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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effects of menopause on the retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex and on intraocular pressure

Menopause. 2022 Jan 14;29(4):460-464. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001936.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness and intraocular pressure in reproductive age and postmenopausal women.

METHODS: The study included 94 eyes of 47 reproductive age women (Group 1) and 94 eyes of 47 postmenopausal women (Group 2). In all women, RNFL and GCC thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography. Intraocular pressure levels were measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. Generalized linear mixed models were conducted to test the differences between groups. Age- and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted partial correlation analysis was used to examine the associations between parameters.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in age and BMI between the two groups (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively). There was no difference in all RNFL and GCC values between the reproductive age and postmenopausal women. The duration of postmenopause versus average, superior hemisphere, and superior values of RNFL and superior and inferior values of GCC were positively correlated with statistical significance in age- and BMI-adjusted partial correlation coefficient tests (r = 0.254, P = 0.017; r = 0.303, P = 0.004; r = 0.317, P = 0.003; r = 0.301, P = 0.004; r = 0.313, P = 0.003; r = 0.271, P = 0.011, with 95% confidence, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, there was no significant difference in all RNFL and GCC values between the reproductive age and postmenopausal women after adjusting for age and BMI. However, we observed that a long postmenopausal period was associated with higher RNFL and GCC values.

PMID:35357368 | DOI:10.1097/GME.0000000000001936

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Correlation and mechanism between cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and oral streptococcus count in patients with primary microvascular angina pectoris

Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Mar 25;101(12):e29060. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029060.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although primary microvascular angina (PMVA) can be diagnosed clinically, the etiology and pathophysiology of PMVA remain unclear. The effects of conventional clinical medications (aspirin, statins, and nitrates) are unsatisfactory, and PMVA can lead to serious cardiovascular events. The present study was designed to analyze the correlation between the load perfusion cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) results and the Streptococcus sanguinis(S sanguinis) count and the correlations between the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and changes in the plasma levels of platelet alpha-granule membrane glycoprotein 140 (GMP-140), fibrinopeptide A (FPA), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and homocysteine (Hcy) in patients with PMVA after increased anti-infective treatment of the oral cavity. This study also discusses the pathogenesis of PMVA from this perspective. The differences in the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and oral health status between healthy people and PMVA patients will be compared, and the correlation between the oral cavity health status and disease in PMVA patients will be analyzed.

METHODS: The present randomized controlled trial with a parallel control group will be conducted in 68 PMVA patients diagnosed by the in-patient cardiology department. The selected patients will be randomly divided into 2 groups, one receiving routine drug treatment and the other a combination of anti-infective treatments. The normal control group will comprise 30 healthy people with no infectious oral cavity disease matched by age and sex. We will conduct CMR, and the presence of S sanguinis in subgingival plaques will be used to determine the bacterial count in PMVA patients. Blood samples will also be collected to determine the levels of GMP-140, FPA, vWF, and Hcy. S sanguinis in the subgingival plaque of PMVA patients will be further analyzed after increasing the oral cavity anti-infective treatment; the resulting changes and their correlations with changes in GMP-140, FPA, vWF, and Hcy levels will be assessed. Additionally, the differences in the S sanguinis count and the oral cavity health status of oral cavity dental plaque between healthy people and PMVA patients will be determined, and the correlation between the oral cavity conditions and PMVA will be analyzed. The relationship between the perfusion CMR results and the oral cavity S sanguinis count of PMVA patients, and the potential pathogenesis, will be explored. We will use the SPSS19.0 statistical software package to analyze the data. The measurements will be expressed as means±standard deviation. Student t test will be used for intergroup comparisons, a relative number description will be used for the count data, and the chi-square test will be used for intergroup comparisons. Multivariate logistic regression will be performed to identify associations. A P value < .05 will be considered significant.

DISCUSSION: In this study, the correlation between the perfusion CMR results and the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque of PMVA patients will be analyzed. Changes in the levels of GMP-140, FPA, vWF, and Hcy of PMVA patients after receiving increased oral cavity anti-infective treatment will be explored, and the difference in the S sanguinis count in oral cavity subgingival plaque and the oral cavity health status between healthy people and PMVA patients will be compared.

ATRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=45091).

PMID:35357350 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000029060

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Did the COVID-19 pandemic lead to increased pediatric musculoskeletal nonaccidental trauma? A cross-sectional study

J Pediatr Orthop B. 2022 Mar 31:BPB.0000000000000971. doi: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000000971. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lockdowns due to COVID-19 increased known risk factors for nonaccidental trauma (NAT), including economic instability and parental stress. We sought to evaluate potential changes in the frequency and types of fractures associated with NAT during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using de-identified data obtained from the IBM Watson Health Explorys Cohort Discovery database. Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms were used to query the database for victims of NAT in 2019 and 2020. Within this cohort of patients, we then identified those who were also diagnosed with a fracture within 21 days of the NAT event. Demographic data were compared between 2019 and 2020 where possible using chi-squared testing, and relative risks for various fracture diagnoses were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. There were 9500 records overall of pediatric NAT in 2019 compared to 9350 in 2020. Of those, in 2019 550 were associated with a diagnosis of fracture versus 570 in 2020. The relative risk of fracture due to NAT in 2020 when compared to 2019 was not significantly higher [relative risk, 1.05 (95% confidence interval, 0.94-1.17)]. The relative risk for each category of fracture diagnosis in 2020 was slightly higher, but not to a statistically significant degree. Despite increasing known risk factors, the frequency of NAT remained unchanged as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also did not identify significant changes in the risk of fracture due to NAT, nor any changes in the associated types of fractures.

PMID:35357345 | DOI:10.1097/BPB.0000000000000971

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

A Crowdsourcing Open Contest to Design a Latino-specific COVID-19 Campaign: A Mixed Methods Analysis

JMIR Form Res. 2022 Mar 12. doi: 10.2196/35764. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Latinos are among the most heavily impacted populations by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States due to intersectional barriers to care. Crowdsourcing open contests can be an effective means of community engagement but have not been well studied in Latino populations nor in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: 1) to implement and evaluate a crowdsourcing open contest to solicit a name for a COVID-19 social marketing campaign for Latinos in Maryland; and 2) to conduct a thematic analysis of submitted entries to guide campaign messaging.

METHODS: To assess the level of community engagement in this crowdsourcing open contest, we conducted descriptive statistics of entries and votes, and demographics of participants. Submitted text was analyzed through inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS: We received 74 entries within a brief 2-week period. The top 10 entries were chosen by community judges and the winner was decided by popular vote. We received 383 votes within 1 week. The most common themes were collective efficacy, self-efficacy, and perceived benefits of COVID-19 testing. We used these themes to directly inform our social marketing intervention and found that ads based on these themes became the highest performing.

CONCLUSIONS: Crowdsourcing open contests are an effective means of community engagement and an agile tool for guiding interventions to address COVID-19, including in populations impacted by healthcare disparities such as Latino communities. Thematic analysis of contest entries can be a valuable strategy to inform the development of social marketing campaign materials.

PMID:35357317 | DOI:10.2196/35764

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Uncovering Important Drivers of the Increase in the Use of Virtual Care Technologies in Nursing Care: Quantitative Analysis From the 2020 National Survey of Canadian Nurses

JMIR Nurs. 2022 Mar 31;5(1):e33586. doi: 10.2196/33586.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Canadian nurses are at the forefront of patient care delivery. Although the use of digital health technologies for care delivery is gaining momentum in Canada, nurses are encouraged to integrate virtual care into their practice. In early 2020, more Canadian nurses delivered care virtually compared with 3 years ago.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to uncover the professional characteristics of Canadian nurses accessing virtual care in 2020, understand how these characteristics differ across types of technologies, investigate whether the nurses accessing virtual care possess the skills and knowledge needed to use these technologies, and determine the important drivers of the uptake of virtual care observed in 2020.

METHODS: We used data from the 2017 and 2020 National Survey of Canadian Nurses. This survey collected data on the use of digital health technologies in nursing practice. It concerned regulated nursing professionals working in different health care settings and from different domains of nursing practice. We combined the chi-square independence test and logistic regression analysis to uncover the most relevant drivers of virtual care uptake by nurses in 2020.

RESULTS: In early 2020, before the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses who delivered care virtually were predominantly nurse practitioners (135/159, 84.9%) and more likely to work in a primary or community care setting (202/367, 55%) and in an urban setting (194/313, 61.9%). Factors such as nursing designation (P<.001), perceived quality of care at the health facility where the nurses practiced (P<.001), and the type of patient record-keeping system they had access to (P=.04) had a statistically significant effect on the probability of nurses to deliver care virtually in early 2020. Furthermore, nurses’ perception of the quality of care they delivered through virtual technologies was statistically associated with their perception of the skills (χ24=308.7; P<.001) and knowledge (χ24=283.4; P<.001) to use these technologies.

CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the critical importance of nursing designation, geographic location, and type of patient record-keeping system in predicting virtual care integration in nursing practice. The findings related to geographic location can be used by decision-makers for better allocation of digital health resources among care settings in rural and urban areas. Similarly, the disparities observed across nursing designations have some implications for the digital training of nurses at all levels of practice. Finally, the association between electronic medical record use and uptake of virtual care could accelerate the implementation of more modernized record-keeping systems in care settings. Hence, this could advance interoperability and improve health care delivery.

PMID:35357326 | DOI:10.2196/33586

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Pregnant mothers’ knowledge, attitude, practice and its predictors towards nutrition in public hospitals of Southern Ethiopia: A multicenter cross-sectional study

SAGE Open Med. 2022 Mar 24;10:20503121221085843. doi: 10.1177/20503121221085843. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Insufficient nutrition can predisposes women to infection, pregnancy losses, preeclampsia and anaemia as well birth of underweight baby whose survival is threatened. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess pregnant mothers’ nutrition knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors.

METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 378 participants who were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Quantitative data were collected using a structured and interviewer-administered questionnaire, which consisted of questions on sociodemographic features, obstetrics characteristics and pregnant women’s nutrition knowledge, attitude and practice. Data entry and analysis were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences statistical version 23. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to identify associated factors. All variables with p-value of < 0.23 in bivariate analysis were included in multivariate analysis, and finally, statistical significance was declared at p-value < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval.

RESULT: From 378 women participated, a total of 231 (61.1%) respondents were in age range of 25-34 years. About 148 (39.1%) of women were not knowledgeable, 153 (40.5%) had an unfavourable attitude, and 47.7% had poor dietary practice. Knowledge (adjusted odds ratio = 4.5; 95% confidence interval: 2.88, 10.06, p = 0.03), attitude (adjusted odds ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval: 2.43, 6.66, p = 0.04) and practice (adjusted odds ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval: 2.43, 6.66, p = 0.036) were all significantly associated with maternal education. Regarding their occupation, merchant women were seven times (adjusted odds ratio = 7.02; 95% confidence interval: 2.88, 17.09, p = 0.01) more likely to have knowledge and government employees were six times (adjusted odds ratio = 6.05; 95% confidence interval: 3.58, 13.05, p = 0.04) more likely to be knowable than housewives. Moreover, multiparous women were 4.77 times (adjusted odds ratio = 4.77; 95% confidence interval: 1.15, 8.66, p = 0.002) more likely to be knowledgeable compared to primigravida women. Monthly income was also associated to attitude (adjusted odds ratio = 0.45, 95% confidence interval: 0.10, 1.66, p = 0.03). Women who had a favourable attitude were five times (adjusted odds ratio = 5.25; 95% confidence interval: 2.36, 9.62, p = 0.04) more likely to have good nutritional practices during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION: Pregnant women’s knowledge, attitude and practice towards nutrition in this area were low. The educational status of women was associated with knowledge; attitude and practice. Likewise, occupation and parity were associated with knowledge; and attitude was also found to be a determinant factor of nutritional practice. Therefore, community nutritional education and antenatal nutritional counselling need to be strengthened in the area.

PMID:35356812 | PMC:PMC8958714 | DOI:10.1177/20503121221085843

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Utilization of youth-friendly reproductive health service and associated factors among youth in Aleta Wondo town, southern Ethiopia, 2020

SAGE Open Med. 2022 Mar 26;10:20503121221088089. doi: 10.1177/20503121221088089. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Youth faces various sexual and reproductive health problems in developing countries like Ethiopia. Major health problems like unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted infections are common among youth in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the level of utilization of youth-friendly reproductive health services and associated factors among youth in Aleta Wondo town, southern Ethiopia, from 20 to 30 June 2020.

METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among youths of Aleta Wondo town from 20 to 30 June 2020. A total of 421 study participants were selected from households of selected kebeles in the town by using a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using structured pretested face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaires. The data were entered using Epi-data version 4.4.2 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine factors significantly associated with the utilization of youth-friendly reproductive health services. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval with p value of <0.05 were considered to declare statistical significance.

RESULTS: The level of utilization of youth-friendly reproductive health services was 32.8% (95% confidence interval = 28.0%-37.0%). Youth-friendly service utilization was significantly associated with being female gender (adjusted odds ratio = 2.20, 95% confidence interval = 1.34-3.62), living alone (adjusted odds ratio = 2.99, 95% confidence interval = 1.48-5.77), who had not ever discussed with their parents (adjusted odds ratio = 0.46, 95% confidence interval = 0.27-0.81), have visited service required and missed service (adjusted odds ratio = 1.96, 95% confidence interval = 1.19-3.24), and have sexual partner (adjusted odds ratio = 4.52, 95% confidence interval = 2.75-7.44).

CONCLUSION: Youth-friendly reproductive health service utilization among youth Aleta Wondo town was low. Factors like gender, current living place, have ever discussed in reproductive health issues with their parents, have visited health facility and missed service, and having sexual partner were predictors of youth-friendly service utilization. It is better to work in collaboration with youth clubs and schoolteachers to scale up youth-friendly service.

PMID:35356809 | PMC:PMC8958524 | DOI:10.1177/20503121221088089

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Pregnant women follow-up service, Shewa, Ethiopia

Health Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 22;5(2):e561. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.561. eCollection 2022 Mar.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The goal of this study was to demonstrate the effects of factors related with time to developing pre-eclampsia (PE) among pregnant women follow-up service at Arerti Primary Hospital.

METHODS: A survival analysis was employed on a pregnant women’s follow-up service from September 2018 to June 2019 at the Arerti Primary Hospital. A closed-form sample size formula for estimating the effect of the time-to-event data was used. Both the descriptive method and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to compute the research survival data.

RESULTS: Using the Kaplan-Meier estimation technique, the univariable analysis shows that the survival time median is 7 months and 3 weeks. The graph of Kaplan-Meier estimate of total survival functions indicates a decreasing pattern of survivorship function. We used the Kaplan-Meier estimates to investigate the effects of observed differences among different categories of the factors, we applied the Log-rank test. The final survival model outcomes weight, marital status, age, history of PE, and multiplicity were related to a substantial hazard of evolving PE.

CONCLUSION: On the basis of our final survival model results, we recommended that all pregnant women having such risk factors should see a health care professional and control their medical condition before and during pregnancy. Advising women about proper body weight in each follow-up period is supported. Finally, health experts should advise pregnant women about potential risk factors related to PE.

PMID:35356806 | PMC:PMC8939849 | DOI:10.1002/hsr2.561

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High Occurrence Among Calves and Close Phylogenetic Relationships With Human Viruses Warrants Close Surveillance of Rotaviruses in Kuwaiti Dairy Farms

Front Vet Sci. 2022 Mar 8;9:745934. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.745934. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Rotavirus, one of the main pathogens causing morbidity and mortality in neonatal dairy calves worldwide, is responsible for 30-44% of cattle deaths. It is considered to be the most common etiologic agent of diarrhea in neonatal dairy calves and children, the dominant type being group A. Two hundred seventy animals from 27 farms from 2 regions of Kuwait were tested for the presence of Rotavirus serogroup A (RVA) using latex agglutination test (LAT) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain (RT-PCR) testing. RVA non-structural proteins NSP1-2, NSP4-5 and capsid protein genes VP1-7 were characterized by next generation sequencing. LAT was positive in 15.56% of the animals, and RT-PCR in 28.89%. Using RT-PCR as a reference method, LAT was 100% specific but only 83.33% sensitive. ANOVA analysis showed correlation only with the location of the farms but no significant correlation with the age and sex of the animals. Although there was a tendency of clustering of RVA positive animals, it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.035 for LAT). The phylogenetic analysis showed that Kuwaiti isolates of group A rotavirus clustered with human rotaviruses. Taken together, it seems that rotavirus was present in most of the dairy farms in Kuwait. The high occurrence of the virus in calves in Kuwaiti dairy farms and the close phylogenetic affinity with human isolates warrants urgent action to minimize and control its spread between calves in farms.

PMID:35356787 | PMC:PMC8959109 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2022.745934

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Clinical severity of RSV bronchiolitis

Health Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 22;5(2):e543. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.543. eCollection 2022 Mar.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies comparing the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis to other viruses are inconclusive. Our study aimed to compare the severity of bronchiolitis according to the virus.

METHODS: Data were collected from 1152 infants under one year of age admitted to Children’s hospital for Wales, over the winter months of 2014-2020. The cohort was divided based on the virus detected: RSV, RSV with another virus, or other virus. Using t tests and Fisher exact statistical test, the groups were compared based on length of hospital stay, admissions PICU/HDU, intubations, and need of nasogastric (NG) nutritional support.

RESULTS: Fifty-six percent throat swabs were RSV positive, 15% had RSV with another virus, and 29% had only another virus. Children positive for RSV had statistically longer hospital admissions and were more likely to need NG nutrition; however, there was no difference between number of PICU/HDU admissions or intubations. The RSV group and RSV with another virus group had no statistical differences.

PMID:35356804 | PMC:PMC8939497 | DOI:10.1002/hsr2.543