Nevin Manimala

Nutr Metab (Lond). 2025 Jul 7;22(1):72. doi: 10.1186/s12986-025-00970-9.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Observational studies have reported an association between dietary factors and endometriosis, but the causality remains unknown. The study aimed to investigate the potential causal association between dietary factors and endometriosis using Mendelian randomization (MR).

METHODS: We performed a two-sample MR analysis to investigate the effects of 18 diet-related exposure factors (alcoholic drinks per week, alcohol intake frequency, processed meat intake, poultry intake, beef intake, non-oily fish intake, oily fish intake, pork intake, lamb/mutton intake, bread intake, cheese intake, cooked vegetable intake, tea intake, fresh fruit intake, cereal intake, salad/raw vegetable intake, coffee intake, dried fruit intake) on the risk of endometriosis using summary statistics from the genome-wide association study (GWAS). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used to deduce the causal association between dietary factors and endometriosis, and sensitivity analyses were further performed.

RESULTS: Processed meat intake (OR = 0.550; 95%CI:0.314-0.965; p = 0.037) and salad / raw vegetable intake (OR = 0.346; 95%CI:0.127-0.943; p = 0.038) were discovered as protective factors for endometriosis. Heterogeneity test revealed no significant heterogeneity (processed meat intake: p_IVW=0.607, p_MR-Egger=0.548; salad / raw vegetable intake: p_IVW=0.678, p_MR-Egger=0.620). MR-Egger regression test didn’t support any evidence for horizontal pleiotropy (processed meat intake: p for intercept = 0.865; salad / raw vegetable intake: p for intercept = 0.725). No causal relationship was found between other dietary intakes and endometriosis.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that processed meat intake and salad/raw vegetable intake are associated with a decreased risk of endometriosis, but further investigation is required.

PMID:40624721 | DOI:10.1186/s12986-025-00970-9

J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Jul 7;44(1):240. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00996-y.

ABSTRACT

Violent armed conflict befell Nigeria in 2009 in form of Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency, and has been extended and sustained in all nooks and crannies of the country by banditry, kidnapping for ransom, herder-farmer clash and unknown gunmen attack or ethnic militia. On the other hand, between 2009 and 2024, Nigeria has suffered two economic recessions. This study interrogated the association between the sustained violent armed conflict with the attendant environmental shock and insecurity with the related deaths and economic health in Nigeria (2004-2020), covering the pre-Boko Haram years (2004-2007) and the Boko Haram operation years (2009-2019). The longitudinal study regressed the secondary data on violent armed conflict related deaths in Nigeria against % value added to gross domestic product by agriculture for 2004-2020 and against the prevalence of undernourishment for 2004-2019. Results showed that increase in battle related deaths led to statistically significant decrease in value added to national productivity by agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Prevalence of undernourishment increased significantly with increase in battle-related deaths. The study concluded that violent armed conflicts had significant negative impacts on environmental security in Nigeria and recommended that policymaking and direction be guided as such in order to stem the tide.

PMID:40624711 | DOI:10.1186/s41043-025-00996-y

BMC Psychol. 2025 Jul 7;13(1):746. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03078-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The cognitive-behavioral model of prolonged grief [1] posits that the interaction between autobiographical memory deficits, negative cognitions, and avoidance contributes to the onset and persistence of prolonged grief. This study tested the model’s assumptions with respect to symptoms of Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and depression in bereaved groups who experienced expected and unexpected loss, separately.

METHODS: The study sample comprised 728 Turkish individuals who had lost a first-degree family member. A set of self-report measures was administered to participants, including the Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale (PG-13-Revised), the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Grief Cognitions Questionnaire (GCQ-SF), the Depressive and Anxious Avoidance in Prolonged Grief Questionnaire (DAAPGQ), and the Experienced Unrealness Scale (EUS).

RESULTS: Our findings indicate that while variables within the cognitive-behavioral model exhibit moderate to strong intercorrelations, they nonetheless represent statistically distinct constructs. These variables significantly explain the variance in symptoms of PTSD, depression, particularly PGD, in groups confronted with expected and unexpected loss. While negative cognitions and avoidance were significantly associated with all three outcomes, “a sense of unrealness” (representing autobiographical memory deficits) was significantly related only to PGD.

CONCLUSION: These results support the cross-cultural applicability of the cognitive-behavioral model and suggest that it can be used to explain the development of grief-related outcomes, such as PTSD and depression, beyond PGD symptoms. Although the cognitive model variables negative grief cognition and avoidance showed significant associations with grief-related outcomes, a sense of unrealness appeared to be specific to PGD only. It is considered that taking this finding into account in clinical practice may be beneficial.

PMID:40624708 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-03078-0

Arthritis Res Ther. 2025 Jul 7;27(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s13075-025-03605-9.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be associated with sicca manifestations. To study the effect of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on sicca manifestations in HCV-infected patients and the difference between those patients and others with HCV without dryness & Sjögren’s disease (SjD).

METHODS: We studied 60 patients in 3 groups: Group 1 (20 HCV + sicca), group 2 (20 HCV without sicca), and group 3 (20 SjD). Groups 1 and 2 received DAAs according to the Egyptian Ministry of Health protocols and were evaluated before and after treatment. Group 3 was evaluated once. Our study evaluated the patients by both subjective and objective methods.

RESULTS: All HCV cases had sustained viral response (SVR). Comparing the characteristics of groups 1 (before treatment) & 3: Group 1 had a higher frequency of RF, cryoglobulins, and polyclonal-hypergammaglobulinemia (P-values 0.021, 0.003, and ˂0.001 respectively). Group 3 had higher scores of VAS dry eye, VAS dry mouth, VAS fatigue, and VAS pain than group 1 (P-values ˂0.001 in all). Group 3 also had a higher frequency of Anti-Ro and Anti-La (P-values < 0.001). Group-1 before DAAs treatment had higher markers denoting B-cell hyperactivity [higher Rheumatoid factor (RF), cryoglobulins, and beta2-microglobulins (β2M)] compared to group-2 which improved markedly after SVR. This supports that group 1 is further ahead in the direction of lymphoproliferation. Group 1 patients after SVR showed marked improvement in VAS dry eye, VAS dry mouth, VAS fatigue, VAS pain, ESSPRI, and ESSDAI (P-values ˂0.003, ˂0.002, ˂0.016, ˂0.001, ˂0.002, and ˂0.014 respectively). There was a significant improvement in RF, and serum β2M levels (after SVR), (P-values ˂0.013, and 0.001 respectively). Group 1 is further ahead in the direction of lymphoproliferation than group 2 with higher statistically significant serum β2M and polyclonal serum protein electrophoresis (P-values 0.006 and 0.047 respectively).

CONCLUSION: HCV patients with sicca manifestations treated by DAAs showed significant clinical and immunological improvements. The difference between group 1 (before and after SVR) and group 3 supports the notion that they are two different entities, with different characteristic features. Sicca manifestations improved after the eradication of HCV.

PMID:40624706 | DOI:10.1186/s13075-025-03605-9

BMC Nurs. 2025 Jul 7;24(1):863. doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-03533-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nurses are the core workforce responsible for coordinating and delivering patient care, playing a critical role in ensuring patient safety and enhancing healthcare quality. However, when confronted with multiple patient demands, scarce medical resources, and heavy workloads, nurses’ subjective perceptions of workload may trigger specific psychological response mechanisms, which in turn negatively affect their work status and nursing behavior.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the impact of nurses’ perceived workload on missed nursing care and presenteeism, and to examine the mediating roles of occupational stress and emotional intelligence in these relationships.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed. Between May and October 2024, 730 questionnaires were distributed, with 706 valid responses collected, resulting in an effective response rate of 96.7%. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0. Structural equation modeling was performed using AMOS 25.0, and mediation effects were tested via the bootstrap method.

RESULTS: The results showed that nurses’ perceived workload was not directly associated with missed nursing care(β = 0.04, P>0.05) or presenteeismββ = 0.13, P>0.05). However, occupational stress played a significant mediating role in the relationship between perceived workload and missed nursing care (PW → OS, β = 0.96, P < 0.001; OS → MNC, β = 0.59, P < 0.001), as well as in the relationship between perceived workload and presenteeism (PW → OS, β = 0.96, P < 0.001; OS → PRE, β = 0.55, P < 0.001). Similarly, emotional intelligence served as a significant mediator in the relationship between perceived workload and missed nursing care (PW → EI, β = -0.56, P < 0.001; EI → MNC, β = -0.25, P < 0.001), and also in the relationship between perceived workload and presenteeism (PW → EI, β = -0.56, P < 0.001; EI → PRE, β = -0.13, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Nurses’ perceived workload does not directly lead to missed nursing care or presenteeism; rather, it mainly influences their work status and nursing behavior indirectly through either occupational stress or emotional intelligence.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: When optimizing the work environment and human resource allocation, nursing managers should not only focus on the distribution of objective workload but also pay close attention to nurses’ perceived workload and the development of their psychological coping mechanisms.

PMID:40624705 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-025-03533-8

BMC Nutr. 2025 Jul 7;11(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s40795-025-01108-z.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: With the substantial growth rate of the Black immigrant population in the US, the impact of colonization on the diets of Black Americans and disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases among individuals with African descent, studies should place more emphasis on ethnicity when investigating nutrition-related risk factors. This study examined the relationship between variations in citizenship level and diet quality among adult subjects with African descent.

METHODS: We analyzed data from 1,198 adults with African descent in NHANES 2015-2016. A ‘citizenship level’ scale was developed using principal component analysis, incorporating years lived in the US, country of birth, and citizenship status. Diet quality was assessed using HEI scores. Associations between citizenship level, sex, age, income, and diet quality (poor, moderate, or good) were examined using a Monte Carlo simulation of Fisher’s exact tests. Linear regression models were employed to examine the relationship between citizenship level and continuous HEI scores, adjusting for sex, age, and income, with stratified analyses conducted for each demographic subgroup.

RESULTS: Fisher’s exact tests revealed that the level of US citizenship, sex, age, and income level were all significantly associated with the categorical level of diet quality (HEI). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that a lower level of US citizenship was significantly associated with higher HEI scores, indicative of better diet quality (p < 0.001), even after adjusting for sex, age, and income. This relationship persisted across most demographic subgroups but appeared stronger among males and those in the lowest income bracket. The relationship was also significant for younger adults but not for adults aged 65 and older.

CONCLUSIONS: Studies suggest a need for more inclusive and culturally tailored nutrition interventions. To minimize the negative impact of colonization and US assimilation on diet quality, future studies should consider stratifying groups based on the heterogeneity of this population and interventions that utilize traditional dietary patterns of the African diaspora as tools to improve the quality of life among people of African descent.

PMID:40624702 | DOI:10.1186/s40795-025-01108-z

Clin Epigenetics. 2025 Jul 7;17(1):118. doi: 10.1186/s13148-025-01893-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption can have harmful effects on health, depending on the quantity and frequency. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms is essential to grasp its health consequences. The study aimed to assess the association between alcohol consumption and blood DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism that controls gene expression.

METHODS: The epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) included 1,538 women from a case-cohort study within the French E3N cohort. Weighted linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between self-reported alcohol consumption (in g/day in 1993) and DNA methylation at 715,986 CpGs measured with the HumanMethylationEPIC Beadchip. Women were cancer-free at blood collection in 1995-1999.

RESULTS: Of the 715,986 sites analyzed, 19,255 were associated with alcohol consumption (FDR < 0.05). Over-representation analysis highlighted enrichment of genes involved in cancer, the nervous system and aging. Of these 19,255 sites, 1,528 were replicated in an independent case-control study, with 85 also identified in other EWAS. Notably, at least six studies reported sites in SLC7A11, ANP32B, MCM2, HNRNPA1, SNORD30, and TRA2B genes.

CONCLUSIONS: Several potential methylation markers for alcohol consumption, documented prior to blood sampling, have been identified. The link between these sites and chronic diseases should be investigated to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on health.

PMID:40624694 | DOI:10.1186/s13148-025-01893-1

Lipids Health Dis. 2025 Jul 7;24(1):231. doi: 10.1186/s12944-025-02603-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence has noted associations of osteoarthritis (OA) with obesity and C-reactive protein (CRP). However, little is clarified about the link between cardiometabolic index (CMI) and OA and the mediating role of CRP.

METHODS: Participants from NHANES 2001-2010 were enrolled. CMI was computed based on anthropometric and biochemical indexes, covering height, waist circumference, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. OA diagnosis data were derived from the Medical Conditions questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regressions, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, subgroup analyses, and interaction tests were implemented to investigate the association. A mediation analysis was employed to verify the mediating role of CRP.

RESULTS: After controlling for all covariates, CMI was significantly linked with OA (OR: 1.07, 95% CI (1.01, 1.13), P = 0.038). RCS analyses elicited a non-linear link between CMI and OA (P – non – linear = 0.0012). The inflection point was 0.54. Threshold effect analysis was conducted through two-segment linear regression, including the left side ( < = 0.54) (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.03, 6.58) and the right side of the inflection point (> 0.54) (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.15, 1.03). CRP partially mediated the link between CMI and OA, around 7.59% of the total effect.

CONCLUSION: CMI is positively linked with OA, with CRP mediating the link. This paper unveils novel perspectives on the mechanism that links CMI to OA. Managing CMI and monitoring CRP levels may alleviate OA.

PMID:40624686 | DOI:10.1186/s12944-025-02603-9

BMC Urol. 2025 Jul 7;25(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s12894-025-01852-1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of holmium laser resection versus conventional surgical excision for the treatment of urethral caruncle. The study aimed to evaluate the potential advantages of holmium laser, such as its precision and minimal invasiveness, over traditional surgical methods.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study included 116 patients (50 laser vs. 66 conventional) from June 2020 to August 2023. Outcomes included operative time, complications, and recurrence.

RESULTS: The laser cohort demonstrated statistically significant reductions in operation duration (6.4 ± 1.2 vs. 28 ± 4.3 min, p < 0.001), catheterization time (2.1 ± 0.8 vs. 6.3 ± 1.5 days, p < 0.001), and length of hospitalization (3.2 ± 0.8 vs. 4.3 ± 1.1 days, p < 0.001) compared to the conventional surgical group. The holmium laser group had lower postoperative bleeding rates (0% vs. 6.0%, p = 0.08). One recurrence occurred in the conventional surgical group. No patient in either group developed urethral stricture during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION: Holmium laser resection is a safe and efficient alternative for urethral caruncle, associated with reduced operative time and morbidity.

PMID:40624683 | DOI:10.1186/s12894-025-01852-1

BMC Nurs. 2025 Jul 7;24(1):871. doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-03429-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the impact on the quality of life of patients on maintenance hemodialysis following nursing interventions grounded in the health ecology model.

METHODS: A simple sampling method was used to select 188 maintenance hemodialysis patients who attended our dialysis center between January and February 2024. The patients were divided into an intervention group and a control group using a random number table method. The control group received conventional nursing measures, while the intervention group received nursing interventions based on the health ecology model. The patients were assessed at the time of enrollment and after six months of follow-up, using the Health Promotion Lifestyle Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Electronic Health Literacy Scale, and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale. The compliance rates for blood calcium, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations were recorded.

RESULTS: At six months post-intervention, patients in the intervention group had significantly higher scores than those in the control group for health-promoting lifestyles, social support ratings, e-health literacy scores, and quality of life ability scores (p < 0.05). The intervention group also had superior compliance rates for standardized blood calcium, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations compared to those measured in the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Nursing interventions based on the health ecology model effectively enhance the quality of life and promote health in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The research was conducted as a prospective, randomized, controlled trial and was retrospectively registered with the China Clinical Trial Registry under the identifier ChiCTR2400088458, with the registration date of August 20, 2024.

PMID:40624662 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-025-03429-7