Tag: pubmed

Neuroepidemiology. 2022 Feb 16. doi: 10.1159/000522611. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Glioblastomas(GBM) are the most common primary CNS tumors. Epidemiologic studies have investigated the effect of demographics on patient survival, but the literature remains inconclusive.

METHODS: This study included all adult patients with intracranial GBMs reported in the SEER-9 population database (1975-2018). The sample consisted of 32746 unique entries. We forecast the annual GBM incidence in the US population through the year of 2060 using time series analysis with autoregressive moving averages. A survival analysis of the GBM-specific time to death was also performed. Multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards(PH) regression revealed frank violations of the PH assumption for multiple covariates. Parametric models best described the GBM population’s survival pattern; the results were compared to the semi-parametric analysis and the published literature.

RESULTS: We predicted an increasing GBM incidence, which demonstrated that by the year 2060, over 1800 cases will be reported annually in the SEER. All eight demographic variables were significant in the univariable analysis. The calendar year 2005 was the cutoff associated with an increased survival probability. A male survival benefit was eliminated in the year-adjusted Cox. The factors: infratentorial tumors, non-metropolitan areas, and White patient race were erroneously associated with survival in the multivariate Cox analysis. AFT lognormal regression was the best model to describe the survival pattern in our patient population, identifying age > 30 years old as a poor prognostic and patients > 70 years old as having the worst survival. Annual income > $75,000 and supratentorial tumors were good prognostics, while surgical intervention provided the strongest survival benefit.

CONCLUSIONS: Annual GBM incidence rates will continue to increase by almost 50% in the upcoming 30 years. Cox regression analysis should not be utilized for time-to-event predictions in GBM survival statistics. AFT lognormal distribution best describes the GBM specific survival pattern, and as an inherent population characteristic, it should be implemented by researchers for future studies. Surgical intervention provides the strongest survival benefit, while patient age > 70 years old is the worst prognostic. Based on our study, the demographics: gender, race, and county type should not be considered as meaningful prognostics when designing future trials.

PMID:35172317 | DOI:10.1159/000522611

Eur Addict Res. 2022 Feb 16:1-5. doi: 10.1159/000521614. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fatal opioid overdose is a significant public health problem with increasing incidence in developed countries. This study aimed to describe demographic and service user characteristics of decedents of opioid overdose in Wales to identify possible targets for behaviour modification and life-saving interventions.

METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted of a census sample of opioid overdose-related deaths recorded between January 01, 2012, and October 11, 2018, in Wales. UK Office for National Statistics, Welsh Demographic Service, and National Health Service datasets were linked deterministically. Decedents’ circumstances of death, demographic characteristics, residency, and health service use were characterized over 3 years prior to fatal overdose using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: In total, 638 people died of opioid overdose in Wales between January 01, 2012, and October 11, 2018, with an incidence rate of 3.04 per 100,000 people per year. Decedents were predominantly male (73%) and middle aged (median age 50 years). Fatal overdoses predominantly occurred in the community (93%) secondary to heroin (30%) or oxycodone derivative use (34%). In the 3 years prior to death, decedents changed address frequently (53%) but rarely moved far geographically. The majority of decedents had recently visited the emergency department (83%) or were admitted to the hospital (64%) prior to death. Only a minority had visited specialist drug services (32%).

CONCLUSIONS: Deaths from opioid overdose typically occur in middle-aged men living peripatetic lifestyles. Victims infrequently visit specialist drug services but often attend emergency medical services. Emergency department-based interventions may therefore be important in prevention of opioid overdose fatalities in the community.

PMID:35172309 | DOI:10.1159/000521614

Nanotechnology. 2022 Feb 16. doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac55d2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown monolayer (ML) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a promising material for next-generation integrated electronic systems due to its capability of high-throughput synthesis and compatibility with wafer-scale fabrication. Several studies have described the importance of Schottky barriers in analyzing the transport properties and electrical characteristics of MoS2 field-effect-transistors (FETs) with metal contacts. However, the analysis is typically limited to single devices constructed from exfoliated flakes and should be verified for large-area fabrication methods. In this paper, CVD-grown ML MoS2 was utilized to fabricate large-area (1 cm x 1 cm) FET arrays. Two different types of metal contacts (i.e., Cr/Au and Ti/Au) were used to analyze the temperature-dependent electrical characteristics of ML MoS2 FETs and their corresponding Schottky barrier characteristics. Statistical analysis provides new insight about the properties of metal contacts on CVD-grown MoS2 compared to exfoliated samples. Reduced Schottky barrier heights (SBH) are obtained compared to exfoliated flakes, attributed to a defect-induced enhancement in metallization of CVD-grown samples. Moreover, the dependence of SBH on metal work function indicates a reduction in Fermi level pinning (FLP) compared to exfoliated flakes, moving towards the Schottky-Mott limit. Optical characterization reveals higher defect concentrations in CVD-grown samples supporting a defect-induced metallization enhancement effect consistent with the electrical SBH experiments.

PMID:35172287 | DOI:10.1088/1361-6528/ac55d2

Med Princ Pract. 2022 Feb 16. doi: 10.1159/000522626. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: While SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects lung tissue, it may cause direct or indirect damage to the cardiovascular system and permanent damage may occur. Arterial stiffness is an early indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. The aim of our study was to establish the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the vascular system evaluated by transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) examination.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study compared arterial stiffness between the survivors of COVID-19 and those without a history of COVID-19 infection. The difference in aortic diameter was examined using echocardiography.

RESULTS: The study included 50 patients who survived COVID-19 in the last 3 to 6 months and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. In surviving COVID-19 patients, aortic diastolic diameter in cm ([3.1±0.2] vs. [2.9±0.1], p < 0.001), pulse pressure ([43.02±14.05] vs [35.74±9.86], p = 0.004), aortic distensibility ([5.61±3.57] vs [8.31±3.82], p < 0.001), aortic strain ([10.56±4.91] vs [13.88±5.86], p = 0.003), pulse pressure/stroke volume index ([1.25±0.47] vs [0.98±0.28], p = 0.001) and aortic stiffness index ([2.82±0.47] vs [2.46±0.45], p < 0.001) were statistically significant compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 may cause reduced or impaired aortic elasticity parameters linked to impaired arterial wall function in COVID-19 survivors compared with controls.

PMID:35172305 | DOI:10.1159/000522626

Eur J Cancer. 2022 Feb 13;164:39-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.12.030. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers for cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, such as palbociclib, for patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer are lacking. Thymidine kinase is a proliferation marker downstream of the cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 pathway. We prospectively investigated the prognostic role of serum thymidine kinase activity (sTKa), in patients treated with Palbociclib + fulvestrant.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: PYTHIA was a phase II, single-arm, multicentre, trial that enrolled 124 post-menopausal women with endocrine-resistant hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Serum samples were collected pre-treatment (pre-trt; n = 122), at day 15 of cycle 1 (D15; n = 108), during the one week-off palbociclib before initiating cycle 2 (D28; n = 108) and at end of treatment (n = 76). sTKa was determined centrally using Divitum®, a refined ELISA-based assay with a limit of detection of 20 Divitum Units (Du)/L. The primary study endpoint was progression-free survival, assessed for its association with pre- and on-treatment sTKa.

RESULTS: Data from 122 women were analysed. Pre-treatment sTKa was not associated with clinical characteristics and moderately correlated with tissue Ki-67. Palbociclib + fulvestrant markedly suppressed sTKa levels at D15, with 83% of patients recording levels below limit of detection. At D28, sTKa showed a rebound in 60% of patients. At each timepoint, higher sTKa was associated with shorter progression-free survival (each p < 0.001), with the strongest effect at D15.

CONCLUSIONS: STKa is an independent prognostic biomarker in patients treated with palbociclib. High pre-treatment sTKa and its incomplete suppression during treatment may identify patients with poorer prognosis and primary resistance. This warrants validation in prospective comparative trials. CLINICALTRIALS.

GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02536742; EudraCT 2014-005387-15.

PMID:35172272 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejca.2021.12.030

Infect Dis Now. 2022 Feb 13:S2666-9919(22)00030-6. doi: 10.1016/j.idnow.2022.01.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: While the World Health Organization has recommended preoperative washing with plain or antimicrobial soap for surgical site infection (SSI) prevention, it has not formulated recommendations on use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated cloths. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the benefit of preoperative bathing with CHG-cloths on SSI incidence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Publications were searched on Medline, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Clinical Trial between 01/01/1990 and 30/06/2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCT), quasi-randomized, case-control and cohort studies on patients with surgery (Population) having preoperative bathing with CHG-cloths (Intervention) or antiseptic soap, plain soap, placebo, no washing, no instruction (Comparator) were included. The main outcome was SSI occurrence. The results were synthetized using the Odds-Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval [95%CI]. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane and Newcastle-Ottawa tools and evidence quality with the GRADE method. Statistics were calculated on RevMan5.3.

RESULTS: All in all, 1108 publications were identified and 3 were included in the meta-analysis. OR of the 2 cohort studies was 0.25 [95%CI: 0.13-0.50] for use of CHG-cloths the evening and the morning before intervention versus non-compliance with preoperative washing. OR of the RCT was 0.12 [95%CI: 0.02-1.00] for use of CHG-cloths the evening and the morning before intervention versus a shower with antibacterial soap the evening before the intervention. Study quality was moderate.

CONCLUSIONS: While the available studies show a benefit for CHG-cloths on SSI occurrence in orthopaedic surgery, there is no comparison with usual practices. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefit of CHG-cloths for preoperative washing.

PMID:35172215 | DOI:10.1016/j.idnow.2022.01.007

Int J Drug Policy. 2022 Feb 13;102:103615. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103615. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2019-2020, record-high numbers of overdoses have been reported across the UK. We estimated perceived availability to and carriage of naloxone and explored factors associated with carriage among people who inject drugs (PWID) engaged with services in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

METHODS: Participants were PWID enrolled in the Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring Survey in 2019 who reported past-year injection drug use (n = 2,139). Recruitment occurred through specialist and community drug agencies located across the UK, excluding Scotland. Socio-demographic, behavioural and service use characteristics were self-reported. Participants were asked whether they carry naloxone (timeframe unspecified). If they answered “no”, they were further asked whether it is available in their area. Perceived naloxone availability and carriage were estimated by requirement region, classified using the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics 1. We used the Gelberg-Andersen Model of healthcare access to explore predisposing, enabling and need factors associated with regionally-aggregated naloxone carriage.

RESULTS: Perceived naloxone availability was ≥95% in all 11 regions; naloxone carriage varied (mean: 61.1; range: 48%-71%; P<0.01). Among predisposing factors, female gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-1.91) was positively associated with naloxone carriage, whilst recruitment in Yorkshire and the Humber-relative to London-was negatively associated (AOR: 0.55; 95%CI: 0.37-0.82). Among enabling factors, past-year contact with needle and syringe programmes (AOR: 1.74; 95%CI: 1.39-2.18) and currently receiving treatment for drug use (AOR: 1.75; 95%CI: 1.24-2.46) were positively associated with naloxone carriage. Among need characteristics, past-month heroin injection, with or without past-month high-risk drinking or benzodiazepine use, was positively associated with carriage relative to no heroin injection (range of AORs: 1.71-2.58).

CONCLUSION: Perceived naloxone availability is very high among PWID attending services in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Naloxone carriage is moderately high and varying across regions, and appears improved through recent engagement with harm-reduction programs.

PMID:35172254 | DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103615

J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2022 Feb 13:S1058-2746(22)00221-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2022.01.125. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) has emerged as a valid and efficient means of collecting outcomes in patients with rotator cuff tears. The purpose of this study was to establish threshold score changes to determine minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) in PROMIS computer adaptive test (CAT) scores following rotator cuff repair (RCR). Additionally, we sought to identify potential risk factors for failing to achieve MCID and SCB.

METHODS: Patients undergoing arthroscopic RCR were identified over a 24-month period. Only patients that completed both preoperative and postoperative PROMIS CAT assessments were included in this cohort. PROMIS CAT forms for upper extremity physical function (PROMIS-UE), pain interference (PROMIS-PI), and depression (PROMIS-D) were utilized with minimum of 1.5 year follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed to determine threshold score changes to determine anchor-based MCID and SCB, as well as risk factors for failure to achieve significant clinical improvement following surgery.

RESULTS: Of 198 eligible patients, 168 (84.8%) were included in analysis. Delta PROMIS-UE values of 5.8 and 9.7 (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.906 and 0.949, respectively) and delta PROMIS-PI values of -11.4 and -12.9 (AUC = 0.875 and 0.938, respectively) were identified as threshold predictors of MCID and SCB achievement. On average, 81%, 65%, and 55% of patients achieved MCID for PROMIS-UE, PROMIS-PI, and PROMIS-D while 71%, 61%, and 38% of patients in the cohort respectively achieved SCB. MCID achievement in PROMIS-UE significantly differed according to risk factors including smoking status (LR: 9.8, p=0.037), tear size (LR: 10.4, p<0.001), distal clavicle excision (LR: 6.1, p=0.005), and prior shoulder surgery (LR: 19.2, p<0.001). Factors influencing SCB achievement for PROMIS-UE were smoking status (LR: 9.3, p=0.022), tear size (LR: 8.0, p=0.039), and prior shoulder surgery (11.9, p<0.001). Significantly different rates of MCID and SCB achievement in PROMIS-PI for smoking status (LR: 7.0, p=0.030 and LR: 5.2, p=0.045) and prior shoulder surgery (LR: 9.1, p=0.002 and LR: 7.4, p=0.006) were also identified.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The majority of patients showed clinically significant improvements that exceeded the established MCID for PROMIS-UE and PROMIS-PI following RCR. Patients with larger tear sizes, a history of prior shoulder surgery, tobacco users, and those who received concomitant distal clavicle excision were at risk for failing to achieve MCID in PROMIS-UE. Additionally, smokers and patients who underwent prior shoulder surgery demonstrated significantly lower improvements in pain scores following surgery.

PMID:35172206 | DOI:10.1016/j.jse.2022.01.125

J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2022 Feb 16. doi: 10.1002/term.3290. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Technological advances in the field of implantology have led to the concept of surface modifications to enhance implant stability by utilization of current concepts of tissue engineering and materials such as platelet concentrates and stem cells. The purpose of the present randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate and compare the effect of platelet rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) with and without peripheral blood mesenchymal stem cells (PBMSCs) on implant stability; by assessing the bone to implant contact (BIC) using resonance frequency analysis (RFA), insertion torque and also to establish and correlate the same with implant stability quotient (ISQ). A total of 15 patients with 30 sites ensuring a minimum of two dental implants adjacently placed in an edentulous area; with the age group of 25-50 years of both the sexes were categorized into Group 1 (dental implant with PRFM) and Group 2 (dental implant with PBMSCs embedded in PRFM). Insertion torque values at the time of dental implant placement and ISQ using RFA was recorded at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post operatively. There was no significant difference (p = 0.81) in Insertion torque values between both the groups (G1 and G2). Platelet rich fibrin matrix along with PBMSCs enhanced implant stability as higher and statistically significant ISQ values were noted at 1 week (p = 0.18), 1 month (p ≤ 0.001), and 3 months (p ≤ 0.001) intervals in the G2 group. Platelet rich fibrin matrix and PBMSCs showed promising results as a potential regenerative material for increasing and enhancing BIC and hence implant stability.

PMID:35172029 | DOI:10.1002/term.3290

Bioinformatics. 2022 Feb 16:btac098. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btac098. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

MOTIVATION: Drawing peaks in a data window of an MS data set happens at all time in MS data visualization applications. This asks to retrieve from an MS data set some selected peaks in a data window whose image in a display window reflects the visual feature of all peaks in the data window. If an algorithm for this purpose is asked to output high quality solutions in real time, then the most fundamental dependence of it is on the storage format of the MS data set.

RESULTS: We present mzMD, a new storage format of MS data sets and an algorithm to query this format of a storage system for a summary (a set of selected representative peaks) of a given data window. We propose a criterion Q-score to examine the quality of data window summaries. Experimental statistics on real MS data sets verified the high speed of mzMD in retrieving high-quality data window summaries. mzMD reported summaries of data windows whose Q-score outperforms those mzTree reported. The query speed of mzMD is the same as that of mzTree whereas its query speed stability is better than that of mzTree.

AVAILABILITY: The source code is freely available at https://github.com/yrm9837/mzMD-java.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

PMID:35171986 | DOI:10.1093/bioinformatics/btac098