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Translational Vision Science &... Jun 2021The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perfusion of the choriocapillaris (CC) and retinal sensitivity in eyes with intermediate...
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perfusion of the choriocapillaris (CC) and retinal sensitivity in eyes with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD).
METHODS
This prospective study included patients with iAMD and healthy controls. All enrolled subjects underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in order to compute the percent perfused choriocapillaris area (PPCA). In patients with iAMD, microperimetry (MP) testing was performed in order to quantify: mean retinal sensitivity (MRS), over an area of 10 degrees; mean macular sensitivity (MMS), over the macular area scanned with OCT-A; and retinal sensitivity (RS) in each macular point.
RESULTS
Eighteen eyes of 13 patients were included in the analysis. In addition, 18 eyes of 12 healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. No statistically significant difference (P value > 0.2) was observed in age between patients (73.9 ± 2.0 years) and controls (70.1 ± 2.8 years). We observed significantly lower values of PPCA between patients with iAMD and healthy controls (42.0% ± 3.8% vs. 66.4% ± 3.0%; -β = 23.8%; P value < 0.001). Among iAMD eyes, higher values of PPCA were significantly associated with higher values of MRS (P value = 0.002) and MMS (P value = 0.013). Finally, higher values of RS in each macular point analyzed with MP were significantly (P value < 0.001) associated with higher values of PPCA computed in circular regions of interest (ROIs) centered in each analyzed MP point with radii of 0.5 degrees and 1.0 degree.
CONCLUSIONS
Using OCT-A, we demonstrated a significant association between CC impairment and macular dysfunction, quantified by MP, in iAMD eyes.
TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE
OCT-A could be a useful tool for detecting CC alterations and to monitor disease progression.
Topics: Aged; Choroid; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Macular Degeneration; Prospective Studies; Retina
PubMed: 34061948
DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.7.2 -
Sisli Etfal Hastanesi Tip Bulteni 2021As the feasibility of obtaining health care has improved in the last decade, there is an increase in the number of performing unnecessary coronary angiogram. Red Cell...
OBJECTIVES
As the feasibility of obtaining health care has improved in the last decade, there is an increase in the number of performing unnecessary coronary angiogram. Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW), which shows erythrocyte dispersion volume, is associated with coronary artery disease. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between RDW value and the severity of coronary artery disease in patients who undergo myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) as an evaluation for coronary ischemia and after which patients had a coronary angiography.
METHODS
This retrospective study included 452 patients diagnosed as stabile angina that had MPS to evaluate coronary ischemia and after which coronary angiography was performed. Complete blood count was obtained on the same day. Patients were first divided into two groups: patients with and without ischemia on MPS. Then, the group who had ischemia on the MPS where divided into another two groups: patients who had RDW values ≥13.5 and the others who had RDW value <13.5. Patients who had fixed perfusion defect, chronic kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction, hematological disease, those who use iron supplements, and those who had active infectious disease were excluded from this study.
RESULTS
The basic characteristics were the same between study groups. We found that severe coronary vessel disease, single vessel, two vessels and three vessels diseases were higher in patients who had ischemia on the MPS and RDW values ≥13.5 (p-value were 0.032, 0.004, 0.042 respectively). RDW values ≥13.5 was found to be an independent predictor for the presence of severe coronary artery disease (p<0.001 OR: 3.55).
CONCLUSION
Patients who have MPS for ischemic evaluation and RDW values of ≥ 13.5 were more severe coronary heart diseases. As a result, the findings suggest that using of RDW value is a cheap and feasible parameter that may prevent performing unnecessary coronary angiography for patients after MPS.
PubMed: 33935539
DOI: 10.14744/SEMB.2019.58159 -
Dental Hypotheses 2016"Significance" has a specific meaning in science, especially in statistics. The p-value as a measure of statistical significance (evidence against a null hypothesis) has...
"Significance" has a specific meaning in science, especially in statistics. The p-value as a measure of statistical significance (evidence against a null hypothesis) has long been used in statistical inference and has served as a key player in science and research. Despite its clear mathematical definition and original purpose, and being just one of the many statistical measures/criteria, its role has been over-emphasized along with hypothesis testing. Observing and reflecting on this practice, some journals have attempted to ban reporting of p-values, and the American Statistical Association (for the first time in its 177 year old history) released a statement on p-values in 2016. In this article, we intend to review the correct definition of the p-value as well as its common misuses, in the hope that our article is useful to clinicians and researchers.
PubMed: 27695640
DOI: 10.4103/2155-8213.190481 -
European Review For Medical and... Dec 2022People commonly use new technologies to promote a healthy lifestyle and help them lose weight through nutritional programs. This study evaluated the quality of...
OBJECTIVE
People commonly use new technologies to promote a healthy lifestyle and help them lose weight through nutritional programs. This study evaluated the quality of individualized meal plans offered by dietary apps.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ten apps that offer personalized meal plans were selected for the study, weekly meal plans were generated, and the nutritional values of the diets were calculated. The Healthy Diet Indicator and the Diet Quality Index were estimated.
RESULTS
Significant differences between apps were observed in the calculated energy values (p<0.0001) and macronutrients (p<0.05), the content of vitamins (vitamin A, E, K, B1, B3, B6, folates, C: p<0.05) and minerals (potassium, calcium, phosphor, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese: p<0.05), as well as diet quality (p<0.05) and food group consumption (vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, vegan products, meat, nuts, fats, sweets, beverages: p<0.05). Most diets covered the demand for the required nutrients, but the percentage of energy from fats, proteins and carbohydrates differed from the recommendations. Moreover, the nutritional values of the diets provided in the apps significantly differ from the values calculated using the nutritional databases.
CONCLUSIONS
The meal plans from apps significantly differ in nutrients and food group intake. The quality of the diets offered in the app should be improved.
Topics: Humans; Energy Intake; Diet; Vitamins; Minerals; Nutritive Value
PubMed: 36591844
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202212_30686 -
Food Chemistry Dec 2017Acrylamide is a well-known potentially carcinogen compound formed during thermal processing as an intermediate of Maillard reactions. Three objectives were addressed:...
Acrylamide is a well-known potentially carcinogen compound formed during thermal processing as an intermediate of Maillard reactions. Three objectives were addressed: the impact of gastric digestion on acrylamide content of French Fries, chips, chicken nuggets, onions rings, breakfast cereals, biscuits, crackers, instant coffee and coffee substitute; the acrylamide content evolution during gastrointestinal digestion of French fries and chips; and the effectiveness of blanching and air-frying on acrylamide mitigation after gastrointestinal digestion. A significant increase (p-value <0.05) in acrylamide content was observed for most of the products after gastric digestion (maximum registered for sweet biscuits, from 30±8 to 150±48µg/kg). However, at the end of the intestinal stage, acrylamide values were statistically similar (p-value=0.132) for French fries and lower than the initial values (before digestion) in potato chips (p-value=0.027). Finally, the low acrylamide content found in blanched and air-fried samples, remained still lower than for deep fried samples even after gastrointestinal digestion.
Topics: Acrylamide; Digestion; Food Handling; Hot Temperature; Maillard Reaction; Solanum tuberosum
PubMed: 28764038
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.05.104 -
Journal of Personality Aug 2020This paper investigated which value orientations (1) people associate with wisdom and (2) are actually correlated with measures of wisdom. Conceptions of wisdom suggest...
OBJECTIVES
This paper investigated which value orientations (1) people associate with wisdom and (2) are actually correlated with measures of wisdom. Conceptions of wisdom suggest benevolence and universalism as likely candidates.
METHOD
In Study 1, 160 university students reported their political orientation and completed a value survey for themselves and a very wise person; Study 2 used the same approach with a more diverse sample (N = 187). In Study 3, 170 participants completed a value survey and six measures of wisdom. In Study 4, 356 participants completed a wisdom measure and filled out a value survey for themselves and a very wise person.
RESULTS
People consistently believed that wise individuals value benevolence, universalism, and self-direction most; they also imagined wise individuals to be more universalistic but also more respectful of tradition than themselves. Several wisdom measures were uncorrelated with values; the positive correlations that were found were with benevolence, universalism, self-direction, and respect for traditions.
CONCLUSIONS
Most people believe that wise individuals are concerned about the well-being of others, have respect for cultural, religious, and individual differences and traditions, and care deeply about self-direction, fairness, and equality as fundamentals of human society. Whether these relationships are also found empirically depends on which measure of wisdom is used.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Beneficence; Female; Human Rights; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Personality; Social Behavior; Social Values; Young Adult
PubMed: 31808944
DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12530 -
The British Journal of Radiology Jun 2021To explore the feasibility of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in differentiating different types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in differentiating different types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
METHODS
36 patients with clear cell RCC (CCRCC, low-grade, = 20 and high-grade, = 16), 19 with papillary RCC, 11 with chromophobe RCC, and 9 with collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) were examined with DKI technique. b values of 0, 500 and 1000 s/mm were adopted. The DKI parameters, mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), kurtosis anisotropy (KA), radial kurtosis (RK) and signa-to-noise ration (SNR) of DKI images at different b values were used.
RESULTS
The mean SNRs of DKI images at = 0, 500 and 1000 s/mm were 32.8, 14.2 and 9.18, respectively. For MD parameter, a significant higher value was shown in CCRCC than those of papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC and CDC ( < 0.05). In addition, both chromophobe RCC and CDC have larger MD values than papillary RCC ( < 0.05), however, there was no significant differences between chromophobe RCC and CDC ( > 0.05). For MK, KA and RK parameters, a significant higher value was shown in papillary RCC than those of CCRCC, chromophobe RCC and CDC ( < 0.05). Moreover, both chromophobe RCC and CDC have significantly larger values of MK, KA and RK than CCRCC ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our preliminary study demonstrated significant differences in the DKI parameters between the subtypes of RCCs, given an adequate SNR of DKI images.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE
1.The MD value is the best parameter to distinguish CCRCC from other RCCs.2.The MK, KA and RK values are the best parameters to distinguish papillary RCC from other RCCs.3.DKI is able to provide images with sufficient SNRs in kidney disease.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Anisotropy; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Diagnosis, Differential; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Grading; Signal-To-Noise Ratio
PubMed: 33989037
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20201374 -
Disease Markers 2022Aim of this bioinformatics study based on transcriptomic analysis was to reveal the cross-talk between periodontitis (PD) and hypothyroidism (HT).
BACKGROUND
Aim of this bioinformatics study based on transcriptomic analysis was to reveal the cross-talk between periodontitis (PD) and hypothyroidism (HT).
METHODS
The gene expression datasets GSE18152 and GSE176153 of HT and GSE10334, GSE16134, and GSE173078 of PD were downloaded through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differential Expression Genes (DEG) between cases and controls in each microarray were assessed by using the "limma" (linear models for microarray data) R package (|log2 fold change (FC)| >0 and -value <0.05). To analyze the cross-talk effect between HT and PD, the intersection of DEG of HT and PD was selected. To investigate the biological function of cross-talk genes, the gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were applied. Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed using Cytoscape software. Top 10 cross-talk genes were screened, and the expression values of these 10 genes were extracted. ROC analysis was performed by using the pROC package and GGplot2 package of R language to predict the classification accuracy.
RESULTS
The overlapping DEG between HT and PD were 107 cross-talk genes. The results revealed that developmental process (-value =1.06E-21) was the most significantly enriched biological process, followed by cell differentiation (-value =8.49E-18) and immune system process (-value =6.78E-11). KEGG analysis showed that Complement and coagulation cascades (-value =2.29E-05), Hematopoietic cell lineage (-value =2.66E-05), Phospholipase D signaling pathway (-value =0.034367878) and Chemokine signaling pathway (-value =0.04946333) were significantly enriched. The top 10 genes with most connections were LCE1B, LCE2B, LCE2A, LCE2C, LCE1C, LCE1F, ITGAM, C1QB, TREM2, and CD19. The AUC values of the two datasets of HT were both greater than 65% (GSE18152 = 81.42%, GSE176153 = 68.75%). AUC values of three datasets of PD were all greater than 60% (GSE10334 = 69.23%, GSE16134 = 73.72%, GSE173078 = 81.6%).
CONCLUSIONS
A genetic cross-talk between HT and PD was detected, whereby LCE family genes appeared to play the most important role.
Topics: Crosses, Genetic; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Regulatory Networks; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Periodontitis; Protein Interaction Maps; Transcriptome
PubMed: 35450027
DOI: 10.1155/2022/5736394 -
PloS One 2020New challenges in the medical field of the third millennium emphasise the "humanization of medicine" leading to a redefinition of doctors' values, limits and roles. The...
BACKGROUND
New challenges in the medical field of the third millennium emphasise the "humanization of medicine" leading to a redefinition of doctors' values, limits and roles. The study aims to assess whether there are different personality dimensions of physicians in relation to their perception of professional values and public expectations.
METHODS
A questionnaire on the perception of professional values and the opinion on work in the medical field, work relationships and public expectations was administered to 374 doctors attending Continuing Medical Education courses.
RESULTS
Two personality dimensions were identified: the first dimension (which we termed "Performance Attainment") is associated preeminently with values of competence, advocacy, confidentiality, spirit of enquiry, integrity, responsibility and commitment; the second dimension (which we called "Personal Involvement") focuses on concern and compassion. The doctors that have more difficulty accepting judgements on their activity are those who think that "Performance attainment" is less important (β = 6.01; p-value = 0.007). Instead, the doctors who believe "public expectation of the health system" is not high enough, tend to think that "Performance Attainment" is more important (β = -6.08; p-value = 0.024). The less importance is given to the values of "Personal Involvement", the less is the doctor's perception of having a leading role in respect to other health professionals (β = -2.37; p-value = 0.018).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that there are two different attitudes in terms of recognition and selection of the essential values to better practice the medical profession. Whether the doctors attach more importance to one dimension or the other, they do not differ in our analysis for how they answered the questions about relationships with patients, colleagues or family commitments in the questionnaire, even if they work in different areas. This suggests that in our research there is no single personal attitude that characterizes "a good doctor".
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude of Health Personnel; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Perception; Personality; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians; Professionalism; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33370373
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244303 -
Sports (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Few studies have previously evaluated isokinetic parameters in female soccer players in comparison to those in males. The aim of this study was to describe normative...
Few studies have previously evaluated isokinetic parameters in female soccer players in comparison to those in males. The aim of this study was to describe normative quadriceps (Q) and hamstring (H) muscle strength values in professional female soccer players and to examine differences between dominant leg (DL) and nondominant leg (NDL). A standardized test protocol of concentric knee extension and flexion test protocol was conducted using the dynamometer isokinetic system (IsoMEd 2000). All the participants were healthy female professional soccer players from Spanish first and second division teams. Players were assessed for peak torque (PT) and maximum work (MW) values at 60°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s. The mean difference was 7.17 (-value = 0.0036), 4.4 (-value = 0.0386), and 4.25 Nm (-value = 0.0241) at speed 60°, 180°, and 240°/s, respectively. No statistically significant differences were detected for H-Q values between DL and NDL. This difference was 6.44 (-value = 0.0449), and 5.87 J (-value = 0.0266) at speed 60°, and 180°/s. The present study can be a tool that health professionals working with female professional soccer players in their care can use to assess and monitor a particular player.
PubMed: 36548501
DOI: 10.3390/sports10120204