Search Results (39,170)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), often associated with obesity, has become a serious public health matter. NAFLD is characterized by an excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, mainly stored as triglycerides. The marine microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum is well known for its richness of bioactive compounds, particularly lipids. Therefore, different natural lipid extracts from P. tricornutum are deciphered to jugulate or prevent obesity leading to NAFLD. In this study, the main focus was on the effects of purified neutral and polar lipid extracts from P. tricornutum in a cellular model of NAFLD. Human HepG2 cells were used and exposed for 24 h to 250 μM palmitate to induce NAFLD with or without microalgal lipid extracts. Data showed that neutral lipid extract presented lower viability and cytotoxic activities on HepG2 at 75 µg/mL. The impact on apoptosis was around 5% and below the threshold. Nevertheless, the use of neutral lipid at 50 µg/mL induced a decrease in the number and size of lipid droplets, and so, preventing NAFLD. On the contrary, the polar lipid extract had no effect on the accumulation of triglycerides in HepG2 cells. To conclude, neutral lipid extract seemed to be a good candidate to prevent NAFLD. Full article

Modern lifestyles are increasingly plagued by physical inactivity, social disconnection, digital addiction, and excessive time indoors—factors that negatively impact the health and well-being of both humans and their companion dogs (Canis familiaris). Evidence shows that nature exposure, physical activity, and human–animal bond (HAB) each enhance physical, mental, and social well-being, yet these domains have rarely been examined together as an integrated therapeutic triad. We introduce a new conceptual framework of bonded green exercise, defined as shared physical activity between a bonded human and dog in natural environments. Synthesizing existing evidence across human and canine sciences into a testable conceptual integration, we posit that bonded green exercise may plausibly activate evolutionarily conserved, synergistic mechanisms of physiological, behavioural, and affective co-regulation. Four testable hypotheses are proposed: (H1) triadic synergy: combined domains produce greater benefits than additive effects; (H2) heterospecific benefit: parallel health gains occur in both species; (H3) behavioural amplification: dogs acts as catalysts to drive human participation in nature-based activity; and (H4) scalable health promotion: bonded green exercise represents a low-cost, accessible, One Health approach with population-level potential. This framework highlights how intentional, shared physical activity in nature may potentially offer a novel low-cost and accessible model for enhancing health, lifespan, welfare, and ecological stewardship across species. Full article

Most animal welfare (AW) assessment protocols have been developed for intensive production systems and European cattle, raising concerns about their applicability in the tropics. To compare the results obtained by using the welfare quality (WQ) assessment for fattening cattle in the dry tropics, relevant modifications were implemented in 20 cattle production units (PUs) during the dry (DS) and rainy (RS) seasons. Regarding the principle of good feeding, only during the RS, between 20% and 25% of the farms maintained their animals in the acceptable and good categories, compared to the DS, where all PUs were classified as unacceptable (p < 0.04). Under the “Appropriate Behavior” principle, only 15% and 60% of the PUs maintained their animals at good and acceptable levels, respectively, in the RS, but not in the DS (p < 0.001). Conversely, during the DS, better scores were obtained for the measures and criteria in the Good housing group, with 45%, 50%, and 5% of PU classified as acceptable, good, and excellent, respectively, while for the RS, only 15%, 30%, and 5% reached these levels (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, under the “Good Health” principle, better animal health scores were observed during the RS, with 20%, 30%, and 50% of farms classified as acceptable, good, and excellent, compared to the DS, where only 70% and 10% of farms maintained their animals at good and excellent levels (p < 0.01). It is concluded that better animal welfare (AW) indicators were recorded during the RS, and the adjustments we applied to the conventional WQ protocol comprised a modification for the criterion that included the prolonged absence of thirst as well as adding six new indicators (measures) to the principles of housing, health, and behavior, which are considered essential for evaluating AW in cattle that are managed under extensive conditions by season. Full article

Macroalgae plays a significant role in the formulation of innovative and environmentally sustainable approaches to address food challenges. Specifically, green macroalgae serve as dietary supplements aimed at improving the health, growth, and feeding efficiency of various species of marine and freshwater fishes, as well as mollusks. The effects of Chaetomorpha linum extract (CLE) on growth performance, physiological responses, and disease resistance are studied in Bellamya bengalensis against Aeromonas hydrophila. In this experiment, adult B. bengalensis (4412 ± 165.25 mg) were randomly divided into 15 rectangular glass aquariums (35 snail/aquaria; 45 L capacity) and their basal diet was supplemented with different levels of CLE, including 0 (CLE0), 1 (CLE1), 2 (CLE2), 3 (CLE3), and 4 (CLE4) g/kg for 60 days. The growth performance in the CLE3 dietary group was significantly higher that of the CLE0 group, exhibiting both linear and quadratic trends in relation to dietary CLE levels (p < 0.05). The activities of pepsin, amylase, and lipase were found to be highest in CLE3 and lowest in CLE0. Both linear and quadratic responses to dietary CLE levels in digestive enzymes were observed (p < 0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the hepatopancreas were found to be elevated in snails due to the synergistic effect of the supplemented CLE diet. Among different levels of diet given, CLE2-supplemented snails showed an increase in their enzyme activity (p < 0.05). Interestingly, all the CLE-treated snails expressed elevated levels of mucus lysozyme and mucus protein when compared to control (p < 0.05). Additionally, hepatopancreatic acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in snails consuming CLE3 (p < 0.05). The transcription levels of immune-related genes, including mucin-5ac and cytochrome, were significantly elevated in snails that were fed a diet supplemented with 2–4 g of CLE/kg. Furthermore, the transcription level of the acid phosphatase-like 7 protein gene also increased in snails receiving CLE-supplemented diets. After a 14-day period of infection, snails that consumed a diet supplemented with 3–4 g/kg of CLE exhibited a notable increase in survival rates against virulent A. hydrophila. Based on the above findings, it is suggested that a diet supplemented with 3 g/kg of CLE may enhance growth, antioxidant and immune defense, and disease resistance in the freshwater snail B. bengalensis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is increasingly prevalent among children and adolescents and represents a growing public health concern due to its potential persistence into adulthood. Screen-based sedentary behavior has substantially increased in pediatric populations. However, evidence regarding its association with LBP remains inconsistent, and the existence of a dose–response relationship is not well established. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies examining the association between screen-based sedentary behavior and LBP in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool continuous exposure estimates, and a multivariate random-effects dose–response meta-analysis was performed to assess changes in LBP risk across increasing levels of daily screen time. Results: A total of 30 studies were included. The pairwise meta-analysis of continuous exposure showed no statistically significant association between screen time and LBP, with OR = 1.02 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.59). In contrast, the dose–response meta-analysis demonstrated a significant positive association, with a 26% (95% CI 8% to 48%) increase in the odds of LBP for each additional hour of daily screen time. High between-study heterogeneity was observed, and most studies relied on self-reported measures of screen exposure and LBP, which may have introduced recall and misclassification bias and warrants cautious interpretation of the findings. Conclusions: Higher levels of screen-based sedentary behavior were associated with an increased risk of LBP in children and adolescents when examined using a dose–response approach, whereas pairwise meta-analyses did not identify a significant association. Nevertheless, substantial between-study heterogeneity and high risk of bias limit causal inference and require cautious interpretation. Full article

The dung beetle family Geotrupidae (Scarabaeoidea) plays a vital ecological role in nutrient cycling and soil health, yet the scarcity of complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) data has hindered phylogenetic and comparative studies within this family. Here, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the first complete mitogenomes of Geotrupes stercorarius and Phelotrupes auratus, collected from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Comparative analysis of these two novel mitogenomes with eight existing mitogenomes revealed conserved architectural features across Geotrupidae, such as gene arrangement, tRNA secondary structures, and small intergenic spacers. Nucleotide composition was largely conserved, though marked divergence occurred at the third codon positions. Substantial structural variation was observed in non-coding regions, particularly in the control region and the nad2-trnW spacer. Evolutionary analyses indicated strong purifying selection across all protein-coding genes, with no evidence of widespread positive selection linked to high-altitude adaptation. Phylogenetic reconstruction consistently recovered the relationships (Bolboceratinae, (Lethrinae, Geotrupinae)), with Anoplotrupes and Geotrupes forming sister genera within Geotrupinae. This study provides additional mitogenomic resources and a well-supported phylogenetic framework for Geotrupidae, resolving key taxonomic uncertainties and establishing a basis for future evolutionary and ecological research. Full article

Lignans are naturally occurring compounds found in a wide variety of plant species, including flaxseed, soybean, pumpkin seed, broccoli, sesame seed, and some berries. Lignans have been used for centuries in both food and traditional herbal medicine. Recently, numerous new lignans and lignan derivatives with diverse biological properties have been identified. Lignans are considered promising for human health due to their hydrogen-donating antioxidant activity together with their ability to complex divalent transition metal cations. They have demonstrated beneficial effects for cardiovascular disease, as well as in maintaining blood glucose levels, supporting cardiac health, promoting anti-obesity effects, decreasing the risk of renal diseases, enhancing brain function, improving skin and gut health, among others. This review explores the biosynthesis and biological effects of lignans, with a particular focus on their antihypertensive and anti-obesity properties, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved. It also highlights recent advances in sustainable lignan extraction techniques that are suitable for human use. The mechanisms underlying these bioactivities are thought to involve hormonal metabolism and availability, antioxidant action, modulation of angiogenesis, and more. However, further research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular pathways through which lignans exert their therapeutic effects. Overall, lignans from various plant sources hold significant potential for application in functional foods, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical products aimed at preventing and managing a range of health conditions, including hypertension and obesity. Full article

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 posed a great global threat and emphasized the urgent need for diagnostic tools that are rapid, reliable, sensitive and capable of real-time monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Recent investigations have identified a potential connection between SARS-CoV-2 infection and gut dysbiosis, highlighting the sophisticated interplay between the virus and the host microbiome. This review article discusses the eminence of nanobiosensors, as state-of-the-art tools, to investigate and clarify the connection between SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and gut microbiome imbalance. Nanobiosensors are uniquely advantageous owing to their sensitivity, selectivity, specificity, and reliable monitoring capabilities, making them well-suited for identifying both viral particles and microbial markers in biological samples. We explored a range of nanobiosensor platforms and their potential use for concurrently monitoring the gut dysbiosis induced by different pathological conditions. Additionally, we explore how advanced sensing technologies can shed light on the mechanisms driving virus-induced dysbiosis, and the implications for disease progression and patient outcomes. The integration of nanobiosensors with microfluidic devices and artificial intelligence algorithms has also been explored, highlighting the potential of developing point-of-care diagnostic tools that provide comprehensive insights into both viral infection and gut health. Utilizing nanotechnology, scientists and healthcare professionals may gain a more profound insight into the complex interaction dynamics between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the gut microenvironment. This could pave the way for enhanced diagnostic and prognostic approaches, treatment courses, and patient care for COVID-19. Full article

The intensification of aquaculture practices has been accompanied by an increased incidence of bacterial diseases, leading to a greater reliance on antibiotics for disease control. Consequently, the widespread and often indiscriminate use of these compounds has contributed to the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria within aquaculture systems, posing a serious threat to animal health, environmental sustainability, and public health. In this regard, research efforts have focused on developing alternative strategies to reduce antibiotic use. Natural compounds have gained particular attention due to their well-documented antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. In this context, the combined application of antibiotics and natural compounds has emerged as a promising approach to enhance antimicrobial efficacy while potentially mitigating the development of resistance. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on antibiotic resistance in aquaculture, highlights the role of biofilm formation as a key resistance mechanism, and critically examines the potential of antibiotic–natural compound combinations against major aquaculture pathogens, with particular emphasis on bacterial growth inhibition, biofilm disruption, and virulence attenuation. Collectively, the evidence discussed underscores the potential of synergistic strategies as a sustainable tool for improving disease management in aquaculture while supporting efforts to limit antibiotic resistance. Full article

Background: Aging is a complex process that involves various biological, psychological and social changes. Moreover, older people (≥65 years) are more susceptible to lower self-efficacy and social support, as well as deteriorating mental health. As the global population ages, there is a growing demand for evidence-based interventions tailored to address specific mental health problems, enhance social support and improve overall well-being. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a seven-week mindfulness-based community intervention on mental health, self-efficacy and social support in older people. Methods: This quasi-experimental nonrandomized study included 257 participants who were divided into an intervention group and a comparison group that did not participate in the seven-week mindfulness-based community intervention and was not part of a waiting list. Assessments were conducted before the intervention began and 6 months after its completion. Results: The results revealed a significant reduction in depression in the intervention group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the intervention led to a significant improvement in general self-efficacy, chronic disease self-management self-efficacy, physical activity and nutritional self-efficacy compared with the comparison group. Perceived social support increased within the intervention group; however, covariate adjusted between-group effects for social support were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Overall, the mindfulness-based community intervention was associated with improvements in current depressive symptoms and multiple self-efficacy domains at 6-month follow-up in older people in a community setting. Effects on perceived social support were less robust, and no statistically significant between-group differences were observed after adjustment for baseline covariates. The results of the present study show that this program leads to immediate health benefits in terms of mental health and self-efficacy in older people while contributing to the development of effective strategies for chronic disease self-management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity is an increasingly concerning public health issue due to its high prevalence and its association with multiple comorbidities. A significant proportion of patients with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery could exhibit suboptimal mid-term outcomes. This study aims to comprehensively assess anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, nutritional, and quality of life parameters in patients with severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery, with a particular focus on outcomes at 24 months post-surgery to capture mid-term effects that may not be apparent during the first year of follow-up. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 95 patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery (Roux-en Y gastric bypass; RYGB) at the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Clinical Hospital (Murcia, Spain) between 2020 and 2023. Participants were followed up at 6, 12, and 24 months after RYGB. The study incorporated anthropometric assessments (BMI, body composition via bioelectrical impedance), full biochemical profiling, dietary analysis (using a validated food frequency questionnaire), and quality of life assessment (SF-36 questionnaire). Results: Our results showed significant weight loss after the intervention, accompanied by improvements in metabolic parameters, and dietary habits. Regarding quality of life, significant improvements were observed in both the physical (baseline: 39.62%; 6 months: 52.40%; 12 months: 53.12%) and mental components (baseline: 42.08; 6 months: 53.40; 12 months: 52.14%) at 6 and 12 months post-surgery. However, our prospective 24-month follow-up revealed that, despite these initial benefits, mental health significantly declined compared with the 12-month follow-up (24 months: 46.85%). In contrast, the physical component remained relatively stable at 24 months (24 months: 50.91%). However, our prospective 24-month follow-up revealed that, despite these initial benefits, there was a decline in mental health compared to the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: While bariatric surgery is associated with improvements in anthropometric measures and some aspects of quality of life, our findings underscore the need for continued mid-term support to address emerging challenges in mental well-being. Full article

Background: Vitamin E has been studied for its role in reducing the growth of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is a worldwide health concern. A meta-analysis reported that CRC patients have a lower concentration of serum vitamin E, suggesting it to be a risk factor. Although rodent models are widely used in disease research, their application in studying vitamin E as a preventive or therapeutic agent in CRC is not well characterized. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review to examine the available evidence, adhering to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Methods: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) for full-text English original articles published before May 2024, using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and free text. The following search string strategy was applied: (Vitamin E OR tocopherol$ OR tocotrienol$) AND (Colo$ cancer OR colo$ carcinoma) AND (Rodentia OR mouse OR Rodent$ OR mice OR murine OR rats OR guinea OR rabbit OR hamsters OR Animal model OR Animal testing OR animals) AND (neoplasm$ OR “tumor mass” OR tumor volume OR tumor weight OR tumor burden). Data were charted into five categories using a standardized, pretested form. The charted data were synthesized using descriptive and narrative methods. Conclusions: This study highlights that γ- and δ-tocopherols, as well as δ-tocotrienol and its metabolites, were reported to reduce tumor volume and formation in various rodent models. While these results are promising, this scoping review identifies a need for further research to address translational barriers such as dosing, bioavailability, and long-term safety before clinical application. Full article

Background and Objectives: Bladder cancer (BC) represents a significant global health burden, ranking as the tenth most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide, with an incidence rate of 5.6 per 100,000 person-years annually. The research team aimed to summarize evidence on specialized nursing-led interventions for bladder cancer management across the disease continuum. Materials and Methods: This scoping review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) methodology to search four databases from January 2018 to November 2025. Results: This concise but informative scoping review of 20 studies revealed substantial clinical and patient-reported benefits from specialized nursing interventions. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols incorporating structured nursing care demonstrated a 35% reduction in postoperative complications. Integrated nursing interventions during postoperative intravesical therapy significantly improved patient satisfaction, treatment compliance, and self-efficacy while reducing anxiety and depression. Digital health platforms, including internet-based and mobile applications, proved effective in reducing caregiver burden, enhancing disease knowledge, and improving coping strategies. Preoperative stoma education and postoperative ostomy care management significantly improved self-efficacy, stoma care knowledge, and overall health-related quality of life. Psychosocial interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based approaches, demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life and reductions in fear of recurrence, depression, and anxiety. However, a critical evidence gap exists regarding bladder cancer-specific mental health interventions. Conclusions: Specialized nursing-led care plays a critical role in strengthening clinical and assistive practice in bladder cancer. Evidence from this scoping review shows that nursing-led interventions significantly improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, symptom management, and quality of life across all phases of bladder cancer care while reducing caregiver burden and enhancing psychological well-being for both patients and families, reinforcing the value of integrating specialized nursing roles into routine bladder cancer management. Full article

Reliable and low-latency seizure detection from electroencephalography (EEG) is critical for continuous clinical monitoring and emerging wearable health technologies. Spiking neural networks (SNNs) provide an event-driven computational paradigm that is well suited to real-time signal processing, yet achieving competitive seizure detection performance with constrained model complexity remains challenging. This work introduces a hybrid spike encoding scheme that combines Delta–Sigma (change-based) and stochastic rate representations, together with two spiking architectures designed for real-time EEG analysis: a compact feed-forward HybridSNN and a convolution-enhanced ConvSNN incorporating depthwise-separable convolutions and temporal self-attention. The architectures are intentionally designed to operate on short EEG segments and to balance detection performance with computational practicality for continuous inference. Experiments on the CHB–MIT dataset show that the HybridSNN attains 91.8% accuracy with an F1-score of 0.834 for seizure detection, while the ConvSNN further improves detection performance to 94.7% accuracy and an F1-score of 0.893. Event-level evaluation on continuous EEG recordings yields false-alarm rates of 0.82 and 0.62 per day for the HybridSNN and ConvSNN, respectively. Both models exhibit inference latencies of approximately 1.2 ms per 0.5 s window on standard CPU hardware, supporting continuous real-time operation. These results demonstrate that hybrid spike encoding enables spiking architectures with controlled complexity to achieve seizure detection performance comparable to larger deep learning models reported in the literature, while maintaining low latency and suitability for real-time clinical and wearable EEG monitoring. Full article

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) pose an escalating health challenge in Africa, underscored by diagnostic deficiencies, inadequate surveillance, and limited health system capacity that contribute to late diagnoses and consequent preventable complications. This review adopts a comparative framework that considers DM and SCD as complementary indicator diseases, both metabolic and genetic, and highlights intersecting diagnostic, infrastructural, and governance hurdles relevant to AI-enabled screening in resource-constrained environments. The study synthesizes epidemiological data across both African and high-income regions and methodically catalogs machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) research by clinical application, including risk prediction, image-based diagnostics, remote patient monitoring, privacy-preserving learning, and governance frameworks. Our key observations reveal significant disparities in disease detection and health outcomes, driven by underdiagnosis, a lack of comprehensive newborn screening for SCD, and fragmented diabetes surveillance systems in Africa, despite the availability of effective diagnostic technologies in other regions. The reviewed literature on ML/DL shows high algorithmic accuracy, particularly in diabetic retinopathy screening and emerging applications in SCD microscopy. However, most studies are constrained by small, single-site datasets that lack robust external validation and do not align well with real-world clinical workflows. The review identifies persistent implementation challenges, including data scarcity, device variability, limited connectivity, and inadequate calibration and subgroup analysis. By integrating epidemiological insights into AI diagnostic capabilities and health system realities, this work extends beyond earlier surveys to offer a comprehensive, Africa-centric, implementation-focused synthesis. It proposes actionable operational and policy recommendations, including offline-first deployment strategies, federated learning approaches for low-bandwidth scenarios, integration with primary care and newborn screening initiatives, and enhanced governance structures, to promote equitable and scalable AI-enhanced diagnostics for NCDs. Full article