Category: Statistics

Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2023 Apr-Jun;64(2):159-164. doi: 10.47162/RJME.64.2.05.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value as diagnosis makers of cancer antigen (CA)125, human epididymis 4 (HE4), and CA72-4 serum levels in ovarian endometriosis (OvEndo).

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum levels of CA125, HE4, and CA72-4 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique for a group of 29 cases of OvEndo and a control (CTR) group of 26 cases.

RESULTS: Results were compared between groups and statistical correlation was analyzed between the three biomarkers. (i) For CA125, we found a statistically significant difference in-between the mean serum levels of the two groups: 9.02 U∕mL in the OvEndo group versus 7.1 U∕mL in the CTR group (p=0.0158). (ii) A similar situation was found for CA72-4 levels in OvEndo group, where the mean serum level was 6.1 U∕mL compared to 3.5 U∕mL in the CTR group, showing a significant difference (p=0.0185). (iii) The mean serum level of HE4 in the OvEndo group was 7.6 ng∕mL versus 7.8 ng∕mL in the CTR group, and we found it highly significant (p=0.0001). HE4 levels were highly correlated with CA72-4 levels (p<0.0001), while CA125 levels were not correlated with HE4 and CA72-4.

CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of CA125 can be used in the diagnosis of OvEndo mainly in association with HE4 serum levels, which are lower in endometriosis patients. CA72-4 levels are highly correlated with HE4 levels in patients with OvEndo, while no correlation with the other two markers was found. This correlation needs further investigation to establish if it may be used as a possible diagnostic tool in clinical practice.

PMID:37518872 | DOI:10.47162/RJME.64.2.05

Phlebology. 2023 Jul 30:2683555231192755. doi: 10.1177/02683555231192755. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The presence of pes planus may be responsible for the disorder of venous return during ambulation. Our aim in this study is to reveal that the risk of venous insufficiency may be increased in patients with pes planus.

METHODS: A total of 59 patients with 29 bilateral pes planus and 30 normal arches included in the study. Djian Annonier angle measurement, bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasonography (USG), foot function index (AFI), Comprehensive Classification System for Chronic Venous Disorders (CEAP) clinical scoring and Short Form-36 (SF-36) was evaluated.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in AFI total, AFI pain, AFI disability and AFI activity limitation scores, bilateral lower extremity doppler USG and CEAP clinical scores in the patient group compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there may be a relationship between pes planus and venous insufficiency. However, large-scale studies with more patient involvement are needed.

PMID:37518862 | DOI:10.1177/02683555231192755

J Sch Health. 2023 Jul 30. doi: 10.1111/josh.13363. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the effects of the “Jump-in” whole-school intervention in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on children’s weight development by comparing children exposed to the intervention and controls from 3 other large Dutch cities. Jump-in is a comprehensive intervention that aims to stimulate healthy nutrition and physical activity in children at primary schools in Amsterdam. In addition, the relationship between the intervention’s implementation degree and its effectiveness was studied.

METHODS: Demographic and anthropometric data, collected by youth health care professionals via routine health checks at T0 (2014) and T1 (2019), were used to analyze possible intervention effects by comparing the weight development of children exposed to the Jump-in intervention versus unexposed controls. Implementation logs from health promotion professionals were used to determine intervention effects per implementation degree. Multilevel regression analyses were used for all analyses.

RESULTS: In total, 4299 children were included mean age ± 5.5 years (T0), 10.6 years (T1), and ≈50% boys/girls at both times. Receiving the fully implemented intervention resulted in a decline in standardized body-mass index (zBMI) compared to the controls (-0.23, confidence interval [CI] -0.33, -0.13). It also led to higher odds to move into a healthier weight category over time (odds ratio [OR] 1.36, CI 1.06, 1.74), yet no statistically significant shift towards a healthy weight was found.

CONCLUSIONS: Relative to the controls, children exposed to the intervention showed positive zBMI developments, with stronger effects when the implementation degree was higher. Despite positive results, creating more impact might require the further integration of school-based programs into whole-systems approaches that include other energy-balance behaviors.

PMID:37518834 | DOI:10.1111/josh.13363

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 Jul 30. doi: 10.1002/acr.25209. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent physical activity confounds the relation between race and the incidence of osteoarthritis (OA)-related functional limitation.

METHODS: Osteoarthritis Initiative study participants, with or at increased risk of knee OA, who wore an accelerometer were included. Race was self-reported. Average time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (minutes/day) based on ActiGraph uniaxial accelerometer data was assessed. Functional limitation was based on: 1) inability to achieve a community walking speed (1.2 m/s) standard; 2) slow walking speed (<1.0 m/s); and 3) low physical functioning based on Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) physical function score ≥28/68.

RESULTS: African Americans (AAs, n=226), compared to Whites (n=1348), had a higher likelihood of developing functional limitation based on various measures. When adjusted for time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, the association between AA race and inability to walk a community walking speed slightly decreased (from RR 2.15 [95% CI: 1.64-2.81] to 1.99 [95% CI: 1.51-2.61]). Association between AA race and other measures of functional limitation mildly decreased (slow walking speed: from RR 2.06 [95% CI: 1.40-3.01] to 1.82 [95% CI: 1.25-2.63]; low physical functioning: from RR 3.44 [95% CI: 1.96-6.03] to 3.10 [95% CI: 1.79-5.39]). When further adjusted for demographic and other clinical variables, only the association between race and low physical functioning (WOMAC) significantly decreased and no longer met statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: Greater physical activity is unlikely to completely make up for race differences in OA-related functional limitation, and other barriers to health equity need to be addressed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:37518677 | DOI:10.1002/acr.25209

Prog Orthod. 2023 Jul 31;24(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40510-023-00476-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the three-dimensional dental changes for the maxillary first molars and the overall skeletal effects achieved after expansion between the rapid maxillary expansion (RME) appliance attached to two different anchor units, the maxillary deciduous molars and the maxillary permanent first molars.

METHODS: Patients were retrospectively selected according to the anchorage unit used for RME: deciduous upper second molars (RME-E group; 10 M, 10 F; mean age 8.4 ± 1.1 years) and first upper permanent molars (RME-6 group; 10 M, 10 F; mean age 12.6 ± 1.8 years). CBCT scans were obtained before treatment start (T1) and after retention and removal of the expander (T2). Images were analyzed using a new three-dimensional intra-hemi-maxillary reference system. 3D landmarks were marked to calculate all changes on maxillary first permanent molars; mesio-distal and buccal-lingual inclination and rotation, as well as intermolar and interforaminal distances were calculated. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare within-group changes, whereas the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare between-group differences, with the significance level set at 0.05.

RESULTS: In the RME-E group, significant distorotation and lingual inclination of the first permanent molars at T2 were observed (p < 0.01); in the RME-6 group, only the buccolingual inclination of the crossbite side after RME was resulted statistically significant (p < 0.01). In both groups, intermolar and interforaminal values increased significantly (p < 0.01). Intergroup analysis showed a significantly higher distorotation and reduced buccal inclination of maxillary first permanent molars in the RME-E group after RME (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: RME is effective in treating maxillary transverse hypoplasia; RME anchored too deciduous teeth spontaneously reduces buccal inclination and increases distorotation of maxillary first permanent molars, whereas anchorage to permanent molars is associated with increased buccal inclination, albeit with little clinical significance.

PMID:37518579 | DOI:10.1186/s40510-023-00476-1

Zootaxa. 2023 Jun 9;5301(2):182-198. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5301.2.2.

ABSTRACT

The Lake Tana Labeobarbus species flock represents one of the world’s most famous examples of lacustrine species radiations. Previous studies of this group have resulted in the description of at least 15 species based on their differences in functional morphology and definition of two clades (lacustrine and riverine spawning clades) based on life history traits. A total of 166 fish representing 14 Labeobarbus species were genotyped using 10 lineage-specific hexaploid microsatellite loci. Six of these loci were developed for this study based on DNA sequence contigs derived from a microsatellite-enriched genomic library of Labeobarbus intermedius from Lake Tana; the remaining four loci were obtained from a previous study. The genotypes of the 10 loci were analyzed to examine genetic diversity and population structure within Lake Tana Labeobarbus. Overall mean allelic richness (NA) was 17.6 alleles per locus and observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosities were 0.84 ± 0.14 and 0.73 ± 0.09, respectively, across all Lake Tana Labeobarbus samples examined. Our analyses reveal that there is little genetic differentiation among species (FST = 0.020-0.099; only 10 of 91 species comparisons were significant), but moderate differentiation (FST = 0.11, p < 0.05) between lacustrine and riverine spawning populations. Relative to previous phylogenetic hypotheses, our phenetic analysis employing the R-based Analysis of Phylogenetics and Evolution (APE) program seems to perform marginally better in revealing lineages within Lake Tana Labeobarbus. Herein, our results are compared to a previous microsatellite-based study of the same populations.

PMID:37518566 | DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5301.2.2

Zootaxa. 2023 Jun 19;5306(1):61-96. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5306.1.3.

ABSTRACT

Host- and habitat-induced morphological shape and size variations are common in phytophagous and parasitic taxa. Several integrated morphological and molecular techniques have been commonly used to understand host-induced morpho-cryptic species forms. Compared to other arthropods, cryptic speciation was more common in Acari. This study focused on the host-specific morphological cryptic shape and size variations of Tetranychus neocaledonicus, collected from moringa and cassava hosts. We used geometric morphometric analysis to uncover the shape and size of inter-and intra-spider mite populations, and discovered that host-specific shape and size variations existed in spider mites regardless of sex. Interestingly, there was no phylogenetic signal in spider mites, implying that the morpho-cryptic speciation of T. neocaledonicus is solely based on the host-induced selection. The molecular clock hypothesis was accepted in our CO1 and 18s rRNA phylogeny analyses, and spider mites collected from both hosts were genetically less diverse. We conclude that T. neocaledonicus exhibited morphologically detectable cryptic population diversity in each host but that these populations are evolutionarily young form. Apart from these host-induced variations, we also monitored the impact of the clearing agent (lactic acid) on the shape and size of T. neocaledonicus; from this study, we proved that the clearing agent significantly alters the taxonomically important morphological traits of spider mites irrespective of the mites’ sex, as confirmed by multivariate statistical analysis. This is the first study report to investigated the host-induced morphological variations of spider mites and the impact of a clearing agent.

PMID:37518535 | DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5306.1.3

Zootaxa. 2023 May 19;5293(1):179-184. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5293.1.9.

ABSTRACT

A new tiger beetle species, Cicindela timbisha Duran, Chambers, Nelson & Roman n. sp., of the tribe Cicindelini, is described from the Death Valley ecoregion of eastern California, USA. It is most similar to C. senilis G.Horn, 1866 but is distinguished on the basis of multiple morphological characteristics, including differences in maculations, chaetotaxy of the antennae and a statistically significant difference in body size (P<0.001). The new species also differs from C. senilis in that it is found in an isolated freshwater spring in an inland basin east of the Sierra Nevada mountains, whereas C. senilis is found in saline soils, primarily coastal areas and inland plains, west of the Sierra Nevada range.

PMID:37518490 | DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5293.1.9

Zootaxa. 2023 May 22;5293(2):201-229. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5293.2.1.

ABSTRACT

Many insect subspecies are described without a statistical assessment of differences. In this work, an attempt is made to statistically process the morphological differences of some recently described subspecies. In this regard, a taxonomic review of Entomoscelis adonidis (Pallas, 1771) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and related taxa described from European Russia and the Caucasus is presented. Statistical processing of numerous materials (782 specimens) from type localities of the nominal taxa adonidis, spuria Jacobson, 1896, caucasica Kippenberg, 2020, and bashkiriae Kippenberg, 2020, and their environs showed the presence of geographical variability in several characters, which, however, does not reach the level of species or subspecies. For subspecies, the classic “75 %” rule is applied. Therefore, all these specimens are considered to belong to the same species and subspecies. For nomenclature stability and to clarify the taxonomic position of closely related taxa, the neotype of Chrysomela adonidis Pallas is designated from the type locality; the neotype is in accordance with the currently used interpretation of E. adonidis adonidis. Besides that, the lectotype of Entomoscelis adonidis var. spuria Jacobson is designated. The paratypes of E. adonidis caucasica Kippenberg and E. dorsalis bashkiriae Kippenberg were studied. The following new synonyms are proposed: E. adonidis adonidis (Pallas, 1771) = E. adonidis caucasica Kippenberg, 2020 (syn. nov.) = E. dorsalis bashkiriae Kippenberg, 2020 (syn. nov.). The status of E. adonidis var. spuria Jacobson, 1896 as a junior synonym of E. adonidis adonidis is confirmed. The endophallus, particularly, flagellum of E. adonidis was studied for the first time. Several Brassicaceae species, namely Berteroa incana, Barbarea vulgaris, Sisymbrium officinale, Capsella bursa-pastoris, and Thlaspi arvense, as well as Adonis vernalis (Ranunculaceae) are confirmed as host plants of the adults of E. adonidis in cages.

PMID:37518487 | DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5293.2.1

Int Heart J. 2023;64(4):606-613. doi: 10.1536/ihj.22-714.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) on autonomic nervous function and prognosis in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) with or without sinus bradycardia.A total of 66 patients with paroxysmal AF accompanied by sinus bradycardia and who underwent CPVI were recruited as the sinus bradycardia group. A total of 91 patients with paroxysmal AF but without sinus bradycardia and who underwent catheter ablation were selected as the control group. After surgical contraindications were eliminated, CPVI was performed by three-dimensional mapping system. 24-hour dynamic electrocardiogram was used to observe the changes of heart rate before and 2 days after surgery.A total of 45 (68%) and 51 (56%) patients in the sinus bradycardia and control groups, respectively, maintained sinus rhythm. There was an increase in heart rate after CPVI in both groups. The standard deviation of normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of the average NN intervals (SDANN), low frequency (LF), and LF/high frequency (HF) in the sinus bradycardia and control groups decreased after CPVI (P < 0.01). Moreover, SDANN was higher in patients with sinus bradycardia treated by successful ablation than in those with recurrence (P < 0.01), while SDNN, a standard statistical measure of heart rate variability (rMSSD), LF, and HF were significantly lower in patients with sinus bradycardia (P < 0.05).CPVI was able to produce a significant reduction effect on vagal nerve and sympathetic activity regardless of whether patients with paroxysmal AF had sinus bradycardia. Moreover, CPVI exerted a certain influence on the success rate of AF catheter ablation.

PMID:37518342 | DOI:10.1536/ihj.22-714