Nevin Manimala

J Phys Chem Lett. 2022 Jan 19:864-871. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03374. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We present measurements of the product-channel branching ratios of the reactions (i) HD⁺ + HD forming H₂D⁺ + D (38.1(30)%) and HD₂⁺ + H (61.9(30)%), (ii) HD⁺ + D₂ forming HD₂⁺ + D (61.4(35)%) and D₃⁺ + H (38.6(35)%), and (iii) D₂⁺ + HD forming HD₂⁺+ D (60.5(20)%) and D₃⁺ + H (39.5(20)%) at collision energies E_coll near zero, i.e., below k_B × 1 K. These branching ratios are compared with branching ratios predicted using three simple models: a combinatorial model (M1), a model (M2) describing the reactions as H-, H⁺-, D-, and D⁺-transfer processes, and a statistical model (M3) that relates the reaction rate coefficients to the translational and rovibrational state densities of the H_nD_3-n⁺ + H/D (n = 0, 1, 2 or 3) product channels. The experimental data are incompatible with the predictions of models M1 and M2 and reveal that the branching ratios exhibit clear correlations with the product state densities.

PMID:35045261 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03374

Microsc Res Tech. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.1002/jemt.24059. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We introduce a study of image analysis of kefir biofilms associated with Acai extract prepared by fermentation of fresh kefir grains natural. Atomic force microscopy data were studied, aiming to understand how the concentration of acai berry (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) influences the surface morphology as well as the texture complexity, evaluated by the fractal dimension. The results showed that the superficial morphology was affected by the increase of Acai concentration in the biofilms, as well as the fractal dimension. It has also been observed that the surface of the biofilm presented saturation when concentration changes from 40 to 60 ml. On the other hand, it was observed that the intermediate sample produced with 20 ml of acai berry seems to be the best point for biofilms production that can serve as a skin dressing since other studies related to mechanical properties and in vitro and in vivo tests can confirm this applicability. Thus, the characterization of the surface morphology of kefir biofilms by the evaluation of surface statistical parameters and fractal geometry may provide promising results regarding the applicability of these films.

PMID:35045209 | DOI:10.1002/jemt.24059

Health Rep. 2021 Dec 15;32(12):13-26. doi: 10.25318/82-003-x202101200002-eng.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reliance on the use of opioids to manage pain has increased over time, as have opioid-related morbidity and deaths. In 2018, 12.7% of Canadians reported having used opioid pain relief medications (OPRMs) in the previous year. Among these people, 9.6% had engaged in problematic use that could cause harm to their health. Though socioeconomic characteristics associated with opioid-related harms have previously been reported, population-level evidence based on administrative health data lacks important behavioural and psychosocial information. This analysis extends previous research by using modelling to report factors related to the problematic use of OPRMs for the household population aged 15 and older in Canada.

DATA AND METHODS: This analysis uses responses to the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey to identify factors that are significantly associated, after adjustment using multivariate logistic regression models, with elevated odds of problematic use of OPRMs.

RESULTS: The fully adjusted model confirmed that being male, being younger (ages 20 to 24), having fair or poor mental health, having unmet needs for help with mental or emotional health or substance problems, being a smoker, or being unattached and living with others were significantly related to problematic OPRM use.

INTERPRETATION: Subjective perceptions significantly related to problematic OPRM use, independent of socioeconomic circumstances, were examined in this study. While previous research based on administrative health data has contributed much to knowledge about factors associated with opioid harms, modelled results revealed that self-reported experiential factors also warrant consideration as they are significantly associated with problematic use. Having fair or poor mental health, having unmet perceived needs for help, and being unattached in terms of household arrangement relationship were related to problematic use of OPRMs, even after adjustment for socioeconomic and other health covariates. This study suggests risk profiles that could be used to inform health care providers, and strategies to support safe pain management.

PMID:35044740 | DOI:10.25318/82-003-x202101200002-eng

Health Rep. 2021 Dec 15;32(12):3-12. doi: 10.25318/82-003-x202101200001-eng.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard) identifies 13 psychosocial factors affecting psychological health and safety in the workplace that employers should measure and monitor with the goal of addressing areas for improvement. The present study sought to determine the suitability of the Public Service Employee Survey as a tool for the assessment of these psychosocial factors in public service employees. It also aimed to explore-in a preliminary manner-predictors of job satisfaction in these employees.

DATA AND METHODS: Data from the 2017 and 2019 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) were analyzed. Specifically, exploratory structural modelling and tests of measurement invariance were used to identify a measurement model reflecting the psychosocial factors outlined in the Standard and to evaluate the equivalence of this model across both PSES administrations.

RESULTS: The analyses uncovered 10 of the 13 psychosocial factors, as well as 2 closely related factors-diversity and inclusion-and supported the full invariance of the resulting measurement model across both PSES administrations. Lastly, preliminary results pointed to recognition and reward (encompassing leader reward behaviours) and involvement and influence (touching on participative decision making, innovation and initiative) as predictors of job satisfaction in both samples of public service employees.

INTERPRETATION: The present study identified the PSES as a tool for the assessment-in public service employees-of the majority of the psychosocial factors outlined in the Standard as well as two additional factors of particular importance to the federal government, diversity and inclusion. Future research to address current limitations is discussed, as are preliminary implications for practice.

PMID:35044739 | DOI:10.25318/82-003-x202101200001-eng

Pol Arch Intern Med. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.20452/pamw.16195. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, and early detection of ovarian cancer is important for prognosis. Human epididymal secretory protein 4 (HE4) elevation has been studied as a crucial biomarker for ovarian cancer. There are currently many organic pollutants in the environment, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to determine relationships among PAH exposure, HE4 levels and ovarian cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study enrolled 799 participants over the age of 20 from U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets (2001 and 2002) with complete data for multivariable analysis consisting of urinary PAH metabolites. A multivariable linear regression model was used to investigate the associations between PAH metabolites and HE4 in ovarian cancer.

RESULTS: Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that except for 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, PAH metabolites correlated positively with In(HE4) after adjustment for relevant covariates (all P < 0.05). Higher quartiles of PHA metabolites tended to be associated with higher HE4 levels, with statistical significance in quartile-based analysis. A dose-dependent relationship between PAH metabolites and HE4 was found (all P-trends < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to PAH was found to be associated with elevated HE4 levels and a higher risk of ovarian cancer, and epidemiological evidence revealed the influential impact. This result will alert gynecologists and public health experts to pay more attention to the potential role of PAH metabolites in the tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer.

PMID:35044732 | DOI:10.20452/pamw.16195

Biofactors. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.1002/biof.1816. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and triglyceride/high lipoprotein density cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) are two important risk markers to evaluate the insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). To assess the association between TG/HDL-C and TyG index and CVDs. The Mashhad stroke and heart association disorder cohort study started in 2010 and has been continued until 2020. During 6-year follow-up of 9704 participants, 235 events including 118 acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 83 chronic coronary syndrome, 27 myocardial infarction, and 27 cardiac death were confirmed. SPSS software (version 21) was used for statistical analysis and figures were drawn by GraphPad Prism 6 software. The prevalence of ACS and cardiac death were higher in the fourth quartile of serum TG/HDL-C (>4.43) and higher prevalence of ACS was considered in subjects classified in the fourth quartile of TyG index (>8.98). A high TyG index was associated with an increased risk of ACS and cardiac death [1.362 (95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.013-1.831]) and 2.3 (95% CI: [1.247-4.241])] respectively; based on Cox regression analysis elevated TyG and TG/HDL-C increased the chance of CVD by [1.634 (95% CI: 1.304-2.047) and 1.068 (95% CI: 1.031-1.105)], respectively. Our results strongly showed that TyG index and TG/HDL-C are independent risk factors for incident CVD, suggesting that TyG index and TG/HDL-C may be as an important unique biomarker for predicting CVD outcomes and progression.

PMID:35044705 | DOI:10.1002/biof.1816

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14102. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) defined fasting glycemia MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective multicenter study testing fasting venous plasma glucose (FPG) in women aged 18 – 45 years between 6 – 23 6/7 weeks gestation in secondary health facilities in Ondo State, Nigeria. Early GDM was defined using the IADPSG threshold for fasting hyperglycemia, and its severity was examined. Potential risk factors for early GDM were assessed using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 8915 women who underwent FPG testing, the prevalence of early GDM was 12.5% (11.9 – 13.3). Multivariable analysis identified a dose-response association between body mass index (BMI) (kg/m² ) and early GDM, with a BMI ≥35kg/m² (aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.03-3.55) associated with early GDM. Primiparity (aOR 1.49, 95%CI 1.25-1.76), multiparity (aOR 1.73, 95%CI 1.47-2.04) and a first-degree family history of diabetes (aOR 1.60, 95%CI 1.27-2.02) were associated with significantly higher odds of early GDM.

CONCLUSION: This study established the prevalence, severity and risk factors for early GDM in a specific country that potentially represents a global region with no previous relevant data.

PMID:35044685 | DOI:10.1002/ijgo.14102

Biometrics. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.1111/biom.13624. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Partial correlation is a common tool in studying conditional dependence for Gaussian distributed data. However, partial correlation being zero may not be equivalent to conditional independence under non-Gaussian distributions. In this paper, we propose a statistical inference procedure for partial correlations under the high-dimensional nonparanormal (NPN) model where the observed data are normally distributed after certain monotone transformations. The nonparanormal partial correlation is the partial correlation of the normal transformed data under the NPN model, which is a more general measure of conditional dependence. We estimate the NPN partial correlations by regularized nodewise regression based on the empirical ranks of the original data. A multiple testing procedure is proposed to identify the nonzero NPN partial correlations. The proposed method can be carried out by a simple coordinate descent algorithm for lasso optimization. It is easy-to-implement and computationally more efficient compared to the existing methods for estimating NPN graphical models. Theoretical results are developed to show the asymptotic normality of the proposed estimator and to justify the proposed multiple testing procedure. Numerical simulations and a case study on brain imaging data demonstrate the utility of the proposed procedure and evaluate its performance compared to the existing methods. Data used in preparation of this article were obtained from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database.

PMID:35044681 | DOI:10.1111/biom.13624

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14103. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: to explore the role of transportation in seeking emergency obstetric care among women with obstetric complications.

METHODS: A mixed-methods design. The population for the study were women aged 15-49 years who had experience direct obstetric complications and were attending the health facility for care at the time of this study. Three-hundred and eighteen (318) women completed the questionnaires, whilst in-depth interviews were held for six women who were conveniently selected from a large (318) quantitative respondent. Both questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data for this study. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) using both inferential and bivariate analysis, whilst a qualitative content analysis was carried out on the qualitative data.

RESULTS: Of the 318 respondents, 91.2% accessed health facilities by motorised transport with 8.8% on-foot. Mode of transportation was (p=0.003) related to regularity at antenatal care, with those who came on-foot being regular at ANC than those that came on motorised transport.

CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that efficient and suitable transport system as well as distance are key factors influencing women role in decision-making to seek care.

PMID:35044678 | DOI:10.1002/ijgo.14103

J Robot Surg. 2022 Jan 19. doi: 10.1007/s11701-022-01367-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer decreases overall complication rate and leads to faster postoperative recovery. Robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy is becoming more common. Its three-dimensional view and wristed instruments may provide advantages over traditional thoraco-laparoscopic techniques. There are limited studies comparing robotic and conventional thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy. This study aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes of robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy (RAME) and video-assisted McKeown esophagectomy (VAME). All consecutive patients undergoing minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy for middle and distal third esophageal cancer between January 2016 and December 2018 at our center were included in this study. Data on baseline characteristics, pathological data and short-term outcomes were collected in a dedicated database. Postoperative complications were defined as per recommendations of Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group. Histopathologic assessment was performed as per College of American Pathologists guidelines. Propensity score matching was performed for comparison between RAME and VAME groups using age, gender, performance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, body mass index, Charlson Index, tumor location, clinical tumor stage, and neoadjuvant treatment as covariates. A total of 74 patients were included, 25 of whom underwent RAME and 49 underwent VAME. Propensity score matching on 1:1 basis produced 25 pairs of patients, comparable in terms of baseline characteristics. Total operative time and estimated blood loss was similar between the two groups. Length of hospital stay was significantly lower in RAME group. Major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3A) were more common in VAME group, but not statistically significant. Median number of harvested lymph nodes and R0 resection rate did not differ in between the two groups. In our experience, robot-assisted McKeown esophagectomy was comparable to video-assisted McKeown esophagectomy in terms of safety, feasibility and oncologic adequacy. Use of the robot was associated with reduced hospital stay. Further randomized controlled studies with larger patient samples are needed to compare the two.

PMID:35044671 | DOI:10.1007/s11701-022-01367-z