Search Results (920)

Background: The alternative Overlap Syndrome (aOVS), the coexistence of bronchial asthma and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), represents a distinct clinical phenotype associated with worse clinical outcomes, but little is yet known about its characteristics. We aimed to investigate differences in sleep stability and clinical burden between OSA and aOVS patients matched for age, gender, BMI and Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). Methods: 45 aOVS and 45 OSA patients were compared using demographic, clinical and polysomnographic data. Results: Patients with aOVS exhibited significantly higher odds ratio product (ORP) values for total sleep time (ORPmed: 0.8 ± 0.2 vs. 0.5 ± 0.1, p < 0.001) and Non-Rapid Eye Movement (ORPnr: 0.7 ± 0.3 vs. 0.4 ± 0.1, p < 0.001) sleep compared with OSA patients. Furthermore, patients with aOVS showed a significantly higher risk of developing clinically significant anxiety and fatigue, showing a significantly higher General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7: 8.7 ± 5.6 vs. 5.7 ± 4.7, p = 0.02) and significantly higher prevalence of fatigue (71% vs. 41%, p = 0.01). These associations remained significant after multivariable adjustment and were independent of OSA severity (AHI). Conclusions: Our findings support the concept that aOVS is characterised by significantly more unstable sleep and a greater psychological burden, even after matching with OSA patients for age, gender, BMI and AHI. Our study also highlights the need to integrate traditional sleep measures with more recent ones, such as ORP, in order to better capture the multidimensional burden of aOVS. Full article

Light exposure is a primary zeitgeber for the human circadian system and plays a key role in shaping sleep–wake patterns during adolescence, a period marked by biological sensitivity and social constraints. How the temporal organization and spectral composition of daily light exposure differ between weekdays and weekends remains poorly understood. Eighteen adolescents (15–17 years) were monitored for seven days using wrist actigraphy with integrated light sensors. Sleep parameters, nonparametric circadian rhythm indices, and time-resolved profiles of ambient and spectral (blue, green, and red) light exposure were analyzed. Repeated-measures ANOVA tested the effects of time of day and day type. Total sleep time and time in bed were longer on weekdays than on weekends (p < 0.05), while sleep latency and WASO did not differ. Circadian indices indicated preserved rhythmic organization. Light exposure showed a robust diurnal profile, with higher spectral irradiance on weekends (p < 0.001), especially in the morning and early afternoon. Significant time × day-type interactions were observed across all spectral bands (p < 0.001), indicating systematic reshaping of daily light profiles. Adolescents exhibit weekday–weekend differences in the temporal and spectral organization of light exposure, affecting the amplitude and shape of overall daily profiles. Full article

Sleep quality is essential for maintaining physical health and psychological resilience. Because sleepwear remains in direct contact with the skin throughout the night, it may affect thermoregulation and comfort and, thereby, influence sleep. This randomized two-period, two-sequence crossover study investigated whether sleepwear infused with nanodiamond and nanoplatinum particles (DPV576) could improve sleep quality and promote fatigue recovery under free-living conditions. Fourteen healthy men (23.9 ± 1.7 years) wore DPV576 sleepwear and visually indistinguishable standard polyester sleepwear for one week each, separated by a one-week washout. Sleep was assessed using a wearable ECG-based actigraphy device; trained researchers additionally performed manual rescoring to verify automated outputs, including independent determination of sleep onset latency. Subjective sleep was assessed daily using the Sleep Quality Index of Daily Sleep and a visual analog scale; exploratory outcomes included voice-derived biomarkers and pre-/post-sleep grip strength. In manual rescoring, DPV576 was associated with higher sleep efficiency (93.0 ± 0.9% vs. 89.5 ± 1.5%, p < 0.05), fewer awakenings (8.4 ± 1.3 vs. 10.7 ± 1.4, p < 0.01), and shorter wake after sleep onset (30.4 ± 4.7 vs. 41.6 ± 6.0 min, p < 0.01), whereas total sleep time did not differ significantly (p = 0.096). These findings suggest that one-week use of DPV576 sleepwear may improve wearable ECG-derived sleep consolidation in young men, supporting a nonpharmacological wearable strategy to enhance sleep efficiency in everyday settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mental health conditions, including stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems, represent a significant health concern globally. Mounting evidence suggests a link between mental health and the gut microbiome via the gut–brain axis. However, discrepancies in human microbiome data exist due to the heterogeneity in study design and analytical approaches. Thus, this study aimed to explore the gut microbial characteristics associated with self-reported mental health symptoms using multiple analytical methods. Methods: A total of 44 healthy adults, defined as individuals without any major chronic medical conditions, were assessed for mental health symptoms using self-reported questionnaire data. To evaluate gut microbial characteristics, stool samples were collected at six time points over 28 days and underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Differential abundance was assessed via ANCOM-BC, and a random forest classifier was implemented to rank features important for the classification of mental health symptoms. Participants who did not report anxiety, stress, depression, or sleep problems served as the reference group for microbiome comparisons. Results: The proportion of participants with self-reported mental health symptoms was 11.4% (stress), 27.3% (depression), 31.8% (anxiety), and 15.9% (sleep problems). Participants reporting mental health symptoms showed differences in gut microbiome composition compared to asymptomatic participants, including variation in alpha- and beta-diversity. Differential analysis identified specific taxa with higher or lower relative abundance in participants reporting specific mental health symptoms. Random forest feature ranking identified partially overlapping taxa across methods, suggesting candidate associations warranting further investigation. Conclusions: These exploratory findings suggest that self-reported mental health symptoms in otherwise healthy adults are associated with differences in the gut microbiome. The taxa identified in this study represent candidates for validation in larger, independent cohorts. Full article

Ashwagandha, a revered herb in Ayurvedic medicine for over 3000 years, is recognized for its potential benefits in regulating sleep and supporting overall vitality. This study evaluated the comparative effects of Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) and melatonin (MLT) on sleep quality in adults. In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 200 men and women aged 18–50 years were randomized to receive ARE (300 mg twice daily; n = 50), MLT (3 mg/day; n = 50), a combination of ARE (600 mg/day) and MLT (3 mg/day; n = 50), or placebo (n = 50) for eight weeks. The primary outcome was the change in sleep onset latency (SOL) from baseline to week eight, measured by actigraphy. Secondary outcomes included actigraphy-based changes in total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE), as well as subjective measures such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). At week eight, SOL was significantly reduced across treatment groups, with the ARE–MLT (p < 0.0001) combination showing the greatest improvement. The combination group also demonstrated significant improvements in TST (p < 0.0001), WASO (p < 0.0001), and SE (p < 0.0001), whereas ARE and MLT monotherapy produced moderate but comparable benefits. Inferential analyses confirmed statistically significant improvements in objective and subjective sleep measures (p < 0.0001). Safety analyses indicated that mild adverse events occurred across all groups, with no clinically significant between-group differences. Overall, both Ashwagandha and melatonin improved sleep disturbances in adults, with combination therapy producing the most consistent and pronounced benefits. Full article

Background/Objectives: The global incidence of diabetes in childhood is increasing, raising concern about its long-term effects on the developing brain. Although paediatric diabetes research has traditionally focused on microvascular and macrovascular complications, accumulating evidence indicates that the brain is also a vulnerable target. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the impact of diabetes on brain health in children and adolescents, with emphasis on epidemiology, neuroimaging and cognitive outcomes, underlying mechanisms, risk and protective factors, and clinical implications. Results: In type 1 diabetes (T1D), studies consistently demonstrate subtle but measurable alterations in brain structure, including reduced growth of total, grey, and white matter volumes, alongside functional and microstructural changes. These neurobiological differences are associated with mild deficits in cognition, particularly in attention, executive function, memory, and processing speed. While clinically significant impairment affects a minority, subclinical alterations are common and may accumulate over time. Key risk factors include chronic hyperglycaemia, glycaemic variability, severe hypoglycaemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and younger age at onset, whereas good glycaemic stability, diabetes technologies, supportive psychosocial environments, and adequate sleep appear protective. Proposed mechanisms involve oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, disrupted insulin signalling, altered cerebral metabolism, and vulnerability of the immature brain during critical developmental windows. Type 2 diabetes (T2D), increasingly diagnosed in youth, is also associated with adverse brain outcomes. Emerging data link early-onset T2D to alterations in brain structure and connectivity, poorer cognitive performance, and increased mental health burden, mediated by hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, inflammation, and psychosocial stressors. Conclusions: Overall, childhood diabetes—both T1D and T2D—is associated with meaningful effects on brain development and function. Longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to establish causality and determine whether optimizing glycaemic control and psychosocial support can mitigate neurocognitive risk. Recognizing brain health as a potential complication of paediatric diabetes has important implications for monitoring, prevention, and clinical care. Full article

Background/Objectives: Acute total sleep deprivation (TSD) is known to impair working memory capacity. However, the specific relationship between alterations in the brain’s electrical power spectrum following TSD and working memory deficits remains poorly understood. Methods: In this study, 30 healthy young adults (14 males and 16 females) were enrolled, and 28 participants were finally included in the analysis after excluding EEG data with excessive noise, who underwent a verbal working memory task under two conditions: baseline sleep (BL) and 36 h of TSD. EEG data were recorded concurrently. Results: We observed a significant decrease in working memory accuracy and a significant prolongation of reaction time after TSD. Furthermore, TSD led to a significant enhancement of parietal alpha-ERD (at electrodes P3/Pz/P4) and theta-ERS, accompanied by a reduction in N2 and P3 wave amplitudes. Conclusions: These findings suggest that TSD may impair working memory by weakening parietal alpha-ERD and early conflict monitoring and late attention evaluation processes. The enhanced theta-ERS might represent a compensatory mechanism. Full article

Background: Traumatic spinal injuries (TSI) are often associated with substantial physical burden and potential psychological consequences. Early detection of depressive symptoms may be important for improving quality of life during recovery. Despite the high prevalence of injury, unique sociocultural factors affecting mental health, and the need to optimize long-term rehabilitation outcomes, there is a lack of longitudinal assessments of depression in TSI patients in this region of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa). This study aimed to examine the occurrence of depressive symptoms following TSI over a 3-month period. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted to assess the occurrence of depression in TSI patients admitted between 2019 and 2022 at the Hamad Trauma Center. Conscious patients aged 18–65 years diagnosed with TSI were included. Perceived social support was assessed using the RAND Social Support Survey (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey), a validated instrument measuring multiple dimensions of social support. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a widely validated self-administered screening tool for depressive symptoms, was utilized twice: at 2 weeks and at 3 months post-trauma to evaluate early-onset depressive symptoms and their persistence or resolution over time. Results: A total of 189 TSI were included. The cohort was predominantly young individuals. The most common mechanisms of injury included falls (42.1%) and motor vehicle crashes (31.1%). The mean Injury Severity Score was 16.5 ± 8.2 and the spine Abbreviated Injury Scale score was 2.4 ± 0.7. Injuries involved cervical (32.8%), thoracic (38.1%), and lumbo-sacral (6.9%) regions. A total of 32.6% underwent spinal surgery, and 9.0% experienced neurological deficits. Most patients reported emotional and informational support (69%), and 62% reported caregiving support. At 2 weeks post-trauma, patients demonstrated mild depressive symptoms, with a mean PHQ-9 score of 4.6 ± 5.1, which decreased to 2.5 ± 4.2 at 3 months. The proportion of patients screening positive for depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) decreased from 39.1% (52/133) at 2 weeks to 19.5% (26/133) at 3 months, corresponding to a 19.6% absolute reduction over the follow-up period. A subset of patients reported increased feelings of depression or hopelessness and sleep disturbances at three months compared with two weeks post-trauma. Conclusions: Patients with TSIs experience psychological distress in the early post-injury period, with a subset screening positive for depressive symptoms. Although depressive symptom scores declined over 3 months, continued psychological screening and follow-up care remain important components of comprehensive TSI management during recovery and rehabilitation. Our results should be considered cautiously because of gender-biased findings, single center data and potential attrition bias. Full article

The role of body position during sleep, particularly the supine position, is now recognized as an important factor in the development of sleep-disordered breathing such as snoring, apnea, and hypopnea. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a new wearable vibrotactile device (SoftSleep) in reducing sleep time in the supine position without negatively affecting total sleep duration or perceived sleep quality. This pilot study included 20 healthy volunteers. Sleep was monitored over two consecutive nights: the first night without positional therapy (PT) and the second night using a PT device. The primary outcome measures were total sleep time, sleep duration in the supine position, number of position changes, and subjective sleep quality (using the modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Use of SoftSleep showed a significant reduction in the mean proportion of sleep in the supine position from 56.01% to 7.84% (p < 0.001). Total sleep time did not change significantly (7:39 ± 1:33 vs. 7:42 ± 1:19; p > 0.05). A moderate increase in the number of position changes was not accompanied by a deterioration in subjective sleep quality: 90% of participants rated their sleep with the device as very good or fairly good. Only three participants reported brief awakenings, which did not affect their overall perception of nighttime rest. These results indicate that the SoftSleep device effectively promotes sleep in a non-supine position without altering sleep quality or subjective perception of sleep. The high tolerability of the device confirms its potential for further clinical evaluation in patients with positional sleep apnea. Full article

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), particularly nocturia, though mechanisms including hypoxia, intrathoracic pressure changes, and hormonal alterations. While age and severity may influence these associations, stratified analyses remain limited. This study examined polysomnographic (PSG) parameters, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) components, and hormonal/electrolyte markers in age- and severity-stratified men with suspected OSA. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 104 men (mean age 60.8 ± 9.8 years) underwent PSG. Analyses were stratified by age (<60 vs. ≥60 years) and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) severity. Correlations were used to assess PSG indices, IPSS subdomains (irritative, obstructive, quality of life [QoL]), and markers including antidiuretic hormone [ADH], aldosterone, plasma renin activity [PRA], sodium, potassium. Nocturnal polyuria index (NPI ≥ 33%) was calculated in a subset of participants. Pearson correlations, ANOVA, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used (p < 0.05), with adjustments for multiple comparisons. Results: Moderate OSA predominated (RDI 27.2 ± 20.4 events/h); nocturia affected 61.5% of the cohort. In those <60 years (n = 48), mild RDI correlated with nocturia (r = 0.42, p = 0.028), while severe RDI correlated strongly with the obstructive subscore (r = 0.96, p = 0.009). In those ≥60 years (n = 56), QoL correlated with sleep efficiency (r = 0.48, p = 0.012) and total sleep time (r = 0.46, p = 0.015). Severe RDI was associated with higher IPSS (14.5 ± 6.2 vs. 10.5 ± 4.8, p = 0.028) and nocturia (3.5 ± 1.7 vs. 2.4 ± 1.1, p = 0.02). ADH was significantly lower in severe OSA (1.4 ± 0.8 vs. 2.7 ± 1.1 pg/mL, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Age and OSA severity modulate PSG–LUTS–hormonal associations. Younger men exhibit hypoxia-linked obstructive symptoms, whereas older men experience sleep fragmentation that impacts QoL. ADH suppression is associated with severe OSA. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical period for executive function (EF) maturation. While sleep and physical activity (PA) are key lifestyle factors, their longitudinal impact on EF in ecologically valid settings is insufficiently characterised. This study examined the associations between objectively measured sleep duration, daily steps, and EF performance across one academic year (~9 months). Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted with 168 Spanish adolescents (13–16 years). Sleep duration and daily steps were monitored using Fitbit Charge 6 wearables for 7-day periods at baseline (M1; September 2024) and follow-up (M2; June 2025). EFs were assessed using three validated tasks: Stroop (inhibitory control), Psychomotor Vigilance Task-Brief (PVT-B; sustained attention), and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT; working memory). Linear Mixed Models (LMM) were employed to analyse the effects of the fixed factors (i.e., Group and Time), and their interactions. Results: PA, but not sleep duration, significantly predicted executive performance. The High_PA group demonstrated faster reaction times in inhibitory control (p = 0.007) and significantly fewer attentional lapses in sustained attention (p = 0.014). In contrast, sleep duration showed no significant main effects on EF domains (p > 0.05). Regression analyses confirmed that higher daily steps predicted faster reaction times in inhibitory control in the total sample (r = −0.173, p = 0.002), although an unexpected positive association was observed in the Low_PA group for inhibitory control, warranting cautious interpretation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that habitual PA is associated with better EF performance in adolescents, whereas sleep duration alone (without considering timing or variability) showed no significant associations with cognitive outcomes. Sensitivity analyses using clinically informed thresholds and continuous standardised predictors confirmed the robustness of these findings. Full article

As family structures and workforce compositions evolve, individuals increasingly navigate multiple roles across work and family domains. Despite growing research interest, a comprehensive synthesis examining the relationship between work–family conflict and health behaviors remains absent. This systematic review and meta-analysis addresses this significant gap by quantifying associations between work–family conflict and five important health behaviors: sleep disturbances, smoking behaviors, alcohol consumption, physical activity levels, and healthy diet. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science) were searched. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using forest plots, I², Cochran’s Q-statistics, Funnel plots, and the Egger test, respectively. A total of 33 articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Work–family conflict had a small-to-medium positive association with sleep disturbances (r = 0.188; 95% CI [0.128, 0.247]); a negative association with healthy diet (r = −0.129; 95% CI [−0.219, −0.037]); and a modest and positive association with smoking behaviors (r = 0.082; 95% CI [0.033, 0.206]) and alcohol consumption (r = 0.074; 95% CI [0.039, 0.109]). The findings of this study suggest that individual, family, and organizational strategies reducing work–family conflict may facilitate the development and adoption of healthier behaviors, such as improving sleep and dietary practices. This study enhances understanding of work–family conflict’s relationship with health behaviors, bridging the management and occupational health psychology literature with the general and public health literature by systematically examining, for the first time, how work–family conflicts impair personal health behaviors. Full article

Background: Lower limb (LL) and low back Radicular Syndromes (RSs) may result from discopathy of the lumbo-sacral spine. Consistent benefits are reported from Epidural Adhesiolysis (EA). Aim: To evaluate clinical and European Quality of Life items (EQ-5D) of Peri-Neural Release interventions (PNR, a modified approach and terminology for EA) among patients diagnosed with lumbo-sacral discopathy associated radicular syndromes. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by retrieving records of patients e treated by PNR for low back and lower limbs pain between January 2018 and December 2024. Eligible patients were adults who were diagnosed with lumbo-sacral discopathy, stenosis, or Post Lumbar Surgery Syndrome (PLSS). Data on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) adopting the European Quality of Life five items (Euro-QoL 5D) that includes self-ratings of mobility, active daily living, self-care, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression) was collected before the procedure and on subsequent follow-up visits. Other clinical outcomes included numerical pain rating scales (NRSs), sleep quality, time to pain during activity, and self-reported health scores. Results: A total of 221 patients were included in this analysis. Of these, 56.6% were female, with a mean age of 45.1 ± 14.7 years. In total, 50.2% of patients underwent PNR alone, followed by 28.1% who underwent PNR balloon decompression neuroplasty. Of the remaining patients, 7.2% underwent epiduroscopic PNR, 6.3% PNR combined with annuloplasty (biacuplasty) and 8.1% underwent PNR combined with nucleoplasty. Significant improvements were observed across all EQ-5D and NRS (p < 0.001) at follow-up assessments without major complications. The interventions were associated with a decrease in NRS from 7.9 to 3.1, and an increase in the duration of pain-free activity (walking, standing, sitting) (p < 0.001). Self-reported overall health scores improved from 53.9 ± 18.4 to 81.1 ± 15.1. In terms of complications, two patients reported post-operative headache. The remaining side effects included coccydynia at the site of intervention, resolving with application of non-steroid anti-inflammatory topicals and self-resolving lower limb numbness in five cases. Conclusions: The presented data suggest that PNR—whether performed alone or in combination with adjunctive intradiscal procedures—is a safe intervention, and is associated, in the majority of patients, with substantial pain relief and improvement in EQ-5D both in the short- and long-term follow-up. Full article

Background: Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (CuTS) is the second-most common compressive neuropathy of the upper limb, traditionally associated with prolonged elbow flexion, trauma, or anatomical constraints. With the widespread adoption of smartphones, sustained upper-limb postures have emerged as potential novel risk factors for ulnar nerve compression. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between smartphone use patterns and the development of CuTS. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 100 subjects recruited between 2021 and 2024, including 50 patients with EMG-confirmed CuTS who underwent surgical decompression and 50 matched controls without clinical or electrophysiological evidence of ulnar neuropathy. Demographic variables, daily smartphone use (h/day), predominant activity type, and habitual posture during device handling were collected through clinical records and questionnaires. Group comparisons were performed using t-tests and Chi-square analyses, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Daily smartphone use was higher in the CuTS group compared with controls (4.94 ± 1.8 vs. 4.04 ± 1.5 h/day), although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.0716). Posture during device use showed a significant association with CuTS: 82% of affected patients reported using smartphones with the elbow flexed, compared with 56% of controls, whereas supportive postures were less frequent among CuTS patients (16% vs. 38%) (p = 0.019). No significant differences were found between groups regarding smartphone activity type (p = 0.858). Conclusions: Smartphone use may contribute to ulnar nerve compression primarily through ergonomically disadvantageous postures, particularly sustained elbow flexion, rather than total usage time. These findings highlight a modifiable behavioral risk factor relevant to the rising prevalence of CuTS in the digital era. Increased clinical attention to device-handling habits and public-health strategies promoting ergonomic posture may support CuTS prevention. Prospective and biomechanically informed studies are warranted to further elucidate causal mechanisms. Unmeasured confounders (e.g., occupational and sleep-related elbow flexion) may influence these associations. Full article

The sum of diseases has been associated with many personal, behavioral, and psychological variables as well as with many biochemical, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and epigenetic biomarkers. However, the search for the association between some of these biomarkers and illness count is limited, particularly in Mexican individuals. (1) To determine the associations between personal, behavioral, biochemical, and molecular factors with the illness count in Mexican individuals, globally and segmented by sex, and (2) to determine the intercorrelation among the studied biomarkers. Mexican adults were invited to participate, and many personal, psychological, and biochemical variables were measured; in addition, the systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio were obtained. The self-report of 28 health conditions was measured, and the detection of 3 (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) conditions was obtained with biochemical analyses and blood pressure measurement; with these reports, we obtained the variable illness count. A total of 157 individuals were included, of whom 83 (52.9%) were women; the median age and range were 24 (18–58) years old, and all participants were Mexican mestizo individuals. Women showed a higher number of self-reported/detected diseases than men. The multivariate analyses revealed that female sex, age, having children, risky eating behavior, poor sleep quality, systolic blood pressure, and lower levels of IL-10 were significantly correlated with the illness count. In the women’s sample, lower levels of IL-10, less free time, monthly earnings, and depression were positively correlated with illness count. In the men’s sample, the age, systolic blood pressure, poor sleep quality, 8-OHdG, IL-6, and plateletcrit, in addition to positive relations with others, were variables positively correlated with illness count. In the correlations of the studied biomarkers, we found that IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-8 showed a high positive correlation among them; in addition, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers showed low significant correlations among them. Many personal, biochemical, and psychological factors are associated with the number of diseases, while the associated biomarkers differed in each sex, highlighting the role of IL-10, 8-OHdG, IL-6, and plateletcrit. Full article