Category: Statistics

Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 24. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-59005-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and associated symptoms among adolescent girls. This school based cross-sectional study was conducted among 5,000 adolescent girls from 55 randomly selected schools. The data were collected by using Dysmenorrhea questionnaire and numerical pain rating scale along with demographic details. The data were analysed using Jamovi -open statistical software version 2.6.44. A bivariate logistic regression model was computed and variables whose p-value was < 0.05 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were further included in the multiple logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was found among 3441 (68.82%), 1686 (49.01%) had mild pain, 1496 (43.4%) had moderate pain, 259 (7.52%) had severe pain. Multiple logistic regression revealed, factors such as mothers with and without dysmenorrhea, having menstruation more than once in a month, menstruation once in two months, lethargy and tiredness day before menstruation, lethargy and tiredness day after, irritability on the day before menstruation, and constipation on the first day of menstruation were associated with primary dysmenorrhea. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea is high among adolescent girls, which highlights the need for early diagnosis and development and implementation of interventions to promote the school health and wellbeing.

PMID:42337292 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-59005-9

Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-57002-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a lethal parasitic disease, disproportionately affecting resource-limited regions where sustained control measures are often economically and logistically impractical. Consequently, cost-effective and sustainable strategies tailored to seasonal transmission patterns are urgently needed. Because temperature and rainfall strongly influence sandfly populations, aligning control efforts with seasonal transmission dynamics may enhance effectiveness while reducing costs. This study proposes an impulsive control strategy within a temperature- and rainfall-dependent VL transmission model to assess how strategically timed, short-term interventions optimize disease control. We examine the effects of intervention timing, frequency, and coverage for measures including sandfly breeding site elimination, insecticide spraying, and culling infected reservoir animals. Theoretical analysis shows that the disease-free periodic solution is locally asymptotically stable when the basic reproduction number ([Formula: see text]) is below one, while endemic persistence occurs when [Formula: see text]. The calibrated model closely reproduced observed seasonal transmission patterns, providing a robust basis for evaluating interventions under climatic forcing. Global sensitivity analysis revealed that vector-related parameters consistently drive infection burden, while reservoir parameters show negligible effects, indicating that vector control should be prioritized over reservoir culling for cost-effective VL management. Simulations indicate that targeted interventions implemented for only a few weeks annually substantially reduce transmission. Although vector control and reservoir culling independently decrease cases, their combined application is more effective. A biannual one-week intervention reduces human cases by 95.11%, increasing to 96.6% when extended to two weeks. Initiating interventions six weeks after peak infection yields the most substantial long-term impact, achieving a 98.89% reduction at 85% coverage.

PMID:42337291 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-57002-6

Sci Rep. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-51657-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Given the increasing scarcity of potable water and the rising generation of domestic and industrial wastewater, the reuse of greywater to meet part of plant water requirements, along with its environmentally friendly approach, has gained increasing attention. The present study was conducted in 2023 to investigate the effects of microorganisms and biochar on the establishment and growth of Crassula capitella Thunb., as well as on greywater treatment. Cyanobacteria (C0, C0.4, and C0.8 g), mycorrhiza (M0, M5, and M10 g), and biochar (B0, B5, and B10 g) were evaluated under two irrigation regimes including municipal water (MW) and greywater (GW) within a green wall system in Mashhad, Iran. The results indicated that the combined treatments and irrigation water type had statistically significant effects on most of the measured traits. The C0.4-M10-B0 treatment increased chlorophyll content by more than 97% (from 4.93 to 9.74 µg g⁻¹ FW), while the C0-M10-B5 treatment increased RFW and RDW by 189 and 298%, respectively (from 2.530 to 7.309 g and from 0.353 to 1.407 g), compared to their respective minimum values. The initial wastewater COD (376 mg/L) was 118% greater than the COD measured after treatment with C0.4-M10-B0 (173 mg/L). Overall, the C0-M10-B5 and C0.4-M10-B0 treatments showed superior performance in improving plant establishment and growth of C. capitella in the green wall system, while the C0.4-M10-B0 and C0.4-M5-B5 treatments were more effective in greywater treatment. Based on these findings, the integrated use of cyanobacteria, mycorrhizae, and biochar may contribute to the establishment of Crassula in green wall systems and to urban water resource management under the conditions tested in Mashhad, Iran. However, further studies are needed to assess the applicability of these results to other cities or environmental conditions.

PMID:42337260 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-51657-x

Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2026 Jun 24. doi: 10.1007/s44402-026-00131-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate and quantify the influence of stimulus chromaticity on the perception of visual disturbances, specifically halos, under dim lighting conditions. The study also investigated age-related variations in this perception.

METHOD: Fifty healthy participants were divided into two age groups of 25 each: young adults (<25 years) and older adults (>54 years). The halo perception was quantified using the light disturbance analyser (LDA), a validated device designed to assess visual disturbances such as halos and glare under controlled lighting conditions. To assess the effect of stimulus chromaticity on halo perception, three filters with spectral transmittances centred in the red, green and blue regions of the visible spectrum were used. Measurements were recorded both before and after compensating for longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA).

RESULTS: In both age groups, white and green colours produced the smallest angular size of the perceived halo, followed by red, whereas blue induced the largest halo size. While LCA compensation under blue light was sufficient for the younger group to perceive a halo size similar to that under white light, this compensation proved insufficient for the older group.

CONCLUSIONS: Perceived halo size was greatest when caused by a blue stimulus, followed by red light, while white and green sources yielded halos with comparable, smaller sizes across both age groups. The influence of age on perceived halo size under blue light was statistically significant. Furthermore, LCA compensation resulted in a greater benefit in perceived halo size for the younger, compared with the older group, under blue light.

PMID:42337218 | DOI:10.1007/s44402-026-00131-2

Discov Oncol. 2026 Jun 24. doi: 10.1007/s12672-026-05488-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of Simultaneous Amplification and Testing PCA3 (SAT-PCA3, a urine-based prostate cancer-specific biomarker) combined with conventional clinical information in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 137 patients with complete clinical data. Patients with a biopsy Gleason score ≥ 6 were classified as having PCa. Clinical indicators showing significant differences between PCa and non-PCa groups were identified via univariate analysis. A multivariate model was constructed using pathological diagnosis as the outcome and age, digital rectal exam (DRE) result, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), SAT-PCA3 result, and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) score as predictors. The DeLong test was performed to compare differences in the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) between the univariate model and the multivariate model.

RESULTS: A total of 137 patients were included: 65 were diagnosed with PCa and 72 were non-PCa. Statistical differences existed between the PCa and non-PCa in age, PSA, DRE, PIRADS score, and SAT-PCA3 (p < 0.05). All variables were independently associated with PCa. The coefficient of determination (R²) values is 0.626 in the multivariate model. The AUCs of the age [0.711(95%CI: 0.625-0.796)], DRE [0.626(95%CI: 0.545-0.708)], PSA [0.684(95%CI: 0.593-0.774)], SAT-PCA3 [0.786(95%CI: 0.706-0.866)], PIRADS [0.795(95%CI: 0.722-0.866)] were all less than the multivariate model [0.912(95%CI: 0.866-0.958)], and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: A diagnostic model combining conventional clinical information (age, DRE, PSA, PIRADS score) with the SAT-PCA3 significantly improves the diagnostic accuracy for prostate cancer compared to any single parameter alone.

PMID:42337216 | DOI:10.1007/s12672-026-05488-x

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2026 Jun 24. doi: 10.1007/s11356-026-37943-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Constructed wetlands play a crucial role in urban runoff treatment, enhancing water quality and maintaining ecosystem health, while the water quality index (WQI) serves as a key parameter for evaluating their performance. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of WQI prediction in a constructed wetland at Universiti Sains Malaysia, using 442 samples and 11 physicochemical parameters evaluated across six input scenarios. Feature selection was performed using Pearson correlation and feature-importance rankings from extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and categorical boosting (CatBoost) to create reduced-input combinations. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis further indicated that WQI predictions were mainly driven by organic/solid load and nitrogen-related variables (e.g., chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and ammoniacal nitrogen (AN)). Fourteen ML models, including adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, artificial neural network (ANN), CatBoost, extreme learning machine, gradient boosting regressor, histogram gradient boosting (HGB), Huber regressor, multiple linear regression, ridge regression, stochastic gradient descent regressor (SGD), support vector regression (SVR), XGBoost, and a hybrid Grey Wolf Optimizer-ANN, were developed and evaluated using four statistical metrics such as root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), percent bias (PBIAS), and mean absolute relative error (MARE), complemented by LP-based multi-metric ranking. Across all scenarios (mean LP; lower is better), CatBoost (0.44) and HGB (0.46) achieved the best overall performance, while SGD (0.91) and SVR (0.75) ranked worst. Notably, several top-performing models maintained competitive performance under reduced inputs (e.g., CatBoost’s LP value of 0.56 in the four-feature scenario), supporting practical WQI estimation when monitoring variables are limited or costly. These findings highlight the critical role of both input selection and model choice in developing robust, scalable frameworks for WQI prediction.

PMID:42337199 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-026-37943-1

J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2026 Jun 23;101(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s42506-026-00225-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Labor pain and maternal comfort during childbirth can influence women’s childbirth experience, labor progress, and psychological well-being. Non-pharmacological interventions are increasingly used to support labor pain management in a safe and supportive manner. Quran recitation, a culturally familiar auditory intervention for Muslim women, may help reduce pain perception and promote relaxation during labor. This study aims to examine the effect of listening to Quran recitation on labor pain, childbirth comfort, and blood pressure among nulliparous women in Oman.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at Khoula Hospital, Oman, among 120 nulliparous women with singleton term pregnancies in active labor. Participants were allocated into two groups: a Quran recitation group (n = 60) and a back massage group (n = 60). Women in the intervention group listened to a recorded Quran recitation during labor, while the comparison group received a standardized back massage. Labor pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), pain behavior using the Pain Behavioral Observation Scale (PBOS-3), and childbirth comfort using the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also recorded. Measurements were obtained before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, independent t-test, chi-square, and multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS: Women in the Quran recitation group showed a significant reduction in mean VAS pain scores, decreasing from 76.45 ± 8.20 before the intervention to 58.32 ± 7.16 after the intervention (p < 0.001). In contrast, the back massage group showed no statistically significant change (62.88 ± 8.44 to 61.10 ± 7.98; p > 0.05). The Quran recitation group also demonstrated significantly improved pain behavior and higher overall childbirth comfort scores (CCQ total score, p = 0.002). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that Quran recitation was significantly associated with lower systolic (β = – 0.53, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (β = – 0.49, p < 0.001) after adjustment for gestational age, time of admission, and prior Quran exposure.

CONCLUSION: Quran recitation was associated with reduced labor pain, improved childbirth comfort, and lower blood pressure among nulliparous women during labor. As a culturally acceptable non-pharmacological intervention, it may support more holistic maternity care for Muslim women.

PMID:42337192 | DOI:10.1186/s42506-026-00225-2

Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1007/s13318-026-01017-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Efavirenz is associated with frequent adverse effects, mainly hepatotoxicity and central nervous system disturbances. The cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2B6 plays a key role in efavirenz metabolism and is strongly linked to these toxicities. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the CYP2B6 c.516 G>T polymorphism on efavirenz plasma concentrations by comparing individuals with GG, GT, and TT genotypes.

METHODS: A systematic review of four databases was conducted to identify studies published up to March 2025 evaluating the association between the CYP2B6 c.516 G>T polymorphism and efavirenz plasma concentrations. Pooled mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effects models.

RESULTS: Five studies, including 373 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Individuals with the TT genotype showed significantly higher plasma efavirenz concentrations compared with GG and GT carriers. The mean differences in plasma concentration between the GT-TT and GG-TT subgroups were 5.65 µg/mL and 6.41 µg/mL, respectively, both statistically significant (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the GG and GT genotypes.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis confirms that the CYP2B6 c.516 TT genotype is significantly associated with elevated plasma efavirenz concentration in patients with HIV and tuberculosis. While higher concentrations may increase toxicity risk, this was not directly evaluated in the current pooled analysis. These findings support the potential utility of pharmacogenetic testing to optimize efavirenz dosing and minimize the risk of adverse effects, particularly in carriers of the TT genotype. The observed heterogeneity among studies may be attributed to ethnic variability and differences in sample sizes.

PMID:42337190 | DOI:10.1007/s13318-026-01017-x

Lasers Med Sci. 2026 Jun 24;41(1):127. doi: 10.1007/s10103-026-04925-1.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of diode laser and combined treatment protocols, applied in addition to mechanical debridement, in the treatment of peri-implantitis on clinical periodontal parameters and S100A8 levels in peri-implant sulcus fluid (PISF). A total of 39 patients diagnosed with peri-implantitis were divided into three groups based on the treatment protocols used: Mechanical Debridement, Diode Laser, and Combined Treatment. Probing depth, clinical attachment level, modified plaque index, gingival index, and PISF volume measurements were recorded at baseline and at weeks 4 and 12. S100A8 levels in PISF samples were measured by ELISA. During the 12-week follow-up period, statistically significant improvements in clinical parameters were observed in all groups compared with baseline (p < 0.05). In the intergroup comparison, the most significant decrease and statistical superiority in mPI and GI values were observed in the combined treatment group (p < 0.001). Although there was no statistically significant difference among the groups in probing depth and clinical attachment gain, the greatest numerical improvement was observed in the combined group. Despite clinical improvement, no significant change in total S100A8 levels was detected between groups or over time (p > 0.05). The combined use of mechanical debridement and a diode laser in the treatment of peri-implantitis is more effective at reducing clinical signs of inflammation than either method used alone. However, the lack of correlation between S100A8 levels and clinical improvement suggests that this biomarker may not be sensitive in short-term follow-up of treatment.

PMID:42337186 | DOI:10.1007/s10103-026-04925-1

Spine Deform. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1007/s43390-026-01395-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT) is a novel surgical option for scoliosis patients that preserves spinal mobility. However, tether-related failures such as tether breakage are common, and cause of these failures is unknown. Furthermore, there is a lack of data on how different design and surgical factors influence the subsequent in vivo performance of these AVBT systems. This study aims to examine the mechanical durability of a mock AVBT system under various mechanical loading scenarios resulting from important surgical factors.

METHODS: A mock AVBT system was designed using Titanium screws and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) tether to evaluate mechanical performance under various clinically relevant loading conditions. Static and dynamic tensile tests assessed the effects of screw angulation (0°/40°), tether gauge length (length between the vertebral anchors: 25/76 mm), setscrew torque (5/6/7 Nm), and retightening. Constructs were tested using Instron equipment; measuring stiffness, yield, and failure loads. Statistical analyses compared configurations to identify factors influencing AVBT durability.

RESULTS: For this mock AVBT system, failure primarily occurred at the tether/setscrew junction due to slippage. Greater screw angulation (40°) increased yield and runout loads compared to 0°. Changing the gauge length had minimal effect on failure loads. Furthermore, the higher setscrew torque (7 Nm) improved strength and fatigue resistance, while setscrew retightening also increased yield and runout loads.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to the infancy of this technology, there is a need for deeper understanding of the failure mechanics of AVBT systems. These findings identify testing parameters that affect mechanical performance and suggest future research directions for assessing the mechanical integrity of AVBT devices.

PMID:42337182 | DOI:10.1007/s43390-026-01395-x