Tag: statistics

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2025 May 24;48(4-5):27. doi: 10.1140/epje/s10189-025-00489-0.

ABSTRACT

A novel field theoretical approach towards modelling dynamic networking in complex systems is presented. An equilibrium networking formalism which utilises Gaussian fields is adapted to model the dynamics of particles that can bind and unbind from one another. Here, networking refers to the introduction of instantaneous co-localisation constraints and does not necessitate the formation of a well-defined transient or persistent network. By combining this formalism with Martin-Siggia-Rose generating functionals, a weighted generating functional for the networked system is obtained. The networking formalism introduces spatial and temporal constraints into the Langevin dynamics, via statistical weights, thereby accounting for all possible configurations in which particles can be networked to one another. A simple example of Brownian particles which can bind and unbind from one another demonstrates the tool and that this leads to results for physical quantities in a collective description. Applying the networking formalism to model the dynamics of cross-linking polymers in a mixture, we can calculate the average number of networking instances. As expected, the dynamic structure factors for each type of polymer show that the system collapses once networking is introduced, but that the addition of a repulsive time-dependent potential above a minimum strength prevents this. The examples presented in this paper indicate that this novel approach towards modelling dynamic networking could be applied to a range of synthetic and biological systems to obtain theoretical predictions for experimentally verifiable quantities.

PMID:40411700 | DOI:10.1140/epje/s10189-025-00489-0

CVIR Endovasc. 2025 May 24;8(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s42155-025-00557-8.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Assess incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients treated with 8-10 mm Controlled Expansion diameter VIATORR® (VCX) versus 10 mm diameter first-generation VIATORR® (Legacy) stent-grafts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-centre retrospective study (January 2015 to March 2024), including 132 adult patients with cirrhosis treated with TIPS due to complications of portal hypertension. Outcomes included post-TIPS new onset overt HE, ascites response, re-bleeding, mortality and portal pressure gradient (PPG) before and after TIPS. Comparisons used Chi square and Fisher´s exact test for categorical variables and Student´s t test or Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables.

RESULTS: Indication for TIPS was refractory ascites (n = 82) and variceal bleeding (n = 50). The VCX group (n = 85) and the Legacy group (n = 47) had similar new onset overt HE: 37% (31/85) vs 43% (20/47), respectively (p = 0.31); mortality rates (34% [29/85]) vs 39% [18/47], respectively, p = 0.57) and re-bleeding (17% [6/35] vs 20% [3/15], respectively, p = 1.00). Median PPG reduction after TIPS was 10 mmHg (7 – 13) in the VCX group and 12 mmHg (9 – 15) in the Legacy group (p = 0.02). Subgroup analysis revealed post TIPS overt HE rate of 38% (19/50) in the VCX group vs 53% (17/32) in the Legacy group (p = 0.13), with refractory ascites as an indication. Shunt dysfunction rate was 7% (6/85) in the VCX group (stent thrombosis n = 6, stenosis or malpositioning n = 0) and 0% (0/47) in the Legacy group (p = 0.09).

CONCLUSION: VCX stent grafts induce an immediate lower PPG reduction, which might lead to more stent dysfunctions, but also to a reduction in post-TIPS HE.

PMID:40411691 | DOI:10.1186/s42155-025-00557-8

Discov Oncol. 2025 May 24;16(1):898. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02712-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic thyroidectomies are commonly performed for thyroid cancer. Previous studies indicated that trans-areola approach is inferior in central lymph node dissection (CLND) due to clavicle protruding. The present study aimed to compare different surgical approaches of endoscopic thyroidectomies regarding surgical outcomes.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 153 patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomies through oral and areola approaches from Nov. 2019 to Dec. 2022 in our institution, baseline information, surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. For pooled data analysis, comprehensive searching was done to identify studies concerning comparison of endoscopic thyroidectomies. Basic information and surgical outcomes were extracted. RevMan 5.4 was used to analyze the pooled data. p < 0.05 was considered statistically different.

RESULTS: A total of 153 patients were included with 75 in oral, 78 in areola. The operative time was longer in oral compared with other two groups. Number of lymph nodes, positive lymph nodes, hospital stay, postoperative drainage and complications were not different between the two groups. For the systematic review, five studies of oral and areola comparisons containing 568 patients was finally included in the meta-analysis. The operative time was slightly longer in oral group. Number of positive lymph nodes were slightly larger in areola. The blood loss, lymph nodes, hospital stay and transient hoarseness were not different between oral and areola.

CONCLUSIONS: Oral demanded more operative time than other approaches. Lymph nodes, positive lymph nodes and hospital stay were similar between different groups. Areola was comparable with oral in lymph nodes and positive lymph nodes.

PMID:40411690 | DOI:10.1007/s12672-025-02712-y

J Occup Rehabil. 2025 May 24. doi: 10.1007/s10926-025-10302-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The importance, value, and benefits of fostering mentally healthy workplaces are well established. The Indicators of a Thriving Workplace (ITW) questionnaire measures a range of individual psychological and organisational factors as lead indicators of workplace mental health. The current study aimed to develop a valid summary set of indicators or domains of workplace mental health to enable comparisons across industries and sectors nationally.

METHODS: Exploratory factor analysis and principal components analysis were sequentially performed on survey data from two independent samples selected from a nationally representative and large (n = 9,947) cohort of Australian workers.

RESULTS: Five domains of workplace mental health aligning with the integrated approach to workplace mental health emerged and were confirmed: Leadership, Connectedness, Safety, Work Design, and Capability. When average domain scores were compared across industry, small but statistically significant differences were identified.

CONCLUSION: The validation of these domains positions the ITW questionnaire as the first comprehensive measure of workplace mental health and well-being that focuses on thriving as a positive construct for Australian workers. Further, industry-based Domain profiling could provide a basis for the prioritisation of efforts to improve workplace mental health, with successful initiatives and practices perhaps adaptable to other industries. Interventions addressing workplace mental health are likely to be more successful when they are industry specific, although interventions responding to mental health challenges in the workplace, such as those tackling mental health-related stigma, may require less cross-industry tailoring.

PMID:40411687 | DOI:10.1007/s10926-025-10302-6

Mol Neurobiol. 2025 May 24. doi: 10.1007/s12035-025-05074-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma worldwide and one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. Current therapies focus on intraocular pressure control despite substantial evidence on the importance of additional pathogenic mechanisms involved in neuronal repair and regeneration. Some of these mechanisms may be shared with and across other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Joint analyses that address this pathogenic overlap can be leveraged to identify suspected neurodegenerative and neuroprotective pathways. In this study, we derived gene-level summary statistics from available genome-wide association studies for primary open-angle glaucoma and Alzheimer’s Disease and employed a multivariate analysis to identify genes with an effect on both neurodegenerative diseases. We assessed the influence of the prioritized genes using Mendelian randomization to obtain the effect of retina- and brain cortex-specific gene expression on primary open-angle glaucoma risk. We identified ten genes with evidence of a pleiotropic effect on primary open-angle glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease: TMCO1, ANXA11, ARHGAP27, PLEKHM1, CRHR1, KANSL1, LRRC37A, ARL17A, LRRC37A2, and CBY1. Additionally, gene expression in either the retina or brain cortex of TMCO1, ANXA11, ARHGAP27, PLEKHM1, KANSL1, LRRC37A, ARL17A, LRRC37A2, and CBY1 influenced POAG risk. These genes have known roles in neurodegeneration-associated pathways. Our analysis uncovered evidence of pleiotropy and gene expression as a mechanism impacting disease risk. Further investigation into these genes may yield valuable insights into their involvement in neurodegenerative pathways potentially informing new approaches for early detection, classification, and treatment strategies.

PMID:40411683 | DOI:10.1007/s12035-025-05074-2

MAGMA. 2025 May 24. doi: 10.1007/s10334-025-01253-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: AI-based MRI reconstruction techniques improve efficiency by reducing acquisition times whilst maintaining or improving image quality. Recent recommendations from professional bodies suggest centres should perform quality assessments on AI tools. However, monitoring long-term performance presents challenges, due to model drift or system updates. Radiologist-based assessments are resource-intensive and may be subjective, highlighting the need for efficient quality control (QC) measures. This study explores using image quality metrics (IQMs) to assess AI-based reconstructions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 58 patients undergoing standard-of-care rectal MRI were imaged using AI-based and conventional T2-weighted sequences. Paired and unpaired IQMs were calculated. Sensitivity of IQMs to detect retrospective perturbations in AI-based reconstructions was assessed using control charts, and statistical comparisons between the four MR systems in the evaluation were performed. Two radiologists evaluated the image quality of the perturbed images, giving an indication of their clinical relevance.

RESULTS: Paired IQMs demonstrated sensitivity to changes in AI-reconstruction settings, identifying deviations outside ± 2 standard deviations of the reference dataset. Unpaired metrics showed less sensitivity. Paired IQMs showed no difference in performance between 1.5 T and 3 T systems (p > 0.99), whilst minor but significant (p < 0.0379) differences were noted for unpaired IQMs.

DISCUSSION: IQMs are effective for QC of AI-based MR reconstructions, offering resource-efficient alternatives to repeated radiologist evaluations. Future work should expand this to other imaging applications and assess additional measures.

PMID:40411676 | DOI:10.1007/s10334-025-01253-3

Eat Weight Disord. 2025 May 24;30(1):43. doi: 10.1007/s40519-025-01752-1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Food addiction involves excessive consumption of highly processed foods rich in salt, sugar, and fats driven by hedonic eating behaviors. Increased food addiction, especially among young adults, could potentially lead to eating disorders. Hence, the current study aimed to assess the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults from Mumbai, India METHODS: Healthy young adults (n = 354) aged 18-25 years were recruited using convenience sampling. Utilizing web-based platforms, the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 was administered. Statistical analysis was performed with significance at a p value of ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants was (20.99 ± 1.94) years, and the magnitude of food addiction was 11.3%. Sociodemographic determinants such as age (p = 0.000), socio-economic status (p = 0.000), and education (p = 0.000), and lifestyle determinants such as BMI (p = 0.012), dietary habits (p = 0.000), sleep (p = 0.001), physical activity (p = 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.001), and depression (p = 0.000) were significantly associated with food addiction. However, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the relationship between lifestyle factors and food addiction became evident. The frequent consumption of specific unhealthy foods increased the risk (OR ≥ 1.0, p value ≤ 0.05), while the consumption of healthy foods reduced the risk (OR<1.0, p value ≤ 0.05) of food addiction.

CONCLUSION: The present study revealed a rising magnitude of food addiction and its determinants among Indian youth, highlighting the urgency of sensitization and designing targeted nutrition interventions to combat food-related addiction and hence reducing the risk of eating disorders.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, Descriptive Study.

PMID:40411674 | DOI:10.1007/s40519-025-01752-1

J Robot Surg. 2025 May 24;19(1):232. doi: 10.1007/s11701-025-02379-1.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This analysis aims to compare the outcomes of robotic cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer who are under 80 years of age versus those who are 80 years or older.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A thorough search was conducted across key databases, including Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, with the most recent search conducted in July 2024. Data analysis was performed using Stata 18, applying a random-effects meta-analysis model. Weighted mean differences were calculated for continuous data, and odds ratios for categorical variables, accompanied by 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS: Four studies were included in the meta-analysis. The baseline data revealed significant differences in age, sex distribution, BMI, ASA scores (≥ 3), and cT2 staging between the two age groups. Patients aged 80 and above had significantly longer surgical durations and a greater number of lymph nodes removed compared to those under 80. Marked heterogeneity was observed in the younger cohort, which showed higher rates of urinary diversion to the neobladder and pelvic lymph node dissection. Blood loss, hospitalization duration, total complications, minor complications, and major complications did not differ notably between the age groups.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) is a viable and safe procedure for carefully selected elderly patients when performed in high-volume specialized centers. However, the small sample size, intermediate follow-up period, and potential for selection bias warrant caution in interpreting long-term outcomes. Future multi-center studies with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm these findings and establish standardized criteria for patient selection.

PMID:40411671 | DOI:10.1007/s11701-025-02379-1

Appl Health Econ Health Policy. 2025 May 24. doi: 10.1007/s40258-025-00977-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the decreased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with statins, there remains an unfulfilled clinical need to prevent CVD events and premature mortality through further cholesterol-modifying interventions. In people with established CVD taking a statin, lipid therapy escalation to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels may lower the risk of CVD hospital admissions and improve survival. However, the cost-effectiveness of different cholesterol treatment escalation thresholds is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the most cost-effective cholesterol threshold for escalating lipid therapy in people with established CVD who are taking a statin, to support the 2023 update of the NICE guideline on CVD in England.

METHODS: A cohort Markov model with a yearly cycle length was developed to compare the lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of various LDL-C treatment escalation thresholds (0-4.0 mmol/L), using a combination of treatment effects from an original network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), real-world data for estimating baseline cholesterol levels and CVD event rates from a published meta-analysis of statin RCTs. The model used the following CVD events: ischaemic stroke; transient ischaemic attack; peripheral artery disease; myocardial infarction; unstable angina; coronary revascularisation; and mortality. The model also used evidence-based estimates of resource use and costs, and published quality of life data. Baseline LDL-C levels and CVD hospital admission rates were estimated through a bespoke analysis of the English primary care data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), linked to Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care (HES) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) death registrations.

RESULTS: Data from 590,917 adult individuals (61.7% men) with CVD on a statin in primary care between 1 January 2013 and 28 February 2020 were included in the CPRD-HES-ONS analysis. The most cost-effective threshold for lipid therapy escalation was an LDL-C of 2.2 mmol/L (or equivalent non-HDL-C of 2.9 mmol/L) at NICE’s lower cost per QALY of £20,000. An LDL-C of 2.0 mmol/L (or equivalent non-HDL-C of 2.6 mmol/L) was the most cost-effective treatment escalation threshold in a significant proportion (38%) of probabilistic simulations and produced more health. At this threshold, the model predicted that 42% of people with CVD would require combination therapy with ezetimibe while 19% would require an injectable drug such as inclisiran. At NICE’s upper cost per QALY of £30,000, the most cost-effective LDL-C treatment escalation threshold was 1.7 mmol/L (or equivalent non-HDL-C of 2.2 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the importance of establishing evidence of cost-effectiveness for cholesterol treatment escalation thresholds. The study’s findings support the updated NICE guideline recommending a threshold of 2.0 mmol/L LDL-C (or equivalent non-HDL-C of 2.6 mmol/L) for secondary prevention of CVD.

PMID:40411656 | DOI:10.1007/s40258-025-00977-6

Clin Oral Investig. 2025 May 24;29(6):309. doi: 10.1007/s00784-025-06387-1.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cleaning efficacy of different irrigation activation techniques in removing smear layers from root canals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety lower premolars with straight root canals were assigned to six experimental groups (n = 15 each): control group, conventional irrigation, passive ultrasonic activation (PUI), distilled water laser-activated irrigation (LAI), PulpSucker irrigation, and iVac irrigation. Each canal was shaped to size 30/04 and irrigated with 5% NaOCl. The final rinse was performed according to the experimental group. After chemo-mechanical procedures, the teeth were split longitudinally and subjected to scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis for each root canal third (coronal, middle, and apical). The presence of smear layer was evaluated using a 5-grade scoring system at 500× and 1000× magnification. Following the Shapiro-Wilk test, data were statistically analyzed using the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the post-hoc Dunn test with Bonferroni correction (α = 5%), to compare the effectiveness of smear layer removal. The Friedman test and post-hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction (α = 5%) were performed to assess significant differences in smear layer removal among the different tooth thirds.

RESULTS: Activated irrigation techniques significantly outperformed conventional irrigation (p <.05), with the iVac technique demonstrating the best results in smear layer removal in the apical third. LAI and PUI showed comparable results across all tooth thirds. Significant differences in cleaning efficacy were observed among the different tooth thirds within each experimental group, with the apical third exhibiting the highest presence of smear layer.

CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the study, irrigant activation demonstrated higher efficiency in smear layer removal from root canal systems compared to conventional irrigation techniques. iVac showed the best cleaning performance in each third, particularly in the apical third.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: iVac technology offers significant potential for improving clinical outcomes.

PMID:40411649 | DOI:10.1007/s00784-025-06387-1