Category: Statistics

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-17874-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The presence of microplastics in the sea is a global issue widely studied and discussed in the last years. The whole marine ecosystem is now considered at high risk because of their presence and abundance in every studied environment all over the world because polymeric materials commonly constitute the main raw materials in contemporary industrial production. The presented study reports the results obtained from surface seawater monitoring of two sampling transects in the coastal area close to the Venice Lagoon (Italy) inlet, investigated in order to get new information about the presence and relevance of plastic pollution. Plastic particles collected by means of a manta net (0.3-mm mesh size) have been characterized in detail by utilizing a multi-technique approach in order to discriminate them by typology, dimension, colour, spatial density and chemical composition. Such information permitted the individuation of subgroups (specific groups) of plastic micro-debris in this Northern Adriatic area.

PMID:35066833 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-17874-9

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-18134-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mangroves are distributed in coastal and estuarine regions and are characterized as a sink for terrestrial pollution. It is believed that complex interactions between environmental factors and microbial communities exist in mangrove swamps. However, little is known about environment-microbe interactions. There is a need to clarify some important environmental factors shaping microbial communities and how environmental factors interact with microbial assemblages in mangrove swamps. In the present study, physicochemical and microbial characteristics in four mangrove reserves (named ZZW, Qin, Bei, and GQ) in the North Beibu Gulf were determined. The interactions between environmental factors and microbial assemblages were analyzed with statistical methods in addition to CCA and RDA. Higher concentrations of sulfate (SO₄^2--S) and Fe but lower concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and NO₃^–-N were detected in ZZW and Qin. Nutrient elements (NO₃^–-N, NH₄⁺-N, organic matter (OM), SO₄^2--S, Fe, and TP) were more important than heavy metals for determining the microbial assemblages, and NO₃^–-N was the most important factor. NO₃^–-N, SO₄^2--S, TP, and Fe formed a significant co-occurrence network in conjunction with some bacterial taxa, most of which were Proteobacteria. Notably, comparatively elevated amounts of sulfate-reducing bacteria (Desulfatibacillum, Desulfomonile, and Desulfatiglans) and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Thioprofundum and Thiohalophilus) were found in ZZW and Qin. The co-occurrence network suggested that some bacteria involved in sulfate reduction and sulfur oxidation drive the transformation of P and N, resulting in the reduction of P and N in mangrove swamps. Through the additional utilization of multivariate regression tree (MRT) and co-occurrence network analysis, our research provides a new perspective for understanding the interactions between environmental factors and microbial communities in mangroves.

PMID:35066825 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-18134-6

Ophthalmol Ther. 2022 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s40123-021-00448-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Switching to an alternative anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent has been suggested for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) who have a suboptimal response to initial therapy. However, post hoc analyses of some studies have shown that continuation of initial anti-VEGF therapy is, in many cases, associated with stable visual outcomes or gradual gains.

METHODS: This ARIES (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02581891) post hoc analysis describes outcomes in patients with treatment-naïve nAMD receiving treat-and-extend intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) for 104 weeks, who were identified as meeting criteria for an early hypothetical switch. Patients were categorized retrospectively according to six criteria (presence of central intraretinal and/or subretinal fluid at week 8 or 24, with/without a next planned treatment interval ≤ 8 weeks, and with/without gains in best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] ≤ 5 letters [with absolute BCVA < 70 letters]).

RESULTS: Hypothetical switch criteria were largely met due to the presence of central subretinal fluid rather than intraretinal fluid. Depending on the criterion, 8-46% of patients were considered to be hypothetical switchers. BCVA outcomes were not worse in the hypothetical switchers, irrespective of criteria. Using criteria of intraretinal/subretinal fluid at week 24 and a next planned treatment interval ≤ 8 weeks, mean changes in BCVA (letters) from baseline in hypothetical switchers and non-switchers were: + 6.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.4, 8.8) and + 6.6 (95% CI 4.7, 8.6), respectively, at week 24; + 8.2 (95% CI 5.0, 11.3) and + 7.5 (95% CI 5.3, 9.7), respectively, at week 52; and + 5.7 (95% CI 1.3, 10.1) and + 3.4 (95% CI 0.1, 6.7), respectively, at week 104.

CONCLUSIONS: In newly diagnosed nAMD, there appears little rationale for early switching from IVT-AFL since, with continuous proactive treatment, comparable visual gains can be achieved by patients meeting hypothetical switch criteria compared with those who initially respond well on a treat-and-extend regimen. However, further prospective studies are needed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02581891. Video summary of the ARIES Post Hoc Analysis “Hypothetical Switch of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration” (MP4 54283 KB).

PMID:35066801 | DOI:10.1007/s40123-021-00448-w

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-18192-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are still a serious public health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people’s lifestyles and quality of life. Besides, the prevalence of IPIs is directly associated with environmental sanitation, overcrowding, and personal hygiene. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of IPIs among patients referred to hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences by reviewing the available data of hospital information system database in the pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic. The total data of 13,686 patients referred to hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, southern Iran were collected from March 2019 to March 2021. The overall prevalence of IPIs was found to be 4.4%, and Blastocystis spp. was the most common parasite. The prevalence of protozoan parasites (4.4%) was significantly higher than helminthic parasites (0.04%, P < 0.001). A significant association was observed between IPIs with age, gender, and year (P < 0.05). The prevalence of IPIs among those referred to hospitals before the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than those referred to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic (5.8% vs 2.8%), and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The odds of infection among people investigated during the COVID-19 pandemic was about 40% lower than those investigated before the COVID-19 pandemic (AOR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.49-0.73, P < 0.001). Our results showed that the prevalence of IPIs has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Improved sanitation, personal hygiene, and health education can be effective in reducing parasitic infections in the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMID:35066821 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-021-18192-w

Obes Surg. 2022 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s11695-021-05854-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to assess long-term opioid use following bariatric surgery in patients on preoperative narcotics.

METHODS: We evaluated patients utilizing preoperative opioids (OP) who underwent primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) from 2013 to 2020. Patients were propensity-matched to those without preoperative opioid use (NOP) by demographics and comorbidities. Our objectives were to compare opioid use at 1 and 3 years after surgery and evaluate perioperative outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 806 patients, matched 1:1 were evaluated, with 82.7% being females. Mean age was 46.5 years in the OP and 45.6 years in the NOP (p = 0.0018), preoperative BMI was 45.8 in the OP and 46.1 in the NOP (p = 0.695). All patients were followed up for 1 year. In the OP, 156 (38.7%) patients were taking opioids 1 year after surgery as opposed to 27 (6.7%) in the NOP (p < 0.0001). Three years after surgery, 74 (37.5%) patients in the OP and 27 (14.4%) in the NOP were taking outpatient opioids (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between OP and NOP groups in terms of readmissions (9.4% vs. 5.7% p = 0.06), reinterventions (3.7 vs. 1.7% p = 0.13), reoperations (3.5% vs. 1.5% p = 0.11), or emergency room visits (8.9% vs. 7.2% p = 0.44). There were no mortalities.

CONCLUSION: Most patients requiring preoperative opioids can be weaned off after bariatric surgery. Enhanced recovery pathways are key to obtaining these results. Preoperative opioid use is not associated with increased complications compared to opioid-naïve patients.

PMID:35066783 | DOI:10.1007/s11695-021-05854-4

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jan 23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-18552-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Groundwater pollution of the watershed is mainly influenced by the multifaceted interactions of natural and anthropogenic processes. In this study, classic chemical and multivariate statistical methods were utilized to assess the groundwater quality and ascertain the potential contamination sources affecting the groundwater quality of Galma sub-watershed in a tropical savanna. For this purpose, the data set of 18 groundwater quality variables covering 57 different sampling boreholes (BH) was used. The groundwater samples essentially contained the cations in the following order of dominance: Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺. However, the anions had HCO₃^– > Cl^– > SO₄^-2 > NO₃^– respectively. The hydrochemical facies classified the groundwater types of the sub-watershed into mixed Ca-Mg-Cl type of water, which means no cations and anions exceeds 50%. The second dominant water type was Ca-Cl. The Mg-HCO₃ water type was found in BH 9, and Na-Cl water type in BH 29 of the studied area. The weathering of the basement rocks was responsible for the concentrations of these ions in the groundwater chemistry of the sub-watershed. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) grouped the groundwater samples (boreholes) into five clusters that are statistically significant regarding the similarities of groundwater quality characteristics. The principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two major principal components explained around 65% of the variance and suggested the natural and anthropogenic processes especially the agricultural pollutants including synthetic fertilizers, and leaching of agricultural waste as the main factors affecting the groundwater quality. The integrated method proved to be efficient and robust for groundwater quality evaluation, as it guaranteed the precise assessment of groundwater chemistry in the sub-watershed of the tropical savanna. The findings of this investigation could be useful to the policy makers for developing effective groundwater management plans for the groundwater resources and protection of the sub-watershed.

PMID:35066782 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-18552-0

Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Dec 17;53:201-207. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.12.032. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between potential emergency department (ED)-based modifiable risk factors and subsequent development of delirium among hospitalized older adults free of delirium at the time of ED stay.

METHODS: Observational cohort study of patients aged ≥75 years who screened negative for delirium in the ED, were subsequently admitted to the hospital, and had delirium screening performed within 48 h of admission. Potential ED-based risk factors for delirium included ED length of stay (LOS), administration of opioids, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, or anticholinergics, and the placement of urinary catheter while in the ED. Odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS: Among 472 patients without delirium in the ED (mean age 84 years, 54.2% females), 33 (7.0%) patients developed delirium within 48 h of hospitalization. The ED LOS of those who developed delirium was similar to those who did not develop delirium (312.1 vs 325.6 min, MD -13.5 min, CI -56.1 to 29.0). Patients who received opioids in the ED were as likely to develop delirium as those who did not receive opioids (7.2% vs 6.9%: OR 1.04, CI 0.44 to 2.48). Patients who received benzodiazepines had a higher risk of incident delirium, the difference was clinically but not statistically significant (37.3% vs 6.5%, OR 5.35, CI 0.87 to 23.81). Intermittent urinary catheterization (OR 2.05, CI 1.00 to 4.22) and Foley placement (OR 3.69, CI 1.55 to 8.80) were associated with a higher risk of subsequent delirium. After adjusting for presence of dementia, only Foley placement in the ED remained significantly associated with development of in-hospital delirium (adjusted OR 3.16, CI 1.22 to 7.53).

CONCLUSION: ED LOS and ED opioid use were not associated with higher risk of incident delirium in this cohort. Urinary catheterization in the ED was associated with an increased risk of subsequent delirium. These findings can be used to design ED-based initiatives and increase delirium prevention efforts.

PMID:35065526 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2021.12.032

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2022 Jan 15;213:107133. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107133. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to reveal the clinical significance of the platelet reactivity unit (PRU) and the efficacy of adjunctive cilostazol and its association with thromboembolic and microembolic events after coil embolization for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 427 patients with UIAs who underwent endovascular treatment between July 2011 and June 2014. When clopidogrel resistance was confirmed via PRU assay after dual antiplatelet medication (aspirin plus clopidogrel) administration for 5 days, triple antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol was administered (Group I, 274 patients). The other group was placed on standard dual antiplatelet therapy (Group II, 153 patients). All patients underwent magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging within 2 days after endovascular coiling.

RESULTS: No significant associations with the occurrence of thromboembolic and microembolic events were found between the groups. The occurrence of thromboembolic and microembolic events showed no statistical difference between groups I and II (p = 0.725 for thromboembolic events and p = 0.109 for microembolic events). Also, the PRU value and the occurrence of microembolic events, using a PRU cutoff value of 240, showed no statistical difference (p = 0.114 in group I and 0.064 in group II). There was significant increase in microembolic events after the use of a stent-assisted endovascular procedure. As the PRU value increased, there was a trend toward an increase in the mean number of microembolic lesions without statistical significance.

CONCLUSION: Even though there is a presumed anti-thromboembolic effect for clopidogrel resistance in other literature, the clinical efficacy of adjustment of additional cilostazol for endovascular coiling of unruptured aneurysms may be limited due to the unspecified cutoff value of the PRU assay for evaluating the resistance.

PMID:35065532 | DOI:10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107133

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Jan 19;231:113214. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113214. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bioremediation of contaminated soil has received increasing attention, and the effects of antibiotic residues on the soil ecological environment are a current research hotspot. Earthworms are the first choice of soil organisms to indicate the degree of soil pollution, and their detoxification mechanism after antibiotic stress must be further explored. Taking Eisenia fetida as the research object, an antibiotic (tetracycline) stress test was carried out in sterile artificial soil. The stress concentrations were set at 0, 0.3, 3, 30, 300 and 600 mg/kg. The ECO method was used to cultivate microbes in earthworms and soil. The carbon source utilization intensity algorithm developed by our team was used for data statistics, and a factor analysis model was constructed to explore the succession process of microbes of earthworms in vivo and in vitro under tetracycline stress. The results showed that there were four processes in the evolution of microbes under short-term tetracycline stress: at 1-3 days, the microbes in worms played a leading role; at 4-5 days, the microbes in the worms and the soil microbes jointly resisted TET stress; after 6-8 days of stress, the microbes in worms still played the main role, but their role was weakened; and after 9-10 days, soil microbes played a leading role, and tolerant microbes appeared. Under long-term stress, the microbes of earthworms in vivo and in vitro were obvious different, and there may be no regulatory relationship. And the factor analysis model is suitable for the analyse of the changes in microbial communities in vivo and in vitro under TET stress. The research results provide a reference method and model basis for the bioremediation of antibiotic-contaminated soil and the study of earthworm detoxification mechanisms, and help agricultural development.

PMID:35065502 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113214

Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Jan 14;53:196-200. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.01.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exacerbations of acute asthma are frequent presentations to the Emergency Department (ED) and contribute to ED overcrowding and healthcare cost. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether ED clinicians are implementing secondary asthma prevention measures prior to discharging patients after an acute asthma exacerbation and also to determine whether ED clinicians are able to correctly demonstrate how to use an asthma metered dose inhaler (MDI) device.

METHODS: Consenting doctors employed at four EDs situated in the Gauteng province of South Africa were asked to complete a questionnaire and thereafter demonstrate the technique of using an MDI device. Collected data was presented using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Eighty-six doctors were included in the study. Of these, 18 (20.9%) routinely checked that inhaler technique was correct, 50 (58.1%) routinely enquired regarding adherence to their asthma treatment, 8 (9.3%) routinely informed patients of the side effects of asthma medication, 16 (18.6%) routinely provided patients with a written asthma action plan, 7 (8.1%) routinely evaluated for the presence of concurrent allergic rhinitis and 53 (61.6%) routinely counselled patients regarding smoking cessation. With regards to correctly demonstrating how to use an MDI device, only 23 (26.74%) physician participants performed all eight steps correctly.

CONCLUSION: This study indicates that secondary asthma prevention measures are not adequately addressed by clinicians prior to discharging patients from the ED after an acute asthma attack. It is recommended that ED clinicians are educated with regards to the importance of these measures.

PMID:35065525 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2022.01.012