Search Results (85,981)

Background: Veterinarians are pivotal to wildlife health surveillance and game-meat safety, yet these topics receive limited emphasis in many veterinary curricula. Understanding students’ perceptions can inform targeted educational improvements. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous online survey among students enrolled in the Integrated Master’s in Veterinary Medicine at ICBAS-UP (Portugal). The questionnaire covered sociodemographic, meat and game-meat consumption, perceived appeal of working with game animals, and multi-select views on hunting, game-meat consumption and the veterinary role. We computed descriptive statistics and tested associations between categorical variables using Pearson’s Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests (Monte Carlo correction when appropriate). Results: Of the 391 eligible students, 152 responded (39%). The majority (76%) associated hunting with veterinary inspection of game meat and research in epidemiology and emerging diseases, and many (72%) recognized as core roles monitoring the health of game animals and the contribution to public health and environmental sustainability. Significant associations included: prior game-meat consumption with finding game animals appealing/interest in learning more; year of enrolment with recognising hunting as an economic activity and acknowledging veterinary inspection and public health contributions; and perceiving game animals as appealing with associating hunting with population control (all p < 0.05; Cramer’s V indicating weak–moderate effects). Conclusions: Students show awareness of veterinary roles in game-animal health and meat inspection, but interest in working with game animals is low and knowledge gaps persist (e.g., inspection of game meat). Findings support curricular integration of wildlife health, game-meat inspection and One Health. Multicenter studies and evaluation of educational interventions are warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), represents a growing global health burden closely linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and dietary patterns. Despite intense drug-development efforts, effective and widely approved pharmacological therapies remain limited. Methods: In this work, we systematically evaluated the quality of clinical evidence supporting currently proposed pharmacological treatments for MASLD/MASLD using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, focusing on phase III and IV clinical trials. Results: Our analysis demonstrates that overall quality of evidence for most pharmacological agents ranges from very low to moderate, primarily due to imprecision and suspected publication bias. Conclusions: Overall, our findings reinforce that, in the current therapeutic landscape, pharmacological therapies should be reserved for carefully selected patients and interpreted in the context of limited evidence certainty. Full article

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is an important poultry-associated pathogen with major One Health and economic impacts, but data on its epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria remain limited. This study investigated the prevalence, serovar distribution, clonal relatedness, and antimicrobial resistance of NTS along the poultry production chain in Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria. A total of 2400 samples were collected, comprising feces (cecal content)/cloacal swabs from chickens (n = 1100), eggs (n = 400), chicken meat (n = 600), and stool samples from poultry workers (n = 300). Isolation and identification were performed using standard bacteriological methods, with confirmation by serotyping and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the invA gene. Genetic relatedness was assessed using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR, and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method. Overall, 47 (2.0%) Salmonella enterica isolates were recovered from 2400 samples, with the highest prevalence observed in eggs (3.5%), followed by human stool (3.3%), chicken meat (1.8%), and chicken feces (1.1%). Only 35 (11.8%) of the 297 sampled farms were positive for Salmonella, and recovery rates differed significantly (p = 0.0065) among sample sources. Five serotypes were identified, dominated by S. Typhimurium (57.4%), followed by S. Enteritidis (14.9%), S. Anatum (12.8%), S. Stanley (8.5%), and S. Agona (6.3%). ERIC-PCR revealed multiple clonal clusters, many containing isolates from mixed sources, indicating circulation of related strains between poultry and humans. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin, with high resistance to tetracycline (76.6%), sulphamethoxazole–trimethoprim (51.1%), and fluoroquinolones. Overall, 80.9% of isolates were multidrug-resistant, with a mean Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index of 0.29, highest among isolates from chicken feces. Although the prevalence of NTS was low, the presence of genetically related multidrug-resistant strains across the production chain underscores the role of poultry as a reservoir for zoonotic transmission and highlights the need for coordinated One Health surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship strategies in Nigeria. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess public stigma toward people with mental health problems and to examine the association between stigma and socioeconomic characteristics, personal mental health history, and contact with individuals with mental health problems. Methods: This observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population in Spain using a sample of 404 participants, the majority of whom were women (71%), with a median age of 38 years (IQR = 26–49); most participants (86.4%) lived in urban areas. The participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire that explored socioeconomic variables and the Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness Scale (CAMI-S, Spanish version). Non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Spearman correlation), multiple linear regression, and statistical power analyses were performed. Results: The mean CAMI-S total score was 84.89 (SD = 11.122) out of 100, indicating relatively favourable attitudes toward people with mental health problems. Statistically significant associations (p-value ≤ 0.05) were found between CAMI-S scores and variables such as gender, age, place of residence, educational level, mental health disorder, and close contact with someone with mental health disorders. The regression model revealed four significant predictors of lower stigma: identifying as female (β = 2.523; p = 0.037), having a medium or higher educational level (β = 5.061; p = 0.002), experiencing a mental health diagnosis (β = 4.535; p = 0.014), and close contact (β = 4.183; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Social stigma toward people with mental health problems in Spain appears to be generally low, reflecting positive attitudes toward community integration. Being female, having higher education, and personal or close contact with mental health problems are associated with lower stigma. Full article

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an approach that uses information obtained from the analysis of various metabolites or residues in wastewater with the aim of assessing the consumption of or exposure to chemicals or pathogens in a population connected to a sewage system. The aim of this work was to develop methods for the isolation and analysis of seven beta-blockers (acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, metoprolol, nadolol, pindolol and propranolol) in wastewater samples collected from the influent of the wastewater treatment plant in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in order to estimate their consumption among the population in two time periods (February and October 2024) using WBE. The selected beta-blockers were extracted by solid phase extraction using a Strata C18-U cartridge and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The consumption was estimated using the daily mass load of pharmaceutical products reported per 1000 inhabitants (mg/day/1000inh) and varied in the following ranges: atenolol 0.03–3.74, nadolol 0.03–0.1, propranolol 0.04–0.72, betaxolol 0.07–0.38, and metoprolol 54.85–276.45. From the obtained results, it can be observed that metoprolol is the most used beta-blocker in the investigated population, followed by atenolol, propranolol and betaxolol. Other beta-blockers are consumed in small quantities or occasionally. Full article

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between musculoskeletal fitness (MF) and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents with congenital heart disease (ConHD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 355 adolescents with ConHD (median age 12.4 years [range: 5.7–21.7]; 43.4% female). Participants completed musculoskeletal fitness (MF) tests, including handgrip strength (HGS), curl-ups, push-ups, and trunk lifts, and underwent an assessment of anthropometric indices, blood pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT). To account for body size, HGS was allometrically scaled to body mass with adjustment for age, sex, and ConHD severity. Clustered MF was derived by calculating z-scores for allometric HGS, curl-ups, push-ups, and trunk lifts. Results: Allometric HGS was inversely associated with anthropometric indices: waist circumference [WC] (β = −4.467, p = 0.014), waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] (β =−0.039, p = 0.005), waist-to-height ratio [WHtR] (β = −0.052, p = 0.001), and BMI (β = −3.115, p = 0.001). Push-ups were inversely related to all anthropometric indices (p < 0.05). Trunk lift showed positive associations with multiple anthropometric indices except WHR (all p < 0.05). Clustered MF was negatively associated with WHR (β = −0.004, p = 0.008) and WHtR (β = −0.006, p = 0.001). HGS (β = 0.18, p = 0.033), push-ups (β = 0.004, p = 0.041), and clustered fitness (β = 0.028, p = 0.006) were inversely associated with PWV. Conclusions: Systematically increasing MF in rehabilitation may provide a feasible strategy to mitigate CVD risk in adolescents with ConHD. Full article

Background: Persistent cervical human papillomavirus (Human papillomavirus) infection remains a significant public health concern, as it is the primary etiological factor in the development of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. While prophylactic vaccination and standard screening programs are cornerstones of prevention, a substantial proportion of women with established infection are managed conservatively, often with prolonged follow-up and associated psychological burden. Interest has therefore grown in supportive interventions that may facilitate viral clearance during routine clinical management. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 239 women with confirmed cervical Human papillomavirus infection followed at a tertiary referral center between February 2023 and August 2025. Participants were classified into a treatment group receiving oral Papivir/Pavirona^® twice daily for six months (n = 119) and a control group managed with routine clinical follow-up alone (n = 120). Human papillomavirus DNA testing and cervical cytology were evaluated at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Results: Human papillomavirus clearance rates were significantly higher in the Papivir/Pavirona^® group compared with controls at both 6 and 12 months. Cytological regression was also more frequent in the treatment group at both time points. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, Papivir/Pavirona^® use emerged as the only independent predictor of both Human papillomavirus clearance and cytological regression, while demographic, reproductive, behavioral, and virological baseline characteristics were not significantly associated with outcomes. Conclusions: Papivir/Pavirona^® supplementation was associated with increased Human papillomavirus clearance and cytological regression rates in women with cervical Human papillomavirus infection, suggesting a potential supportive role alongside standard clinical follow-up. Full article

Parental identity, the extent to which individuals integrate parenting roles into their self-concept, is associated with subjective well-being (SWB). However, research has largely focused on current parents, with limited attention to those with alternative caregiving roles. Companion dogs often act as caregiving figures, but their role in shaping identity and well-being processes has not been fully explored. This cross-sectional, survey-based study examined whether parental identity is associated with SWB, regardless of parental status, and whether the human–dog bond moderates any association in older women. Women dog owners aged 40 years and over (N = 296, M age = 51.6) completed an online survey including the Parental Identity and Enjoyment Scale, the Dog Owner Relationship Scale, the Satisfaction With Life Scale, and the Flourishing Scale. Parental identity was positively associated with life satisfaction, r = 0.38, p < 0.001, and flourishing, r = 0.23, p < 0.001, and moderated regression models were significant for both (p < 0.001). However, interaction effects between parental identity and the human–dog bond were not significant. These findings extend identity theory, demonstrating that parental identity predicts SWB across diverse pathways and independently of parental status. The results contribute to emerging research on caregiving identities and highlight the importance of considering identity processes, rather than parental status alone, when examining well-being in older women. Full article

Background: Identifying multimodal interventions to counteract age-related physiological decline is a critical public health priority. This study investigated the impact of an 8-week Mat Pilates intervention (MPT) on the interplay between core stability, pulmonary function, and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults, specifically examining the mechanistic link between trunk stabilization and respiratory mechanics. Methods: Twenty older adults (18 females, 2 males; age 60—77 years) were randomized (stratified by sex, age, and baseline stability) into an MPT group (n = 10; 60-min sessions, 3×/week) or a control group (CON, n = 10). Primary outcomes included core stability (plank test), functional flexibility (sit-and-reach; back-scratch), pulmonary function (FVC, FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC, FEF_25–75%, MVV), and cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walk test; 6MWT). Results: Post-intervention, the MPT group demonstrated significant improvements in core stability, flexibility, and all pulmonary variables (FVC, FEV₁, FEF_25–75%, MVV) compared to the CON group (p < 0.001). A significant reduction in body weight was also observed (p < 0.001). Notably, MPT participants achieved superior 6MWT distances and reduced perceived exertion (p = 0.006). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between core stability gains and pulmonary function (r = 0.892, p < 0.01), supporting the mechanistic link between trunk stabilization, enhanced ventilatory mechanics, and functional aerobic capacity. Conclusions: Mat Pilates is a potent intervention for older adults, facilitating a physiological synergy where core strengthening optimizes pulmonary function and cardiorespiratory endurance. These findings suggest MPT is a comprehensive modality for maintaining musculoskeletal and respiratory health, proving superior to habitual activity alone in promoting functional independence. Full article

The well-being of university students is deteriorating, highlighting the need for accessible, non-stigmatizing supports beyond clinical care. Positive psychology (PP) interventions have shown strong potential for improving mental well-being, yet they remain largely underutilized in Nigerian universities. This pilot study evaluated the impact of an eight-week education and intervention incorporating acts of kindness, gratitude, positive reframing, and character strengths in improving subjective well-being among university students in Nigeria. Students were assigned randomly to an education + PP group or an education-only control group and assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Independent-samples t-tests were used to examine group differences in outcomes, while mixed-design ANOVA models assessed the effects of group and time. Compared with controls, the intervention group showed significantly higher mental well-being, positive affect, and resilience, with moderate to large effects. While significant main effects emerged across outcomes, time-by-group interactions were observed only for positive affect and resilience. Given rising psychological distress among Nigerian university students, these preliminary results showed that brief, strengths-based PP exercises can meaningfully improve students’ subjective well-being. They can serve as low-cost, non-stigmatizing additions to university mental health services and a scalable complement to traditional care in low-resource settings. Full article

Arsenic is among the most important environmental toxicants contributing to the global prevalence of hypertension. Multiple studies have reported a greater burden of hypertension among people of African ancestry, yet the contribution of environmental factors to this burden is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the association of arsenic exposure with increased risk of hypertension and high blood pressure in 965 Afro-Caribbean adults in the Tobago Health Study. Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted for the total cohort and stratified by sex and age separately. We also examined potential effect modification by sex. Each unit (μg/L) increase in ΣAs was associated with 2% higher odds of hypertension in the total cohort and 4% higher odds among women. Higher ΣAs was associated with higher diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP) among men. The associations of higher ΣAs with hypertension among women and with higher MAP among men were significant only in mid-life but not in older age. The data suggest effect modification by sex for the relationship between ΣAs and MAP in men. The findings suggest that exposure to inorganic arsenic contributes to age- and sex-specific patterns for greater risks of hypertension and high blood pressure among Afro-Caribbean adults. Full article

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a microorganism commonly found in water and food matrices, and its rapid and accurate detection is crucial for maintaining public health and ensuring food safety. However, traditional molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensors often face challenges such as tedious template removal and prolonged sensing times. This study develops a label-free bacterial molecularly imprinted sensor that utilizes the synergistic effect of polypyrrole (PPy) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to achieve highly sensitive detection of E. coli. Based on the large specific surface area and superior conductivity of MWCNTs, as well as the favorable electrochemical polymerization properties of PPy, a PPy/MWCNTs composite film was fabricated via a one-step electropolymerization process. The prepared sensor exhibited excellent kinetic characteristics, with a template removal time of only 15 min, and could be regenerated and used for subsequent detection within 30 min. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor showed a satisfactory linear response over the concentration range of 10²–10⁸ CFU/mL, with a low detection limit of 65 CFU/mL (3σ/S). Furthermore, recovery experiments conducted in tap water and lemon juice samples yielded satisfactory recoveries ranging from 87.1% to 114.8%, demonstrating the reliability and practical applicability of the proposed sensor for bacterial detection in real samples. This sensor offers advantages such as simple preparation, low material cost, and high sensitivity, providing a reliable and practical analytical platform for the rapid and reliable detection of bacteria. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prevention of virus-related cancers is a multifaceted process shaped by vaccination and public awareness. This study assessed awareness of virus–cancer relationships and willingness to vaccinate against a cancer-associated virus among medical and non-medical students. We also evaluated whether human papillomavirus (HPV)-vaccinated students demonstrate greater awareness of the HPV-cancer link compared to unvaccinated students, and examined willingness to vaccinate against a certain cancer-associated virus according to HPV vaccination status. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Poland (October 2023–June 2024) and included 1013 first- and second-year university students recruited via convenience sampling. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Results: Awareness of virus–cancer relationships was low, ranging from 19% for Epstein–Barr virus-related cancers to 43.8% for HPV-related cervical cancer. Women were more likely than men to recognize the HPV–cervical cancer link (OR = 2.08, p < 0.001), supporting gender differences and the need for gender-neutral HPV education with targeted strategies for men. Medical students demonstrated higher awareness than non-medical students. HPV vaccination coverage was low (14.5%), with higher uptake among medical students (21.2% vs. 8.2%). Notably, 41.3% of non-medical students and 7.5% of medical students had never heard of HPV vaccination. Willingness to vaccinate against a cancer-associated virus varied according to perceived infection risk. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to improve awareness of HPV–cancer links and risk perception, as well as to ensure ongoing education of both HPV-vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to support informed health decisions and vaccine acceptance. Full article

Background: Gambling disorders are an escalating public health issue, with notable increases across age groups, particularly among adolescents and young adults. This study examines the role of coping strategies in gambling behaviors among university students aged 17–48 years and explores the prediction potential of artificial neural networks. Methods: The sample included 218 participants (M = 21.89, SD = 5.57). Results: A multilayer perceptron neural network was implemented to classify gambling risk based on coping strategies. Significant correlations between specific coping strategies and higher levels of gambling disorders were revealed. The neural network model demonstrated an 85% accuracy in predicting gambling risk, with the most influential factors identified as autonomy, negative urgency, gender, denial, and lack of perseverance. Conclusions: These findings highlight the effectiveness of neural networks in identifying individuals most at risk for GDs. Full article

Background: Long COVID presents a novel and emerging public health challenge. As the first point of contact, general practitioners (GPs) play a key role in diagnosing and coordinating the care of patients presenting with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), despite a lack of experience. This study aimed to identify the main difficulties encountered by GPs in Franche-Comté, France, in managing adult outpatients with long COVID. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using an anonymous online questionnaire, which contained 21 questions and was distributed to GPs in Franche-Comté, France. The survey assessed definition, diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in managing long COVID. Results: Among the 410 questionnaires distributed, 90 general practitioners (GPs) responded (response rate: 21.9%). The mean age of participants was 34 ± 10 years, and 64.4% were women (n = 58). Regarding knowledge of long COVID, three participants (3.3%) did not recognize it as a distinct clinical entity, while more than half (58.9%, n = 53) reported insufficient knowledge. The main challenges identified were therapeutic management (76.7%, n = 69) and diagnosis (75.6%, n = 68). Only 4.5% of respondents (n = 4) reported no difficulty in defining post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). The most frequently reported diagnostic difficulty was distinguishing long COVID from differential diagnoses (93.3%, n = 83/89), particularly fibromyalgia (94.3%, n = 83/88). Only 37.1% of participants (n = 33/89) reported actively following up patients with PASC. During initial management, the main challenge was the difficulty in objectively assessing patients’ complaints using available diagnostic tools (80.7%, n = 67/83). Additionally, a large majority of GPs reported difficulties in addressing patients’ questions (86.7%, n = 72/83) and managing associated anxiety disorders (75.9%, n = 63/83). Conclusions: These findings highlight the immediate need to enhance GP training in Franche-Comté, France, in dealing with long COVID. Improvements such as harmonizing long COVID definitions, testing diagnoses, and strengthening interdisciplinary coordination are essential to provide coherent and patient-centered care for this disease. Full article