Category: Statistics

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Mar 20;782:146654. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146654. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Effects of mercury on maturing immune system have been reported, however the association with respiratory and allergy problems during infancy remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between pre and postnatal mercury exposure and respiratory and allergy problems among preschool children and to examine the role of potential modifying factors. Study subjects were children participant in Spanish Childhood and Environment Project (INMA, 2003-2008). We measured total mercury levels in cord blood (n = 1868) and hair at 4 years of age (n = 1347). Respiratory outcomes (wheezing, severe wheezing, chestiness, persistent cough, eczema and otitis) were obtained by questionnaires administered to parents. Associations were investigated by logistic regression adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle-related variables in each cohort and subsequent meta-analysis. We tested effect modification by factors related to individual susceptibility, diet and co-exposure with other pollutants. The geometric mean of cord blood and hair total mercury was 8.20 μg/L and 0.97 μg/g, respectively. No statistically significant association between pre or postnatal mercury exposure and respiratory and allergy outcomes was found. Notwithstanding, lower maternal intake of fruits and vegetables increased the risk of some respiratory outcomes due to the prenatal exposure to mercury (p_int < 0.05). Moreover, an inverse association between prenatal mercury exposure and some respiratory outcomes was observed among children with higher maternal exposure to organocholorine compounds or smoking (p_int < 0.05). Also, sex and postnatal smoking exposure modulated mercury postnatal effects on persistent cough (p_int < 0.05). In conclusion, no association between pre and postnatal mercury exposure and respiratory and allergy problems among the whole population at study was found. However, diet and other toxicants could modulate this relation, especially during prenatal period. More research on this topic is warranted due to the limited evidence.

PMID:33838378 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146654

Waste Manag. 2021 Apr 7;126:454-465. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.037. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The absence of sound sampling procedures and statistical analyses to estimate solid waste generation in many developing countries has resulted in incomplete historical records of waste quantity and composition. Data is often arbitrarily aggregated or disaggregated as a function of waste generators to obtain results at the desired spatial level of analysis. Inference fallacies arising from the generalization or individualization of results are almost never considered. In this paper, Panama, one of the fastest-growing developing countries, was used as a case-study to review the main methodological approaches to estimate solid waste generation per capita per day, and at different hierarchical levels (from households to the country). The solid waste generation intensity indicator is used by the Panamanian waste management authority to run the waste management system. It was also the main parameter employed by local and foreign companies to estimate solid waste generation in Panama between 2001 and 2008. The methodological approaches used by these companies were mathematically formalized and classified as per the expressions suggested by Subramanian et al. (2009). Seven inference fallacies (ecological, individualistic, stage, floating population, linear forecasting, average population and mixed spatial levels) were identified and allocated to the studies. Foreign companies committed three of the seven inference fallacies, while one was committed by the local entity. Endogenous knowledge played an important role in these studies to avoid spatial levels mismatch and multilevel measurements appear to produce more reliable information than studies obtained via other means.

PMID:33838385 | DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.037

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Apr 7:S1542-3565(21)00393-1. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.04.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pediatric functional constipation (PFC) is a common problem in children that causes distress and presents treatment challenges to healthcare professionals. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (Study 1) in patients with PFC (aged 6-17 years) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lubiprostone, followed by an open-label extension for those who completed the placebo-controlled phase (Study 2).

METHODS: Study 1 (NCT02042183) was a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week study evaluating the efficacy and safety of lubiprostone 12 mcg twice-daily (BID) and 24 mcg BID. Study 2 (NCT02138136) was a phase 3, long-term, open-label extension of Study 1. In both studies, lubiprostone doses were based on patients’ weight. Efficacy was assessed solely based on Study 1, with a primary endpoint of overall spontaneous bowel movement (SBM) response (increase of ≥1 SBM/week vs baseline and ≥3 SBMs/week for ≥9 weeks, including 3 of the final 4 weeks).

RESULTS: 606 patients were randomized to treatment (placebo: n=202; lubiprostone: n=404) in Study 1. No statistically significant difference in overall SBM response rate was observed between the lubiprostone and placebo groups (18.5% vs 14.4%; P=.2245). Both the 12-mcg BID and 24-mcg BID doses of lubiprostone were well tolerated in the double-blind and extension phases, with a safety profile consistent with that seen in adult studies.

CONCLUSIONS: Lubiprostone did not demonstrate statistically significant effectiveness over placebo in children and adolescents with PFC, but did demonstrate a safety profile similar to that in adults.

PMID:33838349 | DOI:10.1016/j.cgh.2021.04.005

Am J Otolaryngol. 2021 Mar 26;42(5):102999. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.102999. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 disease emerged in Wuhan province of China in November 2019 and spread across the world in a short time, resulting in a pandemic. The first case in Turkey was detected on March 11, 2020. The aim of the current study was to reveal the effects of COVID-19 on cranial nerves by monitoring people infected with the disease based on repeated examinations and surveys.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The data of 356 patients with a positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test who received treatment between June 2020 and August 2020 in our hospital were prospectively evaluated after the study was approved by the relevant ethics committee.

RESULTS: Of the 356 patients included in the study, 47 under the age of 18 years were excluded due to their unreliable examination and anamnesis findings. In addition, seven patients that died while in hospital were excluded from the study due to the lack of examination and survey records during their hospitalization. The data of the remaining 302 patients were statistically analyzed. Symptoms of cranial nerve involvement were observed in 135 patients.

CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus commonly results in cranial nerve symptoms. The fact that these findings are more common and severe in COVID-19 than previous SARS and MERS outbreaks suggests that it has a more neurotrophic and more aggressive neuroinvasion. While the negative effects of the virus on sensory functions resulting from cranial nerve involvement are evident, motor functions are rarely affected.

PMID:33838359 | DOI:10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.102999

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Mar 22;782:146643. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146643. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There is an ongoing need to increase our understanding of the sources and timing of stream nitrate loads across agricultural watersheds in Iowa as water quality improvement strategies are implemented. The goal of this study was to model the relationship between nitrate load and the two components of streamflow (i.e., baseflow and stormflow) to quantify in-stream nitrate patterns and develop a new method for estimating loads on days when monitoring data are not available. We analyzed eight watersheds in Iowa that had long-term water quality data where grab samples have been collected from 1987 to 2019. Four regression models were developed that related daily nitrate load to daily baseflow, stormflow, and streamflow discharge. The first model considered baseflow as a predictor, the second model used stormflow, the third model included both baseflow and stormflow as two different covariates, and the final model used total streamflow (unseparated). For all eight watersheds, the baseflowstormflow models had the highest correlation coefficients, which indicates that both components are necessary and together improve nitrate load estimates. While baseflow models estimated lower nitrate loads better, stormflow models captured the variability associated with larger loads. In addition, streamflow models tended to overestimate large nitrate loads. This simple modeling framework can be used to calculate daily, monthly and annual nitrate loads. Delineating nitrate loads between stormflow and baseflow can help identify differences in nitrate sources for nutrient reduction and remediation.

PMID:33838365 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146643

Acad Pediatr. 2021 Apr 7:S1876-2859(21)00213-8. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.03.020. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) in undergraduate medical education (UME), characterization of EPAs by pediatric educators, and opportunities and challenges with an EPA framework.

METHODS: In 2020, nine survey questions were administered to members of the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics, a national pediatric UME group. Clark’s Commitment and Necessary Effort model on motivation served as the theoretical framework for our study. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis, respectively.

RESULTS: 167 (31%) of 479 recipients, representing 75% of accredited schools responded. 83% agreed that they understood what EPAs were, yet a minority reported using EPAs. 85% of EPA users expressed satisfaction with EPAs in providing a shared framework and an opportunity to track student competence; dissatisfaction was expressed towards faculty resource needs. Among non-users, barriers hindering implementation included faculty development challenges and faculty time. Qualitative analyses revealed a rich understanding of EPAs: that they offer a framework to measure learner competence by assessing performance in workplace-based tasks that can be used for entrustment decisions and for program evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS: Although most pediatric UME educators report understanding EPAs (contributing to self-efficacy) and recognize their benefits (value), a minority report actually using EPAs. EPAs, while providing a valuable framework, pose challenges from contextual factors affecting personal agency, which could affect educator commitment in implementation. For more widespread adoption of the EPAs, efforts should focus on minimizing these perceived barriers.

PMID:33838345 | DOI:10.1016/j.acap.2021.03.020

J Osteopath Med. 2021 Apr 12. doi: 10.1515/jom-2021-0059. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: On December 1, 2020, Drs. Wolfgang Wodarg and Micheal Yeadon petitioned to withhold emergency use authorization of the BNT162b2 messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manufactured by BioNTech and Pfizer, raising concern for female infertility risks but acknowledging the lack of evidence. The European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration ultimately issued emergency use authorizations, but misinformation claiming that COVID-19 vaccines cause female infertility began circulating on social media, potentially influencing public perception and medical decision making among pregnant patients or those seeking to become pregnant.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the potential influence misinformation may have had on public interest in infertility related topics, as analyzed through internet search statistics in the US.

METHODS: The Google Trends tool was used to analyze results for the search terms “infertility,” “infertility AND vaccine,” and “infertility AND COVID vaccine” in the US from February 4, 2020 to February 3, 2021. We applied autoregressive integrated moving average models to forecast expected values, comparing them with actual observed values.

RESULTS: At peak interest (100), the forecasted relative search volumes interest for the search terms “infertility,” “infertility AND vaccine,” and “infertility AND COVID vaccine” were 45.47 (95% CI, 33.27-57.66; p<0.001), 0.88 (95% CI, 2.87-4.63; p<0.001), and 0.29 (95% CI, -2.25-2.82; p<0.001). The actual relative search volumes at peak searching represented 119.9, 11,251, and 34,900% increases, respectively, when compared with forecasted values.

CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 vaccine misinformation corresponded with increased internet searches for topics related to infertility in the US. Dispelling misinformation and informing patients about the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination may prevent unnecessary vaccine hesitancy or refusal, contributing to successful vaccination efforts.

PMID:33838086 | DOI:10.1515/jom-2021-0059

J Complement Integr Med. 2021 Apr 12. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2020-0121. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Hemodialysis (HD) patients suffer more sleep problems (poor sleep quality and restless leg syndrome [RLS]). Complementary therapy, especially massage with aromatherapy oil is one of the non-pharmacological treatment options with less adverse effects than routine methods. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of foot massage with of lavender and orange essential oil on HD patients’ sleep quality and RLS.

METHODS: This is a double blind randomized controlled trial on 105 HD patients was conducted at a large educational hospital in Iran, Hamadan province between January and September 2017. Patients divided into three groups with random allocation (35 participants per groups in lavender, orange, and control group). Foot massage during HD with lavender and orange essential oil was administered to the patients three times a week for three weeks, and every massage lasted half an hour. The control group received routine care. Before the intervention, the end of the first, second, and third weeks Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and RLS questionnaire were completed for all three groups. Data were statistically analyzed with Independent Samples t-test, chi-square test and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) by SPSS version 16.

RESULTS: The mean score of sleep quality and RLS in the intervention groups were significantly different compare with the control group in all three time of data collecting (p<0 001).

CONCLUSIONS: Aromatherapy prepared with lavender oil and sweet orange may be recommended to increase sleep quality and RLS level of the HD patients.

PMID:33838094 | DOI:10.1515/jcim-2020-0121

Eur J Dent Educ. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1111/eje.12685. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Many studies, globally, have aimed at elucidating reasons to choose a career in dentistry. The most common motives found are reasonable working hours and aspiration to help. The aim of this study was to explore whether eventual past personal experience of orthodontic treatment and particularly the interpersonal skills of the treating orthodontist are of significance in this respect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic questionnaire, consisting of multiple choice and descriptive questions about dental history and experiences in dental care, was sent to dental and, as controls, psychology students within the same Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland. The answers between the two groups were compared and differences tested statistically.

RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 143 (46.0%) dental students and 94 (17.6%) psychology students. Dental students, compared to psychology students, had more positive views of their dentition and dental treatment in general (P=0.000). Among participants, 47.9% of dental students and 57.4% of psychology students had received orthodontic treatment. Of those, dental students had perceived their orthodontic treatment as less painful (P=0.001) and less uncomfortable (P=0.000) than psychology students. Moreover, dental students reported more often experiences of orthodontist taking into account their situation in life during treatment (P=0.011), and gave more positive descriptions of the orthodontist’s interpersonal skills (P=0.031).

CONCLUSIONS: Dental students, compared to psychology students, had statistically significantly more positive personal experiences related to dentistry and orthodontics, supporting our hypothesis that positive experiences with orthodontic treatment likely increases the probability of choosing dentistry as the future career.

PMID:33838070 | DOI:10.1111/eje.12685

Geobiology. 2021 Apr 10. doi: 10.1111/gbi.12442. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Microbes are known to accumulate intracellular SiO₂ (aq) up to 100s of mmol/l from modern seawater (SiO₂ (aq) <100 µmol/l), despite having no known nutrient requirement for Si. Before the evolution of siliceous skeletons, marine silica concentrations were likely an order of magnitude higher than the modern ocean, raising the possibility that intracellular SiO₂ (aq) accumulation interfered with normal cellular function in non-silicifying algae. Yet, because few culturing studies have isolated the effects of SiO₂ (aq) at high concentration, the potential impact of elevated marine silica on early microbial evolution is unknown. Here, we test the influence of elevated SiO₂ (aq) on eukaryotic algae, as well as a prokaryote species. Our results demonstrate that under SiO₂ (aq) concentrations relevant to ancient seawater, intracellular Si accumulates to concentrations comparable to those found in siliceous algae such as diatoms. In addition, all eukaryotic algae showed a statistically significant response to the high-Si treatment, including reduced average cell sizes and/or a reduction in the maximum growth rate. In contrast, there was no consistent response to the high-Si treatment by the prokaryote species. Our results highlight the possibility that elevated marine SiO₂ (aq) may have been an environmental stressor during early eukaryotic evolution.

PMID:33838079 | DOI:10.1111/gbi.12442