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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Profile of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients in a Specialized Temporomandibular Joint Clinic in Canadian Pediatric Hospitals

J Can Dent Assoc. 2025 Feb;91:p2.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: A specialized temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dental clinic was created at the Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine to optimize care of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In this article, we characteristics of patients with JIA and the resources available in Canadian pediatric hospitals for JIA patients with TMJ involvement.

METHODS: To determine patient characteristics, we compiled retrospective data on patients seen at the TMJ clinic. Regarding resources available for patients with JIA, we sent questionnaires to the departments of rheumatology and dentistry of 13 Canadian pediatric hospitals.

RESULTS: Of the 86 JIA patients included in our study, 42% (95% confidence interval 32-52%) had TMJ involvement. Panoramic radiography was the imaging prescribed most often for patients with JIA (91%) and frequency of follow up was most often every 6 months. In the second part of the study, 7 hospitals were included; 2 had a specialized TMJ clinic. In many cases, reports of types of imaging and available dental specialists differed between the rheumatology and dentistry questionnaires for the same hospital.

CONCLUSION: Few Canadian pediatric hospitals have a specialized TMJ clinic for JIA, and there seems to be a gap in the knowledge of primary care physicians regarding TMJ diagnosis and the management of patients with JIA.

PMID:40554705

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Exploring the Influence of Mindful Self-Care on Workplace Engagement Among Nurses: A Path Analysis

J Nurs Res. 2025 Jun 25. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000688. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Work engagement in nurses is influenced by a variety of factors, with compassion fatigue identified as a negative predictor and resilience identified as a positive predictor. Although mindful self-care (MSC) may influence work engagement, this potential relationship has not been validated in the literature.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the relationship between MSC and work engagement in a sample population of nurses in Israel and to investigate the potential mediating effects of compassion fatigue, resilience, and internal health locus of control (IHLC) on this relationship.

METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional study design was used, and data were collected from 845 nurses working in different clinical settings in Israel. A self-administered questionnaire was administered online between March and June 2023 to assess MSC, compassion fatigue, resilience, IHLC, and work engagement. A hypothesized model based on the Job Demands-Resources Theory was proposed. Descriptive statistics and path analysis were utilized in data analysis.

RESULTS: The proposed model demonstrated a good fit with the empirical data, explaining 17.2% of the variance in work engagement. Direct relationships were identified between work engagement and, respectively, MSC, compassion fatigue, resilience, and IHLC (β=-0.131, p < .01; β=0.011, p < .01; β=0.116, p < .05; β=0.280, p < .01, respectively). The relationship between MSC and work engagement was shown to be mediated by compassion fatigue and resilience (β=0.068, p < .01), while compassion fatigue was shown to partially mediate the relationship between MSC and resilience (β=0.025, p <01). IHLC was not found to be significantly associated with work engagement.

CONCLUSIONS: MSC is a significant predictor of work engagement among nurses. Practicing MSC increases personal resilience and prevents compassion fatigue, leading to higher work engagement. Thus, we recommend nurse managers promote the regular practice of MSC, along with traditional self-care behaviors, among nurses to improve work engagement.

PMID:40554680 | DOI:10.1097/jnr.0000000000000688

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effect of HLA restriction on racial and ethnic disparities in access to immune therapies for advanced synovial sarcoma

Oncologist. 2025 Jun 24:oyaf193. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyaf193. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is aggressive with poor outcomes. Cellular therapies are now FDA approved for advanced disease, but are restricted to certain HLA-A*02 alleles. We estimate eligibility to cellular therapies by race and ethnicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic and clinical features of SS cases from 2001 to 2020 were obtained from the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS; NPCR-SEER). Survival analyses were performed overall and by races/ethnicity. The proportion eligible for cellular therapy was estimated by races/ethnicity using previously published data on HLA-A*02 status and MAGE-A4 positivity.

RESULTS: From 2001 to 2020, 10,605 patients (48% female, 64% Non-Hispanic White, 17% Hispanic) with SS were identified. The incidence rate was 1.5-1.8/million/person-years and was stable over time, corresponding to an average 530 new cases annually. The most common primary site was the extremity (n = 5,877; 58%), and most patients presented with localized disease (n = 5,753; 54%). The 5-year cause-specific survival was 60% across all races/ethnicities and 79% for localized, 57% for regional, 12% for distant disease. Differences by race and ethnicity were found in the proportions of patients expected to be eligible for HLA-restricted cellular therapies targeting MAGE-A4. People of European/European descent had the highest estimated proportion (25-39%), and people of Asian/Pacific Islander descent had the lowest (11-17%).

CONCLUSION: Engineered T-cells targeting MAGE-A4 have shown encouraging safety and efficacy in advanced SS; however, eligibility restrictions will lead to racial and ethnic disparities. HLA-independent solutions must be developed to counter disparities and ensure all patients have access.

PMID:40554677 | DOI:10.1093/oncolo/oyaf193

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Integrative Multi-Omic and Immune Profiling of Lung Adenocarcinoma: Molecular Landscapes, Gene Expression, and Treatment Response Insights

Oncologist. 2025 Jun 24:oyaf191. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyaf191. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a major cause of cancer death. Traditional histopathological classification overlooks molecular heterogeneity, limiting personalized treatment. This study used multiomic data to define LUAD subtypes, assess prognostic significance, and analyze immune features, aiming to improve targeted therapy and clinical outcomes.

METHODS: This study used Consensus Clustering and Gap Statistics to analyze LUAD multiomic data, including mRNA, lncRNA, miRNA, DNA methylation, and mutations. Clustering was validated by silhouette plots and heatmaps. Molecular characterization involved regulon activity, immune and metabolic profiling. Functional assays (qPCR, WB, CCK-8, flow cytometry) assessed NDNF’s role in LUAD.

RESULTS: Two molecular LUAD subtypes showed distinct clustering and survival outcomes. One subtype had worse prognosis and unique immune features, including checkpoint expression and microenvironment differences. Gene signatures and metabolism varied by subtype. NDNF was downregulated in tumors; its overexpression suppressed LUAD cell viability and promoted apoptosis, suggesting tumor-suppressive function.

CONCLUSION: This study identifies two LUAD subtypes with distinct molecular and immune features linked to prognosis and therapy response. NDNF downregulation and its tumor-suppressive effects highlight its therapeutic potential. These findings support improved LUAD stratification and personalized treatment strategies.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study reveals two LUAD molecular subtypes with distinct prognoses and immune features, offering a basis for more precise treatment strategies. The identification of NDNF as a potential tumor suppressor suggests its value as both a biomarker and therapeutic target. These findings support improved LUAD stratification and personalized therapy.

PMID:40554675 | DOI:10.1093/oncolo/oyaf191

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Multi-Center Phase II Study of Nab-Paclitaxel Plus Camrelizumab Versus Nab-Paclitaxel Alone as Second-Line Treatment for Advanced Gastric Cancer

Oncologist. 2025 Jun 24:oyaf189. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyaf189. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nab-paclitaxel is a standard second-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer, but the role of PD-1 inhibitors remains uncertain. This multicenter, randomized phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of nab-paclitaxel plus camrelizumab (Cam-NP) versus nab-paclitaxel alone (NP) in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma resistant to prior treatment.

METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive either Cam-NP or NP until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or consent withdrawal. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR), with secondary endpoints including progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

RESULTS: 61 patients were randomized, with 58 receiving treatments. At a median follow-up of 34.5 months, the Cam-NP group achieved a significantly higher ORR (33.3% vs. 10.7%; p = 0.039) and longer median PFS (5.62 vs. 4.21 months; p = 0.006). Median response duration also favored Cam-NP (4.64 vs. 2.96 months; p = 0.058). While the Cam-NP group showed a longer OS (9.8 vs. 7.2 months; p = 0.087), this was not statistically significant. The most common grade 3-4 adverse event was hematological toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS: Cam-NP significantly improved ORR and PFS compared to NP as a second-line treatment for advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. Larger studies and biomarker exploration are needed to validate these findings.

PMID:40554667 | DOI:10.1093/oncolo/oyaf189

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Radical Prostatectomy Versus Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: Stage-, Age-, and Frailty-Specific Cancer-Control Outcomes of 2600 Patients

Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2025 Sep 5;(Forthcoming):arztebl.m2025.0089. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.m2025.0089. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Both radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (RT) are recommended as standard treatments for prostate cancer. The prospective comparisons available to date provide only limited information.

METHODS: We used data from the database of our university cancer center to compare the metastasis-free (MFS), cancer-specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS) of all patients with prostate cancer who underwent either RP or RT in the period 2014-2024. Stage-, age-, and frailty-specific sensitivity analyses were carried out.

RESULTS: Of 2685 patients with prostate cancer, 1999 (74%) underwent RP and 686 (26%) underwent RT. The RP patients were younger (66 vs. 74 years); a higher percentage of the RP patients than of the RT patients had high-risk prostate cancer (60% vs. 43%), stage cT3 (47% vs. 9.6%), and stage cN1 (11 vs. 5.2%), while the RT patients more commonly had ECOG status 1-2 (16% vs. 6.7%; p<0.001 for all comparisons). Univariate analyses of MFS mostly favored RT, while univariate analyses of OS mostly favored RP. These differences, however, were no longer seen after adjustment for patient and tumor characteristics in multivariable Cox regression models, nor were they seen in sensitivity analyses of D’Amico risk groups, age categories, or ECOG status. Lastly, in 2:1 propensity-score-matched analyses, no differences between RP and RT were found in any of the oncological outcome measures (p≥0.15 for MFS, CSS, and OS).

CONCLUSION: The findings of this real-world study of prostate cancer patients who underwent either RP or RT suggest equally effective cancer control by the two methods when the statistical analysis is adjusted for patient and tumor characteristics. At present, patients with high-risk prostate cancer und unfavorable disease stages more commonly undergo RP.

PMID:40554664 | DOI:10.3238/arztebl.m2025.0089

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

A simulation-supported thought experiment for measuring low-dimensional chaotic systems subjected to parameter drift

Chaos. 2025 Jun 1;35(6):063137. doi: 10.1063/5.0230984.

ABSTRACT

We argue that a physics experiment with systems involving drifting parameters requires a paradigm shift: the measured signal, a curve, should be compared with a band resulting from simulations. Based on earlier theoretical results, an accurate description of drifting dissipative chaotic systems can only be given by following an ensemble of trajectories. After convergence to a time-dependent attractor (to the so-called snapshot attractor), the ensemble faithfully represents the dynamics. We point out that an experimentally measured signal should wander within the spread of the converged numerical ensemble, i.e., to behave as any of the ensemble members on the snapshot attractor. If that is the case, the model (a set of ordinary differential equations) used for the simulation can be considered credible. The transient period preceding the arrival to the attractor can be divided into two phases when using two initially localized ensembles. In the first one, a quick spread of the ensembles takes place, and a plume diagram evolves. The next, intermediate phase corresponds to a convergence of the no longer localized ensembles to the same unique time-dependent attractor and lasts approximately as long as the averages and other statistical moments of the two ensembles remain distinct.

PMID:40554584 | DOI:10.1063/5.0230984

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Your CT scan could reveal a hidden heart risk—and AI just learned how to find it

What if your old chest scans—taken years ago for something unrelated—held a secret warning about your heart? A new AI tool called AI-CAC, developed by Mass General Brigham and the VA, can now comb through routine CT scans to detect hidden signs of heart disease before symptoms strike.
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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Dental Health in People Living with Epilepsy

J Assoc Physicians India. 2025 May;73(5):e6-e10. doi: 10.59556/japi.73.0955.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With major attention paid to the most evidently manifested illness like a seizure, few of the silent and deep-boring illnesses like dental issues are often neglected. This study has aimed to analyze the dental illness in people living with epilepsy (PWE).

METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, case-control study conducted among PWE and their family members from March to May 2022. A survey on demographic parameters, dental hygiene practices, and symptoms of dental illness was taken, followed by a detailed dental examination of the study participants. Independent t -test was used to compare dental illness among PWE and controls.

RESULTS: A total of 69 patients were included, with a mean age of 32.5 ± 2.4 years, and 45 (63%) patients were symptomatic with dental issues. Patients from higher socioeconomic status were found to have better dental hygiene practices but also had a higher prevalence of wasting disease of teeth. About 67 of 69 PWE and 19 of 33 controls were found to have dental illness. PWE had a higher degree of asymptomatic soft tissue abnormalities (24 vs 0%, p < 0.0001) and periodontal disease (13 vs 7.4%, p < 0.0001) as compared to controls. Symptomatic PWE, in comparison to controls, had statistically significant hard tissue abnormalities (66 vs 33%, p = 0.0001), periodontal disease (48 vs 0%, p < 0.0001), and poor dental hygiene status (83 vs 33%, p < 0.0001). Duration and type of epilepsy had no impact on being symptomatic or asymptomatic with dental issues.

CONCLUSION: The hidden yet significant burden of dental illness must be addressed in PWE to improve the quality of life.

PMID:40553526 | DOI:10.59556/japi.73.0955

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Sustained Glycemic Control and Improved Well-being on Early Induction of Triple Drug Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with HbA1c ≥9%: A Prospective, Cross-sectional, and Observational Study

J Assoc Physicians India. 2025 May;73(5):44-48. doi: 10.59556/japi.73.0969.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: To study outcomes of the triple-drug therapy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥9%] with respect to change in HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, weight, waist circumference, variation in drug dosages, hypoglycemic events, patient response of well-being, and corresponding result satisfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a prospective, observational study conducted from 1st June 2018 to 31st May 2019 at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, a tertiary care hospital in Himachal Pradesh. During the initial 3 months, patients were treated with triple-drug [oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs)] therapy and then switched over to dual or single therapy (OHAs) depending on the HbA1c levels and were followed up for 1 year.

OBSERVATIONS: A total of 137 participants completed the study period. At baseline, the mean values of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPPG), HbA1c, and LDL were 218.4 ± 36 mg/dL, 343.94 ± 60 mg/dL, 10.5 ± 1.42%, and 120.34 ± 30.99 mg/dL, respectively. At the end of 12 weeks, the mean values of FPG, PPPG, HbA1c, and LDL were reduced to 123 ± 16 mg/dL, 164 ± 30 mg/dL, 8.14 ± 0.97%, and 109.04 ± 28.28 mg/dL, respectively. The differences were highly significant statistically when compared with the baseline observations. At the end of the study (52 weeks), the mean values of FPG, PPPG, HbA1c, and LDL were 96 ± 10 mg/dL, 146 ± 16 mg/dL, 6.14 ± 0.43%, and 90.55 ± 28.14 mg/dL. Reductions in values were statistically significant when compared with both the baseline and 12-week values.

CONCLUSION: Early induction of combination therapy with glimepiride, metformin, and pioglitazone results in more desirable outcomes in terms of greater reduction in HbA1c level and lower incidence of hypoglycemia as compared to the conventional add-on therapy.

PMID:40553523 | DOI:10.59556/japi.73.0969