Search Results (39,425)

As the world’s population of older adults continues to grow rapidly, combating loneliness and social isolation has become an emerging health concern for this group. Though there has been increasing interest within the scientific community in exploring digital games as an intervention for loneliness, research on gaming as an intervention is a relatively new field of study. This scoping review examines the current state of research on the impact of digital gaming on loneliness in the older adult population and was conducted in accordance with the 2018 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A total of 317 potentially relevant studies were identified through database searches, and of these, 278 studies were excluded due to failure to meet inclusion criteria. The full texts of 39 articles were assessed for eligibility, resulting in 9 articles being included in this scoping review. Some important findings from our study include the central role of social interaction in addressing loneliness and the potential for interventions targeting both physical and mental well-being to have a more significant impact on alleviating loneliness. We also found that while many studies reported positive effects of gaming interventions, some findings were contradictory, suggesting that the relationship between gaming and loneliness is complex and moderated by multiple factors. Recommendations for future research include expanding investigations to outside of East Asia (where the majority of existing studies were conducted) to the United States, Africa, India, or Europe. Full article

Coral reef ecosystems are home to diverse marine flora and fauna. However, these ecosystems are threatened by an array of environmental and anthropogenic factors. Here, we investigated coral reef diversity, structure, and health status, and identified their key environmental drivers. Coral reef data were collected from Koh Seh Island, located inside the Marine Fisheries Management Area in the Kep archipelago. We found that the reef cover largely comprised live corals (64%, mainly Porites and Tubinaria species), followed by Zoanthids (15%) and sand/rubble (15%). Based on Ward’s hierarchical cluster analysis, coral communities were grouped into three zones: East, South, and West zones. Coral diversity was slightly higher in the East zone, though not statistically significant. Zone East showed a positive association with sediment loads and water temperature. Elevated levels of salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were characteristic of the East and South zones, whereas the West zone was distinguished by deeper water conditions. We also found that Favites was the key indicator for coral communities in the East zone, which features shallow, high-DO, high-pH waters with more sediments, strong currents, and significant human activities like fishing and transportation. Goniastrea species were abundant in the South and East zones, making it the indicator taxon, while the West zone had no indicator, suggesting that coral species are sparse in this zone. Interestingly, only a few dead corals were found, and no signs of diseases were detected around the Koh Seh coral reefs. This may reflect the effectiveness of joint protection efforts by Marine Conservation Cambodia and the Marine Fisheries Department in Kep province. Overall, our study provides a valuable baseline for assessing future changes in benthic reefs and coral communities on Koh Seh island, throughout the Kep Archipelago and its surrounding areas. Full article

Background/Objectives: The improvement of sleep quality is unquestionably a critical issue in public health. While numerous factors influence sleep quality, the relative importance of dietary habits remains insufficiently understood. The objective of this study is to evaluate the contribution of dietary habits by quantitatively comparing the effects of various determinants of sleep quality. Methods: Using sleep diary data from healthy males and females residing in a specific region of Japan, we estimated a dynamic multivariate panel model (DMPM) to obtain posterior predictive distributions on a scale that allows for comparisons across factor categories. Three outcome variables were adopted to measure sleep quality: presence or absence of daytime drowsiness, ease of falling asleep, and ease of waking up. The determinants of sleep quality examined in the analysis were categorized into six groups: stress factors, bedtime conditions, weather conditions, physical characteristics, exercise habits, and dietary habits. Results: The analysis revealed that although there were some seasonal and gender differences, dietary habits showed effect sizes that were no smaller than those of other determinants across all outcome variables. Conclusions: These results suggest that improving dietary habits, along with enhancing exercise habits and bedtime conditions, is a valid and equally important strategy for promoting better sleep. Full article

Background/Objectives: Low semen quality and male infertility are critical global health issues. Emerging research highlights that nutritional factors could play a significant role in determining reproductive outcomes. Understanding and optimizing these dietary influences, including the role of polyphenols, is crucial for developing targeted strategies to improve male fertility. We aimed to explore the relationship between the intake of different classes of polyphenols and semen quality indicators in a cohort of healthy young males. Methods: This is a secondary analysis involving 106 male individuals, aged 18–35 years, from the FERTINUTS trial. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day dietary records, and semen quality parameters were analyzed. Multivariable linear regression analysis was employed to evaluate the associations between dietary polyphenol consumption and semen quality indicators. Results: Our findings revealed both positive and negative associations between polyphenol consumption and sperm morphology parameters. A higher intake of total polyphenols was associated with a lower percentage of abnormalities in sperm heads but a higher rate of abnormalities in the principal piece. Similar results were observed for lignan and flavonoid intake. Additionally, a higher intake of flavonoids was also associated with a greater percentage of normal sperm forms. In contrast, a higher dietary intake of stilbenes was associated with a higher percentage of combined abnormalities. Conclusions: Higher intake of polyphenols, particularly flavonoids and lignans, was associated with improved sperm head morphology but also with increased tail abnormalities, although no associations with motility or vitality were observed. These results suggest that specific polyphenol classes may have both beneficial and adverse effects on sperm structure, warranting consideration of compound type and dosage in dietary recommendations. Further studies are needed to determine whether these morphological changes impact fertilization outcomes and reproductive potential. Full article

Accurately identifying and comprehensively managing the health of cropland systems is crucial for maintaining national food security. In this study, a more suitable framework for evaluating the health status of cropland systems in arid areas was constructed, and a systematic diagnosis of the health status of a cropland system in Xinjiang was conducted by increasing cropland stress and extending the VOR model to the VOR-S framework. The principal driving factors and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of cropland system health were investigated by using geographic detectors and GTWR models. The results showed the following: (1) From 2001 to 2023, the health level of the cropland system in Xinjiang fluctuated and increased. The proportion of areas with higher health levels (health levels I and II) in the cropland system increased from 45.84% in 2001 to 50.80% in 2023. The overall environment of the cropland system thus improved. (2) From 2001 to 2023, in terms of stress on the cropland system in Xinjiang, the overall level of HAI (human activity intensity) exhibited an upward trend, while the overall SEI (soil erosion intensity) significantly decreased, and WEI (wind erosion intensity) remained relatively stable. (3) The explanatory power of driving factors for cropland system health is ranked by order of magnitude as follows: annual precipitation (0.641) > annual average temperature (0.630) > population density (0.619) > nighttime lighting (0.446) > slope (0.313) > altitude (0.267). In addition, the combination of climate and human activity factors plays a dominant role in the spatial differentiation of cropland system health. The research results can provide scientific reference for cropland protection policies in arid areas. Full article

The circadian rhythm of the central brain clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is synchronized by light. White adipose tissue (WAT) is one of the metabolic endocrine organs containing a molecular clock, and it is synchronized by the SCN. Excess WAT is a risk factor for health issues including type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). We hypothesized that bright-light exposure would affect the human WAT transcriptome. Therefore, we analyzed WAT biopsies from two previously performed randomized cross-over trials (trial 1: n = 8 lean, healthy men, and trial 2: n = 8 men with obesity and DM2). From 7:30 h onwards, all the participants were exposed to either bright or dim light. Five hours later, we performed a subcutaneous abdominal WAT biopsy. RNA-sequencing results showed major group differences between men with obesity and DM2 and lean, healthy men as well as a differential effect of bright-light exposure. For example, gene sets encoding proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation or respiratory chain complexes were down-regulated under bright-light conditions in lean, healthy men but up-regulated in men with obesity and DM2. In addition to evident group differences between men with obesity and DM2 and healthy lean subjects, autonomic or neuroendocrine signals resulting from bright-light exposure also differentially affect the WAT transcriptome. Full article

Background: The global prevalence of pediatric hypertension is on the rise. Adolescence is a period of high prevalence of childhood hypertension. Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are important risk factors in the development of hypertension, but their interaction and combined effects on adolescent hypertension remain unclear. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers (2016–2017). A total of 7031 adolescents aged 12–17 years from five provinces were included. The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) was used as an indicator of IR. Multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear mixed-effect models were used to assess the interaction and joint effects of IR and obesity (measured by body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC]) on hypertension. Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), proportion attributable to interaction (AP), and synergy index (SI) were calculated to evaluate additive interactive effects. Mediation analysis explored the potential mediating role of the TyG in the association between obesity and hypertension. Results: IR and obesity were positively associated with adolescent hypertension (p < 0.001). Interaction analyses revealed a robust synergistic interaction between obesity and IR on hypertension, with the AP being approximately 40% (p < 0.001). TyG significantly mediated the association between obesity and adolescent hypertension (6.30% for high BMI and 8.54% for high WC, both p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study suggests that obesity and IR could synergistically contribute to the prevalence of hypertension in adolescents. For the primary prevention and management of hypertension in adolescents, strategies targeting both factors should be considered. Full article

Exposure to PM_2.5 poses severe risks to public health and sustainable development, with exposure inequalities exacerbated by variations in atmospheric activity and uneven regional development. However, the urban-rural inequalities and natural-human driving mechanisms underlying PM_2.5 exposure inequalities within urban agglomerations are poorly understood. Taking the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration (CPUA) in China as an example, this study investigated the spatio-temporal variations of PM_2.5 and considered its future trends. The Theil index was employed to quantify PM_2.5 exposure inequalities. An interpretable machine learning model (RF-SHAP) was applied to identify the raster natural and socioeconomic driving factors. We found that 99.68% of the CPUA exhibited a decreasing trend in ground-level PM_2.5. The overall Theil index decreased from 0.168 to 0.142, with a rural decline from 0.115 to 0.084, suggesting an overall reduction in air pollution inequalities, particularly in rural areas. Conversely, the urban Theil index increased from 0.096 to 0.208, highlighting an increasing inequality in urban PM_2.5 exposure. Resource-based cities, such as Changzhi, Jincheng, and Jiaozuo, exhibited the largest PM_2.5 exposure inequality. Elevation was identified as the dominant factor influencing overall and rural PM_2.5 exposure inequalities, while population density was the primary driver of urban inequalities. This study highlighted the differences in urban−rural PM_2.5 inequalities and their drivers at the city agglomeration scale. The aims were to mitigate PM_2.5 exposure inequalities through socio-environmental systems, provide evidence for the integrated management of PM_2.5 exposure inequalities in city agglomerations, and support regional sustainable development. Full article

Atherosclerosis is now recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, in which perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) has evolved from a passive structural component to a key player in regulating vascular homeostasis and the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, playing an active, not just structural, role. PVAT surrounds blood vessels and influences them metabolically, immunologically, and vascularly by secreting adipokines, cytokines, and other bioactive mediators. Under physiological conditions, PVAT has protective roles, as it produces adiponectin, nitric oxide (NO), and other vasodilatory factors that help maintain vascular tone and reduce inflammation. In particular, brown-like PVAT (rich in Uncoupling Protein-1 (UCP1) and mitochondria) offers significant vasoprotective effects. Under pathological conditions (obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance), PVAT undergoes a phenotypic transition towards a pro-inflammatory profile by increasing leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion and decreasing adiponectin, contributing to endothelial dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, local immune cell recruitment, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and fibrosis. PVAT plays a complex role in vascular health and disease, interacting with systemic metabolism through the secretion of bioactive molecules. Metabolic imbalances can promote PVAT inflammation. Epigenetic alterations and micro ribonucleic acid (miRNAs) can influence PVAT inflammation, and modern imaging methods for PVAT assessment, such as the fat attenuation index (FAI) and artificial intelligence-assisted radiomic profiling, may become predictive biomarkers of cardiac risk. Future directions aim to identify biomarkers and develop targeted therapies that modulate PVAT inflammation and dysfunction in the context of cardiovascular diseases. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is considered to be one of the most common types of dementia, threatening the health of elderly individuals. Enhancing the brain’s cholinergic activity is currently the primary therapeutic strategy for treating AD patients. Acetylcholine and butyrylcholine are key targets in this approach, as they function as neuromodulators within the cerebrum—particularly in its various cholinergic regions responsible for essential functions like memory, thought, inspiration, and excitement. Oxidative stress and free radicals are considered to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD and may be key factors in its etiology. Additionally, oxidants and oxidative stress-induced products can upregulate amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression, promoting Aβ aggregation. Another major factor in the pathogenesis of AD is the imbalance of metal homeostasis in the brain. Notably, the mammalian brain contains significantly higher concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Fe ions compared to other tissues. The present review focuses on novel bifunctional metal chelators with potential antioxidant activity for the treatment of AD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity represents a pressing global health challenge, demanding coordinated, long-term strategies. Schools and families are pivotal environments for shaping children’s lifestyle behaviors. The LIVELY project aimed to assess overweight/obesity prevalence and associated factors in primary school children, and to implement a multidimensional educational intervention promoting healthy, sustainable lifestyles. Methods: This single-arm study was conducted from October 2023 to October 2024 in a primary school in Milan. The intervention included age and culturally tailored lessons, games, and activities. Anthropometric measures, dietary adherence, and lifestyle habits were assessed before and after the intervention. Satisfaction surveys were administered to children, families, and teachers. Results: The project involved 227 children across 14 classes (mean age 8.9, SD 1.2 years). The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 23.4%. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was moderate, limited by low intake of vegetables, nuts, and dairy. Physical activity was low, screen time excessive, and sleep insufficient. No statistically significant improvements in anthropometrics or diet adherence were observed post-intervention, but positive trends emerged for physical activity, sleep, and hydration. Over half of the children passed the nutritional knowledge test. Despite these challenges, high satisfaction levels have been shared by children, parents, and teachers. Conclusions: The limited duration of the intervention and challenges engaging families in a low socio-economic context may have constrained the impact of the program, and caution is advised in generalizing the findings. The LIVELY project highlights the complexity of tackling childhood obesity in multicultural settings and emphasizes the need for longer, continuous, and culturally tailored programs that actively involve families to promote sustainable healthy behaviors. Full article

Periodontal disease is a widespread chronic condition linked to systemic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite its global burden, population-specific studies on its risk factors remain limited, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. The SANA-biome Project is a cross-sectional, community-based study designed to investigate the biological and social determinants of periodontal disease in Romania, a country with disproportionately high oral disease rates and minimal microbiome data. This protocol will integrate metagenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data of the oral microbiome from saliva and dental calculus samples with detailed sociodemographic and lifestyle data collected through a structured 44-question survey. This study is grounded in two complementary frameworks: the IMPEDE model, which conceptualizes inflammation as both a driver and a consequence of microbial dysbiosis, and Ecosocial Theory, which situates disease within social and structural contexts. Our aims are as follows: (1) to identify lifestyle and behavioral predictors of periodontal disease; (2) to characterize the oral microbiome in individuals with and without periodontal disease; and (3) to evaluate the predictive value of combined microbial and sociodemographic features using statistical and machine learning approaches. Power calculations based on pilot data indicate a target enrollment of 120 participants. This integrative approach will help disentangle the complex interplay between microbiological and structural determinants of periodontal disease and inform culturally relevant prevention strategies. By focusing on an underrepresented population, this work contributes to a more equitable and interdisciplinary model of oral health research and supports the development of future precision public health interventions. Full article

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has been associated with mortality at low concentrations, with higher per-unit risk at lower exposure levels, and no threshold of effect. We examined characteristics of Medicare decedents living in zip codes at the lowest end of the U.S. PM_2.5 exposure distribution to determine whether there is a demographic, health or exposure profile of beneficiaries for whom even low PM_2.5 exposure is associated with increased mortality. The study included 2,773,647 decedent cases and 27,736,470 non-decedent controls, matched on decile of long-term PM_2.5 exposure from among 36 million Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries enrolled 2015–2016. Outcomes of the study included all-cause and cause-specific mortality, stratified by decile and beneficiary characteristics. Increased PM_2.5-related mortality within the lowest exposure decile was found only among Native American beneficiaries, with odds ratios of 1.11 (95% CI, 1.01–1.21) and 1.21 (95% CI, 1.11–1.32) per 1 µg/m³ increase in PM_2.5, for those eligible and ineligible for Medicaid, respectively, and was driven by significant increases in selected kidney and cardiovascular outcomes, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These results may reflect particular sensitivity to PM_2.5; factors varying with PM_2.5 at the zip code level, including constituent exposures or social determinants of health; or inaccuracies in exposure estimates. Full article

Multimorbidity, or the presence of two or more co-occurring chronic medical conditions, is extremely prevalent within the United States (US), with disproportionately high incidence rates in individuals with minoritized identities. Sleep disturbances are an empirically supported risk factor contributing to disease status and maintenance throughout the lifespan. Given this, this study examines the relationship between disturbed sleep and multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) in adults using cross-sectional data from (n = 1013) participants enrolled in the Survey of Midlife Development in the US Study (MIDUS-2). Participants within this study were predominantly female (54.9%), white (93.2%), middle-aged (M_AGE = 58 years old), and experienced multimorbidity (56.6%) by having two or more (M_CHRON = 2.25) chronic health conditions in the past year. A negative binomial regression indicated that sleep disturbances significantly predict the number of chronic health conditions, with sleep-disturbed individuals reporting a 41% increase in reported health conditions (IRR = 1.407, p < 0.001). Findings suggest that disturbed sleep is significantly related to disease presence in aging populations and should be addressed through early intervention to mitigate negative health consequences. Full article

Background/Objectives: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common vestibular disorders and is characterized by transient but very severe vertigo, increasing fall risk, especially in older people. While many risk factors have been reported, there are still contradicting papers and evidence from large-scale studies remains limited. Methods: This nationwide, nested case–control study utilized Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort data to investigate possible risk factors for BPPV. In particular, it examined the association between prior head trauma and BPPV, proposing prior head trauma as a plausible and clinically relevant risk factor. From an initial cohort of 514,866 participants, 29,467 BPPV cases were matched 1:4 with 117,868 controls based on age, sex, income, region, and index date. Conditional logistic regression, with overlap weighting, assessed the risk of BPPV associated with head trauma and other potential factors. Results: Head trauma was modestly more prevalent in the BPPV group (2.29% vs. 1.83%) and was significantly associated with BPPV (adjusted OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.17–1.40, p < 0.001). The corresponding Absolute Risk Increase (ARI) was 0.82 percentage points over the entire follow-up and 0.66 percentage points within 1 year. The association persisted across most subgroups including both demographic and clinical factors except underweight individuals and those with high comorbidity scores. Conclusions: This large-scale analysis reinforces head trauma as a significant risk factor for BPPV, providing population-level evidence that may guide clinical assessment and prevention strategies. Full article