Bipolar disorder (BD) is a major mood disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. While DNA methylation from peripheral tissues can reflect both genetic and environmental influences and reveal insights into disease biology, it remains understudied in BD. DNA methylation signatures may complement polygenic scores (PGS) and hold potential as biomarkers. Here, we conducted the largest epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of BD to date and evaluated the predictive value of polymethylation scores (PMS) in classifying case-control status. DNA methylation from peripheral blood of 1729 cases and 1747 controls, comprising twelve cohorts, was obtained. We performed meta-analyses for the total sample, male-only, and female-only analyses. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using the comb-p method. Polymethylation scores for BD (BD-PMS) were tested for association with BD, and in combination with PGS. We identified 47 differentially methylated CpG positions (DMPs) in the total and four in the female-only analysis. Ninety, fourteen and six DMRs were identified in the total sample, female-only, and male-only analyses, respectively. Genes annotated to the top DMPs were enriched for immune activation and phosphorylation pathways. DMRs were annotated to genes relevant to neurotransmission, including GABBR1 and CACNA2D4. BD-PMS explained 2% of the variance in BD case-control status, and improved the variance explained from 7.9 to 8.5% when combined with PGS. For bipolar I disorder, BD-PMS explained 4.9% of the variance, and improved the variance explained by PGS from 15.9 to 18.5%. Association of BD with PMS for schizophrenia and major depression suggests pleiotropic epigenetic effects. DNA methylation signatures of BD are detectable in blood using adequately powered data and may reveal novel BD biology that is not captured by genetic studies. PMS from large cohorts have the potential to facilitate the development of prediction tools to aid clinical decision-making. This investigation was primarily funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN #250299, #273446, #223273) and the University of Bergen. A complete list of funding organisations is provided in the Acknowledgements.
Animal personality influences organismal interactions and individual habitat use. Rodents are zoonoses reservoirs and often exposed to several pathogens simultaneously, potentially resulting in interdependence of infections and susceptibility to infection. Still, entire pathogen communities are rarely investigated, even though, given rodents ubiquity in human settlements, understanding the link between animal personality and pathogenesis is an important public health issue. We investigated the association of animal personality with pathogen communities in wild rodents, analysing ectoparasite occurrence and pathogenic bacteria of 93 individuals belonging to 3 species from urban and forest areas around Potsdam, Germany. Individual personality was quantified using a combination of open-field and dark-light test. Rodents were then euthanised and screened for pathogens in the spleen through 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing, and ectoparasites were collected. We detected 6 pathogenic bacteria and 3 ectoparasite taxa. Host species and sampling time explained most of the variation in pathogen associations, but within each genus, 7-9% of the variation was explained by animal personality. Active rodents were more likely infected by Bartonella than less active ones. Bold animals had lower tick infestation probabilities. Thus, animal personality contributes to the distribution and prevalence of pathogens in wild rodents, and should be considered in epidemiology and disease management.
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is causal for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), yet substantial risk heterogeneity persists across the LDL-C distribution. We tested whether LDL-related susceptibility is better explained by a dual-axis structure integrating ApoB-defined particle burden with LDL cholesterol composition captured by the LDL-C/total cholesterol (LDL-C/TC) ratio. We analyzed six US cohorts of adults without cardiovascular disease or receiving lipid-lowering therapy at baseline. ApoB and the LDL-C/TC ratio were dichotomized at 90 mg/dL and 0.60, respectively, to define four phenotypes. Incident ASCVD was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, with prespecified subgroup analyses by age, sex, and clinical risk groups. Among 9,238 ARIC participants (2,038 ASCVD events; median follow-up 25.6 years), ApoB and the Martin/Hopkins LDL-C/TC ratio showed stronger per-SD associations with ASCVD (adjusted hazard ratios [HRs] 1.20 and 1.27) than LDL-C levels. Cross-classification of ApoB and the LDL-C/TC ratio identified four phenotypes. Dual-normal participants exhibited the lowest ASCVD incidence, whereas the dual-elevated phenotype showed the highest risk (HR 1.67). Among discordant phenotypes, the low-ApoB/high-ratio group was associated with modestly higher risk (HR 1.28), while the high-ApoB/low-ratio phenotype demonstrated borderline associations. LDL-related atherogenic risk is more coherently explained by a dual-axis framework integrating ApoB-defined particle burden with LDL cholesterol composition captured by the LDL-C/TC ratio. This structure reveals composition-driven vulnerability not apparent from ApoB or contemporary risk scores and supports a scalable strategy in which routine ratio interpretation, coupled with selective ApoB testing, may enhance ASCVD risk stratification within preventive paradigms. This study shows that combining apolipoprotein B (ApoB) with the LDL-C to total cholesterol (LDL-C/TC) ratio reveals important differences in cardiovascular disease risk that are not captured by LDL-C alone, helping to better target prevention strategies.Across six large US cohorts of adults without cardiovascular disease and not receiving lipid-lowering therapy at baseline, the LDL-C/TC ratio provided additional ASCVD risk stratification beyond standard lipid measures and commonly used clinical risk scores, suggesting that LDL cholesterol composition contains clinically meaningful risk information.When ApoB and the LDL-C/TC ratio were considered together, four distinct lipid profiles showed clear risk separation: people with both markers in the normal range had the lowest long-term risk, while those with both elevated had the highest risk; importantly, a high LDL-C/TC ratio identified a higher-risk group even among individuals with normal ApoB, which may be overlooked in routine care.
Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) predict behavioral health outcomes in later life, yet whether positive and negative attitudes arise from distinct psychosocial pathways remain unclear. This study examined correlates of positive and negative SPA among diverse older adults. Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older (N = 150; 30.7% born outside the United States) completed assessments of psychological, social, religious, health, and sociodemographic factors. Post-LASSO variable selection identified correlates of positive and negative Attitudes Toward Own Aging (ATOA) dimensions from 25 candidate variables. Positive and negative SPA reflected distinct yet related pathways. Purpose in life was most strongly associated with both dimensions. Positive SPA was uniquely associated with greater life satisfaction, higher self-esteem, and more frequent social contact. Negative SPA was uniquely associated with greater perceived constraints, less diverse social networks, and greater multimorbidity. Religious affiliation was associated with more positive SPA, whereas higher religiosity was associated with less positive and greater negative SPA. Nativity and race/ethnicity were not significantly associated with either dimension. Models explained 51.7% (R2 = .517) and 42.4% (R2 = .424) of variance, respectively (both ps < .001). Findings support distinct psychosocial pathways underlying SPA, with implications for targeted behavioral health interventions in later life. Assessing positive and negative self-perceptions of aging separately may support more targeted clinical decision-making. Interventions may be strengthened by addressing both psychological resources and perceived constraints. Purpose in life may serve as a cross-cutting focus for assessment and intervention.
Foliar endophytes contribute to plant nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and pathogen resistance, yet their responses to ecosystem-level processes remain poorly understood. Using a space-for-time substitution design, we investigated bacterial and fungal community dynamics in the foliar endosphere of four phylogenetically distinct plant hosts across a well-characterized successional chronosequence. Amplicon sequencing revealed that the ecosystem development stage (site age) significantly influenced endophyte community composition, particularly among fungi, but explained only a small proportion of the total variation. Host plant identity and associated leaf stoichiometry were stronger predictors of community structure, with sampling time within the growing season also contributing significantly. Together, these deterministic factors explained 10% and 11% of bacterial and fungal compositional variation, respectively, and 27% of predicted bacterial functional potential. Null model analyses indicated that remaining variation was mostly consistent with stochastic assembly processes, particularly ecological drift. Endophytic communities were characterized by a few persistent dominant taxa and many rare, transient members with overlapping functional potential, including N2 fixation, methylotrophy, and denitrification. Our findings demonstrate that host identity outweighs ecosystem age in structuring foliar endophyte communities and that stochastic processes play a central role in community assembly. The coexistence of stable dominant taxa and a dynamic rare biosphere may enhance plant responsiveness to environmental changes, while the functional potential of endophytes may remain largely consistent across seasons and successional stages.
Water homeostasis is essential for plant survival, yet how size-dependent shifts in hydraulic resistance between stems and leaves, coupled with allometric biomass allocation to sustain water homeostasis, remains unresolved. Here, using 141 poplar saplings spanning a size gradient in different ontogenetic stages, we quantified aboveground biomass (AGB) (a proxy for tree size), biomass allocation, and hydraulic resistance partitioning between stems and leaves, as well as leaf gas exchange and water potential. We found that leaves scaled with stems following nonlinear allometries: exponent of 0.80 for biomass and 1.35 for absolute hydraulic resistance, both significantly differing from isometric scaling. Consequently, both the leaf-to-stem biomass ratio and hydraulic resistance ratio declined with tree size, while hydraulic resistance on a leaf-area basis increased. Increasing resistance under stable leaf water potentials explained the decline in leaf-level transpiration with tree size. Asymptotic models fitted all traits better than power-law models, indicating biomass allocation and hydraulic properties approached constant values as trees grow. Our results demonstrate that the coupled allometric scaling between AGB allocation and hydraulic resistance partitioning biomass is synchronized with stomatal closure that collectively maintains constant leaf water potential with size during early tree ontogeny, providing empirical scaling rules for large-scale vegetation models.
In the digital age, the proliferation of information frequently leads to Cancer Information Overload (CIO) among breast cancer (BC) patients. CIO results in difficulties with decision-making and compromises patients' quality of life. Previous studies have primarily focused on the adverse outcomes of CIO, but research on its antecedents remains limited. Therefore, this study investigates the factors influencing CIO among BC patients. A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2025. A convenience sampling method was employed to recruit 598 patients with BC from a tertiary traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital in Guangdong Province. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Cancer Information Overload Scale (CIOS), the Digital Health Literacy Scale (DHLS), an asthenopia questionnaire, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using independent-samples t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis in SPSS. Univariate analysis identified several significant influencing factors, including occupation, location, education level, caregiver, disease course, treatment, and comorbidities. Bivariate analysis revealed positive correlations between CIO and both asthenopia and depression. Multiple linear regression analysis further demonstrated that asthenopia, digital health literacy, education level, comorbidities, disease course, depression, and type of caregiver were significant predictors. Collectively, these variables explained 74.9% of the total variance in CIO. CIO is highly prevalent among BC patients. Tailored intervention strategies based on the identified predictive factors are essential. These include optimizing health information delivery channels, incorporating multi-subject social resources, and delivering psychocognitive interventions. Not applicable.
Cluster detection and outbreak investigation practices and resources vary across states. There is a lack of evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of Salmonella cluster detection and investigation practices on outbreak detection and reporting by states. We conducted an online survey of all 50 U.S. state health departments (HD) in 2015 to assess how pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) cluster detection and outbreak investigation practices and resources at the state affected reporting single-state Salmonella outbreaks to CDC's Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS) from 2013-2017. Increased rates of Salmonella outbreak reporting were observed for states that used a standard hypothesis generating questionnaire (HGQ) for conducting hypothesis generating interviews (HGI) (155% increase), conducted routine HGI for all cases (85% increase), and used a standard PFGE cluster definition (40% increase) compared to states that did not use these practices. Multivariable regression models demonstrated that participation in the Foodborne Diseases Center for Outbreak Response Effectiveness (FoodCORE) or OutbreakNet Enhanced (OBNE) and per capita funding through Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grants explained more of the variability in outbreak reporting than individual surveillance practices. Results suggest that the combination of practices promoted by FoodCORE and OBNE enhance the potential effectiveness of the individual practices used in isolation. While PFGE is no longer the standard method for subtyping, these findings demonstrate how surveillance activities relate to outbreak reporting and provide a framework for evaluating the impact of current surveillance practices. With the shift from PFGE to whole genome sequencing (WGS), ongoing evaluation of surveillance practices at state and local levels will be critical to maintaining the evidence base for effective surveillance and reducing the public health burden of Salmonella infections.
Persevering hope, defined as the ability to maintain motivation when goals seem unattainable, represents a crucial psychological resource for mental health. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Persevering Hope Scale (PHS) primarily using Rasch analysis, supplemented by classical test theory indices including internal consistency reliability. The study included 634 university students (72.9% female; Mage = 22.51 ± 4.08). Rasch analysis was employed to assess unidimensionality, item fit, and differential item functioning (DIF). Criterion-related validity was evaluated through correlations with the Adult Hope Scale, and convergent validity was examined using measures of theoretically related constructs and psychological health outcomes. Rasch analysis indicated that all items demonstrated good fit (infit/outfit MNSQ = 0.71-1.17), with no evidence of differential item functioning (DIF) across gender. Furthermore, the results supported the unidimensional structure of the PHS (explained variance = 67.1%). The scale showed strong criterion-related validity (rs = 0.41-0.56, p < 0.001). Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations with flourishing (r = 0.45, p < 0.001) and psychological health outcomes. The Turkish version of the PHS demonstrates robust psychometric properties with strong evidence of reliability, construct validity, and measurement invariance across genders. These findings support its use as a culturally valid instrument for assessing persevering hope in Turkish populations.
Phantom Phone Signals (PPS) describe false perceptions that a smartphone has vibrated or made a sound, which are typically non-distressing. PPS are linked to frequent phone use, mood, anxiety, and hallucination-proneness. This study explored the role of delusional ideation, resilience, and metacognition in PPS using a novel PPS assessment. An online questionnaire study with 265 participants (mean age: 19.74; 84.2% female, no experience of psychosis) assessed PPS using the Phantom Phone Experiences and Appraisal Scale (PPEAS), along with problematic phone use (PUMP), resilience (RS-14), hallucination-proneness (MUSEQ), delusional ideation (PDI-21), and metacognitive awareness (MSAS). PPS was highly prevalent (86.8%), generally infrequent, non-distressing and non-disruptive (mean PPEAS Impact = 4.25, SD = 3.66). PPEAS impact correlated with problematic phone use (r = .345), hallucination-proneness (r = .330), and delusional ideation (r = .288), but not resilience or metacognitive awareness. Regression indicated that problematic phone use, hallucination-proneness and delusional ideation explained 18.7% of PPEAS impact variance. PPS appears primarily driven by problematic phone use, hallucination-proneness and delusional ideation. Behavioural interventions may be the most effective approach for reducing PPS where required. Behavioural changes related to phone use may involve adaptive notification systems that reduce perceptual errors in everyday technology use.
Urbanisation is a pervasive form of anthropogenic environmental change and a driver of contemporary evolution. Yet, it remains unclear how demographic processes and environmentally associated genomic variation shape genomic patterns in cities and whether these responses depend on species-specific ecological traits. Here, we addressed this gap using whole-genome sequencing of two related, diet-specialised solitary bees (Andrena florea and Andrena vaga) that differ in dispersal-related traits, rarity and host-plant distribution, sampled along an urban intensity gradient. By integrating population and landscape genomic analyses, we quantified genetic diversity, demographic history, population structure and genotype-environment associations. Neutral genomic patterns differed strongly between species: A. florea showed lower genetic diversity, higher differentiation and a recent population decline, whereas A. vaga maintained higher diversity, connectivity and demographic stability. Genetic diversity was associated with species-specific landscape features (edge density in A. florea and semi-natural habitat in A. vaga), rather than with urban intensity per se. Despite weak population structure, genotype-environment association analyses identified loci associated with urban intensity, and haplotype-based scans detected genomic regions showing patterns consistent with positive selection. Functional annotation and cross-species comparisons revealed partial convergence in candidate genes and functional pathways. Together, these results show that genomic responses to urbanisation cannot be explained by urban intensity alone, but instead emerge from the interaction between gene flow, genetic drift and selection, mediated by species-specific ecological traits. This leads to divergent demographic trajectories but partly convergent genomic responses across species.
A proactive framework for cybercrime risk assessment, incorporated using machine learning algorithms and game theory, analyzes platform content moderation effectiveness. With machine learning algorithms, including K-means clustering, ridge regression, interaction analysis, and optimization of Nash equilibrium in 27 quarterly platform analyses, this research proposes four categories of content risks differentiated by systematic differences in levels of threat. The strongest predictor in this sample (β = 0.63) for effectiveness is AI capabilities, accounting for 56.2% of explained variations, although effectiveness is substantially diminished by complexity in moderated content. Optimal automation rates vary from 78% for low complexity to sophisticated approaches at only 29%, offering 55% cost savings and a 54.5% decrease in breaches for low complexity, but risking higher degrees of threat for complex moderated contents. This study suggests that technological development is imperative to supplement resource development for platforms in content moderation approaches.
Ocean partitions are often based on readily accessible variables, such as abiotic factors and chlorophyll-a concentration, but provide limited insight into biological patterns. This study developed a three-step partitioning strategy prioritizing environmental factors that best described the variability patterns of harmful algal bloom (HAB)-forming taxa off SW Iberia. These included the producers of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). First, dimensionality reduction and unsupervised classification were applied to three environmental datasets, derived from remote sensing and model outputs, covering a 19-year period. Second, different empirical-statistical models were used to determine which datasets best explained the abundance of HAB-producers, available for an 8-year period in different classified coastal production areas. Finally, the best datasets were used to derive partitions prioritizing the variability of different HAB groups, at a pixel level. The first classifications identified up to 12 regions, with four to five located in the coastal-slope domain, with a variable configuration depending on the dataset. The best predictor datasets and models identified five regions (two inner-shelf, two outer-shelf/slope, and one transitional coastal-ocean region), representative of HAB groups. No clear distinctive partitions were identified for different groups, namely for ASP- and DSP-producers, likely due to the combined influence of upwelling and freshwater discharges, along with submarine topographic features. Our partitioning strategy can be applied to other marine systems and taxonomic groups. Future improvements, including more complete environmental and biological datasets, could enhance the value of biologically informed environmental partitions as proxies for species abundance.
Glycine serves as a critical substrate for glutathione synthesis and a critical modulator of redox homeostasis. However, whether plasma glycine is associated with biological aging, and the underlying interplay between oxidative stress, inflammation, and dietary context remains unclear. We analyzed the UK Biobank data to investigate the association between plasma glycine and biological aging, primarily assessed by the Klemera-Doubal Method (KDM) residuals. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess the nonlinear relationships. Mediation analysis assessed the roles of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Interactive analysis was applied to explore the relationship between comprehensive dietary patterns and glycine-related aging. Higher plasma glycine was negatively associated with KDM residuals (β: -0.729, 95%CI: -0.815, -0.643). Mediation analysis demonstrated that the inverse glycine-aging association was partially explained by reduced systemic inflammation and modulation of redox biomarkers (mediation proportions: 3.9% to 25.6%). Exploratory in silico Gene Ontology (GO) analysis provided supportive evidence implicating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in these pathways. Notably, we identified a sex-specific diet interaction, the inverse association between glycine and KDM residuals was attenuated in males consuming a pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative diet (β: -0.757, 95%CI: -1.294, -0.220) compared to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative diet group (β: -0.939, 95%CI: -1.402, -0.476) (p for interaction = 0.014). No such interaction was observed in females. Plasma glycine negatively correlated with biological aging, partly through modulation of the redox-inflammatory axis. The male-specific vulnerability to pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory diets highlights that glycine's efficacy is contingent upon a favorable nutritional context. These results support for precision interventions integrating glycine optimization with anti-inflammatory dietary patterns to extend healthy longevity.
The intestinal microbiome is fundamental to host physiological homeostasis, while deviations from its balanced state have been linked to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). To address the limitations of conventional antibiotic therapies, this study explored snake gut microbiota as a novel source of anti-inflammatory probiotics. We explored the gut microbiota of five snake species (Deinagkistrodon acutus, Trimerodytes annularis, Trimerodytes percarinatus, Lycodon rufozonatus, and Trimeresurus stejnegeri) through metagenomic sequencing. Community composition analysis revealed that the phylum-level composition was mainly Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinomycetota, and Firmicutes. We further detected some potential probiotic species, such as Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Limosilactobacillus. From 196 isolated strains, Lactobacillus johnsonii DA0116 and Limosilactobacillus reuteri DA0218 were selected through rigorous safety and functional assessments, including acid/bile tolerance, pathogen inhibition, and adhesion capacity. In a DSS-induced murine colitis model, both strains significantly reduced disease activity index (DAI), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8), and restored gut microbiota diversity. Additionally, whole-genome analysis identified bacteriocin synthesis clusters (gassericin-S/T) and carbohydrate metabolism genes, explaining their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. This study not only emphasizes the untapped latent value of reptilian gut microbiota for probiotic discovery but also provides two candidate strains with therapeutic promise for IBD and functional food applications.
Eco-friendly behaviors (EFB) represent an important domain at the intersection of health, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. The present study focuses on two related subdomains: PA-related energy-saving behaviors (PA-RESB) and energy-saving behaviors (ESB). More specifically, this study tested an integrated Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model to identify the psychological determinants of PA-RESB and ESB among adolescents. A cross-sectional sample of 391 Greek adolescents (12-15 years) completed measures of basic psychological need satisfaction (autonomy, competence, relatedness), TPB constructs (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions), and PA-RESB and ESB. Two structural equation models were tested (one for each outcome). In both models, competence had the strongest association with TPB constructs, showing positive associations with attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Across models, perceived behavioral control and attitudes significantly predicted intention, and intention significantly predicted PA-RESB and ESB. The direct perceived behavioral control→behavior paths were not significant. Integrating SDT and TPB helps explain adolescents' eco-friendly behaviors in both physically active and household energy-saving domains. Interventions that strengthen perceived competence and perceived behavioral control may support stronger intentions and greater engagement in PA-RESB and the ESB.
Ethiopian people possess deep knowledge of how to use plant resources and are dependent on plant values mainly for traditional medicine. However, most ethnobotanical studies are restricted to rural areas, leaving urban centers poorly documented, which implies the need for further study. Thus, this study was conducted in Gondar City Administration, aimed at investigating medicinal plants to fill the traditional knowledge documentation gap. The study was conducted from February 2024 to January 2025 in 12 kebeles selected purposively based on vegetation cover, availability of knowledgeable practitioners and representation of both urban and rural settings. Data were collected using interviews, focus group discussions, guided field walks, and market surveys with 120 randomly selected general informants and 60 purposively selected key informants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the basic ethnobotanical data. An independent sample t-test and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze socio-demographic effects of informants on their indigenous knowledge. Different ethnobotanical ranking and clustering methods, Rahman's similarity index (RSI) and Jaccard's coefficient of similarity were also used. A total of 109 medicinal plants distributed across 95 genera and 54 families were recorded to treat 76 ailment types. Asteraceae was the foremost family with 9 (8.26%) species. Shrub was the dominant habit (39.45%) and leaves were the most valuable plant parts used for 33.80% of remedy preparations. Remedies were prepared mainly from fresh forms (76.39%) by crushing (20.37%) and administered through the dermal route (41.20%). Significant knowledge variation on medicinal plants was observed between key and general informants (P = 0.000), rural and urban kebeles (P = 0.001), and between age groups (P = 0.013). Informant type (general vs. key informant) and age had a highly significant interaction effect on the medicinal plant knowledge (P = 0.000). About 14.68% of all recorded species were reported to treat hepatitis. From those, Clutia lanceolata was the most preferred. The highest informant consensus factor value (98%) was associated with respiratory conditions. The RSI ranged from 0.5 to 13.79%, and the JSI ranged from 3.5 to 36%. After a systematic search was performed across various reputable databases (Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar), unique ethnobotanical information on the therapeutic roles of 12 medicinal plant species that have not been reported previously was documented. This finding indicates that the rich diversity of medicinal plants in Gondar City, along with unique ethnomedicinal findings, is an indicator of alternative use of traditional medicine by urban inhabitants for their healthcare system. However, urban ethnobotany is a distinct field in which is expected to evolve knowledge systems influenced by migration. So, these knowledge systems could experience an accelerated loss due to urbanization-related factors unless prior documentation is made.
Cattle and sheep are often slaughtered after electrical stunning or captive bolt stunning utilizing pneumatic or cartridge-driven devices. While the procedure is effective, a percentage of animals regain consciousness after the initial shock. One factor that has not been considered to explain this recovery of consciousness is the effect on systemic arterial blood pressure (BP) - the major determinant of cerebral perfusion. A systematic literature search identified papers measuring BP after captive bolt or electrical stunning. BP increases were observed in all studies except a protocol which used halothane anesthesia, - an agent that lowers BP and antagonizes sympathetic activation-induced increases in BP. The increase in BP is evident within a few sec. The hypertensive response to electrical or captive bolt stunning is consistent with the increases in BP following electrical stunning of pigs, goats, rabbits and cats. Captive bolt stunning is a form of traumatic head injury and hypertension is well known consequence of head injury. Death is less likely to occur if BP is high after traumatic brain injury. The explanation for hypertensive response include stimulation of excitatory centers located in the upper brainstem and damage to inhibitory neurones acting on brainstem/diencephalic centres releasing excitatory spinal cord processes. In conclusion, users of electrical or captive bolt stunning of animals should be aware that the technique can produce a rapid increase in BP that may preserve brain viability and play a role in resumption of consciousness in some animals and has implications for animal welfare.
Hydrocephalus is a complex neurological disorder traditionally thought to result from excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production, obstruction of CSF outflow, or impaired absorption. However, these classical theories have limitations in explaining key phenomena observed in certain clinical subtypes, such as normal pressure hydrocephalus. Recent advances in neuro-fluid dynamics have introduced the concept of the glymphatic system, a functional network in the brain that facilitates the exchange of CSF and interstitial fluid (ISF) along perivascular pathways and mediates the clearance of metabolic waste. This new perspective offers a fresh lens for understanding CSF circulation and fluid homeostasis. This review aims to reexamine the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus from the perspective of glymphatic dysfunction and, by integrating anatomical, physiological, and imaging evidence, explore its theoretical implications and clinical relevance.
Medical ethics is an applied branch of ethics that addresses the moral issues and challenges encountered in clinical practice. Medical ethics should be adhered to during clinical practice. Non-adherence to medical ethics may cause unnecessary burdens and consequences on patients, deterioration of health status, exposure to other health problems or diseases, unnecessary surgery, additional medical expenditure, psychological distress, bodily injury and death. Globally, adherence to medical ethics is not uniform, while in Ethiopia, there is limited information on adherence to medical ethics and its determinants. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of adherence to medical ethics and its determinants among medical doctors in Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,012 medical doctors from 01 August 2024 to 31 October 2024 in Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was applied to select the respondents. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Relevant descriptive statistics was done for all variables. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors significantly associated with adherence to medical ethics. The study revealed that only 588 (58.1%) medical doctors had good adherence to medical ethics. Year of medical ethics course (AOR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.46), integration of medical ethics course with clinical practice (AOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.72), pre-service orientation on medical ethics (AOR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.23), in-service training on medical ethics (AOR: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.89), institutional ethics committee (AOR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.13), clinical communication skills (AOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.61), clinical leadership skills (AOR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.86), knowledge of medical ethics (AOR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.72, 3.83), and attitude towards medical ethics (AOR: 10.38; 95% CI: 7.02, 15.33) were significantly associated with adherence to medical ethics. Adherence to medical ethics among medical doctors was low. Year of medical ethics course, integration of medical ethics course with clinical practice, pre-service orientation on medical ethics, in-service training on medical ethics, institutional ethics committee, clinical communication skills, clinical leadership skills, knowledge of medical ethics, and attitude towards medical ethics were significantly associated with adherence to medical ethics. Therefore, the implementation of various strategies and interventions is very important to improve adherence to medical ethics among medical doctors in Ethiopia.