Tag: nevin manimala

Front Surg. 2026 Jul 20;13:1888316. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2026.1888316. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Degenerative lumbar disease surgery is associated with perioperative blood loss, tissue injury, postoperative immobility, and activation of hemostatic pathways. Although venous thromboembolism after spine surgery has been investigated extensively, less attention has been given to the integrated perioperative shift of routine hematologic and coagulation markers in degenerative lumbar surgery.

METHODS: This single-center retrospective observational study consecutively included patients undergoing surgery for degenerative lumbar disease at Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022. After source verification and construction of the locked patient-level analytic cohort, 143 patients were included. Paired preoperative and postoperative day 1 hematologic and coagulation markers were analyzed. Postoperative lower-limb venous thrombosis status was available for 142 patients and was ascertained by clinical records and routine bilateral lower-limb venous ultrasonography, usually performed after drainage tube removal on postoperative day 2 or 3. Thrombosis-stratified comparisons, descriptive ROC analyses, and limited Firth logistic regression were performed only as exploratory and hypothesis-generating analyses.

RESULTS: Ten asymptomatic calf muscular vein thromboses were recorded among 142 patients with available thrombosis status, corresponding to an event rate of 7.0%, and no pulmonary embolism was recorded. Core paired laboratory analyses included 143 preoperative and postoperative day 1 pairs. Hb decreased from 141.00 to 115.00 g/L, HCT from 0.42 to 0.34, and PLT from 216.00 to 201.00 × 10^9/L. APTT shortened from 29.40 to 25.90 s, whereas FIB increased from 2.85 to 3.45 g/L and D-dimer from 0.08 to 0.53 μg/mL DDU; all paired comparisons were statistically significant. In exploratory thrombosis-stratified analyses, patients with ultrasound-detected asymptomatic calf muscular vein thrombosis had higher postoperative D-dimer than those without thrombosis, 1.16 vs. 0.51 μg/mL DDU, lower postoperative APTT, 24.35 vs. 26.00 s, and lower postoperative AT-III, 88.50% vs. 99.00%. In a descriptive ROC analysis, postoperative D-dimer yielded an AUC of 0.715 with bootstrap 95% CI 0.533-0.905.

CONCLUSIONS: Routine laboratory markers demonstrated expected perioperative hematologic and coagulation shifts after surgery for degenerative lumbar disease. Exploratory differences in postoperative D-dimer, APTT, and AT-III among patients with ultrasound-detected asymptomatic calf muscular vein thrombosis require prospective validation and are not sufficient for screening, risk stratification, threshold derivation, or prophylaxis decisions.

PMID:42549008 | PMC:PMC13430305 | DOI:10.3389/fsurg.2026.1888316

Pulm Circ. 2026 Aug 3;16(3):e70376. doi: 10.1002/pul2.70376. eCollection 2026 Jul.

ABSTRACT

The gut microbiota has been implicated in pulmonary vascular diseases, yet a direct causal link to pulmonary embolism (PE) remains unestablished. This study aimed to investigate the causal effects of gut microbiota on PE and to explore the mediating role of circulating metabolites in this relationship. We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using summary statistics from large-scale genome-wide association studies. The gut microbiota data were sourced from the MiBioGen consortium, PE data from the FinnGen consortium (R10), and metabolite data from a meta-analysis of 136,016 participants. The inverse variance weighting method was used as the primary analytical approach, supplemented by sensitivity analyzes to ensure robustness. At the nominal level (p < 0.05), 12 gut microbial taxa showed suggestive associations with PE. Among these, genera LachnospiraceaeUCG010 and Defluviitaleaceae showed protective effects, while Subdoligranulum, Lentisphaerae, and Erysipelatoclostridium were associated with increased risk. In contrast, 26 circulating metabolites exhibited robust causal associations with PE, with several surviving Bonferroni correction. Mediation analyzes further revealed that specific metabolites, including histidine, triglycerides in small HDL, and docosahexaenoic acid ratio, significantly mediated the suggestive effects of nominal microbial taxa on PE risk, identifying potential metabolic pathways in the gut-vascular axis. This study generates hypothesis-generating evidence for the gut-pulmonary vascular axis, with identified metabolic mediators warranting further experimental validation. The potential effects of gut microbiota on PE provide exploratory leads for future mechanistic studies. These findings highlight the gut-pulmonary vascular axis as a potential target for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies against PE.

PMID:42549004 | PMC:PMC13430573 | DOI:10.1002/pul2.70376

Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2026 Jul 22;10:100418. doi: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2026.100418. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonotic vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum, with dogs acting as the main reservoir for human infection. Reliable serological assessment is essential for disease surveillance and control. This study describes the development and validation of LeishmaCHECK Ab ELISA, a new rapid qualitative and semi-quantitative assay for the detection of anti-L. infantum antibodies in canine serum. Cut-off values were established using multiple statistical approaches, including Youden’s index and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The assay was evaluated on 552 canine samples (313 positives, 206 negatives, 33 borderline), using IFAT as the reference serological method. LeishmaCHECK Ab ELISA showed excellent agreement with IFAT (Cohen’s kappa of 0.93), achieving a relative sensitivity of 95.2% and a relative specificity of up to 99.5%. Comparative analyses also demonstrated superior diagnostic performance compared with other commercially available ELISA tests. These findings indicate that LeishmaCHECK Ab ELISA represents a reliable alternative tool for the serological screening of canine leishmaniasis.

PMID:42548988 | PMC:PMC13430192 | DOI:10.1016/j.crpvbd.2026.100418

J Plast Reconstr Surg. 2025 Nov 21;5(4):257-264. doi: 10.53045/jprs.2025-0054. eCollection 2026 Jul 27.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The nose is the most prominent part of the face. The postoperative evaluation of the nose is vital to check if the desired surgical result was achieved. The scarcity of standardized scales/scores for nasal assessment inspired us to develop an entirely new scoring system (Surendrakumar and Sukhen Nasal After Rhinoplasty Evaluation Score [SSNARES]), which is universally applicable to people of all ethnic groups, ages, and genders, and yields a valid, reliable result.

METHODS: SSNARES consists of a questionnaire of 10 parameters that assesses the nose aesthetically, functionally, and psychologically. Patient’s responses are graded between 0-4 scores per parameter. The addition of all scores yields the final score, which is correlated with a satisfaction grade (a quantitative measure of patient satisfaction after surgery). SSNARES was thoroughly analyzed by an interdisciplinary panel of experts and underwent stringent statistical analysis to prove its validity and reliability upon pilot testing on 20 patients.

RESULTS: The item content validity index and score content validity index of SSNARES were both 1 (excellent). Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity showed a p-value of <0.001, indicating a highly significant test. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test value for the overall score is >0.9 (marvelous category). The construct validity of SSNARES was tested by exploratory factor analysis, and questions with loadings >0.4 were considered significant to represent a specific factor. The confirmatory factor analysis of SSNARES showed a p-value of <0.001, indicating a high significance level and strong correlation. The Cronbach’s α coefficient of SSNARES is 0.9646, which highlights excellent reliability.

CONCLUSIONS: This cost-effective, efficient, easy-to-use, patient-oriented new score will be of prime significance for patients, clinicians, and researchers for score computation, decision-making for reintervention, and research purposes.

PMID:42548981 | PMC:PMC13430236 | DOI:10.53045/jprs.2025-0054

Vet Med Int. 2026 Aug 2;2026:7539360. doi: 10.1155/vmi/7539360. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The respiratory system, particularly the lungs, is highly vulnerable to various diseases due to the inhalation of contaminated air and the aspiration of drenches. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gross lung abnormalities and their economic impact in cattle slaughtered at the Gondar ELFORA abattoir.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was used in the study period between December 2023 and June 2024. Systematic random sampling was used to examine every fourth lung hung on the rail. A total of 382 lung samples were examined by visual inspection, palpation, and incision and analysed using descriptive statistical analysis, including calculation of prevalence and the χ² test.

RESULT: The study showed that 231 (60.45%) of the lungs examined had one or more lesions. The prevalence of specific lung conditions was as follows: emphysema (18.06%; p value < 0.001), hydatid cyst (13.87%; p value < 0.001), atelectasis (7.33%; p value < 0.001), pulmonary abscess (6.54%; p value < 0.001), haemorrhage (5.75%; p value < 0.001), fibrosis (3.14%; p value = 0.004), calcification (2.87%; p value = 0.036), oedema (2.6%) and lung worm infestation (0%). Hydatidosis and emphysema were significantly influenced both by body condition and age (p < 0.05). Cattle with thin body conditions showed significant associations with both atelectasis (p = 0.029) and abscess (p = 0.001). In contrast, there was no significant association between age and atelectasis (X ² = 1.4595; p = 0.227) and abscess (X ² = 2.6145; p = 0.106). Of the affected lungs, 176 were condemned due to aesthetic concerns and suspected zoonotic risks, representing a total rejection rate of 46%. The estimated annual economic loss due to lung rejection was approximately $11,836.95 (1,850,115.30 ETB) per year.

CONCLUSION: During the study period, nearly half of the lungs of slaughtered cattle were rejected due to zoonotic concerns and aesthetic values. The substantial rate of pulmonary lesions with a predominant rate of hydatidosis and emphysema resulted in a considerable rejection rate, implicating a critical public health concern. The significant rate of economic loss from this abattoir with low slaughter volume could indicate huge economic loss at the country level and the urgency of improving herd health management.

PMID:42548979 | PMC:PMC13430042 | DOI:10.1155/vmi/7539360

Food Chem X. 2026 Jul 22;38:104242. doi: 10.1016/j.fochx.2026.104242. eCollection 2026 Aug.

ABSTRACT

China’s Four Famous Vinegars are recognized as industrial benchmarks and have been broadly studied. In contrast, the systematic quality characterization of Pingshan multistep fermented vinegar, a regional traditional Chinese vinegar, remains largely unexplored. We herein established a systematic comparative quality evaluation strategy by integrating high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in vitro antioxidant assays, and multivariate statistical analysis. The results demonstrated that Pingshan multistep fermented vinegar exhibits the highest total phenolic content, with chlorogenic acid and vanillic acid as the main differential phenolics among the nine targeted analytes, and showed comparable DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities to benchmark vinegars. Furfural was the top differentiating volatile with characteristic abundance in PMFV, and ethyl butyrate along with 18 other odor-active compounds (odor activity value >1) are the main contributors to its aroma profile. The coordinated composition of organic acids and free amino acids forms its relatively balanced taste-related chemical profile.

PMID:42548964 | PMC:PMC13429922 | DOI:10.1016/j.fochx.2026.104242

Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Jul 20;13:1868245. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1868245. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Organizational commitment is a critical determinant of workforce stability, employee retention, and organizational performance in healthcare settings. As healthcare systems undergo large-scale transformation, maintaining a committed workforce becomes increasingly important for supporting service quality, organizational resilience, and successful implementation of reforms. In Saudi Arabia, the Health Sector Transformation Program has introduced integrated health cluster models that bring together hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and administrative services under unified governance. Despite the importance of organizational commitment in these evolving healthcare systems, evidence remains limited regarding commitment levels among employees working within integrated health clusters. Therefore, this study aimed to assess organizational commitment and identify associated factors among clinical and administrative employees in the Asir Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2025 using the Meyer and Allen Organizational Commitment Scale. A total of 392 clinical and administrative employees participated. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine differences in commitment levels. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of organizational commitment.

RESULTS: Overall organizational commitment was moderate (M = 3.85, SD = 0.88). Normative commitment demonstrated the highest mean score (M = 3.98, SD = 1.07), followed by affective commitment (M = 3.84, SD = 0.87) and continuance commitment (M = 3.70, SD = 1.22). Commitment levels were generally similar across professional groups. Female employees were significantly more likely to report high organizational commitment than male employees (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.55-3.87, p < 0.001), while age and professional category were not significant predictors.

CONCLUSION: Employees within the Asir Health Cluster demonstrated moderate organizational commitment, with commitment primarily driven by a sense of professional obligation and responsibility. The findings highlight opportunities to strengthen workforce engagement through initiatives that enhance affective commitment, including supportive leadership, employee recognition, and positive organizational culture. Organizational commitment should be considered a strategic workforce indicator within healthcare transformation efforts, and regular monitoring may support workforce planning, employee retention, and the long-term sustainability of health system reforms under Saudi Vision 2030.

PMID:42548950 | PMC:PMC13430452 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1868245

Int J Breast Cancer. 2026 Aug 2;2026:7879645. doi: 10.1155/ijbc/7879645. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a key tumor suppressor gene that negatively regulates the PI3K/AKT pathway. PTEN deficiency is the most frequent molecular alteration in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); however, the relationship between PTEN protein loss and underlying genomic alterations remains incompletely understood.

METHODS: Fifty TNBC cases were evaluated for PTEN protein expression by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays. PTEN hotspot mutations (Exons 1, 5, 7, and 9) were analyzed using Sanger sequencing, whereas copy number alterations were assessed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) assay. PTEN alterations were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics. External validation of PTEN mRNA and protein expression and prognostic significance was performed using publicly available TCGA/CPTAC datasets and Kaplan-Meier plotter.

RESULTS: PTEN protein loss was observed in 41/50 TNBC cases (82%), indicating that PTEN deficiency is a frequent event in this subtype. PTEN mutations were detected in six cases (12%) and were confined exclusively to Exon 5, comprising one missense mutation (c.277C>A) and two truncating mutations (c.430del and c.433del). MLPA identified PTEN copy number alterations in four cases (8%), including heterozygous deletions and duplications. No significant association was observed between PTEN protein expression and genomic alterations, highlighting a substantial genotype-phenotype discordance. Analysis of independent public datasets confirmed significantly reduced PTEN mRNA and protein expression in TNBC compared with luminal and HER2-positive breast cancers. Patients with low PTEN expression showed a trend toward shorter overall survival (23.5 vs. 38.9 months), though the difference did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS: PTEN protein loss is highly prevalent in TNBC but is only partially explained by mutations and copy number alterations, suggesting that additional regulatory mechanisms, such as epigenetic or posttranscriptional events, contribute to PTEN inactivation. These findings underscore the biological importance of PTEN deficiency in TNBC and support further investigation of PTEN as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

PMID:42548909 | PMC:PMC13430043 | DOI:10.1155/ijbc/7879645

Sleep Adv. 2026 Jul 7;7(3):zpag069. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpag069. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep spindles are electroencephalographic elements characteristic of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) generated by thalamo-cortical interactions. Spindles have been linked to some of the cognitive benefits afforded by sleep and increased arousal threshold. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that targeting the thalamus with Transcranial Electrical Stimulation with Temporal Interference (TES-TI) can enhance spindle activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 46 participants (24 ± 9.5 years; 58.7% F) underwent thalamic TES-TI stimulation during daytime naps. Three stimulation protocols with 15 kHz carrier frequency were tested during stage NREM 2: fixed difference frequency of 10 Hz (TES^15kHz-TI^10Hz), difference frequency matched to individual spindle peak, and no difference frequency. Spindle (sigma) band power and integrated spindle activity (ISA) were compared before and during the stimulation, and across stimulation protocols.

RESULTS: TES^15kHz-TI^10Hz stimulation was associated with increased sigma power (∆x~ _STIM-PRE = 0.46 log₁₀ μV², p = .0042) and ISA (∆x~ _STIM-PRE = 4.064 μV/s, p = .030). Cluster-based analysis localized the increase in sigma power across the entire scalp (p = .008). Linear mixed-effects models showed that both sigma power and ISA during stimulation increased significantly more in TES^15kHz-TI^10Hz compared to the other stimulation protocols.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence supporting the successful use of TES-TI targeting the thalamus to enhance sleep spindle activity. Stimulation at a fixed difference frequency of 10 Hz increased sigma band power and ISA, whereas neither stimulation matched to individual sigma band peak nor TES alone produced comparable effects. These promising results warrant further investigations into the cognitive and clinical impact of TES-TI.

PMID:42548908 | PMC:PMC13430039 | DOI:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpag069

Sleep Adv. 2026 Jul 10;7(3):zpag071. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpag071. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) underdiagnosis and sociodemographic, behavioral, and medical correlates of underdiagnosis among Hispanic participants of Mexican descent and non-Hispanic white participants in San Diego, CA.

METHODS: Participants underwent overnight home polysomnography (PSG) and were eligible for the study if they met OSA diagnostic criteria at an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15/h, minimum 3% oxygen desaturation. Participants self-reported their medical history including past OSA diagnosis, demographics, anthropometrics, and completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics. Logistic regressions were used to test bivariate and adjusted associations of correlates with OSA diagnosis status (diagnosed or undiagnosed).

RESULTS: Participants (N = 156) had mean (SD) age = 56.3 (15.1) years, 33% were female, and 49% were Hispanic. In this sample with AHI ≥ 15/h, 81.4% had undiagnosed OSA (85.5% among the Hispanic participants of Mexican descent, 77.5% among the non-Hispanic white participants, not statistically significant difference). No prior high blood pressure diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 3.44, p = .005) and lower AHI (OR = 1.02, p = .030) were associated with increased likelihood of underdiagnosis. Age, gender, ethnicity, education, body mass index, daytime sleepiness, acculturation, and diabetes diagnosis were not associated with underdiagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Most participants with moderate to severe OSA by home PSG were undiagnosed, regardless of their ethnicity. A lower AHI and no prior diagnosis of high blood pressure were associated with greater OSA underdiagnosis. Enhanced OSA screening, across groups, is needed to reach the large majority that are missed.

PMID:42548906 | PMC:PMC13430037 | DOI:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpag071