Tag: statistics

J Ophthalmol. 2026 Jun 22;2026:6643075. doi: 10.1155/joph/6643075. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Our purpose is to report the results of a prospective study on ocular discomfort and objective tear film parameters (osmolarity and NIKBUT), in myopic patients, and observe the possible differences at 1 month between randomized groups in the use of topical lubricants 1 week prior to surgery or just after surgery.

METHODS: This is a prospective, single masked, randomized, comparative study. Refractive error and UDVA, BCVA, tear osmolarity, OSDI test, and keratograph analysis of the tear film were performed per patient by a masked examiner before and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after FS-LASIK performed to correct myopia in both pre and post groups. A total of 22 patients per group were included.

RESULTS: Mean age was 32.27 ± 5.4 and 32.85 ± 5.3 years, and mean preop sphere was -3.17 ± 2.3 and 2.75 ± 1.3 D in pre and post groups, respectively (p > 0.05). In addition, no statistically significant difference was found in preoperative OSDI, tear osmolarity, or NIKBUT between both groups. In the whole cohort, the OSDI worsened significantly from a preop value of 6.94 ± 7.15 to a value of 15.66 ± 12.55 at 1-month postop (p < 0.0001).We did not find any statistically significant differences in the OSDI score, NIKBUT, or osmolarity at the 1-month postop between the pre and post groups.

CONCLUSION: Femto-LASIK increased OSDI at 1 month. One-week pretreatment with hyaluronate-HP-guar did not improve symptoms, osmolarity, or NIKBUT compared with postoperative use only. More trials with longer follow-up are needed. Trial Registration: Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS): Code 25-0055.

PMID:42339499 | PMC:PMC13284676 | DOI:10.1155/joph/6643075

Clin Interv Aging. 2026 Jun 18;21:600367. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S600367. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) cause significant morbidity in aging populations. Hounsfield unit (HU) from CT and the vertebral bone quality (VBQ) from MRI show promise in assessing bone quality and fracture risk. This study aims to directly compare the predictive efficacy of HU and VBQ for OVCFs and develop a nomogram model integrating HU and VBQ.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted involving 385 patients (127 with OVCFs, 258 controls) who were hospitalized at our hospitals between September, 2020 and September, 2024. HU and VBQ were derived from picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Other variables included demographic, clinical, and radiological data. Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square tests, multivariable logistic regression, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO) regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Then, a nomogram model was established. The calibration, discrimination and clinical practicability of the nomogram model were also evaluated.

RESULTS: The OVCF group had significantly higher VBQ and lower HU compared to controls. ROC analysis showed higher diagnostic accuracy for HU than VBQ.A nomogram model for predicting the risk of OVCF occurrence in patients has been developed based on three independent predictors, namely BMI, HU and VBQ. The AUC was 0.84 in the training set and 0.87 in the test set. The model has good practicability for clinics according to the decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC).

CONCLUSION: Both HU and VBQ are effective predictors of OVCFs. The nomogram model showed good internal discrimination and calibration in our study. These findings suggest potential utility for opportunistic screening of OVCF risk in patients undergoing routine spinal CT and MRI. However, external validation in prospective and multi-center cohorts is needed before clinical implementation.

PMID:42339495 | PMC:PMC13285745 | DOI:10.2147/CIA.S600367

ArXiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jun 8:arXiv:2606.10109v1.

ABSTRACT

Computational simulation provides a powerful toolkit for in silico experimentation. However, while the field has developed best practices for the design and implementation of such models, there remains ambiguity in discussions about how to understand and/or interpret their results due to their inherent ability to overwhelm traditional frequentist statistics by simply increasing the number of trials simulated. This fails the discipline in two ways: first, it leaves the community unsure of what constitutes a best practice for uniform understanding, and second, it potentially overburdens computational studies that burn clock cycles solely to ensure “enough runs to satisfy peers” without any theoretical underpinning for a definition of “enough”. We propose a simple and straightforward standard for when to stop simulating additional trials, the Ω test, designed to be analogous to the function of traditional frequentist P-tests. Community adoption of a reasonable and uniform standard will permit more efficient computational experimentation and clearly communication/interpretation of the findings discovered in this way.

PMID:42339494 | PMC:PMC13286023

ArXiv [Preprint]. 2026 Jun 9:arXiv:2606.11415v1.

ABSTRACT

Neural recordings are often interpreted as local measurements, yet the signal at any one sensor can also reflect structured activity distributed across the broader network. This raises a basic question: to what extent does an electrode’s signal reflect local versus distributed information in the underlying system? More specifically, how much of an electrode’s activity is carried by its immediate neighborhood, and how much is embedded more broadly across the array? We address this with a Spatially Masked Regression (SMR) framework that reconstructs each electrode’s timeseries from the remaining electrodes while excluding a configurable neighborhood around the target. By progressively increasing this mask, spatial locality becomes an experimental control for quantifying how much predictive information survives after nearby channels are withheld. We apply SMR to intracranial EEG with heterogeneous electrode coverage and to scalp EEG with standardized montages over sensorimotor cortex. Using distance correlation between original and reconstructed signals, we find strong within-subject reconstruction in both modalities, substantial residual predictability even when local neighbors are excluded, and markedly stronger cross-subject transfer in EEG than in iEEG. Masking shows that nearby electrodes contribute strongly to reconstruction but do not account for all of it, indicating that individual channels reflect both local redundancy and broader distributed structure. Surrogates that preserve selected marginal or spectral properties while disrupting phase structure or temporal ordering substantially reduce performance, supporting the conclusion that SMR depends on structured temporal and cross-channel organization rather than on marginal statistics alone. These results position SMR as an interpretable framework for quantifying the balance between local and distributed information in recordings.

PMID:42339492 | PMC:PMC13286020

Anim Reprod. 2026 May 25;23(2):e20250103. doi: 10.1590/1984-3143-AR2025-0103. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of fetal heart rate variability (FHRvar%), umbilical artery resistivity index (RI-UmbArt), and maternal body temperature (Temp, °C) for predicting parturition in bitches. Fifteen bitches (1-6 years old) were included. Gestational age was estimated using fetal biometry (inner chorionic cavity or biparietal diameter), and during the last week of pregnancy the animals were evaluated twice daily until parturition. Data were retrospectively grouped according to the hours before parturition (HBP). The evaluated parameters were FHRvar% (measured over 5-10 minutes using pulsed Doppler abdominal ultrasonography), RI-UmbArt (assessed by triplex Doppler in three fetuses per session), and Temp (rectal thermometry). Data were statistically compared and correlated with HBP. FHRvar% showed a gradual increase (P = 0.010) beginning at 84 HBP, reaching a peak between 24 and 12 HBP, whereas Temp significantly decreased during the last 24 HBP (P < 0.001). Both FHRvar% and Temp were significantly correlated with HBP (P < 0.001); however, these correlations were weak (Pearson’s r = -0.338 and -0.491, respectively). RI-UmbArt showed no significant variation across HBP (P = 0.711). An FHRvar% > 31.5% predicted parturition within 24 hours with a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 67%, whereas a Temp < 37.5°C predicted parturition with 69.6% sensitivity and 77.8% specificity. In conclusion, although FHRvar% and maternal body temperature are influenced by the proximity of parturition, they may not be reliable predictors of parturition timing, while RI-UmbArt appears to remain unchanged close to delivery.

PMID:42339481 | PMC:PMC13286526 | DOI:10.1590/1984-3143-AR2025-0103

IJID Reg. 2026 May 22;20:100921. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2026.100921. eCollection 2026 Sep.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) such as influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) are leading causes of morbidity among children aged under 5 years (under-5) in Bangladesh. In Cox’s Bazar, the ARI burden is compounded by high population density and seasonal monsoons; yet under-5-specific evidence on virus seasonality and clinical features remains limited. This study aimed to assess the seasonality and clinical characteristics of ILI and SARI among children under-5 in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, between 2021 and 2023, with additional analyses to support interpretation of detection findings.

METHODS: Prospective hospitalized based surveillance was carried out from January 2021 up to December 2023 at the District Head Quarter Hospital Cox’s Bazar. Children under-5 with ILI (fever ≥38°C and a cough, symptom onset ≤10 days) or SARI (ILI with hospitalization or severe manifestations) were recruited. Nasopharyngeal and throat swabs were processed for testing by a multiplex real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for influenza A/B (H3N2/Victoria), SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Demographic, clinical, and geographic information was recorded. Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: Among 968 children (median age 9 months; 60.7% ILI, 39.3% SARI), pathogens were detected in 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.4-14.7%). Among the limited pathogens tested, influenza comprised most positive cases (65%); A(H3N2) was identified in 5.0%, and B(Victoria) in 3.1%. SARS-CoV-2 and RSV were detected only occasionally (2.5% and 1.9%, respectively). The monsoon season (June-September) was the peak detection period, with A(H3N2) being dominant in June and July and B(Victoria) dominating from August to September. Positivity was higher among SARI cases (25.8%) than ILI cases (16.4%) in the months of peak activity. Clinical severity indicators associated with detection were SARI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.42, 95% CI: 2.28-5.13), breathlessness (aOR 2.87, 95% CI: 1.84-4.48), age ≥6 months to <2 years (aOR 1.92, 95% CI:1.21-3.05) and fever ≥101.5°F (aOR 1.68, 95% CI: 100-276). The highest positivity rate observed was 24.0%. Most (87.6%) were negative for the tested pathogens.

CONCLUSION: Among the viruses tested, influenza contributes to seasonal under-5 ARIs in Cox’s Bazar, but the large negative proportion indicates that most cases were caused by pathogens not included in the limited testing panel (e.g. rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, or bacteria). Markers of severity and age are associated with influenza positivity. Expanded multiplex testing and surveillance are required to inform vaccination and interventions in this high burden setting.

PMID:42339474 | PMC:PMC13285367 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijregi.2026.100921

Anesthesiol Perioper Sci. 2026;4(1):33. doi: 10.1007/s44254-026-00179-w. Epub 2026 Jun 22.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Perioperative metabolic vulnerability is an important contributor to postoperative morbidity, yet preoperative risk stratification relies largely on conventional glycemic measures such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) quantifies interindividual discordance between HbA1c and contemporaneous glycemia and may capture metabolic phenotypes not reflected by absolute glucose values. We investigated the association between preoperative HGI and postoperative outcomes in adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study including adult inpatients who underwent non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia between January 2013 and June 2024. Patients with both preoperative HbA1c and FPG measured within 60 days before surgery were included. HGI was calculated as the residual of observed HbA1c minus HbA1c predicted from FPG using a cohort-specific linear regression model. The primary outcome was any postoperative complication occurring before hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III), organ-specific complications, deep-vein thrombosis, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, hospital and postoperative length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. Associations were evaluated using multivariable regression models with HGI analyzed as a continuous variable (per 1-SD increase) and by quartiles (Q2 as reference), complemented by restricted cubic spline analyses and prespecified subgroup analyses.

RESULTS: A total of 24,307 patients were included (mean age 58.8 ± 13.3 years; 51% women). Postoperative complications occurred in 8.4% of patients. In adjusted continuous models, higher HGI was independently associated with postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] per 1-SD increase 1.068; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.018-1.120; P = 0.007), urinary complications (OR 1.155; 95% CI, 1.024-1.301; P = 0.018), and longer total hospital length of stay (adjusted mean ratio 1.030; 95% CI, 1.017-1.043; P = 0.001). Quartile analyses demonstrated the lowest risk of postoperative complications in the mid-range HGI group, with higher risks observed at extreme HGI values. Restricted cubic spline models revealed an approximately linear association between HGI and overall postoperative complications, while outcome-specific nonlinear relationships were observed for major complications, ICU admission, and in-hospital mortality. Associations were generally consistent across subgroups, with no statistically significant interaction detected across prespecified strata.

CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative hemoglobin glycation index was independently associated with postoperative complications after non-cardiac surgery and identified nonlinear risk patterns for selected severe outcomes. HGI may serve as a complementary perioperative metabolic risk marker beyond HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose to provide incremental risk information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44254-026-00179-w.

PMID:42339472 | PMC:PMC13284033 | DOI:10.1007/s44254-026-00179-w

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2026 Jun 8;14:1767092. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2026.1767092. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Proprioceptive deficits following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury increase reliance on visual input in athletes after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Visual disruption may therefore alter movement patterns and increase re-injury risk. However, its influence on lower limb biomechanics during cutting maneuvers in ACLR athletes remains unclear.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of visual disruption on the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the lower limb during the 90° cutting maneuver in athletes after ACLR.

METHODS: Twenty athletes after ACLR and twenty healthy athletes were recruited to randomly undergo two different visual conditions, eyes-open and visual disruption, and to complete the 90° cutting maneuver in each of the two visual conditions. Visual disruption was performed with strobe glasses. A nine-camera infrared motion capture system (Vicon T40, 200 Hz) was used to collect lower-limb kinematics data during the 90° cutting task, while a three-dimensional force platform (Kistler, 1,000 Hz) recorded kinetic data. Data were processed using Visual 3D software, and statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS (version 25.0). A two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of group and visual conditions on kinematic and kinetic variables.

RESULTS: (1) Compared with the eyes-open condition, the peak knee valgus angle (P = 0.025, ES = 0.157) and peak ankle inversion angle (P = 0.005, ES = 0.233) of athletes after ACLR were significantly increased under visual disruption conditions. There was no significant difference between the kinematic variables of the healthy athletes in the two visual conditions (P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the eyes-open condition, the hip extension moment of athletes after ACLR was significantly increased (P = 0.037) and the knee extension moment was significantly reduced (P = 0.039) under visual disruption conditions. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the kinetic variables of the healthy athletes between the two visual conditions.

CONCLUSION: Visual disruption increased knee valgus and ankle inversion angles in athletes after ACLR, which may increase the risk of secondary anterior cruciate ligament injuries and lateral ankle sprains. These results suggest that ACLR athletes have a poorer ability to recalibrate sensory information to visual disruption compared to healthy athletes.

PMID:42339465 | PMC:PMC13284120 | DOI:10.3389/fbioe.2026.1767092

Front Cognit. 2024 Mar 5;3:1336379. doi: 10.3389/fcogn.2024.1336379. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

During visual search, the spatial configuration of the stimuli can be learned when the same displays are presented repeatedly, thereby guiding attention more efficiently to the target location (contextual cueing effect). This study investigated how the presence of a task-irrelevant object influences the contextual cueing effect. Experiment 1 used a standard T/L search task with “old” display configurations presented repeatedly among “new” displays. A green-filled square appeared at unoccupied locations within the search display. The results showed that the typical contextual cueing effect was strongly reduced when a square was added to the display. In Experiment 2, the contextual cueing effect was reinstated by simply including trials where the square could appear at an occupied location (i.e., underneath the search stimuli). Experiment 3 replicated the previous experiment, showing that the restored contextual cueing effect did not depend on whether the square was actually overlapping with a stimulus or not. The final two experiments introduced a display change in the last epoch. The results showed that the square does not only hinder the acquisition of contextual information but also its manifestation. These findings are discussed in terms of an account where effective contextual learning depends on whether the square is perceived as part of the search display or as part of the display background.

PMID:42339460 | PMC:PMC13281161 | DOI:10.3389/fcogn.2024.1336379

Front Cognit. 2024 Feb 2;3:1323438. doi: 10.3389/fcogn.2024.1323438. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Aerobic exercise has been shown to improve cancer-associated cognitive decline (CACD) in breast cancer survivors (BCS), and recent findings suggest that one mechanism by which exercise may reduce cognitive decline is through alteration of the brain’s functional organization. Many cognitive abilities and measures of functional brain organization change with age and disease, typically reflected in cognitive decline and reduced differentiation of brain networks, or “modularity.” Although previous research has identified associations between lifestyle interventions, such as exercise, and increased modularity, no studies have examined these relationships in cancer populations. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the preliminary effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise program on changes in brain network modularity in BCS. As a secondary aim, we explored correlations between changes in modularity with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and cognitive function. Data were exploratory and used for hypothesis generation for a future, larger study.

METHODS: Participants included a subsample of 10 BCS (M age = 65.9 ± 9.3 years) from a larger pilot study (N = 30 BCS) who were randomized to a 12-week aerobic exercise program (AE) or usual care (UC). The present study collected brain magnetic resonance imaging, Actigraph accelerometry, and cognitive task performance at baseline and 3-month follow-up (i.e., post-intervention; n = 4 AE, n = 6 UC). Intervention effects on modularity, MVPA, and cognition were quantified as magnitude of change between groups (Cohen’s d). Changes in modularity were further explored via paired t-tests within groups. Associations between changes in modularity, MVPA, and cognitive performance were explored using Spearman’s correlations.

RESULTS: The magnitude of changes in modularity between groups were small-to-moderate and favored the AE group (d = 0.23 to d = 0.67 across thresholds). Paired t-tests revealed a significant increase in modularity in the AE group from baseline to 3-month follow-up (t = 3.08, p = 0.03, d = 1.17), but not in the UC group. The correlation between changes in MVPA and changes in modularity were not statistically significant (r = 0.36, p = 0.39), and correlations between modularity and cognitive performance yielded mixed effects by cognitive domain.

DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that aerobic exercise may influence functional brain network organization and cognition in BCS. These data warrant further investigation in larger exercise trials.

PMID:42339451 | PMC:PMC13281212 | DOI:10.3389/fcogn.2024.1323438