Category: Nevin Manimala

BMC Cancer. 2025 Aug 6;25(1):1272. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-14599-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) aberrations, such as protein overexpression and amplification of the HER2 gene (ERBB2), are well-established in breast and gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas. However, ERBB2 oncogenic variants occur in 3.5% of all solid tumors with possible therapeutic implications. This study investigates the treatment efficacy and mutational landscape of patients with ERBB2-mutated cancers receiving HER2-targeted therapy.

METHODS: Nineteen patients with refractory solid tumors harboring ERBB2 oncogenic variants were enrolled in the Copenhagen Prospective Personalized Oncology trial and received HER2-targeted treatment. Whole-exome sequencing, ctDNA analysis, and imaging were conducted at baseline, during treatment, and upon progression. Descriptive statistics were employed due to the exploratory nature of the study.

RESULTS: HER2-targeted treatment yielded a 37% overall response rate, a 68% disease control rate, and a median progression-free survival of 4.4 months. A tendency was observed toward higher overall response rate (60%) in patients harboring ERBB2 oncogenic variants located in the tyrosine kinase domain. Clonality of ERBB2 oncogenic variants was linked with treatment efficacy, underscoring the reduced effect when targeting subclonal mutations. Sequential ctDNA analysis of ERBB2 oncogenic variants demonstrated correlation with treatment response.

CONCLUSION: In this heterogeneous cohort of patients harboring ERBB2 oncogenic variants, HER2-targeted therapy demonstrated clinical efficacy. Mutational analysis revealed the importance of clonal ERBB2 oncogenic variants and identified factors influencing treatment outcomes. Limitations include a small sample size as well as heterogeneity in treatment regimens and cancer types.

PMID:40770324 | DOI:10.1186/s12885-025-14599-7

BMC Public Health. 2025 Aug 6;25(1):2682. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23940-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Over the past few years, there has been a global shift in the food consumption pattern from traditional home cooked meals to ultra-processed packaged foods (UPFs). Adolescents are the most avid consumers of UPFs, with these foods comprising nearly 16.2% of total daily energy intake among Indian adolescents. Adolescence is a critical period for establishing autonomous dietary choices and habits, which often persist into adulthood and are strongly linked to long-term health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, empowering adolescents to make informed food choices is critical for both immediate and future public health. Globally, the implementation of user-friendly food labelling has been proven to improve consumer understanding and is recognized as an effective public health strategy for promoting healthier food choices. This review aimed to assess the extent (volume of literature available) and range (the variety of research done) of evidence available on promoting food label literacy and/or healthy food choices among adolescents through education-based interventions.

METHODS: An extensive literature search was conducted to select relevant research articles using a predetermined inclusion criterion. The literature search was done across different databases like PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Google scholar. The databases were searched for records published between the time frame 2000 to 2024. A total of 4,380 articles were manually screened, yielding 221 titles for further review. Of these, 169 abstracts and subsequently 44 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility using software. Ultimately, 11 full-text articles met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the scoping review.

RESULTS: The findings of the selected 11 studies were synthesized to highlight methods that promote food label reading and healthy food choices among adolescents. This review identified effective educational interventions for improving food label literacy and healthy food choices among adolescents commonly utilized behaviour change models, tailored content, and participatory approaches. Most interventions were school based, delivered through lectures or interactive activities, with some incorporating digital media and real food label analysis. Statistically significant improvements in food label knowledge were reported in the majority of studies, with positive impacts also observed on label use practices and food choices. These findings highlight the importance of context-specific, engaging, and theory-driven strategies in adolescent nutrition education.

CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that such educational interventions have been primarily conducted in schools (mode), using educational materials and food models (as media) through lecture-based delivery (method). Invariably this approach enhances food label knowledge of adolescents, however, challenges remain in translating this knowledge into long term practices and healthy food choices.

PMID:40770309 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-23940-5

BMC Public Health. 2025 Aug 6;25(1):2677. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23725-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The decline in fertility intentions has emerged as a critical demographic and policy challenge within China, particularly in light of the introduction of the three-child policy. This situation necessitates a thorough examination of the multiple underlying factors that contribute to individuals’ decisions regarding family size. By analyzing these diverse influences, policymakers and stakeholders will be better equipped to design effective interventions aimed at addressing this urgent issue. A nuanced comprehension of the complexities surrounding low fertility intentions is essential for promoting family growth and fostering stability within the nation. Ultimately, a targeted approach informed by these insights will be vital for encouraging a cultural shift towards larger families and ensuring the long-term demographic health of China.

METHODS: In our research, we performed a cross-sectional analysis using data gathered in 2022 from the Psychology and Behavior Investigation of Chinese Residents (PBICR), which encompassed 21,916 participants aged 18 to 49 years. We assessed fertility intention scores for respondents based on their preferences for having a first, second, and third child, employing a scoring system that ranged from 0 to 100. To investigate the impact of various factors on fertility intentions, we organized the independent variables into three primary domains: socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle and health behaviors, and family structure. We utilized domain-specific multivariate linear regression analyses, along with gender-stratified models, and examined interaction effects. The explanatory capacity of each model was evaluated by calculating R² values, which offered insights into the variance accounted for by the independent variables.

RESULTS: Our research indicated that men demonstrated significantly higher scores for fertility intention than women, with a meaningful statistical difference (β = 7.63, p < 0.001). Various factors were recognized as positive indicators of fertility intention, such as being younger, residing in rural areas, having a favorable self-evaluation of health, and marital status. Moreover, behaviors like smoking and current alcohol use showed significant associations with fertility intentions. In our examination of family-related factors, we discovered that dual-income households without children (DINK) and nuclear family setups were linked to lower fertility intentions, whereas those living with parents expressed greater intentions to parent. Importantly, the interaction effects suggested that women faced a more pronounced decline in fertility intentions as age increased. Among the factors studied, socio-demographic characteristics explained the largest proportion of variance in fertility intentions (R² = 0.086).

CONCLUSIONS: Fertility intentions in China are shaped by various factors, such as differences between genders, individual health, and family structure. To tackle the challenge of decreasing fertility rates effectively, it is essential that interventions focus on younger women and highlight the advantages of living with multiple generations. In addition, reproductive policies ought to consider health and lifestyle factors, establishing a more comprehensive strategy to encourage family expansion in urban settings. Through the adoption of these approaches, stakeholders can strive to counteract the patterns of low fertility intentions and create an environment that supports family growth.

PMID:40770308 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-23725-w

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2025 Aug 7;25(1):586. doi: 10.1186/s12872-025-05054-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is insufficient evidence available to fully understand the correlation between cardiovascular disease(CVD) and peripheral arterial disease(PAD). The association between CVD and PAD holds significant importance within the realms of both healthcare and public health.The primary aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of CVD on PAD and to examine the examine the clinical implications of this association for preventive strategies.

METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted, encompassing 6123 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the United States spanning the years 1999 to 2004. Data on demographics including age, gender, race, education level, marital status, poverty income ratio, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), hypertension and diabetes status were collected from all participants. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to quantify the independent association between CVD and PAD risk while adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical confounders.

RESULTS: The mean age of the selected participants was 59.9 ± 13.0 years, with 51.2% of them being male. Multivariable analysis revealed a clinically significant 54% increase in PAD risk among CVD patients (adjusted OR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.20-1.99; P = 0.001), indicating a strong positive association. Subgroup analyses testing age (< 65/≥65 years), sex, educational level, marital status, poverty income ratio, physical activity, smoking status, hypertension and diabetes status showed no effect modification (all P-interaction > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis has demonstrated a notable link between CVD and the likelihood of developing PAD, independent of other influencing factors. These results highlight the necessity of focusing on cardiovascular health to prevent the onset of PAD.

PMID:40770306 | DOI:10.1186/s12872-025-05054-3

BMC Nephrol. 2025 Aug 6;26(1):438. doi: 10.1186/s12882-025-04161-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic kidney disease, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) exert a reno-protective effect through its anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects. Less is known about the efficacy of MRAs in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. This meta-analysis aims to systematically assess the efficacy of MRAs in KT recipients.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared MRAs to placebo in KT recipients and reported the outcomes of (1) glomerular filtration rate (GFR); (2) serum creatinine; (3) systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP); (4) hyperkalemia; and (5) interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) scores. Heterogeneity was examined with I2 statistics. A random-effects model was used for outcomes with high heterogeneity.

RESULTS: We included 5 RCTs with 293 patients, of whom 142 (48.5%) underwent treatment with a steroidal MRA. Mean follow-up ranged from 5 days to 36 months. There was no significant difference in GFR (MD 9.04 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI – 2.76-20.85; p = 0.13) and serum creatinine between placebo and MRA groups (MD – 0.21 mg/dL; 95% CI – 0.62-0.20; p = 0.32). SBP (MD 0.69 mmHg; 95% CI – 0.69-2.08; p = 0.33), DBP (MD 0.45 mmHg; 95% CI – 0.69-1.59; p = 0.44) and IFTA scores exhibited no differences between groups (mild IFTA RR 1.21; 95% 0.83-1.74; p = 0.32) (moderate IFTA RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.45-1.50; P = 0.51) (severe IFTA RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.24-1.76; p = 0.39). MRAs were associated with a 4-fold increase in the risk of hyperkalemia compared with placebo (RR 4.06; 95% CI 1.46-11.28; p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION: Steroidal MRAs have no superior efficacy compared with placebo in KT recipients and are associated with a 4-fold increase in the risk of hyperkalemia despite preserved kidney function.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:40770304 | DOI:10.1186/s12882-025-04161-9

BMC Gastroenterol. 2025 Aug 6;25(1):559. doi: 10.1186/s12876-025-04158-6.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40770303 | DOI:10.1186/s12876-025-04158-6

BMC Pediatr. 2025 Aug 6;25(1):603. doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-05068-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery, particularly children, are at an increased risk of experiencing skin integrity disorders and pressure ulcers, attributed to the underlying disease and prolonged surgical durations. This study aims to examine the impact of a specialized care program on the incidence and advancement of skin integrity disorders in children aged 1 month to 6 years after open heart surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study, registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) under the identifier IRCT202008250458515N12 on November 11, 2020, involved 80 children admitted to the critical care unit of a teaching hospital. The participants were divided into two groups: an intervention group and a control group, each consisting of 40 children. The intervention group received targeted care program measures, while the control group followed standard care procedures. The risk of pressure ulcer development, incidence of skin damage, and pressure ulcer status were assessed and recorded using the Braden Q Scale and the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) both before the intervention and seven days after hospitalization.

FINDINGS: The incidence of skin damage in the intervention group (45%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (62.5%) (P < 0.001). Additionally, the average scores for PUSH and Braden Q in the intervention group were 2.95 ± 0.67 and 27.48 ± 1.50, respectively, whereas in the control group, they were 5.70 ± 1.07 and 25.05 ± 2.22, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: According to the results, the designed focused care program can lead to the reduction of the risk of skin damage and the improvement in pressure ulcers; thus, it is recommended to be considered in the special care units.

PMID:40770300 | DOI:10.1186/s12887-024-05068-4

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2025 Aug 7;25(1):585. doi: 10.1186/s12872-025-05035-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major public health issue globally, affecting hundreds of millions of people. Although the association between alcohol consumption and hypertension has been widely demonstrated, uncertainties remain regarding the dose-response relationship, potential confounding factors, and population-specific differences.

METHODS: Data from NHANES participants aged 20 and above from 2007 to 2018 were analyzed. A weighted multivariate logistic regression model assessed the association between daily alcohol intake and hypertension prevalence, calculating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic splines (RCS) examined the potential non-linear association. Subgroup analyses evaluated interaction effects across demographic variables to identify differences in the alcohol-hypertension association among populations.

RESULTS: This study included 30,127 eligible participants, representing 228,198,440 individuals in the United States population after weighting. In the fully adjusted Model 3, a significant positive association was observed between daily alcohol intake and hypertension prevalence (OR: 1.007, 95% CI: 1.005-1.009; P < 0.001). Compared to the abstainers group (0 g/d), participants in the very heavy consumers group (> 40 g/d) had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (OR: 1.873, 95% CI: 1.585-2.213; P < 0.001). RCS analysis further confirmed the positive association between daily alcohol intake and hypertension prevalence, with no significant non-linearity detected. In the subgroup analysis, a significant interaction was detected in the racial/ethnic subgroup (P for interaction < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: A significant association exists between very heavy alcohol consumers (> 40 g/d) and an increased prevalence of hypertension. These findings underscore the importance of including alcohol intake assessments in hypertension management and prevention strategies. Further research is needed to explore the causal association between alcohol intake and hypertension and to investigate its potential biological mechanisms.

PMID:40770292 | DOI:10.1186/s12872-025-05035-6

Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 6;15(1):28710. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09972-2.

ABSTRACT

Mammography is important for breast cancer detection, and calcifications and masses are the most common mammographic features. In this exploratory study, we evaluated the association between these findings and immune gene expression to determine the role that inflammation may play in mass- or calcification-associated breast cancers. This study included 205 breast cancer patients in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study and the Carolina Mammography Registry. Hierarchical clustering and logistic regression were used to examine associations between radiologist-reported imaging features and tumor RNA expression of 48 immune-related genes. The Bonferroni correction adjusted for multiple comparisons. There were statistically significant associations between CCL7 and calcifications (odd ratio [OR] = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35, 0.75) and between CCL7 and the presence of a mass (OR = 1.48 95% CI = 1.18, 1.88). Furthermore, lower expression of genes with anti-inflammatory function was associated with calcifications (p = 0.04), but not masses. However, neither mammographic masses nor calcifications were associated with global gene expression patterns using hierarchical clustering. This analysis of bulk immune markers suggests plausible associations between immune alterations and mammographic findings. Larger studies and immunoprofiling approaches sensitive to subtle variation should be conducted to identify targetable imaging characteristics, which alongside immunotherapeutic advances, may facilitate targeted breast cancer treatment.

PMID:40770282 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-09972-2

Sci Data. 2025 Aug 6;12(1):1371. doi: 10.1038/s41597-025-05723-0.

ABSTRACT

Changing crop patterns are primary driver of land use change and can impact global atmospheric cycles. While existing studies have mapped the distribution of several crops in China, harvest area maps for a complete set of crops over the past decades are lacking. This study pioneered the development of a spatiotemporal dataset of harvest area maps for 16 crop types in China at a 1-km resolution from 1990 to 2020 with 5-year intervals. Prefecture-level crop statistics were allocated to grids based on synthetical crop suitability score, which is evaluated by natural and socioeconomic factors. County-level validations demonstrated the built dataset is highly consistent with statistics, especially for primary grains and oilseed. Moreover, crop harvest area at sub-pixel level can better represent gradient changes within urban-rural zones. The built crop maps revealed the harvest zones for maize, rice and soybeans in Northern China have steadily expanded since 1990. This dataset fully supports identification of spatiotemporal changes in China’s crop patterns and can serve as critical input for biogeochemical and agricultural models.

PMID:40770232 | DOI:10.1038/s41597-025-05723-0