Knowledge

Causal Mediation Analysis for Childhood Cancer Survival Disparity in Texas, 2005 to 2014

Published on: 29th March, 2024

This study aimed to examine the disparities of childhood cancer survival among different racial and ethnic groups in Texas. The analysis was mediated by socioeconomic status (SES) and spatial accessibility to Children Oncology Group (COG) hospitals. The relationship between race-ethnicity and overall survival was measured using the Cox proportional hazards model with a robust variance estimator. The counterfactual model measures the total effect of race-ethnicity on survival through all mediating pathways while adjusting for baseline confounders (age, sex, and stage at diagnosis), which are then decomposed into natural direct and indirect effects. Considering all cancer site groups, African Americans showed a statistically significant higher hazard ratio in death (HR = 3.63; 95% CI = 1.87 - 6.62) compared with non-Hispanic White children. At the same time, the mortality hazard ratio among Hispanic children is not significant (HR = 1.23; 95% CI = 0.80 - 1.93) when compared with non-Hispanic White children. Analysis results also suggested that both mediators significantly contribute to racial-ethnic survival disparities for specific cancer site groups such as Leukemia for African American children. This study builds knowledge and understanding about underlying factors (mediators) responsible for the disparities in the outcomes among childhood cancer patients.
Cite this ArticleCrossMarkPublonsHarvard Library HOLLISGrowKudosResearchGateBase SearchOAI PMHAcademic MicrosoftScilitSemantic ScholarUniversite de ParisUW LibrariesSJSU King LibrarySJSU King LibraryNUS LibraryMcGillDET KGL BIBLiOTEKJCU DiscoveryUniversidad De LimaWorldCatVU on WorldCat

A Prospective Observational Study on Neurotoxicity of Chemotherapy - A Critical Analysis

Published on: 2nd April, 2024

Background: Cancer treatment frequently depends on the intricate and potent effects that are acknowledged for their potential to save lives. Chemotherapy can have adverse effects on both the central and peripheral nervous systems, posing significant challenges.Objective: •    To assess the causative agent, development, and timing of occurrence.•    To improve management of neurological complications.•    To discriminate the iatrogenic effects of cancer therapy and neurological progression.Method: A prospective observational study was conducted in a hospital setting, focusing on the neurotoxic effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients over a span of six months. The research involved participants from both the oncology in-patient and daycare departments. After obtaining informed consent, individuals in the study population were interviewed to gather information about any neurological symptoms they encountered following their chemotherapy sessions.Results and discussion: Within our study population, a predominant 67% comprised female patients, while male patients constituted 33%. Of the total participants, 66% reported experiencing neurological symptoms. Among these symptoms, the majority of patients encountered sensations such as tingling, numbness, and a burning sensation. Other reported symptoms included headaches, distal weakness, myalgia, seizures, and ataxia.Conclusion: In this current study, 66% of the study population encountered neurological side effects. Generally, the presence of comorbidities, vitamin deficiencies, and advanced age can significantly contribute to the development of peripheral neuropathy. Depending on the severity of neuropathy, recommendations for interventions include the prescription of vitamin supplements, calcium supplements, duloxetine, and pregabalin.
Cite this ArticleCrossMarkPublonsHarvard Library HOLLISGrowKudosResearchGateBase SearchOAI PMHAcademic MicrosoftScilitSemantic ScholarUniversite de ParisUW LibrariesSJSU King LibrarySJSU King LibraryNUS LibraryMcGillDET KGL BIBLiOTEKJCU DiscoveryUniversidad De LimaWorldCatVU on WorldCat

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Healthcare Workers in Ekiti State, Nigeria on Prevention of Cervical Cancer

Published on: 3rd April, 2024

Purpose: The role of healthcare workers in cervical cancer prevention is pivotal because healthcare workers’ recommendations have been reported to be a key motivational factor for cervical cancer screening among women in Nigeria. Assessing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices on cervical cancer prevention is necessary.Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional survey involving healthcare workers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A questionnaire designed for the study was used to obtain data about the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the healthcare workers. Logistic regression was used to assess the determinants of practice and a p - value of less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: Out of 188 participants that completed the study, 165(90.7%) had good knowledge about the prevention of cervical cancer while 24(13.2%) had good practice concerning the prevention of cervical cancer. positive attitude (Odds ratio 1.24, 95% CI 1.14 - 1.35, p < 0.001) increased the odds of good practice.Conclusion: There was no association between the knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and the practice of the healthcare workers. Further research is required to explore the incongruence between knowledge and practice of cervical cancer prevention and its practice.
Cite this ArticleCrossMarkPublonsHarvard Library HOLLISGrowKudosResearchGateBase SearchOAI PMHAcademic MicrosoftScilitSemantic ScholarUniversite de ParisUW LibrariesSJSU King LibrarySJSU King LibraryNUS LibraryMcGillDET KGL BIBLiOTEKJCU DiscoveryUniversidad De LimaWorldCatVU on WorldCat

Sites and Zones of Maximum Reactivity of the most Stable Structure of the Receptor-binding Domain of Wild-type SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Quantum Density Functional Theory Study

Published on: 12th April, 2024

Today, it is well known that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has four types of proteins within its structure, between them the spike protein (S). The infection mechanism is carried out by the entry of the virus into the human host cell through the S protein, which strongly interacts with the human cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In this work, we propose an atomic model of the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the S spike protein of the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus. The molecular structure of the model was composed of 50 amino acids that were chemically bonded, starting with Leucine and ending with one amino acid Tyrosine. The novelty of our work lies in the importance of knowing the sites and zones of maximum reactivity of the RBD from the fundamental levels of quantum mechanics considering the atomic structure of matter. For this, the local and global reactivity indices of the RBD were calculated, such as frontier orbitals, Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO), Fukui indices, chemical potential, chemical hardness, electrophilicity index; with this, it will be possible to know what type of molecules are more likely to interact with the RBD structure, and in this way, new knowledge will be generated at the quantum, atomic and molecular level to inhibit the virulent effects of wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Finally, in order to identify the functional groups within the most stable structure and thereby verify the future reactions that can be carried out between the RBD structure and biomolecules, the Infrared (IR) absorption spectrum was calculated. For this work, we used Material Studio v6.0 which uses the density functional theory (DFT) implemented in its DMol3 computational code. The IR spectrum was obtained using the Spartan ‘94 computer code. One novelty would be that we found nine amino acids more that could make the RBD and ACE2 binding further the already known. Thus, the Mulliken charge distribution indicates that the highest concentrations of positive and negative charge are found in the zones 477S, 478T, 484E, and 501N amino acids letting ionic or Van der Waals possible interactions with other structures.
Cite this ArticleCrossMarkPublonsHarvard Library HOLLISGrowKudosResearchGateBase SearchOAI PMHAcademic MicrosoftScilitSemantic ScholarUniversite de ParisUW LibrariesSJSU King LibrarySJSU King LibraryNUS LibraryMcGillDET KGL BIBLiOTEKJCU DiscoveryUniversidad De LimaWorldCatVU on WorldCat

Hypo-glycaemia and Associated Factors among Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending the Outpatient Clinics of Debre-tabor Compressive and Specialized Hospital, South Gondar Zone, North West Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

Published on: 15th April, 2024

Introduction: Hypoglycemia affects patient safety and glycemic control during insulin treatment of both type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is still a major clinical problem in the treatment of type 1 diabetes that impairs metabolic control. This study aimed to assess hypoglycemia and associated factors among type 1 diabetes mellitus patients attending the outpatient clinics of Debra–Tabor Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, in 2021.Method: institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 204 selected type I DM, from June 1/2021 to August 30/2021. The study participants were selected by systematic sampling method from monthly follow-up lists and lists of registration. Data were cleaned and entered into Epi Data and then exported into SPSS version 20 for analysis. Data were presented with texts, graphs, diagrams, and tables but an analytic form of findings will be presented by text form of the odds ratio. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with hypoglycemia p – value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant and reported as a 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: A total of 204 participants participated with a response rate of 100%, and prevalence of self-reported hypoglycemia was 88.7% (95%, CI: 83.8-92.6) and the prevalence of hypoglycemia was significantly associated with occupation [AOR: 4.01 (95% CI:1.86-9.35)], higher educational status [AOR: 2.13 (95% CI:1.92-13.15)], diabetic duration < 1 [AOR: 3.80 (95% CI:1.32-9.28)], poor knowledge [AOR: 4.91 (95% CI:1.09-11.06)] and favorable attitude [AOR: 5.86 (1.10-6.07)]. The current study revealed that the knowledge, attitude, and practice of respondents were 81.9% (95%, CI, 76-86.8), 73% (95% CI, 66.7-78.9), and 91.2% (95% CI, 86.8-94.6) respectively.Conclusion and recommendation: Hypoglycemia was highly prevalent among diabetic patients treated at Debra-Tabor Comprehensive and Specialized Referral Hospital. To reduce the higher prevalence of hypoglycemia the health professionals working in the hospital had better provide appropriate patient advice about, BGL monitoring, medication adherence, self-injection as well as oral hypoglycemic agent administrations.
Cite this ArticleCrossMarkPublonsHarvard Library HOLLISGrowKudosResearchGateBase SearchOAI PMHAcademic MicrosoftScilitSemantic ScholarUniversite de ParisUW LibrariesSJSU King LibrarySJSU King LibraryNUS LibraryMcGillDET KGL BIBLiOTEKJCU DiscoveryUniversidad De LimaWorldCatVU on WorldCat
Help ?