Nevin Manimala

Ecol Lett. 2022 Jul 31. doi: 10.1111/ele.14074. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The dynamics of cyclic populations distributed in space result from the relative strength of synchronising influences and the limited dispersal of destabilising factors (activators and inhibitors), known to cause multi-annual population cycles. However, while each of these have been well studied in isolation, there is limited empirical evidence of how the processes of synchronisation and activation-inhibition act together, largely owing to the scarcity of datasets with sufficient spatial and temporal scale and resolution. We assessed a variety of models that could be underlying the spatio-temporal pattern, designed to capture both theoretical and empirical understandings of travelling waves using large-scale (>35,000 km² ), multi-year (2011-2017) field monitoring data on abundances of common vole (Microtus arvalis), a cyclic agricultural rodent pest. We found most support for a pattern formed from the summation of two radial travelling waves with contrasting speeds that together describe population growth rates across the region.

PMID:35908289 | DOI:10.1111/ele.14074

Phys Ther. 2022 Jul 31:pzac086. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzac086. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effect of an abdominal hypopressive exercise (AHE) on linea alba morphology among women who are primiparous and to compare this effect to that of other common abdominal exercise modalities.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 46 women 3 months after first delivery was conducted. B-mode ultrasound imaging of interrectus distance (IRD) and linea alba distortion was performed 2 cm below (I-point) and above (S-point) the umbilicus and at the mid-point between the umbilicus and xiphoid process (X-point). Images were recorded at rest, during an AHE performed in a supine position, during a semi curl-up (SCU), an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) and a SCU performed after an initial ADIM (ADIM+SCU).

RESULTS: The SCU exercise narrows IRD at X- and S-point. Compared with SCU, AHE and ADIM widened IRD at S- and X-point. No significant differences were found when comparing IRD at rest, during AHE and ADIM, but AHE tends to narrow I-point IRD more than ADIM but to widen S-point IRD more than ADIM+SCU. No participant showed linea alba distortion during the AHE or ADIM. When compared, SCU increased the occurrence of distortion with respect to AHE and ADIM. The isolated hypopressive posture did not change IRD or linea alba distortion.

CONCLUSIONS: Among women who were postpartum, AHE seemed to narrow IRD below the umbilicus compared with ADIM, without either of these 2 modalities generating linea alba distortion, as SCU or ADIM+SCU do. Thus, although no significant differences were found when comparing IRD at rest and during AHE, the AHE could improve the tensile response of the linea alba without increasing the IRD.

PMID:35908286 | DOI:10.1093/ptj/pzac086

Aust Endod J. 2022 Jul 31. doi: 10.1111/aej.12672. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This retrospective cone-beam computed tomography study aimed to investigate the possible associations of apical periodontitis (AP) with missed/unmissed second mesiobuccal (MB2) canals. MB2 canals and AP were investigated in 257 endodontically treated and 673 untreated maxillary molars, and the former were analyzed regarding missed/unmissed MB2 canals. The chi-squared test and odds ratio (OR) were used for statistics. The prevalence of MB2 canals in maxillary first molars was higher than that in second molars (p = 0.001). MB2 canals were 1.751 times more common in males than in females (OR: 1.751; 95% CI: 1.334-2.297), with a significant difference in the 18-39 age groups (p = 0.005). The risk for AP was 5.5 times greater in endodontically treated maxillary molars with missed MB2 canals than in those with unmissed MB2 canals (p = 0.012) (OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 1.549-19.527). The findings of this study reveal that the likelihood of the MB2 canal is higher in the maxillary first molars of young adult males.

PMID:35908285 | DOI:10.1111/aej.12672

Epilepsia Open. 2022 Jul 31. doi: 10.1002/epi4.12635. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is a once-daily (QD), oral anti-seizure medication for the treatment of focal (partial-onset) seizures. Here, we evaluate risk factors for the development of psychiatric treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in clinical trials of adjunctive ESL in adults with focal seizures.

METHODS: This post-hoc analysis evaluated data pooled from three Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (BIA-2093-301, -302, -304). After an 8-week baseline period, patients were randomized equally to receive placebo, ESL 400 mg (not reported here), 800 mg, or 1200 mg QD (up to 2-week titration; 12-week maintenance; optional open-label extension [OLE]). Incidences of psychiatric TEAEs were evaluated according to three separate criteria: medical history of psychiatric disorders (yes/no); baseline use of psychotropic drugs (yes/no); Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score at baseline (0-6: normal; 7-19: mild depression; 20-34: moderate depression).

RESULTS: The analysis populations comprised 1251 patients for the controlled study period and 1137 patients for the 1-year OLE. Psychiatric TEAE incidence was similar between patients taking ESL and placebo in the controlled and OLE study periods and was not related to ESL dose. Psychiatric TEAEs generally occurred more frequently in patients with a medical history of psychiatric disorders, using psychotropic drugs, or with depressive symptoms than in those without a history, not using psychotropic drugs, or with no depressive symptoms. Depression and anxiety were the most frequently reported psychiatric TEAEs.

SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, in clinical trials of ESL in adults with focal seizures, incidences of psychiatric events were not statistically different between patients taking ESL and placebo, were not related to ESL dose, and generally occurred more frequently in patients with baseline psychiatric symptoms or a history of psychiatric disorders. Long-term exposure to ESL was not associated with a marked increase in the incidence of psychiatric TEAEs.

PMID:35908275 | DOI:10.1002/epi4.12635

J Biophotonics. 2022 Jul 31:e202200121. doi: 10.1002/jbio.202200121. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

High-dose-rate-brachytherapy (HDR-BT) is an increasingly attractive alternative to external beam radiation-therapy for patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer. Despite this, no bio-marker based method currently exists to monitor treatment response, and the changes which take place at the biochemical level in hypo-fractionated HDR-BT remain poorly understood. The aim of this pilot study is to assess the capability of Raman spectroscopy (RS) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and random-forest classification (RF) to identify radiation response profiles after a single dose of 13.5 Gy in a cohort of 9 patients. We here demonstrate, as a proof-of-concept, how RS-PCA-RF could be utilised as an effective tool in radiation response monitoring, specifically assessing the importance of low variance PCs in complex sample sets. As RS provides information on the biochemical composition of tissue samples, this technique could provide insight into the changes which take place on the biochemical level, as result of HDR-BT treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35908273 | DOI:10.1002/jbio.202200121

Int J Clin Oncol. 2022 Jul 31. doi: 10.1007/s10147-022-02209-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The treatment strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) must ensure a radical cure of cancer and prevent over/under treatment. Biopsy specimens used for the definitive diagnosis of T1 CRC were analyzed using artificial intelligence (AI) to construct a risk index for lymph node metastasis.

METHODS: A total of 146 T1 CRC cases were analyzed. The specimens for analysis were mainly biopsy specimens, and in the absence of biopsy specimens, the mucosal layer of the surgical specimens was analyzed. The pathology slides for each case were digitally imaged, and the morphological features of cancer cell nuclei were extracted from the tissue images. First, statistical methods were used to analyze how well these features could predict lymph node metastasis risk. A lymph node metastasis risk model using AI was created based on these morphological features, and accuracy in test cases was verified.

RESULTS: Each developed model could predict lymph node metastasis risk with a > 90% accuracy in each region of interest of the training cases. Lymph node metastasis risk was predicted with 81.8-86.3% accuracy for randomly validated cases, using a learning model with biopsy data. Moreover, no case with lymph node metastasis or lymph node risk was judged to have no risk using the same model.

CONCLUSIONS: AI models suggest an association between biopsy specimens and lymph node metastases in T1 CRC and may contribute to increased accuracy of preoperative diagnosis.

PMID:35908272 | DOI:10.1007/s10147-022-02209-6

Int Ophthalmol. 2022 Jul 31. doi: 10.1007/s10792-022-02444-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the difference and agreement of axial length (AL) and anterior segment parameters obtained from the MYAH device with Pentacam AXL and IOLMaster 700 in myopic children.

METHODS: The study included 60 eyes of 60 myopic children. AL, keratometry (K), and horizontal corneal diameter (CD) were measured with Pentacam AXL, IOLMaster 700, and MYAH, respectively. The Friedman test was used to assess the differences. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the consistency of measurements.

RESULTS: The mean age was 10.2 ± 1.8 years (7-16 years). No statistically significant difference was determined between the Pentacam AXL, IOLMaster 700, and MYAH devices in terms of mean AL values (23.61 ± 1.42, 23.62 ± 1.45, 23.61 ± 1.42, respectively) (p = 0.06). The difference between devices in the mean steep K, flat K, mean K, and CD was statistically significant but clinically insignificant (steep K; 44.45 ± 1.25, 44.59 ± 1.23, 44.51 ± 1.24, flat K; 43.29 ± 1.28, 43.43 ± 1.29, 43.35 ± 1.30, mean K; 43.85 ± 1.21, 44.00 ± 1.19, 43.94 ± 1.20, and CD; 11.90 ± 0.34, 12.11 ± 0.38, 11.96 ± 0.31, respectively; p < 0.05). ICC and Bland-Altman plot analysis revealed a high correlation between the three devices in AL, steep K, flat K, mean K, and CD measurements.

CONCLUSION: There was a quite good agreement between the MYAH, Pentacam AXL, and IOLMaster 700 devices regarding AL and anterior segment parameters. MYAH provides reliable measurements and will be a good option in the diagnosis of and follow-up with myopic children.

PMID:35908260 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-022-02444-w

Community Ment Health J. 2022 Jul 31. doi: 10.1007/s10597-022-01010-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated level of service need before and after a short-term community mental health case management intervention from the perspective of both clients and case managers. Ontario Common Assessment of Need data were used to describe client needs. McNemar’s test was applied to assess differences in pre- and post- need scores. Psychological distress, company, daytime activities, and physical health were most commonly rated by clients as unmet needs at enrolment. At discharge, there was a significant change in psychological distress from the perspective of clients, and in psychological distress and daytime activities from the perspective of case managers. Statistically significant changes were observed for Total Need, Total Unmet Need and Met Need scores from the perspective of case managers. While both clients and case managers reported changes in total service needs between admission and discharge from short-term case management, clients were less likely to report a difference in needs.

PMID:35908257 | DOI:10.1007/s10597-022-01010-z

Hepatology. 2022 Jul 31. doi: 10.1002/hep.32692. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The sensitivity of current surveillance methods for detecting early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is suboptimal. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising circulating biomarkers for early cancer detection. In this study, we aim to develop an HCC EV-based surface protein assay for early detection of HCC.

APPROACH AND RESULTS: Tissue microarray was used to evaluate four potential HCC-associated protein markers. An HCC EV Surface Protein Assay, comprised of covalent chemistry-mediated HCC EV purification and real-time immuno-PCR readouts, was developed and optimized for quantifying subpopulations of EVs. An HCC EV ECG score, calculated from the readouts of three HCC EV subpopulations (EpCAM⁺ CD63⁺ , CD147⁺ CD63⁺ , and GPC3⁺ CD63⁺ HCC EVs), was established for detecting early-stage HCC. A phase 2 biomarker study was conducted to evaluate the performance of ECG score in a training cohort (n=106) and an independent validation cohort (n=72). Overall, 99.7% of tissue microarray stained positive for at least one of the four HCC-associated protein markers (EpCAM, CD147, GPC3, and ASGPR1), which were subsequently validated in HCC EVs. In the training cohort, HCC EV ECG score demonstrated an area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of 0.95 (95% CI=0.90-0.99) for distinguishing early-stage HCC from cirrhosis with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 90%. The AUROCs of HCC EV ECG score remained excellent in the validation cohort (0.93, 95% CI=0.87-0.99), and the subgroups by etiology (viral: 0.95, 95% CI=0.90-1.00; nonviral: 0.94, 95% CI=0.88-0.99).

CONCLUSION: HCC EV ECG score demonstrated great potential for detecting early-stage HCC. It could augment current surveillance methods and improve patients’ outcomes.

PMID:35908246 | DOI:10.1002/hep.32692

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jul 31:dgac461. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac461. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Predicting the onset of menopause is important for family planning and to ensure prompt intervention in women at risk of developing menopause-related diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize risk prediction models of natural menopause onset and their performance.

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: Five bibliographic databases were searched up to March 2022. We included prospective studies on perimenopausal women or women in menopausal transition, that reported either the univariable or multivariable model for risk prediction of natural menopause onset.

DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently extracted data according to the CHARMS (critical appraisal and data extraction for systematic reviews of prediction modelling studies) checklist. Risk of bias was assessed using PROBAST (prediction model risk of bias assessment tool).

DATA SYNTHESIS: Of 8’132 references identified, we included 14 articles based on 8 unique studies comprising 9’588 women (mainly Caucasian) and 3’289 natural menopause events. All the included studies used onset of natural menopause (ONM) as outcome, while four studies predicted early ONM as well. Overall, there were 180 risk prediction models investigated, with age, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) being the most investigated predictors. Estimated C-statistic for the prediction models ranged from 0.62 to 0.95. Although all studies were rated at high risk of bias mainly due to the methodological concerns related to the statistical analysis, their applicability was satisfactory.

CONCLUSION: Predictive performance and generalizability of current prediction models on ONM is limited given that these models were generated from studies at high risk of bias and from specific populations/ethnicities. Although in certain settings such models may be useful, efforts to improve their performance are needed as use becomes more widespread.

PMID:35908226 | DOI:10.1210/clinem/dgac461