Joint Procrustes Analysis for Simultaneous Nonsingular Transformation of Component Score and Loading Matrices

The aim of the paper is to study thymus variability in white rats, which were exposed to formaldehyde, and to compare these data with the indicators in control animals. Materials and Methods. The trial enrolled 72 white male rats, initial body weight 40–50 g. The animals were divided into 2 groups (36 rats in each). The first group consisted of control rats. Animals of the second group were exposed to formaldehyde inhalation, 2.766 mg/m3. To characterize the variability of the organ size, centroids were determined. The superposition of landmark configurations was performed using the generalized Procrustes analysis method, MorphoJ 1.06d program. The principal component analysis and canonical analysis of the obtained data were carried out. Results. One-Way ANOVA revealed a high level of intergroup differences in Procrust distance (F=1.34; p<0.0001). The significant effect of the duration of formaldehyde exposure on centroid size was established. The Kruskal-Wallis criterion was 19.778 (p=0.0014). The analysis of the principal components indicated that each of the first 10 components stands for more than 1 % of Procrustes coordinate variance. In this case, the first 7 components compatibly explain 91.398 % of thymus variability. The proportion of the first main component to the total variance of the Procrustes coordinates is 40.236 %. PC1 (-) shows changes in the thymus shape, mostly affecting the tops of its lobes, the middle part of the right boundary and the entire left thymus boundary. The scattering ellipses of the thymus ordinates in rats exposed to formaldehyde, in the first two canonical variables are located higher than those in the control animals. Conclusion. Formaldehyde inhalation leads to thymus changes in white rat. The most significant differences with control data are determined along the second canonical variable. Keywords: thymus, form, rat, formaldehyde, geometric morphometry. Цель. Изучение изменчивости формы тимуса белых крыс, находившихся в условиях влияния формальдегида, и сравнение этих данных с показателями, полученными у контрольных животных. Материалы и методы. Работа выполнена на 72 белых крысах-самцах с начальной массой тела 40–50 г. Животные были разделены на 2 серии (по 36 крыс). Первую серию составляли контрольные крысы. Животные второй серии подвергались ингаляционному воздействию формальдегида (ФА) в концентрации 2,766 мг/м3. Для характеристики изменчивости размеров органов определяли размер их центроидов. Процедуру суперимпозиции конфигураций ландмарок выполняли методом генерализованного прокрустова анализа с использованием программы MorphoJ 1.06d. Проводили анализ главных компонент и канонический анализ полученных данных. Результаты. Однофакторный дисперсионный анализ выявил высокий уровень межгрупповых различий по показателю прокрустовых расстояний (F=1,34; р<0,0001). Установлено значительное влияние продолжительности нахождения животных в условиях воздействия ФА на размер центроида. Критерий Краскела–Уоллиса составил 19,778 (р=0,0014). Анализ главных компонент указывал на то, что каждая из первых 10 компонент объясняет более 1 % дисперсии прокрустовых координат. При этом первые 7 компонент совместно объясняют 91,398 % изменчивости формы тимуса. Вклад первой главной компоненты в общую дисперсию прокрустовых координат составляет 40,236 %. РС1 (–) показывает изменения формы тимуса, в большей степени затрагивающие верхушки его долей, среднюю часть правого контура и весь левый контур тимуса. Эллипсы рассеивания ординат тимусов, принадлежащих крысам, подвергавшимся влиянию ФА, в пространстве первых двух канонических переменных расположены выше по отношению к таковым контрольных животных. Заключение. Ингаляционное воздействие формальдегида приводит к изменению формы тимуса белых крыс. Наибольшие различия с контрольными данными определяются вдоль второй канонической переменной. Ключевые слова: тимус, форма, крыса, формальдегид, геометрическая морфометрия.

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HURDLE STEP COMPONENT SCORE FROM THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN IS ASSOCIATED WITH STRENGTH, SPEED, AND JUMP PERFORMANCE

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967121s00176 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽

pp. 2325967121S0017

Author(s):

Sophia M. Ulman ◽

Laura Saleem ◽

Kirsten Tulchin-Francis

Keyword(s):

Athletic Performance ◽

Injury Risk ◽

Functional Movement Screen ◽

Jump Performance ◽

Functional Movement ◽

Youth Athletes ◽

Component Score ◽

Highly Active ◽

Knee Strength ◽

Component Scores

Background: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a tool designed to establish a baseline for fundamental movement capacity, highlight limitations and limb asymmetries, and identify potential injury risk. Previous research has shown that individual components of the screen are also indicative of injury risk, as well as potential predictors of athletic performance unlike the FMS composite scores. However, this literature is limited and lacks statistical power. Identifying which component scores are predictive of injury risk and athletic performance would provide a quick, powerful tool for coaches and trainers to evaluate athletes. Purpose: To determine if individual component scores of the FMS are associated with athletic performance in highly-active youth athletes. Methods: Youth athletes participated in the Specialized Athlete Functional Evaluation (SAFE) Program. Data collection was extensive, however, for the purpose of this abstract, only a selection of data was analyzed – age, BMI, years played, total number of past injuries, isokinetic knee strength, 10- and 20-meter sprint, single-leg hop (SLH) distance, and FMS scores. Seated knee flexion/extension strength was collected at 120°/second using a Biodex System 4, and peak torque was normalized by body weight. The maximum distance of three SLHs was recorded for each leg and normalized to leg length. FMS scores used for analysis included the total composite and component scores, including the deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight-leg raise, trunk stability push-up, and rotary stability. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests were used to determine side-to-side differences, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to determine differences in athletic performance based on FMS scores ( α<0.05). Results: A total of 38 highly-active, youth athletes (26F; 15.4±2.6 years; BMI 21.0±5.3) were tested. Participants reported playing organized sports for 8.7±3.4 years, having 2.0±1.2 past sports-related injuries, and 74% reported specializing in a single sport. No side-to-side differences were found. While the composite FMS score significantly differed by number of past injuries ( p=0.036), it was not associated with athletic performance. Alternatively, left knee strength, sprint speeds, and right hop distance significantly differed by the hurdle step component score (Table 1). Conclusion: While the composite FMS score was not an indicator of athletic performance, the hurdle step component score was associated with strength, speed, and jump performance. This individual task could be a beneficial tool for coaches and trainers when evaluating athletic ability and injury risk of athletes. Tables/Figures: [Table: see text]

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Emotional States of African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) Kept for Animal–Visitor Interactions, as Perceived by People Differing in Age and Knowledge of the Species

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030826 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 826

Author(s):

Ilaria Pollastri ◽

Simona Normando ◽

Barbara Contiero ◽

Gregory Vogt ◽

Donatella Gelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Methods ◽

Free Choice ◽

Loxodonta Africana ◽

Procrustes Analysis ◽

Emotional States ◽

African Elephants ◽

Daily Routines ◽

Video Clips ◽

Behavioral Expression ◽

Degree Of Separation

This study aimed to investigate how three groups of people of differing ages, and with differing knowledge of the species, perceived the emotional state of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) managed in captive and semi-captive environments. Fifteen video-clips of 18 elephants, observed during three different daily routines (release from and return to the night boma; interactions with visitors), were used for a free choice profiling assessment (FCP) and then analyzed with quantitative methods. A general Procrustes analysis identified two main descriptive dimensions of elephant behavioral expression explaining 27% and 19% of the variability in the children group, 19% and 23.7% in adults, and 21.8% and 17% in the expert group. All the descriptors the observers came up with showed a low level of correlation on the identified dimensions. All three observers’ groups showed a degree of separation between captive and semi-captive management. Spearman analyses showed that stereotypic “trunk swirling” behavior correlated negatively with first dimension (free/friendly versus sad/bored) in the children’s group; second dimension (agitated/confident versus angry/bored) amongst the adults; and first dimension (active/excited versus agitated/bored) amongst the experts. More studies are needed to investigate other potential differences in assessing elephants’ emotional states by visitors of different ages and backgrounds.

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Surgically treated acromegaly patients have a similar quality of life whether controlled by surgery or requiring additional medical therapy (QuaLAT Study)

Pituitary ◽

10.1007/s11102-021-01153-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Fahad Arshad ◽

Oluwafunto Ogunleye ◽

Richard Ross ◽

Miguel Debono

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Medical Treatment ◽

Physical Component Score ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Component Score ◽

Post Surgery ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

Abstract Purpose There is no consensus on quality of life (QOL) in patients with acromegaly requiring medical treatment after surgery compared with those achieving remission by surgery alone. Methods QuaLAT is a cross-sectional study comparing QOL in surgery-only treated acromegaly patients versus those requiring medical treatment post-surgery. Patients attending clinics were identified and divided into—Group 1: patients who had surgery only and were in biochemical remission, Group 2: all patients on medical treatment post-surgery, Group 3: patients from Group 2 with biochemical control. Participants were asked to fill three questionnaires; Acromegaly Quality of Life Questionnaire (ACROQOL), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF36), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Results There were 32 patients in Group 1 and 25 in Group 2. There was no difference in QOL scores between groups 1 and 2, as measured by ACROQOL (mean difference [MD] = − 2.5, 95% CI − 16.6 to 11.6; p = 0.72), SF36v2 [Physical component score (PCS) MD = − 4.9, 95% CI − 10.9 to 1.2; p = 0.12; mental component score MD = − 3.0, 95% CI − 10.5 to 4.4; p = 0.44], or FSS (MD = − 0.004, 95% CI − 1.14 to 1.33; p = 0.1). Comparison between groups 1 and 3 however showed that PCS (and 3 subdomains) was significantly better in group 3 (MD = − 8.3, 95% CI − 14.8 to -1.8; p = 0.01). All three QOL scores were lower when compared with healthy controls. Conclusions Medical treatment not only achieves a QOL comparable to surgery, it may also be associated with better QOL in physical subdomains. When compared with healthy controls, QOL remains worse in treated acromegaly patients compared to controls.

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Integration and Modularity of Quantitative Trait Locus Effects on Geometric Shape in the Mouse Mandible

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/166.4.1909 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 166 (4) ◽

pp. 1909-1921

Author(s):

Christian Peter Klingenberg ◽

Larry J Leamy ◽

James M Cheverud

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Trait ◽

Parametric Bootstrap ◽

Interval Mapping ◽

Procrustes Analysis ◽

Bootstrap Test ◽

Mandible Shape ◽

Trait Locus ◽

F2 Generation ◽

Analysis Interval ◽

Qtl Effects

Abstract The mouse mandible has long served as a model system for complex morphological structures. Here we use new methodology based on geometric morphometrics to test the hypothesis that the mandible consists of two main modules, the alveolar region and the ascending ramus, and that this modularity is reflected in the effects of quantitative trait loci (QTL). The shape of each mandible was analyzed by the positions of 16 morphological landmarks and these data were analyzed using Procrustes analysis. Interval mapping in the F2 generation from intercrosses of the LG/J and SM/J strains revealed 33 QTL affecting mandible shape. The QTL effects corresponded to a variety of shape changes, but ordination or a parametric bootstrap test of clustering did not reveal any distinct groups of QTL that would affect primarily one module or the other. The correlations of landmark positions between the two modules tended to be lower than the correlations between arbitrary subsets of landmarks, indicating that the modules were relatively independent of each other and confirming the hypothesized location of the boundary between them. While these results are in agreement with the hypothesis of modularity, they also underscore that modularity is a question of the relative degrees to which QTL contribute to different traits, rather than a question of discrete sets of QTL contributing to discrete sets of traits.

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SAT0121 PAIN AND OTHER PATIENT-REPORTED OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WHO DID OR DID NOT ACHIEVE TREATMENT RESPONSE BASED ON IMPROVEMENT IN SWOLLEN JOINTS IN TOCILIZUMAB CLINICAL TRIALS

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.967 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 994.2-995

Author(s):

A. Sebba ◽

J. Han ◽

S. Mohan

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Pain Score ◽

Patient Reported Outcomes ◽

Component Score ◽

Link Type ◽

Pain Scores ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Nonresponder Group

Background:Significant improvements in pain and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been shown in large clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who receive tocilizumab (TCZ) compared with placebo (PBO). Recent data suggest that pain in RA may be noninflammatory as well as inflammatory, and improvement in pain scores and other PROs may be seen in patients who do not respond to treatment based on disease activity measures that evaluate inflammation.Objectives:To assess changes in pain scores and other PROs in patients with RA who did or did not achieve ≥ 20% improvement in SJC in TCZ clinical trials.Methods:Data from patients with active RA who received intravenous TCZ 8 mg/kg + MTX or PBO + MTX in 3 Phase III studies (OPTION [NCT00106548], TOWARD [NCT00106574] and LITHE [NCT00109408]) were included. All patients had moderate to severe RA with an inadequate response or intolerance of MTX (OPTION, LITHE) or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs; TOWARD). Changes in pain (visual analog scale [VAS], 0-100 mm), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI, 0-3), 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS; 0-50) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue score (0-52) from baseline to Week 24 were evaluated. Results were compared between patients receiving TCZ + MTX and those receiving PBO + MTX in both patients who achieved ≥ 20% improvement in SJC (responders) and those who did not (nonresponders). The changes from baseline were analyzed using a mixed model with repeated measures, including the following covariates and interactions: treatment, visit, baseline of endpoint, region, baseline DAS28 and interactions of visit with treatment and baseline of endpoint.Results:Data from 1254 responders (TCZ + MTX, n = 831; PBO + MTX, n = 423) and 620 nonresponders (TCZ + MTX, n = 225; PBO + MTX, n = 395) were included. Patients receiving TCZ + MTX had significantly greater improvement in pain scores and HAQ-DI compared with PBO + MTX in the responder group (–27.19 vs –16.77 and –0.55 vs –0.34, respectively;P< 0.0001 for both) and nonresponder group (–9.59 vs 2.53 and –0.20 vs 0.01;P< 0.0001 for both) at Week 24 (Figure 1). Similar results were seen at Week 16 in the nonresponder group (–11.06 vs –2.38 and –0.23 vs –0.04;P< 0.0001 for both) prior to initiation of rescue treatment. At Week 24 in the responder group, patients receiving TCZ + MTX had significantly greater improvements compared with PBO + MTX in SF-36 PCS and MCS (9.16 vs 5.71 and 6.55 vs 3.79, respectively;P< 0.0001 for both) (Figure 2) and FACIT-Fatigue (8.39 vs 5.11;P< 0.0001). In the nonresponder group, patients receiving TCZ + MTX had significantly greater improvements compared with PBO + MTX in SF-36 PCS at Week 16 (3.81 vs 1.65;P= 0.0006) and Week 24 (4.42 vs 1.01;P< 0.0001) (Figure 2) and FACIT-Fatigue at Week 16 (3.82 vs 1.32;P= 0.0039) and Week 24 (3.90 vs 1.40;P= 0.0111).Conclusion:Patients with RA who received TCZ + MTX had significantly greater improvements in pain score and other PROs than those who received PBO + MTX regardless of whether they achieved ≥ 20% improvement in SJC. Clinical outcome at Week 24 correlated well with PROs, with a relatively larger improvement in pain score and other PROs in the responder group than in the nonresponder group; relative to PBO + MTX, these improvements appear numerically similar in the responder and nonresponder groups with consistently smaller difference between the groups in TCZ-treated arms. The consistent effect of TCZ on PROs in both responder and nonresponder groups warrants further study on the impact of TCZ on sources of pain independent of that caused by joint inflammation.Figure:Acknowledgments:This study was sponsored by Genentech, Inc. Support for third-party writing assistance, furnished by Health Interactions, Inc, was provided by Genentech, Inc.Disclosure of Interests:Anthony Sebba Consultant of: Genentech, Gilead, Lilly, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sanofi, Speakers bureau: Lilly, Roche, Sanofi, Jian Han Shareholder of: Genentech, Inc., Employee of: Genentech, Inc., Shalini Mohan Shareholder of: Genentech, Inc., Employee of: Genentech, Inc.

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Exercise Training for Pulmonary Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Biological Research For Nursing ◽

10.1177/1099800420982376 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 109980042098237

Author(s):

Alsaeedi L. Albanaqi ◽

Gholam Rasul Mohammad Rahimi ◽

Neil A. Smart

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Mental Component Score ◽

Physical Component Score ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Component Score ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Sf 36

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic disease with a notable health burden; regular exercise may improve specific health outcome measures. Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the effectiveness of exercise training for PH patients. Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, SportDiscuss and Google Scholar databases and reference lists of included studies were searched. Study selection: The selection criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) employing an exercise training intervention. Data were extracted from the entered studies for analysis. The primary outcomes were peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD), and quality of life (QoL) measures (physical component score and mental component score). The analysis included 9 articles with a total of 302 participants: intervention (n = 154), and control (n = 148). Results: In the pooled analysis, improvements were seen in: VO2peak, mean difference (MD) 2.79 ml/kg/min (95% CI 2.00 to 3.59, p < 0.00001); AT, MD 107.83 ml/min (95% CI 39.64 to 176.00, p = 0.002); and 6-MWD, MD 46.67 meters (95% CI 32.39 to 60.96, p < 0.00001). Differences were found in the SF-36 physical component score MD 3.57 (95% CI 2.04 to 5.10, p < 0.00001) and the SF-36 mental component score MD 3.92 (95% CI 1.92 to 5.91, p = 0.001). Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates exercise training has a beneficial effect on fitness, walking performance, and self-reported QoL in PH patients.

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Does postoperative cognitive decline after coronary bypass affect quality of life?

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2020-001569 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e001569

Author(s):

Fredrike Blokzijl ◽

Frederik Keus ◽

Saskia Houterman ◽

Willem Dieperink ◽

Iwan C C van der Horst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Dysfunction ◽

Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction ◽

Cognitive Test ◽

Physical Component Score ◽

Cognitive Changes ◽

Component Score ◽

Postoperative Cognitive Decline

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the influence of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on both postoperative cognitive dysfunction and quality of life (QoL) and the association between the two patient-related outcomes.MethodsIn a prospective, observational cohort study, patients with elective, isolated CABG were included. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cogstate computerised cognitive test battery preoperatively, 3 days and 6 months after surgery. QoL was measured preoperatively and at 6 months using the RAND-36 questionnaire including the Physical Component Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Score (MCS). Regression analysis, with adjustment for confounders, was used to evaluate the association between postoperative cognitive dysfunction and QoL.ResultsA total of 142 patients were included in the study. Evidence of persistent cognitive dysfunction was observed in 33% of patients after 6 months. At 6 months, the PCS had improved in 59% and decreased in 21% of patients, and the MCS increased in 49% and decreased in 29%. Postoperative cognitive changes were not associated with QoL scores.ConclusionsPostoperative cognitive dysfunction and decreased QoL are common 6 months after surgery, although cognitive function and QoL were found to have improved in many patients at 6 months of follow-up. Impaired cognitive function is not associated with impaired QoL at 6 months.Trial registration numberNCT03774342.

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