Tag: nevin manimala

Sci Total Environ. 2024 May 24:173337. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173337. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The intricate oceanic climate interactions with terrestrial primary production of Asian ecosystems exert crucial social-economical-environmental repercussions. Yet, a holistic understanding of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies associated with the gross primary productivity (GPP) variations of monsoon-Asia remains constrained. This study provides a statistical framework demonstrating how SST perturbations in the tropics influence GPP fluctuations in monsoon-Asia by modulating hydrothermal conditions of different climate system components. Observation evidence explicitly illustrated the characteristic anomalous SST signatures of positive and negative GPP anomalies in South and Southeast Asia during June-August. The SST anomalies of the central-eastern tropical Pacific showed a robust negative impact on the GPP variability of South-Asia. The GPP alterations in maritime-Southeast-Asia exhibited strong connections with SST anomalies of the western Pacific (positive) and eastern equatorial Pacific (negative). The oceanic signals in the GPP variability of South-Asia and maritime-Southeast-Asia mirrored canonical El Niño and La Niña patterns. The detected SST-GPP link is feasible through large-scale atmospheric circulation variability and the consequent regional modulation of heat and moisture fluxes. The anomalous strengthening (weakening) of Walker cell enhance (reduce) water available to plants for photosynthesis during La Niña (El Niño) phase of ENSO cycle and thus elevate (lower) GPP in South-Asia and Maritime-southeast-Asia. In contrast, the enhanced GPP anomaly in mainland-Southeast-Asia depicts signs of canonical La Niña and Indian Ocean subtropical dipole (IOSD) teleconnections. The positive impact of IOSD was through the modulation of the Mascarene High and the consequent impact on monsoon. Meanwhile, decreased GPP bears the imprint of El Niño Modoki and warm tropical Indian Ocean SSTs. The atmospheric teleconnections demonstrated the delayed impact of El Niño Modoki on GPP variability through the Indian Ocean capacitor effect. Our findings could be instrumental in forecasting the probable effects on vegetation growth in monsoon-Asia associated with high-frequency tropical oceanic changes.

PMID:38797406 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173337

J Affect Disord. 2024 May 24:S0165-0327(24)00824-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.088. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: High rates of depression and suicidal ideation are found in women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), but their temporal relationship is unclear. This study explores the bidirectional causality between IPV victimization, depressive symptoms, and suicidal thoughts among adolescent and young married women in India.

METHODS: Data sourced from the UDAYA longitudinal survey in India, comprising 3965 women aged 15-22. Employing Pearson’s correlation coefficient, we analyzed the relationship between variables. Additionally, a two-wave cross-lagged autoregressive panel model explored the bidirectional link between IPV, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation.

RESULTS: Approximately 25 % and 45 % of the participants reported some form of partner violence at baseline and at follow-up after three years, respectively. Exposure to IPV at baseline was significantly associated with depressive symptoms at follow-up [β = 0.10, p < 0.001], and the association between depressive symptoms at baseline and IPV at follow-up was statistically not significant [β = -0.02, 95 % CI: -0.06-0.02]. Similarly, exposure to IPV at baseline was significantly associated with suicidal thoughts at follow-up [β = 0.24, p < 0.001], and the association between suicidal thoughts at baseline and IPV at follow-up was statistically not significant [β = 0.003, 95 % CI: -0.001-006].

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that exposure to IPV is consistently and strongly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in adolescent and young married women. However, the reciprocal relationships did not hold true in this study, implying that reducing IPV during adolescence could potentially minimize the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts during young adulthood.

PMID:38797392 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.088

J Affect Disord. 2024 May 24:S0165-0327(24)00863-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.120. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression is common at older ages, but is under-recognized due to stigma, misperception, and under-diagnosis; its manifestations may vary by setting. Identifying older adults at risk of depression in the community is urgently needed for timely support and early interventions. We assessed the performance of an existing risk prediction model developed in a European setting (i.e., Depression Risk Assessment Tool (DRAT-up)), and developed a new model (i.e., EHS-Depress model) to predict 2-year risk of the onset of later life depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults.

METHODS: Among 185,538 participants aged ≥65 years from Hong Kong’s Elderly Health Service (EHS) cohort, 174,806 without depressive symptoms at baseline were included. Two-thirds were randomly sampled for recalibration and new model development using Cox proportional-hazards models with backward elimination. Overall predictive performance, discrimination, and calibration were assessed using the remaining.

RESULTS: The original DRAT-up model underestimated the risk of developing depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults; recalibrating it improved calibration. The new EHS-Depress mode had better discrimination (Harrell’s C statistic 0.68 and D statistic 2.74) and similarly good calibration (calibration slope 1.18 and intercept -0.002) probably due to the inclusion of more specific health measures, socio-demographics, lifestyle factors, and regular social contact as predictors.

LIMITATIONS: Predictors of depressive symptoms included in our models depend on the data availability.

CONCLUSIONS: The EHS-Depress model predicted 2-year risk of developing depressive symptoms better than the original and recalibrated DRAT-up models. The setting-specific risk prediction model is more applicable to older Chinese adults in primary care settings.

PMID:38797391 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.120

Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp (Engl Ed). 2024 May 24:S2173-5735(24)00062-0. doi: 10.1016/j.otoeng.2024.05.002. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sound localization plays a crucial role in our daily lives, enabling us to recognize voices, respond to alarming situations, avoid dangers, and navigate towards specific signals. However, this ability is compromised in patients with Single-Sided Deafness (SSD) and Asymmetric Hearing Loss (AHL), negatively impacting their daily functioning. The main objective of the study was to quantify the degree of sound source localization in patients with single-sided deafness or asymmetric hearing loss using a Cochlear Implant (CI) and to compare between the two subgroups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, longitudinal, observational, single-center study involving adult patients diagnosed with profound unilateral or asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation. Sound localization was assessed in a chamber equipped with seven speakers evenly distributed from -90º to 90º. Stimuli were presented at 1000 Hz and intensities of 65 dB, 70 dB, and 75 dB. Each stimulus was presented only once per speaker, totaling 21 presentations. The number of correct responses at different intensities was recorded, and angular error in degrees was calculated to determine the mean angular distance between the patient-indicated speaker and the speaker presenting the stimulus. Both assessments were conducted preoperatively without a cochlear implant and two years post-implantation.

RESULTS: The total sample comprised 20 patients, with 9 assigned to the SSD group and 11 to the AHL group. The Preoperative Pure Tone Average (PTA) in free field was 31.7 dB in the SSD group and 41.8 dB in the AHL group. There was a statistically significant improvement in sound localization ability and angular error with the use of the cochlear implant at all intensities in both SSD and AHL subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implantation in patients with SSD and AHL enhances sound localization, reducing mean angular error and increasing the number of correct sound localization responses.

PMID:38797372 | DOI:10.1016/j.otoeng.2024.05.002

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 May 26. doi: 10.1002/ohn.824. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Whether ligation or reconstruction should be performed after radical resection of the tumor and carotid artery in patients with head and neck cancers invading the carotid artery (HNC-CA) has been controversial. This paper provides a review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of these 2 modalities.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid databases were searched through August 2023.

REVIEW METHODS: Descriptive, graphical, tabular, and quantitative data were extracted. The statistical outcomes (risk difference, RD) were synthesized under a random-effects model. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guidelines.

RESULTS: A total of 22 papers and 337 patients met the inclusion criteria for the literature review. Statistical analysis showed that the RD of overall survival (OS) rate at 1-year was 32% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21%-42%) for ligation and 70% (95% CI: 65%-76%) for reconstruction (P < .05). The RD for OS rate at 2-year was 16% (95% CI: 7%-26%) for ligation and 39% (95% CI: 30%-47%) for reconstruction (P < .05). The RD for disease-free survival rate at 1-year was 27% (95% CI: 17%-38%) for ligation and 60% (95% CI: 51%-70%) for reconstruction (P < .05). There were no statistically significant differences (P > .05) between the 2 surgical modalities in terms of locoregional recurrence rate, carotid blowout rate, surgery-related complications rate, neurological complications rate, and perioperative mortality rate.

CONCLUSION: This review demonstrates the significant advantage of carotid artery reconstruction surgery in short-term patient survival, thus making it a recommended option for HNC-CA patients undergoing radical surgery.

PMID:38796730 | DOI:10.1002/ohn.824

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2024 May 26. doi: 10.1002/ksa.12269. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In this study, ultrasonography was used to measure medial meniscus (MM) extrusion under weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions in both anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient and ACL-intact knee groups. This study aimed to determine the possible differences between these groups with an eventual impact on meniscal tears in ACL-deficient knees.

METHODS: A total of 107 patients who underwent ACL reconstructive surgery between June 2022 and April 2023 were enroled. After applying exclusion criteria, 37 patients met the conditions for inclusion in the study and formed the ACL deficiency group (Group D). Of the 141 patients presenting to an outpatient clinic who agreed to have ultrasonography conducted on their nondiscomforting contralateral knee, 37 patients matched for age, sex, hip-knee-ankle angle and body mass index with Group D patients were selected for the ACL intact group (Group I). Ultrasonography was used to measure MM extrusion in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions for all participants.

RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included in the study (n = 37 per group). The supine position showed an MM extrusion of 1.2 ± 0.7 mm in Group I and 1.2 ± 0.7 mm in Group D (not significant). In the standing position, MM extrusion measured 2.0 ± 0.6 mm in Group I and 1.3 ± 0.8 mm in Group D. The difference in extrusion (Δextrusion) between the two positions was 0.8 ± 0.6 in Group I and 0.1 ± 0.2 in Group D, with statistical significance (p < 0.01). A consistent reduction in MM extrusion during weight-bearing was observed in patients with ACL deficiency, irrespective of the duration of ACL deficiency, age, sex and BMI.

CONCLUSION: ACL deficiency did not significantly impact MM extrusion during nonweight-bearing conditions; however, less MM extrusion was observed in response to axial loading conditions. These findings indicate altered MM biomechanics due to increased anterior-posterior meniscal motion and rotational instability after ACL injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

PMID:38796723 | DOI:10.1002/ksa.12269

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2024 May 26. doi: 10.1002/ksa.12279. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) is a valuable option for postmeniscectomy syndrome in young and active patients, which can successfully improve symptoms, function and quality of life. This study aimed to report outcomes and complications in patients treated with isolated MAT or MAT combined with revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET).

METHODS: In total, 18 patients who were treated with MAT using a soft tissue fixation technique were retrospectively analysed. Patients were allocated into two groups, the isolated MAT group and the MAT plus revision ACLR + LET group (MAT+ group). Both groups were assessed using the following Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs): Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner Activity Scale, Lysholm score, EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire and a patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) statement.

RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 3.2 years and the mean age of patients was 29 (±7.6) years. Ten patients were treated with isolated MAT and eight patients were treated with MAT combined with revision ACLR and LET. No complications and no reoperations were reported. In both groups, all PROMs significantly improved postoperatively (p < 0.05), except for the Tegner score in the MAT+ group, which did not reach statistical significance (not significant [n.s.]). No significant difference was found postoperatively in PROMs between the MAT and the MAT+ group; however, differences in the KOOS Symptoms, Sports and Quality-of-life subscales reached the minimal clinically important threshold. Mean values were: IKDC 61.2 (±13.9) versus 64.7 (±23.2), KOOS Total 72.8 (±14.9) versus 68.0 (±16.7), Lysholm score 83.2 (±11) versus 84.2 (±8.7) and EQ-5D-5L 71.8 (±14.9) versus 72.2 (±22.4). Median values for the Tegner Activity Scale were 4 versus 3. PASS statement was negative in 37.5% of the MAT+ group in comparison to 20% of the MAT group (n.s.).

CONCLUSION: In terms of patient-reported outcomes, MAT is an effective and safe procedure, even when combined with revision ACLR + LET. Compared to the preoperative assessment, a significant improvement of the postoperative PROMs can be expected either when MAT is performed isolated or in combination with ACLR + LET. However, clinically important differences between the two groups can be noted in favour of the isolated MAT procedure, especially regarding symptoms and sporting activity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

PMID:38796722 | DOI:10.1002/ksa.12279

Bioinformatics. 2024 May 25:btae334. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae334. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

SUMMARY: Ancestral recombination graphs (ARGs) encode the ensemble of correlated genealogical trees arising from recombination in a compact and efficient structure, and are of fundamental importance in population and statistical genetics. Recent breakthroughs have made it possible to simulate and infer ARGs at biobank scale, and there is now intense interest in using ARG-based methods across a broad range of applications, particularly in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Sophisticated methods exist to simulate ARGs using population genetics models, but there is currently no software to simulate quantitative traits directly from these ARGs. To apply existing quantitative trait simulators users must export genotype data, losing important information about ancestral processes and producing prohibitively large files when applied to the biobank-scale datasets currently of interest in GWAS. We present tstrait, an open-source Python library to simulate quantitative traits on ARGs, and show how this user-friendly software can quickly simulate phenotypes for biobank-scale datasets on a laptop computer.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: tstrait is available for download on the Python Package Index. Full documentation with examples and workflow templates is available on https://tskit.dev/tstrait/docs/, and the development version is maintained on GitHub (https://github.com/tskit-dev/tstrait).

PMID:38796683 | DOI:10.1093/bioinformatics/btae334

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2024 May 25. doi: 10.1007/s10578-024-01707-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This randomized controlled trial tested the Family Assessment and Feedback Intervention (FAFI), a new intervention to enhance family engagement with emotional and behavioral health services. The FAFI is a guided conversation with families about results of their multidimensional assessment that is set in the context of motivational enhancement. It differs from other assessment-with-feedback interventions by extending the focus of assessment beyond the target child to parents and the family environment, addressing parental emotional and behavioral problems and competencies, spanning a broad range of children’s and parents’ strengths and difficulties, and being generalizable to many settings and practitioners. Participants were 81 families in primary care pediatrics. The FAFI was associated with a significant increase in parental mental health literacy and with an increase in parental attitudinal engagement with health supports and services that closely approached statistical significance (p = .052), while controlling for children’s age and gender and family socioeconomic status.

PMID:38796676 | DOI:10.1007/s10578-024-01707-0

Arch Dermatol Res. 2024 May 25;316(6):280. doi: 10.1007/s00403-024-03112-y.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38796663 | DOI:10.1007/s00403-024-03112-y