Tag: statistics

Front Plant Sci. 2022 Dec 7;13:1058867. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1058867. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Endophytic actinobacteria aid in plant development and disease resistance by boosting nutrient uptake or producing secondary metabolites. For the first time, we investigated the culturable endophytic actinobacteria associated with ten epiphytic orchid species of Assam, India. 51 morphologically distinct actinobacteria were recovered from surface sterilized roots and leaves of orchids and characterized based on different PGP and antifungal traits. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence, these isolates were divided into six families and eight genera, where Streptomyces was most abundant (n=29, 56.86%), followed by Actinomadura, Nocardia, Nocardiopsis, Nocardioides, Pseudonocardia, Microbacterium, and Mycolicibacterium. Regarding PGP characteristics, 25 (49.01%) isolates demonstrated phosphate solubilization in the range of 61.1±4.4 – 289.7±11.9 µg/ml, whereas 27 (52.94%) isolates biosynthesized IAA in the range of 4.0 ± 0.08 – 43.8 ± 0.2 µg/ml, and 35 (68.62%) isolates generated ammonia in the range of 0.9 ± 0.1 – 5.9 ± 0.2 µmol/ml. These isolates also produced extracellular enzymes, viz. protease (43.13%), cellulase (23.52%), pectinase (21.56%), ACC deaminase (27.45%), and chitinase (37.25%). Out of 51 isolates, 27 (52.94%) showed antagonism against at least one test phytopathogen. In molecular screening, most isolates with antifungal and chitinase producing traits revealed the presence of 18 family chitinase genes. Two actinobacterial endophytes, Streptomyces sp. VCLA3 and Streptomyces sp. RVRA7 were ranked as the best strains based on PGP and antifungal activity on bonitur scale. GC-MS examination of ethyl acetate extract of these potent strains displayed antimicrobial compound phenol, 2,4-bis-(1,1-dimethylethyl) as the major metabolite along with other antifungal and plant growth beneficial bioactive chemicals. SEM analysis of fungal pathogen F. oxysporum (MTCC 4633) affected by Streptomyces sp. VCLA3 revealed significant destruction in the spore structure. An in vivo plant growth promotion experiment with VCLA3 and RVRA7 on chili plants exhibited statistically significant (p<0.05) improvements in all of the evaluated vegetative parameters compared to the control. Our research thus gives insight into the diversity, composition, and functional significance of endophytic actinobacteria associated with orchids. This research demonstrates that isolates with multiple plant development and broad-spectrum antifungal properties are beneficial for plant growth. They may provide a viable alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides and a sustainable solution for chemical inputs in agriculture.

PMID:36570961 | PMC:PMC9769409 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1058867

Front Plant Sci. 2022 Dec 9;13:1085409. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1085409. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

Plants are exposed to increasingly severe drought events and roots play vital roles in maintaining plant survival, growth, and reproduction. A large body of literature has investigated the adaptive responses of root traits in various plants to water stress and these studies have been reviewed in certain groups of plant species at a certain scale. Nevertheless, these responses have not been synthesized at multiple levels. This paper screened over 2000 literatures for studies of typical root traits including root growth angle, root depth, root length, root diameter, root dry weight, root-to-shoot ratio, root hair length and density and integrates their drought responses at genetic and morphological scales. The genes, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and hormones that are involved in the regulation of drought response of the root traits were summarized. We then statistically analyzed the drought responses of root traits and discussed the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, we highlighted the drought response of 1-D and 2-D root length density (RLD) distribution in the soil profile. This paper will provide a framework for an integrated understanding of root adaptive responses to water deficit at multiple scales and such insights may provide a basis for selection and breeding of drought tolerant crop lines.

PMID:36570905 | PMC:PMC9780461 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.1085409

Sleep Breath. 2022 Dec 26. doi: 10.1007/s11325-022-02772-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the prevalence of nocturnal intermittent hypoxemia (NIH) in a tertiary hospital geriatric department and the relationship between NIH and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults, and to examine the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism.

METHODS: Older adults aged ≥ 60 were enrolled. NIH and cognitive assessments were conducted. BDNF concentrations and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism were detected for a preliminary exploration of the possible mechanism of the process.

RESULTS: Of 325 older adults enrolled, 157 (48%) had NIH and were further divided into mild, moderate, and severe NIH groups according to their oxygen desaturation of ≥ 4% per hour of sleep (ODI4). MCI detection rate in the four groups gradually increased, and the differences were statistically significant (chi-square = 4.457, P = 0.035). ODI4 was negatively correlated with MoCA score in all participants (r = – 0.115, P = 0.039) and patients with NIH (r = – 0.199, P = 0.012). After adjusting for sex, age, and cardiovascular risk factors, NIH and MCI remained independently associated (OR = 3.13, 95% CI 1.03-9.53, P = 0.045). BDNF levels were positively correlated with MoCA score (r = 0.169, P = 0.028) and negatively correlated with nocturnal average oxygen saturation in patients with NIH (r = – 0.288, P = 0.008). Older adults with different BDNF Val66Met genotypes did not show significant differences in MCI rate and BDNF levels (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The older adults with NIH have a higher MCI detection rate. BDNF levels may be a potential biomarker for cognitive dysfunction in patients with NIH.

PMID:36567420 | DOI:10.1007/s11325-022-02772-2

BMC Med Res Methodol. 2022 Dec 26;22(1):334. doi: 10.1186/s12874-022-01821-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: For over three decades researchers have developed critical appraisal tools (CATs) for assessing the scientific quality of research overviews. Most established CATs for reviews in evidence-based medicine and evidence-based public health (EBPH) focus on systematic reviews (SRs) with studies on experimental interventions or exposure included. EBPH- and implementation-oriented organisations and decision-makers, however, often seek access to rapid reviews (RRs) or scoping reviews (ScRs) for rapid evidence synthesis and research field exploration. Until now, no CAT is available to assess the quality of SRs, RRs, and ScRs following a unified approach. We set out to develop such a CAT.

METHODS: The development process of the Critical Appraisal Tool for Health Promotion and Prevention Reviews (CAT HPPR) included six phases: (i) the definition of important review formats and complementary approaches, (ii) the identification of relevant CATs, (iii) prioritisation, selection and adaptation of quality criteria using a consensus approach, (iv) development of the rating system and bilingual guidance documents, (v) engaging with experts in the field for piloting/optimising the CAT, and (vi) approval of the final CAT. We used a pragmatic search approach to identify reporting guidelines/standards (n = 3; e.g. PRISMA, MECIR) as well as guidance documents (n = 17; e.g. for reviews with mixed-methods approach) to develop working definitions for SRs, RRs, ScRs, and other review types (esp. those defined by statistical methods or included data sources).

RESULTS: We successfully identified 14 relevant CATs, predominantly for SRs (e.g. AMSTAR 2), and extracted 46 items. Following consensual discussions 15 individual criteria were included in our CAT and tailored to the review types of interest. The CAT was piloted with 14 different reviews which were eligible to be included in a new German database looking at interventions in health promotion and prevention in different implementation settings.

CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed CAT HPPR follows a unique uniformed approach to assess a set of heterogeneous reviews (e.g. reviews from problem identification to policy evaluations) to assist end-users needs. Feedback of external experts showed general feasibility and satisfaction with the tool. Future studies should further formally test the validity of CAT HPPR using larger sets of reviews.

PMID:36567381 | DOI:10.1186/s12874-022-01821-4

J Sleep Res. 2022 Dec 25:e13813. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13813. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sleep disturbances including bedtime problems and night awakenings are common during infancy. Polysomnography during the first years of life is performed mainly to rule out sleep-disordered breathing; however, sleep-related movement disorders can constitute a significant contributor to sleep disruption in this age group. Almost no studies have investigated the presence of periodic limb movements during sleep and underlying iron deficiency in infants, especially in those born preterm or with an underlying genetic syndrome. In this retrospective study we included infants 3-24 months referred for polysomnography for snoring or frequent nocturnal awakenings. All children had bloodwork (ferritin and haemoglobin) conducted within 3 months of the overnight sleep study. We studied 79 infants, including 31 (39.2%) full-term without diagnosis, 10 (12.7%) born premature, 16 (20.3%) with Down syndrome, 15 (19.0%) with Prader-Willi syndrome, and the remaining seven (8.9%) had various disorders. Compared with those with Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome and full-term infants, those with prematurity showed a statistically significant elevated periodic limb movement index and lower ferritin levels than the other groups. Both ferritin (r = -0.18) and haemoglobin (r = -0.30) were negatively correlated with periodic limb movement index; however, this correlation reached statistical significance only for haemoglobin. Iron deficiency is associated with increased periodic leg movements during sleep in infants. Infants with prematurity had higher periodic limb movement index and lower ferritin levels than infants with Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome or without diagnosis.

PMID:36567415 | DOI:10.1111/jsr.13813

Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022 Dec 26. doi: 10.1007/s11154-022-09781-2. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:36567376 | DOI:10.1007/s11154-022-09781-2

Cost Eff Resour Alloc. 2022 Dec 26;20(1):73. doi: 10.1186/s12962-022-00407-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Has the medical arms race (MAR) increased healthcare expenditures? Existing literature has yet to draw a consistent conclusion. Hence, this study aims to reexamine the relationship between the MAR and medical expenses by the data from public hospitals in Shenzhen, China, during the period of 2009 to 2013.

METHODS: This study’s data were collected through panel datasets spanning 2009 to 2013 from the Shenzhen Statistical Yearbook, Shenzhen Health Statistical Yearbook, and annual reports from the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission. The Herfindahl-Hirschman index and hierarchical linear modeling were combined for empirical analysis.

RESULTS: The MAR’s impact on medical examination fees differed during the inpatient and outpatient stages. Further analysis verified that the MAR had the most significant impact on outpatient examination fees. Due to the characteristics of China’s medical system, government regulations in the healthcare market may consequently accelerate the MAR among public hospitals. Strict government regulations on the medical system have also promoted increased medical examination costs to some extent. Once medical service prices are under strict administrative control, only drug and medical examination fees are the primary forms of extra income for hospitals. After the proportion of drug fees is further regulated, medical examinations will then become another staple method to generate extra revenue. These have distorted Chinese public hospitals’ medical fees, which completely differ from those in other countries.

CONCLUSION: The government should confirm that they have allocated sufficient financial investments for public hospitals; otherwise, the competition among hospitals will transfer the burden to patients, and especially to those who can afford to pay for care. A core task for public hospitals involves providing safer, less expensive, and more reliable medical services.

PMID:36567370 | DOI:10.1186/s12962-022-00407-7

World J Urol. 2022 Dec 25. doi: 10.1007/s00345-022-04262-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Aim of the present study is to describe our robot-assisted simple prostatectomy technique and to report 6-month surgical and clinical outcomes.

METHODS: Eighty men were consecutively submitted to robot-assisted simple prostatectomy in our institution from October 2019 to October 2020. All procedures were performed by the same surgical team. Diagnostic preoperative assessment was based on history, symptoms evaluation by International Prostate Symptom Score, digital rectal examination, flowmetry with post-void residual volume measurement by abdominal ultrasound, prostatic volume estimation by MRI, PSA dosage. Under combined general and subarachnoid anesthesia, surgery was performed via a transperitoneal approach using a Da Vinci Si system in the four-arm configuration. Operative time, blood loss, hospital stay, catheterization time, intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed. Clinical postoperative 6 months of evaluation was based on physical examination, flowmetry with post-void residual volume measurement, PSA dosage, and International Prostate Symptom Score.

RESULTS: Mean operative time was 105.29 min, mean hospital staying 5.4 days. Blood loss was low in all cases and only 2 patients received transfusion. Catheterization time was 7 days. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, only minor (grade I and grade II) intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed. At 6-month postoperative assessment, a statistically significant increase of urinary flow indexes and bladder capacity was recorded, as a significant reduction of urinary residual volume. No patient experienced stress urinary incontinence and the mean postoperative IPSS score was significantly reduced to 4.3. Two patients were diagnosed with incidental prostatic cancer at the histopathological examination.

CONCLUSIONS: Data collected in our experience on a large cohort confirm efficacy and safety of Robot-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy. This procedure allows both short operative time and hospital staying, with low incidence of perioperative complications. This surgical technique can therefore be considered a valid alternative to other procedures for the surgical treatment of large volume prostates. Randomized prospective and comparative studies are warranted in the future to assess if different RASP techniques provide similar surgical and functional outcomes.

PMID:36567350 | DOI:10.1007/s00345-022-04262-2

World J Surg. 2022 Dec 25. doi: 10.1007/s00268-022-06876-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reasons for the increased use of closed reduction and internal fixation (CRIF) for traumatic sacral fractures (SFs) are unclear in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to report the annual changes in the number of patients, mechanisms of injury, fracture patterns, and fixation methods.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, we extracted data of 271 patients (mean age, 37.5 years) from the trauma register over an 8-year period. Annual records regarding the number of patients, injury mechanisms, fracture types, and treatment options were statistically analyzed to examine the interactions among these factors.

RESULTS: The number of patients with SFs increased significantly each year. The rate of admission to the intensive care unit after resuscitation was high (64.9%). Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) type C pelvic ring injury (PRI), Dennis zone II injury, Roy-Camille type 2 injury, and U/H-type injury were the most common fracture types. Trans-iliac trans-sacral screws were mainly used in AO type B PRI, and their use significantly increased each year. For AO type C PRI, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with rigid fixation was the main treatment, and the use of CRIF with iliosacral screws decreased each year. Stepwise statistical analysis revealed that the increase in AO type B PRI and ORIF for anterior PRI were the factors contributing to the increased use of CRIF for SFs.

CONCLUSIONS: While the use of osteosynthesis for SFs is increasing, an increased use of CRIF for traumatic SFs has also been observed in clinical practice. This increase can be attributed to the increase in AO type B PRIs and ORIF for anterior PRIs.

PMID:36567348 | DOI:10.1007/s00268-022-06876-4

Cancer Imaging. 2022 Dec 26;22(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s40644-022-00506-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Texture analysis derived from computed tomography (CT) can provide clinically relevant imaging biomarkers. Node-RADS is a recently proposed classification to categorize lymph nodes in radiological images. The present study sought to investigate the diagnostic abilities of CT texture analysis and Node-RADS to discriminate benign from malignant mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with lung cancer.

METHODS: Ninety-one patients (n = 32 females, 35%) with a mean age of 64.8 ± 10.8 years were included in this retrospective study. Texture analysis was performed using the free available Mazda software. All lymph nodes were scored accordingly to the Node-RADS classification. All primary tumors and all investigated mediastinal lymph nodes were histopathologically confirmed during clinical workup.

RESULTS: In discrimination analysis, Node-RADS score showed statistically significant differences between N0 and N1-3 (p < 0.001). Multiple texture features were different between benign and malignant lymph nodes: S(1,0)AngScMom, S(1,0)SumEntrp, S(1,0)Entropy, S(0,1)SumAverg. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between the texture features with Node-RADS score: S(4,0)Entropy (r = 0.72, p < 0.001), S(3,0) Entropy (r = 0.72, p < 0.001), S(2,2)Entropy (r = 0.72, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Several texture features and Node-RADS derived from CT were associated with the malignancy of mediastinal lymph nodes and might therefore be helpful for discrimination purposes. Both of the two quantitative assessments could be translated and used in clinical routine.

PMID:36567339 | DOI:10.1186/s40644-022-00506-x