Tag: statistics

J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2025 Jul 29:e70000. doi: 10.1111/vec.70000. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of a point-of-care thoracic ultrasound examination for the evaluation of the pulmonary parenchyma in rabbits without lower respiratory signs using thoracic radiography or computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard. An additional objective was to establish a baseline frequency and number of B-lines in rabbits without pulmonary disease.

DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, clinical study from December 2021 to July 2023.

SETTING: University teaching hospital and an emergency and specialty referral center.

ANIMALS: Sixty-three pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) without lower respiratory signs and with lungs verified to be healthy with radiography or CT.

INTERVENTIONS: Rabbits were screened for signs of respiratory disease. A modified point-of-care thoracic ultrasound examination was performed on each conscious rabbit, followed by a thoracic radiography or CT study. The frequency and number of B-lines were statistically compared based on signalment, body condition score, and health status.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The overall frequency of B-lines was 33.3% (21/63) in rabbits without pulmonary disease. Most B-lines were categorized as single discrete artifacts. A single region was positive for B-lines in 17 of 21 rabbits, with 14 of them having a single B-line, two having two B-lines, and one having three B-lines. Two and three regions were positive in three and one rabbit, respectively. Cranial thoracic ultrasound revealed mediastinal tissue rather than pulmonary parenchyma in 61 of 63 rabbits.

CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated a modified point-of-care thoracic ultrasound, including B-line frequency and distribution, and described what can be expected as a normal thoracic ultrasound in rabbits without pulmonary disease. Findings indicate that isolated B-line artifacts can be detected within the lungs of rabbits without pulmonary disease. Additional studies are needed to describe the pulmonary ultrasonographic features in rabbits with respiratory conditions and to determine the clinical use of this diagnostic technique in those cases.

PMID:40729450 | DOI:10.1111/vec.70000

Acta Paediatr. 2025 Jul 29. doi: 10.1111/apa.70260. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Human milk-based fortifiers (HMBFs) have been adopted in neonatal care despite limited efficacy data. Our objective was to conduct a Bayesian re-analysis of the current evidence on the protective effect of HMBF against necrotising enterocolitis (NEC, stage II-III).

METHODS: We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HMBF versus bovine milk-based fortifier (BMBF) in infants with gestational age < 32 weeks or birthweight < 1500 g. Bayesian model-averaged (BMA) meta-analysis was used to calculate Bayes factors (BFs). The BF₁₀ is the ratio of the probability of the data under the alternative hypothesis (H₁, presence of effect) over the probability of the data under the null hypothesis (H₀, absence of effect).

RESULTS: We included 3 RCTs (405 infants). The BMA analysis did not show conclusive evidence in favour of H₁ (BF₁₀ > 3) or in favour of H₀ (BF₁₀ < 1/3) for NEC (BF₁₀ = 0.86), mortality (BF₁₀ = 1.07), late onset sepsis (BF₁₀ = 0.69), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD, BF₁₀ = 0.92), or severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP, BF₁₀ = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONS: The extant corpus of RCTs does not provide sufficient evidence to either confirm or exclude a potential effect of HMBF compared with BMBF on the risk of NEC, mortality, sepsis, BPD, or severe ROP.

PMID:40729426 | DOI:10.1111/apa.70260

Brain. 2025 Jul 29:awaf275. doi: 10.1093/brain/awaf275. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD) is an X-linked disorder due to the loss of SLC6A8 gene and presenting with low brain creatine, intellectual disability, autistic-like behavior and seizures. No treatments are available yet for CTD, and little is known about the brain circuit alterations underlying its pathological endophenotypes. Here, we tracked brain network and behavioral dysfunction in a murine model of CTD at two stages of disease progression. fMRI mapping revealed widespread disruption of brain connectivity in Slc6a8-KO mice, with robust somatomotor hypoconnectivity in juvenile animals, and weaker and more focal alterations of cortical and subcortical connectivity in adulthood. Notably, perinatal AAV-mediated expression of human SLC6A8 in Slc6a8-KO mice robustly prevented juvenile fMRI hypoconnectivity, an effect accompanied by the regression of multiple translationally relevant phenotypes, including reduced stereotyped movements, improved declarative memory and increased body weight, all of which persisted into adulthood. However, early cognitive deficits, impairments in working memory and residual fMRI hypoconnectivity in adult mice were not ameliorated by gene therapy. Furthermore, significant cognitive impairments were observed in WT mice receiving gene therapy, highlighting a potential detrimental effect of ectopic expression of SLC6A8 in healthy brain circuits. Finally, multivariate modeling in adult mice revealed a basal forebrain network whose activity was associated with behavioral performance and modulated by brain creatine levels. This brain-behavior relationship was disrupted in Slc6a8-KO mice. Our results document robust network disruption in CTD and demonstrate that CTD pathology can be partially alleviated by perinatal genetic expression of SLC6A8, providing a foundation for the future development of experimental therapies for this genetic disorder.

PMID:40729420 | DOI:10.1093/brain/awaf275

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Jul 29;21(7):e1013291. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013291. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Classical decision models assume that the parameters giving rise to choice behavior are stable, yet emerging research suggests these parameters may fluctuate over time. Such fluctuations, observed in neural activity and behavioral strategies, have significant implications for understanding decision-making processes. However, empirical studies on fluctuating human decision-making strategies have been limited due to the extensive data requirements for estimating these fluctuations. Here, we introduce hMFC (Hierarchical Model for Fluctuations in Criterion), a Bayesian framework designed to estimate slow fluctuations in the decision criterion from limited data. We first showcase the importance of considering fluctuations in decision criterion: incorrectly assuming a stable criterion gives rise to apparent history effects and underestimates perceptual sensitivity. We then present a hierarchical estimation procedure capable of reliably recovering the underlying state of the fluctuating decision criterion with as few as 500 trials per participant, offering a robust tool for researchers with typical human datasets. Critically, hMFC does not only accurately recover the state of the underlying decision criterion, it also effectively deals with the confounds caused by criterion fluctuations. Lastly, we provide code and a comprehensive demo to enable widespread application of hMFC in decision-making research.

PMID:40729408 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013291

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Jul 29;21(7):e1013293. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013293. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent advancements in spatial transcriptomics (ST) have significantly enhanced biological research in various domains. However, the high cost for current ST data generation techniques restricts the large-scale application of ST. Consequently, maximization of the use of available resources to achieve robust statistical power for ST data is a pressing need. One fundamental question in ST analysis is detection of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under different conditions using ST data. Such DEG analyses are performed frequently, but their power calculations are rarely discussed in the literature. To address this gap, we developed PoweREST, a power estimation tool designed to support the power calculation for DEG detection with 10X Genomics Visium data. PoweREST enables power estimation both before any ST experiments and after preliminary data are collected, making it suitable for a wide variety of power analyses in ST studies. We also provide a user-friendly, program-free web application that allows users to interactively calculate and visualize study power along with relevant parameters.

PMID:40729405 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013293

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2025 Jul 29:1-10. doi: 10.1044/2025_JSLHR-23-00608. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In the past three decades, statistical learning, that is, the capacity to detect patterns and regularities in the environment, has been shown to have an important role in language development. In particular, the ability to detect nonadjacent dependencies (NADs) between linguistic elements that are separated by intervening material seems to be linked to morphosyntactic development. However, there are few studies with French-speaking children, and none using artificial language learning methodologies.

METHOD: We investigated the acquisition of NADs in 18-month-old (n = 30) and 27-month-old (n = 32) monolingual French-learning children in an adaptation of Gómez (2002) artificial grammar learning study to a central fixation eye-tracking paradigm. After a 2-min familiarization with three element strings (e.g., /na sokɛ fib/), we monitored looking times for grammatical versus ungrammatical strings in two blocks of four test trials each, expecting a novelty effect at 18 months and exploring the behavior at 27 months.

RESULTS: No significant effect of grammaticality was found at either 18 or 27 months for the overall task. However, at 27 months, we observed a significant decrease in gaze duration for ungrammatical test trials between the first and the second blocks, together with a tendency to look longer at grammatical stimuli in the second block, a pattern of results that, if confirmed in future studies, might indicate the start of novel NAD learning.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the failure to clearly replicate effects observed in the studies with English-learning children, we propose several theoretical hypotheses to account for our results and discuss the importance of differences in age and language background as well as methodological parameters, a well-known challenge in research with young children. Further research is needed to develop robust tasks and to better understand the developmental trajectory of NAD processing abilities.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.29565149.

PMID:40728878 | DOI:10.1044/2025_JSLHR-23-00608

Ann Clin Biochem. 2025 Jul 29:45632251367280. doi: 10.1177/00045632251367280. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Chromosomal abnormalities and congenital anomalies have huge impact of infant mortality and morbidity. The combined incidence affects approximately 1 per 1000 pregnancies. Current diagnostic modalities include ultrasonography (USG) and biomarkers like Beta hCG, PAPP-A and Alpha fetoprotein which have limitations due to their poor sensitivity and specificity in aneuploidy and NTD detection. PCSK9, a proprotein converters appears to have an escalating role in neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation and neurological diseases apart from its role in lipid metabolism. This study estimates serum PCSK9 levels in pregnant women with normal gestation and those with high risk for Aneuploidy and NTDs.

METHODS: This prospective case control study included 40 pregnant women with high risk of aneuploidy and NTDs (cases) diagnosed by prenatal screening with ultrasonography findings, Beta HCG, PAPP-A and 40 pregnant women with a healthy singleton pregnancy (controls). Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS software version 16. Fetal and maternal characteristics, serum Beta HCG, PAPP-A, PCSK-9 and aneuploidy risk scores were compared between two groups.

RESULTS: This study observed significant difference in Beta HCG, PAPP-A and PCSK9 levels between the groups (p<0.05). The PCSK9 levels were lower in cases [82.95 (70.41-90.74)] than control group [123.84 (102.515-152.70)]. PCSK9 levels < 96.8 ng/mL had a 85% sensitivity and specificity. Further PCSK9 correlated with Trisomy 21 risk score and Beta HCG (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Maternal serum PCSK9 is decreased in high-risk pregnancy during first trimester. With 85% sensitivity, the marker could be a reliable screening tool during prenatal screening which needs further validation.

PMID:40728842 | DOI:10.1177/00045632251367280

Sleep Breath. 2025 Jul 29;29(4):254. doi: 10.1007/s11325-025-03405-0.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of mask usage on dry eye symptoms and meibomian gland function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS: OSAS patients who visited our hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected as research subjects. All patients were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The polysomnography (PSG) results before and after treatment were analyzed, including the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂). Dry eye conditions and ocular surface analyzer results of patients before and after treatment were evaluated. Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationship between dry eye conditions and ocular surface analyzer results in OSAS patients, and the correlations between PSG results and dry eye conditions as well as ocular surface analyzer results were also analyzed.

RESULTS: AHI levels in 31 OSAS patients were significantly decreased after treatment, while SpO₂ levels significantly increased, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). After treatment, the tear breakup time (BUT), palpebral (PL) scores, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores of patients were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). Additionally, after treatment, the tear meniscus height of OSAS patients was significantly lower than that before treatment, and the lipid layer thickness and eye redness index were significantly higher than those before treatment, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that BUT was positively correlated with lipid layer thickness and eye redness improvement, while Schirmer’s test (Sit) was positively correlated with tear meniscus height. PL scores were negatively correlated with tear meniscus height but positively correlated with the eye redness index (P<0.05). AHI from PSG results was negatively correlated with BUT, PL scores, and OSDI scores (P<0.05), while SpO₂ was positively correlated with BUT, PL scores, and OSDI scores but negatively correlated with Sit (P<0.05). In the PSG results, AHI was negatively correlated with lipid layer thickness and eye redness index, and positively correlated with meibomian gland opening score (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: CPAP mask usage in OSAS patients may negatively impact dry eye symptoms and meibomian gland function, leading to decreased tear film stability and worsening symptoms of eye dryness.

PMID:40728797 | DOI:10.1007/s11325-025-03405-0

JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jul 1;8(7):e2528532. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.28532.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Although gaming disorder is recognized as a diagnosable behavioral addiction, uncertainty remains regarding its directional association with adolescent psychopathology. Clarifying this association is crucial for refining diagnostic frameworks and developing targeted interventions.

OBJECTIVE: To examine directional longitudinal associations between psychopathology and gaming disorder among adolescents using the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model as a theoretical framework.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (release 5.1), analyzing 4289 adolescents in the US who played video games and completed 3 waves of data collection (at ages 11-12, 12-13, and 13-14 years) between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022. Statistical analysis was performed from December 2024 to March 2025.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Psychopathology was assessed using caregiver reports from the Child Behavior Checklist, which provided measures of depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social problems, anxiety, and conduct disorder or aggression. Additional person-centered core characteristics (eg, negative life events, family conflict, bullying, and impulsivity) were incorporated. Gaming disorder was measured using the Video Game Addiction Questionnaire, which aligns with the DSM-5 criteria for internet gaming disorder.

RESULTS: This cohort comprised 4289 adolescents (mean [SD] age, 168.8 [8.2] months; 2391 of 4288 [56%] males). Household income varied widely, with 1374 of 3877 households (35%) reporting an income from $100 000 to $199 000. Cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) demonstrated that higher baseline levels of psychopathology were associated with an increased risk for subsequent gaming disorder from the 2-year to the 3-year follow-up (β = 0.03 [95% CI, 0.002-0.06]; P = .003) and from 3-year to the 4-year follow-up (β = 0.07 [95% CI, 0.04-0.10]; P < .001). Even when controlling for other personal core characteristics associated with increased risk, there was still a small to medium effect size of psychopathology associated with gaming disorder from the 3-year to the 4-year follow-up (β = 0.04 [95% CI, 0.002-0.07]; P = .04). In contrast, gaming disorder was not associated with later increases in psychopathology. Hierarchical mixed-effects models that accounted for both the panel structure and grouping of the data corroborated the results from the CLPMs.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this cohort study suggest that psychopathology is significantly associated with the development of gaming disorder among adolescents. Clinical efforts to address underlying mental health issues, particularly for internalizing symptoms such as depression, anxiety, social problems, and ADHD, may reduce the incidence and severity of gaming disorder.

PMID:40728787 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.28532

Radiat Environ Biophys. 2025 Jul 29. doi: 10.1007/s00411-025-01139-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The research described in this paper aimed to identify ²²²Rn concentrations in the serum of healthy individuals and lung cancer patients. Additionally, CBC parameters such as WBC (White Blood Cell count), RBC (Red Blood Cells), MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin), and PLT (Platelets) were measured and their correlation with the corresponding ²²²Rn concentrations in the serum of the lung cancer patients was investigated. ²²²Rn concentrations in serum samples were measured using a CR-39 detector. The mean ²²²Rn concentration in the serum of the patients was 22.62 ± 3.85 Bq/m³, while that in serum of the healthy individuals was 2.72 ± 0.71 Bq/m³. Also, it was found that the mean WBC, RBC, MCH, and PLT levels in the serum of the patients were 7.15 ± 0.58 cells/L, 4.24 ± 0.17 cells/L, 29.23 ± 0.60 pg, and 285.52 ± 21.78 cells/L, respectively. The results revealed statistically significant differences in ²²²Rn concentrations when comparing the samples of the patients with those of the healthy individuals. In addition, a reasonable correlation was found (p < 0.01) between the ²²²Rn concentrations and MCH levels in serum of the patients. It is concluded that, given the observed correlations, further studies are necessary to investigate whether there is any causal relationship behind the observed correlations.

PMID:40728775 | DOI:10.1007/s00411-025-01139-x