Category: Statistics

Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2025 Dec;8(12):e70383. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.70383.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is the most common penile cancer, accounting for ≥ 95% of cases, though it accounts for < 1% of all malignancies in men in the United States. We report an updated, stage-stratified analysis of the efficacy of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, including adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemoradiation, with further analysis of demographic and clinical factors.

METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, patients with PSCC diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 were identified. Five-year overall survival Cox regression analysis as well as univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed, stratified by demographic and treatment variables.

RESULTS: Two thousand seven hundred eight patients with PSCC were identified, with 57.8% being older than 65 years at diagnosis and 94.2% undergoing surgical intervention. With multivariate analysis, increasing disease stage (p < 0.001), age < 65 years (p < 0.001), lower disease grade (p < 0.001) were all associated with increased survival, while treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy was both associated with decreased survival (p = 0.002 and < 0.001, respectively). On univariate analysis, less invasive surgery was associated with increased survival among patients with low-grade, local (p < 0.001) or regional (p = 0.03) disease. Among those with high-grade disease, local excision was associated with increased survival (p = 0.008), though among those with regional disease no survival difference was seen (p = 0.86). Patients with regional disease saw increasing survival with four or more lymph nodes dissected (69% vs. 61%, respectively; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of penile SCC remains the mainstay treatment, and less invasive surgery is associated with noninferior or improved 5-year overall survival regardless of disease stage and grade. Patients with regional disease had increased survival when four or more lymph nodes were dissected. Future analysis of these trends stratified by disease subhistology and more granular analysis of the role of lymphadenectomy are warranted.

PMID:41337679 | DOI:10.1002/cnr2.70383

Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Dec 3. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c05810. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The role of particulate matter (PM) in the bidirectional relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mood disorders remains unclear. This UK Biobank-based study included participants without prior CVD or mood disorders at baseline with complete data. Outcomes included CVD and mood disorder incidences, comorbidity, and mortality. During a median 13.8-year follow-up, among 358,119 participants, 145,406 developed CVD, 27,318 mood disorders, 15,443 comorbidity, and 26,703 deaths. Multistate analysis showed PM_2.5 exposure significantly increased risks of progression in both trajectories. For trajectory 1, each IQR increase in PM_2.5 was associated with HRs (95% CI) of 1.219 (1.216-1.222), 1.080 (1.070-1.091), and 1.033 (1.013-1.053) for progression from baseline to CVD, CVD to comorbidity, and comorbidity to death, respectively. For trajectory 2, each IQR increase in PM_2.5 was associated with HRs (95% CI) of 1.227 (1.218-1.237), 1.024 (1.009-1.040), and 1.033 (1.013-1.053) for progression from baseline to mood disorders, mood disorders to comorbidity, and comorbidity to death, respectively. Similarly, PM₁₀ exposure showed weaker positive associations than PM_2.5. Lipoproteins and fatty acid metabolites primarily mediated disease progression in these trajectories. Our results demonstrated PM exposure contributes to progression from CVD and mood disorders to comorbidity and mortality, with different mediating metabolites identified at each stage of progression. These results highlight both the importance of PM control and the potential of metabolic pathways as targets for early intervention.

PMID:41337673 | DOI:10.1021/acs.est.5c05810

Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2025 Nov 25;46(5):265-269. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of scoliosis in asthenic children diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study aims to characterize scoliosis prevalence and examine relationships with mitral valve morphology, regurgitation severity, and skeletal phenotypes (pectus excavatum, hypermobility, skin laxity) in asthenic children with primary MVP based on echocardiographic findings. Individuals with known systemic connective tissue disorders were excluded. Scoliosis was assessed radiographically using Cobb angle measurements with a threshold of ≥10° for diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0.

RESULTS: The study included 49 asthenic children (25 females, 24 males) aged 9 to 17 years who were diagnosed MVP. The mean age of participants was 13.2 ± 2.2 years. Physical examination revealed pectus excavatum in 46.9%, joint hypermobility in 39%, and skin laxity in 16.3% of patients. Scoliosis (Cobb ≥10°): 47% (23/49, [95% CI: 33-61%]); potential scoliosis (5-10°): 27% (13/49, [95% CI: 16-40%]); any abnormal curvature: 73% (36/49, [95% CI: 59-84%]). Valve morphology: diffuse thickening 61% (30/49); localized elongation 39% (19/49). No significant association between scoliosis and valve morphology (p > 0.05) or MR severity (p > 0.05). Pectus excavatum significantly associated with elongated valve structure (p = 0.001). Pectus excavatum was significantly more common in patients with an elongated, straight valve structure (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: High scoliosis prevalence (47%) in asthenic MVP children is independent of cardiac severity, suggesting intrinsic skeletal tissue vulnerability. Neuroendocrine and immune mechanistic investigation warranted.

PMID:41337646

Funct Plant Biol. 2025 Dec 3:FP25301. doi: 10.1071/FP25301. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Agricultural productivity is increasingly constrained by water scarcity, which affects nearly one-quarter of cultivated land and is projected to intensify due to climate change and escalating freshwater demands. Melatonin is widely recognized as a potent biostimulant that plays a crucial role in mitigating various abiotic stresses, particularly drought, across many plant species. This study demonstrates that exogenous application of melatonin (150 μM; foliar spray) confers protection to Phaseolus vulgaris under moderate water deficit (40% field capacity). A randomized complete block design comprising four treatment groups (n = 30 seedlings per group, five replicates) was employed to systematically evaluate morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses. Melatonin applications at 21 and 28 days after sowing significantly enhanced shoot elongation, leaf area expansion, and photosynthetic efficiency. Biochemically, melatonin markedly increased the activities of key antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and POD), reduced ROS accumulation, elevated proline content by 24%, and decreased electrolyte leakage by 18%, thereby improving osmotic balance and maintaining membrane integrity. Genomic stability was assessed using ISSR and RAPD markers, revealing that melatonin substantially attenuated drought-induced DNA damage. Marker analysis further demonstrated differential sensitivity, while key statistical indices including polymorphism information content (PIC), effective multiplex ratio (EMR), and resolving power (RP) exhibited strong linear associations, reinforcing the reliability of molecular diagnostics. Collectively, these results highlight melatonin’s multifaceted role in enhancing water deficit resilience through integrated regulation of physiological homeostasis, oxidative stress mitigation, and genome protection. The findings support melatonin’s practical potential as a low-cost, environmentally compatible strategy for improving legume performance in water-deficit environments.

PMID:41337642 | DOI:10.1071/FP25301

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Nov;30(11):e14002025. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320253011.14002025. Epub 2025 Jul 26.

ABSTRACT

This qualitative research was conducted from 2015 to 2018 and corroborates communication and education initiatives on HIV prevention. With an intersectoral and territorial perspective, the study aims to describe the methodology used in the shared production of an image game, with 36 cards and gameplay rules, built with students from the teacher training course for the initial grades, from a public high school, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It also aims to discuss how they understand the relationship between sexuality, health and HIV prevention. The Freirean problematization method guided direct observation and interventions in everyday school life. Topics of interest to young people were discussed: strategies for “deconstructing” the biomedical-prescriptive and heteronormative perspective, hegemonic in discourses on sexuality and HIV prevention; female condoms; meanings of the terms HIV-positive, serodifferent, and viral load (CD4 and CD8); testing; PrEP and PEP; drug treatment and side effects. The conclusion is that the methodology adopted enabled peer-to-peer education and the creation of the game “Sexuality and HIV prevention”, in a contextualized and interactive way.

PMID:41337628 | DOI:10.1590/1413-812320253011.14002025

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Nov;30(11):e12102025. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320253011.12102025. Epub 2025 Jun 29.

ABSTRACT

We analyzed the engagement of young heterosexual men in contraceptive management based on empirical material from a multicenter socio-anthropological study. We started from an understanding of youth as a social construction, the relational dimension of gender, and the dynamics of masculinities in interaction with social markers of difference. This article analyzes the biographies of 14 cisgender male participants from São Paulo (SP) and Conceição do Mato Dentro (MG), Brazil. They are heterosexual, mostly self-declared Black, and they were interviewed from 2021 to 2022 about certain events in their affective-sexual trajectories. The relational context proved to be crucial in shaping contraceptive and reproductive behavior. Discussions about female autonomy and co-responsibility for possible contraceptive failures shape different forms of contraceptive engagement in affective-sexual relationships. The representations of young men can contribute to a broader understanding of youth reproductive dynamics, giving rise to possibilities for public intervention (especially in the fields of Health and Education) and ways of reducing gender inequalities.

PMID:41337625 | DOI:10.1590/1413-812320253011.12102025

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Nov;30(11):e11572025. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320253011.11572025. Epub 2025 Jun 22.

ABSTRACT

This article sought to understand the structure of young lesbians’ social representations of sexual health, based on their experiences and practices. This is a descriptive, qualitative study based on the Theory of Social Representations. The Free Word Association Test (FWAAT) was used online for 124 self-declared lesbians, aged 18 to 29 years, and of these, seven responded to a semi-structured interview script. The TALP data was processed using IRaMuTeQ software (prototypical analysis), contextualized by excerpts from the interviews that portray experiences and practices, and scientific references on the subject. The results pointed to the terms ‘condom’, “care” and ‘prevention’ as core elements in the structure of social representations. In the interviews, these terms refer to the importance attributed to protection and disease prevention, although the condom models are not adapted to the sexual practices of trafficked sex. The participants’ practices and experiences also emphasize personal hygiene. The development of effective public policies for lesbian health requires valuing the knowledge they share socially.

PMID:41337622 | DOI:10.1590/1413-812320253011.11572025

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Nov;30(11):e11532025. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320253011.11532025. Epub 2025 Jun 23.

ABSTRACT

Adolescent fertility in Brazil is influenced by sociodemographic and economic factors, making it necessary to stratify and monitor this indicator to assess the inclusion of adolescents in health, education, and social assistance programs. Using data from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), we calculated Age-Specific Fertility Rates by age group (10 to 14 years and 15 to 19 years), years of education (0 to 7 years, 8 to 11 years, and 12 or more), and Brazilian macroregions (North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, and South) for the period between 2010 and 2023, during which the country faced structural changes, including public health crises, economic crises, an increase in female education, and the rise of a conservative political wave. The results reveal an increase in adolescent fertility in the first half of the analyzed period (up to 2014/2015), followed by a decline in the second half, reaching 41.6 births per thousand women (15-19) and 2.1 births per thousand women (10-14) in 2023. There is significant regional diversity, with the North presenting higher rates despite the decline. Differences by educational level stand out, with a greater proportional decline among the less educated group.

PMID:41337621 | DOI:10.1590/1413-812320253011.11532025

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Nov;30(11):e11522025. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320253011.11522025. Epub 2025 Jun 21.

ABSTRACT

Comprehensive sexuality education is an effective strategy to promote adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and exercise citizenship. This paper presents the social validity of the effects of intervention research, through multiple case studies, with students and teachers, in two public schools in the Federal District. Participatory workshops were used to address self-esteem, gender identity, sexual orientation, support networks, contraceptive methods, youth participation, and violence. We generated data through reports and evaluations of each workshop, field diaries, photographic records, and final evaluation questionnaires with teachers and students. The results indicate that the study could: i) expose the context of structural vulnerability in the cases studied; ii) promote new behaviors and ways of thinking; iii) facilitate learning and the development of skills for health and well-being. The findings endorse the intervention’s high social validity of the effects, showing its ability to effect change for teachers and students, including improving their relationship. The observed tensions confirm the importance of teacher training and the urgency of support initiatives that can overcome the political and ideological challenges of the issue.

PMID:41337620 | DOI:10.1590/1413-812320253011.11522025

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Nov;30(11):e11452025. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320253011.11452025. Epub 2025 Jun 20.

ABSTRACT

The increase in HIV incidence rates among young people contrasts with the discontinuity of educational actions and the invisibility of AIDS in public spaces. Based on socio-anthropological research, this article analyzes conceptions and practices regarding HIV prevention of 139 men and women, aged 15 to 24 years, mostly heterosexual and cisgender, from low-income Brazilian communities in Porto Alegre, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, and Salvador. The study involved ethnographic observation, interviews, and focus groups. According to the findings, the knowledge about diagnosis and new technologies for prevention and treatment of HIV is limited. HIV transmission is still associated with gays, trans people, and individuals with many partners; the fear of the stigma of AIDS still persists; and there is rare contact with people with HIV. There is a prevailing self-perception that HIV infection is a very distant possibility, especially if condoms are used with strangers; the concern regarding an unintended pregnancy is far greater. The results point to the need for policies that address AIDS stigma and social, racial, and gender inequalities, as well as the need to create spaces for learning and dialogue in schools, health services, and social movements, updating successful experiences and exploring the potential of social networks.

PMID:41337619 | DOI:10.1590/1413-812320253011.11452025