Category: Nevin Manimala

Ann Ig. 2025 Apr 10. doi: 10.7416/ai.2025.2699. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It has been observed that women vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may show axillary lymphadenopathy at screening mammogram, which may become suspicious for malignancy, leading to an increased recall rate for further diagnostic evaluations and a higher number of false-positive results, as well as considerable emotional distress for the women involved.

STUDY DESIGN: The study aimed to assess the incidence of doubt/positive results in the 1st level mammogram among women who received a COVID-19 vaccine within 4 weeks before mammogram, compared to unvaccinated women. Further aims included the analysis of the distribution of doubt/positive 1st level screening mammogram results according to different women-related and diagnostic work-up-related characteristics, and the evaluation of the incidence of false-positive results observed at the 2nd level.

METHODS: The cohort study was carried out by retrospectively reviewing electronic data records related to the breast screening program of the Local Health Authority of Bologna in 2021 concerning women between 45 and 74 years old. Excluded were the women outside the age range, with prior breast cancer history, or receiving COVID-19 vaccination more than 4 weeks before the mammogram.

RESULTS: A total of 43,856 (mean age 56.6 ± 8.7) women met the study’s inclusion criteria. Among all enrolled women, the recall rate was 5.5% (N=2,394). There were no statistically significant differences in doubt/positive results between vaccinated within 4 weeks before the mammogram and unvaccinated women (5.5% versus 5.4%, p=0.649). However, those who received the Pfizer vaccine showed a significantly higher rate of doubt/positive results.

CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals’ awareness of vaccine records and educating patients about rare adverse effects can help prevent unnecessary biopsies, interventions, and changes in patient management. Further research is needed to confirm our findings.

PMID:40223494 | DOI:10.7416/ai.2025.2699

Iran Biomed J. 2025 Jan 1;29(1 & 2):68-81.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Metacyclogenesis is a critical developmental process in the life cycle of Leishmania parasites, particularly in their transition from non-infective procyclic to infective metacyclic promastigotes. This transformation is closely linked to the metabolic adaptation of the parasite, optimizing its survival and infectivity under varying environmental conditions. In this study, we integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics data to gain deeper insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of L. major metacyclogenesis.

METHODS: The metabolic profiles of procyclic and metacyclic promastigotes were first identified using ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed 44 significantly different metabolites between the two forms. Metabolic pathway analysis for differentially expressed metabolites identified 10 significantly different pathways (p < 0.05 and impact > 0.05). Finally, the differential gene expression analysis was conducted on transcriptomic data retrieved from public repositories.

RESULT: Results indicated the upregulation of 238 genes and the downregulation of 49 genes during metacyclogenesis. These genes underwent GO and KEGG pathway analyses, revealing upregulated GO categories in the metacyclic phase, including protein phosphorylation, ion transport, signal transduction, and phosphorylation reactions, as well as several downregulated GO categories. Integrating metabolomic and transcriptomic data demonstrated seven significantly different KEGG pathways between procyclic and metacyclic forms, including fructose and mannose, galactose, ascorbate and aldarate, arginine and proline, histidine, inositol phosphate, and pyruvate metabolism.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest distinct metabolic profiles and changes in gene expression associated with the transition from procyclic to metacyclic promastigotes. By integrating diverse omics data, we could identify more reliable altered pathways and biomarkers.

PMID:40223480

Cancer. 2025 Apr 15;131(8):e35793. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35793.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Major events, such as Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted Puerto Rico’s health system. Lack of access to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening services may have impeded timely diagnosis. The authors examined the impact of these events on CRC incidence in Puerto Rico.

METHODS: The Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry database allowed the authors to obtain CRC cases from 2012 to 2021. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed to examine changes in CRC incidence immediately after and during the periods after the hurricanes and the pandemic. Analysis periods included: pre-hurricanes, post-hurricanes, and post-COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

RESULTS: We observed a level change of -8.3 CRC cases was observed in the month the hurricanes struck Puerto Rico, corresponding to an immediate decrease of 17.5%. After a slight upward trend, a second decline of 39.4 CRC cases was estimated after the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, representing an immediate change of -24.2%. By the end of the study, the estimated numbers of patients with early stage CRC patients and those aged 50-75 years did not reach the expected numbers. In addition, CRC cases in patients with late-stage disease and in those aged younger than 50 years and aged 76 years and older exceeded the expected numbers.

CONCLUSIONS: Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in CRC incidence in Puerto Rico. This analysis suggests that limited access to CRC screening services during these events likely hindered CRC diagnoses. To fully understand the long-term effects, monitoring of CRC trends will be necessary in the coming years.

PMID:40223414 | DOI:10.1002/cncr.35793

Hand (N Y). 2025 Apr 14:15589447251322916. doi: 10.1177/15589447251322916. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Thumb trapeziometacarpal joint (TMj) contact area, pressures, and stability were quantified during metacarpal osteotomy and distraction lengthening with and without TMj-spanning fixation in a cadaver model. Spanning fixation was hypothesized to decrease TMj contact pressure, contact area, joint space narrowing, and subluxation compared with metacarpal fixation alone.

METHODS: Twenty matched-paired cadaver specimens underwent ligament-sparing thumb TMj dissection. A metacarpal external fixator was applied with and without a TMj-spanning component in 2 groups: spanning and nonspanning. A diaphyseal osteotomy was performed. The TMj contact pressure and area were recorded with an intraarticular sensor at baseline and at distraction intervals of 10, 20, 30, and 35 mm. The number of overloaded sensor cells (sensels), (>2000 psi) were recorded. The TMj subluxation and joint space width were assessed at all intervals with lateral thumb radiographs. Statistical analysis used paired 2-tailed t tests to account for inherent specimen characteristics.

RESULTS: Group 1 (TMj-spanning) exhibited a nonstatistically significant reduction in contact area and demonstrated fewer overloaded sensels. There was significantly less joint space narrowing and joint subluxation from 10 to 30 mm of distraction compared with group 2 (nonspanning).

CONCLUSIONS: The TMj spanning fixation during metacarpal distraction decreased joint space narrowing and TMj subluxation. Despite finding reduced contact area and fewer overloaded sensels in group 1, these parameters did not reach statistical significance. Spanning TMj fixation may mitigate TMj instability during metacarpal distraction osteogenesis.

PMID:40223408 | DOI:10.1177/15589447251322916

Small. 2025 Apr 13:e2412312. doi: 10.1002/smll.202412312. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Gas separation is a critical industrial process that consumes a significant amount of energy due to the widely used techniques that are currently employed. Adsorptive materials-such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-show promise as an energy-efficient alternative. Of particular current interest are novel, temperature-dependent separation processes in MOFs, such as the recently reported separation of ternary isomeric hydrocarbon mixtures within one and the same material. However, the mechanisms of these highly desirable separations remain poorly understood. Herein, through a combination of ab initio simulations and statistical mechanics, it is shown that the temperature dependence is the result of a constraint on the guest molecule’s entropic degrees of freedom when loaded into the MOF, caused by the fortuitous tight fitting of the guest inside the pore. While the framework applies to all molecular adsorption in porous media, it is essential for the description of large molecules in small pores, which is demonstrated here using the separation of C6 isomers in Ca(H₂tcpb) as a test case. The developed framework and analysis not only reveal the reason why separation occurs but also predict the temperatures at which it takes place, thus opening the door to newly designed MOFs with tailor-made precision.

PMID:40223407 | DOI:10.1002/smll.202412312

Physiol Rep. 2025 Apr;13(7):e70337. doi: 10.14814/phy2.70337.

ABSTRACT

Poor recovery pattern of oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) post-exercise is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. However, it remains unknown which component of the O₂ pathway (Fick principle) defines this prognostic risk, for example, peripheral extraction, stroke volume, heart rate. Retrospective cohort study included 120 participants (heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: HFpEF = 68, pre-capillary pulmonary hypertensio n = 31, non-cardiac dyspnea = 21). Percent recovery metrics were calculated as the percent reduction of each hemodynamic variable from peak exercise to recovery, for example, (exercise-recovery)/exercise ×100%. Overall, the mean age (standard deviation) was 62.6 (14.4) years and 54% were females. Among the three groups (HFpEF, pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension, non-cardiac dyspnea), recovery patterns of O₂ pathway components were statistically non-significant. Peripheral extraction recovery (r² = 0.43, p < 0.001) and heart rate recovery (r² = 0.25, p < 0.001) correlated with peak V̇O₂, but only peripheral extraction recovery remained significant in multivariate analysis (p = 0.01). Peripheral extraction recovery (<41%; median) demonstrated poor one-year survival from mortality and heart failure hospitalizations (HR 2.82; CI 95% 1.38-5.74, p = 0.003). Peripheral extraction recovery pattern is the most significant component of the O₂ pathway and defines adverse outcomes. Physiologically, it elucidates the importance of skeletal muscle and peripheral vascular function.

PMID:40223379 | DOI:10.14814/phy2.70337

Stat Methods Med Res. 2025 Apr 13:9622802241313288. doi: 10.1177/09622802241313288. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We propose a procedure to estimate the “time-specific average treatment effect” and “global average treatment effect” for observational studies with outcomes and covariates repeatedly measured over time. This research is motivated by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS), a longitudinal cohort study that aims to evaluate the influences of race and other risk factors on the levels of blood pressure for children and adolescents. As with most longitudinal cohort studies, we do not have a known propensity score model to further discuss the average treatment effects in the NGHS. To solve this problem, a nonparametric machine learning method, the generalized boosted models (GBMs), is used to estimate the propensity score. Based on the estimated propensity score, the “time-specific average treatment effect” can be obtained through the inverse probability weighting methods, then the “global average treatment effect” is also obtained. We apply the proposed GBM-based estimation method to the NGHS blood pressure data and demonstrate through a simulation study that the GBM-based estimation method is superior to the commonly used logistic regression-based method.

PMID:40223335 | DOI:10.1177/09622802241313288

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2025 Apr 14. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000003386. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cardiac POCUS is sometimes performed in patients with chest pain or syncope in the pediatric ED. It is possible that adolescent females are less likely to receive a scan due to provider discomfort with the potential obstruction of breast tissue. The primary aim of this study was to compare the proportion of cardiac POCUS obtained in adolescent males versus females to determine whether there is a difference. This was a retrospective chart review of adolescent patients who presented with chest pain or syncope from the year 2018 to 2020. Cardiac POCUS scans obtained on this cohort were reviewed, and the patients were then compared by sex to see whether there were differences in the number and proportion of scans obtained. The quality of the overall scans was also evaluated and compared to see whether there was a sex-based difference. Descriptive statistics was calculated, and differences were assessed by sex using χ2 test. A total of 2814 patients were enrolled in the study; 1096 were male, and 1718 were female. Of those, 259 received cardiac POCUS; 132 (51%) were male and 127 (49%) were female. There was a significant difference in the proportion of patients who received cardiac POCUS, based on sex (P<0.0001). There was no significant difference in the sex of the patient and the quality of the images obtained. Interrater reliability between a Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellow who has had cardiac POCUS training and a pediatric cardiologist was compared and yielded a kappa of 0.565. There was a significant difference in the sex of the patients who received cardiac POCUS for the complaint of chest pain or syncope.

PMID:40223316 | DOI:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003386

Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2025 Apr 13:10556656251332119. doi: 10.1177/10556656251332119. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveAccording to food texture preference (FTP), children can be categorized as soft likers (SL) or hard likers. This study explored the relationship between FTP and having an oral cleft in children of the mixed dentition stage. The hypothesis stated that having an oral cleft phenotype would shift a child’s FTP toward soft-food textures.DesignA case-control study that employed a validated child food texture preference questionnaire (CFTPQ) to assess FTP. Children’s general demographics, food neophobia, and food intake data were collected using validated questionnaires. A pediatric dentist evaluated the children’s dental status.SettingData was collected in a dental teaching center and 5 public schools for cases and controls, respectively.ParticipantsThis study included 6- to 13-year-old children with treated oral clefts (n = 87) and their non-cleft peers (n = 413).Main outcome measureCFTPQ index.ResultsCases demonstrated a significantly lower mean CFTPQ index (31.97 ± 16.20) compared to controls (42.07 ± 16.42, P < .001). A total of 45 cases (51%) and 94 (23%) controls were identified as SL (P < .001). Cases were more food neophobic (42.67 ± 9.03) compared to controls (39.03 ± 11.62, P = .002). The final linear regression model identified age and oral cleft phenotype as variables of significant impact on FTP. Moreover, the cleft type, the type, and the number of surgical interventions received did not significantly influence their FTP.ConclusionsThis study offers new insight into a potential relationship between FTP and oral clefts in 6- to 13-year-old children. Children with cleft lip and/or palate demonstrate a preference for soft food textures and are more food-neophobic compared to their non-cleft counterparts.

PMID:40223297 | DOI:10.1177/10556656251332119

Neurol Res Pract. 2025 Apr 14;7(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s42466-025-00381-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cause of cardioembolic stroke and can lead to severe and recurrent cerebrovascular events. Thus, identifying patients suffering from cardioembolic events caused by undetected AF is crucial. Previously, we found an association between increasing stroke severity and a decreasing left atrial appendage (LAA) blood flow velocity below 60 cm/s.

METHODS: This was a prospective single-center cohort study including hospitalized patients who underwent a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in sinus rhythm. The participants were divided into two groups (≥ 60 cm/s;<60 cm/s) based on their maximum LAA blood flow velocity. The results of the cardiovascular risk assessment and 24- to 72-hour ECG Holter were recorded. Follow-up appointments were scheduled at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. The primary endpoint was new-onset AF. The statistics included a Cox-proportional-hazard-model and a binary logistic regression. Numerical data or categorical data were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test.

RESULTS: A total of 166 patients were recruited. The median LAA blood flow velocity was 64 cm/s. New-onset AF was diagnosed in 22.9% of the patients. An LAA blood flow velocity ≤ 60 cm/s was associated with a threefold increased risk of new-onset AF (35.8% vs. 11.5%; HR3.56; CI95%1.70-7.46; p < 0.001), independently according to a multivariate analysis (p = 0.035). Furthermore, a decreasing LAA blood flow velocity was associated with an increased risk of new-onset AF (OR1.043; CI95%1.021-1.069; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: A low LAA blood flow velocity (≤ 60 cm/s) in sinus rhythm is prospectively associated with an increased risk of new-onset AF. Additional simple LAA-TEE examinations could help to identify patients who benefit from more accurate cardiac rhythm monitoring.

PMID:40223142 | DOI:10.1186/s42466-025-00381-4