Tag: statistics

Korean J Parasitol. 2021 Jun;59(3):251-256. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.3.251. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

ABSTRACT

We find out the clusters with high toxoplasmosis risk to discuss the geographical pattern in Gyodong-myeon and Samsan-myeon of Ganghwa-gun, Cheorwon-gun, and Goseong-gun, Korea. Seroepidemiological data of toxoplasmosis surveyed using rapid diagnostic tests for the residents in the areas in 2019 were analyzed to detect clusters of the infection. The cluster was investigated using the SaTScan program which is based on Kulldorff’s scan statistic. The clusters were found with P-values in each region analyzed in the program, and the risk and patient incidence of specific areas can be examined by the values such as relative risk and log likelihood ratio. Jiseok-ri and Insa-ri were found to be a cluster in Gyodong-myeon and Seokmo-ri was the cluster in Samsan-myeon. Yangji-ri and Igil-ri were found to be a cluster in Cheorwon-gun and Madal-ri and Baebong-ri were the cluster in Goseong-gun. This findings can be used to monitor and prevent toxoplasmosis infections occurring in vulnerable areas.

PMID:34218596 | DOI:10.3347/kjp.2021.59.3.251

Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2021 Jun 20;39(6):453-457. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20200917-00537.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the CT grading method of small opacity profusion of pneumoconiosis, and draw up the corresponding CT reference film. Methods: In December 2019, Three hundred thirty-seven cases of pneumoconosis and suspected pneumoconiosis were examined by chest radiography and Computed Tomography (CT) in the same period. According to Diagnosis of Occupational Pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70-2015) , small opacity profusion of pneumoconiosis in each zone of lung was divided. On CT scans, it was divided into 5 grades of 0, 0+, 1, 2 and 3. Grade 0 corresponded to Sub-grade 0/- and Sub-grade 0/0 of Grade 0 in chest radiograph. Grade 0+ was equivalent to Sub-grade 0/1 of Grade 0. Grade 1, 2, 3 were equivalent to Grade 1, 2 and 3, respectively (including each sub-grade) . The CT image quality of each zone of lung was divided into 1 to 4 levels. Results of level 4 were not included in statistical analyses.Based on the results of small opacity profusion in each zone of lung, consistency analysis was performed between chest radiograph and CT. The selection method of reference films was developed. Based on the types and grades of small opacity, the final reference films were determined. Results: There were 1877 zones of lung with CT image quality from level 1 to 3, including 335 in upper right, 319 in middle right, 284 in lower right, 334 in upper left, 320 in middle left and 286 in lower left. The Kappa values of small opacity profusion in upper right zone, upper left zone, left middle zone, and lower left zone were all between 0.4-0.75. In middle right zone and lower right zone, they were all above 0.75.Among all 6 zones of lung, the diagnostic concordance rates between CT and chest radiograph were all above 80%.The corresponding CT reference films were proposed, including type p and q in Grade 2 and 3, type r in Grade 2, type s and t in Grade 0+ to 3. Conclusion: The CT grading method for small opacity profusion of pneumoconiosis is feasible, and the application value of its reference films needs to be further verified.

PMID:34218566 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20200917-00537

Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2021 Jun 20;39(6):469-471. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20210329-00168.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the short-term effects of welding fumes on workers’ lung function in the welding environment preliminarily, and provide reference for future research. Methods: In October 2020, the lung function of the subjects was repeatedly measured before and after the working shift with a panel study. The paired t test was used to compare the lung function before and after the shift, and the linear mixed effects model was used to analyze the short-term changes of lung function. Results: 36 male welders were included, and the average age was (30.72±5.21) years, average employed year was (4.36±2.17) years. And the average concentration of welding fume was (1.27±0.49) mg/m(3). The forced vital capacity (FVC) , forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) of welders after the shift were significantly lower than those before the shift (t=19.52, 48.13, 62.03, P<0.05) . After adjusting the workers’ age, BMI and employed years, the changes of FVC% and FEV1% with the concentration of welding fume were statistically significant (β=-1.02, 95%CI: -1.54–0.52; β=-1.56, 95%CI: -1.95–1.16; P<0.01) . In another word, for the 1 mg/m(3) increase of welding fume in the working environment, compared with the baseline, the FVC decreases by 1.02%, and FEV1 decreases by 1.56%. Conclusion: Short-term exposure to welding fumes in workplace can reduce the lung function of welders.

PMID:34218571 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20210329-00168

Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent. 2021 May 25. doi: 10.1922/EJPRD_2263Osnes07. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Correctly articulated dental casts are essential for certain dental treatment. Articulation can be traditional: using a physical articulator; digital: using a physical articulator followed by 3D scanning, or virtual: using 3D scanning and software to articulate scans without initial physical articulation. This study compared the precision of traditional articulation, using physical centric relation records and an articulator and virtually, by digitally aligning scans of the casts and record. Articulated casts and centric relation records were obtained. 12 record pairs were recorded from the articulated casts. Virtual method: all records were scanned, unclamped, in a custom laboratory scanner. The casts were aligned to each scanned record to create virtual articulations. Traditional method: each record was used to physically articulate the casts. Each articulation was recorded using an intraoral scanner. The mean inter-arch separation between three key-points on each cast-pair were used to determine differences in occlusal separation in three anatomical directions, and precision of methods. Traditional articulations: standard deviations in key-point distance never exceeded 0.102mm. The virtual equivalent was 0.059mm. Statistically significant differences (p⟨0.05) between all anteroposterior separation distances were found between the methods, and in three of six lateral/vertical separations. Virtual articulation was significantly more precise than traditional articulation.

PMID:34218536 | DOI:10.1922/EJPRD_2263Osnes07

Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2021 Jun 20;39(6):412-417. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20210203-00077.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the relationship between rs1053005 of signal conversion and transcription activator 3 (STAT3) and miR-452-3p, and the association between STAT3 gene polymorphism and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) . Methods: In December 2017, 1220 workers were selected from an automobile manufacturing factory, an energy company and a chemical fiber factory in Jiangsu Province who had occupational noise exposure and working age of more than 3 years. The workers with the mean hearing threshold of ≥26 dB (A) of the two ear high frequency (3000, 4000 and 6000 Hz) were defined as case group (n=609) , and the rest were control group (n=611) . Five single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites of STAT3 (rs4796793, rs1053023, rs1053005, rs1053004 and rs3744483) were selected to explore the association between STAT3 gene polymorphism and NIHL by analyzing the points. The double luciferase reporter gene verified whether miR-452-3p was targeted to bind STAT3, and overexpressed miR-452-3p in HEI-OC1 cells to explore the mechanism of STAT3 expression regulation. Results: There was no significant difference in gender, age, smoking and drinking between the two groups (P>0.05) . Compared with the control group[ (15.58±4.76) dB], the mean hearing threshold of the case group [ (37.50±12.39) dB] was higher, and the difference were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the C alleles of rs1053023 and rs1053005 were higher in the case group (OR=1.367, 1.370, P<0.05) . The risk of NIHL in men with TC/CC genotype were 1.545 and 1.531 times higher than that in men with TT genotype (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of STAT3 in the case group was significantly increased (P<0.05) . The STAT3 mRNA expression of miR-452-3p group cells was significantly decreased (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The rs1053023 and rs1053005 polymorphism of STAT3 are related to NIHL. The C alleles of rs1053023 and rs1053005 may be biomarkers of workers exposed to noise.

PMID:34218555 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20210203-00077

Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi. 2021 Jun 20;39(6):428-429. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20201110-00623.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the effect of preventive intervention on occupational exposure of nurses after tumor particle implantation in thoracic surgery. Methods: In March 2020, 99 nurses who were engaged in postoperative nursing of tumor particle implantation in thoracic surgery department of our hospital from February 2019 to February 2020 were selected as the research objects. According to different preventive interventions, they were divided into observation group (51 cases) and control group (48 cases) . The observation group received preventive intervention, while the control group received routine intervention. The differences of radiation dose, psychological state and abnormal rate of important organ function between the two groups were analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, the radiation dose of the observation group was significantly less, and the scores of anxiety and depression were lower after the intervention, the difference were statistically significant (P<0.05) . There was no significant difference of the abnormal rate of important organ function between the two groups (P>0.05) . Conclusion: Preventive intervention can reduce the risk of occupational exposure and improve the psychological status of nurses after tumor particle implantation in thoracic surgery.

PMID:34218558 | DOI:10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20201110-00623

Anat Sci Educ. 2021 Jul 4. doi: 10.1002/ase.2117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Anatomy is a key knowledge area in chiropractic and is formally offered in the undergraduate component of chiropractic education. There is the potential for loss of anatomy knowledge before the opportunity to apply it in a clinical setting. This study aimed to determine whether chiropractic clinicians retain a level of anatomy knowledge comparable to that of chiropractic students and to compare chiropractors’ self-rating of their anatomical knowledge against an objective knowledge assessment tool. A previously validated multiple-choice test was utilized to measure retention of limb musculoskeletal knowledge in Australian chiropractors. One hundred and one registered chiropractors completed the questionnaire and responses were scored, analyzed, and compared to scores attained by undergraduate and postgraduate chiropractic students who had previously completed the same questionnaire. The results indicated that practitioners retained their anatomy knowledge, with a significantly higher total mean score than the undergraduate group [total mean score = 36.5% (±SD 13.6%); P < 0.01] but not significantly different to the postgraduate group [total mean score = 52.2% (±SD 14.1%); P = 0.74]. There was a weak positive correlation between chiropractors’ self-rated knowledge and test performance scores indicating the effectiveness of this Australian chiropractic group in self-assessing their anatomy knowledge. This study found that Australian chiropractors’ knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy was retained during the transition from university to clinical practice and they accurately evaluated their own test performance.

PMID:34218520 | DOI:10.1002/ase.2117

Int J Dent Hyg. 2021 Jul 4. doi: 10.1111/idh.12533. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of biofilm removal of a treatment protocol combining an air-abrasive device using erythritol powder (AIRFLOW®) and an ultrasonic piezon instrumentation (Guided Biofilm Therapy/GBT) compared to the conventional mechanical approach (Scaling and Root Planing/SRP) during supportive periodontal treatment (SPT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients, scheduled for supportive periodontal treatment at the Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Implant Biology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki were randomly assigned to either a GBT (group A: 24 participants) or a SRP (Group B: 26 participants) treatment protocol. Therapeutic interventions and clinical measurements were performed at baseline and repeated at 6 weeks. Oral hygiene instructions were reinforced at each visit. A questionnaire was handed to the participants for evaluation of patient perception of both utilized approaches.

RESULTS: At 6 weeks, the two groups showed statistically significant reduction in plaque score and in gingival bleeding index compared to baseline. GBT required approximately 15% less chair-time than SRP with a mean difference of 5.1 minutes, which was statically significant (p=0.049). Patient perception was more favorable for GBT than SRP.

CONCLUSIONS: Biofilm removal using erythritol AIRFLOW® and ultrasonic piezo-electric instruments (GBT) can be considered equally efficient compared to the conventional SRP. Moreover, GBT seemed to require shorter treatment time and to exhibit a more favorable patient perception than the conventional approach.

PMID:34218516 | DOI:10.1111/idh.12533

Dermatol Ther. 2021 Jul 4:e15052. doi: 10.1111/dth.15052. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is analysis of time to relapse after discontinuation of biologic treatment and identification of factors associated with risk of relapse.

METHODS: The analysis used real-world data of 705 patients treated with biologic drugs (adalimumab, ustekinumab, infliximab and etanercept) in Poland in 2013-2019. Time to relapse was analysed by Kaplan-Meier estimator. Data was stratified by the number of prior relapses. Determinants of risk to relapse were analysed with Prentice-Williams-Peterson model.

RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier estimate of time to the first relapse was 276 days, to the second relapse was 246 days, to the third relapse was 218 days and to the fourth relapse was 178 days. In multidimensional analysis statistically significant variables affecting risk of relapse were the following: biologic naivety (hazard ratio (HR) 0.707), adalimumab (HR 0.787), PASI at the last follow-up visit (HR 1.049), abnormal hemoglobin level (HR 0.794) and abnormal lymphocyte counts (HR 1.278).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that periods to relapse after discontinuation of biologic drugs become shorter with the number of prior relapses experienced by the patient. 95% of observed relapses occurred within 613 days of the end of the first treatment cycle, within 478 of the second cycle and within 351 days of the third cycle. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID:34218502 | DOI:10.1111/dth.15052

BJU Int. 2021 Jul 4. doi: 10.1111/bju.15539. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To develop and test the psychometric properties of a concise, patient reported questionnaire, designed to assess key aspects of the radical cystectomy (RC) patient pathway that are important to both patients and clinicians.

SUBJECTS/PATIENTS AND METHODS: Draft items were developed by a consultation with a 13 member expert clinical panel, and the in-depth qualitative analysis of 14 semi-structured interviews with patients who had received RC within the previous eighteen months. A further 9 cognitive interviews with patients refined the items and ensured they were easy to complete. Pilot testing in 122 patients recruited from five hospitals in England tested the properties of validity and reliability of the resulting 17-item questionnaire.

RESULTS: Patients and clinicians identified the following aspects as important for the delivery of quality patient care. These included timely referral and initial test results; an explanation of risk/benefits of treatment; access to a cancer nurse specialist; training and support in stoma management; timely surgery, surgical complications, and timely follow-up. Pilot testing showed missing data was low (≤3% for all items), and between 73% and 89% of the responses to items were the most positive about their care (indicating ceiling effects). 5 items were identified using factor analysis as being statistically related (Cronbach’s alpha 0.76, ICC test-retest reliability of 0.95) and formed the scored part of the tool ‘care and support’, scored 0-16. There was insufficient evidence at this stage to show the tool was capable of measuring differences between cancer centres.

CONCLUSION: We have developed a questionnaire which captures aspects of quality of care within the cystectomy patient pathway. The results support the validity and reliability of the 17-item Cystectomy-Pathway Assessment Tool (C-PAT). We envisage the tool can be the basis for audit of the patient reported assessment of the quality of care for individual cancer centres.

PMID:34218507 | DOI:10.1111/bju.15539