Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common autoimmune cause of hypothyroidism, often accompanied by persistent non-specific symptoms despite normalized thyroid hormone levels. Lifestyle factors, including mood, sleep, diet, and exercise, are increasingly considered in the supportive management of HT, but comprehensive characterization of lifestyle patterns in HT patients remains limited. To systematically assess the lifestyle patterns of HT patients, including psychological well-being, sleep quality, quality of life, dietary habits, and physical activity. A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted with 226 participants (105 HT patients and 121 healthy controls). Emotional status was assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9; sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); and health-related quality of life with the SF-36. Dietary habits and physical activity were evaluated using validated questionnaires. Serum TPOAb and TgAb levels were measured, and correlations with exercise parameters were analyzed using Spearman correlation and multivariable linear regression. All HT participants were biochemically euthyroid at enrollment; prior clinical history of hypothyroidism and LT4 treatment were extracted from medical records. HT patients exhibited higher anxiety and depression scores, poorer sleep quality, and lower quality of life compared with controls. They also reported distinct dietary patterns, including higher daily intake of meat, dairy, vegetables, and fruits and less frequent use of iodized salt. In terms of physical activity, HT patients showed more conservative exercise patterns, with greater time spent in low-intensity activity and less in moderate-intensity activity. Among HT patients, high-intensity exercise time was inversely associated with TPOAb levels after multivariable adjustment. HT patients displayed poorer psychological status, impaired sleep, and reduced quality of life, together with distinct dietary adjustments and conservative exercise patterns. In this biochemically euthyroid HT cohort, high-intensity exercise time was inversely associated with TPOAb levels. Not applicable.
Aging and increased life expectancy generate growing challenges for end-of-life care in old age, particularly in rural contexts marked by territorial and health inequalities. From the perspective of gerontological geography and the notions of autonomy and agency of older adults, this study aims to generate an understanding of end-of-life as a lived experience from the subjective worlds of and with the people involved. To this end, a qualitative study, with an ethnographic approach and case study strategy, was conducted in the Los Lagos Region of Chile between 2022 and 2023. This included semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observation of rural older adults in the end-of-life stages, their caregivers, and rural health teams. The results show that remaining at home is a central desire and organizes care, sustained primarily by feminized family networks and rural primary care. The home becomes a space of care, and health teams play a key role in providing clinical and relational support at the end-of-life. It is concluded that end-of-life care in rural areas requires territorial approaches that recognize autonomy in old age and the structural inequalities of these processes. El envejecimiento y aumento de la esperanza de vida generan desafíos crecientes para los cuidados de fin de vida en la vejez, particularmente en contextos rurales marcados por desigualdades territoriales y sanitarias. Desde la geografía gerontológica, y las nociones de autonomía y agencia de las personas mayores, este estudio se propone generar una comprensión del fin de vida como experiencia vital desde los mundos subjetivos de y con las personas implicadas. Para ello, se realizó un estudio cualitativo, de enfoque etnográfico y estrategia de estudio de caso, en la Región de Los Lagos, Chile, entre 2022 y 2023, que incluyó entrevistas semiestructuradas y observación etnográfica a personas mayores rurales en etapas de fin de vida, las personas cuidadoras y los equipos de salud rural. Los resultados muestran que la permanencia en el hogar constituye un deseo central y organiza los cuidados, sostenidos principalmente por redes familiares feminizadas y por la atención primaria rural. El hogar se transforma en un espacio de cuidado y los equipos de salud cumplen un rol clave en acompañamiento clínico y relacional del fin de vida. Se concluye que los cuidados de fin de vida en la ruralidad requieren enfoques territoriales que reconozcan autonomía en la vejez y las desigualdades estructurales de estos procesos.
In addition to pharmacological treatments, self-care education is crucial for managing chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Concept mapping, a visual and learner-centered educational strategy, has shown potential in improving self-care engagement. However, evidence for its effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis populations remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of concept map-based self-care education on quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Following the intervention, participants in the experimental group showed significantly better outcomes compared to the control group in overall quality of life (P < 0.001) and most domain-specific measures, including Activities, Movement, and Energy (P = 0.007); Mood/Emotions (P < 0.001); and Physical Contact (P = 0.015), with moderate to large effect sizes. However, no significant difference was observed in the Self-Care domain (P = 0.300). Within-group analyses revealed significant improvements in quality of life across all domains in the intervention group (all P < 0.05), whereas no changes were observed in the control group (all P > 0.05). Therefore, concept mapping, as a structured and visual educational strategy, may enhance patients' understanding of complex self-care information and improve quality of life among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. The protocol of this clinical trial has been registered in the Iranian Clinical Trial Registration Center (registration code: IRCT20230405057828N1). Registered 23 June 2023- registered while recruiting, https://www.irct.ir/.
With coral reefs increasingly threatened by rapid environmental changes, understanding genetic diversity at microgeographic scale is critical for assessing their capacity to respond to local stress regimes. Theory for continuous populations predicts that brooding corals with restricted dispersal should exhibit fine-scale genetic structure and isolation-by-distance, yet such patterns remain poorly resolved in marginal and environmentally extreme reef ecosystems. Here, we investigated the genetic structure of the catch bowl coral, Isopora cf. palifera, across 11 sites within ~ 14 km in Kenting National Park (KNP), southern Taiwan, a reefscape characterized by strong small-scale environmental heterogeneity, including chronic thermal influence from a nuclear power plant and tidally driven upwelling. We genotyped 466 colonies (six microsatellite loci yielding 302 unique multilocus genotypes) and sequenced nuclear PaxC 46/47-intron from 322 colonies of I. cf. palifera. Microsatellite data revealed strong genetic structure (K = 2, K = 5): principal coordinate analyses identified four geographic groupings, and Bayesian clustering (STRUCTURE) supported two major clusters separating Nanwan (plus Tantzei Bay) from the remaining coastal sites, with one site (Shiaowan) showing admixture. The PaxC marker resolved ten haplotypes, with H1 widespread, H2 concentrated along Nanwan, and H3 dominant at thermally influenced sites near the nuclear power plant outfall. Overall, populations showed high site differentiation, significant isolation-by-distance, and high self-recruitment (68-92%), indicating limited effective dispersal. A temporal comparison (2000-2015) at Tantzei Bay indicated stable genetic structure through time despite repeated regional disturbances. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models showed that site-level seawater temperature was positively associated with both host haplotype composition (GEE; coefficient = 0.0479, p < 0.001) and Symbiodiniaceae genera (GEE; coefficient = 0.0462, p < 0.001, symbiont data from a previous work in KNP), suggesting non-random host-symbiont-environment associations at microgeographic scale. Together, these results indicate that I. cf. palifera in KNP exhibits pronounced fine-scale genetic structure consistent with restricted dispersal and possible microgeographic adaptation of the holobiont to local thermal regimes. While such structuring may enhance local resilience by maintaining diverse, site-specific host-symbiont combinations, it also implies limited scope for rescue via gene flow if future warming pushes populations beyond their adapted tolerances. Our findings underscore the importance of accounting for microgeographic genetic structure and local adaptation when designing management and conservation strategies for reefscape such as those in KNP.
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a vital indicator of evaluating care outcomes and prognosis, yet little is understood about its developmental trajectories in older patients with chronic pain. This study aimed to identify latent HRQoL trajectories and their predictors, and to develop explainable machine learning models for predicting HRQoL deterioration. This prospective cohort study assessed 608 older patients with chronic pain at admission and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-admission, collecting data on HRQoL, general characteristics, pain level, activities of daily living (ADL), depression, and perceived social support. Growth mixture modeling was applied to identify trajectories of physical and mental HRQoL. Predictors were selected using LASSO regression and SVM-RFE. Nine explainable machine learning models were developed for both components, and SHAP interpreted the outputs. An HRQoL decision-support dashboard was developed to facilitate potential clinical application. Three physical HRQoL trajectories were identified: Stable High, Decline and Low Stability, alongside two mental HRQoL trajectories: Improvement and Decline. Key predictors included education level, pain duration, pain level, ADL, depression, and perceived social support, with ADL and pain level being the most influential for physical and mental HRQoL, respectively. This dual-trajectory study identified five distinct HRQoL patterns in older patients with chronic pain, elucidating key predictors via explainable machine learning. The proposed HRQoL decision-support dashboard may provide an interpretable tool to support understanding of predictive relationships and assist healthcare professionals in HRQoL assessment. Not applicable.
Early identification and initiation of therapy for life-threatening hemorrhage is essential to minimize patient morbidity and mortality. In primary hemostasis, platelet function is integral to reach this goal, but major hemorrhage leads to impaired platelet mechanical activation and aggregation. Current devices for measuring platelet function are cumbersome or not promptly available for clinical decision making in this setting. Within this manuscript we prospectively evaluate a novel, rapid assay utilizing measures of platelet aggregation to predict hemorrhage. In this prospective cohort study at an academic regional Level I trauma center, we included adult (> 16 years old) participants who were triaged as level I or II trauma activations. The primary exposure studied was platelet aggregation analyzed on a prototype device. The primary and secondary outcomes measured were life-threatening hemorrhage (death from hemorrhage or need for hemorrhage control procedure) and transfusion requirements of > 2 units of blood components, respectively. Standard descriptive statistics were used to characterize the cohort. Predictive outcomes were analyzed using multivariable regression to compare: (1) the platelet aggregation assay; (2) clinical parameters (systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and injury mechanism); and (3) a combined model. Of 761 patients, 482 patients met inclusion criteria for our study, 36 (7.5%) had life-threatening hemorrhage and 43 (8.9%) patients required > 2 units of blood transfusion. For life-threatening hemorrhage, platelet aggregation had an area under the curve (AUC): 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-0.69); clinical parameters AUC: 0.83 (CI 0.75-0.91); and the combined model AUC: 0.85 (CI 0.79-0.92) which was not significantly improved when compared to clinical parameters alone (p = 0.32). For transfusion of > 2 units, the platelet aggregation model had AUC: 0.68 (CI 0.61-0.76); clinical parameters AUC: 0.84 (CI 0.79-0.90); and combined model AUC: 0.88 (CI 0.83-0.93), improving transfusion prediction over clinical parameters alone (p = 0.013). In a cohort of traumatically injured patients, a novel, rapid measure of platelet aggregation enhanced well-established clinical parameters to predict the need for blood transfusion but not life-threatening hemorrhage. Future work should validate the clinical utility of this technology in a larger cohort and patients with significant non-traumatic hemorrhage.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by painful nodules and abscesses, has varying prevalence among different races/ethnicities. This study explored the social drivers of health, burden, and impact of HS among different racial and ethnic groups. An online, cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult patients with HS (September 2023-December 2023) in the USA. Patients were recruited through HS Connect (patient advocacy group) and AmeriSpeak (US national sample panel). Descriptive data were collected using patient-reported outcome measures and de novo questions about patients' disease knowledge and perception, healthcare access and utilization, impact on quality of life (QoL), and social impact. All analyses were descriptive and stratified by racial/ethnic groups. The study included 583 patients (mean age, 34.8 years; 95.5% female) representing a range of racial backgrounds: Black or African American (n = 273; 46.8%), white (n = 236; 40.5%), Two or More Races (n = 47; 8.1%), American Indian or Alaska Native (n = 18; 3.1%), Asian (n = 7; 1.2%), and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (n = 2; 0.3%). Ethnic representation also varied (Hispanic/Latino = n = 76; 13.0%). Patients of all races and ethnicities reported considerable QoL impact (Dermatology Life Quality Index, EQ-5D-5L), with results for smaller subgroups (n < 10) included for descriptive completeness only and not intended for comparison with other groups. During flaring, most patients used over-the-counter products/medications (54.2%) or nonmedical intervention/home remedy (56.9%) Up to 36.5% of patients reported challenges in procuring food, utilities, medicine/healthcare, phone, clothing, or childcare when needed in the past year. Among those who paid out-of-pocket for their HS treatment, 55.6% reported that it stopped them from visiting a healthcare provider for treatment. The findings indicate a high burden and impact of HS across all races and ethnicities. Patients reported social drivers of health and challenges with healthcare utilization, indicating the need for integrating social workers and care management teams in dermatology practice, which could facilitate improved care of patients with HS. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a painful skin condition that causes lumps and abscesses. It affects people of all races and ethnicities but is more common in Black or African American individuals. This study surveyed 583 adults in the USA to understand how hidradenitis suppurativa affects people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Our focus was on how the disease impacts their daily lives, their ability to access healthcare, how often they visit doctors, their quality of life, and their mental and emotional well-being. Most people said that hidradenitis suppurativa lowers their quality of life and makes daily activities harder. During flaring, many used home remedies instead of seeing a doctor. People suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa also reported trouble getting basic needs such as food, medicine, and transportation. These challenges occurred among patients from different racial and ethnic groups; results for very small subgroups (Asian, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander) are reported descriptively only and should not be interpreted as representative of these groups or compared with other groups. The research underscores the importance of improving awareness and tailoring care for people with hidradenitis suppurativa, particularly those facing barriers to healthcare.
Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is increasingly prevalent among young people and impairs their quality of life. Adverse childhood experiences (ACE), depressive symptoms, and suboptimal health status (SHS) are linked to health risks and chronic diseases, but their interrelationships with periodontitis in Chinese young adults remain unclear. This study aimed to explore associations among these factors. From December 2024 to May 2025, 2,888 participants (aged 18-35) from Tongji Hospital completed surveys on demographics, ACE, depressive symptoms, and SHS. Periodontitis was diagnosed according to the 2018 criteria. Simple, parallel, and chain mediation models were used, controlling for age, sex, marital status, and smoking. Periodontitis prevalence was 25.00% and higher in married individuals (P < 0.001) and smokers (P = 0.004). ACE correlated positively with depressive symptoms (r = 0.28, P < 0.001), SHS (r = 0.19, P < 0.001), and periodontitis (r = 0.16, P < 0.001). Mediation analyses showed: Simple model: Depressive symptoms and SHS partially mediated the effect of ACE on periodontitis (indirect effect = 0.011 for both). Parallel model: Only SHS significantly mediated the effect (indirect effect = 0.011). Chain model: ACE was related to periodontitis via "depressive symptoms → SHS" (indirect effect = 0.010), with significant direct and indirect effects. ACE associated with higher periodontitis risk in young people. This association included both a direct link between ACE and periodontitis, and an indirect link through the chain pathway of "depressive symptoms → SHS"; among these pathways, SHS was a key mediator. The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) with the registration number ChiCTR2500103464. Childhood trauma can exert long‐term impacts on health, including oral health. This study involving 2,888 Chinese young adults aged 18‐35 found that 25% of the participants had periodontitis. Those who experienced childhood abuse, neglect, or family issues showed a higher association with the disease. The research revealed two pathways linking early trauma to periodontitis: a direct association and an indirect chain of “depressive symptoms → suboptimal health status (e.g., persistent fatigue).” While depressive symptoms played a role, suboptimal health status was the critical mediator. Higher periodontitis rates in married individuals and smokers may relate to stress or lifestyle factors. The findings suggested that early identification of childhood trauma, combined with interventions targeting mental health or overall well‐being (e.g., counseling, health management), could be more effective than oral care alone in prevention. This underscored the association between early‐life experiences and long‐term health and the need for integrated interventions.
Early adolescence is key for adopting healthier lifestyles, yet disadvantaged communities often lack resources to support these changes, perpetuating health inequities. Schools play a crucial role in promoting physical activity and healthy eating. eHealth solutions, like online platforms, offer scalable, cost-effective ways to deliver interventions. These platforms can also enhance adolescent engagement and help bridge health resource gaps. The ePro-Schools project aims to co-design and test an eHealth platform to promote healthy habits among adolescents in socially disadvantaged settings. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be carried out with the participation of 6 secondary schools (three controls and three intervention), with a sample size estimated at 1000 students of Central Catalonia (Spain). In the intervention schools, focus groups sessions and meetings with stakeholders have been conducted to co-create the ePro-Schools eHealth platform. Students and school staff are pilot testing the platform to assess the platform's usability, functionality, and layout. Finally, the RCT will be conducted, in which the intervention group will have full access to the ePro-Schools platform (an interactive and informative platform), while the control group will only have access to the informative platform with health literacy content on physical activity, nutrition, and healthy habits. In both groups, adolescents will complete validated questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and at the six-month follow-up to assess their physical activity and eating habits, including depressive symptoms, quality of life, social isolation, and mental health. Sociodemographic characteristics will also be collected. Implementation, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed. The ePro-Schools project introduces a co-designed eHealth platform that integrates physical activity and healthy eating promotion within schools. The intervention aims to enhance adoption, relevance, and sustainability across diverse settings. ePro-Schools project could reduce health inequalities, improve adolescents' physical and mental well-being, and strengthen daily health habits. The model's scalability and embedded implementation planning may support long-term integration into school systems, informing future policies and contributing to educational engagement, reduced disease risk, and broader population health impact. This trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, with the registration number NCT06792461.
A position paper released by the European Association of Nuclear Medicine emphasised the need for multidisciplinary engagement to establish dosimetry-based personalised treatment in Radionuclide therapy (RNT). The uncertainty analysis results often ignored in routine clinical practice should be incorporated into the dose calculations to improve the efficacy and accuracy of treatment. In this study, patients with haematological malignancies undergoing radioimmunotherapy were evaluated. Our study aimed to calculate the uncertainties associated with each parameter of the single time point (STP) dosimetry chain and compare the with multiple time points (MTP) in the bone marrow and liver results. 28 patients received an intravenous injection of 111In-besilesomab (0.17 ± 0.01GBq) for pre-therapeutic dosimetry and were subsequently treated with 90Y-besilesomab(2.43 ± 0.53GBq). A dosimetry analysis was performed on bone marrow (BM) and liver with MTP and STP. We investigated the uncertainty in population mean effective half-life, volume, recovery coefficient, counts, measured activity, fitting parameters, time-integrated-activity, S-factors, and absorbed dose (AD) for a group of patients. The mean absorbed dose per unit administered activity (DpA) to BM was 5.8 ± 1.7 mGy/MBq with MTP and 5.8 ± 1.6 mGy/MBq with STP, and to the liver was 2.9 ± 1.9 mGy/MBq with MTP and 3.1 ± 2.4 mGy/MBq with STP. The mean fractional uncertainty associated with total absorbed dose to BM was 13.18 ± 3.46% with MTP and 18.75 ± 3.22% with STP, and to liver was 5.77 ± 3.13% with MTP and 49.78 ± 25.36% with STP. A moderate positive relationship (R2 = 0.7) was noted between post-injection acquisition time and AD uncertainty with STP for BM, whereas a strong positive relationship (R2 = 1) was noted for the liver. The absorbed dose uncertainty in STP was significantly higher compared to the MTP. Incorporating the uncertainty analysis for STP dosimetry parameters in routine clinical practice is strongly recommended. The accuracy in the acquisition time, population-based half-life and fitting function for time activity curve is vital for minimising uncertainty in STP dosimetry, which is less time-consuming and easier to implement in clinical practice than MTP.
Despite modest improvement, the lifespan of a child on dialysis continues to be 40 years shorter compared to healthy children. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Risk factors for CVD are present even in early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and accelerate as the child's renal function deteriorates. As a result, the highest burden of CVD exists in patients on chronic dialysis. Although dialysis is life-sustaining, the dialysis procedure promotes cardiovascular damage. Both traditional and non-traditional CVD risk factors drive this acceleration. More concerning, the dialysis procedure itself is cardiotoxic. Because of coexisting poor cardiac reserve and altered sympathetic tone in this patient population, dialysis induces repetitive contractile, ischemic injury termed myocardial stunning. This ischemia-reperfusion injury is reversible at first. However, with repetitive episodes, this injury will trigger alterations in cardiac function that decrease contractile function in order to preserve viability. Ultimately, these adaptations lead to remodeling and fibrosis. There is no targeted therapy available to reverse cardiovascular damage in these patients. Intensive monitoring and management of modifiable risks such as hypertension and anemia in the early stages of CKD to optimize cardiovascular health is imperative. However, in late CKD, especially in those patients who are not candidates for preemptive renal transplantation, optimization of the dialysis procedure is critical to prevent acceleration of their CVD burden. Improved assessment of dry weight as well as data-driven fluid management programs may decrease some risk. More importantly, standard implementation of intensified dialysis prescriptions by increasing time or through the addition of convective clearance may mitigate progressive cardiovascular damage and enhance survival. In this review, the pathophysiology of dialysis-induced cardiovascular damage will be reviewed. The management strategies to limit the cardiovascular burden in our patients are also discussed.
The allocation of emergency resources is a lifeline in hazard-induced disaster relief, directly determining survival rates, rescue efficiency, and the restoration of social order. Existing allocation models face two limitations: (1) insufficient cross-role integration of funds and resource flows, and (2) limited application of multi-stage robust optimization. To address these issues, this study proposes a tripartite multi-role integrated scheduling framework that jointly considers the objectives and constraints of decision-making (fund allocation), execution (procurement and transportation), and demand roles (affected populations) to optimize economic cost, life-saving utility, and supply-demand balance. We adopt multi-stage adaptive robust optimization to reformulate the allocation model into a feedback framework integrating pre-disaster planning with post-disaster periodic adjustments under demand, procurement, and transportation uncertainties. For model tractability and compatibility with off-the-shelf solvers, we develop a linear reformulation technique that converts the nonlinear robust model into a linear program using duality theory and semi-infinite constraint handling. A case study based on an earthquake scenario shows that multi-stage adjustment and multi-role integration improve allocation optimality, stability, and robustness under multiple uncertainty sources. Sensitivity analyses of key parameters, such as time discretization and historical dependency depth, provide practical guidance for model deployment. Compared with deterministic, static robust, and rolling-horizon methods, the proposed approach shows improvements in allocation safety and overall rescue performance.
Children born small for gestational age (SGA) face elevated risks of metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as premature mortality, yet the underlying mechanisms remain only partly understood. We analyze blood proteomic data from multiple birth cohorts to identify molecular pathways linked to SGA and to later-life lung function. We find that approximately one-third of SGA children exhibit a distinct molecular endotype marked by dysregulation of axon-guidance proteins in cord blood. In peripheral blood collected later in life, these proteins are inversely associated with contemporaneous spirometric restriction. Using GWAS data and an experimental sheep model, we obtain convergent evidence that axon-guidance genes are associated with spirometric indices (FEV1/FVC) at genome-wide significance and are broadly expressed during fetal development across multiple organs. These findings offer new insight into the developmental origins of chronic disease and highlight axon-guidance pathways as promising targets for investigating multiorgan morbidity.
With increasing global life expectancy, population aging has become a major public health issue. Poor sleep quality and fatigue are prevalent among older adults, negatively impacting their quality of life and daily functions. While pharmacological interventions for sleep disorders are common, they carry significant side effects, especially in the older individuals. Non-pharmacological alternatives like white noise are simple, safe, and cost-effective, yet evidence for their effectiveness among community-dwelling older adults remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of white noise on improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue among community-dwelling older adults. This parallel RCT was conducted among 60 individuals 65 years and older attending healthcare centers in Mashhad, Iran. After the initial screening, eligible participants were randomly assigned into two groups. Both groups received standard sleep hygiene recommendations based on provincial guidelines. Additionally, the intervention group was provided with audio options and were instructions to use them over the next 30 consecutive nights. Constant follow-ups ensured adherence. Sleep quality and fatigue were measured using PSQI and IFS pre- and post-intervention. Group differences over time were examined using repeated measures and baseline adjusted analyses. Descriptive and inferential data analysis was performed using SPSS 27 at a significance level of p < 0.05. Post-intervention results show that there is a statistically significant difference between the two groups in both PSQI and IFS scores. Our results show significant improvement in the intervention group's PSQI (from 11.5 ± 2.8 to 9.2 ± 3.1, P < 0.001) and IFS scores (from 35.1 ± 3.5 to 32.4 ± 4.9, P < 0.001), with no significant changes in the control group. Our findings suggest that the use of white noise can result in improving sleep quality and may be helpful in reducing fatigue in community-dwelling older adults and can be recommended as an low effort, low-cost and safe strategy to enhance sleep and reduce fatigue in older individuals. (IRCT20240812062732N1), Date of registration August 28, 2024.
Mosquitoes are vectors of deadly, life-threatening diseases worldwide. There is limited information on the interactions between microbes and local mosquito fauna in the Nigerian ecotype and Osun State. This study employed molecular techniques to characterize microorganisms isolated from the internal tissues of adult mosquitoes reared from larvae and pupae collected from various breeding sites in the Osogbo metropolis, Nigeria. Bacteria and yeasts were isolated from immobilized, surface-sterilized, and homogenized mosquitoes. Molecular identification of microbes was based on the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique and sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for bacteria and yeasts, respectively. The genus Wolbachia was screened with PCR using Wolbachia-specific primers. The adult mosquitoes harboured bacteria, namely Enterobacter bugandensis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus capitis, Enterobacter hormaechei, Pantoea dispersa, Sphingobium yanoikuyae, and Aerococcus urinaeequi. Yeasts identified were Meyerozyma caribbica, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and Candida orthopsilosis. The genus Wolbachia was not detected in the mosquitoes. The bacteria and yeast isolates from this study can play important roles in the biology of mosquitoes. Notably, S. yanoikuyae possesses bio-degradative potential, as reported in previous studies. Hence, this underscores the need for further investigation of the role of Sphingobium species in mosquito resistance to insecticides.
As the primary living environment for disabled older adults, families play a crucial role in disease prevention and maintaining their health. However, research has found that both disabled older adults and their family members experience numerous physiological, psychological, and social adaptation problems when adjusting to the changes brought by disability, severely impacting the overall health status of the family. Therefore, guided by the ERG (Existence-Relatedness-Growth) theory, this study aims to understand the family health needs of families with disabled older adults in the community, providing a basis for improving the health level of these families and developing targeted intervention programs. From December 2024 to February 2025, this study employed purposive and snowball sampling to select 12 pairs of disabled older adults and their primary caregivers from communities under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province for semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was applied to organize and analyze the interview data. Deductive analysis indicated that the famliy health needs of families with disabled older adults in the community can be summarized into the following three themes: existence needs (daily living needs, economic support needs, environmental modification needs), relatedness needs (family communication needs, social resource connection needs, social participation needs), and growth needs (autonomy and dignity maintenance needs, family development needs, demand for technology-enabled solutions). The results show that the family health needs of families with disabled older adults in the community are unique and diverse. Community health workers and social workers can develop and implement effective strategies based on the different levels of family needs to promote the health level of families with disabled older adults and improve the overall quality of life of these families.
Executive function is an essential cognitive domain for typical human behavior which is disrupted in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, but little is known about its underlying molecular basis. To address this, we perform genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using three different measures of executive function in UK Biobank (N = 84,238) and NIHR BioResource's Genes and Cognition (N = 9932) study participants, followed by a meta-analysis. The trail-making alphanumeric (TMA) measure is the most heritable phenotype (h²=7-26%), associated with 18 independent loci that exhibit a similar direction of effect in both cohorts. Across these loci, in-silico follow-up implicates 178 genes, of which NT5DC2 and RP11-579E24.2 are independently replicated prior to meta-analysis. TMA is linked to pan-cerebral differences in brain structure, with brain-enriched genes showing a biphasic expression profile from early development through to later life. Our data implicate specific cell types, histone modifications and butyrophilin immunoglobulin family proteins as potential targets for promoting cognitive resilience.
Parabiotics (also termed paraprobiotics) are defined as non-viable microbial cells or their components, including peptidoglycans, teichoic acids, surface proteins, that confer health benefits without requiring viability which distinguishes them from traditional probiotics. Their non-viable nature eliminates risks such as microbial translocation, bacteremia, and sepsis, making them suitable for vulnerable populations including immunocompromised, critically ill, paediatric and elderly individuals. In addition, parabiotic exhibit improved thermal stability, extended shelf life, and easier incorporation into functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical formulations without cold-chain requirements. Mechanistically, parabiotics retain immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and have barrier-enhancing activities through interactions with host pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like receptors, modulation of cytokine responses, and reinforcement of gut epithelial integrity. Preclinical and clinical studies support their therapeutic potential such as in case of heat-killed Lactobacillus acidophilus LB (L. acidophilus) has shown efficiency in managing acute paediatric diarrhoea, while heat-inactivated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei PS23 (Lcb. paracasei) has demonstrated improvements in muscle strength and inflammatory markers, including reduced C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 and increased interlukin-10 in elderly individuals. Similarly, inactivated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lpb. plantarum) and Bifidobacterium strains have been associated with benefits in irritable bowel syndrome, atopic dermatitis, respiratory infections, visceral fat reduction, and antibiotic-associated dysbiosis. Synergistic combinations with prebiotics, postbiotics and related bioactives further enhance therapeutic outcomes in inflammatory, metabolic and infectious conditions. Advances in metagenomics, next-generation sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, CRISPR-Cas systems, and synthetic biology are accelerating strain characterization, functional evaluation, and scalable production. Despite ongoing challenges in standardization and regulated harmonization, parabiotics represent a safe and effective approach for microbiome-targeted interventions. This review synthesizes current evidence on their therapeutic applications, technological advancements, and translational potential, highlighting their role in precision health and next-generation functional nutrition.
Early life exposure to common pathogens and a high pathogen burden during childhood can have long-term effects on immune development and overall health. These infections can trigger molecular changes, including alterations in gene expression and DNA methylation (DNAm), which regulate immune and metabolic pathways. Our aim was to identify biological processes underlying differential patterns of DNAm and gene expression in whole blood by infection status in European children. In the Rhea (Greece) and INMA (Spain) cohorts, serum/plasma samples collected at mean ages of 4 and 8 years were analyzed by multiplex serology to measure IgG against 14 antigens from 9 pathogens, and blood collected at a mean age of 8 years was used for DNAm and gene expression profiling. Epigenome- and transcriptome-wide analyses were conducted to assess association with childhood infections. A total of 290 unique CpGs were significantly associated with pathogen outcomes: 265 with seropositivity, 111 with first exposure timing, and one with viral burden. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) exposure accounted for the largest number of both epigenetic (n = 325) and transcriptomic (n = 8) associations. A total of 89 CMV-related CpGs had been described before in adults, and among novel ones, 54 showed consistent effects in adults. CMV-related CpGs were enriched for SUZ12 targets linked to morphogenesis, oxidative stress, and cognition. A previously developed CMV episcore in adults predicted serologically assessed CMV infection at 4 and 8 years of age, with area under the curve values ranging from 0.74 to 0.78 (95% CI 0.68-0.83). We identified novel DNAm and gene expression signatures of common childhood infections, particularly CMV, implicating immune and morphogenesis pathways. A subset of CMV-related DNAm signals showed consistent associations with those reported previously in adults, suggesting similar molecular effects across ages.