Tag: pubmed

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025 Jan 28;12(2):ofaf049. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf049. eCollection 2025 Feb.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Myroides species, Gram-negative bacilli from the Flavobacteriaceae family, are typically considered low-virulence pathogens but have previously been described as extensively drug-resistant. This study investigates the clinical features and outcomes of Myroides infections.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized at Cleveland Clinic with Myroides infection. Infections were defined as a positive Myroides culture from a sterile site that were treated with an antibiotic to which the isolate was susceptible. Controls were hospitalized patients with a positive culture for Myroides, who did not meet the definition for infection. Survival for infected patients and uninfected controls was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS: Between January 2015 and September 2023, 52 positive Myroides species cultures were identified, with 21 deemed infections. A higher proportion of Myroides-infected patients than controls had diabetes mellitus. The most common infections were skin/soft-tissue infections (42.8%), osteomyelitis (33.3%), and urinary tract infections (19%); and 28.5% were bacteremic infections. All isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides, but the majority were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (81%), ciprofloxacin (57%), and meropenem (68%). The main antimicrobial treatments provided were meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. A significant difference in survival was not found between patients with Myroides infection and uninfected controls (hazard ratio, 3.42; 95% confidence interval, .63-18.74; P = .16).

CONCLUSIONS: All patients in this study had reasonable treatment options, belying previous reports of extensive antibiotic resistance in Myroides. Our small study did not detect a statistically significant decrease in survival among Myroides-infected patients compared to controls.

PMID:39963698 | PMC:PMC11832043 | DOI:10.1093/ofid/ofaf049

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2025 Jan 17;12(2):ofaf024. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf024. eCollection 2025 Feb.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Specialty societies, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America, strive to address gender and racial inequities in professional advancement. Microaggressions remain a persistent and pervasive barrier to these goals. Nonprofessional speaker introductions are a manifestation of race- and gender-based microaggressions, which have not been previously assessed at IDWeek. We assessed disparities in speaker introductions at IDWeek over a 7-year period that included formal gender equity initiatives introduced in 2016.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of video-recorded IDWeek speaker introductions from 2013 to 2019. Trained coders reviewed presentation video archives to assess a primary outcome of nonprofessional introductions: when a speaker’s professional title was not used as the first introduction. We used descriptive statistics, Fisher exact tests, Cochrane-Armitage trend tests, and multivariable logistic regression to characterize relationships between speaker introductions and presentation year, speaker demographics, and speaker-moderator demographic concordance.

RESULTS: Of 1940 videos reviewed, 48.9% of IDWeek speakers received nonprofessional introductions during and before 2016 vs 41.5% of speakers after 2016 (P = .0013). There was an increasing linear trend in the frequency of professional introductions by speaker age group from 47.1% for age <40 years to 65.3% for age >60 years (P < .0001). White moderators more frequently used nonprofessional introductions than moderators from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (47.7% vs 29.1%, P = .0014). Women-men speaker-moderator pairs had more nonprofessional introductions (54.6%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: In the largest assessment of microaggressions in speaker introductions at a national medical specialty conference, we highlighted some progress over time and ample opportunity to further standardize equitable speaker introductions, especially for women and junior speakers.

PMID:39963695 | PMC:PMC11830950 | DOI:10.1093/ofid/ofaf024

Front Aging. 2025 Feb 3;6:1297704. doi: 10.3389/fragi.2025.1297704. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

This article emphasizes the advantages of using a within-subject experimental design to assess the impact of salient visual cues on the comprehension and acceptability of computerized cognitive training (CCT) instructions among older adults. The study would involve participants aged 65 and above, who will engage in an online experiment presenting two sets of instructions for serious games: one with salient visual cues and one without. This within-subject design eliminates the need for random assignment, improves internal consistency, and enhances statistical power. Participants serve as their own controls, providing a more robust comparison of how visual cues affect instruction comprehension and software acceptance. The primary objective is to identify indicators of acceptability for CCT serious games and to evaluate how well participants comprehend the instructions, influencing their intention to use the software. The hypothesis suggests that salient visual cues will improve instruction comprehension and foster greater software acceptability. By focusing on this design method, the study aims to enhance the engagement of older adults in cognitive training programs, reducing dropout rates. This research offers valuable insights into methodological strengths that can be applied in future studies to improve the usability and acceptance of CCT tools for older adults without cognitive impairments.

PMID:39963688 | PMC:PMC11830709 | DOI:10.3389/fragi.2025.1297704

Front Aging. 2025 Feb 3;6:1513936. doi: 10.3389/fragi.2025.1513936. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Regular physical activity offers benefits like enhanced bone density, which often persists post-retirement. However, retirement can lead to weight gain and changes in quality of life due to reduced physical activity. Therefore, this study investigates the long-term effects of elite athletic experience by comparing retired Jordanian male elite athletes (ages 40-50) with non-athletes of the same age. The differences were explored in weight changes, bone density, quality of life, happiness, stress, insomnia, physical activity, and dietary intake to understand how martial arts impact these health dimensions.

METHODS: A descriptive case-control study was conducted among 30 retired male elite athletes and 20 age-matched non-athletes. Bone density and body composition were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans. Additional assessments included anthropometric measurements, a 3-day dietary recall, physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), quality of life (WHOQOL), happiness (Subjective Happiness Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale), and insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index).

RESULTS: Retired athletes showed significantly higher Z-scores for the left femur (neck and total) and the AP spine, with p-values <0.05. Among non-athletes, 65% had normal bone density with a Z-score ≥ -1.9 and a T-score > -1.1, 20% had abnormal bone density with a Z-score < -1.9, and 15% had osteopenia with a T-score between -1.1 and -2.4. In contrast, 100% of retired athletes had normal bone density with a Z-score ≥ -1.9 and a T-score > -1.1. Retired athletes exhibited greater weight changes than non-athletes, with a p-value <0.05; the average weight gain among retired athletes was 18.548 kg, and the mean weight gain among non-athletes was 4.3 kg. There were statistically significant mean differences in perceived stress levels between retired athletes and non-athletes with a p-value <0.05. In contrast, there were no statistically significant mean differences between the groups in quality of life, subjective happiness, and the Insomnia Severity Index.

CONCLUSION: The study reveals that retired elite athletes maintain better bone density but face greater weight gain and stress than their non-athlete counterparts. Both groups enjoy a high quality of life and low levels of insomnia. These findings underscore the importance of continued physical activity for health and suggest that both retired athletes and non-athletes should adopt a balanced lifestyle to manage weight and stress effectively.

PMID:39963687 | PMC:PMC11830723 | DOI:10.3389/fragi.2025.1513936

Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2025 Feb 12. doi: 10.3803/EnM.2024.2181. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between steatotic liver disease (SLD) and retinal abnormalities in a cohort undergoing health screening. Our study included 353,607 participants who underwent fundus photography and abdominal ultrasonography at least once at the Kangbuk Samsung Health Promotion Center from 2002 to 2022. After adjusting for age and sex, the risk of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) significantly increased with the presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD, with odds ratios of 1.259 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.050 to 1.510), 1.498 (95% CI, 1.249 to 1.796), and 1.342 (95% CI, 1.121 to 1.605), respectively. However, these associations weakened after adjusting for body mass index. No statistically significant associations were observed with other retinal disorders after adjusting for age, sex, and other confounding factors. Our findings suggest that obesity may mediate the relationship between SLD and RVO, while other retinal abnormalities may be more closely associated with known risk factors rather than SLD itself.

PMID:39962357 | DOI:10.3803/EnM.2024.2181

J Rural Health. 2025 Jan;41(1):e70005. doi: 10.1111/jrh.70005.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe the impact from the closure of a rural community’s only health center on chronic health conditions, access to care, and quality of care received from the patient’s perspective.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional telephone survey. Adult patients established with a rural health center participated in a 19-item survey at 6 months post-closure to collect data on perceived impacts. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

FINDINGS: There were 249 patients contacted, with 131 participants (52.6% response rate). Participants had a median age of 63 years (interquartile range, 44.5-73.0), and the majority were female (n = 82; 62.6%) and had been established with the health center for over 10 years (n = 79; 60.3%). At 6 months, the majority of participants had established care with another health center (n = 91; 69.5%). Most participants felt that the closure made it more difficult to access care (n = 106; 80.9%) but did not feel the closure reduced the quality of care they were receiving (n = 42; 32.1%). There was no impact perceived on the management of most health conditions, except chronic pain where worsening was the most selected option.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients were able to successfully transition care after closure of their local health center, and most did not perceive an impact on the quality of care received. However, participants reported reduced access to care. Future research might repeat this process, perhaps using a mixed-method approach, to intentionally capture nuances in patient behavior, experiences, and attitudes following the loss of primary care services in rural communities.

PMID:39962356 | DOI:10.1111/jrh.70005

Vox Sang. 2025 Feb 17. doi: 10.1111/vox.70004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We should control free K⁺ during massive transfusion (>80 mL/kg) of red blood cells (RBCs) in small children. To manage this, several national and international guidelines recommend using RBCs stored only up to 7 days. We tested a washing step for RBCs in saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAGM) with or without irradiation to reduce supernatant K⁺ levels, improve quality and potentially extend the shelf life of stored RBCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: RBCs of 240-330 mL were prepared from whole blood donations, then split into halves and stored in SAGM solution at 4 ± 2°C for 21 days. RBCs were split and washed on Days 1 and 8, and some were gamma-irradiated on Day 8. Glucose, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), K⁺ and haemolysis were determined over 21 days.

RESULTS: After washing on Day 1, only glucose and lactate improved, whereas after washing on Day 8, LDH and K⁺ also improved. Irradiation resulted in accelerated K⁺ accumulation and increased haemolysis. Mean extracellular K⁺ concentrations were 21.2 ± 1.03 mM after irradiation on Day 8 versus 1.12 ± 0.05 mM after irradiation plus wash on Day 8, and 38.80 ± 2.13 mM on Day 10 after irradiation on Day 8 and 16.6 ± 0.05 mM on Day 10 after irradiation plus wash on Day 8.

CONCLUSION: K⁺ concentrations remained <25 mM within 8 days of storage. We recommend irradiation by Day 8 at the latest for neonatal transfusion. The shelf life may be extended by another 48 h if the RBCs are also washed.

PMID:39962346 | DOI:10.1111/vox.70004

J Dent Res. 2025 Feb 17:220345251316279. doi: 10.1177/00220345251316279. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Providing the summary effect size and its uncertainty, a prediction interval, and a measure of statistical heterogeneity constitute good reporting practices in meta-analyses. Popular statistical heterogeneity measures comprise the τ² and I² statistics. However, researchers often rely unduly on the I² statistic, using naive categorizations to gauge the extent of heterogeneity, leading to misuses of the meta-analysis models, deficiencies in reporting, and misleading conclusions. The present study aimed to provide empirical evidence on the reporting and interpretation of statistical heterogeneity in systematic reviews of oral health published between 2021 and 2023 in 21 leading specialty and general dental journals. Systematic reviews with at least 1 meta-analysis on binary or continuous outcomes with the most studies were identified. Characteristics were extracted at the systematic review and meta-analysis levels. In total, 313 systematic reviews with meta-analyses were analyzed. Within this cohort of meta-analyses, the random-effects model (89%, n = 278) was frequently applied. Almost all meta-analyses (98%, n = 308) reported the I² value, and 51% (n = 160) reported the τ² value. For this sample, the median I² was 76% (range: 0%-100%), and the median τ² was 0.29 (range: 0-2,632), with 13% (n = 20/160) of these meta-analyses reporting zero τ². Most of the meta-analyses (96%, n = 299) based the heterogeneity interpretation on I² and only 21 (7%) on τ². Although 49% (n = 152) of the meta-analyses chose the meta-analysis model a priori, only 41% (n = 63/152) justified this choice. Furthermore, 42% (n = 131) of the 313 meta-analyses chose the meta-analysis model based on the I². Within oral health meta-analyses, there is evidence of overreliance on I² when reporting and interpreting statistical heterogeneity and selecting the meta-analysis model. The inappropriate use of I² in meta-analysis model selection and interpretation of statistical heterogeneity may have implications for the quality of conclusions delivered to the end users of systematic reviews.

PMID:39962342 | DOI:10.1177/00220345251316279

Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 17;15(1):5802. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89954-6.

ABSTRACT

Accessibility of interactive services is vital for building an inclusive society. While accessibility standards are increasingly being adopted, there remains a gap in user experience evaluation approaches tailored to deaf participants. To address this, the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) was translated to Slovenian Sign Language (SSL) and its appropriateness and reliability evaluated in a research study. Two interactive TV solutions for deaf viewers were developed and evaluated using a standard written UEQ in Slovenian (UEQ TXT) and a UEQ translated to Slovenian Sign Language (UEQ SSL). A total of 27 deaf participants and 6 Slovenian Sign Language interpreters participated in the study. A thorough statistical analysis of the results was conducted on both individual UEQ attributes and overall scales. The results show no statistically significant differences in evaluation results when gathered with UEQ SSL and UEQ TXT. Participants expressed a strong preference for UEQ SSL, as it enabled them to express their opinions more accurately and completely in their primary language, fostering greater independence and ensuring their perspectives are fully represented. The findings show that the UEQ SSL is a valid and effective tool, with the potential to bridge the inclusion gap for deaf and hard-of-hearing users in UX evaluation studies.

PMID:39962301 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-89954-6

J Dent Educ. 2025 Feb 17. doi: 10.1002/jdd.13840. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Several studies have evaluated resident and trainee remediation strategies across various surgical subspecialties. However, limited research exists on this topic within the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) literature. The purpose of this study was to identify cross-sectional patterns of evaluation and remediation strategies for underperforming OMS residents in the United States.

METHODS: A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted using a 22-question survey administered to OMS residency Program Directors of all programs approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) within the United States. The predictor variables included the demographics and resident assessment methods of responding programs. The outcome variables included the results of remediation strategies and corrective action plans for residents identified as struggling over the preceding 10 years. Responses were anonymized, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the collected data.

RESULTS: Completed surveys were obtained from 29 (29%) CODA-approved programs. Twenty-five of 29 (86%) programs reported placing 64 residents on corrective action plans. Nine of 29 (31%) programs reported that 14 residents were dismissed during that period. The most common deficiencies in residents requiring corrective action plans were cognitive skills (37.9%), clinical skills (20.7%), and interpersonal skills (20.7%). Residents were almost always given a warning prior to initiating remediation or probation (96.6%), with verbal (46.4%) and written (53.4%) warnings being used with nearly equivalent frequency. Remedial action most often included general counseling (15.9%), more frequent feedback sessions (15.9%), assignment of a mentor (15.2%), didactic remediation (13.3%), psychiatric/psychologic counseling (11.26%), and lengthened training time (6.6%). Most programs reported utilization of a formal remediation protocol (75.9%) and 85.7% of programs subjectively felt their process was effective. Almost one-quarter of respondents (24.1%) stated that no formal remediation protocol exists at their institution.

CONCLUSIONS: Most OMS programs utilized some form of remediation protocols, but their usage was inconsistent and infrequent. The evaluation and remediation processes among OMS residency programs have significant variability, relying heavily on program or institution-specific protocols.

PMID:39962291 | DOI:10.1002/jdd.13840