Category: Statistics

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025 Jul 7;19:e176. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2025.10106.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: On February 6, 2023, 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye, affecting 11 provinces and causing significant losses. This study aims to assess the mental health status of survivors in the twelfth month after the earthquake.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey with the virtual snowball sampling method. The survey included sociodemographic data, previous traumas, earthquake-related experiences, and the Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determining Scale (PETLDS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

RESULTS: The study included 2544 participants. The mean PETLDS score was 58.14±18.18, indicating that the participants were highly traumatized. Among them, 59.5% had high levels of post-traumatic symptoms, 44.2% had high anxiety, and 61% had high depression symptoms. 35.77% of participants displayed a co-occurrence of post-traumatic stress along with anxiety and depression. Female gender was the strongest predictor of high-level trauma and anxiety, while a history of psychiatric disorder was the strongest predictor of depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that symptoms were predicted by low income, low education level, smoking, comorbid chronic diseases, past traumatic experiences, the loss or injury of a loved one due to the earthquake, personal injury, temporary displacement, and damage to homes and workplaces.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that one year after the earthquake, mental health problems are prevalent among survivors, highlighting the need for urgent psychiatric interventions.

PMID:40621653 | DOI:10.1017/dmp.2025.10106

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025 Jul 7;19:e179. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2025.10121.

ABSTRACT

Measles (rubeola) caused by measles virus is highly contagious and can be transmitted via respiratory droplets or can spread via sneezing or coughing of an infected person. In January 2025, two cases of measles associated with international travel seen in unvaccinated individuals of Harris County were reported by the Houston Health Department. This disease which was once declared eradicated from United States (US) in the year 2000, unfortunately has affected a total of 607 cases since January 2025, across the US, with highest number of cases recorded in Texas. Majority of the cases are witnessed in the paediatric population, especially the ones who are unvaccinated or have an uncertain vaccination history. Unfortunately, vaccine hesitancy is an important barrier in achieving measles eradication, and it is more imperative than ever to address this issue in a timely manner. There is an urgent need of virus containment measures to be taken by public health authorities to curb its spread, specifically by reinforcing the importance and safety of vaccinations, debunking myths and educating parents that the recommended two doses of vaccination not only serve as a safety net for their child but also for the community as a whole.

PMID:40621651 | DOI:10.1017/dmp.2025.10121

Clin Transl Med. 2025 Jul;15(7):e70386. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.70386.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40621643 | DOI:10.1002/ctm2.70386

Int J Psychol. 2025 Aug;60(4):e70073. doi: 10.1002/ijop.70073.

ABSTRACT

The rise of migrants from different cultural backgrounds in Italy highlights the need to promote harmonious coexistence between them and the local population. A key factor in addressing this challenge is the level of acceptance in society of a multicultural ideology. An instrument to measure this concept has recently been revised into the Revised Multicultural Ideology Scale (MCI-r). Despite the urgency of adopting this broader ideology in Italy, no adaptation of the current scale has been made in the Italian context. To bridge this gap, our studies aim to adapt the MCI-r scale to the Italian context and assess its predictive validity on variables crucial for positive intergroup relations. We collected data from two distinct samples: one from Prolific (N = 301) and another from Sapienza University (N = 204). Using confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance, and convergent and discriminant validity analyses, we investigated the psychometric properties of the scale based on its recent validations in other societies. Furthermore, we tested its predictive validity concerning the quality of contact with migrants and political orientation. Our findings supported a four-factor solution and a higher-order dimension. Additionally, results supported the predictive validity of MCI-r and the superordinate dimension on positive contact with migrants and political orientations.

PMID:40621641 | DOI:10.1002/ijop.70073

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025 Jul 7;19:e178. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2025.10117.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore concerns and feeling of safety among quarantined and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study of free text answers from participants of an online survey. The survey was conducted between March 2020 and June 2021. COVID-19 positive adults in home isolation and adults in quarantine were eligible for participation. 698 participants answered one or more of three open-ended questions about concerns and safety. We analyzed free-text answers using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke with an inductive approach.

RESULTS: Analysis of the free-text answers from all participants identified three main themes: (1) Fear of the unknown, (2) Views on personal care and public health measures, and (3) Concern for the future of a country in crisis. Participants’ feelings revolved around health-related concerns and societal related concerns. They were concerned about their own and other’s health, and possible long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection. Some participants were satisfied with the health care system, others thought follow-ups, testing, vaccination, and information would increase their feeling of safety.

CONCLUSIONS: People quarantined and isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic had concerns regarding personal health and societal consequences of infection control measures. Health care follow-ups and individualized information would increase participants’ feeling of safety.

PMID:40621640 | DOI:10.1017/dmp.2025.10117

Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025 Jul 7;19:e175. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2025.10097.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed millions of people worldwide, continues to be marked by waves of reinfections. We aimed to assess the incidence and clinical characteristics of reinfection in COVID- 19 cohort.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected from all patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via PCR from March 18, 2020, the onset of the first major COVID-19 wave, until the end of 2020. All PCR-positive patients were followed-up, and those who had SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity again at least 90 days after the initial onset were contacted via telemedicine.

RESULTS: 5814 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with PCR positive in the first wave were included. The incidence of reinfection among the cohort of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the initial wave of COVID-19 was 0.73%. Among healthcare workers, the 1-year reinfection rate was 2.14%, 3.9 times higher than non-healthcare workers. We observed that the clinical course was milder and less complicated in patients who had reinfection. In cases of reinfection among fully vaccinated individuals, statistically significantly fewer symptoms were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: We observed that healthcare workers are at approximately four times greater risk of reinfection. Reinfections generally presented with a milder clinical course.

PMID:40621638 | DOI:10.1017/dmp.2025.10097

Mult Scler. 2025 Jul 7:13524585251353079. doi: 10.1177/13524585251353079. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The relationship between attendance at specialized multiple sclerosis (MS) clinics and mortality has not been fully evaluated.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between visits to specialized care in Danish MS clinics and mortality.

METHODS: We collected data from Danish national registers to assess survival among people with MS according to the number of visits in MS clinics. We employed the Kaplan-Meier method and extended Cox regression modelling.

RESULTS: In total, 9929 patients with MS were included in the study, contributing 105 115 person-years at risk. A total of 316 patients with MS died during a median follow-up of 10.3 years. Cumulative visits were not statistically associated with mortality (hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.00, 0.99-1.02). Female sex (0.68, 0.53-0.87), being divorced (0.56, 0.37-0.86), being married or in a partnership (0.60, 0.45-0.79) and higher education (0.64, 0.45-0.91) were independently associated with reduced mortality. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ⩾ 3 (2.38, 1.60-3.54), ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (1.97, 1.42-2.75) and pneumonia (7.03, 5.48-9.02) were associated with an increased mortality.

CONCLUSION: We found no association between visits to specialized care and mortality. Our findings suggest that improving survival in patients with MS may require a focus on quality and content of care and proactive management of comorbidities.

PMID:40621617 | DOI:10.1177/13524585251353079

Proc Inst Mech Eng H. 2025 Jul 7:9544119251348490. doi: 10.1177/09544119251348490. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lower limb fragility fractures included a break in bone from the pelvis to the foot. Weight-bearing and walking stability stand as key performance indicators to quantify fracture restoration. Normally, progress in fracture rehabilitation is observed through clinical assessments and patients’ responses, and modern research also presents instrumented gait analysis. There exists a gap to statistically compute the regaining in patients’ weight-bearing ability and walking stability following fractures. This study introduces methods to advance the analysis of instrumented signals and evaluate walking stability in fracture-healing patients. The centre of pressure (CoP) signals were captured for four conditions: tibia/fibula/talus fracture near the ankle (AF), lower-leg shaft fracture (LF), calcaneus fractures (CF), and normal ankle (NA). The time derivative for CoP signals showed impulsive responses during the loading and unloading transitions which were then modelled and transformed to the frequency domain. The developed models were further analysed by applying Nyquist and Bode methods and margins of stability were calculated for the fractured and healthy subjects. Results showed a substantial decline (Kruskal-Wallis’s test, p < 0.001) in the intralimb stability of all three fractures. Also, there was a strong interlimb dependency (p < 0.001) observed between fractured and intact limbs applying Spearman’s correlation during double limb support periods. Overall, the calcaneus fracture (CF) exhibited minimum intralimb stability and increased interlimb dependency. These methods stand clinically important in monitoring patients’ rehabilitation and in decision-making about alternative treatment plans.

PMID:40621615 | DOI:10.1177/09544119251348490

Int J Gen Med. 2025 Jun 30;18:3569-3578. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S526759. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS: Clinicopathological and follow-up data of 328 cholangiocarcinoma patients treated at Shanxi Cancer Hospital from November 7, 2016, to August 11, 2021, were retrospectively reviewed. All samples were tested for Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusion by FISH. The expression of the proliferative marker Ki67 in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (iCCA) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. All patients were followed up from the date of surgery to the time of death or August 31, 2023. Pathological specimens from patients with recurrence were collected and FGFR2 was tested again.

RESULTS: The positivity rates for FGFR2 fusion in intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal cholangiocarcinomas were 15%, 2.73%, and 1.69%, respectively. The chi-square test showed that tumor diameter, perineural invasion, complications, and FGFR2 fusion were statistically significant. Immunohistochemistry showed that patients with low expression of Ki67 accounted for 30% of iCCA, low expression of Ki67 and FGFR2 fusion was statistically significant. Relapse specimens were collected from 13 patients, and FISH showed that the expression of FGFR2 was consistent with that of the primary lesion. Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis was an independent factor for the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: CCA is an aggressive tumor with high mortality and low survival rates, especially for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). Therefore, it is necessary to understand the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of iCCA, pCCA and distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA). In addition, lymph node status is likely to be an independent and important prognostic factor.

PMID:40621597 | PMC:PMC12227518 | DOI:10.2147/IJGM.S526759

J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2025 Sep-Oct;15(5):925-931. doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.06.010. Epub 2025 Jun 22.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Innovative approaches to curriculum design and implementation are critical in meeting the needs of today’s students. The present study was undertaken to determine the perspective of students on the introduced module of ‘Digital Dentistry’ along with knowing their self -directed learning abilities.

METHODS: The present study was conducted in the Medical University after ethical approval was obtained. Forty volunteers from 3rd and 4th year undergraduates of “Bachelor of Dental Surgery” course were selected and consent form was obtained. A pre-validated questionnaire on self-directed learning (SDLI) was administered to the volunteers to know their SDL abilities. A pre-post-session questionnaire containing feedback questionnaires was prepared, validated and administered before the session. A pre designed module was applied on the volunteers by using SDL session. 2 h duration of First contact session followed by 2 weeks of intersession period, where student went through the shared online/offline study material and visit to the lab under faculty supervision. Outcome assessment was done with 30 MCQ based on the 3 chapters taught in the session. In Second contact session, debriefing by faculty was done and post-module questionnaire was administered. The responses obtained from SDLI, assessment questionnaires and pre-post-module questionnaires were further analyzed statistically.

RESULTS: Student’s SDLI score with median value of 77.325 represented a good score, with learning motivation scored highest in SDLI. The total score significantly improved post-intervention, with the mean score increasing from 28.83 (5.43) pre-intervention to 35.35 (4.36) post-intervention.

CONCLUSION: Significant improvement in knowledge, awareness and perceptions of digital dentistry was seen after the conduct of the session.

PMID:40621583 | PMC:PMC12226062 | DOI:10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.06.010