Category: Statistics

Cogn Neurosci. 2025 Nov 23:1-4. doi: 10.1080/17588928.2025.2591254. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ritchie and colleagues propose that the functional organization of higher visual cortex is best understood through the lens of behavioral relevance, advocating for a shift away from theories that center around category selectivity. Building on this, I suggest the statistical structure of visual inputs acts as an additional critical constraint on visual cortex, and that a complete understanding of visual system organization must account for input statistics and how they interact with behavioral relevance. I discuss this using cortical food selectivity as a case study, and additionally describe how deep neural networks can provide new avenues for testing these theories.

PMID:41276824 | DOI:10.1080/17588928.2025.2591254

BMC Med Educ. 2025 Nov 24. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-08324-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Generative artificial intelligence chatbots have become increasingly popular in the nursing education. Numerous academics have integrated them into their courses to assess the effects of artificial intelligence-supported teaching method. However, few researches have examined the impact of generative artificial intelligence chatbots in nursing education in conjunction with a particular teaching methodology. This study introduced a novel teaching method called “generative artificial intelligence chatbots + project task driven teaching” and investigated the potential effects of the teaching method on nursing undergraduates’ nursing research ability and nursing research self-efficacy.

METHODS: The study was conducted among 108 nursing undergraduates at Ningxia Medical University who participated in the “generative artificial intelligence chatbots + project task driven teaching” in the Nursing Research Course from September to November 2023. Sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, Nursing research capacity of self-evaluation questionnaire, Nursing research self-efficacy questionnaire, and Curriculum effectiveness evaluation form were used to collect data. The analysis included the descriptive statistics and the paired t-test. The demographic data was summarized using descriptive statistics, and the change in nursing research capacity and nursing research self-efficacy of nursing undergraduates before and after the Nursing Research Course was compared using the paired t-test. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Following the training, students’ nursing research capacity and nursing research self-efficacy significantly improved (P < 0.05), with the exception of data processing capacity (P = 0.165). The curriculum effectiveness evaluation form showed that only a few students believed that the teaching mode was ineffective, which indicated that most students still had a favorable opinion of it.

CONCLUSIONS: Nursing undergraduates can better adapt to the “generative artificial intelligence chatbots + project task driven teaching”, and the teaching mode had also achieved positive results in nursing research courses, which has improved students’ nursing research ability and nursing research self-efficacy. This also provides a credible reference for using generative artificial intelligence chatbots in subsequent nursing education reform.

PMID:41276820 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-08324-y

BMC Womens Health. 2025 Nov 24. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-04165-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally, with hypertension representing a major modifiable risk factor. Medication adherence persists as a major challenge in hypertension management, particularly among women, who often face unique barriers to adherence. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antihypertensive medication adherence and to identify its associated factors among Moroccan women with hypertension.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2025 among women attending three urban primary health care facilities in Inezgane, Morocco. The 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) was used to assess medication adherence. Descriptive statistics summarized participants’ characteristics, and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify adherence-related factors.

RESULTS: Among 364 hypertensive Moroccan women with a median age of 58 years (IQR: 48-65), 53.3% were non-adherent to their antihypertensive treatment. Multivariable analyses revealed that having health insurance (AOR 1.87; CI 1.19-2.95; p = 0.007) and participation in therapeutic education sessions (AOR 2.21; CI 1.27-3.83; p = 0.005) were associated with improved adherence. Conversely, polytherapy (AOR 0.14; CI 0.06-0.30; p < 0.001) and multiple daily doses (AOR 0.35; CI 0.20-0.61; p < 0.001) were associated with lower adherence.

CONCLUSION: More than half of the population of this study exhibited low adherence to antihypertensive medication. Multifaceted interventions, including enhanced patient education, simplified drug protocols, and improved healthcare accessibility, are required to improve adherence among Moroccan hypertensive women.

PMID:41276806 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-025-04165-5

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Nov 23. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06496-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Oblique placement of tension band plates is a common surgical variance in guided growth, raising concerns about its clinical safety, particularly the potential for inducing iatrogenic deformities. This study aimed to evaluate the comprehensive impact of this plate autocorrection on limb torsion, as well as on coronal and sagittal plane alignment.

METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 56 children who underwent guided growth for genu varum or valgum. At treatment initiation and termination, we measured the plate-diaphysis angle (α), femoral/tibial torsion, and coronal/sagittal plane alignment. Coronal plane correction was assessed using mechanical and anatomic lateral distal femoral angles (mLDFA, aLDFA) and medial proximal tibial angles (mMPTA, aMPTA). Sagittal plane stability was evaluated using the posterior distal femoral angle (PDFA) and posterior proximal tibial angle (PPTA).

RESULTS: A significant autocorrection of the plates toward the diaphyseal axis was observed (p < 0.001). The intended coronal plane correction was successfully achieved, as evidenced by statistically significant improvements in all four coronal alignment parameters (mLDFA, aLDFA, mMPTA, aMPTA; all p < 0.05). Critically, this rotation was not associated with any significant change in femoral or tibial torsion (p > 0.05 for both). Furthermore, sagittal plane alignment remained stable throughout the treatment period, with no significant alterations in PDFA or PPTA (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Inadvertent obliquity of tension band plates and their subsequent autocorrection is a clinically benign phenomenon. It effectively achieves the desired coronal correction without inducing adverse torsional or sagittal plane deformities. This study provides robust, evidence-based reassurance for surgeons that guided growth remains a safe and effective procedure despite this common surgical variance.

PMID:41276802 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-06496-3

BMC Public Health. 2025 Nov 24. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-25690-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major public health concern, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. Despite having fewer vehicles per capita, Africa experiences the highest global road traffic fatality rates. This study examines demographic, temporal, and geographic patterns of fatal RTAs in Cape Town to inform targeted safety interventions.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of Western Cape Government Health and Wellness Emergency Medical Services (WCGHW EMS) data (January 2021-May 2024) was conducted. Data included patient demographics, location, time, and accident type. Geospatial mapping using QGIS identified hotspots, and statistical analyses assessed relative risk and mortality trends.

RESULTS: Of 784 RTA cases, 167 resulted in fatalities. Males accounted for 70.7% of deaths, and pedestrians comprised 65.3% of fatalities. Nighttime fatalities (51.5%) were significantly higher, with hotspot areas showing a two-fold increased mortality risk (RR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.61-2.72, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: This study highlights demographic and pedestrian vulnerabilities, the heightened risk of nighttime fatalities, and the geographic concentration of fatal RTAs in Cape Town. Findings underscore the urgent need for improved pedestrian infrastructure, enhanced street lighting, and optimised emergency medical response strategies. Targeted safety interventions in high-risk areas can significantly reduce RTA fatalities. Further research should explore behavioural and environmental factors over longer timeframes to inform policy and practice.

PMID:41276801 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-25690-w

Br J Surg. 2025 Nov 6;112(11):znaf251. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znaf251.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In recent years there have been a plethora of new endovascular devices have entered the market, including paclitaxel (PTX) drug-coated balloons (DCB) and drug-eluting stents (DES) for treating patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI). There have been concerns that the use of PTX is associated with increased all-cause mortality rate in this patient population.

METHODS: In the BASIL-3 trial (ISRCTN14469736) UK patients with CLTI were randomized (1:1:1) to receive femoro-popliteal (FP) plain balloon angioplasty (PBA; with or without bailout bare metal stenting (BMS), DCB angioplasty (DCBA) (with or without BMS), or primary DES. Here, data from the DCBA and DES arms have been pooled into a single ‘drug technologies’ (DT) group and compared with PBA ± BMS. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included amputation-free survival (AFS), major amputations, major adverse limb events, major adverse cardiovascular events, reinterventions, and 30-day mortality and morbidity rates.

RESULTS: Four hundred and eighty-one participants were randomized (PBA: n = 160; DT: n = 321). At a median follow-up in survivors of 5.6 years, OS was similar between the pooled DT and PBA groups (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.83; 95% c.i.: 0.64 to 1.07). There was no evidence of a statistically significant difference in AFS between the groups (adjusted HR: 0.84; 95% c.i.: 0.66 to 1.06), or other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: This further pooled analysis of the BASIL-3 RCT does not support the notion that the use of drug-eluting technologies, when compared to plain balloon angioplasty, increases all-cause mortality rate, or has other clinically important adverse effects, when used in patients with CLTI.

PMID:41276786 | DOI:10.1093/bjs/znaf251

Sports Med Open. 2025 Nov 23;11(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00933-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Intermittent hypoxia (IH) has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance physical performance by eliciting adaptive responses across cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular systems. Various IH protocols have been applied in both trained and untrained individuals to improve aerobic capacity, strength, and repeated sprint ability. However, the growing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) has led to heterogeneous conclusions due to variability in populations, protocols, and outcome measures. This umbrella review aimed to synthesize and critically appraise the available SRs/MAs on the effects of IH protocols on physical performance across different fitness levels.

METHODS: A systematic search, aligned with the PRIOR (Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews) guidelines, was conducted across seven electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, and SciELO) from inception to June 2025. Eligible studies included systematic reviews (SRs) with or without meta-analyses (MAs) or network meta-analyses (NMAs) evaluating the effects of intermittent hypoxia protocols on physical performance. Methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 tool.

RESULTS: A total of 22 systematic reviews (14 with meta-analyses, 3 with network meta-analyses) analyzing 487 primary studies and 5,333 participants were included. Intermittent hypoxia (IH) protocols improved both aerobic and anaerobic performance, as well as muscular strength. Live high-train low (LHTL) and live low-train high (LLTH) protocols consistently enhanced V̇O₂max, especially when combined with sea-level training. Anaerobic-focused strategies like repeated sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) and RSH induced by voluntary hypoventilation at low lung volume (RSH-VHL) led to improvements in sprint-fatigue resistance and glycolytic capacity. Intermittent hypoxic interval training (IHIT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) under hypoxia showed robust aerobic benefits. However, the magnitude of these effects varied depending on the type of protocol, training status, and hypoxic dose.

CONCLUSION: IH is an effective and adaptable strategy to improve aerobic and anaerobic performance, as well as to enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy. These benefits often occur without consistent hematological changes. Future studies should focus on individualized approaches, standardization of terminology, and precise quantification of both hypoxic exposure and training load to optimize outcomes and ensure reproducibility.

REVIEW REGISTRATION: This overview was registered on the International Database of Systematic Review Protocols (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024465481).

PMID:41276779 | DOI:10.1186/s40798-025-00933-7

J Plant Res. 2025 Nov 23. doi: 10.1007/s10265-025-01681-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Reproductive interference is a negative interspecific interaction that can drive mutually exclusive distributions of closely related species. While recent research indicates that reproductive interference in plants frequently occurs during pollen-pistil interactions, comprehensive descriptions of these interactions are scarce. Understanding the mechanisms underlying reproductive interference requires studies integrating empirical observations with interaction analyses. This study investigates pollen-pistil interactions between three Veronica species recently observed to exhibit asymmetric reproductive interference.Our experiments revealed similar pollen tube behavior in V. polita var. lilacina and V. cymbalaria pistils, irrespective of whether they were pollinated with conspecific or V. persica pollen. Conversely, in V. persica pistils, the number of pollen tubes significantly decreased following heterospecific pollination compared to conspecific pollination. Furthermore, half of the pollen grains on V. persica stigmas, presumably heterospecific pollen grains, occasionally appeared non-luminous under the fluorescence microscope after mixed pollination. Conspecific pollen tubes appeared to grow faster within V. persica pistils; however, statistical analysis did not support this trend.These results suggest that V. polita var. lilacina and V. cymbalaria pistils exhibit limited discrimination against V. persica pollen, resulting in ovule discounting by the heterospecific pollen. This mechanism explains the empirical observation that these species experience reduced seed set after mixed pollination, even when conspecific pollen is applied first. In contrast, V. persica pistils demonstrate a degree of discrimination between conspecific and heterospecific pollen, particularly when conspecific pollen arrives on the stigma prior to heterospecific pollen. This selectivity accounts for the empirical findings that V. persica exhibits reduced seed set only when surrounded by V. polita var lilacina or after mixed pollination with V. cymbalaria pollen preceding conspecific pollen.

PMID:41276765 | DOI:10.1007/s10265-025-01681-1

J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2025 Nov 23. doi: 10.1007/s40615-025-02750-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Gentrification is a process of neighborhood change characterized by capital investment in historically disinvested neighborhoods and an influx of residents of higher socioeconomic status. While gentrification generates neighborhood improvements that benefit newcomers, it has been recognized as a public health issue characterized by inequities in housing, economic, and health opportunities for long-term residents, specifically low-income and Black populations, who are at high risk of physical and social displacement. Thus, this cross-sectional ecological study based in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, sought to (1) identify the relationships between gentrification status and three neighborhood-level indices representing housing conditions, socioeconomic conditions, and environmental conditions and (2) determine whether the rate of the Black population change from 2010 to 2020 modified these relationships. We used separate logistic regression models for three neighborhood-level indices to quantify the relationship between each index and gentrifying census tracts compared with census tracts that were eligible for gentrification but did not gentrify. Gentrifying census tracts were statistically associated with stronger housing markets (i.e., higher housing value) (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.57-0.77), lower levels of community need (OR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.27-0.65), and lower levels of environmental burden (OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.47-0.81) than nongentrifying census tracts were. Because higher index values indicate worse outcomes, these results suggest that gentrifying tracts had relatively better housing market conditions, lower community need, and reduced environmental burden compared to nongentrifying tracts. The rate of Black population change had a marginal interaction effect with each of the indices.

PMID:41276760 | DOI:10.1007/s40615-025-02750-w

J Nurs Scholarsh. 2025 Nov 23. doi: 10.1111/jnu.70056. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Assess US registered nurse genomic competency.

DESIGN: Administered the Genetics and Genomics Nursing Practice Survey (GGNPS).

METHODS: GGNPS assesses genomic knowledge, skills, attitudes, confidence, and utilization in nursing practice. Distributed by the American Nurses Association via email and online to US registered nurses. Results are analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared to 2010 data.

RESULTS: 1065 registered nurses responded. Most (41%) were Master’s prepared, actively seeing patients (51%) and 66% considered it very important to learn more about genomics. Most (55%) reported their genomic knowledge was poor yet 51% reported a patient initiated a genetic discussion with them in the past 3 months. 66% completed all knowledge score items with a median score of 9/12, no change from 2010. Only 26% had heard of the Essential Competencies. Most reported no genomic curricular content (64%); had not attended a genomic course since licensure (64%); intended to learn more about genomics (70%); and would attend a course on their own time (79%).

CONCLUSIONS: Nurses felt genomics was important but have capacity deficits. Despite genomic discoveries and evidence-based practice guidelines that impact healthcare quality and safety, 20 years after the Genomic Competencies were established (2005) nursing genomic practice capacity remains low.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Genomics is critical to the safe, quality nursing practice regardless of the level of academic training, clinical role, or specialty.

PMID:41276756 | DOI:10.1111/jnu.70056