Nevin Manimala

J Pers Med. 2022 Nov 1;12(11):1804. doi: 10.3390/jpm12111804.

ABSTRACT

Accurate measurement of the minimum distance between bony structures of the humeral head and the acromion or coracoid helps advance a better understanding of the shoulder anatomical features. Our goal was to precisely determine the minimum acromiohumeral distance (AHD), coracohumeral distance (CHD), and glenohumeral distance (GHD) in a sample of the Chinese population as an in vivo anatomical analysis. We retrospectively included 146 patients who underwent supine computed tomography (CT) examination of the shoulder joint. The minimum AHD, CHD, and GHD values were quantitatively measured using three-dimensional (3D) CT reconstruction techniques. The correlation between minimum AHD, CHD, and GHD value and age with different sexes was evaluated using Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The mean value of minimum AHD in males was greater than that in females (male 7.62 ± 0.98 mm versus female 7.27 ± 0.86 mm, p = 0.046). The CHD among different sexes differed significantly (male 10.75 ± 2.40 mm versus female 8.76 ± 1.38 mm, p < 0.001). However, we found no statistical differences in GHD with different sexes (male 2.00 ± 0.31 mm versus female 1.96 ± 0.36 mm, p > 0.05). In terms of age correlation, a negative curve correlation existed between age and AHD among the different sexes (male R² = 0.124, p = 0.030, female R² = 0.112, p = 0.005). A negative linear correlation was found in CHD among the different sexes (male R² = 0.164, p < 0.001, female R² = 0.122, p = 0.005). There were no differences between age and minimum GHD in both sexes. The 3D CT reconstruction model can accurately measure the minimum AHD, CHD, and GHD value in vivo and is worthy of further investigation for standard clinical anatomical assessment. Aging may correlate with AHD and CHD narrowing for both sexes.

PMID:36579520 | DOI:10.3390/jpm12111804

J Pers Med. 2022 Nov 1;12(11):1803. doi: 10.3390/jpm12111803.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the impact of modifications in emergency department (ED) practices caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the clinical outcomes and management of patients with septic shock. We performed a retrospective study. Patients with septic shock who presented to the ED between 1 January 2018 and 19 January 2020 were allocated to the pre-COVID-19 group, whereas those who presented between 20 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 were assigned to the post-COVID-19 group. We used propensity score matching to compare the sepsis-related interventions and clinical outcomes. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Of the 3697 patients included, 2254 were classified as pre-COVID-19 and 1143 as post-COVID-19. A total of 1140 propensity score-matched pairings were created. Overall, the in-hospital mortality rate was 25.5%, with no statistical difference between the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups (p = 0.92). In a matched cohort, the post-COVID-19 group had delayed lactate measurement, blood culture test, and infection source control (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in time to antibiotics (p = 0.19) or vasopressor administration (p = 0.09) between the groups. Although sepsis-related interventions were delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality between the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups.

PMID:36579517 | DOI:10.3390/jpm12111803

Radiat Oncol. 2022 Dec 28;17(1):215. doi: 10.1186/s13014-022-02159-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NRT) for resectable retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) has been shown to be systematically feasible. Whether NRT has equivalent or better clinical effects compared to surgery alone for RPS patients remains controversial.

METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ASCO Abstracts, and Cochrane library databases for studies in humans with defined search terms. Articles were independently assessed by 2 reviewers, and only randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were included. The hazard ratios (HRs) of overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and local recurrence (LR) were extracted from included studies. Heterogeneity among study-specific HRs was assessed by the Q statistic and I² statistic. Overall HR was assessed by random-effects or fixed-effects models. Publication bias was tested by Begg’s tests, and the quality of each study was assessed with the Newcastle Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS: A total of 12 eligible studies with 7778 resectable RPS patients were finally included in this study. The pooled analysis revealed the distinct advantages of NRT as compared to surgery alone, including longer OS (HR = 0.81, P < 0.001), longer RFS (HR = 0.58, P = 0.04), and lower LR (HR = 0.70, P = 0.03). No evidence of publication bias was observed.

CONCLUSION: NRT is likely to be beneficial for resectable RPS patients in terms of OS and RFS. However, more multicenter clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

PMID:36578082 | DOI:10.1186/s13014-022-02159-3

Int Breastfeed J. 2022 Dec 28;17(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s13006-022-00531-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Estimates by the World Health Organization indicate that over 800,000 global neonatal deaths each year are attributed to deviations from recommended best practices in infant feeding. Identifying factors promoting ideal breastfeeding practices may facilitate efforts to decrease neonatal and infant death rates and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030. Though numerous studies have identified the benefits of breastfeeding in reducing the risk of childhood undernutrition, infection and illness, and mortality in low- and middle-income countries, no studies have explored predictors of breastfeeding practices in rural eastern Ethiopia, where undernutrition is widespread. The aim of this study is to examine predictors of infant feeding practices in Haramaya, Ethiopia, using a multi-level conceptual framework.

METHODS: This study uses data collected from household questionnaires during the Campylobacter Genomics and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (CAGED) project among 102 households in the Haramaya woreda, Eastern Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, and investigates factors influencing breastfeeding practices: early initiation, prelacteal feeding, and untimely complementary feeding.

RESULTS: Nearly half (47.9%) of infants in this study were non-exclusively breastfed (n = 96). Generalized liner mixed effects models of breastfeeding practices revealed that prelacteal feeding may be a common practice in the region (43.9%, n = 98) and characterized by gender differences (p = .03). No factors evaluated were statistically significantly predictive of early initiation and untimely complementary feeding (82% and 14%, respectively). Severely food insecure mothers had more than 72% lower odds of early breastfeeding initiation, and participants who self-reported as being illiterate had 1.53 times greater odds of untimely complementary feeding (95% CI, [0.30,7.69]) followed by male children having 1.45 greater odds of being untimely complementary fed compared to female (95% CI,[0.40,5.37]).

CONCLUSIONS: This study found high rates of prelacteal feeding and low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding, with girls more likely to be exclusively breastfed. While no predictors evaluated in this multi-level framework were associated with prevalence of early initiation or complementary feeding, rates may be clinically meaningful in a region burdened by undernutrition. Findings raise questions about gendered breastfeeding norms, the under-examined role of khat consumption on infant feeding, and the complex factors that affect breastfeeding practices in this region. This information may be used to guide future research questions and inform intervention strategies.

PMID:36578078 | DOI:10.1186/s13006-022-00531-3

BMC Med Educ. 2022 Dec 28;22(1):899. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03984-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Physician delivered weight management counseling (WMC) occurs infrequently and physicians report lack of training and poor self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the Video-based Communication Assessment (VCA) for weight management counseling (WMC) training in medical residents.

METHODS: This study was a mixed methods pilot conducted in 3 phases. First, we created five vignettes based on our prior data and expert feedback, then administered the vignettes via the VCA to Internal Medicine categorical residents (n = 16) from a University Medical School. Analog patients rated responses and also provided comments. We created individualized feedback reports which residents were able to view on the VCA. Lastly, we conducted debriefing interviews with the residents (n = 11) to obtain their feedback on the vignettes and personalized feedback. Interviews were transcribed, and we used thematic analysis to generate and apply codes, followed by identifying themes.

RESULTS: Descriptive statistics were calculated and learning points were created for the individualized feedback reports. In VCA debriefing interviews with residents, five themes emerged: 1) Overall the VCA was easy to use, helpful and more engaging than traditional learning and assessment modes, 2) Patient scenarios were similar to those encountered in the clinic, including diversity, health literacy and different stages of change, 3) The knowledge, skills, and reminders from the VCA can be transferred to practice, 4) Feedback reports were helpful, to the point and informative, including the exemplar response of how to best respond to the scenario, and 5) The VCA provide alternatives and practice scenarios to real-life patient situations when they aren’t always accessible.

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the VCA, a technology delivered platform, for delivering WMC to residents. The VCA exposed residents to diverse patient experiences and provided potential opportunities to tailor providers responses to sociological and cultural factors in WMC scenarios. Future work will examine the effect of the VCA on WMC in actual clinical practice.

PMID:36578064 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-022-03984-6

Arthritis Res Ther. 2022 Dec 28;24(1):283. doi: 10.1186/s13075-022-02944-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patient data from two phase 3 secukinumab trials (FUTURE 1, 5) were analysed to quantify the prevalence and extent of pre-existing radiographic damage (RD) at baseline; investigate the association of RD with swollen/tender joint counts (SJC/TJC) at baseline; and investigate the extent to which RD at baseline correlated with response to secukinumab.

METHODS: Pooled data (N = 1554) provided baseline radiographic bone erosion and joint space narrowing (JSN) scores at pre-specified locations per the van der Heijde-modified total Sharp score (vdH-mTSS) for PsA and swollen and tender joint scores in the same joints at multiple visits. Overall patient RD and individual joints RD bone erosion and JSN scores were assessed. The association between joint activity (tenderness, swelling) and vdH-mTSS was assessed at the overall patient-level and individual joint tender, swollen scores (yes/no) and RD joint JSN and bone erosion scores at the individual joint-level. Treatment response was assessed using SJC/TJC at weeks 16 and 52 and the proportion of patients achieving minimal disease activity (MDA) over all assessments within 1 year from FUTURE 5 alone.

RESULTS: A substantial prevalence of pre-existing RD with higher prevalence of erosion than JSN was observed (86% and 60% of patients had positive erosion and JSN scores, respectively); higher RD prevalence was associated with longer time since PsA diagnosis. Joint activity was weakly associated with RD at baseline at the patient-level (Pearson’s coefficients: range 0.12-0.18), but strongly associated at the individual joint-level, with a higher probability of tender/swollen joints to associate with higher JSN/erosion scores: all 42 analysed joints showed statistical significance at the 0.05 level (unadjusted) for the relationship between joint tenderness (yes/no) and its JSN score, all but one for tenderness and bone erosion scores, and all but 2 for swollen and JSN scores and for swollen and bone erosion score. Secukinumab (150/300 mg), reduced TJC and SJC across all values of baseline erosion and JSN scores at weeks 16 and 52. Patients with higher levels of RD were less likely to achieve zero tender/zero swollen joint status and had lower chance of achieving MDA.

CONCLUSIONS: PsA patients showed substantial prevalence of RD at baseline that correlated with time since diagnosis, but patient’s individual joint activity was strongly associated with pre-existing RD at those joints. Patients with the highest RD at baseline had a reduced likelihood of achieving zero joint count status.

PMID:36578042 | DOI:10.1186/s13075-022-02944-1

BMC Ophthalmol. 2022 Dec 28;22(1):512. doi: 10.1186/s12886-022-02753-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To ascertain the agreement of corneal aberrations obtained from the Pentacam and the KR-1W in myopic populations and to investigate the influence of the level of myopia as well as the laterality on the agreement.

METHODS: In this observational study, a rotating Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam AXL) and a Hartmann-Shack wavefront analyzer with Placido-disc topographer (KR-1W) were used to measure the aberrations of myopes in the anterior corneal surface by one experienced operator. All examinations were computed across a 6 mm diameter. Six subgroups were generated according to the degree of myopia (mild, moderate, and severe myopia) and the laterality of eyes (right and left eyes).

RESULTS: The study included 245 eyes of 170 participants. For certain anterior corneal aberrations, statistically significant differences existed between the Pentacam and the KR-1W (all P < .05). The values of Zernike (Z)(2,0), Z(2,2), Z(3,1), and Z(4,0) varied in all levels of myopia regardless of the laterality, with the values of the Pentacam constantly larger than the KR-1W in the measurement of Z(2,0), Z(2,2), and Z(4,0). For 2nd to 6th aberrations, both instruments correlated poorly to moderately. The width of limits of agreement between the two instruments was clinically too wide (> 0.1 μm) for aberrations closely correlated with visual quality, including Z(3, ± 3), Z(3, ± 1), and Z(4,0), and almost all aberrations, indicating poor agreement.

CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, the Pentacam based on Scheimpflug technology and the KR-1W based on Placido Disc System are not interchangeable in measuring anterior corneal aberration for myopes regardless of myopia degree and the laterality, suggesting that a consistent instrument should be selected for surgical design as well as follow-up.

PMID:36578031 | DOI:10.1186/s12886-022-02753-9

Trials. 2022 Dec 28;23(1):1058. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06900-x.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: The effectiveness of universal immunisation with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has been evident in many countries. However, the global impact of PCV is limited by its cost, which has prevented its introduction in several countries. Reducing the cost of PCV programmes may facilitate vaccine introduction in some countries and improve the sustainability of PCV in EPIs in low-income countries when they transition away from subsidised vaccine supply.

METHODS AND DESIGN: PVS is a real-world field trial of an alternative schedule of one dose of PCV scheduled at age 6 weeks with a booster dose at age 9 months (i.e. the alternative ‘1+1’ schedule) compared to the standard schedule of three primary doses scheduled at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age (i.e. the standard ‘3+0’ schedule). Delivery of the interventions began in late 2019 in 68 geographic clusters and will continue for 4 years. The primary endpoint is the prevalence of nasopharyngeal vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage in children aged 2-260 weeks with clinical pneumonia in year 4. Secondary endpoints are the prevalence of vaccine-type pneumococcal carriage among all ages in year 4 and the incidence of radiological pneumonia in children enrolled to receive the interventions. Additional disease and carriage endpoints are included.

PURPOSE: This statistical analysis plan (SAP) describes the cohorts and populations, and follow-up criteria, to be used in different analyses. The SAP defines the endpoints and describes how adherence to the interventions will be presented. We describe how analyses will account for the effect of clustering and stratified randomisation. The SAP defines the approach to non-inferiority and other analyses. Defining the SAP early in the trial will avoid bias in analyses that may arise from prior knowledge of trial findings.

PMID:36578030 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-022-06900-x

BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022 Dec 28;22(1):342. doi: 10.1186/s12906-022-03797-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bangladesh’s population commonly utilizes Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat their health issues. Despite the increasing interest in CAM, it has been excluded from conventional medical training in Bangladesh for many years. Therefore, this study assessed and compared the knowledge level, attitude, perceived effectiveness, and self-practice of CAM among undergraduate students of Bangladesh.

METHODS: This cross-sectional group comparison study was conducted among undergraduate (both medical and non-medical) students of Bangladesh between November and December 2021. Data was collected using a self-reported pretested semi-structured online questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions regarding background information, knowledge regarding CAM, source of CAM knowledge, attitude towards CAM, interest in attaining CAM knowledge, perceived effectiveness of CAM, perceived adverse effects of CAM, self-practice of CAM, and whether would they refer CAM to others. A total of 576 students responded and the data gathered allowed for the following: (1) an overview of the study groups, (2) respondents’ general perception and knowledge regarding CAM, and (3) a comparison of respondents’ CAM knowledge, general perception, and usage by area of study. Data were analyzed using STATA (v.16) and descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test were performed.

RESULTS: A total of 329 medical students and 247 non-medical students participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 21.57 ± 1.8 years and 56.2% of them were male. The most known CAM among medical (M) students was homeopathy (44.6%) and among non-medical (NM) students were herbal medicine (45.7%). Non-medical students had significantly better knowledge about nine out of twelve CAM modalities included in the study, and no significant differences were present for the rest of the modalities. Medical (81.1%) and non-medical students (86.2%) perceived traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy to be the most effective respectively. “Incorporating CAM with conventional medicine would result in increased patient satisfaction” showed the most statistically significant (p = 0.0002) difference among both groups. Yoga was the most often practiced modality among medical students and homeopathy among non-medical students.

CONCLUSION: Medical students have a lacking of knowledge and a positive attitude towards CAM, despite its very common practice among the people of Bangladesh. Therefore, emphasis should be put on the inclusion of CAM modules in medical training.

PMID:36578028 | DOI:10.1186/s12906-022-03797-6