Tag: nevin manimala

Bioinformatics. 2021 Aug 30:btab614. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab614. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

SUMMARY: Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) characterize the associations between genetic variation and gene expression to provide insights into tissue-specific gene regulation. Interactive visualization of tissue-specific eQTLs or splice QTLs (sQTLs) can facilitate our understanding of functional variants relevant to disease-related traits. However, combining the multi-dimensional nature of eQTLs/sQTLs into a concise and informative visualization is challenging. Existing QTL visualization tools provide useful ways to summarize the unprecedented scale of transcriptomic data but are not necessarily tailored to answer questions about the functional interpretations of trait-associated variants or other variants of interest. We developed FIVEx, an interactive eQTL/sQTL browser with an intuitive interface tailored to the functional interpretation of associated variants. It features the ability to navigate seamlessly between different data views while providing relevant tissue- and locus-specific information to offer users a better understanding of population-scale multi-tissue transcriptomic profiles. Our implementation of the FIVEx browser on the EBI eQTL catalogue, encompassing 16 publicly available RNA-seq studies, provides important insights for understanding potential tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms underlying trait-associated signals.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: A FIVEx instance visualizing EBI eQTL catalogue data can be found at https://fivex.sph.umich.edu. Its source code is open source under an MIT license at https://github.com/statgen/fivex.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

PMID:34459872 | DOI:10.1093/bioinformatics/btab614

Wiad Lek. 2021;74(7):1680-1686.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The purpose of the research is to study the understanding of student pharmaceutical youth the eating behavior in the context of the EBW and obesity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The material of the study was anonymous questionnaire survey the students of the pharmaceutical faculties from Ukraine.

RESULTS: Results: The results of the questionnaire were analyzed using methods of statistics, comparison and generalization. Almost 9 out of 10 respondents from both universities consider the reason of obesity a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition, and the most effective way to treat it is physical activity, though only 36.3% and 28.4% of students of the corresponding samples have it constantly.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The questionnaire showed a lack of eating behavior, of their knowledge of the basic issues of the EBW and obesity, as well as differences in personal perception and the desire for the practical implementation of queries regarding the weight of their body that may further affect the professional ability of young specialists in influencing the processes of formation and improving the quality of their lives and patients’ lives.

PMID:34459771

Wiad Lek. 2021;74(7):1699-1706.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze and identify risk factors for the development of moderate and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates in intensive care unit and during any kind of respiratory support.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: A simple retrospective-prospective blind controlled non-randomised study included 28-32 weeks of gestational age 122 newborns with respiratory distress syndrom, who were treated in the neonatal intensive care units of two medical institutions of Dnipro from 2016 to 2020. Among 122 children neonates were divided into two groups according to particularities of respiratory support, prior type of noinvasive ventilation and infusion volume per day. The uni-variate Cox regressions using clinical variables identified specific clinical variables associated with development of moderate and severe BPD, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, mortality rate (based on odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Then, significant clinical variables were used to build a multivariate Cox regression models. by backwards elimination of non-significant clinical variables. To estimate discriminative ability of comorbidities predictors we conducted ROC-analysis.

RESULTS: Results: The patients with moderate and severe BPD significantly longer were mechanically ventilated and received О2 more than 30% in inhaled gas mixture, therefore every day of MV and/or additional oxygen >30% led to increase in probability of BPD development by 15% (p=0,01), АUC=0,78 (95% CI 0,66-0,89). Significant predictors of moderate and severe retinopathy of prematurity were body weight (AUC 0,64 (95% CI 0,51-0,77) (p=0.03), duration of non-invasive ventilation by NIV PC (AUC 0,68 (95% CI 0,54-0,83) (p <0.01), CPAP (AUC 0.63) (95% CI 0.49-0.76) (p = 0,04) and caffeine administration (AUC 0,68 (95% CI 0,59-0,77) (p=0.01). Patients who developed NEC had a statistically significantly lower daily infusion volume AUC 0,68 (0,59-0,77) p <0.01, later onset of enteral nutrition AUC 0,68 (95% CI 0,59-0,77) p <0.01, lower hemoglobin levels on the first, third and seventh days of life AUC 0,67 (95% CI 0,57-0,77) p <0.01, as well as the level of leukocytes AUC 0,65 (95% CI 0,56-0,75) p = 0,01 and platelet count AUC 0,67 (0,58-0,77) (p <0.01) during the first 7 days of life.

CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The results of the study revealed risk factors for intensive care in general and respiratory support in particular, which significantly increase the risk of developing comorbidities of prematurity. Among them are relatively controlled, it is the duration of mechanical ventilation and NIV, which increase the risk of BPD and retinopathy of prematurity. Other risk factors which we can manage include nutrition state, anemia and supplemental oxygen.

PMID:34459774

Arthroplast Today. 2021 Aug 18;10:175-179. doi: 10.1016/j.artd.2021.06.013. eCollection 2021 Aug.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty have higher rates of anxiety, depression or anxiety and depression than the general population and higher costs of care, which lead to higher levels of postoperative dissatisfaction and readmission rates. We evaluated the readmission rates of patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty with diagnoses of anxiety, depression, or both.

METHODS: Our hospital’s prospectively collected data from Michigan’s statewide total joint database were reviewed from 2013 to 2018. Rates of anxiety, depression or anxiety and depression were determined based on preoperative anxiolytic or antidepressant medications using National Drug Codes.

RESULTS: A total of 4107 cases were included. Of which 4.28% had a readmission within the 90-day global period, and 12% had a history of depression or anxiety or both. For the entire cohort, those on anxiolytic medication were 153% more likely to be readmitted than those not on medication (P = .017). When comparing total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), patients taking anxiolytic medication and undergoing TKA were 120% more likely to undergo readmission within 90 days (P = .021). Patients on depression medication alone were not at increased risk of readmission in the TKA cohort (P = .991). For THA, neither diagnosis appeared a risk factor for readmission (P = .852).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with depression, anxiety, or both undergoing TKA were at a statistically significant risk of readmission within 90 days compared with patients without these diagnoses. Anxiety and depression were both risk factors for readmission, but anxiety appeared to have a more significant impact. Patients undergoing THA on the other hand did not appear to share this risk profile.

PMID:34458530 | PMC:PMC8379358 | DOI:10.1016/j.artd.2021.06.013

Biomed Res Int. 2021 Aug 22;2021:9942873. doi: 10.1155/2021/9942873. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Due to the excessive use of raw materials in diagnostic tools and equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a dire need for cheaper and more effective methods in the healthcare system. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) methods in medical sciences as low-cost and safer diagnostic methods, researchers have turned their attention to the use of imaging tools with AI that have fewer complications for patients and reduce the consumption of healthcare resources. Despite its limitations, X-ray is suggested as the first-line diagnostic modality for detecting and screening COVID-19 cases.

METHOD: This systematic review assessed the current state of AI applications and the performance of algorithms in X-ray image analysis. The search strategy yielded 322 results from four databases and google scholar, 60 of which met the inclusion criteria. The performance statistics included the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUC) curve, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.

RESULT: The average sensitivity and specificity of CXR equipped with AI algorithms for COVID-19 diagnosis were >96% (83%-100%) and 92% (80%-100%), respectively. For common X-ray methods in COVID-19 detection, these values were 0.56 (95% CI 0.51-0.60) and 0.60 (95% CI 0.54-0.65), respectively. AI has substantially improved the diagnostic performance of X-rays in COVID-19.

CONCLUSION: X-rays equipped with AI can serve as a tool to screen the cases requiring CT scans. The use of this tool does not waste time or impose extra costs, has minimal complications, and can thus decrease or remove unnecessary CT slices and other healthcare resources.

PMID:34458373 | PMC:PMC8390162 | DOI:10.1155/2021/9942873

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021 May 29;8(8):ofab281. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab281. eCollection 2021 Aug.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) living with HIV experience inadequate access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD). HPTN 074 showed that an integrated intervention increased ART use and viral suppression over 52 weeks. To examine durability of ART, MOUD, and HIV viral suppression, participants could re-enroll for an extended follow-up period, during which standard-of-care (SOC) participants in need of support were offered the intervention.

METHODS: Participants were recruited from Ukraine, Indonesia and Vietnam and randomly allocated 3:1 to SOC or intervention. Eligibility criteria included: HIV-positive; active injection drug use; 18-60 years of age; ≥1 HIV-uninfected injection partner; and viral load ≥1,000 copies/mL. Re-enrollment was offered to all available intervention and SOC arm participants, and SOC participants in need of support (off-ART or off-MOUD) were offered the intervention.

RESULTS: The intervention continuation group re-enrolled 89 participants, and from week 52 to 104, viral suppression (<40 copies/mL) declined from 41% to 29% (estimated 9.4% decrease per year, 95% CI -17.0%; -1.8%). The in need of support group re-enrolled 94 participants and had increased ART (re-enrollment: 55%, week 26: 69%) and MOUD (re-enrollment: 16%, week 26: 25%) use, and viral suppression (re-enrollment: 40%, week 26: 49%).

CONCLUSIONS: Viral suppression declined in year 2 for those who initially received the HPTN 074 intervention and improved maintenance support is warranted. Viral suppression and MOUD increased among in need participants who received intervention during the study extension. Continued efforts are needed for widespread implementation of this scalable, integrated intervention.

PMID:34458390 | PMC:PMC8391093 | DOI:10.1093/ofid/ofab281

Biomed Res Int. 2021 Aug 19;2021:6669742. doi: 10.1155/2021/6669742. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Intestinal parasites are responsible for one of the major health problems like food contamination with socioeconomic effects in the world with a prevalence rate of 30-60%, in developing countries that lie within tropical and subtropical areas. They pose a reasonable public health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Globally, due to intestinal parasitic infections, around 3.5 billion people are affected and more than 200,000 deaths are reported annually. Around 50000 deaths yearly are caused by intestinal parasites in Ethiopia. As such, intestinal parasites perceived global and local burdens to various countries. The risk of food contamination depends largely on the health status of the food handlers, their hygiene, knowledge, and practice of food hygiene. Food handlers with poor personal hygiene and sanitation conditions are the major potential sources of intestinal helminthes and protozoa worldwide. The proposed study was aimed at evaluating prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associated factors among food handlers working in selected catering establishments. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bule Hora Town from March to April 2020. A total of 136 catering establishments were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in this study was 46.3%. Entamoeba histolytica was the most predominant parasite (33.3%, i.e., 21/63) while Giardia lamblia was the least (11.1%, i.e., 7/63). Consumption of vended or borehole water and hygienic practices such as hand washing before eating, after using toilet, before cooking and trimming of finger nail and wearing proper working clothes and shoes were statistically significant with intestinal parasitic infection (P < 0.05). Generally, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in this study was high and contributed by low socioeconomic status and poor environmental and personal hygiene. Measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, drinking water supply, regular medical checkups, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites.

PMID:34458370 | PMC:PMC8397551 | DOI:10.1155/2021/6669742

Biomed Res Int. 2021 Aug 25;2021:9915927. doi: 10.1155/2021/9915927. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of the latest pandemic of the 21st century; it is responsible for the development of COVID-19. Within the multiple study models for both the biology and the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the use of stem cells has been proposed because of their ability to increase the immune response and to repair tissue. Therefore, the objective of this review is to evaluate the role of stem cells against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in order to identify their potential as a study model and as a possible therapeutic source against tissue damage caused by this virus. Therefore, the following research question was established: What is the role of stem cells in the study of SARS-CoV-2 and the treatment of COVID-19?

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was carried out in the electronic databases of PUBMED, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The following keywords were used: “SARS-CoV-2,” “COVID-19,” and “STEM CELL,” plus independent search strategies with the Boolean operators “OR” and “AND.” The identified reports were those whose main objective was the study of stem cells in relation to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. For the development of this study, the following inclusion criteria were taken into account: studies whose main objective was the study of stem cells in relation to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 and clinical case studies, case reports, clinical trials, pilot studies, in vitro, or in vivo studies. For assessment of the risk of bias for in vitro studies, the SciRAP tool was used. The data collected for each type of study, clinical or in vitro, were analyzed with descriptive statistics using the SPSS V.22 program.

RESULTS: Of the total of studies included (n = 39), 22 corresponded to in vitro investigations and 17 to human studies (clinical cases (n = 9), case series (n = 2), pilot clinical trials (n = 5), clinical trials (n = 1)). In vitro studies that induced pluripotent stem cells were the most used (n = 12), and in clinical studies, the umbilical stem cells derived were the most reported (n = 11). The mean age of the study subjects was 58.3 years. After the application of stem cell therapy, the follow-up period was 8 days minimum and 90 days maximum. Discussion. The mechanism by which the virus enters the cell is through protein “S,” located on the surface of the membrane, by recognizing the ACE2 receptor located on the target cell. The evidence that the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in stem cells indicates that stem cells from bone marrow and amniotic fluid have very little expression. This shows that stem cell has a low risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

CONCLUSION: The use of stem cells is a highly relevant therapeutic option. It has been shown in both in vitro studies and clinical trials that it counteracts the excessive secretion of cytokines. There are even more studies that focus on long-term follow-up; thus, the potential for major side effects can be analyzed more clearly. Finally, the ethical use of stem cells from fetal or infant origin needs to be regulated. The study was registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD42021229038). The limitations of the study were because of the methodology employed, the sample was not very large, and the follow-up period of the clinical studies was relatively short.

PMID:34458372 | PMC:PMC8390136 | DOI:10.1155/2021/9915927

Front Vet Sci. 2021 Aug 11;8:697789. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.697789. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The complex etiology and pathogenesis of retained placenta (RP) bring huge challenges for researchers and clinical veterinarians in investigating the pathogenesis and treatment schedule. This study aims to investigate the pathogenesis of RP in dairy cows by plasma metabolomics. As subjects, 10 dairy cows with RP and 10 healthy dairy cows were enrolled according to strict enrollment criteria. Imbalanced antioxidant capacity, reduced Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio, and deregulation of total bilirubin (T-bil), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and reproductive hormones were shown in dairy cows with RP by detecting biochemical indicators, oxidation and antioxidant markers, and cytokines in serum. Plasma metabolites were detected and analyzed by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system coupled with multivariate statistical analysis software. A total of 23 potential biomarkers were uncovered in the plasma of dairy cows with RP. The metabolic pathways involved in these potential biomarkers are interconnected, and the conversion, utilization, and excretion of nitrogen were disturbed in dairy cows with RP. Moreover, these potential biomarkers are involved in the regulation of antioxidant capacity, inflammation, and autocrine or paracrine hormone. All of these findings suggest that an imbalance of these potential biomarkers might be responsible for the imbalanced antioxidant capacity, reduced Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio, and deregulation of reproductive hormones in dairy cows with RP. The regulation of metabolic pathways involved in these potential biomarkers represents a promising therapeutic strategy for RP.

PMID:34458353 | PMC:PMC8385782 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2021.697789

Front Vet Sci. 2021 Aug 12;8:714423. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.714423. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the distribution and severity of bone and soft tissue lesions in the proximal metacarpal region of warmblood horses in lame and control groups. Correlation between lesions and ability to return to work was evaluated in the lame group. Methods: This restrospective analysis evaluated 62 horses with MRI examination of the proximal metacarpal region between Sept 2015 and Feb 2021. There were 36 lame limbs and 26 control limbs. The control group included seven contralateral limbs. Results: Proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) size was not different between the lame and control groups. Hyperintensity seen on T1W/T2^*W GRE images within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintense Short-TI Inversion Recovery (STIR) signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL or within the McIII were only present within the lame group. Palmar cortical McIII resorption and dorsal margin irregularity of the PSL and McIII sclerosis were more severe within the lame limbs, but mild gradations were also seen in control limbs. Intermediate gradings for a subset of lesions were commonly seen in the non-lame contralateral to lame limbs. Return to work in the lame group is not statistically different for any measured observation(s), and 19/33 of the lame horses returned to work at similar or higher levels. Conclusion and clinical importance: Fifty-eight percent in this group of warmblood horses returned to work within a variable time frame. The majority (81%) of lame limbs showed bone and soft tissue abnormalities, but no enlargement of the PSL was noted in lame horses, and no correlation was seen between the severity or type of lesions and the ability to return to work. The presence of STIR hyperintensity within the proximal McIII or dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintensity within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL on T1W GRE and T2^*W GRE images, as well as significant palmar cortical McIII resorption are considered clinically relevant lesions. Contralateral limbs may not truly represent the normal condition, showing nonclinical variations and adaptive remodeling.

PMID:34458356 | PMC:PMC8388851 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2021.714423