Category: Statistics

Sleep Med. 2021 Dec 23;89:166-175. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.12.011. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are associated with numerous adverse health outcomes in adulthood. Our objective was to investigate associations between ACEs and sleep measures among 206 police officers from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress study.

METHODS: ACEs (independent variable) was assessed using the ACE questionnaire. Sleep measures were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and actigraphy. ANOVA/ANCOVA were used to investigate associations between ACEs and sleep measures.

RESULTS: The mean self-reported sleep duration was significantly lower among participants who reported ≥1 ACEs compared to those who reported no ACEs (6.0 ± 0.11 vs. 6.4 ± 0.14 h; multivariate-adjusted p = 0.035). Sleep efficiency was significantly lower among participants who reported ≥1 ACEs compared to those who reported none (mean = 88.7%, 95% CI = 87.7-89.6 vs. 90.2%, 89.2-91.2; unadjusted p = 0.031) but was slightly attenuated and lost statistical significance after multivariate-adjustment (88.8%, 87.8-89.7 vs. 90.1%, 88.9-91.1; p = 0.094). Compared to participants who reported no ACEs, those who reported ≥1 ACEs had a higher mean activity index score (36.9 ± 0.96 vs. 31.2 ± 1.25; multivariate-adjusted p = 0.001); a higher mean wake after sleep onset (WASO) (44.3 ± 2.24 vs. 35.3 ± 2.92 min; multivariate-adjusted p = 0.019); and a higher sleep fragmentation index (3.8 ± 1.65 vs. 3.3 ± 1.20 unadjusted p = 0.044 and 3.8 ± 0.13 vs. 3.3 ± 0.18; multivariate-adjusted p = 0.062). Among men (but not women) who reported ≥1 ACEs, self-reported sleep duration was significantly lower (5.9 ± 0.13 vs. 6.4 ± 0.15 h; multivariate-adjusted p = 0.025) and activity index was significantly higher (39.1 ± 1.3 vs. 33.2 ± 1.51; multivariate-adjusted p = 0.004) compared to those who reported no ACEs.

CONCLUSION: Exposure to ≥1 ACE was associated with worse sleep measures.

PMID:35026653 | DOI:10.1016/j.sleep.2021.12.011

Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2022 Jan-Dec;21:15330338211067309. doi: 10.1177/15330338211067309.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to identify miRNAs that were differentially expressed between complete hydatidiform moles (CHMs) that turned out to be gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) [GTN moles] and CHMs that regressed spontaneously after evacuation [remission moles]. The secondary aim was to study the profiles of miRNA expressions in CHMs. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on GTN moles and remission moles. We quantitatively assessed the expression of 800 human miRNAs from molar tissues using Nanostring nCounter. Results: From a pilot study, 21 miRNAs were significantly downregulated in GTN moles compared to the remission moles. Five of them (miR-566, miR-608, miR-1226-3p, miR-548ar-3p and miR-514a-3p) were downregulated for >4 folds. MiR-608 was selected as a candidate for further analysis on 18 CHMs (9 remission moles and 9 GTN moles) due to its striking association with malignant formation. MiR-608 expression was slightly lower in GTN moles compared to the remission moles, that is, 2.22 folds change [p = 0.063]. Conclusion: We identified 21 miRNAs that were differentially expressed between GTN moles and remission moles suggesting that miRNA profiles can distinguish between the two groups. Although not reaching statistically significant, miR-608 expression was slightly lower in GTN moles compared to remission moles.

PMID:35023789 | DOI:10.1177/15330338211067309

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2021 Aug 2;59(4):306-312.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease with an impact on the patient’s quality of life (QoL). Several tools have been designed to assess the clinical severity of the disease, such as the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), while specific instruments have been created to assess QoL, such as the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Quality of Life Index for Atopic Dermatitis (QoLIAD).

OBJECTIVE: To define which tool is the best to assess the QoL condition of adult patients with AD in relation to the EASI.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with AD (> 18 years old) were selected who agreed to complete the DLQI and QoLIAD questionnaires, as well as to have a dermatologic examination reported according to the EASI. Three simple linear regression models were fitted in order to quantify the association between EASI with DLQI and QoLIAD. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The CV condition model with the highest pseudo R2 value was considered to have the strongest association with EASI.

RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were included. Simple quantile regression models revealed a regression coefficient of 0.243 for DLQI (p = 0.002) and 0.252 for QoLIAD (p = 0.003). The pseudo R2 values were 0.15 for DLQI and 0.10 for QoLIAD, so DLQI had a higher correlation with EASI.

CONCLUSIONS: DLQI proved to be the best instrument to assess CV impairment in adult patients with AD.

PMID:35023698

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2021 Aug 2;59(4):322-329.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In Mexico 130,000 people live with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Heart conditions are the most frequent clinical problems; 45% of the deaths of patients in replacement therapy have a cardiac origin.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the probability of presenting acute heart failure (AHF) in patients with CKD in the Adult Emergency Department (AED) of a second-level hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Case-control study with 111 cases and 103 controls. Cases were defined as patients with CKD admitted to AED for AHF compared with controls: patients with CKD who were admitted for a different diagnosis. Binary logistic regression was performed and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined. A value of p ˂ 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: Arterial hypertension (OR 7.12, 95% CI 2.3-22.06, p = 0.01), the use of 3 or more antihypertensive drugs (OR 2.903, 95% CI 1.19-7.11, p = 0.02), the use of inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE inhibitors) (OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.78-10.09, p = 0.01), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.19-4.89, p = 0.014), diuretics (OR 42.87, 95% CI 9.02-203.63, p = 0.00), peritoneal dialysis (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.25-4.81, p = 0.009) and hemodialysis (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.20-0.79, p = 0.009) had statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: CKD patients with arterial hypertension, use of ACE inhibitors, ARBs, diuretics and peritoneal dialysis were more likely to present AHF, while patients who were on hemodialysis were less likely to presenting it.

PMID:35023711

Clin Lab. 2022 Jan 1;68(1). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210416.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Since December 2019, there has been a global outbreak of COVID-19. As of the end of July 2020, more than 600,000 deaths had been reported globally. The purpose of this paper is to further explore the application of non-invasive ventilation in severe COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to included 57 confirmed COVID-19 patients, among which 36 cases were severe. According to different oxygen inhalation methods, they were divided into non-invasive ventilator assisted ventilation group with 21 cases (group A) and 15 cases of nasal catheter oxygen inhalation group (group B). The data of respiration (RR), heart rate (HR), partial arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and oxygenation index (OI) before the treatment of noninvasive ventilator assisted ventilation or nasal catheter oxygen treatment at 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment of the 2 groups were collected and analyzed to determine whether the above indicators were statistically different in each time period.

RESULTS: After 24 hours of treatment with noninvasive ventilator assisted ventilation in group A, RR gradually decreased, PaO2 and OI were significantly higher than before treatment, while after 24 hours of treatment, PaO2, RR, HR and other indexes in group B showed no significant improvement, and OI increased gradually after 48 hours of treatment, with statistically significant difference compared with that before treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Early adoption of non-invasive ventilation can effectively improve the hypoxic state of patients with severe COVID-19. The combination of underlying diseases will not prolong the use of non-invasive ventilation.

PMID:35023696 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210416

Clin Lab. 2022 Jan 1;68(1). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210423.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The global COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has created great problems in healthcare systems throughout the world. Although, just like other respiratory tract viral infections, it is a disease with pathophysiological processes associated in general with cytokine production, inflammation, cell death, and redox imbalance or oxidative stress, very little is known about the pathology. Also, in recent studies, the effect of asprosin, which has an important and complex role on metabolism, on COVID-19 is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the level of asprosin, a new hormone that has the potential to affect many metabolic pathways such as glucose metabolism, in COVID-19 patients. In addition, it is to determine whether asprosin is associated with oxidative stress in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 30 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed with RT-PCR test and 30 healthy control subjects. The serum asprosin level was analyzed with ELISA, and total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels with colorimetric analysis.

RESULTS: The asprosin and TAS levels were determined to be statistically significantly decreased in the COVID-19 patients, and the TOS and OSI levels were significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS: It can be thought that a decrease in asprosin level in COVID-19 patients causes a decrease in metabolic activity, prevents sufficient energy production in patients, and therefore oxidative stress increases in patients.

PMID:35023691 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210423

Clin Lab. 2022 Jan 1;68(1). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210429.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: According to the latest data, the detection rate of echinococcus in Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County was 3.7%. The objective of this study is to further investigate the epidemiology of echinococcosis in Ho-boksar Mongol Autonomous County of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China and provide the scientific evidence for preventive and control measures.

METHODS: We performed ultrasound examination of 521 people in Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, and collected 508 serum samples, which were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed by t-test and multinomial logistic regression for risk factor analysis. We collected 126 pieces of herder’s dog feces and used double antibody sandwich method to detect the positive rate of fecal antigen.

RESULTS: The prevalence rate of human echinococcosis in this region was 4.4% (23/521), including 4.0% (21/521) for cystic echinococcosis (CE), 0.38% (2/521) for alveolar echinococcosis (AE). It was found that CE seropositivity was significantly different from gender, age, ethnic group, occupation, culture, area, income and awareness of this disease. The seroprevalence rate of people aged 41 – 65 (3.74%) was higher than of age 0 – 17 (0.197%) (p > 0.05); Female serological positive (4.921%) was higher than male (1.772%) (p > 0.005); Mongolian serological positive (5%) was higher than Han (0.197%) and Kazakhs (1.181%) (p > 0.05); The herdsmen serological positive (2.756% was higher than students (0.197%) (p > 0.05); The primary school students serological positive (2.559%) was higher than children before school 0% (p > 0.05); Chagankule serological positive (9.211%) was higher than Bayinaow (8.497%) (p > 0.05); The seroprevalence rate of people with income < 2,000 (3.74%) was higher than people with income over 5,000 (0.197%) (p > 0.05); The seroprevalence rate of people who had no disease awareness (4.724%) was higher than those who had awareness of Hydatid disease (1.969%) (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression show age, ethic group and awareness of station are the influence factors of epidemiology of echinococcosis. Canine fecal antigen positive rate was 50% (p > 0.05). Narenhebuke (48.78%) was higher than chahet (20.00%), but there is no statistical difference (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The surveillance data and our study results tend to be consistent that echinococcosis has an increasing trend in Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County. Efforts should be continued, in both animals and humans by increasing training campaigns and public awareness.

PMID:35023682 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210429

Clin Lab. 2022 Jan 1;68(1). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210520.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 affects millions of people worldwide so WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 11 March 2020. Since the vaccine is in the early trial phase and until it proves its efficacy, the need of finding alternative methods, which can help to curb this pandemic is urgent, so its prevention depends on standard infection control measures. This study’s aim is to assess the knowledge, awareness, and practice level of Taif population towards Corona Virus disease – 2019 (COVID-19) sterilization.

METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on 504 participants by administering a well-structured questionnaire comprising three sections including demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice among the general population in Taif governorate KSA, over a duration of three months from July until September 2020. The descriptive analysis was carried out for demographics and dependent variables using the statistical program for social sciences. The t-test was used to detect any relationship between knowledge and practice score percentage of the general population response with respect to their gender and level of education. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 504 respondents willingly participated in the survey, there is a highly significant difference in the knowledge score percentage in respondents aged between 41 – 60 years old in comparison to the age group < 20 – 40 years old also between urban residence in comparison to rural residence, and a highly significant difference in the knowledge and practice score percentage in post graduate respondents in comparison to undergraduate. In addition, there was a significant difference in the practice score percentage in respondents aged between 41 – 60 years old in comparison to age group < 20 – 40, and a highly significant difference was seen in the practice score percentage in respondents living in urban areas in comparison to rural areas.

CONCLUSIONS: The suggestion of this study was that knowledge and practice gaps among population, especially in the young age group, had to be covered by holding training programs through workshops or to include courses in the curriculum of ministry of health.

PMID:35023673 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210520

Clin Lab. 2022 Jan 1;68(1). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210517.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a huge threat to public health. Therefore, clinical laboratories must have the ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA. With the enhanced detection in Chongqing, many laboratories rapidly implemented assays for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 based on real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays. This study aimed to improve the detection capabilities of clinical laboratories by evaluating their performance for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection through the external quality assessment (EQA) programs of 2020 in Chongqing to contribute to the prevention of this epidemic.

METHODS: The EQA panels consist of eight positive samples with concentrations within 2.7 – 5.0 log10 copies/mL quantified by digital PCR and two negative samples with other human coronaviruses clinically validated by four commercial assays. All 21 samples from four rounds were distributed to the participating laboratories through cold-chain transportation. Depending on the results from each sample, laboratories were asked to use one or two assays to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Test results and raw data were also required. All data were evaluated, and the testing performance of commercial assays was compared. For the rounds, all laboratories used commercial assays.

RESULTS: Four rounds of EQA programs were performed, and the percent agreements of participants were 97.5% (39/40), 97.5% (39/40), 98.9% (88/89), 100.0% (131/131). Only three false negative results and one false positive result were obtained. Statistical significance in the Ct values of the ORF region and N region of SARS-CoV-2-RNA was found by using one-step, one-step concentration, and magnetic bead methods (p < 0.05). The Ct values of the ORF region of SARS-CoV-2-RNA in P5 and P6 were significantly different in the different batches of reagent A (p < 0.05). The ORF region of SARS-CoV-2-RNA was not detected in a batch of reagent B.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of laboratories in Chongqing have reliable diagnostic ability for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Our data emphasized the importance of EQA for monitoring the performance of clinical laboratories. However, clinical laboratories must first effectively evaluate the performance of reagents prior to their use.

PMID:35023672 | DOI:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210517

Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent. 2021 Dec 22. doi: 10.1922/EJPRD_2348Bashary07. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Porcelains and glass-ceramics have been used to produce CAD-milled veneers and crowns for zirconia copings and implant-abutments. This study evaluated the bondstrength of a polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network to zirconia using two adhesive cement systems: Panavia 21 and Multilink Automix. Lithium disilicate and feldspathic porcelain were also tested as reference CAD-On materials. Long beams (3x6x40 mm³) of zirconia and short beams (3x6x15 mm³) of the CAD-On materials were prepared. Zirconia and each CAD-On material were bonded in a crossbeam arrangement and subjected to a modified tensile bond-strength test. Half of the samples in each group (n=10) were tested 5 days after bonding (baseline) and the remaining (n=10) underwent aging (50,000 thermocycles at 5°C and 55°C) prior to bond-strength testing. The effects of material, cement, and aging on the tensile bond-strength were tested using a three-way ANOVA. The reference lithium disilicate/Multilink system showed no significant differences in bond strength compared to polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network and porcelain. The long-term retention of polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network was not statistically different compared to the baseline values and the two reference materials. With comparable bond strength between all materials, polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network is the favorable choice for CAD-On to zirconia copings and implant-abutments due to its superior resistance to fatigue fracture relative to porcelain.

PMID:35023665 | DOI:10.1922/EJPRD_2348Bashary07