Tag: nevin manimala

BMC Res Notes. 2025 Jan 30;18(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07101-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated Health Care Workers’ (HCWs) knowledge, attitude, perceived compliance, and potential influencing factors related to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) standards in the North Bank East region of The Gambia.

METHOD: The study was an analytic cross-sectional study, conducted in 2021 using a multistage sampling technique. Thirteen health facilities were sampled from the North Bank East Region of The Gambia. The sample size was calculated using the Cochrane formula, based on a healthcare worker population of 408, with a 95% confidence interval. Adjustments were made for a 10% non-response rate and a compliance level of 50%. A final sample size of 218 was used for the study. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression were done at a 95% confidence limit and an alpha level of 0.05. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: Among the 218 healthcare workers, the majority demonstrated adequate knowledge (86.24%) and a positive attitude (78.4%) toward Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). About half (50.5%) of the HCWs did not comply with IPC standards. Good attitude of HCWs [aOR = 3.13, 95%CI: 1.17-8.41, p-value = 0.023], accessibility of Personal Protective Equipment [aOR = 2.34, 95%CI: 1.01-5.38; p-value = 0.046], and monitoring of IPC practice [aOR = 3.95, 95%CI: 1.84-8.45; p-value = < 0.001] were independently associated with HCWs perceived compliance with IPC standards.

CONCLUSION: Although 188 (86.24%) HCWs displayed adequate knowledge of IPC standards, perceived compliance remains insufficient in Gambian healthcare facilities. To address this, the Ministry of Health should prioritize educational campaigns, and regular training to reinforce HCW knowledge, ensure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) accessibility, and implement ongoing IPC practice monitoring among healthcare workers.

PMID:39885582 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-025-07101-w

Thromb J. 2025 Jan 30;23(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s12959-025-00685-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Anticoagulants are widely used in the prevention of VTE in NS patients. The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has not been studied intensively in NS patients. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of DOACs compared to warfarin for prophylactic anticoagulation in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis conducted in a tertiary hospital-based ambulatory anticoagulation clinic between 01/07/2016 and 29/11/2021. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of VTE, major bleeding, and non-major bleeding in both the DOACs and warfarin groups.

RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were recruited, 31 patients were prescribed warfarin (54.4%), and 26 were on DOAC (45.6%). Two patients in the DOAC group developed VTE, while no subjects in the warfarin group developed VTE, however, the difference was not statistically significance (p = 0.2). Nine out of 31 patients in the warfarin group developed non-major bleeding compared to three patients in the DOAC group (p = 0.02). One patient developed major bleeding in each group DOAC group 1 (15.4%), warfarin 1 (12.9%) (p = 1.00). There was no statistically significant difference in major bleeding between DOAC and warfarin groups (p = 1.00).

CONCLUSION: In patients with NS, preliminary evidence suggests that DOACs have comparable efficacy as compared to warfarin when used as prophylaxis. Additionally, DOACs result in lower incidences of non-major bleeding. However, further studies are indicated to confirm the superiority of DOACs over warfarin.

PMID:39885575 | DOI:10.1186/s12959-025-00685-0

BioData Min. 2025 Jan 30;18(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s13040-025-00425-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study employs a LSTM-FC neural networks to address the critical public health issue of child undernutrition in Ethiopia. By employing this method, the study aims classify children’s nutritional status and predict transitions between different undernutrition states over time. This analysis is based on longitudinal data extracted from the Young Lives cohort study, which tracked 1,997 Ethiopian children across five survey rounds conducted from 2002 to 2016. This paper applies rigorous data preprocessing, including handling missing values, normalization, and balancing, to ensure optimal model performance. Feature selection was performed using SHapley Additive exPlanations to identify key factors influencing nutritional status predictions. Hyperparameter tuning was thoroughly applied during model training to optimize performance. Furthermore, this paper compares the performance of LSTM-FC with existing baseline models to demonstrate its superiority. We used Python’s TensorFlow and Keras libraries on a GPU-equipped system for model training.

RESULTS: LSTM-FC demonstrated superior predictive accuracy and long-term forecasting compared to baseline models for assessing child nutritional status. The classification and prediction performance of the model showed high accuracy rates above 93%, with perfect predictions for Normal (N) and Stunted & Wasted (SW) categories, minimal errors in most other nutritional statuses, and slight over- or underestimations in a few instances. The LSTM-FC model demonstrates strong generalization performance across multiple folds, with high recall and consistent F1-scores, indicating its robustness in predicting nutritional status. We analyzed the prevalence of children’s nutritional status during their transition from late adolescence to early adulthood. The results show a notable decline in normal nutritional status among males, decreasing from 58.3% at age 5 to 33.5% by age 25. At the same time, the risk of severe undernutrition, including conditions of being underweight, stunted, and wasted (USW), increased from 1.3% to 9.4%.

CONCLUSIONS: The LSTM-FC model outperforms baseline methods in classifying and predicting Ethiopian children’s nutritional statuses. The findings reveal a critical rise in undernutrition, emphasizing the need for urgent public health interventions.

PMID:39885567 | DOI:10.1186/s13040-025-00425-0

BMC Res Notes. 2025 Jan 30;18(1):46. doi: 10.1186/s13104-025-07119-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Most children experience distress while visiting a dentist, above which the sound of the airotor and suction machine results in fear and difficulty in performing further procedures.

METHODS: This was a randomized controlled parallel-group study of 40 children aged 6-13 years who required cavity preparation via the airotor. The children were randomly allocated to either Group 1 (Piano music app; active distraction combined with audio analgesia) or Group 2 (basic behavioural guidance alone). Self-reported dental anxiety was measured via a modified child dental anxiety scale, and behavior was assessed via Venham’s and FLACC (Faces Legs Activity Cry and Consolability) scales. The data obtained were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Self-reported dental anxiety was significantly lower in group 1 (p < 0.005). No significant difference between the groups was observed for the Venham and FLACC scores.

CONCLUSION: Compared with basic behavioural guidance alone, the use of active distraction with audio analgesia in the form of the piano music app significantly decreased the degree of dental anxiety caused by the use of the airotor. This also resulted in clinically better cooperation by the child during cavity preparation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in the Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI/2024/07/070160) dated 08/07/2024.

PMID:39885563 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-025-07119-0

Anim Microbiome. 2025 Jan 30;7(1):11. doi: 10.1186/s42523-024-00367-8.

ABSTRACT

Symbiotic microbiota are important drivers of host behaviour, health, and fitness. While most studies focus on humans, model organisms, and domestic or economically important species, research investigating the role of host microbiota in wild populations is rapidly accumulating. Most studies focus on the gut microbiota; however, skin and other glandular microbiota also play an important role in shaping traits that may impact host fitness. The uropygial gland is an important source of chemical cues and harbours diverse microbes that could mediate chemical communication in birds, so determining the factors most important in shaping host microbiota should improve our understanding of microbially-mediated chemical communication. Hypothesizing that temporal, geographic, and taxonomic effects influence host microbiota, we evaluated the effects of season, migration distance, and taxonomy on the uropygial gland microbiota of 18 passerine species from 11 families. By sampling 473 birds at a single stopover location during spring and fall migration and using 16S rRNA sequencing, we demonstrate that season, followed by migration distance, had the strongest influence on uropygial gland microbial community composition. While statistically significant, taxonomic family and species had only weak effects on gland microbiota. Given that temporal effects on gland microbiota were nearly ubiquitous among the species we tested, determining the consequences of and mechanisms driving this seasonal variation are important next steps.

PMID:39885562 | DOI:10.1186/s42523-024-00367-8

BioData Min. 2025 Jan 30;18(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s13040-025-00422-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The treatment effects are heterogenous across patients due to the differences in their microbiomes, which in turn implies that we can enhance the treatment effect by manipulating the patient’s microbiome profile. Then, the coadministration of microbiome-based dietary supplements/therapeutics along with the primary treatment has been the subject of intensive investigation. However, for this, we first need to comprehend which microbes help (or prevent) the treatment to cure the patient’s disease.

RESULTS: In this paper, we introduce a cloud platform, named microbiome causal machine learning (MiCML), for the analysis of treatment effects using microbiome profiles on user-friendly web environments. MiCML is in particular unique with the up-to-date features of (i) batch effect correction to mitigate systematic variation in collective large-scale microbiome data due to the differences in their underlying batches, and (ii) causal machine learning to estimate treatment effects with consistency and then discern microbial taxa that enhance (or lower) the efficacy of the primary treatment. We also stress that MiCML can handle the data from either randomized controlled trials or observational studies.

CONCLUSION: We describe MiCML as a useful analytic tool for microbiome-based personalized medicine. MiCML is freely available on our web server ( http://micml.micloud.kr ). MiCML can also be implemented locally on the user’s computer through our GitHub repository ( https://github.com/hk1785/micml ).

PMID:39885552 | DOI:10.1186/s13040-025-00422-3

Epigenetics Chromatin. 2025 Jan 30;18(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s13072-025-00567-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks are increasingly recognized for their precision in predicting aging and its health implications. Although prior research has identified connections between accelerated epigenetic aging and multiple sclerosis, the chronological and causative aspects of these relationships are yet to be elucidated. Our research seeks to clarify these potential causal links through a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

METHODS: This analysis employed statistics approaches from genome-wide association studies related to various epigenetic clocks (GrimAge, HannumAge, PhenoAge, and HorvathAge) and multiple sclerosis, utilizing robust instrumental variables from the Edinburgh DataShare (n = 34,710) and the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (including 24,091 controls and 14,498 cases). We applied the inverse-variance weighted approach as our main method for Mendelian randomization, with additional sensitivity analyses to explore underlying heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

RESULTS: Using summary-based Mendelian randomization, we found that HannumAge was associated with multiple sclerosis (OR = 1.071, 95%CI:1.006-1.140, p = 0.033, by inverse-variance weighted). The results suggest that an increase in epigenetic age acceleration of HannumAge promotes the risk of multiple sclerosis. In reverse Mendelian randomization analysis, no evidence of a clear causal association of multiple sclerosis on epigenetic age acceleration was identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Our Mendelian randomization analysis revealed that epigenetic age acceleration of HannumAge was causally associated with multiple sclerosis, and provided novel insights for further mechanistic and clinical studies of epigenetic age acceleration-mediated multiple sclerosis.

PMID:39885544 | DOI:10.1186/s13072-025-00567-9

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jan 30;20(1):119. doi: 10.1186/s13018-024-05425-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anterior shoulder instability with glenoid bone loss presents a challenge in orthopedic surgery. The Latarjet and iliac crest bone graft transfer (ICBGT) procedures are commonly employed for its management, but direct comparative evidence is insufficient.

METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was conducted. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies directly comparing the Latarjet and ICBGT procedures were included. Primary outcomes included postoperative recurrent instability, apprehension test, and complications, while secondary outcomes comprised Rowe score, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), pain level assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and radiologic outcomes. Quality assessment was performed using RoB2 and MINORS tools. The weighted mean difference (WMD) for continuous variables and odds ratio (OR) for dichotomous variables were calculated, along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.1 software.

RESULTS: A total of 6 studies with 409 patients were included. There was no significant difference in postoperative recurrent instability (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.44 to 4.03; P = 0.61), positive apprehension test (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.20 to 3.10; P = 0.73), revision surgery (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 0.74 to 5.71; P = 0.16), mild complications (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.23 to 1.06; 0.07), SSV (WMD, -1.94; 95% CI, -3.94 to 0.06; P = 0.06) or VAS score (WMD, 0.15; 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.47; P = 0.36) between the two procedures. The ICBGT group exhibited statistically superior Rowe scores (WMD, -3.10; 95% CI, -5.10 to -1.10; P = 0.002), as well as improved external (WMD, -5.32; 95% CI, -7.30 to -3.30; P < 0.001) and internal rotation (WMD, -5.11; 95% CI, -6.76 to -3.45; P < 0.001). However, these differences did not surpass the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Radiological evaluations showed that the ICBGT procedure had statistically better outcomes in immediate glenoid augmentation, preservation and reduced fatty degeneration of the subscapularis (SSC) tendon, and graft remodeling at short-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: The ICBGT procedure showed statistically superior Rowe scores and range of motion, but these differences may not be clinically significant. Both procedures had comparable outcomes in recurrent instability, apprehension test results, revision surgery, mild complications, SSV, and pain levels. ICBGT appears to offer advantages in glenoid augmentation and SSC preservation at short-term follow-up.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION ID: CRD42024586157.

PMID:39885541 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-024-05425-0

Malar J. 2025 Jan 30;24(1):30. doi: 10.1186/s12936-025-05266-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The increasing availability of electronic health system data and remotely-sensed environmental variables has led to the emergence of statistical models capable of producing malaria forecasts. Many of these models have been operationalized into malaria early warning systems (MEWSs), which provide predictions of malaria dynamics several months in advance at national and regional levels. However, MEWSs rarely produce predictions at the village-level, the operational scale of community health systems and the first point of contact for the majority of rural populations in malaria-endemic countries.

METHODS: This study developed a hyper-local MEWS for use within a health-system strengthening intervention in rural Madagascar. It combined bias-corrected, village-level case notification data with remotely sensed environmental variables at spatial scales as fine as a 10 m resolution. A spatio-temporal hierarchical generalized linear regression model was trained on monthly malaria case data from 195 communities from 2017 to 2020 and evaluated via cross-validation. The model was then integrated into an automated workflow with environmental data updated monthly to create a continuously updating MEWS capable of predicting malaria cases up to three months in advance at the village-level. Predictions were transformed into indicators relevant to health system actors by estimating the quantities of medical supplies required at each health clinic and the number of cases remaining untreated at the community level.

RESULTS: The statistical model was able to accurately reproduce village-level case data, performing nearly five times as well as a null model during cross-validation. The dynamic environmental variables, particularly those associated with standing water and rice field dynamics, were strongly associated with malaria incidence, allowing the model to accurately predict future incidence rates. The MEWS represented an improvement of over 50% compared to existing stock order quantification methods when applied retrospectively.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing an automatic, hyper-local MEWS leveraging remotely-sensed environmental data at fine spatial scales. As health system data become increasingly digitized, this method can be easily applied to other regions and be updated with near real-time health data to further increase performance.

PMID:39885540 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-025-05266-0

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jan 30;20(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-05550-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although non-surgical and surgical approaches have been developed to repair acute closed Achilles tendon ruptures, the medical community still lacks a definitive consensus on which approach is superior. This study describes a new minimally invasive internal splinting technique combined with knotless anchors for the treatment of 22 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted involving 22 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture who were treated with a minimally invasive internal splinting technique at Jingzhou Hospital of Yangtze University between January 2022 to October 2023. The study recorded and compared various metrics, including the Visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), and range of motion (ROM) of the plantar-flexor-extensor foot, both preoperatively and at the final follow-up.

RESULTS: We bridged the intact portion of the Achilles tendon proximal to the rupture site and the calcaneal bone using a Krackow locking loop suture technique and a knotless anchor staple technique. Twenty-two patients were monitored over a period from 10 to 12 months, with an average follow-up duration of (11.6 ± 0.67) months. At the last follow-up, all patients had successfully resumed their sports activities and work without experiencing any complications, such as Achilles tendon rupture, postoperative infection, and peroneal nerve injury. The VAS score postoperatively was recorded at (0.14 ± 0.35), representing a significant reduction from the preoperative score of (4.05 ± 0.58). The AOFAS-AH score improved to (97.41 ± 4.00), a notable increase compared to the preoperative score (52.82 ± 4.43). Similarly, the ATRS score reached (98.23 ± 2.98), also significantly higher than the preoperative score (56.95 ± 4.62). Furthermore, the range of motion (ROM) was measured at (44.27 ± 1.08), significantly surpassing the preoperative value of (26.91 ± 2.09), with all differences being statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The procedure is simple. Two small incisions are placed over the intact proximal Achilles tendon and the calcaneus without surgical invasion of the rupture site, which promotes the natural repair of the ruptured Achilles tendon. The intact proximal Achilles tendon and the calcaneus are securely bridged with high-strength sutures and knotless anchors, reducing complications and promoting healing of the Achilles tendon.

PMID:39885537 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-05550-4