Tag: pubmed

Crit Rev Toxicol. 2025 Sep 16:1-19. doi: 10.1080/10408444.2025.2546427. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to be an emerging chemical class of concern due to their long half-lives in nature and in the human body. There have been many epidemiology studies published in the scientific literature on PFAS and various health effects. Until recently, these studies have focused on assessing exposure to individual PFAS rather than exposure to mixtures of PFAS. Over the past two decades, mixture methods-statistical methods for investigating the association of mixtures-have been developed, making it possible to more accurately assess the risk of adverse health effects associated with exposure to PFAS. To help provide a resource for the overall evaluation of potential health effects of PFAS mixtures, we applied a consistent set of examination methods and criteria for all epidemiology studies that examined the potential relationship between exposure to PFAS mixtures and various types of health outcomes. We identified 233 cohort studies, 39 case-control studies, and 89 cross-sectional studies that evaluated general background-level exposures, exposure from contaminated sites, and occupational exposure to PFAS mixtures and health outcomes including metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune system effects, fetal development, pregnancy outcomes, reproductive effects, liver function, and respiratory effects. We extracted study characteristics and results in a systematic manner and performed a formal study quality evaluation and classified studies into tiers based on their methodological strengths and weaknesses. We found 42 prospective cohort studies, five nested case-control studies, and one traditional case-control study that qualified for inclusion in the highest tier of quality (Tier I). Overall, the weight of evidence from this systematic review indicates that the available epidemiology studies currently support an association between exposure to PFAS mixtures and adiposity, increased total cholesterol, and hypertension, while the evidence for all other health outcomes is suggestive or limited.

PMID:40955472 | DOI:10.1080/10408444.2025.2546427

Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2025 Sep 16. doi: 10.1177/10962964251380366. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background: The impact of splenectomy on immune function and infection risk in trauma patients remains debated. Severely ill trauma patients are known to have a high risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We hypothesize that trauma patients undergoing splenectomy do not have a higher incidence of VAP compared with those managed with splenic preservation. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of trauma registry data for patients admitted with splenic injuries from 2017 to 2023. Exclusions included patients who died within 48 h, had an Injury Severity Score (ISS) <25, or required <3 ventilator days. Only patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) with confirmed splenic injuries were included. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma splenic injury scale was used to grade injury severity. VAP was defined per the 2024 National Trauma Data Standard by the American College of Surgeons. We collected data on ISS, Abbreviated Injury Scale for chest, abdomen-pelvis, and head, demographics, hospital, ICU length of stay, ventilator days, mechanism of injury, microbiology, vaccination status, and splenic injury grade. Patients were stratified into splenectomy and splenic preservation groups, which included embolization, splenorrhaphy, or observation. VAP incidence was compared across groups. Results: Among 140 patients, 64 (46%) underwent splenectomy, and 76 (54%) had splenic preservation. Uni-variable analysis showed higher VAP rates in the splenic preservation group (32.9% vs. 18.8%), but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.059). Multi-variable regression confirmed that longer ventilator days increased VAP risk (OR: 1.13, p < 0.001). Splenectomy itself was not associated with a higher VAP incidence (OR: 0.42, p = 0.054). Conclusion: In this study, splenectomy was not substantially associated with VAP, whereas prolonged ventilator duration remained the strongest predictor. Larger studies are needed to clarify whether splenectomy influences pneumonia risk.

PMID:40955467 | DOI:10.1177/10962964251380366

J R Stat Soc Ser A Stat Soc. 2025 Jan 16:qnaf004. doi: 10.1093/jrsssa/qnaf004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) poses significant health risks and accurately determining the shape of the relationship between PM_2.5 and health outcomes has crucial policy implications. Although various statistical methods exist to estimate this exposure-response curve (ERC), few studies have compared their performance under plausible data-generating scenarios. This study compares seven commonly used ERC estimators across 72 exposure-response and confounding scenarios via simulation. Additionally, we apply these methods to estimate the ERC between long-term PM_2.5 exposure and all-cause mortality using data from over 68 million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. Our simulation indicates that regression methods not placed within a causal inference framework are unsuitable when anticipating heterogeneous exposure effects. Under the setting of a large sample size and unknown ERC functional form, we recommend utilizing causal inference methods that allow for nonlinear ERCs. In our data application, we observe a nonlinear relationship between annual average PM_2.5 and all-cause mortality in the Medicare population, with a sharp increase in relative mortality at low PM_2.5 concentrations. Our findings suggest that stricter limits on PM_2.5 could avert numerous premature deaths. To facilitate the utilization of our results, we provide publicly available, reproducible code on Github for every step of the analysis.

PMID:40955424 | PMC:PMC12433667 | DOI:10.1093/jrsssa/qnaf004

J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2025 Mar 12;18(3):517-527. doi: 10.1007/s40653-024-00677-8. eCollection 2025 Sep.

ABSTRACT

Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) was added as a new diagnosis to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Research on treatment interventions for PGD has focused primarily on adults. However, due to developmental differences, children and adolescents may experience grief differently than adults. There is a need to tailor interventions to children and adolescent populations, but there is a lack of consensus on best practices for treating PGD in these populations. The purpose of this study was to review existing interventions for PGD in children and adolescents to better inform clinicians working with this population. A systematic review was conducted through Google Scholar, APAPsychNet, and by following citations. Studies were reviewed for participant age, prolonged grief symptoms or diagnosis, intervention, and outcomes. Ten studies were included for review with eight interventions identified. Results for each intervention were found to be generally positive in reducing PGD symptoms. Interventions were grouped by modality including group treatments, hybrid treatments (combined group or individual therapy with family therapy), family treatment, and individual treatment. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Attachment Theory and Multidimensional Grief Theory were common theoretical bases for interventions and all shared elements of psychoeducation and integrating knowledge about the loss with existing knowledge. Involvement of surviving parents in treatment was found to be a common element across most child and adolescent interventions and was not included in PGD treatment for adults. This review was limited in scope due to lack of research on child and adolescent populations for PGD treatment and heterogeneity of intervention types. However, preliminary findings support the efficacy of interventions for PGD in children and adolescents and highlight a key difference in treatment for these populations.

PMID:40955395 | PMC:PMC12433411 | DOI:10.1007/s40653-024-00677-8

J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2025 Apr 15;18(3):541-554. doi: 10.1007/s40653-025-00707-z. eCollection 2025 Sep.

ABSTRACT

While there are multiple risk factors associated with adolescent sexual violence perpetration, childhood trauma and adversity may be one of the most prominent factors. Trauma sequela including regulation deficits, trauma symptoms, and attachment-based disruptions may be key modifiable targets in interventions that aim to impact functional outcomes, yet treatment targets and philosophies of change are not always well defined or not robustly integrated into problem sexual behavior treatment programs for adolescents. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for problem sexual behaviors among adolescents (TF-CBT for PSB-A) has emerged as a new treatment option for adolescents with histories of victimization or adversity who may concurrently be at risk for or have detected PSB. This study explored the initial feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary promise in providing the enhanced TF-CBT for PSB-A in community-based and juvenile justice settings to youth and their caregivers. Results show feasibility and acceptability of this intervention but found notable readiness factors that warrant consideration. Results also demonstrated statistical significance and positive trends from pre-to post-test on treatment targets. This study offers promise for trauma-specific treatment services among youth and opportunities for strengthening training and implementation.

PMID:40955387 | PMC:PMC12433378 | DOI:10.1007/s40653-025-00707-z

J Ophthalmol. 2025 Sep 7;2025:1477145. doi: 10.1155/joph/1477145. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To objectively evaluate ocular cycloposition using conventional color fundus photography (CFP) and Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) in exotropic patients undergoing horizontal strabismus surgery and to assess the agreement between these methods. Additionally, we aimed to determine whether surgery alters ocular torsion in pure exotropia. Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, 42 eyes from 21 patients with exotropia requiring bilateral lateral rectus muscle recession were evaluated. The disc-center fovea angle (DFA) was measured pre- and postoperatively using CFP (Topcon fundus camera) and Spectralis OCT with fovea-to-disc (FoDi) alignment software. Results: The angle of exodeviation improved significantly postoperatively, from 35.10 ± 7.89 to 3.76 ± 3.73 prism diopters (p < 0.001). Both CFP- and OCT-derived DFA values remained stable in both eyes at 6 months (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). No significant differences were observed between CFP and OCT measurements at baseline or postoperatively (p > 0.05). Preoperative intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between methods was strong (right eye: 0.765; left eye: 0.750), decreasing postoperatively to moderate levels (right eye: 0.618; left eye: 0.661). Conclusion: Horizontal strabismus surgery does not significantly alter ocular torsion in pure exotropia. Spectralis OCT reliably quantifies cyclotorsion but may yield marginally lower DFA values compared to CFP, despite no statistical difference.

PMID:40955372 | PMC:PMC12433727 | DOI:10.1155/joph/1477145

Appl Psychol Meas. 2025 Sep 13:01466216251379471. doi: 10.1177/01466216251379471. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Extreme and midpoint response styles have frequently been found to decrease the validity of Likert-type questionnaire results. Different approaches for modelling extreme and midpoint responding have been proposed in the literature, with some advocating for a unidimensional conceptualization of the response styles as opposite poles, and others modelling them as separate dimensions. How these response styles are modelled influences the estimation complexity, parameter estimates, and detection of and correction for response styles in IRT models. For these reasons, we examine if it is possible to empirically distinguish between extreme and midpoint responding as two separate dimensions versus two opposite sides of a single dimension. The various conceptualizations are modelled using the multidimensional nominal response model, with the AIC and BIC being used to distinguish between the competing models in a simulation study and an empirical example. Results indicate good performance of both information criteria given sufficient sample size, test length, and response style strength. The BIC outperformed the AIC in cases where no response styles were present, while the AIC outperformed the BIC in cases where multiple response style dimensions were present. Implications of the results for practice are discussed.

PMID:40955369 | PMC:PMC12433433 | DOI:10.1177/01466216251379471

Scientifica (Cairo). 2025 Sep 7;2025:2603978. doi: 10.1155/sci5/2603978. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

The present study explores the ichthyodiversity of a Cyprinid fish. A total of 622 fish samples were collected from five different sites of the Kurram River and identified using standard keys for identification. Out of 622 collected fish samples, 188 were related to the family Cyprinidae comprised of 19 species such as Barilius vagra, Barilius modestus, Barilius pakistanicus, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita, Carassius auratus, Salmophasia punjabensis, Amblypharyngodon mola, Gara gotyla, Puntius conchonius, Puntius chola, Puntius sophore, Puntius ticto, Tor putitora, Schizothorax esocinus, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Schizothorax labiatus, Labeo diplocheilus, and Crossocheilus diplocheilus. The current study explores 5 new species, i.e., Schizothorax labiatus, Schizothorax esocinus, Amblypharyngodon mola, Puntius chola, and Salmophasia punjabensis for the first time, which are not reported in the earlier work. Principal component analysis (PCA) and diversity indices were analyzed using XLSTAT in conjunction with Microsoft Excel 2019 to assess the correlation and richness of fish diversity. To check the water quality of the River Kurram, the following parameters were examined: temperature, copper, pH, nitrate, alkalinity, chlorine, total hardness, iron, nitrite, and lead. All the recorded physicochemical parameters remained within the safe limits throughout the study period.

PMID:40955354 | PMC:PMC12433728 | DOI:10.1155/sci5/2603978

J Multidiscip Healthc. 2025 Sep 10;18:5677-5689. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S531771. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a structured narrative nursing log, grounded in narrative nursing theory, for use with conscious patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), and to conduct a preliminary clinical evaluation of its effectiveness.

METHODS: A structured narrative nursing log was developed through literature review, group brainstorming, and expert consultation. A quasi-experimental design was adopted. The study included 90 conscious ICU patients from a Class III Grade A hospital in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, selected via convenience sampling. Participants were assigned to either the control group (n = 46), in which nurses documented care using a blank nursing log, or the intervention group (n = 44), in which nurses utilized the structured narrative nursing log developed in this study. Primary outcome measures included patient-reported anxiety levels, perceived caring, time spent by ICU nurses on narrative nursing, and nurses’ sense of professional fulfillment.

RESULTS: Patients in the intervention group exhibited significantly lower anxiety levels and significantly higher perceived caring compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05; 95% CI, 2.33-3.72). The average time spent on narrative nursing was also significantly lower in the intervention group (25.05 ± 1.94 minutes) than in the control group (34.07 ± 3.93 minutes) (p < 0.05; 95% CI, 7.71-10.33). Among the 43 participating ICU nurses, a statistically significant increase in self-reported professional fulfillment was observed following implementation of the structured log (p < 0.05; 95% CI, -10.95 to -6.40).

CONCLUSION: The structured narrative nursing log shows promise in reducing anxiety-related symptoms, improving patients’ perception of care, and enhancing nurses’ sense of professional accomplishment. These findings suggest its potential value in refining nursing practices for conscious patients in intensive care settings.

PMID:40955351 | PMC:PMC12433643 | DOI:10.2147/JMDH.S531771

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2025 Sep 10;19:2847-2859. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S502613. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The lack of instruments to assess asthma self-management in Brazil highlights the need to develop specific tools to help patients manage their own health condition.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Asthma Self-Management Questionnaire (ASMQ) for the Brazilian adult population diagnosed with asthma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a methodological, exploratory, and descriptive study approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) under opinion number 6.062.022. The study followed international guidelines to design and execute six stages: translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, synthesis of back-translations, Multidisciplinary Committee of Experts, and pre-testing. For the translation phase, five judges participated using the Delphi Technique through the Multidisciplinary Committee of Experts. For the cross-cultural adaptation, a pre-test phase was conducted using a questionnaire applied to individuals who met the eligibility criteria. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software, version 22.0, with a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the ASMQ-Brazil to Brazilian Portuguese were completed. The results of this study demonstrated a Content Validity Index (CVI) greater than 0.80 for all items in the instrument. The ASMQ-Brazil is presented as a valid and reliable health measurement instrument for assessing asthma self-management in the Brazilian adult population.

PMID:40955346 | PMC:PMC12433639 | DOI:10.2147/PPA.S502613