Tag: pubmed

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 28;17(4):e0266883. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266883. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

While a substantial amount of research has focused on the abuse of opioids and cannabinoids in human populations, few studies have investigated accidental poisoning events in pet populations. The objective of this study was to identify whether poisoning events involving opioids and cannabinoids clustered in space, time, and space-time, and compare the locations of clusters between the two toxicants. Data were obtained concerning reports of dog poisoning events from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) Animal Poisoning Control Center (APCC), from 2005-2014. The spatial scan statistic was used to identify clusters with a high proportion of these poisoning events. Our analyses show that opioid and cannabinoid poisoning events clustered in space, time, and space-time. The cluster patterns identified for each toxicant were distinct, but both shared some similarities with human use data. This study may help increase awareness to the public, public health, and veterinary communities about where and when dogs were most affected by opioid and cannabinoid poisonings. This study highlights the need to educate dog owners about safeguarding opioid and cannabinoid products from vulnerable populations.

PMID:35482776 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266883

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2022 Apr 25. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002949. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Individual differences in brain structure and function in older adults are potential proxies of brain reserve or maintenance and may provide mechanistic predictions of adherence to exercise. We hypothesized that multimodal neuroimaging features would predict adherence to a six-month randomized controlled trial of exercise in 131 older adults (aged 65.79 (4.65) years, 63 percent female), alone and in combination with psychosocial, cognitive and health measures.

METHODS: Regularized elastic net regression within a nested cross-validation framework was applied to predict adherence to the intervention in three separate models (brain structure and function only, psychosocial, health and demographic data only, and a multimodal model).

RESULTS: Higher cortical thickness in somatosensory and inferior frontal regions and less surface area in primary visual and inferior frontal regions predicted adherence. Higher nodal functional connectivity (degree count) in default, frontoparietal and attentional networks, and less nodal strength in primary visual and temporoparietal networks predicted exercise adherence (r = 0.24, p = 0.004). Survey and clinical measures of gait and walking self-efficacy, biological sex and perceived stress also predicted adherence (r = 0.17, p = 0.056), however this prediction was not significant when tested against a null test statistic. A combined multimodal model achieved the highest predictive strength (r = 0.28, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest there is substantial utility of using brain-based measures in future research into precision and individualized exercise interventions older adults.

PMID:35482769 | DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000002949

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 28;17(4):e0266277. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266277. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 household transmissibility remains unclear in Pakistan. To understand the dynamics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus disease epidemiology, this study estimated Secondary Attack Rate (SAR) among household and close contacts of index cases in Pakistan using a statistical transmission model.

METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using an inclusive contact tracing dataset from the provinces of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to estimate SAR. We considered the probability of an infected person transmitting the infection to close contacts regardless of residential addresses. This means that close contacts were identified irrespective of their relationship with the index case. We assessed demographic determinants of COVID-19 infectivity and transmissibility. For this purpose based on evolving evidence, and as CDC recommends fully vaccinated people get tested 5-7 days after close contact with a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Therefore we followed the same procedure in the close contacts for secondary infection.

FINDINGS: During the study period from 15th May 2020 to 15th Jan 2021, a total of 339 (33.9%) index cases were studied from 1000 cases initially notified. Among close contact groups (n = 739), households were identified with an assumed mean incubation period of 8.2+4.3 days and a maximum incubation period of 15 days. SAR estimated here is among the household contacts. 117 secondary cases from 739 household contacts, with SAR 11.1% (95% CI 9.0-13.6). All together (240) SAR achieved was 32.48% (95% CI; 29.12-37.87) for symptomatic and confirmed cases. The potential risk factors for SAR identified here included; old age group (>45 years of age), male (gender), household members >5, and residency in urban areas and for index cases high age group. Overall local reproductive number (R) based on the observed household contact frequencies for index/primary cases was 0.9 (95% CI 0.47-1.21) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 1.3 (95% CI 0.73-1.56) in Punjab.

CONCLUSIONS: SAR estimated here was high especially in the second phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. The results highlight the need to adopt rigorous preventive measures to cut the chain of viral transmission and prevent another wave of COVID-19.

PMID:35482766 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0266277

Nurs Educ Perspect. 2022 May-Jun 01;43(3):190-192. doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000785.

ABSTRACT

Nursing schools use diagnostic readiness tests (DRTs) to prepare family nurse practitioner (FNP) graduates to pass certification exams, but overall effectiveness estimates of DRTs are scant in the nursing literature. This pilot investigation used statistical analysis and Likert attitude scales with a convenience sample of FNP students to 1) discover any correlations between score results of two DRTs and 2) elicit test-takers’ perceptions of their effectiveness. Perceptions of effectiveness were sometimes less positive than statistical indicators of test effectiveness. Disconnects between effectiveness and student perceptions need further study to guarantee optimal employment of DRTs in FNP program curricula.

PMID:35482402 | DOI:10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000785

J Med Internet Res. 2022 Apr 28;24(4):e34015. doi: 10.2196/34015.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sensors embedded in smartphones allow for the passive momentary quantification of people’s states in the context of their daily lives in real time. Such data could be useful for alleviating the burden of ecological momentary assessments and increasing utility in clinical assessments. Despite existing research on using passive sensor data to assess participants’ moment-to-moment states and activity levels, only limited research has investigated temporally linking sensor assessment and self-reported assessment to further integrate the 2 methodologies.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether sparse movement-related sensor data can be used to train machine learning models that are able to infer states of individuals’ work-related rumination, fatigue, mood, arousal, life engagement, and sleep quality. Sensor data were only collected while the participants filled out the questionnaires on their smartphones.

METHODS: We trained personalized machine learning models on data from employees (N=158) who participated in a 3-week ecological momentary assessment study.

RESULTS: The results suggested that passive smartphone sensor data paired with personalized machine learning models can be used to infer individuals’ self-reported states at later measurement occasions. The mean R² was approximately 0.31 (SD 0.29), and more than half of the participants (119/158, 75.3%) had an R² of ≥0.18. Accuracy was only slightly attenuated compared with earlier studies and ranged from 38.41% to 51.38%.

CONCLUSIONS: Personalized machine learning models and temporally linked passive sensing data have the capability to infer a sizable proportion of variance in individuals’ daily self-reported states. Further research is needed to investigate factors that affect the accuracy and reliability of the inference.

PMID:35482397 | DOI:10.2196/34015

JMIR Serious Games. 2022 Apr 28;10(2):e35295. doi: 10.2196/35295.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although the pursuit of improved cognitive function through working memory training has been the subject of decades of research, the recent growth in commercial adaptations of classic working memory tasks in the form of gamified apps warrants additional scrutiny. In particular, the emergence of virtual reality as a platform for cognitive training presents opportunities for the use of novel visual features.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to add to the body of knowledge regarding the use of game-like visual design elements by specifically examining the application of two particular visual features common to virtual reality environments: immersive, colorful backgrounds and the use of 3D depth. In addition, electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected to identify potential neural correlates of any observed changes in performance.

METHODS: A simple visual working memory task was presented to participants in several game-like adaptations, including the use of colorful, immersive backgrounds and 3D depth. The impact of each adaptation was separately assessed using both EEG and performance assessment outcomes and compared with an unmodified version of the task.

RESULTS: Results suggest that although accuracy and reaction time may be slightly affected by the introduction of such game elements, the effects were small and not statistically significant. Changes in EEG power, particularly in the beta and theta rhythms, were significant but failed to correlate with any corresponding changes in performance. Therefore, they may only reflect cognitive changes at the perceptual level.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the data suggest that the addition of these specific visual features to simple cognitive tasks does not appear to significantly affect performance or task-dependent cognitive load.

PMID:35482373 | DOI:10.2196/35295

JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Apr 28;11(4):e35243. doi: 10.2196/35243.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lymph node yield is the number of lymph nodes retrieved during oncological resection and histopathologically identified in the resection specimen. It is an important surrogate parameter for assessing the oncological radicality of the resection of gastrointestinal carcinomas, as well as a prognostic factor in these diseases. It remains unclear if and to what extent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy, which have become established treatments for carcinoma of the esophagus, stomach, and rectum and are increasingly used in pancreatic carcinoma, affect the lymph node yield.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review with meta-analysis is conducted with the aim of summarizing the available evidence regarding the lymph node yield, an oncological surrogate marker, in patients with gastrointestinal carcinomas undergoing surgery after neoadjuvant therapy compared to those undergoing surgery without neoadjuvant therapy.

METHODS: Randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing oncological resection of esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, and rectal carcinoma with and without prior neoadjuvant therapy are eligible for inclusion regardless of study design. Publications will be identified with a defined search strategy in 2 electronic databases: PubMed and Cochrane Library. The primary endpoint of the analysis is the number of lymph nodes identified in the resected specimen. Secondary endpoints include the number of harvested metastatic lymph nodes, operation time, postoperative complications, pathological TNM staging, and overall and recurrence-free survival time. Using suitable statistical methods, the endpoints between patients with and without neoadjuvant therapy, as well as in defined subgroups (neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or chemoradiotherapy; and patients with esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, or rectal cancer), will be compared.

RESULTS: The literature search and data collection started in October 2021. Results are expected to be published in mid-2022.

CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis will provide the most up-to-date and complete summary of the evidence on an association between neoadjuvant therapy and lymph node yield in gastrointestinal cancer surgery. The underlying hypothesis is that neoadjuvant therapy decreases the number and size of lymph nodes through lymphocyte depletion and radiation-induced fibrosis, thus leading to a lower possible lymph node yield. The findings of the meta-analysis will show if this hypothesis is supported by evidence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD218459; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021218459.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/35243.

PMID:35482374 | DOI:10.2196/35243

JMIR Aging. 2022 Apr 28;5(2):e35625. doi: 10.2196/35625.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Latinx family caregivers of individuals with dementia face many barriers to caregiver support access. Interventions to alleviate these barriers are urgently needed.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the development of CuidaTEXT, a tailored SMS text messaging intervention to support Latinx family caregivers of individuals with dementia.

METHODS: CuidaTEXT is informed by the stress process framework and social cognitive theory. We developed and refined CuidaTEXT using a mixed methods approach that included thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. We followed 6 user-centered design stages, namely, the selection of design principles, software vendor collaboration, evidence-based foundation, caregiver and research and clinical advisory board guidance, sketching and prototyping, and usability testing of the prototype of CuidaTEXT among 5 Latinx caregivers.

RESULTS: CuidaTEXT is a bilingual 6-month-long SMS text messaging-based intervention tailored to caregiver needs that includes 1-3 daily automatic messages (n=244) about logistics, dementia education, self-care, social support, end of life, care of the person with dementia, behavioral symptoms, and problem-solving strategies; 783 keyword-driven text messages for further help with the aforementioned topics; live chat interaction with a coach for further help; and a 19-page reference booklet summarizing the purpose and functions of the intervention. The 5 Latinx caregivers who used the prototype of CuidaTEXT scored an average of 97 out of 100 on the System Usability Scale.

CONCLUSIONS: CuidaTEXT’s prototype demonstrated high usability among Latinx caregivers. CuidaTEXT’s feasibility is ready to be tested.

PMID:35482366 | DOI:10.2196/35625

JAMA Oncol. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.0864. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Although quality of life (QOL) is an important clinical end point, cancer drugs are often approved based on overall survival (OS) or putative surrogate end points such as progression-free survival (PFS) without QOL data.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether cancer drug trials that show improvement in OS or PFS also improve global QOL of patients with cancer compared with the control treatment, as well as to assess how unchanged or detrimental QOL outcomes are reported in trial publications.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with cancer in the advanced setting who were enrolled into phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of cancer drugs reporting QOL data and published in English language in a PubMed-indexed journal in the calendar year 2019. The systematic search of PubMed was conducted in July 2020.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Association of QOL outcomes with OS and PFS, framing of unchanged QOL outcomes in trial publications, and the association of favorable framing with industry funding of the trials.

RESULTS: A total of 45 phase 3 RCTs enrolling 24 806 participants (13 368 in the experimental arm and 11 438 in the control arm) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study analyses. Improvement in global QOL with the experimental agent was reported in 11 (24%) RCTs. The RCTs with improved QOL were more likely to also show improved OS vs trials with unimproved QOL (7 of 11 [64%] trials vs 10 of 34 [29%] trials; χ2 = 4.13; P = .04); there was no such association observed for PFS (6 of 11 [55%] trials vs 17 of 34 [50%] trials, χ2 = 0.03; P = .87). Six trials reported worsening QOL, of which 3 (50%) were trials of targeted drugs, and 11 trials reported improvement in QOL, of which 6 (55%) were trials of immunotherapy drugs. Of the 34 trials in which QOL was not improved compared with controls, 16 (47%) reported these results in a positive frame, an observation statistically significantly associated with industry funding (χ2 = 6.35; P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study, a small proportion of RCTs of cancer drugs showed benefit in global QOL with the experimental agent. These results showed an association between QOL benefit and OS benefit but no such association with PFS benefit. Trials that failed to show improved QOL often reported their QOL outcomes more favorably. Non-immunotherapy-targeted drugs led to worse QOL more often than did cytotoxic agents.

PMID:35482347 | DOI:10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.0864

JAMA Ophthalmol. 2022 Apr 28. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0628. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Recent case reports suggest use of topical prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) might increase the risk of spontaneous abortions in pregnant people who take these drugs for intraocular pressure control. However, because these reports are derived mainly from voluntary adverse drug reaction databases, they might be prone to reporting bias.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of spontaneous abortions among pregnant people who take topical PGAs.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The PharMetrics Plus database (IQVIA) for health claims in the United States from 2006 to 2020 was used as the data source. The percentage of spontaneous abortions was quantified among patients aged 15 to 45 years who were pregnant and took a topical PGA medication during this period compared with a random sample of people in the database not taking a PGA agent.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Diagnosis of a spontaneous abortion was ascertained through procedure codes or codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision.

RESULTS: A total of 3881 people of reproductive age who were prescribed PGAs and 3881 control participants not taking PGAs were identified. Among the 3881 patients in the PGA cohort, 261 were pregnant and 26 had a spontaneous abortion code. Among the 26 individuals, 12 (4.6%) had a spontaneous abortion code within 90 days of the pregnancy code and had an overlapping prescription for a PGA. Among the 12 individuals, 5 (41.7%) were in the age category 40 to 45 years. In the control group, there were 801 pregnancies, 56 of which led to spontaneous abortions (7%), resulting in an increased risk of 2.4% (95% CI, -0.7% to 5.4%; P = .17).

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The results of this case-series study suggest no association between use of PGAs and risk of spontaneous abortions. Given the nature of this study design and potential for unmeasured confounding factors, these results could be explored further in future epidemiologic studies that can better control for potential confounding variables and more accurately ascertain spontaneous abortions through perinatal databases.

PMID:35482340 | DOI:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0628