Category: Statistics

Biomol Biomed. 2024 Jun 17. doi: 10.17305/bb.2024.10659. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The effective iodine-131 (I-131) half-life (EHL) plays an important role in the evaluation of radioactive iodine therapy for Graves’ disease (GD) patients. It has been observed that the EHL of GD patients varies after taking lithium carbonate. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether EHL can be extended and to identify the predictive factors associated with this outcome. The clinical data of 225 GD patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether the ΔEHL was ≥ 0.5 days. EHL tested after lithium carbonate was defined as Li-EHL. In the univariate analysis, age, sex, thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and baseline-EHL exhibited significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). Cutoff values of age and baseline-EHL to predict significant EHL extension were 40.5 years and 4.85 days, respectively, as determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis further revealed that the regression equation, which included age, sex, baseline-EHL, and the FT3, free triiodothyronine (FT4)/free thyroxine(FT3) ratio, was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Li-EHL positively correlated with baseline-EHL and the FT4/FT3 ratio, but negatively correlated with age. Li-EHL was also increased in female individuals. In conclusion, age, sex, baseline-EHL and the FT4/FT3 ratio were associated with Li-EHL in GD patients.

PMID:38889393 | DOI:10.17305/bb.2024.10659

J Clin Oncol. 2024 Jun 18:JCO2301680. doi: 10.1200/JCO.23.01680. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.Observational studies have associated aspirin or cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor usage either before or after colorectal cancer diagnosis with lower risk of recurrence and suggest that PIK3CA mutational status is predictive of better response to COX-2 inhibition. To prospectively test whether adding the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib to standard adjuvant chemotherapy reduces the risk of recurrence and improves survival, the National Cancer Institute sponsored the CALGB/SWOG 80702 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01150045) for patients with stage III resected colon cancer. Although the primary hypothesis for all patients did not show a statistically significant improvement in disease-free survival (DFS) with celecoxib, subgroup analysis by PIK3CA mutational status was a preplanned study. PIK3CA gain-of-function mutations were detected in 259 of 1,197 tumors with available whole-exome sequencing data. When stratified by PIK3CA status, patients with PIK3CA gain-of-function mutations treated with celecoxib exhibited improved DFS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.56 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0.96]) compared with PIK3CA wildtype patients (adjusted HR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.70 to 1.14]), although the interaction test was nonsignificant (P_interaction = .13). Overall survival was similarly improved for patients with PIK3CA gain-of-function mutations (adjusted HR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.22 to 0.85]) compared with PIK3CA wildtype patients (adjusted HR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.68 to 1.30]; P_interaction = .04). Although the test for heterogeneity in DFS did not reach statistical significance, the results suggest potential utility of PIK3CA to consider selective usage of COX-2 inhibitors in addition to standard treatment for stage III colon cancer.

PMID:38889377 | DOI:10.1200/JCO.23.01680

Am J Audiol. 2024 Jun 18:1-9. doi: 10.1044/2024_AJA-22-00190. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the normative vestibulo-ocular reflex gain output values of the computerized rotational head impulse test (crHIT) with stationary visual targets (earth bound) in healthy participants in each decade age band of life: 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+ years.

METHOD: Seventy-seven community-dwelling participants (10-85 years of age) with normal lateral semicircular canal (SCC) functioning and no symptoms or history of vestibular dysfunction were recruited through convenience sampling and assessed with the crHIT using stationary targets. These participants were assessed using two standard protocols in a randomized order.

RESULTS: Results from 77 participants (M _age = 46 years; 43 women, 34 men) were analyzed. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and simple linear regression indicated a statistically significant relationship between crHIT gain output and age (p > .05) for right gain, 1030°/s², and left gain, 1005°/s². Although a statistically significant relationship was found, the slope was minor, demonstrating that the clinical effect of age on crHIT gain output was insignificant. Furthermore, no statistically significant relationship exists between crHIT gain output and gender (p > .05). Age-dependent normative data were calculated using the 2.5th and 97.5th confidence interval (CI) percentile method. The responses of angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR) gain values for crHIT are expected to occur within the range for lower limit reference interval (RI) of 0.85-0.9 and upper limit RI of 1.11-1.18 for 1030°/s² and lower limit RI of 0.86-0.92 and upper limit RI of 1.13-1.16 for 1005°/s². It can be expected that 90% CI of the population with normal lateral SCC functioning will have aVOR gain values that fall within this range.

CONCLUSION: Despite a statistically significant relationship that exists with aVOR gain output and age, the changes are minor, declining by 0.0088 units per 10 years, justifying the same normative data for all decade age bands.

PMID:38889375 | DOI:10.1044/2024_AJA-22-00190

J Clin Oncol. 2024 Jun 18:JCO2302099. doi: 10.1200/JCO.23.02099. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Socioeconomic status (SES) influences the survival outcomes of patients with early breast cancer (EBC). However, limited research investigates social inequalities in their quality of life (QoL). This study examines the socioeconomic inequalities in QoL after an EBC diagnosis and their time trends.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used data from the French prospective multicentric CANTO cohort (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01993498), including women with EBC enrolled between 2012 and 2018. QoL was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Core 30 questionnaire (QLQ-C30). summary score at diagnosis and 1 and 2 years postdiagnosis. We considered three indicators of SES separately: self-reported financial difficulties, household income, and educational level. We first analyzed the trajectories of the QLQ-C30 summary score by SES group. Then, social inequalities in QLQ-C30 summary score and their time trends were quantified using the regression-based slope index of inequality (SII), representing the absolute change in the outcome along socioeconomic gradient extremes. The analyses were adjusted for age at diagnosis, Charlson Comorbidity Index, disease stage, and type of local and systemic treatment.

RESULTS: Among the 5,915 included patients with data on QoL at diagnosis and at the 2-year follow-up, social inequalities in QLQ-C30 summary score at baseline were statistically significant for all SES indicators (SII_{financial difficulties} = -7.6 [-8.9; -6.2], SII_income = -4.0 [-5.2; -2.8]), SII_education = -1.9 [-3.1; -0.7]). These inequalities significantly increased (interaction P < .05) in year 1 and year 2 postdiagnosis, irrespective of prediagnosis health, tumor characteristics, and treatment. Similar results were observed in subgroups defined by menopausal status and type of adjuvant systemic treatment.

CONCLUSION: The magnitude of preexisting inequalities in QoL increased over time after EBC diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of considering social determinants of health during comprehensive cancer care planning.

PMID:38889372 | DOI:10.1200/JCO.23.02099

Sports Biomech. 2024 Jun 18:1-21. doi: 10.1080/14763141.2024.2368064. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to profile biomechanical abilities during sprint front crawl by identifying technical stroke characteristics, in light of performance level. Ninety-one recreational to world-class swimmers equipped with a sacrum-worn IMU performed 25 m all-out. Intra and inter-cyclic 3D kinematical variabilities were clustered using a functional double partition model. Clusters were analysed according to (1) swimming technique using continuous visualisation and discrete features (standard deviation and jerk cost) and (2) performance regarding speed and competition calibre using respectively one-way ANOVA and Chi-squared test as well as Gamma statistics. Swimmers displayed specific technical profiles of intra-cyclic (smoothy and jerky) and inter-cyclic stroke regulation (low, moderate and high repeatability) significantly discriminated by speed (p < 0.001, η² = 0.62) and performance calibre (p < 0.001, V = 0.53). We showed that combining high levels of both kinds of variability (jerky + low repeatability) are associated with highest speed (1.86 ± 0.12 m/s) and competition calibre (ℽ = 0.75, p < 0.001). It highlights the crucial importance of variabilities combination. Technical skills might be driven by a specific alignment of stroke pattern and its associated dispersion according to the task constraints. This data-driven approach can assist eyes-based technical evaluation. Targeting the development of an explosive swimming style with a high level of body stability should be considered during training of sprinters.

PMID:38889362 | DOI:10.1080/14763141.2024.2368064

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Jun 18. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202404-0767RL. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38889351 | DOI:10.1164/rccm.202404-0767RL

Future Oncol. 2024 Jun 18:1-15. doi: 10.1080/14796694.2024.2357537. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We observed lack of clarity and consistency in end point definitions of large randomized clinical trials in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. These inconsistencies are such that trials might, in fact, address different clinical questions. They complicate interpretation of results, including comparisons across studies. Problems arise from different ways to account for events occurring after randomization including absence of improvement in disease status, treatment discontinuation or the initiation of new therapy. We call for more dialogue between stakeholders to define with clarity the questions of interest and corresponding end points. We illustrate that assessing different end point rules across a range of plausible patient journeys can be a powerful tool to facilitate such a discussion and contribute to better understanding of patient-relevant end points.

PMID:38889345 | DOI:10.1080/14796694.2024.2357537

Aggress Behav. 2024 Jun;50(4):e22160. doi: 10.1002/ab.22160.

ABSTRACT

Some emergency responders are more often exposed to workplace aggression than others. Victimological theories and previous studies suggest that characteristics of the target may predict exposure to workplace aggression. This paper examines the relationship between negative affect, hostile attribution, dominance, empathy, self-evaluations, and exposure to workplace aggression among emergency responders. Emergency medical workers, firefighters and police officers in the Netherlands filled in a survey during three measurement occasions (6 months apart). Results from the three occupational groups were presented separately. Results suggest that some psychological characteristics are related to exposure to workplace aggression, but that the contribution of these characteristics in the explanation of exposure to workplace aggression is limited. In addition, although differences between occupational groups could not be statistically tested due to differences in the factor structure of exposure to workplace aggression between the three groups of emergency response, differences seem to occur in models between emergency response contexts. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

PMID:38889343 | DOI:10.1002/ab.22160

Infect Dis (Lond). 2024 Jun 18:1-4. doi: 10.1080/23744235.2024.2369152. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38889338 | DOI:10.1080/23744235.2024.2369152