Tag: statistics

Physiol Res. 2024 Dec 31;73(6):1025-1035.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity are generally known to have increased risk of various types of cancer, though studies addressing associations between T2DM/obesity and thyroid cancer are inconclusive. The aim of our study was to evaluate the risk of thyroid cancer focusing on diabetic patients under conditions of euthyroid status. A retrospective study in 184 patients was performed. Three cohorts were established according to tumor histology: malignant (M), benign (B) and low-risk carcinoma (MB). Fisher’s exact test and Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA of ranks were used for statistical analysis. The M (39.1 %), B (57.6 %) and MB (3.3 %) cohorts had comparable age (p=0.4), BMI (p=0.452), glycaemia (p=0.834), Hb1AC (p=0.157) and HOMA-IR (p=0.235). T2DM patients had larger thyroid gland volumes (28.8 vs 17.6 mL;p=0.001) compared to the cohort with normal glucose tolerance. Compared to women, men had more frequently present distal metastases (p=0.017), minimally invasive disease (p=0.027), more advanced staging (p=0.01) and positive pathogenic mutations in the TERT gene (p=0.009);these results were also significant for the diabetic male cohort (p=0.026). Type 2 diabetes and obesity are not risk factors for thyroid cancer, but a subgroup of males seems to have thyroid cancers of poorer prognosis. In general, diabetic patients with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are also prone to have a goiter.

KEY WORDS: Thyroid cancer, Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Thyroid nodule, Insulin resistance.

PMID:39903892

Physiol Res. 2024 Dec 31;73(6):1001-1011.

ABSTRACT

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a consequence of several diseases that can severely damage kidney function. It is a frequent complication of hospitalization and very common in critically ill patients because of other serious illnesses, such as septic conditions. New diagnostic options, including renal biomarkers, may help in early diagnosis. Our study included 46 patients, 31 with AKI and 15 without AKI on admission. Blood samples were collected on the first, fourth, and seventh days of treatment, and in addition to basic biochemical parameters, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in serum were also examined. Data from the first and seventh day were used for statistical analysis. On the first follow-up day, NGAL values were categorized according to an optimal cut-off value of 290 µg/l. We demonstrated that if NGAL levels were higher, the risk of renal injury increased approximately 16 times. Other results showed that NGAL levels were moderately correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.613, p < 0.0001), procalcitonin (PCT) (r = 0.627, p < 0.0001), and AKI stage (r = 0.589, p < 0.0001). There was also a significant positive correlation with SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score (r = 0.395, p = 0.007). Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in managing AKI and preventing further kidney damage. NGAL levels can increase within a few hours after injury, making it a useful tool for early AKI detection and diagnosis. Key words: Acute kidney injury, Biomarker, NGAL, Sepsis.

PMID:39903890

Adv Neonatal Care. 2025 Feb 4. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000001235. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Thermoregulation is paramount in preterm infant care, traditionally addressed through nurse-led incubator weaning protocols. Recent research has introduced infant-driven incubator protocols that are demonstrating promise.

PURPOSE: This study, conducted at a freestanding academic pediatric hospital in the mid-Atlantic, examined the impact of infant-led incubator weaning on a specific neonatal cohort. The primary hypothesis posited that infants in the infant-led weaning group would wean out of the incubator at earlier gestational ages and lower weights, while maintaining comparable or greater weight gain during the transition to open cribs.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review compared 40 infants weighing less than 1500 g before and after a weaning protocol change.

RESULTS: Infant-led weaning demonstrated lower weights at weaning to crib (M = 1836.80 g) compared with nurse-led weaning (M = 1975.9 g), with statistical significance (t [36] = 2.27, P = .02, Cohen’s d = 0.74). Infants in the infant-led group had a lower weight change 5 days prior to weaning (M = 141 g) compared with the nurse-led group (M = 185 g), which is also statistically significant (t [36] = 1.93, P = .03, Cohen’s d = 0.63). T-tests revealed no significant differences in gestational age at wean to crib, change in weight post-weaning, gestational age, or days to discharge.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Infant-led weaning emerges as a safe alternative with potential benefits for preterm neonates and their families. While initial positive outcomes are evident, further research with a larger neonatal cohort is imperative to validate the efficacy of infant-led weaning as a successful alternative to traditional methods.

PMID:39903868 | DOI:10.1097/ANC.0000000000001235

Urol Pract. 2025 Jan 10:101097UPJ0000000000000760. doi: 10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000760. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Clinic no-shows result in misallocation of health care resources and decreased access to care. There is minimal published data examining factors associated with no-shows for ambulatory urology visits. We analyzed data from a large cohort of outpatient encounters at a tertiary health system to identify factors that increase the likelihood of ambulatory urology no-show.

METHODS: Data were available from scheduled ambulatory urology appointments at 18 clinics in an academic, tertiary health system between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2023. A control group of completed appointments and a study group of no-show appointments were used for comparative statistics. χ² and t tests were used to make comparisons. The false discovery rate-adjusted P value was calculated using Bonferroni method.

RESULTS: Data were available from a total of 990,749 appointments. A total of 187,036 appointments from 10 clinics met inclusion and exclusion criteria, among which 177,718 (95%) were completed appointments and 9318 (5%) were patient no-shows. Patients who no-showed were younger (58 years vs 62 years; P < .01) and Black (odds ratio [OR] 3.74). No-shows were more common if the visit was virtual (OR 1.50) or follow-up (OR 1.50). Patients referred from the emergency department were more likely to no-show (OR 1.50). Of the 26 urologic diagnoses examined, testis cancer (OR 2.58) and orchitis (OR 2.49) appointments were more likely to no-show.

CONCLUSIONS: We analyzed ambulatory urology appointments within our hospital enterprise and found factors associated with a higher rate of no-show. These data may be helpful to identify patients at risk of no-show and to implement tailored strategies to enhance clinic attendance.

PMID:39903836 | DOI:10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000760

PLoS One. 2025 Feb 4;20(2):e0317781. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317781. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

One of the key contributors to climate change is energy consumption, with the type of energy used having implications on the natural environment and health of users. To promote environmental sustainability and sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 aims to achieve accessibility, and affordability of clean and modern forms of energy for all. This study aims to investigate the effects of women empowerment, corruption control, foreign direct investment, and sectoral growth on access to clean energy in Africa, as well as the effects of the interrelatedness of these factors on clean energy access. Using data on 32 countries in Africa from 2002 to 2021 and rigorous econometric techniques, the study finds that women empowerment and corruption control significantly increase access to clean energy in Africa while sectoral analyses show varying effects of growth in the different sectors on clean energy accessibility. Furthermore, it is found that corruption control is not able to reverse situations of adverse effects of some variables on access to clean energy in some cases, likely due to the low levels of corruption control in Africa. The results suggest that African countries could enhance access to clean energy for its citizens and harness the full potential of clean energy, to promote sustainable development and improve the lives of their population, by empowering women, fighting corruption, and cultivating balanced economic growth.

PMID:39903795 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0317781

PLoS One. 2025 Feb 4;20(2):e0318200. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318200. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Self-harm is a major public health issue in the imprisoned population. Limited high-quality evidence exists for the potential impact of prison environmental factors such as solitary confinement. This exploratory pilot prospective cohort study in a large male remand prison in England sought to estimate effect sizes for a comprehensive range of prison environmental factors in relation to self-harming behaviours.

METHODS: A random sample of all prisoners (N = 149) starting a period of imprisonment at the study prison took part in a clinical research interview, which assessed a range of known risk factors for self-harm in prison. Information concerning environmental factors, including staff numbers, cell placement and movements, and engagement in work and activities were collected from prison records. Incidents of self-harm behaviour in the 3 months after entering prison were measured using medical records and self-report at end of follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression models were calculated individually for each predictor.

RESULTS: 55.7% of participants completed follow-up (83/149). Single cell placement (OR 4.31, 95% CI 1.06-18.24, p = 0.041) and more frequent changes of cellmate (OR 1.52, CI 1.14-2.17, p = 0.009) and cell (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.28-2.86, p = 0.003) were associated with an increased risk of self-harming behaviour. Time spent in areas with a higher number of prisoners per member of prison staff was significantly associated with reduced self-harm behaviour in adjusted models (OR 0.89, CI 0.78-0.99, p = 0.039). Following sensitivity analyses, the associations between frequent cell changes and self-harm behaviour, and between single cell placement and self-harm ideation, remained statistically significant.

DISCUSSION: This exploratory pilot study provides prospective longitudinal data regarding relationships between prison environmental factors and self-harm behaviour. Findings regarding single cell accommodation and frequent cell changes are consistent with the prior evidence base largely derived from case-control study data. The finding regarding frequent cellmate changes predicting self-harm is novel. Findings regarding prisoner-staff ratio and self-harm most likely reflect a reverse causal relationship. Replication in larger cohort studies is required to address the limitations of this pilot study.

PMID:39903794 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0318200

PLoS One. 2025 Feb 4;20(2):e0317456. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317456. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Suicide is recognized as a major problem worldwide and is particularly prevalent among specific groups, including individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). The present study aimed to investigate alcohol consumption as a risk factor for suicidal ideation and attempts among those with substance use disorders (SUDs) in western Iran.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, involving 1,112 individuals with SUDs who sought treatment at Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran, between the years 2019 and 2021. These participants were included in the study through a convenient sampling method as part of an interview-based assessment study.

RESULTS: The participant’s average age was 37.97 years, and 982 were male (94.7%). Overall, 285 (27.5%) individuals had a history of suicide attempts, 316 (30.5%) individuals reported suicidal ideation, and 463 (41.6%) were alcohol users. In individuals who consumed alcohol, the prevalence of suicidal ideation (172 (37.2%) individuals), and a history of suicide attempts (156 (33.8%) individuals) was significantly higher compared to non-alcohol users. There was a statistically significant relationship between alcohol consumption and a history of suicide attempts (p < 0.05). The probability of suicide attempted in people with a history of alcohol consumption was 1.5 times, and in patients with a history of simultaneous substance use, it was 1.4 times that of other patients (all Ps < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our study results revealed that alcohol consumption among individuals with SUDs is associated with increased rates of suicidal ideation, attempts, and death. Therefore, clinicians should consider it as a separate suicide risk factor.

PMID:39903791 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0317456

PLoS One. 2025 Feb 4;20(2):e0317797. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317797. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Studies evaluating the effects of interdisciplinary treatment (IDT) on sickness absence and disability pension (SA/DP) have yielded contradictory findings. Evidence indicates that positive treatment effects are restricted to patients with a poor SA/DP prognosis. This study therefore analyzed the effect of IDT in working age patients on partial disability pension, which is a group with a particularly poor prognosis. With data from 479 patients on partial disability pension, this register-based cohort study compared the effects of IDT to those of unspecified interventions. We considered two response variables: total net SA/DP days across the span of three years from the first visit to a Swedish specialist pain clinic, and the risk of having the maximum possible 1096 SA/DP days over the same period. Our results showed that both the total net SA/DP days (mean difference: 11; 95% confidence interval: -30 to 51) and the risk of 1096 SA/DP days (risk ratio: 1.0; 95% confidence interval: 0.6 to 1.4) were similar irrespective of intervention type. Under our theoretical model, we thereby found no support in favor of IDT over less intensive interventions in working age patients with partial DP. This raises questions about the specific criteria under which IDT proves effective.

PMID:39903783 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0317797

PLoS One. 2025 Feb 4;20(2):e0317833. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317833. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dating violence (DV) is a major public health problem with serious consequences for the young population. The Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationship Inventory (CADRI) is the most internationally used tool to measure DV. However, no tool has been translated, culturally adapted, or validated in the Greek context to assess the prevalence of DV in the Greek population.

AIM: To culturally adapt, validate, and translate the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationship Inventory (CADRI) in the Greek language to ensure its reliability and cultural and linguistic validity in the Greek population.

METHODS: A cross-cultural adaptation process and cross-sectional study were carried out. There were two phases in the research. First, face validity was assessed after the first phase of translation, which included cross-cultural item adaptation, content validation and expert review of the instrument. In the second stage, the scale’s psychometric qualities were assessed on a sample of nursing college students. A CADRI instrument was used to assess DV.

RESULTS: The final sample comprised a total of 177 university students. The internal consistency and reliability were good (>0.7), with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.889 for the violence perpetrated subscale and 0.925 for the violence suffered subscale, indicating strong correlations between the total item scores. After exploratory factor analysis was performed, the structure obtained was similar to the original structure. Furthermore, 88.7% of university students perpetrated DV in the last year on their partners, and 90.7% suffered DV, with verbal and emotional violence the most common types.

CONCLUSION: This study provides robust evidence of the validity and reliability of the CADRI for measuring DV in the Greek university population. Additionally, the high prevalence makes it necessary to create DV prevention plans and further research, especially among nursing students.

IMPACT: Validation of the CADRI in Greece will increase the knowledge of DV in this population, which lacks validated instruments.

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The results obtained with the CADRI can be applied to the prevention of DV in young people.

PMID:39903781 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0317833

J Clin Nurs. 2025 Feb 4. doi: 10.1111/jocn.17674. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To systematically assess the effects of massage and touch on agitation in patients with dementia and to determine the optimal intervention design.

BACKGROUND: Agitated behaviour is the most common behavioural symptom in patients with dementia and can seriously affect the health status and quality of life of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Massage and touch have been widely used as a non-pharmacological intervention to address the behavioural issues of dementia. However, current research findings on the effects of massage and touch on agitation in people with dementia are inconsistent.

DESIGN: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

METHODS: This meta-analysis complied with PRISMA guidelines, and relevant literature up to January 2024 was systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Clinical Trials Registry, Cochrane Library and four Chinese databases. Statistical evaluations were performed utilising Review Manager 5.4, and the included studies’ bias risks were assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

RESULTS: Seventeen randomised controlled trials involving 980 patients with dementia were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that massage and touch could ameliorate agitation and behaviour problems in dementia. Subgroup analyses based on massage type showed that hand, head and foot massage significantly improved agitation. Massage and touch for ≤ 4 weeks were more effective in reducing agitated behaviour than those for > 4 weeks. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that massages and touch were more effective for individuals with less severe dementia.

CONCLUSIONS: Massage and touch in the short term can effectively improve agitation in dementia patients, while hand, head and foot massage can effectively reduce agitation. Thus, clinical nursing staff and caregivers of individuals should be actively helped to apply massage and touch to their patients. However, more studies are needed to validate our results before we can give a more definitive recommendation.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study suggests that massage and touch can be used as complementary treatments for agitation in people with dementia and encourages nursing staff and caregivers to apply massage and touch to better cope with the agitated behaviour of older adults with dementia.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024507133.

PMID:39902611 | DOI:10.1111/jocn.17674