Category: Statistics

Neurosci Bull. 2025 Mar 7. doi: 10.1007/s12264-025-01373-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have found associations between color discrimination deficits and cognitive impairments besides aging. However, investigations into the microstructural pathology of brain white matter (WM) associated with these deficits remain limited. This study aimed to examine the microstructural characteristics of WM in the non-demented population with abnormal color discrimination, utilizing Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI), and to explore their correlations with cognitive functions and cognition-related plasma biomarkers. The tract-based spatial statistic analysis revealed significant differences in specific brain regions between the abnormal color discrimination group and the healthy controls, characterized by increased isotropic volume fraction and decreased neurite density index and orientation dispersion index. Further analysis of region-of-interest parameters revealed that the isotropic volume fraction in the bilateral anterior thalamic radiation, superior longitudinal fasciculus, cingulum, and forceps minor was significantly correlated with poorer performance on neuropsychological assessments and to varying degrees various cognition-related plasma biomarkers. These findings provide neuroimaging evidence that WM microstructural abnormalities in non-demented individuals with abnormal color discrimination are associated with cognitive dysfunction, potentially serving as early markers for cognitive decline.

PMID:40053280 | DOI:10.1007/s12264-025-01373-9

Brain Imaging Behav. 2025 Mar 7. doi: 10.1007/s11682-025-00988-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) disrupts normal ventilation and sleep structure and affects cognitive functions. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment are unclear. This study investigates the topological connectivity of white matter networks in children with moderate to severe OSAS and explores the underlying mechanisms of cognitive impairment. We collected clinical data of patients with moderate to severe OSAS (n = 43) and non-OSAS (n = 30). Intelligence testing was conducted using the China Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (C-WISC IV), including Processing speed, Working memory, Verbal comprehension, Perceptual reasoning, and Full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ). DTI data were collected using 3.0T MRI scanner (Ingenia, Philips, Netherlands). White matter network topology connections were analyzed using FSL and DSI Studio and inter group differences were statistically assessed. The difference of clinical and intelligence test was calculated by two sample t-test. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine the correlation between the abnormal white matter network metrics and cognitive function in OSAS patients. Clustering coefficient (Cp) and global efficiency (Eg), nodal degree (Dc), and nodal efficiency (Ne) were lower in the OSAS group (p < 0.05). Correlations between white matter network metrics and cognitive function: The Cp and Eg were positively correlated with Perceptual reasoning, and the shortest path length (Lp) was negatively correlated with Perceptual reasoning. The results indicate that there was impairment of cognitive function and abnormality of topological structural connectivity in white matter networks for children with OSAS. The Cp, Eg, and Lp correlate with Perceptual reasoning, indicating that abnormal topological structural connectivity of the white matter network might be neurofunctional basis for impaired perceptual reasoning.

PMID:40053277 | DOI:10.1007/s11682-025-00988-w

Discov Oncol. 2025 Mar 7;16(1):274. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02008-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Testing of multiple cancer related genes using next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been widely used for personalized precision medicine of cancer. Integrated analysis of those NGS data and clinical data has offered new opportunities for investigating the relationship between driver genes’ mutations and clinical characteristics in large cohorts. This study aims to explore the mutational landscape and its association with clinical features in a lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cohort.

METHODS: Tumor tissues from 132 LUAD patients were subjected to customized 30 genes targeted next-generation sequencing. Somatic mutations of the 30 genes were identified and annotated. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the cooccurrence of mutations of different driver genes and the association relationships between gene mutation and clinical features including gender and age.

RESULTS: A total of 96.97% (128/132) of LUAD patients experienced genetic mutations. EGFR had the highest mutation rate (81, 61.36%) among the 30 genes, followed by TP53 (80, 60.61%), BRAF (30, 22.73%), KRAS (21, 15.91%) and ROS1 (21, 15.91%). The L858R substitution and exon19 deletion were the predominant mutations of EGFR, accounting for 82.71% of EGFR-mutated patients. The 27 mutation sites of EGFR were mainly located in the tyrosine kinase catalytic domain (22/27, 81.48%). Mutations of SDHA (p < 0.01), ERBB2 (p < 0.01), and ESR1 (p < 0.05) were negatively correlated with age, and mutations of NF1 (p < 0.01), KRAS (p < 0.01), and TP53 (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with gender.

CONCLUSIONS: This work revealed the mutational landscape and characteristics of 30 core driver genes in a LUAD cohort. Co-mutated genes and genes associated with gender and age indicate their different roles in the corresponding subgroup of the LUAD.

PMID:40053265 | DOI:10.1007/s12672-025-02008-1

J Robot Surg. 2025 Mar 7;19(1):103. doi: 10.1007/s11701-025-02255-y.

ABSTRACT

The objective is to compare the feasibility, safety, and complications of the novel robot-assisted system Hugo™ RAS to the established Intuitive da Vinci Xi system in different gynecologic surgeries. This is a retrospective and propensity score-matching study conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital. The participants were women with various indications for gynecologic surgery who underwent robotic procedures. The results of our first 40 cases of gynecologic procedures performed with Hugo™ RAS were compared to those of a 1:3 propensity-matched cohort using the da Vinci Xi system. Length of hospital stay, blood loss, surgical time, console time, and perioperative complications were the main outcome measures. There were no differences in the length of hospital stay, blood loss, and complication rates between the novel Hugo™ RAS and da Vinci Xi system in different gynecologic procedures. However, the surgical time was longer with Hugo™ RAS in the staging of endometrial cancer. The Hugo™ RAS is a feasible and safe robotic platform for different indications in gynecologic surgery.

PMID:40053244 | DOI:10.1007/s11701-025-02255-y

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Mar 7. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-36110-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effect of temperature variation on malodor generation across different units of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The results demonstrate that higher temperatures exacerbated odor emission due to increased microbial activity with all the different units showing maximum odorous gas production at the highest temperatures used (35 °C and 45 °C) in this study. The maximum total odor activity value (OAV) of 353106 was obtained for anoxic and anaerobic unit at 45 °C. The variation in composition of odor-causing gases was also dependent on wastewater characteristics than temperature alone. Volatile reduced sulfur compounds, including hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, were dominant in most wastewater samples, while units with higher dissolved oxygen (DO) content, such as aeration and sedimentation units, exhibited elevated levels of phenol and dimethyl disulfide and reduced H₂S concentration. Analysis of the liquid composition following incubations revealed presence of mainly aldehydes (> 75%) which are produced due to incomplete organic matter degradation, particularly at lower temperatures. Statistical analysis showed positive correlation between temperature and odor generation. DO had negative correlation with H₂S (r = – 0.78, – 0.93) along with total gas concentration and total OAV, but positively correlated with other gases, namely methyl mercaptan (r = 0.22, 0.97), dimethyl disulfide (r = 0.93, 0.98), phenol (r = 0.99, 0.97), and ammonia (r = 0.99, 0.98). Solids concentration and volatile solids to total solids (VS/TS) ratio had positive correlation with H₂S, total gas concentration, and total OAV (r = 0.68, 0.54, and 0.90). These findings highlight the need for tailored odor management strategies based on temperature fluctuations and unit-specific conditions to optimize WWTP operations and reduce odor emissions effectively.

PMID:40053238 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-36110-2

Mol Biol Rep. 2025 Mar 7;52(1):288. doi: 10.1007/s11033-025-10394-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases are multifactorial in that they can be caused by genetic factors, age, sex and poor lifestyle choices. They are estimated to account for 71% of deaths globally with 80% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. This is particularly true for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Interestingly, mitochondrial dysfunction can arise from mutations in both the nuclear and the mitochondrial genomes. The present study, therefore, aimed to determine if there is an association between mitochondrial DNA mutations associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and disc degeneration in a South African cohort, and in addition, generate genetic data for understudied mutations in African populations.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Mutations were selected using a systematic literature review. DNA was collected using buccal swabs and extracted using a standard salt-lysis protocol. Mass-array genotyping was done for previously reported as well as novel mutations. GenAlEx (version 6.5), RStudio and SHEsis were used for statistical analyses. Although no significant associations were found, the identified polymorphic mutations C16223T, A10398G and A8536G were found to have higher mutant allele frequencies in case individuals indicating that had a larger cohort been used, significance may have been observed.

CONCLUSIONS: This study was able to generate genotypic information for a South African cohort for both reported and understudied mutations. Furthermore, the identification of higher mutant allele frequencies for C16223T, A10398G and A8536G highlights the importance of considering these mutations in future studies using a larger cohort.

PMID:40053230 | DOI:10.1007/s11033-025-10394-6

Discov Oncol. 2025 Mar 7;16(1):277. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02030-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are two major types of primary liver cancer (PLC). Earlier research has indicated a potential link between cathepsins and liver cancer. Nonetheless, there have been limited clinical trials examining the connection between cathepsins and PLC. Therefore, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to evaluate the causal relationship between cathepsins and PLC.

METHODS: Data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) focusing on cathepsins was collected. Additionally, summary data for GCST90018803 (Hepatic bile duct cancer, HBDC), and GCST90018858 (related to hepatic cancer, HC), were employed in the discovery and validation phases of the study, respectively. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was served as the primary analytical method in our Mendelian randomization (MR) study, supplemented by the MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode methods. To assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy, we conducted the MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran’s Q test, as well as the MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) analysis, along with the leave-one-out analysis. After that, bioinformatic analysis based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were utilized, Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis were utilized for exploring the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, protein-protein docking was employed to confirm the interaction between related proteins.

RESULTS: The results showed that cathepsin F (CTSF), was causally associated with HBDC. CTSF decrease the risk of HBDC (OR = 0.826, 95% CI 0.711-0.959, P = 0.012). CTSF may play protective roles in patients with HBDC. No heterogeneity or pleiotropy was observed. Additionally, the expression of CTSF genes is lower in patients with HBDC, GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis revealed CTSF were mainly related to cell cycle, and P53 pathway in HBDC. Docking results showed that CTSF had good binding ability with MDM2, the most well-established negative regulator of p53.

CONCLUSION: This study provided new evidence of the relationship between CTSF and HBDC, suggesting that CTSF plays an inhibition role in HBDC progression. CTSF could be a novel and effective way to for HDBC treatment.

PMID:40053224 | DOI:10.1007/s12672-025-02030-3

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2025 Mar 7;35(1):101. doi: 10.1007/s00590-025-04212-9.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Shoulder stiffness is a common complication following rotator cuff repair (RCR) surgery. However, there is a paucity of literature on the short-term effects of postoperative stiffness on outcomes following RCR. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of postoperative shoulder stiffness on short-term outcomes following RCR.

METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) was queried from 2015 to 2020 for primary RCR patients. Stiffness was defined using International Classification of Disease Clinical Modification and Procedure Coding System codes for arthrofibrosis, adhesive capsulitis, stiffness, synovitis, or contracture of the shoulder. Patients were separated into stiff and non-stiff cohorts and a case-control match was performed based upon age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for a total number in the control group of 358 and a total subject count of 489. Postoperative complications, reoperations, readmissions, mortality, and hospital cost metrics were compared between cohorts using t-test and fisher’s exact test.

RESULTS: Rates of complications, reoperation, readmission, and death were similar between the stiff and non-stiff cohorts and there were likely no clinically significant differences. Stiff patients were more likely to be discharged to home and less likely to be discharged to another type of facility (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION: Postoperative stiffness was not predictive of increased complications, readmissions, or healthcare costs following RCR. These findings suggest that stiffness may not represent a significant clinical or economic burden, helping to guide patient expectations and management strategies. However, stiff patients were more likely to be discharged home and less likely to require facility-based care, suggesting potential differences in postoperative recovery or support needs.

PMID:40053210 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-025-04212-9

Eur J Haematol. 2025 Mar 7. doi: 10.1111/ejh.14407. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess the efficacy of continuous dasatinib in improving outcomes for adult patients with BCR::ABL1 ALL.

METHODS: The prospective, multicenter ALL/MRD2014 trial introduced a modified protocol compared to the MRD2008 trial, incorporating continuous dasatinib use and reduced chemotherapy intensity.

RESULTS: Among the 164 adult ALL patients enrolled (2014-2019), 61 were Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) (median age 50 years; 38 males, 23 females). Post-induction, 96.7% achieved complete remission (CR). The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 51% and 76%, respectively. Patients undergoing allo-HSCT in CR1 had improved outcomes, with a 3-year EFS of 64% and OS of 87%. MRD-negative patients before transplantation exhibited superior survival (EFS: 71% vs. 29%; OS: 94% vs. 57%). Comparison with the MRD2008 trial revealed similar outcomes, with the MRD2014 trial achieving a 3-year EFS of 51% and OS of 76% vs. 52% and 84% in MRD2008. Although not statistically significant, the MRD2014 trial showed trends of increased relapse (CIR: 39% vs. 26%, p = 0.305) and reduced non-relapse mortality (NRM: 10% vs. 21%, p = 0.181).

CONCLUSION: The ALL/MRD2014 trial underscores the importance of MRD status and allo-HSCT in Ph+ ALL. Continuous dasatinib-based regimens offer favorable outcomes in MRD-negative patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), number UMIN000012382.

PMID:40052397 | DOI:10.1111/ejh.14407

Eur J Clin Invest. 2025 Mar 7:e70021. doi: 10.1111/eci.70021. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a frequent and life-threatening complication of cirrhosis, contributing to considerable morbidity and mortality.

METHODS: A cross-sectional derivation study was conducted to assess the diagnostic accuracy of two sepsis-related calcitonin peptide family biomarkers, mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-pro-ADM) and procalcitonin, in ascitic fluid for identifying bacteriologically confirmed SBP (BC-SBP). In a subsequent validation study, the diagnostic performance of the ‘SBP score’ was evaluated in an independent patient cohort using an absolute polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte count threshold of ≥250 cells/mm³ as the diagnostic benchmark for diagnosing SBP.

RESULTS: In the derivation study, the concentration of MR-pro-ADM in ascitic fluid was significantly higher in patients with BC-SBP compared to those without BC-SBP (3.14 nmol/L [IQR, 2.39-6.74] vs. 1.91 nmol/L [IQR, 1.33-2.80]; p = .0002). Bayesian ANOVA indicated that MR-pro-ADM was highly discriminative for diagnosing BC-SBP, with a substantial Bayes factor (BFM = 2505), whereas procalcitonin exhibited poor discriminatory performance. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified an optimal MR-pro-ADM cut-off of ≥2.50 nmol/L for diagnosing BC-SBP, with an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.746 (95% CI, 0.685-0.801; p < .0001). Multivariable logistic regression identified three independent predictors of BC-SBP, which were subsequently incorporated into the ‘SBP score’ (MR-pro-ADM ≥2.5 nmol/L, absolute PMN count ≥250 cells/mm³ and Child-Pugh score). In the validation study, the ‘SBP score’ demonstrated an AUROC of 0.993 (95% CI, 0.929-1.000; p < .0001) for diagnosing SBP.

CONCLUSION: MR-pro-ADM in ascitic fluid emerges as a promising biomarker for SBP diagnosis. Combining MR-pro-ADM with absolute PMN count and Child-Pugh score in the ‘SBP score’ greatly improves the diagnostic accuracy of SBP.

PMID:40052388 | DOI:10.1111/eci.70021