Tag: statistics

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 28;134(8):081901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081901.

ABSTRACT

The Ξ_{b}^{0(-)}→Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)}(→D^{+(0)}Λ)π^{-} decay chains are observed, and the spin-parity of Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)} baryons is determined for the first time. The measurement is performed using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb^{-1}, recorded by the LHCb experiment between 2016 and 2018. The spin-parity of the Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)} baryons is determined to be 3/2^{+} with a significance of more than 6.5σ (3.5σ) compared to all other tested hypotheses. The up-down asymmetries of the Ξ_{b}^{0(-)}→Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)}π^{-} transitions are measured to be -0.92±0.10±0.05 (-0.92±0.16±0.22), consistent with maximal parity violation, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. These results support the hypothesis that the Ξ_{c}(3055)^{+(0)} baryons correspond to the first D-wave λ-mode excitation of the Ξ_{c} flavor triplet.

PMID:40085858 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081901

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 28;134(8):081804. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081804.

ABSTRACT

We report a search for neutrino oscillations to sterile neutrinos under a model with three active and one sterile neutrinos (3+1 model). This analysis uses the NOvA detectors exposed to the NuMI beam, running in neutrino mode. The data exposure, 13.6×10^{20} protons on target, doubles that previously analyzed by NOvA, and the analysis is the first to use ν_{μ} charged-current interactions in conjunction with neutral-current interactions. Neutrino samples in the near and far detectors are fitted simultaneously, enabling the search to be carried out over a Δm_{41}^{2} range extending 2 (3) orders of magnitude above (below) 1 eV^{2}. NOvA finds no evidence for active-to-sterile neutrino oscillations under the 3+1 model at 90% confidence level. New limits are reported in multiple regions of parameter space, excluding some regions currently allowed by IceCube at 90% confidence level. We additionally set the most stringent limits for anomalous ν_{τ} appearance for Δm_{41}^{2}≤3 eV^{2}.

PMID:40085856 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.081804

Anesthesiology. 2025 Mar 14. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005450. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patient blood management (PBM) is a set of evidence-based practices that reduces the need for blood transfusions. However, its impact on relevant clinical outcomes remains unclear. We evaluated the association between adherence to guideline-recommended PBM care and 30-day postoperative complications in patients undergoing primary total knee and hip arthroplasty. Secondary outcomes included the length of hospital stay and red blood cell utilization.

METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study including patients from 43 hospitals. The PBM clinical pathway comprised nine major guideline-recommended interventions, and adherence was assessed using a composite quality indicator. Multilevel multivariable regression models were used to evaluate the associations between PBM adherence and outcomes at the patient level while accounting for hospital characteristics and hospital variation.

RESULTS: A total of 30926 patients who underwent primary total knee or hip arthroplasty between 2016 and 2022 at 43 hospitals were included. Of these, 1335 (4.3%) had 30-day postoperative complications. The median adherence to the PBM clinical pathway was 60.%. Higher PBM adherence was associated with fewer 30-day postoperative complications (adjusted odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32 to 0.58; p < 0.001), including 65% lower odds of major adverse cardiac events and 45% lower odds of infection. Additionally, higher adherence was associated with shorter hospital stays (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.77; 95% CI 0.76 to 0.79; p < 0.001) and reduced transfusion rates (adjusted odds ratio, 0.11; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.14; p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses confirmed these associations.

CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to the PBM clinical pathway was associated with improved outcomes. While causality cannot be established, these findings support the potential effectiveness of PBM in reducing postoperative complications and its efficiency in shortening hospital stays, beyond minimizing blood transfusions, in patients undergoing knee and hip arthroplasty.

PMID:40085850 | DOI:10.1097/ALN.0000000000005450

JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Mar 14;14:e63230. doi: 10.2196/63230.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are one of the main causes of mortality, and early detection of exacerbations is thus essential. Telemedicine solutions have shown promising results for the detection of exacerbations in COPD and have increasingly been used. However, the effect of telemedicine is divergent. According to several studies, respiration rate (RR) increases before, during, and after an exacerbation and the change is measurable with several contactless devices. Despite this, RR is rarely measured, and telemedicine solutions only use wearable devices for measuring RR, even though wearable respiratory monitoring devices have been associated with certain drawbacks. Contactless devices are often used during sleep, as measurements conducted during sleep minimize the risk of disturbance from physical activities. However, the potential of measuring RR and heart rate (HR) during sleep for the detection of exacerbations in COPD remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this observational study is to investigate whether contactless measurement of RR, HR, and sleep stages can be used to detect exacerbations in people with COPD.

METHODS: An observational study including 50 participants with COPD will be conducted. The participants reside in Aalborg municipality, located in the North Denmark Region. Participants will use a contactless monitor (Sleepiz One+) near their bed during sleep for a period of 4 months. After data collection, descriptive statistics will be used to identify any extremes or variations in RR, HR, or sleep stages in the nights preceding an exacerbation. Correlation analysis will be performed to evaluate the relationship between the number of exacerbations and extremes or variations in RR, HR, or sleep stages. Finally, qualitative interviews will be conducted with 12 participants to explore their experiences of sleeping with the monitor nearby.

RESULTS: Recruitment started at the end of April 2024. A total of 12 participants have been recruited, and the remaining participants are expected to be recruited during March and April 2025. Six out of 12 participants have completed the data collection and qualitative interview stages. Overall data collection is expected to be completed by September 2025. The results are expected to provide insight into the potential for identifying extremes or variations in RR, HR, or sleep stages in the days preceding an exacerbation. Additionally, the results are expected to assess the correlation between the number of exacerbations and extremes or variations in RR, HR, and sleep stages.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study may clarify the possibility of using a contactless monitor to detect exacerbations in COPD. Furthermore, the results may have the potential to improve the ability to predict exacerbations in the future.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/63230.

PMID:40085848 | DOI:10.2196/63230

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Mar 14;27:e64249. doi: 10.2196/64249.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The emergence of eHealth services could contribute to improving individuals’ quality of life by optimizing effective and efficient care. However, various challenges might limit some older adults’ use of eHealth services.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the perspectives of older adults (aged ≥65 years) of different backgrounds regarding eHealth services. We explored the experiences of Iranian immigrant and nonimmigrant older adults with eHealth services to identify their perceived challenges, emotions, and wishes. Immigrants face more challenges, and there is a need to understand their perspectives in addition to those of nonimmigrants. Iranians are one important immigrant group, as their number is limited and their specific needs are less well understood compared to those of the bigger immigrant groups.

METHODS: This study used a qualitative explorative research design. Semistructured interviews were conducted between February 2023 and May 2023. The participants were 25 older adults: nonimmigrants residing in cities (n=8, 32%), nonimmigrants residing in rural areas (n=9, 36%), and Iranian immigrants residing in cities (n=8, 32%). Data were analyzed through inductive and deductive content analysis and interpreted through self-determination theory.

RESULTS: Interacting with eHealth services was challenging for some older adults. They perceived several difficulties, with the most obvious ones being related to values and preferences, as some older adults did not value eHealth services (16/25, 64%), had insufficient digital skills (15/25, 60%), and experienced usability issues (15/25, 60%). The first two challenges were more pronounced among immigrants. In contrast, nonimmigrants from cities, being more familiar with the services, shared more usability issues. These identified challenges prevented older adults from satisfying their basic psychological needs of being competent and autonomous users and having a sense of belonging (aspects of self-determination theory), which were the main source of negative emotions. A common negative feeling was confusion (16/25, 64%) among those with limited experience using smart devices and those with poor self-reported digital skills. Conversely, older adults’ interaction with eHealth services generated positive emotions that were connected to the satisfaction of their basic psychological needs. Being interested in using eHealth services was a common feeling among most participants regardless of their background and was connected to satisfying their need for being competent and autonomous. The positive emotions could be supported by applying older adults’ needs to the design of eHealth services (10/25, 40%) and by supporting their digital skills (19/25, 76%).

CONCLUSIONS: Some older adults value eHealth services and see their added benefits. However, various challenges limit their use of these services. The analysis of older adults’ needs yielded several practical ideas that could improve the user-friendliness of the services and highlighted the importance of sufficient support services tailored to the cultural needs of specific groups of older adults.

PMID:40085846 | DOI:10.2196/64249

JMIR Cancer. 2025 Mar 14;11:e57414. doi: 10.2196/57414.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cancers of the bladder, kidney, and prostate are the 3 major genitourinary cancers that significantly contribute to the global burden of disease (GBD) and continue to show increasing rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In mainland China, understanding the cancer burden on patients and their families is crucial; however, public awareness and concerns about these cancers, particularly from the patient’s perspective, remain predominantly focused on financial costs. A more comprehensive exploration of their needs and concerns has yet to be fully addressed.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze trends in online searches and user information-seeking behaviors related to bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers-encompassing descriptive terms (eg, “bladder cancer,” “kidney cancer,” “prostate cancer”) as well as related synonyms and variations-on both national and regional scales. This study leverages data from mainland China’s leading search engine to explore the implications of these search patterns for addressing user needs and improving health management.

METHODS: The study analyzed Baidu Index search trends for bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers (from January 2011 to August 2023) at national and provincial levels. Search volume data were analyzed using the joinpoint regression model to calculate annual percentage changes (APCs) and average APCs (AAPCs), identifying shifts in public interest. User demand was assessed by categorizing the top 10 related terms weekly into 13 predefined topics, including diagnosis, treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine. Data visualization and statistical analyses were performed using Prism 9. Results revealed keyword trends, demographic distributions, and public information needs, offering insights into health communication and management strategies based on online information-seeking behavior.

RESULTS: Three cancer topics were analyzed using 39 search keywords, yielding a total Baidu Search Index (BSI) of 43,643,453. From 2011 to 2015, the overall APC was 15.2% (P<.05), followed by -2.8% from 2015 to 2021, and 8.9% from 2021 to 2023, with an AAPC of 4.9%. Bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers exhibited AAPCs of 2.8%, 3.9%, and 6.8%, respectively (P<.05). The age distribution of individuals searching for these cancer topics varied across the topics. Geographically, searches for cancer were predominantly conducted by people from East China, who accounted for approximately 30% of each cancer search query. Regarding user demand, the total BSI for relevant user demand terms from August 2022 to August 2023 was 676,526,998 out of 2,570,697,380 (15.74%), representing only a limited total cancer-related search volume.

CONCLUSIONS: Online searches and inquiries related to genitourinary cancers are on the rise. The depth of users’ information demands appears to be influenced by regional economic levels. Cancer treatment decision-making may often involve a family-centered approach. Insights from internet search data can help medical professionals better understand public interests and concerns, enabling them to provide more targeted and reliable health care services.

PMID:40085845 | DOI:10.2196/57414

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Mar 14;27:e66683. doi: 10.2196/66683.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Seeking online health information can empower individuals to better understand their health concerns, facilitating their ability to manage their health conditions more effectively. It has the potential to change the likelihood and frequency of health service usage. Although existing literature has demonstrated the prevalence of seeking online health information among different populations, the factors affecting online health information perception and discussions on the associations between seeking online health information and health service utilization are limited.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the associations between online health information seeking behavior and health service utilization, as well as the online health information perception delivery mechanism.

METHODS: We analyzed data from the Chinese General Social Survey, the first national representative survey conducted in mainland China. The independent variable was the online health information seeking behavior. The outcome variable was health service utilization by the respondents, and online health information perception was selected as the mediating variable in this analysis. Factor analysis was conducted to obtain online health information perception. Multiple regressions were performed to investigate the effect of online health information seeking behavior on physician visits. Bootstrap methods were conducted to test the mediation effects of online health information perception.

RESULTS: This analysis included 1475 cases. Among the participants, 939 (63.66%) sought online health information in the last 12 months. The mean age of the respondents was 46.72 (SD 15.86) years, and 794 (53.83%) were females. After controlling for other variables, individuals with online health information seeking behaviors showed 0.289 times more outpatient visits (P=.003), 0.131 times more traditional Chinese medicine outpatient visits (P=.01), and 0.158 times more Western medicine outpatient visits (P=.007) over the past year compared to those who did not seek health information online. Additionally, multiple regression analyses revealed statistically significant effects of gender, age, and health status on physician visits. The total effect revealed that seeking online health information significantly influenced the total physician visits (β=0.290; P=.003), indicating a certain correlation between online health information seeking behavior and physician visits. Seeking online health information had a significant positive impact on the perception (β=0.265; P<.001). The mediation effects analysis identified that online health information perception led to a significant increase in physician visits with the increase in the online health information seeking behaviors (β=0.232; P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS: The online health information perception of an individual influences the effect online health information seeking has on the frequency of physician visits. The online health information seeking behavior impacts outpatient service utilization both directly and indirectly through online health information perception and significantly increases the frequency of clinic visits after controlling for other variables. Interventions can be explored to improve the health utilization of residents by increasing their online health information perception.

PMID:40085841 | DOI:10.2196/66683

JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Mar 14;14:e65576. doi: 10.2196/65576.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) collects and calculates risk-outcome data for modifiable lifestyle exposures (eg, dietary intake) and physical health outcomes (eg, cancers). These estimates form a critical digital resource tool, the GBD VizHub data visualization tool, for governments and policy makers to guide local, regional, and global health decisions. Despite evidence showing the contributions of lifestyle exposures to common mental disorders (CMDs), such as depression and anxiety, GBD does not currently generate these lifestyle exposure-mental disorder outcome pairings. This gap is due to a lack of uniformly collected and analyzed data about these exposures as they relate to CMDs. Such data are required to quantify whether, and to what degree, the global burden of CMDs could be reduced by targeting lifestyle factors at regional and global levels. We have established the Global burden of disease Lifestyle And mental Disorder (GLAD) Taskforce to address this gap.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to generate the necessary estimates to afford the inclusion of lifestyle exposures as risk factors for CMDs in the GBD study and the GBD digital visualization tools, initially focusing on the relationship between dietary intake and CMDs.

METHODS: The GLAD project is a multicenter, collaborative effort to integrate lifestyle exposures as risk factors for CMDs in the GBD study. To achieve this aim, global epidemiological studies will be recruited to conduct harmonized data analyses estimating the risk, odds, or hazards of lifestyle exposures with CMD outcomes. Initially, these models will focus on the relationship between dietary intake, as defined by the GBD, and anxiety and depression.

RESULTS: As of August 2024, 18 longitudinal cohort studies from 9 countries (Australia: n=4; Brazil: n=1; France: n=1; Italy: n=3; The Netherlands: n=3; New Zealand: n=1; South Africa: n=1; Spain: n=1; and United Kingdom: n=3) have agreed to participate in the GLAD project.

CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive, collaborative approach allows for the concurrent execution of a harmonized statistical analysis protocol across multiple, internationally renowned epidemiological cohorts. These results will be used to inform the GBD study and incorporate lifestyle risk factors for CMD in the GBD digital platform. Consequently, given the worldwide influence of the GBD study, findings from the GLAD project can offer valuable insights to policy makers worldwide around lifestyle-based mental health care.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/65576.

PMID:40085831 | DOI:10.2196/65576

Int J Risk Saf Med. 2025 Mar 14:9246479251327814. doi: 10.1177/09246479251327814. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundThe use of rational and safe antibiotic therapies for pregnant women remains an important issue within the medical community.ObjectiveTo analyze the preferences in the choice of antimicrobial drugs (AMD) among obstetricians-gynecologists of Central Russia in treatment of infectious diseases in pregnancy.MethodsThis is anonymous survey of obstetrician and gynecology specialists conducted in Central Russia between September 1st, and November 30th, 2017. Study included five healthcare facilities (ambulatory and in-patient), located in regional center, city Belgorod. Questionnaire contained six open-ended questions to evaluate AMD preferences in treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis or genitalium, Ureaplasma species, acute cystitis, pyelonephritis, and other conditions, such as placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction. Descriptive statistics was used including absolute and relative frequencies, minimum and maximum values, mean, frequency of prescribing AMD, and their proportion in the total number prescribed.ResultsA total of 52 responses were included in final analysis. There was significant rate of 15.4% of prescribing pregnancy unsafe (fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines) or non-rational AMD or deviation from existing clinical protocols and guidelines.ConclusionsThere were large variations in provider’s AMD preference between healthcare facilities.

PMID:40085828 | DOI:10.1177/09246479251327814

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 Mar 14. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003703. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the effect of intensive physical training on left ventricular (LV) hemodynamic forces (HDF) in athletes.

METHODS: Forty professional endurance athletes were evaluated at the beginning of their training cycle (off-season) and after a period of aerobic isotonic dynamic exercise (peak training period) using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Images were analyzed off-line using dedicated software. LV HDF for the whole cardiac cycle and the different cardiac phases were measured. Standard statistics were used to compare off-season and peak training period values.

RESULTS: The average sport experience was 11 ± 7 years. There were no differences in LV volumes, stroke volume, LVEF and LV mass between off-season and peak training CMR. Similarly, there were no changes induced by physical training in the strain parameters. Physical training induced a significant increase of the longitudinal HDF (18.7 vs 21.2, p = 0.023) and an increase of the transverse HDF (3.4 vs 4.0, p = 0.048) throughout the entire heartbeat. After physical training, the peak values and the hemodynamic work (expressed as AUC) of the first part of the systole were significantly higher compared to off-season values (63.9 vs 53.9, p = 0.034; 4.67 vs 3.79, p = 0.015, respectively). The difference in the elastic rebound between off-season and peak training (-0.22 vs -0.37) did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.056).

CONCLUSIONS: Intense physical training induces an increase in LV HDF of the first part of the systole and of the elastic rebound phase, independent from geometric cardiac remodeling.

PMID:40085803 | DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003703