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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Particle Property Characterization and Data Curation for Effective Powder Property Modeling in the Pharmaceutical Industry

AAPS PharmSciTech. 2022 Oct 19;23(8):286. doi: 10.1208/s12249-022-02434-2.

ABSTRACT

Computational modeling, machine learning, and statistical data analysis are increasingly utilized to mitigate chemistry, manufacturing, and control failures related to particle properties in solid dosage form manufacture. Advances in particle characterization techniques and computational approaches provide unprecedented opportunities to explore relationships between particle morphology and drug product manufacturability. Achieving this, however, has numerous challenges such as producing and appropriately curating robust particle size and shape data. Addressing these challenges requires a harmonized strategy from material sampling practices, characterization technique selection, and data curation to provide data sets which are informative on material properties. Herein, common sources of error in particle characterization and data compression are reviewed, and a proposal for providing robust particle morphology (size and shape) data to support modeling efforts, approaches for data curation, and the outlook for modeling particle properties are discussed.

PMID:36261755 | DOI:10.1208/s12249-022-02434-2

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Geoenvironmental approach to investigate surface and groundwater pollution-related problems in water-sensitive regions

Environ Monit Assess. 2022 Oct 19;194(12):928. doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-10593-9.

ABSTRACT

The desert environment is a clean, dynamic system due to its remoteness from human interventions. Yet, sometimes it is approached by anthropogenic activities that change its balanced ecosystem. The present study states that the non-planned construction of wastewater plants has affected the environment and led to water resource deterioration. The presented approach is based on the integration of hydrogeologic data together with remote sensing and GIS applications as well as statistical, chemical, biochemical, and bacteriological analyses of water samples. The groundwater showed high salinity values (up to 13,236 mg/l) where it is extracted from two coastal aquifers; the Middle Miocene aquifer represents the main one, while the Pleistocene aquifer is of limited use. The obtained results reveal the existence of pollution indicators in both stored rainwater and groundwater where the colony bacteria, NO3, chemical and biological oxygen demands, and total organic carbon exceed the permissible limits. The satellite images acquired between 2003 and 2021 demonstrated a land use change through the construction of a wastewater plant with two forests that led to the spreading of the partially treated water over the Marmarica Plateau. The photogeological lineaments are extracted where the plateau is affected by many faults (NE-SW, NW-SE, and E-W) that facilitate surface-groundwater interaction. The results indicate that the studied groundwater becomes vulnerable to the existing pollution sources, with the possibility of being affected by climate change and saltwater intrusion. Therefore, this integrated approach is presented to assess the current environmental problems and suggests a strategy to mitigate the pollution hazards.

PMID:36261750 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-022-10593-9

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effectiveness of periodontal treatment to improve glycemic control: an umbrella review

Acta Diabetol. 2022 Oct 19. doi: 10.1007/s00592-022-01991-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of the present umbrella review was to systematically assess existing evidence on the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy, both per se’ and with adjuvants, on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontitis and to combine quantitative data with a meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A detailed study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021222279). Four electronic databases (Medline via Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Scielo) were searched independently and in duplicate to identify potentially eligible systematic reviews up to March 2022. Two pre-calibrated independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction and quality assessment with two checklists (AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA). Moreover, general characteristics of primary studies included in each systematic review were abstracted, and JADAD scale was used to assess the risk of bias for included randomized controlled trials. Data from the individual studies included in each meta-analysis were analyzed, using both fixed and random effect model. The statistical heterogeneity was calculated using the Q test and the I2 index. The publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and Egger’s linear regression method.

RESULTS: Sixteen systematic reviews, published between 2010 and 2021, were included for qualitative synthesis. From these systematic reviews, a total of 27 studies were included in the meta-analysis: all of them were randomized clinical trials, except 1 controlled clinical study. A statistically significant mean difference of – 0.49% and of – 0.38% HbA1c reductions was seen respectively at 3- and 6-month post-treatment, favoring the treatment group (non-surgical periodontal therapy alone) compared to the control group (no treatment). The effect of periodontal treatment with the adjunctive use of antibiotics or laser on the glycemic control was not statistically significant compared to non-surgical periodontal therapy alone.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study, within its limitations, indicated that non-surgical treatment of periodontitis is an efficacious therapy for improving the glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, both at 3- and 6-month follow-up.

PMID:36261746 | DOI:10.1007/s00592-022-01991-z

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Characteristics and outcomes of severe sports-related injury in children and adults: a nationwide cohort study in Japan

Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2022 Oct 20. doi: 10.1007/s00068-022-02144-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Understanding epidemiological patterns in patients with severe sports-related injuries between children and adults is important for injury prevention. We ought to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients with severe sports-related injuries and compare the characteristics between children and adults.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Japan Trauma Data Bank (JTDB). We included patients with sports-related injury and an ISS of at least 16, who were admitted between 2004 and 2018. We compared characteristics between children (< 18 years) and adults (≥ 18 years). We performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to compare in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS: We identified 1369 eligible patients (children, n = 326; adults, n = 1043). The most common season was April-June and July-September in children (28.5% and 27.9%) and January-March in adults (42.1%). Injuries to the head/neck (58.9% vs. 40.8%, p < 0.001) and abdomen (16.0% vs. 8.3%, p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent in children than adults, while injuries to the thorax (8.0% vs. 27.2%, p < 0.001), pelvis/lower extremity (0.6% vs. 6.0%, p < 0.001), and spine (23.9% vs. 35.3%, p < 0.001) were less frequent in children. We did not observe a statistically significant difference in in-hospital mortality between children and adults.

CONCLUSIONS: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of severe sports-related injuries using a nationwide trauma database and demonstrated different patterns of severe sports-related injuries in children and adults.

PMID:36261734 | DOI:10.1007/s00068-022-02144-1

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effect of the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention on Sucking Capacity in Preterm Infants in Turkey: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Adv Neonatal Care. 2022 Oct 17. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000001036. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants have oral feeding difficulty that often delays discharge, indicating a need for evidence-based interventions for oral-motor development.

PURPOSE: To test the Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) on the development of oral-motor function, feeding, and anthropometric outcomes using sucking manometry.

METHODS: A single-blind randomized experimental design was conducted with a sample of 60 preterm infants from 2 neonatal intensive care units between May 2019 and March 2020. The experimental group received PIOMI for 5 min/d for 14 consecutive days. Sucking capacity, anthropometrics (weight and head circumference), bottle feeding, breast/chest feeding initiation, and length of hospital stay were measured. The Yakut Sucking Manometer (PCT/TR2019/050678) was developed specifically for this study and tested for the first time.

RESULTS: The experimental group had a statistically significant percent increase over controls in sucking power (69%), continuous sucking before releasing the bottle (16%), sucking time (13%), and sucking amount (12%) with partial η2 values of interaction between the groups of 0.692, 0.164, 0.136, and 0.121, respectively. The experimental group had a higher increase in weight (89%) and head circumference (81%) over controls (F = 485.130, P < .001; F = 254.754, P < .001, respectively). The experimental group transitioned to oral feeding 9.9 days earlier than controls (t = -2.822; P = .007), started breast/chest feeding 10.8 days earlier (t = 3.016; P = .004), and were discharged 3.0 days earlier.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH/PRACTICE: The PIOMI had a significant positive effect on anthropometrics, sucking capacity, readiness to initiate bottle and breast/chest feeding, and a 3-day reduction in length of hospital stay.

PMID:36260947 | DOI:10.1097/ANC.0000000000001036

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Students’ perspective of the teaching-learning process of oral radiology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Acta Odontol Latinoam. 2022 Sep 30;35(2):134-143. doi: 10.54589/aol.35/2/134.

ABSTRACT

The SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) pandemic changed the educational structure of dentistry courses and highlighted the importance of online tools. Understanding students’ perception regarding these changes is essential to establishing future teaching-learning strategies to accommodate students’ needs in higher education. The aim of this study was to assess students’ perceptions of the Oral Radiology teachinglearning process before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of students (n = 111) of the 2nd, 4th and 6th semesters of the dentistry course, who answered a questionnaire with 21 items: A) Students’ demographic data (5 questions); B) Students’ teaching-learning experiences during the pre-pandemic period (8 questions); and C) Students’ teaching-learning experiences during the post-pandemic period (8 questions). Stuart-Maxwell tests revealed statistically significant differences between students’ opinions before and during the pandemic when they were asked about the structure of the Oral Radiology module (p = 0.008); their previous experience with e-learning and teaching (p < 0.001); their thoughts about the importance of e-learning in Oral Radiology (p < 0.05); and the time they spent online for academic purposes (p < 0.05). Students seem to prefer on-campus activities (before COVID-19), but the pandemic increased their awareness of the importance of e-learning, the time they spent on online studies, and their knowledge of online educational tools.

PMID:36260945 | DOI:10.54589/aol.35/2/134

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Longitudinal assessment of the impact of orthodontic treatment on adolescents’ quality of life: a comparison between boys and girls using a condition specific questionnaire

Acta Odontol Latinoam. 2022 Sep 30;35(2):125-133. doi: 10.54589/aol.35/2/125.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the impact of the first year of wearing of a fixed orthodontic appliance on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) between boys and girls, by means of a condition-specific instrument. The study included 69 adolescents aged 10 to 18 years, who were undergoing orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance. Of the 69 adolescents, 38 were girls (55.1%) and 31 were boys (44.9%). They answered the Brazilian version of the Impact of Fixed Appliance Measure (B-IFAM) questionnaire three months (T1) and one year (T2) after the fixed appliance was installed. This questionnaire contains 43 questions, distributed across nine domains. The higher the scores, the more negative the perception of the adolescent concerning the impact of the fixed appliance on his/her OHRQoL. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were also analyzed, and statistical analysis was performed. For the domains, the effect size (the magnitude of the difference between girls and boys) and the minimal clinically important difference were also calculated. The adjusted regression showed that there was a significantly greater increase in the overall B-IFAM score in girls than in boys, indicating a more negative perception of the OHRQoL over the study time [Coefficient=11.77 (3.47- 20.60), p=0.006]. From T1 to T2, there was a significantly greater increase in the scores (more negative perception of OHRQoL over time) in girls than in boys for the domains aesthetics (p=0.034) and physical impact (p=0.011). These differences were clinically significant. The effect size (the magnitude of the difference) was moderate. The impact of wearing a fixed appliance on the OHRQoL was more negative in girls than in boys during the first year of orthodontic treatment.

PMID:36260944 | DOI:10.54589/aol.35/2/125

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Root canal morphology of 1316 premolars from Brazilian individuals: an in vivo analysis using cone-beam computed tomography

Acta Odontol Latinoam. 2022 Sep 30;35(2):105-110. doi: 10.54589/aol.35/2/105.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the internal root canal anatomy of maxillary and mandibular premolars in a Brazilian subpopulation, in order to establish the prevalence of the different configurations proposed by Vertucci. Three hundred and ninety-eight cone-beam computed tomography scans were collected from a private imaging clinic database in Rio de Janeiro, including 217 maxillary and 226 mandibular scans. A total 1316 premolars (594 maxillary and 722 mandibular) were evaluated using an image viewer, and classified according to Vertucci. Two calibrated examiners determined the frequency of each morphological Type. A third examiner reviewed discordant cases. The Kappa test was applied to verify inter-rater agreement, and Fisher’s Exact Test to verify gender-related differences. The most frequent root canal configurations of maxillary first and second premolars were Type IV (73.86%) and Type I (47.18%), respectively. Type I was the most prevalent in mandibular first and second premolars (80.59% and 95.86%, respectively). Only Types I and VIII presented a statistically significant difference between sexes. Type I was more frequent in females and Type VIII in males. A highly significant frequency of Type I was found in both mandibular first and second premolars, whereas the most frequent maxillary premolar root canal configuration was Type IV for first premolars and Type I for second premolars.

PMID:36260941 | DOI:10.54589/aol.35/2/105

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Left Ventricular Function and Geometry of Children with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in a Resource-Poor Setting of Africa

West Afr J Med. 2022 Oct 20;39(10):1095-1103.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a multisystemic clinical condition characterized by an irreversible deterioration of renal function that invariably progresses to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Cardiovascular affectation portends morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of changes in function, and geometry of the left ventricle in children with CKD and their controls.

METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Children aged 6 to 17 years with features suggestive of CKD along with age and sex-matched apparently healthy controls seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu were enrolled consecutively. Blood samples werecollected for baseline investigations and e-GFR, followed by trans-thoracic two-dimensional echocardiography to assess the left ventricular function and geometry. Data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Simple frequencies and proportions, Student’s t-test and chi-square were applied appropriately. P value at <0.05 was significant.

RESULTS: Out of 9,419 children aged 6-17 years seen within the study period in the hospital, 24 met the criteria for CKD. The incidence rate was 5 cases per million child population per year. Mean age was 12.33 ± 4.24 years, with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), eccentric LVH and Left ventricular dilatation (LVD) were seen in 50.0%, 33.3% and 41.7% of subjects respectively. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular systolic dysfunction occurred in 37.5% and 8.3% subjects, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of left ventricular geometry and function abnormalities was high in subjects. Intervention measures are advocated.

PMID:36260934

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Triple scan evaluation of internal and marginal adaptation of overlays using different restorative materials

J Esthet Restor Dent. 2022 Oct 19. doi: 10.1111/jerd.12977. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Problems in the confection of indirect restorations may increase the marginal and internal gap. This study aimed to quantify the marginal and the internal fit of overlays fabricated with three different materials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standardized cavities were prepared on endodontically treated human third molars and digital impressions were done using an intraoral camera (Trios 3). Restorations were designed (n = 15) and fabricated with three materials: Hybrid ceramic (Cerasmart; GC Corp, EUROPE), high-strength lithium disilicate (GC Initial® LiSi Press; GC Corp, Tokyo, Japan), and zirconia reinforced Lithium Silicate Glass Ceramic (Vita Suprinity; Vita, Germany). Axial, marginal, pulpal, and gingival gaps were calculated by measuring the distance between the restoration and the tooth at several reference points. Two-Way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. The significance level was set at α = 0.05.

RESULTS: Mean gap was significantly influenced by the material (p < 0.001), gap localization (p < 0.001), and interaction between the factors (p = 0.002). For all materials, the highest gap was observed at gingival and pulpal surfaces (p ≤ 0.015). LiSi Press achieved the overall lowest values at axial values measurements (p ≤ 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS: The performance of a CAD/CAM system relative to marginal adaptation is influenced by the restorative material used. High-strength lithium disilicate seems to be showed the best marginal adaptation.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Marginal and internal adaptation of CAD/CAM restorations could be influenced by the type of material chosen.

PMID:36260931 | DOI:10.1111/jerd.12977