Nevin Manimala

Genetics. 2026 Jul 14:iyag180. doi: 10.1093/genetics/iyag180. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Across many complex traits, genetic variants with larger effect sizes tend to occur at lower frequencies, which is often interpreted as a signature of stabilizing selection. In statistical genetics, the so-called α-model captures this relationship by assuming that effect size variance is inversely proportional to heterozygosity raised to a power 0 ≤ α ≤ 1. Although empirically useful, the α-model is phenomenological rather than mechanistic and lacks a direct population genetic interpretation. In this paper, we derive an alternative to the α-model based on evolutionary theory. Our approach yields a linear mixed model in which frequency dependence emerges naturally as a function of interpretable evolutionary quantities describing mutational variance, selection intensity, and coupling between the focal and selected traits. These quantities enter through two identifiable variance components that can be estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML). The resulting framework links a fitness landscape model to standard mixed-model methodology, enabling both inference on evolutionary parameters and downstream prediction by best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). In forward simulations, the model accurately recovers the focal-trait variance and generally improves genetic prediction relative to conventional α-model baselines.

PMID:42447493 | DOI:10.1093/genetics/iyag180

JMIR Med Inform. 2026 Jul 14;14:e90146. doi: 10.2196/90146.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) facilitates the interoperability and secure sharing of health-related data for research in Switzerland, in line with the findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) principles. Since medical datasets can be highly sensitive, access is often governed by complex legal and regulatory requirements. Enabling researchers to discover, understand, and evaluate datasets through rich, well-structured metadata is therefore essential to support informed decisions about data suitability and reuse.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the design and functionality of the SPHN Metadata Catalog and its role in supporting the discovery, exploration, and reuse assessment of health-related datasets.

METHODS: The SPHN Metadata Catalog is a FAIR Data Point-compliant infrastructure that provides rich, structured metadata in both human and machine-readable form. Dataset descriptions are based on the HealthDCAT (Health Data Catalog Vocabulary) Application Profile, ensuring a standardized representation of health data catalogs. Beyond the descriptive metadata typically offered by other catalogs, the SPHN Metadata Catalog includes extensive dataset-level statistics expressed using the Vocabulary of Interlinked Datasets. An interactive visualization component further enables users to explore graph-based schemas and datasets, including entities, attributes, relationships, and their relative abundances.

RESULTS: The SPHN Metadata Catalog enables users to explore the semantic structure of graph schemas and statistics of datasets prior to requesting access. Researchers can examine data structures, relationships, attributes, and the abundances of individual data elements. This functionality supports feasibility assessments and informed evaluations of dataset suitability and reuse conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: By combining HealthDCAT Application Profile-based descriptions with rich statistical metadata and interactive exploration capabilities, the SPHN Metadata Catalog enhances dataset discoverability and supports FAIR-compliant data reuse. As a key component of Switzerland’s health data research infrastructure, the SPHN Metadata Catalog provides a foundation for future interoperability initiatives, including potential alignment with emerging frameworks such as the European Health Data Space.

PMID:42447472 | DOI:10.2196/90146

JMIR Form Res. 2026 Jul 14;10:e89166. doi: 10.2196/89166.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Medical and welfare facilities in the Noto region of Japan were severely affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and subsequent torrential rains. Staff working in these facilities were disaster survivors and frontline caregivers with limited psychological support. Nonverbal social robots may provide companionship and emotional comfort; however, their effects on the health-related quality of life (QoL) and well-being of care staff in disaster-affected settings remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored whether introducing a nonverbal artificial intelligence communication robot was associated with changes in health-related QoL and well-being among care facility staff working under disaster conditions. Secondary objectives were to evaluate safety, acceptability, and intention to continue use.

METHODS: This pragmatic, exploratory pilot study used an ABAB design conducted between February 2025 and June 2025. After a 2-week baseline period, staff in dementia care, general care, and short-stay units underwent 2-week intervention, withdrawal, reintervention, and withdrawal phases. Questionnaires were administered at each phase end. The primary outcomes were health-related QoL (EQ-5D-5L), well-being (World Health Organization-5 Well‑Being Index), and positive mental health (Mental Health Continuum-Short Form). Friedman tests compared outcomes across the 5 phases, and effect sizes were expressed as Kendall W. Safety, acceptability, and intention to continue use were compared between the first and second intervention phases using Wilcoxon signed rank tests with Bonferroni adjustment and rank-biserial correlations as effect sizes.

RESULTS: Of the 58 staff who completed the baseline assessment, 49 (84.5%) were included in the analytic sample (25 in dementia care, 12 in general care, and 12 in short-stay units). Among these participants, 40 (81.6%) were women, and 38 (77.6%) reported disaster-related damage to their homes or families. In the pooled analysis, no phase effect was observed for the EQ-5D-5L (P=.10; Kendall W=0.032, negligible), the World Health Organization-5 Well‑Being Index (P=.70; Kendall W=0.016, negligible), or the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (P=.44; Kendall W=0.022, negligible). No robot-related adverse events were reported. In the dementia care unit, nominal unadjusted differences were observed for “made me feel calm” (P=.045; rank-biserial correlation r=0.571, large), “like” (P=.03; r=0.559, large), and “felt at peace” (P=.02; r=0.718, large); however, none remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction.

CONCLUSIONS: The short-term use of a nonverbal artificial intelligence communication robot did not measurably improve health-related QoL or well-being among staff in disaster-affected care facilities. Deployment appeared feasible and was not associated with reported adverse events, but efficacy as a mental health support intervention remains unproven. Exploratory acceptability and interaction signals may inform future adequately powered studies.

PMID:42447466 | DOI:10.2196/89166

J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000005099. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Accurate preoperative planning and incision design remain critical challenges in complex chest wall surgery. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) enable immersive, patient-specific visualization that may improve anatomic understanding and operative precision. We evaluated their use for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance in chest wall repair and reconstruction.

METHODS: Five thoracic surgeons utilized VR and/or AR planning in 35 consecutive patients undergoing chest wall procedures over a nine-month period at two trauma centers. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) imaging was uploaded into a VR platform for preoperative planning, and AR was optionally used intraoperatively to project three-dimensional anatomy, assisting with incision planning and trajectory verification without altering standard operative workflow. Data were extracted from the electronic medical record and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Mean age was 59 years (range: 26 to 89), mean BMI was 28 kg/m², and 57% of patients were male. Combined VR/AR was used in 77% of cases, whereas 22% underwent VR-only planning due to early connectivity and AR calibration limitations. One patient did not proceed to surgery after VR/AR review. The mean interval from CT acquisition to surgery was 5 days overall and 1.5 days for nonelective cases. Procedures included 10 chest wall reconstructions, 22 rib fracture fixations (mean 4 ribs plated), one sternal fixation, and two chest wall mass excisions. The most common incision was a muscle-sparing “line-of-best-fit” approach (n=25). Mean operative time was 93 minutes. No intraoperative complications related to VR or AR were observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Integration of VR and AR platforms for complex chest wall surgery was feasible within our practice. These technologies supported incision planning, hardware orientation, and spatial mapping without apparent disruption to operative workflow, suggesting a potentially useful adjunct for chest wall repair and reconstruction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, case series.

PMID:42447442 | DOI:10.1097/TA.0000000000005099

J Contin Educ Nurs. 2026 Jul 16:1-8. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20260414-04. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study examined how professional self-efficacy mediates the relationship between transition shock and work readiness in newly employed nurses. Transition shock challenges novice nurses, affecting their confidence and practice readiness. Research has explored structural and organizational factors contributing to this phenomenon, including workload, time pressure, staffing constraints, role ambiguity, and limited transition support through orientation/preceptorship and supervision. However, understanding of psychological resources that can mitigate these demands is limited. This study, guided by the Job Demands-Resources model, views transition shock as a job demand and professional self-efficacy as a personal resource aiding workplace adaptation.

METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 215 newly employed nurses at a large public hospital in Turkey. Data were collected with validated scales and analyzed with descriptive statistics, correlations, and structural equation modeling.

RESULTS: Higher professional self-efficacy was associated with lower transition shock and greater work readiness. Mediation analysis showed that self-efficacy partially mediated this relationship.

CONCLUSION: Professional self-efficacy is a key psychological resource that mitigates transition shock and enhances work readiness among novice nurses.

PMID:42447438 | DOI:10.3928/00220124-20260414-04

Sex Med Rev. 2026 Jun 30;14(3):qeag046. doi: 10.1093/sxmrev/qeag046.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness are key underlying mechanisms that contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED), a common and often underdiagnosed condition among men with hypertension. Furthermore, certain classes of antihypertensive medications may adversely affect erectile function, adding to the burden of the disease. While the link between hypertension and ED is well-established globally, the epidemiology of this comorbidity in the African context is less clearly defined. Although several individual studies have investigated the prevalence of ED among hypertensive men within specific African countries, there is currently no continent-wide pooled estimate to inform regional healthcare policy and clinical practice. This review aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of ED and its associated factors among hypertensive men in Africa.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, HINARI/Research4Life, and Google Scholar to find relevant studies. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using a prepared standard Microsoft Excel 19 form and the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. STATA version 17 was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 and Cochran’s Q test. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model, Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot and Egger’s test statistics. Moreover, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were also performed.

RESULTS: Eighteen studies involving 3648 male hypertensive patients from three African regions were included. The pooled prevalence of ED was 65.05% (95% CI: 54.23-75.87), with substantial heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 98.39%). The prevalence varied by African region, country, assessment tool, sampling method, and study population, with the highest estimates observed in Central Africa, in studies using the SHIM and those employing convenience sampling. A higher prevalence was also reported among hypertensive men with comorbidity. Older age was significantly associated with ED, with higher odds among men aged 61-80 years (OR = 3.70, 95% CI: 2.04-6.71) and those aged >80 years (OR = 5.34, 95% CI: 3.51-8.13). Additional significant factors included stage II hypertension (OR = 3.81, 95% CI: 2.25-6.44), hypertension duration >10 years (OR = 4.20, 95% CI: 1.83-9.62), antihypertensive polytherapy (OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.93-4.26), comorbid conditions (OR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.16-5.79), and depression (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.72-4.14).

CONCLUSION: In Africa, ED is highly prevalent in men with hypertension. Comorbid conditions, depression, antihypertensive polytherapy, advanced age, Stage II hypertension, and hypertension that has been present for more than 10 years are important factors linked to ED. Routine screening and integrated management strategies should be incorporated into hypertension care. In addition, further population-based studies using standardized methodologies are necessary to refine prevalence estimates and guide public health interventions.

PMID:42447425 | DOI:10.1093/sxmrev/qeag046

J Clin Oncol. 2026 Jul 14:JCO2600705. doi: 10.1200/JCO-26-00705. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The TRIANGLE trial established an ibrutinib-containing therapy without autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) as the new standard for younger, treatment-naïve patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, the benefit of rituximab maintenance (RM) within this novel standard is unclear. We investigated whether RM improves progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with acceptable toxicity when added to the experimental arms of TRIANGLE. This secondary analysis of TRIANGLE included patients randomly assigned to ibrutinib-containing therapy without (I) or with (A + I) ASCT who responded to induction/ASCT. RM was given per national and center practice. PFS and OS of patients with and without RM were compared with inverse probability of treatment weighted Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. Among responders after induction/ASCT (I: 274; A + I: 237), RM was given to 61% (I) and 64% (A + I). RM prolonged PFS in ibrutinib-containing treatment arms (I: log-rank test: P = .003, 4-year PFS probability RM v no RM, 85% v 73%; A + I: P < .001, 90% v 75%). There were trends toward prolonged OS in RM groups. RM groups were at higher risk of grade 3 to 5 infectious toxicity (I: 34% v 11%; A + I: 41% v 18%). Our findings support adding RM to BTK inhibitor treatments in younger, untreated patients with MCL to achieve prolonged remission.

PMID:42447409 | DOI:10.1200/JCO-26-00705

Qual Manag Health Care. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1097/QMH.0000000000000572. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite widespread benefits of physicians engaging in organizational quality & safety (Q&S) activities, such engagement often remains infrequent, informal, and inconsistent. This work aimed to design and implement uniquely-tailored and concurrent interventions to increase the size and Q&S competency levels of UHN’s Physician Council on Q&S over a 2-year period.

METHODS: Ten Q&S competency dimensions were tracked as outcome measures: Q&S science & methods, engaging stakeholders for success, aligning local projects with organizational priorities, building local Q&S infrastructure, navigating organizational Q&S processes, obtaining funding for Q&S, scholarly approach to Q&S, academic promotion through Q&S, career development through Q&S, and teaching Q&S. Competency levels were reported on a 4-point scale (ie, novice, competent, proficient, and expert). Process measures centered around change concepts and included the number of attendees at Q&S events, the number of mentorship pairings, the number of QI projects awarded grant funding, and the number of visits to our Q&S intranet site.

RESULTS: Baseline results (n = 32) revealed participants were predominantly in the novice/competent categories for all dimensions. Competency levels were retested in 2023 (n = 41) and chi-square analyses revealed improvements in the expected direction on all dimensions. Statistically significant increases were observed for navigating UHN processes (P < .01) and building organizational Q&S infrastructure (P < .05). The Council grew over 5-fold in size from its 13 original members to 75 members with representation from all of our organization’s programs, departments, and divisions.

CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that this approach to Educate and Connect (eg, rounds and summit), Promote and Support (eg, grants and awards), and provide Customized Resources (eg, playbook and intranet) was effective in growing a robust and competent physician Q&S community of practice.

PMID:42447405 | DOI:10.1097/QMH.0000000000000572

J Patient Saf. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000001559. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of a templated interhospital transfer (IHT) note on transfer appropriateness and clinical outcomes.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of 100 IHTs to the Department of Medicine services between May and June 2023. The exposure was the type of documentation at the time of transfer, categorized as templated note, nontemplated note, or no note. The primary outcome was appropriateness of transfer, determined by 2 independent adjudicators using a standardized framework developed as part of the POINT Study. Documentation type by clinical specialty and reason for transfer were assessed, with statistical analyses of clinical outcomes limited to those with an incidence >5% (ie, escalation/downgrade in level of care within 24 h of transfer and 30 d mortality).

RESULTS: Among 100 transfers, 81 (81%) were deemed appropriate and 19 (19%) were deemed inappropriate. Documentation was present in 59%, including templated (35%) and nontemplated notes (24%). IHTs without documentation had the highest appropriateness rate (87.8%, 36/41), compared with templated notes (29/35, 82.9%; P=0.15) and nontemplated notes (66.7%, 16/24; P=0.042). Downgrades were more common in inappropriate transfers with nontemplated notes (50.0%, 4/8) than in appropriate transfers with templated notes (10.3%, 3/29; P=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS: Structured IHT documentation was inconsistently used and did not predict the appropriateness of transfer. Transfers without documentation were most often appropriate, suggesting straightforward cases may not require formal notes. In contrast, nontemplated notes in inappropriate transfers showed high downgrade rates, implying that unstructured documentation may inflate perceived acuity. Further evaluation of documentation strategies is needed to support appropriate transfer decision-making.

PMID:42447403 | DOI:10.1097/PTS.0000000000001559

J Sex Med. 2026 Jul 3;23(8):qdag214. doi: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdag214.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection that negatively affects women’s psychological, social, and sexual well-being worldwide.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) counseling on sexual function in women diagnosed with HPV infection.

METHODS: This single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 56 women with HPV infection. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 28) receiving 8 sessions of ACT counseling or a control group (n = 28) receiving routine care. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was administered at baseline, immediately after, and 1 month following the intervention. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and chi-square and independent t-tests were used to examine baseline differences. Longitudinal changes and between-group comparisons were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations with an appropriate correlation structure. A P-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant.

OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the change in overall sexual function score, as measured by the FSFI, across the 3 assessment points.

RESULTS: Participants in the intervention and control groups had mean ages of 35.96 ± 8.53 and 32.48 ± 6.40 years, respectively. The baseline mean FSFI scores were similar between groups (16.06 ± 7.69 vs. 15.86 ± 8.08). Following ACT counseling, the intervention group’s mean FSFI score significantly increased to 20.68 ± 4.58 immediately post-intervention and 20.64 ± 4.29 1 month later, while the control group’s scores decreased slightly to 15.36 ± 8.68 and 14.20 ± 8.83, respectively. Between-group differences were statistically significant both immediately (B = 5.120, P = .002) and 1 month (B = 6.244, P < .001) after the intervention. Improvements were observed in the desire, arousal, satisfaction, and orgasm domains (P < .001), but changes in lubrication and pain were not significant (P < .05).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Group ACT counseling offers a promising psychotherapeutic approach to improve sexual health and emotional well-being among women affected by HPV infection.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: Strengths include the randomized design and the use of validated assessment tools, while limitations involve the small sample size, short follow-up period, and restriction to a single geographic location, limiting generalizability.

CONCLUSION: Group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy effectively enhances sexual function and overall quality of life in women with HPV, suggesting its integration into supportive healthcare interventions.

PMID:42447398 | DOI:10.1093/jsxmed/qdag214