Tag: statistics

Aging Ment Health. 2026 Jul 14:1-13. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2026.2695265. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depressive and anxiety symptoms are common in older adults living with dementia in nursing homes. This study examined if a multicomponent form of cognitive behaviour therapy (m-CBT) was effective for improving such symptoms and quality of life in this cohort.

METHODS: The cluster–randomised trial involved 21 nursing homes, randomly allocated to m-CBT or usual care. The sample comprised 128 residents with dementia aged 65 or above with clinically significant levels of depressive or anxiety symptoms. The intervention comprised 20 individual sessions with residents, a dementia education workshop for families and staff, a family support group program and staff consultation sessions. Outcomes were assessed by research assistants, blinded to allocation, at baseline, post-treatment (6-month post-randomisation) and follow–up (9-month post-randomisation).

RESULTS: Linear mixed effects models were used to compare changes in outcomes by group. By post-treatment, anxiety reduced significantly for participants receiving m-CBT (n = 66, 11 homes) compared to controls (n = 62, 10 homes; f = 0.11). The reduction in depressive symptoms was not significantly different between groups, f = .04. Quality of life did not change significantly in either group. By 9-month follow-up, outcomes between groups were not significantly different.

LIMITATIONS: Poor treatment attendance, inadequate fidelity assessment and low statistical power in the current study highlight the need for adequately powered trials to confirm these findings.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to support CBT as a potentially effective treatment for anxiety symptoms in older adults living with dementia in nursing homes.Trial registration. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618000241235.

PMID:42449205 | DOI:10.1080/13607863.2026.2695265

Int J Hyperthermia. 2026 Dec;43(1):2698763. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2026.2698763. Epub 2026 Jul 14.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive therapy for liver metastases. Image guidance, primarily ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT), is critical for precision, but their comparative safety profiles remain debated. This study aims to compare the incidence and severity of complications between US-guided and CT-guided MWA in patients with liver metastases.

METHODS: After propensity score matching (PSM), retrospective analysis of 120 patients (2022-2024) undergoing US-guided (n = 60) or CT-guided (n = 60) MWA at a single tertiary referral center. Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo system. Statistical analysis included Student’s t test, χ² tests, and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Major complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III) occurred in 5% of US-guided vs. 13.3% of CT-guided cases (p = 0.04). US guidance correlated with fewer pneumothoraxes (0% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.02) and reduced radiation exposure (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the 12-month local tumor progression (LTP) rate between the two groups (p = 0.79).

CONCLUSION: US-guided MWA demonstrates comparable tumor control to CT guidance with fewer complications and avoids radiation exposure, supporting its preferential use for high-risk patients.

PMID:42449202 | DOI:10.1080/02656736.2026.2698763

Int J Hyperthermia. 2026 Dec;43(1):2699379. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2026.2699379. Epub 2026 Jul 14.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded graphene nanoplatform chemo-photothermal therapy (CPT) compared with photothermal therapy (PTT) alone on relative tumor volume (RTV) in breast cancer xenograft models and to summarize reported secondary safety and translational endpoints.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for animal studies published from January 2010 to December 2025 investigating DOX-loaded graphene nanomaterial-mediated CPT in breast cancer xenograft tumors. Hedges’ g was used as the effect size measure, and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity, publication bias, subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and qualitatively reported secondary endpoints were assessed.

RESULTS: Nine breast cancer xenograft studies were included, involving 46 animals in the CPT group and 46 in the PTT group. The pooled SMD was -2.20 (95% CI: -2.76 to -1.65, p < 0.0001), with negligible heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%). Subgroup analyses showed no statistically significant differences by cell line, graphene type, or publication period (all p > 0.05). Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses yielded pooled SMDs from -2.09 to -2.37. Funnel plot inspection and Egger’s test suggested mild small-study asymmetry, but Trim-and-Fill correction did not change the direction or significance of the result. Secondary endpoint extraction showed limited survival, toxicity, biodistribution, and clearance reporting, supporting short-term tolerability but not definitive clinical translation.

CONCLUSION: DOX-loaded graphene nanoplatform CPT was associated with significantly greater suppression of RTV than PTT alone in breast cancer xenograft models. The evidence supports a robust preclinical antitumor association while highlighting the need for standardized survival, long-term toxicity, biodistribution, and elimination studies before clinical application.

PMID:42449201 | DOI:10.1080/02656736.2026.2699379

Chem Biodivers. 2026 Jul;23(7):e71481. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.71481.

ABSTRACT

A series of newly designed 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives demonstrated highly effective inhibitors against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and exhibited significant antiviral and anti-biofilm properties. To further explore the structure-activity relationships of these compounds and develop novel molecules with higher activity, this study systematically analyzed the relationship between the structure and activity of a series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole compounds using computational methods including 3D-QSAR, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Based on a dataset containing 39 compounds, two reliable 3D-QSAR statistical models were established: CoMFA (q² = 0.729, SEE = 0.075, r² = 0.960, F = 103.183) and CoMSIA/ADH (q² = 0.805, SEE = 0.059, r² = 0.978, F = 157.574). A 3D contour plot analysis revealed key structural factors influencing molecular activity. Molecular docking studies explored the interaction mode between the small molecule and the target protein 3E5U, identifying important residues such as ARG300. Based on model predictions and results comparison, we designed eight new molecules with inhibitory activity superior to the template compound. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the stability of the binding between new molecules and protein complex. Pharmacokinetic evaluation indicated that these new molecules have promising clinical application prospects.

PMID:42449195 | DOI:10.1002/cbdv.71481

Alzheimers Dement. 2026 Jul;22(7):e71631. doi: 10.1002/alz.71631.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The study aim is to investigate whether blood biomarkers (BBMs) of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology are associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after cardiac surgery.

METHODS: Cognitive performance was assessed before and 12 months postoperatively using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and categorized into stages-minimal (1), notable (2), and substantial (3) decline-in the FIND DElirium RIsk factors (FINDERI) study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. BBMs were measured preoperatively (amyloid beta [Aβ]1-42, Aβ1-40, phosphorylated tau 181 [p-tau181], p-tau217, apolipoprotein E ε4 [apoE4] and apoE).

RESULTS: A total of 394 patients completed follow-up investigations. POCD Stage 1 was observed in 105 (26.6%), POCD Stage 2 in 52 patients (13.2%), and POCD Stage 3 in 30 patients (7.6%). The AT²¹⁷term (ratio Aβ1-40/1-42 * p-tau217) was significantly associated with POCD stages in multiple logistic regression.

DISCUSSION: Early Alzheimer’s BBMs are associated with POCD in patients, suggesting that our exploratory findings assessing BBMs may support risk stratification, inform decision-making, and contribute to strategies aimed at preventing POCD.

PMID:42449187 | DOI:10.1002/alz.71631

Orthop Surg. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1111/os.70362. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Spondylolisthesis is a frequently encountered condition in orthopedics, requiring dynamic stability maintained primarily by the paraspinal muscles. This systematic review evaluates the cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles-specifically the multifidus, erector spinae, and psoas major-in lumbar spondylolisthesis (LS) to understand their roles in spinal stability and progression in degenerative and isthmic forms.

METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched as of September 2024. Fourteen retrospective studies using MRI/CT imaging met inclusion criteria, focusing on CSA and FI in LS. Data were extracted from studies that assessed spinal instability through vertebral slippage measurements or comparisons with asymptomatic controls.

RESULTS: The findings indicate that reduced CSA and increased FI in paraspinal muscles, especially the multifidus, are associated with spinal instability and progressive vertebral slippage. Several studies reported reductions in CSA and increases in FI in patients with spondylolisthesis, although methods and anatomical levels varied across studies. Compensatory hypertrophy of the erector spinae and psoas major was observed, particularly in isthmic cases.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the potential role of muscle health in maintaining spinal stability and suggest that targeted rehabilitation strategies addressing paraspinal muscle alterations may improve clinical outcomes in patients with LS.

PMID:42449184 | DOI:10.1111/os.70362

Commun Biol. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-10647-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Conserved fecal microbiome signatures of intestinal diseases across domestic mammals offer a non-invasive avenue to monitor animal health and advance One Health, yet systematic meta-analysis with cross-study, cross-disease, and cross-host validation remains lacking. We present a leave-one-dataset-out meta-analysis defining generalizable intestinal disease signatures in mammalian hosts. Analyzing 512 samples from four bovine diarrhea and three canine IBD studies, we identified 12 bovine and 8 canine stable signature genera marked by depleted short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers and enriched pathobionts through a compositional random-effects framework with per-study covariate-adjusted effect sizes. A minimal signature set matched full-feature models across five machine learning models, and study-aware transfer learning improved cross-study generalization. Across 367 samples, signatures outperformed for intestinal versus non-intestinal phenotypes in cross-disease prediction. Cross-host validation across equine, feline, caprine, swine, and human datasets (533 animal and 1,182 human samples) revealed canine IBD-associated signatures outperformed in feline intestinal disease prediction, while bovine diarrhea-associated signatures generalized better to herbivorous hosts and human intestinal diseases. These findings may support the existence of conserved microbial signatures across veterinary and human medicine, warranting further investigation toward diagnostic applications.

PMID:42449164 | DOI:10.1038/s42003-026-10647-5

Sci Rep. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-61589-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional education (IPE) prepares medical and dental students for collaborative, team-based care, yet little is known about how students perceive IPE within integrated academic environments in the Gulf region. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2025 at RAK Medical & Health Sciences University and RAK College of Dental Sciences in the United Arab Emirates. A printed, structured questionnaire adapted from validated tools was distributed to undergraduate medical and dental students. The survey evaluated interdisciplinary knowledge, teaching content, interprofessional value, and attitudes toward IPE using a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, with descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk normality tests, unequal variance t-tests, Cronbach’s alpha, and Spearman’s correlation utilized to evaluate group differences and internal consistency. Ethical approval was obtained (Ref: TAKMHSU-HEC-51-2023/24-F-D). A total of 273 students participated (157 medicals, 116 dentals; 50.2% female). Clinical-phase students reported significantly more favorable perceptions across domains of interdisciplinary knowledge, teaching content, and interprofessional value (p < 0.01). The internal consistency of the questionnaire was high (α > 0.85 for most domains). Strong inter-domain correlations were observed, especially between teaching content and perceived value. No significant differences were found based on gender. Clinical exposure was associated with more favorable perceptions of IPE. These findings support embedding structured, experiential IPE from the preclinical years onward-through shared case-based teaching, interprofessional simulation, and co-facilitated clinical activities-rather than relying on clinical contact alone. For curriculum developers and institutional policymakers, the results highlight the value of integrating IPE across both preclinical and clinical curricula and of targeting attitudinal development specifically. Longitudinal and intervention-based studies are needed to confirm whether such exposure produces durable gains in collaborative competence.

PMID:42449157 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-61589-1

Sci Rep. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-61846-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study addressed a critical challenge in higher education informatization, where the evaluation of teaching resource allocation and management process efficiency has traditionally relied on subjective judgment and lacked unified quantitative criteria. To overcome these limitations, a Resource Configuration and Business Coordination (RCBC) model-based evaluation framework was developed. The study utilized data from the National Higher Education Statistics published by the Ministry of Education of China and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) educational resource dataset. An evaluation index system was constructed across four dimensions: resource distribution balance, utilization efficiency, coordination effectiveness, and process bottlenecks. The collected data were cleaned, normalized, and subjected to feature extraction to ensure analytical consistency and reliability. To capture the nonlinear relationships among multidimensional indicators, a multi-objective optimization framework based on the RCBC model was established. Model parameters were determined through a hybrid weighting strategy that integrated the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Entropy Weight Method (EWM), thereby improving the robustness and rationality of parameter assignment. The effectiveness of the proposed framework was assessed through regression analysis and sensitivity testing in teaching resource allocation and process management scenarios. The results demonstrated that the optimized allocation strategy improved overall resource utilization by 14.2%, increased management process efficiency by 10.5%, and enhanced prediction accuracy by 37.3% under cross-validation conditions compared with conventional approaches. These findings indicate that the proposed RCBC model provides superior performance in evaluating and optimizing educational resource allocation and operational processes. Overall, this study offers a data-driven framework for higher education informatization and provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for the development of intelligent teaching management systems.

PMID:42449155 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-61846-3

Nat Genet. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1038/s41588-026-02668-x. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42449151 | DOI:10.1038/s41588-026-02668-x