Category: Statistics

J Eval Clin Pract. 2024 Jun 25. doi: 10.1111/jep.14064. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The underreporting of occupational diseases in many countries significantly hampers the development of intervention programs, posing a significant public health problem. Our study aimed to contribute to the occupational diseases surveillance by examining the data of hospitals authorized to issue reports throughout Turkey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using medical diagnoses of occupational diseases reported to the General Directorate of Public Health from 81 provinces in Turkey between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2022. The study evaluated hospitals that made medical diagnoses of occupational diseases and compared age groups, genders, occupational disease diagnosis groups and provinces of work regarding legal and medical diagnoses.

RESULTS: The top three disease groups in terms of medical diagnosis are musculoskeletal disorders with 38.8%, respiratory diseases with 14.4% and hearing defects with 10.9%. Regarding legal diagnoses, respiratory system diseases ranked first with 26.4%, followed by musculoskeletal disorders with 8.2% and hearing defects with 5.5%. While the provinces where most cases of medical occupational diseases are diagnosed share similarities, the majority of affected individuals in Karabük and Batman have not received a legal recognition of the occupational disease. Two-thirds of Turkey’s medical occupational disease diagnoses were made in two hospitals.

CONCLUSION: This study is reflecting national data in Turkey and is the country’s first nationwide study. The number of occupational diseases in Turkey is lower than expected. It would be more accurate to express the data in a way that includes medical diagnoses instead of using the number of compensated files corresponding to legal diagnoses.

PMID:38924660 | DOI:10.1111/jep.14064

J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nurs. 2024 Aug;37(3):e12474. doi: 10.1111/jcap.12474.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Depression, anxiety, and eating disorders are all common during adolescence. This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between eating at night, physical activity, and depression/suicide risk in adolescents.

METHODS: This study followed a cross-sectional descriptive design and involved collecting data from adolescents aged 13-18 years who attend four different high schools. The data collection was done through an online survey using Google Forms. Sociodemographic form, eating at night questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short Form), Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, and Suicide Probability Scale were used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed electronically using descriptive statistics and correlation tests to examine relationships between different parameters.

RESULTS: The study revealed significant associations between academic achievement, daily sleep duration, and daily walking distance with depression and suicide probability (p < 0.05) among the participants. Adolescents who consumed food after 10 pm exhibited higher depression and suicide probability scores than their counterparts (p < 0.05). Additionally, an analysis of physical activity levels demonstrated that highly active adolescents had lower depression and suicide probability scores.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study suggests that there is a significant relationship between eating at night, physical activity, and depression/suicide risk in adolescents. Specifically, academic success, daily sleep duration, daily walking distance, and eating habits were found to be associated with depression and suicide probability. Encouraging physical activity and healthy eating habits, particularly avoiding eating late at night, may be beneficial in reducing the risk of depression and suicide among adolescents.

PMID:38924640 | DOI:10.1111/jcap.12474

J Trauma Stress. 2024 Jun 25. doi: 10.1002/jts.23061. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Prolonged grief symptoms frequently co-occur with symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety; however, little is known about how prolonged grief symptoms temporally relate to symptoms of neighboring stress-related and affective disorders. Clarifying such associations can help elucidate which symptoms to prioritize during treatment for distressed bereaved adults. We conducted a systematic review to provide a comprehensive overview of the empirical research on the bidirectional temporal associations between prolonged grief symptoms and symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety. A search of the PsycInfo, Web of Science, and Scopus databases (final search: December 2023) identified eight relevant empirical longitudinal studies utilizing lower-level mediation (two studies), cross-lagged panel modeling (CLPM; four studies), or random-intercept CLPM (RI-CLPM; two studies). The studies included a total of 2,914 bereaved adult participants. Studies showed considerable methodological heterogeneity, including different sample characteristics, study designs (e.g., measurement moments, time frames), statistical analyses, and measures. Temporal associations between prolonged grief symptoms and different types of symptoms appeared intertwined. Prolonged grief symptoms more consistently predicted symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress across measurement waves than vice versa, tentatively suggesting that prolonged grief may be a transdiagnostic risk factor for depressive and PTS symptoms. However, this pattern was not observed in the two studies utilizing RI-CLPM. Future research should aim to decrease methodological heterogeneity by using validated measures to capture prolonged grief symptoms, appropriate timeframes, and RI-CLPM to clarify associations between temporal within-person fluctuations of prolonged grief, depressive, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety symptoms.

PMID:38924632 | DOI:10.1002/jts.23061

Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2024 Jun 26. doi: 10.1002/cpdd.1442. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the pharmacokinetic properties and bioequivalence of 2 formulations of clopidogrel tablets administered to a cohort of healthy Moroccan male volunteers. The primary objective was to assess the rate and extent of drug absorption from the test formulation in comparison to a reference formulation, focusing on critical parameters including maximum plasma concentration (C_max), area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to the last measurable time (AUC_0-t), and area under the concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity (AUC_0-∞). The results revealed that the geometric mean ratios of C_max, AUC_0-t, and AUC_0-∞ for the test formulation relative to the reference formulation were 105.7%, 105.6%, and 105.6%, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals for these parameters fell within the predefined bioequivalence range of 80%-125%, indicating a statistically and clinically equivalent performance between the 2 formulations. This investigation sheds light on the pharmacokinetic behavior of clopidogrel in the context of the Moroccan male population, offering valuable insights into the comparability of formulations.

PMID:38924629 | DOI:10.1002/cpdd.1442

Pharm Stat. 2024 Jun 25. doi: 10.1002/pst.2409. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Subgroup analysis may be used to investigate treatment effect heterogeneity among subsets of the study population defined by baseline characteristics. Several methodologies have been proposed in recent years and with these, statistical issues such as multiplicity, complexity, and selection bias have been widely discussed. Some methods adjust for one or more of these issues; however, few of them discuss or consider the stability of the subgroup assignments. We propose exploring the stability of subgroups as a sensitivity analysis step for stratified medicine to assess the robustness of the identified subgroups besides identifying possible factors that may drive this instability. After applying Bayesian credible subgroups, a nonparametric bootstrap can be used to assess stability at subgroup-level and patient-level. Our findings illustrate that when the treatment effect is small or not so evident, patients are more likely to switch to different subgroups (jumpers) across bootstrap resamples. In contrast, when the treatment effect is large or extremely convincing, patients generally remain in the same subgroup. While the proposed subgroup stability method is illustrated through Bayesian credible subgroups method on time-to-event data, this general approach can be used with other subgroup identification methods and endpoints.

PMID:38924620 | DOI:10.1002/pst.2409

World J Surg. 2024 Jun 24. doi: 10.1002/wjs.12259. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many devices are used for dissection and hemostasis during reduction mammoplasty. While one of the most common methods is monopolar electrocautery, tissue damage due to thermal spread remains a controversial topic. New devices have been designed to minimize this effect. In this study, plasmakinetic cautery was hypothesized to reduce sensation loss, drainage, and wound-healing problems in reduction mammoplasty because it is less harmful to the surrounding tissues.

METHODS: Sixty-eight patients were evaluated in a matched pair design, with random (blinded) assignment of 34 patients with conventional monopolar electrocautery (Group A) and 34 patients with plasmakinetic cautery (group B). Postoperative drainage volume, drain duration, nipple-areolar complex (NAC) sensation, and complications (dehiscence, seroma, ischemia, and nipple circulatory problems) were compared by the researcher, who was blinded to the device used for the patient.

RESULTS: The groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, and medications (p > 0.05). The mean age of the patients were 38.50 ± 9.14 years in group A and 37.54 ± 8.17 in group B. The mean BMI was 25.19 ± 3.22 kg/m² in group A and 25.65 ± 2.96 kg/m² in group B. No differences were detected between the groups in terms of drain duration time, NAC sensation, or complications, but the drainage volume was statistically lower with plasmakinetic cautery (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that the main advantage of plasmakinetic cautery in reduction mammoplasty was a decrease in drainage volume when compared with monopolar electrocautery.

PMID:38924600 | DOI:10.1002/wjs.12259

Aust Dent J. 2024 Jun 24. doi: 10.1111/adj.13024. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the distribution of occlusal forces in the dental arches released during tooth clenching in patients with symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, and to analyse the age and gender structure of the patients in the study group and the control group.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study was carried out on a group of 58 patients, of both genders, aged 18-40 years, with full dental arches, who presented for treatment at the Prosthodontics Clinic of the University Dental Clinic in Kraków due to symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group (study group) comprised 26 patients with painful temporomandibular disorders, while the second group (control group) comprised 32 patients without pain. The study only included patients over 18 years of age, with full dental arches with symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. All patients underwent a basic dental examination and a specialized functional examination of the masticatory organ. A T-Scan III-Novus instrument with electronic occlusal articulation paper was used to assess the distribution of occlusal contacts.

RESULTS: In the study, women (43) were a larger group than men (15). Statistically significant values for the percentage distribution of occlusal contacts were obtained in group of women in the study group on the right and left side, in the area of molars and premolars. In the analysis of the percentage distribution of occlusal contacts in both the study and control groups, it can be seen that the first molars (teeth 16 and 26) showed a larger percentage range of values than the other teeth. The smallest values can be observed on the second incisal teeth and on the canines.

CONCLUSIONS: The first molars are, in the majority of patients, the teeth on which the strongest occlusal contacts are generated. Excessive participation of incisal teeth in occlusion might influence the development of the pain form of TMD. In order to determine whether there is a correlation between an uneven distribution of occlusal contacts and TMD pain, studies on larger numbers of patients are needed. © 2024 Australian Dental Association.

PMID:38924577 | DOI:10.1111/adj.13024

Mov Disord. 2024 Jun 26. doi: 10.1002/mds.29906. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The term “catatonia” was introduced by German psychiatrist Karl Kahlbaum in 1874. Although historically tied to schizophrenia, catatonia exhibits a diverse range of phenotypes and has been observed in various medical and neuropsychiatric conditions. Its intrinsic movement characteristics and association with hypokinetic and hyperkinetic phenomenologies place catatonia within the purview of movement disorders. Despite the presence of catatonia in psychiatry literature for over 150 years, many gaps and controversies persist regarding its etiopathogenesis, phenomenology, diagnostic criteria, and treatment. The current versions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) require clinicians to identify any three signs of 15 (ICD-11) or 12 (DSM-5) for the diagnosis of catatonia. Catalepsy and waxy flexibility are the only motor features with high specificity for the diagnosis. We highlight the gaps and controversies in catatonia as a movement disorder, emphasize the lack of a clear definition, and discuss the inconsistencies in the description of various catatonic signs. We propose the exploration of a bi-axial classification framework similar to that used for dystonia and tremor to encourage the evaluation of underlying etiologies and to guide therapeutic decisions to improve the outcome of these patients. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

PMID:38924566 | DOI:10.1002/mds.29906

J Anat. 2024 Jun 24. doi: 10.1111/joa.14102. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Early diagnosis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is critical for designing better treatments before the degradation becomes irreversible. We utilized multimodal high-resolution imaging to investigate early-stage deterioration in articular cartilage and the subchondral bone plate from a sub-critical impact to the knee joint, which initiates PTOA. The knee joints of 12 adult rabbits were mechanically impacted once on the femoral articular surface to initiate deterioration. At 2- and 14-week post-impact surgery, cartilage-bone blocks were harvested from the impact region in the animals (N = 6 each). These blocks were assessed for deterioration using polarized light microscopy (PLM), microcomputed tomography (μCT), and biochemical analysis. Statistically significant changes were noted in the impact tissues across the calcified zone (CZ) at 14 weeks post-impact: the optical retardation values in the CZ of impact cartilage had a drop of 29.0% at 14 weeks, while the calcium concentration in the CZ of impact cartilage also had a significant drop at 14 weeks. A significant reduction of 6.3% in bone mineral density (BMD) was noted in the subchondral bone plate of the impact samples at 14 weeks. At 2 weeks post-impact, only minor, non-significant changes were measured. Furthermore, the impact knees after 14 weeks had greater structural changes compared with the 2-week impact knees, indicating progressive degradation over time. The findings of this study facilitated a connection between mineralization alterations and the early deterioration of knee cartilage after a mechanical injury. In a broader context, these findings can be beneficial in improving clinical strategies to manage joint injuries.

PMID:38924533 | DOI:10.1111/joa.14102

J Physiol. 2024 Jun 25. doi: 10.1113/JP286032. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Persistent inward currents (PICs) and persistent outward currents (POCs) regulate the excitability and firing behaviours of spinal motoneurons (MNs). Given their potential role in MN excitability dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), PICs have been previously studied in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-G93A mice (the standard animal model of ALS); however, conflicting results have been reported on how the net PIC changes during disease progression. Also, individual PICs and POCs have never been examined before in symptomatic ALS. To fill this gap, we measured the net and individual PIC and POC components of wild-type (WT) and SOD MNs in current clamp and voltage clamp during disease progression (assessed by neuroscores). We show that SOD MNs of symptomatic mice experience a much larger net PIC, relative to WT cells from age-matched littermates. Specifically, the Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ PICs are larger, whereas the lasting SK-mediated (SK_L) POC is smaller than WT (Na⁺ PIC is the largest and SK_L POC is the smallest components in SOD MNs). We also show that PIC dysregulation is present at symptom onset, is sustained throughout advanced disease stages and is proportional to SOD MN cell size (largest dysregulation is in the largest SOD cells, the most vulnerable in ALS). Additionally, we show that studying disease progression using neuroscores is more accurate than using SOD mouse age, which could lead to misleading statistics and age-based trends. Collectively, this study contributes novel PIC and POC data, reveals ionic mechanisms contributing to the vulnerability differential among MN types/sizes, and provides insights on the roles PIC and POC mechanisms play in MN excitability dysfunction in ALS. KEY POINTS: Individual persistent inward currents (PICs) and persistent outward currents (POCs) have never been examined before in spinal motoneurons (MNs) of symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice. Thus, we contribute novel PIC and POC data to the ALS literature. Male SOD MNs of symptomatic mice have elevated net PIC, with larger Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ PICs but reduced SK_L POC vs. wild-type littermates. Na⁺ PIC is the largest and SK_L POC is the smallest current in SOD cells. The PIC/POC dysregulation is present at symptom onset. PIC dysregulation is sustained throughout advanced disease, and is proportional to SOD MN size (largest dysregulation is in the largest cells, the most vulnerable in ALS). Thus, we reveal ionic mechanisms contributing to the vulnerability differential among MN types/sizes in ALS. Studying disease progression using SOD mice neuroscores is more accurate than using age, which could distort the statistical differences between SOD and WT PIC/POC data and the trends during disease progression.

PMID:38924530 | DOI:10.1113/JP286032