Tag: pubmed

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0276851. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276851. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, infection protection/control education has become increasingly important for not only healthcare professionals but also students undertaking medical, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other related courses. A review of the literature on infection control education reveals that the target participants often comprise healthcare workers, and very few studies of infection control education focus on students. We have developed a protocol for the systematic review of the literature on simulation-based infection prevention/control education for students undertaking medical, nursing, rehabilitation, and other related courses. The protocol for the systematic review and meta-analysis has been drafted in alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Systematic literature search will be performed for the period between 1990 (January) and 2022 (September) using the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. We will qualitatively and quantitatively examine the effects of simulation-based infection education for students in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Two investigators will independently search the databases according to the defined search strategy. The full-text of the selected articles will be screened independently keeping in mind the inclusion criteria by a pair of reviewers. Descriptive data will be extracted from each study regarding: study design, methods, participants, and outcomes. A meta-analysis will be performed if the quantitative data is suitable. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the standard χ2. Odds ratio for categorical data and weighted mean differences for continuous data and their 95% confidence intervals will be calculated and used for analysis. Where statistical pooling is not possible, the findings of the quantitative papers will be presented in narrative form. The qualitative aspect will employ narrative (descriptive) synthesis. Our review will make a valuable contribution to the domain of simulation-based infection prevention/control for students enrolled in medical and/or related courses.

PMID:36301969 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0276851

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0275342. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275342. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

The entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis indica, is a popular biocontrol agent of high commercial significance. It possesses tremendous genetic architecture to survive desiccation stress by undergoing anhydrobiosis to increase its lifespan-an attribute exploited in the formulation technology. The comparative transcriptome of unstressed and anhydrobiotic H. indica revealed several previously concealed metabolic events crucial for adapting towards the moisture stress. During the induction of anhydrobiosis in the infective juveniles (IJ), 1584 transcripts were upregulated and 340 downregulated. As a strategy towards anhydrobiotic survival, the IJ showed activation of several genes critical to antioxidant defense, detoxification pathways, signal transduction, unfolded protein response and molecular chaperones and ubiquitin-proteasome system. Differential expression of several genes involved in gluconeogenesis – β-oxidation of fatty acids, glyoxylate pathway; glyceroneogenesis; fatty acid biosynthesis; amino-acid metabolism – shikimate pathway, sachharopine pathway, kyneurine pathway, lysine biosynthesis; one-carbon metabolism-polyamine pathway, transsulfuration pathway, folate cycle, methionine cycle, nucleotide biosynthesis; mevalonate pathway; and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were also observed. We report the role of shikimate pathway, sachharopine pathway and glyceroneogenesis in anhydrobiotes, and seven classes of repeat proteins, specifically in H. indica for the first time. These results provide insights into anhydrobiotic survival strategies which can be utilized to strengthen the development of novel formulations with enhanced and sustained shelf-life.

PMID:36301967 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0275342

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0276856. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276856. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Community-based Health Insurance (CBHI) is a voluntary prepayment mechanism that guarantees the provision of basic healthcare services without financial barriers to underserved segments of the population in developing countries. The Government of Ethiopia launched the CBHI program to protect the community from high out-of-pocket health expenditure and improve health service utilization a decade ago. However, to improve the quality of healthcare services delivery in health facilities and cover the changing costs of healthcare, the government should revise the contribution of the CBHI scheme. Therefore, we determined the willingness to pay for a CBHI scheme and associated factors among rural households of Lemu and Bilbilo district, South Central Ethiopia.

METHODS: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study design to assess willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme and its associated factors among households in Lemu and Bilbilo districts, South Central Ethiopia. We used a double bounded contingent valuation method to elicit households’ willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme. Data were coded, cleaned, entered into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25, and exported to STATA 16 for analysis. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the presence of statistically significant associations between the willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme and independent variables at a p-value <0.05 and Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) values with 95% CI. Finally, we checked the fitness of the model using Hosmer and Lemeshow’s goodness-of-fit test.

RESULTS: Of the 476 study participants, 82.9% (95% CI: 79.2%, 86.01%) were willing to pay for the CBHI scheme and only 62% of them can afford the average amount of 358.32ETB ($7.68) per household per annum. Primary education (AOR = 3.17; 95% CI: 1.74-5.80), secondary and above education (AOR = 4.13; 95% CI: 1.86-9.18), large family size (AOR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.26-5.97), monthly income of 500-1000ETB (AOR = 3.75; 95% CI: 1.97-7.13) and distance to public health facilities (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.04-4.39 were significantly associated with willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme.

CONCLUSION: In this study, around 83% of respondents were willing to pay for the CBHI and meet the government expectation for 2020. The study also revealed that educational status, family size, monthly income, and distance from the health facilities were significant factors associated with WTP for the CBHI scheme. In addition, we found that a large number of the respondents couldn’t afford the average amount of money that the participants were willing to pay for the CBHI scheme. So, the government should consider the economic status of the communities while revising the CBHI scheme premium not to miss those who cannot afford the contribution.

PMID:36301951 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0276856

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0276682. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276682. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Home birth preference is the need of pregnant women to give birth at their home with the help of traditional (unskilled) birth attendants. Homebirth with unskilled birth attendants during childbirth is the main leading indicator for maternal and newborn death. In Ethiopia, numbers of women prefer homebirth which is assisted by unskilled personal. However, there is no information regarding the problem in the Arba Minch zuria woreda. Therefore, it is important to identify prevalence of preference of homebirth and associated factors.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the preference of home birth and associated factors among pregnant women in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site.

METHOD AND MATERIALS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site, from May 1 to June 1, 2021. Using simple random sampling technique, 416 study samples were selected. Data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were coded and entered into Epi-Data version 4.4.2.1 computer software and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 25 for analysis. Bi-variable binary logistic regression for the selection of potential candidate variables at p-value < 0.25 for multivariable analysis and multivariable binary logistic regression to identify the association between homebirth preference and independent variables were carried out. The level of statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05.

RESULT: In this study, in Arba Minch demographic health surveillance site, the prevalence of preference of pregnant women to give birth at their home was 24% [95%CI: (19.9%-28.2%)] The factors significantly associated with the preference of home birth were husband involvement in decision making [AOR: 0.14 (0.05-0.38)], no access of road for transportation [AOR: 2.4 (1.2-5.18)], not heard about the benefit of institutional birth [AOR: 5.3 (2.3-12.2)], poor knowledge about danger signs [AOR: 3 (1.16-7.6)], negative attitude toward services [AOR: 3.1 (1.19-8.02)], and high fear to give birth at institution [AOR: 5.12 (2.4-10.91)].

CONCLUSIONS: In Arba Minch demographic health surveillance site, the prevalence of preference of pregnant women to give birth at their home was 24%. Husband involvement in decision making, no access of road for transportation, not heard about the benefit of institutional birth, poor knowledge about danger signs, negative attitude toward services, and high fear to give birth at health institutions were factors significantly associated with the preference of home birth.

PMID:36301942 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0276682

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0258648. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258648. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Initial efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic have relied heavily on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including physical distancing, hand hygiene, and mask-wearing. However, an effective vaccine is essential to containing the spread of the virus. We developed a compartmental model to examine different vaccine strategies for controlling the spread of COVID-19. Our framework accounts for testing rates, test-turnaround times, and vaccination waning immunity. Using reported case data from the city of Toronto, Canada between Mar-Dec, 2020 we defined epidemic phases of infection using contact rates as well as the probability of transmission upon contact. We investigated the impact of vaccine distribution by comparing different permutations of waning immunity, vaccine coverage and efficacy throughout various stages of NPI’s relaxation in terms of cases and deaths. The basic reproduction number is also studied. We observed that widespread vaccine coverage substantially reduced the number of cases and deaths. Under phases with high transmission, an early or late reopening will result in new resurgence of the infection, even with the highest coverage. On the other hand, under phases with lower transmission, 60% of coverage is enough to prevent new infections. Our analysis of R0 showed that the basic reproduction number is reduced by decreasing the tests turnaround time and transmission in the household. While we found that household transmission can decrease following the introduction of a vaccine, public health efforts to reduce test turnaround times remain important for virus containment.

PMID:36301932 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0258648

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0276698. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276698. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Ethnic discrimination on the housing market has been subject of research for years. While a field experimental approach is widespread, alternative attempts to objectively measure mechanisms of discrimination on the housing market are scarce. In line with labor market research, we stress that to reduce rental discrimination against ethnic minorities, we need understanding its underlying mechanisms. This is the first paper that introduces a vignette experiment to do so. We distinguish between four mechanisms put forward in the literature but hardly ever empirically tested: agent taste-based discrimination, owner taste-based discrimination, neighborhood taste-based discrimination and statistical discrimination, in a multifactorial vignette experiment among 576 pre graduate real estate student. In addition, our experimental design allows us to examine whether unequal treatment is heterogeneous by property owner and neighborhood characteristics.

PMID:36301902 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0276698

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0276620. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276620. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The risk of contracting COVID-19 through dental treatment is potentially high, thus several guidelines have been developed to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the dental office worldwide. These changes have posed some relevant questions among oral health professionals regarding the understanding and attitudes of dental patients toward COVID-19. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of dental patients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 4 public hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania involving 472 adult patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire that had a set of questions regarding knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19. Data were analyzed using the SPSS computer software version 26. For descriptive analysis means, standard error of the mean, and proportion were used. Multivariate regression analysis was utilized for the response analysis. Alpha of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS: Good levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices related to COVID-19 were found in 76.5%, 74.8%, and 58.1% of participants respectively. On performing multivariate analysis, odds of having good knowledge regarding COVID-19 were almost 2 folds higher in participants who were females, with high education levels, those without partners, and those with stable income. Females were 1.5 folds more likely to have a good attitude toward COVID-19 and odds of good practice against COVID-19 were 3 folds higher in young adults compared to the elderly.

CONCLUSION: A majority of dental patients have good knowledge and attitude related to COVID-19. Predictors of good knowledge were sex, education level, marital status, and income of the participants. Sex predicted good attitude and age predicted good practice.

PMID:36301894 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0276620

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 27;17(10):e0274360. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274360. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on public life around the world, influencing medicine and health, the economy, employment, science, and education. Health care specialists are key workers who faced extreme challenges posed by the pandemic, including threats to their own lives due to the rapid spread of the virus, a huge increase in workload, and professional burnout syndrome. Analysis of the factors that physicians found most exhausting during the pandemic could lay the groundwork for the effective management of future crises.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors that physicians working in family physician (family and internal medicine) teams found most exhausting during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania and assess their causes.

METHODS: An anonymous survey of physicians (n = 191) working in family physician teams was carried out from 21 June 2021 to 17 September 2021. Physicians signed an informed consent form prior to completion of the questionnaire. Mixed data analysis was performed, consisting of statistical analysis using the SPSS 27 software and a qualitative causal analysis.

RESULTS: During the pandemic, physicians were most exhausted by: chaotic vaccination priorities (44.5%); unsatisfied patients (52.4%); constantly changing legislation (71.7%); the large workload (75.9%); and the malfunctioning of online systems (81.2%).

CONCLUSIONS: Physicians in family physician teams indicated the following aspects that require improvement: service provision; effective work organization for physicians; and the satisfaction of patients with decisions made during the pandemic.

PMID:36301891 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0274360

J Ultrasound Med. 2022 Oct 27. doi: 10.1002/jum.16117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to present a comparison between panoramic radiographs and USG imaging with a focus on revealing the advantages of USG over radiographs, and to show the distribution of calcifications detected in USG by considering the age and gender.

METHODS: A total of 148 patients with soft tissue calcifications as seen on panoramic radiographs were examined with USG imaging. Sialoliths, carotid artery calcifications, tonsilloliths, phleboliths and lymph node calcifications were examined in terms of anatomical localization, distribution and shape.

RESULTS: In the USG evaluation of these 148 patients, soft tissue calcifications were observed in 113 (76.4%) patients. The mean age of the patients with calcification was 55.6 ± 13.1 (min: 22-max: 77). Bilateral calcifications were detected in 25 (22.1%) patients, whereas unilateral calcifications were found in 88 (77.9%) patients. While the rates of tonsilloliths, sialoliths, phleboliths, and lymph node calcifications were statistically similar in male and female patients, the rate of carotid artery calcifications was found to be higher in men than in women (P = 0.017). No statistical significance was found between age groups in terms of the formation of soft tissue calcifications (P = 0.117).

CONCLUSIONS: Panoramic radiographs may mislead clinicians in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of soft tissue calcifications in the head and neck region due to the presence of distortion, superpositions, metal artefacts, and ghost images. USG is an important diagnostic tool in determining the localization of soft tissue calcifications that can be confused on two-dimensional radiographs, their relationship with neighboring structures, and defining calcification. It can be used safely in the detection of soft tissue calcifications as it provides dynamic imaging without the use of radiation or contrast material compared to other advanced imaging methods.

PMID:36301624 | DOI:10.1002/jum.16117

J Med Microbiol. 2022 Oct;71(10). doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001595.

ABSTRACT

Introduction. Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) infection occurs with viral genome presence in respiratory secretions (RS) and serum, and therefore both samples can be used for diagnosis.Gap statement. The diagnostic sensitivity of HBoV1 DNA detection in serum and the duration of DNAaemia in severe clinical cases have not been elucidated.Aim. To determine HBoV1 DNA in serum and RS of paediatric patients hospitalized for lower acute respiratory infection (LARI) and to analyse the clinical-epidemiological features of positive cases.Methodology. This was a prospective, transverse study. Physicians selected the clinical situations and obtained paired clinical samples (RS and serum) that were tested by PCR/qPCR for HBoV1. Positive cases were analysed considering time of specimen collection, co-detection, clinical manifestations and viral load; statistical significant level was set at α=0.05.Results. HBoV1 was detected in 98 of 402 cases included (24 %); 18/98 (18 %) patients had the virus detectable in serum and 91/98 (93 %) in RS (P<0.001). Positivity rates were not significantly different in patients with RS and serum collected within or beyond 24 h of admission. Single HBoV1 infection was identified in 39/98 patients (40 %), three patients had HBoV1 in both clinical samples (3/39, 8 %) and 32 (32/39, 82 %) only in RS, 22 of them (69 %) with both clinical samples within 24 h of admission. Cough (P=0.001) and rhinitis (P=0.003) were significantly frequent among them and most patients were diagnosed with bronchiolitis (22/39, 56 %) and pneumonia (9/39, 23 %), which was more frequent compared to cases with co-infection (P=0.04). No significant differences were identified among patients with high, medium or low viral load of HBoV1 regarding rate of positivity in both clinical samples, the time of collection of RS and serum, co-detection, first episode of LARI, clinical manifestations, comorbidity or requirement for assisted ventilation. Intensive care unit (ICU) patients had a significantly higher frequency of detection (P<0.001) and co-detection (P=0.001) compared to patients on standard care.Conclusions. HBoV1 is prevalent among infant patients hospitalized for LARI and including it in the standard testing can add to the aetiological diagnosis in these cases, especially for patients admitted to the ICU. HBoV1 detection in serum did not contribute significantly to the diagnosis as compared to detection in respiratory secretions.

PMID:36301612 | DOI:10.1099/jmm.0.001595