Category: Statistics

Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Jul 24;13:1786718. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1786718. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of orthokeratology combined with atropine versus orthokeratology alone in treating myopia in children.

METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of orthokeratology combined with atropine versus orthokeratology alone for pediatric myopia were retrieved from databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to April 2025. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.2 software.

RESULTS: A total of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 1,669 myopic children were included. The analysis showed that the intervention group had greater improvements in axial elongation (SMD = -0.66, 95% CI = -0.80 to -0.53, p < 0.001), tear film break-up time (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.63, p < 0.001), and corneal curvature (SMD = -2.47, 95% CI = -4.21 to -0.73, p = 0.005) compared to the control group. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in uncorrected visual acuity (SMD = 0.49, 95% CI = -0.27 to 1.24, p = 0.21) or tear film lipid layer thickness (SMD = -0.00, 95% CI = -1.09 to 1.09, p = 1.00). In addition, increased pupil diameter (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.64, p < 0.001) and reduced accommodative amplitude (SMD = -1.50, 95% CI = -2.58 to -0.43, p = 0.006) reflected the side effects associated with combined atropine treatment.

CONCLUSION: Compared with orthokeratology alone, orthokeratology combined with atropine treatment reduces axial elongation, tear film break-up time, and corneal curvature in myopic children, but shows no significant advantage in uncorrected visual acuity or tear film lipid layer thickness, while incurring side effects of increased pupil diameter and reduced accommodative amplitude.

PMID:42568973 | PMC:PMC13448785 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1786718

AJOG Glob Rep. 2026 Jul 10;6(3):100673. doi: 10.1016/j.xagr.2026.100673. eCollection 2026 Aug.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether higher-dose aspirin (150-162 mg/d) reduces preeclampsia risk compared with lower-dose aspirin (75-81 mg/d) in pregnant women at elevated risk, using pooled evidence from all available head-to-head randomized controlled trials.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception through April 27, 2026.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Parallel-group randomized controlled trials comparing at least two aspirin dose arms (head-to-head dose comparison) in pregnant women at elevated risk for preeclampsia, with a binary preeclampsia outcome reported. Aspirin-vs-placebo trials were excluded.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: Log odds ratios were pooled using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimation with the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman (HKSJ) correction. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool; evidence certainty was graded using GRADE. Egger’s test, Duval-Tweedie trim-and-fill, and univariate meta-regression (geography, dose ratio, gestational age at initiation) were performed.

RESULTS: Six randomized controlled trials enrolling 1099 participants across five countries were included. REML+HKSJ pooled OR 1.93 (95% CI 0.84-4.42, P=.096; I²=64.9%), representing approximately 48% lower odds of preeclampsia with higher-dose aspirin, a clinically substantial effect size that did not reach conventional statistical significance, primarily due to limited sample size (N=1099) and substantial between-study heterogeneity. Egger’s test was significant (P=.010); trim-and-fill estimated three missing studies (adjusted OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.47-2.50). No significant dose advantage was seen in North American trials (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.67-2.34). A safety signal for placental abruption was identified with higher-dose aspirin in one large trial (8 vs 0 events). GRADE certainty: Very Low.

CONCLUSION: Applying conservative statistical methods (REML+HKSJ), higher-dose aspirin (150-162 mg/d) was associated with approximately 48% lower odds of preeclampsia vs lower-dose aspirin (75-81 mg/d; OR 1.93), a clinically meaningful effect that did not reach conventional statistical significance (95% CI 0.84-4.42, P=.096) due to limited sample size and heterogeneity. Clinical significance and statistical significance must be considered independently; the magnitude of this effect warrants serious attention in guideline discussions. A placental abruption safety signal warrants further investigation. Larger, harmonized head-to-head trials with preterm preeclampsia as the primary endpoint are needed.

PMID:42568969 | PMC:PMC13448443 | DOI:10.1016/j.xagr.2026.100673

ACS Omega. 2026 Jul 17;11(30):44761-44774. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.6c01167. eCollection 2026 Aug 4.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the electronic structure of amino acids is crucial to understanding protein stability, folding mechanisms, and molecular interactions. In this study, we introduce fragment-wise mutual information (FMI) as a quantum information-based tool to quantify interatomic correlations in peptides. By extending mutual information (MI) analysis to amino acid fragments, FMI provides a detailed map of electronic interactions beyond classical descriptors, such as van der Waals forces. We first validated FMI on 400 dipeptides, demonstrating a correlation with the atomization and bonding energies. Expanding this approach to the 10-mer Neh2 peptide, we analyze molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and reveal how interatomic correlations evolve during folding. Our results show that FMI distinguishes stabilizing interactions such as salt bridges and variable hydrogen-bond strengths, providing deeper insight into peptide stability. These findings suggest that FMI could enhance molecular modeling and force-field development by incorporating quantum electronic effects into biomolecular analysis.

PMID:42568960 | PMC:PMC13448925 | DOI:10.1021/acsomega.6c01167

J Nutr Metab. 2026 Aug 6;2026:5114961. doi: 10.1155/jnme/5114961. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Anemia is one of the most widespread diseases, with one in four people affected by anemia worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, anemia in preschool children is considered a severe public health problem. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among 6-59-month-old children in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia.

METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 423 6-59-month-old children who were seeking service at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Four mL of venous blood from the finger was collected and analyzed using a Sysmex machine (model XP-300). Anemia in children was defined as a hemoglobin level below 11 g/dL. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Variables with a p value of < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were selected for multivariable logistic regression, and statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05 and CI of 95%.

RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia among children aged 6-59 months was 57.1% (95% confidence interval: 52.2%-62.1%); of this magnitude, mild, moderate, and severe anemia was 27.1%, 20.9%, and 9.1%, respectively. Morphological, microcytic hypochromic anemia was the most common type of anemia. Children aged 6-23 months (adjusted odds ratio = 2.374; 95% confidence interval: 1.428-3.945), stunting (adjusted odds ratio = 2.543; 95% confidence interval: 1.503-4.302), underweight (adjusted odds ratio = 6.660; 95% confidence interval: 3.046-14.566), and intestinal parasite infection (adjusted odds ratio = 2.803; 95% confidence interval: 1.242-6.322) were factors associated with anemia.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anemia shows that it is a severe public health problem. Our findings underscore the need for nutrition counseling, deworming, growth monitoring, and promotion to minimize stunting, underweight, and intestinal parasite infection among children.

PMID:42568935 | PMC:PMC13448154 | DOI:10.1155/jnme/5114961

BMJ Public Health. 2026 Aug 5;4(3):e005035. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2026-005035. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Using vital historical data, we modelled tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality rates across different scenarios of United States government’s (US) development assistance for health (DAH), domestic general government health spending (GHES) and non-US donor funding to determine how changes in these funding would affect TB incidence and mortality in Africa.

METHODS: A serial cross-sectional ecological analysis was conducted using a panel dataset covering the period from 1990 to 2022 for all 54 African countries. The dataset included age-standardised TB incidence and mortality rates, source-specific DAH and other socioeconomic variables. Mixed-effects tests were performed to assess associations among US DAH, other healthcare funding and TB outcomes.

RESULTS: Total annual TB-specific DAH in Africa increased from US$4.4 million in 1990 to US$168.7 million in 2022. The US government contributed more than a quarter of the total funds (US$713 million; 27.4%). Compared with scenarios in which US DAH was low but other funds were high, a combination of high US DAH, high funding from other donors and high GHES (one unit above their means) was associated with a 6.5% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) -73.6% to 49.6%) and a 14.6% (-86% to 60.8%) reduction in TB incidence and mortality, respectively. The corresponding decreases in incidence and mortality rates were 16.8 (-172.17 to 138.57) and 5.88 (-34.85 to 23.16) per 100 000.

CONCLUSION: Although higher US DAH, Other DAH and GHES were associated with declines in TB incidence and mortality rates, the estimated differences in TB outcomes between high-funding and low-US-DAH scenarios were small and not statistically significant.

PMID:42568929 | PMC:PMC13448635 | DOI:10.1136/bmjph-2026-005035

Orthop Surg. 2026 Aug 7. doi: 10.1111/os.70403. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We previously developed a novel internal tension-relieving augmentation suture, the Chinese knotting technique (CKT), which demonstrated better knee kinematic recovery and clinical outcomes when assisting posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. This study evaluated the biomechanical effect of the CKT in cadaveric PCL reconstruction and provided experimental evidence for its clinical application.

METHODS: Ten fresh-frozen adult knee joint specimens were randomly divided into the conventional reconstruction (CR; n = 5) and CKT (n = 5) groups. First, all native PCLs underwent cyclic fatigue testing with a standardized fixation method, and the relaxation length was recorded. The native PCL was then transected and reconstructed. After reconstruction, the same fixation method was applied for biomechanical testing to measure stiffness, elastic modulus, maximum load, and relaxation length.

RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in donor age (54.40 ± 5.94 years vs 56.60 ± 5.98 years), gender distribution (male: 80.00% vs. 60.00%), or specimen side (left: 60.00% vs. 40.00%) (p > 0.05). All specimens underwent successful reconstruction and testing with no instances of tissue damage or fixation abnormalities. The biomechanical testing revealed no statistically significant differences in stiffness (68.60 ± 8.62 N/mm vs. 65.40 ± 12.14 N/mm) or elastic modulus (147.60 ± 5.68 MPa vs. 142.60 ± 1.52 MPa) between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, the CKT group demonstrated a significantly higher maximum load (603.20 ± 77.44 N) compared with the CR group (442.20 ± 20.52 N) and a significantly lower relaxation length (1.50 ± 0.09 mm vs. 2.46 ± 0.02 mm) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The CKT preserved the basic mechanical properties of the graft in PCL reconstruction. This technique significantly increased the maximum load and reduced residual deformation after cyclic loading, thereby providing enhanced biomechanical protection for the graft. This approach may offer technical support for early postoperative rehabilitation and a reduced risk of graft failure.

PMID:42568106 | DOI:10.1111/os.70403

J Am Heart Assoc. 2026 Aug 7:e048794. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.126.048794. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tracking mortality is essential to advance understanding of population health. Further evaluation of long-term stroke mortality trends and subtypes in the United States is needed to guide preventive public health and clinical interventions.

METHODS: This study used the National Vital Statistics System CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) data for adults aged 25 years and older in the United States from 1970 to 2023. Outcomes included absolute number and age-adjusted mortality of total stroke, and its subtypes acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. Data were analyzed overall and by sex and race.

RESULTS: From 1970 to 2023, overall age-adjusted stroke mortality decreased by 82% from 177 to 32 per 100 000. The age-adjusted mortality of acute ischemic stroke decreased by 81% from 135 to 26 per 100 000, and the age-adjusted mortality of intracerebral hemorrhage declined by 86% from 42 to 6 per 100 000. Sex and race trends were similar, though notably age-adjusted mortality of acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage among those identifying as Black remained highest throughout the time period. Joinpoint regression models identified the 1970s and early 2000s as significant periods of mortality decline.

CONCLUSIONS: Stroke mortality has significantly declined over the last half century, with decreases in both acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage corresponding to public health and clinical advancements, though disparities remain. Continued efforts in prevention and treatment strategies should be made to further this decline, with particular attention to those identifying as non-White race.

PMID:42568098 | DOI:10.1161/JAHA.126.048794

Crit Care. 2026 Aug 7;30(1):405. doi: 10.1186/s13054-026-06234-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: ICU patients commonly require invasive mechanical ventilation. Although weaning from ventilation is crucial for patient outcomes, it is commonly not performed according to guideline recommendations. We investigated if a complex telemedicine intervention improves the weaning process and outcomes.

METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the stepped-wedge cluster-randomized controlled Enhanced Recovery after Intensive Care (ERIC) trial, which was conducted among ten clusters of ICUs in the metropolitan area of Berlin, Germany. ERIC examined the impact of a complex telemedicine intervention, which included daily telemedicine rounding by an intensivist and ICU nurse, on the adherence to eight quality indicators of ICU care. We analyzed patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation for at least two consecutive days and at least one spontaneous breathing trial (SBT). We investigated the impact of the intervention on the weaning process and weaning outcomes using descriptive statistics and mixed-effects regressions.

RESULTS: Of 1,463 patients enrolled in the trial, 308 patients were analyzed (control condition: 55; intervention condition: 253). Patients in the intervention group received significantly more SBTs than patients in the control group (51% vs 27% of the patient days; p < 0.001). There was no difference between the groups with respect to the weaning classification (p = 0.21), weaning success rate (28% vs 36%; p = 0.32), and time from the first SBT to successful weaning (2 [IQR 1, 5] vs 4 [IQR 1, 13] days; p = 0.12). The median time of invasive mechanical ventilation of successfully weaned patients was significantly shorter in the intervention than in the control group (7 [IQR 4, 10] vs 9 [IQR 6, 20] days; p = 0.031). In our multivariable regressions, the intervention was not associated with weaning success (OR for weaning failure: 1.45 [95%-CI 0.71-2.95]; p = 0.302), but with a shorter time between the first SBT and successful weaning (β = 0.56 [0.32-0.98]; p = 0.042).

CONCLUSIONS: Although ICU telemedicine did not improve the weaning success rate, our findings indicate that it facilitates the exploitation of existing weaning potential by ensuring more frequent SBTs and thereby shortening ventilation duration of successfully weaned patients. The study is the first to highlight the potential of telemedicine to enhance ICU weaning practices.

REGISTRATION: www.

CLINICALTRIALS: gov (Identifier: NCT03671447; first submitted on August 22, 2018).

PMID:42568095 | DOI:10.1186/s13054-026-06234-z

Malar J. 2026 Jul 25;25(1):288. doi: 10.1186/s12936-026-06066-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Experimental huts are the gold standard for the semi-field evaluation of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) but the design of the huts used varies markedly between sites. Structural differences may influence mosquito behaviour – and, consequently, the measured efficacy of ITNs. This raises concerns about the comparability, validity, and policy relevance of trial outcomes. We assessed the influence of four commonly used hut designs on entomological endpoints central to ITN evaluations.

METHODS: A 126-night comparative trial was conducted in Tanzania, using 18 experimental huts in two contiguous 9 × 9 Latin squares. Four hut types-East African, West African, Ifakara, and Rapley-were tested with PRONet Duo, Interceptor^® G2, MAGNet^®, and untreated nets. Sleepers and treatments were rotated throughout the trial. The primary outcome was 72-h mortality (M72); secondary outcomes were mosquito density, blood-feeding success, and exiting. Endpoint estimates for each hut type were compared using East African huts as the reference. Non-inferiority analysis of PRONet Duo in each hut type were compared with findings from a sister trial conducted exclusively in West African huts in West Africa.

RESULTS: A total of 22611 Anopheles gambiae s.l. (99.9% An. arabiensis) were collected. Rapley and Ifakara huts captured over six times more mosquitoes than East African huts (rate ratio [RR] = 6.50 and 6.22, respectively; both p < 0.0001), whereas West African huts caught 88% fewer mosquitoes (RR = 0.12, p < 0.0001). West African huts recorded the highest mortality (70%) and blood feeding (15%) whilst the other hut types recorded 40-46% mortality and 3-8% blood feeding. All hut designs and the West African sister trial detected the same direction of effect between PRONet Duo and Interceptor^® G2 and predicted non-inferiority of PRONet Duo, although smaller sample sizes limited statistical certainty in East African and West African huts in Tanzania.

CONCLUSIONS: Experimental hut design substantially affected key entomological outcomes, influencing both the magnitude of measured efficacy of ITNs and the statistical power of trials. Whilst relative product performance was broadly consistent across designs, absolute values varied widely, underscoring the need for greater standardisation of hut architecture in ITN evaluations. Harmonising experimental hut designs and reporting standards would strengthen cross-site comparability, improving the reliability of vector control product assessments, and enhancing the evidence base for global malaria control policy.

PMID:42568085 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-026-06066-w

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Aug 8;26(1):1384. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-09486-x.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Reliable sex estimation using dental metrics has important implications for clinical assessment and forensic identification, particularly in adolescents where skeletal indicators may be limited. This study aimed to validate the accuracy and clinical applicability of a digital odontometric model for sex estimation in an Egyptian adolescent population.

METHODS: A total of 150 dental casts from individuals aged 12-19 years were digitized using a high-resolution three-dimensional scanner. Mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions of the permanent first molars, mesiodistal widths of the maxillary canines, and intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar arch widths were obtained using Facad Ortho tracing software. Statistical comparisons between sexes were performed, and discriminant function analysis was applied to construct and validate a predictive model for sex estimation.

RESULTS: All measured parameters demonstrated significantly higher mean values in males compared with females (p < 0.05). The buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions of the maxillary first molar exhibited the greatest sexual dimorphism (26.95% and 25.98%, respectively). The developed discriminant function model achieved a prediction accuracy of 97.8% for males and 100% for females.

CONCLUSIONS: Digital odontometric analysis provides a promising approach for assessing sexual dimorphism in adolescents, pending external validation. This promising model may serve as a reliable adjunct for clinical evaluation and forensic identification within population-specific contexts pending further multicenter validation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Digital measurement of tooth and arch dimensions enables objective, standardized assessment of sex-related differences, supporting its integration into orthodontic diagnostics, treatment planning, and forensic casework where conventional skeletal indicators may be unavailable or inconclusive.

PMID:42568081 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-026-09486-x