Tag: statistics

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2024 Mar 21. doi: 10.5507/bp.2024.010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In a previous follow-up of glaucoma patients taking carteolol or latanoprost, we found a greater progression of visual field changes with the prostaglandin than the betablocker. In the present study we compared the impact of carteolol and latanoprost on peripapillary vessel density in newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

METHODS: The study consisted of two groups of POAG patients. There were 46 patient eyes treated with carteolol (Carteol LP 2%) in the first group and 52 eyes treated with latanoprost (Xalatan 0.005%) in the second. Intraocular pressure (IOP), vessel density (VD) and visual field were assessed in all patients. VD was measured peripapillary by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with the Avanti RTVue XR in eight segments: Inferior Temporal – IT (1); Temporal Inferior -TI (2); Temporal Superior – TS (3); Superior Temporal – ST (4); Superior Nasal – SN (5); Nasal Superior – NS (6); Nasal Inferior – NI (7) and Inferior Nasal – IN (8). The measurements were compared before and after three months of treatment. The visual field was examined with a fast threshold glaucoma program using a Medmont M 700 instrument from Medmont International Pty Ltd. and only when a diagnosis of POAG was done. The overall defect (OD) was assessed.

RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no difference between groups in either OD or VD. After treatment, there was a decrease in IOP in both groups. In the carteolol-treated group, the mean decrease was 5.8 mmHg and in the latanoprost-treated eyes, the mean decrease was 7 mmHg. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.133). After treatment with carteolol, there was a statistically significant increase in VD in segments 4, 5 and 6. After latanoprost treatment, VD was statistically significantly improved only in segment 5. A greater increase in VD values was found in eyes treated with carteolol than in eyes treated with latanoprost.

CONCLUSION: Carteolol had a better effect on vessel density than latanoprost.

PMID:38516775 | DOI:10.5507/bp.2024.010

Nurs Crit Care. 2024 Mar 22. doi: 10.1111/nicc.13068. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Delirium commonly occurs in paediatric patients with acute critical illness and negatively affects clinical outcomes. Variations in delirium knowledge levels and its management have been noted among nurses.

AIMS: This study investigated nurses’ experiences and knowledge levels regarding paediatric delirium. Additionally, we aimed to assess the gap between knowledge levels and practical experiences with paediatric delirium.

STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional descriptive study conveniently sampled paediatric nurses from a university hospital in South Korea between September 2022 and March 2023. Nursing experiences with paediatric delirium and delirium knowledge levels were measured using structured survey questionnaires. Delirium knowledge was scored 0 to 47, and higher scores indicated higher levels of delirium-related knowledge. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented as mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage.

RESULTS: A total of 127 paediatric nurses participated in this study; 40.2% had experience with 1-5 delirium cases in the previous year, and 86.6% (n = 110) had never used assessment tools for paediatric delirium assessment. The mean total delirium knowledge score was 34.45 ± 5.4; the mean scores of knowledge regarding aetiology, signs and symptoms and nursing management of delirium were 8.93 ± 1.31, 13.24 ± 2.81 and 12.3 ± 2.7, respectively. Interventions associated with a lower level of delirium-related knowledge and a lower performance rate included avoiding restraint use and maintaining hydration and electrolyte levels. Interventions associated with a higher level of delirium-related knowledge but a lower rate of performance comprised providing orientation, offering emotional support, allowing participants to stay with family members and administering medications to manage delirium.

CONCLUSIONS: Although nurses working in paediatric units exhibited high rate of delirium nursing care, there was the gap between their delirium-related knowledge and practice. Nurses need to be aware of the insufficient part of delirium care, and paediatric delirium education should be reinforced.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Preventing, assessing and systematically managing paediatric delirium is crucial, and considering the study results, delirium education among nurses is needed.

PMID:38516768 | DOI:10.1111/nicc.13068

Am J Biol Anthropol. 2024 Mar 22:e24932. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.24932. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Ecogeographic variation in human nasal anatomy has historically been analyzed on skeletal morphology and interpreted in the context of climatic adaptations to respiratory air-conditioning. Only a few studies have analyzed nasal soft tissue morphology, actively involved in air-conditioning physiology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used in vivo computer tomographic scans of (N = 146) adult individuals from Cambodia, Chile, Russia, and Spain. We conducted (N = 438) airflow simulations during inspiration using computational fluid dynamics to analyze the air-conditioning capacities of the nasal soft tissue in the inflow, functional, and outflow tract, under three different environmental conditions: cold-dry; hot-dry; and hot-humid. We performed statistical comparisons between populations and sexes.

RESULTS: Subjects from hot-humid regions showed significantly lower air-conditioning capacities than subjects from colder regions in all the three conditions, specifically within the isthmus region in the inflow tract, and the anterior part of the internal functional tract. Posterior to the functional tract, no differences were detected. No differences between sexes were found in any of the tracts and under any of the conditions.

DISCUSSION: Our statistical analyses support models of climatic adaptations of anterior nasal soft tissue morphology that fit with, and complement, previous research on dry skulls. However, our results challenge a morpho-functional model that attributes air-conditioning capacities exclusively to the functional tract located within the nasal cavity. Instead, our findings support studies that have suggested that both, the external nose and the intra-facial soft tissue airways contribute to efficiently warming and humidifying air during inspiration. This supports functional interpretations in modern midfacial variation and evolution.

PMID:38516761 | DOI:10.1002/ajpa.24932

Pak J Biol Sci. 2024 Jan;27(2):100-107. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2024.100.107.

ABSTRACT

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The rapid development of Kendari City as the capital of Southeast Sulawesi Province has led to changes in land use patterns, particularly an increase in built-up areas, which threaten environmental stability. Rapid population growth contributes to rising carbon dioxide emissions, impacting air quality. Green spaces like Baruga Forest are ideal for environmental balance and bioservation. This study aims to identify the diversity of Collembola species in Baruga Forest, Kendari and understand the environmental factors influencing their presence. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Collembola was collected in the Baruga Forest using a Berlese funnel, then identified and classified based on the family by counting the number of individuals in each taxonomic group. The diversity of Collembola was measured using the Shannon-Wiener index, while the evenness of individual distribution in each family was assessed using an evenness index. Additionally, environmental parameters such as air temperature, air humidity and soil pH were measured. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. <b>Results:</b> The research results indicate that there are 75 individuals of Collembola belonging to the class Entognatha. The dominant order observed is Entomobryomorpha, consisting of three families: Oncopoduridae with 60 individuals, Isotomidae with 7 individuals and Orchesellidae with 5 individuals. Additionally, there is the order Symphypleona, represented by a single family, Bourletiellidae, with one individual. The biodiversity index (H’) yielded a moderate value of 0.622, where the most significant contribution comes from the genus Isotomidae. Meanwhile, the evenness index (E) indicates a uniform distribution among the various genera of Collembola. <b>Conclusion:</b> Observed variations in temperature, humidity and soil pH changes underscore the need for ongoing management and conservation of Baruga Forest to maintain the diversity of Collembola species and the sustainability of the ecosystem in Baruga Forest.

PMID:38516751 | DOI:10.3923/pjbs.2024.100.107

Pak J Biol Sci. 2024 Jan;27(2):59-68. doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2024.59.68.

ABSTRACT

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The liver is one of the organs that play an essential role in the human body, including supporting metabolism, immune functions, digestive system, detoxification, storage of vitamins and other functions. This investigation aimed to study the protective effects of black seed and lettuce oil against hepatotoxicity as induced by paracetamol in experimental rats. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Twenty male Sprague-Dawley albino rats weighing 150±5 g were divided randomly into four groups (5 rats each) and distributed as follows; 1st group was controlled negative (C -ve group), 2nd group controlled positive (orally administered with 500 mg/kg b.wt., paracetamol), 3rd and 4th groups were orally administered with black seed oil and lettuce oil at a dose of 1 mL/kg b.wt., each) as a preventive dose. All rats were sacrificed and blood was collected for biochemical analysis and then statistically analyzed. <b>Results:</b> The rat administered with black seed and lettuce oils enhanced body weight gain, food intake and feed efficiency ratio. Moreover, exhibited a significant reduction in the liver enzymes AST, ALT, ALP and TBIL. Meanwhile, black seed and lettuce oils significantly improved kidney functions, lipid profiles and some immune biomarkers including creatine kinase (CK), Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH). <b>Conclusion:</b> This study revealed that the oils of black seed (<i>Nigella sativa</i>) and lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i>) have a protective role in improving body weight gain, food intake, feed efficiency ratio, liver enzymes, kidney functions, lipid profiles and some immune biomarkers against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats.

PMID:38516747 | DOI:10.3923/pjbs.2024.59.68

Radiat Prot Dosimetry. 2024 Mar 21:ncae060. doi: 10.1093/rpd/ncae060. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Passive diffusion radon monitoring devices were exposed to a range of radon concentrations and their variations. The experimental results, backed up by the statistical analysis, showed that the radon concentration had virtually no effect on the final integrated exposure results, with the exception for the very low concentration. Therefore, it was proven that such devices are truly integrated exposure devices.

PMID:38516732 | DOI:10.1093/rpd/ncae060

Acta Paediatr. 2024 Mar 22. doi: 10.1111/apa.17207. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to address the critical need for more accurate growth reference charts for preterm infants, with a particular focus on low- and very low-birth-weight infants.

METHODS: The subjects were recruited at a single tertiary centre. The cohort comprised singleton and twin infants born before 37 weeks of gestation, with data collected from 2000 to 2016. Standardised measurements of body parameters were recorded in this mixed longitudinal survey. LMS method was utilised for data analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics Version 21. The validation with another new cohort was executed.

RESULTS: A total of 1781 infants (52.5% boys) met the inclusion criteria. The median gestational age at birth was 30 weeks, with a median birth weight of 1350 grams. The main findings included the construction of ImaGrow charts for low- and very low-birth-weight infants and significant differences in growth trajectories compared to Fenton+WHO charts.

CONCLUSION: Our comprehensive growth references, ImaGrow, are based on a long-term auxological assessment of preterm infants and differ from charts derived from size-at-birth standards or charts for term babies. These charts have significant implications for clinical practice in monitoring and assessing the growth of preterm infants.

PMID:38516724 | DOI:10.1111/apa.17207

Luminescence. 2024 Mar;39(3):e4728. doi: 10.1002/bio.4728.

ABSTRACT

A novel spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for determination of antazoline (ANT) and tetryzoline (TET) in their pharmaceutical formulation. A combined application of synchronous spectrofluorimetry and second derivative mathematical treatment was developed. The proposed method depends on reacting the cited drugs with dansyl chloride (DNS-Cl) being a suitable derivatizing agent generating highly fluorescent derivatives measured at emission wavelengths of 703.0 and 642.0 nm after excitation wavelengths of 350.0 and 320.0 nm for ANT and TET, respectively. The joint use of synchronous spectrofluorimetry with second derivative mathematical treatment is for the first time to be developed and optimized in aid of using fluorescence data manager software generating second derivative peak amplitudes at 556.5 nm for ANT and 516.7 nm for TET. Linear responses have been represented over a wide range of concentration (0.5-12.0 μg/mL for ANT and 0.5-10.0 μg/mL for TET). Additionally, statistical comparison of the developed method with the official ones has been carried out where no significant difference was found. Additionally, greenness profile assessment was accomplished by means of four metric tools. Indeed, the method developed is found to be precise, sensitive, and discriminating to assess the cited drugs for regular analysis.

PMID:38516711 | DOI:10.1002/bio.4728

Med Educ Online. 2024 Dec 31;29(1):2331852. doi: 10.1080/10872981.2024.2331852. Epub 2024 Mar 22.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Simulated cases are widely used in medical education to develop clinical reasoning skills and discuss key topics around patient care. Such cases present an opportunity to demonstrate real world encounters with diverse patient and health provider identities, impacts of social and structural determinants of health, and demonstrate a generalist approach to problems. However, despite many calls-to-action for medical schools to better incorporate equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and generalism, it remains difficult to evaluate how well these goals are being met.

METHODS: A quality improvement project was completed at a single medical school to evaluate the domains of generalism and EDI within simulated cases used in the preclinical curriculum. Generalism was evaluated using the Toronto Generalism Assessment Tool (T-GAT). EDI was evaluated using a locally developed novel tool. Analysis included descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS: A total of 49 simulated cases were reviewed. Twelve generalism and 5 EDI items were scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating better demonstration of generalism or EDI within a case. Average generalism score across all cases was 45.6/60. Average EDI score across all cases was 11.7/25. Only 21/49 cases included representation of one or more diverse identity categories. The most common diverse identity represented was non-white races/ethnicities, and the identity represented the least was diversity in language fluency. Generalism and EDI scores demonstrated a weak positive correlation (R² = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative evaluation of simulated cases using specific generalism and EDI scoring tools was successful in generating insight into areas of improvement for teaching cases. This approach identified key content areas for case improvement and identities that are currently underrepresented in teaching cases. Similar approaches could be feasibly used by other medical schools to improve generalism and EDI in teaching cases or other curricular materials.

PMID:38516698 | DOI:10.1080/10872981.2024.2331852

Oncol Lett. 2024 Mar 7;27(5):196. doi: 10.3892/ol.2024.14329. eCollection 2024 May.

ABSTRACT

Ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (OHGSC) is the most common type of ovarian cancer worldwide. Genome sequencing has identified mutations in chromatin remodeling factors (CRFs) in gynecological cancer, such as clear cell carcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma and endometrial serous carcinoma. However, to the best of our knowledge, the association between CRFs and OHGSC remains unexplored. The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of CRF dysfunction in OHGSC. CRF alterations were analyzed through numerous methods, including the analysis of public next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from 585 ovarian serous carcinoma cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and DNA copy number assays, which were performed on 203 surgically resected OHGSC samples. In the public NGS dataset, the most frequent genetic alteration was actin-like protein 6A (ACTL6A) amplification at 19.5%. Switch/sucrose non-fermentable related, matrix associated, actin dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily c member 2 (SMARCC2) amplification (3.1%) was associated with significantly decreased overall survival (OS). In addition, chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4) amplification (5.7%) exhibited unfavorable outcome trends, although not statistically significant. IHC revealed the protein expression loss of ARID1A (2.5%), SMARCA2 (2.5%) and SMARCA4 (3.9%). The protein expression levels of ACTL6A, SMARCC2 and CHD4 were evaluated using H-score. Patients with low protein expression levels of ACTL6A showed a significantly decreased OS. Copy number gain or gene amplification was demonstrated in ACTL6A (66.2%) and SMARCC2 (33.5%), while shallow deletion or deep deletion was demonstrated in CHD4 (70.7%). However, there was no statistically significant difference in protein levels of these CRFs, between the different copy number alterations (CNAs). Overall, OHGSC exhibited CNAs and protein loss, indicating possible gene alterations in CRFs. Moreover, there was a significant association between the protein expression levels of ACTL6A and poor prognosis. Based on these findings, it is suggested that CRFs could serve as prognostic markers for OHGSC.

PMID:38516682 | PMC:PMC10955683 | DOI:10.3892/ol.2024.14329