Tag: nevin manimala

J Dermatolog Treat. 2021 Mar 5:1-21. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2021.1898527. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a self-limited cutaneous viral infection. Topical 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) has been used for treating MC. However, it remains unclear whether it is beneficial or not to apply topical 10% KOH for treating MC.

METHODS: To confirm the efficacy and safety of topical 10% KOH compared with placebo as well as other treatments for MC, meta-analysis was used. Up to September 2020, we performed a comprehensive search of literature based on three databases with following keywords including “molluscum contagiosum” and “potassium hydroxide”.

RESULTS: Our meta-analyses demonstrated a significant difference between topical 10% KOH and placebo for complete clearance of MC (RR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.69 – 5.17, p = 0.0001), while there were no statistical differences between them in the number of patients with adverse events (RR: 1.73, 95% CI: 0.67 – 4.45, p = 0.2562). Also, topical 10% KOH was as effective as mechanical treatments for MC (RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.84 – 1.07, p = 0.3833).

CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that application of topical 10% KOH may be one of effective and appropriate methods for the treatment of MC compared with awaiting spontaneous resolution due to its safety and effectiveness.

PMID:33667150 | DOI:10.1080/09546634.2021.1898527

Health Care Women Int. 2021 Mar 5:1-13. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2021.1883023. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled study to determine the effect of nursing interventions, which were based on Dennis’s Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Theory and Pender’s Health Promotion Model during home visits, on the breastfeeding self-efficacy and success of immigrant women living in Northern Cyprus. The sample consisted of N = 60 primipar immigrant women (experimental group n = 30, control group n = 30) who attended a primary healthcare center in Northern Cyprus between April 2019 and January 2020. The data were collected from the participants using a Socio-Demographic Questionnaire, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool. Before the study, no statistically significant difference was found between two groups in terms of breastfeeding self-efficacy and the LATCH assessment (p > 0.05). After the intervention, the mean score for the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale increased by 9.73 in the experimental group and 3.16 in the control group compared to before the study, and the effect size was found to be 6.57. The score for the LATCH assessment increased by 3.2 in the experimental group and 1.44 in the control group, and the effect size was found to be 1.76 (p < 0.05).

PMID:33667155 | DOI:10.1080/07399332.2021.1883023

IEEE Trans Image Process. 2021 Mar 5;PP. doi: 10.1109/TIP.2021.3062726. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Fully supervised deep neural networks for segmentation usually require a massive amount of pixel-level labels which are manually expensive to create. In this work, we develop a multi-task learning method to relax this constraint. We regard the segmentation problem as a sequence of approximation subproblems that are recursively defined and in increasing levels of approximation accuracy. The subproblems are handled by a framework that consists of 1) a segmentation task that learns from pixel-level ground truth segmentation masks of a small fraction of the images, 2) a recursive approximation task that conducts partial object regions learning and data-driven mask evolution starting from partial masks of each object instance, and 3) other problem oriented auxiliary tasks that are trained with sparse annotations and promote the learning of dedicated features. Most training images are only labeled by (rough) partial masks, which do not contain exact object boundaries, rather than by their full segmentation masks. During the training phase, the approximation task learns the statistics of these partial masks, and the partial regions are recursively increased towards object boundaries aided by the learned information from the segmentation task in a fully data-driven fashion. The network is trained on an extremely small amount of precisely segmented images and a large set of coarse labels. Annotations can thus be obtained in a cheap way. We demonstrate the efficiency of our approach in three applications with microscopy images and ultrasound images.

PMID:33667164 | DOI:10.1109/TIP.2021.3062726

J Med Internet Res. 2021 Feb 18. doi: 10.2196/26331. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the current days of widespread access to the internet, we can monitor public interest in a topic based on information-targeted web browsing. We sought to provide direct proof of the altered use of medical knowledge from Wikipedia by the global population due to the new COVID-19 pandemic and related global restrictions.

OBJECTIVE: To identify temporal search trends and quantify changes in access to Wikipedia Medicine articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of medical articles from Wikipedia across nine languages paired with country-specific statistics of registered deaths due to COVID-10. The observed patterns were compared with a modelled forecast of Wikipedia use trained on data from 2015-2019 and analysed in-depth concerning specific articles and their access count similarities in years prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Articles linked to the ones directly associated with the pandemic were evaluated in terms of degrees of separation and analysed to identify similarities in access numbers. Article access numbers were correlated with that of the cases diagnosed and deaths to determine factors driving the interest in these articles and shifts of public interest during the subsequent phases of the pandemic.

RESULTS: We observed a significant (p<.0001) increase in the number of entries on Wikipedia medical articles in the pandemic period. The increased interest in COVID-related articles correlated with global deaths temporally while presenting a constant correlation with region-specific deaths. Articles with a low number of degrees of separation shared a statistically significant similarity(p<.0001) of access patterns demonstrating information-seeking patterns.

CONCLUSIONS: An analysis of Wikipedias’ medical article popularity could be a successful tool for epidemiologic surveillance by providing important information about the reasons that trigger public attention and factors that sustain it in the long run. Moreover, the users can be potentially directed to credible valuable information sources linked with the most prominent articles.

PMID:33667176 | DOI:10.2196/26331

Anal Chem. 2021 Mar 5. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04490. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The use of cosmogenically produced sulfur-35 (T_1/2 = 87 days) and sodium-22 (T_1/2 = 2.6 years) as intrinsic tracers can provide valuable information on catchment hydrology, flow paths, and subsurface storage. A new and straightforward method was created to determine the activities of both ³⁵S and ²²Na in various water sources by pumping large volumes (up to 1000 L) of water through cation- and anion-exchange resin columns in the field to collect sodium and sulfate ions and simple chemistry in the lab. Samples are counted for ³⁵S using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and for ²²Na via γ spectroscopy. Our novel in situ method provides faster sample throughput as well as better counting statistics and lower detection limits. Both methods were successfully applied at the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory.

PMID:33667067 | DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04490

Am J Sports Med. 2021 Mar 5:363546521996701. doi: 10.1177/0363546521996701. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recurrent shoulder instability is a prevalent condition, with glenoid bone loss as a common cause. Arthroscopic repair using distal tibial allografts provides long-lasting treatment by restoring glenoid surface area and presumably avoids risks of sensitization against donor human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Two case studies have challenged this assumption, suggesting that small bone allografts are able to induce host adaptive immune responses to donor HLA. The incidence of small bone allograft HLA sensitization and its effects on resorption and patient outcomes are unclear.

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose was to assess the rate of sensitization against donor HLA after distal tibial allograft procedures for shoulder instability due to glenoid bone loss and to find whether HLA sensitization negatively affects patient-reported and radiographic outcomes. We hypothesized that sensitized patients would have worse radiographic and self-reported outcomes compared with nonsensitized patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: A total of 71 patients with a mean age of 28.85 years (range, 13.58-61.31 years) were enrolled, with 58 patients submitting sufficient pre- and postoperative blood samples for HLA antibody testing. In patients who developed HLA antibodies postoperatively, donor HLA typing was used to confirm donor-specific sensitization. Pre- and postoperative computerized tomography scans (0.9 ± 0.8 years follow-up) were used to grade resorption based on the modified Zhu resorption grade classification (ie, grade 0 = no resorption; grade 1 = less than 25% resorption; grade 2 = between 25% and 50% resorption; and grade 3 = larger than 50% resorption). The Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index outcome scores were obtained preoperatively and at regular postoperative appointments. Resorption and outcome data were compared between sensitized and nonsensitized patients using the Fisher exact test, independent 2-tailed Student t tests, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test to determine the effect of HLA sensitization on radiographic and patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 7 (12.1%) patients with sufficient HLA samples were sensitized against donor HLA postoperatively. Sensitized patients did not have significantly higher rates of resorption (21.9% vs 14.3%, 21.9% vs 28.6%, 43.8% vs 28.6%, and 12.5% vs 28.6% for respective resorption grades 0-3; P = .67; α = .05). Self-reported outcomes were not statistically significant between sensitized and nonsensitized patients (24.9 ± 27.61 vs 40.16 ± 18.99; P = .37; α = .05) and did not differ significantly based on resorption grade (47.4 ± 0.0 vs 55.2 ± 18.8, 30.4 ± 15.8 vs 39.9 ± 20.9, 41.2 ± 0.0 vs 39.1 ± 13.1, and -24.9 ± 0 vs 24.4 ± 19.6 for resorption grades 0-3; P > .05; α = .05).

CONCLUSION: Sensitization against donor HLA after small bone graft allografting was not previously considered but has been brought to light as a possibility. Aside from potential complications for future organ transplants, HLA sensitization does not introduce a risk for adverse outcomes or higher grades of resorption compared with nonsensitized patients after small bone allografting for shoulder instability.

PMID:33667132 | DOI:10.1177/0363546521996701

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2021 Feb 2;59(1):7-16. doi: 10.24875/RMIMSS.M21000047.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Food choices and nutritional requirements of women, which vary throughout their life cycle, are unknown for Argentinian women. Objective: To identify Argentinian women’s dietary patterns and their relation to socioeconomic and health characteristics, during puerperium. Method: The food intake of 249 puerperal women was assessed for a cross-sectional study. Dietary patterns were determined by factor analysis, whose adherence was associated with different variables through Spearman’s correlation and multivariate analyses. Results: Three patterns were revealed: macronutritional (MP), phytochemical (PP) and energetic (EP). Physical activity and family history of cardiometabolic diseases were positively associated to MP adherence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.69 and 2.68, respectively). Women without formal employment adhered less to PP (OR = 0.49). Low educational level increased adherence to EP (OR = 2.20). Body mass index correlated inversely to PP (rho = -0.16). Correspondence analysis revealed that high adherence to MP and PP were associated with formal employment, high educational level, adequate physical activity, normal body mass index and a diverse diet. Conclusion: Food choices were conditioned by family disease, physical activity, employment, and educational level. We identified three dietary patterns in postpartum women, which constitute an original contribution to future nutritional approaches.

PMID:33667039 | DOI:10.24875/RMIMSS.M21000047

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2021 Feb 2;59(1):34-47. doi: 10.24875/RMIMSS.M21000050.

ABSTRACT

Background: Adolescents (ages 10-19) represent approximately 16% of the population in Mexico. This article identifies their main morbidity and mortality conditions, as well as current strategies and interventions to reduce preventable causes. Objective: Identify the main causes of morbidity, mortality, and disease burden in adolescents from 10 to 19 years of age, and current interventions to reduce mortality and improve adolescent health in the Mexican and international context. Method: A descriptive-exploratory statistical analysis of primary sources was performed to identify the main causes of adolescent morbidity and mortality in Mexico. Through a structured literature search, current policies, and interventions to improve adolescent health were identified. Results: Accidents are the second leading cause of death in adolescents aged 10 to 14 years and in the group of 15 to 19 years. Intentional injuries have increased in recent years, occupying the third cause of death in adolescents between 10 and 14 years old and the first cause of death among youngsters between 15 and 19 years old. Conclusions: The current health system urgently needs restructuring and reengineering, in which adolescent health and wellbeing intervention needs are considered.

PMID:33667042 | DOI:10.24875/RMIMSS.M21000050

J Med Internet Res. 2021 Mar 5;23(3):e26646. doi: 10.2196/26646.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The increasing development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in medicine driven by researchers and entrepreneurs goes along with enormous expectations for medical care advancement. AI might change the clinical practice of physicians from almost all medical disciplines and in most areas of health care. While expectations for AI in medicine are high, practical implementations of AI for clinical practice are still scarce in Germany. Moreover, physicians’ requirements and expectations of AI in medicine and their opinion on the usage of anonymized patient data for clinical and biomedical research have not been investigated widely in German university hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate physicians’ requirements and expectations of AI in medicine and their opinion on the secondary usage of patient data for (bio)medical research (eg, for the development of machine learning algorithms) in university hospitals in Germany.

METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted addressing physicians of all medical disciplines in 8 German university hospitals. Answers were given using Likert scales and general demographic responses. Physicians were asked to participate locally via email in the respective hospitals.

RESULTS: The online survey was completed by 303 physicians (female: 121/303, 39.9%; male: 173/303, 57.1%; no response: 9/303, 3.0%) from a wide range of medical disciplines and work experience levels. Most respondents either had a positive (130/303, 42.9%) or a very positive attitude (82/303, 27.1%) towards AI in medicine. There was a significant association between the personal rating of AI in medicine and the self-reported technical affinity level (H₄=48.3, P<.001). A vast majority of physicians expected the future of medicine to be a mix of human and artificial intelligence (273/303, 90.1%) but also requested a scientific evaluation before the routine implementation of AI-based systems (276/303, 91.1%). Physicians were most optimistic that AI applications would identify drug interactions (280/303, 92.4%) to improve patient care substantially but were quite reserved regarding AI-supported diagnosis of psychiatric diseases (62/303, 20.5%). Of the respondents, 82.5% (250/303) agreed that there should be open access to anonymized patient databases for medical and biomedical research.

CONCLUSIONS: Physicians in stationary patient care in German university hospitals show a generally positive attitude towards using most AI applications in medicine. Along with this optimism comes several expectations and hopes that AI will assist physicians in clinical decision making. Especially in fields of medicine where huge amounts of data are processed (eg, imaging procedures in radiology and pathology) or data are collected continuously (eg, cardiology and intensive care medicine), physicians’ expectations of AI to substantially improve future patient care are high. In the study, the greatest potential was seen in the application of AI for the identification of drug interactions, assumedly due to the rising complexity of drug administration to polymorbid, polypharmacy patients. However, for the practical usage of AI in health care, regulatory and organizational challenges still have to be mastered.

PMID:33666563 | DOI:10.2196/26646

J Strength Cond Res. 2021 Feb 1;35(Suppl 1):S95-S101. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003574.

ABSTRACT

Kasovic, J, Martin, B, Carzoli, JP, Zourdos, MC, and Fahs, CA. Agreement between the Iron Path app and a linear position transducer for measuring average concentric velocity and range of motion of barbell exercises. J Strength Cond Res 35(2S): S95-S101, 2021-The purpose of this study was to compare average concentric velocity (ACV) and range of motion (ROM) values measured by the Iron Path (IP) app to the previously validated Open Barbell System (OBS) linear position transducer during the front and back squat and conventional and sumo deadlift. Twenty-seven men and women (21 ± 3 years old; 76.7 ± 14.5 kg; 1.72 ± 0.09 m) with squat and deadlift training experience completed a modified one repetition maximum protocol on 4 separate occasions in a randomized order. The IP app and OBS device recorded ACV and ROM during each protocol. The level of statistical significant was set at p ≤ 0.05. Bland-Altman plots showed fairly large limits of agreement for both ACV and ROM. Furthermore, 95% confidence intervals for the intraclass correlation coefficients indicated the agreement in ACV between the devices for each of the 4 lifts to range from 0.648-0.876 to 0.849-0.930 and for agreement in ROM between devices to range from -0.053-0.480 to 0.545-0.770. Compared with the OBS, the IP app recorded significantly (p < 0.05) lower ACV values for the front squat and back squat and greater ROM values for the sumo deadlift. We suggest the IP app should not be used in place of a validated linear position transducer for measuring ACV or ROM for barbell lifts.

PMID:33666594 | DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000003574