Category: Nevin Manimala

Front Immunol. 2025 Jan 10;15:1509534. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1509534. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Brucellosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that poses a considerable challenge to global public health. Existing diagnostic methods for this condition, such as serological assays and bacterial culture, encounter difficulties due to their limited specificity and high operational complexity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of enhanced diagnostic approaches for brucellosis.

METHODS: Tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomic analysis was conducted on the wild-type strain Brucella abortus (B. abortus) DT21 and the vaccine strain B. abortus A19 to identify proteins with high expression levels. The proteins that exhibited high expression in the wild-type strain were selected based on the proteomic results. Subsequently, B-cell linear epitopes were predicted using multiple computational tools, including ABCpred, SVMTriP, BCPred, and Bepipred Linear Epitope Prediction 2.0. These epitopes were concatenated to construct a multiepitope fusion protein. Following prokaryotic expression and purification, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) was developed. A total of 100 positive serum samples, 96 negative serum samples, and 40 serum samples from patients infected with other pathogens were collected and analyzed using the established iELISA. Furthermore, the protein was assessed for its capability to differentiate human brucellosis from lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

RESULTS: Proteomic analysis revealed the presence of 152 proteins with high expression levels in the wild-type strains. A multiepitope fusion protein, comprising a total of 32 predicted B-cell linear epitopes, was successfully prepared. The results from the iELISA indicated that the multiepitope fusion protein exhibited exceptional diagnostic performance, evidenced by an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.9576, a sensitivity of 0.9300, and a specificity of 0.8542. In comparison to the commonly utilized LPS antigen, the fusion protein demonstrated a reduced level of cross-reactivity.

CONCLUSIONS: A novel multiepitope fusion protein has been successfully developed utilizing bioinformatics and TMT proteomics technology. This fusion protein demonstrates significant potential as a diagnostic antigen for brucellosis, exhibiting high sensitivity and specificity.

PMID:39867886 | PMC:PMC11757136 | DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1509534

Brain Behav Immun Health. 2024 Dec 28;43:100939. doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100939. eCollection 2025 Feb.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Up to 50% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience depression. Depression has been accompanied by increases in inflammatory proteins. This meta-analysis summarized the data on inflammatory protein concentrations and level of depression in individuals with MS.

METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of studies measuring inflammatory protein concentrations and level of depression in individuals with MS with a database search of the English literature (to October 2024) and a manual search of references. Quality of evidence was also assessed.

RESULTS: Fifteen studies involving measurements of inflammatory proteins and level of depression in 1102 individuals with MS were included in the meta-analysis: five for interleukin (IL)-10 (LPS and PHA), four for tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, four for interferon (IFN)-γ, and four for IL-6 (LPS and PHA). A meta-analysis showed that higher concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly associated with higher levels of depression in individuals with MS (r = 0.35, 95% CI [0.6,0.03], p = .015. Meta-analyses undertaken for individual inflammatory proteins of IFN-γ and IL-10 found positive associations between these proteins and level of depression although these did not reach statistical significance. Most studies were rated ‘poor quality’.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis reports significant associations between higher concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 and level of depresson in individuals with MS. Future longitudinal studies with improved reporting of data are needed to replicate these results and confirm the mechanisms through which these inflammatory proteins are present. Meta-analytic findings lend support to depression being associated with the activation of the inflammatory system in individuals with MS.

PMID:39867847 | PMC:PMC11758135 | DOI:10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100939

Int J Public Health. 2025 Jan 10;69:1607669. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1607669. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Research questions about how and why health trends differ between populations require decisions about data analytic procedure. The objective was to document and compare the information returned from stratified, fixed effect and random effect approaches to data modelling for two prototypical descriptive research questions about comparative trends in toothbrushing.

METHODS: Data included five cycles of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2006 to 2022, which provided a sample of 980192 11- to 15- year olds from 35 countries. Using logistic regression models and generalized linear mixed models, toothbrushing daily was regressed on time, following the three approaches to analysis of trends.

RESULTS: The stratified approach suggested a positive but non-linear trend in toothbrushing from 2006 to 2022 in most countries but provided no statistical inference on the variation. The fixed effect and the random effect approach converged on a positive but flattening overall trend, with a statistically significant country variation in trends.

CONCLUSION: Only the fixed effect approach and the random effects approach provided clear answers to the research question. Additional methodological considerations for making an informed choice of analytical approach are discussed.

PMID:39867841 | PMC:PMC11757018 | DOI:10.3389/ijph.2024.1607669

Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2025 Jan 8;50:101208. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101208. eCollection 2025 Mar.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption has been linked with higher risk of mortality. This multi-centre study investigated associations between food intake by degree of processing, using the Nova classification, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

METHODS: This study analyzed data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. All-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality due to cancer, circulatory diseases, digestive diseases, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease served as endpoints. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Substitution analyses were also performed.

FINDINGS: Overall, 428,728 (71.7% female) participants were included in the analysis and 40,016 deaths were documented after 15.9 years of follow-up. UPFs (in percentage grams per day [g/d]) were positively associated with all-cause mortality (HRs per 1-SD: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02,1.05), as well as mortality from circulatory diseases (1.09; 95% CI: 1.07,1.12), cerebrovascular disease (1.11; 95% CI: 1.05,1.17), ischemic heart disease (1.10; 95% CI: 1.06,1.15), digestive diseases (1.12; 95% CI: 1.05,1.20), and Parkinson’s disease (1.23; 95% CI: 1.06,1.42). No associations were found between UPFs and mortality from cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. Replacing processed and UPFs with unprocessed/minimally processed foods was associated with lower mortality risk.

INTERPRETATION: In this pan-European analysis, higher UPF consumption was associated with greater mortality from circulatory diseases, digestive diseases, and Parkinson’s disease. The results support growing evidence that higher consumption of UPFs and lower consumption of unprocessed foods may have a negative impact on health.

FUNDING: l’Institut National du Cancer, and World Cancer Research Fund International.

PMID:39867840 | PMC:PMC11764076 | DOI:10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101208

Pak J Med Sci. 2025 Jan;41(1):171-175. doi: 10.12669/pjms.41.1.9705.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical efficacy of the interactive humanistic nursing model in emergency rescue of epidemic outbreaks.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study. A total of 200 patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University between December 2022 and March 2023 were selected and divided into the observation group(n=100) and the control group(n=100) according to different nursing methods used. Patients in the control group received conventional basic nursing intervention, and those in the observation group received humanistic nursing based on basic nursing care. Compared the psychological status, treatment compliance, clinical efficacy, and nursing quality management between the two groups of patients.

RESULTS: The treatment compliance of both groups of patients was significantly improved after intervention, and the degree of improvement in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Hospital stay and time to symptom relief and disappearance were shortened in the observation group compared with those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The scores of nursing efficacy, nursing satisfaction, and nursing safety were increased in the observation group compared with those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The interactive humanistic nursing model effectively improves the psychological status of patients and increases treatment compliance, clinical efficacy, and nursing quality, which is worthy of clinical application.

PMID:39867808 | PMC:PMC11755268 | DOI:10.12669/pjms.41.1.9705

Pak J Med Sci. 2025 Jan;41(1):210-213. doi: 10.12669/pjms.41.1.9715.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of undiagnosed hypertension among the diabetic patients with micro vascular complications.

METHOD: This is a descriptive case series conducted at Department of Medicine, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, in this six month stud which enrolled 213 patients between 18-60 years from March 28, 2021 to September 28, 2021, having diabetes with microvascular complications. These patients were not previously diagnosed as hypertensives. Patient was diagnosed as hypertensive if SBP or DBP was ≥l40 or ≥90 mmHg respectively. The frequency of undiagnosed hypertension was noted and compared across various subgroups of patients.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 49.3±9.7 years. The mean BMI of these patients was 28.3±3.5 Kg/m2 and 67 (31.5%) patients were obese. The mean duration of disease was 8.2±3.9 years. Majority (62.4%) of the patients had diabetic retinopathy while 37.6% patients had diabetic nephropathy. Undiagnosed hypertension was observed in 42 (19.7%) patients with diabetic micro vascular complications. The frequency of undiagnosed hypertension was significantly higher among obese as compared to non-obese patients (28.4% vs. 15.8%; p-value=0.032). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of undiagnosed hypertension across various subgroups based on patient’s age (p-value=0.750), gender (p-value=0.902), type of micro vascular complication (p value=0.783) and duration of diabetes (p-value=0.763).

CONCLUSION: In the present study, a substantial proportion of patients with diabetic micro vascular complications suffered undiagnosed hypertension which is alarming and advocates routine blood pressure monitoring of such patients so that timely identification and anticipated management of underlying hypertension may improve the outcome of such cases in future clinical practice.

PMID:39867788 | PMC:PMC11755311 | DOI:10.12669/pjms.41.1.9715

Pak J Med Sci. 2025 Jan;41(1):157-162. doi: 10.12669/pjms.41.1.9186.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of leishmaniasis on the quality of life of patients visiting the district headquarter hospital in District Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted in District Headquarter Hospital of Khyber District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 2019 to April 2020. In this study, 349 participants who consented were included by using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. A validated questionnaire “Dermatology Life Quality Index” (DLQI) was used for data collection. Independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were used for mean scores comparison.

RESULTS: The mean DLQI score of cutaneous leishmania patients was 11.83 ± 3.94. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients experienced a huge impact on their quality of life. The highest effect was observed for symptoms and feelings while the least impact was for the treatment. Statistically, no significant difference in mean DLQI score was found for gender, age, marital status, lesion activity, lesion appearance, and treatment history (p > 0.05). However, statistically, a significant difference was observed for the education, occupation, lesion location, and lesion type (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: CL had a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life and mental health. Further research is required to assess the impact of the treatment on QOL in CL patients. and for a better understanding of the issue and its mechanistic basis.

PMID:39867785 | PMC:PMC11755279 | DOI:10.12669/pjms.41.1.9186

Pak J Med Sci. 2025 Jan;41(1):205-209. doi: 10.12669/pjms.41.1.9835.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Shengyang Yiwei Decoction (SYD) combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI) antidepressants on the total score and scores of factors of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAMD-17) and somatic symptoms in patients with depression.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study. One hundred and twenty patients with depression were treated in Hebei Provincial Mental Health Center between December 2020 and May 2022 and randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group, with 60 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants and those in the experimental group were treated with modified SYD in addition to SSRIs for eight weeks. Explored the efficacy and adverse drug reactions of the two treatment options.

RESULTS: After eight weeks of treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the total efficacy between the two groups(p>0.05); the total score of HAMD-17 and scores of factors except body weight were decreased in the experimental group compared with those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant(p<0.05). The SSI score of the experimental group was decreased compared with that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: SYD combined with SSRI antidepressants in the treatment of depression can reduce the total score and the scores of factors of HAMD-17 without increasing the incidence of adverse drug reactions. This combination can be used as an integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment for depression.

PMID:39867783 | PMC:PMC11755288 | DOI:10.12669/pjms.41.1.9835

Neurol Res. 2025 Jan 26:1-10. doi: 10.1080/01616412.2024.2448633. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Within the scope of this research, the long-term effects of experimental blunt head trauma on immature rats and MK-801 administered acutely after trauma on the brain tissue will be examined. In addition, the impact of trauma and MK-801 on Nestin and CD133, which are essential stem cells, will be evaluated by immunohistochemical and ELISA methods.

METHODS: In this study, the contusion trauma model was used. Sprague Dawley rats 30 7-day-old were divided into three groups: Group 1 (n = 10) control group, Group 2 (n = 10) trauma Group (head trauma applied), and Group 3 (n = 10) MK-801 + trauma Group. In the third group, immediately after head trauma, MK-801 (Sigma M107) dissolved in physiological saline was administered as a single dose of 1 mg/kg ip.

RESULTS: The concentration of nestin was significantly higher in the control group compared to both the trauma and trauma+drug groups (p < 0.001). CD133 was statistically significantly higher in the control group compared to the other two groups (p = 0.002). It was determined that the differences in Nestin CA1 and DG measurements resulted from the trauma and control and trauma and trauma+drug groups, and the differences in CD133 CA1 and DG measurements resulted from the trauma and control group.

CONCLUSION: The positive effect of MK-801 on neuroprotective and neuronal proliferation was elaborated. Administration of MK-801 significantly induced nestin and CD133 concentrations in the injured tissue.

PMID:39865507 | DOI:10.1080/01616412.2024.2448633

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2025 Jan 28. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2024-1203. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac biomarkers are useful for the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of myocardial injury (MI) and heart failure. By measuring specific proteins released into the bloodstream during heart stress or damage, these biomarkers help clinicians detect the presence and extent of heart injury and tailor appropriate treatment plans. This study aims to provide robust biological variation (BV) data for cardiac biomarkers in athletes, specifically focusing on those applied to detect or exclude MI, such as myoglobin, creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) and cardiac troponins (cTn), and those related to heart failure and cardiac dysfunction, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal brain natriuretic pro-peptide (NT-proBNP).

METHODS: Thirty athletes participated, providing monthly fasting blood samples over 11 months. Samples were analyzed using chemiluminescent immunoassays and statistical analyses were conducted using the classical ANOVA method, a linear mixed model and a Bayesian approach.

RESULTS: The study observed significant gender differences in biomarker concentrations, with higher BNP and NT-proBNP in females and higher myoglobin and CK-MB in males. Physical activity within 24 h before sampling notably affected CK-MB, myoglobin, and hs-cTnI variability. The BV estimates demonstrated high individuality for most biomarkers, suggesting their potential for personalized monitoring. The study also revealed substantial heterogeneity for NT-proBNP and BNP within the population.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of considering gender-specific reference intervals and the impact of recent physical activity when interpreting cardiac biomarkers in athletes. The study delivers new BV estimates for CK-MB and myoglobin while emphasizing the need for tailored clinical assessments in athlete populations.

PMID:39865503 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2024-1203