Category: Statistics

J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2023 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s40615-023-01666-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Visiting the desired number of antenatal care services improve the success of maternal health programs in terms of mother and child health. The study aimed to identify the factors associated with differences in the number of antenatal care service visits across and within regions of Ethiopia by using the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey (EMDHS).

METHODS: A total of 3979 women who were pregnant or gave birth within 5 years preceding the survey from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey were included in the analysis. A multi-level Hurdle negative binomial regression model was selected to consider the hierarchical nature of the data in determining the factors associated with the barriers to the desired number of antenatal care service visits.

RESULTS: About one-fourth (26.2%) of mothers did not visit any antenatal care, and only 137 (3.4%) women visited the service eight times and above. The random intercept with the fixed coefficient of multilevel Hurdle negative binomial model results has shown that women in the age group between 25 and 34 (AOR = 1.057), in the age group between 35 and 49 (AOR = 1.108), protestant religion follower women (AOR = 0.918), Muslim women (AOR = 0.945), other religion follower women (AOR = 0.768), mothers in primary educational level (AOR = 1.123), secondary and higher education level (AOR = 1.228), rich mothers (AOR = 1.134), and mothers living in rural (AOR = 0.789) were statistically associated with regional variation regarding the frequency of ANC service visits.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of pregnant women did not visit antenatal care services according to the findings of this study. This study’s results revealed that the predictor variables such as mother’s age, education level, religion, place of residence, marital status, and wealth index were significant, and the findings revealed that there were regional differences in ANC visits in Ethiopia. Women’s economic and educational interventions should be a top priority.

PMID:37314688 | DOI:10.1007/s40615-023-01666-7

Pain Ther. 2023 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s40122-023-00531-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The use of oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for acute musculoskeletal pain should be at the lowest effective dosage and for the shortest duration to minimize potential adverse effects. This study evaluated treatment satisfaction, effectiveness, and tolerability of a low-dose diclofenac epolamine 12.5-mg soft capsule formulation (DHEP 12.5-mg capsules) using patient-reported outcome measures in a real-life setting over a short period (3 days) in subjects with mild-to-moderate acute musculoskeletal pain.

METHODS: A prospective, open-label, phase IV clinical study in adult outpatients at hospital clinic departments/general practitioner’s clinics at eight sites in Italy. The primary efficacy variable was the degree of satisfaction with treatment at 72 ± 7 h after initiation of treatment, assessed using the Overall Satisfaction Question of the Pain Treatment Satisfaction Scale (PTSS) and described by classic descriptive statistics. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the analgesic effect after the first administration and over time; the time to and satisfaction with the onset of pain relief, amount of and duration of pain relief; pain intensity differences over time; and safety and tolerability. The investigator’s satisfaction with the treatment was also assessed. Subjects initially took 1-2 capsules of the study treatment and then one or two soft capsules every 4-6 h according to their needs. Not more than six soft capsules were to be taken in any 24-h period.

RESULTS: A total of 182 subjects (mean age, 56.2 years; 54.4% female) took ≥ 1 dose of DHEP capsule and were included in the full analysis set. The most common musculoskeletal conditions were arthralgia (39.0%) and low back pain (23.1%). All subjects completed the study, and 165/182 (90.7%, 95% CI 0.86, 0.95) were satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment at 72 ± 7 h after the first dose (primary efficacy variable). Similar percentages were recorded for treatment satisfaction concerning other efficacy parameters. The onset of the analgesic effect was rapid, with complete pain relief reached after a mean of 49.45 min. Investigators rated their overall treatment satisfaction as 92.9%. Treatment was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS: The low-dose (12.5 or 25 mg) oral diclofenac epolamine soft capsules formulation exerted rapid, effective, and safe analgesic activity in patients with mild-to-moderate musculoskeletal pain, with subjects’ overall satisfaction with treatment more than 90%.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT Number: 2018-004886-15 (Study 18I-Fsg08). Registered 04/09/2018.

PMID:37314686 | DOI:10.1007/s40122-023-00531-z

Neuroinformatics. 2023 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s12021-023-09634-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Neurodegeneration measured through volumetry in MRI is recognized as a potential Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) biomarker, but its utility is limited by lack of specificity. Quantifying spatial patterns of neurodegeneration on a whole brain scale rather than locally may help address this. In this work, we turn to network based analyses and extend a graph embedding algorithm to study morphometric connectivity from volume-change correlations measured with structural MRI on the timescale of years. We model our data with the multiple random eigengraphs framework, as well as modify and implement a multigraph embedding algorithm proposed earlier to estimate a low dimensional embedding of the networks. Our version of the algorithm guarantees meaningful finite-sample results and estimates maximum likelihood edge probabilities from population-specific network modes and subject-specific loadings. Furthermore, we propose and implement a novel statistical testing procedure to analyze group differences after accounting for confounders and locate significant structures during AD neurodegeneration. Family-wise error rate is controlled at 5% using permutation testing on the maximum statistic. We show that results from our analysis reveal networks dominated by known structures associated to AD neurodegeneration, indicating the framework has promise for studying AD. Furthermore, we find network-structure tuples that are not found with traditional methods in the field.

PMID:37314682 | DOI:10.1007/s12021-023-09634-6

J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06037-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and behaviors or interests. Besides behavioral, psychopharmacological and biomedical interventions there is increasing evidence of non-invasive treatments like neurofeedback (NFB) that can improve brain activity. In this study, we have investigated whether NFB can improve cognitive functions in children with ASD. Thirty-five children with ASD (7-17 years) were selected by purposive sampling. The subjects underwent 30 sessions of NFB training for 20 min over 10 weeks’ period. Psychometric tests i.e. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), IQ scoring and Reward sensitivity tests were administered at baseline. Pre and post NFB intervention assessment of executive functions, working memory and processing speed were done by NIH Toolbox Cognition Batteries. Friedman test revealed that children showed a statistically significant improvement in the NIH Tool Box cognitive assessments, including the Flankers Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Pre-test = 3.63, Post-test = 5.22; p = 0.00), the Dimensional Change Card Sorting Test (Pre-test = 2.88, Post-test = 3.26; p = 0.00), the Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (Pre-test = 6.00, Post-test = 11:00; p = 0.00) and the List Sorting Working Memory Test (Pre-test = 4.00, Post-test = 6:00; p = 0.00), and displayed a trend of improvement at 2-month follow-up (Flankers Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Post-test = 5.11 ± 2.79, Follow-Up = 5.31 ± 2.67; p = 0.21), the Dimensional Change Card Sorting Test (Post-test = 3.32 ± 2.37, Follow-Up = 3.67 ± 2.35; p = 0.054), the Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (Post-test = 13.69 ± 9.53, Follow-Up = 14.42 ± 10.23 p = 0.079) and the List Sorting Working Memory Test (Post-test = 6.17 ± 4.41, Follow-Up = 5.94 ± 4.03; p = 0.334). Our findings suggest NFB intervention for 10 weeks produce improvement in executive functions (Inhibitory Control and Attention and Cognitive Flexibility), Processing Speed and Working Memory in ASD Children.

PMID:37314667 | DOI:10.1007/s10803-023-06037-z

Psychometrika. 2023 Jun 14. doi: 10.1007/s11336-023-09922-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the support of the joint probability distribution of categorical variables in the total population is treated as unknown. From a general total population model with unknown support, a general subpopulation model with its support equal to the set of all observed score patterns is derived. In maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of any such subpopulation model, the evaluation of the log-likelihood function only requires the summation over a number of terms equal to at most the sample size. It is made clear that the parameters of a hypothesized total population model are consistently and asymptotically efficiently estimated by the values that maximize the log-likelihood function of the corresponding subpopulation model. Next, new likelihood ratio goodness-of-fit tests are proposed as alternatives to the Pearson chi-square goodness-of-fit test and the likelihood ratio test against the saturated model. In a simulation study, the asymptotic bias and efficiency of maximum likelihood estimators and the asymptotic performance of the goodness-of-fit tests are investigated.

PMID:37314662 | DOI:10.1007/s11336-023-09922-9

Lasers Surg Med. 2023 Jun 14. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23697. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Primary axillary hyperhidrosis (PAH) affects 1-5% of the world’s population who has an unmet need for improved treatments. The heating of sweat glands with specific microwave therapy has shown promising results, yet, treatment with widely available devices such as long-pulsed Neodymium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers, diode lasers or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) may serve as pragmatic alternatives.

OBJECTIVES: To compare sweat secretion of treated versus untreated contralateral control axilla 1-3 months after one session of Nd:YAG laser or IPL in patients with PAH.

METHODS: A within-person randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive either one session of Nd:YAG laser or IPL in one axilla with the contra-lateral serving as control. Sweat production was assessed by gravimetry, trans-epidermal water loss, hyperhidrosis disease severity scale and dynamic optical coherence tomography. Mixed-effects models were used to handle the within-person design, containing both fixed effect factors (side, group, and subgroup), and random effects (patients), while also adjusting for the level at baseline.

RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were enrolled. At follow-up 1-3 months after treatment, sweat secretion was not affected in the treated axilla when compared to the control axillae (0.01 [95%CI: -0.04 to 0.05]; p = 0.68). In the Nd:YAG subgroup (10 patients), least squares means for sweat secretion was 0.18 mg/5 min in the treated versus 0.15 mg/5 min in the control axilla, respectively, corresponding to a statistically insignificant mean difference of 0.02 mg/5 min (95% CI: -0.06 to 0.11; p = 0.54). In the IPL subgroup (10 patients), sweat secretion was 0.06 mg/5 min in the treated axilla versus 0.07 mg/5 min in the control axilla with a statistically insignificant difference of -0.01 points (95% CI: -0.03 to 0.02; p = 0.46). Likewise, none of the secondary outcomes were significantly affected by treatment. However, both treatments appeared safe and well tolerated with no adverse effects reported at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: One treatment with external 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser or 640 nm IPL at commercially available settings, failed to demonstrate clinical benefit in treating PAH, with narrow confidence intervals implying that this was not due to a type-2 error.

PMID:37313834 | DOI:10.1002/lsm.23697

Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2023 May 20;43(5):733-740. doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2023.05.08.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of expression levels of S100 calcium-binding protein A10 (S100A10) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) on patient prognosis and the regulatory role of S100A10 in lung cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.

METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression levels of S100A10 in LUAD and adjacent tissues, and the relationship between S100A10 expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of the patients was statistically analyzed. The lung adenocarcinoma expression dataset in TCGA database was analyzed using gene enrichment analysis (GSEA) to predict the possible regulatory pathways of S100A10 in the development of lung adenocarcinoma. Lactate production and glucose consumption of lung cancer cells with S100A10 knockdown or overexpression were analyzed to assess the level of glycolysis. Western blotting, CCK-8 assay, EdU-594 assay, and Transwell assays were performed to determine the expression level of S100A10 protein, proliferation and invasion ability of lung cancer cells. A549 cells with S100A10 knockdown and H1299 cells with S100A10 overexpression were injected subcutaneously in nude mice, and tumor growth was observed.

RESULTS: The expression level of S100A10 was significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues as compared with the adjacent tissues, and an elevated S100A10 expression level was associated with lymph node metastasis, advanced tumor stage and distant organ metastasis (P < 0.05), but not with tumor differentiation or the patients’ age or gender (P > 0.05). Survival analysis showed that elevated S100A10 expressions in the tumor tissue was associated with a poor outcome of the patients (P < 0.001). In the lung cancer cells, S100A10 overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation and invasion in vitro (P < 0.001). GSEA showed that the gene sets of glucose metabolism, glycolysis and mTOR signaling pathway were significantly enriched in high expressions of S100A10. In the tumor-bearing nude mice, S100A10 overexpression significantly promoted tumor growth, while S100A10 knockdown obviously suppressed tumor cell proliferation (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: S100A10 overexpression promotes glycolysis by activating the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway to promote proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

PMID:37313814 | DOI:10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2023.05.08

Orthod Craniofac Res. 2023 Jun 14. doi: 10.1111/ocr.12684. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Palatal displacement of maxillary anterior teeth is common in clinical practice. Previous studies have reported that the labial bone around palatally-displaced incisors is thinner than that around normally-placed teeth. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate alveolar bone changes after alignment to guide orthodontic treatment. In this study, we investigated the alveolar bone changes around palatally-displaced maxillary lateral incisors before and after treatment, and the effects of extraction and age using cone-beam computed tomography.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, 55 patients with unilateral palatally-displaced maxillary lateral incisors were included. Three-dimensional alveolar bone changes were measured at three levels (25%, 50% and 75% of the root length) using cone-beam computed tomography. Group comparisons were made between displaced and control teeth, extraction and non-extraction groups, and adult and minor groups.

RESULTS: After orthodontic treatment, labiopalatal and palatal alveolar bone widths decreased at all measured levels. Labial alveolar bone width increased significantly at P25, but decreased at P75. Concavity decreased, while tooth-axis angle, tooth length, B-CEJ and P-CEJ increased. Changes in LB and LP at P75, B-CEJ and P-CEJ were statistically significant. After treatment, the tooth-axis angle on the PD side increased by 9.46°. The change in tooth-axis angle on the PD side was significantly smaller, and LB and LP decreased more at P75, in the extraction group.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the control teeth, alveolar bone thickness and height for the displaced teeth decreased more significantly after treatment. Tooth extraction and age also influenced alveolar bone changes.

PMID:37313756 | DOI:10.1111/ocr.12684

Epidemiol Infect. 2022 Aug 16;150:e160. doi: 10.1017/S0950268822001364.

ABSTRACT

Patient-important outcomes related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to drive the pandemic response across the globe. Various prognostic factors for COVID-19 severity have emerged and their replication across different clinical settings providing health services is ongoing. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and their association with outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the University Hospital of Ioannina. We assessed a cohort of 681 consecutively hospitalised patients with COVID-19 from January 2020 to December 2021. Demographic data, underlying comorbidities, clinical presentation, biochemical markers, radiologic findings, COVID-19 treatment and outcome data were collected at the first day of hospitalisation and up to 90 days. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between clinical characteristics (hazard ratios (HRs) per standard deviation (s.d.)) with intubation and/or mortality status. The participants’ mean age was 62.8 (s.d., 16.9) years and 57% were males. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (45%), cardiovascular disease (19%) and diabetes mellitus (21%). Patients usually presented with fever (81%), cough (50%) and dyspnoea (27%), while lymphopenia and increased inflammatory markers were the most common laboratory abnormalities. Overall, 55 patients (8%) were intubated, and 86 patients (13%) died. There were statistically significant positive associations between intubation or death with age (HR: 2.59; 95% CI 1.52-4.40), lactate dehydrogenase (HR: 1.44; 95% CI 1.04-1.98), pO₂/FiO₂ ratio < 100 mmHg (HR: 3.52; 95% CI 1.14-10.84), and inverse association with absolute lymphocyte count (HR: 0.54; 95% CI 0.33-0.87). These data might help to identify points for improvement in the management of COVID-19 patients.

PMID:37313720 | DOI:10.1017/S0950268822001364

J Anim Sci. 2023 Jun 14:skad192. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad192. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The process of myogenesis, which involves the growth and differentiation of muscle cells, is a crucial determinant of meat yield and quality in beef cattle. Essential nutrients, such as vitamin D and A, play vital roles in the development and maintenance of various tissues, including muscle. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the specific effects of vitamin A and D in bovine muscle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of vitamin A and D treatment on myogenic fusion and differentiation in bovine satellite cells (BSC). BSC were isolated from Korean native beef cattle, specifically from four female cows approximately 30 months old. These individual cows were used as biological replicates (n=3 or 4), and we examined the effects of varying concentrations of vitamins A (All-trans retinoic acid; 100 nM) and D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; 1 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM), both individually and in combination, on myoblast fusion and myogenic differentiation during the growth phase (48h) or differentiation phase (6 days). The results were statistically analyzed using GLM procedure of SAS with Tukey’s test and t-tests or one-way ANOVA where appropriate. The findings revealed that vitamin A enhanced the myoblast fusion index, while vitamin D treatment decreased the myoblast fusion index during the growth phase. Furthermore, vitamin A treatment during the differentiation phase promoted terminal differentiation by regulating the expression of myogenic regulatory factors (Myf5, MyoD, MyoG, and Myf6) and inducing myotube hypertrophy compared to the control satellite cells (P < 0.01). In contrast, vitamin D treatment during the differentiation phase enhanced myogenic differentiation by increasing the mRNA expression of MyoG and Myf6 (P < 0.01). Moreover, the combined treatment of vitamin A and D during the growth phase increased myoblast fusion and further promoted myogenic differentiation and hypertrophy of myotubes during the differentiation phase (P < 0.01). These results suggest that vitamin A and D supplementation may have differential effects on muscle development in Korean native beef cattle during the feeding process.

PMID:37313716 | DOI:10.1093/jas/skad192