Nevin Manimala

J Integr Bioinform. 2023 Sep 21. doi: 10.1515/jib-2022-0029. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Many important aspects of biological knowledge at the molecular level can be represented by pathways. Through their analysis, we gain mechanistic insights and interpret lists of interesting genes from experiments (usually omics and functional genomic experiments). As a result, pathways play a central role in the development of bioinformatics methods and tools for computing predictions from known molecular-level mechanisms. Qualitative as well as quantitative knowledge about pathways can be effectively represented through biochemical networks linking the biochemical reactions and the compounds (e.g., proteins) occurring in the considered pathways. So, repositories providing biochemical networks for known pathways play a central role in bioinformatics and in systems biology. Here we focus on Reactome, a free, comprehensive, and widely used repository for biochemical networks and pathways. In this paper, we: (1) introduce a tool StARGate-X (STatistical Analysis of the Reactome multi-GrAph Through nEtworkX) to carry out an automated analysis of the connectivity properties of Reactome biochemical reaction network and of its biological hierarchy (i.e., cell compartments, namely, the closed parts within the cytosol, usually surrounded by a membrane); the code is freely available at https://github.com/marinoandrea/stargate-x; (2) show the effectiveness of our tool by providing an analysis of the Reactome network, in terms of centrality measures, with respect to in- and out-degree. As an example of usage of StARGate-X, we provide a detailed automated analysis of the Reactome network, in terms of centrality measures. We focus both on the subgraphs induced by single compartments and on the graph whose nodes are the strongly connected components. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first freely available tool that enables automatic analysis of the large biochemical network within Reactome through easy-to-use APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).

PMID:37732505 | DOI:10.1515/jib-2022-0029

J Pharm Pract. 2023 Sep 21:8971900231202647. doi: 10.1177/08971900231202647. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Pharmacy board certification provides pharmacists with formal recognition of their careers and their involvement in direct and comprehensive patient care. Credentialing as a board-certified pharmacist demonstrates that the pharmacist has specialized expertise and is able to provide advanced level patient care in a specific pharmacy practice specialty. There is currently not a community pharmacy board certification available in the United States. With the expanding role and clinical expectations of community pharmacists nationwide, perspectives regarding the utility of a community pharmacy specialty board certification are necessary. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with demographic and perception questions (5-point Likert scale) was distributed electronically via Qualtrics. A random sample of pharmacists registered in Rhode Island, Ohio, and Nebraska were selected and surveyed. Results: 53 survey responses were collected. There was a statistically significant difference in board certification history (P = .001) and history of post-graduate training (P < .001) between community pharmacists and non-community pharmacists. Community pharmacists were more likely to simultaneously see community pharmacists as general practitioners (P = .030) and as pharmacy practice specialists (P = .001). Non-community pharmacists were more likely to be familiar with current maintenance requirements for pharmacy board certifications (P < .001) and to feel that a board certification is an appropriate indicator of experience in a pharmacy specialty area (P = .016). Conclusion: Views regarding community pharmacy and board certification differed between community and non-community pharmacists. There was not a statistically significant difference in the perceived value of community pharmacy board certification between community and non-community pharmacist.

PMID:37732497 | DOI:10.1177/08971900231202647

Hypertension. 2023 Sep 21. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.19941. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There has been considerable progress in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, reducing the population burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recently, some randomized trials, including the SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial), have suggested that improvements in cardiovascular risk factors may also slow cognitive decline and reduce the eventual development of dementia. Unfortunately, the randomized trial template that has been used repeatedly to successfully demonstrate reductions in major adverse cardiac events faces several design and analytic obstacles when applied in the context of cognitive decline and dementia. Here, we review these obstacles, motivated by SPRINT and the context of selecting an appropriate cognitive end point for future preventive randomized trials. A few options are available, spanning neuropsychological test scores or composites reflecting specific domains of cognitive function, adjudicated cognitive impairment, or potentially physiological biomarkers. This choice entails considerations around statistical power, modes of ascertainment, the clinical relevance of treatment effects, a myriad of statistical issues (interval censoring, missing data, the competing risk of death, practice effects, etc), as well as ethical considerations around equipoise. Collectively, these considerations indicate that trials aiming to mitigate the cardiovascular contribution to cognitive decline and dementia will generally need to be large, inclusive of a wide age range of older adults, and with multiple years of follow-up.

PMID:37732473 | DOI:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.19941

Womens Health (Lond). 2023 Jan-Dec;19:17455057231199038. doi: 10.1177/17455057231199038.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Since 2019, the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic and its consequences from restrictions to risks have impacted our lives in all aspects. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the changes that were implemented as a result of the shift in healthcare priorities and the medical and social implications of the lockdown.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the experience of giving birth during the pandemic, how this is affected by acquiring coronavirus disease-19 infection, and its effect on postnatal mood.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted which involved 490 women who gave birth during the pandemic across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

METHODS: An electronic questionnaire was distributed among women experiencing childbirth during this period in Jordan by advertising it on social media platforms targeting pregnant women and mothers. The sample size was statistically determined to be representative of the population. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows v.27.

RESULTS: The study demonstrated that getting infected with the virus throughout the pregnancy did not affect the childbirth experience with respect to the parameters measured, but other factors during the pandemic such as the type of hospital and mode of delivery did. Positive interaction with staff in the delivery suite was a major determinant of a positive birth experience. Women associated low mood post-delivery with giving birth in pandemic circumstances, and it affected first-time mothers more than multiparous women.

CONCLUSION: Although the acquisition of coronavirus disease-19 infection did not have a significant impact on women’s childbirth experience, several pandemic-related factors did. Given the importance of a woman’s perception and evaluation of events surrounding her birth experience in determining her postnatal physical and psychological well-being, having to give birth during the pandemic circumstances, especially for first-time mothers, can have potentially detrimental consequences that may affect her health and reproductive choices in the future. The results of this study offer a better understanding of the effect of pandemic and lockdown circumstances on the perceived experience of mothers during childbirth and postnatally and factors that should be taken into consideration when planning healthcare provision to this population in future similar conditions.

PMID:37732465 | DOI:10.1177/17455057231199038

Womens Health (Lond). 2023 Jan-Dec;19:17455057231199032. doi: 10.1177/17455057231199032.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite a strong international standpoint against female genital mutilation, the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Somalia is extremely high.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of female genital mutilation among female health care service providers in order to formulate appropriate policies and programs to eliminate this harmful practice.

DESIGN: Facility-based cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019 among female doctors and nurses working in Banadir Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia.

METHODS: A total of 144 female health care service providers were randomly selected, and data were collected through a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed by using the statistical software SPSS (Version 21), and qualitative data were analyzed thematically in accordance with the objectives of the study.

RESULTS: The study found that about three-fifths of the respondents had undergone some forms of female genital mutilation during their life. An overwhelming majority believed that female genital mutilation practices were medically harmful, and a majority of them expressed their opinion against the medicalization of the practice of female genital mutilation. The study also observed a significant association between participants’ age and their negative attitudes regarding the legalization of female genital mutilation.

CONCLUSION: Health care service providers’ effort is critical to eliminating this harmful practice from the Somalian society. Strong policy commitment and a comprehensive health-promotion effort targeting the parents and community leaders are essential to avert the negative impact of female genital mutilation.

PMID:37732458 | DOI:10.1177/17455057231199032

Circulation. 2023 Sep 21. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.064398. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preoperative cardiovascular risk stratification before noncardiac surgery is a common clinical challenge. Coronary artery calcium scores from ECG-gated chest computed tomography (CT) imaging are associated with perioperative events. At the time of preoperative evaluation, many patients will not have had ECG-gated CT imaging, but will have had nongated chest CT studies performed for a variety of noncardiac indications. We evaluated relationships between coronary calcium severity estimated from previous nongated chest CT imaging and perioperative major clinical events (MCE) after noncardiac surgery.

METHODS: We retrospectively identified consecutive adults age ≥45 years who underwent in-hospital, major nongated surgery from 2016 to 2020 at a large academic health system composed of 4 acute care centers. All patients had nongated (contrast or noncontrast) chest CT imaging performed within 1 year before surgery. Coronary calcium in each vessel was retrospectively graded from absent to severe using a 0 to 3 scale (absent, mild, moderate, severe) by physicians blinded to clinical data. The estimated coronary calcium burden (ECCB) was computed as the sum of scores for each coronary artery (0 to 9 scale). A Revised Cardiac Risk Index was calculated for each patient. Perioperative MCE was defined as all-cause death or myocardial infarction within 30 days of surgery.

RESULTS: A total of 2554 patients (median age, 68 years; 49.7% women; median Revised Cardiac Risk Index, 1) were included. The median time interval from nongated chest CT imaging to nongated surgery was 15 days (interquartile range, 3-106 days). The median ECCB was 1 (interquartile range, 0-3). Perioperative MCE occurred in 136 (5.2%) patients. Higher ECCB values were associated with stepwise increases in perioperative MCE (0: 2.9%, 1-2: 3.7%, 3-5: 8.0%; 6-9: 12.6%, P<0.001). Addition of ECCB to a model with the Revised Cardiac Risk Index improved the C-statistic for MCE (from 0.675 to 0.712, P=0.018), with a net reclassification improvement of 0.428 (95% CI, 0.254-0.601, P<0.0001). An ECCB ≥3 was associated with 2-fold higher adjusted odds of MCE versus an ECCB <3 (adjusted odds ratio, 2.11 [95% CI, 1.42-3.12]).

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and severity of coronary calcium obtained from existing nongated chest CT imaging improve preoperative clinical risk stratification before nongated surgery.

PMID:37732454 | DOI:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.064398

J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2023 Sep;47(5):162-169. doi: 10.22514/jocpd.2023.066. Epub 2023 Sep 3.

ABSTRACT

Discoloration poses a significant esthetic issue, and parents’ opinions and emotional states may vary regarding different types of discoloration, such as molar incisor hypomineralization, caries or chromogenic bacteria. This study aimed to assess parent’s emotional state and attitudes towards discoloration in primary and permanent teeth. A two-part questionnaire was designed, consisting of questions about demographic data and simulated visuals of different primary and permanent teeth discoloration conditions. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to determine the emotional state, while parents’ attitudes towards dental consultation for each simulated visual were determined using statements such as “Absolutely yes”; “Yes”; “I don’t have an idea”; “No”; “Absolutely no”. The simulated visuals included cases of “caries with cavitation”, “yellow-brown hypomineralized area”, “white hypomineralized area” and “chromogenic bacteria”. The questionnaire was distributed to 300 parents through online communication channels. Categorical variables were analyzed using Pearson chi-square, with statistical significance set as p < 0.05. A total of 230 parents completed the questionnaire. The highest VAS scores and the highest percentage of “Absolutely yes” responses were observed for “caries with cavitation” in both primary (77.8%, 81.7%) and permanent (60.4%, 94.3%) teeth. Additionally, statistically significant differences were found in the VAS scores for chromogenic bacteria (p = 0.04), caries with cavitation (p = 0.005), white hypomineralized area (p = 0.01) and yellow-brown hypomineralized area (p = 0.02). Comparatively, parental preferences showed statistically significant differences for chromogenic bacteria (p = 0.01), caries with cavitation (p = 0.01), yellow-brown hypomineralized area (p = 0.01) and white hypomineralized area (p = 0.004). Parents displayed stronger emotional responses towards “caries with cavitation” compared to hypomineralization and chromogenic bacteria discolorations and expressed a positive attitude towards seeking dental consultation.

PMID:37732450 | DOI:10.22514/jocpd.2023.066

J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2023 Sep;47(5):138-144. doi: 10.22514/jocpd.2023.063. Epub 2023 Sep 3.

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the present research study is to evaluate the association between the occurrence of buccally displaced canine (BDC) and the palatal as well as the craniofacial morphology in adolescents in accordance at the early permanent dentition. As the experimental group, 100 adolescents of Chinese ethnicity (mean age 13.05 years) with crowding and buccally displaced canine (BDC-c) were selected in comparison with the same number of candidates (mean age 12.59 years) without BDC and crowding as control group. Digital dental casts and cephalograms were collected for three dimensional (3D) and cephalometric measurements. An independent sample T-test was used to compare the cephalometric values between the two groups. Logistic regression as commonly statistical methods used in empirical study including categorical dependent variables was used to identify the joint effects of the dental variables’ 3D measurements. When comparing the groups with above analysis, patients with BDC showed a statistically significant narrower and higher palatal vault. For the cephalometric variables, the anterior cranial base length, sagittal position of the maxilla (SNA), sagittal position of the mandible (SNB), and skeletal relationship between maxilla and mandible (ANB) appeared to be smaller, whilst palatal plane angle (SN-PP), Frankfort-mandibular plane angle (FMA), anterior facial height, and lower facial height were larger in BDC-c control group (p < 0.05). A smaller inter-first premolar width was significant in the prediction model (p = 0.002). This study highlights that BDC-c participants in early permanent dentition exhibited a narrower dental arch and higher palatal vault, of which a smaller inter-first premolar width would significantly increase the occurrence of BDC.

PMID:37732447 | DOI:10.22514/jocpd.2023.063

J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2023 Sep;47(5):133-137. doi: 10.22514/jocpd.2023.062. Epub 2023 Sep 3.

ABSTRACT

In this study, the effect of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine on the resistance to fracture of pulpotomized primary molars was evaluated. 75 primary molars were divided into 2 control groups (positive and negative) and 3 experimental groups with 15 teeth each. No treatment was applied to the teeth in the negative control group. In the teeth in the positive control group, pulpotomy cavities were performed, but not filled. In the teeth in the experimental group, pulpotomy cavities were performed, and filled as follows. Group 3: mineral trioxide aggregate + glass ionomer cement (GIC); Group 4: Biodentine + GIC and Group 5: zinc oxide-eugenol + GIC. Final restorations in teeth in all experimental groups were completed with composite filling material. 75 teeth were then subjected to fracture resistance testing. Obtained data were analyzed statistically. Sorting by fracture resistance; Group1 > Group 4 > Group 3 = Group 5 > Group 2 (p < 0.05). Restorable fracture type was predominant in experimental groups (p < 0.05). The use of Biodentine in teeth undergoing pulpotomy in primary teeth can be preferred as a suitable base material to increase resistance to fracture.

PMID:37732446 | DOI:10.22514/jocpd.2023.062

J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2023 Sep;47(5):116-123. doi: 10.22514/jocpd.2023.060. Epub 2023 Sep 3.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that excessive screen time can affect the oral health of school children. In this observational cross-sectional study conducted in four schools in Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR), India, 497 school children aged 8-14 years were included. Convenience sampling was used to select schools. Data were extracted from a questionnaire pertaining to screen time and dietary habits, which was distributed to the school children during their first planned school visit. Seven days later, on their second school visit, the children were clinically examined by a calibrated examiner (κ = 0.9) for dental caries, plaque and gingival health using the following indices: Decayed, Missing, Filled teeth (DMFT)/decayed, extracted, filled teeth (deft), Silness-Loe plaque index (PI) and Loe-Silness gingival index (GI), respectively. Overall, 88.7% of the participants exhibited screen time of ≥2 h with maximum frequency for smartphones (93%), followed by television (84.7%). Significantly higher DMFT/deft values (3.20 ± 0.68 vs. 2.45 ± 0.35, p = 0.001), PI (1.04 ± 0.21 vs. 0.33 ± 0.10, p < 0.001) and GI (1.45 ± 0.34 vs. 0.12 ± 0.04, p < 0.001) were observed in those with screen time ≥2 h as compared to those with screen time <2 h. Data underwent statistical analysis with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Excessive screen time can influence the eating patterns of children and contribute to higher DMFT, GI and PI.

PMID:37732444 | DOI:10.22514/jocpd.2023.060