Tag: statistics

Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 2022 Apr;239(4):484-489. doi: 10.1055/a-1788-3967. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of core vitrectomy and pars plana vitrectomy for lens exchange in patients with intraocular lens dislocation.

METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted at one eye center in Zurich, Switzerland. We reviewed 124 eyes with dislocated intraocular lens undergoing lens exchange carried out by two surgeons between 03/2016 and 12/2019 (45 months). Intraocular pressure (IOP) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were analyzed preoperatively and at 5 time points up to 12 months after lens exchange. Data on postoperative complications were collected.

RESULTS: There were 124 eyes with intraocular lens dislocation that were referred for lens exchange. Of these eyes, 59 (48%) received core vitrectomy and 65 (52%) received pars plana vitrectomy with lens exchange. Glaucoma was more frequent in the core vitrectomy group (78%) than in the pars plana vitrectomy group (32%; p < 0.001). In the core vitrectomy group, 19 (32%) eyes presented with visual impairment, 17 (29%) eyes presented with high IOP alone, and 23 (39%) eyes presented with both at the same time prior to surgery. Mean preoperative IOP in the core vitrectomy group decreased from 22.4 ± 9.2 mmHg to 14.7 ± 3.1 mmHg 12 months after surgery (p < 0.001). Mean BCVA changed from 0.40 ± 0.41 logMAR preoperatively to 0.32 ± 0.37 logMAR at 12 months postoperatively (p = 0.598) in the core vitrectomy group. In the pars plana vitrectomy group, 44 (68%) eyes presented with a change in vision, 7 (11%) eyes presented with high IOP alone, and 14 (22%) eyes presented with pressure elevation and visual impairment at the visit prior to surgery. Mean preoperative IOP in the pars plana vitrectomy group decreased from 20.9 ± 8.3 mmHg to 15.1 ± 3.5 mmHg at 12 months after lens exchange (p < 0.001). Mean BCVA in the pars plana vitrectomy group was 0.57 ± 0.62 logMAR preoperatively and 0.22 ± 0.35 logMAR 12 months postoperatively (p < 0.001). Postoperative pressure decompensation occurred more frequently in the core vitrectomy group (20%) than in the pars plana vitrectomy group (6%; p = 0.018). There was no statistically significant difference for postoperative cystoid macular edema (p = 0.055), anisometropia (p = 0.986), and high astigmatism (p = 0.362).

CONCLUSION: Core vitrectomy and pars plana vitrectomy with lens exchange are equally efficient and safe in the management of intraocular lens dislocation.

PMID:35472791 | DOI:10.1055/a-1788-3967

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2022 Apr 23;242:113971. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113971. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Refined coal tar sealant (RCTS) emulsions are used to seal the surface of asphalt pavement. Nine of the 22 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) evaluated in this study are classified as known, probable, or possible human carcinogens. Exposure assessment research for RCTS workers has not been published previously.

OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of this study was to develop a representative occupational exposure assessment of PAH exposure for RCTS workers based on worksite surveys. The specific aims were to: 1) quantify full-shift airborne occupational exposures to PAHs among RCTS workers; 2) quantify workers’ dermal exposures to PAHs; 3) quantify biomarkers of PAH exposure in workers’ urine; 4) identify specific job titles associated with RCTS exposure; and 5) apply these results to a biological exposure index to assess risk of potential genotoxicity from occupational exposures.

METHODS: A total of twenty-one RCTS workers were recruited from three companies. Personal and area air samples were collected using a modification of NIOSH Method 5515. Dermal exposure was assessed by hand and neck wipes before and after shifts. Twenty-two PAHs were quantified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring. Internal dose was estimated by quantifying select PAH metabolites in pre- and post-shift urine samples using on-line solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTS: PAH levels in the worker breathing zones were highest for naphthalene, acenaphthene, and phenanthrene, with geometric means of 52.1, 11.4, and 9.8 μg/m³, respectively. Hand wipe levels of phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene were the highest among the 22 PAHs with geometric means of 7.9, 7.7, and 5.5 μg/cm², respectively. Urinary PAH biomarkers for naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene were detected in all workers and were higher for post-shift samples than those collected pre-shift. Urinary concentrations of the metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene were greater than the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Biological Exposure Index (BEI) for this metabolite in 89 percent of post-shift samples collected on the final day of the work week or field survey. Statistically significances were found between concentrations of fluorene, naphthalene, and phenanthrene in the breathing zone of workers and their corresponding urinary PAH biomarkers. Workers were placed in two work place exposure groups: applicators and non-applicators. Applicators had higher total PAH concentrations in personal breathing zone (PBZ) air samples than non-applicators and were more likely to have post-shift hand wipe concentrations significantly higher than pre-shift concentrations. Concentrations of post-shift urinary biomarkers were higher, albeit not significantly, for applicators than non-applicators.

CONCLUSIONS: The exposure results from RCTS worker samples cannot be explained by proximal factors such as nearby restaurants or construction. Air and skin concentration levels were substantially higher for RCTS workers than previously published levels among asphalt workers for all PAHs. PAH profiles on skin wipes were more consistent with RCTS sealant product than air samples. Last day post-shift urinary concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene greatly exceeded the ACGIH BEI benchmark of 2.5 μg/L in 25 of 26 samples, which suggests occupational exposure and risk of genotoxicity. When pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene were both detected, concentration ratios from personal exposure samples were used to calculate the adjusted BEI. Concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene exceeded the adjusted BEIs for air, hand wipes, and neck wipes in most cases. These results indicate the need to increase safety controls and exposure mitigation for RCTS workers.

PMID:35472749 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113971

J Biomech. 2022 Apr 20;137:111095. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111095. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Achilles tendon (AT) mechanical properties can be estimated using an inverse dynamic approach, taking into account the tendon internal moment arm (IMA) and its kinematic behavior. Although AT presents a curvilinear line of action, a straight-line function to estimate IMA and AT length is often utilized in the literature. In this study, we combined kinetic, kinematic and ultrasound data to understand the impact of two different approaches (straight-line vs. curvilinear) in determining AT mechanical properties in vivo (during walking and running at the self-selected speed). AT force and power were calculated based on data of AT IMA and AT length derived by both respective methods. All investigated parameters were significantly affected by the method utilized (paired t-test; p < 0.05): when using the curvilinear method IMA was about 5% lower and AT length about 1.2% higher, whereas peak and mean values of AT force and power were 5% higher when compared to the straight-line method (both in walking and running). Statistic-parametric mapping (SMP) analysis revealed significant differences in IMA during the early and the late stance phase of walking and during the late stance phase of running (p < 0.01); SPM revealed significant differences also in AT length during the entire stance phase in both locomotion modes (p < 0.01). These results confirm and extend previous findings to human locomotion: neglecting the AT curvature might be a source of error, resulting in underestimates not only of internal moment arm and tendon length, but also of tendon force and power.

PMID:35472710 | DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111095

J Surg Res. 2022 Apr 23;277:100-109. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.03.011. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patients after polytrauma suffer from posttraumatic immune system dysregulation and multiple organ dysfunction. Genome-wide microarray profiling in monocytes revealed a regulatory network of inflammatory markers around the transcription factor AP-1 in severely injured patients. Recent research focuses on the role of neutrophils in posttraumatic inflammation. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the impact of this inflammatory network in neutrophils.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood sampling and neutrophil separation were performed on admission of the patient and at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after trauma. Neutrophil expression levels of the target genes c-Jun, c-Fos, BCL2A, MMP-9, TIMP-1, ETS-2, IL-1β, and MIP-1β were quantified by RT-qPCR. Patients were assorted into groups according to distinct clinical parameters like massive transfusion (>10 RBC units/24 h), injury severity (ISS), 90-d survival, and the presence of traumatic brain injury (defined by ICI on head CT). Statistics were calculated by Mann-Whitney Rank-Sum Test, Receiver Operating Curves, and binary multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS: Forty severely injured patients (mean ISS 36 ± 14) were included. BCL2A, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and ETS2 levels showed a significant correlation to 90-d-survival in the early posttraumatic period (6 h-24 h). Furthermore, differential BCL2A, IL-1β, MIP-1β, and MMP-9 regulation was observed in patients requiring massive transfusion. We could further show a significant TIMP-1 response in trauma PMN associated with traumatic brain injury.

CONCLUSIONS: This study of seriously injured patients highlights very early posttraumatic transcriptional changes in PMNs, which were clearly associated with posttraumatic events and outcomes.

PMID:35472724 | DOI:10.1016/j.jss.2022.03.011

J Neural Eng. 2022 Apr 26. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac6a7b. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The investigation of neurophysiologic mechanisms of anesthetic drug-induced loss of consciousness (LOC) by using the entropy, complexity, and information integration theories at the mesoscopic level has been a hot topic in recent years. However, systematic research is still lacking.

APPROACH: We analyzed electrocorticography (ECoG) data recorded from nine rats during isoflurane-induced unconsciousness. To characterize the complexity and connectivity changes, we investigated ECoG power, symbolic dynamic-based entropy (i.e., permutation entropy (PE)), complexity (i.e., permutation Lempel-Ziv complexity (PLZC)), information integration (i.e., permutation cross mutual information (PCMI)), and PCMI-based cortical brain networks in the frontal, parietal, and occipital cortical regions.

MAIN RESULTS: Firstly, LOC was accompanied by a raised power in the ECoG beta (12-30 Hz) but a decreased power in the high gamma (55-95 Hz) frequency band in all three brain regions. Secondly, PE and PLZC showed similar change trends in the lower frequency band (0.1-45 Hz), declining after LOC (p<0.05) and increasing after recovery of consciousness (p<0.001). Thirdly, intra-frontal and inter-frontal-parietal PCMI declined after LOC, in both lower (0.1-45Hz) and higher frequency bands (55-95Hz) (p<0.001). Finally, the local network parameters of the nodal clustering coefficient and nodal efficiency in the frontal region decreased after LOC, in both the lower and higher frequency bands (p<0.05). Moreover, global network parameters of the normalized average clustering coefficient and small world index increased slightly after LOC in the lower frequency band. However, this increase was not statistically significant.

SIGNIFICANCE: The PE, PLZC, PCMI and PCMI-based brain networks are effective metrics for qualifying the effects of isoflurane.

PMID:35472693 | DOI:10.1088/1741-2552/ac6a7b

Clin Imaging. 2022 Apr 22;87:28-33. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2022.04.004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To determine frequency of duodenal anatomical variants on clinically indicated pediatric UGI examinations and determine the influence of these variants and exam quality on the reliability of diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-pediatric radiologists retrospectively reviewed 100-UGI exams performed on children ≤18-years. Exams were considered diagnostic if the duodenojejunal (DJ) flexure was identified. For diagnostic exams, readers categorized the duodenal location and shape as: normal, normal variant, or abnormal. Exam quality was assessed according to duodenal visualization, number of boluses required, and patient positioning.

RESULTS: Reader 1: 90/100 exams diagnostic -77% normal duodenum, 20% normal variant, and 3% abnormal. Reader 2: 97/100 exams diagnostic – 88% normal, 8% normal variant, and 4% abnormal. Original reports: 99/100 exams diagnostic – 92% normal, 3% normal variant, and 5% abnormal. 42% of exams were “high-quality” and 58% were “low-quality”. The number of abnormal was the same between readers in “high-quality” studies. In “low-quality” studies reader 1 and the original read diagnosed 1 further case as non-rotation which was diagnosed as a normal variant by reader 2. Two further cases were reported as non-rotation by the original reader. Inter-rater reliability was significantly higher among each pair of raters in “high quality” exams (κ 0.3; p ≤ 0.05) compared to “low quality” exams (k < 0.1 – p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Duodenal variants were diagnosed in 8-20% of UGI. Compromised exam quality contributes to poor interrater reliability and may result in diagnostic errors of normal variant duodenums, posing a risk for unnecessary intervention and/or delayed treatment.

PMID:35472665 | DOI:10.1016/j.clinimag.2022.04.004

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2022 Apr 23;31(7):106477. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106477. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Despite the success of recanalization by bridging therapy, about half of treated stroke patients remain disabled. While numerous reports propose clinical predictors of stroke clinical outcome in this context, we originally aimed to study pre-therapeutic factors influencing infarct growth (IG) and poor clinical outcome in strokes due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) successfully recanalized.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 87 consecutive successfully recanalized patients (mTICI: 2b/2c/3) by mechanical thrombectomy (±rt-PA) after stroke due to middle cerebral artery (M1) occlusion within 6 h according to AHA guidelines. IG was defined by subtracting the initial DWI volume to the final 24 h-TDM volume. Statistical associations between poor clinical outcome (mRS≥2), IG and pertinent clinico-radiological variables, were measured using logistic and linear regression models.

RESULTS: Among 87 enrolled patients (Age(y): 68.4 ± 17.5; NIHSS: 16.0 ± 5.4), 42/87 (48,28%) patients had a mRS ≥ 2 at 3 months. Diabetic history (OR: 3.70 CI95%[1.03;14.29] and initial NIHSS (/1 point: OR: 1.16 CI95%[1.05;1.27]) were independently associated with poor outcome. IG was significantly higher in stroke patients with poor outcome (+7.57 ± 4.52 vs -7.81 ± 1.67; p = 0.0024). Initial volumes were not significantly different (mRS≥2: 16.18 ± 2.67; mRS[0-1]: 14.70 ± 2.30; p = 0.6771). Explanatory variables of IG in linear regression were diabetic history (β: 21.26 CI95%[5.43; 37.09]) and NIHSS (β: 0.83 CI95%[0.02; 1.64]). IG was higher in diabetic stroke patients (23.54 ± 1.43 vs -6.20 ± 9.36; p = 0.0061).

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that diabetes leads to continued IG after complete recanalization, conditioning clinical outcome in LVO strokes successfully recanalized by bridging therapy. We suggest that poor tissular reperfusion by diabetic microangiopathy could explain this result.

PMID:35472652 | DOI:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106477

World Neurosurg. 2022 Apr 23:S1878-8750(22)00516-2. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.04.067. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational population-based study OBJECTIVES: Aims of this study were to determine the time trend of demographics, complications, and outcomes for patients undergoing posterior/transforaminal (PLIF/TLIF) or anterior/lateral lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF/LLIF) and to compare the differences in the time trends between both procedures.

METHODS: The ACS-NSQIP database was queried for patients undergoing PLIF/TLIF and ALIF/LLIF procedures. Outcomes were analyzed for differences between two time periods in the PLIF/TLIF and ALIF/LLIF cohorts separately (2009-2013 and 2015-2019). Longitudinal time trends of the two procedures were determined by difference-in-differences (DID) analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.

RESULTS: For both approaches, there was an increase in age and ASA class over time, accompanied by a significant decrease in blood transfusions and morbidity. The DID analysis showed a greater change in age (DID:-1.8%; p<0.001) and more patients rated ASA class 3 (DID: -2.4%; p=0.033) in the ALIF/LLIF patients compared to PLIF/TLIF. Length of stay (LOS) declined significantly over time in both cohorts, with a greater reduction observed for patients who underwent ALIF/LLIF compared to PLIF/TLIF (DID: 0.2%; p=0.014). There were no changes in readmission rates over time in either cohort (PLIF/TLIF DID: 0.6%; p=0.080; ALIF/LLIF DID: -0.2%; p=0.696).

CONCLUSIONS: Time trends for PLIF/TLIF and ALIF/LIIF showed a significant increase in the number of older patients with complex medical status undergoing surgery. Despite these trends, there were decreases in overall postoperative morbidity, incidence of blood transfusion, and LOS, without increasing readmission. These results suggest general improvement in surgical and perioperative management of lumbar fusion over time with greater gains found in ALIF/LLIF specific care compared to PLIF/TLIF.

PMID:35472646 | DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2022.04.067

Chemosphere. 2022 Apr 23:134695. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134695. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Polycyclic aromatic compound (PAC) contamination in soil as a result of oil spills is a serious issue because of the huge global demand for fossil energy. This study assessed the vertical variation in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), derivatives of PAHs (dPAHs) and bacterial community structure in deep soil with long-term contamination by oil spillage. Our results suggest that the content of total PACs ranged from 1196.6 μg/kg to 14980.9 μg/kg and decreased with depth at all sites. PAHs were the most abundant PACs, with a median concentration of 6640.7 μg/kg, followed by oxygenated PAHs (median 156.3 μg/kg) and nitrated PAHs (median 33.4 μg/kg). PAHs are mainly low molecular weight PACs such as naphthalene, fluorene and phenanthrene, while derivatives of PAHs are all low molecular weight PACs and mainly oxygenated PAHs. Low molecular weight PAHs were an important source of dPAHs under specific conditions. The bacterial community structure showed higher bacterial diversity and lower bacterial richness in shallow soil (2-6 m in depth) than in deep soil (8-10 m in depth). Spearman’s analysis confirmed that dramatic bacterial community shifts are a response to contamination. At the genus level, the presence of PACs highly selected for Pseudomonas, belonging to Proteobacteria. Moreover, functional predictions based on Tax4Fun revealed that soil with long-term contamination had a strong potential for PAC degradation. In addition, statistical analysis showed that oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) was closely related to variations of bacterial community composition and function. Finally, Ramlibacter, Pseudomonas, Pseudonocardia, c_MB-A2-108, f_Amb-16S-1323, and Qipengyuania were identified by cooccurrence network analysis as keystone taxa contributing to the maintenance of bacterial ecological function. Together, our results provide evidence of tight bacterial effects of PAHs and dPAHs and a more complete understanding of the fate of PACs in deep contaminated soils.

PMID:35472616 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134695

Behav Processes. 2022 Apr 23:104646. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104646. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Behavioral economic demand has been shown to have high utility in quantifying the value or consumption of a commodity. Demand describes the relationship between cost and consumption of a commodity, and tends to be curvilinear with consumption approaching zero as the cost increases to a sufficiently high cost to suppress consumption completely. Over a period spanning greater than three decades, behavioral economists have made great strides in the modeling of demand and addressing analytical challenges, although this work is not complete and unresolved challenges remain. The analytical challenges associated with modeling zeros both when they arise as consumption values of zero and when consumption at zero cost is assessed have been a substantial part of this evolution in models. The goals of this methodological review are to provide a historical overview of the major behavioral economic demand models that have been proposed, describe some of the common difficulties with analyzing behavioral economic demand, and discuss general considerations for the analysis of demand. In an environment with evolving and multiple competing analytical practices, we conclude that researchers can maximize scientific rigor by embracing transparency in their analysis choices and employing techniques such as sensitivity analyses to determine if their analysis choices impact the conclusions of their experiments.

PMID:35472630 | DOI:10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104646