Tag: nevin manimala

Qual Life Res. 2022 Nov 24. doi: 10.1007/s11136-022-03306-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Memory deficits are very frequent in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, but they predict a small proportion of variance of their quality of life (QOL) in previous studies, possibly due to the lack of consideration of mediating factors of this relationship. This study aimed to examine whether trait anxiety mediates the relationship between memory and QOL in this population, controlling the influence of demographic and seizure-related factors.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 119 adults with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) underwent a neuropsychological evaluation, in which memory, anxiety, and QOL were assessed.

RESULTS: In the total sample, better delayed memory had an effect on better QOL indirectly through lower trait anxiety (B = 0.13, SE = 0.06, p = 0.04, ab_cs = 0.13; κ² = 0.18; PM_ind = 0.76). Additionally, delayed memory has not a direct association with QOL (B = 0.04, SE = 0.09, p = 0.64, Cohen’s f ² = 0.005; PM_dir = 0.24), and the total effect of delayed memory on QOL tended to reach statistical significance (B = 0.17, SE = 0.10, p = 0.08). The proposed mediation model yielded excellent fit (CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.0001, SRMR = 0.009, and χ² (1) = 0.50, p = 0.48) and explained 38% of the variance of QOL.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that trait anxiety is an important factor in understanding the relationship between memory and QOL in patients with TLE, considering the influence of demographic and seizure-related variables, and may have relevant implications for decision-making in this population.

PMID:36418526 | DOI:10.1007/s11136-022-03306-9

Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2022 Nov 23:1-10. doi: 10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00078. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Humans experience the world through sensations of touch, taste, smell, vision, and audition. Alterations in sensory acuity occur across the adult life span in all types of sensation. The purpose of this study was to describe possible differences in lip and tongue somatosensation (sense of pressure) for healthy older adults using clinically available measurement tools as compared with previously published data using the same protocol.

METHOD: A total of 33 healthy adults (ages 60-93 years; M = 70.5 years; 19 women) completed bilateral assessment of lip and tongue pressure detection and discrimination using two-point discrimination discs and Von Frey hair monofilaments. Participants reported basic health information and completed a pure-tone hearing threshold assessment within the same session.

RESULTS: Descriptive results are presented for individual data points from healthy aging adults. Group data are compared with previously published data from a cohort of healthy young participants. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the two healthy groups, variations in standard deviations in older adults were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Two-point discrimination and tactile detection and discrimination using Von Frey hair monofilaments can be used to assess labial and lingual pressure detection and discrimination in healthy aging adults. While not reaching statistical significance, on average, older adults demonstrated increased threshold estimates compared with younger adults with increases in standard deviations up to 11.5 times larger than the younger cohort. Subtle differences in somatosensation across the ages may be important for future comparisons with clinical populations across the life span. These assessment techniques can be used with an aging population to complete objective orofacial somatosensory testing.

PMID:36417766 | DOI:10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00078

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2022 Nov 23:1-20. doi: 10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00062. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Open science is a collection of practices that seek to improve the accessibility, transparency, and replicability of science. Although these practices have garnered interest in related fields, it remains unclear whether open science practices have been adopted in the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). This study aimed to survey the knowledge, implementation, and perceived benefits and barriers of open science practices in CSD.

METHOD: An online survey was disseminated to researchers in the United States actively engaged in CSD research. Four-core open science practices were examined: preregistration, self-archiving, gold open access, and open data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression models.

RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-two participants met the inclusion criteria. Most participants were doctoral students (38%) or assistant professors (24%) at R1 institutions (58%). Participants reported low knowledge of preregistration and gold open access. There was, however, a high level of desire to learn more for all practices. Implementation of open science practices was also low, most notably for preregistration, gold open access, and open data (< 25%). Predictors of knowledge and participation, as well as perceived barriers to implementation, are discussed.

CONCLUSION: Although participation in open science appears low in the field of CSD, participants expressed a strong desire to learn more in order to engage in these practices in the future. Supplemental Material and Open Science Form: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21569040.

PMID:36417765 | DOI:10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00062

IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2022 Nov 23;PP. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2022.3223992. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Prosthetic discrete controller relies on finite state machines to switch between a set of predefined task-specific controllers. Therefore the prosthesis can only perform a limited number of discrete locomotion tasks and need hours to tune the parameters for each user. In contrast, the continuous controller treats a gait cycle in a unified way. Thus it is expected to better facilitate normative biomechanics by providing a gait predictive model to contribute a non-switching controller that supports a continuum of tasks. Furthermore, a better method is to train a personalized trajectory prediction model suitable for personal characteristics according to personal walking data. This paper proposes a Gaussian process enhanced Fourier series (GPEFS) method to construct a gait prediction model that represents the human locomotion as a continuous function of phase, speed and slope. Firstly the joint trajectories are transformed into the Fourier coefficient space by least square method. Then the relationship between each Fourier coefficient and task input can be learned by multiple Gaussian process regression (GPRs) model respectively. Compared with directly using GPR to fit the joint trajectory under multi task, our method greatly reduces the computational burden, so as to meet the real-time application scenario. In addition, in Fourier coefficient space, the difference in all tasks between the Fourier coefficient of personal data and the one of statistical data follows the same trend. Therefore, a personalized prediction model is built to predict an individual’s kinematics over a continuous range of slopes and speeds given only one personalized task at level ground and normal speed. The experimental results show that the gait prediction model and the personalized prediction model are feasible and effective.

PMID:36417749 | DOI:10.1109/TNSRE.2022.3223992

Environ Sci Technol. 2022 Nov 23. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07621. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

More attention has been paid to ubiquitous microplastics (MPs). As a major food producer, the situation of MPs in China’s farmland is of even greater concern. Spatial distributions, characteristics, and compositions of MPs in five types of agricultural lands with representative crops were investigated by collecting 477 soil samples from 109 cities in 31 administrative regions of mainland China. To better control MPs in farmland, nearly 400 field questionnaires were obtained, and meteorological conditions, soil properties, and other statistics were collected to quantify potential sources and determine influencing factors. The average abundances of MPs was 2462 ± 3767 items/kg in the agricultural soils, and MP abundance in the greenhouses, farmlands with film mulching, and blank farmlands from four integrated physical geographic regions were determined. The contributions of agricultural films, livestock and poultry manures, irrigation water, and air deposition to MPs in farmlands have been calculated. Influencing factors, such as recovery method, plowing frequency, meteorological conditions, and part of soil properties, were significantly correlated with the abundances of MPs in the agricultural soils (p < 0.05), while mulching age mainly affected MPs in the greenhouses (p < 0.05). This study provides basic scientific data for decision-making and further analysis.

PMID:36417694 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.2c07621

J Clin Oncol. 2022 Nov 23:JCO2200070. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.00070. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions in health care delivery might have affected end-of-life care in patients with cancer. We examined changes in place of death and hospice support for Medicaid and commercially insured patients during the pandemic.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We linked Washington State cancer registry records with claims from Medicaid and two commercial insurers for patients with solid tumor age 18-64 years. The study included 322 Medicaid and 162 commercial patients who died between March 2017 and June 2019 (pre-COVID-19), along with 90 Medicaid and 47 commercial patients who died between March and June 2020 (COVID-19). Place of death was categorized as hospital, hospice (home or nonhospital facility), and home without hospice. Place of death was compared using adjusted multinomial logistic regressions stratified by payer and time period (pre-COVID-19 v COVID-19). The clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with dying at home without hospice were examined, and adjusted marginal effects (ME) are reported.

RESULTS: In the adjusted pre-COVID-19 analysis, Medicaid patients were more likely than commercially insured patients to die in hospital (48% v 36%; adjusted ME, 11%; P = .02). In the pre-COVID-19/COVID-19 analysis, Medicaid patients’ place of death shifted from hospital (48% v 32%; ME, -16%; P < .01) to home without hospice (19.9% v 38.0%; ME, 16.5%; P < .01). However, there were no statistically significant changes pre-COVID-19/COVID-19 for commercial patients. As a result, during COVID-19, Medicaid patients were more likely than commercial patients to die at home without hospice (38% v 22%; ME, 16%; P = .04) as were male versus female patients (ME, 16%; P < .01).

CONCLUSION: The pandemic might have disproportionately worsened the end-of-life experience for Medicaid enrollees with cancer. Attention should be paid to societal and health system factors that decrease access to care for Medicaid patients.

PMID:36417688 | DOI:10.1200/JCO.22.00070

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2022 Nov 21;68(10):1481-1485. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.20221177. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a recent advancement in the field of kidney stone treatment; however, its role has not been completely established. We aimed to compare the outcomes of initial Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy and flexible ureteroscopy.

METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive mini-percutaneous procedures was performed. Inclusion criteria were as follows: all percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures performed with an access sheath up to 24Fr, kidney stone burdens up to 1550 mm3; and the presence of postoperative computed tomography (for control). The data collected for Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures were paired 1:2 with patients treated with flexible ureteroscopy for stones between 100 and 1550 mm3, and with postoperative computed tomography for control. A 14Fr Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy set was used. The stone-free rate was defined as the absence of fragments on the control computed tomography, whereas success was limited to 2-mm residual fragments. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 19.

RESULTS: A total of 63 patients met the inclusion criteria (42 with flexible ureteroscopy and 21 with mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy). Demographic data were comparable. The stone-free rate and success were similar between the groups (76.2 vs. 66.7%, p=0.42 and 90.5 vs. 85.7%, p=0.57). The complication rate was also similar (26.1 vs. 9.6%, p=0.188), but Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy had longer hospitalization and fluoroscopy time (p=0.001 in both).

CONCLUSIONS: Our initial study of Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy showed that it is a promising procedure, with outcomes similar to flexible ureteroscopy, but with higher inpatient numbers and fluoroscopy times. A larger study population size and better equipment may improve the outcomes of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

PMID:36417657 | DOI:10.1590/1806-9282.20221177

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2022 Nov 21;68(10):1476-1480. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.20220880. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mutations by comparing wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron regarding clinical features in patients with COVID-19. It also aimed to assess whether SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold value could predict COVID-19 severity.

METHODS: A total of 960 wild-type and 411 Omicron variant patients with positive results in SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test from oropharyngeal and/or nasopharyngeal samples during their hospital admissions were included in this retrospective study. The reference symptoms of the patients were obtained from the hospital database. The correlation between chest computed tomography findings and the “cycle threshold” of patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was assessed.

RESULTS: Cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell, and diarrhea were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001; 0.001; 0.001; 0.001; and 0.006; respectively) in the wild-type cohort, while in the Omicron cohort, sore throat and headache were found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.001 and 0.003, respectively). An inverse relationship was found between chest computed tomography findings and viral load.

CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the Omicron variant tended to infect predominantly the upper respiratory tract and showed decreased lung infectivity, and the disease progressed with a milder clinical course. Therefore, the study showed that the tropism of the virus was changed and the viral phenotype was affected. It was also found that SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not predict COVID-19 severity in patients with wild-type SARS-CoV-2.

PMID:36417656 | DOI:10.1590/1806-9282.20220880

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2022 Nov 21;68(10):1452-1457. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.20220668. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of kinesio taping in nonspecific neck pain and to assess whether ultrasonographic parameters of the upper trapezius muscle can be used in the follow-up of kinesio taping treatment.

METHODS: This was a single-blind, prospective, randomized controlled trial study involving 60 participants with nonspecific neck pain. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups. Kinesio taping group (n=29) received a 4-week neck exercise program, with kinesio taping applied twice a week for a total of four times, and the exercise group (n=28) received a 4-week neck exercise program. Participants were evaluated according to pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), cervical range of motion, and disability (Neck Disability Index). Also, trigger point diameter and upper trapezius muscle thickness were evaluated with ultrasonography. Before and after the therapy, as well as the first month, all measures were taken by an investigator other than the practitioner of the treatment program.

RESULTS: The results showed that the Visual Analog Scale and Neck Disability Index scores in the kinesio taping group were statistically significantly improved when compared to the exercise group (p<0.05). In addition, the thickness of the upper trapezius muscle and the diameter of the trapezius muscle trigger point were statistically significantly improved in the kinesio taping group compared to the exercise group (p<0.05). In the kinesio taping group, there was no statistical significance in cervical range of motion as compared to the exercise group.

CONCLUSION: The combination of kinesio taping and exercise therapy was effective in reducing nonspecific neck pain and neck disability. Also, this study showed that ultrasonographic evaluation of the trapezius muscle could be used in the follow-up of kinesio taping therapy.

PMID:36417652 | DOI:10.1590/1806-9282.20220668

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2022 Nov 21;68(10):1447-1451. doi: 10.1590/1806-9282.20220657. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The transition from face-to-face to remote teaching is yet to be fully understood. In clinical training, traditional teaching must prevail because it is essential for the acquisition of skills and professionalism. However, the responses of each school to the pandemic and the decision on when to resume clerkship rotations were mixed. In this study, we aimed to analyze whether the time to resume clerkship rotations was associated with the performance of the students by using a multi-institutional Progress Test.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at nine different Brazilian medical schools that administer the same annual Progress Test for all students. We included information from 1,470 clerkship medical students and analyzed the time of clinical training interruption as the independent variable and the student’s scores as the dependent variable.

RESULTS: The comparisons of the students’ scores between the schools showed that there are differences; however, they cannot be attributed to the time the clerkship rotations were paused. The correlation between the schools’ average scores and the time to resume clerkship rotations was not significant for the fifth year (r= -0.298, p=0.436) and for the sixth year (r= -0.440, p=0.240). By using a cubic regression model, the time to resume clerkship rotations could explain 3.4% of the 5-year students’ scores (p<0.001) and 0.9% of the 6-year students, without statistical difference (p=0.085).

CONCLUSIONS: The differences between the students’ scores cannot be attributed to the time when the schools paused the clerkship rotations.

PMID:36417651 | DOI:10.1590/1806-9282.20220657