Tag: pubmed

Sci Rep. 2021 Dec 14;11(1):24015. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03247-2.

ABSTRACT

Urinary levels of modified nucleosides reflect nucleic acids turnover and can serve as non-invasive biomarkers for monitoring tumour circadian dynamics, and treatment responses in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. In 39 patients, median overnight urinary excretion of LC-HRMS determinations of pseudouridine, was ~ tenfold as large as those of 1-methylguanosine, 1-methyladenosine, or 4-acetylcytidine, and ~ 100-fold as large as those of adenosine and cytidine. An increase in any nucleoside excretion after chemotherapy anticipated plasma carcinoembryonic antigen progression 1-2 months later and was associated with poor survival. Ten fractionated urines were collected over 2-days in 29 patients. The median value of the rhythm-adjusted mean of urinary nucleoside excretion varied from 64.3 for pseudouridine down to 0.61 for cytidine. The rhythm amplitudes relative to the 24-h mean of 6 nucleoside excretions were associated with rest duration, supporting a tight link between nucleosides turnover and the rest-activity rhythm. Moreover, the amplitude of the 1-methylguanosine rhythm was correlated with the rest-activity dichotomy index, a significant predictor of survival outcome in prior studies. In conclusion, urinary excretion dynamics of modified nucleosides appeared useful for the characterization of the circadian control of cellular proliferation and for tracking early responses to treatments in colorectal cancer patients.

PMID:34907230 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-021-03247-2

Nat Commun. 2021 Dec 14;12(1):7274. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26970-w.

ABSTRACT

Mendelian Randomisation (MR) is an increasingly popular approach that estimates the causal effect of risk factors on complex human traits. While it has seen several extensions that relax its basic assumptions, most suffer from two major limitations; their under-exploitation of genome-wide markers, and sensitivity to the presence of a heritable confounder of the exposure-outcome relationship. To overcome these limitations, we propose a Latent Heritable Confounder MR (LHC-MR) method applicable to association summary statistics, which estimates bi-directional causal effects, direct heritabilities, and confounder effects while accounting for sample overlap. We demonstrate that LHC-MR outperforms several existing MR methods in a wide range of simulation settings and apply it to summary statistics of 13 complex traits. Besides several concordant results with other MR methods, LHC-MR unravels new mechanisms (how disease diagnosis might lead to improved lifestyle) and reveals new causal effects (e.g. HDL cholesterol being protective against high systolic blood pressure), hidden from standard MR methods due to a heritable confounder of opposite effect direction.

PMID:34907193 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-26970-w

Nat Commun. 2021 Dec 14;12(1):7278. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27366-6.

ABSTRACT

Perception is thought to be shaped by the environments for which organisms are optimized. These influences are difficult to test in biological organisms but may be revealed by machine perceptual systems optimized under different conditions. We investigated environmental and physiological influences on pitch perception, whose properties are commonly linked to peripheral neural coding limits. We first trained artificial neural networks to estimate fundamental frequency from biologically faithful cochlear representations of natural sounds. The best-performing networks replicated many characteristics of human pitch judgments. To probe the origins of these characteristics, we then optimized networks given altered cochleae or sound statistics. Human-like behavior emerged only when cochleae had high temporal fidelity and when models were optimized for naturalistic sounds. The results suggest pitch perception is critically shaped by the constraints of natural environments in addition to those of the cochlea, illustrating the use of artificial neural networks to reveal underpinnings of behavior.

PMID:34907158 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-27366-6

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2022 Jan 1;54(1):191-192. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000805880.19341.84.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:34907139 | DOI:10.1249/01.mss.0000805880.19341.84

J Chest Surg. 2021 Dec 15. doi: 10.5090/jcs.21.105. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer is a fatal disease, highlighting the importance of research on related topics, including surgery for lung cancer. However, systematic research analyzing surgery on a national scale is limited. This study aimed to investigate the research on lung cancer using nationwide data in South Korea and to analyze trends in lung cancer surgery, including its clinical implications. Published articles and data from the Korean National Health Insurance database were used. Although the incidence and mortality of lung cancer have been improving, it is predicted to be the most common and fatal type of cancer in South Korea in 2021. The number of surgical procedures for lung cancer is increasing, especially among women, those ≥76 years of age, residents of non-metropolitan cities, and middle-income patients. Lobectomy and sublobectomy, including segmentectomy, are increasingly common. However, the proportion of pneumonectomy relative to other procedures is not increasing. Surgery has shown a reasonable survival rate, especially after lobectomy, but survival remains poor in patients ≥76 years of age who undergo pneumonectomy. The frequency of lung cancer surgery is increasing concomitantly with various socioeconomic changes. Lobectomy has become increasingly common, and the clinical results of surgery are satisfactory. Further research on the changing composition of surgical candidates is required.

PMID:34907096 | DOI:10.5090/jcs.21.105

Ann Lab Med. 2022 May 1;42(3):342-351. doi: 10.3343/alm.2022.42.3.342.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To ensure safe red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practice, it is important to comply with storage and transport requirements of RBC units. We conducted a comprehensive survey on the practice of RBC transport and storage to explore the awareness of and compliance with the 30-minute rule, the current status of RBC unit transport, and possible utility of temperature indicators (TIs) to reduce RBC wastage.

METHODS: From June to August of 2019, 64 blood bank physicians (14 questions) in 64 secondary- and tertiary-care hospitals and 673 nurses (13 questions) in 42 tertiary-care hospitals replied to a questionnaire survey. The results of the survey were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Among the physicians surveyed, 97.0% (N=62) of hospitals had transfusion guidelines in place. The RBC wastage in 2018 ranged from less than five units to more than 200 units. Among the nurses surveyed, 99.4% (N=669) were aware of and complied with the 30-minute rule; 13.5% (N=91) of the nurses had experience of RBC wastage due to violation of the 30-minute rule. Both physicians (67%, N=43) and nurses (83.1%, N=559) responded that TIs would help reduce RBC wastage.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first survey on the practices related to RBC transport and storage in Korea. This study provides fundamental data on current practice for the blood cold chain, insights into RBC wastage, and highlights the utility of TIs.

PMID:34907104 | DOI:10.3343/alm.2022.42.3.342

BMJ Open. 2021 Dec 14;11(12):e054971. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054971.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact of carbapenem resistance on mortality among patients infected with Enterobacteriaceae and to explore the source of heterogeneity across studies.

DESIGN: This systematic review was conducted following the guidelines of Cochrane Guidance and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

DATA SOURCES: We conducted a systematic literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies published between 1 January 1994 and 30 August 2020.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included primary observational studies published in English that reported the mortality outcomes for hospitalised patients with confirmed infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and carbapenem-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (CSE). Studies with no comparison group or with a comparison group of patients infected with unconfirmed CSE were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data extraction and assessment of risk bias were conducted independently by two reviewers. The pooled relative risk and risk difference were calculated as effect measures with 95% CIs using a random effects model. The heterogeneity across studies was assessed by Q-statistic and I² measures.

RESULTS: Of 10 304 studies initially identified, 50 studies were included in the meta-analyses. The results of the meta-analyses showed that carbapenem resistance has a significant positive effect on the probability of death for patients infected with Enterobacteriaceae for any type of mortality outcome. The results of the stratified analysis and meta-regression suggested that the effect of carbapenem resistance on the risk of death varied by infection type, sample size and year of publication.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that patients with CRE infection still face a greater risk of death than patients with CSE infection do, and an urgent need to develop new antibiotics and appropriate treatments to reduce the risk of death.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020176808.

PMID:34907071 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054971

BMJ Open. 2021 Dec 14;11(12):e055625. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055625.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to explore the associations of elder abuse, crime victimhood and perceived safety with depression among older adults and examine the interactive effects of sex and place of residence in those associations.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a large survey data.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study used data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India wave 1 (2017-2018). The effective sample size was 31 464 older adults (aged 60 years or older).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome variable was major depression, calculated using Short Form Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to fulfil the objectives.

RESULTS: 5.22% of the older adults (n=1587) experienced abuse in the past 1 year. 1.33% of the older individuals (n=402) were victims of a violent crime, and 14.30% (n=1886) perceived an unsafe neighbourhood. Also, 8.67% of the older adults (n=2657) were suffering from depression. Older adults who were abused had 2.5 odds of suffering from depression (adjusted OR (AOR): 2.47, CI: 1.96 to 3.10) and victims of a violent crime were 84% more likely to be depressed (AOR: 1.84, CI: 1.15 to 2.95) compared with their counterparts. Besides, older individuals who perceived as living in unsafe neighbourhood were 61% more likely to be depressed (AOR: 1.61, CI: 1.34 to 1.93) compared with their counterparts. In the interaction analysis, older women who reported abuse had higher odds of suffering from depression (AOR: 3.27; CI: 2.34 to 4.57) compared with older men who were not abused. Similar result was found in older adults reporting abuse and residing in rural areas (AOR: 3.01, CI: 2.22 to 4.07) compared with those urban residents reporting no abuse.

CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers should pay more attention to the mental health implications of elder abuse, crime victimhood and perceived safety to grasp the underlying dynamics of the symptomology of late-life depression.

PMID:34907072 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055625

BMJ Open. 2021 Dec 14;11(12):e054463. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054463.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Health campaigns have the potential to improve public awareness, but their impact can be difficult to assess. Internet search data provide information concerning online health information-seeking behaviour in the population and may serve as a proxy for public awareness to evaluate health campaigns. This study aimed to measure the impact of World Stroke Day (WSD) in China using Baidu search data.

METHODS: Daily search index values (SIV) for the term ‘stroke’ were collected from January 2011 to December 2019 using the Baidu Index platform. We examined the mean difference in SIV between the 4 weeks surrounding WSD (period of interest) and the rest of the year (control period) for each year by t-test analysis. The mean difference between the period of interest and the control period was also calculated. The joinpoint regression model was used to analyse the trends of internet search activity 30 days before and after WSD for each year (2011-2019). Finally, the top and rising queries related to stroke during the week of the campaign in 2020 were summarised.

RESULTS: A significant mean increase in SIV of 418.5 (95% CI: 298.8 to 538.2) for the period of interest surrounding WSD was observed, 36.2% greater than the SIV during the control period (2011-2019). Short-term joinpoint analysis showed a significant increase in SIV 3 days before WSD, a peak on WSD and a decrease to the precampaign level 3 days after WSD. The rising related queries suggested that the public had increasing concerns about stroke warning signs, stroke prevention and stroke recovery during the campaign.

CONCLUSIONS: The WSD campaign increased internet search activity. These research techniques can be applied to evaluation of other health campaigns. Advancing understanding of public demand will enable tailoring of the campaign and strengthen health management.

PMID:34907069 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054463

BMJ Open. 2021 Dec 14;11(12):e050605. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050605.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive impairment (CI) is the common complications in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. Recently, the pathogenesis of CI has been discussed and oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms in these patients. Thiamine and folic acid, which play an important role in relieving the production of reactive oxygen species, reducing homocysteine levels, improving oxidative stress in the nervous system. In pilot study, cognitive function was significantly improved in the group with thiamine and folic supplementation. Based on this result, we hypothesise that thiamine combined with folic acid supplementation may improve cognitive function in patients with MHD.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre study, we will enrol patients undergoing haemodialysis who has the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score lower than 26 to treatment group (thiamine 90 mg/day combined with folic acid 30 mg/day) or control group (thiamine placebo 90 mg/day combined with folic acid placebo 30 mg/day). All subjects will be followed up for 96 weeks. The primary endpoint is the comparison of Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) score between treatment group and control group at 96 weeks of follow-up. The secondary endpoints include serum thiamine, folate, homocysteine levels, cranial functional MRI and survival. The central randomisation method will be adopted and the principles of placebo-controlled, double-blind randomised control will be followed. The comparisons among ADAS-Cog scores and other secondary endpoints over time within subjects is conducted by using repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) or generalised estimating equations (GEE). Pairwise t-test with Bonferroni adjustment is performed for multiple comparisons. On the other hand, for comparisons between treatment and control group, simple one-way ANOVA, GEE or Wilcoxon rank sum test is used. The χ² method is used for statistical analysis of the categorical data. Kaplan-Meier survival curve is used for survival analysis. A p<0.05 is considered statistically significant difference.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This trial has been approved by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Renji Hospital Ethics Committee (KY2019-199). After publication of study results, trial report will be published in peer-reviewed journals and/or in national or international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000029297.

PMID:34907051 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050605