Tag: statistics

Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 2022 Mar 23;44(3):246-251. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112152-20200404-00305.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of integrin α 6 (ITGA6), miR-4484 and the pathologic stage of gastric cancer. Methods: Gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa tissues adjacent to cancer (>5 cm from tumor margin) of 30 patients with primary gastric cancer who underwent direct surgical resection without adjuvant therapy from June to September 2017 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were selected. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of miR-4484 and ITGA6, western blot was used to detect the expression level of ITGA6 protein, dual luciferase reporter gene was used to verify the relationship between ITGA6 and miR-4484. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between miR-4484 and ITGA6 expression levels in gastric cancer tissues. Results: The expression level of ITGΑ6 in gastric cancer (32.30±13.47) was higher than that in matched normal gastric tissues (24.55±10.25, P=0.015), the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.660 and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 43.3% and 96.7%, respectively. The expression level of miR-4484 in gastric cancer (4.11±2.87) was lower than that of matched normal gastric tissues (5.75±2.80, P=0.029), the area under the ROC curve was 0.690 and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 30.0% and 86.7%, respectively. The expression level of miR-4484 was negatively correlated with ITGA6 in gastric cancer tissues (r=-0.621, P<0.001). The expression level of ITGA6 protein in gastric cancer tissues (0.65±0.19) was higher than that in normal adjacent tissues (0.26±0.12, P<0.001). Compared with ITGA6 3’UTR wild-type+ miR-NC group, ITGA6 3’UTR wild-type+ miRNA mimics group had lower luciferase activity (50.69±5.10, 34.00±1.19, P<0.001), while the luciferase activity of ITGA6 3’UTR wild-type+ ASO miR-4484 group was higher than that of ITGA6 3’UTR wild-type+ miR-NC group (82.44±6.37, 50.69±5.10, P<0.001), indicated that ITGA6 was the direct target gene of miR-4484. The expression levels of miR-4484 in T1, T2, T3 and T4 (4a and 4b) gastric cancer tissues were 9.98±2.24, 5.28±2.03, 2.92±2.04 and 4.11±2.87, respectively, with statistical significance (P<0.001). The expression levels of ITGA6 in N0, N1, N2 and N3 gastric cancer tissues were 29.55±8.32, 21.71±3.75, 24.60±8.79 and 40.69±15.83, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0.022). The expression levels of miR-4484 in N0, N1, N2 and N3 gastric cancer tissues were 5.01±3.52, 5.48±2.76, 5.88±1.83 and 2.30±1.56, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0.032). The expression levels of ITGA6 in M0 and M1 gastric cancer tissues were 26.28±7.66 and 52.08±8.12, respectively, with statistical significance (P<0.001). The expression levels of miR-4484 in M0 and M1 gastric cancer tissues were 4.95±2.74 and 1.34±0.80, respectively, with statistical significance (P<0.001). Conclusions: ITGA6 is upregulated in gastric cancer tissues, while miR-4484 is downregulated in the gastric cancer group, and its expression level is related to the clinicopathological features of gastric cancer. ITGA6 is the direct target gene of miR-4484, implicates that miR-4484 may inhibit the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer by regulating the expression of ITGA6. Both miR-4484 and ITGA6 may be the new prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets of gastric cancer.

PMID:35316874 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn112152-20200404-00305

Clin J Sport Med. 2022 Mar 21. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001020. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to assess the differences between the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), modified BESS (mBESS), and both measures with the double-leg (DL) stances removed [BESS-revised (BESS-R) and mBESS-revised (mBESS-R)] among healthy and concussed collegiate student-athletes.

DESIGN: Retrospective, repeated-measures cohort study.

SETTING: Clinical.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Healthy and concussed collegiate athletes (baseline n = 622, postinjury n = 41) from 12 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I sports cheer and dance at a single university.

INTERVENTION OR INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Balance Error Scoring System, mBESS, BESS-R, and mBESS-R test versions from baseline and postinjury testing.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The mBESS and BESS and their revised versions with DL stances removed (mBESS-R and BESS-R) scores were compared at baseline. Baseline and postinjury scores for all 4 BESS variations and the 6 BESS conditions were compared for those who sustained a concussion.

RESULTS: The BESS and BESS-R were statistically different at baseline for the entire sample (99.6% confidence interval 0.32, 0.38, P > 0.0001). None of the other comparisons were significantly different (P > 0.004).

CONCLUSION: Although our results do suggest statistically significant differences between the BESS and BESS-R test versions, they do not represent clinically meaningful differences. The greatest mean difference between all test versions was <1 error; therefore, these BESS versions may not be specific enough to identify balance deficits at baseline or postinjury. Elimination of the time intensive DL measures in the revised BESS variations may be a more clinically practical alternative.

PMID:35316822 | DOI:10.1097/JSM.0000000000001020

Urol Int. 2022 Mar 22:1-6. doi: 10.1159/000522570. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine whether peroneal electrical Transcutaneous NeuroModulation (peroneal eTNM®) using the URIS® neuromodulation system can be used in individuals with refractory overactive bladder (OAB).

METHODS: Eighteen female patients with idiopathic OAB who failed previous behavioral and pharmacological therapy were enrolled. Patients were treated with the URIS® neuromodulation system using active electrodes placed on the popliteal fossa, targeting the peroneal nerve for 30 min once a week for 12 weeks. Changes in OAB symptoms and patient-reported outcomes from baseline to the end of the study were analyzed. A nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess changes in variables. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction in micturition frequency (p = 0.022), number of severe urgency episodes (p < 0.001), urgency incontinence episodes (p = 0.001), and nocturia episodes (p = 0.027). A decrease in Patient Perception of Bladder Condition score (p < 0.001) was also observed. Posttreatment, 15 patients (83.3%) reported a moderate or significant reduction in their bladder bother. Throughout the study, two adverse events were recorded with no causal relationship to the study treatment.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Our study documented a significant reduction in all OAB symptoms and an improvement in all patient-reported outcomes in patients treated with peroneal eTNM® using the URIS® neuromodulation system.

PMID:35316811 | DOI:10.1159/000522570

Phys Med Biol. 2022 Mar 22. doi: 10.1088/1361-6560/ac5fe1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: A dedicated cone-beam breast computed tomography (BCT) using a high-resolution, low-noise detector operating in offset-detector geometry has been developed. This study investigates the effects of varying detector offsets and image reconstruction algorithms to determine the appropriate combination of detector offset and reconstruction algorithm.

APPROACH: Projection datasets (300 projections in 360°) of 30 breasts containing calcified lesions that were acquired using a prototype cone-beam BCT system comprising a 40×30-cm flat-panel detector with 1024×768 detector pixels were reconstructed using Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) algorithm and served as the reference. The projection datasets were retrospectively truncated to emulate cone-beam datasets with sinograms of 768 × 768 and 640 × 768 detector pixels, corresponding to 5 cm and 7.5 cm lateral offsets, respectively. These datasets were reconstructed using the FDK algorithm with appropriate weights and an ASD-POCS-based Fast, total variation-Regularized, Iterative, Statistical reconstruction Technique (FRIST), resulting in a total of 4 offset-detector reconstructions (2 detector offsets × 2 reconstruction methods). Signal difference-to-noise ratio (SDNR), variance, and full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of calcifications in two orthogonal directions were determined from all reconstructions. All quantitative measurements were performed on images in units of linear attenuation coefficient (1/cm).

RESULTS: The FWHM of calcifications did not differ (P>0.262) among reconstruction algorithms and detector formats, implying comparable spatial resolution. For a chosen detector offset, the FRIST algorithm outperformed FDK in terms of variance and SDNR (P<0.0001). For a given reconstruction method, the 5 cm offset provided better results.

SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicates the feasibility of using the compressed sensing-based, FRIST algorithm to reconstruct sinograms from offset-detectors. Among the reconstruction methods and detector offsets studied, FRIST reconstructions corresponding to a 30 cm × 30 cm with 5 cm lateral offset, achieved the best performance. A clinical prototype using such an offset geometry has been developed and installed for clinical trials.

PMID:35316793 | DOI:10.1088/1361-6560/ac5fe1

Appl Radiat Isot. 2022 Mar 18;184:110207. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110207. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a detailed statistical analysis of experimental results of dynamic breakdown voltage and electrical breakdown time delay for xenon-filled diode. These quantities have a stochastic nature and they were measured in the cases when the xenon-filled diode was and was not exposed to a gamma radiation source, with exposure dose rate 7.7⋅10^-12 C/(kg⋅s). The static breakdown voltage was estimated based on dynamic breakdown voltage as a function of voltage increase rate. The applicability of certain distributions to experimental dynamic breakdown voltage and electrical breakdown time delay data was also analyzed.

PMID:35316779 | DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110207

Knee. 2022 Mar 19;35:157-163. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2022.03.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Objects that manifest in several characteristic shapes, or morphotypes, are typically caused by some hidden variable. For example, the gender of a person influences the width of their pelvis. This is important when reconstructing natural shapes, e.g., in knee implant design. The aim of this study was to identify such morphotypes.

METHODS: This work investigated the shapes of roughly 1000 knee joints acquired from computed tomography, including the distal femur and proximal tibia. Two comprehensive feature sets were utilized to describe the bone shapes, one based on morphological measurements and the other on statistical shape model (SSM) weights. We normalized the data by size and performed a cluster analysis with different algorithms, namely k-means and high dimensional data clustering. The clusters were evaluated using several metrics.

RESULTS: The data showed a low tendency to form clusters. Only one of 12 experiments slightly exceeded the thresholds for actual clusters suggested by the literature. k-Means outperformed high dimensional data clustering in all cases.

CONCLUSION: After anisotropic normalization by size, which removes size and aspect ratio related differences, the data exhibited no morphotypes. This showed that there are no relevant hidden variables, e.g., gender, body type or ethnicity, which influence the shape of the knee joint. Instead, knee shape is highly individual. Investigating the three-dimensional shape, variations occur for a wide range of different shape parameters, not just for anterior-posterior and mediolateral size.

PMID:35316777 | DOI:10.1016/j.knee.2022.03.006

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022 Mar 11;272:156-159. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.03.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: External cephalic version (ECV) is a technique used to reduce the incidence of cesarean deliveries due to malpresentation. Nitrous oxide is an inhaled analgesic that may be used for pain relief for women undergoing external cephalic version.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the conversion rate of non-cephalic to cephalic presentation in ECV with and without nitrous oxide.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed including all singleton, term gestation ECVs between January 2016 and June 2017 at a single institution. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare women who had ECV with nitrous oxide versus ECV without nitrous oxide. The primary outcome was successful rate of conversion to cephalic presentation and the secondary outcome was the rate of vaginal delivery.

RESULTS: During the study period, 167 women underwent ECV: 77 with nitrous oxide and 90 without nitrous oxide. Of the 77 women who used nitrous oxide, 25 (32.5%) were successful and 17 of these women delivered vaginally (68%). Of the women who underwent ECV without nitrous oxide, 29 (32.2%) successfully converted and 21 of these delivered vaginally (72%). After controlling for confounders, the use of nitrous oxide had no clinically or statistically significant difference on ECV success rates (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.52-2.23).

CONCLUSION: Nitrous oxide does not seem to affect conversion rate to cephalic presentation in ECV. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of nitrous oxide on women’s decision to undergo ECV and on patient satisfaction and tolerability.

PMID:35316745 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.03.007

Biosens Bioelectron. 2022 Mar 4;207:114133. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114133. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lateral flow tests, commonly based on metal plasmonic nanoparticles, are rapid, robust, and low-cost. However, improvements in analytical sensitivity are required to allow detection of low-abundance biomarkers, for example detection of low antigen concentrations for earlier or asymptomatic diagnosis of infectious diseases. Efforts to improve sensitivity often require changes to the assay. Here, we developed optical methods to improve the sensitivity of absorption-based lateral flow tests, requiring no assay modifications to existing tests. We experimentally compared five different lock-in and subtraction-based methods, exploiting the narrow plasmonic peak of gold nanoparticles for background removal by imaging at different light wavelengths. A statistical framework and three fitting models were used to compare limits of detection, giving a 2.0-5.4-fold improvement. We then demonstrated the broad applicability of the method to an ultrasensitive assay, designing 530 nm composite nanoparticles to increase the particle volume, and therefore light absorption per particle, whilst retaining the plasmonic peak to allow background removal and without adding any assay steps. This multifaceted, modular approach gave a combined 58-fold improvement in the fundamental limit of detection using a biotin-avidin model over 50 nm gold nanoparticles with single-wavelength imaging. Applying to a sandwich assay for the detection of HIV capsid protein gave a limit of detection of 170 fM. Additionally, we developed an open-source software tool for performing the detection limit analysis used in this work.

PMID:35316759 | DOI:10.1016/j.bios.2022.114133

Healthc (Amst). 2022 Mar 19;10(2):100626. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2022.100626. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Responding to the shift toward value-based care, hospitals engaged in widespread experimentation of implementing transitional care (TC) strategies to improve patient experience and reduce unnecessary readmissions. However, which groups of these strategies are most strongly associated with better outcomes remains unknown.

METHODS: Using a retrospective longitudinal design, we collected hospitals’ TC strategy implementation data for 370 U S. hospitals and obtained claims data for 2.4 million Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized at them from 2009 to 2014. We applied estimated mixed-effects regression models controlling for patient, hospital, and community covariates to assess relationships between TC strategy groups and trends in hospitals’ 30-day hospital readmissions, with observation stay and mortality rates as secondary outcomes.

RESULTS: Hospitals’ adoption of TC groups was associated with higher readmission rates at baseline and larger readmission rate reductions compared to not adopting any of 5 TC groups. The TC group including timely information exchange across care settings, engaging patients and caregivers in education, and/or identifying and addressing patients’ transition needs was associated with the largest reductions. Hospitals not implementing any of the 5 TC groups had higher mortality rates and lower observation stay rates throughout the study period.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that timely information sharing among providers across the care continuum and engaging patients in discharge planning and education may correspond with reduced readmissions.

IMPLICATIONS: Our research suggests that hospitals responded to shifts in policy by implementing a diversity of TC strategy combinations; it also provides guidance regarding which combinations of TC strategies corresponded with larger readmission reductions.

PMID:35316744 | DOI:10.1016/j.hjdsi.2022.100626

Neural Netw. 2022 Mar 10;150:194-212. doi: 10.1016/j.neunet.2022.03.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Direct multi-task twin support vector machine (DMTSVM) is an effective algorithm to deal with multi-task classification problems. However, the generated hyperplane may shift to outliers since the hinge loss is used in DMTSVM. Therefore, we propose an improved multi-task model RaMTTSVM based on ramp loss to handle noisy points more effectively. It could limit the maximal loss value distinctly and put definite restrictions on the influences of noises. But RaMTTSVM is non-convex which should be solved by CCCP, then a series of approximate convex problems need to be solved. So, it may be time-consuming. Motivated by the sparse solution of our RaMTTSVM, we further propose a safe acceleration rule MSA to accelerate the solving speed. Based on optimality conditions and convex optimization theory, MSA could delete a lot of inactive samples corresponding to 0 elements in dual solutions before solving the model. Then the computation speed can be accelerated by just solving reduced problems. The rule contains three different parts that correspond to different parameters and different iteration phases of CCCP. It can be used not only for the first approximate convex problem of CCCP but also for the successive problems during the iteration process. More importantly, our MSA is safe in the sense that the reduced problem can derive an identical optimal solution as the original problem, so the prediction accuracy will not be disturbed. Experimental results on one artificial dataset, ten Benchmark datasets, ten Image datasets and one real wine dataset confirm the generalization and acceleration ability of our proposed algorithm.

PMID:35316737 | DOI:10.1016/j.neunet.2022.03.006