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Frontiers in Neurology 2024Sleep is disturbed in Rett syndrome (RTT), a rare and progressive neurodevelopmental disorder primarily affecting female patients (prevalence 7.1/100,000 female...
24-h continuous non-invasive multiparameter home monitoring of vitals in patients with Rett syndrome by an innovative wearable technology: evidence of an overlooked chronic fatigue status.
BACKGROUND
Sleep is disturbed in Rett syndrome (RTT), a rare and progressive neurodevelopmental disorder primarily affecting female patients (prevalence 7.1/100,000 female patients) linked to pathogenic variations in the X-linked methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 () gene. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction with a predominance of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) over the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is reported in RTT, along with exercise fatigue and increased sudden death risk. The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility of a continuous 24 h non-invasive home monitoring of the biological vitals (biovitals) by an innovative wearable sensor device in pediatric and adolescent/adult RTT patients.
METHODS
A total of 10 female patients (mean age 18.3 ± 9.4 years, range 4.7-35.5 years) with typical RTT and pathogenic variations were enrolled. Clinical severity was assessed by validated scales. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and skin temperature (SkT) were monitored by the YouCare Wearable Medical Device (Accyourate Group SpA, L'Aquila, Italy). The average percentage of maximum HR (HRmax%) was calculated. Heart rate variability (HRV) was expressed by consolidated time-domain and frequency-domain parameters. The HR/LF (low frequency) ratio, indicating SNS activation under dynamic exercise, was calculated. Simultaneous continuous measurement of indoor air quality variables was performed and the patients' contributions to the surrounding water vapor partial pressure [P (pt)] and carbon dioxide [P (pt)] were indirectly estimated.
RESULTS
Of the 6,559.79 h of biovital recordings, 5051.03 h (77%) were valid for data interpretation. Sleep and wake hours were 9.0 ± 1.1 h and 14.9 ± 1.1 h, respectively. HRmax % [median: 71.86% (interquartile range 61.03-82%)] and HR/LF [median: 3.75 (interquartile range 3.19-5.05)] were elevated, independent from the wake-sleep cycle. The majority of HRV time- and frequency-domain parameters were significantly higher in the pediatric patients ( ≤ 0.031). The HRV HR/LF ratio was associated with phenotype severity, disease progression, clinical sleep disorder, subclinical hypoxia, and electroencephalographic observations of multifocal epileptic activity and general background slowing.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate the feasibility of a continuous 24-h non-invasive home monitoring of biovital parameters in RTT. Moreover, for the first time, HRmax% and the HR/LF ratio were identified as potential objective markers of fatigue, illness severity, and disease progression.
PubMed: 38952469
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1388506 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024Blood counts and biochemical markers are among the most common tests performed in hospitals and most readily accepted by patients, and are widely regarded as reliable... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Assessing causal associations of blood counts and biochemical indicators with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a Mendelian randomization study and results from national health and nutrition examination survey 2003-2018.
BACKGROUND
Blood counts and biochemical markers are among the most common tests performed in hospitals and most readily accepted by patients, and are widely regarded as reliable biomarkers in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the causal relationship between blood counts, biochemical indicators and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
METHODS
A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to assess the causal relationship between blood counts and biochemical indicators with PAH. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) for blood counts and biochemical indicators were obtained from the UK Biobank (UKBB), while the GWAS for PAH were sourced from the FinnGen Biobank. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was used as the primary analysis method, supplemented by three sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the results. And we conducted an observational study using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2018 to verify the relationship.
RESULTS
The MR analysis primarily using the IVW method revealed genetic variants of platelet count (OR=2.51, 95% CI 1.56-4.22, P<0.001), platelet crit(OR=1.87, 95% CI1.17-7.65, P=0.022), direct bilirubin (DBIL)(OR=1.71, 95%CI 1.18-2.47,P=0.004), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)(OR=0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.96, P=0.038), Lipoprotein A (Lp(a))(OR=0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.98, P=0.037) and total bilirubin (TBIL)(OR=0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.96, P=0.038) were significantly associated with PAH. In NHANES, multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between platelet count and volume and the risk of PAH, and a significant negative correlation between total bilirubin and PAH.
CONCLUSION
Our study reveals a causal relationship between blood counts, biochemical indicators and pulmonary arterial hypertension. These findings offer novel insights into the etiology and pathological mechanisms of PAH, and emphasizes the important value of these markers as potential targets for the prevention and treatment of PAH.
Topics: Humans; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Genome-Wide Association Study; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Biomarkers; Nutrition Surveys; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Adult; Blood Cell Count; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Aged; Bilirubin; Platelet Count
PubMed: 38952391
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1418835 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Jun 2024
Correction: Effects of a Planned Web-Based Educational Intervention Based on the Health Belief Model for Patients With Ischemic Stroke in Promoting Secondary Prevention During the COVID-19 Lockdown in China: Quasi-Experimental Study.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; China; Ischemic Stroke; Secondary Prevention; Health Belief Model; Internet-Based Intervention; Male; Female; Quarantine; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic
PubMed: 38952019
DOI: 10.2196/60953 -
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance Jun 2024Syndromic surveillance represents a potentially inexpensive supplement to test-based COVID-19 surveillance. By strengthening surveillance of COVID-19-like illness (CLI),... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Syndromic surveillance represents a potentially inexpensive supplement to test-based COVID-19 surveillance. By strengthening surveillance of COVID-19-like illness (CLI), targeted and rapid interventions can be facilitated that prevent COVID-19 outbreaks without primary reliance on testing.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to assess the temporal relationship between confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections and self-reported and health care provider-reported CLI in university and county settings, respectively.
METHODS
We collected aggregated COVID-19 testing and symptom reporting surveillance data from Cornell University (2020-2021) and Tompkins County Health Department (2020-2022). We used negative binomial and linear regression models to correlate confirmed COVID-19 case counts and positive test rates with CLI rate time series, lagged COVID-19 cases or rates, and day of the week as independent variables. Optimal lag periods were identified using Granger causality and likelihood ratio tests.
RESULTS
In modeling undergraduate student cases, the CLI rate (P=.003) and rate of exposure to CLI (P<.001) were significantly correlated with the COVID-19 test positivity rate with no lag in the linear models. At the county level, the health care provider-reported CLI rate was significantly correlated with SARS-CoV-2 test positivity with a 3-day lag in both the linear (P<.001) and negative binomial model (P=.005).
CONCLUSIONS
The real-time correlation between syndromic surveillance and COVID-19 cases on a university campus suggests symptom reporting is a viable alternative or supplement to COVID-19 surveillance testing. At the county level, syndromic surveillance is also a leading indicator of COVID-19 cases, enabling quick action to reduce transmission. Further research should investigate COVID-19 risk using syndromic surveillance in other settings, such as low-resource settings like low- and middle-income countries.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Retrospective Studies; Universities; Sentinel Surveillance
PubMed: 38952000
DOI: 10.2196/54551 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Jul 2024Pulmonary aspergillosis is a prevalent opportunistic fungal infection that can lead to mortality in pediatric patients with underlying immunosuppression. Appropriate and...
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary aspergillosis is a prevalent opportunistic fungal infection that can lead to mortality in pediatric patients with underlying immunosuppression. Appropriate and timely treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis can play a crucial role in reducing mortality among children admitted with suspected infections.
CASE PRESENTATION
The present study reports three cases of inappropriate treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus flavus in two Iranian pediatric patients under investigation and one Afghan patient. Unfortunately, two of them died. The cases involved patients aged 9, 1.5, and 3 years. They had been diagnosed with pulmonary disorders, presenting nonspecific clinical signs and radiographic images suggestive of pneumonia. The identification of A. flavus was confirmed through DNA sequencing of the calmodulin (CaM) region.
CONCLUSION
A. flavus was the most prevalent cause of pulmonary aspergillosis in pediatric patients. Early diagnosis and accurate antifungal treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis could be crucial in reducing the mortality rate and also have significant potential for preventing other complications among children. Moreover, antifungal prophylaxis seems to be essential for enhancing survival in these patients.
Topics: Humans; Aspergillus flavus; Antifungal Agents; Child; Male; Child, Preschool; Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Infant; Female; Fatal Outcome; Iran
PubMed: 38951939
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04599-9 -
Trials Jun 2024Randomised trials are essential to reliably assess medical interventions. Nevertheless, interpretation of such studies, particularly when considering absolute effects,... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Clinical trial results in context: comparison of baseline characteristics and outcomes of 38,510 RECOVERY trial participants versus a reference population of 346,271 people hospitalised with COVID-19 in England.
BACKGROUND
Randomised trials are essential to reliably assess medical interventions. Nevertheless, interpretation of such studies, particularly when considering absolute effects, is enhanced by understanding how the trial population may differ from the populations it aims to represent.
METHODS
We compared baseline characteristics and mortality of RECOVERY participants recruited in England (n = 38,510) with a reference population hospitalised with COVID-19 in England (n = 346,271) from March 2020 to November 2021. We used linked hospitalisation and mortality data for both cohorts to extract demographics, comorbidity/frailty scores, and crude and age- and sex-adjusted 28-day all-cause mortality.
RESULTS
Demographics of RECOVERY participants were broadly similar to the reference population, but RECOVERY participants were younger (mean age [standard deviation]: RECOVERY 62.6 [15.3] vs reference 65.7 [18.5] years) and less frequently female (37% vs 45%). Comorbidity and frailty scores were lower in RECOVERY, but differences were attenuated after age stratification. Age- and sex-adjusted 28-day mortality declined over time but was similar between cohorts across the study period (RECOVERY 23.7% [95% confidence interval: 23.3-24.1%]; vs reference 24.8% [24.6-25.0%]), except during the first pandemic wave in the UK (March-May 2020) when adjusted mortality was lower in RECOVERY.
CONCLUSIONS
Adjusted 28-day mortality in RECOVERY was similar to a nationwide reference population of patients admitted with COVID-19 in England during the same period but varied substantially over time in both cohorts. Therefore, the absolute effect estimates from RECOVERY were broadly applicable to the target population at the time but should be interpreted in the light of current mortality estimates.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ISRCTN50189673- Feb. 04, 2020, NCT04381936- May 11, 2020.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Male; England; Female; Middle Aged; Aged; Hospitalization; Aged, 80 and over; SARS-CoV-2; Comorbidity; Adult; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Frailty
PubMed: 38951929
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08273-9 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024The sudden introduction of social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant lifestyle changes for the UK population. People living...
The impact of UK social distancing guidance on the ability to access support and the health and wellbeing of disabled people during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative exploration.
BACKGROUND
The sudden introduction of social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant lifestyle changes for the UK population. People living with physical disabilities were deemed to be at greater risk of complications following COVID-19 infection and were subjected to stricter social distancing guidelines. But gaps remain in our understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions affected the ability to access support, health and wellbeing of people with physical disabilities. Such understanding is vital to ensure equitable future pandemic preparedness for people living with physical disabilities.
METHODS
We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 31 people living in the UK between May 2020 and January 2022. All participants self-identified as having a physical disability that affected their mobility, sight, or hearing. We analysed the data using reflexive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
Six themes were identified that described the impact of the pandemic on ability to access support, health and wellbeing: (i) adaptations to healthcare provision led to difficulties in managing health and wellbeing; (ii) exacerbations of inequalities in access to public space due to social distancing guidelines; (iii) experiences of hostility from able-bodied people; (iv) loss of social lives and encounters; (v) difficulties maintaining distance from others and subsequent fear of infection and (vi) strategies to support wellbeing and coping when confined to the home.
CONCLUSION
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing health and social inequalities experienced by disabled people. The disproportionate impact of the pandemic on service provision and social connections resulted in challenging circumstances for disabled people who faced unmet medical needs, deteriorating health, and at times, hostile public spaces. Disabled people's experiences need to be incorporated into future pandemic or health-related emergency planning to ensure equality of access to services and public spaces to ensure their health and wellbeing is supported and maintained.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Disabled Persons; United Kingdom; Female; Male; Qualitative Research; Adult; Middle Aged; Physical Distancing; Aged; Health Services Accessibility; Pandemics; Young Adult; Interviews as Topic
PubMed: 38951865
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19285-0 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jun 2024Vaccination against COVID-19 was integral to controlling the pandemic that persisted with the continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Using a mathematical model...
Vaccination against COVID-19 was integral to controlling the pandemic that persisted with the continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Using a mathematical model describing SARS-CoV-2 within-host infection dynamics, we estimate differences in virus and immunity due to factors of infecting variant, age, and vaccination history (vaccination brand, number of doses and time since vaccination). We fit our model in a Bayesian framework to upper respiratory tract viral load measurements obtained from cases of Delta and Omicron infections in Singapore, of whom the majority only had one nasopharyngeal swab measurement. With this dataset, we are able to recreate similar trends in URT virus dynamics observed in past within-host modelling studies fitted to longitudinal patient data.We found that Omicron had higher R values than Delta, indicating greater initial cell-to-cell spread of infection within the host. Moreover, heterogeneities in infection dynamics across patient subgroups could be recreated by fitting immunity-related parameters as vaccination history-specific, with or without age modification. Our model results are consistent with the notion of immunosenescence in SARS-CoV-2 infection in elderly individuals, and the issue of waning immunity with increased time since last vaccination. Lastly, vaccination was not found to subdue virus dynamics in Omicron infections as well as it had for Delta infections.This study provides insight into the influence of vaccine-elicited immunity on SARS-CoV-2 within-host dynamics, and the interplay between age and vaccination history. Furthermore, it demonstrates the need to disentangle host factors and changes in pathogen to discern factors influencing virus dynamics. Finally, this work demonstrates a way forward in the study of within-host virus dynamics, by use of viral load datasets including a large number of patients without repeated measurements.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Vaccines; Middle Aged; Aged; Vaccination; Adult; Singapore; Age Factors; Viral Load; Young Adult; Bayes Theorem; Models, Theoretical; Male; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Adolescent
PubMed: 38951848
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09572-x -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024Research indicates that COVID-19 has had adverse effects on the mental health of adolescents, exacerbating their negative psychological states. The purpose of this study...
Research indicates that COVID-19 has had adverse effects on the mental health of adolescents, exacerbating their negative psychological states. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of Physical Literacy (PL) on Negative Mental State caused by COVID-19 (NMSC) and identify potential factors related to NMSC and PL in Chinese adolescents. This cross-sectional study involved a total of 729 Chinese high school students with an average age of 16.2 ± 1.1 years. Participants' demographic data, PL data, and NMSC data were collected. PL and NMSC were measured using the self-reported Portuguese Physical Literacy Assessment Questionnaire (PPLA-Q), the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 (SAVE-6), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19). Adolescents in the current study demonstrated higher levels of NMSC and lower PL, with average scores of 3.45 and 2.26, respectively (on a scale of 5). Through multiple linear regression analysis, Motivation (MO), Confidence (CO), Emotional Regulation (ER), and Physical Regulation (PR) were identified as factors influencing NMSC in adolescents. The study findings contribute to providing guidance for actions aimed at alleviating NMSC among adolescents.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Male; China; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; East Asian People; Health Literacy; Mental Health; Resilience, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38951834
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18842-x -
International Journal For Equity in... Jul 2024Health inequalities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately affected racialized and equity-deserving communities across Canada. In the Municipality of...
Health inequalities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately affected racialized and equity-deserving communities across Canada. In the Municipality of Peel, existing data, while limited, illustrates that individuals from racialized and equity-deserving communities continue to suffer, receive delayed care, and die prematurely. In response to these troubling statistics, grassroots community advocacy has called on health systems leaders in Peel to work with community and non-profit organizations to address the critical data and infrastructure gaps that hinder addressing the social determinants of health in the region. To support these advocacy efforts, we used a community-based participatory research approach to understand how we might build a data collection ecosystem across sectors, alongside community residents and service providers, to accurately capture the data about the social determinants of health. This approach involved developing a community engagement council, defining the problem with the community, mapping what data is actively collected and what is excluded, and understanding experiences of sociodemographic data collection from community members and service providers. Guided by community voices, our study focused on sociodemographic data collection in the primary care context and identified which service providers use and collect these data, how data are used in their work, the facilitators and barriers to data use and collection. Additionally, we gained insight into how sociodemographic data collection could be respectful, safe, and properly governed from the perspectives of community members. From this study, we identify a set of eight recommendations for sociodemographic data collection and highlight limitations. This foundational community-based work will inform future research in establishing data governance in partnership with diverse and equity-deserving communities.
Topics: Humans; Community-Based Participatory Research; Canada; COVID-19; Social Determinants of Health; SARS-CoV-2; Health Equity; Health Status Disparities; Pandemics; Urban Population
PubMed: 38951827
DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02179-3