Nevin Manimala

Environ Mol Mutagen. 2025 Nov 6. doi: 10.1002/em.70038. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) skin exhibits unique morphological and physiological adaptations compared to other domestic bovines to enhance thermoregulation facilitated by abundant dermal melanin. Melanin synthesis and distribution, governed by the melanogenesis pathway and associated genes underpin coat color phenotypes and determine thermotolerance. The molecular mechanisms regulating pigmentation in buffalo skin remain underexplored as well as the reliable internal control genes (ICGs) for qPCR normalization. This study addresses the critical gap by systematically evaluating a panel of nine candidate reference genes for their expression stability in skin tissues from contrastingly pigmented buffaloes, jet-black Murrah and Nili Ravi (CC1) versus extensively white-spotted Nili Ravi (CC2). From the application of comprehensive statistical algorithms (deltaC_q, NormFinder, geNorm, BestKeeper), the combination of GAPDH, EEF1A1, and RPS23 emerged as the most stable reference gene set for normalization. Validation using key melanogenesis genes (KIT and TYR) confirmed that normalization with this trio yields consistent and biologically relevant expression profiles, with KIT robustly downregulated in white versus black skin. The recommended reference gene combination ensures robust normalization in gene expression profiling of melanogenesis-related genes in buffalo skin tissue.

PMID:41195572 | DOI:10.1002/em.70038

Int J Environ Health Res. 2025 Nov 6:1-15. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2025.2579084. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Wildfire events are increasing in frequency and intensity globally, partly due to climate change. This emerging public health crisis will disproportionately impact vulnerable populations such as children. Epidemiological studies link wildfire smoke, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), with adverse respiratory outcomes; yet few focus specifically on pediatric populations. This systematic review examines wildfire smoke impacts respiratory health in youth populations by analyzing studies identified through a comprehensive literature search in PubMed and Web of Science through 30 September 2024. Of 120 publications identified, five met the inclusion criteria: three retrospective cohorts, one cross-sectional, and one case-crossover study. Studies were conducted in the U.S. and Canada, using various exposure assessment methods including stationary monitors, satellite imagery, and surveys. Not all studies reported compatible effect measures, vote counting based on the direction of effect, and statistical significance was applied. All studies reported increases in respiratory symptoms, hospital visits, and medication use on days with significant wildfire smoke exposure. Differences in exposure measurement methods, health outcome definitions, and age stratifications limited cross-study comparability. Despite limitations, the review found consistent evidence linking wildfire smoke exposure to worsened respiratory health in children. Further research using standardized exposure assessments and age-specific analyses is needed.

PMID:41195550 | DOI:10.1080/09603123.2025.2579084

J Agromedicine. 2025 Nov 6:1-12. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2025.2582655. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Farmers are disproportionately affected by suicide, which is frequently preceded by signs of poor mental health. Findings on mental health outcomes among individuals in farming occupations are mixed. This analysis of a major national dataset sought to identify the sociodemographic factors related to poor mental health days and lifetime depression diagnosis among U.S. farming-related occupations versus the general population of people employed in non-farming occupations.

METHODS: Data were from 13 states providing industry and occupational data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) 2019 survey. Bivariate statistics and logistic regression investigated correlates (sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education level, and age) associated with poor mental health days in the last 30 days (14 or more days vs. 13 or fewer days) and with a depression diagnosis among farmers versus non-farmers.

RESULTS: The analysis included 55,253 individuals, with 2,773 individuals in farming occupations. In unadjusted models, people in farming occupations were significantly more likely than those in non-farming occupations to be older, White, with lower educational attainment, and a lower prevalence of poor mental health days or depression. In adjusted models, farming and non-farming occupations had no significant difference in the odds of having poor mental health days or a depression diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic differences between farming and non-farming occupations echoed previous findings. Being in a farming occupation was not associated with odds of poor mental health days or a depressive disorder diagnosis compared to non-farming occupations, which supports other findings from national datasets. These findings, along with statistics showing a higher rate of suicide among farmers and farmworkers, suggest that additional research is needed about factors related to farm-related occupational wellness and distress.

PMID:41195547 | DOI:10.1080/1059924X.2025.2582655

Foot Ankle Int. 2025 Nov 6:10711007251381785. doi: 10.1177/10711007251381785. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: 3D printing is a cost-effective manufacturing approach that offers several advantages for health care delivery, including rapid prototyping, precise customization to patient anatomy and user specifications, and the capability to produce implants directly at the point of care. The purpose of this study was to test whether 3D-printed carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF-PEEK) one-third tubular plates are statistically equivalent, within prespecified margins, to stainless steel plates in simulated early weightbearing and torsion.

METHODS: Carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone one-third tubular plates were designed and printed using Fused Deposition Modeling printers by study authors. These were compared to traditionally manufactured plates using 4-point bend tests. A cadaveric biomechanical comparison between fractures stabilized using 3D-printed plates and traditional manufactured plates was performed. Matched-pairs specimens underwent axial cyclic loading and torsional load to failure.

RESULTS: Ten matched paired specimens underwent mechanical testing. All specimens survived 100 000 cycles loaded to 875 N. Torque at failure did not significantly differ between groups (P = .14). During torsional load to failure, all 10 specimens (100%) with the traditional plate failed because of screw pullout. Five specimens (50%) with the 3D plate failed because of screw pullout and 5 (50%) failed because of plate fracture. Fifteen plates (five 3D, five 3D post autoclave, 5 traditional) underwent 4-point bending test. Stiffness was significantly lower in the 3D plates (P < .0001). The coefficient of variation was 0.06 for the 3D-printed plates and 0.01 for the traditional manufactured plates, demonstrating high consistency within groups.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this cadaveric study found that nonsterilized CF-PEEK plates demonstrated statistically equivalent displacement and torque at failure to stainless steel plates. However, they exhibited reduced stiffness and a higher incidence of plate fracture. Additionally, autoclave sterilization had a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the CF-PEEK plates. These findings underscore the need for additional biomechanical and clinical studies to assess the performance of 3D-printed implants and to refine sterilization protocols.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results suggest that constructs using 3D-printed CF-PEEK plates can perform statistically equivalently (within prespecified margins) to stainless steel constructs in simulated early weightbearing and torsion, despite different material properties. The impact of sterilization, however, must be considered, and alternatives to autoclaving are recommended.

PMID:41195515 | DOI:10.1177/10711007251381785

J Oral Rehabil. 2025 Nov 6. doi: 10.1111/joor.70101. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between bodily pain (BP) and painful temporomandibular disorders (PT) in the general population in China. It also focused on evaluating how psychological distress and sleep disturbance mediated the association.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were derived from a community survey conducted in mainland China in 2024 (N = 1920). Participants were categorised by BP sites: none (PF group), single site (SP group), and multiple sites (MP group). Psychological distress was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was used to evaluate sleep disturbances. Statistical analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, as well as chain mediation analysis.

RESULTS: The prevalence of PT was highest in the MP group, followed by the SP group, and lowest in the PF group. Multivariate logistic regression showed that BP (SP: OR 1.672, 95% CI 1.27-2.202; MP: OR 2.148; 95% CI 1.661-2.776), PHQ-4 (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.07-1.172), and ISI (OR 1.076; 95% CI 1.051-1.1) were positively associated with PT. Chain mediation analysis showed significant direct (Effect: 0.268; 95% CI 0.046-0.094) and the indirect effect of both PHQ-4 and ISI scores (Effect: 0.018; 95% CI 0.023-0.044) between BP and PT.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychological distress and sleep disturbance have a chain mediation effect on the association between BP and PT.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings highlight the significance of considering the comorbidity of BP in patients with PT and implementing interventions that address psychological distress and sleep disturbance in clinical practice.

PMID:41195506 | DOI:10.1111/joor.70101

Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2025 Nov 6. doi: 10.5603/fm.108855. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Human anatomy is a key subject in medical education and the foundation of clinical practice. Learning anatomy can be challenging for medical and health science students, because they have to memorise a large number of anatomical terms. The structure of the hand is extremely complex due to the number of bones, ligaments, and tendons – structures that a physiotherapist must be able to recognise precisely. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of physiotherapy students on the location and names of the bones of the hand.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted among second-year physiotherapy students from three Polish universities who had completed an anatomy course. A total of 537 people (191 men and 346 women) took part in the study. Each participant had to correctly describe the bones of the hand in the illustration. The test was an extended version of the “Carpal Bone Test”. The results were statistically analysed using Statistica 13.3 Tibco® software.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that only 32.2% of physiotherapy students were able to correctly identify all 12 bones present in the diagram, while 84.4% identified 6 or more of them. An analysis of the correctness of the identification of individual bones of the hand showed that the lunate bone (85.1%) and the distal phalanx (87%) were most often correctly identified. The most errors were made in identifying the trapezium and proximal phalanx (30% of participants were unable to identify them). The average number of correctly identified carpal bones was 6.

CONCLUSIONS: When teaching students the anatomy of the hand bones, special attention should be paid to the shape and position of individual bones in relation to each other in order to avoid errors in their identification. The Hand Bone Test, extended to include the metacarpals and fingers, is a simple and easy-to-use tool that provides an objective picture of the level of knowledge of hand anatomy. In the case of Polish students, certain errors can be attributed to the similarity of anatomical names in the Polish language.

PMID:41195468 | DOI:10.5603/fm.108855

Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2025 Nov 6. doi: 10.5603/fm.107912. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The brachial artery is a key vessel supplying the upper limb, and its anatomical variations can have significant clinical implications. One of the most common variations of this vessel is a high division of the brachial artery. This can occur at various levels of the arm and lead to the formation of a brachioradial artery, a brachioulnar artery, or their superficial variants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on the analysis of a case observed during a routine autopsy of a 64-year-old woman, conducted as part of the Normal Anatomy course for medical students at the Department of Normal and Radiological Anatomy of the Medical University of Lublin.

RESULTS: The analysis revealed an atypical course of the arteries in the left upper limb. The brachial artery divided at the level of the upper third of the arm, 2 cm below the lower border of the teres major muscle, giving rise to the brachioradial artery and the brachioulnar artery. The common interosseous artery branched off from the brachioulnar artery in the cubital fossa. The vascular course in the right upper limb was confirmed as typical.

CONCLUSIONS: A high division of the brachial artery is a relatively common anatomical variation, occurring in 10.05% of the population, and therefore requires special attention during surgical and diagnostic procedures. Its most frequent variant is the division of the brachial artery into a brachioradial artery and a brachioulnar artery. The presence of this variation can affect the efficacy and safety of procedures such as angiography, vascular surgeries, or reconstructive surgeries. Further research should aim to standardize the descriptions of anatomical variations in upper limb arteries and establish a unified nomenclature system.

PMID:41195466 | DOI:10.5603/fm.107912

RSC Adv. 2025 Nov 4;15(50):42533-42544. doi: 10.1039/d5ra07173a. eCollection 2025 Oct 31.

ABSTRACT

Electrochemical lactate sensors, used for analyzing biological fluids such as blood, sweat, and saliva, are gaining significant interest in healthcare and sports fields. A pivotal element that affects these sensors’ performance is the lactate oxidase-based electrode. This study focused on enhancing the performance of the lactate oxidase electrode by optimizing the loading and layering of lactate oxidase (LOx) and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) on carbon paper via the Box-Behnken design. The electrode surface was characterized utilizing FE-SEM, FTIR, and impedance analyses, with performance evaluation conducted via electrochemical and biochemical analyses. The optimized electrode, incorporating four layers of LOx (1.9 U) and PEGDGE (184 μg), generated an oxidation current of 1840 ± 60 μA, displaying high enzyme activity. It exhibited a maximum current at a lactate concentration of 50 mM, an apparent K ^app _m of 11.4 mM, and high stability with robust enzyme binding, thus supporting repeated use across numerous cycles. These results are instrumental in advancing the development of more effective and dependable lactate biosensors.

PMID:41195429 | PMC:PMC12584134 | DOI:10.1039/d5ra07173a

Cureus. 2025 Nov 4;17(11):e96095. doi: 10.7759/cureus.96095. eCollection 2025 Nov.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The choice of mesh in totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair remains a subject of debate, particularly regarding the optimal mesh shape. While anatomical and flat meshes are widely used, few studies have rigorously compared the impact of mesh shape while standardizing other surgical factors like fixation. Consequently, there is limited evidence to quantify the clinical and economic value of potential early recovery benefits. We aimed to determine if anatomical mesh shape provides superior early patient-reported outcomes compared to flat mesh when a standardized metallic fixation technique is used in both groups.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 80 patients undergoing elective TEP inguinal hernia repair. Patients were categorized to receive either a three-dimensional anatomical mesh (n=39) or a standard flat mesh (n=41), with both groups undergoing standardized metallic tack fixation. The primary outcomes were patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) assessed at one and six months postoperatively. Instruments included the validated Thai version of the Carolinas Comfort Scale (TCCS) for hernia-specific symptoms and the EQ-5D-5L with a Thai value set for health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: At the one-month follow-up, the anatomical mesh group demonstrated significantly better outcomes, with lower mean scores across all TCCS domains – Pain (7.77 ± 0.97 vs. 10.14 ± 0.96), Mesh Sensation (7.02 ± 0.92 vs. 9.17 ± 1.14), and Movement (6.95 ± 0.89 vs. 8.91 ± 1.08) – and a higher EQ-5D-5L utility score (0.819 ± 0.019 vs. 0.784 ± 0.016; p < 0.001 for all). By six months, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in either TCCS domains or EQ-5D-5L scores.

CONCLUSIONS: When the fixation method is standardized, the anatomical shape of the mesh is associated with a significantly better quality of life and fewer symptoms during the first month of recovery, a benefit that is transient. This study quantifies the value of early postoperative recovery, providing crucial evidence for a trade-off analysis between the higher cost of anatomical mesh and its tangible, short-term clinical benefits. These findings are essential for facilitating informed, value-based decisions in surgical practice.

PMID:41195413 | PMC:PMC12585181 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.96095

Cureus. 2025 Nov 3;17(11):e96049. doi: 10.7759/cureus.96049. eCollection 2025 Nov.

ABSTRACT

Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)–the other being Crohn’s disease–in which achieving both clinical remission and mucosal healing is essential for optimal long-term outcomes. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of oral mesalamine on achieving clinical remission and mucosal healing in patients with mild to moderate UC in a real-world clinical setting. Methodology This prospective observational study was conducted from April 2023 to March 2024 at two tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan: Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences, Muzaffarabad, and HBS Medical and Dental College, Islamabad. A total of 404 adult patients (222 males, 54.95%; 182 females, 45.05%) diagnosed with mild to moderate UC were enrolled. For mild conditions, the doctor recommended 2.4 g of oral mesalamine per day, and for moderate disease, 4.8 g per day. Patients were assessed at 8, 12, and 24 weeks to determine clinical remission, defined as the absence of rectal bleeding and normalization of stool frequency, and mucosal healing, defined as a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 or 1. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Chi-square tests and independent t-tests were applied, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Of the 404 patients, 367 (90.84%) completed the 24-week follow-up. Clinical remission was achieved in 238 (60.71%) at 8 weeks, 288 (76.39%) at 12 weeks, and 328 (89.37%) at 24 weeks. Mucosal healing was observed in 211 (54.10%) at 8 weeks, 265 (70.29%) at 12 weeks, and 282 (78.12%) at 24 weeks. Among those receiving 2.4 g/day (n=194), 172 (88.66%) achieved remission; in the 4.8 g/day group (n=173), 156 (90.17%) achieved remission. Conclusion Oral mesalamine is highly effective in inducing clinical and mucosal response in mild to moderate UC in routine practice.

PMID:41195407 | PMC:PMC12584084 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.96049