Nevin Manimala

Am J Hum Biol. 2025 Sep;37(9):e70130. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.70130.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Knowledge of neonatal body composition in high-altitude populations is insufficient. To estimate Fat Mass (FM), Fat Free Mass (FFM), and Body Fat percentage (BF%) in Jujuy newborns (NB) using the weight/length (W/L) ratio and its relationship with maternal, fetal, and environmental characteristics.

METHOD: Data were obtained from 47 598 mother/child pairs recorded in the Jujuy Perinatal Information System (SIP) between 2009 and 2014, including NB and maternal weight, length/height, gestational and maternal age, educational, nutritional, and marital status; birth interval; maternal surname, and planned pregnancy. The prevalence of unsatisfied basic needs (% UBN) was determined based on the mother’s place of residence. The data were divided into two groups: highlands (HL > 2500 masl) and lowlands (LL < 2500 masl). W/L, FM, FFM, and BF% centiles were calculated using GAMLSS LMS in R and compared with INTERGROWTH-21st. ANOVA and Chi-squared tests were applied as needed. Statistical associations between the response variables FM, FFM, and BF% and maternal and environmental variables were tested using GAMM.

RESULTS: FM and BF% were significantly higher in females and in LL, while the opposite was true for FFM. The three indicators differed according to maternal nutritional status and age, parity, pregnancy planning, prematurity, birth size, geographical altitude, surnames, and UBN. GAMM showed that gestational age, sex, birth size, UBN, and surnames are associated with FM, FFM, and BF% at both altitudinal levels.

CONCLUSIONS: The body composition of Jujuy NB varies with geographical altitude, NB characteristics, ethnicity, and socioeconomic conditions.

PMID:40888145 | DOI:10.1002/ajhb.70130

J Food Sci. 2025 Sep;90(9):e70454. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.70454.

ABSTRACT

As a rich source of bioactive compounds, porcine blood meal was served as raw material in this study to elucidate the effects of diverse protease treatments on the composition, distribution, structural characteristics, and flavor compound content of the resulting hydrolysates. Gel permeation chromatography, spectroscopy, sensory evaluation, and headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography techniques were employed for comprehensive analysis. The findings revealed that enzymatic hydrolysis significantly facilitated protein degradation in porcine blood meal, with the flavor protease treatment exhibiting the most pronounced effect, achieving a hydrolysis extent of 16.4%. Notably, the enzymatic hydrolysis primarily generated peptide fractions with molecular weights less than 1 kDa, which were most abundant in samples treated with flavor protease, accounting for 75% of the total peptides. A significant increase in surface hydrophobicity of the hydrolysates was observed following flavor protease treatment (P < 0.05), accompanied by notable improvements in sensory properties. The enzymatic hydrolysis triggered the structural transformation from α-helix to random coil and β-sheet structure. Among the thirty-five volatile flavor compounds identified in the hydrolysates, eleven were deemed as characteristic flavor compounds. The samples subjected to treatment with flavor protease demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the concentrations of 1-octene-3-ol, trans-2-octenal, and 3-methylbutyraldehyde (P < 0.05).

PMID:40888139 | DOI:10.1111/1750-3841.70454

Psychogeriatrics. 2025 Sep;25(5):e70091. doi: 10.1111/psyg.70091.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Social restrictions during the novel coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of older adults. This study aimed to examine the associations of loneliness and depression with sociodemographic characteristics and internet use among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 330 geriatric patients between September 1, 2021, and June 1, 2022. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire consisting of a personal information form, the Loneliness Scale for Elderly, and the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-15 (GDS-15).

RESULTS: The participants had a mean age of 71.3 years, 60.3% were female, and regarding internet use, 52.4% reported never using it, 18.8% used it occasionally, and 28.8% used it daily. The most common internet activities were video calls with relatives/friends (39.4%) and sharing messages, photos, or videos via messaging apps (38.2%). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, being married, having low income, living alone, having fewer than five friends, and not using the internet at all were significantly associated with higher levels of loneliness, while higher depression scores were observed among females compared to males and among individuals with low income compared to those with middle or high income.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that internet use may have a protective role against loneliness in older adults; however, its effect on reducing depression appears to be limited.

PMID:40888097 | DOI:10.1111/psyg.70091

Int J Cosmet Sci. 2025 Sep;47 Suppl 1:2-24. doi: 10.1111/ics.70019.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the experimental design, the statistical model, performance criteria and results of a method performance study conducted in order to characterize the performance of alternative methods for SPF and UVA-PF testing. The performance of alternative methods is characterized against the performance of the ISO 24444 and ISO 24443 methods.

METHODS: A factorial experimental design was implemented. For a given method, such a design allows good statistical reliability of precision estimates with as few as four participating laboratories. To cover the wide range of sunscreen products on the market, 32 sunscreens were tested. These 32 products were classified into eight product groups. The product groups differ in terms of SPF level, application viscosity and type of UV filters and matrix. In co-operation with a WG7 ISO ad hoc group performance criteria for the alternative methods were developed for reproducibility precision, between-laboratory variation, bias and the variation of bias across products and across product groups.

RESULTS: Performance characteristics for the reference method along with reproducibility and repeatability limits are provided. The results for the participating alternative methods will be presented in separate articles, following this paper.

CONCLUSIONS: The precision of ISO 24444 and ISO 24443 was characterized for each of the eight product groups. The main sources of variation were identified for each of the two reference methods. Reproducibility and repeatability limits were derived and are provided.

PMID:40888065 | DOI:10.1111/ics.70019

Int J Cosmet Sci. 2025 Sep;47 Suppl 1:1. doi: 10.1111/ics.70026.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40888064 | DOI:10.1111/ics.70026

Int J Cosmet Sci. 2025 Sep;47 Suppl 1:96-114. doi: 10.1111/ics.70007.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The consortium ALT-SPF performed an international round robin test to characterize non-invasive methods as alternatives to the erythema-based testing of sun protection factor (SPF) according to ISO 24444:2019.

METHODS: Hybrid diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (HDRS) based on a multi-lambda LED light source uses in vivo reflectance spectra on skin to determine sunscreens in vivo absorbance spectra, which are fused with respective in vitro absorbance spectra measured as thin films transmission as described in ISO 24443:2019. As a part of the ALT-SPF consortium initiative, a blinded study on 64 samples was performed in four European laboratories. After further improvements of the method, a blinded re-evaluation based on 16 samples was performed. Five statistical acceptance criteria for new methods were assessed by an independent statistical institute to compare the obtained results to the reference methods for SPF and UVA-PF.

RESULTS: The initial ALT-SPF study 1 showed that the bias criterion was acceptable, while the reproducibility and interlaboratory variability needed further improvement. The re-evaluation study 2 showed that the reproducibility and interlaboratory variability could be considerably improved. Using only n = 10 volunteers and a bias correction based on the initial ALT-SPF study 1 data, the SPF results of the re-evaluation study 2 were close to the acceptance criteria of the ALT-SPF study with criterion 1 (reproducibility) and only 11% over the limit defined by the performance of the gold standard. The UVA-PF results were within the acceptance limits for the acceptance criteria, except criterion 3 being in the ‘almost met’ range. The re-evaluation study indicates that the method has a comparable precision to the gold standard methods ISO 24444 and ISO 24443.

CONCLUSION: This study showed that the LED-HDRS method is capable of providing reasonable non-invasive SPF and UVA-PF results and that the performance shows close alignment to the reference method. Thus, it can be proposed as an alternative method to the current standards ISO 24444 and ISO 24443.

PMID:40888063 | DOI:10.1111/ics.70007

Int J Cosmet Sci. 2025 Sep;47 Suppl 1:115-132. doi: 10.1111/ics.70015.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: In the framework of the Alt-SPF consortium, a large ring study was conducted to evaluate different alternative methods for SPF determination. This paper reports and discusses the results of a new in vitro approach, the Fused Method. The study aimed to determine whether the Fused Method would provide similar SPF results to those obtained using ISO 24444 and whether UVA-PF would be comparable to ISO 24443.

METHODS: The Fused Method is based on assessing UV transmittance through a film of sunscreen applied to PMMA plates, before and after 1MED irradiation through the film. An individual calibration curve is measured by each operator using standard sunscreens to correct for individual/equipment error throughout the process. This calibration is formulation-dependent: there is one calibration for emulsion, one for single-phase formulations, and one for mineral UV filters.

RESULTS: Optimization of the calibration step to an asymptotic regression model improved inter-laboratory reproducibility and showed lower method bias compared to ISO 24444. Most PGs met the full statistical validation criterion for SPF results. The results of PG1 (low viscosity emulsion SPF30), PG2 (medium viscosity emulsion SPF6) and PG4 (medium viscosity emulsion SPF30) indicate a product and product group-specific method bias. This observation was confirmed for PG1 in the follow-up study. The same conclusion could be drawn for the evaluation of UVA-PF versus ISO 24443, as this parameter is directly linked to the SPF results.

CONCLUSION: The use of the Fused Method to determine the SPF of sunscreen formulations meets the statistical criteria for most PGs. However, intra-laboratory reproducibility needs to be improved for low SPF values and low viscosity emulsions. Nevertheless, this fast, simple, and cost-effective method remains a good alternative for SPF & UVA-PF screening in the development of sunscreen formulations. It is a pragmatic approach to manage the various known biases (applicator/device) of in vitro transmittance SPF measurement. No significant change to ISO 24443 is required, and the method allows in vitro SPF & UVA-PF to be determined in the same setup.

PMID:40888056 | DOI:10.1111/ics.70015

Int J Cosmet Sci. 2025 Sep;47 Suppl 1:78-95. doi: 10.1111/ics.13086.

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of the Alt-SPF consortium ring test, obtained by the in-silico methodology, and discusses these results in the context of existing standards. To evaluate the effectiveness of the in-silico methodology in correlating with these standards, a comparison was made between the in-silico sun protection factor (SPF) and the UVA protection factor (UVA-PF) and the values derived by standard in vivo SPF (ISO24444) and in vitro UVA-PF (ISO24443). The model utilises the same algorithm as in vitro measurements of SPF and UVA-PF, with the measured UV transmission substituted by calculated transmission simulated through an applied sunscreen film. The in-silico approach necessitates quantitative UV absorbance data of all UV-filters, their photodegradation and photointeraction properties, oil/water phase synergies and a model describing the irregular distribution of the film thickness on the skin. The performance factors are calculated using an initial analytical evaluation of the 32 test formulations of the ring test, to ascertain the presence and concentration of individual UV absorbers. The filter concentrations obtained are then processed via computational analysis to calculate the SPF and UV-PF values. It has been demonstrated that, in accordance with defined statistical parameters to characterize the ability of a method to correlate with the in vivo SPF standard, the in-silico methodology is a highly reproducible and accurate tool for SPF prediction. The alignment with the lowest measured in vivo SPF values serves to ensure the safety of the end consumer and is not a weakness of the method. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that the methodology facilitates precise prediction of UVA protection in comparison to the in vitro standard ISO 24443. These calculations can be employed to engineer novel sunscreens, thereby diminishing the necessity for ethically questionable and extensive laboratory measurements. In case still in-vivo measurements are needed, the methodology can deliver the frequently required SPF/UVA-PF values and may also support functions such as those of responsible persons, including safety assessors, in their evaluations.

PMID:40888055 | DOI:10.1111/ics.13086

Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2553205. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2025.2553205. Epub 2025 Sep 1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) for cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) originating from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) versus non-papillary thyroid carcinoma (non-PTC).

METHODS: In this retrospective study, 262 patients with CLNM treated by MWA between July 2016 and May 2024 were included. Comparative study based on propensity score matching (PSM) between the PTC and non-PTC groups was carried out.

RESULTS: After PSM, 30 cases (median age, 54.5 years [IQR 48-65.3]; 26 women) in the PTC group and 10 cases (median age, 56.5 years [IQR 49.5-66]; 7 women) in the non-PTC group were followed for a median of 22.5 months [IQR 12-36] and 8 months [IQR 6-22.5] (p = 0.072), respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the PTC and non-PTC groups in disease progression (13.3% vs. 50%, p = 0.029), distant metastasis (0% vs. 30%, p = 0.012), disease progression-free survival (68% vs. 45%, log-rank p = 0.003), and tumor disappearance progression-free survival (99.9% vs. 20%, log-rank p = 0.019). The only complication observed was transient hoarseness, with no significant difference in complication rates between the two groups (6.7% vs. 0%, p > 0.99). Significant reductions in MD and volume were observed between pre- and post-MWA at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: MWA is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with CLNM from PTC. However, for CLNM from non-PTC, more aggressive monitoring and additional therapies after MWA may be necessary.

PMID:40888054 | DOI:10.1080/02656736.2025.2553205

Int J Cosmet Sci. 2025 Sep;47 Suppl 1:37-52. doi: 10.1111/ics.13088.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To perform a comprehensive statistical characterization of the Double Plate method (ISO 23675) as a potential in vitro alternative to the in vivo reference method (ISO 24444:2019) for determining the sun protection factor (SPF).

METHODS: Five qualified laboratories were involved in testing the Double Plate method, as part of a large-scale ring test conducted by the International Consortium ‘ALT-SPF’. About 32 sunscreen products, reflecting diverse global formulations, were tested using both the in vivo reference method and the Double Plate method. This method employs spectrophotometric measurements of sunscreen applied to UV-transparent plates with standardized robotic application to minimize the variability. A mathematical adjustment was introduced to address the initial bias compared to the reference method and further assessed in a follow-up ring test with 12 products, including ISO standards.

RESULTS: The Double Plate method exhibited very high intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility throughout the study, consistently meeting the precision criteria set by ISO/TC217/WG7. Following the mathematical adjustment, the accuracy significantly improved, demonstrating a close alignment with the reference method.

CONCLUSION: The Double Plate method demonstrates excellent reproducibility and, following optimization, high accuracy for the SPF determination. These findings endorse the Double Plate method as a robust and ethical in vitro alternative to the in vivo reference method for SPF testing. This paved the way for its publication as a new ISO standard (ISO 23675), in December 2024, supporting consumer safety and informed product choices.

PMID:40888052 | DOI:10.1111/ics.13088