Statistical Tests Research Articles

ASSESSING POSTPARTUM BLUES: A PRELIMINARY APPROACH THROUGH A PILOT STUDY

Background: Postpartum blues is a common mood disorder affecting postpartum mothers, with potential impacts on maternal mental health and infant development. Early identification using valid and reliable instruments is essential for appropriate management. Objective: This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Postpartum Blues Scale and identify the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum blues among postpartum mothers in the working area of the Health Center in Batam. Methods: A pilot study with a cross-sectional design was conducted on 30 postpartum mothers from January to March 2024. Data were collected using the Postpartum Blues Scale, comprising 32 items across six dimensions, scored on a 0-3 scale. The instrument was evaluated for validity and reliability, and associations between variables were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: The Postpartum Blues Scale demonstrated good psychometric properties (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89). The overall prevalence of postpartum blues was 70%, with mild (40%), moderate (20%), and severe (10%) symptoms. Significant risk factors included lower educational level (p = 0.032), primiparity (p = 0.041), a cesarean delivery (p = 0.045), and inadequate social support (r = 0.68, p = 0.001). The most prevalent symptoms were excessive fatigue (83.3%), anxiety about the baby's health (80%), and mood swings (76.7%). Conclusion: The Postpartum Blues Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing postpartum blues. The high prevalence and identified risk factors highlight the need for routine screening and targeted interventions in primary healthcare settings.

The Relationship Between Knowledge and Early Mobilization in Postoperative Laparatomy Patients in The Inpatient Room RSUD Praya Inpatient Room

Background & Objective: Surgery is an invasive action (affecting the integrity of body tissue) by opening up parts of the body for repair. (WHO) revealed that the number of patients undergoing surgery from year to year has increased significantly. In 2011 there were 140 million patients in all hospitals in the world, while in 2012 there was an increase of 148 million. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between knowledge and mobilization in postoperative laparatomy patients. Method: The research design used in this study was analytic observation. The population amounted to 55 laparatomy patients. The sample was 48 laparatomy patients. The sampling technique was purposive sampling. Data analysis using Chi Square. Result: Based on the results of statistical tests of bivariate analysis using the Chi Square test, the results obtained ρ value = 0.000 <0.05 Based on the rules for rejecting the hypothesis, H0 is rejected, this means and H1 is accepted. Conclusion: There is a relationship between knowledge and early mobilization in postoperative laparatomy patients. This means that the better the patient's knowledge about early mobilization, the more aware the patient is of the importance of early mobilization after laparatomy surgery.

Human Papillomavirus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Oral Microbiota Interplay in Nigerian Youth (HOMINY): A Prospective Cohort Study Protocol

IntroductionPersistent oral infections with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) are a potential cause of most oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs). Oral HR-HPV infection and persistence are significantly higher in people living with HIV...

Long term effectiveness of intraoperative radiotherapy given as a boost in adjuvant treatment for oral cavity cancers

The oral cancer treatment of choice is surgical excision with an organ preservation, if it is possible. Radiation therapy is commonly used as a postoperative treatment. Delivering radiation dose during surgery, defined as intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), can be very useful especially in case of high risk of recurrence or where gross or macroscopic residual disease are present. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the effectiveness of IORT combined with postoperative fractionated irradiation (EBRT) of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. The study included 23 patients: IORT dose of 5–7.5 Gy was delivered using 50 kV X-rays generated by INTRABEAM™, combined with EBRT of 50–60 Gy in 25–30 fractions depending on presence of extracapsular invasion and narrow or positive surgical margins. Standard statistical tests were used. Median follow up was 64 months (range 8–222 months). The 5-year local tumour control was 92% and 82.5% in the 10-year follow-up. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 56% and decreased to 45% during the next 5 years. There were no differences in the LTC, DFS and OS regarding sex, T-stage, grade and tumour localization, although a small group of analysed cases may raise some uncertainties. Acute side effects of combined IORT and EBRT were mild and no late complications occurred. The present study indicated that low-energy X-rays IORT combined with postoperative EBRT is a feasible and safe therapeutic modality which likely reduces a risk of locoregional recurrences.

Prevalence and factors associated with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities deprivation among children in Nigeria

BackgroundWater, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remain fundamental public health components for children's survival, growth, and development. In Nigeria, children under 18 years are most deprived of WASH, with about 70 per cent lacking access to facilities. There is paucity of information on factors associated with WASH facilities deprivation in Nigeria, especially in the context of children. Hence, this study examines the household and individual factors related to WASH facility deprivation among children 0–17 years old in Nigeria.MethodA secondary analysis of the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was conducted to assess facility deprivations in WASH for children, along with associated determinants. A merged dataset comprising a total of 22,059 weighted observations from both the under-five children and children aged 5–17 years was used for this study. Frequency tables, pie charts and bar graphs were used to examine the prevalence of WASH facility deprivation among children. A Chi-square statistical test was performed to determine associated factors with child WASH facilities deprivation in Nigeria at a p-value of less than 0.05 level of significance.ResultsThis study found that at least one-third of children in Nigeria were deprived of either one or more WASH facilities. Specifically, 32% were deprived of water, 40% were deprived of hygiene facilities and 67% were deprived of sanitation facilities. Children aged 5–9 (37.6%) were the most deprived of WASH facilities in Nigeria. Across all regions of the country, more children were deprived of sanitation when compared to water and hygiene. Overall, the wealth index and geopolitical zone significantly influenced access and availability of WASH facilities for children in Nigeria. Specifically, the education of the household head and wealth index are associated with access to sanitation facilities, place of residence is significantly associated with availability of water while access to hygiene facilities is significantly associated with the sex of the household head.ConclusionThe study concludes that there is a correlation between factors and the increased likelihood of children experiencing WASH facilities deprivation. Although the influence of these factors increases based on determinants and varies by regional dimensions, there are still insufficient implementation practices where deprivation is minimal, and this is influenced by household and other factors.

Detecting deviations from Kingman coalescence using two-site frequency spectra.

Demographic inference methods in population genetics typically assume that the ancestry of a sample can be modeled by the Kingman coalescent. A defining feature of this stochastic process is that it generates genealogies that are binary trees: no more than two ancestral lineages may coalesce at the same time. However, this assumption breaks down under several scenarios. For example, pervasive natural selection and extreme variation in offspring number can both generate genealogies with "multiple-merger" events in which more than two lineages coalesce instantaneously. Therefore, detecting violations of the Kingman assumptions (e.g. due to multiple mergers) is important both for understanding which forces have shaped the diversity of a population and for avoiding fitting misspecified models to data. Current methods to detect deviations from Kingman coalescence in genomic data rely primarily on the site frequency spectrum (SFS). However, the signatures of some non-Kingman processes (e.g. multiple mergers) in the SFS are also consistent with a Kingman coalescent with a time-varying population size. Here, we present a new statistical test for determining whether the Kingman coalescent with any population size history is consistent with population data. Our approach is based on information contained in the two-site joint frequency spectrum (2-SFS) for pairs of linked sites, which has a different dependence on the topologies of genealogies than the SFS. Our statistical test is global in the sense that it can detect when the genome-wide genetic diversity is inconsistent with the Kingman model, rather than detecting outlier regions, as in selection scan methods. We validate this test using simulations, and then apply it to demonstrate that genomic diversity data from Drosophila melanogaster is inconsistent with the Kingman coalescent.

Prevalence of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine Training, Its Different Practices, and Associated Sociodemographic Factors: A Study with Brazilian Nurses.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of nurses trained in traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM), the different practices, and associated sociodemographic factors. Methods: This quantitative, cross-sectional study was implemented online in Brazil from June 2021 to January 2022 among 1,154 nurses using a questionnaire comprising open- and closed-ended questions. The Stata IC software, version 16.0, was used in the statistical analysis. The dependent variable was training in TCIM, and the prevalence of different TCIM practices was also investigated. The independent variables included sociodemographic information. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were performed. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and was developed according to the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) initiative. Results: The prevalence of TCIM training was 43.50%. Most participants were women (89.49%), Brazilian (99.65%), aged 39.71 on average (SD = 10.37), and had an income of up to four times the minimum wage (52.43%). The prevalence of professionals implementing TCIM in their practice among those with training was 64.60%. They reported working up to 2 h a week (36.96%) in primary health care settings (33.40%) and providing individual consultations (78.0%). After the adjusted analysis, TCIM training appeared significantly associated with age (p < 0.001), the region where the workplace is located (p < 0.001), and income (p < 0.001). Auriculotherapy (59.96%) stood out among the TCIM practices in which nurses were trained. Conclusions: Almost half of the nurses working in Brazil have training in TCIM and sociodemographic factors such as age, region of work, and income are significantly associated with this training.

Determining the effects of social media engagement on surgery residents within the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

The widespread adoption of social media has transformed how individuals connect in medicine. This study explores how social media can be utilized as a conduit to connect osteopathic medical students and residents. By examining how these digital connections can support professional development, this study investigates social media's role as a potential foundation for a mentorship program, fostering guidance, support, and career insights for osteopathic medical students within the surgical field. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of "X" (formerly Twitter) in networking between osteopathic medical students and surgical residents, specifically assessing engagement rates and the potential of social media as a tool for mentorship in the osteopathic surgical community. The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-approved surgical programs that the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) represents were identified online. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) residents were identified retrospectively through an online search of publicly available data. Residents and programs were searched through X, and account handles were collected. Residents were contacted through X by direct messaging and subsequently directly commented in the initial ACOS Medical Student Section (ACOS-MSS) message. Descriptive statistics along with the chi-square and Fisher's exact statistical tests were utilized for demographic and categorical variable analysis, respectively. There are 1179 DO surgical residents in ACGME programs, with 84.8 % of those being General Surgery residents. Among residents, 75 % of Cardiothoracic (CT) Surgery, 46.4 % of Urology, 28.6 % of Neurosurgery, 17.3 % of General Surgery, and 11.11 % of Plastic Surgery residents have X accounts. Specific surgical subspecialties are more likely to have an X account in comparison to General Surgery, including CT Surgery (odds ratio [OR], 11.13; p=0.02), Urology (OR, 4.13; p<0.0001), and Neurosurgery (OR, 0.842; p=0.047). After multiple attempts, 0 % of Plastic Surgery, 2.9 % of General Surgery, 7.8 % of Urology, 18.8 % of Neurosurgery, and 33.3 % of CT Surgery residents signed up for the mentorship program, totaling 13 residents. The study reveals low social media engagement via X among osteopathic surgical residents, with notable variation across surgical specialties. This limited engagement suggests exploring and refining social media strategies that foster mentorship connections within the osteopathic surgical community. Future studies should examine other social media platforms and alternative engagement approaches to enhance the reach and impact of mentorship initiatives, ultimately supporting osteopathic medical students as they navigate career paths in surgery.

Understanding and reducing delayed dental care for early childhood caries: a structural equation model approach

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the factors that affect treatment delay in early childhood caries (ECC), guided by a modern medical model. This study attempted to analyze the pathways influenced by these factors and provide a theoretical foundation for designing targeted intervention programs.MethodsData were collected from young children who visited the department of stomatology at a tertiary hospital from January to December 2023. Data were collected via a general information survey questionnaire, the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old Children (SOHO-5), the Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale-Chinese (CFSS-DS-C), the Parental Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire-8 (P-CPQ-8), the Family Impact Scale (FIS-8), and the Perceived Barriers to Health Care-Seeking Decision-Chinese (PBHSD-C). The data in this study were analyzed using a variety of statistical tests, including the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests, correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM).ResultsThe treatment delay score of early childhood caries was 36.77 ± 10.11, indicating that the state of early childhood caries was currently at a moderate level of delay. The SOHO-5 score was 6.41 ± 1.78, the CFSS-DS-C score was 23.60 ± 6.91, the P-CPQ-8 score was 18.43 ± 4.33, and the FIS-8 score was 18.66 ± 4.28. Multi-factor analysis revealed key factors affecting treatment delay, including permanent residence, medical insurance type, oral health habits, reasons for visit, first symptoms, the time of first discovery of oral problems, brushing teeth before bedtime every day, a genetic history of dental caries and the staging of dental caries. A positive correlation existed between oral health, children’s dental fear and treatment delay, whereas social support was negatively correlated with treatment delay. The SEM, which is based on the modern medical model, revealed that children’s dental fear plays a mediating role in the relationships among social support, oral health, and treatment delay.ConclusionThe present study developed a novel model to study the ECC treatment delay, elucidated the causal links between the identified variables, and proposed potential intervention strategies to enhance oral health awareness, knowledge, and skills among young children and their parents. These strategies can help improve children’s dental visiting behavior and reduce treatment delay.

Which test is best: evaluation of traditional and contemporary statistical tests for analysis of spherical equivalent prediction error.

To characterize the performance of traditional and contemporary statistics tests for analysis of spherical equivalent prediction error (SEQ-PE) after cataract surgery, with regard to test significance and self-consistency. Comparison of the utility of statistical tests. Eyes from 5 academic centers and 2 private practices that had cataract surgery and postoperative manifest refraction between March, 2011 and December, 2022. SEQ-PE data were randomly divided into sub-sets with sample sizes of 100, 300, 500, 700, and 2600 eyes. Mean absolute error (MAE), median absolute error (MedAE), standard deviation (SD), root mean squared absolute error (RMSAE), and the proportion of eyes within 0.50 D of predicted were calculated for six power prediction formulas and analyzed using Friedman post hoc Dunn, Cochran Q post hoc McNemar, Eyetemis, and Wilcox-Holladay-Wang-Koch (WHWK) statistical tests. All tests were corrected for multiple comparisons using the Holm correction. The percentage of significant relationships (Percent Significance), proportion of inconsistencies (Inconsistency Ratio), and proportion of self-consistent significant relationships (Significance Index) for each statistical test. Analysis was performed on 7,839 eyes of 7,839 patients. WHWK.MAE (42%), WHWK.SD (41%), Eyetemis.MAE (40%), WHWK.RMSAE (39%), and Dunn.MAE (34%) were more robust, respectively, than the remaining three tests by Percent Significance (all p < 0.001). Dunn.MAE had the best Inconsistency Ratio (0.11) in the 100-eye subsets. The same top five tests were most robust by Significance Index (0.39, 0.35, 0.35, 0.34, and 0.31, respectively; all p < 0.02). WHWK.SD and WHWK.RMSAE had the best Significance Indices (both 0.77) in the 2600-eye subsets. McNemar had the poorest Significance Index overall (0.09). The five high-performing tests produced significant results more often and were also self-consistent. WHWK.MAE and McNemar were highest and lowest performing overall, respectively. Dunn.MAE may be useful in sample sizes < 150 eyes.

Effects of Dwell Time and Area on Task Performance of Gaze-Triggered Eye Control in AR-Aided Aircraft Cockpits

Avionics system designers are committed to integrating augmented reality (AR) aided technologies to help enhance pilots’ situation awareness. This work studied the effects of dwell time and area on task performance of gaze-triggered eye control in AR-aided aircraft cockpits. In a 6 × 5 within-subjects experiment (independent variables: dwell time & dwell area; dependent variable: accuracy), 12 male participants completed a visual search task which required them to locate a target once cues appeared on the interface and showed them detailed information on a pop-up window nearby the target. Experimental data was analyzed by statistical tests on significance and effect sizes. Results indicated that both dwell time and area influenced task performance significantly, and optimal values (dwell time: 500 ms; dwell area: 57.6 mm in diameter) were determined. Findings support that enough dwell time should be left to avoid user confusion, and a medium-level dwell area should be adopted for accuracy consideration.

Impact of Artistic Expression on the Development of Entrepreneurial Skills in Secondary Education

This article analyzes the impact of artistic expression on the development of entrepreneurial skills in high school students through an investigation comparing two groups, experimental and control group, in the development of an entrepreneurship project, in which students could incorporate artistic expression tools for the development and design of their business plan. Through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the scores obtained from different perspectives (Idea, Design, Presentation, Feasibility and Rating), significant differences have been observed in different parameters between the groups. The results show how the use of artistic expression favors key competencies such as critical thinking, creativity and problem solving, reflected in better ratings in aspects such as feasibility and presentation of the project. The study, carried out over three academic years, shows how the academic grades obtained are slightly higher in the experimental groups than in the control groups. As an analysis methodology, statistical tests such as Student’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test as well as an ANOVA analysis have been carried out to reflect the significant differences between the different parameters. The main conclusion is that the incorporation of artistic expression in entrepreneurship education not only enriches the learning process, but also enhances entrepreneurial skills.

New comparative approach to multi-level thresholding: chaotically initialized adaptive meta-heuristic optimization methods

Abstract One method aimed at enhancing the performance of meta-heuristic optimization techniques is the incorporation of chaotic systems. Instead of irregular distributions in the search space, chaotic distributions are employed in the initial population of optimization algorithms to improve the efficiency of the search process. This approach enables search agents distributed in a chaotic manner to effectively explore the search space. The initial populations of both the well-established PSO algorithm and the enhanced WSO algorithm, which incorporates advanced search techniques, are distributed in the search space according to the characteristics of Logistic, Chebyshev, Circle, Sine, and Piecewise chaotic maps in this study. The original PSO and WSO algorithms, as well as the resulting chaotically initialized PSO and chaotically initialized WSO algorithms, were tested using 23 benchmark functions. Subsequently, the Otsu method was integrated into the tested optimization algorithms to obtain multi-level thresholding values. These algorithms were applied to five different test images with a manually determined number of thresholds. The results obtained were presented in the study and evaluated using statistical tests.

Corrigendum: Water Practice and Technology, 1 November 2024; 19 (11), 4378–4389: Utilizing statistical distribution tests to develop rainfall intensity–duration–frequency curves for enhanced hydrological analysis in Kirkuk city, Iraq. Ameer Hashim Hussein, Mustafa Najdat Kasim, https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2024.258

Corrigendum: <i>Water Practice and Technology</i>, 1 November 2024; 19 (11), 4378–4389: Utilizing statistical distribution tests to develop rainfall intensity–duration–frequency curves for enhanced hydrological analysis in Kirkuk city, Iraq. Ameer Hashim Hussein, Mustafa Najdat Kasim, https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2024.258

A 40-year remote sensing analysis of spatiotemporal temperature and rainfall patterns in Senegal

Climate change impacts manifest differently worldwide, with many African countries, including Senegal, being particularly vulnerable. The decline in ground observations and limited access to these observations continue to impede research efforts to understand, plan, and mitigate the current and future impacts of climate change. This occurs at a time of rapid growth in Earth observations (EO) data, methodologies, and computational capabilities, which could potentially augment studies in data-scarce regions. In this study, we utilized satellite remote sensing data leveraging historical EO data using Google Earth Engine to investigate spatio-temporal rainfall and temperature patterns in Senegal from 1981 to 2020. We combined CHIRPS precipitation data and ERA5-Land reanalysis datasets for remote sensing analysis and used the Mann–Kendall and Sen's Slope statistical tests for trend detection. Our results indicate that annual temperatures and precipitation increased by 0.73°C and 18 mm in Senegal from 1981 to 2020. All six of Senegal's agroecological zones showed statistically significant upward precipitation trends. However, the Casamance, Ferlo, Eastern Senegal, Groundnut Basin, and Senegal River Valley regions exhibited statistically significant upward trends in temperature. In the south, the approach to climate change would be centered on the effects of increased rainfall, such as flooding and soil erosion. Conversely, in the drier northern areas such as Podo and Saint Louis, the focus would be on addressing water scarcity and drought conditions. High temperatures in key crop-producing regions, such as Saraya, Goudiry, and Tambacounda in the Eastern Senegal area also threaten crop yields, especially maize, sorghum, millet, and peanuts. By acknowledging and addressing the unique impacts of climate change on various agroecological zones, policymakers and stakeholders can develop and implement customized adaptation strategies that are more successful in fostering resilience and ensuring sustainable agricultural production in the face of a changing climate.

Clinical, immune and genetic risk factors of malaria-associated acute kidney injury in Zambian children: A study protocol.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects nearly half of children with severe malaria and increases the risk of adverse outcomes such as death and poor cognitive function. The pathogenesis and predictors of malaria-associated acute kidney injury (MAKI) are not fully described. This study aims to determine the clinical, immune, and genetic correlates of risk to AKI in Zambian children admitted with malaria. In addition, we intend to assess a modified renal angina index (mRAI), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR), when done on the first day of admission, for the ability to predict AKI two days later (day 3) in children admitted with malaria. This is an unmatched case-control study with a nested prospective observational study. A case-to-control ratio of 1:1 is used and 380 children with malaria and aged less than 16 years are being recruited from two hospitals in Zambia. Eligible children are recruited after obtaining written informed consent. Recruitment occurs during the malaria season and began on 6th March 2024 and will continue until July 2025. AKI is defined using the 2012 KIDGO AKI creatinine criteria, and cases are defined as children admitted with malaria who develop AKI within 72 hours of admission, while controls are children admitted with malaria but with no AKI. Serum creatinine is collected on Day 1 within 24 hours of admission, on Day 3 and then again on discharge or day 7, whichever comes sooner. Baseline biomarker concentrations will be determined using the Luminex multiplex Elisa system or high-sensitivity ELISA. SPSS version 29 will be used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests will be run as appropriate. A p ≤ 0.05 will be considered as significant. The sensitivity, specificity, and estimates of the area under the curve (AUC) for the renal angina score will be determined.

Assessing medical students’ beliefs about the opioid crisis and their post-graduation plans: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe number of deaths in the United States attributed to overdose was 70,237 in 2017 and 67,367 in 2018. Approximately 67.7% and 69.5%, respectively, of these deaths involved the use of opioids. Moreover, different specialties of physicians often have different experiences and encounters with people involved with opioids. To investigate medical students’ beliefs about the opioid crisis and their post-graduation plans from two medical schools in the United States.Methods312 students from one medical school with three campuses were surveyed on their experiences, beliefs, and the impacts that the opioid crisis has had on their lives and their medical training. T-tests compared the difference in confidence and expectations to treat people with opioid addiction. Qualitative data was also analyzed from participants’ comments pertaining to the opioid crisis. A proportion test was performed to compare the percentage of students pursuing primary care for those immediately impacted by opioids. P < 0.05 defined statistical significance for all statistical tests performed in this study.ResultsApproximately 39.7% of medical students surveyed were planning to pursue primary care, and 60.3% were planning to pursue any of the other specialties. The two-sample proportion test did not show a statistically significant difference in the percentage of students pursuing primary care for those immediately impacted and those not (P = 0.9, α = 0.05). The t-test comparing the expectation to treat people with opioid addiction did not show a statistically significant difference between students (P = 0.9, α = 0.05). Students wanting to pursue specialties outside of primary care were significantly more confident in treating people with opioid addiction (P < 0.01, α = 0.05).ConclusionThis study was conducted to identify the differences in perspective of medical students planning to pursue varying specialties. The findings of this study show a disparity in confidence levels for treating people with opioid use disorder between specialties. The knowledge gained in this study can help to inform medical school curriculum design to ensure that all students feel confident and prepared to treat those with opioid use disorder.

Wood dust effects on carpenters pulmonary function test parameters: a comparative study

BackgroundFew studies have investigated the effects of wood dust on carpenters, who are frequently exposed to this hazardous material. This study aimed to determine the effects of wood dust exposure on carpenters pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters.MethodsThis comparative cross-sectional community-based study included 130 participants; a group of carpenters and a matched cohort. Standard techniques were used to measure each participant’s force vital capacity (FVC), force expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Statistical tests were employed to investigate different variables. A P value of < 0.05 is considered significant.ResultsCarpenters had a mean age of 51.6 ± 19.9 years, whereas the matched cohort had a mean age of 49.8 ± 13.9 years. Approximately 23 (35.4%) carpenters experienced respiratory problems. Carpenters had significantly lower FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC%, and PEFR values than the matched cohort (P < 0.001). Additionally, the association between the carpenters duration of exposure to wood dust and their PFT values showed a significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). Likewise, the correlation between the duration of exposure to wood dust and their PFT values was significant (< 0.001).ConclusionsWood Dust’s Effects on carpenters’ respiratory systems are worth further discussion. Awareness campaigns should be undertaken to educate carpenters about lung health and preventative measures.

Test-Retest Reliability of a Timeline Follow-back Method to Assess Opioid Use and Treatment.

Calendar-based timeline follow-back (TLFB) instruments have been used to assess alcohol use, smoking, and other behaviors. We assessed test-retest reliability of an adapted TLFB addressing opioid-related outcomes over 120 days among opioid overdose survivors using nonprescribed opioids. The Repeated-dose Behavioral intervention to reduce Opioid Overdose Trial utilized a TLFB that collected data over the preceding 120 days. A subset of participants was administered a retest TLFB 3-21 days after their TLFB assessment. The test and retest assessed days of opioid and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) use, hospitalization, residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, incarceration, and overdose during overlapping time periods. For outcomes reported by ≥15% of the sample, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated between test and retest. ICC > 0.9 was considered "very high" reliability. For outcomes reported by <15%, frequencies were described; statistical tests were not conducted. Seventy-seven participants completed a retest. On the test/retest, most participants reported opioid (87%/83%) and MOUD (58%/60%) use. Median (IQR) number of days of opioid and MOUD use on the test/retest was 71 (25-117)/86 (23-108) and 4 (0-72)/5 (0-79) days. ICC between test and retest was >0.9 for both opioid and MOUD use. On test/retest, few participants reported hospitalization (8%/9%), residential SUD treatment (3%/3%), incarceration (5%/7%), or overdose (4%/3%). The adapted TLFB had very high reliability for self-reported opioid and MOUD use over 120 days. For less frequent outcomes, including overdose, a higher frequency or larger sample size is needed to assess reliability.

A correlation study of arterial stiffness with P300 event-related potential in non-haemodialytic and haemodialytic chronic kidney disease patients of renal origin

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with hypertension. The renal micro-vessels are vulnerable to the pulsatile nature of systemic pressure leading to arterial stiffness, which may lead to progressive renal disease besides other mechanisms. The stiffened cerebral vasculatures may also cause neural injury. Thus, cognitive impairment is prevalent in CKD patients. However, very few studies have attempted to examine the association of arterial stiffness with P300 event-related potential (P3ERP) in CKD patients of primary renal disease in the Indian population, which forms the basis of the study. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three age- and sex-matched non-haemodialytic and haemodialytic CKD patients were recruited in this cross-sectional and observational study. Montreal cognitive assessment questionnaire was applied to them to estimate global cognitive level. Peripheral and central blood pressure, augmentation index, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), heart rate and P300 ERP were recorded. Biochemical analysis of the serum was also done. Appropriate statistical tests were performed to compare the differences between the variables of the two groups. Spearman’s Correlation test was performed to examine the relationship between vascular parameters and P300 ERP metrics. Results: Haemodialytic CKD patients exhibit early vascular ageing than non-haemodialytic CKD patients as evidenced by increased heart rate (P = 0.001) and higher central diastolic (P = 0.035) and peripheral diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.042). Although there was no significant difference in latency and amplitude of P300 ERP between the two groups, a significant positive association between baPWV and amplitude of P300 ERP was found. Moreover, higher serum phosphate (P = 0.021) and uric acid levels (P = 0.017) in haemodialytic patients promote vascular stiffening. Conclusion: It may be concluded that early vascular ageing in CKD patients occurs due to the interplay of multiple physiological factors, which finally perturb cerebral haemodynamics and are responsible for the cognitive impairment observed in these patients.