Tag: statistics

BMC Med Educ. 2025 Apr 26;25(1):618. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07023-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an integrated Team-Based Learning (TBL) and Peer Teaching (PT) model in enhancing theoretical knowledge, clinical competencies, and engagement among dental residents, offering insights for improving stomatology education.

METHODS: This study was conducted at the affiliated stomatology hospital of Guangzhou medical university between 2021 and 2023. The 2021-22 cohort (n = 39) students received a traditional teacher-centered approach, whereas the 2022-23 cohort (n = 43) underwent a combined TBL and PT approach. Following a three-month training period, theoretical exams and OSCE were administered. Student engagement was evaluated using the SCEQ, and satisfaction was assessed through SSS. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and χ² tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: No significant baseline differences were observed in demographics. TBL + PT cohort demonstrated significantly higher theoretical test scores and OSCE performance in most assessed skills, including pulpotomy, tooth preparation, incision and suturing, and patient intake. Engagement scores were also significantly higher in the domains of emotional engagement and participation/interaction, and overall student satisfaction improved, particularly regarding teaching quality and student-centric learning methods. Word cloud analyses of student feedback revealed a stronger emphasis on collaboration, participation, and innovation in the TBL + PT cohort compared to the traditional group.

CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating Team-Based Learning and Peer Teaching into standardized dental residency training markedly enhanced theoretical knowledge, clinical proficiencies, and learner engagement. This instructional strategy improved residents’ technical competencies and cultivated stronger team collaboration, communication, and higher satisfaction levels, offering a promising alternative to traditional teaching for residency training in oral medicine.

PMID:40287670 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-07023-y

BMC Vet Res. 2025 Apr 26;21(1):290. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04533-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease is common in dogs and is initiated by the build-up of plaque on the tooth surface. There is evidence that the feeding of dry diets may help prevent the build-up of plaque and calculus compared to softer wet diets. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether diet format influences the microbial composition of dental plaque.

RESULTS: Subgingival (SG) and gingival margin (GM) plaque samples were collected from 28 Yorkshire terriers, housed within a research facility, between 37 and 53 weeks of age. Dogs were fed either wet commercial diets, dry commercial diets, or a simultaneous offering of the two. Illumina sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene (variable regions 3 and 4) of 43 SG and 43 GM plaque samples resulted in the generation of 6,725,682 paired end reads. Exploratory factor analysis, a statistical method for dimensionality reduction of multivariate data, was used to identify groups of covarying bacterial species. Subsequent mixed effects modelling revealed significant differences in the scores of two of these groupings indicating systematic differences in prevalences of their component taxa. One grouping revealed that for GM plaque samples, the profile of bacterial species most descriptive of the wet diet was biased towards those associated with periodontal disease whereas for the dry diet it was biased towards those associated with healthy gingiva. The dogs fed a mixture of wet and dry diets had bacterial profiles in between the wet and dry diets, i.e. a mix of both health and disease associated taxa. The other bacterial grouping indicated that, in dogs fed a wet diet only, GM plaque was significantly associated with bacteria that preferred aerobic conditions whereas SG plaque was associated with taxa that favoured anaerobic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Although dry diets shifted the bacterial community towards a healthier profile compared to wet diets there was no evidence of improved periodontal health. Additional methods to maintain dental hygiene should therefore be promoted to ensure effective management of periodontal disease in dogs.

PMID:40287669 | DOI:10.1186/s12917-025-04533-1

Molecules. 2025 Apr 3;30(7):1609. doi: 10.3390/molecules30071609.

ABSTRACT

Sample pretreatment is one of the most important steps in guaranteeing the success of a chromatographic analysis. The selected methodology must ensure simultaneously that a sample is “clean” enough for analysis and that the target analytes are not removed in the process. This can be especially difficult when working with complex matrices such as natural waters and wastewater. For pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) analysis by solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and due to the high level of organic matter in wastewater, the water samples are filtered consecutively through three filters, a paper filter, a glass microfiber filter of 1 µm, and a Nylon filter of 0.45 µm. This filtration allows the sample’s passage through the SPE cartridge to be faster, and there is no cartridge clogging, allowing for greater efficiency in the adsorption process. The big question is whether the PhACs are eliminated during filtration, since they may be adsorbed to organic matter. This work aimed to determine if the best approach for quantifying PhACs in wastewater and surface waters would be to filter them prior or to perform SPE directly. Both approaches analyzed a total of 26 PhACs. Turbidity (TUR) and permanganate index (PI) were determined, and their values were high for samples with a high organic matter content. A statistical analysis was performed to determine the best approach to treat these water samples and whether any correlation existed between PhAC concentrations, PI, and TUR. The PhAC quantification shows a positive correlation with TUR and a negative correlation with PI for most of the target PhACs. However, there are not significantly different results for filtered and not-filtered wastewater samples.

PMID:40286260 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30071609

Molecules. 2025 Apr 2;30(7):1584. doi: 10.3390/molecules30071584.

ABSTRACT

Electronic noses (E-noses) have become powerful tools for the rapid and cost-effective differentiation of wines, providing valuable information for the comprehensive evaluation of aroma patterns. However, they need to be trained and validated using classical analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, which accurately identify the volatile compounds in wine. In this study, five low-ethanol wines with distinctive sensory profiles-produced using Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts and tailored to modern consumer preferences-were analyzed to validate the E-nose. A total of 57 volatile compounds were quantified, 27 of which had an Odor Activity Value (OAV) over 0.2. The content in volatiles, grouped into 11 odorant series according to their odor descriptors, along with the data provided by 12 E-nose sensors, underwent advanced statistical treatments to identify relationships between both data matrices. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) applied to the data from the 12 E-nose sensors revealed well-defined clustering patterns and produced a model that explained approximately 92% of the observed variability. In addition, a principal component regression (PCR) model was developed to assess the ability of the E-nose to non-destructively predict odorant series in wine. The synergy between the volatile compound profiles and the pattern recognition capability of the E-nose, as captured by PLS-DA, enables a detailed characterization of wine aromas. In addition, predictive models that integrate data from gas chromatography, flame ionization detection, and mass spectrometry (GC-FID/GC-MSD) with the electronic nose demonstrating a promising approach for a rapid and accurate odor series prediction, thereby increasing the efficiency of wine aroma analysis.

PMID:40286168 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30071584

Molecules. 2025 Mar 26;30(7):1479. doi: 10.3390/molecules30071479.

ABSTRACT

Chitin and chitosan, versatile biopolymers extensively used in the food and cosmetic industries, are traditionally sourced from crustaceans. However, fungi such as Agaricus bisporus mushrooms present a sustainable, non-animal alternative. This study explored the potential of different Agaricus bisporus samples, including fresh mushrooms and production residues, as sources of chitin. Given that Agaricus bisporus mushrooms are also a rich source of ergosterol, the study additionally incorporated samples treated with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). The effects of deproteinisation conditions-specifically the number of successive extractions, sodium hydroxide concentration, and extraction time-were evaluated for fresh mushroom samples in terms of alkali-insoluble matter, chitin yields, and the degree of deacetylation (DD), with the latter determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that extraction time had no statistically significant impact on AIM or chitin yield, while the DD increased with prolonged extraction, plateauing after 60 min. Higher sodium hydroxide concentrations enhanced deacetylation, but adversely affected extraction yields. No significant differences in chitin’s DD were observed between fresh mushroom and production residue samples, regardless of scCO₂ treatment. This study demonstrates the viability of recovering chitin from Agaricus bisporus mushroom bio-residues, including those treated with scCO₂, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for chitin production.

PMID:40286139 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30071479

Molecules. 2025 Mar 22;30(7):1415. doi: 10.3390/molecules30071415.

ABSTRACT

A pseudo-multicomponent one-pot protocol for the synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted imidazolidin-2-one is described, employing trans-(R,R)-diaminocyclohexane for the in situ formation of the Schiff base, followed by reduction to produce the respective diamine and cyclization with carbonyldiimidazole (CDI). This approach utilizes statistical analysis to optimize the reaction conditions, allowing a pseudo-multicomponent protocol to be proposed. The developed method demonstrates sustainability, efficiency, and potential applications in green chemistry, achieving yields ranging from 55% to 81%. This represents a significant advance in synthesizing heterocyclic compounds with biological and pharmacological applications.

PMID:40286054 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30071415

Molecules. 2025 Mar 23;30(7):1425. doi: 10.3390/molecules30071425.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine cold-pressed oils available on the Polish market derived from different plants and manufacturers in the context of their biological activity, including micro- and macroelements, antioxidant properties, antimicrobial activity, and selected effects on eukaryotic cells. In total, 76 oil samples of 34 selected oil types from nine Polish companies (five commercial and four amateur) were tested. The content of macro- and micronutrients was assessed using ICP-OES, the level of fatty acid unsaturation was examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and total antioxidant potential (TAP) was assessed using the DPPH method. The antimicrobial activity of the selected oils against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi, representing both pathogens and human microbiota, was tested using the broth microdilution method. The MTT reduction assay was used to exclude the cytotoxic effect of the oils on the human fibroblast line HFF-1. It has been concluded that the composition of cold-pressed oils varied significantly depending on the plant used and the manufacturer. The total content of the elements tested ranged from 172.91 mg/kg in Helianthus annuus oil to 1580.73 mg/kg in Silybum marianum oil. The iron concentration limits were exceeded in 10 oils, the copper concentration limits were exceeded in 34 oils, and the lead concentration limits were exceeded in 18 oils. At least one of these elements was exceeded in 40 oils (53% of the tested samples), which is why testing the concentration of elements should be a standard procedure for assessing the quality of cold-pressed oils. There was no statistically significant correlation between the content of any macro- and microelements and TAP. While TAP was strongly correlated with the spectral unsaturation index of the oils, this relationship can be used to develop a simple and rapid assessment of oils quality. The strongest antioxidant activity (over 90%) was observed for Nigella sativa oils. Interestingly, among all the tested oils, only these from Nigella sativa L., whatever the producer, possessed also strong antimicrobial activity. None of the tested oils showed cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells, so the cold-pressed oils can be considered safe.

PMID:40286008 | DOI:10.3390/molecules30071425

Discov Oncol. 2025 Apr 26;16(1):619. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02063-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adherence to chemotherapy treatment requires collaboration and sincere agreement between healthcare providers and patients. Poor medication adherence is problematic as it can lead to reduced effectiveness of the treatment. Poor survival, a rise in relapses, treatment failure, and higher healthcare expenses will result from this. A measure of patient treatment adherence is crucial to attain ideal results, such as curative treatment or improving quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To assess cancer patients’ adherence to chemotherapy and related factors patients in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia, in 2022.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between May 28, 2022, and June 22, 2022, 460 cancer patients in the Amhara region participated in a cross-sectional study carried out by systematic randomized sampling. Data were gathered using an interview-based, previously approved questionnaire. For analysis, the data were first imported into Epi-Data version 4.6 and then exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science version 26. Variables with a p-value of 0.25 were evaluated in a bivariate logistic regression to select a candidate variable for multivariate logistic regression. Variables with a p-value less than 0.05 were deemed significantly associated factors in multivariable logistic regression, and the resulting AOR and 95% CI are displayed for those variables. The Hosmer Lemeshow test was used to confirm the model’s appropriateness, and multi-collinearity was verified with a standard error.

RESULTS: The proportion of good adherence in the Amhara region is 42.3% (95%CI [37.6-47.6]). A history of comorbidity [AOR = 2.74, 95% CI (1.56, 4.81)], no serious side effects from chemotherapy [AOR = 3.50, 95% CI (1.55, 7.90)], having social support [AOR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.21, 1.95)], being a woman [AOR = 2.17, 95% CI (1.31, 3.60)], and having a family history of cancer [AOR = 3.58, 95% CI (2.22, 5.76)], were associated with good chemotherapy adherence.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Compared to other studies, the proportion of poor adherence in the Amhara region was high. Health professionals, families, and government representatives should all work together to provide social support and other systems that will lessen the likelihood that cancer patients with comorbidities may have side effects from chemotherapy.

PMID:40285995 | DOI:10.1007/s12672-025-02063-8

MAGMA. 2025 Apr 26. doi: 10.1007/s10334-025-01252-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To validate the automated analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion phantoms with an updated version of the magnetic resonance biomarker assessment software (MR-BIAS), an open-source tool initially developed for the analysis of MRI relaxometry phantoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The updated MR-BIAS was validated against two published diffusion weighted MRI datasets: (i) a single-site study (n = 48) was used for validation of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) and to identify optimal region of interest (ROI) selection, and (ii) a multi-centre multi-vendor study including diffusion imaging from a shared benchmark protocol (n = 49) and site-specific protocols (n = 43). ADC analysis compared both datasets with ROIs manually matched to the original studies, and with automatically detected optimal ROIs.

RESULTS: MR-BIAS ADC values were statistically equivalent (p < 0.05) to original studies within tolerances (manual ROI, automatic ROI) for the single-site study (± 0.01, ± 6 μm²/s) and for the multi-vendor study for benchmark (± 4, ± 7 μm²/s) and site-specific (± 3, ± 6 μm²/s) protocols. The optimal ROI was a central cylinder (height = 10mm, diameter = 10mm). MR-BIAS ADC summary metrics were comparable to those of the original studies.

DISCUSSION: MR-BIAS can automatically and accurately perform ADC analysis of diffusion phantoms, making the software suitable for the quality assurance of multi-centre studies of multi-parametric MRI.

PMID:40285992 | DOI:10.1007/s10334-025-01252-4

Int Endod J. 2025 Apr 26. doi: 10.1111/iej.14243. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Tissue engineering can be applied to dentine regeneration, stimulating tissue repair by promoting mesenchymal cell migration and differentiation into odontoblast-like cells while modulating inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin (QU) and calcium hydroxide (CH) incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) scaffolds on the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in a simulated inflammatory environment in vitro.

METHODOLOGY: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were cultured and treated with different concentrations of quercetin (QU) to assess cell viability, mineralized matrix production and responses under inflammatory stimuli. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as TNF-α synthesis, were quantified using fluorescence and ELISA methods. Scaffolds of PCL/PEO with calcium hydroxide and QU were fabricated via electrospinning, characterized and analysed for cell adhesion, viability, inflammatory and mineralisation-related genes in an artificial pulp chamber model. Statistical analysis was performed using anova, Kruskal-Wallis and confidence intervals with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS: Polycaprolactone/polyethylene oxide scaffolds incorporated with CH and QU showed cytocompatibility and support for DPSC differentiation at concentrations of up to 5 M diluted in the culture medium. After 14 days of treatment, the scaffolds upregulated ALPL gene expression under the inflammatory stimulus, with no differences between the control group and the nonincorporated scaffold. The expression of osteocalcin (OCN) and dentine sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) genes was significantly upregulated for the scaffold-treated group when stimulated with LPS.

CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating QU and CH into PCL/PEO scaffolds modulated the inflammatory-related response and upregulated mineralisation-related genes of LPS-challenged dental pulp stem cells.

PMID:40285990 | DOI:10.1111/iej.14243