Nevin Manimala

Lasers Med Sci. 2025 Jul 15;40(1):317. doi: 10.1007/s10103-025-04509-5.

ABSTRACT

Leprosy, when diagnosed late, often leads to persistent complications, including neuropathic pain due to Mycobacterium leprae infection. This study aimed to apply a physiotherapeutic protocol combined with photobiomodulation as a non-pharmacological resource to reduce neuropathic pain and maintain functional capacity in leprosy patients.

METHODS: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted with 30 leprosy patients. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: physiotherapeutic protocol (PPG) and physiotherapeutic protocol combined with photobiomodulation (PPBMG). They were analyzed for simplified neurological assessment (SNA), pain scale (VAS), screening of activity limitation and safety awareness (SALSA), participation scale, and quality of life survey (SF-36).

RESULTS: In the SALSA, a reduction in the number of patients with severe limitation was observed in PPBMG (effect size, 0.24). In participation scale, there was an increase in the number of patients without restrictions in PPBMG. Regarding VAS, there was improvement in both groups (PPG, P = 0.0061; PPBMG, P = 0.041), with no difference between them. In relation to neurological evaluation by nerve palpation, there was improvement in the ulnar nerve condition (P = 0.0244) in PPG group, and in the fibular nerve (P = 0.0425) in PPBMG group. In the functional assessment, PPBMG patients showed statistical differences with improvement in the median (P = 0.0281) and tibial (P = 0.0267) nerves. In the SF-36, there was an increase in the domains of physical limitations (PPG, P = 0.0273; and PPBMG, P = 0.0078) and pain (PPG, P = 0.0156; and PPBMG, P = 0.0020; effect size, 0.34).

CONCLUSION: This study provides relevant evidence for the efficacy of PPBMG in treating neuropathic pain in leprosy patients.

PMID:40663207 | DOI:10.1007/s10103-025-04509-5

Eur J Pain. 2025 Aug;29(7):e70080. doi: 10.1002/ejp.70080.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a prevalent condition that disproportionately affects women, significantly impairing their functioning. Understanding its prevalence and impact is essential for designing effective interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic pain among women and assess its effects on functioning.

METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis utilised data from the National Study on Disability (ENDISC-2022) in Chile, focusing on women aged 18 years and older. Chronic pain was assessed through self-reported data, and functioning was evaluated using performance indicators derived from the Model Disability Survey (MDS). Generalised Linear Models (GLM) were applied to examine associations with sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, and stratified analyses compared women with and without chronic pain.

RESULTS: Among the 30,010 participants in the ENDISC study, 14.8% reported chronic pain, with 67.1% of those affected being women. Women experiencing chronic pain exhibited significantly poorer performance scores across all evaluated domains compared to their counterparts without pain. The GLM regression analysis revealed that women with chronic pain had a significantly higher risk of worse functioning scores compared to those without chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS: Sociodemographic factors such as age, education level, and employment status further influenced outcomes, underscoring the vulnerability of women with chronic pain. Chronic pain is a significant and pervasive issue among women in Chile, markedly impairing their functioning and well-being. Gender-sensitive approaches and policies are crucial to reducing the burden of chronic pain and improving the quality of life for affected women, particularly those in vulnerable sociodemographic groups.

SIGNIFICANCE: The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that address the multifaceted nature of chronic pain, including its physical, psychological, and social dimensions in women with pain and a more sensitive look at the difficulties encountered by this population, such as work issues.

PMID:40662308 | DOI:10.1002/ejp.70080

Health Promot Int. 2025 Jul 1;40(4):daaf062. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daaf062.

ABSTRACT

The Active School Flag (ASF) is a multi-stage, multi-component, whole-of-school physical activity (PA) programme. This study explored relationships between Irish adolescents’ health literacy, PA knowledge, beliefs and awareness and their efforts to communicate PA messages. Schools (n = 17) newly enrolled in the ASF programme were invited to participate in a mixed methods study. A questionnaire assessing adolescents’ health literacy, PA knowledge and beliefs about the consequences of behaviour, and ASF programme awareness was completed in five schools. Statistical analysis involved a hierarchical multiple linear regression. Focus groups (n = 11) were conducted with ASF programme implementers in ten schools to understand current practices of communicating PA messages. Data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Males comprised 62.3% of the sample (N = 483), and 57.1% were junior students (1st-3rd year). The overall model significantly predicted adolescents’ health literacy, F(4, 464) = 56.241, P < .001. Gender (B = -1.09, P = .02), knowledge of PA (B = 0.4, P = .04), and beliefs about the consequences of behaviour (B = 2.3, P < .001) were significant predictors of health literacy, accounting for 33.2% of the variance. Challenges included low awareness of, engagement with, and maximizing support for implementing ASF. The gap identified between the messages communicated and awareness of ASF requires further research to develop an effective, structured, and standardized PA communication plan for schools to facilitate policy and practice. Improving adolescents’ knowledge and beliefs about the consequences of PA could improve overall health literacy levels. Therefore, providing support and guidance to whole-of-school programme implementers for communicating PA messages will help influence practice and policy.

PMID:40662281 | DOI:10.1093/heapro/daaf062

Cardiovasc Res. 2025 Jul 15:cvaf125. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvaf125. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Despite being the most common cardiovascular risk factor, the actual burden of hypertension is poorly characterized in Africa. We meta-analyzed the most extensive pooled data to determine the overall prevalence of hypertension in Africa.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases to retrieve prevalence studies only on hypertension among Africans published between 2002 and 2023. Furthermore, we meta-analyzed the crude and age-adjusted prevalences of hypertension using a random effect model due to the expected high heterogeneity, with logit transformation of the original proportions.Seventy-eight (out of an initial 779 screened) articles with complete data were included, with a total number of hypertension cases of 71,004 and a denominator population of 286,575, mostly from community-based studies in 23 countries. The pooled crude prevalence of hypertension was 28⸱5/100 persons [95% confidence interval (CI): 25⸱3%-31⸱8%] and a 95% prediction interval of 7⸱6%-65⸱6%; the pooled prevalence increased with age and was highest among the aged ≥75 years: 51⸱4% (95%CI: 42⸱0%-60⸱6%) and remained highest in the Southern Africa region overall (34⸱8%) and in the last decade (2013-2023; 44⸱5%). The point estimate of the pooled crude prevalence was higher among urban dwellers, 32⸱9% (95%CI: 26⸱8%-39⸱5%), than rural residents, 26⸱3% (95%CI: 20⸱4%-33⸱3%). In a subset of twenty-one articles reporting age stratification consistent with the WHO standard population, the pooled age-standardized prevalence was 27⸱2/100 persons (95%CI: 20⸱9%-33⸱6%).

CONCLUSION: The burden of hypertension remains high, especially in urban areas and with increasing age. Frequent screening and treatment are recommended, especially in urban areas.

PMID:40662276 | DOI:10.1093/cvr/cvaf125

Anal Methods. 2025 Jul 15. doi: 10.1039/d5ay00916b. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

A novel solid-contact potentiometric sensor was developed for the selective and trace-level detection of triclopyr (Tcpy), an environmentally persistent pyridine-based herbicide. The sensor comprises a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane incorporating tetradecylammonium bromide (TDAB) as the ion-exchanger and o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (o-NPOE) as the plasticizer, supported on a glassy carbon electrode modified with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The introduction of rGO significantly enhanced the sensor’s electron transfer kinetics, signal stability, and interfacial capacitance, enabling a near-Nernstian response of -55.7 mV per decade over a linear concentration range of 3.0 × 10^-6 to 1.0 × 10^-3 M, with a detection limit of 7.6 × 10^-7 M. The sensor exhibited a fast response time (<5 s), excellent selectivity against structurally related herbicides and common anions, and outstanding potential stability, with a drift as low as 18.3 μV s^-1. Its analytical performance was validated through the quantification of triclopyr in spiked environmental water samples and a commercial pesticide formulation (Garlon 3A), with recovery rates ranging from 96% to 102% and results statistically comparable to HPLC measurements. This work demonstrates a cost-effective, reliable, and field-deployable platform for monitoring triclopyr contamination, highlighting the promising role of rGO-based solid-contact ion-selective electrodes in environmental sensing.

PMID:40662272 | DOI:10.1039/d5ay00916b

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol Nurs. 2025 Jul 15:27527530251342163. doi: 10.1177/27527530251342163. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundAnxiety is highly prevalent among pediatric oncology patients. Weighted blankets are a potential intervention to address anxiety for pediatric oncology patients. The goal of this work is to assess the effectiveness of weighted blankets in reducing anxiety for pediatric oncology patients. Method: A randomized 2 × 2 cross-over design was utilized. Newly diagnosed pediatric oncology patients between the age of 4 and 17 were included. All participants also needed to pass seriation screening to be able to eligible for the study. Participants were randomized to one of two arms: weighted blanket on first infusion visit after enrollment then usual care on second visit (WB:UC) or usual care on first infusion visit after enrollment then weighted blanket (UC:WB) on second visit. Anxiety via Children’s Anxiety Meter-State (CAM-S) was collected pre- and postinfusion visit. Descriptive statistics were conducted to describe the data. A linear mixed model with interaction effects was conducted to assess the treatment effect of the weighted blanket. Results: There were 26 participants who were enrolled in the study. Twenty-four with complete information were included in the analysis. Regression models revealed that CAM-S measure reduced by -0.71 (95% CI: [-1.25 to -0.19], p = .02). WB had more impact on the second visit ($\beta$ = -0.51, -1.92 to 0.88, 0.97). Discussion: There was significant reduction in anxiety postinfusion. While further research is needed, this study highlights not only the impact of weighted blankets, but of nursing care on anxiety for pediatric oncology patients.

PMID:40662270 | DOI:10.1177/27527530251342163

Perception. 2025 Jul 15:3010066251355391. doi: 10.1177/03010066251355391. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biological motion perception plays a crucial role in understanding the actions of other animals, facilitating effective social interactions. Although traditionally viewed as a bottom-up driven process, recent research suggests that top-down mechanisms, including attention and expectation, significantly influence biological motion perception at all levels, particularly highlighted under complex or ambiguous conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of expectation on biological motion perception using a cued individuation task with point-light display (PLD) stimuli. We conducted three experiments investigating how prior information regarding action, emotion, and gender of PLD stimuli modulates perceptual processing. We observed a statistically significant congruency effect when preceding cues informed about action of the upcoming biological motion stimulus; participants performed slower in incongruent trials compared to congruent trials. This effect seems to be mainly driven from the 75% congruency condition compared to the non-informative 50% (chance level) validity condition. The congruency effect that was observed in the action experiment was absent in the emotion and gender experiments. These findings highlight the nuanced role of prior information in biological motion perception, particularly emphasizing that action-related cues, when moderately reliable, can influence biological motion perception. Our results are in line with the predictive processing framework, suggesting that the integration of top-down and bottom-up processes is context-dependent and influenced by the nature of prior information. Our results also emphasize the need to develop more comprehensive frameworks that incorporate naturalistic, complex and dynamic, stimuli to build better models of biological motion perception.

PMID:40662256 | DOI:10.1177/03010066251355391

Acta Paediatr. 2025 Jul 15. doi: 10.1111/apa.70222. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Hearing loss occurs more frequently in preterm children. However, the influence of prematurity itself is unclear. We examined whether risk factors for hearing loss differ between preterm and term infants.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of three databases in March 2023 for studies comparing risk factors for hearing loss in preterm and term children. Studies on postnatal trauma, chemotherapy or infections after the age of 5 years were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed. Data were extracted and analyzed using logistic regression to yield odds ratios (95% confidence interval).

RESULTS: Of 10 300 studies screened, 16 met the inclusion criteria, including 9059 preterm and 10 048 term children. Only one study compared risk factors between preterm and term infants as primary outcomes. It identified an increased risk in the preterm but not term group with mechanical ventilation exceeding 5 days, sepsis, and ototoxic medication. No significant differences were found when both groups shared these risk factors, suggesting that prematurity may not be an independent risk factor. Other studies reported variable results.

CONCLUSION: Evidence of different effect sizes of risk factors in preterm and term children remains inconclusive. Preterm children acquire more risk factors in the neonatal period.

PMID:40662234 | DOI:10.1111/apa.70222

Vet Clin Pathol. 2025 Jul 15. doi: 10.1111/vcp.70035. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Regular blood sampling to monitor RBC mass in anemic cats can exacerbate anemia. Laboratory-based reporting can delay clinical decisions. A hand-held hemoglobinometer, HemoCue Hb 201⁺ (HC-201), requires only one drop of blood (10 μL) and provides results within 1 min.

OBJECTIVES: This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the utility of HC-201 in cats and investigate the impact of potential interferents on its performance.

METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four venous blood samples in EDTA from 93 cats were analyzed. Hemoglobin concentration was measured once using an ADVIA 2120 analyzer and compared to the mean of 2-3 replicate measurements from an HC-201. Agreement and systematic bias between HC-201 and ADVIA results, along with precision between HC-201 replicates, were assessed using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient, non-parametric Bland-Altman, Passing-Bablok regression, and intraclass correlation coefficient. The performance of HC-201 in the presence of anemia, leukocytosis, azotemia, lipemia, icterus, hemolysis, and peripheral versus jugular venipunctures was assessed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

RESULTS: Passing-Bablok analysis revealed a significant constant bias (intercept = -2.242, 95% CI: -4.042 to -0.667) but no significant proportional bias (slope = 1.015, 95% CI: 1.000-1.032). HC-201 demonstrated excellent agreement (ρ_c = 0.989) and precision (ICC = 0.997) with a median bias of -0.67 g/L (p = 0.001). The total observed error was 3.02%, within the allowable limits defined by international standards. Neither anemia, leukocytosis, azotemia, lipemia, nor venipuncture site influenced HC-201 measurements. Samples with icterus and hemolysis were insufficient in number for statistical comparison.

CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study indicates that HC-201 offers reliable point-of-care monitoring for hemoglobin concentration in cats.

PMID:40662223 | DOI:10.1111/vcp.70035

J Xray Sci Technol. 2025 Jul 15:8953996251337889. doi: 10.1177/08953996251337889. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSES: Suppressing noise can effectively promote image quality and save radiation dose in clinical imaging with x-ray computed tomography (CT). To date, numerous statistical noise reduction approaches have ever been proposed in image domain, projection domain or both domains. Especially, a multiscale decomposition strategy can be exploited to enhance the performance of noise suppression while preserving image sharpness. Recognizing the inherent advantage of noise suppression in the projection domain, we have previously proposed a projection domain multiscale penalized weighted least squares (PWLS) method for fan-beam CT imaging, wherein the sampling intervals are explicitly taken into account for the possible variation of sampling rates. In this work, we extend our previous method into cone-beam (CB) CT imaging, which is more relevant to practical imaging applications.

METHODS: The projection domain multiscale PWLS method is derived for CBCT imaging by converting an isotropic diffusion partial differential equation (PDE) in the three-dimensional (3D) image domain into its counterpart in the CB projection domain. With adoption of the Markov random field (MRF) objective function, the CB projection domain multiscale PWLS method suppresses noise at each scale. The performance of the proposed method for statistical noise reduction in CBCT imaging is experimentally evaluated and verified using the projection data acquired by an actual micro-CT scanner.

RESULTS: The preliminary result shows that the proposed CB projection domain multiscale PWLS method outperforms the CB projection domain single-scale PWLS, the 3D image domain discriminative feature representation (DFR), and the 3D image domain multiscale nonlinear diffusion methods in noise reduction. Moreover, the proposed method can preserve image sharpness effectively while avoiding generation of novel artifacts.

CONCLUSIONS: Since the sampling intervals are explicitly taken into account in the projection domain multiscale decomposition, the proposed method would be beneficial to advanced applications where the CBCT imaging is employed and the sampling rates vary.

PMID:40662209 | DOI:10.1177/08953996251337889