Search Results (20,690)

Background/Objectives: Pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) often results in persistent challenges that extend beyond motor impairments, affecting quality of life (QoL), social participation, and engagement in physical activity. Given the complexity and chronicity of these outcomes, there is a pressing need for multidimensional interventions grounded in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Sport-based exercise interventions, when developmentally adapted and tailored to individual interests, may promote intrinsic motivation, peer connection, and sustainable engagement—factors especially relevant in pediatric ABI populations, who often experience reduced physical activity and social isolation. However, standardized, replicable protocols specifically tailored to this population remain scarce. This study presents the protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of a 16-week sport-based intervention on QoL, social participation, physical activity engagement, and motor functioning tailored for adolescents with pediatric ABI. Methods: Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group receiving usual care. The intervention consists of one weekly 60-minute session, led by trained professionals in adapted physical activity and pediatric neurorehabilitation. It combines sport-based motor skill training, cooperative games, and group activities specifically tailored to each child’s developmental level, motor abilities, and preferences. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and following the 16-week intervention period, focusing on QoL, participation, physical activity engagement, and motor functioning. Discussion: This study introduces a structured, child-centered model that bridges clinical rehabilitation and community-based sport. By integrating motor and psychosocial targets through a group sport-based intervention, it aims to enhance recovery across ICF domains. Findings may inform interdisciplinary practice and support the development of sustainable strategies to promote long-term engagement and well-being in adolescents with ABI. Full article

Background: Diabesity, the coexistence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, is a major public health concern. Shift work and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors may exacerbate its prevalence, particularly in working populations. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association between sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and shift work and the prevalence of diabesity, using both BMI and the CUN-BAE estimator, in a large cohort of Spanish workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 53,053 workers (59.8% men) aged 18–69 years who underwent occupational health examinations. Diabesity was defined as obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² or high CUN-BAE) plus fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL or prior diagnosis of diabetes. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by the MEDAS questionnaire, physical activity by the IPAQ, alcohol intake by standard drink units (UBEs), and socioeconomic class by the CNAE-11 classification. Shift work was defined according to ILO criteria. Logistic regression was used to assess associations, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Shift work was independently associated with increased odds of diabesity both in men and women. Diabesity prevalence was higher when assessed by CUN-BAE compared with BMI. Age, male sex, lower socioeconomic class, physical inactivity, smoking, poor diet adherence, and alcohol intake were all significantly associated with higher risk. The CUN-BAE index showed superior sensitivity in identifying individuals at risk. Conclusions: Shift work and unhealthy behaviors are key determinants of diabesity among Spanish workers. The use of adiposity estimators beyond BMI, such as CUN-BAE, should be encouraged in occupational health surveillance. Workplace-targeted interventions are urgently needed to address this growing metabolic burden. Full article

Fast fashion is a rapidly expanding sector characterized by high production volumes, low costs, and short product lifecycles. While recent efforts have focused on improving sustainability within supply chains, consumer behavior remains a critical yet underexplored driver of environmental impacts. This study presents a web-based calculator tool designed to estimate both the carbon and plastic footprints associated with individual fast fashion consumption, with a particular focus on shopping behaviors, garment disposal, and laundry habits. Adopting a geographical perspective, the analysis explicitly considers the spatial dynamics of consumption and logistics within the urban context of Milan (Italy), a dense metropolitan area representative of high fashion activity and mobility. By incorporating user-reported travel patterns, logistics routes, and localized emission factors, the tool links consumer habits to place-specific environmental impacts. By involving over 360 users, the tool not only quantifies emissions and plastic waste (including microfibers) but also serves an educational function, raising awareness about the hidden consequences of fashion-related choices. Results reveal high variability in environmental impacts depending on user profiles and behaviors, with online shopping, frequent use of private vehicles, and improper garment disposal contributing significantly to emissions and plastic pollution. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating consumer-focused educational tools into broader sustainability strategies. The tool’s dual function as both calculator and awareness-raising platform suggests its potential value for educational and policy initiatives aimed at promoting more sustainable fashion consumption patterns. Full article

Aim: To investigate the synergistic effects of exercise training and Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli sprout) supplementation on Apolipoprotein A-I, B-100, and J levels in men with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Forty-four males with T2DM were randomly assigned to four groups: Control (CG), Supplement (SG), Training (TG), and Training + Supplement (TSG) groups. Participants in the supplement groups (SG and TSG) received 10 g of broccoli supplement after meals for 12 weeks, while those in the training groups (TG and TSG) participated in a structured exercise program (resistance and aerobic), performed three times per week for 12 weeks, at intensities of 60–70% one-repetition maximum (1RM) for resistance training and 60–70% peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) for aerobic training. Results: Circulating levels of apolipoproteins improved after 12 weeks in the TSG, TG, and SG groups. However, the TSG group exhibited the most pronounced improvements across metabolic and lipoprotein markers, reflecting an additive effect of both interventions. Specifically, the TSG group demonstrated absolute reductions in ApoB-100 (−48.30 ± 7.20 mg/dL) and ApoJ (−44.05 ± 5.76 mg/dL), along with an increase in ApoA-I (+44.92 ± 6.05 mg/dL). Main effect analysis revealed that exercise training elicited the most substantial improvements across metabolic and lipoprotein markers, with large effect sizes for glucose (η²p = 0.787), insulin (η²p = 0.640), HOMA-IR (η²p = 0.856), ApoA-I (η²p = 0.685), ApoB-100 (η²p = 0.774), ApoJ (η²p = 0.848), and HDL-C (η²p = 0.535). Supplementation showed moderate effects, particularly on HOMA-IR (η²p = 0.370), ApoA-I (η²p = 0.383), and ApoB-100 (η²p = 0.334), supporting an additive but exercise-dominant benefit. The combined intervention group (TSG) showed the most pronounced improvements across all measured outcomes, with large effect sizes for ApoA-I (η²p = 0.883), glucose (η²p = 0.946), insulin (η²p = 0.881), HOMA-IR (η²p = 0.904), and ApoJ (η²p = 0.852). Conclusions: The effects of combining training and broccoli sprout supplementation on apolipoprotein levels are likely to result from the activation of two separate pathways, one from training and the other from supplementation. This dual-modality intervention could serve as an effective complementary strategy in managing metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors for individuals with T2DM. However, the magnitude of change induced by the combination of exercise training and broccoli supplementation was largely driven by the training component, with supplementation providing complementary but less consistent benefits. Full article

Strongyloidosis is a parasitic disease caused by Strongyloides stercoralis, a nematode with a complex life cycle that facilitates long-term persistence within the host. The infection affects millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions and poses a particular challenge in immunocompromised individuals. Although conventional treatments, such as ivermectin and albendazole, are generally effective, emerging concerns regarding drug resistance and adverse effects have prompted the search for alternative therapeutic options. In this context, natural products—including plant extracts, bioactive phytochemicals, and nanoparticle-based formulations derived from natural sources—are emerging as promising anti-Strongyloides potential. This review summarizes recent studies on natural products with anthelmintic activity against strongyloidiasis, with emphasis on their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and future perspectives. A systematic search of the literature was conducted using terms related to Strongyloides, plant species, extracts, and bioactive compounds with nematocidal activity. Eligible studies included those reporting the activity of plants, plant extracts, and their purified metabolites against Strongyloides spp. Data were compiled into a comprehensive table including year of publication, author, plant species, active principle, application conditions, and target nematode species. The pharmacological treatment of this parasite varies according to its life cycle stage. Various biomolecules, phytoactive compounds, and novel plant-based formulations have demonstrated promising activity and may be considered both for treatment and for inclusion in control programs for strongyloidiasis. This review highlights medicinal plants and phytochemicals with ethnopharmacological background and experimentally validated activity against Strongyloides spp., integrating evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and experimental models, as well as clinical trials. Full article

Anxiety and depression affect millions worldwide, yet stigma and long wait times often delay access to care. Mobile mental health apps can decrease these barriers by offering on-demand screening and support. Nevertheless, many machine and deep learning methods used in such tools perform poorly under severe class imbalance, yielding biased, poorly calibrated predictions. To address this challenge, this study proposes MCoG-LDPSNet, a brain-inspired model that combines dual, orthogonal encoding pathways with a novel Loss-Driven Parametric Swish (LDPS) activation. LDPS implements a neurobiologically motivated adaptive-gain mechanism via a learnable β parameter driven by calibration and confidence-aware loss signals that amplifies minority-class patterns while preserving overall reliability, enabling robust predictions under severe data imbalance. On a benchmark mental health corpus, MCoG-LDPSNet achieved AUROC = 0.9920 and G-mean = 0.9451, outperforming traditional baselines like GLMs, XGBoost, state-of-the-art deep models (CNN-BiLSTM-ATTN), and transformer-based approaches. After transfer learning to social media text, the MCoG-LDPSNet maintained a near-perfect AUROC of 0.9937. Integrated into the EmotiZen App with enhanced app features, MCoG-LDPSNet was associated with substantial symptom reductions (anxiety 28.2%; depression 42.1%). These findings indicate that MCoG-LDPSNet is an accurate, imbalance-aware solution suitable for scalable mobile screening of individuals for anxiety and depression. Full article

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how oxidative stress drives inflammation, structural remodeling, and clinical expression of childhood asthma, while critically appraising emerging redox-sensitive biomarkers and antioxidant-focused preventive and therapeutic strategies. Oxidative stress arises when reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) outpace airway defenses. This surplus provokes airway inflammation: ROS/RNS activate nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1), recruit eosinophils and neutrophils, and amplify type-2 cytokines. Normally, an antioxidant network—glutathione (GSH), enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)—maintains redox balance. Prenatal and early exposure to fine particulate matter <2.5 micrometers (µm) (PM_2.5), aeroallergens, and tobacco smoke, together with polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) and CAT, overwhelm these defenses, driving epithelial damage, airway remodeling, and corticosteroid resistance—the core of childhood asthma pathogenesis. Clinically, biomarkers such as exhaled 8-isoprostane, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) surge during exacerbations and predict relapses. Therapeutic avenues include Mediterranean-style diet, regular aerobic exercise, pharmacological Nrf2 activators, GSH precursors, and mitochondria-targeted antioxidants; early trials report improved lung function and fewer attacks. Ongoing translational research remains imperative to substantiate these approaches and to enable the personalization of therapy through individual redox status and genetic susceptibility, ultimately transforming the care and prognosis of pediatric asthma. Full article

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health promotion as the process of enabling individuals to gain control over and improve their health. This shifts the focus from lifestyle choices to broader social determinants of health, requiring involvement from healthcare, authorities, industry, civil society, and the media. Civil society engagement in health initiatives offers benefits such as empowerment, service delivery, flexibility, policy participation, and credibility. However, identifying specific health promotion actions for civil society organizations (CSOs) is challenging. The lack of assessment tools for CSOs hinders evaluation and improvement. Objective: To develop a tool, ‘PromoACTIVA-SC’, to assess CSOs’ health promotion practice by identifying essential actions that constitute the health promotion process. Methods: ‘PromoACTIVA-SC’ was developed through documentary analysis and validated by experts. CSOs’ members participated in cognitive interviews for comprehensibility, and the tool was pilot tested for administration and Likert scale evaluation. Results: The final questionnaire, consisting of 8 phases and 40 items, demonstrated good content validity. Its use can help to map CSOs’ practices and identify areas needing improvement. CSOs can use it for self-assessment and in collaborative health promotion and disease prevention efforts. Conclusions: ‘PromoACTIVA-SC’ is the first tool designed to assess civil society’s role in the health promotion process. Its future use will reveal the extent to which civil society organizations actively participate in health promotion. It can also be used to promote CSOs’ involvement in health policy and administration, enhancing public health outcomes through collaborative, cross-sectoral efforts. Full article

Horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus) create complex beds (aka reefs) that provide a range of vital ecosystem services. Unfortunately, these ecologically significant habitats are highly sensitive to human activity and are very slow to regenerate (if at all). As an example, there are cases in the Irish Sea and Strangford Lough where extensive beds have been severely declined or destroyed by fishing activity. Whilst individuals are widespread, beds are rare and are given a range of international statuses and protections. Marine Scotland indicates that a horse mussel bed is located within the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast (BNNC) Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which encompasses the Berwickshire Marine Reserve (BMR), although, no details are available as to its size or location. This study aimed to conducted preliminary surveys to gain a better understanding of horse mussel presence within the BMR. Historical data, public sightings, and scuba diving and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) survey data were collected. This study expanded our knowledge of horse mussels within the BMR with over 200 recorded. Whilst most of the sightings were of individuals, five locations were highlighted as possibly meeting the requirements for a Scottish Priority Marine Feature (PMF). Further research is required to gain a full picture of horse mussel distribution and health within the area. Full article

Eczema is the most common skin disease among Hong Kong’s adults and children, affecting an estimated 30% of the total population. Western and Chinese medicinal ointments are the usual treatment for eczema. Conventional Western medicinal ointments are topical corticosteroids and non-steroidal agents. Eczema skin products include “Aveeno Parabens Lotion”, “Cerave Moisturizing Cream”, and “Cetaphil Lotion”. However, these are not a long-term solution for managing significant erythema. Chinese medicinal ointments are based on adjusting the formula, including the ingredients and amount, to address an individual’s skin condition and other factors that may be worsening symptoms. This approach aims to regulate the immune system and make it less reactive to environmental and food allergies. This approach is mainly for local topical use. The ingredients of eczema skin products should include Coptis chinensis Franch, Phellodendron chinense Schneid, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, Curcuma longa L., and sesame oil. Chinese medicinal ointments are natural ingredients, personalized formulas, and concerned with holistic healing, while Western medicinal ointments provide fast-acting relief, targeted action, and a standardized dosage. Methods: Nine electronic databases, such as WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link, SciFinder, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), were searched mainly within the past twenty years and without any language restrictions. The inclusion criteria were the keywords “Western medicine and ointment”, “Chinese medicine and ointment”, and “Western and Chinese medicines and ointment”. Differences in effectiveness between Western and Chinese ointments were evaluated to determine if they had functions against eczema. This review included an analysis and summary of all relevant papers. Results: Western medicinal ointments are topical corticosteroids, and they exert their pharmacological activities via many mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, antiproliferative, and vasoconstrictive effects on eczema. Similarly, Chinese medicinal ointments have the same pharmacological functions, but they may focus on the immune system for the treatment of inflammatory and skin conditions, including erythema, edema, dryness, desquamation, and callus exfoliation. Conclusion: Based on the clinical research, the effectiveness rate of integrated Chinese and Western medicines was 88%, which was greater than the 70% rate for using Western medicine alone to treat eczema. Western and Chinese medicinal ointments have different active ingredients with advantages and disadvantages for eczema or when acting as skin care products. The most important thing is knowing “How” to use Western and Chinese medicinal ointments properly, especially for some formulations of Chinese ointments. It may be beneficial to consider the pharmacokinetic studies of herbal ingredients, which offer personalized formulas tailored to individual body constitutions and conditions, as well as to emphasize holistic healing, addressing both symptoms and underlying imbalances in the body. Much more work needs to be carried out, such as safety assessments of these ointments for use as skin care products for eczema. Full article

Opuntia stricta var. dillenii (OPD) fruits are rich in betalains and phenolic compounds, which are recognized for their potential health-promoting properties. This study focuses on the optimization of pulsed electric field (PEF)-assisted solid–liquid green extraction (SLE) from OPD whole fruit, using response surface methodology (RSM) experimental design to obtain green extracts rich in bioactive compounds. The optimal PEF pre-treatment conditions (electric field strength and energy input) were determined based on the cell disintegration index (Zp), followed by optimizing SLE conditions (temperature, time, and ethanol content). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD-ESI-Qtof) was used to characterize the individual bioactive compound profile of the obtained OPD green extracts. Results showed that optimal PEF pre-treatment conditions were at 10.5 kJ/kg and 5 kV/cm, followed by SLE at 35 °C for 165 min, using water as the solvent. Conventional optimal SLE conducted at 45 °C, 8% ethanol, and 128 min was applied as the control process. The combined PEF-assisted SLE process enhanced total betalain and phenolic compound yields by 61% and 135%, respectively. Antioxidant activities (DPPH by 145%, FRAP by 28%) and anti-inflammatory potential (hyaluronidase inhibition by 19%) were also significantly improved. This study underscores the potential use of a PEF pre-treatment to improve obtaining green extracts rich in bioactive compounds with high biological activities from OPD whole fruits, using water as a solvent. Full article

The assessment of upper limb (UL) movement patterns plays a critical role in the rehabilitation of individuals with motor impairments resulting from neuromotor disorders, which significantly affect essential activities of daily living (ADLs) such as drinking and eating. However, conventional clinical evaluation methods often lack objective and quantitative insights into the biomechanics of movement. To enable accurate identification of pathological patterns, it is first necessary to establish normative biomechanical and electrophysiological benchmarks in healthy individuals. In this study, a previously developed, low-cost, wearable, and portable prototype device was employed to objectively assess UL movement. The system, specifically designed for clinical applicability, integrates surface electromyography (EMG) sensors and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to capture muscle activity and kinematic data, respectively. Thirty healthy participants were recruited to perform standardized drinking and eating tasks. The analysis focused on characterizing muscle activation patterns and joint range of motion during different task phases. Results revealed consistent variations in muscle contraction and joint kinematics, allowing the identification of distinct activation profiles for key shoulder muscles. The findings contribute to the establishment of a normative dataset that can serve as a reference for the assessment of clinical populations. Such data are essential for informing rehabilitation strategies and developing predictive models of UL function during ADLs in individuals with neuromotor disorders. Full article

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects over 40 million people every year. One of its features includes the activation of microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain. Microglia assume different morphological states depending on their level of activation, such as surveilling ramified and activated hypertrophic, ameboid, and rod-like microglia. These states can be distinguished by multiple features, including the shape, span, and branching of microglia. Male Sprague–Dawley rats sustained mTBI using the Closed-Head Impact Model of Engineered Rotational Acceleration (CHIMERA) (3 times, 1.5 J per impact) or sham treatment. Four days after the injury, brains were collected and stained for microglia using the ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1) antibody. Cortical injury sites were identified in a subset of CHIMERA animals. Using the MicrogliaMorphology ImageJ plugin and the MicrogliaMorphologyR package, 27 morphological features were quantified from individual microglia, and k-means clustering was used to classify microglia as ramified, rod-like, ameboid, and hypertrophic states. The CHIMERA injury altered microglia morphology features, which contributed to increased hypertrophic (activated) and decreased ramified (inactive) microglia compared to the sham controls. Combined with the clinically relevant mTBI paradigm and semi-automated/unbiased approach, the current findings may contribute to microglia morphology classification. Full article

Parasitic infections, such as those caused by the myxozoans Myxobolus cerebralis and Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, pose major threats to wild and farmed salmonids due to severe tissue damage and impairment of the host immune system. While individual infections have been studied, limited information is available on the host response during co-infection. This study investigated the transcriptomic immune response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during single and sequential co-infections with M. cerebralis and T. bryosalmonae using RNA-seq. Trout were exposed to single infections (Mc or Tb) followed by co-infections (Mc⁺ or Tb⁺). Fish were sampled at 31 days post-single infection (1 day post-co-infection). RNA from gill and caudal fin (portal of parasite entry) was sequenced, followed by differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identification and GO and KEGG enrichment. In the caudal fin, Mc⁺ (1 day after co-infection with T. bryosalomne) fish showed mild immune activation with C4B upregulation, while Tb⁺ fish exhibited a stronger response involving IFI44, ISG15, RSAD2, and TLR7 signaling. In gills, Mc⁺ fish showed moderate cytokine-related gene upregulation, while Tb⁺ (1 day after co-infection with M. cerebralis) fish displayed increased expression of humoral response genes (C3, immunoglobulin pathways) but suppression of genes involved in B cell development. These results indicate that the order of infection shapes the outcome of the host immune response, offering candidate targets at the host–pathogen interface. Full article

Background/Objectives: The global increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections underscores the urgent need for effective and sustainable antimicrobial alternatives. This study investigates the antimicrobial activity of exometabolite-based formulations (ExAFs), derived from the cell-free supernatants (CFS) of native lactic acid bacteria (LAB) applied individually or in combination thereof, against MDR-Escherichia coli strain L1PEag1. Methods: Fourteen ExAFs were screened for inhibitory activity using time–kill assays, and structural damage to bacterial cells was assessed via scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). The most potent formulation was further characterized by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) employing a Sequential Windowed Acquisition of All Theoretical Fragment Ion Mass Spectra (SWATH) approach for untargeted metabolite profiling. Results: Among the tested formulations, E10, comprising CFS from Weissella cibaria UTNGt21O, exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity (zone of inhibition: 17.12 ± 0.22 mm), followed by E1 (CFS from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Gt28L and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Gt2, 3:1 v/v) and E2 (Gt28L CFS + EPS from Gt2, 3:1 v/v). Time–kill assays demonstrated rapid, dose-dependent bactericidal activity: E1 and E10 achieved >98% reduction in viable counts within 2–3 h, at 1× MIC, while E2 sustained 98.24% inhibition over 18 h, at 0.25× MIC. SEM and TEM revealed pronounced ultrastructural damage, including membrane disruption, cytoplasmic condensation, and intracellular disintegration, consistent with a membrane-targeting mode of action. Metabolomic profiling of E10 identified 22 bioactive metabolites, including lincomycin, the proline-rich peptide Val–Leu–Pro–Val–Pro–Gln, multiple flavonoids, and loperamide. Several compounds shared structural similarity with ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), including lanthipeptides and lassopeptides, suggesting a multifaceted antimicrobial mechanism. Conclusions: These findings position ExAFs, particularly E10, as promising, peptide-rich, bio-based antimicrobial candidates for food safety or therapeutic applications. The co-occurrence of RiPP analogs and secondary metabolites in the formulation suggests the potential for complementary or multi-modal bactericidal effects, positioning these compounds as promising eco-friendly alternatives for combating MDR pathogens. Full article