Category: Statistics

BMC Oral Health. 2023 Jan 7;23(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02705-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has impacted and increased risks for all populations, including orthodontic patients and providers. It also changes the practice management and infection control landscape in the practices. This study aimed to investigate the COVID-19 infection and vaccination status of orthodontic providers and mitigation approaches in orthodontic practices in the United States during 2021.

METHODS: A validated 50-question research electronic data capture (REDCap) browser-based questionnaire was distributed to 12,393 orthodontists and pediatric dentists who reported actively providing orthodontic treatment. Questions were designed to collect demographic data of respondents, evaluate the COVID-19 mitigation approaches, and evaluate the history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination status of the orthodontic providers. Associations of demographic and the COVID-19 mitigation approaches were assessed using chi-square tests at the significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-seven returned the survey (response rate 3.69%) for analysis. Most respondents were vaccinated, and increased infection control measures in response to the pandemic. Half of the respondents practiced teledentistry and switched to digital impression systems. Two-thirds reported difficulties in attaining PPEs due to the increased cost and scarcity of PPEs. About 6% of respondents reported a history of COVID-19 infection, and 68.9% of their staff had COVID-19 infection. Statistically significant associations were found between increased practice experience with difficulties in acquiring PPE (p = .010). There were no significant associations between races of respondents, geographic location, and years of practicing when cross-tabulated with vaccination status or COVID-19 infection rate (p > .05).

CONCLUSION: Increased infection control strategies were employed in almost all orthodontic practices in addition to existing universal precaution. Most of the orthodontic providers and their staff members were vaccinated. While staff’s infection rates were an issue, doctors’ infection rates remained low.

PMID:36611143 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-022-02705-1

BMC Surg. 2023 Jan 7;23(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s12893-023-01902-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With increasing use and enhanced accuracy of cross-sectional imaging, the diagnosis of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) of the pancreas has increased over the last few decades. The extent to which malignant transformation occurs remains unclear, making the management of IPMNs controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the progression rate and outcome of follow-up in patients with IPMNs.

METHODS: A database of all patients diagnosed with IPMN at the Cantonal Hospital HFR Fribourg, Switzerland, between January 2006 and December 2019 with a follow-up of at least 6 months was analyzed retrospectively. Descriptive statistics were performed on patient demographics, IPMN characteristics, and follow-up data.

RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were included in this study. Ten patients underwent primary surgery, 46 were enrolled in a surveillance program.21.7% (n = 5) of patients under surveillance presented with worrisome features of IPMN; progression rates were significantly higher in these patients (p = 0.043). Most progression occurred in the early follow-up period. Five patients underwent surgery due to progression, of which 2 presented high-grade dysplasia and 2 malignancy on postoperative histology.

CONCLUSIONS: The limited predictive value of current guidelines may lead to surgical overtreatment, and the decision to proceed with surgical resection should be made with caution. Further prospective analyses and the development of novel biomarkers are needed to better understand the natural history of IPMN and improve diagnostic precision.

PMID:36611137 | DOI:10.1186/s12893-023-01902-1

BMC Public Health. 2023 Jan 7;23(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14770-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity levels are higher in rural versus urban children. Multi-level community-based interventions can be effective in promoting healthy child weight, but few of such interventions have focused on rural children. This formative study assessed barriers, facilitators, and opportunities to promote healthy child weight in two rural communities.

METHODS: Multiple data collection methods were used concurrently in two rural communities in Indiana and North Carolina. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with participants, including parents of children aged 2-5 years (n = 41), childcare providers (n = 13), and stakeholders from 23 community organizations. Observational audits were conducted at 19 food outlets (grocery stores) and 50 publicly-accessible physical activity resources. Focus groups/interviews were analyzed thematically. Surveys were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher’s exact test, and t-tests.

RESULTS: Family level barriers included limited financial resources and competing priorities, whereas parental role-modeling was perceived as a facilitator of healthy weight behaviors. At the organizational level, childcare providers and community stakeholders cited limited funding and poor parental engagement in health promotion programs as barriers. Childcare providers explained that they were required to comply with strict nutrition and physical activity guidelines, but expressed concerns that similar messages were not reinforced at home. Facilitators at the organizational level included healthy meals provided at no cost at childcare programs, and health promotion programs offered through community organizations. At the community level, lack of public transportation, and limited access to healthy food outlets and physical activity-promoting resources posed barriers, whereas existing physical activity resources (e.g., parks) and some ongoing investment to improve physical activity resources in the community were assets. In designing/implementing a potential child obesity prevention intervention, participants discussed the need to garner community trust, emphasize wellness instead of obesity prevention, establish community partnerships, and leverage existing community resources.

CONCLUSIONS: Rural areas experience multiple challenges that make it difficult for children/families to engage in healthy weight behaviors. This study highlights several assets (existing programs/resources, expertise within communities) that can be leveraged as facilitators. Findings will guide the study team in developing a child obesity prevention intervention for the two rural communities.

PMID:36611132 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-022-14770-w

World J Surg. 2023 Jan 7. doi: 10.1007/s00268-022-06868-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multiple CT-derived measurements of sarcopenia have been described yet their relationship with survival after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has not been properly assessed. We aimed to define and compare the relationship between several psoas CT-derived measurements and the 5-year survival after AAA repair and to evaluate their potential contribution to survival prediction.

METHODS: Preoperative CT area (TPA) and density (MTPD) of the psoas muscle at L3 were measured in 218 consecutive AAA patients electively intervened. Additional measurements were obtained by normalizing TPA by anthropometric data or L3-vertebra surface or by TPAxMTPD multiplication (lean psoas muscle area-LPMA). The association of sarcopenia markers with survival was evaluated with Cox models adjusted by age, sex, type of intervention and the Charlson Comorbidity Index, and their contribution to survival prediction assessed with the C-statistic and the Continuous Net Reclassification Index (c-NRI).

RESULTS: Sixty patients (27.5%) died during the first 5 years after surgery. There was a statistically significant and linear (spline analysis) relationship of sarcopenia markers with 5-year survival in all multivariate models, except that including LPMA. Despite this association, the inclusion of sarcopenia markers did not improve the C-statistic and moderately increased the c-NRI. None normalized sarcopenia markers performed better than TPA.

CONCLUSION: The majority of CT-derived psoas muscle measurements of sarcopenia showed a significant and independent relationship with survival after elective AAA repair. Despite this association, they did not appear to improve sufficiently our survival prediction ability to become an efficient tool for decision-making.

PMID:36611098 | DOI:10.1007/s00268-022-06868-4

Eur Spine J. 2023 Jan 7. doi: 10.1007/s00586-022-07486-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine risk factors increasing susceptibility to early complications (intraoperative and postoperative within 6 weeks) associated with surgery to correct thoracic and lumbar spinal deformity.

METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for studies published between January 1990 and September 2021. Observational studies evaluating predictors of early complications of thoracic and lumbar spinal deformity surgery were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated via the random effects model.

RESULTS: Fifty-two studies representing 102,432 patients met the inclusion criteria. Statistically significant patient-related risk factors for early complications included neurological comorbidity (OR = 3.45, 95% CI 1.83-6.50), non-ambulatory status (OR = 3.37, 95% CI 1.96-5.77), kidney disease (OR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.80-4.36), American Society of Anesthesiologists score > 2 (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.76-2.84), previous spine surgery (OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.41-2.77), pulmonary comorbidity (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.21-3.09), osteoporosis (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.17-2.20), cardiovascular diseases (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.20-1.78), hypertension (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.23-1.52), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.30-2.60), preoperative Cobb angle (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI 0.29, 0.57), number of comorbidities (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI 0.12, 0.70), and preoperative lumbar lordotic angle (SMD = – 0.20, 95% CI – 0.35, – 0.06). Statistically significant procedure-related factors were fusion extending to the sacrum or pelvis (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.53-4.16), use of osteotomy (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.12-2.29), longer operation duration (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI 0.05, 1.40), estimated blood loss (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI 0.07, 0.85), and number of levels fused (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI 0.03, 0.70).

CONCLUSION: These data may contribute to development of a systematic approach aimed at improving quality-of-life and reducing complications in high-risk patients.

PMID:36611078 | DOI:10.1007/s00586-022-07486-3

Sci Rep. 2023 Jan 7;13(1):376. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-27561-z.

ABSTRACT

We use UK Biobank and a unique IVF family dataset (including genotyped embryos) to investigate sibling variation in both phenotype and genotype. We compare phenotype (disease status, height, blood biomarkers) and genotype (polygenic scores, polygenic health index) distributions among siblings to those in the general population. As expected, the between-siblings standard deviation in polygenic scores is [Formula: see text] times smaller than in the general population, but variation is still significant. As previously demonstrated, this allows for substantial benefit from polygenic screening in IVF. Differences in sibling genotypes result from distinct recombination patterns in sexual reproduction. We develop a novel sibling-pair method for detection of recombination breaks via statistical discontinuities. The new method is used to construct a dataset of 1.44 million recombination events which may be useful in further study of meiosis.

PMID:36611071 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-27561-z

Sci Rep. 2023 Jan 7;13(1):348. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-27644-x.

ABSTRACT

Metallic glasses are one of the most interesting mechanical materials studied in the last years, but as amorphous solids, they differ strongly from their crystalline counterparts. This matter can be addressed with the development and application of predictive techniques capable to describe the plastic regime. Here, machine learning models were employed for the prediction of plastic properties in CuZr metallic glasses. To this aim, 100 different samples were subjected to tensile tests by means of molecular dynamics simulations. A total of 17 materials properties were calculated and explored using statistical analysis. Strong correlations were found for stoichiometry, temperature, structural, and elastic properties with plastic properties. Three regression models were employed for the prediction of six plastic properties. Linear and Ridge regressions delivered the better prediction capability, with coefficients of determination above [Formula: see text]80% for three plastic properties, whereas Lasso regression rendered lower performance, with coefficients of determination above [Formula: see text]60% for two plastic properties. Overall, our work shows that molecular dynamics simulations together with machine learning models can provide a framework for the prediction of plastic behavior of complex materials.

PMID:36611063 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-27644-x

Sci Rep. 2023 Jan 7;13(1):340. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-25570-y.

ABSTRACT

Amid its massive increase in energy demand, Southeast Asia has pledged to increase its use of renewable energy by up to 23% by 2025. Geospatial technology approaches that integrate statistical data, spatial models, earth observation satellite data, and climate modeling can be used to conduct strategic analyses for understanding the potential and efficiency of renewable energy development. This study aims to create the first spatial model of its kind in Southeast Asia to develop multi-renewable energy from solar, wind, and hydropower, further broken down into residential and agricultural areas. The novelty of this study is the development of a new priority model for renewable energy development resulting from the integration of area suitability analysis and the estimation of the amount of potential energy. Areas with high potential power estimations for the combination of the three types of energy are mostly located in northern Southeast Asia. Areas close to the equator, have a lower potential than the northern countries, except for southern regions. Solar photovoltaic (PV) plant construction is the most area-intensive type of energy generation among the considered energy sources, requiring 143,901,600 ha (61.71%), followed by wind (39,618,300 ha; 16.98%); a combination of solar PV and wind (37,302,500 ha; 16%); hydro (7,665,200 ha; 3.28%); a combination of hydro and solar PV (3,792,500 ha; 1.62%); and a combination of hydro and wind (582,700 ha; 0.25%). This study is timely and important because it will inform policies and regional strategies for transitioning to renewable energy, with consideration of the different characteristics present in Southeast Asia.

PMID:36611056 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-25570-y

Sci Rep. 2023 Jan 7;13(1):372. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-27108-8.

ABSTRACT

The corpse plant (Amorphophallus titanum) is so named because it produces a pungent, foul odor when flowering. Little is known about how the emitted volatiles change throughout the two-day flowering period. In this study, the comprehensive monitoring of the presence and change in volatile molecules during the female and the male flowering phases of A. titanum was conducted, and the plant temperature was monitored. A total of 422 volatile features were detected over the entire sampling period, of which 118 features were statistically significantly different between the pre-flowering and both flowering phases, and an additional 304 features were found present throughout the flowering period. A total of 45 molecules could be assigned putative names. The volatile profile of A. titanum changes over the two-day flowering period, with the S-containing molecules and aldehydes dominant in the female flowering phase, and the alcohols and hydrocarbons dominant in the male flowering phase. The two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) enabled us to identify 32 new molecules produced by A. titanum. Each of these molecules alone, and in combination, likely contribute to the different odors emitted during the flowering phase of A. titanum.

PMID:36611048 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-27108-8

J Trop Pediatr. 2022 Dec 5;69(1):fmac115. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmac115.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) displayed milder symptoms than adults. However, they play an important role in case numbers and virus transmission. Therefore, we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of all pediatric patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and put forth case numbers longitudinally throughout the delta variant dominant period.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at a university hospital and included patients between 0 and18 years old with a SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive result, including inpatients and outpatients. Epidemiological and clinical features were recorded from electronic files, and telephone visits were performed between March 2020 and December 2021.

RESULTS: During the study period, 3175 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pediatric patients were admitted to our hospital with a mean age of 10.61 ± 4.6 years. Of the 1815 patients who could be interviewed, 85.7% reported at least one symptom. Before the delta variant period, 0-4 years aged children were more commonly infected, while school-aged children and adolescents were more common, and the rate of pediatric cases to all COVID-19 cases increased to 35.8% after the delta variant became dominant. Symptomatic cases were significantly higher before the delta variant (87.8% vs. 84.06%, p = 0.016). The hospitalization rate was higher before the delta variant (p < 0.001), whereas PICU admission showed no statistical difference.

CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of school-aged children and adolescents raised with the impact of both school openings and the delta variant, and the rate of pediatric cases increased in total COVID-19 patient numbers.

PMID:36611014 | DOI:10.1093/tropej/fmac115