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Untargeted metabolomics reveals that declined PE and PC in obesity may be associated with prostate hyperplasia

by Guorui Fan, Xiaohai Guan, Bo Guan, Hongfei Zhu, Yongchao Pei, Chonghao Jiang, Yonggui Xiao, Zhiguo Li, Fenghong Cao

Background

Recent studies have shown that obesity may contribute to the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, the mechanism of this pathogenesis is not fully understood.

Methods

A prospective case–control study was conducted with 30 obese and 30 nonobese patients with BPH. Prostate tissues were collected and analyzed using ultra performance liquid chromatography ion mobility coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-IMS-Q-TOF).

Results

A total of 17 differential metabolites (3 upregulated and 14 downregulated) were identified between the obese and nonobese patients with BPH. Topological pathway analysis indicated that glycerophospholipid (GP) metabolism was the most important metabolic pathway involved in BPH pathogenesis. Seven metabolites were enriched in the GP metabolic pathway. lysoPC (P16:0/0:0), PE (20:0/20:0), PE (24:1(15Z)/18:0), PC (24:1(15Z)/14:0), PC (15:0/24:0), PE (24:0/18:0), and PC (16:0/18:3(9Z,12Z,15Z)) were all significantly downregulated in the obesity group, and the area under the curve (AUC) of LysoPC (P-16:0/0/0:0) was 0.9922. The inclusion of the seven differential metabolites in a joint prediction model had an AUC of 0.9956. Thus, both LysoPC (P-16:0/0/0:0) alone and the joint prediction model demonstrated good predictive ability for obesity-induced BPH mechanisms.

Conclusions

In conclusion, obese patients with BPH had a unique metabolic profile, and alterations in PE and PC in these patients be associated with the development and progression of BPH.

Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) compared with conventional pancreatic transection in distal pancreatectomy: study protocol for the randomised controlled CUSA-1 pilot trial

Por: Holze · M. · Loos · M. · Hüttner · F. · Tenckhoff · S. · Feisst · M. · Knebel · P. · Klotz · R. · Mehrabi · A. · Michalski · C. · Pianka · F.
Background

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the most common and serious complication after distal pancreatectomy. Many attempts at lowering fistula rates have led to unrewarding insignificant results as still up to 30% of the patients suffer from clinically relevant POPF. Therefore, the development of new innovative methods and procedures is still a cornerstone of current surgical research.

The cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) device is a well-known ultrasound-based parenchyma transection method, often used in liver and neurosurgery which has not yet been thoroughly investigated in pancreatic surgery, but the first results seem very promising.

Methods

The CUSA-1 trial is a randomised controlled pilot trial with two parallel study groups. This single-centre trial is assessor and patient blinded. A total of 60 patients with an indication for open distal pancreatectomy will be intraoperatively randomised after informed consent. The patients will be randomly assigned to either the control group with conventional pancreas transection (scalpel or stapler) or the experimental group, with transection using the CUSA device. The primary safety endpoint of this trial will be postoperative complications ≥grade 3 according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. The primary endpoint to investigate the effect will be the rate of POPF within 30 days postoperatively according to the ISGPS definition. Further perioperative outcomes, including postpancreatectomy haemorrhage, length of hospital stay and mortality will be analysed as secondary endpoints.

Discussion

Based on the available literature, CUSA may have a beneficial effect on POPF occurrence after distal pancreatectomy. The rationale of the CUSA-1 pilot trial is to investigate the safety and feasibility of the CUSA device in elective open distal pancreatectomy compared with conventional dissection methods and gather the first data on the effect on POPF occurrence. This data will lay the groundwork for a future confirmatory multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Ethics and dissemination

The CUSA-1 trial protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Heidelberg (No. S-098/2022). Results will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal and summaries will be provided in lay language to study participants and their relatives.

Trial registration number

DRKS00027474.

Reporting form and content of research priorities identified in knee osteoarthritis clinical practice guidelines: a methodological literature analysis

Por: Gao · Y. · Liu · Z. · Cao · R. · Feng · Y. · Tao · L. · Su · C. · Guan · X. · Fang · R. · Deng · Y. · Xiang · W. · Fei · Y.
Objectives

Clinical practice guideline (CPG) developers conduct systematic summaries of research evidence, providing them great capacity and ability to identify research priorities. We systematically analysed the reporting form and content of research priorities in CPGs related to knee osteoarthritis (KOA) to provide a valuable reference for guideline developers and clinicians.

Design

A methodological literature analysis was done and the characteristics of the reporting form and the content of the research priorities identified in KOA CPGs were summarised.

Data sources

Six databases (PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Wanfang and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) were searched for CPGs published from 1 January 2017 to 4 December 2022. The official websites of 40 authoritative orthopaedic societies, rheumatology societies and guideline development organisations were additionally searched.

Eligibility criteria

We included all KOA CPGs published in English or Chinese from 1 January 2017 that included at least one recommendation for KOA. We excluded duplicate publications, older versions of CPGs as well as guidance documents for guideline development.

Data extraction and synthesis

Reviewers worked in pairs and independently screened and extracted the data. Descriptive statistics were used, and absolute frequencies and proportions of related items were calculated.

Results

187 research priorities reported in 41 KOA CPGs were identified. 24 CPGs reported research priorities, of which 17 (41.5%) presented overall research priorities for the entire guideline rather than for specific recommendations. 110 (58.8%) research priorities were put forward due to lack of evidence. Meanwhile, more than 70% of the research priorities reflected the P (population) and I (intervention) structural elements, with 135 (72.2%) and 146 (78.1%), respectively. More than half of the research priorities (118, 63.8%) revolved around evaluating the efficacy of interventions. Research priorities primarily focused on physical activity (32, 17.3%), physical therapy (30, 16.2%), surgical therapy (27, 14.6%) and pharmacological treatment (26, 14.1%).

Conclusions

Research priorities reported in KOA CPGs mainly focused on evaluating non-pharmacological interventions. There exists considerable room for improvement for a comprehensive and standardised generation and reporting of research priorities in KOA CPGs.

Influence of urinary tract infections on the incidence of surgical site infections following hip fracture surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

The prevalence of surgical site infections (SSIs) following hip fracture surgery poses a substantial challenge, compounding patient morbidity and healthcare costs. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigate the potential correlation between perioperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the subsequent risk of SSIs, aiming to illuminate the impact of UTIs on postoperative outcomes in this vulnerable population. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, utilising the PICO framework to define our search strategy across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library. Our inclusion criteria encompassed randomised controlled trials, cohort studies and case–control studies that reported on SSIs following hip fracture surgery in patients with UTIs. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and heterogeneity was quantified using the I 2 statistic. A random-effects model was applied due to significant heterogeneity, and a sensitivity analysis assessed the stability of the results. Six studies met the inclusion criteria, demonstrating high methodological quality. The analysis included studies from 2016 to 2021, with sample sizes ranging from 402 to 31 621 participants. A significant association was found between UTIs and SSIs, with an odds ratio of 2.79 (95% CI: 1.72–4.54, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results, and no publication bias was detected. Perioperative UTIs significantly increase the risk of SSIs in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Proactive treatment of UTIs may be crucial for reducing the incidence of SSIs and improving surgical outcomes in this demographic.

Identification of the single and combined acute toxicity of Cr and Ni with <i>Heterocypris</i> sp. and the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model

by Chi Su, Yilong Hua, Yi Liu, Shu Tao, Fei Jia, Wenhui Zhao, Wangyang Lin

Mining wastewater with heavy metals poses a serious threat to the ecological environment. However, the acute single and combined ecological effects of heavy metals, such as chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni), on freshwater ostracods, and the development of relevant prediction models, remain poorly understood. In this study, Heterocypris sp. was chosen to investigate the single and combined acute toxicity of Cr and Ni. Then, the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was used to predict the combined toxicity of Cr and Ni. The single acute toxicity experiments revealed high toxicity for both Cr and Ni. In addition, Cr exhibited greater toxicity compared to Ni, as evidenced by its lower 96-hour half-lethal concentration (LC50) of 1.07 mg/L compared to 4.7 mg/L for Ni. Furthermore, the combined acute toxicity experiments showed that the toxicity of Cr-Ni was higher than Ni but lower than Cr. Compared with the concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) models, the predicted results of the QSAR model were more consistent with the experimental results for the Cr-Ni combined acute toxicity. So, the high accuracy of QSAR model identified its feasibility to predict the toxicity of heavy metal pollutants in mining wastewater.

Impact of stapler versus manual closure techniques on pharyngocutaneous fistula development post‐total laryngectomy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is a major complication after total laryngectomy, with significant morbidity and mortality. Whether mechanical stapler closure of the pharynx reduces fistula rates compared to hand-sewn techniques remains unclear. We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify this question. Five databases were systematically searched from inception through November 2023 for studies comparing stapler versus suture closure for fistula outcomes after laryngectomy. Odds ratios (OR) were pooled using random-effects models and fixed-effects models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Risk of bias was appraised using NHLBI tools. Nine studies with 803 patients were included. Mechanical closure significantly reduced fistula incidence versus suture closure (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.34–0.95, p = 0.03). Subgroup analysis found that stapling's protective effect varied by patient age, country/region, linear stapler size and female percentage. Stapling reduced fistula odds by 80% in the Turkey subgroup (OR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.09–0.50) but showed no benefit in other regions. Patients <60 years showed an 84% fistula reduction with stapling (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.06–0.45), whereas older subgroups did not. Linear stapler size of 60 mm significantly reduced fistula occurrence while 75 mm did not. There was no evidence that low female percentage mitigated stapling benefits. Mechanical stapler closure after total laryngectomy meaningfully reduces the likelihood of postoperative PCF formation compared to hand-sewn closure, especially for patients younger than 60 years old. The absolute risk reduction supports its utility to prevent this complication.

Effects of photodynamic therapy in patients with infected skin ulcers: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

The purpose of the meta-analysis was to evaluate and compare the photodynamic therapy's effectiveness in treating infected skin wounds. The results of this meta-analysis were analysed, and the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using dichotomous or contentious random- or fixed-effect models. For the current meta-analysis, 6 examinations spanning from 2013 to 2021 were included, encompassing 154 patients with infected skin wounds were the used studies' starting point. Photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size (MD, −4.42; 95% CI, −7.56–−1.28, p = 0.006), better tissue repair (MD, −8.62; 95% CI, −16.76–−0.48, p = 0.04) and lower microbial cell viability (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04–0.42, p < 0.001) compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. The examined data revealed that photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size, better tissue repair and lower microbial cell viability compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. However, given that all examinations had a small sample size, consideration should be given to their values.

Effect of Chinese herbal compound dressings in treating patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis aims to systematically investigate the clinical efficacy of Chinese herbal compound dressings in treating patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). A comprehensive computerised search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases, from database inception to November 2023, to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) concerning the use of Chinese herbal compound dressings in patients with DFU. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software. Overall, 18 RCTs involving 1405 DFU patients were included. The analysis indicated that compared to the control group, the group treated with Chinese herbal compound dressings had significantly shorter ulcer healing time (standardised mean difference [SMD] = −2.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.53 to −1.46, p < 0.001), reduced ulcer surface area (SMD = −3.38, 95% CI: −4.67 to −2.09, p < 0.001), and higher healing rates (odds ratio [OR] = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.72–2.92, p < 0.001) as well as overall effectiveness rates (OR = 4.56, 95% CI: 3.10–6.71, p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that the external application of Chinese herbal compound dressings in patients with DFU can significantly shorten the ulcer healing time and improve wound healing rates.

Effect of right internal mammary artery versus radial artery as a second graft vessel in coronary artery bypass grafting on postoperative wound infection in patients: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Few studies have shown that radial artery (RA), which is used as a secondary arterial graft, offers superior results compared with right internal thoracic artery (RIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In a meta-analysis of observational studies starting in 2023, we looked at the effect of re-operation on postoperative infection and haemorrhage in CABG with RA vs. RIMA. The electronic database up to October 2023 was examined in the course of the research. Analysis was carried out on the clinical trials of postoperative wound infections and haemorrhage re-surgery. Among 912 trials associated with CABG, we selected 8 trials to be included in the final data analysis. The main results were secondary wound infection and re-operation after surgery. The odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CIs) were computed on the basis of a randomized or fixed-effect model of wound infection and re-operation. Seven trials showed a significant reduction in the risk of wound infection in RA treated as a secondary artery transplant compared with RIMA (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.03, 2.47 p = 0.04); Four trials showed that RIMA was not significantly different from RA in the rate of re-operation for postoperative bleeding (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.60, 2.88 p = 0.50). In CABG, RA is used as a secondary arterial conduit graft to lower the risk of wound infection in CABG patients.

Risk assessment and pathogen profile of surgical site infections in traumatic brain injury patients undergoing emergency craniotomy: A retrospective study

Abstract

Emergency craniotomy in patients with traumatic brain injury poses a significant risk for surgical site infections (SSIs). Understanding the risk factors and pathogenic characteristics of SSIs in this context is crucial for improving outcomes. This comprehensive retrospective analysis spanned from February 2020 to February 2023 at our institution. We included 25 patients with SSIs post-emergency craniotomy and a control group of 50 patients without SSIs. Data on various potential risk factors were collected, including demographic information, preoperative conditions, and intraoperative details. The BACT/ALERT3D Automated Bacterial Culture and Detection System was utilized for rapid bacterial pathogen identification. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify significant risk factors for SSIs. The study identified Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus as the most prevalent pathogens in SSIs. Significant risk factors for SSIs included the lack of preoperative antibiotic use, postoperative drainage tube placement, diabetes mellitus, and the incorporation of invasive procedures, all of which showed a significant association with SSIs in the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis further highlighted the protective effect of preoperative antibiotics and the increased risks associated with anaemia, diabetes mellitus, postoperative drainage tube placement, and the incorporation of invasive procedures. Our research underscores the critical role of factors like insufficient preoperative antibiotics, postoperative drainage, invasive techniques, anaemia, and diabetes mellitus in elevating the risk of surgical site infections in traumatic brain injury patients undergoing emergency craniotomy. Enhanced focus on these areas is essential for improving surgical outcomes.

Comparative effectiveness of pericapsular nerve group block versus fascia iliac compartment block on postoperative wound pain management in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Hip fracture surgeries are challenging, with postoperative pain management being a critical component of patient care. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of Pericapsular nerve group block (PENGB) and fascia iliac compartment block (FICB) in postoperative wound pain management for patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. The study followed the PRISMA guidelines and was structured around the PICO framework. Comprehensive searches were conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria were limited to RCTs comparing the effectiveness of PENGB and FICB in adult patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Key outcomes included pain control effectiveness, safety, and complication incidence. The quality of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated using I 2 statistics, and meta-analysis effect values were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effect models, depending on the degree of heterogeneity. The search identified 1095 articles, with 5 studies meeting inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that PENGB and FICB were comparable in managing postoperative pain and opioid consumption. However, PENGB significantly reduced the incidence of quadriceps muscle weakness (RR = 0.12, p < 0.05) and did not increase the risk of PONV (RR = 1.36, p = 0.51), suggesting its advantage in maintaining motor function without adding to PONV complications. No significant publication bias was detected. PENGB is comparable to FICB in pain and opioid consumption management after hip fracture surgeries. Its significant benefit lies in reducing the incidence of quadriceps muscle weakness, facilitating better postoperative mobility. Additionally, PENGB does not increase the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting, underlining its suitability for comprehensive postoperative care in hip fracture patients.

The impact of breast‐conserving surgery and modified radical mastectomy on postoperative wound complications in patients with early breast cancer

Abstract

In recent years, breast conservation surgery (BCS) and modified radical mastectomy (MRM) have been widely used in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer. However, the effects of complications from these two surgical methods are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of BCS and MRM on postoperative wound complications in patients with early breast cancer. Eighty-eight patients with early breast cancer were randomly divided into BCS group (n = 46) and MRM group (n = 42). The occurrence of postoperative wound complications was compared between the two groups. The results showed that BCS patients had significantly lower intraoperative surgical times, blood losses, incision lengths, drainage volumes, drainage times and lengths of hospital stays than their MRM counterparts (p < 0.05). The overall incidence of postoperative wound complications in the BCS group was significantly lower than that in the MRM group at 1 month after surgery, but the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.001). The rate of excellent breast cosmetic outcome was significantly higher in the BCS group than in the MRM group (p < 0.001). Compared to MRM, BCS has a lower incidence of intraoperative and postoperative wound complications, better cosmetic outcomes and higher clinical value in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer.

Comprehensive analysis of single cell and bulk data develops a promising prognostic signature for improving immunotherapy responses in ovarian cancer

by Huanfei Ding, Bowen Hu, Ruixia Guo

The tumor heterogeneity is an important cause of clinical therapy failure and yields distinct prognosis in ovarian cancer (OV). Using the advantages of integrated single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk data to decode tumor heterogeneity remains largely unexplored. Four public datasets were enrolled in this study, including E-MTAB-8107, TCGA-OV, GSE63885, and GSE26193 cohorts. Random forest algorithm was employed to construct a multi-gene prognostic panel and further evaluated by receiver operator characteristic (ROC), calibration curve, and Cox regression. Subsequently, molecular characteristics were deciphered, and treatments strategies were explored to deliver precise therapy. The landscape of cell subpopulations and functional characteristics, as well as the dynamic of macrophage cells were detailly depicted at single cell level, and then screened prognostic candidate genes. Based on the expression of candidate genes, a stable and robust cell characterized gene associated prognosis signature (CCIS) was developed, which harbored excellent performance at prognosis assessment and patient stratification. The ROC and calibration curves, and Cox regression analysis elucidated CCIS could serve as serve as an independent factor for predicting prognosis. Moreover, a promising clinical tool nomogram was also constructed according to stage and CCIS. Through comprehensive investigations, patients in low-risk group were charactered by favorable prognosis, elevated genomic variations, higher immune cell infiltrations, and superior antigen presentation. For individualized treatment, patients in low-risk group were inclined to better immunotherapy responses. This study dissected tumor heterogeneity and afforded a promising prognostic signature, which was conducive to facilitating clinical outcomes for patients with OV.

Best practices for managing malodorous and infected wounds in advanced cervical cancer

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the most effective strategies for managing malodorous and infected wounds in patients who have been diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer. The research was conducted in Liupanshui, China. The study specifically examined demographic profiles, wound characteristics and effectiveness of wound management approaches. The study incorporated the heterogeneous sample of 289 participants who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Data collection was conducted via structured questionnaires and medical record evaluations. Descriptive statistics and statistical analyses, such as regression analysis, were utilized to evaluate demographic attributes, wound profiles and effects of different approaches to wound management. The findings unveiled the heterogeneous demographic composition of patients, encompassing differences in socioeconomic standing, educational attainment and age. A wide range of wound characteristics were observed, as 65.7% of lesions during the acute phase with diameter between 2 and 5 centimetres, while 41.5% of lesions had this range. The most prevalent types of infections were those caused by fungi (48.4%), followed by bacterial infections lacking resistance (38.1%). A moderate degree of odour intensity was prevalent, affecting 45.0% of the cases. With maximal odour reduction of 80%, a mean healing time of 25 days and patient satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy demonstrated itself to be the most efficacious treatment method. Additional approaches, such as photodynamic therapy and topical antibiotic therapy, demonstrated significant effectiveness, as evidenced by odour reductions of 70% and 75%, respectively, and patient satisfaction ratings of 4.3 and 4.2. Thus, the study determined challenges associated with management of malodorous and infected lesions among patients with advanced cervical cancer. The results underscored the significance of individualized care approaches, drew attention to efficacious wound management techniques and identified critical determinants that impacted patient recuperation. The findings of this study hold potential for advancing palliative care for individuals diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer.

The effect of placing drains and no drains after caesarean section in obese patients on patients' post‐operative wound complications: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of placement of drainage channels and non-drainage channels in obese women on post-caesarean delivery. Documents were retrieved from four databases, such as PubMed and Embase. This study was not limited in time, language, or geography. This trial was conducted using either a cohort or a randomized, controlled study to compare the efficacy of placement of drain in caesarean delivery channel in obese women with or without drain for post-operative wound complications. The study excluded those who were restricted to those who were not overweight. The main results were the wound infection, the bleeding of the wound and the dehiscence. The risk of bias was evaluated by two authors with a risk-of-bias tool for nonrandomized intervention trials. The meta-analyses only included those that were considered to have a low-to-medium risk of bias. The data were pooled with a random-effects model to determine the relative risk and 95% confidence interval (CI). The quality of the evidence in the selection of results was evaluated. Of 329 related trials, eight were eligible for inclusion. There were 1868 cases of obesity who received C-section. Among them, there were 451 cases of drain and 1417 cases of non-drain. No statistical significance was found in the rate of post-operation infection of the post-operation between non-drain or drain treatment of obesity patients (OR, 0.8; 95% CI: 0.48–1.33; p = 0.39). Compared with those with non-drain, there was a reduction in the risk of haematoma after drain (OR, 0.34; 95% CI: 0.20–0.58; p < 0.0001). The results showed that there were no significant differences in the influence of drainage and non-drainage on the post-operative dehiscence of the patients with obesity (OR, 0.84; 95% CI: 0.15–4.70; p = 0.85). The results showed that there were no statistically different effects on the rate of post-operation wound infection and dehiscence after operation, but the rate of haematoma during drain operation was lower.

Systematic review of best practices for GPS data usage, processing, and linkage in health, exposure science and environmental context research

Por: Pearson · A. L. · Tribby · C. · Brown · C. D. · Yang · J.-A. · Pfeiffer · K. · Jankowska · M. M.

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is increasingly used in health research to capture individual mobility and contextual and environmental exposures. However, the tools, techniques and decisions for using GPS data vary from study to study, making comparisons and reproducibility challenging.

Objectives

The objectives of this systematic review were to (1) identify best practices for GPS data collection and processing; (2) quantify reporting of best practices in published studies; and (3) discuss examples found in reviewed manuscripts that future researchers may employ for reporting GPS data usage, processing and linkage of GPS data in health studies.

Design

A systematic review.

Data sources

Electronic databases searched (24 October 2023) were PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022322166).

Eligibility criteria

Included peer-reviewed studies published in English met at least one of the criteria: (1) protocols involving GPS for exposure/context and human health research purposes and containing empirical data; (2) linkage of GPS data to other data intended for research on contextual influences on health; (3) associations between GPS-measured mobility or exposures and health; (4) derived variable methods using GPS data in health research; or (5) comparison of GPS tracking with other methods (eg, travel diary).

Data extraction and synthesis

We examined 157 manuscripts for reporting of best practices including wear time, sampling frequency, data validity, noise/signal loss and data linkage to assess risk of bias.

Results

We found that 6% of the studies did not disclose the GPS device model used, only 12.1% reported the per cent of GPS data lost by signal loss, only 15.7% reported the per cent of GPS data considered to be noise and only 68.2% reported the inclusion criteria for their data.

Conclusions

Our recommendations for reporting on GPS usage, processing and linkage may be transferrable to other geospatial devices, with the hope of promoting transparency and reproducibility in this research.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022322166.

Characterization and comparison of human and mouse milk cells

by Rose Doerfler, Saigopalakrishna Yerneni, Alexandra Newby, Namit Chaudhary, Ashley Shu, Katherine Fein, Juliana Hofstatter Azambuja, Kathryn A. Whitehead

Recent data has characterized human milk cells with unprecedented detail and provided insight into cell populations. While such analysis of freshly expressed human milk has been possible, studies of cell functionality within the infant have been limited to animal models. One commonly used animal model for milk research is the mouse; however, limited data are available describing the composition of mouse milk. In particular, the maternal cells of mouse milk have not been previously characterized in detail, in part due to the difficulty in collecting sufficient volumes of mouse milk. In this study, we have established a method to collect high volumes of mouse milk, isolate cells, and compare the cell counts and types to human milk. Surprisingly, we found that mouse milk cell density is three orders of magnitude higher than human milk. The cell types present in the milk of mice and humans are similar, broadly consisting of mammary epithelial cells and immune cells. These results provide a basis of comparison for mouse and human milk cells and will inform the most appropriate uses of mouse models for the study of human phenomena.

Understanding the impact of chronic diseases on COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy using propensity score matching: Internet‐based cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Aims and Objectives

To investigate whether chronic diseases are associated with higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and explore factors that influence COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in patients with chronic diseases.

Background

Vaccine hesitancy has been acknowledged as one of the greatest hazards to public health. However, little information is available about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among patients with chronic diseases who may be more susceptible to COVID-19 infection, severe disease or death.

Methods

From 6 to 9 August 2021, we performed an internet-based cross-sectional survey with 22,954 participants (14.78% participants with chronic diseases). Propensity score matching with 1:1 nearest neighbourhood was used to reduce confounding factors between patients with chronic diseases and the general population. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, the factors impacting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were identified among patients with chronic diseases.

Results

Both before and after propensity score matching, patients with chronic diseases had higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy than the general population. In addition, self-reported poor health, multiple chronic diseases, lower sociodemographic backgrounds and lower trust in nurses and doctors were associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among patients with chronic diseases.

Conclusions

Patients with chronic diseases were more hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine. Nurses should focus on patients with chronic diseases with poor health conditions, low socioeconomic backgrounds and low trust in the healthcare system.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Clinical nurses are recommended to not only pay more attention to the health status and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with chronic diseases but also build trust between nurses and patients by improving service levels and professional capabilities in clinical practice.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients or the public were not involved in setting the research question, the outcome measures, or the design or implementation of the study. However, all participants were invited to complete the digital informed consent and questionnaires.

Effect of endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection on postoperative wound bleeding‐related complications in patients with superficial esophageal cancer: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Operative therapy for superficial esophagus carcinoma is the main way to treat the disease. Endoscopic excision of lesions in the esophagus has become an alternative to surgical treatment for patients with esophageal carcinoma. To overcome the disadvantages of endoscope mucosa excision (EMR), an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) technique has been developed. Although ESD is one of the most effective methods of endoscopy in patients with digestive tract tumors, there are potential complications after surgery, including hemorrhage in the surgical area and stenosis of the esophagus. The objective of this study was to evaluate EMR versus ESD based on post-operative hemorrhage and esophagus stenosis. All the related articles were retrieved from the e-databases. The main results were postoperative perforation, hemorrhage, and stenosis after surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of post-operative wound hemorrhage (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.36–3.29 p = 0.89). Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences in the rate of perforation after surgery (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.17–1.95 p = 0.37). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of esophageal stricture after surgery (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.26–5.15 p = 0.85). This analysis was different from the earlier meta-analysis because ESD and EMR did not show any notable differences with respect to the incidence of perforation after surgery, the hemorrhage of the wound or the stenosis of the esophagus. These findings must, however, be supported by more high-quality studies.

Assessing wound complications in gastroscopy with Streptomyces protease enzyme combined with Shutai

Abstract

Current gastroscopy practices necessitate a balance between procedural efficiency and patient safety. It has been hypothesized that increasing procedure outcomes through the use of Streptomyces protease enzyme and Shutai is possible; however, precise nature of any potential adverse reactions and complications remains unknown. In Zhanjiang, China, 213 patients undergoing gastroscopy participated in this controlled trial. The subjects were allocated at random into two groups: control and treatment. The treatment group was administered topical Streptomyces protease enzyme and intravenous Shutai. Using chi-square and t-tests, information regarding patient demographics, adverse reactions, wound healing, procedure duration, distress levels, and satisfaction was gathered and analysed. The demographic and medical history characteristics of the groups were comparable. There was a greater prevalence of modest immediate reactions in the treatment group (p < 0.05), whereas there were no significant variations observed in delayed reactions and long-term complications (p > 0.05). The treatment group exhibited superior efficiency metrics, including shorter durations for diagnosis, procedure completion and recuperation (p < 0.05). The treatment group exhibited significantly higher patient satisfaction scores (p < 0.05). The incorporation of Streptomyces protease enzyme and Shutai into gastroscopy procedures resulted in significantly enhanced level of procedural efficacy and patient contentment while not introducing an additional risk of long-term complications. The increase in moderate immediate reactions that have been observed requires additional research in order to determine their clinical significance. Although these agents present a possible progression in the field of gastroscopy, their application should be tempered by the immediate adverse reactions that have been documented.

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