Tag: statistics

J Eat Disord. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s40337-026-01561-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Carers are crucial to the recovery process of people with eating disorders (EDs). The Caregiver Skills (CASK) scale was developed to assess key caregiving skills among carers of individuals with EDs. While psychometric evaluations of the English, German and Spanish versions have supported the original six-factor model, no validated Dutch version exists to date. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of a Dutch translation of the CASK. Validated caregiving outcome measures can assist in exploring coping skills in clinical practice and support research evaluating both caregiving interventions and ED treatments.

METHODS: A total of 248 carers (139 female, 109 male; mean age = 48.3 years) completed the CASK prior to assessment at a specialized ED treatment center in the Netherlands. The internal consistency of the total scale and six subscales was assessed using McDonald’s omega. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the original six-factor structure. Gender differences in subscale and total scores were explored using linear mixed-effects models (LMM).

RESULTS: The original six-factor structure could not be confirmed in CFA, and model fit remained suboptimal after post hoc modifications. However, CFA results for the six subscales separately showed good to acceptable fit, and internal consistency was satisfactory. No gender differences were found in total CASK scores, though male carers reported higher skills on ‘Self-Care’ and ‘Insight and Acceptance’, and female carers reported higher skills on ‘Frustration Tolerance’ and ‘Emotional Intelligence’.

CONCLUSIONS: The Dutch version of the CASK did not replicate the original six-factor structure at the full-scale level. Nonetheless, the six subscales demonstrated adequate psychometric properties and appear particularly suitable for use at the group level, making the instrument relevant for research and care improvement policies. Further studies are needed to determine whether the CASK can also provide added value at the individual level, for example to guide individualized treatment content, and to evaluate its applicability in more diagnostically and culturally diverse samples. While male and female carers reported comparable overall skills, differences in specific subscale scores highlight the importance of considering gender in the context of skill development and support for carers of individuals with EDs.

PMID:41772726 | DOI:10.1186/s40337-026-01561-6

Trop Med Health. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s41182-026-00928-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic imposes a substantial burden. As a high-burden country, China faces a significant gap from the World Health Organization (WHO)’s 2025-2030 TB prevention and control targets. This study analyzed the temporal trends of TB epidemiology in mainland China to provide an evidence base for the early achievement of TB control goals.

METHODS: We integrated TB surveillance data (2004-2024) from the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and population data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Joinpoint regression was used to identify trend changes, with the average annual percent change (AAPC) quantifying trend magnitudes. Interrupted time series model was applied to assess intervention effects, and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models were employed to predict future incidence and mortality trends.

RESULTS: A total of 19.4854 million cumulative TB cases and 508,000 cumulative deaths were reported during 2004-2024. The incidence rate decreased from 74.644 to 49.888 per 100,000 population (AAPC = – 2.83%, P < 0.001), showing a “winter peak and summer trough” pattern-with a 32.7% higher incidence in winter than in summer. The mortality rate first decreased and then increased: it declined immediately after the full coverage of Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course in 2010 but rose to 0.283 per 100,000 population after 2021. Projections indicate that the achievement rate of the WHO incidence target will be only 43.24% by 2025 (target: 31.708 per 100,000 population) and 39.48% by 2030 (target: 12.683 per 100,000 population). The mortality rate is projected to reach 0.333 per 100,000 population by 2030, compared with the target of 0.013 per 100,000 population.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite notable achievements in TB control in China, significant gaps remain from the WHO’s targets. It is imperative to strengthen precision stratification-based prevention and control, establish a TB diagnosis and treatment guarantee mechanism, and implement remote supervision relying on informatization.

PMID:41772725 | DOI:10.1186/s41182-026-00928-4

Trials. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.1186/s13063-026-09577-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Current intraoperative margin assessment techniques lack the accuracy needed for clinical practice. Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging (ICG-FI) offers a useful technique for detection of tumoral tissue, including breast cancer (BC). There is a great inconsistency in the literature regarding the use of ICG for BC fluorescence imaging mainly concerning ICG dosing and the timing of administration. This study aims to determine the dose and timing of intravenous (IV) ICG administration that provides the optimal diagnostic accuracy for ICG-FI margin assessment during breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

METHODS: This study (BREASTIFLU-1) is a phase II cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study. It is a five-arm, single-center, prospective, randomized, observational-interventional, open-label study that will include patients with histologically proven early-stage (cT1-T2, cN0-N1) BC who are planned to undergo BCS. Two preoperative timeframes will be used for the administration of five different IV ICG doses in single-dose patient arms. In the intraoperative arms, patients will receive 0.125 mg/kg or 0.25 mg/kg ICG administered IV at induction anesthesia. In the preoperative arms, patients will receive 0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, or 2 mg/kg ICG administered 24 h before surgery. The primary endpoint is accuracy of the ICG-FI technique for the detection of positive surgical margins. Secondary endpoints include the following: comparison of ICG-FI technique accuracy at different doses and timings, characterization of breast tumor fluorescence, and evaluation of fluorescence intensity of axillary lymph nodes. The trial aims to include 227 patients. Participant recruitment is expected to be complete at the beginning of 2026, and results for the primary outcome are expected to be available in 2026.

DISCUSSION: BREASTIFLU-1 is the first initiative to compare an intraoperative dose of ICG to preoperative ICG administration and is aligned with efforts to standardize the ICG-FI technique. Determining the best dose and timing for IV ICG injection is a crucial step toward using ICG-FI in practice. ICG-FI may provide a relatively easy and quick method to use for reducing the rate of positive margins after BCS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on February 15, 2023 at Clinical Trials Information System EU2023-504024-26-00 and on September 10, 2023 at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06227338.

PMID:41772708 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-026-09577-8

J Cheminform. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s13321-026-01174-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Data curation is a fundamental yet often underappreciated aspect of cheminformatics and computational drug discovery. Large public and proprietary databases now provide vast amounts of chemical structure, physicochemical, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), and bioactivity data. However, these resources contain structural inconsistencies, annotation errors, and heterogeneous experimental conditions that can limit model performance and reproducibility. This narrative review summarizes why and how data should be curated before use in cheminformatics workflows. We frame chemical data curation around two complementary pillars: structural curation and curation of experimental conditions. On the structural side, we review existing standardization and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR)-ready workflows, including handling of salts and mixtures, parent-child policies, aromatization, tautomer handling, stereochemistry validation, and duplicate detection with conflict resolution. On the experimental side, we synthesize evidence that assay protocols, measurement methods, and reporting practices introduce substantial uncertainty and bias in physicochemical and ADMET endpoints as well as bioactivity data, and we outline practical strategies for assembling condition-aware datasets from the literature and public databases. Across case studies, we highlight how curated structure-condition pairs yield more accurate, robust, and reproducible models than raw, unfiltered collections. Rather than introducing a new predictive method or performing a formal statistical meta-analysis, we provide a structured narrative synthesis of current best practices, tools, and decision points for data curation in cheminformatics. This review offers practical, evidence-based guidance on the structural and experimental-condition curation required to build reliable cheminformatics models.Scientific Contribution: This article does not introduce a new algorithm but provides a practice-oriented, structured synthesis of data curation in cheminformatics. We (i) formulate a two-pillar framework that treats structural curation and experimental-condition curation as equally important components of cheminformatics workflows; (ii) consolidate scattered best practices into concrete workflows, checklists, and decision maps for building “QSAR-ready” and condition-aware datasets; and (iii) integrate endpoint-specific case studies showing that rigorous curation materially improves predictive performance and reproducibility. We also identify open challenges and research directions for scaling and automating curation, including the use of workflow technologies and large language models, and for establishing community standards for condition metadata.

PMID:41772705 | DOI:10.1186/s13321-026-01174-w

Radiat Oncol. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s13014-026-02811-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To minimize the radiation injury for white matter (WM) pathways during brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), the WM tractography is integrated into treatment planning to identify WM pathways and restrict receiving dose. Manual segmentation of eloquent bAVM adjacent to WM pathways is time-consuming and prone to substantial inter-practitioner variability due to intricate entanglement within eloquent brain areas. The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a deep learning (DL) system for the segmentation of eloquent bAVM in a clinical setting.

METHODS: A total of 191 eloquent bAVM patients who underwent WM tractography and 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) images were enrolled. 153 patients were used to construct a two-stage DL bAVM segmentation ensemble (TBASE) consisting of 2D detection and 3D segmentation models to segment the bAVM, the other 38 to test performance. Comparative experiments with ResNet and U-Net were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed network. A randomized multi-reader evaluation was then conducted to assess the impact of TBASE assistance for bAVM segmentation using ten algorithm-unseen cases. Six medical professionals contoured the same series of cases in both assisted and unassisted modes, with a 6-week memory washout period between each session. The aided and unaided Dice Similarity Coefficients (DSC), Hausdorff Distance (HD), along with contouring times were compared.

RESULTS: The mean values and standard deviations for DSC and HD of TBASE are 0.87 ± 0.03 and 3.51 ± 0.26, respectively, while Res-Net and U-Net results are 0.75 ± 0.12 and 4.14 ± 0.99, 0.77 ± 0.09 and 3.94 ± 0.82, respectively. The average volume difference across all patients in test dataset is 0.25 ± 1.39 cc, with no statistically significant variation observed. With TBASE assistance, the mean DSC of readers improved from 0.76 ± 0.07 to 0.86 ± 0.05 (P < 0.001), with corresponding values of mean HD reducing from 4.31 ± 0.68 to 3.35 ± 0.17 (P < 0.001) and a mean time saving of 52.15% ± 13.85% per patient. Less-experienced readers achieved greater improvements in contouring accuracy compared to specialists (DSC increase: 0.15 ± 0.11 vs. 0.06 ± 0.09; P < 0.001), while demonstrating similar reductions in contouring time as specialists (50.68% ± 14.62% vs. 55.1% ± 11.98%; P = 0.217).

CONCLUSIONS: The reliable eloquent bAVM automated-segmentation method has been validated in clinical workflow. The TBASE assistance improved the accuracy and efficiency of the eloquent bAVM manual delineation while considering WM pathway protection.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:41772699 | DOI:10.1186/s13014-026-02811-2

Arch Public Health. 2026 Mar 3. doi: 10.1186/s13690-026-01873-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Long-term spatio-temporal analyses of influenza in coastal mega-cities remain limited. This study explores influenza dynamics in Tianjin, China (2010-2023) to inform prevention strategies.

METHODS: The data was based on case data from Tianjin (2010-2023) and the Tianjin Statistical Yearbook. Temporal trends, spatial auto-correlation (global and local Moran’s I), and spatio-temporal clusters (scan statistics) were assessed.

RESULTS: From 2010 to 2023, Tianjin reported a cumulative total of 195,426 influenza cases. The eastern region displayed the top three prevalence indices among the sixteen districts. Spatial auto-correlation analyses indicated that the evolution of influenza incidence rates in Tianjin follows a pattern of being “high along the eastern coast”. The analysis of spatio-temporal scanning identified the most significant cluster in eastern Tianjin, occurring from December 2017 to May 2019. This cluster covered four districts with a relative risk (RR) of 7.73 and log likelihood ratio (LLR) of 6597.49 (P < 0.001). Additionally, a similar cluster emerged in the eastern region of Tianjin from December 2019 to December 2023, covering three districts (RR: 27.41; LLR: 74011.43; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Mega-city influenza prevention prioritizes high-economic-activity zones. Coastal mega-cities target influenza spread in old-new economic transition areas.

PMID:41772678 | DOI:10.1186/s13690-026-01873-8

Malar J. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s12936-026-05831-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Malaria continues to pose a serious public health challenge in Zamfara State, Nigeria, disproportionately affecting women and children due to socio-economic barriers. This study aimed to develop a Composite Gender-Sensitive Malaria Vulnerability Index (CGMVI) to identify areas of heightened malaria vulnerability and support informed targeted interventions.

METHODS: Malaria incidence and mortality data from the Malaria Atlas Project, and population data from WorldPop, were integrated with indicators of Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) access and usage, maternal education, and household wealth. A Pentagonal Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to compute the CGMVI, while Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis identified spatial patterns of vulnerability across Zamfara State.

RESULTS: The CGMVI revealed a west-to-east gradient of malaria vulnerability across Zamfara State, with hotspots in Gummi (3.86) and Bukkuyum (3.62), characterized by low ITN usage (82-85%), high maternal education deficits (89-91%), and household poverty (85-90%). Moderate vulnerability was observed in central Local Government Areas (LGAs) such as Anka and Bungudu, while northern and eastern LGAs, including Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Tsafe, exhibited low vulnerability with higher ITN coverage (≈92%) and better socio-economic profiles. Hotspot analysis using Getis-Ord Gi* confirmed statistically significant clustering in western LGAs (z-scores 2.11-4.89 at 99% confidence), while coldspots in the north and east had z-scores from – 1.69 to – 3.39. These patterns reflect intersections of socio-economic barriers, ITN access, and maternal education, highlighting areas where women and children face elevated malaria risk.

CONCLUSION: The study offers a spatial framework for understanding how epidemiological, socio-economic, and gender-related factors shape malaria vulnerability in Zamfara State. By identifying areas where women and children may face elevated risk, the findings can inform gender-sensitive ITN distribution, community malaria literacy initiatives, and socio-economic support strategies. The CGMVI provides a tool to guide evidence-informed planning and better integrate gender considerations into malaria control efforts in the state.

PMID:41772643 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-026-05831-1

J Neuroinflammation. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s12974-026-03713-6. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41772634 | DOI:10.1186/s12974-026-03713-6

Harm Reduct J. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s12954-026-01414-0. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41772631 | DOI:10.1186/s12954-026-01414-0

AIDS Res Ther. 2026 Mar 2. doi: 10.1186/s12981-026-00869-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As a chronic disease, effective HIV self-management is crucial for men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. Psychosocial factors, including perceived stress and self-regulatory fatigue, have been shown to negatively impact self-management behaviors. However, research on the relationships among perceived stress, self-regulatory fatigue, and self-management behaviors remains limited. This study aimed to explore the mediating effect of self-regulatory fatigue in the relationship between perceived stress and self-management behaviors among MSM living with HIV in China.

METHODS: From December 2024 to March 2025, cross-sectional data were collected from 328 MSM living with HIV at an HIV-designated hospital in Jiangsu Province using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale, Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale, and HIV Self-Management Scale. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis were performed in this study. The mediating effect of self-regulatory fatigue in the relationship between perceived stress and self-management behaviors was assessed using Model 4 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS.

RESULTS: Among 328 MSM living with HIV, the average score of perceived stress was 30.67 ± 7.87, the average self-regulatory fatigue score was 43.99 ± 8.76, and the average HIV self-management score was 36.65 ± 7.88. Perceived stress was positively related to self-regulatory fatigue (r = 0.544, p<0.05), whereas self-management behaviors were proven to be negatively associated with perceived stress (r = -0.486, p<0.05) and self-regulatory fatigue (r = -0.504, p<0.05). Self-regulatory fatigue partially mediated the association between perceived stress and self-management behaviors, accounting for 34.39% of the total effect.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that self-regulatory fatigue partially mediated the relationship between perceived stress and self-management behaviors and underscored the importance of designing targeted interventions aimed at reducing perceived stress and self-regulatory fatigue to improve self-management behaviors among MSM living with HIV in China. Multidimensional strategies, achieved through collaborative efforts among patients, healthcare providers, government, and community, should incorporate personalized mental care and stress management, available social support, trained peer navigation, and consistent health education.

PMID:41772624 | DOI:10.1186/s12981-026-00869-2