Category: Statistics

Gen Dent. 2025 May-Jun;73(3):68-72.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to compare the clinical performance of 2 types of pit and fissure sealants–containing either fluoride or amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)–over a period of 24 months. In this retrospective split-mouth study, 36 fluoride-containing sealants (Clinpro) and 36 ACP-containing sealants (Aegis) were evaluated 24 months after placement in the permanent first molars of 30 children aged 6 to 7 years. The sealants were inspected for retention based on the criteria of Oulis and Berdouses, with scores of 0, 1, and 2 representing total retention, partial loss, and total loss, respectively. In addition, the sealants were assigned scores for marginal integrity, marginal discoloration, and anatomical form based on the criteria of Feigal et al. Differences between groups in the occurrences of each evaluation variable were compared using relative risk with its 95% CI as well as the chi-square or Fisher exact test. The level of significance was set at P = 0.05. The retention success rates of the fluoride and ACP sealants after 24 months were 66.6% and 61.1%, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The overall clinical success of the fluoride-containing sealant was slightly greater than that of the ACP-containing sealant in terms of marginal discoloration and anatomical form; however, these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The marginal integrity of the sealant with ACP nanofillers was greater than that of the fluoride-containing sealant, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). After a 24-month follow-up period, no significant disparities in clinical performance were observed between fluoride- and ACP-containing sealants in terms of retention rates, marginal integrity, marginal discoloration, or anatomical form. The clinical performance of both sealant types was found to be acceptable.

PMID:40258260

Gen Dent. 2025 May-Jun;73(3):35-41.

ABSTRACT

Pulp stones result from the calcification of dental pulp tissue. There is limited research on pulp stones in unerupted teeth, but they are more suitable for investigating the influence of systemic factors on pulp stone formation because they are not exposed to the conditions of the oral cavity. The objectives of this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study were to use cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to evaluate pulp stones in unerupted teeth and to be the first investigation to assess the correlation between pulp stones and blood levels of principal biochemical factors. The CBCT records of 90 patients were evaluated, and 3 groups were defined based on the size of pulp stones: small pulp stone (including total absence as well as minute particles with maximum diameter < 0.05 mm); moderate-sized pulp stone (maximum diameter 0.05-1.59 mm); or large pulp stone (maximum diameter ≥ 1.60 mm). This was followed by assessment of the patients’ blood levels of 5 principal biochemical factors: fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The data were analyzed by chi-square test, 1-way analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis test, and values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Individuals with a large pulp stone were significantly older than individuals with a small pulp stone (P = 0.024). No statistically significant difference was found in the distribution of the sexes in the 3 pulp stone groups, nor was there any association between pulp stones in unerupted teeth and FBG, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, or LDL level (P > 0.05). The prevalence of tooth types followed a consistent pattern across all 3 groups, with canines being the most commonly affected, followed by premolars. In the present study, confounding variables were minimized by using unerupted teeth. CBCT was found to be an accurate 3-dimensional imaging modality for evaluation of pulp stones. As people age, the likelihood of pulp stone formation increases. No statistically significant association was observed between the prevalence of pulp stones and patients’ sex or biochemical factor levels.

PMID:40258254

Gen Dent. 2025 May-Jun;73(3):28-33.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, porosity, and waste reduction of extra-light-body polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression material mixed with a helical impression tip or a new cartridge integrated system (NCIS) from the same manufacturer (Dentsply Sirona). The legacy teal tip (TT group) was compared with the NCIS red (RT group) and blue (BT group) mixing tips. Dumbbell-shaped specimens (TT, n = 17; RT, n = 15; and BT, n = 16) were prepared in accordance with German Institute for Standardization’s rubber testing standard (DIN 53504.2017) and tested in a universal testing machine for tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Porosity was evaluated via microcomputed tomography of cylindrical specimens (TT, n = 7; RT, n = 6; and BT, n = 7). Waste reduction was evaluated by comparing the mass of the mixing tips before use and after polymerization of the PVS to determine the difference in weight, which represented the amount of retained material (n = 11 per group). Tensile strength was analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Modulus of elasticity was analyzed using 1-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD. Porosity and waste reduction were analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, and Steel-Dwass tests. The analyses revealed no differences in tensile strength between groups (P = 0.493). The TT group had a significantly higher modulus of elasticity than the RT and BT groups (P < 0.001). The BT group had the highest mean porosity, and the difference between BT and RT was statistically significant (P = 0.048). The RT group showed the least material waste. Supporting the claims of the manufacturer, the NCIS tips generated tensile strengths comparable to that of the legacy tip and produced less waste, achieving waste reductions of 62% (RT) and 21% (BT) compared with the legacy tip. However, the RT and BT groups had a lower modulus of elasticity than the TT group, and porosity was increased in the BT group.

PMID:40258253

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Apr 21;21(4):e1011909. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011909. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cell sorting by differential adhesion is one of the basic mechanisms explaining spatial organization of neurons in early stage brain development of fruit flies. The columnar arrangements of neurons determine the large-scale patterns in the fly visual center. Experimental studies indicate that hexagonal configurations regularly appear in the fly compound eye, which is connected to the visual center by photoreceptor axons, while tetragonal configurations can be induced in mutants. We need a mathematical framework to study the mechanisms of such a transition between hexagonal and tetragonal arrangements. Here, we propose a new mathematical model based on macroscopic approximations of agent-based models that produces a similar behavior changing from hexagonal to tetragonal steady configurations when medium-range repulsion and longer-range attraction between individuals are incorporated in previous successful models for cell sorting based on adhesion and volume constraints. We analyze the angular configurations of these patterns based on angle summary statistics and compare between experimental data and parameter fitted ARA (Adhesion-Repulsion-Attraction) models showing that intermediate patterns between hexagonal and tetragonal configuration are common in experimental data as well as in our ARA mathematical model. Our studies indicate an overall qualitative agreement of ARA models in tile patterning and pave the way for their quantitative studies. Our study opens up a new avenue to explore tile pattern transitions, found not only in the column arrangement in the brain, but also in the other related biological processes.

PMID:40258228 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011909

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Apr 21;21(4):e1012949. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012949. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, infections are a key determinant of patient health in healthcare facilities, leading to longer stays and increased mortality. In addition to the direct effects on infected patients, the burden imposed by nosocomial infections impacts both staff and other patients by increasing the load on the healthcare system. The appropriate infection control response may differ depending on whether the infection was acquired in the hospital or the community. For example, nosocomial outbreaks may require ward closures to reduce the risk of onward transmission, whilst this may not be an appropriate response to repeated importations of infections from outside the facility. Unfortunately, it is often unclear whether an infection detected in a healthcare facility is nosocomial, as the time of infection is unobserved. Given this, there is a strong case for the development of models that can integrate multiple datasets available in hospitals to assess whether an infection detected in a hospital is nosocomial. When assessing nosocomiality, it is beneficial to take into account both whether the timing of infection is consistent with hospital acquisition and whether there are any likely candidates within the hospital who could have been the source of the infection. In this work, we developed a Bayesian model which jointly estimates whether a given infection detected in hospital is nosocomial and whether it came from a set of individuals identified as candidates by hospital staff. The model coherently integrates pathogen genetic information, the timings of epidemiological events, such as symptom onset, and location data on the infected patient and candidate infectors. We illustrated this model on a real hospital dataset showing both its output and how the impact of the different data sources on the assessed probabilities are contingent on what other data has been included in the model, and validated the calibration of the predictions against simulated data.

PMID:40258227 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012949

Endocr Regul. 2025 Apr 21;59(1):42-47. doi: 10.2478/enr-2025-0006. Print 2025 Jan 1.

ABSTRACT

Objective. In this retrospective observational study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of insulin degludec/insulin aspart (IDegAsp) treatment on glycemic status, metabolic parameters, and weight/body mass index (BMI) change at a single tertiary diabetes center in Turkey. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes who received IDegAsp treatment between October 2018 and November 2019 at the diabetes outpatient clinic. The patients who had inadequate responses (HbA1c ≥8%) to at least 3 months of experienced insulin (± oral antidiabetic drug [OAD]) treatment were included into the study. Results. One hundred patients (61% females) with a mean age of 61.7±10.0 years (range; 39-88 years) were analyzed. Mean fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels decreased by 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 12th months (p=0.010, p=0.007, p=0.027, and p=0.090, respectively and p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.001, respectively). Mean body weight and BMI values increased in the 3rd (83.1±15.6 kg and 31.6±5.7 kg/m2, repecitvely) and 6th (87.0±15.4 kg and 32.3±5.3 kg/m2, resepctively) months, although the changes were not statistically significant (p=0.10 and p=0.08, respectively). However, mean body weight returned to baseline levels by the 9th (80.8±17.0 kg and 30.5±6.4 kg/m2, respectively) and 12th (79.5±13.5 kg and 30.5±5.7 kg/m2, respectively) months (p=0.074 and p=0.400, respectively). Conclusions. IDegAsp can provide a significant decrease in HbA1c in a real-life setting. Although weight gain was observed in the first months of the treatment, this effect disappeared over time and decreased to the baseline levels.

PMID:40258224 | DOI:10.2478/enr-2025-0006

Endocr Regul. 2025 Apr 21;59(1):33-41. doi: 10.2478/enr-2025-0005. Print 2025 Jan 1.

ABSTRACT

Objective. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the commonest endocrinopathies in women characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and insulin resistance affecting 5-20% of reproductive-aged women worldwide. Recent studies have emphasized the role of the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene in the development of PCOS, specifically the rs9939609 A/T polymorphism, which is linked to an increased risk of PCOS. The study aimed to investigate the levels of FTO protein and its association with luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and anthropometric parameters in patients with PCOS compared to healthy controls. Materials. A total of 298 women, comprising 149 patients and 149 healthy controls, enrolled in the study. Anthropometric parameters (body mass index, BMI; waist circumference, WC; hip circumference, HC; waist-to-hip ratio, WHR), and hormonal assays (LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio) were performed. FTO protein levels were measured by ELISA kit and their association with these parameters was analyzed. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the discriminatory power of FTO protein levels in distinguishing PCOS cases and controls. A value p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. FTO protein levels were significantly elevated in PCOS women with increased BMI, WC, HC, and WHR (p=<0.05). The mean of BMI showed a positive correlation with both WC (r=0.367, p<0.001) and HC (r=0.395, p<0.001). WC strongly correlated with HC (r=0.780, p<0.001) and WHR (r=0.465, p<0.001). LH significantly correlated with FSH (r=0.543, p<.001), and LH/FSH (r=0.553, p<.001). FTO protein showed a positive correlation with LH (r=0.364, p<0.001), and FSH (r=0.166, p<0.001). Additionally, a negative correlation of FTO protein with BMI (r=-0.190, p<0.05), WC (r=-0.277, p<0.05), and WHR (r=-0.408 p<0.001) was observed. The levels of FTO protein were significantly higher in PCOS patients compared to controls. Significant correlations were also found between FTO protein levels and the anthropometric or hormonal parameters. The AUC for FTO protein levels was 0.624 (p=0.550), indicating moderate discriminatory power, but lacking statistical significance. Conclusion. The study found that FTO protein levels are significantly higher in PCOS women correlating with anthropometric and hormonal parameters (increased LH, decreased FSH). This highlights potential involvement of FTO protein in the hormonal and metabolic disturbances characteristics of the syndrome indicating its biomarker character for the condition.

PMID:40258223 | DOI:10.2478/enr-2025-0005

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Apr 21;21(4):e1012990. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012990. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The central nervous system can generate various behaviors, including motor responses, which we can observe through video recordings. Recent advances in gene manipulation, automated behavioral acquisition at scale, and machine learning enable us to causally link behaviors to their underlying neural mechanisms. Moreover, in some animals, such as the Drosophila melanogaster larva, this mapping is possible at the unprecedented scale of single neurons, allowing us to identify the neural microcircuits generating particular behaviors. These high-throughput screening efforts, linking the activation or suppression of specific neurons to behavioral patterns in millions of animals, provide a rich dataset to explore the diversity of nervous system responses to the same stimuli. However, important challenges remain in identifying subtle behaviors, including immediate and delayed responses to neural activation or suppression, and understanding these behaviors on a large scale. We here introduce several statistically robust methods for analyzing behavioral data in response to these challenges: 1) A generative physical model that regularizes the inference of larval shapes across the entire dataset. 2) An unsupervised kernel-based method for statistical testing in learned behavioral spaces aimed at detecting subtle deviations in behavior. 3) A generative model for larval behavioral sequences, providing a benchmark for identifying higher-order behavioral changes. 4) A comprehensive analysis technique using suffix trees to categorize genetic lines into clusters based on common action sequences. We showcase these methodologies through a behavioral screen focused on responses to an air puff, analyzing data from 280 716 larvae across 569 genetic lines.

PMID:40258220 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012990

Res Gerontol Nurs. 2025 Apr 23:1-12. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20250416-01. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe characteristics and outcomes of family caregivers for persons with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia (PD/LBD) and compare them to those of other family caregivers.

METHOD: Using a California statewide database, we examined caregiver characteristics and outcomes (strain, loneliness, worse health, and depressive symptoms) and compared them by care recipient diagnosis (PD/LBD, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, or other chronic conditions) using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: PD/LBD caregivers were more likely to identify as female, married, and college-educated; engage in high-intensity caregiving; and report their care recipient wakes them or others up at night. In multivariable models, PD/LBD caregiving was associated with worse health. Among PD/LBD caregivers, performing medical/nursing tasks was associated with higher odds of strain, loneliness, worse health, and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION: PD/LBD caregivers are a distinct group who often experience high-demand caregiving. Tailored support can help address the unique needs of this population. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, xx(x), xx-xx.].

PMID:40258218 | DOI:10.3928/19404921-20250416-01

J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2025 Apr 23:1-9. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20250415-05. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine the effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy on symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and loneliness in individuals with schizophrenia.

METHOD: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with individuals with schizophrenia registered at a community mental health center. The study involved 61 participants (30 in the intervention group, 31 in the control group). An 8-week equine-assisted therapeutic intervention was implemented for the intervention group. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Quality of Life Scale for Schizophrenia Patients (QLS), and UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). Data were analyzed using means, frequencies, percentage distributions, chi-square test, and dependent and independent samples t tests.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between pre- and post-test mean scores of the PANSS, TAI, UCLA-LS, and QLS in the intervention group (p < 0.05), and none were found in the control group (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Equine-assisted therapy effectively reduced symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness in individuals with schizophrenia, while improving their quality of life. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].

PMID:40258216 | DOI:10.3928/02793695-20250415-05