Tag: pubmed

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 12;17(1):e0262404. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262404. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

The utility of chest x-ray examination (CXR) in mandatory annual health examinations for occupational health is debatable in Japan. This study aimed to provide basic data to consider future policies for mandatory annual health examinations in the workplace. A nationwide descriptive survey was performed to determine the rate of detection of tuberculosis, lung cancer, and other diseases through CXR in organizations associated with National Federation of Industrial Health Association. The rate of finding on CXR conducted during annual health examinations in FY2016 was evaluated. Data regarding diagnosis based on follow-up examination findings were obtained and compared with the national statistics. In addition, CXR findings were compared with the results of low-dose lung computed tomography performed at the Hitachi Health Care Center. From 121 surveyed institutions, 88 institutions with 8,669,403 workers were included. For all ages, 1.0% of examinees required follow-up examination. Among 4,764,985 workers with diagnosis data, the tuberculosis detection rate was 1.8-5.3 per 100,000 persons. For Lung cancer, 3,688,396 workers were surveyed, and 334 positive cases were detected. The lung cancer detection rate using CXR was 9.1-24.4 per 100,000 persons. From 164 cases with information regarding the clinical stage, 72 (43.9%) had Stage I lung cancer. From 40,045 workers who underwent low-dose computed tomography multiple times, 31 lung cancer cases, all with Stage I disease, were detected (detection rate: 77.4 per 100,000 persons). Our findings suggest that CXR plays a little role in the detection of active tuberculosis. With regard to LC screening, the detection rate of LC by CXR was lower, approximately 50%, than the expected rate (41.0 per 100,000 persons) of LC morbidity based on the age-sex distribution of this study population. However, the role of CXR for LC screening cannot be mentioned based on this result, because assessment of mortality reduction is essential to evaluate the role.

PMID:35020766 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0262404

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 12;17(1):e0262160. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262160. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Advanced analytical methods play an important role in quantifying serum disease biomarkers. The problem of separating thousands of proteins can be reduced by analyzing for a ‘sub-proteome’, such as the ‘metalloproteome’, defined as all proteins that contain bound metals. We employed size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) to analyze plasma from multiple sclerosis (MS) participants (n = 21), acute ischemic stroke (AIS) participants (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 21) for Fe, Cu and Zn-metalloproteins. Using ANOVA analysis to compare the mean peak areas among the groups revealed no statistically significant differences for ceruloplasmin (p = 0.31), α2macroglobulin (p = 0.51) and transferrin (p = 0.31). However, a statistically significant difference was observed for the haptoglobin-hemoglobin (Hp-Hb) complex (p = 0.04), being driven by the difference between the control group and AIS (p = 0.012), but not with the MS group (p = 0.13), based on Dunnes test. A linear regression model for Hp-Hb complex with the groups now adjusted for age found no statistically significant differences between the groups (p = 0.95), but was suggestive for age (p = 0.057). To measure the strength of association between the Hp-Hb complex and age without possible modifications due to disease, we calculated the Spearman rank correlation in the healthy controls. The latter revealed a positive association (r = 0.39, 95% Confidence Interval = (-0.05, 0.83), which suggests that either the removal of Hp-Hb complexes from the blood circulation slows with age or that the release of Hb from red blood cells increases with age. We also observed that the Fe-peak corresponding to the Hp-Hb complex eluted ~100 s later in ~14% of all study samples, which was not correlated with age or disease diagnosis, but is consistent with the presence of the smaller Hp (1-1) isoform in 15% of the population.

PMID:35020753 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0262160

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 12;17(1):e0261650. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261650. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

The Effective Reproduction Number Rt provides essential information for the management of an epidemic/pandemic. Projecting Rt into the future could further assist in the management process. This article proposes a methodology based on exposure scenarios to perform such a procedure. The method utilizes a compartmental model and its adequate parametrization; a way to determine suitable parameters for this model in México’s case is detailed. In conjunction with the compartmental model, the projection of Rt permits estimating unobserved variables, such as the size of the asymptomatic population, and projecting into the future other relevant variables, like the active hospitalizations, using scenarios. The uses of the proposed methodologies are exemplified by analyzing the pandemic in a Mexican state; the main quantities derived from the compartmental model, such as the active and total cases, are included in the analysis. This article also presents a national summary based on the methodologies to illustrate how these procedures could be further exploited. The supporting information includes an application of the proposed methods to a metropolitan area to show that it also works well at other demographic disaggregation levels. The procedures developed in this article shed light on how to develop an effective surveillance system when information is incomplete and can be applied in cases other than México’s.

PMID:35020745 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0261650

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 12;17(1):e0262218. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262218. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Public lands in the United States are those land areas managed by federal, state, and county governments for public purposes such as preservation and recreation. Protecting carbon resources and increasing carbon sequestration capacity are compatible with public land management objectives for healthy and resilient habitats, i.e., managing habitats for the benefit of wildlife and ecosystem services can simultaneously capture and store carbon. To evaluate the effect of public land management on carbon storage and review carbon management as part of the land management objectives, we used existing data of carbon stock and net ecosystem carbon balance in a study of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), a public land management program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Total carbon storage of the 364 refuges studied was 16.6 PgC, with a mean value 42,981 gCm-2. We used mixed modeling with Bonferroni adjustment techniques to analyze the effect of time since refuge designation on carbon storage. In general, older refuges store more carbon per unit area than younger refuges. In addition to the age factor, carbon resources are variable by regions and habitat types protected in the refuges. Mean carbon stock and the rate of sequestration are higher within refuges than outside refuges, but the statistical comparison of 364 refuges analyzed in this study was not significant. We also used the social cost of carbon to analyze the annual benefits of sequestrating carbon in these publicly managed lands in the United States, which is over $976 million per year in avoided CO2 emissions via specific conservation management actions. We examine case studies of management, particularly with respect to Service cooperation activities with The Conservation Fund (TCF) Go Zero® Program, Trust for Public Land (TPL) and individuals. Additional opportunities exist in improving techniques to maximize carbon resources in refuges, while continuing to meet the core purpose and need of the NWRS.

PMID:35020751 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0262218

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 12;17(1):e0261604. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261604. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing recommendations for health professionals to participate in intervention design and implementation to effect changes in clinical practice, little is known about this strategy’s effectiveness. This study analyses the effectiveness of interventions designed and implemented through participatory action research (PAR) processes in healthcare networks of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay to improve clinical coordination across care levels, and offers recommendations for future research.

METHODS: The study was quasi-experimental. Two comparable networks, one intervention (IN) and one control (CN), were selected in each country. Baseline (2015) and evaluation (2017) surveys of a sample of primary and secondary care doctors (174 doctors/network/year) were conducted using the COORDENA® questionnaire. Most of the interventions chosen were based on joint meetings, promoting cross-level clinical agreement and communication for patient follow-up. Outcome variables were: a) intermediate: interactional and organizational factors; b) distal: experience of cross-level clinical information coordination, of clinical management coordination and general perception of coordination between levels. Poisson regression models were estimated.

RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in some of the interactional factors (intermediate outcomes) -knowing each other personally and mutual trust- was observed in Brazil and Chile INs; and in some organizational factors -institutional support- in Colombia and Mexico. Compared to CNs in 2017, INs of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico showed significant differences in some factors. In distal outcomes, care consistency items improved in Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay INs; and patient follow-up improved in Chile and Mexico. General perception of clinical coordination increased in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico INs. Compared to CNs in 2017, only Brazil showed significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS: Although more research is needed, results show that PAR-based interventions improved some outcomes regarding clinical coordination at network level, with differences between countries. However, a PAR process is, by definition, slow and gradual, and longer implementation periods are needed to achieve greater penetration and quantifiable changes. The participatory and flexible nature of interventions developed through PAR processes poses methodological challenges (such as defining outcomes or allocating individuals to different groups in advance), and requires a comprehensive mixed-methods approach that simultaneously evaluates effectiveness and the implementation process to better understand its outcomes.

PMID:35020735 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0261604

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 12;17(1):e0259944. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259944. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a major public health problem worldwide which accounts 24.8% of the population. Subsequently, anemia is a leading killer of people living with human immunodeficiency virus and many of these deaths occur in developing countries including Ethiopia. Cross sectional studies have done on anemia and human immunodeficiency virus. However, there is limited study on incidence of anemia and its predictors among adults on HIV care, especially no survival study has been conducted in the study area.

OBJECTIVE: To assess incidence and predictors of anemia among adults on Human immunodeficiency virus care.

METHODS: An institution-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 434 adults on HIV care from January 1st 2015 to December 30th 2019 at Debre Tabor Referral Hospital. A computer-generated simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Bahir Dar University, and also, we got implied consent to review charts from the concerned bodies in the hospital. Data were entered using Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed by using STATA version 14.0. A Kaplan Meier survival curve was utilized to estimate anemia free survival time. Bivariable and Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model were fitted to identify predictors of anemia.

RESULTS: The overall incidence density rate of anemia was 6.27 (95% CI: 0.051, 0.077) per 100 person years. Clinical stage III/IV (AHR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.06), Body Mass Index less than 18.5 kg/m2 (AHR = 3.11; 95% CI = 1.56, 6.22), serum creatinine greater than 1.1 IU/L(AHR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.12, 3.81) and fair/poor level of adherence(AHR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.07) were statistically significant predictors of anemia while increased anti-retroviral treatment duration (AHR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.97, 0.99) decrease the risk of anemia at 95% confidence level.

CONCLUSION: The overall incidence density rate of anemia was high. Patients with clinical stage III/IV, body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2, serum creatinine greater than 1.1 IU/L and fair/poor level of adherence were significant predictors of anemia while increased antiretroviral treatment duration had decreased the risk of anemia.

RECOMMENDATION: Even if the overall incidence rate of anemia was lower as compared to previous studies in Ethiopia, still the incidence of anemia was high. So, prevention measures should be taken beside with HIV care especially within 6-months ART initiation.

PMID:35020736 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0259944

J Perinat Med. 2022 Jan 13. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0317. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: i) To compare the placental human papilloma virus (HPV) deoxynucleic acid (DNA) status of preterm deliveries with full term deliveries and to identify high risk (HR) genotypes (HPV 16 and 18); and ii) To compare the perinatal outcomes of HPV positive with HPV negative pregnant women.

METHODS: A case control study was carried out on 100 antenatal women with singleton live pregnancies admitted in labor ward of a tertiary care teaching hospital from April 2017 to March 2018. The two study groups were i) spontaneous preterm deliveries between 24 and 36 + 6 weeks (n=50) and ii) full term deliveries ≥37 weeks (n=50). The placental tissue was analysed for HPV DNA and HR HPV genotypes were detected by type specific primers. A comparative analysis of perinatal outcomes between HPV positive and negative women was done.

RESULTS: An overall placental tissue HPV prevalence of 12% (12/100) was observed in study cohort which was not significantly different between preterm and full term deliveries (16 vs. 8%, p=0.218). HPV 16 was significantly associated with preterm births (p=0.04). Both HPV affected and non-affected women were comparable in terms of mode of delivery and neonatal outcomes. However, a statistically significant association of preterm neonatal intensive care admissions with HR HPV 16 genotype was observed (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous preterm births can be attributed to placental HPV infection, specifically HR HPV 16 genotype. This association identifies a potentially preventable cause of prematurity and its associated complications, in wake of availability of an effective vaccine.

PMID:35019244 | DOI:10.1515/jpm-2021-0317

Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2022 Jan 12. doi: 10.1111/cid.13064. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports about the prognosis of teeth adjacent to edentulous spaces for implant-supported fixed prostheses (ISFPs) and removable partial dentures (RPDs). However, there are few reports about the prognosis of the other remaining teeth comparing ISFPs with RPDs.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the prognosis of the remaining teeth for ISFPs and RPDs in terms of survival and complication-free rates.

METHODS: Subjects were partially edentulous patients with ISFPs or RPDs inserted in 2003-2016. Teeth adjacent to edentulous spaces (A-teeth), teeth not adjacent to edentulous spaces (R-teeth), and teeth opposing edentulous spaces (O-teeth) were investigated. The endpoints were tooth extraction and complications. A multivariate cox regression model was used to estimate the risk factors for survival of the investigated teeth.

RESULTS: A total of 233 (ISFP: 89, RPD: 144) patients were included in the statistical analyses. An IFSP prosthesis, when compared to an RPD prosthesis did not significantly decrease the tooth loss rate for A-teeth (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30-1.92), for R-teeth (HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.28-1.05), or for O-teeth (HR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.10-2.09).

CONCLUSIONS: In partially edentulous spaces, the difference between ISFPs and RPDs does not affect the prognosis of teeth adjacent to edentulous spaces, teeth not adjacent to edentulous spaces, and teeth opposing edentulous spaces. Namely, our findings suggest that it depends largely on the tooth type, jaw, endodontic therapy performed, not on the type of prostheses.

PMID:35019228 | DOI:10.1111/cid.13064

Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2022 Jan 12. doi: 10.1111/cid.13061. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Short implants (up to 5-mm long) have shown good results when compared to longer implants placed in augmented bone.

PURPOSE: To evaluate if 4-mm ultrashort implants could also be an alternative to bone augmentation in the severely atrophic posterior jaws. The primary aim of the study was to compare implant survival rates between study groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty partially edentulous patients with posterior atrophic jaws (5-6 mm of bone above the mandibular canal and 4-5 mm below the maxillary sinus) were included: 40 patients in the maxilla and 40 in mandible. The patients were randomized to receive one to three 4-mm ultrashort implants or one to three implants at least 10-mm long in augmented bone. Results are reported 5 years after loading with the following outcome measures: implant and prosthetic failures, complications and peri-implant marginal bone level changes.

RESULTS: Thirty-two complications were reported for the control group in 18 patients versus 13 complications in 10 patients in the test group, the difference being not statistically significant (p = 0.103). In the augmented group, 12 implants failed in 6 patients versus 7 short implants in 6 cases, and 9 prostheses failed in the control group while 4 in the test one, without statistically significant differences (p = 1.000 and 0.363, respectively). At 5 years after loading, short implants lost on average 0.58 ± 0.40 mm of peri-implant marginal bone and long implants 0.99 ± 0.58 mm, the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION: Four-millimeter ultrashort implants showed similar if not better results when compared to longer implants placed in augmented jaws 5 years after loading. For this reason, their use could be in specific cases preferable to bone augmentation since the treatment is less invasive, faster, cheaper and associated with less morbidity. However, longer follow-ups and larger trials are needed.

PMID:35019219 | DOI:10.1111/cid.13061

Int J Rheum Dis. 2022 Jan 12. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.14283. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHOD: Five electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopes, were searched until September 29, 2021. Cohort and case-control studies that assessed the association between K. pneumoniae infection and AS were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) was selected to show the effect size. Subgroup analysis (active or inactive AS) and 2 forms of sensitivity analysis were conducted. All statistical analyses were conducted by using STATA 12.0.

RESULTS: There were 25 case-control studies finally included, including 8 studies concerning presence of K. pneumoniae in feces, and 17 studies concerning serum antibody (immunoglobulin [Ig]G, IgM, IgA) against K. pneumoniae. The results suggested that when compared with healthy people, presence of K. pneumoniae in feces was associated with AS (OR: 5.65; 95% CI: 1.68-19.00). Similarly, when compared with healthy people, higher positive rates of IgA (OR: 6.28; 95% CI: 3.32-11.91) and IgG (OR: 5.22; 95% CI: 1.36-19.99) were observed. Subgroup analyses suggested that association between K. pneumoniae and AS appears stronger in active AS.

CONCLUSION: When compared with healthy people, a significantly higher positive rate of K. pneumoniae in feces, serum IgA and IgG were observed in patients with AS, suggesting that K. pneumoniae probably plays a crucial role in the occurrence of AS. The findings in this study need further prospective investigations for confirmation.

PMID:35019225 | DOI:10.1111/1756-185X.14283