Tag: pubmed

Environ Sci Technol. 2024 Jul 11. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09745. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although concentrations of ambient air pollution continue to decline in high-income regions, epidemiological studies document adverse health effects at levels below current standards in many countries. The Health Effects Institute (HEI) recently completed a comprehensive research initiative to investigate the health effects of long-term exposure to low levels of air pollution in the United States (U.S.), Canada, and Europe. We provide an overview and synthesis of the results of this initiative along with other key research, the strengths and limitations of the research, and remaining research needs. The three studies funded through the HEI initiative estimated the effects of long-term ambient exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and other pollutants on a broad range of health outcomes, including cause-specific mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity. To ensure high quality research and comparability across studies, HEI worked actively with the study teams and engaged independent expert panels for project oversight and review. All three studies documented positive associations between mortality and exposure to PM_2.5 below the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards and current and proposed European Union limit values. Furthermore, the studies observed nonthreshold linear (U.S.), or supra-linear (Canada and Europe) exposure-response functions for PM_2.5 and mortality. Heterogeneity was found in both the magnitude and shape of this association within and across studies. Strengths of the studies included the large populations (7-69 million), state-of-the-art exposure assessment methods, and thorough statistical analyses that applied novel methods. Future work is needed to better understand potential sources of heterogeneity in the findings across studies and regions. Other areas of future work include the changing and evolving nature of PM components and sources, including wildfires, and the role of indoor environments. This research initiative provided important new evidence of the adverse effects of long-term exposures to low levels of air pollution at and below current standards, suggesting that further reductions could yield larger benefits than previously anticipated.

PMID:38991107 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c09745

Sex Health. 2024 Jul;21:SH24043. doi: 10.1071/SH24043.

ABSTRACT

Background Promoting the quality of women’s sex life is crucial for their overall well-being. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Iranian adaptation of the Female Sexual Well-Being Scale (FSWB), and assess its cross-cultural comparability. Methods The Persian version of the FSWB was developed through forward and backward translations, followed by revision by a research team and pilot testing. A total of 400 women completed the FSWB questionnaire. Test-retest reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient, whereas Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to assess internal consistency. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factorisation with varimax rotation, followed by confirmatory factor analysis. Results Only one factor was found in the scale by factor analysis using the principal component method and varimax rotation. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure demonstrated high sampling adequacy (0.961), and Bartlett’s test of sphericity confirmed the appropriateness of the correlation matrix for exploratory factor analysis (P Conclusions The Persian version of the FSWB (consisting of 17 questions) and its scoring system showed robust validity and reliability in assessing women’s sexual well-being in the Iranian context.

PMID:38991105 | DOI:10.1071/SH24043

Science. 2024 Jul 11:eadm8103. doi: 10.1126/science.adm8103. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the drivers of respiratory pathogen spread is challenging, particularly in a timely manner during an ongoing epidemic. Here we present insights obtained using daily data from the NHS COVID-19 app for England and Wales and shared with health authorities in almost real time. Our indicator of the reproduction number R(t) was available days earlier than other estimates, with a novel capability to decompose R(t) into contact rates and probabilities of infection. When Omicron arrived, the main epidemic driver switched from contacts to transmissibility. We separate contacts and transmissions by day of exposure and setting, finding pronounced variability over days of the week and during Christmas holidays and events. As an example, during the Euro football tournament in 2021, days with England matches showed sharp spikes in exposures and transmissibility. Digital contact tracing technologies can help control epidemics not only by directly preventing transmissions but also by enabling rapid analysis at scale and with unprecedented resolution.

PMID:38991048 | DOI:10.1126/science.adm8103

Macromol Biosci. 2024 Jul 11:e2400064. doi: 10.1002/mabi.202400064. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Drug delivery in transplantation plays a vital role in promoting graft survival, preventing rejection, managing complications, and contributing to positive patient outcomes. Targeted and controlled drug delivery can minimize systemic effects. Thermosensitive hydrogels, due to their unique sol-gel transition properties triggered by thermo-stimuli, have attracted significant research interest as a potential drug delivery system in transplantation. This review describes the current status, characteristics, and recent applications of thermosensitive hydrogels for drug delivery. Studies aimed at improving allotransplantation outcomes using thermosensitive hydrogels are then elaborated on. Finally, the challenges and opportunities associated with their use are discussed. Understanding the progress of research will serve as a guide for future improvements in their application as a means of targeted and controlled drug delivery in translational therapeutic applications for transplantation.

PMID:38991045 | DOI:10.1002/mabi.202400064

PLoS One. 2024 Jul 11;19(7):e0303165. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303165. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The outcome of patients undergoing major surgery treated with HES for hemodynamic optimization is unclear. This post-hoc analysis of a randomized clinical pilot trial investigated the impact of low-molecular balanced HES solutions on the coagulation system, blood loss and transfusion requirements.

METHODS: The Trial was registered: EudraCT 2008-004175-22 and ethical approval was provided by the ethics committee of Berlin. Patients were randomized into three groups receiving either a 10% HES 130/0.42 solution, a 6% HES 130/0.42 solution or a crystalloid following a goal-directed hemodynamic algorithm. Endpoints were parameters of standard and viscoelastic coagulation laboratory, blood loss and transfusion requirements at baseline, at the end of surgery (EOS) and the first postoperative day (POD 1).

RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included in the analysis (HES 10% (n = 15), HES 6% (n = 17) and crystalloid (n = 20)). Fibrinogen decreased in all groups at EOS (HES 10% 338 [298;378] to 192 [163;234] mg dl-1, p<0.01, HES 6% 385 [302;442] to 174 [163;224] mg dl-1, p<0.01, crystalloids 408 [325;458] to 313 [248;370] mg dl-1, p = 0.01). MCF FIBTEM was decreased for both HES groups at EOS (HES 10%: 20.5 [16.0;24.8] to 6.5 [5.0;10.8] mm, p = <0.01; HES 6% 27.0 [18.8;35.2] to 7.0 [5.0;19.0] mm, p = <0.01). These changes did not persist on POD 1 for HES 10% (rise to 16.0 [13.0;24.0] mm, p = 0.88). Blood loss was not different in the groups nor transfusion requirements.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a stronger but transient effect of balanced, low-molecular HES on the coagulation system. Despite the decline of the use of artificial colloids in clinical practice, these results may help to inform clinicians who use HES solutions.

PMID:38991044 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0303165

PLoS One. 2024 Jul 11;19(7):e0305164. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305164. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Maintaining continuity of care between doctors and patients is considered a fundamental aspect of quality in primary healthcare. In this study, we aim to examine continuity in Norway over time by computing two commonly used indicators of continuity: the St Leonard’s Index of Continuity of Care (SLICC) and the Usual Provider of Care Index (UPC).

METHOD: We employ individual-level data, which covers all primary care consultations. This data includes the identities of each patient and physician, and we can identify each patient’s regular general practitioner (GP). The SLICC is calculated as the share of consultations conducted by the patient’s regular GP annually from 2006 to 2021. Additionally, we identify each patient’s most visited physician and compute the UPC as the share of total consultations conducted by the most visited physician during the same period. Our analysis is conducted at the national level and stratified according to the level of centrality, differentiating between areas of high, moderate, and low centrality.

RESULTS: Our findings reveal that, at the national level, SLICC and UPC exhibit remarkable stability, reaching 64 and 71 percent, respectively, in 2021. However, there is significant geographical variation, with the least central areas experiencing less continuous healthcare (SLICC at 49 percent in 2021) than patients residing in more central areas (SLICC at 68 in 2021).

CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a high degree of continuity that has been stable over time. However, large geographical variations suggest that policymakers should strive to reduce geographical disparities in healthcare quality.

PMID:38991043 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0305164

PLoS One. 2024 Jul 11;19(7):e0306987. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306987. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

The laboratory-scale (in-vitro) microbial fermentation based on screening of process parameters (factors) and statistical validation of parameters (responses) using regression analysis. The recent trends have shifted from full factorial design towards more complex response surface methodology designs such as Box-Behnken design, Central Composite design. Apart from the optimisation methodologies, the listed designs are not flexible enough in deducing properties of parameters in terms of class variables. Machine learning algorithms have unique visualisations for the dataset presented with appropriate learning algorithms. The classification algorithms cannot be applied on all datasets and selection of classifier is essential in this regard. To resolve this issue, factor-response relationship needs to be evaluated as dataset and subsequent preprocessing could lead to appropriate results. The aim of the current study was to investigate the data-mining accuracy on the dataset developed using in-vitro pyruvate production using organic sources for the first time. The attributes were subjected to comparative classification on various classifiers and based on accuracy, multilayer perceptron (neural network algorithm) was selected as classifier. As per the results, the model showed significant results for prediction of classes and a good fit. The learning curve developed also showed the datasets converging and were linearly separable.

PMID:38991027 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0306987

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2024 Jun 30;18(6):964-971. doi: 10.3855/jidc.18614.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, the official number of refugees under temporary protection in Turkiye is reported to be 3,522,036 in 2023. Most of the Syrians living outside the refugee camps have worse conditions in terms of access to healthcare centers and social opportunities, compared to those living in camps. The Sanliurfa province hosts the third highest number of Syrians (370,291) in Turkiye. There are no data about the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), rubella (rub), or cytomegalovirus (CMV) among Syrian refugees in Sanliurfa. We aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii, rub, and CMV infections among female Syrian refugees of reproductive age (15-49 years) living in Sanliurfa province.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in different districts of Sanliurfa. A total of 460 households were selected using the probability sampling method. One married female Syrian refugee aged between 15 and 49 years, was chosen in each household, leading to a sample size of 410 female Syrian refugees. The seropositivity of T. gondii, CMV, and rub IgM and IgG in blood samples were analyzed using enzyme immunoassays (Abbott Architect, Illinois, USA).

RESULTS: The seropositivity rates of T. gondii, CMV, and rubella IgM and IgG were 4.4% and 59.8%; 3.9%; and 99%; and 1.9%, and 99.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: A screening program should be implemented for T. gondii, CMV, and rub infections for Syrian refugees. Seronegative women should be vaccinated against rub and educated about the transmission and preventive routes of toxoplasmosis and CMV infection.

PMID:38991003 | DOI:10.3855/jidc.18614

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2024 Jun 30;18(6):957-963. doi: 10.3855/jidc.19559.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Blood donation is vital for healthcare; however, transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) pose a serious risk. This study investigated the seroprevalence of TTIs among Saudi blood donors.

METHODOLOGY: This retrospective study included male blood donors aged ≥ 18 years who donated blood at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah from January 2017 to December 2022. The blood units were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibodies (HBc-IgG), hepatitis C antibodies (HCV-Abs), syphilis, HIV-1 antigen/antibody (HIV-1 Ag/Ab), human T-lymphotropic virus 1, 2 (HTLV-1/2), and malaria.

RESULTS: There were 40,287 donors with an average age of 44.33 ± 18.12 years, and 62.3% (n = 25103) were Saudis. The overall rate of TTIs seropositivity was 7.4% (n = 2953); HBc-IgG (6.1%; n = 2473) was the most common, followed by HCV-Abs (0.4%; n = 177), and syphilis (0.34%; n = 136). All cases were negative for malaria, whilst HIV and HTLV positive donors were 0.06% (n = 24) and 0.13% (n = 52), respectively. Syphilis was more prevalent among non-Saudis (0.24%; n = 83) than among Saudis (0.1%; n = 53), whereas anti-HBc antibodies seropositivity was significantly higher among Saudi (3.4%; n = 1373) than non-Saudi donors (2.7%; n = 1100).

CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B virus was the most frequently detected bloodborne pathogen, followed by hepatitis C virus and syphilis. Hepatitis B virus was also more prevalent among Saudi donors, whilst expatriates had higher rates of syphilis. Additional prospective multicenter studies are needed to accurately determine the prevalence of TTIs in Saudi Arabia.

PMID:38991002 | DOI:10.3855/jidc.19559

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2024 Jun 30;18(6):937-942. doi: 10.3855/jidc.19426.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Invasive device-associated nosocomial infections commonly occur in intensive care units (ICUs). These infections include intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with invasive device-associated nosocomial infections based on the underlying diseases of the patients and antibiotic resistance profiles of the pathogens causing the infections detected in the ICU in our hospital over a five-year period.

METHODOLOGY: Invasive device-associated infections (CRBSI, VAP, and CAUTI) were detected retrospectively by the laboratory- and clinic-based active surveillance system according to the criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in patients hospitalized in the ICU of the tertiary hospital between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2023.

RESULTS: A total of 425 invasive device-associated nosocomial infections and 441 culture results were detected (179 CRBSI, 176 VAP, 70 CAUTI). Out of them, 57 (13.4%) patients had hematological malignancy, 145 (34.1%) had solid organ malignancy, and 223 (52.5%) had no histopathologic diagnosis of any malignancy. An increase in extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenem resistance in pathogens was detected during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic resistance of the Gram-negative bacteria associated with invasive device-associated infections increased during the study period. Antimicrobial stewardship will reduce rates of nosocomial infections, reduce mortality, and shorten hospital stay. Long-term catheterization and unnecessary antibiotic use should be avoided.

PMID:38990999 | DOI:10.3855/jidc.19426