Tag: nevin manimala

Euro Surveill. 2026 Mar;31(11). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.11.2600185.

ABSTRACT

In August 2023, 721 individuals became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms in 17 schools in a Finnish municipality. Of these, 323 (45%) developed quickly passing symptoms during school lunch or < 30 min after the lunch. In a questionnaire-based retrospective cohort study, consumption of flour tortillas and vegetable filling served at lunch were statistically associated with illness (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-7.4 for the tortillas and aOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1 for the filling). Abnormal odour was observed in five of nine tortilla samples. In three samples from tortillas produced during a limited production period, high concentrations of calcium propionate (E 282) were measured (> 24,000 mg/kg), exceeding the regulatory maximum limit of 2,000 mg/kg. The tortillas served at lunch were traced to a manufacturer in another EU country. The manufacturer was unable to identify any cause in the production process that could explain the high concentrations of calcium propionate. Our results are in line with findings from other investigations that excessive calcium propionate can induce gastrointestinal symptoms. The investigation highlights the need for strengthened surveillance of chemical-related food-borne outbreaks in Europe and timely communication between school staff and public health authorities to support rapid outbreak detection and response.

PMID:41859828 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.11.2600185

J Ren Care. 2026 Mar;52(1):e70057. doi: 10.1111/jorc.70057.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health literacy directly influences quality of life through its impact on treatment adherence and self-care management, making it particularly important to investigate this relationship in resource-limited settings such as Mogadishu.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and quality of life among people receiving Haemodialyses.

METHODS: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted between January and March 2024 with 143 individuals undergoing Haemodialyses in Mogadishu, Somalia. The Short-Form Health Literacy Instrument and the Short Form-12 Health Survey were used for data collection.

RESULTS: Male, single, high school-educated participants, those who perceived their health as good, and those who had received dialysis-related education had significantly higher health literacy scores (p < 0.05). High school graduates and self-employed participants had higher physical component scores of the Short Form-12 Health Survey (p < 0.05). Participants with an arteriovenous fistula and those who received dialysis-related education had higher mental component scores (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between health literacy scores and physical component scores, whereas health literacy was negatively correlated with age (p < 0.05). In addition, physical component scores were negatively correlated with Haemodialyses duration (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Higher health literacy was associated with better quality of life. Sociodemographic characteristics influenced both health literacy and quality of life. Longer duration of Haemodialyses was associated with poorer physical quality of life, whereas receiving dialysis-related education was associated with better mental quality of life.

PMID:41859825 | DOI:10.1111/jorc.70057

Int Health. 2026 Mar 20:ihag027. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihag027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Lymphatic filariasis is a profoundly neglected tropical disease (NTDs). While global research has largely focused on the prevalence and clinical manifestations of LF; there is a dearth of information, limited attention has been given to the psychosocial dimensions of the condition. This scoping review highlight on the lived experiences and self-reported impacts among people with lymphatic filariasis. Studies were included if published between 2000 and 2025 in a peer-reviewed journal, reported the lived experience, stigma, and self-reported mental health impact, presented a qualitative report, and fell within the healthcare domain. Searches were conducted across five databases. Duplications were removed and data was extracted and synthesized using a pre-designed Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Seven themes emerged from the included studies: (1) Experiences of diagnosis and disease onset, (2) Emotional and psychological consequences, (3) Stigma, discrimination and social exclusion, (4) Social, family and community dynamics, (5) Economic and occupational impacts, (6) Healthcare access, dynamics and treatment, (7) Expressed needs and desired change. Family and community support were found to improve coping, though such support is inconsistent. Strengthening health systems, enhancing provider training, and implementing public education initiatives are essential to improve diagnosis, reduce stigma, and promote inclusive care for individuals affected by LF.

PMID:41859824 | DOI:10.1093/inthealth/ihag027

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2026 Mar 20:trag024. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trag024. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Q fever is an underrecognised zoonosis with significant global and regional variation. Data on its burden in North India are limited. This study aimed to determine the frequency and clinical profile of Q fever among patients presenting with acute febrile illness in a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir.

METHODS: A hospital-based study was conducted over 18 months in which patients with fever ≤3 weeks were enrolled after excluding other defined infections. Serum and whole blood samples were tested for Coxiella burnetii using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for phase I/II immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the IS1111a gene. Demographic and clinical data were analysed using SPSS version 22.0 and R software, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

RESULTS: Of 96 patients, 15.6% were positive by ELISA, PCR or both. The highest positivity occurred in the 31-40 y age group (45%; p=0.002). The Ganderbal (35.3%) and Srinagar (18.5%) districts showed the highest prevalence (p=0.043). Significant association was observed with a shorter hospital stay (p<0.001). IgG phase II ELISA demonstrated better sensitivity (50%) than IgM phase II ELISA (25%), while PCR provided early detection.

CONCLUSIONS: A frequency of 15.6% for Q fever was observed, especially in the adult age group. PCR outperformed serological assays in early detection, while IgM phase II ELISA showed poor sensitivity. Strengthened clinical suspicion, enhanced diagnostic capacity and integrated One Health surveillance are essential for effective control.

PMID:41859821 | DOI:10.1093/trstmh/trag024

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2026 Mar 19:e70260. doi: 10.1002/marc.70260. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We study the impact of polymer composition on the self-assembly and optical properties in water of amphiphilic copolymers containing perylene imides (PIs) as pendant groups. To achieve this, a new perylene imide acrylate monomer is synthesized, in only four synthetic steps, and copolymerized with various comonomers to produce amphiphilic copolymers with block, statistical or block-statistical architectures. We observe that the assembly in water is affected by changes in the macromolecular architecture or by the comonomer used, resulting not only in spherical, but also in vesicular nanoparticles. We found differences in the copolymer architecture also influence the perylene’s intramolecular aggregation within the chain, with the formation of H-type aggregates. The generally observed red-shifted emission was attributed to the formation of excimer-like species, which might be interesting for electron transport applications. Finally, we demonstrate that by employing Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (PISA), fluorescent nanoparticles can readily be obtained in a water/ethanol (50/50) mixture at high solids (20 wt%).

PMID:41856943 | DOI:10.1002/marc.70260

Cancer Med. 2026 Mar;15(3):e71711. doi: 10.1002/cam4.71711.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Microsatellite instability (MSI), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity are emerging biomarkers in gastric cancer prognosis and treatment selection, particularly in immunotherapy. This review evaluates their prognostic significance through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS: Relevant studies from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (January 2010 to December 2024) were analyzed. Studies included assessing MSI, PD-L1, and EBV status in gastric cancer using immunohistochemistry, PCR, or in situ hybridization, and reported outcomes such as overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), or progression-free survival. Data extraction adhered to PRISMA guidelines, and pooled analyses were conducted using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird method). Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics and Cochran’s Q test.

RESULTS: A total of 25 studies involving 6494 patients were reviewed. In localized gastric cancer, MSI-high status was associated with significantly improved DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.75; p = 0.004) but showed no significant impact on OS (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.48-1.28; p = 0.33) compared to microsatellite stable/PD-L1-negative tumors. EBV-positive/PD-L1-positive cancers demonstrated a prognosis similar to EBV-negative/PD-L1-negative cases (OS: HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.81-1.45; p = 0.59).

CONCLUSIONS: In metastatic disease, MSI and EBV status were not associated with significant prognostic effects. MSI and EBV status have minimal prognostic value in gastric cancer, particularly for OS, but are essential for selecting candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitors. Standardizing biomarker evaluation is critical to enhancing their clinical relevance.

PMID:41856928 | DOI:10.1002/cam4.71711

Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2026 Mar;9(3):e70518. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.70518.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) are increasingly recognized as critical contributors to cancer outcomes. Understanding SDoH among patients undergoing cancer surgery may reveal disparities that influence care and recovery. This study assessed the prevalence and variation of SDoH among patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery using a national dataset.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program. Adults with GI cancer were identified using diagnosis codes, and surgery was confirmed using procedure codes. Participants who completed the SDoH survey were included. Descriptive statistics summarize demographics and SDoH domains: economic stability, healthcare access, neighborhood environment, and social context.

RESULTS: Of 6620 participants with GI cancer, 1747 underwent surgery; 470 (26.9%) completed the SDoH survey. Mean age was 69.4 years; 82.1% were White and 61.3% had college degrees. Most had health insurance (96.6%) and stable housing (88.7%), though 25.5% reported poor housing quality and 7.6% reported food insecurity. PROMIS T-scores for physical and mental health were below average at 37.0 and 38.4, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Despite favorable SDoH profiles, GI cancer surgery patients reported below average physical and mental health. These findings highlight the need to integrate multidomain SDoH data in cancer care research.

PMID:41856922 | DOI:10.1002/cnr2.70518

J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2026 Mar 19:15409996261434153. doi: 10.1177/15409996261434153. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reducing suicide risk among Veterans is a national priority. Although firearms are the leading method of suicide among women Veterans, involved in nearly half of such deaths, firearm suicide prevention interventions tailored to women Veterans remain understudied.

OBJECTIVE: To assess women Veterans’ perceptions of and satisfaction with an online decision aid to reduce firearm suicide risk in women Veterans: Supporting Suicide prevention through Awareness, Firearm Safety, Education and Resources (eSAFER).

METHODS: This quality improvement project used mixed methods, including online surveys (n = 90) and telephone interviews (n = 35) with women Veterans between September 18 and 30, 2024.

RESULTS: Women Veterans reported high satisfaction with eSAFER, finding important its focus on: statistics specific to women Veterans, prevention, nonlethal safety considerations, empowerment with personalized options, engagement of trusted individuals, and inclusion of resources. Most (94%, n = 81) reported that it encouraged them to engage others with their safety plan. All interviewed participants reported equal or greater comfort using the online version relative to receiving a paper version in clinic or by postal mail, preferring its ease of completion, accessibility, confidentiality, and the ability to keep/share their plan.

CONCLUSIONS: An online decision aid tailored to women Veterans may reduce firearm suicide risk by increasing risk recognition, guiding personalized safety choices, and facilitating completion and support from others. eSAFER is a scalable tool to reach high-risk populations tailored to their needs.

PMID:41856920 | DOI:10.1177/15409996261434153

Laryngoscope. 2026 Mar 19. doi: 10.1002/lary.70493. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) is a promising surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for patients intolerant to positive airway pressure (PAP). Nonetheless, more than one-third of patients have suboptimal outcomes, demonstrating the need for improved understanding of factors associated with treatment effectiveness. This study examined the relationship between anatomy measures from computed tomography (CT) and HGNS outcomes.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study of consecutively enrolled adults with moderate or severe OSA (AHI > 15 events/h) who underwent HGNS implantation between February 2020 and June 2024. Preoperative CT scans were obtained following a standardized protocol. Anatomic traits, including the size of the tongue and the surrounding craniofacial structures, were quantified. HGNS response was defined by the Sher criteria (≥ 50% reduction in apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] and postoperative AHI < 20 events/h).

RESULTS: A total of 65 patients were included: 31 HGNS responders and 34 nonresponders. On average, patients were 63.3 ± 11.7 years old, overweight (BMI of 29.5 ± 4.0 kg/m²), about half were male (50.8%) and most were White (89.2%); the average AHI was 28.6 ± 13.3 events/h. No statistically significant associations with HGNS response were observed for relative tongue volume (tongue volume/total oral cavity volume; OR: 0.82 [0.48-1.40]; p = 0.46), absolute tongue volume (OR: 1.27 [0.62-2.61]; p = 0.52), or total oral cavity volume (OR: 1.81 [0.82, 3.99]; p = 0.14). Exploratory analysis showed hyoid position and transverse maxillary dimensions were associated with response status.

CONCLUSION: Our study did not find a significant association between relative tongue volume and HGNS response. Further investigations in larger samples may elucidate links between HGNS response and upper airway anatomy.

PMID:41856910 | DOI:10.1002/lary.70493

ISA Trans. 2026 Mar 10:S0019-0578(26)00112-6. doi: 10.1016/j.isatra.2026.03.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This paper adopts a supervisory radial basis function neural network (SRBF-NN) that integrates a fractional-order proportional-integral (FOPI) controller within a hybrid feedforward-feedback system. To address saturation issues, i.e., in the Hammerstein system, the FOPI controller incorporates an anti-windup strategy (FOAWPI). This SRBF-FOAWPI controller effectively tracks desired inputs for both linear and nonlinear plants in MATLAB. The Lyapunov stability study provides the range of learning rate that influence the hidden layers. Additionally, it presents a statistical estimator with a fractional parameter, FraSU shrinkage, within the framework of discrete wavelet and packet filters. This approach effectively removes noise from the output of both simulated and real-time plants. Finally, it shows superiority in both transient and denoised performance over the VISU method by controlling its fractional wings.

PMID:41856878 | DOI:10.1016/j.isatra.2026.03.003