Search Results (5,573)

Diet quality, nutrition knowledge, and psychosomatic literacy—defined as the understanding of the interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and mental well-being—may shape weight-related behaviours in youth. This study used a cross-sectional design to integrate these domains with digital information pathways in Central–Eastern Europe. This study assessed diet quality, nutrition, and psychosomatic knowledge, supplement use, and health-information sources among Polish adolescents and young adults, with emphasis on age-related differences and the role of social media. A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey (October 2025–January 2026) was conducted in Poland (final analytical sample: n = 478; adolescents 15–19 years vs. young adults 20–30 years). Of 591 individuals who accessed the survey, 478 were included in the final analytical sample. Diet quality was estimated from FFQ data using KomPAN-derived indices (pHDI-10, nHDI-14, DQI). Nutrition knowledge (0–25 points), psychosomatic/gut–brain indicators, supplementation, and information sources were analysed using χ²/Fisher tests and Mann–Whitney U tests with effect sizes. The primary outcomes measured were dietary supplement use and excess body weight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²). Multivariable logistic regression examined predictors of supplement use and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Overall diet quality was low to moderate, with limited intake of whole grains, legumes, and fish, and common nutrition misconceptions. Social media was the most frequently indicated source of diet/supplement information and was independently associated with more frequent supplement use (OR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.43–3.64). Adolescents reported lower whole-grain intake and more misconceptions than young adults. Predictors of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² included male sex (OR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.46–4.15), lower education, and lower nutrition knowledge, while age showed a non-linear positive association with excess body weight. Polish adolescents and young adults show gaps between declared pro-health attitudes and actual diet quality/competencies. Social media reliance appears particularly linked to product-oriented behaviours (supplementation). Prevention should strengthen nutrition and food safety education, digital health literacy, and professional guidance on supplementation, especially in adolescents. Our findings suggest that social media is a primary driver for dietary supplementation among Polish youth, more so than objective nutrition knowledge. While diet quality is linked to weight status, the relationship is complex. These results may inform future public health interventions targeting digital health literacy to promote balanced nutrition and safe supplementation practices. Full article

Variations in the particle size of cereal flour could influence its techno-functional properties and affect the quality of the end products. In this study, common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) seeds were milled and then sieved into five fractions (≥200, 150–200, 100–150, 80–100, and 60–80 mesh). Proximate analysis showed that the protein and ash contents of buckwheat flour decreased with decreased particle size, whereas the starch content increased. Reducing the particle size did not change the A-type crystalline structure and the short-range ordered structure of buckwheat starch, whereas the buckwheat batter flowability, foaming properties and foam stability of the batter supernatant increased. The steamed buckwheat cakes made from ≥100-mesh flour showed a desirable appearance, cross-sectional structure, color, flavor, and texture. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the starch content and relative crystallinity of buckwheat flour were significantly positively correlated with its pasting parameters and the textural properties (springiness, cohesiveness, resilience) and overall acceptability of steamed buckwheat cake, whereas the protein, lipid, and β-sheet content of buckwheat flour showed the opposite trend. This study demonstrated that differential sieving caused a difference in particle size and chemical composition, which were key variables governing the processing performance of buckwheat flour and important to the quality of its end products. Full article

The global rise in obesity and metabolic disorders has intensified interest in dietary bioactives capable of improving glycemic control and metabolic health. Inositols, particularly D-pinitol, have emerged as insulin-sensitizing cyclitols with potential metabolic relevance. Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.), one of the richest natural sources of D-pinitol, represents a promising nutritional matrix for metabolic regulation. This narrative review critically evaluates current evidence on the role of D-pinitol in glucose homeostasis and energy balance, integrating data from chemical characterization studies, mechanistic research, preclinical models, and human clinical trials assessing purified D-pinitol and D-pinitol–rich preparations, particularly from carob-derived sources. Available evidence suggests that D-pinitol may enhance insulin signaling efficiency, primarily through PI3K/Akt-dependent pathways, modulate hepatic metabolic flexibility, and influence endocrine balance without acting as a classical hypoglycemic agent. Preclinical models consistently report improvements in insulin sensitivity, lipid handling, oxidative stress parameters, and tissue-specific metabolic adaptations. In contrast, clinical trials in healthy, prediabetic, and type 2 diabetic individuals show more heterogeneous outcomes, including attenuation of postprandial glycemia, reductions in circulating insulin and HOMA-IR, and modest improvements in lipid and inflammatory markers. Overall, carob-derived D-pinitol appears to act as a potential insulin-sensitizing metabolic modulator with context-dependent effects influenced by metabolic phenotype and food matrix composition. However, available data remains limited and heterogeneous, with most data derived from preclinical studies and relatively small clinical trials. These findings should therefore be interpreted with caution. Larger, longer-term randomized controlled trials using standardized preparations are required to establish clinical relevance and translational applicability. Notably, the contribution of other bioactive components within the carob matrix cannot be excluded. Full article

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) levels of calf starter and weaning time on growth, rumen fermentation characteristics, serum metabolites, and rumen microbial diversity of Holstein calves. A total of 24 newly born male Holstein calves were randomly distributed to four groups in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of NDF levels (14% and 24%) and weaning time (d 44 and d 54). There was no interaction between starter NDF levels and weaning time for any trait except rumen acetic acid in the immediate post-weaning phase (p = 0.013). Starter NDF levels had no effect on growth, feed intake, and hay intake. Late-weaned calves had greater (p = 0.050) weight gain in the pre-weaning phase whereas, early-weaned calves showed greater weight gain (p = 0.004) and starter intake (p = 0.004) in the post-weaning phase although overall weight gain, and starter and hay intakes were not affected by weaning time. Rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, and most volatile fatty acids remained unaffected by starter NDF levels and weaning except isobutyric acid which was greater in calves fed 24% NDF starter (p = 0.001) in the immediate post-weaning and isovaleric acid which was greater in early-weaned calves (p = 0.044) at the end of experiment. Serum metabolites were largely affected (p < 0.05) by starter NDF levels and weaning time in the pre-weaning phase only. Alpha diversity of rumen microbes was greater and chaotic in 14% NDF starter group (early- and late-weaned) in the pre-weaning phase which converged in the immediate post-weaning phase and diverged on starter NDF basis at the end of experiment. Microbial ecology at phylum and genus levels composition were greatly driven by starter NDF levels in the pre-weaning phase, by weaning time in the immediate post-weaning phase, and two distinct bifurcated microbial ecologies based on starter NDF levels appeared at the end of experiment. In conclusion, the comparable growth with distinct microbial diversity but largely in favor of 24% NDF starter suggests that calves can be subjected to early weaning with 24% starter NDF levels for smooth transition from liquid to solid feed in Holstein calves. Full article

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) represent a heterogeneous tumor entity with a steadily rising incidence, mainly due to advances in imaging and growing diagnostic awareness. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the mesopancreas (MP) has been identified as a frequent site of microscopic tumor spread and a key determinant of circumferential resection margin (CRM) status, leading to the concept of standardized mesopancreatic excision (MPE). While its oncological relevance in PDAC is increasingly recognized, the role of the mesopancreas in PanNENs remains unclear. This study aimed to systematically evaluate mesopancreatic infiltration in PanNENs and to identify associated clinicopathological predictors. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing oncological pancreatoduodenectomy, spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy, or distal splenopancreatectomy for PanNENs and PanNECs were included. The mesopancreas was histopathologically examined for tumor infiltration within CRM assessment. Results: MP infiltration was detected in 60% of patients. It was associated with higher Ki-67 index, larger tumor size, lymph node involvement, venous invasion, and positive CRM status. A Ki-67 index ≥ 5% and tumor size ≥ 21.5 mm were identified as predictors of MP infiltration. Higher T stage predicted reduced overall survival (OS), whereas MP infiltration, lymphatic (L1) and venous (V1) invasion, and Ki-67 ≥ 5% were associated with impaired disease-free survival (DFS). Conclusion: Mesopancreatic infiltration is frequently present in PanNENs and correlates with aggressive tumor characteristics. Given its association with CRM positivity and reduced DFS, consideration of the mesopancreas in staging and surgical strategies appears oncologically justified. Larger studies are required to validate these findings. Full article

Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a non-pharmacological intervention for managing pain and anxiety during medical procedures. This study presents a systematic review with complementary bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on the clinical effectiveness of VR in healthcare settings. A structured search was conducted across five databases (Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE), identifying 627 records, of which 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted on study design, population, type of intervention, and clinical outcomes related to pain and anxiety. Most included studies reported reductions in perceived pain and/or anxiety when VR was used as an adjunctive intervention, particularly in pediatric and procedural contexts. However, findings were heterogeneous in terms of study design, VR modalities, and outcome measures, limiting quantitative synthesis. The bibliometric analysis indicates growing research interest, with a strong focus on clinical outcomes, while evidence related to implementation and healthcare system integration remains limited. Overall, VR appears to be a promising complementary tool for improving patient experience during medical procedures. However, further high-quality studies with standardized methodologies are needed to establish its effectiveness and facilitate future meta-analyses. Full article

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising regenerative treatments for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), but their comparative efficacy is unclear. This systematic review and indirect meta-analysis, conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS framework, evaluated their effects on pain, function, and safety. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched, yielding 1694 records, of which 21 studies (nine randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and 12 prospective studies) were included. Data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, and risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined pain and disability at 6 and 12 months using a random-effects model. Indirect comparisons were performed using the Bucher method. Qualitative synthesis showed that PRP consistently reduced pain (often > 50%) and improved function, frequently outperforming corticosteroids. MSCs provided sustained benefits, with follow-up extending up to 72 months in some studies. Quantitative meta-analysis of five RCTs demonstrated that PRP significantly reduced pain at 6 months (mean difference [MD] −16.4 mm) and disability (ODI −12.7), with effects persisting at 12 months in one study. In contrast, MSCs showed a modest but significant reduction in pain (MD −4.3 mm) and minimal functional improvement. Indirect comparisons favored PRP over MSCs at 6 months. Both treatments exhibited favorable safety profiles, with mostly mild and transient adverse events. Overall, PRP appears more effective than MSCs in the short to mid-term, although both therapies are safe. Further high-quality head-to-head RCTs are needed to confirm these findings and define optimal clinical indications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair (F/BEVAR) is increasingly used for the treatment of complex aortic aneurysms, and is traditionally performed under general anesthesia (GA). Data on the use of local anesthesia (LA) for F/BEVAR remain limited. This study aimed to report early outcomes of F/BEVAR performed under LA versus GA, with a focus on feasibility and perioperative complications in a high-risk patient population. Methods: This single-center retrospective analysis included patients undergoing F/BEVAR under LA or GA. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes included early reintervention, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, blood transfusion requirements, and technical success. Results: A total of 359 patients were included, of whom 25 (7.0%) were treated under LA and 334 (93.0%) under GA. Conversion from LA to GA occurred in 6 patients (24%). Patients in the LA group represented a higher-risk cohort, with advanced age, higher ASA class, larger aneurysm diameters, and a greater proportion of emergency and ruptured repairs. Technical success was high, and procedural metrics were within expected ranges. In-hospital mortality was numerically higher in the LA group (12.0% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.05). Overall, in-hospital complications were more frequent in the LA group (68.0% vs. 41.3%, p = 0.009), including a higher rate of spinal cord ischemia (24.0% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.02). Blood transfusion requirements were also greater in patients treated under LA (p = 0.004), while blood loss, ICU stay, and hospital length of stay were comparable. Early reintervention occurred more frequently in the LA group (31.8% vs. 10.4%, p = 0.009). Conclusions: LA appears feasible in selected high-risk patients undergoing complex F/BEVAR. However, given substantial baseline differences between groups, no conclusions can be drawn regarding comparative safety or efficacy relative to GA. These findings should be considered preliminary. Full article

The present study provides a high-frequency empirical assessment of the financial performance, volatility, and market integration of thematic sustainability-oriented equity funds, focusing on clean energy and environmental innovation indices. Specifically, the study compares the financial performance of representative thematic green equity funds, such as ICLN and QCLN, and an emerging-market benchmark (ECON) with conventional developed-market indices (SPY, QQQ, GSPC, and XLE) using daily stock prices from 2010 to 2025. The analysis employs a transparent and replicable framework based on daily logarithmic and cumulative returns and incorporates the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), Sharpe and Sortino ratios, beta estimation, correlation analysis, and maximum drawdown. The research frequency is appropriate for a thorough analysis of short-term market structures and performance. The results indicate that sustainability-oriented equity indices exhibit higher volatility, deeper drawdowns, and greater sensitivity to broad market movements than conventional benchmarks. Sustainability-focused equity indices that emphasize clean energy exhibit higher market sensitivity (betas above 1) and strong correlations with traditional equity indices. Correlation and beta estimates suggest a high degree of integration with traditional equity markets, implying limited diversification benefits within an equity-only framework. Periods of relative outperformance appear to be associated with favorable policy conditions and energy market dynamics, but are not consistently sustained over the sample period. In addition, the overall results suggest that sustainability investments generate substantial environmental and social externalities. Risk-adjusted performance measures suggest weaker historical performance over the sample period relative to conventional benchmarks. These findings should be interpreted as a comparative historical assessment rather than a structural risk model. From a policy perspective, the findings suggest that stable and credible regulatory frameworks, including long-term climate policy support and investment-enabling institutions, may be important for improving the financial resilience and long-term viability of green equity instruments. From a sustainability transition perspective, the observed volatility and market dependence of sustainability-oriented equity indices may constrain their effectiveness as standalone market-based financing mechanisms without complementary institutional and policy support. Full article

Doping remains a major threat to athlete health and sport integrity. Although anti-doping efforts have traditionally focused on athletes, increasing attention has turned to Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) due to their influence on athletes’ decisions, behaviors and involvement in anti-doping rule violations. This narrative review aimed to synthesize the existing literature on the role of ASP (including coaches, physicians, pharmacists, sport psychologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, parents and other family members) in anti-doping, with particular attention to their influence on athletes’ knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, education and decision-making related to doping. Coaches, physicians, and pharmacists are among the ASP groups most frequently examined in the literature, although substantial knowledge gaps remain across all groups. Coaches shape motivational climates and ethical norms but often lack adequate understanding of anti-doping regulations and supplement risks. Physicians and pharmacists play key roles in medication management and Therapeutic Use Exemptions procedures, though incomplete regulatory knowledge may contribute to inadvertent violations. Nutritionists are central in preventing supplement-related doping, while research on sport psychologists and physiotherapists remains limited despite their preventive potential. Parents significantly shape athletes’ moral development and susceptibility to doping, acting as protective or risk factors depending on family dynamics. Overall, anti-doping education for ASP remains inconsistent. In conclusion, ASP plays an essential yet heterogeneous role in influencing doping-related behaviors. Strengthening role-specific and interdisciplinary anti-doping education, particularly within university programs and professional development, appears critical for enhancing ASP competence and promoting a sustainable culture of clean sport. Full article

Background: Health-related behaviors often cluster during young adulthood, potentially increasing the risk of long-term adverse health outcomes. Understanding how lifestyle risk behaviors co-occur among university students is essential for developing targeted health promotion strategies. Objective: This study aimed to identify lifestyle risk profiles among university students based on the co-occurrence of smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and body weight status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 university students enrolled in a physical education and sport undergraduate program (mean age: 20.58 ± 2.94 years; 80.3% male). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF), while smoking and alcohol consumption were self-reported. Body mass index was used to classify weight status. Lifestyle risk profiles were identified using two-step cluster analysis based on regular smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and overweight/obesity. Differences in cluster distribution according to sex and federated athlete status were examined using chi-square tests. A two-step cluster analysis based on the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and silhouette measure was used to identify lifestyle risk profiles. Results: Overall, 46.9% of participants had experimented with tobacco, 11.6% were current smokers, and 74.8% reported alcohol consumption. Participants accumulated an average of 3772.25 ± 1957.99 MET-min/week of physical activity. Three distinct lifestyle risk profiles were identified. Cluster 1 (46.9%), labeled the alcohol profile, was characterized by alcohol consumption without smoking and no prevalence of being overweight. Cluster 2 (20.4%), the multiple-risk profile, included participants who reported regular smoking, with nearly half presenting sedentary behavior and overweight/obesity. Cluster 3 (32.7%), the overweight profile, was characterized by overweight/obesity combined with alcohol consumption but no smoking. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of lifestyle profiles according to sex (p = 0.111) or federated athlete status (p = 0.087). Conclusions: Lifestyle risk behaviors cluster into distinct profiles among university students, with alcohol consumption appearing across multiple profiles and smoking concentrated in a specific high-risk group. These findings highlight the need for targeted health promotion strategies addressing multiple co-occurring behaviors within university populations. Full article

Instance segmentation in heterogeneous waste scenes remains challenging due to object variability, deformable shapes, partial occlusion, and large appearance differences across packaging types. This study presents a YOLOv11-based deep learning framework for mixed plastic waste instance segmentation, developed to connect visual perception with reliable material quantification. The framework integrates curated instance-level annotations, strict split isolation, multi-stage optimization, training strategy ablation, and seed-robustness analysis to support reproducible model selection. Experimental results on a held-out test set show that the optimized model achieves a mask mAP@50:95 of 0.9337, indicating strong segmentation performance under heterogeneous waste-scene conditions. To extend the analysis beyond standard vision metrics, the framework incorporates a physics-informed mask-to-mass module that converts predicted masks into class-specific mass estimates using geometric calibration and material priors. Applied to a representative stream of 1253 detected objects, the system estimated a total plastic mass of 15.48 ± 1.08 kg, corresponding to a theoretical H₂ potential of 0.41 ± 0.04 kg and a greenhouse-gas avoidance of 34.57 ± 4.15 kg CO₂e. Overall, the proposed framework extends waste-scene understanding beyond vision-level assessment toward physically grounded, data-driven decision support for smart material recovery systems. Full article

This study examined cognitive style-related differences (analytic vs. holistic) in consumer liking, sensory perception, and ideal sensory profiles across three evaluation contexts (real café, sensory booth, and mixed reality). A total of 77 participants were divided into an analytic group (N = 34) and a holistic group (N = 43) based on the Analysis–Holism Scale. They evaluated six café latte samples varying in sugar concentration (0, 2.5, 5%) and espresso-to-milk ratio (1:2 and 1:3) for three environments using a within-subject design. Consumer evaluation comprised overall liking and sensory perception assessed using CATA (25 attributes) and Ideal CATA, with descriptive analysis (DA) conducted in parallel by eight trained panelists. The results showed no significant differences between cognitive styles in overall liking, but differences appeared in sensory perception and ideal product mapping between the booth and real café. The analytic group focused on dominant attributes with little variation for environments, whereas the holistic group integrated contextual cues, showing more context-dependent patterns. Compared with the other two environments, the MR environment showed high similarity to the DA results in terms of attribute profiles (RV = 0.88). This study indicates that cognitive style is a key factor in consumer sensory evaluation and should be considered to improve sensory evaluation methodology. Full article

Background: Temporary arterial occlusion (TAO) is a key adjunct in microsurgical clipping of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms, but its safe duration and impact on perioperative ischemia—particularly in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)—remain uncertain. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 245 patients undergoing microsurgical clipping of MCA aneurysms (154 incidental, 91 SAH) at a tertiary neurovascular center (2010–2020) was analyzed. TAO use, cumulative duration (>5, >8, >10, >15 min), number of applications, and occlusion site were extracted alongside clinical, radiographic, and outcome data. The primary endpoint was perioperative ischemia within 48 h; secondary endpoints included clinically relevant cerebral vasospasm (CVS), intraoperative rupture, and functional outcome (mRS) at discharge and 6 months. Multivariable logistic and ordinal regression models adjusted for demographic, aneurysmal, and treatment covariates. Results: TAO was used in 134 cases (54.7%; mean total duration 10.4 ± 8.7 min). In the overall cohort, TAO (presence or duration) was not independently associated with perioperative ischemia or CVS. In the SAH subgroup, cumulative TAO > 5 min conferred an approximately sixfold higher odds of ischemia (p = 0.012; OR 6.33), whereas no threshold was significant in incidental aneurysms. Female sex, M2 location, SAH at admission, and initial GCS < 9 independently predicted ischemia; female sex, higher ASA grade, larger size, irregular morphology, and SAH predicted CVS. SAH and aneurysm wall calcification were associated with worse 6-month mRS. Conclusions: TAO appears safe in elective clipping of incidental MCA aneurysms when applied judiciously, but cumulative durations beyond 5 min substantially increase ischemia risk in SAH patients. TAO management should therefore be individualized by rupture status, neurological grade, and aneurysm morphology rather than a single universal time limit. Full article

This paper examines how the predictive content of insider trading varies across industries. Using U.S. insider transaction data from 2005 to 2025 and firm-month level measures of insider trading and forward returns, we compare technology, banking, and utility firms within a unified framework. The results show that insider purchases in banking firms contain the strongest information about future returns, while the signal is substantially weaker in technology firms and moderate in utilities. We also document a clear asymmetry between buying and selling. Insider purchases are more informative than sales, while sales reflect more heterogeneous motives and are therefore harder to interpret. This buy–sell gap varies across industries and is most pronounced in banking and utilities. Finally, we compare insider-trading informativeness before and after the 2022 amendments to Rule 10b5-1. The results show that sell-side informativeness appears weaker in the post-2023 period, while the predictive content of purchases remains largely unchanged. This evidence is descriptive and does not imply a causal effect of the reform. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of industry-specific information environments and regulatory conditions in shaping the relation between insider trading and future stock returns. Full article