Tag: pubmed

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025 Oct 16:keaf542. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaf542. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST) questionnaire into Spanish (PEST-S) and conduct a preliminary exploratory assessment of its discriminative ability to identify psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among patients with psoriasis (Ps), osteoarthritis (OA), or both.

METHODS: The PEST questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted into Spanish following international guidelines. A cross-sectional study was conducted including adult patients with PsA, Ps, OA, and Ps+OA. The PEST-S was administered to all participants. PsA diagnosis was confirmed using CASPAR criteria. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, area under the ROC curve (AUC), and Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Comparisons of individual PEST-S items were performed across diagnostic groups.

RESULTS: A total of 124 patients were included: 32 with PsA, 31 with Ps, 33 with Ps+OA, and 28 with OA. The questionnaire required less than one min to complete. PEST-S scores ≥3 yielded a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 94.2%, LR+ of 17.2, and LR- of 0. The AUC was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95-0.99). Agreement between PEST-S and CASPAR classification was 93.2% (κ = 0.838). A statistically significant difference was found in the responses to all five PEST-S items between patients with PsA and those in the other diagnostic groups (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The Spanish version of the PEST questionnaire (PEST-S) demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance in distinguishing PsA from Ps and OA in a Spanish-speaking population. These findings support its clinical utility and justify further validation in a screening context among patients with psoriasis without prior rheumatologic evaluation.

PMID:41100051 | DOI:10.1093/rheumatology/keaf542

Sports Med Open. 2025 Oct 16;11(1):120. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00889-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and its intensity (FAT_max) are important for metabolic health, but current models explain only partially their variability. Research suggests that factors like oxygen uptake efficiency (i.e., OUES and OUEP) may better predict MFO and FAT_max than maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and the first ventilatory threshold (VT1). This study investigates whether OUES and OUEP can explain more of the variation in fat oxidation during exercise.

METHODS: Fifty-five healthy male participants underwent a series of tests, including body composition measurements, resting metabolic rate, and a treadmill exercise trial to assess cardiovascular fitness (CRF) and fat oxidation. The incremental exercise test measured gas exchange and heart rate, and blood samples were collected for glucose and lactate analysis. Statistical analyses, including multivariate regression, were used to explore relationships between CRF biomarkers, OUES, OUEP, and fat oxidation, with significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Participants with excellent cardiovascular fitness (CRF) showed lower body fat, higher fat-free mass, and higher VO_2max, MFO, and FAT_max compared to those with poor or regular CRF. When oxygen uptake efficiency and VT1 were included in the models, VT1 and OUEP emerged as stronger predictors of MFO and FATmax than VO_2max. The OUES did not significantly relate to MFO or FAT_max but was a key moderator of VO_2max, explaining 71% of its variance.

CONCLUSIONS: VT1 and OUEP are stronger predictors of MFO and FAT_max than VO_2max, while OUES significantly moderates VO_2max, highlighting the importance of submaximal biomarkers in fat oxidation capacity.

PMID:41100029 | DOI:10.1186/s40798-025-00889-8

Sports Med Open. 2025 Oct 16;11(1):119. doi: 10.1186/s40798-025-00915-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Running is an effective exercise for personal fitness, yet many recreational runners suffer from running-related injuries. Prolonged running induces neuromuscular fatigue, interfering with an individual’s preferred running gait and increasing the injury risk. This study aimed to examine gait patterns associated with fatigue in runners during a full marathon by analyzing lower limb segment and pelvis kinematics captured via multiple inertial measurement units (IMU).

METHODS: Three IMUs were attached to measure the rearfoot, shank, and pelvis kinematics of 23 male recreational runners during an outdoor marathon. Data were extracted for nine time points: the baseline, and at the 5th, 10th, 15th, up to the 40th kilometer. Each segment’s free acceleration and angular velocity during the stance phase at these nine timelines were analyzed using statistical non-parametric mapping.

RESULTS: Male recreational runners exhibited a lower running speed (1.13 km/h, p < 0.001), lengthened stance time (0.009 s, p ≤ 0.001), and prolonged stride time (0.014 s, p < 0.05) after 35 km of running, alongside a smaller anterior and superior acceleration of rearfoot and shank during the propulsion phase (p < 0.05). With increasing running mileage, the rearfoot demonstrated a gradual increase in lateral acceleration and external rotation velocity during the propulsion phase (p < 0.01). The shank exhibited a progressive decline in anterior tilt velocity during the loading response phase (p < 0.05). Additionally, the pelvis displayed significantly greater anterior acceleration during propulsion at the 40 km mark (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Male recreational runners exhibit a marked decline in performance only after 35 km. The progressive increase in rearfoot lateral acceleration and external rotation velocity during the propulsion phase, may be associated with a compensatory distal strategy to maintain balance stability. The gradual reduction in anterior tilt velocity of the shank during the loading response likely reflects a stiffness-enhancing mechanism in the lower limb to preserve locomotor efficiency under fatigue. The increased anterior acceleration of the pelvis at the 40 km mark suggests a proximal shift in propulsion mechanics due to fatigue. These findings underscore the necessity of long-distance protocols, continuous kinematic monitoring, and full stance-phase analysis to study running fatigue.

PMID:41100028 | DOI:10.1186/s40798-025-00915-9

Neurol Sci. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s10072-025-08489-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is one of the most common inherited neuropathies, leading progressive muscular weakness, pes cavus, loss of deep tendon reflexes, distal sensory loss, and gait impairment. Charcot Marie Tooth Neuropathy Scale (CMTNS) represents the gold standard to assess and grade the impairment in CMT patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the correlation between CMTNS and functional status in CMT patients. We analyzed data of patients with diagnosis of CMT, collecting the following data: age; gender; BMI; CMT type (Demyelinating- Axonal- Other or mixed forms); Time from diagnosis; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Neuropathy Score (CMTNS); MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL lower limb sum-score (MRCLL-SS); MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Upper Limb Sum Core (MRCUL-SS); Manual Ability Measure-16 (MAM-16); Berg Balance Scale (BBS); Walking Handicap Scale (WHS); Walk-12; Rankin Scale; Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS); Visual Analogic Scale (VAS); 10 m Walking test. We included 235 patients with a mean age of 45.77 ± 15 years. All variables, excluded VAS and MFIS, showed a statistically significant correlation with CMTNS. In particular, a moderate negative correlation was found between CMTNS and MRCLL-SS (r = -0.47), and Berg Balance scale (r = – 0.61); A moderate positive correlation was found between CMTNS and Rankin scale (r = 0.53), and walk 12 (r = 0.41). Taken together, these findings suggest that CMTNS is a valuable tool to detect the severity of disability and limbs function in CMT patients.

PMID:41100006 | DOI:10.1007/s10072-025-08489-w

Health Econ Rev. 2025 Oct 16;15(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s13561-025-00654-3.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Corruption is a major factor that influences health seeking behaviour. However, there is paucity of empirical evidence from research on how corruption affects different population groups when they seek healthcare services from formal healthcare facilities. The paper presents new evidence on how informal payments, which is a major form of corruption, affect health-seeking behaviour people and how household economic status has sustained it in Nigeria.

METHODS: We used a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire to conduct interviews in 1,652 households in Enugu and Kano states, in the south and north of Nigeria, respectively. Descriptive statistics was used to estimate household health-seeking behaviour and Ordinary Least Square, binary logistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses to assess how experience of informal payment and economic status (quintiles: extremely poor, poor, average, rich, extremely rich quintiles) affect household health-seeking behaviour.

RESULTS: Poorer households were most likely to attend health posts and health centres, while extremely rich households disproportionately used hospitals (59%). Household economic status determines the likelihood of paying informally, with richer ones paying more (p < 0.05). Household size, age of the patient, sex, years spent on formal education and state were other identified determinants of informal payments. Experience of informal payment in public facilities significantly reduces household use of tertiary hospitals compared to primary health centres or health posts by 58% (p < 0.05). The choice of tertiary hospital compared to a primary health centre or health post is significantly reduced by 31% because of informal payments (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Informal payments in public facilities negatively affect health seeking, driving the poorest households to use low-quality care services. This problem needs to be widely recognised and sufficiently tackled in order for the country to reduce the economic burden of health seeking and achieve equitable access and utilisation of high-quality health services.

PMID:41099997 | DOI:10.1186/s13561-025-00654-3

Reprod Sci. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s43032-025-01986-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Obesity is associated with low fertility potential. Ca2 + oscillations are known to be triggered after sperm oocyte membrane fusion, which allows entry of a sperm-specific phospholipase C-zeta (PLCζ), into the oocyte cytoplasm. We aimed to examine sperm PLCζ expression changes in obese and non-obese men along with sperm parameters. The demographic characteristics of the patients were analysed. The patients included in the study were divided into two groups:Non-obese patients (BMI < 30)(Control)(n:49) and the Obese Patient Group (BMI ≥ 30)n = 18). Semen analysis of the groups was evaluated. Rt-PCR analysis and histopathologic evaluation by immunohistochemistry for PLCζ expression were performed. Testosterone levels in the control group were statistically higher than in the obese group (4.8 ± 1.28 μg/L;3.6 ± 1.61 μg/L, respectively) (p < 0.05). Prolactin levels were 12.6 ± 7.2 μg/L in the control group and 17.15 ± 9.28 μg/L in the obese group, which was statistically significant (p = 0.03). No significant difference was detected between the groups in sperm concentration, motility, morphology, or viability, although semen pH was significantly higher in obese patients (p = 0.024).. Although no statistically significant was observed, PCR analysis revealed that PLCζ expression was elevated by a factor of 1.69 in obese patients. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that PLCζ expression was decreased in obese patients compared to the control group. Although PLCζ mRNA expression was higher in the obese group compared to the control group, immunohistochemical staining results demonstrated weak staining of sperm cells in the obese group. These results indicated that PLCζ protein synthesis pauses at some point in obese patients. The discrepancy between mRNA expression and protein localization may indicate translational or post-translational regulation, though this was not directly assessed in our study. This study highlights the complex relationship between obesity and male fertility, suggesting that obesity may disrupt the translation of PLCζ protein, which is crucial for successful fertilization.

PMID:41099980 | DOI:10.1007/s43032-025-01986-5

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s11356-025-37044-5. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41099977 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-025-37044-5

Geroscience. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01940-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biological aging exhibits significant heterogeneity across individuals, and a precise evaluation at scale is urgently needed. Here, we developed a PCAge, based on common clinical, physiological, and laboratory indices routinely collected in primary healthcare, in the CHARLS. PCAge demonstrated strong correlations with chronological age (r = 0.86-0.88, P < 0.001) and robust performance in the prediction of mortality (C-index = 0.798) over a 10-year follow-up. Biologically older individuals (PCAge > chronological age) suffered from substantially higher risk of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease (HR = 1.30, P < 0.001), heart disease (HR = 1.35, P = 0.003), stroke (HR = 2.38, P < 0.001), hypertension (HR = 1.28, P = 0.007), and diabetes (HR = 1.51, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the generalizability of PCAge was validated in the South China Cohort (SCC, n = 68,920). Biologically older individuals were more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases. Being female (proportion ratios [PR] = 1.94, P < 0.001), lower education attainment (PR = 1.18, P < 0.001), higher income (PR = 1.47, P < 0.001), and unfavorable lifestyles (PR = 1.41, P < 0.001) were associated with a higher probability of having accelerated aging. PCAge identified aging trajectories up to a decade before clinical disease onset, offering a cost-effective tool for population-level aging surveillance. Our findings underscore the potential of PCAge as a highly accessible tool for the evaluation of aging status, especially in resource-limited areas.

PMID:41099967 | DOI:10.1007/s11357-025-01940-y

Geroscience. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s11357-025-01939-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Redox signaling is a key mechanism of exercise-induced adaptation. However, studies have demonstrated impaired responses to acute exercise in older organisms. Adjunctive therapies to augment exercise effects may overcome these deficits. Sulforaphane (SFN), a phytochemical from cruciferous vegetables, stimulates NRF2. This study tested the hypothesis that combining acute exercise (in vivo stimulus) with ex vivo SFN treatment would induce greater NRF2 activation and signaling in older adults compared to either treatment alone. Twenty-five older adults (12 men, 13 women; mean age: 67 ± 5 years) performed 30-min cycling exercise (AET). Blood was drawn before and immediately after the AET to isolate PBMCs and incubate with and without SFN (5 µM) treatment (four conditions: DMSO (CON), SFN, exercise (EX), and EX + SFN). PBMCs were harvested after 2-h or 5-h incubation for measures of NRF2 or gene expression for NQO1, HO-1, GR, and GCLC targets, respectively. All treatments (SFN, EX, EX + SFN) increased NRF2 activation compared to CON (p < 0.05). The response to EX + SFN was significantly greater than either SFN or EX alone (2.1-fold versus 1.5-fold, p = 0.01). SFN stimulation resulted in a significant upregulation of all four genes compared to control (p < 0.001). EX + SFN treatment stimulated a greater increase in gene expression compared to EX (p < 0.05); however, SFN did not differ statistically from EX + SFN, suggesting a possible ceiling effect of the SFN concentration in terms of gene expression. There were no significant sex differences in any of the responses. These data suggest that combining exercise with SFN may amplify the strength of NRF2/ARE redox signaling in older adults. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04848792.

PMID:41099966 | DOI:10.1007/s11357-025-01939-5

J Relig Health. 2025 Oct 16. doi: 10.1007/s10943-025-02473-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to examine the level of spiritual experience and the impact of socio-demographic and clinical features, anxiety and depression, and spiritual well-being on the spiritual experiences of hospitalized patients with gynecological cancer. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 192 patients in a university-affiliated hospital in the west of Turkey. The participants completed self-assessment tools, including the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. According to the results of the hierarchical linear regression analysis, the statistically significant factors affecting spiritual experience among patients with gynecologic cancer were age (β = -.219), anxiety (β = .208), depression (β = .172), and faith (β = -.312). Meaning and peace subdimensions of spiritual well-being were not found to be a significant predictor of spiritual experience. This indicates that when the subdimensions contaminating the construct of spiritual well-being are removed, the faith subdimension predicts spiritual experience more strongly. Gynecological cancer patients may have spiritual issues, so health professionals should provide spiritual support.

PMID:41099947 | DOI:10.1007/s10943-025-02473-6