Nevin Manimala

Mol Psychiatry. 2026 Apr 7. doi: 10.1038/s41380-026-03553-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biomarkers can potentially improve the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, PTSD biomarkers that are scalable and easily integrated into real-world clinical settings have not been identified. The analysis was conducted between June to November 2024 using genomic samples and laboratory test results recorded in the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Health System. The analysis included 23,743 European ancestry participants from the nested MGB Biobank study. The first exposure was polygenic risk score (PRS) for PTSD, calculated using the largest available European ancestry genome-wide association study (GWAS), employing a Bayesian polygenic scoring method. The second exposure was a clinical diagnosis of PTSD, determined by the presence of two or more instances of PTSD-related diagnostic codes in the longitudinal electronic health records (EHR). The primary outcomes were the inverse normal quantile transformed, median lab values of 241 laboratory traits with non-zero h²_SNP estimates. Sixteen unique laboratory traits across the cardiometabolic, hematologic, hepatic, and immune systems were implicated in both genomic and phenotypic lab-wide association scans (LabWAS). Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses provided evidence of potential unidirectional causal effects of PTSD liability on hepatic (decreased albumin and total bilirubin), cardiometabolic (decreased HDL cholesterol and increased VLDL cholesterol), and hematologic (decreased mean platelet volume) markers. These findings demonstrate the potential of a triangulation approach to uncover scalable and clinically relevant biomarkers for PTSD.

PMID:41946832 | DOI:10.1038/s41380-026-03553-z

J Hum Hypertens. 2026 Apr 7. doi: 10.1038/s41371-026-01145-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

While mobile health shows potential in hypertension treatment, its effectiveness for middle-aged and older adults is unclear. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mobile health interventions on blood pressure outcomes in this group of population; the secondary objective was to examine their impact on patients’ self-management and to identify potential influencing factors. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched until March 2025. The included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of mobile health interventions on blood pressure and self-management outcomes. Meta-analysis used Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 17.0, with quality assessed by Cochrane ROB2.0. Fourteen RCTs with 6292 patients were included. Compared with traditional care, mobile health interventions demonstrated significant advantages in improving systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood pressure control rates, treatment adherence, hypertension-related knowledge, and quality of life, while no statistically significant effect was observed on hypertension self-efficacy. Subgroup analyses indicated that, aside from a borderline between-subgroup difference in diastolic blood pressure stratified by intervention type (P = 0.05), the blood pressure-lowering effects of mobile health interventions were generally consistent across various age groups and intervention modalities. In summary, mobile health interventions can significantly improve clinical outcomes and self-management levels among patients aged ≥ 45 years with hypertension; however, their effects on hypertension self-efficacy remain limited. Further long-term, high-quality studies are needed.

PMID:41946822 | DOI:10.1038/s41371-026-01145-6

J Clin Sleep Med. 2026 Apr 7;22(1):46. doi: 10.1007/s44470-026-00070-2.

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may be linked to poor physical performance and fall risk, yet this association remains underexplored. This study examined associations between OSA risk, balance, gait speed and handgrip strength (HGS) in community living adults across age-groups and sexes.

METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study were analysed. Probable OSA was estimated with an adapted STOP-Bang questionnaire. Poor balance was defined as the inability to hold a semi-tandem stance for 10 s; slow gait speed as walking < 0.8 m/s over 2.5 m; and weak HGS as HGS-to-body mass index ratio < 1.00 m² for males and < 0.56m² for females.

RESULTS: 6,918 participants (mean age 66 ± 11 years; 57% female) were included. Probable OSA was associated with higher odds of: (i) poor balance in the overall sample (OR:1.23, 95% bootstrapped confidence interval (BCI):1.07-1.39, p = 0.002), 50-64 years (OR: 1.41, BCI: 1.15- 1.72, p < 0.001) and females (OR: 1.30, BCI: 1.10-1.56, p = 0.004); (ii) slow gait speed in the overall sample (OR:1.29, BCI:1.07-1.57, p = 0.007), 80 + years (OR:1.61, BCI:1.07-2.42, p = 0.028) and females (OR:1.39, BCI:1.03-1.91, p = 0.024); and (iii) weak HGS in the overall sample (OR:2.22, BCI:1.90-2.63, p = 0.001), 50-64 years (OR:3.40, BCI: 2.58-4.61, p < 0.001), 65-79 years (OR: 1.93, BCI:1.52- 2.47, p < 0.001), males (OR = 1.87, BCI:1.49-2.35, p < 0.001) and females (OR = 2.67, BCI 2.15-3.33, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Poor balance, slow gait speed and weak HGS are common among older adults at high risk of OSA. Further research should evaluate causality and assess co-screening to potentially enable early detection of fall risk in older adults.

STUDY RATIONALE: OSA is a common but often undiagnosed condition that may contribute to accelerated age-related physical decline and increased fall risk. Despite known links between diagnosed OSA and motor deficits, little is known about how undiagnosed OSA relates to fall-related physical performance measures in large, community-based populations. Study Impact: This study suggests that individuals at high risk of OSA are more likely to have poor balance, slow gait speed, and weak handgrip strength, which are key predictors of fall risk. The observation of these associations in adults as young as 50 years of age warrants future research to evaluate causality and determine if co-screening of OSA and fall risk can help identify those most vulnerable.

PMID:41946820 | DOI:10.1007/s44470-026-00070-2

Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-47337-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To investigate the effect of perioperative temperature settings of an inflatable warming device on postoperative recovery quality in patients undergoing hysteroscopic myomectomy, this randomized controlled trial enrolled 258 patients receiving laryngeal mask general anesthesia at Xuzhou Central Hospital, China, between March 2022 and August 2024. Patients were allocated to perioperative temperature management with an inflatable warming device set to 38 °C (Group L, n = 129) or 43 °C (Group H, n = 129). A total of 211 patients were included in the final analysis after accounting for exclusions. At 24 h postoperatively, the QoR-40 score was significantly higher in Group H compared to Group L (P < 0.05). At baseline (T0), no significant differences in core body temperature, mean arterial pressure (MAP), or heart rate (HR) were observed between groups (P > 0.05). From T1 to T6, Group H exhibited higher and more stable core body temperature, MAP, and HR compared to Group L (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in QoR-40 scores at 48 h (P > 0.05) or in the incidence of postoperative restlessness, chills, and infection between the two groups. Compared to 38 °C, the perioperative application of a 43 °C inflatable warming device improved early postoperative recovery quality at 24 h in hysteroscopic myomectomy patients without increasing complication risks.

PMID:41946782 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-47337-5

Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-46012-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The development of sustainable high-performance concrete has increasingly emphasized the incorporation of natural fibers to improve mechanical and impact resistance. This study presents a comprehensive and novel investigation of multiple natural fibers, coconut (0.5-1.5%), flax (0.1-0.5%), jute (0.15-0.55%), and bamboo, hemp, and kenaf (0.25-1.25%), evaluated in two concrete grades (M25 and M80). In addition to experimental assessment, probabilistic reliability modeling was integrated to characterize the stochastic nature of impact behavior in natural fiber-reinforced concrete (NFRC). Repeated impact testing in accordance with ACI 544-2R demonstrated that coconut fiber at 1-1.25% provided the highest impact resistance, increasing failure counts by 65% in M25 and 83% in M80 relative to the control concrete. Kenaf (0.75-1%) and bamboo (0.5-1%) exhibited moderate improvements of up to 20%, whereas jute, flax, and hemp produced comparatively modest gains of 5-10%. Despite substantial improvements in impact resistance, compressive strength remained comparable to that of the control concrete. Ductility indices and post-cracking ratios revealed distinct post-peak deformation mechanisms governed by fiber type, including pull-out, rupture, and interfacial slip. To further quantify performance differences, a grade-fiber synergy analysis was proposed to evaluate the interaction between concrete strength and fiber efficiency across grades. The probabilistic characterization of impact resistance was performed using Weibull statistics, supplemented by bootstrap resampling and Bayesian uncertainty analysis, enabling assessment of reliability and parameter stability. The results establish a reliability-based framework for optimizing NFRC formulations to improve structural resilience under dynamic loading.

PMID:41946761 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-46012-z

Neuropeptides. 2026 Apr 3;117:102613. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2026.102613. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Vascular dementia (VaD), primarily caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), is characterized by progressive cognitive decline associated with neurovascular dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate whether systemic administration of irisin, an exercise-induced myokine, modulates cognitive performance and VEGF-associated angiogenic signaling in the hippocampus under CCH conditions. Thirty-eight adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, sham, irisin, ischemia, and ischemia + irisin. CCH was induced via permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Irisin (100 ng/kg) was administered intraperitoneally three times per week for four weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Morris Water Maze, and VEGF-positive vascular profiles were quantified within a standardized hippocampal area (1 mm² per section). CCH resulted in significant impairments in spatial learning and memory, accompanied by a reduction in VEGF-positive vascular profiles in the hippocampus. In healthy rats, irisin administration was associated with improved memory performance and increased VEGF-positive vascular profiles. In ischemic rats, irisin treatment was linked to partial improvements in memory parameters and VEGF-associated vascular changes, although these effects did not reach statistical significance. Learning-phase outcomes were more variable. Notably, the number of VEGF-positive vascular profiles positively correlated with spatial memory performance. These findings suggest that beyond its known neuroprotective properties, irisin may contribute to cognitive support through modulation of angiogenesis-associated signaling under CCH. While further studies are required to clarify optimal dosing strategies and mechanistic pathways, irisin may represent a promising adjunctive candidate for vascular cognitive impairment, particularly in individuals unable to engage in regular physical exercise.

PMID:41946010 | DOI:10.1016/j.npep.2026.102613

Cytokine. 2026 Apr 6;202:157144. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2026.157144. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) is a pivotal determinant of therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcome in Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD). While WNT signaling is a known oncogenic driver, the specific immunomodulatory role of WNT7A and its potential crosstalk with inflammatory pathways in LUAD remain to be fully elucidated. We sought to define the prognostic value of WNT7A and explore the molecular mechanisms by which it may foster an immunosuppressive TME.

METHODS: We performed a multi-omics analysis utilizing the TCGA-LUAD cohort (N = 508) and validated findings in an independent external cohort (GSE30219, N = 293). The prognostic significance of WNT7A was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses. TME composition was dissected via ssGSEA, focusing on myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration. Mechanistic pathways were identified using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and gene co-expression networks.

RESULTS: High WNT7A expression was identified as a significant predictor of poor Overall Survival (OS) in the TCGA cohort (P < 0.05) and validated in the external cohort (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed WNT7A as an independent prognostic risk factor (HR = 1.085, P = 0.036). Immunologically, WNT7A expression was positively correlated with MDSC infiltration (R = 0.43, P < 0.001), suggesting a shift towards an immune-tolerant phenotype. Mechanistically, GSEA revealed a robust activation of inflammatory signaling in the high-WNT7A group. Specifically, the TNFA Signaling via NF-κB pathway was significantly enriched(NES = 2.52, P < 0.001). Consistent with this pathway activation, WNT7A showed a statistically significant positive correlation with CCL2 (P < 0.001), a critical chemokine for MDSC recruitment, implicating the NF-κB/CCL2 axis in this process.

CONCLUSION: WNT7A serves as a prognostic biomarker linked to immune evasion in LUAD, potentially by modulating the NF-κB/CCL2/MDSC axis. This study identifies WNT7A as a potential therapeutic target to remodel the immune microenvironment, providing a rationale for future investigations into WNT-targeted strategies to improve immunotherapy efficacy.

PMID:41946008 | DOI:10.1016/j.cyto.2026.157144

Early Hum Dev. 2026 Apr 4;219:106552. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106552. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This randomized controlled study examined the effect of the finger feeding method on stress and comfort behaviors in 72 preterm infants.

METHOD: Data were collected using the Neonatal Comfort Behavior Scale (NCBS) and the Neonatal Stress Scale (NSS). Infants in the intervention group received finger feeding until full oral feeding, while the control group was fed via orogastric tube.

RESULTS: In the intervention group, the mean NCBS score decreased from 19.75 ± 3.46 before the intervention to 13.42 ± 3.04 after the intervention, with a mean difference of 6.33 points. This decrease was statistically significant (F = 208.84, p < .05) and demonstrated a large effect size (partial η² = 0.856). In the control group, the mean NCBS score decreased from 22.69 ± 3.08 to 19.64 ± 4.04, with a mean difference of 3.05 points; although this reduction was statistically significant (F = 44.58, p < .05), the effect size was more limited compared to the intervention group (partial η² = 0.56). Regarding stress levels, the mean NSS score in the intervention group decreased significantly from 9.61 ± 2.96 to 0.97 ± 1.84, indicating a very large effect size (F = 670.21, partial η² = 0.85). In the control group, the mean NSS score decreased from 11.94 ± 3.02 to 7.42 ± 3.17; the effect size was more limited compared to the intervention group. The transition to full oral feeding was significantly faster in the intervention group (3.7 ± 0.1 days) compared to the control group (6.4 ± 0.6 days).

CONCLUSION: The finger feeding method was found to be an effective care practice for preterm infants, reducing stress levels, supporting comfort, facilitating a faster transition to full oral feeding, which may support the transition to breastfeeding, and can be adapted to nurse, parent, and family-centered care practices.

PMID:41945981 | DOI:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106552

Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2026 Apr 2;281:109352. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2026.109352. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Segmentation of brain vascular structures is a current challenge in radiology for the diagnosis of human vascular pathologies. Owing to the nature of cerebral vessels and to advances in supervised segmentation methods, the process of collecting a case set for segmentation with expert masks was very laborious and ambiguous. Objective analysis of automatic segmentation results remains a current, yet unaddressed challenge. To overcome these difficulties, a method for semi-automatic generating synthetic vessels within original computed tomography angiography images using expert masks was developed.

METHODS: Generating synthetic vessels that reflect real vessels enables an objective evaluation of segmentation methods and the geometric parameters of the vessels determined based on their segmentation. In this article, the results of four segmentation methods were examined based on generated vessels embedded in original images: UNETR, V-NET, nnUNET, and the classic Frangi method, which remains the baseline reference method. In addition, an analysis of selected geometric parameters of the segmented vessels was performed, including centerline distances, length, diameter, curvature and tortuosity.

RESULTS: This study investigated differences between the results of automatic segmentation of the selected arteries with reference to synthetic data. The obtained results indicate significant correlation between vessel geometric parameters and segmentation quality.

CONCLUSIONS: Even nnUNET, commonly considered the most effective vessel segmentation method, exhibits significant statistical differences in the determined vessel parameters. An objective analysis of the segmentation results and their geometric parameters, made possible by the developed vessel generation method, indicates a clear need for further development of vessel segmentation methods.

PMID:41945973 | DOI:10.1016/j.cmpb.2026.109352

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2026 Apr 1;27(4):1543-1549. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.4.1543.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: One of the most prevalent oral cancers, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is distinguished by its rapid growth, invasiveness, and high metastatic potential. Green AgNPs are important because they can reduce systemic toxicity by inducing oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis in cancer cells. The goal of this study was to use saponins as natural stabilizers to create AgNPs, and the detrimental apoptotic effects on cancer cells were examined using high-content screening (HCS) assays such as TNI, CMP, and VCC.

METHODS: The size and distribution of AgNPs were determined using saponins as natural reducing and stabilizing agents, respectively. The cytotoxic effects on OSCC-25 cells were assessed using the MTT assay, alongside real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to identify changes in gene expression associated with apoptosis. High-content screening (HCS) was used to confirm the induction of apoptosis and to measure concentration-dependent changes in several cellular parameters. All statistical analyses were performed for each experiment.

RESULTS: The results showed that the average diameter of the generated nanoparticles was 75.87 ± 15.69 nm, facilitating cellular uptake due to their narrow size distribution. Saponin-induced AgNPs significantly increased cytotoxicity and cancer cell death in OSCC-25 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the control group, treatment with 125 and 500 μg/mL resulted in a significant decrease in fluorescence intensity (p < 0.05). However, doses of 250 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL had no significant effects. RT-qPCR analysis revealed a significant increase in the expression of IL1R, highlighting its role in apoptotic signaling.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the combination of the bioactive properties of saponins with the inherent cytotoxicity of AgNPs has therapeutic potential against oral squamous cell carcinoma. These results support the need for future preclinical and clinical studies and highlight the promise of integrating natural compounds with nanotechnology to develop safer and more effective anticancer therapies.

PMID:41945972 | DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2026.27.4.1543