Category: Nevin Manimala

Sci Rep. 2026 Aug 6;16(1):24321. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-64016-7.

ABSTRACT

Odontogenic facial cellulitis is the most common facial space infection worldwide, originating from untreated dental caries and progressing to life-threatening complications. This stems from the polymicrobial nature of the disease, along with the widespread and over-the-counter misuse of antibiotics in Egypt. This study aims to identify the pathogenic bacterial species involved in odontogenic facial cellulitis in an Egyptian patient sample. Forty-four samples were collected from patients presenting with odontogenic facial cellulitis. Bacterial profiles were investigated using selective media, Gram staining/colony identification, biochemical tests, and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute standardized antibiotic susceptibility testing. Resistant strains (≥ 3 agents) were identified using 16 S rRNA sequencing and deposited in the NCBI GenBank. Odontogenic cellulitis originated primarily from lower posterior teeth, specifically the lower first molar, and spread commonly in the submandibular and submental spaces. Regarding bacterial profile, the Gram-positive cocci were the predominant ones. Complete resistance to metronidazole was reported, while previous antibiotic administration showed no statistically significant association with susceptibility to amoxicillin and clindamycin. Among multidrug-resistant isolates, 16 S rRNA sequencing identified predominantly Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus species. Two isolates showed < 90% identity to known species, suggesting possible novel taxa and informing empirical therapy through phenotypic resistance profiles.

PMID:42562861 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-64016-7

Sci Rep. 2026 Aug 6;16(1):24317. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-56105-4.

ABSTRACT

Timely asset maintenance remains a critical challenge in Industry 4.0 environments. Predictive Maintenance aims to anticipate failures and estimate Remaining Useful Life (RUL), enabling cost reduction and minimizing production downtime. However, real-world industrial scenarios are often characterized by noisy telemetry data, incomplete information about operating conditions, and weak degradation signals, which limit the effectiveness of conventional data-driven approaches. This paper proposes a methodology for RUL prediction under such challenging conditions, leveraging raw sensor telemetry without requiring detailed knowledge of machine operating characteristics. The approach introduces a novel Degradation Index, combined with a Health Index, to better represent degradation patterns. Additionally, signal preprocessing techniques, including Savitzky-Golay and Kalman filters, are applied to mitigate noise and improve data quality. The methodology integrates statistical analysis, similarity-based pattern extraction, and machine learning techniques, including Convolutional Neural Networks and Long Short-Term Memory models, for feature selection and prediction. Experiments conducted on real-world industrial datasets demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly improves prediction performance, achieving high accuracy and enabling failure anticipation up to five days in advance. The results highlight the importance of feature engineering and signal processing in PdM applications, showing that combining degradation modeling with deep learning yields robust, generalizable RUL predictions, even in noisy, partially observed environments.

PMID:42562859 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-56105-4

Commun Med (Lond). 2026 Aug 6;6(1):426. doi: 10.1038/s43856-026-01792-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-induced food cravings are associated with excessive gestational weight gain and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aimed to measure brain responses to food pictures with varying fat and carbohydrate content during pregnancy in women with and without GDM.

METHODS: To characterize brain-metabolism coupling, we recorded visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in pregnant individuals with and without GDM (24-36 weeks gestation) while they viewed food pictures varying in fat and carbohydrate content. Eighteen women with untreated GDM and 21 healthy pregnant controls participated. HbA1c levels were obtained from blood samples. Statistical analyses assessed group differences and interactions.

RESULTS: Within the initial ~150 ms post-stimulus onset, VEPs exhibited Group × Fat (p = 0.047, ηp² = 0.103), but no Group × Carb, interactions: Healthy pregnant controls showed stronger responses to images of high- versus low-fat foods, whereas individuals with GDM did not. Source estimations localized these effects to brain regions associated with control, attention, and reward. Moreover, brain responses correlated with HbA1c levels in GDM (p = 0.01, ηp² = 0.351), but not with pre-pregnancy BMI in either group.

CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence of links between spatiotemporal brain responses to visual food cues and metabolic health in pregnancy.

PMID:42562858 | DOI:10.1038/s43856-026-01792-3

Sci Rep. 2026 Aug 6;16(1):24336. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-64048-z.

ABSTRACT

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) are the most prevalent cutaneous malignancies. C-Kit plays a role in tumor initiation, progress, recurrence, and metastasis. Several medicinal treatments target the c-Kit pathway. The aim of the study was to assess the expression of c-Kit in BCC and cSCC. Furthermore, the study aimed to correlate c-Kit expression with available pathological data of the tumor and clinical data of the patients. A total of 62 excision specimens from patients with BCC (n = 41) and cSCC (n = 21) were histopathologically and immunohistochemically evaluated using anti-c-Kit, a rabbit monoclonal antibody clone IHC526. More than half of BCC cases (63.4%) showed positive c-Kit expression. C-Kit expression was significantly correlated with age (p-value = 0.011). The intensity of positive c-Kit staining was statistically related to tumor size (p-value = 0.028). All cSCC cases (100%) showed negative c-Kit expression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.817 (95% confidence interval: 0.714-0.920, p-value < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 63.4% and a specificity of 100% in differentiating BCC from cSCC. Assessment of c-Kit expression may be beneficial in the diagnosis of BCC and in distinguishing it from cSCC. Its high specificity supports its diagnostic utility; however, due to its moderate sensitivity, it should be interpreted in conjunction with routine histopathological findings. While this study was a diagnostic, it suggested that c-Kit inhibitors may have therapeutic effects in BCC cases that express c-Kit; however, more research is needed to validate this.

PMID:42562854 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-64048-z

Sci Rep. 2026 Aug 6;16(1):24308. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-64165-9.

ABSTRACT

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and has gained wide application in bone regeneration, particularly in maxillofacial and dental research. HA derivatives and HA-incorporated composite scaffolds demonstrate strong potential in enhancing osteogenesis and mineralization. The aim of this work was to evaluate clinical and radiographic effects of natural bovine bone with HA on immediate implants. Sixteen immediate implants were placed in medically free patients with non-restorable single-rooted maxillary anterior or premolar teeth; Patients were randomly allocated into two groups: Group 1 (Control): Implants placed in 8 fresh extraction sockets. Group 2 (Study): Implants placed in 8 fresh extraction sockets followed by grafting with a natural bovine bone material with HA. Implant stability quotient (ISQ) was measured at the time of implant surgery and 4 months postoperatively. Bone density and buccal bone width were measured immediately and 6 months postoperatively using Cone Beam CT. After 4 months, the study group showed higher ISQs values than the control group (72.25 ± 2.66 vs. 64.88 ± 1.36, p < 0.001). Bone density was significantly higher in the study group at 6 months (1163.38 ± 112.64 HU vs. 1034.13 ± 71.19 HU, p = 0.016). A significant reduction in buccal bone width was observed at 6-month follow-up in both groups. The reduction was more pronounced in the control group (15.99%; p < 0.001) than in the study group (3.88%; p = 0.014). No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups at either the immediate postoperative assessment or the 6-month follow-up. The use of natural bovine bone with hyaluronic acid after immediate implant placement enhances early implant stability, increases peri-implant bone density, and contributes to preservation of buccal bone dimensions, thereby supporting improved osseointegration.Trial registration: Current controlled trials NCT07199725 “Retrospectively registered” (registration date 02/09/2025).

PMID:42562852 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-64165-9

Sci Rep. 2026 Aug 6;16(1):24338. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-66067-2.

ABSTRACT

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a non-invasive technology capable of assessing microcirculatory impairment. This study evaluated whether HSI can detect early microcirculatory alterations in trauma patients and differentiate between those with hemodynamic instability or stability during initial trauma resuscitation. In this prospective single-center observational study at a German level I trauma center (01/2023-10/2024), patients underwent HSI (TIVITA^® 2.0) at three time points: during the primary survey, after resuscitation room care, and 24 h after admission. HSI approximates four microcirculatory parameters: tissue oxygenation saturation (StO₂), tissue water index (TWI), tissue hemoglobin index (THI), and near-infrared perfusion index (NIR). Hemodynamic instability was defined as systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg for > 10 min, catecholamine use > 10 min, or pronounced clinical signs of hypoperfusion. The primary outcome was the difference in StO₂ between patients with and without hemodynamic instability at the initial HSI measurement. Secondary outcomes included comparison of all HSI parameters between groups, correlations with Injury Severity Score (ISS), biomarkers (lactate, bicarbonate, base excess), and mortality. Statistical analyses comprised t-tests, receiver operator curve (ROC) analyses, diagnostic accuracy, and DeLong’s test. A total of 163 patients were analyzed (18 hemodynamic instability, 145 hemodynamic stability). No significant difference in initial StO₂ was observed between groups (hemodynamic instability: 56.50 (SD 17.08) vs. hemodynamic stability: 59.48 (SD 10.92); p = 0.311). Likewise, TWI, THI, and NIR showed no significant differences. Initial elevated lactate levels (≥ 2 mmol/L) were associated with significantly lower StO₂ levels (p = 0.002). ROC analysis of StO₂ for predicting in-hospital mortality showed an area under the curve of 0.677 (95% CI 0.529-0.825). The optimal mortality cut-off (StO₂ ≤ 54%) demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.70, specificity of 0.66, positive predictive value of 0.22, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.94. AUCs of StO₂, lactate, bicarbonate, and base excess overlapped, with no significant pairwise differences. HSI did not discriminate between hemodynamically unstable and stable patients at initial trauma assessment but correlated well with high lactate levels. However, its high NPV for mortality suggests potential value as an objective, non-invasive tool for early trauma team downgrading.Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS ID DRKS00030986) on 27th December 2022.

PMID:42562849 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-66067-2

J Interpers Violence. 2026 Aug 6:8862605261473529. doi: 10.1177/08862605261473529. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study sought to understand the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on nonfatal workplace violence (WPV) experiences of workers in different occupational groups in the United States. The 2017 to 2022 National Crime Victimization Survey data were used to generate national nonfatal WPV rates in the United States for seven occupational groups. We used a quantitative approach to compare the WPV rates across occupational groups before and during the pandemic in light of changes in the routine activities of the U.S. workforce. First, average annual WPV rates by occupational group were compared across study years to identify temporal patterns. Second, average WPV rates for the three pre-pandemic years (2017-2019) and the three pandemic years (2020-2022) were compared to assess changes associated with the pandemic. Third, paired samples t-tests were conducted to determine whether differences in WPV rates between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were statistically significant for each occupational group. Our analysis of overall patterns revealed several temporal shifts: WPV rates sharply declined in the first pandemic year, surged in the second year, and shifted downward again in the third year. We also found that WPV rates varied across occupational groups and pandemic years, suggesting that these trends reflect differential changes in working environments across occupational groups during distinct phases of the pandemic. These findings highlight the complex and heterogenous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on WPV and underscore the importance of considering occupational and contextual differences when developing policies and interventions to mitigate WPV during public health emergencies.

PMID:42562809 | DOI:10.1177/08862605261473529

Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2026 Aug 10. doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2026-0013. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Peer bullying represent significant public health challenges with profound implications for adolescent psychosocial development. This study investigates the frequency of traditional and cyberbullying among adolescents, specifically examining how BMI and socioeconomic factors predict victimization risk and frequency. This study aimed to determine the frequency of peerbullying among school-aged children and adolescents and to examine the predictive impact of body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic factors on victimization.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 330 Turkish adolescents aged 10-17 years of school-aged children and adolescents. Data were collected using the 9-item Child-Adolescent Bullying Scale (CABS-9) – Short Form along with a demographic information form. BMI was calculated based on height and weight measurements. Statistical analysis included regression models to determine the variance explained by BMI.

RESULTS: The prevalence of peer bullying was found to be 42.1 %, while cyberbullying prevalence was 12.7 %. Male gender, lower socioeconomic status, and younger age (specifically 4th-grade students) were identified as significant risk factors. BMI accounted for 17.5 % of the variance in bullying victimization (R²=0.175), with overweight and obese participants reporting significantly higher victimization scores (19.12 ± 6.15) compared to their normal-weight peers (13.50 ± 3.85). Verbal bullying (mocking and ridiculing) was the most frequent (33.9 %).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that bullying frequency in this sample exceeds global averages but aligns with regional trends in high- frequency areas. The significant predictive power of BMI suggests that physical appearance remains a primary catalyst for peer exclusion and mockery. These results underscore the urgent need for early-intervention programs, starting in primary school, that focus on body positivity, self-esteem enhancement, and the social integration of economically disadvantaged students.

PMID:42562798 | DOI:10.1515/ijamh-2026-0013

Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2026 Aug 6. doi: 10.1080/14737167.2026.2715984. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Price negotiation improves access to innovative anti-cancer drugs in China but pressures healthcare funds. Renewal negotiation balances cost and access, with success defined as entering a new two-year agreement after initial term. This study analyzes renewal factors from innovation and price adjustment dimensions.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed 104 anti-cancer drugs (2017-2023) using a multivariate logistic regression model with five prespecified variables from two policy-relevant dimensions (innovation and price adjustment). Adopting Bootstrap validation (1000 resamples) to assess overfitting and estimation stability. Stratified analyses were performed by innovation category.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight drugs were renewed. With five variables, EPV was 13.6. Exclusivity and priority review status were positively associated with renewal success from the innovation dimension. Indication expansion showed positive but non-significant association. Initial price reduction and first price reduction showed positive association from the price adjustment dimension. Bootstrap-corrected AUC was 0.856. Stratified analyses showed 52.9% of First-in-class (FIC) drugs renewed without price reduction or indication expansion, whereas non-FIC drugs required these measures.

CONCLUSIONS: Exclusivity, priority review status, and price reduction measures are positively associated with renewal success. Stratified analyses suggest that FIC drugs may receive greater policy tolerance, whereas non-FIC drugs appear to require price reductions or indication expansion.

PMID:42562781 | DOI:10.1080/14737167.2026.2715984

Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2026 Aug 6. doi: 10.1080/14737167.2026.2715976. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Croatia has among the highest melanoma mortality rates in the European Union. This study examined temporal trends in melanoma stage at diagnosis, disease burden, and indirect costs in Croatia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Population-level melanoma incidence data from the Croatian Cancer Registry were analyzed for 2003-2007, 2008-2012, and 2013-2019. Stage distribution and mean annual case numbers were assessed for localized, regional, metastatic, and unknown-stage disease. Disease burden indicators (disability-adjusted life years [DALY], years of life lost [YLL], years lost to disability [YLD]) and indirect costs were evaluated for individuals aged < 60 years in 2000, 2010, and 2019. Analyses were descriptive; no formal statistical testing was performed.

RESULTS: Localized melanoma rose from 55% to 68%, while metastatic disease declined from 17% to 8%. Mean annual localized cases more than doubled, whereas metastatic case counts remained stable. DALYs and YLLs decreased by 19% and 21%, respectively, while YLDs increased. Annual indirect costs declined, with cost savings of €8.3 million (DALY method) and €8.4 million (YLL method).

CONCLUSIONS: Declining DALYs, YLLs, and indirect costs suggest improving melanoma outcomes in Croatia, potentially reflecting earlier detection and therapeutic innovation, and underscore the importance of sustained investment in integrated melanoma control strategies.

PMID:42562778 | DOI:10.1080/14737167.2026.2715976