Tag: nevin manimala

Korean J Intern Med. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2022.084. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Secondary infection with influenza virus occurs in critically ill patients and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality; however, there is limited information about it in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, we investigated the clinical outcomes of and risk factors for secondary infections in patients with severe COVID-19.

METHODS: This study included patients with severe COVID-19 who were admitted to seven hospitals in South Korea between February 2020 to February 2021. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with the risk of secondary infections.

RESULTS: Of the 348 included patients, 104 (29.9%) had at least one infection. There was no statistically significant difference in the 28-day mortality (17.3% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.214), but in-hospital mortality was higher (29.8% vs. 15.2%, p = 0.002) in the infected group than in the non-infected group. The risk factors for secondary infection were a high frailty scale (odds ratio [OR], 1.314; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.123 to 1.538; p = 0.001), steroid use (OR, 3.110; 95% CI, 1.164 to 8.309; p = 0.024), and the application of mechanical ventilation (OR, 4.653; 95% CI, 2.533 to 8.547; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital mortality was more than doubled in patients with severe COVID-19 and secondary infections. A high frailty scale, the use of steroids and application of mechanical ventilation were risk factors for secondary infection.

PMID:36420564 | DOI:10.3904/kjim.2022.084

Korean J Intern Med. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.3904/kjim.2022.283. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) guidelines recommend adults aged ≥ 40 years and adults aged ≥ 30 years with diabetes risk factors for diabetes screening. This study aimed to determine the age threshold for diabetes screening in Korean adults.

METHODS: This study was based on the analyses of Korean adults aged ≥ 20 years using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC). To evaluate screening effectiveness, we calculated the number needed to screen (NNS).

RESULTS: NNS to detect diabetes decreased from 63 to 34 in the KNHANES and from 71 to 42 in the NHIS-NSC between the ages of 30-34 and 35-39. When universal screening was applied to adults aged ≥ 35, the NNS was similar to that of adults aged ≥ 40. Compared to the KDA guidelines, the rate of missed screening positive in adults aged ≥ 20 decreased from 4.0% to 0.2% when the newly suggested screening criteria were applied.

CONCLUSIONS: Universal screening for adults aged ≥ 35 and selective screening for adults aged 20 to 34, considering diabetes risk factors, may be appropriate for detecting prediabetes and diabetes in South Korea.

PMID:36420563 | DOI:10.3904/kjim.2022.283

Int J Biostat. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1515/ijb-2022-0001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This paper proposes a new flexible discrete triplet Lindley model that is constructed from the balanced discretization principle of the extended Lindley distribution. This model has several appealing statistical properties in terms of providing exact and closed form moment expressions and handling all forms of dispersion. Due to these, this paper explores further the usage of the discrete triplet Lindley as an innovation distribution in the simple integer-valued autoregressive process (INAR(1)). This subsequently allows for the modeling of count time series observations. In this context, a novel INAR(1) process is developed under mixed Binomial and the Pegram thinning operators. The model parameters of the INAR(1) process are estimated using the conditional maximum likelihood and Yule-Walker approaches. Some Monte Carlo simulation experiments are executed to assess the consistency of the estimators under the two estimation approaches. Interestingly, the proposed INAR(1) process is applied to analyze the COVID-19 cases and death series of different countries where it yields reliable parameter estimates and suitable forecasts via the modified Sieve bootstrap technique. On the other side, the new INAR(1) with discrete triplet Lindley innovations competes comfortably with other established INAR(1)s in the literature.

PMID:36420542 | DOI:10.1515/ijb-2022-0001

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2022-1126. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lot-to-lot verification is an integral component for monitoring the long-term stability of a measurement procedure. The practice is challenged by the resource requirements as well as uncertainty surrounding experimental design and statistical analysis that is optimal for individual laboratories, although guidance is becoming increasingly available. Collaborative verification efforts as well as application of patient-based monitoring are likely to further improve identification of any differences in performance in a relatively timely manner. Appropriate follow up actions of failed lot-to-lot verification is required and must balance potential disruptions to clinical services provided by the laboratory. Manufacturers need to increase transparency surrounding release criteria and work closer with laboratory professionals to ensure acceptable reagent lots are released to end users. A tripartite collaboration between regulatory bodies, manufacturers, and laboratory medicine professional bodies is key to developing a balanced system where regulatory, manufacturing, and clinical requirements of laboratory testing are met, to minimize differences between reagent lots and ensure patient safety. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine has served as a fertile platform for advancing the discussion and practice of lot-to-lot verification in the past 60 years and will continue to be an advocate of this important topic for many more years to come.

PMID:36420533 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2022-1126

J Exerc Rehabil. 2022 Oct 26;18(5):308-317. doi: 10.12965/jer.2244376.188. eCollection 2022 Oct.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to examine the relationship between postural perfor-mance, physical fitness level, and shooting performance in Olympic fe-male goalball players. Eight Olympic-level goalball players (age: 20.63± 4.37 years) were recruited from the Turkish National Women’s Goalball Team. Postural stability, physical fitness, and shooting performance of the players were measured. The postural stability was determined us-ing body sway measurements during parallel and single-leg stances on a force plate. The physical fitness level of the players is evaluated by curl-up, isometric push-up, trunk lift, and grip strength (dominant hand) tests. A goalball-specific shooting accuracy test was used for shooting performance. Independent sample t-test and Pearson correlation were used for statistical processing. No statistical difference was observed in body sway parameters between open eyes and closed eyes condi-tions except for the anteroposterior sway area. Some of the body sway parameters performed under different stances positively correlated with all physical fitness tests (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the shooting accuracy and trunk lift score (r=0.767). Right leg sway area anterior-posterior and ellipse area negatively correlated with shooting accuracy (r=-0.629 and r=-0.692 respectively). It is necessary to attach importance to the improvement of the physical fitness level specific to core strength to maintain postural stability for visually im-paired athletes. In our study, some factors affecting shooting accuracy were identified, but it is necessary not to restrict a complex structure such as shooting accuracy within certain concepts.

PMID:36420474 | PMC:PMC9650316 | DOI:10.12965/jer.2244376.188

J Trop Med. 2022 Nov 14;2022:9190333. doi: 10.1155/2022/9190333. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Although the deworming program has been executed since 2000, the intestinal parasitic infection (IPI) rates among primary schoolchildren (PSC) in the two provinces of the Kingdom of Eswatini investigated in 2010 remained high, reaching 32.2%. In this study, we monitored the IPI status along with the associated risk factors for PSC in two provinces-Manzini and Lubombo. After consent from their parents/guardians, a total of 316 samples collected from PSC with grades 1 to 3 from four primary schools in Manzini and Lubombo were examined by the Merthiolate-Iodine-Formaldehyde (MIF) method. In addition, demographic characteristics and risk factors acquired by questionnaire surveys were included to be statistically analyzed. The overall prevalence was 40.5% (128/316), of which the infection rate in Manzini and Lubombo was 28.8% (19/66) and 58.3% (74/140), respectively. Pathogenic protozoa had the highest infection rate of 20.6% (65/316), including Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (8.5%, 27/316), Giardia duodenalis (14.6%, 46/316), and Blastocystis hominis (9.8%, 31/316). In terms of helminth infection, the infection rate was quite low, 1.6% only, and these five infected cases included four cases of Hymenolepis nana and one case of Enterobius vermicularis infection. Present study showed that 27.8% (88/316) of PSC were infected by more than one pathogenic parasite. Personal hygiene like washing hands before a meal has a significant protection effect (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.14-0.75, p=0.009). Rain or well water and the type of water supply from which they drank also showed a considerable risk factor (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.25-4.79, p=0.04). The IPI rate in PSC seems unlikely changed compared to that of the previous survey conducted in 2010, especially when the pathogenic protozoan infection rate remains high. Treatment of infected PSC with appropriate medication to reduce intestinal pathogenic protozoan infection should be seriously considered by Eswatini Health Authority.

PMID:36420456 | PMC:PMC9678472 | DOI:10.1155/2022/9190333

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Nov 7;10:1018653. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1018653. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To investigate the differences in corneal biomechanical parameter stress-strain index (SSI) among different degrees of myopic eyes in Chinese individuals and to analyze the relevant factors of the SSI. Methods: This study analyzed the right eyes of 240 participants (240 eyes) aged 18-34 years. The participants were divided into low-, moderate-, high-, and ultra-high myopia groups according to their spherical equivalent (SE), with 60 eyes included in each group. Spherical, cylinder, and SE were measured via automatically integrated optometry. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using a non-contact tonometer. AL was measured using an IOLMaster device. Corneal curvature and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured using a Pentacam. SSI and biomechanical corrected IOP (bIOP) were measured via corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (Corvis ST). The statistical analyses included one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests and normal distribution histogram methods, Levene variance homogeneity tests, Pearson’s correlation analyses, multiple linear stepwise regression analyses, one-way ANOVA, and LSD t-tests. Results: The mean (±SD) age of the 240 participants was (24.97 ± 4.16) years. The SSI was positively correlated with spherical, cylinder, SE, CCT, IOP, and bIOP and negatively correlated with K1 and AL (r = 0.475, 0.371, 0.497, 0.169, 0.291, 0.144, -0.154, and -0.464, respectively; all p < 0.05), but were not correlated with age, K2, or Km (all p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis performed with SSI as the dependent variable, and spherical, cylinder, K1, CCT, and IOP as independent variables produced the following regression equation: SSI = 0.989 + 0.017 spherical + 0.042 cylinder +0.018 IOP (R ² = 0.402, F = 31.518, p < 0.001). The SSI values in the low-, moderate-, high-, and ultra-high myopia groups were 0.945 ± 0.135, 0.940 ± 0.128, 0.874 ± 0.110, and 0.771 ± 0.104, respectively. The values decreased sequentially, and the differences between pairs were statistically significant (all p < 0.05), except for that between the low- and moderate-myopia groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: SSI decreased with increasing myopia and astigmatism in the Chinese participants. The SSI was significantly lower in high and ultra-high myopia, especially ultra-high myopia. These findings indicate that increased corneal elasticity may be related to the pathogenesis of high and ultra-high myopia.

PMID:36420440 | PMC:PMC9676639 | DOI:10.3389/fbioe.2022.1018653

Front Surg. 2022 Nov 7;9:1039828. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.1039828. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The feasibility and safety of robotic extended cholecystectomy (REC) are still uncertain. This study was performed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of REC with those of open extended cholecystectomy (OEC) for T1a-T3 gallbladder cancer.

METHODS: From January 2015 to April 2022, 28 patients underwent REC in our center. To minimize any confounding factors, a 1:2 propensity score-matching analysis was conducted based on the patients’ demographics, liver function indicators, T stage, and symptoms. The data regarding demographics, perioperative outcomes, and long-term oncologic outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS: The visual analogue scale score was significantly lower in the REC than OEC group immediately postoperatively (3.68 ± 2.09 vs. 4.73 ± 1.85, P = 0.008), on postoperative day 1 (2.96 ± 1.75 vs. 3.69 ± 1.41, P = 0.023), and on postoperative day 2 (2.36 ± 1.55 vs. 2.92 ± 1.21, P = 0.031). In addition, the REC group exhibited a shorter time to first ambulation (P = 0.043), a shorter time to drainage tube removal (P = 0.038), and a shorter postoperative stay (P = 0.037), but hospital costs were significantly higher in the REC group (P < 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the operation time (P = 0.134), intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.467), or incidence of postoperative morbidity (P = 0.227) or mortality (P = 0.289) between the REC and OEC groups. In regard to long-term outcomes, the 3-year disease-free survival rate was comparable between the OEC and REC groups (43.1% vs. 57.2%, P = 0.684), as was the 3-year overall survival rate (62.8% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.619).

CONCLUSION: REC can be an effective and safe alternative to OEC for selected patients with T1a-T3 gallbladder cancer with respect to short- and long-term outcomes.

PMID:36420415 | PMC:PMC9676919 | DOI:10.3389/fsurg.2022.1039828

Front Psychol. 2022 Nov 7;13:1018601. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1018601. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

The elderly population is increasing and the implementation of stimulating training to promote active aging has become a research issue. This study aimed at investigating the effects of a cognitive-motor exergame training on cognitive functions and mood, in healthy older adults. A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted to compare a cognitive-motor exergame training with a passive control group. The training consisted of 8 sessions of 45 min each, including 10 interactive activities focused on several cognitive functions such as memory, processing speed and executive functions, all requiring motor planning and execution. A total of 57 participants were administered a battery of cognitive tests before and after the training. A mixed-effect ANOVA with group (experimental vs. control) as between factor and time (pre-and post-test) as within factor, was performed to evaluate the effect of the exergame training on cognitive abilities and mood. Results showed significant interaction effects in processing speed [STROOPC: F (_1,53.4) = 9.04, p = 0.004, R ² = 0.82], inhibition [3backs’ false alarms: F (_1,47.5) = 5.5, p = 0.02, R ² = 0.79], and mood [Beck Depression Inventory: F (_1,55) = 4.15, p = 0.04, R ² = 0.6]. Even though post-hoc analyses did not provide statistical evidence supporting the interactions, overall data showed a trend toward better scores only for the experimental group, suggesting a potential improvement in information processing speed, working memory and mood. Exergaming may be a motivating and enjoyable approach to healthy and active aging.

PMID:36420381 | PMC:PMC9676977 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1018601

Front Psychol. 2022 Nov 7;13:1032808. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1032808. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Fighting against the epidemic is an arduous and prolonged battle where many artists hope to inspire people with the power of art through cultural creativity. To explore the effects of emotional design factors on the communication of audio-visual art and the audience’s perceptive experience, this research takes the original anti-epidemic song and the film China Braves Headwind as the research object. The research also uses such methods as questionnaires, Structural Equation Models, and dependent samples t-tests to conduct statistical analysis. The results are as follows: First, the emotional design evaluation matrix based on the emotional communication model is reasonable, and the scales of this research are feasible. Second, the emotional design of audio-visual works can significantly affect the audience’s emotional experience and further improve sharing intention. Third, Attribute A2 (Artistic style, Thematic perception) and attribute C3 (Emotional resonance, Spiritual sublimation) serve as common factors affecting the emotional experience in terms of both musical works and film and television works. Fourth, compared with musical works, film and television works are likely to resonate with the audience. The combination of music and visual sensation can help open up the conception of artistic works and convey their meanings to viewers. Therefore, it’s necessary to explore the emotional communication mode between audio-visual artists and the audience. It helps artists think about how to create works innovatively and is conducive to marketizing works and stimulating cultural consumption demand.

PMID:36420378 | PMC:PMC9677820 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1032808