Tag: statistics

Sleep Breath. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s11325-023-02946-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess changes in sleep-related symptoms in patients with breast cancer, endometrial cancer and melanoma previously examined for sleep-related symptoms and the presence of PSG (polysomnography)-determined OSA, ≥ 3 years post-treatment; and to evaluate how CPAP treatment affects sleep-related symptoms in patients previously diagnosed with OSA.

METHODS: Patients initially recruited from breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and melanoma follow-up clinics at Westmead Hospital (Sydney, Australia) participated in this questionnaire-based study. Demographic and change in cancer status data were collected at follow-up. Patients completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [poor sleep quality, PSQI_TOTAL ≥ 5au], Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire; with ΔPSQI_TOTAL ≥ 3au indicating a clinically meaningful change in sleep quality over follow-up. PSG-determined OSA was confirmed using the apnoea-hypopnoea index. CPAP compliance was determined via self-report (CPAP compliant, CPAP; not compliant, non-CPAP). Logistic regression models determined if changes in cancer status, AHI, cancer subgroup or CPAP treatment was predictive of ΔPSQI_TOTAL ≥ 3 au and p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

RESULTS: The 60 patients recruited had breast cancer (n = 22), endometrial cancer (n = 15), and melanoma (n = 23). Cancer subgroups were similarly aged, and all had median follow-up PSQI_TOTAL scores ≥ 5au; breast cancer patients scoring the highest (p < 0.05). The CPAP group had significantly reduced PSQI_TOTAL scores (p = 0.02) at follow-up, unlike the non-CPAP group. Cancer subgroups had similar median ISI_TOTAL, ESS_TOTAL and FOSQ-10_TOTAL scores at follow-up, regardless of CPAP treatment. There were no significant predictors of ΔPSQI_TOTAL ≥ 3 au at follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Sleep-related symptoms persist in patients with cancer ≥ 3 years after treatment, although these symptoms improve with CPAP. Future studies should evaluate how CPAP affects survival outcomes in cancer patients with comorbid OSA.

PMID:38051468 | DOI:10.1007/s11325-023-02946-6

J Neurooncol. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s11060-023-04497-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: ALK-positive NSCLC patients exhibit a particularly high propensity for the development of brain metastases. Current guidelines suggest transit to next-line therapy (SysTx) or local radiotherapy (RadTx) including whole-brain radiotherapy and radiosurgery. However, the clinical impact of these two strategies remains unclear.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis focusing on patients with stage IV ALK-positive NSCLC who underwent first-line ALK TKI treatment. Patients with intracranial progression may receive two different treatment strategies: SysTx and RadTx. Our objective was to investigate the outcomes associated with these two distinct treatment pathways.

RESULTS: A total 20 patients of ALK-positive NSCLC who received first-line ALK TKI therapy and subsequently developed intracranial progression were enrolled. About 55% of patients had brain metastasis initially. Nine patients (45%) were treated with crizotinib at first. Patients treated with crizotinib demonstrated a significantly shorter intracranial PFS1 (crizotinib: 8.27 months vs. others: 27.0 months, p = 0.006). Following intracranial progression, approximately 60% of patients transitioned to the next line of systemic treatment (SysTx), while the remaining 40% opted for local cranial radiotherapy (RadTx). Intriguingly, our analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in intracranial progression-free survival (PFS2) between these two distinct treatment strategies. (SysTx: 20.87 months vs. RadTx: 28.23 months, p = 0.461).

CONCLUSION: The intracranial progression-free survival showed no difference between the two strategies suggesting that both local radiotherapy and systemic therapy may be valid options. Individualized strategy, molecular analysis, and multidisciplinary conferences may all play a pivotal role in decision-making.

PMID:38051455 | DOI:10.1007/s11060-023-04497-y

Indian J Pediatr. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s12098-023-04930-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of national iron prophylaxis policy in 9-12 mo-old infants in Turkey.

METHODS: This study was planned as a cross-sectional study, and it included healthy infants aged 9 to 12 mo who presented to the pediatric outpatient clinic for routine check-ups. Parents were interviewed to identify risk factors for iron deficiency (ID) and gather information on Fe⁺³ – iron polymaltose complex (IPC) prophylaxis usage. Blood samples were collected for hemogram and ferritin analysis. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine risk factors for ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA).

RESULTS: The study included 317 infants. In the non-prophylaxis group, the frequency of IDA was 31.1%, compared to 13.4% in the regular prophylaxis group. Iron deficiency was detected in 25% of individuals receiving regular prophylaxis and 13.1% of those without prophylaxis. The risk factors for IDA were insufficient iron diets (OR 2.45, 95% CI: 1.35-4.45) and not receiving Fe⁺³ – IPC prophylaxis (OR 2.57, 95% CI: 1.24-5.31). The relationship between Fe⁺³ – IPC prophylaxis and ID did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.253).

CONCLUSIONS: Fe⁺³ – IPC prophylaxis is associated with a lower risk of iron deficiency anemia, but not iron deficiency.

PMID:38051446 | DOI:10.1007/s12098-023-04930-0

Indian J Pediatr. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s12098-023-04921-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare and evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with computed tomography (CT) in bronchiectasis; to compare MRI and CT scores with pulmonary function tests (PFT) and to evaluate the role of Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in bronchiectasis.

METHODS: In this prospective study, 25 patients between 7-21 y of age with a clinical/radiological diagnosis of bronchiectasis underwent MDCT and MRI chest. MRI and CT scoring was performed using modified Bhalla-Helbich’s score by two independent radiologists for all parameters. A final consensus score was recorded. The overall image quality of different MRI sequences to identify pathologies was also assessed. Appropriate statistical tests were used for inter-observer agreements, and correlation amongst CT and MRI; as well as CT, MRI and PFT.

RESULTS: Strong agreement (ICC 0.80-0.95) between CT and MRI was seen for extent and severity of bronchiectasis, number of bullae, sacculation/abscess, emphysema, collapse/ consolidation, mucus plugging, and mosaic perfusion. Overall CT and MRI scores had perfect concordance (ICC 0.978). Statistically significant (p-value <0.01) intra-observer and inter-observer agreement for all CT and MRI score parameters were seen. A strong negative correlation was seen between total CT and MRI severity scores and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow (FEF) 25-75%. DWI MR, with an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) cut-off of 1.62 × 10^-3 mm³/s had a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 75% in detecting true mucus plugs.

CONCLUSIONS: MRI with DWI can be considered as a radiation-free alternative in the diagnostic algorithm for assessment of lung changes in bronchiectasis, especially in follow-up.

PMID:38051445 | DOI:10.1007/s12098-023-04921-1

J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s10840-023-01713-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Nifekalant is a class III antiarrhythmic drug that exerts antiarrhythmic effects by inhibiting rapid rectifying potassium channels and extending the effective refractory period of cardiomyocytes. It has a high success rate in converting atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm. Whether the failure of intravenous nifekalant cardioversion is an independent predictor for persistent AF recurrence after catheter ablation has not been reported.

METHODS: A total of 92 patients with drug-refractory persistent AF were retrospectively enrolled. After all ablations, intravenous nifekalant was administrated. Patients were assigned to the success group (group 1) and failure group (group 2) based on nifekalant cardioversion results and followed for 12 months to note any episode of atrial arrhythmia recurrence.

RESULTS: Each group included 46 patients. After 12 months of follow-up, nine (19.6%) patients from group 1 and 23 (50.0%) patients from group 2 had a recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (P = 0.002). AF duration and type 2 diabetes were strongly associated with failure of intravenous nifekalant cardioversion. Univariable Cox proportional hazard regression showed that failure of intravenous nifekalant cardioversion, AF duration, and type 2 diabetes were potential risk factors. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression showed that failure of nifekalant cardioversion was statistically associated with AF recurrence (adjusted RR = 2.257, 95% CI: 1.006-5.066, P = 0.048). Failure of intravenous nifekalant cardioversion could bring a positive effect on the prognostic differentiation when added into the multivariable model (0.767 ± 0.042 vs. 0.774 ± 0.045, P = 0.025).

CONCLUSION: Failure of nifekalant cardioversion is an independent predictor for persistent AF recurrence after catheter ablation.

PMID:38051431 | DOI:10.1007/s10840-023-01713-7

J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s40615-023-01883-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in perinatal care in the USA, maternal mortality is on the rise, and maternal death is higher than in any other high-income country. Maternal mortality in the USA is a persistent public health concern. This issue disproportionately affects Black/African American women, with their likelihood of pregnancy-related death being three times more likely compared to White women. This study aimed to explore the resources needed for Black/African American women to address the relatively higher maternal mortality rates recorded for them.

METHODS: An anonymous link with demographic and open-ended questions was sent to US women 18 years and older to participate in the study. A total of 140 participants responded to the survey. We retained a final sample of 118 responses after eliminating responses with missing data. Descriptive statistics are reported for closed-ended items. Open-ended responses were analyzed using content analysis procedures, where we coded and categorized the data into themes.

RESULTS: Six themes were identified from the study data: (1) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for health providers focused on racial bias and discrimination, (2) Advocacy, (3) Provider selection, (4) Researching doctors and delivery hospitals to inform women’s birthing decision-making, (5) Women’s care-seeking behaviors, and (6) Addressing the Social Determinants of Health.

CONCLUSION: Based on the study’s findings, we recommend DEI training for healthcare professionals providing direct care to pregnant and postpartum women, advocacy and resource-awareness training for pregnant Black/African American women and their spouses/partners, or a family member, to assist them in their pregnancy and birthing journeys.

PMID:38051429 | DOI:10.1007/s40615-023-01883-0

Clin Rheumatol. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s10067-023-06830-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comparative study of high-frequency ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with serum RANKL and OPG detection, and assess the efficacy of high-frequency ultrasound with RANKL and OPG detection in screening early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHOD: High-frequency ultrasound and MRI were performed on both carpal joints of 60 patients with early RA, and the frequencies of synovitis, joint effusion, tenosynovitis, and bone erosion detected by high-frequency ultrasound and MRI were observed. The serum levels of receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OPG) were also detected. The serum levels of RANKL and OPG were also detected in 80 normal healthy examinees. The data were recorded and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: The detection rates of carpal synovitis, joint effusion, tenosynovitis, and bone erosion in RA patients by high-frequency ultrasound were 81.66%, 69.16%, 63.33%, and 1.66%, respectively, while the detection rates by MRI were 80.00%, 71.66%, 65.00%, and 15.00%, respectively. There was no significant difference between high-frequency ultrasound and MRI in the detection rates of carpal synovitis, joint effusion, and tenosynovitis in RA patients (P > 0.05), while the detection rate of bone erosion by high-frequency ultrasound was significantly lower than that by MRI. The serum levels of RANKL and OPG in RA patients were 231.47 and 68.71, respectively, while the serum levels of RANKL and OPG in normal healthy examinees were 123.51 and 385.05, respectively. The serum RANKL levels of RA patients were significantly higher than those of healthy examinees, while the serum OPG levels of RA patients were significantly lower than those of healthy examinees, which were statistically significant (P < 0.01). The AUC values of the ROC curves obtained by high-frequency ultrasound and MRI combined with serum RANKL and OPG detection in Synovitis modeling were 0.955 and 0.954, respectively. The AUC values of the ROC curves obtained from the joint fusion modeling using high-frequency ultrasound and MRI combined with serum RANKL and OPG detection were 0.949 and 0.950, respectively. The AUC values of the ROC curves obtained from modeling Tenosynovitis using high-frequency ultrasound and MRI combined with serum RANKL and OPG detection were 0.941 and 0.949, respectively. The AUC values of ROC curves obtained by combining high-frequency ultrasound and MRI with serum RANKL and OPG detection in Bone erosion modeling were 0.908 and 0.923, respectively.

CONCLUSION: High-frequency ultrasound combined with serum RANKL and OPG detection has comparable effects to MRI on screening early RA, providing a safe, simple, and cost-effective screening method for the early detection of RA patients. Key Points • High-frequency ultrasound and MRI can effectively detect early lesions of the wrist joints in RA patients. • Ultrasound diagnosis has the advantages of being quick, inexpensive, and repeatable, making it the preferred choice of imaging examination for RA patients at an early stage.

PMID:38051416 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-023-06830-2

Int Orthop. 2023 Dec 5. doi: 10.1007/s00264-023-06053-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic surgeries, with hip arthritis being the main indication. This procedure is usually performed when other non-surgical methods fail to relieve patients’ hip pain and improve their quality of life. However, limited information exists to identify and compare the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing this procedure in Jordan. This study aims to identify these demographic and clinical characteristics and compare the findings in terms of gender differences.

METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective study that analysed the hospital records of 650 patients undergoing THA in tertiary referral hospital in Jordan over a four-year period from January 2019 to December 2022. The collected data were classified into three categories: demographic characteristics, perioperative variables, and patients’ related health profiles. IBM’s Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 software (IBM, USA) and descriptive analysis were used for data analysis.

RESULTS: Two-thirds of the sample studied were female (63.4%). In terms of bleeding profiles, the mean intraoperative blood loss was 542 millilitres. The major indication for THA was degenerative hip arthritis (50.5%), followed by hip dysplasia (40.3%).. Comparing the findings of the two gender groups, females were more likely to have degenerative and dysplastic hip arthritis (221 and 157, p = 0.04 and p = 0.1, respectively) when compared to males. Although males were more likely to lose more blood during the surgery (557 ml vs. 533 ml, p = 0.33, females needed more blood transfusions both during (21 vs. 6 patients, p = 0.12) and after the surgery (57 vs. 16 patients, p = 0.006). Furthermore, females were more likely to have comorbidities such hypertension (293 vs. 179 patients, p = 0.20), and hypothyroidism (313 vs 187, p = 0.36), and diabetes (85 vs. 38 patients, p = 0.15), among many other health conditions. However, in the study sample, male smokers outnumbered female smokers (132 vs. 63).

CONCLUSION: Gender highly impacted the immediate surgical outcomes of patients who underwent THA. Females were more likely to need blood transfusions both during and after the surgery and had lower post-operative haemoglobin readings. In addition, females had more comorbidities and degenerative hip osteoarthritis. We believe that raising awareness about comorbidity management, preoperative smoking cessation, and perioperative blood transfusion management can improve medical and surgical outcomes.

PMID:38051384 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-023-06053-9

Public Health Nutr. 2023 Dec 5:1-28. doi: 10.1017/S1368980023002707. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Assess whether the MedDiet is associated with lower micronutrients inadequacy in a sample of Spanish preschoolers.

DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 4-5-year-old children participating in the SENDO project. Information was gathered through an online questionnaire completed by parents. Dietary information was collected with a previously validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The estimated average requirements or adequate intake levels as proposed by the Institute of Medicine were used as cut-off point to define inadequate intake.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Crude and multivariable adjusted estimates were calculated with generalized estimated equations to account for intra-cluster correlation between siblings.

PARTICIPANTS: We used baseline information of 1153 participants enrolled in the SENDO project between January 2015 and June 2022.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Odds Ratio and 95% Confidence Interval of presenting an inadequate intake of ≥3 micronutrients associated to the MedDiet.

RESULTS: The adjusted proportion of children with inadequate intake of ≥3 micronutrients were 27.2%, 13.5% and 8.1% in the categories of low, medium and high adherence to the MedDiet respectively. After adjusting for all potential confounders, children who had a low adherence to the MedDiet showed a significant lower odds of inadequate intake of ≥3 micronutrients compared to those with a high adherence (OR 9.85; 95% CI 3.33-29.09).

CONCLUSION: Lower adherence to the MedDiet is associated with higher odds of nutritional inadequacy.

PMID:38050795 | DOI:10.1017/S1368980023002707

Dis Model Mech. 2023 Dec 5:dmm.050395. doi: 10.1242/dmm.050395. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, is associated with fatal muscle degeneration and atrophy. Patients have progressive reductions in skeletal muscle strength and resistance to eccentric muscle stretch. We assessed tibiotarsal joint (TTJ) flexor and extensor force dynamics, and resistance of dystrophic muscle to eccentric stretch in the DE50-MD dog model of DMD. Male DE50-MD and WT dogs were analysed every 3 months until 18 months of age. There was an age-associated decline in eccentric contraction resistance in DE50-MD TTJ flexors that discriminated, with high statistical power, WT from DE50-MD individuals. For isometric contraction, at the majority of timepoints DE50-MD dogs had lower maximum absolute and relative TTJ flexor force, reduced TTJ muscle contraction times and prolonged relaxation compared to WT dogs. Cranial tibial muscles, the primary TTJ flexor, of 18-month-old DE50-MD dogs had significant numbers of regenerating fibres as expected, but also fewer type I fibres and more hybrid fibres than WT dogs. We conclude that these parameters, in particular the eccentric contraction decrement, could be used as objective outcome measures for pre-clinical assessment in DE50-MD dogs.

PMID:38050706 | DOI:10.1242/dmm.050395