Tag: statistics

BMC Pediatr. 2022 May 23;22(1):303. doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03367-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The objective of the Swedish cleft lip and palate registry (CLP registry) is to promote quality control, research and improvement of treatment, by the comparison of long-term results. The aim was to compare data from the CLP registry among the six treatment centres, regarding data on surgery and speech outcomes at 5 years of age.

METHODS: The participants were 430 children born in Sweden from 2009 to 2014, with cleft palate with or without cleft lip and without known syndromes and/or additional malformations. The number of primary and secondary palatal surgeries up to 5 years of age, timing of the last primary palatal surgery, percentage consonants correct, percentage non-oral speech errors and perceived velopharyngeal competence at 5 years were assessed. Multivariable binary logistic regression adjusted for sex and cleft type was used to compare results between the six centres.

RESULTS: At one centre (centre 4), the palate was closed in one to three stages, and at the remaining centres in one or two stages. At centre 4, more children underwent a higher number of palatal surgeries, and the last primary palatal surgery was performed at a higher age. Children in centre 4 were also less likely to achieve ≥86% correct consonants (OR = 0.169, P = < 0.001), have no non-oral speech errors (OR = 0.347, P = < 0.001), or have competent or marginally incompetent velopharyngeal competence (OR = 0.244, P = < 0.001), compared to the average results of the other centres. No clear association between patient volume and speech outcome was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated the risk of a negative speech result if the last primary palatal surgery was performed after 25 months of age. Whether the cleft in the palate was closed in one or two stages did not affect speech outcome. The Swedish CLP registry can be used for open comparisons of treatment results to provide the basis for improvements of treatment methods. If deviating negative results are seen consistently at one centre, this information should be acted upon by further investigation and analysis, making changes to the treatment protocol as needed.

PMID:35606744 | DOI:10.1186/s12887-022-03367-2

BMC Med Educ. 2022 May 23;22(1):394. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03463-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: E-learning has found its way into dental teaching in general and endodontic teaching in particular. The present study aimed to implement a newly developed multimedia learning application and assess its effect on students’ first root canal treatment on real patients. With the COVID-19 outbreak, the application’s performance was investigated during the pandemic.

METHODS: A total of 138 students in the initial clinical endodontic course participated in this study. The control group (n = 49) followed the traditional curriculum, including practice on artificial teeth and face-to-face teaching events. In addition to the traditional curriculum, test group 1 (n = 54) had access to an endodontic e-learning application containing videos demonstrating artificial teeth and patient cases. With the COVID-19 outbreak, test group 2 (n = 35) had no face-to-face teaching; however, endodontic patient treatments were included. The quality of students’ first root canal treatment on real patients was compared using performance and radiographic assessment items. Statistical analysis was done using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-squared tests. Test groups received a questionnaire to assess the learning application. Test group 2 also completed a COVID-19-specific survey to measure students’ perceptions of how the pandemic affected their endodontic education.

RESULTS: The results of endodontic treatments were significantly better for test group 1 (P < 0.001) and 2 (P < 0.001) than for the control group. Likewise, there were significantly fewer treatment errors in test group 1 (P < 0.001) and 2 (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between test groups 1 and 2. Students of the test groups positively evaluated the e-learning application. Students of test group 2 expressed their fear of negative impacts on their course performance.

CONCLUSION: The e-learning application was well-received and seemed to improve endodontic education. The results imply that the quality of education may be maintained by implementing e-learning to compensate for face-to-face teaching. As no difference was found between online and face-to-face teaching, students’ and lecturers’ concerns that endodontic education is suffering because of the pandemic may be eased.

PMID:35606729 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-022-03463-y

BMC Oral Health. 2022 May 23;22(1):200. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02236-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the age-related positional and morphological characteristics of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) between individuals with anterior openbite or crossbite and controls.

METHODS: This multi-cross-sectional comparative study analysed cone-beam computed tomography images of 750 participants, equally divided into the openbite, crossbite, and control groups (OBG, CBG, and CG, respectively). Each group was further divided into five subgroups (8-11 years, 12-15 years, 16-19 years, 20-24 years, and 25-30 years). Measurements of the TMJ included the position of the condyles in their respective fossae and morphology of the condyles and fossae. Data were submitted to statistical analysis. The study adhered to the STROBE Statement checklist for reporting of cross-sectional studies.

RESULTS: Condyles were positioned more posteriorly with increasing age in all groups, and the condylar position was more posterior in the OBG than in the CBG. The articular eminence inclination increased with age in all the groups. There were significant differences in the articular eminence inclination among the three major groups at the age of > 15 years, and the condylar path was flatter in the CBG than in the OBG.

CONCLUSIONS: Age-related morphological and positional characteristics of the TMJ differed considerably among OBG, CBG and CG. Contrary to CBG, OBG was found to have relatively posterior condylar position and steeper condylar path.

PMID:35606730 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-022-02236-9

BMC Prim Care. 2022 May 24;23(1):124. doi: 10.1186/s12875-022-01731-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have shown benefits in patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart failure (HF), and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

OBJECTIVE: We assessed benchmark outcomes (Hemoglobin A1c, LDL-C, and blood pressure), identified the prevalence of cardiorenal indications for SGLT2i and GLP-1RA, and compared prescribing rates of GLP1-RA and SGLT2i in those with and without cardiorenal indications.

METHODS: We analyzed data from January 2018-June 2019 for 7168 patients with diabetes using electronic medical records from the Northern Alberta Primary Care Research Network, a regional network of the Canadian Primary Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN). Patients with and without cardiorenal comorbidities were compared using descriptive statistics and two proportion Z tests.

RESULTS: Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 7.0% was met by 56.8%, blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg by 62.1%, LDL-C ≤ 2.0 mmol/L by 45.3% of patients. There were 4377 patients on glucose lowering medications; metformin was most common (77.7%), followed by insulin (24.6%), insulin secretagogues (23.6%), SGLT2i (19.7%), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (19.3%), and GLP-1RA (9.4%). A quarter of patients had cardiorenal indications for SGLT2i or GLP-1RA. Use of SGLT2i in these patients was lower than in patients without cardiorenal comorbidities (14.9% vs 21.2%, p < 0.05). GLP-1RA use in these patients was 4.6% compared with 11% in those without cardiorenal comorbidities (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION: Contrary to current evidence and recommendations, SGLT2i and GLP1-RA were less likely to be prescribed to patients with pre-existing CVD, HF, and/or CKD, revealing opportunities to improve prescribing for patients with diabetes at high-risk for worsening cardiorenal complications.

PMID:35606699 | DOI:10.1186/s12875-022-01731-w

Nutrition. 2022 Apr 10;99-100:111681. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111681. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: School-aged children in São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal, are a population with a long history of iodine deficiency, and a recent governmental program for iodized salt (IS) consumption was implemented. This study investigated urinary iodine concentration (UIC), household and school IS consumption, and iodine-rich food intake in school-aged children.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, spot urine samples and dietary iodine intake were collected. Urinary iodine concentration was evaluated using the fast colorimetric method. Dietary iodine intake was calculated by determining the iodine content of reported food intake using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).

RESULTS: The median UIC was 106.7 µg/L, and 55.5% of children had UIC >100 µg/L. Iodized salt was used by 100% of schools and 48.3% of school-aged children’s households. Excluding iodine in IS, the median dietary iodine intake was 105.5 µg/d. No significant correlation was found between UIC and dietary iodine intake. Milk and dairy products, with a median intake of 311.1 g/d, provided 81.5 µg iodine/d. Seafood, with a median intake of 30.5 g/d, provided 16.8 µg iodine/d. Dairy product intake was not statistically correlated with UIC (P = 0.567).

CONCLUSIONS: School-aged children in São Miguel Island did not have iodine deficiency after the governmental program for IS consumption. Adequate iodine status of school-aged children probably reflects not only an increase in iodine intake, through IS, but also an improvement of food intake patterns. Future studies are needed to ensure the sufficient iodine status of school-aged children in the Azores, and political commitment and efforts are required to prevent the possible reemergence of iodine deficiency.

PMID:35605337 | DOI:10.1016/j.nut.2022.111681

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 May 20;239:113650. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113650. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on vegetation health conditions (VHC) assessment and mapping using high resolution airborne hyperspectral AVIRIS-NG imagery and validated with field spectroscopy-based vegetation spectral data. It also quantified the effect of mining on vegetation health for geo-environmental impact assessment at a fine level scale. In this study, we have developed and modified vegetation indices (VIs) based model for VHC assessment and mapping in coal mining sites. We have used thirty narrow banded VIs based on the statistical measurement for suitable VIs identification. The highest Pearson’s r, R², lowest RMSE, and P values indices have been used for VIs combined pixels analysis. The highest different (Healthy vs. unhealthy) vegetation combination index (VCI) has been selected for VHC assessment and mapping. We have also compared VIs model-based VHC results to ENVI (software) forest health tool and Spectral-based SAM classification results. The 1st VCI result showed the highest difference (72.07%) from other VCI. The AUC values of the ROC curve have shown a better fit for the VIs model (0.79) than Spectral classification (0.74), and ENVI FHT (0.68) based on VHC results. The VHC results showed that unhealthy vegetation classes are located at low distances from mine sites, and healthy vegetation classes are situated at high distances. It is also seen that there is a highly significant positive relationship (R² =0.70) between VHC classes and distance from mines. These results will provide a guideline for geo-environmental impact assessment in coal mining sites.

PMID:35605326 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113650

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 May 20;239:113661. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113661. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:35605330 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113661

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 May 20;239:113669. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113669. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

In the mining area affected by coal mining activities for a long time, heavy metal Zn pollution poses a serious threat to soil quality and human health, and direct evidence showing the relationship between Zn accumulation mechanism in soils and mining activities is lacking. In this study, the Zn content and isotopes composition (δ⁶⁶Zn) from soil and environmental samples around mining area were determined and analyzed to clarify the Zn characteristics in soil. Moreover, the distribution and source of Zn content in soil of mining area were analyzed by mathematical statistics, correlation analysis and isotope mass mixing model. The results showed that: (1) the Zn content in soil ranged from 95 to 327 mg·kg^-1 (mean: 233 mg·kg^-1), exceeding the control point and the soil background value of Anhui Province; (2) the results of Zn isotope analysis showed that Zn in soil mainly derived from the wind dispersion input of fine particles in gangue and fly ash, followed by the natural weathering of parent material; (3) isotopic mass mixing model can be used to distinguish the contribution of anthropogenic and natural Zn sources. Mining input was the main contribution source of Zn in soil (mean: 67%), followed by natural background (mean: 33%). The employment of Zn isotopes can effectively evaluate the impact of anthropogenic and natural long-term processes on Zn in the soil of the mining area, and provide important information for the formulation of soil metal pollution control measures.

PMID:35605319 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113669

Comput Biol Chem. 2022 Apr 30;98:107691. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107691. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Methanogenic archaea carry homologs of dissimilatory sulfite reductase (Dsr), called Dsr Like proteins (DsrLP). Dsr reduces sulfite to sulfide, a key step in an Earth’s ancient metabolic process called dissimilatory sulfate reduction. The DsrLPs do not function as Dsr, and a computational approach is needed to develop hypotheses for guiding wet bench investigations on DsrLP’s function. To make the computational analysis process efficient, the DsrLP amino acid sequences were transformed using only eight alphabets functionally representing twenty amino acids. The resultant reduced amino acid sequences were analyzed to identify conserved signature patterns in DsrLPs. Many of these patterns mapped on critical structural elements of Dsr and some were associated tightly with particular DsrLP groups. A search into the UniProtKB database identified several proteins carrying DsrLP’s signature patterns; cysteine desulfurase, nucleosidase, and uroporphyrinogen III methylase were such matches. These outcomes provided clues to the functions of DsrLPs and highlighted the utility of the computational approach used.

PMID:35605307 | DOI:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107691

Comput Biol Chem. 2022 May 10;98:107693. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107693. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Accurately identifying protein-metal ion ligand binding residues is the key to study protein functions. Because the number of binding residues and non-binding residues is significantly imbalanced, false positives is hard to be eliminated from the binding residues prediction result. Therefore, identification of protein-metal ion ligand binding residues remains challenging. In this paper, the binding site of 7 metal ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺) were used as the objects of the study. Besides generally adopted parameters: amino acids and predicted secondary structure information, we creatively introduced ten orthogonal properties as a parameter. These orthogonal properties are clustering of 188 physical and chemical characteristics that can be used to describe three-dimension structural information. With the optimized parameters, we used the Random Forest algorithm to predict ion ligand binding residues. The proposed method obtained good prediction results with the MCC values of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ reaching 0.255, 0.254, 0.540, respectively. Comparing to the IonSeq method, the method developed in this paper has advantages on the binding residues prediction of some ions.

PMID:35605305 | DOI:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107693