Tag: pubmed

Cytopathology. 2022 Jul 22. doi: 10.1111/cyt.13170. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of cellular debris (CD) on benign cervicovaginal liquid-based cytology (LBC) smears and which factors predict the presence and larger amount of CD.

METHODS: Cervicovaginal smears evaluated as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) between January 1st and March 31st, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed to record the presence and amount of CD. All smears were prepared with the SurePath platform. Patients’ age and past medical and surgical histories were also retrieved. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to find positive predictors of a larger amount of CD.

RESULTS: 349 NILM smears were included in this study. The cohort consisted of 222 cervical smears (CS) and 127 vaginal smears (VS), which were taken from patients who had undergone hysterectomy. Overall, CD was observed in 111 (31.8%) cases. The positive predictors of CD were increasing age, specimen type (VS compared to CS), history of chemotherapy or radiation therapy (CRT), and more than mild background inflmmation. Among VS group, CD was present in 64 cases (50.4%) regardless of the time between the specimen collection and hysterectomy. Positive predictors in the VS group were age and more than mild inflammation. Contrary, in the CS group, the prevalence of CD was 21.2%, and age was the only positive predictor. Histories of CRT, conization and inflammation were not statistically significant positive predictors for CD among CS.

CONCLUSIONS: CD can be seen in as much as 50% of NILM smears taken after hysterectomy, regardless of the time since hysterectomy. Increasing age is a positive predictor of the presence and a larger quantity of CD. These findings are helpful when evaluating smears with moderate to abundant debris in the background with questionable cellular atypia.

PMID:35867812 | DOI:10.1111/cyt.13170

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Jul 12;119(28):e2204074119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2204074119. Epub 2022 Jul 7.

ABSTRACT

Massive scientific productivity accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the citation impact of COVID-19 publications relative to all scientific work published in 2020 to 2021 and assessed the impact on scientist citation profiles. Using Scopus data until August 1, 2021, COVID-19 items accounted for 4% of papers published, 20% of citations received to papers published in 2020 to 2021, and >30% of citations received in 36 of the 174 disciplines of science (up to 79.3% in general and internal medicine). Across science, 98 of the 100 most-cited papers published in 2020 to 2021 were related to COVID-19; 110 scientists received ≥10,000 citations for COVID-19 work, but none received ≥10,000 citations for non-COVID-19 work published in 2020 to 2021. For many scientists, citations to their COVID-19 work already accounted for more than half of their total career citation count. Overall, these data show a strong covidization of research citations across science, with major impact on shaping the citation elite.

PMID:35867747 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2204074119

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Jul 12;119(28):e2201250119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2201250119. Epub 2022 Jul 6.

ABSTRACT

Phase separation has emerged as an essential concept for the spatial organization inside biological cells. However, despite the clear relevance to virtually all physiological functions, we understand surprisingly little about what phases form in a system of many interacting components, like in cells. Here we introduce a numerical method based on physical relaxation dynamics to study the coexisting phases in such systems. We use our approach to optimize interactions between components, similar to how evolution might have optimized the interactions of proteins. These evolved interactions robustly lead to a defined number of phases, despite substantial uncertainties in the initial composition, while random or designed interactions perform much worse. Moreover, the optimized interactions are robust to perturbations, and they allow fast adaption to new target phase counts. We thus show that genetically encoded interactions of proteins provide versatile control of phase behavior. The phases forming in our system are also a concrete example of a robust emergent property that does not rely on fine-tuning the parameters of individual constituents.

PMID:35867744 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2201250119

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 22;17(7):e0271539. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271539. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Considering the vast biological diversity and high mortality rate in high-grade ovarian cancers, identification of novel biomarkers, enabling precise diagnosis and effective, less aggravating treatment, is of paramount importance. Based on scientific literature data, we selected 80 cancer-related genes and evaluated their mRNA expression in 70 high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) samples by Real-Time qPCR. The results were validated in an independent Northern American cohort of 85 HGSOC patients with publicly available NGS RNA-seq data. Detailed statistical analyses of our cohort with multivariate Cox and logistic regression models considering clinico-pathological data and different TP53 mutation statuses, revealed an altered expression of 49 genes to affect the prognosis and/or treatment response. Next, these genes were investigated in the validation cohort, to confirm the clinical significance of their expression alterations, and to identify genetic variants with an expected high or moderate impact on their products. The expression changes of five genes, PROM1, CXCL8, RUNX1, NAV1, TP73, were found to predict prognosis or response to treatment in both cohorts, depending on the TP53 mutation status. In addition, we revealed novel and confirmed known SNPs in these genes, and showed that SNPs in the PROM1 gene correlated with its elevated expression.

PMID:35867729 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0271539

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 22;17(7):e0271677. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271677. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Soil disinfestation with steam was evaluated as an alternative to fumigation. Following soil disinfestation, plant health has traditionally been measured using plant size and yield. Plant health can be measured in a timely manner more efficiently, more easily and non-destructively using image analysis. We hypothesized that plant health could be quantified and treatments can be differentiated using an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) image analysis program, particularly by observing the greenness of plant leaves. However, plant size or the proportion of green area could be unreliable due to plant loss and camera’s position and angle. To this end, we decided to evaluate plant health by analyzing the RGB codes associated with the green color only, which detects the chlorophyll reflectance and nutrient status, noting that the degree of greenness within the green-leaf-area was not affected by the plant size. We identified five RGB codes that are commonly observed in the plant leaves and ordered them from dark green to light green. Among the five RGB codes, the relative percentage covered by the darkest green to the lightest green was significantly different between the steam and chloropicrin treatments and the control, and it was not significantly different between the steam and chloropicrin treatments. Furthermore, the result was correlated with the total yield, and the trend observed in the first year was replicated in the second year of this experiment. In this study, we demonstrate that the RGB image analysis can be used as an early marker of the treatment effect on the plant health and productivity.

PMID:35867725 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0271677

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 22;17(7):e0272007. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272007. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Interval estimation with accurate coverage for risk difference (RD) in a correlated 2 × 2 table with structural zero is a fundamental and important problem in biostatistics. The score test-based and Bayesian tail-based confidence intervals (CIs) have good coverage performance among the existing methods. However, as approximation approaches, they have coverage probabilities lower than the nominal confidence level for finite and moderate sample sizes. In this paper, we propose three new CIs for RD based on the fiducial, inferential model (IM) and modified IM (MIM) methods. The IM interval is proven to be valid. Moreover, simulation studies show that the CIs of fiducial and MIM methods can guarantee the preset coverage rate even for small sample sizes. More importantly, in terms of coverage probability and expected length, the MIM interval outperforms other intervals. Finally, a real example illustrates the application of the proposed methods.

PMID:35867721 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0272007

Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Jul 22:ciac577. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac577. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adult studies have demonstrated within-season declines in influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE); data in children are limited.

METHODS: We conducted a prospective, test-negative study of children 6 months-17 years hospitalized with acute respiratory illness at 7 pediatric medical centers during the 2015-2016 through 2019-2020 influenza seasons. Case-patients were children with an influenza-positive molecular test matched by illness onset to influenza-negative control-patients. We estimated VE [100% x (1 – odds ratio)] by comparing the odds of receipt of ≥1 dose of influenza vaccine ≥14 days before illness onset among influenza-positive children to influenza-negative children. Changes in VE over time between vaccination date and illness onset date were estimated using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: Of 8,430 children, 4,653 (55%) received ≥1 dose of influenza vaccine. On average, 48% were vaccinated through October and 85% through December each season. Influenza vaccine receipt was lower in case-patients than control-patients (39% vs. 57%, p < 0.001); overall VE against hospitalization was 53% (95% CI: 46%-60%). Pooling data across 5 seasons, the odds of influenza-associated hospitalization increased 4.2% (-3.2%-12.2%) per month since vaccination, with an average VE decrease of 1.9% per month (n = 4,000, p = 0.275). Odds of hospitalization increased 2.9% (95% CI: -5.4%-11.8%) and 9.6% (95% CI: -7.0%-29.1%) per month in children ≤8 years (n = 3,084) and 9-17 years (n = 916), respectively. These findings were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: We observed minimal, not statistically significant within-season declines in VE. Vaccination following current ACIP guidelines for timing of vaccine receipt remains the best strategy for preventing influenza-associated hospitalizations in children.

PMID:35867698 | DOI:10.1093/cid/ciac577

JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Jul 22;11(7):e35565. doi: 10.2196/35565.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Following radioiodine (¹³¹I) therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer, the salivary glands may become inflamed, leading to dysfunctions and decreases in patients’ nutritional status and quality of life. The incidence of these dysfunctions after ¹³¹I-therapy is poorly known, and no clinical or genetic factors have been identified to date to define at-risk patients, which would allow the delivered activity to be adapted to the expected risk of salivary dysfunctions.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to estimate the incidence of salivary dysfunctions, and consequences on the quality of life and nutritional status for patients after ¹³¹I-therapy; to characterize at-risk patients of developing posttreatment dysfunctions using clinical, biomolecular, and biochemical factors; and to validate a dosimetric method to calculate the dose received at the salivary gland level for analyzing the dose-response relationship between absorbed doses to salivary glands and salivary dysfunctions.

METHODS: This prospective study aims to include patients for whom ¹³¹I-therapy is indicated as part of the treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer in a Paris hospital (40 and 80 patients in the 1.1 GBq and 3.7 GBq groups, respectively). The follow-up is based on three scheduled visits: at inclusion (T0, immediately before ¹³¹I-therapy), and at 6 months (T6) and 18 months (T18) posttreatment. For each visit, questionnaires on salivary dysfunctions (validated French tool), quality of life (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Survey), and nutritional status (visual analog scale) are administered by a trained clinical research associate. At T0 and T6, saliva samples and individual measurements of the salivary flow, without and with salivary glands stimulation, are performed. External thermoluminescent dosimeters are positioned on the skin opposite the salivary glands and at the sternal fork immediately before ¹³¹I administration and removed after 5 days. From the doses recorded by the dosimeters, an estimation of the dose received at the salivary glands will be carried out using physical and computational phantoms. Genetic and epigenetic analyses will be performed to search for potential biomarkers of the predisposition to develop salivary dysfunctions after ¹³¹I-therapy.

RESULTS: A total of 139 patients (99 women, 71.2%; mean age 47.4, SD 14.3 years) were enrolled in the study between September 2020 and April 2021 (45 and 94 patients in the 1.1 GBq and 3.7G Bq groups, respectively). T6 follow-up is complete and T18 follow-up is currently underway. Statistical analyses will assess the links between salivary dysfunctions and absorbed doses to the salivary glands, accounting for associated factors. Moreover, impacts on the patients’ quality of life will be analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the risk of salivary dysfunctions (using both objective and subjective indicators) in relation to organ (salivary glands) doses, based on individual dosimeter records and dose reconstructions. The results will allow the identification of patients at risk of salivary dysfunctions and will permit clinicians to propose a more adapted follow-up and/or countermeasures to adverse effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04876287; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04876287.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/35565.

PMID:35867385 | DOI:10.2196/35565

JMIR Serious Games. 2022 Jul 22;10(3):e38433. doi: 10.2196/38433.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recently, the demand for mechanical ventilation (MV) has increased with the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the conventional approaches to MV training are resource intensive and require on-site training. Consequently, the need for independent learning platforms with remote assistance in institutions without resources has surged.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of an augmented reality (AR)-based self-learning platform for novices to set up a ventilator without on-site assistance.

METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled pilot study was conducted at Samsung Medical Center, Korea, from January to February 2022. Nurses with no prior experience of MV or AR were enrolled. We randomized the participants into 2 groups: manual and AR groups. Participants in the manual group used a printed manual and made a phone call for assistance, whereas participants in the AR group were guided by AR-based instructions and requested assistance with the head-mounted display. We compared the overall score of the procedure, required level of assistance, and user experience between the groups.

RESULTS: In total, 30 participants completed the entire procedure with or without remote assistance. Fewer participants requested assistance in the AR group compared to the manual group (7/15, 47.7% vs 14/15, 93.3%; P=.02). The number of steps that required assistance was also lower in the AR group compared to the manual group (n=13 vs n=33; P=.004). The AR group had a higher rating in predeveloped questions for confidence (median 3, IQR 2.50-4.00 vs median 2, IQR 2.00-3.00; P=.01), suitability of method (median 4, IQR 4.00-5.00 vs median 3, IQR 3.00-3.50; P=.01), and whether they intended to recommend AR systems to others (median 4, IQR 3.00-5.00 vs median 3, IQR 2.00-3.00; P=.002).

CONCLUSIONS: AR-based instructions to set up a mechanical ventilator were feasible for novices who had no prior experience with MV or AR. Additionally, participants in the AR group required less assistance compared with those in the manual group, resulting in higher confidence after training.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05446896; https://beta.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05446896.

PMID:35867382 | DOI:10.2196/38433

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Jul 22. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c04990. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The ability to directly observe chemical reactions at the single-molecule and single-particle level has enabled the discovery of behaviors otherwise obscured by ensemble averaging in bulk measurements. However powerful, a common restriction of these studies to date has been the absolute requirement to surface tether or otherwise immobilize the chemical reagent/reaction of interest. This constraint arose from a fundamental limitation of conventional microscopy techniques, which could not track molecules or particles rapidly diffusing in three dimensions, as occurs in solution. However, many chemical processes occur entirely in the solution phase, leaving single-particle/-molecule analysis of this critical area of science beyond the scope of available technology. Here, we report the first kinetics studies of freely diffusing and actively growing single polymer-particles at the single-particle level freely diffusing in solution. Active-feedback single-particle tracking was used to capture three-dimensional (3D) trajectories and real-time volumetric images of freely diffusing polymer particles (D ≈ 10^-12 m²/s) and extract the growth rates of individual particles in the solution phase. The observed growth rates show that the average growth rate is a poor representation of the true underlying variability in polymer-particle growth behavior. These data revealed statistically significant populations of faster- and slower-growing particles at different depths in the sample, showing emergent heterogeneity while particles are still freely diffusing in solution. These results go against the prevailing premise that chemical processes in freely diffusing solution will exhibit uniform kinetics. We anticipate that these studies will launch new directions of solution-phase, nonensemble-averaged measurements of chemical processes.

PMID:35867381 | DOI:10.1021/jacs.2c04990