Search Results (1,897)

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic flavivirus that circulates primarily within animal populations and occasionally spills over to humans, causing severe neurological disease. While humans are terminal hosts, veterinary species such as pigs and birds play essential roles in viral amplification and maintenance, making JEV fundamentally a veterinary infectious disease with zoonotic potential. This review summarizes the current understanding of JEV transmission dynamics from a veterinary and ecological perspective, emphasizing the roles of amplifying hosts and animal surveillance in controlling viral circulation. Recent genotype shifts and viral evolution have raised concerns regarding vaccine effectiveness and regional emergence. National surveillance systems and animal-based monitoring strategies are examined for their predictive value in detecting outbreaks early. Veterinary and human vaccination strategies are also reviewed, highlighting the importance of integrated One Health approaches. Advances in modeling and climate-responsive surveillance further underscore the dynamic and evolving landscape of JEV transmission. By managing the infection in animal reservoirs, veterinary interventions form the foundation of sustainable zoonotic disease control. Full article

Background/Objectives: Oral diseases are highly prevalent in Hungary and driven in part by unhealthy beverage consumption, smoking, and other behaviors. No prior study has examined the impact of beverage consumption patterns on oral health in a representative Hungarian population. This study investigated the association between beverage intake, lifestyle factors, and oral health outcomes among Hungarian adults. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2019 Hungarian European Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Oral health outcomes and key exposures, including beverage consumption, smoking, alcohol use, and sociodemographic variables, were self-reported. Associations were assessed using multiple logistic regression models. Results: Among 5425 adults, higher dairy intake was linked to less gum bleeding (odds ratio = 0.76; 95% confidence intervals [0.59–0.96]) and lower odds of teeth missing (0.63 [0.47–0.86]). Weekly juice intake reduced gum bleeding (0.62 [0.51–0.76]) and missing teeth (0.83 [0.71–0.96]). Daily soda was associated with more gum bleeding (1.94 [1.53–2.47]), caries (1.57 [1.27–1.94]), and poor self-perceived oral health (1.32 [1.10–1.59]). Alcohol (1–4 times/week) increased gum bleeding (1.38 [1.07–1.77]) and tooth mobility (1.47 [1.02–2.11]). Smoking raised odds for caries (1.42 [1.21–1.66]) and missing teeth (1.81 [1.55–2.10]). Conclusions: Increasing dairy and fresh juice intake while reducing sugar-sweetened and acidic beverages, alongside tobacco and alcohol control and routine oral health screening, are effective strategies for improving population oral health across all sociodemographic groups. Full article

Urban street canyons in high-density areas exacerbate PM_2.5 accumulation, posing significant public health risks. Through integrated empirical and computational methods—including empirical PM_2.5 and microclimate measurements, multivariate regression analysis, and high-resolution ENVI-met5.1 simulations—this study quantifies the threshold effects of pedestrian-oriented morphological indicators on PM_2.5 exposure in east–west-oriented residential streets. Key findings include the following: (1) the height-to-width ratio (H/W) negatively correlates with exposure, where H/W = 2.0 reduces the peak concentrations by 37–41% relative to H/W = 0.5 through enhanced vertical advection; (2) the Build-To-Line ratio (BTR) exhibits a positive correlation with exposure, with BTR = 63.2% mitigating exposure by 12–15% compared to BTR = 76.8% by reducing aerodynamic stagnation; (3) pollution exposure can be mitigated by enhancing airflow ventilation within street canyons through architectural facade design. These evidence-based morphological thresholds (H/W ≥ 1.5, BTR ≤ 70%) provide actionable strategies for reducing health risks in polluted urban corridors, supporting China to meet its national air quality improvement targets. Full article

Background and Objectives: Sarcopenic obesity, or the coexistence of sarcopenia and obesity, carries an additional load of health risks, including functional decline and metabolic disorders. Despite its increasing importance, data on Korean adults’ prevalence and risk factors are poor. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity, sarcopenia, and obesity to identify factors associated with each condition using the most recent nationally representative data. Materials and Methods: This study analyzed data from 4332 adults aged ≥ 40 years who participated in the 2022–2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Sarcopenia was defined using the appendicular skeletal muscle index (SMI) via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and obesity by waist circumference per Korean criteria. Participants were categorized into four body composition groups. Complex sample logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with each condition. Results: The prevalence rates of sarcopenic obesity, sarcopenia-only, and obesity-only were 1.9%, 14.4%, and 35.5%, respectively. Sarcopenic obesity was significantly more common among older women with low education level, poor subjective health, diabetes, and low HDL-C. They were associated with older age, lower physical activity, lower education level, past smoking, and poor health condition. Obesity was associated with male sex, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and moderate-to-poor perceived health. Conclusions: Sarcopenic obesity, while less prevalent, is relatively uncommon and represents a high-risk phenotype associated with metabolic and functional deficits. These results highlight the importance of identifying vulnerable subgroups and implementing targeted strategies that address both muscle loss and adiposity in aging Korean adults. Full article

Background/Objectives: The expansion of National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage for dental implants in South Korea has substantially increased implant placements among older adults. While implants offer functional and esthetic benefits, their lack of periodontal ligaments alters occlusal force distribution, potentially increasing biomechanical stress on adjacent or opposing teeth. This study aimed to investigate the association between the increased number of dental implants and the incidence of cracked teeth following the introduction of implant insurance. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Clinical Data Warehouse of Seoul St. Mary’s Dental Hospital. Patients who underwent molar crown restorations between 2014 and 2022 were included. The incidence and clinical features of cracked teeth were compared before (2014–2015) and after (2016–2022) the introduction of implant insurance. Statistical analyses assessed differences in symptom presentation, pulp status, and treatment outcomes. Results: Among 5044 molars restored with crowns, 1692 were diagnosed with cracks. The incidence of cracked teeth significantly increased after NHI coverage for implants (25.5% vs. 32.6%, p < 0.001). Cases after insurance implementation showed fewer signs and symptoms at initial presentation (67.4% vs. 50.0%, p < 0.001), reduced irreversible pulpitis (37.2% vs. 25.8%, p < 0.001), and increased preservation of pulp vitality (46.9% vs. 57.8%, p < 0.001). These shifts may reflect changes in occlusal adjustment practices and earlier clinical intervention. Conclusions: The findings suggest a temporal link between increased implant placement and the rising incidence of cracked teeth. Implant-induced occlusal changes may contribute to this trend. Careful occlusal evaluation and follow-up are essential after implant placement, and further prospective studies are warranted to confirm causality and refine prevention strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: The two major subtypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)—are known to increase the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). While this relationship has been well studied in Western populations, evidence from East Asia remains limited and inconsistent. Using nationwide cohort data, this study explored the potential connection between IBD and CRC in a large Korean population. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort from 2005 to 2019. A total of 9920 CRC patients were matched 1:4 with 39,680 controls using propensity scores based on age, sex, income, and region. Overlap weighting and multivariable logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between IBD and CRC. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess effect modification by demographic and clinical factors. Results: IBD markedly increased the likelihood of developing CRC (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–1.58; p < 0.001), with the association primarily driven by UC (aOR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.27–1.83). CD appeared unrelated to heightened CRC risk overall, though a significant association was observed among low-income CD patients (aOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.15–2.16). The UC–CRC association persisted across all subgroups, including patients without comorbidities. Conclusions: Our findings support an independent association between IBD—particularly UC—and increased CRC risk in Korea. These results underscore the need for personalized CRC surveillance strategies that account for disease subtype, comorbidity burden, and socioeconomic status, especially in vulnerable subpopulations. Full article

The National Adaptation Plan of Bangladesh identifies eleven climate-stressed zones, placing nearly 100 million people at high risk of climate-related hazards. Vulnerable groups such as the poor, floating populations, daily laborers, and slum dwellers are particularly affected. However, there is a lack of data on climate-sensitive diseases and related hospital visits in these areas. This study explored the prevalence of such diseases using the Delphi method through focus group discussions with 493 healthcare professionals from 153 hospitals in 156 upazilas across 21 districts and ten zones. Participants were selected by district Civil Surgeons. Key climate-sensitive diseases identified included malnutrition, diarrhea, pneumonia, respiratory infections, typhoid, skin diseases, hypertension, cholera, mental health disorders, hepatitis, heat stroke, and dengue. Seasonal surges in hospital visits were noted, influenced by factors like extreme heat, air pollution, floods, water contamination, poor sanitation, salinity, and disease vectors. Some diseases were zone-specific, while others were widespread. Regions with fewer hospital visits often had higher disease burdens, indicating under-reporting or lack of access. The findings highlight the need for area-specific adaptation strategies and updates to the Health National Adaptation Plan. Strengthening resilience through targeted investment and preventive measures is crucial to reducing health risks from climate change. Full article

This study presents the scientific and methodological foundation of Spain’s first national framework for the ethical management of community cat populations: the Action Plan for the Management of Community Cat Colonies (PACF), launched in 2025 under the mandate of Law 7/2023. This pioneering legislation introduces a standardized, nationwide obligation for trap–neuter–return (TNR)-based management of free-roaming cats, defined as animals living freely, territorially attached, and with limited socialization toward humans. The PACF aims to support municipalities in implementing this mandate through evidence-based strategies that integrate animal welfare, biodiversity protection, and public health objectives. Using standardized data submitted by 1128 municipalities (13.9% of Spain’s total), we estimated a baseline population of 1.81 million community cats distributed across 125,000 colonies. These data were stratified by municipal population size and applied to national census figures to generate a model-ready demographic structure. We then implemented a stochastic simulation using Vortex software to project long-term population dynamics over a 25-year horizon. The model integrated eight demographic–environmental scenarios defined by a combination of urban–rural classification and ecological reproductive potential based on photoperiod and winter temperature. Parameters included reproductive output, mortality, sterilization coverage, abandonment and adoption rates, stochastic catastrophic events, and territorial carrying capacity. Under current sterilization rates (~20%), our projections indicate that Spain’s community cat population could surpass 5 million individuals by 2050, saturating ecological and social thresholds within a decade. In contrast, a differentiated sterilization strategy aligned with territorial reproductive intensity (50% in most areas, 60–70% in high-pressure zones) achieves population stabilization by 2030 at approximately 1.5 million cats, followed by a gradual long-term decline. This scenario prioritizes feasibility while substantially reducing reproductive output, particularly in rural and high-intensity contexts. The PACF combines stratified demographic modeling with spatial sensitivity, offering a flexible framework adaptable to local conditions. It incorporates One Health principles and introduces tools for adaptive management, including digital monitoring platforms and standardized welfare protocols. While ecological impacts were not directly assessed, the proposed demographic stabilization is designed to mitigate population-driven risks to biodiversity and public health without relying on lethal control. By integrating legal mandates, stratified modeling, and realistic intervention goals, this study outlines a replicable and scalable framework for coordinated action across administrative levels. It exemplifies how national policy can be operationalized through data-driven, territorially sensitive planning tools. The findings support the strategic deployment of TNR-based programs across diverse municipal contexts, providing a model for other countries seeking to align animal welfare policy with ecological planning under a multi-level governance perspective. Full article

Today, ‘social sustainability’ is a key feature of many organisations’ environmental, social, and governance strategies, as well as underpinning sustainable development goals. The term refers to the implementation of targets such as reduced societal inequalities, the promotion of social well-being, and the practice of positive community relations. Building a meaningful, accountable, and quantifiable evidence-base from which to translate these high-level concepts into tangible and achievable goals is, however, challenging. The complexities of measuring social capital—often described as a building block of social sustainability—have been documented. The challenge lies in measuring the person, group, or collective in interaction with the context under investigation, whether that be a climate goal, an institution, or a national policy. Social identity theory is a social psychological approach that articulates the processes through which an individual internalises the values, norms, and behaviours of their contexts. Levels of social identification—a concept capturing the state of internalisation—have been shown to be predictive of outcomes as diverse as communication and cognition, trust and citizenship, leadership and compliance, and health and well-being. Applying this perspective to the articulation and measurement of social sustainability provides an opportunity to build an empirical approach with which to reliably translate this high-level concept into achievable outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now the guideline-recommended alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for long-term anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. However, accurately assessing their impact on ischemic stroke outcomes remains challenging, primarily due to uncertainty regarding anticoagulation status at the time of hospital admission. This preliminary study addresses this gap by using point-of-care testing (POCT) to confirm DOAC activity at bedside, allowing for a more accurate comparison of 90-day functional outcomes between anticoagulated and non-anticoagulated stroke patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 786 ischemic stroke patients admitted to the University of Pécs between February 2023 and February 2025. Active DOAC therapy was confirmed using the ClotPro^® viscoelastic testing platform, with ecarin Clotting Time (ECT) employed for thrombin inhibitors and Russell’s Viper Venom (RVV) assays for factor Xa inhibitors. Patients were categorized as non-anticoagulated (n = 767) or DOAC-treated with confirmed activity (n = 19). Mahalanobis distance-based matching was applied to account for confounding variables including age, sex, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission and 72 h post-stroke. The primary outcome was the change in mRS from baseline to 90 days. Statistical analysis included ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: After matching, 90-day functional outcomes were comparable between groups (mean mRS-shift: 2.00 in DOAC-treated vs. 1.78 in non-anticoagulated; p = 0.745). OLS regression showed no significant association between DOAC status and recovery (p = 0.599). In contrast, NIHSS score at 72 h (p = 0.004) and age (p = 0.015) were significant predictors of outcome. PCA supported these findings, identifying stroke severity as the primary driver of outcome. Conclusions: This preliminary analysis suggests that ischemic stroke patients with confirmed active DOAC therapy at admission may achieve 90-day functional outcomes comparable to those of non-anticoagulated patients. The integration of bedside POCT enhances the reliability of anticoagulation assessment and underscores its clinical value for real-time management in acute stroke care. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and to further refine treatment strategies. Full article

Climate change is generally having a negative impact on forest health by inducing drought stress and favouring the spread of pest species, such as bark beetles. The terrestrial monitoring of bark beetle infestation is very time-consuming, especially in the early stages, and therefore not feasible for extensive areas, emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach based on remote sensing. Although numerous studies have researched the use of optical data for this task, radar data remains comparatively underexplored. Therefore, this study uses the weekly and cloud-free acquisitions of Sentinel-1 in the Bavarian Forest National Park. Time series analysis within a Multi-SAR framework using Random Forest enables the monitoring of moisture content loss and, consequently, the assessment of tree vitality, which is crucial for the detection of stress conditions conducive to bark beetle outbreaks. High accuracies are achieved in predicting future bark beetle infestation (R² of 0.83–0.89). These results demonstrate that forest vitality trends ranging from healthy to bark beetle-affected states can be mapped, supporting early intervention strategies. The standard deviation of 0.44 to 0.76 years indicates that the model deviates on average by half a year, mainly due to the uncertainty in the reference data. This temporal uncertainty is acceptable, as half a year provides a sufficient window to identify stressed forest areas and implement targeted management actions before bark beetle damage occurs. The successful application of this technique to extensive test sites in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia proves its transferability. For the first time, the results clearly demonstrate the expected relationship between radar backscatter expressed in the Kennaugh elements K₀ and K₁ and bark beetle infestation, thereby providing an opportunity for the continuous and cost-effective monitoring of forest health from space. Full article

Background: Pain is a complex phenomenon characterized by unpleasant experiences with profound heterogeneity influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. According to the National Health Interview Survey, 50.2 million U.S. adults (20.5%) experience pain on most days, with the annual cost of prescription medication for pain reaching approximately USD 17.8 billion. Theranostic pain nanomedicine therefore emerges as an attractive analgesic strategy with the potential for increased efficacy, reduced side-effects, and treatment personalization. Theranostic nanomedicine combines drug delivery and diagnostic features, allowing for real-time monitoring of analgesic efficacy in vivo using molecular imaging. However, clinical translation of these nanomedicines are challenging due to complex manufacturing methodologies, lack of standardized quality control, and potentially high costs. Quality by Design (QbD) can navigate these challenges and lead to the development of an optimal pain nanomedicine. Our lab previously reported a macrophage-targeted perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion (PFC NE) that demonstrated analgesic efficacy across multiple rodent pain models in both sexes. Here, we report PFC-free, biphasic nanoemulsions formulated with a biocompatible and non-immunogenic plant-based coconut oil loaded with a COX-2 inhibitor and a clinical-grade, indocyanine green (ICG) near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dye for parenteral theranostic analgesic nanomedicine. Methods: Critical process parameters and material attributes were identified through the FMECA (Failure, Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) method and optimized using a 3 × 2 full-factorial design of experiments. We investigated the impact of the oil-to-surfactant ratio (w/w) with three different surfactant systems on the colloidal properties of NE. Small-scale (100 mL) batches were manufactured using sonication and microfluidization, and the final formulation was scaled up to 500 mL with microfluidization. The colloidal stability of NE was assessed using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and drug quantification was conducted through reverse-phase HPLC. An in vitro drug release study was conducted using the dialysis bag method, accompanied by HPLC quantification. The formulation was further evaluated for cell viability, cellular uptake, and COX-2 inhibition in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Results: Nanoemulsion droplet size increased with a higher oil-to-surfactant ratio (w/w) but was no significant impact by the type of surfactant system used. Thermal cycling and serum stability studies confirmed NE colloidal stability upon exposure to high and low temperatures and biological fluids. We also demonstrated the necessity of a solubilizer for long-term fluorescence stability of ICG. The nanoemulsion showed no cellular toxicity and effectively inhibited PGE2 in activated macrophages. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first instance of a celecoxib-loaded theranostic platform developed using a plant-derived hydrocarbon oil, applying the QbD approach that demonstrated COX-2 inhibition. Full article

Marine biomass, particularly from waste streams, by-products, underutilized, invasive, or potential cultivable marine species, offers a sustainable source of high-value biopolymers such as collagen and chitin. These macromolecules have gained significant attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, functional versatility, and broad applicability across health, food, wellness, and environmental fields. This review highlights recent advances in the uses of marine-derived collagen and chitin/chitosan. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we analyze how these applications contribute to sustainability, particularly in SDGs related to responsible consumption and production, good health and well-being, and life below water. Furthermore, we contextualize the advancement of product development using marine collagen and chitin/chitosan within the European Union’s Blue bioeconomy strategies, highlighting trends in scientific research and technological innovation through bibliometric and patent data. Finally, the review addresses challenges facing the development of robust value chains for these marine biopolymers, including collaboration, regulatory hurdles, supply-chain constraints, policy and financial support, education and training, and the need for integrated marine resource management. The paper concludes with recommendations for fostering innovation and sustainability in the valorization of these marine resources. Full article

Background/Objectives: Urban green space has been increasingly recognized as a determinant of maternal and child health. This study investigated the association between prenatal exposure to different types of green space and the risk of congenital anomalies in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service (N = 142,422). Green space exposure was measured at the area level and categorized into grassland and forest; statistical analysis was performed using generalized estimating equations and generalized additive models to analyze the associations. Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: GEE analysis showed that a 10% increase in the proportion of grassland in a residential district was associated with a reduced risk of nervous system (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63–0.94) and genitourinary system anomalies (aOR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71–0.97). The subgroup analysis results showed significance only for male infants, but the difference between the sexes was not significant. In the quartile-based analysis, we found a slightly significant p-value for trend for the effect of forests on digestive system anomalies, but the trend was toward increasing risk. In a sensitivity analysis with different exposure classifications, the overall and nervous system anomalies in built green space showed that the risk decreased as green space increased compared to that in the lowest quartile. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of spatial environmental factors during pregnancy and suggest that different types of green spaces differentially impact the offspring’s early health outcomes. This study suggests the need for built environment planning as part of preventive maternal and child health strategies. Full article

Proteus mirabilis is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a growing threat to both animal and human health due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It is widely found in animals, including China’s nationally protected captive giant and red pandas. This study isolated Proteus mirabilis from panda feces to assess AMR and virulence traits, and used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to evaluate the spread of resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence genes (VAGs). In this study, 37 isolates were obtained, 20 from red pandas and 17 from giant pandas. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains were present in both hosts. Giant panda isolates showed the highest resistance to ampicillin and cefazolin (58.8%), while red panda isolates were most resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (65%) and imipenem (55%). Giant panda-derived strains also exhibited stronger biofilm formation and swarming motility. WGS identified 31 ARGs and 73 VAGs, many linked to mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as plasmids, integrons, and ICEs. In addition, we found frequent co-localization of drug resistance genes/VAGs with MGEs, indicating a high possibility of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This study provides crucial insights into AMR and virulence risks in P. mirabilis from captive pandas, supporting targeted surveillance and control strategies. Full article