Moderate Correlation Research Articles

Low-load Resistance Exercise with Perceptually Primed Practical Blood Flow Restriction Induces Similar Motor Performance Fatigue, Physiological Changes, and Perceptual Responses Compared to Traditional Blood Flow Restriction in Males and Females

In the recent past, practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) using non-pneumatic, usually elastic cuffs has been established as a cost-effective alternative to traditional blood flow restriction (BFR) using pneumatic cuffs, especially for training in large groups. This study investigated whether low-load resistance exercise with perceptually primed pBFR using an elastic knee wrap is suitable to induce similar motor performance fatigue as well as physiological and perceptual responses compared to traditional BFR using a pneumatic nylon cuff in males and females. In a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over study, 30 healthy subjects performed 4 sets (30-15-15-15 repetitions) of unilateral knee extensions at 20% of their one-repetition-maximum. In the pBFR condition, each individual was perceptually primed to a BFR pressure corresponding to 60% of their arterial occlusion pressure. Before and after exercise, maximal voluntary torque, maximal muscle activity, and cuff pressure-induced discomfort were assessed. Moreover, physiological (i.e., muscle activity, muscle oxygenation) and perceptual responses (i.e., effort and exercise-induced leg muscle pain) were recorded during exercise. Moderate correlations with no differences between pBFR and BFR were found regarding the decline in maximal voluntary torque and maximal muscle activity. Furthermore, no to very strong correlations between conditions, with no differences, were observed for muscle activity, muscle oxygenation, and perceptual responses during exercise sets. However, cuff pressure-induced discomfort was lower in the pBFR compared to the BFR condition. These results indicate that low-load resistance exercise combined with perceptually primed pBFR is a convenient and less discomfort inducing alternative to traditional BFR. This is especially relevant for BFR training with people who have a low cuff-induced discomfort tolerance.

Changes in ulnar and median nerve conduction velocity after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: Correlation with distalization and lateralization

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess ulnar and median nerve injury after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) by measuring the sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV). The secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of lateralization and/or distalization on SCV changes. MethodsTwenty consecutive cases were prospectively included and retrospectively reviewed. SCV of the ulnar and median nerves as well as humeral lateralization/distalization quantified by plain radiography were evaluated pre-operatively and at 1 week post-operatively. Changes in SCV were tested using the paired t-test, and correlations between humeral lateralization/distalization and SCV changes were tested using Kendall's rank correlation coefficient and maximal information coefficient (MIC). ResultsThe SCV of the ulnar nerve was delayed from 55.4 ​m/s pre-operatively to 53.0 ​m/s post-operatively (p ​= ​0.021), whereas there was no significant change in the median nerve (p ​= ​0.17). There was a weak to moderate correlation between ulnar nerve SCV delay and lateralization (τ ​= ​−0.38; p ​= ​0.021; MIC ​= ​0.70) but no significant correlation with distalization (p ​= ​0.65; MIC ​= ​0.56). ConclusionsFollowing RSA, a small but significant delay in SCV of the ulnar nerve was observed. A negative correlation was found between lateralization and SCV delay of the ulnar nerve.

Quantitative Exploration of High AI Usage, Self-Efficacy, Learning Performance, and Social Loafing Among Young Adults In Bangalore

Abstract: The present paper examines the intricate interplay between self-efficacy, learning performance, social loafing, and AI usage within educational contexts. Key findings unveil moderate positive correlations between self-efficacy and learning performance, juxtaposed with a subtle negative correlation between self-efficacy and AI usage. Yet, a delicate positive correlation emerges between social loafing and AI usage, signaling potential implications for student engagement and collaborative practices. The implications of these findings extend to educators, policymakers, and researchers, underscoring the imperative of ethical and informed AI integration in education. Moreover, the paper advocates for continued exploration into the multifaceted impacts of AI on student learning, offering valuable insights for enhancing educational practices in the digital era.

Correlation between sustainability and smartness indicators in Brazilian cities: insights from the 5SenSu model

To face the growing challenges of urbanization, urban management models grounded in the principles of sustainability and smart cities are being proposed. Despite their acknowledged importance, these models are often misunderstood or improperly applied due to a lack of thorough conceptualization, and they are frequently viewed as interchangeable. The aim of this study is to verify whether a correlation exists between indicators of sustainability and smartness in cities. For a sample of 130 Brazilian cities, their Sustainability Synthetic Indicator of System (SSIS) was computed using the Five-Sector Sustainability Model (5SenSu) and data sourced from the ‘Mandala ODS’ framework. Data concerning smart city were directly sourced from the ‘Connected Smart Cities’ framework. Results show that the 5SenSu model emerges as an alternative multicriteria method, epistemologically grounded in a conceptual model capable of quantifying the sustainability of cities. This approach enables quantitative diagnostics, rankings, and benchmarks, providing information to support decision-making processes. Moreover, the correlation analyses employed reveal a moderate linear correlation (Pearson coefficient of −0.61) and a moderate rank-order correlation (Spearman coefficient of −0.59) between sustainability and smartness. Hence, it would be premature to assume that a city deemed smart would automatically be sustainable, or vice versa. Acknowledging the existing limitations, this study contributes to discussions on the conceptual understanding and quantification through indicators of sustainable and smart cities, providing information for shaping effective public policies aimed at fostering more sustainable urban environments.

Peer evaluation as an alternative assessment method for case presentations: A cross-sectional study of dental students' perception.

Peer assessment in dental and medical education is a key tool for evaluating attitudes and communication skills, serving as an effective formative learning method. It not only boosts academic performance and encourages lifelong learning and reflective practice but also fosters collaboration, effective communication, and constructive feedback among peers. This study aimed to assess dental students' satisfaction and perceptions regarding implementing peer assessment in case presentations, including contribution to their learning. This cross-sectional study involved third (n=26), fourth (n=54), and sixth (n=71) dental students divided into five groups. Each student received peer assessments (n=8) from the students of the other groups regarding their clinical presentation. At the end of the process, students were invited to complete an anonymous 9-item questionnaire to assess student perceptions of the peer-assessment process. Data were analyzed to evaluate students' perception and satisfaction with the peer assessment task. The bivariate analysis explored associations among questionnaire items. A total of 151 students participated in the current study. Results showed a high level of agreement for most of the students regarding their preparedness for peer and self-assessment. More than 75% of the students at all academic levels found it challenging to evaluate their peers. Student satisfaction scores increased with the level of education, (4.076, 4.214, and 4.246 out of five, respectively) with moderate correlations between peer evaluation characteristics. Peer assessment appears to enhance learning and professional development in dental students. Students' satisfaction with peer assessment grows with education level, reflecting its role in fostering critical evaluation skills and feedback.

Continuous positive airway pressure treatment in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients with hypertension

Aims: To assess the prevalence and general characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in patients with hypertension, investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and blood pressure, and the effectiveness of continuous positive pressure ventilation treatment after 1 month in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study with follow-up after 1 month in hypertensive patients treated at the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital with respiratory polygraphy from January 2021 to June 2023. Patients were given history, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, Lipid profile test, intravenous glucose, Epworth scale assessment, CPAP treatment and re-evaluated after 1 month. Results: 134 patients were registered for the study from 01/2021 to 06/2023. Hypertensive patients with OSAS were 73.13%. BMI in the OSAS (+) group was 22.84 ± 3.04 kg/m2 and was statistically significantly greater than the OSAS (-) group: 22.79 ± 3.07 kg/m2 (p<0.05). Neck circumference in the OSAS (+) group was 37.45 ± 2.44 cm, which was statistically significantly larger than the OSAS (-) group: 36.36 ± 1.57 cm (p<0.05). The rate of loud snoring during sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness in the OSAS patient group was statistically significantly higher than in the group without this syndrome (p<0.05 and p<0.01). The average systolic blood pressure in the OSAS (+) group was 154.79 ± 13.32 mm Hg and was statistically significantly higher than the OSAS (-) group (p<0.01). AHI has a moderate positive correlation with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.45, p<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.34, p<0.01). CPAP treatment improved systolic and diastolic blood pressure and symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness. Conclusion: There is a relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and hypertension. CPAP treatment improves blood pressure and daytime sleepiness.

Evaluation of metacognition, difficulties in emotion regulation and addiction severity levels of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder

ABSTRACT Aim This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between metacognition, difficulties in emotion regulation, and level of addiction severity in individuals with substance use disorder. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out with 121 participants at the Alcohol and Drug Addicts Treatment and Research Center between February and June 2023. The data were collected using the Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MTQ-30), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Brief Form (DERS-16), and Addiction Profile Index (API). Results All the participants were male and polysubstance users; the age of the onset of substance use was 16.43 ± 5.95; they had been receiving treatment for addiction for an average of 1.79 ± 2.16 years. There was a strong positive significant correlation between the mean total MTQ-30 score and the mean total DERS-16 and API scores (r = .704, p < .001; r = .776, p < .001) and a moderate positive significant correlation between the mean total DERS-16 score and the mean total API score (r = .628, p < .001). It was determined that metacognition had an effect at a rate of 60.3% and difficulty in emotion regulation had an effect at a rate of 39.5% on the addiction severity of individuals. Conclusion Addiction severity was found to increase as the levels of metacognitive impairment and difficulty in emotion regulation increased.

Repeatability, interocular correlation and agreement of optic nerve head vessel density in healthy eyes: a swept-source optical coherence tomographic angiography study.

To assess the repeatability, interocular correlation, and agreement of quantitative swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) optic nerve head (ONH) parameters in healthy subjects. Thirty-three healthy subjects were enrolled. The ONH of both eyes were imaged four times by a swept-source-OCTA using a 3 mm ×3 mm scanning protocol. Images of the radial peripapillary capillary were analyzed by a customized Matlab program, and the vessel density, fractal dimension, and vessel diameter index were measured. The repeatability of the four scans was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The most well-centered optic disc from the four repeated scans was then selected for the interocular correlation and agreement analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient, ICC and Bland-Altman plots. All swept-source-OCTA ONH parameters exhibited certain repeatability, with ICC>0.760 and coefficient of variation (CoV)≤7.301%. The obvious interocular correlation was observed for papillary vessel density (ICC=0.857), vessel diameter index (ICC=0.857) and fractal dimension (ICC=0.906), while circumpapillary vessel density exhibited moderate interocular correlation (ICC=0.687). Bland-Altman plots revealed an agreement range of -5.26% to 6.21% for circumpapillary vessel density. OCTA ONH parameters demonstrate good repeatability in healthy subjects. The interocular correlations of papillary vessel density, fractal dimension and vessel diameter index are high, but the correlation for circumpapillary vessel density is moderate.

Psychometric Properties of the Weight Loss Readiness Test in Active Duty Military Personnel Enrolled in a Weight Management Trial.

The Weight Loss Readiness Test (WLRT) was developed to encourage consideration of factors influencing readiness to engage in weight loss. The WLRT is used clinically, most notably to assess motivation before initiating Navy weight management programs, yet little is known about its psychometric properties. This study examined the reliability, convergent and predictive validity, and factor structure of the WLRT in a sample of active duty service members enrolling in a Navy-based weight management program (N = 178, identified as female = 61%, mean age = 29.7 years, mean baseline body mass index = 33.1 kg/m2). All procedures were approved by the respective Institutional Review Boards and research committees. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 5-factor structure explaining 52% of the variance that best fit the data with low to moderate correlations between factors: (1) Motivation, (2) Exercise-Related Confidence, (3) Non-Exercise Confidence, (4) Cues, and (5) Anticipated Satisfaction. Internal reliability of subscales was acceptable to good (α = 0.755-0.903). Generally, convergent validity was found between the identified subscales and other measures of motivation, confidence, and disinhibited eating in expected directions. No relationships were found between the subscales and predictive validity outcomes (weight change, program attendance). Results indicate adequate structural and convergent validity in the WLRT, but that weight loss readiness, as measured by the WLRT, does not provide predictive validity regarding weight loss or attendance outcomes in this sample. Nonetheless, this measure offers clinical utility in fostering thoughtful conversations about weight loss. The WLRT uniquely focuses on long-term maintenance of behavior change and differentiates between exercise-related and non-exercise confidence. Future studies should further probe the utility of this measure in other populations and the contexts in which it is being used.

Enhanced muscle and fat segmentation for CT-based body composition analysis: a comparative study.

Body composition measurements from routine abdominal CT can yield personalized risk assessments for asymptomatic and diseased patients. In particular, attenuation and volume measures of muscle and fat are associated with important clinical outcomes, such as cardiovascular events, fractures, and death. This study evaluates the reliability of an Internal tool for the segmentation of muscle and fat (subcutaneous and visceral) as compared to the well-established public TotalSegmentator tool. We assessed the tools across 900 CT series from the publicly available SAROS dataset, focusing on muscle, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat. The Dice score was employed to assess accuracy in subcutaneous fat and muscle segmentation. Due to the lack of ground truth segmentations for visceral fat, Cohen's Kappa was utilized to assess segmentation agreement between the tools. Our Internal tool achieved a 3% higher Dice (83.8 vs. 80.8) for subcutaneous fat and a 5% improvement (87.6 vs. 83.2) for muscle segmentation, respectively. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that our results were statistically different with p < 0.01. For visceral fat, the Cohen's Kappa score of 0.856 indicated near-perfect agreement between the two tools. Our internal tool also showed very strong correlations for muscle volume (R =0.99), muscle attenuation (R =0.93), and subcutaneous fat volume (R =0.99) with a moderate correlation for subcutaneous fat attenuation (R =0.45). Our findings indicated that our Internal tool outperformed TotalSegmentator in measuring subcutaneous fat and muscle. The high Cohen's Kappa score for visceral fat suggests a reliable level of agreement between the two tools. These results demonstrate the potential of our tool in advancing the accuracy of body composition analysis.

Association between Anxiety and Dyspepsia among Outpatients at Atma Jaya Hospital

Background: Anxiety is a psychological condition characterized by excessive fear and worry that occurs continuously and is difficult to control. Anxiety play a significant role in causing dyspepsia through the Brain-Gut Axis mechanism. Although, there are many cases of anxiety and dyspepsia in Indonesia, there is still a lack of research on the relationship between anxiety and dyspepsia in Indonesia, especially in the clinic. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between anxiety and dyspepsia among outpatients at Atma Jaya Hospital.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on outpatients at Atma Jaya Hospital to investigate the relationship between anxiety and dyspepsia. The demographic and patient characteristic data, including gender, age, highest level of education, and habits, such as eating spicy food, drinking coffee, alcohol consumption, smoking, and NSAID used were collected. The GAD-7 and SF-LDQ questionnaires, which have been validated in Indonesian, were used in this study. Spearman correlation test was used to analyze the data to find the relationship between anxiety and dyspepsia.Results: This study obtained 158 participants. The age range of participants who experienced dyspepsia the most is 19-44 years(77.53%). The majority of those who experienced dyspepsia are female (79.12%). The highest education level of the participants who experienced dyspepsia is a Master’s degree (100%). Participants who consumed spicy food accounted for 61.39% while 54.43% consumed coffee, 6.96% consumed alcohol, 12.66% smoked, and 1.90% used NSAIDs. Additionally, 105 participants (66.46%) experienced both anxiety and dyspepsia. The Spearman correlation test results showed a significant relationship between anxiety and dyspepsia (p-value = 0.000) and a moderate correlation (rs = 0.450). Conclusion: There is a moderate correlation between anxiety and dyspepsia. Keywords: Anxiety, Dyspepsia, GAD-7, Heartburn, SF-LDQ.

Color-coded collateral and venous outflow patterns in estimating infarct progression and predicting functional independence for stroke patients in late time window.

To investigate whether cerebral collateral and venous outflow patterns on color-coded multi-phase computed tomography angiography (mCTA) can estimate ischemic core growth rate (IGR) and predict 90-day functional independence for patients with late-presenting acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The retrospective analysis included 127 AIS patients with a late time window. All patients underwent baseline mCTA with color-coded reconstruction and computed tomography perfusion. Both collateral score and venous outflow (VO) score on color-coded mCTA maps were analyzed and recorded. The IGR was calculated as ischemic core volume divided by the time from onset to imaging. A 90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 was defined as functional independence. Kendall's Tau-b analysis was used for nonparametric correlation analysis. Propensity scores, logistic regressions, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to construct the prediction model. Moderate correlations were found between collateral delay and IGR (Tau-b = -0.554) and between VO and IGR (Tau-b = -0.501). High collateral score (odds ratio = 3.01) and adequate VO (odds ratio = 4.89) remained independent predictors for 90-day functional independence after adjustment. The joint predictive model, which integrated the VO score and clinical features, demonstrated an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.878. The AUCs of collateral score and VO score were 0.836 and 0.883 for outcome prediction after adjustment. Cerebral collateral and VO patterns based on color-coded mCTA can effectively predict infarct progression and 90-day clinical outcomes, even for AIS patients beyond the routine time window. Color-coded mCTA is a readily understandable post-processing technique for the rapid assessment of collateral circulation and VO status in stroke imaging. A moderate correlation was observed between the characteristics of collateral delay/VO on color-coded mCTA and IGR in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Both high-quality collateral circulation and "red superficial middle cerebral vein sign" can predict 90-day functional independence even for patients beyond the routine time window.

Multistate Sensitivity Monitoring of Fusarium virguliforme to the SDHI Fungicides Fluopyram and Pydiflumetofen in the United States.

Sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by Fusarium virguliforme, is an important yield-limiting disease of soybean (Glycine max). From 1996 to 2022, cumulative yield losses attributed to SDS in North America totaled over 25 million metric tons, which was valued at over US $7.8 billion. Seed treatments are widely used to manage SDS by reducing early season soybean root infection by F. virguliforme. Fluopyram (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor [SDHI] - FRAC 7), a fungicide seed treatment for SDS management, has been registered for use on soybean in the United States since 2014. A baseline sensitivity study conducted in 2014 evaluated 130 F. virguliforme isolates collected from five states to fluopyram in a mycelial growth inhibition assay and reported a mean EC50 of 3.35 mg/liter. This baseline study provided the foundation for the objectives of this research: to detect any statistically significant change in fluopyram sensitivity over time and geographical regions within the United States and to investigate sensitivity to the fungicide pydiflumetofen. We repeated fluopyram sensitivity testing on a panel of 80 historical F. virguliforme isolates collected from 2006 to 2013 (76 of which were used in the baseline study) and conducted testing on 123 contemporary isolates collected from 2016 to 2022 from 11 states. This study estimated a mean absolute EC50 of 3.95 mg/liter in isolates collected from 2006 to 2013 and a mean absolute EC50 of 4.19 mg/liter in those collected in 2016 to 2022. There was no significant change in fluopyram sensitivity (P = 0.1) identified between the historical and contemporary isolates. A subset of 23 isolates, tested against pydiflumetofen under the same conditions, estimated an absolute mean EC50 of 0.11 mg/liter. Moderate correlation was detected between fluopyram and pydiflumetofen sensitivity estimates (R = 0.53; P < 0.001). These findings enable future fluopyram and pydiflumetofen resistance monitoring and inform current soybean SDS management strategies in a regional and national context.

Environmental awareness and sustainable consumption behaviours of Turkish nursing students

Objectives This study aims to determine the environmental awareness and sustainable consumption behaviours of nursing students. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted with 380 undergraduate nursing students studying at Faculty of Nursing, Ege University, Türkiye. The Personal Information Form, Environmental Awareness Scale (EAS), and Sustainable Consumption Behaviours Scale (SCBS) were used to collect the research data. Number, percentage, mean, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z test, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation test, and linear regression analysis were used in statistical evaluation. Results The mean total score on the EAS was 46.12 (SD = 6.60), and the mean total score of the SCBS was 61.83 (SD = 9.10). A significant, moderate, and positive correlation was found between students’ environmental awareness and sustainable consumption behaviours. Moreover, students’ gender and the people they lived with caused statistically significant differences in the EAS score. The people students lived with, the place where they lived for the longest time, and their perceived income level caused statistically significant differences in the SCBS score. Conclusions Nursing students had high environmental awareness and moderate to good sustainable consumption behaviours. It is necessary to include the contribution of sustainable practices to the environment and the effects of these practices on human health in curricula for nurses and thus provide environmental awareness to students.

Effect of olfactory stimulation from aromatherapy on the autonomic nervous activity during aerobic exercises

Variations in the autonomic nervous system activity during exercise therapy in patients with cardiovascular diseases may lead to adverse events. Aromatherapy may reduce these adverse events by enhancing parasympathetic nervous activity (PNA). However, the effects of aromatherapy during exercise remain relatively unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aromatherapy on autonomic nervous activity during exercise and recovery. This randomized crossover study included 20 healthy men subjected to both aroma and placebo conditions which involved rest and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer, followed by recovery. Blood pressure, heart rate variability indices, and SpO2 were measured during the rest, exercise, and recovery phases. Moreover, aroma preferences and emotional changes in response to the aroma were assessed. Under the placebo condition, high frequency (HF), root mean square of successive differences indices, and heart rate showed delayed recovery (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was identified between aroma preference, pleasant emotions induced by aromatherapy, and the HF index (P < 0.05). These results indicate that aromatherapy facilitates the recovery of PNA after exercise. Furthermore, these effects were more pronounced among individuals who exhibited a stronger preference for and more positive emotions toward aromas.

Uncoupled: investigating the lack of correlation between the transcription of putative plastic-degrading genes in the global ocean microbiome and marine plastic pollution

BackgroundPlastic pollution is a severe threat to marine ecosystems. While some microbial enzymes can degrade certain plastics, the ability of the global ocean microbiome to break down diverse environmental plastics remains limited. We employed metatranscriptomic data from an international ocean survey to explore global and regional patterns in microbial plastic degradation potential.ResultsOn a global oceanic scale, we found no significant correlation between levels of plastic pollution and the expression of genes encoding enzymes putatively identified as capable of plastic degradation. Even when looking at different regional scales, ocean depth layers, or plastic types, we found no strong or even moderate correlation between plastic pollution and relative abundances of transcripts for enzymes with presumed plastic biodegradation potential. Our data, however, indicate that microorganisms in the Southern Ocean show a higher potential for plastic degradation, making them more appealing candidates for bioprospecting novel plastic-degrading enzymes.ConclusionOur research contributes to understanding the complex global relationship between plastic pollution and microbial plastic degradation potential. We reveal that the transcription of putative plastic-degrading genes in the global ocean microbiome does not correlate to marine plastic pollution, highlighting the ongoing danger that plastic poses to marine environments threatened by plastic pollution.

Opportunistic prediction of osteoporosis in patients with degenerative lumbar diseases: a simplified T12 vertebral bone quality approach

BackgroundOsteoporosis is one of the risk factors for screw loosening after lumbar fusion. However, the probability of preoperative osteoporosis screening in patients with lumbar degenerative disease is low. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether a simplified vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score based on T12 T1-MRI could opportunistically predict osteoporosis in patients with degenerative lumbar spine diseases.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed cases treated for lumbar degenerative diseases at a single institution between August 2021 and June 2022. The patients were divided into three groups by the lowest T-score: osteoporosis group, osteopenia group, and normal bone mineral density (BMD) group. The signal intensity based on the T12 vertebral body divided by the signal intensity of the cerebrospinal fluid was calculated to obtain the simplified VBQ score, as well as the CT-based T12HU value and the traditional L1-4VBQ score. Various statistical analyses were used to compare VBQ, HU and DEXA, and the optimal T12VBQ threshold for predicting osteoporosis was obtained by plotting the receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis.ResultsTotal of 166 patients were included in this study. There was a statistically significant difference in T12VBQ scores between the three groups (p < 0.001). Pearson correlation showed that there was a moderate correlation between T12VBQ and T-score (r=-0.406, p < 0.001). The AUC value of T12VBQ, which distinguishes between normal and low BMD, was 0.756, and the optimal diagnostic threshold was 2.94. The AUC value of T12VBQ, which distinguishes osteoporosis from non-osteoporosis, was 0.634, and the optimal diagnostic threshold was 3.18.ConclusionT12VBQ can be used as an effective opportunistic screening method for osteoporosis in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases. It can be used as a supplement to the evaluation of DEXA and preoperative evaluation.Trial registrationretrospectively registered number:1502-009-644; retrospectively registered number date:27 oct 2022.

Regional distribution of housing types and characteristics in Saudi Arabia

Purpose This study aims to explore and analyze the disparities in the distribution of housing types and characteristics among households in Saudi Arabia, taking into consideration the regional perspective. Design/methodology/approach This study uses quantitative data obtained from the General Authority for Statistics, specifically from the Saudi 2022 Statistical Census. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentages) as well as inferential statistics, including correlation analysis (Pearson correlation) and t-tests. Findings The study found a distinct preference among Saudis for villas, with 85.3% choosing this housing type, while only 14.7% of non-Saudis opted for villas. The statistical analysis confirmed the significance of housing type for Saudi citizens (t = 2.561, p = 0.037), while non-Saudis did not show a statistically significant preference (t = 1.703, p = 0.132). The Pearson correlation results revealed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.641, p = 0.009) between regional landmass and the number of houses, and a very strong positive relationship (r = 0.984) between population and the number of houses across the 13 regions. As expected, with increasing population, there was a significant increase in the number of houses (p = 0.001). Originality/value This study fills a research gap by investigating regional disparities in housing characteristics in Saudi Arabia. The findings are valuable for policymakers, housing developers and the housing market in understanding these disparities. The insights from this research can inform decision-making to promote equitable access to housing types and foster social inclusivity in the housing sector.

Adjusting for the effect of IV contrast on automated CT body composition measures during the portal venous phase.

Fully-automated CT-based algorithms for quantifying numerous biomarkers have been validated for unenhanced abdominal scans. There is great interest in optimizing the documentation and reporting of biophysical measures present on all CT scans for the purposes of opportunistic screening and risk profiling. The purpose of this study was to determine and adjust the effect of intravenous (IV) contrast on these automated body composition measures at routine portal venous phase post-contrast imaging. Final study cohort consisted of 1,612 older adults (mean age, 68.0 years; 594 women) all imaged utilizing a uniform CT urothelial protocol consisting of pre-contrast, portal venous, and delayed excretory phases. Fully-automated CT-based algorithms for quantifying numerous biomarkers, including muscle and fat area and density, bone mineral density, and solid organ volume were applied to pre-contrast and portal venous phases. The effect of IV contrast upon these body composition measures was analyzed. Regression analyses, including square of the Pearson correlation coefficient (r2), were performed for each comparison. We found that simple, linear relationships can be derived to determine non-contrast equivalent values from the post-contrast CT biomeasures. Excellent positive linear correlation (r2 = 0.91-0.99) between pre- and post-contrast values was observed for all automated soft tissue measures, whereas moderate positive linear correlation was observed for bone attenuation (r2 = 0.58-0.76). In general, the area- and volume-based measurement require less adjustment than attenuation-based measures, as expected. Fully-automated quantitative CT-biomarker measures at portal venous phase abdominal CT can be adjusted to a non-contrast equivalent using simple, linear relationships.

Influence of an allogenic collagen scaffold on implant sites with thin supracrestal tissue height: a randomized clinical trial.

This randomized clinical trial focused on patients with thin peri-implant soft-tissue height (STH) (≤ 2.5mm) and investigated the impact of an allogenic collagen scaffold (aCS) on supracrestal tissue height and marginal bone loss (MBL). Forty patients received bone level implants and were randomly assigned to the test group with simultaneous tissue thickening with aCS or the control group. After three months, prosthetic restoration occurred. STH measurements were taken at baseline (T0) and reopening surgery (TR), with MBL assessed at 12 months (T1). Descriptive statistics were calculated for continuous variables, and counts for categorical variables (significance level, p = 0.05). At T1, 37 patients were available. At T0, control and test groups had mean STH values of 2.3 ± 0.3mm and 2.1 ± 0.4mm. TR revealed mean STH values of 2.3 ± 0.2mm (control) and 2.6 ± 0.7mm (test), with a significant tissue thickening of 0.5 ± 0.6mm in the test group (p < 0.03). At T1, control and test groups showed MBL mean values of 1.1 ± 0.8mm and 1.0 ± 0.6mm, with a moderate but significant correlation with STH thickening (-0.34), implant position (0.43), history of periodontitis (0.39), and smoking status (0.27). The use of an aCS protocol resulted in soft tissue thickening but did not reach a threshold to reliably reduce MBL compared to the control group within the study's limitations. Peri-implant STH is crucial for maintaining peri-implant marginal bone stability. Marginal bone stability represents a crucial factor in prevention of peri-implantitis development. German register of clinical trial registration number DRKS00033290.