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OBJECTIVE: Limitations to medical student clinical rotation opportunities brought on by the pandemic has the potential to exacerbate differences in access to clinical experience between medical schools, and thus impact the distribution of graduates matching into neurosurgical programs nationwide. The utilization of virtual interviews that started after the pandemic are likely here to stay. In this study we seek to evaluate match rates for American (AMGs) and international medical graduates (IMGs) across the 6 most recent academic years, examining specifically the rate of home-institution matching before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: All neurological surgery residents for the years 2018-2024 were included in this analysis, with basic information about each resident being collected using publicly available online resources. For any remaining programs where information was not publicly available, program directors were contacted. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 with a level of significance p<0.05. RESULTS: Of the total of 1271 AMGs, 1005 (79.1â¯%) matched away from their home institution. When dividing the 6 academic years into 3 subgroups (pre, intra, and post COVID-19), there was no significant variation between the rates of home institution matching (pre=21.0â¯%, during=20.4â¯%, post=21.3â¯%, p=0.740). Similar results were found while assessing IMGs (pre=28.6â¯%, during=30.8â¯%, post=32.3â¯%, p=0.777). Our analysis found no variation in match rates when isolating for gender across the 6 years studied either for AMGs or IMGs. However, overall institute-specific variations were found where some programs showed increased likelihood of home program match (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Preliminary data analysis suggests that contrary to the broader trends seen in other specialties, neurosurgery applicants do not exhibit a significant shift towards matching in closer proximity to their home institutions post COVID-19 pandemic and during the virtual interviews era.
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INTRODUCTION: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and dementia disproportionately burden patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The association between CHIP and cognitive impairment in CKD patients is unknown. METHODS: We conducted time-to-event analyses in up to 1452 older adults with CKD from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort who underwent CHIP gene sequencing. Cognition was assessed using four validated tests in up to 6 years mean follow-up time. Incident cognitive impairment was defined as a test score one standard deviation below the baseline mean. RESULTS: Compared to non-carriers, CHIP carriers were markedly less likely to experience impairment in attention (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval {CI}] = 0.44 [0.26, 0.76], p = 0.003) and executive function (adjusted HR [95% CI] = 0.60 [0.37, 0.97], p = 0.04). There were no significant associations between CHIP and impairment in global cognition or verbal memory. DISCUSSION: CHIP was associated with lower risks of impairment in attention and executive function among CKD patients. HIGHLIGHTS: Our study is the first to examine the role of CHIP in cognitive decline in CKD. CHIP markedly decreased the risk of impairment in attention and executive function. CHIP was not associated with impairment in global cognition or verbal memory.
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INTRODUCTION: Thoracic vertebral fractures within homes are pivotal public health concerns due to their associated morbidity and significant healthcare expenditures. This study aims to dissect the intricate epidemiology of these injuries, integrating comprehensive risk factors beyond conventional demographics and location analyses. METHODS: Utilizing a decade of data (2013-2022) from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, this study examines thoracic vertebral fractures across age and gender in household settings. Inclusion criteria targeted specific thoracic spine-related terms, analyzing fractures by location (e.g., kitchen, stairs) and associated products. Data processing employed R programming, with statistical analysis focusing on descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression, to identify fracture patterns and assess gender differences in fracture risks through Adjusted Odds Ratios (AORs). RESULTS: Analysis of 46,371 thoracic vertebral fractures identified stairs as the primary site (26.81%), with subsequent frequent locations being bedrooms (18.52%), living rooms (17.88%), and kitchens (16.29%). Gender-specific risk analysis revealed females had a higher likelihood of fractures on stairs (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.16-1.37, P < 0.001) and in bedrooms (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.09-1.54, P < 0.001). The most affected age group was 51-60, showcasing the multifaceted nature of risk factors beyond mere location. DISCUSSION: This study transcends prior insights by detailing the influence of various factors, including socioeconomic status and lifestyle, on fracture risk. It emphasizes the complexity of household fractures, highlighting gender and age as pivotal but not exclusive risk determinants. CONCLUSIONS: By offering a comprehensive analysis that incorporates a wide array of risk factors, this study advances the understanding of thoracic vertebral fractures in residential environments. It underscores the necessity for targeted preventive measures that are cognizant of the multifactorial nature of these injuries, paving the way for improved safety interventions and public health policies.
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Background: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a common inflammatory condition of aging that causes myriad end-organ damage. We have recently shown associations for CHIP with acute kidney injury and with kidney function decline in the general population, with stronger associations for CHIP driven by mutations in genes other than DNMT3A (non- DNMT3A CHIP). Longitudinal kidney function endpoints in individuals with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CHIP have been examined in two previous studies, which reported conflicting findings and were limited by small sample sizes. Methods: In this study, we examined the prospective associations between CHIP and CKD progression events in four cohorts of CKD patients (total N = 5,772). The primary outcome was a composite of 50% kidney function decline or kidney failure. The slope of eGFR decline was examined as a secondary outcome. Mendelian randomization techniques were then used to investigate potential causal effects of CHIP on eGFR decline. Finally, kidney function was assessed in adenine-fed CKD model mice having received a bone marrow transplant recapitulating Tet2 -CHIP compared to controls transplanted wild-type bone marrow. Results: Across all cohorts, the average age was 66.4 years, the average baseline eGFR was 42.6 ml/min/1.73m 2 , and 24% had CHIP. Upon meta-analysis, non- DNMT3A CHIP was associated with a 59% higher relative risk of incident CKD progression (HR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.47). This association was more pronounced among individuals with diabetes (HR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.62) and with baseline eGFR ≥ 30 ml/min/1.73m (HR 1.80, 95% CI: 1.11-2.90). Additionally, the annualized slope of eGFR decline was steeper among non- DNMT3A CHIP carriers, relative to non-carriers (ß -0.61 ± 0.31 ml/min/1.73m 2 , p = 0.04). Mendelian randomization analyses suggested a causal role for CHIP in eGFR decline among individuals with diabetes. In a dietary adenine mouse model of CKD, Tet2 -CHIP was associated with lower GFR as well as greater kidney inflammation, tubular injury, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Conclusion: Non- DNMT3A CHIP is a potentially targetable novel risk factor for CKD progression.
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Although both short and long sleep duration are associated with elevated hypertension risk, our understanding of their interplay with biological pathways governing blood pressure remains limited. To address this, we carried out genome-wide cross-population gene-by-short-sleep and long-sleep duration interaction analyses for three blood pressure traits (systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure) in 811,405 individuals from diverse population groups. We discover 22 novel gene-sleep duration interaction loci for blood pressure, mapped to 23 genes. Investigating these genes' functional implications shed light on neurological, thyroidal, bone metabolism, and hematopoietic pathways that necessitate future investigation for blood pressure management that caters to sleep health lifestyle. Non-overlap between short sleep (12) and long sleep (10) interactions underscores the plausible nature of distinct influences of both sleep duration extremes in cardiovascular health. Several of our loci are specific towards a particular population background or sex, emphasizing the importance of addressing heterogeneity entangled in gene-environment interactions, when considering precision medicine design approaches for blood pressure management.
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Introduction Surgical site infections (SSIs) continue to be a challenging issue among patients undergoing pancreatectomy. Anecdotally, the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) following pancreatectomy for cancer has been associated with decreased SSIs. The objective of this study was to compare the postoperative outcomes of NPWT and non-NPWT for incisional wound care following distal pancreatectomy or pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic diagnoses using a national surgical database. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) was queried from 2005 to 2019 for patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic diagnoses using primary Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. The primary outcome was surgical site infection rates between NPWT and non-NPWT patient groups. Secondary outcomes include sepsis, septic shock, readmission, and reoperation. Outcomes of interest were compared using multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 54,457 patients underwent pancreatectomy with 131 receiving NPWT. Multivariate analysis, while accounting for patient characteristics, including wound classification, showed no difference in postoperative superficial SSI, deep SSI, sepsis, septic shock, or readmission between the NPWT and non-NPWT groups. Organ space SSI was higher in the NPWT group (21% vs 12%, p=0.001). Reoperation related to procedure was also high in the NPWT group (14% vs 4.3%, p<0.001). Conclusion The use of NPWT in distal pancreatectomies and pancreatoduodenectomies is associated with increased organ space SSIs and reoperation rates, with no difference in superficial SSI, deep SSI, or readmission. This large sample study shows no significant benefit of using NPWT incisional wound care after pancreatectomy.
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Although both short and long sleep duration are associated with elevated hypertension risk, our understanding of their interplay with biological pathways governing blood pressure remains limited. To address this, we carried out genome-wide cross-population gene-by-short-sleep and long-sleep duration interaction analyses for three blood pressure traits (systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure) in 811,405 individuals from diverse population groups. We discover 22 novel gene-sleep duration interaction loci for blood pressure, mapped to genes involved in neurological, thyroidal, bone metabolism, and hematopoietic pathways. Non-overlap between short sleep (12) and long sleep (10) interactions underscores the plausibility of distinct influences of both sleep duration extremes in cardiovascular health. With several of our loci reflecting specificity towards population background or sex, our discovery sheds light on the importance of embracing granularity when addressing heterogeneity entangled in gene-environment interactions, and in therapeutic design approaches for blood pressure management.
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BACKGROUND: Power tools are essential for productivity but carry significant injury risks. Addressing power tool injuries across diverse age groups is vital, as existing research predominantly focuses on specific occupational or non-occupational groups, leaving a gap in understanding various age cohorts within the diverse American population. This study aims to comprehend power tool injury epidemiology, raising awareness about the importance of targeted safety measures for enhancing public health. METHODS: Using a ten-year retrospective approach, this study analyzed National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data from US hospital emergency departments (2013-2022). Demographic and temporal trends were examined, and associations between injury occurrence and categorical variables, including injured body parts, gender, and race, were explored. RESULTS: In 2013, power tool injuries were highest in the "51-60â³ age group (23.70 %), followed by "41-50â³ (17.31 %) and "61-70â³ (19.38 %). Injury rates varied across age groups over the years. Notably, the "41-50â³ age group showed a significant decrease in injuries over time (χ² = 17.12, p < .05), indicating a notable temporal trend. Hand injuries were predominant (39.08 %), followed by finger (19.19 %), lower arm (11.25 %), upper arm (8.79 %), and face (4.04 %). Lacerations constituted the most frequent injury type (60.89 %), alongside fractures, amputations, foreign body insertions, and contusions/abrasions. Significant associations emerged between injury occurrence and gender (χ² = 6.19, p < .001), as well as race (χ² = 7.42, p < .001). Males accounted for the majority of injuries (95.97 %), while white individuals constituted the largest proportion (91.84 %). Females and domestic settings exhibited increasing proportions of power tool injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The higher incidence among middle-aged individuals in domestic settings, coupled with evolving gender dynamics, underscores the need for targeted safety measures. Our findings contribute crucial novel insights, emphasizing tailored preventive strategies to enhance safety outcomes in the multifaceted landscape of power tool use.
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Athletic Injuries , Fractures, Bone , Hand Injuries , Lacerations , Male , Middle Aged , Female , Humans , United States/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Hand Injuries/epidemiology , Hand Injuries/prevention & control , Fractures, Bone/epidemiology , Fractures, Bone/prevention & control , Fractures, Bone/complications , Lacerations/complications , Upper Extremity , Emergency Service, Hospital , Athletic Injuries/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite the pivotal role of clinical trials in advancing orthopaedic oncology knowledge and treatment strategies, the persistent issues of trial discontinuation and nonpublication are significant problems. This study conducted an analysis examining clinical trial discontinuation rates, associations between intervention types and discontinuation/nonpublication, and the role of funding, enrollment size, and their implications for trial success and completion. METHODS: This study, conducted on May 1, 2023, utilized a cross-sectional design to comprehensively analyze phase 3 and 4 randomized controlled trials within the realm of orthopaedic oncology. We specifically incorporated Phase 3 and 4 trials as they are designed to evaluate prolonged outcomes in human subjects and are more likely to reach publication. Study characteristics of interest included the intervention utilized in the clinical trial, presence of funding, whether the trial was published, completed, and trial enrollment size. The investigation involved an examination of ClinicalTrials.gov, a prominent online repository of clinical trial data managed by the National Library of Medicine of the USA. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Among the cohort of 130 trials, 19.2% were prematurely discontinued. Completion rates varied based on intervention type; 111 pharmaceutical trials demonstrated a completion rate of 83.8%, whereas 19 non-pharmaceutical trials exhibited a completion rate of 8.0% (P < .001). Surgical trials, totaling 10, showed a completion rate of 90%. The overall trial publication rate was 86.15%, with pharmaceutical interventions achieving a publication rate of 91.96%. Larger-scale trials (≥ 261 participants) emerged as a protective factor against both discontinuation (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 0.85, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.42-0.95) and nonpublication (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI 0.13-.47), compared to smaller-scale trials. CONCLUSION: This study accentuates the heightened vulnerability of non-pharmaceutical interventions and trials exhibiting lower rates of enrollment to the issues of discontinuation and nonpublication. Moving forward, the advancement of clinical trials necessitates a concerted effort to enhance trial methodologies, especially concerning nonpharmaceutical interventions, along with a meticulous refinement of participant enrollment criteria.
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Medical Oncology , Orthopedics , Publishing , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic , Clinical Trials, Phase IV as TopicABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: After craniectomy, autologous bone flaps may be stored using wet or dry cryopreservation. After brain edema subsides, they are replaced during an operation termed cranioplasty. Cranioplasty is associated with 15% infection incidence. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective comparison of infection outcomes between wet and dry cryopreservation of cranioplasty bone flaps. Historically, bone flaps were stored utilizing wet cryopreservation-bone flap storage in 1 L of lactated Ringer's solution containing 80 mg gentamicin and 2 g nafcillin in a sterile plastic container secured in an unsterile plastic bag. Our newer dry cryopreservation protocol involved storage in gauze soaked in 80 mg gentamicin and 2 g nafcillin within a 3-layer sterile bag system. RESULTS: A total of 119 autologous bone flaps were included, with median follow-up of 3.9 months from cranioplasty. Overall, 10.9% became infected, requiring subsequent surgery; 18.4% of 49 bone flaps stored using wet cryopreservation became infected compared with only 5.7% of 70 dry cryopreservation bone flaps (P = 0.038; relative risk [RR] 0.311; absolute risk reduction 12.7%). Tobacco use (P = 0.076; RR 3.17) was not associated with increased infection risk. Infection incidence was similar for traumatic craniectomy indications compared to the other indications (12.0% trauma vs. 10.1% other; P = 0.750). On average, infected cranioplasty patients spent 8.5 more days hospitalized and faced increased risk of additional complications. CONCLUSIONS: Dry cryopreservation significantly decreases infection after cranioplasty when compared with wet cryopreservation, and this mitigates additional morbidity, mortality, and costs attributable to cranioplasty infection. Other nonmodifiable risk factors for cranioplasty infection were identified.
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Decompressive Craniectomy , Surgical Flaps , Humans , Surgical Flaps/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Nafcillin , Incidence , Decompressive Craniectomy/adverse effects , Decompressive Craniectomy/methods , Skull/surgery , Gentamicins , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Postoperative Complications/etiologyABSTRACT
Vascular access is essential for hemodialysis (HD) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). When the standard of care arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is limited, secondary to aneurysmal degeneration, trauma, and thrombus, interposition grafting is a reasonable reconstruction approach. As these grafts and comorbidities place ESRD patients at sustained risk of complications, reconstructions with regenerative medicine biologic conduits hold promise in improving safety and efficacy. Here, a biocompatible human acellular vessel (HAV) is our conduit of interest. With United States Food and Drug Administration use authorization under the Expanded Access Program, we report three cases of complex vascular access surgery with four aneurysm repairs using HAV. Patient selection focused on meeting unmet needs for those without adequate care alternatives, including active access and endoprosthetic stent graft infections, right heart failure due to high-output AVF, and arterial and access outflow aneurysms. In this high-risk expanded access population, operative technical success and interval success for patients given their inherent comorbidities, offer potential expanded utility of HAV in HD access surgery and arterial aneurysm repair.
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Introduction It has been suggested that hernia repair with concomitant cholecystectomy increases the risk of postoperative complications due to potential mesh contamination. This study compares postoperative outcomes and complications between patients who underwent ventral hernia repair (VHR) with and without concomitant cholecystectomy (CCY). Methods Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database, from 2005 to 2019, we queried patients who underwent ventral hernia repairs using the current procedural terminology (CPT) codes 49652-49657 (laparoscopic) and 49560-49566 (open), with or without cholecystectomy. The ACS NSQIP is a prospective, systematic study of patients who underwent major general surgical procedures aggregating data from over 200 hospitals. Cases involving additional concomitant procedures were excluded. Primary outcomes of interest were 30-day mortality, length of stay, readmission, return to operating room (OR), and postoperative complications. The odds ratio for primary outcomes was calculated using multivariable binomial logistic regression to control for patient risk factors. Results In total, 167586 cases were identified, 165,758 ventral hernia repairs alone, and 1,828 ventral hernia repairs with concomitant cholecystectomy. There was no difference in 30-day mortality, length of stay, readmission, return to the operating room, or postoperative complications between groups. Patients who underwent simultaneous VHR/CCY when compared to those who had VHR alone, had no differences in the rate of surgical site infections (1.86% vs. 1.97%, P = 0.57) or sepsis (0.82% vs. 0.41%, P = 0.10). Conclusion In a large national sample, there is no significant difference in postoperative outcomes, specifically infection-related complications, when comparing VHR along with concurrent VHR/CCY. Our findings suggest no increased risks for patients undergoing concurrent ventral hernia repair and cholecystectomy. Hence, surgeons might consider this combined approach to offer the best value-based care, especially when it could eliminate the need for a second operation and the risk of infection is low. Prospective studies with more procedural-specific information for hernia repairs and indications for cholecystectomy are needed however it is likely safe to perform both procedures during the same setting in cholecystectomy cases lacking signs of acute infection.
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Introduction Readmission rates after open heart surgery (OHS) remain an important clinical issue. The causes are varied, with identifying risk factors potentially providing valuable information to reduce healthcare costs and the rate of post-operative complications. This study aimed to characterize the reasons for 30-day hospital readmission rates of patients after open heart surgery. Methods All patients over 18 years of age undergoing OHS at a community hospital from January 2020 through December 2020 were identified. Demographic data, medical history, operative reports, post-operative complications, and telehealth interventions were obtained through chart review. Descriptive statistics and readmission rates were calculated, along with a logistic regression model, to understand the effects of medical history on readmission. Results A total of 357 OHS patients met the inclusion criteria for the study. Within the population, 8.68% of patients experienced readmission, 10.08% had an emergency department (ED) visit, and 95.80% had an outpatient office visit. A history of atrial fibrillation (AFib) significantly predicted 30-day hospital readmissions but not ED or outpatient office visits. Telehealth education was delivered to 66.11% of patients. Conclusion The study investigated factors associated with 30-day readmission following OHS. AFib patients were more likely to be readmitted than patients without atrial fibrillation. No other predictors of readmission, ED visits, or outpatient office visits were found. Patients reporting symptoms of tachycardia, pain, dyspnea, or "other" could be at increased risk for readmission.
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Background Thoracic vertebral fractures are clinically important due to their association with the thoracic spinal cord and the potential to cause devastating neurological injury. Using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data, this study investigated fracture patterns to understand associated factors to improve prevention strategies. We explored different factors associated with thoracic vertebral fractures to improve our understanding of preventative strategies and patient care standards, focusing on spatial distribution, sex-age dynamics, and location of injury. Methodology This retrospective, cross-sectional study examines thoracic vertebral fractures across diverse age groups from 2013 to 2022, utilizing the NEISS database from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Inclusion criteria based on specific terms related to thoracic fractures were employed. Descriptive statistics illustrated fracture distribution by age groups and associated products. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions, were conducted to explore associations between fracture occurrence, locations, products, age, and gender. Results The analysis of thoracic vertebral fractures by location and associated products yielded several statistically significant findings. Notably, the prevalence of fractures at home (39.67%) was significantly higher than in other locations, and these differences in fracture distribution were statistically significant (χ² = 7.34, p < 0.001). Among the associated products, ladders (10.46%) emerged as the most frequent product associated with fractures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age groups of 41-50, 51-60, and 61-70 had increased odds of fractures with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of 1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.42, p < 0.05), 1.21 (95% CI = 1.13-1.56, p < 0.001), and 1.17 (95% CI = 1.08-1.39, p < 0.001), respectively. The likelihood of thoracic vertebral fractures did not significantly differ between males and females (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.87-1.53, p = 0.262). Fracture distribution by age groups and products indicated increasing ladder-related fractures within the 41-50 age group and 51-60 age group. Football-related fractures peaked within the 21-30 age group. Fracture distribution patterns for bicycles had increased prevalence within the 11-20 and 21-30 age groups, and football-related fractures in younger age groups. Conclusions This study analyzed factors associated with thoracic vertebral fractures, showing the significance of targeted preventative interventions, such as earlier screening, physical therapy, and nutritional status assessment, in the setting of significant location and age-related susceptibilities. The observed patterns of injury provide a foundation for future research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms between different environments and the likelihood of injury to improve preventive strategies.
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BACKGROUND: Dairy consumption is related to chronic disease risk; however, the measurement of dairy consumption has largely relied upon self-report. Untargeted metabolomics allows for the identification of objective markers of dietary intake. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify associations between dietary dairy intake (total dairy, low-fat dairy, and high-fat dairy) and serum metabolites in 2 independent study populations of United States adults. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed with food frequency questionnaires. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate cross-sectional associations between dietary intake of dairy and 360 serum metabolites analyzed in 2 subgroups of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC; n = 3776). Results from the 2 subgroups were meta-analyzed using fixed effects meta-analysis. Significant meta-analyzed associations in the ARIC study were then tested in the Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS; n = 785). RESULTS: In the ARIC study and BHS, the mean age was 54 and 48 years, 61% and 29% were Black, and the mean dairy intake was 1.7 and 1.3 servings/day, respectively. Twenty-nine significant associations between dietary intake of dairy and serum metabolites were identified in the ARIC study (total dairy, n = 14; low-fat dairy, n = 10; high-fat dairy, n = 5). Three associations were also significant in BHS: myristate (14:0) was associated with high-fat dairy, and pantothenate was associated with total dairy and low-fat dairy, but 23 of the 27 associations significant in the ARIC study and tested in BHS were not associated with dairy in BHS. CONCLUSIONS: We identified metabolomic associations with dietary intake of dairy, including 3 associations found in 2 independent cohort studies. These results suggest that myristate (14:0) and pantothenate (vitamin B5) are candidate biomarkers of dairy consumption.
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Atherosclerosis , Myristates , Adult , Humans , United States/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Longitudinal Studies , Biomarkers , Atherosclerosis/epidemiology , Dairy Products/analysis , Risk Factors , DietABSTRACT
Introduction Recognizing the concerns posed by spine injuries within homes, stemming from falls, interactions with furnishings, and daily activities, it is imperative to consider preventive strategies. Our analysis of spine injuries utilizing the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data sheds light on falls, furnishings, age-specific risks, recreation, technology, and socioeconomic disparities as contributing elements, accentuating the need for targeted interventions. This study aims to provide insights into the prevalence of spine injuries in different household locations, associated products, age groups, and gender, thus informing injury prevention strategies for safer living environments. Methods This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study utilizing data between 2013 to 2022 from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. Specific household product codes and demographic data, such as age and gender, were analyzed. Statistical analysis in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) involved descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions. Results In analyzing 44,267 spine injuries, the study revealed location-specific variations in spine injuries within households. Living rooms and bedrooms had the highest injury rates at 34.17% and 21.65%, respectively. Significant differences in injury rates between males and females across various home locations. Females accounted for 51.78% of injuries in the living room and 59.99% in the bedroom. In the kitchen, females experienced 53.21% of injuries, while males accounted for 46.79% of cases. Notably, overall spine injuries exhibited a significant difference between males and females, with females having a higher total likelihood of injuries (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.14-1.77, p < 0.001). Regarding age, individuals between 51-60 years were most vulnerable to spine injuries, accounting for 17.98% of total cases. Notably, the age group of 61-70 years exhibited a substantial proportion of injuries at 17.12%, while the age group of 71-80 years accounted for 14.39%. The age group of 41-50 years also displayed a notable injury rate of 14.12%. The youngest age group, 0-10 years, demonstrated the lowest percentage of injuries at 4.79%. This age-based analysis provides valuable insights into the distribution of spine injuries across different demographic segments. Regarding age, individuals between 51-60 years were most vulnerable to spine injuries, comprising 17.98% of total cases. Age groups of 41-50 and 61-70 years also showed substantial proportions of injuries, accounting for 14.12% and 17.12%, respectively. The youngest age group, 0-10, exhibited the lowest percentage of injuries at 4.79%. Conclusion The study focuses on the occurrence of spinal injuries in common sites of injury in the household, such as the living room, bedroom, kitchen, and stairs. There is increased prevalence amongst females and increased risk vulnerability amongst people 51 to 60 years of age. Our research emphasizes the necessity of implementing specific injury prevention measures tailored to different demographic groups within their home setting. This approach should involve collaborative decision-making with patients while prioritizing patient education to create a safer living environment and reduce the likelihood of spine injuries.
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BACKGROUND: Social media is an important information source for a growing subset of the population and can likely be leveraged to provide insight into the evolving drug overdose epidemic. Twitter can provide valuable insight into trends, colloquial information available to potential users, and how networks and interactivity might influence what people are exposed to and how they engage in communication around drug use. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study was designed to investigate the ways in which unsupervised machine learning analyses using natural language processing could identify coherent themes for tweets containing substance names. METHODS: This study involved harnessing data from Twitter, including large-scale collection of brand name (N=262,607) and street name (N=204,068) prescription drug-related tweets and use of unsupervised machine learning analyses (ie, natural language processing) of collected data with data visualization to identify pertinent tweet themes. Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) with coherence score calculations was performed to compare brand (eg, OxyContin) and street (eg, oxys) name tweets. RESULTS: We found people discussed drug use differently depending on whether a brand name or street name was used. Brand name categories often contained political talking points (eg, border, crime, and political handling of ongoing drug mitigation strategies). In contrast, categories containing street names occasionally referenced drug misuse, though multiple social uses for a term (eg, Sonata) muddled topic clarity. CONCLUSIONS: Content in the brand name corpus reflected discussion about the drug itself and less often reflected personal use. However, content in the street name corpus was notably more diverse and resisted simple LDA categorization. We speculate this may reflect effective use of slang terminology to clandestinely discuss drug-related activity. If so, straightforward analyses of digital drug-related communication may be more difficult than previously assumed. This work has the potential to be used for surveillance and detection of harmful drug use information. It also might be used for appropriate education and dissemination of information to persons engaged in drug use content on Twitter.
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Prescription Drugs , Social Media , Substance-Related Disorders , Humans , Data Collection/methods , Unsupervised Machine Learning , Machine Learning , Data Mining , Natural Language ProcessingABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Although CVD events do not typically manifest until older adulthood, CVD develops gradually across the life-course, beginning with the elevation of risk factors observed as early as childhood or adolescence and the emergence of subclinical disease that can occur in young adulthood or midlife. Genomic background, which is determined at zygote formation, is among the earliest risk factors for CVD. With major advances in molecular technology, including the emergence of gene-editing techniques, along with deep whole-genome sequencing and high-throughput array-based genotyping, scientists now have the opportunity to not only discover genomic mechanisms underlying CVD but use this knowledge for the life-course prevention and treatment of these conditions. The current review focuses on innovations in the field of genomics and their applications to monogenic and polygenic CVD prevention and treatment. With respect to monogenic CVD, we discuss how the emergence of whole-genome sequencing technology has accelerated the discovery of disease-causing variants, allowing comprehensive screening and early, aggressive CVD mitigation strategies in patients and their families. We further describe advances in gene editing technology, which might soon make possible cures for CVD conditions once thought untreatable. In relation to polygenic CVD, we focus on recent innovations that leverage findings of genome-wide association studies to identify druggable gene targets and develop predictive genomic models of disease, which are already facilitating breakthroughs in the life-course treatment and prevention of CVD. Gaps in current research and future directions of genomics studies are also discussed. In aggregate, we hope to underline the value of leveraging genomics and broader multiomics information for characterizing CVD conditions, work which promises to expand precision approaches for the life-course prevention and treatment of CVD.
Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases , Humans , Aged , Young Adult , Adult , Child , Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Genome-Wide Association Study , Genomics , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) among young Indian adults is on the rise with reports suggesting 32.7% of all deaths in men and 32.6% of all deaths in women between 2010-13 were due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Though various long-term cohort studies have established risk assessment scores none of them are specific to the Indian population. In this study, we look to establish which scoring system among the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Joint British Society (JBS3) and Framingham Risk Scores (FRS) would be reliable for the Indian population. A timely intervention based on the most reliable score can help mitigate cardiovascular diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included Indian adults, aged more than 40 years, with first MI. Patients previously on lipid lowering drugs were excluded. Demographic data, history, clinical information, laboratory data and other investigations were noted. Subsequently the predicted cardiovascular risk scores based on JBS3, ACC, and FRS were calculated and divided into low risk, intermediate and high risk based on the categorization of the risk scores individually. RESULTS: There were 102 (79.1%) males and 23 (17.8%) females with a mean age of 51.01 years (standard deviation [SD]=12.82, p value <0.001). There was considerable prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus with 56 (47.1%) of the subjects being known diabetics. The mean 10-year risk of MI based on ACC was 12.42% (SD=10.45), mean JBS3 score was 14.45% (SD=12.67) and mean FRS score was 15.75% (SD=14.71). FRS scores when categorized, 48 (40.3%) patients had low risk, 30 (23.3%) had medium risk and 43 (33.3%) had high risk. As for ACC score, 39 (35.8%) patients were in low risk and 29 (26.6%) in intermediate risk, borderline in 18 (16.5%) and high risk in 23 (21.1%). In JBS3 scores, 53 (46.5%) patients were in low risk, 32 (28.1%) were in moderate risk and 29 (25.4%) in high risk. CONCLUSION: The absolute value of 10-year risk scores was highest for FRS scores. The proportion of patients whose scores were under the category of high risk was highest for FRS.