Nevin Manimala

BMC Nutr. 2025 Jul 21;11(1):142. doi: 10.1186/s40795-025-01125-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an important public health concern, which has dramatically grown in the last decades. Taste sensation determines food preferences and could contribute to obesity. Considering the conflicting results about the association of gustatory threshold and overweight/obesity status of individuals, this study designed to compare gustatory threshold of five main tastes (sweet, umami, salty, bitter, and sour) among individuals with overweight/obesity and with a normal BMI.

METHODS: In this case-control and population-based study, 100 adults participated, divided into two equal number of normal and overweight/obese groups. To measure gustatory threshold of sweet, umami, salty, bitter, and sour tastes, solutions of sucrose, monosodium glutamate, sodium chloride, quinine hydrochloride and citric acid were prepared respectively. Three millimeters of each solution was dropped on the right side of the posterior tongue, and the same volume of distilled water was dropped on the left side. The concentration at which the participant perceived the taste was considered the gustatory threshold. The data was analyzed in SPSS software version 22 with the Mann-Whitney test and Spearmen correlation coefficient.

RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were observed between the gustatory thresholds of the five main tastes among participants with normal BMI and with overweight/obesity. Moreover, among the numerical value of BMI and perceived concentrations of each of the tastes, no association was found (p value > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings obtained from this study, no significant statistical difference in gustatory threshold of five main tastes was observed among individuals with overweight/obesity and normal weight.

PMID:40691631 | DOI:10.1186/s40795-025-01125-y

J Foot Ankle Res. 2025 Sep;18(3):e70063. doi: 10.1002/jfa2.70063.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The decline in podiatry student enrolments at universities across Australia and New Zealand presents a workforce crisis that threatens the profession’s sustainability and the delivery of essential healthcare services to communities. Recent data highlight a limited understanding of the podiatry profession among allied health students. There is now a clear need for strategies to address negative stereotypes and to build knowledge of the profession’s scope of practice, career opportunities, job prospects and earning potential. As part of a larger research initiative, this study explored student perspectives on marketing the podiatry profession to increase student enrolments.

METHODS: A convergent mixed methods study design was employed. Participants included students enrolled in (i) podiatry and (ii) relevant ‘non-podiatry’ health, sport or science programs at nine Australian universities and one New Zealand university. Data were collected via an online survey (278 podiatry students and 553 non-podiatry students responding) and two online workshops with nine first-year podiatry students. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression models, while qualitative data underwent inductive thematic analysis by three independent assessors. We integrated the data by exploring the connections between the quantitative and qualitative findings.

RESULTS: Findings revealed that over 40% of podiatry students had initial concerns about their course and 34.2% had considered leaving. Instagram and Facebook were identified as the most influential social media platforms for sourcing information about courses and careers. Four over-arching themes emerged as important marketing strategies for increasing student enrolments: (i) enhance the visibility, perception and advocacy of podiatry; (ii) emphasise holistic and diverse practice in podiatry; (iii) enable early exposure and experience of podiatry practice and (iv) improve course entry pathways and flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS: An evidence-based approach is required to enhance the visibility and appeal of podiatry as a career. Strategies should focus on addressing misconceptions about the discipline, expanding promotional efforts to broader audiences, leveraging relevant media platforms, reducing financial and academic barriers for prospective students, and improving study flexibility. Strengthening enrolments and reducing attrition are fundamental to ensuring the sustainability and growth of the podiatry profession in Australia and New Zealand.

PMID:40691626 | DOI:10.1002/jfa2.70063

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jul 21;20(1):689. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06110-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDOH) encompass social and economic factors that influence healthcare access and outcomes. In orthopaedic surgery, disparities in SDOH contribute to unequal access to care and differences in post-surgical recovery. Prior studies indicate that an increased number of preoperative shoulder dislocations raises the likelihood of recurrent instability following stabilization procedures. However, limited research explores the association between SDOH and preoperative dislocation frequency. This study examines how SDOH factors influence the number of shoulder dislocations before surgical intervention.

METHODS: Patients that underwent shoulder instability surgery at a single center in a large metropolitan area between January 1, 2021, and April 30, 2023, were identified. Patients’ demographic and social determinant variables were extracted using the electronic medical record. Socioeconomic status was assessed using the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), based on patient zip codes. Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate regression models, evaluated predictors of multiple dislocations before surgery, focusing on factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), and socioeconomic indicators.

RESULTS: Among 106 patients, 54% identified as White, 29% as Black, and 17% as other. Thirty-eight (35.8%) had a single dislocation before surgery, while 68 (64.2%) experienced multiple instability events. Univariate analysis showed younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, P = 0.02), lower BMI (OR 0.90, P = 0.02), higher SVI (OR 1.21, P = 0.006), and higher ADI (OR 6.04, P = 0.003) were associated with recurrent instability. Multivariate analysis confirmed lower BMI (OR 1.15, P = 0.02) and higher ADI (OR 7.46, P = 0.02) as independent predictors.

CONCLUSIONS: Lower socioeconomic status, as measured by ADI, is an independent predictor of a higher likelihood of recurrent instability before surgery. Recognizing these relationships can motivate surgeons to create pathways to prevent these treatment disparities among shoulder instability patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III retrospective cohort study.

PMID:40691624 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-06110-6

BMC Med. 2025 Jul 21;23(1):434. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04273-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Poor dental health has been linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer (GC), but previous studies were limited by their retrospective design and relatively small sample size.

METHODS: We followed a nationwide cohort of 5,888,034 Swedish adults over the age of 19 who visited a dentist between 2009 and 2016. Additionally, a nested case-control study was conducted by comparing incident GC cases to their siblings. Cox regression analyses, using attained age as the timescale and adjusting for potential confounders, were performed to evaluate the association between various dental health conditions and the risk of GC. In addition, we stratified our analyses by sex and age and conducted various sensitivity analyses to ensure the robustness of our findings.

RESULTS: Over an average follow-up of 6.4 years, we identified 3993 new GC cases, including 1241 cardia GC and 2752 non-cardia GC. Compared to individuals with healthy teeth, those with periodontitis had an 11% and 25% increased risk of GC and cardia GC, respectively. The positive associations between odontogenic inflammation and the risk of GC were consistent in sibling-controlled analyses. We also observed a dose-response relationship between the number of remaining teeth and the risk of GC, with fewer teeth associated with higher risks. Additionally, we did not find significant interactions between dental inflammatory conditions and the number of remaining teeth in relation to the risk of GC or its subtypes. Our findings were consistent across different sex and age subgroups and in sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the largest prospective cohort study evidence to date, along with the first sibling-controlled comparisons, supporting the association between poor dental health and GC risk. Promoting dental health in the general population could have significant public health implications in preventing this disease.

PMID:40691605 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04273-x

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jul 21;20(1):685. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06087-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the radiographic parameters associated with failure of tension band wiring (TBW) in the treatment of transverse patellar fractures, with the goal of guiding surgical decision-making.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 76 patients underwent surgical treatment for patellar fractures at Trakya University between January 2013 and December 2022. We retrospectively analyzed 32 patients who met the study’s inclusion criteria for transverse fractures (AO Type 34- C1) treated with TBW. Radiographic parameters assessed included patellar width, inter-K-wire distance, K-wire-to-patella ratios, knot configuration, and K-wire length, all evaluated for their potential association with fixation failure. Failure was defined as cerclage wire slippage or breakage. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS and Jamovi software. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, logistic regression, and ROC analysis were performed. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: The mean age was 50 years ± 15.8 (range 26-80), with 8 women (25%) and 24 men (75%). Nine patients (28.1%) experienced TBW failure. Notably, single-knot constructs had significantly higher failure rates (66.7% vs. 19.2%; OR = 0.119, 95% CI [0.017-0.843], p = 0.038). Increased K-wire length was associated with failure (p = 0.008; cutoff 69.1 mm, AUC = 0.785). Patella-K-wire length ratio was higher in failures (p = 0.035). Lateral K-wire to articular distance and lateral K-wire to articular distance surface to patella thickness ratio were also significant predictors in slippage group (p = 0.046 and p = 0.031).

CONCLUSION: The number of knots, K-wire length, and specific radiographic parameters are important predictors of TBW failure. Attention to construct configuration and K-wire placement is crucial to minimize failure risk.

PMID:40691604 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-06087-2

Int J Epidemiol. 2025 Jun 11;54(4):dyaf123. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyaf123.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Most women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) survive treatment and become long-term survivors. This study examines the association between long-term survival of female BC patients and clinical factors, socio-economic determinants, healthcare utilization, and drug use.

METHODS: This retrospective population-based survival study uses linked cancer registry data, claims, and social security data at the individual level for all Belgian women diagnosed with invasive BC in 2010 (n = 9982). Ten-year survival probabilities were computed by using Kaplan-Meier and relative survival curves. A Weibull mixture cure model was employed to perform multivariable analysis.

RESULTS: The population consisted of women with early-stage (75.0%), locally advanced (13.1%), and metastatic BC (5.9%). The overall 10-year unadjusted survival was 68.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 67.1%-69.3%], with decreasing survival in older women. However, survival was lower in women age <40 years compared with those aged 40-60 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that age was associated with long-term survivorship (odds ratio, 0.919; 95% CI, 0.918-0.919). Women receiving multimodal treatment (surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and systemic treatment) were more likely to become long-term survivors compared with women receiving other treatments. Lastly, beneficiaries of increased reimbursement had lower odds of long-term survivorship.

CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the association between long-term survivorship in women diagnosed with invasive BC and factors such as age at diagnosis, treatment scheme, and entitlement to increased reimbursement. It is crucial to inform clinicians and policymakers on the appropriate use of mixture cure models, as their results can substantially impact healthcare decision-making. Furthermore, tailored BC screening strategies are essential to reduce social inequalities and mortality disparities.

PMID:40690797 | DOI:10.1093/ije/dyaf123

Int J Epidemiol. 2025 Jun 11;54(4):dyaf136. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyaf136.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:40690794 | DOI:10.1093/ije/dyaf136

Medwave. 2025 Jul 21;25(6):e3002. doi: 10.5867/medwave.2025.06.3002.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Since the first description of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, caused by a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13, plasma exchange and immunosuppression have become standard treatments, allowing to decrease its high mortality rate. Prospective records of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura have provided valuable information on its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and outcomes. The objective of this study is to update the local Chilean experience in the diagnosis and management of this disease, through a case series of patients treated between 2017 and 2022.

METHODS: Case series study that included patients over 18 years old diagnosed with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, treated between June 2017 and August 2022 at Hospital Clínico UC Christus. Information was collected from clinical records, which were used for cohort description and statistical analysis. Accepted definitions from the literature were used to describe the outcomes. The study was approved by the local ethics committee (ID 220524001).

RESULTS: Our series had higher age and prevalence of comorbidities compared to those reported in the literature. The most important clinical manifestations included constitutional, gastrointestinal, hemorrhagic, and neurological symptoms, with different presentation frequencies than those described internationally. We found a lower capacity of the PLASMIC Score for the detection of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in our series. The predominant therapeutic strategy was a combination of glucocorticoids and plasma exchange (61% of the patients). There was a high mortality rate (56.5%) and adverse events related to plasma exchange, especially of infections related to its use.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in the local context and the need to improve our management strategies through standardizing care and better application of clinical guidelines to reduce the high mortality rate in these patients.

PMID:40690786 | DOI:10.5867/medwave.2025.06.3002

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2025 Jul 21:1-18. doi: 10.1044/2025_JSLHR-24-00899. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The minimally detectable change (MDC), widely used in rehabilitation sciences to interpret changes in outcome measures, is calculated using a reliability method, reliability statistic, and standard error of measurement (SEM). This study examined how different methodological choices affect MDC thresholds of speech intelligibility in speakers with dysarthria. The goals of this study were to compare MDCs calculated using (a) three different reliability methods, (b) two different reliability statistics, and (c) three different SEM calculations.

METHOD: Recordings of the Speech Intelligibility Test from 200 speakers including speakers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 16), Huntington’s disease (n = 44), multiple sclerosis (n = 60), and Parkinson’s disease (n = 40), along with healthy controls (n = 40), were drawn from two databases. Thirty inexperienced listeners completed two sessions, providing orthographic transcriptions of 20 speakers. MDCs of intelligibility were calculated using (a) three reliability methods (i.e., test-retest, split-half, and intrarater), (b) two reliability statistics (i.e., Pearson r and intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs]), and (c) three different formulas for calculating the SEM. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess the effects of reliability methods, statistics, and SEM calculations.

RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the MDCs when using split-half and test-retest reliability, when using Pearson r and ICC, and when using two of the three SEM calculations.

CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that methodological decisions can impact MDCs of speech intelligibility in speakers with dysarthria, highlighting the need for specific, detailed reporting of methodology used to calculate MDCs in future work. Findings can provide methodological guidance for future studies and contextualize existing research on intelligibility changes.

PMID:40690785 | DOI:10.1044/2025_JSLHR-24-00899

Ann Intern Med. 2025 Jul 22. doi: 10.7326/ANNALS-25-00640. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: “Weekend warrior” and regularly active physical activity patterns have been associated with reduced mortality risk in the general population. The association in patients with diabetes is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of different physical activity patterns, particularly weekend warrior and regularly active behavior, with all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality among adults with diabetes.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: National Health Interview Survey (1997 to 2018) linked to the National Death Index records through 31 December 2019.

PARTICIPANTS: 51 650 U.S. adults with self-reported diabetes.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants categorized by 4 physical activity groups: inactive (reporting no moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]), insufficiently active (MVPA <150 minutes per week), weekend warrior (MVPA ≥150 minutes per week in 1 to 2 sessions), and regularly active (MVPA ≥150 minutes per week in ≥3 sessions).

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 9.5 years, 16 345 deaths (cardiovascular, 5620; cancer, 2883) were documented. Compared with inactive participants, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality were significantly lower across physical activity groups: insufficiently active persons (HR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.85 to 0.95]), weekend warriors (HR, 0.79 [CI, 0.69 to 0.91]), and regularly active persons (HR, 0.83 [CI, 0.78 to 0.87]). These reductions were mostly due to benefits with cardiovascular mortality: insufficiently active persons (HR, 0.98 [CI, 0.89 to 1.07]), weekend warriors (HR, 0.67 [CI, 0.52 to 0.86]), and regularly active persons (HR, 0.81 [CI, 0.74 to 0.88]). There were fewer differences by cancer mortality: insufficiently active persons (HR, 0.88 [CI, 0.78 to 1.00]), weekend warriors (HR, 0.99 [CI, 0.76 to 1.30]), and regularly active persons (HR, 0.85 [CI, 0.75 to 0.96]).

LIMITATION: Physical activity was self-reported and assessed at a single time point.

CONCLUSION: Weekend warrior and regularly active physical activity patterns meeting current physical activity recommendations (MVPA ≥150 minutes per week) were associated with 21% and 17% lower risks for all-cause mortality and 33% and 19% lower hazards of cardiovascular mortality among adults with diabetes compared with those with diabetes who are physically inactive.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research, and National Natural Science Foundation of China.

PMID:40690774 | DOI:10.7326/ANNALS-25-00640