Category: Statistics

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Nov-Dec;37(6):1271-1280.

ABSTRACT

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) injections combined with Anastrozole are increasingly used to treat adolescent idiopathic short stature (ISS), warranting further research. This study evaluated their effects on height, growth rate and adverse reactions in 72 adolescents with ISS treated at our hospital from December 2021 to December 2022. Patients were divided into a control group (rhGH alone) and a study group (rhGH + Anastrozole). Post-treatment, the study group showed significant improvements in height, weight and levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and binding protein-3 (P<0.05). Both groups experienced increased levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, osteocalcin and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide, with the study group showing greater increases (P<0.05). Adverse reactions were slightly higher in the control group but not statistically significant (P>0.05). The combined treatment significantly enhances linear growth, body mass and trace element levels, demonstrating high efficacy and safety. This innovative approach is highly recommended for broader clinical adoption, offering a transformative solution for managing adolescent idiopathic dwarfism.

PMID:39799442

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Nov-Dec;37(6):1229-1238.

ABSTRACT

Hematological toxicity is a predominant concern encountered during cancer treatment. Regular blood tests and follow-up are crucial for cancer patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the hematological toxicities seen by breast cancer patients who were administered paclitaxel during treatment cycles. An observational retrospective study was conducted at the Oncology Clinic at Hiwa Hospital in The Kurdistan Region of Iraq between January 2021 and May 2022. Among the 141 breast cancer patients included in the study, 74 patients did not receive granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prior to the baseline, while 67 patients did receive it. A significant statistical difference was observed in the White Blood Cells parameter among cancer patients who did not receive granulocyte-colony stimulating factor before the baseline when comparing the 2^nd cycle to the 3^rd cycle of Paclitaxel treatment (P-value = 0.001). Statistically significant differences were seen between the Baseline and 1^st Cycle, Baseline and 2^nd Cycle and Baseline and 3^rd Cycle (P-value = 0.0312, 0.031 and 0.031, respectively) in grade 1 neutropenia among the 67 patients who received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prior to the baseline. This study determined that anemia is a frequently observed hematological side effect of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients who are undergoing treatment with paclitaxel, followed by grade 1 neutropenia.

PMID:39799438

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Nov-Dec;37(6):1207-1212.

ABSTRACT

This article primarily discusses the efficacy and safety of atropine (ATR) plus omeprazole (OME) for the treatment of acute gastritis (AG). From May 2022 to May 2024, 95 AG patients were selected, including 50 cases treated with ATR+OME (observation group) and 45 cases with anisodamine (ADM) plus OME (control group). Comparative analyses of the following dimensions were then carried out: Clinical efficacy, safety (xerostomia, palpitations and headaches), symptom remission time (stomach pain, abdominal distension and nausea and vomiting), serum inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6 and interferon [IFN]-β) and plasma gastrointestinal hormones (epidermal growth factor [EGF], gastrin [GAS] and somatostatin [SS]). After analysis, the observation group had a higher total effective rate, a lower overall incidence of adverse reactions and a shorter remission time of symptoms such as stomach pain, abdominal distension and nausea and vomiting than the control group, all with statistical significance. Moreover, compared with the baseline (before medication) and the control group, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-β and GAS were reduced statistically in the observation group after medication, while EGF and SS were markedly increased. Thus, ATR plus OME has significant efficacy in the treatment of AG while ensuring high clinical safety, which deserves clinical promotion.

PMID:39799435

J Prev (2022). 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s10935-025-00824-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant shifts in societal norms and individual behaviors, including changes in physical activity levels. This study examines the relationship between socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors and changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels among adult Arkansans. Survey data were collected from 1,205 adult Arkansans in July and August 2020, capturing socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics and information on physical activity changes since the onset of the pandemic. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the relative risk of reporting increased or decreased physical activity compared to unchanged levels. Age (RRR _{more physical activity} =0.98, RRR _{less physical activity} =0.98), marital status (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.66), COVID-19-related income loss (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.61), and receipt of a stimulus check (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.64) were significantly associated with changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic. Older individuals, married individuals, those without COVID-19-related income loss, and recipients of stimulus checks were less likely to report decreased physical activity levels. No significant association was found between race/ethnicity and physical activity changes. This study highlights the influence of socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors on physical activity behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of considering socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors in public health interventions to promote physical activity and mitigate health disparities beyond the pandemic.

PMID:39798056 | DOI:10.1007/s10935-025-00824-3

J Ultrasound. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s40477-024-00977-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the accuracy and success rate of ultrasound in determining fetal sex. A search was conducted on Medline, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases, and the reference lists of selected studies were also reviewed. Meta-analyses were performed using Revman 5.4.1 and Meta-DiSc 2.0. Twenty-eight studies met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. Nine studies reported the accuracy rate of first-trimester fetal sex identification, with a mean accuracy of 85% and a median of 87%. Six studies provided accuracy rates for second and third-trimester identifications, with mean and median rates of 92% and 99%, respectively. A pooled sensitivity and specificity analysis shows that the sensitivity increased from 69% at 11 weeks to 89% at 12 weeks to 96% at 13 weeks. Forest plots on the success rates indicated no significant statistical differences between first-trimester ultrasound sex determination and actual birth sex, with p values of 0.06 for males and 0.08 for females. Similarly, second and third-trimester forest plots showed p values of 0.70 for males and 0.14 for females. In conclusion, ultrasound accuracy for fetal sex determination rises from 87% in first to 99% in second trimesters. The success rate shows no significant difference for either trimester. However, male sex is more easily detected in the second and third trimesters, while female sex is more easily detected in the first trimester. The sensitivity of fetal sex detection in the first trimester increases with gestational age. These findings suggest that prenatal ultrasound sex determination can be useful in managing sex-related pregnancy complications.

PMID:39798051 | DOI:10.1007/s40477-024-00977-7

Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s11255-025-04367-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Locally advanced colorectal tumors frequently invade adjacent organs, particularly the urinary bladder in the sigmoid colon and upper rectum, complicating multivisceral resections. This study compared postoperative outcomes of partial cystectomy (PC) and total cystectomy (TC) in patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer.

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Central Register of Clinical Trials, and Web of Science for studies published up to November 2024. Odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with I² statistics. Statistical analyses were performed in R Software 4.4.1.

RESULTS: Nine retrospective studies including 894 patients were analyzed. Among them, 433 (48.43%) underwent PC, and 461 (51.57%) underwent TC. Compared to TC, PC was associated with significantly lower rates of surgical site infection (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.13-0.80; p = 0.015), shorter operative time (MD – 169.7 min; 95% CI – 214.1 to – 125.3; p < 0.01), reduced blood loss (MD – 1005.9 ml; 95% CI – 1362.1 to – 649.8; p < 0.01), and shorter hospital stay (MD – 6.6 days; 95% CI – 9.4 to – 3.9; p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between groups in local or distant recurrence, urinary and intestinal leaks, pelvic abscess, ileus, urinary tract infection, or 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSION: Partial cystectomy demonstrated superior postoperative outcomes, including fewer surgical site infections, reduced operative time, less blood loss, and shorter hospitalization. Oncological outcomes and other postoperative complications were comparable between PC and TC, supporting PC as a safe and effective option in selected patients.

PMID:39798047 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-025-04367-8

Pharmacoeconomics. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s40273-024-01465-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Forecasting future public pharmaceutical expenditure is a challenge for healthcare payers, particularly owing to the unpredictability of new market introductions and their economic impact. No best-practice forecasting methods have been established so far. The literature distinguishes between the top-down approach, based on historical trends, and the bottom-up approach, using a combination of historical and horizon scanning data. The objective of this review is to describe the methods for projections of pharmaceutical expenditure that apply the “bottom-up” approach and to synthesize the knowledge of their predictive accuracy.

METHODS: Projections of public pharmaceutical expenditure applicable to Western economies including a comprehensive method description and published 2000-2024 were searched in scientific databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and EconLit) and in gray literature (websites of international health organizations and national healthcare authorities). The data sources, assumptions about the future market dynamics, analytical approaches, and the projection results are summarized.

RESULTS: Twenty-four out of 3492 screened publications were included, associated with nine expenditure projection models. Four models were developed for all reimbursable drugs in the USA, the UK, the Stockholm region (Sweden), and seven European Union (EU) countries: France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and the UK, respectively. The other five models concerned specific groups of medicines: orphan drugs in Belgium, the Eurozone plus the UK, and Canada, respectively; psychotropic medications in the USA; and outpatient intravenous cancer medicines in the Province of Ontario (Canada). For trend analysis, drug coverage claims or sales data were used, applying linear and/or nonlinear models. The budget impact of new launches and patent expirations was estimated through (a form of) horizon scanning, i.e., a systematic monitoring of the pharmaceutical pipeline, with engagement of clinical expert judgment. Projections with a predictive time window greater than 3 years largely relied on previously observed trends to model new market introductions. Four models were validated through an ex post comparison of projected and observed expenditure. The absolute difference between the forecasted and actual percentual change in pharmaceutical expenditure was: 0.3% (“UK model”), 1.9% (“Stockholm model”), and 2% (nonfederal hospitals, “US model”). The “Ontario cancer drug model” overestimated the actual expenditure by 1%. Overall, the largest errors were attributable to new market launches and unforeseen policy reforms. Prediction accuracy decreased substantially for forecasts beyond 1 year in the future. For two not validated projections, a face validity check was feasible. One of the models forecasted a decrease in pharmaceutical expenditure from 2012 to 2016 in six European countries, contrasting with the currently available statistics. A 10-year projection of orphan drug expenditure underestimated the number of rare diseases treated in Europe by over 100%.

CONCLUSIONS: Published projections of national pharmaceutical expenditure are scarce and marked by significant methodological variability. Short-term forecasts based on high-quality historical data and rigorous horizon scanning tend to be more accurate than long-term forecasts built on theoretical assumptions. The combination of mathematical algorithms and expert judgment should be further explored, to increase the accuracy and efficiency of pharmaceutical expenditure projections.

PMID:39798038 | DOI:10.1007/s40273-024-01465-w

Inflammation. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s10753-024-02234-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the role of Piezo1 in nasal epithelial barrier dysfunction in allergic rhinitis (AR) using both in vitro and in vivo experimental methods. A total of 79 human nasal mucosal samples were collected, including 43 from AR patients and 36 from healthy controls. Additionally, 12 BALB/c mice were used for the in vivo experiments. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) were employed for the in vitro studies. In the in vivo study, mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) to induce AR. In the in vitro experiments, Piezo1 expression in HNEpCs was silenced using shRNA, followed by stimulation with IL-13. The expression of Piezo1, ERK1/2, and tight junctions (TJs) components (including ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1) was assessed using quantitative RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. Statistical analyses included paired Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA. Piezo1 expression was significantly elevated in both AR patients and OVA-induced AR mice, while TJs components were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Knockdown of Piezo1 in HNEpCs restored the levels of TJs and improved barrier integrity. A negative correlation between Piezo1 and ERK1/2 expression was observed. Piezo1 plays a crucial role in nasal epithelial barrier dysfunction in AR by modulating TJs and the ERK1/2 pathway. These findings suggest that Piezo1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for AR.

PMID:39798033 | DOI:10.1007/s10753-024-02234-9

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-35883-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mosses and lichens are often used to assess atmospheric deposition of ²¹⁰Pb. The most widely used method for determining this isotope is gamma spectrometric analysis. There is often a need to enhance the sensitivity of the method, which can be achieved by pre-concentrating ²¹⁰Pb. The simplest method in this case is direct dry ashing according to commonly accepted standardized procedures. However, the question of potential losses of ²¹⁰Pb during the combustion of mosses and lichens remains unclear. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the dry ashing procedure on the accuracy of determining ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in the studied samples. The conducted experiment showed that ashing samples with low (< 8%) ash content, which includes all mosses and lichens, at a temperature of 450 °C leads to significant losses of ²¹⁰Pb (up to 40%). For samples with an ash content > 14% (litter), the losses of this isotope do not exceed 3-4%. For both groups, the value of ashing losses has a nearly linear dependence, inversely proportional to the ash content in the studied material. The obtained relationships allowed us to calculate the corrections necessary to account for ²¹⁰Pb losses during ashing of both low and high ash materials. The application of several statistical tests demonstrated good convergence and consistency of the results of ²¹⁰Pb determination obtained by direct measurement in unashed samples and those calculated through the measured activity of this isotope in ashes, corrected for ashing losses.

PMID:39798026 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-35883-w

Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Jan 11;184(2):130. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05945-1.

ABSTRACT

Most of the available tools to assess adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) were constructed for adults, having limited applicability to children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to validate a specific questionnaire to assess adherence to MedDiet in children aged 3 to 6 years (MED4CHILD questionnaire). The validation was performed in a baseline examination of a cohort of children who were recruited in schools in seven cities. Of the total sample of 1509 children, we included 858 children aged 3 to 6 years with complete information on adherence to the MedDiet, food consumption, anthropometry and cardiometabolic characteristics. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using an 18-item questionnaire, adapted from validated questionnaire for adults using the Delphi method. Food and beverage consumption was assessed using a validated COME-Kids Food and Beverage Frequency Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed using standard methods. Statistical analyses included kappa agreement, ANOVA and linear regression models. Higher MED4CHILD scores were associated with higher intakes of food characteristic of the MedDiet. The MED4CHILD questionnaire showed moderate validity, especially for key items of the Mediterranean diet (kappa ranging from 0.333 to 0.665). Direct significant associations were found between MED4CHILD scores and cardiometabolic profile, including waist circumference (p), triglycerides and HOMA-IR (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The 18-item MED4CHILD questionnaire showed moderate validity for assessing adherence to the MedDiet in children aged 3 to 6 years, in terms of agreement with food and beverage consumption and favourable cardiometabolic profile.

WHAT IS KNOWN: • The Mediterranean diet has been linked to a number of health benefits and the assessment of children’s adherence to this diet is important for public health and research. • The tools available to assess MedDiet compliance are mainly for adults.

WHAT IS NEW: • The MED4CHILD questionnaire is a simple, inexpensive and rapid tool for assessing MedDiet compliance in children. • This tool showed moderate relative validity and a high score was associated with a favourable cardiometabolic profile.

PMID:39798013 | DOI:10.1007/s00431-024-05945-1