Nevin Manimala

Bratisl Lek Listy. 2022;123(11):846-852. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2022_135.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Abnormal neutrophil extracellular traps are associated with lung diseases, thrombosis, increased mucosal secretion in the airways. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible place of the most specific NETosis marker Cit-H3 protein in diagnostic algorithms by revealing its relationship with the severity, mortality and prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 78) who applied to the Emergency Department between March 11, 2020 and June 10, 2020, with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and lung involvement were included in the prospective study. Serum Cit-H3 levels and critical laboratory parameters were measured at baseline on the day of clinical deterioration and before recovery/discharge/death. Cit-C3 levels were determined by enzyme immunassay method.

RESULTS: Cit-H3 levels in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia during their first admission to the hospital were significantly higher compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.05). Repeated measurements of Cit-H3 levels of the patients significantly correlated with D-dimer, procalcitonin, Neutrophil/ Lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte, CRP, and oxygen saturation. Cit-H3 levels of the patients who died were significantly higher than that of those who survived (p < 0.05). Cit-H3 levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in patients who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, were admitted to the intensive care unit, and had mortality (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Cit-H3 plays a role in inflammatory processes in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, and changes in serum Cit-H3 levels of these patients can be used to determine prognosis and mortality (Tab. 5, Fig. 1, Ref. 21).

PMID:36254644 | DOI:10.4149/BLL_2022_135

Bratisl Lek Listy. 2022;123(11):840-845. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2022_134.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assist in the diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) with the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of CVST is difficult.

METHODS: Patients, who visited the emergency department between March 1, 2013 and March 1, 2021 and underwent magnetic resonance (MR) venography were included. The patients’ MR venography results, ages, gender, NLR, were collected. The patients were categorized according to their CVST diagnosis status, and NLR were compared.

RESULTS: Of the 530 patients included in the study, 366 (69.1 %) were female, and the median age was 40 (31-58) years. CVST was detected in 57 (10.8 %) patients, no pathological diagnosis was detected in 251 (47.4 %) patients. The median NLR of the patients with CVST was statistically significantly higher than in the patients without CVST and in the patients without any diagnosis ((3.94 [2.5-6.47] vs 3.03 [1.93-5.43], p = 0.023) (3.94 [2.5-6.47] vs 2.92 [1.86-4.95], p = 0.009). In the ROC analysis performed with reference to the patients without any diagnosis, NLR obtained 0.612 AUC.

CONCLUSION: Significantly higher NLR levels were found in CVST patients compared to the patients, who were not diagnosed with CVST and the patients without any diagnosis (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 22).

PMID:36254643 | DOI:10.4149/BLL_2022_134

Bratisl Lek Listy. 2022;123(11):833-839. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2022_133.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have been conducted on the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, how the mental health of health workers will be affected among the number of peaks during the pandemic has not been evaluated yet. The study aims to investigate the effects of the first, second, and third peaks of COVID-19 on anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms in healthcare workers.

METHODS: The current study included 4031 healthcare workers, 1051 during the first peak period, 1409 during the second peak period, and 1571 during the third peak period. The Depression-anxiety-stress scale-21(DASS-21) was used to assess the participants’ levels of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms.

RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 33.74 ± 7.95, and 2634 (66.3 %) were female. 36.9 %(n = 1486) of the participants were physicians, 41.1 % (n = 1655) were nurses and 22.1 % (n = 890) were other healthcare workers. A statistically significant difference was documented in the DASS-21 anxiety (F(2:4028) = 502.893, p 2. Peak > 1. Peak), DASS-21 depression (F(2:4028) = 46.034, p 2. Peak > 1. Peak), DASS-21 stress (F(2:4028) = 65.548, p 1. Peak), and DASS-21 total scores (F(2:4028) = 156.860, p 2. Peak > 1. Peak) of healthcare workers during all three peak periods.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that as the peak number rises, so do the levels of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers. As a result, it is possible to assert that prolongation of the COVID-19 pandemic worsens mental problems (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 35).

PMID:36254642 | DOI:10.4149/BLL_2022_133

Andrology. 2022 Oct 18. doi: 10.1111/andr.13317. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Conventional serum tumor markers (STMs) for testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) offer limited performance with particularly poor sensitivity in cases of minimal residual disease and pure seminoma. While growing evidence has indicated miR-371a-3p to be a superior biomarker, its utility in detecting pure seminoma at recurrence has not been extensively explored. This study’s objective was to explore miR-371a-3p’s utility in detecting metastatic pure seminoma at retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND).

METHODS: RNA was isolated from patient serum samples collected pre-RPLND. Fifteen patients were assigned to our ‘Benign’ (n = 6) or ‘Seminoma’ (n = 9) group based on pathological confirmation of viable seminoma. Five of the patients received chemotherapy before RPLND (PC-RPLND) and ten were chemotherapy naïve. MiR-371a-3p expression was quantified via RT-qPCR. The Cq values were statistically evaluated to obtain performance measurements.

RESULTS: Median relative expression of miR-371a-3p was higher in the Seminoma group than the Benign, but this difference was not statistically significant (Rq = 3705 and 241, respectively, p = 0.2844). Of the 10 chemotherapy naïve patients, 9 had viable seminoma at RPLND and 7 had elevated miR-371a-3p expression. Among the 5 post-chemotherapy patients, 0 had viable GCT at RPLND and 2 had elevated miR-371a-3p expression. The primary RPLND group presented 78% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Specificity in the PC-RPLND group was 60%. An optimal Rq threshold of 28.62 was determined by Youden’s J statistic, yielding 78% sensitivity and 67% specificity. ROC analysis provided an AUC of 0.704 (95% CI: 0.43-0.98, p = 0.1949). Despite modest performance, miR-371a-3p exhibited improved sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional STMs.

CONCLUSIONS: MiR-371a-3p outperformed STMs in the primary RPLND settings. However, miR-371a-3p was not a robust predictor of pathology in the post-chemotherapy setting. These results suggest that pure seminoma at RPLND is a clinical context wherein the miRNA assay may require further refinement. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36254623 | DOI:10.1111/andr.13317

Cogn Behav Ther. 2022 Oct 18:1-20. doi: 10.1080/16506073.2022.2130820. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Self-compassion is the ability to offer oneself kindness and compassion in response to failure, suffering, or insecurity. Learning how to be self-compassionate through self-compassion training appears effective for improving psychological well-being in community samples and promising for clinical populations. The current randomized controlled trial was designed to (a) examine the effectiveness of a self-guided self-compassion training program; and (b) determine whether self-compassion training can help mitigate social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms. Adults with SAD (n = 63; Mage = 34.3, SD = 11.4; 67.8% female; 84.7% Caucasian) were randomized to a waitlist control condition, a self-guided self-compassion training condition, or a self-guided applied relaxation training condition for six weeks. Outcome measures of SAD symptoms and self-compassion were completed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment, as well as at 3-months follow-up. Multilevel linear modelling results suggested the self-compassion training program was statistically superior at improving outcome measures relative to the waitlist control condition (ps < .05; η²_ps = .12-.33), but not relative to the applied relaxation training condition (ps > .05; η²_ps = .01-.05). Self-compassion training produced greater clinically significant gains in self-compassion and reductions in fear of self-compassion compared to both the waitlist condition and applied relaxation training. The current trial provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a self-help self-compassion training program and provides evidence that self-compassion training may be beneficial for managing clinically significant SAD symptoms.

PMID:36254613 | DOI:10.1080/16506073.2022.2130820

J Prosthodont. 2022 Oct 18. doi: 10.1111/jopr.13612. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of CAD-CAM technique (monolithic, CAD-on, or CAD-on cemented) and thermomechanical fatigue on the marginal discrepancy and fracture load of ceramic crowns.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 90 brass master dies were fabricated to investigate marginal adaptation and fracture load. A mandibular first molar crown’s median measurements were loaded into CAD software and divided into 2 crown design groups: Monolithic (M)(IPS e.max zirCAD)(n = 30) or CAD-on core (IPS e.max zirCAD) and lithium disilicate veneer (IPS e.max CAD) (n = 60). The crowns and cores were milled, seated on their respective dies, and marginal discrepancy values were measured by using microcomputed tomography. After veneers were milled, the cores in veneer groups were divided into 2 groups; veneers bonded with fusion glass-ceramic (IPS e.max CAD Crystal) in CAD-on group (CO) and CAD-on cemented group (CO-C) where veneers were cemented (RelyX U200) onto cores (CO-C). The marginal discrepancy measurements were remade and the crowns were subjected to thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) by using a chewing simulator and thermocycling (5-55°C, 1,200,000 cycles). Marginal discrepancy measurements were repeated and the crowns were subjected to fracture load test by using a universal test device. Data were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s honestly significant difference test (α = 0.05).

RESULTS: All crown groups had similar marginal discrepancy before veneering. Veneering and cementation on die increased the marginal discrepancy of crowns in cemented CAD-on group. Thermomechanical fatigue increased the marginal discrepancy of both CAD-on groups. Monolithic crown group had the lowest marginal discrepancy after thermomechanical fatigue (P<0.001), and the highest fracture load (P<0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Fabrication technique affected the marginal fit and fracture load of CAD-CAM crowns after thermomechanical fatigue. All crowns survived the thermomechanical fatigue test without dislodgement or fracture. Monolithic crowns had the best fit and highest fracture load after fatigue testing. The CAD-on systems had similar marginal discrepancies, and static loading reproduced veneer chipping. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36254611 | DOI:10.1111/jopr.13612

J Craniofac Surg. 2022 Oct 18. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000009066. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Simultaneous Le Fort III/I (LF III/I) osteotomies are often performed when a differential advancement of the upper and lower midface is needed. This study aims to evaluate midface position preoperative and 1 week postoperative in patients with severe midface hypoplasia. In addition, this study aims to compare the planned surgical movements to the actual postoperative movements.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted using cephalometry for patients treated with a simultaneous LF III/I osteotomy at a single institution. Osteotomies were performed during 1980-2018 on skeletally mature patients with a craniofacial syndrome, with clinical and radiographic follow-up available.

RESULTS: Twelve patients met the inclusion criteria with a mean age of 20.2±6.4 years. Treatment resulted in statistically significant anterior movements related to Orbitale, anterior nasal spine, A Point, and the upper incisor tip, and inferior movements related to anterior nasal spine, A Point, upper and lower incisor tips, B point, and pogonion. Stability after 1 year showed only statistically significant changes at ANB. The predictable error for planned movements versus actual movements was greater in the vertical plane than the horizontal plane.

CONCLUSIONS: A simultaneous LF III/I osteotomy significantly improved the midface position and occlusal relationship in syndromic patients with midface hypoplasia in a predictable manner. Further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate the conclusions.

PMID:36253918 | DOI:10.1097/SCS.0000000000009066

J Orthop Trauma. 2022 Oct 14. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000002509. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To delineate whether a “safe” window exists for timing from definitive fixation to definitive soft tissue coverage in the treatment of open tibial diaphyseal fractures requiring flap coverage.

DESIGN: International multicenter, retrospective comparative cohort study.Patients/Participants: Three hundred and seventy-three (n=373) patients who sustained an open tibial shaft fracture requiring flap coverage.

METHODS: We evaluated the deep infection rates based on the timing between the definitive fixation and flap coverage. We determined several intervals of time from the day of definitive fixation (regardless of time from injury) and flap coverage. If done on the same operative setting these were considered day 0. We evaluated coverage after 2 and 5 days from definitive fixation based on time vs infection rate curve inflection points. We adjusted for time to debridement and antibiotics within an hour.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Deep infection after definitive fixation and flap coverage.

RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 42.4 years (SD 18.2) and 270 were male (72.4%). The deep infection rate after flap coverage was 20.6% (77/373). Definitive fixation to flap coverage time of up to 2 days was not associated with an increased risk of infection, (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.37, p=0.26). There was an increased risk of deep infection for more than 2 days (RR=1.59) and >5 days (RR=1.64).

CONCLUSION: This study observed a “safe” window of up to 2 days between definitive fixation and flap coverage in open tibial shaft fractures requiring coverage before a statistical increase in risk of deep infection rate occurred.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

PMID:36253901 | DOI:10.1097/BOT.0000000000002509

J Pediatr Orthop. 2022 Oct 17. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002278. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Functioning in children consists of different aspects, including their ability to execute activities and participate in life situations. Several studies on children with clubfeet showed limited motor abilities and walking capacity compared with healthy control children, while other studies showed comparable athletic abilities and gross motor development. Although participation in activities of daily life plays an important role in the development of children, this has not yet been investigated in children with clubfeet. The study aims to determine the level of parents’ perceived motor ability and participation in Ponseti-treated children with clubfeet compared with age-matched healthy controls.

METHODS: Parents of children aged 5 to 9 years with and without idiopathic Ponseti-treated clubfeet were asked to complete an online questionnaire about their child’s motor abilities and participation level using the Dutch version of the Assessment of Life Habits for Children (LIFE-H) version 3 to assess participation and the Dutch Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 Checklist (MABC-2 Checklist) to assess motor abilities. Statistical analysis focused on differences between groups and the relationship between motor abilities and level of participation.

RESULTS: Questionnaires of 86 children with clubfeet (mean age 7.1, 73% boys) and 62 controls (age 6.7, 53% boys) were analyzed. Despite a large variation, results showed no significant differences between groups on the total scores of the LIFE-H and the MABC-2 Checklist. Children with clubfeet, however, scored lower on Mobility and better on the categories Communication and Responsibility of the LIFE-H. Furthermore, children with clubfeet showed lower scores on the MABC-2 Checklist subscale “movement in a static and/or predictable environment.” High levels of the parents’ perceived participation correlate with good results, as perceived by the parents, in motor ability.

CONCLUSIONS: Although differences on some aspects of motor ability and participation existed, children with clubfeet in general showed high levels of parents’ perceived motor ability and participation. High levels of participation correlated with good results in motor ability.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

PMID:36253894 | DOI:10.1097/BPO.0000000000002278

Haemophilia. 2022 Oct 17. doi: 10.1111/hae.14682. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Children with haemophilia (CwH) have lower bone mineral density in the spine (trabecular bone) than healthy children. There are few studies focusing on bone mineral density in long bones (cortical bone).

AIM: To evaluate bi-laterally the distal third of radius and midshaft tibias using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and assess the speed of sound (SoS).

METHODS: A cross-sectional study where 91 CwH and 91 age-matched healthy boys were included. Joint evaluation was determined with the Haemophilia Joint Health Score 2.1 and SoS values. The Z scores were measured with the Sunlight Omnisense 8000 S equipment.

RESULTS: Ninety-one CwH (haemophilia A) were evaluated (26 mild form, 26 moderate, and 39 severe). Most patients were treated with on-demand factor replacement and had higher total HJHS scores according to severity (4.8, 14.8 and 14.1, respectively). Patients with moderate and severe disease showed a statistical difference in SoS values for both radius and tibias compared to controls. QUS Z-scores ≥-2 were more frequent in radius and tibias in CwH, but were statistically significant only in tibias when compared to controls (in 30% mild, 46% moderate, 28% severe, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: There was diminished cortical bone density in radius and tibias of CwH compared to healthy controls. Changes predominated in tibias, more frequently affected according to the severity of haemophilia. Early intervention with factor replacement combined with physical activity are key aspects to promote bone health.

PMID:36253885 | DOI:10.1111/hae.14682