Category: Statistics

Clin Rheumatol. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s10067-025-07862-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of kinesiophobia and central sensitization and the association of kinesiophobia and central sensitization with clinical variables in patients with gout.

METHOD: This cross-sectional study included patients with gout and age- and gender-matched individuals. All participants were assessed by using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Disease-related clinical variables, Gout Activity Score (GAS), and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) were also recorded.

RESULTS: The frequency of kinesiophobia and central sensitization in patients with gout was 62.3% and 33.8%, respectively. TSK, CSI, and HADS scores were higher, and SF-36 and IPAQ-SF scores were lower in patients with gout than in controls. Patients with kinesiophobia statistically had higher GAS, CSI, HADS, and HAQ-DI scores and lower subscores of SF-36 (except emotional role) and total IPAQ-SF scores than the non-kinesiophobia group. GAS, TSK, HADS, and HAQ-DI scores were found to be higher, and SF-36 and total IPAQ-SF scores were lower in patients with central sensitization compared to those without central sensitization. TSK and CSI scores had significant positive correlations with each other (ρ = 0.650) and with pain, GAS, HADS-D, HADS-A, and HAQ-DI scores (ρ ranged from 0.414 to 0.702). According to the regression analyses, the CSI score appeared to determine the severity of kinesiophobia.

CONCLUSIONS: Kinesiophobia and central sensitization frequently accompany patients with gout. These were associated with increased pain intensity, decreased quality of life, impaired emotional health, functionality, and physical activity. Key Points • The frequency of central sensitization and kinesiophobia accompanying patients with gout is considerable. • Mental health plays a fundamental role in influencing central sensitization in gout. • Central sensitization was independently associated with kinesiophobia. • These close associations lead to challenges in optimizing management, functionality, physical activity level, and quality of life in gout.

PMID:41329430 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-025-07862-6

Clin Rheumatol. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s10067-025-07859-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While stress is associated with the exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), empirical evidence linking specific, acute real-world stressors to objective inflammatory markers and clinical symptoms remains limited. This study investigated the short-term effects of a defined occupational stressor-24-h hospital duty-on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and pain in a patient with RA.

METHODS: A 40-day prospective, within-subject observational study was conducted on a male participant with stable, low disease activity RA. During this period, the participant completed six 24-h duty shifts. A total of 20 high-sensitivity CRP blood tests were performed, and daily self-reported data on pain and stress/fatigue were collected. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the proportion of CRP-positive samples ( exact tedL) obtained within 2 days after a duty shift to those from all other periods. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to evaluate the relationships between CRP levels, pain intensity, and fatigue.

RESULTS: CRP levels showed statistically significant, strong positive correlations with both pain intensity (rho = 0.68, p < 0.001) and fatigue (rho = 0.74, p < 0.001). The CRP positivity rate was 63.6% (7/11) within 2 days following a 24-h duty shift, which was significantly higher than the rate of 0% (0/9) during non-post-duty periods (p = 0.0067). Furthermore, even minimal elevations in CRP were associated with substantial increases in pain intensity.

CONCLUSION: This single-case study provides preliminary evidence that acute, real-world occupational stress can trigger a significant increase in systemic inflammation (CRP) and associated clinical symptoms in RA. These findings underscore the importance of stress management in RA care and suggest that clinically meaningful disease activity may persist even when CRP levels are normal (< 0.50 mg/dL) or only minimally elevated.

PMID:41329429 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-025-07859-1

J Autism Dev Disord. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07146-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Empathy has become a key area of research in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in recent years. However, the neural characteristics of empathy in children with ASD remain controversial. To advance the understanding of the neural mechanism of ASD’s empathy and test the classic empathy imbalance hypothesis, it is necessary to explore the cognitive-affective empathy in young children with ASD from another electrophysiological perspective in detail.

METHODS: The present study explored the specific neural characteristics of children with ASD and typically developing children under cognitive empathy and affective empathy via simultaneous EEG recording of social animation, which would be able to capture reliable and effective evidence in children with ASD.

RESULTS: The present study mainly revealed that the ASD group had abnormal electrophysiological characteristics under cognitive empathy, including increased functional connectivity in the θ band and abnormalities in the microstate classes C and D. Incidentally, this study also roughly found that the severity of autism symptoms was significantly correlated with the β-band amplitude of certain brain regions when viewing cognitive empathy clips, whereas the severity of autism symptoms was significantly correlated with the θ-band amplitude when viewing affective empathy clips.

CONCLUSION: The present study supported the empathy imbalance hypothesis in young children with ASD and might indicate that children with ASD have distinct neural characteristics related to cognitive empathy and affective empathy processing. Future studies can combine eye movement measurements while watching animations, and further longitudinal studies on the electrophysiological characteristics of empathy in children with ASD.

PMID:41329424 | DOI:10.1007/s10803-025-07146-7

Virus Genes. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s11262-025-02204-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Dengue is a major public health problem that affects millions of people globally. The present study used microarray data to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during dengue clinical conditions. The microarray datasets GSE84331, GSE18090, GSE43777, and E-MTAB-3162 were downloaded and analyzed using statistical analysis (Unpaired t-test). This was followed by Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques with recursive feature elimination and genetic algorithms implemented to identify the potential biomarkers. Further, functional enrichment, platelet signaling, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were performed to explore the potential diagnostic markers associated with dengue. Among all ML/DL models, the Random Forest algorithm outperformed on baseline data and identified 27 DEGs in the dengue fever (DF) vs. control (C) group and 13 DEGs in filtered data of the severe dengue (SD) vs. DF group. Likewise, the Support Vector Machine with Genetic Algorithm (SVM-GA) hybrid model outperformed the SD vs. C group and identified 79 DEGs. Based on the analysis, the study identified seven hub genes such as PIK3R1, GATA3, ZFPM, SKAP1 (involved in hemostasis, platelet activation, aggregation, and production), TP63, ZBTB20, and ZEB2 (abnormal hard palate morphology) for dengue diagnosis. Further, the hub genes may facilitate the development of reliable diagnostic potential; their prognostic utility requires further validation in larger, more diverse cohorts.

PMID:41329415 | DOI:10.1007/s11262-025-02204-9

Ecohealth. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s10393-025-01769-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Eco-distress shows positive correlations with mental health impairments. However, the correlations reported by different studies vary widely. The aim of our review was to explore possible methodological sources for this heterogeneity, hereby deepening our understanding of eco-distress and its relationship with mental health.

METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, Academic Search Complete, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were searched on 15.03.2025 for publications reporting the initial development of instruments assessing eco-distress, subsequent validation studies, or correlations with mental health impairments. We analyzed the relationship of psychometric quality and the range of effect sizes descriptively, as well as the potential influence of the type of mental health questionnaire, the psychometric quality, and study and sample characteristics statistically as moderators in meta-analysis.

RESULTS: We included 87 studies reporting on 15 different instruments. The underlying definitions of eco-distress differed and psychometric quality was mixed. However, confidence intervals did not vary systematically due to psychometric quality. Overall, eco-distress and mental health impairments correlated with r = 0.32, 95% CI [0.27; 0.37]. Only type of mental health questionnaire moderated the effect size.

CONCLUSION: Although it varied in magnitude, there was a significant positive correlation between eco-distress and mental health impairments. However, type of eco-distress questionnaire did not systematically influence the effect size. The heterogeneity was considerable and could only be partially explained by the moderators used. Future research should focus on the psychometric evaluation of existing instruments, as information on psychometric quality was incomplete for many instruments.

PMID:41329414 | DOI:10.1007/s10393-025-01769-z

Inflammopharmacology. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s10787-025-02081-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of arthritis continues to increase, which has driven research on new therapeutic approaches. However, existing treatments often have limitations. Angiogenesis and pathological changes in the synovium are the key contributors to the early development of arthritis. Rebastinib, a tie-2 receptor inhibitor, blocks the activation of tie2-expressing macrophages, which are involved in angiogenesis. Although previous studies have highlighted the importance of angiogenesis in early arthritis, few have focused on targeting the tie-2 receptor to slow disease progression. In this study, we evaluated the effects of rebastinib encapsulated in pH-dependent liposomes in a rabbit model of surgically induced arthritis. Additionally, we investigated the efficacy of a pH-dependent liposomal formulation, developed using microfluidic technology for sustained drug release. The results demonstrated that rebastinib-loaded pH-dependent liposomes were stable and provided controlled release and rebastinib effectively inhibited the progression of early stage arthritis in this model. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA. In conclusion, rebastinib encapsulated in pH-dependent liposomes holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of early arthritis, offering both stability and efficacy in disease suppression.

PMID:41329397 | DOI:10.1007/s10787-025-02081-6

Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Dec 2;198(1):2. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14858-x.

ABSTRACT

This study provides a comprehensive long-term assessment of air quality in Balıkesir, northwestern Türkiye, focusing on the spatiotemporal variability of PM₁₀ and SO₂ during 2013-2023. The analysis integrates pollutant observations with ERA5 reanalysis meteorological data to examine seasonal and diurnal variations, long-term trends, and the role of temperature inversions and atmospheric circulation in shaping pollution episodes. Results indicate that both pollutants reach their highest concentrations in winter due to intensified domestic heating and stagnant meteorological conditions, with temperature inversions acting as a key driver of near-surface accumulation. The Theil-Sen trend analysis revealed an insignificant long-term change in PM₁₀ but a statistically significant upward trend in SO₂ (+ 0.5 µg m⁻³ year⁻¹), suggesting persistent reliance on sulfur-rich fuels during the cold season. However, a short-term decline after 2020 reflected the combined effects of cleaner fuels and pandemic-related emission reductions. Correlation analysis demonstrated that PM₁₀ and SO₂ are moderately interrelated (r = 0.49) and primarily controlled by high-pressure, low-wind conditions. HYSPLIT trajectory analyses confirmed that severe winter episodes result from the combined influence of local stagnation and regional air mass transport. These findings highlight the dual importance of emission control and meteorological monitoring in managing winter pollution. Policy recommendations include stricter regulation of heating fuels, inversion-based early-warning systems, and enhanced regional cooperation to mitigate transported particulate matter.

PMID:41329396 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14858-x

Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Dec 2;198(1):1. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14760-6.

ABSTRACT

It was presented a reliable statistical assessment of regional background element concentrations with a geochemical framework using the concentrations of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Pb, and Hg in soils and Hg in air (atmospheric and soil) on the example of the area with ore mineralization and superimposed historical anthropogenic mining activity (Sarala gold-ore group; the Republic of Khakassia, Russia). The most reproducible results were obtained by the 2sd (mean ± 2σ) and 2MAD (median ± 2MAD) statistical methods. The TIF (Tukey inner fence) gave the widest background range. The 2sd method can be used as well as 2MAD, but with careful statistical pre-processing of data. It was found that the upper threshold values of background concentrations of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Pb, and Hg in soils of the Sarala gold-ore area exceeded the concentrations in the upper continental crust, soils of 4 neighboring objects of the Siberian region, and maximum permissible concentrations. Hg concentrations in air (atmospheric and soil) were higher than in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration for residential areas. The patterns are typical for areas where ore mineralization zones are located. Based on the comparison of geological and geochemical data with the results of ANOVA (one-way analysis of variance) tests and correlation analysis, the sources of elements were recognized in the study area (geogenic, technogenic, and mixed). The investigation with this kind of statistical approach was realized for the first time in Russia for such a natural-technogenic object, providing research novelty. The results provide reference data for comparing background concentrations in soils in similar mining areas worldwide and can help with making decisions about environmental strategies for specialized measures to ensure public safety.

PMID:41329378 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14760-6

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2025 Dec 2;36(1):34. doi: 10.1007/s00590-025-04613-w.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify patient and injury characteristics associated with reoperation after patella open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent operative fixation of patella fractures (AO/OTA 34) from 2012 to 2022 at a single Level I trauma center. Demographic, injury, and operative variables were collected. Primary outcomes were all-cause reoperation, symptomatic implant removal (SIR), fixation failure, and fracture-related infection (FRI). Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with reoperation.

RESULTS: Of 497 identified patients, 251 met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 45.8 years, and 57.4% were male. Fifty-six patients (22.3%) required reoperation, most commonly for fixation failure (14.7%). Osteoporosis (33.9% vs 8.2%, p < 0.001), diabetes (23.2% vs 8.2%, p = 0.002), and tobacco use (53.6% vs 30.3%, p = 0.001) were more common among reoperation cases. On multivariable analysis, male sex (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.07-6.91, p = 0.035), diabetes (OR 4.23, 95% CI 1.37-13.08, p = 0.012), and osteoporosis (OR 8.51, 95% CI 3.03-23.91, p < 0.001) were independently associated with fixation failure, whereas increasing BMI was associated with lower odds of fixation failure (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86-1.00, p = 0.049).

CONCLUSION: Reoperation occurred in approximately one in five patients following patella ORIF. Osteoporosis, diabetes, and tobacco use were associated with higher complication rates, while higher BMI was associated with reduced odds of fixation failure. Individualized surgical planning, bone health optimization, and closer follow-up may address complication risk in high-risk patients following patella fracture fixation.

PMID:41329368 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-025-04613-w

Odontology. 2025 Dec 2. doi: 10.1007/s10266-025-01278-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim was to evaluate periodontal health in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and the relationship between UC and periodontitis. Since both diseases are immuno-inflammatory mediated, periodontal parameters and their correlation to disease activity indices in UC patients in comparison with healthy subjects were analysed. A cross-sectional comparative case-control study was conducted involving 80 subjects, consisting of 40 patients with UC and 40 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, all examined at a single time point. Full periodontal examination comprised Plaque Index (PlI), Gingival Index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Clinical features of the disease (Mayo score and duration of UC) were documented. Statistical methods employed were independent t-tests, chi-square, and logistic regression model. UC patients had worse periodontal parameters when compared to controls (PlI, GI, PPD, CAL, and BOP; all p < 0.001). Generalized periodontitis was more common in patients with UC (72.5%) than in controls (37.5%; p = 0.002). A slight positive correlation was found between the Mayo score and CAL and BOP. The burden of periodontal disease was significantly higher in UC patients. Incorporating periodontal evaluation and treatment for the management of UC could potentially decrease systemic inflammation and promote overall better health.

PMID:41329362 | DOI:10.1007/s10266-025-01278-z