Category: Statistics

Stress. 2026 Dec 31;29(1):2612332. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2025.2612332. Epub 2026 Jan 10.

ABSTRACT

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after exposure to a traumatic event, leading to debilitating symptoms, including avoidance, hypervigilance, and functional impairment. There is a paucity of effective therapies to treat PTSD, partially due to the difficulty in identifying consistent underlying mechanisms. Using a modified single prolonged stress (mSPS) paradigm combined with single housing to induce both acute fear conditioning and chronic stress in mice, we developed a novel analysis method to robustly define a PTSD-like phenotype based on the criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V). Following mSPS exposure, C57BL/6NHsd mice underwent behavioral testing to examine each of the criteria of PTSD according to the DSM-V. Specific parameters with the largest effect sizes between mSPS and non-mSPS mice were chosen. Absolute z-scores were generated for each behavioral parameter, and mSPS mice whose z-scores were outside the 85th confidence interval for at least one parameter for each of the eight criteria were defined as susceptible; the remainder of the exposed mice were considered resilient. Finally, resilient mice were evaluated for anhedonia and hyperlocomotive behaviors. The results demonstrated that a PTSD-like phenotype can be robustly defined in mice based on all 8 DSM-V criteria. Importantly, 29.76% of mSPS mice were classified as susceptible, which is similar to the incidence observed in humans exposed to trauma. This novel behavioral analysis method may assist in better defining a PTSD-like phenotype, identifying a more robust population, which may help facilitate the discovery of the underlying mechanism(s) of PTSD and its association with other comorbidities.

PMID:41518007 | DOI:10.1080/10253890.2025.2612332

Clin Transl Sci. 2026 Jan;19(1):e70419. doi: 10.1111/cts.70419.

ABSTRACT

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque brain clearance is one of the promising disease-modifying treatment approaches to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). ABBV-916, an anti-amyloid antibody, was being developed as an early AD disease-modifying treatment. A phase 1, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled single ascending dose (SAD) study investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of ABBV-916 in healthy participants. Five groups of participants were enrolled and randomized 6:2 to receive ABBV-916 (100, 300, 1000, or 3000 mg) or placebo by intravenous (IV) infusion or subcutaneous (SC) injection (300-mg dose only). After dosing, participants were followed for 20 weeks for assessments. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected after dosing 1000 mg IV for determination of ABBV-916 levels in the CSF. ABBV-916 single doses up to 3000 mg were well tolerated in healthy participants. No clinically significant laboratory findings, amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, or serious adverse events were reported. The ABBV-916 PK profile exhibited dose-related increases in maximum concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve with terminal elimination half-life ranging from 29 to 40 days across the cohorts. The estimated absolute bioavailability after SC dosing was 51%. The average CSF-to-serum partition ratio was 0.12% (range 0.10%-0.21%). Positive anti-drug antibody was detected in < 7% of participants, which was transient, at low titer, and did not affect ABBV-916 PK. This study demonstrated desirable safety, tolerability, and PK profile of ABBV-916 after single-dose administration in healthy participants. The data supported further evaluation of ABBV-916 multiple IV and SC doses in patients with AD.

PMID:41517979 | DOI:10.1111/cts.70419

BMC Nutr. 2026 Jan 9. doi: 10.1186/s40795-025-01229-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Unfavorable perinatal complications, such as low-birth-weight infant, premature infant, and small for gestational age (SGA), continue to be significant community health emergencies in low- and middle-income nations. These results are mainly influenced by insufficient maternal diet quality and social inequality, and income disparity. Though several studies have researched these relations, there is a limited synthesis of their joint effect on prenatal results, underlining the essential of inclusive assessment.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review is designed to map and make accessible statistics on maternal diet quality and social and economic factors in relation to intimidating delivery consequences among expectant mothers in developing countries.

METHODS: Re-examine the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. An exhaustive examination was performed in PubMed, Science Direct, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, and MedRxiv for investigations published between January 2000 and December 2024. Revision quality was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to ensure methodological consistency and rigor.

RESULTS: Eighty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Suboptimal dietary variety (≤ 5 food classifications per day) was importantly connected with underweight and premature at birth (AOR: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.55-3.87). Skipping meals was expected premature delivery (AOR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.41-4.89), whereas food insufficiencies amplified the threat of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (AOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.02-4.63). Narcotics misuse, uneducated, low income, being a country dweller, and reduced judgment self-sufficiency were reliably associated with associated effect.

CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition during pregnancy and social exclusion, and poverty-stricken conjointly impact pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Integrated policies combining nutrition-specific interventions with socioeconomic empowerment are critical to improving maternal and neonatal health.

PMID:41514381 | DOI:10.1186/s40795-025-01229-5

BMC Glob Public Health. 2026 Jan 9;4(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s44263-025-00238-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hypoxemia, a mortality predictor and hallmark of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), is disproportionately common in resource-constrained settings (RCS). The burden of PARDS in RCS is likely substantial considering the high prevalence of known clinical triggers (e.g., sepsis, pneumonia, trauma), but it is challenging to diagnose due to limited diagnostic resources. We aimed to: (1) describe respiratory care resource availability in RCS hospitals and test whether availability was associated with mortality; (2) determine the proportion of children who presented to RCS hospitals with hypoxemia and their associated outcomes; and (3) test whether, in children with hypoxemia, having a PARDS trigger was associated with mortality.

METHODS: We developed and applied operational definitions for five tiered respiratory care resource bundles. Through a secondary analysis of Global Paediatric Acute Critical Illness Point Prevalence Study (PARITY) data, we performed descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing (i.e., chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests), and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: Among the entire Global PARITY cohort (n = 7538), 763 (10.1%) were admitted with hypoxemia. Seventy percent (n = 531) were treated at a site with the intermediate or less respiratory care resource bundle available. Mortality was 6.8% (n = 52) and inversely associated with respiratory resource availability. The odds of mortality were higher for patients treated at sites with the intermediate bundle or less compared to those with the advanced or expert bundle available (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.1-83). Fifty-six percent (n = 430) had a PARDS trigger, most commonly pneumonia (n = 256), bronchiolitis (n = 116), and sepsis (n = 58). There was no association between the presence of a PARDS trigger and mortality. Ninety-four percent of patients with a PARDS trigger (n = 405/430) had insufficient data available for a PARDS-related diagnosis according to the Second Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC-2) guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with hypoxemia treated at hospitals with respiratory care resource constraints in countries with lower socio-demographic index (SDI) had significantly higher mortality. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing work to improve resource availability, strengthen health systems, and support pediatric healthcare providers in identifying PARDS in order to help clinicians risk stratify children, focus resources, and tailor management to optimize outcomes.

PMID:41514371 | DOI:10.1186/s44263-025-00238-7

Genome Med. 2026 Jan 9;18(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s13073-025-01575-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an incurable immune-mediated inflammatory disease, affecting the gut with a high rate of primary- and secondary- loss-of-response to therapy. By investigating the T cell receptor repertoire of individuals with IBD, novel therapeutic and preventive strategies can be identified, and a better understanding of IBD can be obtained.

METHODS: To identify and validate T cell clonotypes implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD, we profiled the T cell receptor alpha (TRA) repertoire of three cohorts containing treatment-naive, treated individuals, and individuals living with the disease for >20 years, resulting in an exhaustive dataset containing the TRA repertoire of 1,732 individuals.

RESULTS: Using the generated datasets, we were able to replicate previous findings describing the expansion of Crohn’s-associated invariant T (CAIT) cells in individuals with Crohn’s disease (CD) in the three cohorts. Using a hypothesis-free statistical testing framework, we identified clonotypes that were associated with the disease at its different stages, e.g., at the time of diagnosis and decades post-diagnosis. By conducting a meta-analysis across the three cohorts, we were able to identify a set of clonotypes that were associated with the disease regardless of its stage. We validated our findings in a previously published independent test dataset from a German cohort, showing the robustness of the identified clonotypes.

CONCLUSIONS: The identified clonotypes are novel therapeutic targets to treat IBD, for example, through targeted depletion. By identifying antigens recognized by these T cells, a better understanding of the etiopathology of IBD, particularly CD, can be obtained.

PMID:41514338 | DOI:10.1186/s13073-025-01575-w

Environ Health. 2026 Jan 9. doi: 10.1186/s12940-025-01252-w. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41514328 | DOI:10.1186/s12940-025-01252-w

Cardiooncology. 2026 Jan 9. doi: 10.1186/s40959-025-00420-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This ambispective cohort study evaluates the effectiveness of cardioprotective strategies in reducing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODS: We conducted a single-center, historically controlled ambispective cohort study at Kunming Children’s Hospital. Children with newly diagnosed ALL treated with the CCLG-ALL2018 protocol between May 2018 and May 2020 comprised the retrospective historical control cohort (no dexrazoxane). After institutional adoption of dexrazoxane, consecutive eligible patients treated between May 2020 and May 2022 were prospectively enrolled and followed according to a prespecified cardiac monitoring schedule. The exposure (use of dexrazoxane) was determined by calendar time rather than randomization.

RESULTS: The combination therapy group exhibited significantly lower rates of electrocardiogram and echocardiogram abnormalities (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively), suggesting a notable cardioprotective effect. Although baseline cardiac markers did not show significant differences between the groups, post-treatment levels of cardiac troponin T were significantly improved in the combination therapy group (P < 0.05). Additionally, trends toward improved left ventricular ejection fraction and Creatine Kinase-Myocardial Band levels were observed, although these did not reach statistical significance. Importantly, the use of the cardioprotective agent did not lead to a significant increase in adverse reactions.

CONCLUSION: Incorporating a cardioprotective strategy into pediatric ALL treatment protocols appears to lower the risk of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity without compromising safety, hence boosting patient outcomes. These findings should be interpreted in light of the historically controlled, nonrandomized design and potential time-related confounding.

PMID:41514325 | DOI:10.1186/s40959-025-00420-8

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Jan 10. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-07647-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Flowable composite resins are widely used in dentistry, and their biocompatibility is a critical factor. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of flowable composite resins with different compositions using an MTT assay on L929 mouse fibroblast cultures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, four types of flowable composite resins with different compositions were used: nanoparticle-containing (Filtek Supreme – FS), self-adhesive (Vertise Flow – VF), highly filled (G-aenial Universal Injectable – GUI), and fibre-reinforced (EverX Flow – EF) resins. A total of 28 disc samples (seven from each material), each with a diameter of 5 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, were prepared and polymerized. Five different dilutions (1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, and 1:16) of the test materials were added to the L929 mouse fibroblast culture medium. The effects of the test materials on cell viability were evaluated using the MTT assay at three different time points (24, 48, and 72 h). The optical densities of the cells were measured with a spectrophotometer. The calculated viability percentages (%) were statistically analysed along with their standard deviations. The effects of the materials’ dose and incubation time on cell viability were evaluated using two-way ANOVA. A Bonferroni post hoc test was applied to determine which factor or interaction group the difference originated from (p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant).

RESULTS: FS, GUI, and EF materials showed no cytotoxic effects at any of the tested concentrations and incubation times; cell viability was found to be above 70% under all conditions. In contrast, undiluted VF material showed cytotoxic effects at all time points, while the 1/2 concentration exhibited cytotoxicity at 72 h.

CONCLUSION: FS, GUI, and EF materials are considired to be biocompatible based on ISO 10993-5 criteria, However, the dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity observed for the VF material limits its biocompatibility. This may be attributed to differences in monomer and filler composition, highlighting the importance of evaluating the biocompatibility of flowable composite resins before clinical use.

PMID:41514287 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-07647-y

BMC Med Educ. 2026 Jan 9. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-08546-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The migration of nurses has become a critical concern for Iran’s healthcare system. However, the roots of this challenge may emerge early-during nursing education-when students begin forming attitudes toward working abroad. This study aimed to identify key predictors of Iranian nursing students’ attitudes toward brain drain using a validated multivariate approach.

METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 296 bachelor’s and master’s nursing students from two nursing schools were recruited through convenience sampling between April and June 2025. Data were collected via an online questionnaire, which included demographic information, educational characteristics, life-related variables, migration-related factors, and the Attitudes toward brain drain scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the predictors of attitudes toward brain drain. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics v.26.

RESULTS: The average age of students was 22.7 years. Half of the students reported a moderate level of interest in the profession. Canada was the most frequently chosen destination country (33.5%). The average attitude score toward brain drain was 59.25 ± 11.97. In addition, language proficiency (β = 0.498, p < .001) positively predicted attitudes toward brain drain, whereas life satisfaction (β = -0.192, p < .001) and family connectedness (β = -0.125, p = .014) were negative predictors.

CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the role of both personal and contextual factors in shaping migration attitudes among nursing students. Academic institutions should enhance educational experiences and support students’ psychological well-being to foster more positive professional engagement within the country.

PMID:41514275 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-08546-0

BMC Public Health. 2026 Jan 10. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-26033-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the relationship between empowering motivational climate in physical education and adolescents’ social-emotional competence, and to analyze the chain mediation effect of teacher-student relationship and physical activity level.

METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 1,145 adolescents from first-tier (Guangzhou), second-tier (Foshan), and third-tier (Qingyuan) cities in Guangdong Province, using scales measuring empowering motivational climate in physical education, teacher-student relationship, physical activity level, and social-emotional competence. Data were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS 29.0 and IBM AMOS 26.0 software.

RESULTS: (1) empowering motivational climate in physical education was positively correlated with social-emotional competence and had a direct predictive effect on it; (2) empowering motivational climate in physical education could indirectly influence adolescents’ social-emotional competence through the partial mediating effects of teacher-student relationship and physical activity level; (3) empowering motivational climate in physical education may also indirectly affect adolescents’ social-emotional competence through the chain mediation of “teacher-student relationship and physical activity level.”

CONCLUSION: The empowering motivational climate in physical education can not only directly predict social-emotional competence but also exert indirect effects through the mediating roles of teacher-student relationship and physical activity level, thereby providing theoretical support and practical evidence for promoting the development of adolescents’ social-emotional competence.

PMID:41514274 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-26033-5