Performance Comparison of Independence Tests in Two-Way Contingency Table

Several test statistics are available for testing the independence of categorical variables from two-way contingency tables. A vast majority of published articles used the Pearson’s chi-squared test for such purposes; however, this test statistic may lead to biased conclusions under certain conditions. Therefore, we aimed to compare the performance of test statistics via a comprehensive simulation study considering several factors in contingency tables. We also evaluated the performance of each test statistic on a real-life dataset. This study contributes to the literature guiding researchers to select an appropriate test statistic under different conditions

Environmental characteristics of older people attending physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinics

Objective: A residential environment refers to the physical and social characteristics in a neighbourhood. The physical characteristics include interior housing qualities, exterior neighbourhood characteristics, and the accessibility of essential facilities and services outside the neighbourhood. Older adults especially may be vulnerable to the negative impacts of the residential environment. The aim of this study is to elucidate the problems ageing people face in their neighbourhoods, buildings and public areas. Methods: The study group consisted of a total of 1,001 people over the age of 65 who were admitted to physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics in Turkey and consented to participate. A questionnaire covering demographic, social and environmental information was used. Results: Of the study group, 58.6% was living in an apartment building, but only 23.6% of these buildings had an elevator, and the stairs were inconvenient in 46.7% of the buildings. Only 49% of the elderly people went for a walk regularly. The most frequent complaint about the hospitals, community health centres and other public areas was the inappropriate restroom conditions. Eighty-six percent of the study group were not members of an organization, a foundation or a group, and 73.6% did not have personal hobbies. Conclusions: The layouts of buildings and surroundings are inappropriate for older people, and the opportunities for them to participate in social activities are limited. Health and social programmes and governmental and local policies for older people are needed, and public awareness about this issue should be raised

Prognostic and Clinical Role of Contrast Enhancement on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Bell’s Palsy

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of the magnetic resonance imaging in Bell’s palsy patients.Methods:Patients who were diagnosed and treated with Bell’s palsy between October 2013 and March 2016 retrospectively selected. House–Brackmann grades, pre- and post-treatment pure tone audiograms, stapedial reflexes were analyzed and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans with gadolinium-based contrast agents were evaluated. Contrast-enhanced segments of the facial nerve were determined. MRI findings were compared statistically with pre- and post-treatment grade, recurrence rate of Bell’s palsy, MRI scanning timing, presence of stapes reflexes and posttreatment recovery data.Results:No significant correlation was observed between pretreatment House–Brackmann grades and enhancement (p>0.05). Similarly, there was no significant correlation between clinical recovery and enhancement (p>0.05). Also, no significant correlation was observed between MRI scanning time, the recurrence rate of Bell’s palsy and MRI findings (p>0.05). None of the MRIs showed neoplastic contrast enhancement.Conclusion:The routine use of the contrast-enhanced temporal MRI is not recommended in the diagnosis and monitoring of Bell’s palsy patients, because the contrast enhancement pattern of the facial nerve has no effect on the prognosis of Bell’s palsy. MRI should be used in cases that do not heal despite treatment, for the differential diagnosis of facial nerve tumors and in patients who are candidates for surgical decompression

Development of Biostatistics: From Past to Future

Biostatistics which is the application of statistics in the field of health and biology; provides powerful tools for creating questions, designing studies, developing measurements, and analyzing data and has an important place in determining the efficacy and safety of products such as drugs and vaccines. The impact of statistical sciences on medical and biological sciences has increased rapidly during the last few decades. Clinicians need to understand statistics well enough to follow up and evaluate empirical studies that provide an evidence base for clinical practice. Recent advances in biomedical research have created both new challenges and opportunities for statisticians and data scientists. Big data analytics, precision medicine, artificial intelligence, causal inference, and other new research resources inspire data scientists to develop modern statistical methods and innovative inference procedures. Therefore new philosophies such as causal models and prediction, new models such as graphical chain models and random effects models, faster computers and new clever algorithms for integration and maximization are needed. Without adequate investment in biostatistics, all medical research is at a significant risk of “drowning in data, but starving for knowledge”

Is There a Correlation Between the Change in the Interscrew Angle of the Eight-Plate and the Delta Joint Orientation Angles?

Objectives It is known that the screws of the eight-plate hemiepiphysiodesis construct diverge as growth occurs through the physis. Our objective was to investigate whether there is a correlation between the amount of change of the joint orientation angle (JOA) and that of the interscrew angle (ISA) of the eight-plate hemiepiphysiodesis construct before and after correction. Patients and methods After the institutional review board approval, medical charts and X-rays of all patients operated for either genu valgum or genu varum with eight-plate hemiepiphysiodesis were analyzed retrospectively. All consecutive patients at various ages with miscellaneous diagnoses were included. JOA and ISA were measured before and after correction. After review of the X-rays, statistical analyses were performed which included Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analyses. Results There were 53 segments of 30 patients included in the study. Eighteen were males, and 12 were females. Mean age at surgery was 9.1 (range 3–17). Mean follow-up time was 21.5 (range, 7–46) months. The diagnoses were diverse. A strong correlation was found between the delta JOA (d-JOA) and delta ISA (d-ISA) of the eight-plate hemiepiphysiodesis construct (r = 0.759 (0.615–0.854, 95%CI), p < 0.001). This correlation was independent of the age and gender of the patient. Conclusions There is a strong correlation between the d-ISA and the d-JOA. The d-ISA follows the d-JOA at a predictable amount through formulas which regression analysis yielded. This study confirms the clinical observation of the diverging angle between the screws is in correlation with the correction of the JOA. Level of evidence Level IV, Therapeutic study.PubMedWoSScopu

Reliability and validity study of Turkish version of Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile

Introduction: The evaluation and treatment of sensory processing disorders are significant fields of interest for occupational therapy. The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) questionnaire is used for sensory evaluation of adults to measure sensory experiences, including auditory, visual, taste/smell, touch, movement, and activity level. The aim of the study was to study the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the AASP

INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT FINAL ROOT CANAL IRRIGATION REGIMENS ON THE PUSH-OUT BOND STRENGTH OF AH PLUS

Amaç: Son yıkamada kullanılan farklı kök kanal irrigasyon solüsyonlarının epoksi rezin esaslı kök kanal dolgu patının (AH Plus), kök kanal dentinine bağlanma dayanımı üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektir. Materyal Metod: Kırk sekiz adet tek kanallı, alt çene, ön ve yan keser diş kullanılmıştır. Şekillendirme sırasında örnekler %2,5'luk sodyum hipoklorit ile irrige edilmiş, solüsyonuna göre örnekler rastgele 4 gruba ayrılmıştır (n = 12): Grup 1: 5 ml %17 etilendiamintetraasetik asit (EDTA); Grup 2: 5 ml %17 EDTA ardından 5 ml %2 klorheksidin glukonat (CHX), Grup 3: 5 ml QMix; ve Grup 4: kontrol grubu olarak 5 ml distile su. Tüm örnekler güta-perka ve AH Plus ile doldurulmuştur. Bağlanma dayanımı testi için her örnekten 1 mm kalınlığında dörder kesit elde edilmiştir. Bağlanma dayanımı verileri tek yönlü Anova ve Bonferroni testleri ile analiz edilmiştir (p <0,05). Bulgular: EDTA/CHX ile irrige edilen örneklerde bağlanma dayanımı değerleri istatistiksel olarak daha yüksek solüsyonlarından bağımsız olarak örneklerin çoğunda koheziv başarısızlık gözlenmiştir. Sonuçlar: Son yıkamada %17 EDTA'yı takiben %2 CHX kullanımı AH Plus'ın bağlanma dayanımı değerlerini arttırmıştır. Son yıkamada EDTA ve CHX ayrı ayrı uygulamak AH Plus'ın bağlanma dayanımını, içeriğinde EDTA ve CHX barındıran QMix'e göre daha olumlu etkilemiştirAim: To evaluate influence of different final irrigation regimens on bond-strength of epoxy resin based sealer (AH Plus). Material and method: Forty-eight mandibular incisors were irrigated with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite during and after completion of root canal preparation. Roots were divided into 4 groups (n = 12) according to the final irrigation regimens: Group 1: 5 mL 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); Group 2: 5 mL 17% EDTA followed by 5 mL 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX); Group 3: 5 mL QMix; and Group 4: 5 mL distilled water as control. All specimens were filled with gutta-percha (GP) and AH Plus. One-millimeter thick four horizontal sections from each root were sliced for bond-strength measurement. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way Anova and Bonferroni tests (p<0.05). Results: Specimens that were irrigated with EDTA/CHX displayed significantly the highest mean bond strength value (p<0.001). Specimens mainly showed a cohesive failure pattern, regardless of final irrigation regime. Conclusion: Using 2% CHX in the final irrigation after 17% EDTA was improved AH Plus’s bond-strength. Final irrigation with EDTA followed by CHX was more effective at improving bond strength of AH Plus compared to QMix that consists EDTA and CH

The Use Of Diagnostic Imaging In Low Back Or Leg Pain

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the imaging method preferences of physicians working in different clinics and departments for the patients suffering from low back and/or leg pain. Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, the radiological imaging types of 900 patients (301 males, 599 females; mean age 46.8 +/- 17.1 years; range 2 to 89 years) with low back and/or radicular leg pain who were admitted for the first time to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), Orthopedics and Traumatology (OT), and Neurosurgery (NS) clinics in our hospital between July 2013 and August 2014 were reviewed. Age, sex, and radiological methods applied were recorded. The correlation between radiological methods and differences in terms of age and sex and how the radiological method preferences differed according to the departments were evaluated. Results: Of the patients, 22%, 35% and 34.7% were evaluated without using any imaging methods in the OT, PMR, and NS outpatient clinics, respectively. A total of 32.7%, 48.7%, and 8.7% of the patients were evaluated using lumbar X-ray in the OT, PMR, and NS outpatient clinics, respectively. A total of 19.3%, 11.7%, and 54.3% of the patients were evaluated using the lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the OT, PMR, and NS outpatient clinics, respectively. There were no statistically significant correlations between the age, sex, and imaging modality used. Conclusion: Our study results showed that the most common imaging tool which is used by the physicians in the PMR and OT clinics is lumbar X-ray, while the lumbar MRI is the most common tool in the NS clinics. However, we recommend that not only the medical, but ethical aspects and cost-effectiveness of the imaging modality to be selected should be considered.WoSScopu

Augmentation Of Antipsychotic Treatment With Memantine In Patients With Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

Objective: Many patients with schizophrenia respond partially to treatment with antipsychotic medications. A wide range of pharmaceutical agents are utilized as augmentation therapy in order to increase the efficacy of antipsychotic medication treatment. Memantine, a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist is one of these add-on agents. In this study we aimed to assess the efficacy of memantine augmentation by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis on the psychopathology of patients with schizophrenia receving antipsychotic medication. Method: We analyzed the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of memantine add-on treatment given to schizophrenia patients receiving antipsychotic medications. The primary outcome measure was amelioration of negative symptoms and the secondary outcome measures were amelioration of positive, total and general psycopathology symptoms. Publication bias was evaluated by the Funnel plot and Egger test. Results: Eleven studies on a total of 570 cases were included. Although memantine add-on treatment was superior to placebo for ameliorating negative symptoms (SMD=0.596, 95% CI=0.075-1.118, p=0.025), there were not any statistically significant differences in the amelioration of general psycopathology (SMD=0.034, 95% CI=0.419-0.488, p=0.883), the positive (SMD=-0.041, 95% CI=0.217-0.135, p=0.650) and the overall symptoms. (SMD=0.315, 95% CI=0.256-0.887, p=0.280). Publication bias was not observed between studies according to the results of the Funnel plots and Egger tests. Conclusion: Memantine augmentation treatment is beneficial for treating particularly the negative symptoms of schizophrenia patients. Further studies on the subject with larger sample size and longer follow-up durations are needed.WoSScopu