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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Necessity of external iliac lymph nodes and inguinal nodes radiation in rectal cancer with anal canal involvement

BMC Cancer. 2022 Jun 14;22(1):657. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09724-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to explore the necessity of the external iliac lymph nodes (EIN) along with inguinal nodes (IN) region in clinical target volume (CTV) for rectal carcinomas covering the anal canal region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research premise enrolled 399 patients who had primary low rectal cancer detected below the peritoneal reflection via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and were treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NRT), without elective EIN along with IN irradiation. We stratified the patients into two groups based on whether the lower edge of the rectal tumor extended to the anal canal (P group, n = 109) or not (Rb group, n = 290). Comparison of overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS), as well as distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were performed via inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) along with multivariable analyses. We compared the EIN and IN failure rates between the two groups via the Fisher and Gray’s test.

RESULTS: P group showed a similar adjusted proportion along with five-year cumulative rate of EIN failure compared with the Rb group. The adjusted proportion and five-year cumulative rate of IN failure in the P group was higher in comparison to the Rb group. There were no remarkable differences in the adjusted five-year OS, DFS, DMFS or LRFS between the two groups. Anal canal involvement (ACI) exhibited no effect on OS, LRFS, DFS, or DMFS.

CONCLUSIONS: During NRT for rectal cancer with ACI, it may be possible to exclude the EIN and IN from the CTV.

PMID:35701738 | DOI:10.1186/s12885-022-09724-9

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Knowledge and practice of nursing students regarding bioterrorism and emergency preparedness: comparison of the effects of simulations and workshop

BMC Nurs. 2022 Jun 14;21(1):152. doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-00917-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bioterrorism is a global threat. Nurses are one of the first groups that should be ready for it. College years are the best time to educate these issues. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of simulation and workshop on knowledge and practice of nursing students regarding bioterrorism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an experimental study. The study sample consisted of 40 last-year nursing students who were randomly assigned to two groups by using random numbers table. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, bioterrorism knowledge scale, and an OSCE checklist. Before the intervention, the students completed the study questionnaires and a six-station OSCE test. The workshop group (20 students) learned how to deal with bioterrorism through lectures. The simulation group (20 students) participated in a simulation learning program. After one month, the students completed the study tools again. Finally, collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS V.16.

RESULTS: The difference between the knowledge and performance scores of both groups (workshop and simulation), before and after the intervention, was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Students in both groups had higher knowledge and performance scores after the intervention. The simulation group scores were higher than the workshop group scores in the knowledge and the most of performance domains.

CONCLUSION: The simulation group had better results in terms of enhancing knowledge, preparedness, disaster triage, reporting, incident management, communication, mental disorders, and isolation domains compared to the workshop group.

PMID:35701749 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-022-00917-y

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Screening for PTSD during pregnancy: a missed opportunity

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Jun 14;22(1):487. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04797-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prenatal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often overlooked in obstetric care, despite evidence that untreated PTSD negatively impacts both mother and baby. OB-GYN clinics commonly screen for depression in pregnant patients; however, prenatal PTSD screening is rare. Although the lack of PTSD screening likely leaves a significant portion of pregnant patients with unaddressed mental health needs, the size of this care gap has not been previously investigated.

METHODS: This retrospective chart review study included data from 1,402 adult, pregnant patients who completed PTSD (PTSD Checklist-2; PCL) and depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Survey; EPDS) screenings during a routine prenatal care visit. Descriptive statistics identified screening rates for PTSD and depression, and logistic regression analyses identified demographic variables associated with screening outcomes and assessed whether screening results (+ PCL/ + EPDS, + PCL/-EPDS, -PCL/ + EPDS, -PCL/-EPDS) were associated with different provider intervention recommendations.

RESULTS: 11.1% of participants screened positive for PTSD alone, 3.8% for depression alone, and 5.4% for both depression and PTSD. Black (OR = 2.24, 95% CI [1.41,3.54]) and Latinx (OR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.01,2.66]) patients were more likely to screen positive for PTSD compared to White patients, while those on public insurance were 1.64 times (95% CI [1.21,2.22]) more likely to screen positive compared to those with private insurance. Patients who screened positive for both depression and PTSD were most likely to receive referrals for behavioral health services (44.6%), followed by -PCL/ + EPDS (32.6%), + PCL/-EPDS (10.5%), and -PCL/-EPDS (3.6%). A similar pattern emerged for psychotropic medication prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONS: Over ten percent of pregnant patients in the current study screened positive for PTSD without depression, highlighting a critical mental health need left unaddressed by current obstetric standards of care. Routine PTSD screening during prenatal care alongside strategies aimed at increasing referral resources and access to mental health services are recommended.

PMID:35701731 | DOI:10.1186/s12884-022-04797-7

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Striatal Dopaminergic Depletion Pattern Reflects Pathological Brain Perfusion Changes in Lewy Body Diseases

Mol Imaging Biol. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s11307-022-01745-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In Lewy body diseases (LBD), various symptoms occur depending on the distribution of Lewy body in the brain, and the findings of brain perfusion and dopamine transporter single-photon emission computed tomography (DAT-SPECT) also change accordingly. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between brain perfusion SPECT and quantitative indices calculated from DAT-SPECT in patients with LBD.

PROCEDURES: We retrospectively enrolled 35 patients with LBD who underwent brain perfusion SPECT with N-isopropyl-p-[123I] iodoamphetamine and DAT-SPECT with 123I-ioflupane. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) data were also collected from 19 patients. Quantitative indices (specific binding ratio [SBR], putamen-to-caudate ratio [PCR], and caudate-to-putamen ratio [CPR]) were calculated using DAT-SPECT. These data were analysed by the statistical parametric mapping procedure.

RESULTS: In patients with LBD, decreased PCR index correlated with hypoperfusion in the brainstem (medulla oblongata and midbrain) (uncorrected p < 0.001, k > 100), while decreased CPR index correlated with hypoperfusion in the right temporoparietal cortex (family-wise error corrected p < 0.05), right precuneus (uncorrected p < 0.001, k > 100), and bilateral temporal cortex (uncorrected p < 0.001, k > 100). However, there was no significant correlation between decreased SBR index and brain perfusion. Additionally, the MMSE score was correlated with hypoperfusion in the left temporoparietal cortex (uncorrected p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that regional changes in striatal 123I-ioflupane accumulation on DAT-SPECT are related to brain perfusion changes in patients with LBD.

PMID:35701723 | DOI:10.1007/s11307-022-01745-x

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A new risk stratification strategy for fatty liver disease by incorporating MAFLD and fibrosis score in a large US population

Hepatol Int. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s12072-022-10362-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a newly proposed definition of fatty liver disease (FLD) independent of excessive alcohol consumption (EAC) and hepatitis viral infection. Evidence on the mortality risk in different types of FLD [nonalcoholic FLD (NAFLD), alcoholic FLD (AFLD), and MAFLD] is sparse, hindering the identification of high-risk populations for preferential clinical surveillance.

METHODS: A total of 11,000 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were enrolled. Participants were categorized into three groups [FLD( – ), MAFLD( – ), and MAFLD( +)] according to FLD and MAFLD criteria, and further categorized into six groups by EAC. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the risk of all-cause, cardiovascular-related, and cancer-related mortality.

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 23.2 years, a total of 3240 deaths were identified. Compared with FLD( – )/EAC( – ) participants, MAFLD( +) individuals had higher all-cause mortality risk [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18-1.39] regardless of EAC status [MAFLD( +)/NAFLD: HR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.11-1.34; MAFLD( +)/AFLD: HR = 1.83, 95%CI = 1.46-2.28], while not for MAFLD( – ) individuals. Furthermore, diabetes-driven-MAFLD had higher mortality risk (HR = 2.00, 95%CI = 1.77-2.27) followed by metabolic dysregulation-driven-MAFLD (HR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.06-1.60) and overweight/obesity-driven-MAFLD (HR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.00-1.22). Additionally, MAFLD( – ) participants with elevated fibrosis score were also associated with statistically significantly higher mortality risk (HR = 3.23, 95%CI = 1.63-6.40).

CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing a representative sample of the US population, we proved the validity of MAFLD subtype and fibrosis score, rather than the traditional definition (NAFLD and AFLD), in the risk stratification of FLD patients. These findings may be applied to guide the determination of surveillance options for FLD patients.

PMID:35701716 | DOI:10.1007/s12072-022-10362-3

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COVID-19’s impact on interest in gastrointestinal topics

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jun 15. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-21173-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There has been a disparity in familiarity regarding the public interest in gastroenterology terminologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to understand the outcomes of the public’s view on gastrointestinal topics and their potential social effects. This study is a comparative analysis of American Google Trends gastrointestinal terminology during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a similar time frame (March 2018-February 2020) to determine how trends in the patient-seeking behavior of gastrointestinal terminology changed throughout the pandemic. The analysis discovered a substantial decrease in search volumes of gastrointestinal topics, more significantly in the first pandemic months. Later in the pandemic, search volumes trended toward pre-pandemic years in terms of public interest. In the case of gastrointestinal procedures, endoscopy and colonoscopies, they surpassed pre-pandemic interest levels statistically (p-values of 0.01 and 0.002). The public’s decreased interest in gastrointestinal topics at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic may have adverse effects on the healthcare maintenance of patients who could have had a positive outcome in their gastrointestinal health with proper monitoring. Although gastrointestinal internet searches increased toward pre-pandemic levels as the seasons progressed, further research is needed to determine the social impact of decreased public interest.

PMID:35701702 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-21173-2

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A comparative analysis of thermal ablation techniques in the treatment of primary and secondary lung tumors: a single-center experience

Radiol Med. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s11547-022-01508-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) in unresectable lung malignancies.

METHODS: Data regarding patients with primary and secondary lung tumors treated with RFA or MWA from 2008 to 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Primary study objectives such as technical success, primary and secondary technique efficacy rates, local tumor progression (LTP) rate, LPT-free survival (LPTFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Secondary study objectives were side effects and complications. RFA and MWA were compared using the Chi-square test for continuous variables. Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated for survival statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 113 patients with primary or secondary lung tumor underwent 74 RFA (48%) and 81 MWA (52%). Technical success rate was 151/155 (97%); primary and secondary technique efficacy rates were 123/155 (79%) and 129/155 (83%), respectively. During the entire study follow-up, 32 cases experienced disease progression (20%), of which 18 underwent repeat ablation (12%), in 6 cases with success (4%). Residual unablated tumor happened in 4/155 cases (3%). LTP occurred in 28/155 cases (17%). The only factor associated with poorer LTP-FS was lesion diameter ≥ 30 mm (P < 0.05). One-, 3- and 5-years LTP-FS was 83%, 82%, 82%, respectively. One-, 3- and 5-years OS of the entire population was 87%, 74%, 73%, respectively. Minor and major complication rates were 53/155 (34%) and 29/155 (19%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study confirms the appropriateness of RFA and MWA for lung tumors treatment, in terms of safety and efficacy.

PMID:35701683 | DOI:10.1007/s11547-022-01508-2

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Generating Items for a Novel Bedside Dysphagia Screening Tool Post Acute Pediatric Stroke

Dysphagia. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s00455-022-10466-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bedside dysphagia assessment protocols are not well developed in acute pediatric stroke unlike adults. The objective of this study was to identify items deemed relevant and feasible by expert consensus to inform the development of a bedside dysphagia screening tool for acute pediatric stroke. A two-phase study was conducted: (1) literature review and expert consultation generated a comprehensive list of dysphagia assessment items; (2) items were formatted in an online survey asking respondents opinion of relevance to acute pediatric stroke and feasibility for bedside administration by a trained health professional. The Dillman Tailored Design approach optimized response rate. Respondents were identified using the snowball method. Speech-language pathologists with > 2 years in pediatric dysphagia were invited to complete the survey. Demographic and practice variables were compared using univariate statistics. Item relevance and feasibility were made using binary or ordinal responses, combined to derive item-content validity indices (I-CVI) to guide item reduction. Items with I-CVI > 0.78 (excellent content validity) were moved forward to tool development. Of the 71 invited respondents, 57(80.3%) responded, of which 34(59.6%) were from North America. Sixty-one items were generated of which 4(6.6%) items were rated ‘to keep’. These were face symmetry (I-CVI:0.89), salivary control (I-CVI:0.95), alertness (I-CVI:0.89) and choking (I-CVI:0.84). Of all respondents, 31(54.4%) endorsed swallowing trials, of which 25(80.6%) endorsed thin liquid by teaspoon (n = 17, 68%) or open cup (n = 20, 80%). We identified candidate items for bedside dysphagia screening with excellent content validity for acute pediatric stroke patients. Next steps include assessment of the psychometric value of each item in identifying dysphagia in children in the acute stage of recovery from stroke.

PMID:35701690 | DOI:10.1007/s00455-022-10466-w

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Accelerated artificial aging and color stability in resin-based cements

Acta Odontol Latinoam. 2022 Apr 30;35(1):67-73. doi: 10.54589/aol.35/1/67.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine color change after accelerated artificial ageing (AAA) of different composite cements that are used with veneers. Five cylindrical test specimens, 15 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick, were made from a single layer of each of the following: RelyX Veneer 3M ESPE (RX), Paracore White Coltene (PC), Solocem White Opaque Coltene (SO), Resin Duo Cement Densell (DC), Panavia V5 Paste Kuraray Noritake (PA) and Panavia F2.0 Kuraray Noritake (PF) (30 specimens altogether). The specimens were light cured following manufacturers’ instructions using a Coltolux LED (Coltene) unit. Initial color was determined using an Easyshade – Vita Zahnfabrik Spectrophotometer. Then, the specimens were subjected to AAA for two weeks (336 hours) with cycles of 4 hours of UV light at 60 °C and 4 hours of vapor condensation at 50 °C, successively, after which color was recorded again. Color change was determined for each specimen according to the differenceinshadeon the Vita scale before and after AAA. Results were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis test. Mean and standard deviation for each group were: RX 8.40 (1.52); PC 8.60 (3.13); SO 6.40 (3.51); DC 10.00 (0.00); PA 7.60 (3.29); PF 2.00 (0.00). The Kruskal Wallis test showed significant difference for material (p<0.05), and comparison of means showed difference between Panavia F2.0 and the other materials. A table providing equivalence between the Vita Classic and CIELAB scales was used to transfer the recorded colors to the CIELAB scale, and the color difference ΔE was calculated for each group, where ΔL, Δa and Δb are the differences in the L, a and b values before and after the AAA. The mean and standard deviation were analyzed statistically by the ANOVA test and Tukey’s test. Mean and standard deviation for each group were: RX 14.94 (2.02); PC 14.51 (4.02); SO 12.08 (4.53); DC 16.31 (0.00); PA 10.9 (3.38); PF 7.24 (0.00). The ANOVA test showed significantdifferenceformaterial (p<0.05). Tukey’s test showed two groups (PF-DC, RX, PA). Under the experimental conditions of this study, it can be concluded that accelerated ageing significantly affects the color stability of the resin based cements tested.

PMID:35700544 | DOI:10.54589/aol.35/1/67

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Efficacy of two low-level laser therapy protocols following lower third molar surgery – a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

Acta Odontol Latinoam. 2022 Apr 30;35(1):31-38. doi: 10.54589/aol.35/1/31.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to test two low-level laser therapy protocols by evaluating pain control, swelling and trismus in the postoperative period of lower third molar surgeries. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Patients presenting two symmetrically impacted mandibular third molars were included. One side was randomly assigned for LLLT applied immediately after surgery (T1) and then after 24 (T2) and 48 hours (T3) (Protocol A). The other side received LLLT applied immediately after surgery and placebo after 24 and 48 hours (Protocol B). LLLT was given by intraoral application (660nm, 5 J/cm2, 10 s, 20 mW, 4 points) followed by extraoral application (789 nm, 30 J/cm2, 20 s, 60 mW, 8 points). The placebo application was similar to that of the experimental side but with laser simulation. The primary outcomes were pain control, swelling and trismus intensity at T1, T2, T3 and 7 days after surgery (T4). Data were analyzedbyANOVArepeated measures and Wilcoxon test (p<.05). The final sample consisted of 21 patients (42 teeth). There were no statistical differences for pain level between protocols A and B over time (p= .909), although the amount of analgesic medication was lower with protocol A at T2 (p=.022). There were no differences in swelling (p=.958) or trismus (p=.837) between the protocols used over time. Both protocols performed similarly for pain control, swelling and trismus. Therefore, for practical reasons, a single laser application in the immediate postoperative period could be indicated for the management of postoperative discomfort in lower third molar surgery.

PMID:35700539 | DOI:10.54589/aol.35/1/31