Tag: nevin manimala

EBioMedicine. 2021 Aug 11;70:103536. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103536. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder characterized by proteinuria and/or multisystem involvement. Disease-specific therapy has yet to be developed due to the lack of understanding of underlying mechanism(s). We postulate that accelerated ageing in general, and particularly cellular senescence, play a role in its pathophysiology.

METHODS: We compared women with preeclampsia vs. normotensive pregnancies with respect to epigenetic markers of ageing and markers of senescence in tissues/organs affected by preeclampsia (blood, urine, adipose tissue, and kidney).

FINDINGS: We demonstrate that preeclamptic compared to normotensive pregnant women: (i) undergo accelerated epigenetic ageing during pregnancy, as demonstrated by an “epigenetic clock”; (ii) exhibit higher levels/expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors in blood and adipose tissue; (iii) display increased expression of p16^INK4A in adipose tissue and renal sections, and (iv) demonstrate decreased levels of urinary α-Klotho (an anti-ageing protein) at the time of delivery. Finally, we provide data indicating that pre-treatment with dasatinib, a senolytic agent, rescues the angiogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) obtained from preeclamptic pregnancies, and promotes angiogenesis, even under pro-inflammatory conditions.

INTERPRETATION: Taken together, our results identify senescence as one of the mechanisms underpinning the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Therapeutic strategies that target senescent cells may offer novel mechanism-based treatments for preeclampsia.

FUNDING: This work was supported by NIH grants, R01 HL136348, R37 AG013925, P01 AG062413, R01 DK11916, generous gifts from the Connor Fund, Robert J. and Theresa W. Ryan and from The George G. Beasley family, the Noaber Foundation, and the Henry and Emma Meyer Professorship in Molecular Genetics.

PMID:34391091 | DOI:10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103536

Public Health. 2021 Jul 20;198:96-101. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.07.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The transmission of COVID-19 has sent Malaysia into cycles of tightening and relaxation of movement control, which are still continuing currently in line with local fluctuations of new COVID-19 cases. During movement control, measures comprising physical distancing, hand cleaning or sanitizing, and sanitization of premises are consistently implemented while self-isolation and travel restrictions are adaptively enforced. This study aims to examine if the control of COVID-19 transmission has an effect on the national influenza occurrences as some measures for COVID-19 control are similar to those for influenza.

STUDY DESIGN: For this study, data of weekly new cases of influenza and COVID-19 were obtained from official platforms for non-parametric statistical analysis.

METHODS: This study compared the influenza occurrences before and after the onset of COVID-19 using the Mann-Whitney U-test and explored Spearman’s correlations between COVID-19 and influenza incidences after the onset of COVID-19.

RESULTS: It shows that influenza incidences before and after the onset of COVID-19 were significantly different and that influenza cases have significantly reduced after the onset of COVID-19. The weekly cases of influenza and COVID-19 were significantly and negatively correlated.

CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the co-benefits of COVID-19 control measures and alleviates the concern for the risk of COVID-19 and influenza co-infection.

PMID:34391039 | DOI:10.1016/j.puhe.2021.07.007

Environ Pollut. 2021 Aug 4;289:117903. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117903. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Effects of source inhomogeneity on pollutant dispersion from a cubic building array are investigated as a function of the external wind direction. Using building-resolving large-eddy simulation, it is found that the results depend strongly on the source location and source uniformity inside a near-field region defined by a radius of homogenisation (RAD) based on the spatial autocorrelation of the pollutant concentration. The sensitivity of the RAD to the source location changes abruptly around 30° and is greatly reduced for wind angles between 30 and 45°, in agreement with velocity statistics and the mean horizontal streamlines. The optimal source allocation, which is a proxy for emissions from time-dependent traffic, also changes around 30°. This work clarifies the relationship between inhomogeneous velocity and pollutant statistics and may be applied to the formulation of traffic control policy.

PMID:34391049 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117903

Int J Nurs Stud. 2021 Jul 15;122:104037. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104037. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common chronic condition amongst children. Poor adherence to asthma medications can increase asthma exacerbations, absence from school, healthcare utilisation and costs and decrease quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests the use of electronic adherence monitoring devices in improving children’s adherence to medications.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of electronic adherence monitoring devices in improving inhaler adherence amongst children with asthma.

DESIGN: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES: A systematic search using Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses from inception up to April 6, 2021, was conducted.

REVIEW METHODS: Randomised controlled trials evaluating the use of electronic adherence monitoring devices amongst children and published in English were included. The outcomes were inhaler adherence, asthma exacerbation, lung function, asthma control and accessibility. The overall effect was measured using Hedges’ g and determined using Z-statistics at a significance level of p < 0.05. Heterogeneity was assessed using χ² and I² statistics. The individual and overall quality of evidence was assessed. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted. Narrative synthesis of outcomes was performed when meta-analysis could not be conducted on the data.

RESULTS: A total of 13,429 records were identified, and 10 randomised controlled trials in 11 articles amongst 1123 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that the electronic adherence monitoring device group was 1.50 times more likely to adhere to inhalers compared with the control group with medium-to-large effect size (g = 0.64). A series of subgroup analyses showed that no significant subgroup differences for inhaler adherence were found amongst different populations, comparator, setting, duration of the monitoring period, reminder, and feedback functions of the electronic adherence monitoring devices. Children found the devices as user friendly with high accessibility scores. However, no significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups for asthma exacerbations, lung function and asthma control.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study suggested that electronic adherence monitoring devices could improve inhaler adherence. Future devices should contain actuation and inhalation functions that can help to confirm actual inhalation amongst children with asthma. The overall evidence of outcomes ranged from very low to high. Furthermore, future large-scale trials were recommended before clinical implementations.

PMID:34391027 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104037

Seizure. 2021 Aug 6;92:2-9. doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.08.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: People with epilepsy (PwE) were concerned about the safety of the novel 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) vaccines.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the side effects experienced by PwE following vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines and to identify the causes of vaccine hesitation.

METHODS: We administered a questionnaire to PwE, who visited the epilepsy clinic at Ibn Sina Hospital in Kuwait during the first two working weeks of April 2021. It included socio-demographic, epilepsy status, and vaccination data. In addition, we asked those who were not vaccinated yet about the reasons and their plan.

RESULTS: A total of 111 PwE were surveyed, with 82 being vaccinated and 29 being unvaccinated. Out of the 82 vaccinated, 66 (80.5%) reported at least one side effect. Patients who received the Pfizer BioNTech mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) (first, second dosage); and the Oxford-AstraZenecaa chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine (ChAdOx1nCoV-19) (first dose) had the following reactions: Pain at the injection site (40%, 67.6%), 43.8%, fatigue (47%, 32.4%), 46.9%, Headache (33.3%, 35.3%), 34.4% and Myalgia (40%, 35%), 50% respectively. Local site effects, including pain (67.6% vs. 40%, p = < 0.001) and redness (26.5% vs 6.7%, p = 0.019), were more statistically significantly after the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine compared to the first dose of the same vaccine. While there was no significant difference in systemic side effects frequencies between the two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine. The systemic side effects were more statistically significantly after the first dose of ChAdOx1nCoV-19 compared to the first dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine and those included fever (56.3% vs 13.3%, p = < 0.001), chills (37.5% vs 6.7%, p = < 0.001), myalgia (50% vs 40%, p = < 0.001) and arthralgia (25% vs 6.7%, p = 0.021). The local site reactions were not significantly different between the first doses of both vaccines. Among the subgroup who had vaccine-related side effects, 66.7% were females, 90.9% were 55 or younger, 63.6% were on polytherapy, 74% had side effects for one day or less, and 95% were symptoms free by the end of the first-week post-vaccination. Symptoms were mild in 68% of the patients and moderate in 29.3%. Most patients (93.9%) did not report seizure worsening after vaccination. The relative risk of seizure worsening after the first and second doses of BNT162b2 and the first dose of ChAdOx1nCoV-19 vaccines was 1.027 (95% CI 0.891-1.183), 1.019 (95% CI 0.928-1.119), and 1.026 (95% CI 0.929-1.134) respectively. After the first dose of BNT162b2, one patient reported the development of status epilepticus. Among the non-vaccinated group, 34.9% were still indecisive, while 37.9% rejected the vaccination. Fear of adverse effects (42.9%) and fear of epilepsy worsening (23.8%) were the main reasons for vaccine hesitation.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the two vaccines under consideration (BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1nCoV-19) have a good safety profile and a low risk of epilepsy worsening among a cohort of PwE in Kuwait.

PMID:34391030 | DOI:10.1016/j.seizure.2021.08.001

Breast. 2021 Aug 3;59:327-338. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2021.07.021. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Premenopausal women with early hormone-receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer receive 5-10 years of adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) during which pregnancy is contraindicated and fertility may wane. The POSITIVE study investigates the impact of temporary ET interruption to allow pregnancy.

METHODS: POSITIVE enrolled women with stage I-III HR + early breast cancer, ≤42 years, who had received 18-30 months of adjuvant ET and wished to interrupt ET for pregnancy. Treatment interruption for up to 2 years was permitted to allow pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding, followed by ET resumption to complete the planned duration.

FINDINGS: From 12/2014 to 12/2019, 518 women were enrolled at 116 institutions/20 countries/4 continents. At enrolment, the median age was 37 years and 74.9 % were nulliparous. Fertility preservation was used by 51.5 % of women. 93.2 % of patients had stage I/II disease, 66.0 % were node-negative, 54.7 % had breast conserving surgery, 61.9 % had received neo/adjuvant chemotherapy. Tamoxifen alone was the most prescribed ET (41.8 %), followed by tamoxifen + ovarian function suppression (OFS) (35.4 %). A greater proportion of North American women were <35 years at enrolment (42.7 %), had mastectomy (59.0 %) and received tamoxifen alone (59.8 %). More Asian women were nulliparous (81.0 %), had node-negative disease (76.2%) and received tamoxifen + OFS (56.0 %). More European women had received chemotherapy (69.3 %).

INTERPRETATION: The characteristics of participants in the POSITIVE study provide insights to which patients and doctors considered it acceptable to interrupt ET to pursue pregnancy. Similarities and variations from a regional, sociodemographic, disease and treatment standpoint suggest specific sociocultural attitudes across the world.

PMID:34390999 | DOI:10.1016/j.breast.2021.07.021

Dev Cogn Neurosci. 2021 Aug 8;51:101001. doi: 10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Longitudinal models have become increasingly popular in recent years because of their power to test theoretically derived hypotheses by modeling within-person processes with repeated measures. Growth models constitute a flexible framework for modeling a range of complex trajectories across time in outcomes of interest, including non-linearities and time-varying covariates. However, these models can be expanded to include the effects of multiple growth processes at once on a single outcome. Here, I outline such an extension, showing how multiple growth processes can be modeled as a specific case of the general ability to include time-varying covariates in growth models. I show that this extension of growth models cannot be accomplished by statistical models alone, and that study design plays a crucial role in allowing for proper parameter recovery. I demonstrate these principles through simulations to mimic important theoretical conditions where modeling the effects of multiple growth processes can address developmental theory including, disaggregating the effects of age and practice or treatment in repeated assessments and modeling age- and puberty-related effects during adolescence. I compare how these models behave in two common longitudinal designs, cohort and accelerated, and how planned missingness in observations is key to parameter recovery. I conclude with directions for future substantive research using the method outlined here.

PMID:34391004 | DOI:10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101001

Sleep Med. 2021 Jul 20;85:309-312. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.07.018. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences in clinical efficacy of different courses of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the treatment of intractable insomnia and the duration of clinical efficacy after cessation of treatment.

METHOD: 70 patients with intractable insomnia were randomly divided into 1 treatment course group and 2 treatment courses group. The rTMS course consisted of daily sessions of 1200 stimuli for the r-DLPFC at a frequency of 1 Hz and 800 stimuli for parietal lobe (CPZ) at a frequency of 1 Hz. The pitchburg sleep index (PSQI), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), and cardiopulmonary coupled sleep (CPC) were assessed for 35 patients in each group at baseline, at 2 weeks, and at 1 and 3 months after treatment.

RESULT: The scores of PSQI, HAMD and HAMA in the 2 groups were significantly improved after 1 month of follow-up after rTMS treatment (p < 0.01). The long-term effect of different treatment courses is different. After 2 consecutive courses of treatment, there was still a significant difference between the 3-month follow-up and the pre-treatment period (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between the 3-month follow-up of one course of treatment and the pre-treatment period. The results of CPC test showed that the improvement of total sleep time (TST), and deep sleep time (DST) was basically consistent with the assessment of PSQI, HAMD and HAMA that the clinical efficacy of the 3-month follow-up was better than that of one course of treatment after 2 consecutive courses of treatment.

CONCLUSION: The treatment of refractory insomnia by rTMS is effective, and the duration of the curative effect is related to the course of treatment. 2 consecutive courses of treatment still have a certain effect after 3 months, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

PMID:34391006 | DOI:10.1016/j.sleep.2021.07.018

Micron. 2021 Aug 8;150:103135. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103135. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A detailed numerical study of the formation of metallic silver thin films ranged from 8 up to 50 nm on thickness is presented. The topography of these films was imaged by Atomic Force Microscopy, and starting from these images, some surface parameters were obtained. We characterized the root mean square roughness evolution by a simple power-law model with a coefficient α=0.74±0.01 consistent with the theoretical results of Family and Vicsek (1985), Family (1990). Additionally, we considered different models to describe the distributions of the grains’ heights and sizes, and analyzed them via Bayesian statistics and a Markov Chain Monte Carlo numerical method. This Bayesian analysis has been significantly helpful in this work for allowing the study of the models that represent our data best and considering the experimental errors as instrumental data. The results of this analysis suggest an individual grains’ growth followed by a collapse between neighboring grains.

PMID:34390976 | DOI:10.1016/j.micron.2021.103135

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2021 Aug 11;223:112604. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112604. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The demand for the effective traceability of hazardous chemicals is crucial for preventing and controlling chemical spills and other accidents involving hazardous chemicals. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the geographical location of ethanol-producing industrial sites and the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen stable isotope ratios of the Chinese-manufactured ethanol using statistical classification analysis to enable the traceability of the ethanol. The isotopic data of 54 ethanol samples obtained from 18 different ethanol manufacturing plants in China between 2019 and 2020. The results of the statistical analysis demonstrated that the δ¹⁸O values of the ethanol positively correlated with latitudes of the production plants but negatively correlated with the δ¹³C values of the ethanol. A small number of samples derived from sites that were geographically close to each other could not be visually distinguished by PCA and HCA. However, by applying and comparing the results of classification by LDA, K-NN and Ensemble, an optimal classification model was obtained. Upon application of these models, 96.3% of the ethanol samples were correctly classified based on their geographical origin, indicating that the combination of isotopic ratios and latitude data is practical and effective for measuring the traceability of ethanol.

PMID:34390986 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112604