Nevin Manimala

Transbound Emerg Dis. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1111/tbed.14345. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Since the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in Shengyang, it has kept spreading in China. In the early stage of the epidemic, multi-point and concentrated outbreaks were mainly in the swill feeding areas. In this paper, we developed compartmental models to investigate the transmission of ASF in several raising units including Guquan, Jinba and Liancheng. Using the data collected from these three infected premises, we calibrated the models to estimate that the average incubation period was between 8-11 days, the onset period was about 2-3 days, and the basic reproductive number was about 4.83-11.90. We also estimated the infection on the day before culling to be 45.24% (Guquan), 89.20% (Jinba), and 16.35% (Liancheng), respectively. The infection rate of Guquan could reach about 74.8% if culling were postponed two days. We found that the infection was significantly higher than the morbidities (22.11% (Guquan), 49.35% (Jinba), and 12.94% (Liancheng)) calculated by actual statistical data. Besides, we simulated and compared the control effect of stopping transport, disinfecting, stopping swill, and culling. Our findings suggest that any single measure was not enough to prevent the spread of ASF on a regional level but the combined measures is the key. Under the current situation, fully culling was recognized as most effective in controlling the epidemic, despite the culling of innocent pigs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34655504 | DOI:10.1111/tbed.14345

Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1111/pai.13680. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alexithymia is a multifaceted personality construct described as “a lack of words to express emotions” that includes difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings and a concrete, externally oriented cognitive style. Among patients with FA, alexithymia has been found higher than in general population and associated with dysfunctional coping strategies. Childhood traumatic experiences and/or dysfunctional parent-child relationship can contribute to alexithymia. The study aimed to explore possible associations between child alexithymia and mother alexithymia and anxiety, as well as previous anaphylaxis.

METHODS: 65 mother-child pairs have been recruited. Children had a medical diagnosis of FA. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) was used to assess alexithymia in participants. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess trait anxiety in mothers. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the influence of variables sex, previous anaphylaxis and adrenaline auto-injector prescription on child and mother’s alexithymia and to explore possible association between maternal and child alexithymia.

RESULTS: A substantial percentage of children were alexithymic (21.5%) or borderline (33.8%), while mothers’ frequencies were lower and in line with prevalence in general population. Child alexithymia was positively associated with previous anaphylaxis and mothers’ trait anxiety (p < .05). Mother trait anxiety was also associated with maternal alexithymia. Furthermore, a positive association between child and mother alexithymia has been found.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians must be aware of the role of alexithymia and its association with maternal anxiety and previous anaphylaxis in children with FA, encouraging seeking psychological support when needed. A multidisciplinary patient-centered approach should be put in place for the effective care of FA.

PMID:34655502 | DOI:10.1111/pai.13680

Mycoses. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1111/myc.13380. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Several severity indexes have been reported for critically ill patients. The Pitt bacteremia score (PBS) is commonly used to predict the risk of mortality in patients with bacteremia.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a scoring system for predicting mortality in candidemia patients.

METHODS: Medical records at five Japanese tertiary hospitals were reviewed. Factors associated with mortality were analysed using logistic regression modelling. The discriminatory power of scoring models was evaluated by assessing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI).

RESULTS: In total, 422 candidemia patients were included. Higher PBS, dialysis, and retainment of central venous catheter were independent risk factors for all-cause 30-day mortality. However, among the five PBS components, fever was not associated with mortality; therefore, we developed a modified version of the PBS (mPBS) by replacing fever with dialysis. AUC for PBS and mPBS was 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68-0.80) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.71-0.82), respectively. The increase in predictive ability of mPBS for 30-day mortality was statistically significant as assessed by NRI (0.24, 95% CI: 0.01-0.46, P=0.04) and IRI (0.04, 95% CI: 0.02-0.06, P=0.0008). When patients were stratified by mPBS into low (scores 0-3), moderate (4-7), and high risk (≥8), there were significant differences among the survival curves (P<0.0001, log-rank test), and 30-day mortality rates were 13.8% (40/290), 36.8% (28/76), and 69.4% (34/49), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: mPBS can be a useful tool for predicting mortality in candidemia patients.

PMID:34655487 | DOI:10.1111/myc.13380

Int J Cancer. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33846. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The relationship between cancer and COVID-19 infection and severity remains poorly understood. We conducted a population-based cohort study between 1 March and 6 May 2020 describing the associations between cancer and risk of COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation, and COVID-19-related death. Data was obtained from the SIDIAP database, including primary care electronic health records from ~80% of the population in Catalonia, Spain. Cancer was defined as any primary invasive malignancy excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for the risk of COVID-19 (outpatient) clinical diagnosis, hospitalisation (with or without a prior COVID-19 diagnosis) and COVID-19-related death using Cox proportional hazard regressions. Models were estimated for the overall cancer population and by years since cancer diagnosis (<1-year, 1-5-years, ≥5-years), sex, age, and cancer type; and adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, deprivation, and comorbidities. We included 4,618,377 adults, of which 260,667 (5.6%) had a history of cancer. A total of 98,951 individuals (5.5% with cancer) were diagnosed and 6,355 (16.4% with cancer) were directly hospitalised with COVID-19. Of those diagnosed, 6,851 were subsequently hospitalised (10.7% with cancer) and 3,227 died without being hospitalised (18.5% with cancer). Among those hospitalised, 1,963 (22.5% with cancer) died. Cancer was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 diagnosis (aHR: 1.08; 95% CI [1.05-1.11]); direct COVID-19 hospitalisation (1.33 [1.24-1.43]); and death following hospitalisation (1.12 [1.01-1.25]). These associations were stronger for patients recently diagnosed with cancer, aged <70 years, and with haematological cancers. These patients should be prioritised in COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and continued non-pharmaceutical interventions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34655476 | DOI:10.1002/ijc.33846

Wound Repair Regen. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1111/wrr.12972. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Non-healing wounds are steadily becoming a global-health issue. Prolonged hypoxia propagates wound chronicity; yet, oxygenating treatments are considered inadequate to date. Dissolved oxygen (DO) in aqueous solutions introduces a novel approach to enhanced wound oxygenation, and is robustly evaluated for clinical applications. A systematic literature search was conducted, whereby experimental and clinical studies of DO technologies were categorized per engineering approach. Technical principles, methodology, endpoints and outcomes were analysed for both oxygenating and healing effects. Forty articles meeting our inclusion criteria were grouped as follows: DO solutions (17), oxygen (O₂ ) dressings (9), O₂ hydrogels (11) and O₂ emulsions (3). All technologies improved wound oxygenation, each to a variable degree. They also achieved at least one statistically significant outcome related to wound healing, mainly in epithelialization, angiogenesis and collagen synthesis. Scarcity in clinical data and methodological variability precluded quantitative comparisons among the biotechnologies studied. DO technologies warrantee further evaluation for wound oxygenation in the clinical setting. Standardised methodologies and targeted research questions are pivotal to facilitate global integration in healthcare.

PMID:34655455 | DOI:10.1111/wrr.12972

Matern Child Health J. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s10995-021-03244-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This systematic review aims to determine the efficacy of interventions to support the self-management for parents of children with a chronic condition. An overview of prior research, regardless of the children’s diagnosis, is lacking. Therefore, this systematic review provides an overview of the most recent available scientific literature that describes interventions to support self-management for parents of children with a chronic condition.

METHODS: A systematic search of Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) was conducted in CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychInfo. Studies that describe any type of self-management intervention or a combination of self-management interventions that support parents of children with a chronic condition between 0 and 18 years were included. The interventions and results were reported, hence categorized in the four areas of self-management: medical management, adjustment of lifestyle, shared decision-making and managing the consequences of a chronic condition.

RESULTS: The study included 23 RCTs. Due to the heterogeneity of the included studies a meta-analysis was impossible. Twenty studies showed statistically significant effects in favour of the intervention on at least one of the outcomes. Twenty-two studies showed risk of bias. The results indicate that disease management, (parent) group training, psycho-education and the Triple P intervention are effective interventions to support self-management. There were limited studies found in the areas lifestyle adjustment and shared decision making.

DISCUSSION: Effective interventions to support self-management for parents of children with a chronic condition are described, but the moderate quality of the studies hampers firm conclusions.

PMID:34655426 | DOI:10.1007/s10995-021-03244-x

Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s13402-021-00641-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Investigation of nipple aspirate fluid (NAF)-based microRNAs (miRNAs) as a potential screening tool for women at increased risk of developing breast cancer is the scope of our research. While aiming to identify discriminating NAF-miRNAs between women with different mammographic densities, we were confronted with an unexpected confounder: NAF sample appearance. Here we report and alert for the impact of NAF color and cloudiness on miRNA assessment.

METHODS: Seven classes of NAF colors coupled with cloudiness appearance were established. Using 173 NAF samples from 154 healthy women (19 samples were bilaterally collected), the expression of 14 target and 2 candidate endogenous control (EC) miRNAs was investigated using Taqman Advanced miRNA assays to identify significant differential expression patterns between color-cloudiness classes. Inter- and intra-individual variation of miRNA expression was analyzed using the coefficient of variation (CV).

RESULTS: We found that between the seven NAF classes, fold change miRNA expression differences ranged between 2.4 and 19.6 depending on the interrogated miRNA. Clear NAF samples exhibited higher miRNA expression levels compared to cloudy NAF samples with fold change differences ranging between 1.1 and 6.2. Inter-individual and intra-individual miRNA expression was fairly stable (CV < 15 %), but nevertheless impacted by NAF sample appearance. Within NAF classes, inter-individual variation was largest for green samples (CV 6-15 %) and smallest for bloody samples (CV 2-6 %).

CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that NAF color and cloudiness influence miRNA expression and should, therefore, be systematically registered using an objective color classification system. Given that sample appearance is an inherent feature of NAF, these variables should be statistically controlled for in multivariate data analyses. This cautionary note and recommendations could be of value beyond the field of NAF-miRNAs, given that variability in sample color and cloudiness is likewise observed in liquid biopsies such as urine, cerebrospinal fluid and sputum, and could thereby influence the levels of miRNAs and other biomarkers.

PMID:34655415 | DOI:10.1007/s13402-021-00641-w

Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s12012-021-09702-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In the present study, we investigated the cardioactive glycosides oleandrin and ouabain, and compared them to digoxin in a model of cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin. Adult rats were distributed into four experimental groups. Each group was challenged with a single intraperitoneal application of doxorubicin at a dose of 12 mg/kg. Then, they were treated with saline solution and the glycosides oleandrin, ouabain, and digoxin at a dose of 50 µg/kg, for 7 days. They underwent echocardiography, electrocardiography, hematologic, biochemical tests, and microscopic evaluation of the heart. All animals presented congestive heart failure, which was verified by a reduction in the ejection fraction. Oleandrin and digoxin were able to significantly reduce (p < 0.05) the eccentric remodeling caused by doxorubicin. Oleandrin and digoxin were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the control group in maintaining systolic volume and left ventricular volume in diastole. Other parameters evaluated did not show significant statistical differences. All animals showed an increase in erythrocyte count, and an increase in the duration of the QRS complex on the ECG and myocardial necrosis at the histopathological analysis. It is concluded that the glycosides oleandrin, ouabain, and digoxin in the used dosage do not present therapeutic potential for the treatment of congestive heart failure caused by doxorubicin.

PMID:34655414 | DOI:10.1007/s12012-021-09702-w

Head Neck Pathol. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s12105-021-01387-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS) is the most frequent non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtype. This aggressive neoplasm may variably express the CD30 protein, which may be used as a therapeutic target for this tumor. However, CD30 expression in DLBCL NOS arising from the oral cavity and the oropharynx has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aims to determine the frequency of CD30 expression and its prognostic significance for patients affected by oral/oropharyngeal DLBCL NOS. Fifty cases were retrieved from pathology files and submitted to immunohistochemistry against CD30. Reactivity was accessed by two oral pathologists using two cut-off values (> 0% and > 20% of tumor cells) to determine positivity in each case. Clinical data were obtained from the patients’ medical files to investigate the prognostic potential of the protein. Seven high-grade B cell lymphomas and two EBV-positive DLBCL NOS were identified. We found one CD30-positive case in each of these two groups of lymphomas. Among the remaining 41 DLBCL NOS, other four cases (three in the oral cavity and one in the oropharynx) were positive for CD30, but only two expressed the protein in > 20% of tumor cells, both in the oral cavity. Survival analysis demonstrated that CD30-positive cases had a higher five-year overall survival rate (75%) than CD30-negative cases (32.3%), although a statistically significant result was not achieved (p = 0.19). Only a minor subset of oral and oropharyngeal DLBCL NOS express CD30 and these patients seems to have a higher survival rate.

PMID:34655411 | DOI:10.1007/s12105-021-01387-5

Head Neck Pathol. 2021 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s12105-021-01385-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Frozen section evaluation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is critical for margin status and subsequent patient therapy. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the rate of frozen-permanent section discrepancies in blocks with two frozen section levels compared to ≥ three levels in oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCCs. A search of the cases with both intraoperative frozen sections and corresponding permanent sections for SCCs in the oral cavity and oropharynx was performed. Frozen sections and permanent slides were compared. The nature of discrepancies was assigned to one of the following: change in diagnosis, margin status, or distance of the tumor from the margin. The cause of the discrepancy was designated as one of the following: block sampling, gross sampling, interpretation, or technical error. The pathologist experience, frozen section technical experience, and intraoperative impact of each discrepancy were also evaluated. A total of 654 frozen and corresponding permanent blocks were assessed. For 532 of the frozen section blocks, two levels were cut, while 122 frozen section blocks had ≥ three levels. Thirty-five frozen-permanent section discrepancies were observed (5.4% of all blocks). Among these, 2.5% had a possible or definitive intraoperative impact. The percentage of discrepancies in the ≥ three levels group (5.7%) was slightly higher than the two-level group (5.3%), and this difference was not statistically significant. For the two-level group, the overall block sampling error rate was 4.5%. This was not significantly different from the 4.1% block sampling error rate seen in the ≥ three levels group. The rate of block sampling discrepancy did not show significant differences based on attending or frozen section technical experience. A change in margin distance (closer margin detected on permanent) occurred in 4% of the blocks and involved 16% of the patients. This review of oral cavity and oropharynx SCCs frozen/permanent section discrepancies shows that the error rate is not significantly different depending on the number of levels cut. The results suggest that always performing more than two frozen section levels may not yield a decreased discrepancy rate. A change in margin distance occurred quite frequently, but only in rare cases it had a definitive impact on the intraoperative management. Given the importance of correct intraoperative diagnosis in patient management, additional levels may be warranted depending on the clinical scenario.

PMID:34655410 | DOI:10.1007/s12105-021-01385-7