Tag: nevin manimala

Neurol Sci. 2026 Jun 12;47(7):564. doi: 10.1007/s10072-026-09136-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gait impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) worsen under cognitive load and often persist despite medication. Combining treadmill training with gamified virtual reality environments (GVRE) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may address both motor and cognitive contributors. This study evaluated the effects and experiences of a cognitive-motor gait training program integrating GVRE and tDCS.

METHODS: In this mixed-methods RCT, 23 participants with mild-to-moderate PD were randomized to: (1) treadmill (n = 8), (2) treadmill+GVRE (n = 8), or (3) treadmill+GVRE+tDCS (n = 7). Participants completed 12 sessions over six weeks. Primary outcomes included spatiotemporal gait parameters and executive function under single- and dual-task conditions. Secondary outcomes included balance, motor severity, fear of falling and quality of life. Interviews explored perceived effects and motivational factors.

RESULTS: The intervention was safe and well tolerated, with high attendance (92%). No statistically or clinically meaningful changes were observed in gait speed. Balance improved across groups (MiniBESTest + 1.48 points; p = 0.0003). A timepoint-specific improvement in cadence during motor dual-task walking was observed in the treadmill+GVRE+tDCS group compared with treadmill. Interviews revealed increased walking confidence and adoption of mobility strategies in complex walking situations.

CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary mixed-methods RCT supports the feasibility and acceptability of combining treadmill training with GVRE and tDCS in people with mild-to-moderate PD. While the intervention did not yield clinically meaningful improvements in gait speed, exploratory outcomes offered insight into participant experiences. Reported gains in confidence, self-monitoring, and walking strategies provide useful context. Findings should be interpreted cautiously. Larger, adequately powered, sham-controlled trials are needed to determine efficacy.

PMID:42277373 | DOI:10.1007/s10072-026-09136-8

Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2026 Jun 11. doi: 10.1007/s10571-026-01765-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

T-lymphokine-activated killer-cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK), was widely overexpressed in various malignant tumors, and played critical roles in their growth, differentiation and metastasis. However, its levels and potential clinical significance in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) was unknown. We detected the plasma TOPK protein level and mRNA level of neutrophilic TOPK in AIS patients using ELISA and RT-PCR, and analyzed their association with functional outcomes statistically. Among 330 patients with AIS, plasma TOPK concentrations differed significantly between patients present with excellent outcomes or not at 3 months. Plasma TOPK ≥ 69.95 pg/mL independently predicted excellent functional outcomes. In the subgroup of patients received rt-PA treatment, patients with TOPK ≥ 69.95 pg/ml also predicted excellent functional outcomes. Addition of plasma TOPK to clinical predictors for excellent outcomes post AIS as well as outcomes after rt-PA treatment improved their reclassification and discrimination. Although TOPK mRNA levels were significantly elevated in the neutrophils of AIS patients, no significant predictive value was observed for excellent outcomes. Conclusively, higher plasma TOPK levels (especially TOPK ≥ 69.95 pg/ml) might emerge as a prognostic indicator for the 3-month excellent functional outcomes post AIS and possessed predictive value in identifying patients with 3-month excellent functional outcomes after rt-PA treatment.

PMID:42277369 | DOI:10.1007/s10571-026-01765-z

Atten Percept Psychophys. 2026 Jun 11;88(5):146. doi: 10.3758/s13414-026-03286-9.

ABSTRACT

Recent work has shown that people are sensitive to coarse differences in network topology, including network features like “holes,” “crosses,” and “T-junctions.” Even children as young as 4 years old will readily distinguish between items that differ slightly in their network topology. But how robust is this sensitivity? Here, we evaluate whether people are not only sensitive to differences in the presence or absence of certain topological features, but also to their exact spatial arrangement. In a first experiment, we show that people distinguish figures which possess all the same topological features as other figures in a set if the features differ in spatial arrangement. In a second experiment, we show that people also match figures based on exact spatial arrangement. Finally, we show that memory encodes the correct relational structure of the figures: People are more likely to falsely indicate having seen an item if it shared the precise arrangement of topological features of other items they had seen (compared to a closely matched item which had the same features arranged in a different way). Combined, these results bolster the theory that people intuitively appreciate the precise spatial arrangement of topological features.

PMID:42277366 | DOI:10.3758/s13414-026-03286-9

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2026 Jun 11. doi: 10.1038/s41430-026-01773-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We previously found the glycaemic index (GI) of 3 foods to be similar in subjects aged >40 y (mean 49 y) versus <40 y (mean 29 y), but a more recent study reported the GI of 2 foods to be higher in subjects aged >55 y (mean 70 y) vs. <33 y (mean 24 y). Here, we compared the GI or relative glycaemic response (RGR, analogous to GI but using a different reference food) of the younger (age <33 y) vs. the older (age >55 y) subjects who participated in previously published studies that included n ≥ 9 in each group. Study 1, (GI, 3 foods) had n = 19:9 younger:older subjects; Study 2, (GI, 2 foods) n = 14:10; Study 3, (RGR, 1 food), n = 68:16. The GI or RGR of the 6 foods varied from 36 to 88; none differed significantly in younger vs. older and the overall means were equivalent, 63.2 vs. 63.7, respectively. The GI or RGR values for 5 foods from 3 additional studies not meeting the inclusion criteria above were also similar in younger vs. older subjects. Therefore, we found no evidence from n = 11 comparisons that GI values differ in younger vs. older subjects. However, there are insufficient data to determine if GI values are equivalent in older vs. younger subjects, something that requires a different statistical test.

PMID:42277346 | DOI:10.1038/s41430-026-01773-8

Int Dent J. 2026 Jun 11;76(4):109677. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2026.109677. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Sal is one of the ten islands of Cape Verde, a lower-middle-income country in Africa. Local reports suggest poor oral health among residents, but no scientific data exists. This study aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Sal’s dentulous inhabitants, identify risk factors associated with oral health, and explore correlations between oral health and OHRQoL in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among dentulous Sal residents. Final-year dental students from the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Faculty of Dentistry in Amsterdam, performed duplicate oral health examinations. Outcomes included caries experience (dmft/DMFT), consequences of untreated caries (pufa/PUFA), and periodontal health (DPSI; in adults only). Data on brushing frequency, toothbrush ownership, toothpaste availability, dental visits, dental insurance, and tobacco use (adults only) were collected. Adults completed the OHIP-14 questionnaire (OHRQoL). Descriptive statistics summarized characteristics; multivariable regressions assessed associations.

RESULTS: A total of 1,371 dentulous residents participated (609 children aged 1-17 years; 762 adults aged 18-89 years). Caries prevalence was 87.5% and pufa/PUFA 52.2%. Mean dmft/DMFT was 3.7 ± 3.2 (children) and 7.5 ± 6.2 (adults). 63.1% had DPSI maximum-scores ≥3+ (periodontal disease). Toothbrush ownership was high (>96%), access to toothpaste (<90%) and dental insurance was limited (children 63%; adults 46%). Dental insurance was associated with lower dmft/DMFT (p = .019) and lower pufa/PUFA (p = .005). Higher DMFT, PUFA, and severe periodontal disease was associated with poorer OHRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral health among Sal’s residents is poor, with a high disease burden and limited access to care. Improving preventive strategies and access to dental services is important to reduce disease prevalence and enhance quality of life.

PMID:42275744 | DOI:10.1016/j.identj.2026.109677

Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2026 Jun 6;120:103022. doi: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2026.103022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by the clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells, primarily driven by JAK2 mutations. Even though there are established diagnostic and therapeutic standards, there is not a lot of information about the clinical and molecular features of PV in Latin America. Our aim was to characterize the demographic, clinical, hematological, and treatment characteristics of patients with polycythemia vera at a specialized hematology/oncology center in southern Colombia.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis involving patients aged 18 years and older diagnosed with polycythemia vera at Hemato Oncólogos S.A. and Clínica Imbanaco in Cali, Colombia, from July 2015 to July 2023. We looked at 59 consecutive medical records to get demographic information, JAK2 mutational status, hematologic parameters, initial treatment, relapse reasons, and outcomes. We used descriptive statistics and compared groups using the Chi-square/Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and the Student’s t-test, ANOVA, or non-parametric alternatives for continuous variables. A p-value under 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: There were 59 patients in all, with a slight male majority (50.8%) and an average age of 70.1 ± 12.3 years; the average age at diagnosis was 60.1 ± 11.3 years. In 61.0% of patients, JAK2 mutations were found, and in 81.4% of patients, the risk was high. The average hemoglobin level upon diagnosis was 17.2 ± 2.9 g/dL, but by the last follow-up, it had dropped to 14.4 ± 2.6 g/dL. The main treatments were acetylsalicylic acid plus hydroxyurea (32.2%) or phlebotomy (28.8%). During the follow-up period (mean 0.9 ± 3.6 years), 37.3% of individuals experienced recurrence, sometimes requiring an increase in treatment to hydroxyurea or ruxolitinib. The overall death rate was 15.3%. No statistically significant differences were seen between patients who survived and those who died concerning baseline hemoglobin, age, JAK2 status, or therapeutic mode.

CONCLUSION: This study provides one of the first extensive characterizations of PV in southern Colombia, confirming internationally recognized clinical features, including advanced age at diagnosis, increased prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, and a predominance of high-risk classification. The low rate of finding JAK2 mutations suggests that molecular testing may not be as easy to get as it could be. Even if the treatment followed the guidelines, the risk of recurrence and thrombosis remained, showing that PV is a long-term and worsening condition. These findings highlight the urgent need to expand access to molecular diagnostics, develop tailored risk-adapted medicines, and initiate prospective multicenter studies in Latin America to optimize outcomes and quality of life in PV.

PMID:42275722 | DOI:10.1016/j.bcmd.2026.103022

Food Chem. 2026 Jun 8;522:149991. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149991. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Brandy flavor is shaped by complex production processes, yet comprehensive multivariate analyses of these stages remain limited. This study employed flavoromics and chemometrics to characterize the influence of grape variety, micro-region, distillation method, and aging protocol on brandy. HS-SPME-GC-MS and sensory data were analyzed using multivariate models (PCA, PLS-DA) and FDR-corrected univariate analyses. Results showed that representative compounds such as geraniol, ethyl heptanoate, and isoamyl lactate discriminated samples of micro-regions, while grape variety, distillation system, and aging regime generated distinct volatile and sensory patterns. Rather than being treated solely as statistical markers, these compounds were interpreted in relation to precursor differences, process-dependent transfer, and time-dependent chemical evolution. In particular, isoamyl lactate showed persistence from base wine to newmake brandy, whereas aging-related changes in esters and lactones reflected reaction equilibria associated with wood contact and toasting intensity. These findings provide a process-oriented framework for understanding how production variables shape brandy aroma.

PMID:42275714 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149991

Clin Radiol. 2026 Apr 28;99:107371. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2026.107371. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: When radiologists encounter an unfamiliar musculoskeletal neoplasm on conventional and advanced MR images, they now have an option to search the internet for MRI image examples. The purpose of this project was to systematically evaluate the quality of images returned by a widely used general search engine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic internet searches were conducted for 16 benign and malignant musculoskeletal neoplasms, focusing on T1-weighted (T1W), T2-weighted (T2W), contrast-enhanced, diffusion-weighted (DWI), and out-of-phase MR images. The top five images from each search were evaluated for image quality and clinical relevance using a 5-point scoring key.

RESULTS: General internet engine returned correct sequence among the top five results for 88% of lesions when searched for T1W images, 100% for T2W images, 100% for contrast-enhanced images, 63% for DWI, and 25% for out-of-phase images. Fleiss Kappa statistic demonstrated substantial agreement (Kappa = 0.72) for binary “useful” vs “not useful” image designation, and moderate agreement (Kappa = 0.48) for all five categories.

CONCLUSION: The general internet search engine returned useful results when searching for conventional MRI sequences but performed sub-optimally when searching for advanced MR image examples.

PMID:42275688 | DOI:10.1016/j.crad.2026.107371

JACC Adv. 2026 Jun 11;5(7):102869. doi: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102869. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Little is known about end-of-life trajectories in survivors of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CS) who die beyond their index admission, or utilization of palliative care services in AMI-CS survivors.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine long-term palliative and end-of-life care among AMI-CS survivors.

METHODS: This was a population-based, retrospective cohort of AMI-CS survivors in Ontario, Canada, from 2009 to 2020 who died during longitudinal follow-up.

RESULTS: We identified 3,881 AMI-CS survivors (2009-2020) who died after discharge and before March 2024. The median survival time was 1,096 days (IQR: 312-2,139 days). Overall, 2,100 patients (54.1%) died in acute care, with no difference between those who did and did not receive palliative care. Patients who did not receive palliative care were more likely to die in intensive care units (ICU) than those who did (23% vs 17%, absolute standard difference 0.15). Most patients received palliative care in the final year of life (n = 2,485, 64%); 1,057 patients (42.5%) had outpatient visits, 505 patients (20.3%) had inpatient palliative care consultations, and 327 patients (13.2%) had palliative care hospitalizations. Palliative care, however, was most commonly initiated in the last 14 days of life (1,185 patients, 47.7%). Earlier palliative care referrals were associated with reduced rates of dying in hospital (adjusted OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.42-0.65) and ICU (adjusted OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.26-0.45).

CONCLUSIONS: Early and intermediate term palliative care involvement was associated with reduced risk of death in hospital and ICU. Such consultation may improve end-of-life outcomes in AMI-CS survivors.

PMID:42275681 | DOI:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102869

Am J Surg. 2026 May 6;260:117028. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2026.117028. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) carries a high recurrence risk. Aspirin has been proposed for secondary prevention, but its benefit remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated aspirin’s impact on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

METHODS: A systematic search of four databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Library) was conducted from inception to January 2025 using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Screening and data extraction were performed independently. Study quality was assessed using RoB 2 and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Ten studies were included, comprising retrospective cohorts, population-based cohorts, prospective observational analyses, and Phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to pool effect sizes as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was quantified using I² and τ², and sensitivity analyses included leave-one-out testing. All analyses followed PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS: Ten studies were included. Pooled analyses of observational studies showed no statistically significant improvement in OS (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.78-1.08) or DFS (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.74-1.08) among aspirin users. Considerable heterogeneity and inconsistency were observed across studies. RCTs likewise demonstrated no clear survival benefit, with effect estimates close to unity. Safety data were limited and variably reported, precluding firm conclusions regarding adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Current evidence does not support aspirin as adjuvant therapy for secondary prevention in CRC. Future research should target biomarker-defined subgroups for potential benefits.

PMID:42275677 | DOI:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2026.117028