Category: Statistics

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2021 May 31:1-5. doi: 10.1159/000516596. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are rare inherited disorders with a broad spectrum of manifestations. Here, we aimed to delineate the atopy burden in a cohort of patients with IEIs.

METHODS: 313 patients with IEIs were enrolled in the study within a 9-years period, and data were collected via a questionnaire. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (v. 25.0, Chicago, IL, USA). The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Overall, 51 out of 313 (16.3%) patients were identified to have atopic manifestations. Food allergy was detected in 34 (10.2%), atopic dermatitis in 21 (6.7%), as well as allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis each in 4 (1.3%) patients. The allergic disorders were reported as initial manifestations among 14 out of 35 (40.0%) atopic patients. Most of these 51 patients fell within the category of combined immunodeficiency (CID) (n = 38, 74.5%), followed by, severe CID (SCID) (n = 5, 9.8%), common variable immunodeficiency (n = 3, 5.9%), chronic granulomatous disease (n = 3, 5.9%), selective IgA deficiency (n = 1, 2.0%), and leukocyte adhesion defect (n = 1, 2.0%). No patient with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacteria was found to have atopic manifestation. Atopic dermatitis (p = 0.001) and food allergy (p < 0.001) were both significantly higher in patients with CID than in other IEI groups. Among atopic patients with CID and SCID, food allergy and atopic dermatitis were the most prevalent comorbidities.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Atopic diseases may contribute to the clinical picture of IEIs, particularly in patients with CID. Atopy in association with other warning signs of IEIs increases the possibility of an underlying IEI.

PMID:34058734 | DOI:10.1159/000516596

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2021 May 28;50:93-103. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.04.022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Depressive Disorders are the most common psychiatric diagnoses in the general population. To estimate the frequency, costs associated with Depressive Disorders in usual clinical practice, and in the whole Spanish population, a longitudinal, retrospective, observational study was carried out using data from the BIG-PAC database®. Study population: all patients aged ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of a Depressive Disorder in 2015-2017. Prevalence was computed as the proportion of Depressive Disorder cases in the adult general population, and the incidence rate, as the number of new Depressive Disorder cases diagnosed per 1,000 person-years in the population using health services, during 2015-2017. We collected demographic variables, comorbidity, direct health costs, and indirect costs (temporary and permanent disability). Health costs related to Depressive Disorders were estimated according to the annual resource use rate (resource/patient/year). Indirect costs were calculated according to the human capital method. Using the study data and information from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, we estimated the cost of Depressive Disorders corresponding to the Spanish adult population, including premature mortality. 69,217 Depressive Disorder patients aged ≥ 18 years who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were studied (mean age: 56.8 years; female: 71.4%). Prevalence of Depressive Disorders in the general population was 4.73% (95% CI: 4.70-4.76%). Annual incidence rates (2015-2017) were 7.12, 7.35 and 8.02 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Total costs observed in our Depressive Disorder patients were € 223.9 million (corresponding to a mean of € 3,235.3; mean/patient/year), of which, 18.4% were direct health care costs and 81.6%, non-health indirect costs (18% temporary occupational disability, 63.6% permanent disability). Considering also the cost of premature death, the mean cost per patient/year was € 3,402 and the estimated societal costs of Depressive Disorders in Spain were € 6,145 million. The prevalence and incidence of Depressive Disorders are consistent with other series reviewed. Resource use and total costs (especially non-health costs) were high.

PMID:34058711 | DOI:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.04.022

Psychiatry Res. 2021 May 19;302:114019. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although some studies have reported the potential efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of acute mania, there is no consensus on the matter. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of ECT combination with medication (ECT-combo) vs. medication alone (Med-alone) in the treatment of acute mania. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ECT-combo versus Med-alone in acute mania were searched in Chinese databases and English databases from their inceptions up to February 2020. Twelve RCTs (including 863 patients, n=863) met our criteria and were included into meta-analysis. The pooled results found that ECT-combo outperformed Med-alone in reducing manic symptoms from baseline to endpoint with a standardized mean difference of -3.50 (95% CI: -4.57, -2.44, p<0.00001). The significant difference occurred after 3-5 treatments or after a 1-week treatment. ECT-combo had significantly increased memory impairment compared to Med-alone. Apart from increased memory impairment in ECT-combo group (SMD=8.33; 95% CI: 2.73 to 25.45, p= 0.0002), no other statistically significant differences in side effects or drop-out rates were found between groups. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that ECT-combo was significantly superior to Med-alone in efficacy and well-tolerated as Med-alone in the acute treatment of mania. However, larger studies with randomized, double-blind design, and standardized treatment regimens are still warranted due to the high heterogeneity of studies included in the present meta-analysis.

PMID:34058715 | DOI:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114019

Arch Oral Biol. 2021 May 27;128:105171. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105171. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the aetiologic agent responsible for black staining of permanent dentition using next-generation sequencing and determine the relationship between caries and black stains.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 systemically healthy patients with black-stained and caries-free (n = 13), black-stained and carious (n = 13), black stain-free and caries-free (n = 13), and black stain-free and carious (n = 13) teeth were enrolled in the study. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) was used for caries classification. Between 08:00 and 10:00, supragingival plaque samples were collected after a minimum of 8-12 h of accumulation and DNA samples were isolated. The samples were processed using the ZymoBIOMICS™ Service. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using mothur at usegalaxy.org. Data were analysed statistically using the Pearson chi-square and Fisher tests.

RESULTS: The number of caries-free teeth (ICDAS 0, 1, and 2) was significantly higher in patients with black stains (p = 0.007).Capnocytophaga (4.8 %), Corynebacterium (3.9 %), and Neisseria (5.4 %) species were the most abundant among all black-stained plaques (carious and caries-free) (p < 0.05). Capnocytophaga (10.8 %), Cardiobacterium (3.6 %), and Rothia (1.72 %) species were detected in the black-stained plaques of caries-free patients (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: This study is one of the first studies examining the microbial composition of dental plaques with black staining in carious and caries-free adult patients using next generation sequencing technology. In the presence of black staining, plaques have an ultimate complex microbial structure. A lower caries burden was noted in the presence of black staining.

PMID:34058724 | DOI:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105171

Food Chem. 2021 May 21;361:130166. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130166. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Use of ‘green biomass’ of the grapevine is gradually extending into the food industry. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the potential of metabolomic fingerprinting for characterization of grapevine leaves and canes. Our method comprises successive aqueous-methanolic extractions, followed by U-HPLC-HRMS/MS. For data processing, PCA and (O)PLS-DA methods were utilized, and mathematical models were validated. We showed that from all factors investigated, harvesting season explained most of the variability between samples, followed by locality combined with farming system. The identified statistically significant metabolites for harvesting season models mostly represented the groups of fatty acids, fatty phenols, (lyso)phospholipids, flavonoids and organic acids. For models of localities with different farming systems, majority of identified metabolites significant for organic farming belonged to groups of fatty acids and their derivatives, terpenoids, sterols, and fat soluble vitamins, whereas for conventional farming, the only identified significant metabolites were the pesticide residues.

PMID:34058658 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130166

Stud Hist Philos Sci. 2021 May 28;88:60-69. doi: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.04.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In what sense are associations between particular markers and complex behaviors made by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and related techniques discoveries of, or entries into the study of, the causes of those behaviors? In this paper, we argue that when applied to individuals, the kinds of probabilistic ’causes’ of complex traits that GWAS-style studies can point towards do not provide the kind of causal information that is useful for generating explanations; they do not, in other words, point towards useful explanations of why particular individuals have the traits that they do. We develop an analogy centered around Galton’s “Quincunx” machine; while each pin might be associated with outcomes of a certain sort, in any particular trial, that pin might be entirely bypassed even if the ball eventually comes to rest in the box most strongly associated with that pin. Indeed, in any particular trial, the actual outcome of a ball hitting a pin might be the opposite of what is usually expected. While we might find particular pins associated with outcomes in the aggregate, these associations will not provide causally relevant information for understanding individual outcomes. In a similar way, the complexities of development likely render impossible any moves from population-level statistical associations between genetic markers and complex behaviors to an understanding of the causal processes by which individuals come to have the traits that they in fact have.

PMID:34058686 | DOI:10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.04.001

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2021 May 23;120:104569. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104569. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Implants for the cure of female genital prolapse still show numerous complications cases that sometimes have dramatic consequences. These implants must be improved to provide physiological support and restore the normal functionalities of the pelvic area. Besides the trend towards lighter meshes, a better understanding of the in vivo role and impact of the mesh implantation is required. This work investigates the mechanical impact of meshes after implantation with regards to the behavior of the native tissues. Three meshes were studied to assess their mechanical and biological impact on the native tissues. An animal study was conducted on rats. Four groups (n = 17/group) underwent surgery. Rats were implanted on the abdominal wall with one of the three polypropylene knitted mesh (one mesh/group). The last group served as control and underwent the same surgery without any mesh implantation. Post-operative complications, contraction, mechanical rigidities, and residual deformation after cyclic loading were collected. Non-parametric statistical comparisons were performed (Kruskal-Wallis) to observe potential differences between implanted and control groups. Mechanical characterization showed that one of the three meshes did not alter the mechanical behavior of the native tissues. On the contrary, the two others drastically increased the rigidities and were also associated with clinical complications. All of the meshes seem to reduce the geometrical lengthening of the biological tissues that comes with repetitive loads. Mechanical aspects might play a key role in the compatibility of the mesh in vivo. One of the three materials that were implanted during an animal study seems to provide better support and adapt more properly to the physiological behavior of the native tissues.

PMID:34058600 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104569

J Psychiatr Res. 2021 May 23;139:125-131. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.039. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Maternal infection is thought to increase the risk of non-affective psychosis including schizophrenia. However, observational studies have produced conflicting results and little is known about the importance of timing of infection in mediating subsequent risk. In this study, we carried out a meta-analysis of observational studies to investigate the risk of maternal infection and subsequent risk of non-affective psychosis. Using seven cohort studies, we found that maternal infection during gestation increased the risk of non-affective psychosis [relative risk (RR): 1.28 (95% CI:1.05-1.57, p = 0.02, I² = 36%)]. A subgroup analysis identified that there was greater risk for schizophrenia alone [RR: 1.65 (95% CI:1.23-2.22, p = 0.0008, I² = 0%)]. In addition, infection during the second trimester resulted in increased risk [RR: 1.63 (95% CI:1.07-2.48, p = 0.02, I² = 7%)], whilst risk during the first and third trimesters did not meet statistical significance. This study highlights maternal infection in gestation as an important environmental risk factor for non-affective psychosis and our findings carry important implications for future disease prevention strategies.

PMID:34058651 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.05.039

Sci Total Environ. 2021 May 25;789:147882. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147882. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Indoor air purifiers are increasingly marketed for their health benefits, but their cardiovascular effects remain unclear. We systematically reviewed and meta-analysed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the cardiovascular effects of indoor air purification interventions in humans of all ages. We searched Embase, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to 22 August 2020. Fourteen cross-over RCTs (18 publications) were included. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly reduced after intervention (-2.28 (95% CI: -3.92, -0.64) mmHg). There were tendencies of reductions in diastolic blood pressure (-0.35 [-1.52, 0.83] mmHg), pulse pressure (PP) (-0.86 [-2.07, 0.34] mmHg), C-reactive protein (-0.23 [-0.63, 0.18] mg/L), and improvement in reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) (0.10 [-0.04, 0.24]) after indoor air purification, although the effects were not statistically significant. However, when restricting the analyses to RCTs using physical-type purifiers only, significant improvements in PP (-1.56 [-2.98, -0.15] mmHg) and RHI (0.13 [0.01, 0.25]) were observed. This study found potential evidence on the short-term cardiovascular benefits of using indoor air purifiers, especially for SBP, PP and RHI. However, under the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework, the overall certainty of evidence was very low, which discourage unsubstantiated claims on the cardiovascular benefits of air purifiers. We have also identified several key methodological limitations, including small sample size, short duration of intervention, and the lack of wash-out period. Further RCTs with larger sample size and longer follow-up duration are needed to clarify the cardiovascular benefits of air purification interventions.

PMID:34058577 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147882

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2020 Nov 17;120:104205. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104205. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We characterized a set of eleven clinically relevant formulations of UHMWPE for total joint replacements. Although their molecular and supermolecular structure were quite similar as evidenced by IR, DSC and SAXS measurements, there were slight differences in their crystallinity (DSC crystallinity ranging from 52 to 61%), which were connected with processing conditions, such as the total radiation dose, thermal treatment and/or addition of biocompatible stabilizers. Mechanical properties were assessed at all length scales, using macroscale compression testing, non-instrumented and instrumented microindentation hardness testing (at loading forces ~500 mN), and nanoindentation hardness testing measured at both higher and lower loading (~4 mN and ~0.6 mN, respectively). In agreement with theoretical predictions, we found linear correlations between UHMWPE crystallinity and its stiffness-related properties (elastic moduli, yield stress, and hardness) at all length scales (macro-, micro- and nanoscale). Detailed statistical evaluation of our dataset showed that the accuracy and precision of the applied methods decreased in the following order: non-instrumented microindentation ≥ instrumented microindentation ≥ macromechanical properties ≥ nanoindentation measured at higher loading forces ≫ nanoindentation measured at lower loading forces. The results confirm that microindentation and nanoindentation at sufficiently high loading forces are reliable methods, suitable for UHMWPE characterization.

PMID:34058599 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.104205