Tag: pubmed

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Jun 20;10:1185300. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1185300. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) is associated with an increased risk of mortality. It is unclear whether the higher mortality is attributable to the IMIDs themselves or to the higher prevalence of comorbidities in IMIDs. We aimed to investigate whether IMIDs per se confer a higher risk of mortality.

METHODS: From the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database, this population-based cohort study included 25,736 patients newly diagnosed with IMIDs between January 2007 and December 2017, and 128,680 individuals without IMIDs who were matched for age, sex, income, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and the Charlson comorbidity index. All individuals were retrospectively observed through December 31, 2019. The outcomes included all-cause and cause-specific mortalities. Adjustments for age, sex, and comorbidities were performed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the outcomes were estimated.

RESULTS: The adjusted risk of all-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients with IMIDs than that in those without (aHR, 0.890; 95% CI, 0.841-0.942). Regarding cause-specific mortality, cancer-specific (aHR, 0.788; 95% CI, 0.712-0.872) and cardiovascular disease-specific (aHR, 0.798; 95% CI, 0.701-0.908) mortalities were the two causes of death that showed significantly lower risks in patients with IMIDs. A similar trend was observed when organ based IMIDs were analyzed separately (i.e., gut, joint, and skin IMIDs).

CONCLUSION: After adjusting for comorbidities, IMIDs were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those without IMIDs. This was attributable to the lower risks of cancer-and cardiovascular disease-specific mortalities.

PMID:37409280 | PMC:PMC10319061 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2023.1185300

J Am Stat Assoc. 2023;118(541):43-55. doi: 10.1080/01621459.2022.2110876. Epub 2022 Oct 5.

ABSTRACT

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused over six million deaths in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 protein to enter human cells, raising a pressing need to characterize proteins/pathways interacted with ACE2. Large-scale proteomic profiling technology is not mature at single-cell resolution to examine the protein activities in disease-relevant cell types. We propose iProMix, a novel statistical framework to identify epithelial-cell specific associations between ACE2 and other proteins/pathways with bulk proteomic data. iProMix decomposes the data and models cell-type-specific conditional joint distribution of proteins through a mixture model. It improves cell-type composition estimation from prior input, and utilizes a non-parametric inference framework to account for uncertainty of cell-type proportion estimates in hypothesis test. Simulations demonstrate iProMix has well-controlled false discovery rates and favorable powers in non-asymptotic settings. We apply iProMix to the proteomic data of 110 (tumor adjacent) normal lung tissue samples from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium lung adenocarcinoma study, and identify interferon α/γ response pathways as the most significant pathways associated with ACE2 protein abundances in epithelial cells. Strikingly, the association direction is sex-specific. This result casts light on the sex difference of COVID-19 incidences and outcomes, and motivates sex-specific evaluation for interferon therapies.

PMID:37409267 | PMC:PMC10321538 | DOI:10.1080/01621459.2022.2110876

Biomed Res Int. 2023 Jun 27;2023:5549951. doi: 10.1155/2023/5549951. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: It is essential to be aware of the potential effects of orthodontic treatment on tissues and anatomical structures associated with the masticatory system, especially the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Little information is available about the consequences of molar distalization on the TMJ. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the changes of the condyle-fossa relationship after molar distalization using the distal jet appliance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of twenty-five patients (mean age 20.4 ± 2.6) who underwent molar distalization by the distal jet appliance. CBCT scans were taken before (T0) and after (T1) the completion of the molar distalization. Joint spaces (anterior, superior, and posterior) and cephalometric vertical angles (SN.GOME and Björk sum) were measured and compared at T0 and T1.

RESULTS: Superior and posterior joint spaces increased significantly after molar distalization (PS 0.29 mm, P < 0.001, SS 0.06 mm, P < 0.5). Vertical cephalometric angles also increased after molar distalization by the distal jet appliance (SN.GOME 0.92°, Björk 1.11°).

CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant increase in the superior and posterior joint spaces after molar distalization. However, this increase may not be of clinical importance. The vertical dimension has also increased.

PMID:37409266 | PMC:PMC10319462 | DOI:10.1155/2023/5549951

Front Oncol. 2023 Jun 20;13:1148228. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1148228. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: It has been reported that breast cancer (BC) with low expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) might be a distinct subtype of BC. However, the prognostic effect of low HER2 expression on BC patients remains controversial. We aim to conduct this single-institution retrospective analysis to assess HER2-low-positive BC outcomes in Chinese women and the prognostic role of TILs in HER2-low-positive early-stage BC.

METHOD: We retrospectively enrolled 1,763 BC patients treated in a single institution from 2017 to 2018. TILs are regarded as continuous variables and are divided into low TILs (≤10%) and high TILs (>10%) for statistical analysis. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to test the associations between TILs and disease-free survival (DFS) with adjustment for clinicopathologic characteristics.

RESULT: High TIL levels (>10%) were associated with tumor size (>2 cm, p = 0.042), age at diagnosis (p = 0.005), Ki-67 index (>25%; p <0.001), HR (hormone receptor) status (positive, p <0.001), advanced pathological stage (p = 0.043), subtype (p <0.001), and HER2 status (p <0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that no significant difference in DFS (p = 0.83) could be found between HER2-positive, HER2-low-positive, and HER2-0 BC. The DFS of HER2-low-positive BC and HER2-nonamplified BC with high levels of TILs was statistically better than that of patients with low levels of TILs (p = 0.015; p = 0.047). In HER2-low-positive BC patients with high TIL levels (>10%), DFS was significantly improved in both the univariate (HR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.87, P = 0.018) and multivariate (HR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95, P = 0.035) Cox models. For further subgroup analysis, HR (+)/HER2-low-positive BC with high TIL (>10%) levels was associated with improved DFS in both the univariate (HR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.19-0.90, P = 0.025) and multivariate (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.93, P = 0.032) Cox models. The HR (-)/HER2-0 BC with high TIL (>10%) level was not statistically significant in the univariate Cox model, but it was statistically significant in the multivariate (HR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.28-0.96, P = 0.045) Cox model.

CONCLUSION: Among early-stage BC, no significant survival difference could be found between the HER2-positive, HER2-low-positive, and HER2-0 cohorts. High levels of TILs were significantly associated with improved DFS in HER2-low-positive patients, especially in the HR (+)/HER2-low-positive subtype.

PMID:37409261 | PMC:PMC10318431 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2023.1148228

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jun 20;14:1090344. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1090344. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Data on the prevalence of pediatric fatty liver disease remain limited, partly due to challenges in diagnosis. A novel concept of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) makes it possible to establish the diagnosis in overweight children with sufficiently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and metabolic co-morbidities of MAFLD in a large group of overweight children.

METHODS: Data on 703 patients aged 2-16 years examined due to overweight in different levels of healthcare in 2002-2020 were collected retrospectively from patient records. MAFLD was here defined as ALT >2x reference (>44 U/l in girls and >50 U/l in boys) in overweight children according to recently updated definition. Patients with MAFLD and without it were compared, and subgroup analyses were conducted among boys and girls.

RESULTS: Median age was 11.5 years, and 43% were girls. Altogether 11% were overweight, 42% obese and 47% severely obese. Abnormal glucose metabolism was present in 44%, dyslipidemia in 51%, hypertension in 48% and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 2%. MAFLD prevalence varied between 14-20% in examined years without significant change (p=0.878). The pooled prevalence over the years was 15% (boys 18%, girls 11%; p=0.018), peaking in girls at early puberty and increasing in boys with age and puberty. Associated factors in boys were T2D (OR 7.55, 95% CI 1.23-46.2), postpubertal stage (5.39, 2.26-12.8), increased fasting insulin (3.20, 1.44-7.10), hypertriglyceridemia (2.97, 1.67-5.30), hyperglycemia (2.88, 1.64-5.07), decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (2.16, 1.18-3.99), older age (1.28, 1.15-1.42) and higher body-mass-index (1.01, 1.05-1.15), and in girls T2D (18.1, 3.16-103), hypertriglyceridemia (4.28, 1.99-9.21), and decreased HDL (4.06, 1.87-8.79).

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of MAFLD was 15%, with no statistically significant increase in the 2000s. The condition was associated in general with male gender, puberty stage and disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism, and higher age and BMI in boys.

PMID:37409224 | PMC:PMC10319394 | DOI:10.3389/fendo.2023.1090344

Cureus. 2023 Jun 4;15(6):e39937. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39937. eCollection 2023 Jun.

ABSTRACT

Background Mycobacterium is certainly one individual organism contributing to the most deaths of children among the world’s lower- and medium-income nations. According to earlier studies, vitamin D insufficiency is one of the risk factors. We undertook this study since very few case-control studies are present. This study aimed to evaluate the role of vitamin D in tuberculosis (TB). Methods This case-control study was carried out in a tertiary care center at Niloufer Hospital over a period of one year and five months. The sample size was 140. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Version 19 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for statistical analysis. Two-tailed p-values and odds ratios were obtained. The chi-square test was applied to differentiate between two categorical variables. For means, the Student t-test was applied. We usually take baseline investigations before starting ATT (anti-TB treatment) with the blood sample we tested for vitamin D levels. Results With p-values of 0.767 and 0.866, the age and sex distributions in the cases and controls were comparable. Rural and urban area distribution and malnutrition distribution were not similar in both groups, with a p-value of 0.001. The mean vitamin D level in cases was 10.4, while controls it was 22.8, and this difference is statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is more common in children with TB than in normal children. In addition, a severe form of vitamin D deficiency (less than 10 ng/mL) was higher among children with TB. Clinicians should be aware of associated malnutrition and low socioeconomic status as risk factors for severe vitamin D deficiencies among them.

PMID:37409212 | PMC:PMC10319357 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.39937

Cureus. 2023 Jun 4;15(6):e39946. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39946. eCollection 2023 Jun.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an evolving business strategy worldwide, focusing on the sustainability of the enterprise and the provision of multiple benefits to the societies and economies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to explore the encouraging and deterrent factors for the implementation of CSR actions in companies specializing in pharmaceutical and biomedical products as well as in medical equipment in Greece.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted (April to June 2021) in member-companies of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies, the Panhellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Industry and the Association of Health-Research and Biotechnology Industry. Data collection was carried out via an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed, using SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The significance level was set at p≤0.05.

RESULTS: One hundred twelve questionnaires were distributed, out of which 87 were returned (response rate 77.7%). 81.1% of companies included CSR in their annual strategy, while only 32.4% of them follow the Global Reporting Initiative standards. The majority (62.2%) disposes ≤€100.000 from their annual turnover for CSR actions. The contribution to society and the ethical commitment of the enterprise are stated as the main encouraging factors for CSR, while bureaucracy and the lack of incentives as deterrents. Pharmaceutical companies reported social acceptance as the major CSR enabler compared to other companies (p=0.034), while companies specializing only in medical equipment/biotechnology mentioned industry competition (p=0.003). Bureaucracy has been revealed as the major disincentive for all participating companies. Corporate advertising is found as an important encouraging factor for the adoption of CSR for the international companies compared to the national ones (p=0.023). Moreover, 97.3% stated that the government should reward socially responsible companies by increasing financial incentives. Conclusion: The health technology industry in Greece implements CSR actions. The company’s contribution to society and its ethical commitment are important encouraging factors for CSR, while bureaucracy and lack of government incentives are the main deterrents. The reward of socially sensitive companies by the government would provide significant entrepreneurial and societal benefits, supporting the overall Greek economy.

PMID:37409209 | PMC:PMC10319453 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.39946

Cureus. 2023 Jun 3;15(6):e39921. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39921. eCollection 2023 Jun.

ABSTRACT

Background and objective Due in part to its effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements, the assessment of central corneal thickness (CCT) is recognized as an essential part of the initial glaucoma assessment. The most widely utilized clinical technique to measure CCT is ultrasound pachymetry (USP). In recent years, many dedicated anterior-segment optical coherence tomography scanners (AS-OCTs) have been developed. Previous studies have compared CCT measurements between USP and various AS-OCTs. This study aimed to assess the degree of agreement between USP and CASIA2 (Tomey Corporation, Nagoya, Japan), a second-generation swept-source AS-OCT developed in Japan. Methodology The data on CCT screening measurements of 156 eyes (88 patients) performed over a period of three months, from January to March 2020, on glaucoma patients attending the Royal Hallamshire Hospital (RHH) in Sheffield, UK were collected retrospectively and statistically analyzed. Results The average age of the 88 patients included in the study was 66 years (range: 20-86 years). Our findings show that when compared to CASIA2 measurements, USP measurement of the CCT resulted in significantly thicker values (paired t-test: t=23.15,p<2.2 x 10^-16). The average difference between the two methods was 19.98 ± 10.78 μm. It is hypothesized that this difference may be due in part to inaccurate probe placement during ultrasound probe measurement, resulting in thicker CCT values. Conclusion The observed difference may be clinically significant as it could induce clinical discrepancy in terms of perceived glaucoma risk in patients. Therefore, USP and CASIA2 should not be used interchangeably, and clinicians should take into account the significant difference between these methods.

PMID:37409208 | PMC:PMC10317844 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.39921

Cureus. 2023 Jun 3;15(6):e39899. doi: 10.7759/cureus.39899. eCollection 2023 Jun.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the nutrition literacy and perceived emotional burden of disease in young adults with type-1 diabetes. All participants are current or past members of the non-profit organization The Diabetes Link, formally known as the College Diabetes Network. The Diabetes Link is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to connect and support young adults with type-1 diabetes through the transitional periods of their lives, most commonly the transition from high school to college. Previous research shows that there is a significant uptick in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in people with type-1 diabetes between the ages of 18 and 24, a period associated with many transitional events. While there are numerous hypothesized reasons why HbA1c levels spike during these ages, the lack of nutritional knowledge is frequently highlighted as a root cause of this increase.

METHODS: Participants were asked to complete a 40-question survey via Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, United States) that contained questions pertaining to their treatment, dietary habits, confidence in healthcare professionals to provide nutrition advice, and overall feelings toward their diagnosis of type-1 diabetes. The survey also included four questions aimed at evaluating the participants’ carbohydrate-counting skills to determine a basis of their nutritional knowledge. A binary logistic regression was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) to assess the influences of the burden and carbohydrate-counting knowledge on the participants’ diabetes care, eating habits, and emotional outlook on nutrition.

RESULTS: Data from this study show that the participants who scored high on the carbohydrate-counting quiz were 2.389 times more likely to avoid eating because of an out-of-range blood sugar level (p-value = 0.05), and the participants who reported higher levels of burden were 9.325 times more likely to avoid social gatherings because of food (p-value = 0.002). Conclusion: Results from this study demonstrate that the emotional burden associated with eating and not nutrition knowledge could contribute to the previously listed spike in HbA1c levels.

PMID:37409198 | PMC:PMC10317788 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.39899

Ophthalmol Sci. 2023 May 26;3(4):100339. doi: 10.1016/j.xops.2023.100339. eCollection 2023 Dec.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) onset and perifoveal posterior vitreous detachment using OCT data.

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 742 patients with FTMH or impending macular hole (MH) in ≥ 1 eye, as determined by ophthalmoscopy and OCT.

METHODS: Macular holes were staged using OCT results. Patients with the posterior vitreous membrane clearly detected in the OCT images and vitreoretinal adhesion size ≤ 1500 μm-eyes with MH stages 1-3-were included in the study. The contralateral eyes were also included in the analyses if they showed the focal type of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) (i.e., vitreoretinal adhesion ≤ 1500 μm). The distance between the posterior vitreous membrane and the surface of the retina was defined as the posterior vitreous separation height (PVSH). Using the OCT images, PVSHs of each eye in 4 directions (nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior) at 1 mm from the center of the MH or fovea were calculated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were PVSHs according to the MH stage and VMA, the relationship of the foveal inner tear with PVSH, and the likelihood of a foveal inner tear based on the direction.

RESULTS: The PVSH trends in each of the 4 directions were as follows: VMA < MH stage 1 = MH stage 2 < MH stage 3. Initial MH stage 2 (onset of FTMH) was defined as the presence of a gap in only 1 of the 4 directions from the center of the MH. With increased PVSH, the likelihood of a gap increased (P = 0.002), and a temporal gap was more likely to occur than a nasal gap (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS: At FTMH onset, a foveal inner tear likely appears on the temporal side or the side showing a high PVSH value.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

PMID:37409190 | PMC:PMC10318498 | DOI:10.1016/j.xops.2023.100339