Tag: pubmed

Chin Med Sci J. 2023 Jun 28. doi: 10.24920/004214. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective This study aimed to analyze the medication rules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for malaria treatment. Methods Statistical analysis was conducted on the basic attributes of TCM drugs with regard to property, therapeutic methods, flavor, and meridian tropism. A complex network of TCM drug associations was constructed. Cluster analysis was applied to obtain the core drugs for malaria treatment. The Apriori algorithm was applied to analyze the association rules of these core drugs. Results A total of 357 herbs were used 3,194 times in 461 prescriptions for malaria treatment. Radix Glycyrrhizae (), Rhizoma Pinelliae (), Radix Bupleuri (), and Radix Dichroae () were the frequently used herbs through supplementing, exterior-releasing, heat-clearing, qi-rectifying, and damp-resolving therapeutic methods. Such herbs had warm, natural, and cold herbal properties; pungent, bitter, and sweet flavor; and spleen, lung, and stomach meridian tropism. Cluster analysis showed 61 core drugs, including Radix Glycyrrhizae, Rhizoma Pinelliae, Radix Bupleuri, and Radix Scutellariae (). Apriori association rule analysis yielded 12 binomial rules (herb pairs) and six trinomial rules (herb combinations). Radix Bupleuri plus Radix Scutellariae was the core herbal pair for treating malaria. This pair could be combined with Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae () for treating warm or cold malaria, combined with Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae () or Radix Dichroae () for treating miasmic malaria, or combined with turtle shells () for treating malaria with splenomegaly. Conclusions TCM can be used to classify and treat malaria in accordance with the different stages of development. As the core herbal pair, Radix Bupleuri plus Radix Scutellariae can be combined with other drugs to treat malaria with different syndrome types.

PMID:37376890 | DOI:10.24920/004214

Stat Methods Med Res. 2023 Jun 28:9622802231181231. doi: 10.1177/09622802231181231. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common types of cardiovascular disease. Death from coronary heart disease is influenced by genetic factors in both women and men. In this article, we propose a novel Bayesian variable selection framework for the identification of important genetic variants associated with coronary artery disease disease status. Instead of treating each feature independently as in conventional Bayesian variable selection methods, we propose an innovative prior for the inclusion probabilities of genetic variants that accounts for their ordering structure. We assume that neighboring variants are more likely to be selected together as they tend to be highly correlated and have similar biological functions. Additionally, we propose to group participating subjects based on underlying population structure and fit separate regressions, so that the regression coefficients can better reflect different disease risks in different population groups. Our approach borrows strength across regression models through an innovative prior inspired by the Markov random fields. The proposed framework can improve variable selection and prediction performances as demonstrated in the simulation studies. We also apply the proposed framework to the CATHeterization GENetics data with binary Coronary artery disease disease status.

PMID:37376889 | DOI:10.1177/09622802231181231

Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2023 Jun 29. doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2022-0070. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to determine the effect of education based on health belief model (HBM) on high-risk health behaviors in youth.

METHODS: This interventional quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2020-2021 with the participation of 62 students living in the dormitories of University of Mashhad Medical Sciences with available sampling and random allocation in two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received six training sessions. The research instruments included: demographic information, researcher-made questionnaire including HBM constructs, youth high-risk behaviors questionnaire (2019) that were used before, immediately and one month after the educations. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, Mann-Whitney, and ANOVA with SPSS 21.

RESULTS: The mean scores in the field of high-risk behaviors as well as all constructs of HBM were not statistically significant in the two groups before the intervention (p>0.05), but the mean scores immediately and one month after the educational intervention in all constructs of the HBM and the range of high-risk behaviors (other than smoking behavior) in the experimental group compared to the control group was statistically significant (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Education based on HBM was effective in reducing high-risk health behaviors, so this educational model can be used to reduce high-risk health behaviors in female students.

PMID:37376886 | DOI:10.1515/ijamh-2022-0070

Analyst. 2023 Jun 28. doi: 10.1039/d3an00545c. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), which can be employed as either a stand-alone instrument or coupled to mass spectrometry, has become an important tool for analytical chemistry. Because of the direct relation between an ion’s mobility and its structure, which is intrinsically related to its collision cross section (CCS), IMS techniques can be used in tandem with computational tools to elucidate ion geometric structure. Here, we present MobCal-MPI 2.0, a software package that demonstrates excellent accuracy (RMSE 2.16%) and efficiency in calculating low-field CCSs via the trajectory method (≤30 minutes on 8 cores for ions with ≤70 atoms). MobCal-MPI 2.0 expands on its predecessor by enabling the calculation of high-field mobilities through the implementation of the 2^nd order approximation to two-temperature theory (2TT). By further introducing an empirical correction to account for deviations between 2TT and experiment, MobCal-MPI 2.0 can compute accurate high-field mobilities that exhibit a mean deviation of <4% from experimentally measured values. Moreover, the velocities used to sample ion-neutral collisions were updated from a weighted to a linear grid, enabling the near-instantaneous evaluation of mobility/CCS at any effective temperature from a single set of N₂ scattering trajectories. Several enhancements made to the code are also discussed, including updates to the statistical analysis of collision event sampling and benchmarking of overall performance.

PMID:37376881 | DOI:10.1039/d3an00545c

Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol. 2021;71(1-2):38-46. doi: 10.5114/amsik.2021.106014.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The study aimed to examine whether volatile substances (ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone) can be detected in costal cartilage and also if concentrations of detected substances reliably reflect their concentrations in the peripheral blood – the standard forensic material for toxicological analyses. Such knowledge can be useful in cases when a cadaver’s blood is unavailable or contaminated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone concentrations were determined in samples of unground costal cartilage (UCC), ground costal cartilage (GCC), femoral venous blood, and urine. The samples were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) with a flame ionization detector using headspace analysis.

RESULTS: Volatile substances were detected in 12 out of 100 analysed samples. There was a strong positive correlation between ethanol concentration in the blood and urine (r = 0.899, p < 0.001), UCC (r = 0.809, p < 0.01), and GCC (r = 0.749, p < 0.01). A similar strong correlation was found for isopropanol concentration in the blood and urine (r = 0.979, p < 0.001), UCC (r = 0.866, p < 0.001), and GCC (r = 0.942, p < 0.001). Acetone concentration in the blood strongly correlated only with its concentration in urine (r = 0.960, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated for the first time the possibility of detecting volatile substances: ethanol, isopropanol and acetone in a human costal cartilage. Also, the study showed that higher volatiles concentrations were better determined in ground samples.

PMID:37376862 | DOI:10.5114/amsik.2021.106014

Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2023 Jun 27. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12921. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To identify how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States are screening for and identifying dysphagia. To do this, we examined the approaches most often used to screen for dysphagia and the influence of contextual factors such as setting, continuing education and means of staying up to date with the most current literature on screening approaches.

METHOD: A web-based survey composed of 32 questions was developed and field tested for content, relevance and workflow. The survey was distributed online, via social media, online SLP forums and through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Special Interest Group 13 (swallowing disorders). One hundred and thirty-seven clinicians from the United States completed the survey and were included for analysis using descriptive statistics and linear regression modelling to assess associations of continuing education and years practicing with screening protocols and consumption of evidence.

RESULTS: Respondents worked in a variety of settings, including acute care, skilled nursing facilities, and inpatient rehabilitation. Most respondents worked with adult populations (88%). The most common screening protocols reported were a volume-dependent water swallow test (74%), subjective patient report (66%), and trials of solids/liquids (49%). Twenty-four percent (24%) reported using a questionnaire, the Eating Assessment Tool (80%) being most common. How clinicians consume their evidence was significantly associated with the types of screening approaches used. Continuing education hours were significantly associated with dysphagia screening protocol choice (p < 0.001) and how clinicians stayed up to date with evidence (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study provide an in-depth look at the choices clinicians are making in the field regarding how to effectively screen patients for the presence of dysphagia. Contextual factors such as evidence base consumption patterns should serve researchers to continue seeking alternative ways to share evidence with clinicians, accessibly. Associations between continuing education and protocol choice show the need for continued evidence-based and high-quality continuing education opportunities.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: This study provides an in-depth look at the choices clinicians are making in the field regarding effective dysphagia screening practices. Clinician screening choices are examined with contextual factors such as evidence base consumption patterns and continuing education. This paper increases knowledge of the most used dysphagia screening practices and context for clinicians and researchers to improve use, evidence and dissemination of best practices.

PMID:37376825 | DOI:10.1111/1460-6984.12921

Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2023 Jun 27. doi: 10.1111/opo.13193. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To objectively quantify changes in corneoscleral profile, as evaluated by the limbus position and corneoscleral junction (CSJ) angle, as a consequence of wearing different soft contact lens (CL) materials.

METHODS: Twenty-two healthy participants wore silicone hydrogel (SiHy, MyDay, CooperVision) and hydrogel (Hy, Biomedics 1 day extra, CooperVision) soft CLs for 8 h per lens in their left eye. In each session, corneoscleral topography was captured before and immediately after CL removal with an Eye Surface Profiler. Previously validated automatic and objective algorithms for limbal position and CSJ angle calculation were applied to 360 semi-meridians to investigate the effect of short-term CL wear on corneoscleral topography, globally and by sectors, depending on the soft CL material worn.

RESULTS: Short-term soft CL wear significantly impacted limbal position (SiHy: 120 ± 97 μm, Hy: 128 ± 85 μm) and CSJ angle (SiHy: 0.57 ± 0.36°, Hy: 0.55 ± 0.40°); all p < 0.05. A statistically significant difference was found between the sectors with regard to limbus position and CSJ angle before CL wear that remained following lens wear (all pairwise comparisons, p < 0.001). Although individual differences were observed, there was no evidence that one material caused more substantial corneoscleral alterations.

CONCLUSION: Corneoscleral profile parameters were altered significantly following 8 h of soft CL wear. The observed changes in limbus position and CSJ angle support the importance of participant-material biocompatibility.

PMID:37376806 | DOI:10.1111/opo.13193

Epilepsia. 2023 Jun 27. doi: 10.1111/epi.17702. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Social determinants of health, including the effects of neighborhood disadvantage, impact epilepsy prevalence, treatment, and outcomes. This study characterized the association between aberrant white matter connectivity in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and disadvantage using a US census-based neighborhood disadvantage metric, the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), derived from measures of income, education, employment, and housing quality.

METHODS: Participants including 74 TLE patients (47 male, mean age=39.2) and 45 healthy controls (27 male, mean age=31.9) from the Epilepsy Connectome Project were classified into ADI-defined low and high disadvantage groups. Graph theoretic metrics were applied to multi-shell connectome diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) measurements in order to derive 162 x 162 structural connectivity matrices (SCMs). The SCMs were harmonized using neuroCombat to account for interscanner differences. Threshold-free network-based statistics were used for analysis and findings were correlated with ADI quintile metrics. A decrease in cross-sectional areas (CSA) indicate reduced white matter integrity.

RESULTS: Sex and age-adjusted CSA in TLE groups were significantly reduced compared to controls regardless of disadvantage status, revealing discrete aberrant white matter tract connectivity abnormalities in addition to apparent differences in graph measures of connectivity and network-based statistics. When comparing broadly defined disadvantaged TLE groups, differences were at trend-level. Sensitivity analyses of ADI quintile extremes revealed significantly lower CSA in the most compared to least disadvantaged TLE group.

SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings demonstrate: 1) the general impact of TLE on DWI connectome status is larger than the association with neighborhood disadvantage; however, 2) neighborhood disadvantage, indexed by ADI, revealed modest relationships to white matter structure and integrity on sensitivity analysis in TLE. Further studies are needed to explore this relationship and determine if the white matter relationship with ADI is driven by social drift or environmental influences on brain development. Understanding the etiology and course of the disadvantage-brain integrity relationship may serve to inform care, management, and policy for patients.

PMID:37376741 | DOI:10.1111/epi.17702

J Adv Nurs. 2023 Jun 27. doi: 10.1111/jan.15763. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To analyse the compliments received from patients’ and companions and to describe the characteristics of high-quality nursing and midwifery care from the perspective of healthcare consumers.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of health service compliments data.

METHODS: All compliments specific to nursing and midwifery care received between July 2020 and June 2021 were extracted from the reporting database for six hospital sites of a large public health service in Victoria, Australia. Inductive coding captured the characteristics and qualities of nurses and midwives elicited from the compliments. Deductive coding used two frameworks: an adapted health complaints assessment tool, and 10 dimensions of nursing and midwifery care used in the health service. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of coded data.

RESULTS: Of the 2833 records identified, 433 nursing and midwifery-specific compliments were identified; of these 225 consumer or care partner compliments were identified for analysis. Most compliments (80.4%, n = 181) were from the smaller hospital sites compared to 19.6% (n = 44) received at the largest hospital site; and from care programmes that typically care for older patients (42.7%, n = 113). Only 39% (n = 89) of compliments related to quality and safety of clinical care, 9% (n = 21) related to management and 17% (n = 38) to relationships. Forty-nine percent (n = 113) related to dimensions of fundamental nursing and midwifery care, with psychological care best represented (39.8%, n = 89). Most often, compliments related to characteristics or attributes of nurses.

CONCLUSION: Analysis of compliments reveals characteristics of nursing and midwifery care valued by healthcare consumers. Surprisingly, few compliments related to clinical dimensions of nursing and midwifery practice. Comments related to psychological aspects of nursing and midwifery care were most common. Understanding consumer perceptions of high-quality care provided by nurses and midwives provide guidance about care delivery that meets or exceed consumer expectations. The findings suggest low consumer awareness about professional and clinical aspects of nursing and midwifery work.

IMPACT: Compliments provide a unique insight into consumer perspectives of high-quality nursing and midwifery care. When making compliments, consumers most often commented about the attributes and characteristics of nurses and midwives, rather than clinical aspects of care. Compliments specific to nursing and midwifery care provide guidance to enhance care delivery to meet or exceed consumer expectations.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

PMID:37376718 | DOI:10.1111/jan.15763

J Adv Nurs. 2023 Jun 27. doi: 10.1111/jan.15752. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To describe psychometric validation of the newly developed Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional quantitative study.

METHODS: The development of the questionnaire followed an adapted version of the seven steps described in the guide by the Association for Medical Education in Europe. A nationwide online survey tested the construct and structural validity and internal consistency using an exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and a Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the hypotheses.

RESULTS: We received 222 questionnaires between January and September 2020. The factor analysis produced a seven-factor solution as suggested in Hamric’s model. However, not all item loadings aligned with the framework’s competencies. Cronbach’s alpha of factors ranged between .795 and .879. The analysis confirmed the construct validity of the Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire. The tool was able to discriminate the competencies of guidance and coaching, direct clinical practice and leadership across the three advanced practice nurse roles clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner or blended role.

CONCLUSION: A precise assessment of advanced practice nurse tasks is crucial in clinical practice and in research as it may be a basis for further refinement, implementation and evaluation of roles.

IMPACT: The Advanced Practice Nurse Task Questionnaire is the first valid tool to assess tasks according to Hamric’s model of competencies independently of the role or the setting. Additionally, it distinguishes the most common advanced practice nurse roles according to the degree of tasks in direct clinical practice and leadership. The tool may be applied in various countries, independent of the degree of implementation and understanding of advanced nursing practice.

REPORTING METHOD: The STARD 2015 guideline was used to report the study.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

PMID:37376711 | DOI:10.1111/jan.15752