cognition, verbal ability, spatial ability, memory, processing speed). Among a sample of 660 adults (mean age at baseline 62.8 years [range: 50-88]; 58.2% female) who contributed 10,944 person-years of follow-up, there were 450 cases of cognitive impairment (crude rate: 41.1/1,000 person-years). Early-life participation in collision sports was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment at baseline nor its onset over a 28-year period in a time-to-event analysis which accounted for the semi-competing risk of death. Furthermore, growth curve models revealed no association between early-life participation in collision sports and the level of or change in trajectories of cognition across multiple domains overall nor in gender-stratified models. We discuss the long-term implications of adolescent participation in collision sports on cognitive health.

PMID:34142704 | DOI:10.1093/aje/kwab177

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 17;11(1):12825. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-92152-9.

ABSTRACT

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and transition to a new forest inventory system, Russia has reported almost no change in growing stock (+ 1.8%) and biomass (+ 0.6%). Yet remote sensing products indicate increased vegetation productivity, tree cover and above-ground biomass. Here, we challenge these statistics with a combination of recent National Forest Inventory and remote sensing data to provide an alternative estimate of the growing stock of Russian forests and to assess the relative changes in post-Soviet Russia. Our estimate for the year 2014 is 111 ± 1.3 × 10⁹ m³, or 39% higher than the value in the State Forest Register. Using the last Soviet Union report as a reference, Russian forests have accumulated 1163 × 10⁶ m³ yr^-1 of growing stock between 1988-2014, which balances the net forest stock losses in tropical countries. Our estimate of the growing stock of managed forests is 94.2 × 10⁹ m³, which corresponds to sequestration of 354 Tg C yr^-1 in live biomass over 1988-2014, or 47% higher than reported in the National Greenhouse Gases Inventory.

PMID:34140583 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-92152-9

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 17;11(1):12765. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91917-6.

ABSTRACT

The onset and worsening of some diseases are related to the variation and instability of gut microbiota. However, studies examining the personal variation of gut microbiota in detail are limited. Here, we evaluated the yearly variation of individual gut microbiota in 218 Japanese subjects aged 66-91 years, using Jensen-Shannon distance (JSD) metrics. Approximately 9% of the subjects showed a substantial change, as their formerly predominant bacterial families were replaced over the year. These subjects consumed fermented milk products less frequently than their peers. The relationship between the intake frequencies of fermented milk products containing Lactocaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (LcS) and JSD values was also investigated. The intra-individual JSD of subjects ingesting LcS products ≥ 3 days/week over the past 10 years was statistically lower than the < 3 days/week group (P = 0.045). Focusing on subjects with substantial gut microbiota changes, only 1.7% of the subjects were included in the LcS intake ≥ 3 days/week group whereas 11.3% were found in the < 3 days/week group (P = 0.029). These results suggest that about one-tenth of the elderly Japanese could experience a substantial change in their gut microbiota during a 1-year period, and that the habitual intake of probiotics may stabilize their gut microbiota.

PMID:34140561 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-91917-6

BDJ Open. 2021 Jun 17;7(1):22. doi: 10.1038/s41405-021-00077-2.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Lateral cephalometric analysis continues to be one of the gold standard diagnostic aids in orthodontics, with various software available to enhance this.

AIM: This study was done to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of linear and angular measurements obtained from OneCeph digital cephalometric tracing and manual tracings in lateral cephalometry.

METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study done on twenty pre-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of subjects who reported to the postgraduate orthodontic clinic for orthodontic treatment over one month. Cephalometric tracings were done using OneCeph digital software and manual tracing method to evaluate nine parameters of Steiner’s cephalometric analysis. An Independent T-sample test was done between the mean values of manual and OneCeph tracing. Intra operator reliability was evaluated by paired T-test after a week.

RESULTS: No significant statistical difference was observed as the p-value was greater than 0.05 for all the parameters in the two groups.

CONCLUSION: The reliability and accuracy of OneCeph software application was found to be at par with manual cephalometric tracing.

PMID:34140466 | DOI:10.1038/s41405-021-00077-2

Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2021 Jun 18;12(6):e00376. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000376.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major complication of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation. This study was aimed to determine whether underdilated TIPS with 8-mm polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents could reduce the risk of HE and liver damage yet maintain clinical and hemodynamic efficacy.

METHODS: This retrospective case-controlled study included 134 patients treated with TIPS from March 2017 to November 2019. All the TIPS procedures were created using 8-mm covered stents, and according to the diameter of expansion balloon catheters, the patients were divided into 2 groups, an underdilated group (6-mm balloon catheter, n = 73) and a control group (8-mm balloon catheter, n = 61).

RESULTS: The Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the cumulative incidence of overt HE in the underdilated group was significantly lower than that in the control group (11.0% vs 29.5%, log rank P = 0.007), but no statistical differences were found toward variceal rebleeding, shunt dysfunction, and survival between groups. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for overt HE were identified as age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.036, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.003-1.069, P = 0.032), Child-Pugh score (HR = 1.519, 95% CI = 1.212-1.905, P < 0.001), and group assignment (HR = 0.291, 95% CI = 0.125-0.674, P = 0.004).

DISCUSSION: Underdilated TIPS with 8-mm polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents could reduce the risk of HE and liver function impairment compared with completely dilated TIPS, but not increase the risk of variceal rebleeding, shunt dysfunction, and death.

PMID:34140457 | DOI:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000376

J Phys Act Health. 2021 Jun 17:1-6. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2020-0746. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Both genetic and environmental influences have been shown to contribute to the association between physical activity and overall academic performance. The authors examined whether leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) shares genetic and environmental variances between spelling, essay writing, reading aloud, reading comprehension, and mathematics in early adolescence. Moreover, they investigated whether genetic polymorphisms associated with physical activity behavior affect these academic skills.

METHODS: Participants were 12-year-old Finnish twins (n = 4356-4370 twins/academic skill, 49% girls). Academic skills were assessed by teachers, and LTPA was self-reported. Polygenic scores for physical activity behavior were constructed from the UK Biobank. Quantitative genetic modeling and linear regression models were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: The trait correlations between LTPA and academic skills were significant but weak (r = .05-.08). The highest trait correlation was found between LTPA and mathematics. A significant genetic correlation was revealed between LTPA and essay writing (rA = .14). Regarding polygenic scores of physical activity, the highest correlations were found with reading comprehension, spelling, and essay writing, but these results only approached statistical significance (P values = .09-.15).

CONCLUSIONS: The authors’ results suggest that reading and writing are the academic skills that most likely share a common genetic background with LTPA.

PMID:34140420 | DOI:10.1123/jpah.2020-0746

Science. 2021 Jun 18;372(6548):eabf3736. doi: 10.1126/science.abf3736.

ABSTRACT

Brain regions communicate with each other through tracts of myelinated axons, commonly referred to as white matter. We identified common genetic variants influencing white matter microstructure using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging of 43,802 individuals. Genome-wide association analysis identified 109 associated loci, 30 of which were detected by tract-specific functional principal components analysis. A number of loci colocalized with brain diseases, such as glioma and stroke. Genetic correlations were observed between white matter microstructure and 57 complex traits and diseases. Common variants associated with white matter microstructure altered the function of regulatory elements in glial cells, particularly oligodendrocytes. This large-scale tract-specific study advances the understanding of the genetic architecture of white matter and its genetic links to a wide spectrum of clinical outcomes.

PMID:34140357 | DOI:10.1126/science.abf3736

BMJ Open. 2021 Jun 17;11(6):e050717. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050717.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: People who are homeless experience higher morbidity and mortality than the general population. These outcomes are exacerbated by inequitable access to healthcare. Emerging evidence suggests a role for peer advocates-that is, trained volunteers with lived experience-to support people who are homeless to access healthcare.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We plan to conduct a mixed methods evaluation to assess the effects (qualitative, cohort and economic studies); processes and contexts (qualitative study); fidelity; and acceptability and reach (process study) of Peer Advocacy on people who are homeless and on peers themselves in London, UK. People with lived experience of homelessness are partners in the design, execution, analysis and dissemination of the evaluation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval for all study designs has been granted by the National Health Service London-Dulwich Research Ethics Committee (UK) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Ethics Committee (UK). We plan to disseminate study progress and outputs via a website, conference presentations, community meetings and peer-reviewed journal articles.

PMID:34140346 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050717

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2021 Jun 17. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A7156. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The developing nervous system is particularly vulnerable to late adverse effects of cranial radiation therapy, such as leukoencephalopathy, microbleeds, and cavernomas. Cystlike lesions have been rarely described and characterized in the literature. We aimed to characterize cystlike lesions, their risk factors, and association with other late adverse effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children treated for brain tumors during a 30-year period (n = 139) were included. We documented imaging findings, focusing on cystlike lesion development and its relationship with clinical history and other imaging findings. Multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression and negative binomial regression models.

RESULTS: Cystlike lesions developed in 16.5% of patients treated with radiotherapy, with a median of 2 years until the development of the first lesion. For every 4-year age increase, there were 50% decreased odds of developing lesions and a 50% decrease in the average count of lesions. Females demonstrated a 4.00 rate ratio of developing a higher number of lesions. Patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy had 3.20 increased odds of developing cystlike lesions compared with patients with radiation therapy alone. A larger proportion of patients treated with methotrexate (25%) developed cystlike lesions, but this was not statistically significant. Cystlike lesions tended to develop in cerebral locations where leukoencephalopathy was worse. A strong relationship was found between the development of cystlike lesions and leukoencephalopathy severity.

CONCLUSIONS: Cystlike lesions are frequent and under-reported late adverse effects of cranial radiation therapy in children. Younger age, chemoradiotherapy, and the severity of leukoencephalopathy represent risk factors for the development of cystlike lesions.

PMID:34140275 | DOI:10.3174/ajnr.A7156

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2021 May 6:S2212-4403(21)00422-3. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2021.04.054. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether steroid ointment (0.1% dexamethasone) is an effective treatment for mucoceles.

STUDY DESIGN: Using a retrospective cohort study design, a statistical study was conducted of 91 patients diagnosed with mucoceles at the Department of Dental and Oral Surgery, Saga University Hospital, Saga, Japan, between January 2006 and December 2016. The patients’ age and sex; shape, size, and site of the lesion; duration; and treatment response rate were evaluated.

RESULTS: The most frequent site of mucoceles was the lower labial mucosa, and several were <10 mm in size. The age of onset was often <20 years, with no sex-based differences. The treatment response rate was 65.8% for steroid ointment and 100% for surgical removal. In the subgroup analysis according to each clinical factor, some subgroups showed statistically nonsignificant differences compared with the surgery group. Among them, the older age and short disease duration subgroups showed small risk differences, suggesting that application of ointment may lead to a response in these subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: Although its response rate was lower than that of surgical removal, topical steroid application is a noninvasive and useful treatment method that can be used for patients in whom surgical treatment is infeasible.

PMID:34140272 | DOI:10.1016/j.oooo.2021.04.054