Nevin Manimala

JRSM Open. 2024 Oct 30;15(9):20542704241290721. doi: 10.1177/20542704241290721. eCollection 2024 Sep.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess how ethnicity, migration status and occupation are associated with healthcare workers (HCW) redeployment experiences during COVID-19 in a nationwide ethnically diverse sample.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis using data from the nationwide United Kingdom Research Study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers (UK-REACH) cohort study.

SETTING: Healthcare settings.

PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare workers (HCW).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included redeployment, provision of training and supervision during redeployment, change in patient contact and interaction with COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: We used logistic regression to examine associations of ethnicity, migration status, and occupation with redeployment experiences of HCWs.

RESULTS: Of the 10,889 HCWs included, 20.4% reported being redeployed during the first UK national lockdown in March 2020. Those in nursing roles (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.04-1.42, p = 0.009) (compared to medical roles) had higher likelihood of being redeployed as did migrants compared to those born in the UK (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06-1.49, p = 0.01) (in a subcohort of HCWs on the agenda for change (AfC) pay scales). Asian HCWs were less likely to report receiving training (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.88, p = 0.005) and Black HCWs (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.14-3.57, p = 0.02) were more likely to report receiving supervision, compared to White colleagues. Finally, redeployed Black (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.07-1.66, p = 0.009) and Asian HCWs (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.14-1.48, p < 0.001) were more likely to report face-to-face interaction with COVID-19 patients than White HCWs.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight disparities in HCWs’ redeployment experiences by ethnicity, migration, and job role which are potentially related to structural inequalities in healthcare.

PMID:39494380 | PMC:PMC11528580 | DOI:10.1177/20542704241290721

Clin Interv Aging. 2024 Oct 30;19:1765-1772. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S480480. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Chronic diseases in older age are major sources of burden for healthcare systems. Compliance with medications is the key to treatment success for these patients, especially for frail individuals living in community settings. However, adherence to long-term medications in this population is not optimal, which leads to the need for frequent screening of compliance within large-scale public health surveys. In this context, a brief, simple and valid measure capturing medication adherence is not yet available. This study aims to develop and psychometrically test the Therapeutic Adherence Scale, a brief four-item tool that measures medication adherence in community-dwelling older adults affected by chronic diseases.

METHODS: We conducted a three-phase process of instrument development, content validity assessment and psychometric testing.

RESULTS: Of the candidate nine items derived from a review of the literature, only four were deemed essential to capture intentional and nonintentional nonadherence. These items underwent structural validity, convergent and known-groups validity, and internal consistency on a sample of 269 participants (mean age = 7.91 years, SD = 7.26). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed satisfactory fit indices (RMSEA = 0.000, CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00). Scores of the TAS were higher for those perceiving loneliness (ρ = 0.33, p < 0.001), those declaring memory loss in the last year (ρ = 0.29, p < 0.001), and those exhibiting worse mental quality of life (ρ = -0.15, p = 0.03) compared with the other groups. Cronbach’s alpha and split-half reliability coefficients were acceptable, with values of 0.68 and 0.77, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The Therapeutic Adherence Scale is a brief, valid and reliable self-report measure of medication adherence that can be used in practice and research to screen patients living in community settings. This tool is also free to use, which contributes to advancing knowledge on the field of medication adherence of older adults affected by chronic diseases.

PMID:39494367 | PMC:PMC11531711 | DOI:10.2147/CIA.S480480

Acta Biochim Pol. 2024 Oct 18;71:13581. doi: 10.3389/abp.2024.13581. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Oxidative stress is an important factor for vitreomacular interface disease development in a theoretical model.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between oxidative stress in the human epiretinal membrane (ERM) and retinal morphological changes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included patients scheduled for vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane removal. LogMAR best corrected visual acuity was assessed and optical coherence tomography was performed. Patients were divided into three groups: Type 1 – epiretinal membrane with premacular fibrosis; type 2 – epiretinal membrane with co-existing layer hole; and type 3 – ERM with co-existing full-thickness macular hole. During vitrectomy, epiretinal membranes were collected. Total oxidant status was determined by an automated colorimetric method in homogenates of epiretinal membrane.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman linear correlation analysis were used. Statistical significance was set with a level of α = 0.05.

RESULTS: Twenty-one Caucasian women (60%) and 14 men (40%) were included in the study. The average age of participants was 74.7 years (95% CI: 71.13-75.45). The mean best corrected visual acuity LogMAR value in the group was 0.8 (95% CI: 0.9-0.7). The mean ratio of total oxidant status to protein level in the collected samples was 0.161 (95% CI: 0.08-0.23) µmol/mg of protein. No correlation was found between total oxidant status and the degree of morphological retinal changes.

CONCLUSION: The study found no significant correlation between the level of oxidative stress in epiretinal membrane and retinal morphological changes.

PMID:39494364 | PMC:PMC11528693 | DOI:10.3389/abp.2024.13581

Brain Commun. 2024 Oct 12;6(6):fcae355. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae355. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

Despite grey matter atrophy in cortical and subcortical regions has been related to cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis, only a few studies evaluated its predictive value for alterations in the long-term. We aimed to determine early predictors of cognitive status after 20 years of multiple sclerosis. In this longitudinal retrospective study, participants underwent a 1.5 T MRI scanning at diagnosis (T0) and after two years (T2), which included the evaluation of regional grey matter volume loss patterns. All individuals with multiple sclerosis underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment at the end of the study and were classified considering their global and specific cognitive domains status (memory, attention/information processing speed, executive functioning). Clinical and MRI characteristics were assessed as predictors of long-term cognitive impairment. Analysis of covariance, t-test, unadjusted and adjusted (for age, sex, disease duration, volume of white matter lesions, volume of cortical lesions) logistic regression were conducted. One hundred seventy-five people with multiple sclerosis (118 females; mean ± SD age at the end of study = 47.7 ± 9.4 years) clinically followed for 20 years from onset (mean ± SD = 19.9 ± 5.1) were evaluated. At the end of the study, 81 (47%) were classified as cognitively impaired: 38 as mildly impaired (22%), and 43 as severely impaired (25%). In particular, 46 were impaired in memory (27%), 66 were impaired in attention/information processing speed (38%), and 71 were impaired in executive functioning (41%). Regression models identified precuneus (adjusted odds ratio = 3.37; P < 0.001), insula (adjusted odds ratio = 2.33; P = 0.036), parahippocampal gyrus (adjusted odds ratio = 2.07; P < 0.001) and cingulate (adjusted odds ratio = 1.81; P = 0.009) as the most associated regions with global cognitive impairment and domains-specific cognitive alterations after a mean of 20 years of multiple sclerosis, after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables as well as for focal white matter and grey matter damage. Early grey matter volume loss of specific cortical and deep grey matter regions predicts global and domain cognitive alterations after 20 years from multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

PMID:39494361 | PMC:PMC11528517 | DOI:10.1093/braincomms/fcae355

Int J Gen Med. 2024 Oct 29;17:4985-4990. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S487553. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between hyperlipidemia and full-frequency idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (FFHL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 145 FFHL patients admitted from September 2021 to May 2024 were analyzed. Eighty-five patients with hyperlipidemia and 60 patients with normal serum lipids statistically analyze the patient’s gender, age, onset time, accompanying symptoms, and serum lipids. Measure the pure tone hearing threshold before and after treatment, and calculate the average increase in hearing threshold. Compare the correlation between various factors and prognosis.

RESULTS: The hyperlipidemia group had a higher proportion of males (P=0.043) and vertigo (P=0.044) compared to the control group, while other information between the two groups lacked statistical significance. Effective patients (n=44) in the hyperlipidemia group showed significant differences in vertigo (P=0.020), age (P=0.032), and onset (P=0.030) compared to ineffective patients (n=41). Analysis showed that these were independent correlated factors affecting prognosis. Other indicators, including serum lipids, have no significance in predicting the prognosis of patients with hyperlipidemia and complete frequency decline in hearing loss.

CONCLUSION: Patients with hyperlipidemia have higher rates of males and vertigo. The age, onset, and vertigo of patients with hyperlipidemia are related to prognosis, while various lipid indicators are not related to the prognosis of sudden hearing loss.

PMID:39494360 | PMC:PMC11531281 | DOI:10.2147/IJGM.S487553

Front Pharmacol. 2024 Oct 18;15:1466677. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1466677. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The inflammatory response is the main pathophysiological basis of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and is a key factor leading to frequent exacerbations and disease progression. Suppressing the inflammatory response can improve pulmonary function, prognosis, and quality of life in AECOPD patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of Qingjin Huatan decoction (QHD) on pulmonary function and inflammatory mediators in AECOPD patients.

METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of AECOPD with QHD were retrieved from eight Chinese and English electronic databases up to 31 May 2024. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the modified Jadad scale. Statistical analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment were performed using Stata 17.0 software.

RESULTS: A total of 40 RCTs involving 3,475 AECOPD patients were included. Compared to conventional treatment, QHD significantly improved pulmonary function, with increases in FEV1 (MD = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.34, p = 0.000), FVC (MD = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.27 to 0.41, p = 0.000), FEV1/FVC (MD = 6.07, 95% CI: 5.55 to 6.58, p = 0.000), and PaO₂ (MD = 7.20, 95% CI: 4.94 to 9.47, p = 0.000), and a decrease in PaCO₂ (MD = -5.37, 95% CI: 7.99 to -2.74, p = 0.000). QHD also significantly suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α (MD = -10.87, 95% CI: 12.51 to -9.23, p = 0.000), IL-1β (MD = -13.63, 95% CI: -16.31 to -10.95, p = 0.000), IL-6 (MD = -7.58, 95% CI: -10.10 to -5.06, p = 0.000), IL-8 (MD = -9.45, 95% CI: -12.05 to -6.85, p = 0.000), CRP (MD = -5.62, 95% CI: -6.60 to -4.65, p = 0.000), and PCT (MD = -0.84, 95% CI: -1.07 to -0.62, p = 0.000). Additionally, QHD improved clinical efficacy (RR = 4.16, 95% CI: 3.26 to 5.30, p = 0.000) without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions (RR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.61, p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION: Existing evidence suggests that QHD can significantly improve pulmonary function, suppress the expression of inflammatory mediators, and enhance clinical efficacy in AECOPD patients, with a good safety profile. Given the limitations of this study, more high-quality studies are needed to provide reliable evidence.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=559436, identifier CRD42024559436.

PMID:39494348 | PMC:PMC11528017 | DOI:10.3389/fphar.2024.1466677

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024 Oct 30;17:3761-3777. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S476768. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Child abuse and trauma are significant risk factors in the etiology of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Apart from affecting the risk of developing BPD, adverse childhood experiences seem to increase its symptoms and related disability. Self-stigma presents another common issue with equally prominent consequences for mental health. Despite being theoretically linked, the connections among childhood trauma, self-stigma, and mental health have not been explored in patients with BPD. This study aimed to provide first insights into this understudied topic.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 283 inpatients diagnosed with BPD participating in a residential transdiagnostic psychotherapeutic program. The patients completed several measurements – the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form, the Clinical Global Impression – Severity, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Sheehan Disability Scale, and a demographic questionnaire. The data was statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS and AMOS 26 programs, and bivariate correlation tests and structural equation modeling explored the hypotheses.

RESULTS: Retrospectively reported childhood trauma positively correlated with current self-stigma. Both childhood trauma and self-stigma were also positively related to several indicators of general psychopathology and disability. The significance of these connections was subsequently confirmed by structural equation modeling, where self-stigma acted as a partial mediator of childhood trauma, general psychopathology, and disability.

CONCLUSION: Self-stigma significantly mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and selected mental health symptoms among adult patients diagnosed with BPD. Longitudinal studies are necessary to explore the causality of the findings. Therapeutic and societal efforts to tackle childhood trauma or self-stigma might benefit from reflecting its broader psychosocial context.

PMID:39494319 | PMC:PMC11531720 | DOI:10.2147/PRBM.S476768

Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2024 Oct 31;10:23337214241292794. doi: 10.1177/23337214241292794. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) caused by bisphosphonates (BPs) and denosumab (Dmab) is still a major oral adverse event caused by cancer treatment and may be under-recognized by private dental services. With the aim of reducing the prevalence of MRONJ, this study, which is a pilot study for a planned future large-scale survey, compared knowledge about MRONJ between dental hygienists (DHs) in private dental clinics and those in cancer center hospitals. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey regarding MRONJ between 1 November 2023 and 31 January 2024 on DHs at a cancer base hospital and a private clinic in Saitama, Japan. We statistically analyzed the data collected using the χ² test or Fisher’s exact test with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: This study included 10 in-hospital and 53 private clinic DHs. The in-hospital DHs had appropriate knowledge of MRONJ. However, compared with the in-hospital DHs, although the private clinic DHs knew that BPs are used for osteoporosis, significantly fewer had knowledge of Dmab (p < .001) or knew that BPs and Dmab could also be used to treat cancer (both p < .001). In addition, few private clinic DHs were aware of MRONJ cases refractory to antibiotic treatment alone (p = .012). Conclusion: These findings suggest that private clinic DHs have less knowledge of MRONJ than those in cancer base hospitals.

PMID:39494315 | PMC:PMC11528679 | DOI:10.1177/23337214241292794

Front Nutr. 2024 Oct 18;11:1462931. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1462931. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Current evidence indicates a correlation between the inflammatory potential of diet and the risk of cancer and cancer-specific mortality. This study aimed to assess the association between empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP), which has recently been designed based on the inflammatory potential of the diet, and the risk of cancer and cancer-specific mortality.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted across the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from January 2016 to March 2024. A random effects model was used to calculate the pooled effect size (ES) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Cochran Q test and the I ² statistic.

RESULTS: From the initial 229 records, 24 prospective cohort studies with 2,683,350 participants and 37,091 cancer incidence cases, as well as 20,819 cancer-specific mortality, were included in our study. Pooled results indicated a significant association between higher adherence to the EDIP and an increased risk of total cancer (ES: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05-1.15; I ² = 41.1), colorectal cancer (ES: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.11-1.27; I ² = 41.1), and liver cancer (ES: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.14-1.94; I ² = 36.9). However, no significant association between increased adherence to the EDIP and an increased risk of ovarian or endometrial cancer was found. Furthermore, greater adherence to the EDIP was significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality (ES: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05-1.33; I ² = 45.4).

CONCLUSION: Our results showed that a diet with higher inflammatory properties is associated with an increased risk of cancer and cancer-specific mortality.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42024496912.

PMID:39494310 | PMC:PMC11527705 | DOI:10.3389/fnut.2024.1462931

PeerJ. 2024 Oct 30;12:e18380. doi: 10.7717/peerj.18380. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to optimize the culture conditions of the termite-derived fungus Aspergillus chevalieri BYST01 for the production of physcion, a characteristic component of the traditional herb rhubarb, which has been commercially approved as a botanical fungicide in China. First, potato dextrose broth was screened as the suitable basal medium for further optimization, with an initial yield of 28.0 mg/L. Then, the suitable carbon source, fermentation time, temperature, pH value, and the rotary shaker speed for physcion production were determined using the one-variable-at-a-time method. Based on the results of single factors experiments, the variables with statistically significant effects on physcion production were further confirmed using the Plackett-Burman design (PBD). Among the five variables, temperature, initial pH, and rotary shaker speed were identified as significant factors (P < 0.05) for physcion productivity in the PDB and were further analyzed by response surface methodology (RSM). Finally, we found that the maximum physcion production (82.0 mg/L) was achieved under the following optimized conditions:initial pH 6.6, rotary shaker speed of 177 rpm, temperature of 28 °C, and glucose concentration of 30 g/L in PDB medium after 11 d of fermentation. The yield of physcion under the optimized culture conditions was approximately threefold higher than that obtained using the basal culture medium. Furthermore, the optimum fermentation conditions in the 5-L bioreactor achieved a maximal physcion yield of 85.2 mg/L within 8 d of fermentation. Hence, response surface methodology proved to be a powerful tool for optimizing physcion production by A. chevalieri BYST01. This study may be helpful in promoting the application of physcion produced by A. chevalieri BYST01 to manage plant diseases.

PMID:39494288 | PMC:PMC11531253 | DOI:10.7717/peerj.18380