Nevin Manimala

BMC Glob Public Health. 2025 May 23;3(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s44263-025-00164-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health adopted and implemented the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) antenatal care (ANC) policy, including the eight-visit ANC (8vANC) recommendation, to improve ANC uptake and reduce perinatal deaths. This study aimed to examine the impact of the 2016 WHO ANC policy implementation on selected birth outcomes in Nigeria.

METHODS: This research applied an implementation research approach to assess cesarean births, low birth weight (LBW), and perinatal death outcomes associated with the 2016 WHO ANC policy implementation across states in Nigeria. We used multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model to perform secondary analyses on a matched sample of mothers and children, n = 10,864. A main fixed effect variable was generated from maternal adherence as penetration-fidelity and categorized as ” < 8vANC and partial/non-concordant,” ” < 8vANC and concordant,” “8vANC and partial/non-concordant,” and “8vANC and concordant.” We measured “concordant” as maternal self-reported adherence to five selected ANC components (timing of first ANC visit, blood pressure measurement, tetanus vaccinations, urinalysis, and blood sample test), whereas partial/non-concordant was defined as the receipt of fewer components.

RESULTS: There was no significant association between penetration-fidelity and cesarean births. Compared with children born to mothers who were categorized as ” < 8vANC and partial/non-concordant,” the final adjusted models indicated that penetration-fidelity was significantly associated with reduced odds of LBW among children of mothers who were categorized as “8vANC and concordant” (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.20-0.71, p = 0.003) but with increased odds of perinatal death among children birthed to mothers categorized as “8vANC and concordant” (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.05-3.26, p = 0.032). There was no statistically significant between-state residual variation associated with birth outcomes. Overall, multiparity was associated with increased odds of LBW and perinatal death, whereas advanced maternal age was associated with reduced odds.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the need for more nuanced ANC promotion campaigns that would target the varied maternal age and parous spectrum along the maternal and child health continuum. Further research is needed to evaluate the degree to which the state-level implementation of the policy may have also influenced adherence to the 2016 WHO ANC recommendations.

PMID:40405319 | DOI:10.1186/s44263-025-00164-8

Alzheimers Res Ther. 2025 May 22;17(1):112. doi: 10.1186/s13195-025-01754-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The use of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for predicting disease risk in Japanese populations, particularly for dementia and related phenotypes, remains markedly unexplored. The aim of this study was to bridge this gap by developing a novel PRS model designed to predict amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging data from a Japanese cohort.

METHODS: Using the polygenic risk score-continuous shrinkage (PRS-CS) algorithm, we calculated PRS based on significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in this population. We applied a PRS calculation approach informed by Japanese genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics into a Japanese dementia cohort from Keio University.

RESULTS: Our findings revealed that a p-value threshold of pT < 0.1 optimally enhanced the predictive capability of the Japanese Aβ PET positivity risk model. Moreover, we demonstrated that distinguishing between the counts of APOE2 and APOE4 alleles in our calculations significantly elevated model performance, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.759. Remarkably, this predictive accuracy remained robust even when the pT was adjusted to be < 1.0 × 10^{– 5}, maintaining an AUC of 0.735. This study validated the efficacy of the model in identifying individuals with a increased risk of amyloid pathology.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the potential of PRS as a noninvasive tool for early detection and risk stratification of AD, which could lead to enhanced clinical applications and interventions.

PMID:40405310 | DOI:10.1186/s13195-025-01754-2

Int J Retina Vitreous. 2025 May 22;11(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s40942-025-00680-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a vision-threatening ophthalmic emergency requiring prompt surgical intervention. Despite advancements in surgical techniques, recurrence remains a significant challenge, leading to additional surgeries and poorer visual outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for RRD recurrence following surgical repair in an Egyptian tertiary care setting.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt, including 134 patients who underwent RRD surgery (pars plana vitrectomy [PPV] or scleral buckling [SB]) between March and September 2023. Demographic, clinical, and surgical variables were evaluated. Recurrence was defined as anatomical detachment after initial surgical success within a 6-month follow-up period. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors.

RESULTS: The recurrence rate was 24.6%, with early recurrence (≤ 6 weeks) occurring in 14.9% of cases. PPV had a significantly higher recurrence rate (34.8%) compared to SB (19.3%) (p = 0.049). Univariate analysis identified right eye laterality (p = 0.02), high myopia (p = 0.015), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (p < 0.001), and ocular comorbidities (p = 0.018) as significant risk factors. Multivariate analysis confirmed right eye laterality (OR: 3.7, p = 0.016), high myopia (OR: 0.34, p = 0.04), and PVR (OR: 0.15, p = 0.005) as independent predictors. Surgeon experience significantly influenced outcomes in univariate analysis (p = 0.001), but not in adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS: RRD recurrence remains prevalent occurring in nearly one-quarter of repaired RRD cases, predominantly within the early postoperative period. Surgical technique, laterality, and ocular characteristics significantly impacted recurrence risk. These findings highlight the need for individualized surgical planning and enhanced surveillance in high-risk patients, particularly during the critical first postoperative weeks.

PMID:40405309 | DOI:10.1186/s40942-025-00680-7

BMC Res Notes. 2025 May 22;18(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07294-0.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This dataset offers empirical support for understanding the number of sexual harassment complaints across various industries and sectors, and for analysing patterns over a decade. The data was manually collected from the annual integrated report or business responsibility report of each company on the BSE100 list. This dataset can be utilised by the Indian Ministry of Women & Child Development and related stakeholders as a foundation for studying the impact of previous interventions and policy changes on complaint reporting rates. Additionally, it can also be used to analyse patterns and trends and give way to revisions to existing legal frameworks and improvements to grievance redressal mechanisms for sexual harassment complaints.

DATA DESCRIPTION: Data includes descriptive statistics for all variables and compares complaints received between each year and the subsequent year, with a total of 10 year-to-year comparisons for the period: 2013-2024. The variables are: (1) List of BSE100 Companies, (2) Industry, (3) Sector, (4) Number of sexual harassment complaints received for the periods: 2013-2024, (5) Number of sexual harassment complaints pending during the periods: 2013-2024.

PMID:40405307 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-025-07294-0

Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2025 May 22;23(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12958-025-01405-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Genetic factors and an unfavorable intrauterine environment may contribute to the development of metabolic disorders in offspring later in life. The present study aims to investigate and compare the risks of pre-diabetes mellitus (pre-DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and abnormal glucose tolerance in female and male offspring with early maternal menopausal age versus those with normal maternal menopausal age, later in life.

METHODS: In this prospective population-based study, there were 1,516 females and 1,563 males with normal maternal menopausal age, as well as 213 females and 237 males with early maternal menopausal age. Unadjusted and adjusted cox regression models were used to assess the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between early maternal menopausal age with pre-DM, T2DM and abnormal glucose tolerance in offspring. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA software package; the significance level was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: The present study revealed a higher risk of pre-DM in female offspring with early maternal menopausal age compared to females with normal maternal menopausal age (unadjusted HR (95% CI): 1.42 (0.98, 2.05); P = 0.06 (marginal significant) and adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.47 (1.00, 2.16); P = 0.04). Additionally, a higher risk of abnormal glucose tolerance among female offspring with early maternal menopausal age in adjusted model was observed (HR (95% CI): 1.13 (0.99-1.29); P = 0.06, marginal significant). However, no significant differences were observed in the risks of developing pre-DM and abnormal glucose tolerance in male offspring with early maternal menopausal age compared to males with normal maternal menopausal age in both unadjusted and adjusted models. No significant difference was observed in the risk of T2DM in the offspring with early maternal menopausal age compared to offspring with normal maternal menopausal age.

CONCLUSIONS: This pioneering study, characterized by a long-term follow-up, demonstrated that early maternal menopausal age is associated with an increased risk of developing pre-DM in female offspring later in life. It may be advisable to implement screening for pre-DM and glucose metabolism disorders in these female offspring.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:40405295 | DOI:10.1186/s12958-025-01405-z

Nutr J. 2025 May 22;24(1):82. doi: 10.1186/s12937-025-01143-3.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Prior evidence suggests that dietary lignans may mitigate inflammation, attenuate insulin resistance, and improve blood lipids. Little is known about the effects of lignans in pregnant women who are at elevated risk of glucose and lipid abnormalities, partially due to increase in estrogen levels during pregnancy. This study was designed to investigate the association between dietary lignan intake, measured as urinary enterolignans (enterodiol and enterolactone), with blood biomarkers of cardiometabolic risks in pregnant women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 480 pregnant women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2010 and had data for urinary enterolignan concentrations. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between urinary enterolignan concentrations and cardiometabolic risk biomarkers. Cardiometabolic risk markers were log-transformed and geometric means were calculated by quartiles of urinary enterolignan concentrations.

RESULTS: Higher urinary enterolignan concentrations were associated with a more beneficial cardiometabolic profile: comparing women in the highest versus lowest quartiles of total enterolignan concentrations, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was 62 versus 54 mg/dL (P for trend = 0.01); triacylglycerol (TG) was 141 versus 171 mg/dL (P for trend = 0.004); TG/HDL-C ratio was 2.3 versus 3.2 (P for trend = 0.001); Total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio was 3.4 versus 3.9 (P for trend = 0.03); C-reactive protein (CRP) was 0.4 versus 0.7 mg/dL (P for trend = 0.01); and fasting insulin was 7.7 versus 13.9 μU/mL (P for trend < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Lignan intake may have favorable effects on cardiometabolic risk markers in pregnant women.

KEY MESSAGES: The results of our study showed that urinary excretion of enterolignans were inversely associated with cardiometabolic risk markers in pregnant women. These findings support further investigation on the role of lignans in modifying lipid and glucose metabolism. Given the high prevalence of maternal insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia and its serious health consequences for both women and their offspring, the use of lignans, if demonstrated to be efficacious, could provide a cost-effective option for curbing this epidemic by prevention and early treatment.

PMID:40405289 | DOI:10.1186/s12937-025-01143-3

Genome Biol. 2025 May 22;26(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s13059-025-03609-3.

ABSTRACT

Statistical normalizations are used in differential analyses to address sample-to-sample variation in sequencing depth. Yet normalizations make strong, implicit assumptions about the scale of biological systems, such as microbial load, leading to false positives and negatives. We introduce scale models as a generalization of normalizations, which allows researchers to model potential errors in these modeling assumptions, thereby enhancing the transparency and robustness of data analyses. In practice, scale models can drastically reduce false positives and false negatives rates. We introduce updates to the popular ALDEx2 software package, available on Bioconductor, facilitating scale model analysis.

PMID:40405262 | DOI:10.1186/s13059-025-03609-3

Alzheimers Res Ther. 2025 May 22;17(1):113. doi: 10.1186/s13195-025-01758-y.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40405255 | DOI:10.1186/s13195-025-01758-y

Microb Cell Fact. 2025 May 22;24(1):121. doi: 10.1186/s12934-025-02742-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Disaccharide polyene macrolides exhibit superior water solubility and significantly reduced hemolytic toxicity compared to their monosaccharide counterparts, making them promising candidates for safer antifungal therapeutics. In this study, we engineered a Streptomyces gilvosporeus (pSET152-nppY) capable of producing disaccharide-pimaricin (DSP) through heterologous expression of the nppY gene, which encodes a glycosyltransferase responsible for the second sugar extension in the biosynthetic pathway.

RESULTS: The novel compound was structurally characterized and designated disaccharide-pimaricin (DSP), featuring an aglycone identical to pimaricin and a unique disaccharide moiety (mycosaminyl-α1-4-N-acetylglucosamine). A purification protocol for DSP was established. Compared to pimaricin, DSP demonstrated a 50% reduction in antifungal activity, a 12.6-fold decrease in hemolytic toxicity, and a remarkable 107.6-fold increase in water solubility. Growth analysis revealed a delayed growth cycle in the mutant strain, suggesting that nppY expression may impose additional metabolic burden. Optimization of the fermentation medium using a statistical design identified an optimal formulation, with a maximum DSP titer of 138.168 mg/L.

CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the potential of disaccharide polyene macrolides as safer antifungal agents and establishes a robust framework for engineering strains to produce these compounds. The findings provide critical insights into balancing biosynthetic efficiency and strain fitness, advancing the development of next-generation polyene antibiotics.

PMID:40405243 | DOI:10.1186/s12934-025-02742-9

BMC Med Educ. 2025 May 22;25(1):756. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07349-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Each year, the Food and Drug Administration receives over 2 million adverse event and medication error reports, which are likely underreported. Interprofessional education (IPE) is well positioned to provide team-based training regarding medication safety and related reporting tools. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a single IPE session designed to improve the completion and accuracy of healthcare professional students’ reporting of medication errors.

METHODS: An IPE session, with medical and pharmacy students, presented a case report involving a medication dispensing error that resulted in a patient’s death. The session included three components: the case presentation; a discussion of the implications of the medication error on the patient, family, and care providers; and a hands-on activity where students practiced error reporting using a simulated MedWatch platform. The students’ reports were analyzed for completeness and accuracy, based on data available from the case presentation. Individual versus team submissions across disciplines were compared.

RESULTS: Of the 701 participants who completed the session between 2021 and 2024, 225 submitted the simulated MedWatch report (32% response rate). This final sample included 111 medical students, 53 pharmacy students, and 61 interprofessional teams. The median form completion rate for teams was 88.9% compared to 55.6% for individuals. Teams demonstrated higher form accuracy rates (66.7%) compared with individuals (38.9%). Students agreed that practicing the reporting of an adverse drug event was a useful activity, while pharmacy students (p = 0.014) and teams (p = 0.043) felt more confident reporting an adverse drug event than medical students after this activity.

CONCLUSION: Following an IPE training session focused on error reporting, we observed that team-based submission of MedWatch forms resulted in improved completion and accuracy rates. Integrating an interprofessional training session focused on medication safety and error reporting in health professionals’ curricula appeared to be effective in the short term. Longer term studies are necessary to determine the impact and durability of this training.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:40405231 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-07349-7