Nevin Manimala

Nutr Metab (Lond). 2025 Jul 10;22(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s12986-025-00967-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, influenced by systemic and lifestyle factors. This study investigates the causal relationships between dietary habits, sleep traits, amino acids, metabolites, and inflammatory factors with glaucoma subtypes using Mendelian randomization (MR) and validates findings through cross-sectional analysis.

METHODS: MR analysis assessed the causal effects of 226 dietary factors, 11 sleep traits, 20 amino acids, 1400 metabolites, and 91 inflammatory factors on five glaucoma subtypes (NTG, POAG, PACG, NVG, XFG). Mediation MR analysis explored the role of amino acids and inflammatory factors in these relationships. Validation was conducted using NHANES cross-sectional data.

RESULTS: High-fat, high-calorie diets increased glaucoma risk, while antioxidant-rich foods and better sleep quality reduced it. Key mediators included proline, tyrosine, IL-1 A, and PDL1. NHANES data confirmed lower intake of vitamins A and C, higher water consumption among glaucoma patients, and significant sleep-related associations.

CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the role of balanced diets and optimized sleep patterns in glaucoma prevention and management. This study provides evidence for targeted lifestyle interventions focusing on metabolic and inflammatory pathways to mitigate glaucoma risk.

PMID:40640923 | DOI:10.1186/s12986-025-00967-4

Porcine Health Manag. 2025 Jul 10;11(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s40813-025-00452-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Porcine Circovirus 2 (PCV2) vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD). Nevertheless, pig farms face significant challenges in evaluating vaccination efficacy due to the inability of PCV2 vaccines to achieve sterilizing immunity and the variability among vaccine manufacturers. These challenges are further compounded by the limitations of conventional antibody detection methods, which fail to distinguish between maternally-derived antibodies (MDAs) and vaccine-induced antibodies. The accurate evaluation and selection of PCV2 vaccines is critical for the swine industry. The present study aimed to develop an Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay for directly detecting PCV2-specific memory B cells. This approach was used to assess the presence of PCV2-specific memory B cells in piglets with high levels of MDA vaccinated with different PCV2 vaccines, thus enabling the evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity at the cellular level. Furthermore, antibody levels and the viremia status were analyzed using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) respectively to provide a comprehensive assessment of the ELISpot assay potential for evaluating the vaccine immunogenicity of PCV2 vaccines.

RESULTS: The findings revealed that the optimal conditions for the developed ELISpot assay included stimulation with R848 at a final concentration of 1 µg·mL⁻¹ for three days, a PCV2 Cap protein coating concentration of 1.25 µg·mL⁻¹, a biotinylated goat anti-pig IgG antibody concentration of 5 µg·mL⁻¹, and an HRP-streptavidin concentration of 0.25 µg·mL⁻¹. In high MDA piglets immunized with different vaccines, serum antibody detection showed that PCV2 antibody levels declined continuously over time in all vaccinated and saline-injected control groups, demonstrating similar trends. In contrast, ELISpot analysis demonstrated a significant increase in PCV2-specific memory B cell levels in all three vaccinated groups compared to the saline-injected group. Among the vaccines tested, Vaccine A induced the highest levels of specific memory B cells, followed by Vaccine B. This was consistent with the lower PCV2 infection rates and viremia levels observed in Vaccine A and Vaccine B groups, compared to Vaccine C and saline-injected control groups.

CONCLUSIONS: We established an ELISpot assay to quantify PCV2-specific memory B cells, revealing that vaccinated piglets with high MDA levels developed robust memory B cell responses. However, levels of PCV2 IgG antibodies in vaccinated piglets remained statistically indistinguishable from control piglets. These findings demonstrate that ELISpot-based profiling of PCV2-specific memory B cells overcomes the confounding effects of MDA in vaccine efficacy assessments. This approach reliably reflects the humoral immune response induced by vaccination and its relevance in combating natural PCV2 infection, providing valuable guidance for preventing and controlling PCVAD.

PMID:40640918 | DOI:10.1186/s40813-025-00452-7

BMC Psychol. 2025 Jul 10;13(1):768. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03100-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) survivors demonstrate heightened vulnerability to depression and anxiety, while posttraumatic growth (PTG) and resilience have been reported as important protective factors for mental health. This study examined the mediating role of resilience in the associations between PTG and both depression and anxiety among NPC survivors.

METHODS: A total of 773 NPC survivors were recruited through convenience sampling at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (Guangzhou, China). Participants completed a self-administered structured questionnaire measuring sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), posttraumatic growth (PTGI), and resilience (CD-RISC10). Mediation analyses were performed using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS: The average time since cancer diagnosis was 2.68 (SD = 1.80) years, with 55.0% diagnosed for over 2 years. Among the participants, 44.2% reported mild to severe depressive symptoms, and 35.3% reported mild to severe anxiety. Higher PTG was significantly associated with lower symptoms of depression (β = -0.23, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = -0.19, p < 0.001). Additionally, greater resilience was associated with reduced symptoms of depression (β = -0.37, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = -0.33, p < 0.001). Further, resilience fully mediated the relationship between PTG and both anxiety (86.50%) and depression (74.13%).

CONCLUSION: PTG and resilience are negatively associated with depression and anxiety in NPC survivors, with resilience acting as a complete mediator in these relationships.

PMID:40640902 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-03100-5

Syst Rev. 2025 Jul 10;14(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s13643-025-02894-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is the gold standard for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hemoglobin A1c (A1C), glycated albumin (GA), and fructosamine (Fruc) have the potential to conveniently classify pregnant women as having or not having GDM because two or more measurements are not necessary, unlike with OGTT. Compared with A1C, GA or Fruc, which reflects more recent glycemic indices, may more accurately detect GDM. This meta-analysis compared the diagnostic ability of GDM between GA or Fruc and A1C.

METHOD: Comprehensive literature searches were performed for studies published up to Sep.11, 2023. Selected studies were limited to those that attempted to identify GDM using both GA and/or Fruc and A1C to compare these indicators. Two authors extracted the data. Disagreements were resolved by a third author. Study quality was assessed by a revised tool for quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy in studies (QUADUS-2). The dataset consisting of true-positives, false-positives, false-negatives, and true-negatives was pooled with a bivariate between-study model and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model. Pooled relative sensitivity and specificity based on a random-effects model were calculated to compare the diagnostic ability of A1C and GA and/or Fruc for GDM.

RESULT: There were 20 eligible studies. Pooled positive and negative likelihood ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were 5.11 (2.30-11.37) and 0.53 (0.40-0.71), respectively, if GA or Fruc was used and 3.75 (2.61-11.39) and 0.53 (0.42-0.66), respectively, if A1C was used. Relative sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) for GA or Fruc compared with A1C was 1.00 (0.94-1.07) and 0.99 (0.97-1.01), respectively.

CONCLUSION: The insufficiently low value of the negative likelihood ratio did not support the single use of GA/Fruc or A1C in screening for GDM suggesting the necessity of combining other risk factors with glycemic indicators. Although there was no statistically significant difference in diagnostic ability between GA or Fruc and A1C, the value of the positive likelihood ratio indicated that GA or Fruc was somewhat more useful than A1C as a rule-in test for the diagnosis of GDM.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023461975.

PMID:40640901 | DOI:10.1186/s13643-025-02894-0

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jul 10;20(1):637. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06091-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is a global public health concern, particularly among adolescents. While its skeletal effects are well-established, evidence on its extraskeletal roles in muscle and adipose tissue during this critical developmental period remains limited, especially using direct body composition measures.

METHODS: We analyzed 3,648 participants aged 12-19 years from NHANES data (2011-2018), stratifying vitamin D status as deficiency, insufficiency, or sufficiency. Multivariable linear regression models evaluated associations with appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), visceral adipose tissue area (VATA), and total bone mineral density (BMD). Subgroup analyses explored age, sex, and racial/ethnic variations.

RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency affected 40.1% of participants. Higher serum vitamin D status correlated with positive body composition: lower VATA (β = -0.092, 95% CI: -0.124 to -0.061), and higher ALMI (β = 0.005, 95% CI: 0.004 to 0.006) and BMD (β = 0.0008, 95% CI: 0.0006 to 0.0010). Subgroup analyses revealed stronger ALMI associations in older boys and Mexican Americans, while VATA reductions were most pronounced in younger girls. BMD benefits were consistent across subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among adolescents and independently associated with unfavorable body composition, modulated by demographic factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to optimize musculoskeletal and metabolic health during this developmental window.

PMID:40640884 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-06091-6

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jul 10;17(1):192. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01238-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in sport physiology have shown, that higher fatigue resistance predicts outstanding performance in endurance sport. However, so far there is no clear consensus on how to test durability in the field or in a laboratory. Protocols of the few existing studies are only suitable for professional male cyclists while most coaches work primarily with amateur athletes. Moreover, it is currently unclear whether durability is dependent on traditional parameters of endurance performance, such as functional threshold power (FTP) or maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max).

METHODS: 20 well trained amateur road cyclist completed a home-based test on two occasions. The first time, after a standardized warm-up, a 5-minute and a 20-minute cycling test were carried out. The second test was preceded by a fatigue protocol which, after the warm-up, consisted of cycling at 80% of their initial 20-minutes power under fresh condition until 1000 kJ of work was completed, followed by 5-minutes and 20-minutes all-out tests.

RESULTS: The performance significantly decreased with 10,1 ± 6,5% in the 20-minutes test and with 10,8 ± 7,8% in 5-minutes in fatigue state in compare with fresh state. No significant correlations were found between better durability and VO₂ max or relative FTP.

CONCLUSION: We showed that durability is a parameter independent of traditional physiological measures of cycling performance. Looking at durability then working backwards can help identify what coaches need to work on in so many areas that are important to all aspects of racing in cycling sport.

PMID:40640875 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-025-01238-8

Trials. 2025 Jul 11;26(1):241. doi: 10.1186/s13063-025-08915-6.

ABSTRACT

Reports of the results of clinical studies are integral to regulatory decision making. They are used to support marketing authorization, to substantiate labeling information, and to inform academic publications, trial postings, and promotional messages intended to communicate study results to doctors and patients. Therefore, beyond summarizing the study design, methods, and data, study reports should provide clear descriptions of the benefits and risks of an intervention for a given medical condition. The ICH E9(R1) addendum on estimands and sensitivity analysis in clinical trials provides a framework aiming for more clarity about the reported “treatment effects.” In practice, stakeholders are still learning how to embrace the estimand framework and how it impacts the reporting of study results in the most value-adding manner. This paper provides recommendations and considerations for implementing the estimand framework in the reporting of results to realize its full potential of increased transparency for interpretation and decision-making. These recommendations are based on practical experiences of working with clinical trial teams through the reporting process following implementation of the estimand framework in the protocol. As illustrated by two case studies, the primary application is in reporting studies for the scientific evaluation of medicines by regulatory agencies, directly impacting clinical study reports and submission documents, and will also extend to publications in scientific journals.

PMID:40640873 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-025-08915-6

Int J Equity Health. 2025 Jul 10;24(1):202. doi: 10.1186/s12939-025-02555-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals face substantial health disparities as a result of discrimination and poor provider competence in understanding their health needs. Relatively little work has been done studying educational interventions targeted toward increasing residents’ knowledge and ability to treat TGD individuals with sensitivity. We studied the effectiveness of implementing a lecture series on transgender health in preparing internal medicine residents to care for the TGD population.

METHODS: Both study and control participants were recruited through their affiliated internal medicine residency programs. The study design was a pre-post controlled educational study. A lecture series was developed at Riverside University Health System as the educational intervention. We used a Transgender Assessment survey developed for the study to determine changes in the residents’ knowledge, self-confidence, and knowledge of barriers to care during the study period from January to June 2022. The data were statistically analyzed to assess the differences between pre- and post- and study and control groups.

RESULTS: Similar demographics were noted between the study and control groups. Compared with the control group, residents in the study group tended to have more exposure to transgender health education prior to the study. Residents in the study group demonstrated increased knowledge and self-confidence after completing the curriculum. The study group’s average knowledge score increased from 4.8 to 6.1 post-intervention (p = 0.004). Self-confidence scores in providing gender-specific care rose from an average of 13.7 to 17.9 post-intervention (p < 0.001). The study group had higher post-intervention scores compared to the control group, particularly in knowledge of gender-affirming therapies (post 4.3 vs. pre 3.4, p = 0.01) and self-confidence in providing gender-specific care (post 17.9 vs. pre 12.3, p=0.004). No significant changes were observed in knowledge of barriers to care for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of a curriculum focused on TGD health in improving residents’ knowledge and confidence. Further research is needed on the durability of these effects and the curriculum’s impact on awareness of barriers to care. Implementing such curricula at other institutions could reinforce educational programs in medical schools to improve provider competence and address the healthcare needs of TGD individuals.

PMID:40640870 | DOI:10.1186/s12939-025-02555-7

Parasit Vectors. 2025 Jul 10;18(1):277. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-06921-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to prevent malaria transmission. Unfortunately, resistance to pyrethroids affects the efficacy of standard ITNs. To overcome this resistance and continue to protect the population, the WHO has recommended new types of ITNs that combine a pyrethroid insecticide with either a synergist (PBO) or a second insecticide, such as chlorfenapyr. This study examines the baseline characteristics of malaria vectors prior to the distribution of three types of insecticide-treated nets as part of a three-arm randomised controlled trial: Interceptor G2 (pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr), VEERALIN (pyrethroid-PBO), and MAGNet (pyrethroid only).

METHODS: The study was carried out in 40 villages (grouped into 33 clusters) of Tiébissou district in central Côte d’Ivoire. To assess biting rate and biting behaviour, human landing catches were conducted hourly indoors and outdoors in six randomly selected houses in each cluster, starting at 18:00 and continuing until 08:00 the next morning. Adult mosquitoes collected were morphologically identified, and a subset of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) and An. funestus s.l. were speciated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Plasmodium sporozoite infections were detected by qPCR to estimate infection rates. The entomological inoculation rate was calculated as the product of the mosquito biting rate and the sporozoite infection rate.

RESULTS: Among the 10,698 mosquitoes collected, An. gambiae s.l. was the predominant species, accounting for 62.5% (n = 6683) of the catch, followed by An. funestus s.s., which accounted for 19.8% (n = 2120). Of the sub-sample of An. gambiae s.l. processed by PCR, 79.0% (n = 1291/1635) were An. coluzzii and the remaining were Anopheles gambiae s.s. Malaria vectors were highly aggressive, with an average of 14.8 bites/person/night for An. coluzzii, 2.0 b/p/n for An. gambiae s.s. and 5.4 b/p/n for An. funestus, representing an overall average of 22.2 b/p/n (95% CI 17.2-27.2 b/p/n). No significant difference was found in biting activity between indoor and outdoor environments (Z = -0.25, P = 0.803). Plasmodium sporozoite infection rate was 2.4% (95% CI 1.3-3.6%) for An. coluzzii, 1.5% (95% CI 0.3-2.6%) for An. gambiae s.s. and 2.7% (95% CI 1.2-4.3%) for An. funestus. The estimated overall entomological inoculation rate was 0.4 infected b/p/n (95% CI 0.3-0.6) and varied between 0.0 and 0.2 infective bites/person/night according to species. There was no difference observed in entomological infection rate (EIR) between capture locations (indoors versus outdoors; Z = 1.521, P = 0.128).

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that An. coluzzii and An. funestus were the main malaria vectors and showed similar biting patterns both indoors and outdoors. Anopheles funestus was found in high density in a limited number of villages. Malaria transmission was high despite universal distribution of pyrethroid-ITN in the district.

PMID:40640866 | DOI:10.1186/s13071-025-06921-w

Mar Pollut Bull. 2025 Jul 9;220:118394. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118394. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Driftwood is a ubiquitous component of coastal environments, yet its functional role in trapping marine litter remains poorly understood, particularly in tropical systems. This study investigates the relationship between driftwood abundance and litter accumulation across seven remote beaches of the central Caribbean coast of Colombia. A standardized quadrant-based field protocol was applied to quantify and classify 12,129 items, including 3990 driftwood pieces and 8139 litter items. Plastics represented 92 % of total litter, with foam sponge, caps, and fragmented packaging as dominant types. Driftwood indices showed strong spatial variation and were positively correlated with total litter and plastic densities. Sites with greater driftwood presence consistently exhibited higher litter accumulation, suggesting a passive retention mechanism. Multivariate ordination and cluster analyses revealed that driftwood-rich beaches formed distinct assemblages dominated by lightweight, floatable plastic items. Although Indicator Species Analysis did not yield statistically significant item-driftwood associations, qualitative patterns supported selective entrapment. These findings position driftwood as a key modulator of litter retention in remote beach systems. Beyond its ecological role, driftwood also holds predictive potential: linear relationships and derived ratios (LDR, PDR) offer scalable metrics for identifying pollution hotspots.

PMID:40638947 | DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118394