Tag: pubmed

Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther. 2022 Sep 5:46843. doi: 10.5114/ait.2022.115367. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To determine the predictive value of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) compared to routine clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with COVID-19.

METHODS: A total of 135 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were included in a prospective single-centre study. In addition to routine parameters, the levels of MR-proADM in blood plasma were measured on the day of hospitalization. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those who survived and were discharged (n = 115, 85%) and those who did not survive (n = 20, 15%). Data are presented as median and interquartile range.

RESULTS: The non-survivors had a statistically significantly greater age (73.4 [63.5-84.8] vs. 62.2 [50.3-71.4] years, P = 0.001), a lower level of haemoglobin oxygen saturation (91 [87-92] vs. 92 [92-93]%, P < 0.001), lower lymphocyte level (13 [7-30] vs. 21 [15-27]%, P = 0.03), higher lactate dehydrogenase (338 [273-480] vs. 280 [233-383] EU L-1, P = 0.04) and aspartate aminotransferase levels (49 [28-72] vs. 33 [23-47] EU L-1, P = 0.03), a higher National Early Warning (NEWS) score (7 [7- 8] vs. 6 [5-7] points, P < 0.001), and higher procalcitonin (0.16 [0.11-0.32] vs. 0.1 [0.07-0.18] ng mL-1, P = 0.006) and MR-proADM levels (1.288 [0.886-1.847] vs. 0.769 [0.6-0.955] nmol L-1, P < 0.001). MR-proADM had the highest predictive value for death during hospital stay (cut-off: 0.895 nmol L-1, AUC ROC 0.78 [95% CI: 0.66-0.90], sensitivity 75%, specificity 69%, OR 6.58 [95% CI: 2.22-19.51]).

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other indicators, MR-proADM has the highest predictive value for in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19.

PMID:36062419 | DOI:10.5114/ait.2022.115367

Angiology. 2022 Sep 3:33197221124772. doi: 10.1177/00033197221124772. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We aimed to evaluate the incremental prognostic value after incorporation of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) into the 10-year pool cohort equation (PCE) risk model in patients with multiple risk factors (MRFs). A total of 4332 MRFs patients were divided into 2 groups as ABI ≤.9 or >.9. The primary outcome was hard cardiovascular events (hCVE: including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke) over a median follow-up of 36 months. The Cox proportional hazards survival model, C-statistic, and net reclassification indices (NRI) were used. The occurrence of the primary outcome in the ABI ≤.9 group (3.7%) was significantly greater than in the ABI > .9 group (1.3%), P < .001. ABI is an independent predictor of hCVE in addition to the variables in the standard risk model (age, gender, and smoking status). ABI modestly improved the C-index when added to the PCE risk model (PCE .70 vs ABI+PCE .74). The addition of ABI to the PCE risk model did not significantly improve the classification of patients (NRI -.029; 95% CI: -.215 to .130). Despite ABI being one of the independent predictors of hCVE, integration of ABI into the PCE model did not improve the efficacy of risk reclassification in patients with MRFs.

PMID:36062408 | DOI:10.1177/00033197221124772

Cytopathology. 2022 Sep 5. doi: 10.1111/cyt.13176. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of our study were to examine the adequacy of samples and accuracy of transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA) in patients with peripheral pulmonary nodule (PPN) diagnosis.

METHODS: The retrospective study included 248 patients who underwent TTNA of PPN and subsequent diagnostic-therapeutic surgical procedure during a 5-year period. The material was processed at the Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics. The following were analyzed: adequacy of cytological samples for diagnosis and molecular testing, tumor localization and dimensions, and its cytological and histopathological characteristics.

RESULTS: The adequacy of the cytological samples was 93.15%. The proportion of adequate-diagnostic samples was higher in patients in whom the largest diameter of the lesion was >4cm, and this difference shows statistical significance. Tumor localization wasn’t a statistically significant factor for the adequacy of samples for cytological analysis. Cytological samples of lung adenocarcinoma had high projected adequacy for EGFR analyses of 91.55%, and it doesn’t depend on the size and location of the lesion. The most commonly diagnosed lung tumor was adenocarcinoma (45.51%). Patients with cytological diagnosis of NSCLS-NOS, after histopathological analyses, had adenocarcinoma in most cases (53.85%). The overall accuracy of TTNA in the diagnosis of PPN was 71%. The method’s accuracy was 75.24% for malignant tumors, while it was 28.57% for benign tumors. The accuracy of cytological analysis for the histological type of tumor was 84.18%.

CONCLUSION: TTNA with cytological analysis is an effective and highly sensitive method in determining the etiology of PPN.

PMID:36062401 | DOI:10.1111/cyt.13176

Child Dev. 2022 Sep 5. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13850. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The mobile paradigm has played a fundamental role in memory development research. One key characteristic of the mobile paradigm literature is that across decades, researchers have faithfully followed a particular methodological protocol with its own unique definitions of learning and memory. To investigate the extent to which these methodological choices affected the results, the literature (77 publications and 505 statistical tests) was evaluated for four frequently encountered research biases. The results suggested that research using the paradigm was conducted with scientific rigor. However, methodological choices along with unique operational definitions of learning and memory accounted for more than half of the findings. Thus, the literature has been contaminated by methodological artifacts due to the opportunistic use of researcher degrees of freedom.

PMID:36062399 | DOI:10.1111/cdev.13850

Stat Med. 2022 Sep 5. doi: 10.1002/sim.9569. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In comparative effectiveness research (CER), leveraging short-term surrogates to infer treatment effects on long-term outcomes can guide policymakers evaluating new treatments. Numerous statistical procedures for identifying surrogates have been proposed for randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but no methods currently exist to evaluate the proportion of treatment effect (PTE) explained by surrogates in real-world data (RWD), which have become increasingly common. To address this knowledge gap, we propose inverse probability weighted (IPW) and doubly robust (DR) estimators of an optimal transformation of the surrogate and the corresponding PTE measure. We demonstrate that the proposed estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal, and the DR estimator is consistent when either the propensity score model or outcome regression model is correctly specified. Our proposed estimators are evaluated through extensive simulation studies. In two RWD settings, we show that our method can identify and validate surrogate markers for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

PMID:36062392 | DOI:10.1002/sim.9569

Microsc Microanal. 2022 Sep 5:1-10. doi: 10.1017/S1431927622012454. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The development of biochemical analysis techniques to study heterogeneous biological samples is increasing. These techniques include synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy. This method has been applied to analyze biological tissue with multivariate statistical analysis to classify the components revealed by the spectral data. This study aims to compare the efficiencies of SR-FTIR microspectroscopy and focal plane array (FPA)-FTIR microspectroscopy when classifying rice tissue components. Spectral data were acquired for mapping the same sample areas from both techniques. Principal component analysis and cluster imaging were used to investigate the biochemical variations of the tissue types. The classification was based on the functional groups of pectin, protein, and polysaccharide. Four layers from SR-FTIR microspectroscopy including pericarp, aleurone layer, sub-aleurone layer, and endosperm were classified using cluster imaging, while FPA-FTIR microspectroscopy could classify only three layers of pericarp, aleurone layer, and endosperm. Moreover, SR-FTIR microspectroscopy increased the image contrast of the biochemical distribution in rice tissue more efficiently than FPA-FTIR microspectroscopy. We have demonstrated the capability of the high-resolution synchrotron technique and its ability to clarify small structures in rice tissue. The use of this technique might increase in future studies of tissue characterization.

PMID:36062386 | DOI:10.1017/S1431927622012454

J Invest Surg. 2022 Sep 4:1-7. doi: 10.1080/08941939.2022.2116134. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficiency of hysteroscopic laser vaporesection and hysteroscopic resection in the treatment of endometrial polyps.Methods: The literatures in databases were searched comprehensively, the literatures that met the inclusion criteria were screened out and the data were extracted. The data were combined with Stata12.0 statistical software.

RESULTS: 4 literatures were included with a total sample size of 334. Meta-analysis showed that intraoperative blood loss in laser group was less than that in electrosurgical group [-3.043, 95% CI (-4.09, -2.00), P < 0.001]. Length of stay in the laser group was shorter than that in the electrotomy group [-1.013, 95% CI (-1.37, -0.65), P < 0.001]. The recurrence rate [0.275, 95%CI (0.135,0.563), P < 0.001] and complication rate [0.148, 95%CI (0.07,0.32), P < 0.001] in the laser group were lower than those in the electrotomy group. There was no significant difference in operative time between hysteroscopy combined with 2 μm laser and hysteroscopic electrotomy for endometrial polyps [-0.38, 95% CI (-1.34, 0.58), P = 0.441 > 0.05].

CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopic 2 μm laser vaporesection for the treatment of endometrial polyps has better safety and clinical efficacy. Compared with hysteroscopic electroresection, hysteroscopic laser vaporesection in the treatment of endometrial polyps may be safer and more effective. Given the potential limitations, we need larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials to verify our findings.

PMID:36062372 | DOI:10.1080/08941939.2022.2116134

Vet Surg. 2022 Sep 5. doi: 10.1111/vsu.13875. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of a cell salvage device to recover canine erythrocytes by direct aspiration of diluted packed red blood cells (pRBC) and saline rinse from blood-soaked surgical swabs.

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study.

SAMPLE POPULATION: Twelve recently expired units of canine pRBC.

METHODS: pRBC units donated from a pet blood bank (after quality analysis) were diluted with anticoagulant, divided into two equal aliquots, and subsequently harvested by direct suction (Su), or soaked into swabs, saline-rinsed and suctioned (Sw). The volume of product, manual packed cell volume (PCV), and red blood cell mass (rbcM) were measured and compared before and after salvaging. The rbcM recovery was recorded as percentage ([rbcM post salvage]/[rbcM presalvage]x100). Statistical analysis of all measured values was performed (significance p < .05).

RESULTS: No difference was detected between pre- and post-salvage PCV or mean rise of PCV for either group. The volume of salvaged blood was 143 ml (SD ± 2.89 ml; Su) and 139.83 ml (SD ± 3.30 ml; Sw), p < .001. The average rbcM recovered was 88.43% (Su) and 84.74%. (Sw) averaged 84.74% (p = .015). Blood type and order of processing did not influence recovery.

CONCLUSION: The tested cell saver device reliably salvages canine blood in this ex vivo setting. Cell salvage via direct suction produces higher volumes of salvaged blood than rinsing blood-soaked swabs and salvaging the flush.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Washing blood-saturated surgical swabs results in a high harvest of red blood cells. The authors recommend it as an adjunct to direct suction to maximize erythrocyte recovery.

PMID:36062370 | DOI:10.1111/vsu.13875

Microsc Microanal. 2022 Sep 5:1-15. doi: 10.1017/S1431927622012314. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated inflammatory processes play a critical role in the innate immune response during the initial interaction between the infecting microorganism and immune cells. This study aimed to investigate the possible microanatomical and histological differences in mandibular and bronchial lymph nodes in Akkaraman and Romanov lambs induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and study the gene, protein, and immunoexpression levels of TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) that are involved in the immune system. Microanatomical examinations demonstrated more intense lymphocyte infiltration in the bronchial lymph nodes of Akkaraman lambs in the LPS and LTA groups compared to Romanov lambs. TLR4, MyD88, and TNF-α immunoreactivities were more intense in the experimental groups of both breeds. Expression levels of MyD88 and TNF-α genes in the bronchial lymph node of Akkaraman lambs were found to increase statistically significantly in the LTA group. TLR4 gene expression level in the mandibular lymph node was found to be statistically significantly higher in the LTA + LPS group. In conclusion, dynamic changes in the immune cell populations involved in response to antigens such as LTA and LPS in the lymph nodes of both breeds can be associated with the difference in the expression level of the TLR4/MyD88/TNF-α genes.

PMID:36062368 | DOI:10.1017/S1431927622012314

Int J Med Educ. 2022 Sep 2;13:249-255. doi: 10.5116/ijme.62f6.10b6.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between the achievements of medical students and whether they were admitted via the pre-medical track or the regular direct track.

METHODS: We performed a comparative retrospective data study using data from a three-year experimental cohort in a six-year medical school. We analyzed the academic achievements of all students admitted at one Israeli medical school between 2013-2015, either directly to the six-year program or via a pre-medical track. We compared averages of both yearly final grades and final medical examinations grades between the two groups. Descriptive statistics were calculated and differences between groups were evaluated using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 324 students included in the study, 65 (20.1%) were enrolled in all three cohorts of the pre-medical track. Age and Gender distribution were nearly similar for both tracks. For the first two cohorts, the average final grades of year one of pre-medical students were significantly higher than those of regular direct track (F=_(3,167) 6.10, p=0.001), but the opposite was true for the third cohort (F=_(3,110)2.38, p=0.073). No further statistically significant differences were found neither between the groups in their final exams grades nor between choosing a MD/PhD optional track and admission pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest promising achievements with the pre-medical admission pathway. This should encourage further discussion about the significant potential human resources lost by current admission processes and may question the effectiveness of six-year programs in medical schools.

PMID:36062311 | DOI:10.5116/ijme.62f6.10b6