Nevin Manimala

Psychogeriatrics. 2021 Dec 28. doi: 10.1111/psyg.12801. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the physical and mental health of individuals. The elderly are a special group that is affected by this condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults in terms of disability, state-trait anxiety and life satisfaction.

METHODS: The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of individuals aged 65 and over who presented to a family health centre in Samsun a province of Turkey on the Black Sea coast (N = 3950). The study data were collected with the following five forms: Personal Information Form, Quality of Life Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Brief Disability Questionnaire and Life Satisfaction Scale. In the analysis of the study data, descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, paired t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used.

RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 70.88 ± 4.818 years. There was a significant difference between the participants’ pre- and post-pandemic health status and quality of life levels. In the study, a significant relationship was determined between the scores obtained from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Brief Disability Questionnaire and between the scores obtained from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the variables such as income and marital status (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: A significant result of the study is that the older adults’ perceptions of health status and quality of life were adversely affected by the pandemic. Another significant result is that disability increased the level of anxiety. The other significant result of the study is that socioeconomic status was an important determinant of anxiety.

PMID:34963192 | DOI:10.1111/psyg.12801

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Dec 28. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1740308. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: TNF-α, IL-6, and TGF-β are important bio mediators of the inflammatory process. This experimental study has investigated inflammatory biomarkers’ efficacy to determine the appropriate period for anastomosis surgery in tracheal stenosis cases.

METHODS: First, a pilot study was performed to determine the mean stenosis ratio (SR) after the surgical anastomosis. The trial was planned on 44 rats in four groups based on the pilot study’s data. Tracheal inflammation and stenosis were created in each rat by using micro scissors. In rats of groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively, tracheal resection and anastomosis surgery were applied on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th weeks after the damage. The animals were euthanized 8 weeks later, followed by histopathological assessment and analysis of TNF-α, IL-6, and TGF-β as biochemical markers.

RESULTS: Mean SR of the trachea were measured as 21.9 ± 6.0%, 24.1 ± 10.4%, 25.8 ± 9.1%, and 19.6 ± 9.2% for Groups I to IV, respectively. While Group III had the worst SR, Group IV had the best ratio (p = 0.03). Group II had the highest values for the biochemical markers tested. We observed a statistically significant correlation between only histopathological changes and TNF-α from among the biochemical markers tested (p = 0.02). It was found that high TNF-α levels were in a relationship with higher SR (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Tracheal anastomosis for post-traumatic stenosis is likely to be less successful during the 4th and 6th weeks after injury. High TNF-α levels are potentially predictive of lower surgical success. These results need to be confirmed by human studies.

PMID:34963178 | DOI:10.1055/s-0041-1740308

Psychopathology. 2021 Dec 28:1-13. doi: 10.1159/000520984. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The mirror-gazing task (MGT) is an experimental paradigm inducing anomalous perceptions and anomalous experiences of self-face (ASEs) in the general population, ranging from changes in light and color, to face deformation, to experiencing one’s specular image as another identity. Subclinical ASEs have been related to the emergence of the risk for developing psychotic disorders, and inducing such states in the general population could shed light on the factors underlying interindividual differences in proneness to these phenomena. We aimed to examine the influence of schizotypal personality traits on proneness to experiencing induced ASEs from a developmental perspective, from childhood to adulthood.

METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen children, adolescents, and young adults participated in the MGT, and their schizotypal personality traits were assessed with the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire. Statistical analyses assessed the relationship between schizotypy dimensions and induced ASEs, and we further tested their dynamic relationship as function of age (from childhood to adulthood).

RESULTS: Results confirmed the developmental trajectory of the different schizotypy dimensions, with scores peaking during adolescence, and proneness to induced ASEs seemed to follow a similar developmental trajectory. Moreover, positive (p = 0.001) and disorganized (p = 0.004) dimensions were found to contribute to the proneness to experiencing induced ASEs. Finally, the developmental model showed that positive schizotypy (p = 0.035) uniquely distinguished between experiencing other-identity phenomena between childhood and adulthood.

CONCLUSION: This study has the potential to inform research on early detection of psychosis through a developmental approach and links the concept of schizotypy with processes of perceptual self-distortions.

PMID:34963124 | DOI:10.1159/000520984

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2021 Dec 22;126:105061. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.105061. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Investigate the effect of various liquids on the optical properties and Vickers hardness of conventional, milled and 3D-printed denture teeth.

METHODS: Six different types of denture teeth (Maxillary anteriors of three different conventional teeth, Vivodent DCL, SR Phonares II, Vita Physiodens; milled teeth, IvotionDent; and two different 3D-printed teeth, Asiga DentaTooth and NextDent C&B MFH) were investigated (total n = 336). The labial surface of each specimen was prepared to a dimension of 10 × 5 × 3mm. Specimens were immersed in artificial saliva, coffee, red wine and denture cleaner with artificial aging to simulate denture use of 12 and 24 months in vivo. Measurements of translucency parameter (TP), shade change (ΔE), surface roughness (Ra) and Vickers hardness (VHN) were conducted at baseline and after artificial aging while immersed in the liquids at each timeframe. Data were statistically analysed by ANOVA and post-hoc test (SPSS Ver 27). Surfaces of specimens were analysed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTS: Milled teeth had the highest overall translucency parameter (5.33 ± 0.76-7.3 ± 0.99). All materials had statistically significant change in translucency parameter and shade after 24 months simulated aging (p < 0.05), especially the milled and 3D-printed teeth (p < 0.01). Surface roughness of all materials were under plaque accumulation threshold Ra = 0.2 μm. At baseline, Vita Physiodens teeth (PMMA with microfillers) demonstrated the highest hardness (33.99 kgf/mm²±3.7), whereas both 3D-printed materials exhibited the lowest hardness (13.27 kgf/mm²±0.36-18.13 kgf/mm²±0.93). Artificial saliva, red wine and denture cleaner had a statistically significant impact (p < 0.05) on hardness of all materials (12.1 kgf/mm²±1.17-30.77 kgf/mm²±2.98).

CONCLUSIONS: Milled teeth exhibited the best optical properties (highest overall translucency parameter and lowest shade change). Milled teeth were also the only material that showed colour change (ΔE values) within clinically acceptable limits. Denture cleaner had the most impact on optical and mechanical properties of all materials. Surface roughness and hardness of 3D-printed teeth had the most change after artificial aging.

PMID:34963102 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.105061

Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2021 Dec 17;214:106589. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106589. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A novel research field in bioinformatics is pharmacogenomics and the corresponding applications of artificial intelligence tools. Pharmacogenomics is the study of the relationship between genotype and responses to medical measures such as drug use. One of the most effective drugs is warfarin anticoagulant, but determining its initial treatment dose is challenging. Mistakes in the determination of the initial treatment dose can result directly in patient death.

METHODS: Some of the most successful techniques for estimating the initial treatment dose are kernel-based methods. However, all the available studies use pre-defined and constant kernels that might not necessarily address the problem’s intended requirements. The present study seeks to define and present a new computational kernel extracted from a data set. This process aims to utilize all the data-related statistical features to generate a dose determination tool proportional to the data set with minimum error rate. The kernel-based version of the least square support vector regression estimator was defined. Through this method, a more appropriate approach was proposed for predicting the adjusted dose of warfarin.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This paper benefits from the International Warfarin Pharmacogenomics Consortium (IWPC) Database. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the support vector regression with the proposed new kernel can successfully estimate the ideal dosage of warfarin for approximately 68% of patients.

PMID:34963093 | DOI:10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106589

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2021 Dec 22;70:126920. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126920. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exposure to chemical substances after an environmental disaster can cause both toxic effects and changes in the health status of people who live in or have proximity to environments of this nature, so that the concern with populations is growing.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, blood, serum and urine samples were collected from 100 volunteers from Santo Antônio do Rio Doce, eight from Ilha das Pimentas and 50 from the control group; and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for biomonitoring of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Se, Pb, Zn. In addition, a comprehensive questionnaire was applied to collect demographic and socioeconomic information, as well as lifestyle.

RESULTS: The concentrations of As, Al, Cd, Ni and Mn were above the reference value in some biological matrices, with more pronounced exposure in Ilha das Pimentas. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Co, Pb and Zn showed statistical differences regarding gender in the different biological matrices. The trace elements in the blood, serum and urine showed significant correlations when considering age and habits such as the consumption of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and fish. The main correlations were observed between Co, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb in the blood and cigarette consumption.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study in these regions after the environmental disaster and confirmation of the diagnosis and health care of the participants should be promoted for clinical investigation and the eventual need for treatment. Human biomonitoring demonstrated high concentrations of some toxic elements, with more accentuated exposure in Ilha das Pimentas.

PMID:34963080 | DOI:10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126920

Neurobiol Aging. 2021 Nov 20;111:44-53. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.11.004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sites of early neuropathologic change provide important clues regarding the initial clinical features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We have shown significant reductions in hippocampal synaptic density in participants with AD, consistent with the early degeneration of entorhinal cortical (ERC) cells that project to hippocampus via the perforant path. In this study, [¹¹C]UCB-J binding to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) and [¹⁸F]flortaucipir binding to tau were measured via PET in 10 participants with AD (5 mild cognitive impairment, 5 mild dementia) and 10 cognitively normal participants. In the overall sample, ERC tau was inversely associated with hippocampal synaptic density (r = -0.59, p = 0.009). After correction for partial volume effects, the association of ERC tau with hippocampal synaptic density was stronger in the overall sample (r = -0.61, p = 0.007) and in the AD group where the effect size was large, but not statistically significant (r = -0.58, p = 0.06). This inverse association of ERC tau and hippocampal synaptic density may reflect synaptic failure due to tau pathology in ERC neurons projecting to the hippocampus.

PMID:34963063 | DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.11.004

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2021 Dec 29. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2021-1171. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Delta check (DC) is widely used for detecting sample mix-up. Owing to the inadequate error detection and high false-positive rate, the implementation of DC in real-world settings is labor-intensive and rarely capable of absolute detection of sample mix-ups. The aim of the study was to develop a highly accurate DC method based on designed deep learning to detect sample mix-up.

METHODS: A total of 22 routine hematology test items were adopted for the study. The hematology test results, collected from two hospital laboratories, were independently divided into training, validation, and test sets. By selecting six mainstream algorithms, the Deep Belief Network (DBN) was able to learn error-free and artificially (intentionally) mixed sample results. The model’s analytical performance was evaluated using training and test sets. The model’s clinical validity was evaluated by comparing it with three well-recognized statistical methods.

RESULTS: When the accuracy of our model in the training set reached 0.931 at the 22nd epoch, the corresponding accuracy in the validation set was equal to 0.922. The loss values for the training and validation sets showed a similar (change) trend over time. The accuracy in the test set was 0.931 and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.977. DBN demonstrated better performance than the three comparator statistical methods. The accuracy of DBN and revised weighted delta check (RwCDI) was 0.931 and 0.909, respectively. DBN performed significantly better than RCV and EDC. Of all test items, the absolute difference of DC yielded higher accuracy than the relative difference for all methods.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that input of a group of hematology test items provides more comprehensive information for the accurate detection of sample mix-up by machine learning (ML) when compared with a single test item input method. The DC method based on DBN demonstrated highly effective sample mix-up identification performance in real-world clinical settings.

PMID:34963042 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2021-1171

Dig Endosc. 2021 Dec 28. doi: 10.1111/den.14223. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is the gold standard for the treatment of non-invasive large colorectal lesions, despite challenges associated with non-lifting lesions and a high rate of local recurrence. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) offers the possibility of overcoming these EMR limitations. However, a higher risk of complications and longer procedure time prevented its dissemination. As ESD now provides more stable results because of standardized techniques compared with those used earlier, this study aimed to quantify the rates of en bloc and curative resections, as well as ESD complications, in the present situation.

METHODS: A multicenter, large-scale, prospective cohort trial of ESD was conducted at 20 institutions in Japan. Consecutive patients scheduled for ESD were enrolled from February 2013 to January 2015.

RESULTS: ESD was performed for 1883 patients (1965 lesions). The mean procedure time was 80.6 min; en bloc and curative resections were achieved in 1759 (97.0%) and 1640 (90.4%) lesions, respectively, in epithelial lesions ≥20 mm. Intra- and post-procedural perforations occurred in 51 (2.6%) and 12 (0.6%) lesions, respectively, and emergency surgery for adverse events was performed in nine patients (0.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: This trial conducted after the standardization of the ESD technique throughout Japan revealed a higher curability, shorter procedure time, and lower risk of complications than those reported previously. Considering that the target lesions of ESD are more advanced than those of EMR, ESD can be a first-line treatment for large colorectal lesions with acceptable risk and procedure time. (Clinical Trial Registration: UMIN000010136).

PMID:34963034 | DOI:10.1111/den.14223

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 Dec 28:e29522. doi: 10.1002/pbc.29522. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a known complication for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The aim of this study was to identify laboratory biomarkers that predict which children with ALL are at risk for VTE during induction chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Newly diagnosed ALL patients admitted to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles with a central venous catheter (CVC) were eligible to participate. Participants’ blood samples (complete blood count [CBC], quantitative D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1.2 [PTF 1.2], and thrombin-antithrombin complexes [TAT]) were collected at day 0 (baseline/prior to induction), day 7 (±2 days), day 14 (±2 days), day 21 (±2 days), and day 28 (±2 days) of induction chemotherapy or until participants presented with a symptomatic VTE.

RESULTS: Seventy-five participants aged 1-21 years were enrolled and included in the final analysis. Twenty-six (35%) of the 75 participants were diagnosed with a CVC-associated VTE (22 asymptomatic and four symptomatic). There was a statistically significant difference between VTE and non-VTE participants for D-dimer (odds ratio [OR] 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.59-1.64), TAT (OR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.32-1.38), and PTF 1.2 (OR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.25-1.37) at all time points. Participants >10 years had a significantly higher risk of developing a VTE compared to participants <4 years (p = .007).

CONCLUSION: Older children with ALL as well as those with an elevated TAT, PTF 1.2, or D-dimer showed an increased risk of VTE, which may hold potential for predicting VTE in future studies.

PMID:34963026 | DOI:10.1002/pbc.29522