Search Results (23,756)

Previous studies have shown that, after postoperative recovery from upper and lower gastrointestinal surgery for cancer, patients use peculiar modalities to describe their health. The purpose of this study is to determine how upper and lower gastrointestinal cancer surgery is considered by patients when they set their health. A structured interview was developed and 47 consecutive patients were interviewed postoperatively. Answers were analyzed through M.A.D.I.T., a quantitative and qualitative methodology that allows for the detection of discursive processes comprising the text, beyond thematic analysis. Four dimensions have been analyzed: representation of the postoperative period in daily life; use of resources; participation in achieving the clinical objective after hospital discharge; and continuing to respect the surgeons’ indications. A corpus of 2374 text occurrences was analyzed. Without differences between types of surgery, surgical patients described the time after surgical intervention as a critical scenario. Patients expressed their personal opinions, expecting normality after surgery and having difficulty envisioning the future: their representation of inflexibility in the postoperative period prevented them from finding new coping strategies. Overall, across all four dimensions, participants used stabilization discursive modalities in more than 50% of cases, representative of a situation bound within strict ties and personal theories. When defining their health, cancer surgery patients tend not to consider their condition as a new and different one from before; they imagine that they will be able to fully resume their previous habits. However, this can risk undermining the achievement of the clinical objective. Thus, during early surgical consultations, as well as in surgical recovery, exploring differences after surgery and solutions could help patients in their engagement with surgical outcomes and consequences. Full article

How older adults psychologically appraise their health while managing multiple chronic conditions is a behavioral-science question as much as a clinical one. This study estimated the weighted prevalence of favorable mental-health self-appraisal, identified its behavioral, social, and functional correlates, and compared the relative salience of diagnosed-condition burden and functional limitation among U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years with multimorbidity. This retrospective cross-sectional secondary analysis used the 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Full Year Consolidated Data File (HC-251). Multimorbidity was defined as at least two diagnosed chronic priority conditions. The primary outcome represents favorable mental-health self-appraisal, derived from MNHLTH53 (excellent/very good/good vs. fair/poor). Covariates were organized using Andersen’s Behavioral Model and health-psychology concepts of adaptation, resources, and lived functional burden. Weighted prevalence estimates and survey-weighted logistic regression models were fitted using PERWT23F, VARSTR, and VARPSU. Robustness checks examined a stricter outcome threshold, proxy adjustment/non-proxy restriction, and a physical-health extension model. The analytic sample included 5523 respondents, representing approximately 77.9 million U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years with multimorbidity. The weighted prevalence of favorable perceived mental-health self-appraisal was 86.6% (95% CI 85.4–87.7). In the fully adjusted core model (complete-case n = 5330), age 65–74 years (aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.17–1.98) and age ≥ 75 years (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.36–2.36) were associated with higher odds of favorable appraisal. Lower odds were observed for Hispanic respondents, non-Hispanic Asian respondents, lower educational attainment, lower income, non-employment, ≥4 diagnosed conditions, and any functional limitation. The strongest inverse association was limitation status (aOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.27–0.39). Sensitivity analyses were directionally consistent. Favorable mental-health self-appraisal remained common in this medically complex older population, but it was socially and functionally patterned. Functional limitation appeared more behaviorally salient than diagnosis count alone. Because the analysis was cross-sectional and based on household-interview reported measures, these results should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Full article

CRC remains a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. In recent years, the gut microbiota has gained increasing attention in CRC research. Intestinal microbes are not passive bystanders in tumor development. They may promote persistent inflammation, disrupt epithelial barrier integrity, alter microbial metabolites, and affect host immune and signaling pathways. Emerging evidence also suggests that microbiota-related metabolites and microbial functional alterations may influence host epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation and chromatin-associated signaling, thereby further shaping colorectal carcinogenesis. Together, these changes can create a microenvironment that favors tumor initiation and progression. Several bacterial species, including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Parvimonas micra, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, have been repeatedly associated with CRC. In contrast, beneficial commensal microbes and their metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids, may help maintain intestinal homeostasis and limit tumor-promoting processes. Because the gut microbiota is strongly shaped by diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposure, regional differences are also relevant. This is particularly important in Sichuan, China, where distinctive dietary habits and environmental features may influence microbial patterns associated with CRC risk and disease behavior. This review summarizes the main mechanisms linking the gut microbiota to CRC, examines the regional context of Sichuan, China, and discusses current and emerging clinical strategies. These include dietary intervention, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and microbiome-informed approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Full article

To maintain homeostatic conditions and optimal function during stressors, mitochondria initiate retrograde signaling. The mitochondrial integrated stress response (ISR) and unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) are critical quality control mechanisms activated during instances of mitochondrial perturbations. Restoration of mitochondrial homeostasis is orchestrated by three transcription factors, ATF4, CHOP, and ATF5, which upregulate protective genes to counteract stress. As the health and function of skeletal muscle are heavily dependent on a highly adaptive mitochondrial network, defining how mitochondrial health is maintained across various conditions is essential. Although several studies demonstrate the importance of these responses following instances of stress, the signaling mechanisms required to initiate such pathways remain poorly characterized in skeletal muscle. This review examines how the mitochondrial ISR/UPR^mt and related transcription factors respond to organellar stress by emphasizing the molecular events that occur during exercise, aging and muscle disuse. By consolidating the literature, this work aims to highlight the current understanding of mitochondrial stress response signaling within skeletal muscle and thus emphasize areas for future research and potential therapeutic strategies during divergent metabolic conditions. Full article

Air quality in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) ranks among the worst in the US. Exposures to traffic-related air pollutants have been associated with pediatric health complications, and few studies have investigated respiratory complications in relation to short-term exposures to PM less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM_2.5) in the SJV. We used Bayesian Poisson spatiotemporal conditional autoregressive models to analyze the association between PM_2.5 and pediatric respiratory emergency department (ED) visits in Fresno County, California. Additional analyses stratified respiratory outcomes by sex and age group. Weekly ambient PM_2.5 levels were estimated for each zip code using community science and regulatory air monitors. Weekly residential zip code counts of respiratory ED visits were provided by Fresno County Department of Public Health and Valley Children’s Hospital from 2 April 2022 to 31 December 2024. A ten-fold increase in PM_2.5 was associated with increased asthma ED visits among females (Relative Risk (RR):1.15; 95% Credible Interval (CrI):1.01, 1.32) and children aged 0 to 4 (RR:1.18; 95% CrI:1.03, 1.34) and other chronic respiratory conditions among males (RR:1.93; 95% CrI:1.19, 3.16) and ages 10 to 14 (RR:2.90; 95% CrI:1.32, 6.30). Findings suggest that efforts to better assess and reduce pollution exposures will improve public health in the SJV. Full article

Background/Objectives: Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a system of targeted neuromuscular exercises and behavioral retraining intended to optimize tongue, lip, jaw, and airway function during rest, breathing, swallowing, and sleep. Historically associated with tongue thrust and abnormal swallowing, OMT is now applied across an expanding range of clinical contexts, including sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), tongue-tie rehabilitation, orthodontic stability, and perioperative functional recovery. As its use has broadened, persistent questions have followed: what is myofunctional therapy, where did it originate, and how did a set of oral exercises evolve into an intervention increasingly integrated with airway health, sleep medicine, and surgical care? Methods: This article presents a narrative historical review with a perspective component, synthesizing foundational literature, interdisciplinary contributions, and selected contemporary evidence to examine the evolution of OMT from ancient functional practices to modern clinical science. It is written to trace recurring clinical observations, shifts in educational frameworks, and key inflection points that shaped how OMT has been taught and applied over time. Results: OMT did not emerge from randomized controlled trials or standardized protocols. It arose from repeated clinical encounters with patients with atypical craniofacial development, relapse of structural correction, persistent mouth breathing, and/or unresolved swallowing and speech dysfunction despite technically successful treatment. These patterns suggested that anatomy alone could not account for outcome variability. Over time, clinical attention expanded beyond isolated tongue function to include breathing patterns, posture, neuromuscular tone, and airway behavior. In the past two decades, controlled trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews have supported selected applications of OMT, particularly in SDB and adjunctive airway care, while also revealing ongoing challenges related to training variability, terminology, scope of practice, and standardization. Conclusions: OMT has historically been described as a system of targeted neuromuscular and behavioral interventions aimed at modifying orofacial rest posture and function. Over time, the field has expanded beyond localized muscle retraining toward a broader functional framework that integrates airway physiology, craniofacial growth, sleep, and interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Full article

Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), arise from highly interconnected molecular and cellular abnormalities that progressively lead to neuronal dysfunction, synaptic failure, and cell death. This review provides a unified framework to understand the interrelated molecular mechanisms driving these diseases, with a focus on identifying key disease-specific intervention nodes. Core contributors include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, and emerging roles of peroxisomal dysfunction in redox imbalance, lipid dysregulation, and inflammatory amplification. Single-target therapies often show limited efficacy due to the complex, interconnected nature of these pathways. In contrast, polypharmacology, which targets multiple disease-relevant mechanisms simultaneously, offers a more promising therapeutic strategy. This review critically examines how pathway crosstalk drives neurodegenerative progression, with particular emphasis on mitochondrial–ROS–inflammatory signaling, aggregation–proteostasis failure, synaptic–neuroimmune dysfunction, and gut–brain communication. It evaluates various multi-node intervention strategies, including multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs), molecular hybrids, natural products, drug repurposing, and nanocarrier-based delivery systems. Advances in network pharmacology, artificial intelligence (AI), bioinformatics, and multi-omics have enhanced the identification of actionable therapeutic nodes, candidate compounds, and brain-targeted delivery platforms. Notably, the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS)—stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathways—play distinct roles in neuroinflammation, amplifying neuronal damage by releasing inflammatory cytokines and inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. However, successful translation into clinical practice remains constrained by challenges such as blood–brain barrier penetration, patient heterogeneity, and biomarker limitations. The review advocates for a shift towards mechanism-informed, patient-stratified polypharmacological strategies to better address the network pathology of neurodegeneration, despite significant translational hurdles. Full article

Background/Objectives: Provisional restorations are widely used in fixed prosthodontics, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) remains one of the most commonly used materials. Discoloration during intraoral service may compromise their esthetic acceptability. Graphene-reinforced PMMA has been introduced to improve material performance, although its color stability under simulated oral conditions remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to compare the color changes in conventional PMMA and graphene-reinforced PMMA after exposure to salivary pH variations and coffee, combined with simulated masticatory movements. Methods: Forty PMMA and forty graphene-reinforced PMMA (G-CAM) disk-shaped specimens (8 mm × 2 mm) were allocated to eight original experimental groups according to material and condition (pH 7, coffee, pH change, or pH change plus coffee), under simulated chewing movements. Color was recorded before and after the procedures using an imaging system, and values were converted into CIELAB coordinates. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Both materials exhibited measurable color changes after the experimental procedures. PMMA showed higher median ΔE values than graphene-reinforced PMMA in the coffee and pH change plus coffee conditions, where the differences between materials were statistically significant. The highest color changes were observed in PMMA exposed to coffee and to the combined pH change plus coffee protocol, exceeding the clinical acceptability threshold. Conclusions: Graphene-reinforced PMMA (G-CAM) showed greater color stability than conventional PMMA, although neither material can be considered completely color stable. The greatest color variation was observed in the groups exposed to pH change followed by coffee immersion, as reflected by ΔE values. Full article

Background: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms have been widely investigated as genetic determinants of neurodegenerative diseases, yet findings remain inconsistent and population-dependent. Evidence from the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENA&T) regions, which is characterized by widespread vitamin D deficiency and distinct genetic backgrounds, has not been comprehensively synthesized. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating associations between four common VDR polymorphisms (ApaI rs7975232, FokI rs2228570, TaqI rs731236, and BsmI rs1544410) and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in MENA&T populations. Six databases were searched from inception to November 2025. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using fixed- and random-effects models across multiple genetic contrasts. Subgroup analyses by ethnicity were conducted for MS. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Results: Nineteen unique case–control studies (20 reports), including 4744 participants, were included. For MS, the ApaI polymorphism showed consistent associations with increased risk across genetic models (random-effects ORs = 1.4–1.9), with stronger effects in Arab and Iranian populations and no association in Turkish cohorts. FokI showed associations with MS under selected genetic models, particularly recessive and homozygous contrasts, although findings were not consistent across all analytical approaches. TaqI showed model-dependent associations with substantial heterogeneity, while BsmI showed no significant association. For AD, a meta-analysis of two studies showed no significant associations. For PD, ApaI showed associations with increased risk across several models without heterogeneity; however, these findings were based on a limited number of studies. Overall certainty of evidence ranged from very low to moderate. Conclusions: In MENA&T populations, VDR ApaI polymorphism shows consistent evidence of association with MS susceptibility, while FokI may be associated under specific genetic models; evidence for AD and PD remains limited and should be considered exploratory. These findings highlight population-specific genetic heterogeneity and underscore the need for further large-scale studies to confirm these associations. These population-specific genetic associations underscore the importance of incorporating VDR genotyping into precision medicine frameworks for neurodegenerative disease risk stratification in MENA&T populations, where vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent. Full article

Background/Objectives: People aged 65 years and older who live alone and have limited functional abilities need support in many circumstances and for a variety of activities. This study was conducted to explore the available formal and informal help for seniors, using findings from the “Inclusive Ageing in Place” (IN-AGE) study. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in 2019 in three Italian regions, i.e., Lombardy in the north, Marche in the centre, and Calabria in the south, and involved 120 older people who lived at home, either alone or with a personal/private care assistant (PCA). Using a mixed-methods approach revealed both qualitative (thematic/content analysis of narratives) and quantitative (quantifications of statements) results. Results: This study identified several needs of seniors in different circumstances concerning basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL and IADL), health, and mobility in/outside the home. The seniors reported that support was provided primarily by their families, followed by friends and neighbours. Public home services were considered insufficient. The participants also reported using mobility aids and instances of self-sufficiency. Conclusions: These results highlight the need to improve support services for frail seniors and to better integrate formal and informal caregiving to facilitate ageing in place and promote the well-being of older people. Adequate interventions should be implemented for both older people and their family caregivers, who play a central role in care. Full article

This review analyzes the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) production and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines was conducted using the Web of Science (2020–2026), resulting in 225 included studies. Buffalo production is a multipurpose system that generates value through milk, meat, hides, manure, draft power, and animal-assisted services, with greater longevity than most livestock species. Economically, it supports income diversification, resource efficiency, and functions as a financial asset that can be sold to cover unexpected expenses. Socially, it enhances food security by providing nutrient-dense products, particularly milk with bioactive compounds associated with potential health benefits, and promotes women’s participation in livestock management and household economies. Environmentally, buffalo systems efficiently utilize low-quality forages, are adapted to marginal conditions, contribute to wetland conservation, and provide ecosystem services. These contributions align with several SDGs (1, 2, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 15). However, sector expansion is constrained by limitations in nutrition, management, veterinary services, and reproductive efficiency, as well as environmental challenges related to methane emissions and life cycle impacts. While global methane emissions from buffalo are lower due to their smaller population, emission intensity remains system-dependent and represents a critical challenge. In conclusion, water buffalo production represents a multifunctional and context-dependent system with significant potential to support sustainable development, although targeted innovations are required to improve productivity and address environmental challenges. Future research should integrate One Health and One Welfare approaches, develop long-term studies, and expand research under diverse experimental and field conditions to better characterize the potential health implications of buffalo-derived products. In addition, strengthening circular economy strategies, including region-specific diets to reduce emissions, remains a priority. Full article

Background: Mental illness constitutes one of the greatest worldwide health burdens. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly relevant in mental health. Nevertheless, evidence regarding their integrated application remains sparse. This scoping review identified existing evidence on AI-integrated VR in mental health care, including clinical applications, reported outcomes, and future research directions. Methods: The Population, Concept, and Context framework was used as the eligibility criteria. The mental health-related studies considered were original studies that addressed explicit AI integration using VR systems or workflows and had at least one outcome or clinical or implementation finding. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched to retrieve English-language studies published between January 2020 and February 2026. Results: The available evidence is heterogeneous, generally small, and primarily focused on feasibility or predictive modeling. The focus of applications is on the assessment or prediction of anxiety spectrum conditions, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders, stress, and panic disorder/agoraphobia. Most of the research examines immersive VR with multimodal inputs and machine-learning-based prediction models. However, the field remains largely in an early stage, with a lack of standardization, implementation readiness, safety reporting, and real-world validation. Conclusions: AI-integrated VR can be considered as a promising but emerging field, and further development requires stricter, more clinically based, and implementation-focused studies that can help establish safe, effective, and scalable implementation in mental health care. Furthermore, pragmatic, multicenter research directly investigates whether AI-integrated VR has additional clinical value compared to regular VR or regular care in mental health care. Full article

This study investigated the effects of different inclusion levels of defatted black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens: BSF) larval meal on growth performance, haematological and biochemical blood parameters, and nutrient digestibility in piglets. Forty-eight male piglets weaned at 28 days of age ((Landrace × Large White) × (Piétrain)) were randomly assigned to three experimental treatments. Each treatment included eight pens with two piglets per pen. Diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isoproteic, containing defatted BSF meal as a partial replacement for fishmeal and soybean meal: Control (0% BSF), BSF3% (3% inclusion), and BSF6% (6% inclusion). Over the whole experimental period, dietary treatment did not significantly affect final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or feed conversion ratio, although feed intake differed during the 7–28-day period. Red and white blood cell parameters were not influenced by diet. Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and organic matter increased at the 6% inclusion level, while crude protein and crude fat digestibility were not affected. These results indicate that defatted BSF meal can be used as a sustainable alternative protein source in piglet diets, maintaining growth performance and health status. Full article

The non-invasive determination of live weight and body composition of ewes is an important element in ensuring precision livestock management and animal well-being. Traditional practices tend to be subjective, labor-intensive, or rely on expensive medical imaging such as Computed Tomography (CT). This paper proposes a new hybrid deep learning method to predict live weight and carcass traits in Coopworth ewes. The dataset of 1184 images taken from 156 ewes was analyzed and compared using a hybrid model (ResNet18 with Multi-Layer Perceptron through simple concatenation) and two more advanced models: Attention-Guided Feature Fusion Network (AGFF-Net) based on cross-modal attention and a Vision Transformer-based Hybrid Regressor (ViT-HR). Auxiliary tabular variables are the Body Condition Score (BCS) and size category. The Transformer architecture predicts (R² = 0.93) the live weight of ewes by dynamically ranking each visual patch and asking it to query the self-attention sequence. This technique treats the BCS as a distinct token in the self-attention sequence. Data partitioning at the animal level was stringent, thereby giving strong generalization. Findings indicate that the best advanced fusion systems are far better than baseline concatenation, with a high accuracy confirmed with gold standards obtained by CT. Grad-CAM visual explainability makes sure that models are able to localize biologically relevant anatomical locations successfully. The study closes the gap between complex deep learning models and real-world agriculture implementation to provide a correct, interpretable and scalable solution to real-time livestock measurements. Full article

Background: Parabens are frequently utilized as preservatives in processed foods; nevertheless, the primary dietary factors contributing to exposure in northern Thailand remain undetermined. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 130 adults in Northern Thailand. Dietary intake was assessed using self-reported food consumption data combined with previously measured paraben concentrations. Due to the skewed distribution of intake, participants were classified into lower and higher exposure groups. LASSO regression was applied for variable selection, followed by multivariable logistic regression to identify dietary predictors of exposure. Results: Several processed food items were significantly associated with higher paraben exposure, including soft drinks, potato chips, and canned fish. No demographic factors were significantly associated with exposure. The final model demonstrated good explanatory power and classification performance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that routine consumption of certain processed foods and beverages may play a larger role in exposure than individual characteristics, and they highlight practical targets, particularly soft drinks, potato chips, and canned fish, for community-based health-promotion strategies aimed at reducing unnecessary preservative intake. Full article