Category: Statistics

Adv Mind Body Med. 2025 Jul 15:ADV1417. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Air pollution poses a significant public health risk, particularly in urban areas such as Delhi-NCR, where airborne pollutants are prevalent. This exposure contributes to impaired pulmonary function and increased psychological stress. While pharmacological interventions exist, holistic approaches such as yoga remain underexplored in this context.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the impact of a structured yoga program on pulmonary function and psychological well-being in individuals chronically exposed to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

METHODS: A 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted among 86 adults, aged 18-50 years. Participants were randomly assigned to a yoga intervention group or a control group. The intervention group practiced a structured daily yoga regimen informed by Hatha Yoga philosophy, comprising 60-minute sessions of asanas, pranayama, and guided meditation, five days a week. Pulmonary functions, such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and peak expiration flow rate (PEFR), were assessed using spirometry. Psychological health was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Quality of life was evaluated using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). All assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention.

RESULTS: The yoga group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pulmonary function (FVC: +0.83 L, FEV1: +0.93 L, PEFR: +2.06 L/sec), psychological well-being (reduced DASS-21 and PSS scores), and quality of life (improved SGRQ scores). In contrast, the control group showed deterioration in all measured outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Yoga appears to be an effective, non-pharmacological strategy to counteract the negative health effects of air pollution. These findings suggest that integration of structured yoga programs into public health interventions may be beneficial for populations residing in polluted urban environments.

KEYWORDS: Yoga, Air Pollution, Pulmonary Function, Psychological Health, Pranayama, Oxidative Stress, Quality of Life.

PMID:40700529

JMIR Diabetes. 2025 Jul 23;10:e74032. doi: 10.2196/74032.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transition to adult health care for young people and young adults (YP/YA) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) starts around 11 years of age, but transition services may not meet their needs. A combination of self-management support digital health technologies exists, but no supportive chatbots with components to help YP/YA with T1DM were identified.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the novel DigiBete Chatbot, the first user-led, developmentally appropriate, clinically approved transition chatbot for YP/YA with T1DM from four English diabetes services and (2) assess the feasibility of a future trial of the chatbot.

METHODS: In a prospective, multimethod, nonrandomized feasibility and acceptability study in the UK National Health Service, YP/YA with T1DM from 4 hospital diabetes clinics (2 pretransition and 2 posttransition) were enrolled in a 6-week study to test the DigiBete Chatbot. During the study, YP/YA completed web-based, validated, and standardized questionnaires at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks to evaluate quality of life and anxiety and depression, along with chatbot usability and acceptability. Qualitative interviews involving YP/YA, parents, and health care professionals explored their views on the chatbot. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and framework analysis.

RESULTS: Eighteen YP/YA were enrolled. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 4 parents, 24 health care professionals, and 12 YP/YA. Questionnaire outputs and the emergent qualitative themes (living with T1DM, using the chatbot, and refining the chatbot) indicated that the measures are feasible to use and the chatbot is acceptable and functional. In addition, responses indicated that, with refinements that incorporate the feasibility results, the chatbot could beneficially support YP/YA during transition. Users scored the chatbot as “good” to “excellent” for being engaging, informative, and aesthetically pleasing, and they stated that they would use it again. The results suggest that, with some adaptations based on user feedback, the chatbot was feasible and acceptable among the YP/YA who enjoyed using it. Our reactive conversational agent offers content (messaging and additional multimedia resources) that is relevant for the target population and clinically approved. The DigiBete Chatbot addresses the identified lack of personalized and supported self-management tools available for 11-24 year olds with T1DM and other chronic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: These results warrant chatbot refinement and further investigation in a full trial to augment it prior to its wider clinical use. Our research design and methodology could also be transferred to using chatbots for other long-term conditions. On the premise of this feasibility study, the plan is to rebuild the DigiBete Chatbot to meet identified user needs and preferences and progress to a national cohort study to assess the usability, feasibility, and acceptability of a modified chatbot, with a view to proceeding to rollout for national and international use on the established DigiBete platform.

PMID:40699892 | DOI:10.2196/74032

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Jun 13;47(6):458. doi: 10.3390/cimb47060458.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that leads to inflammation and demyelination, manifesting in either a relapsing-remitting or progressive form. As a multifactorial disease, MS involves both genetic and environmental factors, with a known significant contribution from human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, mainly represented by the HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 loci, which have been linked to either susceptibility or protection, but variably across populations and ethnic groups. We aimed to study the distribution and polymorphism of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles in a population with MS from the southern Moroccan region, in comparison with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 2 years (2022-2024) in a MS cohort including 40 patients and 100 healthy controls. DRB1 and DQB1 HLA genotyping was performed using a high-resolution reverse sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) method, based on the Luminex system (xMAP technology, One lambda^®). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26; differences in allele frequencies were evaluated by the Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. OR (95% CI) was calculated, and FDR corrections were applied for multiple testing. Results: Among the various HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles studied, including those considered as predisposing to MS, the DQB1*02:01 and DRB1*15:01 alleles were more prevalent in MS patients, with 40% and 8.8% vs. 16% and 4.08% in controls respectively, although these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.06 and p = 0.12). Likewise, the DRB1*15:01-DQB1*06:02 association was significantly more prevalent in the MS group (9%, p = 0.004). In contrast, the DRB1*07:01 allele, linked to protection against MS in many populations, was significantly predominant in controls (17%, p = 0.004). Similarly, the DRB1*07:01-DQB*02:01 combination was rather more frequent in controls (12%, p = 0.01). Confronted to MS clinical forms, we remarkably noted that the DRB1*13:03 allele was found only among relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients (6%, p = 0.003), while DQB1*02:01 was significantly associated with RRMS (42.1%) and primary progressive MS (41%, p = 0.001), with an intermediate Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, which may indicate a possible link with disease progression and severity. Conclusions: The results of our study highlighted particular HLA alleles, DRB1 and DQB1, alone or in combination, as potential immunogenic factors of susceptibility to MS in a population from southern Morocco, while other alleles seem rather to protect against the disease. This HLA polymorphism is also reflected in the clinical forms of the disease, showing a tendency toward severity for certain alleles. However, such preliminary results need to be consolidated and confirmed by studies carried out on a larger population sample, and compared with others on a national scale.

PMID:40699857 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47060458

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Jun 13;47(6):457. doi: 10.3390/cimb47060457.

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the influence of a 30 day exposure of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to a suboptimal low temperature of 1.8 ± 1.0 °C on their different gill characteristics (morphometry, enzyme activities, and expression of genes) in comparison to fish acclimated to 9.4 ± 0.1 °C. Morphometric analysis revealed a significant decrease in the distance between the secondary lamellae at the low temperature, which can be interpreted as a decrease in the effective gill surface. The epithelial thickness increased at the lower temperatures, which is considered a mechanism to reduce ion fluxes and save the energy costs for osmoregulation. The length of the primary lamellae, distance between the primary lamellae, length of the secondary lamellae, as well as the number of mucus cells, chloride cells, and capillaries per mm of the secondary lamella were similar between the temperature regimes. The enzymatic activities of pyruvate kinase and malate dehydrogenase were significantly increased in cold-exposed fish, whereas lactate dehydrogenase activity was higher in controls, indicating increased energy expenditure and adjustments in energy metabolism. The activities of carbonic anhydrase, caspase, Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, and H⁺ ATPase, and the gene expressions of hif1a, ca2, rhCG, slc26a6, and slc9a1 showed no statistically significant differences between the two temperature regimes. Therefore, it can be concluded that ammonia transport, acid-base regulation, and osmoregulation were not affected by the tested low temperature regime. These findings highlight that exposure to suboptimal temperatures induces structural and metabolic modifications in rainbow trout gills, potentially as an adaptive response to thermal stress. This study contributes to the understanding of fish acclimation to cold environments, with implications for aquaculture and ecological resilience in changing climates.

PMID:40699856 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47060457

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Jun 11;47(6):447. doi: 10.3390/cimb47060447.

ABSTRACT

Vertebrate molecular genetic research methods typically employ single genetic loci (monolocus markers) and those involving a variable number of loci (multilocus markers). The former often employ microsatellites that ensure accuracy in establishing inbreeding, tracking pan-generational dynamics of genetic parameters, assessing genetic purity, and facilitating genotype/phenotype correlations. They also enable the determination and identification of unique alleles by studying and managing marker-assisted breeding regimes to control the artificial selection of agriculturally important traits. Microsatellites consist of 2-6 nucleotides that repeat numerous times and are widely distributed throughout genomes. Their main advantages lie in their ease of use for PCR amplification, their known genome localization, and their incredible polymorphism (variability) levels. Robust lab-based molecular technologies are supplemented by high-quality statistics and bioinformatics and have been widely employed, especially in those instances when more costly, high throughput techniques are not available. Here, we consider that human and livestock microsatellite studies have been a “roadmap” for the genetics, breeding, and conservation of wildlife and rare animal breeds. In this context, we examine humans and other primates, cattle and other artiodactyls, chickens and other birds, carnivores (cats and dogs), elephants, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Studies originally designed for mass animal production have thus been adapted to save less abundant species, highlighting the need for molecular scientists to consider where research may be applied in different disciplines.

PMID:40699846 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47060447

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Jun 11;47(6):446. doi: 10.3390/cimb47060446.

ABSTRACT

Delafloxacin is one of the newest fluoroquinolones with a unique structure, determining better pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, a better safety profile, and a broader spectrum of activity compared to older quinolones. We aimed to examine the susceptibility rates of delafloxacin, the genetic mechanisms contributing to resistance, and the serotype distribution in both invasive and non-invasive Streptococcus agalactiae strains. A total of 301 streptococcal strains were tested for minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to delafloxacin. All delafloxacin-resistant strains were subjected to serotyping, PCRs for quinolone-resistant genes, and sequence analysis for missense and silent mutations. Among the tested isolates, we found a 5.6% non-susceptibility rate to delafloxacin. The MICs ranged between 0.09 and 0.38 µg/mL, with a breakpoint for nonsusceptibility set as >0.03 µg/L, according to EUCAST criteria. All resistant isolates harboured missense mutations that led to amino acid substitutions in both GyrA (S81L) and ParC (S79F). Two common serotypes were determined among the resistant isolates: V (47.1%) and III (41.2%). Two strains were non-typable (11.7%). A statistical significance in the distribution of serotypes between delafloxacin-resistant and delafloxacin-susceptible strains was found. These findings highlight a concerning pattern of drug resistance developing prior to the introduction of a new medication, attributed to the extensive use of current antibiotics.

PMID:40699845 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47060446

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Jun 9;47(6):438. doi: 10.3390/cimb47060438.

ABSTRACT

Rhythms, regulated by core clock genes like the period (per) gene family, are crucial for maintaining physiological processes in animals. In teleost fish, including channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), these genes have evolved distinct functions. However, the evolutionary characteristics and functional roles of period genes, particularly in response to environmental cues such as feeding, remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the evolutionary divergence and functional specialization of the period gene family in channel catfish, with a focus on feeding-induced rhythmicity. Four period genes, Ipper1b, Ipper2, Ipper2l, and Ipper3, were identified in channel catfish. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct evolutionary paths for these genes, with Ipper2l forming a separate clade from Ipper2. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed differential expression of period genes across tissues, with Ipper1b exhibiting the highest expression in the intestine and Ipper2 being predominantly expressed in the liver. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in the expression levels between tissues (p < 0.05), supporting the tissue-specific roles of these genes. Notably, under strict feeding schedules, we observed significant modulation of rhythmic expression in both the brain and liver, with a notable shift in the peak expression times and amplitude changes aligned with the feeding time. These results suggest that feeding serves as a critical Zeitgeber, entraining circadian rhythms in key tissues and potentially enhancing metabolic efficiency. These results demonstrated that feeding schedules play a key role in modulating circadian gene expression in channel catfish. This study provides insights into the evolutionary divergence and functional roles of the period gene family in channel catfish, showing how feeding schedules modulate circadian gene expression in the brain and liver. These findings have potential applications in optimizing feeding strategies for improving fish health and growth in aquaculture.

PMID:40699837 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47060438

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 May 30;47(6):408. doi: 10.3390/cimb47060408.

ABSTRACT

Inferring time-varying gene regulatory networks from time-series single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data remains a challenging task. The existing methods have notable limitations as most are either designed for reconstructing time-varying networks from bulk microarray data or constrained to inferring stationary networks from scRNA-seq data, failing to capture the dynamic regulatory changes at the single-cell level. Furthermore, scRNA-seq data present unique challenges, including sparsity, dropout events, and the need to account for heterogeneity across individual cells. These challenges complicate the accurate capture of gene regulatory network dynamics over time. In this work, we propose a novel f-divergence-based dynamic gene regulatory network inference method (f-DyGRN), which applies f-divergence to quantify the temporal variations in gene expression across individual single cells. Our approach integrates a first-order Granger causality model with various regularization techniques and partial correlation analysis to reconstruct gene regulatory networks from scRNA-seq data. To infer dynamic regulatory networks at different stages, we employ a moving window strategy, which allows for the capture of dynamic changes in gene interactions over time. We applied this method to analyze both simulated and real scRNA-seq data from THP-1 human myeloid monocytic leukemia cells, comparing its performance with the existing approaches. Our results demonstrate that f-DyGRN, when equipped with a suitable f-divergence measure, outperforms most of the existing methods in reconstructing dynamic regulatory networks from time-series scRNA-seq data.

PMID:40699807 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47060408

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 May 15;47(5):364. doi: 10.3390/cimb47050364.

ABSTRACT

Double-hydrolyzed collagen, a key structural protein, has gained increasing attention for its role in cancer progression and its potential therapeutic applications. This study aims to investigate the effects of double-hydrolyzed collagen (Type I and III peptides) on HCT116 colon carcinoma cells and CCD-18Co fibroblasts as a normal control. Cells were treated with 0.5 µg/mL, 1 µg/mL, and 1.5 µg/mL of collagen peptide solution. HCT116 and CCD-18Co cells were cultured under standard conditions and treated with 1 µg/mL collagen. Cell viability (MTT assay), migration (scratch assay), oxidative stress (TAS/TOS kits), TNF-α expression (qRT-PCR), and tumor marker levels (CA19-9, CEA, CA72-4, and CYFRA 21-1; CLIA) were evaluated. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, oxidative stress, and tumor marker levels were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed to determine significance. Double-hydrolyzed collagen treatment significantly increased CCD-18Co fibroblast proliferation (p = 0.0143), while HCT116 cancer cell numbers significantly decreased (p = 0.0045). Migration of HCT116 cells was markedly reduced (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant effect was observed in CCD-18Co fibroblasts (p = 0.559). Oxidative stress analysis showed decreased total oxidative status (TOS) and increased total antioxidant status (TAS) in HCT116 cells (p = 0.0075 and p = 0.0095, respectively), with no significant changes in normal fibroblasts. Among tumor markers, CA19-9 levels were significantly reduced in HCT116 cells (p = 0.013), while CEA, CA72-4, and CYFRA 21-1 remained unchanged. TNF-α gene expression analysis confirmed the absence of inflammatory or adverse effects in normal fibroblasts. These findings suggest that double-hydrolyzed collagen selectively inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation and migration, modulates oxidative stress, and reduces CA19-9 levels while promoting fibroblast growth. The differential effects between cancerous and normal cells highlight collagen’s potential as a complementary therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and assess its clinical applicability. Double-hydrolyzed collagen appears to be a safe and beneficial dietary component with promising biological effects and therapeutic potential.

PMID:40699763 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47050364

Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Apr 28;47(5):311. doi: 10.3390/cimb47050311.

ABSTRACT

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and immune dysregulation. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a crucial role in regulating skin cell growth and immune responses, but its expression in psoriatic skin and modulation by treatment remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze VDR mRNA expression in psoriatic skin tissue before and after etanercept therapy using RNAscope, an RNA in situ hybridization technique that, to the best of our knowledge, has not previously been applied in psoriasis research. Two bio-naïve adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis received etanercept (50 mg weekly) for 12 weeks. Skin biopsies from lesional and perilesional areas were collected at baseline and post-treatment. VDR expression was assessed in different epidermal layers and the dermis using a semi-quantitative scoring system. In one patient, a statistically significant decrease in VDR expression was observed in the perilesional dermis after treatment (p < 0.001), though this preliminary finding warrants careful interpretation given the very limited cohort size. Both patients exhibited a non-significant trend toward increased VDR expression in the lesional epidermis post-treatment. These preliminary findings suggest that etanercept may modulate VDR expression in psoriatic skin, but individual variability and the small sample size preclude definitive conclusions. The study primarily demonstrates the feasibility of using RNAscope for VDR analysis in patients with psoriasis, an approach that may be novel in this context, and underscores the need for larger investigations to confirm these preliminary findings and further clarify the role of VDR in disease pathogenesis and treatment response.

PMID:40699711 | DOI:10.3390/cimb47050311