Tag: pubmed

Malar J. 2026 Jul 25;25(1):288. doi: 10.1186/s12936-026-06066-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Experimental huts are the gold standard for the semi-field evaluation of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) but the design of the huts used varies markedly between sites. Structural differences may influence mosquito behaviour – and, consequently, the measured efficacy of ITNs. This raises concerns about the comparability, validity, and policy relevance of trial outcomes. We assessed the influence of four commonly used hut designs on entomological endpoints central to ITN evaluations.

METHODS: A 126-night comparative trial was conducted in Tanzania, using 18 experimental huts in two contiguous 9 × 9 Latin squares. Four hut types-East African, West African, Ifakara, and Rapley-were tested with PRONet Duo, Interceptor^® G2, MAGNet^®, and untreated nets. Sleepers and treatments were rotated throughout the trial. The primary outcome was 72-h mortality (M72); secondary outcomes were mosquito density, blood-feeding success, and exiting. Endpoint estimates for each hut type were compared using East African huts as the reference. Non-inferiority analysis of PRONet Duo in each hut type were compared with findings from a sister trial conducted exclusively in West African huts in West Africa.

RESULTS: A total of 22611 Anopheles gambiae s.l. (99.9% An. arabiensis) were collected. Rapley and Ifakara huts captured over six times more mosquitoes than East African huts (rate ratio [RR] = 6.50 and 6.22, respectively; both p < 0.0001), whereas West African huts caught 88% fewer mosquitoes (RR = 0.12, p < 0.0001). West African huts recorded the highest mortality (70%) and blood feeding (15%) whilst the other hut types recorded 40-46% mortality and 3-8% blood feeding. All hut designs and the West African sister trial detected the same direction of effect between PRONet Duo and Interceptor^® G2 and predicted non-inferiority of PRONet Duo, although smaller sample sizes limited statistical certainty in East African and West African huts in Tanzania.

CONCLUSIONS: Experimental hut design substantially affected key entomological outcomes, influencing both the magnitude of measured efficacy of ITNs and the statistical power of trials. Whilst relative product performance was broadly consistent across designs, absolute values varied widely, underscoring the need for greater standardisation of hut architecture in ITN evaluations. Harmonising experimental hut designs and reporting standards would strengthen cross-site comparability, improving the reliability of vector control product assessments, and enhancing the evidence base for global malaria control policy.

PMID:42568085 | DOI:10.1186/s12936-026-06066-w

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Aug 8;26(1):1384. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-09486-x.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Reliable sex estimation using dental metrics has important implications for clinical assessment and forensic identification, particularly in adolescents where skeletal indicators may be limited. This study aimed to validate the accuracy and clinical applicability of a digital odontometric model for sex estimation in an Egyptian adolescent population.

METHODS: A total of 150 dental casts from individuals aged 12-19 years were digitized using a high-resolution three-dimensional scanner. Mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions of the permanent first molars, mesiodistal widths of the maxillary canines, and intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar arch widths were obtained using Facad Ortho tracing software. Statistical comparisons between sexes were performed, and discriminant function analysis was applied to construct and validate a predictive model for sex estimation.

RESULTS: All measured parameters demonstrated significantly higher mean values in males compared with females (p < 0.05). The buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions of the maxillary first molar exhibited the greatest sexual dimorphism (26.95% and 25.98%, respectively). The developed discriminant function model achieved a prediction accuracy of 97.8% for males and 100% for females.

CONCLUSIONS: Digital odontometric analysis provides a promising approach for assessing sexual dimorphism in adolescents, pending external validation. This promising model may serve as a reliable adjunct for clinical evaluation and forensic identification within population-specific contexts pending further multicenter validation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Digital measurement of tooth and arch dimensions enables objective, standardized assessment of sex-related differences, supporting its integration into orthodontic diagnostics, treatment planning, and forensic casework where conventional skeletal indicators may be unavailable or inconclusive.

PMID:42568081 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-026-09486-x

BMC Oral Health. 2026 Aug 8;26(1):1383. doi: 10.1186/s12903-026-09411-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Conventional removable partial dentures (RPDs) involve a process that is often susceptible to errors and demands a significant investment of time. The introduction of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology and materials witnessed significant advancements in recent years to produce accurate removable partial dentures. This study evaluated the retention and wear of PolyEtherKetoneKetone (PEKK) compared to Cobalt-Chromium (CoCr) in digitally fabricated double crown removable partial dentures for lower Kennedy Class I cases.

METHODS: The study was performed on 3D digital models of mandibular Kennedy Class I with prepared premolars bilaterally. The double crown RPDs were designed and fabricated digitally to get 14 copies of RPDs. Two groups were defined (n = 7); the first group were milled from Co-Cr discs, and the other’s from PEKK blanks. Initial retention was measured using a universal testing machine. RPDs were then subjected to dynamic loading in a chewing simulator over 100,000 cycles followed by 540 manual insertion and removal cycles and were remounted on the testing machine to measure final retention simulating six months. Wear was assessed using Geomagic Control X software, where negative deviations highlighted areas of degradation. Data was collected and analyzed for statistical analysis. Two Sample t-test was used to compare between the two groups and Paired t test to study the changes within each group. The significance level was set at P ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS: PEKK group showed a statistically significantly higher final retentive values after 6 months (11.6 N) than Co-Cr (2 N). Moreover, results showed higher retention loss in Co-Cr group (16.9 N) compared to PEKK (3.7 N). Additionally, wear assessment of primary copings indicated a higher deviation in the Co-Cr group (-0.25 mm) compared to PEKK (-0.096 mm), with a notable correlation (0.651, P-value = 0.011) between retention loss and wear.

CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitation of this study, it could be concluded that PEKK provided digitally fabricated double crown RPDs with higher retention values and less wear than Co-Cr after simulation of 6 months of RPD use.

PMID:42568076 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-026-09411-2

BMC Psychiatry. 2026 Jul 24;26(1):610. doi: 10.1186/s12888-026-08412-3.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction and distress are common among depressed patients and significantly affect their quality of life. This study aims to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and distress and identify potential associated factors.

METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with data collection from April to June, 2025. The study involved 258 participants with depression aged 18-65, recruited using a convenience sampling technique. The study tool consisted of a questionnaire we developed to assess sociodemographic and other factors and the validated Arabic versions of the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R) to measure sexual distress and the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) to evaluate sexual functioning.

RESULTS: The ASEX mean total score was 18.04 ± 6.4, with 45.74% of participants exhibiting sexual dysfunction. A statistically significant relation was found between sexual dysfunction and female sex (p < 0.001), lower monthly income (p = 0.004), history of chronic diseases (p = 0.022), taking medications for them (p = 0.016), and experiencing physical symptoms (p = 0.001). The FSDS-R mean total score was 20.62 ± 14.4, and 72.09% were deemed to be experiencing sexual distress. A statistically significant relation was found between experiencing sexual distress and marital status (p = 0.008), having other psychiatric disorders (p = 0.048), positive history of smoking cigarettes (p = 0.010) and its duration (p = 0.024), and positive history of chronic diseases (p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION: The study highlights the concerning figures of sexual dysfunction and distress among patients with depression and that numerous factors could be associated with them. These findings underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving teams from psychiatry, gynecology, and urology. The findings also reflect the need to screen for high-risk groups, such as those with other psychiatric and chronic medical illnesses. Moreover, the findings highlight the need for prevention, early detection, and effective intervention for sexual dysfunction and distress to mitigate their negative consequences.

PMID:42568075 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-026-08412-3

Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2026 Aug 7;21(1):268. doi: 10.1186/s13023-026-04529-6.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42568074 | DOI:10.1186/s13023-026-04529-6

Am J Health Promot. 2026 Aug 7:8901171261468183. doi: 10.1177/08901171261468183. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PurposeTo determine whether the specificity of mandates in Wisconsin’s state comprehensive planning statute is associated with the inclusion and actionability of healthy eating and active living items in local comprehensive plans.DesignRetrospective, cross-sectional, multilevel policy content analysis.SettingWisconsin.Sample93 local comprehensive plans, stratified by urbanicity and regional planning commission area.MeasuresLocal comprehensive plans were scored using the Healthy Living and Active Design Scorecard for Comprehensive Plans. Wisconsin’s state comprehensive planning statute was evaluated for general or specific mandates for each item in the Scorecard.AnalysisDifference in weighted percentage of municipalities scoring for items not mandated, mandated with general language, and mandated with specific language; one-sided Welch difference of means tests.ResultsMandating an item with general language is associated with a 33.6 percentage point higher inclusion rate in local plans and mandating an item with specific language is associated with a 50.2 percentage point higher inclusion rate in local plans. All differences are statistically significant at the 0.05 confidence level.ConclusionHealthy eating and active living items that are mandated by state statute are more likely to be included in local comprehensive plans than items that are not mandated. Mandated items are also more likely to be included in local comprehensive plans in an actionable manner, which may make them more likely to be implemented.

PMID:42568066 | DOI:10.1177/08901171261468183

Scand J Prim Health Care. 2026 Dec;44(1):2712981. doi: 10.1080/02813432.2026.2712981. Epub 2026 Aug 7.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between alcohol consumption and the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and all-cause mortality exhibits significant regional variation.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study aimed to investigate this association analyzing data from a cohort of Swedish men aged 45-50 years at baseline, evaluating subgroups over various time intervals, and compiling data on cardiovascular endpoints.

METHODS: The Coeur study, conducted between 1993 and 1995, included 973 middle-aged male employees out of a randomly selected sample of 1144 individuals from a Swedish automotive company. Participants were followed for 30 years using national health registers. The accumulated incidence of first-time stroke, first-time MI and all-cause mortality was calculated and adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. Data analysis employed time-to-event methods (Kaplan-Meier’s estimates and hazard ratios) and measures of association (odds ratios and correlation analysis).

RESULTS: No statistically significant association was observed between alcohol consumption and stroke (p > 0.05). However, alcohol consumption was associated with lower odds of MI (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41-0.79) and a slight increase in survival time (HR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995-1.000). Alcohol consumers had a median survival advantage of 1.3 years compared to non-consumers. All beverage types showed a negative association with all-cause mortality (total alcohol: OR = 0.57; beer: OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50-0.92; wine: OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.41-0.75). Conversely, beer consumption was linked to higher odds of MI (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.05-2.75).

CONCLUSIONS: While alcohol consumption in middle-aged men after 30 years follow-up is associated with increased survival time, beer correlates with a higher likelihood of MI.

PMID:42568036 | DOI:10.1080/02813432.2026.2712981

Neurocrit Care. 2026 Aug 7. doi: 10.1007/s12028-026-02597-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

There is limited real-world evidence on the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in Latin America. This study describes the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of RSE in a tertiary neurological intensive care unit (NICU) in Mexico. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults (≥ 18 years) with RSE admitted from 2010 to 2022. All patients were initially analyzed as a single cohort; a prespecified secondary analysis stratified patients by preexisting epilepsy and identified those with new-onset RSE (NORSE). Patients were identified via electronic medical records and met the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) definition. Clinical, imaging, laboratory, and EEG data were collected. Outcomes included seizure cessation, functional status at NICU discharge (mRS), and prognostic scores (STESS and END-IT). Statistical analysis involved descriptive measures, chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests, t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and multinomial logistic regression. Significance was set at p < 0.05. We analyzed 102 patients with RSE; 52.9% were women, median age 34 (26-44) years. Preexisting epilepsy was present in 70.6%, and 29.4% had NORSE. Most common etiologies were infections (23.5%), structural/vascular (22.5%), and treatment-related (16.7%). EEG most commonly showed slowing; interictal epileptiform discharges appeared in 27.7%. Treatment was heterogeneous; 82.4% required third-line therapy. Median hospitalization was 21.5 days, with mechanical ventilation averaging 8 days. Resolution occurred in 87.3%. One patient underwent surgery, without complications. Preexisting epilepsy was significantly associated with prior SE (p = 0.011), resolution (p = 0.001), unfavorable mRS (p = 0.046), and higher STESS (p = 0.001) and END-IT (p = 0.021) scores. END-IT also correlated with third-line treatment (p < 0.001). This study offers real-world insights into RSE in a resource-limited setting, highlighting preventable causes, management complexity, and high care demands. Despite limitations, favorable outcomes are often achievable.

PMID:42568019 | DOI:10.1007/s12028-026-02597-x

Atten Percept Psychophys. 2026 Aug 7;88(7):174. doi: 10.3758/s13414-026-03319-3.

ABSTRACT

Previous research has shown that production of an action toward a visual stimulus may prioritize features of that stimulus for a brief period of time. One recent report has suggested that such an action effect specifically influences ensemble processing – the extraction of summary statistics from a display of multiple items. In the present study we replicate the results that led to that conclusion by having participants assess the mean size of elements in an ensemble after having made an action to either a small or large object. The size of the acted-on object biased the ensemble judgment, but merely viewing the same object produced no such bias. In two subsequent experiments we found the same pattern of results when participants were asked to judge the size of an individual object – not an ensemble. Because the same pattern occurred even when ensemble processing was not required, the action appears to affect some aspect of the task other than ensemble processing (such as perception of visual stimuli in general, or processes related to memory, decision making or response selection), limiting the conclusions that are possible about ensemble processing, but revealing an important new effect of action.

PMID:42568018 | DOI:10.3758/s13414-026-03319-3

Int Ophthalmol. 2026 Aug 8;46(1):329. doi: 10.1007/s10792-026-04201-9.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To identify determinants of visually significant cataract among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending a tertiary eye care center hospital in south Ethiopia.

METHODS: An unmatched case-control study was conducted at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital-Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center from February to April 2024. We enrolled 80 cases and 160 controls. The data were collected through interviews, physical measurements, and medical records revision using a pretested questionnaire. Variables with a P-value < 0.2 in a Pearson’s chi-square test were included in a multivariate logistic regression model, where a P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance of the predictors.

RESULTS: The response rate was 91.95%. Significant predictors of visually significant cataract were urban residence (AOR = 3.58, 95% CI 1.53-7.42), current substance use (AOR = 6.29, 95% CI 3.16-9.28), diabetes duration of 2-5 years (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.30-6.74), diabetes duration > 5 years (AOR = 4.35, 95% CI 2.14-7.38), and comorbid hypertension (AOR = 4.01, 95% CI 2.15-8.19).

CONCLUSION: Urban residency, current substance use, longer duration of diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were statistically significant predictors of visually significant cataract. Early and periodic eye screening for these high-risk groups is essential for timely intervention.

PMID:42568015 | DOI:10.1007/s10792-026-04201-9