Tag: pubmed

Int J Psychol Res (Medellin). 2024 Sep 21;17(2):91-99. doi: 10.21500/20112084.7434. eCollection 2024 Jul-Dec.

ABSTRACT

Today, alcohol drinking frequently accompanies socialising as a routine activity in various groups of society. 84.0% of individuals aged 18 and above in the United States have drunk alcohol at some point in their life (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & US, 2023). Similarly, 81.7% of Norwegians in the age group 16 to 79 have drunk alcohol in 2021 (Bye, 2018). Driving after the consumption of alcohol is a worldwide problem, causing a large number of deaths and injuries a year. This work proposes the first steps towards developing an electroencephalography (EEG)-based alcohol detector conceived with the idea to prevent people from driving under the influence of alcohol. This includes the design of an experimental protocol for EEG data collection, during which participants performed the Flanker task, and their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured. The resulting data set consists of two sessions per participant, both while they are affected and not-affected by alcohol. Statistical analysis of the Flanker task indicated that participants were affected by alcohol and, therefore, their EEG signals were expected to be affected as well. The collected EEG signals were used as input for intra-subject and inter-subject models, both based on the EEGNet architecture. The intra-subject model obtained a mean classification accuracy of 90.7% and the inter-subject model a mean classification accuracy of 62.9%. The result suggest that alcohol can be detected with high accuracy when developing individual models and above the change accuracy when using a general model. Therefore, the work presented here could be used as the first steps towards the development of an EEG-based alcohol detector for drivers.

PMID:39927238 | PMC:PMC11804120 | DOI:10.21500/20112084.7434

Am J Sports Med. 2025 Feb 9:3635465251317509. doi: 10.1177/03635465251317509. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pitchers with deficits in total shoulder rotation range of motion (ROM) are 2.6 times more likely to experience an elbow injury. Despite the effects of shoulder ROM on elbow injury, it is currently unclear whether specific tissue adaptations of the shoulder relate to the tissue adaptations of the elbow in baseball pitchers.

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose was to evaluate the relationship between chronic structural adaptations of the shoulder (humeral retroversion [HR], posterior capsule thickness [PCT], infraspinatus/teres minor pennation angle, and muscle thickness) and chronic structural adaptations of the elbow (ulnar collateral ligament [UCL] thickness, ulnohumeral joint laxity with valgus stress, and ulnar nerve cross-sectional area) in professional baseball pitchers. It was hypothesized that chronic adaptations of HR and PCT would relate to structural adaptations of the elbow.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS: Healthy minor league right-handed baseball pitchers from a single professional baseball organization were enrolled during 2022 preseason medical evaluations. Enrolled pitchers underwent bilateral shoulder ultrasound examination of HR, PCT, and posterior rotator cuff pennation angle and muscle thickness as well as bilateral elbow ultrasound examination of the ulnar nerve, UCL thickness, and ulnohumeral joint gapping using the Telos device. The difference in ulnohumeral joint gapping from stressed (150 N) to unstressed (ie, delta value) was calculated. Bilateral differences in every included measure were calculated and used for analysis to more closely isolate chronic adaptations. Multivariate stepwise regressions were performed to determine whether the chronic structural and clinical (strength and ROM) shoulder adaptations were related to structural adaptations of the elbow.

RESULTS: Overall, 40 right-handed professional baseball pitchers with a mean age of 22 ± 3 years were included. A significant positive relationship was observed between preseason structural adaptations of UCL thickness and PCT (R = 0.344; R² = 0.118; P = .030) as well as between chronic structural adaptations of ulnar nerve cross-sectional area and teres minor muscle thickness (R = 0.387; R² = 0.150; P = .020). No statistically significant relationships were found between chronic structural adaptations of the shoulder and delta ulnohumeral joint gapping (all P > .05) or between chronic adaptations in clinical measures (strength and ROM) of the shoulder and chronic structural adaptations of the elbow (all P > .05).

CONCLUSION: Positive relationships between chronic adaptations of UCL thickness and PCT, as well as between ulnar nerve cross-sectional area and teres minor MT, were observed in asymptomatic minor league pitchers. However, no significant relationships between adaptations in shoulder strength or ROM were related to chronic structural adaptations of the elbow.

PMID:39924652 | DOI:10.1177/03635465251317509

Mycoses. 2025 Feb;68(2):e70032. doi: 10.1111/myc.70032.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Although there are some studies evaluating CIE incidence and associated risk factors, none assessed mortality several months after the Candida spp. BSI episode. We aimed to assess risk factors for CIE and outcomes, including 1-year mortality, in patients with Candida spp. BSI in a public tertiary-care teaching hospital in Brazil.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective case-control, followed by a cohort study, with adult patients who presented a Candida spp. BSI. Participants were eligible if they had at least one echocardiogram performed no longer than 3 days before Candida spp. BSI diagnosis and thereafter during the respective hospital admission. CIE diagnosis was defined by the presence of two major Duke criteria.

RESULTS: We studied 164 patients (median age: 57.6 years) with a median Charlson comorbidity index of 3 points. Most patients were female (54.9%), were on haemodialysis (54.9%), and 4.6% had a preexisting moderate/severe heart valve disease. C. albicans (36.2%) and C. parapsilosis complex (34.4%) were the most frequent Candida species identified. CIE was detected in 10 patients (6.1%; 95% CI: 2.4%-9.8%). In the multivariable analysis, age and C. parapsilosis complex remained as independent predictors of CIE. There was no significant difference between CIE and no CIE groups in 1-year mortality after Candida spp. BSI diagnosis and hospital discharge.

DISCUSSION: Considering the low costs and hazards associated with an echocardiogram, performing it systematically in all patients with Candida spp. BSI might improve CIE diagnosis and ultimately survival rates.

PMID:39924648 | DOI:10.1111/myc.70032

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2460273. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2460273. Epub 2025 Feb 9.

ABSTRACT

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of pertussis in children under five years in Chongqing from 2019 to 2023, providing scientific evidence for further prevention and control. The epidemiological characteristics of pertussis cases in children under five years and vaccination history with pertussis-containing vaccines were described, and the influencing factors and cumulative risk of disease onset after vaccination were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 4,135 pertussis cases were reported in children under five years in Chongqing, with cases occurring predominantly between April and August. Infants under 1 year accounted for the highest proportion of cases at 66.82% (2,763/4,135); the annual reported incidence was higher in boys (141.26/100,000) than in girls (122.09/100,000). Over half of the cases, 59.78% (2,472/4,135) had received at least one dose of a pertussis-containing vaccine, and there were significant differences in vaccination history among different age groups (χ² = 483.248, p < .01). Cox’s regression analysis indicated that the total number of doses received (p < .01) was an influencing factor for the interval between vaccination and disease onset. The hazard ratios (HRs) for three doses, two doses, and one dose were 0.182 (95% CI: 0.138-0.241), 0.485 (95% CI: 0.359-0.654), and 0.315 (95% CI: 0.233-0.425). Young children, including infants and preschool-aged children, were still a high-risk group for pertussis infection in Chongqing. It is recommended to administer an additional dose of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis vaccine (DTaP) vaccine to preschool children aged four to six in China.

PMID:39924641 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2025.2460273

Psychooncology. 2025 Feb;34(2):e70098. doi: 10.1002/pon.70098.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Young adult survivors of childhood cancer exhibit rates of frailty similar to adults several decades older without a cancer history. Frailty has been associated with sleep disturbances in non-cancer populations, but the relationship has not been examined in childhood cancer survivors who are known to exhibit elevated rates of sleep problems.

AIMS: Examine associations between frailty and poor sleep quality in long-term survivors of childhood cancer.

METHODS: This study utilized data from 9044 participants (> 5 years from diagnosis, M_age = 40.8 years [SD = 9.5]) in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Survivors’ frailty status, chronic health conditions (CHC), health behaviors, mental health, and pain were collected in 2014-2016, and self-reported sleep quality in 2017-2019. Multivariable logistic regression models examined frailty status as a predictor of clinically significant poor sleep. All models were adjusted for age at diagnosis, age at survey, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking, risky/heavy alcohol use, and physical inactivity. Separate models included treatment-related variables, CHC burden (number/severity), and emotional health/pain as co-variates.

RESULTS: Frail survivors had 6-fold (95% CI 4.48-7.96) increased odds of future poor sleep quality. Little attenuation of this association was observed when accounting for cancer diagnosis (Odds Ratio [OR] 5.80, 95% CI 4.47-7.52), treatment exposures (OR 5.80, 95% CI 4.43-7.71), or chronic health condition burden (OR 5.12, 95% CI 3.98-6.59), but adjustment for emotional health/pain (OR 2.88, 95% CI 2.18-3.82) attenuated the association appreciably.

CONCLUSIONS: Frail childhood cancer survivors have a higher prevalence of clinically significant poor sleep quality. Addressing poor physiologic reserve may impact sleep in frail childhood cancer survivors.

PMID:39924630 | DOI:10.1002/pon.70098

J Foot Ankle Res. 2025 Mar;18(1):e70026. doi: 10.1002/jfa2.70026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) is a commonly performed procedure for gangrene in the setting of diabetes or peripheral vascular disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of and risk factors for reoperation and perioperative complications after TMA in patients undergoing surgery for primarily infectious/diabetic wounds versus peripheral vascular disease.

METHODS: Patients undergoing TMA between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020 were identified using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. The indication for surgery was reported using the International Classification of Disease 9/10 codes. Patients were categorized into two groups: patients undergoing surgery for primarily infectious/diabetic wounds versus peripheral vascular disease. The incidence of 30-day mortality, readmission, reoperation, nonhome discharge, and various medical and surgical complications was reported. Outcome measures were compared between the diabetic and peripheral vascular disease groups. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for each outcome measure of interest.

RESULTS: 3392 patients were included in the final cohort. There was a 30-day mortality rate of 2.9%, reoperation rate of 13.8%, readmission rate of 16.8%, surgical complication rate of 22.2%, and medical complication rate of 15.8%. Patients undergoing surgery for a vascular indication had a higher rate of mortality, reoperation, hospital readmission, nonhome discharge, and various medical complications (p < 0.05). Patients undergoing surgery for infectious/diabetic wounds had a higher rate of deep surgical site infection and systemic sepsis (p < 0.05). A vascular surgical indication was independently associated with reoperation and overall medical complications (p < 0.05). Various factors, including age, body mass index, medical comorbidities, and the presence of preoperative sepsis were associated with poor outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Significant rates of mortality, reoperation, and hospital readmission were reported after TMA. The presence of peripheral vascular disease was independently associated with reoperation and medical complications. Patients undergoing TMA, particularly for peripheral vascular disease, should be counseled about perioperative risks and indicated for surgery carefully.

PMID:39924627 | DOI:10.1002/jfa2.70026

Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 10;15(1):4858. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89250-3.

ABSTRACT

Concrete frameworks require strong structural integrity to ensure their durability and performance. However, they are disposed to develop cracks, which can compromise their overall quality. This research presents an innovative crack diagnosis algorithm for concrete structures that utilizes an optimized Deep Neural Network (DNN) called the Ridgelet Neural Network (RNN). The RNN model was then adjusted with a new advanced version of the Human Evolutionary Optimization (AHEO) algorithm that is introduced in this study. The AHEO as a new method combines human intelligence and evolutionary principles to optimize the RNN model. To train the model, an image dataset has been used, consisting of labeled images categorized as either “cracks” or “no-cracks”. The AHEO algorithm has been employed to refine the network’s weights, adjust the output layer for binary classification, and enhance the dataset through stochastic rotational augmentation. The effectiveness of the RNN/AHEO model was evaluated using various metrics and compared to existing methods. The model’s performance is evaluated by metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, and is compared to existing methods including CNN, CrackUnet, R-CNN, DCNN, and U-Net, achieving an accuracy of 99.665% and an F1-score of 99.035%. The results demonstrated that the RNN/AHEO model outperformed other approaches in detecting concrete cracks. This innovative solution provides a robust method for maintaining the structural integrity of concrete frameworks.

PMID:39924615 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-89250-3

Int Ophthalmol. 2025 Feb 10;45(1):68. doi: 10.1007/s10792-025-03440-6.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the therapeutic efficacy of low-temperature plasma ablation (LTP) combined with drug treatment in the treatment of fungal keratitis (FK) caused by various pathogens, thereby establishing a clinical foundation for the use of LTP in treating FK.

METHODS: A retrospective study was performed, including 76 patients (76 eyes) with FK diagnosed at the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University. The patients were categorized into the Fusarium group, Alternaria group, Aspergillus group, and other genus groups based on positive results from biological cultures. Key clinical parameters, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), maximum ulcer lesion diameter, and healing grades, were assessed and compared at baseline (pre-treatment), on postoperative day 3, and at postoperative week 3.

RESULTS: The study demonstrated that the BCVA (LogMAR) of all patients revealed no significant differences at postoperative day 3 (F = 2.54, p = 0.063) and week 3 (F = 1.86, p = 0.143). Although BCVA improved to varying degrees compared to preoperative levels, the changes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). After treatment with LTP combined with pharmacotherapy across all four groups, an average of 53 patients (69.74%) achieved grade I healing, with the group effect being nonsignificant (F = 2.85, p = 0.071), while the effect of time post-treatment was significant (F = 67.85, p < 0.001). Additionally, the corneal scar diameter at postoperative week 3 was significantly smaller compared to the preoperative lesion diameter (p < 0.05). Multiple comparisons revealed significant differences in scar diameter among patients with grade I healing at postoperative week 3 (F = 3.48, p = 0.023), with notable differences observed between the Alternaria and Fusarium groups (p = 0.017). The average rate of grade III healing, defined by the occurrence of corneal perforation and/or the need for therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty, was 7.89%.

CONCLUSION: Low-temperature plasma ablation demonstrates effective therapeutic outcomes for FK caused by various pathogens that are unresponsive to pharmacological treatments, with no significant complications.

PMID:39924602 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-025-03440-6

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2025 Feb 9;114(2):31. doi: 10.1007/s00128-025-04012-1.

ABSTRACT

Three beaches on the Eastern Black Sea coast of Türkiye, with different usage purposes and urbanization, were evaluated regarding marine litter densities and categories in four seasons. 3573 marine litter items were collected, classified, and recorded. In an area of 3,000 m², the highest amount of litter was counted in summer with a total of 1473 pieces of litter (Average: 0.491 ± 0.131 items/m²), and the lowest was counted in the spring months with 577 pieces of litter (Average: 0.192 ± 0.026 items/m²). Plastics (79 ± 0.9%) were the most predominant, and litter items mainly consisted of metal (7.2 ± 0.5%) and paper/cardboard (5.6 ± 0.6%.). Beach litter was also associated with fishing activities and tourism. It was observed that litter relatively increased during the fishing season in the region where fishing activities were intense. SIMPER analysis revealed that Çamburnu, located near a fishing port, exhibited a significantly different litter composition, with fishing gear being the most dominant category.

PMID:39924596 | DOI:10.1007/s00128-025-04012-1

Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Feb 9. doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-16976-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Optimal timing for surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) remains controversial, necessitating reliable preoperative indicators. This study examines how sarcopenia and surgical timing affect prognosis in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed patients with LA-ESCC who underwent NCRT and surgery at three institutions in China from 2014 to 2023. The skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra was measured to calculate the skeletal muscle index (SMI). Prognostic analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards models and propensity score matching (PSM), with survival curves generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and statistical significance set at p<0.05.

RESULTS: A total of 415 patients were analyzed, with a median follow-up of 39.1 months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 59.3% and 53.1%, respectively. Malnutrition and time to surgery (TTS) were independent prognostic factors for both OS and PFS (p < 0.05). Patients with long TTS showed better OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.62, p = 0.01] and PFS (HR = 0.68, p = 0.02) compared with those with short TTS. Among patients with sarcopenia, long TTS significantly improved OS (HR = 0.56; p = 0.01) and PFS (HR = 0.62; p = 0.02), while no survival benefit was observed for TTS in patients who were nonsarcopenic (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Sarcopenia does not independently impact OS or PFS. Patients with sarcopenia benefit from a longer surgical time interval after NCRT. In addition, preoperative evaluation of muscle quality may aid in optimizing surgical timing to improve outcomes.

PMID:39924590 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-025-16976-9