Hellenic J Cardiol. 2023 Sep 29:S1109-9666(23)00187-2. doi: 10.1016/j.hjc.2023.09.016. Online ahead of print.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:37778638 | DOI:10.1016/j.hjc.2023.09.016
World Neurosurg. 2023 Sep 29:S1878-8750(23)01378-5. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.110. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Cervical stability may deteriorate and kyphotic spinal deformities may develop in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) after laminectomy or laminoplasty. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of the “bilateral osteoligamentous decompression via unilateral hemilaminectomy approach (UHBOLD)” technique in CSM patients.
METHODS: The study included 34 adult patients who underwent UHBOLD surgery for CSM between 2016 and 2022. A record was made for all patients of age, gender, number of operated levels, preoperative and postoperative long-term follow-up VAS scores, Nurick grade values and mJOA scores, kyphosis angles measured on X-ray, and spinal canal areas measured on T2-weighted MR axial images.
RESULTS: Preoperative VAS scores of the patients were 6 (4-9), Nurick grade values were 3 (2-5), mJOA scores were 10.50±3.42, kyphosis angles were -13.34±13.69 degrees and spinal canal areas were 87.11±28.30 mm2. In postoperative long-term follow-up of these patients, VAS scores were 2 (1-5), Nurick grade values were 1 (0-5), mJOA scores were 13.94±3.09, kyphosis angles were -15.07±12.78 degrees and spinal canal areas were 149.65±42.57 mm2. A statistically significant difference was determined between the preoperative and the postoperative long-term follow-up VAS scores, Nurick grade values, mJOA scores, and spinal canal areas (p<0.001). Kyphosis angles were not different (p=0.198) and no instability was observed in any patient in long-term follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: The UHBOLD technique performed in multilevel CSM patients did not cause any change in cervical lordosis angle in long-term follow-up, did not cause cervical kyphotic deformity or cervical instability, and significantly improved Nurick grade values, and VAS and mJOA scores.
PMID:37778625 | DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.110
World Neurosurg. 2023 Sep 29:S1878-8750(23)01374-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.107. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Microvascular decompression (MVD) as a treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) has high success rate but is associated with risks of complication. This study analyzes Twitter to provide insights into discussions surrounding MVD for patients with TGN.
METHODS: A Twitter search performed in April 2022 yielded 491 tweets from 426 accounts. Tweets and accounts were classified thematically, and descriptive statistics were used for various social media metrics. Using a natural language processing machine learning algorithm, sentiment analysis (SA) was performed to evaluate patient perspectives before and after surgery, and a multivariate regression model was used to identify predictors of higher engagement metrics (likes, retweets, quote tweets, replies).
RESULTS: Most accounts were patients, caregivers and other members of the public (70%). The most encountered themes were research (47%) and personal experiences (33.4%). SA of tweets about patient experiences showed that 40.2% of tweets were positive, 31.1% were neutral and 28.7% were negative. Negative tweets decreased significantly in post-operative tweets and mostly discussed complications or failure of surgery (63%). On multivariate analysis, only inclusion of media (photo or video) in a Tweet was associated with higher engagement metrics.
CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive review of Twitter use discussing MVD in TGN and is the first to assess patient satisfaction after treatment using SA. The data presented on patient perspectives on social media could help physicians establish direct lines of communication with patients, fostering a more patient-focused care.
PMID:37778624 | DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.107
World Neurosurg. 2023 Sep 29:S1878-8750(23)01375-X. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.108. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the impact of the workshops organized during Neuroendocon 23 on the perspective and confidence of neurosurgeons toward endoscopy in an LMIC.
METHODS: Neuroendocon 23 had cranial and spinal endoscopy cadaveric workshops with 30 delegates each. A pre and post-workshop survey was disseminated among the delegates, and statistical analysis was performed with SPSS (version 26) using p<0.05.
RESULTS: A total of 24 delegates (40%) consented to participate in the study, with only one female respondent (4.17%). After the cranial endoscopy workshop, there was an increase in the level of confidence of delegates in cranial endoscopic approaches (p <0.001). Similarly, after the spine endoscopy workshop, the respondents had increased confidence in managing spine conditions with the endoscopic approach (p = 0.040), to the extent that they preferred the endoscopic over the microsurgical technique (p <0.001). All respondents (n = 24, 100%) believed that endoscopy should be promoted in LMICs and integrated into residency curricula.
CONCLUSION: Cranial and spinal endoscopy cadaveric workshops could be the first step in stimulating the interest of neurosurgeons in endoscopy.
PMID:37778622 | DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2023.09.108
Math Biosci. 2023 Sep 29:109084. doi: 10.1016/j.mbs.2023.109084. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Discrete time, spatially extended models play an important role in ecology, modelling population dynamics of species ranging from micro-organisms to birds. An important question is how’bottom up’, individual-based models can be approximated by’top down’ models of dynamics. Here, we study a class of spatially explicit individual-based models with contest competition: where species compete for space in local cells and then disperse to nearby cells. We start by describing simulations of the model, which exhibit large-scale discrete oscillations and characterise these oscillations by measuring spatial correlations. We then develop two new approximate descriptions of the resulting spatial population dynamics. The first is based on local interactions of the individuals and allows us to give a difference equation approximation of the system over small dispersal distances. The second approximates the long-range interactions of the individual-based model. These approximations capture demographic stochasticity from the individual-based model and show that dispersal stabilizes population dynamics. We calculate extinction probability for the individual-based model and show convergence between the local approximation and the non-spatial global approximation of the individual-based model as dispersal distance and population size simultaneously tend to infinity. Our results provide new approximate analytical descriptions of a complex bottom-up model and deepen understanding of spatial population dynamics.
PMID:37778619 | DOI:10.1016/j.mbs.2023.109084
Eur J Pharmacol. 2023 Sep 29:176090. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176090. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a multifactorial, complex pathophysiological process in clinical settings. In recent years, intestinal IRI has received increasing attention due to increased morbidity and mortality. To date, there are no effective treatments. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, has been demonstrated to be effective against intestinal IRI. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the efficacy and potential mechanisms of DEX as a treatment for intestinal IRI in animal models.
METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus) were searched until March 15, 2023. Using the SYRCLE risk bias tool, we assessed methodological quality. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA 12 and R 4.2.2. We analyzed the related outcomes (mucosa damage-related indicators; inflammation-relevant markers, oxidative stress markers) relied on the fixed or random-effects models.
RESULTS: There were 15 articles including 18 studies included, and 309 animals were involved in the studies. Compared to the model groups, DEX improved intestinal IRI. DEX decreased Chiu’s score and serum diamine oxidase (DAO) level. DEX reduced the level of inflammation-relevant markers (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α). DEX also improved oxidative stress (decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD)).
CONCLUSIONS: DEX’s effectiveness in ameliorating intestinal IRI has been demonstrated in animal models. Antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptotic, anti-pyroptosis, anti-ferroptosis, enhancing mitophagy, reshaping the gut microbiota, and gut barrier protection are possible mechanisms. However, in light of the heterogeneity and methodological quality of these studies, further well-designed preclinical studies are warranted before clinical implication.
PMID:37778612 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176090
Environ Res. 2023 Sep 29:117279. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117279. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Mental disorders among children and adolescents pose a significant global challenge. The exposome framework covering the totality of internal, social and physical exposures over a lifetime provides opportunities to better understand the causes of and processes related to mental health, and cognitive functioning. The paper presents a conceptual framework on exposome, mental health, and cognitive development in children and adolescents, with potential mediating pathways, providing a possibility for interventions along the life course. The paper underscores the significance of adopting a child perspective to the exposome, acknowledging children’s specific vulnerability, including differential exposures, susceptibility of effects and capacity to respond; their susceptibility during development and growth, highlighting neurodevelopmental processes from conception to young adulthood that are highly sensitive to external exposures. Further, critical periods when exposures may have significant effects on a child’s development and future health are addressed. The paper stresses that children’s behaviour, physiology, activity pattern and place for activities make them differently vulnerable to environmental pollutants, and calls for child-specific assessment methods, currently lacking within today’s health frameworks. The importance of understanding the interplay between structure and agency is emphasized, where agency is guided by social structures and practices and vice-versa. An intersectional approach that acknowledges the interplay of social and physical exposures as well as a global and rural perspective on exposome is further pointed out. To advance the exposome field, interdisciplinary efforts that involve multiple scientific disciplines are crucial. By adopting a child perspective and incorporating an exposome approach, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of how exposures impact children’s mental health and cognitive development leading to better outcomes.
PMID:37778607 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2023.117279
Environ Res. 2023 Sep 29:117278. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117278. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Despite the development of organic farming, the demand for mineral fertilizers is still high. Processes of fertilizer production are water-consuming, which is why factories are often located near large rivers. Such facilities should be monitored in detail because they might pose a threat to water quality. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of a nitrogen fertilizer factory chemical wastewater treatment plant (CWTP) on the water quality of nearby river-lake systems. Potential contamination could indicate installation defects. Six floodplain lakes were selected for analysis: 3 located within the embanked area and three outside the embanked area, all close to the CWTP. Two similar lakes 30 km upstream were chosen as controls. Water samples were taken monthly from March to November 2022. We analysed pH, electrical conductivity (EC), the content of Cl–, total nitrogen (TN), NH4+, NO3–, total phosphorus (TP), PO43-, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), Ca2+, K+, Mg2+ and Na+. Statistical analysis indicated that the canal that drains, among others, the cooling towers wastewater, might have an impact on the nearby lakes, significantly increasing their content of Cl– and Na+. On the other hand, the concentration of NH4+ was significantly higher in the lakes located downstream of the CWTP, although they did not have any surface connection with the CWTP reservoir. This fact and NH4+-polluted water seeping under the dike indicate that the CWTP reservoir might be leaking. Further research on underground water is required to establish whether the CWTP reservoir is properly secured. It is extremely important because the CWTP is located in the Vistula River valley, which supplies drinking water to almost 2 mln people. Any damage to the reservoir, e.g., during a flood, would lead to an ecological disaster involving not only the Vistula but also the Baltic Sea, affecting millions of people.
PMID:37778598 | DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2023.117278
ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2023 Sep 25. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00869. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Ultrasensitive detection of serotonin is crucial for the early diagnosis of several diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Most of the existing detection strategies are still not suitable for sensitive point-of-care applications. This study presents direct molecular imprinting of serotonin on the surface of three-dimensional zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod devices connected in a field effect transistor (FET) configuration to achieve ultrasensitive, real-time, and rapid detection with a convenient and affordable approach, which has significant potential for translation to clinical settings. This strategy has enabled pushing the detection limit to 0.1 fM in a physiological analyte in real time with screen-printed electrodes, thereby resulting in the convenient batch fabrication of sensors for clinical validation. The response of the sensor with the clinical sample has been correlated with that of the gold standard and has been observed to be statistically similar.
PMID:37747783 | DOI:10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00869
JMIR Form Res. 2023 Sep 25;7:e44402. doi: 10.2196/44402.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) interventions among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are increasingly available in African low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). For example, the unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) could be used to verify HIV self-testing (HIVST) among AYAs with poor bandwidth.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the creation of an USSD platform and determine its feasibility and usability to promote the verification of HIVST results among AYAs in Nigeria.
METHODS: We developed and evaluated a USSD platform to verify HIVST results using a user-centered approach. The USSD platform guided AYAs in performing HIVST, interpreting the result, and providing linkage to care after the test. Following the usability assessment, the USSD platform was piloted. We used a mixed methods study to assess the platform’s usability through a process of quantitative heuristic assessment, a qualitative think-aloud method, and an exit interview. Descriptive statistics of quantitative data and inductive thematic analysis of qualitative variables were organized.
RESULTS: A total of 19 AYAs participated in the usability test, with a median age of 19 (IQR 16-23) years. There were 11 females, 8 males, and 0 nonbinary individuals. All individuals were out-of-school AYAs. Seven of the 10 Nielsen usability heuristics assessed yielded positive results. The participants found the USSD platform easy to use, preferred the simplicity of the system, felt no need for a major improvement in the design of the platform, and were happy the system provided linkage to care following the interpretation of the HIVST results. The pilot field test of the platform enrolled 164 out-of-school AYAs, mostly young girls and women (101, 61.6%). The mean age was 17.5 (SD 3.18) years, and 92.1% (151/164) of the participants reported that they were heterosexual, while 7.9% (13/164) reported that they were gay. All the participants in the pilot study were able to conduct HIVST, interpret their results, and use the linkage to care feature of the USSD platform without any challenge. A total of 7.9% (13/164) of the AYAs had positive HIV results (reactive to the OraQuick kit).
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the usability and feasibility of using a USSD system as an alternative to mobile phone apps to verify HIVST results among Nigerian youth without smartphone access. Therefore, the use of a USSD platform has implications for the verification of HIVST in areas with low internet bandwidth. Further pragmatic trials are needed to scale up this approach.
PMID:37747780 | DOI:10.2196/44402