Tag: pubmed

Sci Rep. 2022 May 14;12(1):8005. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-11869-3.

ABSTRACT

Chromium (Cr) accumulation in crops reduces yield. Here, we grew two chickpea cultivars, Pusa 2085 (Cr-tolerant) and Pusa Green 112 (Cr-sensitive), in hydroponic and pot conditions under different Cr treatments: 0 and 120 µM Cr and 120 µM Cr + 100 mM glycine betaine (GB). For plants grown in the hydroponic media, we evaluated root morphological attributes and plasma membrane integrity via Evans blue uptake. We also estimated H⁺-ATPase activity in the roots and leaves of both cultivars. Plants in pots under conditions similar to those of the hydroponic setup were used to measure growth traits, oxidative stress, chlorophyll contents, enzymatic activities, proline levels, and nutrient elements at the seedling stage. Traits such as Cr uptake in different plant parts after 42 days and grain yield after 140 days of growth were also evaluated. In both cultivars, plant growth traits, chlorophyll contents, enzymatic activities, nutrient contents, and grain yield were significantly reduced under Cr stress, whereas oxidative stress and proline levels were increased compared to the control levels. Further, Cr uptake was remarkably decreased in the roots and leaves of Cr-tolerant than in Cr-sensitive cultivars. Application of GB led to improved root growth and morpho-physiological attributes and reduced oxidative stress along with reduced loss in plasma membrane integrity and subsequently increase in H⁺-ATPase activity. An increment in these parameters shows that the exogenous application of GB improves the Cr stress tolerance in chickpea plants.

PMID:35568714 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-11869-3

Diagn Interv Imaging. 2022 May 11:S2211-5684(22)00090-0. doi: 10.1016/j.diii.2022.04.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Accurate antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is important for optimal management. The purpose of this study was to compare the respective capabilities of 1.5-T and 3.0-T MRI in the diagnosis of PAS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 2016-March 2021, 190 pregnant women at high risk for PAS underwent dedicated prenatal MRI with either 1.5-T or 3.0-T units at a tertiary imaging center. Cesarian section and MRI were performed less than 6 weeks from each other. Prospectively collected data were evaluated by two experienced genitourinary radiologists for presence and extent of PAS. A comparative study was designed to investigate differences in predictive ability between 1.5-T and 3.0-T MRI groups. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative and positive prognostic values relative to intraoperative/histological findings, were computed for both groups and were compared with chi-square (χ 2) test. Interobserver agreement was estimated using Kappa test.

RESULTS: One hundred-eighty-two gravid women were included in the study; of these, 91/182 (50%) women were evaluated with 1.5-T (mean age, 35 ± 5.1 [SD] years; mean gestational age: 32.5 weeks) and 91/182 (50%) with 3.0-T MRI (mean age, 34.9 ± 4.9 [SD] years; mean gestational age, 32.1 weeks). 1.5-T MRI yielded 95.7% sensitivity (95% CI: 87.8-99.1) and 81.8% specificity (95% CI: 59.8) and 3.0-T MRI 93.8% sensitivity (95% CI: 86.0-97.9) and 83.3% specificity (95% CI: 48.2-97.7) for PAS identification, with no differences between the two groups (P = 0.725 and P >0.999, respectively). MRI showed excellent predictive ability for detecting extrauterine placental spread with 100% sensitivity (95% CI: 89.4-100.0), 96.7% specificity (95% CI: 88.1-99.6) for 1.5-T and 97% sensitivity (95% CI: 84.2-99.9), 96.7% specificity (95% CI: 88.1-99.6) for 3.0-T without differences between the two groups (P > 0.999). Interobserver agreement was excellent for both groups. The most frequently detected MRI signs of PAS for both 1.5-T and 3.0-T groups were placental heterogeneity (n = 85, 93.5% vs. n = 90, 98.9%; P = 0.413), and intraplacental fetal vessels (n = 64, 70.3% vs. n = 65, 71.4%; P = 0.870).

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that 3.0-T MRI and 1.5-T MRI are equivalent for the diagnosis of PAS.

PMID:35568666 | DOI:10.1016/j.diii.2022.04.005

Cell Death Dis. 2022 May 14;13(5):461. doi: 10.1038/s41419-022-04861-2.

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, leads to symptoms ranging from asymptomatic disease to death. Although males are more susceptible to severe symptoms and higher mortality due to COVID-19, patient sex has rarely been examined. Sex-associated metabolic changes may implicate novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets to treat COVID-19. Here, using serum samples, we performed global metabolomic analyses of uninfected and SARS-CoV-2-positive male and female patients with severe COVID-19. Key metabolic pathways that demonstrated robust sex differences in COVID-19 groups, but not in controls, involved lipid metabolism, pentose pathway, bile acid metabolism, and microbiome-related metabolism of aromatic amino acids, including tryptophan and tyrosine. Unsupervised statistical analysis showed a profound sexual dimorphism in correlations between patient-specific clinical parameters and their global metabolic profiles. Identification of sex-specific metabolic changes in severe COVID-19 patients is an important knowledge source for researchers striving for development of potential sex-associated biomarkers and druggable targets for COVID-19 patients.

PMID:35568706 | DOI:10.1038/s41419-022-04861-2

J Sci Med Sport. 2022 Mar 24:S1440-2440(22)00074-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2022.03.010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate relationships between load tolerance of single leg isometric knee extension and athlete reported knee pain location and severity during the single leg decline squat.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

METHODS: 175 college basketball athletes (99 women, 76 men) in Alberta, Canada participated at the start of the 2018-19 season. Knee pain location (dichotomized into focal/diffuse pain), and severity (numerical rating scale 0-10) were collected during the single leg decline squat. Athletes completed a standardized single leg isometric knee extension to determine load tolerance (defined by pain or reduced form). A quantile regression model was used to examine the association between load tolerance and pain location adjusting for sex, years played, body mass index and team.

RESULTS: Athletes with diffuse pain had a significantly lower median load tolerance (-0.89 kg) than athletes without pain (95% confidence interval [-1.49, -0.29]; p = 0.003). Athletes with focal pain tolerated similar median loads (-0.42 kg) to those without pain (95% confidence interval [-1.17, 0.33]; p = 0.26). Higher knee pain severity was associated with a non-linear but consistent reduction in load tolerance (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Athlete-reported knee pain location during the single leg decline squat influenced load tolerance to isometric knee extension. Athletes with focal pain tolerated similar isometric loads to their pain free teammates. Clinicians should consider load selection of isometric knee extension for athletes with diffuse pain given their lower load tolerance. Future research should consider reporting pain location in addition to pain severity to differentiate clinical presentations and response to exercise.

PMID:35568659 | DOI:10.1016/j.jsams.2022.03.010

HPB (Oxford). 2022 Apr 26:S1365-182X(22)00103-4. doi: 10.1016/j.hpb.2022.04.008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted pancreatectomy continues to proliferate despite limited evidence supporting its benefits from the patient’s perspective. We compared patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between patients undergoing robotic and open pancreatectomies.

METHODS: PROs, measured with the FACT-Hep, FACT-G, and HCS, were assessed in the immediate postoperative (i.e., preoperative to discharge) and recovery (i.e., discharge to three months postoperative) periods. Linear mixed models estimated the association of operative approach on PROs. Minimally important differences (MIDs) were also considered.

RESULTS: Among 139 patients, 105 (75.5%) underwent robotic pancreatectomies. Compared to those who underwent open operations, those who underwent robotic operations experienced worse FACT-Hep scores that were both statistically and clinically significant (mean difference [MD] 8.6 points, 95% CI 1.0-16.3). Declines in FACT-G (MD 4.3, 95% CI -1.0 to 9.6) and HCS (MD 4.3, 95% CI 0.8-7.9) scores appeared to contribute equally in both operative approaches to the decline in total FACT-Hep score. Patients who underwent robotic versus open operations both statistically and clinically significantly improved due to improvements in HCS (MD 6.1, 95% CI 2.3-9.9) but not in FACT-G (MD 1.2, 95% CI – 5.1-7.4).

CONCLUSION: The robotic approach to pancreas surgery might offer, from the patient’s perspective, greater improvement in symptoms over the open approach by three months postoperatively.

PMID:35568654 | DOI:10.1016/j.hpb.2022.04.008

Pulmonology. 2022 May 11:S2531-0437(22)00105-2. doi: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2022.03.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Left-heart dysfunction and pulmonary vasculopathy are increasingly recognized as contributing factors of exercise capacity limitation in interstitial fibrosing lung disease (IFLD). Moreover, the clinical significance of exercise pulmonary hypertension (ePH) in pulmonary and cardiac diseases has been documented, representing a risk factor for decreased exercise capacity and survival, progression to resting pulmonary hypertension (PH) and overall clinical worsening. We conducted a prospective study aiming at: (a) assessing the prevalence of PH and ePH in a cohort of 40 functionally limited patients with IFLD, (b) determining the post-capillary (postC) or pre-capillary (preC) etiology of either PH or ePH in this cohort, and (c) examining the correlations between invasively and non-invasively measured exercise variables among hemodynamic groups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 40 IFLD patients underwent cardiopulmonary evaluation, including: clinical examination, lung function tests, 6-minute walking test, heart ultrasonography, cardiopulmonary exercise test and, finally, right heart catheterization (RHC). Resting hemodynamic evaluation was followed by the exercise protocol proposed by Herve et al, using a bedside cycle ergometer in the supine position. Abnormal elevation of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) above 30mmHg during exercise, with respect to abnormal elevation of cardiac output (CO) below 10 L/min (mPAP-CO ratio ⩾3 mmHg·min·L^-1) was used to define ePH (Herve et al, 2015). Secondary hemodynamic evaluation involved detection of abnormal pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) increase at peak exercise in relation to CO. Specifically, ΔPAWP/ΔCO >2 mmHg/L per minute determined an abnormal PAWP elevation (Bentley et al, 2020).

RESULTS: Among the 40-patient cohort, 25% presented postC PH, 37.5% preC PH, 27.5% ePH, with the remaining 10% recording normal hemodynamics. PAWP evaluation during exercise revealed a postC etiology in 4 out of the 11 patients presenting ePH, and a postC etiology in 6 out of the 15 patients presenting resting preC PH. Mean values of non-invasive variables did not display statistically significant differences among hemodynamic groups, except for: diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO) and the ratio of functional vital capacity to DLCO (FVC%/DLCO%), which were lower in both ePH and PH groups (p < 0.05). Resting values of CO, cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV) and pulmonary vascular compliance (PVC) were significantly impaired in ePH, preC-PH and postC-PH groups when compared to the normal group.

CONCLUSIONS: Both PH and ePH were highly prevalent within the IFLD patient group, suggesting that RHC should be offered more frequently in functionally limited patients. Diffusion capacity markers must thus guide decision making, in parallel to clinical evaluation. ePH was associated to lower resting CO and PVC, in a similar way to resting PH, indicating the relevance of cardiopulmonary function to exercise limitation. Finally, the use of the ΔPAWP/ΔCO>2 criterion further uncovered PH of postcapillary etiology, highlighting the complexity of hemodynamics in IFLD.

CLINICALTRIALS: gov ID: NCT03706820.

PMID:35568651 | DOI:10.1016/j.pulmoe.2022.03.012

J Pediatr Health Care. 2022 May 11:S0891-5245(22)00085-2. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2022.04.004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study examined parent satisfaction with care provided to their children by Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) in specialty areas at a tertiary care pediatric hospital.

METHOD: A convenience sample of parents of children cared for by 19 PNPs in different specialty settings completed a confidential survey consisting of demographic information and the Parents’ Perception of Satisfaction with Care from the Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Instrument (PPSC-PNP). Data were analyzed using SPSS (IBM, Armonk, NY).

RESULTS: The overall PPSC-PNP mean score was 129.82/140. Mean subscale scores ranged from 27.15 to 28.51/30. The general satisfaction score showed a mean score of 18.31/20. No statistical difference was found in parental satisfaction when scores were analyzed by the child’s age, parent participant, or patient setting.

DISCUSSION: These findings indicate that parents are highly satisfied with the care their children receive from PNPs across various subspecialties regardless of the child’s age and clinical setting.

PMID:35568623 | DOI:10.1016/j.pedhc.2022.04.004

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2022 Mar 27:S2212-4403(22)00888-4. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2022.03.011. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This clinical trial was performed to evaluate the effect of nasal tube stabilization (NTS) on the pressure between tube and nose (PTN) in both supine and neck extension positions.

STUDY DESIGN: This prospective randomized controlled trial recruited 24 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II adult patients who underwent oral and maxillofacial surgeries requiring nasotracheal intubation. Patients were randomly assigned to intubate with either wire-reinforced or RAE (Ring-Adair-Elwyn) tube. A thin-film pressure sensor was used to measure PTN before and after NTS in both supine and neck extension positions. Statistical analysis was performed with the GraphPad Prism 9.0 software package.

RESULTS: The PTN of wire-reinforced tubes was 51 mmHg higher than that of RAE tubes in supine position before NTS (P = .005). In the wire-reinforced tube group before NTS, neck extension position increased the PTN compared with supine position (P = .0005). After NTS, the PTN in supine and neck extension positions was comparable (P = .1514). NTS significantly reduced PTN in both supine (P = .0005) and extension positions (P = .0005). In the RAE tube group, the PTN in supine and neck extension positions was comparable, either before (P = .3394) or after NTS (P = .7910). NTS also significantly reduced PTN in both supine (P = .0005) and extension positions (P = .0005).

CONCLUSIONS: NTS effectively reduced the PTN of both wire-reinforced and RAE tubes, regardless of the supine or neck extension position. RAE tubes also significantly reduced the PTN compared with wire-reinforced tubes.

PMID:35568638 | DOI:10.1016/j.oooo.2022.03.011

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2022 Mar 31:S1053-2498(22)01882-4. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2022.03.019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Outcome prediction following heart transplant is critical to explaining risks and benefits to patients and decision-making when considering potential organ offers. Given the large number of potential variables to be considered, this task may be most efficiently performed using machine learning (ML). We trained and tested ML and statistical algorithms to predict outcomes following cardiac transplant using the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) database.

METHODS: We included 59,590 adult and 8,349 pediatric patients enrolled in the UNOS database between January 1994 and December 2016 who underwent cardiac transplantation. We evaluated 3 classification and 3 survival methods. Algorithms were evaluated using shuffled 10-fold cross-validation (CV) and rolling CV. Predictive performance for 1 year and 90 days all-cause mortality was characterized using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS: In total, 8,394 (12.4%) patients died within 1 year of transplant. For predicting 1-year survival, using the shuffled 10-fold CV, Random Forest achieved the highest AUC (0.893; 0.889-0.897) followed by XGBoost and logistic regression. In the rolling CV, prediction performance was more modest and comparable among the models with XGBoost and Logistic regression achieving the highest AUC 0.657 (0.647-0.667) and 0.641(0.631-0.651), respectively. There was a trend toward higher prediction performance in pediatric patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that ML and statistical models can be used to predict mortality post-transplant, but based on the results from rolling CV, the overall prediction performance will be limited by temporal shifts inpatient and donor selection.

PMID:35568604 | DOI:10.1016/j.healun.2022.03.019

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2022 May 11:S0889-5406(22)00222-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2021.03.027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the crown and root characteristics of impacted central incisors compared with spontaneously erupted contralateral incisors and the influence of etiologic and local factors on their dimensions.

METHODS: Forty-five patients (22 boys, 23 girls) who underwent orthodontic treatment for unilateral impaction of maxillary central incisors were referred for cone-beam imaging. Dimensions of the impacted and contralateral incisors were assessed using Dolphin 3D software (Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions, Chatsworth, Calif). Paired t test and linear regression were used to compare the characteristics of the impacted and contralateral teeth.

RESULTS: Contralateral and impacted central incisors showed statistically significant differences for root length (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.32-3.46; P <0.001), mesiodistal crown-root angulation (95% CI, 4.09-15.95; P = 0.001), and labiolingual crown-root angulation (95% CI, -18.69 to -4.70; P = 0.002). Etiologic factors did not alter the dimensions of incisors (95% CI, -1.17 to 0.76; P = 0.672). According to the multiple linear regression the independent variables associated with root length of contralateral and impacted incisors were sex (β = -0.904; 95% CI, -1.62 to – 0.19; P = 0.014) and the presence of impaction (β = -2.87; 95% CI, -3.67 to -2.07; P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of their etiology, the impacted incisors showed roots that were 2.89 mm shorter than the contralateral incisors and had greater angulation in the mesiodistal and labiolingual directions. Girls showed a reduction of 0.904 mm (7.6%) on the lengths of roots of both impacted and contralateral central incisors. The presence of impaction led to a reduction of 25% in incisor root lengths. Approximately 30% of the impacted teeth showed crown-root angulations >20° resulting in an increased distal and labial angulation of the root apical portion.

PMID:35568599 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajodo.2021.03.027