Category: Statistics

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Dec;24(12):e70623. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70623.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress on the skin can exacerbate undesirable skin conditions and promote skin aging. It is unclear how consumers of skincare products recognize, perceive, and describe oxidation effects in skin. It is also unclear what they perceive to be the solution for oxidation in the skin.

AIMS: To determine which facial skin qualities consumers associate with oxidation, and to determine skincare product qualities that consumers associate with anti-oxidation.

METHODS: Focus group discussions (FGDs) with 24 female volunteers (aged 25-50 years), and an online survey with 800 female volunteers (aged 20-50 years), were conducted across four Chinese cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Xi’an) in September 2024. Females of all skin types who regularly used skincare products were eligible to participate. Total unduplicated reach and frequency (TURF) and principal component analyses (PCA) were performed on data collected from the online surveys.

RESULTS: Consumers mainly associated oxidation-related skin effects with the skincare descriptive categories “repair,” “firming,” and “skin and spot lightening.” Consumers who had skin oxidation concerns made a stronger association with “skin and spot lightening” than those who did not have oxidation concerns. TURF analysis found skincare products with the descriptive categories “repair” and “skin and spot lightening” can reach 73% of the surveyed female skincare consumer population.

CONCLUSION: Participants associated antioxidant effects with facial skin repair and spot lightening. These associations are stronger for participants who have skin aging concerns. Skincare products that can promote skin repair and lightening are estimated to reach 73% of the female skincare consumers similar to the study participants.

PMID:41420387 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.70623

Physiol Rep. 2025 Dec;13(24):e70683. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70683.

ABSTRACT

To compile and statistically summarize quantitative evidence on the acute effects of resistance training sessions on muscle glycogen concentration, a systematic search was conducted on Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to 28th July 2024. Twenty studies including 168 male and 12 female participants were eligible. A multilevel, random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate the overall mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and prediction interval (PI). The model (28 effect sizes across 20 clusters) revealed a significant glycogen decrease (MD = -104.3; 95% CI: -137.6 to -71.0; PI: -244.4 to 35.7; p < 0.001). Meta-regression showed greater depletion with more sets (Estimate = -11.2; 95% CI: -18.0 to -4.3; p = 0.001) and longer session duration (Estimate = -1.3; 95% CI: -2.3 to -0.3; p = 0.009), but less with higher intensity (Estimate = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.2 to 4.5; p = 0.0006). Subgroup analysis showed greater depletion with varied intensity (MD = -162.9) versus fixed (MD = -82.5), and in untrained (MD = -113.0) versus trained participants (MD = -101.3). A single resistance training session depletes glycogen in the vastus lateralis muscle, with depletion influenced by training intensity, session duration, number of sets within session and training status.

PMID:41420384 | DOI:10.14814/phy2.70683

Rural Remote Health. 2025 Dec;25(4):9867. doi: 10.22605/RRH9867. Epub 2025 Dec 17.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Sexually transmissible infection (STI) rates continue to rise across Australian rural and regional areas. Reported STI rates are often misleadingly low due to barriers in accessing testing, lack of service accessibility and affordability. Utilising innovative solutions such as vending machines can improve access by providing an alternative testing option that increases privacy and convenience.

METHODS: Community reference groups were assembled to support an STI test vending machine pilot (STI-X) for 12 months across six planned and two temporary regional locations in northern Victoria, Australia. The vending machines were generally situated in publicly accessible areas where consumers could obtain a test kit for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV, complete the specimen collection in a private setting and then post the kit to a laboratory.

RESULTS: STI-X was deemed an acceptable solution for increasing access to specialist sexual health testing. Professionals were supportive of the additional option for individuals who may not use standard healthcare pathways. They identified that the vending machines were easy to use; however, better communication was needed to enhance uptake. Therefore, utilising community-driven promotional approaches, such as word of mouth, are necessary to ensure that information on novel health initiatives reaches the intended audiences.

CONCLUSION: STI testing vending machines have proved feasible and acceptable to professionals and users in rural and regional Australian communities. This technology would benefit from future research specifically in rural communities to determine whether priority populations will increase their STI testing. Policymakers should encourage innovative solutions in rural communities to combat growing workforce concerns.

PMID:41420381 | DOI:10.22605/RRH9867

OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2025 Dec 19:15394492251395673. doi: 10.1177/15394492251395673. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Raising Families Project delivered three, 12-week cohorts of interprofessional services alongside graduate student training, where weekly evaluation surveys provided formative data. This article examines quality improvement via ongoing formative program evaluation. The purpose of the current study was to gather and analyze Raising Families Project participant feedback relating to program delivery logistics, to improve ongoing and future program delivery and quality. A total of 347 weekly evaluation surveys were collected from caregivers (n = 37), students (n = 35), and clinicians (n = 7). Descriptive statistics and reflexive thematic analysis were utilized to analyze survey data. Five themes were developed related to quality improvement, namely immediate vs. sustained adjustments, logistical enhancements, challenging flexibility, collaborative benefits/varied meaning, revealing complexity of participants’ preferences, alongside iterative improvements resulting from feedback. Findings suggest the need to include formative evaluation, to embed the caregiver/family in interprofessional approaches, and to consider individuals’ needs in practice.

PMID:41420367 | DOI:10.1177/15394492251395673

Iran Biomed J. 2025 Nov 1;29(6). doi: 10.61882/ibj.5018.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Accurate detection of actionable EGFR mutations is essential for guiding targeted therapy in NSCLC. Liquid biopsy approaches using ctDNA and exoDNA offer noninvasive alternatives for molecular profiling. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of nested PCR combined with sanger sequencing for detecting common EGFR mutations (exon 19 deletions and the L858R point mutation) in plasma samples from Iranian NSCLC patients.

METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, blood samples were collected from 30 NSCLC patients with confirmed EGFR mutations. ctDNA was extracted from plasma and analyzed using nested PCR followed by sanger sequencing. Specificity was assessed in 20 EGFR-wild type NSCLC patients serving as controls. Diagnostic performance was further evaluated in relation to clinicopathological factors.

RESULTS: EGFR mutations were detected in plasma ctDNA in 63.3% of patients. Detection sensitivity was significantly associated with tumor stage but was independent of mutation subtype, age, sex, or smoking status. The assay showed high specificity, with no false positive results in control samples (95% CI: 83.9-100.0%). Although exoDNA analysis demonstrated a higher sensitivity than ctDNA (76.6% vs. 63.3%), this difference was not statistically significant. Notably, combined analysis of ctDNA and exoDNA increased overall detection sensitivity to 80%.

CONCLUSIONS: Nested PCR with sanger sequencing represents a reliable rule in strategy for EGFR mutation detection in plasma. Integrating ctDNA and exoDNA analyses substantially improves sensitivity and may enhance noninvasive molecular diagnostics in NSCLC.

PMID:41420326 | DOI:10.61882/ibj.5018

J Dent Res. 2025 Dec 19:220345251401861. doi: 10.1177/00220345251401861. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the efficacy of the polymer-induced liquid precursor (PILP) process and of an experimental composite containing dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) particles for in vitro remineralization of artificial dentin lesions. The hypothesis was that pretreatment with the PILP solution associated with an external Ca²⁺/PO₄^3- source represented by the composite containing DCPD would increase dentin remineralization in comparison to each strategy alone. Dentin discs with a 2.5-mm × 2.5-mm demineralized window (acetic acid, pH 5, for 66 h) were assigned to one of four experimental conditions, defined by the pretreatment (20 μL for 20 s: PILP solution or deionized water) and by the composite placed on the dentin surface: “control” (50% barium glass, BG) or “DCPD” (40% DCPD and 10% BG). Specimens were placed in artificial pulp chambers with the lower compartment filled with simulated body fluid for 28 d. Remineralization was assessed by changes in the mineral-to-matrix ratio (MMR) at the dentin-composite interface (attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and by nanoindentation. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures 2-way analysis of variance/Tukey test (α = 0.05). Selected specimens were observed under scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction analysis (SAED). All groups recovered MMR to levels similar to sound dentin, but only PILP + DCPD reached MMR levels similar to sound dentin after 14 d (P > 0.05). At the external lesion (0-90 µm), both DCPD and PILP + DCPD groups showed an elastic modulus (EM) statistically higher than the control, but only PILP + DCPD showed EM similar to sound dentin at the internal lesion (90-160 µm, P < 0.001). In relation to sound dentin, EM recovery reached 18% in the PILP group (not different from the control), 31% in the DCPD group, and 57% in the PILP + DCPD group. Micro- and ultramorphological analyses confirmed the increase in mineral content in the latter 2 groups. In conclusion, the association of both remineralization strategies improved dentin remineralization compared to either approach separately.

PMID:41420325 | DOI:10.1177/00220345251401861

Nurs Health Sci. 2025 Dec;27(4):e70271. doi: 10.1111/nhs.70271.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of sling exercise training (SET) on walking ability, balance function, and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with stroke. A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, and Wanfang) from inception to January 2025. A total of 23 studies involving 922 participants were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Meta-analyses were performed using standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. The analysis revealed substantial improvements in balance function, as measured by the Berg balance scale. Lower limb motor function assessed by the Fugl-Meyer assessment showed notable enhancement. Balance ability measured by the Fugl-Meyer balance scale indicated significant progress, whereas walking ability assessed by the Holden functional walking rating showed marked improvement. However, improvements in ADL and 6-min walk test performance did not reach statistical significance. SET demonstrates substantial beneficial effects on balance function, lower limb motor function, and walking ability in patients with stroke. However, its impact on ADL and walking endurance requires further investigation.

PMID:41420322 | DOI:10.1111/nhs.70271

Psychophysiology. 2025 Dec;62(12):e70211. doi: 10.1111/psyp.70211.

ABSTRACT

Emotion and fairness play a key role in mediating socioeconomic decisions in humans; however, the underlying neurocognitive mechanism remains largely unknown. This exploratory study unraveled the interplay between agents’ emotions and the fairness of their monetary proposal in rational decision-making, backed by ERP analyzes of N170, Late Positive Potential (LPP), Feedback Related Negativity (FRN) and P3a at a group as well as a strategic level. In a time- bound ultimatum-game paradigm, 40 participants were exposed to three distinct proposers’ emotions (Happy, Neutral, Disgusted) followed by one of the three offer ranges (Low, Intermediate, High). Our findings show a robust influence of economic fairness on acceptance rates. A multilevel generalized linear model showed offer as the dominant predictor of trial-specific responses. Subsequent clustering grouped participants into five clusters, which the Drift Diffusion Model corroborates. Pertinent neural markers demonstrated the recognition of facial expressions; however, they had minimal effect during socioeconomic decision-making. Our study explores individualistic decision-making processes revealing different cognitive strategies.

PMID:41420291 | DOI:10.1111/psyp.70211

J Anat. 2025 Dec 19. doi: 10.1111/joa.70086. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Shoulder anatomy is complex, varying in shape and pose. Studies have related bone shape and joint function, which can predict each other but not yet in the shoulder. This project aims to investigate bone shape and pose relationships in the healthy shoulder via partial least square regressions (PLSR). Sixty-eight registered humeri, scapulae, and clavicles were segmented (47 males and 15 females, age: 30.7 ± 9.5 years) from medical images (computed tomography and magnetic resonance images) and constituted the shape input (principal component analysis scores). Local bone coordinate systems (three axes and origin) composed the pose information. PLSR analyses were conducted using the shape of one or all three bones to predict the pose and vice versa. The main variation mode explained scaling for shape (38% variation explained) and the three shoulder bones’ anteroposterior (AP) and superoinferior translations, and humeral and clavicular AP rotations for pose (8%). There was no difference in explained pose variation whether using the humerus, scapula, or clavicle as predictors. However, pose variations were more intertwined between the scapula and the clavicle when using all three shoulder bones as predictors compared to single-bone models, suggesting a stronger coupling between these bones that likely originates from their shared anatomical constraints with the thoracic cage. The dataset showed a mild to excellent fit to the analysis (R² = 0.4-0.9); however, the findings lacked generalizability (Q² = 0.0-0.1), suggesting that PLSRs require additional information-such as soft tissue contributions-to enhance predictive performance. These findings have potential clinical applications in surgical planning, where individual bone shape could be used to estimate native shoulder poses in trauma patients; however, stronger predictive models incorporating additional anatomical or biomechanical parameters are needed to support such use.

PMID:41420279 | DOI:10.1111/joa.70086

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2025 Dec 19. doi: 10.1002/bcp.70427. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this is to test the feasibility of identifying unsuspected, previously unknown drug-outcome associations, that is, collateral drug benefits (CDBs), through a systematic screening analysis of real-world health-care databases. Ultimately, such screening could lead to drug repurposing.

METHODS: We analysed data from the Danish National Prescription Registry and the Danish Patient Registry, covering 1996-2022. The study employed the sequence symmetry analysis (SSA), an exposure-anchored self-controlled design that compares the number of clinical outcomes in symmetrical windows before and after the exposure drug initiation. To verify the directionality and robustness of these associations, we incorporated the case-crossover (CCO) design, another self-controlled design. The obtained associations were ranked according to the hypothetical number of averted outcomes, if a causal effect could be assumed.

RESULTS: The analysis included 1.3 billion prescriptions and 260 million diagnosis records, resulting in 27 820 976 drug-diagnosis combinations and 7 920 323 drug-drug combinations. Preventive associations in both the SSA and CCO were found in 7795 drug-diagnosis and 5088 drug-drug combinations. A manual review of the highest ranked 100 associations resulted in 11 drug-diagnosis and 2 drug-drug associations as potential unknown CDBs. Notable findings included selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors linked to a lower risk of certain cardiovascular outcomes, anticholinesterases associated with fewer delirium diagnoses and progestogens associated with a reduced risk of obesity.

CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that hypothesis-free screening is feasible and that combining sequence symmetry analysis and case-crossover designs can identify potential collateral drug benefits. Further validation studies are required to confirm these findings and explore their clinical implications.

PMID:41420263 | DOI:10.1002/bcp.70427