Category: Statistics

J Pak Med Assoc. 2022 May;72(5):896-900. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.01124.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To highlight the clinical characteristics of primary biliary cholangitis on the basis of gender in terms of the extent of liver injury and extra-liver autoimmune expressions.

METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan, and comprised data of patients aged >20 years diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis between January 2000 and December 2018. Patients in the control group were randomly selected from the health examination centre. Liver injury manifestations and susceptibilities were analysed along gender lines. The gene expression microarray data from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus database was also used to explore the relationship between autoimmune-induced inflammation and androgen response expression. Statistical analysis was done using Graph-Pad Prism 7.0.

RESULTS: Of the 75 cases, 63(84%) were females with a mean age of 64.6±1.78 years, and 12(16%%) were males with a mean age of 46.6±5.6 years. Of the 66 controls, 55(83.3%) were females with a mean age of 51.67 years, and 11(16.6%) were males with a mean age of 45.9 years. There were no significant differences in terms of liver profiles related to gender in the control group (p>0.05). Among the cases, male patients showed fewer extrahepatic autoimmune disorders and more severe liver injuries before or after ursodeoxycholic acid treatment (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between androgen receptor response and the extent of systemic inflammation (p<0.05). Conclusion: The association between androgen receptor responses and inflammation was linked to gender-related hepatic injuries, which may explain why liver inflammation in male patients is generally more severe compared to the female patients.

CONCLUSION: The association between androgen receptor responses and inflammation was linked to gender-related hepatic injuries, which may explain why liver inflammation in male patients is generally more severe compared to the female patients.

PMID:35713052 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.01124

J Pak Med Assoc. 2022 May;72(5):993-996. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.22-66.

ABSTRACT

Colloid cysts are a group of CNS neoplasms that usually present with features of CSF flow obstruction. The treatment is by microsurgical, endoscopic or stereotactic techniques. Hydrocephalus usually resolves postoperatively, but in around 3-7% of cases symptoms persist and ultimately require CSF diversion. Several factors such as operative approach, cyst size, operative time, intraoperative bleeding may influence the need for CSF diversion but most of these are yet to be statistically proven. Existing literature is mainly focused on incidence of CSF diversion after resection of colloid cyst rather than the factors which may predict its necessity and extensive research is required to accurately determine these factors.

PMID:35713076 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.22-66

J Pak Med Assoc. 2022 May;72(5):843-849. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.1401.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study multinodular goitre patients’ surgery by direct observation of surgical technique, and to compare complications with surgeons’ skills and experience, for improved training of future thyroid surgeons.

METHODS: Based on positivist epistemology and analytical observational design, this prospective double-blind study of a cohort of multinodular goitre patients operated upon by variedly experienced surgeons, was conducted at Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur and Nishtar Medical University Hospital Multan, Pakistan, from December 2016 to April 2019. Patients were admitted through outpatient department and operated upon in routine operation lists. The surgeons were specialists/senior registrars, assistant professors, associate professors and professors. The patients were divided into two virtual groups: the one operated upon by surgeons with >3 years of post-fellowship experience and the other operated upon by surgeons with <3 years of post-fellowship experience. Surgeries were directly observed and differences in surgical technique and complications were recorded for respective groups. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

RESULTS: Of the 134 patients, there were 73(54.5%) in group 1 and 61(45.5%) in group 2. Overall, there were 119(88.8%) females and 15(11.2%) males. The overall mean age was 37.17±13.41 years (range: 14-80 years). Of the 25 surgeons, 13(52%) were in group 1 and 12(48%) in group 2. Group 1 had fewer complications compared to group 2, which on certain parameters was statistically significant (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons’ experience and technique were found to have significant relationship with the rate of complications. Direct observation of surgeries is significant for real life evaluation and training of junior surgeons.

PMID:35713042 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.1401

J Glob Health. 2022 Jun 18;12:04046. doi: 10.7189/jogh.12.04046.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The evidence around the relationship between Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and undernutrition is sparse and mostly reported from cross-sectional data sets. This paper aimed to test the relationship between ECC and linear and ponderal growth trajectories.

METHODS: This project involves secondary data analysis from the Cambodia Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Study. The analytical sample included a 2y-cohort of 894 children who were younger than 2 years of age at the time of first height and weight measurement. Statistical analysis used both logistic regression modelling and Latent Class Analysis to examine the effect of exposure to dental caries in the first 1000 days on weight for height Z-score (WHZ) and height for age Z-score (HAZ) trajectory class groups. The presence of any cavity and pulp involvement were examined using multinomial regression adjusting for gender, socioeconomic status, maternal age and education.

FINDINGS: Within each class groupings (HAZ and WHZ groupings), there was a trend whereby those with one or more cavities had lower Z-scores across the three follow-up time points of observation. There was an association between exposure to caries and WHZ class membership whereby children with caries exposure were more likely belong to WHZ class groups with lower Z-scores over time.

CONCLUSIONS: The study offers evidence that ECC is correlated with less favourable ponderal growth categorized by WHZ trajectory class groups.

PMID:35713031 | DOI:10.7189/jogh.12.04046

Euro Surveill. 2022 Jun;27(24). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.24.2200448.

ABSTRACT

In May 2022, monkeypox outbreaks have been reported in countries not endemic for monkeypox. We estimated the monkeypox incubation period, using reported exposure and symptom-onset times for 18 cases detected and confirmed in the Netherlands up to 31 May 2022. Mean incubation period was 8.5 days (5th-95th percentiles: 4.2-17.3), underpinning the current recommendation to monitor or isolate/quarantine case contacts for 21 days. However, as the incubation period may differ between different transmission routes, further epidemiological investigations are needed.

PMID:35713026 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.24.2200448

Stroke. 2022 Jun 17:101161STROKEAHA121038196. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.038196. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We aimed to verify the validity of the proportional recovery model for the lower extremity.

METHODS: We reviewed clinical data of patients enrolled in the Korean Stroke Cohort for Functioning and Rehabilitation between August 2012 and May 2015. Recovery proportion was calculated as the amount of motor recovery over initial motor impairment, measured as the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity score. We used the logistic regression method to model the probability of achieving the full Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity score, whereby we considered the ceiling effect of the score. To show the difference in the prevalence of achieving the full Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity score between 3 and 6 months poststroke, we constructed a marginal model through the generalized estimating equation method. We also performed the propensity score matching analysis to show the dependency of recovery proportion on the initial motor deficit at 3 and 6 months poststroke.

RESULTS: We evaluated 1085 patients. The recovery proportions at 3 and 6 months poststroke were 0.67±0.42 and 0.75±0.39, respectively. A 1-unit decrease in the initial neurological impairment and the age at stroke onset increased the probability of achieving the full Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity score, which occurred at both 3 and 6 months poststroke. The prevalence of those who reach full lower limb motor recovery differs significantly between 3 and 6 months poststroke. We also found out that the recovery proportion at both 3 and 6 months poststroke is determined by the initial motor deficits of the lower limb. These results are not consistent with the proportional recovery model.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that the proportional recovery model for the lower limb is invalid.

PMID:35713003 | DOI:10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.038196

Ann Pharmacother. 2022 Jun 17:10600280221103576. doi: 10.1177/10600280221103576. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vasopressin is increasingly used in infants following cardiac surgery. Hyponatremia is a noted adverse event, but incidence and risk factors remain undefined.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to identify the incidence of vasopressin-induced hyponatremia. Secondary objectives included comparing baseline and change in serum sodium concentrations between infants receiving vasopressin with and without hyponatremia, and comparing vasopressin dose, duration, and clinical characteristics in those with and without hyponatremia.

METHODS: This Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective case-control study included infants <6 months following cardiac surgery receiving vasopressin for ≥6 hours at a tertiary care, academic hospital. Patients who developed hyponatremia, cases, were matched to controls in a 1:2 fashion. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed. A conditional logistic regression was used to assess odds of hyponatremia.

RESULTS: Of the included 142 infants, 20 (14.1%) developed hyponatremia and were matched with 40 controls. There was significant difference in median nadir between controls and cases, 142.0 versus 128.5 mEq/L (<0.001). A significantly higher number of cases received corticosteroids, loop diuretics, and chlorothiazide versus controls. The regression analysis demonstrated that each additional hour of vasopressin increased the odds of developing hyponatremia by 5% (adjusted odds ratio 1.05 [confidence interval 1-1.1]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Vasopressin-induced hyponatremia incidence was <15%. Vasopressin duration was independently associated with hyponatremia development.

PMID:35713009 | DOI:10.1177/10600280221103576

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2022 Jun 17. doi: 10.1111/ajco.13795. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to correlate and assess diagnostic accuracy of preoperative staging at multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) against the original radiology reports and pathological staging in colorectal cancer patients.

METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted at two institutions. Patients with histologically proven colorectal cancer and available preoperative imaging were included. Preoperative tumor and nodal staging (cT and cN) as determined by the MDT and the radiology report (computed tomography [CT] and/or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) were recorded. Kappa statistics were used to assess agreement between MDT and the radiology report for cN staging in colon cancer, cT and cN in rectal cancer, and tumor regression grade (TRG) in patients with rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy. Pathological report after surgery served as the reference standard for local staging, and AUROC curves were constructed to compare diagnostic accuracy of the MDT and radiology report.

RESULTS: A total of 481 patients were included. Agreement between MDT and radiology report for cN stage was good in colon cancer (k = .756, Confidence Interval (CI) 95% .686-.826). Agreement for cT and cN and in rectal cancer was very good (kw = .825, CI 95% .758-.892) and good (kw = .792, CI 95% .709-.875), respectively. In the rectal cancer group that received neoadjuvant therapy, agreement on TRG was very good (kw = .919, CI 95% .846-.993). AUROC curves using pathological staging indicated no difference in diagnostic accuracy between MDT and radiology reports for either colon or rectal cancer.

CONCLUSION: Preoperative colorectal cancer local staging was consistent between specialist MDT review and original radiology reports, with no significant differences in diagnostic accuracy identified.

PMID:35712999 | DOI:10.1111/ajco.13795

Parasite Immunol. 2022 Jun 17:e12939. doi: 10.1111/pim.12939. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vaccination has potential to eliminate infectious diseases. However, parasitic infections such as helminths may hinder vaccines from providing optimal protection. We reviewed existing literature on the effects of helminth infections and their treatment on vaccine responses in humans and animals.

METHODS: We searched literature until 31 January 2022 in Medline, EMBASE, Global health, Scopus, and Web of science; search terms included WHO licensed vaccines and human helminth types. Standardised mean differences (SMD) in vaccine responses between helminth infected and uninfected or anthelminthic treated and untreated individuals were obtained from each study with suitable data for meta-analysis, and combined using a random effects model. Analysis was stratified by whether helminth exposure was direct or prenatal and by vaccine type. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019123074).

FINDINGS: Of the 4402 articles identified, 37 were included in the review of human studies and 24 for animal experiments. For human studies, regardless of vaccine type, overall SMD for helminth uninfected/treated, compared to infected/untreated, was 0.56 (95% CI 0.04, 1.07 and I² =93.5%) for direct helminth exposure and 0.01 (95% CI -0.04, 0.07 and I² =85.9%) for prenatal helminth exposure. Effects of anthelminthic treatment were inconsistent, with no overall benefit shown. Results differed by vaccine type, with responses to live vaccines most affected by helminth exposure. For animal studies, the most affected vaccine was BCG.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This result indicates that helminth-associated impairment of vaccine responses is more severe for direct, than for prenatal, helminth exposure. Further research is needed to ascertain whether deworming of individuals before vaccination may help improve responses.

PMID:35712983 | DOI:10.1111/pim.12939

J Gynecol Oncol. 2022 May 16. doi: 10.3802/jgo.2022.33.e57. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus subtypes are predictive indicators of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) progression. While colposcopy is also an essential part of cervical cancer prevention, its accuracy and reproducibility are limited because of subjective evaluation. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that can accurately detect the optimal lesion associated with prognosis using colposcopic images of CIN2 patients by utilizing objective AI diagnosis.

METHODS: We identified colposcopic findings associated with the prognosis of patients with CIN2. We developed a convolutional neural network that can automatically detect the rate of high-grade lesions in the uterovaginal area in 12 segments. We finally evaluated the detection accuracy of our AI algorithm compared with the scores by multiple gynecologic oncologists.

RESULTS: High-grade lesion occupancy in the uterovaginal area detected by senior colposcopists was significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with CIN2. The detection rate for high-grade lesions in 12 segments of the uterovaginal area by the AI system was 62.1% for recall, and the overall correct response rate was 89.7%. Moreover, the percentage of high-grade lesions detected by the AI system was significantly correlated with the rate detected by multiple gynecologic senior oncologists (r=0.61).

CONCLUSION: Our novel AI algorithm can accurately determine high-grade lesions associated with prognosis on colposcopic images, and these results provide an insight into the additional utility of colposcopy for the management of patients with CIN2.

PMID:35712970 | DOI:10.3802/jgo.2022.33.e57