Category: Nevin Manimala

BMC Med Educ. 2025 Aug 28;25(1):1214. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07753-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The integration of gamification in educational settings has emerged as an innovative strategy to enhance student engagement and knowledge retention, particularly in complex fields like dentistry. This descriptive, survey-based study investigates the impact of gamified lectures on the learning experiences of undergraduate dental students in endodontic instrument education.

METHODS: By incorporating interactive elements such as real-time quizzes, live polls, and immediate feedback, the research explores how gamification can transform traditional passive learning environments. The study involved undergraduate dental students and employed a structured survey questionnaire to assess engagement, knowledge retention, and student perceptions.

RESULTS: Quantitative analysis using SPSS revealed significant findings: 56.6% of students rated the lectures as “very engaging” or “extremely engaging”, and 66% reported that gamification significantly contributed to their understanding of the subject matter. Correlation analyses demonstrated positive relationships between engagement, retention, and satisfaction, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.535 (p = 0.003) to 0.621 (p < 0.01). The results underscore the potential of gamification in dental education, particularly in enhancing student engagement and perceived understanding. However, the findings reflect short-term, self-reported outcomes and do not yet confirm long-term knowledge retention, which warrants further investigation.

CONCLUSION: The results underscore the potential of gamification in dental education, highlighting its effectiveness in motivating active participation and improving learning outcomes. By providing empirical evidence of gamification’s benefits, this study contributes valuable insights for curriculum development and innovative pedagogical approaches in health professions education.

PMID:40877855 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-07753-z

BMC Pulm Med. 2025 Aug 28;25(1):410. doi: 10.1186/s12890-025-03819-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Its objective was to use meta-analysis (MA) to methodically assess the impact of perioperative breathing exercises on the postoperative rehabilitation of patients with lung cancer (LC) having radical resection. METHODS: PubMed, and other databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on radical resection of LC combined with perioperative respiratory training from January 1995 to January 2024. After quality assessment, MA was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software.

RESULTS: A total of 14 studies involving 880 patients were included, of which 434 patients received perioperative breathing training (Intervention group, IG). The differences between the two groups in terms of MIP (MD = -13.31, 95% CI: [-24.43, -2.19]; Z = 2.35, P = 0.02), FVC (MD = -0.23, 95% CI = [-0.36, -0.11]; Z = 3.69, P = 0.0002), 6-minute walk test (6MWT) values (MD = 36.42, 95% CI: [4.37, 68.48]; Z = 2.23, P = 0.03), incidence of pneumonia (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.20-0.72; Z = 2.95, P = 0.003), and complication rates (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.46-0.94; Z = 2.29, P = 0.02) were statistically significant. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in MEP (MD = -6.10, 95% CI: [-12.10, -0.11]; Z = 2.00, P = 0.05), FEV1 (MD = -0.25, 95% CI = [-0.58, 0.08]; Z = 1.47, P = 0.14), FEV1/FVC (MD = -3.78, 95% CI = [-7.65, 0.09]; Z = 1.91, P = 0.06), PEF (MD = -15.02, 95% CI = [-45.88, 15.83]; Z = 0.95, P = 0.34), atelectasis (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.24-1.12; Z = 1.68, P = 0.09), pneumothorax (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.63-2.29; Z = 0.57, P = 0.57), and mechanical ventilation incidence (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.34-2.91; Z = 0.01, P = 0.99).

CONCLUSION: This MA demonstrates that perioperative respiratory training significantly improves MIP, FVC, and 6MWT in patients undergoing radical LC surgery, while effectively reducing the incidence of postoperative pneumonia and overall complications. However, its impact on MEP, certain pulmonary function parameters (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF), and specific complications (atelectasis, pneumothorax, mechanical ventilation requirement) did not reach statistical significance. The findings support the inclusion of respiratory training in perioperative rehabilitation programs for LC patients to optimize postoperative recovery outcomes.

PMID:40877852 | DOI:10.1186/s12890-025-03819-2

Virol J. 2025 Aug 28;22(1):294. doi: 10.1186/s12985-025-02924-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Respiratory viral infections, including Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), Influenza (Flu), and human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (hRSV), are major global health concerns. While their impact on vulnerable groups is known, their characteristics in healthy adults (18-65 years) are less clear. This study aimed to determine the incidence and clinical-laboratory features of RSV and HMPV in this population and compared them with those of Influenza A(H1N1) and influenza A(H3N2) for improved epidemiological and diagnostic understanding.

METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from an Acute Febrile Illness surveillance (2016-2018) in Manipal, India. The study included 96 HMPV, 68 hRSV, 75 Influenza A(H1N1), and 76 Influenza A(H3N2) positive hospitalized adults with fever (≥ 38 °C) and respiratory illness confirmed by RT‒PCR. Clinical and laboratory data collected within the first 8 days of illness were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: The annual incidence rates of hRSV (0.33%-1.59%) and HMPV (0.14%-1.79%) varied. Coryza was common, but cough was most frequent in HMPV (97.9%). HMPV also resulted in increased rates of shortness of breath and chest pain. Leucopenia was most common in Influenza A(H1N1) patients, and thrombocytopenia was most common in hRSV patients. Significantly elevated leukocyte and platelet counts were observed in HMPV patients. Liver enzyme abnormalities are relatively common in hRSV and Influenza A(H1N1) patients. Symptom progression and laboratory trends revealed distinct patterns across the viruses.

CONCLUSION: Despite overlapping initial symptoms, HMPV, hRSV, and influenza resulted in different clinical and laboratory profiles in adults. HMPV was associated with more prominent lower respiratory symptoms and a stronger inflammatory response. These distinctions can aid in the clinical differentiation and management of these common respiratory viruses in adults, highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis for improved patient care and public health strategies.

PMID:40877849 | DOI:10.1186/s12985-025-02924-2

BMC Med Educ. 2025 Aug 28;25(1):1218. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07593-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Taking notes during lectures plays a vital role in enhancing learning outcomes. With technological advancements, digital note-taking has gained popularity among university students in recent years due to its convenience, ease of storage, sharing, and searching. Different versions of digital note-taking have been introduced, including the use of styluses on tablets, which offer a blend of traditional handwriting and digital advantages. However, the use of digital devices may introduce distractions, such as access to social media, potentially disrupting focus and impacting learning effectiveness. Therefore, their impact on learning and cognition remains a topic of ongoing exploration. This study aimed to investigate the differences in cognitive functions between university students practicing either longhand or styluses digital note-taking methods in the United Arab Emirates.

METHODS: One hundred students participated in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic information, including age, sex, nationality, and study year were obtained. Participants reported the note-taking method they use (longhand vs. digital note-taking with styluses). A battery of cognitive tests was used in this study to assess different cognitive functions, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), and the Stroop Color and word test. The Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess differences in different cognitive domains between participants following longhand and styluses digital note-taking.

RESULTS: Students that used longhand note-taking demonstrated significantly higher overall cognitive scores (MoCA, p = 0.005), along with superior information processing speed, working memory (SDMT, p = 0.045), and better visual memory (BVMT-R, p = 0.01), compared to those who used styluses digital note-taking. However, students using styluses digital note-taking exhibited better inhibitory cognitive control (Stroop test, p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS: Although using styluses offers a hybrid experience by combining the tactile benefits of handwriting with the digital advantages of electronic devices, students who employed longhand note-taking demonstrated significantly higher cognitive scores across several domains compared to their peers using stylus-based digital methods. However, while these differences were statistically significant, the effect size was small. Longitudinal cohort studies are needed to further examine the predictive, mediating, and confounding factors related to note-taking methods and cognitive abilities in students.

PMID:40877847 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-07593-x

J Eval Clin Pract. 2025 Sep;31(6):e70258. doi: 10.1111/jep.70258.

ABSTRACT

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The Morning Report (MR) has been considered an essential phase of clinical educational. Yet evidence points to the MR format varying in terms of content, presentation, goals, and organization in different academic departments. Therefore, we hypothesized that a standard-based tool for assessing MR followed by interactive meetings and workshops as empowerment programs results in bridging the gap between standards and the current state.

METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted during three stages in eight departments of academic hospitals of the Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (QUMS) in Iran. In the first stage, a possible gap of running MR were identified during an on-site assessment using a developed tool based on national standards. The tool focused on three areas running MR preparation, scheduling, and implementation. In the second stage, involved clinical educators were empowered to use the correct way of holding MR sessions. Finally, a reassessment was conducted 6 weeks afterward using the same tool, and the extent of changes in complying with the educational standards was measured. The data was analyzed using SPSS.

RESULTS: After the intervention, a significant change was observed in the preparation and implementation dimension of MR in different departments (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the dimension of scheduling of quality of MR after intervention (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Conducting an initial assessment during actual workplace practices using a standard-based tool following interventions can promote translating new knowledge into real practice, bridge the educational gap, and achieve the desired practice.

PMID:40874806 | DOI:10.1111/jep.70258

Clin Exp Dent Res. 2025 Oct;11(5):e70207. doi: 10.1002/cre2.70207.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the buccal bone thickness and root length of the maxillary incisors in deep bite patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography data of 124 patients were randomly selected in this cross-sectional study. In the study, patients were divided into two groups, normal bite and deep bite, and buccal bone thickness and root length of the maxillary incisors were measured. Buccal bone thickness was measured at 4 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junction and at the midpoint of the root.

RESULTS: By comparing these factors between the two groups of normal and deep bite, only the difference in the buccal bone thickness at the midpoint of the root of the central incisor between these two groups was statistically significant. Also, by comparing these factors between male and female patients, the root length of the central and lateral incisors and the buccal bone thickness in the mid root of the central incisor were significantly more in Men.

CONCLUSION: A significant disparity in the buccal bone thickness at the mid-root level of central incisors between normal bite and deep overbite patients was revealed.

PMID:40874805 | DOI:10.1002/cre2.70207

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2025 Jul;92(3):174-178. doi: 10.55095/achot2025/009.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes of patients with total hip arthroplasty performed through Watson-Jones anterolateral approach and Röttinger minimally invasive anterolateral approach (MIS-AL). The hypothesis was that the MIS-AL approach enables faster recovery and better clinical outcomes in terms of abductor muscle strength and Harris Hip Score (HHS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective comparative study included 136 patients who underwent surgery between 2018 and 2021. In 88 patients the Watson-Jones procedure was performed and in 48 patients Röttinger minimally invasive procedure was opted for. The Harris Hip Score (HHS) was used to evaluate the outcomes at three time points (before surgery, at 3 and 6 months after surgery) and the abductor muscle strength was measured using the dynamometer at four time points (before surgery, at 17 days, 3 and 6 months after surgery). The statistical analyses were conducted using the independent samples t-test at the level of significance p < 0.05.

RESULTS: In the MIS-AL group, the HHS after 3 months was 86.32 ± 4.8 points, which was a higher score than that achieved in the Watson-Jones group (78.76 ± 5.6; p = 0.0015). After 6 months the difference remained in favour of MIS-AL (94.68 ± 4.7 vs. 90.28 ± 5.4; p = 0.0078). The maximum abductor muscle strength after 6 months improved from 125.52 ± 14.8 N to 170.91 ± 16.2 N in the Watson-Jones group and from 142.78 ± 15.3 N to168.11 ± 15.8 N in the MIS-AL group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05).

DISCUSSION: The results show that the differences in abductor muscle strength between the MIS-AL approach and the Watson-Jones anterolateral approach were statistically insignificant. However, better results of the Harris Hip Score in patients in whom the MIS-AL approach was used are supported by the trend of faster functional recovery and higher satisfaction rate of patients undergoing less invasive surgical procedures.

CONCLUSIONS: The Röttinger minimally invasive anterolateral approach provides faster improvement of the HHS during the first six months after surgery. The differences in abductor muscle strength between the groups were statistically insignificant.

PMID:40874799 | DOI:10.55095/achot2025/009

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2025 Jul;92(3):147-152. doi: 10.55095/achot2024/058.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The study evaluates the functional outcomes of the treatment of pediatric trigger digits in two centers and compares them with data from the available literature. The secondary objective is to verify the possibilities of collecting data on patients’ health status through questionnaire surveys using remote communication via a web interface.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients operated on at the Hand and Plastic Surgery Institute in Vysoké nad Jizerou (ÚCHRaPCH) and the Motol University Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics (FNM) between 2018 and 2021 were evaluated. An analysis of demographic data, affected digits, and an assessment of functional outcomes using the Quick-DASH questionnaire were performed. The data were collected through Google Forms and then statistically analyzed. The subgroups were compared using the chi-square test and two-tailed unpaired t-test and logistic regression with Firth’s correction was used to compare the obtained Quick-DASH scores.

RESULTS: A total of 124 trigger digits in 102 patients were evaluated, including 113 thumbs and 11 fingers; bilateral findings were observed in 20.6% of patients. The mean age at the time of surgery was 3.7 years. The questionnaire was completed by 57.8% of patients treated at ÚCHRaPCH and 57.9% at FNM. The median Quick-DASH score was 0.0, indicating no disability or hand function limitation. The average Quick-DASH score was 1.7. No significant differences were found between the centers in demographic parameters or achieved scores. The prevalence of a non-zero Quick-DASH score was 24%.

DISCUSSION: Our results, in line with global literature, confirm that surgical release of the A1 pulley is an effective method for treating pediatric trigger thumb or fingers with minimal complications. The online questionnaire survey proved beneficial for data collection. The limitation is the low response rate and the unavailability of suitable validated questionnaires for the given age group. The relatively high risk of a non-zero Quick-DASH score may be influenced by the inappropriate choice of questionnaire given the age of the subjects. An advantage of the data collection method used is the ability to require full completion of the questionnaire before submission, thereby eliminating the need to discard incomplete questionnaires.

CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of pediatric trigger digits provides excellent outcomes, and the use of online questionnaires is suitable for health data collection. Further research is needed to validate questionnaires for pediatric age categories and subsequently to expand the concept of web-based data collection.

PMID:40874796 | DOI:10.55095/achot2024/058

J Clin Lab Anal. 2025 Aug 28:e70094. doi: 10.1002/jcla.70094. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Zhao F. Fan Z. Huang X. Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Gene Polymorphisms in Glaucoma: A Hospital-Based Study in Chinese Patients Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis 34 no. 3 (2020): e23105, https://doi.org/10.1002/jcla.23105 The above article, published online on 12 November 2019 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Rong Fu; and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed due to scientific inconsistencies and major flaws in the statistical evaluation. The journal received a request to retract this manuscript initially. During investigation, the authors stated that original data is no longer available and did not provide documentation for the ethical approval process of this study. Nanchong Central Hospital could not be reached for comment. Subsequently, the authors stopped responding. The conclusions of this manuscript are considered unreliable.

PMID:40874790 | DOI:10.1002/jcla.70094

J Alzheimers Dis. 2025 Aug 28:13872877251371719. doi: 10.1177/13872877251371719. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundMild cognitive impairment represents a critical precursor stage for dementia, and the search for reliable blood biomarkers is essential for early detection and intervention.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the relationship between serum levels of amyloid-β (Aβ)_1-42 and p-tau181 proteins and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), providing a foundation for early detection of MCI.MethodsA total of 128 qualified subjects aged 60 years or above were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria at Yangpu Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China, between June 2021 and December 2022. Serum levels of Aβ_1-42 and p-tau181 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Participants were divided into MCI and non-MCI groups based on clinical diagnostic criteria. Statistical analyses were conducted using chi-square tests to evaluate demographic variables, while Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to compare protein levels between groups. Additionally, Spearman correlation analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between protein levels and MCI.ResultsThe MCI group exhibited significantly higher serum levels of Aβ_1-42 (U = 3959.0, p < 0.001) and p-tau181 (U = 3032.5, p < 0.001) compared to the non-MCI group. A strong positive correlation was found between Aβ_1-42 levels and MCI (r = 0.819, p < 0.001), while a moderate correlation was observed for p-tau181 (r = 0.426, p < 0.001). Aβ_1-42 demonstrated high diagnostic value (AUC = 0.975, 95%CI 0.954-0.997; p < 0.001) at its optimal cutoff 105.37 pg/mL, and p-tau181 exhibited moderate diagnostic efficacy (AUC = 0.747, 95%CI 0.658-0.836; p < 0.001) at its optimal cutoff 12.07 pg/mL.ConclusionsSerum levels of Aβ_1-42 and p-tau181 are associated with MCI and may serve as potential biomarkers for early detection.

PMID:40874783 | DOI:10.1177/13872877251371719