Category: Statistics

Clin Radiol. 2023 Dec 15:S0009-9260(23)00581-0. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.11.027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To examine the volumes of the medial and lateral femoral condyles and the trochlear groove, and to determine their relationship with trochlear dysplasia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography images of the knees of 21 patients with trochlear dysplasia and 18 healthy individuals were analysed retrospectively. According to the modified Dejour classification, the degree of trochlear dysplasia was recorded, such as type A trochlea being low-grade dysplasia and types B, C, and D trochlea being high-grade dysplasia. Volume of the trochlear groove and medial and lateral femoral condyles were calculated using the three-dimensional (3D) volume-rendering method.

RESULTS: The volumes of lateral condyle, medial condyle, and trochlear groove were statistically significantly lower in patients with trochlear dysplasia when compared to healthy participants. When compared according to Dejour types, all parameters were statistically significantly lower in both high- and low-grade dysplasia patients (p<0.05). The correlation between femoral condyle volumes and trochlear groove volume was low in the control group, but there was a moderate positive correlation in the patient group (r=0.50-0.75, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: In trochlear dysplasia, the volume of the trochlear groove decreases and hypoplasia may occur in both lateral femoral and medial femoral condyles. Therefore, hypoplasia of only one condyle should not be interpreted as trochlear dysplasia. A holistic approach to patients is required.

PMID:38145924 | DOI:10.1016/j.crad.2023.11.027

Dent Mater. 2023 Dec 24:S0109-5641(23)00496-7. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2023.12.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of an experimental borosilicate glass on the mechanical and optical behavior of 5Y-PSZ zirconia and comparing it to commercial glaze and as-sintered.

METHODS: Disc-shaped specimens of a 5Y-PSZ (Zpex Smile) were prepared and sintered (1550 °C, 2 h). The zirconia discs were randomly divided according to the surface treatment: as-sintered (C), commercial glaze (G), and experimental borosilicate glass (SL). Glaze and experimental glass powders were mixed with building liquids and applied to zirconia with a brush. G specimens were fired at 950 °C and SL at 1200 °C. An extended dwell time of 20 min was applied to both groups. Biaxial flexural strength, roughness (Ra and Rz), translucency (TP₀₀), color alteration (ΔE₀₀), Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, residual stresses, and x-ray diffraction analyses were conducted. Statistical analyses were performed with Weibull statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, or ANOVA tests (α = 5%).

RESULTS: SL yielded the highest flexural strength (799.35 MPa), followed by G (662.34 MPa), and C (485.38 MPa). The fracture origin of SL specimens was in the bulk zirconia, while G and C showed fractures starting at the surface. As-sintered reached the highest fracture toughness and hardness. Glaze and borosilicate glass provided surface compressive stresses. Borosilicate glass application led to phase transformation (t→m). SL and G showed the lowest roughness. TP₀₀ and ΔE₀₀ were similar among groups.

SIGNIFICANCE: Borosilicate glass improved strength without harming the optical properties of third-generation zirconia. Toughness and roughness provided by the experimental glass were similar to those from commercial glaze.

PMID:38145923 | DOI:10.1016/j.dental.2023.12.012

Drug Test Anal. 2023 Dec 25. doi: 10.1002/dta.3627. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

External contamination of hair by cannabis smoking requires a careful evaluation in forensic toxicology. Medical and recreational cannabis are increasingly consumed by e-cigarettes, which give rise to side-stream vapor. Moreover, products containing low Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and rich in cannabidiol (CBD) started spreading legally. The goal of the present study was to assess whether hair analysis could allow to distinguish the type of delivered product, with low or high Δ9-THC, and the delivering mode, by smoking or vaping. Contamination of blank hair was mimicked by in vitro exposure to low- (0.4%) and high-Δ9-THC (9.7%) products delivered by smoking and vaping within a small confined system. Cannabis vaping extracts were prepared to deliver identical target Δ9-THC doses. Eighty samples were analyzed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and quantified for Δ9-THC and CBD. After contamination by cannabis smoking, THC levels were in line with past in vitro and in vivo studies. Samples exposed to cannabis (169.30 ng/mg) showed significantly higher Δ9-THC than hair exposed to “light cannabis” (35.54 ng/mg), and the opposite was seen for the CBD/Δ9-THC ratio. Hair contaminated by vaping or smoking did not show a statistically different Δ9-THC content. Under our in vitro conditions, hair analysis might allow to discriminate whether external contamination is determined by products containing low or high Δ9-THC, but not the delivering mode. More research is needed in real-life conditions, to see whether the same also applies to the interpretation of forensic casework.

PMID:38145896 | DOI:10.1002/dta.3627

Ann Oncol. 2023 Dec 23:S0923-7534(23)05116-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2023.12.009. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:38145867 | DOI:10.1016/j.annonc.2023.12.009

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2023 Dec 23:S1198-743X(23)00624-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.12.016. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fungal infections are common in HIV-infected individuals and significantly contribute to mortality. However, a substantial number of cases are undiagnosed before death.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of fungal pathogens in autopsy studies of people who died with HIV In Africa.

METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of autopsy studies conducted in Africa.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Google Scholar, and African Journal Online.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: The review encompasses studies published from inception to September 2023, and no language restrictions were imposed during the search process. We included studies that reported histopathological or microbiological evidence for the diagnosis of fungal infections and other pathogens.

DATA SYNTHESIS: Data was summarised using descriptive statistics and no meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS: We examined 30 articles reporting studies conducted between 1991 and 2019, encompassing a total of 13,066 HIV-infected decedents across 10 African countries. In five studies, the autopsy type was not specified. Among those studies with specified autopsy types, 20 involved complete diagnostic autopsies, while 5 were categorized as partial or minimally invasive autopsies. There were 2,333 pathogens identified, with 946 (40.5%) being mycobacteria, 856 (36.7%) fungal, 231 (3.8%) viral, 208 (8.9%) parasitic, and 92 (3.9%) bacterial. Of the 856 fungal pathogens identified, 654 (28.0%) were Cryptococcus species, 167 (7.2%) Pneumocystis jirovecii, 16 (0.69%) Histoplasma species, 15 (0.64%) Aspergillus species, and 4 (0.17%) Candida species. Other major non-fungal pathogens identified were cytomegalovirus 172 (7.37%) and Toxoplasma gondii 173 (7.42%).

CONCLUSIONS: Invasive fungal infections occur in over one-third of people who succumb to HIV in Africa. In addition to cryptococcosis and PCP, integrating other priority fungal pathogen detection and management strategies into the broader framework of HIV care in Africa is recommended. This involves increasing awareness regarding the impact of fungal infections in advanced HIV disease and strengthening diagnostic and treatment capacity.

PMID:38145865 | DOI:10.1016/j.cmi.2023.12.016

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2023 Dec 23:111080. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.111080. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at assessing the changes of left atrial (LA) volume and strain function in metabolic syndrome (MS) patients using four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantification (4D-LAQ) and exploring independent correlative factors for LA function.

METHODS: A total of 110 MS patients and 70 normal controls were selected and assigned into the MS group and the control group, respectively. Echocardiogram parameters were routinely examined and the thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) were measured with a parasternal long axis of left ventricle(LV). The LA volume and strain parameters were determined using 4D-LAQ. The independent correlation factors for LA strain parameters in MS patients were investigated through linear regression analysis.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, LA volume parameters were increased in the MS group, LA strain parameters and LA emptying fraction (LAEF) were decreased (all P < 0.05). EAT thickness is associated with LA reservoir longitudinal strain (LASr), conduit longitudinal strain (LAScd), reservoir circumferential strain (LASr-c), and conduit circumferential strain (LAScd-c) (all P < 0.05). LA contraction longitudinal (LASct) and circumferential strain (LASct-c) were not statistically significant. Regression analysis results show that systolic blood pressure (SBP) and triglyceride (TG) are independent correlative factors. Intra-observer and inter-observer repeatability test showed that the LA parameters examined by 4D-LAQ had good agreement.

CONCLUSIONS: 4D-LAQ is capable of effectively assessing the LA function in MS patients and providing a useful reference for clinical diagnosis. SBP and TG serve as the independent correlative factors for LA function.

PMID:38145827 | DOI:10.1016/j.diabres.2023.111080

Adv Nutr. 2023 Dec 23:100165. doi: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.100165. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although a posteriori dietary patterns (DPs) naturally reflect actual dietary behavior in a population, their specificity limits generalizability. Among other issues, the absence of a standardized approach to analysis have further hindered discovery of genuinely reproducible DPs across studies from the same/similar populations. A systematic review on a posteriori DPs from principal component analysis or exploratory factor analysis (EFA) across study populations from Italy provides the basis to explore assessment and drivers of DP reproducibility in a case study of epidemiological interest. First to our knowledge, we carried out a qualitative (i.e., similarity plots built on text descriptions) and quantitative (i.e., congruence coefficients, CCs) assessment of DP reproducibility. The 52 selected papers were published in 2001-2022 and represented dietary habits in 1965-2022 from 70% of the Italian regions; children/adolescents, pregnancy/breastfeeding women, and elderly were considered in 15 papers. The included studies mainly derived EFA-based DPs on food groups from food-frequency questionnaires and were of “good quality” according to standard scales. Based on text descriptions, the 186 identified DPs were collapsed into 113 (69 food-based and 44 nutrient-based) apparently different DPs (39.3% reduction), later summarized along with the 3 Mixed-Salad/Vegetable-based Patterns, Pasta-and-Meat-oriented/Starchy Patterns, and Dairy Products and Sweets/Animal-based Patterns groups, by matching similar food-based and nutrient-based groups of collapsed DPs. Based on CCs (215 CCs, 68 DPs, 18 papers using the same input lists), all pairs of DPs showing the same/similar names were at least “fairly similar” and ∼81% were “equivalent”. The 30 “equivalent” DPs ended up into 6 genuinely different DPs (80% reduction) that targeted fruit and (raw) vegetables, pasta and meat combined, and cheese and deli meats. Such reduction reflects the same study design, list of input variables, and DP identification method followed across papers from the same groups. This review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42022341037. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (2 SENTENCES, TRUE NOVELTY): This is the first systematic review collecting evidence on Italian dietary patterns derived from principal component or exploratory factor analysis. The systematic review provides the basis for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of reproducibility of Italian dietary patterns, as based on text descriptions and congruence coefficients, respectively. We found that Italian dietary patterns based on fruit and (raw) vegetables, pasta and meat combined, and cheese and deli meats are reproducible across studies, although more rigorous statistical approaches may allow a better identification of reproducible dietary patterns and related causes. The established evidence base may inform dietary pattern identification in the Italian population and more generally future research on dietary pattern reproducibility across studies within the same country.

PMID:38145798 | DOI:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.100165

Int J Pharm. 2023 Dec 23:123746. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123746. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The intricate structure of the eye poses difficulties in drug targeting, which can be surmounted with the help of nanoformulation strategies. With this view, brinzolamide nanosponges (BNS) were prepared using the emulsion solvent evaporation technique and optimized via Box-Behnken statistical design. The optimized BNS were further incorporated into a poloxamer 407 in situ gel (BNS-ISG) and evaluated. The optimized BNS showed spherical morphology, entrapment efficiency of 83.12±1.2% with particle size of 114±2.32 nm and PDI of 0.11±0.01. The optimized BNS-ISG exhibited a pseudoplastic behavior and depicted a gelling temperature and gelation time of 35±0.5°C and 10±2 s respectively. In-vitro release and ex- vivo permeation studies of BNS-ISG demonstrated a sustained release pattern as compared to Brinzox®. Additionally, the HET-CAM and in vitro cytotoxicity studies (using SIRC cell line) ensured that the formulation was non-irritant and nontoxic for ophthalmic delivery. The in vivo pharmacodynamic study using rabbit model depicted that BNS-ISG treatment significantly lowers the intra ocular pressure for prolonged period of time when compared with Brinzox®. In conclusion, the BNS-ISG is an efficient and scalable drug delivery system with significant potential as the targeted therapy of posterior segment eye diseases.

PMID:38145779 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123746

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2023 Dec 23:103943. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103943. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Bleached enamel reversal using antioxidants sodium ascorbate (SA), Green tea extract (GTE), Grape seed extract (GSE), Curcumin photosensitizer (CP) and Er: YAG laser on the adhesive strength and marginal leakage of composite material bonded to the bleached enamel surface.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Enamel surface of hundred and twenty sound human first premolar teeth was cleansed using pumice and bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide. The samples were randomly divided into 5 groups based on the antioxidants used. n=20 Group 1 (Control): No antioxidant agent, Group 2: 10% SA solution, Group 3: 6.5% GSE, Group 4: 5% GTE, Group 5: Er: YAG laser and Group 6: CP. Following reversal, the composite was built and cured for 40 seconds. All the specimens were stored in distilled water at room temperature for 1 day. Microleakage, SBS, and failure mode were analyzed. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s multiple post hoc test were used to analyze the data statistically.

RESULTS: Group 2 (SA) (20.11 ±5.79 nm) exhibited minimum value of microleakage and highest SBS (10.22 ± 1.62 MPa). Whereas, Group 1 (No antioxidant agent) displayed maximum scores of marginal leakage (28.11±8.89 nm) and lowest SBS (7.02 ± 1.22 MPa).

CONCLUSION: CP, GTE and GSE can be used as a potential alternative to the commonly used SA solution to reverse the negative impact of bleaching on the enamel surface. The use of reversal agents CP, GTE and GSE improves bond values with a decrease in microleakage scores However, future studies are still warranted to conclude the outcomes of the existing study.

PMID:38145770 | DOI:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103943

Bioresour Technol. 2023 Dec 23:130252. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130252. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The escalating demand for long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) due to their vital health effects has deepened the exploration of sustainable sources. Thraustochytrium sp. stands out as a promising platform for omega-3 and 6 PUFA production. This research strategically optimizes key parameters: temperature, salinity, pH, and G:Y:P ratio and the optimized conditions for maximum biomass, total lipid, and DHA enhancement were 28 °C, 50 %, 6, and 10:1:2 respectively. Process optimization enhanced 32.30 and 31.92 % biomass (9.88 g/L) and lipid (6.57 g/L) yield. Notably, DHA concentration experienced a substantial rise of 69.91 % (1.63 g/L), accompanied by notable increases in EPA and DPA by 82.69 % and 31.47 %, respectively. MANOVA analysis underscored the statistical significance of the optimization process (p < 0.01), with all environmental factors significantly influencing biomass and lipid data (p < 0.05), particularly impacting DHA production. Thraustochytrium sp. can be a potential source of commercial DHA production with the fine-tuning of these key process parameters.

PMID:38145766 | DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130252