Category: Nevin Manimala

Mol Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 19. doi: 10.1038/s41380-025-03155-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), agoraphobia (AG), and specific phobia (SP), are characterized by core features of excessive anxiety and fear. Furthermore, these disorders are often accompanied by avoidance behaviors. While avoidance is a common behavioral response, it may be a consequence of or a cocontributor to the anxiety and fear driving these disorders. This narrative review integrates the interactions among anxiety, fear, and avoidance behaviors across these five disorders and synthesizes findings from clinical, neuropsychological, brain function, treatment, genetic, and epigenetic studies. Based on the intensity of anxiety and fear, these anxiety five disorders can be categorized into three groups: fear-dominant (SP, AG), mixed (PD, SAD), and anxiety-dominant (GAD). The intensity of avoidance behaviors is related to the age of onset. Each group responds to different treatment approaches. In fear-dominant disorders, exposure therapy is highly effective in reducing avoidance behaviors and fear responses. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with an emphasis on exposure is useful. In the mixed group, CBT is the preferred treatment, with a focus on both exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring. In addition to CBT, selective serotonin and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs/SNRIs) are commonly used to reduce anticipatory anxiety and fear symptoms. In anxiety-dominant disorders, both SSRIs/SNRIs and CBT with an emphasis on cognitive restructuring are effective for managing chronic worry. Anxiety and fear are regulated by distinct but interacting neurobiological mechanisms, with the amygdala central to fear processing and the hypothalamic‒pituitary‒adrenal axis involved in chronic anxiety regulation. Genetic and epigenetic studies demonstrate substantial heritability across anxiety disorders, with varying degrees of genetic influence on anxiety, fear, and avoidance. Avoidance behaviors, particularly in early-onset disorders such as SP and SAD, may be more strongly influenced by genetic factors. Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) grouping anxiety disorders have identified shared genetic loci, but GWASs for individual anxiety disorders are limited by small sample sizes. Grouping anxiety disorders into broader categories – namely, fear-dominant, mixed, and anxiety-dominant – rather than considering each specific anxiety disorder in isolation may lead to increased statistical power and yield more comprehensive perspectives on the shared and distinct clinical and genetic risk factors among anxiety disorders.

PMID:40830577 | DOI:10.1038/s41380-025-03155-1

Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 19;15(1):30293. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-15916-7.

ABSTRACT

Expected utility is increasingly deployed as a predictor of health behaviour within the broader domain of health economics and health sciences in general. However, research shows that this concept only explains limited variance in health behaviour. This limited explained variance is often attributed to the questionable theoretical axioms underlying the concept. Due to these limitations it was hypothesised that the concept of utility should not be conceptualized in terms of preferences for future health states (expected utility), but as realistic approximations of future health states (projected utility). Therefore, this study examines whether deployment of projected utility separately or in combination with expected utility enhances predictions of health behaviour as compared to expected utility. Online questionnaires were disseminated among a nationally representative panel of Dutch citizens (N = 2,550). The questionnaire encompassed items capturing demographic characteristics alongside instruments measuring expected utility, projected utility and health behaviour. Data analysis entailed descriptive, reliability, validity and model statistics. The results suggest that projected utility has a larger significant direct effect on and explains more variance in health behaviour than expected utility. The results subsequently indicate that expected utility and projected utility combined have a larger significant direct effect on and explain more variance in health behaviour than each type of utility separately. Health economists, policy makers and other public health practitioners are well advised to at least consider the separate or even combined deployment of projected utility in health economics in order to enhance predictions of health behaviour.

PMID:40830573 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-15916-7

Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 19;15(1):30328. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12164-7.

ABSTRACT

Theileriosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis are the most important constraints to livestock production in Karamoja region, North-eastern Uganda. However, there are no large-scale studies on the prevalence and seasonal variation of tick-borne haemoparasites that are needed to design and implement tick-borne disease control programs. We collected 7080 blood samples from cattle across four districts of north-eastern Uganda during the dry (November 2022 to February 2023) and wet (July to August 2023) seasons. These samples were screened for the most important tick-borne haemoparasites (TBH) by conventional PCR, followed by capillary sequencing of representative PCR amplicons. There was no statistically significant difference [p > 0.05] in the overall prevalence of infection with at least one of the screened TBHs during the wet [39.0%; CI 7.3-40.6] and dry seasons [39.2%: CI 37.6-40.9]. Prevalence of the individual TBHs during the dry season were:-Babesia bigemina 11.8% (CI 10.8-12.9), Babesia bovis 11.8% (CI 10.8-12.9), Anaplasma marginale 9.2% (CI 8.2-10.2), Ehrlichia ruminantium 5.1% (CI 4.4-5.8) and Theileria parva 1.3% (CI 1.0-1.8). Prevalence of individual TBHs during the dry season were:-T. parva 22.6% (CI 21.3-24), A. marginale 13.6% (CI 12.5-14.8), B. bigemina 12.7% (CI 11.6-13.8), E. ruminantium 1.4% (CI 1.1-1.9) and B. bovis 0.3% (CI 0.1-0.5). Geospatial location, increasing age, sex, overnight stay in cattle kraals, and cattle breeds were significant predictors of infection with different TBHs during either season. Co-infection with the individual TBHs ranged between 0.14-2.74% and 0-1.64% during the dry and wet seasons respectively. In both seasons, the co-infection rate with all five TBHs was 0.03% (CI 0.0-0.16). Phylogenetic analyses of the representative TBH sequences revealed high level of conservation within the targeted genes of the samples in this study and those within the East Africa region that were retrieved from the GenBank. This study demonstrate high level of infection/co-infection with different TBHs in both dry and wet seasons indicating that ticks and tick-borne diseases are a major impediment to livestock production in Karamoja region. This shows the need of having a ticks and tick-borne disease control program. Moreover, B. bovis was detected for the first time in this region.

PMID:40830548 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-12164-7

Clin Neuroradiol. 2025 Aug 19. doi: 10.1007/s00062-025-01547-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the most common neurological complication of infective endocarditis (IE), occurring in 20-40% of patients. In this context, while mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard treatment for patients with AIS due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO), its efficacy and safety in patients with stroke secondary to IE remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: Therefore, a more robust analysis of the efficacy and safety of MT in patients with AIS due to IE was conducted to address the gaps identified in previous studies.

METHODS: An extensive search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was conducted from inception to December 2024. The endpoints of interest were: (1) favorable functional outcomes at 90 days, (2) successful recanalization, (3) symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), (4) any intracranial hemorrhage (aICH), and (5) overall mortality. The pooled proportion rates were employed with a random effects model with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) and risk ratios (RR) for binary outcomes with 95% CI. I² statistics and Cochran Q test were performed to verify the heterogeneity.

RESULTS: Eight studies published between 2017 and 2024 enrolled 2037 patients (mean age 57.9 years, 62.3% women), of whom 1401 (69%) received mechanical or endovascular thrombectomy for Infective Endocarditis-Related Large Vessel Occlusion (IE-LVO) stroke. A pooled proportion of 29.0% for favorable functional outcomes (mRS 0-2) was reported (95% CI 14.0-43.0%; I² = 65.7%). Successful recanalization (mTICI 2b-3) was observed in 76.0% of patients (95% CI 68.0-84.0%; I² = 23.6%). sICH was reported in 19.0% (95% CI 0.0-38.0%; I² = 49.2%) and aICH in 30.0% of the patients (95% CI 23.0-38.0%; I² = 78.3%). A pooled proportion of 33.0% for all-cause mortality was evidenced (95% CI 21.0-45.0%; I² = 90.4%). A significantly lower incidence of favorable functional outcomes (mRS 0-2) was observed in patients with IE-LVO who underwent MT compared to non-IE-LVO patients (RR 0.48; 95% CI 0.31-0.75; I² = 0.0%), and no significant difference in the incidence of aICH was found between patients with IE-LVO and those with non-IE-LVO who underwent MT (RR 1.38; 95% CI 0.96-1.98; I² = 62.4%).

CONCLUSION: High successful recanalization rates were achieved in this population through MT, demonstrating its potential as an effective treatment for IE-LVO. However, the clinical outcomes of patients with IE-LVO were significantly unfavorable compared with those of patients without IE-LVO.

PMID:40830541 | DOI:10.1007/s00062-025-01547-y

Surg Endosc. 2025 Aug 19. doi: 10.1007/s00464-025-12100-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Complex gastroschisis requires timely intervention to protect the fetal intestine from inflammation and strangulation and avoid viscero-abdominal disproportion (VAD). Earlier results in ovine models for the fetoscopic management of gastroschisis highlight the benefits of minimally invasive coverage; yet specialized instruments appear to be needed for better procedural execution. The aim of this study was to create and validate a first prototype instrument for the prenatal covering of the protruded intestines in gastroschisis.

METHODS: A 7-mm diameter fetoscopic instrument was designed to hold and deploy a protective bag over the gastroschisis defect after suture fixation to the fetus. An inanimate model was used to evaluate the instrument’s usability and effectiveness: Eleven participants performed bag placement and suturing both with and without the prototype, enabling a comparative assessment of procedural performance. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the duration of the procedure, while product deficiencies were qualitatively assessed using a Likert-scale questionnaire. The overall usability of the prototype was further evaluated using the system usability scale (SUS).

RESULTS: The prototype consistently enhanced bag handling and positioning. Median procedural time slightly increased from 118.5 to 120.5 s with the prototype (p = 0.98), without affecting the overall procedural efficiency. Usability assessments using the SUS (median score: 67.95) and the Likert scale indicated a generally favorable response. Importantly, usability ratings were consistent regardless of participants’ prior experience in minimally invasive surgery (p = 0.43), underscoring the intuitive design and ease of adoption of the prototype.

CONCLUSION: Despite a minor increase in procedural time, the prototype enabled secure bag placement and demonstrated moderate usability across all participants. This is particularly relevant for fetal procedures requiring amnioinfusion, as opposed to partial amniotic carbon dioxide insufflation (PACI) used in the inanimate model. However, further mechanical refinement is warranted to enhance performance and address usability concerns.

PMID:40830539 | DOI:10.1007/s00464-025-12100-w

BMC Psychol. 2025 Aug 19;13(1):942. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03258-y.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40830533 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-03258-y

Genome Biol. 2025 Aug 20;26(1):246. doi: 10.1186/s13059-025-03718-z.

ABSTRACT

Tandem repeat copy number variations (TR-CNVs), structural variations (SVs), and short indels have been responsible for many diseases and traits, but no tools exist to distinguish and detect these variants. In this study, we developed a computational tool, TRsv, to distinguish and detect TR-CNVs, SVs, and short indels using long reads. In evaluation with simulated and real datasets, TRsv outperformed existing tools for detection of TR-CNVs and indels and performed equally well for detection of SVs. We demonstrated genome-wide detection of TR-CNVs, including variants associated with gene expression, disease, and quantitative traits, using 160 long-read whole genome sequencing data and TRsv.

PMID:40830527 | DOI:10.1186/s13059-025-03718-z

Infect Dis Poverty. 2025 Aug 19;14(1):87. doi: 10.1186/s40249-025-01358-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is a globally widespread zoonotic parasite, infecting nearly one-third of the human population, often leading to chronic, latent infections. Among the emerging layers of gene regulation, 5-methylcytosine (m⁵C) has emerged as a pivotal post-transcriptional modification in eukaryotes. Despite its growing recognition in various species, the epitranscriptomic landscape of m⁵C in the tachyzoite stage of T. gondii remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, we performed the first comprehensive m⁵C methylation profiling across three major T. gondii genotypes-RH (type I), ME49 (type II), and VEG (type III).

METHODS: The comparative m⁵C methylation analysis was carried out using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq) combined with RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). Differentially m⁵C-methylated genes (DMMGs) were functionally annotated via Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. By combining methylation and transcriptomic data, we uncovered strain-specific correlations between m⁵C modifications and gene expression. Additionally, expression and methylation patterns of potential regulators identified via BLASTP searches were examined. Statistical analyses were determined by one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS: Our analysis revealed a total of 5129, 4968, and 4577 m⁵C-methylated genes in RH, ME49, and VEG tachyzoites, respectively, with methylation predominantly enriched in the coding sequences. Comparative analysis across different strains uncovered 1710, 1131, and 784 DMMGs in RH versus ME49, RH versus VEG, and ME49 versus VEG, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted key biological processes, including catalytic activity, transport, phospholipid metabolism and transcription regulation. Furthermore, KEGG pathway analysis identified critical m⁵C-regulated processes such as nucleocytoplasmic transport, DNA replication, and ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling. Virulence-associated secretory effectors exhibited hypermethylation in more virulent strains, such as GRA39 and ROP35. Additionally, several putative m⁵C regulators displayed genotype-specific or conserved expression and methylation patterns.

CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the first m⁵C epitranscriptomic atlas of T. gondii tachyzoites, revealing both conserved and genotype-specific mRNA modification networks. These insights significantly increased the understanding of the regulatory role of m⁵C in T. gondii pathogenesis and open promising avenues for the development of vaccines and therapeutics aimed at combating zoonotic toxoplasmosis.

PMID:40830525 | DOI:10.1186/s40249-025-01358-w

Alzheimers Res Ther. 2025 Aug 20;17(1):194. doi: 10.1186/s13195-025-01851-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Early and cost-effective identification of amyloid positivity is crucial for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis. While amyloid PET is the gold standard, plasma biomarkers such as phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217) provide a potential alternative. This study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of a combined-panel approach using machine learning models and evaluated the biomarker significance.

METHODS: We enrolled 371 participants, including AD (n = 143), non-AD (n = 159), and cognitively unimpaired (CU, n = 69) controls. Combined panels of pTau217, pTau181, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NFL), Aβ42/40, and total tau were measured prior to the amyloid PET scan. The multiclass logistic (LR) regression, support vector machines, decision trees, and random forests (RF)-were applied to classify amyloid positivity (A+) at all stages or at early clinical stages (1-3). In AD, we tested whether the biomarker may define the clinical stagings.

RESULTS: When benchmarked against amyloid PET, plasma biomarker-based stratification achieves an optimal balance between diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness. The multi-class LR performed equivalently with RF model in identifying A+. The combined plasma panel reached an > 92% accuracy in identifying A+, with performance increasing to 93.4% at early clinical stages. We ranked the importance of individual biomarkers and pTau217 alone achieved comparable accuracy (> 90%) and was the top-ranked biomarker in the LR or RF model. NFL and GFAP correlated significantly with Mini-Mental State Examination; however, these plasma biomarkers did not enhance clinical staging stratification.

DISCUSSION: The use of multiclass LR model enhances amyloid classification, particularly at earlier clinical stages. While the combined-panel approach is most accurate, pTau217 alone provides a cost-effective alternative for screening. These findings support the integration of plasma biomarkers and ML into clinical workflows for early detection and patient stratification.

PMID:40830505 | DOI:10.1186/s13195-025-01851-2

Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025 Aug 18;259:105415. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105415. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Eating disorder symptoms are a major global mental health concern and are often associated with body image concerns. This study explores the relationship between body image and eating disorder symptoms in Chinese female university students, highlighting the parallel mediating roles of core self-evaluations and negative emotions.

METHODS: A random sample of 668 female university students completed an online survey using the Body Image State Scale (BISS), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-QS), Core Self-Evaluations Scale (CSES), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). SPSS Statistics 26 was used for reliability, validity, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis, while mediation analysis was conducted using Model 4 in PROCESS 4.0.

RESULTS: The study found that body image was significantly associated with eating disorder symptoms both directly (β = -0.108, p < 0.01) and indirectly through the parallel mediating roles of core self-evaluations (β = -0.092, 95 % CI [-0.137, -0.052]) and negative emotions (β = -0.058, 95 % CI [-0.091, -0.028]). Core self-evaluations accounted for 35.7 % and negative emotions for 22.5 % of the total effect (β = -0.258, 95 % CI [-0.332, -0.185]).

CONCLUSION: Core self-evaluations and negative emotions play essential roles in the associations between body image and eating disorder symptoms. These findings provide theoretical insights for psychological interventions and practical recommendations for mental health education programs in universities. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously, as they are generalizable only to female participants within the Chinese context. Future research could extend this work to female populations from different cultural backgrounds to examine the cross-cultural applicability of the findings.

PMID:40829192 | DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105415