Category: Statistics

Rev Alerg Mex. 2023 Jun 28;70(2):72-79. doi: 10.29262/ram.v70i2.1117.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence, causes and risk factors of ADE in hospitalized patients of a General Hospital.

METHODS: Observational and analytical case-control study, carried out in patients hospitalized for adverse drug events, treated at the Hospital General Dr. Eduardo Vázquez N, in Puebla, Mexico, between, June 2019 to June 2021. For the statistical analysis, percentages, frequencies, means, odds ratio, χ2, and multiple binary logistic regression were used. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 23 program.

RESULTS: A total of 132 patients (66 cases and 66 controls) were registered. Of the group of cases, 26 patients treated for medication error and 40 with adverse drug reaction were reported. The prevalence of adverse drug events was 3.6%. The drugs and factors associated with the most reported adverse events were: antibiotics, anti-inflammatories; average age of 35 years (SD: 17.41); gender: 39.3% men, 60.7% women; services re-ported with the greatest attention: Emergencies and Surgery; frequent route of administration: intravenous (32.3%); main symptoms: skin; symptoms associated with adverse drug reactions: type A pruritus [OR: 8.5, p = 0.001(CI95%: 0.035-0.393)], type B pruritus [OR: 11, p = 0.001 (CI95%: 0.021-0.368)]; urticaria [OR: 19, p = 0.005(CI95%: 0.007-0.412)]. Risk factors associated with adverse events were: female gender [OR: 2.6, p = 0.05 (CI95%: 1.33-5.43)], history of allergy [OR: 3.4, p = 0.033 (CI95%: 1.04-8.40)] and prolonged hospital stay [OR: 5.4, p = 0.023 (CI95%: 3.82-6.74)].

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of ADEs were EM or ADR type A, both preventable reactions, so patient safety should be a priority when prescribing.

PMID:37566770 | DOI:10.29262/ram.v70i2.1117

Rev Alerg Mex. 2023 Jun 28;70(2):55-63. doi: 10.29262/ram.v70i2.1151.

ABSTRACT

OBJETIVE: To describe the phenotype of DRESS syndrome induced by antituberculosis drugs.

METHODS: Descriptive study, withdrawn from the review of the records of patients with DRESS syndrome, identified in the interconsultation of the Department of Research in Immunogenetics and Allergy, of the Insti-tuto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER) Ismael Cosío Villegas, among 2014 and 2020. Frequency analysis was performed. The associations between biomarkers and latency are calculated with the χ2 test and log-rank, and the evaluation of the change in the biomarkers with the Wilcoxon test. The value of p < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. For data analysis, the SPSS v.21 program was obtained.

RESULTS: 15 patients were identified; represented by 0.02% of total cases treated in the Department for so-meimmuno-allergic condition (15/7052); the main symptomatology were: rash (100%), eosinophilia (93%), fe-ver (80%), adenomegaly (60%), kidney damage (40%), liver damage (33%), and latency of 21 days. Liver damage was associated with prolonged latency (p = 0.02). After treatment, the total levels of eosinophils (p < 0.001) and liver and kidney biomarkers (p < 0.04) decreased. DRESS syndrome induced by antituberculosis drugs is not associated with the number of drugs prescribed or with the pattern of resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

CONCLUSIONS: DRESS syndrome induced by antituberculosis drugs is an atypical clinical reaction, similar to other types of DRESS syndrome that respond favorably to systemic corticosteroids.

PMID:37566768 | DOI:10.29262/ram.v70i2.1151

Rev Alerg Mex. 2023 May 24;70(1):8-14. doi: 10.29262/ram.v70i1.1204.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To characterize demographically and clinically the patients with anaphylaxis treated in a third level health institution in Medellin, Colombia.

METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out, which includedpatients were diagnosed with anaphylaxis between 2009 and 2019. Information was retrieved from medical records through a collection instrument. Subsequently, a descriptive statistical analysis of proportions and measures of central tendency of the variables of interest was performed.

RESULTS: A total of 1820 records were reviewed and data from 253 patients were included. Among the reported comorbidities, drug allergy was the most prevalent (28%). The most frequent manifestations of anaphylaxis were cutaneous and respiratory. Most of the cases presented basal tryptase values ≤ 11.4 ng/mL (94.7%). Different etiological agents (food, drugs, insects and latex) were reported, and their frequency varied according to age. Adrenaline, steroids, and antihistamines were the treatments of choice in 39.9, 34.3, and 39.9% of cases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of anaphylaxis in a medical center in Colombia coincide with those reported in Latin American. The treatment of anaphylaxis is not standardized, which makes it necessary to educate the health personnel and develop national guidelines.

PMID:37566751 | DOI:10.29262/ram.v70i1.1204

J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2023 Jun 29;13(3):185-193. doi: 10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_220_22. eCollection 2023 May-Jun.

ABSTRACT

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the nature and prevalence of misconduct in self and nonself-reported biomedical research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A detailed review of previously conducted studies was conducted through PubMed Central, PubMed, and Google Scholar using MeSH terms: “scientific misconduct,” “Publications,” “plagiarism,” and “authorship,” and keywords: scientific misconduct, gift authorship, ghost authorship, and duplicate publication. MeSH terms and keywords were searched in combinations using Boolean operators “AND” and “OR.” Of 7771 articles that appeared in the search, 107 were selected for inspection. The articles were screened for their quality and inclusion criteria. Finally, 16 articles were selected for meta-analysis. Data analysis was conducted using an Open-Source, Open Meta Analyst, statistical software using the package “metaphor.”

RESULTS: Plagiarism, data fabrication, and falsification were prevalent in most articles reviewed. The prevalence of research misconduct for plagiarism was 4.2% for self-reported and 27.9% for nonself-reported studies. Data fabrication was 4.5% in self-reported and 21.7% in nonself-reported studies. Data falsification was 9.7% in self-reported and 33.4% in nonself-reported studies, with significant heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis gives a pooled estimate of the misconduct in research done in biomedical fields such as medicine, dental, pharmacy, and others across the world. We found that there is an alarming rate of misconduct in recent nonself-reported studies, and they were higher than that in the self-reported studies.

PMID:37566729 | PMC:PMC10411296 | DOI:10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_220_22

Ann Med. 2023;55(2):2245325. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2245325.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity is considered a low-grade chronically inflamed state that contributes to communicable chronic diseases. This inflammation may be modulated by consuming spices like turmeric daily. However, few studies have looked at the inclusion of spice within whole foods.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this feasibility pre/posttrial was to assess the influence of turmeric in a muffin on salivary IL-6 and CRP in adults who were obese.

METHODS: Participants consumed one, 60-gram muffin containing 3 g turmeric for 10 days. Participants provided a urinary sample at baseline, a 2-ml saliva sample, and a 30-day food frequency and spice consumption questionnaire at baseline and post-trial. A one-sample t-test was conducted using SAS v 9.4 with significance determined at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: A total of 14 participants, average BMI of 32.16 kg/m² with 10 identifying as female, completed the trial after 5 dropped due to various reasons. The visit lengths and collection of data with participants adhering to the instructions were deemed a success. There was a significant decrease in salivary IL-6 (p = 0.03) but no statistical difference in salivary CRP (p = 0.46). Participants consumed fruits and vegetables at least once daily, chicken and eggs 5-6 times per week, and beef, pork, and fish at least once per week. Participants consumed chili pepper, garlic, cinnamon, cilantro, and ginger at least once per week. No changes were observed in dietary/spice habits during this trial.

CONCLUSION: The feasibility pre/post study revealed that consumption of a muffin with turmeric reduced at least salivary IL-6 in 10 days. Modifications to the study design such as lengthier trial time to assess the impact of this muffin on CRP is necessary prior to implementing larger-scale randomized control trials.

PMID:37566728 | DOI:10.1080/07853890.2023.2245325

Braz J Psychiatry. 2023 May-Jun;45(3):236-241. doi: 10.47626/1516-4446-2022-2958.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated behavioral self-regulation problems using the Children’s Hostility Inventory (CHI) in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD), healthy offspring of bipolar disorder patients (HOBD), and healthy controls (HC) without previous history of psychiatric disorders.

METHODS: The CHI was administered to 41 consecutive children and adolescents diagnosed with PBD, to 16 HOBD, and to 22 HC. The inventory assessed irritability, expression, hostility, and aggression and was completed by the children with the help of their mothers. Adolescents and their respective parents were interviewed separately using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL).

RESULTS: All subscales of the CHI presented statistically significant differences, except for the subscale assessing feelings of suspicion. Pairwise comparisons revealed consistently significant differences between the PBD group and controls, indicating more self-regulation difficulties in the PBD group, represented by high levels of hostility and aggressive behavior. There were no significant differences between the PBD and HOBD groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Future studies should further investigate if such behavior is state-dependent or a trait of bipolar juvenile expression. Expression of hostility and irritability should be considered relevant targets in psychosocial approaches addressing this population.

PMID:37566705 | DOI:10.47626/1516-4446-2022-2958

Ann Med. 2023;55(2):2230446. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2230446.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate diagnosis of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in early diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODS: A total of 342 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients hospitalized in department of metabolism and nephrology in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 were randomly selected. Patients were divided into three groups via urine albumin level: diabetes mellitus (DM) group, simple diabetes group (114 patients, urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) < 30 mg/g); DN1 group, early DN group (114 patients, UACR: 30-300 mg/g); DN2 group: clinical DN group (114 patients, UACR > 300mg/g). Eighty healthy adults were examined at the same time. Lp-PLA2, fasting blood glucose (FBG), creatinine (Cr), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCHOL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood urea nitrogen/creatinine (BUN/Cr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 24-h urine protein, albumin and creatinine of all subjects were detected and compared. Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple ordered logistic regression were used to investigate the correlation between serum Lp-PLA2 level and DN. The possibility of Lp-PLA2 in the diagnosis of early DN was studied by using the subject working curve.

RESULTS: Lp-PLA2 level in DN1 and DN2 groups was significantly higher than that in DM group, with statistical difference (p < .05). With the progression of DN, the level of Lp-PLA2 gradually increased p < .05. Lp-PLA2 was positively correlated with FBG, TG, LDL and HbA1c (R = 0.637, p < .01; R = 0.314, p = .01; R = 0.213, p = .01; R = 0.661, p ≤ .01), was negatively correlated with HDL (r = -0.230, p < .01). The results showed that Lp-PLA2 was an independent factor in the evaluation of early DN. The area under the curve for the evaluation of serum Lp-PLA2 level in early DN was 0.841, the optimal critical value was 155.9 ng/mL, the sensitivity was 88% and the specificity was 76.2%.

CONCLUSIONS: Lp-PLA2 is an independent factor for the evaluation of early DN, and can be used as an important potential specific indicator for the diagnosis of early DN, meanwhile monitoring the progression of DN.

PMID:37566692 | DOI:10.1080/07853890.2023.2230446

Health Care Women Int. 2023 Aug 11:1-19. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2023.2243259. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of post-discharge education and counseling using social media tools on wound healing, pain status, and care and practices for women with episiotomy. The study was conducted experimentally with 60 women (30 experimental, 30 control) who had vaginal delivery with episiotomy in a public hospital in Istanbul. Data were collected using a data entry form and evaluations on the REEDA (Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation) scale, VAS (Visual Analogue Scale), and Diagnostic Form for Episiotomy Care and challenges. In our study, training and counseling were given to the experimental group by making video calls via social media on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 14th postnatal days (PP), and the results were evaluated without any training to the control group. SPSS program was used for data analysis. There was no difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of demographic and obstetric data. It was determined that the total scores of the experimental group on the REEDA scale on the 7th postnatal day (x¯ =2.167 ± 0.747) were statistically significantly lower than the total scores of the control group on the REEDA scale on 7th postnatal day (x¯ =3.100 ± 0.923) (p = 0.000 > 0.05). It was determined that the total scores of the experimental group on REEDA scale on the 14th postnatal day (x¯ =0.200 ± 0.407) were also statistically significantly lower than the total scores of the control group on REEDA scale on the 14th postnatal day. (x¯ =1.333 ± 0.844) (p = 0.000 > 0.05). The VAS DS scores of the experimental group on 3rd (x¯ =4.733 ± 0.907) and the 5th (x¯ =3.267 ± 0.691) postnatal day were statistically significantly lower than the VAS DS scores of the control group on 3rd (x¯ =5.267 ± 0.944) and 5th (x¯ =3.933 ± 0.944) (p = 0.003 > 0.05) postnatal day. In the light of this information, it was found that scores on REEDA scale were lower and pain experiences were significantly less in the group that received education and counseling with social media tools after discharge in women who underwent episiotomy.

PMID:37566688 | DOI:10.1080/07399332.2023.2243259

J Urol. 2023 Aug 11:101097JU0000000000003646. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003646. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Modifications to surgical technique, particularly the widespread adoption of robotic surgery, have been proposed to improve functional recovery after prostate cancer surgery. However, rigorous comparison of men in historical versus contemporary practice to evaluate the cumulative effect of these changes on urinary and sexual function after radical prostatectomy is lacking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared prospectively collected patient-reported urinary and sexual function from historical (PROSTQA, n=235) and contemporary (MUSIC-PRO, n=1215) cohorts at the University of Michigan to understand whether modern techniques have resulted in functional improvements for men undergoing prostate cancer surgery.

RESULTS: We found significant differences in baseline function, with better urinary (median [IQR]; 100 [93.8-100] vs 93.8 [85.5-100], p<0.001) and sexual scores (median [IQR]; 83.3 [66.7-100] vs 74.4 [44.2-87.5], p<0.001) prior to treatment in PROSTQA compared to MUSIC-PRO patients, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the pattern of urinary incontinence recovery after surgery from 6-24 months between groups (p=0.14). However, men in the contemporary MUSIC-PRO group did have significantly better recovery of sexual function compared to men in the historical PROSTQA group (p<0.0001). Further, we found that contemporary practice consists of men with more unfavorable demographic and clinical characteristics compared to historical practice.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the widespread alterations in prostate cancer surgery over the past two decades have yielded improvements in sexual, but not urinary, function recovery.

PMID:37566643 | DOI:10.1097/JU.0000000000003646

PLoS Comput Biol. 2023 Aug 11;19(8):e1011394. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011394. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Real-time surveillance is a crucial element in the response to infectious disease outbreaks. However, the interpretation of incidence data is often hampered by delays occurring at various stages of data gathering and reporting. As a result, recent values are biased downward, which obscures current trends. Statistical nowcasting techniques can be employed to correct these biases, allowing for accurate characterization of recent developments and thus enhancing situational awareness. In this paper, we present a preregistered real-time assessment of eight nowcasting approaches, applied by independent research teams to German 7-day hospitalization incidences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This indicator played an important role in the management of the outbreak in Germany and was linked to levels of non-pharmaceutical interventions via certain thresholds. Due to its definition, in which hospitalization counts are aggregated by the date of case report rather than admission, German hospitalization incidences are particularly affected by delays and can take several weeks or months to fully stabilize. For this study, all methods were applied from 22 November 2021 to 29 April 2022, with probabilistic nowcasts produced each day for the current and 28 preceding days. Nowcasts at the national, state, and age-group levels were collected in the form of quantiles in a public repository and displayed in a dashboard. Moreover, a mean and a median ensemble nowcast were generated. We find that overall, the compared methods were able to remove a large part of the biases introduced by delays. Most participating teams underestimated the importance of very long delays, though, resulting in nowcasts with a slight downward bias. The accompanying prediction intervals were also too narrow for almost all methods. Averaged over all nowcast horizons, the best performance was achieved by a model using case incidences as a covariate and taking into account longer delays than the other approaches. For the most recent days, which are often considered the most relevant in practice, a mean ensemble of the submitted nowcasts performed best. We conclude by providing some lessons learned on the definition of nowcasting targets and practical challenges.

PMID:37566642 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011394