Nevin Manimala

Cryo Letters. 2025 Jan-Feb;46(1):22-30.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Single sperm cryopreservation (SSC) is a method that preserves the limited number of spermatozoa in testicular sperm. But testicular spermatozoa are characterized with low movement, which is not ideal for sperm selection before SSC.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate in vitro incubation (IVC) as a sperm selection technique before SSC on biological factors of testicular spermatozoa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular tissue was obtained from 15 azoospermia men. One part of the testicular samples was used as a Control group, which was assessed fresh. One portion was cryopreserved by a vitrification (Vit) method and the two other portions were in vitro cultured for 24 h, with (IVC-Vit) or without (IVC) vitrification. Sperm motility, viability, morphology, DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated.

RESULTS: Sperm motility and viability were better maintained in the IVC-Vit group compared to the Vit group (P=0.04 and P= 0.003, respectively). Sperm morphology, the fresh, Vit, IVC, and IVC-Vit groups all showed similar results (P > 0.05). Mitochondrial activity was significantly lower in the Vit group compared to the Control fresh group (P = 0.0001). The IVC group had a significantly higher DFI as compared to the Control (P < 0.0001). Compared to the IVC group, the IVC-Vit sperm had a significant increase in DFI (P= 0.0009). There was a statistically significant difference between post warm DFI of the Vit group and IVC-Vit group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: IVC as a sperm selection method increased motility and viability of testicular spermatozoa before single sperm vitrification. As DNA fragmentation increased by this technique, this method is not ideal for selecting viable sperm. https://doi.org/10.54680/fr25110110512.

PMID:40089813

Cryo Letters. 2025 Jan-Feb;46(1):14-21.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol (Res) (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenol that exhibits important biological activities.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of resveratrol (Res) on freeze-thawed survival of semen from Honamli and Hair Bucks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six bucks, aged 2-3 years (three from each breed), were included in the study. Semen was collected from each breed and mixed separately after removing seminal plasma. The mixed semen was diluted with different Res concentrations (0 uM as control, 25 µM, 50 uM, 100 µM, 500 uM, and 1 mM) in Tris diluent and subjected to cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen vapor and frozen. After thawing, the samples were evaluated for motility and some spermatologic quality parameters by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Data were analyzed separately for Honamli and Hair breeds. The results showed that the Res 1 mM group had the lowest motility in all assessments (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the other Res and control groups (P > 0.05). In terms of apoptosis, Hair bucks exhibited a statistically significant difference in late apoptotic parameters, with the control showing the highest values (P. < 0.05). The Res 25 uM group (similar to the control group) showed lower mitochondrial oxidative stress than the Res 1 mM group (P. < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Res at a dose of 1 mM did not protect most sperm functional and biochemical parameters except for apoptosis and performed worse than the control group. When all parameters are evaluated collectively, concentrations lower than 1 mM should be used for freezing Honamli and Hair Buck semen with resveratrol. https://doi.org/10.54680/fr25110110312.

PMID:40089812

Lipids Health Dis. 2025 Mar 15;24(1):94. doi: 10.1186/s12944-025-02518-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) values and the development of diabetes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients is not yet well researched. This study aims to examine how the baseline TyG levels correlate with the incidence of new-onset diabetes in this specific cohort.

METHODS: This cohort included 2,506 normoglycemic Japanese adults with NAFLD who underwent routine health check-ups at Murakami Memorial Hospital between 2004 and 2015. Several statistical approaches, including restricted cubic splines and two-piecewise linear regression, were utilized to assess the relation between the TyG levels and diabetes risk.

RESULTS: Among the 2,506 participants (mean age: 44.78 ± 8.32 years; 81.09% male), 203 individuals (8.10%) developed diabetes over the course of the 11-year follow-up period. A U-shaped relationship was observed between the levels of TyG and the onset of diabetes, with an inflection point identified at a TyG value of 7.82 (95% CI: 7.72-8.00). Below this threshold, each one-unit elevation in TyG values reduced the probability of diabetes by 93% (HR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.32, P = 0.001). Conversely, above this threshold, each one-unit elevation increased the probability of diabetes by 70% (HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.19-2.44, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings validate a U-shaped association between TyG levels and new-onset diabetes in adults with NAFLD. Both low and high TyG levels increase diabetes probability in such a group.

PMID:40089802 | DOI:10.1186/s12944-025-02518-5

Nutr J. 2025 Mar 15;24(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s12937-025-01099-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diet is a modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases which are the major causes of death worldwide. French dietary guidelines, updated in 2017, provide recommendations for a healthier diet. We aimed to study the association between adherence to these dietary guidelines and mortality in the E3N (Etude Epidémiologique auprès de femmes de l’Education Nationale) French cohort. A secondary objective was to investigate the role of dietary exposure to chemical contaminants in this association.

METHODS: We studied 72 585 women of the E3N prospective cohort, which completed a food frequency questionnaire in 1993. We estimated adherence to French dietary guidelines using the simplified “Programme National Nutrition Santé-guidelines score 2” (sPNNS-GS2, range -20.4 to 12.6). We estimated the association between sPNNS-GS2 and all-cause or cause-specific mortality using Cox proportional hazard models. Causes of death were coded and validated by the French Epidemiology Center on Medical Causes of Death (Inserm-CépiDc).

RESULTS: During follow-up (1993-2014), we identified 6 441 deaths. The mean sPNNS-GS2 was 3.8 (SD 3.0). In the fully adjusted model, we found a non-linear association between sPNNS-GS2 and all-cause, all-cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer mortality (p-values for the overall association < 0.001), with a diminution of the risk as sPNNS-GS2 increases up to its median or 65^th percentile (depending on the outcome), and then a plateau (for all-cause and breast cancer mortality) or an inversion of the trend (for all-cancer and lung cancer mortality). Furthermore, we identified a linear inverse association with cardiovascular diseases mortality (HR_oneSTD [95%CI]: 0.86 [0.76; 0.97]), and no association with colorectal cancer mortality. We observed similar results when additionally adjusting on dietary exposure to chemical contaminants.

CONCLUSIONS: This study conducted in a large prospective cohort following more than 70 000 women for over 20 years suggested that higher adherence to French dietary guidelines was associated with a reduced risk of mortality from all-cause, cardiovascular diseases, all-cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer, except for high values of adherence for lung cancer mortality. These results contribute to informing on the importance of following the French nutritional recommendations.

PMID:40089799 | DOI:10.1186/s12937-025-01099-4

BMC Oral Health. 2025 Mar 15;25(1):390. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05745-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Effective and durable bonding of immediate dentin sealing (IDS) is a crucial factor in the success of adhesive-bonded restorations. This study aimed to investigate the influence of chlorhexidine (CHX) and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) pretreatments on the immediate and aged bond strengths of a universal adhesive used in IDS across two etching modes.

METHODS: Flat dentin surfaces were obtained from 120 molars and divided into six groups based on pretreatments (no treatment, CHX, and BAC) in two etching modes (etch-and-rinse (E&R) and self-etch (SE)) using All Bond Universal, in conjunction with a hydrophobic resin layer. Following the provisional stage and resin cementation, immediate and aged shear bond strengths (SBS) were measured after 24 h and 1 year of storage, respectively. The data (in MPa) were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey tests (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: CHX pretreatment did not significantly impact bond strengths, while BAC pretreatment led to a significantly lower immediate SBS in the SE mode (9.91 ± 1.93 MPa) compared to the control group (16.07 ± 3.45 MPa, p < 0.001). In the E&R mode, no statistically significant differences were found among the three pretreatment groups at either storage time (p > 0.05). After one year, SBS values in the SE mode decreased for all groups, with the CHX group showing the lowest value (9.98 ± 3.91 MPa), though these reductions were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In contrast, SBS values in the E&R mode remained stable or slightly increased, with the BAC group reaching 17.12 ± 4.05 MPa after one year. Aged SBS values in the E&R mode were significantly higher than in the SE mode for the CHX (16.53 ± 2.28 MPa vs. 9.98 ± 3.91 MPa, p < 0.001) and BAC groups (17.12 ± 4.05 MPa vs. 10.55 ± 3.03 MPa, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: CHX and BAC pretreatments did not offer additional advantages in terms of long-term bonding performance in IDS with the universal adhesive utilized in this study. When using antibacterial agents, All Bond Universal adhesive in E&R mode could provide better long-term bonding performance than that of its SE mode.

PMID:40089794 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-05745-5

Breast Cancer Res. 2025 Mar 15;27(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s13058-025-01989-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Currently, the primary methods for detecting HER2 expression levels are immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH), with the traditional standard being a HER2-positive score of 3 + accompanied by ERBB2 gene amplification detected through ISH. However, a new entity has recently emerged: HER2-low, defined as HER2 IHC 1 + or 2 + with negative ISH. HER2-low breast cancer, representing 45-60% of all HER2-negative tumors, has distinct biological characteristics and uncertain responses to conventional HER2-targeted therapies. Recent studies suggest varied clinical outcomes, highlighting the need for further investigation into the impact of HER2-low status on treatment efficacy and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis evaluates the difference in complete pathological response (pCR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) between HER2-low and HER2-zero phenotypes.

METHODS: We systematically searched the main databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles evaluating women in neoadjuvant therapy expressing HER2-low and HER2-zero. We computed odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) using DerSimonian and Laird random-effect models for all endpoints, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed the heterogeneity using I² statistics. R, version 4.2.3, was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS: 38 studies totaling 70,104 patients were included. The HER2-low group accounted for 61.3% of patients while HR + status represented 52.4% in the whole research. In 67,839 women, the pCR was analyzed, which in the overall cohort analysis favored the HER2-zero group (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.78-0.90; p = 0.000005; I² = 15%). Subgroup analyses for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HR + patients also favored HER2-zero expression, with an OR of 0.91 (95% CI 0.83-1.0; p < 0.041; I² = 12%) and 0.75 (95% CI 0.70-0.81; p < 0.000001; I² = 0%), respectively. In the multivariate analysis across all patients, both DFS and OS outcomes were significantly favorable for the HER2-low expression group, with HR 0.8317 (95% CI 0.7036-0.9832; p = 0.031) for DFS and HR 0.806 (95% CI 0.663-0.979; p = 0.03) for OS.

CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, HER2-zero status is associated with a significantly higher pathological complete response (pCR) rate compared to HER2-low in early-stage breast cancer, and other survival outcomes. These results suggest that HER2-zero should be considered a prognostic factor in early-stage breast cancer and taken into account in neoadjuvant treatment planning and future clinical research.

PMID:40089780 | DOI:10.1186/s13058-025-01989-9

Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2025 Mar 15;23(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12955-025-02345-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life is an important measure of patient-reported outcomes. There is limited evidence on how parental health-related quality of life develops after neonatal hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate parents’ health-related quality of life (HRQL) during the year following their infant’s treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS: This prospective cohort study, conducted at a German university hospital between 2020 – 2023, examined HRQL among parents of infants hospitalized in the NICU for ≥ 14 days and parents of infants discharged from the maternity ward according to PedsQL™ Family Impact Module. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify associations between cohort affiliation and differences in parental HRQL. Key secondary outcome was parenting sense of competence (PSOC).

RESULTS: Participants included 131 parents of NICU infants and 122 unexposed parents. HRQL increased over time for NICU mothers (58.7 at 14 days, 70.8 at 6 months, 77.0 at 12 months after birth) and NICU fathers (69.8 at 14 days, 73.9 at 6 months, 75.7 at 12 months). NICU treatment was significantly associated with lower HRQL at 14 days (mothers: -20.26 points; P < .001; fathers: -9.40 points; P = .04), but not at 6 or 12 months after birth. At 12 months postpartum, NICU mothers showed higher PSOC compared to unexposed mothers (mean difference -4.85; P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: Parents and especially mothers of NICU infants reported lower HRQL at 14 days postpartum. At 6 and 12 months, their HRQL improved, aligning with that of unexposed parents.

PMID:40089778 | DOI:10.1186/s12955-025-02345-3

Head Neck. 2025 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/hed.28133. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Literature about ocular toxicity after head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment is scarce. This study aimed to describe visual function and ocular symptoms among HNC patients.

METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design. Two surveys, The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) and an Ocular Symptom Scale, were sent to participants via e-mail. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample in the vision change and non-vision change groups. Chi-square and t-tests were used to compare groups.

RESULTS: Of the 485 HNC patients emailed, 126 responded to the survey (26%). Of those, 114 completed the surveys. The scores of NEI-VFQ were significantly lower in the vision change group than in the non-vision change group (p < 0.001). Similarly, all ocular symptoms were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings and a scarcity of literature suggest that vision screening after HNC treatment is warranted.

PMID:40087146 | DOI:10.1002/hed.28133

Muscle Nerve. 2025 Mar 14. doi: 10.1002/mus.28396. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a genetic multisystem neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, extrapyramidal involvement, peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy, immunodeficiency, pulmonary disease, and an increased risk of malignancy that ultimately determines the shortened lifespan in many patients. A-T nerve ultrasonographic characteristics remain underexplored. This pilot study aimed to characterize the ultrasonographic morphology of peripheral nerves in patients with A-T.

METHODS: Ultrasound cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the median, ulnar, sural, and tibial nerves were obtained from three A-T patients and were compared to reference values. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography were also performed. Given the small sample size and the exploratory nature of this study, formal statistical analyses were not performed, and descriptive statistics were presented for the data.

RESULTS: Nerve CSAs in A-T patients were smaller than in healthy controls at all measurement sites.

DISCUSSION: Nerve ultrasound revealed atrophy in the peripheral nerves of A-T patients. This reduction in nerve size may distinguish A-T and highlights the utility of nerve ultrasound as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy. These findings may have important implications for early detection in clinical practice.

PMID:40087145 | DOI:10.1002/mus.28396

Cardiovasc Revasc Med. 2025 Mar 6:S1553-8389(25)00067-3. doi: 10.1016/j.carrev.2025.02.017. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic Limb Threat Ischemia (CLTI) is a severe form of peripheral arterial disease characterized by various symptoms including nonhealing wounds, ulcers and gangrene ultimately leading to a possible amputation. Therefore, revascularization either through endovascular intervention (EVI) or surgical bypass (SB) is an important step in management. Literature review of various studies including Randomized clinical trials (RCTs), Meta-analysis and observational studies show varied results with some studies suggesting better outcomes with EVI while majority of the others favors superiority of SB. Our Systematic review and meta-analysis aims to ascertain underlying differences between the approaches.

METHODS: We performed a Meta-analysis of observational studies and RCTs following the PRISMA guidelines. We searched Pubmed, and Cochrane databases. After removing duplicates and studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 9 studies were included which comprised of 4 RCTs and 5 observational studies. Outcomes measured include limb salvage, amputation free survival and Mortality. Random effects were applied to calculate Odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence Intervals (CI).

RESULTS: A total of 6375 patients from 9 studies were included. The pooled analysis from the meta-analysis comparing Endovascular intervention vs Surgical Bypass showed no statistically significant difference between the outcomes. The Pooled OR was 0.990(95%CI 0.913-1.073). Additionally the heterogeneity among the studies was moderate (i² = 34.7 %) suggesting some variability in the study results but not enough to conclude a significant difference. Additionally subgroup analysis was performed for above-knee and infra popliteal interventions which yielded statistically similar results.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results above, neither endovascular intervention nor bypass surgery showed superiority over the other for outcomes such as limb salvage, mortality and amputation free survival. Therefore, effectiveness of both interventions for revascularization is comparable.

PMID:40087129 | DOI:10.1016/j.carrev.2025.02.017