Tag: pubmed

Cureus. 2025 May 5;17(5):e83526. doi: 10.7759/cureus.83526. eCollection 2025 May.

ABSTRACT

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious inherited disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Zinc and magnesium are essential micronutrients involved in many cellular processes. Several studies have found that their deficiencies are common in SCD patients and may further complicate the disease. This study was conducted to examine plasma levels of zinc and magnesium in a group of SCD patients in Latakia. Methods A total of 85 SCD patients (52 males and 33 females) with both sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and hemoglobin sickle-beta-thalassemia (Hb S/β-Thal) genotypes at the steady state, and 30 healthy controls, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study with no age limits. Plasma zinc and magnesium levels were measured using colorimetric methods. Results Plasma zinc and magnesium levels were significantly lower in SCD patients compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Twelve SCD patients (14.1%) were zinc-deficient, and 37 (43%) had magnesium deficiency. Plasma zinc and magnesium levels were higher in HbSS patients than those with Hb S/β-Thal patients, but with no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Notably, all zinc-deficient SCD patients were < 16 years old. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in zinc deficiency distribution between males and females. Age and gender had no significant statistical relations with magnesium deficiency in SCD patients (P > 0.05). Conclusion This study has shown that plasma zinc and magnesium levels were significantly lower in SCD patients compared to the controls, with no significant difference between HbSS and Hb S/β-Thal genotypes. Zinc and magnesium administration may be required in SCD patients from an early age, especially zinc, to mitigate the adverse effects of their deficiencies.

PMID:40470433 | PMC:PMC12136722 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.83526

Cureus. 2025 May 5;17(5):e83493. doi: 10.7759/cureus.83493. eCollection 2025 May.

ABSTRACT

Background Depression and anxiety are common psychological challenges among cancer patients, particularly those receiving palliative care. These conditions significantly impact the quality of life but are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This study evaluates depression and anxiety prevalence in Saudi palliative patients using the Arabic Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), identifies psychological distress factors, and proposes clinical recommendations to improve regional mental health screening protocols in palliative patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 130 palliative care patients at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh. The Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess depression and anxiety levels. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with a significance level of p<0.05. Results Sixty-five participants (50%) had HADS for depression (HADS-D) scores of ≥8 (indicating depression), while 40 (31%) had HADS for anxiety (HADS-A) scores of ≥8 (indicating anxiety). Women exhibited higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to men, though this difference was not statistically significant. Pain and fatigue were strongly associated with higher rates of depression (p=0.014 and p=0.002, respectively). Patients with metastatic disease showed lower levels of anxiety (p=0.011). Patients taking antidepressants had significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety (p=0.024). Conclusion The high prevalence of depression and anxiety among cancer patients receiving palliative care emphasizes the importance of implementing a routine psychological screening in oncology settings. The study findings recommend that individuals exhibiting persistent and severe physical symptoms be assessed for possible mood disorders. Contrary to expectations, metastatic patients reported lower anxiety levels. However, this warrants further study to disentangle the roles of coping mechanisms, palliative interventions, and cultural factors.

PMID:40470430 | PMC:PMC12135104 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.83493

Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2025 Jun 4;19(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13034-025-00927-z.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a major public health problem and one of the top causes of death among adolescents worldwide. The Ethiopian government works to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being in adolescents through the National Adolescent and Youth Mental Health Strategy. Despite these efforts, suicide in adolescents remains pressing in Ethiopia; however, study findings regarding suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and their associated factors in high school adolescents have been inconsistent and non-conclusive. Therefore, this review aimed to assess the pooled national prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among high school adolescents in Ethiopia.

METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline was followed for this systematic review. We searched PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases. We included all observational studies that report the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among high school adolescents in Ethiopia. Using a standard data extraction format, two authors separately extracted all required data. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata version 17 statistical software. The Cochrane Q test and I² statistics were employed to evaluate the heterogeneity among the included studies. Pooled prevalence estimates, along with their 95% confidence intervals, were calculated using a random-effects model. Potential sources of heterogeneity across studies were further explored through subgroup analyses, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression analysis.

RESULT: The review comprised ten studies with 8,620 participants. Out of 1,451 studies identified, 10 studies were included in the analysis. As the random effect model indicated that the pooled prevalence of suicide ideation and suicide attempt among high school adolescents in Ethiopia was 16% (95% CI: 12%, 19%) and 10% (95% CI: 6%, 13%), respectively. The highest prevalence of suicidal ideation was observed after the country’s implementation of HSTP II [18 (95% CI: 15-22), I²=83.94, P-value < 0.001], while the lowest prevalence was depicted in adolescents aged 10-19 years [11% (95% CI 10, 13), I²=93.3, P-value < 0.001]. Similarly, the highest pooled prevalence of suicide attempt was observed after the country’s implementation of HSTP II [12% (95% CI: 10-13), I²=67.77, P-value < 0.03], while the lowest prevalence was depicted in adolescents aged 10-19 years [5% (95% CI 1, 9), I²=94.43, P-value < 0.001]. The sensitivity analysis indicated that none of the point estimates were outside of the overall 95% confidence interval. No publication bias was seen in suicide ideation. But evidence of publication bias for suicide attempts was identified through the left trim and fill analysis. Gender, disappointment with school results, family history, alcohol use, the presence or absence of family or social support, history of abuse, living arrangement of adolescent, anxiety, and depression were significantly associated with suicide ideation and suicide attempts among high school adolescents in Ethiopia.

CONCLUSION: This review revealed that a significant proportion of high school adolescents had suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in Ethiopia. Therefore, the government and all stakeholders should track the outcome of the suicide prevention project under HSTP II and other initiatives. In addition, emphasis should be given to disadvantaged adolescents, including females, orphans, alcohol users, and mentally challenged adolescents. Furthermore, school-based interventions like social support and suicide prevention initiatives shall be promoted.

PMID:40468442 | DOI:10.1186/s13034-025-00927-z

Adv Simul (Lond). 2025 Jun 4;10(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s41077-025-00358-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The rise in virtual reality (VR) applications in healthcare has introduced immersive VR simulations as a valuable training tool for medical professionals. Despite its advantages, VR use can induce cybersickness, characterized by symptoms such as nausea and disorientation. This study examines the relationship between cybersickness and the degree of physical movement in VR simulations used for psychiatric education.

METHODS: The study involved two VR simulations offered at a Canadian mental health hospital: an opioid overdose response (OO) (high movement VR) and suicide risk assessment (SRA) (low movement VR). Participants’ experiences were measured using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) before and after the training sessions. A nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted to compare SSQ scores between the two VR simulations.

RESULTS: A total of 91 participants, including healthcare practitioners and students, were involved. The mean SSQ score for the OO training was 4.59/48 (SD = 5.78), while for the SRA, it was 3.10/48 (SD = 3.48). Mann-Whitney U-test revealed a significant increase in nausea scores in OO simulation compared to SRA simulation (p = 0.0275), with higher nausea reported in the OO simulation. No significant increases were found in oculomotor symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants in the OO training experienced higher levels of nausea compared to those in the SRA simulation, likely due to increased need for physical movement. These findings underscore the importance of considering the degree of physical movement in the VR training design, specifically the educational value of these movements and the risk of cybersickness negatively impacting VR tolerability for learners.

PMID:40468438 | DOI:10.1186/s41077-025-00358-y

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jun 4;20(1):569. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-05983-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The effect of shoulder pathologies on glenoid bone mineral density (BMD) remains unclear and can be critical in surgical treatments. It is thus useful to predict this effect and understand how it is influenced by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI), in various glenoid locations.

METHODS: We developed a causal model and used do-calculus to identify the minimal adjustment set of covariate variables and developed a varying-intercept varying-slope Bayesian model. We considered two common shoulder pathologies, primary osteoarthritis (OA) and cuff tear arthropathy (CTA), and compared them with normal shoulders (CTRL). Glenoid BMD was automatically measured on computed tomography scans of 93 OA, 53 CTA, and 133 CTRL subjects.

RESULTS: OA and CTA subjects had higher BMD than CTRL in subchondral trabecular bone. This difference varied by sex, increased with age, and was stable with BMI. BMD was higher in OA than CTA, especially on the posterior side.

CONCLUSION: This causal model estimates the causal effect of pathology BMD, which could be useful for surgery planning, outcome prediction, and understanding of the associated pathophysiology.

PMID:40468434 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-05983-x

Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2025 Jun 4;20(1):275. doi: 10.1186/s13023-025-03803-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by heterogeneous motor and nonmotor manifestations. The progressive pattern of subcortical shape abnormalities and their associations with the clinical phenotypes in SCA3 remain unknown.

METHODS: Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and FSL-FIRST were used to characterize the progressive patterns of the abnormalities in white matter microstructure and subcortical shape in four subgroups of SCA3 patients stratified based on disease duration (n = 56). These were compared to matched healthy control groups (n = 59).

RESULTS: TBSS analyses revealed a clear progressive pattern of white matter microstructural abnormalities throughout the course of SCA3, as indicated by an expanding topographic distribution of fractional anisotropy (FA) reductions that originated from the cerebellar peduncle. Vertex-based shape analyses uncovered an increasing number of affected subcortical structures in symptomatic patients as the disease progressed with concurrent inward atrophy and outward inflation in subcortical structures including the bilateral thalamus, caudate, putamen, pallidum, hippocampus and brainstem. Moreover, the localized shape changes of subcortical structures correlated bidirectionally with clinical measurements including the length of CAG repeats within the ATXN3 gene, the scores on the scale of the assessment, the rating of ataxia, the instrumental activities of daily living scale, and the mini-mental state examination.

CONCLUSION: We demonstrated progressive, localized, and bidirectional changes in the shape of subcortical structures that related to diverse clinical manifestations in SCA3, highlighting the pivotal role of localized shape abnormalities in contributing to the clinical heterogeneity of this disorder.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Imaging genetics study the relationship between MJD1 gene and cognitive impairment with Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 3, ChiCTR1800019901. Registered 8 December 2018 and ChiCTR2000039434. Registered 28 October 2020, http://chictr.org.cn .

PMID:40468428 | DOI:10.1186/s13023-025-03803-3

BMC Psychol. 2025 Jun 4;13(1):600. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02958-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Public speaking is a critical skill for medical professionals, yet many students experience public speaking anxiety (PSA), which negatively impacts mental well-being, academic performance, and professional growth. PSA is closely linked to self-efficacy, which serves as a protective factor against stress and anxiety. Understanding this relationship is vital, particularly in Sudan, where cultural and systemic factors may influence both PSA and self-efficacy.

METHODS: This cross-sectional based analytical study was conducted among 1130 Sudanese medical students from multiple universities, this design was well-selected considering the current circumstances of Sudan conflict. Data were collected using validated tools: the Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA) scale and the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale. Convenience sampling was employed, and data analysis including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression models was conducted to identify factors influencing PSA.

RESULTS: Nearly half of the participants (45%) experienced moderate PSA, while 11.5% exhibited high PSA. Conversely, 87% reported high self-efficacy. PSA was significantly associated with gender, academic performance, extracurricular activities, and family income. A weak negative correlation was observed between PSA and self-efficacy (Spearman’s rho = -0.189, p < 0.001), indicating that higher self-efficacy mitigates PSA.

CONCLUSIONS: PSA is highly prevalent among Sudanese medical students, with cultural and academic factors playing a crucial role. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to build self-efficacy and reduce PSA, such as structured training, extracurricular opportunities, and culturally tailored approaches to public speaking in medical education.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

PMID:40468423 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-02958-9

J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Jun 4;44(1):186. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00929-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with an increasing burden. Family caregivers, primarily family members, play a vital role in supporting individuals with cancer but frequently experience significant caregiver burden. This study aimed to identify and analyze the key predictors of caregiver burden among Iranian family caregivers of individuals with cancer.

METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Imam Reza Hospital in Tehran, Iran, in 2024. We recruited a convenience sample of 307 family caregivers of individuals with cancer. Eligibility criteria included being aged 18 years or older, providing unpaid care, and willingness to participate. In addition to caregiver-related data, patient-related data were also collected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the caregiving context. Data collection tools included an individual characteristics questionnaire, the Barthel Index to assess patient dependency, and the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) to measure caregiver burden. Barthel Index and CBI questionnaire was completed by caregivers based on their observations of the patient. Descriptive statistics, Independent t-tests, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariate regression analysis were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 22.

RESULTS: Most caregivers were female (74.3%) with a mean age of 43.19 ± 11.60 years, and 50.5% were unemployed. Among patients, 62.2% were female with a mean age of 56.49 ± 14.27 years. Gynecological (36.8%) and gastrointestinal (32.2%) cancers were most common. Caregivers providing over 12 h of care daily reported significantly higher burden scores compared to those who provided less than 12 h of care (P < 0.001). Caregivers with poor health or insufficient income also had higher burden scores (P = 0.016 and P = 0.011, respectively). Child/parent caregivers had higher burden scores than spouses (P = 0.023). Multivariate regression identified caregiving hours (β = – 5.553, SE = 2.231, P = 0.010 for < 6 h; β = – 5.571, SE = 1.946, P = 0.004 for 6-12 h vs. > 12 h), increased patient dependency (β = – 0.353, SE = 0.035, P < 0.001), and the absence of metastasis (β = – 4.680, SE = 1.946, P = 0.017) as key predictors of burden. Together, these variables explained 35.2% of the variance in caregiver burden (Adjusted R² = 0.352).

CONCLUSION: Caregiving hours, patient dependency, health, and financial strain are significant predictors of caregiver burden. Respite care services and financial support are critical to alleviate this burden. Future research should focus on longitudinal impacts and culturally tailored interventions to better support caregivers.

PMID:40468411 | DOI:10.1186/s41043-025-00929-9

BMC Vet Res. 2025 Jun 4;21(1):401. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04836-3.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND ENTEROCYTOZOON BIENEUSI: is a cosmopolitan microsporidian that infects a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts including humans, domestic animals and wild game. In this study, we determined the prevalence of E. bieneusi in pigs from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, examined the different genotypes present, and assessed their zoonotic potential.

METHODS: This study investigate the prevalence and multilocus genotyping of E. bieneusi in pigs from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China. We collected 721 fecal samples from pigs in four regions (Guigang, Nanning, Hezhou and Yulin). These samples were subsequently analyzed using nested PCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the overall prevalence of E. bieneusi in pigs was 24.55%, ranging from 11.48 to 43.26% among four regions. The infection rates of E. bieneusi in pigs of four types (breeding pigs, piglets, nursery pigs and fattening pigs) and two feeding modes (free-range farming and intensive farming) ranged from 9.71 to 42.42%, and 16.71-34.71% respectively. The results of statistical analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the prevalence of E. bieneusi in different regions, types and feeding modes (P < 0.05). Ten novel genotypes (GXP-1 to GXP-10) and 12 known genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified. Genotype EbpC and EbpA were the main prevalent genotypes in this study. All the identified E. bieneusi genotypes were clustered to zoonotic group 1 by phylogenetic analysis. Fifty-seven samples were simultaneously amplified at three microsatellite loci and one minisatellite loci, resulting in the formation of 44 distinct multilocus genotypes (MLGs).

CONCLUSIONS: The present study for the first time revealed the prevalence and genotypes diversity of E. bieneusi in pigs from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, providing foundational data for the prevention and control of this parasitic disease. Moreover, the observed genotype distribution of E. bieneusi suggests a substantial risk of zoonotic transmission, highlighting the need for sustained surveillance and targeted intervention strategies.

PMID:40468405 | DOI:10.1186/s12917-025-04836-3

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Jun 4;17(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01187-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death. However, the relative effectiveness of different types of exercise interventions in reducing CVD risk in this population is unclear. The aim of this systematic evaluation and network meta-analysis (NMA) was to compare the effectiveness of aerobic exercise (AE), resistance training (RT), mind-body training (MBT), and combined aerobic and resistance training (AE + RT) interventions on CVD events and their associated risk factors.

METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to May 2025 were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and VIP Database. Studies were required to report the effect of exercise interventions on cardiovascular event metrics such as Framingham score, 10-year CVD risk, and ICVD score. Two investigators independently completed screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Network meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0, and intervention effects were ranked based on Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) values.

RESULTS: A total of 6 RCTs involving 1,265 subjects were included. The results showed that RT was the most effective in reducing cardiovascular risk, showing the lowest SUCRA values for Framingham score, ICVD score, and insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR). This effect was statistically significant. AE + RT had the most significant advantage in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c, SUCRA = 26.7%, 95% CI [0.02, 0.89]) and triglycerides (TG, SUCRA = 9.1%). MBT had the optimal effect in improving lipids, as evidenced by higher High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (SUCRA = 85.3%, 95% CI [4.05, 56.83]) and lower Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, both of which were statistically significant. No significant publication bias or consistency issues were identified in this study.

CONCLUSION: Different types of exercise interventions have differentiated advantages on cardiovascular risk and metabolic outcomes in prediabetic populations. RT is more suitable for controlling blood glucose and insulin resistance, AE + RT has the best effect on improving dual indexes of blood glucose and blood lipids, and MBT has a prominent role in lipid regulation. Compared with the traditional Meta-analysis, this study is the first to evaluate the relative effects of multiple exercise interventions through a network meta-analysis, which can provide a scientific basis for developing individualized and risk-oriented exercise prescriptions.

PMID:40468402 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-025-01187-2