Rank Coefficient Research Articles

Factors Influencing Transactional Leadership in Commercial Banks of Nepal

This paper analyses different factors promoting transactional leadership in commercial banks of Nepal. The study is based on primary data with 131 responses. The self-administered questionnaires are used to collect the perceptive opinions from the respondents. The statistical tools used in this study include mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variance and ranking. The study concludes that leaders of commercial banks of Nepal provide subordinates with material and rewards contingent on the fulfilment of contractual obligations, monitored deviation from norms and provide corrective action, frequently implement punishment or corrective approaches are most important factors to transactional leadership styles. Transactional leadership style exists in commercial banks of Nepal.

The cardiac-fetal-placental unit: fetal umbilical vein flow rate is linked to the maternal cardiac profile in fetal growth restriction

The functional maternal-fetal hemodynamic unit includes fetal umbilical vein flow and maternal peripheral vascular resistance. This study investigated the relationships between maternal and fetal hemodynamics in a population with suspected fetal growth restriction. This was a prospective study of normotensive pregnancies referred to our outpatient clinic for a suspected fetal growth restriction. Maternal hemodynamics measurement was performed, using a noninvasive device (USCOM-1A) and a fetal ultrasound evaluation to assess fetal biometry and velocimetry Doppler parameters. Comparisons among groups were performed with 1-way analysis of variance with Student-Newman-Keuls correction for multiple comparisons and with Kruskal-Wallis test where appropriate. The Spearman rank coefficient was used to assess the correlation between maternal and fetal hemodynamics. Pregnancies were observed until delivery. A total of 182 normotensive pregnancies were included. After the evaluation, 54 fetuses were classified as growth restricted, 42 as small for gestational age, and 86 as adequate for gestational age. The fetus with fetal growth restriction had significantly lower umbilical vein diameter (P<.0001), umbilical vein velocity (P=.02), umbilical vein flow (P<.0001), and umbilical vein flow corrected for fetal weight (P<.01) than adequate-for-gestational-age and small-for-gestational-age fetuses. The maternal hemodynamic profile in fetal growth restriction was characterized by elevated systemic vascular resistance and reduced cardiac output. The umbilical vein diameter was positively correlated to maternal cardiac output (rs=0.261), whereas there was a negative correlation between maternal systemic vascular resistance (rs=-0.338) and maternal potential energy-to-kinetic energy ratio (rs=-0267). The fetal umbilical vein time averaged max velocity was positively correlated to maternal cardiac output (rs=0.189) and maternal inotropy index (rs=0.162), whereas there was a negative correlation with maternal systemic vascular resistance (rs=-0.264) and maternal potential energy-to-kinetic energy ratio (rs=-0.171). The fetal umbilical vein flow and the flow corrected for estimated fetal weight were positively correlated with maternal cardiac output (rs=0.339 and rs=0.297) and maternal inotropy index (rs=0.217 and r=0.336), whereas there was a negative correlation between maternal systemic vascular resistance (rs=-0.461 and rs=-0.409) and maternal potential energy-to-kinetic energy ratio (rs=-0.336 and rs=-0.408). Maternal and fetal hemodynamic parameters were different in the 3 groups of fetuses: fetal growth restriction, small for gestational age, and adequate for gestational age. Maternal hemodynamic parameters were closely and continuously correlated with fetal hemodynamic features. In particular, a maternal hemodynamic profile with high systemic vascular resistance, low cardiac output, reduced inotropism, and hypodynamic circulation was correlated with a reduced umbilical vein flow and increased umbilical artery pulsatility index. The mother, placenta, and fetus should be considered as a single cardiac-fetal-placental unit. The correlations of systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, and inotropy index with umbilical artery impedance indicate the key role of these 3 parameters in placental vascular tree development. The umbilical vein flow rate and, therefore, the placental perfusion seems to be influenced not only by these three parameters but also by the maternal cardiovascular kinetic energy.

A network analysis and support vector regression approaches for visualising and predicting the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia

This study aims to (1) correlate and visualise the Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic spread via Spearman rank coefficients of network analysis (NA) and (2) predict the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed and death cases via support vector regression (SVR) based on COVID-19 dataset in Malaysia between July 2020 to June 2021. The NA indicated increasing connectivity between different states throughout the time frame, revealing the most complex network of COVID-19 transmission in the second quarter of 2021. The SVR model predicted future COVID-19 cases and deaths in Malaysia in the second half of 2021. The study demonstrated that the NA and SVR could provide relatively simple yet valuable artificial intelligence techniques for visualising the degree of connectivity and predicting pandemic risk based on confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. The Malaysian health authorities used the NA and SVR model results for preventive measures in highly populated states.

HUBUNGAN KEPEMIMPINAN KETUA KELOMPOK TANI DENGAN EFEKTIVITAS KELOMPOK TANI DI KECAMATAN PUSOMAEN KABUPATEN MINAHASA TENGGARA (STUDI KASUS: KELOMPOK TANI TEKAD BERSAMA DESA MINANGA SATU)

This research aims to examine and analyze the relationship between the leadership of the farmer group leader and the effectiveness of the “Tekad Bersama” farmer group in Minanga Satu Village, Pusomaen District, Southeast Minahasa Regency. This research was conducted for 3 months starting from September to November 2021. The data used in this study were primary data and secondary data. Primary data was obtained from interviews with members of farmer groups using a list of questions that had been developed directly using a questionnaire. Secondary data were obtained from the Minanga Satu village office, as well as literature studies from the results of previous studies related to research and articles from print media and the internet. The method used in sampling is done by census, where all members of the population are used as samples with the number of members of the farmer group is 15 people. While the analytical method used is the Spearman Rank Coefficient Correlation Test (rs). The results showed that the leadership of the collective determination farmer group in Minanga Satu village was in the high category. The effectiveness of the Tekad Bersama farmer group in Minanga Satu Village is in the high category. From the results of the Spearman Rank test and the significance test at the 95% confidence level, it was found that the relationship between the leadership of the head of the farmer group and the effectiveness of the farmer group had a significant relationship.

Relationship between liquidity and profitability: An analysis of Indian cement companies

The ultimate aim of working capital management is to enable a firm to maximize profits from its operations and to maintain enough liquidity at the same time. As liquidity and profitability are inversely related to each other, hence increasing profitability would tend to reduce firms’ liquidity and too much attention on liquidity would tend to affect the profitability. Though every firm tries to maximize the profitability by preserving the liquidity but, increasing profits at the cost of liquidity might cause serious trouble to the firm and this problem might lead to financial insolvency as well. Thus an effective balance between liquidity and profitability is very much required to achieve both of the objectives of every firm, i.e. liquidity and profitability. To increase profit, a firm need to forgo liquidity which might damage the firm’s goodwill, deteriorate firm’s credit standings and that might lead to forced liquidation of firm’s assets and excessive liquidity on the other hand indicates the accumulation of idle funds that don’t fetch any profits for the firm. Hence a study is very much required to understand how firms earn profit without compromising the liquidity. This study is an attempt to establish the relationship between the liquidity and profitability of top ten Indian cement companies. The data has been analyzed using Spearman's Rank Coefficient of Correlation and it is found that both liquidity and profitability is negatively correlated which confirms the theoretical viewpoint.

Analysis of financial liquidity and predicting the bankruptcy risk of Indian cement companies

Liquidity is important to the efficient running of any business. Maintaining liquidity on a daily basis is a critical part of managing working capital to guarantee that the company works effectively and achieves its obligations.Efforts to boost profitability, on the other hand, are likely to lower businesses' liquidity, and a focus on liquidity may have an adverse effect on profitability. The study's major goal was to determine if organizations can make a profit while retaining essential liquidity, or whether they are willing to compromise liquidity to make a bigger profit. The data has been analyzed using Motaal's Liquidity Assessment Test and Spearman's Rank Coefficient of Correlation. This study makes an attempt to examine the link between the sample businesses' liquidity and profitability, as well as the possibility of bankruptcy. Among the ten selected cement companies, UltraTech Cement, Shree Cement, Ambuja Cement, ACC, J.K. Cement, Ramco, Birla Corporation, JK Lakshmi, Rain Industries, and India Cement, UltraTech Cement, Shree Cement, Ambuja Cement, ACC, J.K. Cement, Ramco, Birla Corporation, JK Lakshmi, Rain Industries, India Cement and UltraTech. Shree Cement, according to Motaal's liquidity test, has the best liquidity status.

A vector-based semantic relatedness measure using multiple relations within SNOMED CT and UMLS

ObjectiveTo propose a new vector-based relatedness metric that derives word vectors from the intrinsic structure of biomedical ontologies, without consulting external resources such as large-scale biomedical corpora. Materials and MethodsSNOMED CT on the mapping layer of UMLS was used as a testbed ontology. Vectors were created for every concept at the end of all semantic relations—attribute–value relations and descendants as well as is_a relation—of the defining concept. The cosine similarity between the averages of those vectors with respect to each defining concept was computed to produce a final semantic relatedness. ResultsTwo benchmark sets that include a total of 62 biomedical term pairs were used for evaluation. Spearman’s rank coefficient of the current method was 0.655, 0.744, and 0.742 with the relatedness rated by physicians, coders, and medical experts, respectively. The proposed method was comparable to a word-embedding method and outperformed path-based, information content-based, and another multiple relation-based relatedness metrics. DiscussionThe current study demonstrated that the addition of attribute relations to the is_a hierarchy of SNOMED CT better conforms to the human sense of relatedness than models based on taxonomic relations. The current approach also showed that it is robust to the design inconsistency of ontologies. ConclusionUnlike the previous vector-based approach, the current study exploited the intrinsic semantic structure of an ontology, precluding the need for external textual resources to obtain context information of defining terms. Future research is recommended to prove the validity of the current method with other biomedical ontologies.

Methodology for risk assessment at the conceptual design stage of offshore structures during the offshore fields development

The article carried out a qualitative risk assessment taking into account the developed scale "Probability / frequency and using "The Classifier of consequences" for several options for the offshore fields development. "The Consequence Category Classifier" takes into account environmental, financial, life, health and time risk criteria affecting construction and operation. The risk analysis was carried out taking into account the existing regulatory documentation and based on the analysis of the causes of the occurrence of factors that determine the outcomes of accidents, taking into account all the features of the cases under consideration for the life cycle stages: Design work, Production and testing, Use (operation). The degree of agreement in the performance of the experts group work was made based on the calculation of the Kendall rank coefficient. Subcategories were determined simultaneously for all the considered field development facilities according to the results of the performed calculations in risk categories. a Risk register was compiled based on the developed scale "Probability/Frequency" and the developed "Classifier of Consequence Categories". The risk register included 72 risks. The “Risk Index” was determined as a result of calculations. As a result, based on the results of a qualitative risk assessment, a "Risk Matrix" was developed based on the methodology presented in the Register Rules. In this case, the Alarp model or the principle of reasonable sufficiency was used. This risk assessment allows you to determine: the degree of the risk importance, prioritize different categories of risks, choose the best option with the lowest "Risk Index".

Development of an Interprofessional Handoff Assessment for Doctor of Physical Therapy Students

Background and Purpose: Handoff communication, especially interprofessional (IPE) handoff communication, has been shown to make up a large portion of communication errors in health care. There is variability in the way professionals are trained and deliver the pertinent patient information in handoffs, which, causes confusion, makes recall difficult, and increases the incidence of medical errors. Thus, this study aimed at assessing IPE handoffs for individuals who are trained in SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) method of IPE communication developed by TEAM STEPPS®. Method: To assess IPE handoffs for those who are trained with the SBAR method, an existing tool was modified to make it more explicit to IPE handoff communication using descriptors from SBAR. Reliability and internal consistency were evaluated using videos of IPE handoffs of doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students. Results: Spearman rank coefficients for the revised assessment domains ranged from 0.56 to 0.86, indicating a strong correlation. The communication and content domains had the highest level of correlation. The interrater reliability of the 5 raters was 0.85, indicating high reliability. Discussion and Conclusion: This assessment proved to be simple and reliable to measure IPE handoff communication skills during emergent situations between DPT students and standardized nurses. Thus, this assessment can be used to assess interprofessional handoffs, develop competencies improved teamwork, and reduce medical errors.

Chronic low back pain – its association with lumbar spinal canal diameter – a cross-sectional hospital-based study in a tertiary care hospital in North Bengal

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common cause of disability in working age adults, lumbar canal stenosis (LCS) being one of the chief anatomical correlates. However, number of studies seeking role of LCS in the origin of LBP are not many, particularly in India. Aims and Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate LBP and its relation to lumbar canal diameter (LCD), also to evaluate the impact of psychosomatic factors on LBP. Materials and Methods: Eighty symptomatic (LBP) and 41 asymptomatic (without LBP) subjects were chosen and LCD for three lowest lumbar segments measured by 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging for both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects was ascertained. Canal diameters of both groups were compared by Pearson’s Chi-square test. Pain intensity of patients was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS)-pain score. Using tests of normality and non-parametric test Spearman’s rank coefficient, correlation between VAS score (pain intensity) and lowest canal diameter of the cases was evaluated. To evaluate the role of psychosomatic factors in LBP, the number of subjects (LBP) with somatic symptoms disorder (SSD) score ≥8 was ascertained. Results: The results were as follows: (1) Significant association between presence of LCS (diameter &lt;10 mm) and LBP (P=0.015). (2) No significant correlation between intensity of LBP (VAS score) and LCD. (3) 13.75% of LBP patients had SSD (Male 8% and Female 23.33%). Conclusion: LCS may be an important factor in the origin of LBP. More studies are needed in this regard and also seeking correlation between LBP and other anatomical factors. Psychosocial factors may play important role in the origin and maintenance of LBP.

CT scan versus bioelectrical impedance spectrometry sarcopenia assessment to predict chemotherapy toxicity in early breast cancer.

12078 Background: There is growing literature on the impact of the progressive loss of skeletal muscle known as sarcopenia in women with early breast cancer (EBC). Imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography (CT) scans are the most studied methods to detect sarcopenia in patients with cancer; however, most patients with EBC do not require routine CT scans. Bioelectrical impedance spectrometry (BIS) is a method that does not expose patients to radiation and provides measurements to assess sarcopenia instantaneously. The extent to which BIS-assessed sarcopenia correlates with CT-assessed sarcopenia is uncertain. It is also unclear whether sarcopenia detected with either method can be associated with chemotherapy tolerance To address these questions, we evaluated the correlation between CT and BIS sarcopenia and associations of sarcopenia by each method with chemotherapy related outcomes in patients with EBC. Methods: This retrospective study identified patients with EBC who received chemotherapy (ACT, TC, TH, THP), underwent BIS analyses (ImpediMed) at any point between diagnosis and treatment completion and also received a CT abdomen including L3 level. Axial CT L3 segments were analyzed using Slice-O-Matic software. CT L3, and BIS generated the Skeletal Muscle (SM). Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) was then calculated to assess for sarcopenia: BIS SMI= (SM in kg)/ (patient height, m2) and CT L3 SMI (SM cm2/ height m2). Patients were divided into normal SMI, and sarcopenia (if BIS was used SMI &lt;6.75 kg/m2 and if CT SMI &lt;40 cm2/m2). Patient medical records were reviewed for patient characteristics, grade 3 and 4 toxicity, including neuropathy symptoms, chemotherapy dose reductions, early treatment discontinuation or need for hospitalization during chemotherapy treatment. Spearman's rank coefficient was used to assess the correlation between CT SMI and BIS SMI. Multivariable logistic regression was used to associate sarcopenia with outcomes, controlling for age and BMI. Results: 361 patients received chemotherapy, underwent BIS; of those 171 had L3 CT scans. The correlation between L3 CT SMI and BIS SMI was r= 0.64 p&lt;0.0001. In the multivariable model, sarcopenia assessed by L3 CT scan was associated with chemotherapy dose reduction (CI 0.04-0.60 p=0.01) and neuropathy (CI 0.10-0.95 P=0.04) but not with grade 3 or 4 chemotherapy toxicity (CI 0.13-1.09 p=0.07), early treatment discontinuation (p=0.3) or hospitalization (p=0.60). Sarcopenia assessed by BIS was associated with grade 3 or 4 chemotherapy toxicity (CI 0.2-0.83 p=0.01), neuropathy (CI 0.1-0.51 p=0.0003), early treatment discontinuation (OR 0.26 CI 0.11-0.80 p=0.001), and hospitalization (CI 0.12-0.68 p=0.004). Conclusions: There is a strong correlation between L3 CT scan and BIS screened sarcopenia in patients with EBC. Sarcopenia detected with either CT L3 or BIS is associated with worse chemotherapy tolerance.

Prognostic Value of SARS-CoV-2 Anti-RBD IgG Antibody Quantitation on Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

BackgroundAntibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 can be used as an indicator of recent or past vaccination or infection. However, the prognostic value of antibodies targeting the receptor binding protein (anti-RBD) in hospitalized patients is not widely reported.PurposeDetermine prognostic impact of SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantification at the time of admission on clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.MethodsWe conducted a pilot observational study on patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection to determine the prognostic impact of antibody quantitation within the first two days of admission. Anti-nucleocapsid IgG (anti-N) and Anti-RBD levels were measured. Anti-RBD level of 500 AU/mL was used as a cutoff to stratify patients. Spearman’s rank Coefficient (rs) was used to demonstrate association.ResultsOf the 26 patients included, those who were vaccinated more frequently tested positive for Anti-RBD (100% vs 46.2%, P = 0.005) with higher median titer level (623 vs 0, P = 0.011) compared to unvaccinated patients. Anti-N positivity was more frequently seen in unvaccinated patients (53.9% vs 7.7%, P = 0.03). Anti-RBD levels >500 were associated with lower overall hospital length of stay (LOS)(5 vs 10 days, P = 0.046). The analysis employing a Spearman Rank coefficient demonstrated a strong negative correlation between anti-S titer and LOS (rs=−.515, p = 0.007) and a moderate negative correlation with oxygen needs (rs =−.401, p = 0.042).ConclusionAnti-RBD IgG levels were associated with lower LOS and oxygen needs during hospitalization. Further studies are needed to determine if levels on admission can be used as a prognostic indicator.

Clinical longevity and trend analysis of 801 ultrathin ceramic veneers: A clinical cohort study

Statement of problemWhether ultrathin ceramic veneers are a suitable treatment alternative to conventional ceramic veneers is unclear. PurposeThe purpose of this prospective clinical cohort study was to evaluate the efficacy and longevity of nonpreparation and minimally invasive ceramic veneers and the influence of existing restorations and ceramic type and to define the relationship between the number of veneers placed on different teeth and in different locations, as well as age and sex correlations. Material and methodsA total of 801 veneers were placed on incisors, canines, and premolars on maxillary and mandibular teeth between January 2011 and August 2019 (ABR number: RNN/92/19/KE). Feldspathic or feldspathic and lithium disilicate veneers were made, etched, silanated, and cemented. The restorations were evaluated 2 weeks after placement and then every 6 months by using the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. The relationship between participant age and number of veneers was analyzed by using the Spearman rank coefficient test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Changes in the number of participants and veneers in subsequent years were analyzed based on the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The trend between the location of veneers and the sex of the participants was analyzed by using the chi-squared test for trend. Longevity tables and a survival curve for the veneers were prepared based on the Kaplan-Meier method. The relationships between veneer longevity and the type of ceramic used and the presence of restorations were compared by using the Taron-Ware test (α=.05). ResultsThe mean longevity of the intact veneers was 8.45 years. Clinical success was 99.7% after 1 year and 97.9% after 4 years; this value remained constant until the end of the study. Most participants were women (n=122; 84.1%), and the mean age was 41 years; median 40 years. The number of veneers placed on mandibular teeth each year increased over the subsequent years. ConclusionsThe longevity of ultrathin veneers after 9 years of observation was not related to the ceramic used or to the presence of a composite resin restoration. Veneers were more commonly placed in middle-aged women and in mandibular anterior teeth.

Prioritizing transport planning strategies for freight companies towards zero carbon emission using ordinal priority approach

Freight transportation counts for remarkable negative effects like emissions, noise, and congestion. This urges for a modal shift toward structuring a more efficient systematic network, facilitating full use of potentials among the transportation modes. Decision-makers face uncertainty and restricted information processing skills when assessing the alternatives for sustainable freight transportation. In this study, a novel extension of the Ordinal Priority Approach under picture fuzzy sets (OPA-P) is proposed to rank the alternatives. In the OPA-P algorithm, experts’ preferences are used to determine the weighting coefficients of criteria and rank the alternatives. A case study is employed to demonstrate the formulation and solution of the problem. The outcome of this study suggests the top-ranked and most important solution for the sustainable transport planning. In addition, to verify the stability of the proposed model, a validation analysis is carried out.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Arabic version of the simple shoulder test in the United Arab Emirates.

BackgroundThe Simple Shoulder Test (SST) is a simple and short patient-reported outcome measuring functional limitations of the affected shoulder in patients with shoulder dysfunction. Although it is widely used in different clinical cultures, literature review to date revealed that the SST has not been yet translated nor validated in the Arabic language.Research objectivesTo translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Arabic version of the Simple Shoulder Test (SST).MethodologyA forward-backward translation method was adopted. One hundred and forty-one patients with shoulder pain were recruited for psychometric analysis based on the inclusion criteria. The test–retest reliability of the Arabic SST (ASST), pain, disability and total scores were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). The construct validity of the ASST was tested by Spearman rank coefficients through comparing the Arabic SST scores to the severity of shoulder pain measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Arabic version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Internal consistency was assessed by the Cronbach’s alpha.FindingsOne hundred and forty participants (60 males and 80 females) with a mean (Standard Deviation) age of 39.3 (4.9) years participated in the study. The ICCs for score of ASST were reported high; pain 0.84 (0.78–0.93), disability 0.96 (0.93–0.97) and total score 0.95 (0.91–0.97). Similarly, the Cronbach α values for the ASST scores were also of high values with regards to pain (0.89), disability (0.94), and total score (0.97) respectively. Comparing the scores between the first and the second use of the ASST revealed no statistically significant mean differences of -1.9 (95% CI—3.61 to 0.17).ConclusionThe Arabic-translated version of the SST showed high reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity based on substantial correlations of the ASST with Arabic SPADI and VAS. We recommend the Arabic version of the SST for the evaluation of Arabic-speaking patients with shoulder dysfunction.

PD09-11 VEIN DIAMETER ON ULTRASOUND AS PREDICTOR OF SEMEN PARAMETER IMPROVEMENT AFTER VARICOCELECTOMY

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 May 2022PD09-11 VEIN DIAMETER ON ULTRASOUND AS PREDICTOR OF SEMEN PARAMETER IMPROVEMENT AFTER VARICOCELECTOMY Leon Telis, Alan Paniagua Cruz, Kirolos Meilika, Hira Chaudhry, Michael Huaman, and Boback M. Berookhim Leon TelisLeon Telis More articles by this author , Alan Paniagua CruzAlan Paniagua Cruz More articles by this author , Kirolos MeilikaKirolos Meilika More articles by this author , Hira ChaudhryHira Chaudhry More articles by this author , Michael HuamanMichael Huaman More articles by this author , and Boback M. BerookhimBoback M. Berookhim More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002535.11AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical presence and grade of varicocele has been associated with the degree of spermatogenic response to varicocelectomy. There have been no objective pre-operative factors that have been found to correlate with spermatogenic improvement post-varicocelectomy. We aim to determine whether preoperative venous diameter on ultrasound may predict semen parameter improvement post-varicocelectomy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of a single-surgeon cohort of patients undergoing microsurgical varicocelectomy to assess the impact of pre-operative ultrasound varicocele diameter on changes in semen analysis. Sonography was performed at local centers with experience in scrotal Doppler sonography. Maximal internal spermatic vein diameters were reported. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze changes in pre- and post-operative semen parameters. Paired t-test was used to further analyze changes in pre- and post-operative semen parameters among unilateral vs bilateral varicocelectomy. Statistical significance was defined as p <0.05. Kendall rank coefficient was performed to assess correlation of varicocele clinical grade and vein diameter on ultrasound. RESULTS: The last 180 consecutive patients who underwent subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy were evaluated. Median age of patients was 32 years (range 19-57). 56 patients with available post-operative semen analyses underwent bilateral repair and 49 patients underwent unilateral repair. Mean time from surgery to post-operative semen analysis was 5.4 months. Men who underwent varicocelectomy with vein diameter >3.5 mm had a significant improvement in sperm concentration. Improvement in sperm motility and morphology was also noted in this cohort and approached statistical significance. Those with varicoceles <3.5 mm did not demonstrate an improvement in semen parameters. Significant improvement in semen concentration and morphology was noted among patients undergoing bilateral repair. There was a statistically significant association between clinical and radiographic varicocele size (tau = 0.391, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We identified an improvement in semen analysis parameters after varicocele repair in men with clinical varicoceles with venous diameter >3.5 mm on ultrasound. Source of Funding: None © 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 207Issue Supplement 5May 2022Page: e181 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Leon Telis More articles by this author Alan Paniagua Cruz More articles by this author Kirolos Meilika More articles by this author Hira Chaudhry More articles by this author Michael Huaman More articles by this author Boback M. Berookhim More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF DownloadLoading ...

Local Government Administration and Grassroots Development in Imo State: A Case Study of Owerri Municipal Council

This study is an assessment of local government administration as an instrument of grassroots development in Nigeria, using Owerri Municipal Council as a case study. With a well-structured questionnaire supported with oral interviews, data were generated from one hundred and seventy municipal council staff stratified into three categories of top management, middle and low cadres. Employing the Spearman‟s Rank Coefficient as the main statistical tool of analysis, the study revealed among others that a significant relationship exists between the state of infrastructure and grassroots development in Nigeria and between the level of ineffective local government administration and the extent of job creation among the local populace. Further findings showed that a significant relationship exists between insufficient skilled manpower and the level of grassroots rural-urban migration as well as between ineffective local government administration and the level of grassroots participation in democratic activities. Following these findings, the study therefore, concluded thus: that the state of infrastructure is poor, resulting in low grassroots development in Nigeria. Similarly, the study inferred that ineffective local government administration led to poor resource management, which in turn impeded grassroots job creation, and that lack of skilled manpower fuelled rural-urban migration in Nigeria, while ineffective local government administration was a significant determinant factor to poor grassroots participation in democratic processes in Nigeria. Therefore, prominent among others, the study advocated for an upward review of the revenue sharing formula in favour of the local governments being a grassroots government closest to the populace, while sanctioning erring personnel who may be tempted to engage in funds misappropriation.

Patterns of biopsy-proven renal disease in people living with HIV: 10\xa0years experience in Sydney, Australia

BackgroundAcute and chronic kidney diseases are important comorbidities in People Living With HIV (PLWH). Biopsy is often pursued in this cohort with ongoing renal impairment without a clear aetiology, in order to establish the diagnosis and to guide management. Despite the importance of renal disease in PLWH, there is a paucity of biopsy data—especially in the Australian setting. Consequently, who and when to biopsy is mainly based on clinical experience. The aims of this study were to describe biopsy-proven renal disease in PLWH at our institution and to assess for correlation between any demographic or laboratory characteristics with histological diagnosis.MethodsA retrospective review of all PLWH who underwent renal biopsy between January 2010 and December 2020 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia was performed. All PLWH over 18 years, who were not transplant recipients were included. Demographic, laboratory and biopsy data was extracted from the electronic medical records. Basic descriptive statistics were performed, and correlation was assessed using chi square and Kendall’s coefficient of rank test.Results19 renal biopsies were included in the study. The majority of PLWH were Australian born (53%), male (84%) and had a mean age of 48 years (SD 13). Comorbid hypertension and diabetes were present in 74% and 21% of people respectively. The mean serum creatinine was 132 µmol/L (SD 55) and the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 61 ml/min/1.73m2 (SD 24). The most common histological diagnosis was tubulointerstial nephritis in 5 people (24%). Hypertensive glomerulosclerosis and IgA nephropathy were present in 4 (19%) and 3 (14%) people respectively. There were no cases of HIV-associated nephropathy. There was no significant correlation between any cohort characteristics and diagnoses.ConclusionsThis study represents the first description of biopsy-proven kidney disease in the HIV-infected population of Australia. Our results support the use of renal biopsy in PLWH with ongoing renal impairment for accurate diagnosis and to guide further management. Although a small sample size, our study is larger than other published international biopsy studies.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Polish Version of the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD).

PurposeThe assessment of the quality of life is an important element of the clinical examination of the patient. The aim of this study was translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the “Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities” (CPCHILD) questionnaire into Polish language, and testing of reliability and validity of the CPCHILD-PL for children with cerebral palsy (CP).Material and MethodsA Polish version of CPCHILD was created according to internationally accepted guidelines. Parents (n=77) of 51 boys/26 girls between 3 and 17 years with CP with Gross Motor Function Classification System I–V (GMFCS I–V) participated. To assess the reliability each domain and the total measure was tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was evaluated by correlating the CPCHILD-PL with the CHAQ (Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire) questionnaire.ResultsTest-retest reliability assessed by Spearman correlation coefficient for the final result of CPCHILD-PL and for most of domains were above 0.90. The values of Cronbach’s-α coefficient (measuring internal consistency) were high for all domains (except for domain 5: Health) and the entire CPCHILD-PL, with the range 0.88–0.96. The comparison between CPCHILD-PL and the Disability Index (DI) of the CHAQ showed a negative correlation. The higher the DI, the lower the CPCHILD result. The Spearman’s rank coefficient was −0.75.ConclusionThe Polish version for the CPCHILD for children with CP seems to be reliable and valid tool for assessing health-related quality of life from the caregiver perspective. It can be used in research and clinical practice for evaluation and comparison of health-related quality of life in children with CP in different countries.

Genomic miscellany and allelic frequencies of Plasmodium falciparum msp-1, msp-2 and glurp in parasite isolates

IntroductionThe genomic miscellany of malaria parasites can help inform the intensity of malaria transmission and identify potential deficiencies in malaria control programs. This study was aimed at investigating the genomic miscellany, allele frequencies, and MOI of P. falciparum infection.MethodsA total of 85 P. falciparum confirmed isolates out of 100 were included in this study that were collected from P. falciparum patients aged 4 months to 60 years in nine districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Parasite DNA was extracted from 200µL whole blood samples using the Qiagen DNA extraction kit following the manufacturer’s instructions. The polymorphic regions of msp-1, msp-2 and glurp loci were genotyped using nested PCR followed by gel electrophoresis for amplified fragments identification and subsequent data analysis.ResultsOut of 85 P. falciparum infections detected, 30 were msp-1 and 32 were msp-2 alleles specific. Successful amplification occurred in 88.23% (75/85) isolates for msp-1, 78.9% (67/85) for msp-2 and 70% (60/85) for glurp gene. In msp-1, the K1 allelic family was predominantly prevalent as 66.66% (50/75), followed by RO33 and MAD20. The frequency of samples with single infection having only K1, MAD20 and RO33 were 21.34% (16/75), 8% (6/75), and 10.67% (8/75), respectively. In msp-2, both the FC27 and 3D7 allelic families revealed almost the same frequencies as 70.14% (47/67) and 67.16% (45/67), respectively. Nine glurp RII region alleles were identified in 60 isolates. The overall mean multiplicity of infection for msp genes was 1.6 with 1.8 for msp-1 and 1.4 for msp-2, while for glurp the MOI was 1.03. There was no significant association between multiplicity of infection and age groups (Spearman’s rank coefficient = 0.050; P = 0.6) while MOI and parasite density correlated for only msp-2 allelic marker.ConclusionsThe study showed high genetic diversity and allelic frequency with multiple clones of msp-1, msp-2 and glurp in P. falciparum isolates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In the present study the genotype data may provide valuable information essential for monitoring the impact of malaria eradication efforts in this region.