Choice of y-axis can mislead readers

Erdogan, Betül R; Vollert, Jan; Michel, Martin C.

doi:10.1007/s00210-020-01926-x

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Data are expressed as mean ± SD and shown as bar graphs overlaid with scatter plots for increased transparency [49]. To avoid misleading y-axis scaling, all y-axes start at 0 [50]. All statistical analyses were performed with Prism (version 9, GraphPad, La Jolla, CA, USA).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Low-Dose Empagliflozin on Cardiac Function and Β-Adrenoceptor Responses in a Rat Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Yesilyurt¹,

Karaomerlioglu²,

Erdogan³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Diabetes mellitus leads to cardiovascular complications including impaired cardiac β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) function. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, such as empagliflozin (EMPA) improve outcomes in heart failure patients and animal models thereof. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of EMPA on in vivo cardiac function (pressure-volume loop analysis) and β-AR-mediated contractile responses (papillary strips) in streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg/kg, i.p.)-induced diabes in male Sprague Dawley rats (control, EMPA-treated control, diabetic, EMPA-treated diabetic) in a design reflecting late-onset treatment. 13-16 weeks after STZ injection treatment with a low dose of EMPA (10 mg/kg/day, daily oral gavage) or vehicle was administered for another 8 weeks. EMPA did not change cardiac function in control rats. Diabetic rats had a reduced heart rate, cardiac output, stroke work, rate of contration and rate of relaxation and increased isovolumic relaxation, whereas in vitro responses were not markedly attenuated. Treatment with EMPA showed a trend for improvement of some but not all parameters. Our results indicate that low dose EMPA treatment had limited effects on cardiac impairment despite reducing blood glucose when initiated after diabetes is manifest. Future studies with a higher dose and greater sample sizes could help to clarify the possible benefits of EMPA on the diabetic heart.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Low-Dose Empagliflozin on Cardiac Function and Β-Adrenoceptor Responses in a Rat Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

Yesilyurt¹,

Karaomerlioglu²,

Erdogan³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…We arbitrarily assumed that a sex difference of >10% could be considered as biologically relevant. Based on previous recommendation ( Erdogan et al, 2020 ), we used the same y-axis spread for all graphs showing a parameter to avoid bias in reporting.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of urinary bladder weight in male and female mice across five models of diabetes and obesity

et al. 2023

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Introduction: Diabetes often leads to lower urinary tract dysfunction. The most frequently assessed parameter of urinary bladder dysfunction in animal models of diabetes is an enlargement of the bladder, which is consistently observed in type 1 and less consistently in type 2 diabetes. The vast majority of studies on bladder weight in animal models of diabetes and obesity has been performed in males, and no studies have directly compared this outcome parameter between sexes.Methods: Therefore, we have compared bladder weight and bladder/body weight ratio in five mouse models of obesity and diabetes (RIP-LCMV, db/db, ob/ob (two studies), insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) knock-out mice and mice on a high-fat diet; pre-specified secondary analysis of a previously reported study).Results: In a pooled analysis of the control groups of all studies, females exhibited slightly lower glucose levels, lower body weight, and lower bladder weight, but bladder/body weight ratio was similar in both sexes (0.957 vs. 0.986 mg/g, mean difference 0.029 [−0.06; 0.118]). Among the six diabetic/obese groups, bladder/body weight ratio was similar in both sexes in three but smaller in female mice in three other groups. The mRNA expression of a panel of genes implied in the pathophysiology of bladder enlargement and/or fibrosis and inflammation did not differ systematically between sexes.Conclusions: We conclude that sex differences in diabetes/obesity-associated bladder enlargement may be model dependent.

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“…An alarmingly high fraction of published research in experimental biomedicine has been found not to be reproducible or replicable (Freedman et al 2015). Other than biases at the level of study planning and conduct, data analysis, and reporting (Szafir 2018;Erdogan et al 2020;Vollert et al 2020), a poor understanding and inappropriate use of statistical analysis is a prevalent cause of poor reproducibility of findings in the experimental life sciences (Colquhoun 2019;Wasserstein et al 2019;Michel et al 2020). As highlighted very recently, inappropriate use of statistical approaches could even lead to the invalidation of issued patents (Curfman et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A teaching tool about the fickle p value and other statistical principles based on real-life data

Alawbathani

Batool

Fleckhaus

et al. 2021

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol

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A poor understanding of statistical analysis has been proposed as a key reason for lack of replicability of many studies in experimental biomedicine. While several authors have demonstrated the fickleness of calculated p values based on simulations, we have experienced that such simulations are difficult to understand for many biomedical scientists and often do not lead to a sound understanding of the role of variability between random samples in statistical analysis. Therefore, we as trainees and trainers in a course of statistics for biomedical scientists have used real data from a large published study to develop a tool that allows scientists to directly experience the fickleness of p values. A tool based on a commonly used software package was developed that allows using random samples from real data. The tool is described and together with the underlying database is made available. The tool has been tested successfully in multiple other groups of biomedical scientists. It can also let trainees experience the impact of randomness, sample sizes and choice of specific statistical test on measured p values. We propose that live exercises based on real data will be more impactful in the training of biomedical scientists on statistical concepts.

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Choice of y-axis can mislead readers

Cited by 3 publications

References 13 publications

The Effects of Low-Dose Empagliflozin on Cardiac Function and Β-Adrenoceptor Responses in a Rat Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

The Effects of Low-Dose Empagliflozin on Cardiac Function and Β-Adrenoceptor Responses in a Rat Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes

A comparison of urinary bladder weight in male and female mice across five models of diabetes and obesity

A teaching tool about the fickle p value and other statistical principles based on real-life data

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