Tag: statistics

Nephrology (Carlton). 2021 Jun 5. doi: 10.1111/nep.13910. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Albumin-adjusted calcium remains widely used in clinical practice with guidelines for chronic kidney disease (CKD) mineral bone disorder recommending the use of serum calcium for monitoring. This is despite ionised calcium being the biologically active fraction. This study aimed to investigate the ability of total calcium and albumin-adjusted calcium to correctly assign calcium status in stage 5/5D CKD across non-dialysis, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

METHODS: Over a 6-months, 352 paired serum and ionised calcium samples were collected from stage 5 (n = 58) and 5D (n = 294, 196 haemodialysis, 98 peritoneal dialysis) CKD patients in a tertiary-hospital setting. Albumin-adjusted calcium was calculated using the modified-Payne formula. Ionised calcium was the reference standard. The agreement between the two methods in assigning calcium status was assessed using Cohen’s weighted kappa (κ) statistic.

RESULTS: Albumin-adjusted calcium was a poor predictor of calcium status compared to ionised calcium in stage 5/5D CKD (observed agreement 0.42, weighted κ 0.20, 95% CI 0.15-0.26). Dialysis dependence was associated with worse agreement (observed agreement 0.38, weighted κ 0.14, 95% CI 0.09-0.19). Total calcium was more reliable however remained inaccurate. Calcium status was not more accurately classified in those with higher albumin levels ≥30 g/L (observed agreement 0.47, weighted κ 0.23, 95% CI 0.10-0.36).

CONCLUSION: Total calcium provides better approximation of calcium status than albumin-adjusted calcium in stage 5/5D CKD. Albumin-adjusted calcium tends to ‘overcorrect’ serum calcium upward. Clinicians should use ionised calcium where accurate measure of calcium is indicated, with total calcium used as the next best option where resources are limited.

PMID:34089212 | DOI:10.1111/nep.13910

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Jun 4. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14272. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris (AV) may affect external appearance and significantly deteriorate the quality of life of patients. Therefore, patients make various inquiries about their disease and seek treatment options.

AIMS: To investigate the social media usage habits of patients with AV concerning their diseases, and their recommendations for dermatologists related to social media use.

METHODS: A total of 1,609 patients with AV completed the survey prepared by the authors and the Cardiff Acne Disability Index questionnaire. The Food and Drug Administration severity scores and clinical information of the patients were noted by their physicians.

RESULTS: Of the 1,489 patients who stated that they used social media, 46.31% regularly and 28.77% sometimes referred to these sources to make inquiries about AV. Social media usage for AV was statistically significantly higher in women, participants with short-term and severe disease, those with a moderate income level, and those using topical treatment and cosmetics. They mostly used Google (67%), Instagram (54%), and YouTube (49%). While 76% of the participants stated that they did not share what they saw on the internet with their doctor. Of the respondents, 18.5% were trying to contact their dermatologists through the internet, and 69.73% would prefer experts such as dermatologists to post AV-related content.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that patients frequently resort to social media to seek information about AV. In the changing digital world order, it is observed that there is a need for dermatologists to use social media more actively to share accurate information about AV.

PMID:34087036 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.14272

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Jun 4. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14271. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common skin disorder characterized by alterations in normal skin pigmentation. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a skin whitening serum containing niacinamide, hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, glycolic acid and 4-n-butylresorcinol applied twice daily combined with a spot-preventing SPF50+ sunscreen for treatment of melasma.

METHODS: Twelve healthy Caucasian women with melasma (Fitzpatrick skin types II-IV) were enrolled in this pilot clinical study. Efficacy evaluations were performed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 of treatment, and included clinical and instrumental assessments.

RESULTS: All endpoints for melasma hyperpigmentation showed a statistically significant improvement from baseline to the end of the study. There was only one dropout. No signs of irritation or discomfort were observed at baseline, w4, w8 or w12. An overall improvement in melasma was observed both clinically and on reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM).

CONCLUSION: This topical skin whitening serum had favorable outcomes for the treatment of melasma hyperpigmentation in adult women, as demonstrated on investigator and instrumental assessments. The results of this pilot study need to be confirmed in randomized, controlled studies with a larger sample size.

PMID:34087055 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.14271

J Diabetes Investig. 2021 Jun 4. doi: 10.1111/jdi.13607. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: This 6-month, single-center, prospective, open-labeled, randomized trial was designed to investigate whether physician’s diabetes self-management education (DSME) using an education tool developed by the Japan Association of Diabetes Education and Care (JADEC) and a self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) analyzer improves glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes receiving insulin and SMBG.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were randomized into intervention (I) and control (C) groups. Both groups received physician’s DSME at each hospital visit, while the JADEC education tool and the SMBG readings analyzer was used in Group I but not Group C. All participants filled out a diabetes treatment-related QOL (DTR-QOL) form and an original questionnaire on SMBG use with 5 questions (Q1-Q5) before and after the study period.

RESULTS: A total of 76 individuals were recruited and randomized. HbA1c was significantly improved during the study period in Group I, while no significant change was observed in Group C. Change in HbA1c was greater in Group I although it did not reach statistical significance. The DTR-QOL total score was not changed in either group. Interestingly, the score of Q1 (“How important is SMBG to you?”) in the SMBG questionnaire was unchanged in Group I, while it was significantly decreased in Group C. HbA1c change was independently associated with changes in insulin dose and SMBG Q1 score.

CONCLUSION: Greater HbA1c-lowering by physician’s DMSE using the JADEC education tool and SMBG analyzer in individuals with type 2 diabetes receiving insulin and SMBG was suggested but not confirmed.

PMID:34087060 | DOI:10.1111/jdi.13607

Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2021 Jun 4. doi: 10.1111/pai.13569. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is an effective, safe, preventative treatment for allergic asthma; however, potential biomarkers for monitoring SCIT have rarely been reported.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolomics was utilized for the discovery of new biomarkers and analyzing disease pathophysiology of allergic asthma, it was also applied to determine the metabolomic profiles of serum samples from children with asthma undergoing SCIT and identify potential biomarkers for allergic asthma and its therapeutic monitoring.

METHODS: Untargeted metabolomics using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry, was performed on 15 asthmatic and 15 healthy pediatric sera to profile carboxylic acids. Statistical analysis combined with pathway enrichment analysis were applied to identify potential biomarkers. Then, targeted metabolomics was performed to study longitudinal changes of eicosanoid profiles on sera from 20 participants with asthma who received SCIT at baseline, 6 months, one, two and three years (ChiCTR-DDT-13003728).

RESULTS: Metabolomic analysis revealed that levels of eicosanoids, particularly 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE; AUC = 0.94, P < 0.0001) and 15(S)-HETE (AUC = 0.89, P = 0.0028), metabolized from arachidonic acid by lipoxygenase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes, were significantly higher in asthma group than in healthy individuals. Furthermore, levels of these important metabolites increased in the first year of SCIT treatment and then decreased from years one to three, being significantly lower after three years of treatment than baseline levels.

CONCLUSION: 12(S)- and 15(S)-HETEs are potential biomarkers to participate in the pathogenesis and treatment of allergic asthma. Moreover, these metabolites may be a new target for biological indicators to monitor the therapeutic effect of SCIT, particularly in the setting of allergic asthma.

PMID:34087025 | DOI:10.1111/pai.13569

J Ultrasound Med. 2021 Jun 4. doi: 10.1002/jum.15761. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Determine prevalence of increased signal intensity of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the knee on MRI and decreased echogenicity on ultrasound, and compare with cadaveric histologic evaluation.

METHODS: After IRB approval of this prospective study with informed consent, patients having knee MRI were additionally evaluated with ultrasound. Signal intensities of LCL on MRI (low, intermediate, high), echogenicity at ultrasound (hyperechoic, hypoechoic, anechoic), and extent of findings were assessed. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed ranked test, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. Two cadaveric knees were imaged with MRI and ultrasound, including histologic LCL evaluation.

RESULTS: Seventy-three subjects were included (39 males, 34 females; mean age 48 ± 14 years) with 77 knee examinations. On MRI, low, intermediate, and high signals were present in 21% (16/77), 75% (58/77), and 4% (3/77), respectively. On ultrasound, echogenicity was assessed as hyperechoic, hypoechoic, and anechoic in 62% (48/77), 38% (29/77), and 0% (0/77), respectively. Mean length of increased signal was 8.6 mm (±4.9) on MRI, and 6.5 mm (±4.8) on ultrasound. The ICC showed a good to excellent intermodality reliability (0.735-0.899) without statistically significant difference for interreader measurements (P = .163-.795). Histology evaluation showed transition of ligament fibers to fibrocartilage at its insertion with increased connective tissue mucin corresponding to MRI and ultrasound findings.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased signal intensity of the proximal LCL on ultrasound and MRI is common and corresponds to normal connective tissue mucin.

PMID:34086999 | DOI:10.1002/jum.15761

Oper Dent. 2021 Jun 4. doi: 10.2341/20-099-L. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of accelerated aging on the overall color stability of potentially color adjusting commercial resin-based composite resins. Thirty specimens (10 mm diameter and 2.5 mm thick; n=6) were fabricated using five different materials: Estelite Omega, GC Kalore, Venus Pearl, Harmonize, and Omnichroma. Color measurements were taken for each sample using a spectrophotometer before and after submitting samples through the artificial aging process (Q-sun Xenon Test Chamber, 102 min light at 63°C black panel temperature; 18 min light and water spray per ASTM G155) for a total of 300 hours (12.5 days). The total color difference (ΔE*ab) was calculated using SpectraMagic NX software and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey test. The results for color change (ΔE*ab) were statistically significant. Omnichroma and Venus Pearl presented superior color stability and the lowest overall color change, whereas GC Kalore and Harmonize presented significant color change that would be considered clinically unacceptable (ΔE*ab > 3.3).

PMID:34086953 | DOI:10.2341/20-099-L

J Infect Dis. 2021 Jun 4:jiab300. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab300. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The kinetics of IgG avidity maturation during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection obtained from 217 participants of the Ischgl cohort, Austria, was studied 0.5-1.5 (baseline) and 7-8 months (follow up) after infection. The IgG avidity assay, using a modified IgG ELISA and 5.5 M urea, revealed that old age does not diminish the increase in avidity, detected in all participants positive at both time points, from 18% to 42%. High avidity was associated with a marked residual neutralization capacity in 97.2.% of participants (211/217), which was even higher in the older age group, revealing an important role of avidity assays as easy and cheap surrogate tests for assessing the maturation of the immune system conveying potential protection against further SARS-CoV-2 infections without necessitating expensive and laborious neutralization assays.

PMID:34086960 | DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiab300

J Infect Dis. 2021 Jun 4:jiab296. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab296. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Serosurveys are important to ascertain burden of infection. Prior SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys in New York City (NYC) have used nonrandom samples. During June-October 2020, the NYC Health Department conducted a population-based survey to estimate SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in NYC adults.

METHODS: Participants were recruited from the NYC 2020 Community Health Survey. We estimated citywide and stratified antibody prevalence using a hybrid design: serum tested at the NYC Health Department using the DiaSorin LIAISON ® SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG assay and self-reported antibody test results were used together. Prevalence was estimated using univariate frequencies and 95% confidence intervals (CI), accounting for complex survey design. Two-sided P-values ≤0.05 were statistically significant.

RESULTS: There were 1074 respondents overall; 497 provided blood and 577 provided only a self-reported antibody test result. Weighted prevalence was 24.3% overall (95% CI: 20.7-28.3). Latino (30.7%, 95% CI: 24.1-38.2, p<0.01) and Black (30.7%, 95% CI: 21.9-41.2, p=0.02) respondents had a higher weighted prevalence compared with White respondents (17.4%, 95% CI: 12.5-23.7).

CONCLUSIONS: By October 2020, nearly 1 in 3 Black and 1 in 3 Latino NYC adults had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, highlighting unequal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black and Latino adults in NYC.

PMID:34086923 | DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiab296

Nicotine Tob Res. 2021 Jun 4:ntab120. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntab120. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Menthol has been shown to target similar brain regions and neural receptors as nicotine, yet the association between menthol cigarette use and cognitive performance remains unknown.

METHODS: This study examined differences in cognitive task performance between menthol (MS) and non-menthol (NMS) cigarette smokers after acute cigarette consumption. Sixty White and Black/African American, non-abstinent, MS (n=30) and NMS (n=30) were assessed pre- and post-smoking their preferred cigarette on four computerized tasks: Continuous Performance Task (CPT; alerting attention), N-Back Task (working memory), Finger Tapping Task (motor control), and Apple Picker Task (reinforcement enhancement). Self-reported nicotine dependence and objective smoking topography measures were also compared between groups.

RESULTS: Initial unadjusted analyses showed a significant effect of cigarette type x time on CPT speed (p=.042), where MS improved while NMS group worsened in CPT speed after smoking. After controlling for baseline cigarette craving and cigarette nicotine levels, the effect of cigarette type x time for all cognitive outcomes was statistically non-significant (ps>.05). However, there remained a significant effect of cigarette type, where MS vs. NMS had poorer CPT (p=.046) and N-Back Task accuracy (p=.006) but faster N-Back speed (p=.039). There were no statistically significant differences between groups on reinforcement enhancement, nicotine dependence, or smoking behavior outcomes (ps>.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypotheses, results did not find a significant effect of cigarette type on the change in cognitive performance after acute smoking in non-abstinent smokers. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific pharmacological effects of nicotine and menthol on cognitive functioning.

PMID:34086950 | DOI:10.1093/ntr/ntab120