Tag: statistics

Psychophysiology. 2025 Aug;62(8):e70116. doi: 10.1111/psyp.70116.

ABSTRACT

Wearable devices are increasingly used to evaluate psychophysiological markers of anxiety for continuous health monitoring. Consumer-grade wearable devices, such as Fitbits, have the potential for widespread use and dissemination given their affordability and accessibility for both research and clinical settings. However, the validation of consumer-grade devices against research-grade devices is required. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of the Fitbit Charge 5 against a research-grade wearable device, the Equivital EQ02, in measuring psychophysiological parameters of anxiety, specifically heart rate (HR) and electrodermal activity (EDA). Fifty-five undergraduate students (M_age = 19.4, SD_age = 1.6, 46% female) wore both Fitbit and Equivital devices whilst completing social stressor and reading tasks. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant moderate correlations between the two devices for heart rate (HR) estimates (rs = 0.45-0.58) and low to moderate correlations for electrodermal activity (EDA) estimates (rs = 0.42-0.50). Intraclass correlations were moderate for both HR (ICCs = 0.53-0.72) and EDA (ICCs = 0.46-0.64) across conditions (ps < 0.05). Furthermore, Bland-Altman analyses revealed that the Fitbit showed a pattern of underestimation of HR (ranging from 24 to 32 bpm) and overestimation of EDA (ranging from -12.92 to 10.29 μS) compared to the Equivital. These findings highlight potential reliability concerns with the Fitbit Charge 5 in measuring physiological data. While the device may have some utility in assessing HR and EDA, it is crucial to approach the interpretation of data from consumer-grade wearable devices with caution due to potential accuracy limitations.

PMID:40735859 | DOI:10.1111/psyp.70116

Int J Epidemiol. 2025 Jun 11;54(4):dyaf127. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyaf127.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40735836 | DOI:10.1093/ije/dyaf127

Mult Scler. 2025 Jul 30:13524585251361330. doi: 10.1177/13524585251361330. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ocrelizumab (OCR) and ofatumumab (OFA)are approved and their differences in dosing route and interval allow personalized treatment. However, there are no data on whether lateral switches between both substances affect treatment effectiveness or safety.

METHODS: We screened our local cohort of MS patients, who began OCR since 09/2020 or OFA since 09/2021. Patients with a lateral switch were matched to controls who continuously received initial B-cell depleting therapy (BCT). We compared disease courses including effectiveness outcomes as well as peripheral CD19+ B-cell counts and serum IgG levels.

RESULTS: From 09/2020 to 03/2024, 713 patients were subjected to BCT (OCR: 396; OFA: 317 [as in Fig.1]). The matched OCR cohort included 38 switchers and 149 controls. The OFA cohort consisted of 24 switchers and 83 controls. Effectiveness outcomes were comparable among switchers and controls. B cell depletion appeared slightly pronounced following a switch. Serum IgG levels declined faster among switchers compared to controls (OCR: 9.7 vs 9.0 g/L; p = 0.007; manifest hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) in 13.2% vs 6.0%; OFA: 9.7 vs 8.4 g/L; p = 0.016; manifest HGG in 8.3% vs 2.4%).

CONCLUSIONS: Lateral switching between BCT does not abate effectiveness in this matched real-world cohort. Our observation of increased loss of IgG warrants further validation, but may indicate niche-specific immunological effects of OFA and OCR.

PMID:40735835 | DOI:10.1177/13524585251361330

Eur J Pain. 2025 Sep;29(8):e70087. doi: 10.1002/ejp.70087.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether lifestyle behaviours influence use of healthcare for musculoskeletal pain in young adults. This study examined if lifestyle behaviours among college/university students were associated with future healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.

METHODS: Data from the Students’ Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT2018) were linked with the Norwegian Registry for Primary Health Care, comprising 31,358 college/university students. We analysed associations of physical activity level, sleep duration, alcohol consumption, smoking, illicit drug use and cumulative adverse lifestyle behaviours with healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain over the following three years, including ‘any use’, ‘high use’ and for back and neck pain specifically.

RESULTS: High physical activity levels, compared to recommended levels, were associated with a higher risk of ‘any’ healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 1.14, 99% CI [1.04-1.25]; males: RR 1.20, 99% CI [1.07-1.36]); below recommended physical activity levels were associated with a lower risk (females: RR 0.90, 99% CI [0.85-0.96]; males: RR 0.84, 99% CI [0.76-0.93]). Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.77, 99% CI [0.62-0.97]). Four or more adverse lifestyle behaviours, compared to ≤ 1, were associated with a lower risk of high healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 0.66, 99% CI [0.48-0.90]; males: RR 0.68, 99% CI [0.48-0.97]) and a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.63, 99% CI [0.41-0.97]).

CONCLUSIONS: Associations between college/university students’ lifestyle behaviours and healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain were identified, but with some unexpected patterns. Future research should explore long-term effects of these behaviours on healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.

SIGNIFICANCE: High levels of physical activity among college and university students were associated with a greater risk of seeking healthcare for musculoskeletal pain within the following three years. Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of seeking healthcare for neck pain in females. Surprisingly, the presence of many adverse lifestyle behaviours appeared to be associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain, particularly healthcare contacts for neck pain in females and repeated healthcare contacts for musculoskeletal pain in general.

PMID:40735830 | DOI:10.1002/ejp.70087

Clin Psychol Psychother. 2025 Jul-Aug;32(4):e70127. doi: 10.1002/cpp.70127.

ABSTRACT

Parallel lines of research suggest reasons for living (RFL) and spirituality often reduce risk for suicide in psychiatric patients. However, research has not examined the links and probable interplay between RFL and core aspects of patients’ spirituality that might buffer suicidal ideation in times of severe psychological suffering. In total, 242 adults entering an inpatient treatment programme in a spiritually integrated behavioural health centre (40% cisgender male; 57% cisgender female; 3.0% non-binary) completed validated measures of RFL (fear of social disapproval, moral objections of suicide, survival/coping beliefs, responsibility to the family, fear of suicide), spirituality (spirituality transcendence, transcendent accountability), suicidal ideation and other mental health symptoms (anxiety, depression). Moral objections to suicide and survival and coping beliefs were moderately to strongly linked with deriving a sense of transcendence and accountability from their spirituality and better mental health (lower depression symptoms and suicide ideation). Of the RFL factors, multivariate findings suggested survival and coping beliefs mitigate suicidal ideation independently from spirituality factors whereas moral objections to suicide might serve as a vital mechanism for the protective role of spirituality in reducing suicide risk in high-risk groups. In combination, these findings highlight the need for longitudinal research to ascertain the temporal sequence of these apparent pathways to suicidal ideation along with the value of inquiring about patients’ spirituality and RFL in routine assessment and intervention procedures in psychiatric settings.

PMID:40735818 | DOI:10.1002/cpp.70127

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025 Jul 30. doi: 10.1111/dom.16578. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess the risk for impaired insulin homeostasis as a function of menopause-related factors and gut microbiota dysbiosis in non-diabetic, post-menopausal women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline data (n = 175 women) from the Microbiome and Insulin Longitudinal Evaluation Study (MILES) were used, including insulin and dysglycaemia indices calculated from a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, untargeted peripheral metabolomics, targeted peripheral short chain fatty-acid levels and faecal bacterial microbiota surveyed by whole-metagenomic sequencing.

RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, menopause age <50 years and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were associated with lower Matsuda et al. insulin sensitivity index levels (β = -0.232, confidence interval (CI) = [-0.450, -0.014] and β = -0.275, CI = [-0.444, -0.107], respectively) but not pre-menopausal gynaecologic surgery. Pre-menopausal gynaecologic surgery was significantly associated with faecal microbiota beta diversity driven by a relative increase in diabetogenic Ruminococcus gnavus and Clostridium species and a decrease in protective Alistipes species and Akkermansia muciniphila relative abundances. A reduction in two glycerophospholipids in the plasmalogen class significantly statistically mediated an inverse association between gynaecologic surgery before menopause and insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS: Menopause age and history of HRT are more strongly associated with insulin resistance than gynaecologic surgery before menopause. However, gynaecologic surgery is associated with shifts in gut microbial composition and plasma metabolite levels with a potential to contribute to future diabetes risk.

PMID:40735808 | DOI:10.1111/dom.16578

Am J Biol Anthropol. 2025 Aug;187(4):e70105. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.70105.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study documents the prevalence and expression of localized hypoplasia of primary canine teeth (LHPC) in two groups: African American (Gullah) and Indonesian (Malay). New data for these groups clarify defect etiology. The impact of variation in tooth size on defect expression has not been studied in humans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The author analyzed dental casts of Gullah (n = 112 individuals, 466 teeth) at Ohio State University and Javanese Malay (n = 141 individuals, 582 teeth) at Gadja Mada University for primary canine hypoplasia. Scoring of enamel defects, measures of defect size, and crown size were evaluated for accuracy. Measures of intra-observer reliability are high (Kappa = 0.83, %concordance = 94.5; n = 175 teeth).

RESULTS: As expected, the prevalence of LHPC in Gullah (12.7% of teeth, 33.9% of individuals) was significantly greater than in Malay (3.1% of teeth, 11.4% of individuals). The number of teeth affected per individual is often two or less. Gullah defects were common on the cervical 1/3 of the crown and on the mesial aspect of lower canines. Large defects (> 2.0 mm, height and width) are frequent in lower canines; smaller-sized lesions appear often in upper and lower canines. Differences in mean tooth size of individuals with and without defects vary by group and sex.

DISCUSSION: Inter-group differences reaffirm the impact of socio-economic factors in LHPC etiology. Defect location is preferentially cervical, implying post-natal stress, and mesial in lower canines. Malay tooth crown size is not a factor in defect etiology, yet Gullah females with LHPC have larger crown size.

PMID:40735801 | DOI:10.1002/ajpa.70105

Emerg Med Australas. 2025 Aug;37(4):e70108. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.70108.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Quality improvement activities targeting low-value care are important to ensure that scarce healthcare resources are used responsibly. However, there has been little systematic research into what diagnostic testing is considered by emergency department (ED) clinicians to be at risk of unwarranted variation or potentially low value.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the views of ED clinicians on which diagnostic tests are highest risk for variation and/or low-value care.

METHODS: A voluntary electronic survey was distributed to emergency clinicians across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Respondents were asked to identify which investigations were high risk for unwarranted variation and/or low value.

RESULTS: There were 184 responses (75 doctors, 82 nurses, and 27 other) analysed. Investigations identified included D-dimer (42%), venous blood gas (VBG) (39%), C-reactive protein (CRP) (35%), and plain x-rays of the abdomen (35%). Compared to nursing staff, medical staff perceived CRP (51% vs. 24%), urine drug screening (55% vs. 21%), clotting profile (48% vs. 24%), salicylate level (29% vs. 7%), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (41% vs. 10%), and abdominal x-ray (67% vs. 16%) at higher risk. D-dimer and VBG were seen to be high risk by both groups. Routinely ordered tests (e.g., full blood examination) were considered relatively low risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Several commonly used investigations are perceived to be at high risk of unwarranted variation or low-value care. These risks are perceived differently by different groups of emergency clinicians. Potential future directions include understanding the reasons for variation and efforts to reduce variation, including audit and feedback.

PMID:40735798 | DOI:10.1111/1742-6723.70108

J Integr Complement Med. 2025 Jul 30. doi: 10.1177/27683605251362035. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: Nonpharmacologic interventions have known benefits for managing chronic pain, particularly for conditions such as fibromyalgia, and are included in clinical guidelines. However, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has not been established as a routine clinical practice for pain management. Objective: To systematically review the efficacy of EMDR for managing chronic pain. Methods: A search was conducted to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies by using the keywords “EMDR” and “chronic pain.” Information was collected on the study population, EMDR protocol, methods for pain assessment, and outcomes. Risk of bias was evaluated, and intervention effect sizes were determined by calculating Hedges g values for long-term follow-up data in RCTs. Results: A total of nine studies, including seven RCTs, were reviewed. The studies used various diverse pain measurement tools and EMDR protocols. All reported significant improvements in pain symptoms with EMDR. Most of the studies reported statistically significant improvements in associated mental health issues, notably in psychological distress (four out of four studies), anxiety (three out of three studies), and depression (three out of four studies). Effect sizes varied among the studies, with three RCTs reporting large effects, two RCTs reporting moderate effects, and one RCT reporting small or nonsignificant effects. Conclusion: EMDR shows promise for managing chronic pain and addressing associated mental health symptoms. Despite study differences and limitations, the findings of this systematic review support the potential use of EMDR for chronic pain management.

PMID:40735790 | DOI:10.1177/27683605251362035

Z Kinder Jugendpsychiatr Psychother. 2025 Jul 30. doi: 10.1024/1422-4917/a001035. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Changes in the Psychiatric Prevalence and Stress Level Among Clients of Residential Youth Care Centers in Switzerland? An Evaluation of the Routine Diagnostics of a Swiss Youth Home Abstract: Objective: The sharp rise in inpatient admissions of adolescents poses a challenge for both psychiatric care and policymakers. Residential facilities within the youth welfare system are becoming increasingly burdened at the care interfaces. However, we cannot determine the extent of the problem because of the broad lack of studies on the prevalence of mental disorders and their severity in residential youth homes – especially in light of the lack of long-term studies of their presumed increase. An analysis of data from the Burghof Pestalozzi-Jugendstätte – an institution of the youth welfare system in German-speaking Switzerland providing comprehensive psychiatric and psychological care – should result in better information. Method: We analyzed the frequency of ICD-10 diagnosis categories, the global psychosocial functioning level according to MAS Axis VI, a so-called dissocialization index, and other variables statistically using systematically documented retrospective data on all 448 admissions between 2008 and 2022. Results: The prevalence of mental disorders was very high at 80-90 %. It was both cumulatively comorbid, with a shift from mainly externalizing to increasingly internalizing symptoms, a deterioration in the level of psychosocial functioning and performance on socialization pathways, and a decrease in age at admission. Conclusions: Increasing the pressure to address the psychiatric care needs of young people is becoming more and more noticeable in residential youth care facilities, which are confronted with a growing responsibility for psychiatric care tasks. Because the demands on social and vocational integration remain unchanged, these facilities must be able to respond by increasing both their effectiveness and their capacity.

PMID:40735768 | DOI:10.1024/1422-4917/a001035