Search Results (36,506)

Tuberculosis and coronavirus disease 2019, also known as COVID-19, remain major global health challenges that disproportionately affect individuals with metabolic disorders, chronic inflammation, and limited access to healthcare. Although these diseases are caused by different pathogens, they share important host-related determinants of severity, including immune dysfunction, oxidative stress, endothelial injury, and maladaptive inflammatory responses. Glutathione, the primary intracellular antioxidant and a key regulator of redox balance, has emerged as an important host factor connecting these processes across infectious diseases. This review integrates experimental, translational, and clinical evidence supporting the role of glutathione in regulating immune function, oxidative stress, and tissue damage in tuberculosis and COVID-19. In tuberculosis, glutathione deficiency compromises macrophage antimicrobial activity, disrupts granuloma structure, and alters T helper cell responses, leading to impaired immune containment and disease progression. In COVID-19, reduced glutathione levels are associated with redox imbalance, excessive cytokine signaling, endothelial dysfunction, and thromboinflammatory complications, especially in high-risk populations. In both diseases, glutathione depletion reduces host resilience and increases vulnerability to severe outcomes through shared immune and vascular pathways. By unifying disease-specific findings within a host-directed framework, this review highlights glutathione and redox signaling as common vulnerability pathways that help explain overlapping risk profiles for severe tuberculosis and COVID-19. It also places glutathione biology within the broader context of host-directed immunotherapy, emphasizing its potential role in prevention-focused and resilience-based strategies that complement pathogen-targeted treatments. Although current evidence does not support simple claims of disease prevention, it provides strong mechanistic justification for further investigation of glutathione as a modifiable host factor in high-risk populations. Full article

While phosphatidylserine (PS) is recognized for its neuroprotective properties, the effects of PS purity on human cortical neurons remain unexplored. This study investigates the effects of three different PS purities (15 µM of 50%, 70%, and 80%) on neuronal health using human-embryonic-stem-cell-derived cortical neurons. Our findings reveal that higher PS purity enhances the expression of key regulatory proteins Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), known for their roles in neuroprotection and mitochondrial function. Specifically, 80% PS purity significantly increases SIRT1 and PGC-1α levels, suggesting that PS purity strengthens neuroprotective pathways and improves mitochondrial quality control. Through SIRT1 knockdown experiments, we demonstrate that PS-induced upregulation of PGC-1α is SIRT1 dependent, highlighting a SIRT1-PGC-1α regulatory axis that enhances mitochondrial health. In an amyloid-beta 1–42 (Aβ₄₂)-induced Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model, PS treatment reduced cytotoxicity and countered the Aβ₄₂-induced downregulation of SIRT1 and PGC-1α, particularly at 70% and 80% PS purity, indicating PS’s role in preserving neuronal viability and combating AD-like pathology. These results suggest that the biological activity of PS preparations in vitro can depend on purity, motivating future studies to define compositional determinants and bioavailability relevant to translational applications. Full article

The study investigated the prevalence of students meeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations and factors associated with MVPA during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4059 university students (2200 females [F]) during the lockdown using an electronic form. PA was assessed using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). Independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge to perform PA, pre-pandemic PA, sedentary behavior (SB), and health self-reports related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 56% of students met MVPA recommendations (males [M]: 57.7%, F: 54.3%; χ² = 4.703, p = 0.030). Knowledge to perform PA (M: OR = 3.012, 95% CI: 2.413–3.759; F: OR = 2.948, 95% CI: 2.444–3.556) and being physically active before the pandemic (M: OR = 2.651, 95% CI: 2.060–3.412; F: OR = 1.459, 95% CI: 1.079–1.974) increased the likelihood that students attained the MVPA recommendations. In contrast, longer daily exposure to SB was negatively associated with MVPA in both sexes. In this context, the present findings reinforce the relevance of universities as strategic settings for the promotion of PA in middle-income countries, where social and economic vulnerabilities may exacerbate the long-term consequences of physical inactivity. Full article

Objectives: This retrospective, multi-center study analyzed pre-existing anonymized clinical data from electronic health records and imaging archives. The analysis utilized real-world clinical data from 200 patients across four tertiary care centers, without additional patient recruitment or interventions. This study aims to investigate the impact of metabolic and physiological factors—specifically blood glucose levels, cortisol concentrations, fasting duration, and tumor histology—on the quality and diagnostic reliability of ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging in patients with primary brain tumors and inflammatory lesions. Methods: A total of 200 patients with primary brain tumors (including astrocytoma, glioblastoma, meningioma, and oligodendroglioma) were evaluated across four institutions using standardized protocols. The study examined the effects of prolonged fasting (>12 h), hyperglycemia (>150 mg/dL), and strict fasting (4–6 h) on tumor-to-background contrast and visual analog scale (DQS) scores. Results: Prolonged fasting was associated with elevated cortisol levels (correlation +0.54, p < 0.001), while hyperglycemia significantly reduced tumor SUVmax by up to 20% (r = −0.35, p = 0.012). Strict fasting and glucose control resulted in improved tumor-to-background contrast and DQS scores (r = +0.83, p < 0.001). Glioblastomas exhibited the highest SUVmax (9.1 ± 3.5), indicating aggressive metabolic activity, whereas meningiomas showed elevated cortisol levels (20.5 ± 6.8 µg/dL) linked to disruption of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis. Regression analysis confirmed that both cortisol and glucose levels independently degraded image quality (β = −0.25 and −0.18, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings highlight the necessity for harmonized patient preparation protocols. Recommendations are in alignment with the SNMMI Procedure Standard/EANM Practice Guideline for Brain [¹⁸F] FDG PET imaging. Full article

Background: Intensive poultry production systems can act as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli, posing a public health risk through food and environmental transmission. Methods: This study investigated the genomic characteristics of antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolated from an intensive poultry production system in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Chicken litter, wastewater, and floor swab samples were collected over three consecutive production cycles. Putative E. coli isolates were detected using the Colilert-18 system, cultured on eosin methylene blue agar, and genomically confirmed by quantitative PCR (q-PCR) targeting the uidA gene. Whole genome sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform, followed by bioinformatic analyses to assess resistance genes, mobile genetic elements, and phylogenetic relationships. Results: Of 150 presumptive E. coli, 70 were genomically confirmed as E. coli and resistant to at least one antibiotic, with 74% exhibiting multidrug resistance. Resistance was highest to tetracycline (100%), ampicillin (94%), and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (76%), while ciprofloxacin resistance was rare (3%). Genomic analysis identified multiple antibiotic resistance genes conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones, β-lactams, aminoglycosides, amphenicols, fosfomycin, and sulfonamides, as well as the disinfectant resistance gene qacI. These genes were frequently associated with mobile genetic elements, including plasmids, integrons, transposons, and insertion sequences. Predominant sequence types included ST155, ST48, ST1286, and ST602, with phylogenetic relatedness to poultry-associated isolates from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania, as well as environmental E. coli strains previously identified in South Africa and Ghana. Conclusions: The detection of diverse, mobile MDR E. coli lineages in poultry environments clearly signals a substantial risk for resistance gene dissemination into the food chain and surrounding ecosystems. Immediate attention and intervention are warranted to mitigate public health threats. Full article

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a major global health challenge due to chemotherapy resistance and recurrence. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-exosomes) have dual roles, as they can act as therapeutic agents and contribute to chemoresistance. However, their role in response to chemotherapy in CC remains unclear. Therefore, our study investigated the effects of MSC-exosome pretreatment on chemotherapy sensitivity using three-dimensional spheroid models generated from HeLa and SiHa CC cell lines. Proteomic profiling of MSC-exosomes identified key proteins, including ANXA1, ANXA2, EEF2, LGALS1, and PKM2, associated with tumor regeneration and chemotherapy response. MSC-exosomes exhibited context-dependent effects in both chemoresistance and chemosensitization by modulating drug efflux, metabolic reprogramming, stress adaptation, apoptosis, DNA damage response, and integrin-mediated signaling. MSC-exosome pretreatment altered spheroid responses to paclitaxel in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin. MSC-exosomes significantly enhanced chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity in HeLa spheroids, as evidenced by reduced cell viability, increased caspase activity, and upregulation of the pro-apoptotic marker Bax. In contrast, SiHa spheroids represented selective responses: MSC-exosome pretreatment did not enhance sensitivity to paclitaxel–cisplatin but improved responsiveness to paclitaxel–carboplatin, particularly within the spheroid core. Overall, MSC-exosome pretreatment exerts cell type and drug-specific effects in CC spheroids, supporting their potential to modulate chemotherapy response. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sustainable diets are essential for public health, food system resilience, and environmental protection, yet engagement with healthy sustainable dietary actions is varied. This study investigated knowledge, perceived importance, current uptake, and willingness to adopt healthy sustainable dietary actions among the general UK population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-report questionnaire completed by 635 adults (205 males and 430 females; mean (SD) age = 43 (16.8) years) in the UK. Results: Considerable variation in knowledge, perceived importance, and current engagement was found across the dietary actions investigated. All three were highest for familiar, health-aligned behaviours, while actions with a stronger environmental focus that were less conventional or culturally unfamiliar were less well understood, perceived as less important, and less often engaged with. Willingness to adopt actions not currently practised was most strongly predicted by perceived importance (smallest β = 1.21, p < 0.001), with perceived value also significant for several actions (smallest β = 0.86, p < 0.001). Knowledge and perceived impact were generally non-significant. Demographic and lifestyle factors showed smaller effects, with greater willingness among younger individuals (smallest β = −0.24, p = 0.01) and those with higher education (smallest β = 0.51, p = 0.01). Conclusions: These findings suggest some knowledge and engagement with healthy sustainable dietary actions in the UK. However, future campaigns may need to go beyond awareness-raising to emphasise the personal significance and value of these actions. These cognitive factors also showed broad applicability across demographic and lifestyle variables, suggesting potential for widely effective interventions. Full article

Background: Monitoring and managing gestational weight gain (GWG) during antenatal care (ANC) is linked to better maternal and neonatal outcomes. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines are based on pre-pregnancy BMI and reduce obstetric risks. Pregnant women’s views and healthcare providers’ (HCPs) practices are key to effective GWG counseling. This study aims to: (1) investigate the proportion of women who received GWG advice per IOM guidelines, and (2) explore HCP practices and views on GWG counseling. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of Saudi pregnant women who delivered within one year of the study and HCPs who provided ANC. Women provided data on demographics, pre-pregnancy BMI, recall of GWG advice, and their target GWG. HCPs rated their knowledge and counseling practices. Results: Of 1151 women, 48.8% were pre-pregnancy overweight or obese, 47.6% were normal weight, and 3.6% were underweight. Most women (74.5%) received no GWG advice, and only 8.8% followed IOM guidelines. Women with obesity and overweight were more likely to receive correct advice (15.5% and 11.5%), compared to 5.3% of normal-weight and 2.4% underweight women. Overweight and obese women were more likely to define the correct GWG (AOR = 2.84 and 5.85). Receiving proper advice greatly increased the likelihood of proper GWG definition (AOR = 7.13). Among 28 HCPs, 53.6% reported that women rarely ask about the GWG target. Nearly 93% of them weigh women at each visit, but only 21.4% set personalized GWG targets. Most HCPs (82.2%) viewed discussing GWG as a high priority, and 70% felt confident providing guidance on GWG, diet, and exercise. Conclusions: Many women receive no GWG guidance, and most advice does not align with IOM guidelines. Enhancing Saudi women’s knowledge regarding GWG targets through health education, in conjunction with ongoing medical education for healthcare professionals concerning guidelines for GWG, represents modifiable factors and a critical opportunity to foster healthier pregnancy outcomes. Full article

The global rise of multidrug resistance (MDR) across bacterial pathogens poses a severe threat to public health, with the food chain serving as a critical reservoir and transmission route for resistant clones. This study investigated the genomic epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in retail pork from Beijing, China, and Copenhagen, Denmark, with a focus on MDR patterns and associated genetic elements. Among 134 isolates, the livestock-associated clonal complex CC398 was the dominant lineage (24.63%) and exhibited a high burden of MDR (48.48%), carrying resistance genes to β-lactams (blaZ and mecA), tetracyclines (tetM and tetK), and aminoglycosides. Notably, MRSA isolates displayed a significantly higher MDR prevalence (73.53%) compared to MSSA isolates (18.00%), underscoring methicillin resistance as a key marker for broader resistance phenotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the segregation of CC398 into distinct sub-lineages, with the livestock-associated branch consistently linked to a characteristic tetracycline–β-lactam MDR profile. Furthermore, high frequencies of mobile genetic elements, such as the rep16 plasmid, were associated with MDR dissemination in CC398. These findings highlight retail meat as an important reservoir for MDR S. aureus and illustrate how livestock-adapted clones contribute to the environmental burden of antimicrobial resistance. This study underscores the need for integrated One Health surveillance that connects veterinary, food safety, and human health sectors to monitor and contain the spread of MDR bacteria across ecological niches. Full article

Soccer is practiced by professionals, amateurs, and recreational players. The physical assessment tools used by professionals are rarely available in recreational settings. Given the widespread participation and potential health benefits of soccer activity, it becomes essential to identify simple and accessible indicators that can help to characterize physical ability in non-professional players. This cross-sectional observational work explores which health status and lifestyle indices can be useful to estimate physical ability in recreational male soccer players when field testing is not feasible. Sixty-six participants volunteered in the study. Five performance field tests were conducted, and a related overall physical ability index (KPI_tot) was defined, while a questionnaire was developed to investigate nine BIO_Indices (BMI, age, physical activity level, job, alcohol consumption, smoking habits, sports career, occurring injuries, medical history). Data for the selected performance tests are reported for the recruited recreational athletes. KPI_tot was estimated from BIO_Indices, using a stepwise backward regression. The selected model, named SOCCER_Index, incorporates six out of nine BIO_Indices, excluding smoking habits, sports career, and medical history (R² = 0.536). In conclusion, with a simple questionnaire, an estimate of soccer players’ physical ability can be obtained. Further data collection is needed to obtain a more generalizable and robust SOCCER_Index. Full article

Open biomass burning (OBB) adversely affects air quality, climate systems, and public health. Large-scale OBB, including forest fires and crop residue burning, is prevalent in Southeast Asia (SEA), a region with agrarian countries. The characteristics of OBB have been widely studied in SEA; however, the understanding of daytime and nighttime variations in fire activity and the effects of fire production remains limited. A significant amount of particulate matter (PM) is released into the atmosphere during OBB episodes. This study employs the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) to detect active fires during daytime and nighttime from OBB in Chiang Mai, Thailand, during March–April 2020, and investigates the mass concentration of size-specific PM down to PM_0.1. The results showed that hotspots occur more often at night than during the day. The VIIRS fire detection data provided a better response to small fires and improved mapping of extensive fire perimeters. PM_0.5–1.0 showed the highest mass concentration among particle sizes. Moreover, fire hotpots show the highest correlations with PM_0.1–0.5 during the daytime and PM_0.5–1.0 during the nighttime, and the large OBB in Chiang Mai significantly contributes to ambient PM. Overall, this study offers crucial insights into particulate pollution from biomass burning. Full article

Helicobacter pylori is a major causative agent of chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric cancer, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Transmission to humans may occur through the consumption of contaminated food. This study investigated the prevalence of H. pylori in fresh raw meat from different animal sources and assessed the efficiency of selective media for its recovery in Dhamar Governorate, Yemen. A total of 380 meat samples, including beef (n = 125), sheep (n = 135), and goat (n = 120), were collected from slaughterhouses (n = 127), retail markets (n = 124), and butcher shops (n = 129). Three selective media: Modified Campy-blood Agar (MCA), Belo Horizonte Agar (BHA), and Egg Yolk Emulsion (EYE) medium were evaluated for comparative recovery from each meat source. Overall, H. pylori was detected in 47 samples (12.4%), with a relatively high prevalence in beef (15.2%), followed by goat (12.5%) and sheep (9.6%). By source, butcher shop samples comparatively showed the highest prevalence (15.5%), especially in beef (19.1%), goat (14.3%), and sheep (13.3%), as compared to the slaughterhouses (11.8%) and retail markets (9.7%). Differences among meat types and sources were not statistically significant (p = 0.394 and p = 0.362). Overall, selective media comparison revealed that MCA showed a relatively high recovery rate (6.6%), followed by EYE (3.4%) and BHA (2.4%). A seasonal trend was observed, with peak prevalence in April (20%). These findings suggest that raw meat may represent a potential source of exposure to H. pylori, although its role in transmission to humans remains to be fully clarified. Regular monitoring, improved hygiene practices, and stricter control of environmental contamination are recommended to reduce associated public health risks. Full article

This study investigated Brazilian consumers’ perceptions, attitudes, and purchase intentions regarding traditional and reformulated chicken meat products (fresh sausage and burger) enriched with natural antioxidants obtained from avocado by-product extracts. A mixed-methods approach was applied, using a word association task, a Likert-scale attitudinal questionnaire, and purchase intention scales (n = 422). Word association revealed predominantly negative perceptions toward products containing synthetic antioxidants, while natural antioxidant formulations elicited positive associations related to health, naturalness, and sustainability. Attitudinal data indicated strong alignment between health consciousness, environmental concern, and openness to food innovation. Pearson correlations (p < 0.05) showed moderate-to-strong relationships (r ≥ 0.40) among beliefs about healthy eating, perceived benefits of natural antioxidants, and support for sustainable production. Contingency analyses demonstrated that belief in the health benefits of natural antioxidants significantly increased purchase intention for reformulated products, whereas consumers less engaged with healthy eating were more accepting of synthetic formulations. Noting sample limitations primarily comprising young, educated females, who correspond to the group of consumers who tend to be more sensitive to health and environmental responsibility claims, the findings highlight consumer interest in natural, functional, and sustainable meat products. These results reinforce the potential of using agro-industrial by-product extracts as natural antioxidants in meat formulations and underscore the importance of communication strategies emphasizing health, naturalness, and sustainability to improve consumer acceptance. Full article

Zootherapy is a significant component of traditional medicine in many parts of the world. This study investigated the therapeutic and belief-based use of wildlife in urban settings in Southwest Nigeria, assessing its potential implications for One Health. We used semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and participant observations to gain insights into the practices, practitioners’ knowledge, motivations, and animal species used. Also, we searched the published literature and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species for zoonotic pathogens and the conservation statuses of the reported animal species. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data. Results revealed 53 practices involving 41 species, with occasional importation of animal parts to meet demand. Practitioners’ limited awareness of zoonotic risks, coupled with income generation and deeply rooted traditional beliefs, sustained these practices, further fueled by the dynamics of urban wild meat trade. The majority (95%) of species reported were reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens, with 44% in the vulnerable, near-threatened, endangered, or critically endangered class. The use of animal-derived products for medicinal and spiritual purposes may constitute a plausible pathway for potential zoonotic spillovers, transboundary animal diseases (TADs), decline in wildlife resources, and ecological imbalance. We recommend intensified monitoring, risk communication, awareness programs, and the adoption of sustainable alternatives to mitigate the negative impacts of these practices in Nigeria and beyond. Full article

This article presents an experimental investigation of the effect of water aging on the static mechanical behavior and damage mechanisms of bio-based sandwich structures with auxetic cores using acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. Both the skins and the core are manufactured by 3D printing using polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with short flax fibers. Four auxetic core configurations, differing in the number of unit cells across the core width, are considered. The specimens are immersed in water at room temperature to characterize their absorption behavior, which follows a Fickien’s diffusion law model with different saturation levels. Static three-point bending tests are performed at various immersion times to evaluate the influence of moisture on mechanical performance. The results show a progressive degradation of mechanical properties with increasing water exposure time, with the four-cell core configuration exhibiting the highest mechanical performance. Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring is employed to analyze damage evolution as a function of hydrothermal aging. AE parameters such as amplitude, energy, and cumulative event count are used to identify and classify the different damage mechanisms. This approach highlights the effectiveness of acoustic emission for structural health monitoring and for assessing the durability of auxetic core sandwich structures subjected to moisture. Full article