Category: Statistics

Front Psychiatry. 2025 Feb 5;16:1508791. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1508791. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Medical students are exposed to various stressors. Among the many factors that determine the possibility of a mental crisis, there is also a personality profile and a sense of meaning in life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sets of anonymous surveys were distributed among medical students of different years studying at the Medical University of Lodz. The set of surveys included a sociodemographic survey, Beck’s Depression Inventory version II (BDI-II), the NEO Five Factory Inventory (NEO-FFI), Reker’s Life Attitude Profile – Revised questionnaire (LAP-R), Osman’s Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ-R).

RESULTS: The study cohort comprised of 276 students (mean age 21.7 years). According to the BDI-II, 79 participants (28.4%) were identified as having depressive symptoms. Additionally, 80 participants (28.9%) were assessed to be at significant risk of suicide according to the SBQ-R scale. Based on the results of these questionnaires, we identified four groups: 1. Participants with depressive symptoms (D). 2. Participants with suicide risk (SR), 3. Participants with both depressive symptoms with suicide risk (D and SR), 4. A control group. Students from D and D and SR groups, exhibited higher neuroticism scores compared to those with suicide risk alone (SR) and the control group. In terms of extroversion, the control and SR groups scored higher compared to the D with SR group. Participants with SR and those with D and SR had higher openness scores compared to the D and control groups. D and SR group obtained statistical lower score then control group in the terms of conscientiousness. In life control score, participants in D and D with SR group has significant lower score then SR and control group. The conditions: personal meaning index and life attitude balance in the control group achieved significantly higher values compared to all other groups.

CONCLUSION: People with depressive symptoms, suicide risk and both of these variables simultaneously differed in terms of personality profile and components influencing the meaning of life.

PMID:39975950 | PMC:PMC11836027 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1508791

Front Psychiatry. 2025 Feb 5;16:1538267. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1538267. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Childhood traumatization can result in physical and mental health problems in adulthood, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which negatively influences quality of life and social functioning. Although evidence based trauma treatments benefit clients with PTSD after childhood abuse and comorbid personality disorders, they are less effective than in clients who were traumatized in adulthood, and drop-out is substantial. The current study aims to assess the effects of inpatient dialectical behavior therapy combined with prolonged exposure (DBT-PTSD) on severity of PTSD, dissociation, parasuicidal behavior and borderline personality disorder (BPD) in clients with severe PTSD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Secondary outcomes are social functioning, quality of life, borderline and cluster C personality disorder symptoms as treatment predictors, treatment trajectories, clients’ experiences and health economic consequences.

METHODS: The naturalistic, longitudinal Trauma Therapy Study is conducted from January 2019 until May 2025 in a mental healthcare center in the Netherlands. Clients with severe PTSD and comorbid conditions who are referred to inpatient DBT-PTSD are included into the study. Based on power analyses a total sample size of N=56 is needed. Measurements take place before the waiting list period, at pre- and posttreatment and at six- and twelve-months follow-up. Clients fill in a daily DBT-PTSD diary, which gives insight into individual symptom trajectories.

RESULTS: Statistical analyses include two-sided paired samples t-tests, linear mixed model analyses and cost-effectiveness analyses. Qualitative interviews are conducted within two years posttreatment and analyzed using a phenomenological approach. We correct for chance capitalization by using a conservative α-level of.01. Multiple imputation is used to handle missing data.

DISCUSSION: Research on the effects of integrated treatment programs for clients with severe PTSD and co-morbid conditions is scarce. This study extends current knowledge on the effects of inpatient DBT-PTSD on PTSD and BPD symptoms, clients’ social functioning and quality of life. In addition, it provides insight into individual symptom trajectories and experiences, inspiring future treatment improvements for clients with severe psychopathology.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Medical Ethical Committee approval (NL669060018, RTPO1044/01.10.2018). Preregistration: Dutch registration database Centrale Commissie Mensgebonden Onderzoek and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (NL-OMON46167/01.10.2018/https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NL-OMON46167).

PMID:39975947 | PMC:PMC11836029 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1538267

Res Sq [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 31:rs.3.rs-5927600. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5927600/v1.

ABSTRACT

Background: Substance use can negatively impact treatment adherence and health outcomes, thus exacerbating the burden of the disease. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with substance use among patients with TB disease in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 144 patients with drug-susceptible TB enrolled from July 2020 to March 2021 across five health facilities in Kampala. Eligible participants were 18-65 years old, diagnosed with TB, and had initiated treatment for <= one month. Exclusions included drug-resistant TB, severe illness, or impairments affecting study participation. Data on socio-demographics, substance use, and clinical characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Self-reported substance use was the outcome of interest. Descriptive statistics and simple logistic regression analyses were performed for factors associated with substance use. Stata version 18.0 was used for analysis. Results: The participants had a median age of 34 years (IQR: 25.5 – 45.0); 50% were female and 31.9% were HIV infected. The prevalence of any substance use was 20.8% among TB patients. Alcohol use was the predominant substance (18.1%), followed by marijuana (2.8%) and tobacco (2.1%). Males were more likely than females to use any substances (COR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.02 – 5.56, p=0.055), as were HIV-infected persons (COR: 3.20, 95% CI: 1.40 – 7.34, p=0.006), and those affiliated with the Catholic religion (COR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.06 – 11.60, p=0.040). Conclusion: Our study found a relatively high level of substance use among persons with TB. TB-HIV co-infected persons should be particularly targeted with interventions to minimize the negative health effects of substance use.

PMID:39975935 | PMC:PMC11838757 | DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-5927600/v1

Res Sq [Preprint]. 2025 Feb 3:rs.3.rs-5867126. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5867126/v1.

ABSTRACT

Background Globally, stroke is one of the top three leading causes of death and disability. Although several stroke risk factors are modifiable, including hypertension, factors associated with stroke among older patients with hypertension in Uganda remain underexplored. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with stroke among older patients with hypertension in public healthcare facilities in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 383 older patients with hypertension. Systematic sampling was used to recruit study participants, and STATA 15.0 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to present continuous variables, while frequencies and proportions were used to present categorical data. Bivariate analyses identified associations between independent variables and stroke. Multivariable analyses controlled for confounders. A modified Poisson regression analysis with robust standard errors estimated prevalence ratios. Results Of the 383 respondents, 71.0% (272/383) were aged 60-69 years (mean age 66.8 ± 7.1), 80.9% (310/383) were female, and 42.8% (164/383) had a primary education level (1-7 years). About 31.9% (122/383) exercised regularly, 94.8% (363/383) consumed carbohydrates frequently, 5.2% (20/383) had ever smoked, and 42.0% (151/383) had ever consumed alcohol. The prevalence of stroke was 18.3% (70/383). The factors associated with stroke included being aged 80 years and above (APR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.59-4.51), having 8-13 years of formal education (secondary education)(APR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14-0.98), possessing health insurance (APR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.19-9.37), having high knowledge of stroke (APR = 24.72, 95% CI: 6.20-98.55), and receiving stroke-related health information (APR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.05-3.02). Conclusion and recommendation: This study demonstrated a high prevalence of stroke among older patients with hypertension. Public health education and community outreach should be expanded to underserved populations, while age-specific hypertension management and affordable healthcare services are essential. Engaging men and leveraging stroke survivors as peer educators can further strengthen prevention efforts. Future research should explore barriers to prevention and develop tailored interventions for diverse populations.

PMID:39975928 | PMC:PMC11838758 | DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-5867126/v1

Res Sq [Preprint]. 2025 Jan 30:rs.3.rs-5901359. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5901359/v1.

ABSTRACT

Inflammation plays a central role in the progression of kidney injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Meprin metalloproteinases have been implicated in the pathophysiology of IR-induced kidney injury. Existing data from in vitro and in vivo studies show that meprins modulate interleukin-6 (IL-6)-mediated inflammation via proteolytic processing of IL-6 and its receptor. IL-6 trans-signaling induces proliferation through either MAPK/ERK or PI3K/AKT pathway or in crosstalk with AKT/ERK. We previously showed that meprin β modulates cellular survival (BCL-2) through IL-6/JAK/STAT signaling pathway in IR-induced kidney injury. However, it’s not known how meprin β modulation of the IL-6 signaling pathway impacts the cellular proliferation in IR-induced acute kidney injury. The goal of the current study was to determine how meprin β modulation of the IL-6 signaling pathway impacts downstream cellular proliferation in IR-induced kidney injury. We used the unilateral IR as a model of renal inflammation in wild-type (WT) and meprin β knockout (βKO) mice, with the contralateral kidneys serving as controls. The mice were sacrificed at 96 h post-IR, and kidney tissue processed for evaluation by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis utilized two-way ANOVA. RT-PCR data showed a significant increase in mRNA levels for IL-6 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in WT and βKO mice at 96 h-post IR when compared to WT control kidneys. However, the baseline mRNA levels for PCNA were significantly higher in βKO when compared to WT kidneys. Immunohistochemical data showed significant increases in IL-6, PCNA, p-AKT and p-ERK in select tubules in both genotypes at 96 h post-IR when compared to control kidneys for each genotype. Data from immunofluorescence counterstaining of kidney tissues revealed that at 96 hours post-IR, IL-6, PCNA, p-AKT, and p-ERK were primarily expressed in meprin β-expressing proximal tubules (PTs), where meprins are abundantly present. However, high levels of IL-6 were also present in the lumen of PTs and DTs from WT and βKO kidneys at 96 h post-IR, suggesting increased release/shedding into filtrate and subsequently into urine. In conclusion, this study highlights the role of meprin β activity in regulating cellular proliferation through PCNA regulation, driven by the IL-6-mediated AKT/ERK signaling pathway during the recovery phase following IR-induced kidney injury.

PMID:39975921 | PMC:PMC11838750 | DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-5901359/v1

Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2025 Mar;41(3):371-380. doi: 10.1007/s12055-024-01889-1. Epub 2025 Feb 8.

ABSTRACT

Correlation indicates a relationship between variables without causation, while causation implies one variable directly influences the other in clinical research. Through various statistical approaches, including Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, we can explore the strength of linear and non-linear relationships. Phi coefficient and the point-biserial correlation are other alternative techniques. Scatter plots are used to illustrate correlations in real-world data, guiding surgeons in understanding how variables like experience impact complication rates. Emphasis is placed on recognizing confounding variables, applying appropriate statistical methods, and interpreting results accurately to inform clinical decisions. This paper highlights the importance of evidence-based, data-driven practices in enhancing surgical outcomes.

PMID:39975868 | PMC:PMC11832967 | DOI:10.1007/s12055-024-01889-1

Front Aging. 2025 Feb 5;6:1488528. doi: 10.3389/fragi.2025.1488528. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Observational studies have reported that patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have a greater burden of comorbidities typically associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders. However, the contribution of hereditary factors to this comorbidity remains unclear. We evaluated phenotypic associations using observational data from the UK Biobank.

METHOD: Our study focused on investigating the shared risk variants and genetic etiology underlying AD and three stress-related psychiatric disorders: post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. By leveraging summary statistics from genome-wide association studies, we investigated global genetic correlations using linkage disequilibrium score regression, genetic covariance analysis, and high-definition likelihood. Genome-wide cross-trait analysis with association analysis based on subsets and cross-phenotype association were performed to discover genome-wide significant risk variants shared between AD and the three stress-related psychiatric disorders.

RESULTS: A significant positive genetic correlation was observed between AD and major depressive disorder using linkage disequilibrium score regression (rg = 0.231; P = 0.018), genetic covariance analysis (rg = 0.138; P < 0.001), and high-definition likelihood (rg = 0.188; P < 0.001). Association analysis based on subsets and cross-phenotype association revealed thirteen risk variants in six genes shared between AD and post-traumatic stress disorder; seven risk variants in four genes shared between AD and anxiety disorder; and 23 risk variants in four genes shared between AD and major depressive disorder. Functional annotation and gene-set enrichment analysis indicated that 12 genes for comorbidity shared between patients with AD and all three stress-related psychiatric disorders were enriched in the spleen, pancreas, and whole blood.

CONCLUSION: These results advance our knowledge of the shared genetic origins of comorbidities and pave the way for advancements in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of stress-related AD.

PMID:39975850 | PMC:PMC11837265 | DOI:10.3389/fragi.2025.1488528

Heliyon. 2025 Jan 15;11(3):e41958. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41958. eCollection 2025 Feb 15.

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to explore the connection between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and Social Media Addiction (SMA) and assess the efficacy of guidance and counseling programs in mitigating FoMO and SMA among Saudi students. Four hundred and seventy students from Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University participated, completing the Fear of Missing Out Scale and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. The study employed both a cross-sectional approach to examine associations among variables and a quasi-experimental method to gauge the impact of the Guidance and Counseling Program on reducing FoMO and SMA. Findings indicated a positive correlation between fear of missing out and social media addiction. Subsequent analysis of the experimental study demonstrated statistically significant differences in students’ mean scores for FoMO and SMA before and after intervention. The experimental group exhibited significantly lower scores at the post-test compared to pretest scores. Conversely, there were no statistically significant differences in scores for the control groups before and after the intervention. In conclusion, guidance and counseling programs were found to be effective in diminishing the fear of missing out and social media addiction among students.

PMID:39975830 | PMC:PMC11835568 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41958

Heliyon. 2025 Jan 24;11(3):e42260. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42260. eCollection 2025 Feb 15.

ABSTRACT

Managing patient flow in hospitals is a critical part of effective secondary care. Considering a hospital as a multi-compartment system through which patients pass, we will derive relevant equations to allow a description of patient flow through these departments as a series of interconnected dynamic relationships. These relationships are determined by many factors, some known, and many interdependent. We do not need to, and indeed cannot, know all of these factors (as needed for discrete event simulation, or agent-based modelling), but will merely examine the net changes between compartments (i.e. a ‘system dynamics’ approach). Using this approach, we were able to identify two relevant states of equilibrium: the first (trivial) is when the hospital is empty; the second, is when there is activity. We plan to use bed usage data from a UK hospital in an attempt to validate this methodology and then assess its generalizability.

PMID:39975828 | PMC:PMC11835610 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42260

Heliyon. 2025 Jan 28;11(3):e42313. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42313. eCollection 2025 Feb 15.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Pringle maneuver is a classic and commonly used technique in hepatectomy for bleeding control. However, it is not convenient to perform Pringle maneuver in laparoscopic hepatectomy. This study aimed to investigate the value of a novel blocking forceps designed by our center for the Pringle maneuver in laparoscopic hepatectomy.

METHODS: Data of patients with liver tumors who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy between 2017 and 2022 were retrospectively collected. Patients who underwent an intraoperative Pringle maneuver were selected. Cases using the new blocking forceps comprised the new blocking forceps group (NBF group), while cases using the traditional method of binding the hepatoduodenal ligament comprised the traditional group (TRA group). The baseline and perioperative data of the two patient groups were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS: A total of 253 cases were included in the analysis, including 169 in the TRA group and 84 in the NBF group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of preoperative examinations and other indicators. The NBF group had a significantly lower number of blocks, total blocking time, intraoperative bleeding, and transfusion ratio than the TRA group.

CONCLUSION: Our self-designed blocking forceps can safely and effectively complete the Pringle maneuver and are convenient to operate, which is conducive to the successful completion of the operation.

PMID:39975819 | PMC:PMC11835583 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42313