Nevin Manimala

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1007/s00210-025-04856-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remain a major global health burden, leading to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite advancements in vaccination and antiviral therapies, viral persistence, immune evasion, and disease progression continue to challenge global elimination goals. Recent evidence suggests that the gut-liver-virus axis, involving microbiota dysbiosis, immunometabolic reprogramming, and exosome mediated signaling, plays a central role in HBV and HCV related pathogenesis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from January 2000 to August 2025. Studies were screened according to the PICO framework, focusing on HBV/HCV persistence, gut microbiota dysbiosis, immunometabolic changes, exosome-mediated communication, and therapeutic interventions. A total of 100 eligible studies, including clinical, preclinical, and mechanistic investigations, were synthesized. The analysis revealed that HBV and HCV infections remodel the gut liver axis through depletion of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing taxa, enrichment of pro-inflammatory bacteria, and dysregulated bile acid and lipopolysaccharide metabolism. Viral persistence is sustained by immunometabolic rewiring, including glycolysis upregulation, lipid accumulation, and tryptophan kynurenine pathway activation, leading to T-cell exhaustion and immune suppression. Exosomes derived from infected hepatocytes and tumors facilitate viral spread, immune evasion, and oncogenesis while emerging as potential biomarkers and therapeutic nanocarriers. Collectively, these interconnected mechanisms drive inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and progression to HCC. The progression of HBV/HCV infections is governed by a complex interplay of viral persistence, gut microbiota alterations, metabolic reprogramming, and exosome-mediated communication. Targeting these pathways through microbiota-directed therapies, metabolic modulators, and exosome-based interventions offers promising opportunities for precision medicine. Future studies employing multi-omics integration, validated models, and longitudinal cohorts are required to establish causality and translate mechanistic insights into effective clinical strategies for preventing HBV/HCV associated cirrhosis and cancer.

PMID:41318835 | DOI:10.1007/s00210-025-04856-8

Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1007/s11255-025-04922-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Urethral stricture disease remains a challenging condition in urology, particularly in cases with recurrent anterior urethral narrowing following prior endoscopic treatments. Traditional options such as dilation and direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU) are limited by high failure rates. The Optilume^® drug-coated balloon (DCB) delivers mechanical dilation combined with localized paclitaxel delivery, aiming to reduce restenosis and improve durability.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term functional outcomes and safety of Optilume^® DCB in patients with recurrent urethral strictures.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a prospective single-center study including 35 male patients with anterior urethral strictures ≤ 3 cm and at least one prior endoscopic treatment. Outcomes were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months post-procedure.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Primary outcomes included changes in Qmax (uroflowmetry), post-void residual (PVR), IPSS, and erectile function (IIEF-5). Recurrence was defined as symptomatic deterioration, Qmax < 10 mL/s, or need for retreatment. Paired t-tests were used for pre- and post-treatment comparisons, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. As this was an exploratory pilot study, no formal sample size calculation was performed; analyses were descriptive and hypothesis-generating.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Mean Qmax improved from 10.2 ± 4.9 to 21.6 ± 3.1 mL/s (p < 0.001), and PVR decreased from 74.6 ± 36.3 to 24.8 ± 16.0 mL (p < 0.001). IPSS improved from 21.8 ± 4.8 to 8.7 ± 2.0 (p < 0.0001), and IIEF-5 scores increased from 13.7 ± 7.7 to 18.5 ± 7.6 (p = 0.012). The recurrence rate at 6 months was 8.6% (3/35). Minor adverse events included transient hematuria and dysuria. No Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 2 complications were recorded. Study limitations include its single-arm, non-randomized design and relatively short follow-up, limiting direct comparison with DVIU, urethroplasty, or emerging minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs).

CONCLUSIONS: Optilume^® DCB treatment demonstrated significant improvements in urinary flow and symptoms with a low recurrence and complication rate at 6 months. It may serve as a minimally invasive alternative for patients unsuitable or unwilling to undergo urethroplasty. Further prospective evaluation is warranted, including its potential role in bladder neck sclerosis and benign prostatic obstruction.

PMID:41318833 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-025-04922-3

Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Nov 29;197(12):1386. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14836-3.

ABSTRACT

Accurately classifying forest successional stages remains a major challenge in applied ecology due to the continuum of succession, ecological heterogeneity, and limited interpretability of many machine learning (ML) approaches. Prevailing models typically rely on black-box algorithms that, while accurate, often lack ecological transparency, limiting their practical use in restoration and regulatory contexts. Here, we introduce and evaluate an ecology-informed symbolic machine learning (EISy-ML) framework that integrates symbolic regression with adaptive ecological constraints, specifically monotonic biomass trajectories and structural complexity proxies, derived from allometric functions. Using field data from 467 plots in the Subtropical Atlantic Forest, Brazil, EISy-ML generated interpretable and biologically plausible equations for successional classification. Performance was benchmarked against eight standard ML classifiers using balanced accuracy, macro F1, Cohen’s kappa, and Matthews correlation coefficient. EISy-ML achieved the highest test accuracy (0.899), F1 (0.905), Kappa (0.829), and MCC (0.803), with no statistically significant difference compared to the next best models. The symbolic framework offers substantial improvements in transparency, reproducibility, and ecological coherence over conventional approaches, enabling direct application in restoration monitoring and environmental auditing. These results validate the hypothesis that symbolic ML integrated with ecological constraints produces models that are both robust and operationally interpretable. Future research should extend EISy-ML validation to other biomes, incorporate temporal and functional trait data, and explore uncertainty-aware or fuzzy logic extensions for handling transitional successional states.

PMID:41318828 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14836-3

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 30. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-29071-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to compare the effects of posture education and corrective games on the alignment of the thoracic and cervical spine, as well as the daily habits in children. This is a three-armed individual-randomized trial design of three groups in blinded evaluators. The statistical population of this study was formed by elementary students with malalignments in the thoracic and cervical spine of Baharestan city (Iran). A total of 60 participants were assigned to this study and using a simple random method with computer-generated random numbers divided into posture education group (PE, n = 20) corrective games group (CG, n = 20) and control group (CON, n = 20) groups. Kyphosis angle, forward head posture and forward shoulder posture measured with a flexible ruler, goniometer, and double square, respectively. Also, daily habits measured with students’ daily functional activities questioner. A repeated measures ANOVA analysis of variance (3 × 3, Group×Time) was utilized to analyze data. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Both the PE and CG showed significant improvements in kyphosis (p = 0.01 for PE, p = 0.02 for CG), forward head posture (p = 0.02 for PE, p = 0.04 for CG), forward shoulder posture (p = 0.001 for PE, p = 0.02 for CG), and daily habits (p = 0.02 for PE, p = 0.03 for CG) after an 8-week training intervention compared to the CON group. Also, after the training period, the analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the dependent variables between the PE group and the CG, with a p-value greater than 0.05. However, after a 3-month detraining period, the changes in both the PE and CG were found to be statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). The interventions effectively enhanced participants’ posture and daily activity patterns, with no significant differences between the PE and CG groups. The sustainability of these improvements indicates that participants developed lasting skills and habits that promote spinal health. This study highlights the importance of integrating educational and engaging physical activities into curricula to support children’s musculoskeletal well-being.Trial registration: IRCT registration number: IRCT20250316065103N1, Registration date: 2025-03-25 (Retrospectively registered), Trial Id: 82539.

PMID:41318818 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-29071-6

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-30747-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Phenotypic age (PhenoAge) is a biological aging clock that estimates an individual’s biological age. However, the effect of PhenoAge acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) on cancer is unclear. This study investigates the relationship between PhenoAgeAccel and cancer survivors. Data for this cohort study were sourced from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 1999-2018. The relationship between PhenoAgeAccel and cancer prevalence was evaluated using weighted multivariate logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier analyses and weighted multivariate-adjusted Cox analyses were conducted to examine the association between PhenoAgeAccel and all-cause as well as cancer-specific mortality in cancer survivors. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was utilized to assess nonlinear associations. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed to confirm the robustness of the findings. A total of 34,246 participants were included in our study, of which 3067 were cancer survivors (8.95% prevalence). With a median follow-up of 117 months (interquartile range: 50-155 months), there were 1161 deaths, including 351 from cancer. Weighted multivariate regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between higher PhenoAgeAccel and cancer prevalence (P for trend < 0.001). Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses showed that elevated PhenoAgeAccel was significantly associated with increased all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among cancer survivors (P for trend < 0.001). RCS regression indicated no nonlinear relationship between PhenoAgeAccel and mortality outcomes (P for nonlinear relationship > 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analyses indicated a poorer prognosis with higher PhenoAgeAccel. Subgroup analyses based on tumor classification highlighted the differential prognostic impact of PhenoAgeAccel across various tumor types. Our findings reveal a significant linear correlation between PhenoAgeAccel and both all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in cancer survivors.

PMID:41318813 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-30747-2

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-29101-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Labeling or coloring the vertices of a graph is called vertex labeling or coloring. The [Formula: see text]path coloring of a graph is one on which vertices at distances [Formula: see text] and 3 on a path are labeled with a minimum label difference of [Formula: see text] and 1 respectively and one such path exists between all pairs of vertices. The [Formula: see text] connection number, [Formula: see text], is the minimum value of the greatest integer used in any viable [Formula: see text] path coloring of the graph. Finding the [Formula: see text] of a graph is highly non-trivial and the primary objective of this work is to determine the [Formula: see text] for the Cartesian product of any two graphs. An efficient and computationally simpler cryptographic algorithm is developed by using these concepts in cryptography. This work aims to implement this cryptographic algorithm to support devices with constrained storage and energy capacities. With these ideas, the article attempts to improve the scope of application of graph labeling in cryptographic algorithms. Progressing further, the work evaluates parameters such as key strength, key randomness and security of the encryption algorithm through four statistical tests conducted at a high level of confidence. The tests proved that the proposed method is best suited for applications requiring shorter but stronger keys, compared to the existing graph labeling methods, which are algorithmically complex.

PMID:41318789 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-29101-3

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-30339-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a frequent sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer in women. Early detection could slow the spread of HPV infection and its eventual development into cervical cancer. Furthermore, there are few statistics available on the prevalence of cervical cancer and HPV in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of high-risk cervical human papillomavirus infections and the factors associated with them among women who visited the family planning and gynecology clinic at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Northcentral Ethiopia. A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women attending the gynecology and family planning clinic from October 2022 to May, 2023. After obtaining written informed consent from each participant woman, the data on sociodemographic and clinical factors were collected by a trained nurse through face-to-face interviews using a pretested questionnaire. Clinicians collected cervical swabs from participants, which were then analyzed by laboratory technologists using the OncoE6™ Cervical Test (Arbor Vita Corporation, Fremont, CA, USA) a lateral flow assay coated with high-affinity monoclonal antibodies designed to detect E6 oncoproteins specific to high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. In addition, clinicians conducted the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) test, a procedure in which diluted acetic acid is applied to the cervix; areas with abnormal epithelial cells temporarily turn white, allowing for visual identification of potential lesions. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21, using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, with a p value of ≤ 0.05 indicating statistical significance. There were 335 study participants during the course of the study. The mean age of the study participants in this study was 36.66 ± 7.92 years. Furthermore, the overall prevalence of HPV (HPV16 and/or 18) was 13.4%, with a 95% CI of 10.1%-17.3%. Fifty-three individuals (15.8%) out of the total study participants tested positive for the VIA. Moreover, the overall prevalence of HPV type 16, HPV18, and HPV16 and 18 coinfections was 8.66%, 7.76%, and 2.99%, respectively. A previous history of STIs (AOR = 14.42, 95% CI = 6.31-32.99, P = 0.001), HIV infection (AOR = 3.53, 95% CI = 1.46-8.54, P = 0.005) and age between 40 and 49 years (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.04-0.72, P = 0.016) were significantly associated with human papillomavirus infection. The results of the current study showed a significant prevalence of HPV infection and a high VIA positive rate. This study also demonstrated that age, HIV infection, and a history of STIs were significantly associated predictors of HPV infection. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of early screening, education, and prevention efforts to reduce the prevalence of HPV infections and associated diseases among women in the study area.

PMID:41318775 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-30339-0

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-30432-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Addressing the challenge of predicting scientific impact and ranking researchers is a complex yet critical task, drawing significant attention from scholars across diverse fields. This effort plays a key role in improving research productivity, supporting decision-making processes, and advancing methodologies for scientific evaluation. Over time, various metrics such as citation counts, total publications, hybrid methods, the h index, and h-type indicators have been introduced to identify influential researchers. Despite these efforts, no single metric has been universally accepted as the best approach, as different metrics serve varying purposes and contexts. This study presents a novel index developed through comprehensive analysis of a dataset comprising 1060 Neuroscience researchers, including both awardees and non-awardees. The initial phase of the research involved evaluating specific metrics to determine their ability to place awardees among the top 100 researchers, leading to the identification of the five parameters most frequently associated with awardee inclusion. Advanced deep learning techniques were then applied to refine the selection, pinpointing the top five influential parameters and assessing the disjointness in their outputs. To further enhance the findings, seven statistical models were examined for their ability to combine the most disjoint parameter pair while retaining their individual strengths. Selecting the most disjoint pair ensures that the ranking process integrates diverse evaluation criteria rather than relying on redundant or highly correlated parameters. This approach captures a broader spectrum of researcher impact, reducing bias and increasing the robustness of the final ranking index. Among these models, the h2 upper and k indices exhibited the highest disjointness ratio at 0.97. Additionally, the Harmonic Mean approach demonstrated superior performance, achieving an average impact score of 0.76, and excelled at preserving the unique features of the selected parameter pair. Based on these results, a new index was formulated using the Harmonic Mean (HM) of the most disjoint pair. This index showed significantly improved performance compared to existing metrics, offering a robust solution for ranking researchers effectively.

PMID:41318760 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-30432-4

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28685-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sub-Saharan African women face a high burden of breast cancer, influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors. However, the lack of comprehensive, age-stratified data hinders the identification of risk factors and the development of effective, population-specific interventions. This study aimed to assess age-related variations in breast cancer prevalence among Nigerian women, providing insight into associated risk factors and disease trends. A retrospective review of 3,263 breast histopathology records (9.46% of total from 2015 to 2023) was conducted. Lesions-benign and malignant-were analyzed across five age groups: children and adolescents (0-19), young adults (20-39), middle-aged (40-59), higher-aged (60-79), and elderly (≥ 80), using MS Excel and GraphPad Prism 8.0. Statistical comparisons were performed by age and lesion type. Most cases were in young adults (45.97%) and middle-aged women (33.83%). The left breast was more commonly affected (46.86%) and had higher malignancy rates than the right (44.41%) or bilateral lesions (7.20%). Benign lesions were predominant (56.76%), especially among young adults (57.34%). Malignancy incidence increased with age, peaking in middle-aged women (53.30%). Fibroadenoma was the most frequent benign lesion in children and adolescents and young adults, while fibrosis predominated in middle age. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the leading malignant subtype, with a sharp rise by 2023-particularly among middle-aged (172 cases) and young adult women (71 cases). Among 339 immunohistochemically profiled cases, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC; 42.77%) and ER+/PR+ tumors (36.87%) were most common. TNBC was the only subtype detected in children and adolescents. Middle-aged women bore the highest burden of all subtypes, with a marked increase in TNBC and ER+/PR+ cases in 2023. The rising incidence of aggressive subtypes, particularly TNBC, highlights the need for enhanced molecular diagnostics and personalized therapies. Age-specific trends reinforce the urgency for targeted screening, especially for young and middle-aged Nigerian women.

PMID:41318755 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-28685-0

Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-29095-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent studies on neurodynamics have shown beneficial effects on the musculoskeletal system and peripheral nerve physiology. Hence, the application of neurodynamics in people who have suffered an acquired brain injury has the potential to improve their functionality to perform daily activities. This study aimed to assess the immediate effects of a single session of median nerve neurodynamics versus a placebo intervention on the affected upper limb (UL) in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). A single-blind randomised clinical trial was conducted with 24 participants, divided into an experimental group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 12. Outcomes measures included grip strength (dynamometer), spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale), pain (algometer and Visual Analogue Scale), range of motion (goniometer), and surface electromyography. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the experimental group in terms of reduced spasticity in the triceps and carpal flexors, and increased wrist flexion and extension range of motion. Additionally, modulation of muscle activity was detected in the triceps, biceps, and wrist flexors and extensors. In contrast, changes in grip strength and pain perception were not statistically significant. Although a downward trend in grip strength was noted in both groups, this observation should be interpreted cautiously and does not imply a therapeutic benefit without further functional corroboration. These findings suggest that neurodynamics may produce short-term neuromuscular effects in ABI patients, particularly in muscle tone and joint mobility. However, further research is needed to determine the clinical relevance and sustainability of these effects.Clinical trial registration number: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04652934). Date of first trial registration 03/12/2020.

PMID:41318749 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-025-29095-y