Nevin Manimala

Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2026 Aug 3:48674261471314. doi: 10.1177/00048674261471314. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Local socioeconomic status may influence psychiatrist distribution, yet this remains systematically unexamined in Australia. We aimed to assess how psychiatrist availability varies across regions with differing socioeconomic advantage.

METHODS: Psychiatrist workforce data from the Health Workforce Data Tool (2013-2023) were linked to local government areas-level quintiles of the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Advantage and Disadvantage. We calculated and compared the proportion of local government areas with psychiatrists, psychiatrist counts per local government area, and psychiatrists per 10,000 population by Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas quintile. Panel regression analyses examined per capita variations, adjusting for state/territory and year effects in the same analyses.

RESULTS: Outer regional/remote/very remote areas had relatively low access to psychiatrists compared to metropolitan/inner regional areas. Disparities widened over time between the highest socioeconomic status quintile and all others. The average psychiatrist count per 10,000 population for top-quintile local government areas was 2.8 (standard deviation: ±4.8; from 0.6 (standard deviation: ±1.0, Northern Territory) to 5.5 (standard deviation: ±7.0, South Australia)), compared with 0.2-0.5 per 10,000 population for all lower socioeconomic status quintiles. In panel regression with interaction between Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas and remoteness, psychiatrist counts (adjusted for state/territory and year) in non-top-quintile local government areas were 2.6 (95% confidence interval: -4.1 to -1.1) to 3.0 (95% confidence interval: -4.4- to -1.7) per 10,000 population lower than top-quintile metropolitan and inner regional local government areas.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatrists are densely concentrated in high socioeconomic status and metropolitan/inner regional areas. Lower socioeconomic status local government areas shared similar, limited psychiatrist distributions. Targeted strategies are required to improve the equitable distribution of mental health resources across socioeconomic gradients.

PMID:42544569 | DOI:10.1177/00048674261471314

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2026 Aug 3. doi: 10.1039/d6cp01708h. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The quasi-classical trajectory method is a standard tool for studying gas-surface interactions. However, its purely classical treatment of molecular motion, particularly the lack of quantization of internal degrees of freedom, may limit its accuracy compared to quantum mechanical descriptions. To address this limitation, semi-classical corrections have been developed over the years, most notably Gaussian binning combined with the adiabaticity correction. This framework introduces non-uniform weighting of trajectories, grounded in semiclassical theory, to better align with quantum results. Recently, this approach was refined for H₂ scattering on W(100), where adiabatic trajectories were more rigorously characterized and assigned appropriate statistical weights. In this work, we extend this analysis to H₂ scattering on Pd(111), a system governed by distinct dynamical features. Our results confirm the validity of the method, providing a theoretical foundation for earlier more empirical studies. By reconciling classical and quantum perspectives, this work establishes a robust framework for investigating gas-surface interactions with improved accuracy.

PMID:42544566 | DOI:10.1039/d6cp01708h

Palliat Med. 2026 Aug 3:2692163261468152. doi: 10.1177/02692163261468152. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Place of death is a key population-level indicator for palliative care and health services planning. However, substantial international variation in how it is recorded limits cross-country comparisons and health system evaluations.

AIM: Analyse the technical qualities of national place of death classifications and data, and identify strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of researchers using death certificate data.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey. The questionnaire design was informed by the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for international statistical and health classifications, and included closed- and open-ended questions.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen researchers identified through published place of death studies participated. Collectively, they had analysed data from 67 countries until 2022, most for over 10 years.

RESULTS: Most researchers reported that national classifications were stable, had mutually exclusive categories, and included a category for “home”. However, shortcomings were identified: lack of detailed categories for relevant settings (e.g. hospice, nursing home), ambiguous or inconsistent terminology, and limited use of hierarchical or multi-axial structures. Participants emphasised the need for greater standardisation of categories, clearer definitions, and improved data quality through training on completing death certificates.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to assess place of death classifications and data from researchers’ perspectives. Findings highlight critical limitations in current classification systems and provide guidance for developing an international classification aligned with UN and WHO recommendations. This will enable more meaningful cross-country comparisons and strengthen evidence to inform palliative care and health services planning worldwide.

PMID:42544535 | DOI:10.1177/02692163261468152

J Vet Intern Med. 2026 Jul 1;40(4):aalag156. doi: 10.1093/jvimsj/aalag156.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Necrotic laryngitis is an important cause of respiratory distress and economic loss in feedlot cattle.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Describe the clinical presentation, pathologic lesions, and microbiologic findings associated with necrotic laryngitis in feedlot steers.

ANIMALS: Four 20-month-old feedlot steers diagnosed with necrotic laryngitis. Clinically affected steers exhibited inspiratory stridor, increased respiratory effort, and flared nares, indicative of upper airway obstruction.

METHODS: Samples from inflamed nasopharyngeal tissues were collected endoscopically using guarded cytology swabs and submitted for culture, with concurrent blood collection for CBC and plasma and serum biochemistry analyses.

RESULTS: Endoscopic examinations identified laryngeal chondritis, mucopurulent diphtheritic membranes, and necrotic inflammation of the vocal folds. Aerobic cultures were negative, but anaerobic cultures yielded Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. necrophorum and or F. necrophorum subsp. funduliforme. Hematologic evaluation indicated leukocytosis and increased plasma fibrinogen concentration, whereas serum biochemistry disclosed marked hyperglycemia and mild increases in hepatic enzyme activities, consistent with stress-related metabolic alterations. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that F. necrophorum isolates were susceptible to β-lactams, tetracyclines, florfenicol, tiamulin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and resistant to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and with respect to macrolides, 4 strains were susceptible and 1 strain was resistant to tylosin, tilmicosin, and tulathromycin.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These findings indicate involvement of either F. necrophorum subsp. necrophorum or subsp. funduliforme in necrotic laryngitis of feedlot cattle. Observed antimicrobial susceptibility patterns indicate ongoing susceptibility to β-lactams and tetracyclines, supporting their continued use as first-line therapeutic options.

PMID:42544489 | DOI:10.1093/jvimsj/aalag156

Age Ageing. 2026 Aug 3;55(8):afag227. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afag227.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Older adults presenting to the emergency department (ED) following a fall are at high risk for recurrent falls, injuries and increased healthcare utilisation. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of interventions initiated upon ED presentation in reducing falls (primary outcome) and fall-related outcomes (secondary outcomes) among older adults.

METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed in Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, Web of Science, and Scopus up to June 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. This yielded 9624 references, of which 4811 records remained after deduplication and were screened for eligibility. Meta-analyses and descriptive methods, including vote counting, were applied where appropriate. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: Thirty articles were included. Interventions were associated with a significant reduction in fall incidence (rate ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.54-0.88; I2 = 95%), supported by vote counting. While reductions were also observed in the proportion of fallers (odds ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.71-1.07; I2 = 61%), fall-related and all-cause ED revisits, hospital admissions, recurrent falls and mortality, these trends did not reach statistical significance. Sensitivity analysis excluding studies with modified usual care showed a significant reduction in fall-related ED revisits and people sustaining an injurious fall. Secondary outcomes including quality of life, fear of falling and physical functioning generally showed trends favouring the intervention group. Considerable heterogeneity and variation in intervention characteristics were noted across studies.

CONCLUSION: Interventions for older adults presenting to the ED after a fall suggest a favourable effect on fall rate. Non-significant trends favouring the intervention group were observed for several other outcomes, but heterogeneity and methodological limitations preclude definitive conclusions.

PMID:42544467 | DOI:10.1093/ageing/afag227

J Sex Med. 2026 Jul 3;23(8):qdag108. doi: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdag108.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE) is a prevalent male sexual dysfunction with unclear neurobiological mechanisms. Despite its high prevalence, the etiology of LPE remains debated, often attributed to psychological or biological factors. Recent neuroimaging studies have highlighted the role of central nervous system dysregulation in sexual behavior.

AIM: This study investigates abnormal brain functions and altered network connectivity in LPE patients after visual sexual stimuli (VSS) using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

METHODS: Twenty-five LPE patients and 31 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state and task-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Clinical data, including sexual history, self-reported intravaginal ejaculatory latency time, International Index of Erectile Function-5, the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation, anxiety/depression scores, and serum testosterone levels, were collected. Neuroimaging preprocessing and analysis focused on amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, fractional ALFF, and regional homogeneity. Task-state fMRI compared brain activation patterns after VSS. Statistical analyses included voxel-based comparisons and network connectivity assessments using SPM12 and DPABI v3.0.

OUTCOMES: LPE patients demonstrate distinct neurofunctional abnormalities after VSS, particularly hyperactivation in the precuneus.

RESULTS: ‌Clinical Data‌: LPE patients exhibited significantly lower International Index of Erectile Function-5 scores and higher depression rates compared to HCs, with no differences in age, BMI, or testosterone levels. Brain Activation‌: During VSS, LPE patients showed relative signal decrease in the middle cingulate cortex and left precentral gyrus compared to HCs. Regional homogeneity analysis revealed hyperactivation in the precuneus and fusiform gyrus post-stimulus. Network Connectivity‌: Altered connectivity in premature ejaculation patients involved the fusiform gyrus (linked to posterior cingulate, hippocampus, parahippocampus, and supplementary motor areas) and the superior parietal lobule (connected to the angular gyrus).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that aberrant central nervous system processing of sexual stimuli contributes to premature ejaculation pathophysiology, offering potential targets for neuromodulatory therapies.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The study focuses on the different activation patterns of patients with LPE from the perspective of sexual arousal. The methodological aspects of research, such as the use of images or videos in sexual stimulation, remain controversial. The findings of our network analysis only demonstrated a limited number of altered functional connections, and no established network metrics were provided to substantiate the claim of extensive network disruption. These factors collectively represent important limitations of the present study.

CONCLUSION: The hyperactivity in this brain region observed in patients could represent a unique response to VSS among those with LPE, ultimately leading to alterations in their ejaculatory behavior.‌‌‌.

PMID:42544459 | DOI:10.1093/jsxmed/qdag108

J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2026 Aug 3. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.26.17762-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sleep hygiene strategies (SHS) are practical, evidence-informed recommendations to enhance both the quantity and quality of sleep in athletes. However, little is known about how these strategies could be communicated and implemented in practice. The primary objective of this study is to investigate how different methods of delivering SHS (written vs. verbal) affect sleep hygiene and sleep parameters in athletes.

METHODS: The study was a three-arms randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07083544) involving track and field athletes competing at the regional or national level (N.=66). Athletes were randomized to either a control group (CON=22), a written SHS group (W-SHS=22), or a verbal SHS group (V-SHS=22). Sleep characteristics were assessed by actigraphy and sleep diary during a ten-day baseline period (T0) and a ten-day intervention period (T1). Six objective sleep parameters and the Sleep Regularity Index were assessed. Participants also completed a training diary and the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI).

RESULTS: No statistical differences were found between and within groups in training and sleep parameters, but SHI scores improved significantly in the intervention groups between T0 and T1, with differences compared to the control group. A non-significant improvement in total sleep time was observed in the intervention groups, primarily due to earlier bedtimes.

CONCLUSIONS: While significant differences in objective sleep measures were not observed, the trends suggest that both written and verbal SHS interventions can modestly improve sleep-related behaviors, particularly by encouraging earlier bedtimes and slightly extending total sleep duration.

PMID:42544425 | DOI:10.23736/S0022-4707.26.17762-7

J Prim Care Community Health. 2026 Jan-Dec;17:21501319261475712. doi: 10.1177/21501319261475712. Epub 2026 Aug 3.

ABSTRACT

ObjectivesTo examine associations of a general cost-related barrier to medical care and BRFSS-defined poor mental health-day categories with cervical cancer screening adherence among U.S. female respondents.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of female BRFSS respondents. The primary outcome (_RFPAP37) identified Pap testing within the past 3 years among respondents aged 21-65 years with an intact cervix; the sensitivity outcome (_PAPHPV1) additionally incorporated HPV testing within the past 5 years for those aged 30-65 years. MEDCOST1 measured inability to see a doctor because of cost during the previous 12 months. _MENT14D classified respondents by 0, 1-13, or 14-30 poor mental health days. Survey-weighted adjusted logistic regression incorporated BRFSS weights, strata, and clustering.ResultsThe primary analytic sample included 101,580 female respondents; survey-weighted complete-case models included 84,705. Pap adherence was lower among respondents reporting a general cost-related barrier to medical care than among those without the barrier (54.5% vs 68.6%). In survey-weighted adjusted models, the barrier remained associated with lower Pap adherence (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65-0.95). Formal interaction terms were not statistically significant, and the ordinal poor mental health-day trend was attenuated (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.97-1.07). Findings for Pap+HPV adherence were directionally similar but weaker.ConclusionsA general cost-related barrier to medical care was consistently associated with lower cervical cancer screening adherence. BRFSS-defined poor mental health days may indicate a co-occurring vulnerability, but adjusted interaction evidence was limited. Access-focused and mental health-informed strategies warrant evaluation in future intervention studies.

PMID:42544410 | DOI:10.1177/21501319261475712

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2026 Aug 4. doi: 10.1515/jpem-2026-0294. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate serum apelin levels in obese adolescents and to investigate their association with hepatic steatosis and metabolic risk parameters.

METHODS: This prospective case-control study included 75 obese adolescents and 68 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and serum apelin levels were assessed. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated using ultrasonography. Multivariable logistic regression analysis including age, sex, waist circumference, and serum apelin levels was performed.

RESULTS: Serum apelin levels were significantly lower in obese adolescents compared with controls. Although apelin levels tended to be lower in participants with hepatic steatosis, the difference did not reach statistical significance. No significant correlations were observed between apelin levels and insulin resistance, lipid parameters, or liver enzymes. Multivariable analysis did not demonstrate an independent association between apelin levels and hepatic steatosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum apelin levels were significantly lower in obese adolescents than in healthy controls. Although apelin levels tended to be lower in participants with hepatic steatosis, no independent association was demonstrated in this cohort. Larger prospective studies are needed to clarify the potential relationship between apelin and hepatic steatosis in pediatric obesity.

PMID:42544397 | DOI:10.1515/jpem-2026-0294

J Public Health (Oxf). 2026 Aug 3:fdag058. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdag058. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Harmful alcohol use is a major modifiable risk factor for self-harm. We aimed to examine associations between minimum unit pricing for alcohol, introduced in Scotland in 2018, and rates of hospital-admitted self-harm.

METHODS: Data were obtained from Public Health Scotland and English Hospital Episode Statistics. Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis compared pre- and post-intervention self-harm admission rates per 100 000 population, including controlled comparisons with England.

RESULTS: The before-after slope reduction in Scotland corresponded to -5.6 (95% CI -7.5 to -3.7) admissions per quarter, per 100 000 population, over the intervention period. Using controlled ITS, a greater slope reduction was observed in Scotland relative to England: -3.5, CI -6.4 to -0.6. No differences in slope change were observed when examining only pre-pandemic study quarters. Findings were consistent with a possible postintervention rate reduction in the two most deprived population quintiles, while no between-nation slope difference was observed in the three least deprived quintiles.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings were consistent with possible postintervention reductions in hospital-admitted self-harm in Scotland compared to England, with reductions concentrated in more deprived populations. Population-level alcohol pricing policies may contribute to reducing self-harm frequency, although causal interpretation is limited by the observational, quasi-experimental study design and differing between-nation pre-intervention trajectories.

PMID:42544395 | DOI:10.1093/pubmed/fdag058