Category: Statistics

Cureus. 2026 Jan 14;18(1):e101503. doi: 10.7759/cureus.101503. eCollection 2026 Jan.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity is defined as an unhealthy accumulation of body fat that increases the risk of chronic diseases. Motivation is essential for weight loss. It can be due to intrinsic factors (e.g., enhanced health) or extrinsic factors (e.g., physical appearance or social approval). The aim of this study was to identify the motivational factors influencing weight loss in individuals with a history of obesity in 2025 at Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted to identify the motivational factors influencing weight loss in individuals with a history of obesity in 2025 at Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A stratified sample involved 367 participants who were obese and lost 5% or more of their weight in the last six months. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), was used to analyze the data, and the chi-squared test was used to correlate the motivational factors with sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS: The study included 367 participants: more than half of them were female (219, 59.7%), more than one-quarter (108, 29.4%) were aged between 30 and 40 years, more than half of them (218, 59.4%) had class I obesity, and an additional 149 (40.6%) had class II or III obesity. The mean motivational factors for weight loss among participants were as follows: enhance overall physical wellness (277, 75.5%), promote physical appearance (172, 46.9%), desire to fit into attire (143, 39%), and strengthen self-efficacy and self-image (134, 36.5%). The motivational factors for weight loss are significantly influenced by various sociodemographic characteristics.

CONCLUSION: This study concluded that obese adults in Al-Ahsa are primarily motivated to improve physical wellness, followed by physical appearance, fitting into attire, and self-esteem. These motivations are significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors. Therefore, focused, simple, and clear educational media campaigns are recommended to explain the benefits of weight loss in the community.

PMID:41700241 | PMC:PMC12906377 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.101503

Cureus. 2026 Jan 16;18(1):e101674. doi: 10.7759/cureus.101674. eCollection 2026 Jan.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) mainly compromises the lower limbs and may progress to chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI); in this context, endovascular management has become a cornerstone of revascularization strategies. This study aimed to describe the epidemiologic, clinical, and procedural characteristics of patients with PAD treated in a Hemodynamics Unit in 2023 at a resource-limited hospital in Colombia.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational descriptive study at a regional referral hospital in the Orinoquía region of Colombia. All adults who underwent an endovascular procedure for PAD between January 1 and December 31, 2023, were included. Patient-level variables were analyzed for 115 patients, and procedure-level variables for 152 PAD-related interventions. Demographic, clinical, and procedural data were extracted from electronic medical records. Descriptive statistics were performed, and exploratory chi-square tests were used to evaluate associations between clinical classifications, comorbidities, procedural outcomes, and limb amputations. Data analysis was performed using RStudio, Version 2024.12.1 + 563 (Posit PBC, Boston, MA, USA).

RESULTS: During the study period, 1,984 procedures were performed, of which 152 (7.7%) corresponded to PAD-related endovascular interventions in 115 patients. The majority of patients were male, comprising 68 (59.1%). The most common comorbidities were dyslipidemia in 93 (80.9%), hypertension in 84 (73.0%), and diabetes mellitus in 71 (61.7%) patients. Preoperative pharmacological treatment most frequently included antihypertensive therapy in 75 (65.2%) and high-intensity statins in 51 (44.25%) patients. CLTI was the main indication for intervention, documented in 89 (58.55%) cases. Complications of the procedures were found in 11 (7.24%) cases, and reinterventions were required in 23 (15.13%) cases. Among the observed statistical associations, clinically relevant findings included the association between insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and limb amputation (χ² = 6.2805, p = 0.043), as well as the association between the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) and limb amputation (χ² = 30.078, p < 0.001). Another statistically significant association was observed between the Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection (WIfI) classification and procedural complications (χ² = 87.889, p < 0.001). Conclusions: PAD interventions were associated with low complication and reintervention rates, supporting the safety of endovascular management for this type of disease. Clinical classification systems showed significant associations with limb amputation, highlighting the importance of baseline disease severity determination. Additionally, this study provides a relevant epidemiological profile of PAD management within this regional context.

PMID:41700231 | PMC:PMC12906702 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.101674

Sisli Etfal Hastan Tip Bul. 2025 Oct 13;59(4):469-475. doi: 10.14744/SEMB.2025.40359. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the radiological and clinical results of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy in degenerative meniscal lesions.

METHODS: Seventy patients with pain and grade 2 degenerative meniscal lesions on MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) were included in the study. All patients underwent Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Score (KOOS), Tegner-Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee Score (IKDC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) clinical scores, and MRI scans before and 6 months after the injection.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in Tegner-Lysholm, KOOS, and IKDC scores after the procedure (p=0.001; p<0.01), and a statistically significant decrease in VAS score after the procedure (p=0.001; p<0.01). However, no statistically significant difference was observed in MRI parameters (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION: It has been shown that the use of intra-articular PRP in painful degenerative meniscal lesions improves knee functions and helps reduce pain. However, no significant difference was observed in MRI controls. The results of our study indicate that the use of intra-articular PRP injection in patients with grade 2 meniscus degeneration improves clinical scores but does not result in significant improvement in degeneration as measured by MRI.

PMID:41700211 | PMC:PMC12906876 | DOI:10.14744/SEMB.2025.40359

Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2026 Feb 16:19458924261418539. doi: 10.1177/19458924261418539. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundThe mechanisms driving chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)-related olfactory loss remain largely unknown. Here we sought to identify novel modulators of olfactory function via the examination of nasal mucus biomarkers using an expansive 71-cytokine plex analyzed via machine learning models.MethodsOlfactory testing was performed via 40-question smell identify test (UPSIT). During endoscopic sinus surgery, sponges were placed in the middle meatus of individuals with CRSwNP (n = 15). Nasal mucus samples were screened by multiplex analysis for 71-cytokine/chemokines. Results underwent analysis with statistical and machine learning model approaches to assess whether protein concentrations were predictive of olfactory dysfunction.ResultsIn CRSwNP, multiple machine learning models revealed novel cytokines IL-21 and MIP-1δ as positive predictors of greater olfactory dysfunction. Other cytokines detected by more than one model as predictive of olfactory dysfunction were IL-18, MCP-1, IL-22, and BCA-1. Other cytokines identified to be predictive by at least one model were FLT-3L, LIF, IL-20, SCF, IL-23, and TPO.ConclusionUsing a 71-cytokine/chemokine plex analyzed via machine learning, we identified potentially novel roles for MIP-1δ and IL-21 as modulators of olfactory function in CRSwNP. Use of machine learning for the analysis of nasal mucus cytokines, may serve as powerful tool to analyze complex multiplex immune mediator data.

PMID:41699443 | DOI:10.1177/19458924261418539

BJOG. 2026 Feb 16. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.70183. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41699415 | DOI:10.1111/1471-0528.70183

Stat Methods Med Res. 2026 Feb 16:9622802251415363. doi: 10.1177/09622802251415363. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Based on the test for equality of quantiles originally introduced by Kosorok (1999), we propose new power formulas for the comparison of one quantile between two treatment groups, as well as for the comparison of a collection of quantiles. Under the null hypothesis of equality of quantiles, the test statistic follows asymptotically a normal distribution in the univariate case and a ${\chi }^2$ with $J$ degrees of freedom in the multivariate case, with $J$ the number of quantiles compared. The variance of the test statistic depends on the estimation of the probability density function of the distribution of failure times at the quantile being tested. In order to apply the test on real data, we propose to estimate this quantity using a resampling-based method, as an alternative to Kosorok’s original kernel density estimator. The whole procedure provides a practical tool for designing and analyzing data arising from clinical trials using quantiles of survival as an endpoint. Simulation studies are performed to show the appropriateness of the power formulas. We illustrate the proposed test in a phase III randomized clinical trial where the proportional hazards assumption between treatment arms does not hold.

PMID:41699412 | DOI:10.1177/09622802251415363

Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 16. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-36055-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Insecticide resistance complicates pest management by reducing chemical effectiveness and increasing environmental pollution from higher application rates. Monitoring resistance is essential before recommending chemicals in any agro-ecological region. The present study evaluated the extent and mechanisms of insecticide resistance in the cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), across major cotton-growing regions of Maharashtra, India over five consecutive years, from 2015-16 to 2019-20 at ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) in Nagpur. The bioassay studies using IRAC protocols revealed that populations collected from the Amravati district of Maharashtra exhibited higher LC₅₀ values for all tested insecticides, including Flonicamid 50WG, Thiamethoxam 25WG, Acetamiprid 20SP, Imidacloprid 17.8SL, Monocrotophos 36SL, Acephate 75SP, Clothianidin 50WDG, and Spiromesifen 22.9SC. The tentative discriminating doses were established based on a susceptible population of A. biguttula at 1, 0.2, 0.05, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, and a control of 0 ppm. Using standardized IRAC bioassay protocols, we assessed resistance levels for eight insecticides and noted significant increases in LC₅₀ values. Notably, the A. biguttula biguttula populations from Yavatmal, Chandrapur, and Amravati exhibited critical resistance to neonicotinoids and other classes of insecticides. Biochemical assays revealed elevated activities of detoxifying enzymes, including cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, carboxylesterases, and glutathione S-transferases (GST), indicating metabolic resistance as a key mechanism. Notably, Amravati populations displayed the highest enzyme activities (e.g., GST up to 555.56 pmol/min/mg protein), correlating with intense insecticide use. These findings emphasize the need for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, including insecticide rotation, biological controls, and resistant cotton hybrids, to mitigate insecticide resistance and minimise environmental impact. Regular monitoring of resistance and enzyme activity is essential for sustainable pest control in cotton ecosystems.

PMID:41699402 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-36055-7

J Robot Surg. 2026 Feb 17;20(1):262. doi: 10.1007/s11701-025-03035-4.

ABSTRACT

We conducted this comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to assess surgical outcomes, kidney function preservation, and cancer control efficacy when comparing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) outcomes between renal hilar masses and peripherally located tumors. We performed an exhaustive search strategy utilizing four major electronic databases to capture all relevant comparative investigations published up to August 2025. Meta-analytical calculations were executed through Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.4 software platform. Our investigation synthesized data from eight research studies, including 7064 participants (1292 presenting hilar masses, 5772 with peripheral lesions). Comparative analysis revealed that RAPN procedures for hilar lesions demonstrated significantly longer surgical duration (WMD 22.18 min, 95% CI 16.86 to 27.51; p < 0.00001), greater intraoperative hemorrhage (WMD 31.66 ml, 95% CI 10.10 to 53.21; p = 0.004), higher blood transfusion requirements (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.49; p = 0.009), prolonged renal clamping duration (WMD 4.89 min, 95% CI 2.80 to 6.97; p < 0.00001), increased severe adverse events (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.01; p = 0.03), and diminished probability of optimal surgical outcomes (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.84; p = 0.01). However, both patient cohorts exhibited equivalent outcomes regarding hospitalization duration, total adverse events, surgical approach conversion frequencies to open procedures or radical nephrectomy, postoperative kidney function deterioration, positive surgical margin (PSM), and tumor recurrence patterns, showing no statistically meaningful disparities. While technically more demanding and associated with increased perioperative morbidity, RAPN for hilar tumors is a safe and effective procedure that provides crucial renal functional and oncological outcomes comparable to those of RAPN for non-hilar tumors.

PMID:41699371 | DOI:10.1007/s11701-025-03035-4

Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2026 Feb 16. doi: 10.1007/s13346-026-02046-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Albumin-based nanoparticles (NPs) are typically synthesized by harsh conditions-based methods that limit their application in clinics and can seriously damage the entrapped drug and even their base material. Despite the potential of the use of chitosan (CS) as stabilizing agent by adapting the ionic gelation method or by adding CS as a coating to albumin NPs generated by desolvation, the influential factors of these methods have not yet been studied. In this article, these synthesis approaches have been optimized by a 2-step DoE-based methodology (a screening process with fractional designs plus a response surface methodology using central composite designs). The application of the ion gelation method to produce albumin-based NPs generates sizes from 66 to 1017 nm, PDI (polydispersity index) values of 0.3-0.6 and surface charges (ZP) from neutral to positive (> 20 mV). The fitted models of the responses depend on four factors (albumin and CS concentration, CS pH and CS:albumin mass ratio). On the other hand, the modification of the desolvation method using CS as a stabilizing coating generates 37-1305 nm NPs, with PDI between 0.4 and 0.7 and highly positive ZP (20-40 mV). In this case, the approximate models for the responses depend on four main effects (albumin and CS concentration, pH of CS and albumin:EtOH volume ratio). Furthermore, in this work the best combinations of factors and levels that allow minimizing PDI and obtaining the minimum and maximum expected values for mean size and ZP of NPs were determined for both synthesis methods. Focusing on the minimum possible PDI, the predicted values for the ion gelation- and desolvation-based methods are 0.363 and 0.341, respectively, which are achieved with values of [BSA] (mg/ml), [CS] (mg/ml), CS pH and CS:BSA or BSA:EtOH ratios (mL:mL) of {2.3,1.4,2.2,1:7.3} and {10,0.5,1.8,1:1}, respectively. These optimized conditions yield acceptable size and ZP values for the ion gelation-based (27.7 nm; 16.4 mV) and optimal values for the desolvation-based (146.2 nm; 29.5 mV).

PMID:41699362 | DOI:10.1007/s13346-026-02046-4

Environ Geochem Health. 2026 Feb 17;48(4):166. doi: 10.1007/s10653-026-03004-2.

ABSTRACT

Excess uranium (U) in the shallow aquifers of Punjab, India, has become a significant public health concern for the population dependent on groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. Although prior investigations have statistically established the control of geogenic and anthropogenic factors on U enrichment, a comprehensive and high-resolution spatial distribution of the extent of contamination remains lacking. To address this gap, we employed the Random Forest (RF) machine-learning classifier to model 1,852 data points of groundwater U concentrations compiled from different districts of Punjab. Spatial prediction and mapping were performed using spatially continuous predictor variables pertaining to meteorological, topographical, geological, soil, and other relevant parameters. A highly accurate prediction map of the occurrence probability of U surpassing the WHO drinking water limit of 30 µg L^-1 at a 250 m spatial resolution, with an accuracy of 85% for test data and 87% for validation data, was generated. The predicted U hazard was strongly influenced by potential evapotranspiration, elevation, and aquifer thickness, with a moderate to low influence from soil physical and chemical properties. Based on the predicted hazard map, the probability of U contamination was higher in the south and southwestern districts (Malwa region) than in other regions of Punjab, comprising approximately 1.7 million hectares (~ 35%) of the state’s total area. This study represents the first attempt to spatially predict the occurrence of high groundwater U levels, providing valuable insights for government agencies and policymakers to make informed decisions and manage groundwater sustainably.

PMID:41699351 | DOI:10.1007/s10653-026-03004-2