Category: Nevin Manimala

J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2026 Feb 10. doi: 10.1097/LGT.0000000000000935. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate self-sampling devices as an innovative resource with high performance, acceptability, and implementation for improving Human Papillomavirus detection in cervical cancer screening.

METHODS: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and counts with the PROPERO register. A comprehensive literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, EBSCO, and Scielo databases, including articles published between 2014 and 2025 in English and Spanish. MeSH terms related to “Uterine Cervical Neoplasms,” “Papillomaviridae,” “Molecular Diagnostic Techniques,” and “Self-Testing” were used. Inclusion criteria included clinical trials and comparative studies evaluating self-sampling test performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity values. Exclusion criteria included studies without statistical analysis, duplicates, and test usage with no cervical cancer objective.

RESULTS: Seven eligible studies were included. Self-sampling devices, such as a brush-based device, swab-type device, and sponge-type swabs, demonstrated high acceptability and usability among women, especially in underserved populations. Sensitivity and specificity range oscillated between 75%-91% and 34%-74% respectively, depending on the device and reference method. Compared with clinician-collected samples, most self-collected tests showed comparable diagnostic accuracy, making them a viable option for early detection. Limitations included small sample sizes, heterogeneity in test platforms, and a lack of long-term outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Self-sampling devices offer an important potential to reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality globally, particularly in limited-access health care services. Their implementation in routine women’s care and health screening contributes to reducing morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term effectiveness and standardized implementation protocols.

PMID:41666300 | DOI:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000935

Global Spine J. 2026 Feb 10:21925682251414112. doi: 10.1177/21925682251414112. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.ObjectivesAs cancer survival improves, metastatic spinal cancer has become increasingly common worldwide. Given the high resource demands of spinal oncology care, tools to optimize perioperative planning are essential. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) in predicting post-operative needs in patients undergoing surgery for spinal tumors.MethodsConsecutive patients (n = 384) undergoing spinal oncology surgery were enrolled and prospectively assessed with RAPT. Coarsened exact matching (CEM) was used to retrospectively isolate risk factors associated with outcomes. Enrolled patients with a low RAPT score (≤9, n = 44) were exact matched against high-scoring patients (10-12, n = 44). The primary outcome of interest was post-acute care disposition; secondary outcomes were 30- and 90- day ED visits, readmissions, and reoperations. McNemar’s test was utilized for matched comparisons.ResultsA low RAPT score was significantly associated with non-home discharge (OR = 4.33 [1.23, 15.20], P = 0.02) and 30-day readmission (OR = 3.66 [1.02, 13.14], 0.03). Among low-scoring patients, 31.8% required post-acute care (while only 11.3% of high-scoring patients required post-acute care). A low RAPT score was not associated with ER visits, reoperation, or mortality. Isolation of the RAPT walk score alone significantly predicted non-home discharge (OR = 2.8 [1.01, 7.78], P = 0.04).ConclusionsWhen applied prospectively before spinal cancer surgery, the RAPT tool and its subcomponents effectively predict post-acute care needs. Pre-operative prediction of non-home discharge may help guide in-hospital resource allocation and post-acute care of spinal oncology patients.

PMID:41666294 | DOI:10.1177/21925682251414112

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2026 Feb 4;65(2):keag042. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keag042.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral manifestations (peripheral arthritis/enthesitis/dactylitis) are frequent in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) yet, understudied. We (i) evaluated the assessment/reporting of peripheral manifestations in trials of biological or targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs) for axSpA and peripheral SpA (pSpA), and (ii) synthesized the efficacy of b/tsDMARDs on these manifestations.

METHODS: Systematic literature review (SLR) of controlled trials evaluating b/tsDMARDs in axSpA/pSpA (excluding psoriatic arthritis). Records were identified through previous SLRs informing ASAS-EULAR recommendations and updated searches. Outcomes included (i) frequency of assessment/reporting of peripheral arthritis/enthesitis/dactylitis and (ii) treatment efficacy of b/tsDMARDs on these peripheral manifestations [standardized mean differences (SMDs) or relative risk].

RESULTS: We included 100 axSpA and four pSpA trials. In axSpA, peripheral arthritis was assessed in 54%, enthesitis in 64% and dactylitis in only 10% of studies. When assessed, results were reported in 69%, 72% and 10% of studies, respectively, and often in all patients (instead of those affected at baseline). Most frequently used instruments were 44-joint count for peripheral arthritis (48%), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score for enthesitis (88%) and digit count for dactylitis (40%). Composite indices like DAS were not used. SMDs (range 0.26 to -1.18) indicated mainly small-to-moderate b/tsDMARD effects, typically higher in patients with baseline peripheral involvement. In pSpA, peripheral manifestations were always assessed/reported, with generally moderate effects (SMD range -0.10 to -1.22).

CONCLUSION: Peripheral manifestations are inconsistently assessed and reported in axSpA trials. While b/tsDMARDs have small-to-moderate effects on peripheral manifestations, these may be underestimated due to not being assessed in the population affected at baseline.

PMID:41666292 | DOI:10.1093/rheumatology/keag042

J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2026 Feb;66(2):272-279. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16750-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Running has increased in popularity as a form of exercise, and with it, the incidence of running-related injuries. Barefoot running has gained attention as a strategy to potentially reduce injury risk, though empirical evidence supporting this remains limited. The purpose of this study was to compare injury incidence between barefoot and shod runners based on self-reported history.

METHODS: A total of 545 participants completed a survey assessing their running patterns and injury history. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted to examine associations between footwear type and injury incidence.

RESULTS: Statistical analyses were performed showing strong association between the barefoot group and reduced reports of injury. A post-hoc matched-pair analysis of 21 barefoot runners and 21 shod runners (matched by age, gender, and BMI) indicated a significantly lower reported injury rate among barefoot runners (P=0.011).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that barefoot running was associated with a lower risk of injury in a matched subgroup, although further research is needed to confirm these results.

PMID:41664970 | DOI:10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16750-9

J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2026 Feb;66(2):204-214. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.25.17064-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of underwater breathing-holding training on the cardiovascular function and swimming performance of athletes.

METHODS: Sixty swimming athletes from sports colleges are separated into an experimental group and a control group, with 30 athletes in each one. Two groups undergo 8 weeks of swimming training with a total of 32 lessons. The control group athletes receive routine swimming training. The experimental group adds breath-holding training during swimming training. Before and after training, cardiopulmonary function tests are conducted on the two groups, including heart rate, lung capacity, blood pressure, and breath-holding time. Meanwhile, the maximum suction pressure, suction flow rate, and maximum ventilation volume of the athletes are tested before and after the experiment. In addition, the study also adds a 50m freestyle swimming test to explore the swimming performance of two groups before and after training.

RESULTS: After 8 weeks, the overall improvement effect of the experimental group was more significant. In the cardiopulmonary function test, the lung capacity of the experimental group athletes increased from 3.24±1.69L to 4.81±1.93L, with statistical significance (P<0.05). For the control group, the lung capacity before and after the experiment did not exhibit statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the heart rate of the experimental group athletes decreased from 58.61±9.32 beats/minute to 56.39±8.28 beats/minute, with a P value of only 0.1668, lower than that of the control group’s 0.4412. In addition, the breath-holding time of the experimental group increased from 54.36±2.05 s before the experiment to 60.15±3.28 s (P<0.05). In the index tests of maximum suction pressure, suction flow rate, and ventilation volume, the experimental group had statistically significant differences before and after the experiment (P<0.05). The control group only had statistical significance in maximum suction pressure and suction flow rate. In addition, the 50m freestyle swimming time of the experimental group athletes was reduced from 25.52±0.59 s to 25.20±0.66 s (P<0.05). The free swimming performance of the control group before and after training was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The results of lung CT examination showed that the lung function of the experimental group athletes significantly improved. The lung imaging images showed larger lung volume, unobstructed airway, clear alveolar structure, and no obvious lung lesions or atrophy.

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of breath-holding training and routine training in swimming training can improve the cardiovascular function of athletes, enhance their respiratory function, and ultimately enhance their swimming performance. This training method provides a scientifically effective training strategy for swimmers.

PMID:41664967 | DOI:10.23736/S0022-4707.25.17064-3

J Dance Med Sci. 2026 Feb 10:1089313X261417188. doi: 10.1177/1089313X261417188. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The increasing legalization of recreational marijuana worldwide necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its use. While data exists on marijuana use among theater actors and sport athletes, no data on its use within the dancer population exist, hence this study aims to describe the effects and motives of cannabis use within a dancer cohort. Methods: An online survey was conducted October 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024, involving dancers worldwide who had used cannabis in the past 6 months. The survey focused on motives for cannabis use and the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R). Qualitative methodology with thematic content analysis was employed, and statistical analysis was performed using t-test and chi-square. Results: One hundred and eight dancers completed the survey. Sixteen dancers (14.8%) reported failing to do what was normally expected from them as a dancer due to cannabis use. T-test results revealed that these dancers had an average CUDIT-R score of 19.5, significantly higher than the average score of 7.7 for dancers who did not report such failure (P < .001). Chi-square analysis showed that on average, 93.8% of participants who failed to meet dancer expectations due to cannabis scored above 12 on the CUDIT-R compared to 18.5% of those who did not report failure (P < .001). On average, 56.2% of participants who scored above 12 on the CUDIT-R indicated a coping motive for cannabis use compared to 31.6% of those who scored 12 or below (P = .029). On average, 43.8% of participants who scored above 12 on the CUDIT-R indicated an expansion motive for cannabis use compared to 18.4% of those who scored 12 or below (P = .005). Conclusion: Dancers with high CUDIT-R scores are more likely to fail to do what was normally expected from them as a dancer because of using cannabis, and more likely to cite coping and expansion as motives for cannabis use.Level of Evidence: Level 4.

PMID:41664954 | DOI:10.1177/1089313X261417188

Nurs Inq. 2026 Apr;33(2):e70088. doi: 10.1111/nin.70088.

ABSTRACT

Childbearing decisions are a pivotal factor shaping the future professional and personal trajectories of nursing students, profoundly influenced by a confluence of socioeconomic, cultural, and individual factors. This qualitative descriptive study explores the childbearing attitudes, intentions, plans, and their underlying influencing factors among university nursing students in China. The empirical material was generated from semi-structured interviews conducted between November 2024 and March 2025, with thematic analysis applied to the data. Four major themes emerged: a polarized value perception of childbearing, framed as either a path to life fulfillment or a “high-risk event”; childbearing as a rational choice contingent upon constructing a “safe zone” of economic, professional, and psychological readiness; the critical influence of key relational actors, including partners and grandparents; and the structural pressures of the macro-social environment, such as high rearing costs and gender culture. The findings indicate that contemporary nursing students have transformed childbearing decisions into a cautious evaluation of a “high-risk life milestone,” with procreation predicated on achieving an ideal state of readiness-a threshold significantly elevated by a desire to “surpass the previous generation.” Consequently, effective pro-natalist policies must move beyond mere financial incentives to address the structural barriers and deep-seated anxieties related to career development, gender equality, and workforce support within the healthcare sector.

PMID:41664945 | DOI:10.1111/nin.70088

Math Med Biol. 2026 Feb 10:dqag002. doi: 10.1093/imammb/dqag002. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biofilm infections on medical implants are difficult to eradicate because insufficient nutrient availability promotes antibiotic-tolerant persister cells that survive treatment and reseed growth. Existing mathematical models usually omit nutrient-dependent phenotypic switching between proliferative and persister states. Without this mechanism, models cannot capture how environmental conditions control the balance between active growth and dormancy, which is central to biofilm persistence. We present a continuum model that couples nutrient transport with the dynamics of proliferative bacteria, persisters, dead cells, and extracellular polymeric substances. The switching rates between proliferative and persister phenotypes depend on local nutrient concentration through two thresholds, enabling adaptation across nutrient-poor, intermediate, and nutrient-rich regimes. Simulations show that nutrient limitation produces a high and sustained proportion of persister cells even when biomass is reduced, whereas nutrient-rich conditions support reversion to proliferative growth and lead to greater biomass. The model also predicts that persister populations peak at times that vary with nutrient availability, and these peaks coincide with turning points in biofilm growth, identifying critical intervention windows. By directly linking nutrient availability to phenotypic switching, our model reveals mechanisms of biofilm persistence that earlier models could not capture, and it points toward strategies that target nutrient-driven adaptation as a means to improve the control of implant-associated infections.

PMID:41664943 | DOI:10.1093/imammb/dqag002

Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther. 2026 Jan 30;58(1):10-16. doi: 10.5114/ait/216697.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While patient satisfaction is a major marker of quality in healthcare, predictors of Press Ganey scores for anesthesia survey questions have not been well explored. This study aimed to explore factors associated with anesthesia-specific patient satisfaction scores.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of percentile ranking on patient satisfaction questions. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the patient experiences with anesthesia at our institution. Three questions were added to the Press Ganey surveys: (1) rating of anesthesia services, (2) explanations provided by the anesthesiologists, (3) friendliness/courtesy of the anesthesiologist. A total of 3,218, 3,294, and 3,200 patients, respectively, answered the questions on a Likert scale. Covariates included attending anesthesiologist workload, number of comparator healthcare institutions, and season of year.

RESULTS: Lower percentile rank with rating of anesthesia services was associated with greater attending anesthesiologist workload (-13.7; 95% CI: -24.8 to -2.6; P = 0.017), season of year (-9.0; 95% CI: -16.2 to -1.8; P = 0.016), and smaller number of comparator healthcare institutions (2.4; 95% CI: 0.5 to 4.3; P = 0.015). Lower percentile rank with explanations provided by the anesthesiologists (0.7; 95% CI: 0.1 to 1.3; P = 0.021) and friendliness/courtesy of the anesthesiologist (0.9; 95% CI: 0.2 to 1.5; P = 0.008) were associated with decreasing number of comparator healthcare institutions.

CONCLUSIONS: Improving patient satisfaction may require reduction or redistribution of anesthesiologist workload, improvement in resident communication skills, and increased supervision of junior residents. Anesthesia-specific patient satisfaction scores should be risk-adjusted for contextual factors such as seasonality, workload, and number of comparator institutions before being tied to payment.

PMID:41664907 | DOI:10.5114/ait/216697

Biometrics. 2026 Jan 6;82(1):ujag033. doi: 10.1093/biomtc/ujag033.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41664906 | DOI:10.1093/biomtc/ujag033