Category: Statistics

Soft Matter. 2024 Apr 17. doi: 10.1039/d3sm01684f. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We use the particle-based stochastic multi-particle collision dynamics (N-MPCD) algorithm to simulate confined nematic liquid crystals in regular two-dimensional polygons such as squares, pentagons and hexagons. We consider a range of values of the nematicities, U, and simulation domain sizes, R, that canvass nano-sized polygons to micron-sized polygons. We use closure arguments to define mappings between the N-MPCD parameters and the parameters in the continuum deterministic Landau-de Gennes framework. The averaged N-MPCD configurations agree with those predicted by Landau-de Gennes theory, at least for large polygons. We study relaxation dynamics or the non-equilibrium dynamics of confined nematics in polygons, in the N-MPCD framework, and the kinetic traps bear strong resemblance to the unstable saddle points in the Landau-de Gennes framework. Finally, we study nematic defect dynamics inside the polygons in the N-MPCD framework and the finite-size effects slow down the defects and attract them to polygon vertices. Our work is a comprehensive comparison between particle-based stochastic N-MPCD methods and deterministic/continuum Landau-de Gennes methods, and this comparison is essential for new-age multiscale theories.

PMID:38629234 | DOI:10.1039/d3sm01684f

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2024 Apr;33(4):e5789. doi: 10.1002/pds.5789.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The first paper to specify the core content of pharmacoepidemiology as a profession was published by an ISPE (International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology) workgroup in 2012 (Jones JK et al. PDS 2012; 21[7]:677-689). Due to the broader and evolving scope of pharmacoepidemiology, ISPE considers it important to proactively identify, update and expand the list of core competencies to inform curricula of education programs; thus, better positioning pharmacoepidemiologists across academic, government (including regulatory), and industry positions. The aim of this project was to update the list of core competencies in pharmacoepidemiology.

METHODS: To ensure applicability of findings to multiple areas, a working group was established consisting of ISPE members with positions in academia, industry, government, and other settings. All competencies outlined by Jones et al. were extracted from the initial manuscript and presented to the working group for review. Expert-based judgments were collated and used to identify consensus. It was noted that some competencies could contribute to multiple groups and could be directly or indirectly related to a group.

RESULTS: Five core domains were proposed: (1) Epidemiology, (2) Clinical Pharmacology, (3) Regulatory Science, (4) Statistics and data science, and (5) Communication and other professional skills. In total, 55 individual competencies were proposed, of which 25 were new competencies. No competencies from the original work were dropped but aggregation or amendments were made where considered necessary.

CONCLUSIONS: While many core competencies in pharmacoepidemiology have remained the same over the past 10 years, there have also been several updates to reflect new and emerging concepts in the field.

PMID:38629216 | DOI:10.1002/pds.5789

Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2024 Jan-Dec;23:15330338241246636. doi: 10.1177/15330338241246636.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study intends to examine the anticipatory power of clinical and radiological parameters in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer in patients demonstrating Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System 3 lesions.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study. The study included participation from 453 patients at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, sampled between September 2017 through August 2022. Each patient underwent a routine 12-core prostate biopsy followed by a 2 to 5 core fusion-targeted biopsy. We utilized both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify the parameters that have a correlation with clinically significant prostate cancer. The predictive ability of these parameters was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve, leading to the creation of a nomogram.

RESULTS: Clinically significant prostate cancer was detected in 68 out of 453 patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System 3 lesions (15.01%). Among Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System 3a and 3b patients, 4.78% (3.09% of the total) and 33.75% (11.92% of the total), respectively, had clinically significant prostate cancer. Systematic biopsy improved prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer detection rates by 7.72% and 3.09%, respectively, compared to targeted biopsy. Without systematic biopsy, there would be an undetected rate of 15% for prostate cancer and 8.13% for clinically significant prostate cancer in Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System 3b patients. Several clinical parameters, including age, prostate-specific antigen density, lesion volume, apparent diffusion coefficient, and digital rectal examination, were statistically significant in the logistic regression analysis for clinically significant prostate cancer. The individual diagnostic accuracies of these parameters for clinically significant prostate cancer were 0.648, 0.645, 0.75, 0.763, and 0.7, respectively, but their combined accuracy improved to 0.866. A well-fit nomogram based on the identified risk factors was constructed (χ² = 10.254, P = .248).

CONCLUSION: The combination of age, prostate-specific antigen density, lesion volume, apparent diffusion coefficient, and digital rectal examination presented a higher diagnostic value for clinically significant prostate cancer than any single parameter in patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System 3 lesions. Systematic biopsy proved crucial for biopsy-naive patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System 3 lesions and should not be omitted.

PMID:38629205 | DOI:10.1177/15330338241246636

Urol J. 2024 Apr 13. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the miRNA-371a-3p for the primary diagnosis of germ cell tumors (GCT) and to investigate its relationship with pathological factors and clinical stage in the Turkish population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, a total of 60 patients with GCTs, and 40 healthy male controls were examined for serum levels of miRNA-371a-3p before orchiectomy and again two weeks after surgery. The miRNA-371a-3p, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (bHCG) levels in the preoperative and postoperative periods were compared at different clinical stages. Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses were performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-371a-3p. Clinical and pathological factors such as clinical stage (CS), tumor size, histology, rete testis invasion, and lymphovascular invasion, potentially impacting miRNA-371a-3p expression levels (relative quantity, RQ), were evaluated statistically.

RESULTS: The sensitivity of miR-371a-3p in GCT patients was 98.3%, and the specificity was 95% (AUC = 0.997 [95%Cl:0.99-1], p < .001). miR-371a-3p expression was not detected in two patients with teratoma. The median miR-371a-3p RQ was 489 times in GCT and 2.2 times in the Control group (p < .001). In the postoperative period, there was a significant decrease in AFP and bHCG levels in all CS-1 (p = .01) and 30% of the other CS (p = .3). Throughout this time there was a decrease of 19 times at the miR-371a-3p RQ in CS-1(p < .001) and 1.6 times in the other CS (p < .001). The miR-371a-3p RQs were correlated with tumor size and CS.

CONCLUSION: The miR-371a-3p seems to have higher diagnostic accuracy than classical serum tumor markers in GCT.

PMID:38629199

Cardiol Young. 2024 Apr 17:1-13. doi: 10.1017/S1047951124000453. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the 16-year experience with arterial switch operation at Beijing Children’s Hospital and to determine early and late mortality and late morbidity, to explore risk factors for late complications and reintervention, and finally to evaluate whether the neoaortic sinotubular junction reconstruction technique reduces late complications of arterial switch operation.

METHODS: The clinical data of 185 patients with transposition of the great arteries who underwent arterial switch operation in Beijing Children’s Hospital from January 2006 to January 2022 and 30 patients who underwent modified arterial switch operation with neoaortic sinotubular junction reconstruction technique in Fuwai Hospital during the same period were retrospectively analysed. Propensity score matching was also used to match the neoaortic sinotubular junction reconstruction patients in Fuwai Hospital with 30 non-neoaortic sinotubular junction reconstruction patients in Beijing Children’s Hospital.

RESULTS: There were 13 early deaths (7.03%) and five late deaths (3.01%). Nineteen patients (11.45%) developed new aortic valve regurgitation and 28 patients (16.87%) developed aortic root dilation. Late right ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurred in 33 patients (19.88%). Late reintervention occurred in 18 cases (10.84%). Multivariate analysis showed that aorto-pulmonary diameter mismatch, previous pulmonary artery banding, and mild moderate or above new aortic valve regurgitation at discharge were independent risk factors for late new aortic valve regurgitation and aortic root dilation. Low surgical weight was an independent risk factor specific to new aortic valve regurgitation, and bicuspid native pulmonary valve was an independent risk factor specific to aortic root dilation. Older surgical age and aortic root dilation were independent risk factors for late right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Older surgical age, operation before 2014, late right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and late aortic root dilation were independent risk factors for late intervention. Propensity score matching showed that new aortic valve regurgitation and aortic root dilation were not followed up in the neoaortic sinotubular junction reconstruction group, while seven cases of aortic root dilation and five cases of new aortic valve regurgitation occurred in the non-neoaortic sinotubular junction reconstruction group, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.003; P = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of new aortic valve regurgitation, aortic root dilation, and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction as children age is a major concern outcome in the future and may mean more late reintervention. neoaortic sinotubular junction reconstruction technique may reduce the incidence of new aortic valve regurgitation and aortic root dilation, and improve the late prognosis of arterial switch operation. Careful follow-up of neo-aortic valve and root function is imperative, especially in patients with aorto-pulmonary diameter mismatch, previous pulmonary artery banding, mild new aortic valve regurgitation at discharge, low surgical weight, and bicuspid native pulmonary valve structures.

PMID:38629195 | DOI:10.1017/S1047951124000453

Environ Sci Technol. 2024 Apr 17. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08990. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Understanding microplastic exposure and effects is critical to understanding risk. Here, we used large, in-lake closed-bottom mesocosms to investigate exposure and effects on pelagic freshwater ecosystems. This article provides details about the experimental design and results on the transport of microplastics and exposure to pelagic organisms. Our experiment included three polymers of microplastics (PE, PS, and PET) ranging in density and size. Nominal concentrations ranged from 0 to 29,240 microplastics per liter on a log scale. Mesocosms enclosed natural microbial, phytoplankton, and zooplankton communities and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). We quantified and characterized microplastics in the water column and in components of the food web (biofilm on the walls, zooplankton, and fish). The microplastics in the water stratified vertically according to size and density. After 10 weeks, about 1% of the microplastics added were in the water column, 0.4% attached to biofilm on the walls, 0.01% within zooplankton, and 0.0001% in fish. Visual observations suggest the remaining >98% were in a surface slick and on the bottom. Our study suggests organisms that feed at the surface and in the benthos are likely most at risk, and demonstrates the value of measuring exposure and transport to inform experimental designs and achieve target concentrations in different matrices within toxicity tests.

PMID:38629179 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c08990

J Intensive Care Med. 2024 Apr 17:8850666241247516. doi: 10.1177/08850666241247516. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Purpose/Background: Recent studies have shown improved outcomes with the initiation of earlier subcutaneous (SQ) basal insulin. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of early SQ basal insulin administration on hospital length of stay in patients with mild to moderate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study from a large community teaching hospital that included patients 18 years or older with mild to moderate DKA, identified using ICD-10 codes, who received intravenous (IV) insulin. Patients who received SQ basal insulin prior to a documented anion gap ≤12 mmol/L were considered to have received early SQ basal insulin and were compared to patients who received SQ basal insulin after closure of their anion gap (AG). The primary outcome was hospital length of stay. Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit length of stay, duration of IV insulin, time to anion gap closure, and incidences of rebound hyperglycemia. Safety outcomes included incidences of hypoglycemia, and hypokalemia. Results: Of 301 patients screened, 108 patients were included in the final analysis. Forty patients received early SQ basal insulin and 68 did not. Median hospital length of stay in the nonearly group was 71 h, compared to 62 h in the early group (P = .57). Secondary and safety outcomes were similar between groups. Conclusions: In this study, there was no statistically significant difference in length of stay in patients that received early SQ basal insulin. Larger trials are needed to determine the significance of earlier SQ basal insulin in DKA.

PMID:38629164 | DOI:10.1177/08850666241247516

Anal Methods. 2024 Apr 17. doi: 10.1039/d4ay00171k. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In this research, Raman imaging was employed to map various samples, and the resulting data were analyzed using a suite of automated tools to extract critical information, including intensity and signal-to-noise ratio. The acquired spectra were further processed to identify similarities and investigate patterns using principal component analysis. The objective of this study was to establish guidelines for investigating Raman imaging results, particularly when dealing with large datasets comprising thousands of relatively low-intensity spectra. The overall quality of the results was assessed, and representative locations were determined based on the main Raman bands. While automated software solutions are insufficient for removing baselines and fitting the data, statistical analysis proved to be a powerful tool for extracting valuable information directly from the raw spectral data. This approach enables the extraction of as much information as possible from large arrays of spectral data, even in complex cases where automated software may fall short. The findings of this study contribute to enhancing the analysis and interpretation of Raman imaging results, providing researchers with a robust methodology for extracting meaningful insights from complex datasets, reducing the amount of effort required during data interpretation and analysis.

PMID:38629136 | DOI:10.1039/d4ay00171k

Ergonomics. 2024 Apr 17:1-13. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2024.2339439. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

New type desktop head-up display (HUD) can reduce visual fatigue and protect vision through long viewing distance. In this study, participants evaluated visual performance, fatigue, and discomfort of desktop HUD under two contrast polarity (N = 36) and five display luminance levels (N = 21). A positive polarity advantage was found over negative in visual fatigue and discomfort (p < .05). Statistically significant effect of luminance was found on visual performance, fatigue, and discomfort (p < .05). The calculated optimum display luminance by the proposed inverted-U fitted model was 153 cd/m² under 300 lx, higher than that of traditional desktop displays. It is speculated that higher luminance is required to offset the reduction in contrast sensitivity due to smaller target angular size, which caused by longer viewing distance. These findings suggest that positive polarity and 153 cd/m² can be used to improve performance and avoid fatigue and discomfort when utilising desktop HUD under 300 lx.

PMID:38629123 | DOI:10.1080/00140139.2024.2339439

Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2024 Apr 14;13:27536130241246788. doi: 10.1177/27536130241246788. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is a growing, global awareness and recognition of the important, interdependent relationships between our natural world and human health. Several contemporary health organizations have placed calls to action and emphasize an urgent need for collaboration and interdisciplinary research, education, and clinical work to address the increasing degradation of our planetary and human health. With more research dedicated to nature’s health impacts, health professions schools would benefit by including such training in their programs while also cultivating a comprehensive mind-body health perspective to support both the health of student practitioners and their future patients.

OBJECTIVE: The present program evaluation investigates a five-day outdoor mini-course covering nature-based health techniques at a medical and dental school in the American Northeast. This unique outdoor course combines nature, creativity, and reflection within the context of modern medicine.

METHODS: A concurrent mixed-method design using descriptive statistics, quantitative and qualitative data from students’ anonymous final course evaluations and final reflection projects are evaluated.

RESULTS: Data suggests that students benefitted from their experience during this five-day course. Students provided feedback reinforcing the enjoyment and transformative outcomes gleaned from the course experiences. Students entered the course describing feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and overextended, not uncommon for learners in medical and dental school, and completed the course describing the acquisition of applicable skills, increased attention and mindfulness, creativity, and connection to the natural world.

CONCLUSIONS: Students described a positive experience of the course. Several areas of personal and professional development were also described, such as improvements within cognitive domains, enhanced connection with nature, others, and themselves, increased mindfulness, and overall improved well-being. Findings have implications for medical and dental programs on how such innovative training may lean into the work of nature-based care to provide for the whole person.

PMID:38629109 | PMC:PMC11020736 | DOI:10.1177/27536130241246788