Tag: statistics

J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2023 Jan 30:19322968221148764. doi: 10.1177/19322968221148764. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The OneTouch Verio Flex® (OTVF) blood glucose (BG) meter features a ColorSure® Range Indicator. Diabetes management is enhanced by connecting the meter to the OneTouch Reveal® (OTR) mobile app. We sought to provide real-world evidence (RWE) that combining both devices improves glycemic control.

METHODS: Anonymized glucose and app analytics were extracted from a server from over 144 000 people with diabetes (PWDs). Data from their first 14 days using OTVF and OTR were compared with 14 days prior to 90- and 180-day timepoints using paired within-subject differences.

RESULTS: In people with type 1 diabetes (PwT1D) or people with type 2 diabetes (PwT2D), readings in-range (RIR) improved by +6.1 (54.5% to 60.6%) and +11.9 percentage points (68.2% to 80.1%), respectively, over 180 days, and hyperglycemia was reduced by -6.6 (40.5% to 33.9%) and -12.0 (30.3% to 18.3%). In total, 35% of PwT1D and 40% of PwT2D improved RIR by >10 percentage points. People with type 1 diabetes spending two to four sessions or 10 to 20 minutes per week on the app improved RIR by +5.1 and 7.0, respectively. People with type 2 diabetes spending two to four sessions or 10 to 20 minutes per week on the app improved RIR by +11.6 and 12.0, respectively. In PwT1D or PwT2D, mean BG reduced by -11.4 and -19.5 mg/dL, respectively, from baseline to 180 days, with no clinically meaningful changes in percentage of hypoglycemic readings. All glycemic changes were statistically significant (P < .0005 level).

CONCLUSION: Real-world data from over 144 000 PWDs demonstrated improved percentage readings in-range and reduced hyperglycemia in PWDs using the OneTouch Verio Flex blood glucose meter and OneTouch Reveal app.

PMID:36714954 | DOI:10.1177/19322968221148764

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 Jan 30. doi: 10.1002/acr.25095. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Population-based studies on the familial aggregation of gout are scarce and gene-environment interactions are not well-studied. We aimed to evaluate the familial aggregation of gout, as well as assess interactions between family history and obesity or alcohol consumption on the development of gout.

METHODS: Using the National Health Insurance database, which includes information on familial relationships and risk factor data, we identified 5,524,403 individuals from 2002-2018. Familial risk was calculated using hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) which compare the risk of individuals with and without affected first-degree relatives (FDRs). Interactions between family history and obesity/alcohol consumption were assessed on an additive scale using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).

RESULTS: Individuals with a gout-affected FDR had a 2.42-fold (95% CI 2.39-2.46) increased risk of disease compared to those with unaffected FDR. Having both a positive family history of gout and either overweight or moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a markedly increased risk of disease, with HRs of 4.39 (95% CI 4.29-4.49) and 2.28 (95% CI 2.22-2.35), respectively, which exceeded the sum of their individual risks, but was statistically significant only for overweight (RERI 0.96 95% CI 0.85-1.06). Obese individuals (RERI 1.88 95% CI 1.61-2.16) and heavy drinkers (RERI 0.36 95% CI 0.20-0.52) showed a more prominent interaction than overweight individuals and moderate drinkers, suggesting a dose-response interaction pattern.

CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate the possibility of an interaction between gout-associated genetic factors and obesity/alcohol consumption. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:36714912 | DOI:10.1002/acr.25095

Eur J Transl Myol. 2023 Jan 27. doi: 10.4081/ejtm.2023.10834. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mesenchymal stem cells have many applications in medicine. Attention to the proliferation and differentiation of stem cell differentiation is an important issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of optimal isolation, proliferation, and differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) using human serum. Human serum (HS) was obtained from the venous blood of eight healthy individuals. The rate of proliferation and differentiation of ADSCs and expression of surface markers was assessed by flow cytometry. Bone differentiation was assessed using Alizarin Red staining. Data were analyzed using statistical software. Over time, HS showed more proliferation than fetal bovine serum (FBS) -enriched cells (p <0.05). Differentiation of ADSCs cells ls in HS-enriched medium is faster and more pronounced than differentiation in the control group. The expression of surface markers in the medium containing HS was the same as the medium containing FBS where the expression levels of CD105 and CD95 were found to be positive and the expression of CD34 and CD45 was negative. Due to the better proliferation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal cells in the medium containing HS than FBS, it is suggested that human serum be used in future clinical studies. Also, HS is healthier, safer, more accessible, and more affordable than FBS.

PMID:36714911 | DOI:10.4081/ejtm.2023.10834

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Aug 10;27(1):e3-e9. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1730300. eCollection 2023 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Introduction Compensatory articulations are speech disorders due to the attempt of the individual with cleft palate/velopharyngeal dysfunction to generate intraoral pressure to produce high-pressure consonants. Speech therapy is the indicated intervention for their correction, and an intensive speech therapy meets the facilitating conditions for the correction of glottal stop articulation, which is the most common compensatory articulation. Objective To investigate the influence of an intensive speech therapy program (ISTP) to correct glottal stop articulation in the speech of individuals with cleft palate. Methods Speech recordings of 37 operated cleft palate participants of both genders (mean age = 19 years old) were rated by 3 experienced speech/language pathologists. Their task was to rate the presence and absence of glottal stops in the 6 Brazilian Portuguese occlusive consonants (p, b, t, d, k, g) distributed within several places in 6 sentences. Results Out of the 325 pretherapy target consonants rated with glottal stop, 197 (61%) remained with this error, and 128 (39%) no longer presented it. The comparison of the pre- and posttherapy results showed: a) a statical significance for the p1, p2, p3, p4, t1, k1, k2 and d6 consonants (McNemar test; p < 0.05); b) a statistical significance for the p consonant in relation to the k, b, d, g consonants and for the t consonant in relation to the b, d, and g consonants (chi-squared test; p < 0.05) in the comparison of the proportion improvement among the 6 occlusive consonants. Conclusion The ISTP influenced the correction of glottal stops in the speech of individuals with cleft palate.

PMID:36714906 | PMC:PMC9879641 | DOI:10.1055/s-0041-1730300

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Jun 17;27(1):e138-e142. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1748925. eCollection 2023 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Introduction The identification of thyroid cancer may be conducted through clinical detection, imaging method, and histopathological examination. Both solitary nodules and multinodular goiter are associated with malignancy. Objective To assess the risk factors for malignancy among patients with multinodular goiter submitted to total thyroidectomy. Methods A series of 712 consecutive patients, submitted to total thyroidectomy between 2005 and 2016 with multinodular goiter regarding clinical, ultrasound, and pathological variables, was retrospectively evaluated. Results There were 408 cases of papillary carcinoma (57.3%), with the remaining being benign. Gender had no statistical significance ( p = 0.169) for malignancy, unlike the Bethesda index, higher age group ( p = 0.005), shorter clinical history time ( p = 0.036), smaller number of nodules ( p < 0.0001), and smaller nodule size ( p < 0.0001), which were related to malignancy. Conclusion The Bethesda index, older age group, shorter clinical history, smaller number of nodules, and smaller size of nodule were related to the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma.

PMID:36714905 | PMC:PMC9879639 | DOI:10.1055/s-0042-1748925

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Jul 11;27(1):e123-e129. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1745727. eCollection 2023 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Inappropriate antibiotic use in the world leads to an increase in both health care costs and antibiotic resistance. Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is used by most surgeons, especially in the postoperative period. Objective The aim of the study is to determine the approach of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists to surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in routine surgeries, and to raise awareness regarding inappropriate antibiotic use. Methods ENT specialists from all over Turkey participated in the study by filling out a data collecting form. The form consisted of 6 questions and was sent to specialists via email. Routine ENT operations such as adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, adenotonsillectomy, ventilation tube application, septoplasty, rhinoplasty, septorhinoplasty (noncomplicated), tympanoplasty, and simple mastoidectomy were chosen for the study. Data were analyzed statistically. Results The form results of 110 ENT specialists were evaluated. The rate of participants who used and did not use SAP was 77.3% and 22.7%, respectively. The SAP usage rates of septoplasty, rhinoplasty, and septorhinoplasty operations were 84.7%, 81.2%, and 75.3%, respectively. For tympanoplasty and ventilation tube application operations, the rates were 82.4% and 24.7%, respectively. Finallly, the SAP usage rates of adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and adenotonsillectomy were 57.6%, 75.3%, and 72.9%, respectively. Conclusion Otolaryngological surgeries are often classified as clean or clean-contaminated surgeries. In most studies in the literature, it is reported that SAP use is unnecessary in routine otolaryngological surgery. Providing inservice training, regularly updating the prophylaxis guidelines and sharing these guidelines with surgeons may prevent inappropriate SAP use.

PMID:36714898 | PMC:PMC9879644 | DOI:10.1055/s-0042-1745727

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 Jan 26;27(1):e143-e151. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1758716. eCollection 2023 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Introduction Anosmia is one of the common symptoms of COVID-19, the link between severity of chest infection and anosmia was investigated by few studies. Objectives To find an association between anosmia and severity of chest infection. Methods An analysis of patients admitted to isolation hospital of our university with confirmed polymerase chain reaction positive testing for COVID-19, between March 2021 until September 2021. We called all patients who reported anosmia during their time of illness and asked them about anosmia. We examined their chest CT. A statistical analysis was done. Results A total of 140 patients completed the study; 65% were female and 56.4% had complete anosmia. Anosmia was significantly associated with loss of taste. Smell returned in 92.5% of anosmic patients. Duration of smell loss was ∼ 2 weeks in 40.5%. The most common symptoms associated with anosmia were running nose, sore throat, fever, and cough. Loss of smell was significantly associated with mild chest disease. 73.4% of anosmic patients had mild chest infection, 21.5% of them had moderate infection, and 5.1% had severe chest infection. Conclusion The pattern of anosmia in COVID-19 patients has some common similarities in general; the way it starts, the associated symptoms, the time until smell returns and, the most important, the severity of chest infection. As anosmia is significantly associated with mild chest infection. the presence of anosmia could be an independent predictor of good COVID-19 outcome as reflected by a lower disease severity and less frequent ICU admissions.

PMID:36714889 | PMC:PMC9879642 | DOI:10.1055/s-0042-1758716

Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Nov 10;27(1):e10-e15. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1730428. eCollection 2023 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Introduction The acoustic analysis of speech (measurements of the fundamental frequency and formant frequencies) of different vowels produced by speakers with the Angle class II, division 1, malocclusion can provide information about the relationship between articulatory and phonatory mechanisms in this type of maxillomandibular disproportion. Objectives To investigate acoustic measurements related to the fundamental frequency (F0) and formant frequencies (F1 and F2) of the oral vowels of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) produced by male speakers with Angle class II, division 1, malocclusion (study group) and compare with men with Angle class I malocclusion (control group). Methods In total, 60 men (20 with class II, 40 with class I) aged between 18 and 40 years were included in the study. Measurements of F0, F1 and F2 of the seven oral vowels of BP were estimated from the audio samples containing repetitions of carrier sentences. The statistical analysis was performed using the Student t -test and the effect size was calculated. Results Significant differences ( p -values) were detected for F0 values in five vowels ([e], [i], [ᴐ], [o] and [u]), and for F1 in vowels [a] and [ᴐ], with high levels for class II, division 1. Conclusion Statistical differences were found in the F0 measurements with higher values in five of the seven vowels analysed in subjects with Angle class II, division 1. The formant frequencies showed differences only in F1 in two vowels with higher values in the study group. The data suggest that data on voice and speech production must be included in the protocol’s assessment of patients with malocclusion.

PMID:36714887 | PMC:PMC9879633 | DOI:10.1055/s-0041-1730428

PNAS Nexus. 2022 Sep 4;1(4):pgac176. doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac176. eCollection 2022 Sep.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare basketball performance markers 1 y prior to initial severe lower extremity injury, including ankle, knee, and hip injuries, to 1 and 2 y following injury during the regular National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Publicly available data were extracted through a reproducible extraction computed programmed process. Eligible participants were NBA players with at least three seasons played between 2008 and 2019, with a time-loss injury reported during the study period. Basketball performance was evaluated for season minutes, points, and rebounds. Prevalence of return to performance and linear regressions were calculated. A total of 285 athletes sustained a severe lower extremity injury. A total of 196 (69%) played for 1 y and 130 (45%) played for 2 y following the injury. A total of 58 (30%) players participated in a similar number of games and 57 (29%) scored similar points 1 y following injury. A total of 48 (37%) participated in a similar number of games and 55 (42%) scored a similar number of points 2 y following injury. Fewer than half of basketball players who suffered a severe lower extremity injury were participating at the NBA level 2 y following injury, with similar findings for groin/hip/thigh, knee, and ankle injuries. Fewer than half of players were performing at previous preinjury levels 2 y following injury. Suffering a severe lower extremity injury may be a prognostic factor that can assist sports medicine professionals to educate and set performance expectations for NBA players.

PMID:36714864 | PMC:PMC9802060 | DOI:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac176

PNAS Nexus. 2022 Sep 14;1(4):pgac154. doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac154. eCollection 2022 Sep.

ABSTRACT

We present a data-driven approach to characterizing nonidentifiability of a model’s parameters and illustrate it through dynamic as well as steady kinetic models. By employing Diffusion Maps and their extensions, we discover the minimal combinations of parameters required to characterize the output behavior of a chemical system: a set of effective parameters for the model. Furthermore, we introduce and use a Conformal Autoencoder Neural Network technique, as well as a kernel-based Jointly Smooth Function technique, to disentangle the redundant parameter combinations that do not affect the output behavior from the ones that do. We discuss the interpretability of our data-driven effective parameters, and demonstrate the utility of the approach both for behavior prediction and parameter estimation. In the latter task, it becomes important to describe level sets in parameter space that are consistent with a particular output behavior. We validate our approach on a model of multisite phosphorylation, where a reduced set of effective parameters (nonlinear combinations of the physical ones) has previously been established analytically.

PMID:36714862 | PMC:PMC9802152 | DOI:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac154