Nevin Manimala

J Holist Nurs. 2025 Mar 28:8980101251324696. doi: 10.1177/08980101251324696. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Reiki on surgical fear and anxiety in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients. Study design: This study is a three-arm, parallel, randomized, controlled trial. Methods: Forty-eight patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the General Surgery Clinic of a university hospital between November 2022 and December 2023 were included in the study. Patients were assigned to Reiki, Sham Reiki, and control groups according to the group they were assigned to. Surgical Fear Questionnaire and Surgical Anxiety Questionnaire were measured to the patients before and after the procedure according to the group they were assigned to. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Results: A statistically significant relationship was found between the surgical fear and anxiety scores of the patients in the Reiki group both within themselves and when compared with the other groups, and they were found to be lower (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Reiki application was effective in reducing preoperative surgical fear and anxiety scores of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of Reiki, an easy-to-apply complementary therapy application, in reducing surgical fear and anxiety.

PMID:40151965 | DOI:10.1177/08980101251324696

CRISPR J. 2025 Mar 27. doi: 10.1089/crispr.2024.0058. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Design of guide RNA (gRNA) with high efficiency and specificity is vital for successful application of the CRISPR gene editing technology. Although many machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL)-based tools have been developed to predict gRNA activities, a systematic and unbiased evaluation of their predictive performance is still needed. Here, we provide a brief overview of in silico tools for CRISPR design and assess the CRISPR datasets and statistical metrics used for evaluating model performance. We benchmark seven ML and DL-based CRISPR-Cas9 editing efficiency prediction tools across nine CRISPR datasets covering six cell types and three species. The DL models CRISPRon and DeepHF outperform the other models exhibiting greater accuracy and higher Spearman correlation coefficient across multiple datasets. We compile all CRISPR datasets and in silico prediction tools into a GuideNet resource web portal, aiming to facilitate and streamline the sharing of CRISPR datasets. Furthermore, we summarize features affecting CRISPR gene editing activity, providing important insights into model performance and the further development of more accurate CRISPR prediction models.

PMID:40151952 | DOI:10.1089/crispr.2024.0058

Circ Genom Precis Med. 2025 Mar 28:e004968. doi: 10.1161/CIRCGEN.124.004968. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the MI-GENES clinical trial (URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01936675), participants at intermediate risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) were randomized to receive a Framingham risk score (Framingham risk score group, n=103) or an integrated risk score (integrated risk score group [IRS_g], n=104) that additionally included a polygenic risk score. After 6 months, IRS_g participants had higher statin initiation and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. We conducted a post hoc 10-year follow-up analysis to investigate whether disclosure of a polygenic risk score for CHD was associated with a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

METHODS: Participants were followed from randomization in October 2013 to September 2023 to ascertain MACE, testing for CHD, and changes in risk factors. The primary outcome was time to first MACE, defined as cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and nonfatal stroke. Statistical analyses included Cox proportional hazards regression and linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS: We followed all participants who completed the trial, 100 in Framingham risk score group and 103 in IRS_g (mean age at the end of follow-up, 68.2±5.2; 48% male). During a median follow-up of 9.5 years, 9 MACEs occurred in Framingham risk score group and 2 in IRS_g (hazard ratio, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.04-0.94]; P=0.042). In Framingham risk score group, 47 (47%) underwent at least 1 diagnostic test for CHD, compared with 30 (29%) in IRS_g (hazard ratio, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.32-0.81]; P=0.004). A higher proportion of IRS_g participants were on statin therapy during the first 4 years postrandomization and had a greater reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for up to 3 years postrandomization. No significant differences were observed between 2 groups in other traditional cardiovascular risk factors during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: Disclosure of an integrated risk score that included a polygenic risk score to individuals at intermediate risk for CHD was associated with lower MACE incidence after 10 years, likely due to higher statin initiation, leading to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

PMID:40151934 | DOI:10.1161/CIRCGEN.124.004968

J Alzheimers Dis. 2025 Mar 28:13872877251328712. doi: 10.1177/13872877251328712. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundMild behavioral impairment is a neurobehavioral symptom characterized by the onset of a new and persistent neuropsychiatric syndrome. Patients with co-occurring mild behavioral impairment and mild cognitive impairment have the relatively highest probability of developing dementia than sick mild behavioral impairment or mild cognitive impairment alone.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the currently available best estimate of mild behavioral impairment prevalence and clarify the reasons for the difference in estimates.MethodsData were retrieved and collected from five electronic databases. Two reviewers independently appraised the methodological quality of included studies. Heterogeneity was assessed by using the I² statistic and random effects models were employed. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated by subgroup analysis and meta-regression. All statistical analyses were conducted by Stata.ResultsA total of 23 reports involving 5397 participants were included in this systematic review. The pooled effect size for the overall mild behavioral impairment was 52% (95%CI 42-62%). In the subgroup analysis and regression analysis, we found that study type, study area, assessment tools, and study subject gender could explain part of the source of heterogeneity.ConclusionsThe results of this review suggest that 52% with mild cognitive impairment combined with mild behavioral impairment; there is a close relationship between the two. Future studies should pay more attention to the underlying mechanism between the two and provide a more scientific basis for early discrimination of clinical dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

PMID:40151921 | DOI:10.1177/13872877251328712

Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2025 Jan-Dec;24:15330338251330781. doi: 10.1177/15330338251330781. Epub 2025 Mar 28.

ABSTRACT

PurposeTo compare the dosimetry and biological risk of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), helical tomotherapy (HT) and cyberKnife (CK) in the treatment of lung oligometastases.Methods and materialsThis retrospective study included a cohort of 21 lung oligometastasis patients, each with 2 or 3 lesions, who had previously undergone stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). VMAT, HT and CK plans were made for each patient. The dose distribution of planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were evaluated. Three biological risks were evaluated, namely radiation pneumonitis (RP), coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). Monitor Units (MUs) and beam-on-time were also recorded.ResultsAll techniques were able to produce clinically deliverable plans. The expected biological risks for VMAT plans, CK plans, and HT plans were 6.69%, 5.05%, 5.88% for RP, 1.20%, 1.15%, and 1.17% for CAD, 1.26%, 1.19%, and 1.22% for CHF. The expected risks of RP were slightly lower in CK plans compared to VMAT and HT plans (p < 0.001), with VMAT plans showing the highest expected risks. For central lung cancer, the expected CAD risks of CK and HT plans were lower than those of VMAT plans (p < 0.05). The delivery efficiency of VMAT plans was significantly higher than that of CK plans and HT plans.ConclusionsAll three techniques, VMAT, HT, and CK, meet the therapeutic requirements for target coverage and dose constraints for OARs. Although there are statistical differences, the difference between the expected risk values of RP and CAD is very small, so the clinical manifestations may not show differences.

PMID:40151878 | DOI:10.1177/15330338251330781

Anatol J Cardiol. 2025 Mar 28. doi: 10.14744/AnatolJCardiol.2025.5105. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study addresses a topic that has been explored globally but has not yet been investigated in the Türkiye. Considering that all diseases and treatments may vary due to genetic diversity, the aim is to examine the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and COVID-19 disease on heart conditions in patients in the Türkiye.

METHODS: A total of 1935 patients who underwent angiography were included in the study. Descriptive statistics were provided in terms of numbers and percentages, as well as means and SD.

RESULTS: There was no relationship found between the occurrence of COVID-19 at any time before data collection and the presence of severe coronary artery disease (CAD). Additionally, there was no relationship found between the time elapsed between COVID-19 infection and angiography and the presence of severe CAD among individuals who underwent angiography at a later date (n = 689). Between November 2021 and May 2022 (fifth 6 months) and May 2022 and November 2022 (sixth 6 months), the rates of severe CAD in angiograms conducted compared to the baseline were higher. There was no significant relationship found between the number of doses of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine received and the risk of developing severe CAD (P = .139). Similarly, there was no significant relationship found between the number of doses of inactivated vaccine received and the risk of developing severe CAD (P = .382).

CONCLUSION: In the long term, neither infection nor vaccination increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of the time elapsed since the COVID-19 infection or the type of vaccination received.

PMID:40151843 | DOI:10.14744/AnatolJCardiol.2025.5105

Int J Rheumatol. 2024 Jul 23;2024:8877237. doi: 10.1155/2024/8877237. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: DISH is a systemic condition characterized by ligamentous ossification of at least four contiguous thoracic vertebrae. Prior studies have shown an association between DISH and cardiovascular morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between DISH, cardiovascular risk factors, and MACE (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and CV mortality) in patients who underwent coronary angiography between 5/2014 and 4/2015 in Ha’Emek Medical Center through 7 years of retrospective follow-up.

METHODS: Two cohorts were studied retrospectively and were defined according to the status of the coronary artery as diagnosed in angiography at enrolment (obstructive vs. nonobstructive coronary heart disease). For the retrospective analysis, we added the status of DISH (according to Resnick’s criteria) and defined four cohorts as follows: CHD and DISH (group 1), CHD and no DISH (group 2), no CHD and DISH (group 3), and no CHD and no DISH (group 4). The four groups were followed up retrospectively for a median period of 7 years. Association between DISH and cardiovascular outcomes was studied.

RESULTS: 198 patients were included in the study. 100 of them had CHD, and 98 were without significant CHD. At enrolment, DISH was present in 44 patients of CHD group and in 35 of non-CHD (p = 0.28 age and sex adjusted). Through the follow-up period, the presence of DISH was not found to be associated with death from any cause, cardiovascular death, ischemic stroke, and MACE. Within the group of non-CHD, there were two additional MI events in DISH (group 3) which was found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Among patients with high burden of cardiovascular risk factors undergoing coronary angiography, the presence of DISH was not associated with an increased incidence of MACE.

PMID:40151826 | PMC:PMC11949591 | DOI:10.1155/2024/8877237

Telemed Rep. 2025 Feb 13;6(1):50-57. doi: 10.1089/tmr.2024.0088. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Increasing intensivist shortages and demand, coupled with the escalating bed occupancy rate due to increased demand for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), have created enthusiasm for tele-critical care (TCC) in the form of teleconsultations. Consequently, this study aimed to describe the role of TCC intervention in enhancing NICU capacity to manage discharge, bed occupancy, and neonatal mortality rates.

METHODS: This was an uncontrolled, retrospective, interventional descriptive study conducted over 22 months from January 2021 to October 2022 in a public hospital in Najran, Saudi Arabia. We employed the scheduled care model of TCC, in which an intensivist provides daily rounds, overnight calls, and critical care consultations upon request. Real-time outcomes, including mortality, discharge, and bed occupancy rates, were monitored in real-time by the National Healthcare Command Center.

RESULTS: Implementing the TCC program was associated with an overall reduction of 10.7% in the neonatal mortality rate from 10.3 to 9.2 deaths per 1000 live births. The discharge rate increased from 0% in the early months of the TCC application to 34.12% after 4 months of application despite the increased bed occupancy rate. The study revealed no statistically significant difference in mortality rates between the means of pre- and post-TCC (M = 9.74, SD = 4.32), (M = 10.28, SD = 7.99) respectively, p = 0.856 with a 95% confidence interval of -5.58 to 6.66.

CONCLUSIONS: TCC in virtual scheduled consultations with a real-time dashboard was proven successful in controlling neonatal mortality and discharge rates. Further studies are required with extended follow-up periods and involving parameters such as the acceptance of physicians, long-term effects beyond the NICU, and the impact of TCC on logistics and resources.

PMID:40151791 | PMC:PMC11947632 | DOI:10.1089/tmr.2024.0088

Int J Popul Data Sci. 2024 Jun 6;8(6):2392. doi: 10.23889/ijpds.v8i6.2392. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Sibling dynamics play a crucial role in individual development, health and wellbeing. We established a national birth cohort using administrative health, education and social care data in England featuring clusters of mothers and their children (mothers and only-children, MoC; and mothers and siblings, MSib).

METHODS: From 13.6 million mother-baby pairs from births between April 1997 and January 2022 captured in Hospital Episode Statistics in England, we identified MoC and MSib clusters by identifying livebirths linked to the same mother. We compared only-children and children with siblings, by ethnicity, sociodemographic variables, and birth characteristics. We calculated birth intervals for children with siblings.

RESULTS: We identified 4,086,648 MoC and 3,957,856 MSib clusters. Compared with only-children, children with siblings were more likely to be Asian, live in more deprived areas, and have younger mothers, but were less likely to be overdue births (>=42 weeks), or to have very low birth weight (<1500g). Children with siblings were also less likely to have been admitted to special neonatal care after birth compared to only-children. Among the MSib clusters, sibship sizes varied between 2 and 15, with a mean of 2.4 children per mother. The median birth interval was 3.0 years.

CONCLUSION: This national cohort ECHILD-oCSib of 4.1 million MoC and 4.0 million MSib clusters in England is an important resource for investigating the effects of maternal exposures, sibling dynamics and their interplay on individual development, health and wellbeing. Potential sources of bias should be considered in analyses of these data.

KEY FEATURES: We derived a national cohort of 4.1 million clusters of mothers and only-children and 4.0 million clusters of mothers and siblings using administrative health, education and social care data in England.Compared with only-children, children with siblings were more likely to be Asian, live in more deprived areas, and have younger mothers, but less likely to be overdue births (>=42 weeks of gestation), or to have very low birth weight (<1500 g).Among children with siblings, sibship sizes varied between 2 and 15, with a mean of 2.4 children per mother (median = 2.0). The median birth interval was 3.0 years.The cohort is linked to longitudinal administrative data on health, education and social care use, and provides a valuable opportunity to investigate the effects of maternal factors, sibling dynamics, and their interaction on children development, health, education and wellbeing.The data can be accessed as part of ECHILD database.

PMID:40151762 | PMC:PMC11949256 | DOI:10.23889/ijpds.v8i6.2392

Cureus. 2025 Feb 24;17(2):e79595. doi: 10.7759/cureus.79595. eCollection 2025 Feb.

ABSTRACT

Objective The present study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and barriers associated with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) implementation among perioperative clinicians. Methods This cross-sectional study included responses from 214 perioperative clinicians, comprising surgeons and anesthesiologists involved in abdominal surgeries, from tertiary care hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A structured questionnaire collected data on participants’ knowledge of ERAS protocols, perceived barriers to implementation, and learning preferences. Responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with significance set at p<0.05. Results This study included 214 perioperative clinicians, predominantly residents (91.6%, n=196), from surgery (90.2%, n=193) and anesthesiology (9.8%, n=21) departments. Knowledge about ERAS protocols was limited, with 89 (41.6%) of respondents stating they knew nothing and 97 (45.3%) reporting very little or some familiarity. Perceived barriers included lack of institutional support, time constraints, and insufficient research. Most participants, 145 (67.8%), supported integrating ERAS education into formal training, with 92 (42.9%) favoring seminars or lectures and 79 (36.9%) preferring journal articles for learning. Perceptions of ERAS importance were generally positive, but significant differences were noted regarding hospital administration support (p=0.013). Conclusion This study identifies significant gaps in ERAS knowledge among perioperative clinicians, particularly among residents, and highlights perceived logistical barriers to its implementation. However, the findings are limited by the underrepresentation of consultants and anesthesiologists, who are key drivers of ERAS programs. The findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions, stronger institutional support, and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve ERAS adoption.

PMID:40151758 | PMC:PMC11947496 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.79595