Category: Nevin Manimala

Food Microbiol. 2027 Jan;141:105235. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2026.105235. Epub 2026 Jul 8.

ABSTRACT

Synanthropic flies are recognized as mobile reservoirs of enteric foodborne pathogens, yet their utility as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) sentinels within livestock production systems remains under-explored. This study aimed recovered the enteric foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica from whole-body fly homogenates and characterized phenotypic AMR patterns across sampled Texas counties differing by livestock production intensity groups (low, medium, and high). Each livestock intensity group consisted of two counties. Flies were collected from five sampling locations throughout each county at multiple distances (0-15 km) from a designated epicenter. Collected flies were identified to at least family level, homogenized and then screened for Salmonella. Pathogens were biochemically presumptively confirmed molecularly. Confirmed pathogens were subjected to serotyping and phenotypic AMR screening. Besides descriptive statistical analyses, logistic regression evaluated associations between individual counties, Salmonella serovar, and AMR patterns. Overall, 89/230 samples (38.7%) yielded confirmed Salmonella. Elevated AMR frequencies for isolated Salmonella were observed for tetracycline (77.5%), streptomycin (61.8%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (56.2%), azithromycin (39.3%), and cefoxitin (41.6%) across sampled counties. Heatmaps revealed clear spatial differences in AMR patterns. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis showed counties Go and S, both belonging to the high livestock intensity group, and the antimicrobial tetracycline were strongly associated (FDR p < 0.05) with the occurrence of AMR in Salmonella isolated from flies. Synanthropic flies demonstrated the presence of variability in Salmonella AMR patterns, and thus may be a useful sentinel for surveiling localized differences in AMR patterns of human pathogens in food animal production environments.

PMID:42668176 | DOI:10.1016/j.fm.2026.105235

Fungal Biol. 2026 Oct;130(6):101810. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101810. Epub 2026 Jul 2.

ABSTRACT

Endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants represent an important and largely untapped source of structurally diverse secondary metabolites. This study explores the tissue-specific metabolic diversity of endophytic fungi isolated from aerial and root tissues of Thymus vulgaris using LC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics to enable the accelerated prioritization of biosynthetically competent strains for natural product discovery. A total of eighteen fungal endophytes were isolated and taxonomically characterized by 18S rDNA sequencing, followed by metabolomic profiling of extracellular extracts. Comprehensive data analysis of more than 11,000 detected molecular features led to the annotation of 1164 metabolites. Among these, 269 metabolites exhibited significant differential abundance between tissue-derived groups, with 230 showing marked upregulation in root-associated isolates. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed clear metabolic segregation according to tissue origin. Functional pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that root-derived fungi possess enhanced tyrosine metabolism and terpenoid biosynthesis potential compared with aerial counterparts. Notably, Ganoderiol C emerged as a defining chemometric marker metabolite for subterranean endophytes. Subsequent in silico target prediction indicated strong binding and stable interactions of Ganoderiol C with NF-κB1 and GLRA1, suggesting potential biological relevance. Collectively, these results demonstrate pronounced metabolic compartmentalization between aerial and root endophytes in T. vulgaris and highlight the utility of metabolomics-driven strategies for niche-informed strain selection. This integrative approach provides a robust framework for prioritizing endophytic fungi with elevated biosynthetic capacity and strengthens the prospects of discovering novel bioactive compounds from plant-associated microbial communities.

PMID:42668156 | DOI:10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101810

J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2026 Aug 10:S0278-2391(26)00838-4. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2026.07.028. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Advanced practice providers (APPs) are now eligible to become associate fellows of the American Academy of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons (AACMFS) as of 2024. As APPs have joined the organization, there was recognition that APPs within oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) have a wide range of roles and responsibilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess and describe the roles, responsibilities, training, and practice patterns of APPs within OMS in the United States. A survey was utilized as the research methodology to collect data from APPs currently practicing within OMS.

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: A cross-sectional descriptive study utilized a survey to assess APP roles, responsibilities, and practice patterns within OMS in the United States. Eligible participants included APPs currently practicing who were identified through the AACMFS membership network during the study period.

PREDICTOR VARIABLES: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES: These variables include demographics (state of practice, APP type, and years in practice), practice characteristics, scope of practice, practice productivity, and onboarding characteristics.

COVARIATES: None.

ANALYSES: Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize survey responses.

RESULTS: Twenty-three eligible participants received the survey, and 14 completed responses were analyzed (response rate 60.9%). Respondents were equally divided between nurse practitioners (n = 7, 50%) and physician assistants (n = 7, 50%). Seven respondents (50%) practiced exclusively in adult care, while 5 respondents (35.7%) practiced exclusively in pediatrics. The most common subspecialties were head and neck oncology (n = 5, 35.7%), followed by pediatric craniomaxillofacial surgery (n = 3, 21.4%).

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The role of the APP varies across specialties. Within OMS, particularly among AAMCFS affiliated practices, there is variability in APP roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice across institutions. Further studies evaluating APP roles beyond AACMFS and longitudinal assessment of role development are warranted.

PMID:42668138 | DOI:10.1016/j.joms.2026.07.028

Environ Pollut. 2026 Aug 29:129060. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2026.129060. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is a climate-sensitive invasive species whose airborne pollen constitutes a major allergenic burden across Central Europe. Operational forecasting is constrained by monitoring system design: conventional Hirst-type samplers involve processing delays that preclude real-time data availability, whereas automated systems provide near-instantaneous data. This study evaluates exceedance-based forecasting under these two paradigms across eight urban sites in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, spanning a gradient from high to minimal ragweed abundance. The real-time scenario was simulated by assuming immediate availability of Hirst-type data rather than using measurements from automated pollen monitors. Four elastic net-penalised logistic regression models incorporating seasonal, meteorological, and Ambrosia pollen history predictors were evaluated across forecast horizons of 1-7 days using an expanding window cross-validation. Exceedance thresholds were 20 pollen/m³ (Slovak sites) and 5 pollen/m³ (Czech sites). Forecast performance was strongly governed by exceedance prevalence. At Slovak sites (prevalence 8-17%), the best real-time models generally achieved higher F1 scores at a 1-day horizon (0.67-0.82) than the best delayed-reporting models (0.59-0.72). At Czech sites (prevalence below 3%), F1 scores rarely exceeded 0.30, and sensitivity was a more informative metric under severe class imbalance. The real-time advantage diminished progressively with forecast horizon, converging towards delayed-reporting performance at day 7. Sunshine duration and maximum temperature were the most consistently positive predictors, relative humidity was predominantly positive across most sites, whereas precipitation and wind speed showed weaker, less consistent associations. These findings provide a transferable framework for ragweed pollen early warning systems adaptable to heterogeneous monitoring infrastructure.

PMID:42668132 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2026.129060

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2026 Aug 29:103262. doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2026.103262. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between air travel during early pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous miscarriage.

SETTING: This population-based retrospective cohort study included completed singleton pregnancies ending in either a first-trimester spontaneous miscarriage or a live birth between 2010 and 2019. Only pregnancies with a confirmed last menstrual period (LMP) date were included to ensure accurate temporal assessment of air travel in relation to pregnancy outcome.

METHODS: Singleton pregnancies resulting in live birth were compared with those ending in spontaneous miscarriage during the first trimester. Air travel between 4+0 and 13+6 weeks of gestation was defined as the primary exposure. Spontaneous miscarriage was identified using ICD-9 codes. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: A total of 439,990 pregnancies were analyzed, including 427,727 live births (97.2%) and 12,263 miscarriages (2.8%). Air travel during the first trimester was more common among women who experienced miscarriage compared to those with live births (0.01 % vs. 0.00014 %, P < 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, air travel was associated with more than fivefold higher odds of miscarriage (aOR 5.20, 95% CI 4.38-6.33).

CONCLUSION: Air travel during the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage. While causality cannot be established, these findings may have implications for counseling women considering air travel during early pregnancy.

PMID:42668118 | DOI:10.1016/j.jogoh.2026.103262

J Dent. 2026 Aug 29:107005. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2026.107005. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The association between sustained anterior head flexion during portable electronic device use and neuromuscular function remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between TMD status, the HT operational classification, and the surface electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 100 adults (63 F, 37 M; mean age 32.4 ± 11.3 years), equally distributed into four groups according to TMD status and HT classification. HT operational classification was defined by portable electronic device-use duration and an illustrated postural scale. Surface electromyography was recorded during clenching in the neutral head position and during 40°-60° anterior head flexion. POC TA, POC MM, Asymmetry Index, Activity Index, Torque Index, and Impact were analyzed. Main effects and interactions were assessed using Scheirer-Ray-Hare tests, and within-group changes using paired Wilcoxon tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Multiple related comparisons were adjusted using the Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate procedure (FDR).

RESULTS: TMD status was significantly associated with POC TA, POC MM, Asymmetry Index, and Torque Index in both positions (all pFDR ≤ 0.027). HT operational classification was significantly associated with Activity Index in both conditions (both pFDR < 0.001). Activity Index decreased during flexion in all groups (all pFDR ≤ 0.041), but the magnitude of change did not differ by TMD status, HT operational classification, or their interaction (all p ≥ 0.205).

CONCLUSIONS: TMD status and HT operational classification showed distinct associations with the investigated sEMG parameters. Participants with TMD exhibited lower muscular symmetry and greater imbalance, whereas HT operational classification was associated primarily with differences in temporalis-masseter recruitment. Activity Index emerged as a potentially posture-sensitive parameter. However, TMD-related findings should be interpreted cautiously because the analyses were not adjusted for demographic differences.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Activity Index may represent a potentially posture-sensitive sEMG parameter reflecting posture-associated differences in neuromuscular function; however, its clinical, diagnostic, and prognostic relevance remains to be established.

PMID:42668105 | DOI:10.1016/j.jdent.2026.107005

J Nutr. 2026 Aug 29:101813. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101813. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and rising nutrient needs, with girls facing additional iron requirements from menstrual losses, yet Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) inadequately address these needs.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the adequacy and equity of national FBDGs and government-run adolescent nutrition programs in supporting adolescent nutrition and anemia prevention across eight LMICs in Africa and Asia.

METHODS: A structured desk review of national FBDGs and government-led adolescent nutrition programs was conducted across Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan, with specific focus on adolescents’ nutritional needs, particularly iron; cultural and economic relevance; behavioral communication strategies; and equity considerations. Documents were identified via the FAO FBDG repository, government websites, WHO/UNICEF/World Bank sources, and Nutrition International offices, with duplicate screening and extraction by two independent reviewers, discrepancies resolved by a third. Iron recommendations were cross-referenced against FAO/INFOODS food composition data, and iron-source food affordability, seasonality, and accessibility were rated by two independent reviewers on a 5-point scale, reconciled by a third. No statistical hypothesis testing was performed.

RESULTS: Thirty-one documents were identified (8 national FBDGs, 10 communication materials, 13 program documents). Most FBDGs lacked age- and gender-specific recommendations and gave only general iron guidance despite elevated anemia risk among adolescent girls; iron supplementation and fortification recommendations were inconsistent and poorly aligned with national anemia programs. Adolescent-friendly communication and equity considerations, particularly for out-of-school, rural, and marginalized adolescents, were largely absent.

CONCLUSIONS: Among the FBDGs and program documents reviewed across eight LMICs, adolescent-specific guidance on iron, communication, and equity remains substantially underdeveloped. Strengthening FBDGs through adolescent-specific recommendations and closer alignment with supplementation/fortification programs could improve the relevance of adolescent nutrition guidance; effects on dietary behavior or anemia reduction were not assessed and warrant prospective evaluation.

PMID:42668094 | DOI:10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101813

J Acad Nutr Diet. 2026 Aug 29:156839. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2026.156839. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Store checkouts are key retail locations that promote impulse purchases of unhealthy foods and beverages. Perris, California, became the second U.S. jurisdiction-following Berkeley, California-to adopt a healthy checkout policy to improve the nutritional quality of items displayed at checkout.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the healthfulness of food and beverage facings at retail store checkouts in Perris and three neighboring Southern California cities, prior to the implementation of the policy.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study using in-store audits on all checkout product facings at sampled checkouts.

SETTING: Product-level data at checkouts were collected in June 2023 from 19 stores in Perris and 69 matched stores in Moreno Valley, Rialto, and Riverside, California. Stores included chain supermarkets, chain drugstores, chain convenience stores, chain dollar stores, chain mass merchandisers, and independent grocery stores. A total of 42,294 product facings were included in the analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was the proportion of food and beverage facings at checkout in Southern California that met the nutritional standards of Perris’ healthy checkout ordinance (HCO). For comparison, the analysis also examined this proportion using Berkeley’s HCO standards.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Descriptive analyses and log-binomial regression with robust standard errors clustered by store and checkout location were used to estimate the proportion of healthy food and beverage facings and compare differences by location, store type, and checkout staffing.

RESULTS: Only 33% of food and beverage checkout facings were considered healthy under Perris’ standards, and only 22% under Berkeley’s. The most common food and beverage categories at checkouts were candy (35%), gum (14%), salty snacks (13%), sugar-sweetened beverages (12%), and mints (6%). Water accounted for 2%, and fruits and vegetables for less than 1%. The percentage of checkout foods and beverages meeting Perris’ standards was lowest at checkout endcaps and independent grocery stores.

CONCLUSIONS: Most checkout foods and beverages were unhealthy before the implementation of a healthy checkout policy. To improve checkouts, healthy checkout policies should include the entire checkout (e.g., including endcaps where most SSBs are located) and cogent nutritional standards such as those in Berkeley’s HCO.

PMID:42668086 | DOI:10.1016/j.jand.2026.156839

J Acad Nutr Diet. 2026 Aug 29:156837. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2026.156837. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been associated with diseases in which inflammation plays a key role. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was developed as a tool to estimate the inflammatory potential of the diet; however, the association between UPF consumption and higher DII scores remains insufficiently explored.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between UPF consumption and the DII.

DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS: /Setting: Data from 36,669 adults enrolled in the NutriNet-Brasil cohort between 2020 and 2025 were analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome was the DII, calculated as proposed in previous studies, based on dietary components such as macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds STATISTICAL ANALYSES: UPF contribution to energy intake was estimated using the mean of 2-3 24-hour recalls (Nova24h). Associations between UPF consumption (percentage of energy, in quintiles and as a continuous variable) and the DII were analyzed using multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS: The mean DII was 1.31 (95% CI: 1.28-1.33) and mean UPF contribution was 22.7%, ranging from an average of 7.50% (Q1) to 41.14% (Q5). In adjusted models, the DII increased linearly across quintiles of UPF intake (p for linear trend < 0.001). The estimated DII score in the highest quintile (Q5: 2.57) was eleven times higher than in the lowest quintile (Q1: 0.22), demonstrating a strong positive association between UPF consumption and the pro-inflammatory potential of the diet. As a continuous variable, each 10% increase in UPF energy was associated with a 0.70-point higher DII (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher UPF consumption was associated with a more pro-inflammatory dietary pattern. These findings highlight the potential role of UPF consumption in shaping the inflammatory potential of the diet and support further research on its implications for diet-related health outcomes.

PMID:42668084 | DOI:10.1016/j.jand.2026.156837

Pharmacol Res. 2026 Aug 29:108420. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2026.108420. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the prognostic impacts of seven classes of antidiabetic medications in patients with cancer, predominantly in the setting of concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to elucidate their potential differential effects.

METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science was conducted from inception to May 2025, utilizing keywords including “antidiabetic drugs,” “cancer,” and “prognosis.” Based on predefined criteria, eligible English-language randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were included if they compared the prognostic impacts of metformin, insulin, sulfonylureas, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and thiazolidinediones in patients with cancer. The primary outcome domain was all-cause survival, represented by all-cause mortality (ACM) or overall survival (OS) according to the terminology of the original studies. Secondary cancer-related outcomes included cancer-specific mortality (CSM), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Multiple independent investigators performed data extraction and quality assessment. Statistical analyses were performed using OnlineMeta V1.1. DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models were used for all primary meta-analyses to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), while fixed-effects estimates were examined as complementary sensitivity analyses. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials.

RESULTS: A total of 61 studies comprising 1,106,966 patients with cancer were included. Metformin use was associated with lower ACM (HR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.74-0.91, P=0.0001) and CSM (HR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.69-0.87, P<0.0001), whereas insulin use was associated with higher ACM (HR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.63-2.51, P<0.0001). Among the drug classes analyzed, SGLT2 inhibitor use showed a nonsignificant inverse trend with ACM (HR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.11-1.71, P=0.24) and was associated with lower CSM (HR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.20-0.22, P<0.0001), although these estimates were based on few observational studies with study-specific comparator groups and do not establish superiority over other drug classes. In adjusted-HR-only sensitivity analyses, the direction of association was generally consistent for the major metformin outcomes and insulin-related ACM, whereas several other comparisons were attenuated or could not be pooled because too few studies reported adjusted estimates.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis identified heterogeneous associations between antidiabetic drug use and cancer-related survival outcomes, with variation across drug classes, cancer types, and study-level mean age groups. Because the evidence was derived predominantly from observational studies with study-specific comparator groups, substantial between-study heterogeneity, and limited data for newer agents, the pooled estimates should not be interpreted as evidence of treatment superiority or used to rank drug classes. These findings are hypothesis-generating and warrant confirmation in prospective studies using clinically comparable treatment groups, standardized outcome definitions, and rigorous control of confounding.

PMID:42668074 | DOI:10.1016/j.phrs.2026.108420