Category: Statistics

JID Innov. 2025 Oct 17;6(1):100423. doi: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2025.100423. eCollection 2026 Jan.

ABSTRACT

Neighborhood factors may impact hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) severity. Neighborhood environment influences obesity and smoking, which may affect HS severity. Longer time to diagnosis is correlated with worse HS severity at diagnosis, and dermatologists are not evenly distributed geographically. Two studies investigating the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and HS severity reported contrasting results. We examine whether neighborhood SES is associated with HS severity at diagnosis within a health system using a census tract-level measure of neighborhood SES, adjusting for individual-level confounders and accounting for census tract clustering. In our cross-sectional study of 462 patients with a new HS diagnosis, patients residing in lower SES neighborhoods had greater odds of Hurley stage 2-3 disease in age- and sex-adjusted models (OR = 1.69, 95% confidence interval = 1.15-2.50, P = .008). Additional adjustment for race and ethnicity revealed a positive association that was not statistically significant (adjusted OR = 1.37, 95% confidence interval = 0.88-2.14, P = .16). Further adjustment for insurance type did not attenuate effect size. We observed evidence of a multiplicative interaction between neighborhood SES and race and ethnicity (P = .02). Residing in lower SES neighborhoods was associated with greater odds of moderate-severe HS at diagnosis. The relationship between neighborhood SES and race and ethnicity is complex, warranting further investigation.

PMID:41312529 | PMC:PMC12651420 | DOI:10.1016/j.xjidi.2025.100423

Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2025 Oct 31;7:ojaf141. doi: 10.1093/asjof/ojaf141. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although COVID-19 infection rates have declined from pandemic peaks, recent infection may pose a potential concern in aesthetic surgery. Of note, the surgical risks associated with recent infection are not well defined. Previous studies, constrained by small cohorts and early-pandemic data, have not conclusively established whether recent COVID-19 infection continues to influence surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to determine whether COVID-19 infection within 30 days before body-contouring procedures is associated with increased postoperative complications.

METHODS: Adult patients who underwent body-contouring surgery between August 2020 and March 2025 were identified from the US Collaborative Network on TriNetX (TRINETX, LLC, Cambridge, MA). Patients were categorized based on documented COVID-19 infection within 30 days preoperatively. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to balance demographics and comorbidities. Thirty-day postoperative complications were compared using risk ratios (RRs), with statistical significance defined as P < .05.

RESULTS: A total of 3941 patients were matched in each of the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups. Patients in the matched COVID-19 group had a significantly increased risk of surgical-site infection (RR 1.56, P = .010), wound disruption (RR 1.69, P = .003), postoperative pain (RR 1.66, P = .002), anticoagulant use (RR 1.77, P < .0001), and emergency department visits (RR 1.50, P = .010).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite reduced overall prevalence, recent COVID-19 infection remains associated with increased risk of postoperative complications following body-contouring surgery. Delaying elective aesthetic procedures by at least 30 days following recent infection appears prudent to enhance patient safety and minimize complications.

PMID:41312520 | PMC:PMC12649762 | DOI:10.1093/asjof/ojaf141

Cereb Circ Cogn Behav. 2025 Nov 5;9:100517. doi: 10.1016/j.cccb.2025.100517. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Patients with symptomatic high degree carotid artery stenosis often exhibit a reduced perfusion pressure in the cerebral vasculature in absence of sufficient collaterals. The aim of this research was to evaluate changes in mean blood flow velocity and pulsatility within the cerebral perforating arteries following carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

METHODS: Fifteen patients with symptomatic high degree (>50 %) carotid artery stenosis were included in the monocentre prospective observational Carotis7T study. All patients underwent 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) one day prior to CEA and three months postoperative. Mean blood flow velocity (Vmean) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured in the first segment of the middle cerebral artery (M1 of MCA), and in the perforating arteries of the basal ganglia (BG) and semi-oval centre (CSO), using a 2D phase-contrast 7T MRI sequence. Outcomes on the ipsilateral side were compared between the preoperative and postoperative situation.

RESULTS: A postoperative increase (+14.2 %) in Vmean and (+10.7 %) in PI was seen at the level of the MCA. A slight decrease in Vmean and a slight increase in PI were observed at both the level of the BG (respectively -5.6 % and +12.8 %) and CSO (respectively -13.2 % and +11.0 %) between the preoperative and postoperative situation following CEA. However, these changes were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: In this small single centre patient sample, our findings suggest that revascularization by removal of the stenosis and atherosclerotic plaque does not result in a measurable impact on the brain’s perfusion at BG and CSO level at three months post intervention.

PMID:41312508 | PMC:PMC12651730 | DOI:10.1016/j.cccb.2025.100517

RSC Adv. 2025 Nov 26;15(54):46449-46464. doi: 10.1039/d5ra07908j. eCollection 2025 Nov 24.

ABSTRACT

Nano-sized gas bubbles have attracted significant interest in electro-chemical applications due to their durability and longevity. Accurately predicting nanobubble formation and their size is critical for advancing technologies such as electrolysis and fuel cell systems. This study presents an integrated framework combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and thermodynamic modelling to determine nanobubble formation and size in a closed system under isothermal-isobaric condition. Assuming the nanobubble consists of a van der Waals (vdW) gas, the vdW constants are extracted from MD simulations of pure gas systems. A thermodynamic model is then developed for a closed system by combining the vdW equation with the assumption of chemical and mechanical equilibrium, which establishes a predictive relationship between nanobubble size and gas concentration. To validate the framework, MD simulations are performed for hydrogen in water under supersaturation, and the results are compared with thermodynamic model predictions. Comparisons are also made with experimental reports of nanobubbles. Our findings reveal that nanobubbles only form above a critical supersaturation threshold. The framework accurately predicts nanobubble radii in hydrogen-water systems, matching MD results while requiring minimal computational effort. When the pressure inside the nanobubble is approximated from the vdW equation of state, the Young-Laplace equation is shown to be valid even at sub-10 nm scales, with a negligible Tolman length. In contrast, the assumption of an ideal gas in thermodynamic modelling leads to considerable discrepancy with MD simulations. Overall, the proposed approach-bridging MD and thermodynamic modelling-paves the way toward a quantitative understanding of nanobubble formation and size in supersaturated liquids.

PMID:41312502 | PMC:PMC12650316 | DOI:10.1039/d5ra07908j

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Nov 12;12:1677160. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1677160. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The digitization of radiology through online platforms has introduced significant challenges in maintaining patient privacy and complying with ethical and legal standards, particularly in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving healthcare system.

AIM: To assess the awareness levels of radiology professionals in Saudi Arabia regarding patient privacy, ethical responsibilities, and legal implications of sharing medical imaging on digital platforms.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 293 radiology staff, including Radiologists and Radiologic Technologists, using a structured online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA.

RESULTS: Participants demonstrated moderate awareness across all domains (mean scores ~3.1-3.2 on a 5-point scale). Radiologists reported significantly higher awareness than Technologists (p < 0.0001). Awareness also increased with years of experience and varied by region, with the Central region showing the highest scores.

CONCLUSION: Despite moderate overall awareness, significant disparities highlight the need for targeted training and policy reinforcement to ensure consistent compliance with privacy, ethical, and legal standards in digital radiology.

PMID:41312484 | PMC:PMC12647042 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1677160

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Nov 12;12:1678116. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1678116. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

AIM: In this cohort, we aimed to study the evolution of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) during treatment and compare it with other disease scores such as FIB-4 and PAGE-B.

METHODS: Eighty-eight HBeAg negative CHB who received long-term treatment with NAs were included. A quantitative HBV S antigen (HBsAg) assay was performed, and viral HBV DNA was quantified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Finally, viral RNA levels (pre-core RNA (preC RNA) and pgRNA) were analyzed using the RTPCR protocol. The FIB-4 score was calculated for all patients, depicting the cirrhosis course, while the platelet-related PAGE-B score contributed to the 5-year cumulative prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Statistical multivariate analysis was performed using the R studio and CATREG SPSS optimal scaling algorithm of SPSS 26.0.0.0.

RESULTS: A total of 18.1% of our sample was positive for HBV pgRNA, delineating a positive correlation with cirrhosis and an apparently negative correlation with therapy duration. HBV pgRNA was not independently correlated with FIB-4 (p = 0.137) after adjustment for aminotransferase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT)^1/2, (AST)^1/2, 1/platelets (PLT), age, sex, HBsAg, HBV viral load, regimen administered, and therapy duration (ordinal regression ANOVA p < 10^-12; ${\text{R}}_{\text{reg}}^2$ : 0.794). Moreover, HBV pgRNA was not independently correlated with PAGE-B (p = 0.459) after adjustment for age, sex, AST, 1/PLT, duration of therapy, HBsAg, HBV viral load, regimen administered, and the presence of cirrhosis (ordinal regression ANOVA p < 10^-12; ${\text{R}}_{\text{reg}}^2$ : 0.800).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, further longitudinal studies are needed to assess the potential usefulness of HBV pgRNA as prognosticator of liver fibrosis and susceptibility to HCC.

PMID:41312475 | PMC:PMC12647073 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1678116

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Nov 12;12:1607191. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1607191. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The relationship between serum bicarbonate levels and 28-day mortality in dialysis patients remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum bicarbonate levels and short-term mortality in patients undergoing dialysis.

METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 4,979 dialysis patients aged 18 years or older from the electronic Intensive Care Unit (eICU) Collaborative Research Database (2014-2015). Serum bicarbonate levels were measured within 24 h of ICU admission. A multivariate Cox regression model was applied to evaluate the association between serum bicarbonate levels and 28-day mortality.

RESULTS: A total of 4,979 patients were analyzed, with a median age of 63 years. Among them, 513 patients (10.3%) died within 28 days. A significant non-linear relationship was observed between serum bicarbonate levels and mortality. Using a two-segment linear regression model, the inflection point was determined to be 30 mmol/L (log-likelihood ratio test, p = 0.029). Below this threshold, serum bicarbonate was inversely associated with 28-day mortality (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.86-0.92, p < 0.0001). Above the threshold, the association was not statistically significant (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.97-1.28, P = 0.1278).

CONCLUSION: Serum bicarbonate levels are non-linearly associated with 28-day mortality in dialysis patients. Levels below 30 mmol/L are linked to an increased risk of death. These findings need to be confirmed in future prospective studies.

PMID:41312462 | PMC:PMC12647071 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1607191

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Nov 12;12:1690944. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1690944. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of performing diagnostic hysteroscopy prior to the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle on clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates.

METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2023 at Qingdao Women and Children’s Hospital, China. The study population included women under 45 years old with ultrasonographically normal uterine cavities who were undergoing their first fresh embryo transfer through in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Primary outcomes included: (1) prevalence of abnormal uterine findings detected by hysteroscopy, and (2) comparative analysis of reproductive outcomes between hysteroscopy and non-hysteroscopy groups.

RESULTS: Among patients undergoing hysteroscopy, 49.63% patients exhibited abnormal uterine findings, with endometrial polyps being the most common pathology (30.03%). A significantly lower rate of good-quality embryos was observed in the hysteroscopy group compared to the non-hysteroscopy group (50.38% vs. 75.11%, p < 0.05). After adjusting for embryo quality, age, BMI, AMH, duration of infertility, and endometrial thickness, multivariable analysis confirmed that the hysteroscopy group had a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.142-1.997, P = 0.004) compared to the non-hysteroscopy group. In the subgroup, the clinical pregnancy rate in these two groups (the endometrial polyp group 63.49%, p = 0.014; the chronic endometritis group 64.12%, p = 0.032) was significantly higher. No statistically significant difference in live birth rate was observed between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic hysteroscopy effectively identifies and facilitates treatment of intrauterine abnormalities in IVF/ICSI candidates to optimize endometrial receptivity. And performance of hysteroscopy prior to IVF is significantly associated with increased clinical pregnancy rates. These findings support the recommendation for pre-transfer hysteroscopic evaluation in the first embryo transfer cycles.

PMID:41312455 | PMC:PMC12646986 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1690944

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 27. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-27743-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The current study demonstrates the intricate thermo-solutal transportation features of a nanofluid experiencing non-linear kinematics as it flows across a rough porous stretched interface. Previous work has typically been limited to smooth geometries, narrow parameter ranges, and few physical intuitions. However, this paper extends the analysis to include surface roughness, porosity effect, nonlinear stretching and essential physical phenomena like effect of magnetic field, Brownian motion special case thermophoresis effect and variable suction/injection. The resulting extension does not only reproduce realistic flow cases, but reveals extremely sensitive solution behaviors that have been completely untouched in the literature. Using scaling transformation approach, the governing non-linear partial differential equations (PDEs) for the transport of momentum, energy, and solutal in the transformed independent variables are translated into a set of coupled ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Numerical simulation of the above transport equations with ten dimensionless parameters is done using the MATLAB BVP4C (built in solver) approach, which ensures computational stability and high precision across broad parametric domains. Additionally, using an expanded parameter domain revealed previously unknown solution properties. For instance, as the thermophoretic limitation raised, the species concentration rose by 5% and fell by 12%. Additionally, sensitivity was demonstrated by the velocity profiles shifting by 20% in response to a small variation in the slip parameter. Finding the limits at which qualitatively reactions to system modifications and other non-physical solutions arise from the qualitative responses is notably innovative. Such findings will propel the development of more efficient coatings and temperature control techniques, offering helpful advice to greatly improve transportation effectiveness in actual nanofluid applications.

PMID:41310388 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-27743-x

Electromagn Biol Med. 2025 Nov 27:1-11. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2025.2593267. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the impacts of extremely low-frequency (ELF)-electromagnetic field (EMF) on cognitive functions and analgesia in terms of total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in the experimental pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy model. Twenty-four Wistar albino male rats were categorized into four groups: sham, EMF, PTZ, and EMF+PTZ. The rats were repeatedly exposed to alternating 50-Hz and 5-mT EMF for 165 min a day for 7 days. Epileptic seizures were induced with PTZ. The levels of oxidative stress markers were measured. Univariate multifactorial one-way analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey’s test were used for pairwise comparisons between groups. A statistically significant difference was observed in the learning and short-term memory levels in the EMF + PTZ group compared with the PTZ group (p < 0.001). Analgesia latency statistically significantly increased in the ELF-EMF and ELF-EMF+PTZ groups compared with both the control and epilepsy groups (p < 0.001). A statistically significant increase in TOS was found in the prefrontal cortex in the PTZ group compared with the sham group (p < 0.001). Also, TOS statistically significantly increased in the hippocampus in both PTZ and ELF-EMF+ PTZ groups compared with the sham group (p < 0.001). ELF-EMF decreased the increased TOS in the hippocampus of rats in the PTZ group.

PMID:41310382 | DOI:10.1080/15368378.2025.2593267