Nevin Manimala

Med J Aust. 2024 Feb 19;220(3):154-163. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52216.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess the socio-demographic and health-related characteristics of people who smoke daily, people who formerly smoked, and people who have never smoked in Australia.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey data.

SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Adult participants (16 370 people aged 18 years or older) in the ABS 2017-18 National Health Survey (NHS); adult participants in the ABS 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) (6423 people aged 18 years or older).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Socio-demographic and health-related characteristics of people who smoke daily, people who formerly smoked, and people who have never smoked, expressed as population-weighted proportions, overall and by Indigeneity.

RESULTS: Among adult NHS respondents, an estimated 58.8% of people who smoked daily (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.2-61.4%) were men, 61.3% (95% CI, 58.7-63.9%) were 25-54 years old, 72.5% (95% CI, 70.0-74.8%) were born in Australia, and 65.4% (95% CI, 62.8-67.8%) lived in major cities and 54.3% (95% CI, 51.6-57.0%) in areas in the two socio-economically most disadvantaged quintiles; 75.9% (95% CI, 73.5-78.1%) reported good to excellent health, 73.0% (95% CI, 70.5-75.4%) reported low to moderate psychological distress, 69.0% of those aged 25-64 years (ie, of working age) had completed year 12 (high school), and 68.5% were currently employed. An estimated 2.57 million people smoke daily in Australia: 2.37 million non-Indigenous people (92%) and 195 700 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people (8%).

CONCLUSIONS: While smoking is more frequent among people living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas and in certain population sub-groups, this first quantitative national profile indicates that most people who smoke daily are in paid employment, are non-Indigenous, are in good physical and mental health, and have completed year 12. Improved comprehensive structural supply- and demand-based tobacco control, informed by the needs of priority groups and the overall profile of people who smoke, is needed to reduce daily smoking prevalence among adults to the 2030 targets of 5% or less for all Australians and 27% or less for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

PMID:38368552 | DOI:10.5694/mja2.52216

Int J Fertil Steril. 2024 Feb 2;18(2):173-179. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2023.561957.1369.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of sperm is essential for patients with low sperm counts and couples undergoing infertility treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Taurine (T) and Sucrose (S) in individual sperm cryopreservation utilizing cryotop and petri dish and thawing at 37 and 42°C.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 17 normospermic semen samples were processed using the “Swim-up” procedure and progressively motile sperm were then isolated from these samples using an inverted microscope. Sperm were added to droplets of “sucrose medium” with 25 mM Taurine antioxidant (S+T) and the commercial cryoprotectant “Sperm Freeze” (CPA), loaded on a petri dish and cryotop. After rapid freezing of the samples, they were thawed at two different temperatures (37°C and 42°C), and the sperm classical parameters, viability, and DNA fragmentation were assessed.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis displayed a significant increase in total and progressive motility in individual sperm freezing on cryotop with CPA and thawing at 42°C (P<0.05). Other parameters did not show any differences between the CPA and S+T groups and two thawing temperatures in either of the cryopreservation methods.

CONCLUSION: Although, both cryoprotectants (CPA and S+T) may preserve individual sperm effectively using cryotop, the CPA and thawing at 42°C showed a better effect on the motility percentage of the small number of sperm.

PMID:38368522 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2023.561957.1369

Int J Fertil Steril. 2024 Feb 2;18(2):162-166. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2023.553636.1305.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been shown to enhance tissue regeneration by expressing several cytokines and growth factors (GFs). This study investigated the effect of intrauterine infusion of PRP as a noninvasive autologous GF on pregnancy outcomes in women with repeated implantation failure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare the pregnancy rates between two groups of women who were candidates for the frozen-thawed embryo transfer with a history of two or more implantation failures. The PRP group (n=33) was treated with hormone replacement therapy+0.5 cc to 1 cc PRP infused into the uterine cavity two days before the embryo transfer. The control group (n=33) was only treated with hormone replacement therapy. The endometrial preparation process was done similarly in both groups. The chemical, clinical, and ongoing pregnancy, and implantation rates were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: Our results showed that the chemical pregnancy rate was not statistically higher in the PRP group in comparison with the control group (36.4 vs. 24.2%). In addition, the clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and implantation rates were higher in the PRP group than the control group; however, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Administration of intrauterine PRP before embryo transfer in women with repeated implantation failure (RIF) does not affect assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes (registration number: IRCT2016090728950N3).

PMID:38368520 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2023.553636.1305

Int J Fertil Steril. 2024 Feb 2;18(2):146-152. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2023.560780.1357.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is a definite shift in assisted reproductive centres from cleavage-stage embryo transfer (ET) to blastocyst transfer that is attributed to improvements in laboratory environments and advances in the development of embryo culture media. The aim of the study was to investigate the reproductive outcomes of thawed cleavage-stage ET versus blastocysts derived from an extended culture of these embryos.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This open-label, randomised, parallel group clinical trial study enrolled 182 women aged ≤37 years who underwent frozen-thawed ET from November 2015 to June 2020 at Royan Institute Research Centre, Tehran, Iran. The women were randomly assigned to either the thawed cleavage ET group (n=110) or the post-thaw extended culture blastocysts group (n=72). The primary outcome measure was the clinical pregnancy rate. Secondary outcome measures were implantation rate, live birth rate (LBR), and miscarriage rate. A P<0.05 indicated statistical significance.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics. Both the mean numbers of embryos transferred and good quality embryos transferred were significantly lower in the postthaw extended culture blastocysts group compared to thawed cleavage-stage ET cycles. However, the post-thaw extended culture blastocysts group had higher clinical pregnancy (56.94 vs. 40.91%, P=0.034), implantation (34.43 vs. 19.84%, P=0.001) and live birth (49.3 vs. 33.63%, P=0.036) rates compared to the thawed cleavage-stage ET group. Miscarriage and multiple gestations rates were comparable between the groups.

CONCLUSION: These results allow us to take a position in favour of post-thaw extended culture blastocysts; thus, it is important to improve the post-thawing extended culture technique (registration number: NCT02681029).

PMID:38368518 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2023.560780.1357

Int J Fertil Steril. 2024 Feb 2;18(2):128-134. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2023.1972708.1398.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thiamine (vitamin B1) on general health and infertility treatment outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is a triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial performed on 64 infertile women with PCOS referred to Sarem Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The primary outcomes of the study were general health and infertility treatment outcomes. Eligible women were randomly assigned to the vitamin B1 group (n=32, vitamin B1 tablet at a dose of 300 mg/day for 4 weeks) or the placebo group (n=32, placebo tablet daily for 4 weeks). A general health questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention by both groups, and treatment success was evaluated at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS software ver.16 P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants in the vitamin B1 (VB1) group was 30.4 ± 3.27 years and in the placebo (Pl) group was 29.1 ± 2.66 years with the mean duration of marriage 12.7 ± 3.01 and 13.2 ± 2.97 years respectively. Our results showed that there were significant differences between the two groups in overall score (P<0.001) and scores for all domains of the general health questionnaire including somatic symptoms (P<0.001), anxiety and insomnia (P<0.001), social dysfunction (P=0.028), and severe depression (P<0.001) after the intervention. Four weeks consumption of vitamin B1 also resulted in higher numbers of positive pregnancy tests (P=0.006), although the number of fetuses was not significantly different between the two groups after the intervention.

CONCLUSION: The results of the current study support a possible favourable effect of vitamin B1 on improving general health, infertility treatment outcome, and retrieved follicle count without changing the number of fetuses in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (registration number: IRCT201510266917N3).

PMID:38368515 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2023.1972708.1398

Int J Fertil Steril. 2024 Feb 2;18(2):123-127. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2023.555447.1314.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Myometrial thickness has been expected to be a prognosticator for lower uterine segment function. An abnormal function of the uterine muscle layer can cause common and important reproductive problems. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between baseline myometrial thickness and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 453 infertile women undergoing ART cycles without any obvious uterine pathology, participated in this prospective cohort study from February 2013 to May 2015. In order to measure the myometrial thickness in the anterior and posterior of the uterine, trans-vaginal ultrasounds were conducted on days 2-4 of the cycle (menstrual phase) preceding ovarian stimulation and the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. We defined three groups based on the baseline myometrial thickness in the anterior and posterior, including (A) <25 mm, (B) 25-29.9 mm and (C) ≥30 mm. Ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval and luteal phase support were performed in accordance with the standard long protocol. Two weeks after embryo transfer, the patients underwent a pregnancy test by checking their serum β-hCG levels. The primary outcome measure was clinical pregnancy rate. Secondary outcome measures were, implantation rate, abortion rate and live birth rate.

RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy (P=0.013) and implantation (P=0.003) rates were significantly lower in group A than in two other groups. Although the live birth rate was lower in group A than two other groups, this decrease was not statistically significant (P=0.058).

CONCLUSION: The findings may be a way for clinicians to draw focus on providing therapeutic strategies and a specific supportive care for women with a baseline myometrial thickness <25 mm in order to improve the reproductive outcome of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI).

PMID:38368514 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2023.555447.1314

J Community Health Nurs. 2024 Feb 17:1-13. doi: 10.1080/07370016.2024.2314076. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore help-seeking preference categories and crucial influencing factors among community nurses exposed to COVID-19 in China using a new person-centered approach.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional design including an online self-reported questionnaire survey was used.

METHODS: A total of 667 nurses who participated in COVID-19 prevention and control work were recruited. Latent class analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the data using Mplus and SPSS.

FINDINGS: Two latent classes of help-seeking preferences were identified: high help-seeking preferences (33.58%) and low help-seeking preferences (66.42%). Most sampled nurses had relatively low help-seeking preferences when facing psychological threats during COVID-19. Logistic regression showed that career duration, perceived social support, online help-seeking intention, and social media exposure negatively affected low help-seeking preferences.

CONCLUSIONS: Career duration, perceived social support, online help-seeking intention, and social media exposure could be key factors influencing help-seeking preferences among Chinese nurses exposed to public emergencies. It is necessary to implement relevant intervention measures, such as focusing on nurses whose career durations are shorter, improving nurses’ perceived social support, strengthening positive media publicity, and developing comprehensive online mental health services that promote nurses’ help-seeking preferences and behaviors to reduce mental illness during public health emergencies.

CLINICAL EVIDENCE: Help-seeking preferences are relatively low among Chinese nurses during public emergencies. Based on the major influencing factors of help-seeking preferences, including social support and social media exposure, more interventions must be developed for prompting psychological help-seeking intentions among Chinese nurses.

PMID:38368504 | DOI:10.1080/07370016.2024.2314076

Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 17;14(1):3954. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-54571-2.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the impact of water levels and soil texture on the migration and transformation of nitrate (NO₃^–-N) and ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) within a soil column. The concentrations of NO₃^–-N gradually decreased from an initial concentration of 34.19 ± 0.86 mg/L to 14.33 ± 0.77 mg/L on day 70, exhibiting fluctuations and migration influenced by water levels and soil texture. Higher water levels were associated with decreased NO₃^–-N concentrations, while lower water levels resulted in increased concentrations. The retention and absorption capacity for NO₃^–-N were highest in fine sand soil, followed by medium sand and coarse sand, highlighting the significance of soil texture in nitrate movement and retention. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed statistically significant variations in pH, dissolve oxygen and oxidation-reduction potential across the soil columns (p < 0.05). Fluctuating water levels influenced the migration and transformation of NO₃^–-N, with distinct patterns observed in different soil textures. Water level fluctuations also impacted the migration and transformation of NH₄⁺-N, with higher water levels associated with increased concentrations and lower water levels resulting in decreased concentrations. Among the soil types considered, medium sand exhibited the highest absorption capacity for NH₄⁺-N. These findings underscore the significant roles of water levels, soil texture, and soil type in the migration, transformation, and absorption of nitrogen compounds within soil columns. The results contribute to a better understanding of nitrogen dynamics under varying water levels and environmental conditions, providing valuable insights into the patterns of nitrogen migration and transformation in small-scale soil column experiments.

PMID:38368500 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-54571-2

Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 17;14(1):3980. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-54679-5.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marriage, divorce, birth, and death rates using the Poisson regression model and an interrupted time-series Poisson regression model. Before the pandemic, marriage and birth rates were decreasing, while divorce and death rates were increasing, with only the trend in birth rates being statistically significant. The immediate effect of the pandemic was a significant decrease in the divorce rate, but there were non-significant effects on birth and marriage rates. However, in the months following the onset of the pandemic, there was a statistically significant sustained effect on increasing death and divorce rates. Forecasts based on pre-pandemic data showed that by the end of 2020, marriage, divorce, death, and birth rates were higher compared to pre-pandemic levels. In conclusion, the pandemic has greatly impacted society, particularly in terms of death and divorce rates. Birth rates were not immediately affected to the time lag between decisions and actual births. Fear of COVID-19 may have increased death rates as people avoided seeking medical help. Vaccination and effective treatment strategies are vital in reducing the pandemic’s impact on mortality. Supporting families financially is important due to the role of economic issues in couples’ decisions.

PMID:38368489 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-54679-5

Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 17;14(1):3984. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-54541-8.

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in the elderly worldwide. The exact etiology of AD, particularly its genetic mechanisms, remains incompletely understood. Traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which primarily focus on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with main effects, provide limited explanations for the “missing heritability” of AD, while there is growing evidence supporting the important role of epistasis. In this study, we performed a genome-wide SNP-SNP interaction detection using a linear regression model and employed multiple GPUs for parallel computing, significantly enhancing the speed of whole-genome analysis. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) phosphorylated tau (P-tau)/amyloid-[Formula: see text] (A[Formula: see text]) ratio was used as a quantitative trait (QT) to enhance statistical power. Age, gender, and clinical diagnosis were included as covariates to control for potential non-genetic factors influencing AD. We identified 961 pairs of statistically significant SNP-SNP interactions, explaining a high-level variance of P-tau/A[Formula: see text] level, all of which exhibited marginal main effects. Additionally, we replicated 432 previously reported AD-related genes and found 11 gene-gene interaction pairs overlapping with the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Our findings may contribute to partially explain the “missing heritability” of AD. The identified subnetwork may be associated with synaptic dysfunction, Wnt signaling pathway, oligodendrocytes, inflammation, hippocampus, and neuronal cells.

PMID:38368488 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-54541-8