Nevin Manimala

Trop Med Health. 2026 Mar 4. doi: 10.1186/s41182-026-00924-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Enteric infections are a leading cause of preventable mortality in children under five, primarily driven by diarrheal diseases and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS). Despite global progress, substantial disparities persist in low- and middle-income countries, fueled by inadequate water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and malnutrition.

METHODS: This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of enteric infections in children under five across 204 countries from 1990 to 2021. The analysis included incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), stratified by age, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Bayesian meta-regression tools, such as DisMod-MR, were employed for data harmonization. Descriptive statistics, Joinpoint regression, and Spearman’s correlation were used to assess trends and associations between SDI and disease burden.

RESULTS: In 2021, enteric infections caused 60,157.3 cases and 63.4 deaths per 100,000 children under five globally, reflecting a 68.6% and 77.7% decline since 1990, respectively. Low-SDI regions bore the highest burden, with mortality rates 166-fold higher than high-SDI regions. Diarrheal diseases accounted for 81.6% of deaths, while iNTS incidence increased in certain areas. Geographically, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia were hotspots. Neonates had the highest incidence, with male mortality consistently exceeding females. Unsafe water, poor sanitation, and malnutrition contributed to 82.3% of attributable DALYs.

CONCLUSION: Enteric infections remain a critical threat to child survival. Achieving global health goals requires decisive, multisectoral interventions to address the root causes of these persistent and glaring inequities.

PMID:41782162 | DOI:10.1186/s41182-026-00924-8

BMC Public Health. 2026 Mar 4. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-26897-1. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41782123 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-026-26897-1

BMC Infect Dis. 2026 Mar 4. doi: 10.1186/s12879-026-12994-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) causes transient infections of the cervix, hence other co-factors can potentiate the formation of cervical epithelial cell abnormalities. This study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among women with normal and abnormal Papanicolaou smear cytology results.

METHODS: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional comparative study in which study participants were conveniently recruited from January to June,2021. The 50 cases and 50 controls were women with abnormal and normal Papanicolaou smear cytology results respectively. Both groups had blood samples collected for anti- Chlamydia trachomatis antibody test. The data was analyzed with the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (IBM SPSS, Armonk, New York, USA) version 24.0 for windows. The categorical and continuous variables were analyzed with chi square(X²) and Student’s t tests respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associated factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection among the respondents. P-value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 27%. Positive Chlamydia infection had a significant association with cervical epithelial cell abnormalities (P- value = 0.001). Positive history of multiple sexual partners and coitarche at age of < 18 years were associated factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

CONCLUSION: This study identified an association between history of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and cervical epithelial cell abnormalities.

PMID:41782106 | DOI:10.1186/s12879-026-12994-4

BMC Public Health. 2026 Mar 5. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-26882-8. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41782101 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-026-26882-8

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2026 Mar 4. doi: 10.1186/s12884-026-08813-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lactation mastitis is a common complication during breastfeeding that can negatively impact maternal well-being and breastfeeding continuation. While the physical manifestations of lactation mastitis have been widely studied, its psychological burden and related contributing factors among affected women have received comparatively less attention. This study aimed to investigate postpartum depressive symptoms and associated factors in women diagnosed with lactation mastitis.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 87 women with lactation mastitis at a tertiary hospital in China. Participants completed a structured questionnaire encompassing five domains: demographics and perinatal history, personal and breast history, psychological and emotional state, breastfeeding practices and nipple condition, and infant characteristics and interaction. Postpartum depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Descriptive statistics, group comparisons, multivariable logistic regression, and sensitivity analyses were used to identify factors associated with elevated EPDS scores.

RESULTS: Overall, 49.4% of participants scored above the clinical threshold for postpartum depressive symptoms on the EPDS. Multivariable logistic regression identified emotional tension during breastfeeding (odds ratio[OR] = 6.807, P = 0.016), younger maternal age (OR = 0.794, P = 0.023), vaginal delivery (OR = 3.382, P = 0.032), and pacifier use (OR = 5.103, P = 0.006) as independent correlates of elevated depressive symptoms. These associations remained robust across sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: Women with lactation mastitis appear to be at heightened risk of postpartum depressive symptoms and are associated with both maternal and infant-related factors. Early identification of psychological distress, combined with integrated breastfeeding and mental health support, may help address maternal needs and enhance postpartum care.

PMID:41782099 | DOI:10.1186/s12884-026-08813-y

BMC Pediatr. 2026 Mar 5. doi: 10.1186/s12887-026-06688-8. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41782098 | DOI:10.1186/s12887-026-06688-8

Eur J Med Res. 2026 Mar 4. doi: 10.1186/s40001-026-04099-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Laser therapies are commonly employed for their effectiveness in reducing pigmentation, yet the comparative efficacy and safety profile of novel picosecond lasers against established gold-standard treatments warrant further investigation. This study aimed to directly compare 730-nm picosecond laser therapy with 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser therapy, the traditional mainstay for managing facial pigmented disorders.

METHODS: This retrospective comparative study at a tertiary hospital in China enrolled 131 adults (18-70 years) with facial pigmentation disorders. The participants were categorized into two groups: 85 received a 730-nm picosecond laser and 46 received a 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Treatment outcomes were compared via appropriate statistical analyses, including Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS: The 730-nm picosecond laser group demonstrated significantly superior outcomes compared to the 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG group, with a greater reduction in posttreatment pigmentation scores (2.55 ± 1.11 vs. 3.82 ± 1.45, p < 0.001) and a greater improvement rate (56% ± 10% vs. 38% ± 9%, p < 0.001). The picosecond group also reported fewer side effects (0.99 ± 0.59 vs. 2.25 ± 0.78, p < 0.001), greater patient satisfaction (7.96 ± 0.95 vs. 7.15 ± 1.52, p < 0.001), and superior dermatological outcomes, including lower erythema indices and higher elasticity scores. Multivariate analysis confirmed that picosecond laser treatment was the strongest independent predictor of treatment success (Adjusted OR = 4.85, 95% CI 2.51-9.38, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Compared with 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, 730-nm picosecond laser therapy is more effective and safer for treating facial pigmentation disorders. It achieves greater clinical improvement, enhanced patient satisfaction, and superior skin quality outcomes with fewer adverse effects, supporting its preferential use in clinical practice.

PMID:41782066 | DOI:10.1186/s40001-026-04099-0

Arch Public Health. 2026 Mar 4. doi: 10.1186/s13690-026-01863-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is recognized as the global epicenter of human Mpox. While vaccination is crucial for outbreak prevention, especially as the disease transitions from zoonotic spillover to sustained human-to-human transmission, comprehensive assessments of vaccination coverage trends across the country are notably absent from the literature. This systematic review and meta-analysis address this gap by providing the first pooled estimate of Mpox vaccine uptake and acceptance in the DRC over a 54-year period (1970-2024). Our study captures critical transitions, including the post-smallpox eradication era and recent global outbreaks, to identify temporal trends, geographic disparities in this high-risk setting.

METHODS: We conducted this review following PRISMA guidelines, systematically searching PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Sciences, CINAHL, and Embase. Grey literature was also searched to ensure comprehensiveness. Using random-effects models, we calculated pooled estimates for vaccine uptake and acceptance rates, with prespecified subgroup analyses examining variations by: (1) period, (2) geographic region, and (3) type of participants. We quantified heterogeneity using I² statistics and conducted meta-regression to identify predictors of vaccination coverage heterogeneity. A p-value ˂ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Our analysis revealed a pooled Mpox vaccine uptake of 20.01% (95% CI: 7.45-43.75) with high heterogeneity (I² = 99.4%, p < 0.001), indicating substantial variability across studies. Vaccine acceptance was higher at 54.17% (95% CI: 20.82-84.16) with high heterogeneity (I² = 97.6%, p < 0.001). Temporal analysis showed a significant decline from 32.30% (95% CI: 14.62-57.75) coverage during 1970-2000 to 1.36% (95% CI: 0.29-6.11) in 2020-2024. Geographic disparities existed, with the Northwest regions achieving 47.11% (95% CI: 13.46-83.61) coverage compared to 5.47% (95% CI: 0.56-37.32) in Eastern conflict-affected zones. Meta-regression identified no significant predictors of coverage heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION: Despite moderate acceptance rates, actual Mpox vaccination uptake in the DRC remains low, with worsening coverage in recent years and substantial regional inequities. These findings underscore the urgent need for context-specific interventions to bridge the intention-action gap in this high-risk setting.

PMID:41782060 | DOI:10.1186/s13690-026-01863-w

Eur J Med Res. 2026 Mar 4. doi: 10.1186/s40001-026-04126-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The association of the triglyceride-glucose index, a validated marker of insulin resistance, with specific dietary patterns is unclear.

METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 1999-2018 included 19,016 adults. Logistic regression, restricted cubic splines, and interaction analyses were used to evaluate associations between macronutrient intake and the triglyceride-glucose index. This analysis was designed a priori to evaluate whether a low-carbohydrate, high-fat macronutrient distribution (captured by PEC, PEF, and carbohydrate-to-fat energy ratio) is associated with the TyG index.

RESULTS: Higher quartiles of percentage energy from carbohydrates and carbohydrate-to-fat energy ratio were associated with higher odds of an elevated TyG index, whereas higher quartiles of percentage energy from fat were associated with lower odds. Restricted cubic splines showed a positive linear association for carbohydrate energy and an inverse linear association for fat energy with TyG. Interaction analyses supported that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat pattern correlated with lower fasting triglyceride levels, and mediation analysis indicated that fasting triglycerides explained ~ 49% of the association between carbohydrate-to-fat energy ratio and TyG.

CONCLUSIONS: A low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet was significantly associated with a lower triglyceride-glucose index; this association was primarily mediated by reductions in fasting triglyceride levels.

PMID:41782055 | DOI:10.1186/s40001-026-04126-0

J Cannabis Res. 2026 Mar 5. doi: 10.1186/s42238-026-00412-0. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41782037 | DOI:10.1186/s42238-026-00412-0