Gee-logit model corrected biplots with harvest effects on coffee beans grading

In a granulometric analysis of coffee beans with different categories of defects, the data can be organized in contingency tables, and when considering the discrimination by harvest, they may have a structure that suggest a more complex model, by means of the counting of defective coffee beans compared to different crops interacting with the classification of defects and percentages of sieve grains, which characterizes a block design with multivariate responses. However, due to the techniques based on the analysis of variance, considering the uniform correlation structure for all plots, it becomes feasible to propose a model that allows contemplating different structures between the plots, associating the effects of the crops to the defects in the granulometric procedure applied to the coffee beans. Thus, the hypothesis of incorporating the effects of crops associated with defects arises using the biplot multivariate technique. This work aims to propose the use of corrected biplots by predictions obtained trhough the fit to the Generalized Linear Model in the coffee grain size classification, broken down by components of the effect of the harvests. In conclusion, the use of GEE models with the corrected biplot technique by the predictions is feasible for application to be applied to the granulometric analysis of defective coffee beans, presenting discrimination regarding the effects of harvests.

Peripheral blood indicators in medical radiation workers in Yangpu District of Shanghai， 2017-2019 / 上海预防医学

Objective:To explore the impact of occupational ionizing radiation exposure on blood indicators including white blood cell（ WBC）， red blood cell （RBC）， hemoglobin （Hb）， platelet （PLT） were analyzed. Methods:A total of 237 medical radiation workers in Yangpu district， Shanghai were recruited and divided into observation group and control group， according to individual average dose of external exposure. The annual effective dose in observation group was 0.357 7-4.704 3 mSv， and the median dose was 0.536 8 mSv （0.441 2-0.893 8）. The annual effective dose in control group was 0.031 2-0.350 8 mSv， and the median dose was 0.199 2 mSv （0.143 8-0.252 8）. Routine blood tests were conducted twice in the occupational health examinations from 2017 to 2019 and the results were collected. Chi-square test， Mann-Whitney U test， and generalized estimating equations （GEE） model were used for statistical analysis. Results:Compared to the first examination， the risk of having abnormal Hb increased （OR=1.029， 95%CI： 1.006-1.053）. After adjusting the factors of age， gender， seniority and exposure time， the risk of Hb abnormality in the observation group was lower than that in the control group （OR=0.422， 95%CI：0.198-0.898）. There was no significant difference between the observation and control groups in the risk of abnormal WBC， RBC， and PLT. Conclusion:Exposure to occupational ionizing radiation may increase the risk of abnormal Hb， while there is no significant change in WBC， RBC and PLT. Radiation workers should have full protection at work and be under appropriate occupational health management.

Factors associated with mortality from tuberculosis in Iran: an application of a generalized estimating equation-based zero-inflated negative binomial model to national registry data / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem that causes morbidity and mortality in millions of people per year. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of potential risk factors with TB mortality in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 9,151 patients with TB from March 2017 to March 2018 in Iran. Data were gathered from all 429 counties of Iran by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and Statistical Center of Iran. In this study, a generalized estimating equation-based zero-inflated negative binomial model was used to determine the effect of related factors on TB mortality at the community level. For data analysis, R version 3.4.2 was used with the relevant packages. RESULTS: The risk of mortality from TB was found to increase with the unemployment rate (β

Factors associated with mortality from tuberculosis in Iran: an application of a generalized estimating equation-based zero-inflated negative binomial model to national registry data / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem that causes morbidity and mortality in millions of people per year. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of potential risk factors with TB mortality in Iran.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 9,151 patients with TB from March 2017 to March 2018 in Iran. Data were gathered from all 429 counties of Iran by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and Statistical Center of Iran. In this study, a generalized estimating equation-based zero-inflated negative binomial model was used to determine the effect of related factors on TB mortality at the community level. For data analysis, R version 3.4.2 was used with the relevant packages.RESULTS: The risk of mortality from TB was found to increase with the unemployment rate (β

Effects on human peripheral erythrocytes of long-term occupational contact with chromate / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effects on human peripheral blood erythrocytes of long-term occupational contact with chromate.@*Methods@#A dynamic cohort study was conducted of chromate-exposed workers (343 cases) and non-chromate-exposed workers (73 cases) at a chromate production enterprise who were selected according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria from 2010 to 2015. Personal information and chromate exposure information were obtained by questionnaire. A generalized estimating equation was employed to analyze the effects on human peripheral blood erythrocytes of long-term occupational contact with chromate, controlling for age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index.@*Results@#The mean ages and working ages of those entering the cohort study were 36.67 ±6.78 and 38.47 ± 7.18, respectively, for the exposure group and 8.39 ± 6.02 and 12.86 ± 8.34, respectively, for the control group. The erythrocyte content [(4.73±0.46), (4.81±0.53), (4.41±0.45)]×1012/L in the peripheral blood in the chromate exposure group was lower than that [(4.76±0.42), (4.95±0.45), (4.47±0.39)]×1012/L in the control group for the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 (t values were 0.38, 1.96, 0.92 and 1.21; P values were 0.703, 0.051, 0.358 and 0.227, respectively). The correlations between the years 2010 and 2011, 2011 and 2012, 2012 and 2014, and 2014 and 2015 were 0.667, 0.464,-0.070 and 0.020, respectively (P<0.001). The RR for males and those that consumed alcohol were 0.661 (95% CI: 0.616-0.709) and 0.910 (95% CI: 0.811- 1.201), respectively. Compared with the control group, the risk of reduced erythrocyte levels in the peripheral blood was increased by 0.915 (95% CI: 0.852- 0.982) in the chromate-exposed group.@*Conclusions@#The erythrocyte content of peripheral blood was reduced after long-term exposure to chromate. Maleness and alcohol consumption were factors that increased the risk of reduced peripheral blood erythrocytes in the chromate-exposed population.

Depressive symptoms and related factors among primary and middle school students in Changfeng county of Anhui province:a two-year longitudinal study / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms,trends on its longitudinal development and related influencing factors among primary and middle school students in Changfeng county of Anhui province. Methods Through cluster sampling methods,all students from 3 to 9 grades in 5 primary schools and 3 middle schools in Changfeng county of Anhui province were investigated through questionnaire as subjects of baseline survey in December 2009. Subjects of this longitudinal study were students in grades 3,4 and 7 at the time of the baseline survey and were contacted once a year for two years. At last,a total of 816 students participated in all the three surveys. A structured questionnaire including Children’s Depression Inventory,socio-demographic characteristics and some potential influential factors was employed for this study. A Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) was used to evaluate the related influencing factors of children’s depressive symptoms in the longitudinal study. Results Prevalence rates of depressive symptoms were 11.3%,10.4% and 8.5%,respectively,at the baseline,1-year and 2-year follow-up studies, among primary and middle school students. Scores on depressive symptoms of total subjects and children who had always been left at home in the follow-up process showed significant differences at the three surveys (F=13.423,P<0.001;F=5.761,P=0.003). 25 percent of the 92 students who showed depressive symptoms at the baseline survey remained those depressive symptoms at the 1-year follow-up study and 87 percent of the 23 students who had depressive symptoms at the baseline and 1-year follow-up surveys still showing depressive symptoms at the 2-year follow-up study. Results from the GEE program indicated that grade 3 students,having syblings,family with dysfunction or at low level of self-esteem etc.,were prone to development while sex and parents’ educational level were not correlated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion Prevalence of depressive symptoms among primary and middle school students in Changfeng county of Anhui province appeared a decreasing tendency during the follow-up process in our study. Through the longitudinal development,we noticed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms seemed to be related to the personal characteristics,education and family environment of the subjects under our study. Improving the level of family function as well as individual’s self-esteem might positively contribute to mental health of those primary and middle school students.

Depressive symptoms and related factors among primary and middle school students in Changfeng county of Anhui province:a two-year longitudinal study / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms,trends on its longitudinal development and related influencing factors among primary and middle school students in Changfeng county of Anhui province. Methods Through cluster sampling methods,all students from 3 to 9 grades in 5 primary schools and 3 middle schools in Changfeng county of Anhui province were investigated through questionnaire as subjects of baseline survey in December 2009. Subjects of this longitudinal study were students in grades 3,4 and 7 at the time of the baseline survey and were contacted once a year for two years. At last,a total of 816 students participated in all the three surveys. A structured questionnaire including Children’s Depression Inventory,socio-demographic characteristics and some potential influential factors was employed for this study. A Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) was used to evaluate the related influencing factors of children’s depressive symptoms in the longitudinal study. Results Prevalence rates of depressive symptoms were 11.3%,10.4% and 8.5%,respectively,at the baseline,1-year and 2-year follow-up studies, among primary and middle school students. Scores on depressive symptoms of total subjects and children who had always been left at home in the follow-up process showed significant differences at the three surveys (F=13.423,P<0.001;F=5.761,P=0.003). 25 percent of the 92 students who showed depressive symptoms at the baseline survey remained those depressive symptoms at the 1-year follow-up study and 87 percent of the 23 students who had depressive symptoms at the baseline and 1-year follow-up surveys still showing depressive symptoms at the 2-year follow-up study. Results from the GEE program indicated that grade 3 students,having syblings,family with dysfunction or at low level of self-esteem etc.,were prone to development while sex and parents’ educational level were not correlated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion Prevalence of depressive symptoms among primary and middle school students in Changfeng county of Anhui province appeared a decreasing tendency during the follow-up process in our study. Through the longitudinal development,we noticed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms seemed to be related to the personal characteristics,education and family environment of the subjects under our study. Improving the level of family function as well as individual’s self-esteem might positively contribute to mental health of those primary and middle school students.

Efficacy of levosimendan on cardiac function of patients with decompensated heart failure / 中国综合临床

Objective To evaluate the improvement effect of levosimendan by vein injection on short term cardiac function of patients with decompensated heart failure.Methods One hundred and sixty patients admitted due to heart failure were randomly divided into levosimendan group and control group (80 subjects for each group).Patients in control group were given a regular therapy including diuretics,vasodilators (including the recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide),angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI) or angiotensin Ⅱ receptorantagonists(ARB),β blockers,spironolactone and stain.Patients in levosimendan were administered levosimendan for 24 hours plus regular therapy.The improvements of dyspnoea in 9 days and cardiac function classification in 30 days after therapy were assessed.Mortality of 1 month and 3 month in two group were calculated and compared during follow-up.Results The dyspnoea improvement rate was superior than that of control group during 9 days (OR =1.956,95％ CI:1.156-3.310,P =0.013).The improvements in the levosimendan group were better than in the control group at 1 st day (OR =2.261,95 ％ CI:1.280-3.999,P =0.005),at 3rd (OR =2.002,95 ％ CI:1.111-3.607,P =0.021) and 5th day (OR =1.846,95 ％ CI:1.009 -3.377,P =0.047).However,there was no significant difference in term of improving dyspnoea between the levosimendan group and the control group at 9th day (P =0.126).Similarly,the improvement of cardiac function classification in the levosimendan group was superior than the control group during 30 days (OR =1.933,95％ CI:1.229-3.040,P =0.004).Although no significant difference was seen regarding of improving cardiac function classification between the two groups at 30th day after treatment (P =0.115),the improvements in the levosimendan group were better than in the control group at 3rd (OR =1.986,95％ CI:1.195-3.300,P =0.008),5th (OR =2.268,95 ％ CI:1.329-3.873,P =0.003),9th (OR =2.627,95 ％ CI:1.419-4.860,P =0.002) and 14th day(OR =2.212,95％ CI:1.189-4.112,P =0.012).Moreover,there was a nonsignificant reduction in terms of mortality in levosimendan group during 1-month and 3-month follow-up compared with control group (P ＞ 0.05).Condusion Levosimendan can effectively improve the short-term cardiac function in patients with decompensated heart failure.

The Effects of Carvedilol, a Vasodilating β-adrenoceptor Blocker, on the Quality of Life in Hypertensive Patients / 薬剤疫学

Objective : Carvedilol is a non-selective β blocker with an α blocking activity. Since this drug is highly fat-soluble, it can pass through the blood-brain barrier, and thus may induce depression and lower QOL. In the present study, physicians and pharmacists collaborated to evaluate the antihypertension effect of carvedilol and post-administration changes in QOL. Furthermore, the relationship between QOL and antihypertension effect was analyzed.<BR>Design : Self-controlled study.<BR>Patients and Methods : Subjects were outpatients with hypertension above the age of 70 years who visited one of 42 medical institutions in Japan between April 1995 and March 1996. A total of 243 patients were registered, and 10-20 mg of carvedilol was administered once a day for six months. Pharmacists assessed the QOL of these patients by asking 82 questions on three separate occasions : before administration and one and six months after administration. The antihypertensive effect of this drug was investigated in patients in whom all three QOL questionnaires were collected. The main test items were antihypertensive effect, changes in QOL (subjective QOL with a special emphasis on patient psychology), and the relationship between antihypertensive effect and QOL. The antihypertensive effect of this drug was statistically analyzed by a paired t-test, and changes in QOL were statistically analyzed using generalized estimating equations.<BR>Results : All three QOL questionnaires were collected from a total of 146 patients. Their pre-administration systolic blood pressure was 159.6±1.4 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure 94.0±0.9 mmHg, and their blood pressure decreased significantly one month after the start of administration. This antihypertensive effect of carvedilol persisted, and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of these patients six months after the start of administration was 141.1±1.2 and 85.2±0.7 mmHg, respectively (significant decreases when compared to pre-administration levels ; both p<0.05).<BR>Subjective QOL improved significantly after carvedilol administration. And, changes were not seen in sexual function. Changes in the five categories of subjective QOL were as follows : psychological stability, disease-induced inconvenience, and independence improved significantly after carvedilol administration, but changes were not seen in gratification or vitality. However, improvements in subjective QOL did not correlate with improvements in blood pressure.<BR>Conclusions : The results of the present study showed that carvedilol improved QOL without negatively affecting sexual function. Subjective QOL reflects the psychological well-being of patients. In the present study, psychological stability, disease-induced inconvenience, and independence improved significantly, but changes were not seen in gratification or vitality. Since β blockers can suppress the central nervous system, they can reduce psychological stability, gratification and vitality. Even though carvedilol is highly fat-soluble, the results of non-clinical studies have shown that it does not suppress the central nervous system as much as propranolol. The results of the present study showed that carvedilol does not strongly suppress the central nervous system of humans. Moreover, significant changes in QOL were not seen between one and six months after the start of administration of carvedilol, suggesting that it is possible to estimate the QOL of patients on antihypertensive therapy after six months of administration by assessing their QOL one month after administration.