Tag: pubmed

J Pak Med Assoc. 2026 Feb;76(2):246-247. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.30137.

ABSTRACT

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Services Hospital, Lahore, from January 15, 2023, to July 14, 2023, with the aim to evaluate the prevalence of domestic violence among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 150 pregnant women aged 18-40 years, with gestational ages of 8-37 weeks, were included using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data was collected through structured interviews and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The prevalence of domestic violence was in 40(26.67%), with a significant association with the husband’s occupation (p=0.028). No significant associations were observed with maternal age, gestational age, body mass index (BMI), education level, or socioeconomic status. Regular screening for domestic violence during antenatal visits is essential to identify and support the affected women and improving maternal and foetal health outcomes.

PMID:41830364 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.30137

J Pak Med Assoc. 2026 Feb;76(2):212-219. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.21838.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To develop functional balance training tasks for stroke rehabilitation to enhance recover y outcomes for stroke patients.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study employing a two-phase structured Delphi technique was conducted in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, from August to December 2023, following approval from the ethics review committee of Riphah College of Rehabilitation and Allied Health Sciences, Islamabad. In the first phase, a list of functional balance tasks was generated through literature review and semi-structured interviews with experts. In the second phase, iterative three-round Delphi survey was conducted with a larger panel. Descriptive statistics were used at the end of each round to finalise the list of functional tasks based on pre -set consensus criteria. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.

RESULTS: Of the 10 experts in Phase 1, there were 8(80%) females and 9(90%) had postgraduate qualification in Neuromuscular Physical Therapy, while the mean professional experience was 6.1±5.17 years. The corresponding values for the 30 experts in Phase 2 were 34(80%), 29(96%) and 5.48±5.08. In Phase 1, 100 functional balance tasks were generated. In Round 1 of Phase 2, 76 tasks met the consensus criteria of ≥60% agreement. In Round 2 of the phase, 52 tasks reached consensus criteria of ≥75% agreement, while in Round 3 of the phase, 50 tasks achieved consensus of ≥80% agreement.

CONCLUSION: An evidence-based list of functional balance tasks for stroke rehabilitation was deemed suitable by local experts for stroke patients in Pakistan.

PMID:41830359 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.21838

J Pak Med Assoc. 2026 Feb;76(2):206-211. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.22658.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the medical educational environment of an institution using integrated medical curriculum.

METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to November 1, 2024, at Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala, Pakistan, and comprised of medical students regardless of age, gender and academic year. Data was collected using the validated Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure questionnaire, covering five domains of the educational environment. Data was analysed using SPSS 28.

RESULTS: Of the 265 students, 88 (33.2%) were males and 177 (66.8%) were females. By year of study, 89 (33.6%) were first year, 77 (29.1%) second year, 32 (12.1%) third year, 34 (12.8%) fourth year, and [n=33 (12.5%)] final year. Regarding residence, 77 (29.1%) were day scholars and 188 (70.9%) were hostelites. The total mean DREEM score was 120.2±22.2 (60%), reflecting moderately positive perceptions. Subscale analysis revealed highest scores in Students’ Perception of Learning (28.6±6.2) and lowest in Social Self-Perception (15.9±4.4). Significant differences across academic years were observed for all subscales (p<0.05). Regression analysis demonstrated that progression through academic years was significantly associated with declining scores in SPL, SASP, SPA, and SSSP (R²=0.06-0.15). No significant differences were noted by gender or residence status. Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha=0.86; standardized=0.89).

CONCLUSIONS: The evolving educational needs of students must be acknowledged through curricular adjustments to enhance student engagement, social support and professional competence.

PMID:41830358 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.22658

J Pak Med Assoc. 2026 Feb;76(2):196-200. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.21020.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the birth characteristics and maternal risk factors associated with preterm infants.

METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at the Jinshan Branch of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, China, and comprised data related to mothers and their preterm infants delivered between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2020. Information on maternal age, pregnancy complications, number of births, gestational age at delivery and neonatal outcomes was collected from hospital records to assess risk factors for preterm birth. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.

RESULTS: Among 9,953 total births, 454 (4.56%) were preterm. Of these, 57 (12.56%) were early preterm and 397 (87.44%) were late preterm. The mean gestational age was 34.97±1.60 weeks and the average birth weight was 2,596.87 ± 502.28 g. Independent risk factors included gestational hypertension 56 (12.30%), cholestasis 17 (3.74%), premature rupture of membranes (PROM) 134 (29.52%), hormone use during pregnancy 105 (23.13%), and twin pregnancies 80 (17.62%) (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Key maternal risk factors included gestational hypertension, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, premature rupture of membranes, and multiple gestations.

PMID:41830356 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.21020

J Pak Med Assoc. 2026 Feb;76(2):176-180. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.22295.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationship between light-emitting diode device usage and premature ageing.

METHODS: The cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from October 2023 to May 2024 after approval from the ethics review committee of Pakistan Naval Ship Shifa Hospital, Karachi, and comprised individuals aged 27-40 years. Other than demographic characteristics, data was collected about light-emitting diode device usage and indicators of premature ageing based on self-reported and observed features. Data was analysed using SPSS 29.

RESULTS: Of the 450 participants with mean age 32.4±3.7 years, 225(50%) each were males and females. Commonly used devices were mobile phones 400(88.9%), television 350(77.8%) and laptops 300(66.7%). Overall, 200(44.4%) subjects reported 5-7 hours of screen time, and 300(66.7%) did not use ultraviolet protection. Devices were used at a distance of 10- 20cm by 200(44.4%) subjects. In terms of premature ageing signs, the most common was dark circles 325(72.2%), while greying of hair was the least common 200(44.4%). All ageing variables showed a highly significant association with lightemitting diode usage (p<0.01), with the exception of greying of hair which demonstrated a significant association but at a lower level (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant link between light-emitting diode device usage and premature ageing.

PMID:41830352 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.22295

J Pak Med Assoc. 2026 Feb;76(2):167-171. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.22034.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate acute pancreatitis in patients with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis, and to compare it with patients without end-stage renal disease.

METHODS: The retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Turkiye, and comprised data from September 2017 to December 2023 of patients presenting with acute pancreatitis with or without end-stage renal disease. Those with end-stage renal disease who were on haemodialysis were placed in group A, while patients without chronic kidney disease represented control group B. Demographic and laboratory data, the severity of pancreatitis, the aetiology of acute pancreatitis, accompanying diseases, the duration of hospitalisation and the prognosis of the patients in both groups were evaluated and compared. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.

RESULTS: Of the 178 patients, 54(30.33%) were in group A with mean age 56.0±14.5 years (range: 20-85 years) among whom 26(48.1%) were males. There were 124(69.66%) patients in group B with mean age 52.5±16.2 years (19-88 years), and there were 59(47.6%) males. Acute pancreatitis was more severe, and the number of idiopathic cases was higher in group A compared to group B (p<0.05). Significant differences were also noted for aetiological causes, comorbidities, intensive care unit admission, length of hospital stays, and mortality between the groups(p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis, acute pancreatitis was more severe in all respects compared to those without chronic kidney disease.

PMID:41830350 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.22034

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2026 Apr;70(4):e70221. doi: 10.1111/aas.70221.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification system is ubiquitous in perioperative medicine and research as a tool for preoperative patient risk stratification. Despite widespread clinical adoption as a predictor of perioperative outcomes, the ASA-PS system is inherently subjective, leading to considerable inter-rater variability. A comprehensive mapping of the literature examining the relationship between ASA-PS scores and patient outcomes is lacking.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically map the extent, range, and nature of peer-reviewed literature examining the relationship between the ASA-PS classification and patient outcomes, and to identify key characteristics, themes, and knowledge gaps in this evidence base.

METHODS: This scoping review will be conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological framework and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The Population-Concept-Context (PCC) framework will guide eligibility assessment. A comprehensive search will be conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, LILACS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with no language or date restrictions. Study selection will be performed independently and in duplicate by two reviewers in two stages (title/abstract screening, full-text review). If any discordance appears, a third reviewer verdict will be requested. Data will be extracted using a structured charting form and synthesized narratively.

CONTEXT: Any healthcare setting where an ASA-PS score is assigned prior to a procedure (inpatient hospital, ambulatory surgery center, outpatient clinic). Primary research designs, including randomized controlled trials, observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, descriptive), and case reports will be eligible; review articles, editorials, letters to the editor, and commentaries will be excluded.

SEARCH STRATEGY: The search will employ controlled vocabulary (MeSH terms) and free-text keywords including: “ASA score,” “ASA Physical Status Classification System,” “American Society of Anesthesiologists,” in combination with outcome-related terms. Supplementary hand searching of reference lists and Google Scholar will be performed.

DATA EXTRACTION: Study characteristics (author, year, country, journal, design), population characteristics (sample size, age, comorbidity), context (clinical setting, specialty, procedure type, urgency), ASA score details, and outcome details (including statistical methods used to derive associations) will be extracted. A preliminary data charting form is provided in Appendix B.

SYNTHESIS: Narrative synthesis supported by descriptive statistics will map study characteristics, outcome categories, clinical contexts, study designs, and temporal and geographical distribution of research. No formal quality appraisal will be conducted.

ETHICS AND REGISTRATION: Ethics committee approval is not required for this protocol-based scoping review.

PMID:41830324 | DOI:10.1111/aas.70221

Pain Pract. 2026 Apr;26(4):e70140. doi: 10.1111/papr.70140.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) has gained popularity among patients experiencing pain, used alongside conventional medical treatments. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of pain clinicians and researchers on CAIM interventions.

METHODS: An anonymous, online survey was distributed to 46,223 authors who had published pain-related research in MEDLINE-indexed journals. The survey included multiple-choice questions and open-ended sections to gather detailed opinions.

RESULTS: A total of 1024 participants responded, 900 of which were eligible to participate; most identified as either pain researchers (n = 435/900, 48.33%) or both researchers and clinicians (n = 398/900, 44.22%). Many held senior positions (n = 549/892, 61.55%). Among the CAIM modalities, mind-body therapies such as meditation, yoga, and biofeedback were viewed as the most promising for pain prevention, treatment, and management, with 68.47% (n = 569/831) of participants endorsing these approaches. While (n = 341/777, 43.89%) of the respondents believed that most CAIM therapies are safe, only 25.55% (n = 198/775) disagreed with the idea that such therapies are effective. There was broad agreement on the need for more research into CAIM therapies, with 45.88% (n = 356/776) agreeing and 42.53% (n = 330/776) strongly agreeing that further investigation is valuable. Additionally, many respondents supported the inclusion of CAIM training in clinician education, either through formal programs (n = 361/778, 46.40%) or supplementary courses (n = 409/776, 52.71%).

CONCLUSIONS: Mind-body therapies received the most positive feedback, while biofield therapies were met with the most skepticism. These findings highlight the interest in CAIM among pain researchers and clinicians and emphasize the need for more research and education tailored to this area.

PMID:41830314 | DOI:10.1111/papr.70140

Proteomics Clin Appl. 2026 Mar;20(2):e70042. doi: 10.1002/prca.70042.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has highlighted significant neurological complications in severe cases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteomics could reveal biomarkers related to clinical outcome among critically ill patients.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We performed high-resolution proteomic analyses of CSF samples from 29 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with severe COVID-19 and 19 controls. Differentially expressed proteins and associated pathways were identified through bioinformatic and statistical analyses.

RESULTS: Proteomic analysis identified 488 significantly altered proteins between COVID-19 patients and controls. Proteins linked to coagulation, inflammation, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction (e.g., SERPINC1, KNG1, PLG) were elevated in patients who survived ICU admission. Conversely, proteins associated with metabolic disruption, cellular stress, and neuroinflammation (e.g., FABP3, PDIA4) were upregulated in non-survivors. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed involvement of immune activation, inflammatory responses, and coagulation cascades.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CSF proteomics in severe COVID-19 patients reveals potential biomarkers predictive of patient outcomes. These findings support the involvement of systemic inflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption in COVID-19 pathophysiology, suggesting novel targets for personalized intervention strategies.

PMID:41830303 | DOI:10.1002/prca.70042

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2026 Mar 8;47(3):1995-2006. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202501083.

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals surrounding waste incineration plants undergo cross-media migration and enrich in the soil-water system, resulting in a systematic deterioration of the physical and chemical properties of the soil and posing potential hazards to the ecological environment and human health. Taking the heavy metals in the soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater around a waste incineration plant in Jiangxi Province as the research objects, descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the contents (or concentrations) of heavy metals in multi-media. The spatial distribution characteristics of heavy metals within the soil-water system were analyzed, and the sources of heavy metals in the soil were deciphered by comprehensively using correlation analysis and the Absolute Principal Component Analysis-Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) model. The results showed that heavy metals around the waste incineration plant were mainly enriched in the soil and sediments. The content of Cd in the soil exceeded the risk screening value, and the contents of Cd and Zn exceeded the soil background values in Jiangxi Province. The average values of As, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the sediments exceeded the sediment background values in Jiangxi Province. The concentrations of heavy metals As and Pb in the groundwater exceeded the groundwater standard (Class Ⅲ). The variation coefficients of As and Cd in the soil were 53.97% and 39.84%, respectively, which belonged to a strong variation degree and exhibited obvious characteristics of point source pollution. The average content of Zn in the soil samples was higher than that in the sediment samples, while the contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in the sediments were higher than those in the soil. The results of the correlation analysis between the distance from the riverbank and the cumulative concentration of heavy metals indicated that the concentration of heavy metals in the groundwater was affected by the recharge of surface water. The contents of heavy metals As, Cd, Ni, and Pb in the soil were higher in the southeast wind direction, which was obviously affected by the perennial dominant wind direction of the waste incineration plant, while Cr, Cu, and Zn were not significantly affected by the wind direction. The contents (concentrations) of heavy metals in the sediments and surface water generally showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing along the flow direction of the surface water. The contents (or concentrations) of the other six heavy metals except Cr were higher near the sewage outlet and in the lower reaches of the river, among which the influence of As was the most obvious, which may have been related to the industrial activities of the waste incineration plant. The heavy metals in the soil mainly came from industrial sources of waste incineration, agricultural sources of pesticides and fertilizers, and natural sources of parent materials, with corresponding contribution rates of 31.14%, 28.14%, and 40.72%, respectively. The industrial sources of waste incineration had different degrees of influence on the seven heavy metals. The influence on As and Cd was the most significant; the influence on Ni and Pb was general; and the influence on Cu, Cr, and Zn was relatively weak. Among them, As and Cd mainly came from industrial sources, Ni and Pb mainly came from industrial and natural sources, while Cu, Cr, and Zn mainly came from agricultural and natural sources. It can provide data support and scientific basis for comprehensively investigating the heavy metal pollution status of multi-media and developing strategies for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution around waste incineration plants.

PMID:41830275 | DOI:10.13227/j.hjkx.202501083