Nevin Manimala

Aust Vet J. 2026 Jan 2. doi: 10.1111/avj.70055. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Dietary supplements (DS) are increasingly used in pet care, yet their use in cats remains underexplored, particularly in Southeast Asia. Understanding owner motivations, usage patterns and perceptions is essential for informing veterinary guidance and regulatory policies. This study aims to investigate the prevalence, usage patterns and associated factors of DS use for pet cats among Malaysian cat owners, while comparing perceptions between users and nonusers.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to April 2024 among Malaysian cat owners aged ≥18 years. A structured, content-validated questionnaire assessed sociodemographics, DS usage, perceptions and decision-making. Descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with DS use.

RESULTS: Among 352 respondents, 58.0% reported administering DS to their cats, with multivitamins (73.0%), omega-3 fatty acids (37.3%), probiotics (26.5%) and fibre supplements (22.1%) being the most common. Key motivations included health maintenance (81.9%) and disease prevention (62.3%). In multivariate logistic regression, DS use was more likely among female owners, those aged 30-39 years, suburban and urban residents, owners of four or more cats and those who had owned cats for more than 5 years. Veterinarians (68.6%) and social media (64.7%) were major information sources. While most users perceived DS as beneficial and accessible, nonusers cited product quality, safety concerns and cost as major barriers.

CONCLUSION: DS use for cats is widespread among Malaysian owners, and selected sociodemographic and ownership characteristics are independently associated with use. Nevertheless, concerns about quality, safety and professional oversight persist. Greater regulatory scrutiny, public education and veterinary-pharmacist collaboration are needed to ensure responsible supplement practices and protect feline health.

PMID:41482486 | DOI:10.1111/avj.70055

Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 2026 Jan 2:1-19. doi: 10.1080/01942638.2025.2607054. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Identify occupational therapy service models in Chilean schools and explore the factors that influence these models, and how they align with inclusive practices.

METHODS: This was a mixed-methods study that included a cross-sectional survey that obtained 241 valid responses from Chilean OTs working in schools, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Eighteen of these participants subsequently participated in four online focus groups, discussions that were analyzed using a thematic approach.

RESULTS: Participants provided more frequent direct pull-out services (68.3%) with weekly 45 min sessions, conducted mainly in an OT room or mainstream classroom. Five factors were perceived to influence services: institutional constraints, the educational community’s perspectives on OTs, characteristics of students, a persistent structural demand for a deficit-based approach, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS: The service model of OTs in Chilean schools was characterized by difficulty aligning with inclusive practices. This reveals a praxis with a markedly medical focus, making it difficult to distinguish it from clinical practice, an essential aspect for the development of OT services in schools.

PMID:41482483 | DOI:10.1080/01942638.2025.2607054

Gut. 2026 Jan 2:gutjnl-2025-337154. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2025-337154. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) or acute-on-chronic flares in chronic pancreatitis (CP) have limited preventive options beyond addressing the underlying aetiology. Statins, due to their anti-inflammatory properties, have been proposed as a potential prophylactic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate whether simvastatin could reduce the recurrence of pancreatitis.

DESIGN: At 23 centres, we conducted a triple-blind, randomised, controlled, superiority trial enrolling patients with at least two episodes of RAP or CP flares in the previous 12 months. Participants were randomly assigned to receive simvastatin or placebo for 1 year. The primary endpoint was the recurrence of pancreatitis. The target sample size was 144 patients; however, an interim analysis was planned in the event of slow recruitment.

RESULTS: A total of 85 patients (42.1% women) were included in the interim analysis. In the intention-to-treat analysis, no significant differences were observed regarding recurrence: 46.2% simvastatin versus 44.4% placebo; OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.43 to 2.66; p=0.88, or time to recurrence. No statistically significant differences were observed in recurrence in per-protocol analysis (35.5% simvastatin vs 41.9% placebo; OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.27 to 2.12; p=0.60). Development of diabetes mellitus was more frequent in the simvastatin group (4 vs 0 patients; OR not calculable, p=0.04).

CONCLUSION: This trial, evaluating simvastatin versus placebo for the prevention of pancreatitis, did not demonstrate a reduction in recurrence rate, although results might be underpowered due to early termination. The relationship between statins in these patients and new-onset diabetes requires further investigation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04021498.

PMID:41482454 | DOI:10.1136/gutjnl-2025-337154

BMJ Sex Reprod Health. 2026 Jan 2:bmjsrh-2025-202984. doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2025-202984. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine geographical variation in utilisation of hormonal long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), namely the hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) and implant.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of Australian women aged 15-54 years using Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) dispensing data from 2018 to 2021. We calculated age-standardised rates of LARC dispensing per 1000 women across each Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3) according to remoteness and socioeconomic status (SES) indices. Differences between minimum and maximum rates of LARC utilisation in SA3s were used to determine magnitude of variation.

RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2021, hormonal IUD dispensing rates increased from 18.4 to 21.6 per 1000 women in major cities, 25.2 to 30.6 per 1000 in inner regional, 25.4 to 28.7 per 1000 in outer regional, and 17.7 to 20.0 per 1000 in remote areas. This corresponded to decreases in implant dispensing rates from 14.6 to 12.6 per 1000 women in major cities, 25.3 to 23.1 per 1000 in inner regional, 28.0 to 25.3 per 1000 in outer regional, and 20.7 to 19.6 per 1000 in remote areas. Rates of LARC utilisation varied considerably across SA3s, ranging from 10.9 to 37.8 per 1000 women. Increasing SES was associated with increasing hormonal IUD rates in major cities (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.06, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.08), inner regional (IRR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.09) and remote (IRR 1.44, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.85) areas, but decreasing implant rates in major cities (IRR 0.89, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.91) and inner regional areas (IRR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.94).

CONCLUSION: Given observed variation in LARC utilisation, efforts to identify and address barriers towards more equitable access to LARC methods appear warranted.

PMID:41482450 | DOI:10.1136/bmjsrh-2025-202984

In Vivo. 2026 Jan-Feb;40(1):640-649. doi: 10.21873/invivo.14226.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: A variety of actions implicated in diabetic nephropathy (DN) are attributed to inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells. Building on our previous research demonstrating the role of different phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEIs) in improving renal microcirculation, glucose lowering, and antioxidant effects in rats with DN, this study aims to further explore the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties of PDEIs by measuring their effects on renal expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, diabetes was induced in 40 rats by a single injection of STZ (45 mg/kg) dissolved in citrate buffer. Ten days after induction of diabetes, rats were divided into five groups (10/group): normal control, diabetic control, and 3 diabetic groups treated with pentoxifylline, sildenafil, and milrinone via drinking water for 15 successive days. Serum and kidney tissue samples were collected to evaluate the effect of treatment with PDEIs on diabetes-induced histopathological changes and expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), apoptotic marker Bcl-2 Associated X-protein (Bax) and anti-apoptotic marker B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in rat’s kidneys.

RESULTS: A significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), and apoptosis marker (Bax), with a concomitant decrease in anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) were observed in diabetic rats. Treatment with PDEIs resulted in a significant decrease in renal expression of Bax, TNF-α, and IL-6, with an increase Bcl-2 expression, with slight, though not statistically significant, differences among the PDEI-treated groups.

CONCLUSION: The tested PDEIs, pentoxifylline, sildenafil, and milrinone, exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, highlighting their potential in slowing the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

PMID:41482414 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.14226

In Vivo. 2026 Jan-Feb;40(1):123-135. doi: 10.21873/invivo.14178.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is an aggressive cancer type with high mortality rates. The Argonaute (AGO) gene/protein family is an evolutionary conserved family, which is responsible for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Despite the fact that this family members (AGO1-4) have been linked to prognosis in some cancers, they have not been comprehensively investigated in PAAD. Therefore, this study investigates the role of AGO family members on PAAD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our research, bioinformatics analyses were performed to study gene, protein and methylation levels, prognostic importance, gene-gene and protein-protein interactions, enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis, using online and publicly available platforms. Additionally, real-time PCR was used to check mRNA levels in the pancreatic cell line BxPC-3.

RESULTS: mRNA (p<0.05), protein (p<0.001) and methylation (p<0.001) levels of AGO2 were statistically different between normal and tumor samples in the in silico and laboratory analyses, and high AGO2 levels were found to be linked to poor prognosis (p=0.037). Additionally, immune infiltration analysis demonstrated a close relationship between AGO2 mRNA expression and immune cells. In contrast to the consistent results of AGO2, other AGO family members (AGO1, AGO3, or AGO4) differed at the protein or methylation levels but had non-significant prognostic values.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate the potential importance of AGO2 in terms of biological functions and prognostication in PAAD.

PMID:41482412 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.14178

In Vivo. 2026 Jan-Feb;40(1):39-49. doi: 10.21873/invivo.14171.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: The hypothesis that elimination of cigarette smoke-derived acetaldehyde in the saliva by slow-release L-cysteine would eliminate acetaldehyde-enhanced nicotine addiction among smokers has been tested in two randomized controlled trials (RCT) using Acetium^® lozenge (Biohit Oyj, Helsinki, Finland). Both RCTs showed a similar direction and magnitude of the effect size, but only the larger study was adequately powered to reach statistical significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The two published RCTs on Acetium^® in smoking intervention included in this formal meta-analysis include: a cohort of 423 cigarette smokers, randomly allocated to intervention (n=212) and placebo arms (n =211) in Study 1, as well as a cohort of 1,998 smokers, with 996 and 1,002 subjects in the intervention and placebo arms, respectively, in Study 2. Both studies analyzed the results for intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) compliance groups. Random-effects (RE) meta-analysis was used to compute the summary effect size.

RESULTS: In the ITT group of Study 1, Acetium^® was more effective than placebo, with OR=1.48 (95% CI=0.87-2.54), and in Study 2, the respective OR=1.26 (95% CI=0.99-1.59). In the PP groups, the success rates in both studies were better: OR=1.65 (95% CI=0.75-3.62) and OR=1.51 (95% CI=1.12-2.02), respectively. In RE meta-analysis, the summary estimates of Acetium^® efficacy were statistically significant in both the ITT (n=2,421) and PP (n=863) analysis: OR=1.29 (95% CI=1.04-1.60, p=0.018) and OR=1.53 (95% CI=1.16-2.01, p=0.0025), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Although meta-analyses with a limited number of studies should be interpreted with caution, these data provide clear support to the concept that Acetium^® lozenge significantly (1.5-fold) increases the likelihood of successful smoking cessation as compared to placebo.

PMID:41482382 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.14171

In Vivo. 2026 Jan-Feb;40(1):452-464. doi: 10.21873/invivo.14209.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Delayed childbearing has increased the reliance on in vitro fertilization (IVF) with donor oocytes for women of advanced maternal age often facing more obstetric complications compared to younger women using self-oocytes. This study evaluated and contrasted key obstetric and perinatal parameters between these two groups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective multicenter study, completed IVF embryo transfer cycles were analyzed. Clinical data including clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy rates, and major pregnancy complications were collected. Obstetric outcomes (e.g., mode of delivery, preterm birth, and neonatal parameters such as birth weight, Apgar scores, and NICU admissions) were compared between the donor-oocyte recipients (DOR-IVF) and self-oocyte (SO-IVF) groups. Statistical analysis comprised chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariable logistic and linear regressions to adjust for potential confounders.

RESULTS: The DOR-IVF group demonstrated a clinical pregnancy rate of 44.8% (196 cases) with an 8.8% miscarriage rate, while the SO-IVF group reported 242 clinical pregnancies with an 8.1% miscarriage rate. Overall, nine ectopic pregnancies (2%) were noted, with statistically significant differences in ectopic and miscarriage rates between the groups (p=0.008 and p=0.025, respectively). Although the mean gestational age was similar and NICU admissions did not differ significantly (p=0.125), the DOR-IVF group exhibited a higher incidence of pregnancy complications (p=0.009). Multivariable logistic regression identified DOR-IVF as an independent predictor for pregnancy complications (adjusted odds ratio 2.38; 95% confidence interval=1.53-3.70). Additionally, subgroup analyses revealed that 1-minute Apgar scores were positively associated with DOR-IVF status (p=0.048) and birth weight was inversely related to the number of babies transferred (p=0.006).

CONCLUSION: DOR-IVF patients experience significantly increased risk in obstetric complications compared to younger women using SO-IVF, although neonatal outcomes remain largely similar.

PMID:41482376 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.14209

In Vivo. 2026 Jan-Feb;40(1):382-388. doi: 10.21873/invivo.14202.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to quantitatively analyze and compare aqueous humor concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) versus non-glaucomatous controls while evaluating potential significant correlations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study. At surgery initiation, anterior chamber paracentesis was performed under sterile conditions, and 50-100 μl of aqueous humor samples were collected. VEGF-C quantification employed a multiplex magnetic bead immunoassay platform.

RESULTS: The study involved the collection of aqueous humor samples from 76 participants: 39 samples were collected from the POAG group and 37 from the control group (age-related cataract). Quantitative analysis revealed mean VEGF-C concentrations of 26.41±26.016 pg/ml in POAG eyes compared to 16.70±8.60 pg/ml in controls (p=0.277), demonstrating no statistically significant difference. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed limited prognostic ability for POAG detection (AUC=0.60; p=0.278).

CONCLUSION: This study represents the first large-scale evaluation of aqueous humor VEGF-C levels in patients with POAG. Our results provide evidence against VEGF-C up-regulation in POAG.

PMID:41482375 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.14202

In Vivo. 2026 Jan-Feb;40(1):495-501. doi: 10.21873/invivo.14213.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacological treatment and lifestyle modifications are the main therapeutic approaches; however, some patients respond poorly or have limited tolerance. Intravenous laser irradiation of blood (ILIB) has recently been proposed as a potential adjunctive therapy, but its clinical efficacy remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ILIB therapy on lipid profiles and glycemic parameters in patients with chronic diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective single-group study included 60 patients with chronic diseases who received ILIB therapy at the Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital between July 2022 and February 2024. Laboratory parameters before and after treatment, including total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), LDL-C, fasting glucose, and HbA1c, were descriptively compared to demonstrate absolute and percentage changes. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: After treatment, only TG showed a significant reduction (167.8 mg/dl vs. 118.8 mg/dl, p=0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients with TG >150 mg/dL, LDL>130 mg/dl, and total cholesterol >200 mg/dl all demonstrated significant decreases after ILIB therapy (p<0.05), while no significant changes were observed in patients with normal baseline values. Fasting glucose and HbA1c showed no significant changes in any subgroup.

CONCLUSION: ILIB demonstrated significant lipid-lowering effects in patients with dyslipidemia, particularly in those with elevated TG, LDL, and total cholesterol. No changes were observed in patients with normal lipid levels, suggesting a “normalizing” rather than broadly “lowering” effect. ILIB shows promise as an adjunctive therapy for hyperlipidemia, though larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings.

PMID:41482358 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.14213