Nevin Manimala

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2025 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s10815-025-03411-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Spermatozoa centriolar defects can result in abnormal zygote functions. Recently, a method to quantify spermatozoa centriolar defects was developed named Fluorescence-Based Ratiometric Analysis of Sperm Centrioles (FRAC). However, whether spermatozoa centriolar defects identified by FRAC can result in abnormal zygote functions was not tested.

METHODS: Here, we quantified spermatozoa centriolar defects using FRAC, and zygote centriole function was assessed by imaging Nucleolus Precursor Body (NPB) polarization which was based on the pattern of NPB polarization. Data was analyzed at couple and embryo levels. Subjects were divided into two groups: seven couples and 62 embryos with normal spermatozoa centrioles versus eight couples and 78 embryos with abnormal spermatozoa centrioles (140 embryos from 15 couples in total).

RESULTS: Patterned NPB polarization was statistically significant in both couple- and embryo-level analyses (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0024). These results suggest that the abnormal spermatozoa centrioles identified by FRAC may correlate with abnormal zygote centrosome function via NPB polarization scoring.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a foundation for more extensive studies to test for FRAC’s utility in assessing spermatozoa centriole quality.

PMID:39918763 | DOI:10.1007/s10815-025-03411-x

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2025 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s10815-025-03395-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) could lead to abnormal pubertal development in children. We compared pubertal development in children conceived using ART to non-in vitro fertilization fertility treatment (NIFT) and unassisted (UA) conception.

METHODS: Children from the Developmental Epidemiological Study of Children through Reproductive Technology (DESCRT) were assessed for pubertal development according to the standardized protocol. Tanner staging (breast, testes, and pubic hair development) was compared between ART, NIFT, and UA-conceived children. Differences were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Pearson’s chi-squared test, and Fisher’s exact test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess association between method of conception and pubertal development.

RESULTS: The sample included 290 children (164 boys and 126 girls) at median age 6 years (range 4 to 18 years); 229 were conceived using ART compared to a combined reference group of 29 conceived via NIFT and 32 via UA. Statistical analyses adjusted for children’s age, height, and weight showed statistically non-significant trends wherein boys conceived via ART tended to be in later Tanner stages for pubarche (OR = 2.33, 95% CI 0.44-12.21) and gonadarche (OR = 4.27, 95% CI 0.44-41.99), and girls tended to be in later stages for pubarche (OR = 4.29, 95% CI 0.40-45.62) and thelarche (OR = 2.23, 95% CI 0.35-14.03) compared to the reference group.

CONCLUSION: As ART becomes more widespread, developmental concerns become increasingly prominent. While results were statistically non-significant, we observed a trend toward differences in pubertal development between ART-conceived children and those conceived without assistance or NIFT.

PMID:39918762 | DOI:10.1007/s10815-025-03395-8

AMB Express. 2025 Feb 7;15(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s13568-024-01772-7.

ABSTRACT

The oleaginous fungus, Aspergillus terreus when subjected to random chemical mutagenesis led to isolation of TB21 variant with improved lipid content (78.1%) as compared to wild type (49.8%). The fungal wet biomass grown on sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (SCBH) was subjected to one-step in-situ (direct) acid transesterification to optimize its conversion to biodiesel using a 2-level factorial statistical design of experiments. The process optimization revealed that wet biomass and methanol were the most significant factors and in a short reaction time period of 5 min with low methanol: wet biomass ratio (10:1) influenced FAME production Statistical optimization studies showed that TB21 exhibited a higher FAME content of 76.5 and 38.1% (w/w) from wet and dry biomass, respectively when compared to wild type (48.1 and 24.5%). FAME productivity (0.55^-1 h^-1) and a yield (66 gL^-1) were achieved when TB21 was grown on SCBH for 120 h at 30 °C. The FAME profile from the wet biomass of TB21 grown on SCBH had desirable amounts of saturated (77.7%), monounsaturated (7.2%), and polyunsaturated (2.4%) methyl esters. Physico-chemical properties of TB21-derived biodiesel were determined, namely, density(0.88 g cm^-3), kinematic viscosity (4.1 mm s^-2), iodine value (96.82), cetane number (55.31), free fatty acid content (0.15%), total acid number (0.3 NaOH mg g^-1), meeting international (ASTM D6751, EN 14214) and Indian (IS 15607) standards. Thus, the direct one-pot in situ transesterification reaction using wet biomass of variant TB21 strain showed improved production and quality of biodiesel with potential large scale application using the low-cost substrate (SCBH).

PMID:39918725 | DOI:10.1186/s13568-024-01772-7

J Orthop Traumatol. 2025 Feb 7;26(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s10195-025-00818-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) with a large subchondral cyst have been shown to have inferior clinical outcomes after reparative techniques. Replacement techniques such as autologous osteoperiosteal transplantation (AOPT) and autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOCT) are indicated for large lesions. The aim of the study was to compare the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes between patients undergoing AOPT and those undergoing AOCT for large cystic OLTs.

METHODS: Patients who underwent AOPT or AOCT for medial large cystic OLTs between May 2019 and June 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. According to their characteristics, 1:1 propensity-score matching was performed, and 65 pairs of patients with ages ranging from 18 to 60 years old were recruited. Clinical outcomes were compared between both groups with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Ankle Activity Score (AAS), time to return to sports activity (RTA), rate of return to sports level, complications, and results of a subjective evaluation were also collected. The integrity of subchondral bone and the quality of repaired cartilage were evaluated using the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) score 12 months postoperatively. Second-look arthroscopy was performed 12 months postoperatively, and the cartilage repair was assessed with the criteria of the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS).

RESULTS: The within-group comparison showed significant improvements in pain severity and function in both groups post-treatment compared with pre-treatment. Between-group analysis, however, showed no significant statistical difference between groups in any of the variables for clinical and radiographic outcomes, except for donor-site morbidity of the AOPT group, which showed a better outcome compared to the AOCT group.

CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of large cystic OLTs, for patients with a chondral lesion of the patellofemoral joint that is unsuitable for AOCT, AOPT may be a safe and effective choice, with lower donor-site morbidity of the normal knee joint.

PMID:39918724 | DOI:10.1186/s10195-025-00818-1

Obes Surg. 2025 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s11695-025-07716-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to propose and evaluate a severity rating in obesity (SERO) based on a new priority index for bariatric surgery (PIBS). We compared the waiting time for surgery (WTS) in a simulated list of 200 patients diagnosed, classified, and hypothetically submitted to bariatric surgery using two prioritization criteria: date of inclusion in the list and PIBS. Our simulations show that patients spent an average of 350.44 days waiting for surgery while in the first case, when PIBS was adopted as the prioritization criterion, the WTS varied according to the severity of each patient’s condition so more severe cases waited an average of 82.56 days, i.e., up to 75.55% less time considering statistical significance in the differences (p < 0.05). Therefore, the proposed prioritization model proved effective, fair, and reproducible and can be used to manage waiting lists for bariatric surgery.

PMID:39918721 | DOI:10.1007/s11695-025-07716-9

Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s11255-025-04397-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Differences in metabolic profiles were used to search for urinary metabolic markers in patients with tubular dysfunction after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS: In this study, 50 patients with renal tubule dysfunction 6 h after PCI were collected and urine samples before PCI were used as control group and 6 h after PCI were used as observation group. The urine samples were processed by high-speed centrifugation, filtered by microporous membrane, and the superclear was obtained for LC-MS detection and analysis, and their metabolic profiles and related data were obtained.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, α1-MG, NAG and Cys-C in the urine of the observation group were significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After the urine samples were processed by LC-MS technology, SIMCA realized the visual visualization of the score plots of PCA, OPLS-DA and other models, and then verified by statistical methods, it was found that there were different metabolites in the urine of patients before and after PCI. The HMDB database was used to search for differential metabolites and 16 different metabolites such as L-ornithine, oleic acid amide, D-histidine, p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid, acetylmethionine, N-(2-furanyl) glycine, cholesterol laurate, cholic acid, 1-methylguanine, L-hydrochloric acid, homovanillic acid, alpha-keto-isocaproic acid, 3-β-hydroxy-D5-cholenoic acid, adenine, palmitic acid, pentadecanoic acid. Pathway Analysis in MetaboAnalyst5.0 was used to analyze the metabolic pathways of 16 different metabolites. Finally, a total of 11 metabolic pathways were matched. Finally, we believe that the biosynthetic pathway of arginine and the metabolic pathway of alanine, aspartate and glutamate are most relevant to tubular dysfunction after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

CONCLUSION: In this study, LC-MS technology was used to analyze urine samples from CIN patients and patients with coronary heart disease before and after PCI and a total of 16 different metabolites were screened out, which may serve as potential biomarkers to help diagnose renal tubular dysfunction. There are 11 metabolic pathways in the body involved in the occurrence and development of renal tubular dysfunction after angiography and the biosynthesis pathway of arginine and the metabolic pathway of alanine, aspartate and glutamate may play the most important role in the occurrence and development of renal tubular dysfunction.

PMID:39918700 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-025-04397-2

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2025 Feb 7;35(1):65. doi: 10.1007/s00590-025-04187-7.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Scoliosis, if left untreated, can lead to severe curvatures exceeding 90°, causing devastating functional impairments. Various surgical methods exist, but the optimal approach is still debated. One-stage posterior spinal fusion (PSF)-only surgery is gaining favor for its comparable outcomes and reduced morbidity. This study, focusing on radiographic and surgical outcomes, evaluates the efficacy and safety of one-stage PSF for scoliosis curves over 90° in pediatric patients.

METHODS: Thirty-five pediatric patients with scoliosis (Cobb angle ≥ 90°) who underwent one-stage posterior spinal fusion (PSF)-only surgery from January 2020 to December 2023 were included. Patients with idiopathic, neuromuscular, or syndromic scoliosis were included. The primary outcome was the correction rate (CR) of scoliosis curves. Secondary outcomes included major postoperative complications, surgery duration, blood loss, and hospital stay length. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic and clinical data were analyzed.

RESULTS: The mean CR for major and minor curves was 65.2 ± 10.5% and 57.9 ± 12.8%, respectively. The mean preoperative and postoperative Cobb angle of major and minor curves was 102.6° and 35.6°, 68.6° and 28.8°, respectively. There were 13 recorded complications, with only one being life-threatening. Mean blood loss was 787 ± 437 ml. Total surgical time was roughly 5 h per case. The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was 9 days.

CONCLUSIONS: PSF-only surgery for severe scoliosis over 90° is effective and safe. It supports using posterior-only methods as a viable alternative to combined approaches, suitable for patients with even more severe curves when their condition allows.

PMID:39918694 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-025-04187-7

Neurosurg Rev. 2025 Feb 7;48(1):216. doi: 10.1007/s10143-025-03334-2.

ABSTRACT

Microscopic microvascular decompression(M-MVD) is considered the gold standard treatment for primary trigeminal neuralgia and presents excellent long-term pain control rates. Despite the effectiveness of M-MVD, the use of endoscopy in these procedures has proven to be a promising approach. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of purely endoscopic microvascular decompression (E-MVD). A systematic review of the literature was performed using the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The primary outcome was satisfactory pain relief in short-term (0-30 days), mid-term (mean follow-up >/= 12 months) and long-term (mean follow-up >/= 24 months). Secondary outcomes were CSF leak, facial weakness, hearing loss, facial numbness, the rate of intraoperative identification of the offending vessel(s), mortality, length of stay and operative time. Inclusion criteria were studies including only patient submitted to E-MVD. Exclusion were secondary trigeminal neuralgia and mean follow-up < 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio 2024.04.1 + 748. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics. Sensitivity analysis was performed with leave-one-out test. Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 1336 patients. Patients submitted to E-MVD had mean satisfactory pain relief rates of 92.93% (95% CI: 89.52-96.34% I2 = 86%), 88.54% (95% CI: 83.73-93.54% I2 = 87%) and 83.38% (95% CI: 76.58-90.17% I2 = 83%) in the short-term, mid-term and long-term follow-ups, respectively. Furthermore, the incidence of postoperative complications was low, including CSF leak (1.29% (95% CI: 0.32-2.26% I2 = 20%)), facial weakness (0.50% (95% CI: 0.00-1.79% I2 = 60%)), hearing loss (0.81% (95% CI: 0.05-1.57% I2 = 7%)) and facial numbness (3.84% (95% CI: 1.95-6.20% I2 = 54%)). There was no mortality related to the procedure (0% (95% CI: 0-0%; I2 = 0%)). The offending vessel(s) were identified in 99.57% of the cases (95% CI: 98.17-100.00% I2 = 67%)). Our meta-analysis revealed that E-MVD is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia. Further studies are necessary to compare its usefulness to the traditional M-MVD approach.

PMID:39918650 | DOI:10.1007/s10143-025-03334-2

Lasers Med Sci. 2025 Feb 7;40(1):76. doi: 10.1007/s10103-025-04321-1.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using a 405 nm laser and two photosensitizers derived from silver nanoparticles, red onion extract, and shallot peel extract, comparing their effectiveness against Candida albicans. Candida albicans causes candidiasis, which requires effective, chemical-free treatment methods. PDT offers promise in this regard. The samples were divided into four groups: B1 (silver nanoparticles from red onion extract at concentrations of 1 mM, 1.5 mM, and 2 mM), A1 and A2 (fungus samples irradiated with a 405 nm laser at varying times and concentrations), and B2 (silver nanoparticles from shallot peel extract at the same concentrations). After each photosensitizer exposure, the fungi were subjected to radiation for 90-180 s. Following incubation, optical density (OD) was measured, and Tukey’s Post Hoc Test (p < 0.05) and Two-Way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Silver nanoparticles from shallot and red onion peel extracts and 405 nm laser radiation dramatically decreased the viability of Candida albicans compared to controls. After 180 s of radiation, red onion extract nanoparticles showed reductions of 50.92% to 64.55%, and shallot peel extract nanoparticles showed reductions of 47.37% to 70.71%. Using an energy density of 3.44 J/cm², red onion and shallot peel extract nanoparticles effectively deactivated C. albicans, with red onion extract achieving up to 70.71% ± 1.99% reduction. The study highlights the potential of PDT with silver nanoparticles as an alternative treatment for Candida infections.

PMID:39918643 | DOI:10.1007/s10103-025-04321-1

Skeletal Radiol. 2025 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s00256-025-04890-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Baker’s cyst, or popliteal cyst, is a common knee condition associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While previous studies have explored the cyst’s relationship with soft tissue abnormalities, the connection between popliteal cysts and medial knee bone morphology remains unclear. This study aims to assess the association between anatomical bone structures of the medial knee joint and popliteal cyst presence using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 patients who underwent MRI for knee pain between June and December 2021. Group 1 (n = 50) consisted of patients with Baker’s cysts, and group 2 (n = 50) included those without cysts. MRI measurements included medial condyle width, condyle length, distal and posterior articular diameters, medial tibial plateau depth, and tibial slope. Cyst dimensions and volume were measured. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and chi-square tests, were performed, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: No significant differences in medial knee bone morphology were found between groups (p > 0.05). However, popliteal cyst size was positively correlated with age (p = 0.016, r = 0.339 and p = 0.020, r = 0.328, respectively). Higher Kellgren-Lawrence grades were also associated with cyst presence (p = 0.001). Gender correlated with knee measurements, showing smaller knee dimensions in women (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: This study found no direct association between medial knee bone morphology and the presence of popliteal cysts. However, cyst size increased with age and degenerative changes, suggesting that inflammation and joint degeneration may play a significant role in cyst development. Further studies with larger cohorts are required to validate these findings.

PMID:39918639 | DOI:10.1007/s00256-025-04890-w