Nevin Manimala

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:59-62. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_7.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim was to study visual perception changes based on eye-tracking data assessments in response to transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) in young, healthy subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our non-randomized single-center study involving 53 young, healthy volunteers (22 men and 31 women). The eye tracking procedure (EyeTracker, BVG Software Group LLC, CA, USA) was carried out before and immediately after t-PBM (Elmedlife H, RF). Data were expressed as a median [interquartile range]. Statistical analysis was performed using the T- criterion Wilcoxon. The significance level was preset p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Vertical vergence reactivity indexes (VRx) after t-PBM were significantly higher than before 0.881 [0.841; 0.914] vs. 0.784 [0.711; 0.832], p < 0.05, respectively. Horizontal VRx before t-PBM were significantly lower than after t-PBM 0.893 [0.822; 0.935] vs. 0.920 [0.917; 0.929], p < 0.05.

CONCLUSION: Transcranial PBM improves visual perception in young, healthy volunteers, as reflected by a significant increase in both vergence reactivity indices.

PMID:41273549 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_7

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1487:53-57. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_6.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of cerebral arterial stiffness based on cerebral arterial compliance (CAC) changes during the acute stage of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 75 patients with severe TBI (men 52 and women 23). During or immediately after dynamic computed tomography angiography (DCTA), the monitoring of the transcranial Doppler of the MCA was recorded bilaterally with 2-MHz probes in the first days after trauma (first control point) and in 10-14 days of acute stage of sTBI (second control point). The cerebral blood volumes were calculated from the DCTA data using complex mathematical procedures using the “direct flow model” algorithm. Data were normally distributed and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The statistical analysis was performed using parametric statistics and correlation analysis methods. The level of significance was p < 0.05.

RESULTS: CAC was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in both the control points. The stiffness of middle cerebral arteries significantly (p < 0.05) increases in the first days and stays increased during all acute stages of severe TBI. The CAC was significantly correlated with CBF (r = -0.161, p < 0.05).

PMID:41273548 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03398-7_6

Clin Rheumatol. 2025 Nov 22. doi: 10.1007/s10067-025-07828-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of chemokine CXCL10 in clinical stratification across the spectrum of diseases encompassing giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

METHODS: A total of eight newly diagnosed GCA patients (active GCA group), nine treated and remitted GCA patients (remission GCA group), 40 newly diagnosed PMR patients (active PMR group), 37 PMR patients in remission, and 31 healthy individuals undergoing physical examinations (healthy control group) were selected. Serum CXCL10 levels were measured using ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the role of CXCL10 in differential diagnosis and clinical stratification within the GCA-PMR spectrum disease.

RESULTS: Serum CXCL10 levels in the active GCA group were significantly higher than in the healthy control group (Z = – 3.826, P < 0.001) and the active PMR group (Z = – 3.071, P = 0.001). Serum CXCL10 levels in the GCA remission group were significantly higher than in the healthy control group (Z = – 3.806, P < 0.001) and the PMR remission group (Z = – 3.918, P < 0.001). The ROC curve analysis indicates that CXCL10 is valuable for differential diagnosis between active GCA and PMR (AUC = 0.847, sensitivity = 0.7, specificity = 1, cut-off value = 51.87), as well as between remission-phase GCA and PMR (AUC = 0.925, sensitivity = 0.838, specificity = 1, cut-off value = 45.17).

CONCLUSION: The chemokine CXCL10 may be involved in the pathogenesis of GCA and helps distinguish between clinical stratification of GCA and PMR within GPSD. Key Points • The concentrations of CXCL10 was higher in peripheral blood of GCA patients. • The level of CXCL10 might contribute to the stratification of GCA-PMR spectrum disease.

PMID:41273539 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-025-07828-8

Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2025 Nov 22. doi: 10.1007/s12024-025-01126-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of the current study is to investigate if third molar agenesis is associated with dental maturity variations in Brazilian children. Radiographs of children from 10 to 15 years old were examined and patients with 32 teeth were included in the control group and patients with at least one third molar agenesis were included in the agenesis group. Demirjian’s method was used to calculate dental age and evaluate dental maturity. Dental age was calculated using the Dental Age mobile app. The dental maturity was determined by calculating the difference between dental age and chronological age (DA-CA), in which positive, negative, and null values indicated advanced, delayed, or normal dental development, respectively. T test and ANOVA were used for comparisons. The Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between chronological age and dental age (alpha = 5%). A total of 336 patients were included, 58 (17.3%) had at least one third molar agenesis. Third molar agenesis was associated with delayed dental maturity (p = 0.0294). Patients with 3 or 4 missing third molars had statistically significantly more delayed dental development compared with control patients (p = 0.0001) and patients with 1or 2 third molar agenesis (p = 0.0290). Individuals with third molar agenesis present delayed dental maturity. Our results also suggested that the number missing third molars are associated with the delayed maturity. Individuals with third molar agenesis showed delayed dental maturity, which was more pronounced in those missing three or four third molars. These findings suggest that the extent of agenesis is associated with the magnitude of maturational delay.

PMID:41273500 | DOI:10.1007/s12024-025-01126-0

Biometrics. 2025 Oct 8;81(4):ujaf154. doi: 10.1093/biomtc/ujaf154.

ABSTRACT

Online health communities (OHCs) provide a platform for patients and those related to share and communicate, making complex medical information more digestible and actionable. Health communication within OHCs can be impacted by other information sources. This study examines cross-platform health communication by mining Breastcancer.org (the largest online breast cancer community) and Twitter (now X). Early analyses of OHCs, Twitter, and other online platforms often adopt simple measures like word frequency, and more recent research has shifted towards word co-occurrence network analysis. Relatively, cross-platform communication analysis is limited, and the adopted techniques have drawbacks. We propose a new cross-platform communication model that collectively analyzes word co-occurrence networks and word frequency vectors. Here, the former describe the structural contents of health communication, and the latter describe the volumes. This model offers a nuanced perspective, accommodates temporal variations, and is examined for its theoretical and numerical properties. Collected from January 2010 to December 2020, the analyzed data contains over 1 395 000 tweets and 517 000 posts. Our analysis suggests that the Twitter’s topics on breast cancer significantly impact the contents and volumes in the OHC. Distinct time phases are observed, with notable peaks during 2012-2013 and 2015-2018. This study can provide a venue for better understanding health communication and new insights into two highly important online platforms.

PMID:41273214 | DOI:10.1093/biomtc/ujaf154

Acta Orthop. 2025 Nov 22;96:857-866. doi: 10.2340/17453674.2025.44597.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim was to study the association between chronic preoperative opioid use and 1-year revision rate, mortality, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after primary total knee and hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA). We also investigated whether age, sex, or BMI modified these associations.

METHODS: TKAs and THAs performed for osteoarthritis between 2013 and 2018, originating from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register, were linked to the Dutch Foundation for Pharmaceutical Statistics. Chronic preoperative opioid use was defined as > 1,800 morphine mg equivalent dispensed 1 year before surgery and ≥ 1 opioid prescribed 30 days before surgery. Outcomes were 1-year revision rate, mortality, self-reported physical functioning, pain, and quality of life (QoL). Incidence rates were calculated; Cox regression and linear mixed models were used. We assessed effect modification by assessment of supra-additive effects.

RESULTS: Preoperative chronic opioid use occurred in 4.5% of 29,739 THAs and 3.4% of 27,873 TKAs. Chronic opioid use doubled mortality and revision rates for both TKAs and THAs (range of hazard ratios 1.7-2.1). The association of preoperative opioid use with 1-year revision rate was larger in males, in patients with a BMI ≤ 30 (THA) and > 30 (TKA), and 66-75-year-olds. Younger patients exhibited a more pronounced association between opioid use and reduced physical functioning and QoL, and increased pain. Sex and BMI had no modifying effects on PROs.

CONCLUSION: Preoperative chronic opioid use was associated with a higher likelihood of 1-year revision and mortality and worse PROs. The associations with revision risk were modified by age, sex, and BMI. Age also had a modifying effect on PROs.

PMID:41273199 | DOI:10.2340/17453674.2025.44597

Database (Oxford). 2025 Jan 18;2025:baaf073. doi: 10.1093/database/baaf073.

ABSTRACT

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) provides extensive public data on demographics, health, and nutrition, collected in 2-year cycles since 1999. Although invaluable for epidemiological and health-related research, the complexity of NHANES data, involving numerous files and disjoint metadata, makes accessing, managing, and analysing these datasets challenging. This paper presents a reproducible computational environment built upon Docker containers, PostgreSQL databases, and R/RStudio, designed to streamline NHANES data management, facilitate rigorous quality control, and simplify analyses across multiple survey cycles. We introduce specialized tools, such as the enhanced nhanesA R package and the phonto R package, to provide fast access to data, to help manage metadata, and to handle complexities arising from questionnaire design and cross-cycle data inconsistencies. Furthermore, we describe the Epiconnector platform, established to foster collaborative sharing of code, analytical scripts, and best practices, which taken together, can significantly enhance the reproducibility, extensibility, and robustness of scientific research using NHANES data.

PMID:41273197 | DOI:10.1093/database/baaf073

Liver Int. 2025 Dec;45(12):e70456. doi: 10.1111/liv.70456.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41273186 | DOI:10.1111/liv.70456

Res Nurs Health. 2025 Nov 22. doi: 10.1002/nur.70032. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Black, Hispanic, and multiracial women in the U.S. experience higher rates of discrimination and mistreatment in perinatal care compared to White women, which can lead to fear, anxiety, and reduced engagement with obstetric healthcare providers. Black women are also more likely to experience high-risk pregnancies and health complications such as gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders. As a result, Black women face a heightened risk of birth trauma and subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the postpartum period. Despite these inequities, little is known about Black birthing individuals’ experiences of healthcare interactions. This study explores Black women’s accounts of negative experiences of perinatal care in the context of high-risk pregnancy. Fourteen individuals from across the U.S. participated in semi-structured interviews conducted within 6 months postpartum between September 2022 and December 2024. Interview responses were analyzed using directed content analysis, with coding of their emotional distress guided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) definition of PTSD. Their accounts aligned with the four DSM-5-TR symptom clusters: intrusive symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition or mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. PTSD-like symptoms resulted from pregnancy complications, traumatic birth experiences, mistreatment by clinicians or a combination of these factors. The findings suggest that birth trauma and mistreatment in perinatal care have significant emotional and behavioral impacts on Black women. The study results underscore the urgent need for trauma-informed, antiracist approaches in perinatal care to address these disparities and improve outcomes for Black birthing individuals.

PMID:41273178 | DOI:10.1002/nur.70032

Mil Med. 2025 Nov 22:usaf572. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usaf572. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The limb symmetry index (LSI) is a common tool for evaluating functional performance across a variety of populations. An LSI of ≥90% is a common, generally accepted clinical threshold for patients with musculoskeletal injuries to achieve before returning to activity. This study’s aims were to: (1) describe normative symmetry characteristics and evaluate the influence of sex and limb dominance during functional tasks in healthy, entry-level U.S. Marines, and (2) describe the relationship between symmetry performance across all functional tasks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study including 651 active duty U.S. Marines with no current injuries (187F/464M, 19.9 ± 2.4 years, limb dominance 59L/592R, 4.8 ± 3.2 months of service). Limb dominance was defined as the preferred limb to kick a soccer ball. Participants completed 5 repetitions of bodyweight bilateral squats and maximal effort vertical jumps using a natural arm swing. Peak eccentric and concentric force (N) were recorded bilaterally on dual force plates for the squat and jump. Participants completed an isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) by standing atop force plates with their knees and hips flexed at approximately 40-50° and 35°, respectively. A fixed bar was positioned at the midpoint between the hips and knees. Participants pulled up as hard and as fast as possible and held a maximal effort for 3-5 seconds for 3 repetitions. Peak vertical force (N) was recorded bilaterally. Force values were normalized to participants’ body mass (N/kg). Limb symmetry index was calculated as nondominant limb/dominant limb*100%. Independent sample t-tests determined significant differences in LSI force variables and sexes. Paired t-tests evaluated significant differences in loading between dominant and nondominant limbs. Effect sizes were evaluated via Cohen’s d values. Pearson correlations coefficients (r) described the relationship between all dependent variables across all tasks.

RESULTS: Across all tasks and variables, there were no differences in LSI values across sexes (P > .05). Regardless of sex, participants loaded more of their body mass on their dominant limb compared to their nondominant limb with weak-to-small effect sizes (d: 0.22-0.34). Squat LSI had a weak-to-moderate positive relationship with LSI during the vertical jump (r: 0.13-0.69). No other significant relationships were observed (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides stakeholders (e.g., military personnel, clinicians, researchers, etc.) normative ranges of LSI performance values during a bodyweight bilateral squat, vertical jump, and IMTP tasks in a large healthy active duty population. Sex does not appear to influence LSI performance; however, limb dominance may influence loading patterns during these specific functional tasks. Given the similarities between the squat and vertical jump performance, future work should be conducted to determine if stakeholders should eliminate one of these tasks from the testing battery to mitigate the temporal burden required when completing functional task assessments in healthy active individuals.

PMID:41273162 | DOI:10.1093/milmed/usaf572