Category: Statistics

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2025 Aug 9;25(1):592. doi: 10.1186/s12872-025-05072-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases worldwide, hypertension novel biomarkers that integrate inflammatory and metabolic pathways may improve risk stratification. The association between the red cell distribution width-to-albumin ratio (RAR), a newly identified inflammatory biomarker, and hypertension has not been systematically evaluated in population-based studies.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 7,878 adults. Weighted multivariable logistic regression and threshold effect models were employed to analyze nonlinear associations, with subgroup analyses exploring heterogeneity.

RESULTS: RAR showed a linear positive association with hypertension (adjusted OR = 1.26 per unit, 95%CI:1.09-1.44, P < 0.05), a threshold effect was observed. Piecewise regression revealed a significant association when RAR ≥ 3.4, with a higher hypertension prevalence (adjusted OR = 1.34, 95%CI:1.17-1.54), while no association existed below 3.4 (P = 0.408). For those aged 40-60 years, the inflection point was RAR = 3.92 (95%CI:3.76-4.51), with stronger associations observed below this threshold (OR = 1.80, 95%CI:1.33-2.43). Subgroup analyses revealed significant heterogeneity: diabetics exhibited stronger associations than non-diabetics (interaction P = 0.02), and enhanced associations were also observed in females and individuals aged > 40 years.

CONCLUSION: This study confirmed a linear positive correlation between red blood cell distribution width and albumin ratio (RAR) and the prevalence of hypertension, RAR ≥ 3.4 was associated with higher hypertension prevalence and may help identify high-risk subgroups, particularly among diabetics, but its predictive value warrants validation through prospective cohort studies.

PMID:40783688 | DOI:10.1186/s12872-025-05072-1

BMC Cancer. 2025 Aug 9;25(1):1291. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-14663-2.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Lipid metabolic reprogramming enables tumor cells to acquire malignant phenotypes, including enhanced proliferative capacity, migratory potential, and invasive properties. In cervical cancer, the precise pathobiological roles and molecular mechanisms of DHCR24 remain unclear.

METHODS: We performed comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to investigate the expression patterns, clinical relevance, and prognostic implications of DHCR24 in cervical carcinoma. A prognostic nomogram incorporating tumor stage and DHCR24 expression levels was developed to predict clinical outcomes in patients. Functional studies using SiHa cell lines were conducted to elucidate the oncogenic properties of DHCR24. We used a cholesterol kit to determine the cholesterol content in cervical cancer cells. Finally, we assessed the association between DHCR24 expression and tumor immune microenvironment characteristics through computational analysis of public genomic datasets.

RESULTS: Our analysis revealed significantly elevated DHCR24 expression in cervical carcinoma specimens, demonstrating statistically significant associations with histological subtype, body mass index (BMI), and therapeutic response (P < 0.05). Univariate and Multivariate Cox regression confirmed DHCR24 as an independent prognostic indicator for cervical cancer. The ROC analysis demonstrates that DHCR24 exhibits robust diagnostic performance for cervical cancer detection. Pharmacological inhibition of DHCR24 using U18666A markedly attenuated oncogenic behaviors, suppressing cellular proliferation, migration, and invasion compared to controls (P < 0.05). Notably, intracellular cholesterol levels exhibited a dose-dependent reduction corresponding to the extent of DHCR24 suppression.

CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesized that DHCR24 is involved in reprogramming lipid metabolism, especially the cholesterol pathway, to promote tumor progression in cervical cancer and correlates with the tumor-infiltrating immune microenvironment. DHCR24 is a biomarker that predicts the progression and prognosis of cervical cancer and is one of the potential targets for cervical cancer therapy.

PMID:40783686 | DOI:10.1186/s12885-025-14663-2

Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2025 Aug 9. doi: 10.1007/s10237-025-01984-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized the treatment of severe aortic stenosis, yet paravalvular leakage (PVL) remains a significant complication, associated with increased mortality. Clinical studies have identified correlations between PVL and both anatomical features and calcification patterns. Numerical simulations, particularly patient-specific models, offer valuable insights into PVL, but the limited scale of these studies hinders robust statistical analysis. This study introduces a novel in silico clinical trial (ISCT) framework to investigate the correlation between calcification severity, localization and PVL. For this purpose, a synthetic cohort of calcified aortic roots was generated. A conditional convolutional variational autoencoder was used to create calcification patterns for an existing virtual cohort of the aortic root. The workflow includes finite element analyses for pre-dilation and deployment simulations as well as computational fluid dynamic simulations for PVL calculations of 243 virtual TAVR patients. The results show that the absolute amount of calcification in the device landing zone has no significant influence, but its regional distribution does, especially in the combined leaflet regions. In addition, sinotubular junction diameter, annular eccentricity index, oversizing as well as the combination of aortic angle and calcification in the combined non and left coronary leaflet region influence the occurrence of PVL. This framework not only advances our understanding of PVL mechanisms but also demonstrates the potential of ISCT to complement traditional clinical studies, enabling systematic exploration of complex factors influencing TAVR outcomes.

PMID:40782312 | DOI:10.1007/s10237-025-01984-1

Ophthalmol Ther. 2025 Aug 9. doi: 10.1007/s40123-025-01220-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a prevalent exudative maculopathy; however, exact details of its incidence and a global estimate of its annual incidence are lacking. It is paramount to understand the details of the incidence of CSC when discussing its societal and personal impact, the impact of medicine shortages and initiatives for healthcare policies, and organization of retinal service.

METHODS: In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature on the incidence of CSC and performed meta-analyses to provide an age-stratified estimate of its incidence. By using population statistics from the United Nations Population Division, we were able to estimate the global and country-specific incidence of CSC in 2025 and forecast until 2050.

RESULTS: Seven eligible studies included a total of 324,954 new patients with CSC during their time of investigation. The summary estimate incidence rates per 100,000 person-years were 47.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.7-61.7) for individuals 30-39 years, 71.8 (95% CI 41.7-109.7) for individuals 40-49 years, 58.5 (95% CI 29.9-96.1) for individuals 50-59 years, and 36.2 (95% CI 16.8-62.6) for individuals 60-69 years. We confirmed male sex as a risk factor (odds ratio 2.73, P < 0.0001), and found that male individuals were significantly younger than female individuals at onset of CSC (average difference of 3.30 years, P < 0.0001). We estimated that in 2025, 1.97 million individuals globally will develop CSC, and that the incidence will increase to 2.03 million individuals in 2030, 2.30 million individuals in 2040, and 2.43 million individuals in 2050. The CSC incidence peaked between 40 and 49 years underscoring the significance in working-age individuals.

CONCLUSION: Numbers presented in this study highlight that CSC is one of the more prevalent maculopathies in our world and underscores the importance of education, research, and healthcare planning related to CSC.

PMID:40782298 | DOI:10.1007/s40123-025-01220-0

Dig Dis Sci. 2025 Aug 9. doi: 10.1007/s10620-025-09299-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition that can lead to complications like organ failure and infection. While early mobility has shown benefits in other hospital settings, its role in AP care remains underexplored. This study assessed the impact of a nurse-led early mobilization program on recovery in AP patients.

METHODS: A randomized controlled trial included 240 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, split equally between an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received a nurse-led early mobilization plan within 24 h of admission, while the control group followed standard care, with mobilization delayed until clinical stabilization. Primary outcomes included the Barthel Index score for functional recovery, measured at discharge, while secondary outcomes included complications, satisfaction, and readmission rates. Analyses used multivariate regression and propensity score matching.

RESULTS: Patients who received early mobilization had significantly higher Barthel scores (mean = 75.84 vs. 65.5, p < 0.001). Although complication rates were lower in the intervention group (2.1% vs. 4.6%), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.121). Patient satisfaction was notably higher in the intervention group (median = 8 vs. 7, p < 0.001). Readmission rates were slightly lower but not significant (0.4% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.313). Propensity score analysis supported these findings.

CONCLUSION: Nurse-led early mobilization appears to boost functional recovery and satisfaction in AP patients, with no added risks. These findings suggest early mobilization may be a valuable addition to standard AP care, warranting further research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2000013176.

PMID:40782295 | DOI:10.1007/s10620-025-09299-y

Drugs Aging. 2025 Aug 9. doi: 10.1007/s40266-025-01241-1. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40782292 | DOI:10.1007/s40266-025-01241-1

Sports Med Open. 2025 Aug 9;11(1):94. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00898-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: School-based interventions aimed at improving physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep (i.e., 24-hour movement behaviours) are prevalent. However, the potential use of homework as an intervention method has been largely unexamined. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of school-based health interventions which implement homework to improve 24-hour movement behaviours in primary school-aged children, whilst examining the moderating effects of study characteristics on intervention effectiveness.

METHODS: We searched CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, The Cochrane Library and Web of Science on 4th March 2024 using the following eligibility criteria: (1) participants were aged 5-12 years old; (2) school-based interventions that implemented homework specifically designed to improve one or more 24-hour movement behaviours; (3) randomised- or non-randomised controlled trials, or mixed methods studies where quantitative components included experimental or quasi-experimental data that could be clearly extracted; (4) device-based measured changes in individual or combined 24-hour movement behaviours, or their compositions, were reported. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers with study quality rated using the NIH quality assessment tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were processed to compute standardised mean difference (Hedges’ g), with subgroup analyses, and meta-regressions also conducted.

RESULTS: From 2,281 studies, 19 studies involving 13,160 participants were included for data extraction. Meta-analyses revealed significant favourable association for school-based interventions which implemented homework for sleep outcomes (g = 1.06, p < 0.0001) and SB (g = -0.20, p = 0.0034). No significant effects of the interventions compared to controls were found for PA. Meta-regressions revealed that longer intervention durations significantly improved PA (counts per minute; β = 0.14, p = 0.0241), with no significant effects found for sleep or SB. Subgroup analyses showed significant effects of intervention on SB in RCT’s in both theory-based and non-theory-based studies, though differences between subgroups were not statistically significant. Effects varied between pre- and post-implementations of 24-hour movement guidelines on SB, but these differences were also not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: These results highlight a significant gap in school-based interventions implementing homework targeting all 24-hour movement behaviours, emphasising the need for future interventions to focus on reducing SB and improving sleep for more beneficial outcomes.

REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024518271.

PMID:40782289 | DOI:10.1186/s40798-025-00898-7

World J Urol. 2025 Aug 9;43(1):480. doi: 10.1007/s00345-025-05864-2.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the predictive value of quantitative parameters derived from conventional MRI for determining the pathological WHO/ISUP grade in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) before surgery, and to construct a nomogram based on these parameters.

METHODS: This study analyzed ccRCC patients who underwent preoperative abdominal multi-sequence MRI, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and nephrectomy at our hospital. Patients were pathologically classified into low-grade (WHO/ISUP 1/2) and high-grade (WHO/ISUP 3/4) groups. Information on clinical characteristics and quantitative MR parameters was collected. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to create a nomogram incorporating the quantitative MR parameters with statistical significance to preoperatively predict the pathological grade of ccRCC. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the nomogram’s predictive performance.

RESULTS: Binary univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified maximum tumor diameter, ADC value, and corticomedullary enhancement as independent predictors of high-grade ccRCC. The quantitative MRI-based nomogram demonstrated high predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.936 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.901-0.972). What’s more, we found an ADC value of 1.47 × 10^-3mm²/s and a corticomedullary enhancement value of 0.90 were determined to be the optimal cut-off values, yielding the highest Youden index for differentiating between low-grade and high-grade ccRCC. The calibration curve and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test revealed that the predicted probability of the quantitative-MR nomogram had a good fitness (χ2 = 12.542, p = 0.129).

CONCLUSION: The quantitative MR-based nomogram demonstrated excellent performance in the preoperative prediction of pathological WHO/ISUP grade in ccRCC.

PMID:40782267 | DOI:10.1007/s00345-025-05864-2

Bull Math Biol. 2025 Aug 9;87(9):126. doi: 10.1007/s11538-025-01504-3.

ABSTRACT

Nonlocal perception plays a crucial role in studying animal cognitive movement modeling. In this paper, the impact of nonlocal perception on pattern formation is analyzed, and it is applied to study the control of pine wilt disease. It turns out that perceptual movement can provide a theoretical scientific basis for the multi-point outbreaks and spatiotemporal aggregation of pine wilt disease. For the top-hat kernel, we concentrate on the joint effect of perception scale and delay on the stability, and find that Turing-Hopf bifurcation occurs due to their interaction. Besides, the patterns near the bifurcation points are simulated in detail by adopting parameters with actual biological meaning, which are selected by analyzing real data, and diverse complicated spatiotemporal patterns are obtained, such as peak alternating periodic patterns and spatiotemporal aggregation patterns. Finally, we demonstrate that the artificial release of the parasitic natural enemy of the pest can drive the populations to reach stability in the form of the steady state or periodic solutions. The obtained results not only well explain the transmission mechanism of pine wilt disease, but also contribute to the study of biological phenomena such as the formations of flocks and swarms.

PMID:40782263 | DOI:10.1007/s11538-025-01504-3

Arch Toxicol. 2025 Aug 9. doi: 10.1007/s00204-025-04142-9. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40782261 | DOI:10.1007/s00204-025-04142-9