Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Post Hoc Analysis of Solriamfetol Efficacy in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Stratified by Disease Severity

Adv Ther. 2026 Jul 9. doi: 10.1007/s12325-026-03690-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Solriamfetol, a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is indicated for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of solriamfetol across different severity levels of OSA via the post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial in a Chinese population.

METHODS: Participants were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the placebo group or solriamfetol group (dose titrated up to 150 mg/day) for 12 consecutive weeks, with randomization stratified by adherence status to primary OSA therapy. The co-primary endpoints were defined as the changes of mean sleep latency measured by the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores from baseline to week 12 in the full analysis set. The efficacy and safety profiles of solriamfetol were analyzed across subgroups stratified by baseline apnea hypopnea index (AHI).

RESULTS: Among eligible patients for subgroup analysis, 42.5%, 34.5%, and 23% had baseline AHI < 5, 5 ≤ AHI < 30, and AHI ≥ 30, respectively. At week 12, solriamfetol treatment significantly prolonged MWT sleep latency relative to placebo across all AHI subgroups. The least squares (LS) mean differences (standard error) versus placebo were 12.133 (2.2239) min for the AHI < 5 subgroup (P < 0.0001), 12.676 (2.5363) min for the 5 ≤ AHI < 30 subgroup (P < 0.0001), and 10.935 (2.6023) min for the AHI ≥ 30 subgroup (P = 0.0001). In subgroups with baseline AHI < 5 and 5 ≤ AHI < 30, solriamfetol significantly reduced ESS scores vs. placebo (LS mean difference [SE] versus placebo, – 2.0 [0.95] and – 2.1 [1.01], P = 0.0404 and P = 0.0394, respectively). In the baseline AHI ≥ 30 subgroup, solriamfetol showed a tendency toward reduction in ESS scores compared with placebo, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.2497). Meanwhile, solriamfetol was well tolerated, with the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (> 10% incidence in any treatment group) including upper respiratory tract infection, hyperuricemia, dizziness, and hypertension.

CONCLUSION: Solriamfetol showed good efficacy and tolerability regardless of OSA severity among Chinese OSA participants with EDS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The parent study was registered at www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn with the trial number CTR20231397 on May 15, 2023.

PMID:42423948 | DOI:10.1007/s12325-026-03690-5

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Qualitative Evaluation of Fatigue and Pruritus Among Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Adv Ther. 2026 Jul 9. doi: 10.1007/s12325-026-03691-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare cholestatic autoimmune liver disease. We aimed to generate evidence of the signs, symptoms, and impacts of PBC considered important by patients through interviews with clinicians and patients.

METHODS: This noninterventional, qualitative study involved a targeted literature review (TLR), clinician interviews, and patient interviews. The TLR identified relevant signs, symptoms, and impacts of PBC, as well as their reported prevalence data. This information was developed into a preliminary conceptual model (PCM) of PBC and refined via interviews with gastroenterology/hepatology clinicians, focusing on patients’ experiences. Next, PBC-related concepts were captured through patient interviews, and the PCM was finalized. A thematic approach was used to analyze data, and descriptive statistics were used to assess symptom and impact salience, ensuring a representative sample and achieving concept saturation.

RESULTS: Fatigue and pruritus were confirmed as the most prevalent symptoms. Clinician interviews (n = 4) provided insights into biochemical abnormalities used for diagnosis and common symptoms. Patient interviews (n = 20) revealed 41 unique PBC signs and symptoms. Patients reported mental and/or physical fatigue, with both impacting daily activities and overall health-related quality of life. They also reported that pruritus interfered with sleep and social engagements. The final conceptual model could distinguish between salient and non-salient signs, symptoms, and impacts, reflecting patients’ attributions to PBC and its treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: PBC imposes a significant burden on patients’ lives. This study highlights unmet patient needs, contributing valuable qualitative evidence to support clinical and observational studies in PBC.

PMID:42423947 | DOI:10.1007/s12325-026-03691-4

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Performance of next-generation AI chatbots in colorectal cancer knowledge assessment: a comparative pilot study of ChatGPT-5.1, Gemini-3Pro Preview, DeepSeek-V3.2, Kimi K2 Thinking, Qwen3-Max and Claude Opus 4.5

Updates Surg. 2026 Jul 9. doi: 10.1007/s13304-026-02766-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

As AI models evolve, their application in specialized fields like colorectal cancer requires rigorous validation. This pilot study aimed to comparatively assess the knowledge retention, safety, and reasoning limitations of six advanced AI chatbots using a constrained zero-shot multiple-choice question format. 137 text-based MCQs covering 12 core colorectal cancer modules were adapted from the 2023 Chinese guidelines and administered to Gemini 3 Pro Preview, GPT-5.1, Kimi K2 Thinking, DeepSeek V3.2, Qwen3-Max, and Claude Opus 4.5 under zero-shot conditions with a prompt prohibiting reasoning steps. Both quantitative statistical analysis and qualitative error analysis were performed. Overall accuracy was low: Kimi K2 Thinking 27.74%, SD = 0.45, Claude Opus 4.5 26.28%, SD = 0.44, Gemini 3 Pro 16.06%, SD = 0.37, DeepSeek V3.2 15.33%, SD = 0.36, GPT-5.1 14.60%, SD = 0.35, and Qwen3-Max 13.87%, SD = 0.34. Significant module-wise disparities emerged, with Kimi K2 scoring 37.04% in Endoscopic Imaging versus Qwen3-Max at 7.41%. Qualitative analysis revealed four failure patterns: semantic association bias, hierarchical logic failure, fact retrieval error, and hallucinations. No correlation existed between item difficulty and accuracy. Under constrained prompts, next-generation AI chatbots demonstrate unsatisfactory colorectal cancer performance, often relying on keyword matching rather than physiological simulation. This leads to dangerous clinical errors, highlighting the critical need for chain-of-thought prompting, expert oversight, and domain-specific fine-tuning before unsupervised use.

PMID:42423944 | DOI:10.1007/s13304-026-02766-9

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Applicant Selection and Ranking in Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowships: A National Survey of Program Leadership

Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Jul 9. doi: 10.1245/s10434-026-20150-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breast surgical oncology was the most competitive surgical fellowship match in 2025, with a record low of 61% of applicants successfully matched. Previous studies evaluated the attitudes of program directors on the selection and ranking criteria of candidates. This study evaluates the perspectives of both program directors and associate program directors on the selection and ranking process because of the increasing competitiveness of the field.

METHODS: An anonymous, web-based survey was sent to all breast surgical oncology fellowship program leadership. The survey consisted of 24 questions. Survey analysis was performed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Of 65 programs, 76.9% responded; 50 program directors and 26 associate program directors participated. Over half of programs (57.9%) engaged in holistic review of applicants before offering an interview and did not have formal screening criteria. For most programs (84%), additional faculty members beyond program leadership contributed to the rank list. Interview performance was the most important factor (65.8%) in the formation of the rank list.

DISCUSSION: Compared with prior years, breast surgical oncology fellowship directors reported fewer screening metrics before extending an interview. In rank list formation, there continues to be a strong majority consensus with previous years and among other surgical subspecialties that interview performance has the largest impact. An improved understanding of the application and rank list process enables both applicants and program directors to better prepare for a successful match.

PMID:42423938 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-026-20150-0

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Biological and Race Strategy Characteristics Investigated in Elite Endurance Track Running: A Systematic Review

Sports Med. 2026 Jul 9. doi: 10.1007/s40279-026-02475-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Understanding biological and race strategy characteristics of endurance track runners competing at benchmark events provides high-performance athletics programmes and coaches with valuable insight into what is required to succeed.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to identify biological and race strategy characteristics investigated in elite able-bodied endurance track runners (Aim 1) and, where examined, highlight whether these characteristics could differentiate performance success within this elite cohort (Aim 2).

METHODS: For this systematic review, searches across EBSCOhost (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete and SPORTDiscus), Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science were completed until May 2023. Searches also involved World Athletics Research Centre, New Studies in Athletics, handsearching and scanning of reference lists of included studies. Eligible studies were required to be published in English and have investigated performance-related biological or race strategy characteristics among senior able-bodied endurance track runners (800-10,000 m) capable of competing at benchmark events. Risk of bias of included studies was evaluated based on Sarmento et al.’s 16-item checklist. The review separated middle-distance runners (MDR) and long-distance runners (LDR), to account for the differing performance demands of these event groups. Studies were considered to address Aim 2 if they assessed for statistical associations between athlete characteristics and overall performance (e.g. race time) or compared characteristics between athletes with different competitive results (e.g. medallists and non-medallists).

RESULTS: Thirty-nine articles were included in this review, with 23 and 21 of these articles relevant to MDR and LDR, respectively. The most commonly reported characteristics were related to anthropometry (7 studies for MDR and LDR), biomechanics (7 studies for LDR), pacing (9 and 10 studies for MDR and LDR, respectively), qualification pattern (6 studies for MDR) and benchmark performance relative to athlete history (9 and 7 studies for MDR and LDR, respectively). However, the diversity of biological characteristics investigated and the generally small sample sizes makes it difficult to define an optimal biological profile for elite endurance runners. In contrast, race strategy characteristics investigated often included larger sample sizes providing a better understanding, especially in relation to pacing and for middle-distance events qualification patterns. Further, studies investigating whether characteristics differentiate performance among elite endurance track runners indicate that the most successful runners consistently demonstrate superior finishing ability. This is reflected in faster speeds during at least one 100-m segment of the final 400 m of the race and the ability to complete the final segments of the race at a pace close to, or faster than, their season best or 32-month best performance. In long distance events, better performance was associated with faster personal best times across the previous 32 months, indicating that having a high-ranking recent best time may be a prerequisite for succeeding at benchmark events. Faster 10,000-m runners had lower body mass and smaller arm and calf circumferences, suggesting a potential advantage of having lower non-functional mass. In middle distance events, success was associated with achieving superior qualification positions in the heats and semi-final, highlighting the importance of tactical positioning and efficient progression through qualification rounds. Faster male 800-m runners had a technique characterised by longer contact times and more compliant spring mechanics which may allow athletes to maintain or elevate speed during the sprint finish.

CONCLUSION: Biological and race strategy characteristics that profile elite endurance track runners and that, in several studies, showed association with performance success were discussed. These findings may assist high-performance athletics programmes and coaches in informing athlete development and investment. However, further research is required to establish a more holistic understanding of the biological profile of elite endurance track athletes and to determine which biological and race strategy characteristics may differentiate performance reliably among these elite runners.

PMID:42423935 | DOI:10.1007/s40279-026-02475-8

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

The role of rurality and area-level disadvantage in lifestyle risk factors and psychological well-being among cancer survivors: findings from the 2021 NCI HINTS-SEER

Cancer Causes Control. 2026 Jul 9;37(8):125. doi: 10.1007/s10552-026-02212-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rural cancer survivors consistently experience poorer health outcomes than their urban counterparts, yet the interplay between rurality and area-level disadvantage remains understudied. This study examines how rural versus urban residence and neighborhood disadvantage relate to obesity, smoking, and psychological well-being among cancer survivors.

METHODS: Data from 1,062 HINTS-SEER participants across three registries were analyzed. Logistic regression models estimated associations between area-level factors (Social Deprivation Index (SDI) and Areas of Persistent Poverty) and health outcomes, adjusting for individual sociodemographic factors. Analyses accounted for complex survey design using Taylor series linearization.

RESULTS: Urban residents showed lower odds of obesity compared with their rural counterparts (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50-0.95). In stratified analyses, area-level social deprivation demonstrated smaller statistically significant associations. Higher deprivation was associated with increased odds of obesity among urban cancer survivors (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00-1.02) and increased depression/anxiety among rural survivors (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.04). Across all models, individual-level socioeconomic factors (education, income) showed stronger, more consistent protective associations than area-level indicators.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Area-level disadvantage was a contributor to rural cancer survivors’ psychological well-being. Individual socioeconomic status remains the dominant determinant of lifestyle and mental health outcomes. Cancer survivors residing in socioeconomically disadvantaged rural areas may benefit from targeted mental health intervention. Future longitudinal research incorporating census tract-level geographic measures and residential histories is needed to clarify the mechanisms linking the geographic and socioeconomic context to survivorship outcomes.

PMID:42423918 | DOI:10.1007/s10552-026-02212-6

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

The safety profile of early postoperative discharge in gynecologic and obstetric surgery: a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes of the 24-hour protocol

Ir J Med Sci. 2026 Jul 9. doi: 10.1007/s11845-026-04547-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Standard postoperative care for major gynecologic and obstetric surgery traditionally involves a 48-hour observation period. However, extraordinary crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake necessitated an accelerated 24-hour discharge protocol to preserve hospital capacity.

AIMS: This study aims to evaluate whether a 24-hour early discharge protocol is non-inferior to the conventional 48-hour standard regarding clinical complications.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data from 11,670 patients (2010-2024) were analyzed. Patients were categorized into Pandemic (n = 2,924) and Earthquake (n = 1,194) groups (24-hour discharge), and a Control group (n = 7,552; 48-hour discharge). Primary outcomes included surgical site infection (SSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), wound dehiscence, and hemorrhagic complications within 30 days.

RESULTS: Non-inferiority was established for SSI (4.3% and 4.4% vs. 4.1%), UTI (3.5% and 3.6% vs. 3.3%), and wound dehiscence (1.4% and 1.3% vs. 1.3%). Multivariable regression confirmed that hospitalization duration was not an independent predictor of SSI (p > 0.500), whereas obesity (OR: 1.91; p < 0.001) was the primary risk factor. Hemorrhagic complication results remained inconclusive due to insufficient statistical power.

CONCLUSIONS: A 24-hour postoperative discharge protocol is non-inferior to the 48-hour standard for most major complications following benign surgery. These findings suggest that patient-intrinsic factors, specifically BMI, drive infection risk more than the length of hospital stay.

PMID:42423912 | DOI:10.1007/s11845-026-04547-0

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Multidimensional menopausal symptom burden in Singapore – MARIE work package 2a population analysis

Climacteric. 2026 Jul 9:1-13. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2026.2685623. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Menopause is a multidimensional health transition associated with physical, psychological and social consequences. Evidence from Asian settings remains limited, and symptom burden is often examined using single instruments rather than integrated severity measures. This study quantified menopausal symptom burden in Singapore and developed composite indices capturing overall symptom severity and cumulative burden.

METHOD: Baseline and follow-up data from the Singapore arm of a multi-site menopause study were analyzed. Participants self-reported menopausal stage and type. Symptoms were assessed using validated psychometric instruments. The Singapore Menopause Symptom Severity Score (SMSS-SG) integrated standardized symptom totals into a single severity metric. A Cumulative Burden Index for Singapore (CBI-SG) combined biological symptom severity (SMSS-SG), psychological burden, socioeconomic disadvantage and health-system barriers on a common scale. Descriptive analyses, non-parametric comparisons and validation assessments were performed.

RESULTS: Menopausal symptom burden was common and heterogeneous. Musculoskeletal and urogenital symptoms were the most severe, alongside high prevalence of sleep and mood-related symptoms. Overall severity peaked during perimenopause and remained clinically relevant in menopause and postmenopause. Surgical menopause was associated with higher symptom severity and cumulative burden than natural menopause, whereas medically induced menopause showed lower median severity. The SMSS-SG demonstrated good internal consistency and known-group validity, and both indices were inversely associated with health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSION: Menopausal symptom burden in Singapore is substantial and multidimensional. Composite severity and cumulative burden indices support epidemiological assessment and may support future symptom-led approaches to epidemiological surveillance, service planning and hypothesis generation within menopause research.

PMID:42423030 | DOI:10.1080/13697137.2026.2685623

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Association of GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Prescriptions and Alcohol Consumption in the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Cohort

Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2026 Jul;50(7):e70357. doi: 10.1111/acer.70357.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may represent a novel potential pharmacotherapeutic tool for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The objective of this study is to examine the association between GLP-1RA prescriptions and alcohol use.

METHODS: This cohort study used a cross-sectional measure of alcohol consumption and longitudinal electronic health record (EHR) data collected between 1981 and October 2023 from NIH’s All of Us Research Program, a large program to recruit and collect surveys, EHR, genomic, and wearable data from a wide array of Americans. Among 15,447 participants with at least two recorded GLP-1RA prescriptions on separate days, we created three groups based on the timing of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) responses relative to first GLP-1RA prescription. This resulted in 3650 with current GLP-1RA prescriptions, 5642 with future GLP-1RAs (primary comparison group), and 544 with previous GLP-1RAs. AUDIT-C scores were compared across these groups and to propensity-score matched comparison groups.

RESULTS: Those with current GLP-1RA prescriptions had statistically significant but modestly lower AUDIT-C scores compared with those with future prescriptions (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91-0.99; p = 0.01). Participants with a previous GLP-1RA prescription had lower AUDIT-C scores compared with those with future prescriptions, but this difference was not statistically significant. Results were similar using a matched comparison group with the current GLP-1RA group (IRR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.85-0.93; p ≤ 0.001) and no significant difference for the previous prescription group. Analysis of individual AUDIT-C questions shows a significant association with GLP-1RA prescriptions and frequency of drinking but not drinks per occasion or binge drinking.

CONCLUSIONS: This study’s findings indicate that GLP-1RAs may reduce alcohol consumption by decreasing use frequency. Experimental studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to test the mechanisms and potential efficacy of GLP-1RAs in people with AUD.

PMID:42423024 | DOI:10.1111/acer.70357

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Does Housing Eviction Modify the Effects of Alcohol Outlet Density on Hospitalizations for Assault and Alcohol Use Disorder in Pennsylvania?

Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2026 Jul;50(7):e70372. doi: 10.1111/acer.70372.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Examining how the relationship between alcohol outlet density and alcohol-related harms may vary by neighborhood-level factors is important for informing the evaluation and implementation of environmental alcohol interventions and identifying other community conditions that can be modified to reduce alcohol-related harms and inequities. This study aims to extend prior research by testing whether housing eviction-a cause of housing insecurity and neighborhood destabilization-modifies the impact of alcohol outlet density on hospitalizations for assault and alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Pennsylvania ZIP codes.

METHODS: We used Bayesian hierarchical space-time misalignment models to examine the associations between inpatient assault and AUD hospitalizations and housing eviction filing rates, alcohol outlet density, and the proportion of outlets selling alcohol for off-premise consumption at the ZIP code level in Pennsylvania 2018-2022 (n = 7257 space-time units), reporting relative rates (RR) and 95% credible intervals (CIs). We tested whether eviction filing rates modified the associations between outlet density/the proportion of off-premise outlets and hospitalizations for AUD and assault.

RESULTS: In main effects models, a one percent increase in the eviction filing rate was associated with a 1.2% increase in AUD hospitalizations (95% CI: 1.01, 1.015) and a 1.9% increase in assault hospitalizations (95% CI: 1.002, 1.038). The addition of one outlet per square mile was associated with a 0.3% increase in AUD hospitalizations (95% CI: 1.002, 1.004) and a 0.6% increase in assault hospitalizations (95% CI: 1.003, 1.008). In interaction models, eviction filing rates strengthened the positive associations between outlet density and hospitalizations for both assault and AUD.

CONCLUSIONS: Reducing housing evictions may mitigate the impact of alcohol outlet density on AUD and assault. Future research, policy, and practice should explore opportunities for jointly addressing the alcohol environment and neighborhood housing conditions.

PMID:42423004 | DOI:10.1111/acer.70372