Tag: statistics

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0279889. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279889. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) is closely related to sarcopenic obesity(SO). Body composition measurement including body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, percentage body fat, fat mass, muscle mass, visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneus adipose tissue, plays a key role in evaluating T2DM and SO. The weight reduction effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2(SGLT-2) inhibitors has been demonstrated. However, there are warnings that SGLT-2 inhibitors should be used with caution because they may increase the risk of sarcopenia. The effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on body composition in T2DM is inconclusive. In this work, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to evaluate the effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on body composition in T2DM.

METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMbase and Web of Science databases were searched by computer. All statistical analyses were carried out with Review Manager version 5. 3. Results were compared by weight mean difference(WMD), with 95% confidence intervals(CI) for continuous outcomes. A random effects model was applied regardless of heterogeneity. The I2 statistic was applied to evaluate the heterogeneity of studies. Publication bias was assessed using Funnel plots.

RESULTS: 18 studies with 1430 participants were eligible for the meta-analysis. SGLT-2 inhibitors significantly reduced body weight(WMD:-2. 73kg, 95%CI: -3. 32 to -2. 13, p<0. 00001), body mass index(WMD:-1. 13kg/m2, 95%CI: -1. 77 to -0. 50, p = 0. 0005), waist circumference(WMD:-2. 20cm, 95%CI: -3. 81 to -0. 58, p = 0. 008), visceral fat area(MD:-14. 79cm2, 95%CI: -24. 65 to -4. 93, p = 0. 003), subcutaneous fat area(WMD:-23. 27cm2, 95% CI:-46. 44 to -0. 11, P = 0. 05), fat mass(WMD:-1. 16kg, 95%CI: -2. 01 to -0. 31, p = 0. 008), percentage body fat(WMD:-1. 50%, 95%CI:-2. 12 to -0. 87, P<0. 00001), lean mass(WMD:-0. 76kg, 95%CI:-1. 53 to 0. 01, P = 0. 05) and skeletal muscle mass(WMD:-1. 01kg, 95%CI:-1. 91 to -0. 11, P = 0. 03).

CONCLUSION: SGLT-2 inhibitors improve body composition in T2DM including body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area, percentage body fat and fat mass reduction, but cause adverse effects of reducing muscle mass. Therefore, until more evidence is obtained to support that SGLT-2 inhibitors increase the risk of sarcopenia, not only the benefit on body composition, but also the adverse effect of the reduction in muscle mass by SGLT-2 inhibitors in T2DM should be considered.

PMID:36584211 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279889

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0279870. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279870. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: An estimated 22 million Ethiopian women between the ages of 15 and 49 are affected by cervical cancer each year, with 7095 cases and 4732 fatalities. Cervical cancer screening is one of the prevention methods, although Ethiopia has a low coverage rate. Furthermore, data on the use of cervical cancer screening services in the country is scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess cervical cancer screening practices and its associated factors among females of reproductive age in Durame, Southern Ethiopia.

METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling technique among 460 females of reproductive age from March to April 2020. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 20. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were carried out to determine the association between independent and dependent variables. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a P-value < 0.05 were used to declare the statistical association.

RESULTS: We found that cervical cancer screening practice in this study was 13.8% [95% CI:(10.4-17.2)]. Having a positive attitude [AOR = 5.2, 95% CI:(1.4, 20.0)], having a good knowledge [AOR = 5.4, 95% CI:(1.5,19.5)], being informed about cervical cancer by health professionals [AOR = 3.5, 95% CI:(1.3,9.8)], average monthly income greater than 3000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB) [AOR = 4.9, 95% CI:(1.1, 22)], and having a history of sexually transmitted infections [AOR = 4.2, 95% CI:(1.4,12.85)] were the factors associated with cervical cancer screening practice.

CONCLUSIONS: The practice of cervical cancer screening was found to be very low, being influenced by women’s attitudes, knowledge, having health professionals as sources of information, monthly income, and history of sexually transmitted infections. Thus, it is necessary to increase awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer and improve attitudes toward cervical screening services to improve the uptake of the screening. Health professionals also have to play a pivotal role in properly addressing information about cervical cancer.

PMID:36584208 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279870

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0279741. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279741. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

The Extended Crosswise Model (ECWM) is a randomized response model with neutral response categories, relatively simple instructions, and the availability of a goodness-of-fit test. This paper refines this model with a number sequence randomizer that virtually precludes the possibility to give evasive responses. The motivation for developing this model stems from a strategic priority of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) to monitor the prevalence of doping use by elite athletes. For this model we derived a maximum likelihood estimator that allows for binary logistic regression analysis. Three studies were conducted on online platforms with a total of over 6, 000 respondents; two on controlled substance use and one on compliance with COVID-19 regulations in the UK during the first lockdown. The results of these studies are promising. The goodness-of-fit tests showed little to no evidence for response biases, and the ECWM yielded higher prevalence estimates than direct questions for sensitive questions, and similar ones for non-sensitive questions. Furthermore, the randomizer with the shortest number sequences yielded the smallest response error rates on a control question with known prevalence.

PMID:36584205 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279741

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0279733. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279733. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a recognised cause of childhood deafness and blindness caused by the transplacental transmission of rubella virus during pregnancy. Women in the reproductive age group, and by extension their unborn babies may therefore be at increased risk. The prevalence of Rubella virus specific IgM and IgG antibodies, including IgG avidity, was determined in pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

METHODS: One hundred and forty-five women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy from the outpatient clinic were recruited over a period of 2 months after written informed consent was obtained. Study participants completed a questionnaire and venous blood drawn for IgM, IgG, and avidity testing using SERION ELISA (SERION® Immunologics, Würzburg, Germany). Babies of mothers with positive or indeterminate IgM and low avidity IgG antibodies were offered specialist cardiological, ophthalmological or hearing assessment during follow up.

RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-eight (88.3%) had only IgG antibodies, 5 (3.4%) had IgM and IgG antibodies, while 12 (8.3%) had no antibodies. No patient had IgM antibodies alone. Ten women (6.9%) had indeterminate levels of IgM antibodies. Majority of the women had high avidity IgG antibodies, while 5 (3.4%) had low avidity antibodies. No patient had IgM with low avidity antibodies. There was no statistical association between socio-demographic factors and the presence of IgM, IgG (low or high avidity) antibodies. Of all the children followed, none had the clinical definition of CRS.

CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with the World Health Organization elimination strategy for measles and rubella viruses, non-immune women in the reproductive age group should be vaccinated. The immunization programme should be expanded to include teenagers and adults. Though Congenital Rubella Syndrome was not detected, the risk still remains.

PMID:36584202 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279733

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0279085. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279085. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: While there is an emerging role of pancreatic fat in the aetiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), its impact on the associated decrease in insulin secretion remains controversial. We aimed to determine whether pancreatic fat negatively affects β-cell function and insulin secretion in women with overweight or obesity but without T2DM.

METHODS: 20 women, with normo- or dysglycaemia based on fasting plasma glucose levels, and low (< 4.5%) vs high (≥ 4.5%) magnetic resonance (MR) quantified pancreatic fat, completed a 1-hr intravenous glucose tolerance test (ivGTT) which included two consecutive 30-min square-wave steps of hyperglycaemia generated by using 25% dextrose. Plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide were measured, and insulin secretion rate (ISR) calculated using regularisation deconvolution method from C-peptide kinetics. Repeated measures linear mixed models, adjusted for ethnicity and baseline analyte concentrations, were used to compare changes during the ivGTT between high and low percentage pancreatic fat (PPF) groups.

RESULTS: No ethnic differences in anthropomorphic variables, body composition, visceral adipose tissue (MR-VAT) or PPF were measured and hence data were combined. Nine women (47%) were identified as having high PPF values. PPF was significantly associated with baseline C-peptide (p = 0.04) and ISR (p = 0.04) in all. During the 1-hr ivGTT, plasma glucose (p<0.0001), insulin (p<0.0001) and ISR (p = 0.02) increased significantly from baseline in both high and low PPF groups but did not differ between the two groups at any given time during the test (PPF x time, p > 0.05). Notably, the incremental areas under the curves for both first and second phase ISR were 0.04 units lower in the high than low PPF groups, but this was not significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: In women with overweight or obesity but without T2DM, PPF did not modify β-cell function as determined by ivGTT-assessed ISR. However, the salient feature in biphasic insulin secretion in those with ≥4.5% PPF may be of clinical importance, particularly in early stages of dysglycaemia may warrant further investigation.

PMID:36584200 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279085

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0279778. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279778. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with hemorrhagic complications is at higher risk for breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage (VH). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of breakthrough VH secondary to PCV. Data of patients receiving pars plana vitrectomy for breakthrough VH secondary to PCV (VH group) were evaluated retrospectively and compared statistically to data of age and sex-matched PCV patients without breakthrough VH (control group). Among PCV patients, 36 eyes with breakthrough VH and 62 eyes without VH were included. Compared with baseline, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was worse in the VH group (P < 0.001), and improved postoperatively (P < 0.001). Percentages of pigmented epithelial detachment (PED), hemorrhagic PED, massive subretinal hemorrhage, hemorrhagic retinal detachment (RD), and hemorrhagic choroidal detachment (CD) (P = 0.007) were higher in the VH group (P < 0.001). Incidence of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability (P < 0.001), massive subretinal hemorrhage (P = 0.001), hemorrhagic retinal detachment (P = 0.001) and hemorrhagic type PCV (P = 0.001) was higher in patients with pachychoroid PCV, while fibrovascular type had lower incidence (P < 0.001). Better initial BCVA (P < 0.001), higher frequency of anti-VEGF treatment (P = 0.009), and previous photodynamic therapy (P = 0.017) showed better visual outcomes. Breakthrough VH risk is higher in PCV patients with massive subretinal hemorrhage, hemorrhagic PED and hemorrhagic RD. BCVA and hemorrhagic complications improve significantly postoperatively. Higher frequency of anti-VEGF treatment and previous photodynamic therapy are associated with better visual prognosis in PCV patients with breakthrough VH.

PMID:36584198 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279778

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0279081. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279081. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Corona (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered corona virus. The World Health Organization has recommended several preventive measures for COVID-19 and African countries, including Ethiopia had accepted and engaged in the recommended preventive measures. Adherence to COVID-19 prevention measure is still a big problem; however, the level of adherence to preventive measures had not reported in Ethiopia among students and there is an information gap, therefore, this study conducted to fill the information gap on level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among students.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and its associated factors among high school students in Jimma Town public High Schools in southwest Ethiopia, 2021.

METHODS SAND MATERIALS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 systematically selected high school students from Jimma town from July 15 to August 2, 2021. The sample size was determined using a single-population proportion formula, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data manager 4.4.2.1 then exported to Stata 14 for cleaning and analysis. Bivariate and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were declared to identify significant variables. Finally; significant factors were determined at a significance level of <0.05.

RESULTS: Of 388 students included in the analysis, approximately 14.7% (95%CI: 11.51-18.60) of students had good level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.Only 6.9%of participants had good knowledge where as approximately half of the respondents had favorable attitude toward COVID-19 preventive measures. Factors such as Female gender (AOR = 1.03(95%CI: 1.01-1.74), access to water and soap (AOR = 2.11(95%CI: 1.06-4.19) andattitude (AOR = 4.36(95%CI: 2.69-7.08)) were found to have a statistically significant association with level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures.

CONCLUSION: Adherence to COVID-19preventive measures among students wasunexpectedly lower than in other studies. Female gender, lack of access to water and soap, and attitudes were factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Therefore, to ensure maximal adherence to preventive measures for COVID-19, special messages and efforts targeting males, increasing access to water and soap, trainingto improve attitude toward COVID-19 preventive measures should be implemented at schools.

PMID:36584185 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0279081

PLoS One. 2022 Dec 30;17(12):e0272131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272131. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancy and motherhood have been linked to several factors stemming from social, cultural and to a large extent economic issues. This study examined the socio-economic factors associated with adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in Ghana.

DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey, which was a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. Data from 4785 adolescents aged between 15-19 years were included in the analysis. Adolescent pregnancy was defined as adolescents who have ever been pregnant, whiles adolescent motherhood was defined as adolescents who have ever given birth. Weighted logistic regression was used to assess the association between the socio-economic variables and adolescent pregnancy and motherhood.

RESULTS: Of the 25062 women aged between 15 and 49 years included in the 2017 maternal health survey, 4785 (19.1%) were adolescents between 15-19 years. Adolescent pregnancy was reported in 14.6% (CI:13.2% -16.1%) of the respondents, whereas 11.8% (CI: 10.5% -13.1%) of the respondents had ever given birth. In the multivariate regression analysis, zone (p<0.001), wealth index (p<0.001), age (p<0.001), marital status (p<0.001) and level of education (p<0.001) were all significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy and motherhood. The odds of pregnancy and motherhood were significantly higher in the Middle and Coastal zones (p<0.001), and among older adolescents (p<0.001). However, the odds of pregnancy and motherhood was significantly lower among adolescents from households with the highest wealth index (p<0.001), among those who were never married (p<0.001) and among adolescents who had secondary/higher education (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Several socio-economic variables including education, household wealth, marital status and zone of residence were significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy and adolescent motherhood. Sexual and reproductive health education should be intensified among these populations. Adolescent friendly corners should be made available and accessible to all adolescents in Ghana irrespective of where they live or their age.

PMID:36584169 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0272131

J Anim Breed Genet. 2022 Dec 30. doi: 10.1111/jbg.12751. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The missense mutation Asp298Asn in the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is associated with daily gain or fatness in pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has directly compared the effects of the polymorphism between different feeding levels, even though diet plays a vital role in the swine industry. To explore possible differences, data from 439 mostly commercial hybrids fattened ad libitum and 119 commercial hybrids fattened with restricted feed ration were collected. The recorded traits were average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass weight (CW), dressing percentage (DP), lean meat content (LM), backfat thickness (BFT), lean cuts weight, and meat quality parameters such as pH, temperature, drip loss, and CIELAB colour space. The general linear model revealed that the overall effect of MC4R was not statistically significant, but significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in ADG, FCR, CW, DP, LM, and BFT. In the ad libitum category, the AA genotype (298Asn/298Asn) tended to be the most favourable for growth-related traits, with the lowest LM, which is consistent with previous findings. In the restricted category, on the other hand, GA heterozygotes (298Asp/298Asn) achieved the best performance in terms of growth, whereas AA homozygotes showed the worst performance. Therefore, these results raise the possibility of an interaction between MC4R and the feeding level.

PMID:36583444 | DOI:10.1111/jbg.12751

J Anim Breed Genet. 2022 Dec 30. doi: 10.1111/jbg.12752. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Tail docking is routinely conducted in long-tailed sheep breeds to prevent flystrike infections, but it is not in agreement with legal guidelines and animal welfare issues. Selection on short tails is a sustainable alternative in this regard, but side effects on other breeding goal traits are unclear. In consequence, the present study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for tail length (TL) at birth, birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW) and postweaning weight (PWW) at the slaughtering date considering single-trait (STM), multiple-trait (MTM) and structural equation models (SEM) with different random effects, and accordingly, different covariance structures. The SEM considered time-lagged recursive relationships among response variables in three different pathways. The first path pertained to the effect of TL on WW and of WW on PWW. The second path reflected the effect of BW on WW and of WW on PWW. The third path was the recursive effect of TL on PWW. The phenotypic data consisted of 2803 records for TL, 13,042 records for BW, 1556 records for WW and 3986 records for PWW from Merinoland lambs. Lambs were born in the period from 1995 to 2021 and kept at the university Gießen research station, Germany, with their naturally long tails. Genetic statistical model evaluation based on Bayesian and Akaike’s information criteria suggested models simultaneously considering direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects and respective covariances. For statistical models including the same random effects and covariance structures, SEM were superior over MTM. The direct heritability for TL from the best-fitting STM was 0.60 ± 0.08, indicating the potential for genetic reduction of tail length within a few generations. For growth traits, the direct heritabilities ranged from 0.16 ± 0.03 for BW to 0.31 ± 0.09 for PWW. The maternal heritabilities were 0.03 ± 0.03 for TL, 0.12 ± 0.02 for BW, 0.04 ± 0.03 for WW and 0.07 ± 0.03 for PWW, reflecting small, but the non-significant influence of uterine characteristics on the tail development. The direct genetic correlations between TL and all weight traits were positive and very similar to MTM and SEM but reflected antagonistic genetic relationships from a breeding perspective. Oppositely, the structural equation coefficients reflecting trait associations phenotypically were negative (favourable) for the time-lagged effects of TL on WW and on PWW. As an explanation, lambs with long and woolly tails have an increased risk for contamination with dirt and dust causing infections, which in turn impairs the body weight development. In conclusion, breeding on short tails should consider trait-associated environmental risk factors, for example, disease susceptibility, which can be mimicked via SEM approaches.

PMID:36583443 | DOI:10.1111/jbg.12752