Search Results (85,279)

Trichostrongylus species are zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodes that occasionally infect humans, particularly in rural areas with close contact to livestock. However, the global prevalence of human trichostrongylosis remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available prevalence data and describe regional and methodological differences in reported infections. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 reporting the prevalence of Trichostrongylus infections in humans (primarily T. colubriformis, T. axei, and T. orientalis) were searched in six databases (EMBASE, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, Nursing & Allied Health Premium, and Web of Science) and Google Scholar. Pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess prevalence by continent, country, population group, and diagnostic method. Thirty-seven studies from 14 countries, comprising 111,408 participants, were included. Most studies were conducted in Asia (23, 62.2%), particularly in Iran (12, 32.4%), and in Africa (12, 32.4%), mainly in Nigeria (5, 13.5%). The global pooled prevalence of Trichostrongylus infection was 1.2%. Prevalence was highest in Africa (1.7%), followed by South America (1.2%), Asia (1.0%), and Europe (0.8%). Subgroup analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity in prevalence across study populations, age groups, and detection methods (p < 0.05). Available evidence suggests that human Trichostrongylus infection remains a localized but persistent zoonotic concern in specific endemic regions, rather than a globally uniform problem. Diagnostic variability, limited regional coverage, and high heterogeneity highlight the need for standardized molecular diagnostics and broader surveillance to accurately define the global epidemiology of trichostrongylosis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is frequently used to evaluate back pain and other spinal indications in the pediatric population. However, the diagnostic value in the pediatric population remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of spinal abnormalities detected by MRI in children and adolescents and to identify factors associated with MRI findings of added diagnostic value. Methods: A retrospective two-centre cohort study was conducted among 229 patients aged 0–16 years who underwent spinal MRI at two hospitals. MRI findings were classified into five categories: (1) no finding; (2) spinal incidental finding; (3) confirmed diagnosis with no additional information; (4) confirmed diagnosis/severity with additional information; and (5) new diagnosis. In categories 4 and 5, there was an added value of the MRI scan. Patients with and without added MRI findings were compared regarding age, gender, presence of night pain, exercise-dependent pain, sharp pain localization, trauma, neurological abnormalities, and symptom duration. Results: The prevalence of MRI abnormalities related to the patient’s complaints was 19.2%. When the ‘added value of MRI’ group is compared to the ‘no added value of MRI group’, neurological abnormalities (p = 0.009) and shorter symptom duration (p = 0.002) were statistically associated with abnormal MRI findings. Stratified analysis showed that MRIs provided added diagnostic value more frequently in patients with clinical indications other than chronic back pain. Most abnormalities were located in the lumbar spine, with spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis and discopathy as the most common findings. Conclusions: Although spinal MRIs frequently detected abnormalities, only a small proportion of MRIs revealed findings that provided added diagnostic or therapeutic value. This highlights the importance of developing clear criteria for spinal MRI use in children and adolescents to minimize unnecessary imaging, limit patient burden, and optimize healthcare resources. Full article

Enterobiasis, caused by the nematode Enterobius vermicularis, remains a widespread public health issue, yet data regarding its genetic structure in Southeast Europe are scarce. This study presents the first molecular and phylogenetic characterization of E. vermicularis isolates from Bulgaria. Between 2022 and 2025, perianal tape test samples were collected from 128 individuals (92.2% of whom were children) with enterobiasis from 17 regions of the country. Molecular identification was performed via nested PCR targeting a 324 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, followed by Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using Maximum Likelihood (IQ-TREE), and population genetic indices were calculated using DnaSP v6. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 128 Bulgarian isolates belong to genotype B, clustering closely with sequences from other European and Asian countries. Genetic diversity analysis showed remarkably low variation, with a haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.1507 ± 0.0416 and a nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.00082 ± 0.00015. Among the 11 identified haplotypes, a single dominant haplotype (Hap_1) accounted for 92.2% of all samples and was distributed across all sampled geographic regions. Tajima’s D was significantly negative (−2.314, < 0.05), suggesting a recent population expansion or purifying selection. The dominance of genotype B and the extremely low genetic diversity suggest a recent introduction or clonal expansion of E. vermicularis in Bulgaria. These findings provide essential baseline data for monitoring transmission dynamics and implementing effective control strategies in the Balkan region. Full article

Roads impact medium- and large-sized mammal populations through both collisions and barrier effects. This study examined how landscape characteristics influence roadkill occurrences along the Dom Pedro I highway (SP-065), located in the Cantareira-Mantiqueira Corridor, São Paulo State, Brazil. The SP-065 crosses important remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a global hotspot for biodiversity. Roadkill records were obtained from the Environmental Company of the State, and land use data were extracted from the MapBiomas platform. We analyzed seven landscape variables (in percentage): native forest, pasture, agriculture, forestry, urban areas, mosaic of uses, and water bodies, considering multiple spatial scales. Mammal species were grouped functionally by home range size and tolerance to anthropogenic environments. In total, 1418 roadkills of 24 species were recorded, including eight threatened species. Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) were the most frequently killed species. Generalized linear models showed that, for Group G1 (small home range, common in human-modified areas), roadkills were positively associated with native forest and pasture, and negatively with mosaic landscapes. For Group G3 (large home range, tolerant to anthropogenic areas), agriculture had a positive effect, especially within a 3000 m radius. For Group G5 (capybara), roadkills increased with pasture and agriculture, while mosaic uses had a negative effect. Since pasture and agriculture were frequently linked to higher roadkill rates, environmental impact assessments should consider these land-use types when planning mitigation actions. Ultimately, responsibility for roadkill extends beyond highway managers to rural landowners and local governments, as land-use patterns around roads strongly influence mammal movement and mortality. Full article

Landscape features often shape maternal genetic structure by influencing connectivity. In this study, habitat fragmentation, a major threat to the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), was assessed through an integrated approach involving mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), habitat-suitability modeling, and circuit-based landscape-resistance analyses. Two regions from Thailand, Phu Khieo (PK) and Khao Ang Rue Nai (ARN) Wildlife Sanctuaries, were investigated. Fourteen mtDNA haplotypes were identified among 66 samples, with relatively high diversity and population expansion in PK. Maternal genetic differentiation was identified between the PK and ARN groups. Environmental variables, such as urbanization and road proximity in ARN and topographic wetness and stream distance in PK, were associated with genetic distances, suggesting these features restricted female-mediated connectivity. Fine-scale spatial analysis revealed significant local genetic structure only in PK, whereas no autocorrelation was detected in ARN, suggesting potential impacts of fragmentation. Genetic landscape surfaces illustrated spatial heterogeneity, pinpointing isolation zones near high anthropogenic disturbance. These findings demonstrate that broad-scale models may overlook fine-scale patterns of maternal genetic isolation. Therefore, conservation strategies should incorporate spatially explicit analyses to identify and restore crucial movement corridors, particularly in fragmented regions like ARN, for promoting connectivity and population viability. Full article

This paper develops classical and Bayesian inferential procedures for Weibull exponential lifetime models under joint progressive Type-II censoring, motivated by comparative reliability analysis of products manufactured across multiple production lines. The theoretical framework is formulated for a general setting involving k independent Weibull exponential populations, allowing for flexible modeling of heterogeneous lifetime behaviors under a common censoring scheme. Maximum likelihood estimators and their asymptotic confidence intervals are derived, and Bayesian estimation is conducted using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods under both squared-error and LINEX loss functions. For numerical illustration and practical interpretability, the primary emphasis of the simulation study, expected-failure analysis, and real-data applications is placed on the two-population case (k = 2), which commonly arises in comparative life-testing scenarios such as the evaluation of two production lines or systems. Explicit expressions for the expected number of failures are presented for two populations, and their performance is examined through Monte Carlo simulations under various censoring schemes. The proposed methods are further illustrated using real datasets, demonstrating their applicability and effectiveness in reliability assessment. Overall, the results show that the proposed inferential procedures perform well under joint progressive censoring and provide a useful statistical framework for comparative reliability analysis, with methodology that naturally extends to general k-population settings. Full article

Background: Apical periodontitis (AP) is a common inflammatory condition of the periapical tissues, most often associated with persistent endodontic infection. Conventional two-dimensional radiography may underestimate AP because of anatomical superimposition and limited sensitivity. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows three-dimensional visualization of periapical structures and has been increasingly used in epidemiological research. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of apical periodontitis, with particular emphasis on apical periodontitis associated with root canal-treated teeth (AP-RCT), in a Saudi subpopulation using CBCT imaging. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed CBCT scans of Saudi patients obtained for routine diagnostic purposes between 2017 and 2021. Apical periodontitis was identified using standardized radiographic criteria requiring the presence of periapical radiolucency in more than one imaging plane. Demographic and clinical variables were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate prevalence. Associations between demographic factors and AP-RCT counts were evaluated using multivariable negative binomial regression. Regional tooth distribution was analyzed using generalized estimating equation models accounting for within-participant clustering. Results: A total of 320 CBCT scans were analyzed. Apical periodontitis was detected in 231 participants (72.2%) and in 667 teeth (8.3% of examined teeth). Of the affected teeth, 457 (68.5%) were associated with root canal treatment. The mean number of AP-RCT per participant was 1.36 ± 1.81 (median: 1; IQR: 0–2). Multivariable analysis identified age as the only significant predictor of AP-RCT. Compared with individuals aged 21–30 years, higher AP-RCT rates were observed in the 31–40-year and 41–50-year age groups, while participants ≤20 years showed lower rates. Tooth-level analysis demonstrated higher AP-RCT prevalence in maxillary premolars, maxillary molars, and mandibular molars, whereas mandibular anterior teeth showed the lowest prevalence. Conclusions: Apical periodontitis, particularly AP-RCT, was frequently observed in this Saudi subpopulation when assessed using CBCT. Age and tooth location were the primary determinants of disease distribution. These findings provide population-level epidemiological data on the prevalence and anatomical distribution of apical periodontitis in root canal-treated teeth. Clinical Significance: CBCT-based epidemiological assessment enables detailed evaluation of the distribution of apical periodontitis in dentate populations and may assist in characterizing disease patterns in anatomically complex regions, without implying comparative diagnostic accuracy or treatment outcome assessment. Full article

Background/Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined factors associated with diabetic foot complications and identified areas for targeted interventions. Methods: Participants were selected from Dubai Health Authority (DHA) primary health care centers (PHCCs) and divided into two groups: those with diabetic foot complications (DFC) and those without (non-DFC). Data were collected through demographic surveys and a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to foot care. Results: A significant age disparity was observed within the study population, with 70.6% of individuals in the DFC group being over 60 years. In contrast, only 41.8% of the non-DFC group fell within the same age range, underscoring the potential role of age as a critical risk factor. Analysis of KAP towards diabetic foot care did not reveal any notable differences when stratified by sex, employment status, or overall educational attainment. However, a higher proportion of individuals within the DFC group reported having received no formal education. Furthermore, participation in foot care education programmes was significantly correlated with enhanced knowledge (p < 0.001) and improved practices (p = 0.013). Overall, individuals within the DFC group exhibited significantly poorer self-care practices regarding foot health (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This finding indicates a pressing need for targeted educational interventions aimed at improving outcomes and reducing complications among patients with diabetes. Full article

Rapid urbanization and infrastructure expansion in Ghana have intensified demand for concrete, yet reliable, context-specific forecasting tools to support long-term infrastructure planning and resource management remain limited. Existing demand models are largely developed for advanced economies or focused on cement production rather than final concrete consumption, limiting the applicability to rapid urbanizing developing countries. This study addresses this gap by developing an integrated forecasting framework to quantify and project concrete demand in Ghana. Using time-series data spanning 2000–2025, the study employs a modelling approach that combines the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and Error Correction Model (ECM) to examine both short- and long-run relationships between concrete consumption and key macroeconomic indicators, including GDP, population, GDP growth, concrete prices, housing loan interest rates, lending rates, and exchange rates. Forecast results for 2025–2030 indicated a sustained upward trend in concrete consumption, increasing from 39,278.52 m³ in 2026 to 99,430.53 m³ in 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 26.3% and a mean projected demand of 67,730.83 m³. Model evaluation metrics demonstrated high predictive accuracy, confirming the robustness of the proposed framework. The study contributes to the literature on construction demand forecasting by providing a context-specific, empirically validated model of concrete consumption in a developing economy. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and construction managers, underscoring the need to proactively scale local production capacity, strengthen supply-chain logistics, and promote sustainable material sourcing to support infrastructure development. Full article

Nationwide hospital discharge databases are increasingly used in infectious disease research, yet their methodological strengths and limitations are rarely synthesised. In Spain, the Minimum Basic Data Set (Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos, CMBD) was implemented in 1987 and provides near-universal coverage of acute-care hospitalisations and has been widely applied in infectious disease epidemiology. However, its overall contribution and intrinsic constraints have not been comprehensively mapped. Given the breadth of infections, study designs, populations and outcome definitions in CMBD-based research, effect-size synthesis was not feasible; therefore, we conducted a scoping review with an evidence-mapping approach. We aimed to synthesise the scope, applications and methodological limitations of CMBD-based infectious disease research since its implementation. We conducted a scoping review following JBI guidance and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus were searched from inception to 25 November 2024 for peer-reviewed journal articles in English or Spanish using CMBD data to investigate infectious diseases in Spain (no restrictions were applied by study design; grey literature was excluded). Screening, data charting and synthesis were completed during 2025. Four reviewers independently screened records and charted data. Studies were classified by infectious disease focus, syndromic category, study design and geographical scope. A total of 359 studies published between 1996 and 2024 were included, mostly retrospective observational analyses. Infectious diseases were the primary focus in 225 studies (62.7%), most commonly respiratory, gastrointestinal/liver and vaccine-preventable infections. Subnational analyses were concentrated in a limited number of regions. Over 80% of reported limitations reflected intrinsic CMBD features. Over three decades, the CMBD has become a cornerstone of hospital-based infectious disease research in Spain, enabling robust national analyses. However, limitations in clinical detail, microbiological confirmation and coding consistency constrain aetiological specificity and causal inference, highlighting the need for data validation and linkage with complementary sources. Full article

Petroleum contamination significantly impacts soil microbial communities and vegetation; however, the long-term effectiveness of phytoremediation remains poorly understood. This study evaluated soil microbiological activity, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations, and physiological responses five years after the remediation of a petroleum spill site in central Poland. Following a pipeline failure in June 2020 that released diesel fuel and gasoline into the riparian habitat, the contaminated area underwent remediation using Urtica dioica L. as the primary phytoremediator. Soil samples from five plots along a contamination gradient were analyzed for microbial abundance (total bacteria, fungi, fluorescent Pseudomonas sp.), PAH fractions (C6–C12, C13–C16, C17–C35), and physicochemical properties. Chlorophyll fluorescence (JIP test) on two species was used to assess plant photosynthetic efficiency. Results revealed that successful PAH degradation required high fungal abundance rather than optimal soil fertility. Plots with 8–9-fold higher fungal populations achieved 69–81% reduction in heavy PAHs (C17–C35), while the Control plot, despite superior physicochemical properties, maintained high contamination due to low fungal colonization. Urtica dioica exhibited exceptional tolerance (stable maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) and elevated photosynthetic performance index (PIabs)) across all contamination levels, whereas Poa trivialis L. showed significant stress responses. The principal component analysis confirmed that soil texture influences fungal establishment, with sandy soils favoring aerobic degradation despite lower nutrient retention. These findings demonstrate that phytoremediation success depends critically on fungal-mediated biodegradation rather than baseline soil quality alone. Full article

Pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at an increased risk of severe disease and adverse outcomes. Nevertheless, comprehensive data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children with diabetes during the post-pandemic period remain limited. This study assessed the VE against severe COVID-19 outcomes during both the pandemic and post-pandemic phases in children with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). A cohort study based on population data was carried out, including all patients under 18 years of age with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection as registered in the Brazilian national surveillance systems from February 2020 to June 2025. The main outcomes were hospitalization due to COVID-19 and severe illness, which included admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), need for invasive ventilation, and death. Utilizing a propensity score-matched cohort, we estimated the VE and the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) for a booster dose against these outcomes by comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, employing conditional logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. The cohort comprised 3,730,007 pediatric patients with COVID-19, of whom 7675 (0.2%) had DM. At baseline, children with DM exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of hospitalization (11.2% vs. 2.0%), severe COVID-19 (6.4% vs. 0.6%), and mortality (1.9% vs. 0.1%) than those without DM (all p < 0.001). During the pandemic period, the adjusted VE was consistently higher in children with DM. Against severe disease, the VE was 72.8% (95% CI: 12.3–93.2) in the DM cohort compared with 45.7% (28.1–59.0) in the non-DM cohort. This increased effectiveness corresponded to a more favorable NNV; the NNV to prevent one severe case was 24 (95% CI: 12–232) for children with DM versus 243 (168–440) for those without DM. In the post-pandemic period, the VE remained significantly higher in the DM cohort. Against severe disease, the VE was 76.2% (11.5–93.5) for children with DM and 52.9% (32.7–67.1) for those without. The NNV to prevent one severe case was consistently lower in the DM cohort (8 vs. 591). In conclusion, a complete vaccination regimen, including a booster dose, substantially mitigated severe COVID-19 outcomes in children with DM in the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Full article

Background: While research shows childhood cancer survivors experience elevated subsequent primary neoplasm (SPN) and premature mortality risks, few studies have included contemporary survivors. Methods: This study quantifies the risk of SPNs and mortality among modern survivors of childhood cancer. Utilizing a retrospective, population-based cohort of individuals diagnosed with cancer before the age of 18 in Alberta, Canada (2001–2018), we evaluated their risks of SPNs and mortality compared to the general population in Alberta, overall and after 5-year survival, using standardized mortality and incidence ratios, and absolute excess risks per 10,000 person-years. Results: Among 2581 survivors, including 1385 5-year survivors, 50 individuals developed at least one SPNs and 408 deaths were observed, with 21 SPNs and 38 deaths occurring after 5-year survival. The SPN incidence was 13.3- (95% CI: 9.8–17.5) and 10.0-fold (95% CI: 6.2–15.2) higher than expected overall and in 5-year survivors, respectively, with risks varying depending on the treatment received. For mortality, survivors experienced 62.5-fold (95% CI: 56.5–68.8) higher mortality than expected overall, equating to 233.9 (95% CI: 210.8–257.0) excess deaths per 10,000 person-years, with corresponding risks among 5-year survivors at 10.9 (95% CI: 7.7–15.0) and 43.8 (95% CI: 28.4–59.1), respectively. The excess deaths were predominantly due to recurrence/progression (89.9% overall, 66.4% in 5-year survivors), with SPNs and non-neoplastic causes contributing more excess deaths with increasing follow-up time. Risks for mortality included treatment and cancer type. Conclusions: Contemporary childhood cancer survivors in Alberta experience substantial excess SPNs and mortality, highlighting the need for long-term surveillance and tailored risk mitigation interventions. Full article

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is 17–18%, substantially higher than the ~9–10% reported in Western populations, with some Gulf states approaching 25% in adults. Historically, Arab diets, characterized by high fiber intake from whole grains, legumes, and fermented dairy products, have contrasted markedly with the Western dietary pattern increasingly prevalent among urbanized Arab populations. These nutritional shifts have been associated with changes in gut microbial composition, including lower representation of short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria and higher abundance of dysbiosis-associated taxa. Concurrently, diet-derived compounds and microbial metabolites have been associated with changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression. Epigenome-wide association studies revealed both shared and population-specific methylation signatures in patients with T2D. However, integrated multi-omics studies remain limited in Arab populations, where the disease burden is highest. This review integrates emerging evidence on diet-linked epigenetic alterations, microbiome-associated metabolic pathways, and their intersection in potentially contributing to T2D risk and progression. Given the heterogeneity of T2D across populations, there is a pressing need for culturally contextualized precision medicine frameworks that integrate population-specific diet–microbiome–epigenome dynamics rather than extrapolating findings across populations. Additionally, this review synthesizes evidence that dietary patterns are associated with T2D-relevant pathways through the diet–microbiome–epigenome axis, with emphasis on Arab/MENA populations and Western comparator cohorts. Full article

Glutathione-S-Transferase T1 (GSTT1) and M1 (GSTM1) are key enzymes involved in phase II detoxification. Null genotypes resulting from gene deletions are known to cause a complete loss of enzymatic activity and have been associated with altered xenobiotic metabolism in previous studies. Although genotype frequencies vary across ethnic groups, data from non-European populations, particularly Andean populations, remain limited. In this cross-sectional study, the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes was determined in 206 individuals from Cusco and Junín. Genotyping was performed by PCR using genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood. The frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype was 49.51%, whereas that of GSTT1 was 25.24%. Combined genotype analysis showed that 63.11% of participants carried at least one null genotype and 11.65% carried both null variants. No significant differences were observed between Cusco and Junín. Compared with previously reported data, these frequencies were similar to those observed in Peruvian coastal and several South American populations. At the intercontinental level, frequencies were comparable to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia but differed from Sub-Saharan Africa and Native American populations. This first molecular characterization of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in Andean populations provides a population-specific genetic baseline for pharmacogenetics and precision medicine research in high-altitude settings. Full article