Tag: nevin manimala

Environ Monit Assess. 2026 Feb 7;198(2):213. doi: 10.1007/s10661-026-15042-5.

ABSTRACT

Springs in the Sirmaur district of the North-Western Himalayas are vital freshwater sources; however, systematic, multi-seasonal data on their physicochemical quality, trace metal concentrations, and land use influences remain scarce. Thirty springs were assessed over 2 years (2021-2023) for physicochemical and heavy metal parameters, seasonal variations, and land use impacts using multivariate statistical methods. Water was neutral to mildly alkaline (pH 6.97-8.06) with moderate mineralization. Calcium and magnesium occasionally exceeded BIS standards, reflecting geogenic inputs from carbonate- and dolomite-rich formations. Lead exceeded permissible limits in both pre- and post-monsoon seasons (up to 0.0163 mg L⁻¹), and iron exceeded limits during pre-monsoon (up to 0.3004 mg L⁻¹), indicating localized anthropogenic and lithological influences. Water Quality Index (WQI) classified overall quality as “Good” (pre-monsoon 36.26; post-monsoon 37.63), with forested catchments consistently superior. A significant difference (p < 0.05) between agricultural and settlement springs during pre-monsoon indicates enhanced contaminant transport under low-flow conditions. Spearman correlation showed positive associations between pH and Ca, Zn, and Mn, reflecting mineral weathering. Principal component analysis (PCA) distinguished regional geogenic controls from site-specific anomalies shaped by land use and lithology. The study provides a comprehensive, data-driven understanding of spring water quality dynamics, offering insights for springshed management, pollution mitigation, and sustainable water resource planning in Himalayan headwaters.

PMID:41653254 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-026-15042-5

Hum Genet. 2026 Feb 7;145(1):19. doi: 10.1007/s00439-025-02799-x.

ABSTRACT

Most existing genotype-by-environment interaction (G×E) methods assume a known causal direction as an assumption that often does not hold and can lead to biased estimates and spurious findings. To address this, we introduce the Genetic Causality Inference Model (GCIM), a novel approach designed to infer causal directions in G×E studies. GCIM integrates polygenic risk scores (PRS) for both the exposure and the outcome to strengthen causal inference and reduce spurious interaction signals. We evaluated GCIM using simulated data across varying genetic and residual correlation settings and compared its performance to existing PRS-by-environment (PRS×E) models under both null and alternative G×E scenarios. GCIM was also applied to real-world UK Biobank data in both causal directions. GCIM consistently outperformed existing methods by accurately identifying the absence of G×E variance and avoiding false positives, even in the presence of strong phenotypic heteroscedasticity due to residual heterogeneity. Other methods often generated spurious associations, especially under reverse causality. Applying GCIM to UK Biobank data, we investigated 11 circulating biomarkers (including liver enzymes, lipids, and inflammatory markers) and three anthropometric traits (BMI, body fat, and waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]). GCIM identified that bilirubin modulates genetic effects on BMI and WHR, while body fat modulates genetic effects on C-reactive protein, with associations remaining significant after multiple testing corrections. Overall, GCIM provides a more reliable framework for GxE analysis, particularly under challenging conditions such as residual heterogeneity and uncertain causal direction. However, further development is needed to improve its statistical power.

PMID:41653245 | DOI:10.1007/s00439-025-02799-x

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2026 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s10578-026-01973-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Children victimized by their peers and those with sleep disturbances are at risk for developing an array of difficulties and disorders. While there is some evidence suggesting that sleep impacts peer victimization and peer victimization results in sleep disturbance, the longitudinal bidirectional associations between peer victimization and sleep disturbance have been understudied, particularly in late childhood. Further, gender differences in these associations are largely unknown. To further understand these links, 175 children (ages 8-11, M = 9.30, 51.4% girls) in grades 3-5 completed measures of peer victimization and sleep disturbance. Physical victimization at Time 1 significantly predicted sleep disturbance 6 months later at Time 2, while sleep disturbance at Time 1 showed a marginally statistically significant association with later physical victimization 6 months later, suggesting a potential bidirectional relationship. Relational victimization was not longitudinally related to sleep or vice versa. Results also suggest similar effects for boys and girls. Implications of these findings are offered.

PMID:41653244 | DOI:10.1007/s10578-026-01973-0

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2026 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s10578-026-01969-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The School Anxiety Scale – Teacher Report (SAS-TR) assesses children’s anxiety from the teacher’s perspective. Originally developed in English and subsequently validated in Spanish and Iranian populations, a validated Italian version is still lacking. The current study aimed to translate, adapt and validate the SAS-TR into Italian. The SAS-TR was translated from English into Italian following 5 stages of cross-cultural adaptation and was assessed for face and content validity by five primary school teachers. A sample of 66 teachers completed the SAS-TR in a community sample of 201 children aged 6-11 years. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were performed. To investigate the concurrent validity, teachers also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Teacher (SDQ-T). After four weeks, the teachers re-provided ratings on the SAS-TR to assess test-retest reliability. SAS-TR ratings for the same children provided by permanent teachers (who have ≥ 10 teaching hours in classroom) and specialist teachers (who have < 10 teaching hours in classroom) were compared. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure and the goodness fit of the scale, excluding item 12. The Italian SAS-TR exhibited strong face and content validity (mean = 3.71 ± 0.57), excellent internal consistency (α = 0.902) and almost perfect test-retest reliability over 4-weeks (ICC = 0.829). Additionally, moderate and statistically significant correlations between SAS-TR and SDQ-T “Emotional symptoms” subscale (ρ_s = 0.62) supported concurrent validity. Finally, permanent teachers reported higher levels of anxiety symptoms compared to specialist teachers (p < 0.05). Overall, the Italian version of SAS-TR demonstrates adequate psychometric properties, suggesting its suitability for assessing anxiety symptoms in children aged 6-11 by teachers.

PMID:41653243 | DOI:10.1007/s10578-026-01969-w

Int Orthop. 2026 Feb 7. doi: 10.1007/s00264-026-06740-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults. Despite its clinical importance, nationwide data on long-term hospitalization and surgical management trends in Germany remain scarce.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the German Federal Statistical Office’s hospital discharge database covering all inpatient cases with the primary diagnosis of DCM (ICD-10-GM code M50.0) from 2005 to 2024. Annual case numbers, age and sex distributions, and surgical procedures were analyzed descriptively. Hospitalization rates per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated using mid-year population data.

RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2024, approximately 70,000 hospital discharges with a primary diagnosis of DCM were recorded in Germany. Annual hospitalizations increased from 2,477 cases in 2005 to a peak of 4,076 cases in 2015, followed by a decline to 3,037 cases in 2024. Corresponding hospitalization rates rose from 3.0 to 4.96 per 100,000 inhabitants before decreasing to 3.7 per 100,000 in 2024. Segmented Poisson regression demonstrated a significant increase until 2015 followed by a significant decline thereafter. Age-specific analyses demonstrated a stable predominance of middle-aged and older adults, with consistently highest hospitalization volumes in patients aged 50-70 years. After age standardization to the 2015 reference population, the temporal pattern remained largely unchanged, indicating that observed trends were not solely attributable to population ageing. Mean length of hospital stay decreased steadily over time. Anterior surgical approaches accounted for the majority of procedures throughout the study period, while the proportion of surgically treated cases per hospitalization increased over time.

CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide, discharge-based analysis demonstrates substantial temporal changes in hospitalizations and surgical treatment patterns for DCM in Germany over the past two decades. Hospitalization volumes increased until approximately 2015 and declined thereafter, a pattern that persisted after age standardization. DCM predominantly affected patients aged 50-70 years throughout the study period, without a pronounced shift toward progressively older age groups. The increasing ratio of surgical procedures to hospitalizations suggests more selective inpatient admissions focusing on operative management. These findings provide a descriptive reference for long-term hospitalization and surgical trends in DCM.

PMID:41653231 | DOI:10.1007/s00264-026-06740-3

Psychooncology. 2026 Feb;35(2):e70389. doi: 10.1002/pon.70389.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Rumination is a common cognitive response in cancer patients, influencing psychological adjustment. This study examined the associations between intrusive and deliberate rumination and self-compassion in individuals undergoing cancer treatment, using structural equation modeling (SEM).

METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 202 adult cancer patients undergoing active treatment at a public hospital. Participants completed validated self-report instruments: the Event-Related Rumination Inventory and the Brief Self-Compassion Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and SEM.

RESULTS: The SEM results indicated that intrusive rumination was significantly and negatively associated with self-compassion (β = -0.828, p < 0.001), whereas deliberate rumination showed a significant positive association with self-compassion (β = 0.753, p < 0.001). The model explained 60.3% of the variance in self-compassion. Subgroup analyses showed that self-compassion and deliberate rumination were higher among participants with higher education and those who were employed, while intrusive rumination was higher in patients with prior metastasis or relapse.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the need to distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive forms of rumination in cancer care. Targeting intrusive rumination and supporting deliberate reflection may represent important considerations for psychosocial care.

PMID:41653186 | DOI:10.1002/pon.70389

Psychooncology. 2026 Feb;35(2):e70395. doi: 10.1002/pon.70395.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adult cancer survivors are likely to be hospitalised with chronic illnesses, although evidence for childhood and AYA survivors is limited.

AIM: This study quantified hospitalisations and the costs of health services used by survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) cancers with and without chronic conditions.

METHODS: We assessed long-term survivors (≥ 5 years past diagnosis) of childhood and AYA cancers diagnosed at ages 0-39 years between 1997 and 2011 in Queensland, Australia. Utilising a linked administrative dataset, we determined the prevalence of chronic conditions from hospital records using classification codes (ICD-10-AM) and quantified hospitalisations and associated costs in 2024 Australian dollars (AU$). Generalised linear regression modelling was used to examine how chronic conditions affected healthcare costs, controlling for clinical and socio-demographic factors.

RESULTS: Of 14,422 participants, 16% (n = 2286) were hospitalised with at least one chronic disease, with hypertension (n = 675, 4.7%) and depression (n = 463, 3.2%) being the most common. Inpatient admissions were significantly higher for survivors with chronic conditions (mean 3, SD = 10) compared to those without chronic conditions (mean 1, SD = 4). The mean annual costs were highest for those with chronic kidney disease (AU$26,428, SD = AU$30,331), schizophrenia (AU$22,835, SD = AU$37,204), epilepsy (AU$22,361, SD = AU$37,224), paralysis (AU$22,051, SD = AU$32,165) and chronic heart failure (AU$21,912 SD = AU$38,763). Hypertension (AU$5.4 million) and depression (AU$4.3 million) incurred the highest total costs over the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION: Implementing targeted survivorship care and preventative measures for high-cost conditions such as schizophrenia and chronic kidney disease may optimise healthcare resource use and reduce the economic burden for this population.

PMID:41653182 | DOI:10.1002/pon.70395

J Adolesc Health. 2026 Feb 7:S1054-139X(25)00830-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.12.260. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The adolescent mental health treatment gap is a significant public health challenge, especially in low-resource settings where services are often adult-oriented. The Safe Haven intervention, adapted from Zimbabwe’s Friendship Bench, addresses this gap by leveraging near-peer youth lay counselors trained in Problem-Solving Therapy. This study evaluates the feasibility and outcomes of Safe Haven across three sites in Botswana.

METHODS: Participants aged 12-25 years (N = 115) were recruited from clinical and community sites. Pre-intervention and post intervention assessments using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Shona Symptom Questionnaire measured depression, anxiety, and common mental disorder symptoms. Pre/post differences in scores were statistically tested using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

RESULTS: Significant reductions were observed in all mental health outcomes. Over four to six sessions (4-16 weeks), median Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores decreased from 6 (interquartile range [IQR] 4-11) to 1 (IQR 0-3) (p < .001), with 78% showing improvement, and moderate depression symptoms reduced from 29% to 3%. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores decreased from 9 (IQR 7-12) to 2 (IQR 0-7), with 86% improving, and moderate or severe anxiety symptoms declined from 47% to 9%. Shona Symptom Questionnaire scores decreased from 10 (IQR 7-14) to 1 (IQR 0-4) (p < .001), with 93% improving.

DISCUSSION: Safe Haven demonstrates potential in addressing Botswana’s youth mental health needs, including underserved groups such as younger adolescents and those living with HIV. Although limitations include the prepost design and small sample size, findings support further scaling and controlled evaluations to optimize impact across diverse settings and populations.

PMID:41653177 | DOI:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.12.260

JACC Asia. 2026 Jan 28:S2772-3747(26)00027-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2025.12.014. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Early-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with mild hemodynamic abnormalities is increasingly being concerned because of the revised PAH definition. However, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of currently available medications in this population.

OBJECTIVES: The ALEPH (Ambrisentan for Early Low-Risk Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension) trial is designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of ambrisentan in early-stage low-risk PAH patients.

METHODS: The ALEPH trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Eligible patients are diagnosed with PAH according to 2022 European Society of Cardiology and the European Respiratory Society guidelines, with mean pulmonary artery pressure >20 and <25 mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance >2 and ≤3 WUs, and PAWP ≤15 mm Hg by right heart catheterization, classified as low-risk, and have not previously received PAH-specific therapy. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either ambrisentan or placebo for 12 months. The primary endpoint is a composite of PAH progression. Secondary endpoints include changes in hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels, World Health Organization functional class, 6-minute walk distance, and time to clinical events such as hospitalization or death. Primary analysis will be performed in the intention-to-treat population, with sensitivity analysis in the per-protocol population. Statistical analyses include Z-test for the primary endpoint, Cox proportional hazards models for time-to-event data, and analysis of covariance or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables.

CONCLUSIONS: The ALEPH trial aims to generate high-quality evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of ambrisentan monotherapy in early-stage, low-risk PAH. This study may provide valuable insight into early therapeutic intervention for patients with mild hemodynamic disorder. (Ambrisentan for Early Low-Risk Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension [ALEPH]; NCT06987097).

PMID:41653169 | DOI:10.1016/j.jacasi.2025.12.014

J Nutr Educ Behav. 2026 Feb 6:S1499-4046(25)00514-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2025.12.008. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential mediators of weight loss in the Strong Hearts, Health Communities-2.0 (SHHC-2.0) trial.

DESIGN: Community-randomized trial (intervention vs delayed intervention). Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and postintervention.

SETTING: Eleven rural, medically-underserved communities PARTICIPANTS: Women (n = 182), mean age 57.2 years, 97.6% White, non-Hispanic.

INTERVENTION: Classes delivered 2 times/wk for 24 weeks, targeting diet and physical activity behaviors.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Dependent variable: weight; mediators: diet and physical activity behaviors, and related psychosocial factors.

ANALYSIS: Mixed linear regressions evaluated the effect of mediators on weight loss.

RESULTS: Significant mediators included dietary behaviors (Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Short; 31.8%; P = 0.03), healthy eating attitudes (23.0%; P = 0.03), and dietary cognitive restraint (29.8%; P = 0.01). Physical activity did not mediate weight loss; however, a worsening in attitudes toward exercise was a mediator of weight loss (22.6%; P = 0.01). Social support for diet and physical activity was unchanged in the intervention group and did not mediate weight loss effects.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Healthy eating attitudes and dietary cognitive restraint represent important targets for future behavioral interventions for weight loss. Hypothesized mediators found to be nonsignificant (i.e., social support) represent opportunities for future intervention optimization.

PMID:41653167 | DOI:10.1016/j.jneb.2025.12.008