Spearman Rank Correlation Analysis Research Articles

Value of different endoscopic scoring methods in assessing disease activity in pediatric Crohn's disease

To explore the value of different endoscopic scoring methods in assessing disease activity in pediatric Crohn's disease (CD). A total of 70 children diagnosed with CD at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2018 to January 2023 were included. Clinical disease activity was assessed using the Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), while different endoscopic scores were assigned based on endoscopic findings. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between each endoscopic scoring method and PCDAI as well as laboratory indicators. Kappa test was used to assess the consistency between colonoscopy/capsule endoscopy scoring methods and PCDAI in determining CD activity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of laboratory indicators in predicting endoscopic activity. The PCDAI score showed a moderate positive correlation with the scores of Crohn's Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) (rs=0.696, P<0.01), Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD) (rs=0.680, P<0.01), Lewis Score (rs=0.540, P<0.01), and Capsule Endoscopy-Crohn's Disease Index (CE-CD) (rs=0.502, P<0.01). The consistency between all endoscopic scoring methods and PCDAI in determining CD activity was poor (Kappa=0.069-0.226). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), hematocrit (HCT), and serum albumin (ALB) levels showed a moderate correlation with the PCDAI score and the scores of colonoscopy scoring methods (CDEIS and SES-CD) (|rs|=0.581-0.725, P<0.01), but a weak correlation with the scores of capsule scoring methods (P<0.05). ESR and CRP had higher area under the curve (AUC) values in predicting disease activity based on PCDAI, CDEIS, SES-CD, and Lewis Score compared to HCT and ALB (P<0.05). CDEIS, SES-CD, Lewis Score, and CE-CD can be used to evaluate disease activity in pediatric CD, but they do not fully correspond with disease activity assessed by PCDAI. Elevated levels of ESR and CRP can predict clinical and endoscopic disease activity in children with CD.

Association between the structure of intestinal flora and inflammatory response in children with sepsis: a prospective cohort study

To investigate the structural characteristics of intestinal flora in children with sepsis and its association with inflammatory response. A prospective cohort study was conducted. The children with sepsis who were admitted from December 2021 to January 2023 were enrolled as the sepsis group, and the children with non-sepsis who were admitted during the same period were enrolled as the non-sepsis group. The two groups were compared in terms of the distribution characteristics of intestinal flora, peripheral white blood cell count (WBC), C reactive protein (CRP), and cytokines, and the correlation of the relative abundance of fecal flora with WBC, CRP, and cytokines was analyzed. At the genus level, compared with the non-sepsis group, the sepsis group had significantly lower relative abundance of Akkermansia, Ruminococcus, and Alistipes and significantly higher relative abundance of Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus (P<0.05). At the phylum level, Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum (37.46%) in the group of children with a score of ≤70 from the Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PICS), and Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in the group of children with a score of 71-80 or 81-90 from the PICS (72.20% and 43.88%, respectively). At the genus level, among the 18 specimens, 5 had a relative abundance of >50% for a single flora. Compared with the non-sepsis group, the sepsis group had significant higher levels of WBC, CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α (P<0.05). The Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed that at the genus level, the relative abundance of Ruminococcus, Alistipes, and Parasutterella in the sepsis group was negatively correlated with the levels of WBC, CRP, and IL-6 (P<0.05); the relative abundance of Enterococcus was positively correlated with the CRP level (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus was positively correlated with the levels of CRP and IL-6 (P<0.05); the relative abundance of Streptococcus was positively correlated with WBC (P<0.05). Intestinal flora disturbance is observed in children with sepsis, and its characteristics vary with the severity of the disease. The structural changes of intestinal flora are correlated with inflammatory response in children with sepsis.

The impact and risk factors for developing pneumogenic bacteremia in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii nosocomial pneumonia in the intensive care unit: A multicenter retrospective study

ObjectivesThis study analyzed the risk and impact of developing pneumogenic bacteremia in patients with CRAB nosocomial pneumonia in ICU. MethodsThis is multicenter retrospective study. Clinical outcomes were compared between bacteremia and non-bacteremia group, and the risk factors for mortality and developing pneumogenic CRAB bacteremia were analyzed. ResultsAfter patient recruitment, 164 cases were in the bacteremia group, and 519 cases were in the non-bacteremia group. The bacteremia group had 22.4 percentage of increase in-hospital mortality than the non-bacteremia group (68.3% vs 45.9%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed bacteremia was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (aHR = 2.399, P < 0.001). A long time-interval between ICU admission and pneumonia onset was an independent risk factor for developing bacteremia (aOR = 1.040, P = < 0.001). Spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated a high correlation between the days from ICU admission to pneumonia onset and the days of ventilator use before pneumonia onset (correlation coefficient (ρ) = 0.777). ConclusionsIn patients with CRAB nosocomial pneumonia, bacteremia increased the in-hospital mortality, and a longer interval from ICU admission to pneumonia onset was an independent risk factor for developing bacteremia, which was highly associated with the use of mechanical ventilation.

Local Community Participation Under Proboscis Monkey Conservation-Based Ecotourism Development in Curiak Island Area

Abstract This study was conducted to identify local participation under proboscis monkey conservation-based ecotourism development in Curiak Island Area and the relationship between their socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 20 respondents participated in the study. The data taken included respondents’ profiles and local community participation in proboscis monkey ecotourism development. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics analysis and rank Spearman correlation analysis. The results showed that local community participation in proboscis monkey conservation-based ecotourism is at a medium level with an average mean score of 3.34. The correlation coefficient between age and local community participation is −0.223 with a significance value of 0.345 so that it can be said that there is no significant relationship (p&gt;0.05) between age and local community participation and are at a very low category, the correlation coefficient value between gender and local community participation is 0.286 with a significance value of 0.221 so that it can be said that there is no significant relationship (p&gt;0.05) between gender and community participation local and are at a low category, the correlation coefficient value between education and local community participation is 0.296 with a significance value of 0.205 so that it can be said that there is no significant relationship (p&gt;0.05) between education and local community participation and are at a low category, and the correlation coefficient value between income and local community participation is 0.496 with a significance value of 0.026 so that it can be said that there is a real relationship (p&lt;0.05) between income and local community participation and are at a medium category. It can be concluded that local community participation in proboscis monkey conservation-based ecotourism is at a medium level. The socio-demographic characteristic that has a real relationship with local community participation is monthly income. Socio-demographic characteristics that have no significant relationship with local community participation are age, education, and educational background.

The value of plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in predicting the response and prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients to concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background: In recent years, abnormalities in plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) have been proven to be related to the risk of cancer, but their prognostic value for cancer is unclear. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the response and prognostic significance of plasma omega-3 PUFAs in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between omega-3 PUFAs and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels. Methods: A total of 89 patients with CSCC who underwent CCRT were evaluated retrospectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent predictors related to complete response (CR) after CCRT. A Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier analysis were utilized to perform survival analysis. Results: According to multivariate logistic regression analyses, a high level of plasma EPA was independently correlated with an increased incidence of CR after CCRT (odds ratio (OR), 0.980; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.962-0.999, p = 0.038). With a median follow-up of 41.3months, the CSCC patients in the high EPA (≥46.0nmol/mL) group exhibited longer OS and PFS. According to our multivariate analysis, pretreatment plasma EPA level was an independent prognostic factor for PFS in patients with CSCC who underwent CCRT (hazard ratio (HR), 0.263; 95% CI, 0.089-0.782, p = 0.016). However, it was not an independent prognostic factor of OS. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed was a negative correlation between pretreatment SCC-Ag (pre SCC-Ag) levels and EPA levels (r = -0.305, p = 0.004), and a weak negative correlation between posttreatment SCC-Ag (post SCC-Ag) levels and EPA levels (r = -0.251, p = 0.018). Conclusion: Plasma omega-3 PUFAs are related to the response and survival outcome of patients with CSCC who underwent CCRT. Pretreatment plasma EPA levels may be a promising biomarker for predicting the response and prognosis of patients with CSCC who undergo CCRT. In addition, the pretreatment plasma EPA levels presented a negative correlation with the SCC-Ag levels.

Investigation of the marine bacterial community along the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand

The Gulf of Thailand provides many services to the Thai population, and human activities may influence the diversity of microorganisms in the seawater. Information of the microorganisms’ profile which inhabit the coastline can be used to monitor the water quality. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial community in the waters along the coastline provinces, including Rayong, Chonburi, Prachuap Kiri Khan, and Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Seawater samples were collected at each site, and the conductivity, pH, salinity, temperature, and turbidity were measured. The samples were subjected to whole DNA extraction, 16S rRNA amplification, next-generation sequencing, and statistical analysis to identify the bacterial diversity and analyse the effects of water parameters on the bacterial community. The dominant bacterial phyla found were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Cyanobacteria. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed a high correlation of Pseudoalteromonas, the NS5 marine group, Lachnospiraceae, Marinobacterium, Mariviven, and Vibrio with the seawater parameters. The predatory bacteria Peredibacter and Halobacteriovorax were reported among these bacterial communities for the first time in the Gulf of Thailand. Interestingly, Akkermansia, a novel candidate for next-generation probiotics to improve human health, was also found in the sample from Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province. Although the rich-ness and diversity of the bacterial communities differed among sampling sites, it is a possible source of many valuable bacteria for future use.

Increased Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 2 in Hypertension-Induced Left Ventricular Remodeling.

Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2) is involved in various cardiovascular diseases. However, its relevance in left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with hypertension (HTN) is obscure. In this study, 196 patients with HTN were included, 59 with echocardiographic LV remodeling. A total of 100 healthy subjects served as normal controls. The serum-sFRP2 level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were collected from medical records for baseline characteristics, biochemistry tests, and echocardiography. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the distinguishing value of sFRP2 for LV remodeling in patients with HTN. Spearman rank correlation analysis was utilized to identify factors correlated with sFRP2. Cardiac sFRP2 was determined by Western blot and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The level of serum-sFRP2 was higher in HTN patients with echocardiographic LV remodeling than their non-remodeling counterparts. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for sFRP2 in distinguishing echocardiographic LV remodeling in HTN patients was 0.791 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.714-0.869). The sFRP2 was negatively correlated with LV dimension and positively correlated with relative wall thickness (RWT). The expression of sFRP2 was higher in hypertrophic hearts, which could be reversed by myricetin. The serum level and cardiac sFRP2 increased in the setting of LV remodeling and decreased by myricetin. Serum sFRP2 may be a promising distinguishing factor for LV remodeling in HTN patients.

Residual deformity after femoral neck fracture affects the location of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

The localization of necrotic areas has been reported to impact the prognosis and treatment strategy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Anteroposterior localization of the necrotic area after a femoral neck fracture (FNF) has not been properly investigated. We hypothesize that the change of the weight loading direction on the femoral head due to residual posterior tilt caused by malunited FNF may affect the location of ONFH. We investigate the relationship between the posterior tilt angle (PTA) and anteroposterior localization of osteonecrosis using lateral hip radiographs. Patients aged younger than 55 years diagnosed with ONFH after FNF were retrospectively reviewed. Overall, 65 hips (38 males and 27 females; mean age 32.6 years (SD 12.2)) met the inclusion criteria. Patients with stage 1 or 4 ONFH, as per the Association Research Circulation Osseous classification, were excluded. The ratios of anterior and posterior viable areas and necrotic areas of the femoral head to the articular surface were calculated by setting the femoral head centre as the reference point. The PTA was measured using Palm's method. The association between the PTA and viable or necrotic areas of the femoral head was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation analysis (median PTA 6.0° (interquartile range 3 to 11.5)). We identified a negative correlation between PTA and anterior viable areas (rho -0.477; p = 0.001), and no correlation between PTA and necrotic (rho 0.229; p = 0.067) or posterior viable areas (rho 0.204; p = 0.132). Our results suggest that residual posterior tilt after FNF could affect the anteroposterior localization of necrosis.

Response mechanism of rodent burrow density to natural environmental factors in desert areas based on multisource data

Timely and accurate prediction and early warning of rodent infestation are highly important for the sustainable development of desert ecosystems. This study combines data from 1376 UAV images of actual rodent burrows with natural environmental factor data, aiming to reveal the mechanism through which these factors affect rodent burrow density in the desert areas. The relationships between rodent burrow density and the 9 plant communities and 34 plant species in this area were analyzed by the K-W test and Spearman rank correlation analysis, respectively. The Boruta algorithm and the boosted regression trees (BRT) model were used to determine the six main factors influencing rodent burrow density from a total of 32 factors and to determine the distribution pattern of the burrows. The results show that (1) the density of rodent burrows in the Junggar Basin desert area gradually decreases from south to north and from west to east. (2) There were significant differences in rodent burrow density across the different plant community types (P = 0.048**). A total of 50.0 % of the species significantly influenced rodent burrow density at at least one level. (3) Among the 17 factors with lag effects, nine had the most significant correlation with rodent burrow density in April. Only two natural environmental factors demonstrated lag effects of less than one month. (4) The soil clay content, elevation, Normalized Difference Salinity Index (NDSI), vegetation cover, precipitation, and soil bulk density were the most important influencing factors on rodent burrow density. Considering the pairwise interactions among factors, the collective impact of these factors on rodent burrow density is at least sevenfold greater than the independent effect of a single factor. This study provides a theoretical basis for obtaining a timely and accurate understanding of the spatial distribution of rodent burrows, mitigating the degradation trend of desert ecosystems, and ensuring healthy and sustainable development.

Cartilage Collagen Neoepitope C2C Expression in the Articular Cartilage and Its Relation to Joint Tissue Damage in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

Pathological cleavage of type II collagen (Col2) and generation of Col2 neoepitopes can serve as useful molecular markers of the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). One of such potential biomarkers is type II collagen neoepitope C2C. The aim of this study was to correlate the degree of articular cartilage damage in OA patients with C2C expression in histological samples of tissues removed during total knee replacement. Cartilage samples were obtained from 27 patients ranging in age from 55 to 66 years. In each patient, medial and lateral tibia plateau samples were analyzed according to the OARSI histopathology grading system. The C2C expression was evaluated on histological slides by semi-quantitative analysis using ImageJ Fiji 2.14.0 software. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed a positive weak correlation (rho = 0.289, p = 0.0356) between the histological grade of tissue damage and the percentage of C2C staining. In addition, a highly significant positive correlation (rho = 0.388, p = 0.0041) was discovered between the osteoarthritis score (combining the histological grade of damage with the OA macroscopic stage) and the percentage of C2C staining in the samples. The C2C expression was detected in all the regions of the articular cartilage (i.e., the superficial zone, mid zone, deep zone and tidemark area, and the zone of calcified cartilage). Our findings imply that local expression of C2C correlates with the articular cartilage damage in OA-affected knees. This confirms that C2C can be used as a prospective marker for assessing pathological changes in the OA course and OA clinical trials.

Th1/Th2 associated transcription factors and cytokines in pregnancies with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Th1/Th2 shift occurs during pregnancy. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares may induce the dysregulation of Th1 and Th2 cells. We aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of Th1/Th2 associated transcription factors and cytokines in patients with SLE during pregnancy. Twenty-five pregnant patients with SLE and twenty-two healthy age-matched women served as controls from September 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled in the study. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were performed to measure the expression of Th1 specific transcription factors T-bet, cytokine IFN-γ, and Th2 specific transcription factors GATA3, cytokine IL-4. The main statistical analysis methods were t test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analysis. The mRNA level of IFN-γ and the relative expression of T-bet/GATA3 and IFN-γ/IL-4 in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals, whereas the GATA3 expression is lower in pregnant patients with SLE (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.05 and p<0.01 during the whole pregnancy, respectively; p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.05 specifically for the 3rd trimester, respectively). There were significant correlations between T-bet and IFN-γ (r=0.492, p<0.05), and between T-bet/GATA3 and IFN-γ/IL-4 (r=0.482, p<0.05). Our work indicates that in SLE patients Th1/Th2 shift is blocked with up-regulation of Th1 cell function and insufficient Th2 polarisation during pregnancy, which may be involved in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Enhancing EQ-5D-5L Sensitivity in Capturing the Most Common Symptoms in Post-COVID-19 Patients: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study with a Focus on Fatigue, Memory/Concentration Problems and Dyspnea Dimensions.

This study aimed to determine whether the EQ-5D-5L tool captures the most common persistent symptoms, such as fatigue, memory/concentration problems and dyspnea, in patients with post-COVID-19 conditions while also investigating if adding these symptoms improves the explained variance of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In this exploratory cross-sectional study, two cohorts of Swedish patients (n = 177) with a history of COVID-19 infection answered a questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors, and their HRQoL was assessed using EQ-5D-5L with the Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Spearman rank correlation and multiple regression analyses were employed to investigate the extent to which the most common persistent symptoms, such as fatigue, memory/concentration problems and dyspnea, were explained by the EQ-5D-5L. The explanatory power of EQ-5D-5L for EQ-VAS was also analyzed, both with and without including symptom(s). We found that the EQ-5D-5L dimensions partly captured fatigue and memory/concentration problems but performed poorly in regard to capturing dyspnea. Specifically, the EQ-5D-5L explained 55% of the variance in memory/concentration problems, 47% in regard to fatigue and only 14% in regard to dyspnea. Adding fatigue to the EQ-5D-5L increased the explained variance of the EQ-VAS by 5.7%, while adding memory/concentration problems and dyspnea had a comparatively smaller impact on the explained variance. Our study highlights the EQ-5D-5L's strength in capturing fatigue and memory/concentration problems in post-COVID-19 patients. However, it also underscores the challenges in assessing dyspnea in this group. Fatigue emerged as a notably influential symptom, significantly enhancing the EQ-5D-5L's predictive ability for these patients' EQ-VAS scores.

Changes in metabolic parameters and serum YKL-40 levels in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis patients during tocilizumab therapy.

To investigate the metabolic changes during therapy of tocilizumab (TCZ) and methotrexate (MTX) in non-diabetic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and for the first time explore the associations between metabolic parameters and serum YKL-40 (sYKL-40) levels. We enrolled active non-diabetic RA patients who were refractory to MTX. Patients received intravenous TCZ (8mg/kg) once every 4weeks combined with MTX for 24weeks. Metabolic parameters and sYKL-40 levels were measured before TCZ infusion at baseline, week 4, week 12, and week 24. Correlations were assessed by the Spearman's rank correlation analysis. A total of 91 non-diabetic RA patients were enrolled in this study. At week 24, we observed a significant elevation in body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) levels. In contrast, there was a significant decrease in TC/HDL‑C ratio. No apparent changes in insulin resistance were found. Additionally, we detected a significant reduction in sYKL-40 levels during the study. At week 24, changes in sYKL-40 levels showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.334, p = 0.002) with changes in TC levels. The combined therapy of TCZ and MTX resulted in a significant increase in BMI and lipid levels, while an evident decrease in the TC/HDL‑C ratio and sYKL-40 levels in RA patients. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the decrease in sYKL-40 levels and the increase in TC levels during treatment with TCZ and MTX. Key Points • Lipid levels elevated significantly and sYKL-40 levels decreased obviously after therapy of TCZ combined with MTX in Chinese RA patients. • There was a significant correlation between the increase in TC levels and the decrease in sYKL-40 levels during treatment with TCZ and MTX in RA patients.

The clinical characteristics of neutrophil extracellular trap in patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and its prognostic value in acute and subacute patients

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) in patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and to study their prognostic value in the acute and subacute phases. Methods: This study is a retrospective case series analysis. Clinical and pathological data of 52 patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis who underwent endovascular treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from June 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 males and 32 females, with an age of (40.1±13.6) years(range:18 to 66 years). Forty-five healthy physical examinees were included in the control group. High-resolution MRI was used to stage the thrombus, with 11 cases in the acute group, 28 cases in the subacute group, and 13 cases in the chronic group. Thrombus specimens were obtained through endovascular treatment, and the fluorescence intensity of NET in peripheral blood at different time points was analyzed by immunofluorescence contrast,including the double-stranded DNA structure and adhesion protein components (citrolinated histone H3 (CitH3), myeloperoxidase-DNA complex(MPO-DNA), neutrophil elastase (NE)). The NET markers were determined by ELISA. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the NET markers in peripheral blood of patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in the acute and subacute phases and the volume of venous sinus thrombus, the degree of venous sinus recanalization after treatment, and the discharge modified Rankin scale(mRS)score. The accuracy of NET markers in predicting the prognosis of patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was analyzed by drawing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Results: The results of immunofluorescence staining and ELISA showed that no NET structure was formed in the peripheral blood of the control group, while CitH3, MPO-DNA and NE levels in the peripheral blood of CVST patients were increased, among which the acute stage group was the highest, followed by the subacute group, and the chronic group was the lowest. Spearman correlation analysis showed that CitH3, MPO-DNA and NE levels in peripheral blood of patients in acute group and subacute group were positively correlated with thrombus volume and mRS score at discharge (P<0.05). The levels of CitH3 and MPO-DNA in peripheral blood of patients with complete venous sinus recanalization were lower than those of patients with partial venous sinus recanalization (P<0.01). ROC curve analysis results showed that MPO-DNA and NE had no predictive ability for the prognosis of CVST patients (P values were 0.614 and 0.324, respectively), and the AUC of CitH3 was 0.800 (95%CI: 0.638~0.962, P=0.032), the best cut-off value was 13.5 μg/L, the sensitivity was 100%, and the specificity was 58.8%. Conclusions: A large number of NET are formed in patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in acute stage. Patients with severe cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in acute stage and subacute stage with high peripheral blood NET content has a low rate of complete sinus revascularization and poor neurological function recovery after treatment.

An integrated approach to the assessment of balance and functional mobility in individuals with history of severe traumatic brain injury

Individuals who experienced severe Traumatic Brain Injury (sTBI) are often characterized by relevant motor dysfunctions which are likely to negatively affect activities of daily living and quality of life and often persist for years. However, detailed objective information about their magnitude are scarce. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the extent of motor deficits in terms of postural control effectiveness under static and dynamic conditions and to investigate the existence of possible correlations between the results of clinical tests and instrumental measures. Postural sway and functional mobility (i.e., instrumented Timed Up and Go test, iTUG) were objectively measured in 18 individuals with sTBI and 18 healthy controls using a pressure plate and a wearable inertial sensor. Additionally, participants with history of sTBI completed the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI). One-way ANOVA and Spearman's rank correlation analysis were employed to examine differences between the two groups and determine potential correlations between the instrumental tests and clinical scales.The results show that people with sTBI were characterized by larger sway area and longer iTUG walking sub-phase. Significant correlations were also detected between RMI scores and iTUG total duration, as well as the walking phase. Taken together, these findings suggest that, even years after the initial injury, individuals with sTBI appear characterized by impaired postural control and functional mobility, which appears correlated with the RMI score. The integration of instrumental measures with clinical scales in the routine assessment and treatment of individuals with sTBI would result in more comprehensive, objective, and sensitive evaluations, thus improving precision in treatment planning, enabling ongoing progress monitoring, and highlighting the presence of motor deficits even years after the initial injury. Such integration is of importance for enhancing the long-term quality of life for individuals with sTBI.

Prognostic Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Markers in Predicting Neurological Outcomes in Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries: An Observational Study

Abstract Objectives: The objectives of this study were to predict the prognostic value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in predicting neurological outcomes in post-traumatic cervical spinal injuries (cord compression, cord oedema and cord haemorrhage) and to assess the neurological outcomes using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Materials and Methods: A total of 55 patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) were recruited; history and neurological examination of the patient was done along with classifications of SCI according to ASIA after the assessment of vital parameters. MRI scan of cervical spine was done and certain parameters like presence or absence of haematoma, maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC), maximum canal compression (MCC) and lesion length were measured. Follow-up of neurological recovery was done on the 15th, 30th and 45th days and recorded in ASIA pro forma. Further to determine the correlation between MRI parameters and neurological recovery, Spearman rank correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: Lesion length is statistically significant (P-value &lt;0.05) for Asia Impairement Scale improvement at day 15, day 45, also significant for total sensory score and motor score on day 15 and shows significant for total sensory score on day 30, day 45. The presence of haematoma is statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05) for total sensory score at day 30 and day 45, whereas MSCC and haematoma are statistically significant (&lt;0.05) for total pinprick score at day 45. Discussion: Lesion length remains the most important predictor for neurological recovery after cervical spine trauma; however, haematoma and MSCC are potential predictors for neurological recovery and change in ASIA score. The study was registered at the Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2022/07/044163).

Investigation of the Relationship Between Mothers' Perceptions of Risky Play and Their Children's Self-Concepts

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the perceptions of mothers of children attending preschool institutions about risky play and children's self-concept and the relationship between gender. In line with this purpose, it was conducted using the relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. The sample of the study was determined using the convenience sampling method. The sample of the study consisted of 257 volunteer children and the mothers of the same children. In the study, a general information form developed by the researcher was used to obtain information about the demographic characteristics of the children and their families. As a data collection tool, "Scale for the Attitudes Towards Risky Play at Early Childhood - Parent Form (SATRPEC-PF)" was used to evaluate mothers' perceptions about risky play, and Perception of Child Self-Concept (PCSC) was used to evaluate children's self-concept. The data obtained from the study were created using Spearman Rank Correlation analysis. When the scores obtained from SATRPEC-PF and PCSC were compared, a positive correlation was found between PCSC scores and Pro-beliefs scores from SATRPEC-PF sub-factors, and a negative correlation was found between Feeling Anxiety. No significant relationship was found between Distinguishing Risky Behaviors, Supporting Children, and Parental Support factors. While there was a significant relationship between girls' PCSC scores and SATRPEC-PF Pro-beliefs sub-factor, Distinguishing Risky Behaviors sub-factor, and Feeling Anxiety sub-factor, no significant relationship was found between the Supporting Children and Parental Support sub-factors. A significant relationship was found only between boys' PCSC scores and the Pro-beliefs sub-factor of SATRPEC-PF. Suggestions were presented in line with the findings obtained from the study.

Deep Learning Reconstruction for DWIs by EPI and FASE Sequences for Head and Neck Tumors.

Diffusion-weighted images (DWI) obtained by echo-planar imaging (EPI) are frequently degraded by susceptibility artifacts. It has been suggested that DWI obtained by fast advanced spin-echo (FASE) or reconstructed with deep learning reconstruction (DLR) could be useful for image quality improvements. The purpose of this investigation using in vitro and in vivo studies was to determine the influence of sequence difference and of DLR for DWI on image quality, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) evaluation, and differentiation of malignant from benign head and neck tumors. For the in vitro study, a DWI phantom was scanned by FASE and EPI sequences and reconstructed with and without DLR. Each ADC within the phantom for each DWI was then assessed and correlated for each measured ADC and standard value by Spearman's rank correlation analysis. For the in vivo study, DWIs obtained by EPI and FASE sequences were also obtained for head and neck tumor patients. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and ADC were then determined based on ROI measurements, while SNR of tumors and ADC were compared between all DWI data sets by means of Tukey's Honest Significant Difference test. For the in vitro study, all correlations between measured ADC and standard reference were significant and excellent (0.92 ≤ ρ ≤ 0.99, p < 0.0001). For the in vivo study, the SNR of FASE with DLR was significantly higher than that of FASE without DLR (p = 0.02), while ADC values for benign and malignant tumors showed significant differences between each sequence with and without DLR (p < 0.05). In comparison with EPI sequence, FASE sequence and DLR can improve image quality and distortion of DWIs without significantly influencing ADC measurements or differentiation capability of malignant from benign head and neck tumors.

Comparatively analysing the postoperative optical performance of different intraocular lenses: a prospective observational study

BackgroundPostoperative performance, including best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) and optical metrics (from the OQAS and iTrace devices), was compared among 4 different intraocular lenses (IOLs).MethodsThis prospective observational study included 104 eyes from 104 subjects who underwent cataract surgery combined with implantation of 4 different IOLs: monofocal (Mon) IOLs, segmental refractive (SegRef) IOLs, diffractive (Dif) IOLs and extended depth of focus (EDoF) IOLs. Postoperative BCDVA and optical metrics were collected at the 6th month. The OQAS optical metrics included the objective scattering index (OSI), Strehl ratio (SR), modulation transfer function (MTF) cut-off frequency, and predicted visual acuity (PVA); the iTrace optical metrics included blur/double vision, glare/halo, starburst, mixed focus, night myopia, and night hyperopia.ResultsThere was no significant difference in BCDVA among the 4 groups (P = 0.059; power = 70.3%). Differences were observed in all OQAS optical metrics among the groups (all P < 0.001). Overall, Mon IOLs and EDoF IOLs exhibited better performance than Dif IOLs and SegRef IOLs. Starburst was the only iTrace optical metric that differed among the groups (P < 0.001): SegRef IOLs caused more starbursts than Mon IOLs (P = 0.001), Dif IOLs (P = 0.006) and EDoF IOLs (P < 0.001). Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships among the iTrace optical metrics, OQAS optical metrics and BCDVA: starburst was negatively correlated with BCDVA, PVA at contrasts of 100% and 20%, OSI, and MTF cut-off frequency (all P ≤ 0.001); mixed focus was positively correlated with BCDVA, PVA at contrasts of 100% and 20%, OSI, and MTF cut-off frequency (all P ≤ 0.001).ConclusionsPostoperative BCDVA and optical metrics varied among the different IOLs, which should be taken into account in the selection and management of IOLs for cataract patients.Trial registrationThis study was approved by the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University Ethical Review Board (No. 50 2022).

CT Perfusion Derived rCBV < 42% Lesion Volume Is Independently Associated with Followup FLAIR Infarct Volume in Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion.

Pretreatment CT Perfusion (CTP) parameter rCBV < 42% lesion volume has recently been shown to predict 90-day mRS. In this study, we aim to assess the relationship between rCBV < 42% and a radiographic follow-up infarct volume delineated on FLAIR images. In this retrospective evaluation of our prospectively collected database, we included acute stroke patients triaged by multimodal CT imaging, including CT angiography and perfusion imaging, with confirmed anterior circulation large vessel occlusion between 9 January 2017 and 10 January 2023. Follow-up FLAIR imaging was used to determine the final infarct volume. Student t, Mann-Whitney-U, and Chi-Square tests were used to assess differences. Spearman's rank correlation and linear regression analysis were used to assess associations between rCBV < 42% and follow-up infarct volume on FLAIR. In total, 158 patients (median age: 68 years, 52.5% female) met our inclusion criteria. rCBV < 42% (ρ = 0.56, p < 0.001) significantly correlated with follow-up-FLAIR infarct volume. On multivariable linear regression analysis, rCBV < 42% lesion volume (beta = 0.60, p < 0.001), ASPECTS (beta = -0.214, p < 0.01), mTICI (beta = -0.277, p < 0.001), and diabetes (beta = 0.16, p < 0.05) were independently associated with follow-up infarct volume. The rCBV < 42% lesion volume is independently associated with FLAIR follow-up infarct volume.