Category: Statistics

Cancer Invest. 2021 Dec 9:1-20. doi: 10.1080/07357907.2021.2016803. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In cancer patients, circulating monocytes show functional alterations. Since monocytes are precursors of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), TAMs ensuring tumor viability are potentially replenished through the recruitment of monocytes with specific properties. We demonstrated that locoregional metastasis and circulating factors, such as CD45-EpCAM + CD44 + CD24-/low circulating tumor cells, and serum MCP-1 and HMGB1 were statistically associated with modulation of the monocyte features in breast cancer patients. The count of circulating CD45-EpCAM + cells correlated with CD68+, CD163 + monocyte in blood, and with density of CD68 + TAM in breast cancer tumors. Overall, the relationship between monocytes and TAMs is mediated by the tumor in breast cancer patients.

PMID:34882039 | DOI:10.1080/07357907.2021.2016803

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021 Dec 9:1-7. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2021.2014810. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While research has examined the mental health of general population samples of postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic’s impact on women seeking treatment for postpartum depression (PPD) is not well known. This study compared levels of depression and anxiety, the quality of social relationships, and the temperament of infants of treatment-seeking mothers in Ontario, Canada prior to and during the pandemic.

METHODS: Mothers with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores ≥10 and seeking treatment for PPD prior to COVID-19 (n = 100) were compared to those who sought treatment during the pandemic (n = 120). Mothers self-reported symptoms of depression, worry/anxiety, partner relationship quality, social support, as well as aspects of the mother-infant relationship and infant temperament.

RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in symptoms of depression, anxiety, or the quality of social relationships between women seeking treatment for PPD before or during the pandemic. However, mothers reported poorer relationships with their infants, and there was evidence of more negative emotionality in their infants during COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic may not have worsened depression, anxiety, relationships with partners, or social support in mothers seeking treatment for PPD, but appears to have contributed to poorer mother-infant interactions and maternal reports of more negative emotionality in their infants. These findings highlight the importance of identifying women with possible PPD, supporting mother-infant interactions, and monitoring their infants during COVID-19 and beyond.

PMID:34882058 | DOI:10.1080/14767058.2021.2014810

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021 Dec 9:1-11. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2021.2012419. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Some earlier studies reported higher risk of COVID-19 mortality in patients with vitamin D deficiency, while some others failed to find such as association. Due to inconsistences between earlier meta-analyses and needs for an updated study, we conducted current systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between vitamin D status and risk of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality among observational studies. We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science up to 27 July 2021. We conduct our systematic review and meta-analysis in according to PRISM statement. Two authors independently screened studies and extracted data from the relevant ones. All types of observational studies about the association between vitamin D status and in hospital COVID-19 mortality were included. Data was pooled using a random-effect model. P-values ˂ 0.05 was assumed as statistically significant. We identified 13 observational studies. Pooling 9 studies which categorized vitamin D level, a significant positive relationship was found between vitamin D deficiency and risk of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.11; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.03, 4.32). All subgroup analyses also showed significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and risk of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. In the other analysis, pooling data from 5 studies in which vitamin D level was entered as a continues variable, we found an inverse significant association between each unit increment in serum vitamin D concentrations and risk of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89, 0.99). We found a significant direct association between vitamin D deficiency and elevated risk of COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. Moreover, each unit increment in serum vitamin D levels was associated to significant reduction in risk of COVID-19 mortality. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.

PMID:34882024 | DOI:10.1080/10408398.2021.2012419

Future Oncol. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.2217/fon-2021-0470. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Aims: The clinical significance of nonvisualized sentinel lymph nodes (non-vSLNs) is unknown. The authors sought to determine the incidence of non-vSLNs on lymphoscintigraphy, the identification rate during surgery, factors associated with non-vSLNs and related axillary management. Patients & methods: A total of 30,508 consecutive SLN procedures performed at a single institution from 2000 to 2017 were retrospectively studied. Associations between clinicopathological factors and the identification of SLNs during surgery were assessed. Results: Non-vSLN occurred in 525 of the procedures (1.7%). In 73.3%, at least one SLN was identified intraoperatively. Nodal involvement was only significantly associated with SLN nonidentification (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with non-vSLN had an increased risk for SLN metastasis. The detection rate during surgery was consistent, reducing the amount of unnecessary axillary dissection.

PMID:34882010 | DOI:10.2217/fon-2021-0470

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021 Dec 9:1-17. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2021.2012641. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

It has been posited that Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) intake may affect lipid profile. However, its proven effects on lipid profile are unclear, as clinical studies on this topic have produced inconsistent results. To fill this gap in knowledge, this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) sought to evaluate the effects of artificial- and stevia-based sweeteners consumption on lipid profile markers. To identify eligible RCTs, a systematic search up to April 2021 was completed in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and EMBASE, using relevant keywords. A random-effect model was utilized to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence (95% CI) for TG, TC, and LDL. On the other hand, a fixed-effect model was used to estimate the WMD and 95% CI for HDL. Fourteen RCTs were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed that NNS did not affect TG (WMD:-1.31, 95% CI:-5.89, 3.27 mg/dl), TC (WMD:-2.27,95% CI:-7.61,3.07 mg/dl), LDL (WMD:1,95% CI: -2.72, 4.71 mg/dl), and HDL (WMD:0.06, 95% CI:-0.62,0.73 mg/dl). Subgroup analysis showed that NNS may be related to a small, but statistically significant, increase in LDL (WMD:4.23, 95% CI:0.50,7.96 mg/dl) in subjects with normal levels of LDL (<100 mg/dl). We found that consumption of artificial- and stevia-based sweeteners is not associated with lipid profile changes in adults. This study has been registered at PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021250025).

PMID:34882023 | DOI:10.1080/10408398.2021.2012641

J Wound Care. 2021 Dec 1;30(Sup12):S14-S20. doi: 10.12968/jowc.2021.30.Sup12.S14.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of two commonly used moist dressings, Aquacel and Aquacel Foam (both ConvaTec Ltd., UK), in managing split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor site wounds.

METHOD: Patients undergoing STSG harvesting for reconstruction were eligible for this quasi-experimental study. After reconstruction surgery, the Aquacel (A) or Aquacel Foam (AF) dressings were applied on the donor site wound. The STSG donor site was assessed by two trained research nurses daily. Clinical outcomes including pain on dressing removal, use of intravenous analgesics, signs and symptoms of wound infection, incidence of exudate leakage and percentage healed were recorded in a standardised form. Cost of the dressing change was retrieved from the hospital billing system.

RESULTS: Of 50 patients recruited, 25 received dressing A and 25 received the AF dressing for their STSG donor site wound. The average pain score on dressing removal was significantly lower in the AF dressing group compared with the A dressing group (0.8±0.8 versus 3.1±1.5, respectively (p=0.04)). Regression analysis demonstrated that compared with dressing A, the AF dressing was associated with a lower average pain score (beta: -2.27, standard error: 0.33; p<0.001), lower likelihood of pro re nata (PRN) intravenous analgesic use (odds ratio (OR)=0.21, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.71; p=0.01) and lower likelihood of exudate leakage (OR=0.11, p=0.01). The differences in time to wound healing, infection and cost were not statistically significant between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: In this study, the AF dressing demonstrated superior performance in pain response on dressing removal for STSG donor site wounds compared with dressing A. Large-scale randomised controlled trials should be conducted to confirm the findings.

PMID:34882003 | DOI:10.12968/jowc.2021.30.Sup12.S14

Psychol Methods. 2021 Dec 9. doi: 10.1037/met0000415. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Tendeiro and Kiers (2019) provide a detailed and scholarly critique of Null Hypothesis Bayesian Testing (NHBT) and its central component-the Bayes factor-that allows researchers to update knowledge and quantify statistical evidence. Tendeiro and Kiers conclude that NHBT constitutes an improvement over frequentist p-values, but primarily elaborate on a list of 11 “issues” of NHBT. We believe that several issues identified by Tendeiro and Kiers are of central importance for elucidating the complementary roles of hypothesis testing versus parameter estimation and for appreciating the virtue of statistical thinking over conducting statistical rituals. But although we agree with many of their thoughtful recommendations, we believe that Tendeiro and Kiers are overly pessimistic, and that several of their “issues” with NHBT may in fact be conceived as pronounced advantages. We illustrate our arguments with simple, concrete examples and end with a critical discussion of one of the recommendations by Tendeiro and Kiers, which is that “estimation of the full posterior distribution offers a more complete picture” than a Bayes factor hypothesis test. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34881956 | DOI:10.1037/met0000415

Health Psychol. 2021 Oct;40(10):727-736. doi: 10.1037/hea0001112.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Health psychology, as an applied area, emphasizes bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners. While rigorous research relies on advanced statistics to illustrate an underlying psychological process or treatment effectiveness, these statistics have less immediate applicability to practitioners who require knowing the relative magnitude in practical benefits. One way to reduce this research-practice gap is to translate reported effects into nontechnical language whose focus is on the likelihood of benefiting an individual. Common Language Effect Size (CLES) indicators offer a more intuitive way to understand statistical results from research but may not be widely known to researchers.

METHOD: This article synthesizes the literature of available CLES indicators and how they overcome limitations from traditional effect sizes. To promote adoption, we summarize all existing measures in a compact table, which includes their analogous effect size, context, interpretation, calculation, and citation.

RESULTS: We present evidence describing the effectiveness of CLES indicators at facilitating research interpretability compared to traditional effect size indicators. We discuss some limitations of CLES indicators and reasons that they are not used in psychology. Finally, this review offers some future directions for the use and study of CLES indicators moving forward.

CONCLUSIONS: In general, CLES indicators are tools that can benefit health psychology because of their shared goals to aid practitioners in understanding research findings and making informed decisions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34881941 | DOI:10.1037/hea0001112

Psychotherapy (Chic). 2021 Dec;58(4):591-601. doi: 10.1037/pst0000383.

ABSTRACT

Online guided self-help may be an effective and scalable intervention for symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among university students in India. Based on an online screen for GAD administered at 4 Indian universities, 222 students classified as having clinical (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria) or subthreshold (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, Fourth Edition, score ≥ 5.7) GAD were randomly assigned to receive either 3 months of guided self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy (n = 117) or a waitlist control condition (n = 105). Guided self-help participants recorded high program usage on average across all participants enrolled (M = 9.99 hr on the platform; SD = 20.87). Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that participants in the guided self-help condition experienced significantly greater reductions than participants in the waitlist condition on GAD symptom severity (d = -.40), worry (d = -.43), and depressive symptoms (d = -.53). No usage variables predicted symptom change in the guided self-help condition. Participants on average reported that the program was moderately helpful, and a majority (82.1%) said they would recommend the program to a friend. Guided self-help appears to be a feasible and efficacious intervention for university students in India who meet clinical or subthreshold GAD criteria. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02410265). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34881930 | DOI:10.1037/pst0000383

Health Psychol. 2021 Oct;40(10):674-685. doi: 10.1037/hea0001115.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Traditionally, the standard advice to individuals suffering from migraine and tension-type headache was that the best way to prevent headaches is to avoid the triggers. This advice has been challenged in recent years and the Trigger Avoidance Model of Headache has been proposed, which suggests that one pathway to developing a headache disorder is by avoiding triggers resulting in trigger sensitization. The objective of the study was to evaluate a novel intervention for primary headache comprising a new approach to trigger management that includes exposure to some triggers with the goal of trigger desensitization (learning to cope with triggers [LCT]) integrated into a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program (LCT/CBT).

METHOD: The study was a randomized controlled trial comparing LCT/CBT to the same treatment program but using the traditional approach to trigger management of encouraging trigger avoidance (avoid/CBT), and to a waiting-list/treatment-as-usual control condition (WL/TAU). Adults suffering from primary headache (88 female/35 male) were allocated to the three conditions.

RESULTS: The three groups significantly differed from baseline to posttreatment on the primary outcome measure of attack frequency, and LCT/CBT significantly differed from WL/TAU but Avoid/CBT did not. Similar results were obtained on the secondary outcome measures, and treatment gains were maintained at 4- and 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the value of using LCT as a component of a CBT program but were not conclusive as the direct comparisons between the two treatment conditions failed to reach statistical significance. The findings support a study of LCT/CBT with a larger sample. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34881935 | DOI:10.1037/hea0001115