Search Results (4,069)

Coffee is deeply embedded in Saudi culture and is among the most consumed beverages worldwide. However, contamination by toxic heavy metals may represent an underrecognized public health concern, particularly in regions already burdened by diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) in 21 commercial coffee samples representing seven product categories marketed in Saudi Arabia. Samples were prepared using EPA Method 3050B acid digestion and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Health risks were assessed through estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) using USEPA exposure parameters and Saudi-specific coffee consumption data. All metals were detected in every sample. Mean concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) were 1.638 for Pb, 0.560 for Cd, 0.622 for Cr, 0.536 for Ni, and 0.034 for As. Cadmium exceeded the European Union maximum limit for roasted coffee in all samples, while elevated Pb levels were observed in dark roast and Yemeni coffees. Although the overall non-carcinogenic risk remained below the accepted threshold (HI = 0.438), the combined ILCR for As, Cd, and Pb was 5.84 × 10⁻⁵. Inclusion of a conservative screening-level chromium contribution, calculated by assuming that all measured total Cr was present as Cr(VI), increased the upper-bound total ILCR to 9.38 × 10⁻⁵. This value remained within, but approached the upper boundary of, the risk-management range applied in this study. These findings highlight the need for strengthened monitoring and regulatory control of coffee products in Saudi Arabia. Full article

Lead contamination remains a significant environmental and public health concern, creating a demand for analytical platforms that combine sensitivity, simplicity, and long-term stability. In this work, a graphene-containing molecular membrane matrix was developed for the fabrication of single-piece all-solid-state potentiometric sensors for Pb(II) detection. The sensing membrane consisted of poly(vinyl chloride), plasticizers, a Pb(II)-selective ionophore, lipophilic ionic sites, and dispersed graphene nanostructures, forming an integrated molecular sensing interface. Within the membrane phase, selective complexation of Pb(II) ions by the ionophore was coupled with graphene-assisted ion-to-electron transduction, enabling efficient signal generation without the need for a separate solid-contact layer. The influence of graphene incorporation and membrane thickness on sensor performance was systematically investigated. Among the tested configurations, a membrane prepared from 40 µL of sensing cocktail provided the best overall performance, combining high electrical capacitance, favorable surface properties, and superior potential stability. SEM imaging revealed a homogeneous membrane morphology without large graphene agglomerates, indicating effective dispersion of graphene within the polymer matrix. The optimized sensor exhibited a near-Nernstian slope of 30.3 mV dec⁻¹, a linear response range from 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻² M, a detection limit of 6.3 × 10⁻⁸ M, and a potential drift of only 0.35 mV h⁻¹. These results demonstrate that direct incorporation of graphene into an ion-selective membrane is an effective strategy for constructing robust and scalable single-piece potentiometric sensors for Pb(II) monitoring and highlight the potential of developed membrane materials for electrochemical sensing applications. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella enterica from aquatic animals represents an emerging food safety and public health concern, yet the global distribution patterns and trends remain insufficiently understood. Here, we performed a global genomic survey of Salmonella from aquatic animals using 2911 genomes collected from 67 countries across six continents between 1974 and 2025. These genomes represented 194 serovars and 364 sequence types. Notably, the dataset exhibited unbalanced geographical sampling, with Asian isolates accounting for 69.98% of all strains, which may limit the generalizability of our global trends. Globally, resistance to WHO-recommended clinically important antimicrobials showed substantial variation among antibiotic classes, with resistance rates for azithromycin (2.10%), cefepime (2.89%), cefotaxime (2.71%), ceftazidime (2.71%), and ceftriaxone (0.62%). Geographical differences were observed, with isolates from Asia exhibiting higher resistance levels, particularly for ciprofloxacin (13.50%) and doxycycline (18.02%). AMR temporal trends differed across geographical regions. A total of 111 acquired ARGs and 10 resistance-associated chromosomal mutations were identified, accompanied by changes in the distribution of resistance determinants. Collectively, this study provides a global genomic perspective on priority AMR in Salmonella from aquatic animals and highlights the importance of integrating aquaculture, environmental, and public health surveillance to monitor and mitigate AMR risks within the One Health framework. Full article

Routine monitoring of cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice is essential for public health protection and agricultural trade security. Conventional chemical detection methods are environmentally unfriendly, labor-intensive, and slow. This study presents a rapid, accurate classification approach based on near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for discriminating Cd-contaminated rice from uncontaminated rice. Five spectral preprocessing methods and three variable selection algorithms were systematically evaluated for their influence on model performance. Classification models were developed using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and support vector machines (SVM). Second derivative (2D) preprocessing yielded the greatest performance gains, raising KNN and SVM test-set accuracy from 73% and 88% to 93% and 91%, respectively. Among the variable selection strategies, the successive projections algorithm (SPA) proved most effective. Under optimized conditions, PLS-DA achieved the best overall performance, attaining 92% accuracy, 89% specificity, and 95% sensitivity on the test set. These results demonstrate the strong potential of NIRS coupled with machine learning for rapid, large-scale Cd surveillance in rice, providing robust technical support for grain quality monitoring and low-cadmium variety breeding programs. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly reshaped sports motion analysis through advances in wearable sensing, computer vision, and deep learning. However, existing reviews often focus on isolated techniques and lack a systematic evolutionary perspective. This study presents a 15-year bibliometric and evolutionary review of AI in sports motion analysis (2011–2025), integrating scientometric mapping with quantitative content analysis across modalities, methods, and applications. A comprehensive multi-source dataset of 2602 publications was analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to examine knowledge structures, collaboration patterns, co-citation networks, and emerging research fronts. In addition, each study was categorized by modality (wearable, visual, and multi-modal), AI method (traditional machine learning, deep learning, and transformer-based), and task type (activity recognition, performance analysis, rehabilitation, and others). The results reveal exponential growth and a clear three-stage evolution: a sensor-driven phase dominated by wearable devices and traditional machine learning (2011–2015), a deep learning expansion phase centered on vision-based modeling (2016–2019), and a recent deep learning consolidation phase characterized by emerging transformer-based methods, increasing multimodal integration, real-time monitoring, and application-oriented sports analytics (2020–2025). The field has shifted from signal-based recognition toward vision-centered performance evaluation, rehabilitation-related movement assessment, and injury-informed applications. This data-driven review provides an integrated evolutionary framework and future research roadmap to support the continued development of AI-driven analytics in sports science, athlete monitoring, and health-related human movement analysis. Full article

The Hwange Mining Area, located in the Mid-Zambezi Karoo Basin in northwestern Zimbabwe, is a major centre for coal mining, processing, and thermal power generation. This study evaluates the ecological and public health risks associated with these activities by characterising radionuclide (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K) activity concentrations in coal and surrounding soils using Hyper-Pure Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. Samples were collected from four locations, as follows: Hwange Colliery Company (underground and open-cast mines), Zambezi Gas open-cast operations, residential areas, and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) thermal power station. Radionuclide concentrations were measured using Hyper-Pure Germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. Mean activity concentrations in coal were low at both mining sites (Hwange Colliery: ²²⁶Ra 16 ± 5.3 Bq/kg), ²³²Th 14 ± 5.7 Bq/kg), (⁴⁰K 51 ± 8.8 Bq/kg) and Zambezi Gas (²²⁶Ra 9.80 ± 2.3 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (11 ± 3.3 Bq/kg), ⁴⁰K (43 ± 26 Bq/kg), well below UNSCEAR world coal averages. In contrast, soils from residential areas): ²²⁶Ra (36 ± 15 Bq/kg), ²³²Th (36 ± 12 Bq/kg) and ⁴⁰K (220 ± 80 Bq/kg), and the ZPC power station (²²⁶Ra 47 ± 8.6 Bq/kg, ²³²Th (42 ± 10 Bq/kg), and ⁴⁰K 230 ± 92 Bq/kg, showed markedly elevated concentrations, consistent with the accumulation of coal-combustion by-products such as fly ash. Radiological hazard indices remained within internationally accepted limits at all sites, as follows: radium equivalent (Raeq) ranged from 29 ± 6.7 Bq/kg (Zambezi Gas) to 120 ± 18 Bq/kg (ZPC), well below the 370 Bq/kg safety ceiling, while external and internal hazard indices (H_ex, H_in) remained below unity throughout, peaking at 0.32 and 0.46, respectively, at ZPC. Annual effective dose equivalents (AEDE) ranged from 16 ± 3.8 to 69 ± 10 μSv/year, the latter (ZPC) representing approximately 7% of the ICRP public dose limit of 1 mSv/year. Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values ranged from 5.56 × 10⁻⁵ (Zambezi Gas) to 2.42 × 10⁻⁴ (ZPC), remaining below the global average outdoor reference of 0.29 × 10⁻³ but reaching approximately 83% of this reference at ZPC and 71% in residential areas. These findings indicate that, while coal mining activities in Hwange contribute minimally to environmental radioactivity, coal combustion at the ZPC thermal power station is the dominant driver of elevated radionuclide concentrations and radiological indices in the surrounding environment, with residential soils reflecting the same enrichment pathway. Although no immediate radiological hazard was identified at any location, the comparatively higher indices at ZPC and in nearby residential areas underscore the need for continuous environmental monitoring, strengthened regulatory control, and targeted radiation protection strategies to safeguard workers and nearby communities. Full article

Background: Dengue has expanded rapidly beyond traditional tropical and subtropical regions, driven by climate change, urbanization, population mobility, and the spread of competent Aedes vectors. Vaccination is an increasingly important component of dengue prevention, but development has been complicated by four viral serotypes, antibody-dependent enhancement, variable baseline serostatus, and the need for balanced and durable tetravalent immunity. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and relevant public health and regulatory sources. Evidence on dengue epidemiology, immunopathogenesis, licensed vaccines, advanced candidates, efficacy, immunogenicity, safety, durability, and implementation was critically evaluated. Priority was given to randomized trials, long-term follow-up studies, regulatory assessments, and surveillance data. Evidence was synthesized descriptively without formal meta-analysis or risk-of-bias assessment. Results: CYD-TDV was the first licensed dengue vaccine but is restricted to individuals with documented previous infection because seronegative recipients may experience an increased risk of severe dengue. TAK-003 has demonstrated overall efficacy against virologically confirmed dengue and dengue-related hospitalization in both baseline-seropositive and baseline-seronegative populations. However, protection is heterogeneous by serotype, and evidence remains limited or uncertain for some serotype-by-serostatus strata. Butantan-DV offers a promising single-dose strategy, but broader use requires additional long-term safety, effectiveness, and serotype-specific data. Inactivated, DNA, viral-vectored, virus-like particle, and mRNA vaccines remain investigational. Conclusions: Dengue vaccination should be integrated with surveillance, vector control, clinical preparedness, and risk communication. Population-based vaccination is most appropriate in high-transmission settings, whereas selective, risk-based strategies are preferable in temperate regions. Continued pharmacovigilance and effectiveness monitoring are essential to guide safe and equitable implementation. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem, causing approximately 660,000 new cases and 348,000 deaths annually, with more than 90% occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO African Region accounts for approximately 20% of global cases and 30% of deaths. In November 2020, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination with 90–70–90 targets for 2030. Multi-age cohort (MAC) campaigns have emerged as a high-impact strategy for achieving population-level HPV vaccination coverage. This study documents the implementation and outcomes of HPV MAC campaigns across Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone in 2025. Methods: This multi-country mixed-methods analysis integrated quantitative administrative campaign data with qualitative programmatic assessments across eight operational readiness domains from the WHO Immunization Readiness Assessment Tool. Data were collected between January and December 2025 from national reports, WHO supervision missions, and partner reports. Coverage analysis used administrative data triangulated with independent monitoring. Equity analysis used school enrolment data and geographic accessibility indices. Results: The campaigns targeted 7,376,096 girls aged 9–18 years and reached approximately 6,306,294, achieving 85.5% overall coverage. Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone reported administrative coverage of 88.0%, 84.5%, 60.0% and 100%, respectively. All four countries achieved the minimum operational readiness threshold of 80% across all assessed domains. A total of 35,860 health workers were trained, with post-training competency scores increasing from 58.8% to 89.5%. Cold chain functionality exceeded 98% across all campaigns. A total of 314 cases of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) were reported, all classified as mild, giving an approximate rate of 5.0 per 100,000 doses. Coverage gaps between in-school and out-of-school girls ranged from 18 to 35 percentage points. Conclusions: The findings suggest that large-scale adolescent HPV immunization can be successfully implemented in resource-limited settings when supported by political commitment, multisectoral coordination and adequate operational resources. The single-dose schedule transition under Gavi 6.0 offers opportunities to simplify delivery. Priority actions include integrating HPV into routine immunization, scaling equity strategies for out-of-school girls and ensuring sustainable financing. Full article

Yeast infections are becoming an increasing public health concern, mainly due to the spread of opportunistic species and the emergence of strains resistant to commonly used antifungal drugs. Marine resources are a promising source of bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides and other biopolymers with potential antifungal applications. In this study, a sulphated polysaccharide-rich extract was obtained from the red alga Jania pedunculata var. adhaerens and chemically characterized. Its antifungal activity was compared with that of a commercial chitosan formulation against clinically relevant yeasts, including species of Candida, Cryptococcus, Clavispora, Naganishia and Trichosporon. Growth kinetics were monitored in liquid medium over 24 h, and antifungal activity was evaluated through growth rate analysis, growth inhibition at 20 h and susceptibility clustering. The sulphated polysaccharide-rich extract showed moderate but consistent growth inhibition, with the strongest effects observed at 5 mg mL⁻¹. Maximum growth inhibition reached 60.9% in Cryptococcus deuterogattii and 59.8% in Candida albicans, although no complete inhibition was observed within the tested concentration range. Chitosan showed a stronger antifungal effect, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 10 and 20 µg mL⁻¹ in several species and maximum inhibition values above 80% in the most susceptible yeasts. However, C. albicans showed marked resistance to chitosan, with inhibition below 12%. K-means clustering confirmed distinct susceptibility profiles between treatments, supporting a species-dependent response. Overall, these results highlight marine-derived biopolymers as promising antifungal candidates and show that chitosan and algal sulphated polysaccharides produce distinct, species-dependent antifungal profiles. Full article

Lead remains a public health priority, in spite of long-standing mitigation efforts. In drinking water, the source of lead is primarily the domestic distribution system. Thus, regulatory compliance monitoring fails to capture the magnitude of the problem. In order to assess lead concentrations in drinking water and identify populations at risk of lead exposure via drinking water, a nationally representative survey was carried out in Hungary. Municipalities were categorized and, where necessary, subdivided into neighborhoods based on the type of municipality, the corrosive nature of the supplied drinking water, and the potential presence of lead pipes in the mains and the domestic distribution systems. A total of 58 representative residential areas were selected for a 6-month sampling campaign. Random daytime (RDT) and 1 min flushed samples were collected from residential and public buildings and analyzed for lead by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Non-compliance rates were significantly higher in buildings built before 1945 (25% compared to 7% in newer buildings), when the use of lead pipes was general practice. Flushing reduced lead levels significantly, corresponding to 14% and 6% non-compliance in the RDT and flushed samples, respectively. No association was found with corrosive versus protective water quality. High risk areas were primarily identified in the capital and historic centers of cities. The results were translated into public information tools including a searchable map of lead risk areas and a simplified risk assessment tool for consumers. The survey outcomes also support national risk assessment for lead in drinking water, an upcoming obligation under the recast European Union drinking water regulation. Full article

Rapid advances in nanomaterials, wearable biosensors, multimodal acquisition, and artificial intelligence have enabled increasingly integrated health-monitoring systems, yet their progression toward health digital twins remains unclear. We conducted a protocol-driven scoping review of original studies combining nano-enabled multianalyte or multimodal sensing, AI-supported analysis, and health applications. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and IEEE Xplore were searched using a publication cutoff of 10 July 2026; platform execution was completed on 13 July 2026. Two reviewers independently screened 528 unique records and assessed 20 full-text reports. A 79-item charting form was jointly verified for 12 included studies. Nine studies reported reference-method or matrix-relevant analytical validation, nine included human-sample or on-body evidence, and six acquired longitudinal or continuous data. Under the author-proposed, corpus-specific functional classification, six systems were L0, five L1, and one L2; none of the 12 met the L3 or L4 functional criteria. No included study combined dynamic individual-state assimilation with prospective prediction or simulation, and none reported external-site validation or formal predictive uncertainty quantification. Because eligibility required nano-enablement, multiple analytes or channels, AI integration, and selected clinical domains, these findings do not estimate the prevalence or maturity of health digital twins in the wider literature. Progress requires longitudinal multimodal data, validated state updating, external generalization, confidence-aware AI, and prospective evaluation of governed feedback. Full article

Fraud in herbal medicines and botanical supplements—such as biological substitution, dilution with inert material, undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and intentional mislabeling—represents a significant and underestimated threat to public health. Beyond regulatory problems, fraudulent botanical products also compromise the scientific integrity of bioactive compound research. If pharmacological or clinical studies are carried out on adulterated material without knowing it, the resulting data on safety and efficacy become unreliable, and any conclusions drawn from such data are questionable. This review critically evaluates multi-platform metabolomics as an analytical decision-making framework for botanical fraud detection. Rather than cataloging available methods, we focus on the complete analytical pipeline: study design and sample strategy, multi-platform fingerprint acquisition and processing (NMR, GC-MS, LC-HRMS, HPTLC), and chemometric modeling, validation, and decision support. Particular emphasis is placed on data fusion across platforms and the requirements for producing decision-grade evidence—analytical outputs robust enough to support market monitoring and regulatory action. Full article

Background: Wastewater surveillance has emerged as an effective tool for population-level pathogen monitoring. Its application to mutations associated with resistance to antivirals remains comparatively underdeveloped. We assessed the wastewater epidemiology framework using SARS-CoV-2 as a model pathogen to evaluate spatial, temporal, and therapeutic class-specific resistance dynamics. Methods: We analyzed about 10,000 SARS-CoV-2-positive wastewater samples from six Ontario public health regions collected between October 2021 and July 2024. Fifty-five mutations were screened, comprising therapeutic resistance-associated mutations and a biologically distinct group of immune-evasion mutations. Mutations detected in ≥10 samples at ≥1% frequency were retained for spatiotemporal analysis using LOESS smoothing and Kruskal–Wallis testing. Results: Twelve mutations met the inclusion thresholds. S:E340D, associated with reduced susceptibility to sotrovimab was geographically widespread but transient and low-frequency. Five remdesivir-associated polymerase mutations were sporadic with sharp localized peaks, including two mutations exceeding 99% frequency in isolated catchments. Three nirmatrelvir-associated protease mutations were detected, with ORF1a:Q3452K showing significant regional variation. FLiRT and FLuQE immune-evasion mutations were most persistent and abundant. LOESS smoothing showed distinct temporal patterns among mutations, while Kruskal–Wallis testing identified significant regional variation for ORF1a:Q3452K and the three immune-evasion mutations. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that wastewater surveillance enables population-scale monitoring of antiviral resistance and immune escape-associated mutations and offers a scalable model for broader surveillance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aluminium is a widespread environmental element and food contaminant to which the general population is continuously exposed, primarily through diet and drinking water. Although gastrointestinal absorption is generally low, bioavailability varies according to chemical form, food matrix, and interactions with dietary components. Prolonged exposure can nevertheless result in gradual tissue accumulation. This review summarises current evidence on dietary aluminium exposure, factors influencing its bioavailability, toxicokinetics, biological effects, gut microbiota interactions, and population-level health risk. Methods: A comprehensive narrative literature review was conducted using publications retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Original research articles, review papers, and reports issued by international organisations were critically evaluated with particular emphasis on dietary sources, drinking water, food additives, food contact materials, gastrointestinal absorption, toxicokinetics, biological mechanisms, gut microbiota, and health risk assessment. Results: Food represents the principal source of aluminium exposure in the general population, while drinking water usually contributes a smaller but continuous fraction of total oral intake. Dietary exposure varies substantially between populations and is influenced by food composition, processing practices, the use of aluminium-containing additives, and migration from food contact materials. Aluminium bioavailability is modified by chemical speciation and dietary constituents, including citrate, phosphates, silicates, phytates, polyphenols, and essential minerals. Despite limited absorption, prolonged exposure can lead to gradual aluminium accumulation, particularly in bone tissue and the central nervous system. Proposed biological mechanisms include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, disruption of mineral homeostasis, and inflammatory signalling. Emerging evidence also indicates that aluminium may alter the gut microbiota, impair intestinal barrier integrity, and influence the gut–brain axis. Population exposure assessments show considerable regional variation, with some groups approaching or exceeding established tolerable weekly intake values. Conclusions: Dietary aluminium exposure represents a relevant issue in nutritional toxicology and food safety. Although current evidence does not establish that typical dietary exposure directly causes chronic disease, long-term exposure, differences in bioavailability, and the possibility of elevated intake in selected population groups justify continued monitoring and further prospective human studies. Future research should integrate dietary intake, aluminium speciation, nutritional status, biomarkers of internal exposure, and long-term health outcomes to improve risk assessment and support effective exposure-reduction strategies. Full article

Pathogen surveillance contributes to the prediction of outbreaks and implementation of strategies to minimize disease transmission. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) host important disease vectors and often support the proliferation of associated pathogens. Such vectors include ticks: hematophagous acarids that facilitate pathogen transmission between animals through blood feeding. Piroplasmida, an order of blood-borne protozoa including Babesia and Theileria, exploits this feeding to infect definitive hosts. Accordingly, we investigated the prevalence of Theileria cervi infections in Massachusetts white-tailed deer. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect parasite gene fragments encoding the small ribosomal subunit (18S rRNA). Confirmation of species identity was determined by Oxford nanopore sequencing and Sequencher analysis. This revealed a 32.6% prevalence of T. cervi across Massachusetts. Whilst surveillance of deer blood uncovers parasite abundance and distribution, inversely, this allows us to also monitor vector populations. As Amblyomma americanum is the only vector implicated in the transmission of T. cervi, the detection of T. cervi in regions without anticipated Amblyomma presence may indicate expansion of vector populations. These findings provide valuable insights into the prevalence and ecology of this piroplasm and its vector, with possible implications for veterinary and public health. Full article