Tag: nevin manimala

Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand). 2025 Jan 12;70(12):142-146. doi: 10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.19.

ABSTRACT

Extensive research on COVID-19 has revealed a notable link between the disease and thyroid disorders, highlighting complex interactions between thyroid hormones, immunomodulatory signaling molecules within the thyroid gland, and viral infections. This study evaluated the relationship between thyroid function and COVID-19 in Iraqi patients at Adiwaniyah Teaching Hospital. The cohort for this investigation comprised all patients who were admitted to the isolation center at the Teaching Hospital during the timeframe extending from January 2024 to June 2024. Each participant included in this research underwent comprehensive evaluations of their thyroid function, which is composed of the measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (T3), and serum total thyroxine (T4) levels. Results showed that the serum T4 levels in all participants included in the study were observed to range from 20 to 182 (ng/dl), with the average concentration recorded at 87.26 ± 38.29 (ng/dl); no statistically significant disparity was noted in the mean serum T4 levels relative to the severity of the disease (p = 0.291). The serum TSH levels across all enrolled individuals spanned from 0.03 to 82 (mU/L), with a mean concentration of 5.55 ± 12.36 (mU/L); similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean serum TSH levels when assessed against the disease severity (p = 0.926). According to the serum thyroid hormone concentrations, the cohort was stratified into 17 (24.6%) individuals classified as hypothyroid, 34 (49.3%) categorized as euthyroid, and 18 (26.1%) identified as hyperthyroid. Furthermore, no significant correlation was identified between the disease’s severity and the participants’ thyroid status (p = 0.556). In conclusion, patients with COVID-19 are liable to develop thyroid function abnormalities that may explain several of the long-term symptoms associated with the disease.

PMID:39799485 | DOI:10.14715/cmb/2024.70.12.19

Health Econ. 2025 Jan 12. doi: 10.1002/hec.4933. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

When judging the distributional impact of unhealthy food taxes, what matters is not just how much low income people would pay but how much the such taxes would benefit or harm them overall. In this paper, we assess the consumer welfare impact of a fat tax net of its expected benefits computed as savings from weight loss. Using Italian data, we estimate a censored Exact Affine Stone Index (EASI) incomplete demand system for food groups, simulating changes in purchases, calorie intake, consumer welfare, and the monetary value of short-run health benefits. While the Italian government has proposed a sugar tax, we show that there is no significant excess consumption of added sugars among Italian adults. Instead, excessive fat consumption is more prevalent, making a fat tax a more compelling and effective solution to address diet-related health risks. Our results suggest costs from fat taxation are larger than benefits at all income levels. As a fraction of income, the net impact would be slightly regressively distributed.

PMID:39799472 | DOI:10.1002/hec.4933

Psychooncology. 2025 Jan;34(1):e70079. doi: 10.1002/pon.70079.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is the most common sleep disturbance among cancer patients undergoing active treatment. If untreated, it is associated with significant physical and psychological health consequences. Prior efforts to determine insomnia prevalence and correlates have primarily assessed patients in clinical trials, in limited disease groups, and excluding important patient subgroups. These findings are likely to be influenced by research participation effects, which could bias outcomes. We sought to address these limitations in a large, real-world sample.

METHODS: Between 2018 and 2021, all patients seen at our institution were offered an electronic patient-reported outcomes (PRO) questionnaire where they could self-report on a range of symptoms based on the National Cancer Institute’s PRO-CTCAE. Medical records were abstracted for demographics and cancer diagnosis/treatment. We evaluated N = 9350 patients for whom there was complete data.

RESULTS: During cancer treatment, 21% of patients reported insomnia symptoms. Demographically, prevalence was higher in patients who were female (22% vs. 19%), younger than 60 years of age (22% vs. 20%), non-White (24% vs. 20%), and on public insurance (22% vs. 20%). Medically, patients undergoing palliative treatment were more likely to report insomnia symptoms, irrespective of cancer site (23% vs. 19%). The prevalence of insomnia symptoms ranged from 18% (genitourinary) to 23% (gastrointestinal).

CONCLUSION: More than 1 in 5 cancer patients suffer from symptoms of insomnia. It is important that oncologists and cancer centers routinely assess insomnia severity in their patients. Leveraging the use of existing patient-reported outcomes at an institution may be important to help with the identification of insomnia symptoms.

PMID:39799462 | DOI:10.1002/pon.70079

J Periodontal Res. 2025 Jan 12. doi: 10.1111/jre.13376. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Ultrasonography (US) has shown accuracy in imaging healthy periodontium. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of US for estimating dimensions of inflamed periodontium induced by ligature and bacteria.

METHODS: Periodontal tissues of maxillary as well as mandibular premolars and molars in six female mini pigs were treated with ligature and three strains of bacteria for 4-10 weeks. Before euthanization, the periodontium was imaged with US. After euthanization, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and histology were performed. Soft and hard tissue measurements by calibrated and masked examiners from US, CBCT, and histology were statistically compared.

RESULTS: Seventy-one histological samples with corresponding CBCT and US scans were available for analysis. Overall, there was a good to excellent agreement between histology and US (ICC: 0.77-0.96) for parameters such as Soft Tissue Thickness (STT), Gingival Recession, Crestal Bone Thickness (CBT), and the bone-to-cemento-enamel junction (B-CEJ) distance. However, discrepancies were observed for STT at 3 mm below the CEJ and Soft Tissue Height (STH) (ICC: 0.44 and 0.54, respectively). CBCT showed lower agreement with histology, particularly for thin CBT (< 1 mm), with an ICC of 0.20, compared to 0.90 for US vs. histology. CBCT failed to identify crestal bone in 14 cases when the crestal bone was thin. Notably, CBCT results differed more from histological measurements than US in assessing B-CEJ and thin CBT.

CONCLUSION: US demonstrated substantial potential as a transformative tool for periodontal diagnostics, exhibiting high agreement with histology in determining critical parameters. Compared to CBCT, US offered advantages, particularly in cases with thin crestal bone.

PMID:39799460 | DOI:10.1111/jre.13376

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Nov-Dec;37(6):1271-1280.

ABSTRACT

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) injections combined with Anastrozole are increasingly used to treat adolescent idiopathic short stature (ISS), warranting further research. This study evaluated their effects on height, growth rate and adverse reactions in 72 adolescents with ISS treated at our hospital from December 2021 to December 2022. Patients were divided into a control group (rhGH alone) and a study group (rhGH + Anastrozole). Post-treatment, the study group showed significant improvements in height, weight and levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and binding protein-3 (P<0.05). Both groups experienced increased levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, osteocalcin and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide, with the study group showing greater increases (P<0.05). Adverse reactions were slightly higher in the control group but not statistically significant (P>0.05). The combined treatment significantly enhances linear growth, body mass and trace element levels, demonstrating high efficacy and safety. This innovative approach is highly recommended for broader clinical adoption, offering a transformative solution for managing adolescent idiopathic dwarfism.

PMID:39799442

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Nov-Dec;37(6):1229-1238.

ABSTRACT

Hematological toxicity is a predominant concern encountered during cancer treatment. Regular blood tests and follow-up are crucial for cancer patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the hematological toxicities seen by breast cancer patients who were administered paclitaxel during treatment cycles. An observational retrospective study was conducted at the Oncology Clinic at Hiwa Hospital in The Kurdistan Region of Iraq between January 2021 and May 2022. Among the 141 breast cancer patients included in the study, 74 patients did not receive granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prior to the baseline, while 67 patients did receive it. A significant statistical difference was observed in the White Blood Cells parameter among cancer patients who did not receive granulocyte-colony stimulating factor before the baseline when comparing the 2^nd cycle to the 3^rd cycle of Paclitaxel treatment (P-value = 0.001). Statistically significant differences were seen between the Baseline and 1^st Cycle, Baseline and 2^nd Cycle and Baseline and 3^rd Cycle (P-value = 0.0312, 0.031 and 0.031, respectively) in grade 1 neutropenia among the 67 patients who received granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prior to the baseline. This study determined that anemia is a frequently observed hematological side effect of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients who are undergoing treatment with paclitaxel, followed by grade 1 neutropenia.

PMID:39799438

Pak J Pharm Sci. 2024 Nov-Dec;37(6):1207-1212.

ABSTRACT

This article primarily discusses the efficacy and safety of atropine (ATR) plus omeprazole (OME) for the treatment of acute gastritis (AG). From May 2022 to May 2024, 95 AG patients were selected, including 50 cases treated with ATR+OME (observation group) and 45 cases with anisodamine (ADM) plus OME (control group). Comparative analyses of the following dimensions were then carried out: Clinical efficacy, safety (xerostomia, palpitations and headaches), symptom remission time (stomach pain, abdominal distension and nausea and vomiting), serum inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6 and interferon [IFN]-β) and plasma gastrointestinal hormones (epidermal growth factor [EGF], gastrin [GAS] and somatostatin [SS]). After analysis, the observation group had a higher total effective rate, a lower overall incidence of adverse reactions and a shorter remission time of symptoms such as stomach pain, abdominal distension and nausea and vomiting than the control group, all with statistical significance. Moreover, compared with the baseline (before medication) and the control group, TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-β and GAS were reduced statistically in the observation group after medication, while EGF and SS were markedly increased. Thus, ATR plus OME has significant efficacy in the treatment of AG while ensuring high clinical safety, which deserves clinical promotion.

PMID:39799435

J Prev (2022). 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s10935-025-00824-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant shifts in societal norms and individual behaviors, including changes in physical activity levels. This study examines the relationship between socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors and changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels among adult Arkansans. Survey data were collected from 1,205 adult Arkansans in July and August 2020, capturing socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics and information on physical activity changes since the onset of the pandemic. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the relative risk of reporting increased or decreased physical activity compared to unchanged levels. Age (RRR _{more physical activity} =0.98, RRR _{less physical activity} =0.98), marital status (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.66), COVID-19-related income loss (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.61), and receipt of a stimulus check (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.64) were significantly associated with changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic. Older individuals, married individuals, those without COVID-19-related income loss, and recipients of stimulus checks were less likely to report decreased physical activity levels. No significant association was found between race/ethnicity and physical activity changes. This study highlights the influence of socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors on physical activity behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of considering socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors in public health interventions to promote physical activity and mitigate health disparities beyond the pandemic.

PMID:39798056 | DOI:10.1007/s10935-025-00824-3

J Ultrasound. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s40477-024-00977-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the accuracy and success rate of ultrasound in determining fetal sex. A search was conducted on Medline, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases, and the reference lists of selected studies were also reviewed. Meta-analyses were performed using Revman 5.4.1 and Meta-DiSc 2.0. Twenty-eight studies met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. Nine studies reported the accuracy rate of first-trimester fetal sex identification, with a mean accuracy of 85% and a median of 87%. Six studies provided accuracy rates for second and third-trimester identifications, with mean and median rates of 92% and 99%, respectively. A pooled sensitivity and specificity analysis shows that the sensitivity increased from 69% at 11 weeks to 89% at 12 weeks to 96% at 13 weeks. Forest plots on the success rates indicated no significant statistical differences between first-trimester ultrasound sex determination and actual birth sex, with p values of 0.06 for males and 0.08 for females. Similarly, second and third-trimester forest plots showed p values of 0.70 for males and 0.14 for females. In conclusion, ultrasound accuracy for fetal sex determination rises from 87% in first to 99% in second trimesters. The success rate shows no significant difference for either trimester. However, male sex is more easily detected in the second and third trimesters, while female sex is more easily detected in the first trimester. The sensitivity of fetal sex detection in the first trimester increases with gestational age. These findings suggest that prenatal ultrasound sex determination can be useful in managing sex-related pregnancy complications.

PMID:39798051 | DOI:10.1007/s40477-024-00977-7

Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1007/s11255-025-04367-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Locally advanced colorectal tumors frequently invade adjacent organs, particularly the urinary bladder in the sigmoid colon and upper rectum, complicating multivisceral resections. This study compared postoperative outcomes of partial cystectomy (PC) and total cystectomy (TC) in patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer.

METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Central Register of Clinical Trials, and Web of Science for studies published up to November 2024. Odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with I² statistics. Statistical analyses were performed in R Software 4.4.1.

RESULTS: Nine retrospective studies including 894 patients were analyzed. Among them, 433 (48.43%) underwent PC, and 461 (51.57%) underwent TC. Compared to TC, PC was associated with significantly lower rates of surgical site infection (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.13-0.80; p = 0.015), shorter operative time (MD – 169.7 min; 95% CI – 214.1 to – 125.3; p < 0.01), reduced blood loss (MD – 1005.9 ml; 95% CI – 1362.1 to – 649.8; p < 0.01), and shorter hospital stay (MD – 6.6 days; 95% CI – 9.4 to – 3.9; p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between groups in local or distant recurrence, urinary and intestinal leaks, pelvic abscess, ileus, urinary tract infection, or 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSION: Partial cystectomy demonstrated superior postoperative outcomes, including fewer surgical site infections, reduced operative time, less blood loss, and shorter hospitalization. Oncological outcomes and other postoperative complications were comparable between PC and TC, supporting PC as a safe and effective option in selected patients.

PMID:39798047 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-025-04367-8