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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Blood group in relation to oral Fordyce’s granules and serum cholesterol level

J Oral Pathol Med. 2023 Apr 10. doi: 10.1111/jop.13432. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The ABO and Rh systems are the most commonly used blood-group systems used to classify blood group globally. A number of studies have shown that ABO blood groups may be associated with an increased serum cholesterol levels which in turn may be related to the presence of oral Fordyce spots or granules. Oral Fordyce’s granules are ectopic sebaceous glands within the oral cavity and are visible through epithelium. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between ABO and Rhesus blood groups and the presence of oral Fordyce’s granules and serum cholesterols level by gender.

METHODS: Following ethical approval and informed consent, 124 subjects were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Clinical oral examination assessed the number of Fordyce’s granules and blood samples were collected to determine the serum cholesterol and ABO/Rh blood-group systems of individual subjects.

RESULTS: Blood group AB+ showed the highest mean of oral Fordyce’s granules number and serum cholesterol level but this was not statistically significant compared to other blood groups. Female subjects in this study who were AB+ were had significantly higher serum cholesterol levels than males.

CONCLUSION: This study indicates an association between ABO blood group, serum cholesterol level and mean number of oral Fordyce’s granules. A larger sample size in a future study is required to ascertain whether number of Fordyce’s granules is an important measure of serum cholesterol, but the study does show that for AB+ individuals, females may have higher serum cholesterol than males.

PMID:37038041 | DOI:10.1111/jop.13432

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Statistically Optimal Cue Integration During Human Spatial Navigation

Psychon Bull Rev. 2023 Apr 10. doi: 10.3758/s13423-023-02254-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In 2007, Cheng and colleagues published their influential review wherein they analyzed the literature on spatial cue interaction during navigation through a Bayesian lens, and concluded that models of optimal cue integration often applied in psychophysical studies could explain cue interaction during navigation. Since then, numerous empirical investigations have been conducted to assess the degree to which human navigators are optimal when integrating multiple spatial cues during a variety of navigation-related tasks. In the current review, we discuss the literature on human cue integration during navigation that has been published since Cheng et al.’s original review. Evidence from most studies demonstrate optimal navigation behavior when humans are presented with multiple spatial cues. However, applications of optimal cue integration models vary in their underlying assumptions (e.g., uninformative priors and decision rules). Furthermore, cue integration behavior depends in part on the nature of the cues being integrated and the navigational task (e.g., homing versus non-home goal localization). We discuss the implications of these models and suggest directions for future research.

PMID:37038031 | DOI:10.3758/s13423-023-02254-w

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Does metabolic syndrome affect perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing robotic hepatectomy? A propensity score-matched analysis

Surg Endosc. 2023 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s00464-023-10047-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a known risk factor for postoperative complications after general surgical procedures. Literature analyzing perioperative outcomes of patients with metabolic syndrome undergoing a minimally invasive hepatectomy is limited. We sought to investigate if metabolic syndrome significantly impacts the perioperative course and outcomes of patients undergoing robotic hepatectomy.

METHODS: With IRB, we prospectively followed patients who underwent robotic hepatectomy from 2016 through 2020. A 1:1 propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis was applied to patients with and without metabolic syndrome. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed for those cohorts before and after PSM. Metabolic syndrome was defined as BMI ≥ 28.8 kg/m2, diabetes, and hypertension.

RESULTS: A total of 272 patients underwent robotic hepatectomy, 39 (14%) of whom had metabolic syndrome. After performing PSM, we ended up with 74 patients, 37 in each cohort, 28% of them had liver cirrhosis. Patients with metabolic syndrome had higher BMI (34 ± 5.6 vs. 28 ± 5.9 kg/m2, p < 0.001) and MELD scores (10 ± 4.5 vs. 8 ± 3.2, p < 0.001) compared to patients without metabolic syndrome. Additionally, patients with metabolic syndrome had an increased incidence of liver cirrhosis (33% vs. 9%, p = 0.0002). Following PSM, BMI (34 ± 5.7 vs. 26 ± 4.4 kg/m2, p < 0.001) was the only preoperative variables associated with metabolic syndrome. There were no statistical differences before and after PSM between patients with and without metabolic syndrome in terms of intraoperative metrics including operative time, blood loss, conversion to ‘open,’ and intraoperative complications. All postoperative outcomes metrics before and after PSM did not correlate with the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome had no impact on intra- or postoperative metrics, complications, or outcomes after robotic hepatectomy. We believe that the robotic approach may mitigate the adverse effects of metabolic syndrome for patients undergoing robotic hepatectomy.

PMID:37038021 | DOI:10.1007/s00464-023-10047-4

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A novel S2-derived peptide-based ELISA for broad detection of antibody against infectious bronchitis virus

Poult Sci. 2023 Mar 17;102(6):102661. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102661. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious disease caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Vaccination is an effective approach for controlling IBV. Therefore, reliable immune monitoring for IB is critical for poultry. In this study, a novel peptide derived from S2 protein was used to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of broadly cross-reactive antibodies against IBV. The peptide-based ELISA (pELISA) showed good specificity and sensitivity in detecting IBV antibodies against different serotypes. A semilogarithmic regression method for determining IBV antibody titers was also established. Antibody titers detected by pELISA and calculated with this equation were statistically similar to those evaluated by indirect fluorescence assay (IFA). Moreover, the comparison analysis showed a 96.07% compatibility between the pELISA and IDEXX ELISA. All these data demonstrate that the pELISA generated here can be as a rapid and reliable serological surveillance tool for monitoring IBV infection or vaccination.

PMID:37037098 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2023.102661

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Glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix: Findings from a combined National Cancer Database analysis and single institution review of treatment patterns and outcomes

Gynecol Oncol. 2023 Apr 8;173:15-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.03.023. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To describe stage, treatment patterns, and survival for glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix (GCCC), a poorly understood rare tumor.

METHODS: Clinical data and survival were compared between GCCC and more common histologic types using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2017. A retrospective review of GCCC cases at our institution from 2012 to 2020 was simultaneously performed with staging updated according to 2018 FIGO staging. Descriptive statistics and survival analyses were performed, and outcomes compared to historical references.

RESULTS: 143/89,001 (0.16%) NCDB cervical cancer cases were GCCC. Compared to other histologies, GCCC cases were younger, with 74.8% diagnosed before age 50. Stage distribution was similar. Stage I cases were less commonly treated with surgery alone (19/69, 27%). 79.4% of locally advanced (stage II-IVA) cases were treated with definitive chemoradiation. GCCC demonstrated worse OS for early-stage and locally-advanced disease. No survival differences were observed for patients with stage IVB disease. Our institutional review identified 14 GCCC cases. Median age at diagnosis was 34 years. All nine early-stage cases underwent radical hysterectomy. Adjuvant radiation was given for cases meeting Sedlis criteria (4/9, 44%). All five advanced stage cases were stage IIIC and received definitive chemoradiation. Recurrence rate was 0% (0/9) for early-stage and 60% (3/5) for advanced-stage cases. 3-year PFS was 100% for early-stage and 40% for advanced-stage. 3-year OS was 100% for early-stage and 60% for advanced-stage GCCC.

CONCLUSIONS: GCCC presents at earlier ages than other cervical cancer histologic types. Although NCDB showed worse OS, our more contemporary institutional review, which incorporates updated staging and newer treatment modalities found outcomes more similar to historical references of more common histologic subtypes.

PMID:37037083 | DOI:10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.03.023

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Early-onset Parkinson’s disease: An assessment of unmet psychosocial needs

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2023 Apr 6;110:105395. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105395. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Early onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD) affects people in the prime of their lives, typically between 21 and 50 years of age, which results in a variety of challenges that are unique compared to those diagnosed later in life. A better understanding of the unmet needs of this population is critical to delivering bespoke care and improving their quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the unmet needs of people with early onset Parkinson’s disease.

METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 198 adults with self-identified early onset Parkinson’s disease completed surveys to ascertain the most common unmet needs of this population. Simple descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, and standard deviations were used to quantify the most common unmet needs and were compared between men, women, and Hispanic/Latino with significance determined by chi-square tests.

RESULTS: Overall, the top five unmet needs were (1) need for “a community more like me” (65.2%), (2) more PD information (48%), (3) information about how their PD will progress (47%), (4) help with mental health issues (34.8%), and (5) help with employment issues (33.8%). The top unmet need for men was help with employment issues (50.8%), for women, “a community more like me” (72.3%), and for Hispanic/Latinos, more PD information (47%).

CONCLUSION: Although the number of people living with EOPD is considerably smaller than those with conventional age at onset, the potential impact to quality of life in this population remains tremendous. We propose a framework to start to address these needs.

PMID:37037068 | DOI:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105395

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The beneficial effects of integrating a personalized telephone-delivered component into digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in a large, hospital-based population

Sleep Med. 2023 Mar 28;106:25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.03.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Although digital cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (D-CBTI) has been shown to be a viable treatment for insomnia, lacking flexibility of response and direct practitioner-to-patient contact and comfort potentially limited its efficacy. Integrating personalized telephone sessions into D-CBTI may overcome these obstacles, potentially providing additional clinical benefit to chronic insomnia patients. We evaluate the clinical effectiveness of telephone plus D-CBTI (TD-CBTI) versus D-CBTI alone.

METHODS: Insomnia patients were selected consecutively from the Sleep Medicine Center, West China Hospital from March 2020 to February 2021. Insomnia was defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders criteria with symptoms lasting ≥3 months. Standard D-CBTI was administered through the APP “SUMIAN,” which provided fully automated, interactive and standard CBTI over six weekly treatments. TD-CBTI added weekly 10-15 min personalized telephone-based sessions to D-CBTI.

RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients received D-CBTI and 465 patients received TD-CBTI. Pre-to posttreatment differences of ISI and most sleep diary reported sleep indexes were comparable between groups. However, TD-CBTI patients showed significantly increased odds of SE based remission (167%, OR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.34-5.23), and significantly increased odds of reduction of sleep medications (352%, OR = 4.52, 95% CI 1.27-10.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that integration of personalized telephone sessions into D-CBTI treatment, provides increased clinical benefit to insomnia patients, particularly for successful discontinuation of sleep medications.

PMID:37037053 | DOI:10.1016/j.sleep.2023.03.012

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Outcomes after robotic thymectomy in nonthymomatous versus thymomatous patients with acetylcholine-receptor-antibody-associated myasthenia gravis

Neuromuscul Disord. 2023 Mar 16;33(5):417-424. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2023.03.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the surgical and long-term neurological outcomes of patients with acetylcholine-receptor-antibody-associated myasthenia gravis (AChR-MG) who underwent robotic thymectomy (RATS). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical-pathological data of all patients with AChR-MG who underwent RATS using the DaVinci® Robotic System at the MUMC+ between April 2004 and December 2018. Follow-up data were collected from 60 referring Dutch hospitals. In total, 230 myasthenic patients including 76 patients with a thymoma (33.0%) were enrolled in this study. Mean follow-up time, procedure time and hospitalization were, respectively 65.7 ± 43.1 months, 111±52.5 min and 3.3 ± 2.2 days. Thymomatous patients had significantly more frequently and more severe complications than nonthymomatous patients (18.4% vs. 3.9%, p<0.001). Follow up data was available in 71.7% of the included patients. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America postintervention score showed any kind of improvement of MG-symptoms after RATS in 82.4% of the patients. Complete stable remission (CSR) or pharmacological remission (PR) of MG was observed in 8.4% and 39.4% of the patients, respectively. Mean time till CSR/PR remission after thymectomy was 26.2 ± 29.2 months. No statistical difference was found in remission or improvement in MGFA scale between thymomatous and nonthymomatous patients. RATS is safe and feasible in patients with MG. The majority of the patients (82.4%) improved after thymectomy. CSR and PR were observed in 8.4% and 39.4% of the patients, respectively, with a mean of 26.2 months after thymectomy. Thymomatous patients had more frequently and more severe complications compared to nonthymomatous patients.

PMID:37037051 | DOI:10.1016/j.nmd.2023.03.005

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The intensity of empathy in adolescents treated in a day unit – preliminary reports

Psychiatr Pol. 2022 Dec 23:1-14. doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/154985. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the pilot study was to compare the level of empathy among adolescents treated in a psychiatric day unit in groups with varied age, gender and type of disorder (conduct and emotional disorders and depressive-anxiety disorders).

METHODS: The study was carried out in a group of 117 adolescents (69 girls and 48 boys) aged 13-20, treated in the Clinical Day Unit of the Department of Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University Hospital in Kraków between 2016-2021. The Davis Empathy Scale and the Cohen Empathy Scale were used for the study.

RESULTS: Girls scored significantly higher compared to boys on the Cohen and Davis Empathy scales and on the Davis subscale: Personal Distress. Statistically significant interactions were observed for the factors of gender and age, as well as age and disorder type. Older boys had statistically significantly higher scores on the Davis Empathy Scale compared to younger boys, while the reverse pattern was observed for girls (non-significant). Older patients with conduct disorders had significantly lower Cohen’s Empathy Scale scores compared to younger patients; the opposite pattern was observed in the group of patients with anxiety-depressive disorders (non-significant).

CONCLUSIONS: Girls exhibit higher levels of affective and cognitive empathy than boys. The intensity of empathy increases with age in the group of boys, while for girls the obtained differences are not statistically significant. The intensity of empathy is significantly lower in the group of older adolescents (versus younger) with conduct and emotional disorders. Among depressive-anxiety disorders, the opposite pattern was noted (non-significant). The unique results obtained indicate a different trajectory of empathy development in the group of patients with conduct disorders and with depressive-anxiety disorders.

PMID:37037044 | DOI:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/154985

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Sensitivity to Control Signals in Triphasic Rhythmic Neural Systems: A Comparative Mechanistic Analysis via Infinitesimal Local Timing Response Curves

Neural Comput. 2023 Apr 6:1-58. doi: 10.1162/neco_a_01586. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Similar activity patterns may arise from model neural networks with distinct coupling properties and individual unit dynamics. These similar patterns may, however, respond differently to parameter variations and specifically to tuning of inputs that represent control signals. In this work, we analyze the responses resulting from modulation of a localized input in each of three classes of model neural networks that have been recognized in the literature for their capacity to produce robust three-phase rhythms: coupled fast-slow oscillators, near-heteroclinic oscillators, and threshold-linear networks. Triphasic rhythms, in which each phase consists of a prolonged activation of a corresponding subgroup of neurons followed by a fast transition to another phase, represent a fundamental activity pattern observed across a range of central pattern generators underlying behaviors critical to survival, including respiration, locomotion, and feeding. To perform our analysis, we extend the recently developed local timing response curve (lTRC), which allows us to characterize the timing effects due to perturbations, and we complement our lTRC approach with model-specific dynamical systems analysis. Interestingly, we observe disparate effects of similar perturbations across distinct model classes. Thus, this work provides an analytical framework for studying control of oscillations in nonlinear dynamical systems and may help guide model selection in future efforts to study systems exhibiting triphasic rhythmic activity.

PMID:37037042 | DOI:10.1162/neco_a_01586