Tag: nevin manimala

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0251270. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251270. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), is the defining global health crisis of this time. It is responsible for significant morbidity and has had severe socioeconomic consequences. This study aims to assess the knowledge, preparedness and attitudes of medical students, physicians and faculty members in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on COVID-19 and their perspective on the roles of educational and healthcare institution towards improving pandemic preparedness and enabling optimal care.

METHODOLOGY: An exploratory, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 444 participants, using a non-probability convenience sampling method. English-speaking participants from the medical field aged 18 and above were included in the study. The validated questionnaire was administered online and distributed across social media platforms from May-July 2020. T-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney-U test were used when appropriate. Responses were analysed and statistical tests applied using IBM SPSS, version 25.

RESULTS: The knowledge scores were calculated amongst different ages and professional status, and the mean was 59.08% (SD = 12.848%). Almost half of the participants obtained poor knowledge scores (less than 60%). Most of the participants followed the latest updates on COVID-19 (86.7%). The majority opted to obtain information from the national health authorities (63.4%). The mean preparedness score among the participants was 68.65% (SD = 17.456%). Being in contact with patients significantly increased the preparedness score (p < 0.001). Only 27.9% of the participants believed their college education provided adequate knowledge to deal with epidemics or pandemics. Several barriers affect willingness to work in a pandemic, with 80.6% of participants worried about posing a risk to family members.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of establishing tailored COVID-19 related education programs to improve knowledge levels, especially in medical students. Efforts are still needed to promote effective control measures and address the barriers affecting willingness to work in a pandemic.

PMID:33956910 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251270

Hum Reprod. 2021 May 6:deab088. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deab088. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STUDY QUESTION: Does trophectoderm (TE) quality affect birthweight after single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer?

SUMMARY ANSWER: Transfer of single blastocyst with advanced TE quality was associated with higher birthweight and increased risk of a large for gestational age (LGA) baby.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Transfer of blastocysts with advanced TE quality results in higher ongoing pregnancy rates and a lower miscarriage risk. However, data on the relationship between TE quality and birthweight are still lacking.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This retrospective cohort study at a tertiary-care academic medical center included 1548 singleton babies born from single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer from January 2011 to June 2019.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Babies were grouped into four groups according to embryo expansion (Stages 3, 4, 5 and 6), three groups according to inner cell mass (ICM) quality (A, B and C), and three groups according to TE quality (A, B and C). Main outcomes included absolute birthweight, Z-scores adjusted for gestational age and gender, and adverse neonatal outcomes. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of neonatal outcomes with expansion stage, ICM quality and TE quality.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: As TE quality decreased, birthweight (3468.10 ± 471.52, 3357.69 ± 522.06, and 3288.79 ± 501.90 for A, B and C, respectively, P = 0.002), Z-scores (0.59 ± 1.07, 0.42 ± 1.04, and 0.27 ± 1.06 for A, B and C, respectively, P = 0.002) and incidence of LGA (28.9%, 19.7% and 17.4% for A, B and C, respectively, P = 0.027) decreased correspondingly. After adjusting for confounders, compared with the Grade A group, blastocysts with TE Grade B (standardized coefficients (β): -127.97 g, 95% CI: -234.46 to -21.47, P = 0.019) and blastocysts with TE grade C (β: -200.27 g, 95% CI: -320.69 to -79.86, P = 0.001) resulted in offspring with lower birthweight. Blastocysts with TE grade C brought babies with lower Z-scores than TE Grade A (β: -0.35, 95% CI: -0.59 to -0.10, P = 0.005). Also, embryos with TE Grade B (adjusted odds ratio (aOR):0.91, 95% CI: 0.84 to 0.99, P = 0.033) and embryos with TE Grade C (aOR : 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81 to 0.98, P = 0.016) had lower chance of leading to a LGA baby than those with TE Grade A. No association between neonatal outcomes with embryo expansion stage and ICM was observed (all P > 0.05).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The retrospective design, lack of controlling for several unknown confounders, and inter-observer variation limited this study.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The study extends our knowledge of the down-stream effect of TE quality on newborn birthweight and the risk of LGA.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was funded by National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFC1003000), National Natural Science Foundation of China (81771533 to Y.P.K. and 31200825 to L.S.) and Innovative Research Team of High-level Local Universities in Shanghai (SSMU-ZLCX20180401), Shanghai Sailing Program(21YF1423200) and the Fundamental research program funding of Ninth People’s Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong university School of Medicine (JYZZ117). The authors declare no conflict of interest in this present study.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

PMID:33956949 | DOI:10.1093/humrep/deab088

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0250550. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250550. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In 2018, Malaria accounted for 38% of the overall morbidity and 36% of the overall mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study aimed to identify malaria socioeconomic predictors among children aged 6-59 months in DRC and to describe a socioeconomic profile of the most-at-risk children aged 6-59 months for malaria infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used data from the 2013 DRC Demographic and Health Survey. The sample included 8,547 children aged 6-59 months who were tested for malaria by microscopy. Malaria infection status, the dependent variable, is a dummy variable characterized as a positive or negative test. The independent variables were child’s sex, age, and living arrangement; mother’s education; household’s socioeconomic variables; province of residence; and type of place of residence. Statistical analyses used the chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) model and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Of the 8,547 children included in the sample, 25% had malaria infection. Four variables-child’s age, mother’s education, province, and wealth index-were statistically associated with the prevalence of malaria infection in bivariate analysis and multivariate analysis (CHAID and logistic regression). The prevalence of malaria infection increases with child’s age and decreases significantly with mother’s education and the household wealth index. These findings suggest that the prevalence of malaria infection is driven by interactions among environmental factors, socioeconomic characteristics, and probably differences in the implementation of malaria programs across the country. The effect of mother’s education on malaria infection was only significant among under-five children living in Ituri, Kasaï-Central, Haut-Uele, Lomami, Nord-Ubangi, and Maniema provinces, and the effect of wealth index was significant in Mai-Ndombe, Tshopo, and Haut-Katanga provinces.

CONCLUSION: Findings from this study could be used for targeting malaria interventions in DRC. Although malaria infection is common across the country, the prevalence of children at high risk for malaria infection varies by province and other background characteristics, including age, mother’s education, wealth index, and place of residence. In light of these findings, designing provincial and multisectoral interventions could be an effective strategy to achieve zero malaria infection in DRC.

PMID:33956848 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250550

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0250936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250936. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The mixture level of gum samples consisting of two colours can be assessed visually, using the electronic colorimetric method, employing digital image processing techniques and specially designed software. The study investigates the possibility of an alternative method called “digital texture image analysis” (DTIA) to assess improvement of masticatory efficiency in denture wearers. The objectives were i) to evaluate whether DTIA discriminates changes in the colour mixing ability within a group over time; ii) to determine whether DTIA can be used to detect improvement in chewing ability; iii) to select the most appropriate DTIA feature that sufficiently describes masticatory efficiency in CDs wearers. The study was designed as an intra-individual evaluation of masticatory efficiency, which was assessed in participants with new dentures in three follow-up times. A set of four texture features was used in the current study. Uniformity, Contrast, Homogeneity and Entropy of the obtained chewing-gum samples were correlated to the degree of gum comminution. A statistically significant difference in masticatory efficiency was observed based on the values of the analysed DTIA variables of gum samples-Uniformity, Contrast, Homogeneity, and Entropy-have changed in the participants during the observation period. The improvement of the masticatory function in relation to the mixing ability of two-coloured chewing gum could be traced by monitoring changes in the values of DTIA variables. The most increasement of masticatory efficiency was observed by monitoring DTIA parameters such as contrast, and homogeneity.

PMID:33956854 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250936

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0250607. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250607. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the prevalence of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE-5) mediated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in males with HIV infection receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and identify factors associated with PDE-5-mediated DDIs.

METHODS: Male US Military HIV Natural History Study participants diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED) and having a PDE-5 inhibitor and potentially-interacting ART co-dispensed within 30 days were included. DDIs were defined according to criteria found in published guidelines and drug information resources. The primary outcome of interest was overall PDE-5 inhibitor-mediated DDI prevalence and episode duration. A secondary logistic regression analysis was performed on those with and without DDIs to identify factors associated with initial DDI episode.

RESULTS: A total of 235 male participants with ED met inclusion criteria. The majority were White (50.6%) or African American (40.4%). Median age at medication co-dispensing (45 years), duration of HIV infection (14 years), and duration of ED (1 year) did not differ between the two groups (p>0.05 for all). PDE-5 inhibitors included sildenafil (n = 124), vardenafil (n = 99), and tadalafil (n = 14). ART regimens included RTV-boosted protease inhibitors (PIs) atazanavir (n = 83) or darunavir (n = 34), and COBI-boosted elvitegravir (n = 43). Potential DDIs occurred in 181 (77.0%) participants, of whom 122 (67.4%) had multiple DDI episodes. The median DDI duration was 8 (IQR 1-12) months. In multivariate analyses, non-statistically significant higher odds of DDIs were observed with RTV-boosted PIs or PI-based ART (OR 2.13, 95% CI 0.85-5.37) and in those with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (OR 1.74, 95% CI 0.83-3.64).

CONCLUSIONS: PDE-5-mediated DDIs were observed in the majority of males with HIV infection on RTV- or COBI-boosted ART in our cohort. This study highlights the importance of assessing for DDIs among individuals on ART, especially those on boosted regimens.

PMID:33956843 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250607

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0251130. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251130. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Polar bears are of international conservation concern due to climate change but are difficult to study because of low densities and an expansive, circumpolar distribution. In a collaborative U.S.-Russian effort in spring of 2016, we used aerial surveys to detect and estimate the abundance of polar bears on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. Our surveys used a combination of thermal imagery, digital photography, and human observations. Using spatio-temporal statistical models that related bear and track densities to physiographic and biological covariates (e.g., sea ice extent, resource selection functions derived from satellite tags), we predicted abundance and spatial distribution throughout our study area. Estimates of 2016 abundance ([Formula: see text]) ranged from 3,435 (95% CI: 2,300-5,131) to 5,444 (95% CI: 3,636-8,152) depending on the proportion of bears assumed to be missed on the transect line during Russian surveys (g(0)). Our point estimates are larger than, but of similar magnitude to, a recent estimate for the period 2008-2016 ([Formula: see text]; 95% CI 1,522-5,944) derived from an integrated population model applied to a slightly smaller area. Although a number of factors (e.g., equipment issues, differing platforms, low sample sizes, size of the study area relative to sampling effort) required us to make a number of assumptions to generate estimates, it establishes a useful lower bound for abundance, and suggests high spring polar bear densities on sea ice in Russian waters south of Wrangell Island. With future improvements, we suggest that springtime aerial surveys may represent a plausible avenue for studying abundance and distribution of polar bears and their prey over large, remote areas.

PMID:33956835 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251130

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0251080. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251080. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Most lung cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, limiting their treatment options with very low response rate. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Therapies that target driver gene mutations (e.g. EGFR, ALK, ROS1) and checkpoint inhibitors such anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 immunotherapies are being used to treat lung cancer patients. Identification of correlations between driver mutations and PD-L1 expression will allow for the best management of patient treatment. 851 cases of non-small cell lung cancer cases were profiled for the presence of biomarkers EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations by SNaPshot/sizing genotyping. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the protein expression of ALK and PD-L1. Total PD-L1 mRNA expression (from unsorted tumor samples) was quantified by RT-qPCR in a sub-group of the cohort to assess its correlation with PD-L1 protein level in tumor cells. Statistical analysis revealed correlations between the presence of the mutations, PD-L1 expression, and the pathological data. Specifically, increased PD-L1 expression was associated with wildtype EGFR and vascular invasion, and total PD-L1 mRNA levels correlated weakly with protein expression on tumor cells. These data provide insights into driver gene mutations and immune checkpoint status in relation to lung cancer subtypes and suggest that RT-qPCR is useful for assessing PD-L1 levels.

PMID:33956842 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251080

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0250804. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250804. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients’ mortality and loss to follow-up (LTF) from treatment and care is a growing worry in Ethiopia. However, little is known about predictors of mortality and LTF among drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Oromia region, Ethiopia. The current study aimed to identify predictors of mortality and loss to follow-up among drug resistance tuberculosis patients in Oromia Hospitals, Ethiopia.

METHODS: A retrospective follow up study was carried out from 01 November 2012 to 31 December 2017 among DR-TB patients after calculating sample size using single proportion population formula. Mean, median, Frequency tables and bar charts were used to describe patients’ characteristics in the cohort. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate the probability of death and LTF after the treatment was initiated. The log-rank test was used to compare time to death and time to LTF. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine predictors of mortality and LTF after DR-TB diagnosis. The Crude and adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratio was used to measure the strength of association whereas p-value less than 0.05 were used to declare statistically significant predictors.

RESULT: A total of 406 DR-TB patients were followed for 7084 person-months observations. Among the patients, 71 (17.5%) died and 32 (7.9%) were lost to follow up (LTF). The incidence density of death and LTF in the cohort was 9.8 and 4.5 per 1000 person-months, respectively. The median age of the study participants was 28 years (IQR: 27.1, 29.1). The overall cumulative survival probability of patients at the end of 24 months was 77.5% and 84.5% for the mortality and LTF, respectively. The independent predictors of death was chest radiographic findings (AHR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17-0.79) and HIV serostatus 2.98 (95% CI: 1.72-5.19). Drug adverse effect (AHR = 6.1; 95% CI: 2.5, 14.34) and culture test result (AHR = 0.1; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.3) were independent predictors of LTF.

CONCLUSION: This study concluded that drug-resistant tuberculosis mortality and LTF remains high in the study area. Continual support of the integration of TB/HIV service with emphasis and work to identified predictors may help in reducing drug-resistant tuberculosis mortality and LTF.

PMID:33956812 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250804

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0251026. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251026. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Major depression is a common comorbidity in cancer patients. Oncology clinics lack practical, objective tools for simultaneous evaluation of cancer and major depression. Fludeoxyglucose F-18 positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) is universally applied in modern medicine.

METHODS: We used a retrospective analysis of whole-body FDG PET/CT images to identify brain regional metabolic patterns of major depression in multiple myeloma patients. The study included 134 multiple myeloma (MM) patients, 38 with major depression (group 1) and 96 without major depression (group 2).

RESULTS: In the current study, Statistic Parameter Mapping (SPM) demonstrated that the major depression patient group (n = 38) had significant regional metabolic differences (clusters of continuous voxels) as compared to the non-major depression group (n = 96) with the criteria of height threshold T = 4.38 and extent threshold > 100 voxels. The five significant hypo- and three hyper-metabolic clusters from the computed T contrast maps were localized on the glass-brain view, consistent with published brain metabolic changes in major depression patients. Subsequently, using these clusters as features for classification learner, the fine tree and medium tree algorithms from 25 classification algorithms best fitted our data (accuracy 0.85%; AUC 0.88; sensitivity 79%; and specificity 88%).

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that whole-body FDG PET/CT scans could provide added value for screening for major depression in cancer patients in addition to staging and evaluating response to chemoradiation therapies.

PMID:33956824 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251026

PLoS One. 2021 May 6;16(5):e0250692. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250692. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although abortion is a common gynecological procedure around the globe, we lack synthesis of the known macroeconomic costs and outcomes of abortion care and abortion policies. This scoping review synthesizes the literature on the impact of abortion-related care and abortion policies on economic outcomes at the macroeconomic level (that is, for societies and nation states).

METHODS AND FINDINGS: Searches were conducted in eight electronic databases. We conducted the searches and application of inclusion/exclusion criteria using the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews. For inclusion, studies must have examined one of the following macroeconomic outcomes: costs, impacts, benefits, and/or value of abortion care or abortion policies. Quantitative and qualitative data were extracted for descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Of the 189 data extractions with macroeconomic evidence, costs at the national level are the most frequently reported economic outcome (n = 97), followed by impacts (n = 66), and benefits/value (n = 26). Findings show that post-abortion care services can constitute a substantial portion of national expenditures on health. Public sector coverage of abortion costs is sparse, and individuals bear most of the costs. Evidence also indicates that liberalizing abortion laws can have positive spillover effects for women’s educational attainment and labor supply, and that access to abortion services contributes to improvements in children’s human capital. However, the political economy around abortion legislation remains complicated and controversial.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the highly charged political nature of abortion around the global and the preponderance of rhetoric that can cloud reality in policy dialogues, it is imperative that social science researchers build the evidence base on the macroeconomic outcomes of abortion services and regulations.

PMID:33956826 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250692