Tag: statistics

Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2025 Dec 28;25(1):11. doi: 10.1007/s10237-025-02031-9.

ABSTRACT

False lumen expansion is a major factor that determines long-term survival of uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD). The objective of this study was to investigate whether structural wall stress distributions computed from patient-specific acute TBAD geometries can be used to predict aortic growth rates. Three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography angiography (CTA) of 9 patients with acute uncomplicated TBAD was obtained at initial hospital admission and at their most recent follow-up visits. Patient-specific structural wall stress distributions were computed from the initial baseline CTA using a forward penalty method. Spatially varying blood pressure distributions, derived from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations informed by patient-specific brachial blood pressure (BP) measurements, were incorporated into the forward penalty stress analysis. For 5 patients, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) data were also available and used to prescribe patient-specific inlet flow conditions in the CFD simulations. Aortic growth rates were quantified and visualized within the 3D TBAD geometries using the initial baseline and follow-up scans. Linear mixed-effects regression analyses were performed to evaluate the spatial correlations between biomechanical markers (structural wall stress, wall shear stress, and pressure) and aortic growth rates. Utilizing initial baseline patient-specific CTA and BP data, along with TTE data when available, the forward penalty analyses revealed hemodynamic and structural mechanics insights of acute uncomplicated TBADs. The linear mixed-effects model indicated that the fixed-effect association between acute structural wall stress and estimated aortic growth rate distributions was statistically significant (p = 0.036), which demonstrated that aortic segments experiencing higher structural stress in the acute phase exhibited more rapid growth. Fixed-effect associations were not significant when predicting growth rate using wall shear stress (p = 0.88) or pressure (p = 0.65) distributions computed from the acute TBAD geometry. Significant Pearson correlation coefficients (p < 0.05) were observed between acute structural wall stress and aortic growth rate in all patients. Higher structural wall stress in the acute TBAD geometry was associated with regions of increased aortic growth rates. When modeled as a solid, false lumen thrombus was linked to lower structural wall stress and may have a protective effect against rapid aortic growth. Further studies are needed to investigate the biphasic nature of thrombus. Structural stress, which in this study was derived using the forward penalty approach, may be a novel predictor of aortic growth rate in acute TBAD.

PMID:41456249 | DOI:10.1007/s10237-025-02031-9

Mol Biol Rep. 2025 Dec 28;53(1):220. doi: 10.1007/s11033-025-11392-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To analyze the ADIPOQ and ADIPOR1 levels in breast tumour tissue and adjacent adipose tissue of postmenopausal women with this cancer. We hypothesized that the tumour microenvironment (TME) of the breast had lower levels of ADIPOQ and ADIPOR1 in postmenopausal women with obesity than in those with a normal BMI.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty women with normal body mass index (BMI) and 20 with obesity, all of them postmenopausal and with breast cancer (BC) were included. We obtained during surgery fresh breast tumour tissue and a fragment of breast adipose tissue adjacent to the tumour and analyzed the levels of adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and its receptor ADIPOR1 by Western blot. Statistical power of the study was > 80% with a p < 0.05ADIPOR1 protein levels were higher in breast tumour tissue versus breast adipose tissue adjacent to the tumour in postmenopausal women with normal BMI and postmenopausal women with obesity (p = 0.0012 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Moreover, we observed higher ADIPOR1 levels only in breast adipose tissue adjacent to the tumour in postmenopausal women with obesity and tumour size > 2.0 cm and clinical stage II/III (p = 0.019 and p = 0.025, respectively) versus postmenopausal women with a normal BMI. We did not observe differences in ADIPOQ.

CONCLUSIONS: ADIPOR1 levels were higher in breast tumour tissue compared to breast adipose tissue adjacent to the tumour in both postmenopausal women with normal BMI or with obesity. Besides, ADIPOR1 levels were higher in breast adipose tissue adjacent to the tumour of postmenopausal women and obesity, with a more aggressive breast tumour.

PMID:41456223 | DOI:10.1007/s11033-025-11392-4

Exp Physiol. 2025 Dec 28. doi: 10.1113/EP093118. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Current literature on the metabolic effects of long-distance hiking is limited to case studies with discrepant findings, and no prior studies have examined the role of diet in shaping these outcomes. In this study, we investigated changes in lipid profiles and dietary factors among 12 participants who completed the Colorado Trail. Blood lipid measures [low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides] were obtained pre- and post-trail after a 12 h fast using the Lysun Blood Lipid Analyzer. Dietary intake was assessed pre- and on-trail using a validated multiple-pass 24 h recall. Student’s paired t-tests evaluated metabolic changes, and regression analyses assessed associations between lipid changes and dietary factors. No lipid exhibited a statistically significant change at the α = 0.05 threshold. However, LDL-C decreased by 17 mg/dL (P = 0.066), suggestive of a biologically meaningful reduction, given the small sample size. Among 81 dietary variables, LDL-C reduction was significantly associated with decreased intake of added sugars (P = 0.030) and ultra-processed foods (P = 0.039) and with increased intake of minimally processed foods (P = 0.044), vitamin C (P = 0.048) and vitamin K (P = 0.047) during hiking. These findings suggest that long-distance hiking might be associated with lower LDL-C and that diet quality, particularly food processing level, might be correlated with this trend. This study is the first to link dietary shifts systematically to metabolic outcomes in thru-hiking, providing hypothesis-generating insights into the physiological adaptations to prolonged physical exertion and the potential for dietary modulation of lipid metabolism.

PMID:41456206 | DOI:10.1113/EP093118

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2025;125(12. Vyp. 2):94-99. doi: 10.17116/jnevro202512512294.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on the sleep quality of patients in the early recovery period of ischemic stroke (IS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 32 patients in the early recovery period of IS. The test group included 22 patients (10 with IS in the vertebral-basilar system (VBS) and 12 with IS in the carotid system), and the control group included 10 patients (5 with IS in the VBS and 5 with IS in the carotid system). Control group patients received drug therapy, physiotherapy (magnetic therapy and electrotherapy), exercise therapy, and massage. Treatment in the test group also included craniocerebral hypothermia (CCH); 10 daily sessions of 90 min. Non-invasive radiothermometry was used to measure cerebral cortical temperature.

RESULTS: After CCH, the test group showed a statistically significant decrease in cerebral cortical temperature compared to the control group (p<0.015). Of note, the test group showed a statistically significant decrease in cerebral cortical temperature only in patients with IS in the VBS (p<0.001). It was shown that rehabilitation treatment with CCH significantly improved sleep efficiency, increasing the total sleep amount from 263 [101; 401] to 327 [181; 435] minutes, the sleep efficiency index from 51 [18; 72.6] to 62.3 [46; 85.3] %, the N2-stage of sleep from 25.6 [15.7; 36.9] to 29.0 [22; 42.9] %, and reducing the wake time during sleep from 40 [13; 57] to 34.5 [11; 44] % (p<0.05). Improved sleep quality in the test group was observed in patients with IS in the VBS. Sleep efficiency was unchanged in the control group.

CONCLUSION: Thus, the data obtained support the relationship between brain temperature and sleep processes. With a decrease in brain temperature, sleep quality improves.

PMID:41456195 | DOI:10.17116/jnevro202512512294

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2025;125(12. Vyp. 2):86-93. doi: 10.17116/jnevro202512512286.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the tolerability and safety of using high-tech software complexes with biofeedback (BF) via a brain-computer interface (BCI) in the recovery of patients after a stroke, based on an analysis of neuropsychological examination data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 100 stroke patients: 40 patients in the main group, 40 patients in the comparison group, and 20 patients in the control group. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used. In the main group, sessions were conducted using BCI-BF1 based on the P300 potential; in the comparison group, sessions were conducted using BCI-BF2 based on the mu-rhythm of electroencephalography (EEG); control group patients received standard of care.

RESULTS: Improvement of the symptoms was reported; no «aggravation/increase» of the existing symptoms or the occurrence of new symptoms was observed, which indicated good tolerance of using BCI-BF1 and BCI-BF2. The results of the assessment on the BDI, HARS, and HDRS scales showed a statistically significant improvement, indicating the regression of existing affective disorders corresponding to the level of minor disorders, namely «subclinical anxiety/depression» (p<0.001). When assessing the BDI and HDRS scales, a statistically significant decrease in the scores for the subscale of affective-cognitive disorders was found in the main group (p=0.002) and in the comparison group (p<0.001). MoCA score showed no decrease from the baseline score of 25 or more: in the main group, there was an increase in the median total score (p=0.014); in the comparison group, there was no change (p=0.683).

CONCLUSION: Treatment with BCI-BF1 based on P300 and BCI-BF2 based on the EEG mu-rhythm was safe in patients in the recovery period of stroke, showed good tolerance, did not cause the occurrence or increase of affective disorders, and did not reduce the MoCA score.

PMID:41456194 | DOI:10.17116/jnevro202512512286

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2025;125(12. Vyp. 2):13-20. doi: 10.17116/jnevro202512512213.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) MMP-2, MMP-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during the acute period of ischemic stroke (IS) in the context of clinical and functional recovery of patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 114 patients with IS. Patient groups: Group 1 – mild stroke (n=57 patients), Group 2 – moderate stroke (n=25 patients), Group 3 – severe stroke (n=32 patients). Observation period: 14 days. Assessment timepoints: I – 48-72 hours from the onset of the disease; II – Day 14. Scores: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and VEGF was measured on a multiplex analyzer. Statistical data processing was performed using the Statistica 13.0 software bundle.

RESULTS: Patients of Groups 1 and 2 showed significant improvement in the NIHSS and mRS scores (p<0.001), and patients of Group 3 demonstrated no change (p=0.157 and p=0.315, respectively). MMP-2 levels were significantly lower in Group 3 when compared with patients of Groups 1 and 2 at timepoints I and II (p_1-3=0.03 and p_1-3=0.014). A strong positive correlation was found between ΔGCS=0 [-3; 1] and MMP-2_II (r=0.927; p=0.024). ΔMMP-9 in Group 1 was 75 [-38; 302] ng/mL and positively correlated with mRs_II (r=0.613; p=0.034). Group 3 patients showed a significant increase in VEGF at timepoint II (p_I-II=0.021); ΔVEGF=68 [38; 105] pg/mL positively correlated with NIHSS_I (r=0.691; p=0.027). In patients of Group 2, the inverse relationship was observed, a negative correlation between ΔVEGF and ΔNIHSS (r=-0.653; p=0.041). Significant interbiomarker associations were found: positive between MMP-2_I and MMP-9_II in Group 2 (r=0.566, p=0.044), and negative between MMP-2_I and VEGF_II in Group 3 (r=-0.721, p=0.019).

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the association of biomarker profiles (VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9) with stroke severity. In mild to moderate disease, their modulation contributes to recovery, while in severe disease, it requires control. The obtained data support the development of personalized therapeutic strategies aimed at optimizing neuroplasticity by regulating the activity of the studied molecules.

PMID:41456185 | DOI:10.17116/jnevro202512512213

Psychiatr Hung. 2025;40(2):140-150.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Depression, as part of mental health issues among professionals working in the field of education, is associated with burnout and several personal protective and risk factors in relatin to their work environment. Considering gender distribution of the profession, investigation of female educators should get special attention, partly due to their substantial overrepresentation, partly due to their elevated involvement. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze risk and protective factors (burnout, work motivatons, teacher resilience and well-being) of depressibe symptomatology in a sample of female educators.

METHODS: Participants of our online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey were Hungarian female teachers (N = 520). We applied the following scales for measuring variables: Center of Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale; The Mini Oldenburg Burnout Inventory; Teacher Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire; The Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale; Teachers’ Resilience Scale. Data analysis was conducted with the help of SPSS, using descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: Thirty-five percent of the sample demonstrated depressive symptoms based on the CES-D scale. Risk factors were identified with logistic regression analysis including dimensions of burnout, especially exhaustion, and amotivation. Teacher well-being, intrinsic and identified motivation, personal and social resilience emerged as protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS: The novelty of our research is the involvement of occupational factors in relation to mental health. Our findings highlight the great risk of depressive symptoms among female teachers, which has been strongly linked to exhaustion dimension of burnout and amotivation. Screening for depression in due time would be important among teachers as well as strengthening protective factors and detecting workplace stressors, and managing risk factors.

PMID:41456163

Psychiatr Hung. 2025;40(2):5-18.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are often diagnosed in adolescents (7%) and children (6.5%), yet most of them do not receive adequate psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a proven effective first-line treatment for anxiety disorders. Our aim was to develop an eight-session group CBT intervention adapted for adolescent population with anxiety symptoms, focusing on reducing cognitive distortions and avoidance behaviours and associated physical symptoms.

METHODS: The participants (N= 51, age group: 15-20 ys.) were diagnosed with anxiety and comorbid mood disorders. Groups of 8-12 patients were formed to apply group CBT. To assess the effectiveness of CBT, the following questionnaires were administered before and after the intervention: BDI, STAI-S, RSES-H, BHS, CERQ, FNE-8, Non-productive Thought Q. (NPTQ-C). Paired-sample and independent sample t-test were used for statistical analysis of the results.

RESULTS: Anxiety (t(50)=3.82; p<0.001), depressive symptoms (t(49)=4.09; p<0.001) and fear of negative appraisal (t(50)=3.15; p=0.001) were significantly decreased after therapy. In addition, there were reductions in unproductive thoughts (t(49)=3.47; p<0.001), hopelessness (t(50)=1.69; p=0.049), while self-esteem increased (t(49)=-1.76; p=0.042). Baseline levels of depressive symptoms differed significantly between anxiety-only and comorbid groups (t(48)=-2.016; p=0.049), while not between final scores.

CONCLUSION: In our country, we were the first to examine brief, group CBT to reduce anxiety disorders in adolescents. We found that group CBT reduced patients’ anxiety, depression, self-esteem and hopelessness, and the presence of comorbid disorders did not reduce the effectiveness of the intervention. These findings support the method’s broader application in Hungary.

PMID:41456162

J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2026 Dec 31;47(1):2609453. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2025.2609453. Epub 2025 Dec 28.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate mental health disparities and their underlying determinants among women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in urban and rural China.

METHODS: From August 2022 to August 2023, a convenience sampling method was employed to select 322 POP patients at a tertiary specialized hospital in Nanjing, China. The study used a general information questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire-28, and Perceived Social Support Scale. Influencing factors on mental health were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS: Among the 322 POP patients, 68.01% (219 cases) were from urban areas, and 31.99% (103 cases) were from rural areas. Significant baseline differences were observed, with urban patients having higher education levels and rural patients having a greater number of childbirths and longer disease duration. Based on the General Health Questionnaire-28, urban POP patients scored higher on somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, severe depression, and overall score, compared to rural POP patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Mental health issues are prevalent among POP patients, with urban POP female patients facing a greater mental health burden than rural patients. Our findings highlight the need for targeted nursing and psychological interventions for this group, especially for urban patients, to improve health conditions.

PMID:41456160 | DOI:10.1080/0167482X.2025.2609453

Afr J Reprod Health. 2025 Dec 23;29(12):217-229. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2025/v29i12.21.

ABSTRACT

Maternal mortality remains a major public health issue in Burkina Faso. We analyzed data from the Centre-East health region, a setting with a high maternal mortality rate to identify the underlying driving factors. We conducted a case-control study with 1:2 matching ratio. Cases (deceased women) were randomly selected from a registry of maternal deaths, while the controls were selected from hospital logs of uncomplicated deliveries between January 1st, 2020, and June 30th, 2022. We fitted logistic regression to identify associated factors, considering differences significant when the 95% confidence intervals of the odds ratio do not include 1. Overall, among deceased women, 81% were referred, 33% were aged between 19 and 24 years, 82.4% were illiterate, 47% attended less than 4 antenatal care visits, and 39% came from the Ouargaye health district. Fever was associated with an increased odd of maternal death, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 2.94 (95%CI: 1.47-5.90). women with a normal coloration of conjunctivae during labor were less likely to die compared to those with conjunctival pallor: aOR =0.02 (95%CI: 0.004-0.11). These results suggest that preventing and treating fever and infections could help to reduce maternal deaths during delivery in the Centre-East region, Burkina Faso.

PMID:41456158 | DOI:10.29063/ajrh2025/v29i12.21