Tag: statistics

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 May 24;20(1):512. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-05941-7.

ABSTRACT

Objective Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols have been increasingly adopted to optimize postoperative functional restoration. This propensity score-matched cohort study quantified the impact of the direct anterior approach during THA on ERAS efficacy in patients with femoral neck fractures and analyzed outcomes such as functional recovery acceleration and perioperative complications. Methods The consecutive cohort comprised 231 patients who underwent primary arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures and were stratified by surgical approach: direct anterior (DAA, n = 59) versus posterolateral (PLA, n = 172). The clinical outcomes, such as patient statistics, details of perioperative management, length of stay, pain, Harris hip score, and in-hospital complications, were recorded. This retrospective observational study mitigated the risk of confounding bias by applying propensity score matching. Results With PSM, 51 pairs of well-matched patients were generated for comparison between the DAA group and the PLA group. The incision length decreased to 10.7 ± 1.4 cm in the DAA group, whereas it was 13.1 ± 1.3 cm in the PLA group. Compared with the PLA cohort, the DAA cohort had a significantly shorter postoperative length of stay (P = 0.001) but superior limb-length discrepancy control (P < 0.001). Compared with the PLA group, the DAA group demonstrated superior early pain control (VAS score reduction: 3/7/14 days, P < 0.05) and accelerated functional gains (HHS improvement: 7/14 days/1 month, P < 0.05), although the 6-month outcomes were similar between groups (P = 0.675). The DAA group exhibited superior 1-month outcomes in terms of pain control, device independence, and ambulation (P < 0.05), but there were similar complication profiles between the groups. Conclusions Compared with the posterolateral approach, DAA enhances early recovery outcomes in THA among elderly patients with femoral neck fractures undergoing ERAS protocols. DAA demonstrated superior short-term functional gains and similar long-term outcomes compared with the posterolateral approach. These findings support the strategic use of DAA for optimizing early recovery for this patient population.

PMID:40410877 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-05941-7

Microbiome. 2025 May 23;13(1):134. doi: 10.1186/s40168-025-02119-5.

ABSTRACT

One Health seeks to integrate and balance the health of humans, animals, and environmental systems, which are intricately linked through microbiomes. These microbial communities exchange microbes and genes, influencing not only human and animal health but also key environmental, agricultural, and biotechnological processes. Preventing the emergence of pathogens as well as monitoring and controlling the composition of microbiomes through microbial effectors including virulence factors, toxins, antibiotics, non-ribosomal peptides, and viruses holds transformative potential. However, the mechanisms by which these microbial effectors shape microbiomes and their broader functional consequences for host and ecosystem health remain poorly understood. Metaproteomics offers a novel methodological framework as it provides insights into microbial dynamics by quantifying microbial biomass composition, metabolic functions, and detecting effectors like viruses, antimicrobial resistance proteins, and non-ribosomal peptides. Here, we highlight the potential of metaproteomics in elucidating microbial effectors and their impact on microbiomes and discuss their potential for modulating microbiomes to foster desired functions.

PMID:40410872 | DOI:10.1186/s40168-025-02119-5

Hum Genomics. 2025 May 24;19(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s40246-025-00756-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The interplay between diet and healthspan is a topic of great interest in biomedical research. Toward this end, consumption of marine omega-3 fatty acids is of particular significance, as reports suggest that diets focused on seafood can prolong the disease-free portion of the human lifespan. Fish consumption has also been linked to reduced biological aging as measured by epigenetic clocks, but there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship. Moreover, fish oils reduce triglycerides, and may affect other lipid profiles, as well as systemic inflammation. To investigate further, we used two-sample Mendelian randomization to investigate potential causality between fish intake and healthspan markers.

METHODS: Bidirectional Mendelian randomization was performed in the two-sample setting with publicly available GWAS summary statistics. GWAS data from the UK Biobank for oily fish consumption (n = 460,443) and fish oil supplementation (n = 461,384) were used as the primary exposures. First-generation epigenetic clocks Hannum age and intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA), as well as second-generation clocks GrimAge and PhenoAge were collected from an independent dataset of individuals of European ancestry (n = [34,449-34,667]). Finally, data from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit database was used for serum proxies of lipidemia and systemic inflammation (n = [61,308-78,700]). Additional sensitivity analyses, such as reverse causation testing and the Cochran’s Q test were performed for exposure-outcome pairs where the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was significant (p-value < 0.05), and where the MR Egger method indicated an effect in the same direction as the IVW result.

RESULTS: We report that oily fish consumption appears to decrease PhenoAge acceleration (p < 0.0086), whereas fish oil supplementation appears to decrease GrimAge (p $=$ 0.037). Both omega-3 exposures modify the epigenetic clocks in the expected negative, or age-decelerating, direction. For the serum biomarkers, we find evidence that fish oil consumption leads to a reduction in triglycerides (p $=$ 0.004), although HDL and LDL were not significantly modified. Finally, we also detected a suggestive inverse relationship between oily fish consumption and hsCRP (p $=$ 0.064).

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis shows that consuming fish oil, whether through whole food or as a supplement, can have a rejuvenating impact as measured by PhenoAge and GrimAge acceleration. We have also provided evidence further linking fish oil intake and lower triglyceride levels. These results, based on robust MR-based analyses, emphasize the effectiveness of dietary choices in modifying emerging measures of healthspan.

PMID:40410862 | DOI:10.1186/s40246-025-00756-3

BMC Oral Health. 2025 May 23;25(1):775. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-06148-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: E-cigs(E-cigs) use is increasing worldwide. Recent studies suggest that E-cigs contain harmful elements that could lead to adverse oral health outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of E-cigs smoking on periodontal health among current male smokers in Al-Kharj city in Saudi Arabia by assessing periodontal parameters and proinflammatory cytokine levels.

METHODS: Fifty-three male individuals (25 E-smokers and 28 non-smokers) participated in the study. This study compared periodontal parameters, including the plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and marginal bone loss (MBL), as well as levels of unstimulated whole saliva (UWS), interleukin IL-1B, and IL-6, between E-smokers and non-smokers.

RESULTS: The E-cigs users consumed approximately 432.6 ± 425.22 puffs on average daily, with a nicotine content of approximately 45.2 ± 11.23 mg on average. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of BOP and PI. A statistically significant difference was detected in PPD and CAL (p < 0.05) between the two groups, in which the PPD (4.10 ± 1.87) and CAL (2.72 ± 0.89) were greater in E-smokers. The mean MBL was also higher among E-smokers, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean cytokine IL-1B level was found to be (640.75 ± 138.78) among non-smokers and (889.05 ± 540.56) among E-smokers, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, while IL-1B had shown a significant difference between groups in the bivariate analysis (t-test), its association with E-cigs use became non-significant in the multivariate model (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02, p = 0.194). The mean IL-6 level among non-smokers was (19.49 ± 11.90) and among E-smokers, it was (17.07 ± 8.21). And, this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that E-cigs smoking had a negative effect on periodontal status (especially PPD, CAL and MBL). These results may contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases and tissue destruction. Efforts must be made to educate and create awareness among patients and the general community regarding the risks associated with E-cigs usage especially in young populations.

PMID:40410855 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-06148-2

BMC Oral Health. 2025 May 23;25(1):778. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-06164-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The underlying cause of poor oral health in women of reproductive age remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between caries experience and reproductive history, focusing on age at menarche, age at menopause, and number of pregnancies.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed women from the baseline phase of the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort. Data on reproductive history, including age at menarche, number of pregnancies, age at first pregnancy, and breastfeeding duration, were collected via questionnaire. The Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index was assessed using dental examinations conducted with standard instruments. Reproductive history was considered the exposure variable, while caries experience was the outcome. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, One-way ANOVA, and linear regression, were conducted to examine associations between reproductive history and oral health.

RESULTS: A total of 5,151 women were assessed, with a mean age of 47.56 ± 8.46 years. Of these 42.46% lived in rural areas. The mean DMFT score in the overall population was 16.47 ± 9.19. Women who used dental floss had a significantly lower median DMFT than those who did not (16 vs. 12, P < 0.001). In the adjusted model, DMFT increased significantly by 0.30 for each additional pregnancy (β = 0.30,95%CI:0.04,0.56). However, no significant associations were observed between age at menstruation, frequency of abortion, age at first pregnancy, or age at menopause and DMFT.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the number of pregnancies is significantly associated with caries experience. Further, longitudinal studies are needed to replicate this study findings.

PMID:40410853 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-06164-2

Ital J Pediatr. 2025 May 23;51(1):154. doi: 10.1186/s13052-025-01947-3.

ABSTRACT

House dust mite (HDM) is the most common cause of perennial allergy worldwide, causing allergic rhinitis with or without conjunctivitis (AR/C). HDM-related clinical manifestations can be treated with allergy pharmacotherapy or allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in selected cases. AIT is acknowledged as the only therapeutic approach capable of modifying the course of allergic diseases. SQ HDM-SLIT tablets (Accarizax; Merck & Co, Kenilworth, NJ/ALK-Abellò, Hørsholm, Denmark) ensures a constant potency ratio of major HDM allergens of the Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DERM_PT) and Dermatophagoides farinae (DERM_FA) HDM species and has demonstrated beneficial effects on allergic rhinoconjunctivitis outcomes. In Italy, rhinoconjunctivitis affects up to as many as 40% of adolescents, but no studies on HDM AIT quality of life (QoL) regarding this exclusive cohort of patients have been specifically conducted. The aim of this study is to evaluate SQ HDM SLIT tablets’ performance in improving QoL in Italian adolescents. To assess the treatment at T0, T1, and T2, we employed the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ(s)), a standardized self-administered questionnaire designed for Italian patients aged 12 and above. RQLQ(s) median values at T2 and T1 were significantly lower than those at T0 (p-values equal to 0.0018 and 0.0051 for T0 vs. T2 and T0 vs. T1, respectively). Our findings suggest that the QoL of SQ HDM SLIT tablet is highly promising, demonstrating substantial potential in alleviating signs and symptoms. Our data suggest that QoL significantly improved with SQ-HDM SLIT, highlighting the potential importance of introducing this therapy for selected cases.

PMID:40410848 | DOI:10.1186/s13052-025-01947-3

Trop Med Health. 2025 May 23;53(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s41182-025-00757-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Indonesia aspires to completely eliminate malaria by 2030. Malaria cases have fallen drastically due to the implementation of national strategic plans and policies, and the Ministry of Health has granted certification of elimination status to various areas, including Kalimantan. However, this low prevalence contrasts sharply with the continued high prevalence (18.9%, totalling 3290 cases) of Plasmodium knowlesi infections in Malaysian Borneo. Assessing the knowledge and preventive practices regarding malaria and attitudes towards zoonotic malaria within communities along the Kalimantan border is essential to understanding the low endemicity (API < 1) of malaria in this region.

METHODS: Between February and April 2021, a structured questionnaire was administered to respondents who lived in villages with recent malaria cases (P. vivax and P. falciparum infections) across the West, East, and North Kalimantan provinces bordering Malaysian Borneo. The questionnaire collected demographic information, knowledge, prevention practices, illness management, and attitudes towards contributing factors of zoonotic malaria. Data were analysed using descriptive statistic and the association between variables was determined using logistic regression. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Of the 639 respondents, 47.6% had completed primary education, and 49.1% worked in the agricultural sector. More than half of the respondents had good knowledge (58.2%) and good practice (51%) regarding malaria’s cause, symptoms and prevention. A notable 58.9% could identify at least two classic symptoms of malaria (fever and shivering), and 78.6% associated the disease with mos quito bites. More than half of the respondents (53.7%) owned bed nets and stated using them every night on a regular basis (49.3%). However, more than half of these bed nets were not insecticide-treated. Indoor residual spraying by the health authority was uncommon. A common practice was that 84% of respondents sought treatment at health facilities when suspecting malaria (fever and shivering). Regarding the potential for acquiring zoonotic malaria, 36.2% of respondents lived near the forest, and 15.8% reported encountering monkeys within 500 m of their house. Multivariate analysis showed that an increase in education level significantly predicted good knowledge of malaria. Meanwhile, good malaria practices were significantly associated with women (aOR = 2.25; P < 0.001), age 25-64 (aOR = 2.64; P < 0.001), and age over 65 (aOR = 3.06; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: This study observed an exceptional level of malaria awareness among these communities. However, it is crucial to emphasise the importance of continuous malaria surveillance within this community for maintaining the current low malaria cases and achieving the goal of malaria-free status in the country by 2030.

PMID:40410846 | DOI:10.1186/s41182-025-00757-x

BMC Oral Health. 2025 May 23;25(1):774. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-06168-y.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: In this review, we aimed to determine the effects of dental treatment under general anesthesia on the oral health-related quality of life and dental fear of preschool children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to July 20, 2023 (updated on April 10, 2024). A manual search and evaluation of the gray literature were also performed. Clinical trials utilizing a before-and-after design to evaluate the effects of dental treatment under general anesthesia (DGA) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and dental fear in preschool-aged children were included in this research. To assess study quality, tools specifically designed for “before-after studies without control groups” were employed to determine potential biases. Two independent investigators conducted separate evaluations of the studies’ quality assessment processes. A meta-analysis was conducted via the random effects model.

RESULTS: In the final analysis, 13 studies employing a pre-post design were included. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) scores between the pre-evaluation group (n = 1365) and the post-evaluation group (n = 1344) (mean difference [MD] = 9.61, 95% CI: 6.28-12.93; P < 0.00001). However, there was no significant difference in the mean Children’s Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) score between the pre-evaluation group (n = 536) and the post-evaluation group (n = 531) (MD = 5.53, 95% CI: -16.48-27.54; P = 0.62).

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that children who received dental treatment with general anesthesia experienced improvements in their oral health-related quality of life. However, there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that dental treatment with general anesthesia can effectively alleviate dental fear in children.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dental treatment with general anesthesia significantly improved the OHRQoL of children. However, methods to improve dental fear in children during this procedure remain to be explored.

PMID:40410840 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-06168-y

BMC Rheumatol. 2025 May 23;9(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s41927-025-00511-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity is highly overrepresented in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and associated with increased disease activity and inferior treatment outcome. We have previously reported in 41 patients with PsA and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 33 kg/m² that weight loss treatment with Very Low Energy Diet (VLED) resulted in a median weight loss of 18,6% and concomitantly a significant improvement in C-reactive protein (CRP) and disease activity at six months (M6). This sub-study analyzes the effects on serum biomarkers associated with inflammation, bone and cartilage metabolism in the same PsA patients and matched controls.

METHODS: Patients and controls received VLED treatment (640 kcal/day) during 12-16 weeks depending on baseline (BL) BMI < 40 or ≥ 40 kg/m², followed by an energy restricted diet. Serum was collected at BL and M6, and biomarkers were measured with Magnetic Luminex^® Assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nonparametric statistics and paired comparison tests were used.

RESULTS: In the PsA patients, the following proteins were significantly reduced at M6 as compared to BL: hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (median (first-third quartile) 327.9 (250.3-413.6) pg/mL vs. 271.3 (206.9-331.0) pg/mL, p < 0.01), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (79.6 (55.9-113.5) pg/mL vs. 69.6 (53.1-105.3) pg/mL, p = 0.01), B-cell activating factor (BAFF) (794.4 (716.4-868.3) pg/mL vs. 674.6 (613.2-790.5) pg/mL, p = 0.01) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) (266.1 (209.9-366.0) ng/mL vs. 217.0 (156.0-272.0) ng/mL, p < 0.01), whereas carboxyterminal telopeptide of type-1 collagen (CTX-1) was significantly increased (268.0 (196.0-378.5) pg/mL vs. 508.0 (350.0-640.0) pg/mL, p < 0.01). Similar results were found in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss was associated with reduced levels of serum biomarkers related to inflammation and cartilage degradation, and increased biomarkers for bone resorption. The study supports the strong relationship between obesity, inflammation, bone and cartilage metabolism, identifying BMI as a possible confounder for biomarker levels.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02917434, registered on September 21, 2016, retrospectively registered.

PMID:40410839 | DOI:10.1186/s41927-025-00511-0

J Transl Med. 2025 May 23;23(1):575. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-06570-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Incorporation of gene expression when estimating polygenic risk scores (PRS) in atopic dermatitis (AD) may provide additional insights in disease pathogenesis and enhance predictive accuracy. In this study, we developed polygenic transcriptome risk scores (PTRSs) derived from AD-enriched tissues and evaluated their performance against traditional PRS models and a baseline risk model incorporating eosinophil and lymphocyte counts in the prediction of AD.

METHODS: We conducted transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) using the PrediXcan framework to construct tissue-specific PTRSs. Risk score performance was assessed in 256,888 Europeans (10,816 cases) and validated in an independent cohort of 64,152 Europeans (2669 cases) from the UK Biobank.

RESULTS: We observed a modest correlation between PRS and PTRS, exerting independent effects on AD risk. While PRS demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to single-tissue PTRSs, combining both models significantly enhanced prediction accuracy, yielding a c-statistic of 0.646 (95% confidence intervals: 0.634-0.656). Notably, tissue-specific PTRSs revealed stronger associations with baseline risk factors, where Eppstein-Bar virus (EBV)-transformed lymphocytes and unexposed skin PTRSs tissues reported positive associations with lymphocyte counts.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the value of integrating transcriptome-based risk models to incorporating additional omics layer to refine risk prediction and enhance our understanding of genetic architecture of complex traits.

PMID:40410830 | DOI:10.1186/s12967-025-06570-8