Nevin Manimala

Front Neurol. 2024 Feb 26;15:1363481. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1363481. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cochlear implantation is currently regarded as a safe and minimally invasive procedure. However, cochlear implantation can have an impact on vestibular function, despite the lack of correlation between patient symptomatology and damage in vestibular tests. Thus, the present study aims to analyze the presence of hydrops and histological reactions at the level of the vestibule after cochlear implantation with dexamethasone pump delivery in Macaca fascicularis (Mf).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A detailed histological study was conducted on a total of 11 Mf. All 11 Mf were divided into three groups: 5 Mf were implanted with an electrode array HL-14 connected to a pump delivering FITC-dextran for 24 h (Group A); 4 Mf were implanted with a CI electrode array attached to a pump for FITC-dextran delivery for 7 days (Group B); and 2 Mf were considered the control group, without any kind of cochlear device implantation (Group C). After drug deliver, the selected macaques were euthanized to collect tissue samples for histological analysis. An experienced observer, focusing on the utricle and saccule areas, conducted a blinded inner ear histology analysis.

RESULTS: Surgical procedures were successfully performed in all cases. No signs of cochlear reaction to the device were observed, including neither collapse nor fibrosis. Endolymphatic sinus dilatation was observed in Mf4A and Mf3B, while cochlear hydrops was observed in Mf3A. The mean areas of the utricle and saccule exhibited some statistically significant differences, specifically, in the saccule between groups C and both groups A (p = 0.028) and B (p = 0.029); however, no significant differences were observed between groups A and B or among comparisons of the utricle.

DISCUSSION: A significant concern relates to the safety of cochlear implantation with regard to vestibular preservation and hearing. New advancements in electrode arrays, such as CI devices coupled with delivery pumps, pose a challenge in maintaining minimally traumatic surgical concept-based procedures without affecting the inner ear homeostasis. The implantation of this device may cause vestibular hydrops in the saccule, indicating that the longer the time of substance release, the greater the grade of hydrops evidenced at the saccular level. Apart from this finding, the risk of histological damage to the vestibule is low.

PMID:38469594 | PMC:PMC10926955 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2024.1363481

Front Neurol. 2024 Feb 26;15:1340650. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1340650. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To explore the therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen combined with subdural drilling and drainage (SDD) on subdural effusion type IV with intracranial infection in infant patients.

METHODS: This retrospective controlled study included 328 infant patients with subdural effusion type 4 with intracranial infection between January 2005 and January 2023. 178 patients were treated by hyperbaric oxygen combined with SDD (group A). 142 cases were treated with SDD (group B). 97 infants were only received hyperbaric oxygen (group C). Clinical outcomes, the control time of intracranial infection, complications, and the degree of brain re-expansion after 6 months of treatment were compared among the three groups. According to the comprehensive evaluation of treatment effectiveness and imaging results, it is divided into four levels: cured, significantly effective, improved, and ineffective.

RESULTS: No patient died during follow-up. The three groups were similar regarding age, sex, the general information, and clinical symptoms (p > 0.05). All intracranial infections in the children were effectively controlled. There was no difference in infection control time between group A and group B, and there was no statistical significance. However, the control time of intracranial infection between the two groups was different from that of group C, which was statistically significant. Compared with group B and group C, the degree of brain re-expansion in group A has obvious advantages and significant differences. The effective rates of the three groups were 83.7%, 58.5%, and 56.7%, respectively. There were 28 cases of subcutaneous hydrops in group A and 22 cases of subcutaneous hydrops in group B after operation, and no other serious complications.

CONCLUSION: The SDD is safe and effective for infant patients with intracranial infections through fluid replacement and intrathecal antibacterial. Hyperbaric oxygen is effective as an adjuvant therapy to promote brain re-expansion.

PMID:38469593 | PMC:PMC10925761 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2024.1340650

Front Neurol. 2024 Feb 26;15:1360032. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1360032. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Spasticity is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS) and it is often associated with other symptoms such as spasms/cramps and pain. The concept of Spasticity-Plus syndrome takes into account that spasticity is accompanied by one or more symptoms (spasms/cramps, pain, bladder dysfunction, sleep disorders, fatigue and/or tremor). As these symptoms share a common cannabinoid control, therapy acting on cannabinoid receptors may be useful. The main study objectives were to determine the number of MS patients who met Spasticity-Plus syndrome criteria and to identify the most common symptoms.

METHODS: Clinical records of MS patients treated with nabiximols in a tertiary hospital from 2002 to 2022 were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS: Of the 73 patients included in the study, 53.4% were women, and most had secondary progressive MS (64.4%). All patients met the criteria for Spasticity-Plus syndrome: 100% had spasticity and at least another symptom. Pain was the second most common symptom (91.8%), followed by spasms/cramps (79.4%), and fatigue (76.7%). Sleep disturbances (p < 0.0001) and tremor (p < 0.027) were more frequent in patients with relapsing-remitting MS than in patients with progressive MS. No statistically significant differences were found for spasticity, pain, spasms/cramps, and fatigue between MS phenotypes. Regarding symptoms clusters, 94.4% of the patients had three or more symptoms. Spasticity was more frequently associated with pain (91.8%) and spasms/cramps (79.4%).

CONCLUSION: Spasticity-Plus syndrome was present in all the study population of patients with different MS phenotypes, and treated with nabiximols.

PMID:38469589 | PMC:PMC10926473 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2024.1360032

Radiol Res Pract. 2024 Mar 4;2024:8873720. doi: 10.1155/2024/8873720. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the atheromatous plaques’ prevalence in orthopantomography and their relationship with periodontal disease and missing teeth. Material and Methods. Orthopantomographs of 1,254 patients over 18 years of age from Clínica Arlanza in Lerma, Burgos, were examined between 2017 and 2021. A Planmeca ProOne® orthopantomograph (68 kV, 7 mA, and 10 sg) was used. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS Statistics® version 25. The results of the categorical variables were described as frequencies (%). Contingency tables were made with the qualitative variables, and the chi-square test was applied to study the relationship among them. The measure of statistical power used was the relative risk (RR), which was described with its respective 95% confidence interval (CI). Student’s t-test was applied to study the relationship between the qualitative variable “presence or absence of atheroma plaque” and the quantitative variable “number of teeth.”

RESULTS: A 6.2% prevalence of atheroma plaques was obtained from 1,079 selected X-rays. The risk in patients with periodontal disease increased as periodontal disease worsened. The risk in patients with periodontal disease increased as periodontal disease worsened as follows: healthy patients vs. periodontal patients with less than 30% bone loss in radiography: RR 0.434, 95% CI 0.181-1.041, p = 0.053 healthy patients vs. patients with between 30%-60% bone loss: RR 0.177, 95% CI 0.075-0.418, p < 0.05 healthy patients vs. patients with more than 60% bone loss: RR 0.121, 95% CI 0.041-0.355, p < 0.05. Patients with calcifications on their orthopantomograms had a lower mean teeth number (20.9 teeth) compared to patients without calcifications (24 teeth), which was statistically significant, t (1077) = -3.125, p < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONS: Orthopantomography can be considered a screening method to detect patients at increased cardiovascular risk who are referred for individualized study. It is important to continue research to know the real significance of these findings. Dentists should be aware of the importance of our work in our patients’ systemic health.

PMID:38469568 | PMC:PMC10927347 | DOI:10.1155/2024/8873720

Int J Pediatr. 2024 Mar 4;2024:6663774. doi: 10.1155/2024/6663774. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

Iron deficiency anaemia is still a global public health concern with the highest burden among children 6 to 23 months due to their rapid growth spurt exceeding breastmilk supply. Therefore, nutritional supply is a key source of iron to attain the required nutrients for better growth and development. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study done at Ishaka Adventist Hospital (IAH) and Kampala International University Teaching Hospital (KIUTH) from April to July 2022. Participants were consecutively enrolled in the study. Structured questionnaires, 24-hour dietary recall, and clinical assessment were used to obtain data. Data analysis was done using the statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) V22.0. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were done using logistic regression for associations with significance set at P value < 0.05. A total of 364 participants were enrolled, with the majority being males (198, 54.4%) and born at term (333, 91.5%). The modal age was 12-17 months [163(44.8%)] with a mean age of 14.1 months (SD 5.32). The overall prevalence of IDA was 151/364 (41.5%). The factors associated with IDA included male sex (aOR 1.61), current episode of diarrhoea (aOR 1.71), poor meal frequency (aOR 1.78), no vegetable consumption (aOR 2.47), and consuming fruits once (aOR 1.97) in 7 days preceding the study. The study finds a high prevalence of IDA among infants 6-23 months with at least four in 10 being affected. Screening for IDA should be recommended in male children with current diarrhoea, poor intake of fruits and vegetables, and poor meal frequency. The Mentzer index is an equally good alternative screening test for IDA.

PMID:38469566 | PMC:PMC10927344 | DOI:10.1155/2024/6663774

Front Insect Sci. 2023 Feb 9;3:990909. doi: 10.3389/finsc.2023.990909. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus plannipenis Fairmaire, is an invasive insect accidentally introduced to North America from Asia that attacks and kills ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). A common control strategy in urban centers has been the injection of systemic insecticides into mature trees, which can be costly at large scales. This study investigated whether treating a subset of a susceptible urban ash population could confer associational protection to untreated trees; i.e. improving or maintaining crown health of the latter. We selected approximately 100 mature ash trees along city streets in each of 12 sites in central and southeastern Minnesota in 2017. Each site had low but growing infestations of EAB such that canopy decline was not yet widespread. We treated 50% of trees with emamectin benzoate in eight sites and 50% of trees in four sites with azadirachtin in site-wide spatial gradients, such that the remaining 50% of trees at all sites were left untreated. Crown health of all trees was monitored for five years (2017 to 2021). Across all sites, we noted an overall maintenance or increase in crown health of both treated and untreated trees, while groups of untreated reference trees approximately three km distant from each site to monitor general tree health and EAB pressure declined quickly. These results suggested that protective benefits were conferred by treated trees to untreated trees within sites. Quantifying the spatial scale of canopy preservation of untreated trees within sites proved challenging due to the lack of variation in crown condition between treated and untreated trees. In two of the twelve sites treated with emamectin benzoate, we noted statistical evidence of improvements in crown condition of untreated trees when located within 100m of treated trees. Treating a subset of a susceptible ash population may aid in preserving untreated trees and provides a basis for developing a more cost-effective and environmentally favorable treatment regimen against EAB.

PMID:38469523 | PMC:PMC10926447 | DOI:10.3389/finsc.2023.990909

Front Insect Sci. 2023 May 2;3:1141853. doi: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1141853. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

The invasion of Drosophila suzukii, spotted-wing drosophila, across Europe and the US has led to economic losses for berry and cherry growers, and increased insecticide applications to protect fruit from damage. Commercial production relies heavily on unsustainable use of conventional toxic insecticides. Non-toxic insecticide strategies are necessary to alleviate the disadvantages and non-target impacts of toxic conventional insecticides and improve Integrated Pest Management (IPM). A novel food-grade gum deployed on dispenser pads (GUM dispensers) was evaluated to mitigate D. suzukii crop damage in five commercial crops and nine locations. Trials were conducted at a rate of 124 dispensers per hectare in cherry, wine grape, blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry in California and Oregon, USA during 2019 and 2020. The majority of trials with the food-grade gum resulted in a reduction of D. suzukii egg laying in susceptible fruit. In some cases, such damage was reduced by up to 78%. Overall, results from our meta-analysis showed highly significant differences between GUM treatments and the untreated control. Modeling simulations suggest a synergistic reduction of D. suzukii damage when used in combination with Spinosad (Entrust SC) insecticide. These data illustrate commercial value of this tool as a sustainable alternative to manage D. suzukii populations within a systems approach.

PMID:38469503 | PMC:PMC10926501 | DOI:10.3389/finsc.2023.1141853

Front Insect Sci. 2023 Jul 20;3:1105531. doi: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1105531. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The ability of living organisms to acquire the nutrients needed to carry out required physiological functions has important consequences for fitness. However, an organism must not simply meet the requirements for individual nutrients, but must ingest an optimal balance of multiple nutrients. Despite this, animals rarely consume truly balanced resources, and instead commonly feed selectively across multiple unbalanced resources to reach an optimal balance, i.e., intake target. Nutritional research has predominantly focused on the behavioral strategies employed during nutrient regulation, as well as the fitness consequence of failing to meet intake targets, but little work has been done on the temporal aspects of this process. For instance, within what timeframe must organisms reach their intake target before a fitness cost is incurred? Hours, days, weeks?

METHODS: In this study, we investigated how nutrient regulation interval impacts consumption and performance in adult female spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). Females were constrained to either a protein- orcarbohydrate-biased diet over different time intervals and at different schedules, while control flies were constrained to one diet for the entire feeding period.

RESULTS: Regulation interval had a significant impact on feeding behavior and consumption. Total consumption was highest on the shorter interval treatments, where diets were alternated more frequently, and declined as the interval period increased. The relative consumption of both diets was statistically-different across intervals and was higher for the carbohydrate-biased diet. Consumption of the protein-biased diet was more variable across intervals and was more strongly impacted by the daily timing of diet switches. Performance data showed that shorter regulation intervals led to longer fly lifespans, a result commonly observed in studies exploring the impacts of diet macronutrient ratio variability on performance.

DISCUSSION: These results show that the temporal aspects of nutrition, such as feeding intervals and the timing of resource availability, can have strong impacts on feeding behavior, nutrient regulation, and fitness. These results provide an insight into how consumers may deal with changes in host phenology, the availability of hosts, and changes in nutrient availability within hosts. Understanding these mechanisms will be important for predicting responses to changes in nutrient cycling and resource availability mediated by natural and anthropogenic habitat modifications, such as global climate change.

PMID:38469468 | PMC:PMC10926440 | DOI:10.3389/finsc.2023.1105531

J Nurs Scholarsh. 2024 Mar 11. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12965. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the capacity to foster innovative work behavior among nurses is increasingly important. This study examined the dynamics between inclusive leadership, psychological safety, collectivism, and innovative work behavior among nurses.

DESIGN: The study used a cross-sectional, correlational design.

METHODS: This study utilized data from 730 medical-surgical nurses who provided direct care to patients. Standardized instruments were used to assess key study variables. Statistical analyses, including moderated mediation regressions, were employed to investigate the complex interplay among these variables.

RESULTS: We found a positive association between inclusive leadership and innovative work behavior, and psychological safety mediated this relationship. Collectivism moderated inclusive leadership’s direct relationship with psychological safety and its indirect relationship with innovative work behavior. The results revealed that nurses with lower levels of collectivism were more responsive to their managers’ inclusive behaviors, strengthening the relation between inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and innovative work behavior.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that promoting inclusive leadership behaviors among nurse managers to create a psychologically safe environment can motivate nurses to engage in innovative work behavior. However, it is also important to understand that the effectiveness of leadership may differ depending on the collectivist values of individual nurses.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurse managers should adopt inclusive leadership behaviors, such as valuing trust, open communication, and diversity, in order to foster psychological safety and innovative work behavior among nurses.

PMID:38467584 | DOI:10.1111/jnu.12965

Biochemistry (Mosc). 2024 Jan;89(1):184-195. doi: 10.1134/S0006297924010127.

ABSTRACT

Cell migration is largely determined by the type of protrusions formed by the cell. Mesenchymal migration is accomplished by formation of lamellipodia and/or filopodia, while amoeboid migration is based on bleb formation. Changing of migrational conditions can lead to alteration in the character of cell movement. For example, inhibition of the Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization by the CK-666 inhibitor leads to transition from mesenchymal to amoeboid motility mode. Ability of the cells to switch from one type of motility to another is called migratory plasticity. Cellular mechanisms regulating migratory plasticity are poorly understood. One of the factors determining the possibility of migratory plasticity may be the presence and/or organization of vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs). To investigate whether organization of the VIF network affects the ability of fibroblasts to form membrane blebs, we used rat embryo fibroblasts REF52 with normal VIF organization, fibroblasts with vimentin knockout (REF^-/-), and fibroblasts with mutation inhibiting assembly of the full-length VIFs (REF117). Blebs formation was induced by treatment of cells with CK-666. Vimentin knockout did not lead to statistically significant increase in the number of cells with blebs. The fibroblasts with short fragments of vimentin demonstrate the significant increase in number of cells forming blebs both spontaneously and in the presence of CK-666. Disruption of the VIF organization did not lead to the significant changes in the microtubules network or the level of myosin light chain phosphorylation, but caused significant reduction in the focal contact system. The most pronounced and statistically significant decrease in both size and number of focal adhesions were observed in the REF117 cells. We believe that regulation of the membrane blebbing by VIFs is mediated by their effect on the focal adhesion system. Analysis of migration of fibroblasts with different organization of VIFs in a three-dimensional collagen gel showed that organization of VIFs determines the type of cell protrusions, which, in turn, determines the character of cell movement. A novel role of VIFs as a regulator of membrane blebbing, essential for manifestation of the migratory plasticity, is shown.

PMID:38467554 | DOI:10.1134/S0006297924010127