Tag: nevin manimala

Front Mol Biosci. 2021 May 21;8:658269. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.658269. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Random tomography is a common problem in imaging science and refers to the task of reconstructing a three-dimensional volume from two-dimensional projection images acquired in unknown random directions. We present a Bayesian approach to random tomography. At the center of our approach is a meshless representation of the unknown volume as a mixture of spherical Gaussians. Each Gaussian can be interpreted as a particle such that the unknown volume is represented by a particle cloud. The particle representation allows us to speed up the computation of projection images and to represent a large variety of structures accurately and efficiently. We develop Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms to infer the particle positions as well as the unknown orientations. Posterior sampling is challenging due to the high dimensionality and multimodality of the posterior distribution. We tackle these challenges by using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo and a global rotational sampling strategy. We test the approach on various simulated and real datasets.

PMID:34095220 | PMC:PMC8177743 | DOI:10.3389/fmolb.2021.658269

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 May 20;8:616081. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.616081. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the main cause of death and morbidity worldwide. The present study aims to investigate the altered metabolites in plasma from patients with ACS and sought to identify metabolic biomarkers for ACS. Methods: The plasma metabolomics profiles of 284 ACS patients and 130 controls were carried out based on an untargeted liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approach. Multivariate statistical methods, pathway enrichment analysis, and univariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed. Results: A total of 328 and 194 features were determined in positive and negative electrospray ionization mode in the LC-MS analysis, respectively. Twenty-eight metabolites were found to be differentially expressed, in ACS patients relative to controls (p < 0.05). Pathway analysis revealed that these metabolites are mainly involved in synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, phenylalanine metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. Furthermore, a diagnostic model was constructed based on the metabolites identified and the areas under the curve (AUC) for 5-oxo-D-proline, creatinine, phosphatidylethanolamine lyso 16:0, and LPC (20:4) range from 0.764 to 0.844. The higher AUC value of 0.905 was obtained for the combined detection of phosphatidylethanolamine lyso 16:0 and LPC (20:4). Conclusions: Differential metabolic profiles may be useful for the effective diagnosis of ACS and may provide additional insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying ACS.

PMID:34095243 | PMC:PMC8172787 | DOI:10.3389/fcvm.2021.616081

Liver Transpl. 2021 Jun 5. doi: 10.1002/lt.26195. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Organ allocation in liver transplantation (LT) remains imperfect. Periodic centre reviews ensure programs transparently evaluate the impact of practice on access to transplantation, reflecting in particular patient (primary disease, social) and program (deceased vs live donation) factors.

METHODS: Adult Ontario residents listed for first liver transplantation at Toronto General Hospital from November 2012 to May 2019 were reviewed. Analyses were performed between distance-to-transplant-centre, income, education level, population density and primary liver disease with LT, deceased donor liver transplant (DDLT), living donor liver transplant (LDLT), and delisting.

RESULTS: Of 1735 listed patients, n=549 were delisted (32%), while n=1071 were transplanted (62%), with 819 DDLT recipients (77%) and 252 LDLT recipients (24%). On univariate analysis, DDLT recipients lived 30% closer (median 39.7 vs. 60.6 km, p<0.001), lived in more populous areas (median 8501.0 vs. 6868.5 people in 1 km radius, p<0.001), and resided in households that earned 10% less (median $92,643.17 vs. $102,820.89 Canadian dollars, p<0.001) compared to LDLT recipients. These findings with population density and income differences between DDLT vs. LDLT receival remained significant on multivariate modelling even when accounting for primary liver disease. Primary liver disease was a statistically significant factor on multivariate analyses in LT receival (p=0.001) as well as DDLT vs. LDLT receival (p<0.001). Of patients listed for end-stage liver disease, more patients with autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases received LDLT (34-41%) than DDLT (27-30%); this contrasted patients with non-cholestatic diseases LDLT (8-19%) vs. DDLT (37-59%) receival (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Review of transplant allocation in a large mixed-donor North American liver transplant program demonstrates how patient social determinants and primary disease etiology continue to significantly associate with ultimate transplantation.

PMID:34092028 | DOI:10.1002/lt.26195

Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Jun 7. doi: 10.3906/sag-2103-52. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to investigate the associations between the radiographic phenotypes and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated women age 40 and over who presented to our outpatient clinics with knee pain and fulfilled the clinical and radiographic criteria for the classification of idiopathic OA of the knee. Patients were categorized into two groups concerning dominant radiographic phenotype. We included consecutive 50 patients in each group. All patients were evaluated in terms of MetS according to the revised diagnostic criteria of the International National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

RESULTS: Overall MetS prevalence was found to be 79% according to the NCEP ATP III-MetS criteria and 65% according to the WHO-MetS criteria. Prevalence of MetS was higher in the joint space narrowing (JSN)-Dominant group compared to the osteophyte (O)-Dominant knee OA group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. However, in subgroup analysis (54 patients), in which we excluded patients with a past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), the prevalence of NCEP ATP III-MetS was statistically significantly higher in the JSN-Dominant group compared to the O-Dominant group [22 (75.9%) vs 12 (48%) respectively, p = 0.03]. Logistic regression analysis in the subgroup demonstrated that the presence of NCEP ATP III-MetS was an independent risk factor for JSN-Dominant knee OA phenotype [OR and 95% CI = 3.48 (1.09 – 11.13)].

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MetS is quite high in patients with knee OA and is particularly pronounced in patients with JSN-Dominant radiographic phenotype. Moreover, our results suggest that MetS is an independent risk factor for JSN-Dominant knee OA in patients with no past medical history of DM.

PMID:34092051 | DOI:10.3906/sag-2103-52

Glob Chang Biol. 2021 Jun 5. doi: 10.1111/gcb.15733. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The temporal trend of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) is frequently used to estimate the human effect on ecosystems. In water-limited ecosystems, like most grazing areas in the world, human effects act upon ANPP in combination with environmental variations. Our main objective was to quantify long-term (1981-2012) changes of ANPP and discriminate the causes of these changes between environmental and human at a subcontinental scale, across vast areas of Patagonia. We estimated ANPP through a radiative model based on remote sensing data. Then, we evaluated the relation between ANPP and environmental interannual variations of two hierarchically related factors: ENSO, through the Southern Oscillation Index, SOI, and precipitation. We described the human effect through the shape of the temporal trends of the residuals of the environmental model (RESTREND) and quantified human relative impact through the RESTREND: ANPP trend ratio. ANPP interannual variation was significantly explained by ENSO (through SOI) and precipitation in 65% of the study area. The Southern Oscillation Index had a positive association with annual precipitation. The association between ANPP and annual precipitation was positive. RESTREND analysis was statistically significant in 92% of the area where the tested environmental model worked, representing 60% of the study area, and it was mostly negative. However, its magnitude, revealed through the RESTREND: ANPP trend ratio, was relatively mild. Our analysis revealed that most of ANPP trends were associated with climate and that even when human density is low, its incidence seems to be mainly negative.

PMID:34091988 | DOI:10.1111/gcb.15733

Intern Med J. 2021 Jun 6. doi: 10.1111/imj.15404. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Chronic non-malignant pain is a disabling condition that results in a reduction in function and quality of life when inadequately managed. Sub-lingual ketamine has been shown to be efficacious for use in chronic pain. Despite its use for decades in chronic non-malignant pain, there is no published long-term data on safety, side effects or adverse drug reactions. The aim of this case-series is to provide the initial evidence for safety and efficacy in this patient group.

METHODS: We present a retrospective review of twenty-nine patients (n=29) from a metropolitan tertiary pain service who have been receiving sub-lingual ketamine troches / lozenges between the period of 2012-2019. Patients were identified from the outpatient pain clinic, who had been admitted for inpatient subcutaneous ketamine infusions as part of opiate detoxification or management of central sensitisation due to a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome. An initial review was performed to check the patient started taking the ketamine troches. Each of these medical records was reviewed manually to extract information to a datasheet.

RESULTS: There was a wide range of dosages used from 25-600mg in divided doses. The duration of treatment ranged from 2-89 months. There was no association with either the dosage or duration of treatment and frequency of side effects. There was an overall reduction in the use of opioids, gabapentinoids or benzodiazepines in 59% of patients with 39% having a complete cessation of an analgesic agent. Side effects were reported in 24%, but only 7% discontinued the treatment due to the side effect (drowsiness). There were no reports of renal impairment, cystitis, or hepatotoxicity.

DISCUSSION: This retrospective case-series has demonstrated that sub-lingual ketamine is a safe and effective analgesic agent to use in chronic non-malignant pain management. It is indicated in a variety of chronic pain conditions and has an excellent safety profile, with no association between the frequency in side effects and duration of therapy or total daily dosages. The study has also shown that the “safe” dose may be higher than the previous consensus.

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT: A.A and S.G. recruited the patients. A.A. & B.M. created the parameters for the data collection sheet. B.M Collected most of the data from the medical records, entered it into a datasheet, wrote the manuscript, ran the statistics, performed the data analysis, and generated the figures and tables. A.A. Edited the manuscript. S.G. and A.A were the research supervisors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34092024 | DOI:10.1111/imj.15404

J Esthet Restor Dent. 2021 Jun 6. doi: 10.1111/jerd.12794. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The use of light sources during the application of bleaching can reduce the time and improve the results, but at the same time this can increase the dental temperature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of two bleaching agents and the increase in dental temperature with the use of light emitted by diodes (LED)-unit.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty third molars were obtained and randomized: the whiteness without lamp (WHN) and Pola office without lamp (PON) groups, two bleaching systems based on 35% hydrogen peroxide were used, according to manufacturer specifications. For the whiteness with lamp (WHL) and Pola office with lamp (POL) groups the same bleaching agents were light boosted. A spectrophotometer and ∆WI_D equation was used to record and analyzed teeth color. An infrared thermometer was used to record the external and internal temperature. A ∆T was obtained by the difference of the temperature of the groups with and without LED (WHN-WHL and PON-POL). For statistical analysis Kruskal-Wallis test and Anova test were performed.

RESULTS: The WHN, PON, WHL, and POL groups reported ∆WI_D values of 4.88 ± 1.08, 9.26 ± 3.27, 5.70 ± 2.48, 12.08 ± 5.44, respectively. The dates of internal temperature were 1.01 and 1.07°C, and for external temperature were 1.61 and 1.15°C respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: With the limitations of this study, both bleaching agents reported a significant increase in ∆WI_D with and without association of light. Significant temperature increases were also observed. The highest average temperature increase was approximately 1.61°C.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Bleaching agents boosted with LED may improve the results of bleaching, but it is not essential to obtain good results.

PMID:34092026 | DOI:10.1111/jerd.12794

Acta Paediatr. 2021 Jun 6. doi: 10.1111/apa.15969. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Very preterm infants (≤ 32 weeks gestational age; GA) are at high risk of developing late-onset sepsis (LOS; onset after 72 hours of age), which is associated with increased mortality and short- and long-term morbidity. The early symptoms of suspected LOS are non-specific and are managed with empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics, with well-documented adverse effects, including mortality. Microbial blood culture, with adjunctive diagnostic biomarker(s) (e.g. C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6), are commonly used for LOS diagnosis, but have sub-optimal sensitivity and specificity, and median time to positivity of 12 – 36 hours for blood culture.

PMID:34091943 | DOI:10.1111/apa.15969

J Trauma Stress. 2021 Jun 6. doi: 10.1002/jts.22694. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The use of patient-reported measures in assessing mental health symptoms is common in both the research and clinical fields. With regard to assessing posttraumatic stress symptoms, there are specific versions of measures designed for child and adolescent populations in accordance with the fourth and fifth editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV and DSM-5, respectively). Different clinical thresholds, numbers of items, and score ranges may present obstacles for clinicians and researchers attempting to compare self-report ratings across different versions of a measure. The current study aimed to produce a score conversion crosswalk between two child/adolescent self-report measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV (RI-IV) and DSM-5 (RI-5). Using item response theory (IRT), we calibrated both measures separately to derive scaled scores. The discrimination parameters ranged from 0.57 to 2.08 (SE = 0.09-0.17) for RI-IV and from 0.73 to 2.11 for RI-5 (SE = 0.07-0.13). The scaled scores were connected with equipercentile linking. Total scores based on common items between the two measures were used as anchors to enhance the linking results. A total of 1,486 children and adolescents completed the measure: 571 respondents filled out the RI-IV and 915 respondents filled out the RI-5. The results allow linked scores to be compared to establish recommended clinical cutoffs and help elucidate the implications of changes in the diagnostic criteria for the measurement of self-reported PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents.

PMID:34091976 | DOI:10.1002/jts.22694

Med J Aust. 2021 Jun 5. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the burden of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) disease in Western Australia during 2000-2018.

DESIGN, SETTING: Population-based data linkage study: Hospital Morbidity Data Collection (HMDC; all WA public and private hospital records), PathWest pathology data (government-owned pathology services provider), and death registrations.

PARTICIPANTS: People with invasive GAS disease, defined by an isolate from a normally sterile site (PathWest) or a hospital-based principal ICD-10-AM diagnosis code (HMDC).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of invasive GAS disease; median length of hospital stay; all-cause mortality.

RESULTS: We identified 2237 cases of GAS disease during 2000-2018; 1283 were in male patients (57%). 1950 cases had been confirmed by GAS isolates from normally sterile tissues (87%; including 1089 from blood [56% of cases] and 750 from tissue [38%]). The age-standardised incidence increased from 2.0 (95% CI, 1.4-2.7) cases per 100 000 population in 2000 to 9.1 (95% CI, 7.9-10.2) cases per 100 000 in 2017 (by year, adjusted for age group and sex: incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.08-1.10). Incidence was consistently higher among Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians (year-adjusted IRR, 13.1; 95% CI, 11.3-15.1). All-cause 30-day mortality was 5% (116 deaths), and 90-day mortality 7% (156 deaths); 30-day mortality, adjusted for age group and sex, was not statistically significantly different for cases involving Indigenous or non-Indigenous patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.6-1.1).

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of invasive GAS disease in WA increased between 2000 and 2018, particularly among Indigenous Australians. Mandatory notification of invasive GAS disease would therefore be appropriate. The social determinants of differences in incidence should be addressed, and other relevant host, pathogen, and health system factors investigated.

PMID:34091892 | DOI:10.5694/mja2.51117