Search Results (2,326)

The present study evaluated the effects of the prepartum administration of immunotropic preparations on the growth performance, physiological status, and metabolic profile of calves. Sixty pregnant Holstein cows were divided into three groups (n = 20 each): the first experimental group received a single intramuscular injection of sodium nucleinate (5 mL), the second experimental group received a single intramuscular injection of Ribotan (5 mL), and the control group received saline solution. All treatments were administered 3–9 days before calving. The obtained calves were monitored until 60 days of age. Clinical, growth, hematological, and biochemical parameters were assessed at days 1, 10, 30, and 60. Calves from the treated cows showed improved neonatal adaptation, including faster development of standing posture and the suckling reflex. Body weight was significantly higher in experimental groups at 30 and 60 days (p ≤ 0.05), with consistently greater average daily gains. Blood analysis revealed increased total protein, albumin, and γ-globulin levels, indicating enhanced protein metabolism and immune status. In contrast, cortisol concentrations were lower in treated groups, reflecting reduced physiological stress. Multivariate (PCA) and correlation analyses confirmed strong associations between growth performance, metabolic activity, and immune indicators, and demonstrated clear separation between control and treated groups. Ribotan exhibited the most pronounced biological effect, while sodium nucleinate showed moderate but consistent improvements. In conclusion, prepartum immunotropic treatment of cows enhances early-life adaptation, metabolic efficiency, and growth performance of calves and may represent a practical strategy for improving calf rearing outcomes in dairy farming systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Occupation shapes time use, physical demands, stress, and access to health resources, yet it remains an understudied axis of inequality among working women in low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed occupational-group disparities in lifestyle behaviors and adiposity levels among Peruvian working women. Methods: We conducted a pooled repeated cross-sectional analysis of ten Peruvian DHS/ENDES rounds from 2014–2019 and 2021–2024 among working women aged 18–49 years. The exposure was standardized occupational group, using professional/technical/managerial workers as the reference. Outcomes included five lifestyle behaviors and four adiposity indicators. Crude models estimated descriptive prevalence ratios (PRs) or beta coefficients; secondary adjusted models included age group, survey year, education, wealth, residence, natural region, and marital status. Results: A total of 40,726 women were included. Agricultural workers showed lower crude prevalences of almost-daily television viewing (PR 0.49; 95% CI 0.47–0.52), current smoking (PR 0.14; 95% CI 0.10–0.19), current alcohol use (PR 0.39; 95% CI 0.36–0.42), and heavy alcohol use (PR 0.17; 95% CI 0.12–0.27); these contrasts attenuated but generally persisted after adjustment. Insufficient fruit and vegetable intake exceeded 87% in all groups. Sales, domestic/household, services, and skilled manual workers had higher adjusted obesity than the reference group, with adjusted PRs ranging from 1.22 to 1.35. Conclusions: Occupation identifies relevant heterogeneity in lifestyle behaviors and adiposity levels among Peruvian working women. Lifestyle and adiposity profiles did not follow a simple social gradient, supporting occupation-specific strategies for noncommunicable disease prevention. Full article

Background/Objectives: This review aimed to provide an updated synthesis of the evidence on the effects(s) of grapes, blueberries, and their constituent bioactives on cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases globally. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, and Semantic Scholar. Eligible publications were restricted to studies published since 2015 focusing on grapes, blueberries, and related bioactives. A total of 37 studies were included (17 meta-analyses/systematic reviews and 20 randomised controlled trials). Compositional data on polyphenols, anthocyanins, and stilbenes (including resveratrol) from a new hybrid variety of red-fleshed table grape were also discussed in context. Results: The evidence indicates that grape- and blueberry-derived bioactives, particularly polyphenols and resveratrol, produce modest but consistent improvements in cardiovascular risk markers, particularly endothelial function. Effects were more pronounced in higher-quality trials and in metabolically at-risk populations. Certain varieties, including red-fleshed table grapes (red berry grapes), may represent effective dietary sources of these bioactives. Conclusions: Cardiovascular disease remains a common public health challenge. Increasing attention is being given to dietary and lifestyle strategies for its prevention and management. Within this context, and alongside existing recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable intake, there is scope for more specific guidance emphasising the consumption of dark-pigmented grapes, berries, and red-fleshed table grapes abundant in bioactives such as polyphenols. Full article

Background/Objectives: Italy is among the countries with the highest life expectancy and extreme longevity worldwide, yet marked regional disparities persist. This nationwide ecological study examined temporal trends in population aging and extreme longevity across the 20 Italian regions (1982–2025) and explored regional correlates non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality and contemporary behavioral/nutritional indicators, with attention to emerging southern hotspots such as Cilento. Methods: Longevity indicators (Aging Tendency, Longevity Index [LI%], Centenarity Index [CI%], 85+ and 90+ ratios) were derived from ISTAT demographic data. Age-standardized mortality rates for five major NCDs (1990–2023) were obtained from WHO HFA-DB. Behavioral and nutritional indicators for adults aged ≥65 years (2024) were extracted from HFA-Italy. Regional associations were assessed using Spearman correlations within an ecological, hypothesis-generating framework. Results: All longevity indicators increased steadily from 1982 to 2025, with northern and central regions showing the highest values. Lower long-term mortality from diabetes mellitus and cerebrovascular diseases showed the strongest regional correlations with higher LI% and CI%. Nutritional profiles were generally more favorable in northern regions. The Cilento area emerged as a notable southern hotspot, displaying longevity indicators comparable to Sardinia and above the regional average. Conclusions: Regional patterns of extreme longevity in Italy reflect the interplay of demographic dynamics, NCD mortality burden, and contemporary lifestyle profiles. While northern regions maintain a clear advantage, specific southern areas such as Cilento demonstrate that favorable longevity outcomes can emerge in diverse macro-regional contexts. These findings highlight the value of regionally tailored strategies to promote healthy aging and reduce geographical disparities. Full article

Background: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based wearable devices offer non-invasive, continuous monitoring of muscle oxygenation, providing direct microvascular and metabolic information that complements indirect indices of intensity such as heart rate and accelerometry. Their clinical applicability in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remains under active development. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore (January 2010–January 2026) using pre-specified search strings combining NIRS, muscle oxygenation, SmO₂, StO₂, wearable, exercise intensity, ventilatory/lactate threshold, and individual chronic disease terms. Eligible studies addressed technical validation of wearable NIRS, NIRS-derived exercise intensity estimation, clinical applications in NCDs, or rehabilitation implementation. Evidence was synthesized thematically; quality of validation studies was appraised against AMSTAR-2-informed, COSMIN-informed, or Cochrane RoB-2 criteria. Results: Wearable continuous-wave NIRS shows acceptable concurrent validity with frequency-domain laboratory systems (r = 0.79; range 0.69–0.88; ±8% SmO₂ agreement in 95% of measurements) and good test–retest reliability for moderate-to-severe domains (ICC 0.72–0.91). NIRS-derived breakpoints align more reliably with the second ventilatory/lactate threshold (ICC = 0.80) than with the first (ICC = 0.53), constraining its use for prescribing lower-intensity domains. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral arterial disease, chronic respiratory failure and selected cardiovascular conditions, wearable NIRS detects disease-specific patterns of muscle deoxygenation and post-exercise reoxygenation that track responses to rehabilitation. Conclusions: Current evidence supports wearable NIRS as a complementary, intensity-aware monitoring tool—particularly for delineating the heavy/severe-intensity boundary and detecting peripheral metabolic limitations—rather than as a stand-alone replacement for ventilatory or lactate thresholds. Because much of the evidence derives from small, single-sex or athlete-only cohorts, these findings should be regarded as a promising basis requiring further validation in broader NCD populations. Implementation in NCDs requires standardized placement and calibration protocols, sex- and body composition-stratified reference values, motion-artifact mitigation, and adequately powered longitudinal trials in clinical populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, together with accelerating environmental degradation, highlights the urgent need for sustainable dietary patterns that promote both human and planetary health. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), traditionally followed in countries bordering the Mediterranean basin, has gained recognition as a model of sustainable nutrition due to its well-documented health benefits and relatively low environmental impact. However, its broader role within sustainable food systems requires comprehensive and interdisciplinary evaluation. The aim of this review is to provide a state-of-the-art synthesis of the evidence on the MedDiet as a sustainable dietary pattern, integrating its health, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. Methods: This state-of-the-art narrative review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed literature on the MedDiet and sustainability. Relevant studies were identified through major scientific databases, focusing on publications addressing nutritional, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. Both observational and interventional studies, as well as modeling and life cycle assessment analyses, were included. Additional sources from international organizations and policy reports were incorporated to contextualize global trends and challenges. Results: High adherence to the MedDiet is consistently associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and all-cause mortality. From an environmental perspective, the MedDiet is associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced land and water use, and enhanced biodiversity conservation compared with Western dietary patterns. Economically, it may represent a cost-effective dietary model and support local food systems when grounded in traditional practices, although affordability varies across contexts. Socio-culturally, the MedDiet promotes food heritage, culinary skills, and social cohesion. Nevertheless, globalization, urbanization, and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods have contributed to declining adherence, posing significant challenges to its sustainability and scalability. Moreover, the sustainability benefits of the MedDiet seem to be context-dependent rather than intrinsic, raising several challenges and limitations for its adoption. Conclusions: The MedDiet should be viewed not as a definitive solution to global food-system challenges but as a valuable reference model that illustrates how dietary practices can contribute simultaneously to human health, environmental sustainability, and cultural continuity. Modern sustainable dietary strategies should build upon the strengths of the MedDiet while recognizing its limitations, embracing contextual adaptation, and addressing the structural determinants that shape food choices. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical period for the adoption of health-risk behaviors and the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Schools represent a strategic setting for health promotion interventions; however, Italian studies simultaneously assessing NCD-prevention knowledge and lifestyle behaviors in the same adolescent population remain scarce. The study aimed to evaluate improvements in knowledge regarding nutrition and other lifestyle-related behaviors among Italian adolescents following a school-based educational intervention. Secondary objectives included describing lifestyle behaviors within the study population and exploring participants’ evaluation of the intervention. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study was conducted between March and May 2025 in five lower secondary schools. A total of 410 adolescents aged 11–16 years were enrolled through a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. The intervention, lasting approximately two hours, was delivered by a trained nurse-researcher and addressed four health domains: nutrition, physical activity, screen exposure, and substance use. Results: Following the intervention, a measurable increase in overall knowledge scores (mean increase: +3.9 points) was observed, with 88.9% of participants showing improvement. The largest improvements were observed in nutrition-related knowledge and awareness of passive smoking harms. Despite these gains, unhealthy behaviors remained prevalent, including low adherence to physical activity recommendations (36.1%), suboptimal dietary quality (39.9%), and high screen exposure. A linear regression model identified five independent determinants of higher knowledge improvement: older age, female gender, higher screen exposure, having at least one employed parent, and lower pre-intervention test scores. The intervention was positively evaluated, with high levels of satisfaction, clarity, and perceived usefulness. Conclusions: Nevertheless, the persistent gap between knowledge and behavior underscores the need to integrate motivational and environmental components, gender-sensitive approaches, and longitudinal evaluations to foster sustainable, healthy choices and contribute to NCD prevention. Full article

Background: Adequate nutrition during young adulthood is essential for health promotion, optimal physiological function, and the prevention of non-communicable diseases. However, evidence describing both nutrient adequacy and compliance with dietary recommendations in well-characterized samples of young adults remains limited. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe macronutrient and micronutrient adequacy and to quantify compliance with current dietary recommendations in young adults using an individualized energy-adjusted nutrient adequacy approach (NARm), and to explore sex differences to identify priority targets to inform tailored health promotion and public health nutrition strategies. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 74 young adults aged 18–45 years participating in the NutAF project. Dietary intake was assessed using a 5-day dietary record, including three weekdays and two weekend days. Modified nutrient adequacy ratios (NARm), adjusted according to individualized total daily energy expenditure, were calculated for macronutrients and micronutrients. The prevalence of compliance with current dietary recommendations was also determined. Differences between men and women were analyzed using independent samples t-tests. Results: Protein and total lipid intake levels exceeded recommended values in most participants, whereas carbohydrate adequacy was below recommendations. Regarding micronutrients, adequate intake was observed for several nutrients; however, low adequacy and low compliance rates were identified for calcium, folate, vitamin D, and omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. No participants met the recommendations for vitamin D. No significant sex differences were observed for most nutrients. Conclusions: Despite intake levels above recommendations for some macronutrients, young adults included in this study exhibited inadequate intake and low compliance with current dietary recommendations for several key nutrients. No relevant sex differences were observed for most nutrients. These findings, obtained using an individualized energy-adjusted nutrient adequacy approach (NARm), underscore the need for targeted nutritional strategies, including nutrition education and micronutrient-focused interventions, aimed at improving dietary adequacy and supporting health promotion in this population. Full article

Climate change represents one of the defining global health challenges of the 21st century, with far-reaching implications for population health, health systems, and health equity. The acceleration of environmental change, evidenced by record-breaking global temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecological degradation, poses a direct threat to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. This manuscript presents a narrative review and policy analysis of the intersection of climate change and global public health in light of the outcomes of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, major institutional reports, and relevant policy documents, we explore how climate change exacerbates communicable and non-communicable diseases, undermines health system resilience, and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations worldwide. Particular attention is given to heat-related morbidity, infectious disease expansion, air pollution, food and water insecurity, displacement, gender inequities, antimicrobial resistance, and mental health impacts. The paper highlights the significance of the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP), which is treated here as a COP30-associated action framework that places health more centrally within climate policy discussions. However, major challenges remain, including its voluntary orientation, the absence of dedicated financing mechanisms within the framework itself, and limited clarity on accountability arrangements, as identified through our synthesis of the available policy and evidence base. We argue that achieving SDG 3 is no longer feasible without integrating climate adaptation and mitigation into health systems and policies, and that progress will depend on translating global commitments into context-specific country strategies, governance arrangements, and implementation pathways. Full article

Background/Objectives: In Saudi Arabia, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are an increasing public health concern, with almost 70% of deaths related to chronic diseases. The study aimed to analyze 33-year trends in NCD risk factors and apply machine learning (ML) models to identify ecological associates of premature NCD-related mortality, sex-specific analyses and project trajectories to 2030. Methods: A longitudinal ecological time-series design which used WHO Global Health Observatory (GHO) NCD Indicators (1990–2022; select lipid indicators from 1980). Five supervised regression ML models—OLS, LASSO, Ridge, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting—were trained with TimeSeriesSplit cross-validation (five folds) to preserve temporal order and prevent data leakage. A formal PELT changepoint algorithm confirmed trend breakpoints. Linear projections to 2030 were estimated with 95% prediction intervals. Results: Adult obesity increased by +20.6 percentage points (pp) over 33 years. Under a no-policy-change scenario, female obesity is projected at 50.3% by 2030 (95% PI: 50.0–50.5%). Premature NCD mortality declined by −5.9 pp. Under TimeSeriesSplit CV, all models yielded negative R², confirming LOOCV R² = 0.98 reflected shared time-trend artefacts; the ML component is reframed as descriptive feature-importance analysis. The obesity sex gap (female minus male) was the strongest ecological associate of premature NCD mortality. Diabetes treatment coverage showed a strong inverse ecological association (r = −0.913). Conclusions: NCD risk factors in Saudi Arabia are evolving in complex ways. Targeted interventions addressing sex-specific disparities and healthcare system performance are urgently needed to meet national and global NCD targets. Full article

The HORUS project investigates the interface between urban planning and public health, focusing on the reduction in non-communicable diseases through innovative urban planning and technological integration. Using geographic information systems, the project will develop advanced urban mapping and analysis tools to visualize and tackle health inequalities. The participatory approach of technologies will actively engage communities and empower citizens to shape a healthier urban environment. Through multidimensional methodology, including qualitative research and natural experiments, HORUS will align urban planning with public health needs. The project will target modifiable risk factors (physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and substance use) and will promote behavior change and environmental redesign to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. The integration of digital technologies will not only improve the assessment of urban health but also facilitate evidence-based interventions tailored to vulnerable populations. HORUS will provide practical applications for policy makers and urban planners by providing actionable frameworks for incorporating health-promoting features into urban design. This holistic approach will help create resilient cities that prioritize public health and shape the future urban environment. The project is an example of the transformative potential of aligning technology, policy and community engagement to effectively address the challenges of urbanization, and non-communicable diseases. Full article

Emerging research highlights the complex interplay between the gut microbiome, skin health, and environmental exposures, forming what is now recognized as the gut–skin–exposome axis. This narrative review explores the role of gut microbiome dysbiosis—a disruption in the balance of intestinal microorganisms—in the pathogenesis and progression of various non-communicable inflammatory skin diseases, including acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic spontaneous urticaria, hidradenitis suppurativa, and alopecia areata. This review synthesizes mechanistic studies, clinical trials, and Mendelian randomization data to elucidate how altered gut microbial composition contributes to systemic and cutaneous inflammation. Key modifiable factors, such as diet, antibiotics, stress, and sleep, as well as interventions like probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, are discussed for their potential therapeutic value. By integrating clinical insights with microbiome science, this review underscores the importance of a holistic, systems-based approach in managing inflammatory skin diseases, offering clinicians evidence-based strategies to improve patient outcomes through gut microbiome modulation. Full article

Between 2020 and 2025, Europe has faced multiple interacting public health threats shaped by and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside COVID-19, the region experienced other infectious disease events, including monkeypox, measles resurgence, legionellosis and acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children. At the same time, non-communicable disease burdens, including obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, disruption of chronic disease care, mental health disorders and increased problematic digital use, intensified during and after the pandemic period. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remained a major cross-cutting threat because it undermines the effective treatment of infections and weakens emergency preparedness. This narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed articles and selected reports from international organizations for the 2020–2025 period, using COVID-19 as the organizing context for examining interconnected infectious, chronic and system-level threats. Across these topics, recurring themes included vaccination gaps, fragmented surveillance, disruption of routine care, health system inequities, misinformation and insufficient preparedness for cross-border threats. The review supports integrated surveillance, continuity plans for essential services, stronger vaccination and risk-communication strategies and sustained AMR stewardship within a One Health framework. Coordinated action across public health, primary care, mental health and chronic disease policy is essential for future resilience. Full article

Over the past decade, Portugal has increasingly focused on public policies that promote healthy eating, driven by growing concerns about the population’s health and its social, economic, and political effects. These policies aim to reduce unhealthy eating habits, which are major risk factors for disease, and to reduce the overall disease burden. Tax measures are specifically intended to curb the consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats to prevent chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This article analyzes the measures adopted in Portugal to reduce sugar consumption and examines their effects on tax revenue and consumption volume. Using document analysis, the results indicate a decrease of 3853 tons in sugar consumption and tax revenue of 432 million euros from taxing sugary drinks and sweeteners since 2017. Although significant progress has been made, including product reformulation to reduce sugar content, challenges remain. It is essential to continue and expand these policies to other products, along with ongoing impact assessments, to foster a healthier future in line with the World Health Organization’s guidelines for 2030. Full article

Family medicine has attracted increasing policy and institutional support across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries through health system reform, expansion of the healthcare workforce, and sustained public investment. Nevertheless, important challenges continue to affect the strength of primary healthcare systems, access to care, and the management of non-communicable diseases. The aim of the narrative review is to identify future trends, directions, perspectives, and opportunities that can strengthen implementation of family medicine across GCC countries and improve healthcare delivery. This review is based on a structured search of major databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The focus was evaluation of literature associated with family medicine and primary healthcare development in GCC countries. Regional priorities now include improving medical education and training, expanding the family medicine workforce, strengthening links with communities, promoting more equitable access to healthcare, and managing treatment costs through workforce development and digital health initiatives. Family medicine practice across the GCC is being supported increasingly by electronic health records, telemedicine, and interprofessional education. Policy directions in the region also suggest growing interest in value-based research, international collaboration, multidisciplinary care, and innovation in healthcare delivery. The future of development of family medicine in the GCC will depend on better integration of digital health, more effective use of data in planning and policy, continued investment in training, and broader adoption of patient-centred models of care. In general, strengthening family medicine through sustained investment in workforce development, primary healthcare infrastructure, research capacity, and digital health integration is essential for achieving resilient, equitable, and patient-centered healthcare systems across the GCC. Full article