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Scientific Reports May 2024Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) lacks clear biomarkers in clinical practice. Language as a potential diagnostic biomarker for PTSD is investigated in this study....
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) lacks clear biomarkers in clinical practice. Language as a potential diagnostic biomarker for PTSD is investigated in this study. We analyze an original cohort of 148 individuals exposed to the November 13, 2015, terrorist attacks in Paris. The interviews, conducted 5-11 months after the event, include individuals from similar socioeconomic backgrounds exposed to the same incident, responding to identical questions and using uniform PTSD measures. Using this dataset to collect nuanced insights that might be clinically relevant, we propose a three-step interdisciplinary methodology that integrates expertise from psychiatry, linguistics, and the Natural Language Processing (NLP) community to examine the relationship between language and PTSD. The first step assesses a clinical psychiatrist's ability to diagnose PTSD using interview transcription alone. The second step uses statistical analysis and machine learning models to create language features based on psycholinguistic hypotheses and evaluate their predictive strength. The third step is the application of a hypothesis-free deep learning approach to the classification of PTSD in our cohort. Results show that the clinical psychiatrist achieved a diagnosis of PTSD with an AUC of 0.72. This is comparable to a gold standard questionnaire (Area Under Curve (AUC) ≈ 0.80). The machine learning model achieved a diagnostic AUC of 0.69. The deep learning approach achieved an AUC of 0.64. An examination of model error informs our discussion. Importantly, the study controls for confounding factors, establishes associations between language and DSM-5 subsymptoms, and integrates automated methods with qualitative analysis. This study provides a direct and methodologically robust description of the relationship between PTSD and language. Our work lays the groundwork for advancing early and accurate diagnosis and using linguistic markers to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments and psychotherapies.
Topics: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Humans; Deep Learning; Male; Machine Learning; Female; Adult; Language; Natural Language Processing; Biomarkers; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38816468
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61557-7 -
Heliyon May 2024This study aims to explore the effect of eco-innovation and renewable energy on carbon dioxide emissions (CDE) for G7 countries. Using regression models, the results...
This study aims to explore the effect of eco-innovation and renewable energy on carbon dioxide emissions (CDE) for G7 countries. Using regression models, the results reveal that eco-innovation and renewable energy lead to reducing CDE in the presence of governance variables. Additional analysis is conducted to examine whether Hofstede national culture dimensions moderate the nexus of "eco-innovation- carbon emission" and "renewable energy-carbon emission". The results show that individualism, long-term orientation, and indulgence dimensions moderate positively the eco-innovation-carbon emission relationship. Moreover, power distance and uncertainty avoidance dimensions moderate the relationship between renewable energy and CDE and help reduce carbon emissions. The outcomes of this study provide new insights and directives for policymakers and regulators. In fact, increased investment in eco-innovation and renewable energy will support the environmental agenda of G7 countries. National cultural dimensions should be taken into consideration to improve awareness of environmental quality. Moreover, the combination of governance indicators plays a key role in environmental sustainability.
PubMed: 38813154
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31142 -
Case Reports in Critical Care 2024Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure from infective endocarditis with septic emboli has been attributed to the vicious cycle of tissue damage and inflammatory cytokine...
Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure from infective endocarditis with septic emboli has been attributed to the vicious cycle of tissue damage and inflammatory cytokine response. Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare complication and can be a late-onset presentation despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. We present a rare case of bilateral spontaneous pneumothoraces in a patient with tricuspid valve endocarditis and septic pulmonary emboli. We suspect that the profound inflammatory response from two different bacterial pathogens and the peripheral location of the septic thrombosis are the basis of the development of bilateral pneumothorax development in our patient.
PubMed: 38808068
DOI: 10.1155/2024/3049691 -
Current Research in Food Science 2024This study explores the effect of spray-drying (SD) inlet temperatures (T 120 and 150 °C) and wall material on the chemical and physico-chemical properties of...
This study explores the effect of spray-drying (SD) inlet temperatures (T 120 and 150 °C) and wall material on the chemical and physico-chemical properties of microencapsulated hop extracts (MHE). Hop extract was formulated with maltodextrin (MD) and gum Arabic (GA) used in single or in combination with β-cyclodextrin (βCD). MHE were evaluated for physical properties, bitter acids (BA), total polyphenol content (TPC) and encapsulation efficiency (TPC EE), and antioxidant capacity (AOC). Powders produced at T 150 °C exhibited the highest flowability and generally higher TPC yield. Besides T, MD enabled the obtaining of MHE with the highest encapsulation efficiency. Other physico-chemical and antioxidant properties differently varied depending on the T. Overall, the βCD addition positively affected α-acids, and β-acids of MHE obtained at T 120 °C. ATR-FTIR analysis showed hydrogen bond formation between hop compounds and βCD. Multifactorial ANOVA highlighted that T, W, and their interaction influenced almost all the chemical and physico-chemical properties of MHE.
PubMed: 38800638
DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2024.100769 -
JAMA Health Forum May 2024Prices for brand-name drugs affect both federal spending and out-of-pocket liability for Medicare Part D enrollees.
IMPORTANCE
Prices for brand-name drugs affect both federal spending and out-of-pocket liability for Medicare Part D enrollees.
OBJECTIVE
To examine how prices for brand-name drugs, net of rebates and discounts, have changed from 2010 to 2019 and to examine the role of specialty drugs in those changes.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This study involved a descriptive analysis of prescription drug spending and prices between 2010 and 2019. The universe of prescription drug event data from those years were combined with confidential data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on rebates and discounts that manufacturers and pharmacies pay to Medicare Part D plans to calculate rebate percentages, net spending, and net prices at the drug level. Specialty drugs were identified using information from IQVIA, allowing for a stratified analysis by specialty status. Data were analyzed from March 2019 to March 2024.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Average prices (net of rebates and discounts in 2019 US dollars) and average annual price growth for brand-name prescription drugs, overall and separately for specialty and nonspecialty drugs.
RESULTS
Average net prices for brand-name drugs doubled from 2010 to 2019 (from $167 to $370). Growth in specialty drug prices was an underlying factor in those increases: average annual price growth was 13.2% for specialty drugs compared with 2.6% for nonspecialty drugs. Price growth for specialty drugs over the decade was smaller than what the Congressional Budget Office reported for the 2010 to 2015 period (increase of 22.3% per year vs 4.5% per year for nonspecialty drug prices), suggesting that price growth slowed after 2015. Drugs that treat hepatitis C contributed to that difference because prices for those drugs were initially high and then subsequently fell. Absent those drugs, price growth for specialty drugs averaged 18.1% in the first half of the decade and 6.9% in the second half.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Results of this study show that prices for specialty drugs have continued to increase over time in the Medicare Part D program, which contributes to high out-of-pocket liability for users of those drugs in addition to US federal budgetary expenditures.
Topics: United States; Medicare Part D; Humans; Drug Costs; Prescription Drugs; Health Expenditures
PubMed: 38787543
DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.1188 -
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection represents a significant global health challenge, with its natural course largely influenced by the host's immune response. Human...
Frequency of the Main Human Leukocyte Antigen A, B, DR, and DQ Loci Known to Be Associated with the Clearance or Persistence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in a Healthy Population from the Southern Region of Morocco: A Preliminary Study.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection represents a significant global health challenge, with its natural course largely influenced by the host's immune response. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules, particularly HLA class I and II, play a crucial role in the adaptive immune response against HCV. The polymorphism of HLA molecules contributes to the variability in immune response, affecting the outcomes of HCV infection. This study aims to investigate the frequency of HLA A, B, DR, and DQ alleles known to be associated with HCV clearance or persistence in a healthy Moroccan population. Conducted at the University Hospital Center Mohammed VI, Marrakech, this study spanned from 2015 to 2022 and included 703 healthy Moroccan individuals. HLA class I and II typing was performed using complement-dependent cytotoxicity and polymerase chain reaction-based methodologies. The results revealed the distinct patterns of HLA-A, B, DRB1, and DQB1 alleles in the Moroccan population. Notably, alleles linked to favorable HCV outcomes, such as HLA-DQB1*0301, DQB1*0501, and DRB1*1101, were more prevalent. Conversely, alleles associated with increased HCV susceptibility and persistence, such as HLA-DQB1*02 and DRB1*03, were also prominent. Gender-specific variations in allele frequencies were observed, providing insights into genetic influences on HCV infection outcomes. The findings align with global trends in HLA allele associations with HCV infection outcomes. The study emphasizes the role of host genetics in HCV infection, highlighting the need for further research in the Moroccan community, including HCV-infected individuals. The prevalence of certain HLA alleles, both protective and susceptibility-linked, underscores the potential for a national HLA data bank in Morocco.
PubMed: 38785761
DOI: 10.3390/diseases12050106 -
BMC Primary Care May 2024Community pharmacies are responsible for dispensing of medicines and related counselling in outpatient care. Dispensing practices have remarkably changed over time, but...
BACKGROUND
Community pharmacies are responsible for dispensing of medicines and related counselling in outpatient care. Dispensing practices have remarkably changed over time, but little is known about how the changes have influenced medication safety. This national study investigated trends in dispensing errors (DEs) related to prescribed medicines, which were reported in Finnish community pharmacies within a 6-year period.
METHODS
This national retrospective register study included all DEs reported to a nationally coordinated voluntary DE reporting system by Finnish community pharmacies during 2015-2020. DE rates, DE types, prescription types, individuals who detected DEs and contributing factors to DEs were quantified as frequencies and percentages. Poisson regression was used to assess the statistical significance of the changes in annual DE rates by type.
RESULTS
During the study period, altogether 19 550 DEs were reported, and the annual number of error reports showed a decreasing trend (n = 3 913 in 2015 vs. n = 2 117 in 2020, RR 0.54, p < 0.001). The greatest decrease in reported DEs occurred in 2019 after the national implementation of the Medicines Verification System (MVS) and the additional safety feature integrated into the MVS process. The most common error type was wrong dispensed strength (50% of all DEs), followed by wrong quantity or pack size (13%). The annual number of almost all DE types decreased, of which wrong strength errors decreased the most (n = 2121 in 2015 vs. n = 926 in 2020). Throughout the study period, DEs were most commonly detected by patients (50% of all DEs) and pharmacy personnel (30%). The most reported contributing factors were factors related to employees (36% of all DEs), similar packaging (26%) and similar names (21%) of medicinal products.
CONCLUSIONS
An overall decreasing trend was identified in the reported DEs and almost all DE types. These changes seem to be associated with digitalisation and new technologies implemented in the dispensing process in Finnish community pharmacies, particularly, the implementation of the MVS and the safety feature integrated into the MVS process. The role of patients and pharmacy personnel in detecting DEs has remained central regardless of changes in dispensing practices.
Topics: Finland; Humans; Medication Errors; Retrospective Studies; Registries; Community Pharmacy Services; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Pharmacies; Adult; Aged; Adolescent
PubMed: 38783197
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02428-y -
JMIR Research Protocols May 2024Implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to measure and evaluate health outcomes is increasing worldwide. Along with this emerging trend, it is important... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to measure and evaluate health outcomes is increasing worldwide. Along with this emerging trend, it is important to identify which guidelines, frameworks, checklists, and recommendations exist, and if and how they have been used in implementing PROMs, especially in clinical quality registries (CQRs).
OBJECTIVE
This review aims to identify existing publications, as well as publications that discuss the application of actual guidelines, frameworks, checklists, and recommendations on PROMs' implementation for various purposes such as clinical trials, clinical practice, and CQRs. In addition, the identified publications will be used to guide the development of a new guideline for PROMs' implementation in CQRs, which is the aim of the broader project.
METHODS
A literature search of the databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be conducted since the inception of the databases, in addition to using Google Scholar and gray literature to identify literature for the scoping review. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used for all phases of screening. Existing publications of guidelines, frameworks, checklists, recommendations, and publications discussing the application of those methodologies for implementing PROMs in clinical trials, clinical practice, and CQRs will be included in the final review. Data relating to bibliographic information, aim, the purpose of PROMs use (clinical trial, practice, or registries), name of guideline, framework, checklist and recommendations, the rationale for development, and their purpose and implications will be extracted. Additionally, for publications of actual methodologies, aspects or domains of PROMs' implementation will be extracted. A narrative synthesis of included publications will be conducted.
RESULTS
The electronic database searches were completed in March 2024. Title and abstract screening, full-text screening, and data extraction will be completed in May 2024. The review is expected to be completed by the end of August 2024.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this scoping review will provide evidence on any existing methodologies and tools for PROMs' implementation in clinical trials, clinical practice, and CQRs. It is anticipated that the publications will help us guide the development of a new guideline for PROMs' implementation in CQRs.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42022366085; https://tinyurl.com/bdesk98x.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)
DERR1-10.2196/52572.
Topics: Checklist; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Humans; Research Design; Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 38771621
DOI: 10.2196/52572 -
Data in Brief Jun 2024The Google Play Store is widely recognized as one of the largest platforms for downloading applications, both free and paid. On a daily basis, millions of users avail...
CONTEXT
The Google Play Store is widely recognized as one of the largest platforms for downloading applications, both free and paid. On a daily basis, millions of users avail themselves of this marketplace, sharing their thoughts through various means such as star ratings, user comments, suggestions, and feedback. These insights, in the form of comments and feedback, constitute a valuable resource for organizations, competitors, and emerging companies seeking to expand their market presence. These comments provide insights into app deficiencies, suggestions for new features, identified issues, and potential enhancements. Unlocking the potential of this repository of suggestions holds significant value.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to gather and analyze user reviews from the Google Play store for leading game apps. The primary aim was to construct a dataset for subsequent analysis utilizing requirements engineering, machine learning, and competitive assessment.
METHODOLOGY
The authors employed a Python-based web scraping method to extract a comprehensive set of over 429,000+ reviews from the Google Play pages of selected apps. The scraped data encompassed reviewer names (removed due to privacy), ratings, and the textual content of the reviews.
RESULTS
The outcome was a dataset comprising the extracted user reviews, ratings, and associated metadata. A total of 429,000+ reviews were acquired through the scraping process for popular apps like Subway Surfers, Candy Crush Saga, PUBG Mobile, among others. This dataset not only serves as a valuable educational resource for instructors, aiding in the training of students in data analysis, but also offers practitioners the opportunity for in-depth examination and insights (in the past data of top apps).
PubMed: 38770040
DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110499 -
Reproductive Health May 2024In 2019, the World Health Organization identified improving access to safe abortion as an important priority toward improving sexual and reproductive health and rights...
BACKGROUND
In 2019, the World Health Organization identified improving access to safe abortion as an important priority toward improving sexual and reproductive health and rights and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. One strategy for addressing this priority is strengthening access to medicines for medical abortion. All 11 countries in the South-East Asia Region have some indications for legal abortion and permit post-abortion care. Therefore, strengthening access to medical abortion medicines is a reasonable strategy for improving access to safe abortion for the Region.
METHODOLOGY
We applied an adapted version of an existing World Health Organization landscape assessment protocol for the availability of medical abortion medicines at the country-level in the South-East Asia Region. We collected publicly available data on the existence of national health laws, policies, and standard treatment guidelines; inclusion of medical abortion medicines in the national essential medicines list; and marketing authorization status for medical abortion medicines for each country and verified by Ministries of health. The findings were once more presented, discussed and recommendations were formulated during regional technical consultation workshop. Each country teams participated in the process, and subsequently, the suggestions were validated by representatives from Ministries of Health..
RESULTS
Few countries in the Region currently have national policies and guidelines for comprehensive safe abortion. However, either mifepristone-misoprostol in combination or misoprostol alone (for other indications) is included in national essential medicines lists in all countries except Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Few countries earmark specific public funds for procuring and distributing medical abortion commodities. In countries where abortion is legal, the private sector and NGOs support access to medical abortion information and medicines. Several countries only allow registered medical practitioners or specialists to administer medical abortion.
CONCLUSION
Following this rapid participatory assessment and technical consultation workshop, the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Technical Advisory and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights technical committee recommended priority actions for policy and advocacy, service delivery, and monitoring and evaluation, and indicated areas for support.
Topics: Humans; Asia, Southeastern; World Health Organization; Health Services Accessibility; Female; Pregnancy; Abortion, Induced; Abortifacient Agents; Drugs, Essential
PubMed: 38760864
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01791-4