Nevin Manimala

Spinal Cord. 2021 Aug 27. doi: 10.1038/s41393-021-00695-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize epidemiologic data on nontraumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) for the last 30 years and compare these findings to data from individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).

SETTING: National Rehabilitation Center affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea.

METHODS: The medical records of 948 individuals with NTSCIs were retrospectively reviewed. Three groups were created based on onset period (1990-1999, 2000-2009, 2010-2019) and six groups based on age (≤15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, and ≥76 years). Pearson’s chi-square and analysis of variance tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 1.30:1 for NTSCI individuals and 3.47:1 for TSCI individuals. The mean age (standard deviation [SD]) at the time of injury increased from 38.7 (SD = 18.1) years in the 1990s to 55.5 (SD = 16.6) years in the 2010s (F = 44.597, p ≤ 0.001). Vertebral column degenerative disorder was the primary cause of injury in 28.9% of the cases, and the most common neurologic level was T12-L2. Paraplegia occurred in 74.6% of cases, and tetraplegia in 25.4% of cases. The proportion of NTSCI individuals increased from 11.2% to 29.3% during the observation period.

CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of NTSCI among total spinal cord injuries has increased in Korea over the last 30 years (1990-2019). Compared to individuals with TSCI, those with NTSCI had a higher age at onset, with different male-to-female ratios. Our study is the most comprehensive investigation of NTSCI in Korea, and our findings can inform research directions and medical guidelines.

PMID:34453110 | DOI:10.1038/s41393-021-00695-5

Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 27;11(1):17290. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96690-0.

ABSTRACT

A survey of Acanthamoeba in 100 public freshwater sources in 28 provinces across Thailand has identified 9 genotypes comprising T2/6, T3-T5, T9, T11, T12, T18 and a novel ‘T23’ among 131 isolates. Sequencing of the near complete 18S rRNA gene of Acanthamoeba of all isolates has shown that the most predominant genotype T4 found in 87 isolates (66.4%) contained 4 subtypes, i.e. T4A, T4B, T4C and T4F, while all isolates assigned to genotype T2/6 belonged to subtype B. Among intron-bearing genotypes, most isolates harbouring genotype T3 contained S516 introns, characterised by 3 distinct variants whilst all genotypes T4A and T5 were intronless. Identical 18S rRNA sequences of Acanthamoeba were identified across regions of the country and four isolates in this study shared the same sequences with those from remote nations, suggesting that some strains have reproductive success in diverse ecological niche. Nucleotide diversity of genotypes T2/6B, T3, T4, T9 and T11 in this study was significantly less than that among global isolates outside Thailand, implying that limited sequence diversity occurred within local populations. A remarkably higher level of nucleotide diversity in genotype T11 than those of other genotypes (0.041 vs. 0.012-0.024) could be due to cryptic subtypes. Recombination breakpoints have been detected within genotypes and subtypes as well as within isolates despite no evidence for sexual and parasexual cycles in the genus Acanthamoeba. Tajima’s D, Fu & Li’s D* and F* statistics revealed significantly negative deviation from neutrality across genotypes and subtypes, implying purifying selection in this locus. The 18S rRNA gene of the novel genotype ‘T23’ displayed 7.82% to 28.44% sequence differences in comparison with all known genotypes. Both Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees have placed genotype T23 as sister to the clade comprising genotypes T10, T12 and T14, all of these possess cyst structure belonging to morphological group III. Hence, Acanthamoeba bangkokensis sp. nov. is proposed for this novel genotype. It is likely that more genotypes of Acanthamoeba remain to be discovered while the evolution of the 18S rRNA gene of this pathogenic-free living amoeba seems to be ongoing.

PMID:34453084 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-96690-0

Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 27;11(1):17554. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-96120-1.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:34453078 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-96120-1

Sci Data. 2021 Aug 27;8(1):228. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-01009-3.

ABSTRACT

Curated global climate data have been generated from climate model outputs for the last 120,000 years, whereas reconstructions going back even further have been lacking due to the high computational cost of climate simulations. Here, we present a statistically-derived global terrestrial climate dataset for every 1,000 years of the last 800,000 years. It is based on a set of linear regressions between 72 existing HadCM3 climate simulations of the last 120,000 years and external forcings consisting of CO₂, orbital parameters, and land type. The estimated climatologies were interpolated to 0.5° resolution and bias-corrected using present-day climate. The data compare well with the original HadCM3 simulations and with long-term proxy records. Our dataset includes monthly temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, and 17 bioclimatic variables. In addition, we derived net primary productivity and global biome distributions using the BIOME4 vegetation model. The data are a relevant source for different research areas, such as archaeology or ecology, to study the long-term effect of glacial-interglacial climate cycles for periods beyond the last 120,000 years.

PMID:34453060 | DOI:10.1038/s41597-021-01009-3

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2021 Aug 26;23(5):20m02815. doi: 10.4088/PCC.20m02815.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine if superior temporal gyrus volumes are altered in patients with a social anxiety disorder.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized to determine the superior temporal gyrus volume in 21 patients with a social anxiety disorder and 20 control subjects without a social anxiety disorder. The superior temporal gyrus volumes were measured by manual tracing method. The study was conducted between September 2019 and April 2020.

Results: The mean superior temporal gyrus volume for both sides was statistically significantly smaller than that of control subjects (left side: 11.38 ± 0.85 cm³ for patients and 12.73 ± 0.86 cm³ for controls, t=-5.064, P < .001; right side: 11.42 ± 0.84 mm³ for patients and 12.92 ± 0.85 cm³ for controls, t=-5.574, P < .001). Moreover, when comparing volumetric measurements for subregions, we detected that volumes of all subregions were also statistically significantly smaller than those of healthy comparisons (for both sides of the Heschl’s gyrus and planum temporale).

Conclusions: The study findings suggest that patients with social anxiety disorder seem to have smaller superior temporal gyrus volumes compared to healthy control subjects, although we do not know whether these results were in accordance with functional changes of the same region.

PMID:34449986 | DOI:10.4088/PCC.20m02815

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2021 Aug 26;23(5):21m02959. doi: 10.4088/PCC.21m02959.

ABSTRACT

Objective: As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is the first pandemic to occur in the modern smartphone era, people universally rely on their electronic devices to stay current on the rapidly evolving circumstances. The objective of this study was to examine how daily screen time levels affect the mental health of health care workers attempting to stay up to date on the ever-changing COVID-19-related information available to them.

Methods: Health care workers at an academic teaching hospital were asked to participate in a 12-question online-based survey between the dates of May 30, 2020, and June 3, 2020. The questions included their sex, age range, occupation, department, daily screen time, changes in screen time in the last 4 weeks, and mental health outcomes such as sleep, mood, anxiety, and difficulty controlling worry.

Results: No association was found between age, sex, occupation, and screen time. There was a statistically significant association between the type of department and daily screen time hours (P = .012). A positive trend was noted between screen time and sleep disruption (P = .09). An increase in hours in the last 4 weeks was associated with age (P = .03). A positive trend was also noted for an increase in screen hours and sleep disruption (P = .11) and anxiety (P = .10).

Conclusions: A possible explanation for our finding of screen time not being associated with mental health outcomes could be that the knowledge that information was readily available through technology provided comfort to people as the pandemic evolved and brought changes to their daily lives.

PMID:34449985 | DOI:10.4088/PCC.21m02959

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Aug 27. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14430. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In many cases, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is self-limiting, as innate and adaptive cell-mediated immunity are needed for infection elimination; however, the inability of the immune system in some patients to clear the infection is a matter of debate. The interleukin-17 (IL-17) family cytokines play an important protective role in host immune response to infections, through maintaining immunity against specific pathogens, induction of antimicrobial proteins, and recruitment of neutrophils to sites of invasion. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) may be considered as a marker of viral infection as many studies reported its increased serum level in viral infections.

AIMS: To evaluate levels of serum Gal-3 and IL-17 in patients with verrucas, and to explore the potential role of these markers in the pathogenesis of the disease.

METHODS: Fifty patients suffering from HPV Infection, and fifty healthy controls were included in this study. Serum levels of Gal-3 and IL-17 were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: The patients’ serum Gal-3 was significantly higher while IL 17 was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (p-value < 0.001). Moreover, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between Gal-3 serum level and disease duration and number of warts. Significant negative correlation exists between IL-17 and Gal-3 levels.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a potential role of both IL-17 and Gal-3 in the pathogenesis of warts and open a new opportunity in targeting these markers in the future in treating warts.

PMID:34449950 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.14430

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Aug 27. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14400. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Midface rejuvenation is an important component of overall facial rejuvenation. Traditionally, midfacial skin laxity and volume loss have been addressed with surgical midfacial lifting and soft tissue augmentation with dermal fillers. We present a novel noninvasive approach to midface rejuvenation with a bipolar fractionated radiofrequency (FRF) device that addresses both volume loss and improves skin laxity.

METHODS: An institutional review board-approved retrospective review was performed and included subjects who received midfacial treatment with a bipolar FRF device. Follow-up photographs were objectively assessed by a blinded evaluator using a validated scale, the Facial Laxity Rating Scale. Paired t tests were used to evaluate the results for statistical significance.

RESULTS: A total of 15 subjects were included in the study. The average age was 64 and ranged from 48 to 73. The average midface laxity score prior to treatment was 5.6 and post-treatment was 6.3 (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Bipolar FRF is a promising noninvasive intervention for midface rejuvenation.

PMID:34449948 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.14400

Rev Med Virol. 2021 Aug 27:e2286. doi: 10.1002/rmv.2286. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:34449945 | DOI:10.1002/rmv.2286

Eur J Neurosci. 2021 Aug 27. doi: 10.1111/ejn.15432. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience motor and non-motor symptoms, suggesting alterations of the motor and/or limbic system, or more probably of their communications. We hypothesized that the communication between the insula (part of the limbic system) and sensorimotor cortex in PD is altered and hemispheric asymmetric. Furthermore, that this asymmetry relates to non-motor symptoms, and specifically, that apathy-related asymmetry is unique to PD. To test these hypotheses, we used a novel multivariate time-frequency analysis method applied to resting-state functional MRI data of 28 controls and 25 participants with PD measured in their OFF medication state. The analysis infers directionality of coupling, that is, afferent or efferent, among four anatomical regions, thus defining directed pathways of information flow, which enables the extension of symmetry measures to include directionality. A major right asymmetry reduction of the dorsal-posterior insula efferent and a slight bilateral increase of insula afferent pathways were observed in participants with PD versus controls. Between-group pathways that correlated with mild cognitive impairments combined the central-executive and default-mode networks through the right insula. Apathy-correlated pathways of the posterior insula in participants with PD versus controls exhibited reduced right efferent and increased left afferent. Since apathy scores were comparable between the groups and effects of the other motor and non-motor symptoms were statistically removed by the analysis, the differences in apathy-correlated pathways were suggested as unique to PD. These pathways could be predictors in the pre-symptomatic phase in patients with apathy.

PMID:34449938 | DOI:10.1111/ejn.15432