Tag: statistics

Hand (N Y). 2025 Nov 8:15589447251387287. doi: 10.1177/15589447251387287. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Many patients have spiritual or cultural preferences regarding the disposal and reclamation of amputated parts, yet little is known about the current process. Our goal was to understand patient preferences and increase patient education regarding amputation disposal and reclamation.

METHODS: A quality improvement approach was used. Stakeholders were interviewed to process map current methods. Amputation patients were surveyed to determine preferences for amputation disposal and reclamation. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act, change concepts were applied and outcomes measured through the same survey. Descriptive methods, analysis of variance, unpaired t-tests, and run/statistical process control charts were used for analysis.

RESULTS: Stakeholders identified barriers against amputation reclamation, including lack of patient access to resources, limited provider clarity surrounding the process, and no standardized policies. Baseline preferences were first gathered from 31 patients: 42% felt educated about the disposal process, 42% were concerned about the treatment of their amputated part, 74% wished to be more informed, and 16% wanted to reclaim their part. Change concepts were then implemented. First, a presentation was given at teaching rounds for medical trainees and staff. Results showed no significant change. Second, an educational handout about amputation disposal was distributed to patients. This showed a significant improvement in patient education, decreased concern for the management of amputated parts, and decreased needs for further discussion with health care providers.

CONCLUSIONS: Many patients have preferences for amputation disposal. Patients mostly value education and awareness. The format through which education is provided is important-access to educational material may be most beneficial for patients.

PMID:41204737 | DOI:10.1177/15589447251387287

Breastfeed Med. 2025 Nov 6. doi: 10.1177/15568253251393226. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aims to compare the macronutrient content of mature breast milk expressed by three different methods: hand expression, manual pump, and electric pump. Methods: This experimental study includes 31 mothers of term infants who met the inclusion criteria. Milk samples were collected on three different days using each expression method, following randomization and standardized procedures. All samples were frozen and later analyzed using the Miris® Human Milk Analyzer (HMATM) to determine fat, protein, carbohydrate, and energy values. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software (version 4.4.1). Results: The mean age of the mothers was 23 ± 4 years, and 35.5% were middle school graduates. The average energy content was 74.5, 72.3, and 71.7 kcal/100 mL for hand, electric pump, and manual pump expression, respectively. Lactose levels were 7.2, 7.1, and 7.2 g/100 mL; fat content was 4.3, 4.0, and 3.9 g/100 mL; and true protein was 1.2 g/100 mL across all methods. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the measured macronutrients among the three expression methods (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study found no significant differences in the energy, lactose, fat, or true protein content of breast milk expressed by hand, manual pump, or electric pump. This finding indicates that, regardless of mothers’ economic status or access to equipment, any method of milk expression can be effectively used to provide breast milk, provided that the technique is applied correctly.

PMID:41204733 | DOI:10.1177/15568253251393226

Death Stud. 2025 Nov 7:1-6. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2025.2585931. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Using a cross-sectional design, this study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and the writing of a suicide note as well as the mediation and moderation effects of psychache (i.e., psychological pain) on this relationship. A non-clinical sample of 1012 young adults aged 17 to 29 years (M = 19.56; SD = 1.94; 3.7% > 25 years) participated. A mediation model was tested using path analysis through structural equation modeling, and a moderation model was tested using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, while statistically controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables. A partial mediating effect of psychological pain was found in the association between childhood trauma and writing a suicide note. Psychache also interacted and potentiated the relationship of childhood trauma with writing a suicide note. As such, psychache assists in explaining why and when individuals who have experienced more traumatic events in childhood are more likely to write suicide notes.

PMID:41204719 | DOI:10.1080/07481187.2025.2585931

Ultrastruct Pathol. 2025 Nov 7:1-26. doi: 10.1080/01913123.2025.2584119. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Tramadol (TRM) is a centrally acting analgesic drug used for management of moderate to severe pain. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine that has the ability to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral circulation. This study was performed to evaluate the histological and biochemical alterations in the adrenal cortex after intake of tramadol and the possible protective role of G-CSF on it. Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into three groups: Group I as a control group, group II (TRM treated group) received a daily dose of 80 mg/kg body weight orally via gastric tube for 12 weeks and group III (TRM+G-CSF-treated group) received subcutaneous injections of 100 μg/kg body weight of G-CSF for seven consecutive days, then TRM from the 8th day to the end of the experiment in the same dose as group II. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken for hormonal essay and tissue samples were processed. Light and electron microscopic studies were done. Morphometric and statistical studies were carried out. The study revealed that TRM induced histological and ultrastructural degenerative changes, decreased serum levels of aldosterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone, as well as a strong positive Bax immune reaction. However, G-CSF reversed these alterations and showed a strong positive CD34 immune reaction. In conclusion: G-CSF improved histological, biochemical and immunohistochemical metrics in the rat adrenal cortex after tramadol-induced injury.

PMID:41204716 | DOI:10.1080/01913123.2025.2584119

Vet Ophthalmol. 2025 Nov 7. doi: 10.1111/vop.70108. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of nasal mucosal anesthesia on aqueous tear secretion in dogs and to compare responses between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic breeds.

ANIMAL STUDIED: Twenty healthy dogs (10 Australian Shepherds, 10 Boston Terriers).

PROCEDURES: All dogs received 0.5 mL of 10% lidocaine or saline into one randomly selected nostril. The alternate solution was administered in the same nostril 2 weeks later. Schirmer tear test-1 (STT-1) was performed bilaterally before and 15 min after nasal administration. Tear strip wetting was recorded every 10 s for 60 s; the initial uptake phase (0-10 s) reflected uptake of pre-existing tears, while the active secretion phase (10-60 s) represented reflex tearing. Statistical comparisons included paired t-tests and linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS: In non-brachycephalic dogs, lidocaine significantly reduced STT-1 values in the treated side by 11.5% (20.0-17.7 mm, p = 0.045) and did not cause a significant change in the contralateral side (21.7-20.1 mm, -7.4%, p = 0.280). Reflex tear slope decreased by 21.7% (0.23-0.18 mm/s, p = 0.004), while the initial phase slope remained unchanged (0.84-0.88 mm/s, p = 0.653). In brachycephalic dogs, lidocaine had no significant effect in either eye or tear phase (p ≥ 0.132). Saline caused mild, non-significant increases in STT-1 across all groups (+0.4% to 8.4%, p ≥ 0.116). Mixed-effects analysis identified skull type as the only significant predictor of treatment response (p = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS: Nasal mucosal anesthesia reduced reflex tear production in dogs, particularly in non-brachycephalic breeds. These results confirm the presence of a functional nasolacrimal reflex in dogs and suggest diminished nasal sensory input in brachycephalic breeds.

PMID:41204707 | DOI:10.1111/vop.70108

J Oral Rehabil. 2025 Nov 7. doi: 10.1111/joor.70100. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To analyse clinical features and psychological status according to the presence of concomitant headache in a well-defined group of temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

METHODS: Graded Chronic Pain Scale and Symptom Checklist-90-Revision were applied to evaluate pain disability and psychological characteristics in a group of 793 TMD patients. The presence of generalised bodily symptoms, sleep disturbance, and general health status was collected. Clinical and psychological variables associated with concomitant headache were statistically identified.

RESULTS: Among the TMD patients, 290 reported headache (37%). Those with headache reported higher levels of TMD pain intensity (p = 0.005) and more frequently reported pain on palpation of the masticatory muscles (p = 0.031) and temporomandibular joint (p = 0.007). Also, clenching (p = 0.016), sleep disturbance (p < 0.001), and insomnia (p < 0.001) were more prevalent. Those with headache experienced pain in other body regions more frequently. Higher levels of somatization (p < 0.001), depression (p = 0.045), anxiety (p = 0.005), and paranoid ideation (p = 0.022) were found in the headache group.

CONCLUSIONS: TMD patients when reporting concomitant headache showed higher pain levels, widespread pain, and higher levels of psychological distress. The results indicate the need to appropriately address the issue of headache in TMD patients with an emphasis on psychological issues to improve overall prognosis.

PMID:41204702 | DOI:10.1111/joor.70100

Nephrology (Carlton). 2025 Nov;30(11):e70144. doi: 10.1111/nep.70144.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study analyzed global cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden linked to kidney dysfunction (1990-2021) using Global Burden of Disease 2021 data.

METHOD: Age-standardised death (ASDR: EAPC = -1.57) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs: EAPC = -1.44) rates declined globally, with consistent sex-based reductions. Burden escalated with age, disproportionately affecting older populations.

RESULTS: Among 19 regions, 18 showed ASDR declines; 20 regions had reduced DALYs. Australasia saw the steepest decreases (ASDR EAPC = -4.20; DALYs EAPC = -4.41), while Southern Sub-Saharan Africa experienced increases (ASDR EAPC = 0.51; DALYs EAPC = 0.34). High Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions exhibited the largest declines (ASDR EAPC = -3.38; DALYs EAPC = -3.19). In 2021, Central Asia had the highest regional ASDR (70.71/100000) and DALYs (1243.96/100000), while Nauru recorded peak national rates (ASDR = 96.88; DALYs = 2268.19). Global CVD burden from kidney dysfunction decreased overall but revealed stark regional disparities. High-SDI regions achieved significant progress, whereas Central Asia and Nauru remained high-burden areas.

CONCLUSION: Aging populations correlated with rising rates, underscoring persistent age-related risks. Findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions in regions with stagnant or increasing trends and highlight sociodemographic influences on disease distribution. Sustained monitoring and age-specific preventive strategies are crucial to mitigate this health challenge.

PMID:41204691 | DOI:10.1111/nep.70144

Mov Disord. 2025 Nov 7. doi: 10.1002/mds.70114. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Laryngeal dystonia (LD) is a focal task-specific dystonia, affecting speaking but not whispering or emotional vocalizations. Therapeutic options for LD are limited. We developed and tested a non-invasive, closed-loop, neurofeedback, brain-computer interface (BCI) intervention for LD treatment.

METHODS: Ten patients with isolated focal LD participated in the study. The personalized BCI system included visual neurofeedback of individual real-time electroencephalographic (EEG) activity during symptomatic speaking compared to asymptomatic whispering, presented in the virtual reality (VR) environment of real-life scenarios. During five consecutive days of intervention, patients used the BCI to learn to modulate their abnormally increased brain activity during speaking and match it to near-normal activity of asymptomatic whispering. Changes in voice symptoms and EEG activity were quantified for the evaluation of BCI effects.

RESULTS: Compared to baseline, LD patients had a statistically significant reduction of their voice symptoms on Days 1-5 of BCI intervention. Thi was paralleled by improved controllability of the visual neurofeedback and a significant reduction of left frontal delta power, including superior and middle frontal gyri, on Day 1 and left central gamma power, including premotor, primary sensorimotor, and inferior parietal areas, on Days 3 and 5. The majority of patients (70%) reported sustained positive effects of the BCI intervention on their voice quality 1 week after the study participation.

CONCLUSION: The closed-loop BCI neurofeedback intervention specifically targeting disorder pathophysiology shows significant potential as a novel treatment option for patients with LD and likely other forms of task-specific focal dystonia. © 2025 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

PMID:41204680 | DOI:10.1002/mds.70114

Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2025 Dec;22(6):e70082. doi: 10.1111/wvn.70082.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is essential for improving the quality of care and health outcomes in healthcare organizations. This study aimed to analyze the association between the nursing work environment and EBP elements, including attitude, training, implementation and quality of care.

METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted with 1022 registered nurses from 57 primary care centers and four public hospitals in northern Spain. The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) was used to assess the nursing work environment. Data collection also included the Health Sciences Evidence-Based Practice (HS-EBP) questionnaire to evaluate attitudes toward EBP, and self-reported measures of EBP training, EBP implementation, and overall quality of care. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for the association between the nursing work environment and EBP elements were calculated using logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic and occupational characteristics.

RESULTS: Compared to nurses who reported working in unfavorable environments (n = 220; 21.5%), those working in favorable environments (n = 437; 42.8%) exhibited a positive attitude toward EBP (OR = 2.89; 95% CI [2.00, 4.18]), EBP implementation (OR = 2.30; 95% CI [1.52, 3.39]) and higher quality of care (OR = 2.35; 95% CI [1.61, 3.44]). Using a composite measure that considered all EBP elements, favorable environments were associated with overall EBP engagement (OR = 3.47; 95% CI [2.38, 5.07]). The most influential environmental dimensions were adequate staffing and strong nursing foundations.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: A favorable nursing work environment was strongly associated with a positive attitude toward EBP, the implementation of EBP, and a commitment to providing high-quality care. Key strategies to promote EBP should involve healthcare and academic institutions working together to establish a healthy work environment with appropriate staffing and care foundations rooted in nursing theory.

PMID:41204679 | DOI:10.1111/wvn.70082

Environ Microbiol Rep. 2025 Dec;17(6):e70232. doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.70232.

ABSTRACT

Our study aims to identify electrogenic bacteria and optimise culture conditions using different commercial and agro-industrial wastes as a sole carbon source. Potential candidates of electrogenic bacteria isolates (EBIs) were screened from anode-developed biofilm in a double-chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC) bioreactor system. Characterisation using cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that the isolated bacteria had a potential bio-electrochemical property. Statistical techniques were used, including response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD). The highest cell growth, measured by optical density at 600 nm (OD_600nm) (1.1407 ± 0.00316) and cell dry weight (CDW) (0.02135 ± 0.00152 g/L), was obtained when commercial carbon glucose was used. Cost-effective, barley bran formulated media resulted in maximum growth, OD_600nm 1.52167 ± 0.03476 and CDW with 0.01541 ± 0.000071 g/L. The RSM optimised condition achieved a 32.3% fold increase of cell growth yield (OD_600nm) compared to unoptimised conditions. This is the first study to use 16S rRNA gene sequencing from anode biofilm to identify native Enterobacter species. In conclusion, the recently discovered isolate exhibited growth conditions between 18°C and 52°C, pH 3 and pH 11, and resistance to high salt concentrations (0.332 M NaCl). It might therefore be considered a potentially versatile biocatalyst candidate for MFC applications.

PMID:41204673 | DOI:10.1111/1758-2229.70232