Tag: pubmed

J Psychiatr Res. 2021 May 23;139:125-131. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.039. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Maternal infection is thought to increase the risk of non-affective psychosis including schizophrenia. However, observational studies have produced conflicting results and little is known about the importance of timing of infection in mediating subsequent risk. In this study, we carried out a meta-analysis of observational studies to investigate the risk of maternal infection and subsequent risk of non-affective psychosis. Using seven cohort studies, we found that maternal infection during gestation increased the risk of non-affective psychosis [relative risk (RR): 1.28 (95% CI:1.05-1.57, p = 0.02, I² = 36%)]. A subgroup analysis identified that there was greater risk for schizophrenia alone [RR: 1.65 (95% CI:1.23-2.22, p = 0.0008, I² = 0%)]. In addition, infection during the second trimester resulted in increased risk [RR: 1.63 (95% CI:1.07-2.48, p = 0.02, I² = 7%)], whilst risk during the first and third trimesters did not meet statistical significance. This study highlights maternal infection in gestation as an important environmental risk factor for non-affective psychosis and our findings carry important implications for future disease prevention strategies.

PMID:34058651 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.039

Sci Total Environ. 2021 May 25;789:147882. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147882. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Indoor air purifiers are increasingly marketed for their health benefits, but their cardiovascular effects remain unclear. We systematically reviewed and meta-analysed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the cardiovascular effects of indoor air purification interventions in humans of all ages. We searched Embase, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to 22 August 2020. Fourteen cross-over RCTs (18 publications) were included. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly reduced after intervention (-2.28 (95% CI: -3.92, -0.64) mmHg). There were tendencies of reductions in diastolic blood pressure (-0.35 [-1.52, 0.83] mmHg), pulse pressure (PP) (-0.86 [-2.07, 0.34] mmHg), C-reactive protein (-0.23 [-0.63, 0.18] mg/L), and improvement in reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) (0.10 [-0.04, 0.24]) after indoor air purification, although the effects were not statistically significant. However, when restricting the analyses to RCTs using physical-type purifiers only, significant improvements in PP (-1.56 [-2.98, -0.15] mmHg) and RHI (0.13 [0.01, 0.25]) were observed. This study found potential evidence on the short-term cardiovascular benefits of using indoor air purifiers, especially for SBP, PP and RHI. However, under the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework, the overall certainty of evidence was very low, which discourage unsubstantiated claims on the cardiovascular benefits of air purifiers. We have also identified several key methodological limitations, including small sample size, short duration of intervention, and the lack of wash-out period. Further RCTs with larger sample size and longer follow-up duration are needed to clarify the cardiovascular benefits of air purification interventions.

PMID:34058577 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147882

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2020 Nov 17;120:104205. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104205. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We characterized a set of eleven clinically relevant formulations of UHMWPE for total joint replacements. Although their molecular and supermolecular structure were quite similar as evidenced by IR, DSC and SAXS measurements, there were slight differences in their crystallinity (DSC crystallinity ranging from 52 to 61%), which were connected with processing conditions, such as the total radiation dose, thermal treatment and/or addition of biocompatible stabilizers. Mechanical properties were assessed at all length scales, using macroscale compression testing, non-instrumented and instrumented microindentation hardness testing (at loading forces ~500 mN), and nanoindentation hardness testing measured at both higher and lower loading (~4 mN and ~0.6 mN, respectively). In agreement with theoretical predictions, we found linear correlations between UHMWPE crystallinity and its stiffness-related properties (elastic moduli, yield stress, and hardness) at all length scales (macro-, micro- and nanoscale). Detailed statistical evaluation of our dataset showed that the accuracy and precision of the applied methods decreased in the following order: non-instrumented microindentation ≥ instrumented microindentation ≥ macromechanical properties ≥ nanoindentation measured at higher loading forces ≫ nanoindentation measured at lower loading forces. The results confirm that microindentation and nanoindentation at sufficiently high loading forces are reliable methods, suitable for UHMWPE characterization.

PMID:34058599 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104205

Sci Total Environ. 2021 May 24;789:147966. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147966. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurate source markers, source profiles and species-based emission factors (EFs) are currently the key limitations for source apportionment and emission inventory researches. Fine particles (PM_2.5) were collected from stack gases of eight types of stationary sources with a dilution sampling system. The mass percentages and EFs of 89 kinds of chemical species in PM_2.5 including water-soluble ions, elements, carbonaceous species and molecular organic species were obtained. Results showed that water-soluble ions (8%-54%) and elements (5%-45%) were the dominant chemical species. Palmitic acid (0.19%-0.62%) and stearic acid (0.21%-0.59%) were the most abundant organic species. PM_2.5 source profiles of the eight sources were different from each other with the coefficient of divergence values all higher than 0.4. The addition of organic species could help to further distinguish them. The indicatory chemical components and specific species ratios were obtained by both a statistical equation and randomForest. These indicatory chemical components (e.g. F^– for glass factory) and species ratios (e.g. K⁺/Mg²⁺ & OC/Mg for pharmaceutical factory) improved the current knowledges of their indicatory performance in source identification of ambient PM_2.5. The EFs of PM_2.5 from the eight stationary sources ranged from 0.019 to 51.6 kg t^-1 of fuel used. The EFs of PM_2.5 from the pharmaceutical factory were about 70-2600 times higher than other seven types of sources due to the lack of dust-removing devices. Certain EFs measured in this study were about 10-36,000 times lower than corresponding EFs estimated in previous studies which didn’t perform field measurements, indicating the necessity for improving emission inventories continuously. This study contributes to identifying emission sources of PM_2.5 especially for subtypes of stationary sources and to establishing species-based emission inventories.

PMID:34058574 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147966

Sci Total Environ. 2021 May 24;789:147952. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147952. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Forest cover improves surface water quality by minimizing soil erosion, reducing sediment in water and trapping or filtering water pollutants in forest litter. Because the amount of chemicals needed to produce potable water depends on the quality of intake water, upstream forest cover protection may help reduce the extent and cost of water treatment downstream. However, many other drivers exist for the cost of water treatment, so the magnitude and relevance of the influence of forest cover on water treatment cost is an empirical question. We analyze the impact of forest cover on the quality of raw water and the extent of water treatment required at the water treatment plants in Costa Rica, using monthly panel data in 2008-2014 from the drinking water treatment plants managed by the national public utility. We find that forest cover change during the study period statistically significantly affected the chemical use by water treatment plants. In economic terms, the estimated value of water purification service provided by forests is USD 9.5 per hectare per year. Depending on the discount rate, this results in a net present value of water purification service ranging between USD 315.4 and USD 113.9 per hectare. The results indicate that the economic value of the water purification service of forest is 1.7% of the value for recreational services; between 3.2% and 1.1% relative to the value of forest carbon sequestration typical in Costa Rica, depending on the discount rate; and around 13% of the payments for watershed protection program by the National Forest Financing Fund. The results also show that the marginal contribution of forest, on a per hectare basis, on water quality becomes larger as the size of catchment decreases.

PMID:34058576 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147952

J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2021 May 24;202:114165. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114165. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to elucidate uncertainty structures of internal standard (IS) methods as compared with absolute calibration methods in liquid chromatography. A quantitative test of indomethacin with butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate as an IS in high-performance liquid chromatography with ultra-violet detection is taken here as an example. The repeatability is evaluated by both a usual statistical method of repetition and a theoretical approach, called the function of mutual information (FUMI) theory. The latter predicts the precision from noise and signals of instrumental output. Plots of relative standard deviations (RSDs) of measurements against analyte amounts, called precision profiles, are compared between the IS methods for indomethacin and their corresponding absolute calibration methods over a wide range of amount. Sample injection errors are observed to be effectively eliminated at high amounts by the IS methods, but at low amounts where background random noise dominates over the other error, the superiority of the IS methods is overshadowed and the precision of both the methods is almost comparable. The smallest possible amount of IS material without spoiling the integrity of analysis is estimated from the precision profiles.

PMID:34058536 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114165

J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2021 May 24;202:114167. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114167. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this study a volatolomic approach is proposed for the characterization of the volatile organic compound (VOC) composition of essential oils (EOs) extracted from common aromatic plants. Five species (Prunus spinosa L., Salvia officinalis L., Eucalyptus globulus L., Melissa officinalis L. and Mentha x piperita L.), particularly widespread in Southern Italy, were selected as recognized sources of natural bioactive compounds with beneficial properties. Hydro distillation and solid-liquid extraction with ethanol at different percentages were used to obtain EOs, and their extraction capabilities were compared analyzing chromatographic profiles obtained by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analytical procedure was optimized in term of SPME fiber, adsorption time and desorption time. GC-MS analyses were performed allowing the profiling of the VOC fingerprint in each plant extract. Experimental data were processed by a statistical multivariate approach (Analysis of Variance and Principal Component Analysis obtained for compounds and chemical classes), confirming that EO aroma profiles were statistically different for each of the selected five plants. The proposed volatolomic approach has proved to be an easy and efficient tool to study the aroma profile, allowing the collection of specific information and opening new perspectives and opportunities for the detection and identification of VOCs in agricultural and ecological applications.

PMID:34058537 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114167

Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2021 May 14;53:102530. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102530. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In forensic investigations involving stolen and crashed vehicles, examining airbags for the presence of saliva is useful strategy in order to try and establish who the driver of the vehicle may have been. The use of an evaluative approach in these types of investigations allows the forensic scientist to evaluate the significance of the evidence with regard to two alternative hypothesis. The presence of saliva on an airbag may be the result of the driver coming into contact with it during an impact. Alternatively, the saliva may have transferred to the airbag from another area in the vehicle following its deployment. To address this question and attach significance to this finding, a dataset on the prevalence and persistence of saliva is required, alongside relevant background information on the case. The purpose of this study was to determine if saliva matching the main driver of a vehicle is present in the areas immediately surrounding the driver’s section, and also to determine the persistence of saliva in vehicles. Salivary-α-amylase was detected in 53% of all samples collected from vehicles. Saliva positive samples yielded statistically significantly (p<0.05) more DNA than saliva negative samples. There was no statistical difference in DNA yields from the different areas sampled in the vehicles. The steering wheel was observed to have the greatest number of saliva positive samples (80%). The driver’s DNA profile was detected in 72% of the total samples taken. We demonstrated that saliva can persist for at least ten days in vehicles in daily use. This study has produced a useful dataset that can be utilised under certain conditions by forensic investigators when taking an evaluative approach to these particular types of forensic investigations.

PMID:34058533 | DOI:10.1016/j.fsigen.2021.102530

J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2021 Jun;27(6):772-778. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2021.27.6.772.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: 50% of prescriptions dispensed in the United States are not taken as prescribed, leading to approximately 125,000 deaths and 10% of hospitalizations per year. Incentives are effective in improving medication adherence; however, information about patient perceptions regarding incentives is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To (1) explore perceived appropriateness of incentives among patients prescribed at least 1 medication for chronic hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, diabetes, and/or asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (2) examine associations between perceived appropriateness and patient characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was administered via Qualtrics Panels to US adults taking at least 1 prescription medication for a chronic condition. The results describe patient preference for financial or social recognition-based incentive, perceived appropriateness of adherence incentives (5-point Likert scale), self-reported adherence (Medometer), and demographics. Analyses included descriptive statistics with chi-square and independent t-tests comparing characteristics between participants who perceived incentives as being appropriate or inappropriate and logistic regression to determine predictors of perceived appropriateness. RESULTS: 1,009 individuals completed the survey. Of the 1,009 total survey participants, 933 (92.5%) preferred to receive a financial (eg, cash, gift card, or voucher) rather than a social recognition-based incentive (eg, encouraging messages, feedback, individual recognition, or team competition) for medication adherence. 740 participants (73%) perceived medication adherence incentives as being appropriate or acceptable as a reward given for taking medications at the right time each day, whereas 95 (9%) perceived incentives as being inappropriate. Remaining participants were neutral. Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.37-0.89); income under $75,000 (OR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.28-0.84); no college degree (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.37-0.96); and adherence (OR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.98-0.99) were significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients perceived incentives as appropriate and preferred financial incentives over social recognition-based incentives. Perceived appropriateness for medication adherence incentives was less likely among certain groups of patients, such as those with Hispanic ethnicity, lower annual income, no college degree, and higher levels of adherence. These characteristics should be taken into account when structuring incentives. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by the Auburn University’s Intramural Grants Program. Hansen, Qian, and Garza are affiliated with Auburn University. Hansen has provided expert testimony for Daiichi Sankyo and Takeda on unrelated matters. The other authors have no potential conflicts of interest to declare. This study was presented as a poster presentation at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting held July 2018 in Boston, MA.

PMID:34057397 | DOI:10.18553/jmcp.2021.27.6.772

Anim Biotechnol. 2021 May 31:1-9. doi: 10.1080/10495398.2021.1924182. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding rice gluten meal (RGM) as an alternative protein source along with protease enzyme supplementation on growth performance, expression of nutrient transporter genes, nutrient digestibility, immune response and gut histomorphometry of broiler chicken. Proximate analysis of RGM revealed 923 g dry matter (DM), 500 g crude protein (CP), 69.2 g ether extract, 94.7 g crude fiber, 215.4 g nitrogen-free extract, 43.7 g ash, 6.20 g calcium, 7.80 g total phosphorus, 18.99 MJ gross energy and 12.68 MJ metabolizable energy per kg diet. Significant upregulation of nutrient transporter genes (PepT1, EAAT3 and mucin) and better growth performance was observed in the birds fed control diet which was statistically similar to the birds fed 150 g RGM compared to birds fed higher RGM levels. Histomorphometry of jejunum, nutrient digestibility, and immune response of birds did not reveal any significant effect of RGM or protease enzyme supplementation. However, the inclusion of RGM up to 150 g/kg diet resulted in significant decline of feed cost/kg live weight gain, dressed meat yield and eviscerated meat yield by 13.13%, 12.99% and 13.36%, respectively compared to control. Thus, it was concluded that the inclusion of 150 g RGM/kg diet in broiler chicken ration has no adverse effects on the growth pattern of birds and can be used for least-cost feed formulation for chicken.

PMID:34057400 | DOI:10.1080/10495398.2021.1924182