Category: Statistics

BMC Oral Health. 2023 Oct 21;23(1):776. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03540-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any association between molar incisor hypomineralization and developmental dental anomalies.

METHODS: Two pediatric dentists evaluated panoramic radiographs of 429 children aged 8-14 years with molar incisor hypomineralization (study group) and 437 children without molar incisor hypomineralization (control group) in terms of developmental dental anomalies. Twelve different developmental dental anomalies were categorized into four types: size (microdontia, macrodontia); position (ectopic eruption of maxillary permanent first molars, infraocclusion of primary molars); shape (fusion, gemination, dilaceration, taurodontism, peg-shaped maxillary lateral incisors); and number (hypodontia, oligodontia, hyperdontia) anomalies.

RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the frequencies of developmental dental anomalies between the study and control groups in total, females, and males (p > 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the distribution of developmental size, position, shape, and number anomalies between the study and control groups (p = 0.024). The most common anomaly in both groups was hypodontia (6.3% and 5.9%, respectively). There was a significant difference between the study and control groups in terms of subtypes of shape anomaly in all children and females (p = 0.045 and p = 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: While a significant difference was observed between the distributions of types of developmental dental anomalies between individuals with and without molar incisor hypomineralization, there was no difference in terms of the frequency of developmental dental anomalies.

PMID:37865729 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-023-03540-8

Sci Rep. 2023 Oct 21;13(1):18015. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-45155-7.

ABSTRACT

Effective public health surveillance requires consistent monitoring of disease signals such that researchers and decision-makers can react dynamically to changes in disease occurrence. However, whilst surveillance initiatives exist in production animal veterinary medicine, comparable frameworks for companion animals are lacking. First-opinion veterinary electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to reveal disease signals and often represent the initial reporting of clinical syndromes in animals presenting for medical attention, highlighting their possible significance in early disease detection. Yet despite their availability, there are limitations surrounding their free text-based nature, inhibiting the ability for national-level mortality and morbidity statistics to occur. This paper presents PetBERT, a large language model trained on over 500 million words from 5.1 million EHRs across the UK. PetBERT-ICD is the additional training of PetBERT as a multi-label classifier for the automated coding of veterinary clinical EHRs with the International Classification of Disease 11 framework, achieving F1 scores exceeding 83% across 20 disease codings with minimal annotations. PetBERT-ICD effectively identifies disease outbreaks, outperforming current clinician-assigned point-of-care labelling strategies up to 3 weeks earlier. The potential for PetBERT-ICD to enhance disease surveillance in veterinary medicine represents a promising avenue for advancing animal health and improving public health outcomes.

PMID:37865683 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-45155-7

Sci Rep. 2023 Oct 21;13(1):18000. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44874-1.

ABSTRACT

Despite a link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and anxiety, the role of anxiety in the pathway to chronic pain is unclear. Potentially, inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) are involved. Objectives were to (1) examine relationships between reported ACEs, anxiety, and chronic pain, and (2) assess associations between ACEs, anxiety, and CRP levels and between CRP and chronic pain. Data from 24,172 adults who participated in the UK Biobank were used to conduct Poisson regressions to assess relationships between ACEs, anxiety, and chronic pain. For participants with CRP data who met the inclusion criteria (n = 2007), similar models were run between ACEs, anxiety, and CRP, and CRP and chronic pain. For objective 1, three statistically significant interactions were found to predict pain: frequency of physical abuse x reported muscular symptoms during anxiety (p = 0.01); frequency in which they felt hated x having discussed anxiety with a professional (p = 0.03), and reported frequency of sexual abuse x difficulties relaxing during anxiety attacks (p = 0.03). For objective 2, frequency of sexual abuse and informing a professional about anxiety significantly interacted to predict elevated CRP. For correlations, the largest was between CRP and the number of times pain was reported over the years (p = 0.01). Finally, ACEs (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and whether taken to a doctor) significantly interacted with CRP to predict pain. This study suggests mechanisms of the impact of ACEs on chronic pain may include inflammation and anxiety, which warrants further study.

PMID:37865679 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-44874-1

Sci Rep. 2023 Oct 21;13(1):18007. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-45401-y.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, psychological status, sleep quality, and quality of life of patients with functional anorectal pain (FAP). The study also assessed the treatment efficacy of paroxetine in alleviating FAP symptoms. A retrospective comparative study of forty-three patients with FAP who were first treated with an anal plug compound glycolate suppository versus paroxetine combined with anal plug compound glycolate suppository between November 2021 and August 2022. Pain, quality of life, depression, anxiety and sleep quality were assessed before and after treatment by the Chinese version of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SF-MPQ-2), Health-related quality of life scale (The 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, SF-12), 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A total of 46.5% of patients with FAP were found to have anxiety symptoms (HAMA ≥ 7), 37.2% of patients with FAP were found to have depressive symptoms (HDRS ≥ 8). A total of 32.6% of patients with FAP had sleep disorders (PSQI > 10). Within 1 week after drug withdrawal, the short-term efficacy rate of oral paroxetine was 95.5%. After treatment, the symptom pain score (VAS) and sleep score were lower than those before treatment (P < 0.01). In the areas of vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), and Mental Health (MH), the difference between the pre-treatment and 8 weeks posttreatment scores of the study group and the control group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). FAP patients have obvious symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the incidence of sleep disturbance is prevalent. Paroxetine, a typical serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was able to alleviate depression, anxiety, and pain symptoms in FAP, which might have clinical application prospects.

PMID:37865675 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-45401-y

NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2023 Oct 21;9(1):146. doi: 10.1038/s41531-023-00591-0.

ABSTRACT

Genome‑wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed numerous loci associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, some potential causal/risk genes were still not revealed and no etiological therapies are available. To find potential causal genes and explore genetically supported drug targets for PD is urgent. By integrating the expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) datasets from multiple tissues (blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain) and PD GWAS summary statistics, a pipeline combing Mendelian randomization (MR), Steiger filtering analysis, Bayesian colocalization, fine mapping, Protein-protein network and enrichment analysis were applied to identify potential causal genes for PD. As a result, GPNMB displayed a robust causal role for PD at the protein level in the blood, CSF and brain, and transcriptional level in the brain, while the protective role of CD38 (in brain pQTL and eQTL) was also identified. We also found inconsistent roles of DGKQ on PD between protein and mRNA levels. Another 9 proteins (CTSB, ARSA, SEC23IP, CD84, ENTPD1, FCGR2B, BAG3, SNCA, FCGR2A) were associated with the risk for PD based on only a single pQTL after multiple corrections. We also identified some proteins’ interactions with known PD causative genes and therapeutic targets. In conclusion, this study suggested GPNMB, CD38, and DGKQ may act in the pathogenesis of PD, but whether the other proteins involved in PD needs more evidence. These findings would help to uncover the genes underlying PD and prioritize targets for future therapeutic interventions.

PMID:37865667 | DOI:10.1038/s41531-023-00591-0

Int Ophthalmol. 2023 Oct 21. doi: 10.1007/s10792-023-02898-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Eyelid spasms might be associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in hemifacial spasm (HFS) patients. IOP assessment using a Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) is often compromised by eyelid spasms. This study aimed to assess the effect of HFS on IOP measurements using the transpalpebral tonometer Diaton® before and after treatment with botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and compared Diaton® and GAT measurements after treatment with BTX-A.

METHODS: IOP measurements were obtained with Diaton® in 27 patients with moderate-to-severe HFS before and after treatment with BTX-A. After treatment, the IOP was also measured using GAT and the results were compared with the ones measured with a Diaton®. The patients underwent automated perimetry, OCT, and pachymetry for screening to glaucoma.

RESULTS: Mean IOP with Diaton® was 11 ± 3.42 mmHg before treatment in the affected eye and 9 ± 2.98 mmHg in the contralateral eye. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.012). However, after treatment with BTX-A, no interocular difference was found in IOP obtained with Diaton® (P = 0.204) or GAT (P = 0.971). Comparison between GAT and Diaton® measurements showed no significant differences after BTX-A treatment between the affected (P = 0.212) and contralateral eye (P = 0.971).

CONCLUSIONS: A significant reduction in IOP measurements on the affected side of HFS patients was observed after treatment with BTX-A, demonstrating that eyelid spasms may increase the IOP. No significant difference was observed between Diaton® and GAT measurements after the application of BTX-A. No differences were found in automated perimetry, OCT, and CCT when comparing affected eyes with contralateral eyes.

PMID:37865617 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-023-02898-6

Pancreatology. 2023 Oct 16:S1424-3903(23)01824-0. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2023.10.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine the predictors and outcomes associated with the development of acute pancreatitis (AP) in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS: This is an observational analysis of the 2020 National Inpatient Sample Database. The study includes adult patients who were admitted with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and stratifies them based on the presence or absence of AP during their hospitalization. Predictors of AP development between the two groups and differences in outcomes are examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using Stata/BE 17.0 is conducted, with adjustments made for age, sex, race, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Statistical significance is determined at a p-value of <0.05.

RESULTS: Significant factors associated with an increased risk of AP in COVID-19 patients include Hispanic ethnicity, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, residence in states located in the southern region, history of chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, malnutrition, portal hypertension, and alcohol use. COVID-19 patients who developed AP were also found to be at higher risk of adverse outcomes, including mortality, acute coronary syndrome, acute kidney injury, sepsis, septic shock, in-hospital cardiac arrest, invasive mechanical ventilation, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, prolonged length of stay, and increased healthcare cost.

CONCLUSIONS: In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the presence of AP is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Risk factors for developing AP in this population include Hispanic ethnicity, residence in the southern region, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, history of chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, malnutrition, portal hypertension, and alcohol use.

PMID:37865613 | DOI:10.1016/j.pan.2023.10.012

Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2023 Oct 12:102591. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102591. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Parametric tests such as t-tests require a normal distribution of data. However, the determination of normal distribution may not be conclusive while dealing with a small sample size. Non-parametric tests such as Wilcoxon tests may be used in this situation, as these tests do not require normal distribution.

PMID:37865611 | DOI:10.1016/j.plefa.2023.102591

Vaccine. 2023 Oct 19:S0264-410X(23)01222-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.10.039. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) based influenza vaccine (IV) programs have been successful in adults; however, little is known about pediatric ED IV programs in terms of prevalence, feasibility, or successful implementation.

AIMS: To describe the reach and effectiveness of IV practices in pediatric EDs, and identify IV facilitators and barriers.

METHODS: We assessed, via cross-sectional survey of pediatric ED physicians, number of EDs offering IV to children, vaccines administered annually, and perceived facilitators/barriers to vaccination. The proportion of EDs offering IV is reported. Chi-square tests compared facilitators and barriers among high performers (≥50 IV/year), low performers (<50 IV/yr), and non-vaccinators. We calculated an area of missed effect for the number of children who could be vaccinated if non-vaccinating EDs offered IV.

RESULTS: Among 492 physicians from 166 EDs, 142 responded (representing 61 (37.3 %) EDs). Most EDs were in large, urban, academic, freestanding children’s hospitals (Table 1). Only twenty-six EDs (44.3 %) offer ≥ 1 IV/yr. Seventeen (65.4 %) were low performers, five (19.2 %) high performers, and four (15.4 %) were model programs. High/model performers used establish workflows more commonly than lower performers (78 % vs. 33 %), although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.077). Common facilitators included: strong provider and administration buy-in, electronic health record facilitation, storage/accessibility, and having a leadership team/champion (Fig. 1). Non-vaccinators commonly perceived lack of these factors as barriers. Many (24/61, 39.3 %) EDs expressed interested in establishing or growing IV programs. Up to 18,250 unvaccinated children could receive IV annually if non-vaccinating EDs offered IV during influenza season.

CONCLUSIONS: Over half of EDs participating in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee do not currently offer pediatric IV. Addressing identified barriers/facilitators to develop IV programs in EDs has potential to improve vaccination rates, especially among minority and underserved children.

PMID:37865600 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.10.039