Category: Statistics

Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2023 Oct-Dec;66(4):697-701. doi: 10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_720_22.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) staining is a common and routine staining method used in Histopathology. In origin, Hematoxylin is natural and Eosin is a synthetic dye. Synthetic dyes are widely accepted due to its staining efficiency. However, due to synthetic and toxic properties, natural alternatives have gained importance. In this present study, Curcuma Longa rhizome (Turmeric) extract with and without mordant are examined as a natural substitute for Eosin in H and E staining. This study assessed the staining quality of Turmeric (H and T) compared to Eosin (H and E) and the significance of mordant in H and T staining.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative study is conducted in a Histopathology laboratory in a tertiary care hospital. Five tissue specimens were collected and stained with H and T with mordant, H and T without mordant, and conventional H and E stain. Two independent pathologists examined the quality of each stain. The results are graded as excellent, good, and poor. These results are statistically compared and analyzed.

RESULT: Staining quality of Turmeric and Eosin are comparable to each other. At the same time, Turmeric gives yellow color instead of pink in Eosin. The result also shows that the addition of mordant in Turmeric significantly improves the staining quality.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Turmeric with mordant can be used as an alternative stain to synthetic Eosin in H and E staining.

PMID:38084518 | DOI:10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_720_22

BMJ Glob Health. 2023 Dec 7;8(12):e013509. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013509.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Multimorbidity (MM) is a growing concern linked to poor outcomes and higher healthcare costs. While most MM research targets European ancestry populations, the prevalence and patterns in African ancestry groups remain underexplored. This study aimed to identify and summarise the available literature on MM in populations with African ancestry, on the continent, and in the diaspora.

DESIGN: A scoping review was conducted in five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct and JSTOR) in July 2022. Studies were selected based on predefined criteria, with data extraction focusing on methodology and findings. Descriptive statistics summarised the data, and a narrative synthesis highlighted key themes.

RESULTS: Of the 232 publications on MM in African-ancestry groups from 2010 to June 2022-113 examined continental African populations, 100 the diaspora and 19 both. Findings revealed diverse MM patterns within and beyond continental Africa. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are predominant in both groups (80% continental and 70% diaspora). Infectious diseases featured more in continental studies (58% continental and 16% diaspora). Although many papers did not specifically address these features, as in previous studies, older age, being women and having a lower socioeconomic status were associated with a higher prevalence of MM, with important exceptions. Research gaps identified included limited data on African-ancestry individuals, inadequate representation, under-represented disease groups, non-standardised methodologies, the need for innovative data strategies, and insufficient translational research.

CONCLUSION: The growing global MM prevalence is mirrored in African-ancestry populations. Recognising the unique contexts of African-ancestry populations is essential when addressing the burden of MM. This review emphasises the need for additional research to guide and enhance healthcare approaches for African-ancestry populations, regardless of their geographic location.

PMID:38084495 | DOI:10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013509

J Clin Periodontol. 2023 Dec 12. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13911. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess the impact of the timing of implant placement following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) on the need for soft-tissue augmentation (STA) and to identify the risk factors for horizontal and vertical soft-tissue loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with a single failing tooth in the anterior maxilla (15-25) were treated at six centres. Following tooth extraction, they were randomly allocated to the test group (immediate implant placement, IIP) or control group (delayed implant placement, DIP). ARP was performed in both groups and implants were immediately restored with an implant-supported provisional crown. Six months after tooth extraction and ARP, a panel of five blinded clinicians assessed the need for STA on the basis of anonymized clinical pictures and a digital surface model. Lack of buccal soft-tissue convexity and/or mid-facial recession qualified for STA. Pre-operative and 6-month digital surface models were superimposed to assess horizontal and vertical soft-tissue changes.

RESULTS: Thirty patients were included per group (test: 20 females, 10 males, mean age 53.1; control: 15 females, 15 males, mean age 59.8). The panel deemed STA as necessary in 24.1% and 35.7% of the cases following IIP and DIP, respectively. The difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio [OR] = 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.54-5.84]; p = .343). Loss of buccal soft-tissue profile was higher following DIP (estimated mean ratio = 1.66; 95% CI [1.10-2.52]; p = .018), as was mid-facial recession (mean difference [MD] = 0.47 mm; 95% CI [0.12-0.83]; p = .011). Besides DIP, regression analysis identified soft-tissue thickness (-0.57; 95% CI [-1.14 to -0.01]; p = .045) and buccal bone dehiscence (0.17; 95% CI [0.01-0.34]; p = .045) as additional risk factors for mid-facial recession. Surgeons found IIP significantly more difficult than DIP (visual analogue scale MD = -34.57; 95% CI [-48.79 to -20.36]; p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: This multi-centre randomized controlled trial failed to demonstrate a significant difference in the need for STA between IIP and DIP when judged by a panel of blinded clinicians. Based on objective soft-tissue changes, patients with thin buccal soft tissues, with a buccal bone dehiscence and treated with a delayed approach appeared particularly prone to soft-tissue loss.

PMID:38084405 | DOI:10.1111/jcpe.13911

Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2023 Dec 12. doi: 10.1111/ggi.14755. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Multiple risk factors are involved in geriatric syndrome (GS) occurring in older adults. Although drug therapy often contributes to GS, the specific causes among older adults in Japan remain unclear. In this study, we examined the possible prescribing cascade rate among older outpatients eligible for Late-stage Elderly Health Insurance and elucidated the differences between GS and GS associated with medication (GSAM) trends.

METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled patients from health insurance claims data in Japan between October 2018 and March 2019; hospitalized patients were excluded. Two groups were identified among the participants with GS: GS (no use of GS-causing medications) and possible-GSAM (p-GSAM; use of GS-causing medications). The collected data were analyzed using the Bell Curve for Excel, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: In total, 137 781 outpatients were enrolled. Of the 32 259 outpatients who did not use GS-causing medications, 7342 were classified into the GS group. Among 105 522 outpatients who used GS-causing medications, 8347 were classified as having p-GSAM. The mean number of prescriptions was significantly higher in the p-GSAM group than in the GS group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, all GS symptoms showed significant differences, with impaired appetite being the most prevalent in the p-GSAM group than in the GS group (P < 0.01). A possible prescribing cascade was suspected in 2826 (33.9%) of 8347 outpatients in the p-GSAM group.

CONCLUSION: Impaired appetite in patients taking GS-causing medications might lead to prescribing cascades. Further studies are needed to prevent such prescribing cascades. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; ••: ••-••.

PMID:38084388 | DOI:10.1111/ggi.14755

Health Psychol Rep. 2021 Dec 2;10(1):37-46. doi: 10.5114/hpr.2021.111297. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to analyse the relationships between anxiety, depression and quality of life in cancer patient-caregiver dyads during the first 6 months after the diagnosis using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM).

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Sixty-seven cancer patient-caregiver dyads completed the following questionnaires in a prospective longitudinal design, with two assessment points at a 6month interval, T1 (45-60) and T2 (180-200 days after diagnosis): the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). Descriptive statistics, t-test and bivariate correlations were applied. The APIM was used to analyse the influence of anxiety and depression (T1) on own (actor effect) and partner (partner effect) quality of life in T2.

RESULTS: The results did not reveal any differences between T1 and T2 in anxiety and depression in caregivers and patients. Assessing the differences between T1 and T2 with respect to quality of life, the caregiver results showed an improvement in physical functioning and bodily pain, but lower social functioning and mental health scores. For patients, significantly lower scores were observed in general health and vitality scores. Dyadic analysis showed an actor effect of anxiety and depression on most of the quality of life domains and a partner effect in caregiver depression (T1) and general health in patients (T2).

CONCLUSIONS: The early assessment of anxiety and depression may help to prevent declines in quality of life in the first few months following a diagnosis of cancer in patient-caregiver dyads.

PMID:38084368 | PMC:PMC10501425 | DOI:10.5114/hpr.2021.111297

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023 Dec 11;24(1):962. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-07097-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Open distal tibial fractures pose significant challenges regarding treatment options and patient outcomes. This retrospective single-centre study aimed to compare the stability, clinical outcomes, complications, and financial implications of two surgical interventions, namely the external locking plate and the combined frame external fixator, to manage open distal tibial fractures.

METHODS: Forty-four patients with distal open tibial (metaphyseal extraarticular) fractures treated between 2020 and 2022 were selected and formed into two main groups, Group A and Group B. Group A (19 patients) are patients that underwent treatment using the external locking plate technique, while Group B (25 patients) received the combined frame external fixator approach. Age, gender, inpatient stay, re-operation rates, complications, functional recovery (measured by the Johner-Wrush score), pain ratings (measured by the Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]), and cost analyses were evaluated for each group. Statistical analyses using SPSS were conducted to compare the outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTS: The research found significant variations in clinical outcomes, complications, and cost consequences between Group A and Group B. Group A had fewer hospitalisation periods (23.687.74) than Group B (33.5619.47). Re-operation rates were also considerably lower in Group A (26.3%) than in Group B (48%), owing to a greater prevalence of pin-tract infections and subsequent pin loosening in the combination frame external fixator group. The estimated cost of both techniques was recorded and analysed with the locking average of 26,619.69 ± 9,602.352 and the combined frame average of 39,095.64 ± 20,070.077.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that although the two approaches effectively manage open distal tibia fractures, the locking compression plate approach (Group A) has an advantage in treating open distal tibia fractures. Shorter hospitalisation times, reduced re-operation rates, and fewer complications will benefit patients, healthcare systems, and budget allocation. Group A’s functional recovery results demonstrate the locking plate technique’s ability to improve recovery and patient quality of life. According to the cost analysis, the locking plate technique’s economic viability and cost-effectiveness may optimise healthcare resources for open distal tibia fractures. These findings might improve patient outcomes and inform evidence-based orthopaedic surgery.

PMID:38082305 | DOI:10.1186/s12891-023-07097-z

Genome Biol. 2023 Dec 11;24(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s13059-023-03127-0.

ABSTRACT

Long-read RNA sequencing has emerged as a powerful tool for transcript discovery, even in well-annotated organisms. However, assessing the accuracy of different methods in identifying annotated and novel transcripts remains a challenge. Here, we present SQANTI-SIM, a versatile tool that wraps around popular long-read simulators to allow precise management of transcript novelty based on the structural categories defined by SQANTI3. By selectively excluding specific transcripts from the reference dataset, SQANTI-SIM effectively emulates scenarios involving unannotated transcripts. Furthermore, the tool provides customizable features and supports the simulation of additional types of data, representing the first multi-omics simulation tool for the lrRNA-seq field.

PMID:38082294 | DOI:10.1186/s13059-023-03127-0

BMC Public Health. 2023 Dec 11;23(1):2477. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17321-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The consequences of cancer on working until retirement age remain unclear. This study aimed to analyse working life considering all possible labour market states in a sample of workers after sickness absence (SA) due to cancer and to compare their working life paths to those of a sample of workers without SA and with an SA due to other diseases.

METHODS: This was a retrospective dynamic cohort study among social security affiliates in Catalonia from 2012-2018. Cases consisted of workers with an SA due to cancer between 2012-2015 (N = 516) and were individually age- and sex-matched with those of affiliates with an SA due to other diagnoses and workers without an SA. All workers (N = 1,548, 56% women) were followed up from entry into the cohort until the end of 2018 to characterise nine possible weekly labour states. Sequence analysis, optimal matching, and multinomial logistic regression were used to identify and assess the probability of future labour market participation patterns (LMPPs). All analyses were stratified by sex.

RESULTS: Compared with workers with an SA due to cancer, male workers with no SA and SA due to other causes showed a lower probability of being in the LMPP of death (aRRR 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00‒0.16; aRRR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06‒0.46, respectively) and, among women, a lower probability of permanent disability and death (aRRR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10‒0.57; aRRR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19‒0.83, respectively). Compared to workers with SA due to cancer, the risk of early retirement was lower among workers with no SA (women, aRRR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.22‒1.65; men, aRRR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.27‒1.52), although these results were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Workplaces, many of which have policies common to all diagnoses, should be modified to the needs of cancer survivors to prevent an increasing frequency of early retirement and permanent disability when possible. Future studies should assess the impact of cancer on premature exit from the labour market among survivors, depending on cancer localisation and type of treatment.

PMID:38082284 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-023-17321-z

Biomed Eng Online. 2023 Dec 11;22(1):120. doi: 10.1186/s12938-023-01175-y.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Gait impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are treated with dopaminergic medication or deep-brain stimulation (DBS), although the magnitude of the response is variable between individuals. Computer vision-based approaches have previously been evaluated for measuring the severity of parkinsonian gait in videos, but have not been evaluated for their ability to identify changes within individuals in response to treatment. This pilot study examines whether a vision-based model, trained on videos of parkinsonism, is able to detect improvement in parkinsonian gait in people with PD in response to medication and DBS use.

METHODS: A spatial-temporal graph convolutional model was trained to predict MDS-UPDRS-gait scores in 362 videos from 14 older adults with drug-induced parkinsonism. This model was then used to predict MDS-UPDRS-gait scores on a different dataset of 42 paired videos from 13 individuals with PD, recorded while ON and OFF medication and DBS treatment during the same clinical visit. Statistical methods were used to assess whether the model was responsive to changes in gait in the ON and OFF states.

RESULTS: The MDS-UPDRS-gait scores predicted by the model were lower on average (representing improved gait; p = 0.017, Cohen’s d = 0.495) during the ON medication and DBS treatment conditions. The magnitude of the differences between ON and OFF state was significantly correlated between model predictions and clinician annotations (p = 0.004). The predicted scores were significantly correlated with the clinician scores (Kendall’s tau-b = 0.301, p = 0.010), but were distributed in a smaller range as compared to the clinician scores.

CONCLUSION: A vision-based model trained on parkinsonian gait did not accurately predict MDS-UPDRS-gait scores in a different PD cohort, but detected weak, but statistically significant proportional changes in response to medication and DBS use. Large, clinically validated datasets of videos captured in many different settings and treatment conditions are required to develop accurate vision-based models of parkinsonian gait.

PMID:38082277 | DOI:10.1186/s12938-023-01175-y

BMC Med Genomics. 2023 Dec 11;16(1):324. doi: 10.1186/s12920-023-01760-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Embryo aneuploidy is a main of principal reason of pregnancy loss, in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure and birth defects in offspring. Previous researchs have demonstrated that Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion was associated with reproduction outcomes, however, the relationship between Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion and embryo aneuploidy remains unexplored.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 513 patients with 603 cycles in the reproductive center of Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from January 1, 2016 to June 30, 2022. The study cohort was divided into two groups: the AZFc microdeletion group, comprising 53 patients and 58 cycles, and the control group, comprising 460 patients and 545 cycles. Statistical methods including restricted cubic spline and generalized estimating equation (GEE) were employed to evaluate the relationship between Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion and embryo euploidy.

RESULTS: 294 and 2833 blastocysts were selected as AZFc microdeletion group and control group, respectively. Patients with Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion had significantly higher embryo aneuploid rate (33.0% vs. 27.3%, P < 0.05), lower rate of normal fertilization rate (81.5% vs. 90.3%, P < 0.05) and lower blastocysts formation rate (47.0% vs. 57.8%, P < 0.05) compared with the control group. However, no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes after euploid embryos transfer were observed between these two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study underscored the association between Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion and an elevated risk of embryo aneuploidy. Before the conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, couples with Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion should be apprised of the heightened susceptibility to embryo aneuploidy. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) should be introduced for selection.

PMID:38082270 | DOI:10.1186/s12920-023-01760-z