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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Resilience and high compositional variability reflect the complex response of river waters to global drivers: The Eastern Siberian River Chemistry database

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Oct 31:168120. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168120. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The chemical composition of river waters represents an important matter of investigation to understand environment modifications in response to climate changes and global warming. Prolonged dry periods, heavy flood events, degradation of the lands and ice thawing, modify the chemical composition of river waters influencing the drivers governing the complex dynamics of river catchments where everything comes together. In this framework, Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA) offers methods in which the complex structure of the river water composition and the interrelationships among the various components are put into the proper context for their statistical analysis. In this research, we propose a new CoDA approach combining the robust Mahalanobis distance (D) calculus of ilr-transformed chemical variables and the perturbation difference, both with respect to a pristine compositional benchmark. The aim was to trace the change in the chemical composition of the Eastern Siberian River Chemistry Database where degradation of the permafrost for global warming produces important effects on natural waters. The findings indicate complex multiplicative laws and feedback mechanisms governing solutes in Eastern Siberian rivers, with high values of D found where permafrost is more discontinuous. Perturbations clearly discriminate chemical components more resilient to stresses induced by global changes (Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3) from those whose variability is not maintained under control (Cl, Na+, SO42-). These outcomes open up a new scenario in searching for spatiotemporal resilience metrics to reveal rivers response to environmental changes.

PMID:37918739 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168120

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Characteristics associated with blindness or visual impairment within the adolescent demographic: a national cohort analysis

J AAPOS. 2023 Oct 31:S1091-8531(23)00226-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaapos.2023.08.015. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial metrics associated with self-reported blindness or visual impairment for adolescents in the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) have not been fully characterized. This retrospective cohort analysis of the latest NSDUH aimed to determine novel characteristics associated with self-reported visual loss among adolescents in the United States.

METHODS: Data from the NSDUH2020, a publicly available, federally validated database, were analyzed. Self-reported severe visual impairment or blindness was defined as being truly blind or having serious difficulty seeing even when wearing corrective lenses (s-rSVI). Inclusion criteria were all cases of s-rSVI in adolescents aged 12-17 years. NSDUH weights were used to accommodate complex survey design, nonresponse rates, and population variance. Weighted percentages, asymptotic two-sided Rao-Scott χ2 analyses, and multivariable binary logistic regression were performed. Statistical significance was considered reached at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: A total of 5,667 adolescents aged 12-17 years were surveyed, and s-rSVI occurred in 236 cases (weighted percentage, 3.48%). Within our final risk model, characteristics associated with enhanced odds of s-rSVI based on multivariable logistic regression analysis were female sex, Asian and Latino race/ethnicity (relative to non-Hispanic White), and self-reported serious difficulty hearing and concentrating (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This national retrospective cohort analysis highlights risk factors associated with s-rSVI for adolescents within the 2020 NSDUH. Clinicians and policymakers should consider at-risk demographics for s-rSVI during development and enhancement of screening programs, population health initiatives, and healthcare policy issues.

PMID:37918705 | DOI:10.1016/j.jaapos.2023.08.015

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

IODA-shoulder®, a 3-dimensional automated software for glenoid bone loss quantification in shoulder instability. A validation study

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2023 Oct 31:103745. doi: 10.1016/j.otsr.2023.103745. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Glenoid Bone Loss (GBL) calculation in patients with shoulder instability has a wide variability in methods and their reliability. The purpose of this study was to describe and validate a new semi-automated software developed to improve GBL calculation using a 3D imaging modeling (IODA-shoulder) and to compare the method to the PICO area method.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A semi-automated software to assess GBL was preliminary developed and validated on 7 fresh frozen specimens (scapulae with handmade glenoid defect), using water displacement method. Afterwards, the software was retrospectively deployed in 20 patients affected by recurrent shoulder dislocation. Inclusion criteria were: unilateral dislocation, minimum 2 dislocation episodes. Exclusion criteria were bone reconstruction of the glenoid, failed shoulder stabilization, bilateral dislocation, shoulder arthritis. Three-dimensional computed tomography images of bilateral shoulder were retrieved for each patient. Two methods to determine GBL were compared. The PICO surface area method and the new IODA method. We assessed the intra and inter-rater reliability of the two methods with the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), the Bland-Alman analysis, and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC).

RESULTS: we did not find a statistically significant difference between the mean volumes calculated with PICO and IODA methods, respectively 914 vs 815 mm3, p=0.155. The analysis carried out by using the traditional PICO method showed a lower concordance rate among four observers than the higher concordance found using IODA method, regardless of the size and the location of the defect. The ICC agreement with PICO was significantly lower than with IODA (0.76 vs. 0.97). We found a poor CCC with PICO (from 0.65 to 0.81) and a substantial one with IODA (from 0.96 to 0.98).

DISCUSSION: The intra and inter-rater reliability using IODA method is significantly better than PICO method. The assessment of GBL using IODA method is time saving, avoiding significant inter and intra observer variation, mainly due to individual skill and experience in the method.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, Experimental study.

PMID:37918692 | DOI:10.1016/j.otsr.2023.103745

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Salmon Food-Specific Compounds and Their Metabolites Increase in Human Plasma and Are Associated with Cardiometabolic Health Indicators Following a Mediterranean-style Diet Intervention

J Nutr. 2023 Oct 31:S0022-3166(23)72678-3. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.024. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nutrimetabolomics allows for the comprehensive analysis of foods and human biospecimens to identify biomarkers of intake and begin to probe their associations with health. Salmon contains hundreds of compounds which may provide cardiometabolic benefits.

OBJECTIVE: We used untargeted metabolomics to identify salmon food-specific compounds (FSCs) and their predicted metabolites that were found in plasma after a salmon-containing Mediterranean-style (MED) diet intervention. Associations between changes in salmon FSCs and changes in cardiometabolic health indicators (CHIs) were also explored.

METHODS: For this secondary analysis of a randomized, crossover, controlled feeding trial, 41 participants consumed MED diets with two servings of salmon per week for two five-week periods. CHIs were assessed and fasting plasma was collected pre- and post-intervention. Plasma, salmon, and 99 MED foods were analyzed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Compounds were characterized as salmon FSCs if detected in all salmon replicates but none of the other foods. Metabolites of salmon FSCs were predicted using machine learning. For salmon FSCs and metabolites found in plasma, linear mixed-effect models were used to assess change from pre- to post-intervention and associations with changes in CHIs.

RESULTS: Relative to the other 99 MED foods, there were 508 salmon FSCs with 237 unique metabolites. A total of 143 salmon FSCs and 106 metabolites were detected in plasma. Forty-eight salmon FSCs and 30 metabolites increased after the intervention (FDR<0.05). Increases in two annotated salmon FSCs and two metabolites were associated with improvements CHIs, including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and Apolipoprotein B.

CONCLUSIONS: A data-driven nutrimetabolomics strategy identified salmon FSCs and their predicted metabolites that were detectable in plasma and changed after consumption of a salmon-containing MED diet. Findings support this approach for discovery of compounds in foods that may serve, upon further validation, as biomarkers or act as bioactive components influential to health.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: NCT02573129 (original Mediterranean-style diet intervention); NCT05500976 (ongoing clinical trial).

PMID:37918675 | DOI:10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.024

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Do sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and anthropometric factors influence the association between sex and functional capacity in patients with peripheral arterial disease?

Ann Vasc Surg. 2023 Oct 31:S0890-5096(23)00731-8. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.09.073. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To explore the influence of sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and anthropometric factors on the association between sex and functional capacity in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with patients aged over 45 years, diagnosed with PAD, from two Brazilian hospitals. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors, clinical profile, and anthropometric measurements were collected. Functional capacity was assessed using the six-minute walk test and the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ). Statistical analyses, including t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression, were performed to assess the relationships between sex, functional capacity, and potential influencing factors.

RESULTS: Among the 262 patients with PAD, 67 were women and 113 were men. Women exhibited lower absolute functional capacity and lower WIQ scores compared to men, even after adjusting for potential confounders. However, relative functional capacity did not significantly differ between sexes after adjusting for variables. Pain-free walking distance was also lower in women compared to men, but this association lost significance after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Women with PAD had lower absolute functional capacity compared to men, influenced by various factors such as sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and anthropometric factors. However, the relative functional capacity was similar between genders, being influenced only by behavioral factors, while for the distance walked until pain, the association was lost after adjustments for sociodemographic factors.

PMID:37918662 | DOI:10.1016/j.avsg.2023.09.073

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Prognosis, Risk Factors and Clinical Features of Intraocular Recurrence in Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma

Ophthalmol Retina. 2023 Oct 31:S2468-6530(23)00572-9. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2023.10.021. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features, risk factors, and prognosis of the intraocular recurrence in primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL).

DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study.

PARTICIPANTS: 97 eyes of 51 patients diagnosed with PVRL between 2011/12 and 2021/1 were enrolled in this study. 14 patients among them had experienced intraocular recurrence.

METHODS: Date on demographic and ophthalmic characteristics, results of diagnostic tests, treatments, prognosis of intraocular recurrence and non-recurrence PVRL patients were collected and compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors. And receiver operating characteristic curve was conducted to determine the cut-off values.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical features and risk factors.

RESULTS: 14 (19 eyes) of 51 PVRL patients had intraocular recurrences, resulting in a recurrence rate of 27.5% over a mean follow-up period of 42.5 months. No difference was observed in central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) relapse rate (54.3% vs. 64.3%, p=0.523) and median time to CNSL (36.5 95%CI [24.6-48.3] vs. 37.3 95%CI [24.8-49.8], p=0.777) between intraocular non-recurrence and intraocular recurrence groups. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant difference in the survival outcomes, such as mortality (28.6% vs. 29.7%, p=1.000) and median overall survival (70.8 95%CI [54.0-87.7] vs. 59.2 95%CI [44.8-73.6], p=0.297), between these two groups. Younger onset age (odds ratio [OR] 0.90, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.84-0.98, p=0.010), isolated PVRL (OR 35.3, 95%CI 2.08-600.0, p=0.014), and no history of intravitreal chemotherapy (OR 7.72, 95%CI 1.37-43.6, p=0.021) were identified as independent risk factors for intraocular recurrences. Of the patients with intraocular recurrence, 23.6% were asymptomatic and were diagnosed during routine follow-up. The rate of interleukin-10 (IL-10) /IL-6>1 was significantly lower than that at diagnosis (43.8% vs. 92.3%, p=0.008). However, the rate of IL-10≥50 pg/mL was high (81.3%) and not significantly different from that at diagnosis (92.3%, p=0.606).

CONCLUSIONS: This study did not identify an impact of intraocular recurrence on CNS manifestations or survival outcomes in patients with PVRL. Younger patients have a higher risk of intraocular recurrence, and combined systemic and intravitreal chemotherapy may reduce intraocular recurrence. Regular ophthalmic follow-up and IL-10 testing are recommended to detect intraocular recurrence.

PMID:37918656 | DOI:10.1016/j.oret.2023.10.021

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Association of Neutrophil and Albumin with Mortality Risk in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

J Ren Nutr. 2023 Oct 31:S1051-2276(23)00192-9. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2023.10.009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation and nutrition have been recognized in predicting mortality in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). Serum neutrophils and albumin are crucial factors in inflammation and nutrition status. Up till now, the synergistic effect of neutrophil and albumin on mortality prediction in PD patients is still being determined. Our study sought to assess the effect of the interaction between neutrophils and albumin on the risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in PD patients.

METHODS: A total of 1229 PD patients were recruited and divided into three categories in this cohort study. Their relationships with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were analyzed in Multivariable COX regression models adjusted for confounding factors.

RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 34.2 months, 222 (18.1%) patients sadly passed away, 115 (51.8%) of them suffered from cardiovascular events (CVE). Patients with high neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) showed increased all-cause mortality and CVD mortality, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.490 (95%CI, 1.070-2.074, P=0.018) and 1.633 (95%CI, 1.041-2.561, P=0.033) respectively, compared with those with low NPAR. Competitive risk models and sensitivity analyses further confirmed this association. In the ROC analysis, however, there was little evidence that NPAR is a better indicator than albumin and neutrophil count.

CONCLUSIONS: Patient with high NPAR is linked to a higher risk of mortality, especially for a person of both high neutrophil and low albumin, compared with one without either.

PMID:37918645 | DOI:10.1053/j.jrn.2023.10.009

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Maintenance of Aerobic or Resistance Training After an Exercise Intervention Among Breast Cancer Patients After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

J Phys Act Health. 2023 Oct 17:1-11. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0054. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exercise interventions have been shown to be beneficial for cancer patients regarding various treatment-related side effects and quality of life. For sustainable effects, patients should continue the training. Therefore, we investigated the maintenance of an exercise training in breast cancer patients, reasons for (dis)continuation, and explored possible influencing factors.

METHODS: The investigation is based on a 3-arm randomized intervention trial comparing aerobic and resistance training (19 [4]) during or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy among breast cancer patients. About 2 years after breast surgery, 68 patients (age 52 [11] y) provided information about training continuation, self-reported reasons of (dis)continuation, sociodemographics, employment status, age, and body mass index. Training continuation was investigated with Kaplan-Meier analyses.

RESULTS: The intervention was rated as good or very good by 88.1% of participants. Nevertheless, 52.9% discontinued the training directly, but half of them changed to different types of exercise. Reasons for discontinuation included lack of time and long travel distance to the training facility. The median continuation was 19.0 months (Q1, Q3: 5.5, 36.0) with no statistically significant difference between the intervention groups. Younger, better educated, partnered patients tended toward longer training continuation.

CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients continued exercising after the end of intervention. However, a nonnegligible number discontinued training immediately or after few months. Practical, social, and financial support for a transition to an adequate training that is affordable and feasible in the patient’s daily life might foster training maintenance. Especially patients who are less educated, elderly, or living alone may need more support to continue exercising.

PMID:37917983 | DOI:10.1123/jpah.2023-0054

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Test-Retest Reliability of 3 Specific Strength Tests in Professional Handball Players

J Sport Rehabil. 2023 Oct 10:1-10. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2022-0267. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Current devices to assess strength performance in handball may not be sufficiently sports-specific and reliable methods. Functional electromechanical dynamometry is a new technology that allows the development of accurate strength tests in athletes.

PURPOSE: To determine the absolute and relative reliability and to compare the reliability of the right and left side, and mean and peak force of 3 specific strength tests in handball players with a functional electromechanical dynamometer: unilateral pullover, standing lift, and step forward.

METHODS: Fourteen male handball players of the first Spanish division (28.79 [4.81] y; 10.38 [4.63] y of professional experience) performed a repeated-measurement design. Three testing sessions were performed (one per week). The first measurement consisted of 4 isometric tests (right and left unilateral pullover, and right and left standing lift) to obtain isometric peak force, and in the second and third sessions, 6 incremental tests until failure (right and left unilateral pullover, and right and left standing lift, right and left step forward) were performed.

RESULTS: The tests provided high reliability or acceptable reliability for mean and peak strength of unilateral pullover, standing lift and step forward (intraclass correlation coefficient = .83-.97; coefficient of variation = 3.90-11.57). Effect side was negligible in any of the parameters, except for a small effect side in the left peak force for unilateral pullover and a small effect side on the left side for a step forward. Significant differences in reliability (coefficient of variation ratio > 1.15) were found between the right and left sides and peak and mean force in all exercises except peak force in unilateral pullover and step forward.

CONCLUSION: These results confirm that the tests could be applied to assess physical performance in handball at the same time as regular gym training. Moreover, this is an excellent opportunity to individualize the player’s weekly load.

PMID:37917982 | DOI:10.1123/jsr.2022-0267

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Six Weeks of Unilateral Flywheel Hip-Extension and Leg-Curl Training Improves Flywheel Eccentric Peak Power but Does Not Enhance Hamstring Isokinetic or Isometric Strength

Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2023 Oct 14:1-10. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2023-0035. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This preregistered trial investigated how 6 weeks of unilateral flywheel leg-curl and hip-extension training impact isokinetic, isometric, and flywheel strength and power outcomes.

METHODS: The study involved 11 male university athletes (age 22 [2] y; body mass 77.2 [11.3] kg; height 1.74 [0.09] m) with one leg randomly allocated to flywheel training and one leg to control. Unilateral eccentric and isometric knee-flexion torque and flywheel unilateral leg-curl and hip-extension peak power were tested. Training intensity and volume (3-4 sets of 6 + 2 repetitions) were progressively increased.

RESULTS: The intervention enhanced hip-extension concentric (P < .01, d = 1.76, large) and eccentric (P < .01, d = 1.33, large) peak power more than the control (significant interaction effect). Similarly, eccentric (P = .023, d = 1.05, moderate) peak power was enhanced for the leg curl. No statistically significant differences between conditions were found for isokinetic eccentric (P = .086, d = 0.77, moderate) and isometric (P = .431, d = 0.36, small) knee-flexor strength or leg-curl concentric peak power (P = .339, d = 0.52, small). Statistical parametric mapping analysis of torque-angle curves also revealed no significant (P > .05) time-limb interaction effect at any joint angle.

CONCLUSION: Unilateral flywheel hamstring training improved knee-flexor eccentric peak power during unilateral flywheel exercise but not flywheel concentric, isokinetic eccentric, or isometric (long-lever) knee-flexor strength.

PMID:37917962 | DOI:10.1123/ijspp.2023-0035