Tag: pubmed

Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 30;14:1878399. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1878399. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To explore the association between household coal use duration and upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions.

METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study. The research subjects were selected from those in Lucheng District and Pingshun County of Shanxi Province who participated in the upper gastrointestinal cancer screening and had complete data. The demographic characteristics, disease history, lifestyle, and household coal usage were collected through standardized questionnaires. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the association between the duration of household coal usage and upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on age, gender, region, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. Sensitivity analysis was used to verify the robustness of the results.

RESULTS: A total of 55,820 participants were included, including 783 cases with upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions and 55,037 controls. After adjustment for potential confounders, a positive association was observed between the duration of household coal use and upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.24, P = 0.003). Stratified analyses showed statistically significant associations among women, individuals aged ≥65 years, non-smokers, non-drinkers, and residents of Pingshun County. Nevertheless, interaction tests were not statistically significant across all subgroup variables (all P for interaction > 0.05), indicating no evidence of effect modification. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated the stability and robustness of the observed association.

CONCLUSIONS: A positive association was observed between the duration of household coal use and upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions. Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, causal inferences cannot be established. Prospective studies are warranted to further validate these findings.

PMID:42454305 | PMC:PMC13365028 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1878399

Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 30;14:1865278. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1865278. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder associated with substantial maternal and perinatal morbidity. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a potential inflammatory biomarker, but existing evidence remains inconsistent.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched from database inception to 9 March 2026. Observational studies comparing NLR between women with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant controls were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs), with Hartung-Knapp adjustment applied as a sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot inspection, Egger’s test, and Begg’s test.

RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and eleven in the quantitative synthesis. The pooled analysis demonstrated significantly higher NLR levels in women with preeclampsia (SMD = 0.76, 95% CI 0.54-0.98; I ² = 84.8%). Subgroup analysis showed significant associations both in studies measuring NLR in the first trimester or early pregnancy (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI 0.48-1.14; I ² = 88.7%) and in studies measuring NLR at other time points (SMD = 0.73, 95% CI 0.40-1.06; I ² = 83.4%). The test for subgroup differences was not statistically significant (p = 0.743), although this comparison was limited by the small number of studies in each subgroup. Formal tests did not detect statistically significant publication bias, but their power was limited by the small number of studies.

CONCLUSION: Maternal NLR was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than in normotensive pregnant controls. However, because the included studies were observational and showed substantial heterogeneity, and because diagnostic accuracy metrics and clinically actionable thresholds were not synthesized, NLR should not be interpreted as a stand-alone diagnostic or predictive marker. Further prospective studies with standardized sampling windows, prespecified cut-off values, and adjustment for key confounders are needed.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Identifier PROSPERO CRD420261333930.

PMID:42454304 | PMC:PMC13366881 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1865278

Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 30;14:1865206. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1865206. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The WHO recommends ≥150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for optimal health. Whether weekend warrior (WW) or regular physical activity (PA) patterns differently influence risks of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and subsequent depression is unclear. This study explored these associations using accelerometer-derived PA.

METHODS: We included 84,799 UK Biobank participants with one-week accelerometer data to assess incident IBS using Cox models. Restricted cubic splines evaluated dose-response relationships and identified optimal and minimal candidate MVPA doses. Participants were classified as inactive, WW, or regularly active using guideline (150 min/week) and statistical thresholds. Among 3,976 baseline IBS patients, guideline-based groups were used to examine MVPA and subsequent depression risk with Cox models.

RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 8.0 years, 962 participants developed IBS. MVPA showed a nonlinear inverse association, plateauing at 225 min/week, with a minimal candidate dose of 80 min/week. Both WW and regular activity were linked to lower IBS risk using 150 min/week (WW: HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.87; regular: HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61-0.88) and 80 min/week thresholds (WW: HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.88; regular: HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.83). Among IBS patients, both WW (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.42-0.89) and regular activity (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.41-1.03) demonstrated comparable inverse associations with subsequent depression, with no significant difference between the two patterns.

CONCLUSION: Both WW and regular MVPA were similarly associated with a lower IBS risk, with minimal and optimal candidate doses of 80 and 225 min/week, respectively. Among IBS patients, both activity patterns demonstrated comparable inverse associations with subsequent depression, although findings were constrained by limited statistical power.

PMID:42454299 | PMC:PMC13364927 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1865206

Front Public Health. 2026 Jun 30;14:1872101. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1872101. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Older people and individuals with chronic illnesses living in long-term care facilities are at increased risk of infections due to the care setting, resulting in an increased probability of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and experiencing severe sequelae during the COVID-19 pandemic. To limit viral transmission, facilities adopted different policies according to national and regional prevention strategies, often reducing social contacts and promoting public health measures. We therefore conducted a national survey to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection in Italian retirement homes for older adults and persons with disabilities (RHOAD).

METHODS: An online questionnaire investigating facility characteristics and COVID-19 impact between March 2023 and January 2024 was sent via email to Italian RHOAD.

RESULTS: Response from 510 RHOAD showed a trend in the percentage of COVID-19-positive individuals similar to that observed in Italy. An increase in cases was recorded in 2020, followed by a gradual decrease in 2021. Specific facility characteristics, such as a larger number of beds (80 or more vs. 0-20, OR 2.97, 95%CI 1.10-8.03), or challenges in transferring (OR 11.79, 95%CI 3.32-41.91) or isolating residents with COVID-19 (OR 4.43, 95%CI 2.13-9.22) or geographical location in the South (OR 0.17 95%CI 0.07-0.39) or Center (OR 0.39 95%CI 0.16-0.93) vs. North, were associated with an increased risk of having at least one COVID-19 case among residents in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Similarly, facilities reporting at least one COVID-19 case applied national prevention measures related to visitor access less strictly (OR 2.16 95%CI 1.06-4.38) and registered an increase of adverse events (OR 2.49 95%CI 1.17-5.27).

DISCUSSION: Our findings highlighted the challenges faced by Italian RHOAD during the pandemic and support the optimization of the RHOAD organization to prevent disease transmission.

PMID:42454293 | PMC:PMC13365346 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1872101

Cell Mol Bioeng. 2026 Jun 30;19(3):327-344. doi: 10.1007/s12195-026-00913-1. eCollection 2026 Jun.

ABSTRACT

SCOPE: Hydrogels are widely used in the design of tissue substitutes because of their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). Their mechanical cues critically influence the cellular response, making accurate characterization essential. However, it remains challenging due to their intricate nature. This study computationally evaluates the hyperelastic properties of next-generation hydrogels of high biomedical interest, including basal membrane extract and decellularized liver matrices, as well as structural proteins.

METHODS: We present a combined framework based on Bayesian optimization and statistical analyses that go beyond classical least-squares fitting, leveraging rheological experimental data. It defines each hyperelastic strain-energy density function, and addresses both intra- and inter-sample variability. This approach quantifies uncertainty and reveals the natural variability that deterministic models overlook, and it also enables quantification of coefficient variation with composition.

RESULTS: Validation against experimental data shows computational fits of 5% error in most cases, and low calculation time. Analyses reveal that composition-collagen addition, fibrin concentration, and decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) age-modulate initial stiffness, nonlinearity, and overall mechanical resistance of the hydrogels.

CONCLUSION: Hydrogels derived from basal membrane extracts exhibit comparable non-linear mechanics, while collagen addition reduces stiffness and nonlinearity. In fibrin-based hydrogels with decellularized liver matrix, mechanical behavior is concentration and age-dependent. Such insights are highly relevant for mechanobiology, enabling prediction of how cells sense mechanical cues and scaffold composition influences in vivo interactions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version of this article (10.1007/s12195-026-00913-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

PMID:42454289 | PMC:PMC13365100 | DOI:10.1007/s12195-026-00913-1

Clin Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul 10;20:624067. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S624067. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Superabsorbent water beads can be used in projectile toy guns. We aimed to characterize water bead-related hyphema and compare the prevalence with other causes of traumatic hyphema.

METHODS: In this 10-month retrospective review, we identified 35 consecutive patients with traumatic hyphema presenting to the emergency department. Cases were grouped by injury mechanism, water bead-related compared with all other causes. Clinical data on initial presentation and subsequent visits were compared.

RESULTS: In the patients with traumatic hyphema, 8 (23%) cases were due to water bead trauma. Bead-related cases involved significantly younger patients (16 ± 9 years) compared with other cases (32 ± 21 years; p = 0.004). No statistically significant differences were found in peak intraocular pressure (p = 0.14) or need for surgical intervention (p = 0.3). The proportion of hyphema related to water bead injuries was higher in pediatric (42%) compared with adult patients (10%). The odds ratio of water-bead hyphema in pediatric compared with adult patients was 6.44 (95% CI:1.15-57.1; p = 0.021).

CONCLUSION: In this study, approximately a quarter of patients with traumatic hyphema during the study period were water bead-related, with approximately six-fold increased risk in younger patients. These findings suggest a need for public health awareness about water bead projectile injuries.

PMID:42454272 | PMC:PMC13367631 | DOI:10.2147/OPTH.S624067

Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2026 Jun 30;7:1799439. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2026.1799439. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) are complex multisystemic conditions frequently associated with chronic pain. Central Sensitization (CS)-a state of neural amplification and hyperexcitability-is hypothesized to be a unifying mechanism underlying the heterogeneous symptoms in chronic pain patients. Our aim was to investigate the association between central sensitization and multisystemic symptom burden in patients with hEDS/HSD while identifying independent clinical predictors of CS. We prospectively enrolled 150 adults diagnosed with hEDS/HSD at a specialized joint hypermobility clinic. Participants were evaluated using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) and the SPIDER questionnaire. Clinical CS was defined as a CSI score > 40. Statistical analyses included univariate correlations and multivariable logistic regression. Centrally sensitized patients (n = 76) were significantly younger and predominantly female compared to the non-CS group. While CSI scores correlated strongly with all eight SPIDER domains (p < 0.001), a multivariable logistic regression model (AUC 0.98) identified only three independent predictors of CS: fatigue (OR 1.089), pain (OR 1.067), and cardiac dysautonomia (OR 1.057). Central sensitization in hEDS/HSD is independently associated with a triad of fatigue, pain, and cardiac dysautonomia. Clinical management should shift toward multidisciplinary strategies to effectively address the sensitized state in this population.

PMID:42454246 | PMC:PMC13364965 | DOI:10.3389/fpain.2026.1799439

Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2026 Jun 30;7:1872295. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2026.1872295. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Psychoemotional Factors Are Closely Associated With Health-Related Quality Of Life (Hrqol) In Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain (Clbp). However, It Remains Unclear Whether These Associations Differ Between Women And Men.

AIM: To Evaluate Sex-Stratified Associations Between Psychoemotional Factors And Hrqol Domains In Adults With Chronic Nonspecific Clbp.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This Cross-Sectional Study Included 223 Adults With Chronic Nonspecific Clbp (138 Women And 85 Men) Assessed Before Initiation Of Outpatient Rehabilitation. Pain Intensity, Anxiety, Depression, Perceived Stress, Kinesiophobia, And Hrqol Were Evaluated Using Standardized Questionnaires. Primary Analyses Examined Associations Between Psychoemotional Thresholds And Eight Sf-36 Domains Separately In Women And Men. Secondary Analyses Assessed Severe Pain (Vas ≥7). Exploratory Logistic Regression Models With Sex-By-Variableinteraction Terms Were Additionally Performed. Multiple Testing Was Controlled Using The Benjamini-Hochberg False Discovery Rate Procedure.

RESULTS: The Prevalence Of Clinically Significant Anxiety, Depression, High Perceived Stress, And Kinesiophobia Did Not Differ Significantly Between Women And Men. In Sex-Stratified Analyses, Elevated Psychoemotional Burden In Women Was Primarily Associated With Lower Scores In Vitality, Mental Health, Social Functioning, And General Health. In Men, Associations Involved A Broader Range Of Hrqol Domains, Including Physical Functioning, Role Limitations, Bodily Pain, And General Health. In Secondary Analyses, High Kinesiophobia Was Associated With Severe Pain In Women (Or 9.00, 95% Ci 2.01-40.32; Q = 0.033), Whereas No Psychoemotional Indicator Remained Significantly Associated With Severe Pain In Men After Correction For Multiple Testing. However, Exploratory Sex-By-Variableinteraction Analyses Did Not Demonstrate Statistically Robust Interaction Effects After Adjustment For Potential Confounders And Correction For Multiple Testing.

CONCLUSIONS: Psychoemotional Factors Were Closely Associated With Hrqol In Adults With Chronic Nonspecific Clbp. Although Sex-Stratified Analyses Revealed Different Patterns Of Associations In Women And Men, Formal Interaction Analyses Did Not Provide Statistically Robust Evidence That These Associations Differed By Sex. The Findings Support The Importance Of Considering Psychoemotional Factors During Assessment And Rehabilitation Planning In Patients With Chronic Nonspecific Clbp And May Help Inform Future Individualized Rehabilitation Approaches.

PMID:42454245 | PMC:PMC13365172 | DOI:10.3389/fpain.2026.1872295

Aging Ment Health. 2026 Jul 14:1-13. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2026.2695265. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depressive and anxiety symptoms are common in older adults living with dementia in nursing homes. This study examined if a multicomponent form of cognitive behaviour therapy (m-CBT) was effective for improving such symptoms and quality of life in this cohort.

METHODS: The cluster–randomised trial involved 21 nursing homes, randomly allocated to m-CBT or usual care. The sample comprised 128 residents with dementia aged 65 or above with clinically significant levels of depressive or anxiety symptoms. The intervention comprised 20 individual sessions with residents, a dementia education workshop for families and staff, a family support group program and staff consultation sessions. Outcomes were assessed by research assistants, blinded to allocation, at baseline, post-treatment (6-month post-randomisation) and follow–up (9-month post-randomisation).

RESULTS: Linear mixed effects models were used to compare changes in outcomes by group. By post-treatment, anxiety reduced significantly for participants receiving m-CBT (n = 66, 11 homes) compared to controls (n = 62, 10 homes; f = 0.11). The reduction in depressive symptoms was not significantly different between groups, f = .04. Quality of life did not change significantly in either group. By 9-month follow-up, outcomes between groups were not significantly different.

LIMITATIONS: Poor treatment attendance, inadequate fidelity assessment and low statistical power in the current study highlight the need for adequately powered trials to confirm these findings.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to support CBT as a potentially effective treatment for anxiety symptoms in older adults living with dementia in nursing homes.Trial registration. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618000241235.

PMID:42449205 | DOI:10.1080/13607863.2026.2695265

Int J Hyperthermia. 2026 Dec;43(1):2698763. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2026.2698763. Epub 2026 Jul 14.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive therapy for liver metastases. Image guidance, primarily ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT), is critical for precision, but their comparative safety profiles remain debated. This study aims to compare the incidence and severity of complications between US-guided and CT-guided MWA in patients with liver metastases.

METHODS: After propensity score matching (PSM), retrospective analysis of 120 patients (2022-2024) undergoing US-guided (n = 60) or CT-guided (n = 60) MWA at a single tertiary referral center. Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo system. Statistical analysis included Student’s t test, χ² tests, and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Major complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III) occurred in 5% of US-guided vs. 13.3% of CT-guided cases (p = 0.04). US guidance correlated with fewer pneumothoraxes (0% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.02) and reduced radiation exposure (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the 12-month local tumor progression (LTP) rate between the two groups (p = 0.79).

CONCLUSION: US-guided MWA demonstrates comparable tumor control to CT guidance with fewer complications and avoids radiation exposure, supporting its preferential use for high-risk patients.

PMID:42449202 | DOI:10.1080/02656736.2026.2698763