Search Results (6,017)

Adipose tissue is characterized by specialized lipid handling cells called adipocytes, which function as the primary energy reservoir. Like many other cell types, adipocytes have highly plastic properties, such as the conversion of white adipocytes into brown or beige adipocytes, which produce heat, and pink adipocytes into mammary cells synthesizing and secreting milk. Highly specialized adipose tissue depots are present in various species, such as male orangutans with prominent fat-filled facial flanges indicating hierarchical status, or cetaceans with the melon, a specialized adipose tissue for echolocation. Adipose tissue is now considered a true endocrine organ that regulates various physiological mechanisms through the hormonal secretion of adipokines, which modulate systemic metabolism and physiological processes. In particular, the role of adipokines in the control of the reproductive axis and their participation in the regulation of fertility have been widely reported. This review summarizes the current state of research on the effects of adipose-specific cytokines on the male and female reproductive systems. Full article

Leadership, organizational culture, and their effects on employee attitudes are key focuses in organizational behavior studies. In this research, there were two main aims: first, to explore how organizational trust influences the relationship between leadership styles and organizational culture, and second, to clarify the mediating role of organizational culture in the link between leadership styles and affective occupational commitment among academics in Istanbul, Türkiye. Participants were selected from various states and private universities using convenience sampling. A cross-sectional survey involving quantitative methods were used to examine the relationships between key variables. The data was collected from 352 respondents. Effective leaders build trust and adapt organizational culture, which fosters employee commitment to their roles. Despite the relevant theoretical framework, there is a strong and positive link between trust in organization, leadership, and organizational culture, so the hypothesized moderating role of trust in organization was rejected. In contrast, the findings confirm the mediating role of organizational culture in the connection between leadership styles and affective occupational commitment. Moreover, another significant research finding was that leadership styles are effective when an organization has a supportive and innovative culture. Most academics expressed dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of leadership and their work environment, indicating challenges in promoting a positive culture. This study clarifies the dimensions of leadership styles, organizational trust, culture, and emotional commitment, thereby contributing to the literature concerning these areas. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent pelvic floor disorder affecting a large proportion of parous and aging women worldwide. While surgical intervention is generally reserved for advanced prolapse, conservative approaches remain essential for the management of early-stage disease. Flat magnetic stimulation (FMS), a novel non-invasive modality, has shown promising results in pelvic floor rehabilitation for urinary incontinence, but its role in prolapse treatment remains insufficiently investigated. This study aimed to evaluate anatomical and patient-reported outcomes in women with mild POP undergoing FMS therapy. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included 87 women with stage ≤ 2 POP, classified according to the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system. Participants underwent eight FMS sessions, each lasting 25 min, over four weeks using the Dr. Arnold device (DEKA, Calenzano, Italy). Pre- and post-treatment evaluations included standardized POP-Q measurements and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in the anterior vaginal compartment, with mean Aa values improving from −0.3 ± 1.2 to −0.7 ± 1.3 (mean difference −0.4 cm; 95% CI −0.8 to −0.03; p = 0.03; Cohen’s d = 0.31) and mean Ba values from −0.3 ± 1.3 to −0.7 ± 1.3 (mean difference −0.4 cm; 95% CI −0.8 to −0.02; p = 0.04; Cohen’s d = 0.30). No significant changes were found at other POP-Q landmarks. According to PGI-I results, 90.8% of participants reported symptom improvements, and 37.9% described their condition as “very much improved” or “much improved.” No adverse events occurred, and treatment compliance was 100%. Conclusions: FMS seems to be a safe, well-tolerated, and potentially effective conservative therapy strategy for mild POP, offering both objective anatomical benefits and high subjective satisfaction. Further randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are required to validate these findings and clarify the long-term role of FMS in the management of pelvic floor dysfunction. Full article

Background/Objectives: Paediatricians’ recommendations influence parental decisions to vaccinate their children. On 19 January 2022, the World Health Organization authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) under Emergency Use Listing for children under 12 years as a measure to mitigate disease spread and direct protection for children with underlying conditions. We assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Palestinian paediatricians regarding COVID-19 vaccination for children under 12 years and identified factors affecting support for vaccination. Methods: From 1 October to 8 November 2023, we surveyed paediatricians across the West Bank using structured telephone interviews. We collected data on sociodemographic characteristics and KAP regarding COVID-19 vaccination and calculated KAP scores from eight, nine, and nine items, respectively, with total scores categorized as poor/moderate/good. We performed bivariable and multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with paediatricians supporting COVID-19 vaccination for children under 12 years. Results: Of the 367 eligible paediatricians, 323 (88%) responded; the median age was 51 years (range: 28–70); 27% supported COVID-19 vaccination for children. Mean scores for knowledge (range 0–8), attitude (0–9), and practice (0–9) were 3.0 ± 2.1, 3.9 ± 2.4, and 4.0 ± 1.7, respectively. The mean overall KAP score (0–26) was 11 ± 4.8. Safety and efficacy concerns and lack of long-term data were the main reasons for hesitancy. Higher knowledge scores (PR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3–2.5, p = 0.001) and positive attitudes (PR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with paediatricians’ support for vaccination. After adjustment for other factors, participants with regular continuing medical education attendance (aPR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0–2.6, p = 0.045), trusting WHO recommendations (aPR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.4–7.8, p = 0.047), having a positive attitude score (aPR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.4–4.4, p = 0.041), and a good total KAP score (aPR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0–1.2, p = 0.044) supported COVID-19 vaccination for children. Conclusions: Support for COVID-19 vaccination among Palestinian paediatricians was low, associated with their knowledge, attitudes, and trust in health authorities. The revised WHO recommendations from 10 November 2023, decreasing the priority of vaccinating healthy children, could influence the opinion of paediatricians. However, the low support for COVID-19 vaccinations could affect the performance of other vaccination programmes and should be carefully addressed through targeted education. Full article

Background: The Canadian HIV Cure Enterprise (CanCURE) is a pan-Canadian research collaboratory, investigating approaches for achieving sustainable HIV remission. In preparation for the next research cycle, CanCURE researchers and the Community Advisory Board (CAB) co-designed a web-based survey to identify HIV research priorities from the perspective of people with HIV (PWH) in Canada. The current study examined gender-based differences in these priorities. Methods: From August to December 2024, we recruited PWH across Canada through community organizations and community members. We collected data using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. The survey included 36 demographic questions, 16 questions related to general knowledge about HIV and HIV cure-related concepts, and 21 questions ranking research priorities. Knowledge questions were multiple choice, while priorities could be ranked on a scale. We summarized participant characteristics via descriptive statistics, and the research priorities were further stratified according to gender. Results: Of 109 participants, 48.6% self-identified as men, 46.8% as women, and 4.6% as two-spirit, non-binary, agender, or other. The median age was 53 years old. Approximately one-third of participants had lived with HIV for ≤14 years, one-third for 15–24 years, and one-third for ≥25 years. Overall, the median knowledge score of respondents was 79%. Among the 78 participants with prior HIV research experience, three times as many men (61.1%) as women (19.0%) participated in interventional studies involving medication or medical procedures. Men ranked preventing HIV transmission to partners as a priority, studying where the virus hides as the second, and avoiding high comorbidity risks as the third. In contrast, women ranked not having to take pills daily as a priority and avoiding higher risks for comorbidities as the second priority. Both genders equally valued expanding community involvement in HIV cure research. However, men focused more on integrating social and behavioural research, while women emphasized the need for diverse ethnic representation in research. Conclusions: Although both men and women share some common priorities regarding HIV cure research, there are notable gender differences in their specific concerns. Furthermore, a significant gender gap in participation in interventional studies, essential for advancing HIV cure research, highlights the importance of aligning research priorities with concerns of both genders. Full article

A concurrent mixed-methods study was conducted to examine the factors influencing COVID-19 prevention and control behaviors and to describe the management model implemented in Mae Sai District, a Thai–Myanmar border community, from June 2022 to May 2023. Mae Sai reported 21,890 confirmed cases and 12 deaths during the pandemic, underscoring the severity of the outbreak and the need for an effective local management model. Quantitative results indicated that attitudes, social support, participation, and service accessibility significantly influenced preventive behaviors among the general public. Among volunteers, perception and attitude were also significant, whereas only social support and participation were influential among government officials. The management model identified in this study demonstrated effectiveness through its coordinated multisectoral operations, high community compliance, and rapid cross-border communication. The model consisted of five components: emergency preparedness drills, organizational management through district and subdistrict disease control centers, a unified incident command system led by the district chief, coordinated domestic and international operations, and enforcement of control measures at formal checkpoints, natural crossings, and within communities. Successful implementation depended on strong collaboration among government agencies, volunteers, private organizations, local communities, and partners in Myanmar. This framework may serve as a practical guideline for managing other communicable diseases and enhancing preparedness for future health threats. Full article

Purpose: This paper takes an original approach to the topic of social entrepreneurship. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze social entrepreneurship capital resources in rural areas based on farms located in rural areas of the Silesian Voivodeship (region in Poland). The research presented in this paper covers the characteristics of local change leaders in the context of building a sustainable foundation for the development of pro-social and economic activities. Methodology: The first stage of this project, a literature review, involved identifying the social entrepreneurship environment in rural areas. The second stage of this research involved an analysis of the initiative potential of change leaders. The empirical research used a survey method, in-depth interviews, and participant observation. Findings and implications: The most important findings of this research concern the possibilities for the development of social entrepreneurship in rural areas with the participation of local change leaders (agents). This article analyzes the characteristics of the initiative potential of change leaders in the context of their role as animators of social life and creators of sustainable mechanisms for implementing innovative social practices. The conclusions formulated in this article are of an applied nature. This paper highlights the need to create a system of real support through the effective activation of organizations operating in rural areas, strengthening the role of change leaders as animators of local life, local partnerships and equal opportunities. Full article

As one of the biggest challenges for healthcare in the 21st century, COVID-19 placed a sustained and intense demand on the European Medicines Agency’s resources and required constant adaptation and mobilization of different regulatory processes. In this situation, drug repurposing appeared as a promising potential approach in quickly emerging health crises due to its main advantage of reducing the time and cost for addition of new indications since it uses products proven to be of high quality, safe, and effective. We performed an analysis of European Public Assessment Reports for medicinal products authorized for the SARS-CoV-2 infection by the European Medicines Agency, showing a total of eight products with this indication, three (37.5%) of which used repurposing as a mechanism for development (remdesivir, tocilizumab, and anakinra). The application of this mechanism by these medicines highlights the importance of the life cycle stage at which repositioning is undertaken, which resulted in different volumes of data submitted in the respective European Public Assessment Reports. The participation of organizations other than the marketing authorization holder in key stages in the drug development process of repurposed products was once again confirmed, which emphasizes the need to regulate this interaction. Full article

Reactive iron is a key driver of organic carbon preservation in marine sediments, but its participation in organic carbon remineralization complicates efforts to mechanistically constrain its role in preservation. To address this, we investigated the dual role of iron in the Mississippi River-influenced shelf sediment during low discharge (August 2016) and high discharge (May 2017). Duplicate sediment cores (30 cm depth) were collected from two stations; one core served as a natural reference, while the other was used for an incubation experiment. In the natural cores, reactive iron concentrations in the upper 9 cm were lower in August 2016 than in May 2017, whereas iron-bound organic carbon exhibited the opposite temporal pattern. Post incubation, approximately 10% of iron-bound organic carbon was lost at the offshore stations compared to a substantially greater loss (~59%) at the near-shore station. These results suggest that offshore regions may sustain more efficient organic carbon preservation via reactive iron, whereas the mechanism is considerably less effective in near-shore settings. Such spatial heterogeneity introduces significant uncertainty into current assessments of iron-mediated long-term organic carbon preservation on a global scale and underscores the need for more comprehensive investigations of iron–organic carbon interactions in continental shelve sediments. Full article

The urban–rural relationships in China are experiencing a dual structure period, balancing an urban–rural development period and coordinated urban–rural development period, and urban–rural integrated development has become the current strategy. Urban–rural integrated development has become an important measure to address the unbalanced development between urban and rural areas. Despite proactive explorations by governments at various levels to promote integrated urban–rural development, the anticipated outcomes remain difficult to achieve due to multiple constraints, such as inefficient flow of production factors and unequal provision of basic public services between urban and rural areas. There is an urgent need to re-examine how to advance deeper urban–rural integration from the perspective of collaborative governance. Taking the Yangtze River Delta region as a case study, this research reviews related policy documents, official texts, and development plans regarding urban–rural integrated development, social (urban–rural community) collaborative governance, and urban development at the central and regional levels in recent years. Meanwhile, this study interviews experts in the field of public administration and government officials, and visits the experimental area and demonstration area of integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta region. Through grounded theory method and multi-level coding, concepts, initial categories, main categories are clear, and six core categories in total are identified: policy planning capability, public participation, participation of non-governmental organization, openness of government information, supervision and evaluation, and implementation capacity. This bottom-up construction of the theoretical framework serves as an extension and enrichment of collaborative governance theory. Based on the six core elements identified through the research, the Yangtze River Delta region may implement targeted policy adjustments across these dimensions to enhance the effectiveness of collaborative governance, and it may provide referential insights for urban–rural development practices in other regions. Full article

Background: Falls are a major cause of injury, functional decline, and reduced quality of life among older adults, posing a significant public health challenge. Social prescribing is gaining relevance in gerontology, offering structured strategies to engage individuals in preventive activities, including fall prevention strategies, through engagement in community-based activities. Aim: To examine older adults’ perception of the relevance of personal protection and development activities (e.g., prevention against falling) and compare sociodemographic, behavioural, and engagement profiles between those who agree and those who disagree with its relevance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 613 older adults aged 65–93 years. Data collection included sociodemographic, health-related, and behavioural/social engagement variables (including perceptions regarding the benefits of social prescribing and interest in community-based activities). For this analysis, participants were dichotomized based on their agreement with the relevance of personal protection and development activities (e.g., prevention against falling). Of the 569 participants included, 538 (94.5%) agreed with its relevance and 31 (5.5%) disagreed. Descriptive and exploratory analyses were conducted to compare the two groups across variables. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore independent predictors of agreement across sociodemographic, behavioural, social prescribing, and health-related variables. Results: Significant differences were observed between the groups in awareness of active ageing (p = 0.018), volunteering (p < 0.001), participation in social and community activities (p < 0.001), and hobbies like gardening, fishing, or cooking (p = 0.002). Those who agreed with the importance of personal protection and development activities were significantly more likely to value a range of initiatives, including social activities in recreational organizations, physical activity in the community (e.g., hiking), artistic and creative activities (e.g., visual arts, music), technical or technological activities (e.g., do-it-yourself, computers), and cultural enrichment activities (e.g., visiting museums), (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed no effects of sociodemographic or health-related factors, whereas behavioural and engagement-related variables—including volunteering, hobbies, and several social prescribing activities—significantly predicted agreement with the relevance of personal protection and development activities. Discussion: The findings suggest that older adults who perceive fall prevention as relevant are more actively engaged in diverse health-promoting activities, including volunteering, hobbies, and community-based programmes. This pattern may reflect higher health literacy, stronger social networks, and proactive attitudes towards ageing. Conclusions: Perceptions of fall prevention are closely linked to broader patterns of engagement in health-promoting activities among older adults. Recognizing and addressing differences in how these activities are valued can inform more inclusive and targeted gerontological interventions. Full article

In this study, an efficient and regioselective synthetic method was developed for the preparation of 3-hydroxy-3-((2-(naphthalen-2-yloxy)-2-oxoethoxy)carbonyl)pentanedioic acid, a multifunctional ether–ester compound of potential interest for pharmaceutical and material science applications. The target compound was synthesized via the nucleophilic substitution (SN2) and esterification reactions of 2-naphthyl chloroacetate with the monosodium salt of citric acid. Optimization of the reaction conditions was carried out by varying the molar ratio of the reagents, reaction temperature, and duration. The highest yield of 83% was achieved under the conditions of a 2:1 molar ratio of chloroacetate to citrate, a temperature of 70–80 °C, and a reaction time of 6 h. The enhanced product yield observed under these conditions is attributed to the dual reactivity of the citric acid monosodium salt, which contains a free hydroxyl group capable of undergoing SN2 etherification, and free carboxylic acid groups that participate in esterification with the electrophilic 2-naphthyl chloroacetate. The stoichiometric 2:1 ratio ensures that both reactive centers on the citrate anion are fully utilized, leading to efficient and selective transformation into the desired product. Mechanistically, the ether bond formation proceeds through the classical Williamson ether synthesis pathway, where the alkoxide formed from the hydroxyl group attacks the electrophilic carbon of the chloroacetate, displacing the chloride ion. Concurrently, esterification enhances molecular complexity and stability. The results underline the synthetic utility of citric acid derivatives in forming complex organic architectures via environmentally benign routes. This study not only contributes a practical approach to multifunctional molecule synthesis but also reinforces the applicability of green chemistry principles in ester–ether coupling strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Special diets can be required for medical, religious, cultural, or ethical purposes. This study examined the relationship between the organization of school nutrition and the availability of special diet meals among students in public primary and secondary schools in Kraków (Poland). Methods: An observational study was conducted in 2022 using a web-based survey targeting managers of primary (n = 68) and secondary schools (n = 18), as well as parents of attending students (n = 1730). Factors associated with providing special diets were analyzed using generalized linear models with robust variance estimators. Results: According to school managers, the availability of special diet meals was associated with employing a dietitian responsible for menu planning, the presence of students with disability certificates, students’ participation in school meal programs, and higher per-child nutrition costs. Based on parental reports, 16.01% of all students followed a special diet, most often due to medical recommendations, with a higher prevalence observed among secondary school students (26.7%). Special diets were reported more frequently for children with food intolerances and allergies, obesity, chronic conditions, or disability certificates. Adjusted models also indicated slightly higher probabilities of being on a special diet among students attending secondary schools or sports classes compared with their peers. Conclusions: Improving the availability of special diet meals in schools requires legislative action, adequate funding, and institutional support, including investments in kitchen infrastructure and the employment of dietitians. These measures are particularly important in institutions enrolling children with disabilities to ensure equitable access to appropriate nutrition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Non-receptive endometrium is associated with recurrent implantation failure, which leads to a decrease in the frequency of pregnancy during IVF; therefore, new treatment methods such as the use of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) are gaining popularity in the treatment of infertility in women with repeated unsuccessful IVF attempts. Methods: A total of 38 women were included in this study, with the main complaint being the inability to conceive or maintain pregnancy. Medical examination, laboratory tests, ultrasound of the pelvic organs and hysteroscopy were performed. After that, whole blood was taken to prepare an autologous PRP; then, the PRP was inserted into the uterine using an intrauterine catheter in the first phase of the menstrual cycle (1–7 procedures). The primary outcome of this study was an increase in endometrial thickness and improvement of the receptive endometrial layer. The secondary outcome was pregnancy rate. This was a single-center prospective interventional clinical study. Results: Statistical analysis of changes in endometrial thickness after PRP therapy showed that endometrial thickness indicators after treatment significantly exceeded the values before the intervention. This may be evidence of the effectiveness of PRP therapy for thin endometrium. When analyzing pregnancy status, it was noted that after receiving PRP, more than half (56% of cases) became pregnant and the majority of them successfully gave birth. Conclusions: Based on the results of our study, we can conclude that intrauterine injection of PRP may be a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of thin endometrium and associated infertility. The use of PRP demonstrated effectiveness in increasing the thickness of the endometrium, regardless of pregnancy, while the secondary indicator was the frequency of successful pregnancies among the participants. Full article

Protein and nucleic acid play central roles in biology and pharmaceuticals. Both share a similar architecture made of a backbone and side chains. Protein has a peptide backbone and various side chains, whereas nucleic acid has a phosphate backbone and aromatic side chains. However, they are significantly different in the chemical properties of the backbone and side chains. The protein backbone is uncharged, while nucleic acid backbone is negatively charged. The protein side chains comprise widely different chemical properties. On the other hand, the nucleic acid side chains comprise a uniform chemical property of aromatic bases. Such differences lead to fundamentally different folding, molecular interactions and co-solvent interactions, which are the focus of this review. In regular protein secondary structures, the peptide groups form polar hydrogen bonds, making the interior hydrophilic. The side chains of different chemical properties are exposed on the outside of the protein secondary structures and participate in molecular and co-solvent interactions. On the other hand, hydrophobic/aromatic nucleobase side chains are located inside the typical double helix or quadruplex structures. The charged phosphate groups of the nucleic acid backbone are located outside, participating in electrostatic interactions. The nucleobases are also involved in molecular interactions, when exposed in breaks, hairpins, kinks and loops. These structural differences between protein and nucleic acid confer different interactions with commonly used co-solvents, such as denaturants, organic solvents and polymers. Full article