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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Risk assessment for sandwich vertebral fractures in the treatment of osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures using two methods of bone cement reinforcement

J Orthop Surg Res. 2023 Jul 22;18(1):524. doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-04006-x.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Bone cement augmentation surgery includes percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk of sandwich vertebral fractures in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures via PVP and PKP.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective analytical study and included 61 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who underwent PVP and PKP at the Spinal Surgery Department of The Second Hospital of Liaocheng Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University from January 2019 to January 2022. These patients were divided into the following two groups by simple random sampling: group A (N = 30) underwent PVP treatment and group B (N = 31) underwent PKP treatment. The surgical time, fluoroscopy frequency, visual analog scale (VAS) score, amount of bone cement, the leakage rate of bone cement in intervertebral space, Cobb angle, and the incidence of fractures in both groups of sandwich vertebral were recorded after 1 year of follow-up.

RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in terms of surgical time, fluoroscopy frequency, and VAS score between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was found in terms of the amount of bone cement, the leakage rate of bone cement intervertebral space, Cobb angle, and the incidence of vertebral body fractures in both groups (P < 0.05). The amount of bone cement, the leakage rate of bone cement in intervertebral space, Cobb angle, and sandwich vertebral fractures were higher in Group A than in Group B.

CONCLUSIONS: When PVP and PKP were performed to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, the sandwich vertebral exhibited a risk of fracture. PVP exhibited a greater relative risk than PKP, which may be due to the relatively larger amount of bone cement, higher rate of bone cement leakage in the intervertebral space, and larger Cobb angle.

PMID:37481567 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-023-04006-x

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Melanoma cells induce dedifferentiation and metabolic changes in adipocytes present in the tumor niche

Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2023 Jul 22;28(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s11658-023-00476-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: One of the factors that affect the progression of melanoma is the tumor microenvironment, which consists of cellular elements, extracellular matrix, acidification, and a hypoxic state. Adipocytes are one of the types of cell present in the niche and are localized in the deepest layer of the skin. However, the relationship between fat cells and melanoma remains unclear.

METHODS: We assessed the influence of melanoma cells on adipocytes using an indirect coculture system. We estimated the level of cancer-associated adipocyte (CAA) markers through quantitative PCR analysis. The fibroblastic phenotype of CAAs was confirmed by cell staining and western blotting analysis. The lipid content was estimated by lipid detection in CAAs using LipidSpot and by quantitative analysis using Oil Red O. The expression of proteins involved in lipid synthesis, delipidation, and metabolic processes were assessed through quantitative PCR or western blotting analysis. Lactate secretion was established using a Lactate-Glo™ assay. Proteins secreted by CAAs were identified in cytokine and angiogenesis arrays. The proliferation of melanoma cells cocultured with CAAs was assessed using an XTT proliferation assay. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test in GraphPad Prism 7 software.

RESULTS: Obtained CAAs were identified by decreased levels of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and FABP4. Adipocytes cocultured with melanoma presented fibroblastic features, such as a similar proteolytic pattern to that of 3T3L1 fibroblasts and increased levels of vimentin and TGFβRIII. Melanoma cells led to a reduction of lipid content in CAAs, possibly by downregulation of lipid synthesis pathways (lower FADS, SC4MOL, FASN) or enhancement of lipolysis (higher level of phosphorylation of ERK and STAT3). Adipocytes cocultured with melanoma cells secreted higher IL6 and SerpinE1 levels and produced less CCL2, CXCL1, and angiogenic molecules. CAAs also showed metabolic changes comprising the increased secretion of lactate and enhanced production of glucose, lactate, and ion transporters. In addition, changes in adipocytes observed following melanoma coculture resulted in a higher proliferation rate of cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma cells led to decreased lipid content in adipocytes, which might be related to enhanced delipidation or reduction of lipid synthesis. Fibroblast-like CAAs showed metabolic changes that may be the reason for accelerated proliferation of melanoma cells.

PMID:37481560 | DOI:10.1186/s11658-023-00476-3

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Statistical analysis plan for a cluster randomised trial in Madhya Pradesh, India: support to rural India’s public education system and impact on numeracy and literacy scores (STRIPES2)

Trials. 2023 Jul 22;24(1):469. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07453-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: India has made steady progress in improving rates of primary school enrolment but levels of learning achievement remain low. The Support To Rural India’s Public Education System (STRIPES) trial provided evidence that an after-school para-teacher intervention improved numeracy and literacy levels in Telangana, India. The STRIPES2 trial investigates whether such an intervention will have a similar effect on the literacy and numeracy of primary school age children in the Satna District of Madhya Pradesh, India.

METHODS/DESIGN: The STRIPES2 trial forms one part of a cluster-randomised controlled trial with villages (clusters) randomised to receive either a health (CHAMPION2) or education (STRIPES2) intervention. Building on the design of the earlier CHAMPION/STRIPES trial, villages receiving the health intervention are controls for the education intervention and vice versa. The primary outcome is a combined literacy and numeracy score. Secondary outcomes include separate scores for literacy and numeracy; caregivers’ engagement with child’s learning; expenditure on education; enrolment in school; caregiver’s report of school attendance and the cost effectiveness of the intervention. Over 7000 primary school age children have been recruited and randomised in STRIPES2.

DISCUSSION: This update to the published trial protocol gives a detailed plan for the statistical analysis of the STRIPES 2 trial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registry of India: CTRI/2019/05/019296. Registered on 23 May 2019. http://www.ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pdf_generate.php?trialid=31198&EncHid=&modid=&compid=%27,%2731198det%27.

PMID:37481559 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-023-07453-3

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An examination of the factors associated with male partner attendance in antenatal care in India

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023 Jul 22;23(1):532. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05851-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A growing body of literature indicates that including male partners in antenatal care can be instrumental to improving women’s health service utilization and maternal and child health outcomes. Despite this, very few studies have documented overall trends in male partner attendance and what factors influence this involvement within the Indian context. In this study, we used nationally representative data to examine levels of male partner attendance in antenatal care and the factors associated with male partner attendance.

METHODS: Data were used from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) conducted in 2015-16. Weighted (probability weights) descriptive statistics were conducted to summarize the level of male partner attendance in antenatal care in India, and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to estimate the factors associated with male partner attendance in antenatal care.

RESULTS: In 2015, of the women who had attended at least one antenatal care contact during their pregnancy, about 85% reported that their male partners had accompanied them to antenatal care contacts, with variations across regions. Level of education, household wealth, knowledge of pregnancy-related issues, men’s age at marriage, region, and women’s level of autonomy emerged as significant predictors of male partner attendance in antenatal care.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight the multiple influences that shape male partners’ attendance in antenatal care. The findings underscore the need for a multi-faceted approach to programs and interventions aimed at encouraging male partner involvement; recognizing men both as individuals, as well as being situated within the family/household and community.

PMID:37481558 | DOI:10.1186/s12884-023-05851-8

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Effects of self-perceived psychological stress on clinical symptoms, cortisol, and cortisol/ACTH ratio in patients with burning mouth syndrome

BMC Oral Health. 2023 Jul 22;23(1):513. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03235-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Psychological stress is a crucial parameter in defining the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). We hypothesized that the level of psychological stress in patients with BMS would correlate with severity of clinical symptoms, cortisol levels, and cortisol/ adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) ratio. We aimed to comprehensively investigate the influence of clinical and hematologic parameters on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, particularly concerning the presence or absence of self-perceived psychological stress in patients with BMS. In addition, we aimed to identify parameters predicting psychological stress in these patients.

METHODS: One hundred and forty-one patients with BMS (117 women, 82.98%; 56.21 ± 13.92 years) were divided into psychological stress (n = 68; 55 females, 56.39 ± 12.89 years) and non-psychological stress groups (n = 73; 62 females, 56.03 ± 14.90 years), and inter- and intra-group statistical analyses were conducted. Significant predictors of psychological stress in patients with BMS were investigated through multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: The prevalence of xerostomia was significantly higher (67.6% vs. 34.2%, p < 0.001), while unstimulated salivary flow rate was lower (0.66 ± 0.59 vs. 0.91 ± 0.53 mL/min, p < 0.01) in the psychological stress group than in the non-psychological stress group. SCL-90R subscale values for somatization, hostility, anxiety, and depression, as well as cortisol and ACTH levels and the cortisol/ACTH ratio, were also higher in the psychological stress group (all p < 0.05). Above-mean values for cortisol (AUC = 0.980, 95%CI: 0.959-1.000) and cortisol/ACTH (AUC = 0.779; 95%CI, 0.701-0.856) were excellent predictors of psychological stress, with cortisol (r = 0.831, p < 0.01) and cortisol/ACTH (r = 0.482, p < 0.01) demonstrating substantial correlations. Above-average values for cortisol (OR = 446.73) and cortisol/ACTH (OR = 6.159) significantly increased incidence of psychological stress in patients with BMS (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with BMS, xerostomia, decreased salivary flow rate, increased cortisol levels, and cortisol/ACTH ratio were associated with psychological stress, highlighting the psycho-neuro-endocrinological features of this condition. Cortisol and cortisol/ACTH ratio were strong predictors of psychological stress in patients with BMS.

PMID:37481556 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-023-03235-0

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Evaluation of Bayesian spatiotemporal infectious disease models for prospective surveillance analysis

BMC Med Res Methodol. 2023 Jul 22;23(1):171. doi: 10.1186/s12874-023-01987-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 brought enormous challenges to public health surveillance and underscored the importance of developing and maintaining robust systems for accurate surveillance. As public health data collection efforts expand, there is a critical need for infectious disease modeling researchers to continue to develop prospective surveillance metrics and statistical models to accommodate the modeling of large disease counts and variability. This paper evaluated different likelihoods for the disease count model and various spatiotemporal mean models for prospective surveillance.

METHODS: We evaluated Bayesian spatiotemporal models, which are the foundation for model-based infectious disease surveillance metrics. Bayesian spatiotemporal mean models based on the Poisson and the negative binomial likelihoods were evaluated with the different lengths of past data usage. We compared their goodness of fit and short-term prediction performance with both simulated epidemic data and real data from the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS: The simulation results show that the negative binomial likelihood-based models show better goodness of fit results than Poisson likelihood-based models as deemed by smaller deviance information criteria (DIC) values. However, Poisson models yield smaller mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute one-step prediction error (MAOSPE) results when we use a shorter length of the past data such as 7 and 3 time periods. Real COVID-19 data analysis of New Jersey and South Carolina shows similar results for the goodness of fit and short-term prediction results. Negative binomial-based mean models showed better performance when we used the past data of 52 time periods. Poisson-based mean models showed comparable goodness of fit performance and smaller MSE and MAOSPE results when we used the past data of 7 and 3 time periods.

CONCLUSION: We evaluate these models and provide future infectious disease outbreak modeling guidelines for Bayesian spatiotemporal analysis. Our choice of the likelihood and spatiotemporal mean models was influenced by both historical data length and variability. With a longer length of past data usage and more over-dispersed data, the negative binomial likelihood shows a better model fit than the Poisson likelihood. However, as we use a shorter length of the past data for our surveillance analysis, the difference between the Poisson and the negative binomial models becomes smaller. In this case, the Poisson likelihood shows robust posterior mean estimate and short-term prediction results.

PMID:37481553 | DOI:10.1186/s12874-023-01987-5

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Association between dietary inflammatory index and infertility of women; Results from RaNCD Cohort Study

Nutr J. 2023 Jul 22;22(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12937-023-00865-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, more and more attention has been paid to the influence of nutrition on reproductive health. Nevertheless, the imminent association between diet-related inflammation and the risk of infertility has not yet been established. The aim of the current study was to investigate the ability of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) to estimate infertility incidence in women.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD) cohort study on 4437 participants. The DII was calculated based on the reported consumption of up to 31 food parameters measured via a validated and reproducible 118-item food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the multivariable odds ratio (OR) adjusted for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS: Out of all participants, 411 women (9.26%) were infertile. The mean ± SD age and weight of infertile women were 43.67 ± 7.47 years and 72.86 ± 13.02 kg, respectively. Statistical analyses showed the odds ratio of infertility in the fourth quartile (pro-inflammatory diet) was 1.76 times higher than in the first quartile (anti-inflammatory diet) of DII (95% CI: 1.57-2.02).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide compelling evidence about the association between infertility and the quality of diet in women. Therefore, interventions and programs aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and using healthy diets can be considered as one of the effective approaches in the prevention and treatment of infertility in women.

PMID:37481550 | DOI:10.1186/s12937-023-00865-6

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Symptomatic Carotid Atheroma Inflammation Lumen-stenosis score compared with Oxford and Essen risk scores to predict recurrent stroke in symptomatic carotid stenosis

Eur Stroke J. 2023 Jul 22:23969873231186911. doi: 10.1177/23969873231186911. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Oxford Carotid Stenosis tool (OCST) and Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS) are validated to predict recurrent stroke in patients with and without carotid stenosis. The Symptomatic Carotid Atheroma Inflammation Lumen stenosis (SCAIL) score combines stenosis and plaque inflammation on fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (18FDG-PET). We compared SCAIL with OCST and ESRS to predict ipsilateral stroke recurrence in symptomatic carotid stenosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We pooled three prospective cohort studies of patients with recent (<30 days) non-severe ischaemic stroke/TIA and internal carotid artery stenosis (>50%). All patients had carotid 18FDG-PET/CT angiography and late follow-up, with censoring at carotid revascularisation.

RESULTS: Of 212 included patients, 16 post-PET ipsilateral recurrent strokes occurred in 343 patient-years follow-up (median 42 days (IQR 13-815)).Baseline SCAIL predicted recurrent stroke (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.96, CI 1.20-3.22, p = 0.007, adjusted HR 2.37, CI 1.31-4.29, p = 0.004). The HR for OCST was 0.996 (CI 0.987-1.006, p = 0.49) and for ESRS was 1.26 (CI 0.87-1.82, p = 0.23) (all per 1-point score increase). C-statistics were: SCAIL 0.66 (CI 0.51-0.80), OCST 0.52 (CI 0.40-0.64), ESRS 0.61 (CI 0.48-0.74). Compared with ESRS, addition of plaque inflammation (SUVmax) to ESRS improved risk prediction when analysed continuously (HR 1.51, CI 1.05-2.16, p = 0.03) and categorically (ptrend = 0.005 for risk increase across groups; HR 3.31, CI 1.42-7.72, p = 0.006; net reclassification improvement 10%). Findings were unchanged by further addition of carotid stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS: SCAIL predicted recurrent stroke, had discrimination better than chance, and improved the prognostic utility of ESRS, suggesting that measuring plaque inflammation may improve risk stratification in carotid stenosis.

PMID:37480278 | DOI:10.1177/23969873231186911

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First Report of Anthracnose on Dioscorea opposita Caused by Colletotrichum siamense in Guangdong province in China

Plant Dis. 2023 Jul 21. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-04-23-0617-PDN. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Yam is the world’s fourth most important tuber crop, after cassava, potato, and sweet potato in the world, the cultivation area of yam from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division database (FAOSTAT) is about 8,831,037 ha in 2020. Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) is an economically important root crop throughout China due to its high economic and medicinal value. South China including Guangdong and Guangxi provinces is one of the important production districts of Chinese yam with economic value. A disease affecting the leaves was observed on yam leaves in August 2021 with an incidence of 20 to 90% in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Symptoms start as pinpoint lesions on yam leaves which enlarged to oval spots and large irregular spots. The spots were brown and surrounded by a chlorotic halo with sunken cavities, which are typical symptoms of anthracnose. To identify the causal agent, 9 symptomatic leaves from 3 different districts were collected in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Leaf samples were disinfested with 1% NaOCl for 3 min, and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 28 °C for 3 days week. 9 single-spore isolates were recovered from each PDA medium. Colonies on PDA were grayish white with bright orange conidial spore masses. Fungal mycelia were hyaline, septate, and branched. Conidia were born on a long conidiogenous cell, straight, hyaline and cylindrical with rounded ends, 5.3 to 6.8×15.2 to 21.3μm (n = 50). Appressoria were dark, smooth-walled, oval in shape. The isolates were morphologically identified as Colletotrichum sp. (Weir et al. 2012). 3 strains were used for the pathogenicity test, 5 plants at creeping stage were inoculated with each isolate separately and 3-5 leaves of each plant were inoculated. Fresh wounds were made with a sterile needle on the healthy surface of yam leaves and each leaf was covered with a piece of cotton drenched with conidial suspension (106 conidia/mL) from each isolate. Control seedlings were inoculated identically except sterile water was used. Inoculated plants were placed in a moisturizing light incubator at 25℃ and 80% humidity under a 12-h light/dark cycle for 7 days and examined daily to monitor disease symptom development. Small round brown spots were observed at the inoculation sites 3 days after the inoculation and eventually became large brown lesions. No symptoms wre observed in the water-inoculated plants. A Colletotrichum sp. strain based on morphology was reisolated from inoculated leaves, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. For molecular identification, the direct colony PCR method (Lu et al. 2012) was used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, calmodulin (Cal), tubulin (Tub) and Apmat loci of three isolates using primer pairs of ITS4/ITS5, CL1C/CL2C, T1/T2 and AM-F/AM-R (Sharma et al. 2015). A phylogenetic tree derived from a maximum likelihood analysis of a concatenated alignment of ITS, Cal, Tub and ApMAT sequences was created. The accession numbers of the three isolates YamZJCS, YamSXCS and YamYLCS used in this study were OP128056-OP128058 for ITS, OP128059-OP128061 for ApMAT,OP128062-OP128064 for Cal and OP128065-OP128067 for Tub. The sequences of the 3 isolates were aligned with related species of Colletotrichum (Sharma et al. 2015). Analyses based on concatenated data sets of 4 genes showed that the sequences had high levels of identity to that of the C. siamense strains. According to both morphological and sequence analyses, the pathogen was identified as C. siamense. There were reports of anthracnose on yam caused by Colletotrichum sp. in Guangxi (Zhu et al. 2007), Hainan (Lin et al. 2018) and Jiangsu (Han et al. 2020) provinces in China. To our knowledge, this is the first report of anthracnose on D. opposita caused by C. siamense in Guangdong province in China.

PMID:37480250 | DOI:10.1094/PDIS-04-23-0617-PDN

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Use of a Flexible Ruler in Measuring the Length of Artificial Stapes During Stapedotomy Under Otoendoscopy

Med Sci Monit. 2023 Jul 22;29:e940337. doi: 10.12659/MSM.940337.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND We explored a new method for measuring the length of artificial stapes during stapedotomy in otoendoscopic middle-ear surgery using a flexible ruler. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 56 cases of otosclerosis, comprising 56 ears with a follow-up of over 6 months and complete data. Patients were admitted to the Department of Otology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital from July 2020 to June 2022. SPSS statistical software was used for efficacy analysis. The results of different measurement methods on the implantation time of the prosthesis and postoperative hearing follow-up were compared. RESULTS The 56 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. In 1 case measured by the metal measuring stick, the prosthesis was too short and was replaced during the operation; 2 patients experienced transient dizziness postoperatively, and the other patients had no surgical complications. All 56 patients had varying degrees of hearing improvement after surgery, and no dislocation of the ossicular chain was observed during the follow-up. There was a statistically significant difference in the implantation time of the prosthesis between the different measurement methods (P<0.05). The improvement in hearing in the flexible ruler group was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The selection of the length of the ossicular prosthesis is a crucial step in the operation and can directly affect hearing outcomes. The use of a flexible ruler to measure prosthesis length can significantly shorten operation time and improve hearing, and the ruler is easily obtainable. It is worth promoting its application in ear endoscopic stapedotomy.

PMID:37480226 | DOI:10.12659/MSM.940337