Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

An evaluation of the repeatability of electric pulp sensibility tests

Aust Endod J. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/aej.12552. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The accuracy, reliability and reproducibility of electric pulp tests (EPT) have been investigated but there is conflicting information about their repeatability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether EPT are repeatable over time. EPT results from 180 healthy teeth in 39 patients with 2-10 readings per tooth (total 692 readings) were analysed. Single measures intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranged from 0.776 to 0.845 in teeth with 2-7 repeated measures (P < 0.001), indicating good repeatability. With eight or more measures per tooth, the ICC was low, indicating poor repeatability over longer follow-up times, but only seven teeth in two subjects were included in this analysis. The Pearson correlation showed no statistically significant correlation for 2-7 readings but when all readings were included, there was a statistically significant negative correlation. Hence, EPT has good repeatability.

PMID:34333842 | DOI:10.1111/aej.12552

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Landscape-level variation in Bt crops predict Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistance in cotton agroecosystems

Pest Manag Sci. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1002/ps.6585. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) damage to Bt cotton and maize has increased due to widespread Bt resistance across the USA Cotton Belt. Our objective was to link Bt crop production patterns to cotton damage through a series of spatial and temporal surveys of commercial fields to understand how Bt crop production relates to greater than expected H. zea damage to Bt cotton. To do this, we assembled longitudinal cotton damage data that spanned the Bt adoption period, collected cotton damage data since Bt resistance has been detected, and estimated local population susceptibility using replicated on-farm studies that included all Bt pyramids marketed in cotton.

RESULTS: Significant year effects of H. zea damage frequency in commercial cotton were observed throughout the Bt adoption period, with a recent damage increase after the year 2012. Landscape-level Bt crop production intensity over time was positively associated with the risk of H. zea damage in two- and three-toxin pyramided Bt cotton. Helicoverpa zea damage also varied across Bt toxin types in spatially replicated on-farm studies.

CONCLUSIONS: Landscape-level predictors of H. zea damage in Bt cotton can be used to identify heightened Bt resistance risk areas and serves as a model to understand factors that drive pest resistance evolution to Bt toxins in the southeastern United States. These results provide a framework for more effective insect resistance management (IRM) strategies to be used in combination with conventional pest management practices that improve Bt trait durability while minimizing the environmental footprint of row crop agriculture. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34333843 | DOI:10.1002/ps.6585

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

In vitro study to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of various multifunctional cosmetic ingredients and chlorphenesin on bacterial species at risk in the cosmetic industry

J Appl Microbiol. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/jam.15245. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: We evaluated the activity of the preservative chlorphenesin and of four antimicrobial cosmetic multifunctional ingredients against various strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive human opportunistic pathogens.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth kinetics, modeling growth parameters and statistical analyses enabled comparing bacterial behavior in the presence and in the absence of compound. Whatever compound tested (i.e. chlorphenesin, phenylpropanol, hexanediol, ethylhexylglycerin, hydroxyacetophenone), and strain origin (i.e. clinical versus industrial), the growth of 42 strains belonging to Acinetobacter spp., Burkholderia cepacia complex, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, was totally inhibited. On the opposite all of the P. aeruginosa strains (n=13) as well as 4 and 6 out of 10 strains of Pluralibacter gergoviae grew in the presence of chlorphenesin and ethylhexylglycerin, respectively. Some P. gergoviae and Staphylococcus hominis strains withstand hydroxyacetophenone. Within a species, the different strains show variable latency phase, growth rate (r), and carrying capacity (K). They can be similar, lower, or higher than those measured in control conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Data showed differences in the antimicrobial activity of compounds. Upon exposure, strains differed in their behavior between and within species. Whatever species and strains, compound sensitivity could not be related to antibiotic resistance.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Most multifunctional ingredients showed significant antimicrobial properties against the wide panel of species and strains evaluated. This will help adjusting preservation strategies in the cosmetic industry.

PMID:34333822 | DOI:10.1111/jam.15245

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Oral mucosal lesions in pregnant women: A population-based study

Oral Dis. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/odi.13981. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OML) and oral self-examination and their associated factors among pregnant women from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study, Brazil.

METHODS: Pregnant women who would deliver babies in 2015 were included in the antenatal study. Data related to demographic, socioeconomic and behavioural conditions were collected using questionnaires. Participants were also clinically assessed for oral health outcomes. The outcomes were the presence of OMLs and oral self-examination. Size, location, time of onset, and symptomatology of the lesions were collected. Descriptive and bivariate analysis, and Poisson regression were performed. P-value<0.05 was set to indicate statistical significance.

RESULTS: Data from 2,481 pregnant women were analysed. Four hundred and nine (16.5%) had at least one OML. The most prevalent lesions were exostosis (80/16.6%), coated tongue (70/14.5%) and benign oral brownish pigmentation (68/14.1%). Non-white skin colour was associated with a higher prevalence of OMLs (PR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.6), while daily use of dental floss was positively associated with the prevalence of oral self-examination (PR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2; 1.5).

CONCLUSIONS: Almost 20% of pregnant women presented OML, which were more prevalent in non-white individuals. Women with better oral care were more likely to perform oral self-examination.

PMID:34333827 | DOI:10.1111/odi.13981

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Rejoinder to “Causal mediation of semicompeting risks”

Biometrics. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/biom.13518. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:34333767 | DOI:10.1111/biom.13518

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

What is the impact of corpus uterine invasion on oncologic outcomes in surgically treated cervical cancer?

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/jog.14953. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the clinical significance of uterine corpus involvement in patients with surgically treated cervical cancer.

METHODS: Patients (n = 354) with clinical early-stage (stage IB1-IIA2) cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic ± paraaortic lymphadenectomy were evaluated.

RESULTS: Uterine invasion was detected in 60 (16.9%) patients. Patients with uterine invasion had a higher rate of pelvic lymph node metastasis than those without uterine invasion (35% vs 22.8%, p = 0.046). In multivariate analysis, no statistically significant difference was identified between patients with and without uterine invasion for pelvic lymph node metastasis (p = 0.953). Uterine invasion was identified as an independent risk factor for paraaortic lymph node metastasis in multivariate analysis (p = 0.012). The presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis was found to be another significant predictor of paraaortic lymph node involvement (p = 0.022). In addition, uterine invasion and lymph node metastasis were identified as an independent risk factors regarding poor prognosis in cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.537; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.304-15.782; p = 0.017 and HR: 5.598; 95% CI, 1.581-19.823; p = 0.008, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Uterine invasion is an independent predictor of decreased survival and the presence of paraaortic lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer. The presence of the uterine invasion in cervical cancer should be considered as a poor prognostic factor in the decision of treatment.

PMID:34333801 | DOI:10.1111/jog.14953

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Needs for information about lifestyle and rehabilitation in long-term young adult cancer survivors

Support Care Cancer. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06418-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Healthy lifestyle and rehabilitation may mitigate late effects after cancer treatment, but knowledge about lifestyle and rehabilitation information needs among long-term young adult cancer survivors (YACSs) (≥ 5 years from diagnosis) is limited. The present study aimed to examine such information needs among long-term YACSs, and identify characteristics of those with needs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Cancer Registry of Norway identified long-term YACSs diagnosed with breast cancer, colorectal cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, or malignant melanoma at the age of 19-39 years, between 1985 and 2009. Survivors were mailed a questionnaire, in which respondents reported their information needs on physical activity, diet, and rehabilitation services 5-30 years post-diagnosis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the prevalence of information needs and associated factors.

RESULTS: Of 1488 respondents (a response rate of 42%), 947 were included. Median age at diagnosis was 35 years (range 19-39) and median observation time since diagnosis was 14 years (range 5-30). In total, 41% reported information needs for information about physical activity, 45% about diet, and 47% about rehabilitation services. Information needs were associated with higher treatment intensity, increasing number of late effects, and an unhealthy lifestyle.

CONCLUSION: A large proportion of long-term YACSs report information needs regarding lifestyle and/or rehabilitation more than a decade beyond treatment. Assessments of such information needs should become a part of long-term care of these cancer survivors.

PMID:34333716 | DOI:10.1007/s00520-021-06418-z

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Global fractional anisotropy predicts transition to psychosis after 12 months in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2021 Aug 1. doi: 10.1111/acps.13355. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Psychosis spectrum disorders are associated with cerebral changes, but the prognostic value and clinical utility of these findings is unclear. Here we applied a multivariate statistical model to examine the predictive accuracy of global white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) for transition to psychosis in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR).

METHODS: 110 UHR-individuals underwent 3 Tesla diffusion weighted imaging and clinical assessments at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months. Using logistic regression, we examined the reliability of global FA at baseline as a predictor for psychosis transition after 12 months. We tested the predictive accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of global FA in a multivariate prediction-model accounting for potential confounders to FA (head motion in scanner, age, gender, antipsychotic medication, parental socioeconomic status, and activity level). In secondary analyses, we tested FA as a predictor of clinical symptoms and functional level using multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS: Ten UHR-individuals had transitioned to psychosis after 12 months (9%). The model reliably predicted transition at 12 months (χ2 =17.595, p=0.040), accounted for 15-33% of the variance in transition outcome with a sensitivity of 0.70, a specificity of 0.88, and AUC of 0.87. Global FA predicted level of UHR-symptoms (R2 =0.055, F=6.084, p=0.016) and functional level (R2 = 0.040, F=4.57, p=0.036) at 6 months, but not at 12 months.

CONCLUSION: Global FA provided prognostic information on clinical outcome and symptom course of UHR-individuals. Our findings suggest that the application of prediction models including neuroimaging data can inform clinical management on risk for psychosis transition.

PMID:34333760 | DOI:10.1111/acps.13355

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Impact of Choosing Wisely Recommendations on Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Postoperative Radiation Rates in Women Over Age 70 Years with Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer

Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Jul 31. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10460-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2016, the Society of Surgical Oncology released a Choosing Wisely guideline recommending sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) omission in females ≥70 years of age with early-stage, hormone-positive, clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer. This study investigated the impact of this guideline on SLNB and radiotherapy rates, in addition to assessing temporal trends of nodal biopsy and factors associated with recurrence.

METHODS: The study involved a retrospective review of women who met the guideline criteria and underwent partial mastectomy at a single institution between 2009 and 2018. Using the same inclusion criteria, the National Cancer Database was queried to obtain a separate dataset. Statistical analyses included univariate comparisons, and multivariate logistic regression modeling to predict radiotherapy delivery.

RESULTS: In our institutional series, 487 patients were included, 274 (56.3%) of whom received radiotherapy. There were 414 patients (85.0%) who underwent SLNB, with a nodal positivity rate of 11%. SLNB correlated with higher rates of radiotherapy (63.5% vs. 15.1%, p < 0.001). Age <80 years was an independent predictor of radiotherapy receipt (odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.52). SLNB performance decreased after 2016 (88.4% vs. 78.4%, p = 0.003). Median follow-up was 4.8 years, with 19 (3.9%) documented recurrences. SLNB performance was not associated with recurrence (2.9% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.279), whereas radiotherapy resulted in reduced recurrence (1.1% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.002). One (0.2%) disease-related mortality was observed.

CONCLUSION: Recurrence rates and disease-related mortality remain low in this demographic regardless of treatment rendered. Omission of SLNB and radiotherapy should remain a consideration, and efforts in both patient and physician education should continue.

PMID:34333704 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-021-10460-w

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Practice Patterns for Patients at Risk and Affected by Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Jul 31. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10494-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) published expert panel recommendations for patients at risk for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) and those affected by BCRL. This study sought to determine BCRL practice patterns.

METHODS: A survey was sent to 2975 ASBrS members. Questions evaluated members’ clinical practice type, practice duration, and familiarity with BCRL recommendations. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used.

RESULTS: Of the ASBrS members surveyed, 390 (13.1%) responded. Most of the breast surgeons (58.5%, 228/390) indicated unfamiliarity with recommendations. Nearly all respondents (98.7%, 385/390) educate at-risk patients. Most (60.2%, 234/389) instruct patients to avoid venipuncture, injection or blood pressure measurements in the at-risk arm, and 35.6% (138/388) recommend prophylactic compression sleeve use during air travel. Nearly all (97.7%, 380/389) encourage those at-risk to exercise, including resistance exercise (86.2%, 331/384). Most do not perform axillary reverse mapping (ARM) (67.9%, 264/389) or a lymphatic preventive healing approach (LYMPHA) (84.9%, 331/390). Most (76.1%, 296/389) screen at-risk patients for BCRL. The most frequently used screening tools include self-reported symptoms (81%, 255/315), circumferential tape measure (54%, 170/315) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (27.3%, 86/315). After a BCRL diagnosis, most (90%, 351/390) refer management to a lymphedema-certified physical therapist. For affected patients, nearly all encourage exercise (98.7%, 384/389). Many (49%, 191/390) refer affected patients for consideration of lymphovenous bypass or lymph node transfer.

CONCLUSION: Most respondents were unfamiliar with the ASBrS expert panel recommendations for patients at risk for BCRL and those affected by BCRL. Opportunities exist to increase awareness of best practices and to acquire ARM and LYMPHA technical expertise.

PMID:34333706 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-021-10494-0