Search Results (3,957)

In low- and middle-income countries, the burden of hypertension and hyperglycaemia is alarming. These conditions remain major, recurring public health concerns that demand alternative healthcare strategies. This systematic review critiques and synthesises the existing evidence on the roles of recreational activities and dietary management in treating hypertension and hyperglycaemia in adults in low- and middle-income countries. The aim is to create awareness for hypertensive and hyperglycaemic patients. A systematic search was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines across six online databases: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL. The search included peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025. Of the 12,500 identified articles, only 35 met the inclusion criteria. The evidence suggests that active recreational activities and dietary interventions are the most effective strategies for managing hypertension and hyperglycaemia when implemented properly. Current studies demonstrate that aerobic recreational activity improves vascular function, lowers blood pressure, and enhances insulin sensitivity. DASH and Mediterranean diets support cardiometabolic health in hypertensive and hyperglycaemic patients. These diets help reduce hypertension, control blood sugar levels, and lower cardiovascular risk. If sustained, these intervention strategies can effectively prevent and manage hypertension and hyperglycaemia. This review recommends that healthcare systems integrate therapeutic recreational activities with the DASH and Mediterranean diets as alternative interventions for adults with hypertension and hyperglycaemia. Full article

Internalized weight stigma is related to psychological and physiological consequences independent of actual weight status. However, as peers assume an increasingly important role in early adolescence, peer support may protect adolescents from the related costs of weight stigma. The current study examines concurrent associations between internalized weight stigma and heart rate variability in response to an acute stressor in a non-clinical early adolescent sample using a novel peer-to-peer discussion task. We hypothesized that peer acceptance will moderate the effect of internalized weight stigma on changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic indices of HRV. The study included 31 adolescents (58.1% boys; M_age = 12.82, SD_age = 1.00) from a charter middle school who completed self-report questionnaires to assess internalized weight stigma and perceived peer acceptance. Participants also completed a novel peer-to-peer discussion task to induce stress responses. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded during the baseline and the discussion task, and baseline-to-task change scores were used as an index of sympathetic and parasympathetic responses. Peer acceptance significantly moderated the association between internalized weight stigma and sympathetic reactivity (∆r² = 0.07, B = −0.97*, p < 0.05). Specifically, only for adolescents with low peer acceptance, increased internalized weight stigma predicted heightened sympathetic reactivity (B = 0.84, p = 0.03). The findings of this study support the development of a novel peer-to-peer discussion task as an acute stressor and suggest that peer acceptance may alter the association between internalized weight stigma and physiological stress reactivity. Full article

Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the COVID-19 pandemic is still considered a complex challenge, with manifestations not only of respiratory issues, but also conditions related to chronic cerebrovascular damage. Endothelial biomarkers, neuropathological and neuroimaging findings indicate endothelial dysfunction, microthrombosis, and disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) are central mechanisms for acute and chronic ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebral events. Understanding these mechanisms is vital to reducing their impact on population health, whether through treatment or prevention of adverse outcomes. The objective of this study is to perform a review of the scientific literature on the post-infection effects of SARS-CoV-2 affecting the cerebral endothelium and the BBB, correlating them with potential clinical outcomes. Material and Methods: Analysis of studies extracted from the PubMed database using the following terms: Long-COVID “AND” SARS-CoV-2 “AND” blood–brain barrier. Inclusion criteria: keywords, publications related to the topic, and primary studies published after peer review. Exclusion criteria: preprint studies, publication outside of the timeframe 2020–2025, study design not compatible with this research, and full text not available. Results: An initial 121 studies were identified, of which 105 were excluded due to not meeting all inclusion criteria and 6 studies were inaccessible due to not being in the English language and full-text access limitations. Fifteen articles were included in the analysis, for topics as expression of viral receptors in the endothelium, markers of their activation, cerebral microvascular injury and coagulopathies. To clarify the pathogenic cascade, the evidence was stratified by biological model where in vitro evidence demonstrates that the Spike protein induces direct endothelial toxicity and platelet aggregation, establishing the primary molecular insult. Animal models confirm the translation of this insult into structural degradation of the BBB and pericyte loss. Clinically, infection-phase findings, characterized by multifocal microthrombosis and permeability spikes, act as the determining event that predisposes to the persistent neuroinflammatory environment. Biomarkers of BBB disruption and neuronal damage were consistently reported, with persistence of BBB dysfunction modifying risk stratification and rehabilitation efforts. Reported cases of Long-COVID demonstrated normalization of BBB markers without correlation with long-term symptoms, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in Long-COVID. Conclusion: Cerebral endotheliopathies and BBB dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 continue to impact the health of the population. The scientific literature indicates that SARS-CoV-2 induces cerebral endothelial injury, BBB disruption, and an increased risk of vascular events related to endotheliopathy, inflammation, and hypercoagulability. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 pathology on the population and developing prospective studies is essential to quantify the prevalence and mechanisms of brain injury. The identification of molecular targets and infection pathways are promising toward defining both preventive and therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes in the Long-COVID population. Full article

Social activity is considered a primary factor in prolonging health and independence in later life, alongside physical activity. While population ageing reflects increasing life expectancy, the risk of living longer in poor health remains. In response to this risk, the United Kingdom developed extra-care schemes, introducing a housing and care model that combines social activities with flexible support to promote healthy and independent living in later life. Despite these potential benefits, observations that male tenants engage less with social opportunities than female tenants highlight a gap in understanding the social needs of men in care environments. This study explores how male social engagement is understood and influenced in extra-care schemes through a dual-perspective approach, combining service–user and service–provider viewpoints. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six male tenants (mean age = 84 years) and five scheme managers across four extra-care schemes. Reflexive Thematic Analysis revealed barriers to male social engagement related to gender imbalanced environments, poor health, social identity disruption, and widowhood. Conversely, group membership and reliable family involvement function as protective resources that sustain identity roles and support networks for men living in a care environment. Developing male-oriented community links and peer support initiatives within extra-care, alongside appropriate training and psychoeducation for staff and tenants, may be effective when supporting men in care settings. Future research would benefit from broader multi-stakeholder samples to address the limitations of this study. Full article

This study employs a qualitative narrative inquiry to explore how support systems and industry engagement influence youth employability and entrepreneurial aspirations within South Africa’s TVET sector. The central research question examines how young people’s personal stories reveal the impact of systemic barriers and support mechanisms on their identity construction, resilience, and agency. Using in-depth interviews and focus groups with 24 purposively sampled youth across Gauteng’s TVET colleges, the analysis combines thematic and narrative approaches to uncover recurring patterns and narrative structures. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 30, with a balanced gender distribution, representing various socio-economic backgrounds and career interests, selected through purposive sampling to ensure data richness and saturation. The analysis integrated thematic and narrative approaches, with a detailed coding process, theme development, and measures to mitigate bias through member checking and peer debriefing. Findings indicate that experiential learning, mentorship, family encouragement, and industry connections serve as critical support mechanisms that shape youth perceptions of opportunity and self-efficacy. Conversely, systemic barriers such as resource limitations and skills mismatches are frequently narrated as obstacles constraining pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. The study concludes that integrating youth narratives into policy development can foster more inclusive and effective strategies for youth empowerment. These insights contribute to the literature on youth employment by highlighting the active role of storytelling in identity negotiation and social critique within socio-economic contexts. Full article

In the era of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, strengthening STEM education is indispensable to technological innovation and social progress. However, the scarcity of effective strategies and empirical evidence for the early identification of STEM-gifted learners constitutes a critical research gap. This study employed a systematic review approach to synthesize existing identification strategies for K-12 STEM-talent learners. Following the PRISMA framework, 26 peer-reviewed empirical and review articles were retrieved and analyzed from nine databases. Findings revealed that the majority of studies originated in the United States, peaked in 2018, and predominantly comprised empirical designs targeting high school students. Identification methods demonstrated an observed shift from holistic to more individualized approaches, encompassing intelligence and spatial ability testing, academic achievement measures, creativity and problem-solving assessments, portfolio evaluations, subject-specific competitions, and teacher or parent recommendations. Cognitive reasoning, creativity, spatial ability, and problem-solving emerged as core indicators, whereas socioeconomic status, cultural background, teacher and parental support, and gender expectations significantly influenced identification processes and talent development. Future research should empirically validate existing identification framework, account for cross-cultural variability, and examine the longitudinal efficacy of emerging artificial intelligence applications. This review synthesizes existing scholarship on K-12 STEM talent identification and delivers evidence-based recommendations to refine identification and assessment frameworks across diverse educational contexts. Full article

Cannabis use is prevalent among LGBTQ+ youth and is often framed within deficit-oriented models emphasizing risk and mental health vulnerability. This study moves beyond these perspectives by examining how LGBTQ+ youth understand and mobilize cannabis use in relation to mental health, gender, and sexuality. Guided by queer theory and an ethics of care, and grounded in a community-based participatory approach, this photovoice study was conducted in collaboration with three LGBTQ+ youth peer researchers who contributed to data collection, analysis, and interpretation. A total of 46 LGBTQ+ youth (aged 15–24) in Quebec, Canada, generated photographs and narratives exploring their motivations and experiences of cannabis use, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings highlight cannabis use as a situated and relational practice embedded in three intersecting processes: reconfiguring thought, enacting identity, and practicing care. Cannabis was mobilized to facilitate introspection, support identity exploration, and affirmation, and foster relational and collective forms of healing, while also producing ambivalent effects, including disorientation and emotional numbing. By centering youth perspectives, these findings challenge harm-focused framings and underscore the need for more nuanced, youth-informed and strengths-based approaches to LGBTQ+ youth well-being. Full article

Artificial intelligence, digital payments and platform-based services are reshaping the operating conditions of Africa’s informal economy and micro-enterprise sector. While mobile money, digital marketplaces, app-mediated logistics and algorithmic scoring systems are commonly presented as instruments of financial inclusion and enterprise modernisation, their effects on informal traders remain uneven, conditional and under-governed. This systematic review synthesises recent peer-reviewed evidence on AI-mediated digitalisation pathways for informal and micro-enterprises in Africa, with particular attention to mobile money, platform payments, app-based logistics, digital credit, algorithmic management and platform governance. Following PRISMA-informed systematic review procedures, this review analyses 60 peer-reviewed, DOI-bearing articles published between April 2022 and June 2026 through a mechanism–outcome synthesis approach. The final corpus was selected through database searching, duplicate removal, title-and-abstract screening, full-text eligibility assessment, quality appraisal and mechanism–outcome coding. The findings show that digitalisation can expand market access, reduce cash-handling risks, create transaction histories, strengthen customer reach, improve operational continuity and support household resilience. However, the same digital infrastructures may also intensify livelihood vulnerability through opaque scoring, unexplained account freezes, fee shocks, exclusionary verification procedures, algorithmic ranking losses, data extraction and weak dispute-resolution mechanisms. The review therefore argues that informal enterprise digitalisation should not be understood only as a technology adoption issue, but as a socio-technical systems governance challenge. The article contributes a governance-and-risk framework linking local infrastructure, platform and payment design, AI (artificial intelligence) mediation, adoption conditions and livelihood outcomes. It further identifies minimum policy and design protections required for inclusive and resilient participation, including transparent fees, proportionate verification, human appeal channels, explainable restrictions, data-use consent, timely settlement and contingency mechanisms during digital outages or erroneous flags. The review concludes that sustainable digital inclusion for African informal micro-enterprises depends not merely on access to digital tools, but on the fairness, transparency, recoverability and accountability of the systems through which traders participate. Full article

Although employed women represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the investor population in emerging economies, their investment decision-making is still largely modelled through fragmented, single-determinant frameworks that treat women as a homogeneous group. This study develops and tests an integrated structural model of financial-goal-directed investment orientation among employed women, drawing together Behavioural Finance Theory, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and the Life-Cycle Hypothesis. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 951 employed women across the four administrative zones of Bengaluru, India, using stratified random sampling. The measurement model was validated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and four competing structural specifications were estimated by maximum likelihood; the best-fitting model was selected on the basis of the corrected Akaike Information Criterion and approximate fit indices. The results indicate that risk tolerance is the strongest direct correlate of financial-goal-directed investment orientation, that confidence and self-efficacy operates as the pivotal psychological mediator linking macroeconomic perception to risk-taking, and that market sentiments are the strongest external correlate of investor confidence. Peer influence shows a theoretically important dual association, positively related to risk tolerance while negatively related to confidence. A serial mediation pathway running from market sentiments through confidence and risk tolerance to financial goals is supported. Because the design is cross-sectional, the associations are interpreted as structural relationships consistent with the proposed theoretical framework rather than as established causal effects. This study is exploratory and hypothesis-generating in character. The findings reframe financial-inclusion interventions for employed women around confidence-building rather than information provision, with implications for product design, advisory practice, and policy. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for effective early detection strategies. The electrocardiogram (ECG), as the gold standard for cardiac monitoring, provides critical data for clinical decision-making. Short-term ECG forecasting can support timely detection of abnormal cardiac events, enabling proactive interventions. This systematic literature review (SLR) examines ECG forecasting techniques based on time series analysis, addressing five research questions (RQ1–RQ5) regarding data sources, forecasting models, performance metrics, challenges, and methodological trends. Three databases—PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect—were systematically searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2023. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the application of predefined eligibility criteria, eight studies were included in the final synthesis. The analysis reveals that public databases are the preferred source due to accessibility; the results also suggest that hybrid forecasting models dominate current research, preprocessing and analytical approaches vary widely, and performance is primarily evaluated using RMSE and MAE. Key research gaps include limited studies on real-time arrhythmia prediction, lack of standardized evaluation frameworks, and underexploration of hybrid and deep learning strategies in diverse patient populations. Building on these findings, the review proposes a future research agenda (2025–2030) focused on developing automated, real-time ECG forecasting systems with enhanced accuracy and interpretability, leveraging hybrid and deep learning models, and establishing standardized benchmarking protocols. Overall, ECG forecasting is identified as a promising yet underexplored field, offering substantial opportunities for innovation in predictive cardiology and clinical decision support. Full article

Background/Objectives: Substance use disorders remain a significant public health concern, particularly when vulnerability emerges during adolescence and young adulthood. Although much of the literature has focused on treatment and recovery, prevention-oriented scholarship increasingly points to the value of strengths-based approaches that reduce risk by cultivating protective processes. This narrative review examines resilience as a protective factor in substance use prevention across adolescence and young adulthood, with particular attention to health promotion, developmental context, and multilevel prevention systems. Methods: A narrative review approach was used to synthesize interdisciplinary literature from psychology, public health, education, addiction studies, and prevention science. The review focused on peer-reviewed scholarship addressing resilience, protective factors, and prevention-related processes relevant to adolescent and young adult substance use. Literature was analyzed thematically across major domains including conceptualizations of resilience, developmental relevance, protective factors, prevention strategies, diverse and at-risk populations, and conceptual and methodological challenges. Results: The literature suggests that resilience is most useful for substance use prevention when conceptualized as a dynamic and ecological process rather than a fixed individual trait. Protective processes associated with lower substance use risk include emotional regulation, adaptive coping, family support, peer connectedness, school engagement, community cohesion, and culturally meaningful sources of identity and belonging. Prevention strategies appear most promising when they are multilevel, relational, developmentally responsive, and integrated with broader mental health and health promotion efforts. At the same time, the literature remains limited by definitional inconsistency, measurement variability, heterogeneous outcome indicators, a predominance of cross-sectional evidence, inconsistent or null protective effects for some factors and outcomes, and insufficiently contextualized uses of resilience. Conclusions: Resilience offers a valuable framework for substance use prevention across adolescence and young adulthood when it is grounded in developmental, ecological, and equity-aware perspectives. Prevention may be strengthened by moving beyond deficit-focused models and intentionally cultivating the supportive conditions under which young people can adapt, connect, and thrive without turning to substances as a means of coping. Full article

This study examines the characteristics of abstract language use in gifted preschool children during natural free-play activities and compares them with those of typically developing children. The aim is to enhance our awareness of characteristics of gifted children language use and support them in everyday conversations and activities. Abstract language refers to expressions that describe decontextualized situations or that convey causal reasoning and prediction. It is closely related to the development of children’s language, cognition, and thinking. A total of 16 gifted children (10 boys and 6 girls; M = 73.06 months) were identified using two standardized instruments, the Combined Raven’s Test (Chinese revised version) and the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, Second Edition (TONI-2). All identified children completed both assessments and scored at or above the 99th percentile on the Combined Raven’s Test and the 98th percentile on the TONI-2. Another 16 typically developing children (10 boys and 6 girls; M = 72.81 months) from the same classes were selected as matched controls based on teacher reports and their typical developmental performance. Drawing on corpus analysis, the study analyzed 2778 utterances produced by the gifted children and 2879 utterances produced by the typically developing children during 30-min free-play sessions. The results showed that, as the level of abstract language increased, both groups displayed a similar declining trend in the frequency of language use. However, a cumulative logit mixed-effects model showed that gifted children had significantly higher odds of producing language at higher levels of abstraction than typically developing children. In addition, gifted children demonstrated higher levels of abstract language during educator–child and peer interactions, whereas their private speech was more concentrated at lower levels of abstraction than that of typically developing children. Based on these findings, the study proposes educational recommendations in three areas: recognising children’s advanced thinking, addressing their specific language needs, and leveraging their communicative strengths. These recommendations may help create a more supportive educational environment for gifted children and better foster their developmental potential. Full article

Collagen, long regarded as the inert structural scaffold of the extracellular matrix, is now recognised as a source of bioactive signaling molecules: enzymatic hydrolysis releases low-molecular-weight bioactive collagen peptides that act systemically. This narrative review synthesises in vitro, animal-model, and veterinary clinical evidence with explicit differentiation of evidence levels; literature was identified through structured searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering peer-reviewed, English-language reports published between 2000 and January 2026, without a formal systematic protocol. Across rodent, porcine, and human pharmacokinetic studies, orally administered collagen hydrolysate is efficiently absorbed, with a fraction reaching the circulation as intact prolyl-hydroxyproline and hydroxyprolyl-glycine through the conserved PEPT1/PEPT2 transporters; reported bioavailability varies with source, dose, and method, so no single value generalises across species. Native collagen and larger collagen fragments engage structure-dependent receptors in vitro (α2β1 integrins, DDR1/DDR2, GPVI, LAIR-1/2) that require triple-helical or Gly-Pro-Hyp presentation, whereas it is not established that the di- and tripeptides that reach the circulation after oral dosing engage them; their systemic actions are partly attributable to intracellular routes, including the Keap1–Nrf2 axis, HDAC/HAT modulation, and glycine-dependent glutathione synthesis. The gut–collagen peptide axis, a model derived from rodent and cell-culture data, links microbial bile acid remodeling and FXR/TGR5 signaling to systemic effects. Current evidence supports validated use in canine and equine osteoarthritis; species-specific bioavailability studies in dogs and cats remain the priority. Full article

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder triggered by gluten ingestion. Although a gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only effective treatment, patients may still experience inflammation, nutritional imbalances, and reduced quality of life. Physical activity (PA) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory benefits; however, its role in CD management remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the associations of PA and the outcomes of exercise interventions in individuals with CD, focusing on metabolic, nutritional, clinical, and functional outcomes. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we included peer-reviewed observational and experimental studies assessing PA in individuals with CD across all age groups, without language or date restrictions. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and SPORTDiscus. The risk of bias was evaluated using JBI and Cochrane RoB 2 tools. Results: Fourteen studies (17 publications) were included, the vast majority of which were cross-sectional, along with one quasi-experimental study and two randomized controlled trial cohorts reported across five publications. Data from these predominantly observational studies suggested possible, yet inconsistent, links between higher PA levels and better profiles in body composition, inflammatory and oxidative markers, quality of life, and psychological outcomes. Positive associations were also observed in some studies regarding gastrointestinal symptoms and adherence to the GFD. However, findings on metabolic markers and bone mineral density were inconsistent and linked to dietary factors. Conclusions: While PA represents a potential adjunct in the comprehensive management of CD, particularly in relation to functional and inflammatory outcomes. However, the current evidence remains highly preliminary, limited, and inconsistent, which restricts the strength of any definitive conclusions. Therefore, high-quality, longitudinal studies and well-designed clinical trials are needed to confirm its long-term benefits, especially in the pediatric population, and to establish specific recommendations. Full article

Formal undergraduate research training programs are typically two years in length to support student development over time. However, some evidence suggests that many benefits of research participation can be achieved in a shorter duration, raising the question of whether shorter models can be as effective. This prospective study compared outcomes for two concurrent cohort-based research training models: a two-year Scholars Program and an accelerated one-year Fellows Program. The Fellows Program was designed for advanced students who joined the training program later than their peers for a variety of reasons. Both programs provided students with financial support, faculty-mentored research, a Learning Community, and other resources for professional development. The longer duration allowed Scholars to report significantly higher levels of research skills and produce more publications and professional presentations than Fellows by the end of their respective training programs. In contrast, the programs did not differ on graduation GPA, number of awards, or graduate school enrollment. Fellows also did not significantly differ from Scholars on psychosocial measures, including science/researcher identity, belongingness, cultural compatibility, family support, or time management. Findings suggest that a high-intensity, one-year model can deliver many broad academic and social benefits associated with the two-year model, while a longer two-year model provides students with more time and additional research opportunities to be more productive. We conclude that both types of programs should be available to best meet students’ needs and to make the most effective use of program resources. Full article