Tag: statistics

Physiol Rep. 2023 Feb;11(3):e15558. doi: 10.14814/phy2.15558.

ABSTRACT

Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are frequently prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, but approximately one third of patients experience no therapeutic benefit. Understanding the mechanisms by which MADs prevent pharyngeal collapse may help optimize MAD therapy. This study quantified the relative contributions of changes in airspace cross-sectional area (CSA) versus changes in velopharyngeal compliance in determining MAD efficacy. Sixteen patients with moderate to severe OSA (mean apnea-hypopnea index of 32 ± 15 events/h) underwent measurements of the velopharyngeal closing pressure (P_CLOSE ) during drug induced sedated endoscopy (DISE) via stepwise reductions in nasal mask pressure and recording of the intraluminal pressure with a catheter. Airspace CSA was estimated from video endoscopy. Pharyngeal compliance was defined as the slope of the area-pressure relationship of the velopharyngeal airspace. MAD therapy reduced P_CLOSE from a median of 0.5 cmH₂ O pre-advancement to a median of -2.6 cmH₂ O post-advancement (p = 0.0009), increased the minimal CSA at the velopharynx by approximately 20 mm² (p = 0.0067), but did not have a statistically significant effect on velopharyngeal compliance (p = 0.23). P_CLOSE had a strong correlation with CSA but did not correlate with velopharyngeal compliance. Our results suggest that MADs reduce velopharyngeal collapsibility by increasing airway size as opposed to affecting velopharyngeal compliance. This contradicts the speculation of previous literature that the effectiveness of MADs is partially due to a reduction in velopharyngeal compliance resulting from stretching of the soft palate. These findings suggest that quantification of velopharyngeal CSA pre- and post-MAD advancement has potential as a biomarker to predict the success of MAD therapy.

PMID:36756800 | DOI:10.14814/phy2.15558

Int Wound J. 2023 Feb 9. doi: 10.1111/iwj.14077. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to identify some risk factors for post-burn scarring in children aged 0-18 years. One hundred and eighty two participants were involved in this cohort study. Under the age of 18 who were admitted to the Department of Burn Reconstructive Surgery with a diagnosis of upper and lower extremity burns were followed for 6 months. A total of 182 participants (62.1% male, and 37.9% female participants) enrolled in this study. Age ranged from 1 to 17 and the average age was 3.95 ± 3.35. The degree of burn and the anatomical location of the burn had a statistically significant effect on the development of hypertrophic scars. The length of the patient’s hospitalisation days and the area of ​​the burn were statistically correlated with wound healing (P = 000, P = .074). For example, the average length of hospitalisation days was 8 ± 5 days in the hypertrophic scars group of patients, and in the group with normal scars, average bed days were 6 ± 3 days (P = .000). Grade IIIb burns increased the risk of hypertrophic scar development by 4.9 times and grade IV burns increased it by 2.5 times. In addition, when the area of burns was 11% or more, the risk of hypertrophic scar development was increased by 58.8%. In the case of wound swab infection, the risk of hypertrophic scar development was 12.4% higher (B = 1.124, 95 EI = 0.55; 2.28, P = .748). Participants’ age, burn area and degree of burn are statistically significant risk factors for post-burn scarring in children aged 0-18 years.

PMID:36756785 | DOI:10.1111/iwj.14077

Ecology. 2023 Feb 9:e3990. doi: 10.1002/ecy.3990. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The center-periphery hypothesis predicts a decline in population performance toward the periphery of a species’ range, reflecting an alteration of environmental conditions at range periphery. However, the rare demographic tests of this hypothesis failed to disentangle the role of geography from that of ecological niche and are biased toward temperate regions. We hypothesized that because species are expected to experience optimal abiotic conditions at their climatic niche center, (i) central populations will have better demographic growth, survival, and fertility than peripheral populations. As a result, (ii) central populations are expected to have higher growth rates than peripheral populations. Peripheral populations are expected to decline, thus limiting species range expansion beyond these boundaries. Because peripheral populations are expected to be in harsh environmental conditions, (iii) population growth rate will be more sensitive to perturbation of survival-growth rather than fertility in peripheral populations. Finally, we hypothesized that (iv) soils properties will drive the variations in population growth rates for narrowly distributed species for which small scale ecological factors could outweigh landscape level drivers. To test these hypotheses, we studied the demography of Thunbergia atacorensis (Acanthaceae), a range-limited herb in West Africa. We collected three years of demographic data to parametrize an integral projection model and estimated population level demographic statistics. Demographic vital rates and population growth rates did not change significantly with distance from geographic or climatic center, contrary to predictions. However, populations at the center of the geographic range were demographically more resilient to perturbation than those at the periphery. Soil nitrogen was the main driver of population growth rate variation. The relative influence of survival-growth on population growth rates exceeded that of fertility at the geographic range center while we observed the opposite pattern for climatic niche. Our study highlights the importance of local scale processes in shaping the dynamics and distribution of range-limited species. Our findings also suggest that the distinction between geographic distribution and climatic niche is important for a robust demographic test of the center-periphery hypothesis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36756774 | DOI:10.1002/ecy.3990

Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2023 Feb 9. doi: 10.1111/sms.14325. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The altitude differential of the specific mechanical energy, diff (e_mech ), is used to evaluate skiing performance. It is defined as the negative differential between the skier’s total specific mechanical energy (e_mech ) and the altitude of the skier’s centre of mass (COM). Till now, e_mech was obtained upon a mass-point (MP) model of the skier’s COM, which neither considered the segmental energies of their relative movements to the COM, nor their rotational kinetic energies. The aims of the study were therefore: a) to examine the deviations in diff (e_mech ) between the MP and a more complex linked segment (LS) skier model consisting of 15 rigid bodies, which encountered the aforementioned defectiveness, b) to compare the energy fluctuations of the two skier models, and c) to investigate the influence of the gate setup on a) and b) in giant slalom. Three-dimensional whole-body kinematics of nine skiers was measured using a global navigation satellite system and an inertial motion capture system while skiing on a predefined course divided into a turny and open gate setup. Mechanical energies including their altitude differentials were calculated for the LS and MP models. There were no significant differences in e_mech and diff (e_mech ) ski turn averages, as in individual data points, between both skier models for both analysed gate setups. The energies additionally considered by the LS model presented a negligible part regardless of the gate setup. In conclusion, the MP skier model is sufficiently accurate for the evaluation of the skiing performance with diff (e_mech ).

PMID:36756770 | DOI:10.1111/sms.14325

Int Psychogeriatr. 2023 Feb 9:1-11. doi: 10.1017/S1041610222001016. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive decline is common in the old age, but some evidence suggests it may already occur during adulthood. Previous studies have linked age, gender, educational attainment, depression, physical activity, and social engagement to better cognitive performance over time. However, most studies have used global measures of cognition, which could mask subtle changes in specific cognitive domains. The aim of this study is to examine trajectories of recent and delayed memory recall from a variable-centered perspective, in order to elucidate the impact of age, gender, educational attainment, depression, physical activity, and social engagement on recent and delayed memory both at initial time and across a 10-year period.

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: The sample was formed by 56,616 adults and older adults that participated in waves 4 to 8 of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

ANALYSES: We used latent growth modeling to establish latent recent and delayed memory trajectories, and then tested the effects of the aforementioned covariates on the latent intercept and slopes.

RESULTS: Results showed that both recent and delayed recall display a quadratic trajectory of decline. All covariates significantly explained initial levels of immediate and delayed recall, but only a few had statistically significant effects on the slope terms.

CONCLUSIONS: We discuss differences between present results and those previously reported in studies using a person-centered approach. This study provides evidence of memory decline during adulthood and old adulthood. Further, results provide support for the neural compensation reserve theory.

PMID:36756761 | DOI:10.1017/S1041610222001016

Int Psychogeriatr. 2023 Feb 9:1-8. doi: 10.1017/S1041610222001259. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Carer burden is common in younger-onset dementia (YOD), often due to the difficulty of navigating services often designed for older people with dementia. Compared to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the burden is reported to be higher in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, there is little literature comparing carer burden specifically in YOD. This study hypothesized that carer burden in bvFTD would be higher than in AD.

DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Tertiary neuropsychiatry service in Victoria, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS: Patient-carer dyads with YOD.

MEASUREMENTS: We collected patient data, including behaviors using the Cambridge Behavioral Inventory-Revised (CBI-R). Carer burden was rated using the Zarit Burden Inventory-short version (ZBI-12). Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: Carers reported high burden (ZBI-12 mean score = 17.2, SD = 10.5), with no significant difference in burden between younger-onset AD and bvFTD. CBI-R stereotypic and motor behaviors, CBI-R everyday skills, and total NUCOG scores differed between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the rest of the CBI-R subcategories, including the behavior-related domains.

CONCLUSION: Carers of YOD face high burden and are managing significant challenging behaviors. We found no difference in carer burden between younger-onset AD and bvFTD. This could be due to similarities in the two subtypes in terms of abnormal behavior, motivation, and self-care as measured on CBI-R, contrary to previous literature. Clinicians should screen for carer burden and associated factors including behavioral symptoms in YOD syndromes, as they may contribute to carer burden regardless of the type.

PMID:36756758 | DOI:10.1017/S1041610222001259

J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2023 Feb 9:17531934231152558. doi: 10.1177/17531934231152558. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36756742 | DOI:10.1177/17531934231152558

CNS Neurosci Ther. 2023 Feb 8. doi: 10.1111/cns.14110. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The hippocampus is a heterogeneous structure, comprising histologically and functionally distinguishable hippocampal subfields. The volume reductions in hippocampal subfields have been demonstrated to be linked with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aim of our study is to investigate the hippocampal subfields’ genetic architecture based on the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data set.

METHODS: After preprocessing the downloaded genetic variants and imaging data from the ADNI database, a co-sparse reduced rank regression model was applied to analyze the genetic architecture of hippocampal subfields volumes. Homology modeling, docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and Co-IP experiments for protein-protein interactions were used to verify the function of target protein on hippocampal subfields successively. After that, the association analysis between the candidated genes on the hippocampal subfields volume and clinical scales were performed.

RESULTS: The results of the association analysis revealed five unique genetic variants (e.g., ubiquitin-specific protease 10 [USP10]) changed in nine hippocampal subfields (e.g., the granule cell and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus [GC-ML-DG]). Among five genetic variants, USP10 had the strongest interaction effect with BACE1, which affected hippocampal subfields verified by MD and Co-IP experiments. The results of association analysis between the candidated genes on the hippocampal subfields volume and clinical scales showed that candidated genes influenced the volume and function of hippocampal subfields.

CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that hippocampal subfields have partly distinct genetic architecture and may improve the sensitivity of the detection of AD.

PMID:36756718 | DOI:10.1111/cns.14110

J Cell Mol Med. 2023 Feb 8. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.17638. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is the most common cancer of the female reproductive tract. The overall survival of advanced and recurrent UCEC patients is still unfavourable nowadays. It is urgent to find a predictive biomarker and block tumorgenesis at an early stage. Plant homeodomain finger protein 6 (PHF6) is a key player in epigenetic regulation, and its alterations lead to various diseases, including tumours. Here, we found that PHF6 expression was upregulated in UCEC tissues compared with normal tissues. The UCEC patients with high PHF6 expression had poor survival than UCEC patients with low PHF6 expression. PHF6 mutation occurred in 12% of UCEC patients, and PHF6 mutation predicted favourable clinical outcome in UCEC patients. Depletion of PHF6 effectively inhibited HEC-1-A and KLE cell proliferation in vitro and decreased HEC-1-A cell growth in vivo. Furthermore, high PHF6 level indicated a subtype of UCECs characterized by low immune infiltration, such as CD3⁺ T-cell infiltration. While knockdown of PHF6 in endometrial carcinoma cells increased T-cell migration by promoting IL32 production and secretion. Taken together, our findings suggested that PHF6 might play an oncogenic role in UCEC patients. Thus, PHF6 could be a potential biomarker in predicting the prognosis of UCEC patients. Depletion of PHF6 may be a novel therapeutic strategy for UCEC patients.

PMID:36756714 | DOI:10.1111/jcmm.17638

Orthod Craniofac Res. 2023 Feb 8. doi: 10.1111/ocr.12638. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The variability in tooth crown size (TCS) is influenced by genetic factors and might be regulated by the difference in hormonal response.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the association between variations in TCS of permanent teeth with associated factors and genetic polymorphisms in hormonal-related genes (ESR1, ESR2, and PTH). This cross-sectional study involved dental casts from 86 individuals of both sexes. Dental casts were used to determine the maximum TCS of all fully erupted permanent teeth (except third molars) in the mesiodistal (MD) and buccolingual (BL) dimensions. Data such as sex, ethnicity, dental group (incisor, canine, premolar, and molar), dental arch (upper and lower), and genetic polymorphisms of hormonal-related genes were used. The DNA from each patient was collected to evaluate the genetic polymorphisms in ESR1 (rs2234693 and rs9340799), ESR2 (rs1256049 and rs4986938), and PTH (rs694, rs6256, and rs307247) through real-time PCR. The data were submitted to statistical analysis with a significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS: In the MD dimension the sex, dental group, and dental arch were associated with variation in TCS (p < 0.05). In the BL dimension, the sex, dental group, dental arch, and polymorphism in rs694 and rs307247 were associated with variation in TCS.

CONCLUSIONS: In short, this study suggests that genetic polymorphisms of PTH are associated with variations in the BL TCS of permanent human teeth.

PMID:36756694 | DOI:10.1111/ocr.12638