Tag: pubmed

Bioinformation. 2026 Jan 31;22(1):175-179. doi: 10.6026/973206300220175. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Titanium (Ti) dental implants are considered the gold standard in edentulous rehabilitation. However, the tribocorrosion and subsequent release of titanium ions into the systemic circulation has become an issue of concern. Hence, this prospective longitudinal study used the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) at baseline, 1-week and 6-months post-operative in order to study serum titanium levels in 60 healthy patients that were undertaking the implant surgery. The baseline serum titanium levels were 1.42 ± 0.55 ng/mL with a statistically significant increase of the mean serum titanium levels to 2.15 + 0.82 ng/mL after one week post- operation and a partial stabilization to 1.94 + 0.71 ng/mL at 6 months. Though, the dental implant placement causes a statistically significant increase in the levels of titanium in the systemic compartments, these levels are far below the accepted toxicological limits.

PMID:41960517 | PMC:PMC13058369 | DOI:10.6026/973206300220175

Bioinformation. 2026 Jan 31;22(1):66-70. doi: 10.6026/973206300220066. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic and periampullary tumors and its impact on postoperative outcomes is highly relevant. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic and periampullary tumors. A prospective observational analysis of 50 patients revealed that sarcopenia, assessed through Psoas Muscle Index, Hand Grip Strength and Gait Speed, is a significant predictor of postoperative outcomes. Age did not notably affect sarcopenia prevalence, while factors such as gender, ECOG status and diabetes were identified as key risk factors. Gait speed was found to be the strongest predictor of mortality, emphasizing its potential as a primary diagnostic tool. The identification of sarcopenia as a significant predictor of postoperative outcomes in pancreaticoduodenectomy patients with gait speed emerging as the strongest predictor of mortality, offering a potential tool for preoperative assessment and improved patient management.

PMID:41960489 | PMC:PMC13058357 | DOI:10.6026/973206300220066

Bioinformation. 2026 Jan 31;22(1):357-361. doi: 10.6026/973206300220357. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Somatosensory deficits have gained growing attention in cerebral palsy; therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the central perceptual abnormalities in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Seventy children (35 children with CP and 35 controls, age-range: 6 months-10 years) were evaluated by somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), visual evoked potentials (VEP) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and the association with electroencephalography (EEG), clinical and radiologic findings was sought for. Tibial SSEPs and median SSEPs revealed abnormal cortical response in 77.14 % (27 of 35) and 65.22 % (15 of 23) respectively, 14.29 % (5 of 35) had abnormal BAEP, 18 of 35 (51.4 %) had abnormal VEP, 14 patients (40 %) demonstrated abnormal EEG and 91.43 % had abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Abnormal tibial SSEPs were statistically correlated with abnormal EEG (p=0.005) and perinatal asphyxia (p=0.01) while abnormal median SSEPs were statistically correlated with abnormal VEP (p=0.0098) and perinatal asphyxia (p=0.03) (chi-square test). Evidences of sensory cortical involvement in CP can help in designing better treatment plans. Cortical SSEPs may further be evaluated in prospective studies to assess their potential utility as a prognostic tool in children with CP.

PMID:41960465 | PMC:PMC13058302 | DOI:10.6026/973206300220357

Bioinformation. 2026 Jan 31;22(1):328-332. doi: 10.6026/973206300220328. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

The role of serum lipids as tumour markers in the diagnosis of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) is of interest. Hence, three groups (oral cancer, OPMDs and age and sex matched healthy controls) comprising 40 patients each was selected. Serum lipid profile values (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein) were compared among the groups (unpaired t-test and one way-ANOVA) (p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant). Mean values of total serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein were found to be elevated in cases of oral cancer and oral PMDs as compared to controls with statistical significance (p<0.001). The alterations in levels obtained in the study, support the role of serum lipid profile as biomarkers for oral cancer and OPMDs, yet strengthening of the evidences by long-term follow-up studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to establish the association.

PMID:41960459 | PMC:PMC13058311 | DOI:10.6026/973206300220328

Bioinformation. 2026 Jan 31;22(1):593-598. doi: 10.6026/973206300220593. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

The validity of clinical research depends on robust statistical methodology, yet peer review often fails to identify analytical flaws, particularly in Prosthodontics where statistical errors can mislead evidence-based practice. Therefore, it is of interest to audits the statistical rigor of available data on this issue. Hence, 328 publications were systematically analysed. Our analysis shows that about one-third demonstrated rigorous, assumption-validated analyses, while nearly half showed ambiguous or inappropriate usage. Common issues included lack of assumption checks, inadequate adjustment for multiple comparisons, and missing sample size justifications. Thus, we show the urgent need for improved editorial standards, mandatory reporting checklists, and dedicated statistical review to ensure transparency and research integrity.

PMID:41960457 | PMC:PMC13058335 | DOI:10.6026/973206300220593

SAGE Open Nurs. 2026 Apr 7;12:23779608261433262. doi: 10.1177/23779608261433262. eCollection 2026 Jan-Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although e-learning has become routine in nursing education, many courses still lack explicit, structured guidance targeting students’ motivation in online environments. Evidence remains limited regarding whether such motivational guidelines improve objective learning achievement, particularly in maternity nursing.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of e-learning motivational guidelines on motivation and learning achievement among maternity nursing students.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with intervention and control groups was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing during the 2021-2022 academic year. A systematic random sample of 261 students was assessed using three tools: (1) a computer skills assessment sheet, (2) a motivation for e-learning assessment sheet, and (3) an auditing checklist to evaluate learning achievement. The intervention group received an e-learning course integrated with structured motivational guidelines, whereas the control group received the usual e-learning course.

RESULTS: Postintervention, 69.7% of the intervention group exhibited high motivation across all domains of total motivation for e-learning, compared with approximately 62% of the control group who demonstrated positive motivation across related items. A strong, statistically significant positive correlation was found between total learning achievement and total motivation in the intervention group (r = .983, p < .001).

CONCLUSION: Embedding structured motivational guidelines within e-learning was associated with higher motivation and improved learning achievement among maternity nursing students, addressing a key gap by linking explicit motivational support to measurable academic outcomes in this specialty context.

PMID:41960443 | PMC:PMC13058182 | DOI:10.1177/23779608261433262

Front Mol Neurosci. 2026 Mar 25;19:1741854. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2026.1741854. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Carriers of the FMR1 gene premutation (PM) are at increased risk for Fragile X-associated PM Conditions (FXPAC). Some clinically significant symptoms can be further classified as Fragile X-associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (FXAND). Many FXAND-related cases may go underrated and untreated. This study aimed to investigate the rates of FXAND-related symptoms among female PM carriers.

METHODS: The study was conducted at the Belgrade Fragile X Clinic on a clinical sample of 35 women with the PM and 35 controls using an adapted version of the Symptom Impact Questionnaire and the Fatigue Assessment Scale. The survey was designed to collect data on FXAND symptoms, including chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Each symptom was self-rated by participants on a scale from 0 to 10. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.

RESULTS: Women with the PM (mean age: 44.51 ± 12.90 y.; 90.51 ± 22.04 CGG repeats) had statistically significant higher frequency and severity of chronic pain (p = 0.03; p = 0.02) and fatigue (p = 0.001 for both) in contrast to age-matched controls. Although the prevalence of anxiety symptoms was not significantly different between groups, the severity of anxiety symptoms were significantly higher in the PM group (p < 0.001), and was positively correlated with chronic fatigue (p = 0.003 vs. p = 0.27 in controls). Depressive symptom frequency and severity did not differ between groups (p = 0.47; p = 0.55), but there were a significant positive correlation between anxiety and depressive symptoms in the PM group (p = 0.003). Depressive symptoms were also positively correlated with chronic fatigue in the PM group (p = 0.02), but not in controls (p = 0.58). Compared to controls, PM carriers reported more frequently lower energy, poorer sleep, greater memory issues, cognitive difficulties, balance problems, and increased sensory sensitivity (p ≤ 0.001, all).

CONCLUSION: Female PM carriers experience significantly higher frequency and severity of FXAND-related symptoms. Our findings of an association between fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms highlight the need for comprehensive screening and underscore the importance of recognizing and treating individuals with FXAND.

PMID:41960422 | PMC:PMC13057454 | DOI:10.3389/fnmol.2026.1741854

Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2026 Mar 26;69:101836. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2026.101836. eCollection 2026 Apr.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Predicting which individuals with M. tuberculosis (M. tb) infection will progress to active disease remains challenging. We evaluated whether a pragmatic serial, quantitative ESAT6-CFP10 (EC) antigen-based skin test strategy improves risk stratification for targeted prevention in a large-scale prospective cohort.

METHODS: We enrolled 73,761 contacts identified during school-based tuberculosis outbreaks in Jiangsu, China, from 2020 to 2024. Participants underwent baseline EC test, chest radiography, and symptom screening. EC-negative individuals were retested after 8-12 weeks. Incident tuberculosis was identified through active surveillance and registry linkage. We compared single vs. serial test strategies using Cox models, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and precision-recall (PR) curves.

FINDINGS: Among 73,761 close contacts, 108 had prevalent tuberculosis and 190 developed incident cases (overall incidence 151.2 per 100,000 person-years). EC response size predicted incident tuberculosis in a steep, dose-dependent manner. Each 1-mm increase in the maximum response diameter was associated with a 7% higher hazard. The serial test strategy, utilizing the maximum response from two measurements, substantially outperformed single test [C-statistic: 0.806 vs. 0.722]. At the ≥5 mm threshold, this combined strategy yielded a sensitivity of 65.0% and specificity of 96.1%. The subgroup of recent converters had a PPV of 3.4% (95% CI: 2.8-4.1), corresponding to an NNT of approximately 30, and a hazard ratio (HR) of 45.12 (95% CI: 32.50-62.63). Preventive treatment completion was strongly protective (aHR 0.17; 95% CI: 0.11-0.25).

INTERPRETATION: The “test twice, take maximum” EC strategy provides superior risk stratification for tuberculosis prevention. This approach identifies high-risk contacts for targeted intervention. Despite limited sensitivity, these results suggest that quantitative EC skin testing can provide a practical alternative for programmatic risk stratification. In settings where IGRAs are constrained by cost or infrastructure, this approach may enable more efficient targeting of preventive treatment.

FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China (82504476, 82473693, 82574173); Jiangsu Province Preventive Medicine Research Project (Ym2023039); The Special Scientific Research Project for Talent Introduction of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (KY2960YR2530); Jiangsu Province Postgraduate Research and Innovation Project (KYCX24_2061).

PMID:41960411 | PMC:PMC13058989 | DOI:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2026.101836

Front Public Health. 2026 Mar 25;14:1758447. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1758447. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 45 million patients worldwide. Treatment options for dementia include lecanemab for mild cognitive impairment, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which are mainly used for mild to moderate dementia, as well as N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists for patients with severe dementia or certain antipsychotics. Pharmaceutical approaches are limited by potential side effects. To alleviate symptoms or at least slightly improve cognitive functions, additional herbal medicines (HM) such as Ginkgo biloba and non-pharmacological approaches, e.g., behavioral, exercise, music, and reminiscence therapy, yoga, tai chi, or acupuncture, have been used with heterogeneous results. Helleborus niger, a plant containing multiple bioactive compounds such as ecdysteroids and bufadienolide, is used clinically for its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. In a German hospital specializing in geriatric patients, an association between the subcutaneous application of Helleborus niger 12x and changes in dementia was observed.

METHODS: Retrospective study on the effect of subcutaneous application of Helleborus niger 12x for an average of 3 weeks in patients with dementia. Eligible patients were aged ≥ 60 years and treated at the Humboldt Clinic in Bad Steben, Bavaria, Germany, with two different treatment regimens: standard care with conventional medication alone (control group, CG) vs. standard care with conventional medication plus Helleborus niger 12x preparations (Helleborus group, HG). The primary outcome was the between-group difference in pre-post (T0 vs. T1) changes in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Secondary outcomes were pre-post changes in the Dementia Detection test (DemTect), the Shulman clock-drawing test (CDT) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

RESULTS: For the primary outcome, there was a statistically significant difference in MMSE between the groups (p < 0.001; d = 1.5) at T1 with significantly higher values in HG compared to CG. Regarding the secondary outcomes, significantly improved values were seen in HG compared to CG for DemTect, CDT and GDS with medium to high effect sizes.

CONCLUSION: The study gives preliminary evidence that Helleborus niger 12x applied subcutaneously might improve cognitive function in patients with dementia at least during the three-week administration. Further randomized, blinded studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm preliminary results.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Identifier, DRKS00033972.

PMID:41960405 | PMC:PMC13057344 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1758447

Front Public Health. 2026 Mar 25;14:1813165. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1813165. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarette use is an emerging public health concern among adolescents and young adults, with limited population-based evidence on recent use and correlates in Thailand beyond school-based samples. Our study aimed to examine e-cigarette use and its associated factors among adolescents and young adults aged 15-29 years in Northern Thailand using data from a population-based household survey.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2024 population-based household survey on substance use in Northern Thailand. The analytic sample included 911 adolescents and young adults aged 15-29 years. Past-year e-cigarette use was the primary outcome. Explanatory variables encompassed sociodemographic characteristics, perceived accessibility, online information-seeking, perceived health harms, household stigma, and co-use of other substances. Descriptive statistics summarized prevalence, and logistic regression models estimated crude and adjusted associations, reporting odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Overall, 11.5% of participants reported past-year e-cigarette use. In adjusted analyses, higher perceived accessibility (AOR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.31, 7.69, p = 0.010), online information-seeking (AOR = 4.22; 95% CI: 2.36, 7.55, p < 0.001), and past-year alcohol use (AOR = 5.88; 95% CI: 2.83, 12.22, p < 0.001) were associated with higher odds of e-cigarette use. In contrast, perceiving e-cigarettes as harmful (AOR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.69, p = 0.001) and anticipating household stigma (AOR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.95, p = 0.031) were associated with lower odds of use.

CONCLUSION: E-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults in Northern Thailand remains a public health concern shaped by accessibility, online exposure, alcohol co-use, and risk perceptions, underscoring the need for strengthened youth tobacco control, digital regulation, and integrated prevention.

PMID:41960396 | PMC:PMC13057327 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1813165