Nevin Manimala

Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 9;15(1):4819. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89065-2.

ABSTRACT

Science holds high prestige in society and understanding public perception of what is considered scientific is essential. The scientificity of a profession is the degree of scientific legitimacy and is determined by the quality of its scientific procedures. Higher levels of scientificity are achieved when scientific results are more objective, impartial, and neutral. In this work, we first estimate the scientificity levels attributed to various professions using a logistic regression model. Then, we explore ways to simultaneously improve their scientific perception by means of multiobjective optimization techniques. To this aim, the statistical results are used to formulate a multiobjective optimization model that maximizes the scientific perception of all the professions considered. The findings provide insights into science policy measures to optimize resource allocation in order to increase the scientific perception of the professions.

PMID:39924535 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-89065-2

Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 9;15(1):4818. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-88961-x.

ABSTRACT

Fatigue is a common health complaint in older adults, but its prevalence varies widely among studies due to differences in populations and assessment tools. The objective of this review is to systematically evaluate the prevalence of fatigue and perceived fatigability in older adults with PRISMA 2020. Four databases-PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (WoS), and Cochrane Library-were systematically searched as of December 27, 2023. Cochrane Q tests and the I² statistic were used using Stata16.0 to assess between-study heterogeneity. A total of 21 studies involving 17843 participants were included in this study. The prevalence of fatigue in older adults was 42.6%, and the prevalence of perceived physical fatigability and mental fatigability was 58.2% and 24.0%. Meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of perceived physical fatigability among older adults was very high. This prevalence varied with regional economic development level, age of the subjects, sample size, and representativeness of the subjects. Fatigue is a health dilemma faced by most older adults. To improve quality of life, early and regular fatigue assessment should be part of routine health screening for older adults.

PMID:39924533 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-88961-x

Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 9;15(1):4821. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89115-9.

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer, a complex global health concern, has predominantly been studied for nuclear DNA variations. However, the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups in breast cancer susceptibility, especially in Pakistan, remains underexplored. This case-control study investigates the association between mtDNA haplogroups and breast cancer in Pakistan. The study reveals a significant abundance of haplogroup M in breast cancer cases by analyzing breast cancer patients and healthy controls through mitochondrial control region genome sequencing (p < 0.001). Increased frequencies of haplogroups M, H, and R in patients compared to controls suggest their potential role in breast cancer susceptibility. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) cases are also linked to haplogroup M, showing a statistically significant association with a p-value of 0.002. This suggests a potential meaningful association between haplogroup M and the occurrence of TNBC in the studied population. These findings emphasize the importance of mitochondrial genetics in breast cancer risk among the Pakistani population, offering insights for biomarker discovery and targeted interventions. Recognizing mitochondrial genetics in breast cancer risk assessment holds promise for tailored medicine strategies and may impact global breast cancer research and prevention efforts.

PMID:39924515 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-89115-9

Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 9;15(1):4809. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83657-0.

ABSTRACT

Asia is home to diverse hunter-gatherer populations characterized by significant morphological, anthropological, cultural, and linguistic diversity. Despite their importance in understanding ancestral human subsistence, little is known about the essential genetic adaptations of these groups. This study investigates the evolutionary pressures shaping the genome of the Maniq population, a nomadic hunter-gatherer group inhabiting the rainforests of southern Thailand. Using genome-wide approaches, including iHS, xp-EHH, PBE, and beta statistics, we identified signatures of positive and balancing selection. Genes under positive selection were enriched in pathways related to immunity, metabolic regulation, structural adaptation, cardiovascular performance, and neuromodulatory traits. Several genes associated with the Southeast Asian ‘negrito-like’ phenotype were also under positive selection. Balancing selection was primarily detected in immune-related genes, particularly within the HLA region, underscoring the critical role of genetic diversity in surviving pathogen-rich environments. Additionally, balancing selection in olfactory receptor genes highlights their importance in environmental sensing and adaptation. These results reveal the intricate interplay of positive and balancing selection in shaping the genetic landscape of the Maniq population and highlight their adaptations to the ecological and lifestyle challenges of life in the rainforest. This study contributes to our understanding of human evolutionary processes in tropical environments and hunter-gatherer societies.

PMID:39924514 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-83657-0

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Feb 9;20(1):153. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-05543-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that hyaluronic acid can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Existing research has extracted a bright red fluid called cell-free fat extract from human adipose tissue, which may play an important role in delaying the progression of osteoarthritis. By comparing with intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of intra-articular injection of CEFFE on both clinical efficacy and the reduction of bone marrow edema in patients with early to mid-stage knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS: A total of 48 patients with KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-III) symptoms were randomly divided into CEFFE group (24 cases) and HA group (24 cases). The patients in the CEFFE group received five injections of CEFFE (2 ml, 1 time/week), and the patients in the HA group received five injections of HA (2 ml, 1 ml/10 mg, 1 time/week). All the patients underwent clinical assessments using rating scales, including VAS, WOMAC and Lysholm Knee Score. These assessments were conducted at pre-treatment and at 3-week, 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up timepoints post-treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated at the 6-month follow-up after the treatment. The changes in subchondral bone marrow edema before and 6 months after treatment were assessed by grading BME on MRI of the affected knees.

RESULTS: A total of 52 knees from 46 patients were included in the final analysis. Comparison of VAS score, WOMAC score, and Lysholm score between the two groups revealed that the differences between pre-treatment and 3 weeks post-treatment were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). For the VAS score and WOMAC score at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-treatment, the CEFFE group was lower than the HA group (P < 0.05). For the Lysholm score, the CEFFE group was higher than the HA group (P < 0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, VAS scores and WOMAC scores were lower and Lysholm scores were higher at all post-treatment time points (P < 0.05). At 6 months post-treatment, the clinical efficacy of the CEFFE group was significantly better than that of the HA group (P < 0.05). At 6 months post-treatment, MRI grading showed that subchondral BME was reduced to different degrees in both groups, with the reduction being more pronounced in the CEFFE group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that intra-articular injection of CEFFE into the knee joint could enhance the durability of tissue-specific cells (especially chondrocytes) and improve cellular metabolic processes, preventing the continued progression of osteoarthritis. Both CEFFE and HA were found to improve clinical symptoms and reduced subchondral bone marrow edema in the treatment of early to mid-stage knee osteoarthritis. However, CEFFE was more effective than HA in achieving these outcomes.

PMID:39924508 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-05543-3

BMC Glob Public Health. 2025 Feb 10;3(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s44263-025-00130-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Income is associated with many health outcomes, but it is unclear how far this reflects a causal relationship. Mendelian randomisation (MR) uses genetic variation between individuals to investigate causal effects and may overcome some of the confounding issues inherent in many observational study designs.

METHODS: We used two-sample MR using data from unrelated individuals to estimate the effect of log occupational income on indicators of mental health, physical health, and health-related behaviours. We investigated pleiotropy (direct effects of genotype on the outcome) using robust MR estimators, CAUSE, and multivariable MR including education as a co-exposure. We also investigated demographic factors and dynastic effects using within-family analyses, and misspecification of the primary phenotype using bidirectional MR and Steiger filtering.

RESULTS: We found that a 10% increase in income lowered the odds of depression (OR 0.92 [95% CI 0.86-0.98]), death (0.91 [0.86-0.96]), and ever-smoking (OR 0.91 [0.86-0.96]), and reduced BMI (- 0.06 SD [- 0.11, – 0.003]). We found little evidence of an effect on alcohol consumption (- 0.02 SD [- 0.01, 0.05]) or subjective wellbeing (0.02 SD [- 0.003, 0.04]), or on two negative control outcomes, childhood asthma (OR 0.99 [0.87, 1.13]) and birth weight (- 0.02 SD, [- 0.01, 0.05]). Within-family analysis and multivariable MR including education and income were imprecise, and there was substantial overlap between the genotypes associated with income and education: out of 36 genetic variants significantly associated with income, 29 were also significantly associated with education.

CONCLUSIONS: MR evidence provides some limited support for causal effects of income on some mental health outcomes and health behaviours, but the lack of reliable evidence from approaches accounting for family-level confounding and potential pleiotropic effects of education places considerable caveats on this conclusion. MR may nevertheless be a useful complement to other observational study designs since its assumptions and limitations are radically different. Further research is needed using larger family-based genetic cohorts, and investigating the overlap between income and other socioeconomic measures.

PMID:39924502 | DOI:10.1186/s44263-025-00130-4

World J Surg Oncol. 2025 Feb 10;23(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s12957-025-03652-1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the application effect of the technique of “priority dissecting of the inferior mesenteric artery combined with complete medial approach (IMA-CMA)” in laparoscopic left-sided colon cancer radical resection.

METHODS: A total of 99 patients who underwent laparoscopic left-sided colon cancer radical resection with splenic flexure mobilization between September 2021 to May 2023 were included. Sixty-eight of these patients were analyzed after propensity score matching (PSM). The perioperative characteristics were compared.

RESULTS: Among these enrolled patients, 45 underwent the traditional approach, and 54 underwent IMA-CMA approach. After PSM, the patients were matched to include 34 patients in each group, with no significant differences in the sex (p = 0.618) or location of tumor (p = 0.798) between the two groups. The patients in IMA-CMA group had shorter operating time (p = 0.032), less intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.003), a higher number of harvested lymph nodes (p = 0.044) and center group lymph nodes(p = 0.037), and a shorter postoperative hospital stay (p = 0.011). Number of positive lymph nodes and postoperative complications were not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The technique of IMA-CMA for splenic flexure mobilization is safe and feasible. It can reduce operating time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay, which is conducive to achieving a thorough D3 lymphadenectomy without increasing the incidence of perioperative complications.

PMID:39924496 | DOI:10.1186/s12957-025-03652-1

Int J Psychol. 2025 Apr;60(2):e70020. doi: 10.1002/ijop.70020.

ABSTRACT

Previous research has found an increase in healthcare costs before psychotherapy, followed by a decrease thereafter-a pattern also observed in our sample. However, research on the patterns of change is still lacking. Healthcare quarterly cost patterns of change were examined in a field study of 1508 patients before and during outpatient psychotherapy. Several models assess the patterns of change of the entire sample and in subgroups of those undergoing prolonged psychiatric treatment versus the rest. An exponential pattern (increasing rate of change) had the best fit during the waiting period for the prolonged psychiatric treatment group. A linear pattern was selected for the rest. A logarithmic pattern (decreasing rate of change) best fits the prolonged pharmacotherapy group during therapy. A linear pattern was selected for the rest. The economic implication of the findings is that the prolonged psychiatric treatment group is expected to have the highest return on investment when the waiting period for treatment is shortened. This unique pattern of change may also be a marker of increasing distress in this group while waiting for treatment and the rapid effect that the start of psychotherapy has on this. Therefore this group should be the focus of attention.

PMID:39923260 | DOI:10.1002/ijop.70020

J Physiol Pharmacol. 2024 Dec;75(6). doi: 10.26402/jpp.2024.6.02. Epub 2025 Feb 3.

ABSTRACT

We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of different doses of atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this prospective, randomized controlled study, we enrolled 147 patients with ACS who underwent PCI at our hospital between April 2020 and June 2021. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups based on their post-PCI atorvastatin dose: low-dose (20 mg/day, n=49), medium-dose (40 mg/day, n=49), and high-dose (80 mg/day, n=49). We assessed clinical parameters including blood lipid profiles, inflammatory marker levels, creatine kinase (CK) levels and liver and kidney function before and after atorvastatin treatment. Adverse reactions were monitored to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the different atorvastatin doses. The mean follow-up duration was 13.76±1.27 months (range 12-15 months). No significant differences in baseline blood lipid levels, CK levels and inflammatory markers were observed among the groups (all P>0.05). Post-treatment, the high-dose atorvastatin group showed a more pronounced reduction in blood lipid levels and higher CK levels compared to the medium-dose and low-dose groups. Similarly, the medium-dose group had better outcomes than the low-dose group, with these differences being statistically significant (P<0.05). The high-dose group also exhibited significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers than both the medium-dose and low-dose groups after treatment (P<0.05). Adverse reactions were relatively infrequent across all groups: 4.08% in the low-dose group (1 case of nausea, 1 case of insomnia), 8.16% in the medium-dose group (1 case of insomnia, 1 case of dyspnea, 1 case of nausea, and 1 case of muscular soreness ), and 16.33% in the high-dose group (2 cases of nausea, 1 case of dyspnea, 2 cases of insomnia, and 3 cases of muscular soreness). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the groups (χ²=4.421, P=0.110). To sum up the results, high-dose atorvastatin significantly improved blood lipid profiles and reduced inflammatory markers in ACS patients following PCI, without adversely affecting liver or kidney function. Furthermore, the high-dose regimen demonstrated a favorable safety profile, suggesting its potential benefit in managing these patients population.

PMID:39923225 | DOI:10.26402/jpp.2024.6.02

J Community Health. 2025 Feb 9. doi: 10.1007/s10900-025-01442-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The growing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among Indonesian youth presents a new public health challenge in a country with one of the highest tobacco burdens globally. While tobacco control regulations have been implemented, e-cigarettes remain largely unregulated, raising concerns about their health impacts and youth appeal. This study explores the prevalence, determinants and perceptions of e-cigarette use among high school and university students in Indonesia, providing critical insights to inform effective policymaking. A cross-sectional online-based survey was conducted in 2019 among 158 students aged 15-30 years across 17 provinces in Indonesia. Data on tobacco use behaviours, socioeconomic background, social influences and health perceptions were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses identified key determinants of e-cigarette use. Among the participants, 36.2% reported ever smoking, and 65.2% of these had tried e-cigarettes. Key determinants of e-cigarette use included male gender, urban residency, peer smoking and social acceptance of smoking (all p < 0.05). Notably, participants commonly perceived e-cigarettes as less harmful than combustible cigarettes and helpful for smoking cessation, despite conflicting scientific evidence. Overall, e-cigarette use is prevalent among Indonesian youth, driven by social and environmental factors, as well as misconceptions about safety. Strengthened regulations and targeted public health campaigns are essential to mitigate the health risks posed by e-cigarettes and enhance tobacco control efforts.

PMID:39923204 | DOI:10.1007/s10900-025-01442-0