Tag: pubmed

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2022 Nov 19. doi: 10.1007/s12010-022-04227-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer (CC), although being a potentially avoidable disease, is the second most often diagnose gynecological cancer, with at minimum 530,000 new instant reported each year, and optimism for CC remains poor. Nearly half of individuals with locally advanced cervical cancer have a poor pathological response to standard therapy. As a result, research into the molecular pathogenesis of cervical cancer and associated therapeutic targets is a must. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are possible biomarkers in cervical cancer; elevations or reductions in many distinct miRNAs discovered in individuals with this illness indicate that miRNA could contain a function to play in the illness’s pathogenesis. Nevertheless, little is known about their significance in detecting individuals who do not respond to traditional therapy. As a consequence, the intention of this study is to look at the relationship among the synthesis of miRNAs (miR 217 and miR-140-3p), which can be utilized as molecular biomarkers to predict pathological responses in cervical cancer patients after radiation and chemotherapy. Various analytical techniques were used to analyze the data, including quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), growth and apoptosis analysis, western blot analysis, luciferase reporter gene analysis, immunohistochemistry, and statistical analysis. The results show that such miRNAs participate a crucial responsibility in CC cell proliferation inhibition. They might be a new therapeutic target for microRNA-mediated cell proliferation inhibition in cervical cancer.

PMID:36401723 | DOI:10.1007/s12010-022-04227-6

Intern Emerg Med. 2022 Nov 19. doi: 10.1007/s11739-022-03142-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cardiac surgery in Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) patients who refuse blood transfusion is challenging requiring dedicated strategies. We aimed to analyze non-selected JW patients undergoing cardiac surgery and to compare with matched controls both perioperative outcomes and long-term survival. We retrospectively analyzed JW patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 2016 to March 2021 and compared them with matched controls. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital perioperative adverse events and in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome was all-cause mortality at long-term follow-up. A total of 113 JW patients and 113 controls were included. Baseline clinical characteristics, including laboratory parameters were comparable. Overall, there were no statistical differences between JW vs controls in terms of in-hospital mortality (2.7% vs 1.8%, p = 1.00) but mortality was remarkably high (40%) in JW patients with post-op hemoglobin < 8 g/dl. Logistic regression analysis found that the JW group was not associated with a higher occurrence of the composite outcome (adjusted odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54-1.57). After a median follow-up of 1397 [IQR 922.7-1723.5] days, JW patients were not associated with a significantly higher all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.24-2.42). Cardiac surgery can be safely performed in non-anemic JW patients despite the refusal of blood transfusions. Favorable clinical outcomes can be achieved by the use of specific perioperative strategies for bloodless surgery with no differences as compared to control patients except in JW patients with a very low level of post-operative hemoglobin not supported by immediate transfusions.

PMID:36401716 | DOI:10.1007/s11739-022-03142-2

Environ Monit Assess. 2022 Nov 19;195(1):126. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-10568-w.

ABSTRACT

The current study focused on the monitoring of pollution loads in the Kalpakkam coastal zone of India in terms of physico-chemical characteristics of sediment. The investigation took place at 12 sampling points around the Kalpakkam coastal zone for one year beginning from 2019. The seasonal change of nutrients in the sediment, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total organic carbon, and particles size distribution, was calculated. Throughout the study period, the pH (7.55 to 8.99), EC (0.99 to 4.98 dS/m), nitrogen (21.74 to 58.12 kg/ha), phosphorus (7.5 to 12.9 kg/ha), potassium (218 to 399 kg/ha), total organic carbon (0.11 to 0.88%), and particle size cumulative percent of sediments (from 9.01 to 9.39%) was observed. A number of multivariate statistical techniques were used to examine the changes in sediment quality. The population means were substantially different according to the three-way ANOVA test at the 0.05 level. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed a substantial association with all indicators throughout all seasons, implying contamination from both natural and anthropogenic causes. The ecosystem of the Kalpakkam coastal zone has been affected by nutrient contamination.

PMID:36401680 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-022-10568-w

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022 Nov 19. doi: 10.1007/s10815-022-02659-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore perceptions towards embryo disposition among patients donating excess embryos to a research biobank.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study of survey responses collected as part of enrollment in a research biobank. Patients are asked questions regarding the difficulty of their disposition decision, their alternative disposition choice if donation to research was not available, quality of the counseling they received, and if additional counseling throughout their treatment would have been beneficial. Survey responses use 5-point Likert scales, with “1” being lowest/least and “5” being highest/most.

RESULTS: A total of 157 men and 163 women enrolled in the biobank. Median scores for difficulty of disposition decision were 3 for females and 2 for males, and for quality of counseling, the median scores were 4 for females and 3 for males. Seventy percent of patients would have chosen to discard their excess embryos had donation to research not been an option. Statistical analyses showed no significant difference in responses based on variations in race, religion, sexual orientation, and infertility diagnoses. Concordance of responses within heterosexual couples was tested and found to be poor to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS: Assessing patients’ perceptions towards embryo disposition after donation of their excess embryos to a research biobank affords a unique perspective. The difficulty of the disposition decision, the tendency to discard embryos in the absence of a means for donation to research, and the poor agreement between heterosexual partners highlight the importance of donation to research as an accessible disposition option and the need for a personalized approach to counseling and consenting for embryo disposition.

PMID:36401676 | DOI:10.1007/s10815-022-02659-x

Parasitol Res. 2022 Nov 19. doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07730-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Because the number of wild raccoons in Germany is increasing constantly, it appears to be economic reasonable to use their meat as food. For this purpose, it is essential to generate data regarding the pathogen load of the meat to be consumed and handled. It is known that raccoons, particularly in Germany, show a high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii. Because serological data only indicates contact of a host to a parasite additional direct detection is needed to prove presence of parasitic stages in particular tissues. Therefore, a total of 150 samples from raccoons with known serostatus were tested and quantified using magnetic-capture real-time PCR for Toxoplasma gondii. As it represents potentially consumption-relevant parts of raccoons, meat from forelimb and hindlimb was examined. Samples were stratified into three groups based on the animals’ serostatus (each 50 negative, low positive, and high positive). All samples from seronegative animals were found negative by MC-PCR as well. In a total of 56 meat samples from 100 seropositive animals, T. gondii DNA was detected. Statistically significant more samples were positive by MC-PCR in the high positive than in the low positive serostatus group (38/50 vs. 18/50, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, samples from the former group were also found to have statistically significant higher DNA equivalent values compared to samples from the low positive serostatus group (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that meat from seropositive raccoons may contain considerable numbers of T. gondii presenting a potential public health risk for humans whilst handling and consumption.

PMID:36401669 | DOI:10.1007/s00436-022-07730-1

Eur Spine J. 2022 Nov 19. doi: 10.1007/s00586-022-07466-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe the incidence of complications associated with cervical spine surgery and post-operative physical therapy (PT), and to identify if the timing of initiation of post-operative PT impacts the incidence rates.

METHODS: MOrtho PearlDiver database was queried using billing codes to identify patients who had undergone Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Posterior Cervical Fusion (PCF), or Cervical Foraminotomy and post-operative PT from 2010-2019. For each surgical procedure, patients were divided into three 12-week increments for post-operative PT (starting at post-operative weeks 2, 8, 12) and then matched based upon age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. Each group was queried to determine complication rates and chi-square analysis with adjusted odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values were used.

RESULTS: Following matching, 3,609 patients who underwent cervical spine surgery at one or more levels and had post-operative PT (ACDF:1784, PCF:1593, and cervical foraminotomy:232). The most frequent complications were new onset cervicalgia (2-14 weeks, 8-20 weeks, 12-24 weeks): ACDF (15.0%, 14.0%, 13.0%), PCF (18.8%, 18.0%, 19.9%), cervical foraminotomy (16.8%, 16.4%, 19.4%); revision: ADCF (7.9%, 8.2%, 7.4%), PCF (9.3%, 10.6%, 10.2%), cervical foraminotomy (11.6%, 10.8% and 13.4%); wound infection: ACDF (3.3%, 3.4%, 3.1%), PCF (8.3%, 8.0%,7.7%), cervical foraminotomy (5.2%, 6.5%, < 4.7%). None of the comparisons were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: The most common post-operative complications included new onset cervicalgia, revision and wound infection. Complications rates were not impacted by the timing of initiation of PT whether at 2, 8, or 12 weeks post-operatively.

PMID:36401668 | DOI:10.1007/s00586-022-07466-7

J Hum Lact. 2022 Nov 18:8903344221135793. doi: 10.1177/08903344221135793. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Painful and damaged nipples are frequently associated with breastfeeding cessation in the early postpartum period. The results of researchers’ studies utilizing different treatments have been inconclusive.

RESEARCH AIM: To compare the intensity of nipple pain and the healing of damaged nipples during the first 10 days postpartum using either lanolin or human milk treatments.

METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled trial included participants (N = 206) who were primiparous with painful and damaged nipples. Participants were recruited from the tertiary teaching hospital within the first 72 hr after delivery and randomized to the intervention group with lanolin (n = 103) and a human milk control group (n = 103). Data were collected in the maternity ward, 3 and 7 days after randomization. The primary outcome was nipple pain intensity and quality measured 3 and 7 days after randomization by the McGill Pain Questionnaire – short form. The nipple damage self-assessment questionnaire was used for the assessment of nipple healing. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, breastfeeding duration, and exclusivity were assessed as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS: Participants in both groups reported a statistically nonsignificant reduction in pain (quality and intensity of pain) as well as improved nipple healing 7 days after randomization. Participants in the lanolin group exclusively breastfed their infants 3 days after randomization-significantly more often than participants in the control group (p = .026). The study did not reveal any statistically significant differences for other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Both lanolin and human milk are equally effective in treating painful and damaged nipples.Registered with Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04153513).

PMID:36401521 | DOI:10.1177/08903344221135793

J Endourol. 2022 Nov 18. doi: 10.1089/end.2022.0386. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Ureteral stenting following uncomplicated ureteroscopy is common practice. Several studies have proven the safety of omitting routine stent placement following distal ureteral stone treatment. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the utility of stent placement for proximal ureteroscopy. We designed a prospective, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the role of ureteral stent placement following ureteroscopy for proximal ureteral and renal stones.

METHODS: Seventy-two patients with proximal ureteral or renal stones measuring up to 1.5cm were prospectively randomized into stented (37) or unstented (35) groups. The surgeon was blinded to the treatment group until after stone treatment. Patients tracked postoperative pain medications and completed validated pain questionnaires on postoperative days 0, 3, 7 and 28. Stents were removed on postoperative day 7. Postoperative follow up imaging was obtained at four weeks.

RESULTS: No statistical differences between the two groups in terms of demographics or stone characteristics. Operative time was longer in the stented group (p<0.03). Patients in the stented group had more irritative urinary symptoms (p <.0001) and pain (p<.0001), lower quality of life scores (p<0.001) and used more narcotics (p<.0005) during the first week but no differences at 30 days. Emergency room visits and overall complication rates were similar between the two groups. 3 nonstented patients required stent placement. 2 stented patients required early stent removal. Urinary tract infections developed in 3 stented but in no unstented patients. Postoperative imaging did not reveal any hydronephrosis in either group and the total stone free rate (SFR) was 94%.

CONCLUSION: For the majority of uncomplicated ureteroscopic treatment of proximal ureteral and kidney stones, it may be safe to omit ureteral stents in order to potentially decrease urinary symptoms and pain while improving short-term quality of life. Further studies with larger patient cohorts may be warranted to confirm our results.

PMID:36401514 | DOI:10.1089/end.2022.0386

J Endourol. 2022 Nov 18. doi: 10.1089/end.2022.0234. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To conduct a comparative, non-randomised study to assess the feasibility of mini-Endoscopic combined Intra Renal Surgery(ECIRS) using supine Mini-Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) access (16 Fr) in Galdakao Modified Supine Valdivia(GMSV) position for managing proximal large volume impacted ureteral calculi as ambulatory day-care surgery vis-a-vis standalone ureteroscopy with push-back PCNL, if needed. The primary aim was to study the outcomes and stone-free rates. Secondary aim was to compare the intra-operative and short-term post-operative complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of sixty patients undergoing ECIRS(Group 1) from January 2016 to December 2019 were collected prospectively in a non-randomized fashion from a single centre after ethics committee approval. A matched-paired analysis was performed with retrospectively collated data of 60 patients undergoing standard ureteroscopy / pushback PCNL(Group 2) using analysis of variance, Fisher’s exact test, and Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: GROUP 1 patients had a significantly shorter procedure time vs GROUP 2 (42.1 ± 11.2 minutes vs 52.1 ± 13.7 minutes, p <0.001). GROUP 1 (59/60) patients had an overall single-stage (SFR) of 98.3% which was significantly higher than single-stage SFR of 83% in GROUP 2 (50/60) (p<0.002). GROUP 2 patients had a higher incidence of fever (10 vs 4, p=0.01). However, there were no cases of sepsis in either group. Rest of the complications were comparable for both the need for ancillary procedures was significantly higher in GROUP 2 (10% vs 1.7%, p<0.001). Patients were discharged on same day in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our study suggest that, in large and impacted proximal ureteric stones, combined minimally-invasive endoscopic approach offers the best option to render the patient stone-free by a single intervention. With better intra- and post-operative outcomes and safety profile, Mini-ECIRS may be considered as an ambulatory procedure in this setting.

PMID:36401507 | DOI:10.1089/end.2022.0234

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2022 Nov 18. doi: 10.1089/AID.2022.0086. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLHIV) still face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) is superior to its precursor tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) regarding bone and renal toxicity, but there are concerns about a negative effect on lipid profile. This observational, single-center study investigates the effects on lipid profile and cardiovascular (CVD) risk of the switch from TDF to TAF, in combination with FTC/EVG/c, in patients with no exposure to other antiretrovirals. Routine laboratory measurements, somatometric characteristics and smoking status were analyzed for the assessment of CVD risk changes, using D:A:D and ATP III scores pre- and post-switch. A total of 62 patients with a mean age of 32.9 years were included in this study. 61 (98.4%) were males, 38 (61.3%) late presenters and 39 (62.9%) active smokers. A year after the switch, there was a significant increase in total cholesterol (178±38 to 194±40 mg/dL, p<0.001), HDL (45±12 to 48±13 mg/dL, p=0.001), LDL (117±32 to 137±36 mg/dL, p<0.001). Mean increase of the 10-year D:A:D score was 1.13% (95% CI 1.05-1.22, p=0,002). Changes were more prominent in non-smokers. Body mass index and average weight showed an upward trend. Switching from TDF to TAF caused significant changes in lipid profile at 14 months of follow-up, in young, otherwise healthy PLHIV. CVD risk, as measured by D:A:D, showed a statistically significant increase, but more data are needed to determine clinical significance. These results point towards a patient-centered approach when selecting an ART regimen.

PMID:36401506 | DOI:10.1089/AID.2022.0086