Conectar
by Htay-Wah Saw, Arie Kapteyn
An extensive literature studies the relation between demographic and socio-economic characteristics and attrition in longitudinal studies. In this study, we analyze the independent effects of non-demographic variables—respondent personality traits, panel tenure, and survey topics, using unique datasets from two recently completed high-frequency online longitudinal studies conducted in the U.S. We used latent class analysis to group respondents into various classes based on similarities in their nonresponse patterns across all survey waves, which revealed substantial variations in patterns of nonresponse. Our results indicate that respondent personality traits were strong predictors of nonresponse patterns. Specifically, conscientiousness is positively associated with a lower likelihood of wave nonresponses. In contrast, more open, extroverted, neurotic, and agreeable respondents are more likely to exhibit higher wave nonresponses, but with effect sizes smaller than that of conscientiousness. We found no significant demographic effects on wave nonresponse in one of the studies focused on aging and well-being. However, in the study primarily focused on COVID-19-related topics conducted during the pandemic, we found a few significant demographic effects. Collectively, our findings suggest that personality traits may play a more significant role than conventional demographic and household variables in predicting nonresponse patterns in high frequency (at least one survey per month) online surveys.
by Grant L. Austin, Feng Wang, Steven Q. Le, Alexander Sorensen, Shan Li, Lai C. Foong, Srikanth Singamsetty, Jill Wood, Tsui-Fen Chou, Patricia I. Dickson
Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIID (MPS IIID; Sanfilippo D) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfatase (GNS), which participates in catabolism of heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans. Characterization of MPS IIID disease at a cellular level has not been robustly achieved. We used unbiased quantitative proteomics to establish a cellular phenotype for MPS IIID mice. Recombinant human GNS (rhGNS), a variant of which previously demonstrated single dose efficacy in MPS IIID human fibroblasts and in MPS IIID neonatal mice, was used to establish a repeat dosing schedule to treat MPS IIID mice. Adult Gns KO mice or heterozygous carriers were treated via intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections and received 3, 30, or 200 μg rhGNS in 4 doses over 2 weeks or vehicle. Twenty-four hours after the final dose, HS in brain and CSF showed dose-dependent reductions, reaching carrier levels in the higher dose groups. Furthermore, the proteomic perturbations that we described were corrected by rhGNS treatment. Next, Gns KO or carrier adult mice were treated via ICV and received 3, 30 or 200 μg rhGNS or vehicle once every two weeks (Day 1, 15, 29, 43, 57, 71, 85) and were euthanized on day 91. Following treatment, total HS and MPS IIID-specific HS (GlcNAc6S) showed dose-dependent reductions in brain and CSF and markers of neuroinflammation were substantially reduced. ICV enzyme replacement therapy with rhGNS restores CNS pathology of adult MPS IIID mice even with treatment at 14-day intervals, demonstrating preclinical efficacy for MPS IIID.
by Chayanee Noosak, Pavarish Jantorn, Suvimol Surassmo, Sittichat Chukaew, Jirut Meesane, Dennapa Saeloh Sotthibandhu
Chronic osteomyelitis, often accompanied by bone loss, requires an adequate angiogenic response for bone regeneration. Loading growth factors into a drug vehicle to promote angiogenesis can address this challenge. In a previous study, we demonstrated the potential of sericin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel as a functional biomaterial carrier for osteomyelitis treatment. In this study, we optimized sericin/PVA hydrogel for enhanced angiogenesis by supplementing sericin nanoparticles as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) nanocarriers. Sericin nanoparticles, 284.20 ± 13.20 nm in size, exhibited a spherical morphology with 86% VEGF encapsulation efficiency. After integrating VEGF-loaded sericin nanoparticles, the hydrogel was coated with 0.1% and 1% gelatin, and its physical and mechanical properties were assessed. Coating the hydrogel with gelatin enhanced its swelling properties, providing an appropriate degradation rate to support bone regeneration and angiogenesis, and improve mechanical properties. The uncoated hydrogel and hydrogels coated with 0.1% and 1% gelatin exhibited burst release rates of 70%, 60%, and 45% with cumulative release rates on day 14 measured at 76%, 67%, and 57%, respectively. The hydrogels were biocompatible with MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell lines and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The gelatin-coated hydrogels also promoted cell attachment of HUVEC cells. Gelatin-coated hydrogels containing VEGF-loaded sericin nanoparticles were evaluated for their bioactivity on HUVEC cell proliferation. After a 14-day treatment, cell proliferation in 0.1% gelatin-coated hydrogel was significantly higher than in 1% gelatin-coated hydrogel, with over a 160% increase. The expression levels of genes related to angiogenesis were quantitatively examined and results suggested that the hydrogels affected the eNOS pathway to promote angiogenesis. Despite optimization efforts, the sericin/PVA hydrogel maintained effective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The enhanced sericin/PVA hydrogel showed promise as a novel implant biomaterial for treating chronic osteomyelitis, particularly by promoting angiogenesis.
by Khomsan Ruangrit, Kittiya Phinyo, Sahassawat Chailungka, Kritsana Duangjan, Apitchaya Naree, Jearanai Thasana, Wassana Kamopas, Senoch Seanpong, Jeeraporn Pekkoh, Nuttapol Noirungsee
This study investigates the effectiveness of biochar immobilized with algicidal Bacillus sp. AK3 and denitrifying Alcaligenes sp. M3 in mitigating harmful algal blooms (HABs) and reducing nitrate pollution in aquatic environments. Over a six-day period, we analyzed changes in algal bloom-forming Microcystis density, chlorophyll-a levels (indicative of algal biomass), nitrate concentration, and microbial community composition in water treated with biochar and Bacillus sp. AK3 and Alcaligenes sp. M3-immobilized biochar. In water treatment using the AK3 and M3-immobilized biochar, Microcystis density decreased from 600,000 cells/mL to 80,000 cells/mL, and chlorophyll-a concentrations also substantially reduced, from 85.7 µg/L initially to 42.8 µg/L. Nitrate concentrations in the AK3 and M3-immobilized biochar treatment significantly decreased from approximately 23 mg/L to around 14 mg/L by Day 6, demonstrating the enhanced denitrification capabilities of the immobilized Alcaligenes sp. M3 and associated bacterial communities. The results also showed significant shifts in bacterial communities, with a decrease in Microcystis, highlighting the specific algicidal activity of Bacillus sp. AK3. The study underscores the potential of biochar-based treatments as a sustainable and effective approach for improving water quality and mitigating the environmental impacts of nutrient pollution and HABs.
by Fatemeh Shahbazi, Marzieh Fattahi-Darghlou, Samad Moslehi, Minoo Dabiri-Golchin, Marjan Shahbazi
BackgroundPrevious studies have documented the effectiveness of music therapy in improving adverse neonatal outcomes in premature infants. However, this review aims to address the question of how long listening to music can enhance these neonatal outcomes.
MethodsTo conduct this dose-response meta-analysis, we searched the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The inclusion criteria comprised randomized clinical trials that investigated the effects of music therapy on improving adverse neonatal outcomes. Preterm infants were defined as those born between 27 and 37 weeks of gestation, as fetuses are known to respond to auditory stimuli starting at the 27th week of pregnancy. The initial search was performed on January 28, 2024, and there were no restrictions on the time frame for the search. Ultimately, we employed a two-stage random effects model using the “drmeta” package in Stata software to perform this dose-response meta-analysis.
ResultsIn total, 30 articles (1855 participants) were identified for inclusion in our meta-analysis. According to pooled analysis with each minute increase in music therapy, the means of respiratory rate, pain score, SBP, DBP, behavioral score, and body temperature decrease by 35.3 beats per minutes, 15.3 VAS, 30.7 mmHg, 8.9 mmHg, 2.7, and 0.27°C. On the other hand, with each minute increase in listening to the music, the mean of O2 saturation, heart rate and sleep duration increase 1.7%, 89.2 beats per minutes and 5.081 minutes per day, respectively.
ConclusionMusic therapy improves the neonatal outcomes of O2 saturation, heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep duration, body temperature and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Therefore, the existence of a dose-response relationship can indicate a causal relationship between music therapy and the improvement of neonatal outcomes.
by Alex Thabane, Sarah Saleh, Sushmitha Pallapothu, Tyler McKechnie, Phillip Staibano, Jason W. Busse, Goran Calic, Ranil Sonnadara, Sameer Parpia, Mohit Bhandari
BackgroundCreativity fuels societal progress and innovation, particularly in the field of medicine. The scientific study of creativity in medicine is critical to understanding how creativity contributes to medical practice, processes, and outcomes. An appraisal of the current scientific literature on the topic, and its gaps, will expand our understanding of how creativity and medicine interact, and guide future research.
ObjectivesWe aimed to assess the quantity, trends, distribution, and methodological features of the peer-reviewed on creativity in medicine.
MethodsWe searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases for peer-reviewed primary research publications on creativity in medicine. Screening, full-text review, and data extraction were performed independently and in duplicate by pairs of reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. We performed descriptive analyses, graphically displaying the data using charts and maps where appropriate.
ResultsEighty-one studies were eligible for review, enrolling a total of 18,221 physicians, nurses and midwifes across all studies. Most research on creativity in medicine was published in the last decade, predominately in the field of nursing (75%). Researchers from Taiwan (22%) and the United States (21%) produced the most eligible publications, and the majority research was cross-sectional in nature (54%). There was substantial variability in the definitions of creativity adopted, and most studies failed to specify a definition of creativity. Forty-five different measurement tools were used to assess creativity, the most popular being divergent thinking tests such as the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (24%) and Guilford Creativity Tests (16%).
ConclusionsPeer-reviewed scientific research on creativity in medicine, mostly conducted in the nursing profession, is sparse and performed on variable methodological grounds. Further scientific research on the topic, as well as the development of medicine-specific definitions and measurement tools, is required to uncover the utility of creativity in the medical domain.
by Oluwadamilare Akingbade, Ka Yi Hong, Oluwabukola Sharon Ayo, Adetutu Sefinat Alade, Moshood Akinwumi Lawal, Ibironke Elizabeth Somoye, Victoria Adediran, Olamide Sado, Ka Ming Chow
BackgroundBreast cancer (BC) remains a significant health burden globally, with high incidence and mortality rates, particularly in Nigeria. Chemotherapy, a common treatment modality for BC, often leads to various physical and psychological side effects, impacting patients’ quality of life. Despite the growing use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions to provide psychoeducational support, there is a paucity of evidence regarding their feasibility and acceptability among Nigerian women with BC.
ObjectiveTo develop and investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth psychoeducational intervention (mPEI) named the ChEmo Nurse Breast cancer Application (CENBA) programme.
MethodsA multi-centre, assessor-blinded, parallel-group pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Thirty women newly diagnosed with BC and undergoing chemotherapy were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received the CENBA programme, which included BC education, coping skills training, a discussion forum, and nurse-led consultations, delivered via a mobile application and phone calls over six weeks. The control group received standard care. Feasibility was assessed through consent, attrition, and completion rates, while acceptability was explored via qualitative interviews.
ResultsThe completion rate was 93.3%. Qualitative data indicated that participants found the intervention beneficial, particularly appreciating the educational content and the emotional support provided through the discussion forum and nurse consultations.
ConclusionThe CENBA programme was perceived as a feasible and acceptable mHealth intervention for providing psychoeducational support to Nigerian women with BC undergoing chemotherapy. These findings suggest that the CENBA programme could be a valuable tool in addressing the psychoeducational needs of this population, warranting further investigation in a full-scale RCT.
Trial registrationThis manuscript reports a feasibility study preceding the full trial, which was registered with the United States Clinical Trials registry (number NCT05489354).
by Arjay Cayetano, Christoph Stransky, Andreas Birk, Thomas Brey
Fish age is an important biological variable required as part of routine stock assessment and analysis of fish population dynamics. Age estimates are traditionally obtained by human experts from the count of ring-like patterns along calcified structures such as otoliths. To automate the process and minimize human bias, modern methods have been designed utilizing the advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). While many AI-based methods have been shown to attain satisfactory accuracy, there are concerns regarding the lack of explainability of some early implementations. Consequently, new explainable AI-based approaches based on U-Net and Mask R-CNN have been recently published having direct compatibility with traditional ring counting procedures. Here we further extend this endeavor by creating an interactive website housing these explainable AI methods allowing age readers to be directly involved in the AI training and development. An important aspect of the platform presented in this article is that it allows the additional use of different advanced concepts of Machine Learning (ML) such as transfer learning, ensemble learning and continual learning, which are all shown to be effective in this study.
by Lianyu Shan, Mojdeh Matloubi, Ifeoma Okwor, Sam Kung, Mohamed Sadek Almiski, Sujata Basu, Andrew Halayko, Latifa Koussih, Abdelilah S. Gounni
Dendritic cells (DCs) are pivotal in regulating allergic asthma. Our research has shown that the absence of Sema3E worsens asthma symptoms in acute and chronic asthma models. However, the specific role of PlexinD1 in these processes, particularly in DCs, remains unclear. This study investigates the role of PlexinD1 in CD11c+ DCs using a house dust mite (HDM) model of asthma. We generated CD11c+ DC-specific PlexinD1 knockout (CD11cPLXND1 KO) mice and subjected them, alongside wild-type controls (PLXND1fl/fl), to an HDM allergen protocol. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was measured using FlexiVent, and immune cell populations were analyzed via flow cytometry. Cytokine levels and immunoglobulin concentrations were assessed using mesoscale and ELISA, while collagen deposition and mucus production were examined through Sirius-red and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining respectively. Our results indicate that CD11cPLXND1 KO mice exhibit significantly exacerbated AHR, characterized by increased airway resistance and tissue elastance. Enhanced mucus production and collagen gene expression were observed in these mice compared to wild-type counterparts. Flow cytometry revealed higher CD11c+ MHCIIhigh CD11b+ cell recruitment into the lungs, and elevated total and HDM-specific serum IgE levels in CD11cPLXND1 KO mice. Mechanistically, co-cultures of B cells with DCs from CD11cPLXND1 KO mice showed significantly increased IgE production compared to wild-type mice.These findings highlight the critical regulatory role of the plexinD1 signaling pathway in CD11c+ DCs in modulating asthma features.
by Olindah Silaule, Nokuthula Gloria Nkosi, Fasloen Adams
Informal caregivers of persons with mental disorders encounter various challenges in their role of caregiving. As such, they require support to enable them to cope with the demands of their caregiving. There is comprehensive evidence on the experiences of burden among informal caregivers in mental health; however, there is a limited number of studies that report on the mental health services aimed specifically at supporting informal caregivers in their role. To address this gap, this study aimed to explore the perspectives of the service providers regarding the challenges encountered by informal caregivers and the mental health services available to support these caregivers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mental health coordinators at provincial, district, and sub-district level and mental health professionals from a district hospital. Focus group discussions were conducted with primary healthcare supervisors and community health workers in Bushbuckridge municipality, South Africa at participants’ workplaces and sub-district offices. Semi-structured interviews and focus group guides with semi-structured questions were used to direct data collection in August 2022–January 2023. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Reflexive thematic inductive analysis was conducted using NVivo 12 software. Three themes were identified, namely perceived caregiving consequences and related factors, current state of mental health services, and factors affecting delivery of informal caregiver mental health services. The service providers acknowledged the negative consequences faced by informal caregivers. This includes the experience of caregiver burden which was attributed to the uncooperative and violent behaviours exhibited by the mental health care users. The current state of formal and informal community mental health services was described and considered inadequate to meet informal caregivers’ needs. Various personal, health system, and contextual factors influencing the provision of caregiver-orientated services were identified. The findings revealed the need for intersectoral collaborations between hospital-based and community-based mental health service providers, and community stakeholders to ensure provision of user-friendly and accessible mental health services for informal caregivers.
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