Tag: statistics

Sci Rep. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-35029-z. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41547981 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-35029-z

Eye (Lond). 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1038/s41433-025-04222-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the effect of unilateral selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) eyes on contralateral eye intraocular pressure (IOP). A literature search was performed in PubMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. We included all English randomised controlled trials, retrospective and prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies and case series published between 29 August 2004 and 29 August 2024 that performed unilateral SLT in POAG or OHT eyes with contralateral eye IOP reported at least 3 months after SLT. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model and presented as forest plots. 9 studies (478 eyes) were included in the final pooled analysis, which demonstrated a mean contralateral IOP reduction of 1.85 mmHg (95% CI [1.23, 2.47]) 3-6 months after SLT. Subgroup analysis found a mean contralateral IOP reduction of 2.21 mmHg (95% CI [1.06, 3.36]) and 2.29 mmHg (95% CI [1.30, 3.29]) 3-6 months following 360° (4 studies, 264 eyes) and 180° SLT (2 studies, 55 eyes) respectively; there was no significant difference between both groups (p = 0.91). Meta-correlation analysis of 3 studies (160 eyes) found moderate positive correlation between IOP reduction in SLT-treated and contralateral eyes at 3-6 months (pooled Pearson’s R = 0.65, 95% CI [0.54, 0.73]). Our meta-analysis suggests statistically significant contralateral IOP reduction 3-6 months following unilateral SLT, which was correlated with IOP reduction of SLT-treated eyes. These findings may have implications on future SLT studies and real-life clinical practice.Review Registration The protocol for this review was registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD420251013653).

PMID:41547974 | DOI:10.1038/s41433-025-04222-1

Sci Rep. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-35598-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The levator ani muscle (LAM), crucial for pelvic organ support, can develop defects that contribute to pelvic floor disorders (PFD) like pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Factors such as childbirth, aging, and menopause increase the risk of LAM damage. While MRI is commonly used to assess LAM, most studies use the supine position, potentially underestimating POP severity. Upright MRI offers a more accurate view of pelvic floor support under natural conditions. The aim of this study was to compare the pelvic floor support across four groups of women-nulliparous, parous premenopausal, parous postmenopausal, and women with POP, by analysing pubococcygeus muscle (PCM) and iliococcygeus muscle (ICM) defects and the iliococcygeus angle (ICA) using a tiltable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Sixty-three women were included and divided into 4 groups: 15 nulliparous (Nulli), 15 parous-premenopausal (Par-pre), 15 parous-postmenopausal (Par-post) and 18 patients with minimum stage 2 prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall or uterus (POP). Women underwent supine and upright MRI scans. PCM and ICM defects were assessed on both the supine and upright scans. Defects were categorized as “none”, “minor” or “major” following previously established guidelines. Using upright MRI scans and manual segmentation of the LAM, the ICA was determined in 5planes from anterior to posterior. Statistical testing was performed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test. The results show that nulliparous women had no PCM defects. Par-pre, Par-post and POP groups showed varying rates of major PCM defects (7.7%, 16.7%, and 68.8% respectively). Minor ICM defects were present in all groups (21.4% (Nulli), 61.5% (Par-pre), 66.7% (Par-post), and 55.3% (POP)), but only the POP group had major defects (43.8%). The ICA was significantly sharper (p < 0.001) in the POP group compared to other groups. A decrease in pelvic floor support, assessed by PCM damage in supine and ICM damage and a sharper total ICA done in upright, was measured in the POP population, as compared to healthy women. Minor muscle defects were common across all groups, but major defects exclusively in POP patients. This fundamental insight on muscle quality adds to our anatomical knowledge on the occurrence of POP.

PMID:41547955 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-35598-z

Sci Rep. 2026 Jan 17;16(1):2187. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09826-x.

ABSTRACT

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) exhibits remarkable electronic and optical properties, making it a candidate of interest for various electronic and optoelectronic applications. We investigate the polarization-angle dependence of individual optical phonons as a function of layer number in MoS₂ using polarized Raman spectroscopy. The MoS₂ layers are grown using 200 mm-scale atomic layer deposition (ALD) on 200 mm silicon wafers. For multilayer MoS₂ samples (> 3 monolayers, ML), the polarization-angle-resolved intensity profiles of both the out-of-plane A1g and in-plane E¹_2g phonon modes followed the well-known Raman polarization selection rules. However, in thinner samples (≤ 2 ML), deviations from these rules are observed for the E¹_2g phonon intensity, whereas the A_1g phonon intensity remains the same regardless of layer number. As the number of layers decreased, the polarization anisotropy of the E¹_2g phonon mode increased, which is likely linked to stacking disorder and misalignment between the MoS₂ layers. Raman and XPS analysis further support these findings. The stoichiometry of MoS₂ improved with increasing number of layers, and the oxide/Mo ratio decreased correspondingly. This study highlights the potential for 200 mm-scale integration of these 2D materials in optoelectronic devices, offering valuable insights into their structural and optical properties.

PMID:41547952 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-09826-x

Sci Rep. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-32717-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Although the risk of progression varies, a subset of patients with idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS) eventually develop myeloid malignancies. Early identification of high-risk patients is crucial for timely intervention and optimized clinical management. This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based model to predict the progression of ICUS to myeloid malignancies. We retrospectively analyzed data from 1274 patients who underwent bone marrow examination at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, between January 2000 and December 2021 and met the diagnostic criteria for ICUS. Among these patients, 36 (2.82%) progressed to myeloid malignancies. We developed a predictive model using the extreme gradient boosting algorithm, incorporating clinical, laboratory, and cytogenetic features. The model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.780, with enhanced performance after integrating PubMedBERT to extract insights from unstructured text data from bone marrow examination reports. Additionally, we applied SHapley Additive exPlanations to generate individualized risk scores, estimate progression probabilities, and visualize key predictive features, enabling personalized risk assessment. In conclusion, we developed a machine learning-based model predicting ICUS progression to myeloid malignancies. This model could serve as a valuable tool for personalized risk stratification and tailored patient monitoring in clinical practice.

PMID:41547901 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-32717-0

Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1186/s13756-025-01696-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a leading cause of healthcare-associated morbidity and mortality, with a significant portion being preventable. Despite this, BSIs remain common, particularly in Australian hospitals. Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in Queensland has implemented a surveillance program that focuses on the preventability of BSIs, with continuous loop, real-time audit-feedback to teach clinicians about preventable factors and possible actions. This study evaluated the program’s implementation and impact on reducing infections.

METHODS: A Type I hybrid implementation-effectiveness design was used, combining interrupted time series analysis of BSI data from 2002 to 2023 and focus group discussions with the Infection Management Service team members and ward-based clinicians. Interrupted time series analysis was used to assess the impact of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) prevention initiative introduced in November 2011. Statistical analysis employed segmented regression using negative binomial regression with robust standard errors. Focus group data were analysed via the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

RESULTS: The intervention resulted in an immediate, but non-significant, reduction in SAB monthly rates (incidence rate ratio, IRR = 0.839, 95% CI: 0.653-1.078), and a declining trend in monthly rates was also noted postintervention (IRR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.996-1.000). Focus group feedback identified enablers, including effective collaboration and challenges such as needing to address inconsistent documentation and differing perceptions of the program’s intent.

DISCUSSION: The program’s focus on preventability was associated with a reduction in SAB rates and a sustained downward trend over time. While these changes did not reach conventional thresholds for statistical significance, the magnitude and direction of effects, together with qualitative feedback on improved collaboration and targeted prevention strategies, indicate potential for broader application.

PMID:41547893 | DOI:10.1186/s13756-025-01696-2

Sci Rep. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-30930-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Indian halibut Psettodes erumei (Family Psettodidae), a primitive lineage of flatfishes exhibiting both sinistral and dextral morphs, provides a unique model for examining the evolutionary significance of morphological asymmetry in flatfishes. This study tested whether eye-sidedness influences somatic growth, body shape, and reproductive traits in P. erumei from the western Arabian Gulf. A total of 215 individuals were collected between 2020 and 2022, with sinistral and dextral morphs occurring in near-equal proportions. Model selection based on Akaike weights revealed that sex, rather than eye-sidedness, was the primary factor influencing length-weight relationships and growth, with females attaining significantly larger asymptotic lengths. Eye-sidedness had no detectable effect on gonadosomatic index patterns or length at 50% maturity. While Procrustes regression detected statistically significant differences in body landmarks and semilandmarks between morphs, these differences were minor and likely biologically negligible. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that eye-sidedness in P. erumei does not confer a measurable evolutionary advantage and imply that differences in developmental mechanisms, rather than adaptive advantages, played a primary role in fixing directional asymmetry in most flatfish lineages. Future research into the molecular and developmental pathways governing eye-sidedness will be essential for understanding why the vast majority of flatfish species exhibit monomorphic asymmetry.

PMID:41547882 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-30930-5

Harm Reduct J. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1186/s12954-026-01399-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The study examines whether tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use alone affected sustainability of weekly take-home methadone medication among a small sample of 33 patients attending a single opioid treatment program, under special exception by state and federal governments during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kaplan Meier analyses of survival rates in months of eligibility for take-home methadone showed that the majority of patients with continuing THC use remained eligible for 10 months despite continued THC use. Majority were employed, insured, and housed stably, but Log Rank Tests on these predictor variables showed no statistical significance. The socioeconomic stability of the cohort may indicate THC use alone may be less important in restricting take-home methadone and warrants further research.

PMID:41547863 | DOI:10.1186/s12954-026-01399-w

Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2026 Jan 17. doi: 10.1186/s12991-026-00629-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression, characterized by significant psychological and physiological alterations, has been proved to tightly associate with insulin resistance (IR) and hallmarks of biological aging. Phenotypic Age Acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel), which quantifies the discrepancy between biological and chronological age, serves as a robust indicator of accelerated aging. However, the interplay between depression, IR, and accelerated aging remains unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between depression and PhenoAgeAccel, and the potential mediating role of IR in this association.

METHODS: A total of 4,555 adults participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database with complete data on depression, PhenoAgeAccel, and other essential covariates were included in this study. Depression severity was assessed by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with a PHQ-9 score ≥ 10 used to define depression. Four indicators, including triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), TyG-waist height ratio (TyG-WHTR), and metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), were used to assess IR. Weighted multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify the association of depression/PHQ-9 score with PhenoAgeAccel. Moreover, subgroup analyses, interaction tests, and adjusted restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were employed to explore the robustness, stability, and potential nonlinearity of the associations between PHQ-9/depression and PhenoAgeAccel. Additionally, mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the mediating role of IR biomarkers in the association between PHQ-9 score and PhenoAgeAccel.

RESULTS: In the fully-adjusted model, being depressive and one-unit increment in PHQ-9 score were associated with a 1.93-year (95% CI: 0.95-2.92) and 0.14-year (95% CI: 0.07-0.21) increase in PhenoAgeAccel, respectively. A positive linear dose-response relationship between PHQ-9 score and PhenoAgeAccel was identified via RCS analysis (P for overall = 0.001, P_{non-linearity}=0.867). Subgroup analyses and interaction tests revealed a more pronounced association between depression/PHQ-9 and PhenoAgeAccel in subgroups with diabetes, moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption, and higher education levels (all P_interaction<0.05). IR biomarkers were observed to mediated 3.6-8.4% of the total effect, with METS-IR showing the highest mediation (8.4%, 95% CI: 0.024-0.222).

CONCLUSIONS: Depression was associated with accelerated PhenoAgeAccel, with insulin resistance acting as a partial mediator. In depression management, interventions targeting metabolic issues like insulin resistance should also be considered to mitigate depression-associated aging.

PMID:41547857 | DOI:10.1186/s12991-026-00629-6

Harm Reduct J. 2026 Jan 18. doi: 10.1186/s12954-026-01397-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In recent years, Boston has attempted to increase housing options and reduce overdose risk through the implementation of harm reduction housing (HRH) sites. Despite numerous harm reduction resources available to HRH residents, drug checking services are absent. Studies suggest that drug checking may prevent negative experiences associated with unexpected adulterants. Drug checking offers a window into concerning supply shiftsand helps monitor disruptions in the supply due to environmental changes, such as encampment clearings. Few studies have explored drug checking’s application in housing programs. The establishment of the Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream, a statewide community drug checking program, allowed us to pilot real-time drug checking at HRH sites.

METHODS: From September 2023 to February 2024, we administered surveys to 106 HRH residents. From September 2023 to March 2025, we conducted longitudinal interviews (baseline, 3-month, 6-month) with a subset of 28 survey respondents. In response to drug supply shifts and resident demand, starting on May 20, 2024, we implemented real-time drug checking services at three HRH sites located in Boston. Residents were asked to provide approximately 5 mg of their remnant substance in order to receive immediate test results using FTIR spectroscopy and immunoassay test strips. Survey responses pertaining to drug checking provision and real-time, on-site drug checking sample results were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. Longitudinal interviews and field notes collected during real-time, on-site service provision were analyzed to further contextualize resident experiences.

RESULTS: Resident engagement with drug checking services was considerable, with fifty-five drug samples collected across nine site visits over three months. The services generated an increase in xylazine awareness among residents and provided chances to address concerns about the changing drug market amid heavy policing. Engagement with residents confirmed the need for on-site drug checking alongside other provided harm reduction services, and a consensus vocalized concerns with the local drug supply.

CONCLUSIONS: Real-time, on-site drug checking in low-barrier housing programs is a promising harm reduction approach for detecting shifts in the drug supply and can complement transitional housing interventions. Residents engage with these services with the intention of intervening upon personal, community, and market-level norms.

PMID:41547849 | DOI:10.1186/s12954-026-01397-y