Category: Statistics

Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022 Sep 28:1-19. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2127244. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Rubberwood manufacturing has a wide range of occupational safety hazards. Workers’ safety behaviors are substandard. This quasi-experimental study aimed to (1) determine the factors affecting safety behaviors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and (2) compare the effects of safety intervention programs on workers’ behaviors.

METHODS: The sample consisted of workers from a rubberwood-processing factory. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to validate the TPB constructs. The constructs were also analyzed before and after the interventions using structural equation modelling to confirm the observed variables. The interventions included conducting job safety analysis, establishing safety standard operation procedures, and launching a behavioral promotion campaign. A t-test was used to compare the constructs’ intervention effects.

RESULTS: The structural equation model adequately fitted the data and confirmed that the constructs were aligned with TPB. Most path coefficients were statistically significant after the interventions were implemented. ‘Attitude’ and ‘perceived behavioral control’ directly and significantly affected ‘intention.’ ‘Intention’ was an essential mediator to ‘behaviors.’ The improvement in workers’ behaviors was evident.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the TPB, safety program interventions helped enhance workers’ behaviors. Hence, based on participatory approaches, sustainable safety interventions should be maintained for all levels of personnel in the organization.

PMID:36168750 | DOI:10.1080/10803548.2022.2127244

Hand (N Y). 2022 Sep 27:15589447221122825. doi: 10.1177/15589447221122825. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Distal radius fractures often present with a 3-part articular fragmentation pattern, with separation of the dorsal and volar lunate fossa. The column concept of distal radius fixation addresses the importance of stabilizing both the scaphoid fossa lateral column and the lunate fossa intermediate column. Recent evidence strengthens the value of immediate postoperative mobilization. Satisfactory outcomes following these protocols are predicated on volar locking plates (VLPs) providing adequate stability to the fracture repair. We hypothesize that a VLP which individually supports both lateral and intermediate distal radius columns may provide comparable stability between articular and non-articular cadaveric fracture models under parameters meant to simulate postoperative loading.

METHODS: Eleven cadaveric matched pair specimens were randomized to receive a simulated AO Type A2 non-articular distal radius fracture on one side with an AO Type C3 articular fracture on the contralateral side. Stiffness during cyclic loading was compared between fracture groups. A matched-paired Student t-test was used to determine statistical significance (P = .05).

RESULTS: There were no significant differences (P = .35) in stiffness between the articular models (mean 370.0 N/mm, +/-93.5) and the non-articular models (360.4 N/mm, +/-60.0) of distal radius fracture.

CONCLUSION: A VLP that individually supports the scaphoid and lunate fossa with fixed angle subchondral support may provide comparable fixation strength with resistance to displacement between articular and non-articular fracture patterns. The current results suggest that fossa-specific VLP fixation in articular fractures can maintain construct stability during postoperative loading.

PMID:36168723 | DOI:10.1177/15589447221122825

Cardiol Young. 2022 Sep 28:1-6. doi: 10.1017/S1047951122003067. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The optimal timing of surgical repair for infants with complete atrioventricular canal defect remains controversial, as there are risks to both early and late repair. We address this debate by investigating the association of various risk factors, including age and weight at surgery, markers of failure to thrive, and pulmonary vascular disease, with postoperative length of stay following complete atrioventricular canal repair.

METHODS: Infants who underwent repair of complete atrioventricular canal were identified from our institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database. Additional clinical data were collected from the electronic medical record. Descriptive statistics were computed. Associations between postoperative length of stay and covariates of interest were evaluated using linear regression with bootstrap aggregation.

RESULTS: From 2001 to 2020, 150 infants underwent isolated complete atrioventricular canal repair at our institution. Pre-operative failure to thrive and evidence of pulmonary disease were common. Surgical mortality was 2%. In univariable analysis, neither weight nor age at surgery were associated with mortality, postoperative length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or post-operative severe valvular regurgitation. In multivariable analysis of demographic and preoperative clinical factors using bootstrap aggregation, increased postoperative length of stay was only significantly associated with previous pulmonary artery banding (33.9 day increase, p = 0.03) and preoperative use of supplemental oxygen (19.9 day increase, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis shows that previous pulmonary artery banding and preoperative use of supplemental oxygen were associated with increased postoperative length of stay after complete atrioventricular canal repair, whereas age and weight were not. These findings suggest operation prior to the onset of pulmonary involvement may be more important than reaching age or weight thresholds.

PMID:36168722 | DOI:10.1017/S1047951122003067

J Int Med Res. 2022 Sep;50(9):3000605221126657. doi: 10.1177/03000605221126657.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations between clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes in inpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS: In this observational study, we recruited inpatients affected by moderate COVID-19 disease. The clinical evaluation comprised the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), numerical rating scale (NRS), modified Rankin scale (mRS), and the modified Borg dyspnea scale (mBDS). Respiratory involvement was assessed with computed tomography (CT) and graded with a CT-severity score (CT-SS). We retrospectively assessed functioning using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) codes of the Clinical Functioning Information Tool (ClinFIT) COVID-19 in the acute phase. Correlation analysis was performed 1) between clinical, instrumental, and functional parameters and 2) between ICF categories.

RESULTS: The data showed statistically significant moderate correlations between CT-SS and the following categories: b152 “emotional functions” and b440 “respiratory functions”.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to use the ICF framework in people with a moderate form of COVID-19 in the acute phase. Considering the correlations between some ICF categories and radiological findings, our results support the use of the ClinFIT COVID-19 for a comprehensive assessment of COVID-19 patients.

PMID:36168714 | DOI:10.1177/03000605221126657

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2022;122(9):104-109. doi: 10.17116/jnevro2022122091104.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the cerebral hemodynamics and executive functioning in patients with alcohol use disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 58 patients with alcohol use disorders aged 30 to 55 years and 40 healthy controls. Rheoencephalography was used to detect cerebrovascular changes. Executive functioning was assessed using the Go-No-Go, Corsi, and Color Stroop tests.

RESULTS: Patients with alcohol use disorders have higher values of the tone of resistive vessels and medium – caliber arteries, as well as lower indicators of volumetric pulse blood filling and elastic properties of the main arteries in both right and left leads compared with the controls (p≤0.003). Patients with alcohol dependence had lower rates in all studied cognitive tests compared to the norm (p≤0.011). We also found statistically significant correlations between the studied parameters in patients with alcohol use disorders: a decrease in volumetric pulse blood filling correlated with impaired psychomotor response in the Go-No-Go task (errors on the Go signal) (rs=-0.36; p=0.048), as well as cognitive flexibility in the Stroop test (rs=-0.40; p=0.024).

CONCLUSION: Disturbances of the psychomotor reaction and cognitive flexibility in alcohol dependence are due to the regional changes (decrease) in cerebral blood flow, as well as to a decrease in the elasticity of the wall of cerebral vessels.

PMID:36168694 | DOI:10.17116/jnevro2022122091104

ACS Nano. 2022 Sep 27. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.2c04406. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The scalable production and dispersion of 2D materials, like graphene, is critical to enable their use in commercial applications. While liquid exfoliation is commonly used, solvents such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) are toxic and difficult to scale up. However, the search for alternative solvents is hindered by the intimidating size of the chemical space. Here, we present a computational pipeline informing the identification of effective exfoliation agents. Classical molecular dynamics simulations provide statistical sampling of interactions, enabling the identification of key molecular descriptors for a successful solvent. The statistically representative configurations from these simulations, studied with quantum mechanical calculations, allow us to gain insights onto the chemophysical interactions at the surface-solvent interface. As an exemplar, through this pipeline we identify a potential graphene exfoliation agent 2-pyrrolidone and experimentally demonstrate it to be as effective as NMP. Our workflow can be generalized to any 2D material and solvent system, enabling the screening of a wide range of compounds and solvents to identify safer and cheaper means of producing dispersions.

PMID:36166830 | DOI:10.1021/acsnano.2c04406

J Neuroophthalmol. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001625. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) has been reported to occur after cataract surgery. It is not clearly established whether cataract surgery increases the risk of NAION over baseline.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central registers were systematically searched for eligible studies reporting on postcataract surgery NAION (psNAION) within 1 year. All peer-reviewed publications with events n ≥ 10 were included. Pooled incidence and odds/hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and calculated using random effect models for early and delayed psNAION. Time to event data were pooled for temporal analysis of psNAION events within the first year. This systematic review was registered (PROSPERO CRD42021274383).

RESULTS: Nine articles met the selection criteria with five studies suitable for meta-analysis. A total of 320 psNAION cases, 1,307 spontaneous NAION (sNAION) cases, 1,587,691 cataract surgeries, and 1,538,897 noncataract surgery controls were included. Pooling of 63,823 cataract surgeries and 161,643 controls showed a hazard ratio of 4.6 (95% CI 2.7-7.8) of psNAION within 1 year of surgery. Pooled unadjusted incidence of psNAION within 2 months was 99.92 (95% CI 38.64-161.19) per 100,000/year, psNAION within 1 year was 32.36 (95% CI 9.38-55.34) per 100,000/year, and sNAION was 8.87 (95% CI 2.12-15.62) per 100,000/year. psNAION cases were older by a mean of 7.6 years; otherwise, pooled odds ratios for baseline risk factors in psNAION vs. sNAION cases were not statistically significant. psNAION within the first year peaked within 72 hrs and at 6 weeks after the surgery with 73% of cases occurring within 6 months.

CONCLUSION: The risk of NAION after cataract surgery is four times greater within the first year and usually occurs within 6 months. However, the absolute risk remains low at 1 in 1,000-3,100 surgeries and is unlikely to warrant extra mention for consenting.

PMID:36166807 | DOI:10.1097/WNO.0000000000001625

J Neuroophthalmol. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001630. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To determine whether patients with biopsy-confirmed optic nerve glioma differ in clinical features and outcomes from those diagnosed by neuroradiologic imaging alone.

METHODS: Retrospective comparative analysis. Pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) and gliomas of the optic nerve were identified through ICD-O codes in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry from 1975 through 2017. Demographics, clinical features, and outcomes were compared according to the method of diagnosis (biopsy-confirmed and radiologic only) and by age (birth through 19 years and 20 years of age and older). Differences in proportions were tested with the chi-square test. Associations with tumor-related death were evaluated with logistic regression. Statistical significance: α < 0.01.

RESULTS: Over 42 years, 313 PAs and 720 gliomas of the optic nerve were identified. The young age distributions were similar between the 2 groups. PAs were biopsied more often than gliomas (54% vs 13.2% [P < 0.001]). Tumor-attributable death occurred more often among PAs and gliomas that were biopsied than those that were not (7.1% vs 0.7% [P < 0.01]; 7.4% vs 1.1% [P < 0.01], respectively). Roughly 15% of both PAs and gliomas were diagnosed in persons 20 years and older.

CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy-confirmed cases of PA and glioma of the optic nerve were associated with more therapeutic interventions and worse outcomes compared with patients who were diagnosed radiologically. Clinical variables relevant to clinical decision-making not captured by SEER likely explain the inability to meaningfully interpret outcome from the registry database. Cancer registries should avoid coding specific histopathologic diagnoses when tissue is not obtained.

PMID:36166806 | DOI:10.1097/WNO.0000000000001630

J Neuroophthalmol. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001627. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36166805 | DOI:10.1097/WNO.0000000000001627

J Neuroophthalmol. 2022 May 24. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001628. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36166804 | DOI:10.1097/WNO.0000000000001628