Tag: pubmed

Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2024 Nov 29. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.14285. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the supplementary motor area (SMA) has shown promise in Tourette syndrome (TS), but previous studies were limited in size and stimulation duration.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to explore the efficacy and safety of multiple sessions of cathodal tDCS over the bilateral SMA on tic severity in TS.

METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial 1 mA cathodal tDCS over bilateral SMA was performed in participants with TS older than 16 years. The intervention involved two 20-min periods of stimulation with either sham or active tDCS per day, over 5 consecutive days, during which participants actively suppressed tics. Tic severity was measured using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale Total Tic Severity (YGTSS-TTS, primary outcome) score at baseline, day 5 (visit 5), and 1 week later (visit 6). Questionnaires focusing on comorbidities were performed at baseline and visit 6.

RESULTS: Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned (12 active, 12 sham; 8 women; median age: 26). We observed a significant effect of visit on YGTSS-TSS, but no significant effect of treatment or treatment × visit interaction emerged. In contrast, a statistically significant effect of the treatment × visit interaction was observed for the motor tic subscore, with significantly larger improvement in the active arm. Furthermore, we detected a significantly larger decrease in premonitory urge intensity at visit 6 after active stimulation. No effect was detected on severity of comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study suggests that bilateral tDCS over the SMA provides small, but significant benefits in reducing motor tic severity in TS.

PMID:39614604 | DOI:10.1002/mdc3.14285

Nurs Open. 2024 Dec;11(12):e70082. doi: 10.1002/nop2.70082.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sound mathematical skills are paramount for effective nursing practice and patient safety.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the factors that influence nursing student anxiety when engaging with mathematics-related activities in nursing education.

DESIGN: A concurrent mixed methods employing cross-sectional online survey and focus group interviews.

SETTING: One undergraduate nursing course at an Australian university.

PARTICIPANTS: Bachelor of Nursing students from across academic years.

METHODS: An online survey comprising closed- and open-ended questions to assess mathematics anxiety and self-efficacy and associated factors affecting its application to practice. Focus group interviews to explore anxieties related to mathematics and students’ approaches to nursing mathematics. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using inductive content analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 202 nursing students commenced the survey, of which 135 were fully completed, while 17 students participated in focus groups. Less than half were school leavers. Around three-quarters reported some level of fear of mathematics, while many lacked confidence, fear of making errors and/or harming patients and negative childhood experiences of mathematics. Survey items demonstrated extensive variation in perceptions.

CONCLUSIONS: The complexity and diversity of anxieties presents key challenges for nurse academics seeking to educate competent, safe students. Teaching approaches should be varied and consideration of having specialist mathematics teachers and learning psychologists on teaching teams to ensure student success.

REPORTING METHOD: This study is reported using Mixed Methods Reporting in Rehabilitation & Health Sciences (MMR-RHS).

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

PMID:39614599 | DOI:10.1002/nop2.70082

Food Res Int. 2024 Nov;196:115097. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115097. Epub 2024 Sep 15.

ABSTRACT

Chinese consumers are unfamiliar with the sensory attributes of wine and often pay more attention to the extrinsic attributes of wine that can most directly present information. Therefore, it is crucial to study consumer preferences for extrinsic attributes. This paper proposes a consumer segmentation method based on stratification and weighted clustering algorithm, leveraging data from an anonymous online survey (N = 3179). The AFR model is constructed based on the RFM model to segment wine consumers from the perspective of customer value. This model removes Monetary indicator and adds a new indicator Amount to eliminate multicollinearity caused by the Frequency and Monetary indicators of RFM model. In addition, factor analysis is used to assign weights to clustering indicators, addressing the problems of unequal weighting and strong correlation among the indicators. This allows for a simple, efficient, and precise segmentation of wine consumers at different levels. The method proposed in this article segments consumers into two layers and six categories: the potential layer includes product-oriented type, amorphous type, and cheap-fine type, while the mature layer comprises the rational type, reputation-price type and random type. This research will provide wine producers and distributors with a simple and efficient basis for production and marketing decision-making. Additionally, it can serve as a reference for consumer segmentation in food and other fields.

PMID:39614571 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115097

Food Res Int. 2024 Nov;196:115027. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115027. Epub 2024 Sep 6.

ABSTRACT

Foodborne diseases are a global burden. Actions to fight this group of diseases are necessary, especially for the younger demographic, which consists of consumers, food handlers, and the future workforce of the food chain. To this end, outlining the food safety profile of the target audience is imperative. Thus, this study aimed to understand and evaluate the risk perception, knowledge, and food safety self-reported practices of individuals between 5th and 9th grades (10 to 14 years old, considering the normal teaching flow) of public schools in the Federal District – Brazil. Instruments by Batista et al. (2023) and Brazil (2013) were used to achieve the objectives. The study included 1,420 students aged 9 to 17 (women = 50.6 %; n = 719) with a mean age of 11.9 years (±1.7) enrolled in 25 schools. It was observed that a more significant proportion of students attributed very low and low risk of Foodborne Diseases to the foods produced and served in School Food Services. The presence of optimistic bias, low perception of lethality, average knowledge, risky practices, and the gap between unsafe food knowledge and safe food handling/consumption practices were also identified. Correlations were identified between social vulnerability and risk perception (positive) and self-reported practices (negative). The results show the urgency of considering these individuals to ensure food safety, considering their vulnerability, reality, and the tools at their disposal.

PMID:39614552 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115027

Food Res Int. 2024 Nov;196:115010. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115010. Epub 2024 Sep 4.

ABSTRACT

Pesticide residues are identified as a significant food safety issue in Hami melons, and their rapid and accurate detection is deemed critical for ensuring public health. In response to the cumbersome procedures with existing chemical detection methods, this study explored the potential of identifying different pesticide residues in Hami melon by microfluorescence hyperspectral imaging (MF-HSI) technology combined with machine learning. By simulating the actual agricultural production, three pesticides, Beta-Cypermethrin, Difenoconazole, and Acetamiprid, were sprayed on Hami melons. The Hami melons with pesticide residues were collected as samples, from which spectral and image information were extracted. Competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), genetic algorithm (GA), and sequential projection algorithm (SPA) methods were used to extract characteristic wavelengths. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), extreme learning machine (ELM), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification models of the original spectra and characteristic wavelengths were established. 9 feature variables-Red (R), Green (G), Blue (B), Hue (H), Saturation (S), Value (V), Lightness (L), Red-Green axis (a) and Yellow-Blue axis (b) information was extracted by the color statistical method. 4 important color information of the image (G, B, V, L) were identified through Pearson correlation analysis, and the optimal feature wavelength was fused to enhance the identification accuracy of models. The results indicated that the SPA-PLS-DA model demonstrated the highest accuracy for the characteristic wavelength dataset, achieving accuracies of 89.35 % for the training set and 86.99 % for the testing set, which was better than the model established by the full wavelength dataset. Using the dataset that fuses feature wavelengths with 4 important image features, the SPA-PLS-DA model demonstrated superior performance, with recorded accuracy, precision, specificity, and sensitivity metrics on the testing set at 93.48 %, 93.81 %, 96.63 %, and 93.36 %, respectively. Consequently, MF-HSI technology combined with machine learning offers an approach to analyze pesticide residues in Hami melons accurately, and it provides a technical basis for detecting pesticide residues in other fruits and vegetables.

PMID:39614536 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115010

Am J Emerg Med. 2024 Nov 24;88:96-104. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.11.077. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Combat casualty care has advanced significantly with the implementation of evidence-based protocols designed to lower combat-related mortality. Over the last decade, two major urban conflicts in southern Israel have challenged the evolving military trauma system. This study aimed to assess differences in prehospital care and compare the outcomes of aeromedically evacuated casualties from the 2014 and 2023 conflicts.

METHODS: This retrospective registry-based cohort study utilized records from the Military Airborne Combat Evacuation Unit (MACEU) and the Israeli National Trauma Registry. Eligible patients evacuated by MACEU between 07.17.14 and 08.16.14 and between 10.27.23 and 03.17.24 were compared. Ground-evacuated casualties were excluded. Demographics, prehospital interventions, and clinical outcomes were compared.

RESULTS: During the 2014 conflict, 251 patients were evacuated alive, compared to 940 in 2023. Both conflicts involved mostly young males injured by explosions, with comparable injury distributions across body regions. The time from injury to hospital arrival decreased from 65 min (IQR 47-94) in 2014 to 60 min (IQR 47-180) in 2023 (d = 0.5, p < 0.001). The proportion of severely injured patients (ISS ≥ 16) increased from 18.3 % to 25.2 % (OR 1.5 [95 % CI 1.06-2.14], p = 0.03), and critically injured patients (ISS ≥ 25) from 7.6 % to 12.8 % (OR 1.79 [95 % CI 1.08-2.96], p = 0.03). Prehospital advanced airway interventions and tube thoracostomies decreased from 11.6 % to 6.0 % (OR 0.48 [95 % CI 0.30-0.76], p < 0.001) and from 7.0 % to 2.1 % (OR 0.28 [95 % CI 0.15-0.54], p < 0.001), respectively. Prehospital blood transfusions use increased from 6.6 % to 16.4 % (OR 2.78 [95 % CI 1.64-4.76], p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality rates remained stable (2.7 % vs. 2.5 %, OR 1.12 [95 % CI 0.44-2.81], p = 0.99). Although not statistically significant, lower mortality rates were recorded among the severely (13.0 % vs. 8.4 %, OR 0.61 [95 % CI 0.23-1.61, p = 0.48) and critically injured (26.3 % vs. 15.8 %, OR 0.53 [95 % CI 0.17-1.64], p = 0.32).

CONCLUSION: Over the past decade, there has been a decline in prehospital airway interventions and thoracostomies, coupled with an increase in early blood transfusions. Despite greater injury severity, mortality rates have remained stable. Although not statistically significant, lower mortality rates were recorded among the severely and critically injured. These findings support the “less is more” approach in modern prehospital combat casualty care.

PMID:39612529 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2024.11.077

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2024 Nov 14;100:104-111. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.11.014. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (NSC) and academic achievement.

METHODS: Registry data were analyzed on demographic background, presence of craniosynostosis and other comorbidities, grades, and results on national standardized tests (NSTs) across primary and upper secondary school, as well as the presence of academic degrees. The analysis used regression modeling on a sample of N = 1110 individuals with NSC and a matched cohort of N = 10,654 individuals.

RESULTS: There was a significant negative association between NSC and NST scores in third grade for both mathematics (aOR 0.76, 95% CI 0.60-0.99, p = .020) and Swedish (aOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54-0.89, p = .004). The association seemed to primarily be carried by females with NSC (aORs for the interaction term 0.26-0.45, all ps <.05). Further, a slightly stronger negative association was observed in individuals with psychiatric comorbidities (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.90, p = .025 for mathematics; aOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.98, p = .045 for Swedish). No statistically significant association was found between NSC and NST scores or grades in later school years, or with academic degrees.

CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence for a limited temporary negative association between NSC and academic achievement. A stronger negative association between NSC and academic achievement seems to be present in girls, and for individuals with psychiatric comorbidities. This has important implications for clinical management and provision of support in educational contexts.

PMID:39612517 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjps.2024.11.014

Health Promot Int. 2024 Dec 1;39(6):daae170. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daae170.

ABSTRACT

Disadvantaged adolescents, including those from lower socioeconomic status (SES) or geographically remote backgrounds, engage in higher rates of risk behaviours, including poor diet, alcohol and tobacco use. While digital interventions targeting lifestyle risk behaviours show potential, few studies have focused on their implementation and relevance for this population. This study conducted a process evaluation of ‘Health4Life’, a universal school-based digital program targeting multiple behaviours, among a sample of disadvantaged adolescents. Participants were from six schools classified as low SES (Index of Community Socio-educational Advantage percentile score ≤ 25%), and/or regional using the Australian Statistical Geography Standard. Self-reported student (n = 214) and teacher evaluations (n = 16) assessed Health4Life’s acceptability, with qualitative questions capturing areas for improvement. Teacher-reported implementation data (n = 16) measured intervention fidelity and feasibility. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and open-ended responses were thematically analysed. Compared to the entire sample, this subset of students evaluated Health4Life less favourably (66% versus 75%), with fewer enjoying the stories (63% versus 75%) and planning to use the skills and information (60% versus 70%). Teacher evaluations were mostly positive and aligned closely with the entire sample. Fidelity data also indicated comparable levels of student engagement (~92% versus ~85%). Key themes for refinement included improving content relevance and technical execution to better resonate with disadvantaged adolescents. While teacher evaluations suggest Health4Life is a valuable program in low SES or regional contexts, students’ lower ratings indicate refinements are needed. Identified areas for improvement will guide co-designing the program’s adaptation to improve effectiveness and relevance for disadvantaged adolescents. Trial registration: The Health4Life trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619000431123).

PMID:39612512 | DOI:10.1093/heapro/daae170

J Med Internet Res. 2024 Nov 29;26:e63032. doi: 10.2196/63032.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Researchers have many options for web-based survey data collection, ranging from access to curated probability-based panels, where individuals are selectively invited to join based on their membership in a representative population, to convenience panels, which are open for anyone to join. The mix of respondents available also varies greatly regarding representation of a population of interest and in motivation to provide thoughtful and accurate responses. Despite the additional dataset-building labor required of the researcher, convenience panels are much less expensive than probability-based panels. However, it is important to understand what may be given up regarding data quality for those cost savings.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relative costs and data quality of fielding equivalent surveys on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk), a convenience panel, and KnowledgePanel, a nationally representative probability-based panel.

METHODS: We administered the same survey measures to MTurk (in 2021) and KnowledgePanel (in 2022) members. We applied several recommended quality assurance steps to enhance the data quality achieved using MTurk. Ipsos, the owner of KnowledgePanel, followed their usual (industry standard) protocols. The survey was designed to support psychometric analyses and included >60 items from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), demographics, and a list of health conditions. We used 2 fake conditions (“syndomitis” and “chekalism”) to identify those more likely to be honest respondents. We examined the quality of each platform’s data using several recommended metrics (eg, consistency, reliability, representativeness, missing data, and correlations) including and excluding those respondents who had endorsed a fake condition and examined the impact of weighting on representativeness.

RESULTS: We found that prescreening in the MTurk sample (removing those who endorsed a fake health condition) improved data quality but KnowledgePanel data quality generally remained superior. While MTurk’s unweighted point estimates for demographics exhibited the usual mismatch with national averages (younger, better educated, and lower income), weighted MTurk data matched national estimates. KnowledgePanel’s point estimates better matched national benchmarks even before poststratification weighting. Correlations between PROMIS measures and age and income were similar in MTurk and KnowledgePanel; the mean absolute value of the difference between each platform’s 137 correlations was 0.06, and 92% were <0.15. However, correlations between PROMIS measures and educational level were dramatically different; the mean absolute value of the difference across these 17 correlation pairs was 0.15, the largest difference was 0.29, and the direction of more than half of these relationships in the MTurk sample was the opposite from that expected from theory. Therefore, caution is needed if using MTurk for studies where educational level is a key variable.

CONCLUSIONS: The data quality of our MTurk sample was often inferior to that of the KnowledgePanel sample but possibly not so much as to negate the benefits of its cost savings for some uses.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1186/s12891-020-03696-2.

PMID:39612505 | DOI:10.2196/63032

J Neurosurg. 2024 Nov 29:1-9. doi: 10.3171/2024.7.JNS232274. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is a treatment option for refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, there is a paucity of data regarding the effectiveness of GKRS for relapsing TN following microvascular decompression (MVD). The aim of this study was to characterize the response rate, complications, pain relief durability, and predictors of pain relapse for salvage GKRS following MVD for TN.

METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients who received GKRS for Burchiel type 1 TN (TN1) or type 2 TN (TN2) pain at Wake Forest University School of Medicine was conducted. Pain was measured using the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity score. After an initial pain response of BNI scores I-III, a BNI score of IV or V constituted relapse. Durability of pain relief was characterized using the Kaplan-Meier estimator. Predictors of relapse were investigated using Cox regression models. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Of 2065 patients with TN1 or TN2, 59 had GKRS post-MVD. Forty-nine (83.1%) of these patients experienced a BNI pain score of I-III at the first follow-up post-GKRS. The median time to relapse was 1.75 years; freedom rates from relapse were 77%, 45.9%, and 30.7% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Radiofrequency ablation prior to MVD significantly decreased the likelihood of an initial response to salvage GKRS (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.02). After controlling for baseline and clinical characteristics, facial numbness significantly decreased the likelihood of pain relapse (Cox regression, HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.73; p = 0.01). Conversely, a worse initial pain response significantly increased the likelihood of pain relapse (Cox regression, HR 3.64, 95% CI 1.02-12.95; p = 0.04). Pain relapse within 24 months of the original MVD did not predict durability of pain relief following salvage GKRS (Cox regression, HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.40-2.22; p = 0.89). The overall toxicity rate of salvage GKRS was 35.6%.

CONCLUSIONS: Salvage GKRS presents an effective, noninvasive option for recurring TN after MVD, with a comparable response rate to primary GKRS or MVD, and a favorable complications profile relative to salvage MVD. Patients with postoperative facial numbness and a better initial pain response may experience more durable pain relief following salvage GKRS.

PMID:39612504 | DOI:10.3171/2024.7.JNS232274