Tag: pubmed

Cities Health. 2024 Feb 29;8(6):1081-1093. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2024.2315804. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine how young people subjectively perceive their local neighbourhoods and compare these perceptions with objective data regarding access to amenities aligned with features of the 20-minute neighbourhood (20MN) policy. Objective data (n:287 aged 12-18 years) were gathered through an online adaptation of the Place Standard Tool for Young People in Scotland. Subjective data concerning access to ten amenities in line with the 20MN concept, along with crime statistics, area-level deprivation and urbanicity were spatially linked. The association between perceptions of localities and factors such as gender, as well as both subjective and objective neighbourhood assessments were examined. Young people were most satisfied with nature and active travel in their local area. Conversely, their satisfaction was lowest for active travel to school. Rural young people were more dissatisfied with their localities. Agreement was observed between satisfaction with their 20 neighbourhoods and objective data indicating the presence of frequent public transportation, recreational spaces, and access to services. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of amenities in healthy urban planning, showing a positive impact on young people’s perceptions. Additionally, we uncover a connection between crime perceptions and area-level crime variables, potentially influencing health outcomes.

PMID:39635459 | PMC:PMC11614036 | DOI:10.1080/23748834.2024.2315804

Clin Psychol Sci. 2024 Nov;12(6):1146-1161. doi: 10.1177/21677026231213368. Epub 2024 Jan 24.

ABSTRACT

Algorithmically defined aspects of reinforcement learning correlate with psychopathology symptoms and change with symptom improvement following cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Separate work in nonclinical samples has shown that varying the structure and statistics of task environments can change learning. Here, we combine these literatures, drawing on CBT-based guided restructuring of thought processes and computationally defined mechanistic targets identified by reinforcement-learning models in depression, to test whether and how verbal queries affect learning processes. Using a parallel-arm design, we tested 1,299 online participants completing a probabilistic reward-learning task while receiving repeated queries about the task environment (11 learning-query arms and one active control arm). Querying participants about reinforcement-learning-related task components altered computational-model-defined learning parameters in directions specific to the target of the query. These effects on learning parameters were consistent across depression-symptom severity, suggesting new learning-based strategies and therapeutic targets for evoking symptom change in mood psychopathology.

PMID:39635456 | PMC:PMC11617014 | DOI:10.1177/21677026231213368

Nanophotonics. 2021 Sep 29;11(4):689-696. doi: 10.1515/nanoph-2021-0432. eCollection 2022 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Twist phase is a nontrivial second-order phase that only exists in a partially coherent beam. Such twist phase endows the partially coherent beam with orbital angular momentum (OAM) and has unique applications such as in super-resolution imaging. However, the manipulation and the detection of the twist phase are still far from easy tasks in experiment. In this work, we present a flexible approach to generate a famous class of twisted Gaussian Schell-model (TGSM) beam with controllable twist phase by the superposition of the complex field realizations using a single phase-only spatial light modulator. The precise control of the amplitude and phase of the field realizations allows one to manipulate the strength of the twist phase easily. In addition, we show that the twist factor, a key factor that determines the strength of twist phase and the amount of OAM, can be measured by extracting the real part of the complex degree of coherence of the TGSM beam. The experiment is carried out with the help of the generalized Hanbury Brown and Twiss experiment as the generated TGSM beam obeys Gaussian statistics. The flexible control and detection of the twist phase are expected to find applications in coherence and OAM-based ghost imaging.

PMID:39635389 | PMC:PMC11501484 | DOI:10.1515/nanoph-2021-0432

Front Glob Womens Health. 2024 Nov 20;5:1471316. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1471316. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key outcome indicator in antiretroviral therapy program. In Ethiopia, primary studies on gender disparity in HRQoL among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are conflicting, with no pooled estimation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gender disparity in HRQoL among PLHA in Ethiopia.

METHODS: Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Embase, MEDLINE, Science Direct, HINARI, and PsycINFO were systematically searched. In addition, Google Scholar, Google, journal homepages, bibliographies, and universities’ research repositories in the country were searched by combining keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms with Boolean operators. Based on the primary study results, the average score of each domain was utilized as a cut-off point to classify HRQoL as poor or good. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist was used to assess study quality. A random-effects model was used to report the pooled estimates. Summary estimates are presented in forest plots and tables. The variation between studies was assessed using the Higgins heterogeneity test (I²). Funnel plot, Begg’s test, and Egger’s test were used to assess publication bias. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA 17 (Corporation, College Station, TX, USA) for analysis. The search results were managed using the EndNote X7 software.

RESULTS: Fifteen studies with 4,867 PLHA were included. The pooled prevalence of poor HRQoL was 46.53% (95% CI: 41.96-51.10), 46.15% (95% CI: 37.05-55.24), and 36.21% (95% CI: 30.19-42.23) among PLHA, women, and men living with HIV, respectively. Moreover, a significant gender disparity in HRQoL was observed among Ethiopian women and men living with HIV. Women living with HIV were found to have 61% increased odds of poor HRQoL than men living with HIV in the country (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.15). No statistical evidence of a publication bias was observed.

CONCLUSION: Almost half of PLHA patients in Ethiopia had a poor HRQoL. Women living with HIV have higher odds of poor HRQoL than men living with HIV. This highlights the pressing need for gender-specific risk assessment approaches and treatment interventions aimed at optimizing HRQoL in HIV/AIDS settings.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023454810.

PMID:39635356 | PMC:PMC11614810 | DOI:10.3389/fgwh.2024.1471316

J Clin Med Res. 2024 Dec;16(11):547-553. doi: 10.14740/jocmr6108. Epub 2024 Nov 30.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is often accompanied by atrial fibrillation (AF), which significantly worsens the outcome of both diseases. Half of individuals with HF has AF, and HF occurs in more than one-third of individuals with AF. Thus, HF and AF are commonly encountered together and are closely interrelated with similar risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of potential risk factors on the occurrence of paroxysmal/persistent AF in patients with heart failure with moderately reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF).

METHODS: The study included 193 patients with HFmrEF and nonvalvular paroxysmal/persistent AF after successful cardioversion. As a control group the similar 76 patients without AF were examined. All patients underwent the examination, including electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and Holter ECG monitoring. Levels of inflammatory markers, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the fibrotic marker transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The obtained results were modeled using binary logistic regression using the odds ratio (OR).

RESULTS: It was shown that frequent episodes of hypertensive crisis (HC) and increased body mass index (BMI) were possible risk factors for paroxysmal/persistent AF. An increased OR of diastolic and systolic parameters of the left ventricle was associated with significant atrial and ventricular remodeling. Statistically, higher OR of inflammatory markers levels, such as hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were associated with an increased risk of paroxysmal/persistent AF occurrence in HFmrEF patients compared to similar patients without AF. An increase of the fibrosis marker TGF-β1 OR was statistically significant in patients with persistent AF.

CONCLUSIONS: It could be considered that frequency of HC, BMI, atrial and ventricular remodeling, as well as an increase of inflammation markers were possible risk factors for the occurrence of paroxysmal/persistent AF in HFmrEF patients. Moreover, fibrosis factor level significantly increased the likelihood of persistent AF in these patients.

PMID:39635337 | PMC:PMC11614407 | DOI:10.14740/jocmr6108

Comput Biol Med. 2024 Dec 3;185:109450. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.109450. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Research on venous hemodynamics is pivotal for unravelling venous diseases, including varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis, essential for clinical management, treatment and artificial valve design. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation, employing the immersed boundary/finite element method, is constructed to explore the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) between intravenous blood and venous valves. A hyperelastic constitutive model is used to capture the incompressible, nonlinear mechanical response. Our findings reveal the periodic characteristics of valve movement and intravenous blood flow throughout the cardiac cycle, alongside quantified physiological parameters such as blood pressure, flow rate, geometric orifice area, and stress-strain distribution on venous valve surfaces. The study unveils a significant correlation between dynamic valve motion and vortices within the venous sinus. Stress and strain concentrate primarily at the free edge of venous valves, which is in contrast to 2D modelling. Moreover, increased hydrostatic venous pressure is found to be the key to venous vessel dilation. The effects of fibrosis and atrophy of venous valves on venous hemodynamics are compared and analysed. This FSI numerical study introduces a fully 3D framework for modelling the venous system, expected to provide crucial references for understanding the development and mechanism underlying venous diseases, thereby furnishing a scientific underpinning for their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

PMID:39631111 | DOI:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.109450

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2024 Nov 25;130:105703. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105703. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Blood-based biomarkers such as plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) are crucial biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Additionally, neuroimaging techniques such as tensor-based morphometry (TBM), which identify structural changes in the brain, can provide valuable insights into AD pathophysiology. However, the role of genetics in linking the blood based biomarkers and imaging findings has not been well understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the polygenic hazard score (PHS), affects the association between neurofibrillary tangles and neuritis plaques and brain imaging findings.

METHODS: Using the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database, we enrolled all participants for whom a complete dataset of pNfL, PHS, and TBM was available. Using Python, we analyzed the associations between pNfL levels and the TBM data of 567 participants incluidng 152 cognitively normal individuals, 309 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 106 patients with AD. We used a mediation analysis to identify the effect of PHS in how pNfL is associated with TBM measures.

RESULTS: We found a negative correlation between the accelerated TBM measure and NfL levels in both the MCI and AD groups. The pNfL concentration predicted both accelerated statistical and anatomical TMB measures in patients with MCI. Furthermore, PHS mediatedthe association between statistical TBM measures and NfL levels in AD patients, to the extent that the significant association between NfL and TBM measures disappeared after accounting for PHS.

CONCLUSION: We showed that although pNfL can predict the cognitiee decline and imaging findings in AD, this effect is mediated by the PHS. Therefore, PHS should be considered when investigating AD biomarkers and their corresponding imaging findings.

PMID:39631103 | DOI:10.1016/j.archger.2024.105703

Am J Public Health. 2025 Jan;115(1):75-82. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2024.307867.

ABSTRACT

Immigration status and related policies have a significant impact on health outcomes. Yet major national health surveys currently provide little or no information about immigration status, rendering subgroups of noncitizens largely invisible. Even measures of citizenship, nativity, country of birth, and years in the United States, which provide critical information about immigration history, are not consistently included in national data sets. The main objections to asking directly about immigration status are that (1) such questions are too stigmatizing, risking lower response rates and inaccurate responses; and (2) answering the questions may expose respondents to possible immigration or criminal consequences. Our analysis shows that these objections are unfounded or can be mitigated. National health surveys have evolved over the past decades to include questions about mental health, substance use, sexual orientation, and gender identity-topics once assumed to be too stigmatizing to ask about, with possible negative legal consequences. We argue that the time has come to obtain more detailed information about immigration status as well as to consistently include the measures of immigration history mentioned so that we can better evaluate the health consequences of immigrant-related policy choices. (Am J Public Health. 2025;115(1):75-82. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307867).

PMID:39631085 | DOI:10.2105/AJPH.2024.307867

Blood Adv. 2024 Dec 4:bloodadvances.2024013826. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013826. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The prognostic impact of measurable residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unequivocal; however, the optimal timepoint for achieving undetectable MRD is unclear. We retrospectively studied patients with newly diagnosed (ND) AML who achieved remission with frontline intensive chemotherapy and had MRD assessed by flow cytometry after induction (TP1) and after cycles 2 or 3 (TP2). Cases were grouped into MRD Neg/Neg, Pos/Neg or Pos/Pos at TP1 and TP2, respectively. Of 1980 patients with ND AML, 277 met inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis. The median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 73 months, 22 months, and 5 months for the MRD Neg/Neg, Pos/Neg and Pos/Pos groups, respectively (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the Neg/Neg and Pos/Neg groups (p = 0.05), suggesting benefit to early MRD negativity. Median overall survival (OS) was 81 months, 40 months, and 9 months, respectively (p < 0.01), but the difference between Neg/Neg and Pos/Neg was not statistically significant (p = 0.19). Landmark analysis demonstrated the benefit of SCT, particularly in Neg/Neg intermediate risk AML (median RFS not reached versus 15 months, p < 0.01). On multivariable analysis, MRD Pos/Neg was independently associated with a worse RFS compared with Neg/Neg (hazard ratio 1.73 [95% CI, 1.09 – 2.75], p = 0.02) but not for OS (p = 0.15). In conclusion, undetectable flow MRD after induction is associated with better RFS compared with undetectable MRD achieved later during consolidation. SCT benefitted patients with intermediate risk AML, regardless of MRD kinetics.

PMID:39631072 | DOI:10.1182/bloodadvances.2024013826

J Med Internet Res. 2024 Dec 4;26:e65541. doi: 10.2196/65541.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital health technology, but it could also impact age-based disparities as existing studies have pointed out. Compared with the pre-pandemic period, whether the rapid digitalization of the health care system during the pandemic widened the age-based disparities over a long period remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the multifaceted landscape of digital health technology used across diverse age groups among US citizens.

METHODS: We conducted the retrospective observational study using the 2017-2022 Health Information National Trends Survey to identify the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on a wide range of digital health technology use outcomes across various age groups. The sample included 15,505 respondents, which were categorized into 3 age groups: adults (18-44 years), middle-aged adults (45-64 years), and older adults (more than 65 years). We also designated the time point of March 11, 2020, to divide the pre- and post-pandemic periods. Based on these categorizations, multivariate linear probability models were used to assess pre-post changes in digital health technology use, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables among different age groups.

RESULTS: Essentially, older adults were found to be significantly less likely to use digital health technology compared with adults, with a 26.28% lower likelihood of using the internet for health information (P<.001) and a 32.63% lower likelihood of using health apps (P<.001). The usage of digital health technology for all age groups had significantly increased after the onset of the pandemic, and the age-based disparities became smaller in terms of using the internet to look for health information. However, the disparities have widened for older adults in using the internet to look up test results (11.21%, P<.001) and make appointments (10.03%, P=.006) and using wearable devices to track health (8.31%, P=.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a significant increase in the use of digital health technology among all age groups during the pandemic. However, while the disparities in accessing online information have narrowed, age-based disparities, particularly for older adults, have widened in most areas such as looking up test results and making appointments with doctors. Therefore, older adults are more likely left behind by the rapidly digitalized US health care system during the pandemic. Policy makers and health care providers should focus on addressing these disparities to ensure equitable access to digital health resources for US baby boomers.

PMID:39631070 | DOI:10.2196/65541