Category: Statistics

Microsc Microanal. 2022 Jun 10:1-11. doi: 10.1017/S1431927622012065. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to reshape scientific inquiry and enable breakthrough discoveries in areas such as energy storage, quantum computing, and biomedicine. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), a cornerstone of the study of chemical and materials systems, stands to benefit greatly from AI-driven automation. However, present barriers to low-level instrument control, as well as generalizable and interpretable feature detection, make truly automated microscopy impractical. Here, we discuss the design of a closed-loop instrument control platform guided by emerging sparse data analytics. We hypothesize that a centralized controller, informed by machine learning combining limited a priori knowledge and task-based discrimination, could drive on-the-fly experimental decision-making. This platform may unlock practical, automated analysis of a variety of material features, enabling new high-throughput and statistical studies.

PMID:35686442 | DOI:10.1017/S1431927622012065

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2022 Jun;32(6):712-721. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2022.06.712.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To screen and identify key genes as potential biomarkers of lung cancer using bioinformatics analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, from August 2018 to April 2021.

METHODOLOGY: Independent microarray datasets (GSE85841 and GSE118370) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using GEO2R. Cytohubba was employed to identify the hub genes. Cellular component analysis, hierarchical clustering, and survival analyses of hub genes were performed via BiNGO, UCSC, and cBioPorta. A series of analyses of FGF2 and PIK3R1 were conducted using Oncomine.

RESULTS: A total of 463 DEGs were identified and 11 hub genes were determined. BDNF, FGF2, JAK2, NCAM1, CAV1, TJP1, and PIK3R1 may affect the survival probability and life expectancy of lung cancer patients, but the p-values were not statistically significant. FGF2 and PIK3R1 had the highest node degrees, 40 and 32 respectively. The expression of FGF2 and PIK3R1 were significantly lower in the 4 lung cancer data sets compared with non-lung cancer tissues. And the low expression of FGF2 and PIK3R1 is related to tumor grades, family history of cancer, multiple tumors present, and prior therapy of lung cancer.

CONCLUSION: Evaluation of FGF2 and PIK3R1 as potential biomarkers can contribute to the subsequent theoretical analysis of potential molecular mechanisms and development of lung cancer, so that the diagnosis of lung cancer may be more accurate, and it is possible to provide therapeutic and prognostic medicine targets.

KEY WORDS: Lung neoplasms, Differentially expressed genes, Bioinformatical analysis, Microarray analysis, biomarkers.

PMID:35686401 | DOI:10.29271/jcpsp.2022.06.712

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2022 Jun;32(6):773-778. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2022.06.773.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of systemic immune inflammation index (SII) in predicting disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients.

STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, from October 2020 to September 2021.

METHODOLOGY: This study included 106 PsA and 103 age and gender-matched healthy individuals. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and SII were calculated from complete blood count parameters. The PsA disease activity was assessed by using disease activity score-ESR and DAS-CRP based on 28 joints and the Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) scores. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to evaluate the utility of SII in determining disease activity in PsA patients.

RESULTS: The NLR, PLR, MLR, and SII were significantly higher in PsA patients compared to healthy control (p=0.013, p=0.019, p=0.012, and p=0.002, respectively). There were statistically significant positive correlations between the DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, and DAPSA and SII (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001 respectively). The SII values were significantly higher in PsA patients with moderate to severe disease activity according to DAPSA scores when compared to patients with remission or low disease activity (p<0.001). The cut-off value of 800×109/L was found for predicting disease activity in PsA.

CONCLUSION: SII may be an easy, practical, economical, and readily accessible tool for monitoring disease activity and the efficacy of treatment in PsA patients.

KEY WORDS: Blood cell count, Psoriatic arthritis, Systematic immune inflammation index (SII).

PMID:35686411 | DOI:10.29271/jcpsp.2022.06.773

J Vet Diagn Invest. 2022 Jun 10:10406387221101547. doi: 10.1177/10406387221101547. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) shows the distribution of protein fractions, helping clinicians to characterize some pathologic processes. Information is lacking in the literature about SPE alterations in dogs with chronic hepatitis (CH). Our aim was to describe SPE alterations in canine CH, to compare SPE results to histologic scores, and to study SPE trends during follow-up. We reviewed retrospectively case data from dogs with a histologic diagnosis of CH. Only cases with SPE, CBC, and serum chemistry results available were included. Dogs were divided into subgroups based on histologic necroinflammatory activity (A) and fibrosis (F) scores (groups A0-1 and A>1; groups F<2 and F≥2). We included 26 dogs; 15 had follow-up SPE. The most common SPE alterations at admission were hypoalbuminemia (n = 16), increases in α1-globulins (n = 11), γ-globulins (n = 11), α2-globulins (n = 8), β2-globulins (n = 7), and β1-globulins (n = 6), and decreased albumin:globulin (A:G) ratios (n = 20). Four of 11 dogs had β-γ bridging. Groups with higher A and F scores had higher β2-globulins. Eleven of 15 dogs with a post-treatment SPE had a decrease in γ-globulins and increase in A:G ratio compared to their T0, although there was no statistically significant difference. Although further studies are warranted, SPE may be useful for monitoring canine CH.

PMID:35686386 | DOI:10.1177/10406387221101547

Pain Pract. 2022 Jun 10. doi: 10.1111/papr.13137. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term effects of motor cortex stimulation (MCS) on central poststroke pain (CPSP) in patients with thalamic and extrathalamic stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 21 cases of CPSP patients who were treated with MCS. Pain intensity was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) before the operation and at follow-up assessments. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS: The average follow-up time was 65.43 ± 26.12 months. In the thalamus stroke group (n=11), the mean preoperative VAS score was 8.18 ± 0.75, the final mean follow-up VAS score was 4.0 ± 2.14. The mean total NPSI score at the last follow-up (20.45 ± 12.7) was significantly reduced relative to the pre-MCS score (30.27 ± 8.97, p<0.001). Similarly, the mean PSQI value at the last follow-up (12.63 ± 1.91) was significantly reduced compared with the pre-MCS value (16.55 ± 1.97, p<0.001). In the extrathalamic stroke group (n=11), the mean preoperative VAS score was 8.2 ± 0.79, the final mean follow-up VAS score was 6.6 ± 2.12. The mean total NPSI score before MCS was not statistically different from that at the last follow-up. There were no statistical differences in sleep quality before versus after surgery.

CONCLUSION: MCS has higher long-term efficacy in CPSP patients with stroke confined to the thalamus than in CPSP patients with stroke involving extrathalamic structures.

PMID:35686377 | DOI:10.1111/papr.13137

Prog Transplant. 2022 Jun 10:15269248221107040. doi: 10.1177/15269248221107040. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) donation relies on obtaining surrogate authorization. Yet, many donor professionals have limited experience discussing composite allograft donation. Using virtual and interactive elements, the eLearning program, Communicating Effectively about Donation for Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (CEaD-VCA), was developed to enhance the quality of donor professionals’ communication approach.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS: We tested the effectiveness of the eLearning program in improving donor professionals’ knowledge, preparedness, and confidence leading discussions with families.

DESIGN: Donor professionals who primarily obtain family authorization for solid organ and tissue donation were recruited from 2 regional Organ Procurement Organizations. The training was evaluated using a nonrandomized pre-post design. Participants completed an online survey with items assessing their knowledge, preparedness, and confidence for donation discussions. Pre- and post-training responses were compared using paired sample t-tests.

RESULTS: The sample included 42 donor professionals. The majority (71.4%) had at least 3 years of work experience, and over half (52.4%) had no experience discussing VCA donation with families. Post-training, significant increases in mean knowledge scores (6.4 pre to 7.0 post, P < 0.01) and mean self-reported preparation (6.6 pre to 7.9 post, P < 0.0001) were observed. There were significant increases in mean confidence scores for discussing face (6.2 pre to 7.9 post, P < 0.0001) and hand (6.2 pre to 8.0 post, P < 0.0001) transplants.

CONCLUSION: The CEaD-VCA program was effective in increasing donor professionals’ knowledge, preparation, and confidence when discussing donation, and holds potential for improving donor professional communication during donation discussions.

PMID:35686350 | DOI:10.1177/15269248221107040

Cureus. 2022 May 6;14(5):e24767. doi: 10.7759/cureus.24767. eCollection 2022 May.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Africa has surprisingly recorded better gains in containing the coronavirus spread than countries with the better health indices, such as the USA and UK. The low rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and death in Africa represents a puzzle with different biological and social theories such as low COVID-19 testing capacity, substantial young population, few old people, favourable climate, genetic admixture, infectious disease antibodies, and sound community health care systems proposed. We aimed to understand the COVID-19 preventive measures in a group of twenty-one systematically selected African countries that may explain the low burden of COVID-19 in Africa.

METHODS: Data (COVID-19, health, socioeconomic, and demographics indices) of twenty-one systemically selected African countries were retrieved from the various official country and multilateral organization sources such as Worldbank, and the United nations development Programme (UNDP). The extracted data were analyzed in three large groups: international travel restrictions, physical and social distancing, and movement restrictions (lockdown measures; curfews, partial or/and national lockdowns). Data cleaning, analysis (including Pearson correlation), and visualization were done with Microsoft Excel and Graph Pad Prism version 9 (https://www.graphpad.com/).

RESULT: Southern Africa had the greatest number of cases and deaths within the period studied compared to East Africa, which was the least COVID-19 affected sub-region (in terms of COVID-19 cases and deaths). We observed that coronary artery disease death rate was highly correlated with COVID-19 death density (number of COVID-19 deaths/total population) and similarly observed a correlation between the number of cases and deaths and number of in-country arrivals, pandemic preparedness (health security index), COVID-19 containment, and health index (not correlated with deaths). Finally, we noted that the most effective preventive strategy was the ‘use of a face mask’.

CONCLUSION: Africa had fewer COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 related deaths. Our data shows that the rapidity and stringency of COVID-19 preventive measures and government policies, and the low level of tourism in Africa compared to other countries (i.e., low COVID-19 seeding rate) may have been contributory to these favorable statistics. We hope these findings impact how the preparedness for pandemics can be enhanced to decrease the burden of preventable deaths and morbidity.

PMID:35686270 | PMC:PMC9170426 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.24767

J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jun 9. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002588. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association and potential mediators between rotating night shift work and serum lipid profiles in Chinese steelworkers.

METHODS: Different exposure metrics of night shifts collected through face-to-face personal interviews. Serum lipid profiles were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Generalized linear models and mediation analyses were used to analyze the main associations.

RESULTS: Compared with day workers, the total cholesterol level in night shift workers increased in those with 13-20 years of night shifts and in those with ≥4 nights/month average frequency of night shifts. The association between the duration of night shifts and the total cholesterol level was mediated by systolic and diastolic blood pressure and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS: Rotating night shift work for 13-20 years was associated with an increase in the total cholesterol levels in steelworkers, and blood pressure and BMI may be involved in the causal pathway.

PMID:35680643 | DOI:10.1097/JOM.0000000000002588

Zhonghua Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Apr 14;43(4):305-310. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2022.04.007.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics of LymphGen genotyping in a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) population and verify its prognostic value. Methods: We collected the clinical data and paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples of 155 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL in the People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from June 2014 to December 2020. DNA was extracted from tumor tissue and 475 gene mutations were detected by next-generation sequencing technology. We investigated the distribution of LymphGen genotyping in the DLBCL population, patients with different COO genotypes in the Xinjiang region, and their effects on PFS and OS. Results: ①Among 155 patients, 105 patients (67.7%) could be genotyped, including 14 (9.0%) for MCD, 26 (16.8%) for BN2, 10 (6.5%) for N1, 8 (5.2%) for EZB, 27 (17.4%) for A53, and 20 (12.9%) for ST2. ②The distribution of each gene subtype was different in different cell origin (COO) types (P=0.021) . ST2 was dominant in the germinal center type (GCB) group (28.8%) , and A53 and MCD were dominant in the non-GCB group (35.8%, 17.0%) . The BN2 type was the most common in both groups (23.1%, 26.4%) . ③There were statistically significant differences in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among different gene subtypes (P=0.031 and 0.005, respectively) . N1 and A53 had poor prognosis. The 2-year PFS and OS rates of N1 were both (21.3±18.4) %, and the 3-year PFS and OS rates of A53 were (60.9±11.3) %, (46.8±10.9) %, respectively. ④ The 3-year PFS and OS rates of MCD were the best, but the 5-year PFS and OS rates were worse. ⑤In the ROC curve of LymphGen genotyping for OS prediction, the AUC was 0.66, showing a certain degree of differentiation. Conclusion: LymphGen genotyping in the DLBCL population was different from previous reports and was of great significance for the prognosis of patients with DLBCL.

PMID:35680629 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2022.04.007

Clin Exp Optom. 2022 Jun 9:1-5. doi: 10.1080/08164622.2022.2081067. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is growing evidence for the involvement of sex hormones in the pathogenesis of keratoconus.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate serum androgen and prolactin levels in patients suffering from keratoconus.

METHODS: One hundred and two subjects were enrolled in the keratoconus (76 patients) and control (26 subjects) groups in a cross-sectional survey. Topographic evaluation of the cornea was undertaken for all enrolled participants. Serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), prolactin (PRL), luteinising hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured in all subjects.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics between the study groups. Significantly higher mean serum levels of DHEAS (3.71 ± 2.23 vs. 2.53 ± 1.77 µg/mL; P = 0.009) and T (6.18 ± 3.80 vs. 1.57 ± 1.76 ng/mL; P < 0.001) were observed in men with keratoconus compared to controls. In females, there were also higher mean levels of DHEAS (2.40 ± 1.57 vs. 2.18 ± 0.72 µg/mL; P = 0.355) and T (0.78 ± 0.96 vs. 0.32 ± 0.13 ng/mL; P < 0.001) in patients with keratoconus but only T level reached the statistically significant level of difference. Also, the mean serum PRL level was significantly higher in women with keratoconus compared to control (13.33 ± 17.85 vs. 4.63 ± 3.10 ng/mL; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between serum FSH and LH levels between study groups.

CONCLUSION: In patients with keratoconus, serum PRL in females and serum androgen levels in both genders are elevated.

PMID:35680612 | DOI:10.1080/08164622.2022.2081067