Search Results (7,922)

This study analyzes the relationship between ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors and labor productivity using a bibliometric approach through a general analysis and one that includes inclusion criteria such as English language, open access, and primary research publications to identify only those articles that explicitly address the relationship between ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors and labor productivity. It is recognized that both physical and psychosocial conditions of the work environment directly influence workers’ health and organizational performance. For this purpose, a bibliometric review was conducted in academic databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Taylor & Francis, resulting in the selection of 4794 relevant articles for general analysis. Additionally, 116 relevant articles were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Tools and methodologies, such as Rayyan, Excel, VOSviewer 1.6.20, and PRISMA, were used to classify the studies and identify trends, collaboration networks, and geographical distribution. The results reveal a sustained growth in scientific production, with clusters on occupational safety and health, work environment factors, and the characteristics of the population, approach, and methodologies used in the studies. Likewise, Procedia Manufacturing, International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, and Ergonomics stand out as the main sources of publication, while countries such as Sweden, Poland, and the United States lead the scientific production in this field. In addition, the network of co-occurrence of keywords evidences a comprehensive approach that articulates physical or ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors with organizational performance, while the network of authors shows consolidated collaborations and studies focused on analyzing the relationship between physical demands and musculoskeletal disorders from advanced ergonomic approaches. Full article

Antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases are common, can involve any organ system, and pose a large burden for patients and healthcare systems. Most antibody-mediated diseases are mediated by IgG antibodies. Selective targeting of pathogenic antibodies is an attractive treatment option which has already proven to be effective in antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis, maternal-fetal alloimmune cytopenias, and immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) is an autoimmune disorder mediated by pathogenic antibodies mainly of the IgG class with no approved therapy. Current treatment includes non-specific immunosuppression with corticosteroids, rituximab, and other immunosuppressive agents. With most therapies, time to response can be delayed and transfusions may be needed. Neonatal Fc receptor (FcRN) therapies provide rapid and sustained reduction of pathogenic IgG levels providing potential for fast, effective therapy in antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases including warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. This review focuses on the emerging role of FcRn inhibition in autoimmune hematologic diseases, and their therapeutic potential in wAIHA. Full article

Objectives: This study assessed the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based fine dust education program, grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM), on elementary students’ fine dust knowledge, related behaviors, and mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality). Methods: From September to November 2024, 95 students (grades 4–6) living near a coal-fired power plant in midwestern South Korea were assigned to either an intervention group (n = 44) or a control group (n = 51). The intervention group completed a three-session CBT-based education program; the control group received stress management education. Assessments were conducted at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 using standardized mental health and behavior scales (PHQ: Patient Health Questionnaire, GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment, PSS: Perceived Stress Scale, ISI: Insomnia Severity Index). Results: A chi-square test was conducted to compare pre- and post-test changes in knowledge and behavior related to PM2.5. The intervention group showed significant improvements in seven fine dust-related knowledge and behavior items (e.g., PM2.5 awareness rose from 33.3% to 75.0%; p < 0.05). The control group showed limited gains. Regarding mental health, based on a mixed-design ANCOVA, anxiety scores significantly declined over time in the intervention group, with group and interaction effects also significant (p < 0.05). Depression scores showed time effects, but group and interaction effects were not significant. No significant changes were observed for stress, sleep, or group × PM2.5 interactions. Conclusions: The CBT-based education program effectively enhanced fine dust knowledge, health behaviors, and reduced anxiety among students. It presents a promising, evidence-based strategy to promote environmental and mental health in school-aged children. Full article

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of mortality globally, contributing significantly to the burden on healthcare systems. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of NCD mortality is crucial for identifying vulnerable populations and regions at high risk. Objectives: Here, we evaluated the spatiotemporal patterns of NCD mortality in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico (MAVM) from 2000 to 2019 for five International Classification of Diseases chapters (4, 5, 6, 9, and 10) at two spatial scales: the municipal level and metropolitan region. Methods: Mortality rates were calculated for the total population and stratified by sex and age groups at both spatial scales. In addition, the relative risk (RR) of mortality was estimated to identify vulnerable population groups and regions with a high risk of mortality, using women and the 25–34 age group as reference categories for population-level analysis, and the overall MAVM mortality rate as the reference for municipal-level analysis. Results: Mortality trends showed that circulatory-system diseases (Chapter 9) are emerging as a concerning health issue, with 45 municipalities showing increasing mortality trends, especially among older adults. Respiratory-system diseases (Chapter 10), mental and behavioral disorders (Chapter 5) and nervous-system diseases (Chapter 6) predominantly did not exhibit a consistent general mortality trend. However, upon disaggregating by sex and age groups, specific negative or positive trends emerged at the municipal level for some of these chapters or subgroups. Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (Chapter 4) showed a complex pattern, with some age groups presenting increasing mortality trends, and 52 municipalities showing increasing trends overall. The RR showed men and older age groups (≥35 years) exhibiting higher mortality risks. The temporal trend of RR allowed us to identify spatial mortality hotspots mainly in chapters related to circulatory, endocrine, and respiratory diseases, forming four geographical clusters in Mexico City that show persistent high risk of mortality. Conclusions: The spatiotemporal analysis highlights municipalities and vulnerable populations with a consistently elevated mortality risk. These findings emphasize the need for monitoring NCD mortality patterns at both the municipal and metropolitan levels to address disparities and guide the implementation of health policies aimed at reducing mortality risk in vulnerable populations. Full article

Hypoplastic or absent fetal nasal bone (NB) is a significant soft marker in the risk assessment for aneuploidies. This study aimed to evaluate prenatal findings and perinatal outcomes in fetuses with absent or hypoplastic NB managed at our center. This retrospective analysis was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics at the Medical University of Vienna and including all cases with an absent or hypoplastic fetal NB between 2004 and 2022. Clinical data were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 149 cases were included. Of these, 51% had chromosomal abnormalities, with trisomy 21 present in 30.9%. Malformations were identified in 55% of cases, most commonly congenital heart defects (34.9%) and facial dysmorphism (28.9%). Eighteen fetuses (12.1%) had structural anomalies without genetic disorders. In 32.9% (n = 49), the NB anomaly was isolated. Our findings show that only half of the cases had chromosomal abnormalities, and over half of the pregnancies resulted in live births with generally favorable perinatal outcomes. However, the presence of additional ultrasound abnormalities significantly increased the risk of adverse outcomes. Therefore, detection of a fetal NB anomaly should prompt comprehensive ultrasound evaluation and genetic testing. Full article

Pathologies of the heart (e.g., ischemic disease, valve fibrosis and calcification, progressive myocardial fibrosis, heart failure, and arrhythmogenic disorders) stem from the irreversible deterioration of cardiac tissues, leading to severe clinical consequences. The limited regenerative capacity of the adult myocardium and the architectural complexity of the heart present major challenges for tissue engineering. However, recent advances in biomaterials and biofabrication techniques have opened new avenues for recreating functional cardiac tissues. Particularly relevant in this context is the integration of biomimetic design principles, such as structural anisotropy, mechanical and electrical responsiveness, and tissue-specific composition, into 3D bioprinting platforms. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current approaches in cardiac bioprinting, with a focus on how structural and functional biomimicry can be achieved using advanced hydrogels, bioprinting techniques, and post-fabrication stimulation. By critically evaluating materials, methods, and applications such as patches, vasculature, valves, and chamber models, we define the state of the art and highlight opportunities for developing next-generation bioengineered cardiac constructs. Full article

Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are widely used and generally well tolerated; however, their neuroendocrinological effects remain underappreciated in clinical decision-making. Beyond ovulation suppression, HCs influence brain function by modulating key neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin, and dopamine, as well as neurosteroids like allopregnanolone and β-endorphin. These interactions help explain why some users experience mood swings, anxiety, or changes in sexual desire, while others report improvements in well-being. In this narrative review, we explore how different estrogenic and progestin components affect central pathways involved in emotional regulation and cognition. Evidence suggests that estradiol or estetrol-based formulations combined with anti-androgenic progestins like drospirenone or nomegestrol acetate may offer a more favourable neuroendocrine profile, particularly in women with a history of mood disorders or hormonal sensitivity. Understanding these neuroendocrine mechanisms may support more personalized contraceptive choices, particularly in women with mood disorders and hormonal vulnerability. Full article

Diagnosing hypermobility disorders and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) in children is challenging due to overlapping features with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) and the lack of biomarkers. Background/Objectives: This study aims to describe the clinical and genetic features of pediatric EDS patients and identify key comorbidities and correlations. Methods: This is a single-center observational study of patients under 18 diagnosed with suspicion of EDS (2018–2024) at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Diagnoses were made using 2017 criteria. Results: Forty-one patients (46% female; mean age 11.1 ± 2.8 years) were included. Based on 2017 criteria, 61% had hypermobile EDS (hEDS)/hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD), 22% classical EDS, 7.3% vascular, and 9.7% other subtypes. Musculoskeletal (90.2%), cutaneous (68.3%), and psychiatric (56.1%) symptoms were most frequent. Significant associations included older age with psychiatric symptoms (p = 0.029), Beighton score with dislocations (p = 0.026), and less atrophic scarring in hEDS (p < 0.008). Genetic testing (73% performed) confirmed pathogenic variants (11 novel) in EDS with a known molecular cause. Conclusions: This study proposes a clinically guided approach and diagnostic algorithm for youth hypermobility, emphasizing precision medicine principles, while highlighting the urgent need for further research to identify hEDS biomarkers. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a multifactorial disorder driven by a combination of disruptions in proteostasis and organelle communication. The 2020 Lancet commission reported that approximately 10 million people worldwide were affected by AD in the mid-20th century. AD is the most prevalent cause of dementia. By early 2030, the global cost of dementia is projected to rise by USD 2 trillion per year, with up to 85% of that cost attributed to daily patient care. Several factors have been implicated in the progression of neurodegeneration, including increased oxidative stress, the accumulation of misfolded proteins, the formation of amyloid plaques and aggregates, the unfolded protein response (UPR), and mitochondrial–endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium homeostasis. However, the exact triggers that initiate these pathological processes remain unclear, in part because clinical symptoms often emerge gradually and subtly, complicating early diagnosis. Among the early hallmarks of neurodegeneration, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the buildup of misfolded proteins are believed to play pivotal roles in disrupting proteostasis, leading to cognitive deficits and neuronal cell death. The accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles is a characteristic feature of AD. These features contribute to chronic neuroinflammation, which is marked by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that exacerbate oxidative stress. Given these interconnected mechanisms, targeting stress-related signaling pathways, such as oxidative stress (ROS) generated in the mitochondria and ER, ER stress, UPR, and cytosolic chaperones, represents a promising strategy for therapeutic intervention. This review focuses on the relationship between stress chaperone responses and organelle function, particularly the interaction between mitochondria and the ER, in the development of new therapies for AD and related neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), which belongs to the class B1 G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, is an important target for treatment of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. The growing interest in GLP-1R-based therapies is driven by the development of various functional agonists as well as the huge commercial market. Thus, understanding the structural details of ligand-induced signaling are important for developing improved GLP-1R drugs. Here, we investigated the conformational dynamics of the receptor in complex with a selection of prototypical functional agonists, including CHU-128 (small molecule-biased), danuglipron (small molecule balanced), and Peptide 19 (peptide balanced), which exhibit unique, distinct binding modes and induced helix packing. Furthermore, our all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed atomic feature how different those ligands led to signaling pathway preference. Our findings offer valuable insights into the mechanistic principle of GLP-1R activation, which are helpful for the rational design of next-generation GLP-1R drug molecules. Full article

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been extensively studied through neuroimaging, primarily focusing on grey matter and more in children than in adults. Studies in children and adolescents fail to capture changes that may dampen with age, thus leaving only changes specific to ASD. While grey matter has been the primary focus, white matter (WM) may be more specific in identifying the particular biological signature of the neurodiversity of ASD. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is the more appropriate tool to investigate WM in ASD. Despite being introduced in 1994, its application to ASD research began in 2001. Studies employing DTI identify altered fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity, and radial diffusivity (RD) in individuals with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) individuals. Methods: We systematically reviewed literature on 21 May 2025 on PubMed using the following strategy: (“autism spectrum”[ti] OR autistic[ti] OR ASD[ti] OR “high-functioning autism” OR Asperger*[ti] OR Rett*[ti]) AND (DTI[ti] OR “diffusion tensor”[ti] OR multimodal[ti] OR “white matter”[ti] OR tractograph*[ti]). Our search yielded 239 results, of which 26 were adult human studies and eligible. Results: Analysing the evidence, we obtained regionally diverse WM alterations in adult ASD, specifically in FA, MD, RD, axial diffusivity and kurtosis, neurite density, and orientation dispersion index, compared to TD individuals, mostly in frontal and interhemispheric tracts, association fibres, and subcortical projection pathways. These alterations were less prominent than those of children and adolescents, indicating that individuals with ASD may improve during brain maturation. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that white matter alterations in adults with ASD are regionally diverse but generally less pronounced than in younger populations. This may indicate a potential improvement or adaptation of brain structure during maturation. Further research is needed to clarify the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these changes and their implications for clinical outcomes. Full article

(1) Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder driven by the BCR::ABL oncoprotein. During the chronic phase, Philadelphia chromosome-positive hematopoietic stem cells generate proliferative myeloid cells with various stages of maturation. Despite this expansion, leukemic stem cells (LSCs) retain self-renewal capacity via asymmetric cell divisions, sustaining the stem cell pool. Quiescent LSCs are known to be resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), potentially through BCR::ABL-independent signaling pathways. We hypothesize that dysregulation of genes governing asymmetric division in LSCs contributes to disease progression, and that their expression pattern may serve as a prognostic marker during the chronic phase of CML. (2) Methods: Genes related to asymmetric cell division in the context of hematopoietic stem cells were extracted from the PubMed database with the keyword “asymmetric hematopoietic stem cell”. The collected relative gene set was tested on two independent bulk transcriptome cohorts and the results were confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing. (3) Results: The expression of genes involved in asymmetric hematopoietic stem cell division was found to discriminate disease phases during CML progression in the two independent transcriptome cohorts. Concordance between cohorts was observed on asymmetric molecules downregulated during blast crisis (BC) as compared to the chronic phase (CP). This downregulation during the BC phase was confirmed at single-cell level for SELL, CD63, NUMB, HK2, and LAMP2 genes. Single-cell analysis during the CP found that CD63 is associated with a poor prognosis phenotype, with the opposite prediction revealed by HK2 and NUMB expression. The single-cell trajectory reconstitution analysis in CP samples showed CD63 regulation highlighting a trajectory cluster implicating HSPB1, PIM2, ANXA5, LAMTOR1, CFL1, CD52, RAD52, MEIS1, and PDIA3, known to be implicated in hematopoietic malignancies. (4) Conclusion: Regulation of CD63, a tetraspanin involved in the asymmetric division of hematopoietic stem cells, was found to be associated with poor prognosis during CML progression and could be a potential new therapeutic target. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gut microbiota research has gained momentum in recent years broadening knowledge of microbial components and their potential effects on health and well-being. Strong association between explicit microbes and metabolic diseases associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancers have been established. Akkermansia muciniphila is a budding next-generation probiotic that plays an important role in systemic metabolism, intestinal health, and immune regulation, establishing strong implications for its use as a potent therapeutic intervention in diverse diseases. This project aimed at evaluating whether bacterial cell extracts of VH Akkermansia muciniphila (Vidya Strain; VS) can stimulate insulin secretion in INS-1 pancreatic beta cells and GLP-1 secretion in NCI-H716 human L-cells, both established in vitro models for studying metabolic regulation. Methods: Cultured VH Akkermansia muciniphila extracts were administered in a dose-dependent manner on INS-1 cells, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was measured via ELISA. Treated Human L-cell lines (NCI-H716) were analyzed for GLP-1 secretion. Results: Our study demonstrated that VH Akkermansia muciniphila extracts modestly increase insulin secretion from INS-1 beta cells and, more notably, induce a robust, dose-dependent rise in GLP-1 secretion from NCI-H716 L-cells, with the highest dose achieving over a 2000% increase comparable to glutamine. Conclusions: These findings suggest that VH A. muciniphila extracts may offer metabolic benefits by enhancing GLP-1 release, highlighting their potential for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. Full article

This story began half a century ago with the discovery of an unusually high presence of tryptophan (Trp, W) in transthyretin (TTR), one of the three carrier proteins of thyroid hormones. With the Trp-rich retinol-binding protein (RBP), TTR forms a plasma complex implicated in the delivery of retinoid compounds to body tissues. W has the lowest concentration among all AAs involved in the sequencing of human body proteins. The present review proposes molecular maps focusing on the ratio of W/AA residues found in the sequence of proteins involved in immune events, allowing us to ascribe the guidance of inflammatory processes as fully under the influence of W. Under the control of cytokine stimulation, plasma biomarkers of protein nutritional status work in concert with major acute-phase reactants (APRs) and with carrier proteins to release, in a free and active form, their W and hormonal ligands, interacting to generate hot spots affecting the course of acute stress disorders. The prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index (PINI) scoring formula contributes to identifying the respective roles played by each of the components prevailing during the progression of the disease. Glucagon demonstrates ambivalent properties, remaining passive under steady-state conditions while displaying stronger effects after cytokine activation. In developing countries, inappropriate weaning periods lead to toddlers eating W-deficient cereals as a staple, causing a dramatic reduction in the levels of W-rich biomarkers in plasma, constituting a novel nutritional deficiency at the global scale. Appropriate counseling should be set up using W implementations to cover the weaning period and extended until school age. In adult and elderly subjects, the helpful immune protections provided by W may be hindered by the surge in harmful catabolites with the occurrence of chronic complications, which can have a significant public health impact but lack the uncontrolled surges in PINI observed in young infants and teenagers. Biomarkers of neurodegenerative and neoplastic disorders measured in elderly patients indicate the slow-moving elevation of APRs due to rampant degradation processes. Full article

Background: Understanding the origin and natural organization of early infant vocalizations is important for predicting communication and language abilities in later years. The very frequent production of speech-like vocalizations (hereafter “protophones”), occurring largely independently of interaction, is part of this developmental process. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the gap durations (time intervals) between protophones, comparing typically developing (TD) infants and infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a naturalistic setting where endogenous protophones occur frequently. Additionally, we explore potential age-related variations and sex differences in gap durations. Methods: We analyzed ~1500 five min recording segments from longitudinal all-day home recordings of 147 infants (103 TD infants and 44 autistic infants) during their first year of life. The data included over 90,000 infant protophones. Human coding was employed to ensure maximally accurate timing data. This method included the human judgment of gap durations specified based on time-domain and spectrographic displays. Results and Conclusions: Short gap durations occurred between protophones produced by infants, with a mode between 301 and 400 ms, roughly the length of an infant syllable, across all diagnoses, sex, and age groups. However, we found significant differences in the gap duration distributions between ASD and TD groups when infant-directed speech (IDS) was relatively frequent, as well as across age groups and sexes. The Generalized Linear Modeling (GLM) results confirmed these findings and revealed longer gap durations associated with higher IDS, female sex, older age, and TD diagnosis. Age-related differences and sex differences were highly significant for both diagnosis groups. Full article