Comparison of quantity and quality of muscle as clinical prognostic markers in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy

Objective: The measurement of muscle area is routinely utilised in determining sarcopaenia in clinical research. However, this simple measure fails to factor in age-related morphometric changes in muscle quality such as myosteatosis. The aims of this study were to: firstly investigate the relationship between the masseter area (quantity) and density (quality), and secondly compare the prognostic clinical relevance of each parameter. Methods: Cross-sectional CT head scans were reviewed for patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. The masseter was manually delineated and the total masseter area (TMA) and the total masseter density (TMD) calculated. Measurements of the TMA were standardised against the cranial circumference. Observer variability in measurements were assessed using Bland–Altman plots. The relationship between TMA and TMD were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analyses. The prognostic value of TMA and TMD were assessed using receiver operator curves and cox-regression analyses. Results: In total, 149 patients who had undergone routine CT scans prior to a carotid endarterectomy were included in this study. No significant observer variations were observed in measuring the TMA, TMD and cranium circumference. There was a significant positive correlation between standardised TMA and TMD (Pearson’s correlation 0.426, p < 0.001, adjusted R-squared 17.6%). The area under the curve for standardised TMA in predicting all-cause mortality at 30 days, 1 year and 4 years were higher when compared to TMD. Standardised TMA was only predictive of post-operative overall all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.15–0.97, p = 0.043). Conclusion: We demonstrate a strong relationship between muscle size and density. However, the utilisation of muscle area is likely to be limited in routine clinical care. Advances in knowledge: Our study supports the utilisation of muscle area in clinical sarcopaenia research. We did not observe any additional prognostic advantage in quantifying muscle density.

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Moderate and vigorous physical activity levels are associated with circulating CD34+ progenitor cells which are predictive of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1093/eurjpc/zwab061.199 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

M Ross ◽

D Muggeridge ◽

J Dodd

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Public Institution ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Edinburgh Napier University Research Excellence Grant Background Circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) play an important role in vascular repair and may influence cardiovascular (CV) health and longevity. Physical activity is known to promote vascular health and may do so by modulating CPC counts. Purpose The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the association of CPCs with mortality and explore the association between physical activity (PA) and CPCs. Methods We studied 1,751 individuals from the Framingham Offspring cohort (66 ± 9 years, 54% female). CPCs (CD34+, CD34 + CD133+, CD34 + CD133 + KDR+) were measured from blood samples by flow cytometry. Multivariable cox regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship of CPCs with future CV event, mortality, and all-cause mortality. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between self-reported PA and CPC counts. Results Following adjustment for standard risk factors, there was an inverse association between CD34+ CPCs and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) per unit increase in CD34+, 0.79; 95% CI 0.64 – 0.98). CD34 + CD133+ CPCs were inversely associated with CV mortality (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44 – 0.91, P = 0.013). Associations of CD34+ and CD34 + CD133+ with mortality were strongest in participants with pre-existing CVD. PA was associated with CD34+ CPCs only in CVD participants. This relationship was maintained after adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusions Higher number of CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ CPCs were inversely associated with all-cause and CV mortality. These associations were strongest in participants already diagnosed with CVD. PA is independently associated with CD34+ CPCs in individuals with CVD only, suggestive of greater benefit for this population group.

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Do Changes in Emotional States Predict Therapy Alliance in Dutch Male Offenders in Mandated Clinical Care?

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x211013733 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0306624X2110137

Author(s):

Marije Keulen-de Vos ◽

Vivienne de Vogel

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorders ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Emotional States ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Global Alliance ◽

Sexual Offenses ◽

Male Offenders ◽

Therapy Goals ◽

Therapy Alliance ◽

The Relationship

Therapy alliance has been studied largely in voluntary psychotherapy but less is known about its predictive factors for positive alliance and treatment outcome in forensic populations. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between offenders’ emotional states and therapy alliance. Moreover, we were interested in the predictive impact of emotional states early in treatment on alliance at 18 months into treatment. Self-ratings of emotional states and alliance by 103 male offenders, and therapist-ratings for therapy alliance were examined using hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Participants were primarily convicted for violent of sexual offenses, and were diagnosed with antisocial, borderline or narcissistic personality disorders. Healthy emotional states were predictive of mid-treatment agreement on therapy goals and therapist ratings on tasks within the therapy. Unhealthy emotional states were predictive of patient-rated agreement on tasks. Emotional states were not predictive for the reported therapist/patient bond or global alliance ratings. This study emphasizes the importance of healthy emotional states in treatment of offenders with personality disorders.

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Relationship amongst ResearchGate altmetric indicators and Scopus bibliometric indicators

New Library World ◽

10.1108/nlw-03-2015-0017 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 116 (9/10) ◽

pp. 564-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

RISHABH SHRIVASTAVA ◽

Preeti Mahajan

Keyword(s):

Sample Size ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

Bibliometric Indicators ◽

Pearson’S Correlation ◽

Content Type ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Pearson's Correlation ◽

Different Characteristics ◽

The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the study aims to investigate the relationship between the altmetric indicators from ResearchGate (RG) and the bibliometric indicators from the Scopus database. Second, the study seeks to examine the relationship amongst the RG altmetric indicators themselves. RG is a rich source of altmetric indicators such as Citations, RGScore, Impact Points, Profile Views, Publication Views, etc. Design/methodology/approach – For establishing whether RG metrics showed the same results as the established sources of metrics, Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between the metrics provided by RG and the metrics obtained from Scopus. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were also calculated for the metrics provided by RG. The data were collected by visiting the profile pages of all the members who had an account in RG under the Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh (India). Findings – The study showed that most of the RG metrics showed strong positive correlation with the Scopus metrics, except for RGScore (RG) and Citations (Scopus), which showed moderate positive correlation. It was also found that the RG metrics showed moderate to strong positive correlation amongst each other. Research limitations/implications – The limitation of this study is that more and more scientists and researchers may join RG in the future, therefore the data may change. The study focuses on the members who had an account in RG under the Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh (India). Perhaps further studies can be conducted by increasing the sample size and by taking a different sample size having different characteristics. Originality/value – Being an emerging field, not much has been conducted in the area of altmetrics. Very few studies have been conducted on the reach of academic social networks like RG and their validity as sources of altmetric indicators like RGScore, Impact Points, etc. The findings offer insights to the question whether RG can be used as an alternative to traditional sources of bibliometric indicators, especially with reference to a rapidly developing country such as India.

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Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio as a risk factor for mortality in peruvian adults with chronic kidney disease.

10.22541/au.161224727.78237032/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gianfranco Umeres-Francia1 ◽

María Rojas-Fernández ◽

Percy Herrera Añazco ◽

Vicente Benites-Zapata

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Ckd Stage ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

The Relationship ◽

Crude Analysis

Objective: To assess the association between NLR and PLR with all-cause mortality in Peruvian patients with CKD Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in adults with CKD in stages 1 to 5. The outcome variable was mortality and as variables of exposure to NLR and PLR. Both ratios were categorized as high with a cut-off point of 3.5 and 232.5; respectively. We carried out a Cox regression model and calculated crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results: We analyzed 343 participants with a median follow-up time of 2.45 years (2.08-3.08). The frequency of deaths was 17.5% (n=60). In the crude analysis, the high NLR and PLR were significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR=2.01; 95% CI:1.11-3.66) and (HR=2.58; 95% CI:1.31-5.20). In the multivariate model, after adjusting for age, sex, serum creatinine, CKD stage, albumin and hemoglobin, the high NLR and PLR remained as an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality, (HR=2.10; 95% CI:1.11-3.95) and (HR=2.71; 95% CI:1.28-5.72). Conclusion: Our study suggests the relationship between high NLR and PLR with all-cause mortality in patients with CKD.

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Identification and Validation of an 11-Ferroptosis Related Gene Signature and Its Correlation With Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Glioma

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ◽

10.3389/fcell.2021.652599 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Zhuohui Chen ◽

Tong Wu ◽

Zhouyi Yan ◽

Mengqi Zhang

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Gene Signature ◽

Curve Analysis ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Related Gene ◽

Roc Curve Analysis ◽

Small Molecule Drugs ◽

The Relationship ◽

Genome Atlas

BackgroundGlioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor with significant mortality and morbidity. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death (PCD), is critically involved in tumorigenesis, progression and metastatic processes.MethodsWe revealed the relationship between ferroptosis-related genes and glioma by analyzing the mRNA expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), GSE16011, and the Repository of Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data (REMBRANDT) datasets. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was performed to construct a ferroptosis-associated gene signature in the TCGA cohort. Glioma patients from the CGGA, GSE16011, and REMBRANDT cohorts were used to validate the efficacy of the signature. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to measure the predictive performance of the risk score for overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of the 11-gene signature were performed to determine whether the ability of the prognostic signature in predicting OS was independent. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were conducted to identify the potential biological functions and pathways of the signature. Subsequently, we performed single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to explore the correlation between risk scores and immune status. Finally, seven putative small molecule drugs were predicted by Connectivity Map.ResultsThe 11-gene signature was identified to divide patients into two risk groups. ROC curve analysis indicated the 11-gene signature as a potential diagnostic factor in glioma patients. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that the risk score was an independent predictive factor for overall survival. Functional analysis revealed that genes were enriched in iron-related molecular functions and immune-related biological processes. The results of ssGSEA indicated that the 11-gene signature was correlated with the initiation and progression of glioma. The small molecule drugs we selected showed significant potential to be used as putative drugs.Conclusionwe identified a novel ferroptosis-related gene signature for prognostic prediction in glioma patients and revealed the relationship between ferroptosis-related genes and immune checkpoint molecules.

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Prognostic Significance of Fragmented QRS in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Cardiology ◽

10.1159/000471845 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 138 (1) ◽

pp. 26-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Xili Lu ◽

Wei Wang ◽

Ling Zhu ◽

Yilu Wang ◽

Kai Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Fragmented Qrs ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

The Relationship ◽

Cvd Mortality

Objectives: The relationship between a fragmented QRS (fQRS) and clinical outcomes in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of fQRS in patients with HCM. Methods: Between 2000 and 2012, 326 unrelated patients with HCM (72% male with a mean age of 52 years) were included and were divided into 2 groups: those with fQRS and those without fQRS. Results: A total of 105/326(32.2%) patients with HCM presented with fQRS at enrollment. During a follow-up of 5.3 ± 2.4 years, 33 patients died, 30 of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cox regression analysis revealed that fQRS predicted a higher risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-4.64; p = 0.030) and CVD mortality (adjusted HR 2.68; 95% CI 1.22-5.91; p = 0.014). Our study also showed that fQRS increased the risk of heart failure-related death (adjusted HR 3.75; 95% CI 1.24-11.30; p = 0.019). Conclusions: Our results indicate that fQRS is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with HCM.

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Androgen therapy improves muscle mass and strength but not muscle quality: results from two studies

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.00032.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 285 (1) ◽

pp. E16-E24 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

E. Todd Schroeder ◽

Michael Terk ◽

Fred R. Sattler

Keyword(s):

Muscle Quality ◽

Thigh Muscle ◽

Muscle Area ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Androgen Therapy ◽

Leg Muscles ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Flexion And Extension

The relationship of strength to muscle area was used to assess change in muscle quality after anabolic interventions. Study 1: asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-positive men (39 ± 9 yr) were randomized to nandrolone (600 mg/wk) ± resistance training (RT). Study 2: older healthy men (72 ± 5 yr) were randomized to oxandrolone (20 mg/day) or placebo. Maximum voluntary strength was determined by the 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) method for leg press, flexion and extension, and cross-sectional area of leg muscles by MRI. From study week 0 to study week 12, muscle quality was unchanged with nandrolone, oxandrolone, or oxandrolone placebo, respectively, for total thigh muscles (1.23 ± 0.012 vs. 1.27 ± 0.29 kg/cm2; 9.0 ± 1.1 vs. 8.9 ± 1.2 N/cm2; 8.9 ± 1.2 vs. 8.9 ± 1.9 N/cm2) and hamstrings (0.41 ± 0.08 vs. 0.43 ± 0.07 kg/cm2; 0.90 ± 0.14 vs. 0.95 ± 0.016 N/cm2; 0.94 ± 0.23 vs. 0.93 ± 0.21 N/cm2). Lower-extremity 1-RM strength increased several times greater with RT+nandrolone (51–63% increases) than with nandrolone alone (4.7–16%), despite similar increases in muscle area; therefore, muscle quality increased from 1.13 ± 0.17 to 1.51 ± 0.18 kg/cm2 (+36 ± 19%; P < 0.001) for total thigh muscle, 0.37 ± 0.10 to 0.53 ± 0.08 kg/cm2 (+49 ± 39%; P < 0.001) for hamstrings, and 0.73 ± 0.19 to 1.07 ± 0.16 kg/cm2 (+55 ± 36%; P < 0.001) for quadriceps. Thus androgen therapy alone did not improve muscle quality, but the addition of RT to nandrolone produced substantive improvements.

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The role of financial awareness for viable and sustainable small-medium enterprises in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban

10.51415/10321/3681 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Thabiso Sthembiso Msomi

Keyword(s):

Regression Analysis ◽

Regression Model ◽

Financial Accounting ◽

Access To Finance ◽

Pearson’S Correlation ◽

Absolute Value ◽

Pearson's Correlation ◽

R Value ◽

Financial Awareness ◽

The Relationship

The objective of this study is to examine financial awareness for viable and sustainable smallmedium-enterprises in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban. In this study, the researcher examined factors for SME sustainability and viability as they influence organisational survival. The specific objectives are outlined as follows: to examine the influence of financial awareness on SME viability and sustainability; to establish the relationship between financial accounting skills and sustainable SMEs; to establish the relationship between financial awareness and financial accounting skills; and to determine the Influences of budgeting and financial awareness on SME sustainability. The quantitative research method was adopted for this study and the purposive sampling technique was chosen to select the participants for this study. The study collected primary data from respondents who are owners of SMEs in the retail, construction, manufacturing sectors, etc. Data was analysed using SPSS. A total of 310 research questionnaires was administered and 304 research questionnaires were returned for analysis (giving a 98% response rate). A regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis were conducted to address the specific objectives of the study. The study identified access to market, access to finance and financial accounting skills as the independent variables, while SME sustainability was the dependent variable of the regression model. The findings suggest that access to finance has the largest absolute value (0.425), which indicates that access to finance uniquely accounts for the larger proportion of the variance in the regression model. The outcome of Pearson’s correlation shows moderate correlation (r value is 0.531) between financial accounting skills and sustainable SMEs. Moreover, there was a weak correlation (r value is 0.457) between financial awareness and financial accounting skills. The outcome of the regression analysis suggests that budgeting has the largest absolute value (0.372), which indicates that budgeting uniquely accounts for the largest proportion of the variance in the regression analysis. The Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed nine factors that are significant to ensure sustainability and viability. The implication of the outcome is that access to finance and budgeting accounts for SME sustainability. Based on the findings from this research, it is recommended that SMEs owners should pay much attention to access to finance and budgeting in running their businesses. Again, employee performance reviews contribute to enhancing the financial accounting skills and knowledge of staff of SMEs as well. They should seek expert or professional advice before taking a loan and they should avoid loan sharks as the interest charged by loan sharks are very high which may lead to potential debt trap. It is suggested that Government agencies should help SMEs to market their products and keep their businesses viable.

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Circulating CD34+ Progenitor Cells are Predictive of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality and are Influenced by Physical Activity.

10.1101/2020.06.24.20139220 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

David Muggeridge ◽

Jennifer Dodd ◽

Mark D. Ross

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Progenitor Cells ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Population Group ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Confounding Variables ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Unit Increase ◽

Relationship Of

AbstractBackgroundCirculating progenitor cells (CPCs) play an important role in vascular repair and may influence cardiovascular (CV) health and longevity. Exercise is known to modulate these cells via mobilization from the bone marrow. The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the association of CPCs with mortality and explore the association between physical activity (PA) and CPCs.DesignWe studied 1,751 individuals from the Framingham Offspring cohort (66 ± 9 years [40-92 years], 54% female). CPCs (CD34+, CD34+CD133+, CD34+CD133+KDR+) were measured in participants using flow cytometry. Multivariable cox regression analyses were performed to investigate relationship of CPCs with future CV event, CV mortality and all-cause mortality. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between self-reported PA and CPC counts.ResultsFollowing adjustment for standard risk factors, there was an inverse association between CD34+ CPCs and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) per unit increase in CD34+, 0.79; 95% CI 0.64 – 0.98, P=0.036). CD34+CD133+ CPCs were inversely associated with CV mortality (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44 – 0.91, P=0.013). Associations of CD34+ and CD34+CD133+ with mortality were strongest in participants with pre-existing CVD. PA was associated with CD34+ CPCs only in CVD participants. This relationship was maintained after adjustment for confounding variables.ConclusionsHigher number of CD34+ and CD34+ CD133+ CPCs were inversely associated with all-cause and CV mortality. These associations were strongest in participants already diagnosed with CVD. PA is independently associated with CD34+ CPCs in individuals with CVD only, suggestive of greater benefit for this population group.

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Serum syndecan-1 concentration in hospitalized patients with heart failure may predict readmission-free survival

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0260350 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0260350

Author(s):

Yuichiro Kitagawa ◽

Itta Kawamura ◽

Keiko Suzuki ◽

Hideshi Okada ◽

Takuma Ishihara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Endothelial Glycocalyx ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Free Survival ◽

Patients With Heart Failure ◽

The Relationship

Syndecan-1 is found in the endothelial glycocalyx and is released into the bloodstream during stressed conditions, including severe diseases such as acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the prognostic value of serum syndecan-1 concentration in patients with heart failure upon admission. Serum syndecan-1 concentration was analyzed in 152 patients who were hospitalized for worsening heart failure from September 2017 to June 2018. The primary outcome of the study was readmission-free survival, defined as the time from the first admission to readmission for worsened heart failure or death from any cause, which was assessed at 30 months after discharge from the hospital. The secondary outcome of the study was survival time. Blood samples and echocardiogram data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable time-dependent Cox regression analyses adjusted for age, creatinine levels, and use of antibiotics were conducted. The serum syndecan-1 concentration was significantly associated with readmission-free survival. Subsequently, the syndecan-1 concentration may have gradually decreased with treatment. The administration of human atrial natriuretic peptide and antibiotics may have modified the relationship between readmission-free survival and serum syndecan-1 concentration (p = 0.01 and 0.008, respectively). Serum syndecan-1 concentrations, which may indicate injury to the endothelial glycocalyx, predict readmission-free survival in patients with heart failure.

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