Tag: pubmed

Environ Health. 2025 Jun 23;24(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s12940-025-01190-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 1962, a chloralkali plant began discharging mercury (Hg) into the Wabigoon-English River system, contaminating the territorial waters of Grassy Narrows First Nation, whose traditions, livelihood and diet centered on fish. Data from 1970 to 1997 government Hg biomonitoring programs were repatriated by Grassy Narrows. Our researcher-community partnership carried out secondary analyses to examine the association between childhood Hg exposure (between 5 and 15y) and survival to July 1, 2024.

METHODS: Information from the governmental biomonitoring programs and from Grassy Narrows Registry of Band members were used to create a retrospective year-based equivalent hair Hg (HHg) database, with dates of birth, sampling and death (N = 317). Apparent cause of death was reported by community members. Different approaches were used to minimize potential unmeasured confounders in examining the relation between Hg exposure and early death: (i) matched pairs (deceased/alive; same sex, year of birth (± 1) (n = 81) pairs for dissymmetry analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models (ii) Longitudinal Mixed Effects Models (LMEM) with individuals who had at least 7 year-based HHg measurements (n = 35), and (iii) trajectory techniques modelling exposure.

RESULTS: HHg measurements (n = 1031) were available for 167 boys and 150 girls. Mean age at sampling was 10.5 y (SD: 2.9); 44.2% had HHg ≥ 4 µg/g at least once. By July 1, 2024, 97 individuals (30.6%) had died (median age: 39 years (IQR: 24-49)). The Cox Hazard Ratio for HHg ≥ 4 µg/g at least once was 1.96 [1.18-3.28]. LMEM showed that HHg was 1.46 µg/g higher over the sampling period for the deceased compared to the living. Significant associations (p ≤ 0.001) were also observed for early death with respect to HHg trajectory summary scores (OR: 1.14 to 1.24; SE ≤ 0.78). Reported suicide, liver disease and cardiovascular/metabolic conditions made up 60% of all deaths.

CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality in Grassy Narrows First Nation is higher than other First Nations and the non-Indigenous populations in Canada. Convergent findings from different approaches and statistical techniques support an association between childhood Hg exposure and early death. Morbidity and mortality in this community require follow-up.

PMID:40545538 | DOI:10.1186/s12940-025-01190-7

Spine Deform. 2025 Jun 22. doi: 10.1007/s43390-025-01127-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Literature is scarce regarding health-related quality of life priorities between caregivers and children with scoliosis with an underlying neuromuscular, syndromic, or skeletal dysplasia diagnosis (NSSD). Section 7 of the CPCHILD offers a tool for assessing unique QoL concerns in this population with a 36-item assessment. Our objective was to identify areas of agreement/disagreement between caregivers and children regarding QoL priorities.

METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively, consecutively enrolled NSSD patients who underwent scoliosis surgery from 2016 to 2022. Descriptive statistics were performed to rank the responses in order of priority. Based on rankings, the 36 QoL items were grouped into concordant agreement (high/low priority) and discordant agreement (high priority to caregiver or children). The cohort was further analyzed by diagnosis and ambulatory status.

RESULTS: 195 CPCHILD questionnaires were analyzed. “Overall health”, “Happiness”, and “Comfort while sitting” were items both caregivers and children agreed were high priorities. Conversely, items such as “Putting on/taking off upper clothes”, “Putting on/wearing footwear”, “Hair care/grooming”, “Transferring into/out of a wheelchair/chair”, “Standing for exercise/transfers”, and “Able to play alone” were low priorities.

CONCLUSION: NSSD families share global QoL priorities, however, distinct priorities can be identified between diagnostic and functional groups. Understanding these areas of concordance and discordance may help providers address and assess the outcomes of scoliosis surgery. Our findings recognize that the impact of scoliosis surgery extends beyond improving spinal alignment and function. Factors such as emotional well-being, social engagement, and functional independence clearly influence perceptions of QoL in anticipation of scoliosis surgery.

PMID:40545520 | DOI:10.1007/s43390-025-01127-7

Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2025 Jun 22;35(1):266. doi: 10.1007/s00590-025-04393-3.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with prolonged length of stay following geriatric hip fractures.

METHODS: A single-center retrospective study of a consecutive series of geriatric (age > 65) hip fractures between 10/1/14 and 11/1/23 was performed. Patient demographics, injury/surgery characteristics, and inpatient complications were reviewed. Patients who died during hospitalization were excluded. Patients were cohorted into “average” LOS (nLOS) and “prolonged” LOS (pLOS); pLOS was defined as 1 standard deviation above the mean LOS. Cohort variables were compared using standard statistical tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to isolate covariates that were independently associated with pLOS while controlling for confounders.

RESULTS: A total of 3383 patients were identified. Average LOS was 6.38 days (S.D. = 4.24 days), and prolonged LOS was 10.62 days. The pLOS cohort was sicker and less functionally independent at baseline. The pLOS cohort had a more complicated hospital course with a 6 × increase in major complications and 2 × increase in minor complications. The demographic characteristic associated the most to pLOS was male gender. The injury/surgery characteristic contributing the most to pLOS was time from admission to surgery. The complication contributing the most to pLOS was new-onset stroke.

CONCLUSION: Multiple demographic and outcome factors are associated with pLOS in geriatric hip fractures. While demographics cannot be changed, teams should focus on modifiable factors such as reducing time to surgery and identification, prevention, and treatment of perioperative complications, most importantly stroke and pneumonia, to prevent delays in discharge following hip fracture in the elderly population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

PMID:40545513 | DOI:10.1007/s00590-025-04393-3

Eur Spine J. 2025 Jun 23. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-09067-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate and compare the short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of extracorporeal collagenase chemonucleolysis(ECCNL) and intradiscal-extracorporeal collagenase chemonucleolysis(IECCNL) via FLEX electrode in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on 65 patients diagnosed with LDH who met the inclusion criteria between April 2021 and April 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: 30 received ECCNL via FLEX electrodes (Group A) and 35 received IECCNL via FLEX electrode (Group B). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the modified MacNab criteria, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores to assess the excellent/good rate, excellent rate, pain severity, and neurological function at specified intervals (3, 6, 12, and 24 months for clinical outcomes; 3 days, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months for pain/neurological status). Perioperative complications, recurrence rates, and reoperation rates were systematically documented.

RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were included. At 1 month postoperatively, Group A showed significantly lower NRS scores compared to Group B (P < 0.05) and a higher pain relief rate (P < 0.05). Although Group A had higher JOA scores than Group B at 3 days postoperatively (P < 0.05), Group B showed higher JOA scores than Group A at 24 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). The excellent-good rate between the two groups at any postoperative time point, Group B demonstrated a significantly higher excellent rate than Group A at both 3 months and 24 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). In Group A, there was 1 case of recurrence and 2 reoperations, with a recurrence rate of 3.45% [95% CI: 0.09%, 17.7%] and reoperation rate of 6.90% [95% CI: 0.84%, 22.8%]. Group B showed no recurrences or reoperations [95% CI: 0%, 9.7%] for both outcomes. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. During the 24-month follow-up period, no severe complications were observed in Group A. However, one case of nerve root injury occurred in Group B.

CONCLUSION: FLEX electrode application in conjunction with two collagenase injection strategies enhances therapeutic outcomes. Short-term results favor ECCNL alone, whereas long-term benefits are more pronounced with the intradiscal-extracorporeal therapy.

PMID:40545511 | DOI:10.1007/s00586-025-09067-6

Water Environ Res. 2025 Jun;97(6):e70115. doi: 10.1002/wer.70115.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the hydrochemical characteristics and interactions between surface water and groundwater is crucial for the development and protection of water resources in the watershed. This research employs mathematical statistics, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, IsoSource model, and hydrogeochemical simulation to analyze the interactions between surface water and groundwater in the Hua County, Guanzhong Plain, China. The findings revealed that the surface water and groundwater are weakly alkaline and low-mineralization freshwater, and the primary hydrochemical types was HCO₃SO₄·Ca type. The absolute dominance of HCO₃ ^– and Ca²⁺ in both surface and groundwater can be largely attributed to the dissolution of carbonate and silicate rocks. Evaporation led to δD and δ¹⁸O values enrichment in surface water samples from different tributaries, while groundwater samples, though less affected by evaporation, also displayed δD and δ¹⁸O enrichment due to river water infiltration recharge. Overall, the transformation relationship between surface water and groundwater is dominated by surface water infiltration recharge to the groundwater, with recharge contribution rates ranging from 4.7% to 64.5%. Additionally, some surface water samples from the Shidi River were characterized with high fluoride, which may be ascribed to human activities and evaporation. SUMMARY: Surface water and groundwater are weakly alkaline, dominated by HCO₃SO₄·Ca type. Hydrochemical components are primarily controlled by silicate rock dissolution. Surface-groundwater interaction mainly involves surface water infiltration. δ¹⁸O tracing reveals surface water infiltration recharge rates ranging from 4.7% to 64.5%.

PMID:40545500 | DOI:10.1002/wer.70115

Ophthalmol Ther. 2025 Jun 22. doi: 10.1007/s40123-025-01189-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Trabeculectomy is not usually considered for uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) after glaucoma drainage devices (GDD) because of concern that the conjunctiva has been violated and future trabeculectomy surgery is likely to fail due to fibrosis. We examined the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent a trabeculectomy after failed primary GDD.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of all patients who had a glaucoma drainage implant that failed or was inadequate in lowering IOP and underwent a trabeculectomy in the same eye from January 2016 to December 2022.

RESULTS: A total of 23 eyes in 22 patients met our criteria. Average IOP [± standard deviation (SD)] prior to trabeculectomy was 21.7 ± 9.3 on 3.2 ± 1.3 medications. The length of follow-up was between 0.3 and 5.0 years with an average follow-up time of 2.2 years. At 1 year (n = 16), IOP was 11 ± 1.9 mm Hg on 1.8 ± 1.5 medications. At 2 years, the average IOP was 11.8 ± 4.6 on 1.9 ± 1.4 medications. At all follow-up points, the decrease in IOP and medication was statistically significant compared with baseline (paired t-tests; p < 0.05). Most postoperative complications self-resolved with medical management (three early wound leaks, two late wound leaks, two instances of hypotony maculopathy, and one instance of cystoid macular edema). One early wound leak required surgical repair. One eye underwent an additional GDD surgery, and three eyes underwent bleb needling. In all, 20 (87%) eyes at final visit were within two lines of their baseline vision prior to trabeculectomy. No eyes progressed to having no light perception visual acuity or had an ocular infection.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that trabeculectomy after a GDD is an effective and safe option for IOP control and glaucoma medication reduction. In this small sample of surgical cases, complication and reoperation rates were comparable to published rates.

PMID:40545481 | DOI:10.1007/s40123-025-01189-w

Int J Dev Neurosci. 2025 Jun;85(4):e70027. doi: 10.1002/jdn.70027.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulated inflammatory signalling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and pathogenesis of clinical features in schizophrenia. SOCS3, a key regulator of inflammatory signalling pathways, has been implicated in this process. However, the complicated association between SOCS3 function and clinical features in unmedicated first-episode schizophrenia (SCZ) remains poorly understood. While increased levels of systemic inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and proinflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and IL-1β, have been negatively linked to severity of negative and mood symptoms in SCZ patients, the levels of systemic inflammatory markers cytokines levels neurocognitive function in SCZ warrants further investigation. The primary hypotheses of this study are as follows: (1) The levels of SOCS3 and systemic inflammatory cytokines levels could differentiate between individuals with first-episode SCZ and healthy controls. (2) Patients with first-episode SCZ exhibit significantly lower cognitive function and executive abilities compared to healthy controls. (3) Dysregulated SOCS3 pathways contribute to cognitive impairment in first-episode SCZ.

METHODS: A total of 93 patients diagnosed with first-episode SCZ and 60 healthy controls were recruited for the current study. The serum levels of CRP, IL-6, IL-1β and SOCS3 were determined with ELISA. Clinical symptoms in SCZ patients were evaluated using the PANSS scale and Stroop test, while cognitive function in the healthy control group were assessed solely using the Stroop test. Statistical analyses were performed with adjustments for age and gender as covariates.

RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, individuals with first-episode SCZ exhibited significantly decreased serum SOCS3 levels (p < 0.05) and elevated IL-6 levels (p < 0.05), while no significant differences in CRP or IL-1β levels (p > 0.05) were observed between the two groups. In the Stroop test, the SCZ group demonstrated prolonged response times (One word time, One colour time, word-Color time and Color-Word time) and increased error rates (One word errors, One colour errors, Word-Colour errors and Colour-Word errors) compared to healthy controls, with all differences reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). Serum SOCS3 levels were negatively correlated with PANSS cognitive subscale scores in the SCZ group, whereas IL-6 levels showed a positive correlation with one-colour time and one-colour errors in the Stroop test. The predictive value of serum SOCS3 for SCZ was determined by an AUC of 0.832, surpassing that of IL-6 (AUC = 0.789).

CONCLUSION: The current findings along with previous studies support the immune dysfunction plays a potential role in development of SCZ. Notably, alteration in peripheral levels of SOCS3 and IL-6 highlighting their potential application for early intervention for first episode SCZ and these changes are further associated with cognitive dysfunction. Moreover, SOCS3 demonstrated superior sensitivity in predicting SCZ, underscoring the importance of further investigating its role in SCZ pathogenesis and exploring novel therapeutic interventions.

PMID:40545471 | DOI:10.1002/jdn.70027

Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2025 Jun 15;39(6):729-734. doi: 10.7507/1002-1892.202502032.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of using biomechanical indicators as supplementary evaluation to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Scoring System (MSTS) for amputee patients.

METHODS: Twenty-four patients who underwent hemipelvectomy between September 2018 and January 2025 were enrolled. There were 15 males and 9 females with an average age of 61.4 years (range, 45-76 years). Participants performed gait tests at self-selected speeds using three assistive devices (prosthesis, single crutch, and double crutches). Motion data were analyzed using a customized OpenSim model. Biomechanical indicators of the intact limb exhibiting common characteristics were screened through correlation and sensitivity analyses. Test-retest reliability [interclass correlation coefficient (ICC)] of selected parameters was assessed to evaluate their potential as MSTS score supplements.

RESULTS: All biomechanical indicators showed significant positive correlations with MSTS scores across assistive devices ( P<0.05). Seven indicators demonstrated |Pearson correlation coefficients|>0.8, including walking speed, maximum hip angle, maximum hip moment, peak hip flexion moment, peak hip extension moment, hip flexion impulse, and hip extension impulse. Among these, maximum hip moment, hip flexion impulse, and hip extension impulse exhibited significant between-group differences in adjacent MSTS levels ( P<0.05), indicating high sensitivity, along with excellent test-retest reliability (ICC>0.74, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Biomechanical indicators statistically qualify as potential supplements to MSTS scoring. Maximum hip moment, hip flexion impulse, and hip extension impulse demonstrate particularly high sensitivity to MSTS score variations.

PMID:40545462 | DOI:10.7507/1002-1892.202502032

Hum Brain Mapp. 2025 Jun 15;46(9):e70257. doi: 10.1002/hbm.70257.

ABSTRACT

The increasing prevalence of multi-site diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) studies potentially offers enhanced statistical power to investigate brain structure. However, these studies face challenges due to variations in scanner hardware and acquisition protocols. While several methods for dMRI data harmonization exist, few specifically address structural brain connectivity. We introduce a new distribution-matching approach to harmonizing structural brain connectivity across different sites and scanners. We evaluate our method using structural brain connectivity data from three distinct datasets (OASIS-3, ADNI-2, and PREVENT-AD), comparing its performance to the widely used ComBat method and the more recent CovBat approach. We examine the impact of harmonization on the correlation of brain connectivity with the Mini-Mental State Examination score and age. Our results demonstrate that our distribution-matching technique effectively harmonizes structural brain connectivity while maintaining non-negativity of the connectivity values and produces correlation strengths and significance levels competitive with alternative approaches. Qualitative assessments illustrate the desired distributional alignment across datasets, while quantitative evaluations confirm competitive performance. This work contributes to the growing field of dMRI harmonization, potentially improving the reliability and comparability of structural connectivity studies that combine data from different sources in neuroscientific and clinical research.

PMID:40545448 | DOI:10.1002/hbm.70257

Eur Urol Focus. 2025 Jun 21:S2405-4569(25)00147-6. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2025.05.015. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing orchiectomy for testicular cancer (TC) may have body image concerns, with a testicular prosthesis (TP) as a potential solution. Data on regret regarding synchronous TP placement are limited. We investigated postoperative patient-reported satisfaction and decision regret after unilateral orchiectomy for TC with or without synchronous TP placement.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 142 cN0M0 TC patients who underwent orchiectomy at two tertiary-referral academic centers between 2014 and 2023. A synchronous TP was proposed in all cases. In October 2024, patients completed a decision regret scale and questions on TP placement and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for the analysis.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Sixty-one (43%) patients had synchronous TP placement. Patients with a TP more frequently reported that their decision was correct (p < 0.01), they had less regret (p = 0.01), and they would have repeated the same choice (p = 0.02). Patients without a TP more frequently reported that they were still missing the removed testicle and they felt ashamed about their body image (all p < 0.01). Partner’s complaints about patient’s body image were more common in men without a TP (p = 0.01). A multivariable analysis showed that TP placement (odds ratio 0.4, p = 0.03) was associated with less regret. This study may have selection biases, and larger, multicentric studies are needed.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Patients with synchronous TP placement reported higher satisfaction, less negative body image, lower partner disappointment, and less regret than those without a TP. Preoperative counseling should emphasize long-term satisfaction with a TP.

PMID:40545427 | DOI:10.1016/j.euf.2025.05.015