Nevin Manimala

Strabismus. 2022 Mar 8:1-12. doi: 10.1080/09273972.2022.2046114. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to calculate the dose-response relationship and predictors of visual acuity (VA) improvement following occlusion therapy at the IWK Health Center Eye Clinic and to add to amblyopia therapy dose-response relationship literature. A retrospective chart review was performed, considering patients who reached an occlusion therapy outcome at the IWK Eye Clinic between 2012 and 2019. The treatment outcome was defined as equal VA or stable VA for three consecutive clinical visits despite reported compliance. Subjective patching hours from parental reports, not prescribed hours, were used for statistical analyses. One hundred and thirty-four patients (66 females and 68 males) ages 2-11 years were included. Results showed a dose-response relationship of 224 hours/0.1logMAR increase in VA and total dose of 1344 hours for full-time occlusion and 504 hours for part-time occlusion was required to reach outcome VA. The fastest VA improvement occurred with younger age at treatment initiation, during the first 4 weeks of treatment, and in patients with strabismic and/or severe amblyopia. Classification of amblyopia, age, VA chart, initial distance VA (amblyopic eye), and treatment dose predicted the hour dose-response relationship. Dose-response relationship was faster in younger participants, in participants with strabismic and severe amblyopia, and during the first month of occlusion. Additionally, by creating a GLM model of dose-response relationship, relationship calculations can be performed. Therefore, an estimated timeline can be developed to allow allocation of clinical resources and to prepare patients for the treatment duration required and possibly increase treatment compliance.

PMID:35259060 | DOI:10.1080/09273972.2022.2046114

Bioengineered. 2022 Mar;13(3):7340-7350. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2037373.

ABSTRACT

The objective of the research was to investigate action mechanism of oxidative stress and cerebral injuries after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) by Ghrelin and angiogenic factor G-patch and FHA domain 1 (Aggf1) and offer new research ideas to SAH clinical treatment and SAH-induced early cerebral injuries. SAH rat models were prepared by prechiasmatic anterior cistern injection. Specific Ghrelin and Aggf1 small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) were designed and injected into silence Ghrelin or Aggf1 in rat left lateral ventricles. Rats were divided randomly into sham-operated (sham), SAH model, negative control siRNA, Ghrelin silence (Ghrelin^(-/-)), and Aggf1 silence groups. Changes of rat neurological impairment, encephaledema, cerebral tissue phosphorylated protein kinase (p-Akt), and content changes of caspase-3 protein and oxidative stress indexes were observed, including glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Results showed scores of neurological impairment and water content in SAH model group were reduced compared with sham group, while p-Akt protein and GSH contents were enhanced. However, caspase-3 protein and GSSG contents were declined, showing statistically meaningful difference (P < 0.05). Compared with SAH model group, scores of neurological impairment, cerebral tissue water content, and caspase-3 protein and GSSG contents in silence Ghrelin and Aggf1 groups were increased, while p-Akt protein and GSH contents were decreased, demonstrating statistically meaningful difference (P < 0.05). To conclude, silence Ghrelin and Aggf1 aggravated early cerebral injuries after SAH, revealing that Ghrelin and Aggf1 could protect brains to some degree.

PMID:35259055 | DOI:10.1080/21655979.2022.2037373

JCO Glob Oncol. 2022 Mar;8:e2100415. doi: 10.1200/GO.21.00415.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This work presents the Arab-world females’ cancers (AFCs) statistics in 2020, compared with the 2018 AFCs statistics, the Arab-world male cancers statistics, and the world females’ cancers (WFCs) statistics in 2020. This can help set the stage for a better policy for cancer control programs and improve outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive review of the 2020 Global Cancer Observatory concerning AFCs was performed. Data on various cancers were compiled and compared among the countries in the region and WFCs.

RESULTS: A total estimate of 244,317 new cases and 132,249 deaths is reported in AFCs; representing 2.65% and 2.99% of WFCs, respectively, with an average crude incidence/mortality ratio of 116.2 (/100,000 population)/62.9 (/100,000 population) and an age-standardized incidence/mortality ratio of 137.7(/100,000 population)/77.2(/100,000 population) compared with 238.8(/100,000 population)/114.6(/100,000 population) and 186(/100,000 population)/84.2(/100,000 population) of WFCs, respectively. Five-year prevalent cases were 585,295; 2.28% of WFCs. In comparison to males, females accounted for 47.8% of the whole population, 52.9% in incidence, 46.9% in mortality, and 56.9% in the prevalence of patients with cancer. Mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) was 0.54 (range 0.39-0.62 in Arab countries, compared with 0.48 globally), and it ranged from 0.14 to 0.97 in the 30 AFC types. Breast cancer was the most common cancer in incidence and mortality, with an MIR of 0.39.

CONCLUSION: The 2020 descriptive analysis of the females’ cancers in the Arab world revealed a relatively high MIR compared with females’ cancers worldwide; a lower MIR compared with the males; and comparable MIR to 2018 one. We call for more in-depth studies to determine the causes of these differences that might translate into actionable interventions and better outcomes.

PMID:35259001 | DOI:10.1200/GO.21.00415

J Strength Cond Res. 2021 Nov 1;35(11):3236-3242. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003263.

ABSTRACT

Tinius, RA, Blankenship, M, Maples, JM, Pitts, BC, Furgal, K, Norris, ES, Hoover, DL, Olenick, A, Lambert, J, and Cade, WT. Validity of the 6-minute walk test and Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) submaximal cycle test during midpregnancy. J Strength Cond Res 35(11): 3236-3242, 2021-Submaximal exercise testing can be a feasible alternative to maximal testing within special populations to safely predict fitness levels; however, submaximal exercise testing has not been well-validated for use during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the YMCA submaximal cycle test (YMCAT) to predict V̇o2max in physically active women during midpregnancy. Thirty-seven (n = 37) pregnant women (22.1 ± 1.4 weeks’ gestation) and 10 (n = 10) nonpregnant women participated in the study. Subjects completed a graded maximal treadmill test at 1 visit to measure maximal oxygen consumption (V̇o2max), and then subjects completed the 6MWT and YMCAT in randomized order during a separate visit. The predicted V̇o2max from each submaximal test were compared with the measured V̇o2max from the treadmill test to assess the validity of these tests during pregnancy. Among pregnant women, predicted V̇o2max from the YMCAT was not correlated to the measured V̇o2max (r = 0.14, p = 0.42), and the predicted V̇o2max from the 6MWT was only moderately correlated (r = 0.40, p = 0.016) to the measured V̇o2max. Among nonpregnant women, the predicted V̇o2max values from both the YMCAT and the 6MWT had strong correlations with the measured V̇o2max values (YMCAT: r = 0.71, p = 0.02; 6MWT: r = 0.80, p = 0.006). Neither test demonstrated concurrent validity among the pregnant sample. The main finding is that the YMCAT is not a valid method to estimate V̇o2max during midpregnancy (likely due to physiological changes in heart rate [HR] during pregnancy). The 6MWT has potential to be used clinically for estimating fitness as actual and predicted values did positively correlate, and it is not dependent on HR responses to exercise. However, if a precise measure of fitness is needed, then neither test appears to have strong validity for use during midpregnancy.

PMID:35258271 | DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000003263

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2022 Mar 8. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0088. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:35258238 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2022-0088

Rev Environ Health. 2022 Mar 9. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0034. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While Dieudonné has praised thoroughness of Leszczynski’s review of EHS studies, he was critical of the final conclusions. Leszczynski strongly disagrees with argumentation of Dieudonné that EHS issue is settled and that biomarker research is unnecessary because it is expensive and might produce false positives. Leszczynski’s opinion is that his review has demonstrated how very poor scientifically and inadequate statistically is the to-date executed research on EHS. Dieudonné’s approach of using such poor science to justify claim that EHS issue is settled and there is no causality link between EHS and EMF exposures, is completely unjustified and simply false.

PMID:35258236 | DOI:10.1515/reveh-2022-0034

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2022 Mar 8;43(3):1546-1557. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202106109.

ABSTRACT

Topsoil and supporting crop samples around a mining area were collected in Longyan City, and the total amounts and speciation of Pb, Cd, and As in the samples were determined. The ecological risk and human health risk assessment of soil heavy metals Pb, Cd, and As were carried out using the Hakanson potential ecological risk assessment method, the ecological risk classification method based on the principle of geochemical statistics, and the health risk assessment method in accordance with the characteristics of human exposure parameters in China. The results indicated that the heavy metal elements in the soil in the study area exceeded the environmental quality standards for Pb and Cd, and the heavy metal contents in cereal grains exceeded the food limit value mainly for Pb. The proportion of the four bioavailable forms except the residue state followed the order of Pb>Cd>As. The ecological risk assessment results based on the total amount of heavy metals and bioavailable forms showed that Cd was the most important ecological risk factor. The single potential ecological risk of Cd and the comprehensive ecological risk of Pb, Cd, and As in the soil based on bioavailable forms were significantly reduced compared with that based on the total amount. The proportion of medium and superior samples decreased from 100% and 50.0% to 17.2% and 7.81%, respectively, and the divided risk zone basically contained all the warning points of exceeding the standard of crops. Oral ingestion was the main carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic exposure route of heavy metals. In terms of carcinogenic risk, the risk of human carcinogenic health exposure to Cd and As was within the acceptable range, regardless of whether bioavailability was considered. Among the non-carcinogenic risks, the non-carcinogenic risk of the heavy metal Cd was negligible. When only the total amount of heavy metals was considered, the non-carcinogenic risk index of Pb and As under the three exposure pathways ranged from 0.14 to 8.65 and from 0.04 to 2.85, respectively. After considering the adjustment of bioavailability, the non-carcinogenic risk of As was greatly reduced and could be considered to no longer have non-carcinogenic risk. Although the non-carcinogenic exposure risk index of Pb was reduced by 84.7%, the maximum value still reached 1.69, which would cause non-carcinogenic harm to the population and was the key to soil remediation in mining areas.

PMID:35258219 | DOI:10.13227/j.hjkx.202106109

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2022 Mar 8;43(3):1535-1545. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202105154.

ABSTRACT

The Qinglong Area of Tianfu New District in China is the connection area of Chengdu city, Sichuan Province, which dominantly supports the primary agricultural products for the metropolis. The soil quality, therefore, has been deteriorating in recent decades due to the intensive planting and industrial pollution. Thus, the evaluation of soil quality and the identification of the pollution sources are significant for sustainable soil planting and regulation. To this end, 395 soil samples were collected, and the parameters of pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), total nitrogen (TN), alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), Se, B, V, Zn, Mn, Mo, Ni, Co, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, and Pb were analyzed. The results revealed that TN, Se, Hg, and TP were obviously higher than the background value of the Chengdu Economic Zone, and the Cr, Mn, pH, and TK were depleted. The combination of correlation statistics, geostatistics, and positive matrix factorization (PMF) source analysis revealed that heavy metal enrichments were mainly affected by four sources, namely natural sources (32%)>industrial sources (30%)>agricultural sources (25%)>traffic sources (14%). Likewise, the source apportionments were verified regarding topography, industrial boundary, farmer density, and traffic flow. It was estimated that Mo, Co, Ni, and V were affected by slope; the enrichment of Hg and As was the result of agricultural activities; Cd, Mn, Cr, and Zn were affected by industrial waste diffusion; and Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Hg were related to transportation. To a certain extent, agricultural fertilization and pesticide application have partially controlled soil fertility and pollution (Hg and As).

PMID:35258218 | DOI:10.13227/j.hjkx.202105154

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2022 Mar 8;43(3):1434-1446. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202107173.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between land use and bacterioplankton communities at different spatial scales and the mechanisms underlying the effects of land use on bacterioplankton communities. Here, surface water samples were collected in 14 tributaries of the Yuanhe River in August 2019 (wet season) and January 2020 (dry season), and high-throughput sequencing technology was used to determine the characteristics of the bacterioplankton communities. Statistical methods such as Bioenv and variance partitioning analysis (VPA) were used to explore the relationships among landscape structure (i.e., landscape compositions and landscape configurations), water chemistry, and bacterioplankton communities. Furthermore, metacommunity theory was employed to explain the mechanisms by which land use and water chemistry affect bacterial communities. The results showed that:① in general, the effects of landscape configuration on bacterial communities were weak, whereas the effects of landscape composition on bacterial communities were significant and greater at the buffer scale than that at the sub-basin scale. ② There was no distinct distance-decay pattern for the effects of landscape composition on bacterial communities from the near-distance (100 m) to the long-distance (1000 m) buffer zones, with the maximal effects occurring in the 500 m circular buffer (wet season) and 300 m riparian buffer (dry season), respectively. ③ Land use influenced the bacterioplankton communities both directly through exogenous inputs (i.e., “mass effect” process) and indirectly by affecting water chemistry (i.e., “species sorting” process). VPA showed that the total explanation of bacterial community variations by water chemistry and the intersection of water chemistry and land use (13.5% in the wet season and 11.7% in the dry season) was higher than that of land use alone (2.7% in the wet season and 6.9% in the dry season). These results suggest that mass effects and species sorting jointly shaped bacterial community assembly but that the effects of species sorting outweighed those of mass effects. This study revealed the variability of landscape structure at different spatial scales on bacterial communities, and its results will help to determine the optimal spatial scale affecting bacterial communities and provide a reference basis for watershed land-use management.

PMID:35258207 | DOI:10.13227/j.hjkx.202107173

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2022 Mar 8;43(3):1375-1383. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202105225.

ABSTRACT

Simultaneous sampling and observation were conducted at 14 stations in typical intertidal zones of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area. The spatial distribution characteristics of Cd morphology in surface water, pore water, suspended matters, and sediments at each sampling site were analyzed, and the influencing factors of Cd morphology changes in each medium were discussed using statistical analyses based on environmental factors. The results showed that the total contents of Cd in surface water, pore water, suspended matters, and sediments in each intertidal zone ranged from 0.41-15.03 μg·L^-1, 0.41-27.54 μg·L^-1, 0.41-4.88 mg·kg^-1, and 0.20-5.30 mg·kg^-1, respectively. The contents of Cd in Shajiao Bay were significantly higher than those in other sampling sites, which should be related to the developed electronics and manufacturing industries in Dongguan. The concentration of Cd in surface water was slightly lower than that in pore water, whereas the content of Cd in suspended matter was comparable to that in sediment at the same sampling site. The results of morphological analysis showed that the ionic-state Cd was dominant in both surface water and pore water, accounting for 67.23%-97.56% and 33.33%-97.16%, respectively. In suspended matter and sediment, Cd was mainly in the residual state, accounting for 45.45%-96.36% and 45.80%-97.27%, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the complex-state Cd in the aqueous phase was negatively correlated with oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and pH and positively correlated with total organic carbon. The bioavailable Cd in solid sediment was significantly positively correlated with the proportion of clay, ORP, and solid organic carbon and significantly negatively correlated with pH. The single factor linear regression analysis showed that ORP had the greatest effect on the complex-state Cd in the aqueous phase, with regression coefficients of 0.864 and 0.824, respectively. The bioavailable Cd in solid sediment at different depths was significantly affected by the proportion of clay, and the regression coefficients were 0.968, 0.980, 0.977, and 0.877, respectively. The above results indicate that the distribution of total Cd content in the typical intertidal environment of the Greater Bay Area was affected by the characteristics of urban economic development, whereas the allocation of Cd morphology was closely related to environmental factors.

PMID:35258201 | DOI:10.13227/j.hjkx.202105225