Relationship between Event Prevalence Rate and Gini Coefficient of Predictive Model

Predictive models are currently used for early intervention to help identify patients with a high risk of adverse events. Assessing the accuracy of such models is a crucial part of the development process. To measure the predictive performance of a scoring model, quantitative indices such as the K-S statistic and C-statistic are used. This paper discusses the relationship between Gini coefficients and event prevalence rates. The main contribution of the paper is the theoretical proof of the relationship between the Gini coefficient and event prevalence rate.

Usefulness of quantitative 99mTc-pyrophosphate SPECT/CT for predicting the prognosis of patients with wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

Purpose Wild-type transthyretin-related amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTRwt-CM) is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure especially in elderly patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine retrospectively whether the quantitative indices of 99mTc-pyrophosphate (PYP) SPECT/CT help to predict the prognosis of ATTRwt-CM patients when compared with other clinical parameters. Materials and methods Sixty-eight patients with biopsy-proven ATTRwt-CM who underwent PYP SPECT/CT were enrolled. Baseline clinical characteristics, echocardiographic parameters, and qualitative and/or quantitative indices of planar and SPECT/CT imaging in PYP scintigraphy for each patient were included. For quantitative analysis of SPECT/CT, the accumulation ratio of PYP in the septum, posterior, anterior, lateral, and apex walls to the cavity pool was calculated as the septal wall-to-cavity ratio (Se/C), lateral wall-to-cavity ratio (La/C), anterior wall-to-cavity ratio (An/C), inferior wall-to-cavity ratio (In/C), and apical wall-to-cavity ratio (Ap/C), respectively. Endpoints for prognostic accuracy evaluation were cardiac death or hospitalization due to heart failure. Event-free survival rate was evaluated through Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, providing estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and Kaplan–Meier curves. Results High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), La/C, age, interventricular septal thickness in diastole, and E/e′ ratio in the septal wall were significantly associated with event-free survival (P < 0.05). For a multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, hs-cTnT (HR 1.153; 95% CI 1.034–1.286; P < 0.01), La/C (HR 2.091; 95% CI 1.012–4.322; P = 0.046), and age (HR 1.116; 95% CI 1.007–1.238; P = 0.037) were significant independent prognostic factors. Conclusion This study indicated that the quantitative indices of PYP SPECT/CT can help to predict the prognosis of ATTRwt-CM patients.

Spectrum of esterified fatty acids of the omega-3 and omega-6 in the blood of persons with vibration pathology

Introduction. Vibration is one of the leading unfavourable physical factors of the working environment and leads to vibration disease (VD) development. The study of metabolic profiles of markers of fatty acids (FA) metabolism is one of the directions in the early diagnosis of vascular diseases and metabolic syndrome (MS), caused, among other things, by exposure to vibration. The aim of this work is to study the spectrum of esterified fatty acids of the omega-3 and omega-6 families in the blood of patients with vibration disease (VD) and combination with metabolic syndrome (MS). Materials and methods. The study involved 66 people, divided into two groups: Group I - 34 patients with an established diagnosis of VD; Group II - 32 patients with an established diagnosis of VD in combination with metabolic syndrome (MS). The levels of esterified forms (EF) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the ω-3 and ω-6 families in blood plasma samples were determined using the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph with an Agilent 5975C mass selective detector. Results. The distribution of quantitative indices of PUFA of the ω-3 and ω-6 families in the examined groups was studied. In VD patients with MS, compared with VD patients, there was a statistically significant increase in the level of eicosapentaenoic, α-linolenic acids of the ω-3 family, the sum of ω-3 PUFAs, γ-linolenic and linoleic acids of the ω-6 family. Conclusion. The study of the quantitative indices of EF of the families ω-3 and ω-6 in the blood plasma of VD patients with MS showed the levels of ω-6 to be 4.5-5.4 times statistically higher than the levels of ω-3 fatty acids.

The quantitative impact of joint peer review with a specialist radiologist in head and neck cancer radiotherapy planning

Objectives: Radiologist input in peer review of head and neck radiotherapy has been introduced as a routine departmental approach. The aim was to evaluate this practice and to quantitatively analyse the changes made. Methods: Patients treated with radical-dose radiotherapy between August–November 2020 were reviewed. The incidence of major and minor changes, as defined by The Royal College of Radiologists guidance, was prospectively recorded. The amended radiotherapy volumes were compared with the original volumes using Jaccard Index (JI) to assess conformity; Geographical Miss Index (GMI) for under contouring; and Hausdorff Distance (HD) between the volumes. Results: In total 73 out of 87 (84%) patients were discussed. Changes were recommended in 38 (52%) patients: 30 had ≥1 major change, eight had minor changes only. There were 99 amended volumes: The overall median JI, GMI and HD was 0.91 (interquartile range [IQR]=0.80–0.97), 0.06 (IQR = 0.02–0.18) and 0.42 cm (IQR = 0.20–1.17 cm) respectively. The nodal gross-tumour-volume (GTVn) and therapeutic high-dose nodal clinical-target-volume (CTVn) had the biggest magnitude of changes: The median JI, GMI and HD of GTVn was 0.89 (IQR = 0.44–0.95), 0.11 (IQR = 0.05–0.51), 3.71 cm (IQR = 0.31–6.93 cm); high-dose CTVn was 0.78 (IQR = 0.59–0.90), 0.20 (IQR = 0.07–0.31) and 3.28 cm (IQR = 1.22–6.18 cm) respectively. There was no observed difference in the quantitative indices of the 85 ‘major’ and 14 ‘minor’ volumes (p = 0.5). Conclusions: Routine head and neck radiologist input in radiotherapy peer review is feasible and can help avoid gross error in contouring. Advances in knowledge: The major and minor classification may benefit from differentiation with quantitative indices but requires correlation from clinical outcomes.

Study of the effectiveness of fractional laser ablation in patients with atrophic postacne scars using the quantitative scar index

Introduction. Atrophic scars are common in acne patients. Regardless of their number and size, they are persistent defects and reduce patients' quality of life. With a variety of treatment options, effective scar correction remains a challenge. Laser technology continues to evolve and is considered promising for the treatment of scars.The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the fractional laser ablation method in patients with atrophic postacne scars using the quantitative postacne scar index.Materials and methods. The study involved 60 patients with ARP of II-IV severity, 35 women and 25 men. The patients underwent fractional ablation of scars with an Erbium laser (2940 nm). To assess the scars before and after treatment, we used the post-acne scar severity index according to the quantitative assessment scale according to G.J. Goodman et al. Goodman et al. (2006). The international scales Patient's Satisfaction Score, Physician's Satisfaction Score, and Definitive Graduated Score were used to assess physician and patient satisfaction with the results of the procedures.Results. The quantitative index of postacne scars before treatment ranged from 4.0 to 16.0 points and averaged 10.9±3.56 points; median was 12.0 points (8.0±13.0 points). After fractional laser ablation procedures, improvement of quantitative indexes scores (p<0.05), positive dynamics of the doctor's and patients' evaluation of procedure results were noted; no gender differences were noted.Discussion. Quantitative indices of scar expression reflect the severity of the affected skin areas in patients with postacne. This study confirms the effectiveness of fractional ablation with the Erbium laser in patients with ARP, which is confirmed by a decrease in quantitative scar severity indices. Dynamic growth of PSS, PhSS, DGS indices testifies to high satisfaction of the physician and the patient with the results of treatment and correlates with regression of clinical manifestations in these patients.Conclusion. Despite the limitations and laboriousness of counting quantitative indices of postacne scars, this approach allowed to establish and objectify the clinical efficacy of treatment of patients with ARP by fractionated ablation.

746 Assessment of intracardiac fluid-dynamics of patients with aortic stenosis

Aims Recent technological developments enabled visualization of intracardiac flow patterns. This study aims to evaluate intracardiac flow dynamics of patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Methods and results Sixty-one patients with severe AS and 38 healthy sex- and BSA-matched controls (CTRL) were prospectively included. Standard echocardiographic assessment was performed in all patients. Fluid dynamics were evaluated using the HyperDoppler software to measure vortex area (VA), vortex length (VL), and vortex depth (VD). The assessment of VA, VL, and VD was feasible and reliable, as the inter-rater variability (ICCs) were very good for VA (0.878, P = 0.033), VL (0.960, P = 0.004), and VD (0.905, P = 0.021). Mean VA, VL, and VD (P = 0.033, P = 0.026, and P &gt; 0.001, respectively) were significantly larger in AS patients compared with CTRL. A significant difference in the delta values of VA and VL, reflecting their change from before to after TAVI, was observed in patients with and without significant paravalvular leak. Conclusions The newly developed quantitative indices of flow dynamics, namely VA, VL, and VD, were significantly increased in the LV of patients with severe AS compared to controls and their measurement was feasible and reliable in a clinical setting.

“Deep Vulnerability”: Identifying the Structural Dimensions of Climate Vulnerability through Qualitative Research in Argentina, Canada, and Colombia

Extreme climate events are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change. Vulnerability to extremes is the result of three components: exposure to hazards, sensitivity of the system, and capacity to adapt. A large-scale qualitative study of rural vulnerability to climate extremes in Argentina, Canada, and Colombia demonstrates the political-economic root causes of vulnerability in each context. Structural causes are difficult to identify using quantitative indices and deductive metrics alone, but qualitative approaches can help identify key drivers of vulnerability at a deeper level. Technology and diversification are insufficient to address such structural or “deep” vulnerability.

Focal Increased Radiopharmaceutical Uptake Differentiation Using Quantitative Indices

Focal increased radiopharmaceutical uptake in a lesion results in focal Hot Spots in the scans. This can occur in benign infective or inflammatory disorders and cancerous diseases as well. Comparison between malignant and benign lesions is important. The Hot spots can be classified into benign and malignant lesions by Spatial Scintimetry or Temporal Scintimetry. Spatial Scintimetry compares the uptake in the region of interest with the adjacent tissue or the unaffected contralateral site. The quantitative indices are lesion/non lesion ratio, lesion/background activity and lesion to Bone ratio etc. The Temporal Scintimetry relies on the changes in the counts or uptake in the Hotspot lesion with reference to the dual point time of acquisition. The Hotspot in the bone scan can be classified using the quantitative index of retention ratio by Dr. V. Siva and Israel. In PET studies the focal hot spots can be differentiated into benign and malignant lesion using the dual phase PETCT evaluation using the Rong’s Retention ratio and Dr. V. Siva’s modified RRI values.

Which Plants for What Ailments: A Quantitative Analysis of Medicinal Ethnobotany of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria

Studies on medicinal ethnobotany in rural areas and communities are important for documentation and generation of indigenous knowledge on the medicinal use of plants, as well as identification of new botanicals of pharmacological significance. This paper presents, for the first time, the quantitative ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out by conducting semistructured interviews with 70 informants/collaborators. Data were analyzed using various quantitative indices, namely, Ethnobotanical Knowledge Index (EKI), Species Popularity Index (SPI), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Cultural Importance Index (CII), Informant Consensus Factor (FIC), Fidelity Level (FL), and Species Therapeutic Index (STI). A total of 87 plant species belonging to 43 families were documented along with their medicinal uses. Euphorbiaceae is the most implicated family (9%) of the plants documented, and herbs (36%) were the prevalent life form while leaf (46%) was the most used plant part. Fevers are the most common diseases treated with the medicinal plants with 1012 use-reports, followed by skin diseases with 314 use-reports while the most common mode of preparation is decoction (37%). Telfaria occidentalis has the highest SPI and RFC (0.99, 0.99) while Khaya grandifoliola has the highest CII of 1.91. The community has EKI of 0.57 indicating a good knowledge of medicinal plants around them. Species such as Citrus aurantifolia, Khaya grandifoliola, and Ocimum gratissimum have high quantitative indices suggesting that they are effective in the treatment of various diseases in the community and therefore should be considered for pharmacological studies to validate their folkloric usages.