Nevin Manimala

Vet Ophthalmol. 2025 Aug 29. doi: 10.1111/vop.70073. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the conjunctival bacterial flora of laboratory-housed New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits using conventional culture techniques and quantitative bacterial analysis.

ANIMALS STUDIED: This experimental study involved the collection of conjunctival fornix samples from 24 eyes of 12 healthy laboratory-housed NZW rabbits.

PROCEDURES: Conjunctival samples were obtained using sterile dry swabs and processed using standard microbiological techniques. Bacterial identification was performed via mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), and quantification was expressed in colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL).

RESULTS: Bacterial growth was observed in 74% of the samples (17/24 eyes), with seven species identified: Moraxella cuniculi, Corynebacterium spp., coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans group, and Tsukamurella spp. Although most isolates were Gram-positive, M. cuniculi-a Gram-negative bacterium-was the predominant species. It exhibited the highest bacterial load (CFU/mL) and demonstrated a statistically significant difference compared to the other species (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.01). M. cuniculi also exhibited the highest variability in CFU/mL values among all isolates.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the predominance of Gram-positive isolates, M. cuniculi was identified as the predominant species in the conjunctival flora of healthy NZW rabbits, both in frequency and bacterial load. These findings contribute to a more detailed characterization of the ocular microbiota in this commonly used laboratory model.

PMID:40883865 | DOI:10.1111/vop.70073

Clin Chem Lab Med. 2025 Sep 1. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2025-0747. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Our previous study revealed a correlation between fecal leukocyte esterase and fecal calprotectin levels. This study assessed the predictive value of fecal leukocyte esterase compared with fecal calprotectin and C-reactive protein of inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who underwent ileocolonoscopy at National Taiwan University Hospital from March 2022 to March 2024 were included. Fecal leukocyte esterase and fecal calprotectin levels from stool samples collected within one month of endoscopy were analyzed. Active ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease were defined as Mayo endoscopic score ≥2 or simple endoscopic score for Crohn’s disease ≥7, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.

RESULTS: Of the 203 patients (100 with ulcerative colitis and 103 with Crohn’s disease), fecal leukocyte esterase levels were significantly correlated with fecal calprotectin levels (r=0.425, p<0.001) and endoscopic severity in ulcerative colitis (r=0.432, p<0.001) and Crohn’s disease (r=0.311, p=0.001). For predicting Mayo endoscopic scores ≥2 in ulcerative colitis using fecal leukocyte esterase, fecal calprotectin, and C-reactive protein, areas under the curve were 0.731, 0.785, and 0.558, respectively. For predicting simple endoscopic scores for Crohn’s disease ≥7, areas under the curve were 0.706, 0.800, and 0.770, respectively. No significant difference was observed between fecal leukocyte esterase and fecal calprotectin.

CONCLUSIONS: Fecal leukocyte esterase correlates with fecal calprotectin and predicts endoscopic severity in inflammatory bowel disease.

PMID:40883864 | DOI:10.1515/cclm-2025-0747

BMC Res Notes. 2025 Aug 29;18(1):371. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07455-1.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is a common multifactorial inflammatory disease affecting both children and adults. Various cells and cytokines contribute to this inflammatory process. Smooth muscle contraction, vascular congestion, and airway edema lead to airway narrowing, which is an important factor in asthma. This study explores the potential impact of Ranolazine, a sodium blocker used for chronic angina, on asthmatic rats. By investigating the drug’s effects on vascular and lung tissue changes, this research seeks to offer perspectives on innovative treatment approaches for asthma.

RESULTS: Ranolazine treatment showed minimal impact on serum IgE levels in asthmatic rats, with a slight reduction that was statistically insignificant. However, Ranolazine treatment resulted in a significant decrease in perivascular and peribronchial inflammation levels compared to the asthmatic group, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect on lung histology changes associated with asthma pathophysiology.

PMID:40883851 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-025-07455-1

BioData Min. 2025 Aug 29;18(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s13040-025-00474-5.

ABSTRACT

Class imbalance poses a serious challenge in biomedical machine learning, particularly in genomics, where datasets are characterized by extremely high dimensionality and very limited sample sizes. In such settings, standard classifiers tend to favor the majority class, leading to biased predictions – an especially problematic issue in clinical diagnostics where rare conditions must not be overlooked. In this study, we introduce a Kernel Density Estimation (KDE)-based oversampling approach to rebalance imbalanced genomic datasets by generating synthetic minority class samples. Unlike conventional methods such as SMOTE, KDE estimates the global probability distribution of the minority class and resamples accordingly, avoiding local interpolation pitfalls. We evaluate our method on 15 real-world genomic datasets using three classifiers -Naïve Bayes, Decision Trees, and Random Forests- and compare it to SMOTE and baseline training. Experimental results demonstrate that KDE oversampling consistently improves classification performance, especially in metrics robust to imbalance, such as AUC of the IMCP curve. Notably, KDE achieves superior results in tree-based models while dramatically simplifying the sampling process. This approach offers a statistically grounded and effective solution for balancing genomic datasets, with strong potential for improving fairness and accuracy in high-stakes medical decision-making.

PMID:40883844 | DOI:10.1186/s13040-025-00474-5

Cost Eff Resour Alloc. 2025 Aug 29;23(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s12962-025-00651-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that community pharmacist-led interventions in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can improve clinical outcomes such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure, and lipid profiles, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications. However, limited research has evaluated the economic value of such interventions, particularly in the context of Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Given the absence of well-designed studies assessing the cost-effectiveness of community pharmacist-based interventions in preventing cardiovascular complications among patients with T2DM in Iran, this study aimed to evaluate the economic and clinical impact of such an intervention. Standard care provided by community pharmacists served as the comparator.

METHODS: This study was conducted over 12 months in a community pharmacy setting. A total of 110 patients with T2DM were enrolled, with 55 receiving usual care (comparator group) and 55 receiving a structured pharmacist-led intervention. The intervention included medication optimization, lifestyle counseling, and dietary guidance, with a focus on reducing cardiovascular risk. Economic evaluation was performed from the healthcare system perspective using a Markov model over a 10-year time horizon. Outcomes included life years gained (LYG) and reduction in the 10-year risk of cardiovascular events. Direct medical costs for both the intervention and comparator groups were considered.

RESULTS: Pharmacist-led interventions significantly reduced average HbA1c levels (p = 0.009), improved HDL cholesterol (p = 0.016), and lowered LDL cholesterol (p = 0.05) in the intervention group compared to the comparator. SBP also showed a statistically significant improvement in the intervention group (p = 0.003), while the comparator group experienced an increase in SBP. The estimated 10-year risks for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, both fatal and nonfatal, were lower in the intervention group. The cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that the intervention resulted in a cost saving of -1469.02 USD and an additional 0.045 life years gained compared to usual care.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that community pharmacist-led interventions targeting cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with T2DM are both clinically effective and cost-efficient. Incorporating pharmacists into diabetes care programs may significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes while reducing long-term healthcare costs in Iran.

PMID:40883843 | DOI:10.1186/s12962-025-00651-7

BMC Psychol. 2025 Aug 29;13(1):980. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03044-w.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Focusing on the well-being of individuals with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, is vital for enhancing their overall quality of life. Hence, this study examined the associations between selected psychosocial factors-namely self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and social dysfunction-and happiness among patients with cardiovascular disease.

METHODS: A total of 150 adult cardiovascular patients completed a questionnaire-based survey in 2023. The survey assessed happiness, psychological well-being, general self-efficacy, and demographic variables. Hierarchical linear regression models were used for data analysis, conducted using SPSS version 21.0 software. A significance level of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: In the first step, demographic variables significantly predicted 45.9% of the variance of happiness (p < 0.05). In the second step, after adjusting control variables and dimensions of psychological well-being and general self-efficacy, the explained variance increased to 70.7% of the variance by adding variables (p-value < 0.05). Depressive symptoms (β= -0.316, p-value < 0.05) and social dysfunction (β=-0.204, p-value < 0.05) showed the strongest negative associations with happiness in cardiovascular patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the strong negative associations between depressive symptoms, social dysfunction, and happiness, psychosocial interventions focused on reducing depressive symptoms and improving social functioning may be effective in enhancing well-being among individuals with cardiovascular disease. It is recommended to integrate mental health screening and support into routine cardiac care.

PMID:40883840 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-03044-w

Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2025 Aug 29;17(1):363. doi: 10.1186/s13098-025-01926-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive hepatic fat accumulation and is closely associated with inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. The C‑reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, a composite marker of inflammation, immunity, and nutritional status, remains understudied in relation to NAFLD.

METHODS: A crosssectional analysis was conducted using data from 7,271 U.S. adults in NHANES 2017-2020. NAFLD was defined by vibrationcontrolled transient elastography with a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) > 274 dB/m. Weighted logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) modeling, and twopiecewise logistic regression were applied to assess linear and nonlinear associations between the CALLY index and NAFLD prevalence. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the consistency and robustness of the findings.

RESULTS: The mean CALLY index was 8.08 (SD 12.42). Higher CALLY levels were inversely associated with NAFLD prevalence ( OR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95-0.98). Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1 < 1.90), the highest quartile (Q4 > 10.00) showed a 61% lower prevalence of NAFLD (OR = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.24-0.64). RCS analysis demonstrated a significant nonlinear relationship, with a threshold at 8.91; below this value, each unit increase in the CALLY index corresponded to a 10% reduction in NAFLD prevalence (OR = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.88-0.92). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results, confirming the robustness of these findings.

CONCLUSION: The CALLY index demonstrates a significant inverse association with NAFLD prevalence and may serve as a simple composite indicator for identifying individuals at higher likelihood of NAFLD, providing additional insights to inform future screening and risk‑stratification research.

PMID:40883838 | DOI:10.1186/s13098-025-01926-y

Res Integr Peer Rev. 2025 Aug 29;10(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s41073-025-00176-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Historically, systematic review studies of nonclinical published research articles around the life sciences have shown that the overall reporting of information on measures against bias is low. Measures such as randomization, blinding and sample size estimation are mentioned in the minority of the studies. The present study aims to provide an overview of the recent reporting standards in a large sample of nonclinical articles with focus on statistical information.

METHODS: Journals were randomly selected from Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate). Biomedical research articles published in 2020 from 10 journals were analyzed for their reporting standards using a checklist.

RESULTS: In total 860 articles; 320 articles describing in vivo methods, 187 articles describing in vitro methods and 353 articles including both in vivo and in vitro methods, were included in the study. The reporting rate of “randomization” ranged from 0%-63% between journals for in vivo articles and 0%-4% for in vitro articles. The reporting rate of “blinded conduct of the experiments” ranged from 11%-71% between journals for in vivo articles and 0%-86% for in vitro articles.

CONCLUSION: The analysis showed that the reporting standards remained low, also when other statistical information is concerned. Additionally, our results suggest that the reporting in articles on in vivo experiments is better compared to articles on in vitro experiments. Furthermore, important differences in reporting standards between journals seem to exist.

PMID:40883808 | DOI:10.1186/s41073-025-00176-w

BMC Womens Health. 2025 Aug 29;25(1):414. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03948-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age, characterized by hormonal imbalances, reproductive abnormalities, and metabolic disturbances. The diagnosis and management of PCOS is not well documented, particularly in the Ethiopian healthcare setup.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 healthcare professionals selected from hospitals in Addis Ababa from April 10 to May 24, 2024. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire and double entered using Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25. Likert scale was used for the attitude analysis and the average score measure of difference was used for knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) level of measurements. ANOVA was used for testing the association of p-value less than 0.05% and Spearman’s rho was used to test correlation.

RESULT: Out of 210 respondents, only 43 (20.5%) had “Good Knowledge” about PCOS and its diagnosis. Gynecologists exhibited the highest knowledge (58.3%) and practice (50%) scores compared to other professions. A majority, 187 individuals (89.0%), were classified as having a “Good Attitude” towards PCOS and its diagnosis. Only 42 (22.0%) of participants indicated Good Practice. Among the hormonal markers, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) on its own was the most frequently used (75 participants, 41.4%), Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEAS) were only utilized by 15.5% (28) and 17.7% (32) of participants respectively.

CONCLUSION: The study highlighted significant gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practices among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia regarding PCOS diagnosis. Inadequate practices were common, with reliance on ultrasonography and physical symptoms alone. More attention should be given to creating proper diagnosis and referring channels along with teaching and advocacy in academia and the public to promote women’s reproductive health.

PMID:40883800 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-025-03948-0

BMC Psychol. 2025 Aug 29;13(1):987. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-03271-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Trait emotional intelligence (EI) is often assessed using the 30-item Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF). However, previous research using item response theory (IRT) modelling has identified several underperforming items. This study aimed to psychometrically evaluate, refine, and optimize the TEIQue-SF using IRT, with the goals of identifying and eliminating underperforming items, and examining whether items in the refined version function differently across sexes. Furthermore, the study sought to further validate the Swedish version of the TEIQue-SF.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed 845 first-year students aged 19-59 (87% women) from seven healthcare and social work programs across six universities in southern Sweden. Participants completed the TEIQue-SF and health-related measures for convergent validity. IRT modeling employed the Graded Response Model (GRM) using the 2-Parameter Logistic Model in IRT for Patient-Reported Outcomes (IRTPRO). Marginal reliability and differential item functioning (DIF) were assessed with IRT, internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha and mean inter-item correlations, and validity through evaluating Direct Discrepancy Dynamic fit index (DDDFI) and bivariate correlations.

RESULTS: The IRT modeling identified underperforming items, leading to a refined 12-item TEIQue-SF that effectively captures trait EI with high-quality items. The item selection process is detailed and supplemented. The shortened measure showed a strong correlation with the original (r = .94), demonstrated good reliability, and exhibited uniform DIF for only one item (Item 15). A comparison of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model fit statistics using the DDDFI indicated a fair fit for the TEIQue-SF. Consistent with previous research on the TEIQue-SF, both 30-item and 12 item versions demonstrated strong convergent validity with health-related measures within the Swedish context.

CONCLUSIONS: The 12-item TEIQue-SF is a brief, precise, and valid measure for assessing trait EI while preserving its global conceptual structure. IRT modeling and validity testing against health-related measures confirm that 12-item TEIQue-SF effectively captures trait EI.

PMID:40883795 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-03271-1