Category: Statistics

Surg Innov. 2026 May 29:15533506261455385. doi: 10.1177/15533506261455385. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundDisposal of unused surgical items exacerbates the environmental footprint and costs of hospitals. Surgeon preference cards (SPCs), which specify equipment needed for surgeries, impact inventory control and wasted supplies. This study assessed the effect of SPC age on surgical waste and costs, and examined staff attitudes towards SPC systems.MethodsA random selection of elective surgeries was observed in four operating theatres (March – October 2023) at a regional public hospital in New South Wales, Australia. Wasted items per procedure and the age of SPCs were recorded. Waste cost calculations were based on hospital records. An online survey measured perioperative nursing staff and surgeon attitudes. Data analysis involved simple linear regression, descriptive and summary statistics.ResultsData from 35 of 1456 (2.4%) elective surgical procedures showed that 285 single use items were unused (median 2 per procedure, IQR 7). Each year the SPC aged, 1.6 additional items were wasted (95% CI 1.3-1.9, P < 0.01). The total waste from unused single-use items amounted to 22.4 kg (18.7 kg general waste, 1.9 kg sharps waste, and 1.9 kg recycled) and purchase price totalled $3543.07 AUD. Survey respondents (n = 36) expressed mixed opinions about the current SPC system, with concerns about waste, cost, and environmental consequences. They favoured an electronic system for its potential to enhance efficiency and patient safety but noted barriers such as resource constraints and costs.ConclusionUpdating SPCs is an effective strategy to minimise surgical waste and costs. Hospitals using paper based SPCs should consider transitioning to electronic systems for better sustainability.

PMID:42216505 | DOI:10.1177/15533506261455385

J Prosthodont. 2026 May 29. doi: 10.1111/jopr.70176. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Veneers for maxillary premolars are commonly included in treatment plans for patients with a wide smile who request enhancement of all teeth in the smile zone. However, limited data are available regarding the influence of different premolar veneer designs on fracture resistance. Therefore, this in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare the fracture resistance of maxillary premolar veneer preparations with feather-edge (FeV), butt-joint (BuV), preparation extending to the central groove (CeV), and conventional full-coverage crowns (FC) as the control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four maxillary right first premolar typodont teeth were prepared: three for veneer designs (FeV, BuV, and CeV) and one for a full-coverage crown (FC). A total of 60 restorations (n = 15 per group) were milled from lithium disilicate and cemented to printed dies. All restorations underwent artificial aging with 10,000 thermal cycles between 5°C and 55°C, followed by load-to-fracture testing. Fracture resistance values were recorded. Statistical comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey post hoc tests (α = 0.05). In addition, fracture patterns were evaluated descriptively using scanning electron microscope images.

RESULTS: Fracture resistance differed significantly among the veneer and crown groups (p < 0.05). Among the veneers, CeV demonstrated the highest fracture resistance (668 N), followed by BuV (531 N), while FeV showed the lowest values (492 N). The control group (FC) exhibited the highest overall fracture resistance (911 N), exceeding all veneer groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary premolar veneer preparations extending to the central groove demonstrated higher fracture resistance than feather-edge and butt-joint designs. Conventional full-coverage crowns exhibited higher fracture resistance than any veneer design. These findings may guide clinicians in selecting the appropriate veneer preparation design for patients with wide smiles that display premolar teeth.

PMID:42216496 | DOI:10.1111/jopr.70176

Foot Ankle Int. 2026 May 29:10711007261444266. doi: 10.1177/10711007261444266. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the types and rates of early complications following elective percutaneous surgery for hallux valgus (HV) in diabetic (DP) vs non-diabetic (NDP) patients.

METHOD: This retrospective study was conducted at our institution between October 2017 and August 2020. During this period, 874 feet underwent percutaneous surgery for HV correction. All adult diabetic patients with controlled diabetes who underwent percutaneous distal metaphyseal osteotomy and had a minimum follow-up of 6 months were included. For each diabetic patient, 2 age-matched (±1 year) non-diabetic controls were randomly selected. Complications were defined as any deviation from the normal postoperative course and were systematically recorded. This work is a retrospective exploratory analysis of a matched cohort.

RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were analyzed, 25 DP and 50 NDP, with a mean follow-up of 10.8 months (range 6-48) months. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics between groups, except for body mass index and Charlson Comorbidity Index, both of which were significantly higher in the DP group (P < .001 and P = .014, respectively). Although pre- and postoperative functional scale scores did not differ significantly between the groups, the postoperative radiographic angles showed a greater correction in the diabetic group.The overall complication rate was 24% (n = 6) in the DP group and 18% (n = 9) in the NDP group (P = .553). Complications included infection, osteosynthesis discomfort, pseudarthrosis, residual pain, and metatarsalgia. In the DP group, all superficial infections were successfully managed with oral antibiotics.

CONCLUSION: With the available sample size, no statistically significant differences in the overall complication rate were detected between well-controlled diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing minimally invasive hallux valgus surgery. These findings should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, and require confirmation in larger studies.

PMID:42216492 | DOI:10.1177/10711007261444266

Eur J Heart Fail. 2026 May 29:xuag177. doi: 10.1093/ejhf/xuag177. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acoramidis, an oral transthyretin stabilizer that achieves near-complete (≥90%) transthyretin stabilization, demonstrated significant clinical benefit over placebo in participants with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in the phase 3 ATTRibute-CM trial (NCT03860935).

METHODS: Post-hoc exploratory analyses of ATTRibute-CM were performed to evaluate associations between outpatient worsening heart failure (HF) (initiation/escalation of oral loop diuretics) and clinical outcomes, the impact of acoramidis on outpatient worsening HF, and the effect of acoramidis on clinical outcomes adjusting for time-dependent first outpatient worsening HF.

RESULTS: In the modified-intention-to-treat population, 287/611 participants (46.97%) experienced outpatient worsening HF, which was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (ACM)/recurrent cardiovascular hospitalization (CVH) (hazard ratio [HR] 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-2.51), first CVH (HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.95-3.95), ACM (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.14-2.36), and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.08-2.46) through month 30. Acoramidis was associated with a 41% risk reduction of first outpatient worsening HF versus placebo (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.75); Kaplan-Meier curves separated early, nominal statistical significance was first reached at day 30 (HR 0.562, 95% CI 0.317-0.998; p = 0.0492), and sustained nominal statistical significance was achieved at day 134 through month 30. When adjusting for time-dependent first outpatient worsening HF over 30 months, acoramidis reduced the risk of ACM/recurrent CVH and first CVH versus placebo.

CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient worsening HF was associated with clinical outcomes in ATTR-CM. Acoramidis reduced the risk of outpatient worsening HF; effects emerged early and persisted throughout follow-up.

PMID:42216490 | DOI:10.1093/ejhf/xuag177

Am J Mens Health. 2026 May-Jun;20(3):15579883261453361. doi: 10.1177/15579883261453361. Epub 2026 May 29.

ABSTRACT

Persistent racial disparities underscore the disproportionate burden of poor health among Black men in the United States. Black men also use health care services less often, yet gaps remain in the literature on racial differences in health care utilization patterns. The objective of this study was to examine potential race differences in health care service utilization, specifically whether they had at least one office-based provider visit during the year between Black and White men. Data from the 2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were used, consisting of a sample of 5,921 men (4,837 non-Hispanic White and 1,084 non-Hispanic Black). The dependent variable, health care utilization, was based on the aggregated 2022 annual total of office-based provider visits and was coded as a binary indicator of whether the respondent had at least one visit during the year. Race and ethnicity were based on respondents’ self-reported race and whether they identified as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin. Approximately 73 percent of the men had at least one office-based provider visit during the year, and 18 percent of the sample were NHB men. After adjusting for covariates, NHB men had a lower prevalence of having an office-based physical annual visit during the year (prevalence ratio = 0.83, 95% confidence interval [0.77, 0.88]) than NHW men. This difference may reflect medical mistrust and other health care system barriers rooted in historical and ongoing discrimination against Black men, which limits access to care. These findings underscore the need to address the root causes of barriers to health care utilization among Black men.

PMID:42216465 | DOI:10.1177/15579883261453361

Rev Neurol. 2026 May 25;81(5):48265. doi: 10.31083/RN48265.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a rare group of hereditary degenerative disorders with major symptoms such as unsteady gait, dysarthria, and finger-nose instability. At present, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a widely utilized balance assessment tool for SCA patients, exhibiting high reliability. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether the Semans Scale and the Balance Coordination Test can also be utilized for balance assessment in SCA patients.

METHODS: A total of 32 patients with SCA who had been diagnosed according to previously reported molecular criteria were recruited between 2021 and 2022. In addition, all patients completed assessments for all three scales.

RESULTS: The results of the study demonstrated a moderate positive correlation between the BBS and both the Semans Scale and Balance Coordination Test scores (BBS versus Semans: r = 0.568, p < 0.001; BBS versus Balance Coordination Test: r = 0.625, p < 0.001). However, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed statistically significant differences between BBS and both Semans Scores (Z = -2.955, p = 0.003) and Balance Coordination Test scores (Z = -3.666, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The Semans Scale and Balance Coordination Test reflect the balance function of SCA patients to a certain extent and can be used as valid complements to the BBS, providing additional information for clinical treatment and rehabilitation.

PMID:42216463 | DOI:10.31083/RN48265

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2026 May 29. doi: 10.1111/jgh.70459. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42216230 | DOI:10.1111/jgh.70459

Chiropr Man Therap. 2026 May 29. doi: 10.1186/s12998-026-00652-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Headache disorders are among the leading causes of disability globally. In primary care, including chiropractic practice, clinicians often serve as the first point of contact for patients seeking evaluation and management of headache. Despite this, limited evidence exists regarding how Danish chiropractors assess, diagnose, and manage headache in routine practice. This study aimed to examine how Danish chiropractors adopt a profession-specific clinical care standard, conduct clinical assessments, apply the ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria, and manage patients presenting with headache.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted between May 2022 and August 2022 among Danish chiropractors. The Danish Headache Questionnaire was used covering aspects such as diagnostic knowledge, clinical assessments and management. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise respondents and their clinical practices. A predefined threshold of ≥ 70% was applied to indicate acceptable adherence to the clinical care standard and sufficient familiarity with the ICHD-3 criteria.

RESULTS: A total of 100 chiropractors completed the questionnaire, corresponding to a response rate of 14.4%. Self-reported data indicated that a larger percentage of Danish chiropractors demonstrate adequate knowledge of and adhere well to the clinical care standard. However, a proportion of respondents reported modest familiarity with specific elements of the standard and knowledge of red flags was limited. Overall familiarity with, and use of, the ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria was high. Management approaches largely aligned with guideline-supported strategies, with most chiropractors reporting the use of manual therapy, exercise, and patient education. In contrast, structured monitoring tools – such as headache diaries – were seldom used.

CONCLUSION: Respondents generally appear to follow the profession-specific clinical care standard, demonstrate good familiarity with ICHD-3 criteria, and deliver guideline-aligned management for patients with headache. These findings suggest that chiropractors may play a meaningful role in primary-care headache management and potentially help reduce the burden on other health-care providers, although the low response rate warrants caution in generalising these findings. Identified gaps in knowledge and practice indicate a need for targeted postgraduate education, enhanced implementation strategies to support consistent use of clinical care standards and guidelines, and policy initiatives that facilitate the integration of chiropractors into interdisciplinary headache care pathways.

PMID:42216224 | DOI:10.1186/s12998-026-00652-0

Mol Neurodegener. 2026 May 29. doi: 10.1186/s13024-026-00952-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), failure of axon regeneration limits recovery after traumatic injury or in neurodegenerative disease. Local protein translation has been implicated in the regulation of axon growth in highly compartmentalized neurons. 3′ untranslated regions (3’UTRs) of mRNAs play critical roles in RNA localization and modification. Here we studied the regulation of 3’UTRs in growth cone and axon regeneration.

METHODS: Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we examined dynamic changes of mRNA 3’UTRs-related local translation in distal growth cones of primary neurons, initially comparing 3’UTRs from Gap43, normally localized to axons, and gamma-actin (Actg1), normally distributed to soma and axon. Local translation patterns in response to trophic factors and depolarization stimuli were analyzed, with or without translation inhibitor anisomycin. Adeno-associated viral vectors were used to express constitutively active Src with specific 3’UTRs after optic nerve injury in vivo. Axon growth and Src signaling were detected to identify function of 3’UTRs in axon regeneration. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test, two-tailed unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney test for data sets with different distributions.

RESULTS: We discovered different 3’UTRs led to differences in local translational regulation in growth cones in vitro, including in response to relevant signals such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), forskolin, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), depolarization and repolarization. In vivo, we found that addition of 3’UTRs from Gap43 or Actg1 to a construct expressing constitutively active Src, which normally regulates growth cone and axon elongation, increased Src mRNA and protein localization, and Src activity measured by phospho-FAK in the optic nerve and optic tract, and the 3’UTR of Gap43 promoted more long-distance axon regeneration after optic nerve injury.

CONCLUSIONS: Together these data enhance our understanding of the complexity of 3’UTR-mediated regulation of local axon translation, and point to potential therapeutic avenues for growth cone-related protein expression and local translation via 3’UTR manipulation.

PMID:42216210 | DOI:10.1186/s13024-026-00952-2

Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2026 May 29. doi: 10.1186/s12955-026-02556-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a widely used indicator for assessing individuals’ subjective perception of life quality and population health status. It evaluates the multiple dimensions related to health, including physical, psychological, and social aspects, and may be associated with self-management behaviors and treatment adherence in patients with chronic diseases. This study examines the association between HRQoL and medication discrepancies (MDs) among older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during the transition from hospital to home care.

METHODS: The cross-sectional survey was conducted in Baoding City, Hebei Province, China. Data from patients (N = 552) were collected using a questionnaire that included the Chinese version of the MOS 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, a sinicized and modified version of the Medication Discrepancy Tool, and a general information form. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression models, and generalized additive models were employed to examine the associations between the variables.

RESULTS: The prevalence of MD in the study population was 55.8%. After adjustment for sociodemographic, clinical, and medication-related characteristics, both the Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary scores were significantly associated with MD. In the adjusted analyses, the medium-score group showed the highest odds of MD, followed by the high-score group, whereas the low-score group showed the lowest odds.

CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL is associated with MD among older adults with T2DM during the post-discharge care transition, with a non-monotonic pattern in which MD prevalence peaks in the moderate HRQoL range. Solely disease severity-based models may overlook the relevance of subjective health perceptions in relation to medication behaviors. These findings suggest that HRQoL warrants consideration in understanding medication safety during care transitions, though the conclusions await confirmation in prospective studies.

PMID:42216205 | DOI:10.1186/s12955-026-02556-2