Category: Statistics

Ir J Med Sci. 2023 Feb 6. doi: 10.1007/s11845-023-03284-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: People with serious mental illness exhibit higher morbidity and mortality rates of chronic diseases than the general population.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to establish a dedicated clinic for patients with chronic mental illness to monitor physical health and quality of life in accordance with best practice guidelines.

METHODS: Patients were invited to attend the clinic. The following areas were examined: personal and family history of cardiovascular disease, diet, exercise, and smoking. Mental state examination, waist circumference, BP, pulse, ECG and BMI. Laboratory tests including U + E, LFTs, HbA1c, Lipid profile and other tests as appropriate such as serum lithium. AIMS scale, HoNOS and WHOQOL-BREF scales as additional indicators of global health.

RESULTS: A total of 80 patients attended during 3.5 years of clinic. Mean age was 54.9 years (SD: 13.81) at first contact and 45% were females. Mean years in the service was 19.66 (SD: 11.54) and mean number of previous hospital admissions was 4.4 (SD: 5.63). Metabolic syndrome was present in 42% at first assessment. A statistically significant improvement was found for the psychological domain of the WHOQOL-BREF and the HoNOs, particularly at third assessment. (β = 4.64, Wald x² = 7.38, df:1, p = 0.007, CI:1.3-8.1, β = – .889, Wald x² = 4.08, df:1, p = 0.043, CI: – 1.752 to – .026) respectively.

CONCLUSION: The results show a high prevalence of physical health conditions in this cohort, some of which represent a new diagnosis. This implicates better allocation of existing resources for screening and early detection, and potential to run joint clinics with primary care.

PMID:36745285 | DOI:10.1007/s11845-023-03284-y

J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2023 Feb 6;98(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s42506-023-00129-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Research shows that trust in government is associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. However, there is no empirical evidence suggesting the pathway by which this association is formed. This study examines how dimensional attitudes towards vaccination explain the relationship between mistrust in government and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance.

METHODS: The study was an online cross-sectional survey involving 1026 adults (of which 58.9% are female) resident in Nigeria with a mean age of 26.09 (±8.46) years. Data were collected using structured questionnaires assessing the level of mistrust in government, dimensional attitudes towards vaccination, and acceptance to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data.

RESULTS: Results show that 56.8% of participants mistrust the government, while COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rate was 28.2%. Mistrust in government was significantly associated with low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, mistrust in the government was predictive of negative attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination which include worries about unforeseen future effects of vaccines, mistrust of vaccine benefits (MVB), concerns about commercial profiteering (CCP), and preference for natural immunity. The outcomes of indirect effect analyses indicated that mistrust in government was associated with high mistrust in vaccine benefits (MVB) and increased concerns about commercial profiteering (CCP), which in turn lead to low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS: Mistrust in the government was high and was coupled with low vaccination acceptance. It is important to initiate culturally relevant awareness programs aiming at combating false notions about COVID-19 vaccination such as MVB and CCP arising from mistrust in government.

PMID:36745270 | DOI:10.1186/s42506-023-00129-5

Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Feb 6. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-13149-4. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36745260 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-023-13149-4

Amino Acids. 2023 Feb 6. doi: 10.1007/s00726-023-03241-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is accepted as a form of progressive dementia. Cholinergic systems are commonly affected in AD. Neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) is involved in learning memory-related processes. It is known that the activation of NK3R affects the release of many neurotransmitters. The aim of this project was to investigate the effects of NK3R agonist senktide administration on neurobehavioral mechanisms in the experimental AD-like rat model. 50 male Wistar albino rats were divided into Control (C), AD, Control + NK3R agonist (CS), AD + NK3R agonist (ADS), AD + NK3Ragonist + antagonist groups (ADSO). We designed AD-like model by intrahippocampal administration of Aβ1-42. After NK3R agonist + antagonist injections, open field (OF), Morris water maze (MWM) tests were applied. Cholinergic mechanism analysis from hippocampus-cortex tissues was performed by ELISA and catecholamine analysis from brain stem tissue were performed by HPLC method. The transitions from edge to center, rearing, grooming parameters were found to be reduced in final values of OF. While the group-time interaction was significant in the OF test findings, there was no significant difference between the groups. In MWM test, ADS group showed a learning level close to control group and animals in AD and ADSO groups could not learn target quadrant in MWM test. The brain stem NA and DA concentrations were not statistically significant. Hippocampal AChE-ChAT levels were supported by positive effects of senktide on learning via the cholinergic mechanisms. As a result, NK3R agonists were found to be effective in improving cognitive functions in rats with AD pathology. In the experimental AD model, positive effects of NK3R on learning memory may be mediated by cholinergic mechanisms.

PMID:36745246 | DOI:10.1007/s00726-023-03241-0

J Ultrasound Med. 2023 Feb 6. doi: 10.1002/jum.16191. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Recognition of intestinal lesions with substantial fibrosis is strategic for optimal management of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). We aimed to assess the relationships between intestinal ultrasound parameters and histopathologic findings in a prospective cohort of patients with CD undergoing surgery.

METHODS: Seventeen consecutive adult CD patients with involvement of the terminal ileum or the sigmoid colon who underwent bowel resective surgeries were enrolled and performed intestinal ultrasound (IUS) within 30 days prior to surgery. Uni- and multivariable analyses were used to assess the relationships between IUS parameters and histopathological elements of lesions.

RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV (95% CI) of IUS in detecting stricturing and penetrating complications (surgical specimen as reference standard) were 93% (68-100), 86% (42-100), 91% (71-99), 93% (68-100) and 86% (42-100), and 78% (40-97), 92% (64-100), 86% (65-97), 88% (47-100) and 86% (57-98), respectively. Only the presence of hyperechogenic spiculates was statistically significantly associated with collagen content (b = 7.29, 95% CI = 1.88/12.69, P = .012), while only the presence of vascular signals at color Doppler (Limberg score 3 or 4) was significantly associated with active inflammation (OR = 10.0, 95% CI = 0.9/108.6, P = .037). There was a strong correlation between IUS and histological measurements of the wall thickness (r = 0.67, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of hyperechogenic spiculates was associated with the presence of fibrosis, while the presence of marked vascular signals was associated with the presence of inflammation. Wall thickness measured by IUS was reliable and reproducible in comparison with histological measurement.

PMID:36744584 | DOI:10.1002/jum.16191

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023 Feb 6. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28629. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatic adenoma (HA) are two common benign liver lesions with different management options. In particular, resection is considered for large HA lesions to avoid possible bleeding complications or rarely malignant degeneration.

PURPOSE: To determine whether early enhancement of a draining hepatic vein (EDHV) and absence of perilesional enhancement (PLE) on arterial phase MR images are useful for distinguishing FNH from HA.

STUDY TYPE: Retrospective.

POPULATION: A total of 34 patients: 16 with FNH and 18 with HA lesions.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A1.5 T, axial T1 fat-suppressed arterial postcontrast.

ASSESMENT: Four abdominal radiologists blinded to pathologic diagnosis assessed for the presence or absence of EDHV in association with the lesion, definitively characterized by pathology. This was considered present if contrast could be identified in a hepatic vein contiguous with the lesion in question. Secondarily, PLE was evaluated.

STATISTICAL TESTS: Fleiss’s multirater kappa statistic, Chi-squared statistic, Phi-coefficient. Significance level P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Considering all observations obtained from the four readers, an EDHV was identified with FNH 48.5% of the time. EDHV was seen with HA in 8.8% of cases. PLE was seen with significantly greater frequency in HA. The presence of an EDHV was associated with the absence of PLE.

DATA CONCLUSION: In a lesion that may be either an FNH or HA, confident identification on arterial phase images of an EDHV should lead the reader to favor FNH, while the presence PLE should dissuade the reader from FNH.

EVIDENCE LEVEL: 4.

TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

PMID:36744579 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.28629

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2023 Mar 27;378(1873):20220006. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0006. Epub 2023 Feb 6.

ABSTRACT

Theoretical models of the evolution of parasites and their hosts have shaped our understanding of infectious disease dynamics for over 40 years. Many theoretical models assume that the underlying ecological dynamics are at equilibrium or constant, yet we know that in a great many systems there are fluctuations in the ecological dynamics owing to a variety of intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Here, we discuss the challenges presented when modelling evolution in systems with fluctuating ecological dynamics and summarize the main approaches that have been developed to study host-parasite evolution in such systems. We provide an in-depth guide to one of the methods by applying it to two worked examples of host evolution that have not previously been studied in the literature: when cycles occur owing to seasonal forcing in competition, and when the presence of a free-living parasite causes cycles, with accompanying interactive Python code provided. We review the findings of studies that have explored host-parasite evolution when ecological dynamics fluctuate, and point to areas of future research. Throughout we stress the importance of feedbacks between the ecological and evolutionary dynamics in driving the outcomes of infectious disease systems. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world’.

PMID:36744565 | DOI:10.1098/rstb.2022.0006

J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2023 Feb 6:1-16. doi: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2175257. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The co-evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv along with its host systems enables the pathogenic bacterium to emerge as a multi-drug resistant form. This creates challenges for a more efficacious treatment strategy that can mitigate the infection. Working towards the same, our study followed a mathematical and statistical approach proposing that mycobacterial transcription factors regulating virulence and adaptation, host cell cytoplasmic component metabolism, oxidoreductase activity and respiratory ETC would be targets for antibiotics against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Simultaneously, extending the statistical study on Mycobacterium-infected human cord blood CD34+ cells revealed that the human CD34+ genes, S100A8 and FGR (tyrosine-protein kinase, Src2), might be affected in the infection pathogenesis by Mycobacterium. Further, the deduced Mycobacterium-human gene interaction network proposed that mycobacterial coregulators Rv0452 (MarR family regulator) and Rv3862c (WhiB6) triggered genes controlling bacterial metabolism, which influences human immunological pathways involving TLR2 and CXCL8/MAPK8.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

PMID:36744528 | DOI:10.1080/07391102.2023.2175257

Drug Chem Toxicol. 2023 Feb 6:1-8. doi: 10.1080/01480545.2023.2174986. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The different features of the impact of nanoparticles on cells, such as the structure of the core, presence/absence of doping, quality of surface, diameter, and dose, were used to define quasi-SMILES, a line of symbols encoded the above physicochemical features of the impact of nanoparticles. The correlation weight for each code in the quasi-SMILES has been calculated by the Monte Carlo method. The descriptor, which is the sum of the correlation weights, is the basis for a one-variable model of the biological activity of nano-inhibitors of human lung carcinoma cell line A549. The system of models obtained by the above scheme was checked on the self-consistence, i.e., reproducing the statistical quality of these models observed for different distributions of available nanomaterials into the training and validation sets. The computational experiments confirm the excellent potential of the approach as a tool to predict the impact of nanomaterials under different experimental conditions. In conclusion, our model is a self-consistent model system that provides a user to assess the reliability of the statistical quality of the used approach.

PMID:36744523 | DOI:10.1080/01480545.2023.2174986

Chronobiol Int. 2023 Feb 6:1-8. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2023.2173606. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The exposure of humans to artificial light at night (ALAN) with predominant blue part of the visible spectrum is strongly influencing circadian rhythm and sleep through melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells (RGC). We hypothesized that reducing the amount of emitted blue light from screens of mobile phones during the night will increase sleep quality in our student population. The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of reducing blue light from smartphone screen during the night on subjective quality of sleep among students of medicine. The target population was students of medicine aged 20 to 22 years old of both sexes. The primary outcome of the study was subjective sleep quality, assessed by the Serbian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The mean total PSQI score before intervention was 6.83 ± 2.73 (bad), while after the intervention the same score was statistically significant reduced to 3.93 ± 1.68 (good) with large effect size. The study has shown that a reduction of blue light emission from LED backlight screens of mobile phones during the night leads to improved subjective quality of sleep in students, as well as improvement in daytime functioning and going to sleep.

PMID:36744480 | DOI:10.1080/07420528.2023.2173606