Tag: nevin manimala

Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 19;13(1):13527. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40731-3.

ABSTRACT

Spinal cord cross-sectional area (CSA) is an important MRI biomarker to assess spinal cord atrophy in various neurodegenerative and traumatic spinal cord diseases. However, the conventional method of computing CSA based on vertebral levels is inherently flawed, as the prediction of spinal levels from vertebral levels lacks reliability, leading to considerable variability in CSA measurements. Computing CSA from an intrinsic neuroanatomical reference, the pontomedullary junction (PMJ), has been proposed in previous work to overcome limitations associated with using a vertebral reference. However, the validation of this alternative approach, along with its variability across and within participants under variable neck extensions, remains unexplored. The goal of this study was to determine if the variability of CSA across neck flexions/extensions is reduced when using the PMJ, compared to vertebral levels. Ten participants underwent a 3T MRI T2w isotropic scan at 0.6 mm³ for 3 neck positions: extension, neutral and flexion. Spinal cord segmentation, vertebral labeling, PMJ labeling, and CSA were computed automatically while spinal segments were labeled manually. Mean coefficient of variation for CSA across neck positions was 3.99 ± 2.96% for the PMJ method vs. 4.02 ± 3.01% for manual spinal segment method vs. 4.46 ± 3.10% for the disc method. These differences were not statistically significant. The PMJ method was slightly more reliable than the disc-based method to compute CSA at specific spinal segments, although the difference was not statistically significant. This suggests that the PMJ can serve as a valuable alternative and reliable method for estimating CSA when a disc-based approach is challenging or not feasible, such as in cases involving fused discs in individuals with spinal cord injuries.

PMID:37598229 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-40731-3

Transl Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 19;13(1):284. doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02584-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Most patients with late-life depression (LLD) have cognitive impairment, and at least one-third meet diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodrome to Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms linking LLD and MCI, and brain alterations underlying impaired cognition in LLD and LLD + MCI remain poorly understood.

METHODS: To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review of studies of brain-cognition relationships in LLD or LLD + MCI to identify circuits underlying impaired cognition in LLD or LLD + MCI. We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from inception through February 13, 2023. We included studies that assessed cognition in patients with LLD or LLD + MCI and acquired: (1) T1-weighted imaging (T1) measuring gray matter volumes or thickness; or (2) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) assessing white matter integrity. Due to the heterogeneity in studies, we only conducted a descriptive synthesis.

RESULTS: Our search identified 51 articles, resulting in 33 T1 studies, 17 DWI studies, and 1 study analyzing both T1 and DWI. Despite limitations, reviewed studies suggest that lower thickness or volume in the frontal and temporal regions and widespread lower white matter integrity are associated with impaired cognition in LLD. Lower white matter integrity in the posterior cingulate region (precuneus and corpus callosum sub-regions) was more associated with impairment executive function and processing speed than with memory.

CONCLUSION: Future studies should analyze larger samples of participants with various degrees of cognitive impairment and go beyond univariate statistical models to assess reliable brain-cognition relationships in LLD.

PMID:37598228 | DOI:10.1038/s41398-023-02584-2

Sci Rep. 2023 Aug 19;13(1):13528. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-39433-7.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes epidemiology, care cascade, and compliance with global coverage targets. We recruited the results of the nationally representative Iran STEPS Survey 2021. Diabetes and prediabetes were two main outcomes. Diabetes awareness, treatment coverage, and glycemic control were calculated for all population with diabetes to investigate the care cascade. Four global coverage targets for diabetes developed by the World Health Organization were adopted to assess the DM diagnosis and control status. Among 18,119 participants, the national prevalence of DM and prediabetes were 14.2% (95% confidence interval 13.4-14.9) and 24.8% (23.9-25.7), respectively. The prevalence of DM treatment coverage was 65.0% (62.4-67.7), while the prevalence of good (HbA1C < 7%) glycemic control was 28.0% (25.0-31.0) among all individuals with diabetes. DM diagnosis and statin use statics were close to global targets (73.3% vs 80%, and 50.1% vs 60%); however, good glycemic control and strict blood pressure control statistics, were much way behind the goals (36.7% vs 80%, and 28.5% vs 80%). A major proportion of the Iranian population are affected by DM and prediabetes, and glycemic control is poorly achieved, indicating a sub-optimal care for diabetes and comorbidities like hypertension.

PMID:37598214 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-39433-7

BMC Public Health. 2023 Aug 19;23(1):1585. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16507-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A steady decline in the number of cases of malaria was observed in the 2000s in French Guiana. This enabled regional health policies to shift their public health goal from control to elimination. To include inhabitants in this strategy, the main objective of this study was to describe knowledge about malaria, and related attitudes and practices in persons living in the French Guiana border.

METHODS: We conducted a survey in people over 15 years old living in the twelve neighbourhoods of Saint-Georges de l’Oyapock with the highest malaria incidence. It comprised a 147-item questionnaire which collected data on socio-demographic characteristics and included a Knowledge Attitude and Practices survey on malaria. Knowledge-related data were studied using exploratory statistical methods to derive summary variables. A binary variable assessing level of knowledge was proposed and then assessed using exploratory approaches.

RESULTS: The mean age of the 844 participants was 37.2 years [15.8], the male/female sex ratio was 0.8. In terms of nationality, 485 (57.5%) participants were Brazilian and 352 (41.7%) French. One third (305, 36.1%) spoke Brazilian Portuguese as their native language, 295 (34.9%) the Amerindian language Palikur, 36 (4.3%) French. The symptoms of malaria and prevention means were poorly known by 213 (25.2%) and 378 (44.8%) respondents, respectively. A quarter (206, 24.4%) did not know that malaria can be fatal. Overall, 251 people (29.7%) had an overall poor level of knowledge about malaria. Being under 25 years old, living in a native Amerindian neighbourhood, having an Amerindian mother tongue language, having risk behaviours related to gold mining were significantly associated with a poor level of knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to describe the poor level of knowledge about malaria in populations living in the malaria endemic border area along the Oyapock river in French Guiana. Results will allow to reinforce, to diversify and to culturally adapt prevention messages and health promotion to increase their effectiveness with a view to quickly reaching the goal of malaria elimination through empowerment.

PMID:37598208 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-023-16507-9

BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 19;23(1):608. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05105-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The impact of depressive status (DS) on hypertension incidence is still controversial and has not been studied in Chinese middle-aged and elderly population. This study aimed to explore the relationship between DS and incident hypertension and analyze the joint effects of DS and body mass index (BMI) on hypertension incidence.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a nationwide population-based study. In 2013, DS was identified using scores from the 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) among eligible respondents from CHARLS, and hypertension occurrence was observed until 2018. The multiple Cox models were employed to calculate the associations between DS and hypertension incidence. In addition, we also computed the multiplicative interaction (MI) between DS and BMI of incident hypertension and assessed their additive interaction (AI) through relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP) or synthetic index (S). Positive AI was indicated by RERI > 0, AP > 0 or S > 1.

RESULTS: Over the 5-year follow-up, depressive symptoms increased the risk of hypertension incidence by 19% (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.01, 1.41)), while depression was associated with a 24% increased risk (HR = 1.24; 95% CI: (1.03, 1.50)). Significant MIs between DS and overweight or obesity were observed and almost all of AI indexes showed positive joint effects on incident hypertension, of which the depression-obesity combination had the largest joint effect (RERI = 4.47, 95%CI: (0.28, 8.66); AP = 0.67, 95%CI: (0.50, 0.85); S = 4.86,95%CI: (2.66, 8.86)).

CONCLUSION: DS could lead to hypertension and this impact was amplified when coexisting with higher BMI. It highlighted a need for precise interventions targeting weight management and depression treatment in the aging population to prevent hypertension.

PMID:37598204 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-023-05105-z

BMC Cancer. 2023 Aug 19;23(1):777. doi: 10.1186/s12885-023-11284-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prehabilitation with exercise interventions during neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is effective in reducing physical and psychosocial chemotherapy-related adverse events in patients with cancer. In preclinical studies, data also support a growth inhibitory effect of aerobic exercise on the tumour microenvironment with possible improved chemotherapy delivery but evidence in human patients is limited. The aim of the study here described is to investigate if supervised exercise with high-intensity aerobic and resistance training during NACT can improve tumour reduction in patients with breast cancer.

METHODS: This parallel two-armed randomized controlled trial is planned to include 120 women aged ≥ 18 years with newly diagnosed breast cancer starting standard NACT at a university hospital in Denmark (a total of 90 participants needed according to the power calculation and allowing 25% (n = 30) dropout). The participants will be randomized to usual care or supervised exercise consisting of high-intensity interval training on a stationary exercise bike and machine-based progressive resistance training offered three times a week for 24 weeks during NACT, and screening-based advice to seek counselling in case of moderate-severe psychological distress (Neo-Train program). The primary outcome is tumour size change (maximum diameter of the largest lesion in millimetre) measured by magnetic resonance imaging prior to surgery. Secondary outcomes include clinical/pathological, physical and patient-reported measures such as relative dose intensity of NACT, hospital admissions, body composition, physical fitness, muscle strength, health-related quality of life, general anxiety, depression, and biological measures such as intratumoural vascularity, tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, circulating tumour DNA and blood chemistry. Outcomes will be measured at baseline (one week before to 1-2 weeks after starting NACT), during NACT (approximately week 7, 13 and 19), pre-surgery (approximately week 21-29), at surgery (approximately week 21-30) and 3 months post-surgery (approximately 33-42 weeks from baseline).

DISCUSSION: This study will provide novel and important data on the potential benefits of supervised aerobic and resistance exercise concomitant to NACT on tumour response and the tumour microenvironment in patients with breast cancer, with potential importance for survival and risk of recurrence. If effective, our study may help increase focus of exercise as an active part of the neoadjuvant treatment strategy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04623554) on November 10, 2020.

PMID:37598196 | DOI:10.1186/s12885-023-11284-5

J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Aug 19;52(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s40463-023-00658-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) is characterized by recurrent episodes of painful parotid swelling in children. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness of sialendoscopy in children affected by JRP.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library until April 2022, without language restrictions or specified start date. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

RESULTS: Our review included 524 patients and 646 sialendoscopies. The sample sizes of the different studies ranged from 3 to 77 subjects. Most authors performed sialendoscopy under general anesthesia. The mean percentage of recurrences observed was 25.1% (95% confidence intervals) (CI 23.6-26.6). There was a statistically significant relationship between the number of attacks/year and recurrences (p < 0.05). The percentage of recurrences according to the type of irrigation/flushing used ranged from 22.2% to 25.2%, with no significant differences between the use of corticosteroids alone (25.2% of recurrences), corticosteroids plus antibiotics (25% of recurrences) or saline alone (22.2% of recurrences). Sialoendoscopy has proved in all cases to be a valid method for the diagnosis of JRP, but it does not allow a reliable differential diagnosis with other autoimmune parotitis such as Sjögren’s syndrome.

CONCLUSION: According to our results, parotid sialoendoscopy was 74.9% effective as a primary treatment in the prevention of recurrent symptoms in JRP. The type of ductal irrigation used did not significantly influence the prognostic outcome.

PMID:37598195 | DOI:10.1186/s40463-023-00658-1

Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2023 Aug 19;19(1):71. doi: 10.1186/s13223-023-00832-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Real world data on the response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with immunomediated diseases (IMIDs) treated with immunesuppressants is of great interest because vaccine response may be impaired. The main aim was to study the humoral and cellular immune response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with IMIDs treated with immunosuppressants. The secondary aim was to describe the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infections after vaccination in these patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an observational study including 86 patients with IMIDs. All patients were treated with biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [b/tsDMARDs: TNF inhibitors (TNFi), rituximab, anti-interleukin 6 receptor (anti-IL6R) or JAK inhibitors (JAKi)]. Demographic and clinical information were collected. After 4-6 weeks of 2nd and 3rd vaccine doses, humoral response was assessed using the Thermo Scientific ELiA SARS-CoV-2-Sp1 IgG Test. Also, in patients with serum SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels under 100UI/ml, cellular response was analyzed using the QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 Starter Pack.

RESULTS: A total of 86 patients under b/tsDMARDs and 38 healthy controls were included. Most patients received TNFi (45 with TNFi, 31 with rituximab, 5 with anti-IL6R and 5 with JAKi). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Ab) were present in an 86% of patients with IMIDs and in 100% healthy controls (p = 0.017). However, 12 (14%) patients had undetectable SARS-CoV-2 Ab levels, all treated with rituximab. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 Ab (IU/ml) were statistically lower in patients (Mdn (IQR): 59.5 (17-163) in patients vs 625 (405-932) in controls, p < 0.001). Patients treated with rituximab had lower Ab levels than those treated with TNFi and controls (p < 0.001). The cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was evaluated in 30 patients. Eleven patients had a positive cellular response, being more frequent in patients treated with rituximab (p = 0.03). SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in 43% of patients and 34% of controls after vaccination. Only 6 (7%) patients required hospitalization, most of whom treated with rituximab (67%).

CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were lower in patients than in controls, especially in patients treated with rituximab. A cellular response can be detected despite having a poor humoral response. Severe infections in vaccinated patients with IMIDs are rare, and are observed mainly in patients treated with rituximab.

PMID:37598192 | DOI:10.1186/s13223-023-00832-0

BMC Chem. 2023 Aug 19;17(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s13065-023-01015-z.

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular disorders are among the leading causes of death worldwide, especially hypertension, a silent killer syndrome requiring multiple drug therapy for appropriate management. Hydrochlorothiazide is an extensively utilized thiazide diuretic that combines with several antihypertensive drugs for effective treatment of hypertension. In this study, sustainable, innovative and accurate high performance liquid chromatographic methods with diode array and tandem mass detectors (HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS) were developed, optimized and validated for the concurrent determination of Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) along with five antihypertensive drugs, namely; Valsartan (VAL), Amlodipine besylate (AML), Atenolol (ATN), Amiloride hydrochloride (AMI), and Candesartan cilextil (CAN) in their diverse pharmaceutical dosage forms and in the presence of Chlorothiazide (CT) and Salamide (DSA) as HCT officially identified impurities. The HPLC-DAD separation was achieved utilizing Inertsil ODS-3 C₁₈ column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) attached with photodiode array detection at 225.0 nm. Gradient elution was performed utilizing a mixture of solvent A (20.0 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate, pH 3.0 ± 0.2, adjusted with phosphoric acid) and solvent B (acetonitrile) at ambient temperature. Linearity ranges were 0.1-100.0 µg/mL for HCT, VAL, AML and CAN, 0.05 -100.0 µg/mL for both ATN and AMI and 0.05-8.0 µg/mL for both CT and DSA. Additionally, this work describes the use of liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry for the accurate detection and quantification of the impurities; CT and DSA in the negative mode utilizing triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The linearity ranges for those impurities were 1.0-200.0 ng/mL and 5.0-200.0 ng/mL for CT and DSA, respectively. Developed methods’ validation was achieved in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Upon applying liquid chromatographic techniques for the drug analysis, a green and sustainable assessment have to be handled due to the consumption of energy and many solvents. Through the use of the HEXAGON, Analytical Greenness (AGREE) and White Analytical Chemistry (WAC) tools, greenness and sustainability have been statistically assessed. The optimized HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS methods were fast, accurate, precise, and sensitive, and consequently could be applied for conventional analysis and quality control of the proposed drugs in their miscellaneous dosage forms for the purpose of reducing laboratory wastes, time of the analysis time, effort, and cost.

PMID:37598182 | DOI:10.1186/s13065-023-01015-z

Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 19;14(1):5057. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40815-8.

ABSTRACT

Atomically thin layered van der Waals heterostructures feature exotic and emergent optoelectronic properties. With growing interest in these novel quantum materials, the microscopic understanding of fundamental interfacial coupling mechanisms is of capital importance. Here, using multidimensional photoemission spectroscopy, we provide a layer- and momentum-resolved view on ultrafast interlayer electron and energy transfer in a monolayer-WSe₂/graphene heterostructure. Depending on the nature of the optically prepared state, we find the different dominating transfer mechanisms: while electron injection from graphene to WSe₂ is observed after photoexcitation of quasi-free hot carriers in the graphene layer, we establish an interfacial Meitner-Auger energy transfer process following the excitation of excitons in WSe₂. By analysing the time-energy-momentum distributions of excited-state carriers with a rate-equation model, we distinguish these two types of interfacial dynamics and identify the ultrafast conversion of excitons in WSe₂ to valence band transitions in graphene. Microscopic calculations find interfacial dipole-monopole coupling underlying the Meitner-Auger energy transfer to dominate over conventional Förster- and Dexter-type interactions, in agreement with the experimental observations. The energy transfer mechanism revealed here might enable new hot-carrier-based device concepts with van der Waals heterostructures.

PMID:37598179 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-023-40815-8