Tag: pubmed

Int Angiol. 2022 Oct 26. doi: 10.23736/S0392-9590.22.04811-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Understanding prothrombotic factors is important in vascular surgery for surgical planning, preoperative evaluation, and post-operative management. The purpose of this study was to investigate ethnicity-based differences in coagulation between East Asian and Western cohorts by comparing patency rates after infrainguinal bypass surgery.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A review of infrainguinal bypass patients was conducted for East Asian (including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) and Western (North American and European) studies between 1990 and 2015 within the Journal of Vascular Surgery. The number of patent grafts at 1-year and 5-years were calculated from reported patency rates for PTFE grafts, Dacron grafts, all prosthetic grafts, autogenous grafts, and all grafts. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test for each graft type at each time point.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: A total of 9972 grafts from 50 studies were included in our review. There were 3592 grafts from East Asian patients and 6380 grafts from Western patients. There was a statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between East Asian and Western cohorts in both 1-year and 5-year patency rates for PTFE, all prosthetic, and all grafts.

CONCLUSIONS: East Asians had significantly higher patency rates after infrainguinal bypass surgery for PTFE, all prosthetic, and all graft types compared with Westerners, showing an ethnicity-based difference in thrombosis. Further research is needed to identify the specific genetic or dietary influences causing this significant difference.

PMID:36285528 | DOI:10.23736/S0392-9590.22.04811-8

Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2022 Oct 26. doi: 10.1002/cpdd.1181. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of valsartan in Chinese healthy subjects and investigate potential covariate impacts on the pharmacokinetics (PK) parameters. Data from a bioequivalence study with 78 Chinese healthy subjects were retrospectively analyzed to develop a PPK model of valsartan. Phoenix NLME 8.1 was used to build a PPK model and quantify the effects of covariates, such as demographic data and biochemical, on the PK parameters of valsartan. For the healthy Chinese population, valsartan conformed to the two-compartment model with an absorption lag time. In the final PPK model, food affected the absorption rate constant, while aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine affected the clearance of the central compartment. The final PPK model was verified to be reproducible, and it can be used to evaluate the PK parameters. This is the first research describing the PPK profile of valsartan in healthy Chinese subjects, and it is expected to provide relevant PK parameters for further study of valsartan.

PMID:36285517 | DOI:10.1002/cpdd.1181

Palliat Support Care. 2022 Oct 26:1-8. doi: 10.1017/S1478951522001456. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: A lack of confidence among oncology nurses might be problematic when providing palliative care. No valid and reliable tool is currently available in Saudi Arabia to assess oncology nurses’ confidence in providing palliative care. This study aims to explain the process of translation, adaptation, and validation of the Palliative Care Self-Efficacy Scale (PCSS) to support its use in the Saudi context.

METHODS: This was a methodological study of translation, cultural adaptation, and content validation of PCSS. The process of translation and adaptation was conducted according to the World Health Organization guidelines, including forward and backward translations, an expert panel review, and pretesting and cognitive interviewing, resulting in a final version. Two independent bilingual oncology nurses familiar with palliative care terminology translated the PCSS from English to Modern Standard Arabic. Next, the concise PCSS translation developed from the 2 translations was back-translated to English by 2 English-speaking translators and then compared to the original PCSS. The Arabic version PCSS was evaluated by Saudi professionals (N = 5) in oncology and palliative care nursing using a Likert scale for essentiality, relevance, clarity, and appropriateness. The content validity was examined using the calculation of the content validity ratio, item-level content validity index (I-CVI), and modified kappa statistics. The thinking aloud method was also used to interview Saudi oncology nurses (N = 8) who had palliative care experience.

RESULTS: The relevance, clarity, and appropriateness of the first Arabic version PCSS were validated. It had a level of content validity index of 1.00 for all items after improvements were made based on the recommendations of experts and oncology nurses.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The PCSS demonstrated face and content validity in the assessment of oncology nurses’ confidence in providing palliative care. The PCSS is suitable for use in palliative cancer care units in Saudi Arabia to identify the educational needs of nurses to promote their confidence and improve the quality of care. Additional reliable and valid language versions of the PCSS allow for international and national comparisons, which may be useful for oncology nursing administrators or managers who are accountable for the quality of palliative care during the strategic health-care planning process in cancer services.

PMID:36285511 | DOI:10.1017/S1478951522001456

Health Promot J Austr. 2022 Oct 26. doi: 10.1002/hpja.675. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

ISSUE ADDRESSED: The literature provides evidence that maternal health is strongly linked with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors. Enabling women with the asset of health literacy may help to reduce the intergenerational impact of NCDs. However, little is known about the health literacy of pregnant women and women with young children in Tasmania and globally. This study aimed to identify the health literacy status of pregnant women and women with young children (0-8 years) living in Tasmania and describe their health literacy status according to their demographic characteristics.

METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was undertaken. The survey included demographic questions and a health literacy questionnaire (HLQ). The description of demographic differences across the HLQ scales focused on effect sizes (ES) for standardised differences in mean health literacy scores. The differences found to be statistically significant at p <0.05 were also included.

RESULTS: 194 participants completed the survey with a mean age of 35.3 years. 73.2% were married, 16.5% were pregnant, 93% had one or more children and 81.5% were university educated. For the first five HLQ scales (score range 1-4), the lowest overall score was seen for the scale ‘Actively managing my health’ (mean= 2.96; SD= 0.54). For the last four scales (score range 1-5), the lowest overall score was seen for the scale ‘Navigating the healthcare system’ (mean=3.75, SD= 0.67). Non-pregnant women, women with children, women with chronic health conditions and non-married women experienced more health literacy challenges.

CONCLUSION: Women in our study showed various strengths and challenges with mean scores varying across the nine HLQ scales. Understanding the health literacy needs of women will enable health services to co-design solutions and interventions capable of responding to the evolving health needs of pregnant women and women with young children. This approach will ensure that codesigned solutions can engage the end-user in healthy lifestyle practices and the solutions are sustainable. SO WHAT?: We must shift away from a “one size fits all” approach to tailor services to respond to the differing health literacy needs of pregnant women and women with young children to support healthy lifestyle practices and reduce the NCD burden.

PMID:36285492 | DOI:10.1002/hpja.675

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol Nurs. 2022 Oct 26:27527530221121729. doi: 10.1177/27527530221121729. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: To address the need for standardized, comprehensive chemotherapy/biotherapy education in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider and Instructor program courses were culturally adapted, translated to Spanish, and piloted. The process of course adaptation and implementation are described. A Context, Input, Process, Product model outcomes evaluation determined: (a) differences in pass rates by test version and pilot location, (b) predictors of pass rates, (c) course appropriateness for nurses’ education and practice levels, and (d) strategies for course improvements. Methods: The Spanish APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider program was piloted four times and the Instructor program twice with nurses from Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Spain. Statistical analysis identified factors associated with pass rates. Results: Of the 203 students in four Spanish APHON Provider program courses, data from 108 students (three pilots) were analyzed (one unplanned pilot excluded for missing data). Significant predictors of pass rates included: pediatric oncology frontline nurses (OR = 9.86; 95% CI [2.56, 65.23]; p = .004), nurses dedicated to an inpatient or outpatient unit (non-rotating) (OR = 6.79 [1.29, 51.98]; p = .033), and graduation from a 5-year nursing program (OR = 5.92; 95% CI [1.30, 33.15]; p = .028). Discussion: The Spanish APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy program was determined appropriate for nurses’ education and practice levels in LAC countries. Through the APHON Spanish language instructor network, pediatric oncology nurses in LAC countries have increased access to standardized, comprehensive chemotherapy/biotherapy education.

PMID:36285475 | DOI:10.1177/27527530221121729

J Audiol Otol. 2022 Oct;26(4):169-181. doi: 10.7874/jao.2022.00234. Epub 2022 Oct 10.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Trendy technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) are being increasingly used for hearing loss, tinnitus, and vestibular disease. Thus, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the possible benefits of the use of VR and AR technologies in patients with hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or vestibular dysfunction, with the aim of suggesting potential applications of these technologies for both researchers and clinicians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Published articles from 1968 to 2022 were gathered from six electronic journal databases. Applying our specified inclusion and/or exclusion criteria, 23 studies were analyzed. As only one article on hearing loss and two articles on tinnitus were found, 20 studies on vestibular dysfunction were only finally included for the meta-analysis. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were chosen as estimates to compare the studies. A funnel plot and Egger’s regression analysis were used to identify any risk of bias.

RESULTS: High heterogeneity (I2: 83%, τ2: 0.5431, p<0.01) was identified across the studies on vestibular dysfunction. VR-based rehabilitation was significantly effective for individuals with vestibular disease (SMDs: 0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.08 to 0.15, p<0.05). A subgroup analysis revealed that only improvement in the subjective questionnaire was meaningful and statistically significant (SMDs: -0.66, 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.22).

CONCLUSIONS: VR-based vestibular rehabilitation showed potential for subjective rating measures like Dizziness Handicap Index. The negative effect of aging on vestibular disease was indirectly confirmed. More clinical trials and an evidence-based approach are needed to confirm the implementation of state-of-the-art technology for hearing loss and tinnitus, representative diseases in neurotology.

PMID:36285466 | DOI:10.7874/jao.2022.00234

Interv Neuroradiol. 2022 Oct 26:15910199221133863. doi: 10.1177/15910199221133863. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent endovascular trials have spurred a paradigm shift toward routine use of CT perfusion (CTP) for decision-making in acute ischemic stroke. CTP use in the late window, however, remains under evaluation. Our objective was to assess the accuracy of CTP-predicted core in the late window.

METHODS: In a retrospective review of our prospectively identified stroke registry at a single, comprehensive stroke center, we included patients with anterior large vessel occlusions presenting within the 6-24 h window who underwent baseline CTP evaluation and achieved TICI2b or TICI3 reperfusion on endovascular treatment. We recorded baseline CTP-predicted core volumes at relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) thresholds of <30% <34%, and <38% using RAPID software. Final infarct volumes (FIV) were calculated using follow up MRI and CT, obtained within 72 h after stroke onset.

RESULTS: Of the eligible patients, 134 met our inclusion criteria. Mean FIV was 39.5 (SD 49.6). Median CTP to reperfusion time was 93.5 min. Median absolute differences between CTP-predicted core and FIV were 14.7, 14.9, and 16.0 ml at <30%, <34%, and <38%, respectively. Correlation between CTP-predicted ischemic cores and FIV was moderate and statistically significant at all thresholds: r = 0.43 (p <0.001), r = 0.43 (p <0.001), and r = 0.42 (p <0.001) at the <30%, <34%, and <38% cutoffs, respectively.

CONCLUSION: CTP cores in the 6-24 h period underestimate FIV, especially with larger infarcts. CTP-predicted core volumes in the late window show moderate positive correlation with FIV.

PMID:36285452 | DOI:10.1177/15910199221133863

J R Soc Interface. 2022 Oct;19(195):20220415. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0415. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

ABSTRACT

DNA methylation occurs predominantly on cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides in the mammalian genome, and the methylation landscape is maintained over mitotic cell division. It has been posited that coupling of maintenance methylation activity among neighbouring CpGs is critical to stability over cellular generations; however, the mechanism is unclear. We used mathematical models and stochastic simulation to analyse data from experiments that probe genome-wide methylation of nascent DNA post-replication in cells. We find that DNA methylation maintenance rates on individual CpGs are locally correlated, and the degree of this correlation varies by genomic regional context. By using theory of protein diffusion along DNA, we show that exponential decay of methylation rate correlation with genomic distance is consistent with enzyme processivity. Our results provide quantitative evidence of genome-wide methyltransferase processivity in vivo. We further developed a method to disentangle different mechanistic sources of kinetic correlations. From the experimental data, we estimate that an individual methyltransferase methylates neighbour CpGs processively if they are 36 basepairs apart, on average. But other mechanisms of coupling dominate for longer inter-CpG distances. Our study demonstrates that quantitative insights into enzymatic mechanisms can be obtained from replication-associated, cell-based genome-wide measurements, by combining data-driven statistical analyses with hypothesis-driven mathematical modelling.

PMID:36285438 | DOI:10.1098/rsif.2022.0415

Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 25;12(1):17897. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22248-3.

ABSTRACT

The subalpine vegetation in the Eastern Carpathians has been under agropastoral influence as a high-mountain open pasture for about five centuries. Today, the subalpine zone released by human intervention is growing as thickets. In this study, we use a numerical model of tree crowns (CHM, Canopy Height Model) based on laser scanning (LiDAR) and a high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM) to delineate the subalpine thicket distribution. Anselin ‘Local Moran’s I’ statistic was used to find hot and cold spots in vegetation cover. We used a logistic generalized linear model (GLM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to set for the historical, climatic and terrain conditions candidates as the predictors of the present-day distribution of vegetation hot spots. We use variance partitioning to assess the interaction of climate and terrain variables. The resulting model suggests key environmental controls that underlie the vegetation pattern. Namely, snow in terrain depressions protects woody vegetation against abrasion and winter drought and increased insolation reduces the site humidity in the summer on S-E exposure hampering re-vegetation. In addition, the increasing distance from the treeline declines the rate of secondary succession. In all, the spatial model predicts the 35% coverage by thickets as a theoretical maximum of available climatic-terrain niches. The results suggest that the growth of the subalpine thicket, in the face of growing global temperature, may be restricted due to the limited number of niches available.

PMID:36284149 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-22248-3

Nat Commun. 2022 Oct 25;13(1):6336. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-34016-y.

ABSTRACT

Genes with moderate to low expression heritability may explain a large proportion of complex trait etiology, but such genes cannot be sufficiently captured in conventional transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs), partly due to the relatively small available reference datasets for developing expression genetic prediction models to capture the moderate to low genetically regulated components of gene expression. Here, we introduce a method, the Summary-level Unified Method for Modeling Integrated Transcriptome (SUMMIT), to improve the expression prediction model accuracy and the power of TWAS by using a large expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) summary-level dataset. We apply SUMMIT to the eQTL summary-level data provided by the eQTLGen consortium. Through simulation studies and analyses of genome-wide association study summary statistics for 24 complex traits, we show that SUMMIT improves the accuracy of expression prediction in blood, successfully builds expression prediction models for genes with low expression heritability, and achieves higher statistical power than several benchmark methods. Finally, we conduct a case study of COVID-19 severity with SUMMIT and identify 11 likely causal genes associated with COVID-19 severity.

PMID:36284135 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-022-34016-y