Category: Statistics

Oral Radiol. 2026 May 12. doi: 10.1007/s11282-026-00922-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of different spatial scanning resolutions of photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plates on digital radiographic images using texture analysis (TA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital radiographs of an aluminum step wedge with five steps (0.5 mm increments) were acquired at two radiographic exposure times (0.10 and 0.20 s). Each image was scanned at four different spatial resolutions (10, 20, 25, and 40 lp/mm), with 10 repetitions per condition. Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed on the steps with thicknesses of 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mm. Texture features based on the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) were extracted using MaZda 4.6 software. Exploratory data analysis was performed, and spatial resolutions were compared within each combination of exposure time and object thickness using ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: At 0.10 s exposure, eight texture parameters exhibited statistically significant differences among spatial resolutions, independent of object thickness, with higher values observed at 10 and 20 lp/mm. For an exposure of 0.20 s, two parameters also showed significant differences across resolutions, with higher values at lower resolutions.

CONCLUSIONS: TA revealed that, in the tested PSP system, lower scanning resolutions resulted in images with reduced homogeneity and uniformity, regardless of object thickness.

PMID:42120804 | DOI:10.1007/s11282-026-00922-w

Behav Res Methods. 2026 May 12;58(6):165. doi: 10.3758/s13428-026-03023-y.

ABSTRACT

Meta-analyses often include multiple dependent effect sizes, yet current methods typically neglect the resulting within-study dependencies or fail to address model uncertainty and publication bias adequately. We extend robust Bayesian meta-analysis (RoBMA) to a multilevel framework, simultaneously handling within-study dependencies, model uncertainty, heterogeneity, moderators, and publication bias. Specifically, the three-level RoBMA integrates approximate Bayesian selection models with PET-PEESE adjustments within a hierarchical Bayesian setting. We illustrate the methodology through empirical examples and demonstrate its performance via simulations. The approach is implemented in the RoBMA R package and JASP.

PMID:42120801 | DOI:10.3758/s13428-026-03023-y

Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2026 May 13;30(1):85. doi: 10.1007/s10006-026-01567-z.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Orthognathic surgery involves repositioning the skeletal bases to correct dentoskeletal deformities and malocclusions. While its impact on occlusion is well documented, its effects on masticatory muscle activity remain under investigation. This pilot study evaluates changes in static electromyographic (sEMG) patterns of masseter and temporal muscles, and explores correlations with TMJ-related muscular symptoms before and after surgery.

METHODS: A surface electromyography (sEMG), by employing TeethanTM, based on occlusal contacts, was performed recording the activation patterns of masseter and temporal muscles, in ten patients with dentoskeletal malocclusions, undergoing orthognathic surgery. The registration assessed the muscles patterns sEMG preoperatively (T0), postoperatively at one month (T1), and at six months (T2) after surgery.

RESULTS: Across the cohort, temporal POC increased by 6.76 ± 8.36 from T0 to T1 and by 5.68 ± 5.33 from T1 to T2. Masseter POC rose by 8.74 ± 7.38 (T0-T1) and 8.12 ± 7.42 (T1-T2). Barycentre values shifted by 7.36 ± 4.13 (T0-T1) and 10.65 ± 9.17 (T1-T2), indicating progressive rebalancing of occlusal force distribution. Patients with Class III malocclusion showed greater masseter activation post-surgery, while Class II patients exhibited increased temporal muscle activity. Three patients with preoperative muscular discomfort reported complete symptom resolution at T2, while one patient experienced mild residual symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Data obtained from this preliminary study seem to confirm that skeletal bases repositioning modifies the occlusal contacts and, consequently, the neuromuscular proprioceptive stimuli and the activation of the masticatory muscles. sEMG may provide useful complementary information on neuromuscular adaptation following orthognathic surgery. However, larger controlled studies with standardized outcomes and statistical analyses are required before drawing definitive conclusions or recommending its routine clinical use.

PMID:42120795 | DOI:10.1007/s10006-026-01567-z

Neurosurg Rev. 2026 May 13;49(1):403. doi: 10.1007/s10143-026-04321-x.

ABSTRACT

Endoscopic techniques have enabled minimally invasive approaches in neurosurgery, providing shorter recovery times and favorable outcomes. Among these, the endoscopic transorbital approach (ETOA) has emerged as a versatile surgical modality. Despite the growing body of evidence, complication rates associated with ETOA have not yet been systematically evaluated. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to March 2026. We included studies enrolling ≥ 5 patients who underwent ETOA as the sole surgical modality to treat both skull base and orbital lesions, providing data on early or long-term complications. A single-group meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic and further explored through Baujat plots and sensitivity analyses. A total of 11 observational studies, comprising 269 patients, were included. Overall, 21 different pathologies were reported. Meningioma represented the most frequent lesion (60.6% of cases), followed by schwannoma (12.0%), cavernous hemangioma (4.6%), and glioma (2.7%). Mean follow-up was 27.6 ± 15.1 months. CSF leak was observed in 1% (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.04, I² = 46.5%), and wound infection was observed in 3% (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.07, I²=0%). Ptosis occurred in 4% (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.14, I²=79.4%) and diplopia occurred in 6% (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.14, I²=68.9%). Medial gaze palsy occurred in 9% (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.18, I²=8.8%). Improvement in visual function was seen in 47% (95% CI: 0.22 to 0.73, I²=88.7%). Visual dysfunction occurred in 1% (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.04, I²=48.6%). Transient facial numbness occurred in 16% (95% CI: 0.09 to 0.25, I²=35.0%). Mortality was 0% (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.02, I²=28.7%). ETOA is a safe and promising technique for managing a wide range of skull base and orbital lesions. Future prospective and comparative studies are needed to refine indications and validate its long-term efficacy.

PMID:42120790 | DOI:10.1007/s10143-026-04321-x

Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2026 May 13;30(1):84. doi: 10.1007/s10006-026-01571-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Supportive therapeutic interventions aimed at improving outcome quality in oncological patients are key components of perioperative medicine. The present study aims to analyze the use of supportive therapeutic interventions in the pre-, peri-, and postoperative phases in patients with oral cavity carcinomas, as well as the corresponding temporal development of patient-specific resilience and satisfaction.

METHODS: This prospective longitudinal study included patients with oral cavity carcinomas who underwent surgery at a university-based oncology center between 2022 and 2025. Patient-specific resilience (RS-11 questionnaire), utilization of supportive therapies (yes/no/irregular), and satisfaction with nine domains of life were assessed. A final survey was conducted four months after surgery (T3) and compared with results from the preoperative (T1) and postoperative inpatient (T2) phases.

RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the study. The average time from diagnosis to treatment was 21 days (max: 35d; min: 9d). The average RS-11 score was 5.7 (T1: 5.3; T2: 4.6). Compared to the preoperative baseline, there was a statistically significant decrease in satisfaction in the domains of physical activity (T1: p = 0.01; T2: p = 0.53) and enjoyment of food (T1: p = 0.01; T2: p < 0.001). Three patients received regular psycho-oncological support (T1: n = 0; T2: n = 23). Seven patients reported regular participation in sports programs (T1: n = 2; T2: n = 21). Three patients received speech therapy (T1: n = 1; T2: n = 17).

DISCUSSION: The present results indicate that only a small proportion of patients continue to regularly utilize the supportive therapies initiated in the immediate postoperative period four months after surgery. At the same time, there is a significant decline in satisfaction with physical activity and the ability to enjoy eating when compared to preoperative assessments. Although the greatest needs for supportive therapies were identified during hospitalization, persistent postoperative impairments should be addressed through more consistent use of supportive care in the early outpatient follow-up phase. The structural framework conditions for the use of innovative therapy methods such as perioperative immunotherapy must also be taken into account.

PMID:42120760 | DOI:10.1007/s10006-026-01571-3

Environ Monit Assess. 2026 May 13;198(6):581. doi: 10.1007/s10661-026-15384-0.

ABSTRACT

Accurate short-term air quality forecasting is urgently needed in African megacities. Chronic PM_2.5 pollution threatens public health in these cities. At the same time, ground-based monitoring infrastructure remains sparse. This study develops and evaluates an operational 24-h PM_2.5 forecasting system for the low-income housing (HLM) district of Dakar, Senegal. The site represents a high-exposure urban-industrial environment. Daily PM_2.5 concentrations from 2019 to 2024 (mean = 274.71 µg/m³) were predicted using four ensemble machine learning (ML) models: Random Forest (RF), Extra Trees Regression (ETR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost). Predictor variables included ERA5-Land meteorology, aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), and Sentinel-5P tropospheric columns (NO₂, CO, SO₂). CatBoost achieved the highest performance on the independent 2024 test set (R² = 0.931, RMSE = 11.50 µg/m³, MAE = 7.51 µg/m³). Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis identified AOD as the dominant predictor, followed by lagged PM_2.5, relative humidity (RH), seasonality, and precipitation (PRECIP), reflecting the combined influence of Saharan dust transport, hygroscopic growth factor (HGF), wet deposition, and Harmattan-monsoon dynamics (see the “Physical interpretation of feature importance and SHAP analysis” section for full interpretation). External forcing dominated over local emission persistence, confirming that accurate 24-h predictions can be issued without any real-time ground-based PM_2.5 input. Relying exclusively on open-access data and requiring minimal computational resources, the framework is scalable to other Sahelian urban contexts with similar monitoring constraints. These findings demonstrate that physically interpretable ML can transform sparse ground networks into actionable public health intelligence.

PMID:42120759 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-026-15384-0

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2026 May 8;234:111354. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111354. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Brassinosteroids (BR) are the steroidal phytohormones, best known for their role in plant growth and enhancing tolerance to abiotic stress for the last two decades. We investigated the effects of 24-epibrassinolide (BR – 1, 2, and 3 μM) on tomato seedlings grown under 150 mM NaCl from physiological and metabolomics perspectives. A supervised multiblock orthogonal partial least squares ANOVA (AMOPLS) analysis was performed on the untargeted metabolomics data to dissect influential factors and identify discriminant metabolites. The results showed that exogenous BR recovered the impaired photosynthetic performance induced by NaCl, as observed by increased chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency of PSII (Phi2), while reducing PhiNPQ. Moreover, the activities of the enzymes SOD, APX, and CAT increased by 30%, 55%, and 786.3%, respectively, in BR + NaCl compared to NaCl. Unsupervised and supervised statistics revealed that, while NaCl had a dominant effect on metabolic profiles, BR modulated specific pathways like amino acids, hormone crosstalk, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Among phenylpropanoids and nitrogen-containing compounds, the general accumulation of lignin- and glucosinolate-related metabolites in the combined BR and NaCl treatment, compared to NaCl, indicated that BR improved plant cell membrane integrity. In addition, metabolites linked to stress defense, such as proline, glycine betaine, D-sorbitol 6-phosphate, and secologanin, accumulated. The findings identified several novel metabolites, such as N-formyl-L-kynurenine and 7,8-dihydromonapterin, attributed to BR that may support the development of NaCl-tolerant tomato plants.

PMID:42119294 | DOI:10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111354

Heart Lung. 2026 May 12;79:102831. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2026.102831. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification of emergency department (ED) patients presenting with chest pain is particularly challenging in hospitals without catheterization laboratory facilities, often leading to unnecessary coronary referrals.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the predictive performance of the SVEAT and HEART scores for 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in ED chest pain patients referred from non-PCI centers and to examine their potential to reduce unnecessary coronary referrals.

METHODS: This prospective observational study included 230 adult patients with non-traumatic chest pain who were referred to a coronary center from a secondary-level ED without PCI capability. SVEAT and HEART scores were calculated at presentation, and patients were followed for 30 days to identify MACE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate diagnostic performance, and a DeLong test was applied for statistical comparison of the two scores.

RESULTS: Among 230 referred patients, 158 (68.7%) did not experience MACE. The SVEAT score demonstrated a higher area under the ROC curve (AUC:0.969; 95% CI:0.946-0.991) than the HEART score (AUC:0.948;95% CI:0.917-0.979) (p = 0.0457). While the HEART score had higher sensitivity (88.9%), the SVEAT score showed greater specificity (98.1%) and a superior positive predictive value (95.1% vs. 77.1%). Overall diagnostic accuracy was higher for the SVEAT score (92.6%).

CONCLUSION: Both the SVEAT and HEART scores are effective tools for predicting MACE in chest pain patients without STEMI in non-PCI EDs. However, the SVEAT score offers greater specificity and accuracy, supporting more individualized referral decisions in low-risk patients when used together with clinical judgment.

PMID:42119270 | DOI:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2026.102831

Clin Radiol. 2026 May 12;98:107356. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2026.107356. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the performance of preoperative contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing index tumour size and detecting additional malignant lesions and to evaluate total disease extent using postoperative histopathology as the reference standard.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 52 women with biopsy-proven breast cancer who underwent both CEM and MRI between July 2019 and December 2023. Two radiologists independently reviewed studies at separate times to reduce recall bias and were blinded to pathology. Index lesion size, additional suspicious lesions, and total disease extent were recorded. Statistical analysis included intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for lesion size, Kappa statistics for additional lesion detection, and Bland-Altman plots to assess agreement with histopathology.

RESULTS: CEM detected 51 of the 52 (98%) index lesions; MRI detected all (100%). Mean index lesion size was similar (CEM 24.9 ± 22.9 mm vs MRI 25.2 ± 22.8 mm; ICC = 0.975). Additional lesions were identified in 23 of the 52 patients, with very good agreement between modalities (Kappa = 0.881, P<.001). Among 42 patients with histopathological data on total disease extent (including multifocal or multicentric disease), CEM measurements closely matched histopathology (mean 32.6 mm vs 32.6 mm), while MRI slightly overestimated extent (mean 35.0 mm vs 32.6 mm). Discrepancies >20 mm occurred in five patients, mainly in cases with non-mass enhancement.

CONCLUSION: CEM shows high concordance with MRI for measuring index lesion size and detecting additional suspicious lesions, with closer agreement to histopathology for total disease extent. CEM is a viable, efficient alternative to MRI for preoperative locoregional staging of breast cancer.

PMID:42119266 | DOI:10.1016/j.crad.2026.107356

Environ Int. 2026 May 9;212:110287. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110287. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

COPD may be influenced by complex environmental interactions. Current evidence is limited to isolated stages and is lacking on the effects of mixture exposures. This study assessed the effects of environmental mixtures on COPD risk trajectories. We analyzed the impact of mixture exposures (air pollution, meteorological factors, built environment features) on COPD hospitalization/mortality for 67,235 participants. We applied Weighted Quantile Sum regression to quantify mixture effects and mixture contributions. In the WQS regression analysis, each quartile increase in the WQS index was associated with a 29.9% higher risk of transitioning from hospitalization to death, with NO₂ (21.8%) and SO₄^2- (19.4%) contributing the most. No significant associations were observed for the transition from baseline to hospitalization or the transition from baseline to death. Furthermore, we employed K-means clustering to identify distinct exposure patterns. Three exposure patterns were identified. Compared with the Urbanization-Dominant Pattern, the Urbanization-Ecology Balanced and Ecology-Dominant Patterns were inversely associated with transitions from baseline to hospitalization (17.5% and 9.0% lower risk, respectively) and to death (17.8% and 9.2% lower risk, respectively). The elderly had an 37.8% higher risk of the transition from hospitalization to death. Environmental mixtures significantly affect COPD trajectories. Controlling critical pollutants and optimizing ecological planning are essential for the COPD burden.

PMID:42119250 | DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2026.110287