Tag: pubmed

Mult Scler. 2026 Apr 26:13524585261435415. doi: 10.1177/13524585261435415. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Depression is prevalent among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) yet frequently goes undetected and untreated. Time constraints are a barrier to depression screening in MS clinics. We evaluated the clinical utility, diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of the Two-Question Screening tool (2QS) for routine, in-clinic depression screening.

OBJECTIVES: A prospective cross-sectional study of 207 consecutively recruited adults with MS (Mage = 47.3 ± 12.7, 77.3% female) was conducted at a metropolitan MS Clinic. Clinicians administered the 2QS during in-clinic or telehealth consultations. To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the 2QS in identifying depression, participants underwent a Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (SCID-5) for major depressive disorder (MDD), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Internal consistency, convergent validity and clinician feasibility were assessed.

RESULTS: The 2QS had 100% (95% CI: 71%-100%) sensitivity and 68% (95% CI: 60%-76%) specificity for detecting MDD. Clinician screening adherence was 76%. For the in-clinic subsample, clinician-administered 2QS correlations were SCID-5 MDD, r = 0.39 (r = 0.60 with subthreshold depression symptoms added); PHQ-9, r = 0.73; and DASS-D, r = 0.74.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinician-administered 2QS is valid and feasible for routine depression screening at MS clinic appointments. With high sensitivity and acceptable specificity, the clinician-administered 2QS is suitable to improve depression detection in people with MS.

PMID:42035454 | DOI:10.1177/13524585261435415

Vet Med Sci. 2026 May;12(3):e70937. doi: 10.1002/vms3.70937.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Giardiasis is a common protozoal infection in cats, often treated with nitroimidazole derivatives such as metronidazole and secnidazole. However, there are concerns about resistance to nitroimidazoles and their adverse effects. Recent in vitro studies suggest that omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, exhibits anti-giardial effects by inhibiting giardial triosephosphate isomerase. No clinical studies have evaluated its efficacy in naturally infected cats.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess and compare the anti-giardial efficacy of omeprazole, metronidazole, and secnidazole in cats naturally infected with Giardia duodenalis, based on faecal cyst shedding and clinical parameters.

METHODS: Forty-eight naturally infected cats were randomly assigned to four groups: omeprazole (1 mg/kg/day for 7 days), metronidazole (25 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days), secnidazole (30 mg/kg single dose), and placebo. Faecal cyst shedding was evaluated using the zinc sulphate flotation technique on days 0, 7 and 14. Faecal consistency was scored daily, and haematological parameters were assessed on days 0, 7 and 14.

RESULTS: By day 7, faecal cyst positivity was 50% in both the omeprazole and metronidazole groups, 58.3% in the secnidazole group, and 83.3% in the placebo group. The reduction observed in the omeprazole and metronidazole groups was statistically significant compared with the placebo (p < 0.05). By day 14, cyst positivity further decreased to 33.3% (omeprazole), 41.7% (metronidazole), and 50% (secnidazole), with omeprazole showing the lowest positivity rate among the treatments. Faecal scores improved significantly earlier in the omeprazole and metronidazole groups compared with secnidazole and placebo (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole demonstrated promising anti-giardial efficacy, with reductions in cyst shedding and improvements in faecal consistency comparable to metronidazole. These findings suggest that omeprazole may serve as a potential alternative treatment option for feline giardiasis.

PMID:42035445 | DOI:10.1002/vms3.70937

Echocardiography. 2026 May;43(5):e70475. doi: 10.1111/echo.70475.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1) is a rare, multisystemic lysosomal storage disorder in which cardiac involvement may remain clinically silent for years. Conventional echocardiographic indices often fail to detect early myocardial dysfunction. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) allows the assessment of subclinical myocardial deformation and may provide incremental prognostic information. This study aimed to investigate the association between ventricular deformation parameters and worsening disease severity, assessed by the Disease Severity Scoring System (DS3), using a bootstrap-based statistical approach suitable for rare disease cohorts.

METHODS: Patients with GD1 underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography, including STE-derived left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) and right ventricular (RV) longitudinal strain analysis. Conventional systolic parameters were also recorded. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of worsening DS3 score. To enhance statistical robustness in this small cohort, bootstrapping with 10 000 resamples was applied.

RESULTS: Conventional systolic parameters, including left ventricular ejection fraction, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, peak systolic velocity of the tricuspid annulus, and RV fractional area change, were within normal ranges and did not differ significantly between GD1 patients and healthy controls (p = NS for all). In contrast, STE revealed significantly reduced longitudinal deformation in GD1 patients for both the LV (-20.1% ± 1.3 vs. -22.4% ± 2.6, p = 0.029) and RV (-22.2% ± 2.3 vs. -25.4% ± 3.7, p = 0.036). In the bootstrap-adjusted multivariable model, LV GLS was the only independent predictor of worsening DS3 score (B = 26.024, p < 0.001; 95% CI: 2.669-47.893).

CONCLUSION: Myocardial deformation abnormalities precede detectable changes in conventional systolic indices in GD1. LV GLS is a robust and independent predictor of increasing disease severity. STE may therefore represent a valuable tool for early detection of subclinical cardiac involvement and risk stratification in this rare disease population.

PMID:42035441 | DOI:10.1111/echo.70475

Orv Hetil. 2026 Apr 26;167(17):651-660. doi: 10.1556/650.2026.33525. Print 2026 Apr 26.

ABSTRACT

The authors provide an overview of the effects of physiotherapy on the immune response. Immunomodulation plays a decisive role in the analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms underlying physiotherapy. Exercise is the most prominent physiotherapy treatment, for which the most evidence exists. The skeletal muscle is a secretory organ that releases myokines in response to movement. One of the best-known of these is irisin, a movement-induced myokine. Irisin plays an important role in inhibiting oxidative stress, reducing systemic inflammatory responses, and providing neuroprotection. It also has a positive effect on the functions of regulatory T cells, modulates immune cells, and increases the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Physiotherapy plays a significant role in improving the clinical condition of patients with autoimmune diseases. The beneficial tumor-immunological effects of regular physical activity are not accompanied by harmful side effects. Physiotherapy increases the number of natural killer cells, which play an important role in the defense against tumors. Massage, electrotherapy, and photomodulation treatments also affect the immune response. Following radon and sulfur bath treatments, statistically significant reductions in cytokine levels and other inflammatory biomarkers were observed. The anti-inflammatory effect of whole-body cryotherapy may also be due to a decrease in interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor levels. Knowledge of the effects of physiotherapy treatments on the immune response may be an important consideration when choosing a treatment strategy for these diseases. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(17): 651-660.

PMID:42035409 | DOI:10.1556/650.2026.33525

G3 (Bethesda). 2026 Apr 24:jkag100. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkag100. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Identifying population structure from genetic data is a key challenge, for which several statistical methods have been developed, including F-statistics, which measure the average correlation in allele frequency differences between two pairs of populations. F-statistics are typically applied to a subset of genetic variation within the common allele frequency band, available through microarrays and SNP enrichment techniques. Recent advances in sequencing technology increasingly allow generating whole-genome sequencing data, both ancient and modern, which not only enable querying nearly every base of the genome, but also contain numerous rare variants. Rare variants, with their more population-specific distribution, allow detection of recent population structure with much finer resolution than common variants – an opportunity that has so far been under-exploited. Here, we develop a new statistical method, RAS (Rare Allele Sharing), for summarizing rare allele frequency correlations, similar to F-statistics but with flexible ascertainment on allele frequencies. We test RAS on both published and simulated data and find that RAS, with appropriate ascertainment, has better resolution than genome-wide F-statistics in identifying population structure caused by recent demographic events. Leveraging this, we further develop the use of RAS to compute ancestry proportions accurately in cases of recently diverged and closely-related source populations. We implemented the new statistical methods as an R package and a command line tool. In summary, our method can provide new perspectives to identify and model population structure, allowing us to understand more subtle relationships among populations in the recent human past.

PMID:42035364 | DOI:10.1093/g3journal/jkag100

IISE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors. 2026 Apr 26:1-11. doi: 10.1080/24725838.2026.2653520. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Occupational ApplicationsThis study protocol outlines a co-design approach to develop a workplace-based intervention for radiographers to prevent and manage work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and enhance overall well-being. By engaging radiographers, occupational health specialists, and other relevant stakeholders in the intervention design process, the resulting interventions will be tailored specifically to the physical, cognitive, and organizational demands of imaging work. Beyond radiography, the methodology offers a transferable, step-by-step framework for identifying occupation-specific risk factors and translating these findings into tailored, feasible solutions. The protocol advances ergonomics practice by shifting from a prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach to a collaborative, context-specific design, thereby ensuring that any resulting intervention is both evidence-informed and operationally sustainable, and aligned with real-world workplace needs.

PMID:42035363 | DOI:10.1080/24725838.2026.2653520

Public Health Rep. 2026 Apr 26:333549261435518. doi: 10.1177/00333549261435518. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Accurate mortality data for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people are critical for describing health disparities and program planning needs. We describe the rates of leading causes of death among non-Hispanic AI/AN as compared with non-Hispanic White populations living in the same area, by sex and Indian Health Service (IHS) Area in 2020.

METHODS: We used the 2020 US Cancer Statistics AI/AN Mortality Database and SEER*Stat software to calculate sex-specific age-adjusted death rates (per 100 000 population) for the 15 leading causes of death among non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White people in the United States overall (all areas combined), by IHS Area, and by age group. We restricted analyses to non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White people living in Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Area counties.

RESULTS: Death rates were higher among non-Hispanic AI/AN people than among non-Hispanic White people in the United States overall (rate ratio = 1.90) and in every IHS Area (rate ratio range = 1.11-2.78). Death rates also varied by sex and age. Death rates were nearly 4 times higher among non-Hispanic AI/AN people than among non-Hispanic White people in the 25- to 44-year age group. Leading causes of death among non-Hispanic AI/AN males and females included COVID-19, heart disease, unintentional injury, cancer, and chronic liver disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Death rates differed between non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic White people by IHS Area, sex, and age when data corrected for racial misclassification were used. Our findings have important implications for guiding future public health practice to address disparities in mortality, particularly in the context of public health emergencies.

PMID:42035359 | DOI:10.1177/00333549261435518

West Afr J Med. 2025 Dec 30;42(9):747-754.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are recognized contributors to road traffic accidents (RTAs). However, the association between OSA, EDS, and RTAs remains underexplored among Nigerian truck drivers.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 306 adult male long-distance truck drivers in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The Berlin Questionnaire was used to assess the risk of OSA while the Epworth Sleepiness Scale evaluated excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and self-reported previous RTAs were adapted in the questionnaire.

RESULTS: The mean age (SD) of the truck drivers was 42.3±9.1 years. The prevalence of snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and dozing off while driving among the participants was 57%, 46.7% and 21% respectively. Overall, 43.5% of truck drivers were identified as having high risk for OSA. The risk factors associated with OSA were advanced age (50 years and above), self-reported systemic hypertension, obesity and increased neck circumference. In the three years preceding the study, approximately one-third of truck drivers reported being involved in RTAs which was associated with the use of stimulants aOR 11.63(95%CI 3.73 to 36.24, p=0.001), sleeping pills aOR 5.26(95%CI 1.50 to 18.40, p=0.001), high OSA risk aOR 2.21 (95%CI 1.60 to 4.80, p=0.03), EDS aOR 2.75(1.60 to 4.80, p=0.001) and extended working hours aOR 1.02(95%CI 1.00 to 1.04, p=0.03). More than 90% of the drivers were unaware that EDS constitutes a medical concern.

CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness, and obstructive sleep apnoea among truck drivers highlights the underrecognized contributors to road traffic accidents. This underscores the need for targeted sleep disordered screening and regulatory interventions by policymakers to improve road safety in Nigeria.

PMID:42035348

Am J Ind Med. 2026 Apr 26. doi: 10.1002/ajim.70084. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) is a source of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for firefighters working in aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) settings. However, data characterizing the association between serum PFAS concentrations and exposure risk factors for ARFF firefighters are limited.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, ARFF firefighters (N = 193) from six U.S. commercial airports provided serum for quantification of nine PFAS and completed a survey in 2019-2020. A drinking water sample from each fire station was also analyzed for 29 PFAS. Serum PFAS concentrations were compared with demographically-similar participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-March 2020. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify factors associated with serum PFAS concentrations.

RESULTS: Geometric mean serum concentrations of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) branched isomers, and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) were statistically higher in ARFF firefighters compared with NHANES participants. PFAS were detected in tap water at three fire departments, but only one department was characterized by detection of select PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFOS, and PFHxS) in both water and serum. Past employment, detection of PFAS in drinking water, and age were positively associated with select PFAS concentrations; a recent change in workplace AFFF behavior or practice, female sex, and Black race exhibited inverse associations.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants reporting changes in workplace behavior, policy, or practice had lower summed PFAS concentrations, suggesting these measures may help reduce exposure. Continued research is needed to evaluate exposure reduction strategies for firefighters, particularly those working in ARFF settings.

PMID:42035339 | DOI:10.1002/ajim.70084

Stat Med. 2026 May;45(10-12):e70570. doi: 10.1002/sim.70570.

ABSTRACT

With the advent of high-throughput techniques, multi-omics data and various clinical outcomes have been collected for a range of diseases. Multi-omics data play a crucial role in uncovering complex biological processes, yet simultaneous representation learning of such high-dimensional, heterogeneous multi-modality data along with clinical outcomes remains limited. To address this gap, we propose a supervised knowledge-guided Bayesian factor model for integrative analysis of multi-omics and clinical outcome data. The proposed method simultaneously extracts an informative low-dimensional representation and predicts one or more clinical outcomes of interest. The two-level adaptive shrinkage in the novel hierarchical priors allows for the identification of both active modalities and features, resulting in a biologically meaningful structural identification of the high-dimensional data. Moreover, the method is robust to noisy edges in biological graphs that do not align with ground truth. Finally, the proposed method can handle different data types including both continuous and categorical data. Extensive simulation studies and real data analyses of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) data demonstrate the advantages of the proposed approach over existing methods. Notably, our analysis of multi-omics and imaging phenotype data from ADNI provides meaningful insights into the underlying biological mechanisms of AD.

PMID:42035335 | DOI:10.1002/sim.70570