Tag: pubmed

Int J Clin Pharm. 2025 Jun 20. doi: 10.1007/s11096-025-01954-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: It is important for health professional societies to involve members in defining their roles and future activities including research priorities.

AIM: This study aimed to identify members’ views on the areas of research that European Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) should prioritise in delivering research support, research projects and education.

METHOD: An online questionnaire was initially developed by the ESCP Research Committee and reviewed by the research team. It included structured and open-ended items related to respondents’ demographics, research experience, views on future research priorities, topics that ESCP should prioritise, and barriers to research involvement. After testing face and content validity, the questionnaire was sent to all ESCP members (N = 417). Descriptive statistics and summative content analysis were used.

RESULTS: Eighty-two responses were received (response rate: 19.7%). Research on real-world processes that facilitate the implementation of clinical pharmacy services into every-day practice was the priority for most respondents (n = 77, 93.9%). Respondents believed that ESCP should focus on research support for implementation science (n = 52, 63.4%) and methods to analyse clinical judgement and decision-making (n = 48, 58.5%). The perceived barriers to developing high-quality research in clinical pharmacy were reported as a lack of knowledge, skills and training, limited funding opportunities and insufficient time.

CONCLUSION: Research topics identified will help to inform ESCP and its committees on the priorities for research activities of the society in the near future, as well as other collaborating professional organisations of the current priority research objectives of ESCP in the international context.

PMID:40540123 | DOI:10.1007/s11096-025-01954-8

J Sleep Res. 2025 Jun 19:e70113. doi: 10.1111/jsr.70113. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Manual scoring of polysomnography (PSG) is a time-intensive task, prone to inter-scorer variability that can impact diagnostic reliability. This study investigates the integration of decision support systems (DSS) into PSG scoring workflows, focusing on their effects on accuracy, scoring time and potential biases toward recommendations from artificial intelligence (AI) compared to human-generated recommendations. Using a novel online scoring platform, we conducted a repeated-measures study with sleep technologists, who scored traditional and self-applied PSGs. Participants were occasionally presented with recommendations labelled as either human- or AI-generated. As the goal of this study was to isolate the effect of perceived recommendation sources on scorer behaviour, all recommendations were human-generated. We found that traditional PSGs tended to be scored slightly more accurately than self-applied PSGs, but this difference was not statistically significant. Correct recommendations significantly improved scoring accuracy for both PSG types, while incorrect recommendations reduced accuracy. No significant bias was observed toward or against AI-generated recommendations compared to human-generated recommendations. These findings highlight the potential of DSSs to enhance PSG scoring reliability. However, ensuring the accuracy of the suggestions is critical to maximising its benefits. Future research should explore the long-term impacts of DSS on scoring workflows and strategies for integrating AI in clinical practice.

PMID:40537888 | DOI:10.1111/jsr.70113

Eur J Med Res. 2025 Jun 19;30(1):492. doi: 10.1186/s40001-025-02695-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), trigger finger (TF), Dupuytren’s disease (DD) and de Quervain tenosynovitis (DQT) are musculoskeletal disorders that affect hand abilities. Previous studies have suggested inconsistent results on their association. This study aims to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between RA and other four hand disorders.

METHODS: We collected summary-level statistics for RA, CTS, TF, DD, and DQT from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR) analysis was conducted to investigate the cause-and-effect relationship between RA and other hand conditions. Furthermore, a multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of confounding variables such as glycemia, obesity, and lifestyle factors on this causal association. The robustness of our findings is assessed by a series of sensitivity analyses at the end.

RESULTS: The inverse variance-weighted method in UVMR revealed that genetically predicted RA was positively associated with risks of CTS (OR = 04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, P = 4.97E-03), TF (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.20, P = 8.97E-05), and DQT (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21, P = 0.019), but not linked with DD (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.96-1.07, P = 0.61). After adjusting for glycemia, obesity, and lifestyle factors in the MVMR analyses, the causal effects of RA on increased risks of CTS and TF remained significant. Leave-one-out analyses demonstrated that no individual single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) significantly impacted RA’s overall causal effect estimates on CTS and TF.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that RA is an independent genetic factor contributing to CTS and TF, but not to DQT or DD. This finding supports recommendations aimed at preventing the occurrence of CTS and TF in patients with RA. However, further high-quality studies are needed to validate this association and to determine its general applicability.

PMID:40537869 | DOI:10.1186/s40001-025-02695-0

J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Jun 19;44(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00859-6.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Dietary recommendation plays a quintessential role in diabetes self-management. Persons living with diabetes (PLWD) are expected to consume diets rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, while limiting alcohol consumption, refined grains, red and processed meats, and low sugar-sweetened beverages. However, the following questions remain: (a) What is the association between dietary adherence and depression among persons living with diabetes in Ghana? (b) Do adherence to a general diet and specific diet recommendations have the same association with depression? To address these questions, we examined the association between dietary self-care adherence and depression among PLWD in Ghana.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The study involved 398 PLWD. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between dietary adherence and depression. The results of the multivariable logistic regression were presented in adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was set at < 0.05.

RESULTS: Overall, we estimated a depression prevalence of 38.7% among the participants. PLWD who had a high dietary self-care adherence were significantly less likely to experience depression (COR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11-0.66). This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for covariates (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.10-0.78). While a high general diet score was associated with lower odds of depression, it was statistically not significant. However, PLWD with a higher specific diet score were significantly less likely to experience depressive symptoms (AOR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73-0.88).

CONCLUSION: The significant inverse association between adherence to specific diets and depression points to an area that clinicians and public health authorities must prioritise. Our findings suggest that encouraging PLWD to adhere to specific diet recommendations (e.g., fruit and vegetable consumption, practicing carbohydrate spacing, and consuming low-fat diets) could help reduce the risk of depression. Hence, clinicians must emphasise the mental health benefits of adhering to dietary recommendations during their dietary counselling sessions with PLWD.

PMID:40537866 | DOI:10.1186/s41043-025-00859-6

J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Jun 19;44(1):209. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00954-8.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the age-specific distribution of serum calcium levels in the Xing’an League population and assess the applicability of current national standards.

METHODS: Data were collected from 3000 healthy individuals across different age groups in the Xing’an League, stratified by sex and age. Serum calcium levels were measured, and statistical methods were used to analyse sex- and age-related differences. The relevance of the current Chinese Health Industry Standard reference intervals for serum calcium was evaluated, and age-related trends were assessed.

RESULTS: Significant differences in serum calcium levels were found between sexes and across age groups. The current national reference intervals did not adequately capture the age- and region-specific characteristics of serum calcium levels in the Xing’an League population, highlighting the need for localized evaluation criteria.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the impact of sex and age on serum calcium levels and emphasises the importance of recognising regional variations. The findings provide a scientific basis for enhancing disease prevention and developing personalised treatment strategies to address regional disparities in clinical practice.

PMID:40537857 | DOI:10.1186/s41043-025-00954-8

Arch Public Health. 2025 Jun 19;83(1):160. doi: 10.1186/s13690-025-01586-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rapid urbanization is accelerating in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which impacts health behaviors and contributes to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and hypertension. As primary care services are overstretched, urban residents rely on pharmacies, creating an urgent need to implement evidence-based approaches such as the World Health Organization’s Package of Essential Non-communicable Diseases (PEN) to reach low-income households at risk of hypertension and diabetes. This study aims to identify the facilitators and barriers to the adoption, implementation, and long-term delivery of strategies to link pharmacies with public facilities in Pokhara Metropolitan City Nepal, to improve diabetes and hypertension prevention and management among poor urban populations.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study uses a sequential mixed-method design within the RE-AIM framework. Data from client surveys will assess the costs and effectiveness of system linkages and interventions in improving diabetes and hypertension screening, management, and referral. Data will be collected at four time points from at least 20 clients per pharmacy and public health facility at baseline, midline, and endline and, to assess maintenance of delivery, post endline. During each time point, repeat questionnaires will be used to assess clients’ adherence to lifestyle and referral advice. The quantitative data will be analyzed via descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to identify factors associated with change in major outcomes. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with health workers at pharmacies, clients, and public health facility staff will be analyzed via thematic analysis to identify barriers to and facilitators of intervention adoption, implementation, and sustainability. Endline and post-endline surveys will replicate baseline methods to evaluate intervention impact.

DISCUSSION: This study will provide insights into how private pharmacies can be linked to the public health system to provide appropriate, quality services for diabetes and hypertension within the context of a pluralistic urban health system. Using the RE-AIM framework will enable assessment across implementation domains, providing valuable insights for local governments and health systems within Nepal. Given the rapid urbanization and increasing prevalence of NCDs, which characterize the majority of LMICs, our study contributes to the understanding of how to implement such strategies to meet the needs of the urban poor in other similar contexts.

PMID:40537852 | DOI:10.1186/s13690-025-01586-4

Crit Care. 2025 Jun 19;29(1):251. doi: 10.1186/s13054-025-05474-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-free days (VFDs) are a composite outcome in critical care research, reflecting both survival and mechanical ventilation duration. However, analysis methods for VFDs are inconsistent, with some focusing on counts and others on time-to-event outcomes, while other approaches such as the multistate model and the win ratio have emerged. We aimed to evaluate various statistical models through simulations to identify the optimal approach for analysing VFDs.

METHODS: First, 16 datasets of 300 individuals were simulated, comparing a control group to an intervention with varying survival rates and ventilation durations. Various statistical models were evaluated for statistical power and Type I error rate. Four clinical trial datasets (LIVE study, NCT02149589; ARMA study, NCT00000579; ACURASYS study, NCT00299650; COVIDICUS study, NCT04344730) were then used to apply the same statistical models to analyse VFDs. Twelve statistical methods were evaluated, including count-based, time-to-event approaches, and the win-ratio. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: Most statistical methods effectively controlled Type I error rate, except for the zero-inflated and hurdle Poisson/negative binomial count submodels, as well as the cause-specific Cox regression model for death. The power to detect survival benefit and ventilation duration effects varied, with time-to-event approaches, the Mann-Whitney test, the proportional odds model and the win ratio generally performing best. Similar results were observed in sensitivity analyses. In the real datasets, the multistate model, the Mann-Whitney test, the proportional odds model and the win ratio generally showed a significant association between VFDs and randomisation groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The multistate model could be recommended as the optimal approach for analysing VFDs, as it outperformed the other methods and offers a more interpretable effect size than the proportional odds model and the win ratio.

PMID:40537834 | DOI:10.1186/s13054-025-05474-9

Infect Dis Poverty. 2025 Jun 20;14(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s40249-025-01323-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The seasonal cycle of the influenza virus causes substantial morbidity and mortality globally. The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the circulation of influenza viruses can influence influenza-associated excess mortality. Given the few studies that have explored this topic, the objective of this study was to evaluate influenza-associated excess mortality in the Chinese mainland from 2012 to 2021 and quantify the changes from 2020 to 2021 compared with 2012-2019.

METHODS: Using data from national influenza surveillance report and disease surveillance points, we fitted a generalized additive model on all-cause (AC), pneumonia & influenza (P&I), and respiratory (R) mortality rates. In this model, we included data of influenza activity (A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B), temperature, absolute humidity, the COVID-19 pandemic, and time trends. The excess mortality was estimated by subtracting the fitted baseline mortality from the predicted mortality, which set influenza activity to zero.

RESULTS: The respiratory mortality model explained more than 90% of the variance, indicating the good performance. We found that the influenza-associated mortality was generally decreasing from 2020 to 2021, for instance, influenza A/H1N1-associated excess respiratory mortality (ERM) decreased from 2.62 per 100,000 persons (95% confidence interval: 0.16-5.21) to 0.31 (0.02-0.60) in the northern region and from 3.79 (0.09-7.05) to 0.24 (0.02-0.46) in the southern region between 2012-2019 and 2020-2021. A similar pattern was observed for A/H3N2-associated ERM. While the influenza B remained similar scale, for instance, the ERM was 2.90 (0.72-4.3) and 2.26 (1.76-2.76) in the southern region between 2012-2019 and 2020-2021, respectively. Distinct pattern was observed for the AC and P&I outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced influenza-associated excess mortality, which may be a result of the reduced activity of the influenza virus caused by nonpharmaceutical interventions. Different patterns of regional differences differed for influenza-associated AC, P&I and R mortality. It should be noticed that the contribution of influenza B was generally similar when comparing 2012-2019 and 2020-2021, which highlighted the attention on the influenza B activity. Additional studies are needed to explore the changes in influenza-associated excess mortality afterwards.

PMID:40537833 | DOI:10.1186/s40249-025-01323-7

J Transl Med. 2025 Jun 19;23(1):690. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-06755-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Many biochemical markers are involved in cardiovascular (CV) prognosis in the hypertensive population, but most findings are derived from a single-exposure setting, and their interaction and potential pathways remain scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the direct cause-effect relationship and the mediating effect of CV mortality to suggest potential pathways.

METHODS: This prospective study analysed a data from 3559 hypertensive individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018), with their CV mortality ascertained through linkage to the National Death Index on December 31, 2019. Baseline sociodemographic characteristics, habits, medical history data and serum biochemical markers, including cardiometabolic markers, inflammatory markers, liver enzyme markers, blood-cell based inflammatory and immune markers and kidney and renal markers were recorded. The Mixed Graphical Model-Fast-Causal Inference-Maximum algorithm (MGM-FCI-MAX) was applied to build a causal graphical model (CGM) depicting direct and indirect causes of CV mortality, then pathways were further identified from CGM where mediation analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Of the total participants, 562 (15.79%, 302 men and 260 women) CV deaths occurred after a median follow-up of 154 months. Survival analysis revealed significant sex- and ethnicity-specific differences in CV mortality rates (log-rank P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Based on the resulting CGM, we identified three direct causes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and monocytes, of CV mortality, representing direct pathways underlying kidney and renal function and blood-cell based inflammatory function, respectively. BUN significantly mediated 30.29% of the effect of the eGFR on CV mortality, whereas neither the liver enzyme markers nor insulin pathway with the eGFR as a mediator showed a significant tendency towards a mediated effect after adjusting for covariates. Sex and race were significantly (21.73% and 20.96%, respectively) mediated by monocytes and the eGFR for CV mortality.

CONCLUSION: By using prospective survey data and background clinical knowledge, CGM retrieved direct and indirect causes of CV prognosis and identified pathways and the associated mediated effects. These insights will be useful in designing clinical protocols and targeting improvements in hypertensive patient management.

PMID:40537785 | DOI:10.1186/s12967-025-06755-1

Lipids Health Dis. 2025 Jun 19;24(1):216. doi: 10.1186/s12944-025-02623-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic accuracy of anthropometric measurements for obesity screening in high-altitude pediatric populations remains understudied, particularly since existing measurements have been validated predominantly in lowland populations. This study evaluated the effectiveness of 19 anthropometric measurements for obesity screening among youth residing in the Tibetan Plateau region, aiming to identify the most reliable measurement approach for this distinct demographic.

METHODS: This study included 1,650 Tibetan and Han Chinese students aged 8-18 years from six schools in Lhasa’s Chengguan District (altitude 3,650 m). Anthropometric measurements comprised both basic anthropometric parameters and computed indices. The basic anthropometric parameters included height, weight, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference as well as skinfold thickness measured at three sites, such as abdominal skinfold thickness (AST). The computed indices consisted of Body Mass Index (BMI), the tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), the sum of skinfold thickness from two or three (SuST₃) sites, the waist-to-height ratio, the mid-upper arm-to-height ratio, the conicity index (C-index), the relative fat mass, the body roundness index, two variants of a body shape index (ABSI_OR and ABSI_CN), and two percentage body fat values derived from two skinfold thickness equations (such as Y-PBF). Bioelectrical impedance analysis-derived percentage of body fat (PBF_BIA) was used as the reference method to construct Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves for the 19 anthropometric measurements, and the Area Under the Curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the performance of each measurement in obesity screening.

RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that TMI, SuST₃, AST, and BMI consistently demonstrated robust correlations with PBF_BIA across all demographic subgroups (p < 0.001, r > 0.7) and exhibited strong diagnostic capabilities (AUC > 0.800). Among all anthropometric measurements, the TMI, SuST₃, AST, Y-PBF, and BMI had the highest subgroup mean rankings according to the AUC (top 5), and the ABSI_OR, C-index, and ABSI_CN were the worst (bottom 3). DeLong’s test confirmed these measurements as optimal measures in the majority of population subgroups (> 10 out of 19 subgroups), with the TMI showing the most comprehensive applicability (valid for the total sample and 17 subgroups). Notably, the TMI also demonstrated the highest stability in cutoff values (SD = 0.49, range = 1.89) and superior diagnostic performance (accuracy = 0.84, precision = 0.70, recall = 0.83, F score = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the TMI is the best anthropometric indices for screening for obesity in children and adolescents on the Tibetan Plateau, with a wide range of applicability to population subgroups and a stable optimal cutoff value.

PMID:40537784 | DOI:10.1186/s12944-025-02623-5