Tag: statistics

Biomed Res Int. 2021 Aug 19;2021:6669742. doi: 10.1155/2021/6669742. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Intestinal parasites are responsible for one of the major health problems like food contamination with socioeconomic effects in the world with a prevalence rate of 30-60%, in developing countries that lie within tropical and subtropical areas. They pose a reasonable public health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Globally, due to intestinal parasitic infections, around 3.5 billion people are affected and more than 200,000 deaths are reported annually. Around 50000 deaths yearly are caused by intestinal parasites in Ethiopia. As such, intestinal parasites perceived global and local burdens to various countries. The risk of food contamination depends largely on the health status of the food handlers, their hygiene, knowledge, and practice of food hygiene. Food handlers with poor personal hygiene and sanitation conditions are the major potential sources of intestinal helminthes and protozoa worldwide. The proposed study was aimed at evaluating prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associated factors among food handlers working in selected catering establishments. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bule Hora Town from March to April 2020. A total of 136 catering establishments were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in this study was 46.3%. Entamoeba histolytica was the most predominant parasite (33.3%, i.e., 21/63) while Giardia lamblia was the least (11.1%, i.e., 7/63). Consumption of vended or borehole water and hygienic practices such as hand washing before eating, after using toilet, before cooking and trimming of finger nail and wearing proper working clothes and shoes were statistically significant with intestinal parasitic infection (P < 0.05). Generally, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in this study was high and contributed by low socioeconomic status and poor environmental and personal hygiene. Measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, drinking water supply, regular medical checkups, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites.

PMID:34458370 | PMC:PMC8397551 | DOI:10.1155/2021/6669742

Biomed Res Int. 2021 Aug 25;2021:9915927. doi: 10.1155/2021/9915927. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the cause of the latest pandemic of the 21st century; it is responsible for the development of COVID-19. Within the multiple study models for both the biology and the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the use of stem cells has been proposed because of their ability to increase the immune response and to repair tissue. Therefore, the objective of this review is to evaluate the role of stem cells against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 in order to identify their potential as a study model and as a possible therapeutic source against tissue damage caused by this virus. Therefore, the following research question was established: What is the role of stem cells in the study of SARS-CoV-2 and the treatment of COVID-19?

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was carried out in the electronic databases of PUBMED, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The following keywords were used: “SARS-CoV-2,” “COVID-19,” and “STEM CELL,” plus independent search strategies with the Boolean operators “OR” and “AND.” The identified reports were those whose main objective was the study of stem cells in relation to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19. For the development of this study, the following inclusion criteria were taken into account: studies whose main objective was the study of stem cells in relation to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 and clinical case studies, case reports, clinical trials, pilot studies, in vitro, or in vivo studies. For assessment of the risk of bias for in vitro studies, the SciRAP tool was used. The data collected for each type of study, clinical or in vitro, were analyzed with descriptive statistics using the SPSS V.22 program.

RESULTS: Of the total of studies included (n = 39), 22 corresponded to in vitro investigations and 17 to human studies (clinical cases (n = 9), case series (n = 2), pilot clinical trials (n = 5), clinical trials (n = 1)). In vitro studies that induced pluripotent stem cells were the most used (n = 12), and in clinical studies, the umbilical stem cells derived were the most reported (n = 11). The mean age of the study subjects was 58.3 years. After the application of stem cell therapy, the follow-up period was 8 days minimum and 90 days maximum. Discussion. The mechanism by which the virus enters the cell is through protein “S,” located on the surface of the membrane, by recognizing the ACE2 receptor located on the target cell. The evidence that the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in stem cells indicates that stem cells from bone marrow and amniotic fluid have very little expression. This shows that stem cell has a low risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2.

CONCLUSION: The use of stem cells is a highly relevant therapeutic option. It has been shown in both in vitro studies and clinical trials that it counteracts the excessive secretion of cytokines. There are even more studies that focus on long-term follow-up; thus, the potential for major side effects can be analyzed more clearly. Finally, the ethical use of stem cells from fetal or infant origin needs to be regulated. The study was registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD42021229038). The limitations of the study were because of the methodology employed, the sample was not very large, and the follow-up period of the clinical studies was relatively short.

PMID:34458372 | PMC:PMC8390136 | DOI:10.1155/2021/9915927

Front Vet Sci. 2021 Aug 11;8:697789. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.697789. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The complex etiology and pathogenesis of retained placenta (RP) bring huge challenges for researchers and clinical veterinarians in investigating the pathogenesis and treatment schedule. This study aims to investigate the pathogenesis of RP in dairy cows by plasma metabolomics. As subjects, 10 dairy cows with RP and 10 healthy dairy cows were enrolled according to strict enrollment criteria. Imbalanced antioxidant capacity, reduced Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio, and deregulation of total bilirubin (T-bil), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and reproductive hormones were shown in dairy cows with RP by detecting biochemical indicators, oxidation and antioxidant markers, and cytokines in serum. Plasma metabolites were detected and analyzed by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system coupled with multivariate statistical analysis software. A total of 23 potential biomarkers were uncovered in the plasma of dairy cows with RP. The metabolic pathways involved in these potential biomarkers are interconnected, and the conversion, utilization, and excretion of nitrogen were disturbed in dairy cows with RP. Moreover, these potential biomarkers are involved in the regulation of antioxidant capacity, inflammation, and autocrine or paracrine hormone. All of these findings suggest that an imbalance of these potential biomarkers might be responsible for the imbalanced antioxidant capacity, reduced Th1/Th2 cytokine ratio, and deregulation of reproductive hormones in dairy cows with RP. The regulation of metabolic pathways involved in these potential biomarkers represents a promising therapeutic strategy for RP.

PMID:34458353 | PMC:PMC8385782 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2021.697789

Front Vet Sci. 2021 Aug 12;8:714423. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.714423. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the distribution and severity of bone and soft tissue lesions in the proximal metacarpal region of warmblood horses in lame and control groups. Correlation between lesions and ability to return to work was evaluated in the lame group. Methods: This restrospective analysis evaluated 62 horses with MRI examination of the proximal metacarpal region between Sept 2015 and Feb 2021. There were 36 lame limbs and 26 control limbs. The control group included seven contralateral limbs. Results: Proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) size was not different between the lame and control groups. Hyperintensity seen on T1W/T2^*W GRE images within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintense Short-TI Inversion Recovery (STIR) signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL or within the McIII were only present within the lame group. Palmar cortical McIII resorption and dorsal margin irregularity of the PSL and McIII sclerosis were more severe within the lame limbs, but mild gradations were also seen in control limbs. Intermediate gradings for a subset of lesions were commonly seen in the non-lame contralateral to lame limbs. Return to work in the lame group is not statistically different for any measured observation(s), and 19/33 of the lame horses returned to work at similar or higher levels. Conclusion and clinical importance: Fifty-eight percent in this group of warmblood horses returned to work within a variable time frame. The majority (81%) of lame limbs showed bone and soft tissue abnormalities, but no enlargement of the PSL was noted in lame horses, and no correlation was seen between the severity or type of lesions and the ability to return to work. The presence of STIR hyperintensity within the proximal McIII or dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintensity within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL on T1W GRE and T2^*W GRE images, as well as significant palmar cortical McIII resorption are considered clinically relevant lesions. Contralateral limbs may not truly represent the normal condition, showing nonclinical variations and adaptive remodeling.

PMID:34458356 | PMC:PMC8388851 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2021.714423

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Aug 12;8:670045. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.670045. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) success is reduced by graft occlusion. Understanding factors associated with graft occlusion may improve patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive risk score for saphenous vein graft (SVG) occlusion after CABG. Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 3,716 CABG patients from January 2012 to March 2013. The development cohort included 2,477 patients and the validation cohort included 1,239 patients. The baseline clinical data at index CABG was analyzed for their independent impact on graft occlusion in our study using Cox proportional hazards regression. The predictive risk scoring tool was weighted by beta coefficients from the final model. Concordance (c)-statistics and comparison of the predicted and observed probabilities of predicted risk were used for discrimination and calibration. Results: A total of 959 (25.8%) out of 3,716 patients developed at least one late SVG occlusion. Significant risk factors for occlusion were female sex [beta coefficients (β) = 0.52], diabetes (β = 0.21), smoking (currently) (β = 0.32), hyperuricemia (β = 0.22), dyslipidemia (β = 0.52), prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (β = 0.21), a rising number of SVG (β = 0.12) and lesion vessels (β = 0.45). On-pump surgery (β = -0.46) and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (β = -0.59) and calcium channel blockers (CCB) (β = -0.23) were protective factors. The risk scoring tool with 11 variables was developed from the derivation cohort, which delineated each patient into risk quartiles. The c-statistic for this model was 0.71 in the validation cohort. Conclusions: An easy-to-use risk scoring tool which included female sex, diabetes, smoking, hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, prior PCI, a rising number of SVG and lesion vessels, on-pump surgery, the use of ACEI/ ARB and CCB was developed and validated. The scoring tool accurately estimated the risk of late SVG occlusion after CABG (c-statistic = 0.71).

PMID:34458329 | PMC:PMC8387700 | DOI:10.3389/fcvm.2021.670045

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Aug 12;8:717073. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.717073. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Background: Blood pressure variability (BPV) has long been considered a risk factor for cardiovascular events. We aimed to investigate whether post-operative systolic BPV was associated with early and late all-cause mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: Clinical variables and blood pressure records within the first 24 h in the post-operative intensive care unit stay from 4,509 patients operated on between 2001 and 2012 were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. BPV was measured as the coefficient of the variability of systolic blood pressure, and we compared patients in the highest quartile with patients in the other three quartiles. Results: After full adjustment, patients in the highest quartile of BPV were at a higher risk of intensive care unit mortality (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.11-3.69), 30-day mortality (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.22-3.02), and 90-day mortality (HR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.19-2.27). For 2,892 patients with a 4-year follow-up, the association between a higher post-operative BPV and the risk of 4-year mortality was not significant (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.96-1.42). The results were supported by the comparison of survival curves and remained generally consistent in the subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that in patients undergoing CABG, a higher post-operative BPV was associated with a higher risk of early mortality while the association was not significant for late mortality. Post-operative BPV can support doctors in identifying patients with potential hemodynamic instability and making timely clinical decisions.

PMID:34458342 | PMC:PMC8387866 | DOI:10.3389/fcvm.2021.717073

Front Public Health. 2021 Aug 11;9:686807. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.686807. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Racism in the United States has been cited as a key driver of racial health inequities. Racism as a public health crisis has been in the forefront, particularly with respect to state and municipal governments that have developed legislation, resolutions, and declarations. This policy brief includes a review of resolutions and declarations across the US related to Racism as a Public Health Crisis through the end of September 2020. There were 125 resolutions reviewed for content related to the history of racism, reference to racial health equity data, content related to action steps or implementation, and any accompanying funding or resources. We found that the majority of policies name racism as critical in addressing racial inequities in health with limited details about specific actions, funding, or resources.

PMID:34458221 | PMC:PMC8385329 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2021.686807

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Aug 12;9:690882. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.690882. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver, which is frequently caused by the infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis can lead to the development of chronic complications including cancer, making it a major public health burden. Co-infection of HBV and HCV can result in faster disease progression. Therefore, it is important to identify shared genetic susceptibility loci for HBV and HCV infection to further understand the underlying mechanism. Through a meta-analysis based on genome-wide association summary statistics of HBV and HCV infection, we found one novel locus in the Asian population and two novel loci in the European population. By functional annotation based on multi-omics data, we identified the likely target genes at each novel locus, such as HMGB1 and ATF3, which play a critical role in autophagy and immune response to virus. By re-analyzing a microarray dataset from Hmgb1^-/- mice and RNA-seq data from mouse liver tissue overexpressing ATF3, we found that differential expression of autophagy and immune and metabolic gene pathways underlie these conditions. Our study reveals novel common susceptibility loci to HBV and HCV infection, supporting their role in linking autophagy signaling and immune response.

PMID:34458256 | PMC:PMC8397444 | DOI:10.3389/fcell.2021.690882

Front Surg. 2021 Aug 11;8:704345. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2021.704345. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Background: The post-operative acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a common complication in the Acute Debakey Type I Aortic Dissection (ADTIAD) and predicts a poorer prognosis. The clinical evidence is scarce supporting the predictive value of the pre-operative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in post-operative AKI in ADTIAD. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 190 consecutive patients with ADTIAD enrolled for surgical treatment between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018. The diagnosis of AKI followed the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines (KDIGO). Pre-operative LMR and other possible risk factors were analyzed for their prognostic value in the post-operative AKI in ADTIAD. Results: The subjects were assigned to the low-LMR and high-LMR groups according to the median value of pre-operative LMR. For post-operative AKI, the incidence and the severity in the low-LMR group were statistically different from that of the high-LMR group. Besides, the lower LMR was statistically associated with the more extended ICU stay and intubation time and higher incidences of ischemic stroke and in-hospital mortality. Additionally, in the multivariable analysis, the pre-operative LMR was an independent predictor for post-operative AKI in ADTIAD. A predictive model for post-operative AKI in ADTIAD was established incorporating LMR. Conclusions: LMR is an independent prognostic indicator incorporated into the predictive model with other risk factors to predict the post-operative AKI in ADTIAD.

PMID:34458315 | PMC:PMC8384963 | DOI:10.3389/fsurg.2021.704345

Front Pediatr. 2021 Aug 12;9:666904. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.666904. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

Rationale and Aim: Infants with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) are at risk for neurodevelopmental delays, emotional, social and behavioral difficulties. Hospitalization early in life and associated stressors may contribute to these challenges. Family-centered Care (FCC) is a health care approach that is respectful of and responsive to the needs and values of a family and has shown to be effective in improving health outcomes of premature infants, as well as the mental well-being of their parents. However, there is limited empirical data available on FCC practices in pediatric cardiology and associations with parent and infant outcomes. Methods and Analysis: In this cross-sectional study, we will explore FCC practices at two pediatric cardiac intensive care units in Germany, assess parent satisfaction with FCC, and investigate associations with parental mental well-being and parenting stress, as well as infant physical and mental well-being. We will collect data of 280 infants with CHD and their families. Data will be analyzed using multivariate statistics and multilevel modeling. Implications and Dissemination: The study protocol was approved by the medical ethics committees of both partner sites and registered with the German registry for clinical trials (NR DRKS00023964). This study serves as a first step to investigate FCC practices in a pediatric cardiology setting, providing insight into the relationship between FCC and parent and infant outcomes in a population of infants with CHD. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals.

PMID:34458208 | PMC:PMC8397409 | DOI:10.3389/fped.2021.666904