Category: Statistics

Int Ophthalmol. 2026 Jan 27;46(1):74. doi: 10.1007/s10792-026-03953-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The primary treatment for managing epilepsy consists of anti-seizure drugs (ASDs). Nevertheless, their prolonged use has been associated with various ocular complications. The structural alterations, such as thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular edema, have received limited research attention in younger adults undergoing extended ASD treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the structural and functional changes in the eyes specifically, refractive error, tear film quality, macular health, and RNFL thickness among young adults who are on long-term ASD therapy.

METHODS: A cross-sectional investigation involved 340 subjects aged between 20 and 40, comprising 200 ASD users and 140 healthy controls matched by age. All participant underwent a thorough ocular assessment that included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), subjective refraction, intraocular pressure, Schirmer’s I & II tests, tear breakup time (TBUT), slit-lamp examination, fundus photography, and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for analysis of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and macula. The statistical evaluation was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, with significance established at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: Users of ASD exhibited a significantly higher average refractive error (-2.50DS/ ± 1.00DC) compared to controls (-0.75DS/ ± 0.75DC180). Tear metrics were considerably lower, with Schirmer’s I & II and TBUT demonstrating significant disparities in sodium valproate users (P < 0.001). OCT findings indicated early signs of macular edema in 10% of ASD users, particularly among those on sodium valproate and topiramate. RNFL thickness displayed an average reduction of 8.5 µm relative to controls (P = 0.042), with the most pronounced thinning noted in users of lamotrigine and levetiracetam.

CONCLUSION: Prolonged ASD treatment is linked to observable changes in ocular structure, including dry eye disease, myopia, macular edema, and RNFL thinning. These outcomes highlight the necessity for routine ophthalmic evaluation and collaborative care to prevent irreversible visual impairment in individuals with epilepsy.

PMID:41591611 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-026-03953-8

Int Ophthalmol. 2026 Jan 27;46(1):78. doi: 10.1007/s10792-026-03958-3.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare the effects of cooled versus room-temperature irrigation solutions on preoperative and early postoperative choroidal vascularity in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling.

METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, comparative study, 54 patients underwent standard 23-G PPV performed by a single surgeon. During the procedure, 27 patients received cooled irrigation solutions (Group 1), while the remaining 27 patients were treated with room-temperature irrigation solutions (Group 2). Central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were measured preoperatively and five to ten minutes postoperatively in both groups. The preoperative-to-postoperative changes within each group and the differences between the two groups were analyzed.

RESULTS: In Group 1, significant differences were observed in both SFCT and CVI values between the preoperative and postoperative measurements (p = 0.002 and p = 0.002, respectively), whereas the mild reduction in CVI in Group 2 (p = 0.012) did not remain statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the magnitude or percentage of preoperative-to-postoperative changes between the groups (p > 0.05). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant reductions in CMT, SFCT, and CVI following PPV in both groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: PPV caused an early postoperative decrease in choroidal perfusion, which was significant in the cold irrigation group. However, there was no significant difference between cooled and room-temperature irrigation solutions.

PMID:41591592 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-026-03958-3

Support Care Cancer. 2026 Jan 27;34(2):132. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-10292-4.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, and breast cancer survivors face ongoing challenges related to physical, psychological, and social well-being. Social media-based interventions have emerged as potential tools for knowledge dissemination, emotional support, and health management, yet their effectiveness remains under-researched. This review identifies gaps in the current literature and offers recommendations to guide future research and improve social media use in survivorship care.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify studies published from database inception through March 2025 that examined the use of social media interventions. Studies were categorized into key themes: knowledge acquisition, social support, psychological health, and physical health outcomes.

RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors may use social media interventions for knowledge acquisition, allowing them to exchange information, engage in peer support, and access expert resources. While these platforms improve understanding of treatment-related concerns, challenges such as misinformation and information overload remain. Social media interventions offer emotional support, fostering peer connections and reducing isolation, often through hashtags that allow individuals to connect, share experiences, and seek emotional support, and allow for anonymous self-expression. However, the emotional amplification of shared suffering may heighten distress. For psychological health, mixed findings suggest that social media has no effect or, in some cases, a negative impact on anxiety and depression experienced by breast cancer survivors. Social media interventions promoting physical activity promise to improve exercise adherence and health outcomes, though long-term effects remain unclear.

CONCLUSION: Social media interventions have the potential to improve knowledge acquisition and support for breast cancer survivors. Future research should focus on randomized controlled trials to better understand the impact of social media interventions on social support and well-being.

PMID:41591579 | DOI:10.1007/s00520-025-10292-4

World J Urol. 2026 Jan 27;44(1):130. doi: 10.1007/s00345-026-06225-3.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Urolithiasis is a common condition in urological practice. Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is widely accepted as a safe and effective treatment modality. However, acute ureteral injuries during ureteral access sheath (UAS) placement remain a significant concern. Although beta-adrenergic receptors have been identified in the ureteral wall, studies investigating beta-agonists for ureteral protection are lacking. This study aimed to assess whether short-term preoperative administration of mirabegron, a beta-3 adrenoreceptor agonist, can reduce the incidence of UAS-related ureteral injuries during RIRS.

METHODS: In this prospective non-randomized study, 60 patients undergoing RIRS were enrolled. Allocation was based on clinical indications due to ethical considerations: 30 patients with existing overactive bladder symptoms received preoperative mirabegron, while 30 patients served as controls. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. Ureteral injuries were assessed endoscopically and graded using the Post-Ureteroscopic Lesion Scale (PULS).

RESULTS: The mirabegron group showed a lower incidence of high-grade ureteral injuries compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.123). No adverse events related to mirabegron were reported. Limitations include the lack of randomization, modest sample size, and single-center design.

CONCLUSIONS: Short-term preoperative mirabegron use appears to be safe. While our results suggest a potential trend towards reducing high-grade ureteral injuries, this did not reach statistical significance, likely due to the limited sample size of this preliminary cohort. Further large-scale, multicenter studies with longer follow-up are necessary to confirm these findings.

PMID:41591575 | DOI:10.1007/s00345-026-06225-3

Int J Implant Dent. 2026 Jan 27;12(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s40729-026-00667-5.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In immediate implant placement, both open and closed healing techniques are used, but their comparative esthetic and tissue stability outcomes remain under debate. This study aimed to evaluate and compare these two approaches to support clinical decision-making.

METHODS: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 46 patients received a total of 48 implants, assigned to either an open healing group (n = 25) or a closed healing group (n = 23). Clinical and radiological assessments were conducted at three time points: T1 (pre-extraction), T2 (3 months post-op), and T3 (12 months post-op). The primary endpoint was the Pink Esthetic Score (PES), which assesses seven soft tissue parameters. Secondary endpoints included implant survival and volumetric tissue changes. PES was analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model.

RESULTS: The open healing group showed significantly higher PES outcomes compared to the closed healing group (mean difference: -1.49; 95% CI: [-2.36, -0.62]; p = 0.0014). A higher baseline PES was also significantly associated with better esthetic outcomes at follow-up (0.3638, 95% CI: [0.1890, 0.5386], p = 0.0002). Smoking had no significant effect. Volumetric analysis revealed soft tissue volume loss from T1 to T2, with partial recovery by T3. Although the open healing group showed slightly less volume loss, this was not statistically significant. No implant losses occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated esthetic advantages of the open healing technique compared to the closed healing technique in immediate implant placement.

PMID:41591574 | DOI:10.1186/s40729-026-00667-5

Future Sci OA. 2026 Dec;12(1):2617117. doi: 10.1080/20565623.2026.2617117. Epub 2026 Jan 26.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aim to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) (125 mg/m2, q2w) for two weeks and (125 mg/m2, d1, d8, q3w) for three weeks in the first-line treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODS: The medical records of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who received nab-PTX for 2 weeks and 3 weeks, combined with gemcitabine, from July 2018 to January 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. The efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups of patients were compared.

RESULT: A total of 64 patients were included. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) of the 2-week group was 5.6 months, while the 3-week group was 7.8 months. The median overall survival (mOS) of the 2-week group was 14.0 months, while the 3-week group was 14.7 months. The multivariate analysis showed that a physical fitness status score of 0-1 was an independent factor with better OS, while metastatic sites ≥ 3 were related to poor OS. The incidence of leukopenia or neutropenia, neurotoxicity, fatigue, and poor appetite in the 2-week group was lower than that in the 3-week group.

CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of nab-PTX in the 2-week and dose intensive 3 week did not show significant difference, but the 2-week treatment group had better tolerance and safety.

PMID:41588563 | DOI:10.1080/20565623.2026.2617117

World J Surg Oncol. 2026 Jan 26. doi: 10.1186/s12957-026-04211-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Social frailty, characterised by insufficient social support, is a significant concern that can adversely affect patients’ health. This study aimed to investigate the impact of preoperative social frailty on short-term outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

METHODS: This multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted in three tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province, China (August 2021-February 2025). Patients were categorized into a non-social frailty group (score = 0) and a social frailty group (score ≥ 1) using the Help, Participation, Loneliness, Financial, Talk (HALFT) scale. We performed 1:1 nearest-neighbour propensity score matching to balance covariates including sex, age, residence, marital status, and the tumour node metastasis (TNM) stage, and assessed balance using standardised mean differences (SMD), with an absolute SMD <0.1 considered acceptable. The primary outcomes were overall postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II) and major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III). Secondary outcomes included ICU admission, hospitalisation expenses, total hospitalisation duration, and 30- and 90-day mortality. The primary and secondary outcome measures in both groups after PSM were analysed using the chi-squared test (or Fisher’s exact test) and Mann-Whitney U test. To quantify the associations, binary logistic regression was further performed for the primary measures.

RESULTS: After PSM, 133 matched pairs were generated, and covariates were well balanced (all |SMD| < 0.1). The social frailty group had a higher rate of overall complications (OR = 2.378; 95% CI 1.342-4.211; P = 0.003). Major complications did not differ significantly between groups (OR = 1.842, 95% CI 0.780-4.349, P = 0.163). The social frailty group also had higher ICU admission (8.3% vs. 2.3%; P = 0.028), greater hospitalisation expenses (61,354 vs. 56,525 RMB; P < 0.001), and longer total hospitalisation duration (17.0 vs. 15.0 days; P = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in 30- or 90-day mortality between the groups (3.0% vs. 0%; P = 0.122).

CONCLUSION: Preoperative social frailty was associated with higher risks of overall postoperative complications, ICU admission, increased hospitalisation expenses, and longer total hospitalisation duration compared with non-frail patients.

PMID:41588535 | DOI:10.1186/s12957-026-04211-y

J Anesth Analg Crit Care. 2026 Jan 26. doi: 10.1186/s44158-026-00345-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is effective for weight loss but often requires opioids for postoperative pain management, possibly increasing complications. Intraperitoneal local anaesthetic (IPLA) instillation may help to reduce pain and opioid use, though its efficacy remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of IPLA on postoperative pain management and opioid consumption in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library (up to July 31, 2024) identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing IPLA with placebo or other analgesics. Primary outcomes were postoperative pain scores; secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, hospital length of stay (LOS) and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB2, and a random-effects model was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Eight RCTs (n = 875) showed IPLA significantly reduced pain in the first 4 h (SMD: – 1.46, 95% CI: – 2.08 to – 0.85, p < 0.001) and 4-8 h postoperatively (SMD: – 1.16, 95% CI: – 1.94 to – 0.37, p < 0.001), with no effect beyond 8 h. IPLA reduced additional analgesic use (RR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25-0.66, p < 0.001) but without significant impact on LOS or PONV. Due to heterogeneity in opioid consumption reporting, a pooled analysis was not feasible.

CONCLUSION: IPLA effectively reduces early postoperative pain and opioid demand in laparoscopic bariatric surgery, though long-term benefits remain uncertain. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to establish optimal administration techniques and assess their broader clinical benefits.

PMID:41588531 | DOI:10.1186/s44158-026-00345-3

BMC Public Health. 2026 Jan 26. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-26389-2. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41588519 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-026-26389-2

Reprod Health. 2026 Jan 27. doi: 10.1186/s12978-025-02263-z. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41588500 | DOI:10.1186/s12978-025-02263-z