Category: Statistics

J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2026 May 11;101(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s42506-026-00218-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With the changing perception of Caesarean Section (CS) from a lifesaving to a routine procedure, non-medically indicated CS is increasing. This study assessed the prevalence, indications, and preference for CS among women attending primary health care (PHC) units in Port Said Governorate, Egypt.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024 in six primary health care units across Port-Said Governorate, Egypt. Married women of childbearing age who had experienced at least one childbirth (primiparous and multiparous) were included. A total of 179 participants were recruited using multistage sampling, combining random selection of PHC units and consecutive sampling of eligible women. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire covering socio-demographics, obstetric history, last delivery experience, and preference for the next delivery. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v26, including univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with CS and delivery preference.

RESULTS: A total of 179 women participated in the study. Of these, 68% had CS for their last delivery. The most frequently reported reasons for previous CS were fear of labor (56%), prolonged labor (18%), and long distance to the hospital (15.6%). Regarding future delivery preferences, (61.5%) of women expressed a preference for CS. The leading reasons cited were less pain (81.8% ), the belief that CS is safer for the baby (57.3%), and the knowledge of the time of delivery (32.2%). Multivariate logistic regression identified independent predictors for each outcome. Women with higher income [AOR 10.0, 95% CI 2.7-36.9, < 0.001] and those whose doctor suggested CS [AOR 19.2, 95% CI 5.5-67.1, p < 0.001] were more likely to have had a CS in their last delivery. In contrast, preference for CS in the next delivery was independently associated with higher husband education [AOR 12.1, 95% CI 1.2-124.3, p = 0.036] and a history of previous CS [AOR 14.7, 95% CI 6.2-34.6, p < 0.001].

CONCLUSION: Fear of labor and previous CS were the main drivers of past and preferred future CS deliveries, with non-medical factors outweighing medical indications. Findings highlight the need for educational interventions to support informed delivery choices.

PMID:42113390 | DOI:10.1186/s42506-026-00218-1

J Egypt Natl Canc Inst. 2026 May 11;38(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s43046-026-00364-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Data on specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs2072454 and rs2227983, remain limited, particularly in North African populations. This study aimed to evaluate the association between these two SNPs and lung cancer risk in a Western Algerian population.

METHODS: This is a case-control study including 143 participants, 73 lung cancer patients recruited from the University Hospital Centre of Oran, and 70 healthy controls recruited from the blood transfusion centre of the University Hospital Establishment of Oran (UHEO) and volunteer pool. Genotyping of EGFR rs2072454 and rs2227983 polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Statistical analyses were conducted using R software, with logistic regression models adjusted for gender and smoking status.

RESULTS: The CT genotype of rs2072454 showed a nominal association with increased lung cancer risk under the overdominant model (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.04-5.30, p = 0.04). For rs2227983, while the dominant model (AG/ GG vs AA) demonstrated the best fit based on AIC/BIC criteria, however, only the AG genotype showed a borderline association in adenocarcinoma cases under the codominant model (OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.0-7.5, p = 0.04). No significant haplotype associations or linkage disequilibrium was observed between the two SNPs.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest potential, but uncertain, associations between EGFR polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility in this population. The results should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited sample size and require validation in larger cohorts.

PMID:42113385 | DOI:10.1186/s43046-026-00364-9

Appl Microsc. 2026 May 11;56(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s42649-026-00136-8.

ABSTRACT

The histological structure and morphometric characteristics of the skin of the Korean ice goby Leucopsarion petersii were investigated using light microscopy, two histological staining techniques, and SPSS statistical analysis. Skin samples from adult L. petersii fishes were collected from five body regions, including the head, operculum, dorsal body, lateral body, and ventral body. In all examined regions, the skin of L. petersii exhibited the general structure as in other teleost fishes, consisting of an epidermis and dermis separated by a distinct basement membrane with underlying skeletal muscle. The epidermis was composed of outermost flattened cells, basal cells, club cells, and mucous cells. However, some histological findings differed from the typical teleost fishes: I), the dermis was mainly characterized by a well-developed stratum compactum with an almost complete absence of the stratum laxum; II), Although epithelial thickness showed significant regional variation, it was positively correlated with basement membrane thickness (r = 0.417, p < 0.001; n = 100); III), Mucous cells, suggesting the formation of a protective mucosal barrier on the skin surface, were distributed in the outer epidermal layer; IV), club cells, implying retention of chemical defense mechanisms against environmental stress, were confirmed within the epidermis. Consequently, the skin histology of the skin of L. petersii may reflect adaptive responses to its thin body surface and to the fluctuating environmental conditions encountered in coastal and estuarine habitats.

PMID:42113373 | DOI:10.1186/s42649-026-00136-8

Prev Sci. 2026 May 11. doi: 10.1007/s11121-026-01918-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There has been growing interest in preventive intervention “crossover” effects on suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), in which targeting early risk factors may mitigate distal risk for STBs without STBs having been the targeted outcomes of the primary study. The present study extends an 11-study integrative data analysis of the Coping Power (CP) intervention (N = 3182) to assess indirect effects of different forms of CP on teacher- and parent-reported STBs as transmitted through different subdimensions of internalizing and externalizing problems. Compared to school-as-usual, all forms of CP (Standard/Group CP, Individual CP, CP with Mindfulness, Internet-Enhanced CP) led to reductions in parent- and/or teacher-reported youth STBs. Subgroup analyses suggested that boys benefitted from Individual CP and CP with Mindfulness mediated by reductions in aggressive behavior, whereas boys in Standard CP saw reductions in STBs mediated by reductions in conduct problems. Girls saw reductions in STBs in CP with Mindfulness mediated by reductions in anxiety. Some inferences made for individual $\hat{\alpha }$ and $\hat{\beta }$ paths and mediation effects differed when using standard parametric approaches for inference versus bias-corrected percentile bootstrapping. These differences highlight cautions regarding statistical inference for prevention researchers who study highly skewed zero-inflated latent variables such as STBs. Findings are discussed in light of (a) earlier etiological research on biological sex-specificity in the pathways to early risk for suicide and (b) how variation in program components of CP and its adaptations may reduce STB risk across different populations, age groups, and modes of program delivery.

PMID:42113366 | DOI:10.1007/s11121-026-01918-y

Geroscience. 2026 May 11. doi: 10.1007/s11357-026-02314-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a cardiometabolic syndrome strongly associated with aging, systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, in which impaired endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling plays a central role. This study aimed to identify circulating proteins associated with HFpEF and to explore their relationship with endothelial alterations under metabolic stress. A total of 109 HFpEF patients and 49 control subjects underwent clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic assessment. HFpEF patients exhibited a high burden of cardiometabolic comorbidities and significantly increased NT-proBNP (2851.2 ± 1565.5 vs 156.0 ± 85.2 pg/mL) and C-reactive protein levels (2.9 ± 4.5 vs 0.31 ± 0.33 mg/dL). Echocardiography revealed elevated filling pressures (E/e’ 16.5 ± 3.8 vs 7.0 ± 1.9), a higher prevalence of high-probability pulmonary hypertension, and impaired right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling. Exploratory proteomic profiling identified galectin-3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) as increased in plasma from HFpEF patients, a finding confirmed by ELISA showing significantly higher circulating levels compared with controls (8.65 ± 0.66 vs 2.36 ± 0.26 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Pathway analysis suggested a potential association between LGALS3BP and activation of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2)-related inflammatory pathways. In vitro, metabolic stress conditions increased LGALS3BP expression in murine endothelial cells, with a more pronounced response in eNOS⁻/⁻ cells. In addition, eNOS deficiency was associated with the appearance of a lower-molecular weight LGALS3BP form and with increased markers of endothelial senescence and autophagy. LGALS3BP is elevated in HFpEF and is associated with endothelial alterations linked to impaired eNOS signaling under metabolic stress. These findings suggest a potential connection between endothelial stress responses and LGALS3BP expression in HFpEF, supporting further investigation of this protein as a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction in age-related cardiometabolic disease.

PMID:42113325 | DOI:10.1007/s11357-026-02314-8

Inflamm Res. 2026 May 11;75(1):113. doi: 10.1007/s00011-026-02268-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients carry a 2.5-fold increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), yet the shared multi-scale genetic architecture remains poorly understood. We constructed an integrative framework across tissue, cellular, and variant levels to systematically dissect the pathogenic evolution of this comorbidity across spatiotemporal dimensions.

METHODS: We integrated GWAS data from 100,204 CRC cases and 12,160 UC patients with tissue-specific MAGMA enrichment, embryonic spatial mapping (gsMap), and multidimensional single-cell prioritization (ECLIPSER, CELLECT, scDRS). We further resolved cell-specific co-expression patterns using hdWGCNA and identified high-confidence causal variants and genes through Bayesian fine-mapping (eCAVIAR, fastenloc) and Open4Gene analysis.

RESULTS: Genetic susceptibility for both diseases was significantly enriched in the terminal ileum and transverse colon, anchored to E16.5 embryonic gut programs. CD4 + T cells emerged as the core immune hub in UC, exhibiting profound immunometabolic polarization (Th17/IL-17 axis and Warburg effect), while progenitors were identified as the primary cellular origin for CRC malignancy. Pathological progression was characterized by a transition from chronic inflammatory stress toward p53-mediated genomic instability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and vascular remodeling. We prioritized Tier 1 candidate genes-ARPC5, PTGER4, CIB1, PREX1, and S100A10-as key mediators of the comorbidity association between inflammation and cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings partially support a “genetic programming-microenvironment triggering” hypothesis, where regional vulnerabilities established by embryonic developmental programs are activated by postnatal insults, though its broad applicability warrants caution. This study provides a comprehensive multi-scale molecular framework for understanding UC-CRC comorbidity, offering potential targets for risk stratification and therapeutic intervention.

PMID:42113310 | DOI:10.1007/s00011-026-02268-9

Int J Health Econ Manag. 2026 May 11;26(2):11. doi: 10.1007/s10754-026-09415-z.

ABSTRACT

Economic shocks have been shown to affect social and political outcomes. Here, I show that U.S. counties that faced greater economic shocks within the last 30 years were less likely to comply with the advice/orders of public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing county-level vaccination rates and then compliance rates with stay-at-home orders, I show that compliance with these initiatives was lower in counties that had experienced trade exposure to China, excess unemployment from the Great Recession, and a greater risk of job automation. These shocks are comparable in importance to factors such as income, age, and education.

PMID:42113308 | DOI:10.1007/s10754-026-09415-z

Anim Cogn. 2026 May 11. doi: 10.1007/s10071-026-02062-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Experiencing environmental complexity during early life is fundamental for vertebrate neural development, with profound and often irreversible effects on later behavioural and cognitive outcomes. However, studies on the early stages of invertebrate development are scanty. European lobsters (Homarus gammarus) are routinely reared in captivity for subsequent release in the context of restocking and stock-enhancement. The impoverished captive conditions they experience may exert long-term effects on their development, ultimately impairing their success after release. Here we tested the effects of environmental complexity during early life on learning (N = 38) and personality (N = 132) of juvenile lobsters. Lobsters experienced a full enrichment (with both substrate and shelter), a partial enrichment (either substrate or shelter), or bare standard conditions as a control. We assessed lobsters’ exploration and activity patterns via repeated open field tests, quantified their learning in a double T-maze, and investigated the possible presence of a speed-accuracy/flexibility trade-off in decision-making. We found that juvenile lobsters raised in enriched environments were more active compared to lobsters raised in control conditions. They were also faster in taking decisions and in correcting erroneous ones compared to controls, while decision speed did not predict the accuracy of its outcome. Finally, while all lobsters reached the learning criterion, the effects of environmental treatment on learning speed were only detectable in individuals that developed a wild-type morphological phenotype (i.e. asymmetrical claws), who showed a higher information-seeking tendency and required more trials. Overall, these results indicate a key role of early-life experience of environmental complexity in the development of behavioural and cognitive traits that can drive success in the wild.

PMID:42113306 | DOI:10.1007/s10071-026-02062-4

Int J Biometeorol. 2026 May 11;70(5):159. doi: 10.1007/s00484-026-03222-4.

ABSTRACT

Recently, pregnant women have been identified as susceptible to the effects of high ambient temperature. Evidence suggests that high temperature increases the risk of stillbirth, however, how this association differs by social disadvantage remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to high ambient temperature on the risk of stillbirth, overall, and by social disadvantage. Maternal and birth information from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021 were obtained from the South Australian Perinatal Statistics Collection. We implemented a cohort study design of 417,207 births including 2,776 (0.7%) stillbirths. Mixed-effect logistic regression models with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to examine the effect of maternal exposure to daily maximum temperature at birth (lag day 0), and for each individual day in the week preceding delivery (lag days 1-7). Adjustments for low, medium or high disadvantage were considered in our models. Maternal exposure to high temperature ≥ 95th percentile (36.1 °C) in the week before delivery slightly increased the risk of stillbirth on lag day 2 (aOR: 1.10, 95%CI: 0.93-1.30, p = 0.26) and slightly decreased risk on lag day 3 (aOR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.75-1.08, p = 0.26); however, the confidence intervals were wide and included 1, consistent with a null effect. Social disadvantage made negligible difference to the estimated odds of stillbirth associated with maximum temperature ≥ 95th percentile in the week before delivery. We recommend pregnant women consider adaptation strategies during periods of high temperature to minimise the risk of stillbirth.

PMID:42113305 | DOI:10.1007/s00484-026-03222-4

Bioprocess Biosyst Eng. 2026 May 11. doi: 10.1007/s00449-026-03343-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ammonia is an essential nutrient for anaerobic digestion (AD) but becomes inhibitory at elevated concentrations, leading to process instability. Although numerous microbial taxa and functional genes have been proposed as indicators of ammonia stress, most lack systematic validation across defined inhibitory thresholds. In this study, batch anaerobic digestion assays were conducted under increasing total ammonia nitrogen concentrations to experimentally characterize ammonia-induced inhibition. Methane yields obtained from batch tests were fitted using a Hill model to define non-inhibitory, inhibitory, and minimum inhibitory ammonia levels. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was applied to samples representative of each inhibition level, and a statistical framework integrating differential abundance analysis, network topology, redundancy analysis, and metabolic relevance was used to identify robust microbial indicators. Key taxa, including Anaerolinea, Methanomassiliicoccus, and Syntrophobacter, along with functional genes involved in acetate and propionate metabolism (e.g., acs and fhs), showed consistent and threshold-dependent responses to ammonia stress. These microbial indicators provide mechanistic insight into ammonia-induced AD instability and offer a promising basis for early-warning monitoring and microbial management strategies to improve the operational stability of anaerobic digesters treating food waste.

PMID:42113294 | DOI:10.1007/s00449-026-03343-5