Tag: statistics

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2021-0390. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study examined associations between child food involvement and food fussiness. Analyses used survey data from 62 children ages 1.5 to 5.9 years who participated in the Guelph Family Health Study Pilot. Overall involvement (β = -0.51, p = 0.02), involvement in meal preparation (β = -0.42, p = 0.009), and involvement in grocery shopping (β = -0.29, p = 0.04) were inversely associated with food fussiness. Experimental research including larger, more diverse samples is needed to test whether food involvement reduces food fussiness among young children. Novelty: • Our study identified significant, inverse associations between child food involvement and food fussiness.

PMID:34432990 | DOI:10.1139/apnm-2021-0390

S D Med. 2021 Apr;74(4):154-157.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is little data available that examines the activation of the cervical paraspinal muscles that occurs during the bench press. It is intuitive that activation of these muscles may lead to increased loads across the cervical spine and may increase the risk of injury to the intervertebral disks of the cervical spine.

HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis of this study is that by supporting the cervical spine with the “Bench Rite” cervical spine orthosis, there will be less muscular activation of the cervical paraspinal muscles as determined by electromyography when performing the bench press.

STUDY DESIGN: Comparative electromyographic study – Level of evidence III (case-control study).

METHODS: Fifteen healthy subjects performed two sets (with and without the cervical orthosis) of five repetitions of a 60 percent maximum repetition on the bench press for each muscle group tested (pectoralis major, deltoid, C5 paraspinal, trapezius). Electromyography was used to determine the maximum isometric contraction and concentric contraction of each muscle with and without the cervical orthosis. The concentric contraction of each muscle group was reported as a percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction.

RESULTS: The use of the “Bench Rite” cervical spine orthosis resulted in a statistically significant decrease in muscle activation in the C5 paraspinal (37 percent; p=0.0001) and deltoid muscles (9.8 percent; p=0.001) and a significant increase in trapezius muscle activation (9.3 percent; p=0.03). No differences were found in muscle activation of the pectoralis major with or without the use of the cervical spine orthosis (0.8 percent; p=0.90).

CONCLUSIONS: Weightlifters may consider utilizing the “Bench Rite” cervical orthosis while performing the bench press to decrease cervical paraspinal muscle activation without impacting the muscle activation of the pectoralis major.

PMID:34432961

Mol Syst Biol. 2021 Aug;17(8):e10240. doi: 10.15252/msb.202110240.

ABSTRACT

Advancements in mass spectrometry-based proteomics have enabled experiments encompassing hundreds of samples. While these large sample sets deliver much-needed statistical power, handling them introduces technical variability known as batch effects. Here, we present a step-by-step protocol for the assessment, normalization, and batch correction of proteomic data. We review established methodologies from related fields and describe solutions specific to proteomic challenges, such as ion intensity drift and missing values in quantitative feature matrices. Finally, we compile a set of techniques that enable control of batch effect adjustment quality. We provide an R package, “proBatch”, containing functions required for each step of the protocol. We demonstrate the utility of this methodology on five proteomic datasets each encompassing hundreds of samples and consisting of multiple experimental designs. In conclusion, we provide guidelines and tools to make the extraction of true biological signal from large proteomic studies more robust and transparent, ultimately facilitating reliable and reproducible research in clinical proteomics and systems biology.

PMID:34432947 | DOI:10.15252/msb.202110240

PM R. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12698. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Difficulty descending stairs is common in persons with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Clinically, it is important to know if and how this is explained by objectively measured difficulty to descend stairs, muscle weakness, pain, fear of movement, or knee joint status.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the potential of these factors to explain self-reported difficulty descending stairs DESIGN: Cross sectional, case-control SETTING: Hospital outpatient and physiotherapy clinic PARTICIPANTS: 28 men and women with knee OA (age 62.2 SD 5.9 years) and 31 controls (age 50.0 SD 8.5 years).

INTERVENTION: Not applicable MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Using multivariate statistics, group comparisons were made for lower extremity kinematics (incorporating hip-, knee-, and ankle- angles) and stance time in stair-descent and lower extremity muscle-strength. Then, a stepwise linear regression analysis was performed within the OA-group to explain self-reported difficulties in stair descent where pain, kinesiophobia, radiographic signs, and outcomes that differed from controls for stair-descent kinematics and muscle-strength were independent variables.

RESULTS: Multivariate statistics showed that the OA-group displayed different all-over lower extremity kinematics (F_{8, 42,} = 2.44 p = 0.029, η² = 0.32) and a longer stance time (F_{3, 50,} = 6.46; p = 0.001, η² = 0.28) in stair descent, and lower muscle strength (F_{7, 47,} = 2.39; p = 0.035, η² = 0.26) compared to controls. Regression analysis within the OA-group for explaining self-rated difficulties to descend stairs showed that the strongest association with kinesiophobia (ß = 0.607, p=0.001) that combined with pain last week and radiographic signs explained almost 100 % (ß = 0.972). Stair descent kinematics and strength variables that differed between groups did not explain self-rated difficulties to descend stairs.

CONCLUSION: Kinesiophobia and pain rather than stair-descent kinematics and reduced muscle-strength explained self-rated difficulties in stair descent in the OA-group. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34432951 | DOI:10.1002/pmrj.12698

J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2021 Aug 25:e12356. doi: 10.1111/jspn.12356. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Current routine circumcision rates declined indicating a procedure reduction and because of this, nurses will encounter more intact male patients. Best practices are needed to provide appropriate, safe nursing care. The research aim was to understand what American nurses presently know about intact care and if any knowledge deficits exist.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The research was conducted using a cross-sectional survey design. American nurses currently in practice were invited to participate in a survey distributed via social media groups for nursing professionals. No incentive was offered for participation. An author-developed instrument was used to assess knowledge levels regarding intact care. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics as there was no intervention.

METHODS: American nurses currently in practice were invited to participate in a survey distributed via social media groups for nursing professionals. No incentive was offered for participation. An author-developed instrument was used to assess knowledge levels regarding intact care. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics as there was no intervention.

RESULTS: A convenient sample of 345 nursing professionals participated indicating an intact care knowledge deficit across the lifespan. Fourteen percent of respondents did not indicate that replacing the foreskin back over the glans was necessary with adult genital hygiene for intact patients. In pediatrics, 41.7% answered yes to the item statement “Do you retract the foreskin of an infant male child for catheter placement.”

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results indicate a knowledge deficit among American nurses regarding genital hygiene, particularly for pediatric patients. Practicing without knowledge of intact care that scientifically based can endanger the caring relationship between nurse and patient, resulting in physical harm and may open themselves and their health systems to legal liability.

PMID:34432945 | DOI:10.1111/jspn.12356

J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1002/acm2.13401. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The efficacy of clinical trials and the outcome of patient treatment are dependent on the quality assurance (QA) of radiation therapy (RT) plans. There are two widely utilized approaches that include plan optimization guidance created based on patient-specific anatomy. This study examined these two techniques for dose-volume histogram predictions, RT plan optimizations, and prospective QA processes, namely the knowledge-based planning (KBP) technique and another first principle (FP) technique.

METHODS: This analysis included 60, 44, and 10 RT plans from three Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) multi-institutional trials: RTOG 0631 (Spine SRS), RTOG 1308 (NSCLC), and RTOG 0522 (H&N), respectively. Both approaches were compared in terms of dose prediction and plan optimization. The dose predictions were also compared to the original plan submitted to the trials for the QA procedure.

RESULTS: For the RTOG 0631 (Spine SRS) and RTOG 0522 (H&N) plans, the dose predictions from both techniques have correlation coefficients of >0.9. The RT plans that were re-optimized based on the predictions from both techniques showed similar quality, with no statistically significant differences in target coverage or organ-at-risk sparing. The predictions of mean lung and heart doses from both methods for RTOG1308 patients, on the other hand, have a discrepancy of up to 14 Gy.

CONCLUSIONS: Both methods are valuable tools for optimization guidance of RT plans for Spine SRS and Head and Neck cases, as well as for QA purposes. On the other hand, the findings suggest that KBP may be more feasible in the case of inoperable lung cancer patients who are treated with IMRT plans that have spatially unevenly distributed beam angles.

PMID:34432946 | DOI:10.1002/acm2.13401

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0256669. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256669. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

We study geographical epidemic scales and patterns and positivity trends of SARS-CoV-2 pandemics in mass antigen testing in Slovakia in 2020. The observed test positivity was exponentially distributed with a long scale exponential spatial trend, and its characteristic correlation length was approximately 10 km. Spatial scales also play an important role in test positivity reduction between two consecutive testing rounds. While test positivity decreased in all counties, it increased in individual municipalities with low test positivity in the earlier testing round in a way statistically different from a mean-reversion process. Also, non-residents testing influences the mass testing results as test positivity of non-residents was higher than of residents when testing was offered only in municipalities with the highest positivity in previous rounds. Our results provide direct guidance for pandemic geographical data surveillance and epidemic response management.

PMID:34432845 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256669

J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1111/vec.13099. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of age on survival in horses with colitis and to elucidate whether a lower type-1/type-2 cytokine ratio or an exaggerated inflammatory state contribute to reduced survival in aged horses.

DESIGN: Part 1: Retrospective cohort analysis. Part 2: Analytic observational study.

ANIMALS: Part 1: One hundred twenty-four adult horses with colitis. Part 2: Twenty-nine adult horses with new diarrhea onset while hospitalized.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Part 1: Patient signalment, select clinicopathological data, diagnoses, treatment, hospitalization length, and invoice were compared between survivors (n = 101) and nonsurvivors (n = 23). Only age and plasma transfusion retained statistical significance in the final multivariate outcome model, with 8.5 times lower odds of survival in transfused horses (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6-27.2%). Additionally, the likelihood of nonsurvival increased by 11.8% (95% CI, 4-20.2%) for every year the horse aged (P = 0.002). Similarly, geriatric horses (≥20 years) were 15.2 times more likely to die than young-adults (2-12 years, P = 0.03), independent of financial investment, documented comorbidities, and duration of hospitalization. Part 2: Select cytokine analyses were performed on serum collected from hospitalized horses within 1 hour of diarrhea onset (T0) and 6 hours later. At T0, all recorded clinicopathological variables were comparable between geriatric and young-adult horses, suggesting a similar degree of systemic illness. The median concentration of type-2 cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-10, and type-1 cytokine interferon-γ did not differ between age groups. Inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly higher in geriatric compared to young-adult horses at both sampling time points.

CONCLUSIONS: Outcome of colitis was less favorable in aging horses and patients receiving a plasma transfusion. Although an exaggerated inflammatory state, based on increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations, in geriatric horses may contribute to reduced survival, a lower type-1/type-2 cytokines ratio was not identified in our geriatric population.

PMID:34432936 | DOI:10.1111/vec.13099

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0256359. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256359. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether there is a change in findings of coronavirus disease 2019 patients in follow up lung ultrasound and to determine whether these findings can predict the development of severe disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective monocentric study COVID-19 patients had standardized lung ultrasound (12 area evaluation) at day 1, 3 and 5. The primary end point was detection of pathologies and their change over time. The secondary end point was relationship between change in sonographic results and clinical outcome. Clinical outcome was assessed on development of severe disease defined as need for intensive care unit.

RESULTS: Data of 30 patients were analyzed, 26 patients with follow-up lung ultrasound. All of them showed lung pathologies with dynamic patterns. 26,7% developed severe disease tending to have an ubiquitous lung involvement in lung ultrasound. In patients with need for intensive care unit a previously developed increase in B-lines, subpleural consolidations and pleural line irregularities was more common. A statistically significant association between change in B-lines as well as change in pleural line irregularities and development of severe disease was observed (p<0,01).

CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that follow up lung ultrasound can be a powerful tool to track the evolution of disease and suggests that lung ultrasound is able to indicate an impending development of severe disease in COVID-19 patients.

PMID:34432835 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256359

PLoS One. 2021 Aug 25;16(8):e0256293. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256293. eCollection 2021.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the relationships among motivational profiles, their responsibility levels, the school social climate and resilience, and the differences according to gender and age of students from different secondary schools in Spain. A sample of 768 students (mean age of 13.84 years), 314 boys (46.1%) and 354 girls (53.9%) was used. The measurements taken concerned: personal and social responsibility, basic psychological need satisfaction, motivation, resilience and school social climate. Bivariate correlation, cluster and multivariate analyses were carried out. The cluster analysis was made using the Motivation toward Education Scale with its different variables (intrinsic, identified, introjected, external motivation and amotivation), revealing four profiles: low quality (1, low values in all motivational variables except in amotivation), low quantity (2, low values), high quantity (3, high values), and high quality (4, high values except in amotivation). The contrast in comparisons shows differences in resilience, personal and social responsibility, teacher climate and school climate (p < .001). The group with the highest values in resilience, basic psychological needs, responsibility and school social climate was that with a high quality profile. There were statistical differences in all variables with respect to the low quantity and low quality groups (p < .001), while the high quantity group showed statistical differences only in personal and social responsibility (p < .001). The low quality group had the lowest values among all the variables, with statistical differences with respect to all groups (p < .001). On the other hand, there were more boys than girls associated with high quantity, without differences in their age. In conclusion, high quality motivation profiles (those with high or low amotivation values and high values in autonomous and controlling motivation), also have a higher satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Moreover, these students are more resilient, show more responsibility and enhance the school/teaching social climate, while low quality and /or quantity motivation, influence negatively on these variables.

PMID:34432839 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256293