Category: Statistics

Toxicol Rep. 2024 Nov 19;13:101822. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.101822. eCollection 2024 Dec.

ABSTRACT

The governing laws mandate animal testing guidelines (TG) to assess the developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) potential of new and current chemical compounds for the categorization, hazard identification, and labeling. In silico modeling has evolved as a promising, economical, and animal-friendly technique for assessing a chemical’s potential for DART testing. The complexity of the endpoint has presented a problem for Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) model developers as various facets of the chemical have to be appropriately analyzed to predict the DART. For the next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) studies, researchers and governing bodies are exploring various new approach methodologies (NAMs) integrated to address complex endpoints like repeated dose toxicity and DART. We have developed four hybrid computational models for DART studies of rodents and rabbits for their adult and fetal life stages separately. The hybrid models were created by integrating QSAR features with similarities-derived features (obtained from read-across hypotheses). This analysis has identified that this integrated method gives a better statistical quality compared to the traditional QSAR models, and the predictivity and transferability of the model are also enhanced in this new approach.

PMID:39649380 | PMC:PMC11621937 | DOI:10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.101822

Front Rehabil Sci. 2024 Nov 22;5:1495621. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2024.1495621. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Air pollution poses significant risks to cardiovascular health, yet patients often lack comprehensive knowledge about its impact and mitigation strategies. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention within a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) context in enhancing patients’ understanding of air pollution and its cardiovascular effects.

METHODS: A pre-post pilot study was conducted from February 2021 to June 2021 at the Gregorio Marañón University General Hospital, Madrid, Spain. A total of 43 patients with cardiovascular disease attending CR were enrolled. Participants received a 1-h educational intervention delivered either in-person or online, focusing on the effects of air pollution and strategies to reduce exposure. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessed participants’ knowledge and perceptions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze changes in awareness and understanding.

RESULTS: Initially, participants demonstrated a high level of awareness about the health impacts of air pollution, with 100% acknowledging its effects on health. However, detailed knowledge about specific concepts such as the Air Quality Index (AQI) and particulate matter (PM2.5) was limited. Post-intervention, there was a significant increase in knowledge, with familiarity with AQI rising from 61% to 81% (p = 0.02) and understanding of PM2.5 improving from 28% to 58% (p = 0.01). This indicates that the educational intervention effectively bridged gaps in understanding and reinforced the importance of environmental factors in cardiovascular health management.

DISCUSSION: The pilot study highlights the critical role of targeted education in improving patient awareness and knowledge about air pollution. The significant improvement in understanding key concepts underscores the need for broader educational initiatives that extend beyond CR programs. Future research should explore the impact of such interventions on long-term health outcomes and consider expanding educational efforts to include healthcare providers and family members.

PMID:39649374 | PMC:PMC11621042 | DOI:10.3389/fresc.2024.1495621

Health SA. 2024 Nov 27;29:2645. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2645. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: South Africa is experiencing increased medico-legal litigations in maternity services arising from poor recordkeeping. To enhance the quality of recordkeeping and reduce the lawsuits, the strategies were developed and validated by maternal healthcare experts.

AIM: The study is aimed to develop and validate strategies for recordkeeping during intrapartum care in Limpopo province.

SETTING: The study was conducted in seven hospitals located in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo province.

METHODS: The hospitals were purposefully selected to participate in this study. A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was applied. For the quantitative phase, the maternity case records were reviewed for completeness. Statistician assisted in translation of the checklist into statistical package for social science (SPSS) program. The data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative phase, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with midwives and doctors to describe and determine their perceptions and experiences of recordkeeping during intrapartum. A co-coder was engaged in qualitative data analysis. The findings of quantitative and qualitative phases were integrated to develop the strategies for recordkeeping. A two-rounds Delphi technique was employed to validate the strategies by engaging maternal healthcare experts.

RESULTS: Ten (10) strategies to enhance recordkeeping were developed and validated by the experts.

CONCLUSION: The proposed strategies were operationalised into interventions with the aim to improve recordkeeping.

CONTRIBUTION: The strategies aim to improve the quality-of-service provision during intrapartum care and reduce or culminate legal claims in Limpopo province.

PMID:39649349 | PMC:PMC11621868 | DOI:10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2645

Health SA. 2024 Oct 28;29:2675. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2675. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Online platforms have gained considerable support from students and lecturers post COVID-19, however they are associated with student exhaustion and fatigue.

AIM: To determine Zoom exhaustion and fatigue in nursing students at a selected university in South Africa.

METHODS: A quantitative cross – sectional study was conducted in KwaZulu-Natal to collect data from 146 nursing students registered at the selected university for the 4-year Bachelor of Nursing programme. The Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue Scale collected data on responses to domains of general fatigue, visual fatigue, social fatigue, motivational fatigue, and emotional fatigue. The data were analysed using the International Business Machines, Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 26.0. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographics, a total score was calculated and mean scores and 95% confidence intervals for the different domains were calculated. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis Independent Tests were calculated to determine associations between demographics and Zoom usage.

RESULTS: The overall Zoom exhaustion and fatigue score was 46.71 (s.d. = 10.50). The motivational fatigue construct had the highest mean score of 3.29 (s.d. = 0.83), followed by general (3.18 s.d. = 0.81), social (3.11, s.d. = 0.88), emotional (3.06, s.d. = 0.99) and visual fatigue (2.92, s.d. = 0.94).

CONCLUSION: The study concluded that while the overall mean score indicated moderate levels of Zoom exhaustion and fatigue among respondents, majority of the respondents scored high levels (> 48) of Zoom fatigue. Students reported higher levels of motivational fatigue compared to the other 4 constructs.

PMID:39649346 | PMC:PMC11621910 | DOI:10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2675

Indian J Nephrol. 2024 Nov-Dec;34(6):630-635. doi: 10.25259/ijn_3_24. Epub 2024 Jun 24.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Doppler ultrasound examination of blood vessels has a significant role in planning and identifying parameters that affect the functioning and maturation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Our goal was to determine the predictive parameters of Doppler ultrasound, measured at different time distances, which affect the maturation of AVF for hemodialysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was a retrospective cohort study. The criteria for selecting patients in our study was the existence of information on ultrasound examinations of the lumen of blood vessels before the creation of AVF, as well as lumens of fistula conduits and blood flow measurements, at time intervals of 6-8 weeks and 2-4 months, after the creation of AVF, which we recorded in 105 patients. The respondents were divided into two groups: a group of patients with immature, and mature fistulas. Basic demographic data, clinical characteristics of the responders and laboratory parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS: By comparing clinical and laboratory parameters between the group of subjects with and without AVF maturation, a statistically significant difference was determined between the lumen of the proximal radial vein (p = 0.008) and the lumen of the distal radial vein (p = 0.001). The diameter of the fistulous veins (p = 0.037), and the blood flow through the AVF 6-8 weeks (p = 0.001) and 2-4 months (p = 0.001) after its creation were statistically significantly higher in subjects with mature fistulas. By univariate regression analysis, brachial vein (p = 0.04), proximal (p = 0.011) and distal radial artery (p = 0.001), fistula vein, after 6-8 weeks (p = 0.002), blood flow through AVF 6-8 weeks (p = 0.001) and 2-4 months (p = 0.001) after AVF creation, are statistically significant parameters. Predictive parameters of AVF maturation are AVF blood flow after 6-8 weeks (p = 0.010) and AVF blood flow after 2-4 months (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Our research confirmed that greater the blood flow through AVF, at time intervals of 6-8 weeks and 2-4 months after creation, the better the maturation.

PMID:39649327 | PMC:PMC11619096 | DOI:10.25259/ijn_3_24

Digit Health. 2024 Dec 5;10:20552076241302251. doi: 10.1177/20552076241302251. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Healthcare delivery and research are moving increasingly towards digital engagement, which could inequitably exclude some populations due to differential technology access and uptake. We sought to evaluate study-related digital access, preferences, and use among parents of patients with Medicaid insurance enrolled in research in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis within a randomized trial at an academic pediatric ED. Children with public insurance and a language of English or Spanish who were treated for asthma symptoms were enrolled; parents completed surveys regarding digital access, preferences and demographics. Associations were tested using Fisher’s exact test.

RESULTS: We enrolled 80 families, of whom 18% had a language for care of Spanish; 31% of children identified as Hispanic, and 25% as Black. All baseline survey respondents (n = 79) endorsed having an internet-connected computer (73%) or smartphone (99%); 85% of smartphone holders reported unlimited data. When given the choice, 73% of participants requested a physical gift card instead of an electronic gift card. Only 31% had patient portal access 6 months after study end. Parents who spoke Spanish or with a child identified as Hispanic or Black more often requested physical gift cards and less often had patient portal access, but these differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Despite ubiquitous access to internet-connected digital devices among this Medicaid-insured population, patient portal use was low and many families preferred non-digital reimbursement. Efforts to enhance research inclusion should consider digital preferences in addition to digital access when planning study procedures.

PMID:39649294 | PMC:PMC11622308 | DOI:10.1177/20552076241302251

Arch Med Sci. 2024 Jul 24;20(5):1461-1471. doi: 10.5114/aoms/181134. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study will explore the correlation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) regulation of metabolic remodelling in the myocardial fibrosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) in rheumatic heart disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The left atrial appendage tissues were evaluated by Masson staining for fibrosis degree, and Western Blot was used to detect the expression of proteins related to glucose metabolism disorder, lipid metabolism abnormality, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The myocardial fibroblasts were established by stimulation with ANG II, and the PPAR-α agonist GW7647 was administered. The changes of phenotype transformation of myocardial fibroblasts were detected by cellular immunofluorescence, the secretion level of supernatant collagen was detected by ELISA. Finally, the correlation between PPAR-α protein expression and myocardial fibrosis was analysed and a conclusion was drawn.

RESULTS: Masson staining showed that the degree of myocardial fibrosis in patients with AF was significantly increased; WB analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in protein expression related to glucose metabolism disorder, lipid metabolism abnormality, and mitochondrial dysfunction. There was a correlation between PPAR-α protein expression and myocardial fibrosis (r = -0.5322, p < 0.0001). After stimulation with PPAR-α agonist GW7647, the phenotypic differentiation of myocardial fibro-blasts into myofibroblasts was inhibited. The protein expression related to mitochondrial dysfunction was statistically different.

CONCLUSIONS: This study found that there is a negative correlation between the expression of PPAR-α protein and myocardial fibrosis in rheumatic heart disease AF, which plays a protective role. PPAR-α may participate in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis in rheumatic heart disease AF by regulating glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial function.

PMID:39649284 | PMC:PMC11623188 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/181134

Arch Med Sci. 2024 May 28;20(5):1538-1546. doi: 10.5114/aoms/183947. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two methods for non-invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – using a helmet interface with a flow meter and positive end-expiratory pressure valve versus a traditional mechanical ventilator.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a single-center randomized clinical trial involving 100 adult SARS-CoV-2 patients in a specialized private hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one using the helmet interface with a flow meter and positive end-expiratory pressure valve and the other employing conventional mechanical ventilation. Our study included participant selection, blood gas analysis, assessment of respiratory rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, modified Borg scale scores, and a visual analog scale.

RESULTS: The study showed no significant difference in intubation rates between the mechanical ventilation (54.3%) and helmet interface with flow meter and positive end-expiratory pressure valve (46.8%) groups (p = 0.37). Additionally, the helmet group had a shorter average duration of use (3.4 ±1.6 days) compared to the mechanical ventilation group (4.0 ±1.9 days). The helmet group also had a shorter average hospitalization duration (15.9 ±7.9 days) compared to the mechanical ventilation group (17.1 ±9.5 days).

CONCLUSIONS: This single-center randomized clinical trial found no statistically significant differences between the two methods of non-invasive ventilation. Implications for clinical practice: using the helmet interface with the flow meter and positive end-expiratory pressure valve can simplify device installation, potentially reducing the need for intubation, making it a valuable tool for nurses and physiotherapists in daily clinical practice.

PMID:39649277 | PMC:PMC11623150 | DOI:10.5114/aoms/183947

Infect Dis Model. 2024 Nov 16;10(1):325-337. doi: 10.1016/j.idm.2024.11.001. eCollection 2025 Mar.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the feasibility of evaluating the COVID-19 epidemic trend through monitoring the positive percentage of SARS-CoV-19 RNA in wastewater.

METHOD: The study collected data from January to August 2023, including the number of reported cases, the positive ratio of nucleic acid samples in sentinel hospitals, the incidence rate of influenza-like symptoms in students, and the positive ratio of wastewater samples in different counties and districts in Shangrao City. Wastewater samples were obtained through grabbing and laboratory testing was completed within 24 h. The data were then normalized using Z-score normalization and analyzed for lag time and correlation using the xcorr function and Spearman correlation coefficient.

RESULTS: A total of 2797 wastewater samples were collected. The wastewater monitoring study, based on sampling point distribution, was divided into two phases. Wuyuan County consistently showed high levels of positive ratio in wastewater samples in both phases, reaching peak values of 91.67% and 100% respectively. The lag time analysis results indicated that the peak positive ratio in all wastewater samples in Shangrao City appeared around 2 weeks later compared to the other three indicators. The correlation analysis revealed a strong linear correlation across all four types of data, with Spearman correlation coefficients ranging from 0.783 to 0.977, all of which were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: The positive ratio of all wastewater samples in Shangrao City accurately reflected the COVID-19 epidemic trend from January to August 2023. This study confirmed the lag effect of wastewater percent positive and its strong correlation with the reported incidence rate and the positive ratio of nucleic acid samples in sentinel hospitals, supporting the use of wastewater percent positive monitoring as a supplementary tool for infectious disease surveillance in the regions with limited resources.

PMID:39649243 | PMC:PMC11625299 | DOI:10.1016/j.idm.2024.11.001

Cureus. 2024 Dec 2;16(12):e74979. doi: 10.7759/cureus.74979. eCollection 2024 Dec.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Perioperative hypothermia is defined as a patient’s core body temperature of less than 36°C, which can lead to several complications. Even mild hypothermia increases the incidence of post-operative wound infection, post-operative ischaemic cardiac events and intra-operative blood loss and prolongs post-operative recovery. It is, hence, essential to maintain and provide normothermia during the perioperative phases for optimal surgical results and patient satisfaction. One of the most significant contributing factors to intra-operative hypothermia is the induction of general anaesthesia, where a significant amount of heat is shifted from the core to the peripheral circulation with consequent loss to an often-cold environment. The difference between the patient’s skin and ambient temperature during the interval from entering the operating room through anaesthesia induction until draping and active warming may be significant. This study aims to look at the incidence of perioperative hypothermia in trauma and orthopaedics patients who present to a busy district general hospital in the National Health Service (NHS) and correlate this with the ambient theatre temperature and phases of surgery to draw a statistical significance.

METHODS: This retrospective observational study conducted at the North Manchester General Hospital’s trauma and orthopaedics department included 300 patients listed in the trauma surgery list from 1 July 2023 to 31 August 2023. Inclusion criteria were trauma patients aged 16-85 years. Elective orthopaedic and other surgical speciality patients were excluded. The perioperative temperature measurements were collected from the anaesthesia records. Statistical calculations were conducted using the StatsDirect software (StatsDirect Ltd, Wirral, UK) from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester.

RESULTS: Among the 300 patients, the overall incidence of hypothermia was 3% pre-operative, 18% pre-induction, 21% intra-operative, 21% post-operative, 3% in recovery and 0% post-recovery. Intra-operative hypothermia incidence was significant, given that active warming was applied to patients with pre-operative hypothermia. Multivariate regression analysis showed that pre-induction temperature and theatre ambient temperature were statistically significant in predicting intra-operative hypothermia.

CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for active interventions to recognise and prevent perioperative hypothermia in trauma and orthopaedics patients. Active pre-warming of patients and the operating rooms, regardless of surgery type and duration, is feasible and potentially beneficial. Further studies should include a randomised controlled trial comparing active and passive warming strategies to evaluate their effectiveness in improving perioperative outcomes.

PMID:39649238 | PMC:PMC11624031 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.74979