Nevin Manimala

Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2022 Sep 21:10556656221127549. doi: 10.1177/10556656221127549. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cleft lip and/or palate is the most commonly documented orofacial anomaly and may impact the status of health and disease of adjacent teeth along with their associated supporting structures. The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether the presence of clefts altered the periodontal status of patients.

The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020210178). A systematic search of literature was performed utilizing unique search strings for PubMed, Scopus, and GoogleScholar as databases including gray literature from April 28, 2020 to October 3, 2020.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal human studies published in the English language, providing information about periodontal disease and its association with cleft lip, alveolus, and palate.

Periodontal outcome measures such as gingival index (GI), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), periodontal probing depth (PPD), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were utilized as the main outcome measures.

Patients with clefts were predisposed to poorer periodontal outcomes. Subgroup analysis revealed compromised periodontal measures for clefts as compared to control sites without cleft which were statistically significant in terms of GI [Z = 2.44, P = .01], CAL [Z = 2.52, P = .01], PI [Z = 2.76, P = .006] and not statistically significant for PPD [Z = 0.27, P = .79] and BOP [Z = 1.47, P = .14].

Within the limitations of the review, the authors conclude that the presence of orofacial clefts may predispose to periodontal compromise when compared to normal controls. The GRADE rating was moderate.

PMID:36130097 | DOI:10.1177/10556656221127549

Anesth Analg. 2022 May 13. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006075. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Delirium is an acute syndrome characterized by inattention, disorganized thinking, and an altered level of consciousness. A reliable biomarker for tracking delirium does not exist, but oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) could address this need. We evaluated whether the frequencies of EEG oscillations are associated with delirium onset, severity, and recovery in the postoperative period.

METHODS: Twenty-six adults enrolled in the Electroencephalography Guidance of Anesthesia to Alleviate Geriatric Syndromes (ENGAGES; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02241655) study underwent major surgery requiring general anesthesia, and provided longitudinal postoperative EEG recordings for this prespecified substudy. The presence and severity of delirium were evaluated with the confusion assessment method (CAM) or the CAM-intensive care unit. EEG data obtained during awake eyes-open and eyes-closed states yielded relative power in the delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), and alpha (8-13 Hz) bands. Discriminability for delirium presence was evaluated with c-statistics. To account for correlation among repeated measures within patients, mixed-effects models were generated to assess relationships between: (1) delirium severity and EEG relative power (ordinal), and (2) EEG relative power and time (linear). Slopes of ordinal and linear mixed-effects models are reported as the change in delirium severity score/change in EEG relative power, and the change in EEG relative power/time (days), respectively. Bonferroni correction was applied to confidence intervals (CIs) to account for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS: Occipital alpha relative power during eyes-closed states offered moderate discriminability (c-statistic, 0.75; 98% CI, 0.58-0.87), varying inversely with delirium severity (slope, -0.67; 98% CI, -1.36 to -0.01; P = .01) and with severity of inattention (slope, -1.44; 98% CI, -2.30 to -0.58; P = .002). Occipital theta relative power during eyes-open states correlated directly with severity of delirium (slope, 1.28; 98% CI, 0.12-2.44; P = .007), inattention (slope, 2.00; 98% CI, 0.48-3.54; P = .01), and disorganized thinking (slope, 3.15; 98% CI, 0.66-5.65; P = .01). Corresponding frontal EEG measures recapitulated these relationships to varying degrees. Severity of altered level of consciousness correlated with frontal theta relative power during eyes-open states (slope, 11.52; 98% CI, 6.33-16.71; P < .001). Frontal theta relative power during eyes-open states correlated inversely with time (slope, -0.05; 98% CI, -0.12 to -0.04; P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS: Presence, severity, and core features of postoperative delirium covary with spectral features of the EEG. The cost and accessibility of EEG facilitate the translation of these findings to future mechanistic and interventional trials.

PMID:36130079 | DOI:10.1213/ANE.0000000000006075

J Chem Inf Model. 2022 Sep 21. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00964. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The high price of marketing of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) requires the introduction of cost-effective and sustainable procedures that facilitate its authentication, avoiding fraud in the sector. Contrary to classical techniques (such as chromatography), near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy does not need derivatization of the sample with proper integration of separated peaks and is more reliable, rapid, and cost-effective. In this work, principal component analysis (PCA) and then redundancy analysis (RDA)─which can be seen as a constrained version of PCA─are used to summarize the high-dimensional NIR spectral information. Then PCA and RDA factors are contemplated as explanatory variables in models to authenticate oils from qualitative or quantitative analysis, in particular, in the prediction of the percentage of EVOO in blended oils or in the classification of EVOO or other vegetable oils (sunflower, hazelnut, corn, or linseed oil) by the use of some machine learning algorithms. As a conclusion, the results highlight the potential of RDA factors in prediction and classification because they appreciably improve the results obtained from PCA factors in calibration and validation.

PMID:36130074 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00964

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2022 Sep 20:djac180. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djac180. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Pathways to Wellness trial tested the efficacy of two interventions for younger breast cancer survivors: mindful awareness practices (MAPs) and survivorship education (SE). This planned secondary analysis examines intervention effects on stress, positive psychological outcomes, and inflammation (Clincaltrials.gov NCT03025139).

METHODS: Women diagnosed with breast cancer at or before age 50 who had completed treatment and had elevated depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of MAPs, SE, or wait-list control (WLC). Assessments conducted at pre- and post-intervention and at 3- and 6-month follow-up measured general stress perceptions, cancer-related intrusive thoughts and worry, positive affect, meaning/peace in life, altruism/empathy, and markers of inflammation. Analyses compared change in outcomes over time in each intervention group relative to WLC using linear mixed models.

RESULTS: 247 women were randomized to MAPS (n = 85), SE (n = 81), or WLC (n = 81). MAPs statistically significantly decreased intrusive thoughts and worry at post-intervention and 3-month follow up relative to WLC (ps < .027), and statistically significantly increased positive affect and meaning/peace at post-intervention, with positive affect persisting at 3-month follow up (ps < .027). SE statistically significantly decreased intrusive thoughts at 3-month follow up and statistically significantly increased positive affect at 6-month follow up relative to WLC (ps < .01). Pro-inflammatory gene expression increased in WLC relative to MAPs (p = .016) but did not differ from SE. There were no intervention effects on other outcomes.

CONCLUSION: MAPs had beneficial effects on psychological and immune outcomes in younger breast cancer survivors and is a promising approach for enhancing biobehavioral health.

PMID:36130057 | DOI:10.1093/jnci/djac180

Eur J Endocrinol. 2022 Sep 1:EJE-22-0449. doi: 10.1530/EJE-22-0449. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of weekly PEG-rhGH in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) in China.

DESIGN AND METHODS: A multicenter, phase II study randomized subjects 1:1:1 to weekly subcutaneous injections of PEG-rhGH 0.1 (low dose [LD]) or 0.2 mg/kg/week (high dose [HD]) or control for 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in HT-SDS from baseline to week 52. Secondary endpoints were height velocity (HV), bone maturity, IGF-1 SDS, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio.

RESULTS: A total of 360 children with ISS were recruited in the study (n=120 in each group). At week 52, the mean change from baseline in HT-SDS was 0.56 ± 0.26, 0.98 ± 0.35, and 0.20 ± 0.26 in the LD, HD, and control groups, respectively (within-group P<0.0001; inter-group P<0.0001). Statistically significant changes in HV, IGF-1, IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio, and IGF-1 SDS at week 52 from baseline were observed in both treatment groups (P<0.0001). There were clear dose-dependent responses for all auxological variables. PEG-rhGH was well tolerated throughout the treatment period with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported in 86.5%, 84.6%, and 91.3% of children in the HD, LD, and control groups, respectively. The incidence of TEAEs was similar in all treatment groups despite the difference in doses. A total of 27 (8.7%) children experienced drug-related TEAEs.

CONCLUSION: Fifty-two-week treatment with PEG-rhGH 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg/week achieved significant improvement in HT-SDS and other growth-related variables, including HV, IGF-1 SDS, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio, in a dose-dependent manner. Both doses were well tolerated with similar safety profiles.

PMID:36130048 | DOI:10.1530/EJE-22-0449

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2022 Sep 21. doi: 10.1021/jasms.2c00218. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mass spectrometry (MS) is uniquely powerful for measuring the mass of intact proteins and other biomolecules. New applications have expanded intact protein analysis into biopharmaceuticals, native MS, and top-down proteomics, all of which have driven the need for more automated data-processing pipelines. However, key metrics in the field are often not precisely defined. For example, there are different views on how to calculate uncertainty from spectra. This Critical Insight will explore the different definitions of mass, error, and uncertainty. It will discuss situations where different definitions may be more suitable and provide recommendations for best practices. Targeting both beginners and experts, the goal of the discussion is to provide a common foundation of terminology, enhance statistical rigor, and improve automation of data analysis.

PMID:36130030 | DOI:10.1021/jasms.2c00218

Sci Adv. 2022 Sep 23;8(38):eabm5952. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abm5952. Epub 2022 Sep 21.

ABSTRACT

This work introduces a comprehensive approach to assess the sensitivity of model outputs to changes in parameter values, constrained by the combination of prior beliefs and data. This approach identifies stiff parameter combinations strongly affecting the quality of the model-data fit while simultaneously revealing which of these key parameter combinations are informed primarily by the data or are also substantively influenced by the priors. We focus on the very common context in complex systems where the amount and quality of data are low compared to the number of model parameters to be collectively estimated, and showcase the benefits of this technique for applications in biochemistry, ecology, and cardiac electrophysiology. We also show how stiff parameter combinations, once identified, uncover controlling mechanisms underlying the system being modeled and inform which of the model parameters need to be prioritized in future experiments for improved parameter inference from collective model-data fitting.

PMID:36129974 | DOI:10.1126/sciadv.abm5952

Nano Lett. 2022 Sep 21. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02275. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The physics of phase transitions in two-dimensional (2D) systems underpins research in diverse fields including statistical mechanics, nanomagnetism, and soft condensed matter. However, many aspects of 2D phase transitions are still not well understood, including the effects of interparticle potential, polydispersity, and particle shape. Magnetic skyrmions are chiral spin-structure quasi-particles that form two-dimensional lattices. Here, we show, by real-space imaging using in situ cryo-Lorentz transmission electron microscopy coupled with machine learning image analysis, the ordering behavior of Néel skyrmion lattices in van der Waals Fe₃GeTe₂. We demonstrate a distinct change in the skyrmion size distribution during field-cooling, which leads to a loss of lattice order and an evolution of the skyrmion liquid phase. Remarkably, the lattice order is restored during field heating and demonstrates a thermal hysteresis. This behavior is explained by the skyrmion energy landscape and demonstrates the potential to control the lattice order in 2D phase transitions.

PMID:36129969 | DOI:10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02275

J Evol Biol. 2022 Sep 21. doi: 10.1111/jeb.14087. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Temperatures are increasing due to global changes, putting biodiversity at risk. Organisms are faced with a limited set of options to cope with this situation: adapt, disperse or die. We here focus on the first possibility, more specifically, on evolutionary adaptations to temperature. Ectotherms are usually characterized by a hump-shaped relationship between fitness and temperature, a non-linear reaction norm that is referred to as thermal performance curve (TPC). To understand and predict impacts of global change, we need to know whether and how such TPCs evolve. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature search and a statistical meta-analysis focusing on experimental evolution and artificial selection studies. This focus allows us to directly quantify relative fitness responses to temperature selection by calculating fitness differences between TPCs from ancestral and derived populations after thermal selection. Out of 7561 publications screened, we found 47 studies corresponding to our search criteria representing taxa across the tree of life, from bacteria, to plants and vertebrates. We show that, independently of species identity, the studies we found report a positive response to temperature selection. Considering entire TPC shapes, adaptation to higher temperatures traded off with fitness at lower temperatures, leading to niche shifts. Effects were generally stronger in unicellular organisms. By contrast, we do not find statistical support for the often discussed “Hotter is better” hypothesis. While our meta-analysis provides evidence for adaptive potential of TPCs across organisms, it also highlights that more experimental work is needed, especially for under-represented taxa, such as plants and non-model systems.

PMID:36129955 | DOI:10.1111/jeb.14087

PLoS One. 2022 Sep 21;17(9):e0274935. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274935. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is still a recognized public health issue in Ethiopia. Despite this, the viewpoints and comprehensions of young women about the situation are unknown. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the knowledge and perceptions of young adult women in Southwest Ethiopia about breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE).

METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in the Gurage zone, southwest Ethiopia, in 2021. A total of 392 young adult women were randomly selected from both urban and rural strata using a three-stage stratified sampling process. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. For data entry, Epi-data 4.6 with a double-entry approach was used, and for analysis, SPSS 26 was used. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables associated with BSE behavior. A p-value of 0.05 or below was considered statistically significant with a 95% CI.

RESULTS: The respondents’ ages ranged from 20 to 24, with a mean of 21.25 (±1.32) years. Breast cancer and BSE were unknown to more than 80% of the study participants. A large proportion of young adult women had low perceived susceptibility (97.6%), low threat of breast cancer (96%), and low self-efficacy to perform BSE (91.4%). BSE was conducted by 23.1% of the participants occasionally. Being married (AOR = 5.31, 95% CI = 2.19-12.90), having good outcome expectations of BSE (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.16-3.61), having good BSE knowledge (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.04-1.45), having high perceived susceptibility (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.05-1.20), high perceived severity (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.02-3.09), and having high self-efficacy to do BSE (AOR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.09) were all significant predictors of BSE practice.

CONCLUSIONS: Young adult women were less concerned about breast cancer and had insufficient knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination. They have little knowledge of, confidence in, or experience with BSE. The practice of BSE was associated with increased perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, severity, outcome expectations, and BSE knowledge. Therefore, these variables should be considered when developing educational interventions for young women.

PMID:36129946 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0274935