Tag: statistics

Cytokine. 2025 May 6;191:156945. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2025.156945. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a common symptom in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), yet its precise mechanism remains elusive, and the clinical implications of frailty in MS are uncertain. Moreover, inflammation is closely linked to frailty. This study aims to assess serum cytokine levels in individuals with MS and explore their correlation with frailty.

METHODS: A case-control study included 83 primary MS patients and 100 healthy individuals undergoing health check-ups. Serum cytokine levels were measured, and MS severity was determined using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. Additionally, a comprehensive frailty index (FI) was calculated based on health deficits from various domains following standardized procedures.

RESULTS: Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the frail group than in the non-frail group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). After adjusting for disease duration, sex, age, BMI, SBP, and DBP, serum IL-6 independently correlated with frailty in MS patients (OR = 1.46; 95 % CI = 1.02-1.93; P = 0.003). Moreover, increased serum IL-6 levels were associated positively with the frailty index (β = 0.123, P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION: Our initial findings suggest elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in MS patients with frailty, with IL-6 showing a positive correlation with frail indices. These results underscore the potential impact of inflammatory responses on frailty development in MS.

PMID:40334398 | DOI:10.1016/j.cyto.2025.156945

Poult Sci. 2025 May 1;104(7):105242. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105242. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bacteria are the major component of poultry gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota and play an important role in host health, nutrition, physiology regulation, intestinal development, and growth. Bacterial community profiling based on the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing approach has become the most popular method to determine the taxonomic composition and diversity of the poultry microbiota. The 16S rRNA gene profiling involves numerous steps, including sample collection and storage, DNA isolation, 16S rRNA gene primer selection, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), library preparation, sequencing, raw sequencing reads processing, taxonomic classification, α- and β-diversity calculations, and statistical analysis. However, there is currently no standardized protocol for 16S rRNA gene analysis profiling and data deposition for poultry microbiota studies. Variations in DNA storage and isolation, primer design, and library preparation are known to introduce biases, affecting community structure and microbial population analysis leading to over- or under-representation of individual bacteria within communities. Additionally, different sequencing platforms, bioinformatics pipeline, and taxonomic database selection can affect classification and determination of the microbial taxa. Moreover, detailed experimental design and DNA processing and sequencing methods are often inadequately reported in poultry 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies. Consequently, poultry microbiota results are often difficult to reproduce and compare across studies. This manuscript reviews current practices in profiling poultry microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and proposes the development of guidelines for protocol for 16S rRNA gene sequencing that spans from sample collection through data deposition to achieve more reliable data comparisons across studies and allow for comparisons and/or interpretations of poultry studies conducted worldwide.

PMID:40334389 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2025.105242

J Optom. 2025 May 6;18(3):100555. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2025.100555. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the features of retinal and choroidal microcirculation and structure in patients with amblyopia compared to healthy adolescents of the same age (>10 years old). To classify and diagnose amblyopia using machine learning techniques on optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) images.

METHODS: Nineteen adolescents aged 11-17 with hyperopic refractive amblyopia and 22 age-matched healthy controls underwent 12 × 12 mm macular OCTA scans. The eyes were classified into three groups: amblyopic, contralateral non-amblyopic, and control. Retinal thickness (RT), choroidal thickness (ChT), and perfusion densities in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were measured across nine regions. A combination of statistical analysis and machine learning, including cross-validation and Random Forest classification, was used to enhance the diagnostic accuracy and classify amblyopic and normal eyes.

RESULTS: Retinal thickness was significantly higher in the amblyopic eyes compared to the control group in multiple regions, including the central (p < 0.001), nasal (p < 0.01), and temporal zones(p < 0.01). Choroidal thickness was also greater in the amblyopic eyes, particularly in the central and nasal regions (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the perfusion densities of SCP and DCP. The machine learning classification model incorporating cross-validation achieved an accuracy of 92%, with Random Forest demonstrating improved classification and feature importance analysis.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that eyes with refractive amblyopia have notably thicker retinal and choroidal layers, particularly in the central and nasal regions. Combining OCTA data with machine learning creates a strong diagnostic framework for detecting changes in the retina and choroid associated with refractive amblyopia. Utilizing sophisticated classification methods, like Random Forest and cross-validation, improves diagnostic precision and presents new possibilities for automated clinical evaluation.

PMID:40334350 | DOI:10.1016/j.optom.2025.100555

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2025 May 2;168:107043. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107043. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Osteosynthesis screws are critical in orthopaedic surgery for stabilizing and aligning bone fracture fragments. Despite their importance, screw failure remains a significant complication, often due to excessive movement at the implant-bone interface resulting from both physiological loading and external mechanical forces. This study aims to enhance understanding of screw failure mechanisms by investigating the relationship between peri-implant CT-based trabecular bone morphology and screw failure under axial-, shear-, and mixed loading conditions, including the effect of plate elevation. Using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and mechanical testing, 100 porcine epiphyseal bone samples were extracted and analysed to measure key CT-based trabecular morphometric indices and correlate them with mechanical failure. The study tested screws under ten different loading configurations. Statistical analyses revealed that bone volume (BV) and bone volume over total volume (BV/TV) are strong predictors of screw failure force, explaining 70-90 % of the variance in failure forces across different loading scenarios. The findings suggest that BV and BV/TV can be used to determine optimal screw implantation sites based on local bone morphology, potentially improving surgical outcomes and reducing postoperative complications. This research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of orthopaedic screw behaviour and offers a predictive model for clinical use.

PMID:40334349 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107043

Clin Imaging. 2025 May 3;123:110489. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2025.110489. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40334343 | DOI:10.1016/j.clinimag.2025.110489

Oral Oncol. 2025 May 6;165:107341. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2025.107341. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recently, a molecular characterization of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) has been proposed, based on upregulation of c-Myc, a proto-oncogene involved in carcinogenesis, and p63, a transcription factor of the p53 gene family. The aim of this study was to evaluate c-Myc and p63 expression and classify patients with ACC into the proposed molecular groups.

METHODS: We included in the analysis 50 patients with ACC of the head and neck region diagnosed treated between 2000 and 2021 in four tertiary referral centers in Greece. Patient demographics and disease characteristics were retrieved from patients’ medical records. C-Myc and p63 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were eligible for classification. The majority of patients had primary non-metastatic tumors. P63 protein was found to be overexpressed in 39 patients (78 %), who were classified as ACC type II (ACC-II). Eight patients with no p63 overexpression were classified as ACC type I (ACC-I). Among ACC-II patients, 31 had negative expression of c-Myc and 8 patients had low c-Myc expression. We found a statistically significant difference in the primary tumor location between the two groups (p = 0.0470). Notably, patients that belonged to the ACC-II subgroup had more favorable prognosis (50 months for ACC-I vs. 135 months for ACC-II, p = 0.0066).

CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the recently published data regarding the c-myc/p63 prognostic classification for ACC. Evaluation of c-Myc and p63 should be routinely performed in ACC tumors to allow for accurate stratification and implementation of ACC subtyping for clinical trials.

PMID:40334310 | DOI:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2025.107341

J Healthc Qual Res. 2025 May 6;40(5):101132. doi: 10.1016/j.jhqr.2025.101132. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Patient satisfaction is a key indicator of healthcare quality and essential for improving hospital services. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction and to identify areas for improvement in gynecological care across inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study among 587 gynecological patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. We assessed multiple dimensions of patient care, such as doctor satisfaction, nursing care, housekeeping services, and value for money using simple random sampling. We used a standard questionnaire to gauge patient satisfaction with care and analyzed the data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. We considered a p-value of less than 95% to be statistically significant.

RESULTS: The analysis revealed high satisfaction rates across all service areas. Doctor satisfaction scored the highest at 95.4% (95% CI: 0.929-0.978, p<0.0001), followed by value for money at 90.4% (95% CI: 0.870-0.939, p<0.0001). Housekeeping and nursing care were rated 86.2% (95% CI: 0.821-0.902, p<0.0001) and 83.3% (95% CI: 0.790-0.877, p<0.0001), respectively. The hospital achieved a 98.9% recommendation rate, with 54.3% rating their experience as “Excellent,” 36.9% as “Good,” 7.8% as “Average,” and only 1.1% as “Bad.”

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights high patient satisfaction in gynecological services, reflected in strong recommendations and positive feedback. While physician care is well-rated, improvements in nursing and housekeeping through enhanced communication are needed. These findings support quality enhancement efforts, fostering a blame-free culture and setting a benchmark for similar institutions in Pakistan.

PMID:40334301 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhqr.2025.101132

Value Health Reg Issues. 2025 May 6;49:101123. doi: 10.1016/j.vhri.2025.101123. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for nearly one-third of the deaths in Brazil. Time-series studies help evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies and assist in health planning. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a retrospective temporal analysis, considering sex and comorbidities, of hospitalizations and deaths due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure (HF) among adults over 20 years of age in Minas Gerais from 2016 to 2022.

METHODS: The data were obtained from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System. Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average with Exogenous variables models were created to evaluate seasonal components and/or interventions in the time series of deaths.

RESULTS: We recorded a total of 90 670 hospitalizations due to AMI, with a case fatality rate of 0.085, and 178 477 hospitalizations due to HF, with a case fatality rate of 0.100. Men predominantly experienced AMI, whereas women predominantly experienced HF. We found that winter periods correlated with an increase in hospitalizations due to AMI and HF. We observed that hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases were associated with a higher risk of CVD. During the pandemic, we observed a reduction in hospitalizations due to CVDs. In September 2020, we observed a significant increase in male deaths due to AMI. Among women, we found an inverse relationship between hospitalizations for AIDS and deaths from HF. Hospitalizations due to HF decreased over time, whereas those for AMI increased.

CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory diseases were associated with an increased risk of CVD. Winter periods showed an increase in hospitalizations for AMI and HF.

PMID:40334300 | DOI:10.1016/j.vhri.2025.101123

G Ital Nefrol. 2025 Apr 29;42(2):2025-vol2. doi: 10.69097/42-02-2025-08.

ABSTRACT

Background. This study evaluated the causes of and risk factors for mortality among patients on chronic HD hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2; in particular, it evaluated whether the cause of death was directly related to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) or another pathology. The European Renal Association registry showed a 20% mortality rate after 28 days for these patients. Methods. The clinical data of chronic HD patients hospitalised because of SARS-CoV-2 at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli from 15 March 2020 to 28 February 2022 were analysed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for mortality. The causes of mortality were obtained from the hospital discharge forms. Results. One hundred fifty-two patients on maintenance haemodialysis with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results were hospitalised during the study period. There were 100 male (65.8%) and 52 female (34.2%) patients (mean age, 69 years; standard deviation [SD], 14.14 years). The mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 6.44 (SD, 2.64), and the average hospitalisation length was 23.57 days (SD, 24.55 days). Forty-two (27.6%) patients died, but only 22 deaths (59%) were directly caused by Covid-19. Conclusions. Only 59% of the deaths of patients with positive Covid-19 test results were directly caused by Covid-19. The survival of patients on chronic HD is independently related to specific patient characteristics (age, CCI, presence of peripheral vascular disease, and intensive care unit admission), but not to Covid-19.

PMID:40332976 | DOI:10.69097/42-02-2025-08

JAMA Netw Open. 2025 May 1;8(5):e258903. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.8903.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Scarce population-based data exist on whether APOE4 modifies associations of blood-based neurodegenerative biomarkers with cognitive decline, particularly in a diverse, biracial population of community-dwelling older adults without dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether APOE4 carrier status is associated with an accelerated rate of cognitive decline in older adults without dementia and with elevated neurodegenerative burden.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This 20-year prospective cohort study started in 1993 and was conducted through 2012 on the South Side of Chicago among community-dwelling older adults without dementia from the longitudinal biracial Chicago Health and Aging Project. The interaction of APOE4 carrier status with prospective associations of serum neurodegenerative biomarkers with global cognitive decline was examined using a mixed-effects regression model, adjusting for demographics and chronic health conditions. Statistical analyses were conducted from June 2024 to January 2025.

EXPOSURE: APOE4 carrier status and serum biomarker levels for total tau (t-tau), neurofilament light (NfL) chain, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) measured with a Quanterix Neuroplex kit at baseline.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Cognitive decline calculated from composite global cognition scores across study waves.

RESULTS: Among 1038 community-dwelling older adults (mean [SD] age, 77.1 [5.9] years; 615 Black [59.2%] and 423 White [40.8%]; 651 female [62.7%]), there was a mean (SD) of 12.8 (3.4) years of education and 343 individuals (33.0%) were APOE4 carriers. Higher levels of blood-based neurodegenerative biomarkers (ie, t-tau, NfL, and GFAP) were associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline among APOE4 carriers than noncarriers. Specifically, compared with noncarriers, APOE4 carriers had annual rates of cognitive decline per 1-log10 unit higher levels in t-tau and GFAP that were accelerated by a β (SD) of -0.03 (0.02) (P = .046) and -0.07 (0.03) (P = .02), respectively. Similarly, compared with noncarriers and participants in the lower NfL tertile, APOE4 carriers with middle and upper tertiles of NfL levels experienced accelerated cognitive decline, with a β (SD) of -0.04 (0.02) (P = .006) and -0.03 (0.02) (P = .07), respectively, although the difference was not significant for upper tertiles.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study found that higher levels of neurodegeneration (t-tau), axonal injury (NfL), and reactive astrocytes and neuroinflammation (GFAP) biomarkers were associated with accelerated cognitive decline in genetically susceptible APOE4 carriers. These findings highlight the association of APOE4 with exacerbation of neurodegenerative processes, with not only significant implications for understanding and tracking the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, but also a call for inclusivity of APOE4 status in scientific investigations and clinical trials.

PMID:40332937 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.8903