Nevin Manimala

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2025 Feb 1;26(2):361-369. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.2.361.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancers are a leading cause of death among children worldwide. Maternal alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy has been suggested as a potential risk factor for childhood cancers. However, the evidence to support this association is inconsistent. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to clarify this association.

METHODS: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases until May 2023 to identify observational studies reporting associations between maternal alcohol consumption and childhood cancers. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated using the χ2, τ2, and I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed using Begg and Egger tests. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random-effects model.

RESULTS: Out of 18,583 studies retrieved from the search, 31 studies involving 47,277 participants met the eligibility criteria. Our meta-analysis found that maternal alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of childhood cancers with OR of 1.15 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.33) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.20), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis found evidence of a positive association between maternal alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy and the risk of childhood cancers. These findings suggest a need for public health interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption during pregnancy to potentially prevent childhood cancers.

PMID:40022678 | DOI:10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.2.361

Aging Male. 2025 Dec;28(1):2469614. doi: 10.1080/13685538.2025.2469614. Epub 2025 Mar 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common chronic disease in the elderly. Comorbidities, especially neuropathy and retinopathy, significantly increase fall risk in this group. This study aimed to identify fall risk factors in older adults with T2DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January to June 2024, 242 T2DM patients aged 65 and older were followed at the internal medicine outpatient clinic. Fall risk was assessed using the Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), Hendrich II Fall Risk Model (HIIFRM), Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index, and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS).

RESULTS: Among the patients (median age = 70 years), 41.3% had experienced at least one fall in the previous year. Factors, such as age and diabetes duration were associated with falls. Notably, hypoglycemia (aPR: 1.90, p = 0.017), polypharmacy (aPR: 2.39, p = 0.004), osteoarthritis (aPR: 2.48, p = 0.017), (aPR: 1.70, p = 0.025), and malnutrition (aPR: 1.90, p = 0.007) were independently associated with fall risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Fall risk in elderly outpatients with T2DM was linked to various factors, including hospitalization, malnutrition, osteoarthritis, polypharmacy, neuropathy, and hypoglycemia. To mitigate this risk, patient-specific care plans are recommended.

PMID:40022664 | DOI:10.1080/13685538.2025.2469614

Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2025 Feb 1;83(1):9-19. doi: 10.1684/abc.2025.1943.

ABSTRACT

Nosocomial infections (NI) are a major concern of healthcare professionals. To propose targeted awareness-raising campaigns, we put in place NI monitoring of laboratory data. The positive bacteriological results after 48 hours hospitalisation are subject of a report via the Infection Control Team, to the physician corresponding in the department, for the clinical validation of diagnostic of NI. At hospital level and specialty activity, we measured NI incidence rates for 1 000 hospital days and for 100 admissions every month since October 1, 2016. Results were then declined by specialties and by infected anatomical site and investigation allowed to describe the microbial flora responsible for these infections. The request began in october 2016. Average results were stable over the year despite monthly fluctuations. For 2023, incidence rates are IAS 2,8 for 1 000 JH and IAS 1,2 for 100 admissions. The detail of the results is transmitted to the physicians and is the subject of internal communications. They will be allowed to follow up more closely with the NI epidemiology and propose targeted corrective measures as appropriate.

PMID:40022632 | DOI:10.1684/abc.2025.1943

Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics. 2025 Feb 19;55:101448. doi: 10.1016/j.cbd.2025.101448. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Understanding metabolic adaptations to seasonal fluctuations in ectothermic organisms is challenging, especially in tropical species where physiological responses are more pronounced than in temperate or polar counterparts. Traditional analytical methods often fail to account for the complex metabolic adjustments that are present in these substantial responses, and the high-dimensional characteristics of metabolomic data complicate the interpretation process when using conventional statistical methods. We utilized Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, to analyze monthly serum metabolomics data from tilapia over a year in order to overcome these limits. A deeper analysis using NMF demonstrated that carbohydrates gained prominence during warmer months, as evidenced by consistently elevated weights of glycolysis intermediates in our quantitative analysis. Furthermore, fatty acids remained an important factor in both warm and cold seasons. Amino acids emerged as particularly versatile metabolites, exhibiting adaptability during seasonal transitions. This flexibility suggests their crucial role in coordinating energy-related adaptations and potentially facilitating epigenetic and reproductive responses to changing environments. Serum aspartate composition during the warm-cold transition indicated sex-specific metabolic strategies, as sexual dimorphism was observed in the seasonal utilization of fatty acids and aspartate. Collectively, NMF objectively assesses the metabolic tactics of tropical fish and reveals latent patterns in real-world metabolic dynamics. Consequently, it possesses the potential to facilitate metabolomics-driven species conservation in response to environmental changes.

PMID:40020271 | DOI:10.1016/j.cbd.2025.101448

Gait Posture. 2025 Feb 17;119:39-47. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.02.014. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of various plantar pressure parameters of patients with different curve locations (thoracic/lumbar) and types (single/double) of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODS: Seventy-eight moderate AIS patients were included from Nanjing Drum Tower hospital, who were then classified into 4 groups by curve location and type, single thoracic scoliosis (S-T, n = 20), single lumbar scoliosis (S-L, n = 16), double curves with major curve at thoracic region (D-T, n = 22), double curves with major curve at lumbar region (D-L, n = 20). Another 22 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Multiple static and dynamic features, such as medial-lateral (M-L) area ratio and loading pattern were compared across groups.

RESULTS: For static plantar pressure, on the major curve side, the medial-lateral (M-L) area ratio was significantly different among five groups on both feet (P < 0.01). The ratio of S-T group was significantly lower than lumbar scoliosis groups on major curve side (P < 0.01). In midfoot, ratios of thoracic scoliosis groups were significantly lower than S-L group P < 0.01). On the compensatory side, D-L group had markedly lower ratio than thoracic groups in M-L area ratio and midfoot M-L area ratio (P < 0.01). For dynamic plantar pressure, the maximum pressure of medial rearfoot of thoracic scoliosis was significantly lower than lumbar scoliosis and control group on major curve side(P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the lateral rearfoot of thoracic had greater pressure than lumbar scoliosis groups (P < 0.01). The load distribution of metatarsal head (MH) had marked differences among groups on the compensated side, especially at MH1, MH4 and MH5 P < 0.01). Moreover, the loads of thoracic scoliosis were significantly larger than lumbar scoliosis at MH5 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: In moderate AIS patients, scoliosis curve location significantly affected static and dynamic plantar pressure while single or double curves had limited impact.

PMID:40020270 | DOI:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.02.014

Prev Vet Med. 2025 Feb 24;239:106488. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106488. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Validated diagnostic tools are essential when conducting serological surveys. However, reliable tests are scarce and hard to attain for emerging pathogens due to the lack of reference tests or samples. Recently, a recombinant myxoma virus (MYXV), named ha-MYXV, raised alarm in the Iberian Peninsula for its impact on Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis) populations and its detection in wild (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and domestic rabbits. Here, we follow a Bayesian approach to evaluate two serological tools, an indirect ELISA (iELISA) and a competitive ELISA (cELISA), used to monitor this emerging pathogen in Iberian hare populations. We modelled serological data from 227 hares conveniently selected retrospectively for their apparent healthy status. First, we applied finite mixture models to adjust the cut-off thresholds of both tests, which improved the agreement between both tests (initial kappa = 0.42, after threshold adjustment = 0.78). Then, we employed Bayesian latent class models (BLCM) to estimate the assays’ specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se). The BLCM estimated median Sp of 94.0 % (95 % posterior probability interval (PPI): 85.9-99.4) and 96.1 % (PPI: 87.2-100.0), and Se of 77.7 % (PPI: 61.5-89.5) and 91.7 % (PPI: 78.1-99.9), for the iELISA and the cELISA, respectively. The true seroprevalence estimations show higher values in south-central Spain (ranging from 13.1 % to 70.4 %) and lower in the north (Navarra: 5.5 %). A Bayesian approach allowed to evaluate diagnostic tools for ha-MYXV, an emerging wildlife pathogen, in the absence of reference tests or samples. Future epidemiological studies of myxomatosis in Iberian hares should calculate true seroprevalence based on our estimations.

PMID:40020268 | DOI:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106488

J Health Econ. 2025 Feb 3;101:102971. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2025.102971. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The 340B Drug Pricing Program incentivizes healthcare providers to increase medication use. It does this by allowing certain safety-net hospitals and clinics to purchase outpatient drugs at considerable discounts from manufacturers but be reimbursed at full price by payers. Yet, previous literature has left largely unstudied how the 340B program influences physician prescribing behavior. In this paper, I provide evidence of physician agency among 340B providers in the treatment of breast cancer. I leverage the staggered diffusion of the program to identify the impact of 340B participation on prescribing behavior and patient outcomes. Physicians who join the 340B program increase the share of patients who receive pharmaceutical treatments and increase the intensity of per-patient prescribing. I also find significant increases in prescribing medications that are not included in clinical treatment recommendations and medications to treat side effects. Despite more intensive treatment use, I find no statistically significant change in survival.

PMID:40020262 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2025.102971

J Optom. 2025 Feb 27;18(1):100538. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2025.100538. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of astigmatism among children in different areas of Xi’an.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Xi’an, China, involving children from 139 primary schools, 28 junior high schools, and 10 senior high schools. Data on uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and non-cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) were collected from March 2023 to June 2023 based on a new screening model by the Department of Ophthalmology of Xi’an Central Hospital. Data from the right eye were included in the statistical analysis. Trend changes in astigmatism prevalence across different areas, educational stages, ages, and genders were analyzed using the X² test and trend test.

RESULTS: A total of 99,515 children were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of astigmatism was 59.3% [95% CI: 59.0% to 59.6%]. The prevalence of astigmatism was higher in urban areas compared to the urban-rural fringe (61.1% [95% CI: 60.6% to 61.6%] vs. 58.3% [95% CI: 57.9% to 58.7%]) (X²trend = 73.174, P < 0.05). Boys had a higher prevalence of astigmatism than girls (59.8% [95% CI: 59.4% to 60.2%] vs. 58.8% [95% CI: 58.6% to 59.0%]) (X²trend = 11.613, P < 0.05). Compared to the primary and senior school, the overall prevalence of astigmatism is most significant during the junior school stage (X²trend = 1710.133, P < 0.05), with rates of 54.6% in primary school, 71.3% in junior high school, and 68.7% in senior high school (X²trend = 10.694-868.913, P < 0.05), among which grade 9 has the highest prevalence (X²trend = 2766.194, P < 0.05). Myopia severity increased with the degree of astigmatism (X²trend = 2547.677, P < 0.05), and boys were more likely to experience worsening myopia with increasing astigmatism compared to girls (X²trend = 36.878, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Astigmatism was most prevalent among children in Xi’an during junior school, peaking in grade 9. Urban areas showed higher incidence rates than urban-rural ones, and boys had a consistently higher prevalence than girls, with WTR being the most common type.

PMID:40020252 | DOI:10.1016/j.optom.2025.100538

Biochemistry. 2025 Feb 28. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00675. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Lin28 protein is well known for its role in inhibiting the biogenesis of microRNAs (miRNAs) that belong to the let-7 family. The Lin28 and let-7 axes are associated with several types of cancers. It is imperative to understand the underlying mechanism to treat these cancers in a more efficient way. In this study, we employed all-atom molecular dynamics simulation as a research tool to investigate the interaction formed between Lin28 and the precursor element of let-7d, one of the 12 members of the let-7 family. By constructing systems of an intact sequence length of preE-let-7d, our simulations suggest that both the loop region of the hairpin structure and the GGAG sequence can form stable interactions with the cold shock domain (CSD) and zinc knuckle domain (ZKD) regions of the protein, respectively. The system, by deleting the nucleotides GGAG at the 3′ terminal, indicates that the loop region is more responsible for its ability in bypassing the binding and repression of Lin28. Additionally, using let-7c-2, which can bypass Lin28 regulation, as a template, we constructed systems with mutated loop region sequences in miRNAs and tested their stabilities. Our simulation results coincide well with experimental observations. Based on both simulation results and statistical analysis from two databases, we hypothesized that two factors, namely, the interaction between terminal nucleotides and the ring tension originating from the middle nucleotides, can significantly influence their stabilities. Systems combining strong and weak terminal interactions with large and small ring tensions were recruited to validate our hypothesis. Our findings offer a new perspective and shed light on strategies for designing sequences to regulate the interactions formed between proteins and hairpin structures.

PMID:40020242 | DOI:10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00675