Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Jul 25. doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-17883-9. Online ahead of print.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:40711687 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-025-17883-9
Category: Statistics
Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign
Elife. 2025 Jul 25;13:RP101327. doi: 10.7554/eLife.101327.
ABSTRACT
In the last decade, activity-dependent strategies for labeling multiple immediate early gene ensembles in mice have generated unprecedented insight into the mechanisms of memory encoding, storage, and retrieval. However, few strategies exist for brain-wide mapping of multiple ensembles, including their overlapping population, and none incorporate capabilities for downstream network analysis. Here, we introduce a scalable workflow to analyze traditionally coronally sectioned datasets produced by activity-dependent tagging systems. Intrinsic to this pipeline is simple multi-ensemble atlas registration and statistical testing in R (SMARTTR), an R package which wraps mapping capabilities with functions for statistical analysis and network visualization, and support for import of external datasets. We demonstrate the versatility of SMARTTR by mapping the ensembles underlying the acquisition and expression of learned helplessness (LH), a robust stress model. Applying network analysis, we find that exposure to inescapable shock (IS), compared to context training, results in decreased centrality of regions engaged in spatial and contextual processing and higher influence of regions involved in somatosensory and affective processing. During LH expression, the substantia nigra emerges as a highly influential region that shows a functional reversal following IS, indicating a possible regulatory function of motor activity during helplessness. We also report that IS results in a robust decrease in reactivation activity across a number of cortical, hippocampal, and amygdalar regions, indicating suppression of ensemble reactivation may be a neurobiological signature of LH. These results highlight the emergent insights uniquely garnered by applying our analysis approach to multiple ensemble datasets and demonstrate the strength of our workflow as a hypothesis-generating toolkit.
PMID:40709549 | DOI:10.7554/eLife.101327
J Food Sci. 2025 Jul;90(7):e70037. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.70037.
ABSTRACT
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and behavioral changes. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota influences central nervous system function. Probiotic interventions may offer a promising therapeutic approach by modulating the gut microbiota composition and potentially improving cognitive outcomes in AD patients. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function in AD patients by analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024508725), we conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov through April 9th, 2024. Only double-blind RCTs comparing probiotic supplementation to placebo in patients aged 65 or older with clinically diagnosed AD were included. Primary outcomes were cognitive function scores from validated tools like MMSE and TYM. Our stringent inclusion criteria identified four double-blind RCTs with 251 participants aged 65 or older with clinically diagnosed AD. Statistical analysis using a random-effects model revealed significant cognitive improvement in probiotic-treated groups compared to placebo controls (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD] = 0.67; 95% CI [0.14, 1.19]; P < 0.05), though substantial heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 79.16%). Subgroup analyses indicated that probiotic formulation type, dosage, and baseline AD severity may influence cognitive outcomes. While these findings suggest probiotics may offer cognitive benefits for AD patients, the high heterogeneity and limited study number necessitate additional well-designed clinical trials to confirm these promising results and establish optimal treatment protocols for clinical implementation.
PMID:40709497 | DOI:10.1111/1750-3841.70037
Pest Manag Sci. 2025 Jul 25. doi: 10.1002/ps.70096. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The removal of female mosquitoes is a critical requirement in sterile insect technique (SIT) for mosquito control. Improving the efficiency and accuracy of sex sorting is therefore vital. Previous studies have demonstrated that treating larval-pupal mixtures with a 15% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution prior to the sex sorting process reduces female contamination in Aedes mosquitoes. However, the effects of NaCl on Aedes albopictus mosquito biology and its practical application in production facilities remain insufficiently explored and warrant further investigation.
RESULTS: Exposure of larval-pupal mixtures to 15% NaCl for 60 min led to 100% larval mortality via osmotic imbalance and intestinal tissue damage, while pupae remained unaffected due to their impermeable cuticle. Males emerging from treated pupae exhibited comparable emergence, longevity, and flight ability to controls, indicating no adverse effect on male quality. NaCl pretreatment significantly improved sorting efficiency and reduced female contamination in manual sorting, achieving a 3.9-fold reduction in adult-stage contamination. Although automatic sorters increased throughput, reductions in female contamination were not statistically significant. Importantly, the sorting benefits of NaCl treatment were threshold-dependent and most evident at larger processing scales.
CONCLUSION: NaCl pretreatment is a simple, scalable, and biologically safe strategy to enhance sex separation in Ae. albopictus mass production. It is particularly advantageous under high-throughput conditions and preserves male fitness, supporting the stringent quality standards required for successful SIT-based mosquito control. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.
PMID:40709495 | DOI:10.1002/ps.70096
Physiol Res. 2025 Jul 25;74(3):519-527.
ABSTRACT
Light spectra, an imperative zeitgeber, may differ in its chronobiological effects among chronotype ensuing differences in circadian pacesetting. With the increasing usage of colored lights in the environment, the effects of light wavelength on the electrical activity of the brain among chronotypes need to be investigated. Healthy participants (N=24) were recruited to morning, intermediate, and evening chronotype groups using the composite scale for morningness scores. They were exposed to randomized brief sessions of red, green, blue, and white light preceded by 15 min of darkness. EEG was recorded in all sessions. The power spectrum was estimated for alpha, beta, theta, and delta waves from different regions of the scalp and compared among the groups. The morning and evening chronotype had statistically significantly higher mean delta power than intermediate chronotype in colored light. Evening chronotype showed a statistically significantly higher mean beta power than the intermediate chronotype (p=0.013) in green light. Intermediate chronotype had statistically significantly higher mean alpha power than morning (p=0.029) and evening chronotype (p=0.009) in red light. The results show a significant effect of the spectral property of light on brain waves in chronotypes. The green light is more effective in alerting evening chronotypes. The finding of the present study may be applicable in research pertinent to brain imaging in chronotypes especially with red, green, and blue light exposure and chromotherapy-based interventions in affective and psychiatric conditions. Key words Circadian rhythm ” Color of light ” Light and chronotype ” Wavelength of light ” EEG in chronotypes.
PMID:40709491
Acta Oncol. 2025 Jul 25;64:966-971. doi: 10.2340/1651-226X.2025.43935.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is part of standard treatment for patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC), treated with curative intent. However, doubt has been raised about the efficacy of PCI in a modern clinical setting. Therefore, we examined factors impacting PCI receival, the cumulative incidence of symptomatic brain metastases, and overall survival (OS) with and without PCI. Patient/material and methods: Records of 190 patients with LD-SCLC consecutively treated between 2012 and 2021 at our institution were reviewed. Patients were grouped based on whether they received PCI (PCI, n = 119) or not (no PCI, n = 71). Baseline characteristics, Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS, and cumulative incidence of symptomatic brain metastases were compared for the two groups.
RESULTS: PCI no patients were older, had a poorer performance status, were more often treated in 2018-2021 and had more frequently a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the time of diagnosis. No PCI median OS was 19 months compared to 24 months for PCI, not significantly different (p = 0.40). During follow-up 54 patients (28.4%) developed symptomatic brain metastases, with no statistically significant difference in the numbers of patients with, and cumulative incidence of, symptomatic brain metastases between the two groups (p = 0.35 and p = 0.21, respectively).
INTERPRETATION: Despite patients not receiving PCI being older and in poorer performance status, no statistically significant difference in OS or cumulative incidence of brain metastasis were observed compared to patients who received PCI. This supports uncertainty regarding the role of PCI.
PMID:40709482 | DOI:10.2340/1651-226X.2025.43935
Euro Surveill. 2025 Jul;30(29). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.29.2500150.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUNDHepatitis C virus (HCV) microelimination among at-risk migrants supports global elimination goals.AIMTo evaluate risk factors, prevalence and trends of active HCV infection among at-risk migrants screened for HCV in Madrid from 2019-23.METHODSAt-risk migrants (born outside Spain, living in country < 10 years regardless of legal status), were screened for HCV via mobile units with rapid antibody testing, and confirmed by RNA testing. Recruitment of this convenience sample focused on migrant centres, shelters, harm reduction centres and social service sites. Primary outcome was active HCV prevalence. Risk factors analysed included origin, alcohol use, no stable income, drug use and sexual behaviour. Data were analysed using general linear models with negative binomial distribution and p values adjusted for multiple comparisons (q values).RESULTSAmong 2,288 migrants, 6.5% (149/2,288) had anti-HCV antibodies, 47.0% (70/149) of whom tested positive for HCV-RNA; 81.4% (57/70) began antiviral therapy. Overall prevalence of active HCV infection was 3.1% (70/2,288). Injection drug use (non-active vs never used (aIRR: 7.3; 95% CI: 2.7-12.7) and active (aIRR: 14.7; 95% CI: 6.7-32.1)), European origin (vs non-European; aIRR: 5.8; 95% CI: 2.7-12.7) and alcohol misuse (vs no misuse; aIRR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1-2.9) were main risk factors. Prevalence showed no significant change during 2019-23 in the overall population and across risk groups.CONCLUSIONAt-risk migrants screened in Madrid had a high prevalence of active HCV infection. This is higher than reported estimates for the general Spanish population and supports the need to enhance targeted HCV prevention, screening and treatment strategies among migrant populations.
PMID:40709474 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.29.2500150
Clin Transplant. 2025 Aug;39(8):e70259. doi: 10.1111/ctr.70259.
ABSTRACT
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication following liver transplantation (LT), with multifactorial etiology. It is believed that perioperative hemodynamic instability could lead to AKI. A temporary portocaval shunt (TPCS) could possibly prevent this, but its beneficial effect is still controversial, especially in caval-sparing LT. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of a TPCS during hepatectomy reduces the incidence and severity of post-LT AKI in caval-sparing LT, defined according to AKIN criteria. Between January 2005 and August 2023, all orthotopic LTs performed in a single center were retrospectively analyzed and were divided into a TPCS group (n = 134) and a no-TPCS group (n = 260). Serum creatinine was collected right before LT and daily during the first week post-LT. In multivariate analysis, TPCS was not related to AKI, while diabetes mellitus (p = 0.01) and LabMELD (p = 0.02) were. When comparing TPCS and no-TPCS groups, no differences were seen in median increase of serum creatinine post-LT (TPCS; 12 µmol/L (-4-52) versus no-TPCS; 14 µmol/L ± (-3-52) (p = 0.94)), number of post-LT AKI (TPCS; 31% versus no-TPCS; 33% (p = 0.57)), or severity of post-LT AKI (p = 0.90). In conclusion, the application of a TPCS during hepatectomy is not associated with less post-LT AKI or less severe post-LT AKI when using a caval-sparing LT technique.
PMID:40709456 | DOI:10.1111/ctr.70259
Korean J Gastroenterol. 2025 Jul 25;85(3):366-381. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2025.035.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis by indomethacin causes gastric ulceration by inducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
METHODS: This study investigated the protective effects of an Artemisia annua extract powder (SPB-201) on gastric damage and its underlying mechanisms by analyzing various molecular biological markers in indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration rats and AGS human gastric cancer cells.
RESULTS: The oral administration of SPB-201 augmented the gastroprotective PGE2 and NO contents by increasing COX-1, COX-2, and eNOS expression, resulting in the improvement of gastric damage and ulcerative hyperemia in rats. In addition, elevated levels of mucin and pro-angiogenic factors, including EGF, bFGF, VEGF, and TGF-β1, were observed in the gastric tissue of rats treated with SPB-201. Furthermore, SPB-201 induced the SOD and CAT activities in rats but reduced the protein and mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. In addition, the SPB-201 treatment showed a dose-dependent and statistically significant increase in COX-1, COX-2, and PGE2 production in AGS cells exposed to indomethacin.
CONCLUSIONS: SPB-201 might be an excellent candidate for developing anti-ulcer agents that prevent or treat gastric injury caused by NSAIDs, through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenic mechanisms.
PMID:40709427 | DOI:10.4166/kjg.2025.035
Korean J Gastroenterol. 2025 Jul 25;85(3):357-365. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2025.020.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive cholangiopathy of infancy that leads to cholestasis, bile duct fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis if untreated. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of infants with BA and identify prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes.
METHODS: A retrospective observational design was used, analyzing medical records of 152 infants diagnosed with BA over a three-year period. Data included clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, diagnostic procedures, and treatment outcomes. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess factors affecting recovery and survival.
RESULTS: The results indicated a mean patient age of 13.9 weeks, with jaundice onset at 3.3 weeks and an average duration of 10.7 weeks. The overall survival rate was 81.6%, while 48% experienced treatment failure. Recovery rates were significantly associated with younger age at diagnosis (p=0.000), shorter jaundice duration (p=0.002), and absence of portal hypertension (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in improving BA outcomes. Future research should focus on optimizing treatment strategies to enhance long-term survival.
PMID:40709426 | DOI:10.4166/kjg.2025.020