Tag: statistics

Leuk Lymphoma. 2025 Jun 22:1-11. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2025.2521650. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Children with hematological malignancies, are often hospitalized in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) for sepsis with high mortality and re-admission rates. Risk factors for both are inconsistent. We reviewed data of 190 admissions of children with hematological malignancies to PICU for sepsis. Survival rate (SR) was 85%. Mortality risk factors were: non-complete remission (p < 0.01) and status post-stem cell transplantation (p = 0.02), and best predictors were inotropic drugs (p < 0.01), and Pediatric logistic organ dysfunction-2 (p < 0.01) scores. Patients with viremia had the lowest SR (50%, 0.001). One-quarter of the children were re-admitted due to sepsis, and risk factors were: High-risk (HR) hematological malignancy (p < 0.01) and lack of central venous line (CVL) removal (p < 0.01). Sepsis remains a major cause of death in children with hematological malignancies, and re-admissions are common. Our findings support the recommendation of removing CVL during sepsis and highlight those at the highest risk for sepsis to consider individualized anti-infectious prophylaxis.

PMID:40544355 | DOI:10.1080/10428194.2025.2521650

ACS Infect Dis. 2025 Jun 22. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.5c00081. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

With the prevalence of immunocompromising infections, the emergence of new pathogenic species, rising multidrug resistance, hospital outbreaks, and high mortality rates, once neglected fungal pathogens are now taking over the global healthcare arena, necessitating breakthroughs in diagnostics and therapeutics. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a list of critical and high-priority fungal pathogens, underlining the need and significance of broadening the focus to include fungal infections, among other life-threatening infectious diseases. This is also a wake-up call to the scientific community to facilitate a better understanding of the emergence, life cycle, spread, virulence, and drug resistance mechanisms in fungal pathogens. The strategies that fungal pathogens adopt to escape the immune system, establish an infection, and combat antifungal drugs are diverse. In this review, we focus on the pathogenic lifestyles of WHO critical and high priority fungal pathogens, with a brief introduction to the epidemiology and infection statistics.

PMID:40544349 | DOI:10.1021/acsinfecdis.5c00081

Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Jun;21(6):e70224. doi: 10.1002/alz.70224.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In EMERGE (NCT02484547), participants receiving aducanumab had significantly less progression versus placebo on all prespecified clinical endpoints at week 78. Here, we explicate the clinical meaningfulness of these treatment effects by analyzing item-level data and the persistence of treatment benefit.

METHODS: Participants with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were stratified by apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status and randomized (1:1:1) to receive low- or high-dose aducanumab, or placebo. Prespecified principal component analyses (PCAs) per the Statistical Analysis Plan were followed by post hoc examination of individual domains/items across all five clinical endpoints. Progression analysis assessed reduction in clinical decline.

RESULTS: High-dose aducanumab demonstrated clinically meaningful slowing of progression across clinical endpoints measuring cognition, daily function, and behavioral symptoms. Delay of progression over 18 months was consistent across measures; treatment effects increased over time.

DISCUSSION: Across multiple analyses aducanumab slowed cognitive decline, prolonged functional independence, and attenuated behavioral symptoms in participants with early AD. These outcomes comprise the elements of a clinically meaningful response to treatment.

HIGHLIGHTS: Endpoints in EMERGE assessed different aspects of cognition, daily function, and behavioral symptoms. Treatment benefits were observed across subdomains on all five clinical endpoints. Aducanumab meaningfully slowed disease progression in participants with early AD.

PMID:40545559 | DOI:10.1002/alz.70224

Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2025 Jun 22. doi: 10.1111/ggi.70103. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between exercise type, obesity, and quality of life (QoL) in older adults, and to assess how the combined effects of exercise and obesity differ between obese and non-obese older adults.

METHODS: We conducted a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study using data from the 2016-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Exercise types were categorized as aerobic, resistance, or walking exercise (WE). Exercise status was classified as adequate, inadequate, or none. Obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥25 kg/m². QoL was measured using the EuroQol Five-Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D), and a low EQ-5D score was defined as an average score below 1 across the five domains (indicating low QoL). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine (1) the associations between exercise type, obesity, and QoL in older adults and (2) the combined effects of exercise type and obesity on QoL, using non-obese older adults with adequate exercise for each exercise type as the reference group.

RESULTS: A total of 6060 older adults were included. Compared with older adults who performed adequate WE, the odds ratio (OR) for having a low EQ-5D score was 1.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-2.04) in those who did not perform WE. Additionally, obese older adults without WE had 2.33 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.80-3.02) of having a low EQ-5D score compared with non-obese older adults who performed adequate WE.

CONCLUSIONS: WE shows a strong positive association with QoL among older adults, and this relationship is notably more pronounced in obese older adults than in their non-obese counterparts. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••-••.

PMID:40545558 | DOI:10.1111/ggi.70103

Environ Health. 2025 Jun 23;24(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s12940-025-01190-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 1962, a chloralkali plant began discharging mercury (Hg) into the Wabigoon-English River system, contaminating the territorial waters of Grassy Narrows First Nation, whose traditions, livelihood and diet centered on fish. Data from 1970 to 1997 government Hg biomonitoring programs were repatriated by Grassy Narrows. Our researcher-community partnership carried out secondary analyses to examine the association between childhood Hg exposure (between 5 and 15y) and survival to July 1, 2024.

METHODS: Information from the governmental biomonitoring programs and from Grassy Narrows Registry of Band members were used to create a retrospective year-based equivalent hair Hg (HHg) database, with dates of birth, sampling and death (N = 317). Apparent cause of death was reported by community members. Different approaches were used to minimize potential unmeasured confounders in examining the relation between Hg exposure and early death: (i) matched pairs (deceased/alive; same sex, year of birth (± 1) (n = 81) pairs for dissymmetry analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models (ii) Longitudinal Mixed Effects Models (LMEM) with individuals who had at least 7 year-based HHg measurements (n = 35), and (iii) trajectory techniques modelling exposure.

RESULTS: HHg measurements (n = 1031) were available for 167 boys and 150 girls. Mean age at sampling was 10.5 y (SD: 2.9); 44.2% had HHg ≥ 4 µg/g at least once. By July 1, 2024, 97 individuals (30.6%) had died (median age: 39 years (IQR: 24-49)). The Cox Hazard Ratio for HHg ≥ 4 µg/g at least once was 1.96 [1.18-3.28]. LMEM showed that HHg was 1.46 µg/g higher over the sampling period for the deceased compared to the living. Significant associations (p ≤ 0.001) were also observed for early death with respect to HHg trajectory summary scores (OR: 1.14 to 1.24; SE ≤ 0.78). Reported suicide, liver disease and cardiovascular/metabolic conditions made up 60% of all deaths.

CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality in Grassy Narrows First Nation is higher than other First Nations and the non-Indigenous populations in Canada. Convergent findings from different approaches and statistical techniques support an association between childhood Hg exposure and early death. Morbidity and mortality in this community require follow-up.

PMID:40545538 | DOI:10.1186/s12940-025-01190-7

Spine Deform. 2025 Jun 22. doi: 10.1007/s43390-025-01127-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Literature is scarce regarding health-related quality of life priorities between caregivers and children with scoliosis with an underlying neuromuscular, syndromic, or skeletal dysplasia diagnosis (NSSD). Section 7 of the CPCHILD offers a tool for assessing unique QoL concerns in this population with a 36-item assessment. Our objective was to identify areas of agreement/disagreement between caregivers and children regarding QoL priorities.

METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively, consecutively enrolled NSSD patients who underwent scoliosis surgery from 2016 to 2022. Descriptive statistics were performed to rank the responses in order of priority. Based on rankings, the 36 QoL items were grouped into concordant agreement (high/low priority) and discordant agreement (high priority to caregiver or children). The cohort was further analyzed by diagnosis and ambulatory status.

RESULTS: 195 CPCHILD questionnaires were analyzed. “Overall health”, “Happiness”, and “Comfort while sitting” were items both caregivers and children agreed were high priorities. Conversely, items such as “Putting on/taking off upper clothes”, “Putting on/wearing footwear”, “Hair care/grooming”, “Transferring into/out of a wheelchair/chair”, “Standing for exercise/transfers”, and “Able to play alone” were low priorities.

CONCLUSION: NSSD families share global QoL priorities, however, distinct priorities can be identified between diagnostic and functional groups. Understanding these areas of concordance and discordance may help providers address and assess the outcomes of scoliosis surgery. Our findings recognize that the impact of scoliosis surgery extends beyond improving spinal alignment and function. Factors such as emotional well-being, social engagement, and functional independence clearly influence perceptions of QoL in anticipation of scoliosis surgery.

PMID:40545520 | DOI:10.1007/s43390-025-01127-7

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2025 Jun 22;35(1):266. doi: 10.1007/s00590-025-04393-3.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with prolonged length of stay following geriatric hip fractures.

METHODS: A single-center retrospective study of a consecutive series of geriatric (age > 65) hip fractures between 10/1/14 and 11/1/23 was performed. Patient demographics, injury/surgery characteristics, and inpatient complications were reviewed. Patients who died during hospitalization were excluded. Patients were cohorted into “average” LOS (nLOS) and “prolonged” LOS (pLOS); pLOS was defined as 1 standard deviation above the mean LOS. Cohort variables were compared using standard statistical tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to isolate covariates that were independently associated with pLOS while controlling for confounders.

RESULTS: A total of 3383 patients were identified. Average LOS was 6.38 days (S.D. = 4.24 days), and prolonged LOS was 10.62 days. The pLOS cohort was sicker and less functionally independent at baseline. The pLOS cohort had a more complicated hospital course with a 6 × increase in major complications and 2 × increase in minor complications. The demographic characteristic associated the most to pLOS was male gender. The injury/surgery characteristic contributing the most to pLOS was time from admission to surgery. The complication contributing the most to pLOS was new-onset stroke.

CONCLUSION: Multiple demographic and outcome factors are associated with pLOS in geriatric hip fractures. While demographics cannot be changed, teams should focus on modifiable factors such as reducing time to surgery and identification, prevention, and treatment of perioperative complications, most importantly stroke and pneumonia, to prevent delays in discharge following hip fracture in the elderly population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

PMID:40545513 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-025-04393-3

Eur Spine J. 2025 Jun 23. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-09067-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate and compare the short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of extracorporeal collagenase chemonucleolysis(ECCNL) and intradiscal-extracorporeal collagenase chemonucleolysis(IECCNL) via FLEX electrode in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on 65 patients diagnosed with LDH who met the inclusion criteria between April 2021 and April 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: 30 received ECCNL via FLEX electrodes (Group A) and 35 received IECCNL via FLEX electrode (Group B). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the modified MacNab criteria, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores to assess the excellent/good rate, excellent rate, pain severity, and neurological function at specified intervals (3, 6, 12, and 24 months for clinical outcomes; 3 days, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months for pain/neurological status). Perioperative complications, recurrence rates, and reoperation rates were systematically documented.

RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were included. At 1 month postoperatively, Group A showed significantly lower NRS scores compared to Group B (P < 0.05) and a higher pain relief rate (P < 0.05). Although Group A had higher JOA scores than Group B at 3 days postoperatively (P < 0.05), Group B showed higher JOA scores than Group A at 24 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). The excellent-good rate between the two groups at any postoperative time point, Group B demonstrated a significantly higher excellent rate than Group A at both 3 months and 24 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). In Group A, there was 1 case of recurrence and 2 reoperations, with a recurrence rate of 3.45% [95% CI: 0.09%, 17.7%] and reoperation rate of 6.90% [95% CI: 0.84%, 22.8%]. Group B showed no recurrences or reoperations [95% CI: 0%, 9.7%] for both outcomes. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. During the 24-month follow-up period, no severe complications were observed in Group A. However, one case of nerve root injury occurred in Group B.

CONCLUSION: FLEX electrode application in conjunction with two collagenase injection strategies enhances therapeutic outcomes. Short-term results favor ECCNL alone, whereas long-term benefits are more pronounced with the intradiscal-extracorporeal therapy.

PMID:40545511 | DOI:10.1007/s00586-025-09067-6

Water Environ Res. 2025 Jun;97(6):e70115. doi: 10.1002/wer.70115.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the hydrochemical characteristics and interactions between surface water and groundwater is crucial for the development and protection of water resources in the watershed. This research employs mathematical statistics, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, IsoSource model, and hydrogeochemical simulation to analyze the interactions between surface water and groundwater in the Hua County, Guanzhong Plain, China. The findings revealed that the surface water and groundwater are weakly alkaline and low-mineralization freshwater, and the primary hydrochemical types was HCO₃SO₄·Ca type. The absolute dominance of HCO₃ ^– and Ca²⁺ in both surface and groundwater can be largely attributed to the dissolution of carbonate and silicate rocks. Evaporation led to δD and δ¹⁸O values enrichment in surface water samples from different tributaries, while groundwater samples, though less affected by evaporation, also displayed δD and δ¹⁸O enrichment due to river water infiltration recharge. Overall, the transformation relationship between surface water and groundwater is dominated by surface water infiltration recharge to the groundwater, with recharge contribution rates ranging from 4.7% to 64.5%. Additionally, some surface water samples from the Shidi River were characterized with high fluoride, which may be ascribed to human activities and evaporation. SUMMARY: Surface water and groundwater are weakly alkaline, dominated by HCO₃SO₄·Ca type. Hydrochemical components are primarily controlled by silicate rock dissolution. Surface-groundwater interaction mainly involves surface water infiltration. δ¹⁸O tracing reveals surface water infiltration recharge rates ranging from 4.7% to 64.5%.

PMID:40545500 | DOI:10.1002/wer.70115

Ophthalmol Ther. 2025 Jun 22. doi: 10.1007/s40123-025-01189-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Trabeculectomy is not usually considered for uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) after glaucoma drainage devices (GDD) because of concern that the conjunctiva has been violated and future trabeculectomy surgery is likely to fail due to fibrosis. We examined the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent a trabeculectomy after failed primary GDD.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of all patients who had a glaucoma drainage implant that failed or was inadequate in lowering IOP and underwent a trabeculectomy in the same eye from January 2016 to December 2022.

RESULTS: A total of 23 eyes in 22 patients met our criteria. Average IOP [± standard deviation (SD)] prior to trabeculectomy was 21.7 ± 9.3 on 3.2 ± 1.3 medications. The length of follow-up was between 0.3 and 5.0 years with an average follow-up time of 2.2 years. At 1 year (n = 16), IOP was 11 ± 1.9 mm Hg on 1.8 ± 1.5 medications. At 2 years, the average IOP was 11.8 ± 4.6 on 1.9 ± 1.4 medications. At all follow-up points, the decrease in IOP and medication was statistically significant compared with baseline (paired t-tests; p < 0.05). Most postoperative complications self-resolved with medical management (three early wound leaks, two late wound leaks, two instances of hypotony maculopathy, and one instance of cystoid macular edema). One early wound leak required surgical repair. One eye underwent an additional GDD surgery, and three eyes underwent bleb needling. In all, 20 (87%) eyes at final visit were within two lines of their baseline vision prior to trabeculectomy. No eyes progressed to having no light perception visual acuity or had an ocular infection.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that trabeculectomy after a GDD is an effective and safe option for IOP control and glaucoma medication reduction. In this small sample of surgical cases, complication and reoperation rates were comparable to published rates.

PMID:40545481 | DOI:10.1007/s40123-025-01189-w