Tag: pubmed

Nutr Metab (Lond). 2025 Jul 17;22(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12986-025-00969-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21 has demonstrated promise in alleviating gut microbiota disturbances and metabolic regulation in high-fat diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus models. However, the effect of probiotic B. longum BL21 on overweight and obese individuals remain unclear.

METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed, and 66 adult individuals were assigned to receive either BL 21 (2*10¹⁰ colony-forming units per day along with 3 g of maltodextrin) or placebo (3 g of maltodextrin daily) for 8 weeks. Multi-omics analyses were employed to evaluate the impact of the B. longum strain BL21 on gut microbiota, serum metabolomics, body weight and lipids profiles in overweight and obese participants.

RESULTS: Following the intervention, both the BL21 group (1.22 ± 2.78, P = 0.02) and placebo group (0.98 ± 2.06, P = 0.01) demonstrated significant body weight reductions, with no statistically significant intergroup difference observed (P = 0.81). Notably, only the BL21 group exhibited a significant reduction in triglyceride levels compared to baseline (0.21 ± 1.09, P = 0.04). Microbiota analysis indicated that BL21 intervention significantly changed the β-diversity at week 8 compared with placebo group. The genera of Parasutterella, Parabacteroides, Blautia, Dorea, Butyricicoccus enriched in BL21 group. Metabolomics results indicated that sphingolipid metabolism, biotin metabolism and protein digestion and absorption were the top altered pathway in BL21 group compared with placebo group after intervention.

CONCLUSION: B. longum subsp. longum BL21 may be a beneficial candidate to modulate the gut microbiota and triglyceride metabolism of overweight and obese individuals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial registration number: NCT06140641. Date of registration: November 17, 2023.

PMID:40676704 | DOI:10.1186/s12986-025-00969-2

Eur J Med Res. 2025 Jul 18;30(1):639. doi: 10.1186/s40001-025-02911-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Compared with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is more harmful and difficult to treat, and the efficacy of different catheter ablation for both also varies greatly. So this study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryoballoon (CB) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation in the treatment of persistent AF.

METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases for studies comparing the efficacy and safety between CB and RF ablation for persistent AF. All included studies met our inclusion criteria.

RESULTS: A total of 11 studies, 2551 patients were enrolled in this study, including 1256 patients in CB group and 1295 patients in RF group. Meta-analysis results showed that the freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) recurrence was similar between the CB and RF groups (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.18, I² 16%). The results of repeated ablation events in the two groups were similar (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.12, I²45%), while the operative time in the CB group was shorter than that in the RF group (mean reduction 45.27 min, 95% CI 61.34 to 29.20 min, I² 95%). There was no significant difference in fluoroscopy time between the two groups (mean difference 2.12 min, 95% CI 7.83 to 12.07 min, I² 99%). The incidence of total complications was similar between the two groups (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.58, I² 0%), but phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) was more likely to occur in the CB group (OR 4.84, 95% CI 1.84 to 12.71, I² 0%). The incidence of pericardial tamponade was not statistically different between the two groups (OR 0.72, 95% CI 00.32 to 1.58, I² 0%).

CONCLUSIONS: CB can be used as an alternative therapy to RF for persistent AF, both of which have considerable efficacy and safety. CB can significantly reduce the operation time with the probability of high PNP.

PMID:40676688 | DOI:10.1186/s40001-025-02911-x

Int J Retina Vitreous. 2025 Jul 17;11(1):81. doi: 10.1186/s40942-025-00707-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A macular hole (MH) is a retinal condition affecting the central macula, leading to progressive visual impairment. Pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling is the standard surgical treatment, while the inverted ILM flap technique has emerged as a promising alternative. However, the effectiveness of this technique was still debated.

METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ILM peeling and inverted ILM flap for MH were identified through searches in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov in the last 15 years that compared ILM peeling and inverted ILM flap procedure. The primary outcome was anatomical closure, and the secondary outcome was visual acuity (VA) post-procedure. Data synthesis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.4.1 with odds ratio (OR) for anatomical closure and mean difference (MD) for VA with 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance is achieved when the p-value is below 0.05.

RESULTS: Twelve RCTs involving 719 patients were included. The inverted ILM flap showed superior anatomical closure (OR 0.28; 95% CI: 0.15-0.52; p < 0.0001). VA post-procedure, based on follow-up time (3-, 6-, and 12-month), revealed no statistically significant difference in visual outcomes. Sensitivity analyses confirmed anatomical and visual benefits of the inverted flap in large MHs (≥ 400 μm).

CONCLUSION: The inverted ILM flap technique offers better anatomical outcomes than ILM peeling, especially for larger MHs. Visual improvement is variable and may depend on MH chronicity and retinal recovery. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.

PMID:40676682 | DOI:10.1186/s40942-025-00707-z

Crit Care. 2025 Jul 17;29(1):310. doi: 10.1186/s13054-025-05528-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Admissions of immunocompromised patients to intensive care units (ICUs) are on the increase. The main reason for admission is acute respiratory failure, predominantly of infectious origin. In such circumstances, early and appropriate antibiotic therapy guarantees a better prognosis. Rapid diagnostic techniques such as multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have shown their value in both diagnosis and treatment in immunocompetent patients. To date, little data are available on immunocompromised patients.

METHODS: In this retrospective, single-center study, we analyzed data from critically ill immunocompromised patients admitted for acute respiratory failure requiring invasive ventilation, in whom a respiratory specimen was taken and processed simultaneously by BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel multiplex PCR (BFPPm PCR) and conventional culture (CC). Samples had to be taken from deep respiratory tracts less than 48 h after mechanical ventilation. The primary endpoint was the evaluation of the diagnostic performance of BFPP mPCR compared with CC. The secondary endpoint was the therapeutic impact of the results of BFPP mPCR.

RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen patients were included, with immunosuppression mainly of a hematological (35.1%) and oncological (35.1%) nature. The mPCR positivity rate was 36.8%, with the majority identifying enterobacteria (51%) and a median turnaround time of between 2h30 and 4 h. Comparison of rapid techniques with CC showed sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 83%, predictive positive value of 52% and negative predictive value of 98%. Concordance between the two techniques was complete in 84.2% of cases. mPCR enabled antibiotic therapy to be modified in 17.5% of cases, mainly de-escalation.

CONCLUSION: The use of mPCR in the diagnosis of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients shortens the time required to obtain results, and is particularly effective in eliminating the presence of multi-resistant germs. Bacteria detected in culture and not included in the mPCR spectrum were mostly bacteria of low pathogenicity or sensitive to the antibiotics usually prescribed. The mPCR technique could reduce exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics in this population.

PMID:40676679 | DOI:10.1186/s13054-025-05528-y

Diagn Pathol. 2025 Jul 17;20(1):85. doi: 10.1186/s13000-025-01691-6.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the value of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that positively express α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP) as survival indicators for patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA).

METHODS: The clinicopathological data of eCCA patients who underwent surgical treatment in Tianjin Nankai Hospital from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analysed. A total of 79 patients were included, 49 were male and 30 were female, with an age of (64.3 ± 8.3) years. Clinicopathological data such as age, gender, tumour location, lymph node metastasis, tumour differentiation degree, and TNM stage of the patients were recorded. The expressions of α-SMA and FAP, the markers of CAFs, in eCCA were detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationships between the expressions of the two proteins and the clinicopathological data and prognosis of the patients were analysed.

RESULTS: The positive expressions of α-SMA and FAP in CAFs were observed in 78.5% (62/79) and 35.4% (28/79) of the patients, respectively. There was a highly positive correlation between the expression of α-SMA and that of FAP (r = 0.992, P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that CAFs with positive FAP expression and tumour location were statistically significant in terms of overall survival time and recurrence-free survival time. Multivariate analysis indicated that positive FAP expression and tumour location might be independent factors affecting overall survival time and recurrence-free survival time.

CONCLUSIONS: CAFs with positive FAP expression may be a prognostic indicator of poor postoperative survival in eCCA patients and may serve as an independent predictor of poor postoperative survival rate in these patients.

PMID:40676676 | DOI:10.1186/s13000-025-01691-6

J Orthop Surg Res. 2025 Jul 17;20(1):670. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06102-6.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff repair in patients with osteoporosis (OP) is often hindered by poor tendon-to-bone healing and a high rate of retears, largely due to compromised bone remodeling at the repair site. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between computed tomography (CT)-based quantitative analysis of bone microarchitecture and the prognosis of rotator cuff healing.

METHODS: An OP rat model was established via bilateral ovariectomy combined with dexamethasone administration. A full-thickness supraspinatus tear was surgically induced, followed by an 8-week intervention with either alendronate (ALN) or saline. Non-osteoporotic rats served as control group. Histological analysis and biomechanical testing were performed to evaluate tendon-to-bone healing. Additionally, quantitative micro-CT analysis of the humeral greater tuberosity was conducted, and correlations with tendon healing outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS: Histological analysis at 8 weeks revealed disorganized structure and poor fibrovascular tissue in the OP group, while the OP + ALN group exhibited improved tendon-bone healing with better collagen fiber alignment and higher histological scores. A decreased RANKL/OPG ratio suggested that ALN treatment modulated regional bone metabolism in the humeral greater tuberosity. The Young’s modulus was reduced in both osteoporotic groups compared to the Control group. Although the difference between the OP and OP + ALN groups was not statistically significant, a trend was observed: 50% of specimens in the OP group failed at the tendon-bone interface, compared to 33.3% in the OP + ALN group. CT analysis demonstrated that ALN treatment improved bone microarchitecture. Notably, bone microarchitectural parameters significantly correlated with histological scores of tendon healing.

CONCLUSION: Tendon-bone healing is impaired in the presence of OP but can be partially restored by ALN treatment. Furthermore, CT-based quantitative analysis of bone microarchitecture at the humeral greater tuberosity shows a significant correlation with rotator cuff healing. These results imply that such analysis might serve as a potential indicator of postoperative prognosis.

PMID:40676668 | DOI:10.1186/s13018-025-06102-6

Genome Biol. 2025 Jul 17;26(1):208. doi: 10.1186/s13059-025-03686-4.

ABSTRACT

Droplet-based profiling techniques such as CITE-seq are often contaminated by technical noise. Current computational denoising methods have serious limitations, including a strong reliance on often-unavailable empty droplets or null controls and insufficient efficiency due to ignoring protein-protein interactions. Here, we introduce scPDA, a probabilistic model that employs a variational autoencoder to achieve high computational efficiency. scPDA eliminates the use of empty droplets and shares information across proteins to increase denoising efficiency. Compared to currently available methods, scPDA substantially improves the efficiency of gating-strategy-based cell-type identification, marking a clear advancement in computational denoising of the protein modality.

PMID:40676645 | DOI:10.1186/s13059-025-03686-4

BMC Public Health. 2025 Jul 17;25(1):2488. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23683-3.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Infant mortality, defined as the death of a baby within its first year of life, remains a critical public health issue, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Health equity is a fundamental right, yet significant disparities persist, with poorer populations experiencing disproportionately higher mortality rates. This study aims to assess whether these inequalities in infant mortality continue despite governmental efforts and the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in SSA countries.

METHODS: We analyzed a comprehensive dataset comprising 30,109 weighted samples from Demographic and Health Surveys across 14 SSA countries. Data cleaning was performed using Microsoft Excel, and statistical analyses were conducted with STATA Version 17 software. To evaluate wealth-related inequalities in infant mortality, we employed the concentration index and curve, alongside Wag staff decomposition analysis. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULT: The pooled estimate of the infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was found to be 34.14% (95% CI: 28.74, 39.54%), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 83.6%), indicates wide variation across the country. Rates varied significantly across countries, ranging from 18.75% in Gabon to 52.8% in Côte d’Ivoire. The weighted concentration index for infant mortality based on women’s education was – 0.0072 (95% CI; -0.00134, -0.0012), while the wealth index concentration index was – 0.0093 (95% CI: -0.00154, -0.0032), both with p-values < 0.0001.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Our analysis reveals that wealth-related disparities in infant mortality disproportionately impact poorer populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, with children of mothers who possess lower socioeconomic status and less education facing higher risks. Factors contributing to these disparities include family size, media exposure, and birth order. The persistence of social injustice is largely due to the inadequate response to these health inequalities. Policymakers must prioritize equitable access to healthcare and consider the socioeconomic distribution of infant mortality in their strategies. To combat these disparities and improve infant survival rates, it is vital to enhance child-rearing practices through targeted health policies, promote equitable economic development, engage communities in health initiatives, and establish monitoring systems. By focusing on these strategies, we can make significant progress toward reducing infant mortality and addressing the underlying social injustices affecting vulnerable populations in line with the goals of Countdown to 2030 and 2063.

PMID:40676638 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-23683-3

BMC Nurs. 2025 Jul 17;24(1):934. doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-03492-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study compared scenario-based generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) patient simulation with immersive 360° virtual reality (VR) simulation in terms of perceived clinical competence, cultural awareness, AI readiness, and simulation effectiveness among nursing students.

METHODS: This cross-over randomised controlled study design was conducted from June 2024 to August 2024. Forty-four undergraduate nursing students from years 1-3 were randomised to receive either GenAI patient simulation (Group B) or 360° VR simulation (Group A) with a one-week washout period. Five self-reported questionnaires were used to measure clinical competency: the Clinical Competence Questionnaire (CCQ), Cultural Awareness Scale (CAS), Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS), Simulation Effectiveness Tool – Modified Questionnaire (SET-M), and a demographic questionnaire.

RESULTS: Both interventions significantly improved clinical competence, cultural awareness, and AI readiness. When administered first, GenAI patient simulation demonstrated greater initial effects on clinical competence and AI readiness compared to the 360° VR simulation, though both groups achieved similar improvements by study completion. At T1, Group B (receiving GenAI) demonstrated significantly larger improvements in CCQ total score [47.68 (95% CI: 36.68, 58.68), p < 0.001] compared to Group A (receiving 360° VR) [24.95 (95% CI: 13.96, 35.95), p < 0.001], with significant between-group difference [16.59 (95% CI: 2.77, 30.41), p = 0.020]. At T2 (post-crossover), both groups maintained significant improvements. For MAIRS-MS (measured at baseline and following each group’s GenAI exposure), Group B showed improvement from baseline to T1 [30.18 (95% CI: 23.35, 37.01), p < 0.001] while Group A showed improvement from baseline to T2 [16.64 (95% CI: 9.80, 23.47), p < 0.001], with significant between-group difference [12.09 (95% CI: 4.43, 19.75), p = 0.003]. Both groups experienced changes in CAS scores, though between-group differences were not statistically significant. For SET-M, most participants (75%) felt debriefing contributed to their learning, and 68.2% reported increased confidence in nursing assessment skills.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide preliminary evidence of its effectiveness in enhancing perceived clinical outcomes among nursing students. Both 360° VR simulation and GenAI patient simulation may serve as effective teaching tools; however, GenAI patient simulation appeared to demonstrate a greater initial effect on clinical competence and AI readiness, although both interventions proved effective across all measured domains.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION/NUMBER: Not applicable.

PMID:40676632 | DOI:10.1186/s12912-025-03492-0

Int J Health Geogr. 2025 Jul 17;24(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12942-025-00402-0.

ABSTRACT

Green spaces provide diverse health benefits, and provision of green spaces is often linked to lower incidences of adiposity. Undergraduates, who are at a transitional stage of development, represent a critical population for obesity prevention. However, recent studies suggest that the health effects of green space may vary by type. Furthermore, inferring any causal relationship between green spaces and adiposity using a cross-sectional research design remains challenging. To address these issues, this study utilized a large, representative sample of 21,990 undergraduates from 89 universities across 29 provinces in China, and employed a quasi-experimental approach to explore the impacts of specific green space types on body mass index (BMI). Propensity score matching was used to make the students who were influenced by green spaces comparable to those who were not. A difference-in-differences model was applied to estimate the causal effects of three types of green spaces (trees, bushes, and grass) on BMI. To further explore the underlying mechanisms, we examined two potential mediators: energy expenditure (physical activity) and energy intake (unhealthy food consumption). The results revealed that trees had a negative impact on BMI, whereas bushes and grass had no significant effect. Physical activity serves as a significant mediator linking tree exposure to adiposity changes, while unhealthy food intake showed no statistically significant mediation effect. In the stratified analysis, trees had significantly negative effects only on males. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing green space types and provide causal evidence linking tree exposure to reduced BMI among undergraduates.

PMID:40676630 | DOI:10.1186/s12942-025-00402-0