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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Evaluation of the tear film and meibomian glands before and after cataract surgery by the ocular surface analyzer

Int Ophthalmol. 2025 May 8;45(1):180. doi: 10.1007/s10792-025-03534-1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the tear film and meibomian gland function before and after cataract surgery using the Lacrydiag ocular surface analyzer.

METHODS: This was an observational prospective study including 34 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification at the Ophthalmology Department of Menoufia University Hospital from October 2023 to January 2024. The patients were evaluated pre-operatively as well as 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Dry eye symptoms were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Traditional tear break up time (TBUT) was performed as well as Schirmer I test. The Lacrydiag Ocular Surface Analyzer was used for assessment of the tear film and meibomian glands.

RESULTS: Ocular surface analyzer evaluations revealed statistically significant changes at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery in comparison to the values before surgery. Significant reductions were observed in non-invasive tear break-up time (NITBUT) and tear meniscus height, as well as in Schirmer’s test without anesthesia, and fluorescein break-up time at each postoperative interval. Some improvements were observed at 1 month and 3 months, however, measurements did not return to the initial preoperative levels. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores significantly increased after 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery compared to preoperative levels. The proportion of meibomian gland area loss did not significantly increase after surgery (no structural alterations were noted).

CONCLUSION: The study shows that phacoemulsification impacts both tear quantity and quality, affecting overall tear film stability and ocular surface health.

PMID:40338375 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-025-03534-1

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

A Journey Through the Land of DAAP: Including Visits to Weighted Dictionaries, Smoothing, Covariations, and the Effects of Word Order, with Connections to Psychology, Psycholinguistics, Mathematics and Statistics, and Ending at Time-Based DAAP (TDAAP)

J Psycholinguist Res. 2025 May 8;54(3):34. doi: 10.1007/s10936-025-10145-5.

ABSTRACT

This is a condensed version of a series of talks given by Bernard Maskit at the Referential Process Workshop Conference, at the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (July, 2023). Dr. Maskit discusses the Discourse Attributes Analysis Program (DAAP) which he created to evaluate psychotherapy and other texts utilizing measures of the Referential Process, a theory developed in the context of multiple code theory (Bucci in Psychoanalysis and cognitive science: a multiple code theory, Guilford Press, New York, 1997, 2023). Dr. Maskit’s emphasis is for his audience to understand how his system can be used technically and conceptually, and to provide updates on how measures can be aligned with time to produce new insights. In the first days of the Workshop, Dr. Maskit reviewed the development of the DAAP and its measures; sections of these talks are summarized here with references to relevant publications. He then went on to focus on development of the new TimeDAAP and its crucial role in the Referential Process project. We note with sadness that Dr. Maskit died before he could review and edit his presentation for publication. Wilma Bucci participated in the work presented here and prepared Dr. Maskit’s talks for publication. We thank Sean Murphy, Michael Peral and Perry Suskind for their invaluable contributions to this paper.

PMID:40338374 | DOI:10.1007/s10936-025-10145-5

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

“All-in-a-tube” detection of RDX and TNT: old silver mirror reaction revived for nitro-explosive quantification

Mikrochim Acta. 2025 May 8;192(6):344. doi: 10.1007/s00604-025-07195-w.

ABSTRACT

Inspired by analyte-induced in situ formation/growth of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), the traditional Tollens’ reagent of diamminesilver(I) complex cation [Ag(NH3)2]+ was shown to be capable of detecting explosives. Thus, a color test based on in situ formation of AgNPs was developed for 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The resultant yellow-colored AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectrophotometry, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering measurements. The system displays turn-on absorbance behavior with RDX and TNT, yielding detection limits of 50.3 and 67.2 nmol L-1, respectively. The assay could distinguish between RDX and TNT using a simple extraction-based recovery procedure. Good recoveries for RDX and TNT were obtained from real (Composite B, Composite A5, and Octol) and synthetically prepared formulations. Method validation was performed by statistically comparing the analytical results obtained by the reference liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method applied to RDX standards and RDX-contaminated soil samples. As a novelty of this system, direct spectrophotometric detection of RDX through its decomposition product, formaldehyde, was successfully performed for the first time. Compared with the widely used indirect spectrophotometric methods based on nitrite formation from RDX degradation, the system is superior in that it does not require pre-hydrolysis of RDX and does not respond to 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane (HMX). It is also noteworthy that the system responds to TNT in a way that constitutes an innovative alternative to the existing mechanism of Meisenheimer/Janowsky complex formation in the literature.

PMID:40338365 | DOI:10.1007/s00604-025-07195-w

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Image-guided injections for facet joint pain: evidence-based Delphi conjoined consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology and European Society of Neuroradiology

Eur Radiol. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-11651-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To perform a Delphi-based consensus on published evidence on image-guided injections for facet joint pain (FJP) and provide clinical indications.

METHODS: We report the results of an evidence-based Delphi consensus of 38 experts from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology and the European Society of Neuroradiology, who reviewed the published literature for evidence on image-guided injections for FJP. Experts drafted a list of statements and graded them according to the Oxford Centre for evidence-based medicine levels of evidence. Consensus was considered strong when ≥ 95% of experts agreed with the statement or broad when > 80% but < 95% agreed. The results of the consensus were used to write the paper.

RESULTS: Twenty statements on image-guided FJP treatment have been drafted. Eighteen statements received strong consensus, while two received broad consensus. Three statements reached the highest level of evidence, all of them regarding the lumbar spine. All radiological methods are used for image-guided injections for FJP, and regardless of the radiological method used, all show good safety and efficacy. Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks are used in all spinal regions to treat FJP, and both show similar clinical outcomes. Advanced technological solutions have been studied in the field of lumbar FJP; however, the level of evidence for these is low.

CONCLUSION: Despite promising results reported by published papers on image-guided injections for FJP, there is still a lack of evidence on injection efficacy, appropriateness of imaging methods, and optimal medication.

KEY POINTS: Question Image-guided injections to treat facet joint pain (FJP) are performed throughout the spine; however, the highest level of evidence exists for the lumbar spine. Findings Regardless of the imaging method used, image-guided injections for facet joint pain treatment are safe, with only minor adverse events in rare cases. Clinical relevance All imaging methods are used for injection guidance to treat FJP, each with advantages and disadvantages. These statements on image-guided injections for FJP provide a concise and up to date overview on the topic, serving as a list of clinical indications.

PMID:40338342 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-025-11651-9

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Predictive factors of early mortality in patients with type A aortic dissection: association between pulmonary artery adventitial hematoma and type A aortic dissection

Eur Radiol. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-11650-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary artery adventitial hematoma (PAAH) is a potential complication of aortic dissection (AD) that has been shown to have a deleterious effect on prognosis. However, the specific relationship between PAAH secondary to the rupture of type A AD with early mortality has not been fully characterised. We aimed to evaluate the relationship betweeen PAAH and the short-term prognosis of patients with this condition, and to determine how PAAH impacts the prognosis of patients with type A AD compared with other complications of type A AD.

METHODS: We retrospectively studied 344 patients with type A AD who were hospitalised at a single institution (164 men and 180 women with a mean [SD] age of 71.0 [12.6] years). These patients were allocated to two groups, comprising those who died within 1 week of the onset of symptoms (early mortality group; n = 33) and those who survived (survival group; n = 311). PAAH was classified according to the CT findings as stage 1 (only in the mediastinum), stage 2 (extending into the lung field ± the interlobular septa), or stage 3 (extending into the alveoli).

RESULTS: The patient cohort was comprised of 90 (26.2%) patients with PAAH of 344 patients with type A AD. 16 (48.5%) of 33 patients had PAAH in the early mortality group, and 74 (23.8%) of 311 patients had PAAH in the survival group. The early mortality group had higher prevalences of PAAH (p = 0.002), stage 3 PAAH (p < 0.001), pericardial haemorrhage (p = 0.001), mediastinal haemorrhage (p < 0.001), haemothorax (p < 0.001), renal ischaemia (p = 0.002), limb ischaemia (p = 0.001) and myocardial ischaemia (p = 0.004) than the survival group. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that age (p = 0.002), stage 3 PAAH (p < 0.001), limb ischaemia (p = 0.010), and myocardial ischaemia (p = 0.001) were risk factors for early mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: PAAH is not a rare complication of type A AD, and stage 3 PAAH is a risk factor for early mortality.

KEY POINTS: Question PAAH due to ruptured type A AD can occur and has been reported to correlate with prognosis. Findings PAAH is not a rare complication of Stanford type A AD, and Stage 3 PAAH is a risk factor with the greatest prognostic value on early mortality. Clinical relevance Knowing that PAAH often occurs with type A AD can help us avoid misdiagnosing stage 3 PAAH as pneumonia or pulmonary oedema.

PMID:40338341 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-025-11650-w

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Investigation of natural radionuclide and associated radiological parameters of selected construction materials used in Nepal

Environ Monit Assess. 2025 May 8;197(6):639. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14099-y.

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the natural radioactivity levels of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in various construction and building materials commonly used in Central Nepal, expressed in Bq kg 1 , and analyzed the associated 13 radiological parameters for the evaluation of risks. Activity concentrations were determined using a thallium-activated sodium iodide crystal NaI(Tl) 3″ × 3″ scintillator detector. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to discern trends and depict the data. Among the material studied, granites, sand, and bricks exhibited concentrations and associated radiological parameters that exceeded world average. However, remaining aggregate, cement, concrete bricks, marble, and tiles showed activity concentrations and hazard indices comparable to or lower than the global average value reported by UNSCEAR, 1993 for building materials. The overall revealed mean ± S.D. concentration of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K across 41 different materials as 43.2 ± 1.0 Bq kg 1 , 56.8 ± 1.4 Bq kg 1 , and 281.1 ± 5.3 Bq kg 1 , respectively. The average values 226 Ra, 232 Th were above the world population average values of 50 and 50 Bq kg 1 whereas the concentration of 40 K was well below the average value 500 Bq kg 1 respectively. From this, it is concluded that the studied samples are safe to use. However, regulations are needed to evaluate the natural activity concentrations of radionuclides in geologically derived samples and the associated health implications related to materials utilized from the internal resources of the country and imported materials from a different country.

PMID:40338326 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14099-y

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Crypt abscesses, crypt distortion, and crypt rupture may help distinguish inflammatory bowel disease from segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis

Virchows Arch. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1007/s00428-025-04076-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The histologic distinction of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is difficult; however, distinguishing the two is important for patient management. This study aimed to examine histologic changes in SCAD and compare them to those in IBD. We retrospectively identified patients with highly likely SCAD and known IBD who were biopsied at our institution. With diagnosis blinded, H&E slides were reviewed for cryptitis, crypt abscesses, lamina propria (LP) neutrophils, erosion/ulceration, LP expansion by mononuclear cells, prominent basal lymphoid aggregates, basal lymphoplasmacytosis, crypt distortion, crypt dilation, granulomatous reaction to damaged crypts, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, mucin depletion, Paneth cell metaplasia, LP smooth muscle wisps, and crypt rupture. Features between groups were compared by chi-squared analysis, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. There were 81 SCAD cases (79% in the sigmoid colon) and 166 IBD cases. A separate cohort of 27 patients had both IBD and diverticulosis. Compared to the IBD cohort, the SCAD cohort was significantly less likely to demonstrate crypt abscesses (20% vs. 45%, P < 0.0001), prominent basal lymphoid aggregates (37% vs. 51%, P = 0.042), crypt distortion (7% vs. 25%, P = 0.00090), Paneth cell metaplasia (37% vs. 57%, P = 0.0061), and crypt rupture (1% vs. 11%, P = 0.0089). These histologic features, although not entirely specific, may be of value in distinguishing IBD from SCAD, particularly when clinical context is unclear or not readily available.

PMID:40338318 | DOI:10.1007/s00428-025-04076-8

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Minimizing incisional hernia: intracorporeal anastomosis makes the difference after laparoscopic right colectomy

Int J Colorectal Dis. 2025 May 8;40(1):112. doi: 10.1007/s00384-025-04903-z.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The anastomosis technique following laparoscopic right colectomy remains a subject of ongoing debate. One of the potential advantages of intracorporeal anastomosis is the flexibility it offers in selecting the location of the minilaparotomy. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the rate of incisional hernia between intracorporeal and extracorporeal anastomosis after laparoscopic right colectomy.

METHODS: We retrospectively analysed patients undergoing laparoscopic right colectomy for colon neoplasia between April 2013 and January 2024, retrieved from a prospectively maintained database. The occurrence of incisional hernia was assessed according to the anastomosis technique. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between incisional hernia and anastomosis technique, while controlling for other risk factors.

RESULTS: Among 192 patients, 94 underwent intracorporeal anastomosis and 98 underwent extracorporeal anastomosis. The groups were comparable in terms of clinical, pathological, and surgical data. The intracorporeal group showed a lower incidence, although not statistically significant, of postoperative ileus (p = 0.052), and a shorter hospital stay (p = 0.003). No incisional hernias were observed at the minilaparotomy site in the intracorporeal anastomosis group, while 13.3% of patients in the extracorporeal anastomosis group developed an incisional hernia (p < 0.001). One incisional hernia at the umbilical trocar site occurred after intracorporeal anastomosis. Multivariate analysis identified postoperative general complications (OR [95% CI]: 4.1 [1.0-16.5], p = 0.049) and extracorporeal anastomosis (OR [95% CI]: 15.4 [1.0-126.9], p = 0.011) as independent risk factors for incisional hernia.

CONCLUSIONS: Intracorporeal anastomosis significantly reduces the incidence of incisional hernia at the minilaparotomy site. This finding is further supported by logistic regression analysis, which identified intracorporeal anastomosis as a significant and independent protective factor against incisional hernia.

PMID:40338315 | DOI:10.1007/s00384-025-04903-z

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Noninvasive diagnosis and classification of kidney transplantation rejection by 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2025 May 8. doi: 10.1007/s00259-025-07307-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Rejection, especially chronic rejection is a key factor influencing the prognosis of kidney transplantation patients. While 18F-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-04 PET/CT has been widely utilized for diagnosing various diseases, its diagnostic efficacy in kidney transplant rejection remains unexplored.

METHODS: In this study, 24 kidney transplant recipients were prospectively enrolled and divided into a control cohort and a rejection cohort (KTR), which were further classified into acute rejection (AR), mixed rejection (MR), and chronic rejection (CR) subgroups. All patients underwent 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT scans, along with immunohistochemical FAP staining and Banff pathological scoring. The maximum and average standardized uptake values (SUVs) of the two imaging methods were calculated.

RESULTS: Compared with the control cohort, the KTR cohort showed significantly higher serum creatinine levels, lower estimated glomerular filtration rates, and lower hemoglobin levels. The SUVmax of 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT in the allograft kidney cortex (AKC) and allograft kidney biopsy site (AKB) in the KTR cohort was significantly greater than that in the control cohort. The SUVmax of 18F-FDG PET/CT between the two cohorts was significantly different only in the AKC. For the KTR cohort, the SUVmax of 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT in AKC and AKB was considerably greater than that of 18F-FDG PET/CT (5.5 vs. 2.8 and 3.6 vs. 2.5, respectively; both p < 0.01). In the CR cohort, the SUVmax of 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT in the AKC, AKB, and allograft kidney medulla (AKM) was significantly greater (7.1, 5.3, and 3.2) than that of 18F-FDG PET/CT (2.5, 2.1 and 1.8) (p = 0.009, 0.009 and 0.016, respectively). The SUVmax of 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT in AKB increased gradually in the AR, MR, and CR cohorts (2.8 vs. 3.6 vs. 5.3, p = 0.02). The above results were consistent with the SUVavg statistics. The number of FAP-positive stromal cells was different between the control and KTR groups and among the AR, MR, and CR subgroups.

CONCLUSION: 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT outperforms 18F-FDG PET/CT in distinguishing kidney transplant rejection, especially chronic rejection.

PMID:40338305 | DOI:10.1007/s00259-025-07307-x

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Temporal transcriptomic changes in the THY-Tau22 mouse model of tauopathy display cell type- and sex-specific differences

Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2025 May 7;13(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s40478-025-02013-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), display sex-specific differences in prevalence and progression, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of animal models can reveal how AD pathology affects different cell types across sex and age.

OBJECTIVE: To understand sex-specific and sex-dimorphic transcriptomic changes in different cell types and their age-dependence in the THY-Tau22 mouse model of AD-linked tauopathy.

METHODS: We applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to cortical tissue from male and female THY-Tau22 and wild-type mice at 17 months of age, when they had prominent tau inclusion pathology, and compared the results with corresponding data previously obtained at 7 months of age. Using differential statistical analysis for individual genes, pathways, and gene regulatory networks, we identified sex-specific, sex-dimorphic, and sex-neutral changes, and looked at how they evolved over age. To validate the most robust findings across distinct mouse models and species, the results were compared with cortical scRNA-seq data from the transgenic hAPP-based Tg2576 mouse model and human AD.

RESULTS: We identified several significant sex-specific and sex-dimorphic differentially expressed genes in neurons, microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, including both cross-sectional changes and alterations from 7 months to 17 months of age. Key pathways affected in a sex-dependent manner across age included neurotransmitter signaling, RNA processing and splicing, stress response pathways, and protein degradation pathways. In addition, network analysis revealed the AD-associated genes Clu, Mbp, Fos and Junb as relevant regulatory hubs. Analysis of age-dependent changes highlighted genes and pathways associated with inflammatory response (Malat1, Cx3cr1), protein homeostasis (Cst3), and myelin maintenance (Plp1, Cldn11, Mal) that showed consistent sex-dependent changes as the THY-Tau22 mice aged. Multiple genes with established implications in AD, including the long non-coding RNA gene Malat1, displayed concordant sex-specific changes in mouse models and human AD.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic characterization of sex-linked and age-dependent changes in the THY-Tau22 tauopathy model, revealing new insights into the interplay between age-dependent AD-like pathologies and sex. The identified sex-specific changes and their conservation across models and human AD highlight molecular targets for further preclinical investigation of sex-specific therapeutic strategies in AD.

PMID:40336141 | DOI:10.1186/s40478-025-02013-z