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Nevin Manimala Statistics

An Analysis of Operated Mediastinal Cysts and Masses

Ann Ital Chir. 2024;95(6):1206-1212. doi: 10.62713/aic.3650.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study had two aims: to analyze surgical patients with mediastinal cysts and masses according to clinical, histopathological, and surgical types; and compare the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on these cases.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 132 patients who had undergone surgical intervention for mediastinal cysts and masses. Demographic, clinical, and histopathologic data were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups based on their preference for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and other surgical methods. Patients who had undergone surgery during and before the COVID-19 pandemic were also compared.

RESULTS: Lesions were detected incidentally in 56 patients (42.4%). The lesions were most commonly located in the anterior mediastinum (n = 86, 65.2%), while the most common pathology was found to be thymoma (n = 47, 35.6%). VATS was the most preferred method of operation (n = 36, 27.3%). The duration of hospital stay was observed to be statistically significantly shorter in patients who underwent VATS (p = 0.016). After the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidental incidence of mediastinal cysts and masses was significantly higher (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: The incidental detection rate of operated mediastinal cysts and masses increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is suggested that this study act a starting point for investigating the impact of the pandemic on mediastinal cysts and masses.

PMID:39723507 | DOI:10.62713/aic.3650

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Efficacy of Percutaneous Kyphoplasty and Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation in Managing Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals: A Comparative Study

Ann Ital Chir. 2024;95(6):1221-1230. doi: 10.62713/aic.3657.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study is aims to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) in managing osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) among middle-aged and elderly individuals.

METHODS: A total of 142 patients aged 55-65 years were selected retrospectively from the Department of Orthopedics of our hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 and classified into PKP (n = 68) and PPSF (n = 74) groups. General data of patients were collected, and related perioperative indicators, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores, changes in Cobb angle of the fractured vertebrae, vertebral compression rate, as well as postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The PKP group showed shorter operation duration, reduced intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and earlier compared to the PPSF group (p < 0.001). In comparison with the PPSF group, the PKP group endured much reduced pain, with improvements in spinal function and quality of life. On postoperative day 1, the PPSF group demonstrated superior restoration of vertebral height and deformity correction in relative to the other group (p < 0.05), with no significant difference in preoperative Cobb angle and vertebral compression rate (p > 0.05). The incidence of complications showed no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of PKP lie in its ability to effectively relieve pain, improve spinal function, and enhance the quality of life. PPSF, meanwhile, is well-suited for the recovery of vertebral height and the correction of deformity in the early stage.

PMID:39723505 | DOI:10.62713/aic.3657

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Efficacy Analysis of Modified Single-Incision Surgery for Repair of Pediatric Chest Wall Defects: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Ann Ital Chir. 2024;95(6):1085-1094. doi: 10.62713/aic.3695.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aims to compare the efficacy of modified single-incision surgery with that of traditional modified Ravitch surgery for the repair of pectus excavatum in pediatric patients.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included patients who underwent surgical correction for sternal depression from January 2015 to December 2020 across four major medical centers. Patients were categorized into two specific groups on the basis of the surgical technique employed: the modified single-incision surgery group, which comprised patients treated using the novel single-incision approach, and the traditional modified Ravitch surgery group, which included patients who received the conventional Ravitch surgery with multiple incisions. This study only included patients in the age range of 10 to 18 years, diagnosed with moderate to severe pectus excavatum, and lacked remarkable comorbid conditions that could influence surgical outcomes. Comprehensive data on preoperative characteristics, intraoperative variables, and postoperative results were collected for analysis.

RESULTS: The modified single-incision surgery group showed significantly lower mean blood loss, mean operating time, mean hospital stay, postoperative drainage rate, postoperative mean Haller index and mean Haller index after bar removal compared to the traditional modified Ravitch surgery group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the surgical outcomes were significantly better in the modified single-incision surgery group (p = 0.010) than in the traditional modified Ravitch surgery group. The modified single-incision surgery group also had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications, including pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pulmonary infection, bar rejection, and bar flipping and displacement (p < 0.05), than the traditional modified Ravitch surgery group. The modified single-incision surgery group showed significantly greater improvement in sternal depression depth compared to the traditional modified Ravitch surgery group (p = 0.031). Corrected symmetry was significantly better in the modified single-incision surgery group (p = 0.037). The overall satisfaction of patients in the modified single-incision surgery group was significantly higher than that in the traditional modified Ravitch surgery group (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS: The modified single-incision procedure for the treatment of pectus excavatum offers considerable advantages over the traditional modified Ravitch surgery. The findings of this study suggest that the modified single-incision procedure is a safe and effective alternative for the correction of pectus excavatum.

PMID:39723504 | DOI:10.62713/aic.3695

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Application of Osborne’s Ligament Suspension and Ulnar Nerve Anterior Transposition in Conjunction with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Managing Cubital Tunnel Syndrome: A Retrospective Study

Ann Ital Chir. 2024;95(6):1213-1220. doi: 10.62713/aic.3725.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To explore the effectiveness and safety of Osborne’s ligament suspension and ulnar nerve anterior transposition (OLSUNAT) in conjunction with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for managing cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS).

METHODS: A total of 116 individuals diagnosed with CTS who underwent OLSUNAT in our hospital between October 2020 and December 2023 were retrospectively selected. They were divided into a treatment group (62 cases) and a control group (54 cases) based on whether they received subsequent TENS. Observation indicators included pain level, numbness, ulnar nerve conduction velocity, strength of the abductor of the little finger, two-point discrimination, elbow range of motion, fine motor activities of the upper limb and hand, SF-36 scores, and incidence of complications.

RESULTS: No significant differences in baseline characteristics were identified between the treatment and control groups (p > 0.05). After treatment, both groups showed remarkable improvements in pain level, numbness, motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV), strength of the abductor of the little finger, two-point discrimination, elbow range of motion, Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF) score, and SF-36 scores compared to before treatment (p < 0.05). However, the treatment group showed greater progress than the control group (p < 0.05). Although the overall incidence of complications in the treatment group was slightly lower than in the control group, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: OLSUNAT combined with TENS offers significant advantages in managing CTS, effectively alleviating symptoms, promoting nerve and elbow function recovery, and improving patients’ quality of life while demonstrating high safety. However, further extensive and long-term studies are needed to confirm its sustained efficacy and safety.

PMID:39723501 | DOI:10.62713/aic.3725

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Application of Comfort Nursing Based on Evidence-based Concept in Radial Artery Puncture Hemostasis of Patients after Coronary Intervention

Ann Ital Chir. 2024;95(6):1163-1169. doi: 10.62713/aic.3805.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to explore the application effect of comfort nursing based on evidence-based concept in radial artery puncture hemostasis of patients after coronary intervention.

METHODS: This interventional study included the clinical data of 180 patients who underwent percutaneous radial coronary intervention in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from July 2024 to September 2024. All patients were treated with radial artery hemostasis device after operation. Patients were divided into two groups based on the single and even number of admission date. Patients admitted with single number were included in the control group (routine nursing, n = 94), and patients admitted with even number were included in the study group (comfort nursing based on evidence-based concept, n = 86). The post-surgical discomfort, postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction levels were comparatively analyzed between the two experimental groups.

RESULTS: The hemostasis was successfully achieved in both groups of patients, with a success rate of 100%. Compared to the control group, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were significantly reduced in the study group at 2 and 4 hours after the procedure (p < 0.05). Post-surgery, the study group experienced reduced rates of subcutaneous ecchymosis, swelling of palms and forearms, and reduced complication rate compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients in the study group exhibited higher mission content, service attitude, nursing quality, nursing approach score, and nursing satisfaction score than those in the control group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Using comfort nursing based on the evidence-based concept during radial artery puncture hemostasis in patients after the coronary intervention effectively relieves patients’ pain, reduces postoperative complications and improves nursing care satisfaction.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: China Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2400087080.

PMID:39723498 | DOI:10.62713/aic.3805

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The generalized Hausman test for detecting non-normality in the latent variable distribution of the two-parameter IRT model

Br J Math Stat Psychol. 2024 Dec 26. doi: 10.1111/bmsp.12379. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This paper introduces the generalized Hausman test as a novel method for detecting the non-normality of the latent variable distribution of the unidimensional latent trait model for binary data. The test utilizes the pairwise maximum likelihood estimator for the parameters of the latent trait model, which assumes normality of the latent variable, and the maximum likelihood estimator obtained under a semi-non-parametric framework, allowing for a more flexible distribution of the latent variable. The performance of the generalized Hausman test is evaluated through a simulation study and compared with other test statistics available in the literature for testing latent variable distribution fit and an overall goodness-of-fit test statistic. Additionally, three information criteria are used to select the best-fitted model. The simulation results show that the generalized Hausman test outperforms the other tests under most conditions. However, the results obtained from the information criteria are somewhat contradictory under certain conditions, suggesting a need for further investigation and interpretation. The proposed test statistics are used in three datasets.

PMID:39723492 | DOI:10.1111/bmsp.12379

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

One-day low-residue diet is equally effective as the multiple-day low-residue diet in achieving adequate bowel cleansing: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Clin Endosc. 2024 Dec 12. doi: 10.5946/ce.2024.061. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonoscopy is widely used as a diagnostic and preventive procedure for colorectal diseases. The most recent guidelines advocate the use of a low-residue diet (LRD) for bowel preparation before colonoscopy. LRD duration varies considerably, with recommended 1-day and multiple-day regimens in clinical practice.

METHODS: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched multiple databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and analyzed the outcomes using a fixed-effects model.

RESULTS: Six RCTs with 2,469 subjects were included in this study. The rates of adequate bowel preparation for 1-day and >1-day were 87.2% and 87.1%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the 1-day and >1-day LRD in adequate bowel preparation (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.41; p=0.84; I2=0%), polyp detection rate (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.76-1.09; p=0.29; I2=16%), adenoma detection rate (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.71-1.08; p=0.21; I2=0%), and withdrawal time (mean difference, -0.01; 95% CI, -0.25 to 0.24; p=0.97; I2=63%).

CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of 1-day and multiple-day LRD is comparable in achieving satisfactory bowel preparation, highlighting their similar impact on the detection of polyps and adenomas during colonoscopy.

PMID:39722139 | DOI:10.5946/ce.2024.061

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Identification of Brain Cell Type-Specific Therapeutic Targets for Glioma From Genetics

CNS Neurosci Ther. 2024 Dec;30(12):e70185. doi: 10.1111/cns.70185.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous research has demonstrated correlations between the complex types and functions of brain cells and the etiology of glioma. However, the causal relationship between gene expression regulation in specific brain cell types and glioma risk, along with its therapeutic implications, remains underexplored.

METHODS: Utilizing brain cell type-specific cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTLs) and glioma genome-wide association study (GWAS) datasets in conjunction with Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses, we conducted a systematic investigation to determine whether an association exists between the gene expression of specific brain cell types and the susceptibility to glioma, including its subtypes. Additionally, the potential pathogenicity was explored utilizing mediation and bioinformatics analyses. This exploration ultimately led to the identification of a series of brain cell-specific therapeutic targets.

RESULTS: A total of 110 statistically significant and robust associations were identified through MR analysis, with most genes exhibiting causal effects exclusively in specific brain cell types or glioma subtypes. Bayesian colocalization analysis validated 36 associations involving 26 genes as potential brain cell-specific therapeutic targets. Mediation analysis revealed genes indirectly influencing glioma risk via telomere length. Bioinformatics analysis highlighted the involvement of these genes in glioma pathogenesis pathways and supported their enrichment in specific brain cell types.

CONCLUSIONS: This study, employing an integrated approach, demonstrated the genetic susceptibility between brain cell-specific gene expression and the risk of glioma and its subtypes. Its findings offer novel insights into glioma etiology and underscore potential therapeutic targets specific to brain cell types.

PMID:39722126 | DOI:10.1111/cns.70185

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The morphological dietary preferences of an outbreaking population of corallivorous crown-of-thorns sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) in the Gulf of Thailand

Environ Monit Assess. 2024 Dec 26;197(1):95. doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-13582-2.

ABSTRACT

The current study investigated the morphological dietary preferences of an outbreaking population of corallivorous crown-of-thorn sea stars (Acanthaster sp.) in Koh Tao, situated in the Gulf of Thailand. The local effects of such populations deemed to be in outbreak are currently poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the localised feeding behaviours of Acanthaster sp. within an outbreak population, so as to better understand the reefs vulnerable to future outbreaks. Data was collected over a 2-year period, using underwater visual census methods. Survey parameters included sea star abundance, as well as substrate composition and frequency of observed predation scarring. Acanthaster sp. populations were observed to consistently exceed regional outbreak definitions (34.4 individuals ha-1), and demonstrated unimodal size distribution consistent with a primary outbreak. Analysis of feeding behaviour displayed some evidence to support previous claims of density-dependent predation within Acanthaster sp. populations. Van der Ploeg and Scavia tests of dietary preference appeared to suggest that Acanthaster sp. have a marked preference for coral morphologies belonging to tabular and arborescent coral types, and a strong avoidance for massive, laminar, submassive, and solitary coral morphs. Furthermore, Acanthaster sp. displayed a preference towards small coral colonies between 0 and 20 cm. This finding has potential significance for reef resilience and diversity within areas at risk of CoT outbreaks, and seemingly opposes previous literature in other regions. Overall, the current study displays a host of evidence shedding light on Acanthaster sp. ecology and dietary preferences within an outbreaking population density in the Gulf of Thailand. Moreover, there is clear evidence highlighting large spatial variation in the ecology of crown-of-thorns sea stars feeding ecology, and as such demonstrates the requirement for increased localised studies of Acanthaster sp. that accounts for environmental and ecological heterogeneity.

PMID:39722068 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-024-13582-2

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Celiac in the twenty-first century-the change in BMI of children at diagnosis over the last two decades

Eur J Pediatr. 2024 Dec 26;184(1):105. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05835-6.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the prevalence of different BMI categories among newly diagnosed pediatric celiac disease (CD) patients in Israel from 2002 to 2018. A retrospective cross-sectional study using the database of Clalit Health Services in Israel included 5520 newly diagnosed CD children aged 2-18 between 2002 and 2018. Data on BMI, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) were collected and analyzed Of the 5520 CD patients, 57.5% were female, 39.7% had low SES, and 77.1% were Jewish. At diagnosis, 13.1% were underweight, 73% had normal BMI, 9.1% overweight, and 4.8% were obese. Underweight and obese patients tended to be older at diagnosis (9 years) compared with normal and overweight patients (8 years) (P < 0.001). A higher proportion of Arab patients were underweight, while more Jewish patients were obese. Lower SES was significantly associated with increased underweight risk (P < 0.001). Over time, diagnosed patients had improved SES and were less underweight (P < 0.001). Male gender increased obesity risk (OR 1.36 [95% CI 1.06-1.74], P = 0.017), while Arab ethnicity was protective for obesity (OR 0.67 [95% CI, (0.45-0.99)], P = 0.047)Conclusion: Underweight prevalence significantly decreased in the second decade, but no significant change in overweight and obesity was noted. Underweight was associated with older age at diagnosis, poverty, and Arab ethnicity. Obesity was associated with older age and was more frequent in Jewish and male patients. Physicians should have a low threshold for CD screening regardless of BMI status to enable timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term health consequences. What Is Known: • Celiac disease is traditionally associated with underweight due to malabsorption, but recent reports suggest an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in pediatric patients at diagnosis What Is New: • This study found that underweight prevalence decreased significantly over time, while overweight and obesity prevalence remained unchanged. Underweight was associated with older age, poverty, and Arab ethnicity, while obesity was more common in Jewish and male patients.

PMID:39722061 | DOI:10.1007/s00431-024-05835-6