Tag: statistics

Eur J Dermatol. 2023 Dec 1;33(6):664-673. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2023.4617.

ABSTRACT

Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) are a heterogenous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas arising in the skin from T- or B-lymphocytes, for which there is limited epidemiological data available. To describe the disease characteristics and estimate annual incidence rates (IRs) and temporal trends of PCLs and their subtypes in Attica, Greece. A retrospective analysis of all PCL patients, diagnosed in Attica’s main haemopathology referral centre from 2009 to 2021, was conducted. In total, 1,189 patients were included; 725 males and 464 females (males__females=1.56). The median age at diagnosis was 62 years. The annual IR was 2.2 new cases per 100,000 individuals. Most patients (n=979, 82.3%) were diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with a crude IR of 1.8 new cases per 100,000 person-years. Mycosis fungoides (MF) was the most common subtype (n=817, 68.7%), followed by lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) (n=59, 5.0%). The crude IR for MF was 1.5 new cases per 100,000 person-years. Cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCLs) accounted for 17.6% (n=210) of all PCLs (IR: 0.4 new cases per 100,000 person-years). PCL, CTCL and MF incidence rates increased from 2009 to 2019, followed by a decrease in 2020-2021. The incidence rate of CBCL increased steadily during the study period. The annual IRs of PCL in Greece were higher than those reported in other studies from Europe, America and Asia. The increase in IRs from 2009 to 2019 may reflect physicians’ improved diagnostic efficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic may be the reason for the decline in PCL, CTCL and MF diagnoses from 2020 to 2021.

PMID:38465548 | DOI:10.1684/ejd.2023.4617

Eur J Dermatol. 2023 Dec 1;33(6):612-617. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2023.4619.

ABSTRACT

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that significantly impairs quality of life, however, its pathophysiology is still unclear. Previous studies have suspected that the bacterial -microbiome plays a causative role in the disease. To investigate whether there are differences in the abundance and diversity of facial bacterial microbiomes between rosacea patients and healthy controls. Samples of facial microorganisms from subjects were collected with sterile swabs, and the V3 and V4 regions of bacterial 16S rRNA were amplified and sequenced using the MiSeq platform of the Illumina system. A total of 44 samples qualified (including 17 in the case group and 27 in the control group), comprising 2,048 operational taxonomic units belonging to 40 phyla and 1,312 species that were clustered. The alpha diversity in patients with rosacea was higher than that in healthy controls, but this difference was not statistically significant. In addition, compared with healthy individuals, the mean relative abundance of Cutibacterium acens was significantly lower (61.79% vs 79.69%, p=0.014) and that of Staphylococcus epidermidis was higher (19.64% vs 6.48%, p=0.036) in rosacea patients. Changes in microbial abundance and diversity correlate with the pathogenesis of rosacea.

PMID:38465541 | DOI:10.1684/ejd.2023.4619

Eur J Dermatol. 2023 Dec 1;33(6):595-603. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2023.4573.

ABSTRACT

The correlation between IgE anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody and disease activity of bullous pemphigoid (BP) remains disputable. To determine the levels of IgE anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody and its clinical significance in untreated BP patients. IgG and IgE anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody in serum and blister fluid samples of 34 untreated BP patients was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and correlation with clinical and pathological features of BP were statistically analysed. The Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI) was used to measure disease activity of BP. The mean baseline level of IgG anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody in serum and blister fluid samples of untreated BP patients was 75.3 U/mL and 1.54 U/mL, respectively (A450, cutoff: 0.126). IgE anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody was positive in 21.9% serum and 14.7% blister fluid samples of untreated BP patients. IgE anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody levels in serum samples positively correlated with those from blister fluid samples (r = 0.983, p < 0.05). However, IgE anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody level in both serum and blister fluid samples of untreated BP patients did not correlate with IgG anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody, age, extent of elevated peripheral blood eosinophils, BPDAI erosion/blister score, BPDAI urticaria/erythema score, BPDAI pruritus score, BPDAI without damage score, or BPDAI total score (all p > 0.05). No significant correlation was identified between disease activity and positive or negative anti-BP180 NC16A IgE autoantibody. Conclusion: IgE anti-BP180 NC16A autoantibody in both serum and blister fluid samples does not appear to correlate with disease activity of BP.

PMID:38465539 | DOI:10.1684/ejd.2023.4573

Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2024 Mar;52(2):110-115. doi: 10.5543/tkda.2023.20745.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The metabolic equivalent (MET) and Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score are two parameters with known cardiovascular prognostic significance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the direct relationship between MET and SYNTAX score in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS).

METHOD: This retrospective study included 200 patients over 18 years of age who underwent coronary angiography and had a positive exercise electrocardiography test result. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 with a low SYNTAX score and Group 2 with a medium-high SYNTAX score. MET values were then compared between these groups.

RESULTS: Baseline demographic characteristics and laboratory values were similar between the groups. The mean MET values in the low and medium-high SYNTAX score groups were 9.36 ± 2.38 and 8.78 ± 2.43, respectively. No statistical difference was observed (P = 0.086). Additionally, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of MET values being 10 ≤ or 10 > (P = 0.172).

CONCLUSION: The main conclusion of our study is that there is no correlation between the SYNTAX score and functional MET value in CCS.

PMID:38465532 | DOI:10.5543/tkda.2023.20745

Adv Healthc Mater. 2024 Mar 11:e2400388. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202400388. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hydrogel-based 3D cell cultures can recapitulate (patho)physiological phenomena ex vivo. However, due to their complex multifactorial regulation, adapting these tissue and disease models for high-throughput screening workflows remains challenging. In this study, a new Precision Culture Scaling (PCS-X) methodology combines statistical techniques (Design of Experiment and Multiple Linear Regression) with automated, parallelized experiments and analyses to customize hydrogel-based vasculogenesis cultures using human umbilical vein endothelial cells and retinal microvascular endothelial cells. Variations of cell density, growth factor supplementation and media composition are systematically explored to induce vasculogenesis in endothelial mono- and cocultures with mesenchymal stromal cells or retinal microvascular pericytes in 384-well plate formats. The developed cultures are shown to respond to vasculogenesis inhibitors in a compound- and dose-dependent manner, demonstrating the scope and power of PCS-X in creating parallelized tissue and disease models for drug discovery and individualized therapies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:38465502 | DOI:10.1002/adhm.202400388

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Mar 11:trae007. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trae007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Podoconiosis is a non-infectious neglected tropical disease caused by long-term exposure to irritant volcanic soils. It results in severe physical, psychological and financial consequences. Heart and Sole Africa (HASA) is a non-governmental, community-based organization providing management to podoconiosis patients in Rwanda. We sought to analyze the impact of their program on the lives of patients.

METHODS: Quantitative surveys recorded the participants’ demographics, adherence to HASA’s management recommendations and changes in quality of life (QOL). Qualitative questions were used to gather respondent perspectives on HASA programming.

RESULTS: We interviewed 127 patients from HASA’s Musanze (n=47) and Burera (n=80) clinics. Almost all participants (98.4%) reported statistically significant (p<0.01) improvements in their QOL, and more than one-half (51.2%) had a favorable adherence score of >80%. Qualitative feedback identified specific challenges to adherence and recognition of program success in symptom management.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the value of community-based podoconiosis programming in improving the lives of patients. Practices such as regular feet washing, emollient application, shoe wearing and limb raising can result in a marked reduction of morbidity. Our findings support the argument for scaling up these management practices across Rwanda.

PMID:38465481 | DOI:10.1093/trstmh/trae007

J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2024 Mar 11. doi: 10.1002/jhbp.1421. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: ¹⁸ F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸ F-FDG-PET/CT) parameters are prognostic factors in multiple malignancies. However, the prognostic value in bile duct carcinoma is unclear. We evaluated the impact of metabolic parameters of ¹⁸ F-FDG-PET/CT in resectable extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 100 patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma who had undergone ¹⁸ F-FDG-PET/CT and subsequent surgical resection between January 2017 and January 2023. We calculated maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and investigated their prognostic significance.

RESULTS: The optimal cutoff values of SUVmax, MTV, and TLG for predicting overall survival (OS) after surgery were 3.88, 3.55 and 7.55, respectively. In multivariate analysis, each metabolic parameter influenced both OS and recurrence-free survival (RFS). TLG showed the lowest Akaike information criteria statistic value, indicating that it had the best ability to predict OS and RFS. High TLG was significantly associated with the number of lymph node metastases and poorly differentiated type. Patients with high TLG showed poorer RFS and OS, which were significantly worse than in those with low TLG.

CONCLUSIONS: Tumor TLG predicted tumor malignancy potential and could be a useful prognostic predictor for extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

PMID:38465467 | DOI:10.1002/jhbp.1421

J Ultrasound Med. 2024 Mar 11. doi: 10.1002/jum.16444. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Due to the government’s liberalization of epidemic control, the current 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has started to spread widely within China. This study aimed to use the fetal heart quantification (fetal HQ) technique to assess the cardiac function and morphology of the fetuses of pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 in the early stages of pregnancy.

METHODS: Exactly 86 pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in early pregnancy (COVID-19 group) and 90 healthy pregnant women (control group) who underwent fetal echocardiography were prospectively included in this study. The fetal HQ technique was applied to compare the differences in the global sphericity index (GSI), global strain values (GS), fractional area change (FAC), and 24-segment fractional shortening (FS) of the left and right ventricles, between the COVID-19 group and the control group.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the differences in GS and 24-segment FS of the left ventricle in the COVID-19 group were not statistically significant. However, the COVID-19 group showed lower GSI values compared with the control group (1.24 vs 1.28). FAC (48.12%) of the left ventricle and GS (-23.55%), FAC (41.74%) of the right ventricle in the COVID-19 group were reduced compared with FAC (50.50%) of the left ventricle and GS (-27.63%), FAC (46.01%) of the right ventricle in the control group. Segmental analysis revealed reduced FS in segments 20-24 in the COVID-19 group compared with the control group. Right ventricular GS was an independent predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome with an optimal cutoff value of -18.66%.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that COVID-19 infection in early pregnancy may have a negative impact on fetal cardiac morphology and function. Fetal HQ may offer a new assessment method for the early identification of fetal cardiac alterations in pregnant women infected with COVID-19.

PMID:38465462 | DOI:10.1002/jum.16444

Head Neck. 2024 Mar 11. doi: 10.1002/hed.27715. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Lateral neck dissection (LND) is performed for staging/treatment of head and neck lesions. This traditionally includes placement of a drain and inpatient admission. Drainless, day-case head and neck surgery is attractive due to cost-effectiveness and reduced length of stay, but evidence is lacking in LND. We aim to investigate Artiss™ as an alternative to drain placement, facilitating day-case LND.

METHODS: A prospective review was conducted of patients who underwent LND in a UK hospital over a 22-month period.

RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were identified (27 Artiss™ only; 12 Artiss™ with a drain). Eight Artiss™ only patients were day-case. All drains were removed by post-operative day 2. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: This observational study demonstrates that for selected patients, Artiss™ could facilitate drainless, day-case LND. Further controlled studies with matched groups and larger numbers are required to validate this.

PMID:38465445 | DOI:10.1002/hed.27715

Nucl Med Commun. 2024 Mar 11. doi: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000001831. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the value of absolute renal uptake (ARU %) in patients by using Tc-99m MAG-3 and Tc-99m DMSA scan.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Absolute renal uptake is calculated using Tc-99m MAG-3 and Tc-99m DMSA in renal scintigraphy, Itoh and Tauex kidney depth methods used, respectively. n = 40 adult patients of both genders were included. All patients underwent Tc-99m MAG-3 and Tc-99m DMSA, respectively.

RESULTS: The values of ARU (%) were calculated separately in selected patients n = 40, (left = 17, right = 23 normal functioning kidneys) by MAG-3 and DMSA. Absolute renal uptake (%) of Tc-99m MAG-3 in left kidneys was found to be 15.2 ± 3.4, with spilt renal function 79.2 ± 14.7 and ARU (%) in right kidneys 16.2 ± 3.4 with spilt renal function 77.5 ± 19. Absolute renal uptake of Tc-99m DMSA in left kidneys was 17.5 ± 3.2 and in right kidneys 17.9 ± 4.5 with spilt renal function 81.8 ± 10.7 and 79.3 ± 13.8 for left and right kidney, respectively. Statistical analysis showed strong Pearson correlation.

CONCLUSION: Absolute renal uptake % was found to be more reliable in cases of bilateral compromised kidneys. ARU (%) calculated by Tc-99m MAG-3 solely can be used as predictor of renal function. The use of Tc-99m MAG-3 has more advantages than Tc-99m DMSA alone in renal scintigraphy as dynamic scintigraphy gives less radiation burden to patient, more information regarding renal function, and shorter stay time at hospital in comparison to static renal imaging. SRF % is less reliable than ARU (%).

PMID:38465440 | DOI:10.1097/MNM.0000000000001831