Category: Statistics

Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 2026 Mar 9;0(0):1-28. doi: 10.11607/prd.7963. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to investigate an association of contact point-attachment level distance (CP-AL) with presence/absence of interdental papilla between maxillary central incisors. CP-AL distance may be a non-invasive representative for the classic contact point-bone crest distance (CP-BC) which is being used to determine the presence of interdental papilla as per existing knowledge. Total 195 systemically healthy patients were recruited with age ranging 18-45years in this cross-sectional study. Clinical parameters included were CP-BC, CP-AL, contact point-papilla tip (CP-PT), contact point- interproximal cementoenamel junction (CP-iCEJ), and periodontal phenotype (PP). The height of black triangle (CP-PT) and presence/absence of papilla, both were statistically significantly and positively correlated with CP-BC and CP-AL distance. The statistically significant and positive association was also observed between CP-AL distance and height of black triangle. The results suggested that increase in 0.57mm of CP-AL distance resulted in 1unit increase in measurement of height of black triangle. Furthermore, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed the threshold value of CP-AL distance at or above which there would be presence of black triangle was 3.5mm. Contact point-attachment level distance which is a non-invasive method could be used as an alternative to contact point-bone crest distance to assess papilla presence/absence.

PMID:41801150 | DOI:10.11607/prd.7963

Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2026 Mar 9:1-10. doi: 10.1080/00365513.2026.2640367. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Several methods are available to differentiate non-fibrosis from advanced liver fibrosis; however, data regarding intermediate stages remain limited. A total of 246 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were enrolled and classified into four groups according to fibrosis stage: non- or mild fibrosis (Group A), significant fibrosis (Group B), progressive fibrosis (Group C), and cirrhosis (Group D). The serum chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) levels in Groups A, B, C, and D were 40.33, 52.96, 92.28, and 153.63 μg/L, respectively. Significant differences were observed between Groups A and B (p = 0.040), Groups C and D (p < 0.0001), and Groups B and D (p < 0.0001). The percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was 0.67 in the CHB-low fibrosis (CHB-L) group and 0.26 in the CHB-moderate to severe fibrosis (CHB-MS) group, representing a statistically significant difference (p = 0.039). The T helper 17 cells (Th17)/Treg ratio was 10.00 in the CHB-L group and 61.26 in the CHB-MS group, representing a statistically significant difference (p = 0.010). For predicting significant fibrosis, progressive fibrosis, and cirrhosis, the area under the curve (AUC) for the combined conventional markers – hyaluronic acid, laminin, type III procollagen N-terminal peptide, collagen type IV, and cholyglycine were 0.736, whereas those for CHI3L1 and Th17/Treg were 0.774 and 0.750, respectively. The combination of CHI3L1 and Th17/Treg cells yielded an AUC of 0.814, demonstrating the highest sensitivity (100%) and high specificity. These findings suggest that CHI3L1 combined with Th17/Treg cells may serve as a novel biomarker for staging hepatitis B virus-related liver fibrosis.

PMID:41801145 | DOI:10.1080/00365513.2026.2640367

J Med Econ. 2026 Dec;29(1):761-771. doi: 10.1080/13696998.2026.2635880. Epub 2026 Mar 9.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare mortality, healthcare utilization, and costs between patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic mixed aortic valve disease (MAVD).

METHODS: We analyzed Optum United Health Care database for US patients with aortic insufficiency (AI) claims (2017-2024) and prior/concurrent aortic stenosis (AS) claims, requiring 12 months continuous enrollment. Patients with baseline aortic valve replacement (AVR) were excluded. Symptomatic MAVD (SMAVD) was defined as ≥2 baseline visits for heart failure, angina, dyspnea, or syncope. Outcomes included mortality, time to home health/skilled nursing facility (SNF), and annualized healthcare utilization and costs, analyzed using Cox proportional hazard and general linear models.

RESULTS: Among 132,361 MAVD patients, 73.62% (n = 97,448) were symptomatic at diagnosis. Of initially asymptomatic patients, 58.94% became symptomatic within 5 years. Only 22% received AVR within 5 years. SMAVD patients had higher mortality (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.44-1.53), home health utilization (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.30-1.35), SNF admissions (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.35-1.41), and $11,120 higher annual costs.

CONCLUSIONS: SMAVD patients experience significantly worse outcomes than asymptomatic patients. Early detection and timely interventions are critical to reducing MAVD’s healthcare burden.

PMID:41801137 | DOI:10.1080/13696998.2026.2635880

NCHS Data Brief. 2026 Feb;(550). doi: 10.15620/cdc/174642.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This report describes trends in the timing of prenatal care initiation from 2016 (the first year for which national data are available) to 2024. Changes by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, and late (beginning in the third trimester) or no care by state of residence also are shown from 2021 to 2024.

METHODS: This report uses data from the natality data file from the National Vital Statistics System. The vital statistics natality file is based on information from birth certificates and includes information for all births occurring in the United States. The month in which prenatal care began is calculated from the “Date of the first prenatal visit” item on the birth certificate and the gestational age of the newborn based on the obstetric estimate of gestation.

KEY FINDINGS: After increasing from 2016 (77.1%) to 2021 (78.3%), prenatal care beginning in the first trimester decreased to 75.5% in 2024. From 2021 to 2024, care beginning in the second trimester increased from 15.4% to 17.3% and late or no care increased from 6.3% to 7.3%. From 2021 to 2024, prenatal care beginning in the first trimester decreased, while care beginning in the second trimester and late and no care increased, for all maternal age groups. Over the same period, first trimester prenatal care decreased, while second trimester prenatal care and late and no care increased, for nearly all race and Hispanic-origin groups. From 2021 to 2024, late or no care increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

PMID:41801132 | DOI:10.15620/cdc/174642

West Afr J Med. 2025 Aug 29;42(8):652-659.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Spirometry provides useful information on lung diseases. The spirometry patterns of patients with lung disease and respiratory symptoms have not been completely identified. This study sought to determine the spirometry patterns of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms and the relationship between the spirometry patterns and the respiratory symptoms.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study involving 285 patients at a specialist respiratory laboratory in Enugu, Nigeria. Sociodemographic data, risk factors and respiratory symptoms were collected and spirometry conducted. Spirometry patterns were determined and the relationship between spirometry patterns and respiratory symptoms were determined using ANOVA and Chi-square. p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-five subjects were studied. Their mean age was 48.4 ±21.7 years. Male patients were 117 and females 168. The most frequent symptom was cough (58.6%) followed by chest tightness (46.3%), central chest pain (46.0%), and difficulty breathing during physical activity (41.4%). Nine (3.2%) had asthma, whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was found in 14(4.9%), asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) 16(5.6%), normal pattern 144(50.53%), and preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) 63(22.11%). There was statistically significant difference (F = 3.002, p = 0.031) in the mean Forced Expiratory Time (FET) values between the groups. Abnormal ventilatory function, predominantly the obstructive pattern, was significant in patients with cough and sputum production (p=0.001), noisy breathing (p<0.001), and difficulty in breathing out (p=0.012). COPD was poorly diagnosed without spirometry, 2 (14.29%).

CONCLUSION: Obstructive spirometry pattern were common in patients with respiratory symptoms in this study.

PMID:41801122

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2026 Mar 9. doi: 10.1002/acr.80039. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We describe trajectories of physical function in children newly diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and identify trajectories with persisting functional impairments and associated baseline characteristics.

METHODS: We included patients enrolled in the Canadian Alliance of Pediatric Rheumatology Investigators (CAPRI) Registry between 2017 and 2024, whose parents provided Kids Disability Screen scores in at least two visits (KDS, from 0=no disability to 10=severe disability). Analyses included descriptive statistics, locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS), Kaplan-Meier plots of time to KDS=0, latent class trajectory analysis (LCTA), and classification trees to predict trajectories with persisting impairments.

RESULTS: We included 940 patients providing 7,351 KDS scores starting a median 6 days after diagnosis up to 7 years. Baseline KDS scores were highest for RF-positive polyarthritis (mean 4.9, SD 3.1) and lowest for psoriatic arthritis (mean 2.4, SD 2.5), and mean scores improved within the first year in all JIA categories. Median time to KDS=0 was 36 weeks (from 13w for systemic arthritis to 73w for undifferentiated arthritis). LCTA identified 5 trajectories: one with little measurable impairment (38% of patients), two with impairments resolving in 1-2 years (24%), and two with persisting mild impairments (38%). A baseline KDS≥1.5 had a sensitivity of 0.79 and specificity of 0.48 to detect persisting mild impairment trajectories. There were no trajectories with persisting moderate or severe impairments.

CONCLUSION: Most children with JIA in this cohort had mild to moderate functional impairments at diagnosis that resolved in 1-2 years, but 1 in 3 followed trajectories with mild persisting impairments.

PMID:41801091 | DOI:10.1002/acr.80039

West Afr J Med. 2025 Aug 29;42(8):635-641.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Higher Education Institutions are expected to lead the paradigm shift in waste management by adopting strategies that will contribute to sustainable development in their operations. The impact of these innovations will expectedly diffuse to their surrounding communities. Waste composition studies in HEIs enables the identification of campus-specific opportunities for waste reduction and recycling. The aim of this study was to assess the quantity, composition of solid waste generated by the staff and students of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and College of Medicine, University of Lagos (LUTH/CMUL) compound.

METHODS: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the LUTH/CMUL compound. Solid waste generated from the commercial, academic and research; administrative and residential areas were quantified and characterized during the study. Solid waste generated in the four activity areas collected were sorted, classified and weighed using a weighing balance.

RESULTS: An estimated 14.775 tonnes of waste is generated daily from the compound with a waste generation rate of 0.29/kg/capita/day. Plastic and polythene bags made up majority (31.1%) of the total solid waste generated in the compound followed by organic waste (23%). In the commercial area, organic waste (57.21%) formed majority of the waste, plastics formed the majority (22.95%) of the waste in the residential areas and paper waste was mostly generated in the administrative area (41.22%) and, the academic and research areas (36.10%).

CONCLUSION: The quantity and composition of the solid waste generated are affected by the activities ongoing in the different categorized areas. A solid waste management scheme hinged on a zero waste policy should be designed by the LUTH and CMUL authorities. This scheme should tackle reduction of waste at source, efficient waste collection from generation points, waste recovery, recycling and composting, proper training of stakeholders and provision of incentives.

PMID:41801075

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2026 Mar 9. doi: 10.1002/acr.80036. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to construct and evaluate the first laboratory-based frailty index (FI-Lab) for predicting adverse outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to compare its predictive ability to that of an existing clinical frailty index (FI).

METHODS: We used data from a single-centre prospective cohort of adult SLE patients whose baseline visit occurred between 2010 and 2019. A 30-item FI-Lab was constructed by adapting an existing list of FI-Lab variables. Cox proportional hazards regression examined the association between baseline FI-Lab scores and all-cause mortality, while negative binomial regression evaluated the association with organ damage accrual. We compared the performance of multivariable models containing the FI-Lab and/or SLICC-FI as predictor variables using AIC, Harrell’s C-statistic, and pseudo-R² values.

RESULTS: Among 283 patients (89% female; mean age 47.7 years), 97 were classified as frail at baseline (FI-Lab >0.21). Frail individuals had increased mortality risk [Hazard ratio (HR) 3.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-7.54] and a higher rate of organ damage accrual during follow-up [Incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.26; 95% CI 1.59-3.22] compared to non-frail patients. The FI-Lab remained significantly associated with mortality risk after multivariable adjustment. While both indices were significant baseline predictors of organ damage accrual during follow-up, the multivariable model containing both FIs outperformed models containing either index alone.

CONCLUSION: An FI constructed exclusively from routinely collected laboratory variables can measure frailty and predict adverse outcomes in SLE. It may serve as a convenient screening tool to detect subclinical frailty and promote early risk mitigation in this population.

PMID:41801062 | DOI:10.1002/acr.80036

Int J Radiat Biol. 2026 Mar 9:1-9. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2026.2640977. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify mutant lines developed through gamma irradiation that demonstrate adaptability to semiarid environments and possess enhanced agronomic traits.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the cultivars Oğuz-2002 and Anadolu Pembesi-2002 were used as control, alongside seven mutant lines developed through mutation breeding. Yield trials were conducted during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons using a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A statistically significant variation (p < .01) was observed among the genotypes in terms of both biological yield and grain yield, indicating considerable potential for genetic improvement. Upon analysis, the mutant line OG802 exhibited the highest biological yield (4.23 t ha^-1), while the highest grain yield (0.98 t ha^-1) was recorded in the OG602 line. The OG802 line demonstrated a significant increase in biological yield compared to the control cultivars, without any compromise in grain yield. Additionally, OG802 showed greater adaptability to semiarid conditions than the control cultivars. These results suggest that gamma irradiation-induced mutations can enhance biomass productivity and stress resilience without negatively impacting seed production. Such improvements may be attributed to altered physiological or morphological traits, including improved water-use efficiency or biomass allocation. In conclusion, the OG802 mutant line holds strong potential for the cultivation of Hungarian vetch in semiarid environments, owing to its superior biological yield and enhanced adaptability to harsh climatic conditions. These findings underscore the effectiveness of gamma radiation-induced mutation breeding as a promising approach for developing new, climate-resilient genotypes in future breeding programs.

PMID:41801054 | DOI:10.1080/09553002.2026.2640977

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2026 Mar 9. doi: 10.1002/acr.80034. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the performance of LFA-REAL, BILAG, and SLEDAI in detecting the clinician’s perception of improvement and worsening disease and identifying patients requiring treatment escalation.

METHODS: This was a prospective, observational study conducted at four centers. Adults with SLE were evaluated at a baseline and follow-up visit. Disease activity was assessed using SLEDAI, BILAG, and LFA-REAL at both visits by the same physician. At the follow-up visit, the Clinician’s Global Impression of Change (CGIC) was recorded to classify patients as improved, worsened, or unchanged. ROC-curve analysis was used to evaluate each instrument in detecting clinician-rated change gauged by CGIC with optimal cut-off points determined using the Youden-Index.

RESULTS: Of 163 patients enrolled, 145 (89%) completed a follow-up visit. Based on CGIC, 23% improved, 16% worsened, and 61% remained stable. For detecting CGIC-defined improvement, LFA-REAL had an AUC of 0.85 (95%CI: 0.77-0.92), compared to 0.75 (0.66-0.85) for BILAG and 0.74 (0.64-0.84) for SLEDAI. For CGIC-defined worsening, AUCs were 0.86 (0.77-0.96), 0.79 (0.67-0.90), and 0.76 (0.66-0.87). Of those with CGIC-defined worsening, 8 (35%) required treatment escalation. LFA-REAL identified a difference of ⋝10mm in all eight of these patients, compared to 4 by BILAG and 2 by SLEDAI.

CONCLUSIONS: LFA-REAL showed comparable performance relative to SLEDAI and BILAG in detecting clinician-rated change. There was a statistically significant advantage over SLEDAI for detection of improvement. These findings support its utility as a metric for disease activity in clinical practice and research.

PMID:41801044 | DOI:10.1002/acr.80034