Nevin Manimala

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-20252-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aquatic ecological health status was focused on the Huai River Basin (HRB) from the aspects of water quantity, water quality, water ecology, river connectivity, and riparian habitat environment. Ten monitoring sections were set up in the middle and upper reaches of HRB, and 5 experiments of each section were conducted in July and December from 2012 to 2014. Thus, relevant data on the species, the density of phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic animals, the concentration of water physicochemical variables, and riparian habitat quality were obtained. Eleven key impact factors were chosen using frequency statistics, theoretical analysis, and correlation analysis methods, forming the evaluation index system of aquatic ecological health. Then, the indicator weight value was determined by the combined weight method, and the health degree was evaluated by the comprehensive index method. On the whole, the aquatic ecological health degree of the upper sections (D1 ~ D3) of the Shaying River ranges from 0.334 to 0.927, which is generally in a “sub-healthy” state. The aquatic ecological health degree of the main section of the Huai River (D8 ~ D10) ranges from 0.362 to 0.777, which is in the “critical” or “sub-healthy” state. The Huaidian Sluice (D5) and Fuyang Sluice (D6) in the middle and lower reaches of the Shaying River had the worst aquatic ecological health. Its water ecological health range is 0.283-0.523, and most of them are under “sub-pathologic.” The research results have important theoretical and practical significance. They can enrich the evaluation theories and methods of river aquatic ecological health, help to grasp the aquatic ecological health status in HRB, and provide basic support for aquatic ecological protection and water pollution control in sluice-controlled rivers.

PMID:35482240 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-20252-8

High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s40292-022-00518-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular measures like, systolic to diastolic time intervals on ECG recordings, end-diastolic to end-systolic diameters of the left ventricle on echocardiography, pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic measures have gained an interest in terms of Golden ratio or Golden proportions. Ratio of SBP to DBP as a reflection of GR has been recently evaluated in patients who have undergone ABPM to assess the presence of hypertension.

AIM: To assess and compare the ratios of SBP to DBP as a reflection of GR in 24 h ABPM recordings in patients with and without DM who were not on medical treatment.

METHODS: Six hundred and thirty two patients who underwent ABPM were retrospectively screened and enrolled in the study population in between October 2020 and March 2021. After exclusion of 378 who did not meet the inclusion criteria, 254 patients were enrolled in statistical analysis. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure measurements were also averaged for the day and the night spans according to the patients’ reported time of waking up and going to bed. The ABPM was programmed to measure blood pressure every 45 min during both the day time and night time periods RESULTS: Among those 254 patients included in statistical analysis, 212 patients were classified as non-diabetic and 42 patients as diabetic. SBP/DBP ratios were significantly higher in diabetics compared to those of non-diabetics in all time spans (1.698 vs 1.631, p = 0.041 for 24 h; 1.689 vs 1.618 p = 0.032 for day-time; 1.74 vs 1.66 p = 0.037 for night time). In non-diabetic patients interestingly day time SBP/DBP gave almost the same value of GR i.e 1.618, likewise the 24 h value of SBP/DBP gave the value of 1.631 which was so close to GR. On the other hand SBP/DBP ratios for all time spans were deviated far from the 1.618 in diabetic patients CONCLUSION: We have shown that systolic to diastolic blood pressure ratios of patients with DM are significantly higher than those without DM. These differences are mainly to due to the lower DBP of diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic patients. Beyond these differences SBP/DBP ratio of non-diabetic patients has shown close proximity to 1.618 known as golden ratio.

PMID:35482232 | DOI:10.1007/s40292-022-00518-5

CJEM. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s43678-022-00301-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Waiting is a common experience for patients during an emergency department (ED) visit. While high acuity patients are seen with little delay, low acuity patients may experience dissatisfaction from prolonged wait times. One strategy to improve patient experience involves changing the perception of the wait by providing realistic expectations of wait times using public-facing wait time displays. The primary objective of this study is to quantify the number of Canadian EDs with online wait time displays and describe the features and type of information provided.

METHODS: A systematic online search of all Canadian EDs was completed to identify EDs with public-facing wait time displays. A scoping review was then performed to assess their message characteristics, translations offered, availability of multi-site information, and accessibility features. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Sixty (9.3%) of the 647 Canadian EDs identified provide public-facing real-time wait time displays. Thirteen of these (21.7%) were associated with a single proprietary system. Distribution of wait time displays differs across Canada, with a range of zero to 100% of EDs within each province utilizing this communication tool. Common characteristics include “average” wait time (95%), graphical trend data (32%), number of patients waiting (33%), longest wait time (12%), and expected length of stay (10%). Sixty-two percent of wait time displays provide a combination of these methods to inform wait times. Important accessibility features include language translation, compliance with Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) accessibility guidelines and availability on a mobile application.

CONCLUSION: Currently, there is emerging use of wait time displays in Canada with considerable variability in the information communicated through these tools. Effectiveness of these displays and their content needs to be determined.

PMID:35482228 | DOI:10.1007/s43678-022-00301-4

Insights Imaging. 2022 Apr 28;13(1):81. doi: 10.1186/s13244-022-01223-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether fractal analysis of perfusion differentiates hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) subtypes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non-cirrhotic liver by quantifying perfusion chaos using four-dimensional dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (4D-DCE-MRI).

RESULTS: A retrospective population of 63 patients (47 female) with histopathologically characterized HCA and HCC in non-cirrhotic livers was investigated. Our population consisted of 13 hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1α-inactivated (H-HCAs), 7 β-catenin-exon-3-mutated (b^ex3-HCAs), 27 inflammatory HCAs (I-HCAs), and 16 HCCs. Four-dimensional fractal analysis was applied to arterial, portal venous, and delayed phases of 4D-DCE-MRI and was performed in lesions as well as remote liver tissue. Diagnostic accuracy of fractal analysis was compared to qualitative MRI features alone and their combination using multi-class diagnostic accuracy testing including kappa-statistics and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Fractal analysis allowed quantification of perfusion chaos, which was significantly different between lesion subtypes (multi-class AUC = 0.90, p < 0.001), except between I-HCA and HCC. Qualitative MRI features alone did not allow reliable differentiation between HCA subtypes and HCC (κ = 0.35). However, combining qualitative MRI features and fractal analysis reliably predicted the histopathological diagnosis (κ = 0.89) and improved differentiation of high-risk lesions (i.e., HCCs, b^ex3-HCAs) and low-risk lesions (H-HCAs, I-HCAs) from sensitivity and specificity of 43% (95% confidence interval [CI] 23-66%) and 47% (CI 32-64%) for qualitative MRI features to 96% (CI 78-100%) and 68% (CI 51-81%), respectively, when adding fractal analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Combining qualitative MRI features with fractal analysis allows identification of HCA subtypes and HCCs in patients with non-cirrhotic livers and improves differentiation of lesions with high and low risk for malignant transformation.

PMID:35482151 | DOI:10.1186/s13244-022-01223-6

Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s10006-022-01063-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate using microCT and positron emission tomography (PET) analysis, the influence on bone healing of the placement of particulate autogenous bone in the antrostomy, and in the subjacent region after maxillary sinus elevation with xenograft.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sinus mucosa was elevated in sixteen male New Zealand rabbits and they were both grafted with a collagenated cortico-cancellous porcine bone. The antrostomy and the near subjacent region were filled with either the same xenograft (control site) or with particulate autogenous bone (test site) harvested from the tibia. The antrostomies were covered with collagen membranes. MicroCT (measured in Hounsfield Units) and microPET (kBq/cm³) using sodium fluoride infiltration (¹⁸F-NaF) were performed at the time of euthanasia that was performed after 1 and 8 weeks of healing, using 8 animals in each group. The Wilcoxon test was used for analysis.

RESULTS: At the microCT analysis, after 1 and 8 weeks of healing, no statistically significant differences were found between groups. Bone increased and xenograft decreased significantly between the two periods of healing. At the microPET analysis, the percentage of bone increased significantly over time in both test and control groups and no significant differences were found between groups.

CONCLUSION: The placement of autogenous bone in the antrostomy and the subjacent region after maxillary sinus elevation did not enhance bone formation compared with sites where only xenograft was used. Both microCT and microPET showed increase bone formation over time.

PMID:35482147 | DOI:10.1007/s10006-022-01063-0

Egypt Heart J. 2022 Apr 28;74(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s43044-022-00275-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prompt evaluation and treatment of acute coronary syndrome has demonstrated to reduce mortality. Although several biomarkers have been studied for risk stratification and prognostic purposes, none is recommended to guide treatment based on its prognostic value. Copeptin and hepatocyte growth factor have been associated with poor outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study is to evaluate the early prognostic value of measurements of copeptin and hepatocyte growth factor for hospital mortality risk and 1-year-follow-up mortality, in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In our retrospective observational study, we measured hepatocyte growth factor and copeptin in blood samples collected at hospital arrival in patients with acute myocardial infarction; and follow-up them until 1-year.

RESULTS: 84 patients with were included in the study, mainly male (65%) with a median age of 70.3 ± 13.56 years. Hospital mortality was 11.9%. Plasma levels of copeptin at hospital arrival were statistically significant higher in patients who died during hospital admission (145.60 pmol/L [52.21-588.50] vs. 24.79 pmol/L [10.90-84.82], p 0.01). However, we found no statistically significant association between plasma levels of hepatocyte growth factor and hospital mortality (381.05 pg/ml [189.95-736.65] vs. 355.24 pg/ml [175.55-521.76], p 0.73). 1-year follow-up mortality was 21.4%. Plasma levels of copeptin at hospital arrival were higher in those patients who died in the following year (112.28 pmol/L [25.10-418.27] vs. 23.82 pmol/L [10.96-77.30], p 0.02). In the case of HGF, we also find no association between hepatocyte growth factor plasma levels and 1 -year follow-up mortality (350.00 pg/ml [175.05-555.08] vs. 345.53 pg/ml [183.68-561.15], p 0.68).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute myocardial infarction measurement of copeptin at hospital arrival could be a useful tool to assess the prognosis of these patients, since their elevation is associated with a higher hospital mortality and higher 1-year follow-up mortality. We have not found this association in the case of hepatocyte growth factor measurement.

PMID:35482134 | DOI:10.1186/s43044-022-00275-9

Eur Radiol. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s00330-022-08794-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided dry needling and open-release surgery in reducing pain and improving function in workers with lateral epicondylosis refractory to at least 6 months of nonsurgical management.

METHODS: We randomly assigned participants in a 1:1 ratio to receive dry needling or surgery. The primary outcome was the Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) score at 6 months. Secondary outcome measures examined the impact of these techniques on professional activity, grip strength, and Global Rating of Change and Satisfaction scales. Statistical analyses included mixed-effects models and Fisher’s exact tests.

RESULTS: From October 2016 through June 2019, we enrolled 64 participants. Two participants were excluded, and data from 62 participants (48 ± 8 years, 33 men) with a mean duration of symptoms of 23 ± 21 months were analyzed. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. In the intention-to-treat analysis, no treatment-by-time interaction was observed (F_(4,201) = 0.72; p = .58). The least-squares mean difference from baseline in PRTEE scores at 6 months was 33.4 (CI 25.2 – 41.5) in the surgery group and 26.9 (CI 19.4 – 34.4) in the dry needling group (p = .25). The proportion of successful treatment was 83% (CI 63 – 95%) and 81% (CI 63 – 93%) in the surgery and dry needling groups, respectively (p = 1.00). Changes in secondary outcomes were in the same direction as those of the primary outcome. No adverse event occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided dry needling resulted in comparable improvement in outcome scores on scales of pain, physical function, and global assessment of change and satisfaction than open-release surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02710682 KEY POINTS: • In patients with chronic lateral epicondylosis, ultrasound-guided tendon dry needling provides comparable therapeutic efficacy to open-release surgery. • Ultrasound-guided tendon dry needling allows for an earlier return to work and may be less costly than open-release surgery. • Care management guidelines should recommend treatment by ultrasound-guided tendon dry needling before open-release surgery.

PMID:35482125 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-022-08794-4

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07370-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study is to compare the accuracy of 2D BLADE turbo gradient- and spin-echo imaging (TGSE BLADE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with that of readout-segmented echo-planar (RESOLVE) DWI in the detection of primary and residual/recurrent temporal bone cholesteatoma.

METHODS: The prospective study population consisted of 58 patients who were underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the evaluation of suspected temporal bone cholesteatoma. Two radiologists independently evaluated the two sequences. Kappa (k) statistics, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and a paired t test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 58 patients included, all had histo-pathologically confirmed cholesteatomas. In ≤ 3 mm group (n = 13), TGSE BLADE sequence correctly identified all cases except one that was recorded as equivocal on both sequences because of high signal intensity on T1WI; while on RESOLVE sequences, 6 were positive, 4 were equivocal, and 3 were false negative. For > 3 mm group (n = 45), detection performance was similar between the two sequences. The mean ADC of cholesteatoma on TGSE BLADE DWI was 0.923 × 10^-3 mm²/s, and the mean ADC of cholesteatoma on RESOLVE DWI was 0.949 × 10^-3 mm²/s, with no significant difference in the mean ADC values of cholesteatoma measured on the two sequences (p = 0.9216).

CONCLUSION: TGSE BLADE outperforms RESOLVE in the detection of small temporal bone cholesteatoma ≤ 3 mm.

PMID:35482118 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-022-07370-2

Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1007/s00420-022-01866-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Farmers have an increased risk for chronic bronchitis and airflow obstruction. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of these health outcomes with farm activities.

METHODS: We evaluated the Keokuk County Rural Health Study (KCRHS) enrollment data for farm activities and the two health outcomes chronic bronchitis based on self-reported symptoms and airflow obstruction based on spirometry. We used logistic regression to model the health outcomes, yielding an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for farm activities while adjusting for potential confounders and other risk factors.

RESULTS: Of the 1234 farmers, 104 (8.4%) had chronic bronchitis, 75 (6.1%) fulfilled the criteria for airflow obstruction, and the two outcomes overlapped by 18 participants. Chronic bronchitis without airflow obstruction (n = 86) had a statistically significant association with crop storage insecticides (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.6, 6.1) and a low number of years (≤ 3) worked with turkeys (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2, 9.4). The latter result should be interpreted with caution because it is based on a small number of cases (n = 5). Airflow obstruction with or without chronic bronchitis (n = 75) was significantly associated with ever working in a hog or chicken confinement setting (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0, 4.5).

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that work with crop storage insecticides or turkeys may increase the risk for chronic bronchitis and work in hog or chicken confinement may increase the risk for airflow obstruction.

PMID:35482110 | DOI:10.1007/s00420-022-01866-4

Environ Monit Assess. 2022 Apr 28;194(6):393. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-09927-4.

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to monitor the ambient concentrations of particulate matter and carbon dioxide caused by vehicular pollution in Srinagar City of Jammu and Kashmir, India, for a period of 12 months from June 2019 to May 2020 as the major contributions in these areas are due to vehicular movement. Out of five, four locations (viz. Dalgate, Jehangir Chowk, Parimpora and Pantha Chowk) had highest traffic density in the city and the fifth location (Shalimar) had low traffic volume. The sampling was done on every fortnight using AEROCET 831-aerosol mass monitor and CDM 901-CO₂ monitor with each sampling being carried out three times a day, i.e. morning (9:00 am-10:30 am), afternoon (1:00 pm-2:30 pm) and evening (4:30 pm-6:00 pm) with three replications at each site based on the peak traffic hours. The results show that during the whole period, average PM₁ concentrations ranged from 15.10 to 108.9 µg/m³, PM_2.5 (28.70-577.50 µg/m³), PM₄ (44.50-780.87 µg/m³), PM₁₀ (57.13-1225.53 µg/m³), total suspended particulates (77.77-1410.27 µg/m³) and CO₂ (332.4-655.0 ppm). The average concentrations of these parameters showed that the maximum PM₁ concentration was found at Dalgate (53.77 µg/m³) and PM_2.5 had its maximum average concentration at Jehangir Chowk (140.13 µg/m³). Other parameters like PM₄, PM₁₀, TSP and CO₂ had a maximum average values at Jehangir Chowk (240.23 µg/m³, 633.40 µg/m³, 853.50 µg/m³ and 533.20 ppm, respectively). The pollution load was observed to be maximum during winter season followed by autumn, summer and spring. The lowest concentration of all pollutants except CO₂ was observed in April 2020 and this might be due to COVID-19 lockdown observed in the country during the same period.

PMID:35482106 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-022-09927-4