Category: Nevin Manimala

Radiol Phys Technol. 2025 Feb 25. doi: 10.1007/s12194-025-00885-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lead-based radiation shielding used usually in radiology departments is being replaced by non-lead shields due to concerns over toxicity, high weight, and the impossibility of applying it in the imaging field. New studies refer to the use of nanomaterials and lightweight polymer-based composites as an alternative that can solve the problems caused by lead shields. The study aims to develop a flexible composite shield for CT scan imaging and examine its effectiveness in reducing radiation exposure. This study involved the construction of 1 mm thick composite shields used in chest CT scan imaging. The first type consisted of 10% bismuth oxide, the second type consisted of 10% tungsten, the third type consisted of 5% bismuth oxide and 5% tungsten, and 90% of the rest of the structure of all shields was silicone. This study examined the morphological test, tensile strength test, attenuation efficiency, and image quality assessment of these shields. The radiation transmission coefficient for 10% bismuth, 10% tungsten and 5% bismuth-5%tungsten shields was obtained as 0.86, 0.80, and 0.83, respectively. Also, the noise increasing percentage for mentioned shields were 6, 4, and 6%, respectively, compared to the case without a shield. The study found that the 10% tungsten-90% silicone shield is the most effective in reducing radiation exposure due to its K-edge and attenuation coefficients. According to the noise assessment, using these shields does not significantly affect the quality of images.

PMID:39998795 | DOI:10.1007/s12194-025-00885-3

Curr Med Sci. 2025 Feb 25. doi: 10.1007/s11596-025-00024-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between insulin resistance and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 2128 participants aged 40-79 years was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018. The quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β) were used as independent variables. The 10-year risk of a first hard atherosclerotic cardiovascular event was used as the dependent variable, with other potential confounding factors considered. Multivariate linear regression models and smooth curve fitting were used to assess the associations between insulin resistance and 10-year risk.

RESULTS: A total of 2128 patients, comprising 1191 men and 937 women, were included in our analysis. The regression analyses revealed a negative correlation between the QUICKI score and the 10-year risk of a first hard atherosclerotic cardiovascular event [β = – 8.85, CI (- 15.77, – 1.93)] after adjusting for age, race, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hypertension treatment, smoking, diabetes, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conversely, an increase in HOMA-β was associated with 10-year risk [β = 6.84, CI (0.45, 13.23)]. Gender-specific subgroup analysis indicated that the QUICKI had a β value of 0.077 (0.046, 0.108) for men and 0.080 (0.061, 0.094) for women.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that increased insulin resistance is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

PMID:39998770 | DOI:10.1007/s11596-025-00024-4

J Med Syst. 2025 Feb 25;49(1):31. doi: 10.1007/s10916-025-02164-5.

ABSTRACT

When the hospital census is near-capacity, either from insufficient physical beds or nurse staffing, discharge delays can result in postanesthesia care unit (PACU) congestion that backs up the operating rooms. Hospital administrators often promote increasing morning discharges as mitigation. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most hospitalized Florida patients were discharged after 3 PM, without change from 2010 through 2018. The current study extended the observation period through 2022 to determine if discharge pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic from persistent high census resulted in overall earlier hospital discharges. Results showed the percentages of patients discharged by 12 noon or 3 PM remained unchanged. Among 1,034,515 discharges at 197 hospitals during the last 2 quarters of 2022, most discharges (P < 0.0001 versus 50%) occurred after 3 PM. The pooled incidence of discharges by noon was 13.2%, while the estimate of the incidence inverse weighted by the hospitals’ counts of discharges was 13.3% (97.5% 12.6% to 14.1%). The corresponding pooled incidences of discharges by 3 PM was 42.5%, and 43.7% (97.5% confidence interval 42.3% to 45.2%). All 136,924 combinations of hospital and Medicare severity diagnosis-related groups were evaluated to examine why discharges did not occur earlier. Among the 1377 such combinations (1% of the total) with a significant change in median length of stay, 95% (1313) were decreases in lengths of stay. The implication is that the pandemic had no salutatory effect on earlier discharges. Therefore, post-anesthesia care unit managers should continue to plan for most hospital beds to be unavailable until late afternoon.

PMID:39998727 | DOI:10.1007/s10916-025-02164-5

J Robot Surg. 2025 Feb 25;19(1):81. doi: 10.1007/s11701-025-02252-1.

ABSTRACT

Ventral hernia repairs (VHR) are commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States, with over 300,000 cases treated annually. Robotic surgery has gained traction for its safety and efficacy in VHR, particularly with techniques such as myofascial release. However, the extensive dissection involved in these procedures may lead to postoperative complications like seromas and hematomas. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of Arista™, an FDA-approved hemostatic agent, in reducing these complications during robotic-assisted laparoscopic VHR involving mesh placement in the retrorectus space. This single-institution single-blind prospective randomized controlled trial involved 100 patients undergoing elective robotic-assisted laparoscopic VHR at a tertiary referral hernia center. Participants were randomized to receive either 5 g of Arista™ or standard of care intraoperatively, with no hemostat applied in the control group. All patients had drains placed in the retrorectus space. Primary outcomes included drain output on the first postoperative day (POD), total drain output, and duration of drain placement. Secondary outcomes included estimated blood loss (EBL), number of drains used, operative time, and length of stay (LOS). This study was funded by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD). The mean total drain output was significantly higher in the Arista™ group (592.8 ml) compared to the control group (407.9 ml; p = 0.01), with a 39.6% increase noted. However, no significant difference in drain output on the first postoperative day or drain duration was observed. Secondary outcomes revealed no statistically significant differences in EBL, number of drains, operative time, or LOS between the groups. While the application of Arista™ during robotic-assisted laparoscopic VHR resulted in increased total drain output, it did not significantly affect other postoperative metrics, including LOS and complications. Further research is warranted to explore the potential benefits of Arista™ in specific patient populations and surgical contexts.

PMID:39998726 | DOI:10.1007/s11701-025-02252-1

J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2025 Feb 25;9(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s41687-025-00854-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The important roles of well-being as realization of one’s true potential for healthy aging have been highlighted by literature of the recent decades. The Scales of Psychological Well-being (SPWB) are an internationally recognized measurement tool for psychological well-being. Yet, sound validation of the German SPWB 18-item version has been lacking to date. Therefore, the present study aims to (1) test the psychometric properties of the German SPWB 18-item version in terms of factorial validity and (2) determine construct validity by investigating its correlations with psychosocial variables, mental and physical health. (3) Sociodemographic characteristics of the SPWB in a middle to old age German population was explored.

METHODOLOGY: Data of N = 3,374 participants 45-85 years old of the 10-year follow-up (2017-2022) of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) were analyzed. Descriptive analyses and inference statistical analyses were performed to assess construct validity. In order to determine the psychometric properties, item characteristics and reliability coefficients were analyzed. Confirmatory factor analyses tested the proposed theoretical factorial structure.

RESULTS: Construct validity of the SPWB was established with respect to sociodemographic, psychosocial (social support and resilient coping), and health variables (sleeping problems, depression and anxiety symptoms, stress, loneliness, and somatic diseases). Analysis of the psychometric properties of the German SPWB 18-item version rendered support for the theoretically proposed multidimensional structure of psychological well-being in our sample rather than a one factorial structure. Bi-factor models that take the method effects of positively and negatively formulated items into account are highly recommended.

CONCLUSIONS: The German SPWB 18-item version shows comparable psychometric properties to previous large-scale studies from other countries. The SPWB provides psychological indicators for healthy aging.

PMID:39998720 | DOI:10.1186/s41687-025-00854-9

Lasers Med Sci. 2025 Feb 25;40(1):118. doi: 10.1007/s10103-025-04375-1.

ABSTRACT

There is a lack of clinical consensus on the parameter settings of the pulsed-wave thulium fiber laser for soft tissue resection. The aim of this study was to explore the optimal parameter settings of the pulsed-wave thulium fiber laser for soft tissue resection, with a view to providing a reference for future clinical applications. Two different thulium fiber lasers, prototype thulium fiber lasers and Urolase, were used to explore the optimal parameters of thulium fiber laser for soft tissue cutting by evaluating the depth of tissue vaporization and depth of thermal damage in an isolated pig kidney model, and then the optimal parameters of in vitro screening were statistically validated by operation time, coagulation time, intraoperative hemorrhage, smoke level, and depth of thermal damage in an in vivo model using rabbit kidney. In ex vivo animal experiments the depth of tissue vaporization and thermal damage increased with increasing average power, and tissue carbonization occurred at 30 W. In animal use we used 1 J, 25 W for surgery, and there was no statistical difference between the two thulium fiber lasers in terms of surgery time, coagulation time, bleeding, smoke level, and depth of thermal damage. Thulium fiber laser for soft tissue resection is safe and feasible, and we believe that 1 J, 25 W is the optimal laser setting parameter for soft tissue resection, but it needs to be adjusted according to the actual situation.

PMID:39998717 | DOI:10.1007/s10103-025-04375-1

Psychiatr Q. 2025 Feb 25. doi: 10.1007/s11126-025-10123-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Psychological suffering of healthcare professionals, during War times, is ignored in literature. While struggling to provide ultimate care, HCP need support and psychological counseling. The purpose of this study was to examine the moderation effect of resilience on the relationship between life satisfaction, depression, and PTSD controlling for the sociodemographic and personal characteristics among on-duty healthcare professionals in Gaza. A convenience sample of 150 on-duty healthcare professionals filled out an online survey. The sample targeted a convenience sample of HCWs who are currently on duty in Gaza. Data collected regrading satisfaction with life, PTSD, depression, and resilience. Data collected from August to end of Sept 2024. Of the sample, 94.7% (n = 146) met criteria of PTSD, 85.3% (n = 128) reported a severe form of depression, 59.3% (n = 89) have a low level of resilience, and 74.7% (n = 112) reported that they are dissatisfied with their life. The analysis showed that resilience has no significant moderation effect on the relationship between psychological factors and PTSD controlling for demographic and personal characteristics as the R² change of 0.011 in the model was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). Years of experience, age and having mental illness were significant risk factors to develop PTSD. There is a need to provide an urgent psychological counselling to healthcare professionals in Gaza. Online and face-to-face help groups and peer to peer support need to be established.

PMID:39998710 | DOI:10.1007/s11126-025-10123-z

Discov Oncol. 2025 Feb 25;16(1):236. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02001-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is one of the most lethal cancers (survival ~ 12%). As the conventional therapeutic interventions are mostly futile, a deep understanding of the disease pathophysiology is an urgent need. Ion channels, located on cell membrane, contribute significantly to cancer hallmarks, through dysregulation of various ion translocation; however, the fundamental mechanisms remain uncertain.

METHODS: To identify these oncochannels in Indian cohort of PanCa, we utilized 450 K data, published in our previous study, and identified potential pathways involved. Their expressions were evaluated using TCGA data and an independent Indian paired patient cohort (n = 20). The top genes were further validated using GEO and ScRNA seq dataset. Potential target ability of KCNJ5 was identified through molecular dynamic based drug designing.

RESULTS: A set of 7 differentially methylated and differentially expressed genes of ion-channel proteins namely KCNJ5, CACNB2, KCNA3, KCNA6, RASA3, GABBR2 and CLIC5 were identified in Indian PanCa cohort only. KCNJ5 was significantly upregulated and associated with worse survival in Indian cohort, whereas downregulated in TCGA and other Caucasians patient populations. Two TFs controlling the KCNJ5 expression are POU2F1 and POU3F1. Few predicted small molecules targeting Kcnj5 are, Amiloride, Vernakalant hydrochloride, Dalfampridine, Glyburide and Levcromakalim. It also showed notable interactions with a steroidal anticancer agent, protodioscin.

CONCLUSION: An onco-channel gene, KCNJ5 significantly upregulated, and showing adverse survival in highly expressed KCNJ5 group in Indian cohort of PanCa, can be targeted with Amiloride, Vernakalant hydrochloride, Dalfampridine, Glyburide Levcromakalim and protodioscin. This understanding can lead to novel target identification for PanCa therapy development.

PMID:39998707 | DOI:10.1007/s12672-025-02001-8

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2025 Feb 25;74(4):122. doi: 10.1007/s00262-025-03980-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) cancers are linked to exceptional benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but studies on their efficacy across various MSI-H cancer types are limited.

METHODS: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing ICIs to chemotherapy in advanced MSI-H/dMMR cancers were systematically reviewed. Eligible studies included 13 RCTs with 1633 MSI-H patients across colorectal, gastric, and endometrial cancers. Data were analyzed using hazard ratios for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), with subgroup analyses by tumor type. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane’s Q and I².

RESULTS: Immunotherapy significantly improved PFS and OS in MSI-H patients, with an HR for OS of 0.35 (95% CI 0.27-0.46; p < 0.00001) versus 0.81 for MSS patients. PFS showed a 64% reduced risk of progression (HR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.28-0.46; p < 0.0001). Subgroup analyses highlighted PFS benefits across tumor types: colorectal (HR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.11-0.73), gastric (HR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.68), and endometrial cancers (HR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.27-0.42).

CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis establishes MSI-H as a predictive biomarker for ICIs, supporting its role in therapy selection and underscoring the need for MSI-H/dMMR-focused clinical trials.

PMID:39998698 | DOI:10.1007/s00262-025-03980-x

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2025 Feb 25;35(1):76. doi: 10.1007/s00590-025-04183-x.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the association of hypoalbuminemia with adverse outcomes in patients undergoing surgical repair of nonunions or malunions of upper and lower extremity long bones.

METHODS: DESIGN: Retrospective.

SETTING: Hospitals participating in American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) from 2005 to 2019.

PATIENTS: Patients in the ACS-NSQIP database with upper extremity and lower extremity fractures who underwent nonunion or malunion repairs and had preoperative serum albumin levels. Outcome Measures and Comparisons: Demographic variables, comorbidities and postoperative complications were collected and compared using t tests and chi squared tests. Multivariate linear regression models were used to assess complications, adjusting for variables such as age, sex, BMI, hospital length of stay, and operation time.

RESULTS: Univariate analysis of 1640 total patients (338 [20.6%] with hypoalbuminemia and 1302 [79.4%] with normal albumin) showed patients with hypoalbuminemia had significantly increased 30-day mortality rates, increased lengths of stay, and returns to the operating room. Multivariate analysis showed patients with hypoalbuminemia had significantly greater odds for any complication (OR: 2.62; 95% CI [1.77, 3.84]; p < 0.001), surgical site infections (OR: 2.62; 95% CI [1.34, 4.99]; p = 0.004) and transfusions (OR: 2.77; 95% CI: [1.62, 4.69]; p < 0.001) compared to the normal albumin group.

CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant difference in 30-day postoperative complications between patients with normal albumin levels and those who were hypoalbuminemic after surgical repairs of nonunions or malunions. Albumin level is a risk factor that should be monitored and counseled upon prior to surgical intervention for nonunion or malunion correction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III Retrospective Comparative Study.

PMID:39998685 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-025-04183-x