Tag: pubmed

Surgery. 2025 Feb 20;181:109258. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2025.109258. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The role of prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection in clinically node-negative papillary thyroid carcinoma is debated. This study presents the findings from a 10-year follow-up of a single-institution randomized controlled trial assessing the role of prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection in clinically node-negative papillary thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS: Between 2008 and 2010, a total of 196 patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid carcinoma were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a 1:1 ratio to undergo total thyroidectomy (group A) or total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection (group B). Patients received low-dose radioactive iodine treatment (30 mCi) postoperatively, with additional doses as needed. Monitoring included serum thyroglobulin, thyroglobulin antibodies, and neck ultrasound imaging.

RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up, 151 patients were analyzed, after 28 from group A and 17 from group B were excluded. The 2 groups were similar in age at diagnosis (P = .643), sex distribution (P = .735), body mass index (P = .134), ultrasound-estimated thyroid volume (P = .650), and histologic tumor features. After >10 years (12.9 ± 2 years), no significant differences were observed in surgical and oncologic outcomes. The mean thyroglobulin levels were 0.1 ± 0.1 ng/mL in group A and 0.3 ± 1.3 ng/mL in group B (P = .146). Both groups showed similar findings in the need for further surgery (P = .917), for additional radioactive iodine (P = .979), and mean radioactive iodine dosage (P = .822). No difference was documented in permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (P = .640), permanent hypocalcemia (P = .238), and serum calcium level (P = .181). The only observed distinction was more parathyroid removal in prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection cases based on histologic examination (P = .005).

CONCLUSION: Prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection does not significantly affect surgical and oncologic outcomes in patients with clinically node-negative small papillary thyroid carcinoma after long-term follow-up.

PMID:39983243 | DOI:10.1016/j.surg.2025.109258

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 7;134(5):050801. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.050801.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the thermalization dynamics of quantum many-body systems at the microscopic level is among the central challenges of modern statistical physics. Here we experimentally investigate individual spin dynamics in a two-dimensional ensemble of electron spins on the surface of a diamond crystal. We use a near-surface nitrogen-vacancy center as a nanoscale magnetic sensor to probe correlation dynamics of individual spins in a dipolar interacting surface spin ensemble. We observe that the relaxation rate for each spin is significantly slower than the naïve expectation based on independently estimated dipolar interaction strengths with nearest neighbors and is strongly correlated with the timescale of the local magnetic field fluctuation. We show that this anomalously slow relaxation rate is due to the presence of strong dynamical disorder and present a quantitative explanation based on dynamic resonance counting. Finally, we use resonant spin-lock driving to control the effective strength of the local magnetic fields and reveal the role of the dynamical disorder in different regimes. Our work paves the way towards microscopic study and control of quantum thermalization in strongly interacting disordered spin ensembles.

PMID:39983194 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.050801

Phys Rev Lett. 2025 Feb 7;134(5):058202. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.058202.

ABSTRACT

Adhesion of soft particles with mobile linkers is of importance in colloidal self-assembly, the binding of vesicles, and tissue organization in biology. Here we derive and experimentally test an equilibrium theory that captures the adhesion of DNA-coated emulsion droplets. Notably, we identify a transition from spherical to deformed droplet binding at a characteristic DNA coverage that depends on molecular properties and surface tension. Fitting the data reveals a weak effective binding strength of 3.7±0.3K_{B}T owing to entropic costs of confinement, crowding, and stretching. Our results pave the path to materials design informed by the choice of molecular-scale parameters.

PMID:39983165 | DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.058202

J Med Internet Res. 2025 Feb 21;27:e50708. doi: 10.2196/50708.

ABSTRACT

Despite excitement around artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools in health care, there is work to be done before they can be equitably deployed. The absence of diverse patient voices in discussions on AI is a pressing matter, and current studies have been limited in diversity. Our study inquired about the perspectives of racial and ethnic minority patients on the use of their health data in AI, by conducting a cross-sectional survey among 230 participants who were at least 18 years of age and identified as Black, Latinx, Indigenous, or Asian. While familiarity with AI was high, a smaller proportion of participants understood how AI can be used in health care (152/199, 76.4%), and an even smaller proportion understood how AI can be applied to dermatology (133/199, 66.8%). Overall, 69.8% (139/199) of participants agreed that they trusted the health care system to treat their medical information with respect; however, this varied significantly by income (P=.045). Only 64.3% (128/199) of participants felt comfortable with their medical data being used to build AI tools, and 83.4% (166/199) believed they should be compensated if their data are used to develop AI. To our knowledge, this is the first study focused on understanding opinions about health data use for AI among racial and ethnic minority individuals, as similar studies have had limited diversity. It is important to capture the opinions of diverse groups because the inclusion of their data is essential for building equitable AI tools; however, historical harms have made inclusion challenging.

PMID:39983116 | DOI:10.2196/50708

JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Feb 21;14:e58197. doi: 10.2196/58197.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rhinitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the nasal mucosa. It causes obstruction and congestion in the nasal cavity. Clinically, it resembles pratishyaya (rhinitis) in Ayurveda, which is caused by accumulation and downward movement of the tridoshas (3 elements, named vata, pitta, and kapha) in the nasal cavity. Rhinitis is one of the most common diseases among children. There is no role for antibiotics in rhinitis, and nasal decongestants have also not been found to be effective in its management. In Ayurveda, dhoopana (nasal fumigation) is mentioned in the pratishyaya treatment protocol. However, we have found no previous study regarding its efficacy. The efficacy of tulsi, vasa, nirgundi, and nilgiri is already proven when they are used for steam inhalation in respiratory tract infections. Therefore, in this study, a dhoopana of a polyherbal formulation containing tulsi, vasa, nirgundi, and nilgiri will be compared with the inhalation of steam containing arka (a liquid obtained by distillation) of tulsi, vasa, nirgundi, and nilgiri leaves in children with pratishyaya.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to evaluate the efficacy of polyherbal steam inhalation as a standard control against dhoopana in children aged 7 to 14 years with pratishyaya.

METHODS: A total of 70 participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected and distributed into 2 groups of 35 each. The intervention group received dhoopana and the control group received polyherbal steam inhalation, both twice daily for 7 days. The primary outcome measure was the change in Total Nasal Symptom Score and a modified cold spatula test. At the same time, the association between prakriti (body constitution) and the prevalence of pratishyaya in children was analyzed as a secondary outcome. Assessments were performed on days 3, 5, and 7, with a follow-up time of 28 days. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics will be used for data analysis.

RESULTS: As of November 2024, we have completed our enrollment of 70 patients, with 35 patients in each group. Data analysis will be completed by February 2025, and we expect results to be published in March 2025.

CONCLUSIONS: We anticipate that polyherbal nasal fumigation will be found to be equally as effective as polyherbal steam inhalation in the management of acute rhinitis in the pediatric population. This study may provide a standardized, herbal, safe, and cost-effective treatment for rhinitis in children in the form of dhoopana.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/58197.

PMID:39983110 | DOI:10.2196/58197

JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2025 Feb 21;11:e64653. doi: 10.2196/64653.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vaccination against COVID-19 is a critical measure for managing the pandemic and achieving herd immunity. In 2021, Slovenia had a significantly lower COVID-19 vaccination rate compared to the average rate in the European Union, with individuals aged younger than 37 years showing the highest hesitancy. Previous studies primarily explored vaccination willingness before vaccines were available to young people, leaving a gap in understanding the factors influencing vaccination behavior and differences within the population of young people.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate a wide set of predictors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intention and behavior among young people in Slovenia. Specifically, we aimed to compare vaccinated and unvaccinated young people, further categorizing the unvaccinated group into those who were hesitant, those who intended to vaccinate in the near future, and those who refused vaccination.

METHODS: An integrated model, based on the health belief model and theory of planned behavior, was developed, and it included additional contextual factors (such as trust in science, trust in vaccines, conspiracy theory tendencies, etc) and health-related and sociodemographic characteristics. Data were collected in August 2021 via the online access survey panel JazVem (Valicon), targeting individuals aged 15-30 years in Slovenia. Quotas ensured that the sample (n=507) was quasi-representative according to age, gender, education, and region. Bivariate analyses and multinomial logistic regression were performed to explore the determinants of vaccination intention and behavior.

RESULTS: Among respondents, 45.8% (232/507) were vaccinated, 30.0% (152/507) refused vaccination, 12.4% (63/507) were hesitant, and 11.8% (60/507) intended to undergo vaccination in the near future. Vaccinated individuals were predominantly aged 23-26 years, had higher education, and reported above-average material status. Refusers were more common among the youngest (15-18 years) and oldest (27-30 years) groups, had lower education, and showed higher conspiracy theory tendencies. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that unvaccinated respondents who perceived greater COVID-19-related health consequences were more likely to delay vaccination (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3) or exhibit hesitancy (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.2) compared with vaccinated respondents. Subjective norms were less influential among hesitant individuals (aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.7) and refusers (aOR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.7) than among vaccinated individuals. Self-efficacy in managing health problems was less evident among those who delayed vaccination to the near future (aOR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9) than among vaccinated individuals.

CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the complexity of vaccination intentions and behaviors among young people, emphasizing the necessity for public health strategies promoting vaccination to be tailored to the specific reasons for nonvaccination within different subgroups. Interventions aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy and delays should particularly focus on individuals with lower education and material disadvantages. By fostering trust and enhancing self-efficacy, these interventions could more effectively promote vaccine uptake.

PMID:39983109 | DOI:10.2196/64653

JMIR Form Res. 2025 Feb 21;9:e66681. doi: 10.2196/66681.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The successful conduct of health and medical research is largely dependent on participant recruitment. Effective, yet inexpensive methods of increasing response rates for all types of research are required. QR codes are now commonplace, and despite having been extensively used to recruit study participants, a search of the literature failed to reveal any randomized trial investigating the effect of adding a QR code on qualitative research response rates.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to collect data on rates of response, consent, and decline among patients with cancer, and the average time taken to respond following randomization to receive either a QR code or no QR code on the patient consent form for a qualitative research study.

METHODS: This was a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) embedded within a qualitative research study. In total, 40 eligible patients received a recruitment pack for the qualitative study, which included an information statement, a consent form, and an addressed, stamped envelope to return their consent form. Patients were randomized 1:1 to the control (standard recruitment pack only) or intervention group (standard recruitment pack including modified consent form with a QR code).

RESULTS: In total, 27 out of 40 patients (age: mean 63.0, SD 14.8 years; 45% female) responded to the consent form. A lower proportion of the QR code group (60%) responded (odd ratio [OR] 0.57, 95% CI 0.14-2.37; P=.44), compared to 75% of the standard recruitment group. However, a higher proportion of the QR group (35%) consented (OR 1.84, 95% CI 0.41-8.29; P=.43), compared to the standard recruitment group (20%). A lower proportion of the QR group (25%) declined (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.09-1.38; P=.13) relative to the standard recruitment group (55%). The mean response time of the QR code group was 16 days (rate ratio [RR] 0.79, 95% CI 0.47-1.35; P=.39) compared to 19 days for the standard recruitment group. None of the age-adjusted analyses were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: This underpowered pilot study did not find any evidence that offering an option to respond through a QR code on a patient consent form for a qualitative study increased the overall patient response rate (combined rate of consent and decline). However, there was a nonsignificant trend, indicating that more patients who received the QR code consented compared to those who did not receive the QR code. This study provides useful preliminary data on the potential impact of QR codes on patient response rates to invitations to participate in qualitative research and can be used to inform fully powered RCTs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: OSF Registries 10.17605/OSF.IO/PJ25X; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PJ25X.

PMID:39983108 | DOI:10.2196/66681

J Neurosurg. 2025 Feb 21:1-10. doi: 10.3171/2024.10.JNS241527. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Giant pituitary adenomas (GPAs) are challenging skull base tumors due to their size and proximity to critical neurovascular structures. Achieving gross-total resection (GTR) can be difficult, and residual tumor burden is commonly reported. This study evaluated the ability of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to predict the extent of resection (EOR) from preoperative MRI with the goals of enhancing surgical planning, improving preoperative patient counseling, and enhancing multidisciplinary postoperative coordination of care.

METHODS: A retrospective study of 100 consecutive patients with GPAs was conducted. Patients underwent surgery via the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. CNN models were trained on DICOM images from preoperative MR images to predict EOR, using a split of 80 patients for training and 20 for validation. The models included different architectural modules to refine image selection and predict EOR based on tumor-contained images in various anatomical planes. The model design, training, and validation were conducted in a local environment in Python using the TensorFlow machine learning system.

RESULTS: The median preoperative tumor volume was 19.4 cm3. The median EOR was 94.5%, with GTR achieved in 49% of cases. The CNN model showed high predictive accuracy, especially when analyzing images from the coronal plane, with a root mean square error of 2.9916 and a mean absolute error of 2.6225. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.9823, indicating excellent model performance.

CONCLUSIONS: CNN-based models may effectively predict the EOR for GPAs from preoperative MRI scans, offering a promising tool for presurgical assessment and patient counseling. Confirmatory studies with large patient samples are needed to definitively validate these findings.

PMID:39983104 | DOI:10.3171/2024.10.JNS241527

JCO Precis Oncol. 2025 Jan;9:e2400491. doi: 10.1200/PO-24-00491. Epub 2025 Feb 21.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Urinary catecholamine metabolites are well-known biomarkers for the diagnosis (Dx) of neuroblastoma, but their clinical significance in determining therapy response during treatment is not well established. Therefore, catecholamines are not included in criteria for assessing response and complete remission (CR). This study investigated the use of urinary catecholamines in response monitoring and predicting survival outcomes.

METHODS: From 2005 to 2021, a panel of eight urinary catecholamines were measured in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma at Dx and at standard evaluation moments during treatment. At the same time points, response and CR were assessed according to the revised International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria.

RESULTS: The total cohort consists of 153 high-risk patients, and at least one of the eight metabolites was elevated (ie, catecholamine status positive) in 141 of 146 (97%), 104 of 128 (81%), and 39 of 69 (57%) patients at Dx, postinduction, and at CR, respectively. Primary tumor resection significantly reduced catecholamine levels (P < .01). A positive catecholamine status at Dx, during treatment, and at the end of treatment was not significantly associated with event-free survival (EFS) or overall survival (OS). However, in patients who achieved CR, those with a positive catecholamine status had poor EFS (38% v 80%, respectively; P < .01) and OS (52% v 86%, respectively; P = .01) compared with those with a negative catecholamine status. Notably, 3-methoxytyramine levels at CR seem to be a prognostic marker for poor OS (hazard ratio, 7.5 [95% CI, 2.0 to 28.6]).

CONCLUSION: Catecholamine measurements contribute to the assessment of CR and identifies patients with high-risk neuroblastoma with an increased risk of relapse and death.

PMID:39983076 | DOI:10.1200/PO-24-00491

Neurology. 2025 Mar 25;104(6):e213414. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000213414. Epub 2025 Feb 21.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Despite efforts to reduce the gender wage gap, a 2019 survey of American Academy of Neurology members showed that a significant gender wage gap was still evident. This study aims to assess the gender wage gap from 2019 to 2023.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Faculty Salary Report from 2019 to 2023. Compensations of full-time neurology faculty at medical schools were recorded by gender and stratified by academic rank. Mean salaries and gender wage gaps were trended over time, and statistical significance was tested using linear regression models.

RESULTS: From 2019 to 2023, the mean salary increased from $278 ,475 to $313 ,627 for men (p < 0.001) and $231, 863 to $269 ,870 for women (p < 0.001). The average gender wage gap was $46, 612 in 2019 and $43, 757 in 2023. Women made 90 cents-on-the-dollar compared with men at the same academic rank in 2019, which remained unchanged at 91 cents-on-the-dollar in 2023 (p = 0.48).

DISCUSSION: Despite increases in academic neurology salaries for both men and women from 2019 to 2023, the gender wage gap remained unchanged.

PMID:39983058 | DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000213414