Hopperhickey8948
To date, most studies involving high-throughput analyses of sputum in asthma and COPD have focused on identifying transcriptomic signatures of disease. No whole-genome methylation analysis of sputum cells has been performed yet. In this context, the highly variable cellular composition of sputum has potential to confound the molecular analyses.
Whole-genome transcription (Agilent Human 4 × 44k array) and methylation (Illumina 450k BeadChip) analyses were performed on sputum samples of 9 asthmatics, 10 healthy and 10 COPD subjects. RNA integrity was checked by capillary electrophoresis and used to correct in silico for bias conferred by RNA degradation during biobank sample storage. Estimates of cell type-specific molecular profiles were derived via regression by quadratic programming based on sputum differential cell counts. All analyses were conducted using the open-source R/Bioconductor software framework.
A linear regression step was found to perform well in removing RNA degradation-related bias amonding of pulmonary inflammation. Wherever RNA degradation is of concern, in silico correction can be effective in improving both sensitivity and specificity of downstream analyses. We suggest that deconvolution methods should be integrated in sputum omics analysis workflows whenever possible in order to facilitate the unbiased discovery and interpretation of molecular patterns of inflammation.
A wide range of measuring instruments are available for diabetes self-management. According to several studies, a relatively new instrument, the diabetes self-management questionnaire (DSMQ), shows a consistent relationship with outcomes of diabetes treatment as well, such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Furthermore, the questionnaire is short, but covers the main aspects of diabetes management. Given the increasing prevalence of diabetes in Hungary, our goal was to adapt this user-friendly questionnaire and analyze its validity.
After the standard translation process, we analyzed a sample of 221 people. The construct validity of the questionnaire was tested with HbA1c and body mass index. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 values were tested via Pearson correlations. Known-groups validity of the DSMQ in relation to groups based on glycemic control levels was investigated using one-way ANOVA.
The "sum scale" of the questionnaire and the HbA1c values show an inverse relationship (r = - 0.253, p < 0.01). Body mass index was related to the "sum scale" (r = - 0.214, p < 0.01) and to the "physical activity" (r = - 0.219, p < 0.01), while questionnaire results reflecting medication adherence correlated with the "glucose management" (r = - 0.291, p < 0.01), "health-care use" subscale (r = 0.236, p < 0.01) and the "sum scale" (r = 0.281, p < 0.01). A significant difference (F = 6.225, p = 0.002) was found between the DSMQ mean scores of the three groups, defined by good, medium, and poor glycemic control levels.
The Hungarian version of the DSMQ was considered a valid tool for the measurement of diabetes self-management. With its help, problematic areas of self-management could be uncovered, and interventions can be improved.
The Hungarian version of the DSMQ was considered a valid tool for the measurement of diabetes self-management. With its help, problematic areas of self-management could be uncovered, and interventions can be improved.
In Crohn's disease (CD), one of the major inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in human beings, there is over-expression of Smad7, an intracellular inhibitor of the suppressive cytokine TGF-β1. The aim of this study was to assess whether Smad7 over-expression occurs in the early and/or late phases of CD.
Mucosal samples were taken from the neo-terminal ileum of CD patients undergoing ileocolonic resection, with or without (early CD) post-operative endoscopic recurrence, and terminal ileum of CD patients with long-standing disease undergoing intestinal resection (late CD). Smad7 was examined by immunohistochemistry and cytokine expression was analysed by flow-cytometry.
Before the appearance of endoscopic lesions, the mucosa of the neo-terminal ileum contained high number of Smad7-expressing cells in both the epithelial and lamina propria compartments. Transition from this stage to endoscopic recurrence was marked by persistence of high number of Smad7-positive cells, which reduced significantly in the late stages of the disease, where Smad7 expression remained, however, greater than that seen in normal controls. In samples with early lesions, Smad7 expression positively correlated with the number of interferon-γ-secreting cells.
Smad7 induction is an early event in the inflammatory sequence occurring in CD, thus suggesting that knockdown of Smad7 can help prevent post-operative recurrence.
Smad7 induction is an early event in the inflammatory sequence occurring in CD, thus suggesting that knockdown of Smad7 can help prevent post-operative recurrence.
This study was focused on translation and cultural adaptation of the English Lequesne Algofunctional index (LAI) into Bengali for patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and testing reliability and validity of the Bengali version of the LAI.
This study was carried out in the Department of Rheumatology, BSM Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Using the forward-backward method the English LAI was translated into Bengali including cultural adaptation. For pretesting, A sample of 40 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis were screened using the Bengali version of LAI. Following the pretest, 130 consecutive patients with symptomatic knee OA completed the interviewer administered Bengali LAI, the validated Bengali version of SF-36, Visual Analogue Scale for Pain, Distance Walked and Activities of Daily Living. For the retest 60 randomly selected patients from the cohort were administered the Bengali LAI 7days later. An item by item analysis was performed. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Kappa coefficient, construct validity was measured using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient.
It took 3.25 ± 0.71min to complete the Bengali LAI and the mean score was 9.23 ± 4.58. For the Bengali LAI Cronbach's alpha score was 0.88, test-retest reliability assessed by ICC was 0.97. For construct validity, excellent convergent validity was achieved (ρ = 0.93) but the divergent validity was moderate (ρ = 0.43).
The Bengali LAI showed excellent convergent validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, only the divergent validity was moderate. So, the Bengali LAI can be applied as a HRQoL assessment tool for primary knee OA patients.
The Bengali LAI showed excellent convergent validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, only the divergent validity was moderate. So, the Bengali LAI can be applied as a HRQoL assessment tool for primary knee OA patients.
Individuals living in Schistosoma haematobium endemic areas are often at risk of having other communicable diseases simultaneously. This usually creates diagnostic difficulties leading to misdiagnosis and overlooking of schistosomiasis infection. In this study we investigated the prevalence and severity of coinfections in pre-school age children and further investigated associations between S. haematobium prevalence and under 5 mortality.
A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shamva District, Zimbabwe. Using random selection, 465 preschool age children (1-5 years of age) were enrolled through clinical examination by two independent clinicians for the following top morbidity causing conditions respiratory tract infections, dermatophytosis, malaria and fever of unknown origin. The conditions and their severe sequels were diagnosed as per approved WHO standards. find more S. haematobium infection was diagnosed by urine filtration and the children were screened for conditions common in the study are 0.03, and fever of unknown origin aOR = 1.62 (95%CI 1.56-4.73), p = 0.02.
This study revealed an association between schistosomiasis and the comorbidity conditions of URTI, dermatophytosis, malaria and FUO in PSAC living in a schistosomiasis endemic area. A possible detrimental effect where coinfection led to severe sequels of the comorbidity conditions was demonstrated. Appropriate clinical diagnostic methods are required to identify associated infectious diseases and initiate early treatment of schistosomiasis and co-infections in PSAC.
This study revealed an association between schistosomiasis and the comorbidity conditions of URTI, dermatophytosis, malaria and FUO in PSAC living in a schistosomiasis endemic area. A possible detrimental effect where coinfection led to severe sequels of the comorbidity conditions was demonstrated. Appropriate clinical diagnostic methods are required to identify associated infectious diseases and initiate early treatment of schistosomiasis and co-infections in PSAC.
Osteoporosis affects elderly patients of both sexes. It is characterized by an increased fracture risk due to defective remodeling of the bone microarchitecture. It affects in particular postmenopausal women due to their decreased levels of estrogen. Preclinical studies with animals demonstrated that loss of estrogen had a negative effect on bone healing and that increasing the estrogen level led to a better bone healing. We asked whether increasing the estrogen level in menopausal patients has a beneficial effect on bone mineral density (BMD) during callus formation after a bone fracture.
To investigate whether estrogen has a beneficial effect on callus BMD of postmenopausal patients, we performed a prospective double-blinded randomized study with 76 patients suffering from distal radius fractures. A total of 31 patients (71.13 years ±11.99) were treated with estrogen and 45 patients (75.62 years ±10.47) served as untreated controls. Calculated bone density as well as cortical bone density were determinebone fracture healing measured by pQCT in postmenopausal women, DRKS00019858 . Registered 25th November 2019 - Retrospectively registered. Trial registration number DRKS00019858 .
The use of mental health supports by populations exposed to terrorist attacks is rarely studied despite their need for psychotrauma care. This article focuses on civilians exposed to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and describes the different combinations of mental health supports (MHSu) used in the following year according to type of exposure and type of mental health disorder (MHD).
Santé publique France conducted a web-based survey of civilians 8-11 months after their exposure to the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. All 454 respondents met criterion A of the DSM-5 definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MHD (anxiety, depression, PTSD) were assessed using the PCL-5 checklist and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. MHSu provided were grouped under outreach psychological support, visits for psychological difficulties to a victims' or victim support association, consultation with a general practitioner (GP), consultation with a psychiatrist or psychologist (specialist), and initiation of regular mental health treatment (RMHT).