Tag: pubmed

Viruses. 2022 May 5;14(5):973. doi: 10.3390/v14050973.

ABSTRACT

The International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting 2022 took place online, on 23-25 March 2022, and has attracted about 380 participants from all over the world. The goal of the meeting was to provide a meaningful and interactive scientific environment to promote discussion and collaboration and to inspire and suggest new research directions and questions. The participants created a highly interactive scientific environment even without physical face-to-face interactions. This meeting is a focal point to gain an insight into the state-of-the-art of the virus bioinformatics research landscape and to interact with researchers in the forefront as well as aspiring young scientists. The meeting featured eight invited and 18 contributed talks in eight sessions on three days, as well as 52 posters, which were presented during three virtual poster sessions. The main topics were: SARS-CoV-2, viral emergence and surveillance, virus-host interactions, viral sequence analysis, virus identification and annotation, phages, and viral diversity. This report summarizes the main research findings and highlights presented at the meeting.

PMID:35632715 | DOI:10.3390/v14050973

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2022 May 13;13(4):101966. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101966. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In non-permanent parasites, host detachment should take place in an environment that ensures the continuation of their life cycle. Timing of detachment – in combination with the host’s space use – affects dispersal and transmission success of the parasites and of the pathogens they vector. Before reaching the adult reproductive stage, ticks need to go through multiple immature developmental stages (larva and nymph), each feeding on host blood. In between the feeding bouts, they often remain in the off-host environment for considerable periods of time. With this study, we aimed to obtain more insight in Ixodes frontalis’ off-host habitat use by comparing its detachment pattern in different life stages with that of two habitat-specialized ticks also found on birds: the endophilic tree-hole tick (Ixodes arboricola) and the exophilic sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus), the latter living in humid understory vegetation of forests. For this, we artificially infested hole-roosting (great tits, Parus major) and open-roosting (blackbirds, Turdus merula) birds with ticks under laboratory conditions, and recorded whether detachment occurred during the day or the night. We hypothesize that nocturnal detachment improves off-host mating opportunities and host localization, whereas diurnal detachment optimizes tick dispersal. Ixodes frontalis nymphs detached during the night, especially when feeding on blackbirds. This behaviour was very similar to that of I. arboricola (larva and nymph) feeding on great tits. In contrast, I. frontalis larvae detached during the day, especially when feeding on great tits, which resembles that of I. ricinus’ feeding behaviour (larva and nymph). Ixodes frontalis left the host within seven days, immediately after completion of the blood meal. This is similar to both developmental stages of I. ricinus but contrasts with the very long (up to 20 days) feeding duration in I. arboricola. Thus I. frontalis shows strong plasticity, switching from dispersal-centered (larvae) to host-centered (nymphs) detachment behaviour. Findings are discussed with regard to the ticks’ habitat use, dispersal, life history and host specificity.

PMID:35623316 | DOI:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101966

Eur J Radiol. 2022 May 20;153:110366. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110366. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Proximal humeral fractures account for a significant proportion of all fractures. Detailed accurate classification of the type and severity of the fracture is a key component of clinical decision making, treatment and plays an important role in orthopaedic trauma research. This research aimed to assess the performance of Machine Learning (ML) multiclass classification algorithms to classify proximal humeral fractures using radiology text data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from adult (16 + years) patients admitted to a major trauma centre for management of their proximal humerus fracture from January 2010 to January 2019 were used (1,324). Six input text datasets were used for classification: X-ray and/or CT scan reports (primary) and concatenation of patient age and/or patient sex. One of seven Neer class labels were classified. Models were evaluated using accuracy, recall, precision, F1, and One-versus-rest scores.

RESULTS: A number of statistical ML algorithms performed acceptably and one of the BERT models, exhibiting good accuracy of 61% and an excellent one-versus-rest score above 0.8. The highest precision, recall and F1 scores were 50%, 39% and 39% respectively, being considered reasonable scores with the sparse text data used and in the context of machine learning.

CONCLUSION: ML and BERT algorithms based on routine unstructured X-ray and CT text reports, combined with the demographics of the patient, show promise in Neer classification of proximal humeral fractures to aid research. Use of these algorithms shows potential to speed up the classification task and assist radiologist, surgeons and researchers.

PMID:35623313 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110366

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2022 May 18;216:112577. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112577. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Surface patterning is a promising approach to prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation without the concerns of antimicrobial resistance. To determine the parameters of a patterned surface that can affect bacterial behavior, a sphere-like coccus (Staphylococcus aureus) was investigated on a series of polyurethane films with ordered hemisphere patterns. The bacterial retention data in a growth medium indicated that the surface patterns significantly decreased bacterial adhesion and proliferation. The most notable effects were observed with the 2 µm-pattern as well as the patterned polycaprolactone and polystyrene films, and the accessible contact area of the polyurethane films, surface wettability, and spatial confinement, did not show an influence. An optical microscope with a modified incubation cell was used for in situ real-time observations of bacterial colonization, proliferation, and migration. Based on appropriate statistical analyses, it was concluded that topographical geometry played a dominant role. In combination with the retention assessment in a nongrowth medium, it was found that pattern-mediated inhibition of biofilm formation was mainly achieved by affecting bacterial proliferation rather than adhesion. This study provides new insight for designing biofilm-resistant biomimetic materials.

PMID:35623259 | DOI:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112577

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2022 May 24;243:113987. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113987. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sanitation is intended to reduce the spread and burden of diseases transmitted from excreta. Pathogen reduction from excreta before sludge or effluent discharge to the environment would seem a logical and useful performance indicator for sanitation systems. However, the relative magnitudes of pathogen release from common sanitation technologies are not well understood. We, therefore, investigated the feasibility of performance measurement of different sanitation technologies in Tamil Nadu, India in reducing the release of the pathogen indicator Escherichia coli (E. coli). After conducting users’ surveys and technical assessments of the locally prevalent sanitation systems, we classified them into 7 distinct categories (based on both observed physical characteristic and usage) within a widely-accepted physical typology. Faecal sludge and wastewater samples were collected and analysed for E. coli and total solids from 136 household systems, 24 community systems, and 23 sanitary sewer oveflows. We estimated the average volumetric release rates of wastewater and faecal sludge from the different sanitation technologies. Average daily per capita E. coli release was computed, and used as one indicator of the public health performance of technologies. We found that on-site installations described by owners as “septic systems” included diverse forms of tanks and pits of uncertain performance. We observed a statistically significant difference in the average daily per capita E. coli release from different sanitation technologies (p = 0.00001). Pathogen release from the studied on-site sanitation technologies varied by as much as 5 orders of magnitude from “lined pits” (5.4 Log10 E. coli per person per day) to “overflowing sanitary sewers” and “direct discharge pipes” (10.3-10.5 Log10 E. coli per person per day). Other technologies lay between these extremes, and their performances in E. coli removal also varied significantly, in both statistical and practical terms. Our results suggest that although faecal sludge management along the sanitation service chain is important, sanitation planners of the observed systems (and probably elsewhere) should direct higher priority to proper management of the liquid effluents from these systems to minimize public health hazards. We conclude that (i) the work demonstrates a new and promising approach for estimating the public health performance of differing sanitation technologies, (ii) if E.coli is accepted as an indicator of the public health hazard of releases from sanitation systems, our results strongly suggest that safe containment of excreta for an extended period substantially reduces pathogen numbers and the risk of pathogen release into the environment; and (iii) there are some simple but little-used technical improvements to design and construction of on-site sanitation systems which could significantly reduce the release of pathogens to the environment.

PMID:35623255 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113987

Am J Otolaryngol. 2022 May 19;43(4):103508. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103508. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has gained significant recent global interest in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. It is a relatively new, minimally invasive, thermal ablation technique that is an alternative to surgery. Several clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), consensus statements, and recommendations currently exist for the use of RFA in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules and thyroid cancers. These documents have considerable variability amongst them, and to date, their quality and methodologic rigor have not been appraised.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and perform a quality appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for RFA in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed in MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases from inception to November 1, 2021. Four reviewers independently evaluated each guideline using the AGREE II instrument. Scaled domain scores were generated and the threshold used for satisfactory quality was >60%. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to determine level of agreement between reviewers.

RESULTS: Seven guidelines were selected for final evaluation based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two guidelines were classified “high” quality, one “average” quality, and the rest “low” quality. The “Clarity and Presentation” (65.68 ± 26.1) and “Editorial Independence” (61.32 ± 25.8) domains received the highest mean scores, while the “Applicability” (32.14 ± 22.8) and “Rigor of Development” (45.02 ± 29.8) domains received the lowest mean scores. ICC statistical analysis showed high magnitude of agreement between reviewers with a range of (0.722-0.944).

CONCLUSION: Reflecting upon our quality appraisal, it is evident that the quality and methodologic rigor of RFA guidelines can be improved upon in the future. Our findings also elucidate the existing variability/discrepancies amongst guidelines in the indications and use of RFA.

PMID:35623244 | DOI:10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103508

J Infect Public Health. 2022 May 18;15(6):677-684. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.05.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a continuously-emerging worldwide health crisis, with mortality rates approaching 50% in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate regional, patient-related, and organism-related predictors of survival among critically-ill patients with confirmed Acinetobacter infection.

METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted within ten ICUs across six geographically- and climatologically-distinct cities across Saudi Arabia over 13 months.

RESULTS: Of 169 patients with confirmed Acinetobacter infection enrolled in the study, 80 (47.6%) died. Survivors were statistically younger, predominantly male, more likely to be admitted for trauma, less likely to have hypertension, diabetes, or have undergone hemodialysis, and more likely to have been treated with antibiotics prior to having a positive culture for Acinetobacter, but less likely to have received an aminoglycoside. Survivors also had lower baseline APACHE II and SOFA scores and were infected with stains of Acinetobacter that had less meropenem- or colistin-resistance. Multivariate analysis identified the following independent predictors of survival: younger age, lower ICU-day#1 APACHE-II and ICU-day#3 SOFA scores, being admitted for trauma, and having no history of hemodialysis.

CONCLUSIONS: Patient-related factors outweigh regional and hospital-related factors as predictors of survival among critically-ill patients with Acinetobacter infection.

PMID:35623242 | DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2022.05.007

Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2022 May 21;221:106900. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.106900. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease associated with various and heterogeneous clinical characteristics. Given its complex nature and its unpredictable evolution over time, there isn’t an established and exhaustive clinical protocol (or tool) for its diagnosis nor for monitoring its progression. Instead, different clinical exams and physical/psychological evaluations need to be taken into account. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is the most used clinical scale, but it suffers from several limitations. Developing computational solutions for the identification of bio-markers of disease progression that overcome the downsides of currently used scales is crucial and is gaining interest in current literature and research.

METHODS: This Review focuses on the importance of approaching MS diagnosis and monitoring by investigating correlations between cognitive impairment and clinical data that refer to different MS domains. We review papers that integrate heterogeneous data and analyse them with statistical methods to understand their applicability into more advanced computational tools. Particular attention is paid to the impact that computational approaches can have on personalized-medicine.

RESULTS: Personalized medicine for neuro-degenerative diseases is an unmet clinical need which can be addressed using computational approaches able to efficiently integrate heterogeneous clinical data extracted from both private and publicly available electronic health databases.

CONCLUSIONS: Reliable and explainable Artificial Intelligence are computational approaches required to understand the complex and demonstrated interactions between MS manifestations as well as to provide reliable predictions on the disease evolution, representing a promising research field.

PMID:35623208 | DOI:10.1016/j.cmpb.2022.106900

Nurse Educ Pract. 2022 May 22;63:103370. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103370. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The purpose of this paper is to describe an innovative educational approach for pre-licensure nursing students to learn and practice motivational interviewing skills in a telehealth simulation with standardized patients portraying pregnant women with substance use disorder.

BACKGROUND: Given the ongoing need for online delivery of both nursing education and clinical practice, providers must continue to find approaches to facilitate the provision of empathetic and personalized care to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Motivational interviewing integrates a person-centered approach with specific communication strategies to encourage and support patients’ commitment to change. Motivational interviewing skills can be implemented across a wide variety of patient situations, including mental health and primary nursing care.

DESIGN: The study followed a pre-/post-test cross-sectional observational design.

METHODS: After completing an online training course to learn motivational interviewing skills, students participated in an online simulation with a standardized patient portraying a woman with substance use disorder during pregnancy. Prior to the simulation, students completed the Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 and the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers. After the simulation, students and standardized patients completed the Simulated Clinical Interview Rating Scale and a 5-item version of the Caring Behaviors Inventory-6.

RESULTS: Of the 252 students in the course, 85 (34%) participated in the study. Twenty-six student participants completed both pre- and post-simulation questionnaires; 40 completed only pre-simulation questionnaires; and 19 completed only post-simulation questionnaires. Prior to the simulated patient encounter, students rated themselves most favorably on ability to demonstrate assurance behaviors. After the training and simulation, students and standardized patients reported successful student demonstration of motivational interviewing skills and caring behaviors consistent with fundamental therapeutic communication and motivational interviewing knowledge. There was no statistically significant difference between self-reported student performance and the standardized patients’ observations.

CONCLUSIONS: Students attained and applied motivational skills and demonstrated caring behaviors in a virtual setting with standardized patients.

PMID:35623234 | DOI:10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103370

Am J Emerg Med. 2022 May 12;58:9-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.05.008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acute head and neck cancer (HNC) bleeding is a life-threatening situation that frequently presents to the emergency department (ED). The purpose of the present study was to analyze the risk factors for the 30-day mortality in patients with HNC bleeding.

METHODS: We included patients who presented to the ED with HNC bleeding (n = 241). Patients were divided into the survivor and nonsurvivor groups. Variables were compared, and the associated factors were examined with Cox’s proportional hazard model.

RESULTS: Of the 241 patients enrolled, the most common bleeding site was the oral cavity (n = 101, 41.9%). More than half of the patients had advanced HNC stage while 41.5% had local recurrence. The proportion of active bleeding was significantly higher in the nonsurvivor group (70.5% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.038). 42.3% received blood transfusion and 5.0% required inotropic support. In total, 21.2% of the patients experienced rebleeding, and 18.3% died within 30 days. Multivariate analyses indicated that a heart rate > 100 (beats/min) (HR = 2.42; Cl 1.15-5.06; p = 0.019) and inotropic support (HR = 3.00; Cl 1.14-7.89; p = 0.026) were statistically significant independent risk factors for 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may aid physicians in the evaluation of short-term survival in HNC bleeding patients and provide critical information for risk stratification and medical decisions.

PMID:35623184 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2022.05.008