Tag: statistics

J Behav Med. 2026 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s10865-026-00680-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Upwards of 40% of adults in the United States (US) meet criteria for obesity, highlighting obesity as a critical, ongoing public health crisis. Pain affects 33-40% of individuals with obesity, contributing to increased distress and added burden which necessitates a higher degree of coping resources. Individuals with obesity often manage distress through maladaptive eating behaviors, yet it is unclear what mechanisms may contribute to these individual differences in eating behaviors. One mechanism that is relevant to both obesity and pain is rumination, an aspect of repetitive negative thinking that is focused on past negative thoughts or problems and can influence behavioral responses. However, the role of rumination in terms of eating behavior among adults with obesity and pain is unexplored. The present study examined the role of rumination, including its sub-facets (brooding and reflection) in relation to emotional, external, and restrained eating behavior and related cognitions among individuals with comorbid obesity and pain. Participants were 137 adults with comorbid obesity and pain (M_age = 31.96 years, SD = 10.82, age range 18-75 years; 62.0% female). Results indicated that rumination was statistically significantly associated with emotional and external eating, such that higher levels of rumination were related to increased engagement in these specific eating behaviors and related cognitions. These findings indicate that rumination, and ruminative brooding specifically, may serve as a modifiable, clinically actionable mechanism, highlighting a novel opportunity to improve outcomes for maladaptive eating in individuals with comorbid obesity and pain.Trial Registration Number: NCT03917901. Registered 13 April 2019.

PMID:42207434 | DOI:10.1007/s10865-026-00680-4

World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2026 May 28;42(6):309. doi: 10.1007/s11274-026-05058-x.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics (MPs) accumulate in soils, forming microbial habitats termed the “plastisphere”, which can concentrate hydrophobic pollutants like phenanthrene (PHE). This study investigated how PHE stress influences the microbial community in the polypropylene-amended soil plastisphere compared to bulk soil, revealing its “microbial refuge” function. Significant differences in microbial composition were observed. Under PHE stress, the number of unique genera in the plastisphere increased from 4 (without PHE) to 9, and the composition of significantly enriched genera changed substantially, with only 1 out of 6 enriched genera shared between PHE-stressed and non-stressed conditions. In contrast, the depleted genera remained largely consistent. Functional prediction indicated that PHE stress was associated with reduced health risks in the plastisphere relative to bulk soil. Carbon and methane metabolism pathways were significantly enriched in the plastisphere regardless of PHE stress. In contrast, nitrogen metabolism, aromatic compound degradation, and PAH degradation pathways did not differ significantly between the plastisphere and soil. Although several pathways reached statistical significance, fewer than 8.33% exhibited an absolute log₂FC > 1. This discrepancy indicates that microplastics exert a limited biological impact on the overall metabolic potential of the soil microbiome, irrespective of PHE contamination. Microbial co-occurrence networks initially showed similar complexity between plastisphere and soil. However, PHE stress markedly reduced network complexity (degree) in the plastisphere and increased the proportion of negative correlations (indicating competition/antagonism) from ~ 60% to ~ 50% in both habitats. This study advances the mechanistic understanding of pollutant-driven microbial responses in soil plastispheres, with a focus on how this unique plastic-associated microbial niche mediates microbial composition, function, and network under PAH stress, thereby informing targeted bioremediation and ecological risk models for microplastic-organic co-contaminated environments.

PMID:42207427 | DOI:10.1007/s11274-026-05058-x

Brain Imaging Behav. 2026 May 28;20(3):96. doi: 10.1007/s11682-026-01165-3.

ABSTRACT

Identifying brain phenotypes influencing social participation may help understand social deficits in psychiatric disorders. Previous research shows methodological inconsistencies, lacking consensus on which brain regions are crucial. Data-driven variable selection may overcome this, facilitating unbiased replication and discovery of social brain regions. We compare data-driven selection to literature-identification of brain regions in explaining social participation variation. In 37,576 UK Biobank participants (mean age 65 ± 8, 53% female) with structural and functional neuroimaging data, social participation (range 0-10) was derived by combining leisure activity participation and friend/family visits. First, literature review identified a subset of brain regions previously associated with social measures. Secondly, recursive feature elimination selected a subset of imaging-derived phenotypes in 25% (n = 9,394) of the sample. Hierarchical regression in the remaining 75% (n = 28,152) compared whether data-selected or literature-identified brain phenotype-sets explained more variance in social participation. Individual p-values were corrected for multiple comparisons using the false discovery rate. Recursive feature elimination selected 198 imaging-derived phenotypes. Data-selected imaging-derived-phenotypes explained more variance in social participation (1.31%) than literature-identified (0.84%, F = 3.17, p < 0.0001). Seventeen imaging-derived-phenotypes were associated with social participation including mid-posterior-cingulate, inferior-frontal/orbital and insular thickness, and functional connectivity between pericentral with medial frontoparietal and cerebellar networks. Multi-modal brain imaging-derived phenotypes can predict small but significant variation in social participation. We confirmed previously identified social brain associations of pericentral and medial frontoparietal, and orbital regions while also implicating novel relationships with the insula, acoustic radiation, and lateral frontoparietal networks. This highlights the value of data-driven approaches in solidifying social brain regional involvement, outperforming literature-based methods, and revealing previously undetected relationships.

PMID:42207420 | DOI:10.1007/s11682-026-01165-3

Eur J Epidemiol. 2026 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s10654-026-01404-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Data harmonization is a prerequisite for joint cohort analyses. In this review, we aim to identify and contrast statistical methods for retrospective harmonization of longitudinal data. We performed a scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Studies were included if they described statistical methods for retrospectively harmonizing longitudinal data at the participant level. From 35 included papers out of 1,234 hits, we identified three types of statistical methods applicable to tabular data commonly collected in longitudinal epidemiological studies (e.g., questionnaires): (1) distribution-based methods, (2) the proportion score model, and (3) latent variable models. Our results suggest that the suitability of a statistical harmonization method mainly depends on the measurement scales of the original variables as well as on the type of target variable (directly measurable vs. latent). The chosen harmonization method influences how missing subsets of variables are addressed. None of the included studies applied more automated approaches such as machine learning-based procedures for deriving a harmonized dataset. Based on our findings, we present a roadmap that can guide researchers in selecting the most appropriate statistical method for a specific harmonization task and in handling variables collected only in a subset of studies. Data harmonization is still a demanding task that requires the development and application of novel tools for automating the procedures.

PMID:42207414 | DOI:10.1007/s10654-026-01404-3

Head Neck Pathol. 2026 May 28;20(1):53. doi: 10.1007/s12105-026-01930-2.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Oral pseudoperineurioma (OPP) is a recently recognized peripheral nerve-associated lesion characterized by pseudo-onion bulb-like perineurial cell proliferations surrounding axon-Schwann cell units. Although now is included in the current World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Head and Neck Tumors within the spectrum of neuromas, it remains underrecognized and is frequently misdiagnosed as other neural lesions, particularly traumatic neuroma. The full histopathologic spectrum of OPP has not yet been well defined.

METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective review of University of Florida Oral Pathology Biopsy Service archives was performed to identify lesions meeting WHO-defined diagnostic criteria for OPP. Cases were retrieved through re-evaluation of lesions originally diagnosed as traumatic neuroma, intraneural perineurioma, or related peripheral nerve lesions. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were reviewed and immunohistochemical studies (EMA, GLUT-1, CD56, and S-100) were performed. Clinical and pathologic data were recorded, and lesions were subclassified based on architectural growth patterns. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis.

RESULTS: Twenty-one cases of oral pseudoperineurioma were identified. Patients ranged in age from 14 to 73 years (mean 36 years), with a slight female predominance (52%). The tongue was the most commonly affected site (86%), followed by the lip (14%). Lesions were small, measuring 0.3-1.5 cm, with most measuring ≤ 1.0 cm. None were clinically suspected to represent a neural lesion, and the majority were originally diagnosed as traumatic neuroma. Histologically, cases demonstrated a spectrum of architectural patterns, including serpiginous and non-serpiginous forms, as well as papillary growth and distinctive intraneural and extraneural perineurial proliferations not previously described. Immunohistochemistry showed a uniform profile, with EMA and GLUT-1 positivity in all cases, frequent CD56 positivity, and absence of S-100 expression in perineurial cells.

CONCLUSIONS: OPP is an uncommon benign peripheral nerve lesion with a strong predilection for the tongue and a highly reproducible immunophenotype. The identification of previously undescribed morphologic patterns expands the recognized histopathologic spectrum of OPP and highlights the importance of awareness of this entity to avoid diagnostic misclassification.

PMID:42207401 | DOI:10.1007/s12105-026-01930-2

Curr Med Sci. 2026 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s11596-026-00210-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Complete removal of filling material from complex anatomies such as the mesiobuccal isthmus remains a challenge in endodontic retreatment. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of XP-endo Shaper (XPS), Reciproc (REC), and WaveOne Gold (WOG) in removing root canal filling material during the retreatment of 3D-printed maxillary first molars, as quantified by micro-CT.

METHODS: Fifteen standardized 3D-printed resin teeth with Vertucci type II mesiobuccal canals were prepared, obturated, and randomly assigned to retreatment using XPS, REC, or WOG (n = 5 per group). Micro-CT scans were acquired before and after retreatment to analyze residual filling material volume in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal‒Wallis H test with post hoc Mann‒Whitney U tests (Bonferroni corrected).

RESULTS: While all the systems achieved near-complete coronal debridement (> 97%), REC demonstrated significantly greater removal in the middle third (99% ± 1% vs. 97% WOG and 94% XPS; P < 0.05). Crucially, in the apical isthmus region, both XPS (95% ± 3%) and REC (90% ± 7%) significantly outperformed WOG (76% ± 3%) (P < 0.05). No significant difference was detected between XPS and REC in the apical third.

CONCLUSION: Residual filling material persisted in all the samples. REC showed the highest overall efficiency, whereas XPS achieved comparable apical debridement to REC. These quantitative, region-specific findings support the preferential use of XPS or REC over WOG for retreatment cases involving complex apical anatomy or isthmus configurations.

PMID:42207399 | DOI:10.1007/s11596-026-00210-y

Genet Med. 2026 May 27:102614. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2026.102614. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Variants in SMARCB1, encoding a core subunit of the BAF chromatin remodeling complex, are associated with intellectual developmental disorders, particularly Coffin-Siris Syndrome (CSS), though the genotype-phenotype spectrum remains incompletely defined. This study aims to assess correlations between SMARCB1 variant location and phenotypic manifestations.

METHODS: We analyzed 31 individuals with pathogenic or likely pathogenic SMARCB1 variants using multimodal approaches, integrating clinical, structural, and machine learning analyses. We predicted variant effects via 3D protein modelling, assessed facial similarity using GestaltMatcher, and conducted phenotype-driven genotype prediction using machine learning classifiers.

RESULTS: Variants clustered within N-terminal (winged-helix/SNF5) and C-terminal (αC-helix) regions. C-terminal CSS variants were associated with more severe speech delay, microcephaly and cleft palate, exhibiting stronger facial gestalt similarity. XGBoost achieved 96.7% accuracy in classifying variant location from phenotype alone. While gestalt is a key feature delineating variants at the αC helix, overall clinical features have greater predictive power for N-terminal variants.

CONCLUSION: Using detailed phenotyping and machine learning algorithms we identify differences between individuals with N-terminus and C-terminus SMARCB1 variants. Our study underscores the importance of multi-modal assessments for genotype-phenotype associations, suggesting integrated modelling can provide insights into SMARCB1 variant effects and biological function, with potential for improvement of diagnostic strategies.

PMID:42206491 | DOI:10.1016/j.gim.2026.102614

J Adolesc. 2026 May 28. doi: 10.1002/jad.70190. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Socioeconomic disparities in academic achievement are well-documented in France and emerge early in schooling. Yet, a subset of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds attains high academic performance, challenging deterministic accounts of educational inequality. Academic resilience offers a useful framework to identify these students, but little is known about the socio-emotional characteristics that distinguish resilient learners during early adolescence, a critical developmental period.

METHODS: Using data from a nationally large cohort of 8934 French students (mean age = 11.50 years; 51% girls), we adopted a definition-based approach to academic resilience. Learner profiles were constructed by cross-classifying tertiles of family socioeconomic status (SES) and academic achievement assessed in Grade 7, yielding nine SES × achievement profiles. Intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and academic self-efficacy were measured via student self-report in Grade 6. Bayesian analyses of covariance were conducted to compare socio-emotional profiles across groups, controlling for age and sex.

RESULTS: Decisive evidence emerged for differences in intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy across learner profiles. Academically resilient students (low SES, high achievement) reported substantially higher intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy than disadvantaged low achievers, and levels statistically indistinguishable from socioeconomically advantaged high achievers. Self-efficacy showed the strongest differentiation across profiles and the steepest gradient across achievement levels. In contrast, extrinsic motivation exhibited weaker and less consistent differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that academic resilience in early adolescence is characterized by socio-emotional profiles marked by strong self-efficacy and elevated intrinsic motivation, comparable to those of advantaged high achievers. By highlighting psychological resources that differentiate resilient from non-resilient students under conditions of socioeconomic disadvantage, this study identifies promising targets for interventions aimed at reducing educational inequalities.

PMID:42206486 | DOI:10.1002/jad.70190

J Appl Lab Med. 2026 May 28:jfag075. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfag075. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Capillary self-collection (CSC) devices allow patients to collect blood samples at home, potentially reducing outpatient phlebotomy visits. This study aimed to (a) assess the patient experience with multiple commercially available CSC devices; (b) determine which laboratory tests are commonly ordered together, which could reduce the need for appointments; and (c) evaluate the analytical performance of these tests using CSC samples.

METHODS: User experience for 3 CSC devices was evaluated. Clinical feasibility was determined by comparing test results in paired sera collected by venipuncture (VP) and CSC devices. VP samples were centrifuged within 2 h and tested immediately. CSC sera were centrifuged and tested both immediately and after delayed processing to simulate shipping temperature extremes (-20°C or 40°C). Basic metabolic panel, lipid panel, thyroid function cascade, and prostate-specific antigen were evaluated. Differences between VP and CSC collections were characterized according to their statistical and clinical differences.

RESULTS: Patients reported CSC devices were easy to use and painless. Clinically significant differences between VP and CSC sera processed immediately were limited to potassium and bicarbonate. Following delayed processing of CSC serum samples (48 h at room temperature), clinically significant differences in potassium, bicarbonate, and glucose were observed. Frozen samples could not be analyzed. A 48 h delay at 40°C caused clinically significant differences in all analytes except creatinine, lipid panel, prostate-specific antigen, and the thyroid cascade.

CONCLUSION: Potassium, bicarbonate, and glucose were not stable at room temperature in CSC sera. CSC serum specimens may be a viable option but require analyte-specific evaluation and consideration of transportation conditions.

PMID:42206470 | DOI:10.1093/jalm/jfag075

Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2026 Jun;28(3):e70160. doi: 10.1111/cid.70160.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To compare one-year prosthetic, technical, and esthetic outcomes of screw-retained, implant-supported all-ceramic single crowns placed on two-piece zirconia (ZrO₂) versus titanium implants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, prospective, multicenter clinical trial, patients received screw-retained, implant-supported all-ceramic single crowns placed either on a two-piece zirconia implant with a titanium base connection or on a titanium implant with a conventional titanium base (implant diameters: 4.1 mm). Restoration survival and technical complications were systematically recorded. Peri-implant soft-tissue parameters, including plaque index (PI), papilla bleeding index (PBI), and papilla index (PaI), were assessed at baseline and at the one-year follow-up. Baseline was set at three weeks after crown insertion. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to compare outcomes between the zirconia and titanium implant groups, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: A total of 117 implants were restored, and 112 restorations were available for analysis after one year of function. Restoration survival was 100% in both the zirconia and titanium implant groups. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups with regard to overall technical complication rates. Veneered zirconia crowns exhibited significantly higher complication rates compared with monolithic restorations, irrespective of the supporting implant material. Peri-implant soft-tissue parameters, including PI, PBI, and PaI, did not differ significantly between groups.

CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this prospective randomized clinical trial, restorations supported by zirconia implants with a screw-retained titanium base connection demonstrated short-term clinical performance comparable to that of restorations placed on titanium implants. Both groups showed a 100% restoration survival rate, with no significant differences in technical complications or peri-implant soft-tissue parameters. These findings should be interpreted considering the one-year follow-up, the study design primarily powered to detect differences in marginal bone loss, and the exclusive use of regular-diameter implants. Overall, the results support the favorable short-term clinical performance at 1 year.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00013209) as well as at the Federal Office of Public Health’s (FOPH) portal for human research in Switzerland (kofam.ch).

PMID:42206453 | DOI:10.1111/cid.70160