Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Sex differences in the association between smoking exposure and prevalence of wheeze and asthma in 3-year-old children

J Asthma. 2022 Nov 11:1-19. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2147081. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We examined independent and joint associations between prenatal and postnatal smoking exposure and the prevalence of wheeze and asthma among 3-year-old Japanese children. Sex differences were also investigated.

METHODS: Smoking exposure, allergic symptoms, and potential confounding factor data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Wheeze was defined on the basis of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood criteria. Physician-diagnosed asthma was considered to be present if a physician had diagnosed the child with asthma any time before the survey was administered.

RESULTS: There were 6402 pediatric participants in this study. Maternal smoking throughout pregnancy and household smoking exposure during the first year of life were associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze among girls but not boys (adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% CI] = 2.00 [1.13-3.42] and 1.34 [1.07-1.68], respectively). Girls exposed to both prenatal maternal smoking and postnatal household smoking exposure had a significantly higher prevalence of wheeze and physician-diagnosed asthma compared with girls without these exposures (adjusted OR [95% CI] = 2.06 [1.39-3.01] and 1.86 [1.01-3.26], respectively). No association was observed between perinatal smoking exposure and the prevalence of wheeze or asthma among boys. Significant interactions between sex and smoking exposure affecting wheeze and asthma were also found (p for interaction = 0.0003 and 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSION: We found a positive association between perinatal smoking exposure and the prevalence of wheeze and asthma only among girls. Effects of perinatal smoking exposure on wheeze and asthma might be sex specific. Further research is required.

PMID:36368047 | DOI:10.1080/02770903.2022.2147081

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in COVID-19 Patients: A Propensity Score Analysis

ASAIO J. 2022 Nov 14. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000001829. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Revised guidelines clarify indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Limited data exist to compare clinical outcomes of COVID-19 ARDS patients to non-COVID-19-related ARDS patients when supported with ECMO. An observational propensity-matched study was performed to compare clinical and ECMO-related complications between COVID-19-related ARDS patients (COVID) and non-COVID-19-related ARDS (Control). COVID- patients cannulated from March 1st, 2020, through June 1st, 2021, were included and matched to patients from the historical cohort at our center from 2012 to 2020 based on age, body mass index (BMI), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, and duration ECMO run. The primary outcome was complications during ECMO therapy. A total of 56 patients were propensity matched 1:1 with a mean age of 40.9 years, BMI 32.1 kg/m2, APACHE II score of 26.6, and duration of ECMO support of 22.6 days. In total 18 COVID-19 patients were observed to have more major bleeding complications (18 vs. 9, p = 0.03). Although not statistically significant, they also had more strokes (6 vs. 3) and required more chest tubes (13 vs. 8). Inpatient mortality was not different. ECMO support in COVID-19 patients is associated with more major bleeding complications, strokes, and chest tube placements. The use of ECMO in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS appears to be associated with an increased risk of complications.

PMID:36368023 | DOI:10.1097/MAT.0000000000001829

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Screening of Toxin Genes in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates from a Hospital Setting in a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Cyprus

Pol J Microbiol. 2022 Nov 12. doi: 10.33073/pjm-2022-042. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant opportunistic pathogen with a wide repertoire of virulence characteristics. Data regarding the molecular profile of MRSA in Northern Cyprus is limited. The current study aimed to examine the virulence profiles of MRSA with a focus on toxin-associated factors. Ninety-one S. aureus isolates collected at a university hospital were included in the study. Identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed with BD Phoenix™ automated system. Methicillin resistance was evaluated by the disc diffusion assay and mecA detection. The presence of nuc was confirmed by conventional PCR. Confirmed MRSA isolates were assessed for the presence of virulence genes hla, eta, etb, etd and tst using molecular methods. Among 91 S. aureus isolates identified as MRSA using the BD Phoenix™ platform, 80.85% (n = 76/91) were confirmed as MRSA using phenotypic and genotypic methods. All confirmed MRSA isolates (n = 76, 100%) were positive for the nuc. MRSA rates were statistically higher in elderly inpatients. The prevalence of toxin-encoding genes was 97.3% (n = 74/76) for hla, 2.63% (n = 2/76) for eta, 1.3% (n = 1/76) for etb, and 2.63% (n = 2/76) for tst. None of the screened isolates harbored the etd gene. These results represent the first report to investigate multiple virulence factors in MRSA isolates in Northern Cyprus.

PMID:36368015 | DOI:10.33073/pjm-2022-042

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Does femoroacetabular impingement syndrome affect range of motion? A systematic review with meta-analysis

Br Med Bull. 2022 Nov 11:ldac027. doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldac027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) affect hip range of motion (ROM).

SOURCES OF DATA: We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis searching six electronic databases from inception to March 21, 2022. We included studies assessing hip ROM in FAIS, FAI morphology without symptoms (FAIm), and healthy controls. Mean differences between groups were measured in ROM degrees with 95% confidence interval (CI).

AREAS OF AGREEMENT: A total of 17 studies (1702 hips) were included. Comparison of FAIS patients versus healthy controls showed that hip ROM was clinically and statistically reduced in FAIS for internal rotation (90° hip flexion, -8.01°, 95% CI: -11.21, -4.90; 0° hip flexion -6.38°, 95% CI: -9.79, -2.97); adduction (90° hip flexion, -4.74°, 95% CI: -8.13, -1.34); flexion (-5.41°, 95% CI: -7.05, -3.49), abduction (0° hip flexion, -5.76°, 95% CI: -8.38, -3.23), and external rotation (90° hip flexion, -3.5°, 95% CI: -5.32, -1.67) ranging from low to high certainty of evidence. Comparison of FAIm versus healthy controls showed no statistically significant differences in any direction of movement, albeit with uncertainty of evidence.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: The certainty of evidence was unclear, particularly for asymptomatic FAIm.

GROWING POINTS: Hip ROM may be reduced in all directions except extension in FAIS compared to controls. Hip ROM may not be restricted in asymptomatic FAIm.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: Further studies are needed to resolve the uncertainty of evidence about ROM restrictions in asymptomatic FAIm compared to healthy controls.

PMID:36368014 | DOI:10.1093/bmb/ldac027

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Potential Mediators of Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy From Adjuvant Therapy in Stage III Colon Cancer: Findings From CALGB (Alliance)/SWOG 80702

J Clin Oncol. 2022 Nov 11:JCO2201637. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.01637. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the independent and interactive associations of planned treatment duration, celecoxib use, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus, and vitamin B6 with oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) among patients with stage III colon cancer enrolled in a clinical trial.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational study of 2,450 patients with stage III colon cancer enrolled in the CALGB/SWOG 80702 trial, randomly assigned to 6 versus 12 cycles of adjuvant fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin chemotherapy with or without 3 years of celecoxib. OIPN was reported using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) during and following completion of chemotherapy and the FACT/GOG-NTX-13 15-17 months after random assignment. Multivariate analyses were adjusted for baseline sociodemographic and clinical factors.

RESULTS: Patients assigned to 12 treatment cycles, relative to 6, were significantly more likely to experience higher-grade CTCAE- and FACT/GOG-NTX-13-reported neuropathy and longer times to resolution, while neither celecoxib nor vitamin B6 intake attenuated OIPN. Exercising ≥ 9 MET-hours per week after treatment relative to < 9 was associated with improvements in FACT/GOG-NTX-13-reported OIPN (adjusted difference in means, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.49 to 2.45; P = .003). Compared with patients with baseline BMIs < 25, those with BMIs ≥ 25 were at significantly greater risk of developing higher-grade CTCAE-reported OIPN during (adjusted odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.40; P = .05) and following completion (adjusted odds ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.50; P = .04) of oxaliplatin treatment. Patients with diabetes were significantly more likely to experience worse FACT/GOG-NTX-13-reported neuropathy relative to those without (adjusted difference in means, -2.0; 95% CI, -3.3 to -0.73; P = .002). There were no significant interactions between oxaliplatin treatment duration and any of these potentially modifiable exposures.

CONCLUSION: Lower physical activity, higher BMI, diabetes, and longer planned treatment duration, but not celecoxib use or vitamin B6 intake, may be associated with significantly increased OIPN severity.

PMID:36367997 | DOI:10.1200/JCO.22.01637

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Efficacy and safety of plasmapheresis without plasma transfusion tandem with chemotherapy to treat multiple myeloma

Hematology. 2022 Dec;27(1):1217-1222. doi: 10.1080/16078454.2022.2140980.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of plasmapheresis without plasma transfusion tandem with chemotherapy in treating multiple myeloma (MM).

METHOD: This retrospective study involves seventy-two patients, newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, divided into two groups; one with plasmapheresis without plasma transfusion tandem with the chemotherapy group (Trial group), while the second was chemotherapy group (Control group). The levels of Plasma Globulin, β2-microglobulin, Creatinine, Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and IL-6 were monitored after plasmapheresis, at initial diagnosis, and after four chemotherapy courses. Overall response rate of groups after four courses of chemotherapy was analyzed, and the adverse events were recorded.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The baseline data showed that sixty-seven percent of patients were at the ISS III stage and showed more severe renal insufficiency in the Trial group. The Plasma Globulin, β2-microglobulin, VEGF and IL-6 levels were significantly different between the two groups during the initial diagnosis. After three times plasmapheresis, Plasma Globulin, β2-microglobulin, VEGF, and IL-6 were significantly reduced in the plasmapheresis group. The Creatinine levels were also lowered, but the differences were not statistically significant. After four courses of chemotherapy, the levels of VEGF and IL-6 in the two groups were significantly reduced than the initial diagnosis; the differences were statistically considerable. No adverse events were found in the trial group as compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION: Plasmapheresis reduces Globulin, β2-microglobulin, serum VEGF and IL-6 levels in MM, improves renal functions, and releases some patients from dialysis dependence.

PMID:36367991 | DOI:10.1080/16078454.2022.2140980

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Alignment and Analysis of a Disparately Acquired Multibatch Metabolomics Study of Maternal Pregnancy Samples

J Proteome Res. 2022 Nov 11. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00371. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics studies are typically performed under roughly identical experimental settings. Measurements acquired with different LC-MS protocols or following extended time intervals harbor significant variation in retention times and spectral abundances due to altered chromatographic, spectrometric, and other factors, raising many data analysis challenges. We developed a computational workflow for merging and harmonizing metabolomics data acquired under disparate LC-MS conditions. Plasma metabolite profiles were collected from two sets of maternal subjects three years apart using distinct instruments and LC-MS procedures. Metabolomics features were aligned using metabCombiner to generate lists of compounds detected across all experimental batches. We applied data set-specific normalization methods to remove interbatch and interexperimental variation in spectral intensities, enabling statistical analysis on the assembled data matrix. Bioinformatics analyses revealed large-scale metabolic changes in maternal plasma between the first and third trimesters of pregnancy and between maternal plasma and umbilical cord blood. We observed increases in steroid hormones and free fatty acids from the first trimester to term of gestation, along with decreases in amino acids coupled to increased levels in cord blood. This work demonstrates the viability of integrating nonidentically acquired LC-MS metabolomics data and its utility in unconventional metabolomics study designs.

PMID:36367990 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jproteome.2c00371

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

A COVID-19 Lesson: Better Health Emergency Preparedness Standards Are Needed

Health Secur. 2022 Nov 11. doi: 10.1089/hs.2022.0037. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This article reports on an assessment of the value of 4 widely recognized standards of health sector emergency preparedness as predictors of effective preparedness for, and response to, the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The standards are sponsored by the National Health Security Preparedness Index (NHSPI), the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), and the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). The measure of effectiveness was states’ cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population, from January 21, 2020, through January 20, 2022. Linear regression analysis found no statistically significant associations when controlling for 3 intervening variables. Cross-tabulation of states’ preparedness status with their COVID-19 death rates found that high NHSPI and TFAH preparedness scores were generally, but not uniformly, associated with lower death rates. EMAP and PHAB accreditation had negligible association with low or high death rates. Lack of accreditation was associated with lower death rates. Higher prior state public health spending related to COVID-19 preparedness and higher state household income, an indicator of state economic strength, were associated with lower death rates. States with Democratic control of the legislative and executive branches of government generally had substantially lower death rates than states with Republican control. A science-based, practice-oriented research initiative is recommended to improve the predictive power of health sector preparedness standards and to enhance protection for US residents from large-scale future health threats.

PMID:36367989 | DOI:10.1089/hs.2022.0037

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

A Novel Device for Intraoperative Hypothermia Prevention in Patients with Lower Abdominal Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Single-Center Study

Ther Hypothermia Temp Manag. 2022 Nov 11. doi: 10.1089/ther.2022.0017. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore the value of lithotomy position thermal sleeve application during lower abdominal surgery in patients with hypothermia. A total of 100 patients who underwent urinary, gastrointestinal, or gynecological operations were included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: the test group (n = 50) and the control group (n = 50). In the control group, the environment, fluid, patient upper abdomen, and pasted 3 L stone-cut pants were heated. In the test group, the lithotomy position surgical warmer was used based on environment, fluid, and upper abdomen warming. The various indicators present in the two groups were compared and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 19.0. Before the operation, the body temperature was 36.73°C ± 0.28°C in the test group and 36.74°C ± 0.29°C in the control group; the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In the test group, the entry temperature was 36.83°C ± 0.04°C; after 2 hours of operation, it became 37.21°C ± 0.03°C. There were no significant changes in body temperature after 4 hours of operation, basic body temperature was maintained (36.80°C ± 0.02°C). In the control group, the entry temperature was 36.54°C ± 0.05°C; however, it became 35.94°C ± 0.07°C after 2 hours of operation, making the patient prone to developing hypothermia. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). In patients undergoing urinary, anorectal, or gynecological operations, the use of a warming intervention during surgery in the lithotomy position can effectively stabilize body temperature and reduce the occurrence of postoperative shivering. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: ChiCTR2100046522.

PMID:36367979 | DOI:10.1089/ther.2022.0017

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effect of Acupuncture on Sensorimotor Function and Mobility in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study

J Integr Complement Med. 2022 Nov 11. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0610. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that can result in highly variable effects on mobility and sensorimotor function. Persons with MS (pwMS) often use complementary and alternative approaches, such as acupuncture, to address these symptoms. However, studies of acupuncture on these symptoms have been hindered by methodologic flaws, which have limited the ability to draw conclusions about its efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of an acupuncture intervention on a wide range of sensorimotor and mobility measurements in pwMS. Methods: Using a randomized crossover design, subjects experienced acupuncture or a no treatment control condition twice weekly for 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout period, and then crossed over to the other condition for 4 weeks. Strength, sensation, spasticity, gait, and balance were measured for all subjects, both before and after each condition. Results: Seven of the 12 subjects who started the program completed all phases. No subjects experienced adverse effects. No statistically significant changes were observed in the gait or balance measures. Small statistically significant changes were observed in upper extremity strength. Sensation and spasticity were unaffected. Discussion: The variability of MS suggests that a wide array of testing procedures be utilized, however, this may have led to difficulty with completing all phases of the study. Acupuncture did not result in changes in mobility in pwMS. Some improvements in upper extremity strength were observed. It is unclear whether these changes represent the effect of acupuncture or the inherent variability of MS.

PMID:36367978 | DOI:10.1089/jicm.2022.0610