Nevin Manimala

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2024 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s00420-024-02113-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We estimated the static and dynamic effects of promotion to managerial positions on mental health and satisfaction using the recent estimation method; we addressed the gap in extant research by considering the heterogeneity in treatment timing to reconfirm evidence regarding the causal effects of promotion.

METHODS: We used a modified estimation method of two-way fixed effects recommended by (Callaway and Sant’Anna, J Econom 225:200-230, 2021). To check for robustness, we compared the analyses using propensity sample matching, an alternative treatment timing heterogeneity-robust analysis, and a normal two-way fixed effects event study. We used four years of complete panel data on a sample of 1454 Japanese males (5816 overall).

RESULTS: The results indicated that becoming a manager worsened mental health with a two-year lag. We tested the effects of promotion to managerial positions on variables shown in previous studies to have negative effects on mental health (e.g., increased working hours) and positive effects (e.g., increased job role clarity) as outcomes to explore the mechanisms. Some of both variables indicate statistical significance. These results were robust.

CONCLUSION: The promotion to managerial positions deteriorated mental health with a two-year lag. Promotion to managerial positions exhibited both positive and negative effects. The findings have potential implications for firms’ human resources allocation.

PMID:39729215 | DOI:10.1007/s00420-024-02113-8

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2024 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s00210-024-03739-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, has garnered significant interest due to its potential cardiovascular benefits, particularly in patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who are undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Empagliflozin in improving clinical outcomes in this patient population. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to assess the effects of Empagliflozin on clinical outcomes in patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI. Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and the Scientific Information Database, were searched up to July 31, 2024. The risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration criteria. Data analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 3, with outcomes expressed as risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that Empagliflozin significantly reduced the risk of heart failure hospitalization compared to placebo, with a risk ratio of 0.48 (95% CI: 0.23-0.99; P = 0.049), indicating a 52% reduction in hospitalization risk. However, secondary outcomes showed that Empagliflozin was associated with a reduction in cardiovascular mortality (RR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.06-3.02; P = 0.415) and the need for coronary revascularization (RR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.15-3.59; P = 0.717), although these results did not achieve statistical significance. Empagliflozin is associated with a significant reduction in heart failure hospitalizations among patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI, while its effects on cardiovascular mortality and the necessity for coronary revascularization were not statistically significant. Despite these secondary outcomes, the favorable safety profile of Empagliflozin supports its use as a treatment option for high-risk patients following acute coronary events. Further research is warranted to investigate the long-term impact of Empagliflozin on cardiovascular outcomes in this population.

PMID:39729204 | DOI:10.1007/s00210-024-03739-8

Primates. 2024 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s10329-024-01178-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Huddling behaviour is present in many animal species. This behaviour involves maintaining close physical contact with conspecifics to minimise heat loss and, in general, reduce energy expenditure. Additionally, this behaviour also facilitates complex social interactions within a population. In Japanese macaques, this behaviour is observed in many populations across Japan, including Shodoshima, where huddling clusters can reach up to 100 individuals in winter. Based on several studies on this species, it appears that huddling, or sarudango in Japanese, is influenced by both meteorological factors and social relationships between individuals. The objective of this study is to understand the determinants that drive the expression (presence or absence) and the organisation (number of individuals and identities) of huddling clusters. Two hypotheses were formulated. The first hypothesis posits that the formation and variations in the size and number of clusters are influenced by meteorological factors, while the second hypothesis suggests that the number and position of individuals within a cluster are related to existing relationships between individuals. To test these, data on the number, size, and individuals composing a cluster were collected, allowing building huddling social networks. Simultaneously, meteorological measurements were taken, along with observations on dominance and grooming interactions between individuals. This allowed us to create several statistical models and social networks for comparison. Our results suggest that the probability for observing huddling is mainly related to solar radiation energy, while variations in number and size could be explained by temperature. Moreover, the organisation within a cluster is not random but reflects relationships between individuals. The ones sharing more grooming and having similar dominance ranks have more probabilities to be in the same huddling cluster.

PMID:39729200 | DOI:10.1007/s10329-024-01178-w

Endocrine. 2024 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s12020-024-04143-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: With the prolongation of life expectancy in patients with myasthenia gravis, the number of comorbidities is increasing. Diabetes mellitus is one of the main comorbidities faced by patients with myasthenia gravis. However, there is not enough epidemiological information on diabetes mellitus. Given these limitations, the purpose of this study was to review the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with myasthenia gravis and whether the myasthenia gravis is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for articles published prior to February 2024. Endnote 21 software was used to manage all relevant records. Review Manager version 5.4 and Stata version 18.0 software were used for the statistical analysis. Funnel plots and Egger’s test were used to assess publication bias.

RESULTS: Twenty-four articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Among 23,516 myasthenia gravis patients, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 17% (95% CI 12~22%). In addition, the meta-analysis of the two studies showed that myasthenia gravis was significantly associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.26~1.93, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Among the comorbidities of myasthenia gravis patients, diabetes mellitus is common, and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus is increased in myasthenia gravis patients. These findings remind us that diabetes mellitus seems to be an important issue in the clinical management of myasthenia gravis patients and requires more attention.

PMID:39729181 | DOI:10.1007/s12020-024-04143-1

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2024 Dec 27. doi: 10.1111/jgs.19338. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift from in-person to virtual recruitment, prompting residency and fellowship programs to adopt innovative strategies, such as leveraging social media platforms to attract applicants and enhance visibility. Our aim was to identify and describe the presence of U.S. geriatric medicine fellowship programs on X.

METHODS: We identified all U.S. geriatric medicine fellowship programs using FREIDA, and then located their X accounts through a stepwise process. Data were collected on account creation, number of followers, posts, and activity level, with an analysis of the last 100 posts from the most active accounts. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: Among the 147 geriatric medicine fellowship programs identified, 38 (25.9%) had an X account. The majority of accounts were created after the start of the pandemic, reflecting likely the adaptation to virtual recruitment processes. Only a few accounts generated the majority of posts and followers. The accounts primarily posted or reposted educational content, research highlights, and promotional material.

CONCLUSION: The use of X by geriatric medicine programs is still significantly underutilized, with only one-fourth of them having an account. Half of the accounts were created after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Programs should focus on building a robust social media presence to increase their visibility, especially as virtual interviews have become a permanent part of recruitment.

PMID:39729170 | DOI:10.1111/jgs.19338

Clin Exp Nephrol. 2024 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s10157-024-02617-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of 22 patients diagnosed with primary IgAN who received RTX treatment. The clinical data, including blood tests, urine examinations and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), were analyzed at four time point: baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Adverse events were also recorded.

RESULTS: Our study included 9 male and 13 female participants. The level of serum albumin significantly increased after three months with RTX applied (P < 0.01). Furthermore, we observed a significant reduction in microalbuminuria and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio at twelve months (P < 0.01). However, there was no change in serum creatinine (P = 0.08), urinary red blood cell (P = 0.11) or eGFR (P = 0.09) during the course of one year. Two cases achieved complete remission, while eleven cases experienced partial remission, resulting in an overall remission rate of 50.0%. During the treatment period, three patients developed infections and two patients encountered infusion-related adverse reactions.

CONCLUSION: In our retrospective study, RTX demonstrated a significant improvement in serum albumin levels and a reduction in proteinuria among primary IgAN patients. Although no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of renal function, there was an observable trend towards improvement. Therefore, we propose that RTX may be an alternative treatment option for primary IgAN patients who cannot tolerate glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants.

PMID:39729155 | DOI:10.1007/s10157-024-02617-0

Pediatr Nephrol. 2024 Dec 27. doi: 10.1007/s00467-024-06619-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Optimal dosing of rituximab when given with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS/SDNS) remains uncertain.

METHODS: This was a prospective, non-inferiority, open-label randomized controlled multicentre study. Children (2-18 years old) with difficult FRNS/SDNS were randomized to group A (rituximab 375 mg/m² once) or group B (rituximab 375 mg/m² twice; 7-14 days apart) followed by continuous MMF and 3 months of tapered steroids. Primary outcome at an 18-month follow-up was time to first relapse. Secondary outcomes included post rituximab time to CD19 repopulation, sustained remission and significant adverse events (SAEs).

RESULTS: Ninety-six children (median age 8.6 years; IQR 6.4 to 11.3 years, 72% male) were randomized, 48 per arm. CD19 depletion (< 1%) was achieved in both groups. Three from single dose and two from double dose arm were lost to follow-up or withdrew. After 18 months, although non-inferiority could not be demonstrated, there was no difference in primary outcome either by intention-to-treat or per-protocol analysis. The restricted mean time to first relapse was 14.5 months (95% CI 13.1-15.9) in group A and 14.8 months (95% CI 13.5-16.1) in group B (p = 0.69). Relapse rate was similar between group A (19/45; 42%) and group B (16/46; 35%) (p = 0.53, hazard ratio 0.86 (95% CI 0.46-1.6)). Secondary outcomes were also similar between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Among children with FRNS/SDNS although non-inferiority could not be demonstrated, no statistically significant difference in outcome was found between 375 and 750 mg/m² rituximab when accompanied with MMF.

PMID:39729126 | DOI:10.1007/s00467-024-06619-8

Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2024 Dec 26. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000740. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is usually diagnosed when symptomatic. Prognosis and evolution of preclinical IBD is largely unknown. However, colorectal cancer screening programs (CRCSP) detect a subset of IBD patients with no symptoms. The aim of this study is to describe the natural history of asymptomatic IBD diagnosed through CRCSP.

METHODS: An observational, longitudinal and retrospective study was performed at 22 centres in Catalonia between January 2010 and December 2019 including patients with asymptomatic IBD detected in the CRCSP. Demographic data and IBD characteristics, evolution and treatment were recorded. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for the analysis. Data were given separately for IBD, Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and IBD unclassified (IBDU).

RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-eight patients were included: 103 UC (54.8%), 60 CD (31.9%) and 25 IBDU (13.3%). Sixty-six (35.1%) were women and the average age was 59.9 ± 5.9 years. Sixty-four patients (34.0%) developed symptoms after a median follow-up of 35.6 months. Diarrhoea was the most frequent symptom for CD and IBDU (25.4% and 11.5% respectively) and blood in stools for UC (21.4%). Median time to first symptom was 11.6 months. Treatment was prescribed in 135 patients (72.2%); mesalazine was the most prescribed drug (123 patients; 65.4%). Thirteen patients (6.9%) required biological treatment. None underwent surgery.

CONCLUSION: Around one-third of asymptomatic IBD patients developed symptoms after a medium follow-up of 3 years. Only 6.9% required biological treatment and none required surgery. Overall, prognosis of asymptomatic IBD seems better.

PMID:39729123 | DOI:10.14309/ctg.0000000000000740

Ann Bot. 2024 Dec 27:mcae229. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcae229. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fire-released seed dormancy (SD) is a key trait for successful germination and plant persistence in many fire-prone ecosystems. Many local studies have shown that fire-released SD depends on heat and exposure time, dose of smoke-derived compounds, SD class, plant lineage and the fire regime. However, a global quantitative analysis of fire-released SD is lacking. We hypothesized that fire-released SD is more prevalent in fire-prone than in non-fire-prone ecosystems, and in crown-fire compared to surface-fire ecosystems. Additionally, uncovering patterns in the relationship between fire cues and SD classes at the global scale that mirror those identified in local or regional studies was expected.

METHODS: Totally, 246 published germination studies during 1970-2022, encompassing 1782 species from 128 families was used in our meta-analysis. Meta-analysis moderators included different fire cues, smoke application methods, smoke exposure duration and concentration, smoke compounds, fire-proneness, fire regimes, and ecosystem types.

KEY RESULTS: Heat released physical, and smoke released physiological and morphophysiological dormancies. For SD release, heat and smoke acted synergistically, and KAR1 was the most effective smoke compound. Fire-released SD was more prevalent in fire-prone than non-fire-prone regions; and particularly under crown fire regimes. Fire-released SD occurred mainly in Mediterranean ecosystems, temperate dry forests, and temperate warm ecosystems, whereas species from savannas and tropical grasslands, temperate grasslands, and tropical rainforests generally responded negatively to fire.

CONCLUSIONS: Fire-released SD is strongly influenced by fire regimes the latter with significant role in shaping SD and germination patterns on a global scale. The synergistic effect of heat and smoke in dormancy release reveals more intricate interactions between fire cues than previously understood. Understanding these patterns is crucial in the context of shifting fire regimes driven by climate change, as they may disrupt plant life cycles, alter ecosystem functions, biodiversity, and community composition and provide key insights for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration in fire-prone ecosystems.

PMID:39727142 | DOI:10.1093/aob/mcae229

Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2024 Oct;35(10):2803-2812. doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202410.024.

ABSTRACT

Accurately capturing the spatiotemporal dynamics of regional forest cover and its response to climate change is of great significance for forest resource management and ecological environment protection. We used statistical methods such us linear regression and correlation analysis, as well as remote sensing change monitoring to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest cover and its response to climate change from 2000 to 2022 in Shandong Province based on MODIS VCF products and meteorological data. The results showed that the forest co-verage and forest area in Shandong Province increased from 43.0% and 197.06×10⁴ hm² in 2000 to 43.1% and 326.08×10⁴ hm² in 2022, respectively. Spatially, forest coverage grew stepwise from the southwest and northwest to the center and east of Shandong. 90.6% of the forest area of Shandong Province experienced a relative increase in forest cover during 2000-2022. Most of the increased area was concentrated in the central southern mountains and hills and the eastern low mountains and hills. The area expansion of forest cover was primarily located in the lowland areas of Liaocheng, Dezhou, Heze, Jining, and Binzhou, which accounted for 52.3% of the provincial forest area. There was a positive correlation between forest coverage and air temperature, but a negative correlation between forest coverage and precipitation. Air temperature was the main climatic factor influencing the shift in forest coverage during the study period.

PMID:39727127 | DOI:10.13287/j.1001-9332.202410.024