Tag: nevin manimala

Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2025 May 22:1-9. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2025.2502743. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: US smoke shop prevalence is growing and stores are diversifying products beyond nicotine vape supplies, often selling non-regulated psychoactive substances.Objectives: Investigate health claims and safety information provided by smoke shop employees regarding hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and kratom.Methods: Secret shopper visits were conducted at 100 San Antonio and Austin, Texas smoke shops. Using scripted questions, shoppers assessed whether the shop sold THC and kratom, what these products could be used for, and adverse effects. Shoppers documented product availability, disease states referenced, health claims made, adverse effects mentioned, and guidance for use related to pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were calculated to characterize shopper reports.Results: THC (100%) and kratom (94%) were routinely stocked by smoke shops. Most employees made at least one health claim regarding THC (50%) or kratom (81%). Claims regarding pain (50%), insomnia (31%), and mental health disorders (27%) were most commonly discussed for THC, while drug withdrawal/cravings (76%), pain (69%), and mental health conditions (31%) were most frequent for kratom. When specifically asked about adverse effects, 22% and 24% of smoke shop employees, respectively, did not disclose any risks about THC or kratom; most others provided minimal information. The most common risks discussed were sedation (36%) and psychiatric (31%) adverse effects for THC, and dependence (59%) and gastrointestinal (24%) adverse effects for kratom.Conclusion: Efforts to develop evidence-based consumer information regarding kratom and hemp-derived THC, improve health information provided by smoke shop employees, and incentivize store owners to devote resources to employee education are needed.

PMID:40402475 | DOI:10.1080/00952990.2025.2502743

AIDS Behav. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1007/s10461-025-04736-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) with Tenofovir-Disoproxil/Emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) is efficacious for HIV prevention. PrEP users might be more exposed to other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and toxicities. Our aim was to evaluate the trend of STIs and toxicities in an Italian PrEP cohort. A retrospective multicentre cohort study (Modena, Genova and Padova) including TDF/FTC-PrEP users followed from Jan-2019 to Jul-2022. Data collection included demographics, toxicities and STIs detection: N.gonorrhoeae (NG), C.trachomatis (CT), M.genitalium (MG), T.vaginalis (TV), T.pallidum (TP), HAV, HBV and HCV. Two-hundred-forty-four persons included: 97% males; median age 39 years (IQR 33-47). A nearly incremental trend was recorded in NG and MG incidences, especially after 2020: from 5.7% to 2.3% in 2020, to 10.3% and 6.5% in 2021 and to 9.6% and 4.8% in the first 7 months of 2022. CT and TP presented a variable trend, while only two TV diagnoses were done. The test for trend for ordered groups across years showed no statistical significance for all the STIs and the annual proportions of subjects with multiple STIs varied. At logistic regression, only history of STIs was associated to risk of new STIs. Twenty cases of nephrotoxicity were recorded, leading to PrEP interruption in 1 case only. Concluding, STIs incidence and nephrotoxicity in our cohort were consistent with other data from literature. In 2020 we observed a lower STIs incidence, probably as consequence of COVID-19 restrictions. An incremental trend could be hypothesized regarding NG, MG and CT incidence. Thus, we suggest STIs monitoring, prophylaxis and treatment to contain their spread among PrEP users.

PMID:40402466 | DOI:10.1007/s10461-025-04736-5

Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1007/s13346-025-01882-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to design and evaluate the clinical efficacy of a new patented portable multifunctional medical nebulizer. The portable multifunctional nebulizer, constructed using medical-grade PVC, incorporates four main systems: a nebulization system, a particle size adjustment mechanism, a heating unit, and a power storage system. This study employed a comparative experimental design. A conventional medical nebulizer, commonly used in a tertiary hospital, was selected as the control group, while the newly developed portable multifunctional nebulizer served as the experimental group. Each group underwent 30 experimental runs, with controlled variables across all tests. Key parameters assessed included initial mist emission time, nebulization rate, particle size distribution, medication splash loss, residual drug volume, and noise levels. The particle size distribution was measured using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technology, while medication loss was calculated by capturing mist spillover and measuring residual drug volume. Noise levels during stable nebulization were recorded using a sound level meter. The experimental group demonstrated the production of smaller, more uniform nebulized particles, reduced medication splash loss, decreased residual drug volume, and lower noise emissions. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed across all parameters when compared to the control group. The multifunctional medical nebulizer consistently generates particles within a size range of 120-160 nm, improving drug delivery to target organs, minimizing medication loss, and reducing operational noise. This innovative design represents a significant advancement in the clinical application of respiratory therapy.

PMID:40402464 | DOI:10.1007/s13346-025-01882-0

Radiol Med. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1007/s11547-025-02022-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the performance of CT radiomics in distinguishing between lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at baseline imaging, exploring its potential as a noninvasive virtual biopsy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted, enrolling 330 patients between September 2015 and January 2023. Inclusion criteria were histologically proven ADC or SCC and baseline contrast-enhanced chest CT. Exclusion criteria included significant motion artifacts and nodules < 6 mm. Radiological features, including lung lobe affected, peripheral/central location, presence of emphysema, and T/N radiological stage, were assessed for each patient. Volumetric segmentation of lung cancers was performed on baseline CT scans at the portal-venous phase using 3DSlicer software (v5.2.2). A total of 107 radiomic features were extracted and selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and tenfold cross-validation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to develop three predictive models: radiological features-only, radiomics-only, and a combined model, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Additionally, an independent external validation cohort of 16 patients, meeting the same inclusion and exclusion criteria, was identified.

RESULTS: The final cohort comprised 200 ADC and 100 SCC patients (mean age 68 ± 10 years, 184 men). Two radiological and 21 radiomic features were selected (p < 0.001). The Radiological model achieved AUC 0.73 (95% CI 0.68-0.78, p < 0.001), 72.3% accuracy. The radiomics model achieved AUC 0.80 (95% CI 0.75-0.85, p < 0.001), 75.6% accuracy. The combined model achieved AUC 0.84 (95% CI 0.80-0.88, p < 0.001), 75.3% accuracy. External validation (n = 15) yielded AUC 0.78 (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The combined radiologic-radiomics model showed the best performance in differentiating ADC from SCC.

PMID:40402434 | DOI:10.1007/s11547-025-02022-x

Vascular. 2025 May 22:17085381251342387. doi: 10.1177/17085381251342387. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundThe diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is usually made by a sonographer using a thorough Doppler ultrasound. The current study examined whether emergency resident physicians could accurately diagnose DVT using a point-of-care, three-point compression protocol.MethodsThe patient population consisted of patients with suspected DVT who presented to the emergency department between 2021 and 2022. All patients underwent a three-point compression ultrasound exam by the emergency resident. Each patient then had a comprehensive whole-leg ultrasonography exam performed by a supervisor emergency specialist. The results of the ultrasound exams by the emergency resident physicians and comprehensive exams were then analyzed and compared.ResultsThe average age of the patients was 60,96 ± 16,67. There was a statistically significant difference between three-point compression and whole-leg ultrasound examination data. The negative predictive value of the resident physician was determined as 94%. The coefficient of the compression variable in the Ridge regression analysis for diagnosing DVT in the whole-leg ultrasound examination was obtained as -0.3754.ConclusionsWe think that compression ultrasonography may be sufficient in patient management compared to whole-leg ultrasonography in emergency management. However, we think that three-point compression ultrasonography applied by the emergency resident is quite successful in diagnosing and excluding DVT in the emergency department.

PMID:40401508 | DOI:10.1177/17085381251342387

Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1002/cpdd.1522. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Dazukibart is a humanized monoclonal antibody selectively targeting interferon-β. The pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of dazukibart were evaluated in 2 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-dose, Phase 1 studies in healthy adults in China (Study 1: N = 18; dazukibart 900 mg = 15; placebo = 3) and Japan (Study 2: N = 12; Cohort 1: dazukibart 300 mg = 5, placebo = 1; and Cohort 2: dazukibart 900 mg = 5, placebo = 1). PK parameters were assessed after dosing in Study 1 and Study 2, and no significant differences were observed between PK findings among participants in both studies. A biphasic decline in dazukibart serum concentrations was observed in both studies. Exposures increased dose proportionally in Study 2. Body weight, but not race, was identified as an independent covariate of exposure using population PK modeling (including data from a Phase 1 US study [NCT02766621]). No deaths/discontinuations or serious/severe adverse events were observed, mostly mild adverse events were reported. No participants in Study 1 were antidrug antibody positive; 20.0% in Study 2 were positive for treatment-induced antidrug antibodies and neutralizing antibodies. PK parameters and immunogenicity rates were consistent with the US study, and no new safety signals were identified.

PMID:40401504 | DOI:10.1002/cpdd.1522

Nanoscale. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1039/d4nr04820b. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Metal-organic nanotubes (MONTs) are porous, tunable 1D nanomaterials akin to metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MONTs are synthesized via metal salts and coordinating ligands akin to MOFs, but crucially they are anisotropic, unlike most MOFs. Recently, MONTs have been shown to form statistically random copolymers; however, their mechanism of growth remains largely unexplored. Full realization of the potential of MONTs necessitates a thorough understanding of the mechanism of MONT growth. Herein, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) was employed to investigate the copolymerization mechanism of two 1,2,4-ditriazole ligands and to quantify the inclusion of a solvent within the MONT pores. The results show parallelepiped-shaped structures are initially formed, which then aggregate to form larger lamellar structures. Additional experimentation with a deuterated ligand showed that the reactivities of all ligands are approximately equal, causing random ligand distribution within the resulting MONT. Finally, the results quantify the amount of solvent incorporated within the nanostructure pores at different stages of the formation process. These results show that early in the reaction the MONTs contain ca. 45% solvent, and they contain ca. 55% solvent late in the reaction when the MONTs are nearly fully formed.

PMID:40401467 | DOI:10.1039/d4nr04820b

Hematol Oncol. 2025 May;43(3):e70105. doi: 10.1002/hon.70105.

ABSTRACT

When describing relationships between variables and an outcome, dichotomization of continuous variables remains a widely used approach in medical research despite many drawbacks: the loss of information which reduces the statistical power to detect an association, the risk of misclassification and the problem of comparability of the results. Alternative approaches based on flexible functions are available and would allow to use all the information contained in the data and thus to model the possible non-linear relation between the continuous variable and the outcome. But these alternative approaches are rarely used probably because of a lack of clear guidance. This article aimed to illustrate the use of splines through an example based on hematological study. We showed the information provided by the plot of survival probabilities at a pre-specified time and according to the level of a continuous variable, thus displaying the trends of the studied phenomenon, as compared to a simple cut-off approach. In view of the major issues surrounding the patients’ health, it is more than necessary to use the most powerful statistical approaches for greater precision in the understanding of health phenomena so that we may make more informed decisions. We hope this article will encourage the use of these approaches.

PMID:40401449 | DOI:10.1002/hon.70105

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2025.0019. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Rodents are associated with the spread of deadly zoonotic and emerging infectious diseases. Their widespread distribution is strongly linked to their ability to thrive in human-altered environments with access to food and shelter. Thus, humans are exposed to zoonotic agents that can spread and infect them directly and indirectly. We sourced published literature on ectoparasites associated with Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, and Mus musculus from various academic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The relevant literature was screened and selected in R statistical software using the packages ”metagear” and ”revtool.” We reviewed and analyzed a total of 53 articles published between 1994 and 2024. The literature review covered studies from 29 countries, represented by six continents, namely, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, with the majority of the studies from Asia. R. rattus had the most published studies. Our literature review identified 87 species of zoonotic ectoparasites, with Xenopsylla cheopis, Polyplax spinulosa, and Laelaps echidninus being the most reported across all host species. Mites were the most reported ectoparasites (40.83%), followed by fleas (25%), ticks (20%), and lice (14.17%). Most of these ectoparasites were reported from R. rattus, with the highest number of documented ectoparasites. Investigating the prevalence, distribution, and potential risks of alien invasive rodents and their ectoparasites is paramount for public health and improving integrated pest management control strategies.

PMID:40401442 | DOI:10.1089/vbz.2025.0019

Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.70140. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Abnormal posture occurs in about 30% of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. The neuromuscular taping (NMT) is a new treatment that induces micromovements that stimulate skin receptors. Application of NMT with a decompression and eccentric technique expands the interstitial spaces and therefore improves circulation and absorption of liquids by reducing the pressure under the skin favoring the muscular relaxation.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a 4-week, randomized, observer-blind, trial of NMT on pharmacologically treated PD patients with postural abnormality according to the item 3.13 of Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS).

METHODS: The primary endpoint of the study was the change in kinetic evaluation using movement analysis technique. Main secondary endpoint was change in scale UPDRS part III score from baseline to week 4, comparing NMT+Pharmacological therapy (NMT+PT) or only Pharmacological therapy (PT). 46 PD patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups remained on stable pharmacological treatment throughout the entire duration of the study. The NMT-PT group received 8 sessions of specific decompression with neuromuscular taping.

RESULTS: At the end of the study, the kinematic data showed statistically significant change in α1 (the parameter related to the sagittal trunk inclination), close to 12% of improvement in the NMT-PT group.

CONCLUSIONS: Results showed a significant improvement in some kinematic parameters along with an improvement in motor and nonmotor symptoms in NMT + PT group compared to PT. NMT can represent a valid therapeutic option in combination with neurorehabilitation to treat abnormal posture in PD patients.

PMID:40401435 | DOI:10.1002/mdc3.70140