Category: Statistics

Sci Rep. 2022 Jul 23;12(1):12626. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-16210-6.

ABSTRACT

Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is associated with increased mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the prognostic impact of elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) in the very elderly patients after AMI is lacking. We aimed to study the impact of elevated sPAP on one- and five-year all-cause mortality after AMI in very elderly patients, 80 years of age and older. Of a total number of 353 patients (≥ 80 years) who were hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome, 162 patients presenting with AMI and with available data of sPAP on echocardiography were included and followed-up for 5 years. The survival analyses were performed using Cox-Regression models adjusted for conventional risk factors including LVEF. Altogether 66 of 162 patients (41%) had ST-segment elevation MI, and 121 (75%) of patients were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in the acute phase. Echocardiography during the admission revealed that 78 patients (48%) had a LVEF ≤ 45% and 66 patients (41%) had a sPAP ≥ 40 mmHg. After one and five years of follow-up, 23% (n = 33) and 53% (n = 86) of patients died, respectively. A multivariable Cox-Regression analysis showed that the elevated sPAP (≥ 40 mmHg) was an independent predictor of increased mortality in both one and five years after AMI; HR of 2.63 (95%, CI 1.19-5.84, P 0.017) and HR of 2.08 (95%, CI 1.25-3.44, P 0.005) respectively, whereas LVEF ≤ 45% did not show any statistically significant impact, neither on one- nor on five-year mortality (HR 1.3, 95% CI 0.6-2.9, p = 0.469) and (HR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8-2.4, p = 0.158), respectively. Elevated sPAP was an independent risk factor for one- and five-year all-cause mortality after AMI in very elderly patients and sPAP seems to be a better prognostic predictor for all-cause mortality than LVEF. The risk of all-cause mortality after AMI increased with increasing sPAP.

PMID:35871222 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-16210-6

J Psycholinguist Res. 2022 Jul 23. doi: 10.1007/s10936-022-09901-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent work has shown significant sublexical effects of long-term memory in nonword repetition (NWR) using a dichotomous consonant age of acquisition (CAoA) variable (Moore, 2018; Moore, Fiez, and Tompkins, 2017). Performance consistently decreased when stimuli comprised consonants acquired later versus earlier in speech development. To address potential confounds related to stimulus design and linearity, the purpose of this study was to test whether performance decreases as the CAoA value of stimuli increases in various linguistic tasks using a continuous CAoA variable. Thirty-one college students completed NWR and other linguistic tasks in which the stimuli varied in average CAoA values. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. After accounting for phonotactic probability, CAoA was a statistically significant predictor of performance across the models reported. The relationship was more complex in some of the models in which CAoA showed a statistically significant nonlinear relationship with the outcome measure. Results from this study support previous work showing that CAoA affects performance on NWR and other linguistic tasks that vary in their memory, auditory perceptual, and articulatory demands. Importantly, this line of work was extended here by demonstrating that the CAoA effect is robust across novel stimulus sets and study designs, and may be more complex than previously understood when using a dichotomous CAoA variable. Quadratic results suggest that the CAoA variable has a differential effect on performance for low to moderate CAoA values, but for higher CAoA values the effect is similarly negative. The nonlinear relationship between CAoA and measures of speed and accuracy on some of the tasks warrants further study into the complex relationship between various predictive factors that contribute to language performance.

PMID:35871210 | DOI:10.1007/s10936-022-09901-8

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jul 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-22113-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Healthcare waste (HCW) management is a challenge for establishments that generate this type of waste, especially hospitals, as they are one of the largest generators. A determining factor in waste management is the amount of waste generation, which must be used for management planning. This study aims to compile and evaluate information on the management of HCW generated in Belo Horizonte’s (located in Brazil) hospitals declared in their respective Healthcare Waste Management Plans (HCWMP) sent for approval by the municipality’s Superintendency of Urban Cleaning. Therefore, a comparative analysis of the hospitals’ generations in relation to their characteristics (nature, specialty, and size) was carried out, using the Kruskal-Wallis statistical test with post hoc in Nemenyi. For the study hospitals, a generation rate of 7.18 (6.17-8.23) kg·bed^-1·day^-1 was estimated, a generation rate close to that of developed countries. When comparing the generation according to the specialty of the hospitals, it was identified that the maternity hospitals (9.00 (7.05-10.90)) kg·bed^-1·day^-1 had a significantly higher generation rate than the low-complexity hospitals (4.75 (3.28-6.18)) kg·bed^-1·day^-1. It was also possible to demonstrate that the specialty and size of hospitals influence the structure available for waste storage. Finally, it can be observed that there are few treatment alternatives, with incineration and autoclaving being the technologies most commonly used by hospitals. It is expected that the results presented can serve as a reference for waste managers, in a context where there is little shared information on the subject.

PMID:35871194 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-22113-w

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jul 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-21710-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Najafgarh drain is the first major drain that joins the Yamuna River at Wazirabad in Delhi, India, and is known to contribute to the maximum pollution load to this river. The drain is originally an extension of the Sahibi River and was intentionally constructed as a canal to carry stormwater, but presently, it is carrying more of sewage, agricultural, and industrial effluents received through various small and large secondary drains. The present study has analyzed the water quality status of this interconnected system, i.e., the Najafgarh drain, its associated secondary drains, and the Yamuna River for physicochemical parameters (n = 16), microbiological parameter (n = 1), and heavy metal concentrations (n = 8). The analysis of the surface water samples collected during pre- and post-monsoon seasons showed that secondary drain discharges significantly impacted the water quality of the Najafgarh drain, which in turn affected the Yamuna River. Out of the eight selected secondary drains for this study, the Goyla dairy outlet came out as the most polluted site in terms of organic pollutants while the Basaidarapur drain was loaded with heavy metal contaminants. Statistical tools comprising hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), Pearson’s correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA) were further implemented on the water quality dataset for a better understanding of the possible sources of contamination for organic and inorganic pollutants in the selected sampling sites. The present study, thus, might help in providing key highlights to the policymakers for effective regulation and management of the point source discharges in Najafgarh drain, which will ultimately restrict its pollution loadings in Yamuna River, Delhi, and also help in the restoration of this important water body.

PMID:35871193 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-21710-z

Int Orthod. 2022 Jul 20:100664. doi: 10.1016/j.ortho.2022.100664. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate in vitro the effect of gastroesophageal reflux, before and after bonding of metal brackets on composite resin surface.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ten resin discs were divided into 5 groups (n=42), according to the time and medium of storage: 24h, 7- and -30 days in artificial saliva (AS) and hydrochloric acid (HCL). Twelve samples from each group were submitted to surface roughness analysis (n=60). The other one hundred and fifty samples were divided into 3 groups (n=50) according to the bonding material: Transbond™ XT (TXT), 3M™ Filtek™ Z250 (Z250) and 3M™ Filtek™ Z350 XT (Z350). After bonding, the samples were subdivided, one more time, into 5 groups (n=10) according to the time (24h, 7, and 30 days) and medium storage (AS, HCL). Following, the shear bond strength (SBS) analysis was accomplished. Erosive challenge was performed for 7 or 30 days, before and after bonding of orthodontic brackets, for 1min, 4 times a day. SBS was performed in a universal testing machine (Instron) at 0.5mm/min. SBS data were subjected to two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α=0.05).

RESULTS: TXT showed higher SBS values in all conditions (AS – 10.9±2.0 (24h); 10.5±4.9 (7 days); 9.4±2.2 (30 days); HCL – 11.5±3.7 (7 days); 8.0±2.1 (30 days)) – (P<0.0001). No statistical difference was detected in SBS between Z250 and Z350 composite resins (Z250 SBS: AS – 7.1±1.9 (24h), 5.2±1.8 (7 days), 4.5±1.5 (30 days); HCL – 5.2±2.3 (7 days), 5.0±2.5 (30 days)) – (P<=0.063)/Z350 SBS: AS – 7.4±1.0 (24h); 3.7±1.7 (7 days); 3.4±1.7 (30 days); HCL – 3.5±3.3 (7 days); 4.4±1.2 (30 days)) – (P<=0.167), respectively). Storage times and media did not statistically influence the SBS of TXT and Z250 composite resins (P>0.05), but did influence the Z350 SBS (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Regardless of time and storage medium, TXT was the best composite resin for bonding brackets. Furthermore, the erosive challenge did not lead to surface changes in the Z250 resin at 7 and 30 days, unlike the Z350 resin.

PMID:35871154 | DOI:10.1016/j.ortho.2022.100664

Pediatr Neonatol. 2022 Jul 8:S1875-9572(22)00143-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2022.03.020. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Well-appearing febrile young children discharged from the emergency department (ED) after medical assessment are still at risk for serious bacterial infections (SBI). The incidence of SBI and the effectiveness of laboratory tests in the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era remain unknown.

METHODS: We conducted a study using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance claims data from 2004 to 2014. Children aged 2-24 months discharged from the ED with a diagnosis compatible with fever without source (FWS) were enrolled.

RESULTS: The study identified 431,884 children from the ED with FWS. 13.53% of the children had revisits, 8.62% needed hospitalization and 1.57% developed SBI. Younger children had a higher SBI rate, but a lower revisit rate. The revisit rate was 12.22% for children aged 2-6 months, 13.61% for children aged 7-12 months and 13.77% for children aged 13-24 months (p < 0.0001). The SBI rate was 4.44% for children aged 2-6 months, 1.85% for children aged 2-6 months and 0.96% for children aged 13-24 months (p < 0.0001). Children with hemogram tests, compared to those without, had a higher revisit rate (16.30% vs. 13.15%, p < 0.0001), and a higher SBI rate in the children aged 13-24 months (1.30% vs. 0.92%, p < 0.0001); furthermore, children with urinalysis had a significantly higher revisit rate (14.42% vs. 13.24%, p < 0.0001) and higher SBI rate (2.10% vs. 1.40%, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Children with FWS aged 2-24 months who were discharged from ED after blood test and urinalysis were still at risk for SBI, especially those aged 2-6 months.

PMID:35871150 | DOI:10.1016/j.pedneo.2022.03.020

Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed). 2022 Jul 20:S2341-1929(22)00114-7. doi: 10.1016/j.redare.2022.07.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) or Apnea-Hypoapnea Syndrome (SAHS) is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders in the general population. It is associated with an increase in the prevalence of difficult orotracheal intubation and postoperative complications. The application of validated early detection tests, such the STOPbang test in English (STBC), is recommended; a test of high methodological quality, sensitivity and specificity in the early detection of SAHS in both surgical and general populations.

OBJECTIVE: The validation, translation, cross-cultural adaptation of the STBC to the Spanish population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The transcultural adaptation of the STBC to Spanish was carried out and a subsequent validation study with 77 consecutive patients was carried out. The statistical analysis evaluated the reliability, validity and feasibility of the translated and culturally adapted version.

RESULTS: 44% of women and 56% of men were included, with a mean age of 53.58 ± 12.88 years. The reliability results were: a Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient of 0.767, a Pearson correlation r = 0.777 (P < .001) and a Sperman correlation rho = 0.455 (P = .044). The feasibility of the study was 100%. Criterion validity was evaluated using the Kappa coefficient, which was 0.444. For a score >3 of the questionnaire adapted to Spanish, the results of sensitivity, specificity according to the different cut-off levels of the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) >5, >15, >30) were: Sensitivity 87%, 91% and 100% respectively and Specificity of 50%, 31% and 22%.

CONCLUSIONS: The STBC questionnaire translated, adapted and validated into Spanish, evaluated in the present study, is reliable and valid with respect to the original design of the questionnaire. It is a useful tool that is easy to understand and implement, which can be used rigorously to stratify surgical risk and carry out adequate perioperative planning of those patients at risk of SAHS.

PMID:35871142 | DOI:10.1016/j.redare.2022.07.001

J Math Biol. 2022 Jul 23;85(2):14. doi: 10.1007/s00285-022-01781-9.

ABSTRACT

RNA and protein concentrations within cells constantly fluctuate. Some molecular species typically have very low copy numbers, so stochastic changes in their abundances can dramatically alter cellular concentration levels. Such noise can be harmful through constrained functionality or reduced efficiency. Gene regulatory networks have evolved to be robust in the face of noise. We obtain exact analytical expressions for noise dissipation in an idealised stochastic model of a gene regulatory network. We show that noise decays exponentially fast. The decay rate for RNA molecular counts is given by the integral of the tail of the cumulative distribution function of the degradation time. For proteins, it is given by the slowest rate-limiting step of RNA degradation or proteolytic breakdown. This is intuitive because memory of the chemical composition of the system is manifested through molecular persistence. The results are obtained by analysing a non-standard tandem of infinite server queues, in which the number of customers present in one queue modulates the arrival rate into the next.

PMID:35871109 | DOI:10.1007/s00285-022-01781-9

Biol Sex Differ. 2022 Jul 23;13(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s13293-022-00452-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: KDM6A is a demethylase encoded by a gene with female-biased expression due to escape from X inactivation. Its main role is to facilitate gene expression through removal of the repressive H3K27me3 mark, with evidence of some additional histone demethylase-independent functions. KDM6A mutations have been implicated in congenital disorders such as Kabuki Syndrome, as well as in sex differences in cancer.

METHODS: Kdm6a was knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in F1 male and female mouse embryonic stem cells (ES) derived from reciprocal crosses between C57BL6 x Mus castaneus. Diploid and allelic RNA-seq analyses were done to compare gene expression between wild-type and Kdm6a knockout (KO) clones. The effects of Kdm6a KO on sex-biased gene expression were investigated by comparing gene expression between male and female ES cells. Changes in H3K27me3 enrichment and chromatin accessibility at promoter regions of genes with expression changes were characterized by ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq followed by diploid and allelic analyses.

RESULTS: We report that Kdm6a KO in male and female embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from F1 hybrid mice cause extensive gene dysregulation, disruption of sex biases, and specific parental allele effects. Among the dysregulated genes are candidate genes that may explain abnormal developmental features of Kabuki syndrome caused by KDM6A mutations in human. Strikingly, Kdm6a knockouts result in a decrease in sex-biased expression and in preferential downregulation of the maternal alleles of a number of genes. Most promoters of dysregulated genes show concordant epigenetic changes including gain of H3K27me3 and loss of chromatin accessibility, but there was less concordance when considering allelic changes.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals new sex-related roles of KDM6A in the regulation of developmental genes, the maintenance of sex-biased gene expression, and the differential expression of parental alleles.

PMID:35871105 | DOI:10.1186/s13293-022-00452-0

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2022 Jul 23. doi: 10.1038/s41409-022-01759-7. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:35871086 | DOI:10.1038/s41409-022-01759-7