Search Results (5,094)

Pulque, an available traditional Mexican fermented beverage, has deep ethnographic and cultural significance. It was originally consumed by pre-Columbian civilizations, including the Teotihuacanos, Mexicas, Otomies, Zapotecas, Mixtecas, and Maya. It was revered as a sacred drink with both ceremonial and medicinal uses, often reserved for elites and priests. Its production is based on the ancestral extraction and fermentation of aguamiel, a sweet sap obtained from agave plants. While advances in food technology have occurred, traditional techniques for obtaining and fermenting aguamiel remain prevalent, especially in rural communities, reflecting the resilience of indigenous knowledge systems. Recent interest in pulque has focused on its nutritional content and potential health benefits when consumed in moderation, though risks related to excessive intake remain a concern. Moreover, cultural initiatives aim to revitalize indigenous heritage through gastronomic promotion, tourism routes, and festive traditions. This study explores pulque’s production processes, its cultural symbolism, and its evolving role within Mexican society, suggesting that its survival reflects both continuity and adaptation in the face of modernity. This paper is also presented as a narrative integrative review to explore the biocultural significance of pulque across the anthropological, historical, biochemical, and public-health domains. Full article

Cissampelos pareira is a medicinal plant with the potential effect of treating diabetes, commonly used by the Dai people in southern Yunnan Province. However, the wild resources of C. pareira are currently scarce. Endophytic fungi are a natural component of medicinal plants, while also serving as important repositories for discovering active natural products. In this study, we focused on 2-year-old C. pareira plants cultivated in potted and non-potted conditions. The community structure of endophytic fungi in the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of two cultivation methods of C. pareira was investigated by using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and traditional culture methods. Through HTS, we discover that the richness and diversity of endophytic fungi in C. pareira are associated with its growth environment and plant tissues. The endophytic fungi richness of C. pareira showed significant differences between the two habitats. And significant differences existed in the diversity of root endophytic fungi of C. pareira compared to those in the stems, leaves, and flowers. Additionally, the richness of endophytic fungi in the stems showed significant differences from that in the roots, leaves, and flowers. The results obtained using traditional culture methods revealed 69 endophytic fungi strains, classified into 2 phylum, 4 classes, 11 orders, 23 families, and 69 genera. The fermentation products of the obtained strains were evaluated for in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and the results demonstrated that 11 endophytic fungi strains exhibited an inhibition rate exceeding 80%. The above-mentioned study can provide a theoretical basis for a comprehensive understanding of the community composition and diversity of endophytic fungi in C. pareira. Full article

Emotion regulation strategies, specifically expressive suppression (ES) and cognitive reappraisal (CR), are known to influence mental health outcomes in the general population and adult elite athletes. Young elite athletes, who face unique academic and athletic pressures, remain understudied in this regard. The main aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ES and CR and mental health in young elite athletes. This longitudinal study included 93 young elite athletes (aged 15–17) attending upper secondary education in Sweden. Participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire at three time points over 12 months. Linear mixed models were used to examine associations between ES, CR, and mental health. Higher use of ES was significantly associated with poorer mental health (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), while greater use of CR predicted better mental health (β = −0.33, p < 0.001) across the study period. Expressive suppression and CR are both important for the mental health of young elite athletes, with CR being protective and ES conferring risk. Given the observed associations, future research could examine whether interventions aiming to enhance CR and reduce ES are linked to better mental health in young elite athletes. Full article

Background: Lipid disturbance is a hallmark of cardiometabolic abnormalities and a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease risk. Immunometabolic markers show promise for better risk classification. This study evaluated the uric acid to Platelet ratio (UAPR) as lipid abnormality marker in a broad cohort of Saudi adults. Methods: Data from 7781 adults in the Elta Medical Laboratory database were analysed. Subjects were stratified by lipid status, and UAPR levels were analyzed. Additionally, lipid abnormality distribution across UAPR tertiles and risk profiles, including ROC analysis, were evaluated. Results: UAPR were markedly increased in patients with abnormal lipid profiles while high UAPR (H-UAPR) subjects showed multiple dyslipidemic patterns including elevated levels of triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL-C), and remnant cholesterol (RC), alongside reduced HDL-C levels. Notably, UAPR correlated with all lipid parameters, most strongly and inversely with HDL-C (r = −0.314) and remained independently associated with TG and HDL-C in multivariable regression. Consistently, H-UAPR was common across all dyslipidemic forms, especially low HDL-C, nearly twice as frequent as in N-UAPR (52.4% vs. 35.0%). The odds were specifically increased for low HDL-C (OR = 2.02, p < 0.0001) and a high TC/HDL-C ratio (OR = 2.94, p < 0.0001) in H-UAPR patients. ROC analysis demonstrated that UAPR had moderate yet significant diagnostic performance, particularly for identifying high TC/HDL-C (AUC = 0.671, p < 0.001) and HDL-C (AUC = 0.618, p < 0.001). Conclusions: UAPR shows considerable promise as an immunometabolic marker linked to various dyslipidemic forms with potential for hyperlipidemia screening and stratification, warranting further validation. Full article

Visual information is crucial in human life, not only providing critical support for communication, learning, and decision-making, but also playing a key role in psychology, medicine, and science. Eye-tracking and gaze estimation have promoted the development of foveated rendering in wearable virtual reality and augmented reality glasses. This review summarizes the recent development on gaze estimation and discusses the impacts of head posture, illumination, occlusion, blur, and individual bias on the accuracy of eye-tracking. The prospective development on eye-tracking employing unsupervised learning, self-supervised learning, and meta-learning have also been discussed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human milk provides essential nutrients and immune factors with beneficial impact on term, but especially preterm infants’ development. Therefore, this study focuses on the quantification of differences in the peptidome composition of breast milk from mothers of preterm and term infants, keeping in mind that this could reflect different biological needs of these infants or indicate nutritional gaps for healthy development. Methods: In a prospective observational study, breast milk samples were collected from 10 mothers of preterm infants (29–36 weeks gestational age,) and 13 mothers of term infants (37–41 weeks) at day 4 to 6 postnatally. A non-targeted tandem mass spectrometry approach was employed to analyze the milk peptidome. Results: In total, 4570 peptides were quantified. Adjusting the results for maternal age, weight, and height revealed a significant difference for 130 peptides derived from 19 different proteins between preterm and term milk. Proteins comprised high abundant proteins (e.g., α_S1-casein, κ- casein, or ß-casein), but also proteins that are less prominent in milk but of high functional importance (e.g., Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha, Olfactory receptor 4M1). The differentially abundant peptides included peptides derived from ß-casein, which have already been described as being involved in antimicrobial functions as well as proliferation stimulating. For another 32 peptides, bioactivity was predicted. Conclusions: The current study provides a comprehensive overview on the differences in the milk peptidome at different gestational ages independent from common maternal phenotypes and improved the database for future peptide functionality studies. Full article

Lichens, complex symbiotic associations between fungi and photosynthetic partners, are widespread in terrestrial ecosystems but remain poorly studied in tropical dry forests (TDFs). This review synthesizes current knowledge on the diversity, ecological roles, adaptive traits, and ethnobotanical uses of lichens in TDFs, with a focus on the Neotropics. As most lichens discussed here are crustose species that inhabit tree bark, this paper also provides a thoughtful review of the origin, distribution, and highly heterogeneous floristic composition of TDFs, which directly shape lichen habitats. It discusses how lichens have evolved to cope with seasonal water stress, emphasizing desiccation tolerance as a key feature of the symbiosis. This review also explores lichen community composition, interactions with host trees, microclimatic conditions, herbivory, and soil crust formation. Despite evidence of high species richness, functional diversity, and ecological importance, lichens in TDFs are largely overlooked in conservation strategies. Moreover, several regions remain vastly understudied, and many species likely remain undescribed. Ethnolichenological practices, though scarce, underscore the cultural and medicinal value of these organisms. Given the high rates of habitat loss and endemism in TDFs, there is a pressing need to expand research on lichen diversity and to investigate the evolutionary origins of their survival strategies. The conservation of these lichens is inseparable from the conservation of TDFs themselves. Understanding how lichens adapt to the harsh and variable conditions of TDFs is essential for integrating them into biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration frameworks. Full article

Background: Hepatitis presents a major health and economic challenge in Saudi Arabia, necessitating insight into its epidemiology, risk factors, and control measures. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies for viral hepatitis in Saudi Arabia. It evaluates the effectiveness of existing interventions and proposes data-driven approaches to advance national hepatitis elimination goals. Methods: This study reviewed data from 2016 to 2024, sourced from PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and ScienceDirect, focusing on hepatitis epidemiology and prevention in Saudi Arabia. Studies relevant to Saudi-specific trends and prevention strategies were included. Results: Saudi Arabia has achieved significant reductions in viral hepatitis prevalence, notably HBV (1.3%) due to universal infant vaccination (98% coverage), and HCV (0.124%) through the Saudi National Hepatitis Program (SNHP), which provides free DAAs (95% cure rate) and has screened 5 million people. However, challenges persist: HAV susceptibility is rising in adults (seroprevalence 33.1%), HDV affects 7.7% of HBV patients, and key risk factors include socioeconomic disparities (higher HAV/HEV in rural/low-income areas), intravenous drug use (30–50% of HCV cases), unsafe medical/cultural practices (e.g., Hijama), and limited healthcare access for migrants/rural populations. While interventions like water sanitation initiatives (58% HAV decline) and prenatal screening are effective, advancing elimination goals requires addressing gaps in HDV/HEV surveillance, outdated seroprevalence data, equitable treatment access (35% lower in rural areas), stigma reduction, and targeted strategies for high-risk groups to meet WHO 2030 targets. Conclusions: Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in hepatitis control through vaccination and public health efforts, but challenges persist. Strengthening healthcare systems, improving community engagement, and ensuring equitable access are key to sustaining elimination efforts. Full article

Background: Establishing a highly accurate regional medical collaboration (RMC) system for interstitial lung disease (ILD) may facilitate early disease detection, improve patient satisfaction, and enhance advanced-stage care. Methods: We investigated whether the lung conditions in patients cared for by our RMC system for ILD were detected earlier than those with usual care. Additionally, we investigated patients’ preferences regarding its use. Result: The time from respiratory symptoms onset to hospital referral did not differ significantly between patients cared for by the system and those with usual care. However, the number of patients referred to our hospital for suspected ILD before the onset of symptoms was significantly higher from the participating institutions than from other institutions (44.1% vs. 24.6%, p = 0.025). Additionally, 66.0% of patients preferred the medical care with the system. Conclusions: Establishing an RMC system for ILD may lead to earlier disease detection and contribute to improvement in medical care delivery to patients. Full article

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) represents a major healthcare problem, colonizing more than half of the population worldwide. Usually acquired during childhood, it has a significant impact on human health. After forty years of extensive research, there are aspects of the complex H. pylori–human organism interplay that require further investigation. A comprehensive review was conducted after an extensive literature search in the PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases concerning H. pylori and human microbiota reports. Although the exact nature of H. pylori’s relation with the human microbiome remains elusive, its presence as well as its eradication treatment are associated with the alteration of bacterial communities’ composition not only in the gastric microenvironment but also in all digestive tract levels, with particular changes in both children and adults. Understanding microbiota composition is a step towards personalized medicine. Although the current literature on pediatric patients related to this topic is scarce, the available positive results reported in adult studies encourage pediatric research on microbiota manipulation, promising beneficial outcomes. Full article

Polyphenols have been widely recognized for their potential anti-obesity effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a polyphenol compound-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, and rutin (EQR) on obesity-related parameters and gut microbiota composition. After four weeks of high-fat diet (HFD) induction, the obese Wistar male rats received EQR treatment for an additional four weeks. EQR supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain, feed efficiency, adipose tissue accumulation, and liver lipid content in obese rats. Additionally, it enhanced fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels and modulated gut microbiota composition. Specifically, EQR treatment significantly induced Fusobacteria, Fusobacteriaceae, Christensenellaceae, Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Lachnoclostridium, Enterorhabdus, and Parvibacter levels and reduced Deferribacteres and Mucispirillum levels. Gene expression analysis in liver, white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue (BAT) revealed that EQR upregulated the expression of liver PPAR-α, WAT SIRT-1, and BAT PGC-1α, while downregulating liver PPAR-γ, liver FATP-1, and WAT FAS, indicating its role in promoting fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis, as well as suppressing lipid synthesis and transport. In conclusion, EQR demonstrated significant anti-obesity effects by modulating gut microbiota and lipid metabolism, suggesting its potential as a functional ingredient for obesity management. Full article

Cognitive frailty in elders has become very common in Thailand society and is extremely difficult to manage in clinical practice due to poor detection and diagnosis. Plasma proteomic studies may be able to provide promising protein markers specific to this condition in order to improve the quality of life in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to differentiate and identify a potential protein marker of cognitive frailty in plasma samples by proteomic approaches. Nine plasma samples from elders with cognitive frailty or non-frailty were pooled and subjected to 2D gel separation. Conventional analysis was performed with the stained gel, and the selected protein spot was identified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry coupled to a SCIEX TripleTOF 6600+. It was found that fibrinogen gamma (FGG) chain protein was suggested. FGG was further validated with a commercial ELISA kit using both pooled and individual plasma samples. It was found that both pooled and individual samples showed a significant reduction in FGG levels in elders with cognitive frailty. The results from this study suggest that FGG chain may be a potentially useful plasma biomarker for early detection, diagnosis, and therapeutic applications of cognitive frailty in elders in order to achieve sustainable health in an aging society. Full article

Glycosylation, the enzymatic addition of glycans to proteins and lipids, is a critical post-translational modification that influences protein folding, stability, trafficking, immune modulation, and cell signaling. The vast structural diversity of glycans arising from differences in monosaccharide composition, branching, and terminal modifications such as sialylation, fucosylation, and sulfation underpins their functional specificity and regulatory capacity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of glycan biosynthesis, with a focus on N-glycans, O-glycans, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and glycolipids. It explores their essential roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis, development, and immune surveillance. In health, glycans mediate cell–cell communication, protein interactions, and immune responses. In disease, however, aberrant glycosylation is increasingly recognized as a hallmark of numerous pathological conditions, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases, and a wide range of infectious diseases. Glycomic alterations contribute to tumor progression, immune evasion, therapy resistance, neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction. Tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) and disease-specific glycoforms present novel opportunities for biomarker discovery and therapeutic targeting. Moreover, glycan-mediated host–pathogen interactions are central to microbial adhesion, immune escape, and virulence. This review highlights current advances in glycomics technologies, including mass spectrometry, lectin microarrays, and glycoengineering, which have enabled the high-resolution profiling of the glycome. It also highlights the emerging potential of single-cell glycomics and multi-omics integration in precision medicine. Understanding glycome and its dynamic regulation is essential for uncovering the molecular mechanisms of disease and translating glycomic insights into innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hypertension is a growing public health concern in Saudi Arabia, driven by rapid socioeconomic changes. This study investigated the interplay between habitual, behavioral, and dietary risk factors associated with hypertension among Saudi adults. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3312 Saudi adults using multistage stratified random sampling. The data were collected via validated questionnaires assessing sociodemographic, anthropometric indicators, lifestyle behaviors, dietary patterns, and medical history. Hypertension status was determined through self-reported diagnosis. Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression identified independent predictors (p < 0.05). Results: Hypertension prevalence was 13% (mean age: 34 ± 15 years; 50% male). The strongest predictors were age (OR = 1.08/year; 95% CI: 1.07–1.10; p < 0.001), increased body mass index (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01–1.06; p = 0.011), smoking (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.04–2.29; p = 0.030), and family history of hypertension (OR = 7.71; 95% CI: 5.61–10.75; p < 0.001). Participants with diabetes mellitus had 89% higher odds of hypertension (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.42–2.51; p < 0.001), and those with dyslipidemia had more than double the odds (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.38–4.22; p = 0.002). Protective factors included higher income (≥15,000 SAR; OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.36–0.81; p = 0.003) and regular whole grain consumption (OR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.46–0.77; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Hypertension risk in Saudi adults is shaped by age, obesity, smoking, comorbid metabolic conditions (diabetes and dyslipidemia), and genetic pre-disposition. In contrast, higher income and whole grain intake may offer protection. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive prevention strategies that address both lifestyle and cardiometabolic comorbidities, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 health priorities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, assessed using the Apnea–Hypopnea Index (AHI). Systemic inflammation is central to OSA progression, and the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) has emerged as a potential biomarker for inflammatory diseases. This study investigates the relationship between SIRI and OSA severity while comparing other inflammatory markers. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among 150 OSA patients at a tertiary care hospital. Based on AHI, patients were categorized into mild, moderate, and severe OSA groups. Blood parameters, including neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts, were analyzed, and inflammatory indices (SIRI, NLR, PLR) were calculated. Correlation, ROCs, and regression analyses assessed associations between inflammatory markers and OSA severity. Results: SIRI demonstrated an excellent predictive ability for severe OSA with an AUC of 0.960 (cut-off: 1.105; sensitivity: 92.2%; specificity: 91.4%). The STOP-BANG score alone had lower discriminatory power (AUC: 0.737), but combining it with SIRI improved accuracy (AUC: 0.983). The best performance was observed when SIRI, STOP-BANG, PLR, and CRP were combined, yielding an AUC of 1.00, indicating perfect discrimination. Conclusions: SIRI shows strong predictive value for identifying severe OSA, underscoring its utility as a simple, cost-effective biomarker to aid early recognition and referral, particularly in primary care and resource-limited settings. Full article