Category: Statistics

J Clin Imaging Sci. 2025 Aug 22;15:31. doi: 10.25259/JCIS_142_2024. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to assess the utility of the perivascular space diffusion tensor imaging – along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index in evaluating the activity of the brain glymphatic system in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive impairment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 40 T2DM patients with cognitive impairment and 40 healthy controls (HCs). All participants underwent DTI, and the DTI-ALPS index was calculated based on relevant DTI parameters. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0, with significance set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: The DTI-ALPS index in T2DM patients with cognitive impairment were significantly lower than that of the HCs. A significant negative correlation was observed between the DTI-ALPS index and glycated hemoglobin levels, while positive correlations were found with vitamin D, Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

CONCLUSION: This study confirms glymphatic dysfunction in T2DM patients with cognitive impairment, as indicated by the reduced DTI-ALPS index. Furthermore, it demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing the DTI-ALPS method to assess glymphatic system activity in this patient population.

PMID:41031311 | PMC:PMC12477971 | DOI:10.25259/JCIS_142_2024

Front Plant Sci. 2025 Sep 15;16:1661602. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1661602. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Bacterial blight of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae (Xap), is a major constraint to pomegranate production and fruit quality. Effective management strategies are essential to mitigate yield losses and orchard decline.

METHODS: Field experiments were conducted over three consecutive seasons to evaluate the efficacy of six bactericides applied at 15-day intervals (April-July) on three pomegranate cultivars such that, Sindhuri, Kalehar, and Sava using a randomized complete block design. Treatments included copper oxychloride (3000 ppm) combined with streptocycline (500 ppm) (T7) alongside other bactericides. Disease incidence, severity, marketable yield, fruit weight, aril quality, and biochemical parameters were recorded and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: The T7 treatment proved most effective, significantly reducing bacterial blight intensity. In the Sindhuri cultivar, mean disease incidence was lowest on leaves (3.51%), fruits (3.88%), twigs (0.58%), and trees (3.59%). Disease severity values were similarly minimized, with the highest mean disease reduction observed on leaves (77.63%), fruits (79.76%), twigs (76.10%), and whole trees (76.90%). T7 also improved productivity, with marketable yield (89.60 kg), fruit weight (245 g), and hundred-aril weight (43.30 g), while enhancing biochemical traits such as TSS (17.90 °Brix), vitamin C (36.50 mg/100 mL), antioxidants (86.40% inhibition), and enzymatic activities (CAT: 21.30 U/mg protein; POD: 1.35 U/mg protein).

DISCUSSION: Among the cultivars, Sindhuri displayed the highest resistance, followed by Kalehar and Sava. The copper-streptocycline combination not only suppressed bacterial blight but also enhanced fruit yield, quality, and biochemical composition. These findings demonstrate the potential of optimized bactericide application in sustaining pomegranate productivity and reducing orchard losses due to Xap.

PMID:41031294 | PMC:PMC12477149 | DOI:10.3389/fpls.2025.1661602

Biomed Res Int. 2025 Sep 22;2025:6321439. doi: 10.1155/bmri/6321439. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Background: In Ethiopia, there is a high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and anemia, yet there is limited empirical evidence on the potential link between these two public health problems. This study was aimed at investigating the potential association between IPV and anemia among Ethiopian women aged 15-49 years old. Methods: We used secondary data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). All women who participated in the domestic violence module of the EDHS were studied. The exposure variable was the experience of physical, sexual, or emotional violence, as well as controlling behaviors, perpetrated by a current or former partner. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level of < 11.0 g/dL for pregnant women and < 12.0 g/dL for nonpregnant women. Multilevel binomial logistic regression models, which accounted for EDHS’s hierarchical data structure and adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and fertility-related factors, were applied. Results: Among the 4265 individuals included in the analysis, 1081 (25.4%) women had anemia. Notably, 64.1% of women have experienced at least one form of IPV, while 13.1% have experienced multiple forms of IPV. Significant associations were observed between IPV and anemia (adjusted odds ratio [AORs] 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.78). Furthermore, the odds of anemia were 1.6 times higher (AOR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.26-2.06) among women who had experienced multiple acts of IPV compared to those who had experienced none. Conclusion: The association between IPV and anemia suggests the importance of integrating IPV screening tools and intervention strategies into women’s nutrition programs.

PMID:41031267 | PMC:PMC12451215 | DOI:10.1155/bmri/6321439

Biomed Res Int. 2025 Sep 2;2025:2828949. doi: 10.1155/bmri/2828949. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Retinopathy is a vascular endothelial injury disease that can occur in individuals without diabetes. The prevalence rates of nondiabetic retinopathy (NDR) vary from 6% to 13.6% among individuals. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is common worldwide, and studies indicate that the overall prevalence rate of VDD in US adults is 41.6%. Ample evidence indicates an inconsistent relationship between VDD and diabetic retinopathy, but the association between VDD and NDR remains limited. Design: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study. Settings: The study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008. Participants: A total of 4076 adults (52.71% female) with a mean age of 55.79 ± 11.72 years were included. Primary and Secondary Outcomes: The primary outcome was the association between vitamin D and NDR, while there was no secondary outcome. Results: Retinopathy was detected in 309 nondiabetic subjects (7.6%), while VDD was detected in 19.36% of the NDR participants. In the univariate analysis, significant associations were found between systolic blood pressure (odds ratio [OR]: 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00, 1.04; p = 0.0227), physical activity group (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.51, 0.78; p = 0.0001), and retinopathy in the nondiabetic participants. Logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for other confounders, no statistically significant association between vitamin D concentration and NDR severity was found (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.97; 1.06; p = 0.9024). Similarly, smooth curve fitting could not find any trend between the two. Moreover, these results were consistent with the results of taking vitamin D (quartile) as a categorical variable (p for trend was 0.8401). Conclusion: In the present study, serum vitamin D concentrations within the observed range were not significantly associated with NDR risk in the nondiabetic US population, indicating that vitamin D status is unlikely to be a primary determinant of subclinical microvascular pathology in nondiabetic adults.

PMID:41031262 | PMC:PMC12407306 | DOI:10.1155/bmri/2828949

Biomed Res Int. 2025 Sep 10;2025:8826168. doi: 10.1155/bmri/8826168. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Background: The ubiquitous nature of data/information in healthcare has made it an imperative facet that requires the services of highly trained professionals with well-endowed field competencies to properly generate and use this sensitive data to enhance healthcare outcomes. There are still numerous challenges regarding the quality of data generated in the healthcare sector, especially in many middle-income countries. A growing number of studies show that data quality issues can be linked to the repercussions of inadequate competency levels of some healthcare professionals (HCPs). In that vein, this study was purported to assess the competency level of HCPs regarding the generation and usage of health information. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed for the study, where professionals provided self-ratings of their competencies by completing the structured questionnaire. The study saw a response rate of 98% with 877 HCPs from eight selected health facilities in Ghana. The reliability of the study construct was tested using a Cronbach’s alpha test. The competency level of the professionals was measured on a scale of 1-3 under nine competency areas and categorized into entry, intermediate, and advanced levels. The chi-square test (χ ²) and Cramer’s V test were used to determine the possibility of any predictive factors associated with the professionals’ competency levels. An ANOVA and a Dunnett’s T3 post hoc test were deployed to ascertain the significant differences in the competency levels attained in the various healthcare facilities involved in the study. All statistical tests resulting in a p value less than 0.05 were deemed significant. Results: With a target of 2.30/3.00, HCPs were only found to be mostly competent (advanced level) in the application of health information law and ethics when generating and using health information (2.50) and generic professional skills (2.33). On the contrary, HCPs had low levels of competency in the application of healthcare terminologies and disease classification (1.83), research methods skills (1.94), health service organization and delivery skills (1.96), health information and service organization management skills (2.00), the use of the language of health (2.00), electronic health skills (2.06), and health information records and management skills (2.27). Health information officers and doctors were the only professional categories that attained the threshold in our study. Sex, type of profession, educational level, and years of experience were all identified as significant predictive factors of HCP competency level. There were significant differences in the competency levels of HCPs in various facilities. Conclusion: There are lapses in competency levels about some specific areas which ought to be taken into cognizance. This study concludes that years of experience and educational level are the greatest predictive factors that can affect the competency level of HCPs when it comes to information generation and usage. There is a need for more competency-based education, capacity building, and in-service training that will be geared toward the enhancement of HCP competency in the effective generation and usage of data/information to maximize healthcare outcomes.

PMID:41031261 | PMC:PMC12421650 | DOI:10.1155/bmri/8826168

Biomed Res Int. 2025 Sep 22;2025:7109372. doi: 10.1155/bmri/7109372. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: Herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections pose significant challenges in managing transplant patients and necessitate rapid and precise diagnostic methods due to their immunosuppressed state. This study designed and evaluated the performance of an in-house multiplex real-time PCR for simultaneous detection of these viruses. Materials and Methods: Plasma samples from 270 transplant patients were tested using an in-house multiplex real-time PCR assay specifically designed for HSV, VZV, and EBV. Analytical specificity and the assay’s limit of detection (LOD) were determined. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the agreement between the in-house assay and the reference kit. Results: The method had a specificity of 98% for HSV, 97% for VZV, and 95% for EBV, alongside 100% sensitivity for all three viruses. No cross-reactivity was observed with other viral or bacterial DNA. The LOD for the in-house assay was determined to be 6.25, 25, and 25 copies/mL for HSV, VZV, and EBV, respectively. Additionally, precision analysis showed low CV values in both intra-assay and interassay evaluations (HSV: 1.5%-1.8%; VZV: 2.3%-2.6%; and EBV: 3.7%-3.9%), confirming the assay’s robust analytical precision. Bland-Altman analysis showed mean differences of 1.35, -3.29, and 1.75 for HSV, VZV, and EBV, respectively. This multiplex real-time PCR method enables detection at lower concentrations. Cross-reactivity testing confirmed no interaction with DNA from other viruses or nontarget microorganisms. Bland-Altman and linear regression analyses also showed a strong agreement between commercial and in-house methods. Conclusion: These findings, compared to Altona diagnostic kits, highlight the value of designing and applying advanced diagnostic assays in managing viral infections in transplant patients.

PMID:41031247 | PMC:PMC12454909 | DOI:10.1155/bmri/7109372

Foot Ankle Orthop. 2025 Sep 28;10(3):24730114251371722. doi: 10.1177/24730114251371722. eCollection 2025 Jul.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ankle arthroscopy (AA) is a commonly used operative technique to diagnose and treat a variety of intraarticular pathologies of the ankle joint. In AA, 2 portals are commonly established to achieve visualization of the joint: the anteromedial (AM) and anterolateral (AL) portals. However, the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) runs near the anterolateral portal site; thus, creation of the AL portal is associated with neuropraxic injuries to the SPN.When AA is combined with additional procedures, such as a Brostrom-Gould ligament repair or open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), the use of a direct lateral incision is required. We present a novel approach to combining AA with lateral adjunct procedures which avoids creation of the AL portal; the AM portal and lateral incision are used for instrumentation instead. The primary objective of this study is to compare complication rates, such as SPN injury, between the lateral incision (LI) approach and conventional arthroscopy plus a lateral incision approach.

METHODS: Following IRB approval, a retrospective chart review was conducted spanning a time frame from January 2020 to October 2024. Patients were included if they underwent AA plus either a Brostrom-Gould repair or ORIF (AA+) or if they underwent AA plus adjunct procedures using the lateral portal instrumentation method (LI). Ninety-four patients were initially identified; 2 were excluded per criteria. Demographic information, intraoperative details, and any postoperative complications or reoperations were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographics and operative data, and 2-tailed Student t tests were used to identify statistical differences between group metrics.

RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were included in the study. No statistical differences were observed between cohorts in either of the intraoperative metrics considered (procedural duration and tourniquet duration; P = .44 and .89, respectively). In addition, complication and reoperation rates were not statistically different between the LI and AA+ groups (P = .94 and .40, respectively). The rate of SPN neuropathy or neurapraxia were also compared between groups, resulting in no statistical differences (P = .37).

CONCLUSION: In this retrospective cohort study, we observed no differences when only anteromedial and lateral portals are used for an ankle arthroscopy with adjunct procedures compared with the traditional 3-incision approach. We hypothesize that instances of infection or wound dehiscence would decrease given a large enough cohort because of the creation of 1 fewer portal. However, given the small, underpowered sample, we cannot determine whether the lateral approach alters complication risk; larger multicenter studies are needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

PMID:41031227 | PMC:PMC12477371 | DOI:10.1177/24730114251371722

NPJ Biodivers. 2025 Sep 30;4(1):36. doi: 10.1038/s44185-025-00101-w.

ABSTRACT

The role of intraspecific trait variability (ITV) in trait spaces is still overlooked. We outline the swapping procedure, which detects changes in the main properties of any trait space as a function of ITV. Building on the properties of eigendecomposition analysis, we propose a set of target parameters, statistical tests and related interpretations to stimulate further research on this topic. We also link R functions to perform the swapping procedure.

PMID:41028299 | DOI:10.1038/s44185-025-00101-w

Sci Rep. 2025 Sep 30;15(1):34117. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-20663-w.

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the tissue reaction of platelet rich fibrin and chitosan hydrogel as internal matrices in repairing furcal perforations in mature dogs’ teeth. Seventy-two teeth in six mongrel dogs were experimented in this study. After access opening, root canal preparation was completed and obturation was done using gutta percha/resin sealer. Furcation perforations were done, and the experimental teeth were classified according to the perforation repair protocol to three experimental groups and a positive control group (18 teeth each). Group 1: Platelet-rich fibrin matrix with premixed calcium silicate-based bioceramic putty (BC putty), Group 2: Chitosan hydrogel matrix with BC putty, Group 3: BC putty alone and Group 4: a positive control group where no repair material was utilized. Access openings were restored with composite filling. The experimented teeth and the supporting bone were sectioned into blocks and histologically examined for tissue reaction at one and three months. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test, where the significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05. BC putty and BC putty with PRF matrix exhibited less bone loss, epithelial proliferation and inflammatory reaction compared to chitosan hydrogel at one and three months intervals, also they showed more hard tissue deposition compared to chitosan hydrogel at 3-month interval. Although BC putty presented higher sealing ability with great area of newly formed hard tissue compared to chitosan hydrogel, BC putty with PRF can be considered as a successful management option for furcal perforation repair. Management of perforation is considered a challenging procedure especially when located in the furcation area, however histological evaluation of the tissue reaction to different internal matrices materials could provide favorable clinical outcomes concerning the perforation repair procedures.

PMID:41028290 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-20663-w

Sci Rep. 2025 Sep 30;15(1):33792. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-99177-4.

ABSTRACT

Graduates from medical schools are expected to be ready for demanding professional roles. Previous studies have indicated that medical students frequently experience anxiety and depression, which affect their academic and personal lives. This study aims to identify factors associated with anxiety and depression among medical students at universities in Ethiopia. This cross-sectional study was conducted at three Ethiopian medical colleges-Gondar University in northern Ethiopia, Jimma University in southern Ethiopia, and Hawasa University in southern Ethiopia-from November 1, 2023, to March 30, 2024. A total of 450 medical students participated in the survey, which utilized the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Various demographic, academic, and social factors were analyzed via descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. The prevalence of depression was 52%, while the prevalence of anxiety was 59.1%. Compared to males, females had higher rates of depression (63.93%) and anxiety (65.02%). Additionally, nonlocal students exhibited greater anxiety levels (68.28%). Living alone, poor peer relationships, and poor academic performance were significantly associated with increased anxiety and depression. Logistic regression revealed significant associations between sex, living arrangements, peer relationships, year of study, academic performance, and life satisfaction and anxiety and depression symptoms. Anxiety and depression are prevalent among medical students and are influenced by various demographic, academic, and social factors. Addressing these issues through targeted interventions, enhanced support services, and curriculum adjustments is crucial for improving the mental health and academic success of medical students.

PMID:41028282 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-99177-4