Tag: nevin manimala

PLoS Genet. 2021 Aug 26;17(8):e1009723. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009723. eCollection 2021 Aug.

ABSTRACT

Inherited genetic variation contributes to individual risk for many complex diseases and is increasingly being used for predictive patient stratification. Previous work has shown that genetic factors are not equally relevant to human traits across age and other contexts, though the reasons for such variation are not clear. Here, we introduce methods to infer the form of the longitudinal relationship between genetic relative risk for disease and age and to test whether all genetic risk factors behave similarly. We use a proportional hazards model within an interval-based censoring methodology to estimate age-varying individual variant contributions to genetic relative risk for 24 common diseases within the British ancestry subset of UK Biobank, applying a Bayesian clustering approach to group variants by their relative risk profile over age and permutation tests for age dependency and multiplicity of profiles. We find evidence for age-varying relative risk profiles in nine diseases, including hypertension, skin cancer, atherosclerotic heart disease, hypothyroidism and calculus of gallbladder, several of which show evidence, albeit weak, for multiple distinct profiles of genetic relative risk. The predominant pattern shows genetic risk factors having the greatest relative impact on risk of early disease, with a monotonic decrease over time, at least for the majority of variants, although the magnitude and form of the decrease varies among diseases. As a consequence, for diseases where genetic relative risk decreases over age, genetic risk factors have stronger explanatory power among younger populations, compared to older ones. We show that these patterns cannot be explained by a simple model involving the presence of unobserved covariates such as environmental factors. We discuss possible models that can explain our observations and the implications for genetic risk prediction.

PMID:34437535 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1009723

PLoS Genet. 2021 Aug 26;17(8):e1009762. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009762. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The development of genome-informed methods for identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) and studying the genetic basis of quantitative variation in natural and experimental populations has been driven by advances in high-throughput genotyping. For many complex traits, the underlying genetic variation is caused by the segregation of one or more ‘large-effect’ loci, in addition to an unknown number of loci with effects below the threshold of statistical detection. The large-effect loci segregating in populations are often necessary but not sufficient for predicting quantitative phenotypes. They are, nevertheless, important enough to warrant deeper study and direct modelling in genomic prediction problems. We explored the accuracy of statistical methods for estimating the fraction of marker-associated genetic variance (p) and heritability ([Formula: see text]) for large-effect loci underlying complex phenotypes. We found that commonly used statistical methods overestimate p and [Formula: see text]. The source of the upward bias was traced to inequalities between the expected values of variance components in the numerators and denominators of these parameters. Algebraic solutions for bias-correcting estimates of p and [Formula: see text] were found that only depend on the degrees of freedom and are constant for a given study design. We discovered that average semivariance methods, which have heretofore not been used in complex trait analyses, yielded unbiased estimates of p and [Formula: see text], in addition to best linear unbiased predictors of the additive and dominance effects of the underlying loci. The cryptic bias problem described here is unrelated to selection bias, although both cause the overestimation of p and [Formula: see text]. The solutions we described are predicted to more accurately describe the contributions of large-effect loci to the genetic variation underlying complex traits of medical, biological, and agricultural importance.

PMID:34437540 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1009762

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Aug 26:1-6. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1968216. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Kuwait started immunizing children <2 y age with the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV7 from August 2007. PCV7 was replaced by the 13-valent conjugate vaccine, PCV13 from August 2010. In a previous analysis of the results for the period, August 2010-July 2013 (period II), there was no evidence of serotype-specific protection for invasive disease against the additional six serotypes to PCV7 present in PCV13 (non-PCV7 serotypes) as evidenced by isolation from blood and cerebrospinal fluid in any of the age groups, <2 y, 2-5 y, 6-50 y, 51-65 y, and >65 y and all ages, compared to the pre-vaccination period, August 2003-July 2006 (period I). In the current study, we allowed additional time, August 2013-July 2019 (period III) for better vaccine effect and repeated the analysis. We did not find any significant decrease of invasive disease due to the non-PCV7 serotypes of PCV13 in period III and combined II and III periods compared to period I. However, these comparisons showed significant reductions for four of the six and total serotypes of PCV7, and total serotypes of PCV13. Reduction for total PCV13 serotypes was contributed by serotypes of PCV7. It appears that the six non-PCV7 serotypes in PCV13 do not offer much protection. Some contributory factors for the poor effect of the non-PCV7 serotypes may be related to few cases with underpowered statistical analysis, lack of vaccine coverage data, method of vaccine efficacy analysis based on vaccine serotypes relative to all serotypes and unusual rise in non-typeable isolates post vaccination that would have masked true serotypes.

PMID:34435932 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2021.1968216

J Gerontol Soc Work. 2021 Aug 26:1-26. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2021.1939219. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study deals with key factors affecting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are based on the longitudinal representative 50+ population-based multi-country panel study Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in which representative samples of individuals in European countries plus Israel were collected. The goal is to turn the challenges of aging into opportunities as well as provide valid and reliable data for evidence-based policies. A total of 2,631 participants were interviewed by telephone in the Czech Republic during the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. After a descriptive analysis showed that participants complied well with most preventative and protective COVID-19 measures, subsequent modeling using logistic regression analysis and a decision tree algorithm identified key determinants that have contributed to an understanding of variation in declared feelings of depression. We found that nervousness, previously unexperienced trouble with sleep, and self-rated health status before the COVID-19 outbreak and gender remained significant predictors of depression, from which statistically significant different categories concerning the percentage of depression could be formed. These identified potential risk factors should be considered in planning further supportive strategies for high-risk 50+ population.

PMID:34435934 | DOI:10.1080/01634372.2021.1939219

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021 Aug 1:1-5. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20210615-02. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between ocular position control ability and stereopsis recovery in children with intermittent exotropia, and to analyze the influencing factors of distance stereopsis recovery.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, 78 children with small angle intermittent exotropia received vision training for 3 months. All patients were examined for distance stereopsis with the synoptophore and for near stereopsis with the Titmus stereogram before and after the training. The patients were divided into low and high Newcastle Control Score (NCS) groups. The stereopsis of the two groups was compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of distance stereopsis recovery.

RESULTS: Among 78 children with intermittent exotropia, 33 had near stereopsis (42.3%) and 22 had distance stereopsis (28.2%); the difference was significant (P < .05). After 3 months of training, there were statistically significant differences between distance and near stereopsis in the low NCS group and the high NCS group (chi-square = 7.127, P = .008; chi-square = 13.005, P < .001). The number of children with distance and near stereopsis in the low NCS group increased significantly compared with before training (chi-square = 13.471, P < .001; chi-square = 22.244, P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age of onset (odds ratio [OR] = 3.768, P = .001), near point of convergence (OR = 0.347, P = .002), and NCS (OR = 0.142, P = .002) were risk factors that affected stereopsis recovery in children with small angle intermittent exotropia.

CONCLUSIONS: Control ability is one of the important indicators to assess the severity of intermittent exotropia. The worse the control ability, the more difficult the recovery of stereopsis. Age of onset, near point of convergence, and NCS are risk factors that affect the recovery of distance stereopsis. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;XX(X):XX-XX.].

PMID:34435904 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20210615-02

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021 Aug 1:1-7. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20210707-02. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical results of full horizontal tendon rectus muscle transposition to the superior rectus muscle insertion, augmented by posterior fixation sutures, in patients with double elevator palsy.

METHODS: In this retrospective comparative study, 17 patients treated by the augmented Knapp procedure (study group) were compared with 28 patients treated by the standard Knapp procedure (control group). Pre-operative and postoperative vertical deviation in primary position, ocular motility, binocular function, and rate of reoperation were evaluated.

RESULTS: The mean preoperative near and distance deviations (hypotropia) decreased by 93% and 97% in the study group and 68% and 69% in the control group, respectively. The improvement in near and distance deviation was statistically more significant in the study group than the control group (P = .001 for each parameter). The mean preoperative elevation deficiency in abduction and adduction improved by 64% and 66% in the study group and 37% and 39% in the control group, respectively. The improvement in elevation deficiency in abduction and adduction was statistically significantly greater in the study group than the control group (P = .001 and .04, respectively). Reoperation was required in 15 patients (54%) in the control group and 2 (12%) in the study group during the follow-up period of 26 ± 4 months.

CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative improvement in near and distance deviation and elevation deficiency in abduction and adduction was significantly better in the augmented Knapp procedure than the standard Knapp procedure. This procedure demonstrated a stronger effect in the treatment of double elevator palsy. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;X(X):XX-XX.].

PMID:34435907 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20210707-02

Ecol Food Nutr. 2021 Aug 26:1-20. doi: 10.1080/03670244.2021.1968849. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In total, 1224 Turkish adults (27.5 ± 9.6 years; 80.6% female) answered sociodemographic questions, and three instruments: Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), and COVID-19 Perception and Attitude Scale. Women’s perceptions and attitudes toward COVID-19 indicated higher concerns than men (p < .001). It was found that IES-2 scores of all subjects increased as body mass index (BMI) decreased and education level increased (p < .001; p = .033, respectively). During the social isolation of COVID-19, the MEQ scores of married couples and those who did not eat take-out foods were higher (p = .027; p = .006, respectively). Interestingly, it was found that as the BMI of the subjects increased, their MEQ scores increased (p < .001). The COVID-19 pandemic, which has social and economic consequences, has a great impact on human health and causes sudden lifestyle changes through social distance and isolation at home. Although social isolation during the epidemic is a necessary precaution to protect public health, the results of this study support that it causes changes in intuitive eating, and mindful eating behaviors.

PMID:34435919 | DOI:10.1080/03670244.2021.1968849

Sci Prog. 2021 Jul-Sep;104(3):368504211038191. doi: 10.1177/00368504211038191.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide, compromising the responsiveness of governments and states and thus generating anxiety and fear at the population level.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of anxiety and fear of coronavirus disease 2019 in a Spanish adult population group.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study, using the anxiety and fear of COVID-19 assessment scale (AMICO, for its acronym in Spanish). The sample was composed of 1038 subjects. Univariate and bivariate statistical analyses were performed, after analysis of normality in the data distribution. Categorical regression analyses were also executed.

FINDINGS: The total sample size was 1036 subjects, 56.3% was made up of females, with a mean age of 48.11 years (SD = 15.13). The mean score obtained on the AMICO scale was 5.54 points (SD = 1.83), with a score range between 1.22 and 10. Bivariate analysis only demonstrated statistically significant differences in the mean score of the scale and the variables: sex, marital status, work area and academic level. The executed categorical regression analysis revealed an R² value of 0.75 and a significance of p = 0.00.

CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show that the Spanish population presents moderate anxiety levels to coronavirus disease 2019. Women, married, with primary and/or secondary education level, and working in the public transport, services and/or hospitality sectors are more likely to have high levels of fear and anxiety.

APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: These results could be used for therapeutic and preventive psychological interventions, and also to plan new research under sex perspective and observing the socio-economic environment.

PMID:34435895 | DOI:10.1177/00368504211038191

J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021 Aug 1:1-5. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20210610-02. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the clinically significant (5 prism diopters [PD] or greater) changes in deviations after 1 and 24 hours of diagnostic monocular occlusion specifically for basic and divergence excess types of intermittent exotropia.

METHODS: In this prospective study, diagnostic monocular occlusion was performed at 1 and 24 hours before surgery in patients with intermittent exotropia. A change of 5 PD or greater in the near and distance deviation after occlusion was considered clinically significant and used as the cut-off point for analysis. The mean clinically significant changes between the deviations after 1 and 24 hours of occlusion in patients with basic and divergence excess types of intermittent exotropia were compared.

RESULTS: A total of 21 patients with basic type and 20 patients with divergence excess type intermittent exotropia were included. No statistically significant differences were found for the mean near and distance deviations, the number of patients who had a clinically significant (5 PD or greater) increase, or the magnitude of increase in near and distance deviations after 1 hour versus 24 hours of diagnostic occlusion in patients with both types of intermittent exotropia.

CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic monocular occlusion for 1 hour is sufficient in patients with basic and divergence excess types of intermittent exotropia. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 20XX;X(X):XX-XX.].

PMID:34435900 | DOI:10.3928/01913913-20210610-02

Psychol Addict Behav. 2021 Aug 26. doi: 10.1037/adb0000730. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The high rate of statistically significant findings in the sciences that do not replicate in a new sample has been described as a “replication crisis.” Few replication attempts have been conducted in studies of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and the best method for determining whether a finding replicates has not been explored. The goal of the current study was to conduct direct replications within a multisite AUD-randomized controlled trial and to test a range of replication metrics.

METHOD: We used data from a large AUD clinical trial (Project Matching Alcoholism Treatments and Client Heterogeneity [Project MATCH], n = 1,726) to simulate direct replication attempts. We examined associations between drinking intensity and negative alcohol-related consequences (Model 1), sex differences in drinking intensity (Model 2), and reductions in drinking following treatment (Model 3). We treated each of the 11 data collection sites as unique studies such that each subsample was treated as an “original” study, and the remaining 10 subsamples were viewed as “replication” studies. Replicability metrics included the consistency of statistical significance, overlapping confidence intervals, and consistency of the direction of the effect. We also tested effect replication and heterogeneity using meta-analysis.

RESULTS: We observed between 0% and 100% replicability across the replicability metrics depending on which subsample was treated as the “original” study. Meta-analyses indicated results were more similar across subsamples with no significant heterogeneity for Models 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONS: We recommend researchers focus on effect sizes and use meta-analysis to evaluate the level of replicability. We also encourage direct replication attempts and sharing of data and code to facilitate direct replication. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:34435835 | DOI:10.1037/adb0000730