scholarly journals Reduction in Absolute Neutrophil Counts in Patient on Clozapine Infected with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11289
Author(s):  
Fitri Fareez Ramli ◽  
Adli Ali ◽  
Syed Alhafiz Syed Hashim ◽  
Yusof Kamisah ◽  
Normala Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Temporary Reduction ◽  
Infection Period ◽  
Clozapine Treatment ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Larger Sample

Despite its severe adverse effects, such as agranulocytosis, clozapine is the primary treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. The established clozapine monitoring system has contributed to reducing agranulocytosis incidence and mortality rates. However, the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused changes in the monitoring system. This review aimed to assess the current evidence on the neutrophil changes in the patient on clozapine treatment and infected with COVID-19. Individual cases reported various absolute neutrophil count (ANC) levels, normal, reduced, or elevated. No agranulocytosis case was reported. One case had a borderline moderate-severe ANC level, but the patient was in the 18-week period of clozapine treatment. A cumulative analysis of case the series initially reported inconclusive results. However, a more recent study with a larger sample size reported a significant reduction in the ANC during COVID-19 infection. Nevertheless, this effect is transient as no significant difference was found between the baseline and the post-infection period in ANC levels. In conclusion, COVID-19 is associated with a temporary reduction in ANC levels. The results supported the recommendation to reduce the frequency of clozapine monitoring in the eligible candidates. However, more data are required to confirm the current findings given the limitations, including study design, sample size, and statistical analysis.

Proteinuria and onchocerciasis in an endemic area in Cameroon under community-based treatment with ivermectin

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-158
Author(s):  
C E Ebong ◽  
G A Alemnji ◽  
G Ashuntantang ◽  
T Asonganyi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Endemic Area ◽  
Coverage Rate ◽  
P Value ◽  
Ivermectin Treatment ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Treatment Coverage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Larger Sample

The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence of onchocerciasis and proteinuria as well as the association between manifestations of heavy chronic onchocerciasis (HCO) and proteinuria among patients in Cameroon. Of the 482 (277: 57.5% females and 205: 42.5% males) subjects recruited from an area with an ivermectin treatment coverage rate of 77.8%, the average prevalence of microfilaridermia by skin snip (mf/ss) was 31.9%, the community microfilaria load was 9.3 mf/ss and the overall prevalence of proteinuria was 4.4%. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of symptoms of HCO when subjects were matched in the presence and absence of proteinuria with regard to positive ss ( P = 0.0860), presence of nodules ( P = 0.5000), depigmentation ( P = 0.1459), visual impairment ( P = 0.5000) and recent ingestion of ivermectin ( P = 0.6366). Fourteen (66.6%) of the 21 subjects with protein to creatinine ratios (P/CR) 0.2 had HCO, while 15 (71.4%) of the 21 subjects with P/CR < 0.2 had HCO. This gives an odd ratio of 0.8 and a P value of 0.62. However, there is need to carry out studies with a larger sample size before firm conclusions can be drawn about the association between onchocerciasis and proteinuria.

Short Implants in Maxillary and Mandibular Rehabilitations: Interim Results (6 to 42 Months) of a Prospective Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Taschieri ◽  
Stefano Corbella ◽  
Raffaella Molinari ◽  
Massimo Saita ◽  
Massimo Del Fabbro
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Cumulative Survival ◽  
Short Implants ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Upper Jaw ◽  
Maxilla And Mandible ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Bone Height ◽  
Larger Sample

The aim of this single-cohort study was to evaluate clinical survival and success of partial rehabilitation supported by reduced-length implants in maxilla and mandible. Data from 53 short implants placed in 41 patients are presented. Before surgery mean residual bone height was 6.21 ± 1.05 mm in the upper jaw and 10.73 ± 1.63 mm in the mandible. None of the implants failed, and the cumulative survival rate was 100% at 1 year after prosthetic loading. Mean peri-implant bone loss was 0.69 ± 0.24 mm for maxillary implants and 0.73 ± 0.23 mm for mandibular implants, and there was no significant difference between the 2 jaws. No complications were recorded. Despite the limitations of this study concerning study design and sample size, short implants may be considered effective in supporting partial rehabilitation in both maxilla and mandible. More well-designed studies with a larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to validate the use of short implants.

scholarly journals COMPARATIVE STUDY ON ANXIETY LEVEL BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS FOOTBALL PLAYERS

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 96-100
Author(s):  
MaibamChourjit Singh ◽  
R. K. Nongdren Singh
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Anxiety Level ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Competitive Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Larger Sample

The purpose of the present study was to find out the anxiety level between boys and girls football players. 60 football players (30 boys and 30 girls) were selected from Subroto Mukherjee football tournament 2015 held at KhumanLampak Sports Complex for the study. The average age of the players is 16.5 years. The sample of the study has been selected randomly. Hypotheses of the present study were Sports Competitive Anxiety Scores of Boys and Girls football players would be high and there will be no significant difference on Sports Competitive Anxiety Scores between boys and girls football players. Sports competitive Anxiety Test (SCAT) by (Martens et al., 1990) was used to measure the level of anxiety for the football players. The Sports Competitive Anxiety Scores of Boys and Girls football players was found to be average (n=60, mean=198.58, σ= 2.92 and SEM =0.37). Difference on Sports Competitive Anxiety Scores between Boys (n=30, mean=18.46, σ=2.30) and Girls (n=30, mean=18.70, σ=3.47) football players was found to be statistically not significant at p≤0.05 (t-value=0.760) at df=78. The current study was limited in sample size, tools adopted, and variables undertaken for the study. Further research can be done with larger sample size and also on different age group.

scholarly journals Examining Professional Stereotypes in an Interprofessional Education Simulation Experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Bealle Rudd ◽  
Julie M Estis ◽  
Bill Pruitt ◽  
Theresa Wright
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Interprofessional Education ◽  
Professional Socialization ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Professional Characteristics ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
Larger Sample

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) provides a platform for early professional socialization, potentially affecting the accuracy of stereotypes among health professions students. The purpose of this study was to implement an interprofessional simulation with nursing, respiratory therapy (RT), and speech language pathology (SLP) students, and using the Student Stereotype Rating Questionnaire, evaluate how an IPE simulation approach may alter stereotypes that learners carry with them related to themselves and professions other than their own.Methods and Findings: Participants rated the extent to which they believe attributes, based on nine professional characteristics, apply to either their own profession (autostereotypes), other professions (heterostereotypes), or their own profession as seen by others (perceived autostereotypes) with the Student Stereotype Rating Questionnaire (SSRQ). A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used, and descriptive and analytical statistics conducted within and across groups. Participant impressions of the IPE experience are presented. Main limitations included smaller sample size of RT and SLP participants.Conclusions: Results showed a significant difference from pre- to post-IPE simulation in nursing heterostereoptype, autostereotype, and perceived autostereotype scores. No significant difference was seen in hetereostereotypes of RT and SLP students. Overall, student impressions were positive. Recommendations include study replication for larger sample size.

scholarly journals Weight Bias in Hiring

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2, 2021) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Weight Bias ◽  
Detectable Effect ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Applicant ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Southern Methodist University ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Larger Sample

This study’s purpose was to assess the prevalence of weight bias in the hiring of female applicants among students attending Southern Methodist University. Weight bias in hiring for a CEO position was assessed in 87 total male and female participants by viewing one of two possible applicants’ resumés – one slim and one overweight female. Experience and qualifications for each resumé were identical, only the headshots differed. Participants saw either the overweight applicant or the slim applicant, after which they filled out a questionnaire that asked them to indicate whether they would hire the individual and state the reason for their decision. We found no significant difference between which applicant participants chose to hire. Gender did not predict which applicant participants were more likely to hire or reject. These findings contradicted our hypotheses. We had predicted that the overweight female applicant would have been hired less by participants, relative to the slim applicant. Additionally, we had predicted that this weight bias against the overweight female applicant would have a higher incidence in males. Similar studies going forward should focus on providing a truly random sample of participants and use clearer instructions to read to the participant. Experimenters should also consider using in-person interviews instead of resumés, and perhaps a larger sample size to determine if in fact there was a detectable effect present. Remaining limitations and explanations for the results will be presented in the discussion.

Planning the Size of Clinical Trials with Allowance for Patient Noncompliance

1990 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 243-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. A. Moussa
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Event Rate ◽  
Survival Functions ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Patient Noncompliance ◽  
Event Rates ◽  
Larger Sample

AbstractVarious approaches are considered for adjustment of clinical trial size for patient noncompliance. Such approaches either model the effect of noncompliance through comparison of two survival distributions or two simple proportions. Models that allow for variation of noncompliance and event rates between time intervals are also considered. The approach that models the noncompliance adjustment on the basis of survival functions is conservative and hence requires larger sample size. The model to be selected for noncompliance adjustment depends upon available estimates of noncompliance and event rate patterns.

Augmentation Strategies for Clozapine-Resistant Patients with Schizophrenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-227
Author(s):  
Yi-Hang Chiu ◽  
Chia-Yueh Hsu ◽  
Mong-Liang Lu ◽  
Chun-Hsin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Mood Stabilizers ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Augmentation Strategies ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Augmentation Strategy ◽  
Larger Sample

Background: Clozapine has been used in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. However, only 40% of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia have response to clozapine. Many augmentation strategies have been proposed to treat those clozapine-resistant patients, but the results are inconclusive. In this review, we intended to review papers dealing with the augmentation strategies in the treatment of clozapineresistant patients with schizophrenia. Method: We reviewed randomized, double-blind, placebo- or sham-controlled trials (RCT) for clozapine-resistant patients with schizophrenia in Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and PubMed database from January 1990 to June 2019. Results: Antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, brain stimulation, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and other strategies, were used as an augmentation in clozapine-resistant patients with schizophrenia. Except for better evidence in memantine with 2 RCTs and cognitive behavior therapy in 2 studies to support its effectiveness, we found that all the other effective augmentations, including sulpiride, ziprasidone, duloxetine, mirtazapine, ECT, sodium benzoate, ginkgo biloba, and minocycline, had only one RCT with limited sample size. Conclusion: In this review, no definite effective augmentation strategy was found for clozapine-resistant patients. Some potential strategies with beneficial effects on psychopathology need further studies with a larger sample size to support their efficacy.

scholarly journals Comparative Study of Intralesional Dexamethasone Plus Hyaluronidase & Oral Colchicine in Patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  
Ganesh Prasad Neupane ◽  
Maya Rai ◽  
R. S. Rathore ◽  
V. K. Bhargava ◽  
A. K. Mahat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Oral Mucosa ◽  
Oral Submucous Fibrosis ◽  
Mouth Opening ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
T Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Intralesional Injections ◽  
Submucous Fibrosis ◽  
Larger Sample

Introduction: Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF) is a precancerous condition of the oral mucosa. It is characterized by excessive production of collagen leading to inelasticity of the oral mucosa and atrophic changes of the epithelium.Aim and objective: To evaluate the efficacy of oral Colchicine in comparison to intralesional injections of Dexamethasone plus Hyaluronidase in the management of OSMF patients.Materials and Methods: Fourty patients with OSMF were randomly divided equally into two groups. 20 patients in Dexamethasone group received biweekly intralesional injections of Dexamethasone (4mg/ml) plus Hyaluronidase 1500 IU in buccal mucosa for a period of 12 weeks. Other 20 patients in Colchicine group received oral Colchicine 0.5 mg tablets twice daily for 12 weeks. Parameters taken in the study were burning sensation, and mouth opening. Descriptive statistics, paired t test and unpaired t test were used for statistical analysis.Results and Conclusions: The pre- and post-treatment differences were found to be statistically significant for both the groups (p<0.001) and for both the treatment outcomes. When the average difference of the treatment outcomes was compared between the two study groups, statistically highly significant difference was noted (p <0.001) only in mouth opening but not in burning sensation.These encouraging results should prompt further clinical trials with Colchicine on a larger sample size to broaden the therapeutic usefulness of the drug in the management of OSMF. JNGMC,  Vol. 14 No. 2 December 2016, Page: 60-65

scholarly journals ‘Statistical Irreproducibility’ Does Not Improve with Larger Sample Size: How to Quantify and Address Disease Data Multimodality in Human and Animal Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Abigail R. Basson ◽  
Fabio Cominelli ◽  
Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Data Visualization ◽  
Random Sampling ◽  
Intestinal Inflammation ◽  
Random Number Generation ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Multimodal Distributions ◽  
Disease Subtypes ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
Larger Sample

Poor study reproducibility is a concern in translational research. As a solution, it is recommended to increase sample size (N), i.e., add more subjects to experiments. The goal of this study was to examine/visualize data multimodality (data with >1 data peak/mode) as cause of study irreproducibility. To emulate the repetition of studies and random sampling of study subjects, we first used various simulation methods of random number generation based on preclinical published disease outcome data from human gut microbiota-transplantation rodent studies (e.g., intestinal inflammation and univariate/continuous). We first used unimodal distributions (one-mode, Gaussian, and binomial) to generate random numbers. We showed that increasing N does not reproducibly identify statistical differences when group comparisons are repeatedly simulated. We then used multimodal distributions (>1-modes and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods of random sampling) to simulate similar multimodal datasets A and B (t-test-p = 0.95; N = 100,000), and confirmed that increasing N does not improve the ‘reproducibility of statistical results or direction of the effects’. Data visualization with violin plots of categorical random data simulations with five-integer categories/five-groups illustrated how multimodality leads to irreproducibility. Re-analysis of data from a human clinical trial that used maltodextrin as dietary placebo illustrated multimodal responses between human groups, and after placebo consumption. In conclusion, increasing N does not necessarily ensure reproducible statistical findings across repeated simulations due to randomness and multimodality. Herein, we clarify how to quantify, visualize and address disease data multimodality in research. Data visualization could facilitate study designs focused on disease subtypes/modes to help understand person–person differences and personalized medicine.

Determination of Sample Size and Influencing Factors to Characterize Faulting in Jointed Concrete Pavements

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812199670
Author(s):  
Ruohan Li ◽  
Jorge A. Prozzi
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Plain Concrete ◽  
Concrete Pavements ◽  
Portland Cement Concrete ◽  
Federal Highway ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Jointed Concrete Pavement ◽  
Functional Classes ◽  
High Precipitation ◽  
Departments Of Transportation

The objective of this study is to evaluate the field variability of jointed concrete pavement (JCP) faulting and its effects on pavement performance. The standard deviation of faulting along both the longitudinal and transverse directions are calculated. Based on these, the overall variability is determined, and the required sample sizes needed for a given precision at a certain confidence level are calculated and presented. This calculation is very important as state departments of transportation are required to report faulting every 0.1 mi to the Federal Highway Administration as required by the 2015 FAST Act. On average, twice the number of measurements are needed on jointed reinforced concrete pavements (JRCP) to achieve the same confidence and precision as on jointed plain concrete pavements (JPCP). For example, a sample size of 13 is needed to achieve a 95% confidence interval with a precision of 1.0 mm for average faulting of JPCP, while 26 measurements are required for JRCP ones. Average faulting was found to correlate with several climatic, structural, and traffic variables, while no significant difference was found between edge and outer wheelpath measurements. The application of Portland cement concrete overlay and the use of dowel bars (rather than aggregate interlock) are found to significantly reduce faulting. Older sections located on higher functional classes, and in regions of high precipitation or where the daily temperature change is larger, tend to have higher faulting, and might require larger samples sizes as compared with the rest when faulting surveys are to be conducted.

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