Nevin Manimala

Sci Data. 2022 Jul 11;9(1):396. doi: 10.1038/s41597-022-01501-4.

ABSTRACT

Researchers typically rely on fossils from the Family Bovidae to generate African paleoenvironmental reconstructions due to their strict ecological tendencies. Bovids have dominated the southern African fauna for the past four million years and, therefore, dominate the fossil faunal assemblages, especially isolated teeth. Traditionally, researchers reference modern and fossil comparative collections to identify teeth. However, researchers are limited by the specific type and number of bovids at each institution. B.O.V.I.D. (Bovidae Occlusal Visual IDentification) is a repository of images of the occlusal surface of bovid teeth. The dataset currently includes extant bovids from 7 tribes and 20 species (~3900). B.O.V.I.D. contains two scaled images per specimen: a color and a black and white (binarized) image. The database is a useful reference for identifying bovid teeth. The large sample size also allows one to observe the natural variation that exists in each taxa. The binarized images can be used in statistical shape analyses, such as taxonomic classification. B.O.V.I.D. is a valuable supplement to other methods for taxonomically identifying bovid teeth.

PMID:35817763 | DOI:10.1038/s41597-022-01501-4

Am J Health Promot. 2022 Jul 11:8901171221113317. doi: 10.1177/08901171221113317. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To elicit preliminary pediatrician and parent perspectives on physical activity (PA) counseling and identify opportunities for improvement.

DESIGN: Mixed methods, including a cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Primary care pediatricians (N = 73; 40% response rate) within a single large healthcare system and parents of students (N = 20) participating in a local school-based PA program in eastern Massachusetts.

METHODS: Electronic survey of pediatricians assessing opinions of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) PA guidelines and potential PA promotion tools; semi-structured qualitative interviews with parents assessing overall discussion, education, and recommendations relating to PA.

ANALYSIS: We report descriptive statistics for survey items and bivariate analyses comparing responses by physician characteristics. We performed thematic analysis of qualitative interviews and present results through an implementation science framework.

RESULTS: In this preliminary study, pediatricians reported adoption, appropriateness, and lower perceived effectiveness of PA counseling. School-based programs and educational materials were most often chosen as PA promotion tools. Responses varied by pediatrician characteristics. While parents reported satisfaction, opportunities for improvement included connections with community resources and continued conversations with the child about PA.

CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians and parents highlighted gaps in PA counseling in primary care. While results are preliminary given small sample size, this study provides actionable targets to support PA promotion as a preventive health priority in this setting.

PMID:35817761 | DOI:10.1177/08901171221113317

J Am Coll Health. 2022 Jul 11:1-8. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2093116. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Campus recreational sport activities impact college student health and well-being in a variety of domains. This multi-institutional study examined the participation of students in campus recreation during the pandemic and explored the relationship between student participation and their demographic markers, COVID-19 experience, and perceptions of risk, health and safety. Methods: Results from a survey of 1,815 American college students indicated the presence of statistical differences in sport participation based on Gender, Race, State, Personal COVID-19 Experience, Campus Safety Efforts, and Risk Perception Score within various areas of analysis. Results: The impact and meaning of these cross-sectional results are discussed with reference to the ongoing pandemic and student health. Recommendations are presented within the context of this vital programming area both during and beyond the current crisis. Conclusion: These results are especially important given the health benefits associated with participation in recreational sport as tools to mitigate against the unprecedented consequences of the pandemic.

PMID:35816740 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2022.2093116

J Am Coll Health. 2022 Jul 11:1-8. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2098033. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: This cross-sectional study utilized structural equation modeling to examine effects of COVID-19 stress on food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption mediated through personal agency and behavioral intention. Participants: Students (n = 749) enrolled at one federally designated Hispanic-serving public university during the fall 2020 semester. Methods: A 34-item survey was developed and administered. Results: COVID-19 stress had a statistically significant impact on food insecurity (B = .341; p < .001) and an inverse impact on personal agency to consume fruit and vegetables (B = -.283; p < .001). Personal agency (B = .389; p < .001) and behavioral intention to consume fruit and vegetables were directly associated while food insecurity inversely impacted behavioral intention (B = -.076; p = .034). Conclusions: Pandemic-related stress impacts nutrition behaviors among the student population already at risk of poor fruit and vegetable intake. During periods of high pandemic-related stress, college students need adequate access to fruits and vegetables and health promotion programs emphasizing stress management and healthy dietary behaviors.

PMID:35816739 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2022.2098033

Prehosp Emerg Care. 2022 Jul 11:1-7. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2022.2098435. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: The requirements for emergency medical services (EMS) medical directors are commonly defined by state rules and regulations without national standardization. The extent of variability in the requirements to be an EMS medical director in the US is unclear. The objective of this study is to describe the state requirements to function as an EMS medical director in the US.Methods: This was an evaluation of the rules and statutes governing the current requirements to function as an agency-level EMS medical director and defined tasks in the US. Regulations and governmental statutes were reviewed from 50 states and the District of Columbia using publicly available governmental websites focusing on the specific qualifications required to work as an EMS medical director and perform the associated tasks. Data were tabulated, and descriptive statistics were calculated.Results: Data were available and extracted for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Being a licensed physician is the minimum requirement in 50 states (50/51, 98%). One state, Montana, allows for medical direction by a licensed physician or physician assistant. Board certification in emergency medicine is required by 8% (4/51). No state requires EMS subspecialty certification. The majority of states require that EMS medical directors participate in EMS oversight (76%), EMS clinician training (71%), protocol development (67%), and quality improvement and assurance (65%).Conclusions: Requirements for EMS medical direction across the US are not standardized. Many states require a medical license, but emergency medicine board certification is not a common requirement. Future work will need to focus on required competencies for EMS medical direction to set clear standards and educational requirements in the US.

PMID:35816701 | DOI:10.1080/10903127.2022.2098435

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2022 Jul 4;60(4):433-439.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The main risk factors studied that have an influence on mortality from COVID-19 have so far been inconclusive in the world literature, mainly in relation to the male gender.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which are the main risk factors that influence a higher mortality from COVID-19.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted, including 1190 patients with positive RT-PCR. The risk factors studied were: gender, age, systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), Diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, smoking, immunosuppressants, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), influenza vaccine. In the Group of Cases: they died from COVID-19 (n = 576), while in the Controls group: they survived (n = 614). The statistical plan included cross-tables and multivariate logistic regression model to determine the influence of these risk factors on mortality from COVID-19.

RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences between cases and controls in relation to gender. However, the cases were aged >60 years, SAH, DM, obesity compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Male gender was not a risk factor for mortality from COVID-19, however, other risk factors such as age over 60 years, being hypertensive, diabetic and obese, were corroborated as such for a higher mortality from COVID-19.

PMID:35816684

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2022 Jul 4;60(4):411-417.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The urinary tract infections in pregnant women are the second most frequent medical pathology in pregnancy, presenting an incidence of 5-10%. In Mexico, according to the Mexican Clinical Practice Guide, the incidence is 2%, and establishes a recurrence of 23% of them.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the associated epidemiologic factors with recurring infections in lower urinary tract in pregnant women during the period of May 2019 through May 2020.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analytical observational cross-sectional and retrospective research study, where prenatal control sheets of clinical records were reviewed from the institutional program to identify frequency of recurrence and epidemiologic factors associated with lower urinary tract infections in 90 pregnant women; the variables were analyzed through descriptive statistics and analytical statistics.

RESULTS: Of a total of 90 electronic records of pregnant women, a recurrence of lower urinary tract infections was found in 41 patients (45.6%).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of recurring lower urinary tract infections during pregnancy in our population is alarming in whom no association was found with the presence of the epidemiologic factors studied in the present investigation; however, a tendency of recurrence urinary tract infections was identified in women that are not working, superior level of education, 2 pregnancies or less, patients under 20 years of age and in those who were treated with nitrofurantoin for a period of time less than 7 days.

PMID:35816669

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2022 Jul 4;60(4):395-401.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 predominantly affects the respiratory system. However, persistent extrapulmonary (musculoskeletal and cardiovascular) conditions have been reported.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the most frequent cardiorespiratory and neuromusculoskeletal symptoms in patients with post-acute COVID 19 in a rehabilitation center.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of post-acute COVID-19 patients was carried out. Clinical-demographic data, cardiorespiratory and neuromusculoskeletal symptoms were collected upon admission to the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. Descriptive statistics and association tests were used through the Chi squared test, taking p < 0.05 as significant.

RESULTS: 262 files were collected. The age was 49.9 ± 11.5 years. There was a predominance of males (69.8%). The most prevalent symptoms, in the different degrees of severity (mild, moderate, severe and critical, respectively) were MRC 3 dyspnea (30.4%, 56.8%, 43.1% and 42.9%), weakness (60.9%, 59.5%, 56.9 % and 87.8%), and paresthesias (65.2%, 56.8%, 49.7% and 75.5%). SARS-CoV-2 critical infection was associated with a higher presentation of weakness (p < 0.01), paresthesias (p = 0.01), and dependency in activities of daily living (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent cardiorespiratory and neuromusculoskeletal symptoms in patients with post-acute COVID were dyspnea and paresthesias. Critical infection by SARS-CoV-2 was associated with a greater presentation of weakness, paresthesias and dependence on activities of daily living.

PMID:35816638

Braz J Psychiatry. 2022 Jul 11. doi: 10.47626/1516-4446-2022-2498. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Children of depressed mothers are at risk of developing mental health problems. We sought to determine whether treatment for maternal depression delivered by community health workers (CHW) would decrease behavioral/emotional symptoms in their child. An intervention treating maternal depressive symptoms in a low-middle-income country can have a high global impact.

METHODS: CHW were trained to deliver a psychosocial intervention for mothers with depression in a primary care setting. 49 mothers and 60 children were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at a 6-months follow-up. Child behavioral/emotional symptoms were evaluated by type of change in maternal depressive symptoms: remission and response.

RESULTS: An overall decrease in maternal depressive symptoms from baseline to post-intervention and 6-month follow-up were found. Remission and response of maternal depression was associated with better outcomes related to child´s behavioral/emotional symptoms at the 6-month follow-up (p = 0.0247, Cohen’s d: 0.76; p = 0.0224, Cohen’s f: 0.44) but not at post-intervention (p = 0.1636, Cohen’s d: 0.48; p = 0.0720, Cohen’s f: 0.33).

CONCLUSION: Maternal depression improvement was related to their child’s decreased behavioral/emotional symptoms. Our results suggest that interventions addressing maternal depression in primary care is a viable strategy to prevent behavioral/emotional symptoms in the next generation.

PMID:35816635 | DOI:10.47626/1516-4446-2022-2498

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022 Jul 11. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202205-0865OC. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: While previous studies in environmental epidemiology have focused on single or a few exposures, a holistic approach combining multiple preventable risk factors is needed to tackle the etiology of multifactorial diseases such as asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between combined socioeconomic, external environment, early-life environment, lifestyle-anthropometric factors and asthma phenotypes.

METHODS: A total of 20,833 adults from the French NutriNet-Santé cohort were included (mean age: 56.2 (sd: 13.2), 72% women). The validated asthma symptom score (continuous) and asthma control (never-asthma, controlled asthma and uncontrolled asthma) were considered. The exposome (n=87 factors) covered four domains: socioeconomic, external environment, early-life environment and lifestyle-anthropometric. Cluster-based analyses were performed within each exposome domain and the identified profiles were studied in association to asthma outcomes in negative binomial (asthma symptom score) or multinomial logistic (asthma control) regression models.

RESULTS: In total, 5,546 (27%) individuals had an asthma symptom score ≥1, and 1,206 (6%) and 194 (1%) had controlled and uncontrolled asthma, respectively. Three early-life exposure profiles (“high passive smoking-own dogs”, “poor birth parameters-daycare attendance-city center” or “≥2 siblings-breastfed” compared to “farm-pet owner-molds-low passive smoking”) and one lifestyle-anthropometric profile (“unhealthy diet-high smoking-overweight” compared to “healthy diet-non-smoker-thin”) were associated with more asthma symptoms and uncontrolled asthma.

CONCLUSION: This large-scale exposome-based study revealed early-life and lifestyle exposure profiles that were at risk for asthma in adults. Our findings support the importance of multi-interventional programs for the primary and secondary prevention of asthma including control of specific early-life risk factors and promotion of healthy lifestyle in adulthood.

PMID:35816632 | DOI:10.1164/rccm.202205-0865OC