Inflammatory markers in world trade center workers with asthma: Associations with post traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) is associated with worse asthma outcomes in individuals exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) site. RESEARCH QUESTION: Do WTC workers with coexisting PTSD and asthma have a specific inflammatory pattern that underlies the relationship with increased asthma morbidity? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We collected data on a cohort of WTC workers with asthma recruited from the WTC Health Program. Diagnosis of PTSD was ascertained with a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders) and the severity of PTSD symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Checklist 5. We obtained blood and sputum samples to measure cytokines levels in study participants. RESULTS: Of the 232 WTC workers with diagnosis of asthma in the study, 75 (32%) had PTSD. PTSD was significantly associated with worse asthma control (p = 0.002) and increased resource utilization (p = 0.0002). There was no significant association (p>0.05) between most blood or sputum cytokines with PTSD diagnosis or PCL-5 scores both in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that PTSD is not associated with blood and sputum inflammatory markers in WTC workers with asthma. These findings suggest that other mechanisms likely explain the association between PTSD and asthma control in WTC exposed individuals.

World Trade Center workers with asthma and post-traumatic stress disorder perceive airflow limitation more accurately.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major risk factor for increased asthma morbidity among World Trade Center (WTC) workers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether differences in perception of airflow limitation mediate the association of PTSD with worse asthma control in WTC workers. METHODS: We collected data from WTC workers on asthma control (Asthma Control Questionnaire and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) and daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) measures over 6 weeks. Perception of airway limitation was assessed by comparing guessed vs actual PEF values. Post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview. We used unadjusted and adjusted models to compare PEF and perception measures in WTC workers with PTSD with those of workers without PTSD. RESULTS: Overall, 25% of 224 participants had PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with worse Asthma Control Questionnaire (2.2±0.8 vs 1.1±0.9, P < .001) and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (3.9±1.1 vs 5.4±1.1, P < .001) scores. Adjusted analyses showed no significant differences in PEF between WTC workers with (351.9±143.3 L/min) and those without PTSD (364.6±131.6 L/min, P = .55). World Trade Center workers with PTSD vs those without PTSD had increased proportion of accurate perception (67.0±37.2% vs 53.5±38.1%, P = .01) and decreased underperception (23.3.0±32.1% vs 38.9±37.5%, P = .004) of airflow limitation during periods of limitation. Similar results were obtained in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that differences in perception of airflow limitation may mediate the relationship of PTSD and increased asthma symptoms, given WTC workers with PTSD have worse self-reported asthma control, an increased proportion of accurate perception, and decreased underperception, despite no differences in daily PEF measures.

Assessing the interrelationship between asthma and obesity self-management behaviors.

Asthma and obesity are common coexisting conditions with increasing prevalence and substantial morbidity. This study examines the inter-relationship between illness and treatment beliefs in asthma and obesity and how they influence self-management behaviors. Overweight and obese adults ≥ 18 years with asthma were recruited from primary care and pulmonary practices in New York, NY and Denver, CO (n = 219). Path analysis was used to examine the relationship between asthma, weight and exercise-related illness and medication beliefs and SMB. Necessity beliefs about asthma medications and diet were associated with better medication adherence and healthier dietary behaviors (ß = 0.276, p = < 0.001, ß = 0.148, p = 0.018 respectively) whereas concerns about these self-care activities were associated with poorer adherence and worse dietary behaviors (ß = - 0.282, p < 0.001, ß = - 0.188, p = 0.003 respectively). We found no statistically significant association of exercise behaviors with any other weight or asthma illness or treatment beliefs. Our study demonstrates that necessity and concerns about treatment are associated with adherence in asthma and obesity. The lack of association of exercise behaviors with any asthma or weight related beliefs may reflect limited awareness of the impact of weight on asthma and warrants additional research.

Thirty-Day Unplanned Hospital Readmissions in Patients With Cancer and the Impact of Social Determinants of Health: A Machine Learning Approach.

PURPOSE: Develop a cancer-specific machine learning (ML) model that accurately predicts 30-day unplanned readmissions in patients with solid tumors. METHODS: The initial cohort included patients 18 years or older diagnosed with a solid tumor. Two distinct cohorts were generated: one with and one without detailed social determinants of health (SDOHs) data. For each cohort, data were temporally partitioned in 70% (training), 20% (validation), and 10% (testing). Tree-based ML models were developed and validated on each cohort. The metrics used to evaluate the model's performance were receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), area under the ROC curve, precision, recall (R), accuracy, and area under the precision-recall curve. RESULTS: We included 13,717 patients in this study in two cohorts (5,059 without SDOH data and 8,658 with SDOH data). Unplanned 30-day readmission occurred in 21.3% of the cases overall. The five main non-SDOH factors most highly associated with an unplanned 30-day readmission (R, 0.74; IQR, 0.58-0.76) were: number of previous unplanned readmissions; higher Charlson comorbidity score; nonelective index admission; discharge to anywhere other than home, hospice, or nursing facility; and higher anion gap during the admission. Neighborhood crime index, neighborhood median home values, annual income, neighborhood median household income, and wealth index were the main five SDOH factors important for predicting a high risk for an unplanned hospital readmission (R, 0.66; IQR, 0.56-0.72). The models were not directly comparable. CONCLUSION: Key drivers of unplanned readmissions in patients with cancer are complex and involve both clinical factors and SDOH. We developed a cancer-specific ML model that with reasonable accuracy identified patients with cancer at high risk for an unplanned hospital readmission.

Von Willebrand factor levels in healthy blood donors and their association with blood group: A tertiary care hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND: von Willebrand disease is a common inherited bleeding disorder caused by the deficiency of von Willebrand factor (vWF).[1] The levels of vWF depend on several factors, including exercise, hormones, and ABO blood type.[2] This study was planned to evaluate plasma vWF levels and factor VIII (fVIII) levels in healthy blood donors and its association with the ABO blood group. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma vWF levels and fVIII levels in healthy donors and its association with the ABO blood group. METHODS: This study was done in 2016 healthy adult blood donors. Complete history and relevant examination were done along with ABO and Rh (D) blood group typing, complete blood count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, vWF antigen (Ag) level, fVIII coagulant assay, and other tests for hemostasis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were expressed in proportions and mean, median, and standard deviation, respectively. An appropriate test of significance was applied. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: vWF level of donors ranged from 24 to 186 IU/dL with a mean of 96.31 IU/dL. Low vWF Ag level (below 50 IU/dl) was found in 2.5% of donors while 0.1% (2/2016) had level <30 IU/dL. O Rh (D)-positive blood group donors had the lowest vWF level (87.85 IU/dL), while ARh (D)-negative donors had the highest vWF level (117.27 IU/dL). fVIII level of the donor population ranged from 22% to 174%, with a mean of 98.82%. About 2.48% of donors had fVIII levels below 50%. There was a statistically significant correlation between fVIII level and vWF level (P < 0.001).

Clinical Outcome of Direct Pulp Therapy in Primary Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Direct pulp treatment is carried out when a healthy pulp gets mechanically/accidentally exposed during the operative procedures or trauma. Aim: To determine the effects of various direct pulp capping materials as measured by the clinical and radiographic analysis. Design: Two reviewers performed a database search of the studies published between January 2005 and November 2020. The inclusion criteria were papers published in the English language; children aged 3-12 years having deep carious lesions in primary teeth. All potential studies were acknowledged by their title and abstract. The full-text analysis of potentially relevant studies, the selected studies were included in the systematic review. A meta-analysis calculation was performed for the overall data and the subgroup data. Results: The database searching led to 57 articles, which were of direct pulp treatment in primary teeth, after the removal of duplicates, 55 records remained but did not meet all inclusion criteria. A high variability was observed among the papers. Further filtering with criteria led to nine articles, which met all inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis demonstrated the success rates of DPT in primary teeth (95% confidence interval -0.799-0.898); P < 0.001. Clinical assessments of various direct pulp capping materials suggested 84.9% of success irrespective of the material used. The nine studies were heterogeneous according to the random effect model (P < 0.001, I2 = 84.08%). Conclusions: Direct pulp treatment has the advantage of being a conservative vital pulp therapy reducing the need for a more invasive treatment.

Supernumerary Remnant Vas Deferens Like Wolffian-Derivatives in a Young Child With Abdominal Cocoon Syndrome-A Clinicopathological Novelty.

The abdominal cocoon syndrome is a rare cause of recurring intestinal obstruction in children. It refers to encasement of the small bowel by a fibrocollagenous membrane forming a cocoon. We report a nine year old male presenting with abdominal pain, distension, bilious vomiting and inability to pass stool and flatus for two days. In view of a persistently increasing bilious nasogastric output, an urgent exploratory laparotomy was performed. The small bowel loops were matted together forming a cocoon densely adherent to the parietal peritoneum with supra-colic fibrous bands. The bands histologically displayed multiple ductal remnants with epithelium resembling that of ductus deferens. These structures showed immunopositivity for pan-cytokeratin and basal CD10.Workup for tuberculosis and other etiological causes was unremarkable. This is the first documented case of abdominal cocoon in a pediatric subject associated with supernumerary wolffian remnants.

Nanostructured zinc oxide film amalgamated with functionalized carbon nanotubes for facile electrochemical determination of nifedipine.

An innovative approach has been employed for the detection of nifedipine at glassy carbon electrode fabricated with zinc oxide nanoparticles embedded on functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes. Herein, square wave voltammetry being an expeditious electrochemical technique has been utilized for the first time for the determination of nifedipine. Instrumental variables were altered to acquire optimized operational parameters. The electrochemical oxidation peak of nifedipine was procured at ∼ 807 mV which was recorded versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The oxidation peak was used to quantify the analyte in the dynamic linear range of 1 nM to 40 µM with highest sensitivity and lowest detection limit of 21.8 µA µM-1 and 0.49 nM respectively. The influence of common physiological interferents on the current signal of the analyte was examined. Pronounced stability and reproducibility of fabricated sensor was attained by the neoteric electrochemical approach. The developed protocol was efficaciously applied to quantify nifedipine in pharmaceutical formulations. The urine and blood serum sample of patients being treated for hypertension was effectively detected with nifedipine for the first time. The biological sample assay without the interference of the metabolites coexisting in the samples outlined the insight of selectivity of the developed sensor.

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of silver diamine fluoride, chlorhexidine varnish with conventional fluoride varnish as a caries arresting agent. An in vivo sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis study.

INTRODUCTION: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is employed as an adjunct cariostatic agent in the management of dental caries in high-risk population. Other than fluorides, chlorhexidine (CHX) is the most potent antimicrobial and efficacious agent against Streptococcus mutans. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate and differentiate the efficacy of 38% silver diamine fluoride, CHX varnish, and fluoride varnish on carious primary teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety children having a count of ≥1 carious lesion were recruited. Thirty-eighty percent silver diamine fluoride or fluoride varnish and CHX varnish were topically applied on the lesion. The primary outcome measured was the arrest of carious lesion (lesion rendered inactive as per the Nyvad criteria) after a follow-up of 14-21 days. Dental biofilm sample was obtained from each child and subsequently assessed for microbial composition by colony-forming unit method before and after treatment followed by protein analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method. RESULTS: Average proportion of arrested caries lesions in the SDF group was higher followed by CHX and fluoride varnish groups. Decreased total protein amount was found in SDF group. This proves that there is decrease in microbial load posttreatment in SDF group. CONCLUSION: Thirty-eight percent SDF is more effective than CHX varnish and fluoride varnish in arresting dentin carious lesions in young children.

Dental Anxiety Scales Used in Pediatric Dentistry: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

AIM: To assess various dental anxiety scales used in children and to know the effectiveness of different projective dental anxiety scales used in pediatric dentistry. BACKGROUND: Dental anxiety poses a significant problem in child patient management and is considered to be the main barrier for successful completion of the dental treatment. REVIEW RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis has been registered at the International prospective register of systematic reviews-PROSPERO-CRD42021247586. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Electronic databases [PubMed (MEDLINE), COCHRANE Library, EMBASE, EBSCO host, and Google Scholar database] were searched for corresponding references up to 2021. Observational cross-sectional studies comparing two different dental anxiety scales were selected for this systematic review. Search strategy generated 500 articles out of which 13 studies included in qualitative synthesis and only 7 studies were taken for quantitative synthesis. Among these seven studies, five studies compared FIS and VPT scales, two studies compared RMS, FIS, and VPT scales. Results of meta-analysis showed that an overall mean difference of dental anxiety between VPT and FIS scales was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.26-0.48), RMS and FIS scales was 0.05 (95% CI: 0.40-0.50), RMS and VPT was 0.27 (95% CI: 0.80-0.27) in the investigated population. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was noted in all comparisons suggesting that all these scales are at par in assessing anxiety levels in pediatric population. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The projective scales Raghavendra, madhuriu, sujata pictorial scale (RMS), Facial image scale (FIS), and Venham's picture test (VPT) can be a pragmatic tool in assessing children's dental anxiety.

In vitro apoptotic effect on human lymphatic filarial parasite by piperidine derivatives and thymidine reversal study.

A novel library of synthetic piperidine derivatives was used to screen against human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi. Piperidine has earlier been reported to have effect against parasites including rodent filarial nematodes. Compounds with hydroxyl substitutions (4Q and 4H) showed marked antifilarial effect. Molecular docking of 4H derivative showed more favorable thermodynamic parameters against thymidylate synthase of B. malayi than human counterpart. A wide difference between IC50 and LD50 ensured the therapeutic safety of the candidates against the filarial parasites. Addition of thymidine to the treatment regimen led to a significant reversal of antifilarial effect of 4H that confirmed inhibition of thymidylate synthase as pharmacological rationale. Apoptosis induced in the parasite as a consequence of probable inhibition of thymidylate synthase was studied by acridine orange/ethidium bromide fluorescent staining and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase activity inhibition. Involvement of mitochondria was confirmed by decreased 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) conversion and increased cytosolic cytochrome c level in 4H treated microfilariae, compared with the untreated microfilariae. Moreover, Michael adduct of chalcone targeting dihydrofolate reductase and piperidine targeting thymidylate synthase demonstrated synergistic effect on the parasite, indicating the importance of inhibition of DNA synthesis by combined effect. In conclusion, piperidine derivatives with hydroxyl substitution have a great therapeutic potential with an apoptotic rationale involving mitochondrial pathway, due to possible inhibition of parasitic thymidylate synthase.

Fatal gastrointestinal histoplasmosis 15 years after orthotopic liver transplantation.

We report a case of ileo-colonic Histoplasmosis without apparent respiratory involvement in a patient who had previously undergone an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) for primary biliary cholangitis 15 years earlier. The recipient lived in the United Kingdom, a non-endemic region for Histoplasmosis. However, she had previously lived in rural southern Africa prior to her OLT. The patient presented with iron deficiency anaemia, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and progressive weight loss. She reported no previous foreign travel, however, it later became known that following her OLT she had been on holiday to rural southern Africa. On investigation, a mild granulomatous colitis primarily affecting the right colon was identified, that initially improved with mesalazine. Her symptoms worsened after 18 mo with progressive ulceration of her distal small bowel and right colon. Mycobacterial, Yersinia, cytomegalovirus and human immunodeficiency virus infections were excluded and the patient was treated with prednisolone for a working diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Despite some early symptom improvement following steroids, there was subsequent deterioration with the patient developing gram-negative sepsis and multi-organ failure, leading to her death. Post-mortem examination revealed that her ileo-colonic inflammation was caused by Histoplasmosis.

Sulfonamide chalcones: Synthesis and in vitro exploration for therapeutic potential against Brugia malayi.

Keeping in mind the immense biological potential of chalcones and sulfonamide scaffolds, a library of sulfonamide chalcones has been synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antifilarial assay against human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi. Experimental evidence showcased for the first time the potential of some sulfonamide chalcones as effective and safe antifilarial lead molecules against human lymphatic filarial parasite B. malayi. Sulfonamide chalcones 4d, 4p, 4q, 4t and 4aa displayed the significantly wide therapeutic window. Particularly chalcones with halogen substitution in aromatic ring proved to be potent antifilarial agents against Brugia malayi. Sulphonamide chalcones with lipophilic methyl moiety (4q and 4aa) at para position of terminal phenyl rings of compounds were found to have remarkable antifilarial activities with therapeutic efficacy. Observed preliminary evidence of apoptosis by effective chalcone derivatives envisaged its fair possibility to inhibit folate pathway with consequent defect in DNA synthesis.

Evaluation of treatment related fear using a newly developed fear scale for children: "Fear assessment picture scale" and its association with physiological response.

INTRODUCTION: Dental treatment is usually a poignant phenomenon for children. Projective scales are preferred over psychometric scales to recognize it, and to obtain the self-report from children. AIMS: The aims were to evaluate treatment related fear using a newly developed fear scale for children, fear assessment picture scale (FAPS), and anxiety with colored version of modified facial affective scale (MFAS) - three faces along with physiologic responses (pulse rate and oxygen saturation) obtained by pulse oximeter before and during pulpectomy procedure. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Total, 60 children of age 6-8 years who were visiting the dental hospital for the first time and needed pulpectomy treatment were selected. Children selected were of sound physical, physiological, and mental condition. Two projective scales were used; one to assess fear - FAPS and to assess anxiety - colored version of MFAS - three faces. These were co-related with the physiological responses (oxygen saturation and pulse rate) of children obtained by pulse oximeter before and during the pulpectomy procedure. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Shapiro-Wilk test, McNemar's test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test were applied in the study. RESULTS: The physiological responses showed association with FAPS and MFAS though not significant. However, oxygen saturation with MFAS showed a significant change between "no anxiety" and "some anxiety" as quantified by Kruskal-Wallis test value 6.287, P = 0.043 (<0.05) before pulpectomy procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The FAPS can prove to be a pragmatic tool in spotting the fear among young children. This test is easy and fast to apply on children and reduces the chair-side time.

Effect of remineralizing agents on surface microhardness of primary and permanent teeth after erosion.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to compare the susceptibility of human primary and permanent enamel to dental erosion caused by soft drinks and to compare in vitro the remineralization potential of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste, 1.23 percent acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel, and iron supplement. METHODS: Fifteen extracted primary and permanent teeth were used for sample preparation. Samples were randomly divided into three treatment groups: CPP-ACP paste, APF gel and iron supplement. The samples were subjected to a series of demineralization and remineralization cycles and were evaluated through surface microhardness. Statistical analysis was performed using one way ANOVA and unpaired t -tests. RESULTS: After remineralization, all samples showed an increase in surface hardness, which was significantly higher with CPP-ACP paste. CONCLUSION: CPP-ACP paste was more effective at preventing dental erosion than the other products.

Atomic force microscopic comparison of remineralization with casein-phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate paste, acidulated phosphate fluoride gel and iron supplement in primary and permanent teeth: An in-vitro study.

CONTEXT: Demineralization of tooth by erosion is caused by frequent contact between the tooth surface and acids present in soft drinks. AIM: The present study objective was to evaluate the remineralization potential of casein-phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste, 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel and iron supplement on dental erosion by soft drinks in human primary and permanent enamel using atomic force microscopy (AFM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Specimens were made from extracted 15 primary and 15 permanent teeth which were randomly divided into three treatment groups: CPP-ACP paste, APF gel and iron supplement. AFM was used for baseline readings followed by demineralization and remineralization cycle. RESULTS AND STATISTICS: Almost all group of samples showed remineralization that is a reduction in surface roughness which was higher with CPP-ACP paste. Statistical analysis was performed using by one-way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U-test with P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that the application of CPP-ACP paste is effective on preventing dental erosion from soft drinks.