Search Results (209)

Introduction: Gynoid lipodystrophy (GL) affects most women, manifesting itself from puberty to adulthood. Its multifactorial etiology generates controversy in the literature about the most suitable treatment. Several methods are used, from the smallest to the most invasive, in the search for an effective fight against the severity of GL. The positive effect of ultrasound therapy (US) in decreasing subcutaneous adipose tissue is in increasing the skin permeability of pharmacological molecules, and it has aroused interest in the effect of a combination of the two techniques on the severity of GL. However, the results of this technique associated with an exercise program are unknown. Objective(s): To analyze the effect of three sessions of US + 5% caffeine in association with the realization of an exercise program, in females, on the level of severity of GL in the gluteal region and on the posterior proximal third part of the thigh. Methods: A total of 36 healthy women, aged between 18 and 55, who were considered to have GL, were randomly allocated in two experimental groups and one placebo group. The placebo group (PG) performed only physical exercise during the study. Experimental group 1 (EP1) performed US with 5% caffeine alongside a physical exercise protocol and experimental group 2 (EP2) performed US with a conventional US gel alongside a physical exercise protocol. The three groups completed three intervention sessions over 3 weeks, with one session per week. In addition to the level of severity assessed by the Cellulite Several Scale (CSS), anthropometric measures, body composition, and lipid profile of the participants were evaluated. The first assessment was carried out before the intervention (M0) and the last assessment after the three interventions (M1). The results were analyzed using the ANOVA test. The Tukey test was used for multiple comparisons of the groups in all variables, except for those related to the CSS, where the Kruskal–Wallis test was used with a significance level of 0.05. Results: A total of 29 women completed the study. There was a significant decrease inside the PG related to triglycerides (p = 0.012). In M1, all groups started to present median values below 200 mg of triglycerides. In cholesterol, a significant reduction was observed in all groups (p = 0.05). On the gluteal level at 5 cm, there was a decrease in EP1 and EP2 between M0 and M1 with p = 0.006 and p = 0.002, respectively. On the CSS there were no significant differences between groups or between moments. Conclusions: Three sessions of 5% caffeine and US in association with a physical exercise protocol have no effect on reducing the level of severity of GL. Full article

Biological, physiological, and psychological stressors cause a “stress response” in our bodies. Stressors that are sensorily perceived (either acute or chronic) trigger hormonal responses from the sympathetic nervous system—the SAM and HPA axis—that effect intended organs to alert the individual. Other stressors have a direct effect on the target organ(s) of the body—e.g., physical injury and wounds, toxins, ionizing, and UV radiation. Both kinds of stressors change cell equilibrium, often leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and cellular damage. Among the signaling pathways involved in fighting these stressors, the c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK) respond to diverse kinds of stressors. This review focuses on JNK1 and JNK2, both of which are ubiquitously present in all cell types, and attention is paid to gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells and their response—including tight junction disruption and cytoskeletal changes. We discuss the seemingly opposite roles of JNK1 and JNK2 in helping cells choose pro-survival and pro-apoptotic pathways. We examine the common features of the JNK protein structure and the possibilities of discovering JNK-isoform-specific inhibitors since, although JNK1 and JNK2 are involved in multiple diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, musculoskeletal and liver disease, no cell-specific or isoform-specific inhibitors are available. Full article

To play a role effectively, biocontrol fungi must fight against plant immune response and establish a symbiotic interaction with their host. After successfully colonizing the host plant, the biocontrol fungi may deliver beneficial effects related to plant health and resistance against phytopathogens. These fungi use a variety of tactics to bypass the host immune response, including the production of effector proteins, miRNA interference, manipulation of host defense mechanisms, and others. In this review article, we discussed these strategies of biocontrol fungi based on recent findings. These methods enable the fungi to escape the plant’s intrinsic immunity and finely adjust the plant’s defense signaling cascades. Additionally, we discussed the importance of the physical barrier in the form of host cell walls and elucidated how biocontrol fungi use a combination of mechanical and enzymatic tactics to overcome this obstacle. Given the evolving comprehensions from molecular biology, genomics, and ecology, this review article highlights the prospective for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to improve our understanding of the biocontrol mechanism. Full article

EU legislation provides the implementation of most building energy performance measures at a subnational level. This obligation is causing a lot of completely new dilemmas that are challenging for local governments (LGs), requiring a radical re-evaluation of the prioritization of LGs’ traditional tasks and the ranking of new responsibilities. The attitude of local population and businesses towards the solutions to dilemmas, which are set by LGs decisions, vary widely. Separate groups actively lobby for their mutually contradictory interests, questioning decisions and fighting against them during the decision-drafting and -making process, significantly hindering the work of LGs and prolonging decision-making. The authors’ suggested solution to the problem is to make municipal decisions based on verifiable data and facts, thus preventing the manifestations of populism and demagogy, and reducing the possibilities for interest group advocacy. To obtain objective information for balanced decision-making about the benefits and costs of heating system retrofitting projects without carrying out the labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly design of various options, an express methodology and an easy-to-use tool for project feasibility studies have been developed. The methodology utilizes a limited number of open indicators to streamline the evaluation process, and does not require specific knowledge in thermal physics, economics, or construction. Full article

The correlation between aerodynamic data obtained from ground and flight tests is crucial in developing aerospace vehicles. This paper proposes methods for modelling this correlation that combine feature extraction and symbolic regression. The neighborhood component analysis (NCA) method is utilized to extract features from the high-dimensional state space and then symbolic regression (SR) is applied to find the concise optimal expression. First, a simulation example of the NASA Twin Otter aircraft is used to validate the NCA and the SR tool developed by the research team in modeling the aerodynamic coefficient deviation between ground and flight due to an unpredictable inflight icing failure. Then, the method and tool are applied to real flight tests of two types of aerospace vehicles with different configurations. The final optimized mathematical models show that the two vehicles’ pitching moment coefficient deviations are related to the angle of attack (AOA) only. The mathematical model built using NCA and the SR tool demonstrates higher fitting accuracy and better generalization performance for flight test data than other typical data-driven methods. The mathematical model delivers a multi-fold enhancement in fitting accuracy over data-driven methods for all fight cases. For UAV flight test data, the average root mean square error (RMSE) of the mathematical model demonstrates a maximum improvement of 37% in accuracy compared to three data-driven methods. For XRLV flight test data, the prediction accuracy of the mathematical model shows an enhancement exceeding 80% relative to Gaussian kernel SVM and Gaussian process data-driven models. The research verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the data feature extraction combined with the symbolic regression method in mining the correlation law between ground and flight deviations of aerodynamic characteristics. This study provides valuable insight for modeling problems with finite data samples and explicit physical meanings. Full article

This study was conducted in a Portuguese slaughterhouse for finishing pigs. A total of 93 batches with an average slaughter weight of 93.3 kg (±0.6) were assessed in the lairage pens using the qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) tool to evaluate both positive and negative descriptors. Social interaction behaviors and the physical conditions of pigs in each batch were also measured. Physical examination revealed that pigs with body condition scores of 4 or 5 were less active and playful, presenting negative correlations with these descriptors. Groups of pigs at rest showed negative correlations (p < 0.001) with active (r = −0.338), lively (r = −0.352), and playful (r = −0.424) behaviors, while resting behavior was positively correlated (p < 0.01) with relaxed groups (r = 0.331). The presence of fighting and mounting the backs of other animals was highly correlated (p < 0.001) with negative emotional states like agitation, distress, irritability, and tense. Batches exhibiting positive emotional states, such as calmness and relaxation, showed significant associations with behaviors like fighting and mounting the backs of other animals. This indicates that experiencing positive emotions can lead to a decrease in aggressive or stress-related behaviors. Ear biting correlated with the descriptor “bored”, indicating a potential relationship between this behavior and a lack of environmental stimulation. The descriptors “frustration” and “bored” (p < 0.001) showed an association with the behavior of chewing without a substrate, regardless of whether fights occurred. Descriptors like ”active”, ”friendly”, “positively occupied”, ”sociable”, and “lively” have higher loadings on principal component 1 (PC1), reflecting positive affective welfare. In PC2, descriptors representing relaxation are positioned as opposite to terms like “irritable”, “distressed”, and “tense”, suggesting that PC2 could be useful for identifying conditions of high stress in pigs. These findings underscore the relationship between emotional states and behaviors, suggesting that combining QBA with behavioral observations provides a comprehensive framework for assessing animal welfare. Improving pig welfare could be achieved by reducing aggression and enhancing environmental enrichment to alleviate boredom during lairage. Full article

Background/Objective: This retrospective observational study describes the social, health, and psychological conditions of children living in a disadvantaged and degraded suburb of Rome Metropolitan City during the COVID-19 pandemic as registered by the primary healthcare service of the Solidarity Medicine Institute, with the aim of fighting social exclusion and health disparities during lockdown and offering free health care to vulnerable families. Methods: The access to pediatric interventions was assessed from April 2020 to December 2022. For each child, biometric parameters were recorded, and the physical and psychological states of health were assessed. Furthermore, data regarding family socio-economic variables were collected. Results: From April 2020 to December 2022, 638 children, aged 0 to 18 years, had access to the healthcare system, which was provided by the Solidarity Medicine Institute, with a total of 2300 pediatric visits. Moreover, food supplements, drugs, and hygiene kits that were necessary for the containment of the COVID-19 infection were freely distributed at the center. The highest proportion of children included in this study were from African and Eastern European families (46% and 35.8%, respectively), and 41% of these children did not have a pediatrician from the public health service. Children aged 0 to 5 years comprised 50.81% of the entire population of this study. Nutritional status assessment indicated that among the 117 infants aged 0–12 months, 5.7% were below the 3rd weight percentile, while 28.9% exceeded the 85th weight percentile. BMI assessment for children aged 2 years and older (i.e., 521 children) indicated that 21.7% of these children were overweight, and 9.5% were obese. Sixty-nine cases of psychiatric disorders were also detected among these children, with a high frequency of cases of Specific Language Disorder (31.8%), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (21.7%), and Specific Learning Disorder (14.5%). Psychiatric and rehabilitative interventions were also offered. Conclusions: The Solidarity Medicine Institute responded to the request of the municipality of Rome to remain open and offer social and health assistance to the most vulnerable people during the pandemic. The Solidarity Medicine Institute has efficaciously served a fragile pediatric population, intercepting social, health, and psychological needs and overcoming social exclusion, health disparity, and the fragmentation of welfare services exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

Background/Objectives: Growing interest in post-viral conditions following COVID-19 infection has led researchers and clinicians to develop several definitions of post-COVID-19 syndrome. This study aimed to understand the meaning given to post-COVID-19 syndrome by individuals who survived the first wave of the pandemic two years after its onset. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was performed according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. An inductive and content analysis were adopted on narratives collected via the interview of patients who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first pandemic wave in the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy). Results: This study included 230 patients, of whom 158 experienced post-COVID-19 syndrome, and 46 (29.1%) reported suffering from this condition 24 months after the infection. On average, patients experienced three symptoms, with most of them experiencing at least one. Seventy-five patients reported being familiar with the definition of the post-COVID-19 syndrome, mainly through media and the internet (28.9% and 28.2%, respectively). The post-COVID-19 syndrome was described as characterized by two themes: (a) the experience of interrelated physical and psychological symptoms and (b) the experience of fighting like warriors for a long time. Conclusions: The post-COVID-19 syndrome is highly prevalent but poorly understood. Patients rely on low-quality information rather than that offered by clinicians. The post-COVID-19 syndrome appears to be a complex syndrome encompassing physical and mental symptoms, as well as those disabling the person with an unclear trajectory. There is a need to focus on the long-term consequences of COVID-19, incorporating insights from individuals’ lived experiences. Full article

Background: This study explores parental dysregulation when associated with adolescents’ involvement in street fights with peers. Parental dysregulation, characterized by emotional volatility, impulsivity, and inconsistent discipline, significantly affects adolescent development, influencing their social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Street fights, which involve physical violence among adolescents in public settings, pose risks to both individuals and the community. This research aims to identify risk factors and underlying mechanisms associated with adolescent street fights, providing insights for targeted interventions and prevention strategies. Aim: The study employs social learning theory to explain how adolescents may model aggressive behaviors observed in dysregulated parents and family systems theory to highlight the role of dysfunctional family dynamics in being associated with aggression. A sample of 292 male adolescents and their parents was assessed using self-report measures. Results: Statistical analyses revealed higher levels of emotional dysregulation, depression, and hostility among parents of adolescents frequently involved in street fights. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for interventions focusing on improving parental emotional regulation, reducing hostile behaviors, and enhancing family communication to mitigate adolescent aggression. Further research should explore diverse populations and longitudinal data to strengthen these conclusions. Full article

The global fight against pandemics is a major public health issue. Epidemiological studies showed a reduced risk of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity with the practice of regular physical activity (PA) in clinical populations. Here, we investigated the effect of PA against COVID-19 in a young general population. Methods: Two hundred ninety volunteers over 18 years old from Reunion Island responded to an online survey concerning sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical information. Daily PA was studied using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version (IPAQ) and classified by overall score and intensities of PA. Results: Among 290 responders [179 women, median age = 27.5 years (interquartile range = 21.3 years)], 141 (48.6%) reported COVID-19 infection. Multivariate logistic analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, chronic disease and alcohol consumption showed that the number of days per week of regular intense PA was independently associated with a low risk of COVID-19 infection [odds ratio (OR) 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.99; p = 0.030], while regular moderate PA was not [OR 1.10; 95%CI 0.97 to 1.23; p = 0.137]. Conclusions: In a population of young adults, regular intense PA could offer a protective effect against COVID-19. Additional research is required to confirm this association in various viral infections and elucidate the fundamental mechanisms involved. Full article

The presence of cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils poses a serious risk to crop growth and food safety. Cadmium uptake and transport in plants occur through the various transporters of nutrient ions that have similar physical and chemical properties to Cd, indicating that the genetic manipulation of these transporters and agronomic improvement in the Cd-antagonistic nutrients could be a good approach for reducing Cd uptake and accumulation in crops. In this review, we discuss the interactions between Cd and some micronutrients, including zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn), focusing on their influence on the expression of genes encoding Cd-related transporters, including ZIP7, NRAMP3, and NRAMP4. Genetic improvements in enhancing the specificity and efficiency of transporters and agronomic improvements in optimizing micronutrient nutrition can inhibit the Cd uptake and transport by these transporters. This comprehensive review provides a deep insight into genetic and agronomic improvement for fighting against Cd contamination and enhancing sustainable agricultural production. Full article

This article explores the complex challenges of combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the counties of Garissa and Isiolo (Kenya) amidst environmental stressors, particularly drought and food insecurity. FGM persists as a deeply entrenched form of violence against women and girls (VAWG), profoundly rooted in social and traditional beliefs. This practice is often justified by cultural norms but leads to severe physical, psychological, and social harm, perpetuating cycles of gender inequality. Framing FGM as VAWG prioritises its recognition as a violation of human rights and underscores the need for comprehensive, culturally sensitive, and rights-based interventions. In addition, this study investigates how these challenges intersect and complicate efforts to address FGM, focusing on two counties in Kenya known for their adherence to this practice. The research methodology employs a longitudinal panel study design, drawing on in-depth narrative interviews with community narrators. A follow-up data collection was planned after six months to monitor changes over time. Furthermore, this research examines the impact of environmental stressors, such as drought and food insecurity, on educational access, resource availability, and community responses to interventions aimed at eradicating FGM. Findings reveal a complex interplay between cultural norms, economic hardships, and the perpetuation of FGM. Drought and food insecurity exacerbate vulnerabilities within communities, diverting attention and resources away from efforts to challenge ingrained practices like FGM. The article underscores the need for holistic approaches that integrate anti-FGM initiatives into broader resilience-building strategies. It emphasises community engagement, culturally sensitive education, and economic empowerment as pivotal elements in addressing FGM within the context of environmental stressors. Recommendations include mobile education units, community-based empowerment programs, and partnerships with local leaders to foster sustainable change. This case study contributes valuable insights into the challenges of combatting FGM in the face of environmental stressors, shedding light on the intricacies that hinder progress. It advocates for a comprehensive, context-specific approach that recognises and navigates the intersecting challenges posed by cultural norms and environmental crises in the fight against FGM. Full article

This paper describes the health and wellbeing applications of a protocol designed from a Gumbaynggirr Australian First People’s concept, Bigaagarri. The protocol reframes threats to health and wellbeing as part of a communicative system of environmental signals, rather than an individualised, behavioural fight–flight–fear response. Developed by a Muruwari Gumbaynggirr researcher, the protocol enfolds Aboriginal perspectives of health values and the physicality of personal location in place and social context. It combines Indigenous standpoint theory and lived-experience narrative research methods to translate Indigenous practices into generally accessible modalities. The paper connects the first principles of this protocol to literature, then, using code-switching between academic and informal settler and Indigenous voices, it introduces personal lived experience narratives that include utilisation of the participatory and immersive protocol seen in the graphical abstract image to mitigate suicidal ideation. This approach unsettles Westernised conceptions of health and wellbeing research that privilege disease-specific, single-solution approaches. It contests the dominant social imaginaries and narratives embedded in standard service models, which perpetuate the ongoing recolonisation of Indigenous identities, and common exclusion of others outside of the neurotypical majority. The Bigaagarri protocol is a potential way forward to reimagine preventive health landscapes, decolonise support for suicide and mental health through the embedding of Indigenous knowledges to lead to holistic approaches for wellbeing. Full article

Background/Objectives: To date, the health effects of karate have not been identified. Therefore, the aim of this article is to learn more about the health effects of karate training based on a review of current research. Methods: The Scopus database was searched from 2000 onwards for available articles related only to karate. The following intermediate phrases were not included: combat sport, fighting art, hand-to-hand combat, martial art, and self-defence system. The filter used was desk review analysis. Only 14 scientific articles (research papers and review papers) strictly on karate were found. The method of source material analysis and critical analysis of the source text was then used. Results: It was shown that kumite appears to require significantly more metabolic power than kata. Furthermore, the greater skill of karatekas is associated with their greater physical fitness, and long-term karate training attenuates the decline in dynamic visual acuity (DVA). The role of modified and individualised forms of karate training is also highlighted as important for the health of practitioners. Furthermore, long-term karate practice is associated with extensive modulation of immunological parameters. Karate training can also significantly improve motor skills. It can also play an important role in the development of willpower and personality traits that contribute to the well-being of its practitioners. Furthermore, nutritional and psychological interventions combined with karate training may improve cardiometabolic parameters, oxidative stress and inflammation. Karate training may also contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis and strengthen the left ventricular myocardium. Conclusions: It was found that there is a paucity of contemporary research on the health effects of karate training. In addition, they are limited to the individuals studied, so that generalisations about these effects in the general population of karate practitioners cannot be made. Full article

In this article, we focus on kynurenic acid metabolism in neuropsychiatric disorders and the biochemical processes involved in memory and cognitive impairment, followed by different approaches in the fight against dementia. Kynurenic acid—a biochemical part of L-tryptophan catabolism—is synthesized from L-kynurenine by kynurenine aminotransferases. Experimental pharmacological studies have shown that elevated levels of kynurenic acid in the brain are associated with impaired learning and that lowering kynurenic acid levels can improve these symptoms. The discovery of new compounds with the ability to block kynurenine aminotransferases opens new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of memory impairment and dementia. The newly developed Helix pomatia snail model of memory can be used for the assessment of novel pharmacological approaches. Dietary supplementation with natural molecular/herbal extracts, exercise, and physical activity have significant impacts on endogenous pharmacology by reducing kynurenic acid synthesis, and these factors are likely to significantly modulate steady-state biological conditions and delay the negative consequences of aging, including the onset of pathological processes. Full article