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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Prevalence and services for the treatment of chronic pain at residential substance treatment centers

J Addict Dis. 2023 Sep 4:1-6. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2023.2251856. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Studies suggest that a large proportion of patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) also have underlying chronic pain. There is limited data on prevalence of chronic pain treatment as a component of residential substance use treatment. This initiative sought to investigate the prevalence and type of chronic pain services offered at these residential programs.Methods: This study was a retrospective review of information obtained from residential substance use treatment facility websites contained in SAMHSA’s treatment navigator. Nine hundred-fifty out of 2952 websites were randomly selected for analysis. The primary outcome was prevalence of facilities that had chronic pain programs. Services offered were specified as available. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data.Results: Nine-hundred nine websites (95.7%, [94,97]) were accessible. Twenty-six facilities (2.9%,[1.9,4.2]) had a chronic pain program and of these 22 (84.6%, [64.3,95.0]) specified services offered. Common services included physical therapy (6, 27.3%), massage (12, 54.6%), and acupuncture (10, 45.5%). Of the remaining sites, 630 (69.3%, [66.2,72.3]) specified services offered, including yoga (122, 19.4%) and exercise (199, 31.6%).Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that despite most facilities offering adjunctive services, few had chronic pain programs. This suggests that there is a possible need for better updating of facility websites or possibly an area for improvement in residential substance use treatment settings.

PMID:37665562 | DOI:10.1080/10550887.2023.2251856

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

MICA and NLRP3 gene polymorphisms interact synergistically affecting the risk of ankylosing spondylitis

Immunol Res. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s12026-023-09419-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoinflammatory disease that affects the sacroiliac joints, causing stiffness and pain in the back. MICA is a ligand of the NKG2D receptor, and an increase in its expression affects the immune response in various diseases. NLRP3 is a multiprotein complex that promotes the release of IL-1β, but its role in AS has been minimally explored. The objective of this study was to analyze the association and interaction of polymorphic variants of the MICA and NLRP3 genes in patients with AS. In this case-control study, patients with AS were included and compared with healthy controls of Mexican origin. The polymorphisms rs4349859 and rs116488202 of MICA and rs3806268 and rs10754558 of NLRP3 were genotyped using TaqMan probes. Associations were determined using logistic regression models, while interactions were analyzed by the multifactorial dimensionality reduction (MDR) method. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The minor allele of rs4349859 (A) and rs116488202 (T) of MICA polymorphisms showed risk associations with AS (OR = 9.22, 95% CI = 4.26-20.0, P < 0.001; OR = 9.36, 95% CI = 4.17-21.0, P < 0.001), while the minor allele of the rs3806268 (A) polymorphism of NLRP3 was associated with protection (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.33-0.91, P = 0.019). MDR analysis revealed synergistic interactions between the MICA and NLRP3 polymorphisms (P = 0.012). In addition, high- and low-risk genotypes were identified among these variants. The study findings suggest that the MICA rs4349859 A allele and rs116488202 T allele are associated with AS risk. An interaction between MICA and NLRP3 was observed which could increase the genetic risk in AS.

PMID:37665559 | DOI:10.1007/s12026-023-09419-8

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Application of GIS and feedforward back-propagated ANN models for predicting the ecological and health risk of potentially toxic elements in soils in Northwestern Nigeria

Environ Geochem Health. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s10653-023-01737-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) occur naturally in most geologic materials. However, recent anthropogenic disturbances such as ore mining have contributed significantly to their enrichment in soils. Their occurrence in soil may portend a myriad of related risks to the environment and biota. Most traditional soil quality evaluation methods involve comparing the background values of the elements to the established guideline values, which is often time-consuming and fraught with computational errors. As a result, to conduct a comprehensive and unbiased evaluation of soil quality and its effects on the ecosystem and human health, this research combined geochemical, numerical, and GIS data for a composite health risk zonation of the entire study area. Furthermore, the multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-NN) was used to forecast the most important toxic components influencing soil quality. Geochemical, statistical, and quantitative soil pollution evaluation (pollution index and ecological risk index) showed that apart from mining, the spread and association of trace elements and oxides occur as a consequence of surface environmental conditions (e.g., leaching, weathering, and organo-metallic complexation). The hazard quotients (HQs) and hazard index (HI) of all PTEs were greater than one. This indicates that residents (particularly children) are more susceptible to risks from toxic element ingestion than dermal exposure and inhalation. Ingestion of As and Cr resulted in higher cancer risks and lifetime cancer risk levels (> 1.0E 04), with risk levels increasing toward the northeastern, western, and southeastern directions of the study area. The low modeling errors observed from the sum of square errors, relative errors, and coefficient of determination confirmed the efficiency of the MLP-NN in pollution load prediction. Based on the sensitivity analysis, Hg, Sr, Zn, Ba, As, and Zr showed the greatest influence on soil quality. Focus on remediation should therefore be placed on the removal of these elements from the soil.

PMID:37665528 | DOI:10.1007/s10653-023-01737-y

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The utility of heart-type free fatty-acid binding-protein (HFABP) levels for differentiating acute ischemic stroke from stroke mimics

Acta Neurol Belg. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s13760-023-02372-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (HFABP) is found in the myocardium, brain, and some organs and is rapidly released from damaged cells into the circulation in case of ischemia.

AIMS: We aimed to determine the diagnostic utility of HFABP levels in patients suggesting acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

METHODS: This study was a prospective, single-center, observational diagnostic accuracy study with a nested cohort design. The estimated sample size was 126 patients, with a 1:1 case and control ratio. We included all consecutive patients with a lateralizing symptom (motor or sensory) or finding suggesting AIS (139 patients) who presented to ED within 24 h of their symptom onset and collected plasma at admission to the ED. After further evaluations, 111 patients (79.8%) were diagnosed with AIS and 28 with other neurological diseases (stroke-mimics).

FINDINGS: In our study, the median HFABP levels of the cases and controls were 2.6 μg/ml and 2.2 μg/ml, respectively, without any statistically significant difference (p = 0.120). The diagnostic accuracy of HFABP for AIS was also insignificant at 0.60 (95% CI 0.51-0.68; p = 0.119).

DISCUSSION: Plasma HFABP level is not a marker that can differentiate AIS from other neurological pathologies in patients presenting to the ED, with findings suggesting AIS.

PMID:37665517 | DOI:10.1007/s13760-023-02372-1

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Impact of Choroidal Melanoma Characteristics on Progression-Free Survival in Patients Undergoing Hypofractionated Stereotactic Photon Radiotherapy

Ophthalmol Ther. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s40123-023-00790-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In an effort to replace ultrasonography-based thickness measurements, we investigated whether choroidal melanoma characteristics are related to progression-free survival (PFS) in patients monitored after linear accelerator (LINAC)-based hypofractionated stereotactic photon radiotherapy.

METHODS: In a retrospective dataset, we used a linear mixed model to assess the associations between PFS and tumor characteristics; in particular, thickness, largest basal diameter (LBD), base area and volume.

RESULTS: Thickness and LBD are statistically significantly associated with PFS. In a subgroup of 16 patients undergoing enucleation due to melanoma recurrence or progression, there were statistically significant changes in mean thickness and LBD before surgery. Mean PFS was 42 ± 30 months.

CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography-based thickness measurements may not be necessary for treated choroidal melanoma monitoring; instead, we propose sequential LBD assessments, which should preferably be performed using fundus photography in future.

PMID:37665498 | DOI:10.1007/s40123-023-00790-1

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Active oscillations in microscale navigation

Anim Cogn. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s10071-023-01819-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Living organisms routinely navigate their surroundings in search of better conditions, more food, or to avoid predators. Typically, animals do so by integrating sensory cues from the environment with their locomotor apparatuses. For single cells or small organisms that possess motility, fundamental physical constraints imposed by their small size have led to alternative navigation strategies that are specific to the microscopic world. Intriguingly, underlying these myriad exploratory behaviours or sensory functions is the onset of periodic activity at multiple scales, such as the undulations of cilia and flagella, the vibrations of hair cells, or the oscillatory shape modes of migrating neutrophils. Here, I explore oscillatory dynamics in basal microeukaryotes and hypothesize that these active oscillations play a critical role in enhancing the fidelity of adaptive sensorimotor integration.

PMID:37665482 | DOI:10.1007/s10071-023-01819-5

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Voglibose attenuates cognitive impairment, Aβ aggregation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer’s disease rat model

Inflammopharmacology. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s10787-023-01313-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease hallmarked by Amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation, cognitive impairment, and neuronal and synaptic loss. In this study, AD was induced in male Wistar rats (n = 6) by the administration of intracerebroventricular-streptozotocin (ICV-STZ-3 mg/kg/day), and Voglibose (Vog) was administered at various doses (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg), while Galantamine (3 mg/kg) acted as a reference standard drug. Behavioral alterations in both spatial and non-spatial memory functions were evaluated in the experimental rats. At the end of the study, all experimental rats were sacrificed, and their brain parts, the cortex and hippocampus, were subjected to biochemical, western blot, and histopathological analysis. In our study results, the statistically significant dose-dependent results from the behavioral tests show the Voglibose-treated groups significantly improved (p < 0.0001) spatial and non-spatial memory functions when compared with ICV-STZ-treated group. Meanwhile, when compared with ICV-STZ-treated rats, treatment with Voglibose (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) showed the activities of both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly attenuated (p < 0.0001), while the operation of antioxidant enzymes was considerably enhanced (p < 0.0001). The molecular estimation showed that it significantly attenuates (p < 0.0001) the TNF-α, IL-1β, and CRP activity, and the western blot results demonstrate the significantly attenuated Aβ aggregation. The histopathological results showed that the Voglibose treatment had an effective improvement in clear cytoplasm and healthy neuronal cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that Voglibose has potent neuroprotective effects against the ICV-STZ-induced AD model. Furthermore, these results support the possibility of Voglibose as a therapeutic approach to improving cognitive function, suggesting that controlling Aβ aggregation might be a novel target for the development of AD.

PMID:37665449 | DOI:10.1007/s10787-023-01313-x

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Study on the spatial distribution of urban carbon emissions at the micro level based on multisource data

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-29536-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Global warming is currently an area of concern. Human activities are the leading cause of urban greenhouse gas intensification. Inversing the spatial distribution of carbon emissions at microscopic scales such as communities or controlling detailed planning plots can capture the critical emission areas of carbon emissions, thus providing scientific guidance for intracity low-carbon development planning. Using the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city as an example, this paper uses night-light images and statistical yearbooks to perform linear fitting within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city-county region and then uses fine-scale data such as points of interest, road networks, and mobile signaling data to construct spatial characteristic indicators of carbon emissions distribution and assign weights to each indicator through the analytic hierarchy process. As a result, the spatial distribution of carbon emissions based on detailed control planning plots is calculated. The results show that among the selected indicators, the population distribution significantly influences carbon emissions, with a weight of 0.384. The spatial distribution of carbon emissions is relatively distinctive. The primary carbon emissions are from the Sino-Singapore Cooperation Zone due to its rapid urban construction and development. In contrast, carbon emissions from other areas are sparse, as there is mostly unused land under construction.

PMID:37665441 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-29536-z

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

ICGA combined with EP monitoring in microclipping of cerebral aneurysms

Neurosurg Rev. 2023 Sep 4;46(1):222. doi: 10.1007/s10143-023-02111-3.

ABSTRACT

Cerebral aneurysm is one of the common cerebrovascular diseases in neurosurgery, and rupture of cerebral aneurysm is the most important cause of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. How to precisely clip the aneurysm has been a topic worth discussing, so the authors explore the value of ICGA combined with electrophysiological monitoring in the microclipping of cerebral aneurysms. Using the method of retrospective analysis of cases, 661 patients with cerebral aneurysms admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, from 2021.8 to 2022.10 were studied, 390 patients with aneurysm clipping were included, and patients with Hunt-Hess classification ≥ 4 were excluded, and whether to use ICGA combined with EP in microclipping of the ruptured and unruptured aneurysm in pterional approach was investigated at the time of discharge, respectively. The MRS and total hospital days were compared to investigate the value of ICGA combined with EP in the microclipping of cerebral aneurysms. All 390 patients enrolled in the group had successful aneurysm clipping, 178 patients were screened for ruptured aneurysm pterional approach and 120 patients for unruptured aneurysm pterional approach access; the MRS at discharge was significantly lower in the ICGA combined with EP group than in the no-EP group for ruptured aneurysm pterional approach microclipping (p < 0.001), and the mean number of days in hospital was significantly lower (p < 0.01). Patients in the ICGA combined with EP group in microclipping of unruptured aneurysms with pterional approach also had significantly lower MRS at discharge compared with patients in the ICGA alone group (p < 0.001), with no statistically significant difference in the mean number of days in hospital (p = 0.09). In open cerebral aneurysm microclipping, ICGA combined with EP monitoring for both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms can effectively reduce the false-negative rate of ICGA, significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative neurological deficits, and shorten the total hospital stay to some extent. ICGA combined with EP monitoring may be an effective means to reduce the rate of false clipping of the penetrating vessels and to avoid stenosis or occlusion of the aneurysm-carrying artery and is worth promoting in microclipping of cerebral aneurysms except for Hunt-Hess ≥ 4.

PMID:37665412 | DOI:10.1007/s10143-023-02111-3

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Achieving imaging and computational reproducibility on multiparametric MRI radiomics features in brain tumor diagnosis: phantom and clinical validation

Eur Radiol. 2023 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s00330-023-10164-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The Image Biomarker Standardization Initiative has helped improve the computational reproducibility of MRI radiomics features. Nonetheless, the MRI sequences and features with high imaging reproducibility are yet to be established. To determine reproducible multiparametric MRI radiomics features across test-retest, multi-scanner, and computational reproducibility comparisons, and to evaluate their clinical value in brain tumor diagnosis.

METHODS: To assess reproducibility, T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were acquired from three 3-T MRI scanners using standardized phantom, and radiomics features were extracted using two computational algorithms. Reproducible radiomics features were selected when the concordance correlation coefficient value above 0.9 across multiple sessions, scanners, and computational algorithms. Random forest classifiers were trained with reproducible features (n = 117) and validated in a clinical cohort (n = 50) to evaluate whether features with high reproducibility improved the differentiation of glioblastoma from primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs).

RESULTS: Radiomics features from T2WI demonstrated higher repeatability (65-94%) than those from DWI (38-48%) or T1WI (2-92%). Across test-retest, multi-scanner, and computational comparisons, T2WI provided 41 reproducible features, DWI provided six, and T1WI provided two. The performance of the classification model with reproducible features was higher than that using non-reproducible features in both training set (AUC, 0.916 vs. 0.877) and validation set (AUC, 0.957 vs. 0.869).

CONCLUSION: Radiomics features with high reproducibility across multiple sessions, scanners, and computational algorithms were identified, and they showed higher diagnostic performance than non-reproducible radiomics features in the differentiation of glioblastoma from PCNSL.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: By identifying the radiomics features showing higher multi-machine reproducibility, our results also demonstrated higher radiomics diagnostic performance in the differentiation of glioblastoma from PCNSL, paving the way for further research designs and clinical application in neuro-oncology.

KEY POINTS: • Highly reproducible radiomics features across multiple sessions, scanners, and computational algorithms were identified using phantom and applied to clinical diagnosis. • Radiomics features from T2-weighted imaging were more reproducible than those from T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging. • Radiomics features with good reproducibility had better diagnostic performance for brain tumors than features with poor reproducibility.

PMID:37665391 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-023-10164-7