Nevin Manimala

Gerodontology. 2026 Aug 14. doi: 10.1111/ger.70117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Denture stomatitis is a common oral mucosal lesion among older adults wearing removable prostheses. Its prevalence and associated risk factors, however, vary across populations.

OBJECTIVE: To describe denture stomatitis and its associations with patient- and prosthesis-related factors among older adults wearing removable dentures in the United Arab Emirates.

METHODS: 280 patients wearing 492 removable dentures were examined in a specialty dental facility in Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Clinical assessment of patients and dentures was performed by three prosthodontists. Patient-related variables included years of denture wear, vertical dimension of occlusion, salivary flow, diabetes and hypertension. Prosthetic-related variables included denture integrity, plaque and calculus deposits, use of reline materials or denture adhesives, denture tooth wear, and denture stability and retention. Statistical analysis used SPSS (version 29).

RESULTS: Denture stomatitis was diagnosed in 42 participants (15%). Years of denture wear, reduced vertical dimension of occlusion, low salivary flow and all prosthesis-related variables were associated with denture stomatitis. Multivariate Poisson regression showed that longer years of denture wear were associated with a higher risk of denture stomatitis (PR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.16), while adequate denture retention was associated with a lower risk (PR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.25-0.99).

CONCLUSION: Denture stomatitis was associated with longer denture wear duration and inadequate denture retention. Regular denture assessment and maintenance may help support oral mucosal health in older adults.

PMID:42596855 | DOI:10.1111/ger.70117

Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2026 Aug;37(8):e70424. doi: 10.1111/pai.70424.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with early-life allergic outcomes; however, underlying biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

METHODS: A total of 101 mother-infant pairs were ultimately included in this prospective birth cohort study. Maternal exposure to ambient air pollutants was assigned to geocoded residential addresses using spatiotemporal models. Allergic symptoms were defined as cumulative caregiver-reported symptoms occurring from birth to 6 months and assessed at the 6-month follow-up. DNA methylation in naïve CD4⁺ T cells was analyzed in a subset of 30 cord blood samples using targeted bisulfite sequencing. Associations were evaluated using regression models, and statistical mediation analysis was performed under a counterfactual-based approach.

RESULTS: Higher first-trimester exposure to PM₁₀ (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-4.98) and NO₂ (AOR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.02-4.53) was associated with an increased likelihood of allergic symptoms within the first 6 months of life. In addition, third-trimester exposure to PM_2.5 components, including sulfate (SO₄ ^2-), nitrate (NO₃ ^–), and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), was positively associated with these outcomes. DNA methylation at a CpG site within the PRKACB promoter showed statistical evidence consistent with a potential mediating role in the association between third-trimester sulfate exposure and allergic symptoms. Functional assays supported the regulatory relevance of this locus.

CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal ambient air pollution exposure was associated with early-life allergic symptoms, and cord blood DNA methylation at the PRKACB locus may represent a potential molecular mechanism underlying these associations. These findings are exploratory and require confirmation in larger studies.

PMID:42596852 | DOI:10.1111/pai.70424

Emerg Med Australas. 2026 Aug;38(4):e70308. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.70308.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To inform in-event health service (IEHS) delivery and harm minimisation strategies for the planned youth mass gathering event (MGE) known as ‘Leavers’ in the Southwest region of Western Australia. This study aimed to describe patient emergency department (ED) presentation characteristics and outcomes for Leavers WA.

METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patient presentations by Leavers to the Busselton ED at the 2022 MGE. This included 4 days with IEHS operation (7 pm to 1 am), 2 days prior to and 3 days post the MGE. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: Of 9621 Leavers, 121 (1.26%, PPR 12.6/1000) presented to ED: 12 prior to, 85 during and 24 post the MGE. The majority of presentations were from the community (n = 103, 85.1%). Of 557 Leavers who presented to the IEHS, 18 were transported to hospital (TTHR 1.87/1000). The majority of presentations were ATS 3 and ATS 4 (43.8%, 42.1%). Medical illness was the most common presentation category (n = 59, 48.8%). 51.2% of presentations were related to alcohol/illicit substance use. 85.6% of Leavers were seen and allocated a discharge disposition within 4 h.

CONCLUSIONS: Leavers WA celebrations introduced a significant burden on the regional ED with over half the presentations drug and alcohol related and the majority of patients requiring urgent or semi-urgent assessment. The IEHS likely reduced this burden during operational hours. Future research should focus on standardisation of data collection, comparing IEHS and ED presentations, and measuring effectiveness of harm minimisation strategies.

PMID:42596843 | DOI:10.1111/1742-6723.70308

Hip Int. 2026 Aug 14:11207000261469470. doi: 10.1177/11207000261469470. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The acetabular labrum plays a key role in hip biomechanics, reducing contact pressure and peak stress on articular cartilage. In femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), injuries often require surgical intervention. While anatomical repair restores function, irreparable cases necessitate labral reconstruction with grafts. Despite advancements, detailed morphometric studies remain limited. This study analyses labral morphometry, focusing on regional and sex-based differences to optimise graft selection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 18 adult hip specimens were included after screening for normal hip morphometry on fluoroscopy (Wiberg 25-40°, alpha angle <55°, preserved joint space; Tönnis <2) and verification of intact labral and chondral structures after dissection. Morphometric measurements included labrum height (anterior,superior,posterior), acetabular diameter, anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) distance, and transverse ligament (TAL) width. Specimens were analysed regionally and stratified by sex. Statistical comparisons identified morphometric differences.

RESULTS: Labrum height was greatest in the posterior (7.49 ± 0.95 mm), followed by the superior (6.78 ± 0.91 mm) and anterior (5.60 ± 0.71 mm) regions. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) sex-based differences were observed in all measurements. Males exhibited greater labral height in the superior (7.19 ± 1.02 mm vs. 6.29 ± 0.91 mm), posterior (7.38 ± 0.66 mm vs. 6.93 ± 0.70 mm), and anterior (5.49 ± 1.03 mm vs. 5.03 ± 0.71 mm) regions. Additionally, males had larger transverse ligament width (7.04 ± 0.68 mm vs. 6.66 ± 0.63 mm), ASIS distance (285.73 ± 7.12 mm vs. 275.88 ± 9.24 mm), and acetabular diameter(54.35 ± 2.76 mm vs. 50.29 ± 4.97 mm).

CONCLUSIONS: The acetabular labrum shows progressive height variation – posterior > superior > anterior – with males exhibiting approximately 1 mm greater dimensions across all regions. These anatomical differences should guide graft selection and surgical planning to optimise patient-specific hip preservation and outcomes.

PMID:42596771 | DOI:10.1177/11207000261469470

Hip Int. 2026 Aug 14:11207000261466581. doi: 10.1177/11207000261466581. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of the intramedullary canal occupying ratio (ICOR) on bone union and the stability of fixation in intertrochanteric fracture treatment using proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) surgery.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis included 151 patients aged 60 years and above who underwent PFNA for unilateral intertrochanteric fractures between June 2020 and 2022. Patients were categorised into 3 groups based on ICOR percentiles (0.48-0.93). Bone healing was assessed using the Radiographic Union Score for Hip (RUSH) at 2, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Fixation stability was assessed by comparing immediate and 3-month postoperative radiographs. Multivariate regression was used to assess the relationship between ICOR, RUSH scores, and fixation stability.

RESULTS: No significant differences in RUSH scores or stability measurements were found among the 3 ICOR-based groups. Multivariate regression showed no clear correlation between ICOR and RUSH scores, except for a statistically significant but not clinically relevant association with changes in neck-shaft angle. In contrast, RUSH scores were significantly associated with fracture severity according to the OTA/AO Classification.

CONCLUSION: ICOR was not a significant predictor of fracture healing or fixation stability. In uncertain cases regarding nail size, using a smaller nail was not linked to inferior radiographic or fixation-related outcomes.

PMID:42596769 | DOI:10.1177/11207000261466581

Arch Suicide Res. 2026 Aug 14:1-11. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2026.2715598. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Most self-report measures of suicidal ideation (SI) index thoughts or behaviors but broadly fail to contextualize the degree to which SI is perceived to impair quality of life. Theories of suicide propose that psychological inflexibility (i.e., metacognitive distress) about SI may compound suicidal cognitions and impact suicide risk. This study tested whether suicidal cognitions and psychological inflexibility about SI interact to amplify SI severity.

METHODS: Self-report measures of suicidal cognitions, psychological inflexibility, and SI severity were collected from U.S. military veterans (N = 87) with current SI at a health care system in the Southeast United States. The sample primarily identified as male (70%) and White/Caucasian (45.6%). A moderation model tested main and interactive effects of suicidal cognitions and psychological inflexibility about SI on SI severity.

RESULTS: There was a significant interaction between suicidal cognitions and psychological inflexibility about SI, such that the statistically significant relationship between suicidal cognitions and SI severity increased at each level (-1 SD, mean, and +1 SD) of psychological inflexibility about SI.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychological inflexibility about SI may amplify SI severity, which has theoretical implications for ideation-to-action frameworks of suicide. In addition to treating underlying suicidal cognitions, patients may benefit from addressing concerns about the meaning and impact of SI itself.

PMID:42596761 | DOI:10.1080/13811118.2026.2715598

J Intellect Disabil Res. 2026 Aug 14. doi: 10.1111/jir.70160. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Identifying flexible and rigorous methods to administer assessments in Down syndrome research is critical for limiting participation burden. Tablet assessments have the potential to be presented remotely, but consistency between researcher and caregiver administrations is unknown.

METHOD: Participants were 24 children with Down syndrome aged 10-17 years and their caregivers. Children completed two sessions: one administered by their caregiver and one administered by research staff. Tablet measures were selected from the NIH Toolbox and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between child performance on researcher-administered compared to caregiver-administered NIH Toolbox Flanker, CANTAB RTI and CANTAB PAL measures. Floor effects impacted additional measures with high agreement (NIH Toolbox Pattern Comparison).

CONCLUSIONS: Task completion did not differ across administrators, demonstrating evidence for parents’ ability to facilitate assessments. Inconsistent agreement statistics warrant future work in larger samples and additional understanding of child tablet assessment performance.

PMID:42596758 | DOI:10.1111/jir.70160

Expert Rev Vaccines. 2026 Dec;25(1):2715854. doi: 10.1080/14760584.2026.2715854. Epub 2026 Aug 14.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Medicaid beneficiaries typically have low vaccination rates, in part due to limited access. Pharmacies provide easy-to-access locations for vaccination.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of trends in pharmacy-based vaccination by age and race or ethnicity among Medicaid recipients aged ≥9 from 1 January 2018 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) to 31 December 2023. The percentage of all vaccinations administered at pharmacies and the overall percentage change in vaccination rates were determined.

RESULTS: With some exceptions, overall routine and seasonal vaccination rates remained lower in 2023 than in 2018-2019. This was observed for human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza, and tetanus-containing (Tdap/Td) vaccines in adolescents and for hepatitis A, influenza, meningococcal, pneumococcal, and Tdap/Td vaccines in various adult age groups. The percentage of routine and seasonal vaccinations administered at pharmacies increased over the study period among adults, with increases of 5.2-17.5 percentage points for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV, meningococcal, pneumococcal, and tetanus-containing vaccines among those aged 19-49. Across age groups, pharmacy-based vaccination was most frequent in White enrollees, followed by Black and then Hispanic enrollees, with smaller differentials in adults aged ≥65.

CONCLUSIONS: Generally overall vaccine administration rates declined in Medicaid beneficiaries; however, the proportion administered at pharmacies increased.

PMID:42596755 | DOI:10.1080/14760584.2026.2715854

J Glob Health. 2026 Aug 14;16:04274. doi: 10.7189/jogh.16.04274.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis remains the commonest acute lower respiratory tract infection in younger children globally. Bronchiolitis is often misdiagnosed as World Health Organization (WHO)-classified pneumonia due to closely related clinical manifestations. Our primary objective was to assess the prevalence of viral bronchiolitis among WHO-classified pneumonia, and the secondary objective was to evaluate their management.

METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. Infants (aged <2 years) suffering from WHO-classified pneumonia attending the country’s largest academic paediatric hospital ‘Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute’, Dhaka, during July 2020 through June 2021 were enrolled (n = 60) following systematic sampling (every second child). We revalidated all infants meeting the inclusion criteria (cough, fast breathing and/or chest in-drawing) for bronchiolitis assessment using clinical, radiological, haematological, biochemical, and microbiological analyses. Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza A, and influenza B viruses. Clinical features, treatment modalities, mode of discharge, and length of hospital stay (LOS) were subjected to differentiate bronchiolitis from WHO-classified pneumonia.

RESULTS: PCR of NPA of 60 WHO-classified pneumonia cases yielded RSV in 41 (68%) who had pertinent clinical symptoms and signs suggestive of bronchiolitis, attested by benign chest radiography (85%). Further, their mean (x̄) and standard deviation (SD) complete blood count (x̄ = 15,488; SD = 1874/cm) with x̄ = 36% (SD = 11) neutrophil) and C-reactive protein (x̄ = 4.49 (5.88) mg/L cut off reference value >5 mg/L) were indicative more as non-bacterial infections favouring RSV bronchiolitis. In contrast, all 19 non-RSV cases did not differ in clinical findings, as attested by haematological, microbiological and radiographical features, suggesting bronchiolitis-like illness, further supported by disease outcome, discharge pattern and LOS (x̄ = 4.7; SD = 2.29) days). Nevertheless, antibiotics were given in 95% of all 60 cases.

CONCLUSIONS: There was a high proportion of bronchiolitis among WHO-classified pneumonia, and antimicrobials were prescribed to treat those cases. The findings need the attention of policymakers to address the overlap between WHO-classified pneumonia and bronchiolitis and minimise the potential overuse of antibiotics.

PMID:42596748 | DOI:10.7189/jogh.16.04274

J Glob Health. 2026 Aug 14;16:04276. doi: 10.7189/jogh.16.04276.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Arthritis, characterised by inflammation, pain, and joint stiffness, is emerging as a significant health concern in ageing populations worldwide. While many studies have examined the effects of outdoor environmental risk factors on arthritis, fewer have investigated the effects of residential ecological factors.

METHODS: We included 2,511 participants in the cohort study and 13,886 participants in the cross-sectional study from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. We employed multivariate Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression to analyse the cohort and cross-sectional data. For each residential environment factor, we developed three models, with model three adjusted for all potential confounders collected in our study, which we considered our primary model.

RESULTS: We identified a significant association between the use of non-clean fuel and a higher risk of arthritis (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-1.93) through cohort analysis. Conversely, residing in high-rise buildings with elevators was associated with a reduced risk of arthritis (HR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.02-0.86). Our cross-sectional study reflects a reduced risk of arthritis associated with summer window ventilation for one to five times/week (odds ratio (OR) = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.50-0.97) and more than five times/week (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.48-0.90). Additionally, distance of >300 m was also associated with a lower risk of arthritis (OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.69-0.89).

CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the crucial role of residential environmental factors in the risk of arthritis development. These results have important implications for public health policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of arthritis.

PMID:42596747 | DOI:10.7189/jogh.16.04276