Tag: nevin manimala

Ital J Dermatol Venerol. 2022 Apr 4. doi: 10.23736/S2784-8671.22.07280-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diffuse Connective Tissue Diseases (DCTD) are autoimmune diseases that can cause comorbidities, influencing physical and psychological aspects and increase stress. The latter may also be related to the practice of physical activity (PPA). Although evidence shows that it can contribute to patients’ health, the level of PPA can decrease after the diagnosis.

AIMS: to evaluate the basic emotions, perceived stress (PS) and PPA levels of patients with DCTD.

METHODS: This is a field study.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: random approach of 55 participants. We used a clinical and sociodemographic profile form, for the verification of emotions, a picture with emojis of the basic emotions, the PSS-14 and the IPAQ-Brief.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: dada were analysed with Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests; with 5% of significance.

RESULTS: The average age was 49.1 ± 12.9, mostly female (58.7%). High PS was reported by 54.5%; emotions such as joy (38.2%) and anxiety/fear (25.5%], as well as sadness (7.3%), were reported. About 87.3% were classified as having insufficient levels of PPA. Female patients (U=137.0; p<0.05) and insufficient PPA levels (U=86.5%; p<0.05) had higher PS scores, as well as those feeling sadness (X2 =19.0; p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results point to the need for care with the emotional domain of these patients and suggest studies that analyze the impact of implementing PPA for this population.

PMID:35373782 | DOI:10.23736/S2784-8671.22.07280-2

Ital J Dermatol Venerol. 2022 Apr 4. doi: 10.23736/S2784-8671.22.07275-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms involved in mycosis fungoides and Sezary Syndrome progression are largely unknown. Over the last decade the interest in immune system contrast of neoplasm has grown owing to the introduction of immunotherapy. PD-1 and its ligand (PD-L1) are the target of several immunotherapy treatment. In the literature reports on the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 have provided contrasting results.

METHODS: In our analysis we investigated PD-1 expression in neoplastic cells and in tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as well as PD-L1 expression in tumour cells and in tumour associated macrophages (TAMs). PD-L1 and PD-1 positive cells were counted in 5 high-power fields (HPF) and scored as the average number of positive neoplastic cells/TILs/TAMs per HPF.

RESULTS: From databases of two institutions (Bologna and Florence) thirty-five patients corresponding to 43 biopsies were retrieved. In seven instances sequential biopsies were present. No statistically significant expression was observed comparing early to advanced stages by analysing PD-1 by tumour cells and TILs and of PD-L1 by tumour cells and TAMs.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results corroborate that PD-1 and PD-L1 expression is not stage-dependent in mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome. However, PD-1 and PD-L1 expression in affected patients provides a rationale to schedule anti PD-1/PD-L1 drugs.

PMID:35373781 | DOI:10.23736/S2784-8671.22.07275-9

Sports Biomech. 2022 Apr 3:1-17. doi: 10.1080/14763141.2022.2054856. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Thigh muscle weakness prevails following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, as usually evaluated by peak concentric quadriceps strength. Assessment throughout the range of motion (ROM), and for antagonists may provide more comprehensive information. We evaluated angle-specific torque profiles and ratios of isokinetic thigh muscle strength in 70 individuals 23 ± 2 years post-ACL injury (44males, 46.9 ± 5.4 years); 33 treated with ACL-reconstruction (ACL-R), and 37 treated only with physiotherapy (ACL-PT), and 33 controls. Quadriceps and hamstrings torques for concentric/eccentric contractions (90°/s) and ratios between hamstrings/quadriceps strength (HQ) were compared between and within groups using inferential functional data methods. The injured ACL-R leg had lower concentric and eccentric quadriceps strength compared to non-injured leg throughout the ROM, and lower concentric (interval 70-79°) and eccentric (64-67°) quadriceps strength compared to controls. The injured ACL-PT leg showed lower eccentric quadriceps strength (53-77°) than non-injured leg and lower concentric (41-79°) and eccentric (52-81°) quadriceps and eccentric hamstrings (30-77°) strength than controls. There were no group differences for HQ-ratios. The injured ACL-R leg had higher HQ-ratio (34-37°) than non-injured leg. Angle-specific torque profiles revealed strength deficits, masked if using only peak values, and seem valuable for ACL-injury rehabilitation.

PMID:35373714 | DOI:10.1080/14763141.2022.2054856

Small Methods. 2022 Apr 3:e2200029. doi: 10.1002/smtd.202200029. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

GeSn on Si has attracted much research interest due to its tunable direct bandgap for mid-infrared applications. Recently, short-range order (SRO) in GeSn alloys has been theoretically predicted, which profoundly impacts the band structure. However, characterizing SRO in GeSn is challenging. Guided by physics-informed Poisson statistical analyses of k-nearest neighbors (KNN) in atom probe tomography (APT), a new approach is demonstrated here for 3D nanoscale SRO mapping and semi-quantitative strain mapping in GeSn. For GeSn with ≈14 at. % Sn, the SRO parameters of Sn-Sn 1NN in 10 × 10 × 10 nm³ nanocubes can deviate from that of the random alloys by ±15 %. The relatively large fluctuation of the SRO parameters contributes to band-edge softening observed optically. Sn-Sn 1NN also tends to be more favored toward the surface, less favored under strain relaxation or tensile strain, while almost independent of local Sn composition. An algorithm based on least square fit of atomic positions further verifies this Poisson-KNN statistical method. Compared to existing macroscopic spectroscopy or electron microscopy techniques, this new APT statistical analysis uniquely offers 3D SRO mapping at nanoscale resolution in a relatively large volume with millions of atoms. It can also be extended to investigate SRO in other alloy systems.

PMID:35373530 | DOI:10.1002/smtd.202200029

ANZ J Surg. 2022 Apr 3. doi: 10.1111/ans.17669. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Interhospital transfers in Australia facilitate access to acute surgical services, however transfer delays can occur. The aims of this study were to examine Australian mortality audit data on acute surgical patients who were transferred after presenting with a surgical emergency, and to identify modifiable predictors of transfer delay.

METHODS: Surgical admissions between 1 January 2001 and 18 August 2020 were retrospectively extracted from the Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality database. Relevant factors and themes of interest were collated. Results were presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), with statistical significance defined as P <0.05.

RESULTS: After exclusion, a final 8270 cases were analysed. Non-modifiable predictors identified were female gender (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.05-1.70, P = 0.0184), comorbidities (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.40-161, P <0.0001) and major non-trauma non-vascular specialty (OR 1.54 to 7.77, depending on specialty, P < 0.05). Modifiable predictors were inadequate clinical assessment (OR 49.48, 95% CI 32.91-74.38, P <0.0001), poor communication (OR 6.62, 95% CI 3.70-11.85, P <0.0001) and multiple transfers (OR 6.30, OR 95% 4.31-9.21, P <0.0001). Age, lack of bed and after-hours transfer did not predict transfer delays. Metropolitan transfers was protective against transfer delays (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.86, P = 0.0035).

CONCLUSION: In the view of the receiving surgeon or assessor, all transfer delays potentially contributed to patient deaths, and may have been preventable. Strategies directed at modifiable factors could minimize delays. Increased surgical services in non-metropolitan regions could reduce need for transfer. Prospective data is required to examine if the same predictors are observed in surgical patients who survive.

PMID:35373494 | DOI:10.1111/ans.17669

Int Wound J. 2022 Apr 3. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13809. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Amniotic membranes are known to be rich in growth factors, cytokines, and matrix proteins, which can help support wound closure and may improve patient outcomes in foot and ankle surgical interventions. In this Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved clinical study, 21 consecutive patients undergoing lower extremity soft tissue and bone reconstruction surgery received dehydrated human amnion and chorion allograft (dHACA) placed as a covering over the deep layers of the surgical wound during closure. Wound healing complications were assessed and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were compiled from over a 1-year follow-up period. Summary statistics were calculated for average pain, function, and alignment. The average overall AOFAS pre-treatment score was 35.8 ± 23.0 and the post-treatment score significantly improved to 87.5 ± 6.4 (P = 3.7 × 10^-10 ). The pain-score improved from pre-treatment at 10.0 ± 11.0 to post-treatment at 36.7 ± 4.8 (P = 5.0 × 10^-5 ). The pre-treatment function score was 18.7 ± 12.9 and at post-treatment increased to 38.5 ± 5.7 (P = 5.8 × 10^-5 ). Lastly, the alignment score at pre-treatment was 7.1 ± 4.4 and at post-treatment was 12.4 ± 2.6 (P = .001). These improvements in functional scores were accompanied with clinical observations of reduced surgical complications including a lack of wound dehisance in the cohort. These clinical findings suggest that the application of aseptically processed dHACA may reduce wound complications and as such may aide in clinical improvements in foot and ankle surgical interventions however a larger comparative trial should be considered to validate these initial findings.

PMID:35373506 | DOI:10.1111/iwj.13809

Mol Inform. 2022 Apr 3. doi: 10.1002/minf.202200026. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) modeling was carried out for predicting drug and drug-like compounds solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide. For the first time, a dataset of 148 drugdrug-like compounds, accounting for 3971 experimental data points (EDPs), was collected and used for modelling the relationship between selected molecular descriptors and solubility fraction data achieved by a nonlinear approached (Artificial neural network, ANN) based on molecular descriptors. Experimental solubility data for a given drug are published as a function of temperature and pressure. In this study, 11 significant PaDEL descriptors (AATS3v, MATS2e, GATS4c, GATS3v, GATS4e, GATS3s, nBondsM, AVP-0, SHBd, MLogP, and MLFER_S), the temperature and the pressure were statistically proved to be sufficient inputs. The architecture of the optimised model was found to be {13,10,1}. Validation of the model was checked using several recommended statistical metrics, including Average absolute relative deviation (AARD=3.7748%), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE=0.5162), Coefficient of Correlation (r=0.9761), Coefficient of Determination (R²=0.9528), and Robustise (Q²=0.9528). The model was also subjected to an external test by using 143 EDPs. Sensitivity analysis and domain of application were examined. The overall results confirm that the optimised ANN-QSPR model can be used reliably for the correlation and prediction of this property.

PMID:35373477 | DOI:10.1002/minf.202200026

Acad Emerg Med. 2022 Apr 3. doi: 10.1111/acem.14497. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although more guideline-adherent care has been described in pediatric compared to adult trauma centers, we aimed to provide a more detailed characterization of management and resource utilization of children with intra-abdominal injury (IAI) within pediatric centers. Our primary objective was to describe the epidemiology, diagnostic evaluation, and management of children with IAI across U.S. children’s hospitals. Our secondary objective was to describe the inter-hospital variation in surgical management of children with IAI.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 33 hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System. We included children aged <18 years evaluated in the emergency department from 2010-2019 with IAI, as defined by ICD coding, and who underwent an abdominal computed tomography (CT). Our primary outcome was abdominal surgery. We categorized IAI by organ system and described resource utilization data. We used generalized linear regression to calculate adjusted hospital-level proportions of abdominal surgery, with a random effect for hospital.

RESULTS: We studied 9,265 children with IAI. Median (IQR) age was 9.0 years (IQR: 6.0, 13.0). Abdominal surgery was performed in 16% (n=1,479) of children, with the lowest proportion of abdominal surgery observed in children aged <5 years. Liver (38.6%) and spleen (32.1%) were the most common organs injured. 3.1% of children with liver injuries and 2.8% with splenic injuries underwent abdominal surgery. Although there was variation in rates of surgery across hospitals (p<0.001), only 3 of 33 hospitals had rates that were statistically different from the aggregate mean of 16%.

CONCLUSIONS: Most children with IAI are managed non-operatively, and most children’s hospitals manage children with IAI similarly. These data can be used to inform future benchmarking efforts across hospitals to assess concordance with guidelines for the management of children with IAI.

PMID:35373473 | DOI:10.1111/acem.14497

Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2022 Apr 4. doi: 10.1002/ieam.4614. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

As health-based drinking water standards for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) continue to evolve, public health and environmental protection decision-makers must assess exposure risks associated with all public drinking water systems in the United States (US). Unfortunately, current knowledge regarding the presence of PFAS in environmental systems is limited. In this study a screening approach was established to: 1) identify and direct attention toward potential PFAS hot-spots in drinking water sources; 2) prioritize sampling locations; and 3) provide insights regarding the potential PFAS sources that contaminate groundwater and surface water. Our approach incorporates geospatial data from public sources, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), to identify locations where PFAS may be present in drinking water sources. An indicator factor (e.g. “risk factor” was developed as a function of distance between potential past and/or present PFAS-users (e.g., military bases, industrial sites, and airports) and the public water system, and generates a heat map that visualizes potential exposure risks. A binomial logistic regression model indicates whether PFAS is likely to be detected in public water systems. The results obtained using the developed screening approach aligned well (with a 76% overall model accuracy) with PFAS sampling and chemical analysis data from 81 public drinking water systems in the state of Kentucky. This study proposes this screening model as an effective decision aid to assist key decision-makers in identifying and prioritizing sampling locations for potential PFAS exposure risks in the public drinking water sources in their service areas. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2022 SETAC.

PMID:35373458 | DOI:10.1002/ieam.4614

Pharm Stat. 2022 Apr 3. doi: 10.1002/pst.2212. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Pharmaceutical companies regularly need to make decisions about drug development programs based on the limited knowledge from early stage clinical trials. In this situation, eliciting the judgements of experts is an attractive approach for synthesising evidence on the unknown quantities of interest. When calculating the probability of success for a drug development program, multiple quantities of interest-such as the effect of a drug on different endpoints-should not be treated as unrelated. We discuss two approaches for establishing a multivariate distribution for several related quantities within the SHeffield ELicitation Framework (SHELF). The first approach elicits experts’ judgements about a quantity of interest conditional on knowledge about another one. For the second approach, we first elicit marginal distributions for each quantity of interest. Then, for each pair of quantities, we elicit the concordance probability that both lie on the same side of their respective elicited medians. This allows us to specify a copula to obtain the joint distribution of the quantities of interest. We show how these approaches were used in an elicitation workshop that was performed to assess the probability of success of the registrational program of an asthma drug. The judgements of the experts, which were obtained prior to completion of the pivotal studies, were well aligned with the final trial results.

PMID:35373454 | DOI:10.1002/pst.2212