Tag: statistics

Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s10237-023-01698-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Within this work, we investigate how physiologically observed microstructural changes induced by myocardial infarction impact the elastic parameters of the heart. We use the LMRP model for poroelastic composites (Miller and Penta in Contin Mech Thermodyn 32:1533-1557, 2020) to describe the microstructure of the myocardium and investigate microstructural changes such as loss of myocyte volume and increased matrix fibrosis as well as increased myocyte volume fraction in the areas surrounding the infarct. We also consider a 3D framework to model the myocardium microstructure with the addition of the intercalated disks, which provide the connections between adjacent myocytes. The results of our simulations agree with the physiological observations that can be made post-infarction. That is, the infarcted heart is much stiffer than the healthy heart but with reperfusion of the tissue it begins to soften. We also observe that with the increase in myocyte volume of the non-damaged myocytes the myocardium also begins to soften. With a measurable stiffness parameter the results of our model simulations could predict the range of porosity (reperfusion) that could help return the heart to the healthy stiffness. It would also be possible to predict the volume of the myocytes in the area surrounding the infarct from the overall stiffness measurements.

PMID:36867283 | DOI:10.1007/s10237-023-01698-2

Eur J Nutr. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s00394-023-03117-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We studied to what extent plant-based meat substitutes could improve the nutritional adequacy and healthiness of dietary patterns, depending on their nutrient composition.

METHODS: From diets observed in French adults (INCA3, n = 1125), modeled diets were identified by allowing various dietary changes, between and within food categories, when two plant-based meat substitutes were made available: an average substitute (from 43 market substitutes) and a theoretical nutritionally designed substitute, fortified or not with zinc and iron at 30% or 50% of Nutrient Reference Values. Under each scenario, healthier but acceptable modeled diets were identified using multi-criteria optimization, by maximizing a health criteria related to Dietary Guidelines while minimizing deviation from the observed diets, under constraints for nutrient adequacy.

RESULTS: Without fortification, the average substitute was hardly introduced into modeled diets, whereas the optimized substitute was preferentially introduced, in large amounts, yet together with a moderate reduction of red meat (- 20%). The comparative advantages of the optimized substitute were its higher contribution to vitamins B6 and C, fiber and α-linolenic acid (ALA) intakes, and its lower contribution to sodium intake. When fortified with iron and zinc, substitutes were introduced in larger amounts into modeled diets, with much higher red meat reductions (down to – 90%). The optimized substitute continued to be preferred, leading to healthier modeled diets that deviated less from the observed.

CONCLUSION: Plant-based meat substitutes can be levers for healthy diets only when well nutritionally designed with enough zinc and iron for a substantial red meat reduction.

PMID:36867242 | DOI:10.1007/s00394-023-03117-9

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s00127-023-02438-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The current study aimed to investigate the rates of anxiety, clinical depression, and suicidality and their changes in health professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data came from the larger COMET-G study. The study sample includes 12,792 health professionals from 40 countries (62.40% women aged 39.76 ± 11.70; 36.81% men aged 35.91 ± 11.00 and 0.78% non-binary gender aged 35.15 ± 13.03). Distress and clinical depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm, respectively.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses, and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables.

RESULTS: Clinical depression was detected in 13.16% with male doctors and ‘non-binary genders’ having the lowest rates (7.89 and 5.88% respectively) and ‘non-binary gender’ nurses and administrative staff had the highest (37.50%); distress was present in 15.19%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics, and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (24.64% vs. 9.62%; p < 0.0001). Suicidal tendencies were at least doubled in terms of RASS scores. Approximately one-third of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop clinical depression was associated with a history of Bipolar disorder (RR = 4.23).

CONCLUSIONS: The current study reported findings in health care professionals similar in magnitude and quality to those reported earlier in the general population although rates of clinical depression, suicidal tendencies, and adherence to conspiracy theories were much lower. However, the general model of factors interplay seems to be the same and this could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable.

PMID:36867224 | DOI:10.1007/s00127-023-02438-8

Skeletal Radiol. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s00256-023-04312-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between nonossifying fibroma (NOF) and perilesional edema-like marrow signal intensity (ELMSI) on MRI and discuss the clinical and diagnostic implications of this finding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective search for “nonossifying fibroma” and “NOF” on knee MRI reports of patients up to 20 years of age over a 5-year period was performed. A total of 77 patients (34 males, 43 females, ages 11-20) were identified, and each MRI was reviewed to evaluate for ELMSI associated with the NOF. Statistical analysis was performed to determine if there was a correlation with the presence of perilesional ELMSI and age, gender, lesion size, or signal characteristics.

RESULTS: Twelve patients out of 77 (16%) had ELMSI associated with a NOF. Excluding patients who had additional findings of pathologic fracture (n = 2), a known potential complication of NOFs, and edema related to an adjacent osteoid osteoma (n = 1), a total of 9 patients (12%) had otherwise unexplained perilesional ELMSI. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with vs. without perilesional ELMSI with respect to age (p = 0.08), gender (p = 0.28), lesion size (p = 0.52), or appearance on fluid-sensitive sequences (p = 0.81).

CONCLUSION: ELMSI can be seen about NOFs encountered around the knee joint on MRI, which may represent active healing and/or involutional change of this “do not touch” lesion in cases where no other explanation is identified.

PMID:36867220 | DOI:10.1007/s00256-023-04312-9

J Orofac Orthop. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s00056-023-00453-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This in vitro study was conducted to compare the discoloration of a flowable self-adhesive composite, a highly filled composite adhesive, and a liquid polish applied highly filled composite adhesive for bonded lingual retainers.

METHODS: Thirty composite discs were fabricated and divided into three groups: group 1, flowable self-adhesive (GC Ortho Connect™ Flow [GCO], GC Orthodontics, Tokyo, Japan); group 2, highly filled composite adhesive (Transbond™ LR [TLR], 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA); and group 3, highly filled composite adhesive with liquid polish (TLR and BisCover LV™ [TLRB], BISCO Inc, Schaumburg, IL, USA). L*a*b* values were measured by spectrophotometer prior to (T0) and following (T1) immersion in coffee. T1 – T0 differences were calculated as ∆L*, ∆a*, ∆b*, and ∆E*ab values. The Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to determine whether the data were normally distributed. The values that did not fit the normal distribution were evaluated with the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Dunn’s test was used for multiple comparisons. The level of significance was p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The difference between the TLR and TLRB groups was statistically significant for ∆E*ab (P = 0.007). ∆E*ab value of TLR group was greater than ∆E*ab value of TLRB group. The differences between the GCO and TLR groups (p = 0.001) and the TLR and TLRB groups (p = 0.010) were statistically significant for ∆a*. ∆a* values of GCO and TLRB groups were greater than ∆a* value of TLR group. The difference between the TLR and TLRB groups was statistically significant (p = 0.003) for ∆b*. ∆b* value of TLR group was greater than ∆b* value of TLRB group.

CONCLUSIONS: Using a Transbond LR polished with BisCover LV or only GC Ortho Connect Flow for lingual retainer bonding reduces coffee-induced discoloration.

PMID:36867217 | DOI:10.1007/s00056-023-00453-7

Chirurgie (Heidelb). 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s00104-023-01833-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Injury of the bile duct during cholecystectomy (CHE) is a severe complication. The critical view of safety (CVS) can help to reduce the frequency of this complication during laparoscopic CHE. So far, no scoring of CVS images with a grading system is available.

METHOD: The CVS images of 534 patients with laparoscopic CHE could be structurally analyzed and assessed with marks from 1 (very good) to 5 (insufficient). The CVS mark was correlated with the perioperative course. Additionally, the perioperative course of patients after laparoscopic CHE with and without a CVS image was investigated.

RESULTS: In 534 patients 1 or more CVS images could be analyzed. The average CVS mark was 1.9, whereby 280 patients (52.4%) had a 1, 126 patients (23.6%) a 2, 114 (21.3%) a 3 and 14 patients (2.6%) a 4 or 5. Younger patients with elective laparoscopic CHE had CVS images significantly more frequently (p ≤ 0.04). The statistical examination with Pearson’s χ²-test and the F‑test (ANOVA) showed a significant correlation between improving CVS marks and reduction of surgery time (p < 0.01) and the hospitalization time (p < 0.01). For senior physicians the quota of CVS images ranged from 71% to 92% and the average marks from 1.5 to 2.2. The marks for the CVS images were significantly better for female than male patients (1.8 vs. 2.1, p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION: There was a relatively broad distribution of marks for CVS images. Injuries of the bile duct can be avoided with a high degree of certainty with marks 1‑2 for the CVS image. The CVS is not always adequately visualized in laparoscopic CHE.

PMID:36867210 | DOI:10.1007/s00104-023-01833-w

Clin Res Cardiol. 2023 Mar 3. doi: 10.1007/s00392-023-02179-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between the use of ACEi, ARB, or non-renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (non-RASi) and incident cardiovascular events in an unselected nationwide hypertension cohort.

METHODS: The information regarding 2,025,849 patients who underwent general health checkup between 2010 and 2011 and were on antihypertensive medication was collected. Patients were allocated into ACEi, ARB, and non-RASi groups and followed until 2019. The outcomes of interest were myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke (IS), atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF), and all-cause deaths.

RESULTS: Patients on ACEi and ARB showed unfavorable baseline characteristics compared to those on non-RASi. After adjusting for covariates, the ACEi group showed lower risks of MI, AF, and all-cause deaths (HR (95% CI): 0.94 (0.89-0.99), 0.96 (0.92-1.00), and 0.93 (0.90-0.96), respectively), but similar risks of IS and HF (0.97 (0.92-1.01) and 1.03 (1.00-1.06), respectively), compared to the non-RASi group. Likewise, the ARB group showed decreased risks of MI, IS, AF, HF, and all-cause deaths (HR (95% CI): 0.93 (0.91-0.95), 0.88 (0.86-0.90), 0.86 (0.85-0.88), 0.94 (0.93-0.96), and 0.84 (0.83-0.85)), compared to the non-RASi group. Sensitivity analysis of patients taking a single antihypertensive medication showed similar results. In the propensity score matching (PSM) cohort, the ARB group showed similar risks of MI and decreased risks of IS, AF, HF, and all-cause deaths compared to the ACEi group.

CONCLUSIONS: ACEi and ARB users were associated with decreased risks of MI, IS, AF, HF, and all-cause deaths, compared to non-RASi users.

PMID:36867200 | DOI:10.1007/s00392-023-02179-3

ASAIO J. 2023 Mar 6. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000001891. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The present study seeks to determine clinical outcomes associated with remote patient monitoring of peritoneal dialysis (RPM-PD), with potential implications during COVID-19 outbreaks. We performed a systematic review in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. We combined all study-specific estimates using the inverse-variant weighted averages of logarithmic relative risk (RR) in the random-effects models. Confidence interval (CI) including the value of 1 was used as evidence to produce a statistically significant estimate. Twenty-two studies were included in our meta-analysis. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that RPM-PD patients had lower rates of technique failure (log RR = -0.32; 95% CI, -0.59 to -0.04), lower hospitalization rates (standardized mean difference = -0.84; 95% CI, -1.24 to -0.45), and lower mortality rates (log RR = -0.26; 95% CI, -0.44 to -0.08) compared with traditional PD monitoring. RPM-PD has better outcomes in multiple spheres of outcomes when compared with conventional monitoring and likely increases system resilience during disruptions of healthcare operations.

PMID:36867191 | DOI:10.1097/MAT.0000000000001891

Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2023;88(1):57-63. doi: 10.17116/otorino20228801157.

ABSTRACT

RELEVANCE: Objective diagnostics of nasal breathing disorders in children is a vital issue given frequent inconsistency between patients’ subjective feelings and actual nasal patency. Active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR) is an objective procedure and the golden standard for nasal breathing evaluation. But still, there are no actual data in literature on relevant criteria used to evaluate nasal breathing in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine reference values for indicators evaluated by active anterior rhinomanometry in Caucasian children aged 4-14 based on statistical data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Overall, we examined 659 healthy children of both sexes who were divided into 7 groups as per their height. All children included into our research underwent AAR according to the conventional procedure. AAR indicators (Summary Flow left, Summary Flow right, Summary Flow, Summary Resistance left, Summary Resistance right and Summary Resistance Flow) are given as median (Me) and values of 2.5, 25, 75, and 97.5 percentiles.

RESULTS: We determined direct moderate, significant and strong correlations between summary speed of the flow and resistance in both nasal passages and separate speeds of the flow and right and left resistance in inhalation and exhalation (r=0.46-0.98, p<0.001). We also established weak correlations between AAR indicators and age (r= -0.08-0.11), and between ARR indicators and height (r= -0.07-0.15). Reference values for AAR indicators were successfully determined.

CONCLUSIONS: AAR indicators are likely to be determined bearing a child’s height in mind. Determined reference intervals can be applied in clinical practice.

PMID:36867145 | DOI:10.17116/otorino20228801157

Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2023;88(1):35-43. doi: 10.17116/otorino20228801135.

ABSTRACT

Pharyngitis is one of the manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which features specific changes in the pharyngoscopic pattern, long fluctuating course and increase in symptoms severity after a physical exercise, which requires long-term therapy with topical agents. A comparative analysis of Tonsilgon N effect on the course of SARS-CoV-2 associated pharyngitis as well as post-COVID syndrome development was carried out in this study. 164 patients with acute pharyngitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 were included in the study. Main group (n=81) received Tonsilgon N oral drops in addition to the standard treatment regimens for pharyngitis and control group (n=83) received standard regimen alone. Treatment regimen lasted for 21 days for both groups, followed by follow up examination in 12 weeks for assessment of post-COVID syndrome development. Patients taking Tonsilgon N showed a statistically significant symptoms improvement in throat pain relief (p=0.002) and throat discomfort (p=0.004), however, no statistically significant difference in two groups were observed in inflammation severity based on pharyngoscopy examination (p=0.558). Addition of Tolzilgon N to the regimen reduced occurrence of secondary bacterial infections and therefore use of antibiotics more than 2.8 times (p<0.001). Compared with the control group long term topical therapy with Tolzilgon N showed no increase in occurrence of side effects such as allergic reactions (p=0.311) as well as subjective burning sensations in the throat (p=0.849). In main group occurrence of post-COVID syndrome was observed 3.3 times less than in the control group (7.2% vs 25.9%, p=0.001). These results give us the ground for indication of Tonsilgon N use in the treatment of viral pharyngitis associated with SARS-CoV 2 infection and in prevention of post-COVID syndrome.

PMID:36867142 | DOI:10.17116/otorino20228801135