Tag: nevin manimala

Reprod Sci. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s43032-025-01986-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Obesity is associated with low fertility potential. Ca2 + oscillations are known to be triggered after sperm oocyte membrane fusion, which allows entry of a sperm-specific phospholipase C-zeta (PLCζ), into the oocyte cytoplasm. We aimed to examine sperm PLCζ expression changes in obese and non-obese men along with sperm parameters. The demographic characteristics of the patients were analysed. The patients included in the study were divided into two groups:Non-obese patients (BMI < 30)(Control)(n:49) and the Obese Patient Group (BMI ≥ 30)n = 18). Semen analysis of the groups was evaluated. Rt-PCR analysis and histopathologic evaluation by immunohistochemistry for PLCζ expression were performed. Testosterone levels in the control group were statistically higher than in the obese group (4.8 ± 1.28 μg/L;3.6 ± 1.61 μg/L, respectively) (p < 0.05). Prolactin levels were 12.6 ± 7.2 μg/L in the control group and 17.15 ± 9.28 μg/L in the obese group, which was statistically significant (p = 0.03). No significant difference was detected between the groups in sperm concentration, motility, morphology, or viability, although semen pH was significantly higher in obese patients (p = 0.024).. Although no statistically significant was observed, PCR analysis revealed that PLCζ expression was elevated by a factor of 1.69 in obese patients. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that PLCζ expression was decreased in obese patients compared to the control group. Although PLCζ mRNA expression was higher in the obese group compared to the control group, immunohistochemical staining results demonstrated weak staining of sperm cells in the obese group. These results indicated that PLCζ protein synthesis pauses at some point in obese patients. The discrepancy between mRNA expression and protein localization may indicate translational or post-translational regulation, though this was not directly assessed in our study. This study highlights the complex relationship between obesity and male fertility, suggesting that obesity may disrupt the translation of PLCζ protein, which is crucial for successful fertilization.

PMID:41099980 | DOI:10.1007/s43032-025-01986-5

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-37044-5. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41099977 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-37044-5

Geroscience. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01940-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biological aging exhibits significant heterogeneity across individuals, and a precise evaluation at scale is urgently needed. Here, we developed a PCAge, based on common clinical, physiological, and laboratory indices routinely collected in primary healthcare, in the CHARLS. PCAge demonstrated strong correlations with chronological age (r = 0.86-0.88, P < 0.001) and robust performance in the prediction of mortality (C-index = 0.798) over a 10-year follow-up. Biologically older individuals (PCAge > chronological age) suffered from substantially higher risk of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease (HR = 1.30, P < 0.001), heart disease (HR = 1.35, P = 0.003), stroke (HR = 2.38, P < 0.001), hypertension (HR = 1.28, P = 0.007), and diabetes (HR = 1.51, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the generalizability of PCAge was validated in the South China Cohort (SCC, n = 68,920). Biologically older individuals were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases. Being female (proportion ratios [PR] = 1.94, P < 0.001), lower education attainment (PR = 1.18, P < 0.001), higher income (PR = 1.47, P < 0.001), and unfavorable lifestyles (PR = 1.41, P < 0.001) were associated with a higher probability of having accelerated aging. PCAge identified aging trajectories up to a decade before clinical disease onset, offering a cost-effective tool for population-level aging surveillance. Our findings underscore the potential of PCAge as a highly accessible tool for the evaluation of aging status, especially in resource-limited areas.

PMID:41099967 | DOI:10.1007/s11357-025-01940-y

Geroscience. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01939-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Redox signaling is a key mechanism of exercise-induced adaptation. However, studies have demonstrated impaired responses to acute exercise in older organisms. Adjunctive therapies to augment exercise effects may overcome these deficits. Sulforaphane (SFN), a phytochemical from cruciferous vegetables, stimulates NRF2. This study tested the hypothesis that combining acute exercise (in vivo stimulus) with ex vivo SFN treatment would induce greater NRF2 activation and signaling in older adults compared to either treatment alone. Twenty-five older adults (12 men, 13 women; mean age: 67 ± 5 years) performed 30-min cycling exercise (AET). Blood was drawn before and immediately after the AET to isolate PBMCs and incubate with and without SFN (5 µM) treatment (four conditions: DMSO (CON), SFN, exercise (EX), and EX + SFN). PBMCs were harvested after 2-h or 5-h incubation for measures of NRF2 or gene expression for NQO1, HO-1, GR, and GCLC targets, respectively. All treatments (SFN, EX, EX + SFN) increased NRF2 activation compared to CON (p < 0.05). The response to EX + SFN was significantly greater than either SFN or EX alone (2.1-fold versus 1.5-fold, p = 0.01). SFN stimulation resulted in a significant upregulation of all four genes compared to control (p < 0.001). EX + SFN treatment stimulated a greater increase in gene expression compared to EX (p < 0.05); however, SFN did not differ statistically from EX + SFN, suggesting a possible ceiling effect of the SFN concentration in terms of gene expression. There were no significant sex differences in any of the responses. These data suggest that combining exercise with SFN may amplify the strength of NRF2/ARE redox signaling in older adults. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04848792.

PMID:41099966 | DOI:10.1007/s11357-025-01939-5

J Relig Health. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s10943-025-02473-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the level of spiritual experience and the impact of socio-demographic and clinical features, anxiety and depression, and spiritual well-being on the spiritual experiences of hospitalized patients with gynecological cancer. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 192 patients in a university-affiliated hospital in the west of Turkey. The participants completed self-assessment tools, including the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. According to the results of the hierarchical linear regression analysis, the statistically significant factors affecting spiritual experience among patients with gynecologic cancer were age (β = -.219), anxiety (β = .208), depression (β = .172), and faith (β = -.312). Meaning and peace subdimensions of spiritual well-being were not found to be a significant predictor of spiritual experience. This indicates that when the subdimensions contaminating the construct of spiritual well-being are removed, the faith subdimension predicts spiritual experience more strongly. Gynecological cancer patients may have spiritual issues, so health professionals should provide spiritual support.

PMID:41099947 | DOI:10.1007/s10943-025-02473-6

J Med Syst. 2025 Oct 16;49(1):140. doi: 10.1007/s10916-025-02273-1.

ABSTRACT

Cancer treatments might lead to several long-term effects. In this work we investigate their causal role on ischemic heart disease and their potential precursors (i.e. hypertension and dyslipidemia) of the ovarian suppression therapy in adolescent and young adult (AYA) breast cancer (BC) survivors. Additionally, we assess the external validity of our findings through comparative analysis of regional data. We take advantage of a causal network model that leverage on observational data on 1-year AYA BC survivors living the Lombardy region in Italy. Using a structural causal model (SCM) and counterfactual analysis within Pearl’s causal inference framework, we estimate the Average Causal Effect (ACE), Probability of Necessity (PN), and Probability of Sufficiency (PS) for the cause-effect relationships. Data of a regional cohort of AYA BC patients living in the Veneto region were used to externally validate results. Ovarian suppression was found to be a necessary but not sufficient cause for ischemic heart disease (PN > 97.8%; PS < 1.97%). While PN is high for both hypertension and dyslipidemia, PS varied suggesting ovarian suppression alone could induce hypertension in about 30% of cases but was rarely sufficient for dyslipidemia onset. External validation confirmed the robustness of findings across regions. Our experimental results may be of interest for clinicians who aim at personalizing the follow-up of AYA BC survivors, with particular attention to be paid in monitoring the hypertension onset or in its prevention. The study demonstrates the value of counterfactual reasoning and causal inference when working with real-world data.

PMID:41099942 | DOI:10.1007/s10916-025-02273-1

Atherosclerosis. 2025 Oct 10;410:120545. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2025.120545. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been linked to hypertension in general populations. However, the existing evidence concerning its association with preeclampsia risk remains limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between first-trimester AIP level and preeclampsia risk.

METHODS: 6028 singleton pregnant women from a birth cohort, all under 14 weeks of gestation and without a history of hypertension, were included. AIP was calculated as log₁₀ (triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Generalized linear models and restricted cubic spline regression were utilized to estimate the associations between AIP and preeclampsia risk. A random forest model was employed to determine the relative importance of parameters for predicting preeclampsia risk.

RESULTS: 235 (3.90%) incident preeclampsia cases were confirmed. A linear relationship was found between AIP and preeclampsia risk, and each 1-standard deviation increase in AIP was associated with a 21% higher risk of preeclampsia (RR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06-1.38). A significant interaction was identified between AIP and uric acid (UA) level (P for interaction = 0.009). Elevated AIP was linked to an increased preeclampsia risk (RR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.54) when UA level exceeded 198 μmol/L, and the highest combined level indicated the greatest risk. Moreover, AIP was identified as the strongest predictor among all variables in the prediction model.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated first-trimester AIP was associated with an increased preeclampsia risk, particularly at the higher UA level. These findings highlight the clinical significance of pro-atherogenic dyslipidemia as both a risk marker and a potential target for early screening in preeclampsia prevention strategies.

PMID:41092517 | DOI:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2025.120545

Int J Nurs Stud. 2025 Oct 1;173:105242. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105242. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation and self-harm among nurses with depressive symptoms are public health concerns, given their elevated prevalence and potentially severe outcomes. Prior studies predominantly examined negative life events either as isolated variables within broader exploratory analyses or as a single continuous measure, without assessing distinct patterns. This study aimed to identify distinct patterns of negative life events among Chinese nurses with depressive symptoms and examine their associations with suicidal ideation and self-harm.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 73,371 nurses with depressive symptoms from the Nurses’ Mental Health Study in China. Latent class analysis identified patterns of ten negative life events experienced in the past year. Two binomial logistic regression models were used to examine associations between negative life event patterns and suicidal ideation (n = 64,569) and self-harm (n = 68,038), adjusting for demographic, work-related, health-related, and childhood experience covariates. Sensitivity analyses included stratified logistic regressions by levels of depressive symptom severity and multinomial logistic regressions that treated “prefer not to answer” responses as a separate category, to assess the robustness of associations and potential underreporting bias.

RESULTS: Four distinct negative life event patterns emerged: Low-Stress Life Events (59.7 %), Health and Family Crisis (12.4 %), Economic and Relationship Struggles (23.1 %), and Widespread Life Crises (4.7 %). Compared to the Low-Stress group, nurses in the Economic and Relationship Struggles group had statistically significantly higher odds of suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.25, 95 % CI: 1.14 to 1.37) and self-harm (AOR = 1.20, 95 % CI: 1.04 to 1.39). The Widespread Life Crises group showed even stronger associations with suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.68, 95 % CI: 1.46 to 1.92) and self-harm (AOR = 1.86, 95 % CI: 1.54 to 2.24). The Health and Family Crisis group showed no statistically significant associations with either outcome. Sensitivity analyses supported the main findings, with consistent associations observed across depression severity subgroups. The multinomial logistic regression also showed elevated risk ratios for suicidal ideation and self-harm among respondents in the Widespread Life Crises group, including those who selected “prefer not to answer.”

CONCLUSIONS: This study identified distinct patterns of negative life events among nurses with depressive symptoms and demonstrated that economic and relationship challenges, especially when occurring across multiple life domains, are significantly associated with the risk of suicidal ideation and self-harm. Targeted interventions addressing specific life stressor patterns may help reduce suicidality in this high-risk population.

PMID:41092511 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105242

Int J Nurs Stud. 2025 Sep 30;173:105238. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105238. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Family involvement in advance care planning is important to achieve patients’ wishes and reduce the surrogate burden, particularly in family-centric cultures. Informal caregivers play an important role in helping patients with cancer plan their current and future care, and they serve as surrogate decision makers when patients are unable to make decisions themselves.

OBJECTIVES: To assess surrogate engagement levels in advance care planning and to identify the challenges for surrogate engagement in advance care planning.

DESIGN: A mixed-method design was adopted in which quantitative data collection was followed by qualitative interviews.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Cancer caregivers nominated as potential surrogate decision makers were recruited via convenience sampling from a single cancer centre in Guangzhou, China. In total, 170 participants completed the survey, 25 of whom were interviewed individually.

METHODS: Surrogate-reported engagement levels were assessed quantitatively using in-person surveys. A subset of the participants underwent semi-structured in-depth interviews to share their healthcare experiences and perspectives on advance care planning. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and univariate analyses, whereas qualitative data were thematically analysed and interpreted in the context of the quantitative findings.

RESULTS: During their prior experience, 95.3 % of the participants were involved in cancer patients’ medical care discussions, whereas 27.6 % actively engaged in advance care planning. Concerningly, most of them had insufficient knowledge and lacked self-efficacy, contemplation, and readiness regarding the surrogate role and end-of-life issues. Three key challenges influencing surrogate engagement in advance care planning were identified: (1) limited awareness of advance care planning, (2) ambivalent motivation arising from surrogate experiences and responsibilities, and (3) lack of support for surrogates’ needs.

CONCLUSION: This study revealed that cancer caregivers serving as potential surrogates reported limited engagement in advance care planning, with three key challenges: lack of awareness, motivation, and support. To overcome these challenges, early engagement strategies should focus on clarifying the concepts and potential benefits of advance care planning, resolving surrogate ambivalence, and facilitating access to support.

PMID:41092510 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105238

MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 2025 Nov-Dec 01;50(6):357-361. doi: 10.1097/NMC.0000000000001146. Epub 2025 Oct 15.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality rates in the United States are alarmingly high, especially in rural areas with limited access to care. Clinicians in rural hospitals are challenged to maintain their obstetric knowledge and skills due to low patient volumes and limited educational opportunities. The purpose of this project was to improve maternity care in rural Texas by providing tailored obstetric education and simulations to enhance emergency response and team collaboration.

INTERVENTIONS: A team of five nurses provided simulation-based perinatal education to clinicians in 10 rural facilities and maternity deserts, including county emergency services. Tailored simulations conducted in situ addressed various obstetric emergencies and were designed to match each facility’s staffing ratios. Post-simulation surveys were sent to evaluate participants’ understanding, recognition, communication, and collaboration.

RESULTS: Surveys from 48 participants, including nurses, technicians, and other health care professionals, indicated significant improvements in understanding, recognition, communication, and preparedness for obstetrical emergencies after simulation training. Qualitative feedback underscored the project’s success, highlighting the increased confidence, knowledge, and multidisciplinary collaboration among the participants. The simulation education effectively addressed facility-specific needs, enhancing overall effectiveness and engagement, despite challenges with participant attendance and group sizes.

DISCUSSION: Perinatal outreach has improved rural health care teams’ confidence, preparedness, and competence in managing obstetric emergencies through specialized education and hands-on simulations. To ensure continued success, it is crucial to continually reassess and adapt educational programs to meet the evolving needs of rural health care facilities, thereby enhancing patient care and outcomes.

PMID:41092467 | DOI:10.1097/NMC.0000000000001146