Tag: statistics

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023 Mar 4;23(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-05457-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented mental stress to women after childbirth. In this study, we assessed the association of disrespectful care after childbirth and COVID-19 exposure before/during labour with postpartum depression symptoms assessed at 7 and 45 days in Nepal.

METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in 9 hospitals of Nepal among 898 women. The independent data collection system was established in each hospital to collection information on disrespectful care after birth via observation, exposure to COVID-19 infection before/during labour and other socio-demographic via interview. The information on depressive symptoms at 7 and 45 days was collected using the validated Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) tool. Multi-level regression was performed to assess the association of disrespectful care after birth and COVID-19 exposure with postpartum depression.

RESULT: In the study, 16.5% were exposed to COVID-19 before/during labour and 41.8% of them received disrespectful care after childbirth. At 7 and 45 days postpartum, 21.3% and 22.4% of women reported depressive symptoms respectively. In the multi-level analysis, at the 7th postpartum day, women who had disrespectful care and no COVID-19 exposure still had 1.78 higher odds of having depressive symptom (aOR, 1.78; 95% CI; 1.16, 2.72). In the multi-level analysis, at 45^th postpartum day, women who had disrespectful care and no COVID-19 exposure had 1.37 higher odds of having depressive symptoms (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI; 0.82, 2.30), but not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Disrespectful care after childbirth was strongly associated with postpartum depression symptoms irrespective of COVID-19 exposure during pregnancy. Caregivers, even during the global pandemic, should continue to focus their attention for immediate breast feeding and skin-to-skin contact, as this might reduce the risk for depressive symptoms postpartum.

PMID:36870950 | DOI:10.1186/s12884-023-05457-0

BMC Neurol. 2023 Mar 4;23(1):97. doi: 10.1186/s12883-023-03143-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have developed clinical prognostic models for Guillain-Barré syndrome including EGOS and mEGOS, they have good reliability and accuracy, but individual entries are poor. This study aims to establish a scoring system to predict the early prognosis, in order to provide additional treatment for patients with poor prognosis and shorten the length of hospital stay.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed risk factors affecting the short-term prognosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, and developed a scoring system for early determination of disease prognosis. Sixty two patients were divided into two groups based on the Hughes GBS disability score at discharge. Groups were compared for differences in gender, age at onset, antecedent infection, cranial nerve involvement, pulmonary infection, mechanical ventilation support, hyponatremia, hypoproteinemia, impaired fasting glucose, and peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Statistically significant factors were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis, and a scoring system to predict the short-term prognosis was established based on the regression coefficients. The receiver operating characteristic curve of this scoring system was plotted, and the area under the ROC curve was calculated to assess the accuracy of the prediction model.

RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that age at onset, antecedent infection, pneumonia, mechanical ventilation support, hypoalbuminemia, hyponatremia, impaired fasting glucose, and elevated peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were risk factors for poor short-term prognosis. The above factors were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, and pneumonia, hypoalbuminemia, and hyponatremia could be used as independent predictors. The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted with a calculated area under the ROC curve of 82.2% (95% CI 0.775-0.950, P < 0.0001). The best cut-off value for the model score was 2, with a sensitivity of 0.9091, a specificity of 0.7255, and a Youden index of 0.6346.

CONCLUSION: Pneumonia, hyponatremia, and hypoalbuminemia were independent risk factors for poorer short-term prognosis in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome. The short-term prognosis scoring system of Guillain-Barré syndrome we constructed using these variables had some predictive value, and the short-term prognosis with quantitative scores of 2 or more was worse.

PMID:36870949 | DOI:10.1186/s12883-023-03143-4

Infect Dis Health. 2023 Mar 2:S2468-0451(23)00012-3. doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2023.02.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hospital Housekeeping staff play a key role in maintaining safe and clean environments to prevent infection and its spread in hospital. Innovative training approaches are necessary for this category; especially since their educational level is below average. Simulation based training can be a valuable tool for them in health care sector. However, no studies have explored the impact of simulation-based training on housekeeping staff performance, which is the focus of this study.

OBJECTIVE: This research focuses on exploring the effectiveness of simulation-based training for Hospital Housekeeping Staff.

METHODS: The study used pre-post training data from 124 housekeeping staff in different work areas at KAUH to measure the effectiveness of the program on their performance. The training includes five segments: General Knowledge training, Personal Protective Equipment, Hand Hygiene, Cleaning Biological Materials, and Terminal Cleaning. The study incorporated a two-sample paired T-test, One-Way ANOVA to detect differences in mean performance pre-and post-training and between groups in terms of gender and work area.

RESULTS: Study results show a significant improvement in housekeeping staff performance after the training, where the performance measure of GK was improved by 33%, PPE 42%, HH 53%, Biological Spill Kit is 64%, and terminal cleaning 11% However, there is no significant difference in performance improvements in all stations in regards of gender and work area except for the Biological Spill Kit in terms of the work area.

CONCLUSION: Results show the effectiveness of training as there are statistically significant differences in housekeeping staff mean performance pre-and post-training. The simulation-based training changed the behavior of the cleaners, as they became more confident and understanding in performing their work. Expanding the use of simulation as a basis for training this important group and further study is recommended.

PMID:36870939 | DOI:10.1016/j.idh.2023.02.003

J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2023 Feb 12:S1544-3191(23)00028-6. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2023.02.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a common disease state within pediatrics, with 19.7% of children in the United States classified as obese. Medication dosing in this population is a challenge not commonly examined in clinical drug trials. Dosing based on total body weight may not always be appropriate; therefore, ideal body weight (IBW) and adjusted body weight (AdjBW) may provide more effective dosing.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to implement a dosing protocol for pediatric patients with obesity to improve adherence. The primary endpoint was to evaluate adherence to evidence-based dosing recommendations and the secondary endpoints included cost saving analysis for immune globulin and accurate charting of IBW and AdjBW.

METHODS: This was a single center, quality improvement project composed of pre- and post-implementation groups. An IBW and AdjBW calculator were implemented in our electronic health record, as customized enhancements, along with specific weight ordering options. A literature search of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic dosing recommendations based on IBW and AdjBW was conducted. For both groups, patients were included if they were 3-18 years old, had a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile, and if they received a specified medication.

RESULTS: A total of 618 patients were identified with 24 and 56 patients included for the pre- and post-implementation groups. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics of the comparator groups. The usage of correct body weight increased from 1.2% to 24.2% after implementation and education (P < 0.001). Cost savings was analyzed for immune globulin with the potential for a net savings of $9423 ± 3626.92.

CONCLUSION: Dosing medications for our pediatric patients with obesity improved with the implementation of calculated dosing weights in the electronic health record, provision of an evidence-based dosing chart, and education of providers.

PMID:36870938 | DOI:10.1016/j.japh.2023.02.012

Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2023 Mar 3:S0889-5406(23)00033-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2022.10.025. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The simultaneous presence of maxillary and mandibular clear aligners alters the vertical dimension and the quantity and quality of occlusal contacts. Few data in the literature explain how this occurs and the effects on neuromuscular coordination. This study aimed to evaluate occlusal contacts and muscular balance during treatment with clear aligners over a short follow-up time.

METHODS: Twenty-six female adult patients were enrolled in this study. The center of occlusal force (COF) was evaluated using a T-Scan II device, whereas muscular symmetry and balance were determined through surface electromyography using a standardized protocol that reduces anthropometric and electrode variations. Both evaluations were performed in centric occlusion and with aligners worn before treatment, after 3 months, and after 6 months.

RESULTS: A statistically significant variation in COF position was reported in the sagittal plane but not in the transverse plane. The shift in the COF position was followed by a change in muscular balance evaluated through surface electromyography.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with clear aligners resulted in an anterior shift of the COF when biting in centric occlusion and a posterior shift when the aligners were worn in healthy female patients after 6 months of observation. This change in occlusal contact was followed by an improvement in muscular function symmetry in the short term when aligners were worn, compared with the centric occlusion during treatment.

PMID:36870918 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajodo.2022.10.025

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2022 Dec 26:S0939-4753(22)00492-6. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2022.12.005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To perform a systematic review to investigate the association between adolescents’ a posteriori dietary patterns with diabetes-related biomarkers (fasting blood glucose, fasting insulinemia, glycated hemoglobin and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)).

DATA SYNTHESIS: Review registered with PROSPERO under number CRD42020185369. Studies with adolescents aged 10-19 years that identified dietary patterns by a posteriori methods were included. The databases used included: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Food Science and Technology Abstracts, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Lilacs/BVS, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ProQuest Dissertations&Theses Global and Capes Theses Bank and Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. Risk of bias was assessed via the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality tool. Eight cross-sectional studies that evaluated 6438 adolescents (55.5% females) were included. For fasting blood glucose, the results were inconsistent and some studies found no association for the dietary patterns called traditional (57%), Western (42%) and healthy (28%). For the fasting insulinemia and HOMA-IR outcomes, the Western dietary pattern showed a positive association or higher means in 60% and 50% of the studies, respectively. No studies that evaluated glycated hemoglobin were found.

CONCLUSION: Fasting insulinemia and HOMA-IR outcomes were positively associated with the Western dietary patterns. The studies reviewed did not present consistent evidence of an association with western, healthy and traditional dietary patterns with fasting blood glucose, as the results were conflicting or did not show statistical significance.

PMID:36870914 | DOI:10.1016/j.numecd.2022.12.005

J Adolesc Health. 2023 Mar 2:S1054-139X(23)00062-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.01.015. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Youth with suicidality requiring psychiatric hospitalization may first experience boarding at acute care hospitals. Given infrequent provision of therapy during this period, we developed a modular digital intervention (I-CARE; Improving Care, Accelerating Recovery and Education) to facilitate delivery of evidence-based psychosocial skills by non-mental health clinicians. This pilot study describes changes in emotional distress, severity of illness, and readiness for engagement following I-CARE participation, and evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of I-CARE.

METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate I-CARE, offered to youth 12-17 years from 11/21 to 06/22. Changes in emotional distress, severity of illness, and engagement readiness were evaluated using paired t-tests. Semistructured interviews with youth, caregivers, and clinicians were conducted concurrently with collection of validated implementation outcome measures. Quantitative measure results were linked to interview transcripts, which were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS: Twenty-four adolescents participated in I-CARE; median length of stay was 8 days (IQR:5-12 days). Emotional distress decreased significantly by 6.3 points (63-point scale) following participation (p = .02). The increase in engagement readiness and decrease in youth-reported illness severity were not statistically significant. Among 40 youth, caregivers, and clinicians who participated in the mixed-methods evaluation, 39 (97.5%) rated I-CARE as feasible, 36 (90.0%) as acceptable, and 31 (77.5%) as appropriate. Adolescents’ prior knowledge of psychosocial skills and clinicians’ competing demands were reported barriers.

DISCUSSION: I-CARE was feasible to implement and youth reported reduced levels of distress following participation. I-CARE has the potential to teach evidence-based psychosocial skills during boarding, which may provide a head-start on recovery before psychiatric hospitalization.

PMID:36870901 | DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.01.015

Vaccine. 2023 Mar 2:S0264-410X(23)00240-2. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.02.077. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The protective effect of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) against cardiovascular disease has been investigated in the United States and Europe; however, its effect has not been fully established. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of PPSV23 on cardiovascular events in adults aged ≥ 65 years. This population-based nested case-control study was conducted using the claims data and vaccine records between April 2015 and March 2020 from the Vaccine Effectiveness, Networking, and Universal Safety (VENUS) Study. PPSV23 vaccination was identified using vaccination records in each municipality. The primary outcome was acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or stroke. The adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PPSV23 vaccination were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Among 383,781 individuals aged ≥ 65 years, 5,356 and 25,730 individuals with AMI or stroke were matched with 26,753 and 128,397 event-free controls, respectively. Individuals who were PPSV23 vaccinated, compared with the unvaccinated individuals, had significantly lower odds of AMI or stroke events (aOR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.62-0.80] and aOR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.77-0.86], respectively). More recent PPSV23 vaccination was associated with lower odds ratios (AMI, aOR 0.55 [95% CI, 0.42-0.72] for 1-180 days and aOR 1.11 [95% CI, 0.84-1.47] for 720 days or longer; stroke, aOR 0.83 [95% CI, 0.74-0.93] for 1-180 days and aOR 0.90 [95% CI, 0.78-1.03] for 720 days or longer). Among Japanese older adults, individuals who were PPSV23 vaccinated, compared with unvaccinated individuals, had significantly lower odds of AMI or stroke events.

PMID:36870877 | DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.02.077

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2023 Mar 3:1-7. doi: 10.2460/javma.22.11.0521. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether shock index (SI) positively correlates with percentage blood loss and negatively correlates with cardiac output (CO) in a canine hemorrhagic shock model and whether SI and metabolic markers may be used as end point targets for resuscitation.

ANIMALS: 8 healthy Beagles.

PROCEDURES: Between September and December 2021, dogs underwent general anesthesia for experimental induction of hypotensive shock, with the total volume of blood removed, CO, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, base excess, blood pH, and concentrations of hemoglobin, lactate, ionized calcium recorded, and SI calculated at 4 time points (TPs): after anesthetic induction when the dog had been stable for 10 minutes (TP1), 10 minutes after the mean arterial pressure stabilized to a target of 40 mm Hg following jugular removal of up to 60% blood volume to induce hemorrhagic shock (TP2), 10 minutes after autotransfusion of 50% of the removed blood (TP3), and 10 minutes after autotransfusion of the remaining 50% of the removed blood (TP4).

RESULTS: Mean SI increased between TP1 (1.08 ± 0.35) and TP2 (1.90 ± 0.73) and did not return to the prehemorrhage values for TP3 or TP4. SI correlated positively with percentage blood loss (r = 0.583) and negatively with CO (r = -0.543).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An increase in SI may support diagnosis of hemorrhagic shock; however, SI cannot be used as the sole end point of resuscitation. Significant differences in blood pH, base excess, and lactate concentration suggested they may be useful markers of hemorrhagic shock and need for blood transfusion.

PMID:36870053 | DOI:10.2460/javma.22.11.0521

Neurol Ther. 2023 Mar 4. doi: 10.1007/s40120-023-00455-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Results from observational studies indicate an association between circulating levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent circulating proteins and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, a causal association has not been fully elucidated. Mendelian randomization (MR) is used to overcome limitations inherent to observational studies, assess the causal association, and minimize bias due to confounding and reverse causation.

METHODS: To explore the causal association between seven mTOR-dependent proteins (AKT, RP-S6K, eIF4E-BP, eIF4A, eIF4E, eIF4G, and PKC-α) and MS, we obtained summary statistics from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (47,429 patients and 68,374 controls) and the INTERVAL study (genetic associations with 2994 plasma proteins from 3301 healthy individuals). MR analyses were conducted using inverse variance weighted, weighted median estimator, and MR-Egger regression methods/models. Sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the reliability of the findings. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are independent (r² < 0.01) and strongly associated to minerals (p < 1e^-5) were selected as instrumental variables.

RESULTS: The results of the MR analyses revealed that among the seven mTOR-dependent proteins selected for study, the circulating level of PKC-α (odds ratio [OR] 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-0.98; P = 0.017) and RP-S6K (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00-1.25; P = 0.045) were associated with MS risk and that there was no sign of pleiotropy or heterogeneity. PKC-α was negatively related to MS, while RP-S6K was positively related to MS. No significant causation was found between the other proteins studied (AKT, eIF4E-BP, eIF4A, eIF4E, eIF4G) and MS.

CONCLUSION: Molecules in the mTOR signaling pathway may bidirectionally regulate the occurrence and development of MS. PKC-α is a protective factor, while RP-S6K is a risk factor. Further explorations of pathways underlying the association between mTOR-dependent proteins and MS are required. PKC-α and RP-S6K might be used as future therapeutic targets for screening high-risk individuals and potentially improving opportunities for targeted prevention strategies.

PMID:36870011 | DOI:10.1007/s40120-023-00455-y