Tag: statistics

PLoS One. 2025 Jan 3;20(1):e0315692. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315692. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Relevant research has provided valuable insights into risk factors for bicycle crashes at intersections. However, few studies have focused explicitly on three common types of bicycle crashes on road segments: overtaking, rear-end, and door crashes. This study aims to identify risk factors for overtaking, rear-end, and door crashes that occur on road segments.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed British STATS19 accident records from 1991 to 2020. Using multivariate logistic regression models, we estimated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for multiple risk factors. The analysis included 127,637 bicycle crashes, categorised into 18,350 overtaking, 44,962 rear-end, 6,363 door, and 57,962 other crashes.

RESULTS: Significant risk factors for overtaking crashes included heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) as crash partners (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.27-1.33), and elderly crash partners (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.94-2.09), and decreased risk in rural area with speed limits of 20-30 miles per hour (AOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.43-0.47). For rear-end crashes, noteworthy risk factors included unlit darkness (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.40-1.57) and midnight hours (AOR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.21-1.40). Factors associated with door crashes included urban areas (AOR = 16.2, 95% CI = 13.5-19.4) and taxi or private hire cars (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.57-1.69). Our joint-effect analysis revealed additional interesting results; for example, there were elevated risks for overtaking crashes in rural areas with elderly drivers as crash partners (AOR = 2.93, 95% CI = 2.79-3.08) and with HGVs as crash partners (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI = 2.46-2.78).

CONCLUSIONS: The aforementioned risk factors remained largely unchanged since 2011, when we conducted our previous study. However, the present study concluded that the detrimental effects of certain variables became more pronounced in certain situations. For example, cyclists in rural settings exhibited an elevated risk of overtaking crashes involving HGVs as crash partners.

PMID:39752629 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0315692

PLoS One. 2025 Jan 3;20(1):e0315495. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315495. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Sexual behavior among youth is a public health concern, particularly in contexts where cultural norms, socio-economic factors, and access to comprehensive sexual education play pivotal roles. This paper aims to examine the determinants of sexual behavior among Nepali youths.

METHODS: This study analyzed data from 7,122 individuals aged 15-24 years from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022, focusing on a nationally representative sample. This study assessed the prevalence of sexual behaviors, including premarital sex, recent sexual activity, and multiple sexual partners. Determinants examined included socio-demographic characteristics, media use, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine the associations between social determinants and sexual behaviors.

RESULTS: The prevalence of premarital sex among the youth was 10.4%, with 15% of male youths reporting recent sexual activity and 2.8% having sexual intercourse with multiple partners. Variables significantly associated with premarital sex included older age groups (AOR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.98-3.99), male (AOR = 7.87; 95% CI: 5.00-12.39), sales occupations (AOR = 2; 95% CI:1.12-3.57), smoking (AOR = 2.71; 95% CI:1.74-4.23), smokeless tobacco products (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI:1.12-3.34), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI:2-4.41). Variables significantly associated with recent sexual activity included older age groups (AOR = 2.1; 95% CI:1.46, 3.03), being unmarried (AOR = 9.34; 95% CI:5.19-16.82), smoking (AOR = 2.01; 95% CI:1.33-3.05), use of smokeless products (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI:1.98-3.67), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI:1.30-2.82). Youths using smokeless products had higher odds (AOR = 3.33; 95% CI:1.75-6.35) of having multiple sexual partners compared to those youths not using smokeless products.

CONCLUSION: Social determinants, along with smoking and alcohol consumption, were associated with sexual behaviors among youth. This study highlights the need for multicomponent health promotion (new public health) interventions which consider multi-level strategies, including culturally tailored sexual health programs, drug use behaviors, healthy lifestyle choices, comprehensive sexual health education for evidence-based interventions.

PMID:39752621 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0315495

Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2025 Mar;12(2):e200362. doi: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200362. Epub 2025 Jan 3.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the serum cytokine profile in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) at onset and during follow-up and assess their utility for predicting relapses and disability.

METHODS: This retrospective multicentric cohort study included patients aged 16 years and older meeting MOGAD 2023 criteria, with serum samples collected at baseline (≤3 months from disease onset) and follow-up (≥6 months from the baseline), and age-matched and time to sampling-matched patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Eleven cytokines were assessed using the ELLA system. Data comparisons and statistical analyses between cytokine levels and clinical outcomes were performed.

RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients with MOGAD and 32 patients with MS were included. Patients with MOGAD showed higher IL6 (p = 0.036), IL8 (p = 0.012), and IL18 (p = 0.026) baseline levels compared with those with MS, in non-optic neuritis (ON) presentations. BAFF values increased over time, especially in patients with MOGAD treated with anti-CD20 (p = 0.002). Baseline BAFF, CXCL10, IL10, and IL8 levels correlated with disease severity at MOGAD onset (all p < 0.05). Finally, higher baseline BAFF levels predicted lower risk of relapses (hazard ratio 0.41 [0.19; 0.89], p = 0.024).

DISCUSSION: This study suggests a proinflammatory Th17-dominant profile in non-ON MOGAD patients, with a novel finding of a potential protective role of BAFF on relapses. These results shed new light on the pathogenesis of MOGAD, potentially guiding therapeutic decisions.

PMID:39752619 | DOI:10.1212/NXI.0000000000200362

JCO Glob Oncol. 2025 Jan;11:e2400445. doi: 10.1200/GO-24-00445. Epub 2025 Jan 3.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The use of social media is transforming physician-patient communication, mainly in the field of medical oncology. The pattern of social media use by medical oncologists is poorly studied. Therefore, we developed a survey to understand the preferences, experiences, opinions, and expectations of Italian medical oncologists and oncology fellows regarding the use of social media in cancer medicine to identify the different profiles of social media users.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicentric, cross-sectional, observational study included oncologists or oncology fellows from Italy, who were surveyed from July to December 2023 on their use of social media. Data were analyzed through K-means clustering, and the Hartigan-Wong algorithm was applied to identify different profiles of social media users among the participants.

RESULTS: Of the 245 participants who accepted the invitation, 116 completed the entire survey and were included in the cluster analysis. Three profiles of social media users were identified through clustering: the highly social, the social skeptic, and the moderately social, accounting for 31%, 31%, and 38% of the participants, respectively. In general, older age (P = .0001), being a specialized oncologist (P = .003), and a higher mean time spent on social media (P = .0001) were associated with a greater consideration of the professional use of social media.

CONCLUSION: The use of social media among medical oncologists and oncology fellows represents a spectrum ranging from the social skeptic user to the highly social. Age, professional status (specialist or fellow), and frequency on social media use were associated with different patterns, opinions, and behaviors related to social media use.

PMID:39752614 | DOI:10.1200/GO-24-00445

Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 2025 Jan 3. doi: 10.47626/2237-6089-2024-0797. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) and with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a higher risk of having the same condition. Both disorders also share psychopathological symptoms; however, little is known about their genetic overlap. To examine whether the offspring of parents with BD have a greater chance of being affected by ADHD, we conducted a systematic review.

METHODS: From inception to August 12, 2024, we searched the PubMed, SciELO, PsycInfo and Cochrane databases. We included studies if they investigated the association of parental bipolar disorder with offspring outcomes and made a proper investigation of disorders using validated instruments based on the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) criteria. Studies were excluded if: parents were under 18 years old or over 70; did not report original data; systematic reviews; in vitro studies; with an animal model; offspring older than 17 years of age or with any comorbid diagnosis with ADHD. To assess risk of bias, two authors independently used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality assessment tool.

RESULTS: 23 articles met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies reported that the offspring of parents with BD were at higher risk for ADHD. Particularly, in all case‒control studies, the risk of ADHD was higher in the case group than the control group.

CONCLUSION: The current studies are yet heterogeneous and literature did not uncover the biological correlation of these disorders regarding genetic, biochemical, neuroimaging and neuropsychological aspects.

PMID:39752609 | DOI:10.47626/2237-6089-2024-0797

Acad Med. 2024 Dec 24. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005962. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study investigates mental health-related content to delineate potentially deficient topics for improvement in future obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) resident educational curriculum initiatives.

METHOD: In this quantitative content analysis, educational resources commonly used by OBGYN residents were selected based on a 2020 multi-institutional survey of OBGYN residents and informal group discussion with 32 OBGYN residents from a New York academic institution in April 2020. After independent screening, the authors iteratively developed, tested, and implemented a coding scheme for relevant keywords. The primary outcome was total depression and anxiety content in the educational resource materials. Information about other mental health conditions was additionally collected, and content ratings were assigned. Descriptive statistics were used and interrater reliability calculated. Data were accessed and archived on July 30, 2020, for all future analyses.

RESULTS: From 7 materials reviewed, 36 items were analyzed. The cumulative percentage of resources with mental health-related content was 1.1%. Professional society publications contained the most content at 5.0% (95% CI, 1.4%-12.3%), and a podcast series contained the least at 0.6% (95% CI, 0.02%-3.3%). Depressive (30 [83.3%]), anxiety (12 [33.3%]), and bipolar (9 [25.0%]) disorders were the most common content, whereas posttraumatic stress disorder (5 [13.9%]), postpartum psychosis (4 [11.1%]), obsessive compulsive disorder (3 [8.3%]), and schizophrenia (2 [5.6%]) were the least. The content ratings for schizophrenia, postpartum psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, pathophysiology of mental health conditions, lactation safety, and fetal and maternal adverse effects of psychiatric medications and psychiatric disease were low. No educational resource reviewed in this study contained all recommended Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology residency curriculum topics related to mental health.

CONCLUSIONS: Mental health disorders are underrepresented in commonly used OBGYN educational resources, reinforcing the need for more comprehensive inclusion of these topics in OBGYN curriculum initiatives.

PMID:39752589 | DOI:10.1097/ACM.0000000000005962

Inorg Chem. 2025 Jan 3. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c04603. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The pentafluoroorthotellurate group (-OTeF₅, teflate) exhibits high electron-withdrawing properties. Indeed, it is often used as a bulky substitute for fluoride due to its high chemical stability and larger size, which reduces its tendency to act as a bridging ligand. These characteristics make it a valuable ligand in synthetic chemistry, facilitating the preparation of molecular structures analogous to polymeric fluoride-based compounds. In this study, we explore the electronic structure of the teflate group by using advanced Quantum Chemical Topology (QCT) methods to better understand its bonding nature and compare its group electronegativity with that of the halogens. For that, we examine XOTeF₅ systems (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and decompose X-OTeF₅ interactions into classical (ionic) and exchange-correlation (covalent) contributions by using interacting quantum atoms (IQA) energy decomposition scheme. We also conduct a detailed analysis of electron distribution by utilizing the statistical framework of electron distribution functions (EDFs) and examine the electron localization function (ELF), electron density, and reduced density gradient scalar functions, as well as delocalization indices and QTAIM charges. The results show that the electron-withdrawing properties of the teflate group are comparable to those of fluorine, albeit slightly lower. Moreover, its internal bonding is primarily ionic. Additionally, we compare -OTeF₅ with other O-donor groups, demonstrating that the electron-withdrawing properties within OEF₅ (E = S, Se, Te) systems are nearly identical, and these groups show a higher group electronegativity than OCF₃, OC(CF₃)₃, and OC₆F₅.

PMID:39752584 | DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c04603

J Occup Environ Hyg. 2025 Jan 3:1-7. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2024.2421004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Farmers may be at a higher risk of developing hip osteoarthritis (OA) due to the high demands of their occupation. To the authors’ knowledge, the gait patterns of farmers that may be associated with hip joint degeneration have yet to be analyzed. Therefore, this study compares gait mechanics between farmers and non-farmers (controls). It is hypothesized that farmers would exhibit altered lower extremity joint mechanics during walking when compared to matched controls. This exploratory study included five farmers and five sex-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls. A 3D gait analysis was performed while study participants walked at a self-selected speed on an instrumented treadmill. Sagittal plane hip, knee, and ankle kinetics and kinematics were assessed. Effect sizes and between-group differences in demographics and gait mechanics were assessed. There were no group differences in walking speed, total stance time as well as hip and knee joint kinematics (p > 0.05). Farmers exhibited statistical trends (p = 0.07-0.08) of lower peak ankle plantarflexion angles, higher plantarflexor moments, higher knee flexion moment impulse, and higher peak vertical ground reaction force during the first and second halves of stance. Additionally, farmers ambulated with a significantly higher knee extensor moment (p = 0.04) and moment impulse (p = 0.05) during the first half of stance and a higher ankle plantarflexion moment impulse (p = 0.04). The results demonstrate a multi-joint gait alteration in farmers compared to non-farmers and may suggest a compensatory gait pattern to optimize hip joint mechanics and mitigate hip joint degeneration. These results provide a preliminary understanding of the impact that agricultural occupations have on joint mechanics that may be associated with the increased prevalence of hip OA in the farming population.

PMID:39752577 | DOI:10.1080/15459624.2024.2421004

Liver Int. 2025 Feb;45(2):e16224. doi: 10.1111/liv.16224.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its more severe subtype, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), are highly prevalent and strongly associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study sought to identify challenges to the diagnosis, treatment and management of people living with MASLD and MASH and understand the key barriers to adopting relevant clinical guidelines.

METHODS: A real-world, cross-sectional study (BARRIERS-MASLD) consisting of a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews of physicians in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom was conducted from March to September 2023. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 626 physicians completed the survey; n = 10 from each country participated in the qualitative interviews. Physicians considered the presence of MASH to be highly impactful on how they treated people living with obesity (66%) and T2D (69%). Over one-third (35%) of the respondents could not identify any MASH-specific clinical guidelines issued by medical societies or associations top-of-mind, but overall awareness rose when prompted about country-specific guidelines. Physicians said they would need evidence of success (48%) and clinical guidelines that address common MASLD comorbidities (38%) to increase their adoption.

CONCLUSIONS: This study found that lack of awareness around MASLD and MASH clinical guidelines and clearly established care pathways, particularly for addressing common comorbidities, was a key factor preventing physicians from optimising care for people living with MASH in Europe. This research highlights opportunities to improve education and training about clinical guidelines and care coordination.

PMID:39752213 | DOI:10.1111/liv.16224

J Vis. 2025 Jan 2;25(1):2. doi: 10.1167/jov.25.1.2.

ABSTRACT

Sensory-motor systems can extract statistical regularities in dynamic uncertain environments, enabling quicker responses and anticipatory behavior for expected events. Anticipatory smooth pursuit eye movements (aSP) have been observed in primates when the temporal and kinematic properties of a forthcoming visual moving target are fully or partially predictable. To investigate the nature of the internal model of target kinematics underlying aSP, we tested the effect of varying the target kinematics and its predictability. Participants tracked a small visual target in a constant direction with either constant, accelerating, or decelerating speed. Across experimental blocks, we manipulated the probability of each kinematic condition varying either speed or acceleration across trials; with either one kinematic condition (providing certainty) or with a mixture of conditions with a fixed probability within a block. We show that aSP is robustly modulated by target kinematics. With constant-velocity targets, aSP velocity scales linearly with target velocity in blocked sessions, and matches the probability-weighted average in the mixture sessions. Predictable target acceleration does also have an influence on aSP, suggesting that the internal model of motion that drives anticipation contains some information about the changing target kinematics, beyond the initial target speed. However, there is a large variability across participants in the precision and consistency with which this information is taken into account to control anticipatory behavior.

PMID:39752177 | DOI:10.1167/jov.25.1.2