Nevin Manimala

Isr Med Assoc J. 2021 Oct;23(10):635-638.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious disease, which demands a fast accurate diagnosis to begin suitable treatment. It presents a major problem in the emergency department (ED), and its confirmation requires adequate evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a potential role of mean platelet volume (MPV) in differentiating VTE from other potential diagnosis in patients with suspected VTE.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-controlled study of 440 consecutive patients who presented to the ED of our hospital with clinical VTE, but only 316 with proven VTE. A control group was composed of patients (124) who presented with clinical VTE but without proven VTE. We checked the MPV value in all 440 patients and the correlation with VTE occurrence in the study group vs. control group.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the acquired results indicated that MPV value could not aid in determining the difference of real VTE vs. patients with VTE-like clinical picture presenting to the ED. We found an inverse correlation between MPV value and proven VTE, in contrast to most researchers who have studied the same issue.

CONCLUSIONS: Although MPV can be a useful diagnostic marker in many diseases, we found no definite association between low MPV and VTE.

PMID:34672445

J Comput Chem. 2021 Oct 21. doi: 10.1002/jcc.26770. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In order to quantitatively predict nano- as well as other particle-size distributions, one needs to have both a mathematical model and estimates of the parameters that appear in these models. Here, we show how one can use Bayesian inversion to obtain statistical estimates for the parameters that appear in recently derived mechanism-enabled population balance models (ME-PBM) of nanoparticle growth. The Bayesian approach addresses the question of “how well do we know our parameters, along with their uncertainties?.” The results reveal that Bayesian inversion statistical analysis on an example, prototype Ir0n nanoparticle formation system allows one to estimate not just the most likely rate constants and other parameter values, but also their SDs, confidence intervals, and other statistical information. Moreover, knowing the reliability of the mechanistic model’s parameters in turn helps inform one about the reliability of the proposed mechanism, as well as the reliability of its predictions. The paper can also be seen as a tutorial with the additional goal of achieving a “Gold Standard” Bayesian inversion ME-PBM benchmark that others can use as a control to check their own use of this methodology for other systems of interest throughout nature. Overall, the results provide strong support for the hypothesis that there is substantial value in using a Bayesian inversion methodology for parameter estimation in particle formation systems.

PMID:34672375 | DOI:10.1002/jcc.26770

Syst Biol. 2021 Oct 21:syab085. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syab085. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although molecular mechanisms associated with the generation of mutations are highly conserved across taxa, there is widespread variation in mutation rates between evolutionary lineages. When phylogenies are reconstructed based on nucleotide sequences, such variation is typically accounted for by the assumption of a relaxed molecular clock, which is a statistical distribution of mutation rates without much underlying biological mechanism. Here, we propose that variation in accumulated mutations may be partly explained by an elevated mutation rate during speciation. Using simulations, we show how shifting mutations from branches to speciation events impacts inference of branching times in phylogenetic reconstruction. Furthermore, the resulting nucleotide alignments are better described by a relaxed than by a strict molecular clock. Thus, elevated mutation rates during speciation potentially explain part of the variation in substitution rates that is observed across the tree of life.

PMID:34672354 | DOI:10.1093/sysbio/syab085

Bioinformatics. 2021 Oct 21:btab728. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab728. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

SUMMARY: Eukaryotic gene expression requires coordination among hundreds of transcriptional regulators. To characterize a specific transcriptional regulator, identifying how it shares genomic-binding profiles with others can generate important insights into its action. As genomic data such as ChIP-Seq are being rapidly generated from individual labs, there is a demand for timely integration and analysis of these new data. We have developed an R package, GPSmatch (Genomic-binding Profile Similarity match), for calculating the Jaccard index to compare ChIP-Seq peaks from one experiment to the peaks of other ChIP-Seq experiments stored in a user-supplied customizable database. GPSmatch also evaluates the statistical significance of the calculated Jaccard index using a nonparametric Monte Carlo procedure. We show that GPSmatch is suitable for identifying transcriptional regulators that share similar genomic-binding profiles, which may unravel potential mechanistic actions of gene regulation.

AVAILABILITY: The software is freely available at https://github.com/Bao-Lab/GPSmatch.

PMID:34672337 | DOI:10.1093/bioinformatics/btab728

Psychiatr Danub. 2021 Sep;33(Suppl 10):155-160.

ABSTRACT

BACGROUND: This study aimed to examine the relationship between COVID-19 perceived risk and attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in healthcare professionals.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study included a total of 580 healthcare professionals.

RESULTS: The healthcare professionals’ COVID-19 Perceived Risk Scale (CPRS) and Attitudes towards COVID-19 Vaccine Scale (ATV-COVID-19) mean scores were 31.36±5.16 and 3.00±0.61, respectively. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between their CPRS and ATV-COVID-19 mean scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The healthcare professionals had a high COVID-19 perceived risk and moderately positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine.

PMID:34672290

Psychiatr Danub. 2021 Sep;33(Suppl 10):109-113.

ABSTRACT

Persons in leadership positions are more likely to manifest hubristic symptomatology, the longer the person exercises power and the greater the power they exercise. No data exists for healthcare staff, such as nurses and more specifically for gerontological nurses who exercise power on their colleagues as well as older persons. This study aims to examine whether there are emotional correlates of gerontological nurses’ experienced hubris when serving in a leadership position, and to investigate possible gender differences during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a little investigated period regarding its emotional aspects on healthcare professionals. Gerontological nurses in leadership positions completed Job Affect Scale, Emotional Labour Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Generalized Immediacy Scale, General Index of Job Satisfaction, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Wong-Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, State-Anxiety-Inventory, Perceived Cohesion Scale, and a 5-point Likert scale measuring hubristic attributes. No statistically significant differences were found between male and female nurses regarding the abovementioned classic administered emotional scales and hubris. The analyses yielded only a negative correlation between negative affect and hubris. This research provides for the first time data regarding gerontological nurses in leadership positions, suggesting that various negative and positive emotional variables do no directly relate to hubristic symptoms for this group of healthcare professionals. As hubristic behaviors and their dangerous consequences are found not to be related to abovementioned emotional variables, researchers and hospital managers should consider and focus on other indices in their attempt to prevent such phenomena.

PMID:34672282

Psychiatr Danub. 2021 Sep;33(Suppl 10):89-96.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate and analyze the role of general practitioners/family physicians (GPs/FPs) in counseling and encouraging early cancer prevention, their perception of value systems towards health and disease (especially malignant diseases), knowledge and experience with the national and local cancer early detection program.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study included 38 GPs/FPs from nine municipalities in the Hercegovina-Neretva and West Herzegovina canton. Data were collected by using an Individual questionnaire for all GPs/FPs which was prepared according to the Questionnaire for family physicians on implementing the Cancer Control Program, which is used in Croatia.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that most GPs/FPs carried out activities on primary cancer prevention (educating patients about smoking, alcohol, diet, physical activity, cancer education, and screening). The majority of respondents stated that it was not profitable to do screening for lung cancer and stomach cancer. Most GPs/FPs (73.7%) recommended mammography to women individually, sporadically, according to individual risk assessment.

CONCLUSIONS: The scientific contribution and the results of this work can be applied in practice in local communities. Given its position in the health system, ongoing contact with the population that elected it, and its impact on the local community in which it operates, GP/FP plays an important role in the prevention of disease. Integration of preventive activities into the daily work of the doctor plays the most important role in achieving excellent results. Family medicine is primarily focused on primary and secondary prevention, which is carried out through a continuous approach and long-term management of patients.

PMID:34672277

Psychiatr Danub. 2021 Sep;33(Suppl 10):58-62.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Association of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection with the length of dialysis in dialysis patients is contradictory. This study was conducted in order to determine the association between the duration of dialysis and the HP infection status in the dialysis patients. Furthemore, biochemical parameters were monitored in two subject groups that were included in this study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 51 patients on chronic hemodialysis program who had gastrointestinal symptoms. The subjects were divided in two groups per the length of dialysis treatment. In this study we analyzed age, gender, the time period since the onset of the chronic hemodialysis program, body mass index, biochemical parameters, and whether the patients have arterial hypertension and/or diabetes. The presence of HP antigen was determined in the stool samples with use of he UlcoGnost AG test plate.

RESULTS: The incidence of HP infection in hemodialysis patients, with some of the gastrointestinal symptoms, was 25.5%. Patients on hemodialysis for less than 24 months had lower incidence of HP infection than those on hemodialysis program for more than 24 months. HP positive and HP negative subjects were also compared by gender, age, biochemical parameters and body mass index. There was no statistical significant difference between the groups in any of those characteristics. When comparing the HP status of the subjects with the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups.

CONCLUSION: This study showed negative correlation between HP infection and the length of hemodialysis program. Analysis of age, gender, body mass index, biochemical parameters, presence of arterial hypertension and/or diabetes showed no statistically significant difference was found between the hemodialysis patients who were HP positive and those who were HP negative. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the correlation mechanism between the HP infection and the duration of dialysis, in order to examine how long the dialysis time period is the most susceptible to HP infection, and then to improve the prognosis of patients with renal disease.

PMID:34672273

Psychiatr Danub. 2021 Sep;33(Suppl 10):25-29.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It is important to study impulsivity and sensation seeking in medical staff because they might shed light into the effectiveness of decision-making processes and performed responses. The aims of this study were to specify if functional impulsivity prevailed in medical staff compared to dysfunctional impulsivity; how strong the relationships between functional, dysfunctional impulsivity and sensation seeking were; furthermore, it aimed to differentiate functional and dysfunctional impulsivity, according to the size of the place where medical care was practised.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A sample of 323 medical workers and 99 medical students filled in Radoslavova and Velichkov’s (2005) questionnaire measuring sensation seeking, functional impulsivity and dysfunctional impulsivity.

RESULTS: Sensation seeking and functional impulsivity in medical staff did not differ statistically significantly (t₍₄₂₁₎=1.171, p=0.242), but functional impulsivity was significantly more intensive than dysfunctional impulsivity among medical personnel (t₍₄₂₁₎=8.132, p<0.001). Sensation seeking was significantly more strongly expressed than dysfunctional impulsivity among medical specialists (t₍₄₂₁₎=7.388, p<0.001). Correlation analysis revealed that sensation seeking in medical specialists was more strongly related to functional impulsivity than to dysfunctional impulsivity (p<0.001). The studied medical staff practicing in the capital were more prone to functional impulsivity than the medical staff practicing in towns up to 50,000 inhabitants (p_Tukey=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to reveal stronger relationships between functional impulsivity and sensation seeking in medical staff than between dysfunctional impulsivity and sensation seeking which were interpreted as an influencing factor of the quality of decision-making responses. Functional impulsivity prevailed over dysfunctional impulsivity in medical occupations, so decision-making in medical care should be more effective and timelier than inappropriate, especially for medical personnel working in the capital.

PMID:34672268

Elife. 2021 Oct 21;10:e70068. doi: 10.7554/eLife.70068. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A hallmark of electrophysiological brain activity is its 1/f-like spectrum – power decreases with increasing frequency. The steepness of this ‘roll-off’ is approximated by the spectral exponent, which in invasively recorded neural populations reflects the balance of excitatory to inhibitory neural activity (E:I balance). Here, we first establish that the spectral exponent of non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) recordings is highly sensitive to general (i.e., anaesthesia-driven) changes in E:I balance. Building on the EEG spectral exponent as a viable marker of E:I, we then demonstrate its sensitivity to the focus of selective attention in an EEG experiment during which participants detected targets in simultaneous audio-visual noise. In addition to these endogenous changes in E:I balance, EEG spectral exponents over auditory and visual sensory cortices also tracked auditory and visual stimulus spectral exponents, respectively. Individuals’ degree of this selective stimulus-brain coupling in spectral exponents predicted behavioural performance. Our results highlight the rich information contained in 1/f-like neural activity, providing a window into diverse neural processes previously thought to be inaccessible in non-invasive human recordings.

PMID:34672259 | DOI:10.7554/eLife.70068