Category: Nevin Manimala

Clin Spine Surg. 2025 Dec 30. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000002003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: A case-series study.

OBJECTIVES: To acquire diagnostic insights to distinguish between intradural extramedullary spinal metastases (IESM) and benign spinal tumors by comparing patients with IESM and those with schwannoma or spinal meningioma.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: IESM constitute a rare category of spinal metastases. As the outcome of IESM is usually poor without intervention, early diagnosis and treatment are particularly important for better prognosis. As few studies have clearly addressed the features of IESM, it is necessary to gain comprehensive diagnostic insights into the characteristics of the disease.

METHODS: Included in this study were 14 IESM patients who underwent gross total tumor resection. IESM and schwannoma or meningioma were compared in a ratio of 1:2. Differences in clinical and imaging presentations between them were analyzed statistically, and survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS: IESM presented an unclear boundary (P=0.005), an irregular shape (P=0.035), and A low probability of cystic degeneration (P=0.028) as compared with schwannoma. Compared with IESM, meningioma tended to have a clear boundary (P=0.001), a wide base (P=0.047), high calcification possibility (P=0.040), and homogeneous enhancement on MRI (P=0.016). The estimated mean overall survival of IESM patients was 16.80±3.94 months.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the characteristics of IESM and clarified the distinguishing points between IESM and intradural extramedullary benign tumors. Early warning features drawn from this study may be able to help clinicians to identify patients with IESM.

PMID:41474520 | DOI:10.1097/BSD.0000000000002003

Assessment. 2025 Dec 31:10731911251406404. doi: 10.1177/10731911251406404. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Existing diagnosis instruments for developmental dyslexia (DD) in mainland China are limited in generalizability and typically rely on traditional norming approaches, which require large sample sizes to achieve precision. This study aims to develop and validate the Beijing Normal University Diagnostic Tool for Chinese Mandarin Developmental Dyslexia (BNU-DTCMDD), a DD diagnostic tool with regression-based norms for elementary school students in mainland China. A nationally representative sample of 3,782 first-to-sixth-grade students and a clinical sample of 84 first-to-sixth-grade students diagnosed with specific learning disabilities (SLD) were administered the BNU-DTCMDD, comprising six tasks that measure reading abilities and related cognitive skills. The tool demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α .73-.99), good test-retest reliability (Pearson’s r .68-.99), good structural validity, and reasonable criterion validity (Cohen’s d 0.27-0.63). Norms were established using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS), yielding percentile curves and Z-scores. Based on the norms, the prevalence of DD was 6.08% in the normative sample and 73.81% in the clinical sample with SLD. The BNU-DTCMDD can diagnose DD in elementary school students in mainland China with good reliability and validity, and its regression-based norms overcome the statistical constraints of traditional norming and support timely diagnosis and intervention for DD.

PMID:41474507 | DOI:10.1177/10731911251406404

Adv Neonatal Care. 2025 Dec 30. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000001329. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The experience of having newborn admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is one that can be incredibly challenging for parents, particularly mothers.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of supportive nursing interventions defined as structured emotional support, informational counseling, and parent‑education sessions delivered by NICU nursing staff on anxiety, depression, and stress among mothers of NICU infants.

METHODS: We systematically reviewed 22 studies, encompassing 1877 participants, that reported on the effects of supportive nursing interventions for stress reduction among mothers with infants in NICU. Pooled standard mean differences (SMDs) were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q statistic and I2 index. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on study design and type of intervention.

RESULTS: Supportive nursing interventions produced a significant reduction in maternal NICU‑related stress (SMD = -1.285, 95% CI: -1.766 to -0.804; P < .001), indicating that mothers receiving these interventions experienced lower stress than controls. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 95.2%), reflecting variations in intervention format, measurement scales, and clinical settings. Subgroup analyses indicated a larger effect in nonrandomized trials (SMD = -2.16) versus randomized controlled trials (SMD = -0.99), and educational support interventions produced greater stress reduction (SMD = -1.61) than other forms of support (SMD = -0.83).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Supportive nursing interventions significantly reduce stress among mothers with infants in NICU. Tailored personalized support interventions, considering individual and cultural nuances, may further enhance the efficacy of these interventions. Future research should focus on identifying the most effective components of these interventions and ensuring their broader implementation in NICU settings.

PMID:41474506 | DOI:10.1097/ANC.0000000000001329

J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2025 Dec 31:1-13. doi: 10.1080/13803395.2025.2609824. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an important yet heterogeneous indicator of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Sex and health-related disparities in risk are well established, but differences in prevalence and conversion rates from SCD to MCI/Dementia by risk factor remain unclear.

METHOD: This preregistered study followed PRISMA guidelines to conduct a systematic review with a narrative synthesis and meta-analyses. Random-effects meta-analyses calculated the relative risk (RR) of sex, depression, hypertension, and diabetes in conversion from SCD to MCI/dementia. Q and I² statistics investigated heterogeneity. Prevalence rates were also calculated.

RESULTS: Five cross-cultural studies (N = 1136) were eligible for the meta-analyses. Participants, on average, had less than 12 years of education. Pooled analyses showed no significant differences in the RR of conversion for depression, hypertension, or diabetes. The pooled conversion rate of SCD to MCI was 17.2% and 8.7% to dementia. Evidence of heterogeneity suggested that the aggregated data may mask differences between studies; thus, unpublished conversion rates on comorbid SCD and the health conditions are reported to inform future research.

CONCLUSIONS: Relative risk estimates align with the greater literature and extend them to an inclusive cross-cultural sample with lower education. The significant heterogeneity found underscores the complexity of the interactions between cognitive decline and modifiable risk factors. This study provides novel conversion rates to MCI and dementia for individuals with comorbid SCD and depression, hypertension, and diabetes. We recommend that sex-stratified conversion rates are reported, as limited data prevented our meta-analysis from examining this important dimension of risk.

PMID:41474502 | DOI:10.1080/13803395.2025.2609824

World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2025 Dec 31;42(1):17. doi: 10.1007/s11274-025-04755-3.

ABSTRACT

The function of the livestock gut microbiome in driving animal growth, health, and methane emissions is controlled by networks of interactions among microbes. A major challenge is to move beyond simply listing microbial members to understanding these interaction networks, which determine how the community functions as a whole. This review synthesizes how network analysis, combined with multi-omics data, can meet this challenge. We focus on the critical task of identifying keystone species, the disproportionately influential microbes that direct processes like fiber digestion and immune function, yet are often missed by standard surveys. We evaluate a progression of methods, from identifying correlated species to building models that integrate genomic, metabolic, and host data. This integration is key to separating true ecological relationships from statistical noise and to linking microbial presence to function. We highlight how computational techniques like metabolic modeling and machine learning are turning networks into predictive tools. Finally, we outline the path forward: field-ready studies that track microbiomes over time, the development of livestock-specific metabolic models, and analytical standards that will allow research to translate into practical strategies. The goal is to provide a framework for using network science to actively manage the microbiome, enhancing sustainable livestock production.

PMID:41474484 | DOI:10.1007/s11274-025-04755-3

NCHS Data Brief. 2025 Jan;(523):1. doi: 10.15620/cdc/174574.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This report explores differences between cesarean delivery rates for Puerto Rican mothers giving birth in Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland in 2023, by maternal age, gestational age, source of payment for the delivery, and state.

METHODS: This report uses data from the National Vital Statistics System natality data file. Information for Puerto Rico is based on data from birth certificates and includes all births occurring in Puerto Rico to residents of Puerto Rico who self-reported Puerto Rican ethnicity with known method of delivery (17,547 births in 2023). Information for the U.S. mainland is based on data for births occurring in the 50 states and District of Columbia (D.C.) to residents of the 50 states and D.C. who self-reported Puerto Rican ethnicity (1.8% of U.S. births in 2023) with known method of delivery (66,186 births in 2023).

RESULTS: The cesarean delivery rate among Puerto Rican mothers in Puerto Rico was 50.9% in 2023, 51% higher than that for Puerto Rican mothers in the U.S. mainland, 33.8%. Cesarean delivery rates for Puerto Rican mothers in Puerto Rico were higher than rates for Puerto Rican mothers in the U.S. mainland for all maternal age groups, all gestational ages except early preterm, all sources of payment for the delivery (private insurance, Medicaid, and self-pay), and all states with statistically reliable data and D.C.

PMID:41474446 | DOI:10.15620/cdc/174574

Hepatology. 2025 Dec 31. doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000001664. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41474444 | DOI:10.1097/HEP.0000000000001664

Lung India. 2026 Jan 1;43(1):45-51. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_264_25. Epub 2026 Jan 1.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Intravenous (IV) tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic agent, is routinely used in the treatment of non-massive haemoptysis. Topical TXA has shown haemostatic efficacy in surgical settings and epistaxis. Limited case reports have documented successful management of pulmonary bleeding using nebulised TXA. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of nebulised TXA compared to IV TXA in non-massive haemoptysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-centre, randomised controlled trial included 46 adult patients with non-massive haemoptysis presenting to the Emergency Medicine department. They were randomised into two groups: IV TXA (n = 23), receiving 500 mg TXA IV 8th hourly, and nebulised TXA (n = 23), receiving 500 mg TXA via nebulisation 8th hourly. The volume of haemoptysis was recorded at presentation and at 8-hour intervals. Haemoglobin, liver, and renal function tests were recorded at admission, and haemoglobin was monitored daily. Data were analysed using appropriate statistical tests.

RESULTS: Among the 46 patients, 30 were male. The mean age in the IV TXA group was 51.83 ± 12.58 years and 49.91 ± 13.87 years in the nebulised TXA group (P = 0.63). There were two smokers in the IV group and eight in the nebulised group. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common cause in both groups. The mean bleeding volume at presentation was 58.26 ± 49.69 ml (IV) and 46.96 ± 38.30 ml (nebulised) (P = 0.39). Complete cessation of haemoptysis was achieved in 7.39 ± 5.02 h (IV) and 5.70 ± 4.80 h (nebulised) (P = 0.25). Repeat doses were required in 6 (IV) and 3 (nebulised) patients (P = 0.40). No adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSION: Nebulised TXA is as effective as IV TXA in managing non-massive haemoptysis.

PMID:41474427 | DOI:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_264_25

Lung India. 2026 Jan 1;43(1):20-26. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_136_25. Epub 2026 Jan 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by abnormal bronchial dilation, often accompanied by inflammation and infection. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF α) has been implicated in inflammatory processes, and its role in bronchiectasis severity remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the correlation between serum TNF α levels and bronchiectasis severity using established scoring systems.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis. Serum TNF α levels were measured and analysed in relation to clinical parameters, radiological features, and severity scores such as FACED and Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI). Statistical tests including the Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to identify significant associations.

RESULTS: Elevated serum TNF α levels were significantly associated with fever, leukocytosis, recent hospital admissions, and bronchiectasis exacerbations. Patients with multi-lobar involvement and bilateral lung disease exhibited significantly higher TNF α levels (P = 0.01). Pseudomonas colonisation was linked to increased TNF α levels. Severity scoring demonstrated a strong association with TNF α levels, with higher values seen in patients categorised as moderate or severe by FACED and BSI scores.

CONCLUSION: Serum TNF α levels are a potential biomarker for assessing bronchiectasis severity. Elevated TNF α levels were notably linked to exacerbations, microbial colonisation, and severe disease presentations, underscoring its clinical relevance in guiding prognosis and management strategies.

PMID:41474423 | DOI:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_136_25

Lung India. 2026 Jan 1;43(1):14-19. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_141_25. Epub 2026 Jan 1.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Antifibrotic therapies are widely used in both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). We aim to compare the demographic, clinical characteristics, and long-term outcomes of IPF and PPF patients on antifibrotic treatment at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a retrospective single-center cohort study. Between January 2021 and January 2025, patients who initiated antifibrotic therapy were retrospectively included. Pulmonary function tests were recorded before treatment, at baseline, and at 6-month and 1-year follow-up visits. Additionally, baseline 6-minute walk test results and radiological data were also documented.

RESULTS: A total of 117 cases were included in the study, consisting of 76 IPF and 41 PPF. IPF patients were statistically significantly older than PPF patients (P < 0.001). The proportion of females was higher in the PPF group (P < 0.001). 52% of the cases used pirfenidone, while 48% used nintedanib. The most common subtype of PPF was connective tissue disease-associated ILD (48.8%), followed by nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (34.1%), and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (17.1%). In the PPF group, basal, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up FVC and DLCO values were statistically significantly lower compared to the IPF group. However, in both the IPF and PPF groups, no significant loss was observed in FVC and DLCO when comparing the 6-month and 1-year follow-up data with baseline values. No significant difference in mortality was found between the IPF and PPF groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Antifibrotic treatments showed a similar effect profile for both IPF and PPF. Our findings suggest that PPF patients with lower baseline pulmonary function require closer monitoring for early detection of progression.

PMID:41474422 | DOI:10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_141_25