Written by Oliver Benjamin Hart
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Curcuma longa has traditionally been used as a spice, natural colorant, food preservative, and medicinal plant. It has also been applied in treating various ailments, including dyslipidemia, gastrointestinal disorders, arthritis, and liver diseases. This study aimed to investigate the anti-neuroinflammatory properties of a 50% ethanolic extract of C. longa (CLE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV2 microglial cells. The Griess assay was used to quantify nitric oxide (NO) production, while p
Written by Victor Manuel Rojas
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Increasing physical activity among children in China remains a pressing concern. We designed a 16-week school-based program aimed at changing behaviors, drawing on the Behavior Change Wheel and the Theoretical Domains Framework. Subsequently, a cluster feasibility non-randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out with children in Yangzhou, China. This qualitative process evaluation, conducted alongside the cluster feasibility non-RCT, sought to: (1) understand how participants and providers
Written by Marcin Tomasz Lewicki
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
This study examined the occurrence and demographic features of multimorbidity (defined as ≥2 chronic conditions) among adults in three low-income nations in sub-Saharan Africa, drawing on secondary data from four population-based cohorts: Malawi (both urban and rural sites), The Gambia (rural), and Uganda (rural). All cohorts provided data on measured hypertension, diabetes, and obesity; two cohorts included measured hypercholesterolaemia, HIV status, and self-reported asthma; and one cohort had
Written by Wei Jian Zhang
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) allows rapid, noninvasive estimation of myelin content through the myelin water fraction (MWF), providing a tool for monitoring brain maturation and pathological changes. Despite this potential, MRF-derived MWF has not been systematically validated against histology, and its application in leukodystrophy remains unexplored. The present study aimed to confirm the histological basis of MRF-derived MWF in mice and to investigate how MWF relates to myelin, dev
Written by Isabel Maria Torres
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Enhancing the standard of medical care provided to patients is essential for bettering health outcomes and building public confidence amid outbreaks of infectious diseases. Although Quality Improvement (QI) approaches are widely recognized for advancing routine healthcare and strengthening health systems, documented applications during infectious disease emergencies remain limited. A modified Delphi technique was employed to develop a standardised evaluation instrument for assessing COVID-19 car
Written by Sarah Louise Peterson
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the rapid expansion of diagnostic capacity prompted the Canadian Microbiology Proficiency Testing (CMPT) program to establish a new proficiency testing (PT) scheme dedicated to molecular and antigen-based identification of SARS-CoV-2. This initiative specifically targeted point-of-care testing (POCT) locations operating within the eight provincial Health Authorities of British Columbia (BC), Canada, with the primary objective of evaluating
Written by Noor Amira Hassan
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
The vitamin K cycle, particularly involving the enzyme VKORC1 (Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1), plays a critical role in blood coagulation processes. Any interference with this cycle is often linked to vascular disorders, including myocardial infarction and stroke. Although warfarin is a widely prescribed anticoagulant, it carries risks due to interactions with many other medications, highlighting the need for safer alternatives. The ethanol extract of celery leaves (Apium graveol
Written by Anne Katrine Møller
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
In Bangladesh, a large portion of the population relies on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for managing health issues. Despite rising interest in CAM, it has largely been absent from mainstream medical education in the country for many years. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the knowledge, attitudes, perceived effectiveness, and self-use of CAM among undergraduate students in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among undergraduate students (medica
Written by Rasmus Emil Sørensen
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of increasing the employment share of nurses with higher education, analysed from the healthcare provider’s perspective. Using findings from a 12-month investigation and data obtained from a large hospital, we estimated the costs associated with preventing a single death. The intervention consisted of a 10% rise in the proportion of nursing care hours delivered by nurses with higher education. Health outcomes were expressed as the cost of avoiding one death (
Written by Tawanda Blessing Moyo
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
In northern Kazakhstan, a rural village experienced a surge in acute gastroenteritis cases in mid-2021. Between May 14 and June 15, residents presenting with diarrhea, fever above 37.5 °C, vomiting, or generalized weakness were considered cases. For each case, two age-matched controls (±2 years) from the same village were selected. Information was gathered through structured interviews, and medical records were reviewed for clinical details. Case locations were plotted, and conditional multivari
Written by Daniel Andrei Popa
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Earthquakes can cause multiple physical, psychological, and social consequences for those affected. Post-traumatic Growth (PTG) emerges when individuals attempt to rebuild and adapt their lives following a traumatic experience. This study seeks to highlight the significance of disaster psychology by reviewing and analyzing literature regarding PTG among earthquake survivors. A systematic review of qualitative studies published from January 1, 2012, to January 31, 2021, was conducted to investiga
Written by Ahmed Sami Abdelrahman
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) represents a quick and practical approach for evaluating body composition in sport environments. However, sport-tailored prediction equations are currently unavailable, and applying generic formulas may generate consistent estimation errors. Therefore, this study aimed to: (i) design and validate novel prediction equations for fat-free mass (FFM) components in male elite soccer players; and (ii) determine the validity of previously published predictive mode
Written by Alina Gabriela Stanescu
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Respiratory diseases remain a leading cause of death worldwide, claiming around 10 million lives annually. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified this global health challenge, particularly affecting both low- and high-income countries. This study investigated the occurrence and trends of respiratory conditions among patients attending the emergency department at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania and explored whether hospital-based data could support early detection of outbreaks in setti
Written by Yara Salim Haddad
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, widespread social distancing measures were enforced, necessitating the rapid adoption of online and digital formats for psychological interventions. This abrupt shift to digital care created a valuable opportunity to examine how it influenced mental health professionals’ perceptions and usage of Digital Mental Health (DMH) tools. The present study reports the results of a repeated cross-sectional investigation, conducted through thr
Written by Ana Rodrigues
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
The COVID-19 pandemic created a major backlog of hip and knee replacement procedures across the United Kingdom. To tackle this challenge, surgical hubs have been proposed to boost efficiency, especially for routine, lower-risk operations. These hubs and similar Ambulatory Surgery Centers typically lack advanced critical care support, making them best suited for patients with fewer comorbidities. Accurate preoperative risk assessment is therefore essential to direct patients to the right facility
Written by Krzysztof Wiśniewski
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Polypharmacy—the simultaneous administration of several drugs—heightens the likelihood of harmful reactions caused by interactions between medications. With the rising occurrence of polypharmacy, accurately predicting these interactions has become crucial in drug development and healthcare. Because clinical trials struggle to identify uncommon side effects linked to multiple drug use, researchers are creating computational models to forecast such adverse outcomes. This paper presents PU-MLP, a M
Written by Ahmed Ben Ali
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major contributor to blindness worldwide, particularly in areas with limited access to ophthalmic services. Timely identification is critical to preventing permanent vision impairment and improving clinical outcomes. This research introduces a lightweight, real-time Assisted Mobile Diagnostic (AMD) platform for DR screening that embeds a refined deep learning model directly onto a mobile device. Unlike traditional AI solutions that rely on powerful servers and fixe
Written by Peter Nilsson
Published in Vol 5 Issue 1, 2025
A recent comparative effectiveness study found that individuals with chronic pain who received cognitive behavioral therapy augmented by artificial intelligence and digital feedback (AI-CBT-CP) were more likely to achieve clinically meaningful gains in pain-related disability and pain intensity at the six-month mark compared to those assigned to conventional telephone-based CBT-CP. Questions remain regarding how AI and digital approaches affect socially disadvantaged populations. This analysis e
