Tag: nevin manimala

AIDS Behav. 2022 Aug 27. doi: 10.1007/s10461-022-03829-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To date, there are no established scales to assess PrEP stigma among youth. We validated the Youth PrEP Stigma Scale within the Adolescent Trials Network P3 study (2019-2021). Data from sexual and gender minority youth (16-24 years) who were prescribed PrEP across nine domestic sites were evaluated (N = 235). Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and correlation coefficients are reported. Results yielded a three-factor solution (PrEP Disapproval by Others, Enacted PrEP Stigma, and PrEP User Stereotypes) with strong factor loadings and Cronbach’s alphas ranging from 0.83 to 0.90, suggesting excellent internal consistency. Correlations between this Scale, anticipated HIV stigma, perceived HIV risk, and disclosure of sexual identity were significant, indicating potential for robust application. Given the persistence of HIV infections among youth, stigma as a barrier to prevention, and expansion of PrEP modalities, the Youth PrEP Stigma Scale could enhance intervention and mechanistic research among youth at elevated risk for HIV acquisition.

PMID:36029425 | DOI:10.1007/s10461-022-03829-9

Bull Math Biol. 2022 Aug 27;84(10):108. doi: 10.1007/s11538-022-01064-w.

ABSTRACT

As the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, it is badly needed to develop vaccination guidelines to prioritize the vaccination delivery in order to effectively stop COVID-19 epidemic and minimize the loss. We evaluated the effect of age-specific vaccination strategies on the number of infections and deaths using an SEIR model, considering the age structure and social contact patterns for different age groups for each of different countries. In general, the vaccination priority should be given to those younger people who are active in social contacts to minimize the number of infections, while the vaccination priority should be given to the elderly to minimize the number of deaths. But this principle may not always apply when the interaction of age structure and age-specific social contact patterns is complicated. Partially reopening schools, workplaces or households, the vaccination priority may need to be adjusted accordingly. Prematurely reopening social contacts could initiate a new outbreak or even a new pandemic out of control if the vaccination rate and the detection rate are not high enough. Our result suggests that it requires at least nine months of vaccination (with a high vaccination rate > 0.1%) for Italy and India before fully reopening social contacts in order to avoid a new pandemic.

PMID:36029391 | DOI:10.1007/s11538-022-01064-w

Psychometrika. 2022 Aug 27. doi: 10.1007/s11336-022-09883-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Wald, likelihood ratio, score, and the recently proposed gradient statistics can be used to assess a broad range of hypotheses in item response theory models, for instance, to check the overall model fit or to detect differential item functioning. We introduce new methods for power analysis and sample size planning that can be applied when marginal maximum likelihood estimation is used. This allows the application to a variety of IRT models, which are commonly used in practice, e.g., in large-scale educational assessments. An analytical method utilizes the asymptotic distributions of the statistics under alternative hypotheses. We also provide a sampling-based approach for applications where the analytical approach is computationally infeasible. This can be the case with 20 or more items, since the computational load increases exponentially with the number of items. We performed extensive simulation studies in three practically relevant settings, i.e., testing a Rasch model against a 2PL model, testing for differential item functioning, and testing a partial credit model against a generalized partial credit model. The observed distributions of the test statistics and the power of the tests agreed well with the predictions by the proposed methods in sufficiently large samples. We provide an openly accessible R package that implements the methods for user-supplied hypotheses.

PMID:36029390 | DOI:10.1007/s11336-022-09883-5

Clin Oral Investig. 2022 Aug 27. doi: 10.1007/s00784-022-04680-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) is to compare xenogeneic collagen matrix (XCM) versus subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) to increase soft tissue thickness at implant site.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a randomized, parallel-group controlled investigation. Thirty patients underwent buccal soft tissue thickness augmentation at the stage of implant placement by two different methods: SCTG (control group) and XCM (test group). Primary outcome was the amount of buccal soft tissue thickness gain, 3 months after the intervention. Secondary outcomes were the operation time, the amount of keratinized mucosa (KM), pain syndrome (PS), and patients’ quality of life (QL). Histologic evaluation was also performed.

RESULTS: The amount of soft tissue thickness gain was 1.55±0.11 mm in SCTG group, and 1.18±0.11mm in XCM group. The difference between the SCTG and XCM was -0.366 (-0.66 to -0.07; p=0.016). Operation time with XCM was 8.4 (3.737 to 13.06) min shorter than that with the SCTG (p=0.001). KT, PS, and QL for both groups were not statistically significantly different at any time point (p>0.05). At histological examination, the general picture in both groups was similar. No significant differences between the studied groups in most indices, except for the average and maximum formation thickness, cellularity of the basal, mitotic activity and also maximum length of rete ridges.

CONCLUSION: Within limitations, this study demonstrates that the use of SCTG provides a statistically significant superior soft tissue thickness gain than XCM for soft tissue augmentation procedures around implants.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: XCM can be used as the method of choice for increasing the thickness of soft tissues.

PMID:36029335 | DOI:10.1007/s00784-022-04680-x

Int J Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug 21;16(3):247-251. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2022.540950.1205.

ABSTRACT

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) complication is a challenge of reproductive medicine due to its often unknown etiology.<br />A case-control study was carried out between June 2019 and April 2020 to examine the correlation between RPL<br />and inherited thrombophilia (IT), namely mutations in factor V Leiden (FVL G1691A), prothrombin (FII G20210A),<br />and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T). A total of 120 Lebanese women with RPL was studied<br />and compared, for the frequency of these mutations, to 100 healthy reproductive Lebanese women. The association<br />between the zygosity status of the three tested mutations, the existence of more than one prothrombotic single nucleotide<br />polymorphisms (SNPs), and the increased risk of RPL were examined using Chi-square or two-tailed fisher exact<br />test, and the student t test. The predictive factors of RPL were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model.<br />P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Our results showed statistically significant higher frequencies<br />of FVL G1691A and FII G20210A mutations among the cases with RPL compared to the control group. Thus, RPL is<br />associated with FVL G1691A and FII G20210A mutations. These mutations seem to increase the risk of RPL in the<br />Lebanese women. Therefore, we suggest thrombophilia screening and adequate genetic counseling for women with<br />RPL and at high-risk to plan for primary prevention, avoiding thromboembolic or obstetric accidents, and reducing<br />the associated morbidity and mortality among Lebanese women.

PMID:36029065 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2022.540950.1205

Int J Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug 21;16(3):237-243. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2022.544706.1236.

ABSTRACT

Present study assessed whether Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Covaxin’s vaccinated women<br />reveal a distinct incidence of menstruation disturbances, hirsutism, and metrorrhagia.<br />Materials and Methods: Data collection was performed from June to August 2021, and 427 women working in seven<br />selected hospitals in Tehran were studied in this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. All of these women had<br />received one or both doses of the vaccines with one of the assessed vaccines. Required data was collected via questionnaire<br />and imported to SPSS 16 for further assessment and analysis. Fisher’s Exact Test and Chi-Squared test were<br />main statistical tests used to understand whether any significant relation exists or not.<br />Results: The participant’s mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 29.78 ± 10.55 and 23.27 ± 3.82, respectively.<br />Three hundred ninety-five cases (92.4%) had received both doses of the vaccines. Also, 154 cases (36.1%) had a history<br />of COVID-19. A total of 38 cases (8.8%) of menstruation disturbances, 20 cases (4.6%) of metrorrhagia, and 7<br />cases (1.6%) of hirsutism were reported after receiving the vaccines. There was a significant difference among the<br />vaccinated groups with the vaccines as mentioned earlier in terms of menstruation disturbances (hypermenorrhea,<br />dysmenorrhea, Amenorrhea) (P=0.01). The highest and the lowest incidence of menstruation disturbances were recorded<br />in the group vaccinated with Covaxin (17.6%) and Sputnik V (5%), respectively. There was also no significant<br />difference amongst the vaccinated groups with the four vaccines regarding the incidence of metrorrhagia and<br />hirsutism (P=0.10 and P=0.12, respectively). There was no significant relationship between all three complications<br />incidence with the previous infection concerning all vaccines (coefficient=0.46, 1.27, -0.15 respectively for menstruation<br />disturbances, metrorrhagia, and, hirsutism).<br />Conclusion: Seemingly, Covaxin revealed the most side effects in terms of menstruation disturbances. As a result, professionals<br />must carry out several studies with reasonable samples to recommend the vaccine to those women confidently.

PMID:36029063 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2022.544706.1236

Int J Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug 21;16(3):211-219. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2021.529258.1124.

ABSTRACT

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and infertility are associated with significant psychiatric complications.<br />The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and sertraline<br />in the treatment of in depression, anxiety, and infertility stress of depressed infertile women with RPL in comparison<br />with usual care.<br />Materials and Methods: A triple-arm randomized controlled trial was carried out on the 60 depressed infertile<br />women with RPL, a population of Infertility Center of Babol city, Iran, who were randomly assigned into three<br />groups: pharmacotherapy with sertraline (n=20), psychotherapy with CBT (n=20), and a usual care as control<br />group (n=20). The participants of psychotherapy received CBT sessions (90 minutes each) over 10 weeks. The<br />participants in the pharmacotherapy group took 50 mg/day sertraline daily for 22 weeks. Outcomes were assessed<br />using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), fertility problem inventory (FPI), and State-Trait Anxiety<br />Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y) at the beginning of the trial, 10-weeks post-trial, and three months of follow-up.<br />Using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software, data were analyzed.<br />Results: CBT considerably reduced the depression symptoms more than sertraline with a moderate effect size<br />at the post-trial (g=0.11, 95% CI: -0.03 to -0.50). Sertraline showed reduced the scores of state-anxiety more<br />considerably in comparison with control group by a large effect size of post-trial (g=-1.04, 95% CI: -1.70 to<br />-0.38). CBT reduced the total scores of FPI more considerably than sertraline, with a large, small size at follow<br />up-trial [95% CI=-0.03(-0.65, -0.58)]. Both CBT and sertraline were superior to the control group in reducing<br />depression and infertility stress.<br />Conclusion: Depression and infertility stress diminished under CBT and sertraline in depressed infertile women with<br />RPL, with a significant advantage of CBT. Sertraline was superior to CBT in reduction of anxiety (registration number:<br />IRCT201304045931N3).

PMID:36029059 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2021.529258.1124

Int J Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug 21;16(3):206-210. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2021.521378.1066.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the ovarian response and pregnancy outcomes<br />in the infertile women with endometrioma undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in two<br />groups, who were underwent laparoscopic cystectomy and received gonadotropin releasing hormone-agonist<br />(GnRH-agonist) and who only received GnRH-agonist without any surgery.<br />Materials and Methods: In this prospective clinical trial study, 79 infertile women with asymptomatic endometriomas<br />cyst (2-6 cm) were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups. First group underwent laparoscopic<br />cystectomy and received GnRH-agonist. Second group only received GnRH-agonist without any surgery. Following<br />ovulation induction, all patients underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Different parameters<br />such as the number of retrieved oocytes and embryos; were made our outcomes that analyzed using SPSS.<br />Results: The pregnancy rate, chemical and clinical, and live birth rate were higher in the combined group,<br />although these differences were not statistically significant (48.48% vs. 30.8%, P=0.12, 36.36% vs. 25.6%,<br />P=0.32, 36.36% vs. 23.1%, P=0.29). The number of injections, antral follicles, retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes,<br />total embryos, transferred embryos and duration of stimulation were similar in two groups.<br />Conclusion: Laparoscopic cystectomy followed by receiving GnRH-agonist improves pregnancy outcomes in endometrioma<br />prior to treatment with ART (registration number: IRCT201106116689N2).

PMID:36029058 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2021.521378.1066

Int J Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug 21;16(3):180-183. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2021.141690.1050.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known as the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder in the reproductive-age women. Due to the effects of PCOS on the physical and mental health, the investigation of the factors affecting the development of PCOS is crucial. Hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PD) is a microsomal enzyme that catalyzes the first two reactions of the oxidative chain of the pentose phosphate pathway. The present study examined the polymorphisms of the H6PD gene (R453Q and D151A) in PCOS patients of Iranian Kurdish women.<br />Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, a total, of 200 female volunteers in two equal groups participated in our study. The PCOS patients were selected based on the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria. The association of H6PD gene polymorphisms, D151A and R453Q, with the development of PCOS were investigated. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used for genotyping. Statistical analysis was applied by the SPSS (version 16) software.<br />Results: Statistically significant lower frequencies of AA+AG genotype (37% vs. 55%, P=0.01) and A allele (22.5%<br />vs. 34%, P=0.01) of R453Q were observed in the patients compared to the controls. In the case of D151A, no significant<br />differences were observed in the frequency of genotypes and alleles between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that variants of H6PD R453Q affect the risk of PCOS.

PMID:36029054 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2021.141690.1050

Int J Fertil Steril. 2022 Aug 21;16(3):162-166. doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2021.532311.1141.

ABSTRACT

Few studies have so far been done about the role of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in final oocyte<br />maturation. However, none of these studies have been performed solely on normoresponder patients. This study aimed<br />to determine whether oocyte maturation, as well as fertilization and pregnancy rates, could be improved in normoresponder women with concomitant FSH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger compared to those with the hCG trigger alone.<br />Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 117 normoresponder women, aged 19-40 years<br />who were candidates for the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol at Avicenna Infertility<br />treatment Center, were enrolled and claasified in two groups. Final oocyte maturation was triggered using 10000 IU of<br />hCG plus 450 IU of FSH in the first group (59 subjects) and 10000 IU of hCG alone in the second group (58 subjects).<br />The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate.<br />Results: Mean age of the patients was 33.21 ± 4.41 years. There was no difference in clinical pregnancy among the<br />two groups (30.9% vs. 25.5%, P=0.525). There was no statistically significant difference in fertilization rate (80.0%<br />vs. 74.1%, P=0.106), implantation rates (18.9% vs. 16.7%, P=0.352), and chemical pregnancy rates (38.2% vs. 32.7%,<br />P=0.550). Oocyte maturation rate (84.2% vs. 73.6%, P<0.001), 2 pronuclei (2PNs) (6.53 ± 2.54 vs. 5.36 ± 2.85,<br />P=0.021) and total embryos (5.85 ± 2.43 vs. 4.91 ± 2.58, P=0.046) were significantly higher in the first group.<br />Conclusion: Adding FSH to hCG for oocyte triggering, significantly improved oocyte maturation rates and total embryos.<br />While there was no significant difference in the clinical and chemical pregnancy rates, between these two groups<br />(registration number: IRCT20190108042285N1).

PMID:36029051 | DOI:10.22074/ijfs.2021.532311.1141