Tag: pubmed

PLoS One. 2021 Oct 13;16(10):e0254793. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254793. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Rano Raraku, the crater lake constrained by basaltic tuff that served as the primary quarry used to construct the moai statues on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), has experienced fluctuations in lake level over the past centuries. As one of the only freshwater sources on the island, understanding the present and past geochemical characteristics of the lake water is critical to understand if the lake could have been a viable freshwater source for Rapa Nui. At the time of sampling in September 2017, the maximum lake depth was ~1 m. The lake level has substantially declined in the subsequent years, with the lake drying almost completely in January 2018. The lake is currently characterized by highly anoxic conditions, with a predominance of ammonium ions on nitrates, a high concentration of organic carbon in the water-sediment interface and reducing conditions of the lake, as evidenced by Mn/Fe and Cr/V ratios. Our estimates of past salinity inferred from the chloride mass balance indicates that it was unlikely that Rano Raraku provided a viable freshwater source for early Rapa Nui people. The installation of an outlet pipe around 1950 that was active until the late 1970s, as well as grazing of horses on the lake margins appear to have significantly impacted the geochemical conditions of Rano Raraku sediments and lake water in recent decades. Such impacts are distinct from natural environmental changes and highlight the need to consider the sensitivity of the lake geochemistry to human activities.

PMID:34644295 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0254793

Eye Contact Lens. 2021 Oct 11. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000000850. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare postlaser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) dry eye after LASIK with planned thin flaps created by a femtosecond laser (FS) and mechanical microkeratome (MK).

METHODS: Patients were stratified according to the flap creation technique into FS and MK groups with planned 100 μm flap thickness in all eyes. Dry eye parameters including tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer I test, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and lower tear meniscus height and area (tear meniscus height [TMH] and tear meniscus area [TMA]) were assessed before surgery and at 3 and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS: The study included 102 eyes of 55 patients (52 eyes underwent FS-LASIK/50 eyes underwent MK-LASIK). The preoperative characteristics including age, gender, and spherical equivalents were similar in both groups (P>0.05). The difference in postoperative flap thickness was statistically significant (P<0.05). In each group, dry eye parameters showed a statistically significant worsening (P value<0.001) at 3 months with later significant improvement at 6 months but did not return to baseline. The mean TBUT, Schirmer I, and lower TMH and TMA were statistically higher, and the mean OSDI was statistically lower in FS-LASIK than the MK-LASIK group at both 3 and 6 months (P value<0.001). The depth of ablation had a statistically significant correlation with Schirmer I at 6 months and OSDI at both 3 and 6 months post-LASIK (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The use of femtosecond laser technology in performing thin-Flap LASIK eye surgeries has improved the outcome of post-LASIK dry eye when compared with the mechanical microkeratome.

PMID:34644283 | DOI:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000850

J Mother Child. 2021 Oct 11;25(1):35-43. doi: 10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-20-00024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are becoming increasingly popular. However, little is known about parents’ practices concerning the use of OTC antipyretics in children. This paper aimed to study the habits and knowledge of parents regarding the use of OTC antipyretics in their offspring, considering the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the families.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multiple-purpose survey was conducted anonymously among 229 parents of patients hospitalised in the Department of Paediatrics, University Children’s Hospital, Krakow. Each parent answered 23 questions regarding OTC antipyretics use in his/her hospitalised child throughout the whole child’s life. The data was statistically analysed.

RESULTS: OTC antipyretics are administered to their children by 92% of parents. In the vast majority (87%), health care professionals or a leaflet were the sources of information on the drug and its dosage. Parents also used information from TV or the Internet (27%) and friends and family (30%), especially those in the younger age group. Families with high socioeconomic status were more likely to use health care professionals’ advice for drug knowledge. Parents of children with allergic diseases made less use of nonmedical sources of knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of parents use OTC antipyretic drugs in their children. However, a high percentage of people using nonmedical sources of information is of concern. It is necessary to educate caregivers and to build the parents’ awareness that they take an active role in their child’s treatment. It would be useful to create generally available recommendations for home treatment.

PMID:34643352 | DOI:10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-20-00024

J Mother Child. 2021 Oct 11;25(1):44-50. doi: 10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-20-00017.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding self-efficacy is an important motivational factor in the continuity of lactation in mothers with preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the effect of continuous supportive telephone counselling on improving breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers with late preterm infants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized, controlled study was carried out with 65 eligible mothers (control n = 32, intervention n = 33) recruited in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2020. The eligible women were allocated into two groups- intervention and control-according to the block design. Data were measured monthly up to four months after discharge using the Dennis Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. The control group received only routine care. Continuous supportive telephone counselling was provided for the intervention group members daily for 14 days after neonatal discharge. Data were analyzed using chi-square, repeated measures analysis of variance, independent t-test, and paired t-test at the significant level of 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 16.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS: The overall score in breastfeeding self-efficacy showed a statistically significant difference between the two study groups during the four months after discharge compared to the pre-intervention stage (P = 0.001). In the intervention group, the mean score of breastfeeding self-efficacy increased from 33.18 to 53.48, and in the control group it decreased from 31.17 to 28.56.

CONCLUSION: The results showed that continuous supportive telephone counselling can improve breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers with preterm infants. The approach seems to be an acceptable basis for designing intervention programs in this field.

PMID:34643353 | DOI:10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-20-00017

J Mother Child. 2021 Oct 11;25(1):9-18. doi: 10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-21-00003.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Adverse birth outcome (ABO) can lead to higher rates of poor health and infection for newborns, as well as long-term neurological and health problems. Hence, the aim is to identify determinants of ABOs among mothers who gave birth in hospitals in West Shewa zone, Ethiopia.

METHODS: A hospital-based, unmatched, case-control study was conducted from March 5to July 29, 2020, among 591mothers (171 cases and 420 controls) who had given birth in hospitals found in West Shewa zone. The questionnaire was collected using census and survey processing system (CS-Pro) version7.1.The data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS software version 23. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Finally, P-value < 0.05 was used to declare and include variables with statistically significant in predicting the outcome variable.

RESULT: On multivariate analysis, urban residence(AOR=0.65, 95%, CI=0.43-0.98),lack of family support during child bearing(AOR =5.24, 95% CI=3.16-8.71),pregnancy type(AOR = 4.02, 95% CI: 2.47-6.52,),short inter-pregnancy interval (AOR = 1.43,95% CI= 1.23-4.48),less than four antenatal care (ANC) visits (AOR =1.80,95%CI: 1.17- 2.78),and having current obstetric complication (AOR=2.07, 95% CI =1.18-3.61) were significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Residence, lack of family support during childbearing, pregnancy type, short inter-pregnancy interval, having current obstetric complications, and number of ANC visits were identified as determinants of adverse birth outcome. Therefore, improving family support, increasing inter-pregnancy interval through family planning counselling and provision, and having the recommended ANC follow-up were recommended.

PMID:34643348 | DOI:10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-21-00003

J Mother Child. 2021 Oct 11;25(1):3-8. doi: 10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-20-00002.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In recent years an increasing number of multiple pregnancies have been observed, which is a result of advancements made in reproductive technologies for infertility treatments as well as a tendency for women to delay childbearing until later in life. The risk of preterm birth in the case of a twin pregnancy is five to seven times higher than that of a singleton pregnancy, and in the case of triplet pregnancy, the risk is even 10 times higher. The objective of the study was to assess and compare the functional development of children aged between 2 and 2.5 who were prematurely born from singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out in a group of 43 children aged between 2 and 2.5 who were born prematurely (between the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy) in 2017 and 2018. Group I was made up of 10 children born from singleton pregnancies, group II included 12 children born from six twin pregnancies and group III consisted of 21 children born from seven triplet pregnancies. The evaluation of functional development was conducted using the Munich Functional Developmental Diagnostics.

RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in functional development between the studied singletons, twins and triplets. In the examined groups of singletons, twins and triplets, the calculated quotient medians for the 50th percentile approximated 1, which means that development was typical and did not differ from the development of the general population. In turn, for the 95th percentile, the median scores usually approximated 0.8, which also indicated that there was no significant delay in development. Had scores been higher than 1, this might have indicated a delay.

CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the study group, no relationship was found between the multiplicity of pregnancies and the functional development of premature babies born between the 32nd and 36th weeks of gestation.

PMID:34643351 | DOI:10.34763/jmotherandchild.20212501.d-20-00002

Res Synth Methods. 2021 Oct 13. doi: 10.1002/jrsm.1531. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Publishing systematic review protocols is a fundamental part of systematic reviews to ensure transparency and reproducibility. In this scoping review, we aimed to evaluate reporting of Cochrane systematic review protocols with network meta-analyses (NMA). We searched all Cochrane NMA protocols published in 2018 and 2019, and assessed the characteristics and reporting of methodologies relevant to NMA. We reported frequencies for each reporting item. Forty-five protocols were assessed, including two for overviews and 43 for intervention reviews. Thirty-three (73%) were labelled as NMA protocols in the title. Forty-two (95%) justified the need of an NMA and 40 (89%) used appropriate search strategies to identify potential eligible studies. About half (24, 53%) considered the transitivity assumption when reporting inclusion criteria and 35 (78%) specified potential effect modifiers. Forty-three (96%) reported statistical software for NMA, 25 (56%) reported NMA model choice, 32 (71%) reported framework choice and 32 (71%) reported assumption about heterogeneity variances. Protocols varied in whether they reported methods for relative ranking (35, 78%), statistical inconsistency (40, 89%), reporting bias (44, 98%) and sources of heterogeneity (39, 87%). In conclusion, Cochrane NMA protocols reported multiple NMA-specific items well, but could be further improved, especially regarding transitivity assumptions. Our recommendations for NMA protocol reporting based on this scoping review could assist authors, reviewers and editors to improve NMA protocols. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34643333 | DOI:10.1002/jrsm.1531

CNS Neurosci Ther. 2021 Oct 12. doi: 10.1111/cns.13741. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: The effects of subthalamic nucleus (STN)-deep brain stimulation (DBS) on brain topological metrics, functional connectivity (FC), and white matter integrity were studied in levodopa-treated Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients before and after DBS.

METHODS: Clinical assessment, resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed pre- and post-DBS in 15 PD patients, using a within-subject design. The rs-fMRI identified brain network topological metric and FC changes using graph-theory- and seed-based methods. White matter integrity was determined by DTI and tract-based spatial statistics.

RESULTS: Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS- III) scores were significantly improved by 35.3% (p < 0.01) after DBS in PD patients, compared with pre-DBS patients without medication. Post-DBS PD patients showed a significant decrease in the graph-theory-based degree and cost in the middle temporal gyrus and temporo-occipital part-Right. Changes in FC were seen in four brain regions, and a decrease in white matter integrity was seen in the left anterior corona radiata. The topological metrics changes were correlated with Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the FC changes with UPDRS-III scores.

CONCLUSION: STN-DBS modulated graph-theoretical metrics, FC, and white matter integrity. Brain connectivity changes observed with multi-modal imaging were also associated with postoperative clinical improvement. These findings suggest that the effects of STN-DBS are caused by brain network alterations.

PMID:34643338 | DOI:10.1111/cns.13741

J Nurs Manag. 2021 Oct 13. doi: 10.1111/jonm.13494. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: to describe why registered nurses decide to leave their work and to investigate relationships between registered nurses’ working life and turnover (leaving the unit versus the profession).

BACKGROUND: Much research has explored nurses’ intention to leave, while less research has looked at turnover and especially leaving the profession.

METHODS: Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews.

RESULTS: The three most common reasons for both groups (leaving the profession, n=40; leaving unit but not profession, n=256) were high workload, low salary and applied for and got a new job. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between turnover and empowering structures, such as access to resources and informal power as well as the factor learning in thriving.

CONCLUSIONS: Structural empowerment, such as good access to resources and informal power, is important to keeping nurses in the profession, while learning seems to increase the risk of leaving the profession when variables such as vitality, resources, informal power and age are held constant.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: To counteract nurses leaving the profession, managers must provide nurses with good access to resources, informal power, such as networks within and outside the organization, and focus on nurses’ vitality.

PMID:34643314 | DOI:10.1111/jonm.13494

Dent Traumatol. 2021 Oct 13. doi: 10.1111/edt.12714. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Up to 40% of dental injuries in children occur during sports and may be prevented by using mouthguards (MG). The use of mouthguards is mandatory in some sporting organizations. Knowledge of the benefits of protection does not always result in mouthguard use. The aim of this observational cross-sectional cohort study was to measure and compare knowledge of 9-16-year-old Gaelic football players and their parents on MG use and compliance with MG rules.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A convenience sample of players and their parents was identified and were assessed at their sports facility. Parents completed a questionnaire while children were asked standardized questions and MG type was verified by a dentist. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis for comparison.

RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-one children with 118 parents participated in the study. According to players, MG use during competition (N = 119, 99.2%) was greater than during training (N = 97, 80.8%). As age increased, children were less likely to comply with MG rules during training (OR =0.18, p < .001). Children played a median of 2 contact sports (IQR = 1). Only 32 parents (27.1%) and 17 children (14%) reported that the child wore a MG for all sports. Only four children (3.8%) had a custom MG even though most parents (N = 87, 73.7%) believed that they provided superior protection. Knowledge of players and their parents on how to care for the MG was variable.

CONCLUSION: Compliance with the Gaelic Atheletic Association’s MG rules was lower during training than competition. Children were less likely to comply with MG rules during training as they grew older. Most parents believed a custom MG would best protect their child’s teeth, yet few children had a custom MG. Players and parents had variable knowledge in relation to MG hygiene.

PMID:34643329 | DOI:10.1111/edt.12714