Tag: pubmed

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2021 May 17:ivab119. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivab119. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The newly proposed N subclassification (new-N) was compared with the combined anatomical location and ratio of the number of metastatic lymph nodes to the total number of resected lymph nodes (anatomic-LNR) in terms of prognosis in resected lung cancer patients.

METHODS: Between 2005 and 2018, 961 patients who underwent lung cancer resection were catergorized into the pN1-single (N1a; n = 281), pN1-multiple (N1b; n = 182), pN2-single with skip metastasis (N2a1; n = 116), pN2-single with N1 metastasis (N2a2; n = 222) and pN2-multiple (N2b; n = 160) groups based on new-N. The optimal cut-off points for survival in pN1 and pN2 patients were determined using the best sensitivity and specificity scores, calculated using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS: The difference in survival between N1a and N1b patients was statistically significant (P = 0.001), but there was no significant difference in the survival rates of N1b and N2a1 (P = 0.52). The survival curves for N2a1 and N2a2 patients almost overlapped (P = 0.143). N2a2 patients showed a better survival rate than N2b patients, with no significant difference (P = 0.132). The cut-off points for LNR were 0.10 and 0.25 for pN1 and pN2 patients, respectively, according to receiver operating characteristic analysis for survival. Based on receiver operating characteristic analysis, pN patients were categorized into the N1-lowLNR (n = 232), N1-highLNR (n = 231), N2-lowLNR (n = 266) and N2-highLNR (n = 232) groups. The 5-year survival rate was 62.9%, 49.8%, 41.1% and 27.1% for N1-lowLNR, N1-highLNR, N2-lowLNR and N2-highLNR, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: LowLNR is associated with better survival than highLNR in resected lung cancer patients. Anatomic-LNR shows a high discriminatory power for prognosis.

PMID:34000035 | DOI:10.1093/icvts/ivab119

J Sci Food Agric. 2021 May 17. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.11323. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multilayer perceptron (MLP) feed-forward artificial neural networks (ANN) and first order Takagi-Sugeno type adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) are utilized to model the fluidized bed drying process of Echium amoenum Fisch. & C. A. Mey. The moisture ratio evolution is calculated based on the drying temperature, airflow velocity and process time. Different ANN topologies are examined by evaluating the neuron number (3 to 20), the activation functions and the addition of a second hidden layer. Respectively, different number (2 to 5) and shapes of membership functions are examined for the ANFIS, using the grid partitioning method. The models with the best performance in terms of prediction accuracy as evaluated by the statistical indices, are compared with the best fit thin-layer model and the available data from the experimental cases of 40, 50 and 60°C temperatures at 0.5, 0.75 and 1 ms^-1 airflow velocity.

RESULTS: The best performed ANFIS model, comprised by 5-2-2 of π-shaped and triangular membership functions for time, temperature and airflow velocity inputs respectively, was able to describe the moisture ratio evolution of Echium amoenum more precisely than the best ANN topology with R² =0.9992, RMSE=0.0078 and SSE=1.06·10^-2 . Best thin-layer model involving six adjustable parameters, managed to describe experimental data with R² =0.9996, RMSE=0.0057 and SSE=7.3·10^-4 .

CONCLUSION: The results of the comparative study indicate that empirical regression models with increased number of adjustable parameters, constitute a simpler and more accurate modeling approach for estimating the moisture ratio of Echium amoenum Fisch. & C. A. Mey under fluidized bed drying. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34000064 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.11323

PLoS One. 2021 May 17;16(5):e0251653. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251653. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Behavioral genetics in non-model organisms is currently gated by technological limitations. However, with the growing availability of genome editing and functional genomic tools, complex behavioral traits such as social behavior can now be explored in diverse organisms. Here we present a minimally invasive neurosurgical procedure for a classic behavioral, ecological and evolutionary system: threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Direct brain injection enables viral-mediated transgenesis and pharmaceutical delivery which bypasses the blood-brain barrier. This method is flexible, fast, and amenable to statistically powerful within-subject experimental designs, making it well-suited for use in genetically diverse animals such as those collected from natural populations. Developing this minimally invasive neurosurgical protocol required 1) refining the anesthesia process, 2) building a custom surgical rig, and 3) determining the normal recovery pattern allowing us to clearly identify warning signs of failure to thrive. Our custom-built surgical rig (publicly available) and optimized anesthetization methods resulted in high (90%) survival rates and quick behavioral recovery. Using this method, we detected changes in aggression from the overexpression of either of two different genes, arginine vasopressin (AVP) and monoamine oxidase (MAOA), in outbred animals in less than one month. We successfully used multiple promoters to drive expression, allowing for tailored expression profiles through time. In addition, we demonstrate that widely available mammalian plasmids work with this method, lowering the barrier of entry to the technique. By using repeated measures of behavior on the same fish before and after transfection, we were able to drastically reduce the necessary sample size needed to detect significant changes in behavior, making this a viable approach for examining genetic mechanisms underlying complex social behaviors.

PMID:33999965 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251653

PLoS One. 2021 May 17;16(5):e0251549. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251549. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess potential changes in pupil size during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) using a low-energy laser system.

METHODS: The pupil sizes of eyes undergoing FLACS were measured using the Ziemer LDV Z8 by extracting images from the laser software after each of the following steps: application of suction, lens fragmentation, and capsulotomy. Furthermore, the pupil diameters were measured based on preoperative surgical microscope images and after releasing the suction. Paired t-test and the two one-sided tests (TOST) procedure were used for statistical analyses. The horizontal and vertical pupil diameters were compared in each of the steps with preoperative values.

RESULTS: Data were available for 52 eyes (52 patients, mean age 73.4 years, range 51-87 years). The equivalence between mean preoperative pupil size and status immediately after femtosecond laser treatment was confirmed (p<0.001; 95% confidence interval [-0.0637, 0.0287] for horizontal and p<0.001; 95% CI [-0.0158, 0.0859] for vertical diameter). There was statistically significant horizontal and vertical enlargement of pupil diameters between 0.15 and 0.24 mm during the laser treatment steps as compared with preoperative values (all p values <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: No progressive pupil narrowing was observed using low-energy FLACS. Although a suction-induced, slight increase in pupil area became apparent, this effect was completely reversible after removing the laser interface.

PMID:33999970 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251549

Nanoscale. 2021 May 17. doi: 10.1039/d0nr06865a. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

DNA has become a powerful platform to design functional nanodevices. DNA nanodevices are often composed of self-assembled DNA building blocks that differ significantly from the structure of native DNA. In this study, we present Flow Force Microscopy as a massively parallel approach to study the nanomechanics of DNA self-assemblies on the single-molecular level. The high-throughput experiments performed in a simple microfluidic channel enable statistically meaningful studies with nanometer scale precision in a time frame of several minutes. A surprisingly high flexibility was observed for a typical construct used in DNA origami, reflected in a persistence length of 10.2 nm, a factor of five smaller than for native DNA. The enhanced flexibility is attributed to the discontinuous backbone of DNA self-assemblies that facilitate base pair opening by thermal fluctuations at the end of hybridized oligomers. We believe that the results will contribute to the fundamental understanding of DNA nanomechanics and help to improve the design of DNA nanodevices with applications in biological analysis and clinical research.

PMID:33999986 | DOI:10.1039/d0nr06865a

PLoS One. 2021 May 17;16(5):e0251886. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251886. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

HYPOTHESIS: There is limited data on the care and outcomes of individuals with both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, particularly in advanced disease. We hypothesized such patients would receive less cancer treatment and have worse outcomes.

METHODS: We analyzed administrative data from the province of Ontario including demographics, hospitalization records, physician billings, cancer diagnosis, and treatments. COPD was defined using the ICES-derived COPD cohort (1996-2014) with data from 2002 to 2014. Descriptive statistics and multivariable analyses were undertaken.

RESULTS: Of 105 304 individuals with lung cancer, 43 375 (41%) had stage data and 36 738 (34.9%) had COPD. Those with COPD were likely to be younger, have a Charlson score ≤ 1, have lower income, to live rurally, and to have stage I/II lung cancer (29.8 vs 26.5%; all p<0.001). For the COPD population with stage I/II cancer, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy were less likely (56.8 vs. 65.9% and 15.4 vs. 17.1%, respectively), while radiation was more likely (26.0 vs. 21.8%) (p all < 0.001). In the stage III/IV population, individuals with COPD received less chemotherapy (55.9 vs 64.4%) or radiation (42.5 vs 47.5%; all p<0.001). Inhaler and oxygen use was higher those with COPD, as were hospitalizations for respiratory infections and COPD exacerbations. On multivariable analysis, overall survival was worse among those with COPD (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.19-1.22).

CONCLUSIONS: A co-diagnosis of COPD and lung cancer is associated with less curative treatment in early stage disease, less palliative treatment in late stage disease, and poorer outcomes.

PMID:33999942 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251886

PLoS One. 2021 May 17;16(5):e0251854. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251854. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Iodine deficiency disorder a common problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It affects not only the health of the affected individual but also the economic development of the country. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a scarcity in literature about the associated factors of iodized salt utilization in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to identify both individual and community level determinants of iodized salt utilization in sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS: This study used the appended datasets of the most recent demographic and health survey from 31 sub-Saharan countries. A total weighted sample of 391,463 households was included in the study. Both bivariable and multivariable multilevel logistic regression were done to determine the associated factors of iodized salt utilization in SSA. P value ≤ 0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables.

RESULTS: Those households with primary (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.50-1.57), secondary (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.76-1.86) and higher education level (AOR = 2.28, 95% CI = 2.17-2.40) had higher odds of iodized salt utilization. Households with middle (AOR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02-1.08), richer (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.09-1.17) and richest wealth index (AOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.18-1.28) also had an increased chance of using iodized salt. Households from high community media exposure (AOR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.71-2.51), high community education level (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI = 3.14-4.56), and low community poverty level (AOR = 1.29, CI = 1.07-1.56) had higher odds of using salt containing iodine.

CONCLUSION: Both individual and community level factors were found to be associated with use of salt containing iodine in sub-Saharan Africa. Education level, media exposure, community poverty level, wealth index, community education, and community media exposure were found to be associated with use of salt containing iodine in SSA. Therefore, to improve the use of iodized salt in the region, there is a need to increase access to media sources and develop the socioeconomic status of the community.

PMID:33999945 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251854

PLoS One. 2021 May 17;16(5):e0250770. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250770. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND & AIM: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the life and work of people worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the rhythm disruptions of life, work, and entertainment, and their associations with the psychological impacts during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted from the 10th to 17th March 2020 in China. A structured e-questionnaire containing general information, the Chinese version of Brief Social Rhythm Scale, and Zung’s self-rating scales of depression and anxiety (SDS and SAS) was posted and collected online through a public media (i.e. EQxiu online questionnaire platform). Scores in sleeping, getting up, and socializing (SGS) rhythm and eating, physical practice, and entertainment (EPE) rhythm were compared among and between participants with different sociodemographic backgrounds including gender, age, education, current occupation, annual income, health status, and chronic disease status. Correlations of SDS and SAS with SGS-scale and EPE-scale were also analyzed.

RESULTS: Overall, 5854 participants were included. There were significant differences in the scores of SGS-scale and EPE-scale among people with different sociodemographic backgrounds. The scores were significantly higher in the groups with female gender, low education level, lower or higher than average income, poor health status, ages of 26-30 years or older than 61 years, nurses and subjects with divorce or widow status. There were also significant differences in SAS and SDS scores among people with different sociodemographic backgrounds (all P< 0.05). The overall prevalence of depression and anxiety was 24.3% and 12.6%, respectively, with nurses having the highest rates of depression (32.94%) and anxiety (18.98%) among the different occupational groups. SGS-scale was moderately correlated with SDS and SAS, and disruption of SGS rhythm was an independent risk factor for depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSION: Social rhythm disruption was independently associated with depression and anxiety. Interventions should be applied to people vulnerable to the rhythm disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMID:33999924 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250770

PLoS One. 2021 May 17;16(5):e0251238. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251238. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

To manage the increasing burden of dental diseases, a robust health system is essential. In order to ensure the oral health system operates at an optimal level going into the future, a forecast of the national shortfall of dentists and dental specialists in South Africa (SA) was undertaken. There is currently a shortage of dentists and specialists in SA and given the huge burden of dental diseases, there is a dire need to increase the number of these health care workers. The aim was to determine the projected shortfall of dentists and specialists in each of the nine provinces in SA. The projected shortfall was calculated based on the SA Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for each province. The estimate for the evaluation of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) for SA was obtained from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Global Burden of Disease website. For each province, age standardized DALYs were calculated with mid-year population estimates obtained from Statistics SA 2018. In order to reduce the existing human resources for health (HRH) inequity among the provinces of SA, three scenarios were created focussing on attaining horizontal equity. The best-case scenario estimates a shortfall of 430, 1252 and 1885 dentists and specialists in 2018, 2024 and 2030 respectively. In an optimistic scenario, the national shortfall was calculated at 733, 1540 and 2158 dentists and specialists for the years 2018, 2024 and 2030 respectively. In an aspirational scenario, shortfalls of 853 (2018), 1655 (2024) and 2267 (2030) dentists and specialists were forecasted. Access to oral health services should be ensured through the optimum supply of trained dentists and specialists and the delivery of appropriate oral health services. Thus, the roadmap provided for upscaling the oral health services recognizes the influence of both demand and supply factors on the pursuit of equity.

PMID:33999933 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251238

PLoS One. 2021 May 17;16(5):e0251796. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251796. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The progressive aging of the population represents a challenge for society. In particular, a strong increase in the number of people over 90 is expected in the next two decades. As this phenomenon will lead to an increase in illness and age-related dependency, the study of long-lived people represents an opportunity to explore which lifestyle factors are associated with healthy aging and which with the emergence of age-related diseases, especially Alzheimer’s type dementia. The project “Factors associated with healthy and pathologically aging in a sample of elderly people over 90 in the city of Madrid” (MADRID+90) brings together a multidisciplinary research team in neurodegenerative diseases that includes experts in epidemiology, neurology, neuropsychology, neuroimaging and computational neuroscience. In the first phase of the project, a stratified random sampling was carried out according to the census of the city of Madrid followed by a survey conducted on 191 people aged 90 and over. This survey gathered information on demographics, clinical data, lifestyles and cognitive status. Here, the main results of that survey are showed. The second phase of the project aims to characterize individual trajectories in the course of either healthy and pathological aging, from a group of 50 subjects over 90 who will undergo a comprehensive clinical examination comprised of neurological and cognitive testing, MRI and EEG. The ultimate goal of the project is to characterize the biophysical and clinical profiles of a population that tends to receive little attention in the literature. A better understanding of the rapidly increasing group of nonagenarians will also help to design new policies that minimize the impact and future social and economic consequences of rapidly aging societies.

PMID:33999936 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0251796