Tag: statistics

Magy Onkol. 2024 Mar 14;68(1):27-35. Epub 2023 Nov 23.

ABSTRACT

Pineal region tumors account for less than 1% of adult supratentorial tumors. Their treatment requires a multimodality approach. Previously, the treatment of choice was direct surgery, which is associated with high surgical risk. Advances in minimally invasive techniques and onco-radiotherapy offer a safe and multimodal personalized therapy. The aim of our study was to describe the practice of our Institute based on combined endoscopic and radiotherapy techniques. We performed a retrospective clinical study. We processed data from 23 adult patients who underwent endoscopic third ventricle fenestration and pineal tumor biopsy between 2014 and 2023. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Fisher’s exact test and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed. Clinical improvement with endoscopic intervention was achieved in 78.3% of cases. Significant increase in preoperative performance status was observed in the postoperative period (p=2.755e-5), and radiotherapy resulted in regression or stable disease. Our results suggest a safe treatment with good clinical outcome and an excellent alternative to direct surgery.

PMID:38484373

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2024 Feb 29;18(2):258-265. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17316.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma parvum have been recently linked to sexually transmitted diseases and other conditions. There are a limited number of studies conducted on South African pregnant women that have assessed the prevalence and risk factors for genital mycoplasmas.

METHODOLOGY: This study included 264 HIV infected pregnant women attending the King Edward VIII antenatal clinic in eThekwini, South Africa. DNA was extracted using the PureLink Microbiome kit and pathogens were detected using the TaqMan Real-time PCR assays. The statistical data analysis was conducted in a freely available Statistical Computing Environment, R software, version 3.6.3 using the RStudio platform.

RESULTS: The prevalence of M. hominis and U. parvum, was 215/264 (81.4%), and 203/264 (76.9%), respectively. In the M. hominis positive group, a significantly (p = 0.004) higher proportion, 80.5% tested positive for U. parvum infection when compared to 61.2% among the M. hominis negative. Of the U. parvum positive women, a significantly (p = 0.004) higher proportion of women (85.2%) tested positive for M. hominis when compared to 68.9% among the U. parvum negative. In the unadjusted and adjusted analysis, being M. hominis positive increased the risk for U. parvum by approximately 3 times more (p = 0.014) and 4-fold (p = 0.008), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a significant link between M. hominis and U. parvum infection. To date, there are a limited number of studies that have investigated M. hominisbeing a risk factor for U. parvum infection. Therefore, the data presented in the current study now fills in this gap in the literature.

PMID:38484352 | DOI:10.3855/jidc.17316

J Infect Dev Ctries. 2024 Feb 29;18(2):172-176. doi: 10.3855/jidc.17419.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have documented the cardiovascular consequences of acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), although one of the early cardiac markers that can be used for diagnosis, the heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), has not been covered. Through the evaluation of H-FABP levels, we aim to contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac problems in COVID-19 infection patients.

METHODOLOGY: Seventy-five patients who were admitted to the emergency department of Mehmet Akif Ersoy Hospital with a complaint of chest pain in the last 6 hours and whose corona PCR tests were positive, were included in our study as the case group and 60 healthy volunteers as the control group. The routine cardiac markers such as creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and H-FABP levels were analyzed by routine laboratory methods.

RESULTS: The mean age and gender distributions of the groups did not differ statistically (p > 0.05). CK-MB, cTnT, and H-FABP measurements were statistically different between the groups (p = 0.001; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between AMI and COVID-19 with routine cardiac markers is already supported by recent studies. We also evaluated H-FABP levels in our study, as it affects the prognosis of the disease independent of the chronic disease history. At the same time, we showed that H-FABP levels increase earlier than routine cardiac markers, so it will be useful for COVID-19 patients with cardiac complaints.

PMID:38484342 | DOI:10.3855/jidc.17419

J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2024 Mar 14. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2023.0230. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: We sought to determine the association of hormonal contraception (HC) and cardiometabolic outcomes among women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: We included women with HIV aged 18-45 years in clinical care in the Southeastern United States between 1998 and 2018. Oral and injectable HC use was captured from medication records. Our outcomes included incident cardiovascular/thrombotic disease (CVD) (atherosclerosis, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, thrombosis, and heart failure) and incident metabolic disorders (diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). We excluded women with prevalent conditions. We used multivariable marginal structural models to examine time-varying current and cumulative HC use and cardiometabolic outcomes in separate analyses, adjusting for age, race, smoking, time-varying comorbidities, CD4 cell count, HIV RNA, and antiretroviral use. Women with HC exposure were compared with women without HC exposure. Results: Among the 710 women included, 201 women (28%) used HC. CVD analyses included 603 women without prevalent CVD and 93 incident events; metabolic analyses included 365 women without prevalent metabolic disease and 150 incident events. Current and cumulative oral HC use was associated with increased odds of CVD, though this was not statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.08, [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80-5.43] and aOR = 1.24 [95% CI: 0.96-1.60] per year of use, respectively). Oral HC was not associated with risk of incident metabolic disorders. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) was not associated with risk of incident CVD. Current and cumulative DMPA use was significantly associated with decreased odds of incident metabolic disorders (aOR = 0.48 [95% CI: 0.23, 1.00] and aOR = 0.65 [95% CI: 0.42-1.00] per year of use, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that cardiovascular risk should be considered when selecting contraception for women with HIV.

PMID:38484324 | DOI:10.1089/jwh.2023.0230

J Integr Complement Med. 2024 Mar 14. doi: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0691. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background and objective: Prolonged standing is one of the significant contributors to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in industry workers. Yoga is proven to be an effective therapy in treating occupational hazards. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of yoga on CVI among industry workers. Methodology: Male workers (n = 100) from machinery manufacturing industries in Bangalore meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study. The yoga group received a specifically designed yoga module for 6 days a week for 12 weeks, and the control group was offered lifestyle suggestions. Plasma homocysteine was used as the primary outcome variable, whereas Venous Clinical Severity Score, ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI), ankle and calf circumference, CVI questionnaire, and Chalder fatigue scale were assessed as secondary variables at baseline and the end of 12 weeks of intervention. Results: Eighty-eight participants (yoga = 43, control = 45) completed the study. A one-way analysis of covariates (ANCOVA) was used to determine the significant differences between groups in the post-values. A significant difference was found between groups in plasma homocysteine (partial eta squared = 0.34, p < 0.001). All variables, except for ABPI, calf circumference, and ankle circumference, had shown statistically significant differences between the yoga and control groups after 12 weeks of intervention, with moderate to high effect sizes. There were no significant adverse events associated with the intervention. Conclusions: Yoga practices can reduce the symptoms of CVI along with vascular inflammation as indicated by reduced plasma homocysteine. Overall, yoga practices are found to be safe and efficacious for managing CVI. IEC Reference Number: RES/IEC-SVYASA/184/2021 Trial Registration Number (If Clinical Trial): CTRI/2021/02/030944.

PMID:38484315 | DOI:10.1089/jicm.2023.0691

Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2024 Mar 14. doi: 10.1089/cbr.2023.0192. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of [¹⁸F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the characterization of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). Materials and Methods: A total of 73 patients who underwent preoperative [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT were included in this study. Visual total score (VTS), maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and heterogeneity index (HI) parameters were analyzed to investigate the prediction of histopathologic grade and advanced stage. Results: The cohort included 26 patients with low-grade thymoma (LGT), 36 patients with high-grade thymoma (HGT), and 11 patients with thymic carcinoma (TC). Ninety-one percent of TC had VTS >2, whereas 31% of LGT and 75% of HGT had VTS >2. SUVmax, MTV, and TLG were statistically significantly higher in the TC group than in both thymoma and HGT. Using the cutoff value of 7.25 for SUVmax, TC was differentiated from thymomas with 91% sensitivity and 74% specificity. TC had significantly lower HI values than thymomas. HI parameters showed good diagnostic ability to differentiate TC from thymoma and TC from HGT. SUVmax, MTV, and TLG were significantly higher in advanced-stage disease than in early-stage disease. Conclusions: Visual and quantitative parameters can reliably predict both advanced disease and the grade of primary tumor in TETs. Therefore, as a promising metabolic imaging method, [¹⁸F]FDG PET/CT makes important contributions to preoperative evaluation in routine clinical practice.

PMID:38484307 | DOI:10.1089/cbr.2023.0192

Gerontol Geriatr Educ. 2024 Mar 14:1-12. doi: 10.1080/02701960.2024.2328514. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Empathy, an integral component of bedside manners, correlates with good healthcare provision. Training physician assistant (PA) students using Head-Mounted Display (HMD) virtual reality (VR) contributed to significant empathy increases. This pilot study, which relied on a retrospective analysis, compared a VR experience using HMD to a streamed modality (due to COVID safety) with PA students to measure empathy. We hypothesized that fully immersive and interactive HMD VR would lead to a statistically significant increase in empathy versus the streaming modality. The “Alfred Lab” VR allows viewers to “embody” a 74-year-old African American man with vision and hearing loss. The University of New England PA class of 2021 (n = 47) completed the HMD lab while the class of 2022 (n = 50) viewed the streaming modality as a group. Identical pre/post surveys were completed by each cohort. The analysis utilized paired sample t-tests, ANOVA, frequency analysis (quantitative), and content analysis with thematic coding (qualitative). The results for each cohort revealed a statistically significant increase in empathy (p < 0.05) after completing the VR lab (pre- to post-test results). The comparison of both cohorts (HMD versus group streaming) revealed no noteworthy difference. Streaming VR could improve access to PA programs unable to acquire expensive VR equipment yet still allow for the development of empathy.

PMID:38484287 | DOI:10.1080/02701960.2024.2328514

Pediatr Allergy Immunol Pulmonol. 2024 Mar;37(1):22-32. doi: 10.1089/ped.2023.0129. Epub 2024 Mar 1.

ABSTRACT

Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity disorders characterized by widespread skin and mucosal involvement. However, there is no standardized evidence-based treatment to reduce the complications of SJS/TEN. This article aims to compare the efficacy of different treatments for pediatric SJS/TEN in terms of length of hospital stay (LOS) using a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA). A Bayesian NMA is used to compare and combine evidence from multiple studies and allows clinicians to estimate the relative effectiveness of different treatments/interventions while accounting for heterogeneity in the available evidence. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive electronic database search for studies compatible with our inclusion criteria. Six studies with 103 patients were included in the NMA; of them, 37 patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 37 with systemic corticosteroids (CS), 23 with IVIG + CS, and 3 with Etanercept (ET) + CS. Patients with a median age of 10 years were included in the study. Results: CS had the highest probability of being the most optimal treatment for SJS/TEN in terms of shorter LOS based on the Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking curve levels, and CS + IVIG was associated with a statistically nonsignificant trend toward shorter LOS than IVIG alone. Remarkably, none of the treatments showed a significant benefit over the other interventions in terms of LOS. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that coadministration of CS and IVIG may be associated with a shorter LOS than IVIG alone. Further research with larger randomized controlled trials is needed to reach a definitive conclusion about the efficacy of specific therapy on LOS in pediatric SJS/TEN and to establish more definitive treatment guidelines.

PMID:38484271 | DOI:10.1089/ped.2023.0129

Urogynecology (Phila). 2024 Mar 1;30(3):352-362. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001491.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and treatable medical condition among women, but only approximately one third of women seek care.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with care-seeking behavior in women with UI.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study using patient-reported survey data collected by the National Association for Continence from November 2018 to January 2019. This survey included 60 questions and was conducted using SurveyMonkey. Descriptive statistics were used for baseline characteristics, the χ2 test was used for categorical variables, and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine predictors of care-seeking behavior.

RESULTS: Four hundred eighty-five women completed the survey, 30.7% were not care seeking, and 69.3% were care seeking for UI. Most women were 55 years or older and had UI for more than 4 years. Care-seeking women had more overactive bladder symptoms. Women who sought care were more likely to report feelings of anger, depression, hopelessness, isolation, and report greater social effects from UI than non-care-seeking women. Less than 10% of women who sought care were asked about their UI by a medical professional. In the multivariate logistic regression expenditure of $5 or more on monthly incontinence maintenance, daily UI and older age were associated with seeking care.

CONCLUSIONS: Most women in our study population sought care for UI. Factors associated with seeking care were expenditure greater than $5 per month on incontinence, daily UI, and age. This information demonstrates the need for effective implementation of screening interventions to increase treatment access.

PMID:38484253 | DOI:10.1097/SPV.0000000000001491

Urogynecology (Phila). 2024 Mar 1;30(3):337-344. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001487.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: OnabotulinumtoxinA (BTX-A) is an effective treatment for overactive bladder (OAB), but few studies have been done to evaluate injection techniques.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to evaluate procedural discomfort between 2 commonly used injection techniques for BTX-A.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a single-blinded, randomized clinical trial of women undergoing injection of 100 U BTX-A for idiopathic OAB. Patients were randomized to 5 mL/5 injection or 10 mL/10 injection groups. Bladder pain was assessed by a validated Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Overactive bladder symptoms were assessed with a standardized questionnaire (Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Short Form). Patient satisfaction, treatment efficacy, and adverse events were assessed at 30 days after procedure.

RESULTS: One hundred eight patients were randomized to 52 in the 5 mL/5 injection arm and 56 in the 10 mL/10 injection arm. Mean procedural pain scores were 3.2 (±2.3) in the 5 mL/5 injection group versus 3.6 (±2.1) in the 10 mL/10 injection group (P = 0.21). No difference was found when categorizing pain scores into ordinal outcomes of low (P = 0.55), medium (P = 0.70), and high (P = 1.0) or a binary outcome of low (P = 0.55) versus medium + high (P = 0.55). Multivariate analyses did not effect statistical significance between the 2 groups for the ordinal outcome (odds ratio = 1.86; 95% confidence interval = 0.77 = 4.52; P = 0.17) or the binary outcome (odds ratio = 1.81; 95% confidence interval = 0.68-4.77; P = 0.28). No difference was observed between overall patient satisfaction, global impression of improvement, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire Short Form scores, or adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Procedural discomfort related to BTX-A injection for idiopathic OAB was not different between 2 injection protocols. Overall satisfaction was high for both groups, and there was no difference in symptom scores or adverse events.

PMID:38484251 | DOI:10.1097/SPV.0000000000001487