Tag: pubmed

Indian J Med Ethics. 2021 Aug 10;-(-):1-5. doi: 10.20529/IJME.2021.060. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Predatory journals charge publication fees from authors and publish without an adequate peer review, and often do not provide editorial and/or publishing services. Our objective was to evaluate e-mail solicitations received by authors in a defined time period to identify attributes of these solicitations as a metric to identify legitimacy of the journal. All e-mails seeking article submission received between January 1 and September 30, 2019, were evaluated. Each e-mail along with its respective webpage was evaluated for the journal’s and publisher’s names, mention of peer review, any assurance of publication, a mention of article processing charges (APC), composite invites [in the e-mail] and mention of peer review, the presence and functionality of archives, presence of manuscript management tab, mention of APC [on the webpage]. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Of the 135 e-mails screened, 100 were finally included in the analysis. We found that 72% of the journals and/ or publishers were included in Beall’s list. According to our criteria, a total of 85% of the solicitations were from journals that we identified as “presumed predatory”. Our study has identified assurance of publication, rapid turnaround time, ambiguous information in the email and webpage, false claims of indexing as some descriptors which may help young authors and researchers assess a journal’s legitimacy.

PMID:34730088 | DOI:10.20529/IJME.2021.060

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2021 Oct;25(20):6300-6310. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202110_27000.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Understanding changes of right ventricular (RV) geometry and function in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF) patients can improve decision-making for pulmonary valve replacement. Therefore, we aimed to assess the magnitude and clinical correlations of RV changes in rToF patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical and MRI data of rToF patients who underwent repeated cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at two centers between December 2003 and September 2020 were analyzed together with anatomical factors, including RV outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary artery branch stenosis, and tricuspid regurgitation. Adverse cardiac events and/or NYHA class worsening were documented and correlated with MRI changes. QRS length was reported at each MRI.

RESULTS: Two-hundred-and-nineteen rToF patients (53% males, aged 20.2 ± 10.1 years) were enrolled. An increase of ventricular dimensions, except LVEDVi, and worsening of right and left ejection fractions were found over an average period of 5 years of follow-up. These changes were statistically significant but within 10% of the initial value. No significant changes were reported on a year-to-year basis, except in a small group of patients (6%) in whom no predictive factors were identified. Despite similar RV dimensions at the first examination, younger patients had a higher RV ejection fraction and a different annual rate of change of ventricular dimensions compared to older ones. Patients with arrhythmias (20%) were more frequently older and had larger RV dimensions but showed no significant correlations with MRI changes/years.

CONCLUSIONS: Changes in RV dimensions and function occur rarely and very slowly in rToF patients. A small percentage of patients experience a significant worsening in a short time interval without any recognized risk factors. Arrhythmias appear to occur in a small percentage of cases in the late follow-up.

PMID:34730210 | DOI:10.26355/eurrev_202110_27000

Mol Cancer Ther. 2021 Nov 2:molcanther.0511.2021. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-21-0511. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The pro-survival MCL1 protein is overexpressed in many cancers, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHL). S63845 is a highly specific inhibitor of MCL1. We analyzed mechanisms of sensitivity/resistance to S63845 in preclinical models of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma (BL). Annexin V-based cytotoxic assays, western blot, protein co-immunoprecipitation, and cell clones with manipulated expression of BCL2 family proteins were used to analyze mechanisms of sensitivity to S63845. Experimental in vivo therapy with S63845 and/or venetoclax was performed using patient-derived xenografts (PDX) of treatment-refractory B-NHL. A subset of DLBCL and majority of BL cell lines were sensitive to S63845. The level of BCL2 protein expression was the major determinant of resistance to S63845: BCL2 serves as a buffer for pro-apoptotic proteins released from MCL1 upon exposure to S63845. While BCL2-negative lymphomas were effectively eliminated by single-agent S63845, its combination with venetoclax was synthetically lethal in BCL2-positive PDX models. Concerning MCL1, both, the level of MCL1 protein expression, and its occupational status represent key factors mediating sensitivity to S63845. In contrast to MCL1-BIM / BAK1 complexes that prime lymphoma cells for S63845-mediated apoptosis, MCL1-NOXA complexes are associated with S63845 resistance. In conclusion, MCL1 represents a critical survival molecule for most BLs and a subset of BCL2-negative DLBCLs. The level of BCL2 and MCL1 expression and occupational status of MCL1 belong to the key modulators of sensitivity/resistance to S63845. Co-treatment with venetoclax can overcome BCL2-mediated resistance to S63845, and enhance efficacy of MCL1 inhibitors in BCL2-positive aggressive B-NHL.

PMID:34728569 | DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-21-0511

Radiol Technol. 2021 Nov;93(2):161-176.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in radiographers registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) in the United States. There is a gap in the literature focusing on the unique set of risk factors for radiographers.

METHODS: A subset of ARRT radiographers received an email invitation to complete an online survey that included questions about their experience with musculoskeletal symptoms and their exposure to potential risk factors for those symptoms.

RESULTS: Out of the 635 ARRT credentialed, nonretired radiographers who completed the survey, 81% reported experiencing pain or discomfort while performing patient cases. Through logistic regression statistical modeling, a set of 4 personal factors (including poorer perceptions of health and sleep quality), 1 work demographic factor (working in fluoroscopy), and 3 psychosocial work factors (including perceptions of higher physically demanding workload and work pressure and stress) were identified in differentiating radiographers who experience pain or discomfort when performing patient cases from those who do not.

DISCUSSION: Consistent with prior research, these results indicate multiple work-related factors, including physical and psychosocial work factors, appear to be associated with the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in radiographers. Ideas for addressing these risk factors are discussed, as well as opportunities for radiography managers and academics to collaborate in evaluating the effectiveness of intervention ideas when deployed in practice.

CONCLUSION: Although this study is cross-sectional, these results can be used to inform intervention efforts, such as limiting or rotating work duties in fluoroscopy, reducing other physically demanding aspects of work, addressing understaffing, which increases work pressure in many ways, and promoting employee self-care practices.

PMID:34728578

J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2021 Nov 2;46(6):E583-E591. doi: 10.1503/jpn.200154. Print 2021 Nov-Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Whether infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes schizophrenia – and whether the associated risk reverses after anti-HCV therapy – is unknown; we aimed to investigate these topics.

METHODS: We conducted a nationwide, population-based cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (TNHIRD). A diagnosis of schizophrenia was based on criteria from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (295.xx).

RESULTS: From 2003 to 2012, from a total population of 19 298 735, we enrolled 3 propensity-score-matched cohorts (1:2:2): HCV-treated (8931 HCV-infected patients who had received interferon-based therapy for ≥ 6 months); HCV-untreated (17 862); and HCV-uninfected (17 862) from the TNHIRD. Of the total sample (44 655), 82.81% (36 980) were 40 years of age or older. Of the 3 cohorts, the HCV-untreated group had the highest 9-year cumulative incidence of schizophrenia (0.870%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.556%-1.311%; p < 0.001); the HCV-treated (0.251%, 95% CI 0.091%-0.599%) and HCV-uninfected (0.118%, 95% CI 0.062%-0.213%) cohorts showed similar cumulative incidence of schizophrenia (p = 0.33). Multivariate Cox analyses showed that HCV positivity (hazard ratio [HR] 3.469, 95% CI 2.168-5.551) was independently associated with the development of schizophrenia. The HCV-untreated cohort also had the highest cumulative incidence of overall mortality (20.799%, 95% CI 18.739%-22.936%; p < 0.001); the HCV-treated (12.518%, 95% CI 8.707%-17.052%) and HCV uninfected (6.707%, 95% CI 5.533%-8.026%) cohorts showed similar cumulative incidence of mortality (p = 0.12).

LIMITATIONS: We were unable to determine the precise mechanism of the increased risk of schizophrenia in patients with HCV infection.

CONCLUSION: In a population-based cohort (most aged ≥ 40 years), HCV positivity was a potential risk factor for the development of schizophrenia; the HCV-associated risk of schizophrenia might be reversed by interferon-based antiviral therapy.

PMID:34728558 | DOI:10.1503/jpn.200154

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Nov 9;118(45):e2103619118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2103619118.

ABSTRACT

After the 2020 US presidential election Donald Trump refused to concede, alleging widespread and unparalleled voter fraud. Trump’s supporters deployed several statistical arguments in an attempt to cast doubt on the result. Reviewing the most prominent of these statistical claims, we conclude that none of them is even remotely convincing. The common logic behind these claims is that, if the election were fairly conducted, some feature of the observed 2020 election result would be unlikely or impossible. In each case, we find that the purportedly anomalous fact is either not a fact or not anomalous.

PMID:34728563 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2103619118

RMD Open. 2021 Nov;7(3):e001694. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001694.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare current all-cause mortality rates in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) versus general population.

METHODS: In this population-based, retrospective cohort study, anonymised data on 11 186 586 citizens, including all patients with RA (42 735, 79% female), AS (9707, 43% female), PsA (13 779, 55% female), SLE (10 440, 89% female) and SSc (2277, 88% female), (median age of 64/47/54/53/59 years at study entry, respectively), under prescribed treatment between 2015 and 2019, were extracted from the electronic database covering nearly 99% of the Greek population.

RESULTS: After 1:5 (patients:general population) matching for gender/age, we found that survival was worse in SSc, followed by SLE and inflammatory arthritis. Compared with the general population HRs for death increased from the first 3 years to 5 years of observation possibly due to increases in disease duration: RA (from 0.63 to 1.13 (95% CI: 1.05 to 1.22), AS (from 0.62 to 1.01, (95% CI: 0.76 to 1.33)), PsA (from 0.68 to 1.06, (95% CI: 0.88 to 1.28)), SLE (from 1.52 to 1.98, (95% CI: 1.67 to 2.33)) and SSc (from 2.27 to 4.24, (95% CI: 3.19 to 5.63)). In both SLE and SSc mortality was increased in men than women and in patients younger than 50 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Survival rates over 5 years in inflammatory arthritis under treatment are currently becoming comparable (AS/PsA) or slightly higher (RA) than those of the general population. However, all-cause mortality is almost twofold and fourfold higher in SLE and SSc, respectively, being even higher for male and younger patients.

PMID:34728554 | DOI:10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001694

J Neurointerv Surg. 2021 Nov 2:neurintsurg-2021-018017. doi: 10.1136/neurintsurg-2021-018017. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acute isolated posterior cerebral artery occlusions (aPCAOs) were excluded or under-represented in major randomized trials of mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The benefit of MT in comparison to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase; IV-tPA) alone in these patients remains controversial and uncertain.

METHODS: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases for articles comparing MT with or without bridging IV-tPA and IV-tPA alone for aPCAO using keywords (‘posterior cerebral artery’, ‘thrombolysis’ and ‘thrombectomy’) with Boolean operators. Extracted data from patients reported in the studies were pooled into groups (MT vs IV-tPA alone) for comparison. Estimated rates for favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale score 0-2), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality were extracted.

RESULTS: Seven articles (201 MT patients, 64 IV-tPA) were included, all retrospective. There was no statistically significant difference between pooled groups in median age, median presentation National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, PCAO segment, and median time from symptom onset to puncture or needle. The recanalization rate was significantly higher in the MT group than the IV-tPA group (85.6% vs 53.1%, p<0.00001). Odds ratios for favorable outcome (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.5), sICH (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.2 to 5.5), and mortality (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.5 to 3.6) did not significantly favor any modality.

CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant differences in odds of favorable outcome, sICH, and mortality in MT and IV-tPA in comparable aPCAO patients, despite superior MT recanalization rates. Equipoise remains regarding the optimal treatment modality for these patients.

PMID:34728545 | DOI:10.1136/neurintsurg-2021-018017

Diabetes Care. 2021 Nov 2:dc210278. doi: 10.2337/dc21-0278. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate remission of type 2 diabetes following a short-term intervention with insulin glargine, sitagliptin/metformin, and lifestyle approaches.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this open multicenter trial, 102 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to 1) a 12-week intervention with sitagliptin/metformin, insulin glargine and lifestyle therapy, or 2) control group. Participants with HbA_1c <7.3% (<56 mmol/mol) at 12 weeks were asked to stop diabetes medications and were followed for evidence of relapse over 52 weeks. Diabetes relapse criteria included HbA_1c ≥6.5% (≥48 mmol/mol), ≥50% of capillary glucose readings >10 mmol/L over 1 week, and reinitiation of diabetes medications with or without abnormal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or 2-h plasma glucose on an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Time-to-relapse analysis was conducted to compare the treatment groups with (primary analysis) and without (supplementary analysis) FPG/OGTT relapse criteria.

RESULTS: With the FPG/OGTT relapse criteria included, the hazard ratio (HR) of relapse was 0.72 (95% CI 0.47-1.10) in the intervention group compared with the control group (primary analysis), and the number of participants remaining in remission was not significantly different between treatment groups at 24, 36, 48, and 64 weeks. In the supplementary analyses without these criteria, HR of relapse was 0.60 (95% CI 0.39-0.95), and the number of participants remaining in remission was significantly higher (26 vs. 10%) in the intervention group at 36 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: Although our primary outcome was not statistically significant, the tested approach deserves further study with further optimization of its components.

PMID:34728531 | DOI:10.2337/dc21-0278

Diabetes Care. 2021 Nov 2:dc210496. doi: 10.2337/dc21-0496. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To estimate difference in population-level glycemic control and the emergence of diabetes complications given a theoretical scenario in which non-White youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) receive and follow an equivalent distribution of diabetes treatment regimens as non-Hispanic White YYA.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Longitudinal data from YYA diagnosed 2002-2005 in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study were analyzed. Based on self-reported race/ethnicity, YYA were classified as non-White race or Hispanic ethnicity (non-White subgroup) versus non-Hispanic White race (White subgroup). In the White versus non-White subgroups, the propensity score models estimated treatment regimens, including patterns of insulin modality, self-monitored glucose frequency, and continuous glucose monitoring use. An analysis based on policy evaluation techniques in reinforcement learning estimated the effect of each treatment regimen on mean hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) and the prevalence of diabetes complications for non-White YYA.

RESULTS: The study included 978 YYA. The sample was 47.5% female and 77.5% non-Hispanic White, with a mean age of 12.8 ± 2.4 years at diagnosis. The estimated population mean of longitudinal average HbA_1c over visits was 9.2% and 8.2% for the non-White and White subgroup, respectively (difference of 0.9%). Within the non-White subgroup, mean HbA_1c across visits was estimated to decrease by 0.33% (95% CI -0.45, -0.21) if these YYA received the distribution of diabetes treatment regimens of the White subgroup, explaining ∼35% of the estimated difference between the two subgroups. The non-White subgroup was also estimated to have a lower risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, diabetic kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy with the White youth treatment regimen distribution (P < 0.05), although the low proportion of YYA who developed complications limited statistical power for risk estimations.

CONCLUSIONS: Mathematically modeling an equalized distribution of T1D self-management tools and technology accounted for part of but not all disparities in glycemic control between non-White and White YYA, underscoring the complexity of race and ethnicity-based health inequity.

PMID:34728528 | DOI:10.2337/dc21-0496