Category: Statistics

Georgian Med News. 2026 Jun;(375):118-127.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of tumours of the maxilla and hard palate is often associated with persistent functional and psychosocial impairment, making quality-of-life assessment an important component of rehabilitation evaluation. The objective of the present study was to assess the applicability and psychometric characteristics of an adapted bilingual (Russian-Kazakh) version of the UW-QOL v4.1 questionnaire in patients after surgical treatment of tumours of the maxilla, hard palate, and adjacent anatomical regions, as well as to analyse quality-of-life outcomes depending on the method of functional rehabilitation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 104 patients after surgical treatment of maxillary and hard palate tumours. Translation and cultural adaptation were performed using forward translation, expert consensus, and pilot testing. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity were assessed using standard psychometric methods. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0.

RESULTS: The overall Cronbach’s α coefficient for the 14 questionnaire domains was 0.878, indicating high internal consistency. Test-retest reliability demonstrated strong correlations across all domains (r=0.904-0.983; p<0.001). The lowest quality-of-life scores were observed in the “Saliva” (41.3±21.2) and “Taste” (43.6±21.5) domains. Patients with advanced-stage disease and those who underwent multimodal treatment had significantly lower Physical Function and Social-Emotional Function scores compared with patients with early-stage disease and monotherapy (p≤0.001). Patients using obturator prostheses demonstrated significantly higher quality-of-life scores than patients without prosthetic rehabilitation (p<0.001). Financial limitations were the most common reason for refusal of obturator rehabilitation (55.6%).

CONCLUSIONS: The adapted bilingual version of the UW-QOL v4.1 questionnaire used in the present study demonstrated good psychometric properties and may be applied for quality-of-life assessment in patients after surgical treatment of maxillary and hard palate tumours in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The findings also highlight the importance of accessible functional rehabilitation in this patient population.

PMID:42603325

Georgian Med News. 2026 Jun;(375):111-117.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting toxicity of taxane-based chemotherapy in breast cancer. Cryotherapy using cooling gloves and socks has been investigated as a preventive strategy, although evidence remains inconsistent. This study evaluated the effect of preventive cryotherapy on neuropathy-related pain and symptom burden in patients receiving taxane-containing chemotherapy.

METHODS: This prospective multicenter controlled study included patients with stage I-IV breast cancer treated with taxane-based chemotherapy between March 2023 and September 2025. Patients either received cryotherapy during chemotherapy infusion or standard treatment without cryotherapy. Outcomes were assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 questionnaire. The primary outcome was final ESAS pain score. Secondary outcomes included clinically meaningful pain (ESAS ≥4), change in pain from baseline, neuropathy-related extremity pain, overall symptom burden, and functional impairment.

RESULTS: A total of 190 patients were included (95 cryotherapy; 95 control) in the final analysis. No statistically significant difference was observed in adjusted final ESAS pain scores between groups, although a trend toward higher pain scores was observed in the cryotherapy group. Clinically meaningful pain (ESAS≥4) was more frequent in the cryotherapy group (20.0% vs 8.4%; p=0.022). Adjusted analyses demonstrated higher neuropathy-related extremity pain scores in the cryotherapy group. No significant differences were observed in overall symptom burden or functional impairment.

CONCLUSION: Preventive cryotherapy did not demonstrate a significant reduction in neuropathy-related pain in patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy. Neuropathy-specific outcomes suggested higher extremity pain in patients undergoing cryotherapy. Further randomized studies with standardized protocols are warranted.

PMID:42603324

Georgian Med News. 2026 Jun;(375):96-99.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To address the challenges of abstract theoretical concepts and low practical application in medical statistics teaching, this study proposes an innovative teaching model integrating Doubao AI and R software, focusing on the F-distribution with numerator degrees of freedom (df₁) =2 and denominator degrees of freedom (df₂) =27.

METHODS: A comparative teaching experiment was conducted among 52 medical students, divided into an experimental group (n=26) adopting the dual-software integrated model and a control group (n=26) using traditional teaching methods. The teaching process included AI-assisted theoretical interpretation, R-based data simulation, and case-driven practical application. Academic performance, task completion efficiency, and student satisfaction were evaluated. Task completion efficiency and student satisfaction were evaluated.

RESULTS: The average time for the experimental group to complete the teaching process of F-test was 10±2 minutes, shorter than the traditional instruction’s 30±5 minutes. The duration required for this teaching process is shorter than that of traditional instruction.100% of students in the experimental group believed that the dual-software integration helped them understand the application of F-distribution (df₁=2, df₂=27) in clinical research.

CONCLUSION: The integration of Doubao AI and R software effectively bridges the gap between theory and practice in F-distribution teaching, improves students’ statistical thinking and operational capabilities as well as learning efficiency and satisfaction, and provides a replicable solution for the digital reform of medical statistics courses.

PMID:42603322

Georgian Med News. 2026 Jun;(375):90-95.

ABSTRACT

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death from malignant neoplasms among women in Ecuador, a problem influenced by social and health determinants. The objective of this study is to analyze the trends and magnitude of inequalities in cervical cancer mortality among mestizo and indigenous women in Ecuador during the period 2010-2024. The study design is observational, retrospective, and ecological, using a time-series approach. A total of 6,090 deaths of women aged 20 years and older recorded by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (ICD-10 code: C53) were included. Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated. Joinpoint regression models were used to assess trends. Risk gaps were quantified using the mortality rate ratio (MRR) by comparing the three-year periods 2010-2012 and 2022-2024. Mestizo women accounted for 87.8% of deaths, and indigenous women for 6%. The trend among the mestizo population remained stable (APC: 0.8%), while the indigenous population increased (APC: 3.3%). A statistically significant increase was observed in the indigenous cohort aged 20 to 44 (APC 11.2%). In the 2010-2012 period, indigenous women aged ≥65 had lower mortality than mestizo women (MRR 0.64); however, in 2022-2024, a numerical trend toward risk reversal was observed (MRR 1.13; 95% CI: 0.82-1.55), without reaching statistical significance. Cervical cancer mortality in Ecuador follows divergent trajectories depending on ethnicity. The increase among young indigenous women and the shift in risk among older women highlight profound structural inequities in access to prevention.

PMID:42603321

Georgian Med News. 2026 Jun;(375):43-50.

ABSTRACT

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to compare standardized patient-based training with traditional didactic and manikin-based instruction in developing clinical diagnostic competence among mid-level medical students, and to assess whether baseline academic performance influenced this effect.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center randomized comparative educational study was conducted among 498 medical students. Participants were assigned to either standardized patient-based training or traditional didactic and manikin-based instruction. Clinical diagnostic performance was assessed using the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Baseline academic performance was evaluated by grade point average (GPA). Subgroup analyses were performed according to academic performance. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05, and effect size was calculated using Cohen’s d.

RESULTS: Baseline GPA was comparable between groups. Students trained with standardized patients achieved higher OSCE scores than those receiving traditional instruction, with mean scores of 8.39 and 6.93, respectively. The effect size was large (Cohen’s d=1.07). The greatest benefit was observed among students with average or lower baseline GPA, whereas high-performing students showed comparable outcomes across instructional modalities. Questionnaire responses from students in the standardized patient-based training group, lecturers and OSCE examiners favored standardized patient-based training for diagnostic reasoning, communication skills and clinical confidence, while manikin-based instruction was preferred for procedural skills.

CONCLUSIONS: Standardized patient-based training was associated with improved clinical diagnostic performance, particularly among students with average or lower academic standing. These findings support the integration of standardized patients into hybrid clinical curricula to strengthen diagnostic competence and communication skills.

PMID:42603314

Georgian Med News. 2026 Jun;(375):16-20.

ABSTRACT

AIM: We sought to describe the types and frequencies of surgeries conducted in our newly commissioned hospital and to correlate procedure types with length of hospital stay and postoperative complications.

MATERIAL & METHODS: This study is a retrospective quantitative chart review design, using patient records. It’s conducted in a newly commissioned tertiary care academic hospital. Following systematic screening of medical records, approximately 377 patients were expected to satisfy the eligibility criteria. All extracted data were coded and entered into Microsoft Excel for initial collection and verification. Statistical analysis was completed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 27.

RESULTS: A total of 377 patients underwent general surgical procedures, with a mean age of 35.81 years (SD±14.44). Male patients comprised 58.9% and Saudi nationals 82.8%. The most common procedures were laparoscopic cholecystectomy (22.8%), inguinal hernia repair (13.3%), and epidermal cyst excision (13.0%). General anaesthesia predominated (44.0%), with a significant association between anaesthesia type and procedure (p<0.001). Most cases (94.4%) were managed as day surgery (p=0.035). we noted that no postoperative complications were recorded at 30-day follow-up, as zero incidence of surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, deep vein thrombosis, readmission, or reoperation.

CONCLUSIONS: This study documents the primary surgical profile of a recently commissioned tertiary hospital, revealing a diverse, mainly elective cases with zero postoperative complications, readmissions, or reoperations. These results reproduce effective perioperative preparation from the beginning and found a respected starting point for ongoing excellence benchmarking and hospital development.

PMID:42603312

Cancer Med. 2026 Aug;15(8):e72171. doi: 10.1002/cam4.72171.

ABSTRACT

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) continue to bear a high burden of cervical cancer (CC). Women’s participation in CC screening is challenging in LMICs, but self-collection of HPV tests has shown increased participation in controlled trials. However, data from real-world studies and data on follow-up compliance after positive screening test results are scant. A two-arm community trial was conducted in four municipalities from two different territories in Colombia (HPV self- and clinician-collected tests). A comparison of participation and follow-up compliance was done between arms, both delivered through campaigns and routine screening. Women aged 30-50 without screening records within the previous 30 months were eligible. HPV-positive women were recalled for triage/treatment in a second visit. A follow-up was done at 6 months. In total, 1400 women were expected, but only 532 attended the screening visit. Participation rates were 49% (95% CI: 46-53) in the self-collected and 26% (95% CI: 22.8-29.5) in the clinician-collected arm. Campaigns resulted in higher participation than routine screening for both collection methods (p < 0.05), and significant differences by territory were observed. Follow-up compliance was 89.6% and 71% at triage/treatment and 6-month visits, respectively, without significant differences between study arms. HPV self-collection resulted in higher participation than clinician collection; however, it did not directly translate to screening coverage. Therefore, delivery strategies and contextual barriers should be carefully analyzed for successful implementation. Anyhow, the increased participation and high compliance with the triage/treatment visit support the relevance and suitability of alternative programmatic approaches for HPV-based screening.

PMID:42603309 | DOI:10.1002/cam4.72171

Pharmacogenomics. 2026 Aug 15:1-8. doi: 10.1080/14622416.2026.2718046. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Our study is the first study, in Tunisia, to investigate the effect of SNPs in CYP3A5, CYP3A4, ABCB1, and POR genes on the response to cyclosporine (CsA).

METHODS: In a retrospective study, a total of 78 renal transplant patients receiving CsA and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were recruited. Genotyping was performed using PROFLEX-PCR followed by RFLP.

RESULTS: We found a significant lower C0/D CsA in patients with at least one CYP3A4*1B allele compared to the wild type (p = 0.001). We found a statistically significant increased risk of acute and chronic rejection associated with carrying CYP3A5*1/*1 or *1/*3 compared to the CYP3A5*3/*3 and of carrying CYP3A*51B/*1B or *1/*1B compared to the CYP3A4*1/*1 (p = 0.001). The occurrence of leukopenia was significantly decreased in patients with at least one CYP3A4*1B allele (p = 0.01). and the occurrence of diarrhea was significantly increased in patients carrying the variant allele of ABCB1-3435C>T (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION: Our results support the usefulness of CsA pharmacokinetics tests in prekidney transplant assessments.

PMID:42603263 | DOI:10.1080/14622416.2026.2718046

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2026 Aug 15. doi: 10.1007/s11356-026-38080-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Freshwater ecosystems worldwide are increasingly threatened by human activities, yet the ecological mechanisms linking anthropogenic pressures to algal community dynamics remain incompletely resolved in the Himalayan river systems. To bridge this gap, this study presents a rapid ecological assessment of algal diversity and water quality across three sites in the Kosi watershed, India, integrating comprehensive physicochemical analyses, Water Quality Index (WQI) evaluation, and multivariate statistics. We collected and analyzed 33 water and algal samples during the summer of 2023, identifying 11 algal genera spanning Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Xanthophyta, and Charophyta. Our results reveal a pronounced spatial gradient in water quality, with WQI values ranging from “excellent” (42.6) at the minimally impacted upstream site to “very poor” (266.3) at the most anthropogenically influenced downstream site. Canonical correspondence analysis demonstrates that turbidity and pH are the primary environmental drivers shaping algal assemblages, with nutrient-tolerant Spirulina and Oscillatoria dominating disturbed sites, while Oedogonium and Spirogyra prevail under more stable conditions. The rapid assessment approach enabled the timely detection of pollution hotspots and ecological responses, providing implementable steps for watershed management. Our findings underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation and pollution mitigation strategies to preserve riverine biodiversity and ecosystem services in Himalayan catchments. Nature-based solutions can be among the potential pathways to sustainability.

PMID:42603239 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-026-38080-5

Med Biol Eng Comput. 2026 Aug 15. doi: 10.1007/s11517-026-03653-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

From skin to musculoskeletal prediction is a current challenge in biomechanics. Previous studies attempted head-to-skull prediction using statistical shape relationships, but they did not leverage local shape geometries and reduced muscles to simple 1-D action lines. We introduced Inside from Outside, a novel approach that reconstructs the bones of the skull and the facial muscles from external head surfaces. The method coupled Region-of-Interest (ROI) learning with Statistical Shape Relationship (SSR) modeling to capture detailed anatomical correspondences. We reconstructed 329 head and skull bone meshes from head-and-neck Computed Tomography (CT) scans. Multivariate regression models were employed to learn the statistical relationships among ROI regions. A ten-fold cross-validation procedure was used to estimate the optimal number of shape parameters, the multivariate regression method, and the prediction strategies. As a result, the prediction errors were 1.9293 ± 0.1838 mm, 1.4464 ± 0.3044 mm, and 1.4933 ± 0.2470 mm for the predicted skull bones, skull shapes, and muscle attachment points, respectively. Our novel SSR- and ROI-based approach achieved more reliable accuracy in the head-to-skull prediction problem. The proposed approach will be used to perform patient-specific, head-based simulations of facial expressions to personalize rehabilitation strategies for patients with facial palsy.

PMID:42603232 | DOI:10.1007/s11517-026-03653-6