Tag: statistics

BMC Oral Health. 2022 Jan 11;22(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02042-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the difference in root resorption between standard torque self-ligating brackets and high torque self-ligating brackets in bimaxillary protrusion patients after orthodontic treatment.

METHODS: Pre-treatment and post-treatment Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of 32 patients (16 treated with the high torque DamonQ 0.022″ bracket and 16 with the 0.022″ standard torque self-ligating bracket) were selected. The first premolars were extracted from all patients before treatment. After mini-screw implants were inserted into the buccal region between the second premolar and first molar, 150 g of force was applied to retract the upper and lower anterior teeth to close the extraction space on each side. CBCT images of all patients were taken before and after treatment. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the maxillary central incisor, lateral incisor and canine was conducted with Mimics 20.0 software. The volumes of the roots were calculated using Gomagics Studio 12.0 software. The differences between the pre-treatment and post-treatment root volumes were statistically evaluated with a paired-samples t-test.

RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in root resorption degree between the two kinds of torque brackets. The patient’s degree of root resorption in the high torque self-ligating group was greater than that in the standard torque group.

CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in root external apical resorption between the high torque self-ligating brackets and the standard torque self-ligating brackets in bimaxillary protrusion patients.

PMID:35012521 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-022-02042-3

BMC Pediatr. 2022 Jan 10;22(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s12887-021-03092-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence on how body mass index (BMI) influence cardiometabolic health remains sparse in Chinese children and adolescents, especially in south China. We aim to investigate the effect of overweight and/or obesity on high blood pressure (HBP), dyslipidemia, elevated serum uric acid (SUA) and their clustering among children and adolescents in an island in South China.

METHODS: Using multi-stage cluster sampling method, 1577 children and adolescents aged 7-18 in Hainan province, south China, participated in the survey. The association between body mass index and cardiometabolic indexes were explored. Overweight and obesity were classified according to criteria of World Health Organization for children and adolescents aged 5 to 19. Restricted cubic spline models were used to examine the possible non-linear association between BMI and cardiometabolic profiles. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to examine the effect size of BMI on cardiometabolic disorders including HBP, elevated SUA and dyslipidemia. Comorbidity of at least two cardiometabolic abnormalities (HBP, dyslipidemia, elevated SUA) was defined as clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors.

RESULTS: Comparing with normal weight and underweight subjects, overweight/obese youths had higher levels of BP, SUA, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein but lower level of high-density lipoprotein. Overweight/obese youth had higher risk of dyslipidemia (OR:2.89, 95%CI: 1.65-5.06), HBP (OR:2.813, 95%CI: 1.20-6.59) and elevated SUA (OR: 2.493, 95%CI: 1.45-4.27), respectively, than their counterparts. The sex-, age-adjusted prevalence of abnormalities clustering was 32.61% (95% CI: 20.95% to 46.92%) in overweight/obesity group, much higher than in the under/normal weight group (8.85%, 95%CI: 7.44% to 10.48%).

CONCLUSION: Excess adiposity increased the risk of elevated serum uric acid, serum lipids, blood pressure and their clustering among children and adolescents in south China.

PMID:35012488 | DOI:10.1186/s12887-021-03092-2

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Jan 10;23(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-04998-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dental students are frequently affected by work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) due to reasons such as working conditions, difficult education process and long work periods. The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency and anatomical distribution of WMSs, and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) in dental students.

METHODS: Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics of one-hundred and five dental students were recorded. WMSs were scored by the participants with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Then, participants were asked to evaluate their QoL by scoring the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Form. Differences between independent groups for continuous variables were evaluated by Student’s t-test and ANOVA as appropriate. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of demographic and health-related parameters in predicting the QoL subscales.

RESULTS: The most common painful region in the last 12 months was the neck (66.7%). The body region with the most WMSs in the last 7 days was the upper back (43.8%). Physical health-related QoL of those with diagnosed musculoskeletal symptoms, and general health-related QoL of those using medicine due to any musculoskeletal symptoms were found to be statistically significantly lower (p = 0.018, p = 0.041, respectively). It was observed that the general and physical health, psychological well-being, and social relationship of the participants who reported the presence of neck pain in the last 7 days were statistically significantly lower (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.004, p = 0.012; respectively). According to multiple regression analyses, pain occurrence in the body in the last 12 months and/or in the last 7 days had a negative impact on the participants’ general and physical health, psychological well-being, social relationship, and environmental status and related QoL (p = 0.026, p = 0.047, p = 0.021, p = 0.001, p = 0.027, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that dental students’ body regions, especially the neck and the back, are affected by WMSs. These negative changes observed in the body had a negative effect on the QoL of the dental students.

PMID:35012487 | DOI:10.1186/s12891-022-04998-3

S D Med. 2021 Nov;74(11):513-518.

ABSTRACT

This article summarizes the experiences of COVID-19 patients diagnosed and treated at Faulkton Area Medical Center (FAMC), a rural critical access facility in South Dakota, during three periods of COVID-19. Retrospective chart review was used to classify COVID-19 patients into three groups by time frame: 1.Early March 2020, with the arrival of COVID-19 to South Dakota, until August 31, 2020; 2.September 1, 2020, with the use of rapid result direct COVID-19 virus antigen testing, through November 24,2020 (which took place during our COVID-19 surge); and 3.November 25, 2020, the start of bamlanivimab infusions on high-risk patients with COVID-19, throughFebruary15, 2021, the cutoff for this review. Faulk County had higher COVID-19 case rates and COVID-19 death rates than South Dakota in general. Final review of the data showed stable overall hospitalization rates at FAMC in each of these time periods. Data was broken down by age and not other demographics due to small patient population size and limited ability to blind data. Breakdown of the data showed the hospitalization rates in the 60-90+ age groups did decrease from 33.3 percent to 22.2 percent, following bamlanivimab use. Absolute risk reduction 11.1 percent. Relative risk reduction of hospitalization from November 25, 2020 through February 15, 2021 compared to September 1, 2020 through November 25, 2020 was 0.33. (odds ratio = 0.57) (CI (95 percent) 0.21-1.58). This is not statistically significant. NNT=9. Data is limited by small overall numbers of patients and lack of data in Faulkton area residents who sought medical care outside the local facility.

PMID:35008137

Phys Med Biol. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac499b. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Positronium (Ps) lifetime imaging is gaining attention to bring out additional biomedical information from positron emission tomography (PET). The lifetime of Ps in vivo can change depending on the physical and chemical environments related to some diseases. Due to the limited sensitivity, Ps lifetime imaging may require merging some voxels for statistical accuracy. This paper presents a method for separating the lifetime components in the voxel to avoid information loss due to averaging. The mathematics for this separation is the inverse Laplace transform (ILT), and the authors examined an iterative numerical ILT algorithm using Tikhonov regularization, namely CONTIN, to discriminate a small lifetime difference due to oxygen saturation. The separability makes it possible to merge voxels without missing critical information on whether they contain abnormally long or short lifetime components. The authors conclude that ILT can compensate for the weaknesses of Ps lifetime imaging and extract the maximum amount of information.

PMID:35008076 | DOI:10.1088/1361-6560/ac499b

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1055/a-1719-4441. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) of solid and complex benign thyroid nodules.

METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with benign thyroid nodules were treated with HIFU at two centers from 2014-2019. The device, EchoPulse (Teraclion, Malakoff, France), heats the nodes to 80-90 °C. Nodal volumes were measured by ultrasound at regular intervals before and up to 12 months after therapy. In a retrospective long-term two-center study, average volume reductions in relation to baseline volume were statistically analyzed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Side effects were documented.

RESULTS: In solid nodules, the average percent volume reductions at the 3, 6, 9, and 12-months follow-up were 49.98%, 46.40%, 65.77%, and 63.88%, respectively. The results were significant with p<0.05 in the Wilcoxon signed-rank test at the 3, 6, and 9-months follow-up. In complex nodules, the average percent volume reduction was 35.2% at 3 months, 36.89% at 6 months, and 63.64% at twelve months follow up. The results were significant with p<0.05 in the Wilcoxon signed-rank test at the 3- and 6-months follow-up. The complication rate was 5.2%. All complications occurred in patients with solid nodules.

CONCLUSION: The study showed that HIFU is an effective treatment method for both solid and complex nodules. The complication rate is relatively high at 5.2%. No long-term complications occurred. The solid nodules responded better to HIFU than complex nodules.

PMID:35008118 | DOI:10.1055/a-1719-4441

J Phys Condens Matter. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/ac49c9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Machine learning techniques are used to explore the intrinsic origins of the hydrodynamic thermal transport and to find new materials interesting for science and engineering. The hydrodynamic thermal transport is governed intrinsically by the hydrodynamic scale and the thermal conductivity. The correlations between these intrinsic properties and harmonic and anharmonic properties, and a large number of compositional (290) and structural (1224) descriptors of 131 crystal compound materials are obtained, revealing some of the key descriptors that determines the magnitude of the intrinsic hydrodynamic effects, most of them related with the phonon relaxation times. Then, a trained black-box model is applied to screen more than 5000 materials. The results identify materials with potential technological applications. Understanding the properties correlated to hydrodynamic thermal transport can help to find new thermoelectric materials and on the design of new materials to ease the heat dissipation in electronic devices.to ease the heat dissipation in electronic devices.

PMID:35008073 | DOI:10.1088/1361-648X/ac49c9

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 2021 Dec 31;23(6):417-426. doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0015.6368.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lateral compression (LC) accounts for a wide spectrum of pelvic ring injuries (PRIs). The primary aim of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life outcomes of surgically fixed LC crescent versus sacral fractures in patients less than 50 years old after high energy trauma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the database for PRIs treated surgically from Decem-ber 2011 to January 2019 at our tertiary level trauma centre. The EuroQoL-5D (EQ5D5L) questionnaire was elec-tronically sent to all patients. Multiple linear regression was conducted to determine the predictors of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS: The study included 37 patients. The mean age was 26 SD 9.46 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.78 (r:1-9) years. Twenty-one (56.8%) and 16 (43.2%) patients sustained sacral fractures and crescent fractures, respectively. Multi-regression analysis showed that any patient with LC injury without a sacral fracture is expected to have a utility value of QALY= 0.876. A reduction of 0.072 units in QALYs is expected in the presence of sacral fracture. About 71% of patients with sacral fractures were able to return to work and this probability increased by 40% among patients with crescent fractures (RR=1.4, p=.015).

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Younger patients with crescent fractures tend to have better quality of life (higher EQ5D and QALYs) compared to those with LC sacral fractures. 2. Moreover, patients with LC sacral fractures have less chan-ce to return to their pre-injury level of work compared to those with crescent fractures.

PMID:35008031 | DOI:10.5604/01.3001.0015.6368

Vasc Specialist Int. 2021 Dec 31;37:46. doi: 10.5758/vsi.210041.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients and identify the risk factors for VTE-related unfavorable outcomes, major bleeding, and 30-day all-cause mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2016 to December 2020, 198 patients with confirmed VTE were enrolled. Potential risk factors for unfavorable outcomes, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality were analyzed.

RESULTS: VTE-related unfavorable outcomes developed in 13.1%, while 30-day all-cause mortality was 8.6%. In the multivariate analysis, a pulse ≥110/min and respiratory rate ≥30/min were statistically significant predictors for VTE-related unfavorable outcomes. Diabetes was a significant risk factor for major bleeding. In addition, a history of malignancy, no anticoagulation treatment, and need for mechanical ventilation were significant predictors of all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSION: VTE-related mortality and morbidity rates remained high. In cases of tachycardia and tachypnea, early aggressive treatment is needed to prevent unfavorable outcomes. Patients with risk factors should be closely monitored.

PMID:35008065 | DOI:10.5758/vsi.210041

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 2021 Dec 31;23(6):401-410. doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0015.6355.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Unstable and comminuted distal radial fractures require surgical treatment by percutaneous insertion of Kir-schner wires, open reduction and fixation with a non-locking or locking plate or with an external device. The aim of this paper was to try to answer the following question: are there differences in functional treatment outcomes in patients after surgery with the use of Kirschner wires vs LCP plate fixation?

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group included 100 patients after surgical treatment by closed reduction and simple fixation with Kirschner wires (50 patients) and by open reduction and LCP locking plate fixation (50 patients). The study assessed the following parameters: global grip strength, pain severity in a VAS scale, range of motion, functional status of the wrist based on the Fernandez classification, quality of life according to the QuickDASH score, and the frequency of complications. These parameters were assessed at 6 and 12 months after surgery.

RESULTS: An assessment of the treatment outcomes at 6 and 12 months after surgery showed statistically significant differences between the treatment methods in the following parameters: pain severity, global grip strength and range of motion in the sagittal plane. A comparison of the functional status of the wrist at 6 and 12 months between the groups showed considerably worse results in the Kirschner wire fixation group. The frequency of postoperative complications at 12 months was 6% in the Kirschner wire fixation group and 2% in the LCP plate fixation group.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Treatment outcomes were better in patients with distal radial fractures managed with LCP plate fixation. 2. The use of LCP plate fixation predisposes pa-tients to better ranges of mobility in the sagittal plane in the radiocarpal joint. 3.The values of global grip strength were higher in the group treated with LCP plate fixation. 4. Patients treated with LCP plates have better limb function and quality of life and lower pain intensity after treatment completion. 5. The number of complications was higher in pa-tients treated with Kirschner wire fixation.

PMID:35008030 | DOI:10.5604/01.3001.0015.6355