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Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) Dec 2023Resting metabolic rate (RMR) prediction equations are often used to calculate RMR in athletes; however, their accuracy and precision can vary greatly. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Resting metabolic rate (RMR) prediction equations are often used to calculate RMR in athletes; however, their accuracy and precision can vary greatly.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine which RMR prediction equations are (i) most accurate (average predicted values closest to measured values) and (ii) most precise (number of individuals within 10% of measured value).
DATA SOURCES
A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Embase, and Web of Science up to November 2021 was conducted.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials, cross-sectional observational studies, case studies or any other study wherein RMR, measured by indirect calorimetry, was compared with RMR predicted via prediction equations in adult athletes were included.
ANALYSIS
A narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analysis (where possible) was conducted. To explore heterogeneity and factors influencing accuracy, subgroup analysis was conducted based on sex, body composition measurement method, athlete characteristics (athlete status, energy availability, body weight), and RMR measurement characteristics (adherence to best practice guidelines, test preparation and prior physical activity).
RESULTS
Twenty-nine studies (mixed sports/disciplines n = 8, endurance n = 5, recreational exercisers n = 5, rugby n = 3, other n = 8), with a total of 1430 participants (822 F, 608 M) and 100 different RMR prediction equations were included. Eleven equations satisfied criteria for meta-analysis for accuracy. Effect sizes for accuracy ranged from 0.04 to - 1.49. Predicted RMR values did not differ significantly from measured values for five equations (Cunningham (1980), Harris-Benedict (1918), Cunningham (1991), De Lorenzo, Ten-Haaf), whereas all others significantly underestimated or overestimated RMR (p < 0.05) (Mifflin-St. Jeor, Owen, FAO/WHO/UNU, Nelson, Koehler). Of the five equations, large heterogeneity was observed for all (p < 0.05, I range: 80-93%) except the Ten-Haaf (p = 0.48, I = 0%). Significant differences between subgroups were observed for some but not all equations for sex, athlete status, fasting status prior to RMR testing, and RMR measurement methodology. Nine equations satisfied criteria for meta-analysis for precision. Of the nine equations, the Ten-Haaf was found to be the most precise, predicting 80.2% of participants to be within ± 10% of measured values with all others ranging from 40.7 to 63.7%.
CONCLUSION
Many RMR prediction equations have been used in athletes, which can differ widely in accuracy and precision. While no single equation is guaranteed to be superior, the Ten-Haaf (age, weight, height) equation appears to be the most accurate and precise in most situations. Some equations are documented as consistently underperforming and should be avoided. Choosing a prediction equation based on a population of similar characteristics (physical characteristics, sex, sport, athlete status) is preferable. Caution is warranted when interpreting RMR ratio of measured to predicted values as a proxy of energy availability from a single measurement.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION
CRD42020218212.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Basal Metabolism; Cross-Sectional Studies; Athletes; Sports; Body Composition; Body Mass Index
PubMed: 37632665
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01896-z -
Patterns (New York, N.Y.) Dec 2023Since the 18th century, the p value has been an important part of hypothesis-based scientific investigation. As statistical and data science engines accelerate,... (Review)
Review
Since the 18th century, the p value has been an important part of hypothesis-based scientific investigation. As statistical and data science engines accelerate, questions emerge: to what extent are scientific discoveries based on p values reliable and reproducible? Should one adjust the significance level or find alternatives for the p value? Inspired by these questions and everlasting attempts to address them, here, we provide a systematic examination of the p value from its roles and merits to its misuses and misinterpretations. For the latter, we summarize modest recommendations to handle them. In parallel, we present the Bayesian alternatives for seeking evidence and discuss the pooling of p values from multiple studies and datasets. Overall, we argue that the p value and hypothesis testing form a useful probabilistic decision-making mechanism, facilitating causal inference, feature selection, and predictive modeling, but that the interpretation of the p value must be contextual, considering the scientific question, experimental design, and statistical principles.
PubMed: 38106615
DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2023.100878 -
Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia 2023The derivation and interpretation of P values derived from inferential testing remain somewhat vague and ambiguous in the minds of some... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
The derivation and interpretation of P values derived from inferential testing remain somewhat vague and ambiguous in the minds of some researchers/editors/reviewers/readers. The British polymath Fisher famously averred: "the value for which = 0.05, or 1 in 20, is 1.96 or nearly 2; it is convenient to take this point as a limit in judging whether a deviation is to be considered significant or not. Deviations exceeding twice the standard deviation are thus formally regarded as significant." This sometimes leads to an almost reductio ad absurdum mindset with an automatic discardment of studies with results where > 0.05. It must be remembered that results may be negatively impacted by myriad factors that may be out of the researcher/s control, such as small sample sizes, small effects, bias, and random error. This paper briefly reviews the historical events leading to the acceptance of ≤ 0.05 for statistical significance, the rationale behind the null hypothesis (H), the meaning of (and the potential for Type 1 and 2 Errors), α, β, the possibility of using non-0.05 cut-offs when studies are "trending toward statistical significance," and the importance of including confidence intervals (CIs) in results. values are vital but must be tempered by judicial consideration of CI and study design. P is a probability spectrum and not simply a binary significant/non-significant statistical metric.
MESH
95% confidence interval, biostatistics, value.
PubMed: 37601497
DOI: 10.4103/sja.sja_223_23 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jul 2023Despite a large amount of research having been done to examine and promote physical activity and health among adolescents and children, relatively little attention has...
Despite a large amount of research having been done to examine and promote physical activity and health among adolescents and children, relatively little attention has been paid attention to underrepresented populations. In this study, we investigated the relationships between expectancy-value motivation and physical activity- and health-related outcomes among a group of at-risk boys at a summer sports camp. The total participants included 107 boys (M = 11.78 years, SD = 1.20). The boys' perceived expectancy beliefs (EXP), importance (IMP), interest (INT), usefulness (USE), effort (EFT), and intention for future participation (IFP) were assessed using established questions on a five-point Likert scale, and a PACER test was performed to estimate their cardiovascular fitness (CVF). Through a path analysis, we found that EXP positively predicted CVF ( = 0.19, < 0.01), IMP positively predicted EFT ( = 0.26, < 0.01), and INT positively predicted both EFT ( = 0.34, < 0.01) and IFP ( = 0.28, < 0.01), while USE had no statistically significant effect on either EFT, IFP, or CVF. We discussed the limitations and implications of the present study. We recommend including a diverse sample and employing the expectancy-value model in future research, and advocating expectancy beliefs and task values, especially importance and interest, among participants during physical activity promotion.
Topics: Male; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Motivation; Exercise; Intention; Sports; Physical Education and Training; Physical Fitness
PubMed: 37444120
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20136273 -
Perspectives on Medical Education 2024The use of the p-value in quantitative research, particularly its threshold of "P < 0.05" for determining "statistical significance," has long been a cornerstone of...
The use of the p-value in quantitative research, particularly its threshold of "P < 0.05" for determining "statistical significance," has long been a cornerstone of statistical analysis in research. However, this standard has been increasingly scrutinized for its potential to mislead findings, especially when the practical significance, the number of comparisons, or the suitability of statistical tests are not properly considered. In response to controversy around use of p-values, the American Statistical Association published a statement in 2016 that challenged the research community to abandon the term "statistically significant". This stance has been echoed by leading scientific journals to urge a significant reduction or complete elimination in the reliance on p-values when reporting results. To provide guidance to researchers in health professions education, this paper provides a succinct overview of the ongoing debate regarding the use of p-values and the definition of p-values. It reflects on the controversy by highlighting the common pitfalls associated with p-value interpretation and usage, such as misinterpretation, overemphasis, and false dichotomization between "significant" and "non-significant" results. This paper also outlines specific recommendations for the effective use of p-values in statistical reporting including the importance of reporting effect sizes, confidence intervals, the null hypothesis, and conducting sensitivity analyses for appropriate interpretation. These considerations aim to guide researchers toward a more nuanced and informative use of p-values.
Topics: Humans; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Research Design
PubMed: 38680196
DOI: 10.5334/pme.1324 -
Medical Hypothesis, Discovery &... 2023Proper correction of spherical aberration using intraocular lenses requires precise selection of the sphericity of intraocular lens surfaces based on individual...
BACKGROUND
Proper correction of spherical aberration using intraocular lenses requires precise selection of the sphericity of intraocular lens surfaces based on individual biometric data and corneal asphericity coefficient (Q value). This study aimed to determine and analyze the corneal Q value and its related factors among Saudi participants.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, normal right eyes of healthy Saudi participants aged 17 - 58 years who visited Al-Kahhal Medical Complex, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, were included. The Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug camera was used to determine the average Q value at 6-mm diameter. Q values were obtained from each quadrant (superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal) and two meridians (horizontal and vertical). Mean Q values of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces were also obtained. Other factors including age, sex, refractive error, and central corneal radius were documented.
RESULTS
Five hundred right eyes from 500 participants were included. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) (range) age was 27.2 (7.1) (18 - 58) years. The mean (SD) (range) Q value of 500 eyes was - 0.24 (0.10) (- 0.71 to + 0.09) anteriorly and - 0.16 (0.14) (- 0.70 to + 0.23) posteriorly, being significantly more prolate anteriorly ( < 0.05). The corneas were significantly more prolate in the nasal than in the temporal quadrant, in the superior than in the inferior quadrant, and in the horizontal than in the vertical meridian (all < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in anterior, nasal, temporal, inferior, horizontal, and vertical Q values among age groups (all < 0.05) but not in the superior or posterior Q values (both > 0.05). The corneas became less prolate with increasing age ( < 0.05). However, Q values were comparable between the sexes (all > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between anterior (r = + 0.08; = 0.095) or posterior (r = - 0.08; = 0.092) Q value and spherical equivalent, but a significant trend was detected toward more prolate shape with increasing myopia in the temporal and inferior quadrants (r = + 0.19; < 0.001, r = + 0.10; = 0.022, respectively). There was a significant negligible correlation between the posterior Q value and central corneal radius (r = - 0.18; < 0.001) but no significant correlation between the anterior Q value and central corneal radius (r = + 0.02; = 0.673).
CONCLUSIONS
Most corneas in this Saudi population were prolate in contour. Anterior corneal asphericity was positively correlated with age and was not significantly related to sex, refractive error, or central corneal radius. Further studies are needed to verify our preliminary findings.
PubMed: 38476574
DOI: 10.51329/mehdiophthal1479 -
Canadian Association of Radiologists... Aug 2023P-hacking, the tendency to run selective analyses until they become significant, is prevalent in many scientific disciplines.
BACKGROUND
P-hacking, the tendency to run selective analyses until they become significant, is prevalent in many scientific disciplines.
PURPOSE
This study aims to assess if p-hacking exists in imaging research.
METHODS
Protocol, data, and code available here https://osf.io/xz9ku/?view_only=a9f7c2d841684cb7a3616f567db273fa. We searched imaging journals Ovid MEDLINE from 1972 to 2021. Text mining using Python script was used to collect metadata: journal, publication year, title, abstract, and -values from abstracts. One -value was randomly sampled per abstract. We assessed for evidence of p-hacking using a p-curve, by evaluating for a concentration of -values just below .05. We conducted a one-tailed binomial test (α = .05 level of significance) to assess whether there were more -values falling in the upper range (e.g., .045 < P < .05) than in the lower range (e.g., .04 < P < .045). To assess variation in results introduced by our random sampling of a single -value per abstract, we repeated the random sampling process 1000 times and pooled results across the samples. Analysis was done (divided into 10-year periods) to determine if p-hacking practices evolved over time.
RESULTS
Our search of 136 journals identified 967,981 abstracts. Text mining identified 293,687 -values, and a total of 4105 randomly sampled -values were included in the p-hacking analysis. The number of journals and abstracts that were included in the analysis as a fraction and percentage of the total number was, respectively, 108/136 (80%) and 4105/967,981 (.4%). P-values did not concentrate just under .05; in fact, there were more -values falling in the lower range (e.g., .04 < < .045) than falling just below .05 (e.g., .045 < < .05), indicating lack of evidence for p-hacking. Time trend analysis did not identify p-hacking in any of the five 10-year periods.
CONCLUSION
We did not identify evidence of p-hacking in abstracts published in over 100 imaging journals since 1972. These analyses cannot detect all forms of p-hacking, and other forms of bias may exist in imaging research such as publication bias and selective outcome reporting.
Topics: Publication Bias; Statistics as Topic
PubMed: 36412994
DOI: 10.1177/08465371221139418 -
Journal of Medical Biochemistry Aug 2023The aim was examination of the intimamedia thickness of carotid arteries in COVID-19 infection.
BACKGROUND
The aim was examination of the intimamedia thickness of carotid arteries in COVID-19 infection.
METHODS
In 50 patients, the thickness of the intimomedial complex (IMT) in the common carotid arteries was measured. The values were compared with the control group in 2006-9. The condition of the lungs was assessed by ultrasound score (It score) (0-42) as mild (0-14) or mediumsevere (15-28) Covid. IMT thickening risk factors and the value of fibrinogen, IL-6 and CRP were recorded. Two IMT prediction models were formed. The socio-epidemiological model predicts the development of IMT based on epidemiological factors. Apart from these factors, the second model also includes the values of the mentioned biomarkers.
RESULTS
It score 20±6, IMT values right: median 0.99 mm, p25=0.89, p75=1.14; left: 1±0.22 mm. Control: IMTright: median 0.7 mm, p25=0.68 mm; p75=0-9 mm; left: median=0.75 mm, p25=0.6 mm, p75=1.0 mm. The group/control difference is highly significant. Epide mio - logical model: logit (IMT)= 4.463+(2.021+value for GEN)+(0.055x AGE value)+(-3.419x RF value)+(-4.447x SM value)+(5.115x HTA value)+(3.56x DM value)+ (22.389x LIP value)+(24.206x CVD value)+(1.449x other value)+(-0.138x It score value)+(0.19xBMI value). Epidemiological-inflammatory model: logit (IMT)=5.204+ (2.545x GEN value)+(0.076x AGE value)+(-6.132x RF value)+(-7.583x SM value)+(8.744x HTA value)+(6.838x DM value)+(25.446x LIP value)+(28.825x CVD value)+ (2.487x other value)+(-0.218xIt score value)+(0.649x BMI value) +(-0.194x fibrinogen value)+(0.894x IL-6 value)+(0.659x CRP value). Values for both models Exp(B)=4.882; P of sample=0.83; logit=-0.19; OR= 23.84; model accuracy for the first model 87% and for the second 88%; Omnibus test of the first model c2=34.324; p=0.000; reliability coefficient -2LogLH=56.854; Omnibus test of the second model c2=39.774; p=0.000; and -2LogLH=51.403.
CONCLUSIONS
The ageing of blood vessels in COVID-19 can be predicted.
PubMed: 37814624
DOI: 10.5937/jomb0-39602 -
Nutrients Oct 2023Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder, and it has two main pathological aspects: reproductive and metabolic. Overweight/obesity...
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female endocrine disorder, and it has two main pathological aspects: reproductive and metabolic. Overweight/obesity is a risk factor in terms of adverse effects during hormone stimulation, a reduced response to ovulation induction regimens, reduced success of IVF, and an increased risk of obstetric complications. To resolve this vicious cycle of pathological events, weight loss and lifestyle modifications are promising strategies. Among these possible approaches, the consumption of a very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) or Mediterranean diet (MD) represents a valid option. In our study, 84 obese/overweight PCOS patients were recruited to evaluate the effects induced by the VLCKD and MD on weight, hormonal, and metabolic parameters. BMI decreased significantly among the VLKCD patients compared to the MD patients (both presenting values < 0.0001 at 90 and 120 days), and a significant reduction in body circumference was observed. At the same time, HOMA index values statistically decreased for the VLCKD patients compared to those on the MD ( value < 0.001 at 90 days and value < 0.05 at 120 days), and this phenomenon was also observed for AFC at 90 and 120 days (both values < 0.001) and AMH at 90 days ( value < 0.05). Interestingly, the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) incidence was statistically lower in the VLKCD patients compared to the MD patients ( < 0.001). We state that these dietary regimes may improve anthropometric parameters (such as BMI) and women's reproductive health, restore menstrual regularity, and reduce the risk of OHSS. Regarding the different nutritional therapies, the results suggest that the VLCKD is an optimal choice for entry into IVF, especially in terms of the time range in which these results are achieved.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Overweight; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Obesity; Hormones; Fertilization in Vitro
PubMed: 37892519
DOI: 10.3390/nu15204444 -
PloS One 2023Our aim was to analyze the results of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on vitamin D supplementation for psoriasis in order to explore its effectiveness and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Our aim was to analyze the results of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on vitamin D supplementation for psoriasis in order to explore its effectiveness and safety.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
As of July 7 2023, we conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection databases. The study outcomes included change values in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (at 3 months, 6 months, and end of follow-up)/Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)/Psoriasis disability index (PDI)/C-reactive protein (CRP), and adverse events.
RESULTS
333 patients from 4 studies were evaluated. Pooled analyses showed no significant effect of DLQI/PDI/CRP change value (P > 0.05) or PASI change value (3 months, end of follow-up; P > 0.05). Sensitivity analyses and statistical tests did not support the results of the PASI change values (6 months, P = 0.05). However, the results of subgroup analyses should not be ignored(supplementation with vitamin D2 or Asia would be more effective; P = 0.03). There were no serious adverse effects, and only a few individuals experienced nausea.
CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of psoriasis remains unremarkable. The search for a new prognostic index that combines clinical and laboratory factors is needed to compensate for the shortcomings of existing measures and provide stronger evidence of validity.
Topics: Humans; Psoriasis; Vitamin D; Dietary Supplements; Asia; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 37967075
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294239