Nevin Manimala

Int J Numer Method Biomed Eng. 2021 Oct 30:e3543. doi: 10.1002/cnm.3543. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

One difficulty in solving the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations used for studying the ion transport in channel proteins is the possible convection-dominant problem in the Nernst-Planck equations. In this paper, to overcome this issue, considering the general mixed boundary conditions of concentration functions on the interface, a novel stabilized finite volume element method based on the standard weak formulation to solve the steady-state PNP equations is proposed and analyzed. Numerical tests on four ion-channel proteins served as benchmark with varying boundary conditions in a certain range show that the new stabilized technique not only improves the robustness of the new PNP solver, but also makes the computed maximal concentration values much more reasonable. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34716987 | DOI:10.1002/cnm.3543

Eur J Neurol. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1111/ene.15159. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Subcortical vascular cognitive impairment (SVCI) is characterized by the presence of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) markers. Some SVCI patients also show Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) markers. However, the effects of these imaging markers on long-term clinical outcomes have not yet been established. The present study, therefore, aimed to determine how these imaging markers influence functional disability and/or mortality.

METHODS: We recruited 194 participants with SVCI from the memory clinic and followed them up. All participants underwent brain MRI at baseline, and 177 (91.2%) participants underwent beta-amyloid (Aβ) PET. We examined the occurrence of ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes. We also evaluated functional disability and mortality using the modified Rankin scale. To determine the effects of imaging markers on functional disability or mortality, we used the Fine and Gray competing regression or the Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS: During a 8.6-year follow-up period, 46 of 194 (23.7%) patients experienced a stroke, 110 (56.7%) patients developed functional disabilities and 75 (38.6%) died. Aβ positivity (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] = 2.73), larger white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume (SHR = 3.11) and ≥3 microbleeds (SHR = 2.29) at baseline were independent predictors of functional disability regardless of the occurrence of stroke. Larger WMH volume (hazzard ratio [HR] = 2.07) was an independent predictor of mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that diverse imaging markers may predict long-term functional disability and mortality in patients with SVCI, which in turn may provide clinicians with a more insightful understanding of the long-term outcomes of SVCI.

PMID:34716964 | DOI:10.1111/ene.15159

Colorectal Dis. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1111/codi.15973. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Fahim et al. (1) report increased mortality after open colorectal cancer surgery (HR1.26). Is this conclusion validated by the presented data? The explanation of decision process regarding type of surgery is probably not sufficient, as at the end of the analysed period (2018) only 4% patients had open surgery. With such a low percentage of patients having open surgery comparison with laparoscopic surgery group is difficult.

PMID:34716955 | DOI:10.1111/codi.15973

J Oral Rehabil. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1111/joor.13275. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by pain in the oral cavity without clinically evident causative lesions. The etiology of this condition is poorly understood, and treatment can be challenging.

METHOD: A retrospective review of the medical records of 82 patients with BMS was performed. Data on demographics, BMS associated symptoms, symptoms’ intensity score (NRS: 0-10) and response to treatment with topical clonazepam were extracted from clinical notes based on a standardized clinical questionnaire. Differences in the symptoms’ intensity score between patients with or without concomitant anxiety/depression or systemic psychogenic medication use were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

RESULTS: Among the entire cohort, the median symptoms’ intensity score at baseline was 4.5 and 3.0 at first follow-up, a statistically significant improvement (p <0.001; 95% CI). Among the subjects with anxiety/depression and those who were prescribed systemic psychogenic medications, the median symptoms’ intensity score at baseline was 5.0 and 3.0 at first follow up, a statistically significant improvement (p<0.001; 95% CI). Among those without anxiety/depression, the symptoms’ intensity score at baseline was 4.0 and 2.0 at first follow up, a statistically significant improvement (p< 0.05; 95% CI). The median symptoms’ intensity score for those who were not on any psychogenic medications at baseline was 4.0 and 2.0 at first follow up, a statistically significant improvement (p<0.001; 95% CI).

CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians are encouraged to prescribe topical clonazepam for BMS regardless of concomitant use of systemic psychogenic medications or comorbid mood disorders as it is an efficacious management approach in the presence or absence of these potentially complicating factors.

PMID:34716948 | DOI:10.1111/joor.13275

Health Promot J Austr. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1002/hpja.551. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Many university students have unhealthy dietary intakes. The food environment on university campuses is a potentially important contributor to students’ diet. This study aimed to describe on-campus food purchasing behaviours; satisfaction with the cost and availability of foods and beverages on-campus; and preferences for the on-campus food environment, in a sample of Australian university students.

METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey of 409 students at the [blinded for peer review] was conducted in 2017-2018. The survey assessed on-campus purchasing behaviours (frequency of purchase and expenditure), satisfaction with the cost and availability of foods, preferences for the on-campus food environment, and socio-demographics (e.g. age, domestic/international student). Results are reported as basic descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: The majority of students (94%) purchased food or beverages on-campus, with 59% purchasing at least once per week. Satisfaction with the availability of foods was low (35.8% satisfied with the types of main meals available, and 48.5% for snacks), however 72.8% were satisfied with types of beverages available. The majority of students were not satisfied with the cost of food and beverages (<40%). The top rated preferences for changes to the on-campus food environment were healthier options, higher quality food, and cheaper food.

CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings demonstrate strong support from students for healthier and cheaper food to be made available on-campus. SO WHAT?: There are two main factors of concern with regards to university food environments; the healthiness of food and beverage options and their cost. These should be key considerations of any future strategies aiming to improve university food environments.

PMID:34716937 | DOI:10.1002/hpja.551

J Clin Ultrasound. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1002/jcu.23095. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate correlation and agreement between T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2*-wMRI), acoustic radiation force impulse elastography (ARFI-e) measurement results of liver and plasma ferritin levels (PFLs) in children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).

METHODS: The study included 40 pediatric patients (aged 64-216 months; 14 girls, 26 boys) receiving blood transfusion and chelation therapy. To detect the severity of liver iron overload (LIO) and concomitant parenchymal fibrosis, T2*-wMRI and ARFI-e measurements were performed from the right lobe segments. Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U, ANOVA, Spearman’s test and ICC were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: After the measurements of T2*-wMRI, patients were grouped as normal in 4 (10%), mild in 11 (27.5%), moderate in 21 (52.5%), and severe in 4 (10%) cases in terms of LIO. Combined moderate and severe groups had significantly higher ARFI-e and PFL values than the combination of other groups (p = .001, p = .040). The ARFI-e measurements of boys were found to be significantly higher than those of girls (p = .023). A strong negative correlation between T2*-wMRI and ARFI-e and a moderate negative correlation between T2*-wMRI and PFL were detected (p;r = 0.001;-0.606, p;r = 0.009; -0.407). A strong positive correlation was found between ARFI-e values and PFL (p;r = 0.001; 0.659). The optimal cut-off value of ARFI-e to predict liver fibrosis because of moderate&severe LIO was determined to be 1.29 M/s (80% sensitivity and 88% specificity). A moderate agreement was observed between the T2*-wMRI and ARFI-e methods [ICC: 0.680, 95% CI: (0.470 to 0.817)].

CONCLUSION: Given the strong correlation and moderate agreement between ARFI-e and T2*-wMRI, ARFI -e could be used to monitor LIO in children with β-TM.

PMID:34716933 | DOI:10.1002/jcu.23095

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-17221-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Diverse and quality diets are crucial to sustainable growth and development of under-five children, especially those of rural farming households. This study investigated the dietary diversity, environment, and health-related factors of young children. The study employed the use of cross-sectional survey data from 140 under-five children of cassava farming households in Ogun and Oyo states, South-West Nigeria. The study estimated factors influencing dietary diversity of under-five children and assessed children dietary diversity, and the availability of some environment and health-related factors of the farming households. The findings indicated that 98.7% and 97.5% of children consumed grains, with roots and tubers while 36.7% and 36.3% consumed legumes in Ogun and Oyo states respectively. The results also found that 48.6% of children sampled met the minimum cut-off point of 4 food groups with dietary diversity mean score of 3.28. The logit regression analysis indicated that child’s age, mothers’ age, distance to farm, and food expenditure were among the significant determinants of children dietary diversity. Therefore, this study seeks the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in providing nutrition-sensitive intervention programs for household members, especially mothers and young children in order to promote consumption of diversified diets and enhance healthy living of rural farming households.

PMID:34716896 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-17221-y

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-17124-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Whether maternal macro-environmental chemical fertilizer exposure has an association with the risk of preterm birth remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal exposure to chemical fertilizer during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth. A total of 13,861 births, including 402 preterm birth from 313 villages in Pingding County, Shanxi Province, China, were analyzed to explore spatial variations of preterm birth risks at the village level. Spatial variations of preterm birth were visualized and tested with Disease Mapping, Moran’s I and G* Statistic. The spatial zero-inflated negative binomial model was used to evaluate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of preterm birth in different chemical fertilizer consumption levels at the village level. A population-based case-control study was conducted including 153 preterm births cases and 204 controls at the household level. The two-level logistic regression model was performed to estimate the association between risks of preterm birth and maternal exposure to chemical fertilizer after adjusting confounding factors. The findings indicated a remarkably clustering effect in relative risks of preterm birth and identified a high-risk clustering region of preterm birth from the south-central to the southwest and a low-risk clustering region in the northern Pingding county. The results of the spatial zero-inflated negative binomial model showed that the risk of preterm birth in the villages with chemical fertilizer consumption≥100 tons was 2.82 (95% CI: 1.50-5.57) times higher than those with <50 tons. Maternal exposure to chemical fertilizer ≥100 tons at village level was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (aOR 2.14, 95%CI: 1.18-3.96), compared with exposure <50 tons after adjusting for confounding variables. The findings suggests that chemical fertilizers deserve more attention as a potential risk factor of preterm birth.

PMID:34716895 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-17124-y

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-16814-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mangroves are important ecosystems of tropical and subtropical shorelines. Anthropogenic activity decreases their habitat quality, affecting structural and functional trophic features. We hypothesized that higher levels of anthropogenic intervention generate diversity loss and modify the trophic structure of tropical mangrove fish communities. We compared the taxonomic and isotopic (δ¹³C/δ¹⁵N) composition, abundance, trophic position, and isotopic niche of fish communities from three mangrove systems with different anthropogenic intervention levels in the Colombian Pacific. Non-parametric statistical tests and a Bayesian approach were used to analyze data. A total of 1254 specimens belonging to 23 families, 25 genera, and 30 species were identified, presenting higher abundance (821) in moderate anthropogenic intervention level mangrove (Moderate-AIL), with high dominance of one species (Lile stolifera). The low anthropogenic intervention level mangrove (Low-AIL) was the second in abundance (291) but exhibited a greater number of species (23), while the high anthropogenic intervention level mangrove (High-AIL) presented the least abundance (142) and species number (17). The isotopic composition ​​reveals that Moderate and High-AIL mangroves presented enriched ¹³C and ¹⁵ N compared to Low-AIL (~ 2 to 4 ‰). Mean trophic position (TP) of communities was slightly higher in the more intervened systems (~ 1 to 2 orders of magnitude), as well as in specific species (Centropomus spp.). Isotopic niche width (TA and SEAc) was greater in High-AIL (41.1 and 9.2), more than doubled compared to Moderate-AIL (33.0 and 4.1). In High-AIL isotopic niche width increased, indicating lesser availability of prey and basal resources. The results obtained in this study support the proposed hypothesis and, suggest that anthropogenic intervention modifies diversity and food webs dynamics, affecting the transfer of matter and energy from macrotidal tropical mangroves to coastal ecosystems. However, it is recommended to be careful concluding differences based exclusively on the anthropogenic intervention level, since it is widely documented that mangrove settings also influence the analyzed trophic parameters.

PMID:34716894 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-16814-x

Ir J Med Sci. 2021 Oct 30. doi: 10.1007/s11845-021-02840-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Proprioception is important for stability of body segments, postural control, and functionality. However, there are no studies in literature showing effects of online Pilates exercises that create proprioceptive inputs on vertebra on trunk proprioception.

AIMS: This study aims to reveal effect of online Pilates exercises conducted on trunk proprioception and core muscle endurance in healthy individuals.

METHODS: We included thirty-three healthy individuals between ages of 18 and 25 in study. Individuals were randomly divided into two groups. There were 17 individuals in Pilates group (PG), and 16 individuals in control group (CG). The PG was given online Pilates exercises by the physiotherapist in groups 3 days a week for 6 weeks, 1 h a day. There was no exercise program recommended for individuals in CG. We evaluated trunk proprioception with an inclinometer, core muscle endurance with three core endurance tests created by McGill, and prone bridge tests. All evaluations completed just before start of study and 2 days after 6-week training.

RESULTS: Two groups had similar demographic characteristics, and there was no difference between baseline measurements (p > 0.05). While improvement observed in PG in trunk proprioception and all of core muscle endurance tests (p < 0.05), no statistically significant difference reported in CG (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: We revealed that online Pilates exercises performed at mat level for 6 weeks in healthy individuals had positive effects on trunk proprioception and core muscle endurance with this study. Contribution of Pilates exercises to development of both muscular endurance and proprioceptive senses, even if performed at a distance, is important.

PMID:34716884 | DOI:10.1007/s11845-021-02840-8