Mann-Whitney Test For Comparison Research Articles

Correlation between sCTLA-4 and sCD86 Levels with Disease Activity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients Based on SLEDAI Score

Background. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with multisystem involvement which arises from multifactorial causes. Continuous exposure to autoantigens and chronic activation of the immune system, especially memory T lymphocytes, contribute to premature immunosenescence. sCTLA-4 and sCD86 are soluble costimulatory molecules of CTLA-4 and CD86, which play a role in the occurrence of immunosenescence in SLE. The presence of immunosenescence will cause higher morbidity and mortality. This research was conducted to establish the correlation between the increased levels of sCTLA-4 and sCD86 and the severity of SLE, as measured by the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score. Methods. This analytical observational research utilized a cross-sectional approach involving 35 female SLE patients diagnosed according to the SLICC 2012 criteria. SLE disease activity was measured using SLEDAI score. Serum sCTLA-4 and sCD86 levels were measured using the ELISA method. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney test for comparisons and the Spearman test for correlation analysis, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results. sCTLA-4 levels were higher and significantly different in patients with moderate SLE (p=<0.001; p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in sCD86 levels (p=0.915; p>0.05). Increased sCTLA-4 levels were positively correlated with the severity of SLE (r =0.361, p=0.033), while no significant correlation was observed in sCD86 levels (r=-0.094, p=0.591). Conclusion. Elevated sCTLA-4 levels were positively correlated with increased severity of SLE based on the SLEDAI score.

Digital profile and self-presentation in educational video blogging: working with the target audience

The article discusses the features of educational video blogging using a sample of 240 videos as an example. Along with quantitative characteristics (13 indicators), the features of self-presentation of video bloggers are analyzed. The latter include clothing style, speech characteristics, location of video filming, use of special effects, etc. (6 categories in total). Quantitative characteristics and features of self-presentation of bloggers are examined in the context of three target audiences - children, teachers, and others. For the analysis, the MannWhitney comparison test and the Phi coefficient were used to study statistically significant relationships between dichotomies.

125. Dynamic PET facilitated Pharmacokinetic Modeling and High-dose Rifampin Regimens for Staphylococcus aureus Orthopedic Implant Associated Infections: Bench to Bedside

125. Dynamic PET facilitated Pharmacokinetic Modeling and High-dose Rifampin Regimens for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Orthopedic Implant Associated Infections: Bench to Bedside

The prognostic value of lymph nodes mRNA CXCL12 expression in the breast cancer

Prognosis of breast carcinoma is influenced by age, tumor size, histological grade and type, lymph node status, as well as metastasic status. Chemokine receptor CXCR-4 with its ligand, CXCL-12, may play an important role in metastasis of breast carcinoma. However, the role of CXCL-12 mRNA as a prognostic factor and a therapeutic target of human breast cancer remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the level of CXCL-12 mRNA expression in lymph nodes of patients with invasive ductal breast carcinoma and the difference within the prognostic factors. Axillary lymph nodes obtained from 50 cases of invasive ductal breast carcinoma, were divided into two groups, with and without lymph node metastasis. Each group consisted of 25 cases. Total RNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded. The CXCL-12 mRNA expression was examined using qRT-PCR method. The mean differences between the two groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test. The differences between CXCL-12 mRNA expression and each prognostic factor ware analyzed using Mann-Whitney comparison test. CXCL-12 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the lymph node of patients with metastasis of breast carcinoma compared to the non-metastasis cases (p<0.01). There were significant differences between CXCL-12 mRNA expression with poorly histological grade (p=0.003), bigger primary tumor size (p=0.005) and age of ≥45 y.o (p=0.012) in the metastatic group, but there were no significant differences between both age of <45 and ≥45 y.o.This study suggests that the higher CXCL-12 mRNA expression level are associated with bigger tumor size and poor differentiation in breast cancer patient with lymph nodes metastasis

Cefotaxime vs Ceftriaxone for the Management of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes

Introduction: Antibiotics are well known and recommended as the main therapy for preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM.) But the research on antibiotics other than the recommended macrolides regimens is still lacking. This research aims to evaluate whether there are effects differences of cefotaxime and ceftriaxone given on pregnancy with PPROM by comparing the duration of the latency period and the infants outcomes.&#x0D; Material and Methods: Data was taken retrospectively through medical records at Dr. Soetomo Surabaya General Hospital, Indonesia during the period of January-December 2017. The inclusion criteria were a history of PPROM in pregnancy &lt;37 weeks, given cefotaxime or ceftriaxone therapy, and have labor data. The analysis was performed by the Mann-Whitney comparison test for the latency period and Fisher's exact test for infant outcomes.&#x0D; Results: There were 52 samples obtained. The antibiotics used were cefotaxime 3x1gr (A) and ceftriaxone 2x1gr (B). The results of the analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the types of antibiotics with the length of the latency period, with a value of p = 0,601 (p&gt;0,05), where group A had a median of 52,67 hours and group B was 34,17 hours. Group A was found to be more able to extend the latency period for &gt;48 hours with a percentage of 57,8%, whereas in group B only 42,9%. There are no significant differences in infant outcomes; infant birth weight and Apgar score among the two therapies used.&#x0D; Conclusion: Cefotaxime was more preferably to be used in the Dr. Soetomo Surabaya General Hospital. Nevertheless, ceftriaxone can still be a good choice for PPROM therapy since both cephalosporins have succeeded in preventing infections in women with PPROM.

Physical Activity Practice and Healthy Lifestyles Related to Resting Heart Rate in Health Sciences First-Year Students.

The expression lifestyle describes a frame of expressed behaviors, usually in the form of patterns of consumption, that defines how an individual or social group fits into society. It presents as a focus of interest by researchers in this field, who classically favor the study of alcohol consumption, tobacco, eating habits, and physical activity. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between physical activity and healthy lifestyles, especially in terms of eating habits, tobacco, alcohol consumption, resting habits, and resting heart rate (RHR) in Health Sciences first-year students. A total of 177 students of both genders participated, of whom 31 (17.5%) were male and 146 (82.5%) were female, with a mean age of 20.20 years, from 18 to 30 years. The data collection instrument used was the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire (EVS), using SPSS 21.0 for descriptive statistics and the Cronbach α to evaluate the internal consistency of the questionnaires. A level of significance was adopted with a margin of error of 5% for a probability of at least 95% using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov technique and Mann-Whitney test for comparisons between practitioners' students and genders. The results obtained demonstrate more favorable results in all variables in students practicing physical activity with significant differences in eating habits and RHR. In terms of gender, there were significant differences in all variables except for eating habits. We conclude that students practicing physical activity present more favorable results in terms of lifestyles combined with lower RHR values, considered as positive factors in terms of quality of life.

&lt;b&gt;Aerobic capacity, physical activity and pain in adult victims of moderate to severe burns after discharge

Burns cause different impacts on the individual life. Many are the problems faced by survivors, such as hypermetabolism that may persist years after the event. The aim was to assess aerobic capacity, level of physical activity and pain in adult burn victims after hospital discharge. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Participants (n = 60) were adult victims of moderate to severe burns, evaluated by six-minute walk test (6MWT), Pain Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). We applied Student’s t-test for independent samples and Mann-Whitney test for comparisons between medium and large burned; Chi-square test to compare the level of physical activity. Large burned (73%) patients prevailed among the 60 participants; there was a statistically significant trend in the distance predicted between groups (p = 0.066), with no change in performance of the aerobic capacity. 60% reported physical activity practice at least three times a week: walking, cycling and soccer. As for the level of pain, 40% reported moderate to severe persistent pain, even after complete healing of wounds. Most participants showed aerobic capacity within the normal range, despite the high body mass index reported, they reported doing physical activities of moderate intensity.

Circadian rhythm monitoring and manipulation in neural assemblies

Circadian rhythm monitoring and manipulation in neural assemblies

Effects of Sexual Dysfunction on Female Teachers Performance

This research is aimed to find out whether sexual dysfunction affects female teachers performance in fulfilling pedagogical tasks. Eighty-four female teachers who work at 12 elementary schools in the city of Bandar Lampung, Lampung Province, Indonesia became the participants in this study. To assess the teacher’s sexual quality, we used the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a brief questionnaire designed to measure sexual functioning in women with focus on sexual desire, sexual arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. To measure the quality of a teacher, two pupils were asked to become respondents and fill out a Likert Scale questionnaire containing both positive and negative quality indicators of the teacher. The positive indicators consist of punctual, prepared, approachable, respectful and professional, while the negative ones include bad tempered, rude, insulting, arrogant and domineering. Mann-Whitney comparison test and Spearman Rank Correlation were performed in data analysis. The results showed that 39 (46%) of the participant categorized as teachers without sexual disorder (total FSFI score of 29.1±1.33) and the other 45 (54%) categorized as teachers with sexual disorders (total FSFI score of 21.48 ± 2.84). Compared with the teacher without sexual dysfunction, teachers with sexual disorders tend to be less diligent (P <0.05), less prepared for class (P <0.001), less friendly (P <0.001) and less appreciative students (P <0.01). In addition, teachers with sexual problems tend to be more hothead (P< 0.001), rude (P<0.001) and domineering (P<0.01). As the conclusion, sexual dysfunction potentially affects teaching performance of the female teachers.

Abstract P4-05-10: PIK3CA mutations are enriched in invasive lobular carcinomas and invasive mammary carcinomas with lobular features: Results from a TCGA sub-analysis

Abstract Background: Aberrant signaling via the PI3K pathway is a common alteration in breast cancer (BC), with frequent activating mutations in the PIK3CA gene helical (exon 9) and catalytic (exon 20) domains. These mutations occur across all BC subtypes with an overall incidence of 36%, with the highest frequency (∼45%) in luminal A/ER+ tumors. Lobular phenotype is common among luminal A tumors. We examined associations between lobular histology and molecular features among BC samples submitted for comprehensive molecular analyses for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Design: Experts in breast pathology reviewed digital slides of breast cancer samples submitted for comprehensive molecular profiling to the TCGA. Tumors were graded, subtyped and scored for additional histopathologic features. We tested pairwise associations between lobular features and components of grade, PAM50-derived molecular subtype and mutational status for BRAC1/2, PIK3CA, TP53 and CDH1 by performing Chi-Square analysis for comparisons with a categorical variable and the Mann-Whitney test for comparisons with an ordinal variable Results: A total of 1132 images were scored from 589 unique cases in TCGA. For cases with multiple scorers (43% of cases), we summarized scores by taking the median (for ordinal variables) or the consensus diagnosis (for categorical variables). A total of 567 cases had a consensus diagnosis for lobular features, all of which had pathological information on components of histologic grade and 540 of which had data for TP53, CDH1, and PIK3CA mutations. 110/567 (19%) of cases were classified as invasive lobular or invasive mammary carcinoma with lobular features. The lobular cases had significantly less nuclear pleomorphism (p = 3.3 e -12), lower mitotic index (p = 3.4e-16), less tubule formation (p = 3.9e-8), increased association with lobular carcinoma in situ (p &amp;lt; 2.2 e-16), decreased stromal inflammation (p = 1.5e-7), and decreased necrosis (p = 4.4e-11) compared with cases without lobular features. Cases with lobular features were highly enriched for CDH1 mutations with 19% of cases with lobular features having CDH1 mutations, compared with only 1% of cases without lobular features (p = 2.4 e-14). The lobular features cases were more likely to have PIK3CA mutations (p = 0.01), with 33% of the lobular features cases having PIK3CA mutations, compared with 21% of the non-lobular cases. The lobular features cases were less likely to have TP53 mutations (p = 0.02), with 13% of lobular features cases having TP53 mutations as compared with 24% of the non-lobular feature cases. Lobular status was associated with PAM50 molecular subtype (Chi-square p = 0.002) with the lobular cases significantly less likely to be basal molecular subtype and more likely to be Luminal-A. Conclusions: PIK3CA mutations are enriched in invasive lobular carcinomas and invasive mammary carcinomas with lobular features. These associations point to the possibility that PIK3CA mutations as well as CDH1 alterations are important drivers of invasive lobular carcinomas. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-05-10.

Influência da dor no controle postural de mulheres com dor cervical

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of pain on postural control in women with neck pain and the relationship with possible changes in sensory systems and posture. The neck pain group was composed of women, aged between 20 and 50years, complaining of neck pain for more than three months; the control group was composed of women without complaints of neck pain. For the characterization of the groups, we used anamnesis, neck disability index and Visual Analogue Scale. Postural balance was assessed on force platform. Postural balance with manipulation of the sensory systems was measured by Foam Laser Dynamic Posturography, exposing the individual to six sensory organization tests. Posture was assessed by the Postural Assessment Software. The normality of the variables were verified using Shapiro-Wilk test, Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney test for comparison between groups, with a significance level of5%. Groups were homogeneous in demographic variables. We observed higher amplitude and displacement velocity of the center of pressure in the neck pain group, showing greater postural balance. There were significant diferences incraniovertebral angle, showing forward head posture in symptomatic women. In dynamics posturography, we observed a difference between the groups: the score obtainedin the six sensory conditions showed that neck pain group presented greater balance impairment. Neck pain and forward head posture have a deleterious effect on postural control in symptomatic women, both in the static posture and dynamic posture.

Perfil de saúde dos trabalhadores do comércio: um estudo relacionado com a aptidão física

Saúde do trabalhador; Estado nutricional; Avaliação em saúde

Comparative evaluation of debris removal from root canal wall by using EndoVac and conventional needle irrigation: An in vitro study

Context:Microbial control is of paramount importance in Clinical Endodontics. Therefore, cleaning and disinfection of root canals are essential to achieve endodontic success.Aims:The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of EndoVac irrigation system and conventional needle (30 gauges side venting needle) irrigation for removal of debris from the root canal walls at coronal, middle and apical third by using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Settings and Design:An in vitro randomized control trial study.Materials and Methods:A total of 20 mandibular premolars with completely formed roots were selected and randomly divided into two groups - Group 1: Irrigation with the Conventional system and Group 2: EndoVac irrigation. After access opening and working length determination biomechanical preparation completed up to a rotary protaper F4 file. Groupwise irrigation with sodium hypochlorite and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was done with each canal in between instrumentation. Then, the teeth were sectioned in buccolingual direction and the halves were sputter-coated with gold palladium and coronal, middle and apical third were examined by SEM at x2000 magnification.Statistical Analysis:Mann-Whitney test for comparison between methods, Kruskal-Wallis test for comparison among thirds and Miller test for individual comparisons.Results:The apical, middle and cervical root canal thirds were evaluated and the results were analyzed statistically by the Mann-Whitney test for comparison between methods, Kruskal-Wallis test for comparison among thirds and Miller test for individual comparisons.Conclusions:EndoVac group resulted in significantly less debris at apical third compared with the conventional needle irrigation group. There was no statistical significant difference found in debris removal at coronal and middle third of root canal wall between the EndoVac group and conventional needle irrigation group.

Scanning electron microscopy analysis of RinsEndo system and conventional irrigation for debris removal

A new device for irrigation, which presents hydrodynamic activation based on the pressure-suction technology, has recently been introduced to the market: the RinsEndo system. This study compared the efficacy of the RinsEndo system and conventional (manual-dynamic) irrigation in the removal of debris from the root canal walls, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Twenty mandibular premolars with completely formed roots were selected and randomly divided into group 1 (irrigation with the RinsEndo system) and group 2 (conventional irrigation). The canals were irrigated with 1 mL of saline at each change of instrument. Instrumentation started with a #15 K file and continued up to a #40 K file, which was standardized as the working length instrument. Then, the teeth were sectioned in buccolingual direction and the halves were sputter-coated with gold and examined by SEM. The apical, middle and cervical root canal thirds were evaluated, and the results were analyzed statistically by the Mann-Whitney test for comparison between methods, Kruskal-Wallis test for comparison among thirds, and Miller test for individual comparisons. A significance level of 5% was set for all analyses. The results did not show significant differences (p>0.05) between methods at each third and among thirds for each technique analyzed individually. In conclusion, there was no difference in the cleaning ability of the RinsEndo system and conventional irrigation.

Estudo dos volumes pulmonares e da mobilidade toracoabdominal de portadoras de obesidade mórbida, submetidas à cirurgia bariátrica, tratadas com duas diferentes técnicas de fisioterapia

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of conventional respiratory physical therapy (CRP) and CRP associated with transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation (TEDS) on the pulmonary volumes and the thoracoabdominal mobility of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODS: This randomized prospective study evaluated 44 female candidates for bariatric surgery (age 37.4±8.1 years; body mass index 47.4±6.1 kg/m2), before surgery and 15 and 30 days after surgery. The candidates were evaluated with regard to measurements of inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), inspiratory capacity (IC) and thoracoabdominal mobility, by means of spirometry and cirtometry, respectively. CRP consisted of diaphragmatic respiratory exercises, deep fractionated inspiration and respiratory exercises associated with upper limb movement. One set of 10 repetitions of each exercise was carried out twice daily while hospitalized. For TEDS, two electrodes were placed on the parasternal region, next to the xiphoid process, and another two between the sixth and seventh intercostal spaces, bilaterally on the anterior axillary lines. Friedman's test was used to compare repeated measures within groups, and the Mann-Whitney test for comparisons between groups. P values <0.05 were taken to be statistically significant. RESULTS: The IRV, ERV and thoracoabdominal mobility measurements increased significantly in the CRP+TEDS group. In contrast, the IC measurements decreased significantly both in the CRP and in the CRP+TEDS groups. CONCLUSION: The obese women who underwent bariatric surgery and received postoperative CRP+TEDS presented greater gains in some of the pulmonary volumes and improvements in the amplitude of respiratory movements.

Patients' perceptions, treatment need, and complexity of orthodontic re-treatment

The aim of the present study was to investigate the subjective perception and objective treatment need and complexity of patients seeking orthodontic re-treatment. One hundred subjects (66 females, 34 males, age 26.7+/-8.2 years) seeking re-treatment were asked to complete a questionnaire which was constructed based on pilot interviews with 15 patients. The questions focussed on treatment experiences, retention procedures following the first course of treatment, and expectations of and motivations for re-treatment. A visual analogue scale (VAS 0-10) was used. The 're-treatment' group was matched with an untreated control group by age, gender, and the first consultation date. The study models of both groups were scored with the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON). Analysis of variance was used for across-time comparisons of VAS scores of patient's perception of their dental appearance, paired t-test for comparisons of the motivation VAS scores between the first treatment and re-treatment, and Mann-Whitney test for comparisons between the re-treatment and control groups. Eighty-eight patients (26.3+/-8.4 years) completed the questionnaire. After the initial treatment, 36 per cent of the patients did not have any retention measures. The mean VAS scores for dental aesthetics at the start and end of the initial treatment were 2.3+/-2.1 and 6.6+/-2.7, respectively. The scores for the present situation and expected results of re-treatment were 4.1+/-2.7 and 8.8+/-1, respectively. These scores differed significantly from each other. Seventy-nine pairs of models were matched for evaluation of treatment need and complexity. The mean ICON scores of the re-treatment group were significantly lower than the controls (45+/-21 versus 57+/-24), the aesthetic component being the main contributing factor to this difference (25+/-16 versus 36+/-18). Both groups showed a treatment need (ICON>43), with the untreated controls having a relatively higher complexity. These results indicate that patients seeking re-treatment had a good perception of dental aesthetics, strong motivation, and an objective treatment need.

Effect of the nutritional recovery on serum concentration and intracellular expression in T lymphocytes of Interleukin‐2 in severely malnourished children

With the purpose to demonstrate the effect of intensive nutritional support on the cellular and serum concentration of IL‐2 in children with severe protein energy malnutrition a clinical assay was carried out in a tertiary care hospital with 10 severely malnourished children &lt; 48 months of age who received formula without lactose via enteral feeding for two weeks and ad libitum for an additional two weeks were included. Cellular and serum concentrations of IL‐2 and the subpopulation of CD4+ and CD8+ were obtained. A control group (n = 13) was included. A paired student t test for initial‐final determinations and the Mann‐Whitney Test for comparison with control group were used, and null hypothesis was rejected with a p value &lt; 0.05. There was a noteworthy increase in the comparison between the initial vs. final percentage of the cellular expression of IL‐2 (p &lt; 0.001) and in the serum concentration of IL‐2 (p = 0.001). However, at the end of the study the serum concentration of IL‐2 was still lower than in the control group (p = 0.013). Four weeks of nutritional recovery significantly restored the production of IL‐2, although, the total restoration may take longer and probably related with the severity of the PEM. Funded by CONACYT.

OC022: Quality control in the measurement of nuchal translucency in the first trimester of pregnancy

Objectives: Nuchal translucency is known to be a sonographic marker of autosomal trisomy. First trimester screening for Down’s syndrome has been offered routinely since August 2000 in the Queen Mother’s Hospital. The screening programme involves measurement of maternal serum for free bhCG and PAPP-A and nuchal translucency (NT) between 11–14 weeks of gestation. Nuchal translucency is known to be a sonographic marker of autosomal trisomy. Nuchal translucency measurements need to be precise, accurate and reproducible when being used as part of a screening programme. A system of audit is therefore required to ensure that the operators carrying out these measurements are doing so to appropriate standards. Methods: A hard copy thermal image was saved from each nuchal translucency measurement taken. A scoring system was used to score the images. 10 random images from each operator were reviewed each month and scored by an independent assessor. In addition individual NT MOM (multiple of median) values were compared statistically. Scores were given to each operator for inter-operator agreement of the 95% and 99% confidence intervals. These scores and those from the assessment of images were combined to give results, which were given to each operator along with comments on how to improve the images. Results: Changes in the measurement of NT were assessed over a four-month period using the Mann-Whitney test for comparisons between groups of two operators. There was a significant difference between operator 1 and operator 2 in the first month (p = 0.001) but by the fourth month there was no significant difference (p = 0.858). Conclusions: The quality control cycle aids the improvement of NT images and reduces inter-operator variation.