Comparison of Model Fit Indices Used in Structural Equation Modeling Under Multivariate Normality

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of estimation techniques and sample sizes on model fit indices in structural equation models constructed according to the number of exogenous latent variables under multivariate normality. The performances of fit indices are compared by considering effects of related factors. The Ratio Chi-square Test Statistic to Degree of Freedom, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation, and Comparative Fit Index are the least affected indices by estimation technique and sample size under multivariate normality, especially with large sample size

ARE THERE ANY VARIATION IN NEUTROPHIL LYMPHOCYTE RATIO, MEAN PLATELET VOLUME AND PLATELET COUNT BETWEEN PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER AND BENIGN NODULAR THYROID DISEASES

Objective: Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and mean platelet (Plt) volume (MPV), the markers of systemic inflammatory response, has been investigated in many cancers, but data for head and neck cancers and thyroid carcinoma are limited. It had been purposed to study N/L, MPV, and Plt levels in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) as a diagnostic marker. Material and Methods: A total of 104 patients, had undergone ultrasonography (US) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and thyroidectomy, for indicated cases, between April 2010 and August 2013, were enrolled in the study and the laboratory tests, regarding N/L, MPV, and Plt, of the cases had been collected retrospectively. Results: No any difference was stated between PTC and benign nodular thyroid diseases (BNTD) in terms of age, gender, size of the nodule, N/L, MPV, and Plt (p>0.05). Conclusion: The preoperative inflammatory hematological parameters, in terms of N/L, MPV, and Plt, may not be useful as a predictive diagnostic marker of the thyroid malignancy, PTC

IS THERE ANY LINK BETWEEN A KIND OF THYROCYTE DYSFUNCTION, HYPOTHYROIDISM, AND INFLAMMATORY HEMATOLOGIC PARAMETERS IN THE CASES POSSESSING THE BENIGN THYROID NODULES? A 5-YEAR SINGLE-CENTRE EXPERIENCE

Objective: Microscopically, the thyroid gland is composed of spherical follicles and thyroid parenchyma includes two major cell types, the thyrocytes releasing thyroid hormones and C cells secreting mature calcitonin. Hypothyroidism has been known as being associated with the various abnormalities of the coagulation system. In the present study, it had been purposed to inverstigate the relationship between inflammatory hematological parameters, RBC, Hb, Htc, RDW, WBC, neutrophil, lymhocyte, N/L, Plt, MPV, PCT, PDW and hypothyroid hormonal status in the cases possessing the benign thyroid nodules. Material and Methods: A total of 313 cases, 202 with hypothyroidism, 111 with euthyroidism possesing the benign thyroid nodules, that was verified with the cytological evaluation after one-endocrine surgeon performed ultrasonography (US) guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) (US-g-FNA), at the Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Giresun University Faculty of Medicine, Giresun, Turkey, in conformity with the criteria, were enrolled into the study during the period, from April 2010 to April 2015. The documents that were used to follow consisted of laboratory tests of the cases including both the thyroid hormones, freeT3, FreeT4, and TSH, and the inflammatory hematological parameters were reviewed and scanned retrospectively. The upper limit of the normal Thyrotropin (TSH) reference range was determined as 4 mU/L in the present study. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the inflammatory hematological parameters, RBC, Hb, Htc, RDW, WBC, neutrophil, lymhocyte, N/L, Plt, MPV, PCT, PDW, and hypothyroidism (p>0.05). Conclusion: Inflammatory hematological parameters may not be useful for estimating the hormonal status of the thyroid gland in the cases with the benign thyroid nodules verified with the cytological evaluation, TBSRTC

Expression of endoglin, CD105, in conjunctival melanocytic nevi: Is it suspicious like in thyroidology? Oculi plus vident quam oculus?

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of endoglin and its correlation with histopathological and clinical findings in conjunctival nevi. Methods: The study included archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 44 patients with conjunctival nevi. Immunohistochemical staining for CD105 had been performed with monoclonal mouse antihuman CD105 antibodies. The intratumoral microvessel density for quantification of tumoral vascularization had been determined by this marker. Results: The expression of CD105 was positive in 30 (68.2%) cases. There was a statistically significant difference in the level of CD105 expression regarding the histological type of nevus (p=0.03) and intralesional cysts status (p=0.02). Spearman’s rho (ρ -0.316) revealed a significant negative correlation between the expression of endoglin and the histological type of nevus (p=0.03) and between the expression of endoglin and the presence of intralesional cysts (ρ -0.380, p=0.01). Conclusion: This study suggests that endoglin could be a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker in differentiating between benign and malignant melanocytic ocular lesions

Co-Plot Method: A Research on Tobacco Control in the European Region

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to introduce the uncommonly used Co-Plot method which is called the multivariate graphical analysis and to apply this method to a data set including tobacco control in European region.METHODS: This study uses the data from the World Health Organization database according to Human Development Index of European countries. It takes into account variables such as smoking prevalence in young people and adults, the proportion of smoking-related deaths and domestic legislations casespertaining to tobacco products and analyses the data using the Co-Plot method.RESULTS: Results of the study demonstrated that smoking prevalence and restrictions on advertising of tobacco products were highly negatively correlated. The proportion of deaths associated with smoking-related diseases increased parallel to the increase in the smoking prevalence in young people and adults. Norway, France and Finland have enforced legal limitations on direct and indirect advertising, and thus there has been a decline in smoking prevalence among young people andadults. In some countries, including Ireland, Italy and Serbia, the prevalence of smoking among the young has decreased due to the new or increased legal restrictions on the sale distribution of tobacco products. The governments in the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Croatia, the Netherlands,Belgium, and Poland have placed restrictions on direct and indirect advertising. The distribution of other causes-related deaths and lung cancer-related deaths are high.CONCLUSION: The restrictions on tobacco products were tightened in time with the increased prevalence of smoking and proportion of smoking-related deaths. It can be said that the significantrelationships identified in this study have even more pertinence in developed countries. Consequently, Co-Plot method has enabled deeper data interpretations of the relationships between the countries and the variables in this study

Interpretations on preconditioning with lidocaine and xylazine in experimental equine jejunal ischaemia

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Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the management of acute peptic ulcer perforation: to be reconsidered(?)

OBJECTIVE: Peptic ulcer perforation presents the most serious complication of ulcer disease with mortality that varies significantly depending on the age and conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was effective worldwide in 2020 and continues to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the initial clinical parameters and short-term outcomes of patients with acute peptic ulcer perforation before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Ostrava, Czech Republic. The patients undergoing surgical modality of a simple suture of peptic ulcer perforation with/without omentoplasty in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021) and the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019) had been incorporated in this study. RESULTS: This study included a total of 46 cases (26 in the pre-coronavirus disease 2019, 20 in the post-coronavirus disease 2019). The age, body mass index, Boey score, duration of symptoms, surgery time, and length of hospital stay were comparable in both study subgroups. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, patients were admitted with a statistically significantly lower degree of perioperative risk according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification (p=0.013). Notably, 30-day postoperative morbidity was significantly higher in pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (73.1 vs. 55.0%, p=0.038). The mortality rate in the laparoscopic group was 13.6%, in the laparotomy group 41.4%, and the mortality rate was higher in pre-coronavirus disease 2019 than in post-coronavirus disease 2019 (34.6 vs. 20.0%, p=0.166). CONCLUSION: In fact, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic had not significantly influenced therapeutic management and short-term outcomes of patients undergoing acute surgical repair of peptic ulcer perforation

Obesity in cases undergoing the surgical procedure of lung lobectomy: risk or benefit?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of body mass index on patients’ short-term results following lung lobectomy. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we compared the perioperative and short-term postoperative results of obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2) versus nonobese patients (BMI<30 kg/m2) who underwent anatomical lung resection for cancer. The two groups had the same distribution of input risk factors and the same ratio of surgical approaches (thoracoscopy vs. thoracotomy). RESULTS: The study included a total of 144 patients: 48 obese and 96 non-obese patients. Both groups had the same ratio of thoracoscopic vs. thoracotomy approach (50/50%), and were comparable in terms of demographics and clinical data. The g roups did not significantly differ in the frequency of perioperative or postoperative complications. Postoperative morbidity was higher among non-obese patients (34.4 vs. 27.1%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.053). Hospital stay was similar in both study groups (p=0.100). Surgery time was significantly longer among obese patients (p=0.133). Postoperative mortality was comparable between the study groups (p=0.167). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity does not increase the frequency of perioperative and postoperative complications in patients after lung lobectomy. The slightly better results in obese patients suggest that obesity may have some protective role. © 2022 Associacao Medica Brasileira. All rights reserved.MZ ČR – RVO-FNOs/201