Spearman's Coefficient Research Articles

Correlation Between Diabetes and COVID-19 Indices: A Global Level Ecological Study.

Coronavirus is threatening the global public health as a new and widespread crisis. The researchers must keep in mind that one of the most vulnerable groups to COVID-19 are the people with underlying diseases, especially diabetes. This ecological study aimed to investigate the correlation between diabetes and the epidemiological indices of COVID-19. This ecological study included 144 countries. Their available data consists of the cumulative incidence rate of cases, cumulative incidence rate of death, recovery rate, case fatality rate, and performed tests of COVID-19, and diabetes. To collect the variables, a data set was provided which included the information of 144 countries based on diabetes and COVID-19 indices. Spearman coefficients were used for assess correlation between diabetes and COVID-19 indices. Also, Scatter plots of diabetes for the studied countries were drawn based on cumulative incidence rate of cases, cumulative incidence rate of death, tests, recovery rate, and case fatality rate of COVID-19. The results of this ecological study showed in total countries, there was a weak positive correlation between diabetes and cumulative incidence rate of cases and also cumulative incidence rate of death. Correlation between diabetes with test of COVID-19 was very weak. Scatter plots showed a weak liner correlation between diabetes and cumulative incidence rate of cases, cumulative incidence rate of death and test of COVID-19. In this study, there was a weak positive correlation between diabetes and cumulative incidence rate of cases, cumulative incidence rate of death, and performed test of COVID-19. This disease is an enormous challenge for health policymakers; therefore, it is necessary to develop strategies and practical guidelines specific to each region to take the necessary care, especially for diabetic patients.

Explanatory model for the Control of the risk of obesity in Mexican adolescents

Objective: estimate the explanatory value of the Obesity Risk Control model in adolescents with normal weight and overweight, guided by the Health Promotion Model.Methods: descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical study. The sample was calculated for a simple linear regression model that included age, sex, body mass index, personality traits, economic level, appetite traits, emotional eating, social support through social networks, family social support, self-regulation and locus of control. Spearman's Rho coefficient (p<0,05) and linear regression (p<0,001) were used.Results: 518 adolescents participated. The average age was 16,8 years (SD 0,9). 55,8 % were women. The average body mass index was 23,1 kg/m2 (SD 2,7). 61,9 % of female and 59,0 % of male adolescents were of normal weight. Physical activity was poor in 74,3 % and regular eating habits in 54,6 %. The model was made up of seven explanatory variables that were: sex, personality traits of kindness, responsibility, squeamish attitude, self-regulation in physical activity and eating habits, as well as internal locus of control, which explained 27 %, Conclusions: the Obesity Risk Control model was made up of seven variables that explained 27 % of the behavior, preserving the Health Promotion Model constructs. It is important to conduct research that incorporates commitment to an action plan and immediate competition preferences, as these are constructs that take precedence over health-promoting behavior and that, if present, favor or impact behavior

Research on the correlation between three-dimensional morphology and temperature changes in potato slices during drying

Drying is an effective method to reduce potato storage loss. However, potatoes have high porosity with high water content. Shrinkage during drying can lead to folding and cracking of the dried product form. Therefore, this study explored the correlation between the 3D morphology and temperature distribution changes of potato slices during drying, with the aim of providing a reference for the detection of quality changes. An online automatic acquisition device to obtain 3D morphology and temperature information was designed and built. Hot air-drying experiments were conducted on the potato slices. 3D morphology images and temperature images of the potato slices were acquired by 3D and temperature sensors, and the two images were registered using the random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm. The region of interest of each image was extracted by algorithms such as threshold segmentation, hole filling and morphological erosion, and the 3D morphology information and temperature information were obtained. The mapping, range and average of each acquisition point were calculated for correlation analysis. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and Maximum Information Coefficient (MIC) values were selected as measures for the correlation study. The results showed that the Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between average height and average temperature were mostly above 0.7 in absolute value, and the MICs were mostly above 0.9. The average values of the 3D information and temperature information exhibited an extremely strong correlation. This paper gives a new approach to investigate the morphological changes in the drying process by quantifying the relationship between 3D morphology and temperature distribution. This can guide the improvement of potato drying and processing methods.

Motility Mapping Quantification Using the Classical Optical Flow Algorithm for Small Bowel Crohn's Disease: Comparison with Balloon-assisted Enteroscopy Findings.

To quantify bowel motility shown on cine MRI using the classical optical flow algorithm and compare it with balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) findings in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). This retrospective study included 29 consecutive patients with CD who had undergone MR enterocolonography (MREC) and BAE between March and May 2017. We developed computer software to present motion vector magnitudes between consecutive cine MR images as bowel motility maps via a classical optical flow algorithm using the Horn-Schunck method. Cine MR images were acquired with a balanced steady-state free precession sequence in the coronal direction to capture small bowel motility. The small bowels were divided into three segments. In total, 63 bowel segments were assessed via BAE and MREC. Motility scores on the maps, simplified MR index of activity (sMaRIA), and MREC score derived from a 5-point MR classification were assessed independently by two radiologists and compared with the CD endoscopic index of severity (CDEIS). Correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank coefficient. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of motility score for differentiating CDEIS was calculated; a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Motility score was negatively correlated with CDEIS (r = -0.59 [P < 0.001] and -0.54 [P < 0.001]), and the AUCs of motility scores for detecting CDEIS ≥ 3 were 88.2% and 78.6% for observers 1 and 2, respectively. There were no significant differences in the AUC for detecting CDEIS ≥ 3 and CDEIS ≥ 12 between motility and sMaRIA or MREC score. The motility map was feasible for locally quantifying the bowel motility. In addition, the motility score on the map reflected the endoscopic inflammatory activity of each small bowel segment in patients with CD; hence, it could be used as a tool in objectively interpreting cine MREC to predict inflammatory activity in CD.

A Neutrosophic approach to Youth University Entrepreneurship in Peru, Based on the Indeterminate Likert Scale

This paper aims to determine the level of potential and effective capacity of university youth entrepreneurship in Peru, analyzed from the indicators of social skills, attitude towards opportunities, cognitive skills, positive self-assessment and continuity, and finally coping skills. The research was carried out in four public and private universities in the country (National Autonomous University of Huanta, National University San Cristóbal de Huamanga, Universidad Peruana los Andes, and Universidad Continental), and the sample was 120 students, 30 from each university. A survey of 50 questions was used, 25 of each dimension, the instrument was validated by expert judgment, with a very good applicability opinion. The authors of the article decided to replace the traditional Likert scale with an Indeterminate Likert Scale since in this way the opinion of the respondents is more accurately taken into account. The Indeterminate Likert Scale allows the respondent to give a degree of opinion in every one of the possible answers, instead of selecting a single answer. In this way, the respondent can more reliably express their feelings and thoughts that may contain contradictions. The survey was supported by a graph that allowed the respondents to make the evaluations without the need to delve into the neutrosophic theory. The survey data were statistically processed to carry out the study with the help of Spearman's rho coefficient.

Role of Lung Ultrasound in the Assessment of Hydration Status of Chronic Haemodialysis Patients

Background: Fluid overload is frequent in Haemodialysis (HD) and is one of the major factors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality for chronic HD patients. The main challenge with chronic haemodialysis patients is indeed the maintenance of a normal extracellular volume through dry weight determination. Our study aimed at assessing the role of lung ultrasound in the detection of B-lines for the determination of hydration status in chronic HD patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 31 patients undergoing chronic HD treatment for at least 3 months, in the Yaounde University Teaching Hospital dialysis unit. Lung ultrasonography and clinical examinations were performed immediately before dialysis, and 30 minutes after dialysis. Differences between clinical and ultrasound variables before and after dialysis were measured to assess the effects of dialysis. Association between categorical variables was assessed with the Chi-squared test or Fischer test, and Rho’s Spearman coefficient for quantitative variables. Results: There was a reduction in the median of B-lines score after dialysis [12 (7 - 26) versus 8 (5 - 13)], clinical score [2 (1 - 3) versus 0 (-1 - 2)], mean of systolic blood pressure (164.74 ± 26.50 versus 158.48 ± 27.89), frequency of dyspnoea in patients (32.3% versus 6.5%); and raising of the frequency of cramps in patients (0% versus 19.4%) and all statistically significant (p ≤ 0.031). B-lines score before and after dialysis was associated with dyspnoea and raised jugular venous pressure (p < 0.05). B-lines score before dialysis was correlated with B-lines score after dialysis (r = 0.805; p < 0.001), B-lines reduction (r = 0.862; p < 0.001), and clinical score (r = 0.49; p = 0.005). Reduction of B-lines score was not correlated with weight loss. Conclusion: Lung ultrasound for the detection of B-lines reflects the variation of extracellular volume during dialysis and can even capture pulmonary oedema at a pre-clinical stage. It is then a reliable and sensible method for assessing extravascular lung water and thus hydration status of haemodialysis patients. It could constitute a better alternative for an objective and accurate definition of dry weight, specifically in the African and Cameroonian context, with its assets being low cost, availability, and easiness to perform in a large population of HD patients. We, therefore, recommend further multicentric studies in order to design a standardized protocol of ultrasound follow-up for all chronic HD patients’ hydration status assessments.

ПОПУЛЯЦИОННЫЕ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДИКТОРЫ ЗАБОЛЕВАЕМОСТИ ВЗРОСЛОГО НАСЕЛЕНИЯ ИНСУЛИННЕЗАВИCИМЫМ ДИАБЕТОМ В РЕГИОНАХ

A steady increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes and aggravation of socio-economic problems substantiate the need to analyze the population attributable risk factors for diabetes, determined by the status of the regional economy standard of living. The purpose of the study was to assess the socio-economic gradient of incidence of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in adults in two regions within one federal district in Russia, differing in the level of economic performance and well-being of the population. Material and methods. The retrospective analysis for the period 2005-2019 includes official statistics on the gross regional product and average monthly income per capita, the share of persons with income below the subsistence minimum, the employment index, the share of employees with higher professional education, and Gini coefficient in the Republic of Tatarstan (RT) and the Republic of Mari El (RME). The study evaluated the normality of distribution, dynamics in indicators by the trendline coefficient of determination (R2), statistical significance of the differences in time series. The indicators were analyzed calculating the Spearman coefficient with a 95% confidence interval (CI) year-on-year and with a lag (lag effect). At all stages, the value of statistical probability (p) was indicated, the critical level of which was assumed to be 0.05. To identify multiple internal relationships between socio-economic indicators, they were grouped by the component method and factorial complexes were identified. Based on the results of the multiple correlation and regression analysis, models of impact of these complexes on type 2 diabetes incidence have been constructed. The study used Statistica 6 program and AtteStat Add-in Microsoft Excel, version 12.0.5. Results. In 2005-2019, the increase in type 2 diabetes incidence in adult population in the Mari El Republic was determined to be statistically significant and higher (p=0.01) than the one in the Republic of Tatarstan, where there was only an upward trend in the indicator. The socio-economic indicators of the Republic of Tatarstan were higher and characterized by higher growth rates than the ones in the Mari El Republic (p=0.0008) with a weak interregional convergence. Differences in the closeness and degree of significance of correlations between diabetes incidence in adult population and macroeconomic indicators between regions were determined to be insignificant. The main difference was the magnitude of the lag in incidence, reaching 9-10 years against the socio-economic indicators, the grouping of which by the component method in both regions combined into a generalizing economic factor, with the exception of Gini coefficient. The ranks and magnitude of the contribution of factorial complexes had the following interregional differences: in the Republic of Tatarstan, Gini coefficient was more significant in diabetes incidence, whereas in the Mari El Republic it was the generalizing economic factor. Conclusion. Results of the analysis of the nature of interrelations (strength, statistical significance, vector and prolongation) of the new cases of type 2 diabetes and socio-economic indicators in the regions, depending on the state of the economy and the standard of living, are the basis of the effective programs on decreasing morbidity.

Comparison between Transcranial Sonography and Computerized Tomography Scans to Assess the Midline Shift in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Midline shift (MLS) of the brain is an important clinical finding diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) imaging and transcranial sonography (TCS) can help diagnose MLS at the bedside and facilitate interventions to improve outcomes. The study aimed to find an association between TCS- and CT-based assessments of MLS in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). We included all adult patients with moderate-to-severe TBI of either gender, aged between 18 and 65 years, undergoing intracranial surgery under general anesthesia over a period of 3 months. Consciousness was assessed with the help of the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and Glasgow coma scale-pupillary (GCS-P) score. We calculated MLS using a CT scan and TCS. Bland Altman graph along with Pearson's and Spearman's coefficient tests was used. A total of 17 patients were analyzed in this study. The MLS was 0.52 ± 0.90 cm using TCS and 0.58 ± 0.39 cm using CT scan. The Pearson's correlation coefficient (r 2) of the difference between MLS measured by TCS and CT imaging was 0.002 (p < 0.05). Transcranial sonography could detect MLS in patients with TBI, provided a minimum time window is used between MLS measurements by TCS and CT scan. Kapoor I, Pandit S, Prabhakar H, Mahajan C. Comparison between Transcranial Sonography and Computerized Tomography Scans to Assess the Midline Shift in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(1):64-66.

THE INFLUENCE OF URBANIZATION AND GENDER ON THE HEALTH STATUS IN EUROPEAN UNION

In our endeavor to analyze the influence of urbanization and gender on self-perceived health status among the member states, we started by using an assessment scale, with a score ranging from 1 to 5 points for the 5 levels pertaining to the health status, as well as by determining an average score of the health status for each member state, by gender or by degree of urbanization. Ranking the scores, building Crosstabs and determining the Kendall and Spearman coefficients were the fundamental methods used in analyzing the influence of urbanization and gender on the health status in European Union (EU), and the results confirmed the fact that there is a connection between these variables. Thus, the population living in “cities” (where we have the highest degree of urbanization) tended to rate their health better than the population living in “rural” areas (where we have the lowest degree of urbanization), and the males tended to rate their health better than females.

Instrument to evaluate teaching performance in class management (IEDDCC)

The objective of this work was to expose and validate the psychometric properties of a suitable instrument to evaluate teaching performance in classroom management (IEDDCC); the study was considered instrumental and a purposive sample of 108 academic figures in basic education was used for data collection. The results of the measurement of the psychometric properties of the instrument indicated a Cronbach's alpha reliability of 0.964 and, in the construct validity carried out through the "total domain" correlation test, a value of Spearman's Rho coefficient of 0.978 was obtained, values considered to be quite acceptable. With respect to the confirmatory validity test carried out through the linear regression test, information was also obtained that supports these results; among them, the fact that the independent variable explains 95.8% of the behavior of the dependent variable was highlighted. Finally, in measuring the level of teaching performance, the 108 teachers evaluated indicated that the IEDDCC objectively measures the construct for which it was designed.

A new self-assessment tool following shoulder stabilization surgery, the auto-Walch and auto-Rowe questionnaires

PurposePatient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) are increasingly used for patient evaluation, as well as for scientific research. Few are used for practical purposes in the clinical setting, and few are reliable enough to allow proper feedback to physicians. Two of the most commonly used assessment tools in shoulder instability are the Walch–Duplay and the Rowe scores. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of self-administered versions of the Walch–Duplay and Rowe scores following shoulder stabilization procedure.MethodsBetween the months of May and December 2021, all patients who were followed in one of six institutions for shoulder instability were included. Patients were required to anonymously fill a self-administered version of Walch–Duplay and Rowe score. The classic scores were measured by the surgeon. Correlations between self-assessment and physician-assessment were then recorded.ResultsA total of 106 patients were evaluated during the study period. Using the Spearman coefficient for correlation, a strong correlation (r > 0.5) was found between the results of the self-administered questionnaire and the surgeon-measured score. The difference between surgeon- and patient-administered questionnaires was non-significant.ConclusionThe self-administered version of the Walch–Duplay and Rowe questionnaires can reliably be used in the clinical setting for post-operative follow-up of patients undergoing shoulder stabilization procedures.Level of evidenceLevel II.

Coping with Destructive Behaviour of Learners: Teachers’ Reaction to Learners’ Aggression and Aggressiveness of Teachers

Introduction. The article presents the analysis of the ways teachers cope with situations of conflict at secondary school and destructive behavior of learners. Highly functional coping teachers’ behavior is the main problem of the study. The purpose of the article is to present the results of a study of the relationship between various parameters of teachers’ aggressiveness and priority ways of responding to situations of conflicts between learners, as well as to test the assumption that there is a relationship between the chosen method of coping with adolescents’ aggressive behavior and teachersʼ idea about the permissibility of aggression. Materials and Methods. 5 086 teachers from seven regions of the Russian Federation (five federal districts) took part in this study. The study was implemented in the form of an anonymous online questionnaire. The following statistical analysis methods were used: Student and Mann-Whitney criteria, correlation analysis (Spearman coefficient). Data processing was carried out in R Studio (R version 4.0.0) and SPSS. Results. Respondents with a high level of physical aggression, anger and hostility (compared to respondents with a low level) are significantly less likely to choose an active form of reaction and significantly more often – passive and emotional forms. Teachers who actively react to the aggression of adolescents do not consider aggression an acceptable form of behavior. Teachers who prefer a passive and emotional way of responding to aggression are more likely to consider aggressive behavior at school acceptable. Discussion and Conclusion. The results conceptualize various aspects of the teacher's attitude to adolescent aggression and, in many respects, directly indicate the risks of “normalizationˮ of adolescent aggression as a form of behavior in the minds of teachers with high rates of various aspects of aggressiveness.

Development and Validation of a Virtual Moving Auditory Localization (vMAL) Test among Healthy Children

Introduction: The ability to localize sound sources is crucial for humans. Due to specific hearing disorders, the affected individuals may have problems to accurately locate the sound sources, leading to other unwanted consequences. Nevertheless, a simple auditory localization test (that employs moving auditory stimuli) is currently lacking in clinical settings. Essentially, the objectives of the present study were to develop a virtual moving auditory localization (vMAL) test that is suitable for assessing children and assess the validity and the reliability of this test.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: This study consisted of two consecutive phases. In phase 1, the required stimulus and the test set up for the vMAL test were established. Two loudspeakers were employed to produce five virtual positions, and eight different moving conditions were constructed. In phase 2, 24 normal-hearing Malaysian children (aged 7-12 years) underwent the vMAL test. The validity and the reliability of this test were then assessed using several validation measures. Fleiss Kappa and Spearman correlation analyses were used to analyse the obtained data.&#x0D; Results: The vMAL test was found to have good convergent validity (kappa = 0.64) and good divergent validity (kappa = -0.06). Based on the item-total correlation and Spearman coefficient rho results, this test was found to have good internal reliability (rho = 0.36-0.75) and excellent external (test-retest) reliability (rho = 0.99).&#x0D; Conclusions: in this study a new vMAL test was developed and proven to be valid and reliable accordingly for its intended applications. This test can be useful in clinical settings since it is simple to administer, cost-effective, does not take up much room, and can assess auditory localization performance in children. The outcomes of the present study may serve as preliminary normative data as well as guidelines for future auditory localization research.

Hyper-inflammation of astrocytes in patients of major depressive disorder: Evidence from serum astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles

Astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (ADEs) allow the in vivo probing of the inflammatory status of astrocytes practical. Serum sample and ADEs were used to test the inflammatory hypothesis in 70 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 70 matched healthy controls (HCs). In serum, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-17A were significantly increased, where as IL-12p70 was significantly reduced in the MDD patients compared with HCs. In ADEs, all inflammatory markers (Interferon‐γ, IL-12p70, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-17A) except IL-10 were significantly increased in the MDD patients, the Hedge’s g values of elevated inflammatory markers varied from 0.48 to 1.07. However, there were no differences of all inflammatory markers whether in serum or ADEs between MDD-drug free and medicated subgroups. The association of inflammatory biomarkers between ADEs and serum did not reach statistically significance after multi-comparison correction neither in the HCs nor MDD patients. The spearman coefficients between inflammatory factors and clinical characteristics in the MDD patients, such as onset age, disease course, current episode duration, and severity of depression, were nonsignificant after multi-comparison correction. In the receiver operating characteristic curves analysis, the corrected partial area under the curve (pAUC) of each inflammatory markers in ADEs ranged from 0.522 to 0.696, and the combination of these inflammatory factors achieved a high pAUC (>0.9). Our findings support the inflammatory glial hypothesis of depression, and suggests that in human ADEs could be a useful tool to probe the in vivo astrocyte status.

Plasma Methionine and Clinical Severity in Nitrous Oxide Consumption.

In the last few years, there has been an increase in the recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O), which can lead to neurological symptoms such as sensory or motor disorders. The literature links these symptoms to a functional inactivation of vitamin B12 by oxidation of its cobalt ion, which prevents the vitamin B12 from acting as a cofactor for methionine synthase. Thus, demyelination related to methionine deficiency could be responsible for the neurological disorders associated with N2O consumption, including the combined sclerosis of the spinal cord. We aimed to study the correlation between the plasma methionine levels and clinical severity observed in N2O users. We retrospectively collected clinical and biological data from 93 patients who chronically consumed N2O. The patients were divided into four groups based of the severity of their clinical symptoms (based on their Peripheral Neuropathy Disability (PND) score). The plasma amino acids measurement, including methionine, were performed systematically by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Plasma methionine is significantly correlated with the clinical severity (Spearman coefficient: −0.42; p-value < 10−5), however, the average methionine level in the four groups is within the physiological values (N: 16−23 µmol/L). There is a significant inverse correlation between plasma methionine and homocysteine (Spearman coefficient: −0.57; p-value < 10−9), which confirms the action of nitrous oxide on the methionine synthase. A decrease in plasma methionine cannot be imputed as the only mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of the neurological disorders in nitrous oxide consumption. In addition, there are few therapeutic indications for the use of methionine. Thus, we should be careful concerning the potential use of methionine in nitrous oxide consumption. As a consequence, other pathophysiological mechanisms probably need to be identified in order to find potential therapeutic targets.

Validity and Reliability of Questionnaires That Assess Barriers and Facilitators of Sedentary Behavior in the Pediatric Population: A Systematic Review.

We systematically reviewed the literature about the validity and reliability of barriers and facilitators of sedentary behavior questionnaires for children and adolescents, considering accelerometers as the reference method. We included studies that assessed the agreement between the barriers and facilitators of sedentary behavior through a questionnaire and an objective measure (e.g., accelerometry). We searched four electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and SCOPUS): these databases were searched for records from inception to 5 March 2021, and updated to November 2022. The search strategy used the following descriptors: children and adolescents; barriers or facilitators; questionnaires; accelerometers; and validation or reliability coefficient. Studies identified in the search were selected independently by two reviewers. The inclusion criteria were: (i) population of children and adolescents, (ii) original studies, (iii) subjective and objective measurement methods, (iv) studies that report validity or reliability, and (v) population without specific diseases. Seven studies were eligible for our review. The main exclusion reasons were studies that did not report validity or reliability coefficients (56.6%) and non-original studies (14.5%). The participants' ages in the primary studies ranged from 2 to 18 years. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was the most reported reliability assessment among the eligible articles, while Pearson and Spearman's coefficients were prevalent for validity. The reliability of self-report questionnaires for assessing sedentary behavior ranged from r = 0.3 to 1.0. The validity of the accelerometers ranged from r = -0.1 to 0.9. Family environment was the main factor associated with sedentary behavior. Our findings suggest that questionnaires assessing the barriers and facilitators of sedentary behavior are weak to moderate. PROSPERO Registration (CRD42021233945).

950. Impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on antimicrobial stewardship program, broad-spectrum antibiotics consumption and Clostridioides difficile diarrhea incidence

Abstract Background The aim was to evaluate the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the antimicrobial stewardship program of our hospital, analyze changes in broad-spectrum antibiotics consumption, and analyze the evolution of the incidence of Clostridioides difficile (CD) diarrhea. Methods Database with the following variables was created: monthly percentage of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions that were evaluated by the antimicrobial stewardship team (AMST), monthly consumption of antimicrobials and monthly incidence of diarrhea due to CD. Pre-pandemic period was considered from March 1th, 2018 to February 29th, 2020 and the pandemic period from March 1th, 2020 to February 28th, 2022. Time series analysis was performed with ARIMA models to assess the association of the pandemic period with a change in the monthly activity of AMST, in the monthly antibiotic consumption, and in the monthly incidence of CD diarrhea. The correlation of the percentage of monthly broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions reviewed by AMST with the monthly broad-spectrum antimicrobials consumption was also evaluated, using the Spearman coefficient. Results During the pandemic period, there was a significant reduction in monthly percentage of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions reviewed by the AMST (28% vs 82%; P&amp;lt; 0.01). There was a 29% increase in consumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics in the pandemic period (15.7 vs 12.1 DDD per 100 bed-days; P=ns). The following antibiotics showed a significant increase in their consumption: antipseudomonal carbapenems (2 vs 1.4 DDD per bd; P&amp;lt; 0.01), daptomycin (1.8 vs 0.5 DDD per bd; P&amp;lt; 0.01), cefepime (1.1 vs 0.6 DDD per bd; P&amp;lt; 0.01), aztreonam (0.4 vs 0.3 DDD per bd; P=0.04), antibiotics with anti-MRSA activity (35.6 vs 12.9 DDD per bd; P&amp;lt; 0.01). There was a 41% increase in the incidence of nosocomial CD diarrhea (1.02 vs. 0.7 cases per 1000 bd; P=0.03). The percentage of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions reviewed by the AMST correlated well with the consumption of this group of antibiotics (cc -0.63; P&amp;lt; 0.01). Conclusion COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the antimicrobial stewardship program at our hospital, with an increase in broad-spectrum antimicrobials consumption and a significant increase in the incidence of Clostridioides difficile diarrhea. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

The Parallel Mediation Effects of Depression, Well-Being, and Social Activity on Physical Performance and Frailty in Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older People.

Frailty refers to a decline in an elderly person's physical, psychological, and social functioning, making them sensitive to stressors. Because frailty is caused by a variety of factors, including certain demographic characteristics, understanding the mediating factors that affect frailty in the elderly is critical. To provide evidence about the relationship between depression, well-being, social activity, physical performance, and frailty among older adults. The study used secondary data from Taiwan's Long-term Study of Aging (n = 7,622), excluding people with severe dementia. The chi-square test and Spearmen's coefficient correlation were used to assess the relationship between the demographic variables and frailty. Nonparametric bootstrapping analysis was used to test whether depression, well-being, and social activity are parallel mediators of the relationship between physical performance and frailty. This study was approved by Fu Jen Catholic University (FJU-IRB No. C110040). The overall frailty prevalence was 13.9%. We calculated a mean score and standard deviation for each measurement in this study. The correlation found low-to-moderate positive and negative statistically significant correlations between the variables. A significant, moderately negative relationship was found between physical performance and frailty that correlated with three potential mediating factors. The path indicated that lower physical performance scores and higher depression scores are more likely to be associated with frailty. Older adults who are depressed are more likely to become frail. Adults who are more socially active and report greater well-being are less likely to become frail. Therefore, further research should design and test a comprehensive intervention for older adults in community settings that addresses all three factors, aimed at increasing well-being and social activity while also treating depression.

THE PREVALENCE OF STRABISMUS AND ASSOCIATED REFRACTIVE ERRORS IN SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AKURE SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ONDO STATE

Associations between strabismus and refractive errors have been reported inprevious studies. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence andassociation of strabismus with refractive errors in school aged children between10?16 years. A total sample size of2600 subjects was employed for this study.Routine eye examinations were carried out on the subjects. Unilateral cover test wasused to detect the presence of strabismus while alternate cover test was used formeasurement of the deviation, thereafter objective and subjective refraction wasconducted on the strabismic subjects. Spearman coefficient correlation test wasused to check for relationship between strabismus and refractive errors. Theprevalence of strabismus in this study was 1.92%.The prevalence of esotropia andexotropia was 1.15% and 0.65% respectively, followed by hypertropia with aprevalence of 0.08% and hypotropia with a prevalence of 0.04%. All strabismicchildren (n=50) had refractive errors. The prevalence of astigmatism, hyperopia andmyopia was 1.27%, 0.35% and 0.31% respectively. There was positive correlationbetween strabismus and refractive errors, (P &lt; 0.05 and ?s was 0.63).Theprevalence of strabismus was low in this study. As the dioptric prism power ofstrabismus increased, the dioptric lens power of the refractive error also increased.Proper detection of refractive errors by eye care practitioners is key in themanagement of strabismus as high uncorrected refractive errors could lead todevelopment of strabismus.

Determination of Internal Temperature by Measuring the Temperature of the Body Surface Due to Environmental Physical Factors-First Study of Fever Screening in the COVID Pandemic.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has shown that the use of a contact thermometer to verify the elevated body temperature of a suspected person carries a risk of spreading disease. The perfect solution seems to be the use of thermal imaging as a diagnostic method in fever evaluation. The aim of the research is to develop an algorithm for thermovision measurements in fever screening standards in the context of the impact of various weather conditions on the temperature of people entering the public institution. Each examined person had two thermal images of the face-AP and lateral projection. Using a T1020 FLIR thermal camera with a resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels; the mean temperature was measured from the area of the forehead, the maximum forehead, the corners of the eyes, the inside of the mouth and the external auditory canal temperature. On the other hand, using classic contact thermometers, the temperature in the armpit and ear was measured. The obtained preliminary results showed very strong and positive correlations between the temperature in the ear measured with an ear thermometer and the maximum, minimum and average forehead temperature. These correlations oscillate at approximately r = 0.6, but the highest value of Spearman coefficient was obtained for the mean temperature of the forehead. Moreover, high correlations were also obtained between the temperature in the ear, measured with an ear thermometer, and the maximum temperature in the corners of the eyes and in the ear, measured with a thermal imaging camera. These values were, respectively, r = 0.54, r = 0.65. In summarizing, remote body temperature measurement taken with a thermal camera can be useful in the assessment of the body's core temperature.