Tag: pubmed

Light Sci Appl. 2025 Apr 27;14(1):175. doi: 10.1038/s41377-025-01865-3.

ABSTRACT

Links and knots are exotic topological structures that have garnered significant interest across multiple branches of natural sciences. Coherent links and knots, such as those constructed by phase or polarization singularities of coherent light, have been observed in various three-dimensional optical settings. However, incoherent links and knots-knotted or connected lines of coherence singularities-arise from a fundamentally different concept. They are “hidden” in the statistic properties of a randomly fluctuating field, making their presence often elusive or undetectable. Here, we theoretically construct and experimentally demonstrate such topological entities of incoherent light. By leveraging a state-of-the-art incoherent modal-decomposition scheme, we unveil incoherent topological structures from fluctuating light speckles, including Hopf links and Trefoil knots of coherence singularities that are robust against coherence and intensity fluctuations. Our work is applicable to diverse wave systems where incoherence or practical coherence is prevalent, and may pave the way for design and implementation of statistically-shaped topological structures for various applications such as high-dimensional optical information encoding and optical communications.

PMID:40289134 | DOI:10.1038/s41377-025-01865-3

Ital J Pediatr. 2025 Apr 27;51(1):129. doi: 10.1186/s13052-025-01972-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is a developmental dental condition that causes defects in the enamel of the first molars and permanent incisors. The aim of the present study was to assess possible causal correlations between the mother-child dyad medical history and MIH.

METHODS: An observational, retrospective, case‒control pilot study was carried out at the Dental Clinic of the University of Salamanca. This study was conducted between November 2023 and May 2024. Data on potential aetiological factors were collected through personal interviews, and the children’s parents were asked aetiological questions. Statistical analysis was performed with Student’s t test and the chi-square test.

RESULTS: A total of 140 children were enrolled in the study. The case group included 70 children with MIH (31 boys and 39 girls; mean age: 9.1 ± 2.32 years), while the control group comprised 70 children without MIH (32 boys and 38 girls; mean age: 9.57 ± 3.09 years). Among the factors assessed, maternal drug allergies during pregnancy and childhood asthma were identified as potential aetiological contributors to MIH, both showing statistically significant associations (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this pilot case-control study, a potential association was observed between MIH and both maternal drug allergies during pregnancy and childhood asthma. These findings support the need for further investigation into prenatal and early-life factors that may contribute to enamel developmental disturbances. Larger prospective studies are recommended to confirm these associations and better understand the underlying mechanisms.

PMID:40289126 | DOI:10.1186/s13052-025-01972-2

BMC Neurol. 2025 Apr 28;25(1):186. doi: 10.1186/s12883-024-03989-2.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Based on the near-infrared functional brain imaging system, this research studied the hemoglobin concentration signal in resting state and task state. The purpose of this research was to analyze the activated brain regions and functional connections by exploring the changes in hemoglobin concentration and the differences in brain network functional connections between healthy people and mild to moderate AD patients. So as to identify the cognitive dysfunction of patients at an early stage. By accurately locating the area of cognitive impairment in patients, it provides a basis for precise neural regulation of physical therapy.

METHODS: Patients who came to our hospital from January 2022 to December 2022 were recruited and selected according to the exclusion criteria. After receiving their informed consent, MMSE scale examination and near-infrared brain function imaging examination were performed in a relatively quiet environment.

RESULT: A total of 24 subjects were included in this study, including 7 in the control group (age: 72.57 ± 7.19) and 17 (age: 76.88 ± 9.29) in the AD group. The average cognitive scores were (28.00 ± 1.16), (19.24 ± 4.89), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in gender, years of education, age, and past medical history between the AD group and the control group (P > 0.05). In the verbal fluency test (VFT) task, there was a significant difference in the activation values of the two groups in channels 01, 06, 07, 09, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 31, 35, 38, 40, 43, 44, 45, 51, and 52II (p < 0.05), and the activation values of the normal group were greater than those of the AD group. There was a significant difference in the mean oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in channels 01, 07, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 31, 35, 40, 41, 44, and 48 (p < 0.05), and the average oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in the AD group was lower than that in the normal group. There was no significant difference in activation speed between the two groups. In the resting state, the number of total network edges, DLPFC-L to PreM and SMC-L, DLPFC-L to FEF-L, DLPFC-L to DLPFC-L, FPA-L to PreM and SMC-L, FPA-L to FPA-L, FPA-R to FPA-L, DLPFC-L to DLPFC-R, FEF-R to PreM and There was a statistically significant difference in the number of network edges in SMC-L (p < 0.05). Among the different groups, the number of network edges in the AD group was smaller than that in the normal group. Correlation analysis showed that T14, T31, T16, T23, T27, M16, M22, M41 (T: represents activation value, M: represents mean hemoglobin concentration, and number represents channel number). There was a positive correlation between the total number of network edges, DLPFC-L to PreM and SMC-L, DLPFC-L to DLPFC-L, FPA-L to PreM and SMC-L, FPA-L to FPA-L, DLPFC-L to DLPFC-R, FEF-R to PreM and SMC-L, and MMSE scores (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION: In this study, we found hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal lobes of AD patients under the VFT task, and the decrease in the functional connectivity of the prefrontal brain network in AD patients in the resting state, and these changes were associated with cognitive decline in patients. Our findings suggest that fNIRS may be used as a tool for future clinical screening for cognitive impairment, and may also be used to develop personalized preventive measures and treatment plans through accurate assessment.

PMID:40289104 | DOI:10.1186/s12883-024-03989-2

BMC Microbiol. 2025 Apr 27;25(1):250. doi: 10.1186/s12866-025-03953-1.

ABSTRACT

Synbiotic interventions have gained increasing attention for modulating gut microbiota and metabolic functions in obesity-related disorders. This study evaluated the effects of Limosilactobacillus reuteri KUB-AC5 (10⁸ CFU) and Wolffia globosa powder (6 g/day) using an in vitro continuous human gastrointestinal model. Fecal samples from obese donors were used to simulate the ascending and descending colon, with microbial viability, diversity, and metabolite production assessed over 14 days via culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Synbiotic supplementation increased anaerobic bacterial counts by 2.6 log CFU/mL in the ascending colon and 2.2 log CFU/mL in the descending colon, with notable increases in lactic acid bacteria and reductions in Enterobacteriaceae. Metagenomic analysis revealed an increasing trend in microbial diversity and evenness after 7 days of treatment, though the changes were not statistically significant. PERMANOVA analysis confirmed significant shift in microbial community composition between stabilization, treatment, and washout periods (p < 0.05). Additionally, butyrate levels significantly increased (p < 0.05), while p-cresol, a deleterious metabolite, significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Bile acid composition was modulated, with increased tertiary bile acid 3-oxo-LCA and enhanced bile acid deconjugation, suggesting improved lipid metabolism and potential weight management benefits. These findings highlight the potential of synbiotic supplementation to enhance beneficial bacterial populations, improve microbial diversity, and support metabolic health in obesity management.

PMID:40289100 | DOI:10.1186/s12866-025-03953-1

BMC Gastroenterol. 2025 Apr 27;25(1):302. doi: 10.1186/s12876-025-03860-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and esophageal cancers, pose a significant global health burden. Despite advancements in diagnostic tools, early detection remains challenging, particularly in low-resource settings. Emerging evidence highlights the platelet-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (PHR) as a novel biomarker integrating systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism. However, its association with GI cancer risk remains underexplored.

METHODS: This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2010 to 2018, comprising 19,388 participants, including 230 with GI cancers. PHR was calculated as the ratio of platelet count to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and categorized into quartiles. Weighted logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline analysis, and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate the association between PHR and GI cancer risk, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and clinical factors.

RESULTS: Elevated PHR was independently associated with an increased risk of GI cancers. Participants in the highest PHR quartile exhibited a significantly higher risk (adjusted OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 2.16-4.43) compared to the lowest quartile. A dose-response relationship was observed, with two critical inflection points at PHR values of 3.2 and 4.5. Subgroup analyses revealed stronger associations among older adults, males, and obese individuals. The findings suggest that PHR may reflect the dynamic balance of systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism, contributing to tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSION: This study identifies PHR as a promising, cost-effective biomarker for early detection and risk stratification of GI cancers. Its integration into screening programs could improve precision medicine strategies by identifying high-risk individuals for early intervention. Further longitudinal and mechanistic studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

PMID:40289098 | DOI:10.1186/s12876-025-03860-9

Arch Public Health. 2025 Apr 28;83(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s13690-025-01607-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2022, the American Heart Association launched an updated algorithm for quantifying cardiovascular health (CVH), termed Life’s Essential 8 (LE8). This new approach has been shown to be associated with various noncommunicable chronic diseases and mortality. However, LE8 did not take into consideration the importance of psychological health on CVH. Recently, a perspective article proposed Life’s Crucial 9 (LC9), which would add psychological health as another component to LE8, as a novel metric to assess CVH. This study aims to investigate the association of LC9 with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

METHODS: This study included 23,080 adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2018, and mortality was ascertained by linkage to National Death Index records through 31 December 2019. The LC9 scoring algorithm was categorized into low (0-49), moderate (50-79), and high (80-100) CVH. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models and restricted cubic spline analysis were applied to evaluate the association of LC9 with mortality.

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 7.8 years, a total of 2,388 overall deaths were identified, covering 613 CVD deaths. Compared with adults with a low CVH score, those with a high CVH score had 52% (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.60) and 64% (0.36; 0.23-0.56) reduced risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. Similarly, a moderate CVH score was associated with 33% (0.67; 0.58-0.78) and 49% (0.51; 0.40-0.64) reduced risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. The population-attributable fractions of high vs. moderate or low CVH score were 46.0% for all-cause mortality and 75.8% for CVD mortality. Elevated blood lipids, high body mass index, and poor sleep quality were the three major contributors to all-cause mortality, whereas nicotine exposure, unhealthy psychology, and elevated blood lipids were the three significant ones to CVD mortality. There were approximately negative linear dose-response relationships of total LC9 score with all-cause and CVD mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Adhering to a high LC9 score is related to a reduced risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. This new CVH definition shows promise as a primordial preventive strategy to reduce mortality rates.

PMID:40289091 | DOI:10.1186/s13690-025-01607-2

Cytopathology. 2025 Apr 26. doi: 10.1111/cyt.13499. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) of the breast is a widely used diagnostic tool for detecting breast lesions, offering high sensitivity and positive predictive value. The International Academy of Cytology (IAC) established the Yokohama System in 2016 to standardise reporting of breast FNAB.

OBJECTIVE: To categorise FNAB samples according to the IAC Yokohama System, assess the ROM for each category and evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for malignancy diagnosis.

METHODS: This prospective observational study involved predominantly younger adults with the majority presenting with a palpable breast mass. FNAB samples were collected, stained and examined microscopically. Categories were assigned according to the Yokohama System, and the results were compared with histopathological examination (HPE). Diagnostic metrics and ROM were calculated using statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The study included 428 patients, with malignant cases comprising 49.5% of the samples, benign cases 43.5%, atypical cases 4.2%, suspicious for malignancy cases 1.9% and insufficient material 0.9%. The risk of malignancy (ROM) was 100% for malignant, 87.5% for suspicious for malignancy, 22.2% for atypical, 2.15% for benign and 25% for the insufficient category. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy varied across groups, with group A, group B and group C showing accuracy at 92.99%, 97.66% and 95.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The IAC Yokohama System effectively categorises breast FNAB samples, provides accurate diagnostic metrics for malignancy and aids clinical decision-making, particularly in resource-limited settings.

PMID:40287794 | DOI:10.1111/cyt.13499

Reprod Health. 2025 Apr 26;22(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12978-025-02011-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Approximately 164 million women report an unmet need for family planning globally. This has far-reaching consequences for the health of women and their children. Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) is strongly linked to increased unmet need as IPV likely affects both women’s desire for contraception and their ability to access it. Around 245 million women were subject to physical and/or sexual IPV by an intimate partner in the past twelve months alone, making it the most common form of violence against women. Yet, laws that prohibit domestic violence (DV) are not universal and countries actively debate whether legal provisions are effective in deterring and reducing its harmful impacts. This study examines the impact of DV laws on women’s unmet need for family planning.

METHODS: We built new data on DV laws adoption in Africa and used the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data collected between 2000 and 2021 across 23 African countries for outcomes data. Exploiting the staggered adoption of DV laws across the continent, we used a difference-in-differences study design to estimate the impact of DV laws in the treated countries compared to countries without such laws.

RESULTS: We find that DV laws reduced women’s unmet need for family planning by 6.2% points, 95% CI [- 9.2, – 3.2], a 20.5% reduction from the mean. Positive impacts were observed in 6 countries across multiple model specifications. While the impacts were largely broad-based across wealth, age, geography, and education categories, we found no significant impacts for women younger than 20 years of age and those without formal education. These findings were robust to alternative model specifications.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that countries can significantly benefit from prohibiting DV as a fundamental step towards addressing women’s unmet need for family planning and promoting their reproductive health. While fully addressing IPV and women’s unmet need may require a range of complementary interventions, especially among marginalized populations, DV laws play a crucial role in improving women’s control over their reproductive health.

PMID:40287771 | DOI:10.1186/s12978-025-02011-3

World J Surg Oncol. 2025 Apr 26;23(1):163. doi: 10.1186/s12957-025-03822-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: While growing evidence highlights the role of gut microbiota and inflammatory proteins in cancer, with cancer-related inflammation now considered the seventh hallmark of cancer, the direct causal relationships between specific microbiota, cancer, and the potential mediating effects of inflammatory proteins have not been fully established.

METHODS: We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the causal relationships between gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins, and eighteen distinct cancers using data from extensive genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The primary statistical method utilized was inverse variance weighting (IVW). We also investigated whether inflammatory proteins could mediate the effects of gut microbiota on cancer development.

RESULTS: Our findings revealed 42 positive and 49 inverse causal impacts of gut microbiota on cancer risk (P < 0.05). Additionally, we identified 32 positive and 28 inverse causal relationships between inflammatory proteins and cancer risk. Moreover, genus Collinsella decreased the risk of lung cancer by decreasing levels of T-cell surface glycoprotein CD5 (mediating effect = 16.667%), while genus Ruminococcaceae UCG005 increased the risk of mesothelioma by increasing levels of CCL4 (mediating effect = 5.134%).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence for a causal association between gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins, and eighteen different cancer types. Notably, the T-cell surface glycoprotein CD5 and CCL4 were identified as mediators linking the genus Collinsella with lung cancer and the genus Ruminococcaceae UCG005 with mesothelioma, respectively.

PMID:40287752 | DOI:10.1186/s12957-025-03822-1

Infect Dis Poverty. 2025 Apr 27;14(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s40249-025-01305-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Oral emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (F/TDF) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) demonstrates dual potential through antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). While F/TDF lacks activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV), the use of F/TDF for HIV PrEP may elevate HCV risk through risk compensation. This study aims to investigate HBV/HCV incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM) using F/TDF-based HIV PrEP, addressing evidence gaps in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the China Real-World Oral Intake of PrEP (CROPrEP) study, a multicenter prospective cohort of MSM (F/TDF users/non-users) from Beijing, Shenyang, Shenzhen, and Chongqing. Participants underwent HBV/HCV testing at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. Only HBV-susceptible (hepatitis B surface antigen-negative, hepatitis B surface and core antibody-negative) MSM were included in the secondary analysis, to calculate HBV incidence. The primary outcomes were HBV/HCV incidence rates at the 12-month follow-up. Bayesian Poisson regression identified HBV/HCV infection risk factors.

RESULTS: The CROPrEP cohort prospectively recruited 1023 F/TDF users and 507 F/TDF non-users at baseline. This secondary analysis included 259 F/TDF users and 120 non-users identified as HBV-susceptible at baseline. At the 12-month of follow-up, no incident HBV infections occurred in the F/TDF users group, and only one incident HBV infection occurred in the F/TDF non-users group. The incidence of new HBV infections was 0.00/100 person-years (PY) [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00-1.32] among HBV-susceptible F/TDF users and 0.77/100 PY (95% CI: 0.02-4.20) among HBV-susceptible F/TDF non-users. HBV incidence was reduced with F/TDF compared with no F/TDF [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR): 0.00; 95% CI: 0.00-0.00]. HCV incidence among F/TDF users and non-users was 0.31/100 PY (95% CI: 0.06-0.90) and 0.00/100 PY (95% CI: 0.00-0.74) after 12 months, respectively. HCV incidence was lower in F/TDF non-users than in F/TDF users (aIRR: 0.00; 95% CI: 0.00-0.25).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a potential benefit in reducing HBV incidence among MSM using F/TDF as HIV PrEP, highlighting the potential for integrated prevention strategies addressing both HIV and HBV risks in PrEP programmes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR, ChiCTR-IIN-17013762. Registered 8 December 2017, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=22916 .

PMID:40287745 | DOI:10.1186/s40249-025-01305-9