Nevin Manimala

J Phys Condens Matter. 2023 Dec 18. doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/ad16ac. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We systematically investigate the long- and short-range chemical order, lattice volume, and spontaneous magnetization in single-crystalline Fe_0.6Al_0.4compound thin films. The vapor-quenching method based on a molecular beam epitaxy technique is utilized to fabricate the single-crystalline Fe_0.6Al_0.4compound with the differentB2 long-range order parameterS.Swas varied by the deposition temperatureT_d, and it increases with increasingT_d. The lattice volumeVdecreased with increasingT_d, while the tetragonal distortion, ~4%, due to epitaxial strain were observed. The changes inSandVwere accompanied with the change in the magnetic moment per Fe,μ_Fe.μ_Feshowed the monotonic decrease as a function ofSwhereasμ_Femonotonically increases withV. With considering tetragonal distortion,μ_Fe–Vrelationship has a good agreement with the previous reports. Theμ_Fe–Srelationship showed the steep decrease ofμ_FearoundS~0.6. In contrast toμ_Fe–Vrelationship,μ_Fe–Srelationship does not match only from ours to previous studies but also among other reports. It implies the statistical number of the nearest-neighbor Fe-Fe bonds,i.e.S, cannot be an enough explanatory parameter. To clarify the structural origin of change inμ_Fe, the short-range order parameter inferred from the analysis of superlattice diffractions were introduced. They showed the clear difference for the films with high and lowμ_Fe. The results suggest that the transition from the long- to the short-range order state plays the significant role onμ_Fe.

PMID:38112082 | DOI:10.1088/1361-648X/ad16ac

Transpl Infect Dis. 2023 Dec 19:e14213. doi: 10.1111/tid.14213. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Utilization of hepatitis C viremic (HCV+) deceased donor kidneys (DDKT) for aviremic recipients increases opportunities for transplantation with excellent short-term outcomes. Our primary aim was to understand longer-term outcomes, specifically assessing kidney and liver function in the first year posttransplant.

METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center study of adult DDKT recipients of HCV+ kidneys (cases) matched 1:1 to recipients of HCV- kidneys (comparators). Between-group outcomes were analyzed using comparisons of means and proportions, survival analysis methods, and multivariable mixed effects models.

RESULTS: Sixty-five cases and 65 comparators had statistically comparable demographic and clinical characteristics. There were no between-group differences in serum creatinine or estimated glomerular filtration rate at month 12 (p = .662) or in their trajectories over months 1-12 (p > .292). Within the first 60 days, rates of liver function values >3 times upper limit of normal among cases were comparable to comparators for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (14% vs. 6%, p = .242) and higher for alanine transaminase (ALT) (23% vs. 6%, p = .011). AST declined during the first 8 weeks (p = .005) and stabilized for both groups (p = .406) during the following 10 months. ALT declined during the first 8 weeks (p < .001), continued to decline over months 3-12 (p = .016), and the trajectory was unrelated to antiviral therapy initiation among cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Aviremic recipients of HCV+ kidneys had comparable kidney outcomes to matched recipients of HCV- kidneys. Despite more HCV+ recipients having an elevation in ALT within the first 60 days, ALT values normalized with no identified liver complications attributed to HCV.

PMID:38112078 | DOI:10.1111/tid.14213

J Periodontol. 2023 Dec 19. doi: 10.1002/JPER.23-0125. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active oxygen-releasing gel as an adjuvant, with and without antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), in the treatment of residual pockets in periodontal patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).

METHODS: Patients with residual pockets with probing depth (PD) ≥4 mm and bleeding on probing (BOP) were divided into the following groups: SI (n = 17)-subgingival instrumentation in a single session; BM (n = 17)-SI followed by local application of active oxygen-releasing gel inside the periodontal pocket for 3 min; BM + aPDT (n = 17)-SI followed by application of BM for 3 min and pocket irrigation with methylene blue, and 660-nm diode laser irradiation at 100 mW for 50 s. The periodontal clinical parameters, serum levels of glycated hemoglobin, and immunological analysis of crevicular fluid were evaluated. All data were submitted to statistical analysis (α = 5%).

RESULTS: A significant reduction in BOP was verified at 90 and 180 days in the BM + aPDT group. The percentage of sites with PD ≥ 4 mm was significantly reduced at 90 days in BM + aPDT and BM, whereas after 180 days only BM showed a significant reduction. In the BM + aPDT group, there was a significant reduction in tumor necrosis factor α levels at 90 days. There were no differences between the treatments.

CONCLUSION: The use of adjuvant active oxygen-releasing gel, with or without aPDT, resulted in the same clinical benefits as SI in the treatment of residual pockets in poorly controlled DM2 patients.

PMID:38112075 | DOI:10.1002/JPER.23-0125

J Periodontol. 2023 Dec 19. doi: 10.1002/JPER.23-0448. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Individuals enrolled in supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) can still present with tooth loss due to periodontitis (TLP). There is limited evidence on the influence of residual pockets (RPc) and a defined “threshold” at which a patient’s profile is set to be at high risk for TLP in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the influence of RPc on TLP and determine the prognostic performance of RPc compared to the staging and grading of periodontitis on TLP risk.

METHODS: Clinical data from 168 patients (3869 teeth) treated for periodontitis and receiving SPT for at least 10 years were evaluated in this retrospective study. TLP and the percentage of sites with RPc ≥ 5 mm or ≥6 mm per patient were collected. The prognostic performance of RPc was compared to the staging and grading of the disease on TLP using a multilevel Cox proportional hazard regression model.

RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 25 years, 13.7% of teeth were lost, 4.6% of which were due to periodontitis. Most patients with TLP had ≥1 site with RPc ≥5 mm (90.8%) or ≥6 mm (77.6%). Multivariate multilevel Cox regression revealed that patients with >15% of sites with RPc ≥5 mm had a hazard ratio of 2.34, and grade C had a hazard ratio of 4.6 for TLP compared to RPc ≤4 mm/grade A. Grading exhibited the best discrimination and model fit.

CONCLUSION: Patients with RPc ≥5 mm at >15% of the sites are at risk for tooth loss. Grading and RPc ≥5 mm displayed very good predictive capability of TLP.

PMID:38112067 | DOI:10.1002/JPER.23-0448

Int Wound J. 2023 Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/iwj.14584. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Varicose veins are the prevalent vascular disorder that has conventionally been managed via risky postoperative wound infections and conventional surgery. While ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (UMA) has gained attention as a minimally invasive alternative, there is still a lack of research examining its comparative effectiveness. A prospective comparative investigation was undertaken in the Zhejiang region of China from January to November 2023, involving 140 patients who had received the diagnosis of primary varicose veins. An equal number of 70 patients underwent UMA and conventional surgery. Exclusion criteria for the study encompassed adult patients aged 18-65, with the exception of those who had undergone prior venous surgery, deep vein thrombosis or peripheral arterial disease. The demographical characteristics, procedural details and complication profiles of patients who developed postoperative wound infections within 30 days were analysed statistically. The outcomes demonstrated that postoperative wound infections were significantly diminished (5.7%) with UMA in comparison to conventional surgery (17.1%). In addition, the average duration of procedures and length of hospital stay for UMA patients were both reduced, although neither of these differences was found to be statistically significant (p > 0.05). Infection management, age and gender distribution of varicose veins were comparable between the two groups (p > 0.05). A significant inverse correlation was observed between the severity of varicose veins and postoperative outcomes, as determined by the regression analysis (p < 0.05). Using UMA to treat varicose veins showed promise as an alternative to conventional surgery, specifically in minimizing the incidence of postoperative wound infections. Additional research and clinical consideration are needed regarding the potential transition toward minimally invasive techniques in treatment of varicose veins, as suggested by these results.

PMID:38112035 | DOI:10.1111/iwj.14584

Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2023 Dec 19:1-6. doi: 10.1080/00365513.2023.2286645. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, a metabolite of serotonin, is used in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with neuroendocrine tumours, in particular patients with small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours associated with the carcinoid syndrome. Analysis of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid was commonly performed in urine, but blood-based assays are now becoming available. The objective of this study was to assess how 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid compares in plasma and serum as a biochemical marker of neuroendocrine tumours. Twenty-four-hour urine, plasma and serum samples were obtained from 80 patients with neuroendocrine tumours and 30 healthy volunteers. We developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay for plasma and serum 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid. Comparison was made between them, and their cut-off was determined using a receiver-operating characteristic curve. A close correlation was shown between plasma and serum 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid. At a cut-off of 135 nmol/l, a sensitivity of 91.2% with a specificity of 61.9% was obtained for both compared to the urinary assay. A statistically significant agreement was shown when plasma and serum 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid were compared with the currently used urine assay in patients with neuroendocrine tumours; κ = 0.675 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.86), p < 0.001 and healthy volunteers; 0.967 (95% CI 0.828 to 0.999), p = <0.001. In conclusion, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in plasma and serum were comparable, hence either sample type can be used interchangeably.

PMID:38112030 | DOI:10.1080/00365513.2023.2286645

Ther Apher Dial. 2023 Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/1744-9987.14098. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the potential correlation between baseline red cell distribution width (RDW) to albumin ratio (RAR) levels and treatment failure in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) patients.

METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted on 286 PDAP patients. Logistic regression and generalized estimation equation (GEE) analyses were employed to assess the relationship between RAR and treatment failure.

RESULTS: RAR emerged as a robust predictor of treatment failure in PDAP patients. Elevated RAR levels were associated with an increased risk of treatment failure, exhibiting a linear relationship. Even after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, this association remained statistically significant. ROC analysis revealed that RAR outperformed RDW and albumin individually in predicting PDAP prognosis.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights RAR as a superior prognostic marker for treatment failure in PDAP patients, offering new insights into risk assessment and management strategies for this challenging condition.

PMID:38112028 | DOI:10.1111/1744-9987.14098

Stat Med. 2023 Dec 19. doi: 10.1002/sim.9981. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Rare events are events which occur with low frequencies. These often arise in clinical trials or cohort studies where the data are arranged in binary contingency tables. In this article, we investigate the estimation of effect heterogeneity for the risk-ratio parameter in meta-analysis of rare events studies through two likelihood-based nonparametric mixture approaches: an arm-based and a contrast-based model. Maximum likelihood estimation is achieved using the EM algorithm. Special attention is given to the choice of initial values. Inspired by the classification likelihood, a strategy is implemented which repeatably uses random allocation of the studies to the mixture components as choice of initial values. The likelihoods under the contrast-based and arm-based approaches are compared and differences are highlighted. We use simulations to assess the performance of these two methods. Under the design of sampling studies with nested treatment groups, the results show that the nonparametric mixture model based on the contrast-based approach is more appropriate in terms of model selection criteria such as AIC and BIC. Under the arm-based design the results from the arm-based model performs well although in some cases it is also outperformed by the contrast-based model. Comparisons of the estimators are provided in terms of bias and mean squared error. Also included in the comparison is the mixed Poisson regression model as well as the classical DerSimonian-Laird model (using the Mantel-Haenszel estimator for the common effect). Using simulation, estimating effect heterogeneity in the case of the contrast-based method appears to behave better than the compared methods although differences become negligible for large within-study sample sizes. We illustrate the methodologies using several meta-analytic data sets in medicine.

PMID:38111986 | DOI:10.1002/sim.9981

Ann Clin Biochem. 2023 Dec 19:45632231224216. doi: 10.1177/00045632231224216. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: CA19-9 is elevated in pancreatic cancer and other malignancies, and commonly used in clinical practice. Unfortunately, CA19-9 immunoassays are not harmonized, and reference intervals may differ between assays. The aim of this study was to establish the reference interval of the ADVIA Centaur/ Atellica IM CA19-9 assay in an apparently healthy Singapore adult population.

METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. De-identified data from Health Screening participants were extracted from our database. Subjects with biochemical results suggesting anemia, diabetes mellitus, viral hepatitis, or abnormal liver, renal and tumor markers were excluded. Outlier and subclass analyses by age and sex were performed. CA19-9 reference limits and 90% confidence intervals were then determined for candidate subclasses.

RESULTS: Data from 12,174 subjects (5846 males, 6328 females) were available after exclusion criteria were applied. CA19-9 results did not follow a normal distribution, and were higher in females compared to males (p<0.001). Although CA19-9 means were statistically different between certain age groups, the evaluable 99th percentile reference limits were not statistically different. The overall 99th percentile reference limits for the Centaur/ Atellica CA19-9 assay was 37 U/mL for males 21-80 years, and 60 U/mL for females 21-80 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that separate CA19-9 reference intervals should be applied for males and females.

PMID:38111979 | DOI:10.1177/00045632231224216

J Viral Hepat. 2023 Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/jvh.13901. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify clinically meaningful sex differences in efficacy and selected safety adverse events for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) or HIV/HCV co-infection in those receiving combination direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens. Our assessment was based on adult trial participants treated at the approved DAA dosage and treatment duration from 40 phase 3 clinical trials submitted to the FDA. Female enrollment ranged from 11% to 54% (overall mean 38%). Females with HCV genotype (GT) 1 or 3 infection had statistically significant higher unadjusted or covariant-adjusted odds of achieving sustained virologic response at post-treatment Week 12 (SVR12) compared with males. Odds ratios favouring females were observed among Whites and those ≥40 years of age with HCV GT1 or 3 infections, and among those ≥50 years of age, non-cirrhotic and those with HCV GT3 infection who were treatment-experienced. These differences were not clinically relevant due to the high SVR12 rate achieved by females and males, overall or in subgroups. No differences were observed in SVR12 rates between HCV GT1 mono-infected and HCV GT1/ HIV-1 co-infected participants. Numerically, more females reported headache, fatigue and nausea compared to males, but the differences were small and predominately Grade 1 or 2 severity. Discontinuation rates for any reason or due to an adverse event were low and similar between the sexes. Our study demonstrated females successfully complete DAA regimens and achieve high SVR12 rates despite numerically higher adverse events for certain commonly reported events.

PMID:38111976 | DOI:10.1111/jvh.13901