Tag: pubmed

Parasit Vectors. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s13071-025-07209-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The control of toxoplasmosis relies on conventional chemotherapeutics, which have hitherto unresolved concerns.

METHODS: Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally (IP) infected with 5 × 10³ tachyzoites of RH HXGPRT( -) strain of Toxoplasma gondii, then IP treated with one-fourth lethal dose 50 (one-fourth LD50) of Cerastes cerastes venom (CCV) for three consecutive days (LD = 0.535 mg/kg). The anti-Toxoplasma activity of CCV was evaluated, for the first time, in immunocompetent (IC) and immunosuppressed (IS) mice via estimation of their mortality and survival time, microscopical counting of peritoneal tachyzoites, measurement of liver parasite burdens using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), detection of infectivity, and ultrastructural changes of the treated tachyzoites. The safety of the used dose was biochemically assessed by measuring liver, kidney, and oxidative stress markers in serum.

RESULTS: CCV induced an insignificant reduction in mortality rate (MR) and a significant increase in survival time of mice. A statistically significant decrease in the mean peritoneal parasite burden with 89.8% and 90.8% reduction (%R) was observed in both IC and IS-treated subgroups compared with their controls, respectively. This reduction was consistent with 88% and 86% decrease in liver parasite load, respectively, and obvious ultrastructural alterations in treated tachyzoites. Concerning the infectivity study, the percent reduction was 78.8% and 85.5% in the peritoneal fluid and 71.1% and 60.4% in the liver tissues of IC and IS subgroups, respectively. The biochemical safety of the used dose and its high antioxidant activity were verified.

CONCLUSIONS: Thus, one-fourth LD50 of CCV can be considered a promising, effective natural alternative to standard chemotherapy for acute toxoplasmosis.

PMID:41580860 | DOI:10.1186/s13071-025-07209-9

J Orthop Surg Res. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s13018-026-06678-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that let-7c-5p is significantly expressed at a lower level in the serum of fracture patients, suggesting that it may play a role in bone repair. Therefore, this study aims to explore how let-7c-5p regulates osteogenic differentiation in tibial fractures.

METHODS: A total of 80 patients with tibial fractures and 83 healthy individuals were included in this study. The level of let-7c-5p in the serum were detected by RT-qPCR. Osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1) were cultured in vitro to induce osteogenic differentiation. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of let-7c-5p and osteogenic differentiation markers. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined using an ALP assay kit. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation were used to verify the targeting relationship between let-7c-5p and CDK8.

RESULTS: In the early stage of tibial fractures, the level of let-7c-5p in the patient’s serum was significantly lower than that of the control group, and as the healing processes progressed, its level gradually increased. In osteogenic induction, let-7c-5p, the activity of ALP, and the levels of osteogenic markers all increase. Increasing the level of let-7c-5p significantly enhanced the expression of osteogenic markers, while inhibiting its expression would weaken this effect. let-7c-5p directly targeted and negatively regulated the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8). Overexpression of CDK8 could reverse the osteogenic effect mediated by let-7c-5p.

CONCLUSION: During the healing process of tibial fractures, let-7c-5p promotes osteogenic differentiation by inhibiting CDK8, thereby accelerating fracture healing.

PMID:41580834 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-026-06678-7

BioData Min. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s13040-025-00515-z. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41580827 | DOI:10.1186/s13040-025-00515-z

Arch Public Health. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s13690-026-01836-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is the gold standard treatment for acute myocardial infarction (MI). Yet, its implementation across Brazil’s diverse regions remains poorly characterized. Although Brazil’s public healthcare system (Sistema Único de Saúde [SUS]) serves approximately 72% of Brazil’s population, comprehensive analysis of pPCI utilization patterns and outcomes has been limited. This study aimed to evaluate contemporary trends in pPCI utilization, associated costs, and clinical outcomes across Brazil’s regions from 2008 to 2023.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of emergency MI hospitalizations treated with pPCI using Brazil’s Unified Health System databases. Population‑adjusted rates of pPCI, inflation‑adjusted standardized costs, in‑hospital mortality, and densities of registered pPCI‑capable facilities were estimated for Brazil and its five regions. Five‑year interval means and cumulative changes were computed. Statistical significance was evaluated with Z‑tests and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS: National pPCI hospitalizations increased by 190.94%, with marked regional variation. The South reached 26.22 procedures per 100,000 population in 2023, while the North remained critically low (1.49 per 100,000). After inflation adjustment, standardized costs declined nationally (-36.34% per day; -47.12% per hospitalization), yet population‑adjusted in‑hospital mortality rose by 121.74% over the study period. Across regions, most pPCI‑capable facilities were private rather than public or philanthropic. Disparities were most pronounced between the South and North regions, reflecting broader socioeconomic inequities.

CONCLUSION: Brazil has substantially increased pPCI utilization, but persistent regional disparities and rising population‑adjusted mortality highlight systemic challenges in timely, high‑quality care. Targeted interventions – standardized protocols, strengthened infrastructure and transfer networks in underserved areas, and focused investment – are needed to improve equity and cardiovascular outcomes nationwide.

PMID:41580824 | DOI:10.1186/s13690-026-01836-z

J Transl Med. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s12967-026-07729-7. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41580815 | DOI:10.1186/s12967-026-07729-7

BMC Res Notes. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s13104-026-07666-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Sub-Saharan Africa produces less than 4% of global scientific output, despite significant health and development challenges. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a pilot scientific writing workshop in Cameroon aimed at building writing skills and publication readiness of early career researchers. We conducted two workshops’ sessions in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in April and November 2023. A mixed-methods approach was used. Quantitative data were obtained via pre- and post-workshop questionnaires designed to capture participants’ self-assessed knowledge, skills, and confidence related to the workshop content. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to the survey data, and thematic content analysis was used to assess qualitative responses.

RESULTS: A total of 86 participants completed both the pre- and post-workshop surveys (response rate: 86.9%). The majority had never published scientific papers (62.8%) nor had they received formal writing training (61.6%). The quantitative results showed statistically significant improvements in participants’ overall understanding of scientific writing and publishing (mean difference = 0.93, p < 0.001) and confidence regarding writing skills (mean difference = 0.94, p < 0.001). Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed high satisfaction with the learning environment, perceived knowledge gains, and a strong demand for mentorship and sustained training opportunities.

PMID:41580813 | DOI:10.1186/s13104-026-07666-0

Environ Health. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s12940-026-01266-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Neuroblastic tumours (neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma) are the most common childhood solid tumours outside the central nervous system, with a median age of diagnosis of 2 years. Temporal clustering of neuroblastic tumours in northern England and Ontario, Canada has been previously reported.

METHODS: We extracted data from the Scottish Cancer Registry to determine whether there was evidence of temporal clustering of neuroblastic tumours. Cases diagnosed in children and young adults aged 0-24 years between 2000 and 2020 were analysed. A modified version of the Potthoff-Whittinghill method was used to test for temporal clustering. Estimates of extra-Poisson variation (EPV) and standard errors (SE) were derived.

RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one cases of neuroblastic tumours, aged 0-24 years, were diagnosed during the study period. Overall, there was statistically significant temporal clustering between years within the full study period (EPV = 9.13, SE = 0.22, P < 0.001). In addition, for cases aged < 18 months, there was significant temporal clustering between months within quarters (EPV = 0.77, SE = 0.41, P = 0.044). For cases aged 18 months – 24 years, there was significant temporal clustering between fortnights within months (EPV = 1.00, SE = 0.47, P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS: The finding of temporal clustering is consistent with the involvement of one or more, as yet unknown, transient environmental agents in the aetiology of neuroblastic tumours.

PMID:41580800 | DOI:10.1186/s12940-026-01266-y

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01519-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: HIIT is a time-efficient aerobic exercise with potential for obesity prevention and control, as it achieves comparable or superior effects to traditional exercise in a shorter duration. This meta-analysis examines the differential effects of HIIT and MICT on body fat composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults, providing evidence for optimized exercise prescriptions.

METHODS: Searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for RCTs assessing HIIT cycling’s effects on fat reduction and cardiorespiratory fitness. Data were pooled using SMD in Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 18. Heterogeneity was evaluated via the I² statistic, with subgroup analyses stratified by population (disease, obese, sedentary).

RESULTS: Nineteen RCTs were included. Compared to MICT, HIIT significantly reduced BMI in obese populations (SMD = -0.59 kg/m², 95% CI: -0.84 to -0.34, P < 0.001), but slightly increased BMI in disease populations (SMD = 0.40 kg/m², 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.77, P = 0.042). For cardiorespiratory fitness, HIIT outperformed MICT in improving VO₂peak in obese populations (SMD = 0.23 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.45, P = 0.041) and sedentary populations (SMD = 6.21 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, 95% CI: 4.68 to 7.74, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: HIIT cycling demonstrates comparable efficacy to MICT for improving body composition, including body fat percentage, fat mass, and lean body mass in adults, while outperforming MICT in reducing BMI among obese individuals and enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness VO₂peak across obese and sedentary populations.

PMID:41580784 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-025-01519-2

BMC Womens Health. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s12905-026-04284-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Infertility is a major reproductive health issue affecting childbearing-age couples worldwide. Factors contributing to its increasing prevalence include delayed marriage and childbearing decisions, as well as exposure to environmental pollutants. In addition to directly causing fertility problems, infertility also negatively affects family relationships by causing psychological trauma, such as anxiety and depression, thereby reducing quality of life. Emotional state, fertility-related stress, fertility quality of life (FertiQoL), and coping strategies are associated with psychological resilience. However, according to existing studies, the relationships among coping strategies, FertiQoL, and psychological resilience, as well as the synergistic pathways between the former two and psychological resilience, remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations among coping strategies, FertiQoL, and psychological resilience. Additionally, it aims to investigate whether different coping strategies serve as a mediator between FertiQoL and psychological resilience.

METHOD: This study employed a cross-sectional research design and purposive sampling method. A total of 222 patients with infertility who visited a tertiary-level hospital in Hunan Province between January and December 2019 were selected as the study subjects. We measured psychological resilience specifically in those who reported an unfulfilled wish for a child. Additionally, FertiQoL and coping strategies were assessed. We used Pearson’s product moment correlation to examine the association of psychological resilience, FertiQoL and coping strategies. Using the Process v4.1 model, we examined the mediating function of various coping strategies in the association between psychological resilience and FertiQoL, and employed stratified multiple regression analysis to investigate the factors influencing psychological resilience.

RESULTS: In total, 222 patients with infertility presented psychological resilience scores that were below the Chinese norm (M = 66.34; SD = 13.90) and were moderately low (M = 60.42; SD = 12.18). Pearson’s correlation analyses revealed significant bivariate associations among the study variables. FertiQoL demonstrated a weak but statistically significant negative correlation with psychological resilience (r =-.149, p < .05), whereas both positive coping (r = .261, p < .05) and meaning-based coping strategies (r = .377, p < .05) showed moderate positive correlations. In contrast, neither active avoidance (r =-.029, p > .05) nor passive avoidance strategies (r = .115, p > .05) were significantly associated with psychological resilience. In the mediation analysis adjusted for covariates, introducing positive and meaning-based coping strategies as mediators significantly attenuated the standardized coefficient of the FertiQoL-resilience association, which decreased from B=-0.172 to B=-0.329. These results demonstrate that both coping strategies play a significant mediating role in the relationship between FertiQoL and psychological resilience, with positive coping strategies having an indirect effect on psychological resilience of 0.074 (95% CI [0.010, 0.140]) and meaning-based coping strategies having an indirect effect of 0.083 (95% CI [0.030, 0.149]). The magnitude of the mediated effect was 34.81% overall.

CONCLUSION: Infertility patients’ psychological resilience and FertiQoL are related, and positive coping and meaning-based coping strategies have some mediating effects on this relationship, indicating that these strategies may be important in reducing the detrimental effects of FertiQoL on psychological resilience. Positive coping and meaning-based coping strategies have been shown to be effective at preserving patients’ psychological well-being. These findings serve as a foundation for future research into focused intervention programs.

PMID:41580777 | DOI:10.1186/s12905-026-04284-7

Mov Ecol. 2026 Jan 24. doi: 10.1186/s40462-025-00621-x. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41580766 | DOI:10.1186/s40462-025-00621-x