Category: Statistics

J Neurol. 2024 Dec 16;272(1):80. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12754-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Stroke results in focal neurological deficit and often leads to auditory problems due to its impact on the auditory pathway. Altered connections in the auditory pathway, caused by stroke, can result in hearing difficulties ranging from impaired sound detection to altered auditory perception. A better understanding of how stroke affects these early sound processing mechanisms will provide valuable insights into stroke recovery and rehabilitation options.

METHODS: We recruited forty consecutive adult patients with stroke (30 males, 10 females) due to ischemic or intracerebral hemorrhage > 3 and up to 12 months after stroke (subacute stage). Brain MRIs were performed on all patients, and we calculated a central auditory nervous system stroke severity index (CANS SSI) according to number of CANS areas involved and an extended CANS definition of auditory responsive areas. All patients underwent cognitive screening assessment, basic audiological assessments, and a hierarchical central auditory processing assessment battery with the Queen Square Tests of Auditory Cognition (early perceptual processing, apperceptive processing, semantic Processing) and Gaps in Noise tests.

RESULTS: When comparing patients with auditory responsive cortical lesions and with versus without Heschl’s gyrus involvement (primary auditory cortex), patients with Heschl’s gyrus involvement exhibited worse early perceptual scores. The CANS SSI showed a significant negative correlation with early perceptual test scores.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a correlation between stroke severity, characterized by a higher number of lesions involving auditory areas in patients with subacute stroke, and worse early perceptual scores. Heschl’s gyrus involvement is associated with poorer early perceptual score.

PMID:39680236 | DOI:10.1007/s00415-024-12754-x

Mol Biol Rep. 2024 Dec 16;52(1):54. doi: 10.1007/s11033-024-10126-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is a strong relationship between growth traits and genes. Identifying genotypes associated with superior phenotypic traits allows for targeted selection, facilitating the development of herds with desirable features. The growth hormone (GH) gene plays a crucial role in growth, development, and metabolism, making it a key focus for growth trait studies in livestock.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This study investigated the relationship between polymorphism in the GH gene and growth traits in 33 Akkaraman and 40 Anatolian Merino ewes. Traits such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), and 6-month weight (LW6), as well as body measurements (withers height (WH), rump height (RH), body length (BL), chest width (CW), chest circumference (CC)), were collected. Average daily weight gain (ADWG) and Kleiber ratios were calculated. Polymorphisms were detected through PCR-RFLP using the HaeIII enzyme, identifying three genotypes: AA, AB, and BB. Statistically significant differences were found between genotypes for WW, RH, WH, BL, CW, and CC (P < 0.05). Sheep with the AA genotype had higher averages, while AB individuals exhibited lower values for these traits. ADWG1 and KR1 values were higher in homozygous genotypes (AA and BB) than in heterozygous ones (AB), showing statistical significance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the GH gene may serve as a candidate for Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) in Akkaraman and Anatolian Merino sheep, particularly for growth-related traits.

PMID:39680233 | DOI:10.1007/s11033-024-10126-2

Trials. 2024 Dec 14;25(1):815. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08697-3.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:39674869 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-024-08697-3

Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Dec 14. doi: 10.1245/s10434-024-16630-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is limited data regarding sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for cN3b patients, who present with both axillary and ipsilateral internal mammary node involvement. We examined trends in the use of SLNB in cN3b patients and survival by axillary procedure for those with nodal pathologic complete response (nPCR).

METHODS: Adult women with nonmetastatic cN3b invasive breast carcinoma between 2012 and 2021 were selected from the National Cancer Database. These patients were compared based on type of axillary surgery, specifically SLNB, SLNB with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and ALND alone. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare overall survival.

RESULTS: A total of 4,236 patients were included. In 2012, 8.5% of these patients underwent SLNB alone and 18.3% underwent SLNB+ALND. In 2021, this increased to 35.1% for SLNB alone and 23.0% for SLNB with subsequent ALND (p < 0.0001). For patients who received NAC, the rate of nPCR was overall found to be 24.9%. Overall survival of patients receiving SLNB or SLNB+ALND with nPCR was not statistically significantly different from the ALND only group with nPCR (p = 0.22 and 0.57, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: There has been increasing use of the SLNB procedure for patients with cN3b breast cancer over the past decade. In patients with nPCR, SLNB was not associated with reduced survival. For well-selected cN3b patients with an excellent clinical response to NAC, including nPCR, axillary de-escalation strategies, such as SLNB with omission of completion axillary dissection, may be considered.

PMID:39674862 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-024-16630-w

Metabolomics. 2024 Dec 14;21(1):5. doi: 10.1007/s11306-024-02200-4.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic immune driven intestinal disorders with marked metabolic alteration. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables the direct visualization of biomolecules within tissues and facilitates the study of metabolic changes. Integrating multiple spatial information sources is a promising approach for discovering new biomarkers and understanding biochemical alteration within the context of the disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the metabolomic changes in gut tissue samples from a preclinical model of spontaneous colitis, the HLA-B27/hβ2m transgenic rat, to uncover disease biomarkers.

METHODS: We applied MSI to study the biochemical profile of bowel samples from HLA-B27/hβ2m transgenic and WT control rats in an unbiased manner. Statistical comparison was used to identify discriminative features. Some features were annotated using LC-MS/MS. The significance of these discriminative features was evaluated based on their distribution within histological layers and the presence of immune infiltration.

RESULTS: We identified spatially resolved changes in the metabolomic pattern of HLA-B27⁺ samples compared to WT controls. Out of the 275 discriminative features identified, 83 were annotated as metabolites. Two functional groups of discriminative metabolites were discussed as markers of gut barrier impairment and immune cell infiltration.

CONCLUSION: MS imaging’s spatial dimension provides insights into disease mechanisms through the identification of spatially resolved biomarkers.

PMID:39674857 | DOI:10.1007/s11306-024-02200-4

J Food Sci. 2024 Dec 14. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.17395. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

(E)-2-Hexenal (E2H) is an important volatile organic compound (VOC) that can serve as a marker for fruit quality sensing and shelf-life evaluation. However, visual and portable sensors for E2H have not been reported mainly because of the difficulty in selective response to E2H while avoiding interference from other VOC, especially isomers. Herein, we developed a novel colorimetric sensor based on thiol-functionalized polydiacetylene assembly (PDA-SH/PDA) for the quantitative and selectivity of E2H. The mechanism was that E2H underwent a Michael addition reaction with sulfhydryl groups in PDA-SH/PDA. The Michael addition reaction destroyed the hydrogen bond and distorted the conjugated molecular system, resulting in colorimetric responses. Under optimal conditions, a good linear relationship was observed between E2H concentration and red colorimetric shift (R² = 0.9679). The E2H sensor yields a high analytical sensitivity of 1.5203% and a limit of detection of 0.015 g L^-1. Besides, the PDA-SH/PDA sensor can be used to visually distinguish E2H and its isomer (Z)-3-hexenal. The PDA-SH/PDA sensor yielded a statistically significant difference in red colorimetric shift (p < 0.01) between the pairs of isomers in the ripeness of fruits. At last, the sensor was utilized for detecting E2H in grapes from different shelf lives. We found that the E2H concentration increased from 66.16 ± 1.54 to 67.56 ± 1.30 µg L^-1 as storage time was prolonged. The results of this research not only demonstrated the feasibility of visual and on-site detection of E2H but also provided potential promise for portable fruit quality sensing and shelf-life evaluation.

PMID:39674853 | DOI:10.1111/1750-3841.17395

Ann Nucl Med. 2024 Dec 15. doi: 10.1007/s12149-024-02006-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to explore the role of fluorine-18-aluminum fluoride-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid-octreotide (¹⁸F-OC) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in neuroblastoma (NB) and compared it with Iodine-123 labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (¹²³I-MIBG) scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT), as well as to investigate the feasibility of the modified Curie scoring system and International Society of Pediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma (SIOPEN) skeleton scoring system applied in ¹⁸F-OC PET/CT.

METHODS: Patients with pathologically confirmed NB underwent ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy with SPECT/CT and ¹⁸F-OC PET/CT according the standard imaging protocols. The interval between the two imaging techniques ranged from 0 to 22 days (median interval: 9 days). The number of lesions in modified Curie scoring system and SIOPEN skeleton scoring system applied on ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT/CT and ¹⁸F-OC PET/CT was compared.

RESULTS: A total of 50 NB patients (male: female = 25:25) with a median age of 62-month-old were enrolled. ¹²³I-MIBG and ¹⁸F-OC imaging were positive in 22 patients and negative in 27 patients. 1 patient had positive ¹⁸F-OC but negative ¹²³I-MIBG results (p = 1.000). In lesion-based analysis, ¹⁸F-OC PET/CT revealed more positive lesions than ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy with SPECT/CT (57 vs. 44, p < 0.001), regardless of bone/bone marrow lesions (43 vs. 37, p = 0.031) or soft tissue lesions (14 vs. 7, p = 0.016). The Curie scores of the two imaging techniques showed a significant difference (p = 0.047), whereas no statistic difference for SIOPEN scores (p = 0.688). The Curie and SIOPEN scores were significantly higher in patients with the presence of MYCN amplification or positive bone marrow puncture result (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: ¹⁸F-OC could be used in the evaluation of NB, and the modified Curie scoring system could be used to semi-quantify the disease extent of NB in ¹⁸F-OC PET/CT.

PMID:39674843 | DOI:10.1007/s12149-024-02006-3

Sleep Breath. 2024 Dec 15;29(1):60. doi: 10.1007/s11325-024-03197-9.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the quantity, types, and trends of surgical procedures used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) within a diverse national population, utilizing a comprehensive proprietary healthcare database.

METHODS: This descriptive observational study analyzed longitudinal data from the Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart databases, covering the period from January 2004 to December 2020. The study included patients aged 18 to 89 years, both male and female, with a confirmed diagnosis of OSA. These patients were either treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or underwent surgical interventions.

RESULTS: Throughout the study period, 1,250,273 individuals were diagnosed with OSA. The average age at diagnosis was 62 years (SD = 16), with a male predominance of 62.3%, and 75% of the patients were identified as Caucasian. The most frequently performed surgical procedure for OSA was Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). However, the implantable hypoglossal nerve stimulator was more commonly utilized among older patients.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides essential insights into the prevalence and characteristics of surgical procedures used in OSA treatment across a diverse national population. The findings underscore the significance of understanding surgical intervention patterns and trends to enhance patient care and outcomes.

PMID:39674840 | DOI:10.1007/s11325-024-03197-9

J Perinatol. 2024 Dec 14. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-02189-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Decrease: 1) time from tracheostomy or gastrostomy tube placement to discharge home, and 2) avoidable readmissions within 7 days post-discharge, for medically complex infants.

STUDY DESIGN: Five neonatology units and representatives from Medicaid and Managed Care Organizations participated. Measures included length of stay (LOS) from surgery to discharge, readmissions, and time from surgery to identifying home nursing. We used statistical process control (SPC) methods and bivariate tests for post-hoc before-after comparisons.

RESULT: Among 421 infants, no avoidable readmissions occurred in the final 25 months. LOS and all-cause readmissions were unchanged (SPC). LOS changes were variable, ranging from -39.5 days (tracheostomy and ventilator) to +30.8 days (tracheostomy without ventilator) and not significant. Median time to identify home nursing was 70.1 days (range 2-428).

CONCLUSION: Although lack of skilled home nursing precluded improving transitions from NICU to home in medically complex infants, all avoidable readmissions were eliminated for 25 months.

PMID:39674835 | DOI:10.1038/s41372-024-02189-7