Tag: nevin manimala

Int J Qual Health Care. 2024 Aug 9:mzae078. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzae078. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Person-centred care (PCC) is associated with improved patient well-being and higher levels of satisfaction with care but its impact on individuals living with obesity is not well-established. The main aim of this study was to assess the relationship between PCC and the physical and social well-being of patients living with obesity, as well as their satisfaction with care.

METHODS: This study is based on a cross-sectional, web-based survey administered among a representative panel of Dutch individuals living with obesity. The primary outcomes were physical and social well-being and satisfaction with care. The primary exposure was a rating of overall PCC, encompassing its eight dimensions. In addition, covariates considered in the analyses included sex, age, marital status, education level, BMI, and chronic illness. The data from a total of 590 participants were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS: Among PCC dimensions, participants rated ‘access to care’ the highest (M 4.1, SD 0.6), while ‘coordination of care’ (M 3.5, SD 0.8) was rated lower than all other dimensions. Participants’ overall PCC ratings were positively correlated with their physical (r = 0.255, P<0.001) and social well-being (r = 0.289, P<0.001) and their satisfaction with care (r = 0.788, P<0.001), as were the separate dimension scores. After controlling for sex, age, marital status, education level, BMI, and chronic illness in the regression analyses, participants’ overall PCC ratings were positively related to their physical (β = 0.24, P<0.001) and social well-being (β = 0.26, P<0.001), and satisfaction with care (β = 0.79, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: PCC holds promise for improved outcomes among patients living with obesity, both in terms of physical and social well-being, as well as satisfaction with care. This is an important finding, particularly when considering the profound physical, social, and psychological consequences associated with obesity. In addition to highlighting the potential benefits of PCC in the healthcare of individuals living with obesity, the findings offer valuable insights into strategies for further refining the provision of PCC to meet the specific needs of these patients.

PMID:39119734 | DOI:10.1093/intqhc/mzae078

Euro Surveill. 2024 Aug;29(32). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400485.

ABSTRACT

Since November 2023, the absolute number of attendances at emergency departments for pneumonia among children aged 5-14 years in England have been above expected levels for the time of year. This increased signal peaked during March 2024 but then persisted into early summer 2024 despite decreases in prevalence of seasonal respiratory pathogens. Record linkage between emergency department and laboratory databases points to this unusual activity being driven largely by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

PMID:39119723 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400485

Euro Surveill. 2024 Aug;29(32). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400075.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundThe Vibrio genus comprises several bacterial species present in the Baltic Sea region (BSR), which are known to cause human infections.AimTo provide a comprehensive retrospective analysis of Vibrio-induced infections in the BSR from 1994 to 2021, focusing on the ‘big four’ Vibrio species – V. alginolyticus, V. cholerae non-O1/O139, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus – in eight European countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden) bordering the Baltic Sea.MethodsOur analysis includes data on infections, Vibrio species distribution in coastal waters and environmental data received from national health agencies or extracted from scientific literature and online databases. A redundancy analysis was performed to determine the potential impact of several independent variables, such as sea surface temperature, salinity, the number of designated coastal beaches and year, on the Vibrio infection rate.ResultsFor BSR countries conducting surveillance, we observed an exponential increase in total Vibrio infections (n = 1,553) across the region over time. In Sweden and Germany, total numbers of Vibrio spp. and infections caused by V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus positively correlate with increasing sea surface temperature. Salinity emerged as a critical driver of Vibrio spp. distribution and abundance. Furthermore, our proposed statistical model reveals 12 to 20 unreported cases in Lithuania and Poland, respectively, countries with no surveillance.ConclusionsThere are discrepancies in Vibrio surveillance and monitoring among countries, emphasising the need for comprehensive monitoring programmes of these pathogens to protect human health, particularly in the context of climate change.

PMID:39119721 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400075

Euro Surveill. 2024 Aug;29(32). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400036.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundSyphilis in blood donors (BD) has increased in many countries.AimWe aimed to describe trends in syphilis seroposivity in BD in France, to identify risk factors and assess if a non-treponemic test (NTT) could define BD having recovered from syphilis for more than 1 year.MethodsThe analysis covered the period 2007 to 2022 and 45,875,939 donations. Of the 474 BD syphilis-positive in 2022, 429 underwent additional investigations with an NTT. History of syphilis was obtained at the post-donation interview or based on serology results for repeat donors.ResultsUntil 2021, positivity rates remained stable (mean: 1.18/10,000 donations, range: 1.01-1.38). An increased rate was observed in 2022 (1.74/10,000; p = 0.02). Over the whole study period, prevalence was 2.2 times higher in male than in female BD (4.1 times higher in 2022). The proportion of males with an identified risk factor who have sex with men increased from 16.7% in 2007 to 64.9% in 2022. Based on NTT, 79 (18%) of the donors who were seropositive in 2022 were classified as having been infected in the previous year. History of syphilis was available for 30 of them. All had an infection within the previous 3 years. Among seven donors with a syphilis < 12 months before testing, one had an NTT titre ≥ 8, three a titre between 1 and 4, three were negative.ConclusionSyphilis seropositivity increased considerably in BDs in 2022, mostly in males, notably MSM. Available data did not allow appropriate evaluation of the NTT to distinguish recent from past infection.

PMID:39119720 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2400036

Euro Surveill. 2024 Aug;29(32). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2300634.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundA new respiratory virus surveillance platform, based on nationwide hospital laboratory data, was established in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic.AimWe aimed to evaluate the performance of this platform with respect to the detection of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from week 36 in 2020 to week 15 in 2023, and how it fits with the World Health Organization (WHO) mosaic surveillance framework.MethodsData of respiratory samples from hospitalised patients sent for laboratory confirmation of influenza virus or RSV from 25 general hospital laboratories nationwide were collected. We analysed the weekly number and percentage of samples positive for influenza virus or RSV vis-à-vis SARS-CoV-2 activity and compared data from the new surveillance platform with existing surveillance platforms. Using data in the new surveillance platform, we analysed early stages of a 2021 out-of-season RSV outbreak and evaluated the capabilities of the new surveillance system with respect to objectives and domains of the WHO mosaic framework.ResultsThe new hospital-laboratory surveillance platform captured the activity of influenza virus and RSV, provided crucial data when outpatient sentinel surveillance was not operational and supported an out-of-season RSV outbreak investigation. The new surveillance platform fulfilled important objectives in all three domains of the mosaic framework and could serve for gathering additional information to fulfil more domain objectives.ConclusionThe new hospital laboratory surveillance platform provided essential data during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, fulfilled important domain objectives of the mosaic framework and could be adapted for the surveillance of other viruses.

PMID:39119719 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.32.2300634

Circ Heart Fail. 2024 Aug 9:e011569. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.124.011569. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence indicates that trimethylamine N-oxide, a gut microbial metabolite of dietary choline and carnitine, promotes both cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease risk. It remains unclear how circulating concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide and its related dietary and gut microbe-derived metabolites (choline, betaine, carnitine, γ-butyrobetaine, and crotonobetaine) affect incident heart failure (HF).

METHODS: We evaluated 11 768 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with serial measures of metabolites. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the associations between metabolites and incident HF, adjusted for cardiovascular disease risk factors.

RESULTS: In all, 2102 cases of HF occurred over a median follow-up of 15.9 years. After adjusting for traditional risk factors, higher concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (hazard ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.09-1.20]; P<0.001), choline (hazard ratio, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.26-1.64]; P<0.001), and crotonobetaine (hazard ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.16-1.32]; P<0.001) were associated with increased risk for incident HF. After further adjustment for renal function (potential confounder or mediator), these associations did not reach Bonferroni-corrected statistical significance (P=0.01, 0.049, and 0.006, respectively). Betaine and carnitine were nominally associated with a higher incidence of HF (P<0.05). In exploratory analyses, results were similar for subtypes of HF based on left ventricular ejection fraction, and associations appeared generally stronger among Black and Hispanic/Latino versus White adults, although there were no interactions for any metabolites with race.

CONCLUSIONS: In this pooled analysis of 2 well-phenotyped, diverse, community-based cohorts, circulating concentrations of gut microbe-derived metabolites such as trimethylamine N-oxide, choline, and crotonobetaine were independently associated with a higher risk of developing HF.

REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/; Unique identifiers: NCT00005133 and NCT00005487.

PMID:39119698 | DOI:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.124.011569

Oral Dis. 2024 Aug 9. doi: 10.1111/odi.15099. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This meta-analysis aimed to compare the antibacterial efficacy of chitosan/chitosan nanoparticles (Ch/Ch-NPs) versus sodium hypochlorite/chlorhexidine (NaOCl/CHX).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was performed in four electronic databases until December 08, 2023. Studies with missing, unclear, and insufficient data sets were excluded. The included studies were assessed by two independent reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies. The meta-analysis of standardized mean difference was performed using a random effects model. Additionally, funnel plots as well as Egger’s regression intercept test were used to evaluate potential publication bias.

RESULTS: A total of 426 samples were used in nine included studies. There was no difference in antibacterial efficacy between Ch/Ch-NPs-NaOCl (SMD: 0.005; 95% CI: -0.844-0.854; p = 0.990). However, the antibacterial efficacy of NaOCl was statistically more effective than Ch/Ch-NPs (SMD: 0.807; 95% CI: 0.015-1.599; p = 0.046) using the bacterial culture method, and Ch/Ch-NPs was statistically higher than NaOCl (SMD: -1.827; 95% CI: -2.720, -0.934; p < 0.000) using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS: Ch/Ch-NPs may be an alternative to NaOCl against Enterococcus faecalis. The methods used in the in vitro studies evaluating the antibacterial efficacy of irrigation solutions against E. faecalis may have had an impact on the results.

PMID:39119693 | DOI:10.1111/odi.15099

Mod Rheumatol. 2024 Aug 9:roae063. doi: 10.1093/mr/roae063. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Baker’s cyst (BC) is a complex complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a poor prognosis. This paper aimed to analyze the clinical features and risk factors for BC in patients with RA to assist clinicians in early warning and appropriate action.

METHODS: The Clinical features of hospitalized RA patients with knee affected were analyzed retrospectively. The R software was used for the statistical analysis, while logistic regression analyses were used to determine independent risk factors.

RESULTS: A total of 367 RA patients with knee affected were studied, and BC was diagnosis in 15.3% of them. The BC group exhibited a higher proportion of knee-only affected than the non-BC group (p < 0.05), while the attributes linked to disease activity exhibited no disparity. Logistic regression analyses selected two independent risk factors for BC: knee-only affected and anemia. 26.8% of patients with BC developed rupture, exhibiting a higher proportion of knee-only affected (p < 0.05), compared to those unruptured.

CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence and rupture of BC in RA patients were significantly related to local inflammation, but not to systemic one. Incorporating local treatment may be a more advantageous option compared to solely relying on systemic therapy.

PMID:39119677 | DOI:10.1093/mr/roae063

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2024 Aug 9:21501351241252428. doi: 10.1177/21501351241252428. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Patients with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) frequently undergo balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) prior to the arterial switch operation (ASO) to promote atrial-level mixing. Balloon atrial septostomy has inherent risks as an invasive procedure and may not always be necessary. This study revisits the routine utilization of BAS prior to ASO.

METHODS: Single-center, retrospective review of d-TGA patients undergoing the ASO from July 2018 to March 2023. Preoperative patient characteristics, pulse oximetry oxygen saturations (SpO₂), cerebral/renal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) readings along with prostaglandin status at the time of the ASO were analyzed with descriptive and univariate statistics.

RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent the ASO. Of these, 7 (23%) were female, 25 (83%) were white, and median weight at ASO was 3.2 kg (range 0.8-4.2). Twenty-two (73%) patients underwent BAS. There were no demographic differences between BAS and no-BAS patients. Of those who underwent BAS, there was a significant increase in SpO₂ (median 83% [range 54-92] to median 87% [range 72-95], P = .007); however, there was no change in NIRS from pre-to-post BAS. Six (27%) patients in the BAS group were prostaglandin-free at ASO. Balloon atrial septostomy patients underwent the ASO later compared with no-BAS patients (median 8 [range 3-32] vs 4 [range 2-10] days old, P = .016) and had a longer hospital length of stay (median 13 [range 7-43] vs 10 [range 8-131] days, P = .108).

CONCLUSIONS: While BAS is an accepted preoperative procedure in d-TGA patients to improve oxygen saturations, it is also an additional invasive procedure, does not guarantee prostaglandin-free status at the time of ASO, and may increase the interval to ASO. Birth to direct early ASO, with prostaglandin support, should be revisited as an alternative, potentially more expeditious strategy.

PMID:39119670 | DOI:10.1177/21501351241252428

J Exp Biol. 2024 Aug 9:jeb.249213. doi: 10.1242/jeb.249213. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Selection experiments play an increasingly important role in comparative and evolutionary physiology. However, selection experiments can be limited by relatively low statistical power, in part because replicate line is the experimental unit for analyses of direct or correlated responses (rather than number of individuals measured). One way to increase the ability to detect correlated responses is through a meta-analysis of studies for a given trait across multiple generations. To demonstrate this, we applied meta-analytic techniques to two traits (body mass and heart ventricle mass, with body mass as a covariate) from a long-term artificial selection experiment for high voluntary wheel-running behavior. In this experiment, all 4 replicate High Runner (HR) lines reached apparent selection limits around generations 17-27, running approximately 2.5-3-fold more revolutions/day than the 4 non-selected Control (C) lines. Although both traits would also be expected to change in HR lines (relative heart size expected to increase, expected direction for body mass is less clear), the statistical significance has varied, despite repeated measurements. We compiled information from 33 unique studies and calculated a measure of effect size (Pearson’s R). Our results indicate that, despite a lack of statistical significance in most generations, HR mice have evolved larger hearts and smaller bodies relative to Controls. Moreover, plateaus in effect sizes for both traits coincides with the generational range during which the selection limit for wheel-running behavior was reached. Finally, since the selection limit, absolute effect sizes for body mass and heart ventricle mass have gotten smaller (i.e., closer to 0).

PMID:39119628 | DOI:10.1242/jeb.249213