Tag: statistics

J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 May 26:e028586. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.028586. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background Little is known regarding whether arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic burden are each independently associated with brain structural changes. Simultaneous assessments of both arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic burden in associations with brain could provide insights into the mechanisms of brain structural changes. Methods and Results Using data from the SESSA (Shiga Epidemiological Study of Subclinical Atherosclerosis), we analyzed data among 686 Japanese men (mean [SD] age, 67.9 [8.4] years; range, 46-83 years) free from history of stroke and myocardial infarction. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and coronary artery calcification on computed tomography scans were measured between March 2010 and August 2014. Brain volumes (total brain volume, gray matter, Alzheimer disease signature and prefrontal) and brain vascular damage (white matter hyperintensities) were quantified using brain magnetic resonance imaging from January 2012 through February 2015. In multivariable adjustment models including mean arterial pressure, when brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and coronary artery calcification were entered into the same models, the β (95% CI) for Alzheimer disease signature volume for each 1-SD increase in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity was -0.33 (-0.64 to -0.02), and the unstandardized β (95% CI) for white matter hyperintensities for each 1-unit increase in coronary artery calcification was 0.68 (0.05-1.32). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and coronary artery calcification were not statistically significantly associated with total brain and gray matter volumes. Conclusions Among Japanese men, higher arterial stiffness was associated with lower Alzheimer disease signature volumes, whereas higher atherosclerotic burden was associated with brain vascular damage. Arterial stiffness and atherosclerotic burden may be independently associated with brain structural changes via different pathways.

PMID:37232267 | DOI:10.1161/JAHA.122.028586

J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 May 26:e029134. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.029134. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background In coronary artery bypass grafting, grafting a target vessel with nonsignificant stenosis increases the risk of graft failure. The present study aims to investigate the impact of preoperative quantitative flow ratio (QFR), a novel functional assessment of the coronary artery, on internal mammary artery graft failure rate and midterm patient outcomes. Methods and Results Between January 2016 and January 2020, we retrospectively included 419 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting who had received preoperative angiography and postoperative coronary computed tomographic angiography in our center. QFR of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery was computed based on preoperative angiograms. The primary end point was the failure of the graft on the LAD artery assessed by coronary computed tomographic angiography at 1 year, and the secondary end point was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events including death from any cause, myocardial infarction, stroke, or repeat revascularization. Grafts on functionally nonsignificant LAD arteries (QFR >0.80) had a significantly higher failure rate than those on functionally significant LAD arteries (31.4% versus 7.2%, P<0.001). QFR outperforms degree of stenosis in discriminating graft failure (C statistic, 0.76 versus 0.58). Clinical follow-up (3.6 years, interquartile range [3.3-4.1]) was accomplished in 405 patients, and the rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was significantly higher among patients with functionally nonsignificant LAD arteries (10.1% versus 4.2%; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.08 [95% CI, 1.18-8.06]; P=0.022). Conclusions In patients receiving internal mammary artery to LAD artery coronary artery bypass grafting, preoperative QFR of the LAD artery of >0.80 was associated with a higher graft failure rate at 1 year and worse patient outcomes at the 3.6-year follow-up.

PMID:37232259 | DOI:10.1161/JAHA.122.029134

Assessment. 2023 May 26:10731911231174471. doi: 10.1177/10731911231174471. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There have been proposals to expand definitions for categorical disorders and dimensionally conceptualized syndromes (e.g., psychopathy) to include negative mood lability and dysregulation (NMD). Factor analytic results are often presented in support of these proposals, and we provide factor analytic demonstrations across clinically oriented samples showing that NMD indicators load strongly onto factors with a range of psychopathology. This is unsurprising from a transdiagnostic perspective but shows that factor analysis could potentially be used to justify expanding definitions for specific constructs even though NMD indicators show strong, nonspecific loadings on psychopathology factors ranging widely in nature. Expanding construct definitions and assessment approaches to emphasize NMD also may negatively impact discriminant validity. We agree that targeting NMD is essential for comprehensive assessment, but our demonstrative analyses highlight a need for using factor analysis and other statistical methods in a careful, theoretically driven manner when evaluating psychopathology structure and developing measures.

PMID:37232256 | DOI:10.1177/10731911231174471

J Cell Sci. 2023 May 26:jcs.260468. doi: 10.1242/jcs.260468. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Endocytic recycling controls the return of internalised cargos to the plasma membrane to coordinate their positioning, availability and downstream signalling. The Rab4 and Rab11 small GTPase families regulate distinct recycling routes, broadly classified as fast recycling from early endosomes (Rab4) and slow recycling from perinuclear recycling endosomes (Rab11), and both routes handle a broad range of overlapping cargos to regulate cell behaviour. We adopted a proximity labelling approach, BioID, to identify and compare the protein complexes recruited by Rab4a, Rab11a and Rab25 (a Rab11 family member implicated in cancer aggressiveness), revealing statistically robust protein-protein interaction networks of both new and well characterised cargos and trafficking machinery in migratory cancer cells. Gene ontological analysis of these interconnected networks revealed that these endocytic recycling pathways are intrinsically connected to cell motility and cell adhesion. Using a knock sideways relocalisation approach we were further able to confirm novel links between Rab11/25 and the ESCPE-1 and retromer multiprotein sorting complexes, and identify new endocytic recycling machinery associated with Rab4, Rab11 and Rab25 that regulates cancer cell migration in 3D-matrix.

PMID:37232246 | DOI:10.1242/jcs.260468

J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 May 26:e029241. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.029241. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background The American Heart Association recently proposed an updated definition of cardiovascular health (CVH) named as Life’s Essential 8. We aimed to explore the association between this latest published CVH measurement and years lived without cardiovascular disease (CVD) among the Chinese population. Methods and Results We included 89 755 adults free of CVD at baseline from the Kailuan study. The CVH of each participant was scored (from 0 point to 100 points) and classified (low [0-49 points], moderate [50-79 points], and high [80-100 points]) according to Life’s Essential 8, which incorporated 8 components covering health behaviors and health factors. Incident CVD was documented through follow-ups from baseline (June 2006 to October 2007) until December 31, 2020. CVD-free life years from age 30 to 80 years associated with different CVH scores were estimated using flexible parametric survival models. A total of 9977 incident CVDs were recorded. We observed a gradient relationship between CVH score and years lived without CVD. The age- and sex-adjusted CVD-free life years (95% CI) were 40.7 (40.3-41.0) years for low CVH, 43.3 (43.0-43.5) years for moderate CVH, and 45.5 (45.1-45.9) years for high CVH. Similar trends were noted when individual subtypes of CVD were investigated, and high CVH evaluated by health behaviors and health factors was also related to longer CVD-free life years. Conclusions A higher CVH evaluated by the updated Life’s Essential 8 metrics was significantly associated with a greater number of life years without CVD, indicating the importance of promoting CVH for healthy aging in China.

PMID:37232236 | DOI:10.1161/JAHA.122.029241

Analyst. 2023 May 26. doi: 10.1039/d3an00614j. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The evolution of the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus spike S-protein is studied using a mass spectrometry based protein phylogenetic approach. A study of a large dataset comprising sets of peptide masses derived from over 3000 proteins of the SARS-CoV2 virus shows that the approach is capable of resolving and correctly displaying the evolution of the major variants of concern. Using these numerical datasets, through a pairwise comparison of sets of proteolytic peptide masses for each protein, the tree is built without the need for the sequence data itself or any sequence alignment. In the same analysis, single point mutations are calculated from peptide mass differences of different protein sets and these are displayed at the branch nodes on the tree. The tree topology is found to be consistent with that generated using conventional sequence-based phylogenetics by a manual visualisation and using a tree comparison algorithm. The mass tree resolves major variants of the virus and displays non-synonymous mutations, calculated based on the mass data alone, on the tree that enable protein evolution to be charted and tracked along interconnected branches. Tracking the evolution of the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus S-protein is of particular importance given its role in the attachment of the virus to host cells ahead of viral replication.

PMID:37232179 | DOI:10.1039/d3an00614j

J Vasc Surg. 2023 Jun;77(6):1822-1832.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.10.029. Epub 2022 Oct 28.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of mortality and complications between male and female patients undergoing aortic aneurysm repair with fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FBEVAR).

METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched systematically for observational studies in patients undergoing elective fenestrated branched endovascular repair for aortic aneurysm. The included studies compared outcomes of interest based on the sex of the patients. The pooled effect sizes were reported as odds ratio (OR) and weighted mean difference (WMD). STATA software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The meta-analysis included nine studies. Compared with males, females had a higher risk of perioperative and in-hospital mortality (OR, 3.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01-4.53), mortality within 1 year postoperatively (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.09-2.93) and mortality at more than 1 year postoperatively (OR, 1.31l 95% CI, 1.02-1.69). Female patients had significantly higher operative time (minutes) (WMD, 33.77; 95% CI, 12.01-55.52), length of hospital stay (days) (WMD, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.52-3.07), and the risk of major complications (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.36-6.32) There was an increased risk of respiratory complications (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.20-2.40), renal complications (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.25-5.74), stroke (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.44-5.22), sepsis (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.23-4.09), and ischemic colitis (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.48-4.68) in female patients, and they were less likely to be discharged home postoperatively (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.43-0.77).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing FBEVAR, female sex is associated with higher risk of mortality and complications. These findings suggest the need for careful supervision and management by multidisciplinary team in females undergoing FBEVAR.

PMID:37232176 | DOI:10.1016/j.jvs.2022.10.029

Workplace Health Saf. 2023 May 26:21650799231163132. doi: 10.1177/21650799231163132. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The International Safety Center disseminates the Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet) surveillance system to standardize a system for healthcare facilities to track mucocutaneous blood and body fluid exposures.

METHODS: Occupational exposure incidents to blood and body fluids were recorded within the participant health systems and hospitals (N = 41), using the EPINet Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Report Form. Forms include detailed questions about the circumstances surrounding the exposure, including the type of exposure, body part(s) involved, and if the employee reporting the incident was wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between participants who wore PPE at time of exposure versus those who did not. Differences were noted by job category (χ² =32.91, p-value = <.001); where the exposure occurred (χ² = 32.31, p-value = <.001); what the exposure was a result of (χ² = 50.19, p-value = <.001); and day versus night shift (χ² = 11.47, p-value = .001).

CONCLUSION/APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: The study found that occupational exposure to blood and body fluids in 2021 remain high risk given the frequency with which they happen, the exposure site (face) and lack of PPE use. The pandemic seemed to matter little in changing frequencies despite high awareness and growing PPE availability and supply. The findings provide robust information about how exposures occur, why they remain high risk, and how important it is to improve reporting and surveillance to prevent occupational exposures and disease in healthcare in future.

PMID:37232173 | DOI:10.1177/21650799231163132

Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2023 May 26. doi: 10.1111/cid.13229. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different cements and cementation techniques used in implant-supported restorations and the application of various vent modifications and extraoral replica techniques on the amount of overflowing cement in cemented systems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, three different abutment designs were used as fully closed, occlusal vented, and occlusal + proximal vented. An extraoral replica was produced by milling the CAD/CAM ceramic block. The number of groups with and without replicas was determined as six (n = 10). For the cementation procedures, three different cements were tested: dual-cure resin, eugenol-free zinc oxide, and polycarboxylate cements. Cobalt-chromium superstructures to be cemented to the implant analog-abutment complex were produced by direct metal laser sintering method. Twenty-four hours after the cementation process, residual cement were measered with Micro-CT. In comparisons between groups, ANOVA test was used for normally distributed variables and Kruskall-Wallis H test was used for non-normally distributed variables at a significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The difference in residual cement volumes between the groups in terms of both cementation techniques (whether or not to use an extraoral replica and different vent desings) and cement types was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was significantly less residual cement in all groups that used extraoral replicas than those that did not. As for the cement types, the most residual cement occurred in the resin cement.

CONCLUSION: The use of extraoral replicas and vent designs on the abutment significantly reduces the amount of residual cement. Regardless of the cementation technique, the type of cement used affects the amount of excess cement.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To reduce residual cement, both the type of cement and the cementation technique used must be considered.

PMID:37232125 | DOI:10.1111/cid.13229

Hand (N Y). 2023 May 26:15589447231174045. doi: 10.1177/15589447231174045. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary headless screw fixation is increasingly used for fixation of proximal phalanx fractures. However, the impact of screw entry defects on joint contact pressures is not well defined and may have implications for arthrosis. The objective of this cadaveric biomechanical study was to assess joint contact pressures at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint before and after passage of 2 sizes of antegrade intramedullary fixation.

METHODS: Seven fresh frozen cadaver specimens without arthritis or deformity were included in this study. Antegrade intramedullary screw fixation of proximal phalanx fracture was simulated using an intra-articular technique. Flexible pressure sensors were inserted into the MCP joints and cyclic loading was performed. Peak contact pressures were determined and averaged across loading cycles for each finger in the native state, with 2.4- and 3.5-mm drill defects in line with the medullary canal.

RESULTS: Peak pressure increased with the size of the drill hole defect. Contact pressure increases were greater in extension, with peak contact pressures increased by 24% for the 2.4-mm defect and 52% for the 3.5-mm defect. Increase in peak contact pressure was statistically significant with a 3.5-mm articular defect. Contact pressures were not consistently increased for the 2.4-mm defect. Testing in flexion of 45° resulted in reduced contact pressure for these defects.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that antegrade intramedullary fixation of proximal phalanx fractures can increase MCP joint peak contact pressures, particularly in an extended joint position. Effect increases with defect size. This has implications for the management of proximal phalanx fractures using this technique.

PMID:37232109 | DOI:10.1177/15589447231174045