Nevin Manimala

Vaccine. 2022 Jan 15:S0264-410X(21)01535-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.061. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While population estimates suggest high vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection, the protection for health care workers, who are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure, is less understood.

METHODS: We conducted a national cohort study of health care workers in Wales (UK) from 7 December 2020 to 30 September 2021. We examined uptake of any COVID-19 vaccine, and the effectiveness of BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech) against polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used linked and routinely collected national-scale data within the SAIL Databank. Data were available on 82,959 health care workers in Wales, with exposure extending to 26 weeks after second doses.

RESULTS: Overall vaccine uptake was high (90%), with most health care workers receiving theBNT162b2 vaccine (79%). Vaccine uptake differed by age, staff role, socioeconomic status; those aged 50-59 and 60+ years old were 1.6 times more likely to get vaccinated than those aged 16-29. Medical and dental staff, and Allied Health Practitioners were 1.5 and 1.1 times more likely to get vaccinated, compared to nursing and midwifery staff. The effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine was found to be strong and consistent across the characteristics considered; 52% three to six weeks after first dose, 86% from two weeks after second dose, though this declined to 53% from 22 weeks after the second dose.

CONCLUSIONS: With some variation in rate of uptake, those who were vaccinated had a reduced risk of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, compared to those unvaccinated. Second dose has provided stronger protection for longer than first dose but our study is consistent with waning from seven weeks onwards.

PMID:35042645 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.061

J Pediatr Nurs. 2022 Jan 15:S0882-5963(21)00395-X. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.12.027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Identify the factors affecting father-infant attachment among Turkishs fathers of preterm infants.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 63 fathers of preterm infants between the ages of 6-12 months. Data were collected using the Father-Infant Descriptive Information Form and the Paternal-Infant Attachment Scale (PIAS). Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, mann-whitney test, the kruskal wallis test, the tamhane test, spearman correlation analysis, and linear stepwise regression were used to evaluate the data.

RESULTS: The average PIAS scores of the fathers in the study was 62.97 ± 8.94. A statistically significant difference was found between the birth weight, clinical picture, and length of stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and PIAS total score of preterm infants (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the unplanned hospitalization of the baby after discharge and the father’s changing the baby’s clothes and the PIAS score (p < 0.05). Birth weight and unplanned hospitalization explained 31% of PIAS total score.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, father-infant attachment levels of fathers of preterm infants were low. Father’s involvement in changing the baby’s clothes, preterm birth weight, clinical picture, and length of stay in the NICU were found to be associated with PIAS.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: It should be remembered that babies can be attached to their fathers as much as they are to their mothers. NICU nurses should initiate father-infant interaction early and ensure fathers’ involvement in infant care in the NICU.

PMID:35042639 | DOI:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.12.027

J Pediatr Nurs. 2022 Jan 15:S0882-5963(21)00394-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.12.026. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study assessed the effect of mobile phone text message and call reminders in the completeness of the pentavalent vaccine administered against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The population for this quasi-experimental study were recent mothers of children not more than three weeks old selected from six local government areas of Kano State, Northern Nigeria. Three local government areas were each allocated to the intervention (reminder) and control groups of the study. Mobile phone reminders (SMS and follow-up calls) were sent to mothers in the reminder group three days to and on the due date of their child’s schedule for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd doses of the pentavalent vaccine. All statistical data were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 541 mothers (271 in the intervention group and 270 in the control group) participated in the study. Completion rates for the three doses of the pentavalent vaccine were observed to be higher for children in the reminder group (n = 161, 59.4%) compared to those in the control group (n = 92, 34.1%).

CONCLUSION: Mobile phone reminders were effective and improved the rate of completeness of the pentavalent vaccine in the studied population. In line with the findings of the study, it is recommended that future studies should focus on identifying the best approach to remind parents either through SMS, phone calls, or voice messages or a combination of any of the approaches.

PRACTICE IMPLICATION: Nurses and other health care providers will have empirical evidence on the use of mobile phone technology to improve the health and wellbeing of children by protecting them from vaccine-preventable diseases.

PMID:35042638 | DOI:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.12.026

Chin J Traumatol. 2021 Dec 13:S1008-1275(21)00189-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2021.12.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Auditory nerve injury is one of the most common nerve injury complications of skull base fractures. However, there is currently a lack of auxiliary examination methods for its direct diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to find a more efficient and accurate means of diagnosis for auditory nerve injury.

METHODS: Through retrospectively analyzing the results of brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and high-resolution CT (HRCT) in 37 patients with hearing impairment following trauma from January 1, 2018 to July 31, 2020, the role of the two inspection methods in the diagnosis of auditory nerve injury was studied. Inclusion criteria were patient had a clear history of trauma and unilateral hearing impairment after the trauma; while exclusion criteria were: (1) severe patient with a Glasgow coma scale score ≤5 because these patients were classified as severe head injury and admitted to the intensive care unit, (2) patient in the subacute stage admitted 72 h after trauma, and (3) patient with prior hearing impairment before trauma. According to Goodman’s classification of hearing impairment, the patients were divided into low/medium/severe injury groups. In addition, patients were divided into HRCT-positive and negative groups for further investigation with their BAEP results. The positive rates of BEAP for each group were observed, and the results were analyzed by Chi-square test (p < 0.05, regarded as statistical difference).

RESULTS: A total of 37 patients were included, including 21 males and 16 females. All of them were hospitalized patients with GCS score of 6-15 at the time of admission. The BAEP positive rate in the medium and severe injury group was 100%, which was significantly higher than that in the low injury group (27.27%) (p < 0.01). The rate of BEAP positivitywas significantly higher in the HRCT-positive group (20/30, 66.7%) than in the negative group (1/7, 14.3%) (p < 0.05). Twenty patients (54.05%) were both positive for BEAP and HRCT test, and considered to have auditory nerve damage. Six patients (16.22%) were both negative for BEAP and HRCT test, and 10 patients (27.03%) were BAEP-negative but HRCT-positive: all the 16 patients were considered as non-neurological injury. The rest 1 case (2.70%) was BAEP-positive but HRCT-negative, which we speculate may have auditory nerve concussion.

CONCLUSION: By way of BAEP combining with skull base HRCT, we may improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of auditory nerve injury. Such a diagnostic strategy may be beneficial to guiding treatment plans and evaluating prognosis.

PMID:35042629 | DOI:10.1016/j.cjtee.2021.12.003

J Prosthet Dent. 2022 Jan 15:S0022-3913(21)00694-6. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.12.009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Knowledge of the effect of a shortened dental arch on masseter muscle thickness and occlusal force is sparse but could help clinicians understand how a shortened dental arch might affect the stomatognathic system.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot clinical study was to evaluate and compare the masseter muscle thickness and occlusal force of participants rehabilitated by using a shortened dental arch with matched completely dentate individuals.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve partially edentulous participants with a minimum of 1 posterior occluding pair on each side of the arch were enrolled in the study. The mandibular arch of these participants was rehabilitated by using a single posterior mandibular implant crown (group S). The maxillary arch of all participants in group S was intact. Masseter muscle thickness (cm) and occlusal force (N) were recorded before (T1) and 6 months after implant rehabilitation (T2) for each participant. Twelve participants were selected as controls (group C). They were matched for age, sex, height, and weight with group S and evaluated for masseter muscle thickness and occlusal force. Masseter muscle thickness was evaluated by using ultrasonography during the rest position and maximum volumetric clenching. Occlusal force was measured with an occlusal force measuring appliance. All recordings were done for the left and right sides of the arch. Descriptive analysis was followed by comparison between groups and within group S by using the paired t test (α=.05).

RESULTS: Higher masseter muscle thickness and higher occlusal force were observed in group C than in group S before and after rehabilitation. An increase in masseter muscle thickness in the rest position and in maximum volumetric clenching was observed within group S after rehabilitation. Before rehabilitation, a difference in the masseter muscle thickness between group S and group C was statistically significant for the left side at the rest position (P=.017) and during maximum volumetric clenching (P=.016). After rehabilitation, the difference between group S and group C was not statistically significant for masseter muscle thickness at the rest position (P=.890 for right side and P=.555 for left side) and during maximum volumetric clenching (P=.109 for right side and P=.755 for left side). The difference in occlusal force between group S and group C was statistically significant for the right side and left side (P<.001) before rehabilitation and statistically not significant after rehabilitation (P=.161 for the right side and P=.134 for the left side).

CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation following the concept of a shortened dental arch increased masseter muscle thickness and occlusal force in partially edentulous individuals, making the masseter muscle thickness and occlusal force comparable with those of a completely dentate arch.

PMID:35042607 | DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.12.009

J Pediatr Surg. 2022 Jan 7:S0022-3468(22)00003-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.12.026. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus whether circumcision performed in the first months of life has negative effects on feeding, sleep, and maternal attachment in babies. This prospective study aimed to investigate this relation in the first months of life. This study is the first to investigate the effects of circumcision on feeding, sleep, and maternal attachment simultaneously.

METHODS: The study group consisted of 75 families with their babies aged 0-4 months. Surgical circumcision procedure under regional anesthesia was applied to all patients. The questionnaires were used to evaluate the babies’ feeding and sleeping habits, and the Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI) was used to assess mother-baby attachment level. All assessments were performed before and one month after the circumcision.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients when circumcision was performed was 75 (74.52 ± 37.03) (3-120) days. The mean ages of mothers were 32 (32.51 ± 4.05) years. There was no statistically significant change in the sleep habits and feeding status of babies before and after circumcision. The mean maternal attachment value before circumcision was 101 (98.89 ± 6.77) points, while it was 103 (101.36 ± 4.21) points after circumcision. This result indicates that the maternal attachment score increased significantly after circumcision (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The circumcision performed under regional anesthesia between 0 and 4 months did not have any negative effect on sleep, feeding, and maternal attachment in babies.

PMID:35042606 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.12.026

Transplant Proc. 2022 Jan 14:S0041-1345(21)00930-1. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2021.10.025. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for end-stage liver disease (ESLD), and renal replacement therapy (RRT) is required in many cases. This study was performed to identify the prognostic factors for patients undergoing RRT owing to AKI before living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2018, LDLT was performed in 464 adult patients in our center. We reviewed 33 patients who underwent RRT before LDLT among 464 consecutive cases. Patients who continued to RRT after LDLT or who underwent subsequent kidney transplantation were considered to have not recovered from renal impairment.

RESULTS: Among 33 patients, there were 23 patients in the recovery group and 10 patients in the nonrecovery group. The preoperative duration of RRT was shorter in the recovery group, but it was not statistically significant. In the nonrecovery group, diabetes mellitus was found to have a higher prevalence and ischemic time was longer. Other perioperative factors were not significantly different between the 2 groups. After LDLT, the peak total bilirubin level was higher, and the intensive care unit stay was longer in the nonrecovery group. The overall survival rate was higher in the recovery group.

CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplant recipients who maintain RRT after LDLT have poor outcome. It is necessary to know the risk factors and manage them well, perioperatively.

PMID:35042598 | DOI:10.1016/j.transproceed.2021.10.025

J Prof Nurs. 2022 Jan-Feb;38:6-16. doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.10.005. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate predictors for academic success, including satisfaction with online class and academic achievement, in the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic era.

PURPOSE: To obtain basic data needed to improve the quality and outcomes of online learning in lectures for nursing students.

METHOD: A cross-sectional, descriptive, nationwide online survey in South Korea was performed using structured questionnaires. Participants were 200 nursing students taking online-based learning at universities in 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS WIN 26.0 program.

RESULTS: Cyber-class flow (β = 0.65, p < 0.001) was a significant predictor of satisfaction with online class. Self-directed learning (β = 0.18, p = 0.014) and satisfaction with online class (β = 0.19, p = 0.035) were significant predictors of academic achievement.

CONCLUSION: To achieve academic success from online learning, self-directed learning should be prioritized and satisfaction with online class needs to be managed by nursing educators. To improve satisfaction with online class, cyber-class flow should be considered when designing teaching and learning methods for undergraduate nursing education programs.

PMID:35042591 | DOI:10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.10.005

Microsc Microanal. 2021 Dec 27:1-11. doi: 10.1017/S1431927621013866. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Colloidal nanosphere monolayers—used as a lithography mask for site-controlled material deposition or removal—offer the possibility of cost-effective patterning of large surface areas. In the present study, an automated analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images is described, which enables the recognition of the individual nanospheres in densely packed monolayers in order to perform a statistical quantification of the sphere size, mask opening size, and sphere-sphere separation distributions. Search algorithms based on Fourier transformation, cross-correlation, multiple-angle intensity profiling, and sphere edge point detection techniques allow for a sphere detection efficiency of at least 99.8%, even in the case of considerable sphere size variations. While the sphere positions and diameters are determined by fitting circles to the spheres edge points, the openings between sphere triples are detected by intensity thresholding. For the analyzed polystyrene sphere monolayers with sphere sizes between 220 and 600 nm and a diameter spread of around 3% coefficients of variation of 6.8–8.1% for the opening size are found. By correlating the mentioned size distributions, it is shown that, in this case, the dominant contribution to the opening size variation stems from nanometer-scale positional variations of the spheres.

PMID:35042572 | DOI:10.1017/S1431927621013866

Genome Biol. 2022 Jan 18;23(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s13059-021-02584-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Heterogeneity in single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data is driven by multiple sources, including biological variation in cellular state as well as technical variation introduced during experimental processing. Deconvolving these effects is a key challenge for preprocessing workflows. Recent work has demonstrated the importance and utility of count models for scRNA-seq analysis, but there is a lack of consensus on which statistical distributions and parameter settings are appropriate.

RESULTS: Here, we analyze 59 scRNA-seq datasets that span a wide range of technologies, systems, and sequencing depths in order to evaluate the performance of different error models. We find that while a Poisson error model appears appropriate for sparse datasets, we observe clear evidence of overdispersion for genes with sufficient sequencing depth in all biological systems, necessitating the use of a negative binomial model. Moreover, we find that the degree of overdispersion varies widely across datasets, systems, and gene abundances, and argues for a data-driven approach for parameter estimation.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on these analyses, we provide a set of recommendations for modeling variation in scRNA-seq data, particularly when using generalized linear models or likelihood-based approaches for preprocessing and downstream analysis.

PMID:35042561 | DOI:10.1186/s13059-021-02584-9