Announcements

Cancer impacts millions of lives worldwide, yet each person’s journey with the disease is uniquely their own. World Cancer Day reminds us that while the disease impacts individuals differently, our shared strength, innovation, and focus on holistic care bring us closer to a future where cancer no longer dictates lives. Every experience, challenge, and success story contribute to the broader fight against cancer, demonstrating the resilience and hope that unite us all. As we continue to make strides through innovative research, treatment advancements, and global collaboration, it is essential to recognize both the diversity of stories and our common goal of overcoming cancer together.

In observance of this day, we invite you to explore the following resources that delve into the field of cancer and the cutting-edge advancements shaping its care. By prioritizing people-centered treatment where patients’ voices and needs guide care, we can ensure personalized attention for all. It is our hope to foster a deeper understanding of the impact of cancer and encourage meaningful action to support patients, caregivers, and researchers in their pursuit of a world free from cancer’s hold. Together, we can inspire action and work toward a cancer-free future.

“Rare Variants of Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: Clinical, Histologic, and Molecular Features and Diagnostic Pitfalls”
by Celestine M. Trinidad, Sintawat Wangsiricharoen, Victor G. Prieto and Phyu P. Aung
Dermatopathology 2023, 10(1), 54–62; https://doi.org/10.3390/dermatopathology10010008

“Nitrogen Containing Heterocycles as Anticancer Agents: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective”
by Adarsh Kumar, Ankit Kumar Singh, Harshwardhan Singh, Veena Vijayan, Deepak Kumar, Jashwanth Naik, Suresh Thareja, Jagat Pal Yadav, Prateek Pathak, Maria Grishina et al.
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(2), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16020299

“Artificial Intelligence in Brain Tumor Imaging: A Step toward Personalized Medicine”
by Maurizio Cè, Giovanni Irmici, Chiara Foschini, Giulia Maria Danesini, Lydia Viviana Falsitta, Maria Lina Serio, Andrea Fontana, Carlo Martinenghi, Giancarlo Oliva and Michaela Cellina
Curr. Oncol. 2023, 30(3), 2673–2701; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30030203

“Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment Options and Limitations: Future Outlook”
by Onyinyechi Obidiro, Gantumur Battogtokh and Emmanuel O. Akala
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(7), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15071796

“Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: An Old Story with a New End”
by Lyvia Neves Rebello Alves, Débora Dummer Meira, Luiza Poppe Merigueti, Matheus Correia Casotti, Diego do Prado Ventorim, Jucimara Ferreira Figueiredo Almeida, Valdemir Pereira de Sousa, Marllon Cindra Sant’Ana, Rahna Gonçalves Coutinho da Cruz, Luana Santos Louro et al.
Genes 2023, 14(7), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14071364

“Could Microbiome Be the Common Co-Denominator between Type 2 Diabetes and Pancreatic Cancer?”
by Marin Golčić and Andrej Belančić
Diabetology 2023, 4(4), 553–559; https://doi.org/10.3390/diabetology4040049

“Targeting Solute Carrier Transporters (SLCs) as a Therapeutic Target in Different Cancers”
by Ravi Bharadwaj, Swati Jaiswal, Erandi E. Velarde de la Cruz and Ritesh P. Thakare
Diseases 2024, 12(3), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12030063

“Significance of TP53, CDKN2A, SMAD4 and KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer”
by Dimitrios Stefanoudakis, Maximos Frountzas, Dimitrios Schizas, Nikolaos V. Michalopoulos, Alexandra Drakaki and Konstantinos G. Toutouzas
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(4), 2827–2844; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46040177

“Metformin: From Diabetes to Cancer—Unveiling Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies”
by Emilia Amengual-Cladera, Pere Miquel Morla-Barcelo, Andrea Morán-Costoya, Jorge Sastre-Serra, Daniel Gabriel Pons, Adamo Valle, Pilar Roca and Mercedes Nadal-Serrano
Biology 2024, 13(5), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13050302

“Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Fundamental Mechanisms, Current Status and Future Directions”
by Abdullah Younis and John Gribben
Immuno 2024, 4(3), 186–210; https://doi.org/10.3390/immuno4030013

“Breast Cancer Screening among African Immigrants in the United States: An Integrative Review of Barriers, Facilitators, and Interventions”
by Julian I. Rauch, Joseph Daniels, Alyssa Robillard and Rodney P. Joseph
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081004

“Predicting Leukoplakia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Interpretable Machine Learning: A Retrospective Analysis”
by Salem Shamsul Alam, Saif Ahmed, Taseef Hasan Farook and James Dudley
Oral 2024, 4(3), 386–404; https://doi.org/10.3390/oral4030032

The editorial team at International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) extends our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated reviewers whose expertise and commitment have been key to the journal's success in 2024. Last year, IJERPH received 9736 review reports from 5697reviewers representing 116 countries and regions worldwide.

To recognize the invaluable time, effort, and attention to detail that each reviewer dedicates, IJERPH expresses its sincere gratitude through an annual acknowledgment of reviewers. Additionally, the journal highlights exceptional contributors by regularly publishing the “Exceptional Reviewer List”. As a further token of appreciation, all reviewers are eligible for the Outstanding Reviewer Award, which honors their essential role in enhancing the quality of our publications.

We are honored to recognize the reviewers who allowed us to publish their names each year. The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

On 31 May 2021, the World Health Assembly (WHA) recognized 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Day. This decision formalized 30 January as a day to create better awareness on the devastating impact of NTDs on the poorest populations around the world. The day is also an opportunity to call on everyone to support the growing momentum for the control, elimination and eradication of these diseases.

We would like to recommend some related articles, Special Issues, and journals in the field of medicine & pharmacology as suitable communication platforms for you. We believe that sharing research like this can help raise awareness of NTDs.

“A Fatal Case of Presumptive Diagnosis of Leptospirosis Involving the Central Nervous System”
by Christina Alexopoulou, Athanasia Proklou, Sofia Kokkini, Maria Raissaki, Ioannis Konstantinou and Eumorfia Kondili
Healthcare 2024, 12(5), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12050568

“Evaluation of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Tool and a Universal Low-Cost Robotized Microscope for the Automated Diagnosis of Malaria”
by Carles Rubio Maturana, Allisson Dantas de Oliveira, Francesc Zarzuela, Alejandro Mediavilla, Patricia Martínez-Vallejo, Aroa Silgado, Lidia Goterris, Marc Muixí, Alberto Abelló, Anna Veiga et al.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010047

“Chagas Disease in the Non-Endemic Area of Rome, Italy: Ten Years of Experience and a Brief Overview”
by Maria Letizia Giancola, Andrea Angheben, Laura Scorzolini, Stefania Carrara, Ada Petrone, Antonella Vulcano, Raffaella Lionetti, Angela Corpolongo, Rosalia Marrone, Francesca Faraglia et al.
Infect. Dis. Rep. 2024, 16(4), 650-663; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16040050

“Uptake and Effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine during Pregnancy in Africa: A Scoping Review”
by Gifty Osei Berchie, Patience Fakornam Doe, Theodora Dedo Azu, Joyce Agyeiwaa, Gifty Owusu, Christian Makafui Boso, Naomi Kyeremaa Yeboa, Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare, Irene Korkoi Aboh, Bernard Nabe et al.
Diseases 2024, 12(9), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12090203

“Laparoscopic Management of Multiple Liver, Omental, Mesenteric, Peritoneal, and Round Ligament Hydatid Cysts—A Rare Report of a Case and a Systematic Literature Review”
by Alin Mihetiu, Dan Georgian Bratu, Ciprian Tanasescu, Bogdan Ioan Vintilă, Alexandra Sandu, Mariana Sandu, Dragos Serban, Dan Sabau and Adrian Hasegan
J. Pers. Med. 2024, 14(2), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14020205

“False-Positive Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Likely Due to African Tick Bite Fever: A Case Report”
by Rahel T. Zewude, Syed Zain Ahmad, Tom Joseph and Andrea K. Boggild
Reports 2024, 7(4), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/reports7040100

“Increasing Risk of Tick-Borne Disease through Growth Stages in Ticks”
by Makoto Kondo, Yoshiaki Matsushima, Takehisa Nakanishi, Shohei Iida, Habe Koji and Keiichi Yamanaka
Clin. Pract. 2023, 13(1), 246-250; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract13010022

“Oral Chagas Disease in Colombia—Confirmed and Suspected Routes of Transmission”
by Norman L. Beatty, Catalina Arango-Ferreira, Lídia Gual-Gonzalez, Sara Zuluaga, Melissa S. Nolan and Omar Cantillo-Barraza
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9010014

“Global Patterns of Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Dengue, 1990–2019: An Analysis Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study”
by Irena Ilic and Milena Ilic
Medicina 2024, 60(3), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60030425

“DengueFog: A Fog Computing-Enabled Weighted Random Forest-Based Smart Health Monitoring System for Automatic Dengue Prediction”
by Ashima Kukkar, Yugal Kumar, Jasminder Kaur Sandhu, Manjit Kaur, Tarandeep Singh Walia and Mohammed Amoon
Diagnostics 2024, 14(6), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14060624

“Global Fight against Malaria: Goals and Achievements 1900–2022”
by Marc Thellier, Ayawovi Arlene Jessicka Gemegah and Ilhame Tantaoui
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(19), 5680; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13195680

“Oropouche Virus Exposure in Febrile Patients during Chikungunya Virus Introduction in the State of Amapá, Amazon Region, Brazil”
by Raquel Curtinhas de Lima, Helver Gonçalves Dias, Thiara Manuele Alves de Souza, Débora Familiar-Macedo, Edcelha D’Athaide Ribeiro, Valmir Corrêa e Corrêa, Alex Pauvolid-Corrêa, Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo and Flávia Barreto dos Santos
Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060469

“Adenovirus-Mediated Expression of Dengue Virus 2 Envelope Ferritin Nanoparticles Induced Virus-Specific Immune Responses in BALB/c Mice”
by M.S.B.W.T.M. Nipuna Sudaraka Tennakoon, Ji-Hoon Ryu, Yong-Sam Jung, Yingjuan Qian and Hyun-Jin Shin
Microbiol. Res. 2024, 15(3), 1913-1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/microbiolres15030128

“Evolution of the Quinoline Scaffold for the Treatment of Leishmaniasis: A Structural Perspective”
by Carlos F. M.Silva, Diana C. G. A. Pinto, Pedro A. Fernandes and Artur M. S. Silva
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(3), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17030285

“Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites, Protozoans and Soil-Transmitted Helminths, in Children from Communities of Northern Argentina after the Interruption of Deworming”
by Ernesto Candela, Rubén O. Cimino, Leonardo Sandon, Carla Muñoz-Antoli and María Victoria Periago
Parasitologia 2024, 4(2), 172-183; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia4020015

“Global Lipidomics Reveals the Lipid Composition Heterogeneity of Extracellular Vesicles from Drug-Resistant Leishmania”
by Sehyeon (Erica) Kim, Ana Victoria Ibarra-Meneses, Christopher Fernandez-Prada and Tao Huan
Metabolites 2024, 14(12), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14120658

Nine new journals covering multiple subjects launched their inaugural issues in December 2024. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of the Editorial Board Members, and each journal will ensure its high-quality output by using excellent editorial and rigorous peer-review processes, to ensure that the articles achieve high impact and visibility.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Zhaoyang Dong City University of Hong Kong, China Editorial | View inaugural issue	energy storage technologies; energy storage system management; energy storage applications; strategies in renewable energy generation grid integration; distributed storage systems; economics and markets for energy storage View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Yang-Hui He 1. London Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Royal Institution, UK 2. University of Oxford, UK Editorial | View inaugural issue	Euclidean geometry; differential geometry; algebraic geometry; complex geometry; discrete geometry; computational geometry; geometric group theory;  convex geometry View journal scope | Submit an article
	Dr. Michel Planat Université de Franche-Comté, France Editorial | View inaugural issue	differential topology; algebraic topology; manifold topology; homology theory; low-dimensional topology; fuzzy sets View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Rashid Al Abri 1. Sultan Qaboos University, Oman 2. Oman Medical Association, Oman Editorial | View inaugural issue	clinical practices as well as research and innovation in medical education, risk management in healthcare, and patient safety View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Ecevit Bilgili* New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA *Prof. Dr. Ecevit Bilgili passed away before the completion of the inaugural issue. His dedication and vision for JPBI will always be remembered and serve as a guiding inspiration. Editorial | View inaugural issue	early drug discovery and development; product characterization and pre-clinical testing; drug delivery systems and drug design; active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production View journal scope | Submit an article
	Dr. Weiyong Liu Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China Editorial | View inaugural issue	theories, methodologies, technologies, and applications in the fields of laboratory medicine and clinical chemistry View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar University of Granada, Spain Editorial | View inaugural issue	scientometrics; informetrics; bibliometrics; altmetrics; webometrics; research evaluation View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Fei Fan Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China Editorial | View inaugural issue	regional growth theory and methods; regional system modeling and optimization; regional development policy; regional spatial evolution; environmental policy and instrument choice View journal scope | Submit an article
	Dr. Kevin Cianfaglione Université Catholique de Lille, France Editorial | View inaugural issue	wild species and their habitats; wild environments and biodiversity; natural environment management; wild land preservation View journal scope | Submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com) if you would like to create more new journals.

Conference: The 145th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
Date: 26–29 March 2025
Location: Fukuoka, Japan

MDPI will be attending the 145th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan as an exhibitor, which will be held from 26 to 29 March 2025, and we welcome researchers from diverse backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

The conference is organized by the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan and chaired by Prof. Takashi Ohshima from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University. The theme is Promoting the Ecosystem in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Future Innovation through Cross-disciplinary Collaboration. This conference will bring together around 5,000 scientists and students to share research advances covering a wide range of scientific topics. The sessions include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Pharmaceutical Chemistry; 2) Pharmaceutical Physics; 3) Pharmaceutical Biology; 4) Pharmaceutical Health Science and Environmental Toxicology; 5) Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences; and 6) Others.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Biomedicines
• Pharmaceuticals
• Pharmaceutics
• Antibiotics
• Antibodies
• Antioxidants
• CIMB
• Diseases
• Future Pharmacology
• IJERPH
• IJMS
• IJTM
• JNT
• JPM
• Marine Drugs
• Medicina
• Medicines
• Metabolites
• Psychoactives
• Sci. Pharm
• Sclerosis

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at the booth and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://pub.confit.atlas.jp/en/event/pharm145.

Throughout the year 2024, research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) was featured over 1677 times in news articles published by reputable media sources, such as Forbes, National Geographic, TIME Magazine, and BBC News.

You can learn more about this research below.

“Women are more likely to experience knee injuries during the ovulatory phase of their menstrual cycle — the two weeks before their period. In an interview with The Guardian, Bruinvels posited that coaches and sports trainers can use this medical knowledge to help protect athletes: “There is a body of research emerging that highlights that strength training is more advantageous in the first half of the menstrual cycle – the body adapts and recovers better.””
Forbes—“Period Stigma Sidelines Young Athletes”
IJERPH—“Menstrual Cycle and Sport Injuries: A Systematic Review”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/4/3264

“The sport also helps with mental agility. "Pickleball aids cognitive functions such as reaction times, cognitive flexibility, and complex thinking," says Hemendinger. It accomplishes this, she explains, because each fast-paced game requires players to hold multiple concepts at once such as proper positioning and technique, anticipating where the ball or your teammate is going to be, and constantly having to react to your opponent—all while being mindful of server rotation, court rules, and staying on top of a complex scoring system. “
National Geographic—“Pickleball is everywhere. Here's why the fast-growing sport is good for your health”
IJERPH—“Pickleball for Inactive Mid-Life and Older Adults in Rural Utah: A Feasibility Study”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8374

“In general, people with preexisting conditions like asthma and heart disease, as well as children and the elderly, should take precautions around fireworks. There are a variety of protective steps you can take, says Jun Wu, a professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of California, Irvine’s program in public health. (Wu has researched fireworks-related spikes in particulate matter.)”
TIME Magazine—“The Health Risks of Fireworks”
IJERPH—“Impact of 4th of July Fireworks on Spatiotemporal PM2.5 Concentrations in California Based on the PurpleAir Sensor Network: Implications for Policy and Environmental Justice”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5735

“A growing body of research confirms what many people felt during COVID lockdowns: Time in green spaces, such as parks and forests, or blue spaces, such as coastlines and rivers, is restorative. In addition to psychological benefits, these experiences can lower blood pressure and strengthen the immune system.”
National Geographic—“Why having a hobby is good for your brain and body”
IJERPH—“The Effects of Forest Therapy on Immune Function”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/16/8440

“Once the floodwaters recede, the recovery and rebuilding process can begin. However, microbiologists are increasingly realising that an often-overlooked public health threat is the stagnant water left behind pooling in gardens, parts of the home and farmland, creating an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.”
BBC News—“Cholera, Zika and West Nile: The deadly diseases that sweep in after hurricanes”
IJERPH—“Perspectives on the Health Effects of Hurricanes: A Review and Challenges”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2756

“First, it’s important to set up a healthy work environment. An environment that is noisy or full of distractions is likely to increase stress levels. For this reason, it’s important to create a quiet office space where you can work uninterrupted. Ideally, this office space will be away from the main living areas in the home. It should also be equipped with working technology, so you can do your job unencumbered.”
Forbes—“How To Work From Home Without Sacrificing Your Mental Well-Being”
IJERPH—“Healthy and Happy Working from Home? Effects of Working from Home on Employee Health and Job Satisfaction”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1122

Name: Dr. Neil Arya
Affiliations: ¹ Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 3L8, Canada; ² School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; ³ Kitchener-Waterloo Centre for Family Medicine Refugee Health Clinic, Kitchener, ON N2G 1C5, Canada

“Medical Interpreting Services for Refugees in Canada: Current State of Practice and Considerations in Promoting this Essential Human Right for All”
by Akshaya Neil Arya, Ilene Hyman, Tim Holland, Carolyn Beukeboom, Catherine E. Tong, Rachel Talavlikar and Grace Eagan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050588
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/5/588

The following is an interview with Dr. Neil Arya:

1. Congratulations on your recently published paper! Could you please briefly introduce yourself and your current research to our readers?
I’m Neil Arya. I’ve been a family doctor for over 30 years and started a refugee health clinic back in 2008 in Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. I’m also academically affiliated with four universities. Currently, I’m a fellow at the International Migration Research Centre and the Balsillie School for International Affairs, an adjunct in Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo, and I hold clinical and academic roles in family medicine at McMaster University. I’ve also served as the Director of the Global Health Office at Western University and Scholar-in-Residence at Wilfrid Laurier University. My work focuses on underserved populations and equity, particularly for people experiencing homelessness and refugees.

2. How did your team come together for this research?
The project started through the Canadian Refugee Health Network, a group of healthcare providers across the country. We recognized that the lack of access to paid professional interpretation was a nationwide issue, important to provide quality care. We assembled a team that included equity researchers and experts in qualitative research and interpretation. Each member brought unique expertise, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the problem.

3. What inspired you to pursue this field of research?
It began with a pressing need—patients in clinics, hospitals, and public health settings weren’t receiving proper medical interpretation. We were seeing clinicians using family members, untrained staff, unvetted machine translation and charades to communicate life and death issues. This often led to miscommunication, medical errors, or even violations of informed consent. Recognizing the urgency of the issue, we decided to investigate its root causes and advocate for equitable access.

4. What do you hope readers take away from your paper?
Our main message is that medical interpretation should be a right, not a privilege. We highlighted unequal access across provinces, cities, and medical disciplines, and we see this disparity as a violation of basic rights. Interpretation is essential to ensuring quality care, and it should be available to all.

5. How do you see this issue evolving in the next decade?
I’m optimistic. Society has shown the ability to pivot on significant issues, like smoking bans and disability rights. I hope that equitable access to medical interpretation will similarly be recognized as a no-brainer, supported by both human rights arguments and cost-effectiveness evidence.

6. What was your impression of our journal and the editorial process?
I had actually been a co-author of papers previously published in the journal as colleagues had chosen it, but now as principal author I had a positive experience overall, particularly with peer review quality. There were some challenges related to the ethics requirements, but I appreciated the commitment to maintaining high standards.

We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Neil Arya and his research group for choosing the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) as the platform to publish their research. Submissions and input related to the area of health promotion and health presentation are welcomed by our journal.

Name: Prof. Dr. Giuseppe D’Antona
Affiliation: Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27058 Voghera, Italy

“Maximal Oxygen Consumption Is Negatively Associated with Fat Mass in Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy”
by Oscar Crisafulli, Luca Grattarola, Giorgio Bottoni, Jessica Lacetera, Emanuela Lavaselli, Matteo Beretta-Piccoli, Rossella Tupler, Emiliano Soldini and Giuseppe D’Antona
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21081108
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/8/979

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Giuseppe D’Antona:

1. Congratulations on your published paper. Could you give us a brief introduction about yourself and your current research topic to our readers?
I am a professor of exercise and sport science and the Director of the CRIAMS-Sports Medicine Center Voghera at the University of Pavia, Italy. For many years, my research was focused on the basic mechanisms of skeletal muscle plasticity and its adaptations under physiological conditions, such as exercise and aging, as well as in pathological conditions, including neuromuscular diseases. Since 2012, my focus has shifted from bench to bedside. I founded the University Laboratory for the Study of Motor Activities in Rare Diseases, which is dedicated to identifying effective physical exercise protocols and nutritional approaches to slow the degenerative processes associated with neuromuscular conditions, including muscular dystrophies and metabolic disorders. Today, I am particularly interested in studying the potential of physical exercise and nutrition as therapeutic tools for maintaining the health of patients with rare neuromuscular diseases, for the majority of whom there are no clear guidelines or recommendations.

2. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations in this research field?
The research in the field of rare neuromuscular diseases highlights a significant gap between the ongoing demand for therapeutic interventions to improve patients’ health conditions and the impracticality of currently experimental therapies. This situation calls for a closer look at possible alternative approaches, which may appear conceptually simpler but are potentially valuable, such as sports therapy and nutritional therapy. These approaches could offer effective support to slow down myopathic processes, or at least some of them. From this point of view, our laboratory aims to serve as a reference point for patients with rare neuromuscular and metabolic diseases. Our mission seeks to introduce a new method of approaching patients after their diagnostic and clinical assessment. This phase is considered particularly important and delicate, as it is often experienced by patients as a period of abandonment or diminished attention from institutions. During this time, it is crucial to enhance the patient’s residual functional capacities, as these often significantly contribute to maintaining their daily activities. However, this requires empowering the patient, who must take on a central and active role in carrying out the training and nutritional program, with constant multispecialty support. In addition to providing clinical support to patients, our laboratory pursues several lines of research, all aimed at the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for those affected.

3. What do you think is the innovation in this paper? How do you find this innovation when writing the paper?
Our recently published work in IJERPH focuses on facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD), the second most common progressive hereditary muscular dystrophy in adults, with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 20,000 individuals. The disease presents a wide phenotypic spectrum, including heterogeneous symptoms, variable progression, and a fluctuating age of onset, typically in the second or third decade of life. To address the complexity of the disease's clinical presentation, we are exploring additional stratification factors to monitor during interventions aimed at improving or maintaining patients’ quality of life, such as exercise, nutritional adjustments, and supplementation. In our paper, we emphasize the critical role of body composition in evaluating the health and physical efficiency of patients with FSHD. Our research identifies a significant negative association between maximal oxygen consumption—an indicator of physical fitness—and body fat percentage in these patients. This finding is particularly noteworthy because maximal oxygen consumption is not just a measure of aerobic capacity; it is also a key indicator of cardiovascular and muscular efficiency. For patients with muscular dystrophies like FSHD, maintaining physical function is essential for preserving autonomy and quality of life. We hope readers will understand the importance of regularly monitoring body composition, particularly body fat, in FSHD patients. Unlike complex or invasive tests, body composition assessment is non-invasive, simple, and cost-effective, making it a practical tool for clinical practice. Regular monitoring enables healthcare providers to track changes over time and make more informed decisions about patient care. By observing the relationship between body fat and physical efficiency, we can better understand the factors contributing to disease-related functional decline. Furthermore, our findings suggest that maintaining a healthy body composition—reducing excess fat while promoting lean mass—may be a crucial strategy for preserving physical function in FSHD patients. Interventions such as nutritional support and targeted exercise programs could help slow the progression of physical decline and improve patient outcomes. This approach holds promise for more effective disease management. In conclusion, we hope our paper highlights the importance of incorporating body composition as a central metric in the clinical management of FSHD, as well as other neuromuscular diseases. By doing so, healthcare providers can implement more personalized and targeted interventions that not only enhance physical fitness but also improve the overall well-being and quality of life for patients living with these conditions.

4. Do you have any advice or experience that you would like to share with young researchers who want to pursue research in this field?
The study of rare neuromuscular diseases requires a solid background in physiology and pathophysiology, which is essential for effectively addressing highly complex conditions. In general, the importance of nutritional interventions and those based on physical activity represents a still largely unexplored territory. This field demands young, passionate, dedicated, and curious minds, capable of taking on significant and complex challenges.

5. What is your impression of the publishing experience with IJERPH?
First and foremost, I appreciated that a niche topic with potentially significant implications for a specific group of patients could find a place in the journal. The peer-review process was conducted properly, leading to a progressive improvement in the content of the manuscript, with which we are now very satisfied.

6. We are an open access journal. How do you think the open access model impacts authors?
Open access has become a well-established system that enables the rapid dissemination of scientific findings, resulting in a significant and immediate impact on the directions science takes on a daily basis. In addition to ensuring widespread dissemination of knowledge, it also enhances the visibility of scientific findings, accelerating their social impact as in the field of neuromuscular diseases.

We would like to express our gratitude to Prof. Dr. Giuseppe D’Antona and his research group for choosing the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601) as the platform to publish their research. Submissions and input related to the area of health promotion and health presentation are welcomed by our journal.

Name: Ms. Laurie-Anne Kosak
Affiliation: ¹ School of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada; ² School Environment Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada

Name: Prof. Linda Pagani
Affiliation: ¹ School of Psycho-Education, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada; ² School Environment Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada; ³ Sainte-Justine’s Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada

“Early Socio-Emotional Difficulty as a Childhood Barrier to the Expected Benefits of Active Play: Associated Risks for School Engagement in Adolescence”
by Laurie-Anne Kosak, Kianoush Harandian, Simon L. Bacon, Isabelle Archambault, Luca Correale and Linda S. Pagani
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(10), 1353; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21101353
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/10/1353

The following is an interview with Ms. Laurie-Anne Kosak and Prof. Linda Pagani:

1. Congratulations on your recently published paper! Could you please give our readers a brief introduction to yourself and your current research topic?
Linda S. Pagani: My name is Linda Pagani, and I’m a professor at the University of Montreal. In my lab, we focus on studying lifestyle factors and their impacts on development. I’ve been fortunate to work with Laurie-Anne Kosak, an outstanding student who undertook a significant project as part of her studies. She used a historically important population-based longitudinal study for her research. Why do I call it historically important? Because it was conducted during a time when technology wasn’t as invasive as it is today. This allowed us to work with fewer nuisance variables, offering more controlled results compared to what you might encounter in today’s hyper-connected environment. We received funding for this work from Sport Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Laurie-Anne, who is also a scholarship awardee of this council, has conducted remarkable research. I want to highlight that it’s important for senior researchers like myself to give young scientists opportunities to take on responsibility early in their careers. With the right support, they can achieve significant milestones, as Laurie-Anne has.
Laurie-Anne Kosak: My name is Laurie-Anne Kosak, and I recently graduated from the University of Montreal with a master’s degree under Linda’s direction. The paper we’re discussing today was one of two I worked on during my master’s studies. In this particular research, we examined the connection between early childhood active play and school engagement. Another paper from this series, published in Children, focused on the link between extracurricular physical activity and academic achievement. Both papers were part of my master’s research, which, as Linda mentioned, was funded by the SSHRC. Currently, I’m starting my Ph.D. at the University of Sherbrooke, Canada. My research interest lies in exploring how lifestyle factors like physical activity can influence various aspects of child development. Physical activity is particularly fascinating because it’s actionable—it’s something families can easily incorporate into their daily lives, making it a critical area of study.

2. What aspect of your work excites you most right now? Have you encountered any unexpected findings during your research journey?
Laurie-Anne Kosak: What excites me most is how close this research is to everyday life. Studying lifestyle factors like physical activity makes it easy to connect with people and helps them make tangible changes. As for unexpected findings, we discovered that while physical activity generally benefits children, certain individual characteristics can influence these outcomes. For instance, children with traits like anxiety, or relational aggression may not experience the same benefits as others. Another finding was the significant impact of organized sports compared to unstructured activities like free play or cycling. Organized sports, which involve structure and guidance from coaches or instructors, seem to offer additional benefits, such as teaching teamwork, discipline, and attention. However, access to these activities can depend on family characteristics like socioeconomic status, parental education, and income.
Linda S. Pagani: Structure is essential, and this ties into another aspect of our research: the importance of respecting the differences between males and females in how they experience risk and protective factors. Many studies take a gender-neutral approach, but real life isn’t gender-neutral. Social expectations and biological influences mean that males and females experience these factors differently. In our lab, we stratify our analyses by sex to ensure that these nuances are respected and accurately reflected in our findings.
Laurie-Anne Kosak: Yes, and our findings reinforce this approach. For instance, boys and girls may benefit differently from certain types of physical activity or interventions, which highlights the need for tailored strategies in promoting healthy lifestyles for children.

3. Let’s dive deeper into how your collaboration came together for this research. How did your team form, and what was the dynamic like?
Laurie-Anne Kosak: This project brought together researchers from three universities. I conducted my master’s work at the University of Montreal under Linda’s supervision. We were also supported by Kianoush Harandian, another student in the School Environment Research Group, which studies school adaptation and environmental influences on children, as well as Isabelle Archambault who is a professor of psychoeducation at the University of Montreal and also a member of the School Environment Research Group. Additionally, Simon Bacon from Concordia University, who specializes in physical activity research, and Luca Correale from the University of Pavia in Italy, contributed to the paper. Their expertise allowed us to refine our findings and push the research further after I graduated.

4. What do you hope readers will take away from your paper?
Laurie-Anne Kosak: As Linda mentioned earlier, we conducted sex-stratified analyses and found notable differences between boys and girls. For girls, when they had low anxiety, their school engagement was more positively influenced by participation in sports. Interestingly, when girls had higher levels of anxiety and participated in organized sports, their school engagement was lower. Our interpretation is that, at six years old, the age when we measured active play and anxiety, organized sports might overwhelm children already experiencing high anxiety. Combining that with starting school might simply be too much for them at such a young age, leading to lower long-term school engagement.
Linda Pagani: Organized sports could act as a risk factor for girls with high anxiety. At this age, they’re already receiving strong messages about the importance of excelling both academically and in extracurricular activities. Women’s stronger connections between the frontal lobe and amygdala may also contribute to this heightened emotional response, possibly due to evolutionary roles in offspring protection.
Laurie-Anne Kosak: For boys, a similar pattern emerged but with unstructured physical activity, like playing outside or street hockey. When boys with low anxiety participated in these activities, it had little impact on their school engagement. However, for boys with high anxiety, engaging in more unstructured physical activity correlated with lower school engagement. Physical activity in this case appeared to act as a distraction, shifting their focus away from school.
Linda Pagani: This is unstructured play—completely different from organized sports. For boys with high anxiety, these activities can be overly stimulating and pleasurable, leading them to disengage from school. Developmentally, boys may also struggle more with self-regulation at this age.
Laurie-Anne Kosak: For boys with higher levels of relational aggression—behaviors like exclusion or verbal negativity toward peers—unstructured physical activity was again linked to lower school engagement. However, we didn’t find significant results for relational aggression in girls.

5. What inspired you to submit this work to our journal, and how was your experience?
Laurie-Anne Kosak: I was drawn to the journal’s interdisciplinary focus. I appreciate its ability to bring together perspectives from various fields on related topics. The submission process was smooth and user-friendly, which I found refreshing.
Linda Pagani: I also value the journal’s broad readership, particularly in Europe, where I collaborate extensively. It’s an excellent platform for sharing research with a diverse audience. For example, I recently gave a talk in Moscow on the fragile state of youth today. Topics like this benefit greatly from the journal’s reach and interdisciplinary approach.

We would like to express our gratitude to Ms. Laurie-Anne Kosak, Prof. Linda Pagani, and their research group for choosing the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: ISSN: 1660-4601) as the platform to publish their research. Submissions and inputs related to the area of health promotion and health presentation are welcomed by our journal.