Tag: statistics

J Alzheimers Dis. 2022 Apr 1. doi: 10.3233/JAD-215421. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Visual short-term memory (VSTMT) and visual attention (VAT) exhibit decline in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum; however, network disruption in preclinical stages is scarcely explored.

OBJECTIVE: To advance our knowledge about brain networks in AD and discover connectivity alterations during VSTMT and VAT.

METHODS: Twelve participants with AD, 23 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 17 with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and 21 healthy controls (HC) were examined using a neuropsychological battery at baseline and follow-up (three years). At baseline, the subjects were examined using high density electroencephalography while performing a VSTMT and VAT. For exploring network organization, we constructed weighted undirected networks and examined clustering coefficient, strength, and betweenness centrality from occipito-parietal regions.

RESULTS: One-way ANOVA and pair-wise t-test comparisons showed statistically significant differences in HC compared to SCD (t (36) = 2.43, p = 0.026), MCI (t (42) = 2.34, p = 0.024), and AD group (t (31) = 3.58, p = 0.001) in Clustering Coefficient. Also with regards to Strength, higher values for HC compared to SCD (t (36) = 2.45, p = 0.019), MCI (t (42) = 2.41, p = 0.020), and AD group (t (31) = 3.58, p = 0.001) were found. Follow-up neuropsychological assessment revealed converge of 65% of the SCD group to MCI. Moreover, SCD who were converted to MCI showed significant lower values in all network metrics compared to the SCD that remained stable.

CONCLUSION: The present findings reveal that SCD exhibits network disorganization during visual encoding and retrieval with intermediate values between MCI and HC.

PMID:35367964 | DOI:10.3233/JAD-215421

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2022 Mar 31;242:113947. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113947. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the impact of urban greenspace exposure on lung function in children-adolescents, and the available evidence is still inconsistent. The aim of the current study was to verify the hypothesis that the effects of greenspace exposure vary with differing levels of lung function of children-adolescents.

METHODS: Between November 2005 and May 2006, 2150 children-adolescents (age-range: 10-15 years) living in the city of Palermo were enrolled in a cross-sectional survey. Parents were interviewed through a modified version of the Italian Studies on Respiratory Disorders in Children and the Environment (SIDRIA) questionnaire. All children-adolescents performed spirometry and were tested for allergic sensitization. Exposures to greenspace and grey space at the home addresses were measured using the CORINE land-cover classes. Parametric quantile regression models were applied for assessing the association between greenspace exposure and spirometry parameters, accounting for possible confounders and effect modifiers. A p-value lower than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: From the 1^st to the 21^st percentile, children-adolescents living within greenspace had higher FEV₁ than those living within grey space. In particular, the estimated effects were: 1^st (β = 0.238 L, p = 0.01), 5^th (β = 0.140 L, p = 0.01), 10^th (β = 0.097 L, p = 0.015), and 15^th (β = 0.073 L, p = 0.025). Similarly, from the 1st to the 29^th percentile, children-adolescents living within greenspace had higher FVC than those living within grey space. In particular, the estimated effects were: 1^st (β = 0.367 L, p = 0.0003), 5^th (β = 0.215 L, p = 0.0003), 10^th (β = 0.150 L, p = 0.0004), and 15^th (β = 0.112 L, p = 0.001). No significant associations were found for FEV₁/FVC, FEF_25-75 and FEF_25-75/FVC.

CONCLUSION: Quantile regression techniques may provide new insights into the evaluation of the association between greenspace exposure and lung function in children-adolescents, showing substantially heterogeneous effects from lower to higher quantiles of spirometry parameters. These results may help implementing policies for planning sustainable housing and surrounding greenspaces.

PMID:35367927 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113947

J Psychosom Res. 2022 Mar 31;157:110806. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110806. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Bone infections represent a major complication in orthopedic and trauma surgery. Concomitant psychological disorders can significantly influence treatment outcomes. However, these are often overlooked. Therefore, we aimed to determine the nationwide epidemiology of fracture-related infection (FRI) and osteomyelitis in combination with psychological comorbidities.

METHODS: A dataset provided by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) consisting of annual, Germany-wide ICD-10 diagnosis codes from 2009 to 2019 was analysed. Incidences of the codes “T84.6, infection and inflammatory reaction due to internal fixation device” and “M86.-, osteomyelitis” were quantified. Proportions of secondary diagnoses of the chapter F of the ICD-10 were determined.

RESULTS: Incidences were 19.1/100,000 inhabitants for osteomyelitis and 10.5/100,000 inhabitants for FRI. Patients with psychological comorbidities constituted 14.6% of osteomyelitis cases and 26.5% of FRI cases, respectively. Between 2009 through 2019, the proportion of patients with a concomitant “F” diagnoses of the ICD-10 increased by 27.3% for osteomyelitis and by 24.1% for FRI. Most prevalent secondary diagnoses were organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders (F0), affective disorder (F3) and mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F1), whereby the latter decreased over the years.

CONCLUSION: The implementation of prevention strategies, interdisciplinary approaches and psychological support in orthopaedics and trauma surgery is warranted.

PMID:35367917 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110806

West Afr J Med. 2022 Mar 30;39(3):237-240.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Globally, cancer is a leading cause of death and source of resistance to increasing life expectancy. In 2019, the World Health Organisation estimated cancer as the first or second leading cause of death before the age of 70 in 112 countries and third or fourth in 23 other countries. Despite the fact that cancer has been recognized as a public health problem, there is paucity of data on cancer mortality in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of cancer mortality at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a 5 year retrospective study of all cancer related deaths at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from 1st January, 2014 to 31st December, 2018. Relevant data were extracted and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24.

RESULTS: There were 4449 deaths during the period under review, of which 293 were cancer related deaths, giving a mortality rate of 6.59%. There were 114 males and 179 females giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.6. Cancer of the breast was the most common cause of cancer death and accounted for 61 (20.8%) deaths within the study period.

CONCLUSION: Cancer is a major cause of mortality in Nigeria. Cancer of the breast is the leading cause of cancer mortality in females and overall while cancer of the prostate remains the commonest in men.

PMID:35366667

West Afr J Med. 2022 Mar 30;39(3):217-222.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Post-caesarean section pain is a problem i n our environment. Though many modalities for pain management exist, there is the need to investigate safer and affordable regimens that will provide adequate analgesia with minimal side effects and with ease of administration. Alternating doses of intramuscular acetaminophen and intramuscular pentazocine was studied as an alternative to provide safe and effective post-caesarean section analgesia. Its effectiveness and side effect profile in our environment have not been previously investigated.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to compare the analgesic and side effect profile of intramuscular pentazocine with another regimen involving alternating doses of pentazocine and acetaminophen within the first 48hours after surgery.

DESIGN OF THE STUDY: This was a prospective, comparative and randomized study among 142 women who voluntarily consented to the study and had elective caesarean section from May 2014 to May 2015 at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Setting: The Study was conducted at the obstetrics and gynecology department of the teaching hospital of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive eligible pregnant women who were slated for elective caesarean section were recruited at the antenatal clinic unit of the department and randomized using the WINPEPI software by Abramson to either receive intramuscular pentazocine or alternating doses of pentazocine and acetaminophen over the first 48hours after surgery. The pain scores, side effect profile and the time taken for the return of bowel sounds were compared among the two groups using relevant statistical methods with IBM SPSS version 20 with Z tests and chi-square to test for strength of relationships of variables. The level of significance was 0.05.

RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 29.82years with standard deviation 6.138; 64.8% were Hausa-Fulani, 71.83% were Muslims, 45.07% were unemployed, 97.89% were married, 42.2% were multiparous, 59.86% booked in our centre and 59.2% were having their first caesarean section. Seventy-six participants received combination of injection pentazocine/acetaminophen while 66 received pentazocine injection alone. The drop-out rate was 8.5%. There was no statistically significant difference in the pain scores both on the visual analogue scale and the verbal rating scale in the first 48hours in both groups, no difference in the need for rescue analgesics (p=0.709), time taken for the return of bowel sounds (P=0.391), incidence of side effects (p=0.394) and participants’ level of satisfaction (p=0.255).

CONCLUSION: Both regimens were comparable in analgesic efficacy, incidence of side effects and satisfaction levels.

PMID:35366664

Singapore Med J. 2022 Apr 3. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2022041. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Umbilical cord milking (UCM) is a method which allows for postnatal placental transfusion. Several benefits of this method have been demonstrated in studies. However, our knowledge about the haemodynamic effects of this method is limited among term infants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the haemodynamic effects of UCM in term infants.

METHODS: In this prospective randomised controlled study, 149 healthy term infants with a birth week of 37 weeks or more were randomised to either the UCM or immediate cord clamping (ICC) groups. Blinded echocardiographic evaluations were performed in all the neonates in the first 2 to 6 hours.

RESULTS: Superior vena cava (SVC) flow measurements were higher in the UCM group compared to the ICC group (132.47 ± 37.0 mL/kg/min vs. 126.62 ± 34.3 mL/kg/min), but this difference was not statistically significant. Left atrial diameter (12.23 ± 1.99 mm vs. 11.43 ± 1.78 mm) and left atrium-to-aorta diastolic diameter ratio (1.62 ± 0.24 vs. 1.51 ± 0.22) were significantly higher in the UCM group. There were no significant differences in other echocardiographic parameters between the UCM and ICC groups.

PMID:35366660 | DOI:10.11622/smedj.2022041

J Forensic Leg Med. 2022 Mar 26;88:102345. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2022.102345. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A telephone and e-mail helpline known as the Consultation Service, open to all the public, was launched at a Dutch Centre for Sexual Violence to deal with non-acute sexual violence. The aim of this study was to gain insight into case characteristics, reasons for contacting the Consultation Service and whether these reasons differed for victims, their relatives and professionals. Using a mixed methods design, the study included all consultations handled at the Consultation Service in 2018 and 2019. Descriptive statistics described quantitatively the case characteristics, the themes and differences between victims, relatives and professionals. The themes of the reasons for contact were established from the qualitative analysis, using the method of content analysis. Cases were characterised by complexity. Three themes emerged: case complexity, decision-making on care options and reporting to the police, which differed for victims, relatives and professionals. The differences in reasons for contacting the helpline imply that approaches should be adapted and fitted to different clients. Specialised care is needed to guide clients through cases that are challenging and often complex. There is a widespread lack of knowledge of options in addition to the complex multifaceted aspects to decision making about actions post-assault. Assault centres should implement a Consultation Service in which integrated care is offered not only to the victims, but also to their relatives and professionals.

PMID:35366588 | DOI:10.1016/j.jflm.2022.102345

J Psychiatr Res. 2022 Mar 24;150:96-104. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.024. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Clinical interviews and laboratory-based emotional induction paradigms provide consistent evidence that facial affect is blunted in many individuals with schizophrenia. Although it is clear that blunted facial affect is not a by-product of diminished emotional experience in schizophrenia, factors contributing to blunted affect remain unclear. The current study used a combination of ambulatory video recordings that were evaluated via computerized facial affect analysis and concurrently completed ecological momentary assessment surveys to assess whether blunted affect reflects insufficient reactivity to affective or contextual factors. Specifically, whether individuals with schizophrenia require more intense affective experiences to produce expression, or whether they are less reactive to social factors (i.e. being in the presence of others, social motivation). Participants included outpatients with schizophrenia (n = 33) and healthy controls (n = 31) who completed six days of study procedures. Multilevel linear models were evaluated using both Null-Hypothesis Statistical Testing and Bayesian analyses. Individuals with schizophrenia displayed comparable expression of positive and negative emotion to controls during daily life, and no evidence was found for a different intensity of experience required for expression in either group. However, social factors differentially influenced facial expression in schizophrenia compared to controls, such that individuals with schizophrenia did not modulate their expressions based on social motivation to the same extent as controls. These findings suggest that social motivation may play an important role in determining when blunting occurs.

PMID:35366600 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.03.024

Environ Int. 2022 Mar 30;163:107216. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107216. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A growing body of studies have reported the health benefits of greenness. However, less is known about the potential beneficial effects of residential greenness on gut microbiota, which is essential to human health. In this study, we aim to examine the association between residential greenness and gut microbiota in a population-based cohort study.

METHODS: We included 1758 participants based on the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) study and collected their stool samples for 16S sequencing to derive gut microbiota data. Residential greenness was estimated using the satellite-based data on enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) in circular buffers of 250 m, 500 m, and 1000 m. The relationships between residential greenness levels and the composition of gut microbiota, measured by standardized α-diversity and taxonomic composition, were assessed using linear regression and Spearman correlation weighted by generalized propensity scores.

RESULTS: Higher greenness levels were significantly positively associated with standardized α-diversity. Per interquartile range (IQR) increase of EVI and NDVI in the circular buffer of 250 m were associated with the increments of 0.995(95% confidence interval (CI): 0.212-1.778) and 0.653(95% CI: 0.160-1.146) in the standardized Shannon index. For the taxonomic composition of gut microbiota, higher greenness levels were significantly correlated with 29 types of microbial taxonomic composition. NDVI in the circular buffer of 250 m was associated with increased Firmicutes (r = 0.102, adjusted p value = 0.004), which was the dominant composition in the gut microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased amounts of residential greenness may support healthy gut microbiota by benignly altering their composition. These findings suggested that green spaces should be designed to support diverse gut microbiota and ultimately optimize health benefits.

PMID:35366558 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107216

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Mar 30;178:113580. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113580. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Industrial and commercial port activities are widely recognized worldwide as an important source of pollution to proximal estuaries. In this study, we analysed geochemical and sedimentological parameters including major and trace elements, organic matter and sediment texture in surface sediments from the estuarine environment of Southampton Water, U.K. Using these data, and multivariate statistical tools [correlation, factor and cluster analysis and pollution indices such as Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load Index (PLI) and the Adverse Effect Index (AEI)], we examine sedimentary trace metal and metalloid contamination, contamination sources, and potential biological impacts of the contamination present. The geochemical data, multivariate statistical analysis and pollution indices indicate that the spatial distribution of trace metals and metalloids is influenced by both sediment composition (and mixing) and anthropogenic activities. Most trace metal and metalloid concentrations are close to local geological background levels, except for Cu, Zn and Pb. The spatial distribution of these elements indicates that the Exxon oil refinery, Southampton port, local marinas and runoff from domestic and industrial activities act effectively as point sources of these elements. Pollution indices calculations highlight a degraded environment as a result of these pollutants, and further work is needed to assess the current impact of trace metals and metalloids on local ecology.

PMID:35366548 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113580