Tag: nevin manimala

Cureus. 2024 Dec 30;16(12):e76607. doi: 10.7759/cureus.76607. eCollection 2024 Dec.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of the study is to test the null hypothesis that the specificities and sensitivities of the p-value-based significance test for differences between baseline variables and the I² test for single trials do not significantly differ in detecting selection bias in randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS: In MS Excel (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, US), 100 trials were simulated, each consisting of two treatment groups (A and B), with 100 subjects in each group. Fifty trials were biased, while 50 remained non-biased. Both tests were applied to all trials, yielding true positive, false positive, false negative, and true negative per test. Subsequently, sensitivities and specificities with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated and statistically compared using the z-test.

RESULTS: No false positive results were observed, and subsequently, the specificities of both tests were identical (100.00%; 95% CI: 92.89%-100.00%). The sensitivity for the significance test and I² test was 24.00% (95% CI: 13.06%-38.17%) and 76.00% (95% CI: 61.83%-86.94%), respectively. A statistical comparison of the test sensitivities yielded a significant result in favour of the I² test (z = 5.2; p < 0.0001). Consequently, the null hypothesis for the tests’ sensitivities was rejected.

CONCLUSION: The I² test appears to be a more effective method than the p-value-based significance test for detecting selection bias in RCTs.

PMID:39886704 | PMC:PMC11779566 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.76607

Cureus. 2024 Dec 31;16(12):e76669. doi: 10.7759/cureus.76669. eCollection 2024 Dec.

ABSTRACT

Optic nerve disorders significantly contribute to visual impairment with irreversible visual deficits. Current treatments have limited efficacy in resolving chronic visual deficits, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Neurorehabilitation techniques, including repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS), have emerged as promising approaches to restore lost visual function through the ability to modulate brain activity. However, the evidence on the effectiveness of rtACS remains inconclusive, warranting a systematic review to assess its potential as a therapeutic intervention for optic nerve-related visual deficits. This study exclusively evaluated the effectiveness of rtACS for visual field restoration in patients with optic nerve damage, including only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the strict eligibility criteria. A thorough screening and data extraction process was conducted by independent reviewers, followed by a meta-analysis to assess the statistical significance and heterogeneity of the included studies. The improvement in the visual field in the rtACS compared to the sham group was the primary outcome, and visual acuity improvement was the secondary outcome. This study included three RCTs that evaluated the effects of rtACS compared to sham control in treating optic nerve damage. In regard to visual field (VF), the results revealed a significant improvement in the detection accuracy of the rtACS group compared to the control group, with a pooled mean difference of 32.06 [95% CI: 19.2, 51.2] (p=0.001, I2= 0%). The near and far vision revealed no statistically significant difference between both groups. Based on the systematic review, the use of rtACS shows a promising effect in improving the detection accuracy of the VF for patients with optic nerve damage, with a significant benefit over sham control. However, the effects on other visual outcomes were minimal, and safety data was limited. Further high-quality trials are needed to corroborate the findings and provide a more comprehensive evaluation of its efficacy and safety for treating optic nerve-related visual deficits.

PMID:39886696 | PMC:PMC11781289 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.76669

Front Oncol. 2025 Jan 16;14:1326355. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1326355. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy and urinary toxicity of LDR-brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 235 primary prostate cancer patients treated with LDR-brachytherapy and subsequently followed up in our center were included in this study. Biochemical relapse free survival (bRFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were evaluated. Additionally, the incidence of late urinary complications was recorded.

RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 11,6 years. 181 patients (77%) were classified as low-risk patients, while 52 patients (22,1%) were intermediate risk. The overall bRFS was 83,8% at 5 years and 72,4% at 10 years. 5- and 10-year OS were 97,8% and 87,8% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in bRFS or OS between different risk groups. The rate of late urinary complications was 8,9%. Volume of prostate had a statistically significant effect on bRFS, as smaller prostate volumes led to worse bRFS.

CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study shows that LDR brachytherapy is an effective treatment for low- and intermediate risk prostate cancer patients with relatively low but still significant risk of late urinary complications.

PMID:39886674 | PMC:PMC11779706 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2024.1326355

Front Oncol. 2025 Jan 16;14:1522009. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1522009. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimal cut-off value of immunohistochemical marker Ki67 as a prognostic factor to predict the recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder urothelial carcinoma (NMIBUC).

METHODS: A total of 331 patients diagnosed with NMIBUC who underwent surgery in the Yongchuan Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2012 to January 2020 were finally included in this study. The optimal cut-off value of Ki67 for predicting recurrence of NMIBUC was calculated by ROC curve and Youden index. According to the cut-off value, the patients were divided into high ratio group and low ratio group, and the clinicopathological data of the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between the expression of Ki67 and postoperative recurrence of NMIBUC. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used for survival analysis.

RESULTS: 18% is the optimal cut-off value of Ki67 for predicting postoperative recurrence of NMIBUC. High Ki67 expression (Ki67>18%) was significantly correlated with tumor stage (P=0.001), tumor grade (P=0.014), immediate postoperative instillation (P=0.001), the expression of P53 (P=0.019) and CK20 (P=0.001). Ki67 expression greater than 18% was an independent risk factor for high recurrence rate of NMIBUC (P=0.001). Moreover, the 1-year and 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) of the high Ki67 group were 56.6% (95%CI 51.2%-62%) and 43.6% (95%CI 37.5%-49.7%) respectively, which were significantly lower than those in low Ki67 group which present as 92.9% (95%CI 89.0%-96.8%) and 88.3% (95%CI 82.4%-94.2%) respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: 18% is the optimal cut-off value of Ki67 for predicting recurrence of NMIBUC. Ki67>18% is an independent risk factor for high recurrence rate of NMIBUC. This cut-off value can more accurately predict the risk of recurrence and has the potential clinical value for guiding the postoperative adjuvant treatment and follow-up strategy of NMIBUC.

PMID:39886663 | PMC:PMC11779619 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2024.1522009

Front Oncol. 2025 Jan 16;14:1466159. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1466159. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy with notable recent shifts in its burden distribution. Current data on CRC burden can guide screening, early detection, and treatment strategies for efficient resource allocation.

METHODS: This study utilized data from the latest Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study. Initially, a series of descriptive statistics were performed on the incident cases, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and age-standardized rates (ASRs) of CRC. Percentage changes and average annual percentage changes (AAPC) were then calculated to understand the trends in CRC disease burden. Decomposition and frontier analyses were conducted, and finally, the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to predict changes in ASRs up to 2040.

RESULTS: The GBD 2021 estimates indicate a significant increase in the global incident cases, deaths, and DALYs of CRC from 1990 to 2021. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) increased (AAPC: 0.2), while the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) (AAPC: -0.72) and age-standardized DALYs rate (AAPC: -0.73) decreased. Males bore a higher disease burden than females, though the trends in disease burden changes were similar for both sexes. Although developed regions had higher incident cases, deaths, and DALYs, they showed more significant declines in ASRs. Decomposition analysis revealed that population growth and aging were the primary drivers of the increased disease burden. Frontier analysis showed that as the Socio-demographic Index increased, the disparity in CRC ASRs among countries widened, with developed regions having greater potential to reduce these rates. The By 2040, the BAPC model projects significant declines in global ASMR and age-standardized DALYs rates, while ASIR is expected to decrease in females but increase in males and across both sexes.

CONCLUSION: CRC remains a significant public health issue with regional and gender differences, necessitating region- and population-specific prevention strategies.

PMID:39886660 | PMC:PMC11779618 | DOI:10.3389/fonc.2024.1466159

Proc IEEE Int Symp Biomed Imaging. 2024 May;2024. doi: 10.1109/ISBI56570.2024.10635138. Epub 2024 Aug 22.

ABSTRACT

Physics-driven deep learning (PD-DL) methods have gained popularity for improved reconstruction of fast MRI scans. Though supervised learning has been used in early works, there has been a recent interest in unsupervised learning methods for training PD-DL. In this work, we take inspiration from statistical image processing and compressed sensing (CS), and propose a novel convex loss function as an alternative learning strategy. Our loss function evaluates the compressibility of the output image while ensuring data fidelity to assess the quality of reconstruction in versatile settings, including supervised, unsupervised, and zero-shot scenarios. In particular, we leverage the reweighted l 1 norm that has been shown to approximate the l 0 norm for quality evaluation. Results show that the PD-DL networks trained with the proposed loss formulation outperform conventional methods, while maintaining similar quality to PD-DL models trained using existing supervised and unsupervised techniques.

PMID:39886655 | PMC:PMC11779509 | DOI:10.1109/ISBI56570.2024.10635138

Inquiry. 2025 Jan-Dec;62:469580251315348. doi: 10.1177/00469580251315348.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the interplay between physical workload, psychological stress, and the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among construction workers in Indonesia. This cross-sectional study used a purposive sampling technique to gather quantitative data from 409 respondents working in four construction companies through structured questionnaires. Data collection tools included the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III (COPSOQ III), the K10 scale for psychosocial distress, and the Nordic Body Map for musculoskeletal symptoms. Independent variables encompassed demographic factors, physical work environment, and psychosocial aspects, while the dependent variable was the presence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) symptoms over the past 7 days and 12 months. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Grad Pack 29.0 PREMIUM. The study revealed a high prevalence of WMSDs among workers, with 36.2% reporting symptoms in the past 7 days and 31.5% in the past 12 months. These symptoms primarily affected the neck, shoulders, back, and waist. Both physical and psychosocial factors were found to the risk, with high levels of somatic stress and sleep disorders significantly increasing the likelihood of WMSDs. Psychological distress emerged as a particularly strong predictor to these disorders. The findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions and safety policies to mitigate WMSDs risks and improve occupational health within the construction industry.

PMID:39885616 | DOI:10.1177/00469580251315348

BMC Nutr. 2025 Jan 30;11(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s40795-025-01011-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus continues to be a major global public health issue. Body mass index is a general indicator of nutritional status and has emerged as a powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality among adult PLHIV initiating antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings. However, there is a dearth of information regarding longitudinal changes in body mass index and its predictors among adult PLHIV in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. This study aimed to assess body mass index changes and their predictors among adults living with HIV/AIDS who were receiving on antiretroviral therapy at Chiro General Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia from August 15, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

METHODS: A Facility-based retrospective cohort study was implemented among 1049 randomly selected charts of adults living with HIV/AIDS. The data were collected by reviewing charts of clients and antiretroviral therapy registers. The data were entered into Epi data statistical software version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the patients. A linear mixed effect model was used to identify the predictors of body mass index change. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Generally, in this study patients presented a linear increase in the mean BMI from 19 kg/m² baseline to 21.2 kg/m² at the 5th year of follow up. Moreover, the following variables were identified as independent predictors of BMI change: age (β = 0.58, 95% CI; 0.043, 0.072), marital status (β = -0.275, 95% CI: -0.457,-0.093 ), advanced WHO stage (β = -0.496, 95% CI: -0.548, -0.443 ), CD4 count (β = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.001), duration of antiretroviral therapy (β = 0.005, 95% CI: 0.001,0.009), time of follow up (β = 0.205, 95% CI: 0.198,0.212), no ART shift (β = -0.844, 95% CI: -1.135, -0.552), no CPT (β = 0.591, 95% CI: 0.365,0.817), urban residence (β = 0.767, 95% CI:0.401,1.132) and good adherence to ART (β = 0.975, CI:0.302, 1.649).

CONCLUSION: There was a significant improvement in the mean BMI over time and a reduction in the rate of undernutrition during the follow-up period.

PMID:39885613 | DOI:10.1186/s40795-025-01011-7

Infect Dis Poverty. 2025 Jan 30;14(1):4. doi: 10.1186/s40249-025-01274-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic disease with high case-fatality rates and a widespread distribution. Continuous evaluation of the risk factors for VL is essential to ensure the effective implementation of prevention and control measures. The present study reviews the factors associated with VL in the Americas.

METHODS: This systematic review updates a previous 2013 report by including cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies published between July 2011 and April 2024. Associations between VL and risk factors were analyzed using random-effects meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression models. Studies were classified according to level of evidence using the GRADE approach and the evolution in the quality of investigations was assessed.

RESULTS: Forty-six studies were included in the review and 21 variables were evaluated in the meta-analyses. Combination of all study types revealed that men had greater chances of VL than women, but the association was strong and significant only in case-control studies. Although higher chances of VL in children and in households with dogs or chickens/other fowl were identified in case-control studies, an inverse association was observed in cross-sectional and cohort studies. Higher chances of VL were associated with poor economic/living conditions, individuals living in domiciles with backyards or with seropositive dogs, and individuals with prior contact with infected household members/relatives/neighbors. The level of evidence for associations of VL with sex and age was classified as moderate whilst that for all other associations was either low or very low. The methodological quality of recent studies showed a positive progression but shortcomings were still evident regarding selection criteria and methods of data analysis.

CONCLUSION: While there is a higher incidence of symptomatic VL among men and children, the likelihood of infection is similar between the groups. There is insufficient evidence to support the claim that the presence of dogs or fowl at the domicile increases the chances of VL. However, socioeconomic and living conditions, as well as previous occurrence of human and canine VL, are influential factors. Future research should be conducted with greater statistical power and using molecular diagnostic techniques, preferably involving cohort studies in diverse Latin American countries.

PMID:39885606 | DOI:10.1186/s40249-025-01274-z

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jan 30;17(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01063-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Insightful motion analysis provides valuable information for athlete health, a crucial aspect of sports medicine. This systematic review presents an analytical overview of the use of various sensors in motion analysis for sports injury assessment.

METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in February 2024 using search terms related to “sport”, “athlete”, “sensor-based technology”, “motion analysis”, and “injury.” Studies were included based on PCC (Participants, Concept, Context) criteria. Key data, including sensor types, motion data processing methods, injury and sport types, and application areas, were extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS: Forty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors were the most commonly used for motion data collection. Sensor fusion techniques have gained traction, particularly for rehabilitation assessment. Knee injuries and joint sprains were the most frequently studied injuries, with statistical methods being the predominant approach to data analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: This review comprehensively explains sensor-based techniques in sports injury motion analysis. Significant research gaps, including the integration of advanced processing techniques, real-world applicability, and the inclusion of underrepresented domains such as adaptive sports, highlight opportunities for innovation. Bridging these gaps can drive the development of more effective, accessible, and personalized solutions in sports health.

PMID:39885587 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-025-01063-z