Category: Statistics

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2025 Jan 12;70(12):73-80. doi: 10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.10.

ABSTRACT

Today, methamphetamine (METH) is being used by adolescents and young adults. Our previous research demonstrated that intrauterine exposure to METH induces apoptosis in testicles and seminiferous tubes. However, based on available literature, the mechanism of this effect remains unidentified. This study aimed to investigate proteins involved in sperm growth and development pathways, such as testis-specific serine/threonine kinases (TSSK) and receptor-interacting protein kinases 2 (RIPK2), and to study the serine-threonine kinase pathway in the testes of rats whose mothers received intraperitoneal METH during pregnancy. In the present study, female rats during pregnancy received either 5 or 10 mg/kg of METH or normal saline for ten days. After reaching maturity, their testes were isolated and examined for histopathological and immunohistochemical mechanisms. Results were analyzed and reported using statistical software. Results revealed that following intrauterine exposure to METH, TSSK protein expression reduced from 52.68±2.4% in the control group to 48.04±2.29% in the 2 mg/kg/day group and 12.83±3.35% in the 5 mg/kg/day group with P=0.0029 and F=72.63. In addition, RIPK2 protein expression increased from 8.34±2.69% in the control group to 31.17±3.69% in the 2 mg/kg/day group and 98.49±4.66% in the 5 mg/kg/day group, with p=0.0037 and F=61.14. Histopathological findings indicated a reduction in the thickness of germ layers following intrauterine exposure to METH, with the seminiferous tubule’s thickness decreasing. Inflammatory cell populations increased, and the number of vessels decreased due to intrauterine exposure to METH. Our study suggests intrauterine exposure to METH increases the prevalence of inflammatory cell populations, enhances RIPK2 protein expression, reduces the number of vessels, reduces the diameter of seminiferous tubes, decreases TSSK protein expression, and reduces the thickness of germ layers in testicular tissue. Apoptosis of spermatid cells observed in our previous study may be related to the signaling pathways of TSSK and RIPK2 proteins.

PMID:39799494 | DOI:10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.10

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2025 Jan 12;70(12):125-134. doi: 10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.17.

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are recognized as the second most common medical condition, following respiratory infections. Despite the availability of numerous efficacious antibiotics for the management of UTIs, the rising incidence of bacterial resistance presents significant challenges in the treatment of these infections. Bacteria are endowed with the ability to reproduce and develop resistance mechanisms against antibiotics. The current investigation aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of bacterial isolates from urinary tract infections (UTIs) to a variety of antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, amikacin, gentamicin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, meropenem, and novobiocin. Additionally, the study sought to quantify the levels of the inflammatory immune marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) in UTI patients. It also explored the correlation between IL-6 levels in UTI patients and healthy controls, as well as the relationship between IL-6 levels and blood parameters in both infected and healthy individuals. The present study involved the collection of 155 samples from patients diagnosed with urinary tract infections of both genders and varying age groups, ranging from 15 to 75 years, at Salah al-Din General Hospital. The findings revealed that 102 urine samples tested positive for bacterial growth, resulting in a prevalence rate of 68%. In contrast, 53 urine samples were negative for bacterial growth, reflecting a prevalence rate of 32%. The diagnostic outcomes for all isolates, following the application of laboratory diagnostic methodologies, revealed a diverse array of bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The immunological analysis revealed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in IL-6 concentrations in the positive control group compared to the levels observed in the infected cohort. Our study concluded that significant antibiotic resistance in UTI pathogens, emphasizing the need for tailored treatments.

PMID:39799487 | DOI:10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.17

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2025 Jan 12;70(12):135-141. doi: 10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.18.

ABSTRACT

The rising global incidence of syphilis underscores the risk of transmission through blood transfusions. Treponema pallidum, the pathogen responsible for syphilis, represents a major public health challenge. Accurate detection is essential for controlling the disease, particularly in asymptomatic blood donors. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of specific antibodies against T. pallidum in blood donors, confirmed by DNA testing for seropositivity. The goal was to enhance our understanding of syphilis exposure and improve the safety of blood donations. A total of 1,260 HIV, HCV, and HBsAg-negative blood donors were screened for T. pallidum-specific antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Initially, reactive samples were re-evaluated, and those repeatedly reactive were classified as seropositive for syphilis. ELISA-positive samples were further tested for T. pallidum DNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data analysis was done using SPSS with a level of significance p< 0.05 Of 1,260 blood donors, the seroprevalence of anti-T. pallidum antibodies was 0.158%, with both positive cases confirmed by PCR. The prevalence was 0.2% in males and 0.00% in females, with no significant gender differences (P > 0.05). The highest prevalence was in the 31-40 age group (0.5%), but this was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences by donation type or marital status. Significant associations were observed with educational level (P < 0.05), with higher prevalence among high school graduates Our results confirm syphilis in Iraqi blood donors, highlighting the need for routine T. pallidum ELISA screening at transfusion centers. Positive cases should be discarded and affected donors treated. ELISA is an effective primary screening method, consistent with WHO guidelines for low-prevalence settings, and is essential for preventing transfusion transmission.

PMID:39799486 | DOI:10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.18

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2025 Jan 12;70(12):142-146. doi: 10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.19.

ABSTRACT

Extensive research on COVID-19 has revealed a notable link between the disease and thyroid disorders, highlighting complex interactions between thyroid hormones, immunomodulatory signaling molecules within the thyroid gland, and viral infections. This study evaluated the relationship between thyroid function and COVID-19 in Iraqi patients at Adiwaniyah Teaching Hospital. The cohort for this investigation comprised all patients who were admitted to the isolation center at the Teaching Hospital during the timeframe extending from January 2024 to June 2024. Each participant included in this research underwent comprehensive evaluations of their thyroid function, which is composed of the measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (T3), and serum total thyroxine (T4) levels. Results showed that the serum T4 levels in all participants included in the study were observed to range from 20 to 182 (ng/dl), with the average concentration recorded at 87.26 ± 38.29 (ng/dl); no statistically significant disparity was noted in the mean serum T4 levels relative to the severity of the disease (p = 0.291). The serum TSH levels across all enrolled individuals spanned from 0.03 to 82 (mU/L), with a mean concentration of 5.55 ± 12.36 (mU/L); similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean serum TSH levels when assessed against the disease severity (p = 0.926). According to the serum thyroid hormone concentrations, the cohort was stratified into 17 (24.6%) individuals classified as hypothyroid, 34 (49.3%) categorized as euthyroid, and 18 (26.1%) identified as hyperthyroid. Furthermore, no significant correlation was identified between the disease’s severity and the participants’ thyroid status (p = 0.556). In conclusion, patients with COVID-19 are liable to develop thyroid function abnormalities that may explain several of the long-term symptoms associated with the disease.

PMID:39799485 | DOI:10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.19

Health Econ. 2025 Jan 12. doi: 10.1002/hec.4933. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

When judging the distributional impact of unhealthy food taxes, what matters is not just how much low income people would pay but how much the such taxes would benefit or harm them overall. In this paper, we assess the consumer welfare impact of a fat tax net of its expected benefits computed as savings from weight loss. Using Italian data, we estimate a censored Exact Affine Stone Index (EASI) incomplete demand system for food groups, simulating changes in purchases, calorie intake, consumer welfare, and the monetary value of short-run health benefits. While the Italian government has proposed a sugar tax, we show that there is no significant excess consumption of added sugars among Italian adults. Instead, excessive fat consumption is more prevalent, making a fat tax a more compelling and effective solution to address diet-related health risks. Our results suggest costs from fat taxation are larger than benefits at all income levels. As a fraction of income, the net impact would be slightly regressively distributed.

PMID:39799472 | DOI:10.1002/hec.4933

Psychooncology. 2025 Jan;34(1):e70079. doi: 10.1002/pon.70079.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is the most common sleep disturbance among cancer patients undergoing active treatment. If untreated, it is associated with significant physical and psychological health consequences. Prior efforts to determine insomnia prevalence and correlates have primarily assessed patients in clinical trials, in limited disease groups, and excluding important patient subgroups. These findings are likely to be influenced by research participation effects, which could bias outcomes. We sought to address these limitations in a large, real-world sample.

METHODS: Between 2018 and 2021, all patients seen at our institution were offered an electronic patient-reported outcomes (PRO) questionnaire where they could self-report on a range of symptoms based on the National Cancer Institute’s PRO-CTCAE. Medical records were abstracted for demographics and cancer diagnosis/treatment. We evaluated N = 9350 patients for whom there was complete data.

RESULTS: During cancer treatment, 21% of patients reported insomnia symptoms. Demographically, prevalence was higher in patients who were female (22% vs. 19%), younger than 60 years of age (22% vs. 20%), non-White (24% vs. 20%), and on public insurance (22% vs. 20%). Medically, patients undergoing palliative treatment were more likely to report insomnia symptoms, irrespective of cancer site (23% vs. 19%). The prevalence of insomnia symptoms ranged from 18% (genitourinary) to 23% (gastrointestinal).

CONCLUSION: More than 1 in 5 cancer patients suffer from symptoms of insomnia. It is important that oncologists and cancer centers routinely assess insomnia severity in their patients. Leveraging the use of existing patient-reported outcomes at an institution may be important to help with the identification of insomnia symptoms.

PMID:39799462 | DOI:10.1002/pon.70079

J Periodontal Res. 2025 Jan 12. doi: 10.1111/jre.13376. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Ultrasonography (US) has shown accuracy in imaging healthy periodontium. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of US for estimating dimensions of inflamed periodontium induced by ligature and bacteria.

METHODS: Periodontal tissues of maxillary as well as mandibular premolars and molars in six female mini pigs were treated with ligature and three strains of bacteria for 4-10 weeks. Before euthanization, the periodontium was imaged with US. After euthanization, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and histology were performed. Soft and hard tissue measurements by calibrated and masked examiners from US, CBCT, and histology were statistically compared.

RESULTS: Seventy-one histological samples with corresponding CBCT and US scans were available for analysis. Overall, there was a good to excellent agreement between histology and US (ICC: 0.77-0.96) for parameters such as Soft Tissue Thickness (STT), Gingival Recession, Crestal Bone Thickness (CBT), and the bone-to-cemento-enamel junction (B-CEJ) distance. However, discrepancies were observed for STT at 3 mm below the CEJ and Soft Tissue Height (STH) (ICC: 0.44 and 0.54, respectively). CBCT showed lower agreement with histology, particularly for thin CBT (< 1 mm), with an ICC of 0.20, compared to 0.90 for US vs. histology. CBCT failed to identify crestal bone in 14 cases when the crestal bone was thin. Notably, CBCT results differed more from histological measurements than US in assessing B-CEJ and thin CBT.

CONCLUSION: US demonstrated substantial potential as a transformative tool for periodontal diagnostics, exhibiting high agreement with histology in determining critical parameters. Compared to CBCT, US offered advantages, particularly in cases with thin crestal bone.

PMID:39799460 | DOI:10.1111/jre.13376

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