Category: Statistics

Eur J Pediatr. 2026 Jan 17;185(2):87. doi: 10.1007/s00431-026-06752-6.

ABSTRACT

While early-life growth patterns are thought to be pivotal for long-term cardiovascular health, their specific links to adolescent blood pressure (BP) and potential mediators remain unclear. We aimed to examine the associations of growth trajectories from birth to age two with systolic and diastolic BP in adolescence, and to quantify the proportion mediated by concurrent adolescent BMI. In a prospective birth cohort in rural China, we repeatedly measured infant weight and length at birth and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Adolescent BP was measured and converted into percentiles. We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify early-life weight-, length-, BMI- and weight-for-length z-score trajectories and examined their associations with adolescent BP. A general causal mediation estimated the natural indirect effects and corresponding proportions mediated through adolescent BMI. Among the 1388 infants enrolled, 741 (60.9% male; mean age, 11.26 (SD, 0.57) years old) were followed at adolescence. Greater and rapid BMI and weight-for-length growth trajectories were statistically associated with elevated adolescent BP and BP percentiles, with adjusted mean differences ranging from 2.32 to 5.29 mmHg. Adolescent BMI mediated a substantial portion (up to 85%) of the association with systolic BP, but it showed no significant mediating effect for diastolic BP.Conclusion: Rapid adiposity growth in infancy predicts elevated adolescent BP. Since adolescent BMI did not fully explain this association, especially for diastolic BP, preventive interventions within the first 1000 days may be critical for lifelong cardiovascular health beyond managing later childhood weight. Trial registration: ISRCTN08850194, retrospectively registered December 14, 2006. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN08850194?q=ISRCTN08850194&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10 . What is Known • Childhood body mass index (BMI) is positively associated with blood pressure at later life. What is New • This study identifies distinct weight, length, BMI, and weight-for-length growth trajectories from birth to two years of age and links rapid weight-related growth trajectories to elevated blood pressure in early adolescence. • Using causal mediation analysis, it shows adolescent BMI largely mediates the association for systolic, but not diastolic, blood pressure, highlighting interventions within the first 1000 day for lifelong cardiovascular health beyond managing later childhood weight.

PMID:41546755 | DOI:10.1007/s00431-026-06752-6

Cancer Causes Control. 2026 Jan 17;37(2):26. doi: 10.1007/s10552-025-02114-z.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Breast cancer characteristics and outcomes vary by tumor subtype, poverty, race, and geography. Persistent poverty (> 20% residents in poverty for 30+ years) has been associated with breast cancer risk, but whether associations differ by subtype is unknown. We examined subtype-specific breast cancer incidence by persistent poverty, stratified by rurality and race.

METHODS: Using county-level Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data from 2017 to 2021 (excluding 2020), we calculated Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) incidence rates. We estimated rate differences (RDs) by persistent poverty using age-adjusted and multivariable linear regression models, with stratification by rurality and county racial composition.

RESULTS: In age-adjusted models, persistent poverty counties had lower incidence of Luminal A (RD – 13.58, 95% CI = – 19.8, – 7.4) and higher TNBC (RD = 3.82, 95% CI = 2.0, 5.6) compared to non-persistently poor counties. Differences were not significant in multivariable models. In stratified analysis, higher TNBC rates were observed in persistently poor rural (multivariable RD =1.70, 95% CI = 0.3, 4.8) but not urban (multivariable RD = – 1.07, 95% CI = – 4.7, 2.5; p_int = 0.09) areas. In counties with > 5% non-Hispanic Black population, Luminal B rates were lower in persistently poor vs. non-persistently poor counties (multivariable RD = – 3.96, 95% CI = – 6.7, – 1.2; p_int = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggest that differences in breast cancer subtypes by persistent poverty status are largely explained by other measures of more recent disadvantage including recent poverty, unemployment, uninsurance, and race. Targeted strategies are needed to address breast cancer disparities within socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

PMID:41546752 | DOI:10.1007/s10552-025-02114-z

Neuroradiology. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1007/s00234-025-03882-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic performance of tumor blood volume (TBV) derived from T1 dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI and compare it with ADC and SUV_max in distinguishing recurrence from post-treatment changes.

METHODS: This retrospective study included 73 patients with 75 focal contrast-enhancing lesions identified on surveillance MRI. Normalized TBV (nTBV_mean) was calculated from high temporal resolution DCE-MRI using the spinal cord as a reference. The 3D ROI analysis of ADC_mean and SUV_max values were obtained from DWI and ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT, respectively. Diagnostic performances were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analyses, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) comparisons.

RESULTS: Among the 75 lesions, 38 were recurrence and 37 were post-treatment changes. ADC_mean and SUV_max were significantly different between groups (p < 0.001), while nTBV_mean was higher in recurrence without statistical significance (p = 0.11). The AUROC of ADC_mean, SUV_max, and nTBV_mean were 0.94, 0.88, and 0.60 respectively. The combination of ADC_mean and SUV_max yielded the highest AUROC (0.99), with ADC_mean remaining the most robust predictor. TBV offered complementary value when ADC maps were degraded by susceptibility artifacts.

CONCLUSIONS: ADC_mean and SUV_max showed excellent performance in differentiating recurrence from post-treatment changes. TBV maps may offer complementary diagnostic value in cases with compromised ADC quality due to artifacts.

PMID:41546724 | DOI:10.1007/s00234-025-03882-w

Neurol Sci. 2026 Jan 17;47(1):173. doi: 10.1007/s10072-025-08732-4.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The percentage of women neurologists is steadily increasing globally. Nevertheless women still face lower and slower levels of career progression and are less likely to reach leadership positions. In order to obtain a better understanding of the gender gap in the area of neurology in Italy, the Gender Equality Committee of the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN) conducted a survey among the society members.

METHODS: Members of the SIN were invited to complete an anonymous online survey. The questions were grouped into different sections covering work environment, research, academic career, scientific societies, work/life balance and gender equality perception. The questions were structured using Likert-type scales.

RESULTS: A total of 237 subjects (64.1% women; mean age 42.5 ± 13.6 years), representing 6.4% of the SIN members, participated in the survey. A significantly higher percentage (p < 0.0001) of women than men reported that gender influences career progression (51.5% vs 5%), academic career (91.8% vs 57.1%), access to research facilities (37.5% vs 17.1%), authorship of scientific articles (34.2% vs 8.6%), selection of contributions and speakers within scientific societies (37.9% vs 16.2%), and work-life balance (76% vs 37.5%). Overall, women felt that gender equality was poor in all the different sections.

CONCLUSIONS: In Italy women neurologists face a wide range of gender disparities affecting their professional and personal lives in the hospital and academic settings. Even if the low response rate could have affected the results, improving gender equality should be a priority in the near future.

PMID:41546722 | DOI:10.1007/s10072-025-08732-4

Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2026 Jan 17;82(2):34. doi: 10.1007/s00228-025-03958-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Levosimendan and Milrinone are commonly used inotropic agents in patients undergoing cardiac surgery; there is a lack of evidence regarding the comparative safety and efficacy of both drugs. We aim to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of levosimendan versus Milrinone in these patients.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central were searched up to November 30, 2024, for studies comparing levosimendan and Milrinone in adult and pediatric cardiac surgery patients. We used R statistical software to pool dichotomous data using odds ratio (OR) and continuous data using mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS: Seventeen studies (15 RCTs and 2 observational) involving 890 patients were included. Across all efficacy outcomes, including cardiac index (MD 0.02, 95% CI -0.15-0.19), mean arterial pressure (MAP) (MD -0.09, 95% CI -1.97-1.79), and mPAP (mean pulmonary artery pressure) (MD -0.88, 95% CI -2.66, 0.89), no significant differences were found between the two drugs (P > 0.05). Safety outcomes, including all-cause mortality (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.48-1.93), acute kidney injury (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.55-1.44), and arrhythmias (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.41-1.88), showed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Levosimendan and Milrinone showed no significant differences in efficacy or safety in cardiac surgery patients. However, wide confidence intervals indicate potential clinically relevant effects. Current evidence does not favor any single agent universally, supporting individualized use based on patient phenotype and institutional practice. Further high-quality trials are needed to confirm.

PMID:41546720 | DOI:10.1007/s00228-025-03958-9

Bioprocess Biosyst Eng. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1007/s00449-025-03277-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Global economic burden due to plastic pollution is estimated to be over $3 trillion annually. Bioplastics derived from bacteria-synthesized biopolymers like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), are a remarkably versatile sustainable alternative. Research on optimal growth-conditions for microbial PHA-synthesis fed-on sustainable substrates, particularly by phototrophic-mixed-cultures (PMC) enriched with purple non-sulphur bacteria (PNSB) is essential. This study intends to understand the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on PHA-production by PMC grown using fuel synthesis wastewater (FSW) (organic by-product of Fischer-Tropsch process) as substrate. Stoichiometric quantification and 16 S metagenomic sequencing followed by statistical and bioinformatic analysis were done. High PHA-production (65-82% of biomass) is observed to be induced by Low-Nitrogen conditions enriching Rhodopseudomonas, Paludibacter and Pleomorphomonas and a Low-Phosphorus condition enriching Rhodopseudomonas, Rhodoplanes and Lentimicrobium. Analysis of metabolic-potential revealed 16 enzymes (of 8 different PHA-synthesis-pathways) inherent within the genomes of bacteria enriched by these culture conditions. This study identifies optimal nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and the corresponding microbial-composition of FSW substrate-grown PMC-system to maximize PHA-production in a laboratory-scale bioprocess.

PMID:41546704 | DOI:10.1007/s00449-025-03277-4

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1007/s00417-025-07110-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease ophthalmic manifestations are underestimated due to a wide variety of clinical presentations and a lack of robust evidence. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the prevalence of ocular findings in patients diagnosed with Lyme Disease.

METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases for studies enrolling patients diagnosed with Lyme disease who exhibited ocular manifestations until April 2024. The latest version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was utilized to evaluate the risk of bias. All statistical analyses were performed using RStudio statistical software version 4.3.2. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics.

RESULTS: A total of 21 studies were included, comprising 859 patients. The population was mostly male (52%), with a mean follow-up of 4.6 ± 3.14 years. Diplopia and strabismus were assessed in only five studies, yet they were the most reported ocular manifestations, with a prevalence of 50.74% (CI: 36.73-65.61; I² = 10%). Anterior segment findings, including conjunctivitis, keratitis, and cataracts, had a pooled incidence of 23.76% (CI: 13.83-37.71; I² = 76%). Ten studies analyzed posterior segment findings, which included retinitis, chorioretinitis, neuroretinitis, posterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, and retinal vasculitis, resulting in an overall prevalence of 19.66% (CI: 7.87-41.23; I² = 74%). Third cranial nerve palsy was found in 18.65% of the cases (CI: 8.91-34.95; I² = 62%), while optic nerve findings were present in 10.76% of the cases (CI: 5.43-20.22; I² = 24%).

CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis including over 859 patients suggest that ocular findings in Lyme disease such as conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, strabismus and diplopia) are common and should raise the suspicion of infection even before serological diagnosis.

PMID:41546697 | DOI:10.1007/s00417-025-07110-2

Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2026 Jan 17;82(2):28. doi: 10.1007/s00228-025-03935-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic instability during colonoscopy sedation remains a significant clinical concern. Esketamine’s sympathomimetic properties may protect against these risks while reducing sedative requirements. Hence, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of esketamine in improving intraprocedural sedation during colonoscopy.

METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Web of Science until June 2025 for randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome was the incidence of intraprocedural hypotension; secondary outcomes included bradycardia, hypoxemia, and recovery parameters. Dichotomous outcomes were pooled using risk ratios (RR) and continuous outcomes using standardized mean differences (SMD), with heterogeneity assessed via I² statistics.

PROSPERO ID: CRD420251105691.

RESULTS: Five randomized controlled trials comprising 858 patients were included in our analysis. Esketamine significantly reduced the risk of intraprocedural hypotension (RR: 0.34, 95% CI 0.22-0.53; I²=58%) and the incidence of hypoxemia (RR: 0.38, 95% CI 0.19-0.73; I²=0%). A reduction in injection pain was also observed (RR: 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.97; I²=80.5%), though this finding showed sensitivity in leave-one-out analysis. No significant differences were found between groups in bradycardia risk (RR: 0.51, 95% CI 0.23-1.14), total propofol requirement (SMD: -0.23, 95% CI -0.50 to 0.04), induction time, or procedure duration. The reduction in hypotension remained robust in sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION: Esketamine significantly enhanced hemodynamic stability and reduced sedative demand during colonoscopy without delaying recovery, supporting its use in high-risk patients.

PMID:41546692 | DOI:10.1007/s00228-025-03935-2

Clin Infect Dis. 2026 Jan 17:ciag027. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciag027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Conventional hospital antibiograms summarize aggregated resistance rates, limiting their utility for individualized antimicrobial selection. Existing statistical and machine learning models predict each phenotype separately, ignoring correlations among resistance profiles. We developed novel multi-task extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models utilizing structured data in electronic health records (EHRs) to predict resistance to eight antimicrobial classes simultaneously and evaluated their performance within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates collected at 127 hospitals and >1,400 clinics from January 2017 to September 2024. Data from January 2017 to September 2023 were used for model development, while data from October 2023 to September 2024 were used for simulated prospective testing. Model performances were compared to hospital antibiograms and single-target XGBoost models.

RESULTS: The training cohort included 536,252 E. coli and 246,898 Klebsiella spp. isolates; the test cohort included 75,138 and 38,015 isolates, respectively. On the test data, the multi-task model achieved overall areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCs) of 0.779 (E. coli) and 0.810 (Klebsiella spp.), with good to excellent per-class performance (AUROCs range: 0.743-0.847). A multi-task approach improved calibration and decreased false negative rates for carbapenem resistance, while predicting individualized resistance probabilities for all target antimicrobials simultaneously (“personalized antibiograms”).

CONCLUSIONS: A multi-task XGBoost framework can accurately predict individualized resistance profiles for common Gram-negative pathogens, outperforming conventional antibiograms and single-target models. Personalized antibiograms may enhance the selection of empiric therapy, including the detection of carbapenem resistance in low-endemicity settings.

PMID:41546531 | DOI:10.1093/cid/ciag027

Cell Transplant. 2026 Jan-Dec;35:9636897251410650. doi: 10.1177/09636897251410650. Epub 2026 Jan 17.

ABSTRACT

Recent years have witnessed rapid advancements in 3D bioprinting and the widespread application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) across various medical disciplines. The synergistic integration of 3D bioprinting and MSCs has opened innovative avenues for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, particularly in bone tissue repair and regeneration. However, the progress of 3D bioprinting in the field of MSCs research still requires further exploration, and there remains a scarcity of related bibliometric analyses in this domain. With the aim of addressing this existing gap, this research systematically searched the Web of Science Core Collection for publications spanning from January 2003 to October 2025. It employed CiteSpace for cluster and evolution analysis, VOSviewer for collaboration network and keyword co-occurrence analysis, and the R package “bibliometrix” for statistical evaluation of bibliometric indicators. This bibliometric analysis focused on tissue engineering research integrating 3D bioprinting with MSCs, encompassing 1,846 original articles. These articles were authored by 10,276 researchers from 2,024 institutions across 69 countries and published in 342 academic journals. From 2014 to 2023, the number of annual publications exhibited a fluctuating yet rapid upward trend. China and the United States emerged as the most influential countries, with China experiencing a particularly substantial increase in research output-though international collaborations among institutions and authors remained limited. Wu C.T. and Bose S. stood out as key contributors to this field, while journals such as Biomaterials and Biofabrication have significantly advanced the discipline. High-frequency keywords including “3D printing” and “tissue engineering” reflected the core research directions, whereas emerging terms such as “MSC-EVs” and “nanocomposites” indicated current frontiers; in addition, “bioink,” “3D scaffold,” “osteogenesis,” and “angiogenesis” represented areas gaining growing research attention. Overall, this bibliometric study provides a thorough overview of the research tendencies and developments related to 3D bioprinting in the MSC field.

PMID:41546527 | DOI:10.1177/09636897251410650