Search Results (17,961)

Rabbit odontogenic abscesses are among the most challenging chronic infections encountered in exotic animal medicine because of their polymicrobial etiology, biofilm-associated persistence, and poor response to conventional antimicrobial therapy. Biofilm formation plays a central role in disease pathogenesis by promoting bacterial adhesion, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, quorum sensing (bacterial cell-to-cell communication), metabolic heterogeneity, and the persister-cell formation (transiently antibiotic-tolerant bacterial subpopulations), collectively reducing antimicrobial susceptibility and contributing to treatment failure and recurrence. In addition to biofilm-mediated tolerance, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) further complicates disease management through mechanisms including horizontal gene transfer, efflux pump activation, enzymatic antibiotic degradation, reduced membrane permeability, and target modification. This review summarizes current knowledge on the microbiology, biofilm dynamics, and resistance mechanisms associated with rabbit odontogenic infections while examining recent advances in molecular diagnostics, including culture-independent sequencing technologies, metagenomics, and advanced imaging approaches. Current and emerging anti-biofilm strategies, such as local antimicrobial delivery systems, enzymatic biofilm disruption, quorum-sensing inhibitors, bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, photodynamic therapy, and nanotechnology-based approaches, are critically discussed in the context of their potential application in rabbits. Comparative evidence from human endodontic infections and other veterinary biofilm-associated diseases highlights the translational relevance of rabbit odontogenic abscesses as a naturally occurring model for chronic polymicrobial infections. Finally, key research gaps are identified, emphasizing the need for standardized experimental models, integrated multi-omics analyses, combining genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data, longitudinal clinical investigations, and evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship. By integrating microbiology, biofilm biology, antimicrobial resistance, and One Health concepts, this review provides a comprehensive framework to support future research and improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of rabbit odontogenic infections. Full article

Atmospheric aerosols from natural and anthropogenic sources are a major component of air pollution and substantially affect air quality, human health, and atmospheric chemistry. Reliable and continuous aerosol optical depth (τ_aer) measurements from ground-based instruments are therefore essential for characterizing aerosol loading and its spatiotemporal variability. This study presents a framework for retrieving τ_aer in the UV (315–375 nm) and visible (400–530 nm) spectral ranges using the Pandora spectrometer. In the ultraviolet (UV) range, reliable τ_aer retrieval from standard direct-Sun measurements is hindered by out-of-band stray light from visible wavelengths. To address this limitation, this study utilizes measurements acquired with a U340 filter, which suppresses this contamination in UV spectra and enables reliable τ_aer retrievals in the UV region. Through the proposed spectral fitting framework, trace gas absorption and aerosol extinction components are successfully separated from the measured total optical depth. Concurrently, τ_aer values at visible wavelengths are retrieved from standard Diffuser measurements. The retrieved UV and visible τ_aer values show good agreement with collocated AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) data, with R² = 0.88–0.99, RMSE = 0.016–0.039, |MBE| = 0.002–0.023, slopes of 0.93–1.01, and |intercepts| < 0.01. Together with the trace gas products simultaneously retrieved by Pandora, these τ_aer datasets can serve as a valuable resource for air pollution analysis. Full article

Inflammation is a complex biological response involved in the pathophysiology of several chronic diseases. Although conventional anti-inflammatory therapies are effective, their prolonged use can be associated with relevant adverse effects. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids are widely used, these agents cause gastrointestinal, renal, cardiovascular, hepatic and metabolic adverse effects. Essential oils (EO) exhibit relevant anti-inflammatory potential. However, their pharmaceutical application is limited by volatility, hydrophobicity, physicochemical instability and potentially low bioavailability. This review evaluated EO-loaded lipid nanocarriers for anti-inflammatory applications, with emphasis on physicochemical quality attributes, stability, safety and efficacy. Literature searches were carried out through PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Virtual Health Library, and Google Scholar websites, based on works published between 2021 and 2026. The investigated systems included liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and nanoemulsions. Different formulations were found regarding EO nature, nanocarrier type, administration route and biological models used, predominantly involving preclinical assays. Nanoencapsulation was frequently associated with suitable physicochemical properties and release profiles, but direct comparisons with the corresponding free EO and control nanocarriers were not consistently performed. Safety findings were mainly based on cytotoxicity, local tolerability and short-term assays, with limited repeated-dose and long-term toxicological data. Several formulations showed anti-inflammatory activity in acute, subacute, or chronic experimental models. In selected works using the same experimental conditions, some formulations produced responses of similar magnitude to hydrocortisone, diclofenac, or other anti-inflammatory drugs, but these results cannot be directly correlated with therapeutic equivalence. The reported mechanisms involved modulation of the NF-κB, MAPK and Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. Overall, lipid-based nanocarriers represent platforms for investigating the stability, delivery and biological performance of EO. However, further standardization and controlled assays are required to determine their therapeutic and translational potential. Full article

Corn stunt is one of the most important diseases affecting maize (Zea mays L.) production in tropical regions of the Americas. The disease is caused by a complex of pathogens transmitted by the corn leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis), and its predominantly quantitative inheritance complicates the identification of tolerant genotypes under field conditions. In this context, we aimed to perform a comprehensive phenotypic stratification of corn stunt tolerance in a tropical public maize diversity panel and to identify contrasting inbred lines for breeding and genetic studies. A total of 360 inbred lines were evaluated under natural infection using three complementary disease-response traits: survivor plant health score (SPHS), proportion of survivor plants (PSP), and whole-plant health score (WPHS). Multi-trait mixed-model analyses revealed significant genotypic variation, moderate to high broad-sense heritability, and significant genotype × environment interactions for all evaluated traits. A multi-trait index (MSI), calculated from standardized best linear unbiased predictions (BLUPs), successfully integrated the three phenotypic components and enabled robust stratification of the diversity panel, identifying 60 highly tolerant and 60 highly susceptible inbred lines. Further, a genomic principal component analysis demonstrated that these phenotypic extremes were distributed across both tropical and subtropical germplasm, indicating that tolerance is not restricted to a single genetic background. The proposed phenotypic framework provides a robust and reproducible strategy for characterizing quantitative disease tolerance, identifying valuable parental germplasm, and establishing well-defined phenotypic extremes for future investigations of the genetic architecture of corn stunt tolerance. Full article

The discharge of chromium-containing wastewater into natural aquatic systems poses a substantial risk to both ecosystem integrity and human health. In this study, a pyrite-amended Leersia hexandra Swartz (L. hexandra) constructed wetland was established to investigate the mechanisms underlying pyrite-mediated regulation of wetland processes. In normal conditions, the presence of L. hexandra enhanced the removal of NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, TN, and TP, with the maximum removal efficiencies increased by up to 35.4%, 17.8%, 9.5%, and 25%, respectively, compared with the constructed wetland without L. hexandra. Although Cr(VI) led to a general decline in removal efficiencies, appreciable removal of NH₄⁺-N, TN, TP, and COD was still sustained. Notably, under Cr(VI) stress, pyrite amendment improved the removal of NH₄⁺-N and COD, with maximum removal efficiencies reaching 99% and 87.5%, respectively, and achieving optimal overall efficiency. Moreover, physiological and biochemical assessments indicated that L. hexandra exhibited superior performance in the pyrite-amended system compared with the unamended control following Cr(VI) exposure, with the peak SOD activity decreased by 27.6%, peak POD activity decreased by 21.9%, peak CAT activity increased by 29.6%, and peak MDA content decreased by 29.4%, suggesting that pyrite mitigated Cr(VI) stress. Given the pivotal role of microbial assemblages in nutrient transformation, shifts in microbial community structure were further analyzed after pyrite addition, revealing discernible alterations. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that pyrite incorporation into L. hexandra constructed wetlands enhances the removal of specific nitrogen species under Cr(VI) stress, while its promotive effect on phosphorus removal remains comparatively limited. Full article

The α⁰-thalassemia Southeast Asian (--^SEA) and Thai (--^THAI) deletions comprise a significant global health burden, with high prevalence in Southeast Asia. Conventional methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are limited in resource-poor settings due to complexity, time, and cost. This assay was developed as a rapid and simple option for point-of-care (POC) applications. Three assays specific for wild-type DNA, --^SEA and --^THAI deletions utilized recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) for rapid DNA amplification at a constant low temperature of 37 °C, with a run time of 10 min, eliminating the need for a thermal cycler. The amplified products were detected using the highly specific CRISPR-Cas12a system and read visually via fluorescence or combined with a lateral flow assay (LFA) in 30 min. Successful engineering of a synthetic PAM site enabled Cas12a recognition of the --^SEA target despite the absence of a suitable natural PAM. The platform demonstrated high accuracy in 74 blinded clinical samples, achieving a diagnostic accuracy of 98.20%, a sensitivity of 94.59%, and a specificity of 100% across 222 per-target evaluations. Detection from non-invasive samples achieved 80% to 100% accuracy, depending on the extraction method and readout format used. Our platform showed potential to meet several ASSURED criteria for diagnostic tests in resource-limited settings, demonstrating high potential for widespread use in genetic screening for α⁰-thalassemia (--^SEA) and (--^THAI). Full article

Nyaope, a highly addictive high-grade heroin mixture combined with various adulterants, presented a severe socio-economic and public health crisis in South Africa. The administration of chronic exposure to nyaope induces systemic neurobehavioral alterations, including severe anxiety, motor deficits, cognitive impairment, and profound withdrawal-induced behavioral dysregulation. Moringa oleifera (MO), a botanical resource rich in bioactive flavonoids, alkaloids, and antioxidants, exhibits significant neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of MO leaf extracts to reverse nyaope-induced systemic behavioral patterns using an in vivo rodent model. In the project, both male and female Wistar rats were monitored over nine (9) weeks in the Wits animal care center. The behavioral patterns that might be altered were investigated using the for-locomotor activity (Open Field Test), spatial working memory (Y-Maze), anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus maze) and cognitive memory (novel object recognition). The data were analyzed on a GraphPad Prism (Version 9.02) using repeated measures two-way and one-way ANOVAs, followed by appropriate post-hoc tests (p-value < 0.05). Most behavioral assessment tests demonstrated improved behavioral responses in the animal models following treatment with Moringa oleifera (MO). Overall, these findings suggest that MO treatment may have exerted beneficial effects on the behavioral outcomes assessed in the animal models. These findings demonstrate that administration of MO possesses potent neuroprotective properties. Crucially, treatment with MO significantly attenuated nyaope-induced behavioral alterations, restoring normal locomotor patterns and reducing anxiety-like traits. The findings indicate that MO exerts potential neuroprotective effects capable of mitigating and reversing systemic neurobehavioral disruptions caused by nyaope. Consequently, MO represents a promising naturally derived therapeutic candidate for mitigating neurochemical dysregulation and behavioral addiction patterns associated with nyaope abuse. There is a need for further research to assess the morphological modifications in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Full article

The global spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, alongside the rising burden of oncological diseases, poses an increasing threat to human health and public healthcare systems worldwide. Substantial efforts are underway to discover new drugs and to reposition or repurpose existing ones. Recently, nifuroxazide introduced into clinical practice in the late 1960s has attracted considerable attention due to its antitumor potential. However, its poor absorption in the intestinal tract limits its applicability as a systemic antitumor agent, a limitation that can be addressed through chemical modification. In this study, we evaluated 11 nifuroxazide analogs featuring systematic modifications to both the five-membered ring (replacement of furan with thiophene) and the six-membered aromatic ring (variation in the position and nature of substituents). MTT cytotoxicity assays performed on HCT116 and HEK293 cell lines revealed that 5-nitrofurfurylidene hydrazide of 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid and 5-nitrothien-2-yl hydrazide of 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid exhibit selective toxicity toward tumor cells while showing significantly lower toxicity to non-tumor cells, indicating potential for further investigation in more complex biological models. Antimicrobial activity testing identified 5-nitrofurfurylidene hydrazide of 3-hydroxybenzoic acid and 5-nitrofurfurylidene hydrazide of 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid as particularly potent. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sleep-related problems are common among university students and are linked to adverse academic and health outcomes. This study evaluated the association between lifestyle medicine adherence and sleep-related problems among first-year Ecuadorian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Quito, Ecuador, during the 2024–2025 academic year. First-year undergraduate students aged 16–35 years were recruited through a census-based, non-probability strategy (N = 2007). Lifestyle medicine adherence was assessed using the Short Multidimensional Inventory Lifestyle Evaluation for University Students (U-SMILE), and sleep-related problems were defined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure sleep domain (score ≥ 2), a symptom screen that is conceptually related to, but not identical with, the U-SMILE sleep quality domain. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used and adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. A post-hoc sensitivity analysis recomputed the global U-SMILE score after excluding the sleep quality domain. Results: The median age was 18.0 years, and 51.0% were female. Among participants with Level 1 sleep data (n = 1906), 47.8% were classified as having sleep-related problems. In the fully adjusted model (n = 1893), higher overall U-SMILE scores were associated with lower odds of sleep-related problems (odds ratio (OR) per 1 point = 0.93, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.91–0.94; OR per 1 SD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.50–0.62). In a post-hoc sensitivity analysis, this association persisted after excluding the sleep quality domain from the global score (OR per 1 point = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.93–0.95; OR per 1 SD = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.60–0.73). Among non-sleep domains, the strongest associations were avoidance of substance use (OR = 0.87), social relationships (OR = 0.90), and nutrition (OR = 0.90); physical activity, nature engagement, and stress management were also significant. Conclusions: Higher lifestyle medicine adherence was associated with lower odds of sleep-related problems, including in post-hoc analyses when the sleep domain was omitted from the U-SMILE total. These findings support multidimensional lifestyle medicine approaches for sleep health promotion in university settings. Full article

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) and associated plastic-derived compounds, bisphenols (BPs), in the environment—originating from plastic production or adsorption of environmental pollutants—results in unavoidable human exposure. Therefore, assessing their occurrence in human biological samples is essential for understanding potential health risks. In this study, pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyse human intraocular fluids—aqueous humour (AH) and vitreous humour (VH)—to identify 11 microplastic polymer clusters. A method based on dansyl chloride derivatisation combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was employed to screen for five bisphenols (BPs) in blood serum collected from the same patients. Potential MPs isolated from ocular samples were qualitatively assessed by stereomicroscopy. The number of particles ranged from 14 to 69 per gram in AH and from 21 to 34 per gram in VH. Among AH samples, the most frequently detected polymer clusters were C-PVC, C-PMMA, C-PET, and C-PP, with average levels ranging from 0.41 to 0.84 µg/g. The three VH samples contained only C-PMMA, with an average concentration of 0.55 ± 0.12 µg/g. Polymers such as C-PA66 (0.30 ± 0.21 µg/g) and C-PA6 (0.15 ± 0.44 µg/g) were occasionally observed in AH. Analysis of 13 human serum samples demonstrated exposure to bisphenol A (BPA; 4.05–5.18 ng/mL) and bisphenol AF (BPAF; 2.13–4.54 ng/mL), but no clear correlation was observed between serum BP levels and intraocular MPs within the limitations of the present dataset. These findings suggest the presence of MPs and BPs in human biological samples; however, the results should be interpreted with caution owing to potential background contamination and the pilot nature of the study. Full article

Makkah faces substantial heat-stress challenges associated with extreme temperatures, dense urban form, and the large numbers of pilgrims present during Hajj and Umrah, creating important public health concerns. Recent heat-related fatalities highlight the need for complementary strategies that address outdoor as well as indoor heat exposure, alongside conventional cooling approaches such as air conditioning. This article examines the potential role of nature-based and complementary engineered interventions in mitigating urban heat stress in Makkah, focusing on afforestation, urban greening, and the possible use of artificial water bodies, contingent on sustainable water management. Drawing on case studies and published evidence from arid and heat-prone regions, including China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the wider Middle East, we summarize reported cooling effects, implementation experience, and feasibility considerations and assess their potential relevance to Makkah. The perspective highlights critical challenges related to water scarcity, spatial constraints, ecological impacts, and governance, while proposing phased implementation pathways that could be evaluated incrementally. If carefully designed and integrated with urban planning and climate-adaptation strategies, nature-based and complementary interventions could potentially reduce human heat stress, reduce cooling demand, and strengthen climate resilience in Makkah. However, their effectiveness, water requirements, environmental impacts, and scalability require evaluation under Makkah-specific environmental and operational conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are important components of adolescent lifestyle, but favourable movement behaviour may not correspond to favourable behaviours across other health-related domains. This study aimed to identify empirical physical activity–sedentary behaviour profiles among adolescents and examine their co-occurring dietary, sleep, digital, and general health behaviours. Methods: This cross-sectional, school-based study used data from 3307 Polish adolescents aged 15–17 years. Following final processing of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Long Form, 1932 participants had complete and analytically eligible data for sedentary time, walking, moderate-intensity physical activity, and vigorous-intensity physical activity and were included in profile derivation. The four variables were Z-standardised before k-means clustering. Solutions from k = 2 to k = 6 were evaluated using the silhouette coefficient, Calinski–Harabasz index, Davies–Bouldin index, and Adjusted Rand Index (ARI). Co-occurring behaviours were compared using chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests with effect-size estimates. Results: Cluster assignments were almost identical across repeated k-means runs initiated from different random starting centroids (ARI = 0.999). Because all runs were performed on the same set of participants, this result reflects low dependence on the initial centroid configuration rather than robustness to changes in sample composition. Separation between the two groups was limited (silhouette coefficient = 0.294), while the correspondence between classifications obtained from unstandardised and Z-standardised variables was minimal (ARI = 0.008), demonstrating a strong influence of scaling on cluster membership. The final classification included 1070 adolescents (55.4%) in the Higher Physical Activity profile and 862 (44.6%) in the Lower Physical Activity profile. The profiles showed no clear differences in school-day sleep duration, television/computer use, or internet-related risk. Weekend sleep duration differed between profiles (V = 0.120, p = 0.001). The Higher Physical Activity profile had higher Pro-Healthy Diet Index (r = 0.100, p < 0.001) and Non-Healthy Diet Index scores (r = 0.090, p < 0.001), slightly higher energy-drink intake (r = 0.080, p = 0.001), and more frequent out-of-home meal consumption (V = 0.079, p = 0.002). Effect sizes for co-occurring behaviours were generally small. Conclusions: Empirically distinct movement-behaviour profiles showed only partial correspondence with broader lifestyle characteristics. Higher physical activity coexisted with both more and less favourable dietary characteristics, whereas the Lower Physical Activity profile did not show a consistently adverse sleep or digital-behaviour pattern. These findings indicate that physical activity level alone should not be treated as a proxy for overall adolescent lifestyle quality. Given the exploratory, cross-sectional design and method-dependent nature of the profiles, the findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than as evidence for fixed lifestyle types or profile-specific interventions. Full article

As a traditional Tibetan medicine and health food, the fleshy roots of Sphallerocarpus gracilis were adopted to extract polyphenol powder(PP) in this research. Using a DSS-induced colitis mouse model combined with multi-omics analysis and experimental validation, we explored the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of PP against intestinal inflammation. PP mitigated colitis-related symptoms in a dose-dependent manner, inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines and dose-dependently reversed elevated IL-10 levels to BC group. Multi-omics data revealed that PP intervention was associated with gut microbiota remodeling, enrichment of Akkermansia muciniphila, restoration of bacterial–fungal homeostasis, and improvement of tryptophan and biotin metabolism. By suppressing HMGB1 and RAGE expression, PP blocked the AGE-RAGE-mediated inflammatory cascade. In addition, PP maintained intestinal mucosal integrity through goblet cell protection, MDA reduction, and the regulation of BAX/Bcl-2, MMP3 and MMP9. Overall, PP relieves UC by regulating gut microecology, host metabolism and the AGE-RAGE pathway, which supports the translational potential of natural polyphenols for inflammatory bowel disease treatment as a gut microecological modulator. Full article

Tenure insecurity among smallholder farmers undermines incentives for long-term soil health restoration investments, thereby limiting agricultural productivity and household food security. This study examines the impacts of land registration on soil health restoration and household food security among smallholder farmers in Malawi. Using representative data from 506 households, the study employs a corrected selectivity endogenous switching regression model to account for selection bias, reverse causality and unobserved heterogeneity. Food security is measured using multiple indicators to capture its multidimensional nature, including the Women’s Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS), Children’s Dietary Diversity Score (CDDS), the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and the Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale (HFIES). The results indicate that land registration significantly improves soil health restoration by 9% (p < 0.00) and food security outcomes across indicators, with average treatment effects on the treated (ATT) of 1.02 for WDDS, 0.50 for CDDS, −0.83 for HFIES, and −2.54 for HFIAS, all significant at the 1% level. Furthermore, household and farm characteristics, such as the age of the household head, membership in farmer groups, landholding size, and adoption of sustainable land management practices enhance welfare. The study suggests that scaling up targeted land registration, alongside promoting complementary sustainable land management practices, has the potential to improve soil health restoration and strengthen food security in Malawi’s smallholder farming systems. Full article