Search Results (225)

In recent years, the advancement of various applications, data mining, technologies, and socio-technical systems has led to the development of interactive platforms that enhance user experiences through personalization. In the sports domain, users can access training plans, routes and healthy habits, all in a personalized way thanks to sports recommender systems. These recommendation engines are fueled by rich datasets that are collected through continuous monitoring of users’ activities. However, their potential to address user profiling is limited to single users and not to the dynamics of groups of sportsmen. This paper introduces GoSS-Rec, a Group-oriented Segment Sequence Recommender System, which is designed for groups of cyclists who participate in fitness activities. The system analyzes collective preferences and activity records to provide personalized route recommendations that encourage exploration of diverse cycling paths and also enhance group activities. Our experiments show that GoSS-Rec, which is based on Prod2vec, consistently outperforms other models on diversity and novelty, regardless of the group size. This indicates the potential of our model to provide unique and customized suggestions, making GoSS-Rec a remarkable innovation in the field of sports recommender systems. It also expands the possibilities of personalized experiences beyond traditional areas. Full article

Gene replacement using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors has become a major therapeutic avenue for neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). In single-gene diseases with loss-of-function mutations, the objective of gene therapy is to express therapeutic transgenes abundantly in cell populations that are implicated in the pathological phenotype. X-ALD is one of these orphan diseases. It is caused by ABCD1 gene mutations and its main clinical form is adreno-myelo-neuropathy (AMN), a disabling spinal cord axonopathy starting in middle-aged adults. Unfortunately, the main cell types involved are yet poorly identified, complicating the choice of cells to be targeted by AAV vectors. Pioneering gene therapy studies were performed in the Abcd1^-/y mouse model of AMN with AAV9 capsids carrying the ABCD1 gene. These studies tested ubiquitous or cell-specific promoters, various routes of vector injection, and different ages at intervention to either prevent or reverse the disease. The expression of one of these vectors was studied in the spinal cord of a healthy primate. In summary, gene therapy has made promising progress in the Abcd1^-/y mouse model, inaugurating gene replacement strategies in AMN patients. Because X-ALD is screened neonatally in a growing number of countries, gene therapy might be applied in the future to patients before they become overtly symptomatic. Full article

Traditionally studied in isolation, the oral and gut microbiota are now being recognized as interconnected through anatomical and physiological pathways forming a dynamic “oral–gut microbiota axis”. Both oral and gut microbiota undergo changes with aging, characterized by a decline in microbial diversity and a shift toward potentially harmful species. The aim of this review is, therefore, to provide an overview of oral–gut communications in mediating frailty and sarcopenia. PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus databases were searched for relevant articles. We limited our search to manuscripts published in the English language. Interactions between oral and gut microbiota occur mainly through three pathways namely the enteral, the bloodstream and the fecal-oral routes. Alterations in the oral–gut microbiota axis contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation (i.e., “inflamm-ageing”) and mitochondrial dysfunction, key mechanisms underlying frailty and sarcopenia. Microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and modified bile acids, appear to play an emerging role in influencing microbial homeostasis and muscle metabolism. Furthermore, poor oral health associated with microbial dysbiosis may contribute to altered eating patterns that negatively impact gut microbiota eubiosis, further exacerbating muscle decline and the degree of frailty. Strategies aimed at modulating the microbiota, such as healthy dietary patterns with reduced consumption of ultra-processed foods, refined carbohydrates and alcohol, ensuring an adequate protein intake combined with physical exercise, as well as supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, are increasingly recognized as promising interventions to improve both oral and gut microbiota health, with beneficial effects on frailty and sarcopenia. A better understanding of the oral–gut microbiota axis offers promising insights into nutritional interventions and therapeutic strategies for the age-related muscle decline, frailty and systemic health maintenance. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effect of gender on the pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in goats following intravenous (IV, 0.5 mg/kg) and oral (PO, 1.0 mg/kg) administration. A crossover design was used with 12 clinically healthy Saanen goats (six females and six males). Plasma samples were collected up to 96 h post-administration and analyzed with an HPLC for meloxicam concentrations. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and statistically compared between genders and administration routes. The results show that male goats exhibited significantly longer terminal half-life (T_1/2λz), a greater mean residence time (MRT_0–∞), and higher systemic exposure (AUC_0–∞) than females, particularly after oral administration. Oral bioavailability was calculated as 77.43% in females and 104.73% in males. These differences may be linked to gender-based variations in hepatic metabolism, enterohepatic recirculation, and the hormone-mediated modulation of cytochrome P450 activity. The findings are consistent with previous research demonstrating that gender can influence drug disposition through hormonal and enzymatic mechanisms. This study underscores the importance of considering gender as a biological variable in pharmacokinetic assessments of veterinary drugs, especially those used in food-producing animals, to optimize dosing strategies and ensure both therapeutic efficacy and food safety. Full article

Background: Non-cholera Vibrio species are rare waterborne pathogens that can cause severe infections. Among these, few cases of Vibrio metschnikovii infections have been reported, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, with no cardiac tissue involvement as a result. Following the PRISMA checklist, we conducted a literature review, and thirteen articles for twenty-two cases overall were included: seven cases of sepsis (in three cases, the echocardiographic results were negative), seven cases of pneumonia, two skin infections, eleven cases of diarrhoea, and a gastroenteritis outbreak. This report documents the expanding clinical spectrum and the role played by V. metschnikovii in infective endocarditis. Case report: A 28-year-old male patient was referred to the cardiac surgery unit for urgent mitral valve replacement due to suspicion of infective endocarditis. Microbiological tests yielded negative results. Following recovery and discharge with antimicrobial therapy for 6 weeks, the patient experienced prosthesis detachment, necessitating re-hospitalisation for an emergency valve replacement. Vibrio metschnikovii was identified on the prosthesis valve through PCR and successfully treated with ciprofloxacin. However, a spontaneous rupture of the ascending thoracic aorta led to a neurological injury. Discussion: This case represents the first case of valve infection caused by Vibrio metschnikovii, characterised by diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and the involvement of the great vessels. Also considered in this case, for a disease with a median age of 58 years (11–83) and a male-to-female ratio of 2.2, were one male neonate and six cases for whom neither sex nor age was indicated. Excluding gastrointestinal cases, the septic forms are associated with high morbidity, although the single case described involved a young and healthy subject. Risk factors for the pathogen or predisposing/pathological conditions for endocarditis did not emerge. The routes and the time of infection could not be determined, deepening the possibility of occupational exposure via the patient’s position as a boat worker. Poor sensitivity to third-generation cephalosporins has been reported in the literature: the absence of an antibiogram does not allow for a comparison, although resolution was achieved with ciprofloxacin. Conclusion: The rising global incidence of non-cholera Vibrio infections, driven by environmental changes, calls for urgent research into the factors behind their pathogenicity and infection routes. Diagnostic complexities have emerged together with clinical severity. Full article

Background: Beetroot juice, the most commonly used route of dietary nitrate supplementation, is theorized to enhance physical performance. However, its effects on different aspects of physical performance, different populations, and optimal supplementation strategies remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of beetroot juice (nitrate-rich) on physical performance, to compare its effects between professional athletes and non-athletes (healthy individuals), and to determine the optimal supplementation strategy. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on the Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Database, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and CINAHL databases. Reviewers conducted study screening and selection, data extraction, and assessment of methodological quality using the AMSTAR 2 tool. Fifteen meta-analyses were included in this Umbrella Review. A narrative and quantitative synthesis was performed. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Results: (1) Beetroot juice significantly improved muscle strength (SMD = 0.08, p < 0.001), but the effect size was negligible. (2) Aerobic Endurance: Beetroot juice significantly improved VO2max (SMD = 0.16, p = 0.033) in healthy adults; however, the effect size was negligible. (3) Lactate Tolerance: beetroot juice significantly improved TTE (SMD = 0.25, p = 0.034) and YO-YOIR1 (SMD = 0.27, p = 0.049) performance in healthy adults, but the effect size was small. (4) Subgroup analyses revealed significant population differences: professional athletes showed significant muscular strength benefits (SMD = 0.27, p = 0.007), whereas non-athletes had more pronounced aerobic endurance improvements (SMD = 0.26, p < 0.001), but the effect size was small. (5) Nitrate supplementation timing and dose–response analysis revealed that nitrate supplementation, whether administered 2–3 h before exercise or over a prolonged period (≥3 days), produces a significant enhancement in physical performance (p < 0.01). Notably, acute improvement only has a small effect size (SMD = 0.20), while the impact of chronic supplementation is essentially negligible (SMD = 0.13). A dosage of 8.3–16.4 mmol NO₃⁻ (515–1017 mg) showed a significant improvement (SMD = 0.14, p = 0.029), although the effect size was negligible. Conclusions: Acute (2–3 h pre-exercise) and chronic (≥3 days) supplementation with beetroot juice to achieve nitrate levels of 8.3–16.4 mmol (515–1017 mg/d) are recommended to enhance physical performance. Beetroot juice shows population-specific effects: proper beetroot juice supplementation improves muscular strength in professional athletes and aerobic endurance in non-athletes. Moreover, appropriate supplementation of beetroot juice can improve the lactate tolerance in healthy adults. Full article

Background: Psilocybin has shown promise in therapeutic applications for mental disorders. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of psilocybin and its active metabolite psilocin is crucial for optimizing its clinical use and minimizing adverse effects. Methods: This systematic review involved a comprehensive search across MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and Embase databases, from inception to December 2024, identifying original studies that investigated the pharmacokinetics of psilocybin. Results: Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria: eight laboratory-based and six clinical studies. Laboratory studies used animal models or in vitro systems, while clinical studies included 112 healthy human participants. Psilocybin is rapidly dephosphorylated to psilocin, which is absorbed with Tmax values ranging from 1.8 to 4 h following oral administration. Cmax varied dose-dependently, from 8.2 ± 2.8 ng/mL (plasma) to 871 ng/mL (urine). One study reported psilocin bioavailability at 52.7 ± 20%. The volume of distribution was extensive, ranging from 277 ± 92 L to 1016 L, suggesting significant tissue distribution. Psilocin metabolism is primarily mediated by CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, with secondary contributions from monoamine oxidase A. It undergoes further hepatic biotransformation into 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid and 4-hydroxytryptophol. Elimination half-life varied across studies, ranging from 1.5 to 4 h. Conclusions: Psilocybin pharmacokinetics demonstrate significant variability based on dosage, route, and species. CYP enzymes play a critical role in its metabolism, highlighting the potential for drug–drug interactions. These findings underscore the importance of further research to elucidate psilocybin’s pharmacokinetic profile, which is assessed in vivo by its active metabolite psilocin. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of antiresorptive drugs on mandibular trabecular bone structure in patients with osteoporosis and those receiving antiresorptive therapy for oncologic conditions using fractal dimension (FD) analysis of panoramic radiographs. Additionally, it investigated the influences of age, gender, drug type, administration route, and treatment duration on mandibular trabecular bone structure. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 73 patients categorized into the following three groups: 23 osteoporosis patients, 25 oncologic patients, and 25 systemically healthy controls. FD analysis was conducted on panoramic radiographs to assess trabecular bone complexity in the following three standardized regions of interest: the mandibular condyle, angle, and molar region. Statistical analyses compared the groups and evaluated the associations between FD values and demographic and clinical parameters. Results: Osteoporosis patients exhibited significantly lower FD values in the molar region than controls (p < 0.05). In oncologic patients, the FD values in the condyle region were significantly higher in those receiving denosumab than in those treated with intravenous zoledronic acid (p < 0.05), and in those who had undergone antiresorptive therapy for ≥6 years than in those treated for 1–5 years (p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between age and the FD values of the mandibular angle in osteoporosis patients (p < 0.05); no such association was observed in oncologic patients or controls. Conclusions: Long-term antiresorptive therapy may induce structural alterations in mandibular trabecular bone structure in patients with osteoporosis and oncologic diseases. FD analysis is a non-invasive and objective tool for clinically assessing such drug-induced skeletal changes. However, further large-scale, prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings and shed light on their clinical significance. Full article

Loss of hair density—hair thinning and balding— is typically referred to as male and female pattern alopecia. Causes include genetic predisposition and links to the impact of dihydrotestosterone on the follicle dermal papilla, which are typically characterized by an increase in the number of vellus follicles. Links to chronological aging are unclear. Proven treatments remain few in number and are still targeting and tested on those experiencing classical pattern hair loss. The way hair changes with aging, especially in women, can be considered as having a much broader scope. Trends in managing changes to hair density, length, and fiber quality with aging now mostly include cocktail approaches—whether topical, injected, or oral—recognizing that solutions are more likely to require a multifactorial strategy. This review examines the evidence for the more holistic approach to addressing unwanted hair loss, which includes nutrition, lifestyle, stress management, and scalp and hair care, as well as co-morbidities with other health concerns. We discuss the strengths and limitations of clinical study design to investigate efficacy using multifactorial holistic approaches. We propose that this strategy will contribute to the emerging concept of hair longevity in which follicle, scalp, and fiber are targeted and that maintaining anagen is the most appropriate route to achieving healthy hair with aging. Finally, we discuss the problem facing patients and consumers regarding the quantity of misinformation and how it influences choosing from a fast-growing market of solutions that bypass a pharmaceutical approach to hair thinning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Access to healthy and affordable food remains a challenge for under-resourced communities due to uneven food distribution and the need for reliable transportation. This study developed and evaluated an interactive Geographic Information System (GIS)-based food asset map for a low-income community in Windham, Connecticut to improve awareness of food resources and expand opportunities for fresh food access. Methods: Using the human-centered design (HCD) framework and the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model, the map integrates food locations, transportation routes, and assistance eligibility. Internal pilot testing (n = 8) identified usability issues, leading to updates such as mobile compatibility and user guides. Usability testing (n = 74) assessed navigation performance and user feedback through task-based evaluations and surveys. Categorical map usability, sociodemographic, diet, and health characteristics were tested for participants with food security (yes/no) or digital literacy (passed/failed). Results: Food-secure participants showed higher usability success than food-insecure individuals (p < 0.05), while those relying on food assistance faced greater challenges (p < 0.05). Individuals rating their diet as “very good/excellent” were most likely to pass the map usability testing (p < 0.05), whereas younger, college-educated, employed participants and those with vehicles trended toward passing (p < 0.1). Participants generally reported the map easy to navigate, especially those with food security. Conclusions: The asset map promotes food resource awareness and addresses barriers such as limited public transportation information. Additional efforts are needed to support food-insecure users in utilizing digital food access resources. This study contributes to initiatives to improve food access, digital inclusion, and community engagement in under-resourced communities. Full article

An important aspect of a well-designed urban form is supporting active school travel by adolescents, as it has positive effects on physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and reducing vehicle-related carbon emissions. To achieve this, it is necessary to provide sufficient shading and fewer detours on home–school routes, especially in an era of frequent heatwaves. Analyzing the school travel environment at the city scale is essential for identifying practical solutions and informing comprehensive urban policy-making. This study proposes a framework for investigating, assessing, and intervening in home–school routes in Nanjing, China, emphasizing a dual assessment of commuting routes based on the pedestrian detour ratio and shading ratio. This work reveals that approximately 34% of middle school households in Nanjing face challenges in walking to and from school, with only 24.18% of walking routes offering fewer detours and sufficient shade. We advocate reengineering urban forms by reducing barriers to facilitate shortcuts, thereby providing school-age students with better access to cooler and healthier environments, aiming to promote walking and reduce car dependence. The findings may encourage more families to engage in active commuting and serve as a lever to drive school decarbonization and combat climate warming. Our work, with transferability to other cities, can assist urban designers in piloting urban (re)form incrementally and pragmatically to promote sustainable urban agendas. Full article

Urbanization presents significant challenges to biodiversity but also offers opportunities for its protection and development. While uncontrolled urban expansion has a destructive impact on biodiversity, effective urban planning can play a positive role in protecting and maintaining urban biodiversity. The positive role of human factors, such as urban planning, can protect and maintain the healthy development of urban biodiversity. This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the evolution of various wildlife migration corridors throughout the full-cycle construction of Xiong’an New Area (Xiong’an) in China, revealing the impact of urbanization on these networks. Habitats for species like Sus scrofa, Bufo gargarizans, and Parus minor have notably increased. Between 2016 and 2023, Sus scrofa habitats grew from 35 to 44, large-toed frog habitats from 24 to 35, and Chinese tit habitats remained stable. By the planning phase, Sus scrofa habitats expanded to 87, large-toed frog habitats to 97, and Chinese tit habitats to 58. Habitat areas also grew significantly, especially for Sus scrofa, which increased from 2873.84 hectares in 2016 to 7527.97 hectares in the planning phase. Large-toed frog habitats grew from 2136.86 hectares to 6982.78 hectares, while Chinese tit habitats expanded from 1894.25 hectares to 3679.71 hectares. These changes suggest that urban parks and green spaces have provided more extensive habitats for these species. In terms of migration networks, the number of dispersal routes increased considerably. In 2016, Sus scrofa had 77 routes, large-toed frogs had 16, and Chinese tits had 77. By 2023, Sus scrofa and large-toed frog routes increased to 91 and 49, respectively, while Chinese tit routes remained stable. In the planning phase, Sus scrofa routes surged to 232, large-toed frogs to 249, and Chinese tits to 152, indicating a denser migration network. The distribution of ecological pinchpoints also changed significantly. By 2023 and in the planning phase, pinchpoints were concentrated in densely built areas, reflecting urbanization’s impact on the ecological network. The ecological resilience, assessed through network performance, showed a gradual recovery. The ecological connectivity index decreased from 8.25 in 2016 to 7.29 in 2023, then rebounded to 11.37 in the planning phase, indicating that the ecosystem had adapted after initial urbanization pressures. Full article

Background: Effective pain management during dental procedures is essential to ensure positive treatment outcomes, particularly for pediatric patients. Intraosseous anesthesia, administered via the QuickSleeper system, has shown promise as an alternative to traditional local anesthesia techniques. Methods: A single-blinded split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial took place at the dental hospital at King Saud University with 33 healthy patients (aged 4–9 years), who required pulpotomies and stainless steel crown procedures on two mandibular primary molars, to evaluate the effectiveness of two local anesthetic techniques. Each tooth was randomly assigned to receive 4% articaine either delivered via the intraosseous route using QuickSleeper 5 or buccal infiltration. The effectiveness of the anesthesia was evaluated by the number of injections needed and at various stages using the Sounds, Eyes, and Motor (SEM) scale. Postoperative complications, including pain, swelling, and lip numbness, were assessed through follow-up phone calls with the patients’ legal guardians. Results: The techniques demonstrated comparable effectiveness; there were no statistically significant differences in the number of injections and in the SEM scale scores. Minimal postoperative complications were reported: lip biting (two cases) and prolonged numbness (nine cases) were reported only when buccal infiltration was used, and swelling and pain were reported when both techniques were used. Conclusions: Intraosseous anesthesia via the QuickSleeper 5 system is comparable to traditional buccal infiltration anesthesia for pulpotomies and stainless steel crown procedures in pediatric mandibular molars. Intraosseous anesthesia offers the added benefit of reduced soft tissue numbness and associated complications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Using a combination of analgesics allows for the use of lower doses of each, therefore, lowering risk of side effects. The study aims to estimate the bioavailability (pharmacokinetics of enantiomers and metabolites, as well as linearity and sex-related effects) of fixed doses combinations of Ibuprofen/Tramadol via an intravenous (IV) vs. oral route, and it is interesting to bridge the gap of equipotent doses by different routes. Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, crossover, five-period pharmacokinetics clinical trial, in which a single dose of each formulation [four different strengths of Ibuprofen 400 mg/Tramadol HCl (30, 31.5, 33, 37.5 mg), intravenous; Ibuprofen/Tramadol HCl 400 mg/37.5 mg, granules for oral solution], were administered to healthy volunteers. Enantiomers of Ibuprofen, of Tramadol, and of its main active metabolite O-desmethyl-Tramadol (M1) were measured, and pharmacokinetic parameters (maximal concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration curve (AUC)) were estimated. Given the exploratory nature of the study, the sample size was small to provide sufficient power for comparisons of differences across all subgroups. The study was registered at Spanish register of clinical trials (REec), EudraCT code: 2017-001303-77. Results: Twelve subjects were recruited. Different patterns of rate and amount of the studied analytes are shown for oral and the several strengths of IV drugs tested. Ibuprofen, with an absolute oral bioavailability of 91%, showed an equivalent AUC of oral and IV administration. Tramadol showed an absolute oral bioavailability of 80%. Conclusions: Intravenous administration of Tramadol produces higher bioavailability (Cmax and AUClast) of the parent drug and lower of M1, than oral route. Dose normalized Cmax and AUClast of Tramadol and M1 were into the bioequivalence interval. Upon our pharmacokinetics study results, the intravenous dose of Tramadol should not be reduced when switching from oral dosing. No significant differences attributable to sex, once corrected by weight, were found. Full article

A primary purpose of sleep for humans is to remove toxins and metabolic wastes from the brain (e.g., Aβ, tau, lactate) that would otherwise build up and compromise brain functionality. There are currently no drugs or devices that have been clinically shown in humans to enhance brain toxin removal, either during sleep or wakefulness. This perspective article focuses on a recently (re)discovered major route of toxin drainage from the human brain through meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs) and the primary enhancer of their flow—the cytokine Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). The purpose of this perspective article is to present pre-clinical and clinical evidence relevant to a new bioengineered technology (Transcranial Radiofrequency Treatment; TRFT) that appears to enhance mLV flow to increase brain toxin cleansing in humans during wakefulness. In being both safe and non-invasive, TRFT is administered in-home, presently through a device called “MemorEM”. Two months of daily TRFT during wakefulness increased the typically low plasma/brain levels of VEGF in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) subjects, which was associated with increased Aβ and tau toxin removal from their brains during wakefulness—ostensibly through VEGF-increased mLV flow. Even irrespective of baseline VEGF levels, brain toxin cleansing was increased by TRFT in AD subjects, who also experienced a notable reversal of their cognitive impairment after TRFT. Additional clinical studies are nonetheless required to firmly establish TRFT’s brain cleansing abilities during wakefulness. In performing a major duty of sleep, TRFT during wakefulness is proposed as a viable intervention to counter the decline in nighttime brain toxin cleansing that occurs with aging and in multiple brain diseases, most notably Alzheimer’s Disease. The implications of TRFT for insomnia and for sleep deprivation are also discussed, as is the potential for TRFT to extend healthy human longevity. Full article