Tag: nevin manimala

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2022 Apr 21;22(1):186. doi: 10.1186/s12872-022-02605-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular structure and function abnormalities may be an early marker of cardiomyopathy among African Americans with diabetes (DM) even in the absence of coronary artery disease (CAD), arrhythmia, valvular heart disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study examined the association of prediabetes (PDM), DM and HbA1c with left ventricular structure and function among Jackson Heart Study (JHS) participants without traditional risk factors.

METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional analyses of the association of PDM, DM and HbA1c with, left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF), fractional shortening (LV FS), stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index (CI), left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end systolic volume index (LVESVI), relative wall thickness (RWT), myocardial contraction fraction (MCF) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). The study was conducted in 2234 adult JHS participants without preexisting CAD, arrhythmia, valvular heart disease or ESRD. Statistical analyses included descriptive, univariate and covariate adjusted linear regression analyses. Sensitivity analyses to explore the impact of hypertension on study outcomes were also carried out.

RESULTS: DM compared with no DM was associated with lower, SVI (- 0.96 ml/m², p = 0.029), LVEDVI (- 1.44 ml/m² p = 0.015), and MCF (- 1.90% p = 0.007) but higher CI (0.14 L/min/m², p < 0.001), RWT (0.01 cm, p = 0.002) and LVMI (2.29 g/m², p = 0.009). After further control for DM duration, only CI remaining significantly higher for DM compared with no DM participants (0.12 L/min/m², p = 0.009). PDM compared with no PDM was associated with lower, SVI (- 0.87 ml/m², P = 0.024), LVEDVI (- 1.15 ml/m² p = 0.003) and LVESVI (- 0.62 ml/m² p = 0.025). HbA1c ≥ 8.0% compared with HbA1c < 5.7% was associated with lower SVI (- 2.09 ml/m², p = 0.004), LVEDVI (- 2.11 ml/m² p = 0.032) and MCF (- 2.94% p = 0.011) but higher CI (0.11 L/min/m², p = 0.043) and RWT (0.01 cm, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS: Glycemic status is associated with important left ventricular structure and function changes among African Americans without prior CAD, arrhythmia, valvular heart disease and ESRD. Longitudinal studies may further elucidate these relationships.

PMID:35448969 | DOI:10.1186/s12872-022-02605-w

BMC Ophthalmol. 2022 Apr 21;22(1):182. doi: 10.1186/s12886-022-02393-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality is being increasingly applied in vision therapy. However, the differences in effectiveness, optimal treatment cycle, and prognosis between virtual reality-based vision therapy and traditional therapies remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality-based vision therapy and office-based vergence/accommodative therapy in young adults with convergence insufficiency or accommodative dysfunction.

METHODS: The patients were randomly assigned to either the virtual reality-based vision therapy group or the office-based vergence/accommodative therapy group. The vision therapy lasted 12 weeks (1 h/week) in both groups. Binocular visual functions (vergence and accommodation) were measured and a subjective questionnaire-based assessment was performed at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of therapy.

RESULTS: In total, 33 patients with convergence insufficiency and 30 with accommodative dysfunction completed the study. After 12 weeks of treatment for convergence insufficiency, the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey score (F_2,31 = 13.704, P < 0.001), near point of convergence (F_2,31 = 21.774, P < 0.001), positive fusional vergence (F_2,31 = 71.766, P < 0.001), and near horizontal phoria (F_2,31 = 16.482, P < 0.001) improved significantly in both groups. Moreover, the monocular accommodative amplitude (F_2,25 = 22.154, P < 0.001) and monocular accommodative facility (F_2,25 = 86.164, P < 0.001) improved significantly in both groups after 12 weeks of treatment. A statistically significant difference was observed in monocular accommodative facility (F_1,25 = 8.140, P = 0.009) between the two groups, but not in other vergence and accommodative functions (0.098 < P < 0.687).

CONCLUSION: Virtual reality-based vision therapy significantly improved binocular vision functions and symptoms in patients with convergence insufficiency and accommodative dysfunction, thereby suggesting its effectiveness as a new optional or additional treatment for young adults with these conditions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry on 16/04/2019 (identifier: ChiCTR1900022556 ).

PMID:35448970 | DOI:10.1186/s12886-022-02393-z

BMC Microbiol. 2022 Apr 21;22(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s12866-022-02529-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a notorious human pathogen that causes often lethal systemic conditions that are mostly medical device associated biofilm infections. Similarly, coagulase negative staphylococci are emerging as leading pathogen for nosocomial infections owing to their ability to form biofilm on implanted medical equipment. Chronic in nature, these infections are difficult to treat. Such recalcitrance of these infections is caused mainly due to the presence of persister cells, which exhibit transient yet extreme tolerance to antibiotics. Despite tremendous clinical significance, there is lack of studies on persister cells formation among clinical bacterial isolates. Considering the importance of factors influencing persister formation, in this study, we evaluate the association of antibiotic tolerance with biofilm production, antibiotic stress, growth phase, specimen type, and dependency on staphylococcal species. Biofilm formation was detected among 375 clinical staphylococcal isolates by quantitative tissue culture plate method (TCP) and icaAD genes by genotypic method. The antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method while minimum inhibitory concentration values were obtained by agar dilution method. Persister cells were measured in the susceptible staphylococcal isolates in the presence of clinically relevant antibiotics.

RESULTS: In the study, 161 (43%) S. aureus and 214 (57%) coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were isolated from different clinical samples. TCP method detected biofilm production in 84 (52.2%) S. aureus and 90 (42.1%) CNS isolates. The genotypic method detected icaAD genes in 86 (22.9%) isolates. Majority (> 90%) of both the biofilm producers and non-producers were sensitive to chloramphenicol and tetracycline but were resistant to penicillin. Interestingly, all isolates were sensitive to vancomycin irrespective of biofilm production. While high persister frequency was observed among all staphylococci isolates in the stationary growth phase, the persister frequency in exponential growth phase was statistically high among isolates possessing icaAD genes compared to icaAD negative isolates.

CONCLUSION: The research findings provide strong evidence that the clinical staphylococcal isolates exhibit extreme antibiotic tolerance suggesting their causal link with treatment failures. Understanding the factors influencing the formation and maintenance of persister cells are of utmost important aspect to design therapeutics and control recalcitrant bacterial infections.

PMID:35448965 | DOI:10.1186/s12866-022-02529-7

BMC Geriatr. 2022 Apr 20;22(1):348. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-02923-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Due to demographic changes, the elderly population in western countries is constantly growing. As the risk of functional decline and multimorbidity increases with age, health care systems need to face the challenge of high demand for health care services and related costs. Therefore, innovative health care approaches and geriatric screenings are needed to provide individualised care. This study aims to expand the state of research by investigating the effectiveness of a multi-component care approach for the elderly in a German community setting.

METHODS: A prospective, quasi-experimental study was initiated by statutory health insurance (SHI) companies. The innovative care approach includes a geriatric assessment, a case and network management as well as digital supporting tools and was implemented at the Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (Albertinen Haus, Hamburg-Eimsbuettel). Participants of the intervention were compared to matched controls recruited in comparable urban areas. The primary outcome measure was the progression in long-term care grade during the period of observation (21 months), which was analysed on the basis of SHI claims data. Secondary endpoints were morbidity, mortality and self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured by SF-36.

RESULTS: Overall, 2,670 patients (intervention group (IG) n=873; control group (CG) n=1,797) were analysed. Logistic regression analysis showed no statistically significant difference in progression of long-term care grade between IG and CG (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.054; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.856-1.296; p-value=0.616). Differentiated analyses indicated an initial effect, which might be attributable to the geriatric assessment. However, an adapted regression model resulted in a reversed but even non-significant effect (OR=0.945; 95% CI 0.757-1.177; p-value=0.619). While secondary analyses of long-term care grade, mortality and HRQoL did not show intervention effects, a statistically significant relative change of 0.865 (95% CI 0.780, 0.960; p-value=0.006) in morbidity indicated a potential benefit for the IG.

CONCLUSIONS: The analyses did not reveal a significant effect of the community-based intervention on the primary outcome and thus we are not able to recommend a transfer into SHI standard care. Tendencies in secondary analyses need to be proved in further research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, retrospective registration on February 01, 2022 ( DRKS00027866 ).

PMID:35448956 | DOI:10.1186/s12877-022-02923-w

BMC Geriatr. 2022 Apr 20;22(1):349. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03053-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and happiness through the mediating role of reminiscence styles in the elderly.

METHODS: This was a correlational study of structural equations modelling (SEM) type. The statistical population included all the elderly aged at least 60 years living in Kermanshah province, Iran in 2021, among whom 380 (182 men and 198 women) were selected using convenience sampling method. Participants filled out the questionnaires of Adult Attachment Styles, Oxford Happiness, and Amani et al.’s Reminiscence Styles.

RESULTS: The results indicated that secure attachment style has a positive and negative relationship with positive reminiscence (PR) and negative reminiscence (NR), respectively. However, the opposite held true for both avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles. It was also found that secure attachment style has a positive relationship, and avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles have a negative relationship with happiness. Moreover, participants’ gender and age had no moderating effect on the mentioned relationships. The results of SEM indicated that secure and ambivalent attachment styles were associated with happiness through both PR and NR, and avoidant attachment style was associated with happiness only through NR.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasize the significance of the development of internal working models based on the kind of parent-child’s reminiscences and narratives, and the lifelong effects of these models.

PMID:35448954 | DOI:10.1186/s12877-022-03053-z

Toxins (Basel). 2022 Apr 6;14(4):258. doi: 10.3390/toxins14040258.

ABSTRACT

Milk thistle [Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.] achieved a significant increase in interest over the past few years from local and foreign pharmaceutical corporations. The silymarin complex of constituents extracted from milk thistle achenes provides compelling health benefits primarily thanks to antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effects. However, consuming mycotoxin-contaminated plant material can cause immunosuppression and hepatotoxic problems. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the determination of mycotoxin content in milk thistle. Fusarium toxins as T-2 and HT-2 toxins in grown milk thistle harvested from a breeding station in the Czech Republic during 2020-2021 were studied. The analysis of T-2 and HT-2 toxins was performed by UPLC-MS/MS after immunoaffinity columns EASI-EXTRACT^® T-2 & HT-2 clean up. All analysed samples of milk thistle were contaminated with T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin. The content of T-2 toxin in the samples from 2020 was in the range of 122.7-290.2 µg/kg and HT-2 toxin 157.0-319.0 µg/kg. In 2021, the content of T-2 toxin was in the range of 28.8-69.9 µg/kg and HT-2 toxin was 24.2-75.4 µg/kg. The results show that the climatic conditions of the year of harvesting have a highly statistically significant effect on the content of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in milk thistle.

PMID:35448867 | DOI:10.3390/toxins14040258

Toxins (Basel). 2022 Mar 27;14(4):240. doi: 10.3390/toxins14040240.

ABSTRACT

Sphingopyxis sp. YF1 has proven to be efficient in biodegrading microcystin (MC)-leucine (L) and arginine (R) (MC-LR); however, the optimal environmental factors to biodegrade the toxin have not been investigated. In this study, the biodegrading characteristics of strain YF1 against MC-LR were assessed under diverse environmental factors, including temperature (20, 30 or 40 °C), pH (5, 7 or 9) and MC-LR concentration (1, 3 or 5 µg/mL). Data obtained from the single-factor experiment indicated that MC-LR biodegradation by strain YF1 was temperature-, pH- and MC-LR-concentration-dependent, and the maximal biodegradation rate occurred at 5 µg/mL/h. Proposing Box-Behnken Design in response surface methodology, the influence of the three environmental factors on the biodegradation efficiency of MC-LR using strain YF1 was determined. A 17-run experiment was generated and carried out, including five replications performed at the center point. The ANOVA analysis demonstrated that the model was significant, and the model prediction of MC-LR biodegradation was also validated with the experimental data. The quadratic statistical model was established to predict the interactive effects of the environmental factors on MC-LR biodegradation efficiency and to optimize the controlling parameters. The optimal conditions for MC-LR biodegradation were observed at 30 °C, pH 7 and 3 µg/mL MC-LR, with a biodegradation efficiency of 100% after 60 min. The determination of the optimal environmental factors will help to unveil the detailed biodegradation mechanism of MC-LR by strain YF1 and to apply it into the practice of eliminating MC-LR from the environment.

PMID:35448849 | DOI:10.3390/toxins14040240

Plants (Basel). 2022 Apr 16;11(8):1089. doi: 10.3390/plants11081089.

ABSTRACT

The discovery of several waterlogged plant remains in a Middle Ages context (1330-1360 AD) in Sassari (NS, Sardinia, Italy) enabled the characterisation of archaeological plum fruit stones and watermelon and grape seeds through computer image analysis. Digital seed/endocarp images were acquired by a flatbed scanner and processed and analysed by applying computerised image analysis techniques. The morphometric data were statistically elaborated using stepwise linear discriminant analysis (LDA), allowing comparisons among archaeological remains, wild populations and autochthonous cultivars. Archaeological samples of plum were compared with 21 autochthonous cultivars of Prunus domestica from Sardinia, while archaeological watermelon seeds were compared with 36 seed lots of Citrullus from Europe, Africa and Asia. Moreover, archaeological grape seeds were compared with 51 autochthonous traditional cultivars of Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera from Sardinia, 16 cultivars from Tuscany, six cultivars from Liguria, and eight cultivars from Catalonia (Spain). Archaeological plum remains showed morphological affinity with five cultivars of Sardinia. Seed features of the archaeological watermelon remains demonstrated affiliation with a proper sweet dessert watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, and similarity with some Sardinian cultivars. Regarding the archaeological remains of grape, morphometric comparisons showed a high similarity with autochthonous cultivars from Catalonia and Liguria. This study provides new information about ancient fruit cultivated and consumed during the Middle Ages in Sardinia.

PMID:35448816 | DOI:10.3390/plants11081089

Plants (Basel). 2022 Apr 18;11(8):1095. doi: 10.3390/plants11081095.

ABSTRACT

In this study, we compare two rapid cryopreservation (-196 °C) procedures, droplet-vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration for rose (Rosa × hybrida L., cultivars ‘Ioana’, ‘Mariana’, ‘Vulcan’). Significant factors for cryopreservation, such as sucrose concentration during osmoprotection, treatment duration with plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2) in droplet-vitrification, duration of air desiccation and moisture content of alginate beads in encapsulation-dehydration, were investigated. In addition, the morphogenetic response to in vitro culture and to liquid nitrogen storage and the content in photosynthetic pigments have been assessed. The in vitro cultures were initiated from plant material originating from field collection. The highest regeneration frequencies were obtained for cv. ‘Vulcan’ in both of the cryopreservation procedures tested, 72% in droplet-vitrification and 65% following encapsulation-dehydration. The morphogenetic response (multiplication index and height of shoots) to liquid nitrogen storage was direct multiple shoot formation per initial shoot tip for all genotypes. The content in chlorophyll a and b was statistically comparable in plant material resulting from cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved shoot tips in all cultivars. The findings expand the information on Rosa‘s response to in vitro culture conditions and cryopreservation, providing protocols with a high regeneration capacity for the storage of genotypes with high ornamental value.

PMID:35448822 | DOI:10.3390/plants11081095

Plants (Basel). 2022 Apr 14;11(8):1071. doi: 10.3390/plants11081071.

ABSTRACT

Weed management has become the most important and inevitable aspect of crop management for achieving a higher rice yield. Nowadays, chemical herbicide application has become a popular practice for managing weeds in different rice cultures. However, herbicide application can have qualitative and quantitative impacts on soil microorganisms and soil enzymes, particularly in the case of new herbicide molecules and their indiscriminate use for a longer period. Further, different rice establishment methods also play a significant role in soil microbial population dynamics as well as soil biological properties. Keeping these in view, a field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Main Research Farm, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), India, during the kharif season of 2016 and 2017, on the impact of crop establishment methods and weed management practices on soil microbial and enzymatic status. The field experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications with four crop establishment methods in the main plot, viz., M₁, Direct Seeded Rice (DSR); M₂, Wet Seeded Rice (WSR); M₃,Unpuddled Transplanted Rice (NPTR); M₄, Puddled Transplanted Rice (PTR), and six weed management practices in the sub-plot, viz., W₁, Weedy check; W₂, Bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + Pretilachlor 6% (pre-emergence (PE)) 0.660 kg ha^-1 + Hand weeding (HW) at 30 days after sowing/transplanting (days after sowing/transplanting (DAS/T)); W₃, Bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + Pretilachlor 6% (PE) 0.495 kg ha^-1 + HW at 30 DAS/T; W₄, Bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + Pretilachlor 6% (PE) 0.495 kg ha^-1 + Bispyribac-Sodium (post-emergence(POE)) 0.025 kg ha^-1 at 15 DAS/T; W₅, Cono weeding (CW) at 15 DAS/T + hand weeding 30 DAS/T, and W₆, Brown manuring/Green manuring. The initial decline in the microbial population was observed due to herbicide application in NPTR and PTR up to 7 DAS/T and then it increased up to 28 DAS/T. There was a reduction in soil microbial and enzymatic status after the application of herbicides Bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + Pretilachlor 6% (PE) and Bispyribac-Sodium (POE) that again followed an upward graph with crop age. Significant variation in enzymatic activity and the microbial count was also observed among treatments involving crop establishment methods. The study revealed that improved microbial population and enzyme activity were noted in unpuddled transplanted rice under organic weed management due to favorable conditions, and chemical weed control initially affected microbial population and activities.

PMID:35448798 | DOI:10.3390/plants11081071