Nevin Manimala

BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 28;25(1):357. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-21613-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the 21st century, China’s economy has experienced rapid growth, resulting in a steady improvement in its citizens’ living standards. However, alongside the emergence of modern civilization-related health issues, the overall physical fitness of the population has been declining. In the final year of 2019, a global COVID-19 pandemic emerged and persisted for three years, causing a significant diminution in human physical well-being. This article aims to delve into the changes in the physical fitness of college students over the past decade and anticipates future trends.

METHODS: A total of 58,472 university students aged 16-23 from 16 prefecture-level cities in Anhui province were recruited for this study. Total ten physical fitness indicators were tested: body height, body weight, vital capacity, standing long jump, sit-and-reach, 50-m dash, 1000 m run and pull-up (for boys), and 800 m run and sit-ups (for girls).The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, LSD tests, and Pearson’s correlations.

RESULTS: The overall physical fitness scores of college students ranged from 68.71 (2023) to 71.13 (2019) during the last decade, with girls consistently demonstrating superior performance in physical tests. There was a statistically significant difference in physical fitness scores between the periods of 2015-2022 and 2023 (p < 0.05). When dividing the total physical fitness scores into four levels, a noteworthy downward trend was observed in the pass grade, while the other three grades exhibited an increasing trend year by year. Compared to the year of 2019, there has been a substantial decline in the physical fitness levels of college students, along with a notable uptick of “failed” candidates, in the year of 2020.In terms of individual physical fitness, boys outperformed girls in all physical testing items except for sit-and-reach, and significant differences were observed in most years for both boys and girls. Additionally, a consistent downward trend was observed in the proportion of underweight and normal weight students, while the proportion of overweight (increased by 2.1 times) and obese (increased by 4.4 times) students showed a marked upward trend from 2014 to 2023.

CONCLUSIONS: It is imperative to allocate special focus to the profound ramifications of the three-year COVIE-19 pandemic on the physical well-being of college students. In 2024, it is anticipated that the proportion of overweight and obese college students will increase, along with a continued increase in body height and vital capacity. However, there will be a notable increase in the time taken to complete the 50-meter dash and the 1000-meter/800-meter run. Conversely, a decline is forecasted for the performance in standing long jump, sit-and-reach, and pull-ups/sit-ups exercises, with an accelerating rate of deterioration. It is crucial to promptly identify the underlying reasons for the deteriorating physical fitness among college students, particularly in relation to obesity, and to implement effective measures promptly to address this issue.

PMID:39875921 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-21613-x

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2025 Jan 17;102:11-19. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2025.01.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The incidence of keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) is rising globally, significantly burdening healthcare resources. Treatment options include medical treatment, non-invasive procedures, and surgery, each associated with their distinct benefits and risks. With advanced treatment, the procedures become increasingly invasive for the patients and expensive for the society. This nationwide cohort study examined the current surgical treatment trends for KC, including factors influencing the likelihood of undergoing reconstructive surgery. We retrieved data on all first-time incidences of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that were treated at a Danish hospital in the calendar years 2007-2021, corresponding to 34,205 patients with BCC and 17,625 patients with SCC. Descriptive statistics were used to study the development of reconstructive surgery, and the associations between demographic factors, tumor-related factors, and comorbidity, and the use of reconstructive procedures were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Among the patients, 26% with BCC and 35% with SCC received reconstructive surgery as part of their surgical treatment. The volume of surgical treatment increased with time, but the proportion of reconstructive procedures for surgically treated KC decreased in the study period. The likelihood of undergoing reconstructive surgery was higher for men and increased with age. Patients with BCC and high comorbidity burden or those who stayed in assisted living facilities were less likely to undergo reconstructive surgery. This was not the case for patients with SCC. The rapid increase in surgical treatment for KC at Danish hospitals, with a notable increase in reconstructive procedures, reflects the global development in KC cases and highlights the continued need for tailored management strategies.

PMID:39874622 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjps.2025.01.012

Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 2025 Jan 28. doi: 10.1146/annurev-food-111523-121252. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beverages in the world, second only to water. Six main types of teas are produced globally: green, white, black, oolong, yellow, and Pu-erh. Each type has a distinctive taste, quality, and cultural significance. The health-promoting effects of tea are attributed to the complex metabolite compositions present in tea leaves. These metabolite compositions vary in response to different factors. In addition to manufacturing processes in processed tea, the primary factors influencing variations of fresh tea leaf metabolites include genetics, cultivation management, and environmental conditions. Metabolomics approaches, coupled with high-throughput statistical analysis, offer promising tools for the comprehensive identification and characterization of tea leaf metabolites according to growing conditions, cultivation practices, manufacturing processes, seasonality, climate, cultivars, and geography. This review highlights the distinctive variations in fresh tea leaf metabolites, which change in response to various factors, using a metabolomics approach, which are also extended to various processed teas.

PMID:39874609 | DOI:10.1146/annurev-food-111523-121252

ACS Sens. 2025 Jan 28. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.4c03209. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Multiple respiratory viruses can concurrently or sequentially infect the respiratory tract, making their identification crucial for diagnosis, treatment, and disease management. We present a label-free diagnostic platform integrating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with deep learning for rapid, quantitative detection of respiratory virus coinfections. Using sensitive silica-coated silver nanorod array substrates, over 1.2 million SERS spectra are collected from 11 viruses, nine two-virus mixtures, and four three-virus mixtures at various concentrations in saliva. A deep learning model, MultiplexCR, is developed to simultaneously predict virus species and concentrations from SERS spectra. It achieves an impressive 98.6% accuracy in classifying virus coinfections and a mean absolute error of 0.028 for concentration regression. In blind tests, the model demonstrates consistent high accuracy and precise concentration predictions. This SERS-MultiplexCR platform completes the entire detection process in just 15 min, offering significant potential for rapid, point-of-care diagnostics in infection detection, as well as applications in food safety and environmental monitoring.

PMID:39874586 | DOI:10.1021/acssensors.4c03209

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 28;27:e59663. doi: 10.2196/59663.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing popularity of electronic devices, the longitudinal effects of daily prolonged electronic device usage on brain health and the aging process remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the daily use of mobile phones/computers on the brain structure and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

METHODS: We used data from the UK Biobank, a longitudinal population-based cohort study, to analyze the impact of mobile phone use duration, weekly usage time, and playing computer games on the future brain structure and the future risk of various neurodegenerative diseases, including all-cause dementia (ACD), Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), all-cause parkinsonism (ACP), and Parkinson disease (PD). All the characteristics of using mobile phones and playing computer games were collected through face-to-face interviews at baseline, and outcomes were extracted from the algorithmic combinations of self-reported medical conditions, hospital admissions, and death registries. In addition, a group of participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at follow-up. Cox regression and linear regression were performed.

RESULTS: The study included over 270,000 participants for risk analysis, with a mean baseline age of approximately 55.85 (SD 8.07) years. The average follow-up duration was approximately 13.9 (SD 1.99) years. Lengthy mobile phone use was associated with a reduced risk of ACD (2-4 years: hazard ratio [HR] 0.815, 95% CI 0.729-0.912, P<.001; 5-8 years: HR 0.749, 95% CI 0.677-0.829, P<.001; >8 years: HR 0.830, 95% CI 0.751-0.918, P<.001), AD (5-8 years: HR 0.787, 95% CI 0.672-0.922, P=.003), and VD (2-4 years: HR 0.616, 95% CI 0.477-0.794, P<.001; 5-8 years: HR 0.729, 95% CI 0.589-0.902, P=.004; >8 years: HR 0.750, 95% CI 0.605-0.930, P=.009) compared to rarely using mobile phones. Additionally, lengthy mobile phone use was linked to a decreased risk of ACP (5-8 years: HR 0.747, 95% CI 0.637-0.875, P<.001; >8 years: HR 0.774, 95% CI 0.663-0.904, P=.001) and PD (5-8 years: HR 0.760, 95% CI 0.644-0.897, P=.001; >8 years: HR 0.777, 95% CI 0.660-0.913, P=.002) in participants older than 60 years. However, higher weekly usage time did not confer additional risk reduction compared to lower weekly usage of mobile phones. The neuroimaging analysis involved 35,643 participants, with an average duration of approximately 9.0 years between baseline and neuroimaging scans. Lengthy mobile phone use was related to a thicker cortex in different areas of the brain.

CONCLUSIONS: Lengthy mobile phone use is associated with a reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases and improved brain structure compared to minimal usage. Our research provides valuable background knowledge for future studies on the impact of modern electronic devices on brain health.

PMID:39874583 | DOI:10.2196/59663

JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Jan 28;14:e64817. doi: 10.2196/64817.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent and disabling, especially in agriculture sectors. However, there is a gap in LBP prevention and intervention studies in these physically demanding occupations, and to date, no studies have focused on horticulture workers. Given the challenges of implementing interventions for those working in small businesses, self-management offers an attractive and feasible option to address work-related risk factors and manage LBP.

OBJECTIVE: This study will (1) investigate the effectiveness of self-management strategies for nursery and landscape workers by comparing within-subject control and intervention periods and (2) determine if adoption and effectiveness differs between participants randomly assigned to review self-management videos only and those who also receive multimodal implementation support. We will also identify contextual factors impacting effectiveness and implementation.

METHODS: A pragmatic, mixed methods, hybrid effectiveness and implementation design will be used to compare back pain with work tasks, disability, medication and substance use, and psychological factors between a baseline control and intervention periods. We aim to recruit 122 English- and Spanish-speaking horticulture workers with back pain, 30 supervisors, and 12 focus group participants. Participants will review short video modules designed to increase awareness of opioid risk and introduce self-management and ergonomic choices and use 1 self-management and 1 ergonomic strategy for 10 weeks. They will be randomly assigned to 2 implementation groups: video modules only or video + multimodal personalized support (checklist guidance, review of video feedback for ergonomic problem-solving, and text message reminders). Questionnaires will be administered at 3-month time points: baseline, pre- and postintervention, and at 3 and 6 months. Qualitative analysis of field notes, open-ended comments, and focus groups will expand understanding of results with comprehensive documentation of the context, barriers and facilitators, and reasons for adoption.

RESULTS: The project was funded on September 29, 2023 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, CDC NIOSH; U54OH011230-07S1), as a core research grant for the Southeast Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety. The design, creation, and editing of English and Spanish videos was completed in June 2024 after comprehensive formative evaluation. Enrollment began in June 2024 with anticipated completion in 2027.

CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that both self-management interventions will result in reductions in work task pain and disability and that the video enhanced with multimodal personalized support will result in greater reductions than the video alone. If self-management is effective, mitigating pain positively impacts quality of life, productivity, and retention, while increasing the use of nonpharmacological alternatives to opioids addresses an important public health issue. Implementation aims will help inform reasons for results, barriers and facilitators, and potential for similar interventions in these and similar industries with physically challenging outdoor work.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06153199; http://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06153199.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/64817.

PMID:39874582 | DOI:10.2196/64817

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 28;27:e66384. doi: 10.2196/66384.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Social behavioral research studies have increasingly shifted to remote recruitment and enrollment procedures. This shifting landscape necessitates evolving best practices to help mitigate the negative impacts of deceptive attempts (eg, fake profiles and bots) at enrolling in behavioral research.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and implement robust deception detection procedures during the enrollment period of a remotely conducted randomized controlled trial.

METHODS: A 32-group (2×2×2×2×2) factorial design study was conducted from November 2021 to September 2022 to identify mobile health (mHealth) survey design features associated with the highest completion rates of smartphone-based ecological momentary assessments (n=485). Participants were required to be at least 18 years old, live in the United States, and own an Android smartphone that was compatible with the Insight app that was used in the study. Recruitment was conducted remotely through Facebook advertisements, a 5-minute REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) prescreener, and a screening and enrollment phone call. The research team created and implemented a 12-step checklist (eg, address verification and texting a copy of picture identification) to identify and prevent potentially deceptive attempts to enroll in the study. Descriptive statistics were calculated to understand the prevalence of various types of deceptive attempts at study enrollment.

RESULTS: Facebook advertisements resulted in 5236 initiations of the REDCap prescreener. A digital deception detection procedure was implemented for those who were deemed pre-eligible (n=1928). This procedure resulted in 26% (501/1928) of prescreeners being flagged as potentially deceptive. Completing multiple prescreeners (301/501, 60.1%) and providing invalid addresses (156/501, 31.1%) were the most common reasons prescreeners were flagged. An additional 1% (18/1928) of prescreeners were flagged as potentially deceptive during the subsequent study screening and enrollment phone call. Reasons for exclusion at the screening and enrollment phone call level included having an invalid phone type (6/18, 33.3%), completing multiple prescreeners (6/18, 33.3%), and providing an invalid address (5/18, 27.7%). This resulted in 1409 individuals being eligible after all deception checks were completed. Postenrollment social security number checks revealed that 3 (0.6%) fully enrolled participants out of 485 provided erroneous social security numbers during the screening process.

CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a deception detection procedure in a remotely conducted randomized controlled trial resulted in a substantial proportion of cases being flagged as potentially engaging in deceptive attempts at study enrollment. The results of the deception detection procedures in this study confirmed the need for vigilance in conducting remote behavioral research in order to maintain data integrity. Implementing systematic deception detection procedures may support study administration, data quality, and participant safety in remotely conducted behavioral research.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05194228; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05194228.

PMID:39874573 | DOI:10.2196/66384

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 28;27:e58108. doi: 10.2196/58108.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery training is a demanding process requiring technical and nontechnical skills. Surgical training has evolved from traditional approaches to the use of immersive digital technologies such as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. These technologies are now integral to laparoscopic surgery training.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping literature review aimed to analyze the current augmented reality (AR) solutions used in laparoscopic surgery training.

METHODS: Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, we conducted a scoping review using 4 databases: Scopus, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and ACM. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to select relevant articles. Exclusion criteria were studies not using AR, not focused on laparoscopic surgery, not focused on training, written in a language other than English, or not providing relevant information on the topics studied. After selecting the articles, research questions (RQs) were formulated to guide the review. In total, 2 independent reviewers then extracted relevant data, and a descriptive analysis of the results was conducted.

RESULTS: Of 246 initial records, 172 (69.9%) remained after removing duplicates. After applying the exclusion criteria, 76 articles were selected, with 25 (33%) later excluded for not meeting quality standards, leaving 51 (67%) in the final review. Among the devices analyzed (RQ 1), AR video-based devices were the most prevalent (43/51, 84%). The most common information provided by AR devices (RQ 1) focused on task execution and patient-related data, both appearing in 20% (10/51) of studies. Regarding sensorization (RQ 2), most studies (46/51, 90%) incorporated some form of sensorized environment, with computer vision being the most used technology (21/46, 46%) and the trainee the most frequently sensorized element (41/51, 80%). Regarding training setups (RQ 3), 39% (20/51) of the studies used commercial simulators, and 51% (26/51) made use of artificial models. Concerning the evaluation methods (RQ 4), objective evaluation was the most used, featured in 71% (36/51) of the studies. Regarding tasks (RQ 5), 43% (22/51) of studies focused on full surgical procedures, whereas 57% (29/51) focused on simple training tasks, with suturing being the most common among the latter (11/29, 38%).

CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review highlights the evolving role of AR technologies in laparoscopic surgery training, although the impact of optical see-through devices remains unclear due to their limited use. It underscores the potential of emerging technologies such as haptic feedback, computer vision, and eye tracking to further enhance laparoscopic skill acquisition. While most relevant articles from other databases were included, some studies may have been missed due to the specific databases and search strategies used. Moreover, the need for standardized evaluation metrics is emphasized, paving the way for future research into AR’s full potential in laparoscopic skill acquisition.

PMID:39874568 | DOI:10.2196/58108

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 28;27:e63373. doi: 10.2196/63373.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Information exchange regarding the scope and content of health studies is becoming increasingly important. Digital methods, including study websites, can facilitate such an exchange.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to describe how digital information exchange occurs between the public and researchers in health studies.

METHODS: This scoping review was prospectively registered and adheres to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Eligibility was defined using the population (public and researchers), concept (digital information exchange), and context (health studies) framework. Bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science), bibliographies of the included studies, and Google Scholar were searched up to February 2024. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals were screened for inclusion based on the title, abstract, and full text. Data items charted from studies included bibliographic and PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) characteristics. Data were processed into categories that inductively emerged from the data and were synthesized into main themes using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: Overall, 4072 records were screened, and 18 studies published between 2010 and 2021 were included. All studies evaluated or assessed the preferences for digital information exchange. The target populations included the public (mainly adults with any or specific diseases), researchers, or both. The digital information exchange methods included websites, emails, forums, platforms, social media, and portals. Interactivity (ie, if digital information exchange is or should be active or passive) was addressed in half of the studies. Exchange content included health information or data with the aim to inform, recruit, link, or gather innovative research ideas from participants in health studies. We identified 7 facilitators and 9 barriers to digital information exchange. The main facilitators were the consideration of any stakeholder perspectives and needs to clarify expectations and responsibilities, the use of modern or low-cost communication technologies and public-oriented language, and continuous communication of the health study process. The main barriers were that information exchange was not planned or not feasible due to inadequate resources, highly complex technical language was used, and ethical concerns (eg, breach of anonymity if study participants are brought together) were raised. Evidence gaps indicate that new studies should assess the methods and the receiver (ie, public) preferences and needs that are required to deliver and facilitate interactive digital information exchange.

CONCLUSIONS: Few studies addressing digital information exchange in health studies could be identified in this review. There was little focus on interactivity in such an exchange. Digital information exchange was associated with more barriers than facilitators, suggesting that more effort is required to improve such an exchange between the public and researchers. Future studies should investigate interactive digital methods and the receiver preferences and needs required for such an exchange.

PMID:39874566 | DOI:10.2196/63373

Ann Plast Surg. 2025 Jan 27. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000004234. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction offers immediate aesthetic and psychological benefits, but the role of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) remains debated. Using a multi-institutional database, this study evaluates and compares outcomes between ADM-assisted and non-ADM DTI procedures.

METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2008 to 2022 was queried to identify female patients who underwent DTI breast reconstruction for oncological purposes. Patients were divided into 2 groups: DTI breast reconstruction with ADM and without. Thirty-day postoperative complications were compared using multivariate analysis and propensity score matching.

RESULTS: Among 10,177 patients, 45% (n = 4605) underwent ADM-assisted DTI, while 55% (n = 5572) had non-ADM DTI. While both groups showed comparable mean ages (ADM: 52 ± 12 years vs non-ADM: 51 ± 11 years; P = 0.190), ADM patients were significantly less likely to present with comorbidities such as obesity (ADM: 21.5% vs non-ADM: 26%; P < 0.001), hypertension (20.5% vs 2.6%; P = 0.01), diabetes (4.8% vs 5.1%; P = 0.002), and smoking history (6.4% vs 10.1%; P < 0.001). Still, surgical complication rates were comparable (ADM: 4.7%, non-ADM: 5.5%; P = 0.08), including superficial infections (2.0% vs 2.4%; P = 0.19), deep infections (0.6% vs 0.9%; P = 0.17), wound dehiscence (0.8% vs 1.0%; P = 0.24), and bleeding (0.6% vs 0.7%; P = 0.54). Medical complications were generally rare and also showed no significant differences (ADM: 1.4%, non-ADM: 1.7%; P = 0.27). Confounder-adjusted multivariable analysis and propensity score matching confirmed no increased risk of surgical (odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.75-1.16, P = 0.52) or medical complications (odds ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.59-1.26, P = 0.46).

CONCLUSIONS: The use of ADM in DTI breast reconstruction is not associated with a higher risk of short-term complications, supporting its continued use in clinical practice. This information is crucial for surgeons and patients in making informed decisions regarding the incorporation of ADM in DTI breast reconstruction.

PMID:39874559 | DOI:10.1097/SAP.0000000000004234