Tag: pubmed

Cognition. 2023 Jul 2;238:105525. doi: 10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105525. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Children have an early ability to learn and comprehend words, a skill that develops as they age. A critical question remains regarding what drives this development. Maturation-based theories emphasise cognitive maturity as a driver of comprehension, while accumulator theories emphasise children’s accumulation of language experience over time. In this study we used archival looking-while-listening data from 155 children aged 14-48 months with a range of exposure to the target languages (from 10% to 100%) to evaluate the relative contributions of maturation and experience. We compared four statistical models of noun learning: maturation-only, experience-only, additive (maturation plus experience), and accumulator (maturation times experience). The best-fitting model was the additive model in which both maturation (age) and experience were independent contributors to noun comprehension: older children as well as children who had more experience with the target language were more accurate and looked faster to the target in the looking-while-listening task. A 25% change in relative language exposure was equivalent to a 4 month change in age, and age effects were stronger at younger than at older ages. Whereas accumulator models predict that the lexical development of children with less exposure to a language (as is typical in bilinguals) should fall further and further behind children with more exposure to a language (such as monolinguals), our results indicate that bilinguals are buffered against effects of reduced exposure in each language. This study shows that continuous-level measures from individual children’s looking-while-listening data, gathered from children with a range of language experience, provide a powerful window into lexical development.

PMID:37402336 | DOI:10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105525

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 Jun 24;249:110874. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110874. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Quality of life (QoL) is an increasingly recognized patient-centered treatment outcome in individuals with opioid use disorder. There is a gap in literature on the impact of opium tincture (OT) on patients’ QoL compared to standard treatment options such as methadone. This study aimed to compare the QoL of participants with opioid use disorder receiving OAT using OT or methadone and identify the factors associated with their QoL during treatment.

METHODS: The opium trial was a multicenter non-inferiority randomized clinical trial in four private OAT outpatient clinics in Iran. The study assigned patients to either OT (10 mg/ml) or methadone sirup (5 mg/ml) for a follow-up of 85 days. QoL was assessed using the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL- BREF).

RESULTS: A total of 83 participants, 35 (42.2%) in the OT arm and 48 (57.8%) in the methadone arm, completed the WHOQOL-BREF in full and were included in the primary analysis. The mean score of patients’ QoL showed improvement compared to baseline, but differences were not statistically significant between OT and methadone arms (p = 0.786). Improvements were mainly observed within the first 30 days of receiving treatment. Being married and lower psychological distress were associated with an improved QoL. Within the social relationships domain, male gender showed significantly higher QoL compared to females.

CONCLUSION: OT shows promise as an OAT medication, comparable to methadone in improving patients’ QoL. There is a need to incorporate psychosocial interventions to further sustain and improve the QoL in this population. Identifying other social determinants of health which affect QoL and the cultural adaptation of assessments for individuals from various ethnocultural backgrounds are critical areas of inquiry.

PMID:37402335 | DOI:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110874

Accid Anal Prev. 2023 Jul 2;191:107194. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2023.107194. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Animosity between drivers and cyclists has existed on urban road networks for many years. Conflicts between these two groups of road users are exceptionally high in the shared right-of-way environments. Benchmarking methods of conflict assessments are mostly based on statistical analysis with limited data sources. The actual crash data would be valuable to understand the features of bike-car collisions, however the available data are spatially and temporally sparse. To this end, this paper proposes a simulation-based bicycle-vehicle conflict data generation and assessment approach. The proposed approach uses a three-dimensional visualization and virtual reality platform, integrating traffic microsimulation to reproduce a naturalistic driving/cycling-enabled experimental environment. The simulation platform is validated to reflect the human-resembled driving/cycling behaviors under different infrastructure designs. Comparative experiments are carried out on bicycle-vehicle interactions under different conditions, with data collected from a total of 960 scenarios. Based on the results of the surrogate safety assessment model (SSAM), the obtained key insights include: (1) scenarios of a high conflict probability do not lead to actual crashes, which suggests that the classic SSM-based measurements such as TTC or PET values may not sufficiently reflect real cyclist-driver interactions; (2) the major cause of conflicts is variation in vehicle acceleration, which suggests that drivers are considered to be the main party responsible for bicycle-vehicle conflict/crash occurrence; (3) the proposed approach is able to generate near-miss events and reproduce interaction patterns between cyclists and drivers, facilitating experiments and data collections which would be typically unavailable for this type of study.

PMID:37402331 | DOI:10.1016/j.aap.2023.107194

Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2023 Jun 22;66:102908. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102908. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Probabilistic genotyping systems are able to analyse complex mixed DNA profiles and show good power to discriminate contributors from non-contributors. However, the abilities of the statistical analyses are still unavoidably bound by the quality of information being analysed. If a profile has a high number of contributors, or a contributor that is present in trace amounts, then the amount of information about those individuals in the DNA profile is limited. Recent work has shown the ability to gain better resolution of the genotypes of contributors to complex profiles using cell subsampling. This is the process of taking many sets of a limited number of cells and individually profiling each set. These ‘mini-mixtures’ can provide greater information about the genotypes of underlying contributors. In our work we take the resulting profiles from multiple subsamplings of complex DNA profiles in equal amounts and show how testing for, and then assuming, a common DNA donor can further improve the ability to resolve the genotypes of contributors. Using direct cell sub-sampling and statistical analysis software DBLR™, we were able to recover single source profiles of uploadable quality from five out of the six contributors of an equally proportioned mixture. Through the analysis of mixtures in this work we provide a template for carrying out common donor analysis for maximum effect.

PMID:37402330 | DOI:10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102908

Int J Surg. 2023 Jul 4. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000000433. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is currently based on serial measurements of maximum aortic diameter. Additional assessment of aneurysm volume has previously been proposed to possibly improve growth prediction and treatment decisions. To evaluate the use of supplementing volume measurements, the authors aimed to characterise the growth distribution of AAA volume and to compare the growth rates of the maximum diameter and volume at the patient level.

METHODS: Maximum diameter and volume were monitored every 6 months in 84 patients with small AAAs, with a total of 331 computed tomographic angiographies (with initial maximum diameters of 30-68 mm). A previously developed statistical growth model for AAAs was applied to assess the growth distribution of volume and to compare individual growth rates for volume and for maximum diameter.

RESULTS: The median (25-75% quantile) expansion in volume was 13.4 (6.5-24.7) % per year. Cube root transformed volume and maximum diameter showed a closely linear association with a within-subject correlation of 0.77. At the surgery threshold maximum diameter of 55 mm, the median (25-75% quantile) volume was 132 (103-167) ml. In 39% of subjects, growth rates for volume and maximum diameter were equivalent, in 33% growth was faster in volume and in 27% growth was faster in maximum diameter.

CONCLUSION: At the population level, volume and maximum diameter show a substantial association such that the average volume is approximately proportional to the average maximum diameter raised to a power of three. At the individual level, however, in the majority of patient’s AAAs grow at different pace in different dimensions. Hence, closer monitoring of aneurysms with sub-critical diameter but suspicious morphology may benefit from complementing maximum diameter by volume or related measurements.

PMID:37402309 | DOI:10.1097/JS9.0000000000000433

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 Jul 4;38(4):e20220355. doi: 10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0355.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) are validated scoring systems for short-term risk estimation after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The Meta-Analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC) risk score is originally aimed to estimate mortality in heart failure patients; however, it has showed a similar power to predict mortality after heart valve surgery. In this study, we sought to evaluate whether MAGGIC score may predict short and long-term mortality after CABG and to compare its power with EuroSCORE II and STS scoring systems.

METHODS: Patients who underwent CABG due to chronic coronary syndrome at our institution were included in this retrospective study. Follow-up data were used to define the predictive ability of MAGGIC and to compare it with STS and EuroSCORE-II for early, one-year, and up to 10-year mortality.

RESULTS: MAGGIC, STS, and EuroSCORE-II scores had good prognostic power, moreover MAGGIC was better for predicting 30-day (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.903; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.871-0.935), one-year (AUC: 0.931; 95% CI: 0.907-0.955), and 10-year (AUC: 0.923; 95% CI: 0.893-0.954) mortality. MAGGIC was found to be an independent predictor to sustain statistically significant association with mortality in follow-up.

CONCLUSION: MAGGIC scoring system had a good predictive accuracy for early and long-term mortality in patients undergoing CABG when compared to EuroSCORE-II and STS scores. It requires limited variables for calculation and still yields better prognostic power in determining 30-day, one-year, and up to 10-year mortality.

PMID:37402290 | DOI:10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0355

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 Jul 4;38(4):e20220305. doi: 10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0305.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative bleeding is one of the main causes of complications in cardiovascular surgery, which highlights the importance of ensuring adequate intraoperative hemostasis, providing a better patient outcome. This study aimed to improve the prevention of postoperative bleeding in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of the Hospital Estadual Mário Covas (Santo André, Brazil) using an adapted version of the Papworth Haemostasis Checklist to assess the impact of this standardization on bleeding rate, postoperative complications, reoperation, and mortality.

METHODS: This is a non-randomized controlled clinical trial, whose non-probabilistic sample consisted of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the abovementioned service within a two-year interval. The Papworth Haemostasis Checklist was adapted to the Brazilian laboratory parameters and the questions were translated into Portuguese. This checklist was used before the surgeon started the chest wall closure. Patients were followed up until 30 days after surgery. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically relevant.

RESULTS: This study included 200 patients. After the checklist, a reduction in 24-hour drain output, postoperative complications, and reoperation was observed, although statistical significance was not reached. Finally, there was a significant reduction in the number of deaths (8 vs. 2; P=0.05).

CONCLUSION: The use of the adapted checklist in our hospital proved to be an effective intervention to improve the prevention of postoperative bleeding, with a direct impact in the number of deaths in the study period. The reduction in deaths was possible thanks to the reduction in the bleeding rate, postoperative complications, and reoperations for bleeding.

PMID:37402279 | DOI:10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0305

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 Jul 4;38(4):e20220251. doi: 10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0251.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Fuziline is one of the many antioxidants currently being tested to treat cardiac damage. In our study, histopathological and biochemical effects of fuziline were investigated in mice with dobutamine-induced heart damage in vitro.

METHODS: Thirty-two adult male BALB/c mice, average weight of 18-20 g, were randomly divided into four groups – Group 1 (sham, n=8), Group 2 (control, dobutamine, n=8), Group 3 (treatment 1, dobutamine + fuziline, n=8), and Group 4 (treatment 2, fuziline, n=8). Biochemical parameters and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were measured. Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), NLR family, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3), 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHDG), gasdermin D (GSDMD), and galectin 3 (GAL-3) levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and histopathological examination of heart tissues was performed.

RESULTS: When dobutamine + fuziline and fuziline groups were compared, troponin-I (P<0.05), NLRP3 (P<0.001), GSDMD (P<0.001), 8-OHDG (P<0.001), IL-1β (P<0.001), and GAL-3 (P<0.05) were found to be statistically significant. TOS level was the highest in the dobutamine group (P<0.001) and TAS level was the highest in the fuziline group (P<0.001). OSI level was statistically significant between the groups (P<0.001). In histopathological examination, focal necrosis areas were smaller in the dobutamine + fuziline group than in the dobutamine group, and cardiac myocytes were better preserved.

CONCLUSION: Fuziline markedly reduced cardiac damage and pyroptosis in mice with dobutamine-induced heart damage by lowering the levels of GSDMD, 8-OHDG, IL-1β, and GAL-3. It also prevented necrosis of cardiac myocytes in histopathological evaluation.

PMID:37402273 | DOI:10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0251

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 Jul 4;28(4):e20220230. doi: 10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0230.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Given the incipience of domestic studies on hope and spirituality in cardiology, this study evaluated adult cardiac patients’ hope in the preoperative period of cardiac surgery and its potential association with spirituality.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out at a university hospital in the State of São Paulo (Brazil). A total of 70 patients answered the Herth Hope Scale and a sociodemographic questionnaire before undergoing surgical procedure between January and October 2018. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test. The R-3.4.1 software and SAS System for Windows 9.2 were also used. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Patients had a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors. Having a religion (37.53±4.57) and practicing it (38.79±4.25), regardless of its denomination and time dedicated to that religion, was associated with hope (P<0.01) in the immediate preoperative period of cardiac surgery. However, hope did not exhibit a significant correlation with factors such as age (P=0.09) and time dedicated to religious practice (P=0.07).

CONCLUSION: Regardless of the religious strand and time dedicated to religious practices as an expression of spirituality, hope was associated with the participants’ religion and religiosity. Considering the importance of this construct on the processes of health and disease, the whole health team should consider in their praxis a setting of conditions to make the patient’s spirituality process feasible during hospitalization.

PMID:37402272 | DOI:10.21470/1678-9741-2022-0230

Int J Cosmet Sci. 2023 Jul 4. doi: 10.1111/ics.12882. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The excessive use of plastic packaging, even though it is possible to recycle it, is one of the main causes of global warming. In this study, dissolvable shower gel tablets for multiple uses have been developed in order to reduce the use of fresh plastic packaging.

METHODS: The appropriate ratio of two surfactants, cocoyl glutamic acid (CGA) and sodium coco sulfate (SCS), was optimized using design of experiments. Additionally, skin hydration of the emollient either omega oil or glycerin was taken into account when determining its concentration. After that, powdered shower gel formulations were made and tested for their properties, including cleaning power, and foamability. On 30 volunteers, the effects of reconstituted shower gel on skin redness, cleaning effectiveness, and overall satisfaction were evaluated in human volunteers.

RESULTS: The study found that, when cleaning power and foam height were taken into account, the proper surfactant ratio was 7.5:0 (SCS:CGA). The 5% glycerin shower gel formula demonstrated significantly greater skin hydration than other formulas. The in vivo study’s findings demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between selected formulas (5% glycerin and 2.5% omega oil) in terms of cleaning ability. Comparing both formulas to the control, neither showed any skin redness. Additionally, it was discovered that the developed products were much more effective at cleaning and easier to use when washing for the volunteers than regular liquid soap. Overall satisfaction and the moisturizing feel were not significantly different among all products.

CONCLUSION: The formula with 7.5% SCS and 5% glycerin is said to be the best one for both cleaning ability and moisturizing effect. These findings suggest that dissolvable shower gel tablets with enhanced skin benefits could offer a promising innovation in the personal care industry.

PMID:37402220 | DOI:10.1111/ics.12882