Tag: nevin manimala

BMC Oral Health. 2025 Jan 3;25(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-05401-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is estimated to affect more than 800 million people worldwide. The clinical management of MIH can be challenging. For dentists, to provide effective and high-quality dental care to people affected by MIH, it is essential that they improve their awareness, ability to describe the clinical situation, and knowledge of treatment modalities. Previous surveys conducted with students showed that only a limited number are confident in diagnosing MIH. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical knowledge and perceptions of 4th- and 5th-year dental students regarding the distribution, severity, etiology and treatment modalities of MIH.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 194 students studying in the 4th- (85 students) and 5th- (109 students) years participated in the survey. The survey had 23 questions and two sections, the first of which was intended to gather demographic information about the students. The second part consisted of questions about the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of MIH. The independent t test and the chi-square test was used to compare qualitative data.

RESULTS: The majority of students (78.87%) stated that they had known about MIH. 5th-year students had known about MIH at a statistically significantly higher rate compared to 4th-year students (p = 0.0001). While only 19.69% of the participants stated that they could diagnose a patient with MIH, the proportion of 5th-year students who could make such a diagnosis was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.0001). The majority of the participants (96.39%) stated that they wanted MIH-related practices to be included more in their clinical education. The most desired topic to be included was diagnosis (91.98%).

CONCLUSIONS: The current study showed that students have some knowledge about MIH, but this knowledge is not sufficient, especially in terms of diagnosis and treatment. The students clearly wanted to develop their knowledge of MIH both theoretically and practically.

PMID:39754180 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-024-05401-4

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jan 3;20(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s13018-024-05345-z.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Which is the best extensile lateral (ELA) or sinus tarsi (STA) approach for osteosynthesis displaced intraarticular calcaneal fracture (DIACF) is still debatable. The current RCT’s primary objective was to compare the complications incidence after open reduction and internal fixation of DIACFs through STA vs. ELA. The secondary objectives were the differences in intraoperative radiation exposure, time to fracture union, functional and radiological outcomes.

METHODS: Between August 2020 and February 2023, 157 patients with Sanders type II and III fractures were randomly assigned to either ELA (81 patients with 95 fractures) or STA (76 patients with 91 fractures). The primary outcome was the incidence of complications. The secondary outcomes were Böhler’s and Gissane angles angle, fracture union, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score.

RESULTS: No statistical differences between both groups regarding basic demographic data, injury characteristics, and fracture classification; however, patients in the STA group were operated upon significantly earlier (4.43 ± 7.37 vs. 7 ± 6.42 days, p = 0.001). STA’s operative time was significantly shorter (55.83 ± 7.35 vs. 89.66 ± 7.12 min, p < 0.05), and no statistical difference regarding intraoperative radiation exposure. The time to fracture union was significantly shorter in STA (6.33 ± 0.8 vs. 7.13 ± 0.7 weeks, p = 0.000). Skin complications (superficial or deep infection) and Subtalar osteoarthritis were significantly higher in ELA (18.9% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.001) and (32.6% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.001), respectively. The radiological parameters were significantly better in STA postoperatively and at the last follow up. The AOFAS scores were significantly better in STA (83.49 ± 7.71 vs. 68.62 ± 7.05, respectively, p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION: During osteosynthesis of Sanders type II and III DIACFs, STA is superior to ELA in terms of operating earlier, shorter operative time, fewer complications, and better radiological and functional outcomes.

PMID:39754179 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-024-05345-z

BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 3;25(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-06399-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUNDS: Dissociative experiences are described as crucial psychological mechanisms involving the organism’s responses to severe psychological traumas and unpleasant past experiences. This research was conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the Dissociative Experiences Measure, Oxford (DEMO) in the Iranian general population.

METHODS: This study used cross-sectional correlation, and the statistical population consisted of Iranians over 15 years old. Among them, 712 subjects were chosen as the study sample using the convenience sampling technique. Data were acquired between February and April 2022 using DEMO, Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). In order to determine DEMO’s psychometric properties, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to investigate the factorial structure, Cronbach’s alpha analyses to examine the internal consistency reliability, and Pearson correlation analyses to examine the relationships between DEMO’s subscales and the subscales of DES-II and DASS-21, indicating convergent validity. In order to analyze the data, LISREL 8.0 and SPSS-26 were used.

RESULTS: Based on the results of the CFA, the proposed five-factor structure of DEMO showed an acceptable fit to the data (χ² = 1939.81, SRMR = 0.078, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.074). The internal reliability was satisfactory for the total scale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93) and the five subscales (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89 for unreality, 0.87 for numb and disconnected, 0.80 for memory blanks, 0.85 for zoned out, and 0.79 for vivid internal world). The CFA results indicated that the five factors explained 60.69% of the variance. Significant correlations were observed between the DEMO subscales and the respective subscales of DES-II and DASS-21, confirming the measure’s convergent validity.

CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from the results of this study that the DEMO has high reliability and validity among the Iranian general population.

PMID:39754178 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-024-06399-3

Biol Sex Differ. 2025 Jan 3;16(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s13293-024-00683-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is a female-specific process in which one X chromosome is silenced to balance X-linked gene expression between the sexes. XCI is initiated in early development by upregulation of the lncRNA Xist on the future inactive X (Xi). A subset of X-linked genes escape silencing and thus have higher expression in females, suggesting female-specific functions. One of these genes is the highly conserved gene Kdm6a, which encodes a histone demethylase that removes methyl groups at H3K27 to facilitate gene expression. KDM6A mutations have been implicated in congenital disorders such as Kabuki Syndrome, as well as in sex differences in development and cancer.

METHODS: Kdm6a was knocked out (KO) using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in hybrid female mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells derived either from a 129 × Mus castaneus (cast) cross or a BL6 x cast cross. In one of the lines a transcriptional stop signal inserted in Tsix results in completely skewed X silencing upon differentiation. The effects of both homozygous and heterozygous Kdm6a KO on Xist expression during the onset of XCI were measured by RT-PCR and RNA-FISH. Changes in gene expression and in H3K27me3 enrichment were investigated using allele-specific RNA-seq and Cut&Run, respectively. KDM6A binding to the Xist gene was characterized by Cut&Run.

RESULTS: We observed impaired upregulation of Xist and reduced coating of the Xi during early stages of differentiation in Kdm6a KO cells, both homozygous and heterozygous, suggesting a threshold effect of KDM6A. This was associated with aberrant overexpression of genes from the Xi after differentiation, indicating loss of X inactivation potency. Consistent with KDM6A having a direct role in Xist regulation, we found that the histone demethylase binds to the Xist promoter and KO cells show an increase in H3K27me3 at Xist, consistent with reduced expression.

CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal a novel female-specific role for the X-linked histone demethylase, KDM6A in the initiation of XCI through histone demethylase-dependent activation of Xist during early differentiation. X chromosome inactivation is a female-specific mechanism that evolved to balance sex-linked gene dosage between females (XX) and males (XY) by silencing one X chromosome in females. X inactivation begins with the upregulation of the long noncoding RNA Xist on the future inactive X chromosome. While most genes become silenced on the inactive X chromosome some genes escape inactivation and thus have higher expression in females compared to males, suggesting that escape genes may have female-specific functions. One such gene encodes the histone demethylase KDM6A which function is to turn on gene expression by removing repressive histone modifications. In this study, we investigated the role of KDM6A in the regulation of Xist expression during the onset of X inactivation. We found that KDM6A binds to the Xist gene to remove repressive histone marks and facilitate its expression in early development. Indeed, depletion of KDM6A prevents upregulation of Xist due to abnormal persistence of repressive histone modifications. In turn, this results in aberrant overexpression of genes from the inactive X chromosome. Our findings point to a novel mechanism of Xist regulation during the initiation of X inactivation, which may lead to new avenues of treatment to alleviate congenital disorders such as Kabuki syndrome and sex-biased immune disorders where X-linked gene dosage is perturbed.

PMID:39754175 | DOI:10.1186/s13293-024-00683-3

BMC Nurs. 2025 Jan 3;24(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s12912-024-02478-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Disaster nursing involves systematic and professional care provided to communities affected by natural or man-made disasters. With limited resources in global disaster settings, nurses play a crucial role in disaster management. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of integrating ‘Disaster Nursing’ into nursing curricula on nursing students’ perceptions of disaster literacy and preparedness.

METHODS: This quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest study was conducted at a public university in Izmir, Turkey. The pre-test took place on September 27, 2021, and the post-test on January 7, 2022. The study population comprised 66 nursing students enrolled in the elective “Disaster Nursing” course, with 62 volunteering for participation. Data collection tools included an individual introduction form, the Disaster Literacy Scale, and the Perception of Disaster Preparedness in Nurses Scale. The 14-week “Disaster Nursing” course served as the intervention. Data were collected online and analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, and Pearson correlation.

RESULTS: Of the students, 51.6% were aged 22-23, and 62.9% were female. Additionally, 54.8% reported previous disaster experience. The mean pre-test score on the Disaster Literacy Scale was 32.97 ± 6.47, which increased significantly to 40.58 ± 5.95 post-test (p < 0.05). The mean pre-test score on the Perception of Disaster Preparedness in Nurses Scale was 81.66 ± 4.61, rising significantly to 90.64 ± 6.25 post-test (p < 0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the total scores of the Disaster Literacy and Disaster Preparedness in Nurses scales (r = 0.79).

CONCLUSIONS: The integration of “Disaster Nursing” into nursing curricula positively enhanced the disaster literacy and preparedness perceptions of nursing students. The results demonstrated that higher levels of disaster literacy were associated with increased disaster preparedness among nurses. These findings can inform the development of educational policies for disaster nursing education in Turkey.

PMID:39754162 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-024-02478-8

Nutr J. 2025 Jan 4;24(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12937-024-01069-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: mHealth, i.e. mobile-health, strategies may be used as a complement to regular care to support healthy dietary habits in primary care patients. We evaluated the effect of a 12-week smartphone-based dietary education on overall diet quality (primary outcome), and dietary intake and cardiometabolic risk markers (secondary outcomes) in people with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS: In this two-armed randomized clinical trial, people with type 2 diabetes were recruited within a primary care setting and randomized 1:1 to a smartphone-delivered dietary education for 12 weeks or a control group receiving regular care only. Dietary intake and cardiometabolic risk markers were measured at baseline and after 3 months. Diet was assessed using a 4-day dietary record and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Overall diet quality was estimated with a Nordic Nutrition Recommendation (NNR) score and specific dietary intake was estimated for 13 food groups/nutrients. We used linear regression models to examine differences in change from baseline to the 3-month follow-up between the intervention and control group, adjusted for baseline values of each outcome variable.

RESULTS: The study included 129 participants (67 in the intervention group and 62 controls), of whom 61% were men. At baseline, mean age was 63.0 years and mean body mass index was 29.8 kg/m². When analyzing dietary record data, we found no effect of the intervention on diet quality or intake, however, the control group had increased their score by 1.6 points (95%CI: -2.9, -0.26) compared to the intervention group. In the analyses of FFQ data, the intervention group had lowered their daily intake in grams of saturated (β = -4.1, 95%CI: -7.9, -0.2) and unsaturated (mono- and polyunsaturated) (β = -6.9, 95%CI: -13.5, -0.4) fat more than the control group. The intervention group also presented lower serum triglycerides levels than the controls (β = -0.33, 95%CI: -0.60, -0.05). No statistical differences were found in any other dietary variables or cardiometabolic risk markers.

CONCLUSION: While we found no effect on overall diet quality, our findings suggest that a smartphone-based dietary education might impact dietary fat intake and corresponding cardiometabolic risk markers in people with type 2 diabetes. Our results should be considered hypothesis-generating and need to be confirmed in future studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03784612 ). Registered 24 December 2018.

PMID:39754157 | DOI:10.1186/s12937-024-01069-2

BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 3;25(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-21176-3.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is among the most significant non-communicable public health issues worldwide. High blood pressure, or hypertension, has been associated with severe health consequences, including death, aneurysms, stroke, chronic renal disease, eye damage, heart attack, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and vascular dementia. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the predictors linked to survival time and the progression of blood pressure measurements in hypertensive patients.

METHODS: This study on retrospective cohort analysis was conducted among hypertensive patients receiving follow-up treatment. A total of 200 hypertensive patients were screened during their follow-up at Sawula General Hospital. Multivariate joint models typically combine a multivariate linear mixed-effects model for repeated measurements with a Cox model for time-to-event outcomes.

RESULT: The baseline characteristics of patients indicated that, out of 200 hypertensive patients, the majority were male, totaling 116 (58%). Regarding alcohol consumption, 72 (36%) of the hypertensive patients reported using alcohol, while 128 (64%) did not. The multivariate joint model emerged as the most effective model in this study. The analysis revealed that observation time, economic status, sex, place of residence, baseline FBS, and age significantly influenced log FBS, while visiting time, age, sex, pulse rate, place of residence, and baseline DBP were identified as significant factors for log diastolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSION: The multivariate joint model exhibited superior performance. Hypertension continues to be a non-communicable disease and a public health issue in Sawula and Ethiopia, deserving greater attention.

PMID:39754151 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-024-21176-3

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jan 3;20(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s13018-024-05432-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Wrist synovitis often leads to persistent pain, swelling, and limited mobility, causing significant functional impairment and psychological distress, including anxiety. Although arthroscopic synovectomy can alleviate physical symptoms, whether it also improves anxiety and the causal relationship between synovitis and anxiety remains unclear.

METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 44 patients diagnosed with wrist synovitis who underwent arthroscopic synovectomy. Patients were assessed preoperatively and at 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Mayo Wrist Score, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). MR analysis was employed to investigate the causal relationship between wrist synovitis and anxiety using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data.

RESULTS: Significant reductions in SAS and VAS scores were observed at 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively, along with improvements in wrist function as measured by the Mayo Wrist Score. MR analysis did not find statistically significant evidence of a direct causal relationship between wrist synovitis and anxiety, though a positive trend suggests that wrist synovitis may be a risk factor for anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic synovectomy may alleviate anxiety symptoms and may improve wrist function in patients with wrist synovitis. While a direct causal link between wrist synovitis and anxiety was not conclusively established, the observed associations highlight the need for integrated management of physical and psychological health in these patients. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered with the WuXi 9th People’s Hospital (WuXi Orthopaedics Hospital) Medical Ethical Committee on August 6, 2023, with reference number KS2023081.

PMID:39754149 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-024-05432-1

BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 3;25(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-06440-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The association between physical fitness and autistic traits in adolescents remains under explored, especially in adolescents. Understanding this relationship can provide strategies to improve the quality of life of these people.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the association between cluster characteristics derived from levels of self-perceived physical fitness and the occurrences of individual levels of autistic traits in Brazilian adolescents.

METHOD: This descriptive study employed an analytical, quantitative approach involving 515 adolescents aged 11 to 18 (245 boys and 270 girls). Autistic traits were assessed using the Autism Quotient (AQ50), while physical fitness was measured with the Self-Reported Physical Fitness Questionnaire (QAPA). Cluster analysis using descriptive statistics with bootstrapping and generalized estimating equations was performed.

RESULTS: Boys reported higher physical fitness levels than girls, with significant differences in General Power Strength (QAPA 4) and Physical Fitness in Sports (QAPA 7). Girls scored slightly higher on social skills. AQ50 scores indicated that girls had higher aggregated difficulties in imagination, attention, communication, and social skills compared to boys. Higher self-perceived physical fitness was associated with lower levels of autistic traits in both genders. Girls with higher QAPA scores showed significant decreases in autistic traits related to social skills and overall AQ50 scores. Boys with higher physical fitness demonstrated reduced autistic traits in the domains of imagination and communication. Age-adjusted analyses confirmed these findings.

CONCLUSION: There is a significant association between self-perceived physical fitness and autistic traits in adolescents. Higher physical fitness levels are linked to fewer autistic traits, highlighting the importance of promoting physical fitness to mitigate challenges associated with autistic traits and improve adolescents’ well-being.

PMID:39754148 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-024-06440-5

BMC Public Health. 2025 Jan 4;25(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-21224-y.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Anemia is a medical condition resulting from a reduction in the number of red blood cells below the reference range. It is a major public health problem, particularly among adolescents, as it can have negative effects on cognitive performance, growth and reproduction. This study aims to assess the determinants of anemia among adolescents in schools in the city of Douala.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 511 adolescents aged 10-15 years, selected by random sampling from four secondary schools in Douala. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, including anthropometric measurements and hemoglobin tests to assess anemia. Anemia was defined according to specific thresholds (e.g. hemoglobin < 12 g/dL for girls and < 13 g/dL for boys). Severity was classified as mild, moderate and severe. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify determinants of anemia, controlling for confounding variables, and associations were established by calculating Odds ratios, Odds ratio adjusts, confidence intervals and P-value. Statistical significance was declared at P < 0.05.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 11.9 ± 1.30 years, with a slight predominance of girls (50.7%) over boys (49.3%). The prevalence of anemia was 40.3% (95% CI: 35.0-45.6%), including 15.7% mild anemia (95% CI: 12.0-19.4%), 23.9% moderate anemia (95% CI: 19.7-28.1%) and 0.7% severe anemia (95% CI: 0.1-2.7%). Independent determinants of anemia included rural residence [AOR = 8.39 (95% CI: 5.26-13.65); p < 0.001], status of parents divorced [OR = 2.60 (95% CI: 1.57- 4.34); p = 0.0001] or deceased [AOR = 7.73 (95% CI: 1.65- 41.90); p = 0.011], onset of first menstrual period [AOR = 6.59 (95% CI: 2.28-72.19); p = 0.001], the absence of iron supplementation [AOR = 1.68 (95% CI: 1.04-2.74; p = 0.034] and the occurrence of an illness in the previous three months (malaria, sickle cell disease, viral hepatitis, amoebiasis, typhoid fever, etc.) [AOR = 3.24 (95% CI: 1.14-22.37); p = 0.012].

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights a worrying prevalence of anemia among adolescents in Douala, with clearly identified determinants. The results underline the importance of factors such as rural residence, parental status and menarche, which can inform public health policies. It is essential to integrate these elements into targeted intervention programs, particularly in nutrition and iron supplementation, especially in rural areas. Finally, longitudinal studies and intervention-based research are needed to better understand the causal mechanisms of adolescent anemia in this context.

PMID:39754141 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-024-21224-y