Category: Statistics

Ultrasonics. 2022 Feb 5;123:106701. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2022.106701. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ultrasound (US) imaging is used to assess cardiac disease by assessing the geometry and function of the heart utilizing its high spatial and temporal resolution. However, because of physical constraints, drawbacks of US include limited field-of-view, refraction, resolution and contrast anisotropy. These issues cannot be resolved when using a single probe. Here, an interleaved multi-perspective 2-D US imaging system was introduced, aiming at improved imaging of the left ventricle (LV) of the heart by acquiring US data from two separate phased array probes simultaneously at a high frame rate. In an ex-vivo experiment of a beating porcine heart, parasternal long-axis and apical views of the left ventricle were acquired using two phased array probes. Interleaved multi-probe US data were acquired at a frame rate of 170 frames per second (FPS) using diverging wave imaging under 11 angles. Image registration and fusion algorithms were developed to align and fuse the US images from two different probes. First- and second-order speckle statistics were computed to characterize the resulting probability distribution function and point spread function of the multi-probe image data. First-order speckle analysis showed less overlap of the histograms (reduction of 34.4%) and higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR, increase of 27.3%) between endocardium and myocardium in the fused images. Autocorrelation results showed an improved and more isotropic resolution for the multi-perspective images (single-perspective: 0.59 mm × 0.21 mm, multi-perspective: 0.35 mm × 0.18 mm). Moreover, mean gradient (MG) (increase of 74.4%) and entropy (increase of 23.1%) results indicated that image details of the myocardial tissue can be better observed after fusion. To conclude, interleaved multi-perspective high frame rate US imaging was developed and demonstrated in an ex-vivo experimental setup, revealing enlarged field-of-view, and improved image contrast and resolution of cardiac images.

PMID:35189524 | DOI:10.1016/j.ultras.2022.106701

J Clin Neurosci. 2022 Feb 18;98:189-193. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.02.019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord stimulation is a promising therapy for patients with treatment refractory pain syndromes, and a viable alternative to chronic opioid therapy. Racial disparities are well-documented in the field of pain medicine. This study seeks to determine whether racial disparities are present in spinal cord stimulator (SCS) surgery involving inpatient hospital stays in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of race on health care cost and utilization for patients receiving inpatient SCS surgery. We used total charges incurred by the patient to measure cost and length of stay (LOS) to measures hospital utilization for patients undergoing inpatient SCS surgery. We examined cost and utilization for inpatient surgeries involving SCS insertion, removal, and revision across different race demographics.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used ICD-10 procedure codes to query for all patients in the 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) who received SCS insertion, removal, and revision surgeries. Univariate analysis was performed in R-studio to assess the relationship between race, LOS, and total charge. Multivariate analysis was also performed in R-studio to adjust for possible confounders.

RESULTS: Hispanic race was associated with higher total charge for inpatient SCS surgery (β=+0.29, p = 3.92e-07). Hospital region was also associated with total charge. The South (β=+0.12, p = 3.7e-03) and the West (β=+0.28, p = 3.8e-09) were associated with higher total charge. The linear model also showed that patients with more comorbidities and complex cases paid higher total charges (β=+0.014, p = 6.2e-04). There was no statistically significant difference in LOS between race demographics.

CONCLUSION: After adjusting for age, gender, type of surgical approach (percutaneous vs. open), household income, insurance coverage, hospital region, and hospital location (urban vs. rural vs. teaching), and comorbidity scores, Hispanic patients had higher total charges for inpatient SCS surgery, but there was no disparity in total charge between white and black patients. White patients were older than minority patients at the time of inpatient SCS surgery.

PMID:35189543 | DOI:10.1016/j.jocn.2022.02.019

J Environ Manage. 2022 Feb 18;309:114714. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114714. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Citizen science projects spring up in freshwater monitoring, with an increasing number of projects in river, lake, and groundwater monitoring around the globe. Citizen science scholars assume that these projects have different designs, including diverse characteristics of citizens, institutions, and forms of interactions, potentially affecting the outcomes of these projects. Given the strong focus on case studies or reviews in the field, there is, however, little comparative evidence of the different types of citizen science projects in freshwater monitoring. Based on a global survey, this study provides a systematic comparative analysis of the design of 85 citizen science projects in the field of freshwater monitoring. Descriptive statistics reveal how projects differ along 45 literature-based design variables raised in the survey. Factor analysis based on 31 of these variables yields ten key design factors, and cluster analysis, based on these design factors, allows to identify seven distinguished clusters of citizen science projects. While these clusters are rather heterogeneous, they reveal differences between groups of projects regarding institutional motivation, citizen characteristics, and interaction forms. These results significantly add to a systematic comparison of citizen science projects in freshwater monitoring and enable a more effective involvement of citizens in environmental management.

PMID:35189514 | DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114714

Asian J Psychiatr. 2022 Feb 15;70:103025. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103025. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: There has been growing interest in the links between physical frailty and cognitive impairment: both can increase the risk of emerging life-threatening health problems and are currently prominent within the global geriatric health agenda. A recent consensus proposes the idea of ‘cognitive frailty’ defined by the presence of both physical frailty and cognitive impairment in the absence of dementia. Present study is intended to determine the prevalence of cognitive frailty and its associated factors.

METHODS: Cross-sectional survey was conducted among the rural community-dwelling elderly population of West Bengal, India (n = 510), without diagnosed dementia at baseline. An Interview-based questionnaire was administered to obtain information on sociodemographic, physical and psychosocial characteristics. Study participants were categorized as non-cognitive impairment (NCI) and cognitive impairment (CI) by Bangla Adaptation of Mini-Mental State Exam (BMSE ≤ 25) scale, as non-physical frailty (NPF) and physical frailty (PF) using Modified Fried Frailty Phenotype (FP ≥ 3) scale, as robust (NPF + NCI), pre-cognitive frailty (NPF + CI or PF + NCI) and cognitive frailty (PF + CI).

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of cognitive frailty was 21.8%. In multinomial regression analysis, final model indicated that increasing age, being woman, out-of-wedlock, poor education and non-working sociodemographic status had significant association with cognitive frailty. Poor nutritional status, low health-related quality of life and depression are also prone among the cognitively frail participants.

CONCLUSIONS: Present study allows us to understand complementary relationships between sociodemographic, physical, psychosocial characteristics and cognitive frailty. There is a dire need for multidimensional approach for providing appropriate and comprehensive geriatric health care for developing countries like India.

PMID:35189474 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103025

Thromb Res. 2022 Feb 17;212:9-18. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2022.02.013. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The Danish Comorbidity Index for Acute Myocardial Infarction (DANCAMI) was developed to predict one-year mortality after myocardial infarction. We validated DANCAMI in predicting one-year mortality after venous thromboembolism (VTE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all first-time VTE patients in Denmark during 2000-2015. Using Cox regression, we assessed the performance of DANCAMI to predict one-year all-cause mortality using Nagelkerke’s R², Harrell’s C-Statistic, the net reclassification index (NRI), and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). We compared the performance of DANCAMI with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) and evaluated whether DANCAMI comorbidities not included in the CCI predicted one-year mortality. We stratified the analyses by type (deep vein thrombosis [DVT] and pulmonary embolism [PE]) and presence of provoking risk factors.

RESULTS: We identified 108,824 VTE patients of whom 20,649 (19%) died within one year. The R², C-Statistic, NRI, and IDI for DANCAMI were 0.35, 0.76, 0.63, and 0.098 for VTE overall; 0.43, 0.80, 0.70, and 0.105 for DVT; and 0.24, 0.71, 0.54, and 0.083 for PE. The R² and C-Statistic for VTE overall were 0.35 and 0.76 for CCI and 0.33 and 0.75 for ECI. After adjusting for age, sex, and all CCI comorbidities, seven DANCAMI comorbidities, not included in the CCI, predicted increased mortality. DANCAMI performed better than the CCI and ECI in predicting mortality after provoked VTE, including provoked DVT and PE.

CONCLUSION: DANCAMI performed comparable to existing comorbidity indices in predicting one-year mortality after first-time VTE overall, but better after provoked VTE.

PMID:35189486 | DOI:10.1016/j.thromres.2022.02.013

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Feb 16;155:111075. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111075. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL) and unilateral conductive hearing loss (UCHL) have higher levels of fatigue than literature reported normal hearing (LRNH) children.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey utilizing the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale administered to children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and their parents at two tertiary care academic medical centers and a nationwide microtia/atresia conference. The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale was used to compare child and parental proxy reports of fatigue among USNHL, UCHL, and LRNH children. ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey Honest Significant Difference testing were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Of 69 children included in the study, 42 had UCHL (61%) and 27 (39%) had USNHL. Children with USNHL reported more total fatigue (mean 69.1, SD 19.3) than LRNH children (mean 80.5, SD 13.3; difference -11.4; 95% CI: -19.98 to -2.84) and children with UCHL (mean 78.0, SD 14.5; difference -8.95; 95% CI: -17.86 to 0.04). Children with UCHL reported similar levels of fatigue compared to LRNH children (difference -2.5; 95% CI: -9.95 to 5.03). Parents of children with USNHL reported greater levels of fatigue (mean 67.6, SD 22.6) in their children than parents of LRNH children (mean 89.6, SD 11.4; difference -22.0; 95% CI: -29.8 to -14.3) and parents of children with UCHL (mean 76.2, SD 17.3; difference -8.6; 95% CI: -17.5 to 0.21). Parents of children with UCHL also report higher levels of fatigue than parents of LRNH children (difference -13.4; 95% CI: -19.98 to -6.84).

CONCLUSIONS: Children with USNHL reported greater levels of fatigue than LRNH children and children with UCHL. Results implicate cognitive load as an important consideration in children with hearing loss. The measurement of fatigue may be a useful indicator to determine the benefit of intervention (e.g., amplification) for these children.

PMID:35189448 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111075

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2022 Feb 18:101888. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2022.101888. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low miR-31-3p expression was identified as predictive of anti-EGFR efficacy in RAS-wt mCRC. Primary tumor side was also proposed as a predictive factor of anti-EGFR benefit. This retrospective multicentric study evaluated the predictive role of miR-31-3p in right-sided RAS-wt mCRC patients treated with first-line CT+anti-EGFR or CT+bevacizumab (Beva).

METHODS: Seventy-two right-sided RAS-wt mCRC patients treated in first-line with CT+anti-EGFR (n=43) or Beva (n=29) were included. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and response rate (RR) were analyzed and stratified according to tumor miR-31-3p expression level and targeted therapy (TT).

RESULTS: BRAF V600E mutation was more frequent in high vs low miR-31-3p expressers (60.6% vs 15.4%, P < 0.001). PFS was significantly longer with CT+Beva than with CT+anti-EGFR (13 vs 7 months; P = 0.024). Among low miR-31-3p expressers, PFS, OS and RR were not significantly different between the two groups, while in high miR-31-3p expressers, only PFS was longer in the CT+Beva group (11 vs 6 months; P = 0.03). In patients treated with CT+anti-EGFR, low miR-31-3p expressers had a significantly longer OS (20 vs 13 months; P = 0.02) than high miR-31-3p expressers. ORR was not significantly different between the two groups of treatment, in both low and high miR-31-3p expressers. MiR-31-3p expression status was statistically correlated between primary tumors and corresponding metastases.

CONCLUSION: In this study, miR-31-3p couldn’t identify a subgroup of patients with right-sided RAS-wt mCRC who might benefit from anti-EGFR and suggest that Beva is the TT of choice in first-line treatment of these patients.

PMID:35189426 | DOI:10.1016/j.clinre.2022.101888

J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry. 2022 Feb 18:S2667-2960(22)00018-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2022.02.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Comorbidity of psychiatric and medical illnesses among older adult populations is highly prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes. Care management is a common form of outpatient support for both psychiatric and medical conditions in which assessment, care planning, and care coordination are provided. Although care management is often remote and delivered by telephone, the evidence supporting this model of care is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review of the literature on remote care management programs for older adult populations with elevated prevalence of depression or anxiety and comorbid chronic medical illness.

METHODS: A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A multi-database search was performed. Articles were included for review if they studied fully remote care management for older adult populations with elevated prevalence of depression or anxiety and chronic medical illness or poor physical health. A narrative synthesis was performed.

RESULTS: A total of 6 articles representing 6 unique studies met inclusion criteria. The 6 studies included 4 randomized controlled trials, 1 case-matched retrospective cohort study, and 1 pre-post analysis. Two studies focused on specific medical conditions. All interventions were entirely telephonic. Five of 6 studies involved an intervention that was 3 to 6 months in duration. Across the 6 studies, care management demonstrated mixed results in terms of impact on psychiatric outcomes and limited impact on medical outcomes. No studies demonstrated a statistically significant impact on health care utilization or cost.

CONCLUSION: Among older adult populations with elevated prevalence of depression or anxiety and comorbid chronic medical illness, remote care management may have favorable impact on psychiatric symptoms, but impact on physical health and health care utilization is uncertain. Future research should focus on identifying effective models and elements of remote care management for this population, with a particular focus on optimizing medical outcomes.

PMID:35189427 | DOI:10.1016/j.jaclp.2022.02.005

World Neurosurg. 2022 Feb 18:S1878-8750(22)00198-X. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.02.051. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Predatory journals (PJs) publish research with little to no rigorous peer review in exchange for money. It is unclear what proportion of researchers are vulnerable to PJs and which factors are associated with vulnerability. In this study, the authors evaluate the vulnerability of African neurosurgery researchers to PJs and identify their correlates.

METHODS: A three-part English and French e-surveys were distributed via social media to African consultants and trainees from November 01 to December 01, 2021. Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman’s Rho correlation, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals evaluated bivariable relationships. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: One hundred and one participants with a mean age of 34.9 years responded to the survey (response rate=56.1%). Respondents were male (n=83, 82.2%), consultant neurosurgeons (n=39, 38.6%), and from Central Africa (n=34, 33.7%). Sixty-six respondents had published one or more articles in the past, and 13 had published at least one article in a PJ. A PJ had contacted 34 respondents via email, and eight had reviewed articles for a PJ. Nineteen respondents knew about Think. Check. Submit. and 13 knew Beall’s list. Publication in PJs was correlated with the respondents’ age (R=0.23, P=0.02) and total scholarly output (R=0.38, P<001).

CONCLUSION: Young African neurosurgery researchers are vulnerable to PJs primarily because they are not familiar with the concept of PJs or how to identify them.

PMID:35189419 | DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2022.02.051

Transbound Emerg Dis. 2022 Feb 21. doi: 10.1111/tbed.14491. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

With the recent spread of African swine fever (ASF) in Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean region, after being endemic for decades in Africa, PCR-based commercial kits and various master mixes are increasingly being used in addition to the OIE recommended protocol from King et al., 2003 (World Organisation for animal Health, 2021). Often, the availability and cost of commercial kits or master mixes can be a limiting factor for diagnostic laboratories, in addition to the requirements for transportation and storage of temperature-sensitive reagents in remote areas. In such cases, alternatives should be ready to maximize surveillance and mining of ASF. To evaluate alternatives, we tested five commercial quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) master mixes from Applied Biosystems, Bio-Rad, Biotechrabbit, Promega and Qiagen using the same primers and probe mix derived from the King et al., 2003 protocol for the sensitivity, specificity, correlation and inter-assay agreement. We further included three ad hoc molecular diagnostic kits [VetMax ^TM African Swine Fever Virus Detection Kit (Applied Biosystems), ID Gene African Swine Fever Duplex (ID-Vet) and Virotype ASF PCR Kit (Qiagen/Indical)]. The limit of detection (LOD) was assessed for each assay. The comparative study panel comprised 83 archived DNA samples from ASFV clinical samples, belonging to five different genotypes from outbreaks in 16 countries in Asia and Africa. The analytical specificity was assessed against a panel of swine pathogens. The LOD ranged from 13 to 41 gene copies per reaction; VetMax ^TM African Swine Fever Virus Detection Kit from Applied Biosystems exhibited the lowest detection limit (13 gene copies per reaction) and iQ Supermix from Bio-Rad the highest detection limit (41 gene copies per reaction). Cq values obtained from the lowest dilution, in which all replicates (n = 25) could still be amplified (50 gene copies per reaction), were not significantly different between kits using Kruskal-Wallis test. Inter assay agreement was assessed using statistical test Fleiss-Kappa and was shown to be excellent in all cases. Agreement using statistical test Bland-Altman was good for samples with Cq values < 25 and moderate for Cq values > 25. We conclude that all the assays evaluated in this study can be used for the routine detection of ASFV. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35189029 | DOI:10.1111/tbed.14491