Tag: pubmed

Stat Med. 2021 Sep 20. doi: 10.1002/sim.9204. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A novel model-free interaction screening approach called the hybrid metrics is introduced for high-dimensional heterogeneous data analysis. The metrics established based on the variation of conditional joint distribution function are measurements of interaction that include both size and direction. They are robust and can work with many types of response variables, including continuous, discrete, and categorical variables. We can apply the hybrid metrics to effective interaction selection for classification, response index models, and Poisson regression, among others. When dealing with classification, the hybrid metrics are capable of capturing both nonlinear category-general and category-specific interaction effects, providing us with a comprehensive overview and precise discovery of category information. When faced with a continuous response, the hybrid metrics perform fairly well even if the signal strength is weak, behaving as if the true interactions were known. To facilitate implementation, a fast two-stage procedure which naturally and efficiently enforces both strong and weak heredity is advocated. We further demonstrate their superior performances over popular competitors by exhaustive simulations and a SRBCT real data example. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

PMID:34542189 | DOI:10.1002/sim.9204

Rev Sci Tech. 2021 Aug;40(2):395-411. doi: 10.20506/rst.40.2.3232.

ABSTRACT

Rising per capita consumption, economic growth, and urbanisation, particularly in developing countries, have been driving an increased global demand for food. These changing socio-economic trends, which have greatly influenced changes in dietary patterns globally and, more specifically, have increased consumption of livestock products in developing countries, are expected to endure and to place new pressures on livestock-sector infrastructure and the delivery of veterinary services. This paper summarises current trade in meat and presents plausible projections for the future. It highlights the impact of animal disease on trade and considers the effect of ongoing disease outbreaks, particularly the outbreaks of African swine fever and COVID-19, on current and future trade dynamics. The authors analysed published statistics on the demand for, and international trade in, livestock products at national and regional levels and made projections of the same up to 2050, generated from an integrated model of the global agricultural and food system. The resulting analyses identified patterns of trade consistent with growing populations, increasing incomes and changing diets in developing countries. The analyses also pointed to slow expansion of livestock production, and the impacts of countries’ disease status on livestock trade. For most of the livestock products analysed, economic model projections indicate increased consolidation of production and exports among a few countries. Marked increases in the trade in livestock products suggest a changing role for Veterinary Services in facilitating trade and extension in the years to come.

PMID:34542107 | DOI:10.20506/rst.40.2.3232

Food Funct. 2021 Sep 20. doi: 10.1039/d1fo01239h. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Gluten free (GF) foods, designed and marketed for the needs of people who are unable to metabolize gluten, in recent years have aroused growing interest that has led to the conquest of important market segments, with a strongly growing trend. Given the low protein content of standard GF flours, it is particularly important to fortify GF foods, and to study the effect that this process exerts on functional and sensorial characteristics. In this work, fortification of GF bakery goods was done with the addition of Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) flour. Two different dough formulations (with and without fortification) were fermented by four different processes, including spontaneous, single strains and sourdough starters. The baked products were then subjected to “consumer’s tests”. During the process, fermentation performances, prebiotic activity, and the VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) profiles were analyzed and compared through robust multivariate statistics. The results obtained evidenced that fortification led to a product with more abundant (medium organic acids) and exclusive bioactives (thymol, borneol, and nicotinic acid), which were correlated to the prebiotic activity of spirulina breads. This work, for the first time indicates that spirulina can be used to fortify GF bakery, improving also its functional potential.

PMID:34542123 | DOI:10.1039/d1fo01239h

J Clin Psychol. 2021 Sep 20. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23246. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Predicting suicide is notoriously difficult and complex, but a serious public health issue. An innovative approach utilizing machine learning (ML) that incorporates features of psychological mechanisms and decision-making characteristics related to suicidality could create an improved model for identifying suicide risk in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHOD: Forty-four patients with MDD and past suicide attempts (MDD_SA, N = 44); 48 patients with MDD but without past suicide attempts (MDD_NS, N = 48-42 of whom with suicide ideation [MDD_SI, N = 42]), and healthy controls (HCs, N = 51) completed seven psychometric assessments including the Three-dimensional Psychological Pain Scale (TDPPS), and one behavioral assessment, the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Descriptive statistics, group comparisons, logistic regressions, and ML were used to explore and compare the groups and generate predictors of suicidal acts.

RESULTS: MDD_SA and MDD_NS differed in TDPPS total score, pain arousal and avoidance subscale scores, suicidal ideation scores, and relevant decision-making indicators in BART. Logistic regression tests linked suicide attempts to psychological pain avoidance and a risk decision-making indicator. The resultant key ML model distinguished MDD_SA/MDD_NS with 88.2% accuracy. The model could also distinguish MDD_SA/MDD_SI with 81.25% accuracy. The ML model using hopelessness could classify MDD_SI/HC with 94.4% accuracy.

CONCLUSION: ML analyses showed that motivation to avoid intolerable psychological pain, coupled with impaired decision-making bias toward under-valuing life’s worth are highly predictive of suicide attempts. Analyses also demonstrated that suicidal ideation and attempts differed in potential mechanisms, as suicidal ideation was more related to hopelessness. ML algorithms show useful promises as a predictive instrument.

PMID:34542183 | DOI:10.1002/jclp.23246

J Alzheimers Dis. 2021 Sep 16. doi: 10.3233/JAD-210684. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gait, speech, and drawing behaviors have been shown to be sensitive to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, previous studies focused on only analyzing individual behavioral modalities, although these studies suggested that each of these modalities may capture different profiles of cognitive impairments associated with AD.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate if combining behavioral data of gait, speech, and drawing can improve classification performance compared with the use of individual modality and if each of these behavioral data can be associated with different cognitive and clinical measures for the diagnosis of AD and MCI.

METHODS: Behavioral data of gait, speech, and drawing were acquired from 118 AD, MCI, and cognitively normal (CN) participants.

RESULTS: Combining all three behavioral modalities achieved 93.0%accuracy for classifying AD, MCI, and CN, and only 81.9%when using the best individual behavioral modality. Each of these behavioral modalities was statistically significantly associated with different cognitive and clinical measures for diagnosing AD and MCI.

CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that these behaviors provide different and complementary information about cognitive impairments such that classification of AD and MCI is superior to using either in isolation.

PMID:34542076 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-210684

J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2021 Oct 1;25(4):291-295. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000627.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to prepare a reliable and easy-to-use architectural classification for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) aimed at defining the morphological patterns of this condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An expert panel composed by 7 physicians with expertise in clinical care of vulvar conditions outlined the architectural criteria for the definition of VLS severity (phimosis of the clitoris, involvement of the interlabial sulci, narrowing of the vulvar introitus), identifying 5 grades to build up a classification. Thirteen physicians with 2-30 years expertise in vulvar diseases (nonexpert group) were asked to evaluate 3-5 pictures from 137 patients. Each physician individually assigned a grade to each case, according to the previously mentioned criteria. Interrater reliability was analyzed by means of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The reliability concerning the 2 classifications of each rater was analyzed by means of κ statistic. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability in vivo was analyzed by means of κ index.

RESULTS: This study provides a new classification of VLS, based on defined anatomical criteria and graded into mutually exclusive progressive classes.The ICC analysis showed a substantial interrater reliability of the classification, ICC = 0.89 (0.87-0.91), both in the expert panel and in the nonexpert group (ICC = 0.92 and 0.87, respectively). An “almost perfect” intraobserver and interobserver reliability was achieved among physicians in vivo (κ = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS: Our classification showed a high reliability. It is easy to use, and it can be applied in clinical practice and eventually, in the evaluation of regenerative and cosmetic surgery.

PMID:34542084 | DOI:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000627

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2021 Sep 17. doi: 10.3233/BMR-210019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Given the characteristics of the superficial trunk muscles that cross the chest and pelvis, their excessive contraction might limit chest mobility.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the immediate effects of two types of trunk muscle exercises on chest mobility and trunk muscle activities.

METHODS: Fourteen healthy men (age: 21.1 ± 1.0 years, height: 172.7 ± 5.6 cm, weight: 61.0 ± 7.1 kg, body mass index: 20.4 ± 1.7 kg/m2; mean ± SD) randomly performed trunk side flexion and draw-in exercises using a cross-over design. The chest kinematic data and trunk muscle activities were measured before and after each intervention during the following tasks: maximum inspiration/expiration and maximum pelvic anterior/posterior tilt while standing. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis (P< 0.05).

RESULTS: After the side flexion, upper and lower chest mobility significantly decreased, and superficial trunk muscle activity significantly increased during the maximum pelvic anterior tilt (P< 0.05). Additionally, after the draw-in, upper chest mobility significantly increased during the maximum pelvic anterior tilt (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Increased activity of the superficial abdominal muscles might limit chest mobility during maximum pelvic anterior tilt. Conversely, the facilitation of deep trunk muscles might increase upper chest mobility during the maximum pelvic anterior tilt.

PMID:34542061 | DOI:10.3233/BMR-210019

J Alzheimers Dis. 2021 Sep 16. doi: 10.3233/JAD-210319. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high mortality rates in nursing homes (NHs) in Europe. For adequate risk management and good prognostications, it is essential to identify mortality risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether previously identified risk factors for 30-day mortality in Dutch NH residents with COVID-19 are unique to COVID-19.

METHODS: In this cohort study, we included 1,294 NH residents with COVID-19 (cases) and 17,999 NH residents without COVID-19 (controls, from the pre-COVID-19 period). We used descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazard models to compare mortality rates in residents with and without COVID-19, categorized by risk factors.

RESULTS: Cases had a more than 18 times higher hazard of death within 30 days compared to controls (HR 18, 95%CI: 16-20). For residents with COVID-19, being male, having dementia, and having Parkinson’s disease (PD) were all associated with a higher 30-day mortality (HR 1.8 versus 1.3 versus 1.7). Being male was also associated with a higher mortality (HR 1.7) in the control group, whereas having dementia and PD were not. COVID-19 symptomatology was very similar for residents with and without dementia or PD, except for delirium and malaise which was more frequent in residents with dementia.

CONCLUSION: Dementia and PD were significant additional risk factors for mortality in Dutch NH residents with COVID-19, whereas male gender was not unique to residents with COVID-19. The frailty of PD and dementia in NH residents with COVID-19 are relevant to consider in prognostication, communication, and care planning with residents and their families.

PMID:34542068 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-210319

NeuroRehabilitation. 2021 Sep 13. doi: 10.3233/NRE-210144. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The risk of falling for individuals with stroke is about twice that of healthy older adults. Lack of appropriate initiative to address the fear-related maladaptive behaviour can manifest itself in the form of loss of physical functions resulting in disability and handicap.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of the structured balance awareness program (SBAP) in improving the perceived balance confidence, and thereby modifying the fear-related maladaptive behaviour in post-stroke survivors.

METHODS: A randomized experimental control design was used on a sample of 97 post-stroke survivors aged between 55 to 75 years. The patients received either the SBAP or health awareness program (HAP) for eight weeks and were compared on Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Falls Efficacy Scale International (FESI).

RESULTS: A paired t-test demonstrated statistically significant improvement among all the variables in the SBAP group. An independent t-test exhibited a statistically significant improvement on ABC (t = 2.57, p = 0.012 *), BBS (t = 3.32, p = 0.001 *) and FESI (t = 3.38, p = 0.001 *) in the SBAP group.

CONCLUSION: The study showed that the SBAP was effective in minimizing the fear-related maladaptive behaviour in post-stroke survivors.

PMID:34542039 | DOI:10.3233/NRE-210144

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2021 Sep 17. doi: 10.3233/BMR-210018. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a common condition that results in significant disability. To treat this dysfunction, Mulligan described sustained natural apophyseal gliders (SNAGs) as a manual therapy approach. However, only inconclusive short-term evidence exists for treating CGH with SNAGs.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the effect of SNAGs in the treatment of CGH.

METHODS: Fourty female patients ranging from 20 to 40 years with CGH were randomly assigned to two groups: 20 in a treatment group and 20 in a control group. SNAGs were applied to the treatment group while the control group received placebo treatment. Both groups received their respective treatment for 20 minutes, alternately three times per week, for a total of 12 times in four weeks. The outcome measures were the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Participants were assessed at baseline and at the end of each week. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Independent t-testing was used to reveal changes between groups. One-way ANOVA was used to determine changes within groups. The level of significance was P< 0.05.

RESULTS: Twenty participants (100%) in the treatment group and 17 (85%) in the control group had a history of headache aggravation with active movements or passive head positioning. There was no significant difference at baseline (p> 0.05), indicating that both groups were homogeneous at the time of recruitment. The p value (p< 0.05) showed a significant difference in pain and level of disability at three and four weeks (p< 0.05) in patients treated with SNAGs. However, the cervical range of motion (ROM) showed a statistically significant improvement in flexion and extension in the treatment group (p< 0.05) while there was no significant improvement in side flexion and rotation ROM in both groups (p> 0.05).

CONCLUSION: This study found that SNAGs were effective in reducing pain and neck disability and improved ROM in females with CGH.

PMID:34542060 | DOI:10.3233/BMR-210018