Category: Statistics

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2026 Feb 2:djag027. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djag027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Men with suspected prostate cancer (PCa) undergo MRI before biopsy. However, about 30-50% of MRIs are negative (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score 1-2), representing a challenge for MRI resource utilization. This study evaluates PCa-polygenic risk scores (PRS) and clinical markers to optimize MRI utilization.

METHODS: In this prospective study, 500 cancer-suspected men of Western European descent scheduled for MRI (09/2017-12/2022) were enrolled. Exclusions included prior PCa diagnosis, missing serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or PSA levels ≥25 ng/mL/cc. Patient-specific PCa-PRS were calculated using genotype data obtained from saliva-derived DNA samples. Participants were grouped as MRI-negative and -positive (PI-RADS score 3-5). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and to build multivariable risk models, including age, PSA, and PRS for MRI-positivity. Clinical utility was tested in a hold-out test set using decision curve analysis.

RESULTS: 386 men (median age: 65, interquartile range: 53-77) were eligible for analysis, which showed highly significant associations between PCa-PRS (OR 1.56 (95% CI: 1.23-1.98); p<.001) with MRI-positivity, while PSA alone did not (OR 1.17 (0.93-1.46); p=.18). The highest net benefit was shown using a multivariable age and PCa-PRS model, increasing the proportion of MRI-positive men by 14% compared to PSA alone (60%/46%; p=.011).

CONCLUSIONS: Genotype-informed risk stratification using PCa-PRS could increase the proportion of cancer-suspicious findings at MRI, while identifying those who could safely avoid unnecessary MRI.

PMID:41629765 | DOI:10.1093/jnci/djag027

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1007/s10815-026-03818-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Can sperm selection through cumulus cells improve embryo quality compared to conventional methods, and is its effectiveness influenced by parental age?

METHODS: This prospective clinical trial included 99 ICSI cycles from 95 couples. Sibling oocytes were randomly allocated at the oocyte level to either the study group (cumulus cell-mediated sperm selection after conventional density gradients centrifugation (DGC), 554 oocytes) or the control group (only sperm selection by DGC, 543 oocytes), using a dish designed to facilitate sperm interaction with cumulus cells. The inclusion criteria for this study were patients using their own oocytes, with a medical indication for ICSI, who had at least 6 mature oocytes (MII) in that cycle. For semen samples, inclusion required the ability to adjust the concentration to 10 million/mL. Exclusion criteria included the use of vitrified oocytes, donated oocytes, and semen samples obtained by testicular biopsy or aspiration. Embryo quality was assessed at the blastocyst stage on day 5 according to ASEBIR. A subanalysis evaluated the influence of parental age on outcomes.

RESULTS: The study group showed a significantly higher proportion of good-quality day-5 blastocysts compared to controls (55.2% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.028). No statistically significant differences were observed in overall blastocyst formation or pregnancy rates, although favourable trends were noted. In an age-stratified analysis, a significant improvement in day-5 blastocyst quality among evaluable blastocysts was observed in women aged 40-45 (51.4% vs. 30.4%, p = 0.017), with a non-significant trend toward improved outcomes in men aged 40-53 (44.7% vs. 32.6%, p = 0.083). No differences were seen in younger age groups.

CONCLUSION: Cumulus cell-mediated sperm selection after DGC using a specialized Oosafe® ICSI Dish with Sperm Selection Channels was associated with an increased proportion of good-quality day 5 blastocysts compared with conventional sperm preparation. While clinical outcomes did not differ significantly, these findings suggest a potential benefit in specific ART subpopulations, particularly those of advanced maternal age. Further adequately powered studies are required to confirm these observations and to determine their impact on clinical outcomes.

PMID:41629736 | DOI:10.1007/s10815-026-03818-0

Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1245/s10434-026-19137-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The optimal size of circular staplers for esophagojejunostomy remains a subject of debate, with concerns that smaller staplers may increase the risk of postoperative complications and impair quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of circular stapler size and anastomotic lumen diameter, measured via postoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging, on patient-reported quality of life following esophagojejunostomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included patients who underwent esophagojejunostomy using circular staplers. Anastomotic lumen diameter was measured using postoperative CT imaging. Quality of life was assessed at a 6-month follow-up using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-STO22 and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scales. Outcomes were compared across stapler sizes and corresponding lumen diameters.

RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in EORTC QLQ-STO22 or ECOG scores were observed between stapler size groups. Additionally, anastomotic lumen diameter showed no correlation with quality-of-life outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Smaller circular staplers, often used due to intraoperative anatomical limitations, do not adversely affect postoperative quality of life. These findings suggest that insisting on larger stapler sizes may be unnecessary and that smaller staplers can be used safely when indicated.

PMID:41629691 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-026-19137-8

Mol Syst Biol. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1038/s44320-026-00192-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

DNA bendability plays a critical role in stabilizing nucleosome assembly, yet its contribution to nucleosome dynamics in vivo remains poorly understood. Here, we applied chemical mapping to generate high-resolution nucleosome positioning maps at single-base-pair resolution from human interphase and metaphase chromosomes, revealing distinct patterns of nucleosome organization between the two states. Notably, we observed a unifying pattern of nucleosome positioning near euchromatic landmarks, including promoters, enhancers, and insulators, during mitosis. Interphase nucleosomes exhibited extensive repositioning, marked by increased nucleosome density, reduced spacing between nucleosomes, and the appearance of additional fragile nucleosomes compared to metaphase. Furthermore, our results show that metaphase nucleosomes display significantly higher DNA cyclizability around the dyad axis, whereas interphase nucleosomes, particularly those near regulatory regions, tend to position DNA with greater cyclizability at the edges of the nucleosome. Together, these findings highlight a dynamic interplay between DNA mechanics and nucleosome organization during the cell cycle.

PMID:41629637 | DOI:10.1038/s44320-026-00192-y

Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-38332-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of a novel dual-wavelength low-energy laser versus a traditional single-wavelength system on the repair of experimental osteochondral defects in the rabbit temporomandibular joint. Twenty-two adult male New Zealand White rabbits were utilized for this investigation. An osteochondral defect was created in the temporomandibular joint of the experimental group rabbits using a handpiece and a drill. Rabbits in the control group did not receive any regenerative treatment. Experimental animals in Group 1 (Epic10 laser) were treated with a single wavelength conventional laser, while a new generation dual wavelength low energy laser was applied in Group 2 (GRR laser). After the laser application protocol, joint samples were taken from the rabbits. They were sent to the pathology unit for pathological examination. The histopathological assessment focused on several key parameters: the defect filling ratio, reconstruction of the osteochondral junction, cellular morphology, and matrix staining. Defect filling, osteochondral junction, and cellular morphology were higher in Group 2 (GRR laser) compared to the other groups. However, the findings were not statistically significant. (p > 0.05). Matrix staining differed significantly among the groups (p = 0.027). According to matrix staining scores, Group 2 (GRR laser) treatment showed the highest success rate. Within the limits of this study, low-energy laser therapy shows more favorable histological trends in osteochondral defects of the rabbit temporomandibular joint.

PMID:41629590 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-38332-x

Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-35804-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The presence of noisy, redundant, and irrelevant features in high-dimensional datasets significantly degrades the performance of classification models. Feature selection is a critical pre-processing step to mitigate this issue by identifying an optimal feature subset. While the Generalized Normal Distribution Optimization (GNDO) algorithm has shown promise in various domains, its efficacy for feature selection is hampered by premature convergence and an imbalance between exploration and exploitation. This paper proposes a Binary Adaptive GNDO (BAGNDO) framework to overcome these limitations. BAGNDO integrates three key strategies: an Adaptive Cauchy Reverse Learning (ACRL) mechanism to enhance population diversity, an Elite Pool Strategy to balance the search process, and a Gaussian Distribution-based Worst-solution Repair (GDWR) method to improve exploitation. The performance of BAGNDO was rigorously evaluated against nine state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms on 18 UCI benchmark datasets. The results demonstrate the superior efficacy of BAGNDO, which achieved the highest classification accuracy with the most compact feature subsets in 14 out of 18 datasets. Statistical analysis, including the Wilcoxon signed-rank and Friedman tests, confirmed that BAGNDO’s performance is significantly better, establishing it as a robust and efficient solution for wrapper-based feature selection.

PMID:41629550 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-35804-y

Nat Neurosci. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1038/s41593-025-02187-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

What are the foundations of visual categories in the human brain? Although infant looking behavior characterizes the development of overt categorization, it cannot measure neural representation or distinguish the underlying mechanism. For this, we need rich neuroimaging from young infants and the capacity to apply advanced computational models of vision. In this study, we conducted an awake functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study of more than 100 2-month-old infants, with follow-ups at 9 months, finding that categorical structure is present in high-level visual cortex from 2 months of age. This precedes its emergence in lateral visual cortex, suggesting non-hierarchical development of category representations. A deep neural network model aligned with infants’ representational geometry, indicating that the features comprising infants’ category template span a range of complexities and can be learned from the statistics of visual input. Our results reveal the existence of complex function in ventral visual cortex at 2 months of age and describe the early development of category perception.

PMID:41629539 | DOI:10.1038/s41593-025-02187-8

Odontology. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1007/s10266-026-01332-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Pit and fissure sealants (PFS) are effective in preventing occlusal caries. This randomized split-mouth clinical study aimed to compare the 18-month clinical performance of the bioactive resin-based PFS (BioCoat™) with a fluoride-containing conventional resin-based PFS (Fissurit FX) and to assess the influence of patient-related factors on material success. Sixty-three pediatric patients (aged 7-9) requiring non-invasive PFS were included. BioCoat™ (Group 1) and Fissurit FX (Group 2) were applied to contralateral mandibular permanent first molars. Clinical evaluations were performed at 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, and 18th months using modified USPHS criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and logistic regression were applied. At 18 months, success rates were 90.2% for BioCoat™ and 88.2% for Fissurit FX, with no statistically significant difference between groups (p > 0.05). Both materials showed similar performance in marginal discoloration-adaptation, retention and secondary caries (p > 0.05). Median survival times were 17.72 months (BioCoat™) and 17.49 months (Fissurit FX), showing no significant difference (p = 0.744). No significant effect of patient-related factors on material success was determined (p > 0.05). BioCoat™ demonstrated comparable long-term clinical performance to Fissurit FX. Its bioactive properties may provide additional preventive benefits, supporting its safe use in pediatric dentistry.

PMID:41629532 | DOI:10.1007/s10266-026-01332-4

Transl Stroke Res. 2026 Feb 3;17(1):22. doi: 10.1007/s12975-026-01417-w.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41629521 | DOI:10.1007/s12975-026-01417-w

Int J Colorectal Dis. 2026 Feb 2;41(1):54. doi: 10.1007/s00384-026-05098-7.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This long-term follow-up study evaluates clinical and functional outcomes after ileocecal resection with either Kono-S or conventional anastomosis techniques in patients with Crohn’s disease. The goal was to determine whether the Kono-S approach confers a long-term advantage in preventing disease recurrence and improving quality of life. While the Kono-S anastomosis has shown promise in reducing recurrence rates in Crohn’s disease following surgery, most existing evidence stems from short- to medium-term follow-up. High-quality long-term data remain scarce, particularly in real-world clinical settings. This study aims to fill that gap.

METHODS: A retrospective-prospective cohort analysis was performed including patients who underwent ileocecal resection for Crohn’s disease between 2015 and 2017 at a single academic center. Patients were grouped according to anastomosis technique (Kono-S vs. conventional). Long-term follow-up data were obtained via chart review, imaging studies, and patient-reported questionnaires, including the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). Primary outcomes included recurrence rates, postoperative complications, and quality of life.

RESULTS: Seventy patients were included in the final analysis (Kono-S: n = 31; conventional: n = 39). The median follow-up duration was 8.1 years (interquartile range = 6.9-8.8 years). No significant differences were observed between groups regarding endoscopic inflammation (Kono-S = 19.4%, conventional = 25.6%, p = 0.39), restenosis (Kono-S = 9.7%, conventional = 2.6%, p = 0.34), or GIQLI scores (Kono-S: median 116 vs. 110, p = 0.08). Rehospitalization rates were numerically higher in the Kono-S group (16.1% vs. 2.6%, p = 1.0), but not statistically significant. Importantly, approximately 40% of all patients retrospectively stated they would have preferred earlier surgical intervention, independent of the anastomotic technique.

CONCLUSION: After more than 7 years of follow-up, the Kono-S anastomosis demonstrates comparable long-term outcomes to conventional techniques in terms of recurrence, complications, and quality of life. Patient reflections suggest a potential benefit of earlier surgical intervention, highlighting the need for more proactive surgical referral in gastroenterological practice.

PMID:41629511 | DOI:10.1007/s00384-026-05098-7