Tag: nevin manimala

Psicothema. 2023 May;35(2):159-169. doi: 10.7334/psicothema2022.230.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been implemented as a prevention against HIV; however, its impact on mental health, sexual and life satisfaction has not been addressed.

METHOD: We assessed 114 HIV-negative participants from Spain with ages ranging from 19 to 58 years; 60.5% were PrEP users ( n = 69) and 39.5% were non-users ( n = 45). They completed five questionnaires about life and sexual satisfaction, depression and anxiety. We performed correlations and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS: The PrEP group showed a statistically significant relationship between better sexual satisfaction, and greater life satisfaction. The PrEP group also showed a statistically significant negative relationship with depression and anxiety which was not found in PrEP non-users. Moreover, we found that younger PrEP users had higher scores in anxiety and lower scores in depression than older users. The hierarchical regression analyses also showed that number of sexual partners was a major predictor in the PrEP group for NSSS.

CONCLUSIONS: The indirect correlation between sexual satisfaction, depression, and anxiety in the PrEP group could underly the benefits of PrEP for patients’ sex lives such as increased sexual liberties due to lower anxiety and mental comfort when experiencing chemsex.

PMID:37096410 | DOI:10.7334/psicothema2022.230

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 2023 May 1;62(5):539-544. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112138-20220513-00366.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of dynamic volumetric CT perfusion combined with energy spectrum imaging in bronchial arterial chemoembolization (BACE) in patients with lung cancer. Methods: The data of 31 patients with lung cancer confirmed by pathology and treated with BACE in Lishui Central Hospital from January 2018 to February 2022 were retrospectively collected, including 23 men and 8 women, aged 31-84 (67) years. All patients received perfusion scans of lesion sites within 1 week before surgery and 1 month after surgery. We collected and compared the changes in preoperative and postoperative perfusion parameters such as blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean through time (MTT), permeability surface (PS) and energy spectrum parameters including arterial phase CT value (CTA), venous phase CT value (CTV), arterial phase iodine concentration (ICA), venous phase of iodine concentration (ICV), arterial standardization iodine concentration (NICA), and intravenous standardized iodine concentration (NICV) to confirm the significance of these parameters in evaluating the short-term efficacy of BACE in the treatment of advanced lung cancer. Data normality was tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and normally distributed measurement data are expressed here as mean ± standard deviation; the independent-samples t-test was used for comparisons between two groups. The measurement data that were not normally distributed are expressed as median (interquartile interval) [M (Q₁, Q₃)], and the comparison between the two groups used the Kruskal-Wallis test. Count data are expressed as cases (%), and comparisons between groups used the χ² test. Results: The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) at 1 month after BACE were 54.8% (17/31) and 96.8% (30/31), respectively. CT perfusion parameters and energy spectrum parameters of patients before and after BACE treatment were compared. The results showed that BF, BV, MTT, ICA, ICV and NICV were significantly decreased after BACE treatment compared with before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant[58.06 (40.47,87.22) vs.23.57(10.92, 36.24) ml·min^-1·100g^-1,3.33(2.86,6.09) vs.2.12(1.96,3.61)ml/100g,2.70(2.19,3.88) vs.1.53 (1.12,2.25)s, 3.51 (3.11,4.14)vs.1.74 (1.26,2.50)mg/ml,2.00 (1.30,2.45) vs.1.32(0.92,1.76)mg/ml,0.51(0.42,0.57) vs.0.33(0.23,0.39)](all P<0.05). At the same time, compared with the non-remission group, the study results showed that the difference of parameters in remission group before and after BACE was more obvious, including ΔBF, ΔBV, ΔMTT, ΔPS, ΔCTA, ΔCTV, ΔICA, ΔICV, ΔNICA, ΔNICV were significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant [36.82(32.38, 45.34) vs.9.50(-1.43, 12.34) ml·min^-1·100g^-1,4.46(2.52, 5.79) vs.0.22(-0.76, 4.09) ml/100g,4.22(2.25, 6.77) vs.0.43(-2.53, 1.88) s,10.07 (2.89, 13.13) vs.-2.01(-6.77, 4.28) ml·min^-1·100g^-1,14.22(11.88, 20.57) vs.4.18(-5.25, 6.37) HU, 34.6(14.88, 43.15) vs.11.60(0.26, 25.05) HU,0.95(0.54, 1.47) vs.0.11(0.20, 0.59) mg/ml,1.57(1.10, 2.38) vs. 0.26(-0.21, 0.63) mg/ml,0.05(0.03, 0.08) vs.-0.02(-0.04, 0.01),0.18(0.13, 0.21)vs. 0.11(-0.06, 0.16)](all P<0.05). Conclusions: CT perfusion combined with spectral imaging could effectively evaluate the changes in tumor vascular perfusion in patients with advanced lung cancer before and after BACE treatment, which has important value in judging the short-term efficacy after treatment.

PMID:37096281 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112138-20220513-00366

Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 2023 May 1;62(5):513-519. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112138-20220516-00377.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate dose-response associations between fluid overload (FO) and hospital mortality in patients with sepsis. Methods: The current cohort study was prospective and multicenter. Data were derived from the China Critical Care Sepsis Trial, which was conducted from January 2013 to August 2014. Patients aged≥18 years who were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) for at least 3 days were included. Fluid input/output, fluid balance, fluid overload (FO), and maximum FO (MFO) were calculated during the first 3 days of ICU admission. The patients were divided into three groups based on MFO values: MFO<5%L/kg, MFO 5%-10%L/kg, and MFO≥10% L/kg. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to predict time to death in hospital in the three groups. Associations between MFO and in-hospital mortality were evaluated via multivariable Cox regression models with restricted cubic splines. Results: A total of 2 070 patients were included in the study, of which 1 339 were male and 731 were female, and the mean age was (62.6±17.9) years. Of 696 (33.6%) who died in hospital, 968 (46.8%) were in the MFO<5%L/kg group, 530 (25.6%) were in the MFO 5%-10%L/kg group, and 572 (27.6%) were in the MFO≥10%L/kg group. Deceased patients had significantly higher fluid input than surviving patients during the first 3 days [7 642.0 (2 874.3, 13 639.5) ml vs. 5 738.0 (1 489.0, 7 153.5)ml], and lower fluid output [4 086.0 (1 367.0, 6 354.5) ml vs. 6 130.0 (2 046.0, 11 762.0) ml]. The cumulative survival rates in the three groups gradually decreased with length of ICU stay, and they were 74.9% (725/968) in the MFO<5% L/kg group, 67.7% (359/530) in the MFO 5%-10%L/kg group, and 51.6% (295/572) in the MFO≥10%L/kg group. Compared with the MFO<5%L/kg group, the MFO≥10%L/kg group had a 49% increased risk of inhospital mortality (HR=1.49, 95%CI 1.28-1.73). For each 1% L/kg increase in MFO, the risk of in-hospital mortality increased by 7% (HR=1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.09). There was a”J-shaped”non-linear association between MFO and in-hospital mortality with a nadir of 4.1% L/kg. Conclusion: Higher and lower optimum fluid balance levels were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, as reflected by the observed J-shaped non-linear association between fluid overload and inhospital mortality.

PMID:37096277 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112138-20220516-00377

EClinicalMedicine. 2023 May;59:101959. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101959. Epub 2023 Apr 19.

ABSTRACT

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101762.].

PMID:37096187 | PMC:PMC10115131 | DOI:10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101959

J Transp Health. 2023 May;30:101615. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2023.101615. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has impacted millions of commuters by decreasing their mobility and transport patterns. While these changes in travel have been studied, less is known about how commute changes may have impacted individuals’ body mass index (BMI). The present longitudinal study explores the relationship between commute mode and BMI of employed individuals in Montréal, Canada.

METHODS: This study uses panel data drawn from two waves of the Montréal Mobility Survey (MMS) conducted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 458). BMI was modeled separately for women and men as a function of commuting mode, WalkScore©, sociodemographic, and behavioral covariates using a multilevel regression modeling approach.

RESULTS: For women, BMI significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but telecommuting frequency, and more specifically telecommuting as a replacement of driving, led to a statistically significant decrease in BMI. For men, higher levels of residential local accessibility decreased BMI, while telecommuting did not have a statistically significant effect on BMI.

CONCLUSIONS: This study’s findings confirm previously observed gendered differences in the relations between the built environment, transport behaviors, and BMI, while offering new insights regarding the impacts of the changes in commute patterns linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since some of the COVID-19 impacts on commute are expected to be lasting, findings from this research can be of use by health and transport practitioners as they work towards generating policies that improve population health.

PMID:37096134 | PMC:PMC10099220 | DOI:10.1016/j.jth.2023.101615

J Perinat Med. 2023 Apr 26. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2023-0092. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To study whether the free energy principle can explain fetal brain activity and the existence of fetal consciousness via a chaotic dimension derived using artificial intelligence.

METHODS: In this observational study, we used a four-dimensional ultrasound technique obtained to collect images of fetal faces from pregnancies at 27-37 weeks of gestation, between February and December 2021. We developed an artificial intelligence classifier that recognizes fetal facial expressions, which are thought to relate to fetal brain activity. We then applied the classifier to video files of facial images to generate each expression category’s probabilities. We calculated the chaotic dimensions from the probability lists, and we created and investigated the free energy principle’s mathematical model that was assumed to be linked to the chaotic dimension. We used a Mann-Whitney test, linear regression test, and one-way analysis of variance for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The chaotic dimension revealed that the fetus had dense and sparse states of brain activity, which fluctuated at a statistically significant level. The chaotic dimension and free energy were larger in the sparse state than in the dense state.

CONCLUSIONS: The fluctuating free energy suggests consciousness seemed to exist in the fetus after 27 weeks.

PMID:37096665 | DOI:10.1515/jpm-2023-0092

Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2023 Apr 25. doi: 10.1002/npr2.12341. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Owing to the stress caused by the behavioral restrictions and lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, suicide rates have increased in Japan, especially among young people. This study aimed to identify the differences in the characteristics of patients hospitalized for suicide attempts in the emergency room, requiring inpatient care before and during the pandemic over 2 years.

METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis. Data were collected from the electronic medical records. A descriptive survey was conducted to examine changes in the pattern of suicide attempts during the COVID-19 outbreak. Two-sample independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, and Fisher’s exact test were used for data analysis.

RESULTS: Two hundred one patients were included. No significant differences were found in the number of patients hospitalized for suicide attempts, average age, or sex ratio before and during the pandemic periods. Acute drug intoxication and overmedication in patients increased significantly during the pandemic. The self-inflicted means of injury with high fatality rates were similar during the two periods. The rate of physical complications significantly increased during the pandemic, while the proportion of unemployed individuals significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite studies predicting an increase in suicides based on past statistics of young people and of women, no significant changes were observed in this survey of the Hanshin-Awaji region, including Kobe. This may have been owing to the effect of suicide prevention measures and mental health measures implemented by the Japanese government after an increase in suicides and after past natural disasters.

PMID:37096596 | DOI:10.1002/npr2.12341

Multivariate Behav Res. 2023 Apr 25:1-4. doi: 10.1080/00273171.2023.2201277. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The multivariate delta method was used by Yuan and Chan to estimate standard errors and confidence intervals for standardized regression coefficients. Jones and Waller extended the earlier work to situations where data are nonnormal by utilizing Browne’s asymptotic distribution-free (ADF) theory. Furthermore, Dudgeon developed standard errors and confidence intervals, employing heteroskedasticity-consistent (HC) estimators, that are robust to nonnormality with better performance in smaller sample sizes compared to Jones and Waller’s ADF technique. Despite these advancements, empirical research has been slow to adopt these methodologies. This can be a result of the dearth of user-friendly software programs to put these techniques to use. We present the betaDelta and the betaSandwich packages in the R statistical software environment in this manuscript. Both the normal-theory approach and the ADF approach put forth by Yuan and Chan and Jones and Waller are implemented by the betaDelta package. The HC approach proposed by Dudgeon is implemented by the betaSandwich package. The use of the packages is demonstrated with an empirical example. We think the packages will enable applied researchers to accurately assess the sampling variability of standardized regression coefficients.

PMID:37096594 | DOI:10.1080/00273171.2023.2201277

Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2023 Apr 25. doi: 10.1002/ieam.4778. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are deemed a major conveyor and point source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment. This statistical meta-analysis of existing literature from the past 15 years focused on the significance of treatment type for PFAS removal efficiencies and the influence of PFAS sources (domestic vs. industrial) on their removal. Different sampling events, WWTPs across the world, different treatment technologies, configurations, and processes, as well as different PFAS classes and compounds were all considered. This study evaluated 13 PFAS analyzed predominately in 161 WWTPs across the world. The statistical test results showed that these 13 frequently detected and reported PFAS can be divided into four groups based on their behavior during wastewater treatment, namely 1) C6-10 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), 2) C4,5,11,12 PFCAs, 3) C4,6,8 perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs), and 4) C10 PFSA. Within this study, biological treatments such as 1) membrane bioreactors, 2) combination of two or more biological treatments and 3) biofilm processes showed the highest PFAS removals, while the addition of a tertiary treatment actually had a non-beneficial effect on PFAS removal. Moreover, a strong statistical correlation was observed between industrial wastewater sources and the presence of high influent PFAS concentrations in the receiving WWTPs. This is an indication that industrial sources were the main contributors for the PFAS load in the analyzed WWTPs.

PMID:37096563 | DOI:10.1002/ieam.4778

Am J Hematol. 2023 Apr 25. doi: 10.1002/ajh.26939. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:37096490 | DOI:10.1002/ajh.26939