Eur J Cancer. 2021 Nov 25:S0959-8049(21)01177-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.10.019. Online ahead of print.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:34840027 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejca.2021.10.019
J Voice. 2021 Nov 25:S0892-1997(21)00323-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.09.019. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The overall goal of the survey was to ascertain from belters common characteristics of belting and belters as determined by their own experience. The survey sought information from those who responded to an online questionnaire stating they were professional singers who had been paid to sing as belters and were comfortable using the sound quality called belting. The survey asked various questions regarding the definition of the word belting, how the singers learned to belt, whether or not they could explain the auditory and kinesthetic experience of belting and their history with vocal health. This was a partial follow-up to a study done by one of the authors in 2007 on the same topic and with the same general population which was never submitted for publication. The data from that study, which was longer and more complex, will be referenced where the present survey has similar data, partly to see if answers may have changed in the time since data was collected more than a decade ago.
METHODS: The survey was an online questionnaire on Google. A call to respond to the survey was put forth by the authors through their network of colleagues, associates and students with the request that respondents also share the survey with others they knew. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions and garnered a total of 238 responses from professional singers who consider themselves to be belters. Data was collected between February 1, 2019 and July 31, 2019 Topics included Demographics, Vocal Training Background, Definitions, and Vocal Health.
RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The data collected presents demographics on vocal training, professional experience, gender, age, performance venues, definitions of key words, and vocal health issues. The majority of respondents are female, from the USA, have had training, and sing other styles of music in a belt quality. Specific statistics on each question are given. The earlier study, from 2007, referenced several similar questions from a smaller group of respondents. Corresponding information will be presented where applicable at the end of the article for purposes of comparison.
PMID:34840021 | DOI:10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.09.019
Arch Pediatr. 2021 Nov 26:S0929-693X(21)00229-3. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2021.11.001. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the effect of healthy lifestyle beliefs on their attitudes toward physical activity, nutrition, exercise, and weight-related self-efficacy lifestyles in Turkish adolescents.
METHODS: This study used a methodological and descriptive design. The study was conducted with 445 adolescents aged 13-18 years. The data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form, the Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale for Adolescents, the Nutrition Exercise Attitudes Scale, and the Attitudes Toward Physical Activity Scale. Mean and percentage values, t-test, ANOVA test, and linear regression analysis were used in the analysis of the research data.
RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between adolescents’ obesity status, paternal educational level, maternal educational level, income status, and the mean scores obtained for healthy lifestyle beliefs, nutrition and exercise attitudes, physical activity attitudes, and weight-related self-efficacy, as well as between sex and mean scores for attitudes toward nutrition, exercise, and physical activity. In the model created with regression analysis, it was found that the adolescents’ healthy lifestyle beliefs and sociodemographic variables explained 96.3% of their attitudes toward nutrition and exercise, 93.6% of physical activity attitudes, and 96.5% of weight-related self-efficacy levels, with statistical significance.
CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study, healthy lifestyle beliefs are an important predictor of adolescents’ attitudes toward nutrition, exercise, and physical activity as well as their weight-related self-efficacy. We recommend that school nurses consider healthy lifestyle beliefs when creating intervention programs for adolescents .
PMID:34840020 | DOI:10.1016/j.arcped.2021.11.001
Biosens Bioelectron. 2021 Nov 17:113810. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113810. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Exploring reliable and highly-sensitive SARS-CoV-2 antibody diagnosis by point-of-care (POC) manner, holds great public health significance for extensive COVID-19 screening and controlling. Unfortunately, the currently applied gold based lateral flow immunoassay (GLFIA) may expose both false-negative and false-positive interpretations owing to the sensitivity and specificity limitations, which may cause significant risk and waste of public resources for large population screening. To simultaneously overcome the drawbacks of GLFIA, a novel fluorescent LFIA based on signal amplification and dual-antigen sandwich structure was established with largely improved sensitivity and specificity. The compact three-dimensional incorporation of hydrophobic quantum dots within dendritic affinity templates and multilayer surface derivation guaranteed a high and robust fluorescence of single label, which lowered the false negative rate of GLFIA prominently. A dual-antigen sandwich structure using labeled/immobilized SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain antigen for capturing total human SARS-CoV-2 antibody was developed, instead of general indirect antibody capturing approach, to reduce the false positive rate of GLFIA. Over 300 cases of COVID-19 negative and 97 cases of COVID-19 positive samples, the current assay revealed a 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity confirmed by both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), compared with the considerable misinterpretation cases by currently applied GLFIA. The quantitative results verified by receiver operating characteristic curve and other statistical analysis indicated a well-distinguished positive/negative sample groups. The proposed strategy is highly sensitive towards low concentrated SARS-CoV-2 antibody serums and highly specific towards serums from COVID-19 negative persons and patients infected by other viruses.
PMID:34840014 | DOI:10.1016/j.bios.2021.113810
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2021 Sep 16:S0939-4753(21)00446-4. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.09.006. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: The impact of behavioural risk factors on the metabolic syndrome has not been well understood by the researchers. This information is important to the policymakers for developing effective strategies and implement relevant policies or programs. Hence, we undertook this meta-analysis to estimate the effect of behavioural risk factors on the burden of metabolic syndrome.
DATA SYNTHESIS: We conducted a search in the databases, such as PubMed Central, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library, and search engines, such as ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, from inception until March 2021. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to assess the quality of published studies. We carried out a meta-analysis with random-effects model and reported pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). In total, we analysed 30 studies with 41,090 participants. The majority of the studies had good to satisfactory quality as per NOS. Physical activity had a statistically significant association with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (pooled OR = 1.57; 95%CI: 1.28 to 1.93, I2 = 91%). However, smoking (pooled OR = 0.96; 95%CI: 0.75 to 1.23, I2 = 90.5%) and alcohol (pooled OR = 1.00; 95%CI: 0.75 to 1.33, I2 = 90.8%) did not reveal a statistically significant association with the burden of metabolic syndrome.
CONCLUSION: Physical inactivity was found to be a significant risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Given the evidence, it is important that the clinicians and policymakers are alike to recommend regular physical activity among the patients and general population.
PMID:34840004 | DOI:10.1016/j.numecd.2021.09.006
J Fr Ophtalmol. 2021 Nov 25:S0181-5512(21)00568-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jfo.2021.08.009. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between application of the MGDRx thermal eyebag and dry eye signs and symptoms in young and older subjects and to compare the results between the two groups.
METHODS: Thirty young, healthily volunteers between 18 and 31 years of age (23.95±3.94 years) and thirty older subjects between 61 and 90 years of age (77.97±8.11 years) participated in this study. Ocular surface parameters were assessed using the Oculus Keratograph 5M, following the guidelines of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Dry Eye Workshop II Diagnostic Methodology report. Only subjects with a positive score on at least one questionnaire and an initial Non-Invasive Keratograph Break-Up Time (NIKBUT) under 10seconds were included in the study. After thermal bag self-application in both eyes every day for 2 weeks, the protocol was carried out again. Lid massage was performed after lid warming. Compliance and degree of improvement were also assessed.
MAIN RESULTS: The young volunteer group showed an improvement in NIKBUT, lipid layer score, upper eyelid gland drop-out percentage and dry eye symptoms over the two week treatment period. Improvements in meibum quality, gland obstruction, telangiectasia scores, and dry eye symptoms were found in the older subjects. Mixed ANOVA revealed better NIKBUT and lipid layer values in the young subjects. Despite the treatment compliance being statistically higher in the older group than in the younger subjects (P=0.002), there were no significant differences in subjective improvement between groups (P=0.097).
CONCLUSION: Dry eye-related symptoms were improved after thermal bag application, while NIKBUT and lipid layer thickness were improved only in the younger subjects.
PMID:34840000 | DOI:10.1016/j.jfo.2021.08.009
Curr Probl Diagn Radiol. 2021 Nov 2:S0363-0188(21)00167-5. doi: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2021.10.001. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) in pre-operative CT angiography of potential donors for living donor adult liver transplantation (LDALT), and to determine the optimal energy level to maximize vascular signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios (SNR and CNR, respectively).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 29 CT angiography studies performed preoperatively in potential liver donors on a spectral detector CT scanner. All studies included arterial, early venous, and delayed venous phase imaging. Conventional polyenergetic images were generated for each patient, as well as virtual monoenergetic images in 10 keV increments from 40 -100 keV. Arteries (aorta and celiac, superior mesenteric, common hepatic, right and left hepatic arteries) were assessed on arterial phase images; portal venous system branches (splenic, superior mesenteric, main, right, and left portal veins) on early venous phase images; and hepatic veins on late venous phase images. Vascular attenuation, background parenchymal attenuation, and noise were measured on each set of virtual monoenergetic and conventional images.
RESULTS: Background hepatic and vascular noise decreased with increasing keV, with the lowest noise at 100 keV. Vascular SNR and CNR increased with decreasing keV and were highest at 40 keV, with statistical significance compared with conventional ( P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: In preoperative CT angiography for potential liver donors, the optimal keV for assessing the vasculature to improve SNR and CNR is 40 keV. Use of low keV VMI in LDALT CT protocols may facilitate detection of vascular anatomical variants that can impact surgical planning.
PMID:34839975 | DOI:10.1067/j.cpradiol.2021.10.001
Food Chem. 2021 Nov 11:131586. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131586. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Various structural types of polysaccharides are recognized by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). However, the mechanism of interaction between the polysaccharides with different structures and TLR4 is unclarified. This review summarized the primary structure of polysaccharides related to TLR4, mainly including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bonds, functional groups, and branched-chain structure. The optimal primary structure for interacting with TLR4 was obtained by the statistical analysis. Besides, the dual-directional regulation of TLR4 signaling cascade by polysaccharides was also elucidated from an immune balance perspective. Finally, the 3D interaction model of polysaccharides to TLR4-myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) complex was hypothesized according to the LPS-TLR4-MD2 dimerization model and the polysaccharides solution conformation. The essence of polysaccharides binding to TLR4-MD2 complex is a multivalent non-covalent bond interaction. All the arguments summarized in this review are intended to provide some new insights into the interaction between polysaccharides and TLR4.
PMID:34839969 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131586
Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Nov 25:113174. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113174. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Sea urchins are highly abundant in the marine ecosystem where they graze limiting algal biomass and also serving as food for other predators. In this work, the presence of microplastics in the digestive tracts and gonads of 33 Diadema africanum sea urchins collected at two sampling points in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) was studied. After separation and digestion of the digestive tracts and the gonads, the visualization of the filtrates under the stereomicroscope revealed the presence of 320 items which were microfibers (97.5%), fragments (1.9%) and films (0.6%), mainly blue (43.3 and 47.0% in the two sampling points, Tajao and El Porís, respectively) and translucent white (32.5 and 39.5%, respectively). Statistical analysis revealed that there were no significative differences in the contents of gonads and digestive tracts between both sampling locations. Regarding microfibers lengths, significative differences were only observed between the two sampling points, not between tissues. μRaman analysis showed that they were mainly cellulosic (46.0%), polypropylene (24.3%) and polyethylene terephthalate (24.3%). This study confirms for the first time the presence of microplastics in sea urchins from the Macaronesian region and also from Spain.
PMID:34839951 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113174
J Mol Diagn. 2021 Dec;23(12):1732-1740. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.08.013.
ABSTRACT
Complex insertion-deletion (indel) events in the globin genes manifest in widely variable clinical phenotypes. Many are incompletely characterized because of a historic lack of efficient methods. A more complete assessment enables improved prediction of clinical impact, which guides emerging therapeutic choices. Current methods have limited capacity for breakpoint assignment and accurate assessment of mutation extent, especially in cases containing duplications or multiple deletions and insertions. Technology, such as long-read sequencing, holds promise for significant impact in the characterization of indel events because of read lengths that span large regions, resulting in improved resolution. Four known complex β-globin gene cluster indel types were assessed using single-molecule, real-time sequencing technology and showed high correlation with previous reports, including the Caribbean locus control deletion (g.5,305,478_5,310,336del), a large β-gene duplication containing the Hb S mutation (g.4,640,335_5,290,171dup with g.5,248,232T>A, c.20A>T; variant allele fraction, 64%), and two nested variants (double deletions with intervening inversion): the Indian Gγ(Aγδβ)0-thalassemia (g.5,246,804-5,254,275del, g.5,254,276_5,269,600inv, and g.5,269,601_5,270,442del) and the Turkish/Macedonian (δβ)0 thalassemia (g.5,235,064_5,236,652del, g.5,236,653_5,244,280inv, and g.5,244,281_5,255,766del). Our data confirm long-read sequencing as an efficient and accurate method to identify these clinically significant complex events. Limitations include high-complexity sample preparation requirements, which hinder routine use in clinical laboratories. Continued improvements in sample and data workflow processes are needed to accommodate volumes in a tertiary clinical laboratory.
PMID:34839893 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.08.013