Tag: nevin manimala

Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2024 Nov 7;33:e60. doi: 10.1017/S2045796024000489.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Humanitarian migrants are at increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and elevated psychological distress. However, men and women often report varying degrees of stress and experience different challenges during migration. While studies have explored PTSD, psychological distress, gender, and resettlement stressors, they have not explored the interplay between these factors. This study aims to address that gap by investigating gender disparities in PTSD and psychological distress among humanitarian migrants in Australia, with a focus on the moderating role of socioeconomic factors.

METHODS: This study used data from five waves of the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) survey, a longitudinal study of 2,399 humanitarian migrants who arrived in Australia in 2013. PTSD and psychological distress were measured using the PTSD-8 and Kessler-6 (K6) scales, respectively. We conducted generalised linear mixed-effect logistic regression analyses stratified by gender.

RESULTS: Female humanitarian migrants exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of PTSD and psychological distress than males over five years of resettlement in Australia. Women facing financial hardship, unemployment, or residing in short-term housing reported greater levels of PTSD and distress compared to men.

CONCLUSIONS: Women facing financial hardship, inadequate housing, and unemployment exhibit higher rates of PTSD and psychological distress, underscoring the significant impact of socioeconomic factors. Addressing these challenges at both individual and systemic levels is essential for promoting well-being and managing mental health among female humanitarian migrants.

PMID:39506621 | DOI:10.1017/S2045796024000489

J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2024 Dec;45(1):2424417. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2024.2424417. Epub 2024 Nov 7.

ABSTRACT

Our current understanding of postpartum people’s functioning while managing substance use disorder (SUD) recovery is limited. This study explored whether having a SUD impacts maternal functioning and examined the reliability of the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) in postpartum people with SUDs. We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional survey (n = 141) by administering the BIMF and a demographic questionnaire with a sample of postpartum people with SUD (n = 48) and a comparative sample of postpartum people without SUD (n = 93). The internal reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = .86) was consistent with previous studies. SUD diagnosis was significantly associated with lower functioning, with individuals in the SUD group having an 8-point lower BIMF score compared to persons without SUDs, although both groups reported moderately high BIMF scores (>80). While not statistically significant, participants with SUDs had reduced functioning scores over time. Considering the increasing rate of overdose deaths in postpartum persons, further examination of functioning in postpartum persons with SUDs is warranted. Integration of the BIMF into SUD screening and treatment can provide a holistic view of postpartum experiences in this high-risk population and serve as a unique tool to understand the needs of new mothers navigating SUD recovery.

PMID:39506619 | DOI:10.1080/0167482X.2024.2424417

Clin Lab. 2024 Nov 1;70(11). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240614.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of clinical microbiology testing is to provide important information for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The correct collection, processing, and transportation of specimens are the key to the success of clinical microbiological examination.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis was done on the composition and causes of unqualified microbial samples submitted by clinical departments from 2019 to 2020 at the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University. The solutions were proposed from the perspective of nursing management.

RESULTS: In 2019, the hospital received 64,244 clinical microbial specimens. The unqualified rate of samples was 8.96%, of which the unqualified sputum accounted for 84.74%. After strengthening the communication with the medical laboratory, increasing publicity and training, and improving the information system and other auxiliary monitoring functions, the unqualified rate of clinical microbial specimens was reduced to 6.05% in 2020.

CONCLUSIONS: Continuously improving the theoretical and practical abilities of nurses can reduce the unqualified rate of samples.

PMID:39506602 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240614

Clin Lab. 2024 Nov 1;70(11). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240915.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite saving a vast number of lives through blood transfusions, transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) still threaten the lives of people needing blood transfusion. Hence, screening blood donors and reviewing the prevalence of TTIs amongst blood donors might show the impact of these infections among our people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence rates of transfusion-transmitted infections among blood donors in Makkah as foundation for providing harmless blood transfusion in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out at the Central Blood Bank in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia, from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. A total of 13,706 samples were collected and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibodies (HBsAbs), hepatitis B core antibodies (HBcAbs), antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), antibodies to HIV 1 and 2 (HIV I/II Ab), antibodies to HTLV 1 and 2 (HTLV I/II Ab), Malarial antibodies, and antibodies to VDRL.

RESULTS: A total of 13,706 blood units were received and tested. Out of the total, 52% were non-Saudi donors and 47.9% were Saudi donors; 28.4% were aged 18 – 28 years, 42.8% were aged 29 – 39 years, 24.4% were aged 40 – 50 years, and 4.4% were aged 51 – 60 years. The majority was O+ blood group (42.7%), followed by A+ (26.2%), B+ (18.7%), AB+ (4.6%), O- (3.8%), A- (2.1%), B- (1.5%), and AB- (0.4%). While 42.6% of the blood units donated were from voluntary donors, 57.4% were donated by replacement donors. Sixty-one samples (0.4%) tested positive for HBsAg, 824 samples (6%) for HBcAb, 43 samples (0.3%) for HCV antibodies, 754 samples (5.5%) for HBsAb, and 44 samples (0.3%) for HIV I/II Ag/Ab combinations. Further, 44 samples (0.3%) were positive for HTLV I/II antibodies, 83 samples (0.6%) for VDRL antibodies, and only 3 samples (nearly 0%) for malaria antibodies. Forty-three samples (0.3%) were positive for NAT-HBV, 7 samples (0.1%) were positive for NAT-HCV, and 6 samples (0.1%) were positive for NAT-HIV. The analysis revealed a statistically significant and strong correlation between HBsAgs and NAT-HBV (r = 0.819, p < 0.0001). In contrast, while there was a statistically significant association between HBsAgs and HBcAbs, the correlation was weak (r = 0.191, p < 0.0001). Additionally, there was an association between HBsAbs and HBsAgs, but the Spearman correlation indicated a very weak relationship (r = 0.042, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence rates of transfusion-transmitted infections showed a steady decline in 2023, and these rates were much lower in Makkah than in other parts of the country or in neighboring countries. The importance of using NAT in the screening of blood donors was indicated in this study. These findings could contribute to improving the understanding of TTIs epidemiology and supporting health authorities in controlling blood-borne pathologies.

PMID:39506595 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240915

Clin Lab. 2024 Nov 1;70(11). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240608.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effect and clinical implications of IL-1β on the development of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

METHODS: This retrospective study included a total of 80 participants, and these participants were divided into the following two groups: control group (healthy participants) and experimental group (aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients). Then, all of the participants received digital subtraction angiography or computed tomography angiography. Participants’ general data were collected and analyzed. IL-1β expression in blood samples were determined by ELISA, and then IL-1β protein were determined by western blotting.

RESULTS: A total of 80 participants was included in this study, and the participants` general data, including gender, age, and previous medical history, showed no significant differences between the experimental group and control group. The IL-1β value in the experimental group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Upregulated IL-1β can promote the development of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, indicating that IL-1β is a key factor in evaluating the prognosis of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

PMID:39506594 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240608

Clin Lab. 2024 Nov 1;70(11). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240511.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUNDS: AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation experience a poor prognosis. Our study evaluated the clini¬cal characteristics, remission, relapse, and clinical outcomes of these patients. We also assessed the effectiveness of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and sorafenib in treating AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation.

METHODS: Fifty-five newly diagnosed AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutation in our center were retrospectively enrolled between January 2018 and June 2023. Multiple fusion genes and gene mutations were identified for the diagnosis of AML. Survival curves were calculated by employing the Kaplan-Meier method, and the differences between them were evaluated by using the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients underwent allo-HSCT. The allo-HSCT group had a significantly extended follow-up period compared to the non-HSCT group (p < 0.001). Mutations in both NPM1 and FLT3-ITD were present in 18 out of the 55 patients (32.7%). Among them, eleven patients were given sorafenib plus chemotherapy induction therapy, and forty-four received mono-chemotherapy. The HSCT group had a higher overall survival (OS) rate than the non-HSCT group (p < 0.001), and a higher relapse-free survival (RFS) rate as well (p = 0.0017). No statistically significant difference in OS and RFS was observed when compared with sorafenib plus chemotherapy and mono-chemotherapy (p > 0.05). FLT3-ITD-positive patients with and without NPM1 mutation did not experience a significant difference in OS and RFS rates (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Allo-HSCT immediately following complete remission could improve outcomes for young adults diagnosed with FLT3-ITD-positive AML. However, we found no statistical difference in the overall response rate (ORR) and clinical outcome between sorafenib combined with chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone.

PMID:39506591 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2024.240511

Syst Biol. 2024 Nov 7:syae064. doi: 10.1093/sysbio/syae064. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biology has become a highly mathematical discipline in which probabilistic models play a central role. As a result, research in the biological sciences is now dependent on computational tools capable of carrying out complex analyses. These tools must be validated before they can be used, but what is understood as validation varies widely among methodological contributions. This may be a consequence of the still embryonic stage of the literature on statistical software validation for computational biology. Our manuscript aims to advance this literature. Here, we describe, illustrate and introduce new good practices for assessing the correctness of a model implementation, with an emphasis on Bayesian methods. We also introduce a suite of functionalities for automating validation protocols. It is our hope that the guidelines presented here help sharpen the focus of discussions on (as well as elevate) expected standards of statistical software for biology.

PMID:39506375 | DOI:10.1093/sysbio/syae064

Bioanalysis. 2024 Nov 6:1-6. doi: 10.1080/17576180.2024.2418284. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The ICH M10 guideline establishes global standards for bioanalytical method validation for pharmacokinetic assays, focusing on data reliability and accuracy across studies. A significant component is cross-validation, which should be performed to ensure data comparability when multiple methods or laboratories are involved in a single study or across studies where comparison will be performed. However, ICH M10 does not specify acceptance criteria for cross-validation, creating challenges for the industry because traditionally many laboratories have always utilized acceptance criteria to “pass” or “fail” the study. This editorial discusses how bioanalytical labs should conduct cross-validation for PK assays post-ICH M10, highlighting the role of statistical methods and the need for close collaboration with clinical pharmacology and biostatistics departments. Proper implementation and strategic focus on relevant studies are essential for effective cross-validation.

PMID:39506370 | DOI:10.1080/17576180.2024.2418284

Biophys J. 2024 Nov 5:S0006-3495(24)00712-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.11.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

All living cells vibrate depending on metabolism. It has been hypothesized that vibrations are unique for a given phenotype and thereby suitable to diagnose cancer type, stage, and pre-assess the effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments in real time. However, cells exhibit highly variable vibrational signals, can be subject to environmental noise, and may be challenging to differentiate, having so far limited the phenomenon’s applicability. Here, we combined the sensitive method of force-spectroscopy using optical tweezers (OT) with comprehensive statistical analysis. After data acquisition, the signal was decomposed into its spectral components via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). Peaks were parameterized and subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA), to perform an unbiased multivariate statistical evaluation. This method, which we term Cell Vibrational Profiling (CVP), systematically assesses cellular vibrations. To validate CVP technique, we conducted experiments on five U251 glioblastoma (GBM) cells, using 8-10 μm polystyrene beads as a control for comparison. We collected raw data using OT, segmenting into 150+ five-second intervals. Each segment was converted into power spectra (PS) representing a frequency resolution of 10,000 Hz for both cells and controls. U251 GBM cells exhibited significant vibrations at 402.6, 1254.6, 1909.0, 2169.4, and 3462.8 Hz (p<0.0001). This method was further verified with PCA modelling, which revealed that in cell-cell comparisons using the selected frequencies, overlap frequently occurred, and clustering was difficult to discern. In contrast, comparison between cell-bead models showed that clustering was easily distinguishable. Our paper establishes CVP as an unbiased, comprehensive technique to analyze cell vibrations. This technique effectively differentiates between cell types and evaluates cellular responses to therapeutic interventions. Notably, CVP is a versatile, cell-agnostic technique requiring minimal sample preparation and no labelling or external interference. By enabling definitive phenotypic assessments, CVP holds promise as a diagnostic tool and could significantly enhance the evaluation of pharmaceutical treatments.

PMID:39506334 | DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2024.11.003

Br J Nutr. 2024 Nov 7:1-6. doi: 10.1017/S0007114524001363. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A well-functioning immune system requires balanced immune responses. In vitro studies have shown that plant stanols contribute to restoring the T-helper (Th)1/Th2 ratio when it is imbalanced. However, effects of plant stanols on healthy immune responses are unknown. Therefore, we studied effects of recommended (2·5 g/d) or high (9·0 g/d) plant stanol intakes on the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in immunologically healthy subjects. In two RCTs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, cultured, and stimulated with 5 µg/ml Phytohemagglutinin-M to study ex vivo cytokine production. In the first study, twenty participants consumed margarines (2·5 g/d plant stanols) or control for three weeks. In the second study, nineteen participants consumed margarines and yogurts (9·0 g/d plant stanols) or control for four weeks. T-cell cytokine concentrations were measured in culture medium and in study 2 a standardized Th1/Th2 index was calculated. Serum lipids and non-cholesterol sterols were also measured. Compliance was confirmed by significant increases in serum total cholesterol (TC)-standardized sitostanol and campestanol levels in both studies. Changes in ex vivo cytokine production and Th1/Th2 index did not differ between intervention and control groups. In the first study, no statistically significant changes were observed in lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. In the second study, LDL cholesterol significantly decreased compared to control (-0·77 (-1·11, -0·42) mmol/l; P < 0·001). Recommended (2·5 g/d) or high (9·0 g/d) intakes of plant stanols did not alter PBMC ex vivo cytokine production in immunologically healthy subjects. This suggests that plant stanols might only affect immune function when Th1/Th2 immune responses are imbalanced.

PMID:39506323 | DOI:10.1017/S0007114524001363