Category: Statistics

Drugs Real World Outcomes. 2022 Jul 18. doi: 10.1007/s40801-022-00321-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular agents, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor inhibitors, acetylsalicylic acid, statins, and metformin, have demonstrated benefits for depression. However, there is scant evaluation of these drugs’ antidepressant properties in large population settings.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine cross-sectional associations between depression symptoms and the use of cardiovascular agents and metformin in populations with cardiovascular diseases or diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: Participants in the Trøndelag Health Study 2006-08 (HUNT3, n = 40,516) and 2017-19 (HUNT4, n = 42,103) were included and data on their drug use from 2006 to 2019 was retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database. The outcome was self-reported depression symptoms defined by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Associations between cardiovascular agents or metformin use and self-reported depression were analyzed by multi-level logistic regression in sex-stratified samples.

RESULTS: Among men with cardiovascular diseases, use of acetylsalicylic acid was associated with reduced depression symptoms compared with acetylsalicylic acid non-users (reference) in HUNT3 and HUNT4 [risk ratio = 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.59-0.94, risk ratio = 0.67; 95% CI 0.52-0.82, respectively]. Similarly, male statin users had a lower likelihood of reporting depression than statin non-users in HUNT3 (risk ratio = 0.70; 95% confidence interval 0.54-0.86) and HUNT4 (risk ratio = 0.67; 95% confidence interval 0.51-0.84). Associations between statins or acetylsalicylic acid use and reduced depression symptoms were detected in women with cardiovascular diseases in HUNT4. We found no statistical support for associations between other cardiovascular agents or metformin use and a reduced or increased depression symptom risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest negative associations between acetylsalicylic acid or statin use and depression symptoms. However, longitudinal cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the antidepressant effects of these drugs.

PMID:35856136 | DOI:10.1007/s40801-022-00321-7

Eur J Epidemiol. 2022 Jul 19. doi: 10.1007/s10654-022-00894-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Diverse Life-Course Cohort (DLCC) is a large-scale prospective study including around 130,000 participants in mainland China. The primary aims of DLCC include contributing to knowledge on noncommunicable chronic disease determinants, particularly cardiometabolic diseases, and exploring the long-term effect of ambient air pollutants or other environmental risk factors on health among all-age populations. The cohort consists of several sub-populations that cover the whole life-course and diverse resources: from premarital to adolescents, adults from workplace and communities ranged from 18 to 93 years old. Baseline assessment (2017-2021) included face-to-face standardized questionnaire interview and measurements to assess social and biological factors of health. Blood samples were collected from each participant (except for children younger than 6) to establish the biobank. DLCC consists of two visits. Visit 1 was conducted from 2017, and 114850 individuals from one of the world-class urban agglomerations: Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei area were recruited. By the end of 2021, at least one follow-up was carried out, with an overall follow-up rate of 92.33%. In 2021, we initiated Visit 2, newly recruited 9,866 adults from Guangdong province (South China) and Hebei province (Central China), with research focuses on the comparations on ambient pollution hazards and other unique dietary or environmental risks for health. The baseline survey of Visit 2 was finished in July 2021. DLCC is still ongoing with a long-term follow-up design, and not limited by the current funding period. With reliable data and the well-established biobank which consists of over 120,000 individuals’ blood samples, DLCC will provide invaluable resources for scientific research.

PMID:35856127 | DOI:10.1007/s10654-022-00894-1

Int J Clin Oncol. 2022 Jul 18. doi: 10.1007/s10147-022-02216-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a technique that uses fluorescently labeled DNA probes. Many studies have evaluated the ROC curve (sensitivity and specificity) with the FISH method to diagnose upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The current meta-analysis was performed to examine the diagnostic power of the FISH method in UTUC.

METHODS: We reviewed databases and methodically obtained papers for analysis until April 25th, 2022. The Meta-disc V.1.4 and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V.3.3 software calculated the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, area under the curve (AUC), and summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC). The I² and Chi-square tests were used to examine the heterogeneity. Finally, the publication bias was estimated using Begg’s and Egger’s tests.

RESULTS: A total of 13 articles included 1,067 participants (439 cases and 628 controls). The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) were 0.72 (95% CI 0.67-0.76), 0.95 (95% CI 0.93-0.97), 10.42 (95% CI 5.84-18.60), 0.29 (95% CI 0.21-0.40), 38.55 (95% CI 18.58-79.96), and 0.91, respectively. No publication bias was reported based on Begg’s and Egger’s tests (Begg’s p = 0.200; Egger’s p = 0.151).

CONCLUSION: This paper clearly shows that the high specificity and acceptable sensitivity of the FISH method make it a promising diagnostic method for UTUC in urine samples. However, further research with higher statistical numbers is needed to strengthen the correlation and be used for diagnostic applications.

PMID:35856125 | DOI:10.1007/s10147-022-02216-7

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X. 2022 Jul 6;15:100157. doi: 10.1016/j.eurox.2022.100157. eCollection 2022 Aug.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the cognitive-behavioral therapy program (CBT) on the sexual function and sexual self-efficacy of 100 women after childbearing.

METHODS: In this experimental pretest-posttest and control group design study, women who passed eight weeks of their delivery and were referred to three health centers, in Shadegan, Iran, from January to April 2019 registered using the simple sampling method and randomly allocated into two groups of case and control. For the CBT group eight weeks of counseling (one session/week), and for the control group, routine educations were provided by health care providers. Both groups filled out the female sexual function index and sexual self-efficacy questionnaires before intervention and eight weeks after the last session.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the CBT and control groups before the intervention in terms of sexual function and sexual self-efficacy, but eight weeks after the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Proper implementation of counseling based on the CBT model improved sexual function and self-efficacy of nulliparous women after childbirth.

PMID:35856051 | PMC:PMC9287770 | DOI:10.1016/j.eurox.2022.100157

iScience. 2022 Jun 20;25(8):104644. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104644. eCollection 2022 Aug 19.

ABSTRACT

In this article, human semen samples from the Visem dataset are automatically assessed with machine learning methods for their quality with respect to sperm motility. Several regression models are trained to automatically predict the percentage (0-100) of progressive, non-progressive, and immotile spermatozoa. The videos are adopted for unsupervised tracking and two different feature extraction methods-in particular custom movement statistics and displacement features. We train multiple neural networks and support vector regression models on the extracted features. Best results are achieved using a linear Support Vector Regressor with an aggregated and quantized representation of individual displacement features of each sperm cell. Compared to the best submission of the Medico Multimedia for Medicine challenge, which used the same dataset and splits, the mean absolute error (MAE) could be reduced from 8.83 to 7.31. We provide the source code for our experiments on GitHub (Code available at: https://github.com/EIHW/motilitAI).

PMID:35856034 | PMC:PMC9287611 | DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2022.104644

Heliyon. 2022 Jun 28;8(7):e09821. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09821. eCollection 2022 Jul.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze surveys measuring the prevalence of burnout among Chinese doctors and reveal the overall prevalence, characteristics, timeline, and factors related to burnout.

METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted on China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases from their inception to 28 February 2021. Random-effects meta-analyses, meta-regression and planned subgroup analyses were performed, and the standardized mean difference was adopted for comparisons between subgroups. Egger’s and Begg’s tests were performed to evaluate publication bias. Heterogeneity across the studies was tested using the I² statistic. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018104249).

RESULTS: In total, 3,210 records were reviewed; 64 studies including 48,638 Chinese doctors were eligible for meta-analysis. The prevalence of burnout increased continuously from 2008 to 2017 and decreased significantly from 2018 to 2020, a little increase from 2020 to 2021. The overall prevalence of burnout was 75.48% (95% CI, 69.20 to 81.26; I² = 99.23%, P < 0.001), and high burnout was 9.37% (95% CI, 4.91 to 15.05, I² = 98.88%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of emotional exhaustion was 48.64% (95% CI, 38.73 to 58.59; I² = 99.53%, P < 0.001), depersonalization was 54.67% (95% CI, 46.95 to 62.27; I² = 99.20%, P < 0.001), and reduced personal accomplishment was 66.53% (95% CI, 58.13 to 74.44; I² = 99.37%, P < 0.001). Gender, marriage, professional title and specialty all influenced burnout.

CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the total prevalence of doctor burnout in China is very high. The prevalence of burnout varies by location. Gender, marital status and professional title all affect burnout scores.

PMID:35855985 | PMC:PMC9287156 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09821

Heliyon. 2022 Jul 2;8(7):e09791. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09791. eCollection 2022 Jul.

ABSTRACT

Climatic elements such as temperature and rainfall provide great and unquantifiable benefits to human health. However, rapid urban sprawl has the tendency to undermine these health consequences. The relationship between urban sprawl and microclimate in the Ga East Municipality has been assessed to present the extent of sprawl that inhibit temperature and rainfall in recent times. Methodologically, satellite imagery and meteorological data (minimum and maximum temperature and rainfall) from 1990 to 2020 were used. The results indicate that rapid urban sprawl in recent times has significantly undermined the local climate through land use and land cover changes. There was strong statistical relationships between temperature and built-up areas (p < 0.05), grass/shrub cover (p < 0.04) and all vegetation cover (p < 0.03). There was also strong statistical relationship between rainfall and built-up areas (p < 0.03), grass/shrub cover (p < 0.04) and all vegetation (p < 0.02). Thus, expansion in built up areas and reduced grass/shrub cover led to increases in temperature, rainfall and surface water run off while reduction in all vegetation led to increase in both temperature and rainfall. These changes in climate brought about by urban sprawl will affect crop production, increase cataclysmic floods as well as growth of some harmful insects. There is the need for the amalgamation of urban growth and climate change into spatial planning through an all-embracing approach.

PMID:35855983 | PMC:PMC9287151 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09791

Heliyon. 2022 Jul 9;8(7):e09914. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09914. eCollection 2022 Jul.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study introduced a three-dimensional (3D) surface-to-surface matching technique to evaluate the mandibular symmetry of teenagers and adults with unilateral second molar scissor bite.

METHODS: The targets came from 73 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with unilateral second molar scissor bite, including teenagers (n = 30) and adults (n = 43). 73 images without scissor bite and matched in sex and age were selected as controls. The scans were developed into 3D mandible models and seven mandibular functional unit models, including condylar process (Co), coronoid process (Cr), mandibular ramus (Ra), mandibular angle (Ma), alveolar process (Ap), mandibular body (Mb) and chin process (Ch). The surface-to-surface matching technique was introduced. 3D deviation analysis and matching percentages calculation were performed and compared to evaluate the symmetry of the mandible.

RESULTS: Comparisons were made between the study samples and control samples. For teenagers, the matching percentages of the entire mandible (55.31 ± 7.24%), Mb (69.04 ± 9.22%) and Co (65.19 ± 10.67%) in the study group were lower than that of the entire mandible (60.87 ± 6.38%) (P <0.01), Mb (75.0 ± 8.71%) (P <0.05) and Co (70.25 ± 8.20%) (P <0.05) in the control group. While Ap, Ra, Ch, Cr and Ma showed no statistically significant differences (P >0.05). For adults, the matching percentages of the entire mandible (48.88 ± 9.77%), Ap (65.83 ± 11.21%), Mb (64.43 ± 12.03%), Ch (79.17 ± 10.29%), Ra (64.11 ± 9.84%) and Co (61.08 ± 11.64%) in the study group were lower than the entire mandible (59.28 ± 5.49%) (P <0.01), Ap (73.65 ± 9.10%) (P <0.01), Mb (71.66 ± 8.40%) (P <0.01), Ch (83.86 ± 5.59%) (P <0.05), Ra (68.54 ± 7.87%) (P <0.05) and Co (66.20 ± 10.62%) (P <0.05) of the control group. Only Cr and Ma showed no statistically significant differences (P >0.05).

CONCLUSION: Mandibular asymmetry was observed in both teenagers and adults with unilateral second molar scissor bite. Moreover, compared with teenagers, more mandibular units of adult patients were affected.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Based on the surface-to-surface matching technique, the symmetric and morphological information of the mandible can be converted into visual color maps and quantitative descriptions. This method can bring convenience to the study of the growth of mandible, orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery design.

PMID:35855982 | PMC:PMC9287795 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09914

BMC Nurs. 2022 Jul 19;21(1):193. doi: 10.1186/s12912-022-00976-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of health care-associated infections (HAIs) statistics in many countries is questionable and the main reasons of this inaccuracy are not well-known. The study aim was to explore inhibitors of and corrective recommendations for HAIs case findings and reporting in some of Iran hospitals.

METHODS: Sixteen face-to-face interviews and an expert panel were performed with expertise of infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in hospitals, and Deputies of Health and Treatment in medical university and Ministry of Health from Feb 2018 to May 2019. Using conventional content analysis, code, subcategories and categories were developed.

RESULT: Three categories emerged including improper structure preparation, conflict of interest, and inadequate motivation. Allocating distinct budget and adequate staff to IPC programs, developing a user-friendly surveillance system and engaging physicians and nurses for HAIs reporting are the main corrective recommendations accepted by the expert panel.

CONCLUSION: Despite the improvement in growing case-findings and reporting of HAIs in Iran, there are many challenges which inhibit accurate case finding and reporting of HAIs. So it is necessary to update the structure, system and rules to reach accurate HAIs data in Iran.

PMID:35854382 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-022-00976-1

Reprod Health. 2022 Jul 19;19(1):164. doi: 10.1186/s12978-022-01469-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although there is a significant increase of evidence regarding the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 on maternal and perinatal outcomes, data on the effects of the pandemic on the obstetric population in sub-Saharan African countries are still scarce. Therefore, the study aims were to assess the prevalence and impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes in the obstetric population at Central Hospital of Maputo (HCM), Mozambique.

METHODS: Prospective cohort study conducted at teaching and referral maternity, HCM, from 20 October 2020 to 22 July 2021. We collected maternal and perinatal outcomes up to 6 weeks postpartum of eligible women (pregnant and postpartum women-up to the 14th day postpartum) screened for COVID-19 (individual test for symptomatic participants and pool testing for asymptomatic). The primary outcome was maternal death, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. We estimated the COVID-19 prevalence and the unadjusted RR (95% CI) for maternal and perinatal outcomes. We used the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test to compare categorical variables (two-sided p-value < 0.05 for statistical significance).

RESULTS: We included 239 participants. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 was 9.2% (22/239) and in the symptomatic group was 32.4% (11/34). About 50% of the participants with COVID-19 were symptomatic. Moreover, the most frequent symptoms were dyspnoea (33.3%), cough (28.6%), anosmia (23.8%), and fever (19%). Not having a partner, being pregnant, and alcohol consumption were vulnerability factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes (abortion, foetal death, preterm birth, Apgar, and NICU admission) was not significantly increased with COVID-19. Moreover, we did not observe a significant difference in the primary outcomes (SARS, ICU admission and maternal death) between COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative groups.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of COVID-19 in the obstetric population is higher than in the general population, and fifty percent of pregnant and postpartum women with COVID-19 infection are asymptomatic. Not having a partner and alcohol consumption were factors of greatest vulnerability to SARS-COV-2 infection. Moreover, being pregnant versus postpartum was associated with increased vulnerability to COVID-19. Data suggest that pregnant women with COVID-19 may have a higher frequency of COVID-19 infection, reinforcing the need for universal testing, adequate follow-up for this population, and increasing COVID-19 therapy facilities in Mozambique. Moreover, provide counselling during Antenatal care for COVID-19 preventive measures. However, more prospective and robust studies are needed to assess these findings.

PMID:35854384 | DOI:10.1186/s12978-022-01469-9