Tag: nevin manimala

HRB Open Res. 2025 Nov 10;8:74. doi: 10.12688/hrbopenres.14154.2. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence synthesis plays a vital role in healthcare research, informing clinical practice and policy. Increasingly, students are involved in reviews, yet their experiences, including the challenges and facilitators for participation, remain underexplored. This study aims to examine the barriers and opportunities encountered by novice student team members in evidence synthesis.

METHODS: This study is embedded within the Study Within A Review (SWAR) framework and will use a mixed-methods approach. Students in health-related disciplines engaged in or having just completed their first evidence synthesis will be recruited through academic networks and word of mouth. Data will be collected primarily via focus groups, in addition to a short, embedded survey. Thematic analysis will be employed to analyse qualitative data, while descriptive statistics will be used for survey responses.

RESULTS: The study aims to describe experiences of students involved in evidence synthesis, identifying barriers and facilitators related to their participation. Findings will inform recommendations for improving evidence synthesis training, mentorship, and student engagement strategies.

CONCLUSION: Understanding student experiences in evidence synthesis may inform the development of targeted training and support mechanisms. The findings will provide valuable insights for academic institutions and research teams seeking to optimise student involvement in evidence synthesis.

PMID:41480571 | PMC:PMC12754357 | DOI:10.12688/hrbopenres.14154.2

Sleep Sci. 2025 Dec 31;18(4):e436-e443. doi: 10.1055/s-0045-1811199. eCollection 2025 Dec.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patients with nasal obstruction due to chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis may present with altered sleep quality. Data on this subject in the literature remains scarce.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate changes in sleep quality and polysomnographic parameters among patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed in three databases: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase. The following keywords were used: chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis, sleep quality, and nasosinusal endoscopic surgery. Studies evaluating adults with nasal polyposis who underwent endoscopic nasosinusal surgery were selected. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare mean scores for polysomnographic and subjective variables from before to after the operation.

RESULTS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of three studies were performed, only one of which was randomized. The total sample consisted of 64 patients. There was a decrease in the mean AHI score and improvements in mean and minimum saturation. The mean difference in percentage of stage N3 from before to after the operation was 1.12 with a 95% CI from -3.51 to 5.75, which was non-significant. There was a mean percentage increase in REM sleep duration and a decrease in PSQI scores, which were both statistically significant ( p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: There were improvements in the quality of sleep and duration of REM sleep after surgery, with no improvement in polysomnographic respiratory parameters.

PMID:41480569 | PMC:PMC12755935 | DOI:10.1055/s-0045-1811199

Sleep Sci. 2025 Dec 31;18(4):e404-e409. doi: 10.1055/s-0045-1813729. eCollection 2025 Dec.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Despite significant advancements in sleep medicine, its integration into formal medical education remains uneven. While structured programs exist in some regions, a standardized framework for postgraduate education is notably lacking in Latin America. This study assesses the availability of sleep medicine training programs, how specialists gain expertise, and the current clinical practice across the region.

METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted among Latin American sleep medicine specialists via a WhatsApp group of 443 professionals. The questionnaire covered formal education programs, training locations, and public and private healthcare coverage for sleep disorder treatments. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS: Seventy-four physicians from 11 Latin American countries participated. Only four countries-Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile-had formal postgraduate programs, leading many specialists to seek training abroad. Mexico was the most cited destination for further education. Public healthcare coverage varied: five countries provided sleep surgeries, while others did not, and CPAP device access was inconsistent. Private insurance generally did not cover sleep disorder treatments, including DISE, which was only covered in Argentina and Colombia with mixed responses.

DISCUSSION: Significant disparities exist in sleep medicine education and healthcare access in Latin America. The lack of structured training limits local expertise development and increases reliance on international education. Raising awareness is a crucial step toward improving education and ensuring broader access to standardized sleep disorder care. Continued research is necessary to bridge existing gaps and enhance opportunities for specialized sleep medicine care.

PMID:41480558 | PMC:PMC12755934 | DOI:10.1055/s-0045-1813729

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Dec 17;12:1658982. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1658982. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the limbs are a common health problem among school-aged children and can cause severe pain as well as emotional issues. Traditional care may not fully meet the comprehensive needs of these children. Therefore, exploring more comprehensive intervention measures is of significant clinical importance.

OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of Child Life intervention combined with a comprehensive nutrition intervention on pain management, nutritional status, and treatment compliance of school-age children with limb fractures.

METHODS: A total of 100 school-age children with limb fractures treated in our hospital from March 2024 to September 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a control group (CG) and an observation group (OG) using the random number table method, with 50 cases in each group. The CG received conventional nursing intervention, while the OG received Child Life intervention and comprehensive nutrition intervention on the basis of the CG. The pain scores, serum cortisol levels, treatment compliance, and nutritional status in both groups before and after surgery were compared.

RESULTS: At 12 h and 24 h after surgery, the FLACC scores in the OG were lower than those in the CG (p < 0.001, t = 5.042; p < 0.001, t = 4.836). At 12 h and 24 h after surgery, serum cortisol level in the OG exhibited depletion relative to that in the CG (p < 0.001, t = 6.049; p < 0.001, t = 11.662). After intervention, treatment compliance in the OG was higher than that in the CG, indicating statistical significance (p = 0.037, χ2 = 4.332; p = 0.017, χ2 = 5.741; p = 0.025, χ2 = 5.005). At 24 h after surgery, Lc, HGB, PA, and ALB levels in the OG were higher than those in the CG, indicating statistical significance (p < 0.01, t = 2.717; p < 0.001, t = 3.433; p < 0.001, t = 5.023; p < 0.001, t = 4.230).

CONCLUSION: A combination of Child Life intervention and comprehensive nutrition intervention can enhance the pain management effect in school-age children with limb fractures, attenuate their pain level, ameliorate their perioperative stress status, and improve their postoperative nutritional status, accelerating their recovery.

PMID:41480550 | PMC:PMC12753990 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1658982

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Dec 17;12:1658735. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1658735. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to characterize the prevalence and co-occurrence of social determinants of health among pregnant individuals during prenatal care in a single rural-based health system in the United States.

CONTEXT AND CASE: This community case study describes the implementation and findings of universal screening for social determinants of health among all individuals initiating prenatal care at four OB-GYN clinics in a single health system between January 2022 and December 2023. Antenatal sites spanned both small urban and rural settings, with a subset of deliveries occurring at a rural, tertiary care medical center. Social determinants, including financial stress, food insecurity, housing instability, transportation issues, social isolation, and health literacy, were assessed using a screening tool embedded in the electronic health record (EHR). We used descriptive statistics and UpSet Plots to describe these determinants and their co-occurrence patterns in relation to patient characteristics.

FINDINGS: Among 2,222 pregnant individuals who completed screening, 16.7% reported at least one social determinant, and 7.8% reported two or more. Among patients who screened positive for only one determinant, the most common concern was social isolation (38.9%), followed by financial stress (27.8%). Among those with two or more determinants, the most common items were financial stress (75.1%), food insecurity (67.6%), and housing instability (56.1%). Combinations of food insecurity, housing instability, and financial stress affected nearly one in 10 patients.

CONCLUSION: Social isolation emerged as a significant concern for non-urban pregnant women who had no other reported social determinants. However, determinants also co-occurred, particularly housing and food insecurity with financial stress. This descriptive analysis provides foundational data for future research examining associations between intersecting social determinants and maternal-infant health outcomes. Universal screening is critically important for identifying patients with high social risk.

PMID:41480546 | PMC:PMC12753359 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1658735

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Dec 17;12:1610477. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1610477. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Copy number variation sequencing (CNV-Seq) has become a first-line prenatal diagnostic technology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the target population for prenatal diagnosis in the CNV-Seq era and to assess the clinical value and economic costs of combining the use of CNV-Seq with karyotyping.

METHODS: The prenatal diagnostic indications of 3,931 pregnant women (3,952 samples of amniotic fluid) in three groups were statistically analyzed. The detection rates (DRs) of karyotype or CNV-Seq for each indication were determined. The abnormal results from karyotyping or CNV-Seq were analyzed. The detection efficiencies of karyotyping and CNV-Seq for each type of chromosomal abnormality were compared. The DRs of chromosomal abnormalities and the economic costs of the three prenatal diagnosis strategies were assessed.

RESULTS: Ultrasonic anomalies were the leading indications for the occurrence of copy number variation in prenatal diagnosis. The DRs for chromosomal abnormalities were 3.72% with karyotyping and 16.20% with CNV-Seq. The DRs of chromosomal abnormalities increased from 7.02% to 15.81% when CNV-Seq was combined with karyotyping in the Karyotype and CNV-Seq group. CNV-Seq confirmed the small supernumerary marker chromosome and unidentified karyotypes detected by karyotyping. Both karyotyping and CNV-Seq are capable of detecting low-level mosaicism.

CONCLUSION: In the era of CNV-Seq, the target population for prenatal diagnosis is expanding. Combining CNV-Seq with karyotyping can increase the DRs of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore, combined testing is an efficient and relatively cost-effective prenatal diagnostic strategy.

PMID:41480544 | PMC:PMC12753869 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1610477

Front Med (Lausanne). 2025 Dec 17;12:1695044. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1695044. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal nutritional status has been significantly correlated with the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Low prealbumin levels are considered independent factors associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD). However, most studies were conducted exclusively on postmenopausal women. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to determine the extent to which these findings can be extrapolated to the male and general population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between prealbumin levels and BMD among individuals aged 50 and above residing in southwestern China.

METHODS: A case-control study was conducted. A total of 534 individuals aged ≥ 50 years who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning between 2018 and 2023 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University were included in this study. Prealbumin levels; hemoglobin A1c levels; alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels; age; sex; body mass index; and lifestyle factors were recorded by reviewing medical records. We defined osteoporosis in individuals aged ≥ 50 years according to the World Health Organization criteria, which recommends a T score ≤ – 2.5. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for osteoporosis, particularly the association between prealbumin levels and osteoporosis.

RESULTS: A total of 534 participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in age, body mass index, sex, type of current residence, physical activity, prealbumin, albumin, hemoglobin levels, and Hemoglobin A1c levels (p < 0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that Hemoglobin A1c (r = -0.287, p < 0.01) was negatively correlated with BMD in participants, while albumin (r = 0.206, p < 0.01), prealbumin (r = 0.292, p < 0.01) and Hemoglobin (r = 0.255, p < 0.01) were positively correlated with BMD. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed prealbumin level as a significant determinant of decreased BMD (OR, odds ratio = 2.317; 95% CI, confidence interval: 1.439-3.731; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that low prealbumin levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis among adults aged ≥50 years in southwestern China. Individuals with this risk factor should receive regular BMD monitoring and early targeted interventions to prevent osteoporosis.

PMID:41480543 | PMC:PMC12753917 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2025.1695044

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1490:257-267. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_28.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and psychological empowerment with perceived stress of nurses working in psychiatric acute units. The study sample consisted of 153 nurses working in psychiatric acute units, located in Athens. Participants completed: (a) A questionnaire about demographic characteristics, (b) the Perceived Stress Scale, (c) the Psychological empowerment scale, and (d) the Social Support Questionnaire Short Form (SSQ-6). The majority of the participants were females (62.7%), graduates of Technological Education (47%), married (60.78%), permanent employees (81.7%), working in psychiatric units for over than 21 years (34.6%), with an average age of 45 years. Of the total sample, 64.7% considered the night shift as the most aggravating, with the main factors causing the greatest stress being (a) lack of staff, (b) dangerousness, and (c) workload. Women compared to men, and those who had been working for more years in a psychiatric ward compared to younger employees exhibited a statistically significant higher level of subjective stress (p < 0.05). Nurses who considered that night shifts were the most aggravating exhibited more stress, while female nurses exhibited higher levels of psychological empowerment compared to male nurses. Moreover, nurses who were scheduled to work more day shifts exhibited statistically significant high levels of psychological empowerment (p < 0.001), while psychological empowerment was positively correlated with social support (p < 0.001). When nurses perceived greater social support, they were more psychologically empowered. Additionally, married nurses reported high levels of social support (p < 0.01). However, older nurses and nurses who were scheduled to work more night shifts reported statistically significant low social support (p < 0.001). Thus, the implementation of strategies to reduce stress at work, family, and wider social environment is essential for nurses working in psychiatric acute units.

PMID:41479090 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_28

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1490:247-256. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_27.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that affect perceived stress, mental resilience, and quality of life in cancer patients and the associations between these variables.

METHODS: A quantitative, observational correlational study was conducted in the day unit of a central oncology center of Athens, Greece. Through convenience sampling, 120 cancer patients were recruited. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) questionnaire, mental resilience with the Resilience Scale (RS-14), and quality of life with the EORTC QLQ-C30 v.3.

RESULTS: 51.7% of patients were women and had breast cancer (25%). The mean age was 65.28 ± 9.98 years. The mean PSS score was18.73 ± 7.83, while the RS score was 81.04 ± 11.46. The mean score of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale was 81.04 ± 11.46. Statistically significant negative correlations were observed between all subscales of the PSS scale with the functional subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (r = -0.27- -0.58, p < 0.05), while statistically significant positive correlations were observed between the scale PSS and the symptom subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (r = 0.21-0.44, p < 0.05). The PSS total score was correlated with RS total score (r = -0.42, p < 0.01). The PSS score was a statistically significant negative predictor of the EORTC QLQ-C30 total score (b = -0.54, p < 0.001), while the RS score was not a predictive factor.

CONCLUSION: Perceived stress, mental resilience, and quality of life in cancer patients are influenced and related. The extent of their influence depends on the individual characteristics of the patients but also on the support they receive and certainly requires further research.

PMID:41479089 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_27

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2026;1490:223-229. doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_24.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 infection is one of the most important current challenges globally. Data show that COVID-19 infections among health workers are higher than those of the general population. The aim of this study was the translation and the adaption of the questionnaire that was piloted to evaluate the level of health and safety of health professionals in Greece after the outbreak of the pandemic.

METHODS: A structured forward-backward translation process was performed. The authors cooperated with a strategic sample of experts. The pilot study was conducted in three public hospitals of Attica, during the period September to December 2021. The selection of the participants was based on random sampling. The research tool that was used was the questionnaire on “Health and safety of health workers in COVID-19”. Data were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient, t-test, and ANOVA test.

RESULTS: Cronbach’s α was 0.846, showing high internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.969, indicating high test-retest reliability. There was a statistically significant gender difference in the scale relevant to health and safety risks and gender. Also, a statistically significant difference was found between the prevention measures and between the hospitals as well.

CONCLUSIONS: Comprehension of the Greek version of the original questionnaire was achieved. It seems to be a promising tool with acceptable internal consistency. Further study on a larger sample is required to generalize the results.

PMID:41479086 | DOI:10.1007/978-3-032-03402-1_24