Category: Statistics

Cell Rep. 2021 Aug 24;36(8):109599. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109599.

ABSTRACT

Both tumors and aging alter the immune landscape of tissues. These interactions may play an important role in tumor progression among elderly patients and may suggest considerations for patient care. We leverage large-scale genomic and clinical databases to perform comprehensive comparative analysis of molecular and cellular markers of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response with patient age. These analyses demonstrate that aging is associated with increased tumor mutational burden, increased expression and decreased promoter methylation of immune checkpoint genes, and increased interferon gamma signaling in older patients in many cancer types studied, all of which are expected to promote ICB efficacy. Concurrently, we observe age-related alterations that might be expected to reduce ICB efficacy, such as decreases in T cell receptor diversity. Altogether, these changes suggest the capacity for robust ICB response in many older patients, which may warrant large-scale prospective study on ICB therapies among patients of advanced age.

PMID:34433020 | DOI:10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109599

J Infect. 2021 Aug 22:S0163-4453(21)00419-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.08.030. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:34433071 | DOI:10.1016/j.jinf.2021.08.030

J Neurophysiol. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1152/jn.00172.2021. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Analysis of electrophysiological data from Purkinje cells (P-cells) of the cerebellum presents unique challenges to spike sorting. Complex spikes have waveforms that vary significantly from one event to the next, raising the problem of misidentification. Even when complex spikes are detected correctly, the simple spikes may belong to a different P-cell, raising the danger of misattribution. To address these identification and attribution problems, we wrote an open-source, semi-automated software called P-sort, and then tested it by analyzing data from P-cells recorded in three species: marmosets, macaques, and mice. Like other sorting software, P-sort relies on nonlinear dimensionality reduction to cluster spikes. However, it also uses the statistical relationship between simple and complex spikes to merge disparate clusters and split a single cluster. In comparison with expert manual curation, occasionally P-sort identified significantly more complex spikes, as well as prevented misattribution of clusters. Three existing automatic sorters performed less well, particularly for identification of complex spikes. To improve development of analysis tools for the cerebellum, we provide labeled data for 313 recording sessions, as well as statistical characteristics of waveforms and firing patterns of P-cells in three species.

PMID:34432996 | DOI:10.1152/jn.00172.2021

Rural Remote Health. 2021 Aug;21(3):6348. doi: 10.22605/RRH6348. Epub 2021 Aug 25.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Immunization is one of the most cost-effective methods for reducing mortality and morbidity rates in children. Children being fully vaccinated helps prevent diseases that would have great societal costs otherwise. Incomplete vaccination poses public health risks and challenges. This study examines the issue of incomplete vaccination in Indonesia. The objectives were to quantify the association between child level, parent level and community level determinants and child immunization coverage in Indonesia.

METHODS: Data were from the 2017 Indonesian Demographic Health Survey; this study included 4753 children aged 12-24 months. The survey implemented multistage random sampling. The data were examined using descriptive statistics and multilevel logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: The survey found that in Indonesia, country-wide, 58.22% of children were fully vaccinated. A multilevel logistic regression model after adjusting for household wealth and proportion of public healthcare centers (PHCs) showed that children of first birth order had significantly lower likelihood of being fully immunized than children of second order and higher. The parent level factors, such as age of mother at delivery, mother’s education, father’s occupation, antenatal care (ANC) and region, significantly influenced the completeness of child immunization. At the community level, the presence of a PHC significantly improved immunization coverage.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that there is a wide range of inequality in immunization throughout the region due to socioeconomic and demographic factors. Findings revealed that complete immunization status was significantly associated with birth order, age of mother at delivery, mother’s education, father’s occupation, ANC, region, and proportion of PHCs. This study emphasizes the need to increase healthcare centers in each community with the objective to reduce disparities in maternal and child health services.

PMID:34432982 | DOI:10.22605/RRH6348

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2021-0390. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study examined associations between child food involvement and food fussiness. Analyses used survey data from 62 children ages 1.5 to 5.9 years who participated in the Guelph Family Health Study Pilot. Overall involvement (β = -0.51, p = 0.02), involvement in meal preparation (β = -0.42, p = 0.009), and involvement in grocery shopping (β = -0.29, p = 0.04) were inversely associated with food fussiness. Experimental research including larger, more diverse samples is needed to test whether food involvement reduces food fussiness among young children. Novelty: • Our study identified significant, inverse associations between child food involvement and food fussiness.

PMID:34432990 | DOI:10.1139/apnm-2021-0390

S D Med. 2021 Apr;74(4):154-157.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is little data available that examines the activation of the cervical paraspinal muscles that occurs during the bench press. It is intuitive that activation of these muscles may lead to increased loads across the cervical spine and may increase the risk of injury to the intervertebral disks of the cervical spine.

HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis of this study is that by supporting the cervical spine with the “Bench Rite” cervical spine orthosis, there will be less muscular activation of the cervical paraspinal muscles as determined by electromyography when performing the bench press.

STUDY DESIGN: Comparative electromyographic study – Level of evidence III (case-control study).

METHODS: Fifteen healthy subjects performed two sets (with and without the cervical orthosis) of five repetitions of a 60 percent maximum repetition on the bench press for each muscle group tested (pectoralis major, deltoid, C5 paraspinal, trapezius). Electromyography was used to determine the maximum isometric contraction and concentric contraction of each muscle with and without the cervical orthosis. The concentric contraction of each muscle group was reported as a percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction.

RESULTS: The use of the “Bench Rite” cervical spine orthosis resulted in a statistically significant decrease in muscle activation in the C5 paraspinal (37 percent; p=0.0001) and deltoid muscles (9.8 percent; p=0.001) and a significant increase in trapezius muscle activation (9.3 percent; p=0.03). No differences were found in muscle activation of the pectoralis major with or without the use of the cervical spine orthosis (0.8 percent; p=0.90).

CONCLUSIONS: Weightlifters may consider utilizing the “Bench Rite” cervical orthosis while performing the bench press to decrease cervical paraspinal muscle activation without impacting the muscle activation of the pectoralis major.

PMID:34432961

Mol Syst Biol. 2021 Aug;17(8):e10240. doi: 10.15252/msb.202110240.

ABSTRACT

Advancements in mass spectrometry-based proteomics have enabled experiments encompassing hundreds of samples. While these large sample sets deliver much-needed statistical power, handling them introduces technical variability known as batch effects. Here, we present a step-by-step protocol for the assessment, normalization, and batch correction of proteomic data. We review established methodologies from related fields and describe solutions specific to proteomic challenges, such as ion intensity drift and missing values in quantitative feature matrices. Finally, we compile a set of techniques that enable control of batch effect adjustment quality. We provide an R package, “proBatch”, containing functions required for each step of the protocol. We demonstrate the utility of this methodology on five proteomic datasets each encompassing hundreds of samples and consisting of multiple experimental designs. In conclusion, we provide guidelines and tools to make the extraction of true biological signal from large proteomic studies more robust and transparent, ultimately facilitating reliable and reproducible research in clinical proteomics and systems biology.

PMID:34432947 | DOI:10.15252/msb.202110240

PM R. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12698. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Difficulty descending stairs is common in persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Clinically, it is important to know if and how this is explained by objectively measured difficulty to descend stairs, muscle weakness, pain, fear of movement, or knee joint status.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the potential of these factors to explain self-reported difficulty descending stairs DESIGN: Cross sectional, case-control SETTING: Hospital outpatient and physiotherapy clinic PARTICIPANTS: 28 men and women with knee OA (age 62.2 SD 5.9 years) and 31 controls (age 50.0 SD 8.5 years).

INTERVENTION: Not applicable MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Using multivariate statistics, group comparisons were made for lower extremity kinematics (incorporating hip-, knee-, and ankle- angles) and stance time in stair-descent and lower extremity muscle-strength. Then, a stepwise linear regression analysis was performed within the OA-group to explain self-reported difficulties in stair descent where pain, kinesiophobia, radiographic signs, and outcomes that differed from controls for stair-descent kinematics and muscle-strength were independent variables.

RESULTS: Multivariate statistics showed that the OA-group displayed different all-over lower extremity kinematics (F_{8, 42,} = 2.44 p = 0.029, η² = 0.32) and a longer stance time (F_{3, 50,} = 6.46; p = 0.001, η² = 0.28) in stair descent, and lower muscle strength (F_{7, 47,} = 2.39; p = 0.035, η² = 0.26) compared to controls. Regression analysis within the OA-group for explaining self-rated difficulties to descend stairs showed that the strongest association with kinesiophobia (ß = 0.607, p=0.001) that combined with pain last week and radiographic signs explained almost 100 % (ß = 0.972). Stair descent kinematics and strength variables that differed between groups did not explain self-rated difficulties to descend stairs.

CONCLUSION: Kinesiophobia and pain rather than stair-descent kinematics and reduced muscle-strength explained self-rated difficulties in stair descent in the OA-group. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34432951 | DOI:10.1002/pmrj.12698

J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2021 Aug 25:e12356. doi: 10.1111/jspn.12356. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Current routine circumcision rates declined indicating a procedure reduction and because of this, nurses will encounter more intact male patients. Best practices are needed to provide appropriate, safe nursing care. The research aim was to understand what American nurses presently know about intact care and if any knowledge deficits exist.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The research was conducted using a cross-sectional survey design. American nurses currently in practice were invited to participate in a survey distributed via social media groups for nursing professionals. No incentive was offered for participation. An author-developed instrument was used to assess knowledge levels regarding intact care. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics as there was no intervention.

METHODS: American nurses currently in practice were invited to participate in a survey distributed via social media groups for nursing professionals. No incentive was offered for participation. An author-developed instrument was used to assess knowledge levels regarding intact care. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics as there was no intervention.

RESULTS: A convenient sample of 345 nursing professionals participated indicating an intact care knowledge deficit across the lifespan. Fourteen percent of respondents did not indicate that replacing the foreskin back over the glans was necessary with adult genital hygiene for intact patients. In pediatrics, 41.7% answered yes to the item statement “Do you retract the foreskin of an infant male child for catheter placement.”

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results indicate a knowledge deficit among American nurses regarding genital hygiene, particularly for pediatric patients. Practicing without knowledge of intact care that scientifically based can endanger the caring relationship between nurse and patient, resulting in physical harm and may open themselves and their health systems to legal liability.

PMID:34432945 | DOI:10.1111/jspn.12356

J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1002/acm2.13401. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The efficacy of clinical trials and the outcome of patient treatment are dependent on the quality assurance (QA) of radiation therapy (RT) plans. There are two widely utilized approaches that include plan optimization guidance created based on patient-specific anatomy. This study examined these two techniques for dose-volume histogram predictions, RT plan optimizations, and prospective QA processes, namely the knowledge-based planning (KBP) technique and another first principle (FP) technique.

METHODS: This analysis included 60, 44, and 10 RT plans from three Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) multi-institutional trials: RTOG 0631 (Spine SRS), RTOG 1308 (NSCLC), and RTOG 0522 (H&N), respectively. Both approaches were compared in terms of dose prediction and plan optimization. The dose predictions were also compared to the original plan submitted to the trials for the QA procedure.

RESULTS: For the RTOG 0631 (Spine SRS) and RTOG 0522 (H&N) plans, the dose predictions from both techniques have correlation coefficients of >0.9. The RT plans that were re-optimized based on the predictions from both techniques showed similar quality, with no statistically significant differences in target coverage or organ-at-risk sparing. The predictions of mean lung and heart doses from both methods for RTOG1308 patients, on the other hand, have a discrepancy of up to 14 Gy.

CONCLUSIONS: Both methods are valuable tools for optimization guidance of RT plans for Spine SRS and Head and Neck cases, as well as for QA purposes. On the other hand, the findings suggest that KBP may be more feasible in the case of inoperable lung cancer patients who are treated with IMRT plans that have spatially unevenly distributed beam angles.

PMID:34432946 | DOI:10.1002/acm2.13401