Tag: statistics

Int J Neurosci. 2022 Oct 19:1-11. doi: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2138381. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To observe the effect of ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in the treatment of herpes zoster neuralgia (HZN).Methods: Eighty patients with HZN were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with ultrasound-guided PRP injection of target nerves combined with drugs. The control group was treated with drugs alone. The pain scores of before treatment (T0), and 1 week (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3) and 6 months (T4) after treatment were recorded with Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The sleep quality of patients was assessed with the Athens Insomnia Scale, and the dosage used at each time point, skin lesions, adverse reactions, and the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) were recorded.Results: The NRS score of the two groups after treatment showed a downward trend. Compared with T0 at each time point, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). And the NRS score of the observation group was lower than control group (P < 0.05). The sleep quality of the observation group was better. The dosage of the observation group was less, and the time of herpes dry-up, scab crusting and shedding in the observation group was significantly shorter (P < 0.05). The incidence of dizziness, lethargy, ataxia and PHN in the observation group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Compared with traditional drug treatment alone, the ultrasound-guided PRP injection has the advantages of better analgesia and fewer side effects, which provides a new idea for the treatment of HZN.

PMID:36259487 | DOI:10.1080/00207454.2022.2138381

Anat Sci Educ. 2022 Oct 19. doi: 10.1002/ase.2230. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Visuospatial skills are considered important attributes when learning anatomy and there is evidence suggesting that this ability can be improved with training techniques including drawing. The Mental Rotations Test (MRT) has been routinely used to assess visuospatial ability. This study aimed to introduce students to drawing as a learning strategy for anatomy. Undergraduate speech science anatomy students took part in a drawing tutorial (n = 92), completed an MRT test, pre- and post-tutorial tests and surveys regarding their use and attitudes towards drawing as a study tool. The impact on their examination performance was then assessed. Regardless of MRT score or attitude to drawing, students who participated in the drawing tutorial demonstrated immediate improvement in post-tutorial test scores. Students in the drawing group performed better in most anatomy components of the examination, but the result did not reach statistical significance. There was only a positive correlation between MRT score and one type of anatomy question (non-image-based) and speech physics questions (r = 0.315, P = 0.002). The unexpected finding may relate to the MRT which assesses spatial rather than object visualization skills. Students who liked drawing also performed significantly better in word-based and speech physics questions. It is likely that the style of identification question did not require the mental manipulation ability assessed in the MRT. This study demonstrated that students with lower MRT scores are not outperformed in all aspects of anatomy assessment. The study highlights the importance of a more nuanced understanding of visuospatial skills required in anatomy.

PMID:36259486 | DOI:10.1002/ase.2230

Br J Nutr. 2022 Oct 19:1-27. doi: 10.1017/S0007114522003373. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome characterized by a severe disorder of pathophysiology caused by infection of pathogenic microorganisms. The addition of antioxidant micronutrient therapies such as thiamine to sepsis treatment remains controversial. This study explored the effect of thiamine on the prognosis of patients with sepsis. This study was a retrospective study involving patients with sepsis from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV. Patients were divided into two groups, the thiamine received group (TR) and the thiamine unreceived group (TUR), according to whether they were supplemented with thiamin via intravenous while in the intensive care unit (ICU). The primary outcome was ICU mortality. The association between thiamine and outcome was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model, propensity score matching (PSM), generalized boosted model-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and doubly robust estimation. A total of 11,553 sepsis patients were enrolled in this study. After controlling for potential confounders using Cox regression models, the TR group had a statistically significantly lower ICU mortality risk than the TUR group. The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of ICU mortality for the TR group was 0.80 (0.70, 0.93). We obtained the same results after using PSM, IPTW, and doubly robust estimation. Supplementation with thiamine has a beneficial effect on the prognosis of patients with sepsis. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of thiamine supplementation in the treatment of sepsis.

PMID:36259460 | DOI:10.1017/S0007114522003373

Eur J Sport Sci. 2022 Oct 19:1-14. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2022.2138556. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sirt1 is an enzyme involved in several anti-aging pathways. Associations between Sirt1, age, and body fat (BF) were assessed in master sprinters (MS; n = 35; 50.25 ±5.93 yr.), untrained young non-athletes (UY; n = 32; 23.78 ±3.98 yr.), and untrained middle-aged (UMA; n = 24; 47.29 ±8.04 yr.). BF was assessed using a skinfold protocol, and Sirt1 was measured in plasma by using commercial kits. Sirt1 of MS (17.18 ±4.77 ng/mL) was higher than UMA (6.36 ±2.29 ng/mL; p<0.0001) and did not differ from UY (20.26 ±6.20 ng/mL). Relative BF of MS was lower than UMA (12.71 ±4.07% vs. 22.13 ±4.18%; p<0.0001). Sirt1 was negatively correlated with chronological age (r =-0.735; p<0.0001) when combining UY and UMA in the analysis. However, when Sirt1 of MS and UY were analyzed together, no significant relationship between Sirt1 and chronological age was observed (r= -0.243; p=0.083). Sirt1 correlated inversely with BF (r= -0.743; p<0.0001) for UY and UMA. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that being either a young or master athlete, as well as body adiposity, are possible predictors of Sirt1 levels. MS and UY were associated with higher levels of Sirt1, while UMA and increased BF were associated with lower levels of this enzyme. The relationships among Sirt1, BF, and chronological age of young and middle-aged non-athletes were not statistically significant when the middle-aged participants were MS. These findings suggest possible links between Sirt1 and body composition, which may play roles in the rate of biological aging.Highlights Lower levels of Sirt1 are associated with higher body fat.Master Athlete lifestyle seems to promote higher Sirt1 Levels.

PMID:36259465 | DOI:10.1080/17461391.2022.2138556

J Neurotrauma. 2022 Oct 19. doi: 10.1089/neu.2022.0300. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent investigations have identified water polo athletes as at risk for concussions and repetitive subconcussive head impacts. However, head impact exposure in collegiate varsity women’s water polo has not yet been longitudinally quantified. We aimed to determine the relationship between cumulative and acute head impact exposure across preseason training and changes in serum biomarkers of brain injury. Twenty-two Division I collegiate women’s water polo players were included in this prospective observational study. They wore sensor-installed mouthguards during all practices and scrimmages during eight weeks of preseason training. Serum samples were collected at six time points (at baseline, before and after scrimmages during week 4 and 7, and after the eight-week preseason training period) and assayed for neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) using Simoa® Human Neurology 2-Plex B assay kits. Serum GFAP increased over time (e.g., an increase of 0.6559 pg/mL per week; p = 0.0087). However, neither longitudinal nor acute pre-post scrimmage changes in GFAP were associated with head impact exposure. Contrarily, an increase in serum NfL across the study period was associated with cumulative head impact magnitude (sum of peak linear acceleration: B = 0.015, SE = 0.006, p = 0.016; sum of peak rotational acceleration: B = 0.148, SE = 0.048, p = 0.006). Acute changes in serum NfL were not associated with head impacts recorded during the two selected scrimmages. Hormonal contraceptive use was associated with lower serum NfL and GFAP levels over time, and elevated salivary levels of progesterone were also associated with lower serum NfL levels. These results suggest that detecting increases in serum NfL may be a useful way to monitor cumulative head impact burden in women’s contact sports and that female-specific factors, such as hormonal contraceptive use and circulating progesterone levels, may be neuroprotective, warranting further investigations.

PMID:36259456 | DOI:10.1089/neu.2022.0300

Int J Nurs Pract. 2022 Oct 19:e13109. doi: 10.1111/ijn.13109. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to adapt the Nurse Turnover Intention Scale to Turkish and test its validity and reliability.

METHODS: This methodological study was conducted with 200 nurses. The Personal Information Form and the Nurse Turnover Intention Scale were used for data collection between November and December 2021. Language and content validity, explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, criterion validity, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, item-total score correlation and test-retest reliability methods were used for the validity and reliability analysis of the scale.

RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis showed that the Nurse Turnover Intention Scale had a single factor. Its single factor structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.902, and factor loading was between 0.60 and 0.78. Statistical analyses indicated that each item in the Turkish version of the scale had a high internal consistency. The test-retest correlation value was found as p < 0.05.

CONCLUSION: The Nurse Turnover Intention Scale has been confirmed to be a suitable, valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish society. Nurse turnover intention is the most powerful predictor of actual turnover within the nursing profession. This scale will help to easily attain valid and reliable outcomes.

PMID:36259444 | DOI:10.1111/ijn.13109

Oral Health Prev Dent. 2022 Oct 19;20(1):363-368. doi: 10.3290/j.ohpd.b3464893.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between periodontitis and preterm birth in Ivory Coast.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort study including 446 volunteers (pregnant women) aged 15-50 years was performed in the Gynecology-Obstetrics Department of the University Hospital Center of Cocody-Abidjan in Ivory Coast. Socioeconomic and periodontal status was obtained during pregnancy. After delivery, obstetric data was collected. Periodontitis was diagnosed according to the new 2018 EFP/AAP classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions, as follows: a subject presenting with interdental CAL at two non-adjacent teeth or buccal/oral CAL ≥ 3 mm with pocketing > 3 mm was diagnosed with periodontitis. Any birth before the 37th week was considered a preterm birth (PTB).

RESULTS: The prevalence of periodontitis and preterm birth were 59.47% and 18.34%, respectively. Periodontitis was mainly stage 1. PTB was statistically significantly higher in pregnant women with periodontitis compared to women without periodontitis (p = 0.0002). Multivariate analysis showed that periodontitis was associated with PTB (p = 0.0002). Logistic regression showed that periodontitis is a risk factor for preterm birth (OR = 3.62; 95% CI: 1.80-7.31; p = 0.0003).

CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that periodontitis is an additional risk factor for preterm birth in Ivory Coast.

PMID:36259439 | DOI:10.3290/j.ohpd.b3464893

Oral Health Prev Dent. 2022 Oct 19;20(1):349-353. doi: 10.3290/j.ohpd.b3464887.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of COVID-19 infection among dental professionals at an Academic Center in Madrid (Spain) at the beginning of the pandemic’s de-escalation phase.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed. COVID-19 infection was determined by membrane-based immunoassay qualitative detection of IgG and IgM antibodies in human whole blood. Age, sex, race and professional qualification were recorded, as were symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection whenever present. Data collected were analysed by means of descriptive and qualitative (X2) statistical analyses.

RESULTS: A total of 195 individuals were included (40 administrative professionals and 155 dentists). Seroprevalence at the end of the de-escalation phase was 20.0% among all the participants. The highest prevalence was found among the orthodontists (34.8%), followed by the paediatric dentists (28.6%) and oral surgeons (14.7%). Most subjects were positive for IgG and negative for IgM (79.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among dental professionals at the end of the de-escalation phase after the first wave of the pandemic was almost double the seroprevalence of the general population. Orthodontists had the highest rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

PMID:36259437 | DOI:10.3290/j.ohpd.b3464887

Ann Ital Chir. 2022 Sep 5;11:S0003469X22037721. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the increase in the number of complicated cases in patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic and the previous year.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective examination was made of the files of patients who presented at the Emergency Department and were diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent surgery within 24 hours or were followed up between 11 March and 1 June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the same period in the previous year. The patients in the pandemic period were named the pandemic group (PG) and the patients from the previous year, the control group (CG). The definition of complicated appendicitis included peri-appendicular abscess and perforated appendix.

RESULTS: The number of patients in the PG was 38.33% lower than in the CG. The duration of symptoms was 2 days in the PG and 1 day in the CG, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). The mean neutrophil count was determined to be higher in the PG than in the CG (p=0.018). The rate of perforated appendix was determined to be 10.9 higher in the PG than in the CG.

CONCLUSION: The number of patients presenting at the Emergency Department reduced during the pandemic, especially during periods of lockdown, and it was seen that fewer but more complicated patients presented at our centre.

KEY WORDS: Acute appendicitis, COVID-19, Perforation.

PMID:36259431

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022 Oct 19. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18039. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Older patients with poor prognosis cancers have complex needs that can benefit from geriatrics and palliative care principles. Because they are not routinely assessed, the prevalence of preexisting geriatric and palliative conditions in this population is unknown.

METHODS: We used the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked with Medicare claims (1998-2016) to identify adults aged ≥65 years diagnosed with poor prognosis cancers (cancers with a median survival ≤1 year). Using the HRS interview before the first Medicare cancer claim, we used survey-weighted descriptive statistics and modified Poisson regression analysis to examine the prevalence of the following clinically significant conditions: functional impairment, difficulty with mobility, falls and injurious falls, social support, cognition, advance care planning, use of pain or sleep medications, and presence of pain or breathlessness.

RESULTS: Of 2105 participants (mean age 76, 53% women, 34% lung cancer, 21% gastrointestinal cancer), the median survival was 9.6 months. Approximately 65% had difficulty climbing stairs (95% CI 63%-67%), 49% had no advance directive (95% CI 45%-54%), 35% lived alone (95% CI 33%-37%), 36% fell in the last 2 years (95% CI 34%-38%), and 32% rated their memory as poor (95% CI 29%-34%). After adjusting for gender, cancer type, and HRS survey time before the first Medicare claim for a poor prognosis cancer, functional impairment and falls were highest among adults aged 85+. Adults aged 65-74 years were less likely to have an advance directive. After adjusting for age, cancer type, and HRS survey time, women had a higher rate of pain and physical impairment. In exploratory analyses, race and socioeconomic status predicted difficulty with mobility and instrumental activities of daily living, living alone, and advance directive completion.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to a high prevalence across multiple domains, all older adults with poor prognosis cancers should be assessed for geriatric and palliative care conditions.

PMID:36259424 | DOI:10.1111/jgs.18039