Multiple Pairwise Comparisons Research Articles

Effects of COVID-19 vaccines on patient-reported outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter survey study in Korea.

The impact of vaccination on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is still unknown, and no studies have assessed the changes in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after vaccination in patients with IBD. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impact of vaccines on the PROs of patients with IBD. We conducted a questionnaire survey of patients with IBD who visited outpatient clinics at 4 specialized IBD clinics of referral university hospitals from April 2022 to June 2022. A total of 309 IBD patients were included in the study. Patient information was collected from a questionnaire and their medical records, including laboratory findings, were reviewed retrospectively. Risk factors associated with an increase in PROs after COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed using logistic regression analyses. In addition, we assessed whether there were differences in variables by vaccine order using the linear mixed model. In multivariate analysis, young age ( < 40 years) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were found to be independent risk factors for aggravation of PROs in patients with IBD. In all patients, platelet count significantly increased with continued vaccination in multiple pairwise comparisons. In UC patients, PROs such as the short health scale, UC-abdominal signs and symptoms, and UC-bowel signs and symptoms were aggravated significantly with continued vaccination. There was no significant increase in the variables of patients with Crohn's disease. Therefore, there may be a need to counsel patients with IBD younger than 40 years of age, and patients with UC before they receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Influence of visceral manipulation on hormonal profile in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized trial

Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine condition in women of reproductive age and has been suggested as a risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. Depending on which diagnostic criteria are applied, approximately 10–15% of the women of reproductive age are affected by PCOS.Objective. To examine how viscera manipulation Influences hormonal profile in women with PCO. Design. A prospective randomized single-blind controlled trial. Setting. Outpatient clinics of Sadat General Hospital. Methods. Thirty patients of PCO females were recruited and randomized into two equal groups: the control group received a diet guidelines therapy in the form of the hypocaloric Mediterranean diet for 12 weeks, and the study group received the same control group interventions in addition to visceral manipulation (VM). biochemical analysis (FSH &amp; LH) and BMI was the primary outcome. All variables were measured at the baseline and after 12 weeks of the intervention. Results. Statistical analysis was done by using paired’ test which showed significant improvement in both groups. Therefore, using mixed design MANOVA and multiple pairwise comparison tests (Post hoc tests) for the BMI and LH/FSH ratio post-treatment revealed that there were significant decreases in LH/FSH ratio (p =0.007) in favor to group B when compared with group A, with no significant differences in BMI between both groups (p = 0.443), showing that VM group (B) is more effective than group (A) on biochemical analysis (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion. Using visceral manipulation with a standard program of hypocaloric Mediterranean diet has more beneficial effects on hormonal profile in women with PCO.

The impact of ovarian stimulation on the human endometrial microenvironment.

How does ovarian stimulation (OS), which is used to mature multiple oocytes for ART procedures, impact the principal cellular compartments and transcriptome of the human endometrium in the periovulatory and mid-secretory phases? During the mid-secretory window of implantation, OS alters the abundance of endometrial immune cells, whereas during the periovulatory period, OS substantially changes the endometrial transcriptome and impacts both endometrial glandular and immune cells. Pregnancies conceived in an OS cycle are at risk of complications reflective of abnormal placentation and placental function. OS can alter endometrial gene expression and immune cell populations. How OS impacts the glandular, stromal, immune, and vascular compartments of the endometrium, in the periovulatory period as compared to the window of implantation, is unknown. This prospective cohort study carried out between 2020 and 2022 included 25 subjects undergoing OS and 25 subjects in natural menstrual cycles. Endometrial biopsies were performed in the proliferative, periovulatory, and mid-secretory phases. Blood samples were processed to determine serum estradiol and progesterone levels. Both the endometrial transcriptome and the principal cellular compartments of the endometrium, including glands, stroma, immune, and vasculature, were evaluated by examining endometrial dating, differential gene expression, protein expression, cell populations, and the three-dimensional structure in endometrial tissue. Mann-Whitney U tests, unpaired t-tests or one-way ANOVA and pairwise multiple comparison tests were used to statistically evaluate differences. In the periovulatory period, OS induced high levels of differential gene expression, glandular-stromal dyssynchrony, and an increase in both glandular epithelial volume and the frequency of endometrial monocytes/macrophages. In the window of implantation during the mid-secretory phase, OS induced changes in endometrial immune cells, with a greater frequency of B cells and a lower frequency of CD4 effector T cells. The data underlying this article have been uploaded to the Genome Expression Omnibus/National Center for Biotechnology Information with accession number GSE220044. A limited number of subjects were included in this study, although the subjects within each group, natural cycle or OS, were homogenous in their clinical characteristics. The number of subjects utilized was sufficient to identify significant differences; however, with a larger number of subjects and additional power, we may detect additional differences. Another limitation of the study is that proliferative phase biopsies were collected in natural cycles, but not in OS cycles. Given that the OS cycle subjects did not have known endometrial factor infertility, and the comparisons involved subjects who had a similar and robust response to stimulation, the findings are generalizable to women with a normal response to OS. OS substantially altered the periovulatory phase endometrium, with fewer transcriptomic and cell type-specific changes in the mid-secretory phase. Our findings show that after OS, the endometrial microenvironment in the window of implantation possesses many more similarities to that of a natural cycle than does the periovulatory endometrium. Further investigation of the immune compartment and the functional significance of this cellular compartment under OS conditions is warranted. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI148695 to A.M.B. and N.C.D.), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD109152 to R.A.), and the March of Dimes (5-FY20-209 to R.A.). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or March of Dimes. All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Amelogenin-inspired peptide, calcium phosphate solution, fluoride and their synergistic effect on enamel biomimetic remineralization: an in vitro pH-cycling model

BackgroundSeveral methods were introduced for enamel biomimetic remineralization that utilize a biomimetic analogue to interact and absorb bioavailable calcium and phosphate ions and induce crystal nucleation on demineralized enamel. Amelogenin is the most predominant enamel matrix protein that is involved in enamel biomineralization. It plays a major role in developing the enamel’s hierarchical microstructure. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the ability of an amelogenin-inspired peptide to promote the remineralization potential of fluoride and a supersaturated calcium phosphate solution in treating artificially induced enamel carious lesions under pH-cycling regimen.MethodsFifty enamel slices were prepared with a window (4*4 mm2 ) on the surface. Five samples were set as control healthy enamel and 45 samples were subjected to demineralization for 3 days. Another 5 samples were set as control demineralized enamel and 40 enamel samples were assigned into 8 experimental groups (n=5) (P/I, P/II, P/III, P/AS, NP/I, NP/II, NP/III and NP/AS) according to peptide treatment (peptide P or non-peptide NP) and remineralizing solution used (I; calcium phosphate solution, II; calcium phosphate fluoride solution, III; fluoride solution and AS; artificial saliva). Samples were then subjected to demineralization/remineralization cycles for 9 days. Samples in all experimental groups were evaluated using Raman spectroscopy for mineral content recovery percentage, microhardness and nanoindentation as healthy, demineralized enamel and after pH-cycling. Data were statistically analysed using two-way repeated measures Anova followed by Bonferroni-corrected post hoc test for pairwise multiple comparisons between groups. Statistical significance was set at p= 0.05. Additionally, XRD, FESEM and EDXS were used for crystal orientation, surface morphology and elemental analysis after pH-cycling.ResultsNanocrystals clumped in a directional manner were detected in peptide-treated groups. P/II showed the highest significant mean values in mineral content recovery (63.31%), microhardness (268.81±6.52 VHN), elastic modulus (88.74±2.71 GPa), nanohardness (3.08±0.59 GPa) and the best crystal orientation with I002/I300 (1.87±0.08).ConclusionDespite pH changes, the tested peptide was capable of remineralizing enamel with ordered crystals. Moreover, the supplementary use of calcium phosphate fluoride solution with peptide granted an enhancement in enamel mechanical properties after remineralization.

Changes in the labour market: the perceptions of Romanian employees regarding the use of telework in the post-pandemic period

PurposeAlmost four years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the changes in the labour market and legislation, but also in people's lives, do not stop. At the same time, employees' perceptions regarding the change in the legislative and contractual framework, as well as in the working conditions and the use of telework, also change. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to identify the perceptions of employees regarding the use of telework in the post-pandemic period.Design/methodology/approachThe research was based on a survey carried out on 128 teleworkers in the post-pandemic period. The statistical hypotheses were tested using Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Kruskal–Wallis tests, multiple linear regression and pairwise comparison analysis.FindingsThe results of the study demonstrate that the modification of the legislative and contractual framework and of the working conditions, as well as of the way of using information and communication technology in the post-pandemic era, generates a positive and significant impact on the use of telework by employees. Some of the main advantages valued by teleworkers included the possibility of benefitting from a flexible work schedule and the possibility of reducing transport costs.Originality/valueThe study highlights the need to continuously develop and update labour policies and strategies in line with current and future labour market requirements, considering the implications of telework on the perceptions of employees, so that government organisations and managers who want to protect the rights and interests of teleworkers, aspects of their lives and organise an appropriate work environment manage to do so in order to achieve the expected results.

Effect of various surface treatments on relining bond strength of CAD-CAM denture base materials.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of various surface treatments and production methods on the shear bond strength (SBS) between reline material and denture base resins. One-hundred-twenty specimens were produced using conventional heat-polymerization, subtractive, and additive techniques. Each group consisted of 40 specimens. The specimens were divided into four subgroups, each with 10 samples, for surface treatments. These subgroups were: (1) Control-only monomer application, (2) 50 μm airborne-particle abrasion, (3) 110 μm airborne-particle abrasion, and (4) Roughening with tungsten carbide bur. Representative specimens from each subgroup were examined under SEM. Then, auto-polymerized resin was condensed in the center of the specimens. Specimens were subjected to thermal aging (5000 cycles at 5-55°C). The SBS test was conducted and failure loads were recorded. The data were evaluated by two-way ANOVA and Tukey pairwise multiple comparisons method (p < 0.05). The additively produced group showed significantly lower SBS than conventional and subtractive groups (p < 0.001), with no significant differences between the subtractive and conventional groups. Specimens that underwent monomer application only showed the lowest SBS among surface treatments, while 50 μm airborne-particle abrasion showed the highest SBS. Based on the partial eta-squared analysis results, the surface treatment mainly impacted SBS. Among the surface treatment methods, treating denture bases with 50 μm airborne-particle abrasion is more effective for maintaining adhesion, especially in the additive technique.

GOTermViewer: Visualization of Gene Ontology Enrichment in Multiple Differential Gene Expression Analyses.

Gene ontology phrases are a widely used set of hierarchical terms that describe the biological properties of genes. These terms are then used to annotate individual genes, making it possible to determine the likely physiological properties of groups of genes such as a list of differentially expressed genes. Consequently, their ability to predict changes in biological features and functions based on alterations in gene expression has made gene ontology terms popular in the wide range of bioinformatic fields, such as differential gene expression and evolutionary biology. However, while they make the analysis easier, it is seldom easy to convey the results in a readily understandable manner. A number of applications have been developed to visualize gene ontology (GO) term enrichment; however, these solutions tend to focus on the display of aggregated results from a single analysis, making them unsuitable for the analysis of a series of experiments such as a time course or response to different drug treatments. As multiple pair wise comparisons are becoming a common feature of RNA profiling experiments, the absence of a mechanism to easily compare them is a significant problem. Consequently, to overcome this obstacle, we have developed GOTermViewer, an application that displays GO term enrichment data as determined by GOstats such that changes in physiological response across a number of individual analyses across a time course or range of drug treatments can be visualized.

ВПЛИВ ТЕМПЕРАТУРИ ЛИЧИНКОВОЇ СТАДІЇ РОЗВИТКУ НА ЕКСПРЕСІЮ ГЕНІВ HSP70, INR, SIRT1, MTOR ТА FOXO У САМЦІВ І САМОК DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Background. Despite the progress in understanding the phenomenon of aging, the key factors that influence this process remain poorly understood. Aging is a genetically programmed set of events, leading to structural and functional changes that reduce the life expectancy of an organism. The relevance of the study is to expand the understanding of the impact of environmental factors, in particular temperature, on the early stages of development on the life expectancy of imago, using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. The aim was to determine and analyze the expression level of genes associated with lifespan in D. melanogaster – Hsp70, InR, Sirt1, mTor and foxo – in flies reared at different temperatures of the larval stage of development. Methods. The larvae were kept at different temperatures, after which the gene expression level was determined by RT-qPCR in adult flies. The relative expression level was calculated by using the 2-ΔΔCt method. The data were analyzed using ANOVA-test followed by a pairwise multiple comparison post-hoc Tukey HSD test. Differences were considered significant at p˂0.05. Results. The temperature of the larval stage of development did not significantly affect the gene expression of male adults. Аt the same time in females imago a significant increase in the expression of Hsp70, InR, Sirt1 and mTor genes was observed in individuals with larval development took at 20°C and 30°C, compared to the control at 25°C. Conclusions. The increased expression levels of the genes chosen for analysis under the critical temperature conditions indicates the induction of a generalized stress response that did not correlate with an increased life expectancy. The finding of sex differences in gene expression patterns requires further investigation to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying it.

Expression of salivary levels of S100A7 in oral submucous fibrosis and oral leukoplakia.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the expression of S100A7 levels in saliva of oral sub-mucous fibrosis, oral leukoplakia patients, and healthy control. The study comprised of saliva samples from 15 patients each with clinically diagnosed oral sub-mucous fibrosis, oral leukoplakia, and healthy control. Salivary S100A7 levels were estimated using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. The significance level is fixed at 5% (α = 0.05). To compare the mean values of concentration between the disease group oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and control, one-way analysis of variance was used followed by a post hoc test for multiple pairwise comparisons. The results of the study indicated a statistically significant increase in the salivary S100A7 level among the OSMF and OL when compared with the control group. When a pairwise comparison was done between OSMF with a control group and leukoplakia with a control group, a statistically significant difference was observed, subsequently while comparing OSMF with leukoplakia, and no statistically significant difference was observed. Results from this study demonstrated increased S100A7 levels in OSMF and OL when compared with control group. This indicated that salivary S100A7 can be used as an adjunctive marker to identify patients at risk of progression into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

FG-HFS: A feature filter and group evolution hybrid feature selection algorithm for high-dimensional gene expression data

High dimensional and small samples characterize gene expression data and contain a large number of genes unrelated to disease. Feature selection improves the efficiency of disease diagnosis by selecting a small number of important genes. Unfortunately, existing algorithms do not consider the correlation between features, and search algorithms tend to fall into the local optimal solution in the feature search process. To this end, this paper proposes a feature filter and group evolution hybrid feature selection algorithm (FG-HFS) for high-dimensional gene expression data. Unlike existing algorithms, we propose using spectral clustering to group redundant features into a group. Then, we propose a redundant feature filter algorithm. According to the principle of approximate Markov blanket, grouped feature groups are filtered to delete these redundant features. Among them, filtered features are evenly divided by density according to the feature exponential strategy. Most importantly, we propose using the group evolution multi-objective genetic algorithm to search the filtered feature subsets and evaluate the candidate feature subsets according to the in-group and out-group so as to select the feature subsets with the highest accuracy and the least number. Experimental results show that the average accuracy (ACC) and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) indexes of the selected feature subsets (FSs) by the FG-HFS algorithm on 5 gene expression datasets are 92.76% and 88.76%, respectively, which are significantly better than the existing algorithms. In addition, the FSs and ACC/FSs indexes of the FG-HFS algorithm are also better than the existing algorithms, which fully proves the superiority of the FG-HFS algorithm. More importantly, the Wilcoxon and Friedman statistical experiments results show that the feature selection effect of FG-HFS algorithm is significantly better than that of existing algorithms, no matter in pairwise comparison or multiple comparison.

Caries Risk Determination of 5-8 Year Old Children and Their Mothers in Muğla Province

It was aimed to evaluate dental data obtained after dental examinations of 204 children aged 5-8 years and their mothers who lived in Muğla and applied to Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Faculty of Dentistry, taking into account their place of residence, mother's education level and working status. To determine caries profile of primary dentition, dmft was used, and for permanent dentition, DMFT was used. They were asked to answer prepared questions. Results, consisting of formed index after intraoral examination and answers to questions, were statistically evaluated using IBM SPSS v23.0 (IBM Corp. 2015, Armonk, NY, US). Normality of variables is examined by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Due to variables do not follow a normal distribution, differences between index values per demographic variable were tested with Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test for independent groups. To make pairwise (multiple) comparison, we used Dunn’s test. Spearman correlation analysis was also applied. According to results obtained, it was observed that mother's education level had a significant effect on children's dmft and DMFT index values (p&amp;lt;0.05). As education level of mothers increased, caries profile of children decreased. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between mother's DMFT index value and child's dmft index value(p&amp;lt;0.05, r=0.017). Additionally, it was statistically determined that dmft index values of children with employed mothers significantly lower than those of children whose mothers unemployed(p&amp;lt;0.05). The study showed that mother's level of being affected by decay, education level, and employment status were effective on the level of children being affected by tooth decay.

Sphingolipids in Childhood Asthma and Obesity (SOAP Study): A Protocol of a Cross-Sectional Study.

Asthma and obesity are two of the most common chronic conditions in children and adolescents. There is increasing evidence that sphingolipid metabolism is altered in childhood asthma and is linked to airway hyperreactivity. Dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism is also reported in obesity. However, the functional link between sphingolipid metabolism, asthma, and obesity is not completely understood. This paper describes the protocol of an ongoing study on sphingolipids that aims to examine the pathophysiology of sphingolipids in childhood asthma and obesity. In addition, this study aims to explore the novel biomarkers through a comprehensive multi-omics approach including genomics, genome-wide DNA methylation, RNA-Seq, microRNA (miRNA) profiling, lipidomics, metabolomics, and cytokine profiling. This is a cross-sectional study aiming to recruit 440 children from different groups: children with asthma and normal weight (n = 100), asthma with overweight or obesity (n = 100), overweight or obesity (n = 100), normal weight (n = 70), and siblings of asthmatic children with normal weight, overweight, or obesity (n = 70). These participants will be recruited from the pediatric pulmonology, pediatric endocrinology, and general pediatric outpatient clinics at Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar. Information will be obtained from self-reported questionnaires on asthma, quality of life, food frequency (FFQ), and a 3-day food diary that are completed by the children and their parents. Clinical measurements will include anthropometry, blood pressure, biochemistry, bioelectrical impedance, and pulmonary function tests. Blood samples will be obtained for sphingolipid analysis, serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) assay, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), genome-wide DNA methylation study, RNA-Seq, miRNA profiling, metabolomics, lipidomics, and cytokine analysis. Group comparisons of continuous outcome variables will be carried out by a one-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis test using an appropriate pairwise multiple comparison test. The chi-squared test or a Fisher's exact test will be used to test the associations between categorical variables. Finally, multivariate analysis will be carried out to integrate the clinical data with multi-omics data. This study will help us to understand the role of dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism in obesity and asthma. In addition, the multi-omics data from the study will help to identify novel genetic and epigenetic signatures, inflammatory markers, and mechanistic pathways that link asthma and obesity in children. Furthermore, the integration of clinical and multi-omics data will help us to uncover the potential interactions between these diseases and to offer a new paradigm for the treatment of pediatric obesity-associated asthma.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease-era Clinical Trial Reform on Cancer Trial Access in Rural/Underserved Regions of the Midwest.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic refocused the cancer community on bringing clinical trials closer to patients and increasing access for traditionally underserved communities. Pandemic-era deregulation increased flexibility with telemedicine visits, less frequent testing, and the ability to have tests done locally. This study evaluates the impact of 2020 cancer clinical trial reform on trial accessibility in rural/underserved regions of the Midwest. Publicly available clinicaltrials.gov data was accessed from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2022 for the 3 leading causes of new cancer cases in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Indiana. Interventional trials were categorized based on location using corresponding "Rural-Urban Commuting Area" codes (urban/metropolitan, suburban/micropolitan, small town/rural, and isolated/rural) and categorized as pre versus postpandemic (using March 15, 2020, when national regulatory guidelines were modified). Locations of trial offerings from pre and postpandemic dates were analyzed by paired t test. Comparison of trial location category by state and cancer type was analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance with pairwise multiple comparisons made using the Tukey-Kramer method. Pandemic-era deregulation had no impact on increasing trial availability in suburban and small-town/rural locales ( P = 0.1259). Only 18% of trials were offered outside of urban areas, with 15% in suburban and 3% in small town/rural areas. Results varied by state ( P < 0.0001) with Illinois offering the most suburban and small-town trial availability (27%) compared with Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee (18%, 6%, and 2%, respectively). Trial availability in rural versus urban areas did not differ by cancer type ( P = 0.07197). More work must be done to increase access to cancer clinical trials in rural and suburban areas of the United States.

Smoke exposure associated with higher urinary benzene biomarker muconic acid (MUCA) in Golestan Cohort Study participants

Background. Benzene is a known human carcinogen. Human exposure to benzene can be assessed by measuring trans, trans-muconic acid (MUCA) in urine. Golestan Province in northeastern Iran has been reported to have high incidence of esophageal cancer linked to the use of tobacco products. This manuscript evaluates the urinary MUCA concentrations among the participants of the Golestan Cohort Study (GCS).Methods. We analyzed MUCA concentration in 177 GCS participants’ urine samples and performed nonparametric pairwise multiple comparisons to determine statistically significant difference among six different product use groups. Mixed effects model was fitted on 22 participants who exclusively smoked cigarette and 51 participants who were classified as nonusers. The urinary MUCA data were collected at the baseline and approximately five years later, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated from the model.Results. Compared with nonusers, tobacco smoking was associated with higher urinary MUCA concentrations. Based on the nonparametric test of pairwise multiple comparisons, MUCA concentrations among participants who smoked combusted tobacco products were statistically significantly higher compared to nonusers. Urinary MUCA collected five years apart from the same individuals showed moderate reliability (ICC = 0.41), which was expected given the relatively short half-life (∼6 h) of MUCA.Conclusion. Our study revealed that tobacco smoke was positively associated with increased levels of urinary MUCA concentration, indicating that it is a significant source of benzene exposure among GCS participants.

Prognostic value of the Walch classification for patients before and after shoulder arthroplasty performed for osteoarthritis with an intact rotator cuff

The Walch classification is commonly utilized by surgeons when determining the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). However, its utility in prognosticating patient clinical state before and after TSA remains unproven. We assessed the prognostic value of the modified Walch glenoid classification on preoperative clinical state and postoperative clinical and radiographic outcomes in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). A prospectively-collected, multi-center database for a single-platform TSA system was queried for patients with rotator cuff-intact OA and minimum 2 year follow-up after anatomic and reverse TSA (aTSA, rTSA). Differences in patient-reported outcome scores (PROMS) [SST, ASES, SPADI, VAS Pain, Shoulder Function score], combined patient-reported and clinical-input scores (Constant, UCLA, SAS), active range of motion (ROM) values (forward elevation [FE], abduction, external rotation [ER], internal rotation [IR], and radiographic outcomes (humeral and glenoid radiolucency line rates, scapula notching rate) were stratified and compared by glenoid deformity type per the Walch classification for aTSA and rTSA cohorts. Comparisons were performed to assess the ability of the Walch classification to predict the preop, postop, and improved state after TSA. 1,008 TSAs were analyzed including 576 aTSA and 432 rTSA. Comparison of outcomes between Walch glenoid types resulted in 15 pairwise comparisons of 12 clinical outcome metrics, yielding 180 total Walch glenoid pairwise comparisons for each clinical state (preoperative, postoperative, improvement). Of the 180 possible pairwise Walch glenoid type / metric comparisons studied for aTSA and rTSA cohorts, <6% and < 2% significantly differed in aTSA and rTSA cohorts, respectively. Significant differences based on Walch type were seen after adjustment for multiple pairwise comparisons in the aTSA cohort for FE and ER preoperatively, the Constant score postoperatively, and for abduction, FE, ER, Constant score, and SAS score for pre- to postoperative improvement. In the rTSA cohort, significant differences were only seen in abduction and Constant score both postoperatively and for pre- to postoperative improvement. There were no statistically significant differences in humeral lucency rate, glenoid lucency rate (aTSA), scapular notching rate (rTSA), complication rates, or revision rates between Walch glenoid types after TSA. Although useful for describing degenerative changes to the glenohumeral joint, we demonstrate a weak association between preoperative glenoid morphology according to the Walch classification and clinical state when evaluating patients undergoing TSA for rotator cuff-intact OA. Alternative glenoid classification systems or predictive models should be considered to provide more precise prognoses for patients undergoing TSA for rotator cuff-intact OA.

Feasibility of mitigating out-toeing gait using compression tights with inward-directing taping lines.

Out-toeing gait may cause alterations in lower limb biomechanics that could lead to an increased risk of overuse injuries. Surgery and physical therapy are conventional methods for mitigating such gait, but they are costly and time-consuming. Wearable devices like braces and orthoses are used as affordable alternatives, but they apply non-negligible stress on the skin. Haptic feedback-delivering shoes were also recently developed, but they require actuators and power sources. The purpose of our study is to develop compression tights with inward directing taping lines that apply compression to lower limb muscles and segments to facilitate inward rotation of the foot, overcoming the drawbacks of previous methods. These compression tights were manufactured to fit the average height, leg length, hip girth, and waist girth of South Korean females in their twenties. The efficacy of these compression tights was evaluated by comparing walking kinematics and user satisfaction of 12 female dancers with an out-toeing gait under three conditions: wearing tights with taping lines, tights without taping lines, and basic bicycle shorts. The foot rotation angles and joint kinematics were recorded using a pressure-pad treadmill and motion capture system, respectively. Multiple pairwise comparisons revealed that the compression tights with inward-directing lines significantly reduced foot rotation angles (up to an average of 20.1%) compared with the bicycle shorts (p = 0.002 and 0.001 for dominant and non-dominant foot, respectively) or the compression tights without taping lines (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001 for dominant and non-dominant foot, respectively). Statistical parametric mapping revealed significant main effects of the tight type on joint kinematics. Also, t-tests revealed that the participants reported significantly higher ratings of perceived functionality and usability on the compression tights with inward-directing taping lines. In conclusion, we developed a comfortable and practical apparel-type wearable and demonstrated its short-term efficacy in mitigating out-toeing gait.

Characterization of Polylysine Enriched Self-Adhesive Resin Cements

Aim. The aim of this study is to add polylysine (PLS) particles to two different types of self-adhesive resin cement (RelyXU200 and Breeze) and to characterize them before and after PLS incorporation. Materials and Methods. Four PLS concentrations (0.2%, 1%, 2%, and 5%) were selected for incorporation into two self-adhesive resin cements (RelyXU200 and Breeze), thus the groups of this study include one control group and four experimental groups for each cement type. Different characterization tests were performed including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), degree of conversion (DC), compressive strength (CS), and ISO tests 4049-2019 that include: film thickness, setting time, water sorption (WS), and solubility (SL). The statistical procedure used includes analysis of variance test (ANOVA) and multiple pairwise comparisons Tukey post hoc test which was used for multifactorial analysis. Results. FTIR showed that PLS addition did not change the functional groups’ peaks for either cement type indicating that no chemical reaction with and/or alteration within the cement has occurred. In general, PLS addition increased the water sorption, solubility, and film thickness, it also increased the setting time for Breeze while decreasing it for RelyXU200 and all these parameters were within 4049-2019 ISO Specification. Statistically, PLS addition did not significantly change these properties compared to the control groups except for 5% PLS. Similarly, the degree of conversion and compressive strength was slightly reduced with no significant difference to the control cement groups except for 5% PLS concentration. Conclusions. Newly developed PLS incorporated self-adhesive resin cement exhibited remarkable mechanical and physical properties compared to control self-adhesive resin cement and passed the ISO standardization. PLS-incorporated resin cement with less than 5% have no negative impact on the physical and mechanical properties of the studied cement.

A Cross sectional descriptive study to investigate the different effects of using approved therapeutic regimens options on the quality of life for chronic heart disease patients with reduced ejection fraction

Abstract Aim Investigate the different effects on the quality of life (QOL) between the approved regimens used for Heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) treatment in clinical practice. Methods Cross Sectional descriptive study on (HFrEF) patients was conducted from December 2021 to Mars 2023 at governmental and private hospitals in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the 118 patients were receiving different treatment regimens divided into 4 groups, all groups have B-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA); 1.Conventional therapy group of 33 patients: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEi/ARBs), 2. Group of 22 patients: Sacubitril/Valsartan as an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), 3. Group of 33 patients (ACEi/ARBs) + Sodium−glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), 4. Group of 30 patients (ARNI) with SGLT2i. Their quality of life assessment was done using validated questionnaire MLHFQ (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire) as face to face interviews and data were collected from hospital records. Statistical software IBM SPSS package version 27.0, a one-way ANOVA test was conducted to compare the difference between 4 groups normally distributed quantitative variables. Post hoc pairwise multiple comparisons were executed using the Tukey HSD test. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the ability of the independent variables (Platelets count, Ejection Fraction EF%, Hemoglobin, S.Cr, Gender, WBCs and Urea) to predict the value of MLHFQ score. Significance was judged at the 5% level. Results There was a statistically significant difference In MLHFQ Score for the four groups: F (3, 114) = 8.135, P = 0.000. The actual difference in mean scores was relatively high and this was approved by a large effect size, calculated using eta squared (0.176). Post hoc comparisons indicated that the mean score for Conventional regimen group (M = 68.06, SD = 19.77, CI95% 11.92–38.67, P &amp;lt; 0.05) and SGLT2i containing regimen group (M = 56.88, SD = 22.21, CI95% 0.74–27.48, P = 0.034) both were significantly different from that of ARNI + SGLT2i combination containing regimen group (M = 42.77, SD = 19.04). By comparing the EF% between the 4 groups, There was a statistically significant difference: F (3, 114) = 2.725, P = 0.047. Post hoc comparisons indicated that the mean score for Conventional containing regimen (M = 33, SD = 8.746, CI95% 0.1–10.43, P = 0.044) was significantly different from that of ARNI + SGLT2i combination regimen (M = 27.73, SD = 7.497). The linear regression analysis for variables showed statistical significance (F Change (7,110) = 5.234, P = .000).The statistically significant affected predicted variables are (S.Cr, P = 0.01), (B.urea, P = 0.003), (Hb, P = 0.011), while R2 = 0.25 explained only 25% of the variance in the dependent variable (MLHFQ score). Conclusions The early beginning of ARNI + SGLT2i with B-blocker + MRA may improve the QOL beside the approved reduction in heart failure hospitalizations. Additional Content An author video to accompany this abstract is available on https://academic.oup.com/eurheartjsupp. Please click on the arrow next to ‘More Content’ and then click on ‘Author videos’.

BIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF LOCALLY GROWN BANANA CULTIVARS AND THE CAPABILITY OF THEIR PSEUDOSTEM SAP AS AN ALTERNATIVE ELECTROLYTE FOR WET CELL

This study used the qualitative and quantitative experimental research design to establish the biological profile of the banana cultivars and the capability of their pseudostem sap as an alternative electrolyte for wet cell. Data were gathered by collecting banana sap and placing it in a 12-volt wet cell battery and observed at different time intervals. Mean, ANOVA, Duncan’s Multiple Range Test, LSD and pairwise comparison were used to determine significant differences between potential voltage and time interval. Bungulan, Lakatan, and Morado are derived from Musa Acuminata, while the Bulkan, Dippig, and Tordan are from the species of Musa Acuminata x Musa balbisiana. However, each cultivar is a member of a separate group, including the AABB, Cavendish subgroup of the AAA, AA, AAA, ABB, and AAB Group. The pH of the substrate is neutral, while the pH of newly harvested pseudostem sap turns acidic after 4 weeks of storage. The effects of the treatments, time interval, and their interactions produced a highly significant difference. The positive and negative control, and the six cultivars are statistically and significantly different from one another while Bungulan, Morado and Tordan cultivars are statistically the same. Week 1 had the highest voltage recorded and statistically the same mean voltages as in Weeks 2 and 4 with the lowest voltage seen in Week 3.The interaction of the sulfuric acid, distilled water, cultivars, and time interval yielded different voltage and are not statistically comparable. The pseudostem sap of the different banana cultivars contained in a 12-volt wet cell battery can lit the 5, 10 and 15-watts LED bulbs until the fourth week of storage.Using the pairwise comparisons, the treatments are statistically the same with one another. Hence, the banana pseudostem sap can be used as an alternative electrolyte for wet cell.

Static friction, surface roughness, and antibacterial activity of orthodontic brackets coated with silver and silver chitosan nanoparticles

To determine the effect of silver and silver chitosan nanocoatings on monocrystalline ceramic, polycrystalline ceramic, and metallic brackets regarding friction, roughness, and antibacterial effect against Streptococcus mutans. A total of 99 upper right premolar brackets with a 0.022 × 0.025 -inch slot were divided into three groups, each 33 according to coating material; the non-coated group, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and silver chitosan nanoparticles (Ag-CsNPs) groups. Each group was equally subdivided into the following three subgroups regarding bracket materials: monocrystalline ceramic, polycrystalline ceramic, and metallic brackets. A universal testing machine determined static friction on a custom-made acrylic jig. Then a profilometer machine was used to collect roughness data, and finally, the anti-cariogenic effect was measured with the disc diffusion technique's "minimum zone of inhibition" against Streptococcus mutans. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare data between groups and subgroups, followed by the Bonferroni test for multiple pair-wise comparisons. The nanocoating effect on ceramic brackets' static friction was non-significant. The AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs coated metallic group revealed a significant increase in static friction-a significant effect of the nanocoating in the surface roughness of monocrystalline and polycrystalline ceramic brackets. A significant favorable effect of AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs against Streptococcus mutans was observed. AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs coats are unsuitable for decreasing friction in metallic brackets or improving roughness in polycrystalline ceramic brackets. Nano coating can improve roughness in monocrystalline ceramic brackets. Coating brackets with AgNPs and Ag-CsNPs has a tremendous antibacterial effect on Streptococcus mutans, a substantial factor in the incidence of dental caries.