Assessing Acceptability of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose among Adult Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study

Given the emergence of breakthrough infections, new variants, and concerns of waning immunity from the primary COVID-19 vaccines, booster shots emerged as a viable option to shore-up protection against COVID-19. Following the recent authorization of vaccine boosters among vulnerable Americans, this study aims to assess COVID-19 vaccine booster hesitancy and its associated factors in a nationally representative sample. A web-based 48-item psychometric valid survey was used to measure vaccine literacy, vaccine confidence, trust, and general attitudes towards vaccines. Data were analyzed through Chi-square (with a post hoc contingency table analysis) and independent-sample t-/Welch tests. Among 2138 participants, nearly 62% intended to take booster doses and the remaining were COVID-19 vaccine booster hesitant. The vaccine-booster-hesitant group was more likely to be unvaccinated (62.6% vs. 12.9%) and did not intend to have their children vaccinated (86.1% vs. 27.5%) compared to their non-hesitant counterparts. A significantly higher proportion of booster dose hesitant individuals had very little to no trust in the COVID-19 vaccine information given by public health/government agencies (55% vs. 12%) compared to non-hesitant ones. The mean scores of vaccine confidence index and vaccine literacy were lower among the hesitant group compared to the non-hesitant group. Compared to the non-hesitant group, vaccine hesitant participants were single or never married (41.8% vs. 28.7%), less educated, and living in a southern region of the nation (40.9% vs. 33.3%). These findings underscore the need of developing effective communication strategies emphasizing vaccine science in ways that are accessible to individuals with lower levels of education and vaccine literacy to increase vaccination uptake.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Patient’s Management—Lithuanian Cancer Center Experience

The pandemic spread of the COVID-19 virus significantly affected daily life, but the highest pressure was piled on the health care system. Our aim was to evaluate an impact of COVID-19 pandemic management measures on cancer services at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Lithuania. We assessed the time period from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2020 and compared it to the same period of 2019. Data for our analysis were extracted from the NCI Hospital Information System (HIS) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Contingency table analysis and ANOVA were performed. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the cancer services provided by NCI. Reductions in diagnostic radiology (−16%) and endoscopy (−29%) procedures were accompanied by a decreased number of patients with ongoing medical (−30%), radiation (−6%) or surgical (−10%) treatment. The changes in the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients were dependent on tumor type and disease stage, showing a rise in advanced disease at diagnosis already during the early period of the first lockdown. The extent of out-patient consultations (−14%) and disease follow-up visits (−16%) was also affected by the pandemic, and only referrals to psychological/psychiatric counselling were increased. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the structure of cancer services by fostering the application of modified systemic anticancer therapy or hypofractionated radiotherapy. The most dramatic drop occurred in the number of patients participating in cancer prevention programs; the loss was 25% for colon cancer and 62% for breast cancer screening. Marked restriction in access to preventive cancer screening and overall reduction of the whole spectrum of cancer services may negatively affect cancer survival measures in the nearest future.

Neurological Complications in Patients with Blood Diseases during Their Treatment

Background: During inpatient treatment of patients (pts) with blood diseases (BD) severe neurological complications (SNC) can occur, which lead treatment protocol interruption. Objective: Determine the types, frequency, symptoms, and predictors of SNC that occurred during inpatient treatment of pts with BD. Patients and Methods: The retrospective exploratory study was conducted on the data analysis of 3,620 pts with BD who were undergoing inpatient treatment from 01. 2018 to 12.2019 in the National Research Center for Hematology (Moscow). 34 pts (with diagnoses: lymphoid neoplasms - 67.7%, myeloid neoplasms - 26.5%, others BD - 5.9%) those who had SNC, were selected: 14 men and 20 women, median age 39 years, interquartile range (IQR): 33-55 years. The neurological complication was estimated as SNC if it was an indication for transition to the intensive care unit. In order to reveal the predictors associated with the development of SNC, the pts who had SNC, were compared with the comparison group of 137 pts (formed using the Kernel matching method) who were similar to the main group by clinical and laboratory characteristics: 59 men and 78 women, median age 36 years, IQR: 26-53 years. Statistical analysis included the multivariate analysis: multiple binary logistic regression with stepwise inclusion of variables (that were found in the preliminary contingency table analysis), control false results (by the false discovery rate method) and odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval), estimation. Results: SNC in pts with BD, developed in 0.94% of cases. The main SNC in pts with BD were: • epileptic seizure (50.0%, n=17), • ischemic stroke (20.6%, n=7), • hemorrhagic stroke (17.6%, n=6), • and meningoencephalitis (11.8%, n=4) (Figure 1). The following independent statistically significant (Wald test, p≤0.05) predictors associated with the development of SNC in pts with BD during the treatment, were identified: • antibiotic therapy (when more than 5 drugs are prescribed), OR = 2.9 (1.2-7,4); • chemotherapy (when more than 4 drugs are prescribed), OR = 2.9 (1.1-7.8); • thrombocytopenia (with a platelet count less than 50 x 10 9 g/l), OR = 2.3 (1.0-5.2); • the development of delirium in the pts, OR = 3.7 (1.3-10.8); and also the risk factor: • neurological disorders in the pts's medical history, OR = 2.6 (1.1-6.3). Conclusion. In the process of inpatient treatment pts with BD may develop SNC. This life-threatening complication violates the intended therapeutic protocol, which affects the results of BD treatment in general. The main types of SNC detected were: epileptic seizure, ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, and meningoencephalitis. Four predictors such as massive antibacterial (more than 5 drugs prescribed) and chemotherapeutic effects (more than 4 drugs prescribed), thrombocytopenia and manifestation of delirium, associated with the development of SNC in pts with BD in the process of treatment, as well as one risk factor (the presence of neurological disorders in the patient checked-in history) were identified. All these independent signs must be taken into account and monitored in the treatment, as each of them increases the risk of the SNC development. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Zakharov: Takeda: Honoraria; EverNeuroPharma: Honoraria; KanonPharma: Honoraria; Merz: Honoraria; Boerhinger Ingelheim: Honoraria; Abbot: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Egis: Honoraria; Polysan: Honoraria; SCS: Honoraria; Pharmasoft: Honoraria; Valenta: Honoraria.

Factors Affecting Dietary Improvements in Elderly Residents of Long-Term Care Institutions Receiving Domiciliary Dental Care

Background: Oral disabilities occur due to tooth loss. This study aimed to investigate oral and systemic factors related to diet in elderly residents receiving domiciliary dental care. Methods: The subjects were 74 consenting residents. Survey items included whether subjects could eat independently and diet type. Subjects were examined by the dentist for the number of teeth, occlusal support index, and wearing dentures. Contingency table analysis was performed to determine what levels of decline in general and oral functions led to difficulties eating a normal diet. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean number of activities of daily living (ADL) requiring assistance evident between subjects eating a normal diet and those eating fluid boiled rice (p < 0.01). A comparison of occlusal support and diet type showed that most subjects who ate a soft diet or gruel had no occlusal support. Almost all subjects who ate a normal diet wore dentures. However, only 38% of subjects eating a soft diet and 40% of those eating gruel did wear dentures; both group differences were significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Future studies need to further investigate oral factors related to the type of diet and their relationships to domiciliary dental care in older adults.

Exon Array Analysis to Identify Diethyl-nitrosamine Differentially Regulated and Alternately Spliced Genes in Early Liver Carcinogenesis in the Transgenic Mouse ATT-myc Model

Objectives: To identify the regulated genes or the spliced genes of diethylnitorsamine (NDEA) in ATT-myc mice versus control group. Methods: We analysed the 9 hybridizations on the MouseExon10ST array of NDEA treatments and control non- transgenic by application of a mixed model analysis of variance. Results: The 907 genes had regulated significantly between the groups and 916 genes had regulated with a significant exon-group interaction among of them 150 genes had regulated with both gene and possible splicing differences (p<0.01). The 7,618 genes had tested for the alternative gene up-regulation and splicing and compared to the gene-classifications. The genes functions, pathways and gene-classifications in the current study had presented in the contingency table analysis of the set of the regulated genes and alternatively spliced that regulated significantly in the ATT-myc mice treated by diethylnitorsamine versus control non-transgenic. The GOMolFn of gene-classification had 321 groups that had significantly regulated in the set of the regulated genes or differentially spliced. While the GOProcess of gene-classification had 330 groups that had significantly regulated in the set of differentially regulated genes or spliced. Additionally, the CELlLoc of gene-classification had 70 groups that had significantly regulated in the set of differentially regulated genes spliced. Finally, the Pathway gene-classification had 8 groups that had significantly regulated in the set of differentially regulated genes or spliced (p<0.01) in diethylnitorsamine when compared to control group. Conclusion: we summarized the toxicogenomics induced by diethylnitrosamine in early liver carcinogenesis in ATT-myc transgenic mice of liver cancer. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0302-6 Full Text: PDF

Probing Chinese Perception on the Importance of Social Capital in Entrepreneurial Success

The link between entrepreneurship and economic growth has been established in the literature. The potency of an entrepreneurship ecosystem, driven by the role of financial capital, is now a determinant of an economy’s success. The People’s Republic of China has been successful on this expanse. However, in this conceptual study, we explicate the role social capital play in entrepreneurial venture growth. By conducting a survey on Chinese entrepreneurs, cross tabulating their categorical responses and conducting contingency table analysis, we get to illustrate how they see social capital as a facilitating factor of their entrepreneurial success. Results revealed that Chinese entrepreneurs believe that together with financial capital and government assistance, having more social capital is critical in developing start-ups, attracting more investments and acquiring a bigger market share. However, a premium is placed on technical skills and enterprise planning than personal charisma. Results were validated and augmented earlier results on Chinese perceptions on what makes entrepreneurial ventures successful.

Polyamine-Rich Diet Elevates Blood Spermine Levels and Inhibits Pro-Inflammatory Status: An Interventional Study

The Japanese diet and the Mediterranean diet are rich in polyamines (spermidine and spermine). Increased polyamine intake elevated blood spermine levels, inhibited aging-associated pro-inflammatory status (increases in lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on immune cells), suppressed aberrant gene methylation and extended the lifespan of mice. To test the effects of increased polyamine intake by humans, 30 healthy male volunteers were asked to eat polyamine-rich and ready-to-eat traditional Japanese food (natto) for 12 months. Natto with high polyamine content was used. Another 27 male volunteers were asked not to change their dietary pattern as a control group. The volunteers’ age of intervention and control groups ranged from 40 to 69 years (median 48.9 ± 7.9). Two subjects in the control group subsequently dropped out of the study. The estimated increases in spermidine and spermine intakes were 96.63 ± 47.70 and 22.00 ± 9.56 µmol per day in the intervention group, while no changes were observed in the control group. The mean blood spermine level in the intervention group gradually rose to 1.12 ± 0.29 times the pre-intervention level after 12 months, and were significantly higher (p = 0.019) than those in the control group. Blood spermidine did not increase in either group. LFA-1 on monocytes decreased gradually in the intervention group, and there was an inverse association between changes in spermine concentrations relative to spermidine and changes in LFA-1 levels. Contingency table analysis revealed that the odds ratio to decrease LFA-1 by increased polyamine intake was 3.927 (95% CI 1.116–13.715) (p = 0.032) when the effect of acute inflammation was excluded. The results in the study were similar to those of our animal experiments. Since methylation changes of the entire genome are associated with aging-associated pathologies and our previous studies showed that spermine-induced LFA-1 suppression was associated with the inhibition of aberrant gene methylation, the results suggest that dietary polyamine contributes to human health and longevity.

Ontogenetic Habitat Use and Density of the Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata) in Contrasted Landscapes in France and Italy

Habitat modification is a major factor in the decline of reptile populations. The degree of the decline has been shown to be directly related to the intensity of habitat modification. Farming practices and urbanization are just two of the factors involved indicating that the development of practices that minimize or cancel anthropogenic impacts is urgently needed to prevent further declines. This requires knowledge of population ecology of reptiles in both disturbed and pristine habitats. In this paper, we describe aspects of green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) population ecology in a forest–pasture relatively pristine mosaic habitat in central Italy and a fragmented habitat in western France. In Italy, habitat niche overlap was very high between males and females but very low between males and juveniles. For male and female abundances, general linear models showed that the adult abundances increased with the increase of Rubus bushes, whereas juvenile abundance increased with the increase of Spartium bushes. Contingency table analysis showed that juveniles were also much more frequently observed in grasslands than adults of either sexes. The observed ontogenetic structural niche pattern was likely due to intraspecific competition avoidance, competition interference, and cannibalism. The persistence of the same patterns across years demonstrates a temporal stability of the ontogenetic structural niche pattern. Over the length of the study period, population densities were stable in the Italian population, but densities were much higher by around five times in the hedgerow in the fragmented habitat in France. In the hedgerow, monthly lizard presence was uneven, with the greatest number of sightings in June and July. Overall, our study provided no support for the notion that lizard abundance/density should be lower in modified compared to unmodified habitats, and clearly revealed that a careful management of the hedgerows is crucial for the conservation of this lizard species in agro-forest ecosystems.

Impact of Supine Radiographs to Assess Curve Flexibility in the Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the role of supine radiographs in determining flexibility of thoracic and thoracolumbar curves. Methods: Ninety operative AIS patients with 2-year follow-up from a single institution were queried and classified into MT structural and TL structural groups. Equations were derived using linear regression to compute cut-off values for MT and TL curves. Thresholds were externally validated in a separate database of 60 AIS patients, and positive and negative predictive values were determined for each curve. Results: MT supine values were highly predictive of MT side-bending values (TL group: 0.63, P < 0.001; MT group: 0.66, P = 0.006). Similarly, TL supine values were highly predictive of TL side-bending values (TL group: 0.56, P = 0.001 MT group: 0.68, P = 0.001). From our derived equations, MT and TL curves were considered structural on supine films if they were ≥ 30° and 35°, respectively. Contingency table analysis of external validity sample showed that supine films were highly predictive of structurality of MT curve (Sensitivity = 0.91, PPV = 0.95, NPV = 0.81) and TL curve (Sensitivity = 0.77, PPV = 0.81, NPV = 0.94). ROC analysis revealed that the area under curve for MT structurality from supine films was 0.931 (SEM: 0.03, CI: 0.86-0.99, P < 0.001) and TL structurality from supine films was 0.922 (SEM: 0.03, CI- 0.84-0.98, P < 0.001). Conclusions: A single preoperative supine radiograph is highly predictive of side-bending radiographs to assess curve flexibility in AIS. A cut-off of ≥ 30° for MT and ≥ 35° for TL curves in supine radiographs can determine curve structurality.

Association between Drinking Habits and Oral Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Japanese National Statistical Data

Aim. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between drinking habits and subjective symptoms of the oral cavity based on Japanese national statistical data. Methods. The subjects were 8,698 respondents of the Japan National Livelihood Survey 2013, in their 30s to 60s. The association between drinking habits and each survey item was investigated by contingency table analysis and binary logistic regression analysis. Results. The proportion of people with drinking habits was 55.3% among men and 20.3% among women, and the proportion of men with drinking habits above the age of 40 years was high. Contingency table analysis indicated an association between drinking habits and the following items in men: subjective symptoms ( p < 0.01 ), chewing difficulty ( p < 0.05 ), subjective impression of health ( p < 0.01 ), smoking habit ( p < 0.01 ), and income level ( p < 0.01 ). Analysis indicated an association between drinking habits and hospital visits ( p < 0.01 ) and smoking habits ( p < 0.01 ) in women. When comparing the response rates of symptoms and presence of disease stratified according to drinking habits, inflammatory and sensory system symptoms were common in those who had drinking habits, as were diabetes and gout. Binomial logistic regression analysis with drinking habit as the objective variable indicated statistically significant odds ratios for smoking habit (2.13; 95% CI: 1.65–2.75), difficulty in chewing (1.63; 95% CI: 1.01–2.62), and working hours (1.50; 95% CI: 1.10–2.04). This study identified a correlation between drinking habits and masticatory disorders, suggesting that the effects of drinking as a risk factor for dental diseases should be examined in greater detail in the future.