Tag: pubmed

Dent Med Probl. 2025 May-Jun;62(3):521-526. doi: 10.17219/dmp/166408.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Root resorption (RR) is usually a consequence of dental trauma, pulpal infection, primary occlusal pressure, or orthodontic tooth movement, leading to the loss of anatomical root formation. As a result of apical RR, the apical constriction is destroyed, and the determination of the working length (WL) may become difficult.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of 4 different electronic apex locators (EALs) – ProPex® II, Propex Pixi®, DentaPort ZX, and DTE DPEX V – in the determination of WL in teeth with natural apical RR in the presence of different irrigation solutions (ISs).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 36 teeth with natural apical RR were included in the study. The actual length (AL) was determined under a stereomicroscope at ×15 magnification. Afterward, the electronic length (EL) was established by using 4 different EALs in the presence of different ISs. The ISs used in the measurements were freshly prepared, and 6 groups were organized based on the solution used. The control group was marked as group 1. For groups 2-6, 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% NaOCl, saline, 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), and 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) were used, respectively. After each measurement, the roots were washed with 5 mL of distilled water and dried with paper points before the same teeth were used in the subsequent group. The absolute length was subtracted from EL for each tooth to calculate the difference. The data was analyzed statistically.

RESULTS: For each device, there were no significant differences in the success rates between the ISs used. In group 1, there were no significant differences among the 4 EALs. In group 2, DentaPort ZX was significantly more successful than DTE DPEX V (p = 0.037). There were no significant differences among EALs in groups 3-6.

CONCLUSIONS: The difference between DentaPort ZX and DTE DPEX V was statistically significant in group 2 (1% NaOCl).

PMID:40658871 | DOI:10.17219/dmp/166408

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul 22;122(29):e2502691122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2502691122. Epub 2025 Jul 14.

ABSTRACT

Evaluating species’ roles in food webs is critical for advancing ecological theories on competition, coexistence, and biodiversity but is complicated by pronounced dietary variability within species and overlap across species. We combined dietary DNA metabarcoding, GPS tracking, and a machine-learning algorithm to cluster and compare dietary profiles within and among five migratory large-herbivore species from Yellowstone National Park. Interspecific niche partitioning was weak, but statistically significant (PERMANOVA: pseudo-F_4,498 = 14.7, R² = 0.11, P ≤ 0.001), such that some diet profiles from different species were as similar as those from within one species. Instead of affirming species’ identity as a primary determinant of diet composition, we found three statistically different clusters of diet profiles-one concentrated on graminoids and forbs, another on forbs and deciduous shrubs, and a third on gymnosperms-each including samples from all herbivore species. Clusters did not reflect traditional diet classification schemes such as the grazer-browser continuum that is often used to distinguish species by percent grass consumption or use of grassland habitat in African savannas. Instead, clusters in Yellowstone reflected seasonal dietary variation within species that often equaled or exceeded niche differences between species, contributing to our growing understanding of why environmental variability may favor generalist foraging strategies at temperate latitudes, whereas specialized grazer and browser guilds appear to predominate in tropical savannas. Data-driven strategies that untangle complex trophic networks without relying on a priori groupings can offer new insights into wildlife diets, with potential applications in resource management and environmental monitoring.

PMID:40658848 | DOI:10.1073/pnas.2502691122

J Leg Med. 2025 Jul 14:1-13. doi: 10.1080/01947648.2025.2524668. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Medical-legal partnerships (MLP) improve the ability of healthcare professionals to address patients’ socioeconomic concerns. The Finger Lakes Legal Care Project (FLLC) is an MLP of LawNY, a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal assistance in western New York. This study aimed to assess for changes in self-reported health outcomes following receipt of legal aid.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who received legal assistance through the FLLC Project were administered the Short Form-12 Health Survey (SF-12) at the outset and conclusion of legal intervention. Demographic information was collected. Survey responses were analyzed using paired t-tests.

RESULTS: Four hundred and eight participants with an average age of 49 years completed the pre-legal intervention survey and 123 individuals completed the survey post legal intervention. The majority of participants were White, non-Hispanic (36%) or African American (31.3%). There were statistically significant differences in the mean scores of two of the SF-12 questions. Participants reported that their health was less likely to limit their ability to perform regular activities (p = .037) and they felt “calm and peaceful” more frequently (p = .032) following legal aid.

CONCLUSIONS: Standardized surveys in conjunction with qualitative measures are needed to assess the efficacy of MLP models and establish a framework for emerging MLPs.

PMID:40658806 | DOI:10.1080/01947648.2025.2524668

Hepatol Commun. 2025 Jul 14;9(8):e0734. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000734. eCollection 2025 Aug 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Alcohol associated liver disease (ALD) is a common condition that is a significant global cause of morbidity and mortality. Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of adverse outcomes in other types of steatotic liver disease. This retrospective study sought to explore the relationship between ALD and DM.

METHODS: The Worldwide Alcohol-related Liver Disease Outcomes (WALDO) study is an international multicenter cohort of patients with biopsy-proven ALD. The presence of DM at baseline or during follow-up was noted. Clinical events after index biopsy were noted, including death and liver-associated clinical events (LACE). Risks for adverse outcomes were assessed with Cox proportional hazard models with DM as a time-dependent variable to reflect periods of time without or with diabetes. All analyses were done in R.

RESULTS: In total, 712 patients with a median age of 52 years were followed up for a median of 4.8 years (IQR: 1.2-9.5). At baseline, DM was present in 113 patients (15.9%), and a further 56 patients (7.8%) developed DM in follow-up. During follow-up, 113 patients developed LACE. One hundred fifty-two patients died from liver disease, and 46 underwent liver transplantation. DM was significantly associated with liver-related mortality (HR: 1.77, 1.15-2.73, p=0.009) and incident LACE (HR: 1.90, 1.23-2.95, p=0.004). In multivariable analysis, DM remained significantly associated with liver-related mortality (HR=1.79, 1.30-2.48, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: DM is a frequent comorbidity in persons with ALD and is associated with a higher risk of liver-related mortality. Patients’ diabetic status should be an important consideration for clinicians treating people with ALD.

PMID:40658799 | DOI:10.1097/HC9.0000000000000734

Hepatol Commun. 2025 Jul 14;9(8):e0740. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000740. eCollection 2025 Aug 1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: HEV is an important cause of morbidity in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. However, the total burden of hepatitis E, including subclinical infections in this group, is not well defined. We compared hepatitis E exposures in SOT recipients to non-transplant controls. We also examined the prevalence of rat HEV (rHEV), an emerging hepatitis agent, in this population.

METHODS: This study was conducted in the main SOT center in Hong Kong. Quantitative HEV IgG, RT-PCR, IgM, and IgG avidity assays were used to measure conventional HEV and rHEV exposures in 669 SOT recipients and 667 non-transplant hospitalized controls. Follow-up samples from a subset of SOT recipients were assessed to measure longitudinal HEV exposures.

RESULTS: Age-adjusted HEV IgG seroprevalence in SOT recipients (236/669; 35.3%) was significantly higher than non-transplant controls (185/667; 27.7%; p=0.001). Across baseline and follow-up samples, 25 (3.7%) SOT recipients had viremia (n=3) or serological evidence (n=22) of recent hepatitis E. The latter had IgM positivity (n=5), IgG seroconversion (n=16), or a 5-fold increase in longitudinal HEV IgG concentrations (n=1). Chronic hepatitis occurred in all 3 viremic individuals, while transient hepatitis was observed in 10/22 (45.4%) SOT recipients with serological evidence of recent hepatitis E. rHEV IgG levels were similar between SOT recipients and controls (p=0.424), but 2 viremic infections in the SOT group were due to rHEV and both turned chronic.

CONCLUSIONS: SOT recipients have higher hepatitis E seroprevalence than the non-transplant population. Increased exposure is driven by viremic infections and a significant burden of subclinical infections in Hong Kong. rHEV is an important cause of chronic hepatitis E in SOT recipients.

PMID:40658785 | DOI:10.1097/HC9.0000000000000740

Ethics Hum Res. 2025 Jul-Aug;47(4):18-28. doi: 10.1002/eahr.60010.

ABSTRACT

Nominal cash and gift card incentives provided to research participants have immediate financial benefits but make no lasting improvements to participants’ lives or social inequities they might experience. Our study examined the acceptability of offering a nonmonetary educational incentive as an added option to research participants as a potential to advance antiracism and address social inequities. Community members (n = 128) completed a quantitative survey; nine of whom also participated in a qualitative interview. Focus group discussions occurred with 11 researchers. Survey data were analyzed to obtain descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using an iterative process guided by template analysis. Survey participants’ mean age was 45 years; 39% were white and 30% were Hispanic/Latinx; 80% were male; 39% had completed some college; 45% had a degree; and 71% reported previous paid participation in a research or community program. Of this group, 80% preferred cash or gift card incentives; 16% preferred an educational incentive; and 88% were likely to extremely likely to use educational incentives. Qualitative data indicated that educational incentives were acceptable but should not replace cash incentives; successful implementation would require organizational support. Noncash educational incentives may be acceptable to research participants and researchers and would help address social inequities. Successful implementation would require further research.

PMID:40658773 | DOI:10.1002/eahr.60010

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Jul 14;21(7):e1013227. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013227. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Chlamydia is an intracellular bacterium that reproduces via an unusual developmental cycle that only occurs within a eukaryotic host cell. A replicating form of the bacterium (RB) repeatedly divides to produce about a thousand progeny, which convert in a delayed and asynchronous manner into the infectious form (EB). The regulatory mechanisms that control this developmental switch are unknown, but they could potentially include extrinsic signals from the host cell or other chlamydiae, or an intrinsic signal such as chlamydial cell size. In this paper, we investigated the regulation of RB-to-EB conversion by developing and analyzing three mathematical models, each based on a different regulatory mechanism. To test these models, we derived statistical evidence from parameters, including number, size and location of RBs and EBs, obtained from experimental measurements and model fitting. All three models successfully reproduced the experimentally measured timing of RB-to-EB conversion and growth curves of the developmental forms in an infected cell. However, only the size control model, which postulates that RB size is an intrinsic signal that regulates the timing of RB-to-EB conversion, reproduced two additional statistical properties of the intracellular infection. These properties are a positive correlation between the number of RBs and EBs throughout the developmental cycle and the monotonic evolution of the coefficient of variation of EB number. This analysis thus provides support for the size control model.

PMID:40658728 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013227

PLoS One. 2025 Jul 14;20(7):e0327870. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327870. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between diagnosis of depressive disorder, the number of bad mental health days per month, and diabetes management behaviors among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were drawn from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2018-2021), including 2,272 self-identified non-Hispanic AI/AN adults diagnosed with non-gestational diabetes. Key variables included a self-reported prior diagnosis of depressive disorder and the number of bad mental health days in the past month. Outcome variables were seven diabetes management behaviors, such as taking a diabetes management class and performing daily foot checks. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Among the participants, 24.8% were diagnosed with depressive disorder, and 19.5% reported at least 14 bad mental health days in the past month. Logistic regression models show that those reporting depressive disorders were significantly less likely to check their feet daily (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34-0.92). Individuals with at least 14 bad mental health days were significantly less likely to have ever taken a diabetes management class (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36-0.99) and check their feet daily (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.21-0.65) than those reporting no bad mental health days.

CONCLUSIONS: Depressive disorders and frequent bad mental health days were associated with lower odds of diabetes management behaviors among AI/AN adults. These findings suggest that enhancing mental health support within diabetes management programs may help address disparities in diabetes care among AI/AN adults.

PMID:40658702 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0327870

J Vis Exp. 2025 Jun 24;(220). doi: 10.3791/68400.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) mobile neuroimaging technology to examine changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity before, during, and after yoga asana (physical yoga postures). A total of 27 healthy adults participated in a 23 min yoga asana session using a block design. Before and after the sequence, participants completed two 6 min, task-independent resting states. PFC activity was continuously recorded using the fNIRS instrument, positioned on the frontal area of the skull. The session included a control posture alternating with three active postures. Each active posture was held for 30 s, followed by a 25-30 s control posture interval, and repeated eight times. This block design resulted in 25 control posture intervals and 24 repetitions of each active posture. Analysis included preprocessing of raw fNIRS data to calculate concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR), motion artifact correction, and statistical evaluation using ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections. Connectivity analyses examined interhemispheric and intrahemispheric correlations in the prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the utility of fNIRS in real-world, movement-based contexts and provides neurological insights into the effects of yoga asana.

PMID:40658699 | DOI:10.3791/68400

PLoS One. 2025 Jul 14;20(7):e0327130. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327130. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: People living with HIV (PLWH) who use tobacco face significant public health risks compared to non-users, including an average loss of 12.3 years of life expectancy. Tobacco use increases the likelihood of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and non-AIDS-related cancers.

AIM: This study investigated factors associated with tobacco smoking and smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among PLWH in Zambia.

METHODS: Data were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey involving 5,204 PLWH from 193 clinics across Zambia’s 10 provinces. Tobacco smoking, SLT use, behavioral patterns, and clinical characteristics were assessed. Logistic regression was used to determine unadjusted (UOR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS: Among the 5,204 PLWH surveyed, 9.7% were current tobacco smokers (21.9% men, 3.7% women), while 1.4% used smokeless tobacco (1.81% men, 1.26% women). In the multivariable analysis, several factors were identified as predictors of tobacco smoking. Male individuals had significantly higher odds of smoking (AOR: 4.81, 95% CI: 3.36-6.90). In contrast, higher educational attainment was associated with lower odds of smoking (AOR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.16-0.52). Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased likelihood of smoking (AOR: 4.97, 95% CI: 2.93-8.44). Additionally, overweight or obese individuals were less likely to smoke, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.55 (95% CI: 0.35-0.85) and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.17-0.79), respectively. Non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) was also associated with higher smoking rates (AOR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.14-2.67). Similarly, several factors were identified as predictors of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use. Individuals with an annual income exceeding 4,000 ZMW had lower odds of using SLT (AOR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.14-0.73). In contrast, alcohol users exhibited significantly higher odds of SLT use (AOR: 14.74, 95% CI: 1.99-109.02). Furthermore, non-adherence to ART was associated with an increased likelihood of SLT use (AOR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.54-7.17).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce tobacco use among PLWH in Zambia. Integrating these measures within the existing healthcare framework can maximize impact. Gender-specific programs addressing unique risk factors, alongside economic empowerment initiatives for low-income females, could help curb SLT use. Additionally, reinforcing ART adherence through tobacco cessation counseling within HIV care settings may lower smoking rates. Given the strong association between alcohol consumption and tobacco use, structured behavioral interventions and support programs should also be prioritized. Strengthening collaborations between health authorities and community organizations can further enhance accessibility and outreach. By embedding these strategies within primary care and ART clinics, Zambia can effectively reduce tobacco use among PLWH, ultimately improving overall health outcomes and strengthening HIV management efforts.

PMID:40658694 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0327130