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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Pretraining Skills as Predictors of Competence of Nonspecialists in Delivery of Mental Health Services

Psychiatr Serv. 2023 Jan 10:appips202100691. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100691. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Task-shared delivery of mental health care, which includes training people who are not mental health specialists to deliver components of care, has been identified as a core strategy for increasing access to mental health care globally. However, after standard training, nonspecialists attain variable and sometimes poor competence in task-shared mental health care. This study examined whether pretraining interpersonal skills (nonverbal communication, verbal communication, rapport building, and empathy-warmth) are related to posttraining competence in task-shared mental health care among nonspecialists in Nepal.

METHODS: Nonspecialists (e.g., auxiliary health workers and health assistants) (N=185) were assessed at pretraining and posttraining (4 months after training and supervision) in a task-shared mental health care program in Nepal. This study employed both a classification algorithm and a logistic regression model to examine the relationship between pretraining interpersonal skills and posttraining competence.

RESULTS: The classification model predicted posttraining competence at above-chance levels on the basis of pretraining interpersonal skills. In particular, pretraining nonverbal communication skill distinguished participants whose posttraining competence was rated as acceptable from those whose rating was not acceptable. Nonverbal communication was also a significant predictor in the regression model. No other interpersonal skills were significantly related to posttraining competence outcomes in the regression model.

CONCLUSIONS: Some pretraining interpersonal skills of nonspecialists may predict overall competence outcomes in task-shared mental health care. Future studies confirming the relationship between pretraining interpersonal skills and posttraining competence in care delivery could improve staff selection and training strategies in task-shared mental health care programs.

PMID:36625138 | DOI:10.1176/appi.ps.202100691

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Digital detection of proteins

Lab Chip. 2023 Jan 10. doi: 10.1039/d2lc00783e. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews methods for detecting proteins based on molecular digitization, i.e., the isolation and detection of single protein molecules or singulated ensembles of protein molecules. The single molecule resolution of these methods has resulted in significant improvements in the sensitivity of immunoassays beyond what was possible using traditional “analog” methods: the sensitivity of some digital immunoassays approach those of methods for measuring nucleic acids, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The greater sensitivity of digital protein detection has resulted in immuno-diagnostics with high potential societal impact, e.g., the early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of Alzheimer’s Disease. In this review, we will first provide the motivation for developing digital protein detection methods given the limitations in the sensitivity of analog methods. We will describe the paradigm shift catalyzed by single molecule detection, and will describe in detail one digital approach – which we call digital bead assays (DBA) – based on the capture and labeling of proteins on beads, identifying “on” and “off” beads, and quantification using Poisson statistics. DBA based on the single molecule array (Simoa) technology have sensitivities down to attomolar concentrations, equating to ∼10 proteins in a 200 μL sample. We will describe the concept behind DBA, the different single molecule labels used, the ways of analyzing beads (imaging of arrays and flow), the binding reagents and substrates used, and integration of these technologies into fully automated and miniaturized systems. We provide an overview of emerging approaches to digital protein detection, including those based on digital detection of nucleic acids labels, single nanoparticle detection, measurements using nanopores, and methods that exploit the kinetics of single molecule binding. We outline the initial impact of digital protein detection on clinical measurements, highlighting the importance of customized assay development and translational clinical research. We highlight the use of DBA in the measurement of neurological protein biomarkers in blood, and how these higher sensitivity methods are changing the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases. We conclude by summarizing the status of digital protein detection and suggest how the lab-on-a-chip community might drive future innovations in this field.

PMID:36625134 | DOI:10.1039/d2lc00783e

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Fluorescence in situ hybridization test for detection of endometrial carcinoma cells by non-invasive vaginal swab

J Cell Mol Med. 2023 Jan 10. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.17658. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy with increasing incidence in developed countries. As gold standard, hysteroscopy confirms only 30% of suspected ECs. The detection of EC cells in the vagina by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) after a smear test could reduce invasive procedures in the future. Using array-based comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) on 65 endometrial carcinomas, most frequently imbalanced regions of the tumour genome were identified. Bacterial artificial chromosomes were used to generate FISH-probes homologue to these human regions. The FISH test was hybridized on swabs specimens collected from the vaginal cavity. Samples from six patients without EC were selected as a negative control and on 13 patients with known EC as a positive control. To distinguish between benign and EC cases, the cut-off value has been defined. A first validation of this EC-FISH Test was performed with swabs from 41 patients with suspected EC. The most common genomic imbalances in EC are around the CTNNB1, FBXW7 and APC genes. The cut-off is defined at 32% of analysed cells without diploid signal pattern. This differs significantly between the positive and negative controls (p < 0.001). In a first validation cohort of 41 patients with suspected EC, the EC-FISH Test distinguishes patients with and without EC with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 83%. The negative predictive value is 96%. This is the first report of a non-invasive EC-FISH Test to predict EC in women with suspected EC.

PMID:36625073 | DOI:10.1111/jcmm.17658

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

A Phase II Study of Combination Daunorubicin, Cytarabine (Ara-c) and Nilotinib (TAsigna) (DATA) in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia with KIT Expression

Am J Hematol. 2023 Jan 9. doi: 10.1002/ajh.26831. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a challenging cancer in terms of achieving and maintaining long-duration remissions. Many novel therapies have been added to the standard regimen (combining cytarabine and anthracycline “7+3”) to achieve such goals. Nilotinib is an oral multikinase inhibitor that is active against KIT tyrosine kinase, an important stem cell target. In this trial, we combined nilotinib with 7+3 induction (daunorubicin 60mg/m2), high dose cytarabine consolidation, and subsequently, if the patient was a candidate, for 2 years’ maintenance therapy in patients with AML and KIT (CD117) expression. Patients were allowed to proceed to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) if deemed necessary. Our primary goal was increased complete remission rate with this combination. Thirty-four patients (with a median age 58.5 years) were enrolled on a single-arm phase II bi-institutional study; 21 (62%) patients achieved remission. The complete remission rate was 78% in evaluable patients. Thirteen of 34 (38%) patients had allogeneic HCT, all thirteen of which are still alive (100%). Common (>20%) grade 3 non-hematological toxicities included febrile neutropenia, hypophosphatemia, elevated liver enzymes, and hypertension. Only one patient (3%) died in induction due to liver failure, which was thought secondary to daunorubicin. Our current study reveals good outcomes in patients who received HCT and may warrant a larger study to confirm our findings in that specific population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36625066 | DOI:10.1002/ajh.26831

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Characteristics and reference values of the atherogenic index of plasma in an adult population in China

Chin Med J (Engl). 2023 Jan 10. doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002182. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36625061 | DOI:10.1097/CM9.0000000000002182

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Editorial Statistics and Best Reviewers Award 2022 for Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society

J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2023 Jan;66(1):3-5. doi: 10.3340/jkns.2022.0278. Epub 2022 Dec 30.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36625013 | DOI:10.3340/jkns.2022.0278

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Exercise testing in patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children-related myocarditis versus idiopathic or viral myocarditis

Cardiol Young. 2023 Jan 10:1-6. doi: 10.1017/S1047951122004140. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While most children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children have rapid recovery of cardiac dysfunction, little is known about the long-term outcomes regarding exercise capacity. We aimed to compare the exercise capacity among patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children versus viral/idiopathic myocarditis at 3-6 months after initial diagnosis.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study among patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in June 2020 to May 2021 and patients with viral/idiopathic myocarditis in August 2014 to January 2020. Data from cardiopulmonary exercise test as well as echocardiographic and laboratory data were obtained. Inclusion criteria included diagnosis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or viral/idiopathic myocarditis, exercise test performed within 3-6 months of hospital discharge, and maximal effort on cardiopulmonary exercise test as determined by respiratory exchange ratio >1.10.

RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and 25 with viral/idiopathic myocarditis were included. The mean percent predicted peak VO2 was 90.84% for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children patients and 91.08% for those with viral/idiopathic myocarditis (p-value 0.955). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to percent predicted maximal heart rate, metabolic equivalents, percent predicted peak VO2, percent predicted anerobic threshold, or percent predicted O2 pulse. There was a statistically significant correlation between lowest ejection fraction during hospitalisation and peak VO2 among viral/idiopathic myocarditis patients (r: 0.62, p-value 0.01) but not multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children patients (r: 0.1, p-value 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and viral myocarditis appear to, on average, have normal exercise capacity around 3-6 months following hospital discharge. For patients with viral/idiopathic myocarditis, those with worse ejection fraction during hospitalisation had lower peak VO2 on cardiopulmonary exercise test.

PMID:36624558 | DOI:10.1017/S1047951122004140

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Regression analysis of logistic model with latent variables

Stat Med. 2023 Jan 9. doi: 10.1002/sim.9647. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We propose a joint modeling approach to investigating the effects of social-psychological factors on the onset of depression. The proposed model comprises two components. The first one is a confirmatory factor analysis model that summarizes latent factors through multiple correlated observed variables. The second one is a logistic regression model that investigates the effects of observed and latent influence factors on the occurrence of depression. We develop a hybrid procedure based on the borrow-strength estimation procedure and the weighted score function to estimate the model parameters. The asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established. Simulation studies demonstrate that the method we proposed performs well. An application to a study concerning the social-psychological factors of depression is provided.

PMID:36624549 | DOI:10.1002/sim.9647

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The role of etoposide in the treatment of adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Exp Hematol Oncol. 2023 Jan 9;12(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s40164-022-00362-2.

ABSTRACT

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially fatal inflammatory clinical condition, in which an exaggerated immune response is ineffectively regulated. Although etoposide-containing regimens are generally recommended for children with HLH, the exact role of etoposide in the adult setting remains unclear. We performed a systematic review of the literature on the use of etoposide in adults with HLH. All articles written in English on the use of etoposide in adults with HLH available from seven databases and published on or before July 2021 were analyzed. Thirteen studies were found to be relevant to the search results. Ten of these studies report a statistical analysis on the effect of etoposide, of which five found etoposide-containing regimens superior to non-etoposide-containing regimens. Seven studies provided sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis. For these data, the estimated logit relative risk of etoposide on survival was 1.06 (95% confidence interval: 0.92-1.21, standard error: 2.06). The pooled data of the meta-analysis did thus not support a beneficial effect of etoposide. It should be taken into account that the presented results are highly susceptible to bias and that the effect of etoposide differs between HLH-triggers. Although the meta-analysis does not support the effect of etoposide, we do not recommend abandoning etoposide as treatment modality. The limitations of the meta-analysis, together with several individual articles confirming the benefit of etoposide, justify etoposide for select cases in adults with HLH such as refractory or severe disease with (threatening) multiorgan failure.

PMID:36624539 | DOI:10.1186/s40164-022-00362-2

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Valproic acid as adjuvant treatment for convulsive status epilepticus: a randomised clinical trial

Crit Care. 2023 Jan 9;27(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s13054-022-04292-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Generalised convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) is a medical emergency. Guidelines recommend a stepwise strategy of benzodiazepines followed by a second-line anti-seizure medicine (ASM). However, GCSE is uncontrolled in 20-40% patients and is associated with protracted hospitalisation, disability, and mortality. The objective was to determine whether valproic acid (VPA) as complementary treatment to the stepwise strategy improves the outcomes of patients with de novo established GCSE.

METHODS: This was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial in 244 adults admitted to intensive care units for GCSE in 16 French hospitals between 2013 and 2018. Patients received standard care of benzodiazepine and a second-line ASM (except VPA). Intervention patients received a 30 mg/kg VPA loading dose, then a 1 mg/kg/h 12 h infusion, whilst the placebo group received an identical intravenous administration of 0.9% saline as a bolus and continuous infusion. Primary outcome was proportion of patients discharged from hospital by day 15. The secondary outcomes were seizure control, adverse events, and cognition at day 90.

RESULTS: A total of 126 (52%) and 118 (48%) patients were included in the VPA and placebo groups. 224 (93%) and 227 (93%) received a first-line and a second-line ASM before VPA or placebo infusion. There was no between-group difference for patients hospital-discharged at day 15 [VPA, 77 (61%) versus placebo, 72 (61%), adjusted relative risk 1.04; 95% confidence interval (0.89-1.19); p = 0.58]. There were no between-group differences for secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: VPA added to the recommended strategy for adult GCSE is well tolerated but did not increase the proportion of patients hospital-discharged by day 15.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NO: NCT01791868 (ClinicalTrials.gov registry), registered: 15 February 2012.

PMID:36624526 | DOI:10.1186/s13054-022-04292-7