Nevin Manimala

Biomol Biomed. 2023 Jan 15. doi: 10.17305/bjbms.2022.8481. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cuproptosis, a copper-induced mechanism of mitochondrial-related cell death, has been implicated as a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer and has become a new treatment strategy. Furthermore, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) can change the biological activities of tumor cells. Worldwide, lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is among the most common annoying tumors. LncRNAs related to cuproptosis are not researched at LUSC. Our research intends to develop a signature on the basis of cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs, which can predict LUSC prognosis and investigate LUSC immunological features. The TCGA database was used to retrieve LUSC transcriptome, clinical, and gene mutation data. For statistical analysis, we utilized the R program. We created a signature consisting of three cuproptosis-related lncRNAs in this investigation (including AC002467.1, LINC01740, and LINC02345). Survival analyses and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves demonstrated that this signature possessed powerful predictive capability. The signature’s ability to predict was confirmed by a Receiver Operating Characteristic curve and principal component analysis. Notably, the patient with a high-risk score and a high tumor mutation burden level had a lower survival time. Furthermore, the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion analysis showed that these individuals with low-risk scores may benefit from immunotherapy. The signature constructed by three cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs may be prognostic markers of LUSC. It contributes to immunotherapy and offers LUSC’s therapy a new treatment direction.

PMID:36724022 | DOI:10.17305/bjbms.2022.8481

Biomol Biomed. 2023 Jan 19. doi: 10.17305/bjbms.2022.8565. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The risk factors that are the most significant for the development of most cardiovascular diseases are arterial hypertension (AH), type 2 diabetes (DM), and inflammation. However, for the development of aortic aneurysms, DM is not one of them. Our study aimed to evaluate the difference between inflammatory infiltration in three individual layers of the ascending aortic aneurysm within diabetic and hypertensive patients. Forty-five patients aged 36 to 80 were divided into a group with diabetic patients without AH (group DM, N=8) and hypertensive patients without DM (group AH, N=37). For the histological analysis, aortic aneurysms were stained with hematoxylin eosin and Movat. We used immunochemical methods to detect pro- (M1), anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages, T-helper, T-killer cells, B cells, and plasma cells. Statistical analysis was done by independent-samples Kruskal-Wallis test adjusted by Bonferroni correction for multiple tests (P<0.05). We found no difference in the volume density of collagen, elastin, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and ground substance between groups. In the DM group, there were significantly fewer M2, T-helpers, and T-killers in the media than in the intima and the adventitia (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the number of M1, B, and plasma cells between all three vascular layers (P<0.05). In the AH group, there were significantly fewer B and plasma cells, T-helper, T-killer cells, M1, and M2 in the media than in the intima and adventitia (P<0.05). Our results conclude that the tunica media in the aneurismal wall of the AH group retained immune privilege. In contrast, in the DM group, all three layers were immune-privileged.

PMID:36724019 | DOI:10.17305/bjbms.2022.8565

Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Jan 30. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010253. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Surgical lift of eyebrows is one of the most efficient facial rejuvenation methods. Although the popularity of those procedures seems to be increasing among men, little is known about esthetically pleasant male eyebrow shape and position.

METHODS: Semi-automatic photogrammetric analysis of three-hundred professional Caucasian male models of assumed age of 18-39 years old was performed. The assessment was conducted in two sessions, using A.I.D. software. A set of linear, angular, and surface area morphometric parameters of the periorbital region was measured.

RESULTS: A total of six-hundred periorbital regions were quantitatively evaluated. Statistical analysis showed high inter-rater reliability for all three types of measurements. The mean width of the eyebrow was found to be 47.28 + 4.55 mm. The male eyebrow was flat and low-located, overlying the orbital rim. The apex was located at the lateral two-thirds of the brow’s width. The vertical distance between the eyebrow’s peak and the hairline was 51.3 ± 7.15 mm. In addition, an Averaged Body Contours (ABC) was generated using the A.I.D. software, enabling graphical summarization of facial outline and periorbital contours of all analyzed subjects in the form of a single figure.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the esthetical preferences of several leading modeling agencies, a concept of the ideal eyebrow for Caucasian males was created. The collected morphometric data on the periorbital region may guide the surgical rejuvenation attempts of achieving youthful and natural brow contours. It may also aid its reconstruction using hair transplant techniques.

PMID:36724012 | DOI:10.1097/PRS.0000000000010253

JAMA Psychiatry. 2023 Feb 1. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.4812. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Air pollution is increasingly recognized as an important environmental risk factor for mental health. However, epidemiologic evidence on long-term exposure to low levels of air pollutants with incident depression and anxiety is still very limited.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of long-term joint exposure to multiple air pollutants with incident depression and anxiety.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective, population-based cohort study used data from the UK Biobank. The participants were recruited between March 13, 2006, and October 1, 2010, and included individuals who had never been diagnosed with depression or anxiety at baseline and had full information on exposure and covariates. Data were analyzed from May 1 to October 10, 2022.

EXPOSURES: Annual mean air pollution concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and PM with aerodynamic diameter between 2.5 μm and 10 μm (PM2.5-10). Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO) were estimated for each participant’s residential address using the land use regression model, and joint exposure to air pollution reflected by air pollution score was calculated by principal components analysis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Incidence of diagnosed depression (F32-F33) and anxiety (F40-F48) were ascertained with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes.

RESULTS: During a median (IQR) follow-up of 10.9 (10.1-11.6) years, among 389 185 participants (mean [SD] age, 56.7 [8.1] years, 205 855 female individuals [52.9%]), a total of 13 131 and 15 835 patients were diagnosed with depression and anxiety, respectively. The median (IQR) concentration of pollutants was as follows: PM2.5, 9.9 (9.3-10.6) μg/m3; PM2.5-10, 6.1 (5.8-6.6) μg/m3; NO2, 26.0 (21.3-31.1) μg/m3; and NO, 15.9 (11.6-20.6) μg/m3. Long-term estimated exposure to multiple air pollutants was associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety, and the exposure-response curves were nonlinear, with steeper slopes at lower concentrations and plateauing trends at higher exposure. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for depression and anxiety were 1.16 (95% CI, 1.09-1.23; P < .001) and 1.11 (95% CI, 1.05-1.17; P < .001) in the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile of air pollution score, respectively. Similar trends were shown for PM2.5, NO2, and NO. Subgroup analysis showed the association between PM2.5 and anxiety tended to be higher in male individuals than in female individuals (quartile 4: male individuals, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08-1.29; female individuals, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.00-1.14; P = .009).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Study results suggest that estimates of long-term exposure to multiple air pollutants was associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety. The nonlinear associations may have important implications for policy making in air pollution control. Reductions in joint exposure to multiple air pollutants may alleviate the disease burden of depression and anxiety.

PMID:36723924 | DOI:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.4812

Trauma Violence Abuse. 2023 Feb 1:15248380221150474. doi: 10.1177/15248380221150474. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The specific relationship between sexual coercion, intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy, and intimate partner homicide (IPH) is poorly understood. Through a scoping literature review, we identified 101 studies on sexual coercion, IPV during pregnancy, and IPH and created a conceptual model suggesting unintended pregnancies may serve as both a risk factor for and a product of IPV that may escalate to IPH. We illustrate a healthcare systems intervention implication of this model in the context of the Colorado Family Planning Initiative (CFPI). Descriptive statistics suggest an inverse association between contraception access and IPH, which declined by 62% during the first 4 years of the CFPI. Interventions aimed at improving reproductive agency, including improving contraception access and reducing unintended pregnancy, may be a useful opportunity for clinician and health systems to contribute to reducing both lethal and nonlethal IPV.

PMID:36722380 | DOI:10.1177/15248380221150474

Clin Exp Immunol. 2023 Feb 1:uxad011. doi: 10.1093/cei/uxad011. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Inflammation plays a fundamental role in the development of several metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D); the complement system has been implicated in their development. People of Black African (BA) ethnicity are disproportionately affected by T2D and other metabolic diseases but the impact of ethnicity on the complement system has not been explored. We investigated ethnic differences in complement biomarkers and activation status between men of BA and White European (WE) ethnicity and explored their association with parameters of metabolic health. We measured a panel of 15 complement components, regulators and activation products in fasting plasma from 89 BA and 96 WE men. Ethnic differences were statistically validated. Association of complement biomarkers with metabolic health indices (BMI, waist circumference, insulin resistance and HbA1c) were assessed in the groups. Plasma levels of the key complement components C3 and C4, the regulators clusterin and properdin and the activation marker iC3b were significantly higher in BA compared to WE men after age adjustment, while FD levels were significantly lower. C3 and C4 levels positively correlated with some or all markers of metabolic dysfunction in both ethnic groups while FD was inversely associated with HbA1c in both groups, and clusterin and properdin were inversely associated with some markers of metabolic dysfunction only in the WE group. Our findings of increased levels of complement components and activation products in BA compared to WE men suggest differences in complement regulation that may impact susceptibility to poor metabolic health.

PMID:36722378 | DOI:10.1093/cei/uxad011

Nutr Bull. 2023 Feb 1. doi: 10.1111/nbu.12603. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Adequate nutritional intake in the first years of life is crucial for future health. The purpose of this study is to assess the adequacy of nutritional intake in Portuguese toddlers. The EPACI Portugal 2012 is a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of toddlers (n = 2230), aged between 12 and 36 months. Data on diets were collected by trained interviewers. The current analysis included 853 children with full data from 3-day food diaries completed by parents/caregivers. Intakes of energy, macro- and micronutrients were estimated through Statistical Program to Assess Dietary Exposure (SPADE). Nutritional adequacy was evaluated using Dietary Reference Values established by the European Food Safety Authority. A large proportion of children exceeded the recommended energy intake. The median daily protein intake was 4.7 g/kg/day, five times more than that recommended. About 9% and 90% of the children consumed a lower proportion of energy than the lower limit of the Reference Intake range for carbohydrates and fat, respectively. Around a third consumed less fibre and magnesium and 100% less vitamin D than the recommended Adequate Intake (AI). Almost a third consumed less vitamin A than the recommended Average Requirement (AR) and 86% of the children showed excessive sodium consumption. Portuguese toddlers consumed a low proportion of energy from fat, had energy and protein intakes above the recommendations and excessive intakes of sodium, and inadequate intakes of vitamin A. Every child consumed less than the recommended AI for vitamin D.

PMID:36722373 | DOI:10.1111/nbu.12603

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2023 Feb 1. doi: 10.2215/CJN.0000000000000063. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Childhood kidney failure is a rare condition with worldwide clinical variability. We used a nationwide multicenter analysis to study the pretransplant course of the entire Israeli pediatric kidney failure population over 30 years.

METHODS: In this nationwide, population-based, historical cohort study, we analyzed medical and demographic data of all children treated with KRT and reported to the Israeli kidney failure registry in 1990-2020. Statistical analysis was performed with incidence rate corrected for age, ethnicity, and calendar year, using the appropriate age-related general population as denominator.

RESULTS: During the last 30 years, childhood incidence of kidney failure decreased. Average incidence in 2015-2019 was 9.1 cases per million age-related population (pmarp). Arab and Druze children exhibited higher kidney failure incidence rates than Jewish children (18.4 versus 7.0 cases pmarp for minorities versus Jews). The most common kidney failure etiologies among Arab and Jewish children were congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (approximately 27%), followed by cystic kidney diseases among Arab children (13%) and glomerulonephritis among Jewish children (16%). The most common etiology among Druze children was primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (33%). Israel’s national health insurance provides access to primary health care to all citizens. Accordingly, waiting time for deceased donor transplantation was equal between all ethnicities. Living-donor kidney transplantation rates among minority populations remained low in comparison with Jews over the entire study period. Although all patient groups demonstrated improvement in survival, overall survival rates were mainly etiology dependent.

CONCLUSIONS: In Israel, Arab and Druze children had a higher incidence of kidney failure, a unique etiological distribution, and a lower rate of living-donor kidney transplantations compared with Jewish children.

PMID:36722361 | DOI:10.2215/CJN.0000000000000063

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 Feb 1. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28621. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients has attracted much attention, but there is a lack of evaluation method. MRI-based radiomics has the potential to evaluate AGC patients’ prognosis.

PURPOSE: To identify and validate the risk stratification and overall survival (OS) in AGC patients using MRI-based radiomics.

STUDY TYPE: Retrospective.

SUBJECTS: A total of 233 patients (168 males, 63.6 ± 11.1 years; 65 females, 59.7 ± 11.8 years) confirmed AGC were collected. The data were randomly divided into a training (164) and validation set (69).

SEQUENCE: A 3.0 T, axial T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1WI).

ASSESSMENT: Radiologist 1 segmented 233 patients and radiologist 2 segmented randomly 50 patients on CE-T1WI. The risk score (RS) was summed by each sample based on the radiomics features and correlation coefficients. Patients were followed up for 7-67 months (median 41; 138 dead and 95 alive).

STATISTICAL TESTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Kappa value were calculated. Differences in survival analysis were assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. Cox-regression analysis was performed to identify the radiomics features and clinical indicators associated with OS. The calibration curves were built to assess the model. A two-tailed P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Integrated with age, lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and RS, a survival combined model was built. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting 3-year and 5-year OS was 0.765 and 0.788 in the training set, 0.757 and 0.729 in the validation set. There was no significant difference between the radiomics model and survival combined model for 3-year (0.690 vs. 0.757, P = 0.425) and 5-year OS (0.687 vs. 729, P = 0.412) in the validation set. The calibration curves showed a high degree of fit for the survival combined model.

DATA CONCLUSION: This study established a survival combined model that might help AGC patients in future clinical decision-making.

EVIDENCE LEVEL: 33 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 5.

PMID:36722356 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.28621

J Med Internet Res. 2023 Jan 31. doi: 10.2196/35568. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Assessment of the quality of medical evidence available online is a critical step in the systematic review of clinical evidence. Existing tools that automate parts of this task validate the quality of individual studies but not of entire bodies of evidence, and focus on a restricted set of quality criteria.

OBJECTIVE: We propose a quality assessment task that consists of providing an overall quality rating for each outcome, as well as finer-grained justification for different quality criteria according to the GRADE formalisation framework. For this, we construct a new dataset and develop a machine-learning baseline system (EvidenceGRADEr). Our goal is to work towards evaluating the quality of a body of evidence (BoE) for a specific clinical question, rather than assessing the quality of individual primary studies.

METHODS: We algorithmically extracted quality-related data from all summaries of findings found in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). Each BoE is defined by a set of PICO criteria (population-intervention-comparison-outcome) and assigned a quality grade (high/moderate/low/very low) together with quality criteria (justification) that influenced that decision. Different statistical data, metadata about the review, and parts of review text are extracted as support for grading each BoE. After pruning the resulting dataset with various quality checks, we used it to train several variants of a feature-rich neural model. The predictions were compared against the labels originally assigned by the authors of the systematic reviews.

RESULTS: Our quality assessment dataset, CDSR-QoE, contains 13,440 instances, or BoEs labelled for quality, originating from 2,252 systematic reviews published on the Internet in the years 2002–2020. Based on 10-fold cross-validation, the best neural binary classifiers for quality criteria detect risk of bias at .78 F1 (P: .68, R: .92) and imprecision at .75 F1 (P: .66, R: .86), while the performance on inconsistency, indirectness and publication bias criteria is lower (F1 in the range of .3-.4). The prediction of the overall quality grade into one of the four levels results in 0.5 F1. When casting the task as a binary problem by merging the GRADE classes (high+moderate vs. low+very low quality evidence), we attain .74 F1. We also find that the results vary depending on what supporting information is provided as input to the models.

CONCLUSIONS: There are different factors affecting the quality of evidence in the context of systematic reviews of medical evidence. Some of them (risk of bias and imprecision) can be automated with reasonable accuracy. Other quality dimensions such as indirectness, inconsistency, and publication bias prove more challenging for machine learning, largely because they are much rarer. This technology could substantially reduce reviewer workload in the future and expedite quality assessment as part of evidence synthesis.

PMID:36722350 | DOI:10.2196/35568