Category: Nevin Manimala

BMC Med Educ. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09860-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study aimed to examine the effects of a story-based example-developed by the author and centered on the commonly used active ingredient “fluoxetine” in child psychiatry clinical practice-on the academic performance of medical students, compared with traditional teaching methods. Additionally, the study sought to evaluate medical students’ views, perceptions, and attitudes toward this educational approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 54 volunteer third-year students from the Faculty of Medicine at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University in the 2025-2026 academic year were included in the study. Participants were allocated into two groups using a matched allocation procedure based on age and sex to ensure baseline comparability between groups. One group received training through the text titled “Worlds Colored By The Journey With Fluoxetine”, written by the researcher, in which the mechanism of action, side effects, indications, and contraindications of fluoxetine were presented in a narrative format. The other group was taught the same content using a traditional instructional method. The impact on students’ academic performance was assessed through pre-test and post-test evaluations.

RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the theoretical and story-based education groups in terms of age, gender, income, place of residence, presence of comorbid medical conditions, or psychiatric history (p>0.05). In both groups, fluoxetine quiz scores increased significantly from pre-test to post-test (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). However, the rate of improvement in the story-based group was found to be significantly higher than in the theoretical group (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION: Story-based instruction was associated with greater improvement in fluoxetine knowledge scores compared with traditional instruction, and students generally reported positive attitudes toward this educational approach. These findings suggest that storytelling may be a useful complementary method for teaching psychopharmacological concepts in medical education. Further studies are needed to evaluate its broader applicability and long-term educational effects.

PMID:42443890 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-026-09860-x

BMC Med Genomics. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1186/s12920-026-02427-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over 70% of deaths worldwide, and metabolic risk factors such as obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension greatly increase the incidence of NCDs. Lifestyle changes have exacerbated these conditions in Pakistan; therefore, a better knowledge of their underlying mechanisms is required. This study investigates the relationship between fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) blood levels, the rs152524 gene polymorphism, and metabolic risk factors.

METHOD: We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study of 199 adults recruited from outpatient departments between September 2023 and June 2024. After written informed consent, demographic, medical, and biochemical data were collected. FGF1 rs152524 was genotyped using tetra-primer ARMS PCR and serum FGF1 levels were quantified by ELISA at the National Health Research Complex and Lahore College for Women University. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v.26; p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age or BMI between males and females. However, females demonstrated significantly higher median (IQR) of FGF1 levels [333 pg/ml (250-467) vs. 292 pg/ml (212-374); p = 0.011]. Fasting blood glucose, LDL-cholesterol and hypertension were the three main predictors of FGF1 levels, according to regression analysis. Within the participant population, 38.7% carried the AA genotype of rs152524. The allelic frequencies of reference A and alternative G alleles were 0.5955 and 0.4045 respectively. AA genotype was substantially associated with both hypertension (p < 0.001) and overweight/obesity (p = 0.002). The highest median (IQR) FGF1 blood levels 351(263-546) pg/ml were observed among AA genotype carriers. At the same time, a substantial rise in HDL-cholesterol 36(32-42) was found among carriers of the GG genotype.

CONCLUSION: This hospital-based study identified a potential association between the FGF1 rs152524 AA genotype and obesity and hypertension. The AA genotype was present in 38% of participants, with risk rising per ‘A’ allele, while the G allele appeared protective. These preliminary findings require validation in larger, population-based cohorts before clinical relevance can be assessed.

PMID:42443887 | DOI:10.1186/s12920-026-02427-1

BMC Vet Res. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12917-026-05724-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alopecia X (AX)-also referred to as hair cycle arrest or Alopecia X-like syndrome-is a non-inflammatory disorder common in Pomeranians, though it frequently affects other breeds such as Alaskan Malamutes, Chow Chows, Schipperkes, and Poodles. Historically known by various names including growth hormone-responsive alopecia, castration-responsive alopecia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia-like syndrome, this condition represents a complex follicular arrest of “plush-coated” breeds. The etiopathogenesis remains unclear, and reliable, minimally invasive diagnostic biomarkers are lacking. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is essential for hair follicle cycling, and systemic deficiency has been hypothesized to contribute to canine alopecia. This study aimed to determine if serum IGF-1 concentrations differ between Pomeranian dogs with AX and healthy controls, and to evaluate the effect of neuter status on IGF-1 levels.

RESULTS: Thirty client-owned Pomeranian dogs (11 AX, 19 healthy controls) were enrolled. Serum IGF-1 concentrations were measured via a human competitive ELISA kit validated in-house for canine samples. Data were non-normally distributed and analyzed via Mann-Whitney U tests. No significant difference in serum IGF-1 was detected between alopecic (median: 62.0 ng/mL; range: 7.31-151) and healthy dogs (median: 51.8 ng/mL; range: 7.43-209.76) (U = 74, p = 0.200). Neuter status was significantly imbalanced between groups (63.6% of cases neutered vs. 10.5% of controls, p = 0.002). While neutered dogs exhibited numerically higher mean IGF-1 values than intact dogs within the alopecic group, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.412). No correlation was found between IGF-1 and age or body weight.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum IGF-1 concentrations are not reduced in Pomeranian dogs with Alopecia X compared to healthy controls. Routine measurement of serum IGF-1 is not recommended as a diagnostic test for AX. The role of gonadectomy in modulating the GH/IGF-1 axis in this breed requires further investigation with larger, balanced cohorts.

PMID:42443886 | DOI:10.1186/s12917-026-05724-0

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-09166-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the prevalence of sella turcica bridging (STB) and to check whether sella can be considered as diagnostic marker for class II malocclusion. Secondarily, any possible association between STB and dental anomalies was evaluated.

METHODS: Panoramic and cephalometric radiographs taken for pre-orthodontic evaluation of 150 subjects (75 female and 75 males) in the age from 13 to 25 years were evaluated. The malocclusion and other dental anomalies were identified through clinical examination and radiographic confirmation of the diagnosis. The presence, extent of the bridging and dimensions of the sella turcica were evaluated on cephalometric radiographs. The link between STB and malocclusion was explored by chi square test and the student’s unpaired t test.

RESULTS: Of one hundred and fifty subjects, 47 displayed Sella turcica bridging (STB); the majority had partial bridging (Type II, n = 34). The sellar anatomical types with regard to bridging were not linked to gender, but significant differences were observed among different category of malocclusion. Between subjects with STB and existence of class II malocclusion, highly significant (P = 0.0001) association was recorded. A statistically significant correlation (P = 0.0001) was discovered between the prevalence of STB (both partial and total) and the existence of teeth crowding. STB did not vary regarding the impaction of maxillary canines.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study indicate a definite link between Sella turcica bridging and class II malocclusion and teeth crowding. Sella turcica bridging STB did not vary in subjects with impaction of the maxillary canine, and gender does not influence it.

PMID:42443882 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-026-09166-w

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-09136-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pulpitis is one of the major causes of acute orofacial pain globally, yet public understanding of its early signs and the importance of timely intervention remains insufficient. Despite the growing use of social media platforms for sharing health-related information, no systematic evaluation has been conducted on the quality of pulpitis-related content available on these platforms. This study aims to assess the completeness, quality, reliability, understandability and actionability of pulpitis-related videos on Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili, with particular attention to the role of dental practitioners in shaping video quality.

METHODS: Three hundred twenty-nine videos from Douyin, Xiaohongshu and Bilibili were included in the analysis. For each video, data were collected on duration, likes, comments, collections, number of days online, uploader’s follower count and video source. Content completeness was assessed using a self-developed checklist, while video quality was evaluated using the Global Quality Score (GQS), modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric tests, the Fisher’s exact test and Spearman’s correlation.

RESULTS: Among the 329 videos analyzed, Xiaohongshu consistently outperformed Bilibili across all evaluated metrics (p < 0.05), and surpassed Douyin in all measures except understandability (p < 0.05 except PEMAT-U). Bilibili had the longest median video duration (145 s) but received the lowest quality scores (p < 0.05 except mDISCERN compared with Douyin), whereas Douyin demonstrated the highest level of user engagement (Likes, Comments, Collections, p < 0.01) alongside the shortest median duration (40 s). Videos uploaded by dental practitioners achieved significantly higher reliability scores across all three platforms (p < 0.05). Within the practitioner-generated subgroup, Xiaohongshu ranked highest in content completeness, quality, reliability and actionability (p < 0.05). On Douyin, video duration correlated positively with all five quality metrics (ρ = 0.222-0.468, p < 0.05); on Xiaohongshu, significant positive correlations were found for four metrics (ρ = 0.204-0.388, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Among the three platforms examined, Xiaohongshu demonstrated higher quality and content scores in the sampled recommended videos, suggesting it may be a more suitable source for pulpitis-related health information. Dental practitioners were found to consistently enhance video quality and reliability, and video duration was positively associated with content quality. These findings underscore the potential value of developing educational videos that are not only comprehensive but also understandable and actionable. Greater engagement by dental practitioners in creating such content may facilitate more effective dissemination of health information and could support public education on pulpitis.

PMID:42443880 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-026-09136-2

BMC Womens Health. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12905-026-04534-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) is a severe complication of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Conservative antibiotic therapy is the preferred first-line treatment; however, treatment failure necessitates surgical intervention in a subset of patients. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with antibiotic treatment failure in TOA through a systematic review and meta-analysis, thereby providing evidence for clinical decision-making.

METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science to identify controlled studies on risk factors for antibiotic treatment failure in TOA published between database inception and December 2025. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the literature. Mean differences (MDs) or odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic and the Q test.

RESULTS: Thirteen studies involving 1,759 patients were included. The meta-analysis revealed that patients in the antibiotic treatment failure group were significantly older (MD = 3.61 years, P < 0.0001) and had significantly larger abscess diameters (MD = 18.43 mm, P < 0.0001) than those in the success group. Furthermore, higher gravidity (MD = 0.59, P = 0.0001) and parity (MD = 0.32, P = 0.002) were identified as significant risk factors for treatment failure. No statistically significant associations were found between treatment failure and history of smoking, history of PID, intrauterine device use, palpable pelvic mass or positive pathogen culture.

CONCLUSION: Advanced age, larger abscess diameter and multiparity are potential risk factors for antibiotic treatment failure in TOA. For such high-risk patients, more aggressive monitoring or early combined minimally invasive drainage strategies are recommended.

PMID:42443874 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-026-04534-8

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-08814-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dental anxiety remains a major challenge in clinical dentistry, often preventing patients from seeking necessary treatment and compromising oral health outcomes. Although psychological scales such as Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale are widely used to assess anxiety, objective biochemical markers could provide valuable complementary information. Opiorphin, an endogenous peptide known for its analgesic and antidepressant-like effects, has recently emerged as a potential biomarker for stress and pain regulation. However, the role of Opiorphin in dental anxiety remains largely unexplored; therefore, to the best of our knowledge, the present investigation represents an initial effort to address this gap in the literature. This study aimed to estimate salivary opiorphin levels in patients undergoing routine dental checkups and examine their correlation with anxiety levels using Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale. Additionally, it sought to evaluate the relationship between salivary opiorphin and the established dental anxiety biomarker, salivary alpha-amylase.

METHODS: Fifty-six adult participants aged 20-60 years who reported for routine dental checkups without associated pain, systemic illness, or recent analgesic use were enrolled. Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale was used to evaluate anxiety, and unstimulated saliva samples were collected. Opiorphin levels were quantified using a human opiorphin ELISA kit, while salivary alpha-amylase activity was determined using a human AMY1 ELISA kit.

RESULTS: A strong, statistically significant positive correlation was found between anxiety scores and salivary opiorphin levels, whereas no significant relationship was observed with salivary alpha-amylase.

CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that salivary opiorphin may serve as a novel, non-invasive biomarker for dental anxiety, offering new avenues for early detection and individualized management of anxious patients.

PMID:42443869 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-026-08814-5

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12891-026-10204-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided myofascial platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)-induced chronic low back pain.

METHODS: Fifty-eight patients treated between May and December 2024 received a single ultrasound-guided PRP injection (n = 32) or two weekly normal saline injections (n = 26), and both groups underwent myofascial hydrodissection targeting trigger points in the longissimus lumborum. Pain intensity was assessed via Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Surface electromyography (sEMG) measured neuromuscular activity through root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF). Statistical analyses used SPSS v.27.

RESULTS: Both groups showed significant VAS reduction at 12 weeks (p < 0.001), with greater improvement in the PRP group (r = 0.501). PRP also yielded significant ODI improvement (r = 0.611) exceeding the minimum clinically important difference. RMS values decreased markedly in the PRP group (p = 0.001) and modestly in the NS group (p = 0.006). MF demonstrated a transient decline at week 4 (p = 0.014). No adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided myofascial PRP injection effectively reduces pain, enhances function, and modulates MTrPs activity in MPS at short-term follow-up, with good safety. These results support further randomized trials to validate the rehabilitative benefits of PRP for chronic low back pain.

PMID:42443868 | DOI:10.1186/s12891-026-10204-5

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12891-026-10201-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Primaryshoulder arthroplasty is increasingly used to treat degenerative and traumatic shoulder conditions. This study aims to analyze incidence trends of primary shoulder arthroplasty in Sweden from 2008 to 2023 and to evaluate temporal changes in surgical and fixation methods, with projections for future incidence rates through 2025 and 2030.

METHODS: A retrospective, population-based study combining data from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) and the Swedish Shoulder Arthroplasty Register (SSAR). All patients aged ≥ 15 years undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2023 were included. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 inhabitants, and regression modelling based on best fit were used to assess temporal trends and projections through 2030.

RESULTS: 28,632 primary shoulder arthroplasties were performed (women: 18,569; men: 10,063). Overall incidence increased from 13.2 to 32.7 per 100,000. Women had higher increases in absolute incidence rates (17.4 to 41.2) while men showed a greater relative increase (8.8 to 24.2). HA declined steadily, becoming the least used method. Usage of RTSA increased, becoming the most common method in individuals aged ≥ 65 years. Cemented fixation declined across both age groups.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of primary shoulder arthroplasty in Sweden more than doubled between 2008 and 2023, with a shift towards RTSA, away from HA and cemented fixation. Projections indicate continued growth through 2030.

PMID:42443864 | DOI:10.1186/s12891-026-10201-8

BMC Public Health. 2026 Jul 13. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-28552-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Treatment adherence in type 2 diabetes(T2D) is essential for glycemic control and preventing complications. The aim of the present study was to determine the status of adherence behaviors to diabetes treatment and identify sociodemographic factors associated with these behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes in southern Iran.

METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to January 2023 among patients with type 2 diabetes attending a diabetes clinic in Bandar Abbas. A total of 396 patients were included using systematic sampling. Data were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic characteristics and five treatment-adherence behaviors, including regular medication use, blood glucose monitoring, physician visits, dietary adherence, and physical activity. Associations between demographic and disease-related factors and the outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, and crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were reported. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 24.

RESULTS: Participants (n = 396) had a mean age of 54.4 ± 11.5 years (range: 27-78). Among the treatment adherence behaviors, regular medication use showed the highest level of adherence (86.9%), while regular physical activity had the lowest level (49.7%). In the multivariable analysis, frequent medication use was associated with older age, higher education, higher economic status, and diabetes duration of 6-10 years. Frequent blood glucose monitoring was associated with female sex, older age, and diploma education. Frequent physician visits were associated with older age and longer diabetes duration. Dietary adherence was associated with university education, and frequent physical activity was associated with living alone.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that adherence to treatment among patients with T2Dvaries across different domains and is shaped by individual, social, and clinical factors. It seems that, Lifestyle behaviors such as diet and physical activity are largely influenced by social and environmental contexts, whereas healthcare‑seeking behaviors are more closely linked to disease severity and patients’ interaction with the health system.

PMID:42443860 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-026-28552-1