Tag: pubmed

Front Med (Lausanne). 2026 Mar 17;13:1710087. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1710087. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to explore the potential of routinely collected pre-procedural clinical and ultrasonographic parameters (age, classification, baseline fibroid volume, and baseline Doppler score) in predicting treatment response following transvaginal radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We employed a combined machine learning-based feature ranking and regression interpretability approach to provide a proof-of-concept for future data-driven predictive models.

DESIGN: This study was designed as a single-center retrospective case series.

SETTING: The study was conducted at a public hospital in Romania, where RFA was introduced as a minimally invasive alternative for uterine fibroid treatment.

PATIENTS: Twenty-two fibroids were treated in women aged 28-52 years (mean age 38), who were selected based on the presence of symptoms or documented fibroid growth.

INTERVENTIONS: Transvaginal ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation was performed using the VIVA RF system. Baseline and post-procedural measurements included fibroid size and volume, vascularity as measured by Doppler score, and anatomical classification according to FIGO criteria.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fibroid volume decreased from a mean of 60.82 cm³ to 28.3 cm³ (-54.0%), while the Doppler score decreased from 3.59 to 1.41 (-59.8%). An exploratory feature-based analysis using four pre-procedural variables (age, FIGO classification, baseline fibroid volume, and baseline Doppler score) was conducted as a proof-of-concept, highlighting the challenges of robust modeling in small cohorts. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, no statistically significant association was observed between treatment outcome and patient age or FIGO classification.

CONCLUSION: This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of using routinely collected pre-procedural data for predictive analytics in RFA of uterine fibroids. The successful outcomes observed in two submucosal fibroids (G0 and G1) suggest that RFA followed by hysteroscopic myomectomy may serve as a viable two-step fertility-preserving treatment approach. However, the small sample size and class imbalance highlight the critical need for larger, prospective, multicentric studies to develop clinically valid predictive models for minimally invasive fibroid treatment.

PMID:41924728 | PMC:PMC13036101 | DOI:10.3389/fmed.2026.1710087

Front Vet Sci. 2026 Mar 17;13:1807749. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1807749. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory diseases are a major health concern in intensive lamb production, leading to significant economic losses and compromised animal welfare. This study aimed to characterize the hematological and biochemical profiles of lambs affected by ovine respiratory complex according to disease severity assessed by clinical, ultrasonographic, and post-mortem scoring systems.

METHODS: 89 Lacaune lambs from a single farm were evaluated using a clinical respiratory score, lung ultrasound examination, and macroscopic post-mortem lung assessment, with severity classified into four categories, scores 0 to 3. Blood samples were collected for complete blood count and serum biochemistry analysis. Statistical comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test.

RESULTS: Diseased lambs showed significant increases in WBC counts and NEU percentages, with concurrent lymphocytopenia and eosinophilia. RBC parameters varied with disease stage, showing anemia in moderate cases and compensatory increases in severe chronic cases. Biochemically affected lambs exhibited hypoglycemia, decreased ALP activity, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, and hypophosphatemia. Ultrasonographic scores demonstrated greater concordance with post-mortem findings and blood profile alterations compared to clinical scores.

DISCUSSION: These results indicate that combining lung ultrasound with hematological and biochemical analysis provide a more efficient evaluation of respiratory disease severity in lambs than a clinical evaluation.

PMID:41924725 | PMC:PMC13035490 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2026.1807749

Front Health Serv. 2026 Mar 13;6:1774099. doi: 10.3389/frhs.2026.1774099. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Obesity has emerged as a global public health epidemic with far-reaching health consequences. While metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is an established therapeutic modality for moderate-to-severe obesity and associated metabolic disorders, enabling rapid weight reduction and metabolic improvement, postoperative weight regain remains a critical barrier to sustaining long-term treatment efficacy. Indeed, the durability of surgical outcomes is heavily contingent upon patients’ ability to engage in sustained self-management behaviors.

AIMS: To characterize the patterns of self-management behavior among patients after metabolic bariatric surgery using latent profile analysis, and to examine the relationships among these latent profiles.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out at one general hospital. A total of 242 patients after metabolic bariatric surgery completed the socio-demographic questionnaire, Bariatric Surgery Self-Management Questionnaire, General Self-efficacy Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

RESULTS: Three latent profiles were identified: high self-management behavior group (n = 28, 11.57%), moderate self-management behavior group (n = 156, 64.46%) and low self-management behavior group (n = 58, 23.97%). The ANOVA and chi-square tests demonstrated significant differences among three groups concerning age and educational level. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that employment condition, smoking and drinking history significantly predicted self-management behavior.

CONCLUSIONS: The statistical analysis indicated that the majority of patients fall into the moderate self-management group. Further regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between self-management proficiency and both age and educational level. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions targeting specific patient profiles.

PMID:41924715 | PMC:PMC13036972 | DOI:10.3389/frhs.2026.1774099

Front Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 17;17:1785988. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1785988. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) largely relies on clinical interviews and parent/teacher-report rating scales, which are vulnerable to subjective bias. Therefore, there is an increasing need for objective measures to complement existing assessment approaches. The aim of this study was to objectively quantify children’s body movement during a controlled, semi structured interaction, to examine differences between children with and without ADHD, and to evaluate the cross-sectional discriminative capacity of these movement-based features using machine learning methods.

METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional, observational case-control design including 37 children diagnosed with ADHD and 29 typically developing children aged 7-11 years. Psychiatric diagnoses were established using the DSM-5-based K-SADS PL interview. Video recordings were obtained during a standardized 5-minute instructional interaction using a researcher-worn point-of-view (POV) camera. Body movement measures of the head, upper limbs, and lower limbs were extracted from the video recordings using MediaPipe Pose. Movement data were statistically compared between groups, followed by classification analyses using machine learning algorithms.

RESULTS: The global activity index was significantly higher in the ADHD group compared to the control group (p = 0.003). Regional analyses revealed significant group differences in shoulder, elbow, ankle, foot, and head movements. A significant positive correlation was found between the global activity index and parent-reported hyperactivity scores (r = 0.28, p = 0.025). In the machine learning analyses, the AdaBoost classifier demonstrated the highest performance, achieving an accuracy of 81.82% and a ROC-AUC value of 0.85.

DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that video-based movement analyses obtained during controlled, semi-structured interactions may capture motor activity patterns associated with ADHD. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of digital behavioral markers that may complement existing clinical assessment approaches in the context of ADHD evaluation.

PMID:41924709 | PMC:PMC13035793 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1785988

Glob Public Health. 2026 Dec 31;21(1):2648960. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2026.2648960. Epub 2026 Apr 1.

ABSTRACT

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the observed test positivity rates, risk factors, clinical manifestations and management of Mpox in paediatric populations globally. We searched relevant articles from databases, including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest, as well as gray literature sources, for studies published between 2023 and 2024. The inclusion criteria encompassed primary studies (including case reports) focused on paediatric mpox, with an emphasis on epidemiology, clinical manifestations and management. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. We calculated pooled positivity rates and identified and reported risk factors and clinical manifestations (PROSPERO id: CRD42024600945). Among the 1414 records from databases and 24 from gray literature, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Paediatric mpox cases show considerable variability in PCR positivity rates, ranging from 6.95% in non-endemic regions to 35.6% in endemic areas. The clinical manifestations include progressive skin lesions and fever, with younger children being more susceptible to severe complications. The key risk factors included close household contact, coinfections and socioeconomic factors. Paediatric Mpox poses significant challenges, particularly in endemic regions. The observed frequency of infection and severity of complications emphasise the need for age-specific public health interventions, improved diagnostic capabilities and harmonised clinical guidelines to reduce morbidity and improve clinical outcomes.

PMID:41922934 | DOI:10.1080/17441692.2026.2648960

J Sch Health. 2026 May;96(5):e70142. doi: 10.1111/josh.70142.

ABSTRACT

This commentary summarizes the evidence base, equity implications, and implementation considerations for later school start times (SSTs) in Alabama. In Alabama, almost half of children report sleep durations below age-based recommendations. Of the 138 school districts in Alabama, few have middle and high schools adhering to the 8:30 am or later SSTs recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the National Sleep Foundation. Historically designed to meet Industrial Revolution-era schooling needs, current SSTs are largely dictated by tradition and fail to promote the health and well-being of modern-day students. Adolescent chronotype shifts later, producing later sleep onset and wake time. Given their naturally delayed chronotype, early SSTs often lead to poor sleep quality and shorter total sleep duration in adolescents, which can negatively impact metabolic and cardiovascular health. Earlier SSTs negatively impact social development as well. Earlier SSTs can result in shorter sleep duration, which has been associated with adolescent suicidal behavior and substance use. Early SSTs are also correlated with poorer academic achievement. The literature provides substantial evidence supporting a relation between later SSTs and improved adolescent physical and mental health, social development, academic outcomes, and decreased motor vehicle accident incidence. Given prolific racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in Alabama, later SSTs may offer a practical and sustainable pathway for addressing health inequities in Alabama. The prioritization of the health, well-being, and development of students warrants legislative discussion in Alabama regarding later start times for middle and high schools, along with strategic planning to overcome logistical challenges.

PMID:41922927 | DOI:10.1111/josh.70142

Nat Commun. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-71252-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sleep is essential for health and regulated by genetic and environmental factors. We perform genome-wide association studies of device-measured sleep duration, efficiency, and accelerometer-derived rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in 80,013 UK Biobank participants. We identify 20 autosomal loci, 12 of which have not been previously reported, including genome-wide significant associations for REM and NREM sleep duration. MEIS1 shows strong opposing effects on REM and NREM durations and is intolerant to loss-of-function mutations, suggesting an essential role in the regulation of REM/NREM sleep balance. Functional enrichment analysis identifies statistically significant pathways related to chromatin remodelling, lipid metabolism, and metal ion homeostasis while tissue enrichment analysis highlights significant signals in the hypothalamus and frontal cortex. Sex-stratified analyses identify distinct loci, including FOXP2 and NRXN3 in females and LRP1B, NPBWR2, and PABPC4 in males. Mendelian randomization supports associations between shorter sleep duration and higher cardiometabolic risk. These findings highlight sex- and phase-specific regulators of human sleep architecture, providing biological insights and potential therapeutic targets.

PMID:41922918 | DOI:10.1038/s41467-026-71252-y

Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-46388-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience a high burden of physical comorbidities; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigated the association between ADHD symptoms and a wide range of physical comorbidities and quantified the statistical mediating role of alcohol dependence in a large sample of the general Japanese population. We analyzed cross-sectional data obtained from 29,268 participants (aged ≥ 16 years) as part of The 2024 Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey (JASTIS). ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-J-6), and alcohol dependence was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Physical comorbidities (18 in total) were assessed by self-report. A mediation analysis was conducted to estimate the proportion of the association between ADHD and physical comorbidities that was statistically mediated by alcohol dependence while accounting for sociodemographic factors. Following adjustment for covariates, ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with higher odds of 17 of the 18 examined physical comorbidities (all except allergic rhinitis). In the separate multivariable binomial logistic regression analyses, relatively stronger associations were observed for chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.50). Alcohol dependence statistically mediated several of these associations. The proportion mediated was notably high for cancer (91.5%) and stroke (74.6%). ADHD symptoms were associated with widespread physical comorbidities, and alcohol dependence statistically mediated part of these associations. These findings suggest that alcohol dependence may represent a potentially modifiable behavioral factor related to physical health risks in individuals with ADHD symptoms. Considering alcohol use may be helpful when addressing the broader health needs of adults with ADHD symptoms.

PMID:41922914 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-46388-y

Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-44103-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Electrocardiogram (ECG) classification is essential for accurately detecting and tracking heart rhythm disorders. This study proposes a multi-class ECG classification framework for identifying cardiac arrhythmias like Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Ventricular Fibrillation (VF), Normal Rhythm (NR), and Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). The ECG signals were decomposed using Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD), and higher-order statistics as well as entropy-based features were extracted from each mode. Multi-task Particle Swarm Optimization (MT-PSO) was employed to reduce redundant features and enhance the discriminative capability of the dataset. Multiple machine-learning models were evaluated, and optimized feature set led to clear performance improvements. The best results were obtained using LightGBM (ACC 0.993), HistGradientBoost (0.991), XGBoost (0.990), and ExtraTrees (0.990). Execution time also decreased for several models after optimization. Confusion-matrix and ROC analyses confirmed reliable detection across all four cardiac classes, and comparison with reported works shows that the proposed framework offers competitive or improved performance for ECG classification.

PMID:41922908 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-44103-5

Int Urol Nephrol. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s11255-026-05099-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major global health problem, burdening more than 650 million people worldwide and exposing them to the risk of aortic stenosis (AS). The present study responds to the urgent need to assess the safety and effectiveness of aortic valve replacement (AVR) interventions young adults with CKD, who tend to be excluded from randomized trials.

METHODS: We analyzed the in-hospital outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in a young adult population with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. This large, publicly available United States inpatient healthcare database allowed cross-sectional analysis of hospital admissions during 2018-2020. The population included patients under the age of 65 with a primary or secondary CKD diagnosis who underwent TAVR or SAVR procedures. Baseline factors and in-hospital outcomes, such as mortality rates, hospital costs, and hospital stay, were compared between the TAVR and SAVR groups using statistical analysis, adjusting for these baseline factors.

RESULTS: The 11,315 young adults with CKD trial revealed that TAVR was associated with comparable risk of in-hospital death, reduced length of hospital stay, and decreased hospital charges in comparison to SAVR. TAVR was also associated with reduced risk of acute kidney injury, cardiogenic shock, and venous thromboembolism complications.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, TAVR presents a favorable alternative to SAVR for young adults with CKD. These findings contribute strong evidence to guide clinical decision-making and improve care for this complex patient population.

PMID:41922882 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-026-05099-z