Nevin Manimala

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022 Apr 4:tpmd210416. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0416. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s leading infectious cause of morbidity and mortality. Positron emission tomography (PET) associated with computed tomography (CT) allows a structural and metabolic evaluation of TB lesions, being an excellent noninvasive alternative for understanding its pathogenesis. DOTATOC labeled with gallium-68 (68Ga-DOTATOC) can bind to somatostatin receptors present in activated macrophages and lymphocytes, cells with a fundamental role in TB pathogenesis. We describe 68Ga-DOTATOC uptake distribution and patterns in thoracic lymph nodes (LN) and pulmonary lesions (PL) in immunocompetent patients with active postprimary TB, analyze the relative LN/PL uptake, and compare this two tracer’s uptake. High uptake of both radiotracers in PL and LN was demonstrated, with higher LN/PL ratio on 68Ga-DOTATOC (P < 0.05). Considering that LN in immunocompetent patients are poorly studied, 68Ga-DOTATOC can contribute to the understanding of the complex immunopathogenesis of TB.

PMID:35378506 | DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0416

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2022 Mar 28;619:84-95. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.03.082. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

HYPOTHESIS: Understanding the crystallization of atmospheric water can require levitation techniques to avoid the influence of container walls. Recently, an acoustic levitation device called the TinyLev was designed, which can levitate multiple droplets at room temperature. Proximal crystallization may affect droplet phase change and morphological characteristics.

METHODOLOGY: In this study, acoustically levitated pure water droplets were frozen individually and in pairs or triplets using a TinyLev device. Nucleation, bulk crystal growth, and melting were observed using digital and infrared cameras concurrently.

FINDINGS: Initially, the acoustic field forced the droplets into an oblate spheroid shape, though the counteracting force of the cooling stream caused them to circularize. Droplet geometry was thus the net result of streaming forces and surface tension at the acoustic boundary layer/air-liquid interface. Nucleation was determined to be neither homogeneous nor heterogeneous but secondary, and thus dependent on the cooling rate and not on the degree of supercooling. It was likely initiated by aerosolized ice particles from the air or from droplets that had already nucleated and broken up. The latter secondary ice production process resulted in multi-drop systems with statistically identical nucleation times. Notably, this meant that the presence of interfacial rupture at an adjacent droplet could influence the crystallization behaviour of another. After the formation of an initial ice shell around the individual droplets, dendritic protrusions grew from the droplet surface, likely seeded by the same ice particles that caused nucleation, but at a quasi-liquid layer. When freezing was complete, it was determined that the frozen core had undergone a volumetric expansion of 30.75%, compared to 9% for pure, sessile water expansion. This significantly greater expansion may have resulted from entrained air bubbles at the inner solid-liquid interface and oscillations at the moving phase boundary caused by changes in local acoustic forces. Soon after melting began, acoustic streaming, the buoyancy of the remaining ice, and convective currents caused by both an inner thermal gradient and thermocapillary effects along the air-liquid interface, all contributed to the droplet spinning about the horizontal axis.

PMID:35378478 | DOI:10.1016/j.jcis.2022.03.082

Curr Probl Cancer. 2022 Mar 28;46(3):100859. doi: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2022.100859. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CDK 4/6 inhibitors have been yielding propitious results when with hormone therapy in the management of Her2-negative and hormone-receptor (HR)-positive metastatic breast cancer, palbociclib being one of the first molecules investigated in this setting. However, the response to CDK4/6 inhibitors is variable. To identify predictive and prognostic factors of response to this therapeutic regimen. Eligible patients were females with HR+ and Her2- advanced breast cancer, receiving Palbociclib in combination with Letrozole. PFS was the primary endpoint in the evaluation of response to treatment. This survival was then further segregated according to various characteristics: histological (type, grade, hormone receptors), metastatic site, line of treatment, response type at initial assessment, and best response achieved. The data was then processed by two statistical analysis models: Kaplan-Meier and univariate preceding multivariate Cox proportional risks. Sixty patients were included and followed for a median follow-up duration of 15.98 months. PFS recorded a median of 19.07 months (95% CI=15.43-22.71). PFS had a median of 12.99 months in the absence of progesterone receptors (vs 20.05 months in the case of positive estrogen and progesterone receptors; P = 0.046), a median of 13.02 months in the presence of liver metastases (vs 22.98 months in the absence of liver metastases; P = 0.007), and 15.94 months in the case of second-line and beyond (vs 22.98 months in the case of first-line; P = 0.033). Regarding the Hazard Ratio of progression, we note age (HR 0.941; P = 0.019), liver metastases (HR 2.751; P = 0.051), response at initial evaluation (HR<1; P < 0.001) and best response (HR<1; P = 0.003). PFS reached similar figures to those of international studies. The absence of progesterone receptors, presence of liver metastases, and use as second-line or beyond are associated with a reduced median PFS. One year age increase (protective factor), liver metastases (risk factor), response at initial evaluation, and best response achieved are identified as the most predictive factors of the response to this treatment regimen and of the progression risk.

PMID:35378469 | DOI:10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2022.100859

Comput Biol Med. 2022 Mar 29;145:105467. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105467. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We aimed to analyze the prognostic power of CT-based radiomics models using data of 14,339 COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: Whole lung segmentations were performed automatically using a deep learning-based model to extract 107 intensity and texture radiomics features. We used four feature selection algorithms and seven classifiers. We evaluated the models using ten different splitting and cross-validation strategies, including non-harmonized and ComBat-harmonized datasets. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were reported.

RESULTS: In the test dataset (4,301) consisting of CT and/or RT-PCR positive cases, AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.83 ± 0.01 (CI95%: 0.81-0.85), 0.81, and 0.72, respectively, were obtained by ANOVA feature selector + Random Forest (RF) classifier. Similar results were achieved in RT-PCR-only positive test sets (3,644). In ComBat harmonized dataset, Relief feature selector + RF classifier resulted in the highest performance of AUC, reaching 0.83 ± 0.01 (CI95%: 0.81-0.85), with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.77 and 0.74, respectively. ComBat harmonization did not depict statistically significant improvement compared to a non-harmonized dataset. In leave-one-center-out, the combination of ANOVA feature selector and RF classifier resulted in the highest performance.

CONCLUSION: Lung CT radiomics features can be used for robust prognostic modeling of COVID-19. The predictive power of the proposed CT radiomics model is more reliable when using a large multicentric heterogeneous dataset, and may be used prospectively in clinical setting to manage COVID-19 patients.

PMID:35378436 | DOI:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105467

Prev Vet Med. 2022 Apr 1;202:105637. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105637. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Paratuberculosis is a worldwide, chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) that mainly affects ruminant species. This disease has a significant economic impact on small ruminant production due to the costs of implementing control measures and production losses. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence, spatial distribution and risk factors associated with MAP exposure in sheep and goats in Andalusia (southern Spain). Serum samples from 4134 small ruminants (2266 sheep and 1868 goats) in 153 flocks were tested by an in-house ELISA for antibodies against MAP using paratuberculosis protoplasmic antigen 3 (PPA3) as coating antigen. Antibodies against MAP were detected in 8.1% (183/2266; 95% CI: 7.0-9.2%) of sheep and 20.0% (374/1868; 95% CI: 18.2-21.8%) of goats. The true individual seroprevalence was 8.4% (95% CI: 6.9-10.1%) in sheep and 25.2% (95% CI: 22.7-27.8%) in goats. Seropositivity was detected in 66.3% (55/83; 95% CI: 56.1-76.4%) of sheep herds and 90.0% (63/70; 95% CI: 83.0-97.0%) of goat herds. Spatial analysis identified three statistically significant clusters (p < 0.05) associated with areas with higher seroprevalence of MAP. The main risk factors potentially associated with MAP exposure were: species (goat) and absence of perimeter livestock fencing. The results of this study show that MAP is widespread in small ruminant populations in southern Spain and suggest that goats may play a more important role than sheep in the transmission and maintenance of MAP. Because of animal health concerns and the economic consequences of paratuberculosis, appropriate surveillance and control programs are required to reduce the risk of MAP infections in small ruminant flocks in this country.

PMID:35378433 | DOI:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105637

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Apr 1;236:113445. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113445. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The urban alternate water source (AWS) is of great significance to the sustainable development of the city, the pollution degree, and source of heavy metals (HMs) in AWS, and whether it will adversely affect human health has received widespread attention. In this study, the urban AWS of Xinbian River in Suzhou City, Huaibei Plain, China, was used as the research object to study the seasonal changes of HMs (As, Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn), quantitative identification of pollution sources, and human health risks (HHR). Research results show that the contents of those HMs, except As, are less than the drinking standards limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the contents of As, Cr, and Zn are the largest in summer. The multivariate statistical analysis combined with positive matrix factorization (PMF) model analysis revealed that industrial sources accounted for 44.83%, and agricultural sources accounted for 55.17%. HHR assessment based on Monte Carlo simulation shows that the noncarcinogenic risks of adults and children are in the acceptable range (hazardous ingestion (HI) < 1), and the probability of carcinogenic risk values of children and adults are 95.03% and 38.96%, respectively, which are exceed the acceptable range (1 × 10^-4) recommended by the United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA). Approximately 30.75% of the carcinogenic risk value of agricultural source HMs to children exceeds the acceptable range (1 × 10^-4). The above research results indicate that the effect of agricultural non-point source pollution on AWS should be prevented.

PMID:35378402 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113445

Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2022 Mar 28;58:102136. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102136. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors are living longer; therefore, factors that improve outcomes, like symptom management and quality of life (QoL), have increasingly become important. This study examined CRC survivors’ symptom(s) characteristics, positive psychology (benefit finding and post-traumatic growth), and QoL, and determined whether positive psychology mediates symptom(s) and QoL relationship during acute cancer survivorship.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 117 CRC survivors was conducted at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center. Data were collected by demographic questionnaire, Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist, QoL Inventory, and positive psychology assessed by Carver Benefit-Finding Scale and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Descriptive statistics, between-group differences, multiple linear regression, and mediation analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Top common symptoms were peripheral neuropathy, fatigue/feeling sluggish, skin changes, sleep disturbances, and weakness. Psychological distress symptoms were reported in 38.46% of CRC survivors, and moderate-to-high positive psychology (3.21 ± 1.09) and QoL (5.15 ±0 .52) levels were reported during acute cancer survivorship. Significant (p < 0.05) relationships were observed between QoL and (a) number of symptoms, (b) psychological distress symptoms, (c) benefit finding, (d) post-traumatic growth, and (e) positive psychology. Positive psychology partially mediated the relationship between symptom frequency and QoL (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our study’s findings suggest that CRC survivors positively cope with their cancer and treatment, and positive psychology partially mediates the relationship between symptoms frequency (almost daily and daily vs. random) and QoL across acute cancer survivorship. Identifying how CRC survivors adjust to their cancer may help healthcare teams provide tailored self-management skills to promote QoL and reduce symptom burden throughout cancer survivorship.

PMID:35378393 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102136

Lung Cancer. 2022 Mar 24;167:17-24. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.03.017. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To understand the geographic distribution of and area-level factors associated with malignant mesothelioma incidence and survival in Australia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Generalised linear models and Bayesian spatial models were fitted using population registry data. Area-level covariates were socioeconomic quintile, remoteness category and state or territory. The maximised excess events test was used to test for spatial heterogeneity.

RESULTS: There was strong evidence of spatial differences in standardised incidence rates for malignant mesothelioma but survival was uniformly poor. Incidence rates varied by state or territory and were lower in remote areas. Patterns in the geographic distribution of modelled incidence counts for malignant mesothelioma differed substantially from patterns of standardised incidence rates.

CONCLUSIONS: Geographic variation in the modelled incidence counts of malignant mesothelioma demonstrates varying demand for diagnostic and management services. The long latency period for this cancer coupled with migration complicates any associations with patterns of exposure, however some of the geographic distribution of diagnoses can be explained by the location of historical mines and asbestos-related industries.

PMID:35378379 | DOI:10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.03.017

Placenta. 2022 Mar 26;122:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.124. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: To assess value of placental vascularization indices (PVIs) for predicting preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in different stages of pregnancy in high-risk women.

METHOD: PVIs derived from 3-dimensional power doppler(3DPD) imaging were measured at seven stages of pregnancy: 11-13⁺⁶w, 15-19⁺⁶w, 20-23⁺⁶w, 24-27⁺⁶w, 28-31⁺⁶w, 32-36⁺⁶w, and ≥37w. PE and FGR were used as outcomes in logistic regression models. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of each PVI was calculated, cut-off points were determined to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR). Finally, AUCs combined with baseline characteristics, uterine artery pulsatility index (UTPI) and PVIs were used to determine whether PVIs could increase the predictive value.

RESULTS: Adverse outcomes occurred in 10.9% of pregnancies. Statistical differences appeared in 32-36⁺⁶w only. AUCs of vascularization index (VI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) for 32-36⁺⁶w were 0.79 (0.70-0.87, p: 0.000), and 0.78 (0.69-0.88, p: 0.000). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, PLR, and NLR for VI were 0.91, 0.63, 20%, 98%, 2.39, and 0.15, and those for VFI were 0.62, 0.84, 29%, 95%, 3.75, and 0.45. AUC increased from 0.79 to 0.85 by adding PVIs to baseline characteristics and UTPI model. No statistical significance was found before 32w.

DISCUSSION: VI and VFI were valuable for predicting PE and FGR at the 32-36⁺⁶w stage, while their values before 32w were poor.

PMID:35378370 | DOI:10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.124

Poult Sci. 2022 Mar 10;101(5):101838. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101838. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Broiler breeder chickens are commercially feed restricted to slow their growth and improve their health and production, however, there is research demonstrating that this leads to chronic hunger resulting in poor welfare. A challenge in these studies is to account for possible daily rhythms or the effects of time since last meal on measures relating hunger. To address this, we used 3 feed treatments: AL (ad libitum fed), Ram (restricted, fed in the morning), and Rpm (restricted, fed in the afternoon) to control for diurnal effects. We then conducted foraging motivation tests and collected home pen behavior and physiological samples at 4 times relative to feeding throughout a 24-h period. The feed treatment had the largest influence on the data, with AL birds weighing more, having lower concentrations of plasma NEFA, and mRNA expression of AGRP and NPY alongside higher expression of POMC in the basal hypothalamus than Ram or Rpm birds (P < 0.001). R birds were more successful at and had a shorter latency to complete the motivation test, and did more walking and less feeding than AL birds in the home pen (P < 0.01). There was little effect of time since last meal on many measures (P > 0.05) but AGRP expression was highest in the basal hypothalamus shortly after a meal (P < 0.05), blood plasma NEFA was higher in R birds just before feeding (P < 0.001) and glucose was higher in Ram birds just after feeding (P < 0.001), and the latency to complete the motivation test was shortest before the next meal (P < 0.05). Time of day effects were mainly found in the difference in activity levels in the home pen when during lights on and lights off periods. In conclusion, many behavioral and physiological hunger measures were not significantly influenced by time of day or time since the last meal. For the measures that do change, future studies should be designed so that sampling is balanced in such a way as to minimize bias due to these effects.

PMID:35378348 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2022.101838