Tag: nevin manimala

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Mar 24;102(12):e33255. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033255.

ABSTRACT

Aging populations, along with low fertility rates, have become a pervasive world-wide problem. To address this challenge, China issued a universal 3-child policy on May 31, 2021. However, little is known regarding the intentions of childbearing-aged Chinese for a third child. The purpose of this study was to assess the fertility intentions of the Chinese as related to this third-child policy and identify risk factors for third-child refusal. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 2129 Chinese childbearing-aged participants were recruited nationwide from June 15 to July 22, 2021. Each participant was interviewed using questionnaires to establish their sociodemographic variables, psychosocial factors as related to third-child intentions, and reasons for third-child refusal. Finally, 2115 responses (866 men and 1249 women) were analyzed. IBM SPSS Statistical Software (version 19) was used for the statistical analyses. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess independent influences for third-child refusal. Approximately 30% of these participants reported an intention for having a third child. In those expressing a refusal for a third child, women showed a higher prevalence rate (74.1 vs 63.2%, P < .001). Results from multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that age (P = .033), unemployment (P = .045), and currently raising 2 children (P = .017) were risk factors for third-child refusal among men, while age (P < .001), >15 years of education (P = .017), current smokers (P = .005) and residing in Northern China (P = .035) were risk factors for women. Overall, increased demands upon time and energy (41.5%), as well as economic burdens (41.4%), were the most prevalent reasons for the refusal of a third child, while achieving mutual care among siblings (52.5%) and reducing child educational costs (33.3%) were the most effective persuasions. In response to the 3-child policy, Chinese childbearing-aged adults showed low rates of intention for a third child, with women showing a higher prevalence of third-child refusal. The identification of risk factors and the reasons for third-child refusal as revealed from the results of this study provide a foundation for the development of programs needed to aid in the implementation of this 3-child policy.

PMID:36961189 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000033255

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Mar 24;102(12):e33343. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033343.

ABSTRACT

Health information is particularly essential in times of pandemics in which rapid response is crucial for political and stakeholder decision-making processes, and therefore the availability of data as well as its quality analysis are necessary. This study aimed to describe the completeness and quality of the e-Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) Health Surveillance database (SUS Vigilância em Saúde) of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from the notification of deaths from corana virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from January 2020 to June 2021. A descriptive population-based register study was conducted from the analysis of the completeness of secondary data from the record of deaths from COVID-19, retrieved from the e-SUS Vigilância em Saúde (Health Surveillance) (VS) database of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, from January 2020 to June 2021. A total of 11,359 death records from COVID-19 via e-SUS VS in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, were evaluated. The score used to assess incompleteness was the 1 proposed by Romero and Cunha which classifies as excellent (when < 5%), good (between 5% and 10%), regular (between 10% and 20%), poor (between 20% and 50%), and very poor (when > 50%), according to the percentage of the absence of information. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted in the Stata program, version 15.1. “Case identification” variables, and “condition” variables were classified as excellent completeness. Among the evolution variables, only “hospitalization” was classified as regular. Among the laboratory variables, only the polymerase chain reaction presented excellent completeness, while the “rapid test” and “serologies for immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin M” variables were classified as good completeness. It is concluded that most of the variables available in e-SUS VS of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, of notification of deaths from COVID-19 in 2020 presented excellent completeness, confirming the excellent quality of the state database.

PMID:36961187 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000033343

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Mar 24;102(12):e33359. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033359.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The impact of statin use on the survival of esophageal cancer patients remains unclear now. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between statin use and the long-term survival of esophageal cancer patients.

METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched up to August 20, 2022, for relevant studies. The endpoints included overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), recurrence-free survival, and hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to assess the association between statin use and the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients. Subgroup analysis based on the pathological type (adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma), dose of statin use and tumor stage (tumor-node-metastasis I-III vs IV) was further performed. All statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 12.0 software.

RESULTS: A total of 7 retrospective studies involving 25,711 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that statin use was significantly associated with improved OS (HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.74-0.87, P < .001), CSS (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.74-0.89, P < .001), and recurrence-free survival (HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.16-0.87, P = .022). Furthermore, subgroup analysis stratified by the pathological type, dose of statin use and tumor stage for OS and CSS showed similar results and indicated the protective role of statin use in the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients.

CONCLUSION: Statin use is significantly associated with improved long-term survival of esophageal cancer patients and might serve as a promising prognostic indicator in esophageal cancer. However, more prospective high-quality studies are still needed to verify our findings.

PMID:36961185 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000033359

Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Mar 24;102(12):e33320. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033320.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Difficult peripheral venous access, especially in obese people, is challenging for novices. We conducted a randomized cross-over study to examine whether near-infrared venous imaging or ultrasound guidance is more useful for novice operators to obtain difficult peripheral venous access.

METHODS: Medical students were recruited as participants. After receiving basic training using commercial simulators, participants were randomly assigned to obtain simulated venous access using a difficult venous access simulator with near-infrared venous imaging or ultrasound guidance in a randomized cross-over design. A difficult venous access simulator was newly developed with deep and narrow vessels to simulate an obese patient. The primary outcome measure of the study was the first-time success rate (%), and the secondary outcome measures included procedure time (seconds) and the number of 3 consecutive successful attempts, to represent proficiency with the procedure. Pearson chi-square test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and generalized estimating equations were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Forty-one medical students with no experience performing peripheral venous access were enrolled in this study. The rate of successful first attempts did not differ between the 2 groups (70% for near-infrared; 65% for ultrasound guidance; P = .64). The duration of the procedure for the first attempt was significantly shorter using near-infrared imaging (median: 14; interquartile range: 12-19) compared to ultrasound guidance (median 46; interquartile range: 26-52; P = .007). The number of attempts until 3 consecutive successes was not significantly different comparing the 2 approaches (near-infrared: 3 (3, 7.25), ultrasound guidance: 3 (3, 6.25), P = .63).

CONCLUSION: There was no difference in success rate of first-time attempts or acquiring proficiency for the 2 methods. However, duration of the first attempt was significantly shorter with near-infrared imaging than with ultrasound guidance. Near-infrared imaging may require less training than ultrasound guidance. Near-infrared venous imaging may be useful for novices to obtain difficult peripheral venous access in obese patients.

PMID:36961182 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000033320

Turk J Orthod. 2023 Mar 21;36(1):10-14. doi: 10.4274/TurkJOrthod.2022.2021.0220.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Operator experience and scanner type may influence the time taken and obtained accuracy of intraoral scanning. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of operator experience on the scanning time and correlate the accuracy of the scans taken with two different intraoral scanners (TRIOS 3, 3Shape and i500, Medit).

METHODS: In this trial, a total of 20 subjects who required intraoral scanning for orthodontic treatment were included. Intraoral scanning was done with two different scanners, TRIOS 3 and i500. One operator each with high (group 1), medium (group 2) and low (group 3) levels of experience performed intra-oral scanning with two different intraoral scanners. A One-Way ANOVA test was performed to assess the intergroup difference in scanning time and Kendall’s tau’s correlation test to determine the correlation between the experience of the operator and accuracy among the three groups using the two scanners. Also Independent samples t-test were performed to assess the intragroup differences in scanning time with two different scanners.

RESULTS: The scanning time was influenced by the type of intraoral scanner and operator experience (p<0.05). No significant correlation between operator experience and scanning accuracy in the three groups was noted (p>0.05). Statistically significant intragroup differences in scanning time between the two scanners were noted (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Less experienced operators took more time to scan a subject. Accuracy of scanning among three groups using two scanners was not influenced by the experience of the operator. Scanning with i500 IOS took more time than TRIOS.

PMID:36960781 | DOI:10.4274/TurkJOrthod.2022.2021.0220

OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2023 Mar 24:15394492231158375. doi: 10.1177/15394492231158375. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This rater-blinded, randomized control trial (RCT) investigated the effectiveness of a Glove Rehabilitation Application for Stroke Patients (GRASP) virtual reality home exercise program (HEP) for upper extremity (UE) motor recovery following stroke. The GRASP system facilitates the use of the affected UE in simulated instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Participants were asked to use the system at home in asynchronous telehealth sessions 4 times per week over 8 weeks. A non-blinded occupational therapist (OT) provided synchronous telehealth visits biweekly. Analysis comparing pre- and post-assessment results for the Fugl-Meyer UE assessment (FMUE) shows a clinically important and statistically significant between-group difference for participants completing the GRASP HEP protocol compared with usual and customary care controls. Statistically significant and clinically important differences were also found in Motor Activity Log (MAL) scores. This evidence provides support for the effectiveness of home-based, IADL-focused, virtual reality therapy with telehealth support.

PMID:36960762 | DOI:10.1177/15394492231158375

Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2023 Mar 24:1-19. doi: 10.1080/02648725.2023.2193484. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To explore how to control the estrogen level in vivo by regulating the activity of the estrogen receptor in the development of breast cancer drugs, multiple-featured evaluation methods were first applied to screen the molecular descriptors of compounds according to the information of antagonist ERα provided in this study. Combining the methods of Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) and Random Forest (RF), a stacking-integrated regression model for quantitatively predicting the ERα (estrogen receptors alpha) activity of breast cancer candidate drug was constructed, which considered the compounds acting on the target and their biological activity data, a series of molecular structure descriptors as the independent variables, and the biological activity values as the dependent variables. Then, three classification methods of XGBoost, LightGBM, and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) were selected and the voting strategy was applied to build five ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) classification prediction models. Finally, two schemes based on genetic algorithm (GA) were used to optimize the model and provide predictions for optimizing the biological activity and ADMET properties of ERα antagonists simultaneously. Results showed that the model prediction has strong practical significance, which can guide the structural optimization of existing active compounds and improve the activity of anti-breast cancer candidate drugs.

PMID:36960749 | DOI:10.1080/02648725.2023.2193484

Korean J Orthod. 2023 Mar 25;53(2):116-124. doi: 10.4041/kjod22.229.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The absence of a guideline to refer to developing malocclusions appropriately, may be a contributing factor to the inadequacy of timely interceptive orthodontics provision. This study aimed to develop and validate a new orthodontic grading and referral index to be used by dental frontliners to prioritize the orthodontic referral of developing malocclusion in children based on its severity.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving clinical assessment with 413 schoolchildren aged between 8.1 and 11.9 years was conducted in 2018. All the presenting malocclusion was listed and graded based on a few dental guidelines to produce the draft index. The validity and reliability of the draft index were tested using twenty study models. Face and content validation was carried out using the content validation index and Modified Kappa Statistics.

RESULTS: Fourteen dental and occlusal anomalies were identified as components of malocclusion and three grades of referral (monitor, standard, urgent) were included in the final index. The scale-level content validity index average value of 0.86 and 0.87 was obtained for content and face validation, respectively. There was moderate to excellent agreement in the Modified Kappa Statistics for both validations. Excellent inter- and intra-assessor agreement was obtained. The new index displayed valid and reliable scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The Index for Interceptive Orthodontics Referral was developed and validated for the dental frontliners to identify and prioritize the developing malocclusion in children based on its severity and refer for orthodontic consultation to increase the possibility for interceptive orthodontics.

PMID:36960722 | DOI:10.4041/kjod22.229

Korean J Orthod. 2023 Mar 25;53(2):106-115. doi: 10.4041/kjod22.179.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the null hypothesis that there is no difference in a set of clinical predictors of potentially impacted canines between low-risk patients with and without displaced canines.

METHODS: The normal canine position group consisted of 30 patients with 60 normally erupting canines ranked in sector I (age, 9.30 ± 0.94 years). The displaced canine group comprised 30 patients with 41 potentially impacted canines ranked in sectors II to IV (age, 9.46 ± 0.78 years). Maxillary lateral incisor crown angulation, inclination, rotation, width, height, and shape, as well as palatal depth, arch length, width, and perimeter composed a set of clinical predictors, which were evaluated on digital dental casts. Statistical analyses consisted of group comparisons and variable correlations (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: There was a significant association between sex and mesially displaced canines. Unilateral canine displacement was more prevalent than bilateral displacement. The crown of the maxillary lateral incisors was significantly angulated more mesially and rotated mesiolabially in low-risk patients with displaced canines, who also had a shallower palate and shorter anterior dental arch length. Lateral incisor crown angulation and rotation, as well as palatal depth and arch length, were significantly correlated with the canine displacement severity.

CONCLUSIONS: The null hypothesis was rejected. Maxillary lateral incisor angulation inconsistent with the “ugly duckling” stage as well as a shallow palate and short arch length are clinical predictors that can significantly contribute to the early screening of ectopic canines in low-risk patients.

PMID:36960721 | DOI:10.4041/kjod22.179

Korean J Orthod. 2023 Mar 25;53(2):99-105. doi: 10.4041/kjod22.077.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the changes in mandibular width after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) in patients with mandibular asymmetric prognathism using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

METHODS: Seventy patients who underwent SSRO for mandibular setback surgery were included in two groups, symmetric (n = 35) and asymmetric (n = 35), which were divided according to the differences in their right and left setback amounts. The mandibular width was evaluated three-dimensionally using CBCT images taken immediately before surgery (T1), 3 days after surgery (T2), and 6 months after surgery (T3). Repeated measures analysis of variance was applied to verify the differences in mandibular width statistically.

RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant increase in the mandibular width at T2, followed by a significant decrease at T3. No significant difference was observed between T1 and T3 in any of the measurements. No significant differences were found between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: After mandibular asymmetric setback surgery using SSRO, the mandibular width increased immediately but returned to its original width 6 months after surgery.

PMID:36960720 | DOI:10.4041/kjod22.077