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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Role of nutrient supplements in children with post-COVID condition: a retrospective preliminary observation and narrative review

Ital J Pediatr. 2025 Apr 16;51(1):119. doi: 10.1186/s13052-025-01961-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Post-COVID Condition (PCC), emerging as a significant long-term consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, affects not only adults but also the pediatric population. Despite ongoing research, the precise pathophysiology of PCC remains elusive. However, several putative mechanisms have been identified, leading to the exploration of various therapeutic strategies. Notably, in the adult population, there has been substantial interest in the potential efficacy of nutritional supplements. Regrettably, information regarding the use of such supplements in the pediatric population is currently lacking.

METHODS: The present study was conducted to assess the impact of nutritional supplements on alleviating long COVID symptoms in children. To achieve this, we conducted a retrospective analysis of nutrient supplements administered by parents to children with Post-COVID Condition (PCC) between February 2020 and October 2022. Statistical analyses were employed to determine associations between categorical variables.

RESULTS: A total of 1243 children were enrolled following documented SARS-CoV-2 infection, with 940 (76.2%) diagnosed as recovered and 294 (23.8%) diagnosed with Long COVID. Among Long COVID patients experiencing disabling symptoms, treatment with oral lactoferrin and/or a Multi-Element Product (MEP) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties was initiated. The correlation analysis between the use of supplements and persistence of long COVID at the next follow-up showed that the use of MEP alone (OR 5.7, 95% CI 3.8-8.5), or the combination of MEP and lactoferrin (OR 5.06, 95% CI 3.3-7.6) three months after the initial infection and for the following three months, were associated with a lower risk having long covid at six months following initial infection, when compared with the use of lactoferrin alone (OR 7.6 95% CI 5.1-11.4).

CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study revealed that MEP and lactoferrin, when administered three months after initial infection in patients with a new diagnosis of long covid, may have a positive impact on improving Long COVID symptoms in children during follow-up evaluations. This positive trend toward reducing Post-COVID Condition (PCC) exhibited by MEP and lactoferrin suggested a potential benefit worthy of exploration in future randomized controlled trials.

PMID:40241147 | DOI:10.1186/s13052-025-01961-5

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Association between atherogenic index of plasma and new-onset stroke in a population with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome stages 0-3: insights from CHARLS

Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2025 Apr 16;24(1):168. doi: 10.1186/s12933-025-02732-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The associations between atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been widely reported; However, such association to the incidence of stroke in the population with Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome remains ambiguous.

METHODS: A total of 7754 participants with CKM syndrome stages 0-3 from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were enrolled in this study. The incidence of new-onset stroke events was the primary outcome of this study. We used Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models to explore the association between baseline AIP levels and the risk of stroke in the population with CKM syndrome stages 0-3. Additionally, we utilized restricted cubic spline plots to analyze the form of this association.

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 6.8 years, 455 participants (5.9%) with CKM syndrome experienced their first stroke events. AIP was positively associated with the risk of stroke in the population with CKM syndrome stages 0-3. Kaplan-Meier curves analysis demonstrated a significant difference in stroke incidence across the AIP groups among the entire cohort. In the fully adjusted Model 3, the results revealed a significantly elevated risk of stroke for participants in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups compared to those in the Q1 group, with respective HR (95% CI) value of 1.352 (1.009-1.811), 1.421 (1.064-1.897), and 1.414 (1.052-1.900). Restricted cubic spline plots revealed the association of AIP and stroke risk was nonlinear (P-overall < 0.05, P-non-linear < 0.05), with inflection points of 0.32.

CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that baseline AIP levels were significantly positively associated with the risk of stroke in individuals with CKM syndrome stages 0-3, and AIP may serve as an effective risk marker for early identification of high-risk individuals prone to stroke within the CKM stages syndrome 0-3 population.

PMID:40241126 | DOI:10.1186/s12933-025-02732-6

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Endometrial histological patterns and associated factors of abnormal uterine bleeding among women seeking gynecological services from referral hospitals in Western Uganda: a cross-sectional study

BMC Womens Health. 2025 Apr 16;25(1):185. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03722-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Women of all ages are susceptible to abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), a relatively frequent gynecological issue. In the gynecology outpatient department, abnormal uterine bleeding is a problem that affects one-third of the patients, making them feel less financially secure and have a lower quality of life. Our study aimed to determine the endometrial histological patterns and factors associated with abnormal uterine bleeding among women seeking gynecological services from referral hospitals in western Uganda.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2023 to September 2023. We systematically enrolled 361 participants after getting consent. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information needed for analysis. The endometrial samples were collected immediately from eligible patients with Abnormal Uterine bleeding and taken to the histopathology laboratory for examination. Descriptive statistics followed by binary logistic regression were conducted to achieve the study objectives.

RESULTS: The study enrolled 361 participants with the mean age was 32.7 years (SD = 12.5). Of the total participants, 54(14.96%) had Abnormal Uterine bleeding. The common endometrial histological patterns among women with Abnormal uterine bleeding were; proliferative endometrium 21(38.9%), simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia 11(20.4%), and secretory Endometrium 6 (11.1%). Women with BMI ranging between 25 and 29.9 [aOR = 5.61 (1.42-22.19), p = 0.014], those with a history of genital infection in the past 1 year [aOR = 2.49 (1.2-5.13),p = 0.013], those who were nulliparous [ aOR = 13.31( 4.94-35.82), p = 0.001], Primiparous [aOR = 4.32( 1.83-10.16), p ≤ 0.001] and women who reported HIV positive serostatus [aOR = 3.65(1.74-7.66), p = 0.001] were independently associated with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding at Fort portal Regional Referral hospital.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The prevalence of AUB was within the global range. Simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia and chronic endometritis were the commonest pathological patterns. BMI, History of genital infection, nulliparity, primiparity, and HIV serostatus were the factors that were independently associated with abnormal uterine bleeding. There is a need for routine endometrial sampling for all eligible women with abnormal uterine bleeding at FRRH.

PMID:40241115 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-025-03722-2

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Assessing, categorizing and proposing the therapeutic effect of complete dentures on temporomandibular disorders analyzed by craniomandibular index: a prospective interventional study

BMC Oral Health. 2025 Apr 16;25(1):580. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05979-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Edentulism is a devastating condition that is often irreversible and considered a marker of a diseased state of oral health. The prevalence of edentulism globally is 22%, which is quite high. The long-term absence of complete dentures is thought to cause joint problems.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and categorize the effect of complete dentures on signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) analyzed by the Craniomandibular Index (CMI) in completely edentulous patients.

METHODS: This interventional and prospective study was conducted. Preliminary screening of completely edentulous patients with the Anamnestic component of the Helkimos Index was done. 110 subjects with severe TMD, as per the preliminary screening, were included in the study. Secondary Screening for the Dysfunction and Palpation components of the CMI was done to obtain baseline measures. The complete denture was delivered. After three months, the CMI Score was re-evaluated. Descriptive and analytical statistics were done.

RESULTS: The mean CMI score before denture insertion was 1.50 ± 0.12, and after denture insertion, it was 0.45 ± 0.25. The test used for the analysis of the values was the student’s paired t-test. A statistically significant difference in CMI at pre- and post-treatment with complete dentures (t = 57.90, p = 0.0001) was found.

CONCLUSION: The study results showed abate in the severity of the signs and symptoms of TMD among the complete denture wearers over 3 months. The result of current study established the remedial effect of complete dentures on TMD and also gave a new parameter to contemplate the line of treatment by categorizing the severity of TMD on the basis of the score obtained.

PMID:40241104 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-025-05979-3

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Unveiling empathy determinants across borders: a comparative analysis of medical students from two geo-sociocultural backgrounds

BMC Med Educ. 2025 Apr 16;25(1):554. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07109-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Empathy plays a pivotal role in healthcare professions, influencing patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. Understanding the determinants of empathy in medical students is essential. However, findings from previous studies have been inconsistent. We hypothesized that part of this variability may be attributed to the influence of the geo-sociocultural context. In this study, we aimed to compare the longitudinal determinants of empathy in four cohorts of medical students from two distinct geo-sociocultural backgrounds.

METHODS: This study included 199 medical students from Porto Alegre, Brazil and Geneva, Switzerland who were in their 1 st and 4 th years of training and agreed to participate on both occasions. The outcome variable was empathy scores (total and subdimensions) assessed through the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Medical Students (JSE-S). Independent variables included gender, personality, motives for studying medicine, specialty preferences, and the level of motivation for medical studies. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to investigate the associations between independent variables and empathy at each site in years 1 and 4.

RESULTS: In year 1, the personality trait openness to experience was associated with higher empathy (total score) in both Porto Alegre (b = 0.503, p ≤ 0.01) and Geneva (b = 0.592, p ≤ 0.001), with this association persisting over time. However, the relationships between empathy and the other independent variables varied significantly depending on the site.

CONCLUSIONS: The determinants of empathy were significantly modulated by the geo-sociocultural context. The personality trait openness to experience was the only consistent determinant of empathy across both sites over time. Associations between empathy and gender, motives for studying medicine, and specialty preferences were site specific. Our findings underscore the importance of considering students’ backgrounds when assessing empathy teaching and learning.

PMID:40241100 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-025-07109-7

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effects of an additional multimodal intervention (MultiMove) during inpatient rehabilitation on clinical and functional outcomes in patients with chronic low back pain- a pilot trial

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 Apr 16;26(1):372. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-08494-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As a leading cause of disability, chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a musculoskeletal condition often associated with impaired physical and cognitive functions. Due to its multi-factorial facets, the application of multimodal interventions is recommended. MultiMove is a multimodal intervention designed for CLBP patients, which combines motor-cognitive and dancing exercises. This study aimed to assess the effects of an additional MultiMove intervention to a standard inpatient rehabilitation on clinical and functional outcomes in CLBP patients.

METHODS: For this prospective, two-arm, controlled pilot trial, 27 CLBP patients (17 females, 10 males) undergoing a 3-week inpatient rehabilitation, in a rehabilitation clinic in Germany, were recruited. The intervention group (IG, n = 15, 61.6 ± 1.8 years) received a daily MultiMove session in addition to the standard rehabilitation, while the control group (CG, n = 12, 63.8 ± 2.2 years) followed the standard rehabilitation. Physical (Timed Up and Go (TUG) [primary outcome], Five-Repetition Sit-to-Stand (FRSTS), and Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), trunk range of motion, single and dual task walking)), clinical (acute/chronic pain intensity, Oswestry Disability Index, EQ-5D-5 L), cognitive (Stroop Color Word Test, Trail Making Test), and psychosocial outcomes (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Coping Strategies Questionnaire) were assessed during the first (pre-test) and last day (post-test) of the inpatient rehabilitation.

RESULTS: The statistical analyses revealed improvements in trunk range of motion (sagittal plane: p = 0.018, d = 1.00; transversal plane: p = 0.006, d = 1.18) and 6MWT performance (p = 0.003, d = 1.30) in the IG compared to the CG. Moreover, lower dual task costs for a gait variability measure (p = 0.034, d = 0.97) as well as reduced chronic pain intensity (p = 0.004, d = 1.33), kinesiophobia (p = 0.035, d = 1.15), and depression (p = 0.034, d = 1.08) were found in favour of the IG.

CONCLUSION: Data indicate that the multimodal intervention MultiMove improved clinical and functional outcomes in CLBP patients during inpatient rehabilitation. Therefore, conducting a randomized controlled trial with a large sample size is recommended to verify and extent these results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: MultiMove project (German Clinical Trial Register, ID: DRKS00021696 / 10.07.2020, https://drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML26TRIAL_ID=DRKS00021696 ) and was carried out in the rehabilitation clinic Bad Salzelmen (Schönebeck, Germany).

PMID:40241096 | DOI:10.1186/s12891-025-08494-2

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Spatiotemporal filtering modeling of hand, foot, and mouth disease: a case study from East China, 2009-2015

Epidemiol Infect. 2025 Apr 16;153:e61. doi: 10.1017/S0950268824001080.

ABSTRACT

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) shows spatiotemporal heterogeneity in China. A spatiotemporal filtering model was constructed and applied to HFMD data to explore the underlying spatiotemporal structure of the disease and determine the impact of different spatiotemporal weight matrices on the results. HFMD cases and covariate data in East China were collected between 2009 and 2015. The different spatiotemporal weight matrices formed by Rook, K-nearest neighbour (KNN; K = 1), distance, and second-order spatial weight matrices (SO-SWM) with first-order temporal weight matrices in contemporaneous and lagged forms were decomposed, and spatiotemporal filtering model was constructed by selecting eigenvectors according to MC and the AIC. We used MI, standard deviation of the regression coefficients, and five indices (AIC, BIC, DIC, R2, and MSE) to compare the spatiotemporal filtering model with a Bayesian spatiotemporal model. The eigenvectors effectively removed spatial correlation in the model residuals (Moran’s I < 0.2, p > 0.05). The Bayesian spatiotemporal model’s Rook weight matrix outperformed others. The spatiotemporal filtering model with SO-SWM was superior, as shown by lower AIC (92,029.60), BIC (92,681.20), and MSE (418,022.7) values, and higher R2 (0.56) value. All spatiotemporal contemporaneous structures outperformed the lagged structures. Additionally, eigenvector maps from the Rook and SO-SWM closely resembled incidence patterns of HFMD.

PMID:40237119 | DOI:10.1017/S0950268824001080

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Assessing the effectiveness of alternate light sources in the search for skeletal remains

J Forensic Sci. 2025 Apr 16. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.70049. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Many search and recovery operations for human skeletal remains are unsuccessful due to difficulties recognizing bones in outdoor environments even when evidence indicates the last known whereabouts of missing individuals. Though the collagen component of bone is known to emit fluorescence, this property has not been leveraged consistently during skeletal remains searches. Thirty-six mock searches were completed in 5000 ft2 zones of eastern deciduous forest by volunteers associated with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Pig and deer bones were scattered and partially concealed under brush and leaf cover. Pairs of volunteers were allowed up to 1 h to conduct searches in their usual pattern. Nighttime searches were conducted with handheld alternate light source (ALS) devices (uvBeast™, Crime-lite®, ForenScope, and Labino AB), which produced ultraviolet (385-395 nm), violet (395-425 nm), blue (~455 nm), cyan (~510 nm), or green (~530 nm) lights. Filtered safety glasses were paired with appropriate ALS. Daytime searches were conducted under the same parameters, without ALS. Results indicated that (1) nighttime searches with ALS produced a recovery rate more than triple that of daytime searches (p < 0.0001) and that they were often completed more quickly, and (2) the violet Crime-lite®, due to breadth of illumination and strength of fluorescent response, consistently produced the highest recovery rate (95%). Data suggest that nighttime searches with ALS can be used both as the primary search method for locating and recovering human skeletal remains, and as a secondary method for recovering any bones expected to be present but not found during daylight searches.

PMID:40237114 | DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.70049

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Innovation, Wellness, and EBP Cultures Are Associated With Less Burnout, Better Mental Health, and Higher Job Satisfaction in Nurses and the Healthcare Workforce

Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2025 Apr;22(2):e70012. doi: 10.1111/wvn.70012.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Staff shortages as well as poor nurse and clinician well-being are currently an epidemic within the health workforce and pose a substantial risk to healthcare quality and safety. Creating a strong wellness culture is one strategy to address the issue, but there is a paucity of research that investigates how other types of organizational cultures are related to nurses’ mental health and well-being.

AIMS: To describe the relationships among innovation culture, wellness culture, evidence-based practice (EBP) culture, and clinician well-being (healthy lifestyle behaviors, burnout, depression, stress, anxiety, and job satisfaction).

METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study design was used with a convenience sample of nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals from a Magnet-recognized health system in the United States. An online wellness survey collected data with the variables of interest using valid and reliable scales. Pearson’s r correlations assessed the relationship among innovation culture, wellness culture, and EBP culture. A series of regressions examined if each type of culture was associated with clinician well-being.

RESULTS: The analytic sample included 199 respondents. Innovation culture had a strong and significant correlation (p ≤ 0.0001, r > 0.7) with both clinician well-being and EBP cultures. Wellness and EBP cultures also were correlated (p ≤ 0.0001, r = 0.592). Higher ratings of each type of culture were significantly associated with higher job satisfaction as well as higher ratings of both mental and physical health. Further, higher ratings on each culture scale were significantly associated with reduced stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and job satisfaction.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: This is the first study to establish correlations among innovation culture, EBP culture, and wellness culture as well as to find that these three types of cultures are associated with clinician well-being outcomes and job satisfaction. Since culture strongly impacts the healthcare workforce’s mental health and job satisfaction, leaders need to focus on an organizational-wide strategic approach that builds a sustained culture that supports clinician well-being, innovation, and EBP.

PMID:40237103 | DOI:10.1111/wvn.70012

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Genetic structure and demographic history of house mice in western Europe inferred using whole-genome sequences

Proc Biol Sci. 2025 Apr;292(2045):20242709. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2709. Epub 2025 Apr 16.

ABSTRACT

The western house mouse, Mus musculus domesticus, is a human commensal and an outstanding model organism for studying a wide variety of traits and diseases. However, we have few genomic resources for wild mice and only a rudimentary understanding of the demographic history of house mice in Europe. Here, we sequenced 59 whole genomes of mice collected from England, Scotland, Wales, Guernsey, northern France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. We combined this dataset with 24 previously published sequences from southern France, Germany and Iran and compared patterns of population structure and inferred demographic parameters for house mice in western Europe to patterns seen in humans. Principal component and phylogenetic analyses identified three genetic clusters in western European mice. Admixture and f-branch statistics identified historical gene flow between these genetic clusters. Demographic analyses suggest a shared history of population bottlenecks prior to 20 000 years ago. Estimated divergence times between populations of house mice from western Europe ranged from 1500 to 5500 years ago, in general agreement with the zooarchaeological record. These results correspond well with key aspects of contemporary human population structure and the history of migration in western Europe, highlighting the commensal relationship of this important genetic model.

PMID:40237079 | DOI:10.1098/rspb.2024.2709