Tag: pubmed

J Urban Health. 2023 Oct 4. doi: 10.1007/s11524-023-00785-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

How police bias and low relatability may contribute to poor dietary quality is poorly understood. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 2021 from a cohort of n = 724 adults living in predominantly Black communities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; these adults were mostly Black (90.6%), low-income (median household income $17,500), and women (79.3%). We estimated direct and indirect paths between police mistrust and dietary quality (measured by Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015) through perceived stress, community connectedness, and subjective social status. Dietary quality was poor (mean HEI-2015 score was 50) and mistrust of police was high: 78% of participants either agreed or strongly agreed that something they say might be interpreted as criminal by the police due to their race/ethnicity. Police bias and low relatability was associated with lower perceived social status [Formula: see text]= – 0.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: – 0.05, – 0.01). Police bias and low relatability was marginally associated with low dietary quality β = – 0.14 (95% CI: – 0.29, 0.02). Nineteen percent of the total association between police bias and low relatability and lower dietary quality β = – 0.16 (- 0.01, – 0.31) was explained by an indirect association through lower community connectedness, or how close respondents felt with their community [Formula: see text] Police bias and low relatability may play a role in community connection, social status, and ultimately dietary disparities for Black Americans. Addressing police bias and low relatability is a continuing and pressing public health issue.

PMID:37792250 | DOI:10.1007/s11524-023-00785-0

Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Oct 4. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-14345-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have become a focus in postoperative surgical care. Unfortunately, studies using PROs can be subject to missing data, which may lead to biases or inaccurate conclusions. Multiple imputation (MI) is a statistical method for addressing missing data in clinical research. The aim of this study was to explore MI as a way to address missing data in PRO research.

METHODS: A working example of MI using real-world data was performed using the BREAST-Q PRO measure in postmastectomy reconstruction. A retrospective review of immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction patients in 2019 was conducted to compare BREAST-Q physical well-being of the chest scores between prepectoral and subpectoral cohorts at 2 weeks postoperatively. The observed dataset and three hypothetical missingness situations were created to assess how increasing missingness affects MI results.

RESULTS: Overall, 916 patients were included in the analysis. When excluding patients with missing information and solely performing analysis on the completed cases, prepectoral patients had significantly higher physical well-being of the chest scores at 2 weeks postoperatively; however, this trend was reversed with increasing missingness scenarios, where subpectoral patients had higher scores. In comparison, all MI results showed that prepectoral patients had higher scores on average compared with subpectoral patients regardless of missingness scenario.

CONCLUSIONS: MI demonstrated consistent results with increasing missingness scenarios, whereas performing analysis in higher missingness scenarios without MI led to varying results. This working example emphasizes the need for missing data methodology to be considered in PRO research.

PMID:37792204 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-023-14345-y

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Oct 4. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-30147-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are an available solution for the rapid growth of the water pollution problem. In the present study, the process of UV-LED/WO₃ and plasma was comparatively studied to remove reactive blue 19. The photocatalyst process efficiency was analyzed by statistical Taguchi model. The effect of experimental variables of contact time, pH, catalyst dosage, and pollutant dosage was investigated and found that the model is able to explain the process due to the high value of R > 95%, and the optimum condition was at 10 mg/L of dye concentration, 1g/L of catalyst, and 180 min of detention time in which over 75% of degradation was achieved. Based on the model, the more reaction time would increase the reactor performance, while further excessive increase of catalyst dosage over 1 g/L would deteriorate the performance. Obviously, the least amount of pollutant is the most favorable for the treatment reactor. Using plasma process for dye degradation was the next step of the research. Accordingly, the removal rate achieved over 90% of 10 mg/L of initial industrial dye in durational time of 4 min, input voltage 13.5 kV, and pH = 2. The results showed the higher oxidizing capacity of plasma than the conventional photocatalyst process.

PMID:37792191 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-30147-x

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Oct 4. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-30114-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ensuring good quality of health and longevity became a topical for policymakers and academicians. Various determinants, including socio-economic factors, have been discussed in the literature. Nevertheless, the empirical studies on this issue are scanty in least-developed countries like Somalia where the health indicators are poor. In this regard, this undertaking examines the impacts of renewable energy, urbanization, environmental pollution, and economic growth on life expectancy in Somalia for the period straddling 1990-2016. The study uses a novelty machine learning method – Kernel regularized least square (KRLS) method. The empirical results indicated that renewable energy, economic growth, and urbanization are statistically significant; whereas, environmental pollution is statistically insignificant. Renewable energy, economic growth, and urbanization exert positive effects on life expectancy in Somalia and have increasing marginal effects. Besides, bidirectional causality between renewable energy and life expectancy, life expectancy and economic growth, and environmental pollution and life expectancy are established. Moreover, unidirectional causality from urbanization to life expectancy is also observed. The study suggests that a budgetary revision be made to sort out health-related concerns resulting from a lack of healthcare services and poor sanitation for improving the longevity of the people. Additionally, investments in clean energy are necessary as will improve health outcomes without compromising economic growth and life expectancy.

PMID:37792183 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-30114-6

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Oct 4. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-30074-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The goal of this work is to evaluate generation and metals recycling potentials of retired mobile phones in Korea. The generation estimation is conducted with the sales&new method and statistic data, such as sales of mobile phones and amount of the subscribers. The result shows that there are 17.99 million of mobile phones retired in 2022, compared 13.12 million in 2001. Accordingly, the deduced lifetime has minimum and maximum values in 2003 and 2020, which are 2.02 and 4.33 years, compared with 4.16 years in 2022 and 2.21 years in 2001. The deduced lifetime trends to increase with the increased values of subscribers and the fluctuated values of sales. The crosscheck testifies to the veracity of the result in comparison with the actual condition. The amount and dynamic of critical metals are also calculated with the content and amount of retired mobile phones.

PMID:37792181 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-023-30074-x

Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 Oct 3:ard-2023-224154. doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224154. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of adverse events associated with colchicine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prophylaxis when initiating allopurinol for gout.

METHODS: We conducted two matched retrospective cohort studies in linked UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink and Hospital Episode Statistics datasets. Adults initiating allopurinol for gout with (1) colchicine or (2) NSAID prophylaxis were compared with those initiating without prophylaxis, individually matched by age, sex and propensity to receive the relevant prophylaxis. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models investigated associations between colchicine/NSAID and specified adverse events.

RESULTS: 13 945 individuals prescribed colchicine were matched to 13 945 with no prophylaxis and 25 980 prescribed NSAID to 25 980 with no prophylaxis. Adverse event incidence rates were <200/10 000 patient-years except diarrhoea (784.4; 95% CI 694.0 to 886.5) and nausea (208.1; 95% CI 165.4 to 261.7) for colchicine and angina for NSAID (466.6; 95% CI 417.2 to 521.8). Diarrhoea (HR 2.22; 95% CI 1.83 to 2.69), myocardial infarction (MI) (1.55; 95% CI 1.10, 2.17), neuropathy (4.75; 95% CI 1.20 to 18.76), myalgia (2.64; 95% CI 1.45 to 4.81), bone marrow suppression (3.29; 95% CI 1.43 to 7.58) and any adverse event (1.91, 95% CI 1.65 to 2.20) were more common with colchicine than no prophylaxis, but not nausea/vomiting (1.34; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.85). Angina (1.60; 95% CI 1.37 to 1.86), acute kidney injury (1.56; 95% CI 1.20 to 2.03), MI (1.89; 95% CI 1.44 to 2.48), peptic ulcer disease (1.67; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.44) and any adverse event (1.63; 95% CI 1.44 to 1.85) were more common with NSAID than without.

CONCLUSIONS: Adverse events were more common when allopurinol was initiated with prophylaxis, particularly diarrhoea with colchicine. Other events were uncommon, providing reassurance for patients and clinicians to enable shared decision-making.

PMID:37788904 | DOI:10.1136/ard-2023-224154

J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2023 Oct 3:JAAPL.230074-23. doi: 10.29158/JAAPL.230074-23. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

As racial influences on forensic outcomes are identified in every aspect of practice, scholars are exploring methods to disentangle race from its historical, economic, and attitudinal antecedents. Because jurisdictions vary in these influences, definitions and data may differ among them, creating inconsistencies in analysis and policy. This retrospective database review compared differences in racial outcomes among 200 pretrial defendants, 160 Black and 40 White, exploring a wide range of socioeconomic, clinical, and forensic influences before, during, and after hospitalization. Because of the tight relationship of socioeconomic factors and race, investigators hypothesized that it would be difficult to distinguish racial influences alone. Using a confirmatory approach to data collection and a statistical analysis based in logistic regression, only differences in referral for psychological testing were identified. Application of this method based on local demographics and culture may prove useful for institutions interested in evaluating racial influences on forensic outcomes.

PMID:37788863 | DOI:10.29158/JAAPL.230074-23

J Nurs Meas. 2023 Sep 1;31(3):378-388. doi: 10.1891/JNM-2021-0072.

ABSTRACT

Background and Purpose: Cancer patients experience physical and psychological ailments resulting from cancer illness, a difficult and long treatment process and fear of death. Nurse-patient interaction seems to play an important role when responding to the psychological needs of patients with cancer. The aim of this study is to adapt and examine the psychometric properties of the Nurse-Patient Interaction Scale (NPIS) among Turkish cancer patients. Design and Method: In a cross-sectional design, patients receiving cancer treatment at Farabi hospital in Turkey responded to the Personal Information Form and the NPIS. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied. Findings: The NPIS was found to be suitable for a single factor structure, including 11 out of the original 14 items. The 11-items uni-dimensional model showed an acceptable/good fit with the data: χ² = 154.369, (df = 44), χ²/df = 3.51, p = .0001, RMSEA = 0.100, p-value for test of close fit = 0.0001, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.97 and SRMR = 0.012.

PMID:37788857 | DOI:10.1891/JNM-2021-0072

Funct Plant Biol. 2023 Oct 4. doi: 10.1071/FP22225. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Water stress can affect plant ecological distribution, crop growth and carbohydrate distribution, impacting berry quality. However, previous studies mainly focused on short-term water stress or osmotic stress and few studies paid attention to the responses of grape to long-term water stresses. Grapevines were subjected to no water stress (CK), mild water stress (T1) and moderate water stress (T2). Hundred-berry weight and malic acid content were reduced under T1 and T2; however, glucose and fructose content showed the opposite trend. Endogenous hormones and polyamines (PAs) can regulate plant growth and development as well as physiological metabolic processes. T1 and T2 could increase abscisic acid content, however, indole-3-acetic acid, jasmonate, gibberellins 3 and 4, cytokinin and trans-zeatin contents were slightly decreased. Three species of PAs (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) were detected, presenting obvious tissue specificity. Furthermore, there was a statistically positive correlation relating spermidine content in the pulp with glucose and fructose contents of grape berries; and a negative correlation with organic acid. In summary, water stress had a profound influence on hormonally-driven changes in physiology and berry quality, indicating that endogenous hormones and the PAs play a critical role in the development and ripening of grape berries under water stress.

PMID:37788830 | DOI:10.1071/FP22225

South Med J. 2023 Oct;116(10):806-811. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001612.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The ability to competently suture is an expected skill for graduating medical students, but many graduates report feeling unprepared to perform this skill. This study aimed to improve student confidence and clinical readiness for third-year clerkships by implementing a novel, mandatory 7.5-hour longitudinal suturing skills curriculum across the first 3 years of medical school.

METHODS: The required suturing skills curriculum was implemented for all medical students throughout the first 3 years of medical school at a large academic health center in the mid-South United States. Precurriculum (n = 167) and postcourse (n = 148) surveys were administered to first-year students in the first year of the curriculum (2017-2018), and a parallel follow-up survey was administered to this cohort in 2020 after students completed their clinical clerkship year (n = 82). Aggregate changes in students’ survey responses were analyzed for proper instrument position, simple interrupted sutures, and instrument ties using independent groups Mann-Whitney U tests and Rosenthal correlation coefficients for effect sizes.

RESULTS: Statistically significant improvement from pre to post was observed in student comfort in performing three basic skills: proper instrument position (P < 0.001), simple interrupted suture (P < 0.001), and instrument ties (P < 0.001). These pre-post gains were sustained at 2-year follow-up (P < 0.001). Also, the majority of students (66%) reported they were very or completely prepared to suture wounds during their clerkships. Most (83%) also reported they had successfully sutured patient wounds during third-year clerkships without needing significant direction or guidance.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that a longitudinal suture curriculum with dedicated faculty involvement can improve student confidence in suturing and overall preparedness for third-year clerkships. Although the study is limited to ratings of student comfort and self-reported performance as well as some attrition of responses at postcourse survey and postclerkship survey, the findings highlight the importance of a focused curriculum dedicated to teaching basic suturing skills. Our findings also contribute to the limited body of work examining longitudinal surgical skills development for medical students.

PMID:37788814 | DOI:10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001612