Tag: nevin manimala

Environ Health Prev Med. 2025;30:16. doi: 10.1265/ehpm.24-00373.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that the occurrence and severity of respiratory diseases in children are related to the concentration of air pollutants. Nonetheless, evidence regarding the association between short-term exposure to air pollution and outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in children remains limited. Outpatients cover a wide range of disease severity, including both severe and mild cases, some of which may need to be transferred to inpatient treatment. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the impact of short-term ambient air pollution exposure on outpatient visits for respiratory conditions in children.

METHODS: This study employed data of the Second People’s Hospital of Yichang from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2023, to conduct a time series analysis. The DLNM approach was integrated with a generalized additive model to examine the daily outpatient visits of pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses in hospital, alongside air pollution data obtained from monitoring stations. Adjustments were made for long-term trends, meteorological variables, and other influencing factors.

RESULTS: A nonlinear association was identified between PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, NO₂, SO₂, CO levels and the daily outpatient visits for respiratory diseases among children. All six pollutants exhibit a hysteresis impact, with varying durations ranging from 4 to 6 days. The risks associated with air pollutants differ across various categories of children’s respiratory diseases; notably, O₃ and CO do not show statistical significance concerning the risk of chronic respiratory conditions. Furthermore, the results of infectious respiratory diseases were similar with those of respiratory diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that short-term exposure to air pollutants may contribute to an increased incidence of outpatient visits for respiratory illnesses among children, and controlling air pollution is important to protect children’s health.

PMID:40074352 | DOI:10.1265/ehpm.24-00373

Circ J. 2025 Mar 11. doi: 10.1253/circj.CJ-24-0939. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this was to develop an atrial fibrillation (AF) risk score using items usually included in Japanese governmental health check-ups.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed data from 6,476 Japanese participants registered in the Suita Study. At baseline, the participants were aged ≥30 years and were free from AF. Cox regression analysis was used to identify AF risk factors, and a 0-100 score was developed to predict AF events within 10 years. Within a median follow-up of 14.6 years, 278 participants developed AF. The risk score incorporated age [<50 years (16 points for men, 0 for women), 50-59 years (26 points for men, 14 for women), 60-69 years (41 points for men, 37 for women), ≥70 years (54 points for men, 51 for women)], current smoking with a smoking index >500 (7 points), heavy alcohol consumption (8 points), body mass index ≥25 kg/m²(6 points), hypertension (7 points), urinary proteins (4 points), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase >50 IU/dL (4 points), and cardiovascular disease history (10 points). The 10-year AF event probabilities were 7.1%, 8.4%, 10.8%, and 15.9% for scores of 47-54, 55-58, 59-69, and ≥70, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The new risk score to predict AF uses items similar to those used in Japanese governmental health check-ups.

PMID:40074343 | DOI:10.1253/circj.CJ-24-0939

Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2025 Mar 12:1-9. doi: 10.1044/2025_AJSLP-24-00099. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Medically tailored transitional foods (TFs) may be a clinically viable alternative to pureed consistency for individuals requiring texture-modified foods. However, little remains known about the performance of TFs during the swallow. The purpose of this investigation was to describe oropharyngeal swallowing physiology in patients with dysphagia during consumption of TFs as compared to pureed solids.

METHOD: Retrospective chart reviews were conducted on 31 long-term acute care hospital inpatients (23 males; M_age = 57.5 years), who all had a primary medical diagnosis of acute respiratory failure. All patients received a videofluoroscopic swallow study that included both pureed and transitional solid (Savorease Therapeutic Foods) trials. Swallow function was assessed and described following the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP) interpretation approach.

RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in scores were observed between pureed and transitional solids for any of the MBSImP component scores. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were observed in overall oral or pharyngeal composite scores. Although a majority of the individual patients performed similarly on both consistencies across the components scores, there was some variability across a few scores, with a subset of patients performing better with transitional solids for oral and pharyngeal residue and a subset of patients performing better with pureed solids for bolus preparation and initiation of the pharyngeal swallow. No instances of airway invasion were present across any of the solids trialed.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this pilot study revealed that high-dissolving transitional solids did not increase apparent risk as compared to pureed textures, as there were no significant differences in swallowing safety and only some differences were observed in performance between the two textures. These findings may support the use of transitional solids as a “bridge” and safe consistency to facilitate progression to higher, more challenging textures in medically complex persons with dysphagia based on individual performance. This work represents an important initial step toward the integration of transitional solids into evaluation protocols, texture recommendations, and, potentially, into treatment.

PMID:40073436 | DOI:10.1044/2025_AJSLP-24-00099

JMIR Hum Factors. 2025 Mar 12;12:e57470. doi: 10.2196/57470.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ward rounds are an essential component of inpatient care. Patient participation in rounds is increasingly encouraged, despite the occasional complicated circumstances, especially in acute care settings.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of real-time ward round notifications using SMS text messaging on the satisfaction of inpatients in an acute medical ward.

METHODS: Since January 2021, a service implementing real-time ward round notifications via text messaging (WR-SMS) has been operational at a tertiary-care medical center in Korea. To assess its impact, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the acute medical unit who participated in a patient experience survey. Patient satisfaction was compared between patients admitted in 2020 (pre-WR-SMS group) and 2021 (post-WR-SMS group).

RESULTS: From January 2020 to December 2021, a total of 100 patients were enrolled (53 patients in the pre-WR-SMS group and 47 patients in the post-WR-SMS group). Compared with the pre-WR-SMS group, the post-WR-SMS group showed significantly greater satisfaction about being informed about round schedules (mean 3.43, SD 0.910 vs mean 3.89, SD 0.375; P<.001) and felt more emotionally supported during admission (mean 3.49, SD 0.800 vs mean 3.87, SD 0.397; P<.001). Regarding other questionnaire scores, the post-WR-SMS group showed an overall, although statistically insignificant, improvement compared with the pre-WR-SMS group.

CONCLUSIONS: Real-time round notifications using a user-friendly SMS may improve inpatient satisfaction effectively.

PMID:40073423 | DOI:10.2196/57470

JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2025 Mar 12;11:e58767. doi: 10.2196/58767.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Syndromic surveillance systems are crucial for the monitoring of population health and the early detection of emerging health problems. Internationally, there are numerous established systems reporting on different types of data. In the Netherlands, the Nivel syndromic surveillance system provides real-time monitoring on all diseases and symptoms presented in general practice.

OBJECTIVE: The present article introduces the national syndromic surveillance system in primary care, emphasizing its role in providing real-time information on infectious diseases and various health problems at the population level, in the Netherlands. In addition, we report on the central role of the participating general practices in data provision, and discuss the applicability of the syndromic surveillance data in different contexts of public health research.

METHODS: The Nivel syndromic surveillance system is part of the Nivel Primary Care Database (Nivel-PCD) that collects routinely recorded data from electronic health records of about 10% of the Dutch population, on the basis of approximately 500 practices. This translates to approximately 1.9 million citizens. Since 2010, the surveillance system relies on representative, pseudonymized data collected on a weekly basis from a subset of about 400 practices in the Nivel-PCD, for the entire practice population. Health problems are registered according to the International Classification of Primary Care, applied in all general practices in the Netherlands. Prevalence rates are recalculated and reported every week in the form of figures, also stratified by age, sex, and region. Weekly rates are defined as the number of people that consulted the general practitioner in a certain week for a specific health problem, divided by the total number of registered individuals in the practice.

RESULTS: While utilizing data from general practitioners’ electronic health records, the system allows for the timely monitoring and identification of symptom and disease patterns and trends, not only among individuals who seek primary health care, but the entire registered population. Besides their use in disease monitoring, syndromic surveillance data are useful in various public health research contexts, such as environmental health and disaster research.

CONCLUSIONS: The Nivel syndromic surveillance system serves as a valuable tool for health monitoring and research, offering valuable insights into public health.

PMID:40073415 | DOI:10.2196/58767

JMIR Med Educ. 2025 Mar 12;11:e67804. doi: 10.2196/67804.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Telenursing has become prevalent in providing care to diverse populations experiencing different health conditions both in Israel and globally. The nurse-patient relationship aims to improve the condition of individuals requiring health services.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate nursing graduates’ skills and knowledge regarding remote nursing care prior to and following a simulation-based telenursing training program in an undergraduate nursing degree.

METHODS: A cohort study assessed 114 third-year nursing students using comprehensive evaluation measures of knowledge, skills, attitudes, self-efficacy, and clinical skills regarding remote nursing care. Assessments were conducted at 2 critical time points: prior to and following a structured simulation-based training intervention.

RESULTS: Participant demographics revealed a predominantly female sample (101/114, 88.6%), aged 20-50 years (mean 25.68, SD 4.59 years), with moderate to advanced computer and internet proficiency. Notably, 91.2% (104/114) had no telenursing exposure, yet 75.4% (86/114) expressed training interest. Statistical analyses demonstrated significant improvements across all measured variables, characterized by moderate to high effect sizes. Key findings included substantial increases in telenursing awareness, knowledge, skills, attitudes and self-efficacy; significant reduction in perceived barriers to remote care delivery; and complex interrelation dynamics between variables. A multivariate analysis revealed nuanced correlations: higher awareness and knowledge were consistently associated with more positive attitudes and increased self-efficacy. Positive attitudes correlated with enhanced self-efficacy and reduced perceived barriers. Change score analyses further indicated that increased awareness and knowledge facilitated more positive attitudinal shifts, while heightened awareness and positive attitudes corresponded with decreased implementation barriers.

CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the critical importance of integrating targeted telenursing training into nursing education. By providing comprehensive preparation, educational programs can equip students to deliver optimal remote care services. The COVID-19 pandemic has definitively demonstrated that remote nursing will be central to future health care delivery, emphasizing the urgent need to prepare nursing students for this emerging health care paradigm.

PMID:40073414 | DOI:10.2196/67804

J Int Med Res. 2025 Mar;53(3):3000605251325677. doi: 10.1177/03000605251325677. Epub 2025 Mar 12.

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the practicality and optimal approach for inserting an anterior occipital condyle screw, as well as to measure the screw placement characteristics.MethodsA total of 80 normal head and cervical spine computed tomography scans (40 males/40 females) were used to construct three-dimensional models. The average age of the participants was 45.18 ± 8.86 years (ranging from 25 to 65 years). Three potential entry points for the anterior occipital condyle screw were identified. A simulated screw with a radius of 1.75 mm was created to replicate the screw trajectory and adjusted to establish the maximum and minimum cranial limits for each entry point. The feasibility of screw fixation was assessed, identifying the optimal entry point and analyzing relevant screw placement measurements.ResultsThe success rates for screw placement were 95.6%, 94.4%, and 88.1% for the middle, lateral, and medial entry points, respectively. The success rate for the medial entry point was notably lower than that for the middle and lateral points. No statistically significant differences were found in the measured parameters between the left and right sides. The medial entry point exhibited the highest abduction angulation (35.72° ± 2.01°) for screw placement, followed by the middle (25.96° ± 1.86°) and lateral (15.14° ± 1.82°) points. The middle and lateral entry points displayed a considerably wider safe range of cranial angulation and screw placement length than the medial entry point. All three entry points achieved success rates exceeding 90% when the cranial angulation ranged from 2° to 6°.ConclusionThe anterior occipital condyle screw presents a workable choice for anterior craniovertebral fixation. The middle entry point is identified as the optimal approach for placing 3.5-mm diameter screws.

PMID:40073407 | DOI:10.1177/03000605251325677

Endocr Regul. 2025 Mar 12;59(1):17-23. doi: 10.2478/enr-2025-0003. Print 2025 Jan 1.

ABSTRACT

Objective. Genetic factors contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome and subsequent arterial hypertension (AH). The study of the T786C polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene in arterial hypertension is important as its correlation with adipokine imbalance is a novelty area to find associations between hypertension development, obesity, and heredity. The purpose of the current study was to investigate serum adipokines levels, depending on the T786C polymorphism of the eNOS in patients with arterial hypertension. Methods. We examined 86 patients with arterial hypertension who underwent the determination of the T786C-gene promoter eNOS allelic polymorphism by PCR with electrophoretic detection. Additionally, the serum adipokines (resistin, leptin, adipoleptin, and ghrelin) levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. In the patients with arterial hypertension, a significant increase in resistin level was found only in TC and CC genotype carriers of T786C, while adiponectin and leptin levels were significantly higher in all three genotypes (TT, TC, CC) compared to control healthy group. The most severe increase in the adipokine levels was observed in CC genotype, followed by TC geno-type. The antianorexic hormone ghrelin had an opposite trend, with the lowest levels found in CC, followed by TC, and TT genotypes of T786C promoter eNOS gene. Interestingly, ghrelin level in TT genotype patients was not statistically different from control healthy group. Conclusions. We demonstrated that CC and TC, compared with TT genotype carriers of the T786C polymorphism of the promoter eNOS gene, had significantly higher levels of all adipokines, except ghrelin, where an opposite trend was observed, which suggests their higher risk in development of more severe arterial hypertension with concomitant obesity, and other associated disorders.

PMID:40073405 | DOI:10.2478/enr-2025-0003

JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Mar 12;14:e63891. doi: 10.2196/63891.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Treatments for this disease often result in side effects such as pain, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, and reduced quality of life. Physical exercise has been shown to effectively mitigate these side effects and improve the quality of life in patients with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week supervised exercise program on pain, physical function, and quality of life in female patients with cancer.

METHODS: This randomized, double-blind clinical trial will recruit 325 participants, divided into an intervention group receiving the exercise program and a control group receiving standard care recommendations. Outcome measures, including pain (assessed via the Brief Pain Inventory), physical function (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire), and quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-BR23), will be evaluated at baseline, immediately post intervention, and 12 weeks post intervention. Statistical analysis will involve repeated measures of ANOVA and MANOVA to determine the significance of the intervention’s effects across time points.

RESULTS: Recruitment and data collection will commence in February of 2025, and data analysis is scheduled for completion at the end of 2025. No results are currently available.

CONCLUSIONS: Physical exercise is anticipated to play a significant role in alleviating pain, enhancing physical function, and improving the quality of life in female patients with cancer. This study will provide robust evidence to support the integration of supervised exercise into standard care protocols for this population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06618690; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06618690.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/63891.

PMID:40073395 | DOI:10.2196/63891

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Mar 12. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004796. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Children living with HIV are at higher risk for hearing loss compared to children with HIV-unexposed, uninfected (HUU). There is little known regarding the effects of children living with perinatally-acquired HIV (PHIV) and those living with perinatal HIV exposure but uninfected (PHEU) on central auditory function.

METHODS: Children aged 11-14 years who were participating in the Auditory Research in Children with HIV study. Children were administered the dichotic digits test (DDT) to evaluate binaural integration as a part of a comprehensive hearing protocol. Scores were recorded as percent correct for each ear.

RESULTS: Data were collected on 268 children (102 HUU, 80 with PHEU and 86 with PHIV). Children with PHIV had the lowest median DDT for the right and left ears. After adjusting for age and grade level, children with PHIV had statistically significant 8-point lower DDT right ear percent correct (95% confidence interval [CI]: -13.69 to -1.86) and a 15-point lower DDT left ear percent correct (95% CI: -23.03 to -7.45) compared to HUU children. Children with PHEU did have slightly lower DDT scores bilaterally. In children living with PHIV, no HIV disease variables were significantly associated with DDT outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Both peripheral hearing loss and central auditory function should be evaluated in children living with HIV. Children living with PHIV have poorer DDT outcomes compared with HUU children, while children living with PHEU had similar DDT outcomes to HUU children. Poorer binaural integration can have a significant impact on functional auditory performance and academic achievement.

PMID:40073390 | DOI:10.1097/INF.0000000000004796