Tag: nevin manimala

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2025 May 28;26(1):112. doi: 10.1186/s40360-025-00951-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hepatic injury is a common pathological process for a wide spectrum of liver diseases. Quercetin has been found to counteract this process by scavenging free radicals, but its therapeutic effect is limited due to poor water-solubility. Thus, the question of how to deliver quercetin to a target organ effectively with minimal side effects has remained a clinical challenge. Our previous research findings indicate that when quercetin is delivered in the form of liposomal nanoparticles, its targeting efficiency to the liver is significantly enhanced. Although quercetin liposomal nanoparticles have been shown to improve the therapeutic effect on liver damage compared to traditional quercetin treatment, the optimal dosage of liposomal quercetin still warrants further exploration. The aim of this study was therefore to ascertain whether there are differences in the therapeutic effects on liver damage at different dosages of quercetin liposomes and to determine the optimal dosage.

METHODS: 62 rats modeled with liver injury were enrolled and distributed into 4 groups, where they were treated with quercetin liposome nanoparticles, blank liposome nanoparticles, simple quercetin, and normal saline accordingly. Serum samples were measured for liver function indicators, and tissue samples were analyzed by pathohistological examination. Statistical analysis was performed to quantify the difference between the experimental and control groups.

RESULTS: Both liver function and histopathological examinations demonstrated enhanced therapeutic effects as the concentration of quercetin liposome drugs increased. Moreover, compared to traditional quercetin treatments, liposomal quercetin nanoparticles of varying concentrations uniformly provide better liver protection, with the highest dose group showing the best therapeutic effect. In addition, low concentration carrier liposome nanoparticles also showed a certain protective effect on the liver damage in rats.

CONCLUSION: Liposomal quercetin nanoparticles exhibit superior efficacy in liver protection and repair compared to pure quercetin, with the highest dose group showing the best therapeutic effect.

PMID:40437639 | DOI:10.1186/s40360-025-00951-x

BMC Psychol. 2025 May 28;13(1):572. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02921-8.

ABSTRACT

Teachers play a key role in improving education system, yet rising psychological disorders among them, influenced by various social, economic, and workplace pressures, pose challenges. The ongoing financial crisis in Sri Lanka has intensified these pressures, impacting teachers’ lifestyles and mental health. This study explores the relationship between the economic crisis and mental health outcomes among teachers in Sri Lankan government schools, aiming to support improvements in the education system. A cross-sectional study was conducted among government school teachers (n = 283) in Sri Lanka, utilizing an online-based, self-administered questionnaire to collect data on general demographics, lifestyle adjustments due to financial strain, and strategies for bridging the income gap among the study participants. The psychometric properties of teachers were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and its factor structure was evaluated through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and validated by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation (SD), frequencies, and percentages, were calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and significance was set at p < 0.05. Multivariate regression analysis was also performed to identify predictors of mental distress among participants. Among the respondents (response rate 84.5%), 65% were female, and 24% were aged 25-30. Most participants (82.3%) were married, and approximately 29% had 10 to 15 years of teaching experience. Notably, 81.6% reported that their monthly income was insufficient for their needs, with 77% reducing necessary expenses to manage finances and 77.7% seeking supplementary income. The mean GHQ-12 score was 15.15 (SD ± 8.14, 95% CI), indicating that 33.6% of participants experienced low distress, 13.4% showed psychological distress, and 30.4% reported severe distress. EFA revealed a two-factor structure: Factor 1 (social dysfunction) and Factor 2 (depression and anxiety). Multivariate analysis identified the lack of savings and reducing monthly expenditures as significant predictors of psychological distress. In conclusion, the study found that teachers’ incomes were generally inadequate to meet their monthly expenses, prompting lifestyle modifications that correlated with adverse mental health outcomes. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving teachers’ psychological well-being are necessary, and policies addressing the financial challenges faced by teachers in Sri Lanka should be strengthened.

PMID:40437638 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-02921-8

J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2025 May 28;22(1):120. doi: 10.1186/s12984-025-01650-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Tai Chi (TC) is recognized for enhancing balance and postural control. However, studies on its effects on the central nervous system are limited and often involve static experiments despite the dynamic nature of TC. This study addressed that gap by examining cortical network activity during dynamic, multisensory conflict balance tasks. We aimed to determine whether long-term TC practice leads to neuroplastic changes in brain connectivity that improve sensory integration for postural control.

METHODS: Fifty-two young adult participants (long-term TC practitioners = 22; non-practitioners = 30) performed balance tasks under sensory congruent and conflict conditions using a virtual reality headset with a rotating supporting surface. EEG was performed, and generalized partial directed coherence was used to assess directed functional connectivity in the mu rhythm (8-13 Hz) between predefined regions of interest (ROIs) in the cortex implicated in sensory and motor integration. Graph-theoretic measures (in-strength and out-strength) indexed the total incoming and outgoing connection strengths for each region. Statistical analysis used mixed-design ANOVAs (Group × Condition) to compare balance and connectivity measures.

RESULTS: TC practitioners demonstrated significantly better postural stability under both sensory conditions, with a reduced sway area. EEG analysis revealed that increased sensory conflict decreased the global efficiency of the visual integration network but increased that of the somatosensory integration network. Furthermore, TC practitioners demonstrated enhanced out-strength of the somatosensory cortex and lower out-strength of the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) compared to non-practitioners.

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term TC practice is associated with quantifiable neuroplastic changes in mu-band cortical effective connectivity, specifically enhanced information outflow from somatosensory reduce parietal influence regions. Our findings demonstrate central mechanisms by which TC practice may improve balance, providing neuroengineering evidence for TC as a neuroplasticity-driven balance intervention.

PMID:40437591 | DOI:10.1186/s12984-025-01650-8

BMC Med. 2025 May 28;23(1):308. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04150-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies exploring the performance of Transformers-based language models in common risks assessment among psychiatric inpatients. We aim to develop a scalable risk assessment model using multidimensional textualized data and test the stability, robustness, and benefit of this approach.

METHODS: In this real-world cohort study, a deep learning language model was developed and validated using first hospitalized cases diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder between January 2016 and March 2023 in three hospitals. The algorithm was externally validated on an independent testing cohort comprising 1180 patients. A total of 140 features, including first medical records (FMR), laboratory examinations, medical orders, and psychological scales, were assessed for analysis. The outcomes were short- and long-term impulsivity (STI and LTI), risk of suicide (STSS and LTSS), and need of physical restraint (STPR and LTPR) assessed by qualified nurses or clinicians. Analysis was carried out between August 2024 and June 2024. Models with different architectures and input settings were compared with each other. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to assess the primary performance of models. The clinical utility was determined by the net benefit under Youden’s threshold.

RESULTS: Of 7451 patients included in this study, 2982 (47.6%) were male, and the median (interquartile range) age was 42 (28-57) years. The overall incidence of outcomes was 635 (8.5%), 728 (10.5%), 659 (8.8%), 803 (10.8%), 588 (7.9%), and 728 (9.8%) for STPR, LTPR, STSS, LTSS, STI, and LTI, respectively. The multitask semi-structured Transformers-based language (SSTL) model showed more promising AUROCs (STPR: 0.915; LTPR: 0.844; STSS: 0.867; LTSS: 0.879; STI: 0.899; LTI: 0.894) in the prediction of these outcomes than single-tasked or multimodal language models and traditional structured data models. Combining FMR with other data from electronic health records led to significant improvements in the performance and clinical utility of SSTL models based on demographic, diagnosis, laboratory tests, treatment, and psychological scales.

CONCLUSIONS: The SSTL model shows potential advantages in prognostic evaluation. FMR is a strong predictor for common risks prediction and may benefit other tasks in psychiatry with minimum requirements for data and data processing.

PMID:40437564 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04150-7

BMC Med. 2025 May 28;23(1):299. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04122-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Healthy food and drink guidelines for public sector settings can improve the healthiness of food environments. This study aimed to assess the implementation and impact of the voluntary National Healthy Food and Drink Policy (the Policy) introduced in New Zealand in 2016 to encourage provision of healthier food and drink options for staff and visitors at healthcare facilities.

METHODS: A customised digital audit tool was used to collate data on foods and drinks available for sale in healthcare organisations and to systematically classify items as green (‘healthy’), amber (‘less healthy’), or red (‘unhealthy’) according to Policy criteria. On-site audits were undertaken between March 2021 and June 2022 at 19 District Health Boards (organisations responsible for providing public health services) and one central government agency. Forty-three sites were audited, encompassing 229 retail settings (serviced food outlets and vending machines). In total, 8485 foods/drinks were classified according to Policy criteria. The primary outcome was alignment with Policy guidance on the availability of green, amber, and red category food/drink items (≥ 55% green and 0% red items). Secondary outcomes were proportions of green, amber, and red category items, promotional practices, and price. Chi-square tests were used to compare results between categorical variables.

RESULTS: No organisation met the criteria for alignment with the Policy. Across all sites, 38.9% of food/drink items were rated red (not permitted), 39.0% were amber, and 22.1% were green. Organisations that adopted the voluntary Policy offered more healthy foods/drinks than those with their own organisational policy, but the proportion of red items remained high: 32.3% versus 47.5% (p < 0.0001). About one-fifth (21.3%) of all items were promoted, with red (24.6%) and amber (22.2%) items significantly more likely to be promoted than green items (14.0%) (p < 0.001). Green items were also significantly more costly on average (NZ$6.00) than either red (NZ$4.00) or amber (NZ$4.70) items (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive and systematic evaluation showed that a voluntary Policy was not effective in ensuring provision of healthier food/drink options in New Zealand hospitals. The adoption of a single, mandatory Policy, accompanied by dedicated support and regular evaluations, could better support Policy implementation.

PMID:40437554 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04122-x

BMC Med. 2025 May 28;23(1):303. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04137-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). However, in the context of improved medical and device therapy for HF, it is unknown whether the influence of socioeconomic deprivation on HF outcomes is changing over time, especially in relation to evolving life expectancy patterns in the general population. Therefore, we aimed to describe temporal trends in the association of socioeconomic deprivation with loss of actuarially predicted life expectancy amongst ambulatory patients with HF.

METHODS: Between 2006 and 2014, 1802 patients (73.2% male, mean age 69.6 years) with HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45% were consecutively recruited across four hospitals in the United Kingdom (UK). Patients were stratified into socioeconomic deprivation tertiles defined by the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score with IMD tertile 1 denoting the least deprived and IMD tertile 3 the most deprived. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and relative survival predictions-in relation to age- and sex-matched background mortality rates-were calculated using UK National Life Tables. Relative survival was illustrated in terms of excess mortality risk and years of life expectancy lost. Recruitment period was split into 3-year intervals (2006-2008, 2009-2011 and 2012-2014).

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 5.0 years, 1302 participants (72.3%) died. Unadjusted mortality rate was highest in tertile 2. However, adjusted to the age-sex matched UK population, a stepwise increase in excess mortality risk was observed across tertiles, with tertile 1 experiencing an excess mortality risk of 11.1% (95% CI: 6.1-16.1%) and tertile 3 24.2% (95% CI: 19.4-28.0%). This corresponded to a loss of life expectancy of 1.76 years (95% CI: 1.50-2.03) for tertile 1 and 2.30 years (95% CI: 2.03-2.57) for tertile 3 over a 10-year period. We observed disparity in actuarial survival between tertiles over time, with participants in tertile 1 losing less life expectancy at 10 years compared to those in tertiles 2 and 3. However this was only statistically significant for those recruited between 2012 and 2014 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The impact of socioeconomic deprivation on HF outcomes in an unselected diverse UK population appears to have worsened over time.

PMID:40437552 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04137-4

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2025 May 28;26(1):113. doi: 10.1186/s40360-025-00952-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) and anticholinergic burden (ACB) in adults with hypertension.

METHODS: This study included 238 hypertensive patients aged 50 and older who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The medications used by the patients were recorded, and the ACB of each medication was calculated using the ACB Scale. The BPV was assessed based on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements using three methods: standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation of the standard deviation (SD-CoV), and weighted standard deviation (wSD), with evaluations conducted for both day-time and night-time periods.

RESULTS: A total of 139 patients (58.40%) had no ACB score, 64 (26.89%) had an ACB score of 1, and 35 (14.71%) had an ACB score of 2 or higher. ACB scores were significantly higher among patients with heart disease, and ACB tended to increase with age. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between ACB and mean blood pressure, nocturnal blood pressure dips, or any parameters of short-term BPV including Sd, SD-CoV and wSD.

CONCLUSION: No significant association was found between ACB and short-term BPV. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate this relationship, which may inspire further research.

PMID:40437537 | DOI:10.1186/s40360-025-00952-w

BMC Med. 2025 May 28;23(1):297. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04109-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obesity and overweight are prevailing concerns in modern society, but high BMI shows an established correlation with the risk of cancers that impacts not only medical issues but also economic performance. This study analyzes the economic loss due to high BMI-caused cancers (HBCCs).

METHODS: This study used the comprehensive Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database and estimated the economic loss of HBCCs through the Value of Statistical Life approach (VSLA), incorporating a willingness-to-pay metric. Health burdens are expressed in age-standardized DALYs and death rates, and economic burdens are shown in dollars lost (2021 PPP) calculated from total DALYs. A joinpoint regression analysis was utilized to capture the temporal trends, cancer incidence, and economic losses attributed to high BMI across various countries and income levels. We calculated the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in total economic loss to evaluate the trend over the study period.

RESULTS: There is a growing trend in both economic loss and disease burden of HBCCs on a global level. Colon and rectum cancer (CRC) show the highest economic loss ($2593.159 million, UI: 1109.04-4119.61, to $7294.52 million, UI: 3134.75-11,511.13), with pancreatic (AAPC: 10.47*, CI: 8.01-13.51) and liver cancer (AAPC: 8.08*, CI: 5.77-10.35) being the fastest growing cause. The cancer burden for all measures positively correlates with the country’s income level; high-income countries are the only group to experience a decreasing trend in the health burden, but they are still increasing in economic burden. Differences in loss of certain types of cancer and gender gap are observed in different income tiers.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate a significant upward trend in economic loss, highlighting the urgency for strengthened policy measures. It is crucial for policymakers to implement effective risk reduction and resilience-building strategies to mitigate future economic loss and better protect vulnerable communities.

PMID:40437534 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-025-04109-8

BMC Womens Health. 2025 May 29;25(1):263. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03758-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aims to analyze the changes in inflammatory cytokines and state fatigue after exposure to a mental or physical fatiguing activity in breast cancer survivors (BCS).

METHODS: A total of 46 BCS women (age: 58.9 ± 9.1) were recruited for this study and randomly assigned to one of three groups: exposure to physical fatigue (n = 16), mental fatigue (n = 15), or control (n = 15). Participants exposed to physical fatigue performed a 6-minute walk/run test. Participants exposed to mental fatigue performed a version of a dual 2-back task on a computer. Participants in the control group watched a video for 6 min. Clinically significant fatigue was defined by the FACIT-F. Analytes in serum were profiled using the Bio-Plex 200 Suspension Array System, specifically IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, eotaxin, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and VEGF.

RESULTS: Changes in inflammatory factors in response to the assigned fatigue-inducing tasks were mainly not statistically significant. The presence of clinically significant fatigue reported at baseline was, however, related to reactions to fatigue-inducing stimuli. Levels of TGF-β and eotaxin were consistently altered in reactions to fatigue-inducing tasks, particularly in those with clinical fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinically significant fatigue is related to increased inflammatory reactions to mentally or physically fatiguing tasks, highlighting the consistent impact that fatigue has across various challenges of daily activities. Acute fatigue challenges, the kind that BCS would be exposed to in everyday circumstances, does increase inflammatory responses, and those with clinically significant levels of fatigue at baseline are more likely to show these effects.

PMID:40437526 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-025-03758-4

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2025 May 28;22(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s12966-025-01761-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Addressing prolonged workplace sitting is an identified priority. A national implementation trial of BeUpstanding™ – an online workplace intervention supporting teams of desk-based workers to sit less and move more – successfully reduced worker sitting time in a large sample of workers. However, it is unclear which strategies workers used to sit less and move more, how usage changed following intervention, and how this related to changes in work activity and sitting.

METHODS: BeUpstanding collected data from staff before and after the 8-week champion-delivered intervention regarding self-reported work behaviours (percentage of worktime sitting and moving; percentage sitting in prolonged bouts) and the usage (0 = never to 4 = always/nearly always) of 21 sit less/move more strategies (13 emphasised ‘move more’). Strategy usage during versus before intervention were compared via linear mixed models. Strategy usage (0-4) and changes (-4-4) were tested in relation to post-intervention behaviours and behaviour changes using linear mixed models. Interaction tests and conditional inference trees compared strategies in their effectiveness.

RESULTS: Across 1614 staff (43.1 ± 11.3 years; 66% female) from 66 workplaces, the number of strategies used at least sometimes averaged 9.56 (SE = 0.19) pre-intervention. Strategy usage increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the number of strategies used (2.45 [95% CI: 2.18, 2.73], p < 0.001), mean strategy usage (0.37 [0.33, 0.41], p < 0.001), move-more strategy usage, and for every strategy except active travel. Every strategy was used by > 10% of staff following intervention. Strategy usage and changes were significantly associated with all behaviours and behaviour changes (all p < 0.01). There were significant differences in the strength of these associations between strategies (p < 0.05) and for move-more strategies versus other strategies (p < 0.05); however, no strategies were statistically counterproductive. Conditional inference trees identified various combinations of strategies whose usage predicted outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: All strategies showed acceptability (used by > 10%), most were modifiable (increased with intervention), and, to varying degrees, their usage was associated with work behaviours. Findings suggest all 21 strategies are suitable for Australian desk-based workers to select based on personal and contextual fit. Strategies most strongly linked with all behaviours or targeted behaviours (i.e., increasing movement) might be emphasised to enhance effectiveness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN12617000682347. The trial was prospectively registered on the 12th May, 2017 (ACTRN12617000682347) before the soft launch online and last updated on the 11th June 2019, before the national implementation trial recruitment commenced (12th June, 2019).

PMID:40437510 | DOI:10.1186/s12966-025-01761-4