Tag: pubmed

Psychiatriki. 2022 Feb 21. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2022.069. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Preservation of a population’s cognitive functions is a matter of increased concern for all healthcare systems. The detection of factors that are associated with cognitive functions is a matter of increased interest to both the treatment of vulnerable individuals and the implementation of strategies to delay age-related cognitive decline. This study aimed to highlight sociodemographic, physical, and mental health factors associated with the cognitive function in non-demented elderly primary health care attendees. The sample consisted of 362 primary health care attendees aged 60 years or above. A questionnaire regarding sociodemographic and physical health history, along with a battery of psychometric instruments consisting of the Test Your Memory (TYM) test, Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-15), Short Anxiety Screening Test (SAST), and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), were given to all participants.Participants who scored below 39/40 in the TYM, which is the cut-off point for dementia screening in the version of the test we used, were excluded from further assessment. For the rest of the participants, 267 in total, their TYM scores were significantly and negatively correlated with age and SAST scores. Participants with lung and vascular health history problems scored lower in the TYM, as did those with poor education, who lived alone, and who lived in Alexandroupolis. Finally, healthy participants scored higher than individuals with at least one medical condition. Linear multiple regression analysis revealed a model (adjusted R2 = 25.80, F = 10.11, p < 0.001) with three factors (age (beta = -0.32), lung problems (beta = -0.23), and vascular factors (beta = -0.20) that could significantly predict 25.80% of the variance in TYM scores. Preservation of physical health, especially lung and vascular health, along with anxiety alleviation help to counterbalance the negative effect of aging on cognitive function in non-demented elderly primary care attendees.

PMID:35255475 | DOI:10.22365/jpsych.2022.069

Psychiatriki. 2022 Feb 21. doi: 10.22365/jpsych.2022.065. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Adolescent aggression has received a wide and longtime attention in scientific research, because of the extent of the phenomenon in this age group and of the negative consequences it inflicts on affected adolescents, and their human environments. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the proportion (of high levels) of aggressive behaviors (physical, verbal, and direct aggression, anger, and hostility) in an urban sample of adolescent students, as well as to investigate associations between the occurrence of these behaviors, and adolescents’ characteristics and mental health problems. The sample consisted of 2050 students attending the second grade of 49 random selected High Schools and Senior High Schools of the Regional Unit of the Central Sector of Attica and Piraeus. The Buss- Perry Aggression Questionnaire was administered to measure participants’ aggression behaviors, while the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire was also used to estimate their mental health and behavioral difficulties. Information about adolescents’ individual, family, and school characteristics, was also collected. Results of the statistical analysis showed that the occurrence rates of high levels of participants’ aggressive behaviors ranged between 2.2 (for total aggression) and 10.5% (for anger). Among individual characteristics, gender (with boys predominating in physical and direct aggression and girls in anger), (older) age, and sports activity (to direct aggression) were related to participants’ aggressive behaviors. On the other hand, non-intact family structure and household insecurity food intake were positive correlated with specific aggressive behaviors, while pocket money allowance was positive associated with all of them. Concerning participants’ mental health and behavioral issues, conduct problems and hyperactivity/ inattention were positive correlated with all investigated aggressive behaviors. In conclusion, the vast majority of the Central Sector of Attica and Piraeus adolescents did not seem to show high levels of aggressive behaviors (except anger). Nevertheless, considering this study outcomes (such as the “aggressive” burden of older adolescents, the role of family structure and pocket money allowance, as well as the co-occurrence with mental and behavioral problems), further longitudinal study is required to better understand the mechanisms that facilitate adolescent aggression.

PMID:35255470 | DOI:10.22365/jpsych.2022.065

Clin Lab. 2022 Mar 1;68(3). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210541.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To compare MMA-related gene mutations in MMA children and the population in Qingdao, discuss the blood propionyl carnitine (C3), free carnitine (C0) methionine (MET), the mutual ratio and division difference in normal group, carrier group, and MMA group to analyze the relationship between some hotspot mutations and biochemical indicators.

METHODS: In total 3,700 newborns testing negative in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were selected at random and submitted for testing 8 pathogenic sites in MMACHC and 10 in MMUT. The gene mutations in 84 cases with detected mutation genes and 42 diagnosed children were compared. The levels and concentration distribution of C3, C0, MET, C3/C2, C3/C0, C3/MET in the blood samples of three groups were analyzed as well as the difference of biochemical indicators in newborns with hotspot mutations (c.609A>G, c.482G>A, and c.658-660delAAG).

RESULTS: All 8 pathogenic mutations in MMACHC in the population were detected and were basically consistent with the mutation types and frequency order in MMA group. The first three were c.609G>A, c.482G>A, and c.658_660delAAG. There were more types of mutation sites detected in MMA group than carrier group. Five out of 10 MMUT gene mutations were detected in the population, and 9 MMUT gene mutation sites were detected in MMA group. The findings in the two groups and the preset sites were not completely consistent. C3, C0, C3/C2, C3/C0, C3/MET in MMA group were higher than carrier and normal groups, and the difference was statistically significant; the MET in MMA group was lower than carrier and normal groups, and the difference was statistical¬ly significant. Based on the three sets of data distribution graphs, C3, C3/C2, C3/C0, and C3/MET were well distinguished. There were differences in the average C3 and C0 levels between carrier and normal groups, but with an obvious cross distribution in the graphs, and no difference in other indicators. In contrast to non-carrier group, C0, C3, C3/C0, C3/C2, and C3/MET concentration levels were higher in 609A>G mutation group, while MET level was lower, with statistical significance; in c.482G>A mutation group, C3, C3/C0, C3/C2, and C3/MET concentration levels were lower than non-carrier group, while MET level was higher, with statistical significance; in c.658-660delAAG mutation group, C0, C3, C3/C0, C3/C2, MET, and C3/MET concentration levels were not statistically different in contrast to other groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The top three mutations in MMA children in Qingdao area are c.609A>G, c.482G>A, c.658-660del AAG mutations in MMAHC; C3, C3/C2, C3/C0 can be used as specific prompt indicators for MMA screening; C3, C3/C2, C3/C0, C3/MET can be used as specific prompt indicators for combined MMA screening; abnormalities in biochemical indicators in hotspot mutation group intuitively explains c.609A>G mutation and early-onset MMA. c.482G>A mutation links with late-onset MMA.

PMID:35254044 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210541

Clin Lab. 2022 Mar 1;68(3). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2022.210755.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has become a pandemic and threatened human public health across the world. Determining effective predictive biomarkers that can classify patients according to risk levels is critical to identify cases that can potentially progress to severe complications and death with the rapid progression of the disease. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the utility of the monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), a recently emerging inflammatory marker, as a clinically useful inflammation-based marker in determining patients at higher risk of decreased overall survival in patients with COVID-19.

METHODS: The demographics, laboratory data, and MHR of 127 patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were evaluated in terms of clinical outcomes. The patients discharged from the hospital constituted the survivor group, while those that died were evaluated as the non-survivor group.

RESULTS: The MHR values were found to be significantly higher in the non-survivor group compared to the survivors (p < 0.05). The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) values were significantly lower in the non-survivor group (p < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in the monocyte values (p > 0.05). Spearman’s analyses revealed no correlation between the MHR values and white blood cell, neutrophil, ferritin, D-dimer, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the non-survivor group (p > 0.05). According to the binary logistic regression analysis model, the neutrophil, ferritin, D-dimer, CRP, and MHR values the most significant factors in predicting survival (p = 0.021, p = 0.004, p = 0.000, p = 0.001, and p = 0.016, respectively), and an increase in the neutrophil, ferritin, D-dimer, CRP and MHR values decreased the survival rate by 1.1, 1.5, 1.8, 1.6, and 1.7 times, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: MHR can help predict the severity of the COVID-19 disease and patient outcomes. Therefore, this parameter can serve as a clinically useful and potentially predictive inflammation-based marker for identifying patients with COVID-19 who are at higher risk of decreased overall survival. Considering the serious consequences of the current and possible future pandemics, the establishment of a risk assessment model, including MHR in COVID-19 and similar infections is of vital importance in reducing morbidity and mortality by identifying potential risk factors that can predict the course of the disease.

PMID:35254041 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2022.210755

Clin Lab. 2022 Mar 1;68(3). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210413.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The pre-analytical phase, which includes all preparatory actions to the analytical procedure, is part of the process during which there is the greatest possibility of laboratory errors. This study was conducted to investigate the frequency and types of laboratory errors during work in the clinical laboratory as well as the frequency and types of laboratory errors in the pre-analytical phase of laboratory work.

METHODS: The retrospective, descriptive study covered the period from 01/01/2016 to 12/31/2016 within which the presence of 5 different indicators of quality of work, i.e., pre-analytical errors, was monitored: improperly drawn blood, coagulated blood sample, hemolyzed blood sample, improperly marked referral for analysis, and insufficient sample for analysis.

RESULTS: The most common error in the pre-analytical phase of our study was “coagulated sample”, followed by: “improperly drawn blood”, “improperly marked referral”, “insufficient sample for analysis”, and “hemolyzed sample”. Using the chi-squared test, a statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of occurrence of certain types of indicators in different departments (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of these errors can be achieved through analyzing and correcting the reasons for them, education, and by joint action of experts and international organizations, continual training of staff as well as to following the adopted guidelines and standards.

PMID:35254036 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210413

Clin Lab. 2022 Mar 1;68(3). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210421.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Over past decades, the instability of parathyroid hormone (PTH) causes great interference for the clinical laboratory. Contradictory results were reported in many reports about storage conditions and suitable blood collection tubes to ensure PTH stability in the pretreatment phase.

METHODS: This study recruited 30 participants including 10 healthy persons, 10 hemodialysis, and 10 hyperparathyroidism patients. Five types of blood collection tubes (EDTA-K3 tube, coagulant tube, heparin anticoagulant tube, gel separating tube, and plain tube) were included to determine whether they were suitable as blood-collecting vessels. The time points and conditions for testing samples included less than 2 hours, 4 hours, and 8 hours at room temperature, and, in parallel, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours in refrigeration. Two different judgement criteria were used to compare the stability of PTH in different blood vessels.

RESULTS: Purely statistical analysis showed that 4 types of blood collection tubes could not perform the same storage ability as EDTA-K3 tube at “T0” time point. Plain tube had the largest drop among all types of blood collection tubes. Compared by pairwise t-test, EDTA-K3 tube could maintain intact PTH for 8 hours (p = 0.998) at room temperature and 24 hours (p = 0.053) in refrigeration. When comparing the total change limit (TCL = 18.8%), at room temperature, EDTA-K3 tube (7.0%), heparin tube (12.7%), coagulant tube (16.2%), and plain tube (17.6%) could maintain intact PTH for 8 hours, and GST can preserve PTH for 4 hours (18.2%). In refrigeration, EDTA-K3 tube could maintain PTH for 72 hours (7.5%) and heparin tube could maintain 24 hours (18.4%). The other three blood collection tubes could not preserve PTH in refrigeration (GST = 22.1%, coagulant tube = 20.3%, plain tube = 20.8%).

CONCLUSIONS: PTH seems more stable in the EDTA-K3 tube than any other blood collection tubes and is followed next by the heparin anticoagulant tube. Plain tube and GST have faster degradation than other tubes and are not suggested to preserve intact PTH.

PMID:35254038 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210421

Clin Lab. 2022 Mar 1;68(3). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210616.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the level of hepatic FIB-4 scores between COVID-19 patients who had pneumonia and COVID-19 patients who had no pneumonia in an attempt to develop a risk assessment after the treatment and recovery of active COVID-19 infection.

METHODS: The study included 80 patients who were consecutively selected and admitted to an internal medicine outpatient clinic for a control examination after COVID-19 infection. Chest tomography was performed on all patients during the COVID-19 infection. Patients were divided into two groups as those with and without lung involvement on CT. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The hepatic fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) index score was calculated for each patient. The statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t-test and chi-squared tests.

RESULTS: We found that the increased hepatic FIB-4 index score in patients with pneumonia group was statistically significant compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The regression analysis showed that the hepatic FIB-4 index has significant prognostic efficiencies in both uni- and multivariate models (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The hepatic FIB-4 index appears to be a simple parameter with a good prognostic value in patients with COVID-19 infection.

PMID:35254026 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210616

Clin Lab. 2022 Mar 1;68(3). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210639.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 is a pandemic viral infection with high pathogenicity and contagiousness. Our aim is to evaluate the preliminary hematological findings analyzed during admission in order to determine the diagnostic value of hematological parameters in Covid-19 patients and to reveal their relationship with the severity of the disease.

METHODS: Our study includes a total of 169 patients, whose diagnosis was confirmed and 93 of whom were treated in the ward, 76 of whom were treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 67 control patients. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte (MLR) ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio (MPV/PLT) data on admission were analyzed retrospectively and compared.

RESULTS: ICU patients had significantly higher values of NLR, MLR, PLR, and MPV/PLT (p < 0.001 for each) but had lower values of lymphocyte count and hemoglobin (p < 0.001 for each) compared to that of ward patients. According to the results of ROC analysis, the diagnostic values of NLR, MLR, PLR, and MPV/PLT parameters were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of our study, abnormal routine peripheral blood examination results were detected in Covid-19 patients. NLR, MLR, and PLR can be considered as independent, reliable biomarkers for assessing disease severity, hospitalization, and clinical classification in Covid-19. Therefore, it was concluded that fast, cost-effective, easily accessible admission hemogram parameters are reasonably important to predict the prognosis of Covid-19 patients.

PMID:35254018 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210639

Clin Lab. 2022 Mar 1;68(3). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210543.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is known to suppress the release of proinflammatory cytokines, increase the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and present an immunomodulatory effect. In light of the foregoing, it is suggested that vitamin D may play an important role in the course of COVID-19 infection. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the relationship between vitamin D levels and length of hospital stay of COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted between March 15th and October 15th, 2020, among 768 patients who were hospitalized due to the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection confirmed with PCR tests taken at the Health Sciences University, Antalya Training and Research Hospital. The study included 39 patients aged 18 – 65 years, whose 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were examined within 3 months prior to the diagnosis with PCR, and whose results were found ≥ 30 ng/mL, and those patients whose 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were examined within 3 months after the diagnosis with PCR, and whose results were found < 30 ng/mL. The patients were grouped according to 25 (OH) vitamin D levels and evaluated in terms of length of hospital stay.

RESULTS: Of all the 39 patients in this study, 61.5% were female, 38.5% were male, with a mean age of 48.64 ± 11.79 years. The average of 25 (OH) vitamin D levels of the patients was 21.44 ± 11.17 ng/mL, the average length of hospital stay was 9.41 ± 8.90 days. The length of stay was found to increase significantly in participants who were 45 years and older, who were male, those with chronic diseases, and those with lung involvement detected on thoracic CT imaging at the time of admission. No statistically significant difference appeared with respect to the length of hospital stay when the patients were evaluated according to their 25 (OH) vitamin D levels.

CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant relationship was found between the patients’ length of hospital stay due to the COVID-19 infection and their 25 (OH) vitamin D levels in patients aged 18 – 65 years. Further prospective clinical studies still need to be conducted with large numbers of patients excluding independent risk factors such as the presence of a chronic disease.

PMID:35254024 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210543

Chem Rec. 2022 Mar 7:e202100326. doi: 10.1002/tcr.202100326. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Plastics around the globe have been a matter of grave concern due to the unavoidable habits of human mankind. Taking waste statistics in India for the year 2019-20 into account, the data of 60 major cities show that the generation of plastic waste stands tall at around 26,000 tonnes/day, of which only about 60 % is recycled. A majority of the non-recycled plastic waste is petrochemical-based packaging materials that are non-biodegradable in nature. Vegetative/food waste is another global issue, evidenced by vastly populated countries such as China and India accounting for 91 and 69 tonnes of food wastage, respectively in 2019. The mitigation of plastic packaging issues has led to key scientific developments, one of which is biodegradable materials. However, there is a way that these two waste-related issues can be fronted as the analogy of “taking two shots with the same arrow”. The presence of various bio-compounds such as proteins, cellulose, starch, lipids, and waxes, etc., in food and vegetative waste, creates an opportunity for the development of biodegradable packaging films. Although these flexible packaging films have limitations in terms of mechanical, permeation, and moisture absorption characteristics, they can be fine-tuned in order to convert the biobased raw material into a realizable packaging product. These strategies could work in replacing petrochemical-based non-biodegradable packaging plastics which are used in enormous quantities for various household and commercial packaging applications to combat the ever-increasing pollution in highly populated countries. This paper presents a systematic review based on modern scientific tools of the literature available with a major emphasis on the past decade and aims to serve as a standard resource for the development of biodegradable packaging films from food/vegetative waste.

PMID:35253984 | DOI:10.1002/tcr.202100326