Tag: nevin manimala

Iran J Immunol. 2025 Mar 25;22(1). doi: 10.22034/iji.2025.104236.2887. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 (2019) clearly demonstrates an imbalanced immune response. Variations in the function and subtypes of dendritic cells (DCs) may have effects on immune responses in COVID-19 patients and contribute to immunopathology.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the phenotype and frequency of Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), Conventional DCs (cDCs), and double-positive DCs in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU and non-ICU compared to the healthy control group.

METHODS: The study included 10 healthy individuals and 25 COVID-19 patients. In the second week of their illness, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the patients and labeled with targeted antibodies for HLA-DR, CD123, and CD11c. The samples were then analyzed using flow cytometry. The COVID-19 patients were divided into two ICU and non-ICU groups and were closely monitored throughout the study.

RESULTS: In comparison to healthy controls, COVID-19 patients exhibited a significantly lower pDCs ratio (P=0.04). Patients were categorized into two groups: (A) the ICU group (n=11; 44%) and (B) the non-ICU group (n=14; 56%). The frequency of pDC was significantly lower in ICU patients than in non-ICU patients (P<0.01). Although not statistically significant, ICU patients had a lower frequency of cDCs and double positive DCs compared to non-ICU patients. Additionally, a significant association between the age of COVID-19 patients and cDC levels was observed (p=0.049).

CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 can evade attacks from the immune response by reducing the number of DCs and suppressing their function of DCs, ultimately resulting in weakened development of both innate and adaptive immunity.

PMID:40130356 | DOI:10.22034/iji.2025.104236.2887

J Mater Chem B. 2025 Mar 25. doi: 10.1039/d4tb01941e. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biomaterials play a crucial role in modern medicine through their use as medical implants and devices. However, they can support biofilm formation and infection, and lack integration with the surrounding human tissue at the implant site. This work reports the development of novel poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) based copolymers that address both issues. These PEA materials were molecularly designed polymeric surfactants (surfmers) synthesised via controlled radical polymerisations to achieve different polymeric architectures, (i.e., statistical and block copolymers). These were both deposited as structured 2D films on glass coverslips and used to manufacture monodisperse 3D micro-particles with functional surfaces (via microfluidics). ToF-SIMS was used to analyse these 2D and 3D surfaces to understand: (a) the surface arrangement of the monomer sequences exhibited by the different polymer structures and (b) how this surface monomer arrangement influenced mammalian fibroblast cell and/or Staphylococcus aureus behaviour at these film/particle surfaces. In addition, the form of the fibronectin (FN) network assembly’s importance in promoting growth factor (GF) binding was probed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) on the 2D films. This confirmed that specific surfmer molecular surface organisations were achieved during film/micro-particle fabrication, which presented exterior functionalities that either prevent biofilm attachment or promote the formation of structured FN networks for GF binding.

PMID:40130352 | DOI:10.1039/d4tb01941e

Pediatr Int. 2025 Jan-Dec;67(1):e15889. doi: 10.1111/ped.15889.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A target unplanned extubation (UE) rate of <1/100 ventilator days has been recommended. Our hospital has 21 NICU beds (12 beds in NICU 2 and 3 for extremely low birth weight [ELBW] infants). In 2020, we experienced an abrupt UE increase, leading to the initiation of the Stop UNplanned eXtubation (SUNX) project. At that time, UE rate was 1.30/100 ventilator days. The aim of the SUNX project was to keep the low UE rate.

METHODS: We collected data on UE rates from April 2019 to March 2024. The intervention was implemented through Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. Cause analysis with the Pareto chart led to the drivers, we had to deal with: judicious use of sedations, Endotracheal tube (ETT) tape loosening, and stuff number during infant care. Additionally, we did simulation training for sudden SpO₂ decrease and UE event review. We also gathered data about ELBW infant admission and their NICU stay.

RESULTS: The UE rate in total NICU was kept lower than 1/100 ventilator days after the intervention. After our intervention, we found no special cause variation. It meant that our intervention was not statistically significant. However, our intervention gradually penetrated into the NICU daily practices; judicious use of sedation, ETT tape template, body position change by two nurses, UE event review, and so on. We continued a systematic approach to preventing UE.

CONCLUSIONS: Although abrupt UE increase in 2020 might be a special cause variation, SUNX activities brought us systematic approach for UE prevention.

PMID:40130339 | DOI:10.1111/ped.15889

Multivariate Behav Res. 2025 Mar 25:1-17. doi: 10.1080/00273171.2025.2473935. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Latent class (LC) analysis is a model-based clustering approach for categorical data, with a wide range of applications in the social sciences and beyond. When the data have a hierarchical structure, the multilevel LC model can be used to account for higher-level dependencies between the units by means of a further categorical LC variable at the group level. The research interest of LC analysis typically lies in the relationship between the LCs and external covariates, or predictors. To estimate LC models with covariates, researchers can use the one-step approach, or the generally recommended stepwise estimators, which separate the estimation of the clustering model from the subsequent estimation of the regression model. The package multilevLCA has the most comprehensive set of model specifications and estimation approaches for this family of models in the open-source domain, estimating single- and multilevel LC models, with and without covariates, using the one-step and stepwise approaches.

PMID:40130336 | DOI:10.1080/00273171.2025.2473935

Diabetes Technol Ther. 2025 Mar 25. doi: 10.1089/dia.2024.0606. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Pancreas transplantation provides long-term near-normal glycemic control for recipients with type 1 diabetes, but it is unknown how this control compares with an automated insulin delivery (AID) system. Methods: In this prospective study, we compared parameters from 31 consecutive pancreas-kidney transplantation recipients versus from 377 people using an AID-either MiniMed^™ 780G (n = 200) or Tandem t:slim X2^™ Control-IQ^™ (n = 177). Results: Compared with the MiniMed and Tandem AID groups, transplant recipients at 1 month (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 36 ± 12 days) after pancreas transplantation exhibited significantly lower glycated hemoglobin (38 mmol/mol [36, 40] vs. 55 [53, 56.5] and 56 [54.7, 57.2], respectively), lower mean glycemia (6.4 mmol/L [6, 6.8] vs. 8.5 [8.3, 8.7] and 8.2 [8.0, 8.4], respectively), and spent more time in range (90% [86, 93] vs. 72% [70, 74] and 75% [73, 77], respectively). Time in hypoglycemia did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusions: Overall, compared with AID treatment, pancreas transplantation led to significantly better diabetes control parameters, with the exception of time below range. Clinical trials registration number is Eudra CT No. 2019-002240-24.

PMID:40130330 | DOI:10.1089/dia.2024.0606

Pol J Vet Sci. 2025 Mar;28(1):111-122. doi: 10.24425/pjvs.2025.154019.

ABSTRACT

This study is a continuation of innovative research on the impact of the simultaneous use of standard- and small-cell combs in bee colonies on the characteristics of worker bees and bee colonies. The nests of these colonies had two types of combs: small-cell (approximate cell width/size of 4.90 mm) and standard-cell (approximate cell width/size of 5.50 mm). The aim of the study was to compare the activities of proteases and their inhibitors present on the cuticle of workers reared in small-cell combs (SMC workers) and standard-cell combs (STC workers) in colonies kept simultaneously in standard- and small-cell combs. The width/size of comb cells in which the workers were reared had a significant effect on protein concentrations and activities of the proteolytic system, i.e. proteases and their inhibitors, on the cuticle surface. Regardless of the age of the workers (1 day, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and 28 days), the protein concentrations were statistically significantly higher (p≤0.01) in the STC than SMC workers. The opposite was found in the case of the activities of proteases and their inhibitors: regardless of the age of the bees, the activities were significantly higher in the SMC workers. The differences between workers reared in small-cell combs and those reared in standard-cell combs may be responsible for their predispositions to perform different tasks in the colony. In our opinion, workers reared in small-cell combs are more predisposed to work as foragers outside the nest. However, this hypothesis requires confirmation in further research.

PMID:40130298 | DOI:10.24425/pjvs.2025.154019

Intern Med J. 2025 Mar 25. doi: 10.1111/imj.70015. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While identification of key risk factors for mortality has contributed to advances in healthcare, the effect of these risk factors in predicting mortality over different time horizons remains unclear.

AIMS: We sought to determine how risk factors predicted shorter-term and longer-term mortality across the age spectrum in adults.

METHODS: We used data from 11 247 adults of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study. Cox multivariable regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of shorter-term (0-10 years) and longer-term (10-20 years) all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality associated with risk factors. Models with interaction between baseline age and each risk factor were also fitted.

RESULTS: During a 20-year follow-up, 2185 deaths occurred. Smoking, diabetes, male sex and albuminuria all independently predicted shorter- and longer-term all-cause and CVD mortality. Most associations were stronger in the shorter term compared to the longer term. A notable exception was the association between smoking and CVD mortality, which was stronger in the longer term (HR 3.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.57-4.90) compared to the shorter term (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.33-3.20). The magnitude of association between most risk factors and mortality attenuated with age.

CONCLUSIONS: Classical risk factors for total and CVD mortality remain important up to 20 years after their measurement. In unselected adult cohorts, longer-term follow-up (e.g. beyond 10 years) may not provide additional information on associations of risk factors with mortality beyond that obtained in shorter-term follow-up.

PMID:40130290 | DOI:10.1111/imj.70015

G3 (Bethesda). 2025 Mar 25:jkaf063. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf063. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Aneuploidy, a condition characterized by an abnormal number of chromosomes, can have significant consequences for fitness of an organism, often manifesting in reduced fertility and other developmental challenges. In plants, aneuploidy is particularly complex to study, especially in polyploid species such as coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.), which is a hexaploid conifer (2n=6x=66). This study leverages a novel Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method based on sequence depth to investigate the occurrence of aneuploidy across the range of coast redwood. We show that aneuploidy, defined here as a whole-chromosome gain or loss, is prevalent in second-growth redwoods, predominantly as additional chromosomes, while vegetatively propagated plants frequently experience chromosome loss. Although our study does not directly assess the fitness of aneuploids, the frequency of chromosomal instability observed in vegetatively propagated plants compared to second-growth and old-growth trees raises questions about their long-term developmental viability and potential to become established trees. These findings have significant implications for redwood conservation and restoration strategies, especially as methods such as tissue culture propagation becomes the primary mode of producing nursery stock plants used in reforestation.

PMID:40130270 | DOI:10.1093/g3journal/jkaf063

Int J Gasteroenterol (N Y). 2024 Dec;8(2):76-84. doi: 10.11648/j.ijg.20240802.14. Epub 2024 Nov 29.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The association and interaction between SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has not been adequately explored. We sought to determine whether a mechanistic relationship exists and whether vaccination against COVID-19 plays a role in this relationship.

METHODS: Using the Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic healthcare database, we obtained a random sample of veterans in October 2022 for this cross-sectional study. Demographic characteristics of the participants (e.g., age, sex, race), prior COVID infection, COVID vaccination status, and IBS diagnosis were extracted from the VA medical records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine potential associations between the listed factors and IBS diagnosis.

RESULTS: A total of 9,112 veterans were analyzed. In univariate analysis, race, COVID infection, and vaccination were significantly associated with IBS. In multivariate regression analysis, only the effects of COVID infection and vaccination were statistically significant. The odds ratios for development of IBS among veterans with COVID infection versus those without was 1.94 (95% CI: 1.53-2.45), and for vaccinated versus unvaccinated, was 1.49 (95% CI: 1.18-1.89). Further analysis showed that vaccinated veterans who did not contract COVID infection had a lower risk of developing IBS compared to unvaccinated veterans who contracted COVID.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that veterans with COVID infection are almost twice as likely to develop IBS compared to those who have never had COVID infection. Vaccinated veterans have a lower risk of contracting COVID and subsequently, a diminished chance of developing IBS. Overall, vaccination of veterans with protection against COVID diminishes the risk of IBS development.

PMID:40130268 | PMC:PMC11932716 | DOI:10.11648/j.ijg.20240802.14

Clin Ophthalmol. 2025 Mar 20;19:985-991. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S508993. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) has safety advantages over penetrating keratoplasty. However, one of the serious complications of DALK is Descemet membrane (DM) detachment, which can lead to double anterior chamber (DAC) and visual impairment. This study examines the incidence and factors related to the complication of DAC after DALK, including preexisting conditions such as atopic dermatitis (AD).

METHODS: This is a retrospective evaluation of all patients who underwent DALK from January 2019 to April 2024 in the Department of Ophthalmology, Fukuoka University Hospital. Cases with DAC postoperatively were analyzed statistically. A total of 85 eyes in 73 patients were included. We excluded eyes with preexisting corneal perforations that required grafts that were less than 6mm in diameter. A binomial logistic predictive model was used to determine factors associated with postoperative DAC. Collated variables were age, AD, preexisting corneal diseases, donor button size, intraoperative DM perforation, and cornea supply source.

RESULTS: Among 85 eyes that underwent DALK, 12 eyes (14.1%) developed postoperative DAC. Binomial regression analysis revealed preexisting corneal diseases (p=0.031) including preoperative DM perforation, infectious keratitis, keratoconus, corneal dystrophy, and corneal scar, intra-operative DM perforation (p=0.049), and AD (p=0.031) to be significant factors associated with DAC. This binomial regression model had 83.3% sensitivity and 78.0% specificity.

CONCLUSION: AD and preexisting corneal diseases were significant factors in DAC after DALK, and DALK during active infection predisposes to DAC, while intraoperative perforation was also significantly associated. Our study suggests that these factors could be of importance in considering the mechanism of pathogenesis of DM and DAC.

PMID:40130267 | PMC:PMC11932134 | DOI:10.2147/OPTH.S508993