Tag: statistics

J Arrhythm. 2025 Apr 9;41(2):e70060. doi: 10.1002/joa3.70060. eCollection 2025 Apr.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) catheters are associated with less irrigation fluid load than standard (STD RF) ablation catheters. However, the impact of this fluid reduction on biomarkers in pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unknown.

METHODS AND AIM: Biomarkers of heart failure, myocardial injury, and systemic inflammation status as Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTnI), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were collected pre- and post-procedure of PVI for symptomatic AF. The study aimed to assess the impact of vHPSD catheter compared to an STD catheter (respectively irrigation of 8 vs. 15 mL/min during ablation) on biomarker alterations.

RESULTS: The study included 83 consecutive patients (59 males [71.1%], mean age 62.6 ± 11 years), with vHPSD catheters used in 53 cases (63.9%). No significant baseline differences were observed between groups.Fluid irrigation resulted in significantly lower with vHPSD catheter than STD RF (434.8 ± 105.6 vs. 806.6 ± 256.5 mL, p < .001). Correspondingly, BNP variation was significantly lower in the vHPSD group than in the STD RF group, both in absolute change (12 [IQR -9-47] pg/mL vs. 44.5 [IQR 21-88.7] pg/mL, p = .002) and percentage change (16.3 [IQR -13.2-108.6] % vs. 84.1 [IQR 32.5-172.1] %, p = .012). When considering absolute values, a statistically significant increase in BNP was found only in the STD catheter group (from 52 [IQR 35.2-113.5] to 113 [IQR 66.7-189.5] pg/mL, p < .001), whereas no significant increase was observed in the vHPSD group (p = .06). CRP levels increased post-PVI in both groups, but the delta was significantly lower in the vHPSD group (p = .025). No significant differences in post-procedural hsTnI were detected between groups.

CONCLUSION: The use of a vHPSD catheter is associated with reduced fluid irrigation and a correspondingly smaller increase in BNP, a biomarker indicative of fluid overload and heart failure.

PMID:40207269 | PMC:PMC11980087 | DOI:10.1002/joa3.70060

Vet Med Int. 2025 Apr 2;2025:2401778. doi: 10.1155/vmi/2401778. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Subclinical mastitis (SCM) is an inflammation of the mammary glands without visible changes on milk or under. In dairy cattle production, it is the common and economically significant form of mastitis. Despite such impacts, little is known about its prevalence and associated factors in the different regions of Ethiopia. Hence, this review aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of SCM from studies reported on Ethiopian dairy cows and explore factors associated with the prevalence of SCM. Articles reporting SCM in the Ethiopian dairy cows, published between 2012 and 2022, were searched from EMBASE, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus databases, and Google scholar. Article identification, screening, and inclusion were made following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Data were extracted independently and reviewed by two reviewers, and the trim-and-fill method was used to assess publication bias between studies. Data were managed using statistical tools in … software (Version …). Thirty-four eligible cross-sectional studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of SCM in Ethiopian dairy cows was found to be 43.19% (95% CI: 38.24%-48.13%). It was found that the prevalence of SCM varied between studies (I ² = 97.12%; p < 0.001). Based on subgroup and meta-regression analyses, Addis Ababa had the highest estimated prevalence of SCM at 54.11% (95% CI: 40.18-68.03), followed by Amhara region at 52.07% (95% CI: 34.49-69.66). The review revealed that SCM is prevalent in Ethiopian dairy cows, with different factors associated with its prevalence. To ensure dairy cows’ welfare as well minimize the public health risks from the milk, early detection and proper management of SCM would be crucial.

PMID:40207268 | PMC:PMC11981709 | DOI:10.1155/vmi/2401778

Vet Med Int. 2025 Apr 2;2025:7469192. doi: 10.1155/vmi/7469192. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Background: Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease that leads to reproductive losses in animals, posing significant public health risks and economic challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. This study aims to estimate the seroprevalence and identify risk factors associated with small ruminant brucellosis in the region. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2022 in six selected kebeles of the Dubti district in the Afar region of Ethiopia to investigate the seroepidemiology of ovine and caprine brucellosis. Researchers collected 300 serum samples from apparently healthy sheep (69) and goats (231). The samples were initially screened for brucella antigens using the rose bengal plate test (RBPT). Reactors identified by the RBPT were then confirmed using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) at the Animal Health Institution (AHI). The study employed descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square (X ²), and univariable logistic regression analyses to analyze the data. Results: The overall seroprevalence of brucella infection in small ruminants in this study was 6.7% (20 out of 300). Specifically, the seroprevalence rate in sheep was 7.2% (5 out of 69), and in goats, it was 6.5% (15 out of 231). The chi-square and univariable logistic regression analyses showed no significant association between brucella seropositivity and factors such as species, sex, age, parity, district, or abortion history (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study reveal that brucella infection is circulating in small ruminants in the study area and the broader Afar region. Further research should be conducted across the entire region that focuses on determining the regional seroprevalence of brucella, conducting molecular-based isolation, and identifying biotypes.

PMID:40207267 | PMC:PMC11981701 | DOI:10.1155/vmi/7469192

Meas Sci Technol. 2023 Mar;34(3):035301. doi: 10.1088/1361-6501/aca993. Epub 2022 Dec 21.

ABSTRACT

Real-time viscosity measurement techniques have been used to analyze the transition of hydrogels from a liquid state to a gel state. Measuring real-time changes in viscosity can be done through passive rheometry with the addition of tracer particles. Particle Diffusometry quantifies Brownian motion of sub-micron sized fluorescent particles by computing diffusion coefficients via statistical averaging. Herein, we demonstrate a method to study viscosity changes as a function of time using Particle Diffusometry for a temporally and spatially resolved rheometry measurement technique. We refined the PD algorithm using synthetic images of particles suspended in a liquid undergoing a sigmoidally decreasing viscosity trend to simulate the viscosity change of the solution during gelation. Then, the technique is applied to visualize the temporal and spatial gradients of diffusion coefficient during polyacrylamide hydrogel formation experiments. This work establishes the groundwork for quantifying over time changes in Brownian motion.

PMID:40207254 | PMC:PMC11981600 | DOI:10.1088/1361-6501/aca993

Bull World Health Organ. 2025 Apr 1;103(4):281-284. doi: 10.2471/BLT.24.291587. Epub 2025 Feb 13.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40207244 | PMC:PMC11978408 | DOI:10.2471/BLT.24.291587

Bull World Health Organ. 2025 Apr 1;103(4):266-274. doi: 10.2471/BLT.24.292434. Epub 2025 Feb 25.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of Peru’s strategy to introduce new vaccines in the poorest regions with high child mortality rates.

METHODS: We analysed data from nationally representative annual health surveys conducted between 2004 and 2022. We examined associations between vaccine coverage and poverty (proportion of households in the poorest 40% of the national wealth index) at the ecological level using the country’s 25 regions and at the individual child level using household wealth quintiles. We obtained vaccination data from home-based records.

FINDINGS: The surveys included 49 023 children aged 18-29 months. In the ecological analyses, coverage for Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcal conjugate and rotavirus vaccines was positively associated with poverty prevalence in the initial post-introduction period, but these associations disappeared over time. In contrast, the individual-level analyses indicated that children from wealthier families were consistently more likely to be vaccinated than children from poorer families. In the most recent period (2018-2022), vaccination coverage in the wealthiest quintile was about 10 percentage points higher than in the poorest quintile. Coverage levels for boys and girls were similar. Children whose low-income families were enrolled in the Juntos cash transfer programme had higher coverage than the rest of the population.

CONCLUSION: The strategy increased coverage in the poorest districts initially and, as national coverage grew, regional disparities were eliminated. However, socioeconomic differences persisted, with wealthier children maintaining higher vaccination rates throughout the study. To eliminate these disparities, geographic targeting should be complemented with household-level targeting.

PMID:40207242 | PMC:PMC11978405 | DOI:10.2471/BLT.24.292434

Front Immunol. 2025 Mar 26;16:1566939. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1566939. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus fluorouracil-based chemotherapy (Chemo) have been approved as an initial treatment strategy for metastatic or recurrent human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC). However, since programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) or its ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have just recently been investigated for the treatment of unresectable GC/GEJC, there is ongoing debate regarding their safety and effectiveness for prespecified subgroups. The purpose of this research is to establish a foundation toward stratified decision-making by methodically assessing the merits and drawbacks of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with chemo in the clinical utilization of advanced HER2-negative GC/GEJC according to certain prominent large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In addition, we limitedly explored the favorable short-term efficacy of PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibodies for the above-mentioned tumors.

METHODS: The researchers retrieved several databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library, to collect all the relevant literature published since the establishment of the databases until October 30, 2024, and then screened to determine the qualified literature and extracted the relevant information. We only included RCTs for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with or without chemo in advanced GC or GEJC. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR). A subgroup analysis for the median overall survival (mOS) was conducted for the following variables: microsatellite instability (MSI) status, PD-L1 expression, combined positive scores (CPS), metastasis status, and primary tumor location. When moderate heterogeneity was found, a random-effect model was applied. The outcome indicators were then statistically analyzed, taking advantage of Review Manager 5.4. Hazard ratio (HR) and risk ratio (RR) were selected as the effect values for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 7 eligible RCTs and 6537 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Combining PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with chemo significantly improved patients’ OS compared with chemo alone, especially in the tumor cell PD-L1 expression ≥ 1% [HR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.48, 0.81); a p-value = 0.0004], PD-L1 CPS ≥ 10 [HR = 0.66, 95% CI (0.57, 0.77); a p-value < 0.00001], and MSI-H subgroups [HR = 0.40, 95% CI (0.28, 0.59); a p-value < 0.00001]. Moreover, distinct primary tumor location (GC or GEJC) and the presence of liver metastases could also benefit from the additive or sustained effect of anti-cancer chemo-immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION: For patients with advanced HER2-negative GC/GEJC, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in combination with chemo have almost demonstrated consistent synergistic anti-tumor benefits to survival outcomes when compared to chemo alone. However, the subgroup analysis in this meta-study revealed that neither PD-L1 expression level nor MSI status could fully predict the efficacy of the dual treatment model but faced a higher possibility of serious treatment-related adverse events (sTRAEs), particularly in the synchronous therapy arm. Therefore, urging the need for more investigations into the development of collaborative prognostic forecasting models for achieving precise stratification, established harmonized testing standards and methods for PD-L1 expression and positivity, optimal CPS threshold for benefits, as well as alternative molecular biomarkers for the reason that certain indicators alone may not discriminate responders clearly. Lastly, dual anti-therapy might be a useful tactic for the population with low PD-L1 expression in the future.

PMID:40207218 | PMC:PMC11979168 | DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2025.1566939

Curr Res Food Sci. 2025 Mar 17;10:101037. doi: 10.1016/j.crfs.2025.101037. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Fixation methodology serves as the critical determinant in shaping green tea’s multi-dimensional quality attributes; however, the impact of different fixation methods and the corresponding combinations on the overall metabolites and quality of in green tea remains unclear. In this study, non-volatile metabolites (NVMs) and volatile metabolites (VMs) analyses and objective quantitative techniques were used to determine the effects of electromagnetic roller-hot air coupling fixation (ROHF), electromagnetic roller-steam coupling fixation (ROSF), electromagnetic roller-hot air-steam coupling fixation (RHSF), electromagnetic single roller fixation (ROLF), and carding fixation (CDF) on the quality of green tea. Forty-four NVMs, 99 VMs, and 15 flavor objective quantitative indexes were identified, with 12 differential NVMs and 9 differential VMs statistically screened. The green tea processed via ROLF was lustrous and emerald green with a bright and clear liquor; ROSF resulted in low caffeine and flavonoid glycosides contents and an umami (UMS) taste; and RHSF was associated with high trans-β-ionone, hexanal and 1-octen-3-ol levels, with a floral and fresh aroma. These findings provide a precise control scheme for the customized processing of green tea, and promote the upgrading of traditional fixation process to intelligent standardization.

PMID:40207208 | PMC:PMC11981776 | DOI:10.1016/j.crfs.2025.101037

Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2025 Apr 9;13:goaf030. doi: 10.1093/gastro/goaf030. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a heterogeneous disease with various histological and molecular subtypes. This study aimed to provide updated epidemiological estimates, survival outcomes, and treatment information for PC based on histological subtypes in the USA.

METHODS: Data from the US Cancer Statistics and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-17 databases (2000-2020) were used, including adults aged ≥20 years who were diagnosed with PC. The trends of incidence and prevalence by histological types were calculated by using the Joinpoint Regression model. Survival by histological type was analysed by using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests for group comparisons.

RESULTS: Overall, the age-adjusted PC incidence per 100,000 increased from 9.54 to 12.05 in SEER-17 and from 9.75 to 12.19 in the US Cancer Statistics between 2001 and 2019. A further SEER-17 study comprised 113,681 PC cases that were sorted by histologic type between 2000 and 2020. The incidence per 100,000 of invasive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and invasive mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) decreased (IPMN from 0.67 to 0.20 and MCN from 0.05 to 0.01) whereas that of other histological subtypes increased. Survival analysis indicated the best outcomes for solid pseudopapillary tumors and the poorest for squamous cell carcinoma. At the localized stage, the proportion of surgery in the treatment modalities varied depending on the biological behavior; the proportion of surgery for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor was the highest and that for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) was the lowest. At the distant metastasis stage, a chemotherapy-based regimen remained the primary treatment of PDAC, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, and IPMN.

CONCLUSIONS: PC incidence and prevalence have been increasing. The incidence of IPMN and MCN decreased whereas that of other subtypes increased. Treatment distribution varies among subtypes and stages.

PMID:40207198 | PMC:PMC11981714 | DOI:10.1093/gastro/goaf030

BMC Oral Health. 2025 Apr 9;25(1):508. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05890-x.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of combining the coronally advanced flap (CAF) technique with concentrated growth factor (CGF) in the treatment of gingival recession (GR), and to compare this approach with other alternative treatments.

METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CAF combined with CGF to other treatments for root coverage procedures. Included studies evaluated systemically healthy adults (> 18 years) with Miller Class I/II or Cairo RT1 gingival recessions. Primary outcomes were complete root coverage (CRC) and mean root coverage (MRC); secondary outcomes included changes in keratinized tissue width (KTW), gingival thickness (GT), clinical attachment level (CAL), recession width (RW), recession depth (RD), and probing depth (PD). A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase, up to November 9, 2024. The study protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024556815). Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4.1.

RESULTS: Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to CAF alone, the combination of CAF and CGF significantly improved CRC (OR = 1.79, P = 0.04), MRC (MD = 10.38%, P = 0.04), KTW (MD = 0.40 mm, P = 0.02), GT (MD = 0.26 mm, P < 0.00001), and CAL (MD = 0.36 mm, P = 0.03). CAF combined with connective tissue graft (CTG) showed superior efficacy for CRC compared to CAF + CGF (OR = 0.25, P = 0.009). However, no significant differences were found between CAF + CTG and CAF + CGF for MRC, CAL, KTW, RD, RW, or PD. Additionally, no significant differences were observed when comparing CAF + CGF with CAF + PRF across all clinical parameters (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that CAF/CGF improves clinical outcomes in treating GR compared to CAF alone, and CGF may be a viable alternative to CTG when CTG is not applicable. Further studies are needed to validate the efficacy of CAF/CGF in the treatment of GR.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In cases where CTG is not applicable, CGF may serve as a viable alternative for the treatment of Miller class I and II GR.

PMID:40205617 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-05890-x