Tag: pubmed

J Invest Surg. 2026 Dec;39(1):2560332. doi: 10.1080/08941939.2025.2560332. Epub 2026 Jan 8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a progressive vascular disorder that enlarges irreversibly and may ultimately rupture. Mendelian randomization (MR) provides a powerful approach to uncover biomarkers. We aimed to identify plasma proteins linked to AAA and evaluate their diagnostic potential.

METHODS: We performed a proteome-wide MR analysis using genetic instruments for 2,940 plasma proteins from the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project (UKB-PPP). Summary statistics for AAA were obtained from the Finnish R9 GWAS, comprising 4,083 cases and 420,324 controls.

RESULTS: Eleven proteins showed significant causal associations with AAA risk (FDR < 0.05): seven positively and four negatively associated, highlighting their potential as diagnostic markers.

CONCLUSION: This study provides the first proteome-wide MR evidence linking plasma proteins to AAA, offering candidate biomarkers for diagnosis. As a hypothesis-generating work, further experimental and clinical validation is warranted.

PMID:41503834 | DOI:10.1080/08941939.2025.2560332

Traffic Inj Prev. 2026 Jan 7:1-9. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2025.2592858. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Motorcyclists, as a vulnerable group of road users, not only suffer from trauma caused by collisions with other vehicles but also from the consequences of their own risky behaviors. As the number of motorcycle crashes has continued to rise in recent years, it is essential to understand trends in motorcyclists’ risky behaviors to enhance their safety. This study investigates the co-occurrence of six risky riding behaviors-speeding, alcohol-impaired riding, helmet nonuse, distraction, fatigue, and anger-and identifies rider characteristics associated with distinct behavioral profiles.

METHODS: This study analyzes data from 4,390 motorcyclists who participated in three annual surveys conducted in Florida between 2021 and 2023. The survey collected information on demographics, riding habits, risky motorcycling behaviors, and the perception that other drivers fail to notice or attend to motorcycles. Descriptive statistics and latent class analysis (LCA) were conducted to identify subgroups of riders based on co-occurring behaviors. A bias-adjusted three-step approach was used to examine associations between class membership and rider characteristics.

RESULTS: Four latent behavioral classes were identified: Very High-risk Riders, Moderate-Risk Riders, Drinking Riders, and Low-risk Riders. Each group exhibited distinct constellations of risky behaviors and demographic or attitudinal profiles. High-risk riders were more likely to be younger, less trained, and not using any safety gear. Alcohol use was especially pronounced among recreational riders regardless of age or gender. Formal motorcycle training was consistently linked to lower-risk classes.

CONCLUSION: This study advances the understanding of motorcyclist safety by demonstrating how risky behaviors cluster and how specific demographic and perceptual factors distinguish rider subgroups. These findings support the development of comprehensive safety interventions that target subgroups of motorcyclists who share similar risky profiles, rather than treating isolated behaviors.

PMID:41503803 | DOI:10.1080/15389588.2025.2592858

Drug Chem Toxicol. 2026 Jan 8:1-12. doi: 10.1080/01480545.2025.2606907. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The bio-accumulative nature of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) due to their slow biodegradation raise concerns regarding adverse effects on aquatic organisms and potential human health risks through trophic transfer. The persistent and traditional toxicity assessment of PCNs in aquatic species is constrained by experimental complexity, resource demands, and ethical considerations. Consequently, in silico approaches, particularly QSAR modeling in accordance with OECD guidelines, have emerged as robust alternatives to address data gaps and support hazard evaluation. In the present investigation, a Monte Carlo-based QSAR methodology employing CORAL software was utilized to assess the toxicity of PCNs in aquatic environments. An integrated dataset comprising 225 compounds with toxicity endpoints for green algae, Daphnia magna, and fish was assembled. Molecular structures were encoded using the Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES). Statistical evaluation confirmed the predictive robustness of the models, with Split 4 yielding superior external validation performance (r² = 0.9490, Q² = 0.9453, IIC = 0.9157, CII = 0.9633, CCC = 0.9661, r²_m = 0.8549, MAE = 0.192, S = 0.224, F = 1023). These findings substantiate the reliability of the developed QSAR model, underscoring its applicability in environmental toxicology, potential to design safer drug candidate and early-stage hazard assessment.

PMID:41503800 | DOI:10.1080/01480545.2025.2606907

Glob Public Health. 2026 Dec 31;21(1):2611211. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2025.2611211. Epub 2026 Jan 7.

ABSTRACT

Adequate nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining women’s health and ensuring the healthy growth and development of infants and children. However, during emergencies and displacement, multiple factors can disrupt adequate maternal and child nutrition. The aim of this study was to explore the available literature reporting the prevalence and associated risk factors of undernutrition among displaced pregnant and lactating women. This review follows the PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews. An electronic search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The Emergency Nutrition Network and ReliefWeb websites were also explored for grey literature. The prevalence of wasting among pregnant and lactating women varied widely, reaching 77% in Tigray internally displaced person (IDP) camps. The underweight prevalence ranged from 9.3% in a Nigerian IDP camp to 26.7% in a refugee camp in Bangladesh. Anemia was common, affecting up to 44.7% of pregnant Syrian refugees in Jordan. Maternal age, family size, childbirth interval, family income, and lack of education were the main factors associated with undernutrition among displaced pregnant and lactating women. Acknowledging the burden of undernutrition and identifying the most frequent risk factors, should inform the development of relevant nutrition interventions in different displacement settings.

PMID:41503795 | DOI:10.1080/17441692.2025.2611211

Environ Technol. 2026 Jan 7:1-20. doi: 10.1080/09593330.2025.2610518. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are eco-friendly, biodegradable thermoplastics that have the potential to replace conventional plastics with sustainable biopolymers for several applications. This study aimed to isolate and identify halotolerant strains and to optimise the parameters influencing PHA production using response surface methodology. Furthermore, enhancing PHA production and evaluating the effects of low-dose gamma irradiation on Halomonas mongoliensis AL-ARS. Fifteen bacterial isolates were screened using Sudan Black B for PHA production. The most efficient isolate was Halomonas mongoliensis AL-ARS, identified through morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. Response surface methodology using Plackett-Burman and central composite design models is used to optimise factors influencing PHA synthesising. Additionally, the effect of low-dose gamma irradiation was examined. The purified PHA polymer was structurally characterised using FTIR, XRD, and ¹H-NMR. Glucose was the optimal carbon source, while minimal salt media was the most suitable media for PHA production. The best production conditions (10 g/L glucose, 40.5°C, 6.5 days, 2.5% inoculum) yielded 0.0960 g/L of PHA. Remarkably, gamma irradiation at 0.5 kGy significantly increased PHA production by 76%, confirming its role as a stress-inducing factor and highlighting irradiation’s potential to overcome production bottlenecks. Structural analyses confirmed the purified polymer as a standard PHA. This work is the first study highlighting the integration of gamma irradiation with a statistical optimisation to boost PHA biosynthesis using Halomonas mongoliensis AL-ARS, a halophilic strain with no previous study on PHA improvement, presenting a scalable strategy for sustainable, eco-friendly, cost-effective bioplastic production, and bridging the gap between lab-scale and industrial application.

PMID:41503788 | DOI:10.1080/09593330.2025.2610518

Med Teach. 2026 Jan 7:1-8. doi: 10.1080/0142159X.2025.2607517. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effectiveness of three retrieval practice strategies: re-solving virtual patient (VP) cases, answering multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and answering short answer questions (SAQs), on long-term memory retention of medical students using a VP simulation platform.

METHODS: Eighty fifth-year medical students participated in a stratified randomized trial conducted in three phases. In the initial learning phase, participants completed a 14-item baseline test (seven MCQs and seven SAQs) to assess prior knowledge and enable stratified randomization. They then engaged with two clinical cases using the Paciente 360^® VP platform. One week later, participants were randomly assigned to one of three retrieval practice conditions: re-solving the original VP cases, answering 24 related MCQs, or answering 24 related SAQs. Six weeks after the intervention, participants completed a 40-item retention test (20 MCQs and 20 SAQs), which included both previously encountered and novel questions to assess long-term retention and transfer of learning.

RESULTS: Participants in the SAQ condition demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in performance over time, while those in the re-solving the virtual case and MCQ conditions maintained their knowledge levels. No significant differences were observed between performance on repeated versus novel questions or between MCQs and SAQs.

CONCLUSIONS: Retrieval practice using VP simulations supports knowledge retention, with SAQs yielding the greatest improvement from baseline. Comparable performance on repeated and novel questions suggests that retrieval practice may also promote transfer of learning to new clinical scenarios.

PMID:41503782 | DOI:10.1080/0142159X.2025.2607517

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2476332. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2476332. Epub 2025 Mar 18.

ABSTRACT

With the gradual improvement in tumor immunotherapy, the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) has increased. However, according to current research, the relationship between irAEs and prognosis remains a contentious issue. This study used bibliometrics research to investigate hotspots and future trends on the relationship between irAEs and prognosis and to serve as a resource for researchers in this field. In the core literature database of Web of Science, the keywords immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs), immune-related adverse events, prognosis were used to search for the articles and reviews in the field of irAEs and prognosis. Set the time parameter to January 2007 to December 2023. Visualization analysis software CiteSpace 6.1.R6, VOSviewer1.6.18 and Carrots2 were used to conduct quantitative statistical and visual research on the author, institution, country, keyword, publication, cited literature, research status, research hotspots and development trends of the relevant research. The analytic research was based on original articles and reviews. 724 articles from 308 countries led by China(147)，the United States(131), and Japan(105) were included. The most popular tumor type is melanoma, small-cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma. The focus topics in this field encompass “Myasthenia gravis,” “neurotoxicity,” “liver damage,” “head and neck adverse events,” “colitis,” and “skin adverse events.” This study has provided a valuable reference for future research in this field. Combination therapy, predictive biomarkers, patients’ preexisting conditions, glucocorticoids, prognostic indicators, ICI rechallenge, and other topics could become research hotspots which will help us to identify useful information from complex big data and provide a basis for precise medicine for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

PMID:41503777 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2025.2476332

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2547514. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2547514. Epub 2025 Aug 25.

ABSTRACT

Neisseria meningitidis infections can cause life-threatening meningitis and septicemia. In Europe, serogroup B (MenB) is the leading cause of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), particularly in young children. Genomic surveillance of circulating MenB strains through whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides a powerful tool to assess the potential impact of vaccination strategies, including the 4CMenB vaccine, which is available for infants from 2 months of age. Here, we present a retrospective WGS-based analysis of clinical MenB IMD cases (n = 311) recovered in Belgium from 2016 to 2022 by the Belgian National Reference Center. High-quality WGS data were obtained for 281 of these strains, demonstrating high genetic diversity of the antigen targets included in the 4-component meningococcal serogroup B vaccine 4CMenB (fHbp, PorA, NHBA and NadA) and at the 4CMenB Antigen Sequence Types (BAST) level. Novel antigen combinations, not yet assigned a BAST ID, were detected in 23.5% of isolates. Vaccine coverage was predicted using the Genetic Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (gMATS) and the Meningococcal Deduced Vaccine Antigen Reactivity (MenDeVAR) index. Of the 281 strains, 79.5% (lower limit-upper limit: 68.0-91.5%) were predicted to be covered by the vaccine by gMATS, and 80.7% (lower limit-upper limit: 66.5-95.4%) by MenDeVAR. No evidence of variation in vaccine coverage was found throughout the study period nor between different age groups, demonstrating the broad applicability of 4CMenB. This study highlights the benefits of a pathogen surveillance program and the need for experimental characterization of continuously evolving antigenic subvariants of Neisseria meningitidis.

PMID:41503773 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2025.2547514

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2552062. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2552062. Epub 2025 Aug 26.

ABSTRACT

Patients with asthma are at increased risk of respiratory infections, especially from seasonal influenza. Vaccination is critical for disease management, but uptake remains low, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Vaccine literacy (VL) may influence vaccination behavior. This study aimed to assess VL among asthmatic adults in Jordan and examine its relationship with influenza vaccination, considering demographic, attitudinal, and clinical factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 400 adults with asthma. Participants completed the Arabic version of the Vaccine Literacy Assessment tool (HLVa-Ar), a vaccine attitude scale, a vaccination practices survey, a sociodemographic sheet, and the GINA asthma symptoms test. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of influenza vaccination. The results indicated that only 29.1% of participants reported receiving the influenza vaccine. The median VL score was 34 (IQR: 27-41) out of a maximum score of 56. Regression analysis showed that higher VL scores were significantly associated with increased odds of vaccination (OR = 1.053, 95% CI: 1.024-1.083, p <.001). A more positive attitude toward vaccination also predicted higher vaccination rates (OR = 1.286, 95% CI: 1.167-1.418, p <.001). Conversely, participants earning less than 500 JOD per month were less likely to be vaccinated (OR = 0.450, 95% CI: 0.257-0.787, p = .005). The results confirmed that VL significantly influences vaccination practices. Public health strategies should focus on improving VL, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, to enhance vaccine uptake and asthma control.

PMID:41503772 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2025.2552062

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2025 Dec;21(1):2550096. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2550096. Epub 2025 Aug 26.

ABSTRACT

The efficacy and safety of adding immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with potentially resectable gastric cancer (GC) are uncertain. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant ICIs plus chemotherapy in patients with potentially resectable GC. We retrospectively collected clinical data from patients with potentially resectable GC who received neoadjuvant treatment followed by gastrectomy at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from 2021 to 2023. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the differences in pathological tumor response (tumor regression grade, TRG) between neoadjuvant programmed cell death-(ligand)1 [PD-(L)1] blockade plus chemotherapy [neoadjuvant immunotherapy (IO) group] and chemotherapy alone (neoadjuvant chemotherapy group). Event-free survival (EFS) and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were also observed. A total of 220 patients were retrospectively included in the analysis, among whom 96 (43.6%) received PD-(L)1 blockade plus chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, and 124 (56.4%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Higher pathological complete response (pCR) rate (21 of 96, 21.9% vs. 9 of 124, 7.2%, P = .004) and TRG0/1 rate (36 of 96, 37.5% vs. 22 of 124, 17.7%, P = .001) were detected in the neoadjuvant IO group. By the last follow-up, the median EFS time had not been reached in the two groups. The combined regimen of PD-(L)1 blockade plus chemotherapy was well-tolerated. In patients with potentially resectable GC, neoadjuvant ICIs plus chemotherapy resulted in higher pCR rates than did neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone. However, the difference in EFS rates was not statistically significant.

PMID:41503769 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2025.2550096