Tag: statistics

Aging Ment Health. 2022 Mar 14:1-9. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2046692. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: In this article, we assess the feasibility and acceptability and the effect of the Plan Ahead for community dwelling older adults. In addition, we investigated the effects of the program. In addition, we aimed to examine whether the completion of the specific Future Care Planning depended on the participants’ competence level.

METHODS: In this single group feasibility study, trained facilitators delivered the program to a sample of 234 community-residing older adults. Participants completed both pre, post assessments about the acceptability of the program and their completion of the recommended future care planning activities.

RESULTS: Based on participant’s report on the usefulness and satisfaction of the program after the completion of the program, we found that participants reported high levels of acceptance of the program. Participation rates also confirmed the feasibility of the program. In terms of effects of program implementation, statistically significant changes were noted for several outcomes, such as resource building and FCP activities. In particular, we found that these gains were particularly robust for participants in the low competence group.

CONCLUSION: Pilot program results suggest the feasibility of a short community program enhancing proactive planning for future care needs among older adults residing in their community.

PMID:35285774 | DOI:10.1080/13607863.2022.2046692

Australas Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 14:10398562221077887. doi: 10.1177/10398562221077887. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study examined changes in psychological outcomes of perioperative frontline healthcare workers at one of Australia’s most COVID-19 affected hospitals, following the surge and decline of a pandemic wave.

METHOD: A single-centred longitudinal online survey was conducted between 26 May and 17 November 2020. Recruitment was via poster advertisement and email invitation. The survey was sent out every 4 weeks, resulting in seven time-points.

RESULTS: In total, 385 survey results were analysed from 193 staff (about 64% response rate), 72 (37%) of whom completed the survey more than once. The prevalence of moderate-to-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms peaked at 27% and 25%, respectively, during the pandemic surge. Up to 35% displayed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Although not statistically significant, the trend of depressive and PTSD symptoms worsened over time, especially among females and anaesthetic/surgical trainees, despite subsidence of the pandemic curve. Technicians and anaesthetic/scrub nurses were the at-risk groups with worst psychological outcomes.

CONCLUSION: We found persistent mental health impacts on frontline perioperative HCWs despite subsidence of the pandemic wave. Further research is needed to determine the extent and trajectory of such impacts with larger sample sizes to determine generalisability to frontline HCWs in general.

PMID:35285740 | DOI:10.1177/10398562221077887

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2022 Feb;47(4):951-958. doi: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20210901.301.

ABSTRACT

The present study established the spectrum-effect relationship model of flavonoids in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium(CRP) from 15 batches of Liujunzi Decoction and statistically analyzed the correlation between chemical peaks and efficacy to identify the main effective components. HPLC fingerprints of flavonoids in CRP from 15 batches of Liujunzi Decoction were established. HPLC analysis was carried out on the Venusil XBP C_(18)(L) column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) at 30 ℃ with acetonitrile-water(containing 0.1% formic acid) as mobile phase for gradient elution, a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min~(-1), and detection wavelength of 300 nm to obtain chemical fingerprints. Additionally, the effects of flavonoids from CRP in 15 batches of Liujunzi Decoction on the content of GAS, MTL, and VIP, TFF3 mRNA expression, and percentage of CD3~+ T-cells of model rats with spleen deficiency were determined. The spectrum-effect relationship model was established by gray correlation analysis. The results showed that the main characteristic peaks with great contribution to the regulation of gastrointestinal tract were peak 16(vicenin-2), peak 63(sinensetin), peak 64(isosinensetin), peak 65(nobiletin), peak 67(3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptemthoxyflavone), peak 68(tangeretin), and peak 69(5-desmethylnobiletin). Therefore, there was a linear correlation between flavonoids from CRP in Liujunzi Decoction and the efficacy, and the medicinal effect was achieved by multi-component action. This study is expected to provide a new idea for exploring the material basis of the effect, i.e., regulating qi prior to replenishing qi, of CRP in Liujunzi Decoction.

PMID:35285194 | DOI:10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20210901.301

J Thromb Haemost. 2022 Mar 14. doi: 10.1111/jth.15698. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multi-phenotype analysis of genetically correlated phenotypes can increase the statistical power to detect loci associated with multiple traits, leading to the discovery of novel loci. This is the first study to date to comprehensively analyze the shared genetic effects within different hemostatic traits, and between these and their associated disease outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To discover novel genetic associations by combining summary data of correlated hemostatic traits and disease events.

METHODS: Summary statistics from genome wide-association studies (GWAS) from 7 hemostatic traits (factor VII [FVII], factor VIII [FVIII], von Willebrand factor [VWF] factor XI [FXI], fibrinogen, tissue plasminogen activator [tPA], plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 [PAI-1]) and 3 major cardiovascular (CV) events (venous thromboembolism [VTE], coronary artery disease [CAD], ischemic stroke [IS]), were combined in 27 multi-trait combinations using metaUSAT. Genetic correlations between phenotypes were calculated using Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression (LDSC). Newly associated loci were investigated for colocalization. We considered a significance threshold of 1.85 x 10^-9 obtained after applying Bonferroni correction for the number of multi-trait combinations performed (n = 27).

RESULTS: Across the 27 multi-trait analyses, we found 4 novel pleiotropic loci (XXYLT1, KNG1, SUGP1/MAU2, TBL2/MLXIPL) that were not significant in the original individual datasets, were not described in previous GWAS for the individual traits, and that presented a common associated variant between the studied phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of 4 novel loci contributes to the understanding of the relationship between hemostasis and CV events and elucidate common genetic factors between these traits.

PMID:35285134 | DOI:10.1111/jth.15698

Int J Nurs Pract. 2022 Mar 13:e13049. doi: 10.1111/ijn.13049. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To determine the effectiveness of auscultatory, colorimetric capnometry and pH measurement methods for confirmation of correct nasogastric tube placement in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Incorrect nasogastric tube placement causes serious complications.

DESIGN: This was a methodological and comparative study.

METHODS: The study sample consisted of 88 new insertions of nasogastric feeding tubes between April 2018-2019. Results from the ‘auscultatory’, ‘pH’ and ‘colorimetric capnometry’ methods were compared with the location of the nasogastric tube as determined through radiography. Descriptive statistics, Eta analysis and the Cohen kappa compliance test as well as sensitivity and specificity were conducted.

RESULTS: There was a weak agreement (26.3%) between the auscultation and radiological evaluation for confirming nasogastric tube placement. The pH measurement and colorimetric capnometry methods were not correlated with radiological evaluation. Stomach pH increased as patient age increased and use of the colorimetric capnometry method failed to confirm the oesophageal and duodenal location. The specificity of the auscultation was low, and both the specificity and sensitivity pH methods were low.

CONCLUSION: It was determined that auscultation, measuring pH and colorimetric capnometry were unreliable methods for confirming placement of nasogastric tubes. It is recommended to confirm initial placement of the nasogastric tube with radiography and to develop effective and reliable non-radiological measurement methods that can be performed at the bedside.

PMID:35285146 | DOI:10.1111/ijn.13049

Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2022 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/pds.5427. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine trends in valproate use among women of childbearing potential aged 16-44 years (WCBP) in Ireland following two European-directed regulatory interventions in December 2014 and April 2018.

METHODS: This was a repeated cross-sectional study using monthly national pharmacy claims data, to examine trend changes in the prevalence of valproate use among WCBP pre and post two separate regulatory events in December 2014 and April 2018. Annual population estimates from the Central Statistics Office were used to calculate the prevalence rate per 1000 eligible women. Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series with negative binomial regression was used to examine rates for WCBP aged 16-44 years, and by 10-year age groups. Prevalence ratios (PR) are presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Among WCBP aged 16-44 years, there was no statistically significant change in the month-to-month prevalence ratio in the post- compared to pre-December 2014 intervention period. A significant decline was, however, observed in the post-, compared to pre-April 2018 intervention period (PR = 0.998, [95%CIs: 0.996, 1.000]; p = 0.029). Among those aged 16-24 years, a significant decreasing trend in the month-to-month prevalence ratio was found in the post- compared to pre-December 2014 intervention period (PR = 0.991, [95%CIs: 0.984, 0.998], p <0.01). A marginal effect was observed in the post- compared to pre-April 2018 intervention period for those aged 25-34 years (PR = 0.996, [95%CIs: 0.992, 1.000]; p = 0.048).

CONCLUSION: Although no evidence of change was observed following the December 2014 intervention period, a significant decline in the prevalence ratio of valproate use was observed after the 2018 intervention, which may reflect the introduction of the most recent contraindication measures. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35285110 | DOI:10.1002/pds.5427

Exp Dermatol. 2022 Mar 13. doi: 10.1111/exd.14563. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:35285091 | DOI:10.1111/exd.14563

J Clin Lab Anal. 2022 Mar 13:e24334. doi: 10.1002/jcla.24334. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Among patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), no proof was available to confirm the prognostic significance of the neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR). We hypothesized that NPAR plays a role in the incidence of DR in diabetic patients.

METHODS: We extracted all diabetes mellitus (DM) data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database between 1999 and 2018, NPAR was expressed as neutrophil percentage/albumin. Multivariable logistic regression and generalized additive model were utilized for the purpose of examining the correction between NPAR levels and DR. Subgroup analysis of the associations between NPAR and DR was carried out to investigate if the impact of the NPAR varied among different subgroups.

RESULTS: An aggregate of 5850 eligible participants were included in the present research. The relationship between NPAR levels and DR was positive linear. In the multivariate analysis, following the adjustment for confounders (gender, white blood cell, age, monocyte percent, red cell distribution width, eosinophils percent, bicarbonate, body mass index, iron, glucose, basophils percent, total bilirubin, creatinine, and chloride), higher NPAR was an independent risk factor for DR compared to lower NPAR (OR, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.00-1.39; 1.24, 1.04-1.48). For the purpose of sensitivity analysis, we found a trend of consistency (p for trend: 0.0190). The results of the subgroup analysis revealed that NPAR did not exert any statistically significant interactions with any of the other DR risk variables.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated NPAR is associated with an elevated risk of occurrence of DR in diabetic patients.

PMID:35285099 | DOI:10.1002/jcla.24334

Pediatr Dermatol. 2022 Mar 14. doi: 10.1111/pde.14978. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous changes in obese adults have been investigated in numerous studies, but this issue has not been adequately investigated in children.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the prevalence of skin manifestations in children with obesity by comparing them to normal-weight children.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2017 and January 2019 in which 82 children with obesity and 86 normal-weight healthy control children were enrolled. Study participants had detailed full-body skin examinations performed by the same dermatologist; mycological and Wood’s lamp examinations were performed when necessary. Sociodemographic and anthropometric measurements of the participants were recorded.

RESULTS: Striae distensae were the most common skin manifestation in children with obesity; striae were significantly higher in the obese than in the control group (72% vs. 26.7%, p < .001). The anatomical distribution of the striae distensae in the groups differed significantly. Striae distensae were most commonly observed on the buttocks in the control group, while the thighs were the most common site in the obese group. Acanthosis nigricans (63.4% vs. 3.5%, p < .001), acrochordons (17.1% vs. 1.2%, p < .001), keratosis pilaris (32.9% vs. 17.4%, p = .021), intertrigo (11% vs. 0%, p = .001), folliculitis (31.7% vs. 5.8%, p < .001), seborrheic dermatitis (12.2% vs. 3.5%, p = .035) and facial erythema (7.3% vs. 0%, p = .012) were found to be statistically significantly more common in the obese group compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Obesity in children is associated with numerous cutaneous manifestations. Further study is needed to identify whether weight loss can reduce skin manifestations in obese children.

PMID:35285075 | DOI:10.1111/pde.14978

Biom J. 2022 Mar;64(3):557-576. doi: 10.1002/bimj.202100023. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

ABSTRACT

In this article, we address the problem of simultaneous testing hypothesis about mean and covariance matrix for repeated measures data when both the mean vector and covariance matrix are patterned. In particular, tests about the mean vector under block circular and doubly exchangeable covariance structures have been considered. The null distributions are established for the corresponding likelihood ratio test statistics, and expressions for the exact or near-exact probability density and cumulative distribution functions are obtained. The application of the results is illustrated by both a simulation study and a real-life data example.

PMID:35285064 | DOI:10.1002/bimj.202100023