Tag: statistics

Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 16:207640251358085. doi: 10.1177/00207640251358085. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia, are increasingly prevalent among university students and graduates, especially those involved in academic research. The impact of research-related characteristics on mental health remains underexplored.

AIM: We examined this relationship using machine learning alongside traditional statistical analyses and GIS mapping.

METHODS: Data from 508 university students and graduates were collected, and encompassed socio-demographics, academic information, research related information, and mental health outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, while spatial analysis was conducted using QGIS and machine learning models were developed with Python with Google Colab.

RESULTS: High prevalence rates of depression (39.8%), anxiety (29.3%), and insomnia (12.2%) emerged. Feature selection highlighted research experience (excluding thesis), research courses during the bachelor’s program, and interest in a research-related career as significant predictors of mental health outcomes. CatBoost modeling performed best in accuracy and precision of risk prediction of mental health conditions. Support Vector Machine model performed well in predicting depression, while Random Forest showed consistent low log loss, indicating better calibration across mental health issues. GIS mapping revealed no significant regional heterogeneity in mental health outcomes. Research-related factors, such as research experience and academic pressures, significantly impact the mental health of university students and graduates.

CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning models may enable institutions to more effectively identify at-risk students and provide personalized support to foster a supportive research environment, ultimately improving both mental health outcomes and academic success.

PMID:40817703 | DOI:10.1177/00207640251358085

J Adv Nurs. 2025 Aug 16. doi: 10.1111/jan.70144. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing number of doctorally prepared midwives in Europe, particularly after the Bologna Declaration 1999, little is known about the context and experiences of their doctoral education.

AIM: To explore European initially qualified midwives’ experiences with doctoral education; and the context of their education through their professional associations.

DESIGN: An exploratory descriptive observational survey.

METHODS: An ethically approved web-based survey was used to collect data from midwifery associations and midwives in 33 European countries between October and December 2024. Descriptive statistics and inductive thematic analysis were used to analyse the responses.

RESULTS: Twenty-two midwifery associations from 19 European countries and 207 midwives from 23 European countries participated. Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the number of doctorally prepared midwives. Common reasons to gain doctoral qualifications included an interest in research, career progression, in particular in education, and improving healthcare. Midwives reported growing availability of European-wide opportunities for doctoral programmes, alongside an increase in the number of doctoral midwifery programmes and supervisors with midwifery expertise. Although many barriers were reported, effectively combining study with their personal life and support from family, friends and colleagues was highlighted as crucial factors in completing their doctoral studies.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study exploring the experiences of European midwives pursuing a doctoral degree. The findings highlight a need for universities to improve the collaboration with midwives’ supportive networks as well as for the profession to reduce intraprofessional hostilities to enhance doctoral midwifery students’ well-being. Implications for the profession: Acknowledging challenges faced by these midwives is necessary to improve professional and institutional support in academia and midwifery.

IMPACT: Findings of this study inform strategies to improve doctoral education for midwives and, in this way, strengthen the contributions of midwives to maternal evidenced-based care development and healthcare innovations.

REPORTING METHOD: The Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies (CROSS) was used to guide reporting.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.

PMID:40817697 | DOI:10.1111/jan.70144

Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2025 Aug 15. doi: 10.1002/acn3.70162. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in adults, with upper limb hemiparesis being a common impairment. Traditional training is mostly aimed at paralyzed limbs, but the effect of bilateral training is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the influence and mechanism of unilateral and bilateral rhythmic task training on the rehabilitation of stroke patients.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

METHODS: Thirty-six patients were randomly assigned to the bilateral group or to the unilateral group. The bilateral group engaged in repetitive training involving both arms and distal hand movements, while the unilateral group focused on the affected arm. Evaluations were performed before treatment and immediately after treatment. The outcome measures included Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), the average electromyographic values of a total of 16 muscle groups on both the unaffected and affected sides (with 8 muscle groups on each side) during maximum voluntary isometric contraction, as well as the active range of motion (ROM). Changes in interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) were assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation.

RESULTS: Post-treatment assessments indicated that the FMA-UE scores significantly increased in both groups, with the bilateral group exhibiting more pronounced improvements (p = 0.031; ηp² = 0.130). Specifically, compared to their pre-treatment states, the bilateral group showed statistically significant differences in the maximum EMG amplitudes of the anterior deltoid (p = 0.006; ηp² = 0.204) and wrist flexor muscles (p < 0.001; ηp² = 0.308) on the affected side, with greater gains than the unilateral group. Additionally, the maximum EMG amplitudes of the biceps brachii (p = 0.035; ηp² = 0.124) and wrist extensors (p = 0.018; ηp² = 0.153) on the unaffected side were significantly enhanced in the bilateral group. In terms of active ROM, the bilateral group demonstrated significant improvements in shoulder flexion (p = 0.024; ηp² = 0.142) and wrist flexion (p = 0.020; ηp² = 0.149), which surpassed those observed in the unilateral group. Furthermore, a significant reduction in IHI (p = 0.023; ηp² = 0.196) was observed, which was positively correlated with FMA-UE scores following bilateral training (r = 0.85, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Bilateral training is more effective than unilateral training in enhancing upper limb function and may contribute to balancing IHI in stroke recovery patients.

PMID:40817662 | DOI:10.1002/acn3.70162

BJOG. 2025 Aug 15. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.18324. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in the location of service and management for patients receiving early pregnancy loss (EPL) care based on racial/ethnic identity.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: A single university-affiliated urban tertiary care centre in the United States.

POPULATION: A cohort of 796 received care for EPL at a single university-affiliated urban tertiary care centre from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023.

METHODS: Descriptive statistics for demographic factors were generated, reporting frequencies and percentages; continuous variables were expressed as a mean with standard deviation; and chi-squared tests were performed. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics of this patient population and the frequency of location of service and management type. Multivariate logistic regression models assessed the relationship between the location of services (ED and GYN triage vs. other), management type (expectant vs. active management) and patient race and ethnicity. Statistics are reported as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Location of service, management type.

RESULTS: There were differences in care location and management based on race/ethnicity. Black and Hispanic/Latinx patients were more likely to receive care in the emergency department or gynaecology triage compared to their White counterparts. Black patients were also more likely to receive expectant management and office procedural management compared to their White counterparts. Receiving treatment in the emergency department or gynaecology triage was associated with expectant management.

CONCLUSIONS: Racial disparities exist in both location of service and management type for EPL.

PMID:40817641 | DOI:10.1111/1471-0528.18324

Environ Toxicol. 2025 Aug 15. doi: 10.1002/tox.24557. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The potential adverse effects of 17-alpha-ethynylestradiol (50, 100, and 500 μg EE₂/kg b.w., for 30 days) on tench (Tinca tinca) were evaluated by integrating biomarkers including physiological (hepato-somatic index, spleen-somatic index, and hematocrit), oxidative stress (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities; total glutathione level, and lipid peroxidation), metabolic (glutathione S-transferase activity), as well as histopathological (descriptive and analytical studies) responses. The general health status of the EE₂-exposed tench was disturbed based on the increase of somatic indices at high tested doses, and the development of anemia in all exposed individuals. Effective control of reactive oxygen species by the antioxidant defense system of the tench exposed to EE₂ should have occurred because the lipid peroxidation process was irrelevant. Histopathological study revealed the presence of regressive changes in the liver (vacuolar degeneration, and deposits of eosinophilic material), regressive (deposits of eosinophilic material), and progressive (hyperplasia of reticuloendothelial cells) changes in the spleens of exposed fish. The severity of some lesions was dose dependent. The identified injuries did not compromise the functions of these organs. Finally, a common pattern of correlation between parameters of oxidative stress and morphological changes was not detected in the current study.

PMID:40817632 | DOI:10.1002/tox.24557

J Rural Health. 2025 Jun;41(3):e70073. doi: 10.1111/jrh.70073.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Research has demonstrated many types of disparities in tobacco retailer density (TRD), but these analyses often fail to explore rural disparities. Given the substantial burden of rural tobacco use in the USA, this is a critical gap. The purpose of the present study was to estimate rural disparities in TRD across four US states.

METHODS: For the states of California, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Ohio, we used spatial statistical methods to model per capita TRD at the census tract level. Rurality was defined by the US Department of Agriculture Rural-Uran Commuting Area (RUCA) codes and categorized into Metropolitan, Micropolitan, Small Town, and Rural.

FINDINGS: Tobacco retailer count was highest in California (22,533), but TRD was highest in Connecticut (1.23 retailers per 1000 residents). In models for California, North Carolina, and Ohio (but not Connecticut), there was an association between rurality and TRD, such that rural census tracts had greater TRD than metropolitan census tracts. Micropolitan and small town (vs. metropolitan) census tracts also had greater TRD, although the association was not as strong. Models further showed associations between TRD and census tract poverty, racial and ethnic composition, and Appalachian designation.

CONCLUSIONS: Although there are notable state-level differences, TRD is clearly associated with rurality. Given the literature on the impacts of living in tobacco-retailer-dense areas, rural disparities in TRD likely contribute to rural disparities in tobacco use. There is a need for further policies in rural areas of the USA that address the tobacco retailer environment.

PMID:40817627 | DOI:10.1111/jrh.70073

Lab Med. 2025 Aug 16:lmaf033. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmaf033. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Platelet parameters are inexpensive and readily available biomarkers for platelet activation. This study investigated the differences and usefulness of platelet parameters in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which are major hematologic disorders associated with platelet activation or dysfunction.

METHODS: We enrolled 418 patients: 186 with MPN, 109 with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, and 123 with MDS. Platelet count and platelet parameters, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit, and mean platelet component (MPC), were measured using an automated hematology analyzer.

RESULTS: Platelet parameters, particularly MPV and MPC, showed statistically significant differences in MPN compared with healthy control individuals, indicating the most significant platelet activation in primary myelofibrosis. We noted that MPV, plateletcrit, and MPC differed substantially between immune thrombocytopenic purpura and aplastic anemia compared with healthy control individuals, with statistically significant differences in MPV, PDW, and MPC between immune thrombocytopenic purpura and aplastic anemia. All parameters revealed statistically significant differences between MDS and healthy controls.

DISCUSSION: Platelet parameters demonstrated significant differences among patients with MPN, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, and MDS compared with healthy control individuals, suggesting platelet activation in these disorders. They may also be useful markers for differentiating the causative disease in patients with thrombocytosis or thrombocytopenia.

PMID:40817623 | DOI:10.1093/labmed/lmaf033

Int J Rheum Dis. 2025 Aug;28(8):e70386. doi: 10.1111/1756-185x.70386.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To understand the complexity of disease pathology through the prism of septic arthritis, especially the reliability of popular and, yet, arbitrary thresholds like synovial leucocyte counts of ≥ 100,000/μL suggestive of it, with the help of statistical analysis and logistic regression.

METHODS: An anonymized patient dataset comprising 360 swollen joint episodes was collated along with a range of patient attributes, including age, gender, comorbidity (e.g., diabetes, gout, pseudogout, immunosuppression), prior administration of antibiotics and washout of the affected joint, isolation of crystals from synovial aspirate, blood/synovial fluid culture growth, and synovial aspirate cell count. The dataset was subjected to statistical analysis (e.g., sensitivity, specificity, predictive and likelihood ratios) and logistic regression modeling, with results compared to the synovial leucocyte count thresholds of ≥ 100,000/μL and ≥ 50,000/μL.

RESULTS: The logistic regression model (sensitivity 50%, specificity 97.04%) outperformed the models based on arbitrary thresholds like a synovial leucocyte count of ≥ 100,000/μL (sensitivity 48.21%, specificity 88.16%) or ≥ 50,000/μL (sensitivity 64.29%, specificity 69.74%) in predicting septic arthritis. Independent variables like age, presence of gout, and autoimmune arthritis as comorbidities, hip joint involvement, synovial aspirate leucocyte count, and crystals in aspirated fluid demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) correlation to septic arthritis.

CONCLUSION: Septic arthritis presents a multivariate correlation that deserves a holistic oversight rather than singling out individual factors. Data mining platforms like logistic regression can investigate the complex interplay among these individual variables while making a diagnosis not only in septic arthritis but also in other diseases with multisystem involvement, infective or non-infective alike.

PMID:40817605 | DOI:10.1111/1756-185x.70386

Proc Inst Mech Eng H. 2025 Aug 15:9544119251363649. doi: 10.1177/09544119251363649. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lower extremity compression is effective in treating various vascular and wound conditions. Assessment of IP variations along limb length and under different compression applications are limited. This work quantified both local and gradient in vivo IP map with a piezoresistive (PR) sensor under three different compression applications when applied to the right leg of forty healthy subjects (n = 40). Compression applications included elastic stockinette, EdemaWear (EW), a pre-packaged compression set, CoFlex TLC (CF) and a combination application, CF applied over EW (Both = BO). Results showed statistical variations in local pressures and pressure gradients that varied by condition, body position, and post 10 min of exercise. Immediately post application significant differences between all compression conditions were observed at both distal and proximal measurement points, ranging from 10.8 ± 4.2 mmHg for supine EW to 38.2 ± 10.7 mmHg for standing BO. A non-uniform reduction in IP was observed post a brief period of wear under CF and BO, but not EW. The largest decrease was observed at the proximal measurement point under BO (37% reduction). Rate of change in IP proximal to distal ranging from -2.4 to 3.4 mmHg/in. Vertical patterning that mirrored the structural design of the EW was observed in some, but not all, of the pressure maps for the BO application only. The use of the PR sensor for capturing in vivo IP profiles may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the compression effect, highlighting the importance of considering variation in IP across the limb over a period of wear.

PMID:40817576 | DOI:10.1177/09544119251363649

Small Methods. 2025 Aug 15:e00782. doi: 10.1002/smtd.202500782. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

When developing new materials for organic electronics, understanding how they will perform and change over time is critical. Typical bias stress exposure experiments provide limited information on the materials’ performance in applications which involve multiple charging and discharging steps. Here, organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) are characterized for 48-72 h straight in air and in N₂ using newly developed cyclic testing protocols that enable statistically significant evaluation of four different semiconductors by quantifying both, environmental and operational stress on their performance. It is demonstrated that the structure of the phthalocyanine leads to significant differences in response to bias stress, such as silicon bis(pentafluorophenoxy)phthalocyanine (F₁₀-SiPc) showing a much more air-stable p-type device compared to copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and bis(pentafluorophenoxy) hexadecafluoro silicon(iv) phthalocyanine (F₅PhO)₂-F₁₆-SiPc showing much more air-stable n-type performance compared to Copper(II) 1,2,3,4,8,9,10,11,15,16,17,18,22,23,24,25-hexadecafluoro-29H,31H-phthalocyanine (F₁₆-CuPc). Raman microscopy of the films revealed no changes in morphology. The devices are also modeled using the 2D finite-element method, which suggests that most changes in device performance are due to fixed charges at the semiconductor/insulator interface. Overall, OTFT stress testing demonstrates, that important structure property relationships can be established between semiconductor molecular structure and device performance.

PMID:40817573 | DOI:10.1002/smtd.202500782