Tag: nevin manimala

PLoS One. 2022 Nov 3;17(11):e0277098. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277098. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression profile of microRNAs in the peripheral blood of pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) compared to that of healthy pregnant women.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a pilot study with case-control design in pregnant patients enrolled between January 2017 and June 2019. Patients with healthy pregnancies and those affected by PPROM between 20- and 33+6 weeks of gestation were matched by gestational age and selected for inclusion to the study. Patients were excluded for multiple gestation and presence of a major obstetrical complication such as preeclampsia, diabetes, fetal growth restriction and stillbirth. A total of ten (n = 10) controls and ten (n = 10) patients with PPROM were enrolled in the study. Specimens were obtained before administration of betamethasone or intravenous antibiotics. MicroRNA expression was analyzed for 800 microRNAs in each sample using the NanoString nCounter Expression Assay. Differential expression was calculated after normalization and log2- transformation using the false discovery rate (FDR) method at an alpha level of 5%.

RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar between the two groups. Of the 800 miRNAs analyzed, 116 were differentially expressed after normalization. However, only four reached FDR-adjusted statistical significance. Pregnancies affected by PPROM were characterized by upregulation of miR-199a-5p, miR-130a-3p and miR-26a-5p and downregulation of miR-513b-5p (FDR adjusted p-values <0.05). The differentially expressed microRNAs participate in pathways associated with altered collagen and matrix metalloprotease expression in the extracellular matrix.

CONCLUSION: Patients with PPROM have a distinct peripheral blood microRNA profile compared to healthy pregnancies as measured by the NanoString Expression Assay.

PMID:36327243 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0277098

PLoS One. 2022 Nov 3;17(11):e0277103. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277103. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The medical history of injury given by parents of infants and toddlers with head trauma may not be accurate or completely true. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between subdural hematoma (SDH) due to nonaccidental injury and mechanisms of injury provided by caregivers.

METHODS: Our multicenter study group retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of children younger than 4 years with head trauma who have been diagnosed with any finding on head computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A total of 84 cases of subdural hematomas with retinal findings, including cases reported to the child guidance center and traffic and birth injuries, were included in the study. They were classified by the mechanism of injury provided by the caregivers. Clinical findings were reviewed and classified into nonaccidental and accidental groups. The mechanisms of the injuries were examined by multivariable analysis to identify which ones were statistically associated with nonaccidental injuries.

RESULTS: Of the 84 patients with SDHs, 51 were classified into the nonaccidental group, and 33 children were classified into the accidental group. In 19 patients with a chief complaint of convulsion who had SDH but no episode of trauma, 18 were classified into the nonaccidental group. On multivariable analysis, unexplained convulsions (odds ratio: 12.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.44-100.49) were significantly associated with increased odds of nonaccidental injury.

CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, there was a relationship between nonaccidental injury and unexplained SDH with a chief complaint of convulsion.

PMID:36327242 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0277103

PLoS One. 2022 Nov 3;17(11):e0277062. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277062. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Psychological First Aid is a brief intervention based on international guidance from the World Health Organisation. Free to access online training in the intervention was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK. We aimed to determine the uptake of Psychological First Aid training among healthcare workers in care homes in the UK and to assess its effects on their wellbeing.

DESIGN: This was a sequential mixed methods design.

METHODS: Healthcare workers (nurses and carers) working in care homes in the UK were surveyed about their uptake of Psychological First Aid, their stress, coping efficacy and the key concepts of Psychological First Aid (safety, calmness, hopefulness, connectedness, and accomplishment). Those that completed the Psychological First Aid training were asked to share their experiences via qualitative survey. Data collection was conducted between June and October 2021. Analyses included descriptive statistics and regression analysis. A six step thematic analysis was used to interpret the qualitative data.

RESULTS: 388 participants responded to the survey. The uptake of Psychological First Aid training was 37 (9.5%). Psychological first aid was a significant predictor for coping efficacy (β = 17.54, p = .001). Participants with a physical or mental health condition experienced higher stress and lower coping regardless of PFA training. Four themes were identified from the qualitative analysis: self-awareness and growth, relationships with others, overcoming stress and accessibility.

CONCLUSION: While this study suggests some benefits to healthcare workers in care home settings undergoing PFA the poor uptake of the training warrants further investigation.

IMPACT: Care home staff need psychological support. This gap remains as few completed PFA training. This is the first study in UK and worldwide to look at the effects of psychological first aid on stress and coping in this population and it warrants further investigation.

PMID:36327237 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0277062

PLoS One. 2022 Nov 3;17(11):e0276782. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276782. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led nucleic acid collection and detection became a measure to ensure normal life in China. Considering the huge detection demand, it has emerged that robots replace manual sample collection. However, the cost-effectiveness of nucleic acid collection by robots instead of humans remain unknown.

METHODS: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Hospital, number 2021-LHQRMYY-KYLL-031a. All participants signed the written informed consent of this study. 273 volunteers were recruited on December 1st 2021 from Shenzhen and divided into six groups: one group to be sampled by robots and the others to be sampled manually with varying specifications for swab rotation and insertion time. Questionnaires were distributed to the robot group to ask them sampling feeling. The effectiveness and safety of sampling were evaluated through the sampling efficiency, adverse events and sampling feeling of different groups. The economics of the different methods were judged by comparing the sampling cost for each.

RESULTS: The sampling efficiency of the robot group was 96.9%, and there was no statistically significant difference between the other five manually sampled groups (p = 0.586). There were no serious adverse events in any of the six groups, but nasal soreness and tearing did occur in all group. Of the volunteers who underwent robotic sampling, 85.94% reported that the experience was either no different or more comfortable than the manual sampling. In economic terms, a single robot used to replace medical staff for sample collection becomes economically advantageous when the working time is ≥ 455 days. If multiple robots are used to replace twice the number of manual collections, it becomes more economical at 137 days and remains so as long as the robot is used.

CONCLUSIONS: It appears safe and effective for robots to replace manual sampling method. Implementation of robotic sampling is economical and feasible, and can significantly save costs when working over a long term.

PMID:36327236 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0276782

Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2022 Nov 3;96:e202211085.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Energy drinks generally contain caffeine and other stimulants, commercially aimed at young people. Previous research suggests that its effects on adolescents health are dangerous. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of taurine and caffeine consumption from energy drinks on adolescent health and to identify patterns of consumption and, their association with physiological symptoms.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of students (n=135) aged 16 to 17 years was conducted in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico. A self-administered online questionnaire was used from September to November 2020 to report energy drink consumption patterns, perceived effects, and psychophysiological symptoms. The statistical analysis of questionnaire content was made by interjudges evaluation. A concordance index (Cohen-Fleiss Kappa coefficient) was applied for consumption patterns, bivariate correlation tests, Pearson correlation coefficients for levels (very high, moderate, low) of caffeine and taurine were used in the items applied to the target population and Spearmans rho for physiological and psychological effects.

RESULTS: The participants (mean age: 16 years; 57.8% of women) reported having consumed energy drinks at least once. Only 26.7% of adolescents (n=36) reported that they had never consumed. The average consumption of energy drinks was once per month (24.4%). A statistically significant correlation was found between the consumption of drinks with taurine and the physical effects (tremors and chest pain) and caffeinated beverages with psychophysiological (fatigue, excessive urination, insomnia, and feeling of lack of rest).

CONCLUSIONS: The study findings indicate associations between energy drink consumption and the presence of adverse psychological and physical symptoms in adolescents.

PMID:36325955

Stroke. 2022 Nov 3. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.039090. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We studied the evolution over time of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) lesion volume and the factors involved on early and late infarct growth (EIG and LIG) in stroke patients undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT) according to the final revascularization grade.

METHODS: This is a prospective cohort of patients with anterior large artery occlusion undergoing EVT arriving at 1 comprehensive stroke center. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on arrival (pre-EVT), <2 hours after EVT (post-EVT), and on day 5. DWI lesions and perfusion maps were evaluated. Arterial revascularization was assessed according to the modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) grades. We recorded National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at arrival and at day 7. EIG was defined as (DWI volume post-EVT-DWI volume pre-EVT), and LIG was defined as (DWI volume at 5d-DWI volume post-EVT). Factors involved in EIG and LIG were tested via multivariable lineal models.

RESULTS: We included 98 patients (mean age 70, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 17, final mTICI≥2b 86%). Median EIG and LIG were 48 and 63.3 mL in patients with final mTICI<2b, and 3.6 and 3.9 cc in patients with final mTICI≥2b. Both EIG and LIG were associated with higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at day 7 (ρ=0.667; P<0.01 and ρ=0.614; P<0.01, respectively). In patients with final mTICI≥2b, each 10% increase in the volume of DWI pre-EVT and each extra pass leaded to growths of 9% (95% CI, 7%-10%) and 14% (95% CI, 2%-28%) in the DWI volume post-EVT, respectively. Furthermore, each 10% increase in the volume of DWI post-EVT, each extra pass, and each 10 mL increase in TMax6s post-EVT were associated with growths of 8% (95% CI, 6%-9%), 9% (95% CI, 0%-19%), and 12% (95% CI, 5%-20%) in the volume of DWI post-EVT, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Infarct grows during and after EVT, especially in nonrecanalizers but also to a lesser extent in recanalizers. In recanalizers, number of passes and DWI volume influence EIG, while number of passes, DWI, and hypoperfused volume after the procedure determine LIG.

PMID:36325911 | DOI:10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.039090

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2022 Nov 3:1-18. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2022.264. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Owing to daily exposure to high job stress, nurses need to use coping techniques. One of the coping strategies helping a person to cope with stressful situations effectively is resiliency skills. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the factors related to nurses’ resiliency during COVID-19 epidemic.

METHODS: The present study was cross-sectional and assessed the resiliency of 288 nurses working in the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards was investigated. 25 items Connor & Davidson Resilience Questionnaire which scores the items between zero (completely incorrect) and five (always correct was used) was used for this end. This study was conducted in 2021 in four referral hospitals at Shiraz. In this study, nurses working in the COVID-19 care wards were selected as the study group and nurses in non-COVID-19 wards were selected as the control group.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 32. The average resilience score in the in the participants worked in COVID-19 wards was 95.30 for men and 87.72 for women, and in the non-COVID-19 wards was 85.82 for men and 88.48 for women. Factors affecting resilience included age, job status, gender and job expectancy. The results of the present study showed that the mean resiliency scores of nurses working in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards did not show a statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSION: In this study Resiliency of nurses working in COVID-19 wards were not significantly differed from nurses of non-COVID-19 ones. This result should be further investigated and elaborated. With job planning regarding the employment and employment of nurses, considering their job expectation, gender, age and job status, we can be better prepared for future health system pandemics.

PMID:36325879 | DOI:10.1017/dmp.2022.264

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2022 Nov 3;299:235-241. doi: 10.3233/SHTI220990.

ABSTRACT

The spread of a new coronavirus infection in the last two years together with HIV infection preserves and even increases the potential for the spread of tuberculosis in the world. Sverdlovsk oblast (SO) of Russian Federation is the region with high levels of HIV and tuberculosis (TB). The search for new methods of forecasting of the future epidemic situation for tuberculosis has become particularly relevant. The aim was to develop an effective method for predicting the epidemic situation of tuberculosis using an artificial intelligence (AI) method in the format of a dynamic simulation model based on AI technologies. Statistical data was loaded from the state statistical reporting on TB patients for the period 2007-2017. The parameters were controlled through a system of inequalities. The proposed SDM made it possible to identify and reliably calculate trends of TB epidemiological indicators. Comparison of the predicted values made in 2017 with the actual values of 2018-2021 revealed a reliable coincidence of the trend of movement of TB epidemiological indicators in the region, the maximum deviation was no more than 14.82%. The forecast results obtained with SDM are quite suitable for practical use. Especially, in operational resource planning of measures to counteract the spread of tuberculosis at the regional level.

PMID:36325869 | DOI:10.3233/SHTI220990

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2022 Nov 3;299:151-156. doi: 10.3233/SHTI220974.

ABSTRACT

Improving the interoperability of healthcare information systems is a crucial clinical care issue involving disparate but coexisting information systems. However, healthcare organizations are also facing the dilemma of choosing the right ETL tool and architecture pattern as data warehouse enterprises. This article gives an overview of current ETL tools for healthcare data integration. In addition, we demonstrate three ETL processes for clinical data integration using different ETL tools and architecture patterns, which map data from various data sources (e.g. MEONA and ORBIS) to diverse standards (e.g. FHIR and openEHR). Depending on the project’s technical requirements, we choose our ETL tool and software architecture pattern to boost team efficiency.

PMID:36325856 | DOI:10.3233/SHTI220974

JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Nov 2. doi: 10.2196/40894. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The consensus of the optimal treatment strategy for chronic Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is still debated and treatment options are limited. This results in a significant medical need for more effective treatment options.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of percutaneous bioelectric current stimulation (PBCS) on AT.

METHODS: A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will be conducted. A total of 72 participants with chronic (>3 months) midpoint AT will be randomized and receive 4 PBCS (either verum or placebo) over 3 weeks. Both groups will complete daily Achilles tendon loading exercises in addition to the intervention. Evaluation sessions will be completed at baseline and intervention (weeks 0-3). Self-reported outcome measures will be completed at the follow-up in weeks 4, 12, 26, 52.Primary outcome: Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment – Achilles Questionnaire(Version: VISA-A) score: Statistical evaluation of intraindividual differences between baseline and 12 weeks after initial treatment after verum therapy compared to control. Secondary outcomes will assess pain disability index (PDI), average pain (11-point numeric rating scale – NRS), return to sports, and use of emergency medication.

RESULTS: Study began in May 2021. As of October 2022, we randomized 66 out of 72 participants. We anticipate completing recruiting in the fourth quarter of 2022 and primary data analysis in the first quarter of 2023.

CONCLUSIONS: The study will evaluate the effects of PBCS on pain, physical function and clinical outcomes.

CLINICALTRIAL: DRKS, DRKS00017293. Registered 1. February 2022. Retrospectively registered, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00017293.

PMID:36325808 | DOI:10.2196/40894