Category: Statistics

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026 May 18. doi: 10.1007/s00266-026-05901-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prepectoral breast reconstruction with polyurethane (PU)-coated implants has been proposed to enhance implant stability and reduce complications. Evidence regarding their clinical and aesthetic performance remains limited.

METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 117 patients (186 breasts) who underwent immediate prepectoral reconstruction with PU-coated implants between 2020 and 2025. Complications were analyzed with univariate and multivariable regression. Aesthetic outcomes were evaluated using BCCT.core software.

RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 15 months, 34 patients (29.1%) experienced at least one complication, most commonly rippling or upper-pole visibility (16.2%). Implant loss occurred in 3.4% and capsular contracture in 1.7%. Higher BMI, larger implant size, and skin-reducing mastectomy were associated with increased complication risk, although none remained independently significant. Chemotherapy had no measurable impact, and radiotherapy showed only a mild trend toward poorer aesthetic scores. Overall, 81.2% of patients achieved excellent or good BCCT.core results. Younger age and absence of complications were the strongest predictors of favorable aesthetic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: PU-coated implants provided stable outcomes in prepectoral reconstruction, with low implant loss and rare contracture. Most patients achieved favorable cosmetic results without the need for additional reinforcement materials. Higher BMI, larger implants, smoking, and skin-reducing mastectomy increased complication risk primarily in univariate analyses. Prospective multicenter studies with longer follow-up and patient-reported outcomes are required to validate these findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID:42151611 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-026-05901-4

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026 May 18. doi: 10.1007/s00266-026-05907-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of CO₂ fractional laser intervention at various time points within one month post-surgery on scar formation, thereby guiding clinicians in optimizing the timing of treatment.

METHODS: Six New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. Six surgical incisions were made on the ventral side of each rabbit’s ear and randomly divided into six groups: Group A (non-laser intervention group), Group B (the day of surgery laser intervention group), Group C (1 week post-surgery laser intervention group), Group D (2 weeks post-surgery laser intervention group), Group E (3 weeks post-surgery laser intervention group), Group F (4 weeks post-surgery laser intervention group). At week 7 post-surgery, Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scores were recorded. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was employed to measure dermal thickness, while Masson staining was utilized to determine the collagen volume fraction. Additionally, microvascular density was evaluated via CD31 immunohistochemistry. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to assess overall differences among the groups. Where significant differences were found, the least significant difference (LSD) post hoc test was employed for pairwise comparisons. Statistical significance was determined at a threshold of P< 0.05.

RESULTS: At week 7 post-surgery, macroscopic observation revealed that Group A (non-laser intervention group) exhibited the most pronounced linear scars. In contrast, Groups B to F, which underwent laser intervention, displayed only partial linear scars. The SCAR scores, dermal thickness, collagen volume fraction, and microvascular density in Group A were all significantly higher than those in the laser intervention groups (Groups B-F) (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed among the laser intervention groups (Groups B-F) for any of these parameters (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: CO₂ fractional laser intervention at five different time points-the day of surgery, and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks post-surgery-significantly reduces scar formation on rabbit ear surgical incisions. However, earlier laser intervention for postoperative scars within one month does not yield superior outcomes.

NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID:42151609 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-026-05907-y

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026 May 18. doi: 10.1007/s00266-026-05909-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Various surgical approaches have been developed to address brow ptosis. The direct brow lift allows a precise correction of brow ptosis by targeting the head, body and/or tail of the brow.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy, long-term positional stability, aesthetic satisfaction and scar-related outcomes of the direct brow lift procedure.

METHODS: This prospective monocentric study included 41 patients who underwent direct brow lift surgery with the Castanares technique between September 2020 and April 2024. In 35 patients, upper blepharoplasty was performed concurrently. Objective morphometric assessments of brow position were performed at preoperative (T0), 1-month (T1) and 12-month (T12) post-operative evaluating standardized photographic images with ImageJ software. Patient satisfaction was measured through the FACE-Q questionnaire (“Satisfaction with Forehead and Eyebrows”), while scar perception was assessed using the SCAR-Q. Data were analysed using ANOVA for repeated measures.

RESULTS: A statistically significant post-operative increase in the distance from point A (brow’s tail) and point C (brow’s head) to the interpupillary line was observed at one month, with only a slight decrease at 12 months, indicating long-term surgical stability. In contrast, the brow’s body (point B) exhibited minimal variation overall. In terms of patient satisfaction, FACE-Q scores improved at all time points and across all patient groups. The overall SCAR-Q scores reflected improved patient perception of the scar with time.

CONCLUSIONS: The direct brow lift is a reliable and effective technique for achieving stable, long-term correction of brow ptosis. It demonstrates high patient satisfaction and acceptable scar perception over time.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID:42151608 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-026-05909-w

Hormones (Athens). 2026 May 18. doi: 10.1007/s42000-026-00787-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The oxidative balance score (OBS) was developed to reflect the overall exposure of the body to antioxidants and pro-oxidants in the individual’s lifestyle and diet. The research aims to explore the relationship between OBS and sex hormones, including total testosterone (TT) and estradiol (E2), as well as indices including sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone deficiency (TD), free testosterone, and the ratio of TT to E2.

METHODS: A total of 2464 male participants were enrolled in the study during the period 2013 to 2016. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between OBS and sex hormones. Stratified analysis was conducted in participants of different age, body mass index (BMI), poverty income ratio, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and diabetes mellitus (DM).

RESULTS: We found that OBS (β = 2.13, 95% CI: 0.17 ~ 4.09, P = 0.030) and lifestyle OBS (β = 21.09, 95% CI: 9.27 ~ 32.90, P = 0.004) were significantly correlated with TT with full adjustment. We also found noteworthy relationships between lifestyle OBS and SHBG (β = 2.55, 95% CI: 0.77 ~ 4.33, P = 0.010), TD (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58 ~ 1.00, P = 0.045), and ratio of TT to E2 (β = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.71 ~ 1.50, P < 0.001). Stratified analyses by many covariates revealed that the results were basically stable across populations.

CONCLUSION: The results showed that males who lead an antioxidant-rich lifestyle had increased serum TT levels and were less likely to develop TD. This suggests that antioxidant-rich lifestyle choices may additionally help to prevent disorders related to sex hormone imbalance.

PMID:42151602 | DOI:10.1007/s42000-026-00787-y

Braz J Microbiol. 2026 May 19;57(1):148. doi: 10.1007/s42770-026-01962-4.

ABSTRACT

Weeds are a major problem in wheat crop causing low productivity. Nowadays, maximum doses of herbicides are used in wheat crop production, but after some time their negative effects are visible on crop and soil. The presence of ‘sorgoleone’ allelochemical in sorghum extract reduces weed density in early growth stage and increases the quality as well as soil microbial activity. Sequential application of sorghum extract (1:3) + ready-mix of clodinafop + metsulfuron 64 g/ha as post emergence, significantly increased the microbial population in soil, and enhanced quality and production of wheat. Same treatment produced significantly higher grain yield of 4543 kg/ha and magnitude of increments were 34.87% over weedy check and it was found statistically similar with sorghum extract (1:2) + ready-mix of clodinafop + metsulfuron 64 g/ha. However, both the treatments showed significant superiority over all other treatments. Maximum soil bacterial and fungal populations were obtained under lower concentration of sorghum extract (1:3) at 60 DAS and at harvest stages of crop, respectively, which measured in terms of magnitude improvements as compared to the population recorded before spraying.

PMID:42151590 | DOI:10.1007/s42770-026-01962-4

Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2026 May 14;137:106870. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2026.106870. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament is a well-known cause of knee instability. However, even after reconstruction, some patients continue to experience residual instability, which has raised interest in the anterolateral ligament as a secondary stabilizer of the knee. This study aimed to investigate in-vivo knee kinematics during level walking after combined single-bundle anterior cruciate and anterolateral ligament reconstruction to assess restoration of normal knee kinematics.

METHODS: Ten individuals who underwent combined reconstruction and ten healthy controls participated in treadmill gait trials using a biplanar fluoroscopic imaging system. The subject-specific 3D model and tibiofemoral kinematics were reconstructed using a statistical shape and intensity model and 2D3D registration. Tibial kinematics were compared among operated, contralateral, and healthy knees using statistical parametric mapping and a cumulative-change analysis.

FINDINGS: The operated knees exhibited significantly increased anterior tibial translation throughout 17-85% of the stance phase compared with both contralateral and normal knees (p < 0.05). Internal tibial rotation was also significantly greater in operated knees during early stance (15-37%) compared with normal knees. Cumulative changes in internal-external rotation and anterior-posterior translation during early stance were significantly increased in operated knees than in contralateral and normal knees.

INTERPRETATION: Anatomical single-bundle reconstructions combined with anterolateral ligament reconstruction do not fully restore normal joint kinematics. Increased anterior translation and internal rotation persist, indicating residual instability. These findings support rotational laxity of single-bundle techniques and suggest the potential need to address dynamic instability.

PMID:42150244 | DOI:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2026.106870

Environ Int. 2026 May 12;212:110302. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110302. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates is widespread during adolescence, a critical developmental period for metabolic regulation.

AIM: To assess associations of serum PFAS and urinary phthalate/DINCH metabolites-individually and as mixtures-with a unified panel of metabolic biomarkers representing adipose-brain-liver cross-talk and oxidative stress in European teenagers.

METHODOLOGY: Serum PFAS and urinary phthalate/DINCH metabolites were measured in 1033 European teenagers (12-17 years) from the Human Biomonitoring Initiative for Europe (HBM4EU) Aligned Studies. Metabolic biomarkers representing adipose (HDL, LDL, cholesterol, and triglycerides)-brain (leptin, adiponectin, and kisspeptin)-liver (glucose, insulin) cross-talk and oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, 8OHdG) were measured. The Body Mass Index z-score (zBMI) was calculated. Single pollutant models, multivariate MANOVA, quantile g-computation, and BKMR models were fit, including interaction terms with sex.

RESULTS: Single pollutant models showed positive associations of PFAS and phthalate/DINCH metabolites with 8OHdG. PFAS were associated with higher leptin, HDL, LDL, and cholesterol, while some phthalate/DINCH metabolites were associated with lower kisspeptin, HDL, triglycerides, cholesterol, zBMI, and higher adiponectin. We observed weak but statistically significant associations between PFAS and phthalate/DINCH metabolites with the entire set of metabolic biomarkers in the MANOVA. The PFAS mixture was associated with higher kisspeptin, LDL, HDL, cholesterol, and 8OHdG. The phthalate/DINCH mixture was associated with lower HDL.

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to these contaminants may be related to dyslipidemia in teenagers. PFAS and phthalate/DINCH metabolites may exert opposite associations on metabolism, with the exception of increasing oxidative stress. Given the cross‑sectional design and potential residual confounding, longitudinal studies are warranted.

PMID:42150235 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2026.110302

Soc Sci Med. 2026 May 14;403:119401. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119401. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: South Asian gay, bisexual, and queer men (SA GBQM) living in Canada report that racism and heterosexism negatively impact their sexual health. There is a paucity of research examining associations between these forms of stigma, migration status, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing for this population.

METHODS: We conducted a pooled analysis of Sex Now 2019 and 2021 – online, national, cross-sectional surveys of GBQM. We used modified Poisson regression models (adjusted for age, income, education, disability, and pre-exposure prophylaxis use for HIV) to examine the effects of migration status (born in Canada versus not) and past-year discrimination (racism and heterosexism) on recent STI testing. Using causal mediation decomposition, we estimated the pure direct, pure indirect, mediated interaction, and total effects.

RESULTS: Among 197 SA GBQM, 59% were migrants and 62% were recently tested for STIs. Past-year experiences of racism and heterosexism were self-reported by 64% and 34% of participants, respectively. Recent STI testing was higher among non-migrants compared to migrants [unadjusted prevalence ratio: 1.65 (95% confidence interval: 1.10-2.49)]. Past-year racism was higher among migrants compared to non-migrants (1.32; 1.05-1.66). However, there was no statistically significant difference in experiencing past-year heterosexism between these two groups. Only the pure direct effect estimate for the multivariable racism models was statistically significant (1.80; 1.15-3.37), indicating non-migrant SA GBQM who did not experience racism were more likely to be recently tested than migrants.

CONCLUSIONS: Addressing intersectional stigma and barriers to sexual health services experienced by migrant SA GBQM may improve testing over time.

PMID:42150226 | DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119401

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2026 May 14;268:109486. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2026.109486. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42150222 | DOI:10.1016/j.clineuro.2026.109486

Cir Cir. 2026 May 18. doi: 10.24875/CIRU.24000394. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Ankyloglossia, known as tongue-tie, is a common congenital malformation that restricts the movement of the tongue. It is seen in 4.8% of newborns and is more prevalent in males compared to females. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of dentists in Turkey regarding ankyloglossia.

METHODS: Our survey was conducted online with dentists in Turkey who examine and treat patients. The data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V.21 software. Frequency distributions and percentages were examined, and relationships between nominal variables were assessed using the χ2 test. A significance level of p < 0.05 was accepted.

RESULTS: The results showed that 76.14% of the participants could recognize ankyloglossia in children, and 87.14% believed it to be a congenital anomaly. In addition, 91.49% of the participants thought that ankyloglossia negatively affects breastfeeding, and 98.34% believed that it could cause speech disorders.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study emphasizes the importance of increasing awareness of ankyloglossia and the significance of early diagnosis and treatment.

PMID:42150169 | DOI:10.24875/CIRU.24000394