Category: Statistics

Clin Exp Dermatol. 2023 Jun 13:llad203. doi: 10.1093/ced/llad203. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) leads to changes in body composition, secondary sex characteristics and in the distribution and pattern of hair growth. Transgender individuals undergoing GAHT may experience altered hair growth patterns that may be affirming and desirable, or undesirable with subsequent impacts on quality of life. Given increasing numbers of transgender individuals commencing GAHT worldwide and clinical relevance of the impact of GAHT on hair growth, we systematically reviewed the existing literature on the impact of GAHT on hair changes and androgenic alopecia (AGA). The majority of studies used grading schemes or subjective measures of hair changes based on patient or investigators’ examination. Very few studies used objective quantitative measures of hair parameters but demonstrated statistically significant changes in hair growth length, diameter and density. Feminizing GAHT with estradiol and/or antiandrogens in trans women may reduce facial and body hair growth, and can improve AGA. Masculinizing GAHT with testosterone in trans men may increase facial and body hair growth as well as induce or accelerate AGA. The impact of GAHT on hair growth may not align with a transgender person’s hair growth goals and specific treatment for AGA and/or hirsutism may be sought. Further research on how GAHT affects hair growth is required.

PMID:37311161 | DOI:10.1093/ced/llad203

Plant Dis. 2023 Jun 13:PDIS09222242RE. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-09-22-2242-RE. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Stem rust is one of the major diseases threatening wheat production globally. To identify novel resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs), we performed 35K Axiom Array SNP genotyping assays on an association mapping panel of 400 germplasm accessions, including Indian landraces, in conjunction with phenotyping for stem rust at seedling and adult plant stages. Association analyses using three genome wide association study (GWAS) models (CMLM, MLMM, and FarmCPU) revealed 20 reliable QTLs for seedling and adult plant resistance. Among these 20 QTLs, five QTLs were found consistent with three models, i.e., four QTLs on chromosome 2AL, 2BL, 2DL, and 3BL for seedling resistance and one QTL on chromosome 7DS for adult plant resistance. Further, we identified a total of 21 potential candidate genes underlying QTLs using gene ontology analysis, including a leucine rich repeat receptor (LRR) and P-loop nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase, which have a role in pathogen recognition and disease resistance. Furthermore, four QTLs (Qsr.nbpgr-3B_11, QSr.nbpgr-6AS_11, QSr.nbpgr-2AL_117-6, and QSr.nbpgr-7BS_APR) were validated through KASP located on chromosomes 3B, 6A, 2A, and 7B. Out of these QTLs, QSr.nbpgr-7BS_APR was identified as a novel QTL for stem rust resistance which has been found effective in both seedling as well as the adult plant stages. Identified novel genomic regions and validated QTLs have the potential to be deployed in wheat improvement programs to develop disease resistant varieties for stem rust and can diversify the genetic basis of resistance.

PMID:37311158 | DOI:10.1094/PDIS-09-22-2242-RE

High Alt Med Biol. 2023 Jun 13. doi: 10.1089/ham.2023.0046. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hurtado-Aréstegui, Abdías, Karina Rosales-Mendoza, Yanissa Venegas-Justiniano, José Gonzales-Polar, Rina Barreto-Jara, and Alaciel Melissa Palacios-Guillén. Hemoglobin levels in Peruvian patients with chronic kidney disease at different altitudes. High Alt Med Biol. 24:000-000, 2023. Background: Decreased hemoglobin is a manifestation of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and people who reside at high altitude adapt to hypoxia by increasing their hemoglobin. The study’s objective was to determine the influence of altitude and the associated factors on the hemoglobin levels of patients with CKD who were not on dialysis (ND). Methods: This exploratory and cross-sectional study was carried out in three Peruvian cities, located at different altitudes: (1) “sea level” (161 m), (2) “moderate altitude” (2,335 m), and “high altitude” (3,399 m). The study included female and male individuals between 20 and 90 years old, with CKD stage 3a, through stage 5. Results: Of the 256 volunteers evaluated, 92 lived at sea level, 82 at moderate altitude, and 82 at high altitude. The three groups were similar in age, number of volunteers in each CKD stage, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Hemoglobin levels were statistically different according to gender (p = 0.024), CKD stage, and altitude (p < 0.001). High-altitude dwellers had higher hemoglobin by 2.5 g/dl (95% confidence interval: 1.8-3.1, p < 0.001) than those living at lower altitudes (adjusted for gender, age, nutritional status, and smoking habit). For all CKD stages, the high-altitude population had higher hemoglobin levels than population at moderate altitude and at sea level. Conclusion: Subjects living at high altitude with CKD stages 3 to 5 who are yet ND have higher hemoglobin levels than those who live at moderate altitude and at sea level.

PMID:37311154 | DOI:10.1089/ham.2023.0046

Salud Colect. 2023 Feb 1;19:e4203. doi: 10.18294/sc.2023.4203.

ABSTRACT

An analytical study based on Chilean birth records obtained from the Department of Statistics and Health Information (DEIS) was conducted. This study aimed to evaluate temporal trends in preterm births by maternal age in Chile from 1990 to 2018. Results show that the preterm birth rate in 1992 was 5.0% and increased to 7.2% in 2018. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was 1.44. Age groups at the extremes (19 and under and 35 and over) presented the highest rates of preterm birth, both at the beginning and at the end of the study period. The latter group showed a smaller decrease at the beginning (1992 to 1995), with an annual percentage change (APC) of -3.00. The probability of preterm birth in both groups was higher compared to the 20-34 year old group. Although Chile boasts some of the best maternal and child health indicators in the region, repercussions associated with the current postponement of maternity – including preterm birth – must be monitored.

PMID:37311139 | DOI:10.18294/sc.2023.4203

Salud Colect. 2023 Mar 23;19:e4247. doi: 10.18294/sc.2023.4247.

ABSTRACT

The objective is to analyze the effect of multiple homicides on male and female life expectancy and to provide empirical evidence of the temporal and spatial associations between male and female homicide rates by age group during the period 2002-2020. Using data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and population projections from the National Population Council (CONAPO), mortality rates due to homicide from 2002-2020 were estimated for both men and women, and the adjacency of homicides of men and women was analyzed, along with the spatial proximity between multiple homicides of men and women, along with changes in life expectancy due to homicide. Individual homicides have caused the greatest decrease in life expectancy for both men and women. The negative impact of multiple homicides on both female and male life expectancy began to draw attention in 2008. By analyzing the murders of women adjacent to the homicides of one or more men questions are raised about whether these crimes are primarily the result of criminal violence, and to a lesser extent the role of gender.

PMID:37311137 | DOI:10.18294/sc.2023.4247

Arq Bras Cardiol. 2023 Jun 9;120(6):e20220671. doi: 10.36660/abc.20220671. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In addition to coronary artery disease, non-high-density lipoprotein(non-HDL-C) provides short and long-term predictive information for many chronic inflammatory diseases such as stroke, hemodialysis, post-renal transplant, non-alcoholic hepatosteatosis, and human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the predictive value of non-HDL-C measured before SARS-CoV-2 for mortality in COVID-19 infection.

METHODS: This study retrospectively included 1435 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated in the thoracic diseases ward in a single center between January 2020 and June 2022. All patients included in the study had clinical and radiological features and signs of COVID-19 pneumonia. The COVID-19 diagnosis of all patients was confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction studied from an oropharyngeal swab. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The study patients, including 1435 subjects, were divided into 712 patients in the non-surviving group and 723 in the surviving group. While there was no difference between the groups regarding gender, there was a statistically significant age difference. The non-surviving group was older. Age, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), C reactive protein(CRP), triglycerides, D-dimer, and non-HDL-C were independent risk factors for mortality in regression analyses. In correlation analysis, age, CRP, and LDH were positively correlated with non-HDL-C. In the ROC analysis, sensitivity for non-HDL-C was 61.6%, and specificity was 89.2%.

CONCLUSION: We believe that the non-HDL-C level studied before COVID-19 infection can be used as a prognostic biomarker for the disease.

PMID:37311127 | DOI:10.36660/abc.20220671

JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2023 Jun 13. doi: 10.2196/45586. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Both COVID-19 and pregnancy are associated with hypercoagulability. Due to increased risk for thrombosis, the United States National Institute of Health’s recommendation for prophylactic anticoagulant use for pregnant patients has expanded from patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 manifestation to all patients hospitalized for the manifestation of COVID-19 (no guideline: ~12-26-2020, first update: 12-27-2020~02-23-2022, second update: 02-24-2022~present). However, no study has evaluated this recommendation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize prophylactic anticoagulant use among hospitalized pregnant people with COVID-19 from 03-20-2020~10-19-2022.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in large US healthcare systems across seven states. The cohort of interest was pregnant patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19, without prior coagulopathy or contraindication to anticoagulants (n=2,767). The treatment group consisted of patients prescribed prophylactic dose anticoagulation during -2~+14 days from COVID-19 treatment onset (n=191). The control group was patients with no anticoagulant exposure during -14~+60 days of the SARS-CoV-2 infection date (n=2,534). We ascertained the use of prophylactic anticoagulants with attention to the updates in guidelines and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. We propensity score matched the treatment and control group 1:1 on the most important features contributing to the prophylactic anticoagulant administration status classification. Outcome measures included coagulopathy, bleeding, COVID-19-related complications, and maternal-fetal health outcomes. Additionally, the inpatient anticoagulant administration rate was validated in a nationwide population from Truveta, a collective of 700 hospitals across the United States.

RESULTS: The overall administration rate of prophylactic anticoagulants was 7.0% (191/2,725). It was lowest after the second guideline update (no guideline: 10.4%, first update: 9.0%, second update: 2.5%; P<.05) and during the omicron-dominant period (WT:8.3%, Alpha:14.0%, Delta:16.6%, Omicron:3.5%; P<.05). Models developed on retrospective data showed that the variable most associated with administration of inpatient prophylactic anticoagulant. The patients who administered prophylactic anticoagulant were also more likely to receive supplementary oxygen (33.0% versus 4.8%; P<.05). There was no statistical difference in new diagnosis of coagulopathy, bleeding, or maternal-fetal health outcomes between those who received treatment and the matched control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Most hospitalized pregnant COVID-19 patients did not receive prophylactic anticoagulants across healthcare systems as recommended by guidelines. Guideline recommended treatment was administered more frequently to patients with greater COVID-19 illness severity. Given the low rate of administration and differences between treated and untreated cohorts, efficacy could not be assessed.

PMID:37311123 | DOI:10.2196/45586

J Occup Environ Med. 2023 Jun 12. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002904. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was identified seeking treatment on hypertension and diabetes among male shift workers.

METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included nine large companies in Japan. Data were collected from health checkup, health insurance records, self-administered questionnaires in 2017 and 2020. Data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and cox regression.

RESULT: Person-days shift workers and day workers seeking treatment for hypertension were 41,604 and 327,301, respectively; for diabetes, were 7,326 and 60,735, respectively. The log-ranks were statistically significant. Shift workers were 46% and 56% less likely to seek treatment for hypertension and diabetes, respectively, than day workers were after adjustment for age, marital status, education level and intention to modify lifestyle (model two) (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Male shift workers is less likely to seek treatment for hypertension and diabetes compared to day workers.

PMID:37311081 | DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002904

J Bras Nefrol. 2023 Jun 9:S0101-28002023005019501. doi: 10.1590/2175-8239-JBN-2022-0179en. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), a frequent manifestation in COVID-19, can compromise kidney function in the long term. We evaluated renal function after hospital discharge of patients who developed AKI associated with COVID-19.

METHODS: This is an ambidirectional cohort. eGFR and microalbuminuria were reassessed after hospital discharge (T1) in patients who developed AKI due to COVID-19, comparing the values with hospitalization data (T0). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: After an average of 16.3 ± 3.5 months, 20 patients were reassessed. There was a median reduction of 11.5 (IQR: -21; -2.1) mL/min/1.73m2 per year in eGFR. Forty-five percent of patients had CKD at T1, were older, and had been hospitalized longer; this correlated negatively with eGFR at T1. Microalbuminuria was positively correlated with CRP at T0 and with a drop in eGFR, as well as eGFR at admission with eGFR at T1.

CONCLUSION: There was a significant reduction in eGFR after AKI due to COVID-19, being associated with age, length of hospital stay, CRP, and need for hemodialysis.

PMID:37311051 | DOI:10.1590/2175-8239-JBN-2022-0179en

Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2023 Jun 7. doi: 10.1097/SLE.0000000000001190. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of patients with benign and malignant liver lesions scheduled for laparoscopic and open surgery using a propensity score-matched approach to analyze additional cofactors influencing outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 270 patients who underwent laparoscopic or open liver resection at our institute between October 2016 and November 2021. Patients were divided into open and laparoscopic liver resection groups and compared according to the intention to treat principle. In the purification process for the nonrandom nature of the study, a matching analysis was performed at a 1:1 case-control ratio. The PS model included selected data on body mass index, additional data on the American Society of Anesthesiology score, cirrhosis, lesion <2 cm from the hilum, lesion <2 cm from the hepatic vein or inferior vena cava, and type of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS: The operation time and 30- and 90-day mortality rates were similar between the groups. The average length of hospital stay was 11 days in the open surgery group and 9 days in the laparoscopic surgery group after matching (P=0.011). The 30-day morbidity rate was statistically different between the groups before and after matching, favoring the laparoscopic group (P=0.001 and 0.006, respectively). After the propensity score-matched approch, the open group’s Pringle time was shorter than that of the laparoscopic group. The total operative time was longer in the laparoscopic than in the open surgery group. This did not change after matching (300 vs. 240 min).

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery is a feasible and safe treatment option for patients with liver tumors, with promising results in terms of morbidity and hospital stay.

PMID:37311047 | DOI:10.1097/SLE.0000000000001190