Category: Statistics

Innov Aging. 2023 Jul 13;7(10):igad074. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igad074. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite its prevalence and impact, pain is underdetected and undermanaged in persons with dementia. Family caregivers are well positioned to detect pain and facilitate its management in their care recipients, but they lack training in symptom recognition and communication. This study reports findings from a pilot trial evaluating the Pain Identification and Communication Toolkit (PICT), a multicomponent intervention that provides training in observational pain assessment and coaching in pain communication techniques.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Family caregivers of persons with comorbid pain and moderate-to-advanced dementia were randomly assigned to PICT (n = 19) or a control condition (n = 15). Caregivers in the PICT group participated in four weekly sessions delivered by telephone with a trained interventionist; caregivers in the control group received an information pamphlet about pain and dementia. All participants completed surveys at baseline and 12 weeks. Caregivers in the intervention group also completed semistructured interviews at 12 weeks. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t tests; qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

RESULTS: All participants (100%) in the PICT group completed the intervention and most completed the 12-week assessment (94%). PICT randomized caregivers reported that the intervention helped them to feel more confident in their ability to recognize (67%) and communicate about pain symptoms (83%). At 12 weeks, caregivers in the PICT group showed a statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy in pain-related communication. In qualitative interviews, caregivers emphasized the utility of PICT’s components, including pain assessment tools, and offered considerations for future enhancements, such as technology-based adaptations and integration within care delivery systems.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This pilot trial demonstrates that PICT is feasible to implement, acceptable to caregivers, and has the potential to improve confidence in recognizing and communicating about pain. Results support conducting a fully powered efficacy trial, an important step toward future integration into real-world care delivery.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03853291.

PMID:38094933 | PMC:PMC10714902 | DOI:10.1093/geroni/igad074

Innov Aging. 2023 Sep 16;7(10):igad100. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igad100. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have found that pain is associated with fall worry among community-dwelling older people. However, both pain and fall worry are poorly understood and underaddressed among community-dwelling older people with cognitive impairment (CI). It is essential to examine the association between pain and fall worry, and how sociodemographic and health characteristics may shape fall worry among this subgroup.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used data from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (analytic sample: n = 1150 community-dwelling older people with CI; were self-interviewed; mean age: 81; age range: 65-107). The number of pain sites in the prior month was assessed by presenting a card listing common pain sites (eg, back, knees). Two questions assessed past-month fall worry, “did you worry about falling down” and “did this worry ever limit your activities.” Following descriptive statistics, we fit multinomial logistic regression models to examine the associations between different pain characteristics (number of sites, severity, location) and non-activity-limiting and activity-limiting fall worry.

RESULTS: Non-activity-limiting fall worry was endorsed by 21.1% and activity-limiting fall worry by 13.6% of community-dwelling older people with CI. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and fall-worry-related covariates, multinomial logistic regression analysis found that a greater number of pain sites (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.22, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] = 1.12-1.33, p <.001) and severe pain (RRR = 2.05, 95% CI = 1.12-3.75, p = .020) was associated with activity-limiting fall worry. Both lower body (knee, foot, and leg) and upper body (hand, wrist, shoulder, neck, and stomach) pain were found to be associated with a high risk of activity-limiting fall worry.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest pain and fall worry are common among community-dwelling older people with CI and can be elicited directly from those who are communicative. Fall prevention for this population should prioritize pain management to mitigate activity-limiting fall worry because activity limitation increases the risk of falls.

PMID:38094927 | PMC:PMC10714914 | DOI:10.1093/geroni/igad100

J Med Imaging (Bellingham). 2023 Nov;10(6):064004. doi: 10.1117/1.JMI.10.6.064004. Epub 2023 Dec 12.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The utility of fluorescence microscopy imaging comes with the challenge of low resolution acquisitions, which severely limits information extraction and quantitative analysis. Image denoising is a technique that aims to remove noise from microscopy acquisitions by taking into account prior statistics of the corrupting noise. In this work, we propose an image denoising technique for fluorescence microscopy imaging.

APPROACH: The proposed technique is based on the principle of multifractal feature extraction from a noisy sample followed by a reconstruction technique from these features. It is observed that by following a proper hierarchical classification procedure, meaningful features can be extracted from a noisy image. A denoised image is then estimated from this sparse feature set through proper formulation of an optimization problem.

RESULTS: Experiments are performed on both synthetic image databases as well as on real fluorescence microscopy data. Superior denoising results, in comparison to multiple comparing techniques, validate the potential of the proposed approach.

CONCLUSION: The proposed method gives superior denoising results for low resolution fluorescence microscopy image acquisitions and can be used for post processing of data by biologists.

PMID:38094902 | PMC:PMC10715713 | DOI:10.1117/1.JMI.10.6.064004

Eur J Philos Sci. 2023;13(4):58. doi: 10.1007/s13194-023-00561-6. Epub 2023 Dec 11.

ABSTRACT

We propose an interpretation of physics named potentiality realism. This view, which can be applied to classical as well as to quantum physics, regards potentialities (i.e. intrinsic, objective propensities for individual events to obtain) as elements of reality, thereby complementing the actual properties taken by physical variables. This allows one to naturally reconcile realism and fundamental indeterminism in any theoretical framework. We discuss our specific interpretation of propensities, that require them to depart from being probabilities at the formal level, though allowing for statistics and the law of large numbers. This view helps reconcile classical and quantum physics by showing that most of the conceptual problems that are customarily taken to be unique issues of the latter — such as the measurement problem — are actually in common to all indeterministic physical theories.

PMID:38094896 | PMC:PMC10713789 | DOI:10.1007/s13194-023-00561-6

Front Pharmacol. 2023 Nov 24;14:1098378. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1098378. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Zuotai is an ancient mineral-herbal mixture containing β-HgS in Tibetan medicine. It is used to treat nervous system diseases, similar to Chinese medicine cinnabar and Indian Ayurveda medicine Rasasindura. However, one of the key problems faced by Zuotai is that its indications are ambiguous. Our previous study found that Zuotai exhibited the activity of ameliorating depressive-like behaviors in a chronic mild stress model. However, due to the inherent limitations of animal models in simulating human disease, clear results often require more than one model for confirmation. Methods: Therefore, another depression model, chronic restraint stressed (CRS) mice, was used to validate the antidepression effect of Zuotai. Prophylactic treatment was conducted for 21 consecutive days while mice were subjected to chronic restraint stress. Results: It was observed that Zuotai and β-HgS alleviated anhedonia, behavioral despair, stereotype behavior, and reduced exploratory and spontaneous movement in CRS mice. Zuotai and β-HgS also reversed the increases of stress hormone corticosterone (Cort) in serum and pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and brain, and increased the serotonin in cortex in CRS mice, with positive dose-effect relationship. The number of Ki67-positive cells in the dentate gyrus and the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus were slightly elevated in CRS mice treated with Zuotai; however, there was no statistically significant difference. Although Zuotai increased the total Hg concentration in main organs, the levels remained below those needed to result in observed adverse effect, at least for kidney and liver; and Zuotai showed no observed adverse effect on the brain histopathology, the cell proliferation in dentate gyrus, as well as the hippocampal and cortical organ coefficients. Conclusion: Zuotai exhibited the alleviation of depressive-like behaviors in CRS mice, accompanying with ameliorating stress hormone, peripherical and cerebral inflammation, and monoamine neurotransmitter.

PMID:38094892 | PMC:PMC10718046 | DOI:10.3389/fphar.2023.1098378

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023 Dec 13;24(1):966. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-07082-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Flat foot, also known as pes planus, is a common condition among primary school children and is a leading cause of all clinical visits related to foot problems worldwide. It can cause skeletal problems and joint misalignment. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of flat foot and its associated factors among public primary school children.

METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1072 school children aged 11 to 18 years. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and the footprints were used to calculate the plantar arch index. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.6, and analyzed by STATA version 15. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regressions were conducted. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value < 0.05.

RESULT: Out of 1022 participants, 105(10.27%) 95%CI: 8.5-12) had a flat foot. Being male (AOR = 2; 95%CI:1.22-3.30), living in highland altitude (AOR = 8.83; 95% CI: 4.64-16.79), living in midland altitude (AOR = 3.32;95% CI:1.75-6.29), living in an urban area (AOR = 2.42;95% CI:1.15-5.09), insufficient physical activity (AOR = 8.78;95% CI: 4.42-12.3), wearing closed-toe shoes (AOR = 2.33;95%CI:1.27-4.28), obesity (AOR = 6.30;95% CI:3.31-11.9), and foot pain (AOR = 3.52;95%CI:2.08-6.27) had a higher likelihood of flat foot as compared to their counterparts.

CONCLUSION: One in every ten children had a flat foot. Altitude, residence, sex, physical activity, foot pain, body mass index, and type of footwear were found to be factors statistically associated with flat foot. Integrated interventions for children to have sufficient physical activity, wearing sandals, maintaining a healthy body mass index, and flatfoot screening and monitoring are recommended.

PMID:38093248 | DOI:10.1186/s12891-023-07082-6

BMC Complement Med Ther. 2023 Dec 13;23(1):455. doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04299-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We conducted a comparative study to examine the differences in the use of complementary therapies (CT) among patients who attended diabetic clinics for follow-up treatment between 2007 and 2023 in Taiwan.

METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design to recruit individuals with diabetes from two regions (northern and southern) of Taiwan. A total of 183 and 307 participants were included in the surveys of 2007 and 2023, respectively. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0 to compare the survey results between the two time periods.

RESULTS: Among the various CTs, nutritional supplements remained the most prevalent, with a significant increase in usage from 68.3% in 2007 to 89.9% in 2023. Conversely, other therapies, such as Chinese herbal medicines, manipulative-based therapies, supernatural healings, and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies, demonstrated a significant decrease in usage between the two time periods. Furthermore, the disclosure rate of CT use to healthcare professionals remained persistently low, with only 24.6% in 2007 and a slight increase to 30.3% in 2023.

CONCLUSION: The significant rise in the use of nutritional supplements in conjunction with conventional medicine, without adequate monitoring and guidance from healthcare professionals, poses a substantial risk of unregulated blood sugar control, compromised diabetes management, and potential harm to health outcomes.

PMID:38093241 | DOI:10.1186/s12906-023-04299-9

BMC Nurs. 2023 Dec 13;22(1):472. doi: 10.1186/s12912-023-01596-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With the continuous improvement of people’s health needs, the public’s requirements for medical care are also getting higher and higher. Work engagement is a positive psychological state related to the work. It is very important to maintain nurses’ work engagement, however, due to many factors, the level of nurses’ work engagement is not high and nursing managers should identify the influencing factors of work engagement, and take positive measures to fully improve nurses’ work engagement.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the influence of compassion fatigue, professional identity and sense of coherence on nurses’ work engagement.

METHODS: From January 2022 to June 2022, convenience sampling was used to select clinical nurses from 9 tertiary hospitals in Henan Province of China as the research objects for a questionnaire survey. Statistical methods included descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and the PROCESS Macro Model 4 and 7 in regression analysis.

RESULTS: The results showed that compassion fatigue was significantly negatively correlated with sense of coherence, professional identity and work engagement (P<0.01), professional identity was significantly positively correlated with sense of coherence and work engagement (P<0.01), and there was a significant positive correlation between sense of coherence and work engagement (P<0.01). Professional identity played a partial mediating role between compassion fatigue and work engagement, accounting for 46.40% of the total effect; meanwhile, sense of coherence moderated the effect of compassion fatigue on professional identity and formed a moderated mediation model.

CONCLUSIONS: Compassion fatigue has a negative predictive effect on nurses’ work engagement. Professional identity and sense of coherence further explained the relationship of compassion fatigue on compassion fatigue and work engagement through mediating and moderating effects.

PMID:38093239 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-023-01596-z

BMC Oral Health. 2023 Dec 13;23(1):998. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03701-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Several appliances have been used for correction of developing skeletal Class II, including different myofunctional appliances as Twin block (TB)as well as the new pre-fabricated Myobrace (MB) appliance. However, the effects of these devices on the pharyngeal airways have not been compared in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of two Class II correction appliances; TB and MB on the sagittal pharyngeal airway dimension (SPAD), including the nasopharyngeal airway area (NPAA), the oropharyngeal airway area (OPAA), and the laryngopharyngeal airway area (LPAA).

METHODS: This is a two parallel arms randomized comparative clinical trial. Twenty-six children of 9-12 years with Skeletal Class II malocclusion due to mandibular deficiency and normal maxillary growth as confirmed by lateral cephalometric X-ray readings (ANB angle > 4° and SNB angle < 78) and Cervical vertebral maturational index (CVMI) 1 or 2 were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Group I: TB, Group II: MB (prefabricated functional appliance, Myofunctional Research Co., Australia). Lateral cephalograms were taken for all patients in both groups before treatment (T1) and after treatment (6 months later) (T2). The primary aim was to assess pre and post treatment changes in the SPAD in each group, and compare between the two study groups. The secondary aim was to evaluate the sagittal skeletal measurements such as the SNA, SNB, ANB, Wits appraisal, as well as vertical skeletal measurements represented by the Frankfurt-mandibular plane angle (FMA) measured pre- and post-treatment. The independent samples t-test was used to compare the two study groups, and the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. The paired samples t-test was used to compare various parameters between T1 and T2 within each group. The cutoff for significance was p-value < 0.05. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows (Version 26.0).

RESULTS: By Comparing changes in airway measurements within each group, it was found that NPAA, OPAA, and LPAA increased significantly after treatment within each group of MB and TB. TB group showed significantly higher mean difference (T2-T1) in both NPAA and OPAA than MB group with 28.39 (± 56.75) and 40.46 (± 52.16) respectively. The increase in LPAA values was not statistically significant at (T2-T1) between both groups. Regarding skeletal changes, there was a significant increase in the SNB values between T1 and T2 within each group with 2.82 (± 3.32) for MB group and 3.79 (± 3.06) for TB group Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the ANB values between T1 and T2 within each group by 2.42 (± 2.70) for MB group and 3.06 (± 1.14) for TB group. Similarly, there was a significant decrease in the ANB values between T1 and T2 within each group by -2.13 (± 0.62) for MB group and – 2.46 (± 0.72) for TB group. No significant differences were found between both groups in SNA, SNB, ANB and Wits appraisal at p = 0.06, p = 0.45, p = 0.43 and p = 0.22 respectively. FMA did not show significant difference between T1 and T2 within each group, nor showed a significant mean difference between both groups at T2-T1.

CONCLUSIONS: TB was more effective than MB in improving the upper (NPAA) and middle (OPAA) airways, while no difference was found regarding the lower airway (LPAA). Both TB and MB reduced the severity of developing skeletal class II due to mandibular retrognathism by forward posturing of the mandible. Thus, patients with airway problems would benefit more from TB than MB.

PMID:38093237 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-023-03701-9

BMC Psychiatry. 2023 Dec 13;23(1):939. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05415-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The relationships between fruit and vegetable consumption (FV) and Internet addiction (IA) in college students still remained unknown together with the internal mechanisms. Given the limitations of previous cross-sectional design, longitudinal research was necessary to be conducted to explore more precise correlations. Using the three-wave data in a longitudinal design, this study aimed to explore the association between FV and IA among Chinese college students and potential multiple mediators of insomnia and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: A total of 579 college students were recruited during three waves (T1: August 2020; T2: November 2020; T3: February 2021). FV (T1), insomnia (T2), depression (T2) and IA (T3) symptoms were reported. The descriptive statistics of the sociodemographic characteristics and correlation analyses of the study variables were calculated. The significance of the mediation effects was measured conducting a bootstrap method with SPSS PROCESS macro.

RESULTS: FV was negatively correlated with IA, and lower FV predicted higher risk of IA. Depression mediated the association between FV and subsequent IA. Insomnia and depression were multiple mediators, which in turn mediated the links between FV and subsequent IA.

CONCLUSIONS: The three-wave longitudinal study has revealed that FV had indirect effects on IA through individual mediating factor of depression and multiple mediating roles of insomnia and depression sequentially. The policy makers, educators and researchers should pay attention to the impact of the interventions from healthy diet, in order to optimize the coping strategies for preventing college students from IA.

PMID:38093234 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-023-05415-2