Category: Nevin Manimala

Mol Biol Rep. 2025 Aug 8;52(1):809. doi: 10.1007/s11033-025-10873-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy in women worldwide, with recurrence and treatment-related side effects posing significant challenges. Immunotherapy has shown promise, yet an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment can hinder its effectiveness. Emerging evidence suggests that probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus species, may positively influence immune responses and tumor progression in the context of cancer therapy.

METHODS: This study evaluated the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri PTCC1058 on tumor development and immune responses in a mouse model of breast cancer induced by 4T1 mouse breast carcinoma cells. Female BALB/c mice were divided into probiotic and control groups, receiving oral supplementation of the probiotic or PBS, respectively, for 30 days before and after tumor induction. Tumor volume and survival were assessed over 70 days. The expression levels of key immune mediators, tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha), Interleukin 10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), and Fas ligand (FasL) were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, and histopathological analysis was conducted on tumor tissues.

RESULTS: Probiotic treatment exhibited a trend towards reduced tumor volume and improved survival, although not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Key immune mediators showed significant changes, with TGF-β, IL-10, and IDO expressions downregulated and TNF-α and FasL upregulated in the probiotic group (P < 0.01). Histopathological analysis revealed reduced pleomorphism, mitotic activity, and focal necrosis in the probiotic group.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that L. reuteri PTCC1058 may modulate the tumor microenvironment and influence immune responses in breast cancer. While further research is necessary to validate these results, probiotics could represent a complementary therapeutic strategy in breast cancer treatment.

PMID:40779195 | DOI:10.1007/s11033-025-10873-w

Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Aug 8;197(9):997. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14445-0.

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals(loids) in scrap metal recycling sites pose serious risks to human and environmental health. In this study, the health risks of multiple heavy metals(loids) (i.e., Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) via soil and crop exposure at a traditional metal recycling site in Vietnam with approximately 1000 years of operation were evaluated. The soil and the 20 most common crops within four groups (rice, leafy vegetables, nonleafy vegetables, and brassica vegetables) were collected. The pollution index (PI) values of the soil (1.01-4.80) ranged from moderately polluted to heavily polluted. Metal accumulation in crops (mg/kg, fresh weight) was in the order of Mn (9.95) > Zn (8.23) > Cu (1.50) > Ni (0.14) > As = Cd (0.04) > Pb (0.03). The results revealed high noncancer (hazard index (HI) = 7.1) and cancer (incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) = 4.31 × 10^-3) risks to the exposed community. Rice contributed to 84.1% of the total HI and 82.5% of the total ILCR, indicating a high health risk via rice consumption. To reduce health risks, rice, cabbage, fish mint, lemongrass, lettuce, and marjoram should not be grown in the study area. Pollutant management (e.g., pollutant source reduction, selection of proper crop cultivation, remediation of metal-contaminated soil, and reduction of metal uptake by crops) at scattered metal recycling sites should receive adequate attention to reduce the high noncancer and cancer health risks to inhabitants.

PMID:40779183 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14445-0

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2025 Aug 8;167(1):218. doi: 10.1007/s00701-025-06632-2.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The increasing availability of advanced neuroimaging has led to a rise in incidental findings among pediatric patients. Management strategies include immediate surgical intervention, observation or surgery upon progression. These are influenced by imaging characteristics, lesion behavior over time, patient/family preferences, and the lesion’s surgical risks. The thalamus’s eloquent location often warrants a more conservative approach. Identifying features predictive of growth could help inform clinical decisions regarding surveillance and potential intervention.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 44 pediatric patients with 46 thalamic incidentalomas, assessing radiological characteristics, temporal changes, and factors predictive of progression. Progression was defined as a change in size and/or new/increased contrast enhancement. Prognostic factors for progression (demographics, initial tumor volume, extension beyond thalamus, changes in enhancement, margin characteristics) were assessed for significance.

RESULTS: Of 46 incidentalomas, 40 were followed longitudinally. Nine incidentalomas (22.5%) showed regression, while nine (22.5%) progressed. The average time to regression was 947 days, and to progression, 516 days. Three patients underwent biopsy due to progressive changes; each was diagnosed with low-grade glioma. Statistical analysis revealed that initial incidentaloma volume, extension beyond the thalamus, and contrast enhancement were significantly associated with progression (p = 0.025, p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Most pediatric thalamic incidentalomas are small, stable, and likely low-grade. However, approximately one-fifth exhibit progressive features, warranting prolonged surveillance. Larger initial volume, extra-thalamic extension, and contrast enhancement are significant predictors of progression and may justify earlier intervention. Individualized management remains essential, balancing natural history with surgical risk.

PMID:40779174 | DOI:10.1007/s00701-025-06632-2

Neuroradiology. 2025 Aug 8. doi: 10.1007/s00234-025-03732-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a devastating motor neuron disease characterized by its diagnostic difficulty. Currently, no reliable biomarkers exist in the diagnosis process. In this scenario, our purpose is the application of machine learning algorithms to imaging MRI-derived variables for the development of diagnostic models that facilitate and shorten the process.

METHODS: A dataset of 211 patients (114 ALS, 45 mimic, 22 genetic carriers and 30 control) with MRI-derived features of volumetry, cortical thickness and local iron (via T2* mapping, and visual assessment of susceptibility imaging). A binary classification task approach has been taken to classify patients with and without ALS. A sequential modeling methodology, understood from an iterative improvement perspective, has been followed, analyzing each group’s performance separately to adequately improve modelling. Feature filtering techniques, dimensionality reduction techniques (PCA, kernel PCA), oversampling techniques (SMOTE, ADASYN) and classification techniques (logistic regression, LASSO, Ridge, ElasticNet, Support Vector Classifier, K-neighbors, random forest) were included. Three subsets of available data have been used for each proposed architecture: a subset containing automatic retrieval MRI-derived data, a subset containing the variables from the visual analysis of the susceptibility imaging and a subset containing all features.

RESULTS: The best results have been attained with all the available data through a voting classifier composed of five different classifiers: accuracy = 0.896, AUC = 0.929, sensitivity = 0.886, specificity = 0.929.

CONCLUSION: These results confirm the potential of ML techniques applied to imaging variables of volumetry, cortical thickness, and local iron for the development of diagnostic model as a clinical tool for decision-making support.

PMID:40779173 | DOI:10.1007/s00234-025-03732-9

Eur Radiol. 2025 Aug 8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-11922-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of virtual non-calcium (VNCa) imaging using photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) with MRI in assessing lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with low back pain underwent PCD-CT and MRI within 2 h. Quantitative analysis included VNCa-derived CT values and T2 relaxation times in manually placed regions of interest. Qualitative assessment focused on diagnostic accuracy for LDH and root impingement using grayscale and color-coded VNCa images.

RESULTS: A total of 68 participants (51.8% female; mean age, 48 ± 14 years) were included. A significant negative correlation was observed between VNCa CT and MRI T2 values (r = -0.705, p < 0.001), strongest in the nucleus pulposus. Compared with grayscale CT, color-coded VNCa imaging significantly improved sensitivity (81-94%), specificity (84-95%), and accuracy (84-95%) for detecting LDH (all comparisons, p < 0.001); and improved sensitivity (82-94%), specificity (96-97%), and accuracy (93-96%) for diagnosing root impingement (all comparisons, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: PCD-CT with VNCa imaging enables reliable quantification of disc water content and significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for LDH and root impingement. It offers a valuable alternative to MRI, especially in clinical settings where MRI is limited or unavailable.

KEY POINTS: Question Can PCD-CT-based virtual non-calcium (VNCa) imaging serve as a reliable alternative to MRI for diagnosing lumbar disc herniation and assessing disc degeneration? Findings VNCa CT values strongly correlated with MRI T2 values, and VNCa images significantly improved diagnostic accuracy for lumbar disc herniation and nerve root impingement. Clinical relevance PCD-CT with VNCa imaging provides an accurate, rapid, and accessible assessment of lumbar disc herniation and disc degeneration, offering a valuable diagnostic alternative for patients unable to undergo MRI.

PMID:40779166 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-025-11922-5

Eur Radiol. 2025 Aug 8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-11856-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Early filling defects in the left atrial appendage (LAA), observed during the early phase of cardiac computed tomography (CT), are associated with increased risks of stroke and cardiovascular events. This study aims to evaluate the relationships between left atrial volume (LAV), left atrial appendage volume (LAAV), and the LAA orifice area, as well as identify factors associated with early LAA filling defects in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, using optimized cardiac phases in multiphase CT imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 562 patients with AF who underwent cardiac CT before pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Relationships between LAV, LAAV, and LAA orifice area were assessed using Pearson’s rank correlation coefficients. Factors associated with early LAA filling defects were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the threshold value predictive of these defects. The impact of PVI on defect resolution was also assessed.

RESULTS: Left atrial volume index (LAVI) was significantly correlated with LAAV index (ρ = 0.59, p < 0.001) and LAA orifice area index (ρ = 0.66, p < 0.001). Maximum LAVI was independently associated with early LAA filling defects (p < 0.001), with a threshold of 78.5 cm³/m² yielding 81.9% sensitivity and 77.6% specificity. Among 49 patients with initial defects, 27 underwent follow-up CT after PVI, and 88.9% showed resolution accompanied by significant LAV reductions.

CONCLUSION: The maximum LAVI is a critical factor associated with LAA early filling defects, with reductions in LAV after PVI leading to defect resolution.

KEY POINTS: Question What factors are associated with early left atrial appendage (LAA) filling defects, and do these defects resolve following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI)? Findings A left atrial volume index (LAVI) threshold of 78.5 cm³/m² is associated with early LAA filling defects, which resolve after PVI-induced reductions in LAVI. Clinical relevance Identifying the association between LAVI and early LAA filling defects may improve risk stratification for cardiovascular and thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation. PVI-induced reductions in LAVI could contribute to a decrease in the risk of such events.

PMID:40779165 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-025-11856-y

Eur Radiol. 2025 Aug 8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-11838-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Functional pulmonary MRI can assess the pathophysiology of regional ventilation, provided that nominal ventilatory patterns are characterised as a baseline. This study investigates common features and their associated gravity dependence using 3D MR spirometry in freely breathing healthy volunteers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Repeated dynamic lung MR acquisitions were performed at 3 T on 25 healthy volunteers breathing freely in the supine and prone positions. Three-dimensional maps of tidal volumes (TV), peak expiratory flows (SPEF), expiratory flows at 25% of tidal volume (SEF25), and anisotropy deformation index (ADI) were inferred and normalised. Intra- and inter-volunteer reproducibility was evaluated using percentage differences (PD) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), while gravity dependence was tested using a paired Wilcoxon test.

RESULTS: Twenty-five volunteers (mean age, 45 years ± 17 [standard deviation]; 15 males) were included. Respiratory parametric maps are found spatially inhomogeneous throughout each volunteer’s lung, with large coefficients of variation ranging between 30 and 63%. Yet, the main respiratory patterns are shared among volunteers with common features primarily governed by lung gravity dependence for TV, SPEF, and SEF25 (p < 0.05). Spirometry biomarkers are globally repeatable despite intrinsic physiological variabilities (median PD: 5.7-9.2%, ICC: 0.71-0.88), and fairly repeatable locally after normalisations (median PD: 11-19%, ICC: 0.78-0.90).

CONCLUSION: 3D MR spirometry exhibits shared respiratory features between individuals with gravity dependence. Intra-volunteer repeatability and global accuracy were found, demonstrating the reliability of the technique. A new baseline is established for regional lung pathophysiology.

KEY POINTS: Question Nominal ventilatory patterns in free breathing need to be characterised for regional pathophysiology. Findings Functional ventilatory maps showed significant inhomogeneity, but key patterns, primarily governed by gravity, were consistent across subjects. 3D MR spirometry demonstrated reliability despite physiological variability. Clinical relevance 3D MR spirometry is a reliable technique for absolute quantification of the regional ventilation and its dynamic. Nominal spatial patterns of the ventilation should be considered for assessing regional pathophysiology in free breathing.

PMID:40779164 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-025-11838-0

J Sci Food Agric. 2025 Aug 8. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.70117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Consumption of gluten-free products is increasing, especially among individuals with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate non-gluten-free (non-GF) and gluten-free (GF) products in terms of nutritional quality and cost in Turkey. Data on nutritional content and cost were collected from labels of 456 packaged GF and non-GF food products available in Turkey. Products were categorized into nine food groups, and the Health Star Rating (HSR) system was used to assess nutritional quality.

RESULTS: Gluten-free breads, pastas, flours, biscuits, cookies and snacks had significantly lower protein content (P < 0.05). Although the HSR star count of non-GF foods was higher in the breads and flours group, the HSR star count of GF foods was higher in the biscuits and cookies, oats and candies group (P < 0.05). Statistically significant results were obtained in all food groups except oats and the unit cost of non-GF foods was lower than GF foods (P < 0.05). Although an increase in number of HSR stars was observed with decrease in energy, carbohydrate, total sugar, fat, saturated fat, sodium and cost, an increase in number of HSR stars was observed with an increase in protein and fiber (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The nutritional value of GF products, particularly commercially available flours, is not superior to that of non-GF products, whereas GF foods are generally more than twice as expensive. Although enhancing variety, nutritional quality and affordability of GF products could improve quality of life for individuals requiring a GF diet, these products are unlikely to offer significant health benefits for those without confirmed gluten-related diseases. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

PMID:40778429 | DOI:10.1002/jsfa.70117

ACS Mater Lett. 2025 Jun 30;7(8):2695-2701. doi: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.5c00263. eCollection 2025 Aug 4.

ABSTRACT

Heat transport in glasses over a wide temperature range is critical for applications in gate dielectrics and thermal insulators but remains poorly understood due to the challenges in modeling vibrational anharmonicity and configurational dynamics across the glass transition. Recent predictions show an unusual decrease in thermal conductivity (κ) with temperature in amorphous hafnia (a-HfO₂), contrasting with the typical trend in glasses. Using molecular dynamics with a machine-learning-based neuroevolution potential, we compute κ of a-HfO₂ from 50 K to 2000 K. At low temperatures, the Wigner transport equation captures both anharmonicity and quantum statistics. Above 1200 K, atomic diffusion invalidates the quasiparticle picture, and we resort to the Green-Kubo method to capture convective transport. We further extend the Wigner transport equation to supercooled a-HfO₂, revealing the crucial role of low-frequency modes in facilitating heat transport. The computed κ, based on both Green-Kubo and Wigner transport theories, increases continuously with temperature up to 2000 K.

PMID:40778389 | PMC:PMC12326390 | DOI:10.1021/acsmaterialslett.5c00263

ACS Mater Lett. 2025 Jul 12;7(8):2902-2909. doi: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.5c00878. eCollection 2025 Aug 4.

ABSTRACT

The blending of glassy copolymer-brush modified colloids with a viscoelastic linear copolymer featuring intrinsic self-healing enabled disordered hyperuniform hybrid materials that combined mechanical robustness with structural color, processability, environmental stability, and the ability to recover structure and properties after incurring physical damage via ‘integrated self-healing’. Symmetric linear n-butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate (BA/MMA) were co-assembled with asymmetric glassy BA/MMA statistical copolymer brush (silica) particles. ‘Confinement-driven segregation’ resulted in a microphase-separated morphology in which the linear copolymer resided within the interstitial regions of a rigid (∼1 GPa) copolymer brush particle template with disordered hyperuniform microstructure. Diffusion of the self-healing copolymer additive into damage regions drove the recovery after damage, along with the restoration of structural color due to the materials hyperuniform microstructure. The synergistic action of intrinsic and extrinsic healing mechanisms could provide a versatile platform for the bottom-up fabrication of multifunctional hybrid materials with increased damage resistance and functional longevity.

PMID:40778388 | PMC:PMC12326392 | DOI:10.1021/acsmaterialslett.5c00878