Tag: nevin manimala

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2026 May;70:101472. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101472. Epub 2026 Mar 18.

ABSTRACT

In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of the rumen fluke Calicophoron daubneyi across large parts of Europe. German cow-calf operators are concerned about the significance of C. daubneyi as a probable cause of poor productivity in view of the high prevalence in German suckler cow herds. Therefore, we conducted a study on a Charolais suckler cow farm aiming to investigate the impact of rumen fluke infection on net weight gain of prime beef cattle. Inspections of reticulorumens of 73 slaughtered cattle for adult rumen flukes revealed a frequency of 42.5% infected cattle. The statistical analysis of the net weight gains of rumen fluke-infected and non-infected cattle showed no difference in heifers (480 g vs. 469 g, P = 0.38) or young bulls (717 g vs. 743 g, P = 0.53). Backward selection analysis with sex, selenium supply, grazing seasons, and liver fluke and gastrointestinal strongyle infection status as cofactors showed that weight gains of both infected and non-infected heifers and young bulls were impacted by sex and selenium supply and thus no one-sided influence was present. Of the mean blood parameters analysed, the erythrocyte count, haematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase and phosphorus value were slightly above the reference range in both groups. It was therefore concluded that the rumen fluke infection does not affect selected biochemical and blood cell counts of young beef cattle. Post-mortem examination of the forestomachs revealed that adult flukes mainly adhered in the atrium ruminis followed by the ruminoreticular fold. The evaluation of the sedimentation technique to detect adult rumen fluke infections revealed a sensitivity of 87.1% and specificity of 92.9%. Moreover, a strong correlation (r = 0.77) was found between the faecal egg count (median = 3.8 epg) and fluke burden (median fluke burden = 72) in the slaughtered cattle. Results of this study are suggesting that observed infection intensities in the rumen have no negative impact on weight gain in prime beef cattle.

PMID:42034954 | DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101472

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2026 May;70:101484. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101484. Epub 2026 Mar 30.

ABSTRACT

Canine babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of worldwide distribution, caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia, and characterized by hemolytic anemia. In the United States (US), Babesia vogeli, Babesia gibsoni, Babesia conradae, and Babesia vulpes have been recognized as the main species causing babesiosis in dogs, the latter species also infecting foxes and raccoon dogs across Europe, Asia, and North America. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of Babesia spp. infections in shelter dogs from Central Texas. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples (n = 446) of dogs, followed by conventional PCR targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene and sequencing of positive amplicons. The association between demographic variables (i.e., age, sex, breed group) and the outcome (B. vulpes positivity) was evaluated through univariate Pearson’s chi-squared tests. We found an overall prevalence of 6.28% (n = 28; CI 95% 4.39-9.20) within this shelter dog population. A total of 12 distinct haplotypes were identified among these isolates. No statistical association between the positivity of B. vulpes and demographic variables was identified. This study highlights the haplotypic diversity of B. vulpes isolates circulating in a single regional population of domestic shelter dogs. These findings suggest a heterogenous transmission dynamic which may involve ticks associated with owned, sheltered, and wild canids, as well as other transmission routes. Finally, data herein corroborates the current geographical distribution of B. vulpes in Central Texas, reinforcing the need to monitor shelter dogs for vector-borne pathogens and deploy the use of tick preventive products year-round.

PMID:42034947 | DOI:10.1016/j.vprsr.2026.101484

Int Orthod. 2026 Apr 24;24(3):101168. doi: 10.1016/j.ortho.2026.101168. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate three-dimensional (3D) hard and soft tissue symmetry changes following sequential stabilization splint (SS) and fixed orthodontic treatment in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and mandibular deviation (MD).

METHODS: This retrospective study analysed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 32 adults with TMD and MD treated between July 2015 and July 2024. Scans were evaluated at three stages: before SS therapy (T0), after SS therapy (T1), and after orthodontic treatment (T2). Facial asymmetry was quantified using the Asymmetry Index (AI), while chin deviation was assessed by measuring the Menton’s displacement relative to the midsagittal plane. Statistical analyses were performed using the Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (P<0.05).

RESULTS: Significant reductions in AI were observed in mandibular hard tissue landmarks (Pog, Me, Sig, and Go; all P<0.05) and corresponding soft tissue landmarks (Pog’ and Me’; P<0.05). Hard tissue Me deviation decreased by a mean of 1.95mm (95% CI: 1.4-2.5mm) and soft tissue Me’ deviation by 1.62mm (95% CI: 1.1-2.2mm). The proportion of patients with≤2mm chin deviation increased from 0% to 50% (hard tissue) and 0% to 69% (soft tissue), with improvement observed in 87-88% of patients. Following SS therapy, pain intensity decreased by 4.3 points (95% CI: 3.8-4.9), maximum mouth opening increased by 5.5mm (95% CI: 4.2-6.8mm), and joint sounds were markedly reduced (all P<0.001). The greatest improvements occurred during the SS phase, with further refinement after orthodontic treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Sequential SS and orthodontic therapy effectively improved both hard and soft tissue symmetry in adults with TMD and MD, primarily by stabilizing condylar position and reestablishing occlusal balance.

PMID:42034921 | DOI:10.1016/j.ortho.2026.101168

Int Orthod. 2026 Apr 24;24(3):101174. doi: 10.1016/j.ortho.2026.101174. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between maxillary impacted canines and root resorption of adjacent lateral incisors, considering resorption severity and location, alveolar bone thickness, incisor angulation, and traction difficulty assessed by the KPG index using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

METHODS: This observational analytical study included 100 CBCT scans obtained between 2022 and 2025, yielding 119 impacted maxillary canines. Root resorption of adjacent lateral incisors was classified by severity and location. Alveolar bone thickness was measured at buccal and palatal surfaces at apical, middle, and cervical levels. Lateral incisor-palatal plane angulation and KPG index scores were recorded. Intra-observer reliability was assessed. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, independent t tests, one-way ANOVA, repeated-measures ANOVA, and appropriate post-hoc tests (α=0.05).

RESULTS: Root resorption was absent in 57.1% of cases (95% CI: 48.3-65.9), whereas 42.9% (95% CI: 34.1-51.7) presented some degree of resorption, predominantly in the apical and middle thirds. Resorption severity and location were not associated with sex. Palatal alveolar bone thickness at the apical level showed a mean value of 4.05mm (95% CI: 3.36-4.74) and was significantly greater than buccal thickness. Increased severity of lateral incisor root resorption was significantly associated with reduced palatal alveolar bone thickness at the apical level (P=0.003), whereas buccal bone thickness showed no significant association. Lateral incisor-palatal plane angulation presented a mean of 68.5° (95% CI: 66.3-70.7). The KPG index demonstrated a mean score of 12.5 (95% CI: 11.9-13.1) and showed limited ability to predict the presence or severity of root resorption.

CONCLUSIONS: Lateral incisor root resorption associated with impacted maxillary canines occurs mainly at the apical and middle thirds and is significantly related to reduced palatal alveolar bone thickness. CBCT provides essential three-dimensional information for identifying anatomical risk factors and supporting safer and more predictable clinical decision-making in impacted canine cases.

PMID:42034920 | DOI:10.1016/j.ortho.2026.101174

Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2026 Apr 25:1-10. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2026.2659128. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is marked by substantial clinical heterogeneity. This heterogeneity has impacted clinical trials by obscuring treatment effects and causing inefficiency. In this review, we summarize potential approaches for addressing heterogeneity in ALS via patient stratification and cohort enrichment methods and highlight potential challenges and limitations. These categories include stratification based on genetics, clinical characteristics (e.g. pattern of weakness, ALS Functional Rating Scale rates of progression), wet biomarkers (e.g. neurofilament light chain), neuroimaging, and novel methods employing statistical modeling or machine learning. These stratification methods have yet to be fully leveraged in clinical trial design. But these strategies must be employed thoughtfully and judiciously due to potential issues stratification can introduce. Future clinical trials should explore how participant stratification and cohort enrichment strategies may improve our ability to identify treatment effects, which may ultimately aid in the quest to establish more personalized medicine for persons with ALS.

PMID:42033202 | DOI:10.1080/21678421.2026.2659128

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2026 Apr 25:trag047. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trag047. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Symbiotic insect-specific viruses, such as Culex flavivirus (CxFV), are increasingly recognized for their ability to modulate arboviral replication in mosquitoes. However, the prevalence of CxFV in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from Puducherry, India-a region previously endemic for filariasis-and its interaction with the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, remain unexplored.

METHODS: Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected from villages in and around Puducherry. A total of 150 pools were screened for CxFV by PCR targeting the NS-5 gene and the amplicons were sequenced. Further, 100 individual mosquitoes were tested for both CxFV and the relative density of Wolbachia.

RESULTS: The study identified a CxFV prevalence of 3.73% (95% CI 2.27-5.46) among the mosquito pools by Bayesian estimation approach. Phylogenetic analysis classified the circulating strain as genotype 2 of CxFV. The median relative density of Wolbachia was observed to be 0.170 (IQR 0.009-0.683) in CxFV-positive mosquitoes and 0.132 (IQR 0.021-0.570) in CxFV-negative mosquitoes, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Thus, with the first report on the circulation of CxFV-infected mosquitoes in Puducherry, the study highlights a probable lack of association between the relative density of Wolbachia and CxFV.

ACCESSION NUMBERS: The raw sequence reads have been deposited in GenBank (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/) with the following accession numbers: PQ586414, PQ586415, PQ586416, PQ586417, PQ586418, PQ586419, PQ586420, PQ586421, PQ586422, PQ586423.

PMID:42033197 | DOI:10.1093/trstmh/trag047

Int J Stroke. 2026 Apr 25:17474930261448299. doi: 10.1177/17474930261448299. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although many gaming systems for early stroke rehabilitation capture kinematic data, studies on upper limb (UL) movement capacity analysis after virtual reality (VR)-based gaming interventions remain limited. This study is a secondary analysis of the EnteRtain randomized clinical trial and aims to examine the effects of gamified rehabilitation using a low-cost arm rehabilitation system compared to task-based training on UL movement capacity in individuals with acute or sub-acute stroke.

METHODS: This secondary analysis used data from a randomized, multicenter, single-blind clinical trial involving 120 participants (91 males) with unilateral stroke and an UL Brunnstrom motor recovery stage ≥ 1 to ≤ 5, recruited from four centers across India. Participants received either gamified training with the ArmAble™ device (experimental group; n = 64) or task-based training (control group; n = 56), alongside conventional therapy for two hours/day, six days/week, over two weeks, followed by four weeks of home-based UL rehabilitation. Movement capacity outcomes (reach distance, time, and movement velocity) were assessed by blinded evaluators at two and six weeks and analyzed using a linear mixed-effects regression model.

RESULTS: At six weeks, the experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements compared to control group in movement velocity for reaches to both near [mean difference (95% CI): -2.8 (-5.0, -0.75); p = 0.008] and far targets [-2.7 (-4.9, -0.51); p = 0.016]. No significant differences were however observed at two weeks. Changes in reach distance and movement time were not statistically significant between the groups at any time point.

CONCLUSION: Gamified rehabilitation with the ArmAble™ device enhanced UL movement velocity at six-week compared to task-based training in individuals recovering from acute/sub-acute stroke. These findings support the use of ArmAble™ both as an engaging therapeutic tool and as a quantitative assessment platform for evaluating UL function post-stroke.

PMID:42033193 | DOI:10.1177/17474930261448299

Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2026 Apr 25:15459683261432556. doi: 10.1177/15459683261432556. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundRehaCom, a computerized cognitive rehabilitation program for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), has been studied primarily in relation to treatment “dose” (duration, frequency, and adherence), with less focus on which training modules drive improvement or which participant factors predict responsiveness. This secondary analysis of the CogEx trial investigated whether progression within specific RehaCom modules was associated with processing speed improvement, measured by the SDMT, and whether baseline characteristics predicted response in participants with progressive MS.MethodsA total of 153 participants completed 12 weeks of RehaCom training across 5 attention-based modules. Cognition was assessed at baseline, 12 weeks, and 6 months using the SDMT. Correlation and regression analyses evaluated associations between module progression and cognitive outcomes.ResultsProgression correlated significantly with SDMT improvement in 4 modules, with the strongest effects for Attention/Concentration (r = .37, P < .001) and Divided Attention-2 (r = .36, P < .001). Higher baseline SDMT, higher premorbid IQ, older age, and greater module progression independently predicted better SDMT performance at12-weeks (adjusted R² = .73). At 6 months, higher baseline SDMT, greater progression in Attention/Concentration and Divided Attention-2, older age, and female sex predicted better SDMT performance (adjusted R² = .71).ConclusionProcessing speed gains in progressive MS were related to both module-specific progression and participant characteristics, supporting a precision approach to cognitive rehabilitation that tailors training content to individual cognitive profiles. This study is a secondary analysis of the CogEx trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03679468; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03679468).

PMID:42033185 | DOI:10.1177/15459683261432556

Dev Neurorehabil. 2026 Apr 25:1-7. doi: 10.1080/17518423.2026.2665085. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Dynamic balance is a fundamental component of early motor development and is essential for functional movement and postural control in childhood. The Functional Reach Test (FRT) is widely used as a simple clinical measure of dynamic balance in pediatric populations; however, its relationship with objective postural control parameters, such as center of pressure (COP) displacement, remains unclear in preschool-aged children. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the FRT and forward COP displacement to explore the clinical utility of the FRT in healthy Japanese preschool-aged children.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 98 typically developing Japanese children aged 3-6 years. Each participant performed two FRT trials while standing on a force platform, during which COP data were recorded simultaneously. The mean values of the two trials were used for analysis. Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between FRT performance and forward COP displacement. Data normality was confirmed prior to statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A moderate positive correlation was observed between FRT performance and forward COP displacement (r = 0.566, p < .001). In age-stratified analyses, significant associations were maintained in the 3-, 4-, and 6-year-old groups, while the association was not statistically significant in the 5-year-old group. Children with greater reach distances tended to exhibit larger anterior COP excursions during the reaching task, indicating a meaningful association between clinical FRT performance and objective postural control measures.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide supportive evidence regarding the clinical utility of the Functional Reach Test as a simple and clinically practical measure of dynamic balance in preschool-aged children. The FRT may serve as a useful screening tool for assessing balance development in early childhood, particularly in settings where laboratory-based posturography is not available.

PMID:42033140 | DOI:10.1080/17518423.2026.2665085

Nurs Crit Care. 2026 May;31(3):e70505. doi: 10.1111/nicc.70505.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Timely recognition of cardiac arrhythmias is essential in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation is a core component of nursing practice, yet international studies show persistent gaps. In Greece, limited evidence exists regarding ICU nurses’ interpretation, educational preparedness and role perception in ECG interpretation.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate ICU nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and self-perceived preparedness regarding ECG interpretation and to investigate whether these outcomes were associated with demographic and professional characteristics.

STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among ICU nurses in Greece between October 2024 and February 2025. The instrument included demographic variables, 10 true/false knowledge items and 10 Likert-scale attitude items. Internal consistency was acceptable (α = 0.81-0.87). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression (p < 0.05).

RESULTS: A total of 100 ICU nurses participated in the study. The mean knowledge score was 6.1 ± 1.8/10, with high accuracy on basic items (88%) but low performance on complex patterns (24%). Prior ECG training was the only independent predictor of adequate knowledge (OR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.12-7.26, p = 0.028). The mean attitude score was 38.4 ± 6.2/50; although 96% recognised ECG interpretation as essential, 49% reported limited knowledge. Positive attitudes were linked to prior training, ICU experience and frequency of ECG evaluation, whereas 25% expressed ambiguity about whether ECG interpretation falls within nursing responsibilities.

CONCLUSIONS: ICU nurses demonstrated moderate theoretical ECG knowledge but variable preparedness and role clarity. Prior training, ICU type and clinical experience were key determinants. Standardised, simulation-based training and clearer responsibility delineation could strengthen cardiac monitoring safety.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Targeted ECG education and explicit clarification of nurses’ responsibilities in cardiac monitoring are essential to strengthen arrhythmia recognition and timely intervention in ICUs. Implementing structured training pathways and ongoing assessment of ECG interpretation skills may support safer cardiac monitoring practices and more autonomous, confident intensive care nursing.

PMID:42033131 | DOI:10.1111/nicc.70505