Tag: pubmed

Semin Dial. 2023 Jun 30. doi: 10.1111/sdi.13167. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Vascular calcification is an intervenable factor in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Treatment-related factors might worsen the arterial stiffness in chronic hemodialysis patients. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of 1-year treatment with paricalcitol or calcitriol on pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is an indicator of arterial stiffness and osteocalcin and fetuin-A levels.

METHODS: Seventy-six hemodialysis patients who had similar PWV1 at the beginning were evaluated after a 1-year treatment of paricalcitol or calcitriol. PWV2, serum osteocalcin, and fetuin-A levels were measured at the end of the study.

RESULTS: At the end of the study, PWV2 of paricalcitol group was statistically lower than the calcitriol group. Osteocalcin levels were statistically lower and fetuin-A levels were statistically higher in the paricalcitol group than the calcitriol group at the end of the study. The number of patients with PWV2 > 7 m/s and using paricalcitol was 16 (39%) but 25 (41%) patients were using calcitriol; the differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: The long-term benefits of paricalcitol were superior to the benefits of calcitriol. Paricalcitol has protective effects from vascular calcification in chronic hemodialysis patients.

PMID:37392044 | DOI:10.1111/sdi.13167

Pain Pract. 2023 Jul 1. doi: 10.1111/papr.13267. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is the most common cause of years lived with disability (YLD). Chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs) is a relatively new taxonomy for widespread pain. Researchers have postulated that patients with COPCs have more pain-related impact than those with isolated pain conditions. We know little about the combination of COPCs with cLBP. This study aims to characterize patients with isolated cLBP compared to those with cLBP and associated COPCs across multiple domains of physical, psychological, and social functioning.

METHODS: Using Stanford’s CHOIR registry-based learning health system, we performed a cross-sectional study on patients with localized cLBP (group L) versus cLBP with COPCs (group W). We used demographic, PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System), and legacy survey data to characterize the physical, psychological, social, and global health outcomes. We further subdivided the COPCs into intermediate and severe based on the number of body regions involved. We used descriptive statistics and generalized linear regression models to characterize and compare the pain groups.

RESULTS: Among 8783 patients with cLBP, 485 (5.5%) had localized cLBP (Group L) without widespread pain. Compared to Group L, patients in Group W were more likely to be females, younger, and reported longer duration of pain. Although the mean pain scores were significantly higher in group W, this difference did not appear clinically significant (average pain scores MD -0.73, 95% CI [-0.91 to -0.55]). Group W had significantly worse outcomes in all PROMIS outcomes. However, outcomes with large clinical differences (Cohen’s d > 0.5) were fatigue (MD = -7.0, 95% CI [-8.0 to -6.1]); sleep impairment (MD = -6.2, 95% CI [-7.1 to -5.3]); sleep disturbance (MD = -5.3, 95% CI [-6.2 to -4.5]); pain behavior (MD = -2.2, 95% CI [-2.5 to -1.8]); physical function (MD = 4.0, 95% CI [3.2-5.0]); pain interference (MD = -3.4, 95% CI [-4.0 to -2.8]); and anxiety (MD = -4.9, 95% CI [-5.7 to -4.0]). Adjusted analysis controlling for age, gender, BMI category, and duration of pain confirmed worsening of all outcomes with more widespread pain.

CONCLUSION: COPCs are a common presentation with cLBP. The combination of COPCs with cLBP is associated with significantly worse physical, psychological, social, and global health outcomes. This information may identify patients with COPCs and cLBP to optimally risk and treatment stratify their care and individualize their management.

PMID:37392043 | DOI:10.1111/papr.13267

CNS Neurosci Ther. 2023 Jun 30. doi: 10.1111/cns.14332. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidences indicate regional gray matter (GM) morphology atrophy in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3); however, whether large-scale morphological brain networks (MBNs) undergo widespread reorganization in these patients remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the topological organization of large-scale individual-based MBNs in SCA3 patients.

METHODS: The individual-based MBNs were constructed based on the inter-regional morphological similarity of GM regions. Graph theoretical analysis was taken to assess GM structural connectivity in 76 symptomatic SCA3, 24 pre-symptomatic SCA3, and 54 healthy normal controls (NCs). Topological parameters of the resulting graphs and network-based statistics analysis were compared among symptomatic SCA3, pre-symptomatic SCA3, and NCs groups. The inner association between network properties and clinical variables was further analyzed.

RESULTS: Compared to NCs and pre-symptomatic SCA3 patients, symptomatic SCA3 indicated significantly decreased integration and segregation, a shift to “weaker small-worldness”, characterized by decreased C_p , lower E_loc, and E_glob (all p < 0.005). Regarding nodal properties, symptomatic SCA3 exhibited significantly decreased nodal profiles in the central executive network (CEN)-related left inferior frontal gyrus, limbic regions involving the bilateral amygdala, left hippocampus, and bilateral pallidum, thalamus; and increased nodal degree, efficiency in bilateral caudate (all p_FDR <0.05). Meanwhile, clinical variables were correlated with altered nodal profiles (p_FDR ≤0.029). SCA3-related subnetwork was closely interrelated with dorsolateral cortico-striatal circuitry extending to orbitofrontal-striatal circuits and dorsal visual systems (lingual gyrus-striatal).

CONCLUSION: Symptomatic SCA3 patients undergo an extensive and significant reorganization in large-scale individual-based MBNs, probably due to disrupted prefrontal cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loops, limbic-striatum circuitry, and enhanced connectivity in the neostriatum. This study highlights the crucial role of abnormal morphological connectivity alterations beyond the pattern of brain atrophy, which might pave the way for therapeutic development in the future.

PMID:37392035 | DOI:10.1111/cns.14332

Eur J Clin Invest. 2023 Jul 1:e14056. doi: 10.1111/eci.14056. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence of a clear causal relationship between telomere length and aortic aneurysms is limited by the potential for confounding or reverse causation effects. In this study, we used a Mendelian randomisation (MR) approach to investigate this putative causal association.

METHODS: In total, 118 telomere length-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms, identified in 472,174 individuals of European ancestry, were used as the instrumental variables. Summary statistics for genome-wide association studies of aortic aneurysms were obtained from the FinnGen consortium. For the primary MR analyses, the inverse-variance weighted random-effects method was used and was supplemented with multivariable MR, weighted median and MR-Egger approaches. The MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran’s Q test and ‘leave-one-out’ sensitivity analysis were performed to evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity and stability of the genetic variants. Forward and reverse MR analyses were performed.

RESULTS: All forward univariable MR analyses showed that longer telomere lengths decreased aortic aneurysm risks (total aortic aneurysms: OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.67-0.96, p = .015; thoracic aortic aneurysms: OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.68-0.98, p = .026; abdominal aortic aneurysms: OR = 0.525, 95% CI 0.398-0.69, p < .001), whereas all reverse MR analyses suggested the absence of aortic aneurysm liability on telomere length. The sensitivity analysis results were robust, and no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a possible causal association between telomere length and aortic aneurysms, providing new insights into the involvement of telomere biology in this condition and offering a potential avenue for targeted therapeutic interventions.

PMID:37392033 | DOI:10.1111/eci.14056

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2023 Jun 30. doi: 10.1089/AID.2022.0186. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

With the advancement of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV live longer, and many are developing non-AIDS comorbidities. It is important to assess how comorbidities are associated with HIV-related health outcomes, such as viral suppression (VS). The aim of this study was to analyze the association between comorbidity burden, measured using a modified Quan-Charlson Comorbidity Index (QCCI), and VS (viral load result of <200 copies/mL). We hypothesized that an increase in QCCI score, indicating a higher risk for mortality, would correlate with lower likelihood of VS because of the burden of comorbidity treatment, possibly leading to worse antiretroviral adherence. Our analysis included participants from the DC Cohort Longitudinal HIV Study in Washington, D.C. Eligible participants were aged ≥18 years and enrolled in the cohort as of January 1, 2018 (n=2,471). A modified QCCI score, which weighs selected comorbidities (not including HIV/AIDS) and predicts mortality, was calculated using ICD-9/10 codes from electronic health records. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to characterize the association between QCCI composite scores and VS. Participants were predominantly virally suppressed (89.6%), male (73.9%), Non-Hispanic Black (74.7%) and between 18-55 years old (59.3%). The median QCCI score was 1 (range= 1-12, IQR= 0-2), demonstrating predominately low mortality risk. We did not establish a statistically significant association between QCCI score and VS (adjusted odds ratio=1.06, 95% CI 0.96-1.17). Our findings suggest that a higher QCCI score was not associated with lower VS in this population, which may be partly due to the high retention in care among Cohort participants.

PMID:37392022 | DOI:10.1089/AID.2022.0186

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2023 Jun 30. doi: 10.1089/AID.2022.0150. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The challenge of designing future HIV prevention efficacy trials in a rapidly evolving HIV prevention landscape was explored through a series of virtual stakeholder’s engagement meetings convened online between October 2020 and April 2021. A broad array of stakeholders from the HIV prevention research community reviewed current trial designs and lessons learned, explored issues specific to unique product classes, and concluded with specialist-focused examinations of statistical design concepts and the importance of community engagement in research. The aim was to reflect on current approaches and evaluate new trial design approaches for evaluating efficacy of a candidate prevention strategy in the context of an active-controlled trial, which does not include a placebo arm. Here, we provide a summary of the discussion points that included gaps in understanding and logical next steps in the prevention research pathway. The technical challenges involved in the statistical design approaches are described in a companion paper.

PMID:37392020 | DOI:10.1089/AID.2022.0150

Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 30:207640231183922. doi: 10.1177/00207640231183922. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Among the causes associated with suicide there are social factors such as forced displacement has been described and health factors in general that have an impact on pediatric mental health.

AIMS: To describe clinical and psychosocial factors, and their relationship with suicidal behavior in a Colombian indigenous community.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The mean age were 9.23 years old, 53.7% male and 46.3% female.

METHOD: Mixed approach study. A thematic analysis was carried out with the youth of the community to investigate emotional aspects. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out and correlations between variables were made.

RESULTS: Correlations were found between suicidal behavior and medical findings. When comparing the mental health disorders and nutritional problems, statistically significant differences were found in the Suicide Risk domain (<.001). This was reaffirmed in the thematic analysis, where factors such as migration and difficulty understanding the language are highlighted as related to suicidal behavior in the pediatric population.

CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal behavior should not be approached solely from psychopathology. Hunger, the weakening of one’s own culture, armed conflict, migration, and other clinical conditions are found to be associated with suicidal behavior.

PMID:37392003 | DOI:10.1177/00207640231183922

Mymensingh Med J. 2023 Jul;32(3):847-854.

ABSTRACT

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/ non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a rising epidemic with a potential for life threatening complications, especially in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome. Though liver biopsy remains the recommended gold standard for diagnosing liver fibrosis, due to its technical feasibility and requirement of trained personnel, methods to develop non-invasive diagnostic tools for liver fibrosis have recently been underway. One such non-invasive method to diagnose liver fibrosis, point shear wave elastography using Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI)-Imaging has gained remarkable results. This research was carried out to assess non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by acoustic radiation force impulse in individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Between March 2020 and October 2021, 140 patients with DM and metabolic syndrome, were identified. Demographic profile as well as reports of complete blood count, liver function tests, renal function tests, serum lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar of the study participants were collected and recorded. Point shear wave liver elastography using ARFI imaging was performed for each of the study participant. NAFLD fibrosis score was determined in all of the study participants using appropriate software. Continuous and categorical variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and percentages respectively. Two-sided p values were considered as statistically significant at p value <0.05. Chi square test was done to see the association of clinical symptoms with fibrosis or non fibrosis. Independent t test was done to compare test variables and lab parameters between fibrosis and no fibrosis. Among the 140 study participants, 83 were males (59.29%) and 57 were (40.71%) females. On analysing the mean velocities measured by using ARFI elastography,30 participants (21.43%) had mean velocities >2.2m/s suggesting the presence of liver fibrosis and 110(78.57%) participants had mean velocities <2.2m/s did not have fibrosis. Among 83 males, 20(24.1%) had fibrosis and among 57 females, 10(17.5%) had fibrosis (p>0.05). Mean age of the ‘Fibrosis’ group was 54.53 (SD12.42) and that of the ‘No fibrosis’ group was 56.20(SD 11.76). Majority of the participants were between 56 and 65 years of age (50 participants). The mean height, weight and BMI of the ‘Fibrosis’ group was 152.84(±41.29), 73.33(±8.41), and 27.37(±2.73) respectively and that of the ‘No fibrosis’ group was 157.31(26.47), 70.89(12.46) and, 27.10(4.22) respectively (p>0.05). In the ‘Fibrosis’ group, majority (60%) were in the Obese 1 group and in the ‘No fibrosis’ group as well, majority were in the Obese 1 group (47.3%) (p=0.286). The mean (±SD) NAFLD- fibrosis Score was -1.54±1.06 in the ‘No fibrosis’ group and -0.61±1.81 in the ‘Fibrosis’ group (p value=0.012). There was no significant difference between fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, triglyceride and HbA1c levels among the ‘Fibrosis’ and ‘No Fibrosis’ groups. Among the 2 groups, there was no statistically significant difference between waist circumference, presence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia or other co-morbidities, in our study. None of the 30 individuals in the ‘Fibrosis’ group were on insulin (p=0.032), showing a significant difference in insulin usage among the 2 groups. There were significantly higher mean values of NAFLD-Fibrosis score in the individuals with fibrosis as compared to those with no fibrosis (p<0.05). NAFLD, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome are part of the same spectrum. Individuals with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome have a higher risk of developing liver fibrosis. Though in our study, parameters such as age, gender, hypertension, deranged blood sugars and lipid profile values were not significantly associated with liver fibrosis, NAFLD fibrosis score was found to have a significant association with liver fibrosis in these individuals.

PMID:37391984

Mymensingh Med J. 2023 Jul;32(3):833-840.

ABSTRACT

When performing infra-umbilical procedures, caudal epidural analgesia with bupivacaine is frequently used to provide both intra- and post-operative analgesia. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2 agonistsare extensively used in neuraxial blocks and peripheral nerve blocks to prolong the action of bupivacaine. To find out the effects of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine for caudal analgesia in children undergoing infra-umbilical surgery. This was a randomized, controlled double-blinded prospective observational study and was performed from July 2019 to December 2019. A total of 60 (Sixty) patients with different infra-umbilical surgical problems underwent different procedure under caudal anaesthesia in different operation theatre in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka were enrolled in this study. Elaborate personal history, meticulous clinical examinations and relevant laboratory investigations was done. Post-operative adverse effects also were monitored. All information from history of illness, clinical, laboratory findings, duration of analgesia and post-operative adverse effects were recorded in a preformed data sheet (Appendix-I) and statistical analysis was done by SPSS 22.0. Mean age of the children in Group A (dexmedetomidine + bupivacaine) was 5.50±2.61 years and in Group B (bupivacaine) was 5.66±2.75. Mean weight of the children in Group A was 19.22±8.58 kg and in Group B was 19.70±8.94 kg in this study. Mean duration of anaesthesia was 27.5±6.5 minute in Group A and 28.5±5.5 minute in Group B. The mean duration of analgesia was 4.32±0.54 hours for Group A and 2.12±0.32 hours in Group B. In Group A, 46.7% patients required 1 and 3.3% required 2 rescue analgesic but in Group B, 43.3% patients required single rescue analgesic and 33.3% required two rescue analgesics (p<0.05). In Group A, 6.7% patients had nausea/ vomiting and in Group B, 16.7% patients had nausea/ vomiting (p>0.05). It can be concluded that dexmedetomidine with bupivacaine for caudal analgesia in infra-umbilical surgery significantly prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia when compared to bupivacaine alone without any side-effects.

PMID:37391982

Mymensingh Med J. 2023 Jul;32(3):807-811.

ABSTRACT

Thalassemia is one of the most common haemoglobinopathies in the world. Transfusion dependent thalassemia patients need regular blood transfusion. Repeated blood transfusions lead to iron overloads which can affect various organs in the body including eyes. The present study aims to evaluate the ocular involvements in transfusion dependent thalassemia children and their relationship with duration of the disease and serum ferritin level. This cross-sectional observational study included 46 multi-transfused thalassemia children aged 3-18 years. Detailed ophthalmological examination including visual acuity, slit lamp bio microscopy, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy was done. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version (IBM) 23.0. Student’s t-test and chi-square (χ²) test was done and p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Out of 46 thalassemia children male were 25(54.3%) and female were 21(45.7%). Mean age of the children was 8.94±5.04 years, mean duration of disease was 7.02±3.5 years and mean serum ferritin level 1543.68±914.43ng/dl. Ocular involvements were detected in 19(41.3%) children. Among them 8(17.39%) children had more than one ocular involvements. The ocular manifestations were decreased visual acuity in 17(36.95%), corneal dryness in 7(15.21%), lens opacity in 6(13.04%), optic disc atrophy in 7(15.21%), peripheral retinal pigmentation in 5(10.86%) and retinal vessels tortuosity in 3(6.52%) children. Higher serum ferritin level and increased duration of the disease were significantly (p<0.001) related with ocular involvement. Various ocular involvements were found in transfusion dependent thalassemia children. Therefore, transfusion dependent thalassemia children should be screened periodically for early detection and proper management of ocular changes.

PMID:37391978