Tag: statistics

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2024 Mar 2:ezae069. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezae069. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report on mid-term outcomes after endovascular aortic repair in patients with Marfan (MFS) or Loeys-Dietz (LDS) syndrome.

METHODS: We analyzed data from two European centers of patients with MFS and LDS undergoing endovascular aortic repair. Patients were analyzed based on (1) timing of the procedure (planned vs emergency procedure) and (2) the nature of the landing zone (safe vs non-safe). The primary end-point was freedom from reintervention. Secondary end-points were freedom from stroke, bleeding and death.

RESULTS: A population of 419 patients with MFS (n = 352) or LDS (n = 67) was analyzed for the purpose of this study. Thirty-nine patients (9%) underwent endovascular aortic repair. Indications for TEVAR or EVAR were aortic dissection in 13 (33%) patients, aortic aneurysm in 22 (57%) patients and others (intercostal patch aneurysm, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, pseudoaneurysm, kinking of FET) in 4 (10%) patients. Thoracic endovascular repair was performed in 34 patients, abdominal endovascular aortic repair was performed in 5 patients. Mean age at 1st TEVAR/EVAR was 48.5 ± 15.4y. Mean follow-up after 1st TEVAR/EVAR was 5.9 ± 4.4 y. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of re-interventions between patients with non-safe landing zone and the patients with safe proximal landing zone (P = 0.609). Furthermore, there was no increased probability for reintervention after planned endovascular intervention compared to emergency procedures (P = 0.916). Mean-time to reintervention, either open surgical or endovascular, after planned endovascular intervention was in median 3.9 y [95% CI 2.0-5.9y] and 2.0 y [95% CI -1.1-5.1y] (P = 0.23) after emergency procedures.

CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular aortic repair in patients with MFS and LDS and a safe landing zone is feasible and safe. Endovascular treatment is a viable option when employed by a multi-disciplinary aortic team even if the landing zone is in native tissue.

PMID:38430465 | DOI:10.1093/ejcts/ezae069

Bioinformatics. 2024 Mar 2:btae125. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae125. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

MOTIVATION: Large-scale gene expression studies allow gene network construction to uncover associations among genes. To study direct associations among genes, partial correlation-based networks are preferred over marginal correlations. However, FDR control for partial correlation-based network construction is not well-studied. In addition, currently available partial correlation-based methods cannot take existing biological knowledge to help network construction while controlling FDR.

RESULTS: In this paper, we propose a method called Partial Correlation Graph with Information Incorporation (PCGII). PCGII estimates partial correlations between each pair of genes by regularized node-wise regression that can incorporate prior knowledge while controlling the effects of all other genes. It handles high-dimensional data where the number of genes can be much larger than the sample size and controls FDR at the same time. We compare PCGII with several existing approaches through extensive simulation studies and demonstrate that PCGII has better FDR control and higher power. We apply PCGII to a plant gene expression dataset where it recovers confirmed regulatory relationships and a hub node, as well as several direct associations that shed light on potential functional relationships in the system. We also introduce a method to supplement observed data with a pseudogene to apply PCGII when no prior information is available, which also allows checking FDR control and power for real data analysis.

AVAILABILITY: R package is freely available for download at https://cran.r-project.org/package=PCGII.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

PMID:38430463 | DOI:10.1093/bioinformatics/btae125

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Mar 2. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-32402-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Digital finance is a product of emerging technology-enabled innovation in financial services and has a critical impact on the green transformation of the manufacturing industry. We propose a new efficiency measurement model based on the slacks-based measure (SBM) to measure the efficiency of green transformation on regional manufacturing. Chinese interprovincial data from 2010 to 2019 were obtained for the study. In addition, we estimated the effect of digital finance on green transformation of manufacturing using a benchmark panel model. Finally, considering the regional heterogeneity and spatial effects of green transformation efficiency in the manufacturing industry, we constructed a spatial Durbin model based on an economic-geographic nested spatial weight matrix to analyze the spatial influence of digital finance on green transformation in the manufacturing industry. The results show that the green transformation of the manufacturing industry has significant positive spatial spillover effects owing to the existence of competition, demonstration, and economic correlation effects among regions.

PMID:38430442 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-024-32402-1

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Mar 2. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-32630-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The escalating volume of healthcare waste (HCW) generated by healthcare facilities poses a pressing challenge for all nations. Adequate management and disposal of this waste are imperative to mitigate its adverse impact on human lives, wildlife, and the environment. Addressing this issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina involves the establishment of a regional center dedicated to HCW management. In practice, there are various treatments available for HCW management. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the priority for procuring different treatments during the formation of this center. To assess these treatment devices, expert decision-making employed the fuzzy-rough approach. By leveraging extended sustainability criteria, experts initially evaluated the significance of these criteria and subsequently assessed the devices for HCW treatment. Employing the fuzzy-rough LMAW (Logarithm Methodology of Additive Weights), the study determined the importance of criteria, highlighting “Air emissions” and “Annual usage costs” as the most critical factors. Utilizing the fuzzy-rough CoCoSo (the Combined Compromise Solution) method, six devices employing incineration or sterilization for HCW treatment were ranked. The findings indicated that the “Rotary kiln” and “Steam disinfection” emerged as the most favorable devices for HCW treatment based on this research. This conclusion was validated through comparative and sensitivity analyses. This research contributes by proposing a solution to address Bosnia and Herzegovina’s HCW challenge through the establishment of a regional center dedicated to HCW management.

PMID:38430441 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-024-32630-5

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Mar 2. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-32665-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel production through the synthesis of Datura stramonium L. oil is studied to explore the most efficient approaches to suggest an alternate feedstock for biodiesel production. The main objective of this work is to optimize the process variables of biodiesel synthesis by using some statistical approach (Taguchi method, grey relational analysis (GRA), and response surface methodology (RSM) analyzing three parameters, i.e., alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst (NaOH) concentration, and process temperature for achieving maximum biodiesel derived from Datura stramonium L. oil. The transesterification process is applied by using an ultrasonic-assisted technique. Grey relational analysis (GRA) was successfully applied with the Taguchi method resulting in the optimum combination of A₂B₁C₁. Based on the findings, the best operating conditions for transesterifying are attained with the RSM approach consisting of a 5.697:1 molar ratio (level 2), 0.3 (wt.%) NaOH concentration (level 1), and 70 °C process temperature (level 1). With a value of 87.02%, these ideal operating conditions produce the maximum yield as compared to grey relational analysis (GRA) yields 83.99%. The obtained results have been verified through the characterization of oil and biodiesel as well. Also, the fuel qualities of DSL biodiesel were identified and assessed. DSL oil was found 137.6 degrees of unsaturation during fatty acid profile analysis. DSL biodiesel was found the best kinematic viscosity (4.2 mm²/s) and acid value (0.49) when compared to Karanja and palm biodiesel. D. stramonium L. was recognized as a suitable species for biodiesel feedstock according to the findings.

PMID:38430436 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-024-32665-8

Support Care Cancer. 2024 Mar 2;32(3):203. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08412-7.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients may experience symptom distress and depression during and after radiation therapy, which negatively impacts quality of life (QOL). We sought to identify trajectories of symptom distress, depression, social support, and QOL in patients with NPC receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) vs intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

METHODS: A multicenter prospective longitudinal study recruited NPC patients from two leading medical centers in Taiwan. The 121 NPC patients were followed from before RT (T0), at 4 weeks after beginning RT (T1), at 6 weeks of RT or the end of treatment (T2), and at 4 weeks post-RT (T3). Generalized estimating equation analysis was used to identify the factors related to QOL.

RESULTS: Patients’ symptom distress and depression increased from T0, peaked at T2, and decreased at T3. Physical-QOL and psychosocial-QOL decreased from T0 to T2, then increased by T3. Patients who had early-stage cancer, received a lower RT dose, had less symptom distress, and had less depression were more likely to have better QOL. Greater physical-QOL was associated with IMPT receipt, higher education level, early cancer stage, lower radiation dose, less symptom distress, and less depression. Patients who had good physical performance, received a lower radiation dose, had less symptom distress, and had less depression were more likely to have better psychosocial-QOL.

CONCLUSION: Radiation dose, symptom distress, and depression were the most important factors affecting QOL in patients with NPC. Understanding the factors associated with the trajectory of QOL can guide care during radiation treatment.

PMID:38430411 | DOI:10.1007/s00520-024-08412-7

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2024 Mar 2;73(4):72. doi: 10.1007/s00262-024-03640-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of the adenosine 2A receptor (A_2AR) diminishes the immunosuppressive effects of adenosine and may complement immune-targeting drugs. This phase 2 study evaluated the A_2AR antagonist AZD4635 in combination with durvalumab or oleclumab in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

METHODS: Patients with histologically/cytologically confirmed disease progressing within 6 months on ≥ 2 therapy lines were randomly assigned to either Module 1 (AZD4635 + durvalumab) or Module 2 (AZD4635 + oleclumab). Primary endpoints were objective response rate per RECIST v1.1 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate. Secondary endpoints included radiological progression-free survival (rPFS), overall survival, safety, and pharmacokinetics.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were treated (Module 1, n = 29; Module 2, n = 30). Median number of prior therapies was 4. One confirmed complete response by RECIST (Module 1) and 2 confirmed PSA responses (1 per module) were observed. The most frequent adverse events (AEs) possibly related to AZD4635 were nausea (37.9%), fatigue (20.7%), and decreased appetite (17.2%) in Module 1; nausea (50%), fatigue (30%), and vomiting (23.3%) in Module 2. No dose-limiting toxicities or treatment-related serious AEs were observed. In Module 1, AZD4635 geometric mean trough concentration was 124.9 ng/mL (geometric CV% 69.84; n = 22); exposures were similar in Module 2. In Modules 1 and 2, median (95% CI) rPFS was 2.3 (1.6 -3.8) and 1.5 (1.3- 4.0) months, respectively. Median PFS was 1.7 versus 2.3 months for patients with high versus low blood-based adenosine signature.

CONCLUSION: In this heavily pretreated population, AZD4635 with durvalumab or oleclumab demonstrated minimal antitumor activity with a manageable safety profile.

CLINICAL TRIAL: gov identifier: NCT04089553.

PMID:38430405 | DOI:10.1007/s00262-024-03640-6

Theor Appl Genet. 2024 Mar 2;137(3):64. doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04568-2.

ABSTRACT

An improved estimator of genomic relatedness using low-depth high-throughput sequencing data for autopolyploids is developed. Its outputs strongly correlate with SNP array-based estimates and are available in the package GUSrelate. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) methods have reduced sequencing costs and resources compared to array-based tools, facilitating the investigation of many non-model polyploid species. One important quantity that can be computed from HTS data is the genetic relatedness between all individuals in a population. However, HTS data are often messy, with multiple sources of errors (i.e. sequencing errors or missing parental alleles) which, if not accounted for, can lead to bias in genomic relatedness estimates. We derive a new estimator for constructing a genomic relationship matrix (GRM) from HTS data for autopolyploid species that accounts for errors associated with low sequencing depths, implemented in the R package GUSrelate. Simulations revealed that GUSrelate performed similarly to existing GRM methods at high depth but reduced bias in self-relatedness estimates when the sequencing depth was low. Using a panel consisting of 351 tetraploid potato genotypes, we found that GUSrelate produced GRMs from genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) data that were highly correlated with a GRM computed from SNP array data, and less biased than existing methods when benchmarking against the array-based GRM estimates. GUSrelate provides researchers with a tool to reliably construct GRMs from low-depth HTS data.

PMID:38430392 | DOI:10.1007/s00122-024-04568-2

J Relig Health. 2024 Mar 2. doi: 10.1007/s10943-024-02003-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Patients who have previously undergone coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) were prone to death anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. It appears that spiritual well-being and appropriate coping strategies may mitigate the harmful effects of death anxiety. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of death anxiety in patients with CABG during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the relationship between spiritual well-being, coping strategies and death anxiety.This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with CABG history in Tehran from June 2021 to February 2022. The face-to-face questionnaire, containing questions on demographics, Templer’s death anxiety scale, the spiritual well-being questionnaire, and the ways of coping questionnaire was administered to collect data. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive-analytical statistics, correlation tests, and logistic regression models.Participants’ mean age was 55.59 ± 12.78 years. The mean death anxiety score was 10.00 ± 2.16, with 87% of participants reporting high levels and 13% reporting low levels of death anxiety. Based on the results, there was a significant negative correlation between death anxiety and coping strategies, as well as subscales of distancing, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, and planful problem-solving. Logistic regression showed that with the increase in the score of spiritual well-being, the odds of having high levels of death anxiety decreased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, increasing the total score of coping strategies, and the score of self-controlling, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, and planful problem-solving, significantly reduced the odds of high levels of death anxiety (p < 0.05).The study showed that patients with a CABG history experienced high death anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the findings, spiritual well-being and coping strategies, especially self-controlling, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, and planful problem-solving, may reduce the odds of severe death anxiety. These should be considered as effective targets for psychological intervention in these patients.

PMID:38430384 | DOI:10.1007/s10943-024-02003-w

Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg. 2024 Mar 2. doi: 10.1007/s11548-024-03068-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: New deep learning and statistical shape modelling approaches aim to automate the design process for patient-specific cranial implants, as highlighted by the MICCAI AutoImplant Challenges. To ensure applicability, it is important to determine if the training data used in developing these algorithms represent the geometry of implants designed for clinical use.

METHODS: Calavera Surgical Design provided a dataset of 206 post-craniectomy skull geometries and their clinically used implants. The MUG500+ dataset includes 29 post-craniectomy skull geometries and implants designed for automating design. For both implant and skull shapes, the inner and outer cortical surfaces were segmented, and the thickness between them was measured. For the implants, a ‘rim’ was defined that transitions from the repaired defect to the surrounding skull. For unilateral defect cases, skull implants were mirrored to the contra-lateral side and thickness differences were quantified.

RESULTS: The average thickness of the clinically used implants was 6.0 ± 0.5 mm, which approximates the thickness on the contra-lateral side of the skull (relative difference of -0.3 ± 1.4 mm). The average thickness of the MUG500+ implants was 2.9 ± 1.0 mm, significantly thinner than the intact skull thickness (relative difference of 2.9 ± 1.2 mm). Rim transitions in the clinical implants (average width of 8.3 ± 3.4 mm) were used to cap and create a smooth boundary with the skull.

CONCLUSIONS: For implant modelers or manufacturers, this shape analysis quantified differences of cranial implants (thickness, rim width, surface area, and volume) to help guide future automated design algorithms. After skull completion, a thicker implant can be more versatile for cases involving muscle hollowing or thin skulls, and wider rims can smooth over the defect margins to provide more stability. For clinicians, the differing measurements and implant designs can help inform the options available for their patient specific treatment.

PMID:38430381 | DOI:10.1007/s11548-024-03068-4