Tag: statistics

Melanoma Res. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000001092. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To compare ultrasonographic and histopathological measurements of tumor size in enucleated eyes with choroidal melanoma and to evaluate the prognostic significance of tumor dimensions and morphological characteristics in a Serbian cohort. This retrospective study included 59 consecutive patients with histopathologically confirmed choroidal melanoma who underwent enucleation at the University Eye Hospital, Clinical Centre of Serbia. All ultrasonographic examinations, surgical procedures, and histopathological assessments were performed by single dedicated subspecialists. Preoperative B-scan ultrasonography was used to measure tumor base diameter and thickness, which were compared with postoperative macroscopic histopathological dimensions using paired statistical tests, Bland-Altman analysis, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Survival outcomes were assessed using Pearson and Spearman correlations and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year, with some monitored for up to 5 years. Data are presented as mean ± SD. The mean ultrasonographic base diameter and thickness were 14.63 ± 3.98 and 10.34 ± 3.54 mm, respectively, compared with 18.04 ± 6.54 and 10.55 ± 3.72 mm on pathology. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated good agreement for tumor thickness (mean difference 0.2 mm; limits of agreement -5.5 to +5.5 mm) and acceptable agreement for base diameter (mean difference 3.4 mm; limits -8.2 to +15.1 mm). ICC indicated moderate agreement for base diameter (0.501) and excellent agreement for thickness (0.843). Pathological thickness correlated significantly with shorter metastasis-free survival (r = -0.293, P = 0.024). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significantly poorer survival for patients with T3-T4 tumors. Ultrasonography provides a reliable preoperative estimation of choroidal melanoma size, particularly for tumor thickness, although histopathology remains essential for prognostication. Survival patterns in this cohort align with international data, highlighting the relevance of tumor thickness and morphology and emphasizing the value of data from an underrepresented region.

PMID:41766297 | DOI:10.1097/CMR.0000000000001092

J Pediatr Orthop B. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000001342. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) represent a rare skeletal disorder characterized by multiple osteochondromas, often leading to angular deformities in the lower limbs as well as leg length discrepancy (LLD), managed with tension band plates (TBP) for deformity correction. However, the utility of both angular deformity and LLD in HME has not been comprehensively evaluated. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 25 pediatric patients with HME who visited our institution and reached skeletal maturity between 2012 and 2024, assessing a total of 50 limbs. Surgical indications included patients aged greater than 10 years with an open growth plate, predicted LLD of greater than or equal to 20 mm at the skeletal maturity, and a mechanical axis zone (MAZ) greater than or equal to Zone 2. We categorized the outcomes into four groups: excellent [LLD < 10 mm; mechanical axis percentage (%MA) ≤ ±25%], good (LLD < 15 mm; %MA ≤ ±50%), fair (LLD < 20 mm or at least one limb classified as %MA ≤ ±100%), and poor (worse than the previous categories). We used paired t-tests for statistical analyses. Among the 17 surgically treated patients, TBP was performed on 27 limbs and 60 physes. In most cases, multisite and staged surgeries were required. Angular deformities improved significantly, with the mean hip-knee-ankle angle reduced from 7.8 to 2.7° (lower extremity < 0.01), and 92% of limbs achieved MAZ Zone 1. LLD was corrected from 17.6 to 5.6 mm (P < 0.01) at an average correction rate of 0.47 mm/month. The final outcomes were excellent, good, and fair or poor in 12, 11, and 2 patients, respectively. Major complications were not observed. TBP treatment is effective in correcting both angular deformity and LLD in patients with HME, offering a minimally invasive strategy for comprehensive correction of this complex skeletal dysplasia. Careful surgical planning and timing are essential and staged multisite procedures are often required.

PMID:41766296 | DOI:10.1097/BPB.0000000000001342

J Community Health Nurs. 2026 Mar 1:1-9. doi: 10.1080/07370016.2026.2636641. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine recent trends, disparities, and geographic variation in US mortality rates using National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Vital Statistics Rapid Release (VSRR) provisional estimates from 2022 through 2024, with attention to ongoing effects of COVID-19 and implications for public health planning.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of nationally reported quarterly mortality data using a quantitative, descriptive epidemiological approach.

METHODS: Quarterly provisional mortality estimates were obtained from NCHS VSRR and supplemented with demographic and geographic data from CDC WONDER and COVID-19 mortality reports. Publicly available data required no institutional approval. Temporal trends were assessed from 2022 Q1 through 2024 Q3. Mortality rates were analyzed by sex and by state to identify demographic and regional disparities. Post-pandemic patterns were evaluated to assess indirect effects of COVID-19.

FINDINGS: Overall mortality declined from early 2022 through mid-2023, followed by a resurgence in 2024. Male mortality remained higher than female mortality across all quarters. Geographic disparities persisted, with elevated mortality concentrated in Appalachian and Southern states and lower rates in states with stronger healthcare infrastructure. The 2024 increase suggests continued vulnerability related to delayed chronic disease management, behavioral health challenges, and residual pandemic disruptions.

CONCLUSIONS: Although mortality declined after the acute phase of COVID-19, the 2024 rebound highlights ongoing health system strain and persistent inequities across the US.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings support targeted prevention, chronic disease monitoring, and equity-focused interventions to reduce post-pandemic mortality disparities and improve population health outcomes.

PMID:41766057 | DOI:10.1080/07370016.2026.2636641

J Clin Ultrasound. 2026 Mar 1. doi: 10.1002/jcu.70217. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to quantitatively evaluate the vascular supply and tissue stiffness of the salivary glands-namely, the submandibular and parotid glands-in pregnant individuals throughout the three trimesters, employing superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and shear wave elastography (SWE).

METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study was executed involving 35 healthy pregnant women. Salivary gland ultrasonography was conducted during each trimester. The vascularization index (VI) was quantified using the two-dimensional SMI VI (2DcSMIVI) mode by manually delineating the glandular parenchyma. Glandular elasticity was measured through SWE in kilopascals (kPa) and meters per second (m/s). Statistical evaluations incorporated repeated measures ANOVA and the Friedman test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: Submandibular gland stiffness showed significant trimester-based variations, with kPa values peaking in the second trimester and declining in the third (F(2,68) = 5.31, p < 0.05, η² = 0.13). Likewise, m/s values were elevated in the second trimester relative to the third (X² = 7.79, p < 0.05). In contrast, the stiffness and VI values of the parotid gland exhibited consistency across trimesters (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The dynamic shifts in submandibular gland stiffness, highlighted by a rise in the second trimester followed by a decrease in the third, most likely signify the hormonal and hemodynamic adaptations that come with pregnancy. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring salivary gland function in pregnant women and pave the way for future investigations into the diagnostic and prognostic implications of these changes. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the inaugural study demonstrating normative stiffness and vascularity parameters of salivary glands across each trimester of pregnancy.

PMID:41766051 | DOI:10.1002/jcu.70217

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-41905-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Globally, road traffic injuries (RTIs) cause numerous tragedies such as serious economic loss to the community and death of young people. In Ethiopia, a large proportion of serious injuries result from RTIs and have become major causes of death in hospitals. However, there is insufficient research conducted on treatment outcomes of road traffic injuries and associated factors in the study area. The primary aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of poor treatment outcomes and identify associated factors among patients in the emergency departments of public hospitals in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed in Awi Zone public hospitals, northwest Ethiopia. With a sample of Medical charts of 461 RTI patients were reviewed and data were collected between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2024. Data were collected by using data collection checklist. Four nurses and one health officer were employed as data collector and supervisor respectively. Data were entered using Epi Data version 4.7 and cleaned, coded, and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Bivariate analysis was computed and variables with p-value < 0.25 were included in multi-variable logistic regression. The significant of statistical associations were tested using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value < 0.05. Finally, the results were presented in texts, tables, and graphs. For this study, 461 study subjects of RTIs victims were enrolled. Among these, 49 (10.6%) patients had poor treatment outcomes. Patients aged 31-50 years [AOR = 0.091, 95% CI: 0.019-0.443], patient age > 50 years [AOR = 0.114, 95% CI: 0.021-0.606], absence of complication [AOR: 0.021; CI: (0.002-0.208)], and patients who received first aid [AOR: 0.340; CI: (0.123-0.938)] were significantly associated with poor treatment outcomes. The study showed a high rate of prognosis but still the poor outcome was not underestimated. Age, absence of complications, and first aid service were statistically significant factors that affect treatment outcomes. Therefore, health care providers should prioritize those RTI victims with complication, not received first aid service, and younger age groups.

PMID:41766044 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-41905-5

BMC Med Res Methodol. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s12874-026-02813-4. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41765962 | DOI:10.1186/s12874-026-02813-4

Transl Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1038/s41398-026-03857-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Working memory (WM) deficits are commonly observed across the depression spectrum and may represent a modifiable cognitive mechanism. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of WM training (WMT) on depressive symptoms and WM performance, and examined potential moderators and the association between WM gains and symptom change. Systematic searches of PsycINFO, Embase, and PubMed were conducted in December 2022 and updated in January 2025. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using WMT as the sole cognitive intervention with depressive symptoms as outcomes. Two-level random-effects models were used for depressive symptoms and three-level models for WM outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Twenty-seven RCTs involving 1692 participants were included. WMT produced a small but significant reduction in depressive symptoms at post-training (Hedges’ g = 0.20, 95% CI [0.04, 0.35]), though effect was not maintained at follow-up. Moderate improvements in WM were observed at post-training (g = 0.61, 95% CI [0.24, 0.98]) and follow-up (g = 0.72, 95% CI [0.07, 1.38]). Post-training WM gains were positively associated with symptom reductions at follow-up. Moderator analyses indicated that baseline symptom severity and training material valence may influence outcomes, though subgroup effects were not statistically significant and warrant cautious interpretation. These findings suggest that WMT targets a potentially modifiable mechanism in depression, but its clinical utility remains uncertain. Larger RCTs, particularly in clinical populations and with extended follow-ups, are needed to establish more definitive evidence regarding its preventive and therapeutic value. (Protocol registration: PROSPERO, CRD42023400213.).

PMID:41765936 | DOI:10.1038/s41398-026-03857-2

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-39157-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The structure of the soil bacterial community is crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance and facilitating material transformation in mangrove ecosystems. The large-scale destruction of mangroves directly impacts soil bacterial processes, potentially leading to ecosystem degradation. This study employed Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing to investigate the rhizosphere bacterial community of Kandelia obovata seedlings in both natural and artificially restored forests. Although alpha and beta diversity analyses revealed that the overall bacterial community structure was not significantly altered by artificial restoration, significant shifts in the abundance of specific bacterial genera were identified. A substantial proportion (86.1%-92.6%) of bacterial sequences remained unclassified at the genus level. Distinct dominant genera were observed across different groups: the well-grown artificial group (treat-k) was enriched with Sulfurovum, Actibacter, and Desulfatiglans (5.09%, 2.18%, and 1.82%, respectively), while the poorly-grown artificial group (treat-s) was characterized by Ignavibacterium, Prolixibacter, and Woeseia (2.10%, 1.21%, and 1.06%, respectively). The natural group was dominated by Woeseia, Desulfatiglans, and Halioglobus (1.56%, 1.53%, and 1.11%). Statistical analysis further confirmed that the abundance of several genera, including Ignavibacterium, Prolixibacter, and Haliangium differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the poorly-grown group (treat-s) and the better-grown groups (treat-k and natural). In conclusion, while artificial restoration did not restructure the rhizosphere bacterial community at a global level, it selectively shaped the microbial assemblage by enriching specific bacterial taxa, which might play a crucial role in determining the growth status of Kandelia obovata during restoration.

PMID:41765934 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-39157-4

Confl Health. 2026 Mar 1. doi: 10.1186/s13031-026-00777-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In Somalia, a fragile state characterized by protracted conflict and fragmented health governance, childhood immunization remains a critical challenge. The third dose of the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP3) vaccine serves as a key indicator of health system performance and retention. This study aimed to identify structural and individual-level determinants of DTP3 coverage to understand the inequities in this humanitarian setting.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS). A total sample of 1,268 children was analyzed. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models were fitted to account for the hierarchical structure of the data (children nested within communities). Fixed effects were reported as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DTP3 vaccination coverage was 39.51% [95% CI: 36.85-42.23]. At the individual level, higher maternal education (Secondary vs. no education: aOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.07-3.12), wealth status (Rich vs. poor: aOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.53-3.79), and antenatal care (ANC) attendance (3-4 visits vs. zero visits: aOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.43-3.36) were significantly associated with higher odds of vaccination. Older children had higher odds of vaccination compared to infants, suggesting delayed rather than timely uptake. At the community level, children in rural (aOR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.28-0.57) and urban (aOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.45-0.91) areas had lower odds of vaccination compared to those in nomadic communities. Significant regional disparities were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS: DTP3 coverage in Somalia is critically below the WHO 90% target. Vaccination status is shaped by a complex interplay of socioeconomic status, maternal healthcare utilization, and geographic location. Policy interventions must urgently address the ‘urban penalty’ identified in this study, where settled urban-poor populations now face lower odds of vaccination than nomadic groups targeted by mobile outreach.

PMID:41765923 | DOI:10.1186/s13031-026-00777-2

BMC Public Health. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-25689-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome, are major global health concerns. In Hungary, CVD mortality remains above the OECD average, and diabetes prevalence is increasing. This study examines the association between sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and the risk of CMDs among Hungarian adults, using population-based data collected between 2009 and 2019.

METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional design was used to analyze data from the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) in Hungary for the years 2009, 2014, and 2019 (n = 16,480). CMD was defined as self-reported diagnosis of both CVD and diabetes. Weighted proportions, Pearson’s chi-squared tests, and multiple binary logistic regression models were applied to identify associations between CMD and sociodemographic (sex, age, education, employment, income, residence), behavioral (BMI, smoking, alcohol use), and clinical risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia). Predicted probabilities were estimated using marginal effects.

RESULTS: Prevalence of CMD fell by 27% in 2019 (OR = 0.73 [0.57-0.94], P = 0.013), with predicted probability declining from 5.6% to 4.1%. Younger age (< 35: OR = 0.01, P < 0.001; 35-64: OR = 0.68, P = 0.002), female sex (OR = 0.65, P < 0.001), and employment (OR = 0.32, P < 0.001) were protective. CMD risk was higher in urban areas (OR = 1.44, P = 0.048), alcohol users (OR = 1.35, P = 0.004), those with hypertension (OR = 3.83, P < 0.001), hypercholesterolemia (OR = 3.10, P < 0.001), mental illness (OR = 1.49, P = 0.027), and depression (OR = 1.63, P = 0.001). Normal BMI reduced risk (OR = 0.48, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CMD in Hungary decreased between 2009 and 2019, indicating progress in prevention and risk factor management. However, disparities persist among older adults, men, and urban residents. Targeted screening, lifestyle interventions, and mental health support are essential to strengthen the management of cardiometabolic diseases.

PMID:41765912 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-25689-3