Category: Statistics

Psychiatr Pol. 2021 Jun 30;55(3):659-673. doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/110686. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the prevalence of risk factors associated with the course of pregnancy and childbirth and the condition of the child after birth in agroup of children and adolescents with ADHD and a control group.

METHODS: 205 unrelated children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and 106 primary and secondary school students aged 7-17. Method. Mothers of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, and those from the control group, were asked to provide a medical history in order to obtain data to supplement the Pregnancy and perinatal history questionnaire.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were demonstrated for the incidence rates of factors related to the course of pregnancy and childbirth such as: the occurrence of maternal diseases during pregnancy, especially in the I/II trimester, and other problems during pregnancy; exposure to stress and taking medication during pregnancy; smoking during pregnancy; mother’s age at childbirth, i.e., < 25 years or > 35 years; use of pain reducing substances during labor and problems with the child during the delivery;an APGAR score in the range of 5-7 points; the occurrence of neonatal jaundice necessitating treatment, especially replacement transfusion; physical anomalies or other congenital problems in the newborn, as well as adaptive problems necessitating neonatal oxygen administration or placement in an incubator.

CONCLUSIONS: Significantly more frequent occurrence of risk factors related to the course of pregnancy, childbirth and the child’s condition after birth in the ADHD group may indicate their potential role in the etiology of ADHD.

PMID:34460889 | DOI:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/110686

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Aug 30:ciab742. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab742. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) sequencing of plasma can identify presence of a pathogen in a host. This study evaluated the duration of pathogen detection by mcfDNA sequencing vs. conventional blood culture in patients with bacteremia.

METHODS: Blood samples from patients with culture-confirmed bloodstream infection were collected within 24 hours of the index positive blood culture and 48 to 72 hours thereafter. mcfDNA was extracted from plasma and next-generation sequencing (NGS) applied. Reads were aligned against a curated pathogen database. Statistical significance was defined with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons (p < 0.0033).

RESULTS: A total of 175 patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB; n=66), Gram-negative bacteremia (GNB; n=74), or non-infected controls (n=35) were enrolled. The overall sensitivity of mcfDNA sequencing compared to index blood culture was 89.3% (125/140) and the specificity was 74.3%. Among patients with bacteremia, pathogen specific mcfDNA remained detectable for significantly longer than conventional blood cultures (median 15 days vs. 2 days; p<0.0001). Each additional day of mcfDNA detection significantly increased the odds of metastatic infection (Odds Ratio [OR]: 2.89; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.53-5.46; p=0.0011).

CONCLUSIONS: Pathogen mcfDNA identified the bacterial etiology of bloodstream infection for a significantly longer interval than conventional cultures, and its duration of detection was associated with increased risk for metastatic infection. mcfDNA could play a role in the diagnosis of partially treated endovascular infections.

PMID:34460909 | DOI:10.1093/cid/ciab742

Psychiatr Pol. 2021 Jun 30;55(3):497-509. doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/126230. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess anxiety among Poles between the 35th and the 42nd day after the introduction of the state of epidemiological threat, and to compare the obtained results with global reports and the pre-pandemic state.

METHODS: The study was conducted on 2,457 respondents from Poland. The research methods comprised an original survey questionnaire, distributed via the Internet from 17 to 24 April 2020, assessing the sociodemographic state, and standardized psychometric tools: the Beck Depression Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) and Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life.

RESULTS: The results of 71% of the respondents indicated the presence of anxiety symptoms with various degrees of severity. In 45% of the respondents, the total score was ≥10 points, indicating signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Female respondents scored significantly higher than men. Place of residence, marital status and the type of performed work had no statistically significant impact on the level of anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the mental condition of Poles, resulting in increased anxiety, fear and concerns regarding the future. 71% of the respondents showed different degrees of anxiety severity, and 44% of them scored at least 10 points in the GAD-7 scale, which indicates the presence of signs of Generalized Anxiety. There is a great need to provide Poles with mental support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMID:34460877 | DOI:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/126230

Psychiatr Pol. 2021 Jun 30;55(3):607-620. doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/110478. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: As part of this study, a comparative analysis of the temporal and masseter muscle electrical activity at rest and during mandible excursion positions (protrusion, laterotrusion and maximal occlusion) was performed among patients aged 21 to 68 years.

METHODS: Each of three groups: opioid addicts, alcohol addicts and the control group – consisted of 30 individuals (90 individuals in total, including 37 females and 53 males). Electrodes were placed on the masseter venters and mandibular movements were executed: right/left lateral, protrusion, intercuspation, rest and MVC. Then the same routine was applied to the anterior parts of temporal muscles.

RESULTS: Based on EMG data in alcohol addicts, higher electrical activity of masseters and temporal muscles was observed during the mandible excursions, compared to the control group. In comparison of opiate addicts to healthy controls, no statistical significance was observed in electrical activity of masseter and temporal muscles.

CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the conducted research, a conclusion can be drawn that alcohol addiction significantly affects the function of the largest muscles of the stomatognathic system.

PMID:34460885 | DOI:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/110478

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 30;16(8):e0256402. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256402. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Burnout is common among university students and may adversely affect academic performance. Little is known about the true burden of this preventable malady among university students in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs).

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to systematically estimate the prevalence of burnout among university students in LMICs.

METHODS: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Embase from the inception of each database until February 2021. Original studies were included. No study design or language restrictions were applied. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using STATA version 16.0. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using Q-statistics and funnel plots, respectively.

RESULTS: Fifty-five unique articles, including a total of 27,940 (Female: 16,215, 58.0%) university students from 24 LMICs were included. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used in 43 studies (78.2%). The pooled prevalence of burnout was 12.1% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 11.9-12.3; I2 = 99.7%, Q = 21,464.1, p = < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of emotional exhaustion (feelings of energy depletion), cynicism (negativism), and reduced professional efficacy were, 27.8% (95% CI 27.4-28.3; I2 = 98.17%. p = <0.001), 32.6 (95% CI: 32.0-33.1; I2: 99.5%; p = < 0.001), and 29.9% (95% CI: 28.8-30.9; I2: 98.1%; p = < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Nearly one-third of university students in LMICs experience burnout. More studies are needed to understand the causes of burnout in this key population. There is a need to validate freely available tools for use in these countries.

PMID:34460837 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256402

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 30;16(8):e0256882. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256882. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The genotype main effects plus the genotype × environment interaction effects model has been widely used to analyze multi-environmental trials data, especially using a graphical biplot considering the first two principal components of the singular value decomposition of the interaction matrix. Many authors have noted the advantages of applying Bayesian inference in these classes of models to replace the frequentist approach. This results in parsimonious models, and eliminates parameters that would be present in a traditional analysis of bilinear components (frequentist form). This work aims to extend shrinkage methods to estimators of those parameters that composes the multiplicative part of the model, using the maximum entropy principle for prior justification. A Bayesian version (non-shrinkage prior, using conjugacy and large variance) was also used for comparison. The simulated data set had 20 genotypes evaluated across seven environments, in a complete randomized block design with three replications. Cross-validation procedures were conducted to assess the predictive ability of the model and information criteria were used for model selection. A better predictive capacity was found for the model with a shrinkage effect, especially for unorthogonal scenarios in which more genotypes were removed at random. In these cases, however, the best fitted models, as measured by information criteria, were the conjugate flat prior. In addition, the flexibility of the Bayesian method was found, in general, to attribute inference to the parameters of the models which related to the biplot representation. Maximum entropy prior was the more parsimonious, and estimates singular values with a greater contribution to the sum of squares of the genotype + genotype × environmental interaction. Hence, this method enabled the best discrimination of parameters responsible for the existing patterns and the best discarding of the noise than the model assuming non-informative priors for multiplicative parameters.

PMID:34460844 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256882

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 30;16(8):e0250332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250332. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

This study reports comprehensive clinical pathology data for hematology, serum, and plasma biochemistry reference intervals for 174 apparently healthy common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and reference values for 27 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), 13 beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), and 6 Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) in zoos and aquariums accredited by the Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Blood samples were collected as part of a larger study titled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study). Two blood samples were collected following a standardized protocol, and two veterinarian examinations were conducted approximately six months apart between July to November 2018 and January to April 2019. Least square means, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for hematology, serum, and plasma biochemical variables. Comparisons by age, gender, and month revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) for several variables. Reference intervals and values were generated for samples tested at two laboratories for up to 56 hematologic, serum, and plasma biochemical variables. To apply these data, ZooPhysioTrak, an iOS mobile software application, was developed to provide a new resource for cetacean management. ZooPhysioTrak provides species-specific reference intervals and values based on user inputs of individual demographic and sample information. These data provide a baseline from which to compare hematological, serum, and plasma biochemical values in cetaceans in zoos and aquariums.

PMID:34460864 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0250332

PLoS Genet. 2021 Aug 30;17(8):e1009713. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009713. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have uncovered a wealth of associations between common variants and human phenotypes. Here, we present an integrative analysis of GWAS summary statistics from 36 phenotypes to decipher multitrait genetic architecture and its link with biological mechanisms. Our framework incorporates multitrait association mapping along with an investigation of the breakdown of genetic associations into clusters of variants harboring similar multitrait association profiles. Focusing on two subsets of immunity and metabolism phenotypes, we then demonstrate how genetic variants within clusters can be mapped to biological pathways and disease mechanisms. Finally, for the metabolism set, we investigate the link between gene cluster assignment and the success of drug targets in randomized controlled trials.

PMID:34460823 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1009713

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 30;16(8):e0241512. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241512. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tobacco policies, including clean indoor air laws and cigarette taxes, increase smoking cessation in part by stimulating the use of cessation treatments. We explored whether the associations between tobacco policies and treatment use varies across sociodemographic groups.

METHODS: We used data from 62,165 U.S. adult participants in the 2003 and 2010/11 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) who reported smoking cigarettes during the past-year. We built on prior structural equation models used to quantify the degree to which smoking cessation treatment use (prescription medications, nicotine replacement therapy, counseling/support groups, quitlines, and internet resources) mediated the association between clean indoor air laws, cigarette excise taxes, and recent smoking cessation. In the current study, we added selected moderators to each model to investigate whether associations between tobacco polices and smoking cessation treatment use varied by sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and health insurance status.

RESULTS: Associations between clean indoor air laws and the use of prescription medication and nicotine replacement therapies varied significantly between racial/ethnic, age, and education groups in 2003. However, none of these moderation effects remained significant in 2010/11. Higher cigarette excise taxes in 2010/2011 were associated with higher odds of using counseling among older adults and higher odds of using prescription medications among younger adults. No other moderator reached statistical significance. Smoking cessation treatments did not mediate the effect of taxes on smoking cessation in 2003 and were not included in these analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic differences in associations between clean indoor air laws and smoking cessation treatment use have decreased from 2003 to 2010/11. In most cases, policies appear to stimulate smoking cessation treatment use similarly across varied sociodemographic groups.

PMID:34460821 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0241512

J Imaging. 2021 Aug 20;7(8):155. doi: 10.3390/jimaging7080155.

ABSTRACT

Medical image analysis research requires medical image datasets. Nevertheless, due to various impediments, researchers have been described as “data starved”. We hypothesize that implicit evolving community standards require researchers to use ever-growing datasets. In Phase I of this research, we scanned the MICCAI (Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention) conference proceedings from 2011 to 2018. We identified 907 papers involving human MRI, CT or fMRI datasets and extracted their sizes. The median dataset size had grown by 3-10 times from 2011 to 2018, depending on imaging modality. Statistical analysis revealed exponential growth of the geometric mean dataset size with an annual growth of 21% for MRI, 24% for CT and 31% for fMRI. Thereupon, we had issued a forecast for dataset sizes in MICCAI 2019 well before the conference. In Phase II of this research, we examined the MICCAI 2019 proceedings and analyzed 308 relevant papers. The MICCAI 2019 statistics compare well with the forecast. The revised annual growth rates of the geometric mean dataset size are 27% for MRI, 30% for CT and 32% for fMRI. We predict the respective dataset sizes in the MICCAI 2020 conference (that we have not yet analyzed) and the future MICCAI 2021 conference.

PMID:34460791 | DOI:10.3390/jimaging7080155