Tag: nevin manimala

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023 Jun 5:glad118. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glad118. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood deprivation and depression have been linked to epigenetic age acceleration. The next-generation epigenetic clocks including the DNA methylation (DNAm) GrimAge, and PhenoAge have incorporated clinical biomarkers of physiological dysregulation by selecting cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites that are associated with risk factors for disease, and have shown improved accuracy in predicting morbidity and time-to-mortality compared to the first-generation clocks. The aim of this study is to examine the association between neighborhood deprivation and DNAm GrimAge and PhenoAge acceleration in adults, and assess interaction with depressive symptoms.

METHODS: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging recruited 51 338 participants aged 45-85 years across provinces in Canada. This cross-sectional analysis is based on a subsample of 1 445 participants at baseline (2011-2015) for whom epigenetic data were available. Epigenetic age acceleration (years) was assessed using the DNAm GrimAge and PhenoAge, and measured as residuals from regression of the biological age on chronological age.

RESULTS: A greater neighborhood material and/or social deprivation compared to lower deprivation (b = 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.21, 1.12) and depressive symptoms scores (b = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.13) were associated with higher DNAm GrimAge acceleration. The regression estimates for these associations were higher but not statistically significant when epigenetic age acceleration was estimated using DNAm PhenoAge. There was no evidence of a statistical interaction between neighborhood deprivation and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms and neighborhood deprivation are independently associated with premature biological aging. Policies that improve neighborhood environments and address depression in older age may contribute to healthy aging among older adults living in predominantly urban areas.

PMID:37279588 | DOI:10.1093/gerona/glad118

J Exp Bot. 2023 Jun 3:erad216. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erad216. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

High throughput phenotyping (HTP) has expanded the dimensionality of data in plant research, however HTP has resulted in few novel biological discoveries to date. Field based high-throughput phenotyping (FHTP), using small unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with imaging sensors can be deployed routinely to monitor segregating plant population interactions with the environment under biologically meaningful conditions. Here, flowering dates and plant height, important phenological fitness traits, were collected on 520 segregating recombinant maize inbred lines (RILs) in both irrigated and drought stress trials in 2018. Using UAV phenomic, SNP genomic, as well as combined data, flowering times were predicted using several scenarios. Untested genotypes were predicted with 0.58, 0.59 and 0.41 prediction ability for anthesis, silking and terminal plant height using genomic data; but prediction ability increased 0.77, 0.76 and 0.58 when phenomic and genomic data were used together. Using the phenomic data in a genome-wide association study, a heat related candidate gene (GRMZM2G083810; hsp18f) was discovered using temporal reflectance phenotypes belonging to flowering times (both irrigated and drought) trials where heat stress also peaked. Thus, a relation between plants and abiotic stresses belonging to a specific time of growth was revealed only through use of temporal phenomic data. Overall, this study showed that (i) it is possible to predict complex traits using high dimensional phenomic data between different environments, and (ii) temporal phenomic data can reveal time-dependent association between genotypes and abiotic stresses, which can help understand mechanisms to develop resilient plants.

PMID:37279568 | DOI:10.1093/jxb/erad216

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023 Jun 3:glad141. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glad141. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization considers falls the second leading cause of death by accidental injury worldwide and one of the most frequent complications in older adults during activities of daily living. Several tasks related to fall risk have been individually assessed describing kinematic changes in older adults. The study proposal was identify which functional task differentiates faller and non-faller older adults using the movement deviation profile (MDP).

METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 68 older adults aged ≥ 60 years by convenience sampling. Older adults were divided into two groups: with and without a history of falls (34 older adults in each group). The MDP analyzed the three-dimensional angular kinematics data of tasks (i.e., gait, walking turn, stair ascent and descent, sit-to-stand, and stand-to-sit), and the Z-score of the mean MDP identified which task presented the greatest difference between fallers and non-fallers. A multivariate analysis (MANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc verified the interaction between groups considering angular kinematic data and the cycle time of the task. Statistical significance was set at 5% (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: Z-score of the MDPmean showed an interaction between groups (λ= 0.67, F = 5.085, p < 0.0001). Fallers differed significantly from non-fallers in all tasks and the greatest difference was in stair descent (Z-Score = 0.89). The time to complete each task was not different between groups.

CONCLUSION: The MDP distinguished older adult fallers from non-fallers. The stair descent task should be highlighted since it presented the greatest difference between groups.

PMID:37279546 | DOI:10.1093/gerona/glad141

Menopause. 2023 Jun 6. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002204. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study are to understand the prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in urban Tianjin, China and its related factors through a questionnaire and to assess the correlation between individual characteristics, physical mobility, psychological and emotional well-being, and prevalence, as well as people’s awareness of osteoporosis.

METHODS: We selected 240 postmenopausal women from 12 randomly selected streets in 6 administrative districts of Tianjin for bone mineral density measurement and a face-to-face questionnaire survey to obtain the relevant data. Female residents who had lived in the communities under the jurisdiction of the incorporated streets for more than 10 years and had been in menopause for 2 years were included. The women were made aware of the study, there were no communication barriers, and they were willing to undergo dual-energy absorptiometry and cooperate in completing the questionnaire. We used one-way analysis of variance, Fisher exact test, and Pearson correlation analysis for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in the six districts of Tianjin was found to be 52.08%, and the χ2 test for trend showed a clear trend of increasing with age (P = 0.035). Body mass index was found to be the most significant personal characteristic affecting the prevalence of osteoporosis; the mean values of the nonosteoporosis and osteoporosis group were (25.45 ± 3.09) and (23.85 ± 3.16), respectively (P < 0.001); previous fractures were closely associated with the prevalence of osteoporosis. Awareness about osteoporosis had not disseminated among the population, and 9.17% of the participants had never heard of the disease. While 75.42% and 72.92% of the participants, respectively, believe that the harm of osteoporosis cannot be compared with heart disease and cerebral infarction, 56.67% had never had an examination for osteoporosis and paid little to no attention to this disease. People still had major misconceptions about the hazards of osteoporosis and common-sense precautions that needed to be followed.

CONCLUSIONS: Although osteoporosis is prevalent among postmenopausal women in urban Tianjin and is strongly linked to both history of fracture and body mass index, most women are only familiar with the disease’s name and lack an understanding of the dangers it poses as well as the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. To ensure the prevention and control of osteoporosis, it is crucial to focus on increasing the examination and treatment rates and spreading awareness of the three-level diagnosis and treatment pattern among the public.

PMID:37279508 | DOI:10.1097/GME.0000000000002204

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Jun 3:dgad333. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad333. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: The lack of syndrome-specific reference ranges for thyroid function tests (TFT) among pediatric patients with Down syndrome (DS) results in an overestimation of the occurrence of hypothyroidism in this population.

OBJECTIVES: a) to outline the age-dependent distribution of TFT among pediatric patients with DS; b) to describe the intraindividual variability of TFT over time; c) to assess the role of elevated TSH in predicting the future onset of overt hypothyroidism.

DESIGN: Retrospective, monocentric, observational analysis.

PATIENTS: We included 548 Down patients (0-18 years) longitudinally assessed between 1992 and 2022. Exclusion criteria: abnormal thyroid anatomy, treatments affecting TFT and positive thyroid auto-antibodies.

RESULTS: We determined the age-dependent distribution of TSH, FT3 and FT4 and outlined the relative nomograms for children with DS. Compared to non-syndromic patients, median TSH levels were statistically greater at any age (p < 0.001). Median FT3 and FT4 levels were statistically lower than controls (p < 0.001) only in specific age classes (0-11 for FT3, 11-18 years for FT4).TSH levels showed a remarkable fluctuation over time, with a poor (23-53%) agreement between the TSH centile classes at two sequential assessments.Finally, the 75th centile was the threshold above which TSH values predicted future evolution into overt hypothyroidism with the best statistical accuracy, with a satisfactory negative predictive value (NPP, 0.91), but poor positive (P) PV (0.15).

CONCLUSIONS: By longitudinally assessing TFT in a wide pediatric DS population, we outlined the syndrome-specific reference nomograms for TSH, FT3 and FT4 and demonstrated a persistent upward shift of TSH compared to non-syndromic children.

PMID:37279507 | DOI:10.1210/clinem/dgad333

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Jun 3:dgad316. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad316. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the most common cause of hypercalcemia, yet long-term (5- and 10-year) recurrence rates after curative surgery have been unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To perform the first systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the long-term recurrence rates of sporadic PHPT after successful parathyroidectomy.

DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive search of multiple databases (including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, EBSCO-CINHAL, EMBASE, Ovid, Scopus, and Google Scholar) was performed from each database’s inception to January 18, 2023.

STUDY SELECTION: Observational studies reporting at least five years of follow-up data after surgical resection were included. Two reviewers independently screened articles for relevance. Of 5,769 articles initially identified, 242 were examined in full-text review and 34 were deemed eligible for inclusion.

DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently performed data extraction and study appraisal, using the NIH study quality assessment tools.

DATA SYNTHESIS: Of 30,658 participants, 350 patients (1.1%) experienced recurrence after resection. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed to obtain the pooled recurrence rates. The pooled estimate for overall recurrence rate was 1.56% (95% CI 0.96-2.28%; I2 = 91%). The pooled estimates for 5- and 10- year recurrence rate after resection were 0.23% (0.04-0.53%, 19 studies; I2 = 66%) and 1.03% (0.45-1.80%, 14 studies; I2 = 89%), respectively. Sensitivity analyses did not find a statistically significant difference when adjusting for study size, diagnosis, or surgical approach.

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1.56% of sporadic PHPT patients eventually develop recurrence following parathyroidectomy. The initial diagnosis and procedure type does not influence recurrence rates. Consistent long-term follow-up is warranted to help identify recurrent disease.

PMID:37279502 | DOI:10.1210/clinem/dgad316

Health Promot Int. 2023 Jun 1;38(3):daad048. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daad048.

ABSTRACT

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic halted everyday life in higher education along with social and psychological impacts. The objective of our study was to explore the factors related to sense of coherence (SoC) from a gender perspective among university students in Turkey. This is a cross-sectional survey conducted online with a convenience sampling method as part of the international COVID-Health Literacy (COVID-HL) Consortium. SoC was measured by a nine-item questionnaire that was adapted to the Turkish language, including socio-demographic information and health status, including psychological well-being, psychosomatic complaints, and future anxiety (FA). 1595 students from four universities, of whom 72% were female, participated in the study. Cronbach’s alpha for the SoC scale was 0.75. Based on the median split of the individual scores, levels of SoC showed no statistically significant difference according to gender. Logistic regression analysis indicated that higher SoC was associated with medium and high subjective social status, studying in private universities, high psychological well-being, low FA, and none/one psychosomatic complaint. While results were similar among female students, type of university and psychological well-being showed no statistically significant association with SoC among males. Our results indicate that structural (subjective social status) and contextual (type of university) factors, along with gender-based variations, are associated with SoC among university students in Turkey.

PMID:37279469 | DOI:10.1093/heapro/daad048

Brief Bioinform. 2023 Jun 2:bbad208. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbad208. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide binding is a critical step in enabling a peptide to serve as an antigen for T-cell recognition. Accurate prediction of this binding can facilitate various applications in immunotherapy. While many existing methods offer good predictive power for the binding affinity of a peptide to a specific MHC, few models attempt to infer the binding threshold that distinguishes binding sequences. These models often rely on experience-based ad hoc criteria, such as 500 or 1000nM. However, different MHCs may have different binding thresholds. As such, there is a need for an automatic, data-driven method to determine an accurate binding threshold. In this study, we proposed a Bayesian model that jointly infers core locations (binding sites), the binding affinity and the binding threshold. Our model provided the posterior distribution of the binding threshold, enabling accurate determination of an appropriate threshold for each MHC. To evaluate the performance of our method under different scenarios, we conducted simulation studies with varying dominant levels of motif distributions and proportions of random sequences. These simulation studies showed desirable estimation accuracy and robustness of our model. Additionally, when applied to real data, our results outperformed commonly used thresholds.

PMID:37279464 | DOI:10.1093/bib/bbad208

Games Health J. 2023 Jun 6. doi: 10.1089/g4h.2022.0245. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To present the design, development, and pilot testing of Connections, an empirically derived cooperative card game intervention to reduce loneliness and enhance connection. Materials and Methods: Theory and empirical evidence from domains such as self-disclosure, interpersonal closeness, and serious games informed the design of this game. Iterative design was used to develop the intervention, followed by feasibility and preliminary efficacy pilot testing. Results: Pilot testing showed that participants felt confident playing the game and found Connections to be enjoyable, interesting, and helpful in building connections with others, and would recommend the game to others. Preliminary evaluation found statistically significant benefits across multiple domains after playing the game. Participants reported decreases in loneliness, depressed mood, and anxiousness (ps < 0.02). Additionally, participants reported increases in looking forward to forming new connections with others in the future, the degree to which they felt like opening up and talking to others, and the amount they felt like they had in common with others (ps < 0.05). Conclusion: Pilot testing of Connections demonstrated feasibility and preliminary impact among a community sample. Future development plans include minor revisions to the game instructions followed by more rigorous testing of the feasibility, usability, and efficacy of Connections among various settings and populations, with large samples and controlled trials.

PMID:37279459 | DOI:10.1089/g4h.2022.0245

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2023 May 31;17(5):684-692. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17141.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hand washing and the use of gloves in accordance with the standards are among the most significant methods used in infection control.

METHODOLOGY: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consisted of 132 health personnel working in the emergency department of a public hospital.

RESULTS: The mean of the hand hygiene belief scale was 85.50 ± 8.71, mean of the hand hygiene practice inventory was 67.70 ± 5.19. The participants’ mean general attitude towards the use of gloves was 43.71 ± 7.57, the mean of awareness about the use of gloves was 15.17 ± 3.88, the mean attitude towards the usefulness of glove use was 19.43 ± 1.47, and their attitude towards the necessity of using gloves was 12.63 ± 3.57. It was determined that glove usefulness score has a statistically significant and increasing effect on hand hygiene belief, while glove usefulness and glove awareness scores have statistically significant and increasing effects on hand hygiene practice.

CONCLUSIONS: This study determined that the hand hygiene beliefs and practices of the health personnel working in the emergency department are quite high, their attitudes towards the use of gloves are positive, the attitude towards the usefulness of glove use has a significant and increasing effect on hand hygiene belief, and glove usefulness and glove awareness attitudes have a significant and increasing effect on hand hygiene practice.

PMID:37279430 | DOI:10.3855/jidc.17141