Tag: pubmed

JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Mar 2;9(3):e263594. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3594.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: Neighborhood-level socioeconomic deprivation has been associated with higher incidence and severity of pediatric critical illness; however, structural factors underlying observed differences have received limited attention.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the association between area-level deprivation, rurality, and incidence of critical care admission among children.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study used linked data of individuals aged 0 to 17 years who were admitted to intensive care units in British Columbia (BC), Canada, between 2014 and 2023. Data were analyzed from June to November 2025.

EXPOSURES: Age, sex, rurality, and neighborhood situational vulnerability (a measure of socioeconomic disadvantage).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the incidence rate of critical care admission. Poisson regression models were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) between exposure groups. The possible interaction between situational vulnerability quintile and population center type was examined.

RESULTS: A total of 10 048 children were admitted 13 990 times to intensive care units (incidence rate of 154 per 100 000 person years). Most admissions were for male children (7641 [54.6%]) and children younger than 5 years (7528 [53.8%]). The IRR for rural or small population centers compared with medium or large was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.28-1.41). Similarly, the IRR for the most vs least deprived quintile was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.23-1.39); however, in medium or large population centers, there was no association between situational vulnerability quintile and critical care admission (eg, quintile 5 vs 1: IRR 1.04; 95% CI, 0.97-1.12). Those in rural or small areas of the most deprived quintile had the highest overall rate (IRR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.87-2.19 vs highest quintile in large or medium population centers).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this retrospective cohort study there was higher burden of critical care admission for children living in rural areas and small population centers, and areas with higher situational vulnerability. The association between situational vulnerability and critical care incidence was unique to rural or small regions. Targeted strategies are needed to address contributing factors and ensure timely access to pediatric acute care in underserved areas.

PMID:41885861 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3594

JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Mar 2;9(3):e263601. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3601.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE: US territory nativity and/or residence may be associated with health because it affects environmental exposures, insurance coverage, prenatal care, and other factors. Investigations of preterm birth in the US territories are limited.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between maternal territory status and preterm birth, as well as whether insurance type modified associations.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study of restricted-use birth certificates of in-hospital, singleton births in the US and territories from 2014 to 2023.

EXPOSURES: Maternal territory status was defined for births in territories where data were available (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands) for the following groups: (1) those with territory nativity and residence; (2) those with territory nativity and mainland residence; (3) those with mainland nativity and territory residence; and (4) those with mainland nativity and residence (reference group). Insurance type (private, Medicaid, or other) was evaluated as well.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Preterm birth (live birth before 37 weeks’ gestation).

RESULTS: Among 28 627 700 births, 465 291 (1.6%) had any maternal territory status (nativity or residence). This group had a mean (SD) age of 27.1 (6.0) years, and 297 593 (64.0%) had Medicaid insurance. The highest preterm birth rate was among those with territory nativity and residence (10.5%; 95% CI, 10.4%-10.7%); the lowest was among those with mainland nativity and residence (8.4%; 95% CI, 8.4%-8.5%). Individuals with territory nativity and residence had an adjusted relative risk (aRR) of 1.30 (95% CI, 1.29-1.32) for preterm birth compared with the reference group. There was significant interaction between territory residence and insurance. Compared with individuals with mainland residence and private insurance, those with territory residence and Medicaid had the highest preterm birth risk (aRR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.55-1.59), followed by territory residence and private insurance (aRR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.39-1.45).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study, maternal territory nativity and residence were associated with preterm birth. Territory residence was associated with a higher risk of preterm birth, regardless of insurance type. Privately insured-individuals in US territories had a higher risk of preterm birth than Medicaid-insured individuals in the mainland. Given differential access to health care, health insurance, and other social exposures between territory and mainland populations, future work should explore causal effects and related policies that may improve birth outcomes in US territories.

PMID:41885860 | DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.3601

Psychol Rep. 2026 Mar 26:332941261436663. doi: 10.1177/00332941261436663. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cyber dating abuse involves psychological and relationally harmful behaviours enacted through digital technologies within romantic relationships. Although prior research links dispositional variables to cyber dating abuse, perpetration and victimisation frequently co-occur, complicating the interpretation of individual differences. This study examined associations among personality traits, romantic jealousy, empathy, and gender with psychological and relational cyber dating abuse perpetration and victimisation in 503 young adults aged 18 to 25 in the UK. Hierarchical regression analyses accounted for overlap across forms of cyber dating abuse involvement. Psychological and relational perpetration and victimisation were strongly interrelated, with other forms of involvement accounting for most explained variance across models. After modelling this overlap, dispositional variables explained small but statistically significant increments in variance, with behavioural jealousy and lower agreeableness most consistently associated with perpetration. Dispositional variables did not meaningfully predict psychological victimisation, and gender effects were modest and inconsistent. Overall, the findings suggest cyber dating abuse is best understood as a relational phenomenon characterised by co-occurring perpetration and victimisation, with individual differences shaping how behaviours are expressed rather than serving as primary drivers.

PMID:41885857 | DOI:10.1177/00332941261436663

Immunohorizons. 2026 Mar 10;10(3):vlag013. doi: 10.1093/immhor/vlag013.

ABSTRACT

Reproductive disorders such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are increasingly recognized as immune-mediated conditions, yet their immunopathology remains poorly understood. Menstrual blood, a noninvasive and biologically relevant sample, offers a unique window into reproductive tract immunity but has been underutilized in this context. We optimized Cytek’s® 25-color high-dimensional flow cytometry panel by incorporating a mitochondrial dye to investigate immune cell profiles in menstrual mononuclear cells (MMCs) from healthy individuals, and those with endometriosis or PCOS, in comparison with matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This enabled detailed assessment of 40 immune cell subsets and 546 immunological parameters, including markers of activation, exhaustion, migration, and mitochondrial content. MMCs displayed a distinct immune landscape compared to PBMCs, enriched with tissue-resident NK cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, alongside changes in mitochondrial mass for various cell subsets and other markers such as PD-1. These findings support a metabolically active, tissue-adapted immune environment within menstrual fluid, representative of the reproductive tract. Exploratory analyses of MMCs from individuals with endometriosis or PCOS revealed disease-specific trends: for example, mitochondrial mass differed across Tregs, CD4 central memory cells, plasmablasts, and cDC1s, with endometriosis and PCOS exhibiting distinct patterns rather than a uniform “reproductive disorder” phenotype. Although these disease-associated findings did not consistently reach statistical significance due to the small cohort size, they demonstrate the potential of menstrual blood immunoprofiling to uncover biologically meaningful differences across diverse immune cell populations. Together, this study establishes menstrual fluid as a valuable, non-invasive sample for immunological assessment and a promising avenue for future biomarker discovery in reproductive disorders.

PMID:41885004 | DOI:10.1093/immhor/vlag013

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2026 Dec 31;22(1):2638034. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2026.2638034. Epub 2026 Mar 26.

ABSTRACT

Since the Covid-19 pandemic entered its endemic phase, France, Italy, and Hungary, as well as many other European countries, have observed a rise in vaccine hesitancy. This study employs a mixed-methods approach to understand the reasons behind this trend by linking statistical observations with in-depth view of vaccine hesitancy. A total of 3,021 adults were surveyed from France, Italy, and Hungary via nationally representative surveys, examining views toward these vaccines. We employed both pooled and un-pooled linear regression analyses. In each country, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Our pooled survey analysis reveals that hesitancy toward Covid-19 and influenza vaccines was higher among respondents reporting mistrust in healthcare providers [95% CI = -0.26,-0.17; P < .001] and lower among those with underlying health conditions. Additionally, older adults were less likely to receive Covid-19 vaccines but more likely to receive an influenza vaccine. Those without a Covid-19 vaccination were 18% points more likely to be unvaccinated against influenza [95% CI = 0.11,0.24; P < .001]. The interviews highlight that these broader patterns reflect a post-pandemic landscape characterised by heightened ambivalence and complexity in vaccine decisions, in which people find it difficult to decide independently and rely more on experts. The interviews also revealed various influences on vaccine hesitancy, including safety concerns, diminished fear of disease, and online misinformation. These indicate that post-pandemic vaccine hesitancy reflects shifting attitudes shaped by shared pandemic experiences across countries, underscoring the need for continued research and monitoring in light of how post-pandemic vaccine hesitancy differs from pre-pandemic forms.

PMID:41884998 | DOI:10.1080/21645515.2026.2638034

J Econ Entomol. 2026 Mar 26:toag073. doi: 10.1093/jee/toag073. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The intensification of agriculture in tropical landscapes has posed significant challenges to pest management programs worldwide. While primary pests have been the focus of biotechnological advancements in crop design, the impact on early season pests often has been overlooked. Consequently, outbreaks of these pests have been reported globally. The Bt maize event MON 95379 expressing Cry1B.868 and Cry1Da_7 was approved for commercial use in Brazil in 2020. Although it has high efficacy against primary maize lepidopteran pests, there is no information on its effects on early season pests. In this context, our purpose was to investigate MON 95379 (Cry1B.868 + Cry1Da_7) levels of protection across tropical maize germplasm against Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bt hybrids expressing Cry1B.868 + Cry1Da_7, Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 + Cry3Bb1, and Cry1A.105 + Cry2Ab2 + Vip3Aa + Cry3Bb1 + RNAi exhibited no symptoms of plant mortality after 15 d post-infestation by E. lignosellus, a statistically significant improvement compared to the average observed in a non-Bt hybrid (∼85%). Similarly, low levels of plant mortality (<10%) were recorded across all Bt hybrids during the same evaluation for A. ipsilon, while the non-Bt hybrid showed an average plant mortality rate of 60%. These findings indicate that MON 95379 (Cry1B.868 + Cry1Da_7) may fit as an effective tool for managing early season pests in maize.

PMID:41884990 | DOI:10.1093/jee/toag073

J Dual Diagn. 2026 Mar 26:1-12. doi: 10.1080/15504263.2026.2638188. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Black individuals in the United States have high rates of obesity and cigarette smoking, both of which increase health risks. One factor that has demonstrated significant relations to cigarette smoking outcomes is anxiety sensitivity. Yet, work examining these relations among Black individuals with obesity who smoke is nonexistent. Therefore, the present study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity in relation to several smoking outcomes among Black individuals with obesity who smoke. Methods: Participants were 161 Black adults with obesity who endorsed daily combustible cigarette smoking (M_age = 47.1 years, SD = 14.19, age range 19-73 years; 65.2% female). Results: Results indicated that greater levels of anxiety sensitivity were statistically significantly and positively related to increased cigarette dependence, severity of problems when trying to quit, perceived barriers to smoking cessation, and smoking abstinence expectancies, including negative mood, somatic symptoms, and harmful consequences. Importantly, findings were observed above and beyond the variance accounted for by age, sex, education, income, perceived physical health, average number of cigarettes smoked per day, hazardous drinking, and cannabis use. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Black individuals with obesity who smoke and exhibit higher levels of anxiety sensitivity may be at increased risk for processes known to sustain smoking behavior and impede quitting success.

PMID:41884970 | DOI:10.1080/15504263.2026.2638188

Clin Exp Dent Res. 2026 Apr;12(2):e70337. doi: 10.1002/cre2.70337.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the association between malocclusion severity and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children aged 11-14 years by simultaneously using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14), Parent/Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ), and Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This analytical cross-sectional, clinic-based study was conducted on 117 children aged 11-14 years and their parents/guardians referred to a specialized dental clinic in Rasht city, Iran, in 2022. Children with systemic diseases, a history of orthodontic treatment, or craniofacial abnormalities were excluded. OHRQoL was independently assessed using the CPQ11-14 and P-CPQ. Malocclusion severity was determined using the DAI, and children were categorized into normal occlusion, definite, severe, and very severe malocclusion groups. The associations of age and gender with OHRQoL were also examined. Data were analyzed statistically (α = 0.05).

RESULTS: The mean OHRQoL score was significantly higher among children with malocclusion compared with those with normal occlusion (p < 0.001), indicating poorer quality of life. Higher malocclusion severity was significantly associated with worse OHRQoL scores (p < 0.001). These associations were significant in both sexes (p < 0.05). A significant association between malocclusion severity and poorer OHRQoL was observed in children older than 12 years (p < 0.001), whereas this association was not statistically significant in children aged 12 years or younger (p > 0.05). Multivariable analysis confirmed that malocclusion severity remained independently associated with OHRQoL after adjustment for demographic factors (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Greater severity of malocclusion, particularly in older children, is significantly associated with poorer OHRQoL. The relative agreement between child and parent assessments highlights the importance of considering both perspectives in clinical and research settings.

PMID:41884966 | DOI:10.1002/cre2.70337

J Immunol Res. 2026;2026(1):e4001873. doi: 10.1155/jimr/4001873.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of vitamin D (VitD), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and regulatory T cells (Treg) in the pathogenesis of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in children.

METHODS: From February 2023 to September 2024, 51 children with ITP and 44 healthy children from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College were enrolled. The serum levels of VitD and TGF-β1 and the percentage of Treg cells in peripheral blood were measured.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age and sex between the two groups (p > 0.05). ITP group VitD, TGF-β1, and the level of Treg cells were significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05). In the ITP group, VitD and TGF-β1 (r = 0.421), Treg cells (r = 0.516), TGF-β1 and Treg cells (r = 0.563), and platelet count (r = 0.399, 0.305, 0.361, respectively, p < 0.05). The median model analysis showed that VitD had a significant negative overall effect on ITP risk (regression coefficient = -0.014, p = 0.004), but its direct effect was no longer significant after the introduction of TGF-β1 and Treg, suggesting a complete mediation effect, where the path of VitD affecting ITP via TGF-β1 is significant (effect value = -0.015, p < 0.001), but the mediated pathway involving Treg was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: There is dysregulation of VitD, TGF-β1, and Treg cells in newly diagnosed children with ITP. TGF-β1 may be a key mediator of the regulation of ITP by VitD, suggesting the potential value of TGF- β1 as an intervening target.

PMID:41884964 | DOI:10.1155/jimr/4001873

Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2026 Mar 24. doi: 10.5507/bp.2026.007. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The no-touch (NT) technique for saphenous vein harvesting aims to preserve vascular integrity and improve graft performance in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, concerns remain regarding wound healing disorders and local complications at the graft harvest site.

METHODS: This prospective observational comparative study included 60 consecutive patients undergoing CABG, allocated to conventional saphenous vein harvesting (CONV, n=30) or the NT technique (NT, n=30). Group allocation was based on routine clinical practice and surgeon preference, without formal randomization. The primary outcome was the incidence of wound healing disorders and local complications at the harvest site. Secondary outcomes included perioperative parameters, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and venous graft patency assessed by computed tomography coronary angiography one year after surgery.

RESULTS: Operative time and aortic cross-clamp time were comparable between groups. Shorter graft harvesting time was observed in the NT group (35 ± 7.5 min vs. 43 ± 9.1 min; P=0.001), along with significantly reduced perioperative blood loss (15 ± 7 mL vs. 40 ± 12.1 mL; P<0.0001). The incidence of subcutaneous hematoma on postoperative day 7 was significantly lower in the NT group (20% vs. 60%; P=0.003). No statistically significant differences were found between groups in wound infection rates, MACE, or venous graft patency at one-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION: The NT technique for saphenous vein harvesting offers relevant perioperative advantages, including shorter harvesting time, reduced blood loss, and fewer early local complications, without adversely affecting operative time, major adverse cardiac events, wound infection, or one-year graft patency.

PMID:41884962 | DOI:10.5507/bp.2026.007