Tag: statistics

Physiother Theory Pract. 2022 Aug 13:1-9. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2111674. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) exhibit generalized hyperalgesia to pain stimuli, and physical activity (PA) is critical to manage FM symptoms.

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between exercise-induced muscle pain, symptom severity, and PA in 28 women with FM.

METHODS: Muscle pain rating (MPR) was assessed during 3 minutes of submaximal isometric handgrip exercise, whereas PA and symptom severity were evaluated via self-report questionnaires. The analysis examined the relationship between the variables, with the specific interest in the mediating role of PA in the relationship between exercise-induced muscle pain and symptom severity.

RESULTS: MPR was positively associated with symptom severity (b = 1.89; 95% CI = 0.01, 3.76; P = .048) and inversely associated with PA levels (b = -0.16; 95% CI = -0.30, -0.03; P = .021). PA levels were inversely associated with symptom severity (b = -7.94; 95% CI = -12.46, -3.42; P = .001). After statistically controlling for PA levels, the relationship between MPR and symptom severity was no longer significant (b = 0.60; Wald 95% CI = -1.05, 2.25; P = .474).

CONCLUSION: Results show the link between the variables, and specifically demonstrate that PA mediates the relationship between exercise-induced muscle pain and symptom severity.

PMID:35968757 | DOI:10.1080/09593985.2022.2111674

Omega (Westport). 2022 Aug 13:302228221120122. doi: 10.1177/00302228221120122. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the relationships between the variables of pandemic awareness, death anxiety, and spiritual well-being and reveal whether the participants’ perceptions of pandemic awareness, death anxiety, and spiritual well-being differed according to various sociodemographic characteristics. The study population is comprised of individuals aged 65 years and over in Edirne, Turkey. The data obtained from 449 people in the study were analyzed using various statistical methods. According to the results of the regression analysis performed in the study, the increase in the participants’ pandemic awareness was found to reduce their death anxiety and increase their spiritual well-being statistically. Moreover, the increase in the participants’ death anxiety statistically reduced their spiritual well-being.

PMID:35968726 | DOI:10.1177/00302228221120122

J Med Virol. 2022 Aug 15. doi: 10.1002/jmv.28068. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nucleic acid molecular diagnostic technology plays an important role in the detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). However, no relevant reports have been published on the accuracy of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) in the diagnosis of SFTS. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review to evaluate the accuracy of the two methods.

METHODS: On June 19, 2022, we comprehensively searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scoups, Ovid, Proquest, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wan Fang Data, Traditional Chinese Medicine Database (Sinomed), VIP Database and Reading Showing Database for articles on nucleic acid diagnostic techniques, such as RT-PCR and RT-LAMP, used to diagnose SFTS. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14.0 and Meta-Disc 1.4.

RESULTS: Sixteen articles involving 2942 clinical blood samples were included in the analysis. RT-PCR and RT-LAMP were used as index tests, whereas RT-PCR or other detection methods were used as reference standards. The pooled values for the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios of the RT-PCR test were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.92, 0.99), 1.00 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.00), 483.87 (95% CI: 58.04, 4033.76), and 0.03 (95% CI:0.01, 0.08) respectively. Those for the RT-LAMP test were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.97), 0.99 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.00), 111.18 (95% CI: 13.96, 885.27), and 0.05 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.09), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Both RT-PCR and RT-LAMP have high diagnostic value in SFTS and can be applied in different scenarios for laboratory confirmation or on-site screening. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:35968756 | DOI:10.1002/jmv.28068

Biol Res Nurs. 2022 Aug 13:10998004221113765. doi: 10.1177/10998004221113765. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of palmar grasp reflex stimulation during a neonatal bath on the physiological parameters and crying time of the newborn.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This study was designed as a parallel randomized clinical trial. Parents fully understood the study procedure at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Turkey (N = 82). Both written and verbal consent was obtained from the parents. Newborns who were ineligible for tub bathing were excluded from the study. The babies in the control group were given baths according to the tub bathing standards. Babies in the experimental group were given palmar grasp reflex stimulation during the baths. The variables examined included body temperature, respiratory rate, pulse, oxygen saturation levels, and crying time. In all analyses, p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

RESULTS: The heart rate of the experimental group was 5.2 beats per minute slower than the control group (χ2 = 12.272; p < 0.001). The respiratory rate of the experimental group was 1.3 lower per minute compared to the control group (χ2 = 43.219; p < 0.001). In addition, the oxygen saturation level (%) of the experimental group was 0.4 higher than the control group (χ2 = 5.793; p < 0.016). Crying time was higher in the control group during bathing (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The results showed that the palmar grasp reflex in newborn bathing helps to maintain the stability of physiological parameters and shortens the crying time of babies. Palmar grasp reflex stimulation is recommended in interventions that may cause stress.

PMID:35968725 | DOI:10.1177/10998004221113765

Environ Sci Technol. 2022 Aug 14. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04303. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 containment response policies (CRPs) had a major impact on air quality (AQ). These CRPs have been time-varying and location-specific. So far, despite having numerous studies on the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on AQ, a knowledge gap remains on the association between stringency of CRPs and AQ changes across the world, regions, nations, and cities. Here, we show that globally across 1851 cities (each more than 300 000 people) in 149 countries, after controlling for the impacts of relevant covariates (e.g., meteorology), Sentinel-5P satellite-observed nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels decreased by 4.9% (95% CI: 2.2, 7.6%) during lockdowns following stringent CRPs compared to pre-CRPs. The NO₂ levels did not change significantly during moderate CRPs and even increased during mild CRPs by 2.3% (95% CI: 0.7, 4.0%), which was 6.8% (95% CI: 2.0, 12.0%) across Europe and Central Asia, possibly due to population avoidance of public transportation in favor of private transportation. Among 1768 cities implementing stringent CRPs, we observed the most NO₂ reduction in more populated and polluted cities. Our results demonstrate that AQ improved when and where stringent COVID-19 CRPs were implemented, changed less under moderate CRPs, and even deteriorated under mild CRPs. These changes were location-, region-, and CRP-specific.

PMID:35968717 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.2c04303

J Forensic Sci. 2022 Aug 15. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15126. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the offender characteristics of criminal mutilation homicides in Japan for offender profiling. The current sample (N = 108) showed that the most typical offender was a male, in his 30s (age that observed most often), one-person, and acquainted with the victim. This study highlighted that the cases of mutilation homicide differed in comparison with the regular homicide group in terms of the victim-offender (VO) relationship and the number of offenders. Furthermore, the multiple correspondence analysis classified mutilation homicides into four behavioral pattern types based on two dimensions (level of “efforts of corpse dismemberment” and “efforts of corpse disposal”). In the first type “high evidence destruction effort (n = 29)”, having the greatest efforts to destroy evidence, all offenders were men. The rates of no VO relationship and serial murders were higher. In the second type “convenient disposal (n = 32)”, likely to abandon victim body in home and trash, the rate of female offenders who assaulted family members was statistically significantly higher among the four types. In the third type “high geographic distance (n = 23)”, traveling long distances for corpse disposal, the percentage of cases by co-offenders was likely to be higher than in the other types. Lastly, the offenders in “low evidence destruction effort (n = 24)” were likely to kill other acquaintances and have the least efforts for corpse dismemberment and disposal. From these results, the criminal profilers can estimate mutilation homicide offenders on the basis of efforts of corpse dismemberment and disposal.

PMID:35968713 | DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.15126

Eur J Orthod. 2022 Aug 15:cjac045. doi: 10.1093/ejo/cjac045. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To facilitate clear and transparent reporting of observational studies the STROBE guidelines were developed. The aim of this investigation was to assess the reporting adherence of observational studies published in orthodontic journals in relation to STROBE guidelines. Associations between the reporting quality and study characteristics were explored.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: A search of five leading orthodontic journals was undertaken to identify observational studies published between 1st January 2021 and 31st June 2021. Data extraction was performed in duplicate and independently. Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions for the responses to each checklist item were calculated. Proportional odds ordinal logistic regression for clustered data was implemented to assess potential associations between the three-level categorical outcome (not reported, inadequate reporting, adequate reporting) and study characteristics and individual checklist items.

RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-five studies were analysed. The majority of studies were cohort designs (54.0%). Variability in the reporting of the STROBE guideline items was evident. In particular, a clear description of outcomes, exposures, predictors, potential confounders, and effect modifiers, statistical methods and participants were inadequately reported. In the multivariable analysis, the overall score test indicated that only item was a significant predictor of reporting quality (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study have highlighted that the reporting of observational studies published in orthodontic journals in relation to the STROBE guidelines is sub-optimal. Key areas of inadequate reporting relate to methodology and results. Key determinant of reporting quality was the STROBE item.

PMID:35968661 | DOI:10.1093/ejo/cjac045

Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2022 Jul;56(4):252-255. doi: 10.5152/j.aott.2022.21318.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and severity of kinesiophobia, and to determine the relationship between Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) scores, functional outcome and quality of life (QoL) 6-8 years after Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS: 161 patients (78 male and 83 female) with unilateral primary osteoarthritis (OA) treated with THA between September 2010 and December 2013 were included in this study. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) and EQ-5D scores were measured preoperatively. At 6-8 years follow-up, these scores were repeated and TSK scores were also measured. According to the TSK, patients were divided into two groups for further comparisons and analysis: without kinesiophobia (TSK-score ≤ 36) and with kinesiophobia (TSK-score >36).

RESULTS: There were 99 patients (61.5%) with no kinesiophobia (TSK score ≤ 36, TSK mean 28.4, SD 4.7) and 62 patients (38.5%) with kinesiophobia (TSK score > 36, TSK mean 42.8, SD 5.3). Patients with and without kinesiophobia were not statistically different regarding age, sex or body mass index. (P = 0.20, P = 0.99, P = 0.22, respectively). In the group with no kinesiophobia, the mean 6-8 years WOMAC was 12.4 (SD 15.6), while the absolute delta (Δ) value between preoperative and 6-8 years WOMAC was 46.2 (SD 20.4), compared to the group with kinesiophobia where the mean 6-8 years WOMAC was 32.2 (SD 23.4), while the absolute delta (Δ) value between preoperative and 6-8 years WOMAC was 32.3 (SD 25.5): both P < 0.001. The group with no kinesiophobia had a mean 6-8 years EQ-5D of 0.81 (SD 0.22), while the absolute delta (Δ) value between preoperative and 6-8 years EQ-5D was 0.44 (SD 0.26), compared to the group with kinesiophobia where the mean 6-8 years EQ-5D was 0.57 (SD 0.23), while the absolute delta (Δ) value between preoperative and 6-8 years EQ-5D was 0.33 (SD 0.26): P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively. TSK scores were associated with worse WOMAC and EQ-5D scores, higher proportion of dependence on walking aids and increased THArelated adverse events (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: This study has shown us that there is a high incidence of kinesiophobia 6-8 years after surgery and treating kinesiophobia early after THA might improve the outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Therapeutic Study.

PMID:35968616 | DOI:10.5152/j.aott.2022.21318

Cancer Control. 2022 Jan-Dec;29:10732748221103327. doi: 10.1177/10732748221103327.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate personality traits associated with depression in breast cancer women (BCW).

METHODS: Sample: 236 BCW recently diagnosed (early stages). Tests: SASB-Structural-Analysis of Social-Behavior; IPAT-CDQ-Depression. Statistical analysis: cluster K-Means analysis to explore SASB personality-traits considering the 8 SASB clusters (Cl); CDQ scores dichotomized by 50th percentile cutoff (high/low); Pearson’s chi square test to compare CDQ levels and SASB traits.

RESULTS: Cluster analysis results supported two distinguishable SASB personality traits (for all SASB Cl-Scales P < .001) classified as “Love and Autonomy” (62.2%) and “Control and Hate” (37.8%). Patients with Love/Autonomy traits are spontaneous, accept their deepest feelings and desire to be close to other people (Cl1, Cl2, Cl3, Cl4). They show a medium value of self-control and a low tendency to self-abusive and self-critical behaviors (Cl5, Cl6). They pay attention to themselves and to their needs at emotional and physical levels also if may be occasionally engaged in self-destructive behaviors (Cl7, Cl8). Women with Control/Hate traits are not spontaneous and do not always express emotions (C1, Cl2, Cl3, Cl4) and flexibility in their relationship with others (Cl5, Cl6). In stressful situations, they may ignore the option of choices for self-growth and neglect their needs and those of others (Cl7, Cl8). BCWs with Control/Hate traits scored higher in depression (P <.001) than those with the Love/Autonomy profile.

CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals should be aware of these personality traits and their association with depression to identify the psychologically most vulnerable BCW and improve the care they provide them. The psychotherapeutic intervention should be planned to face on the personality problems.

PMID:35968604 | DOI:10.1177/10732748221103327

Zhonghua Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Jun 14;43(6):499-505. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2022.06.010.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of blocking P21 activated kinase 1 (PAK1) activity on the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) cell lines (CHRF and CMK) . Methods: Cell counts were used to detect the effects of PAK1 inhibitors (IPA-3 and G5555) on AMKL cell proliferation inhibition and colony formation, and flow cytometry was used to detect its effects on AMKL cell cycle. The effect of PAK1 inhibitor on the expression of cyclin D1 and apoptosis-related protein Cleaved caspase 3 was detected using Western blot, while interference with the protein expression level of PAK1 in AMKL cells was assessed using lentivirus-mediated shRNA transfection technology. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of knockdown of PAK1 kinase activity on the ability of polyploid DNA formation and cell apoptosis in AMKL cells. Results: PAK1 inhibitors inhibited the proliferation of AMKL cells in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the ability of cell colony formation, and the difference was statistically significant when compared with the control group (P<0.05) . Moreover, they also reduced the percentage of AMKL cells in S phase, and Western blot detection showed that the expression levels of phosphorylated PAK1 and cyclin D1 decreased significantly. Finally, PAK1 inhibitors induced AMKL cell apoptosis by up-regulating Cleaved caspase 3 and showed different abilities to increase the content of polyploid DNA in megakaryocytes. Only high concentrations of IPA-3 and low doses of G5555 increased the number of polyploid megakaryocytes, while knockdown of PAK1 kinase activity promoted AMKL cell differentiation and increased the apoptosis rate. Conclusion: PAK1 inhibitor significantly arrests AMKL cell growth and promotes cell apoptosis. Knocking down the expression of PAK1 promotes the formation of polyploid DNA and induces AMKL cell apoptosis. The above findings indicate that inhibiting the activity of PAK1 may control AMKL effectively.

PMID:35968594 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2022.06.010