Category: Statistics

J Orthop. 2025 Jul 3;66:293-296. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2025.06.031. eCollection 2025 Aug.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hospital-acquired COVID-19 poses a significant threat to orthopedic patients, a population already at risk due to immobility, comorbidities, and extended hospital stays. The combined burden of musculoskeletal injury and SARS-CoV-2 infection may prolong recovery, increase complications, and influence survival. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nosocomial COVID-19 on hospitalization outcomes in orthopedic patients.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary orthopedic center, analyzing patients hospitalized between 2020 and 2022. COVID-19-positive patients (n = 84) who acquired the infection during admission were matched 1:1 with uninfected controls (n = 84) based on age, gender, and BMI. Data were collected on demographics, comorbidities, hospitalization duration, complications, ICU transfers, and mortality outcomes. Statistical analysis included t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: COVID-19-positive patients experienced significantly longer hospital stays (median 13.9 vs. 4.3 days, p < 0.001) and shorter time to death post-discharge (median 135 vs. 540 days, p = 0.027) compared to controls. Mortality rates were similar between groups (23.8 % vs. 22.6 %, p = 0.86), and ICU admissions occurred only in the COVID-19 group (3.3 %). Baseline characteristics and comorbidity profiles were comparable.

CONCLUSION: Orthopedic patients who contract COVID-19 during hospitalization face a prolonged hospital course and earlier mortality despite similar overall death rates. These findings highlight the importance of infection prevention strategies, including preoperative screening and deferring elective procedures in infected individuals, to mitigate complications associated with immobility, delayed recovery, and systemic decline.

PMID:41631287 | PMC:PMC12861629 | DOI:10.1016/j.jor.2025.06.031

J Orthop. 2025 Jul 1;66:271-281. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2025.06.021. eCollection 2025 Aug.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The reported incidence of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury ranges from 3 to 23 % of all knee injuries. Several injury patterns of the PCL have been described, including intra-substance, femoral detachment, and tibial avulsion, of which the last two are more common. Displaced PCL avulsion injury from the tibial side requires surgical fixation; however, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the optimal surgical approach for the fixation of these injuries.

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the outcomes and complications of arthroscopic and open fixation of displaced tibial side PCL avulsion fractures.

METHODS: We performed a primary electronic search across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases and looked for comparative studies that evaluated and compared the outcomes of arthroscopic versus open reduction and fixation of displaced tibial side PCL avulsion fractures. Statistical analyses were executed with the software RevMan-5.4.1.

RESULTS: This meta-analysis included two RCTs, one prospective and seven retrospective comparative studies. Evaluation across all ten studies suggested no statistically significant difference for arthroscopic versus open fixation in terms of postoperative International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score (MD 4.43 [-0.73, 9.42; p = 0.09]), Lysholm score (MD 2.69 [-1.07,6.45; p = 0.16], knee range of motion (ROM) (MD -1.08 [-2.80,0.63; p = 0.21]), complications (OR1.75 [0.86, 3.54; P = 0.12]), Tegner activity (MD 0.14 [-0.46,0.74; p = 0.64]), posterior tibial translation (PTT) (MD -0.60 [-1.51,0.31; p = 0.20, posterior drawer test (PDT), operating time (MD 12.03 [-0.47, 24.53; p = 0.06]), and length of hospital stay. The fracture union rate was 98.77 % in the arthroscopic group and 100 % in the open fixation group, with comparable union time. There is a significantly lesser amount of blood loss in the arthroscopic group compared to the open group.

CONCLUSION: Current evidence shows comparable outcomes and complications for tibial side PCL avulsion fracture fixation through arthroscopic or open methods.

PMID:41631286 | PMC:PMC12861645 | DOI:10.1016/j.jor.2025.06.021

New Microbes New Infect. 2026 Jan 22;70:101710. doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2026.101710. eCollection 2026 Apr.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41631275 | PMC:PMC12860729 | DOI:10.1016/j.nmni.2026.101710

Hosp Pharm. 2026 Jan 30:00185787251405374. doi: 10.1177/00185787251405374. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess pharmacy professionals’ attitudes, perceptions, practices, and concerns about using ChatGPT in routine clinical duties in Pakistan.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 September 2024 to 1 April 2025. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among pharmacy professionals employed in hospitals, communities, academic institutes, industries and other healthcare settings. A convenience sampling technique was utilized to recruit 405 participants. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics version 30, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, including Spearman’s rank correlation, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Among 405 participants, the majority were male (210, 51.9%), 230 (56.8%) participants were aged between 23 and 33 years, 196 (48.4%) participants identified as single. Regarding pharmacy positions, 115 participants (28.4%) were hospital pharmacists, and the majority, 145 participants (35.8%), possessed professional experience ranging from 1 to 5 years. Furthermore, 271 participants (67.0%) reported familiarity with AI technology in pharmacy practice. Majority of participants (n = 228, 56.3%) demonstrated a positive attitude, while (n = 222, 54.8%) exhibited a positive perception, and (n = 232, 57.3%) reported good practice toward ChatGPT integration. Additionally, 56.0% (n = 227) of participants exhibited higher concerns regarding the integration of ChatGPT.

CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that more than half of the pharmacists demonstrated positive attitudes, perceptions, and good practices regarding using ChatGPT in pharmacy practice. Key concerns about its use include ethical considerations, privacy issues, data accuracy, and potential for bias. This highlights the necessity for extensive instructional programs to encourage educated and responsible use of ChatGPT in pharmacy practice. Future research should investigate developing and implementing customized training programs and protocols to guarantee ChatGPT’s secure and efficient incorporation into pharmacy processes for enhanced patient care.

PMID:41631268 | PMC:PMC12861419 | DOI:10.1177/00185787251405374

Data Brief. 2026 Jan 15;65:112479. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2026.112479. eCollection 2026 Apr.

ABSTRACT

This article describes a dataset generated from the Indonesian adaptation of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The dataset consists of responses collected from 236 emerging adults aged 18-29 years residing in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia, of which 221 valid responses were retained after applying eligibility criteria. The instrument was translated and culturally adapted following international guidelines, including forward-backward translation and expert review to ensure conceptual and linguistic equivalence. The dataset includes responses to 20 self-report items assessing depressive symptoms, demographic information (age, gender, education), and statistical outputs derived from reliability and validity analyses. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted with indices including Chi-square (χ²), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). Reliability measures include Cronbach’s alpha (α) and composite reliability coefficients.

PMID:41631263 | PMC:PMC12860919 | DOI:10.1016/j.dib.2026.112479

Data Brief. 2026 Jan 13;65:112461. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2026.112461. eCollection 2026 Apr.

ABSTRACT

This dataset presents acoustic emission (AE) recordings collected from woodboring insect-infested and non-infested wood samples and cultural heritage objects. Data acquisition was conducted across four institutions: Haute École Arc (HE-Arc), Switzerland; Canadian Museum of History (CMH), Canada; National Gallery of Canada (NGC), Canada; and Musée National de l’Automobile (MNA), France; from April to July 2025. The recordings were captured using Vallen VS900-M sensors with AEP5 preamplifiers set to 34dB gain and AMSY-6 4-channel chassis, employing continuous acoustic emission monitoring at 2 MHz sampling rate. Each experiment utilized three sensors positioned on test objects and one reference sensor facing up to record ambient noise conditions. The dataset comprises approximately 440.9 hours of recordings distributed across the four collection sites. The dataset includes four main components: raw Vallen AE database files (.tradb format), processed statistical data exported as CSV files, contextual images documenting setups and sensor placements, and Python script for statistical data processing. Each experiment is documented with duration, material specifications, coupling methods (renaissance wax, cyclododecane, or mechanical fastening), environmental conditions, and infestation labels. The dataset’s structure enables multiple research applications. The time-series statistical features and binary classification labels (infested/non-infested) provide a foundation for supervised machine learning model development. The diverse experimental conditions across four geographic locations, varying coupling methods, and different ambient environments offer opportunities to evaluate model generalization and robustness. Reference sensor recordings captured simultaneously with each experiment allow for ambient noise characterization studies and development of noise filtering methodologies. The combination of raw acoustic data and contextual documentation makes this dataset suitable for comparative studies of different signal processing approaches and feature extraction techniques in acoustic emission analysis for heritage conservation applications.

PMID:41631262 | PMC:PMC12861295 | DOI:10.1016/j.dib.2026.112461

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2026 Feb 2:djag027. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djag027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Men with suspected prostate cancer (PCa) undergo MRI before biopsy. However, about 30-50% of MRIs are negative (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score 1-2), representing a challenge for MRI resource utilization. This study evaluates PCa-polygenic risk scores (PRS) and clinical markers to optimize MRI utilization.

METHODS: In this prospective study, 500 cancer-suspected men of Western European descent scheduled for MRI (09/2017-12/2022) were enrolled. Exclusions included prior PCa diagnosis, missing serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or PSA levels ≥25 ng/mL/cc. Patient-specific PCa-PRS were calculated using genotype data obtained from saliva-derived DNA samples. Participants were grouped as MRI-negative and -positive (PI-RADS score 3-5). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and to build multivariable risk models, including age, PSA, and PRS for MRI-positivity. Clinical utility was tested in a hold-out test set using decision curve analysis.

RESULTS: 386 men (median age: 65, interquartile range: 53-77) were eligible for analysis, which showed highly significant associations between PCa-PRS (OR 1.56 (95% CI: 1.23-1.98); p<.001) with MRI-positivity, while PSA alone did not (OR 1.17 (0.93-1.46); p=.18). The highest net benefit was shown using a multivariable age and PCa-PRS model, increasing the proportion of MRI-positive men by 14% compared to PSA alone (60%/46%; p=.011).

CONCLUSIONS: Genotype-informed risk stratification using PCa-PRS could increase the proportion of cancer-suspicious findings at MRI, while identifying those who could safely avoid unnecessary MRI.

PMID:41629765 | DOI:10.1093/jnci/djag027

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1007/s10815-026-03818-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Can sperm selection through cumulus cells improve embryo quality compared to conventional methods, and is its effectiveness influenced by parental age?

METHODS: This prospective clinical trial included 99 ICSI cycles from 95 couples. Sibling oocytes were randomly allocated at the oocyte level to either the study group (cumulus cell-mediated sperm selection after conventional density gradients centrifugation (DGC), 554 oocytes) or the control group (only sperm selection by DGC, 543 oocytes), using a dish designed to facilitate sperm interaction with cumulus cells. The inclusion criteria for this study were patients using their own oocytes, with a medical indication for ICSI, who had at least 6 mature oocytes (MII) in that cycle. For semen samples, inclusion required the ability to adjust the concentration to 10 million/mL. Exclusion criteria included the use of vitrified oocytes, donated oocytes, and semen samples obtained by testicular biopsy or aspiration. Embryo quality was assessed at the blastocyst stage on day 5 according to ASEBIR. A subanalysis evaluated the influence of parental age on outcomes.

RESULTS: The study group showed a significantly higher proportion of good-quality day-5 blastocysts compared to controls (55.2% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.028). No statistically significant differences were observed in overall blastocyst formation or pregnancy rates, although favourable trends were noted. In an age-stratified analysis, a significant improvement in day-5 blastocyst quality among evaluable blastocysts was observed in women aged 40-45 (51.4% vs. 30.4%, p = 0.017), with a non-significant trend toward improved outcomes in men aged 40-53 (44.7% vs. 32.6%, p = 0.083). No differences were seen in younger age groups.

CONCLUSION: Cumulus cell-mediated sperm selection after DGC using a specialized Oosafe® ICSI Dish with Sperm Selection Channels was associated with an increased proportion of good-quality day 5 blastocysts compared with conventional sperm preparation. While clinical outcomes did not differ significantly, these findings suggest a potential benefit in specific ART subpopulations, particularly those of advanced maternal age. Further adequately powered studies are required to confirm these observations and to determine their impact on clinical outcomes.

PMID:41629736 | DOI:10.1007/s10815-026-03818-0

Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1245/s10434-026-19137-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The optimal size of circular staplers for esophagojejunostomy remains a subject of debate, with concerns that smaller staplers may increase the risk of postoperative complications and impair quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of circular stapler size and anastomotic lumen diameter, measured via postoperative computed tomography (CT) imaging, on patient-reported quality of life following esophagojejunostomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included patients who underwent esophagojejunostomy using circular staplers. Anastomotic lumen diameter was measured using postoperative CT imaging. Quality of life was assessed at a 6-month follow-up using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-STO22 and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scales. Outcomes were compared across stapler sizes and corresponding lumen diameters.

RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in EORTC QLQ-STO22 or ECOG scores were observed between stapler size groups. Additionally, anastomotic lumen diameter showed no correlation with quality-of-life outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Smaller circular staplers, often used due to intraoperative anatomical limitations, do not adversely affect postoperative quality of life. These findings suggest that insisting on larger stapler sizes may be unnecessary and that smaller staplers can be used safely when indicated.

PMID:41629691 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-026-19137-8

Mol Syst Biol. 2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1038/s44320-026-00192-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

DNA bendability plays a critical role in stabilizing nucleosome assembly, yet its contribution to nucleosome dynamics in vivo remains poorly understood. Here, we applied chemical mapping to generate high-resolution nucleosome positioning maps at single-base-pair resolution from human interphase and metaphase chromosomes, revealing distinct patterns of nucleosome organization between the two states. Notably, we observed a unifying pattern of nucleosome positioning near euchromatic landmarks, including promoters, enhancers, and insulators, during mitosis. Interphase nucleosomes exhibited extensive repositioning, marked by increased nucleosome density, reduced spacing between nucleosomes, and the appearance of additional fragile nucleosomes compared to metaphase. Furthermore, our results show that metaphase nucleosomes display significantly higher DNA cyclizability around the dyad axis, whereas interphase nucleosomes, particularly those near regulatory regions, tend to position DNA with greater cyclizability at the edges of the nucleosome. Together, these findings highlight a dynamic interplay between DNA mechanics and nucleosome organization during the cell cycle.

PMID:41629637 | DOI:10.1038/s44320-026-00192-y