11 research outputs found
A multicenter, prospective, observational study examining the impact of risk factors, such as BMI and waist circumference, on quality of life improvement and clinical response in moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis patients treated with infliximab in
No full textA multicenter, prospective, observational study examining the impact of risk factors, such as BMI and waist circumference, on quality of life improvement and clinical response in moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis patients treated with infliximab in routine care settings of Greece
No full textBackground: Obesity has been associated with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis severity and PASI 75 response attainment of biologic therapies, but findings are inconsistent. Objective: This study aimed to examine the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) on disease severity, to identify potential patient characteristics associated with response attainment and to assess the impact of infliximab on the patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among infliximab-treated patients in the routine care setting of Greece. Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study of adult moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients who had initiated treatment with originator infliximab within 2 weeks prior to enrolment. Postenrolment visits occurred at 14 ± 4, 30 ± 4 and 54 ± 4 weeks following treatment onset. Results: Between October 2012 and June 2014, 136 eligible patients (62.5% males) with a median age of 48.6 years, BMI of 29.6 kg/m2 and WC of 107.0 cm at enrolment were recruited by 21 dermatology hospital/private offices. All patients had received prior psoriasis treatment(s); 62.5% were biologic-naïve. Mean baseline psoriasis area severity index (PASI) and Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) scores were 23.4 ± 13.6 and 15.0 ± 8.3, respectively. A low correlation was observed between WC at enrolment and baseline PASI [ρ = 0.324 (P < 0.001)]. Over a median 48.4 weeks of infliximab exposure, 89.3% of the per protocol set achieved a PASI 75 response. At 14, 30 and 54 weeks, the PASI 75 attainment rate was 66.4%, 74.8% and 76.6%, respectively; the clinically meaningful DLQI improvement (≥5 point decrease) rate was 68.9%, 75.7% and 69.8%, respectively. BMI category and abdominal obesity at enrolment did not impact PASI 75 or DLQI improvement rate attainment. Conclusion: In the routine care of Greece, infliximab reduced disease activity and improved the quality of life of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients through 1 year of treatment, independent of their BMI and WC. © 2018 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereolog
Expressive and Instrumental Offending: Reconciling the Paradox of Specialisation and Versatility
No full textAlthough previous research into specialisation has been dominated by the debate over the existence of specialisation versus versatility, it is suggested that research needs to move beyond the restrictions of this dispute. The current study explores the criminal careers of 200 offenders based on their criminal records, obtained from a police database in the North West of England, aiming to understand the patterns and nature of specialisation by determining the presence of differentiation within their general offending behaviours and examining whether the framework of Expressive and Instrumental offending styles can account for any specialised tendencies that emerge. Fifty-eight offences were subjected to Smallest Space Analysis. Results revealed that a model of criminal differentiation could be identified and that any specialisation is represented in terms of Expressive and Instrumental offending styles
Increase in transmitted resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infections in Europe
No full textBackground: One out of ten newly diagnosed patients in Europe was infected with a virus carrying a drug resistant mutation. We analysed the patterns over time for transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRM) using data from the European Spread program.Methods: Clinical, epidemiological and virological data from 4317 patients newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection between 2002 and 2007 were analysed. Patients were enrolled using a pre-defined sampling strategy.Results: The overall prevalence of TDRM in this period was 8.9% (95% CI: 8.1-9.8). Interestingly, significant changes over time in TDRM caused by the different drug classes were found. Whereas nucleoside resistance mutations remained constant at 5%, a significant decline in protease inhibitors resistance mutations was observed, from 3.9% in 2002 to 1.6% in 2007 (p = 0.001). In contrast, resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) doubled from 2.0% in 2002 to 4.1% in 2007 (p = 0.004) with 58% of viral strains carrying a K103N mutation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these temporal changes could not be explained by large clusters of TDRM.Conclusion: During the years 2002 to 2007 transmitted resistance to NNRTI has doubled to 4% in Europe. The frequent use of NNRTI in first-line regimens and the clinical impact of NNRTI mutations warrants continued monitoring. © 2014 Frentz et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
Mediating Role of Academic Performance and Job Search Self-Efficacy in Correlation between Career Optimism and Pessimism and Students’ Employability Perception
No full textThe objective of the present study was to investigate the role of career optimism and pessimism in students’ employability perception. Particularly, this study examined the mediating role of academic performance and job search self-efficacy. The research design was descriptive and correlational. The sample consisted of 366 students studying in Shahrekord University in the academic year 2021-2022. They were selected through stratified sampling method. They filled out scales on their employability, job search self-efficacy, career optimism and career pessimism. In addition, the mean score was considered to measure academic performance. Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between career optimism with employability perception, academic performance and job search self-efficacy. Moreover, there was a negative and significant relationship between career pessimism and employability perception. Also, the indirect effect of career optimism on employability perception through the mediation of academic performance and job search self-efficacy was confirmed. In general, the students’ career optimism increased their employability perception. However, the students’ career pessimism decreased their employability perception. On the other hand, career optimism could also lead to an increase in students’ employability perception by enhancing academic performance and job search self-efficacy.IntroductionIn recent years, the issue of having a job has always been raised as one of the basic challenges for students (Menon & Saraswathy, 2017). With regard to the employability of the students, researchers have focused on their employability perception (Jackson & Wilton, 2017), which is defined as their perceived ability to achieve stable employment according to their conditions (Rothwell & Herbert, 2008). One of the variables related to the students’ employability perception is academic performance. It is considered as an important predictor for job performance (Brown & Campion, 1994). Graduates with high academic performance, probably get better ratings from employers (Pinto & Ramalheira, 2017). Another variable examined in this study is job search self-efficacy. Students with a high level of self-efficacy will show better employability skills (Ab Halim et al., 2019).Other variables examined in this study include career optimism and pessimism. Optimistic individuals pay attention to the bright aspects of life and maintain their hope in difficult periods and, as a result, have high self-efficacy (Schuller & Seligman, 2008). On the other hand, pervasive negative expectations resulting from pessimism lead to a feeling of despair in individuals. As such, they refrain from engaging in activities outside their intrinsic motivation (Elliot & Church, 2003). With respect to academic performance, it can be stated that optimistic expectations often increase students’ academic performance (Icekson et al., 2020). On the other hand, an increase in pessimism can decrease academic performance (El-Anzi, 2005; Ruthig et al., 2009; Roso-Bas et al., 2016).Regarding the relationship between career optimism and pessimism and employability perception, it can be stated that optimists have positive expectations about their career goals (Haratsis et al., 2016; Spurk et al., 2015). On the other hand, pessimists mainly focus on the problems and disadvantages of the dynamic process of change, which is the characteristic of today’s work atmosphere (Saka & et al., 2008). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating roles of academic performance and job search self-efficacy in the relationship between career optimism and career pessimism with employability perception. The main objective of this study was to present a model of the relationship between career optimism and career pessimism with students’ employability perception through the mediation of academic performance and job search self-efficacy had a suitable fit. MethodThe current research study was of descriptive-correlational. The statistical population included all students of Shahrekord University in the academic year of 2021-2022. For this study, 370 students were selected through stratified sampling method. They filled out scales on their employability, job search self-efficacy, career optimism and career pessimism. It should be noted that students’ GPA was used as a measure of academic performance. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (version 23) and AMOS23 software, and Pearson correlation method and structural equation modeling analysis. ResultsThe descriptive statistics of the research variables including mean, standard deviation and correlation coefficients of the variables are reported in Table 1.Table 1 Mean, Standard Deviation and Intercorrelations between Research VariablesVariablesDescriptivesIntercorrelation MeanStd deviation12345Employability perception5.30.761 Career optimism3.77.64.57**1 Job search self-efficacy3.82.6055**..55**1 Career pessimism1.90.84-.42**-.60**.38**-1 Academic performance16.55 .23**.17**.13*-.14*1* p<.05 **p<.01In addition, Table 2 shows the fit indices of the modified research model, which indicate the acceptability and approval of the assumed model. Table 2Values of Structural Equation Model Generality Evaluation IndicesIndicesPerfect fitAdaptive fitFrugal fitHolter CMINGFITLICFIPCFIDFCMIN/DFRMSEA Value704.65.85.84.86.752622.69.07143 Figure 1The Assumed Model of the Research Table 3 Total, Direct and Indirect Effects Between Research Variables Determination coeficientDependent variableMediationIndependent variableIndirectDirectTotalPBetaPBetaPBeta.044.03.012.50.013.53 .66 Employability perceptionAcademic performanceCareer optimism.596-.01.791.04.756.03Career pessimism.005.29.012.50.005.79Job search self-efficacyCareer optimism.398.02.791.04.499.06Career pessimism--.005.15.005.15Academic performance--.005.36.005.36Job search self-efficacy According to Figure 1 and Table 3, the results considering examining the direct relationships indicated a positive and significant relationship (p ˂ 0.05) of career optimism (β= 0.50), job search self-efficacy (β= 0.36) and academic performance (β= 0.15) with employability perception. There was also a negative and significant relationship (p ˂0.05) of career pessimism (β₌ 0.04) with employability perception. In addition, regarding the investigation of indirect relationships, the results showed a positive and significant relationship (p ˂ 0.05) of career optimism on employability perception with the mediation of academic performance (β= 0.03) and job search self-efficacy (β= 0.29). Finally, the data did not confirm the effect of career pessimism on employability perception with the mediation of academic performance and job search self-efficacy. ConclusionThis research study was conducted with the objective of investigating the roles of career optimism and pessimism on employability perception with the mediation of academic performance and job search self-efficacy. The results indicated a positive and significant relationship between career optimism, job search self-efficacy and academic performance with employability perception, and a negative and significant relationship between career pessimism and employability perception. Furthermore, there was an indirect effect for career optimism on employability perception through the mediation of academic performance and job search self-efficacy. As the findings of this study showed, academic performance, job search self-efficacy, and career optimism were important predictors of students’ employability perception. The findings are consistent with those of Spurk et al. (2015) and Tentama and Nur (2021).Moreover, the findings of the study indicated the mediating role of academic performance and job search self-efficacy in the relationship between career optimism and employability perception, which is consistent with the findings of Hamidi Nasab et al. (2019) and Bahadori et al. (2020). Therefore, it can be explained that optimistic individuals have a positive view of the future, and have an internal source of control. As a result, optimism has a positive effect on academic performance because optimistic students consider academic performance to be influential in their future career, and CVs of individuals with higher means are evaluated as more qualified. In addition, one of the sources of employability perception is the internal factors of employability, which is the individual’s understanding of his personal capacities and skills to find a job. In regards to the content, it can be consistent with the source of internal control of optimism.One of the most important limitations of the current research is the lack of control of the influence of other variables such as family conditions, and economic conditions. In addition, since this study is correlational (not cause and effect), the results should be interpreted with caution. In addition, future experimental research studies are recommended to the researchers. Ethical Consideration Compliance Whit Ethical Guidelines: All ethical issues such as informed consent and confidentiality of participant’s identity were respected.Author of Contributions: All authors contributed to the study. The first author wrote the first draft of the manuscript. The second and third authors edited the manuscript and the second author is corresponding author.Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest for this study.Funding: This study was extract from the thesis of the master's course and conducted with no financial support.Acknowledgment: The author thanks all participants in the study
Primary resistance to integrase strand-transfer inhibitors in Europe
No full textObjectives: The objective of this study was to define the natural genotypic variation of the HIV-1 integrase gene across Europe for epidemiological surveillance of integrase strand-transfer inhibitor (InSTI) resistance. Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study within the European SPREAD HIV resistance surveillance programme. A representative set of 300 samples was selected from 1950 naive HIV-positive subjects newly diagnosed in 2006-07. The prevalence of InSTI resistance was evaluated using quality-controlled baseline population sequencing of integrase. Signature raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir resistance mutations were defined according to the IAS-USA 2014 list. In addition, all integrase substitutions relative to HXB2 were identified, including those with a Stanford HIVdb score=10 to at least one InSTI. To rule out circulation of minority InSTIresistant HIV, 65 samples were selected for 454 integrase sequencing. Results: For the population sequencing analysis, 278 samples were retrieved and successfully analysed. No signature resistance mutations to any of the InSTIswere detected. Eleven (4%) subjects hadmutations at resistance-associated positions with an HIVdb score =10. Of the 56 samples successfully analysed with 454 sequencing, no InSTI signature mutationsweredetected, whereas integrase substitutionswithanHIVdbscore=10were found in8(14.3%) individuals. Conclusions:No signature InSTI-resistant variantswere circulating in Europe before the introduction of InSTIs. However, polymorphisms contributing to InSTI resistancewere not rare. As InSTI use becomes more widespread, continuous surveillance of primary InSTI resistance is warranted. These data will be key to modelling the kinetics of InSTI resistance transmission in Europe in the coming years. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved
Limited cross-border infections in patients newly diagnosed with HIV in Europe
No full textBackground: International travel plays a role in the spread of HIV-1 across Europe. It is, however, not known whether international travel is more important for spread of the epidemic as compared to endogenous infections within single countries. In this study, phylogenetic associations among HIV of newly diagnosed patients were determined across Europe. Results: Data came from the SPREAD programme which collects samples of newly diagnosed patients that are representative for national HIV epidemics. 4260 pol sequences from 25 European countries and Israel collected in 2002–2007 were included. We identified 457 clusters including 1330 persons (31.2% of all patients). The cluster size ranged between 2 and 28. A number of 987 patients (74.2%) were part of a cluster that consisted only of patients originating from the same country. In addition, 135 patients (10.2%) were in a cluster including only individuals from neighboring countries. Finally, 208 patients (15.6%) clustered with individuals from countries without a common border. Clustering with patients from the same country was less prevalent in patients being infected with B subtype (P-value <0.0001), in men who have sex with men (P-value <0.0001), and in recently infected patients (P-value =0.045). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the transmission of HIV-1 in Europe is predominantly occurring between patients from the same country. This could have implications for HIV-1 transmission prevention programmes. Because infections through travelling between countries is not frequently observed it is important to have good surveillance of the national HIV-1 epidemics
Treatment-associated polymorphisms in protease are significantly associated with higher viral load and lower CD4 count in newly diagnosed drug-naive HIV-1 infected patients
No full textBackground: The effect of drug resistance transmission on disease progression in the newly infected patient is not well understood. Major drug resistance mutations severely impair viral fitness in a drug free environment, and therefore are expected to revert quickly. Compensatory mutations, often already polymorphic in wild-type viruses, do not tend to revert after transmission. While compensatory mutations increase fitness during treatment, their presence may also modulate viral fitness and virulence in absence of therapy and major resistance mutations. We previously designed a modeling technique that quantifies genotypic footprints of in vivo treatment selective pressure, including both drug resistance mutations and polymorphic compensatory mutations, through the quantitative description of a fitness landscape from virus genetic sequences.Results: Genotypic correlates of viral load and CD4 cell count were evaluated in subtype B sequences from recently diagnosed treatment-naive patients enrolled in the SPREAD programme. The association of surveillance drug resistance mutations, reported compensatory mutations and fitness estimated from drug selective pressure fitness landscapes with baseline viral load and CD4 cell count was evaluated using regression techniques. Protease genotypic variability estimated to increase fitness during treatment was associated with higher viral load and lower CD4 cell counts also in treatment-naive patients, which could primarily be attributed to well-known compensatory mutations at highly polymorphic positions. By contrast, treatment-related mutations in reverse transcriptase could not explain viral load or CD4 cell count variability.Conclusions: These results suggest that polymorphic compensatory mutations in protease, reported to be selected during treatment, may improve the replicative capacity of HIV-1 even in absence of drug selective pressure or major resistance mutations. The presence of this polymorphic variation may either reflect a history of drug selective pressure, i.e. transmission from a treated patient, or merely be a result of diversity in wild-type virus. Our findings suggest that transmitted drug resistance has the potential to contribute to faster disease progression in the newly infected host and to shape the HIV-1 epidemic at a population level. © 2012 Theys et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
Increase in transmitted resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infections in Europe
No full textBackground: One out of ten newly diagnosed patients in Europe was infected with a virus carrying a drug resistant mutation. We analysed the patterns over time for transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRM) using data from the European Spread program.Methods: Clinical, epidemiological and virological data from 4317 patients newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection between 2002 and 2007 were analysed. Patients were enrolled using a pre-defined sampling strategy.Results: The overall prevalence of TDRM in this period was 8.9% (95% CI: 8.1-9.8). Interestingly, significant changes over time in TDRM caused by the different drug classes were found. Whereas nucleoside resistance mutations remained constant at 5%, a significant decline in protease inhibitors resistance mutations was observed, from 3.9% in 2002 to 1.6% in 2007 (p = 0.001). In contrast, resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) doubled from 2.0% in 2002 to 4.1% in 2007 (p = 0.004) with 58% of viral strains carrying a K103N mutation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these temporal changes could not be explained by large clusters of TDRM.Conclusion: During the years 2002 to 2007 transmitted resistance to NNRTI has doubled to 4% in Europe. The frequent use of NNRTI in first-line regimens and the clinical impact of NNRTI mutations warrants continued monitoring. © 2014 Frentz et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
