Nevin Manimala

Mol Ecol Resour. 2025 Jan 29:e14072. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.14072. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Collagen is the most ubiquitous protein in the animal kingdom and one of the most abundant proteins on Earth. Despite having a relatively repetitive amino acid sequence motif that enables its triple helical structure, in type 1 collagen, that dominates skin and bone, there is enough variation for its increasing use for the biomolecular species identification of animal tissues processed or degraded beyond the amenability of DNA-based analyses. In recent years, this has been most commonly achieved through the technique of collagen peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) known as ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry), applied to the analysis of tens of thousands of samples across over one hundred studies in the past decade alone. However, a robust means to quantify variation between these fingerprints remains elusive, despite being increasingly required due to the shift towards a wider range of wild fauna and those that are more distantly related from currently known sequences. This is particularly problematic in fish due to their greater sequence variation. Here we evaluate the quantification of the relative closeness of collagen fingerprints between families using ANOSIM and a modified SIMPER analysis, incorporating relative peak intensity. Our results show a clear correlation between sequence differentiation and statistical distance of PMFs, indicating that the additional complexity of type 1 collagen in fish could directly affect the efficacy of biomolecular techniques such as ZooMS. Furthermore, this multivariate statistical analysis demonstrates that PMFs in fish are substantively more distinct than those of mammalian or amphibian taxa.

PMID:39877940 | DOI:10.1111/1755-0998.14072

J Sustain Tour. 2024 Apr 22;33(2):333-356. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2024.2342982. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Eating less meat when dining out can help mitigate climate change. Plant-based meats can facilitate the transition to a more environmentally sustainable tourism sector. However, uptake of these products remains low. Building on the capability-opportunity-motivation behaviour model, this study identifies the main reasons for the general population of restaurant patrons to reject plant-based meats: they prefer meat and traditional vegetable dishes; they are concerned about not enjoying plant-based meat dishes; they perceive plant-based meat dishes as too expensive. Accounting for heterogeneity among diners leads to the identification of six distinct consumer segments, which differ in their reasons for not ordering plant-based meat dishes in restaurants. From these empirical insights, we derive recommendations for tourism professionals on how to entice specific consumer segments to order plant-based meat dishes and identify future avenues for research.

PMID:39877925 | PMC:PMC11774254 | DOI:10.1080/09669582.2024.2342982

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1466083. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1466083. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aging population presents a significant public health challenge, particularly concerning mental health and injury prevention. Anxiety and depression are common among the older adult, affecting their quality of life and increasing the risk of unintentional injuries (UI). This study aims to explore the association between anxiety and depression and UI risk among the older adult in Guangxi, China, using data from the 2023 National Health Service Survey.

METHODS: A cross-sectional design was employed, analyzing data from 2,894 participants aged 60 and above in Guangxi. The primary variables were anxiety and depression, assessed via validated scales, with UI as the dependent variable. Logistic regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS: Significant findings indicate that individuals with anxiety and depression had nearly double the risk of UI compared to those without these conditions (adj. OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.42-2.6, p < 0.001). Alcohol consumption was also associated with higher UI risk (adj. OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.05-2.03, p = 0.023). Females had a significantly higher adjusted odds of UI compared to males (adj. OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.03-1.84, p = 0.029), and rural residents were more likely to experience UI than urban dwellers (adj. OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05-1.82, p = 0.02). Exercise frequency was inversely related to UI risk, with those exercising 1-2 times per week having reduced odds (adj. OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22-0.98, p = 0.044). Other factors such as age, marital status, hypertension, diabetes, and main caregiver showed no significant associations with UI.

CONCLUSION: Addressing mental health issues and promoting moderate exercise may help reduce UI risk in the older adult. Policies should focus on enhancing mental health services and injury prevention programs, particularly in rural settings, to improve the overall health and safety of the aging population in Guangxi.

PMID:39877924 | PMC:PMC11772176 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1466083

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1514522. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1514522. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the effectiveness of rural maternal health services in improving pregnant women’s health knowledge, practices, and outcomes in northwestern China, focusing on the roles of received public services and policy awareness.

METHODS: Baseline surveys were conducted in rural Shaanxi Province in 2021 and 2023, involving 1,152 pregnant women from 85 townships, selected via multistage cluster random sampling. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews, covering health knowledge and behaviors. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the impact of maternal health services.

RESULTS: Both received public services (Coefficient: 0.130, 95% CI: 0.015-0.246) and policy awareness (Coefficient: 0.114, 95% CI: 0.001-0.227) significantly improved nutrition and health knowledge but had limited impact on prenatal checkups or health outcomes. Policy awareness (OR: 3.826, 95% CI: 2.743-5.337) significantly increased picking up free folic acid, however, the rate of taking folic acid remained low.

CONCLUSION: While received public services and policy awareness improved nutrition and health knowledge, and policy awareness increased picking up free folic acid, they did not significantly influence prenatal checkups or health outcomes. More targeted efforts are needed to foster consistent health practices and improve maternal health outcomes in rural areas.

PMID:39877923 | PMC:PMC11772296 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1514522

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 9;12:1493682. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1493682. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is a critical determinant of health outcomes. Improving HL stands as one of the most essential, cost-effective, and efficacious strategies for enhancing the overall health of the population. This study aims to analyze the status of HL among urban and rural residents in Anhui Province, explore the associated factors, and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of targeted health education and promotion strategies.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 16,080 non-collective residents in Anhui Province from July to September 2022. Participants were selected using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. HL was measured using the Chinese Citizen Health Literacy Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with adequate HL.

RESULTS: Overall, 29.60% of residents in Anhui Province had adequate HL. The proportion of adequate HL in the different cities ranged from 22.42 to 38.73%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the proportion of individuals with adequate HL was higher for males than for females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.200; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.086-1.326); married was higher than unmarried (aOR = 1.195, 95% CI: 1.021-1.398). Compared with illiterate/less literate, the aOR values for primary school, junior high school, senior high school, and college or above were 1.690 (1.326-2.155), 3.467 (2.760-4.356), 7.033 (5.516-8.968), and 17.895 (13.948-22.959), respectively; compared with the age group of 65-69 years, the aOR values for the age groups 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years were 2.384 (1.774-3.202), 2.598 (2.049-3.294), 2.862 (2.267-3.615), 2.135 (1.697-2.685), and 1.468 (1.157-1.863), respectively; compared with farmers, the aOR values were 1.244 (95% CI, 1.081-1.432) for technical/professional, 1.121 (95% CI, 1.003-1.254) for commercial/service, and 1.329 (95% CI, 1.163-1.518) for other occupations.

CONCLUSION: Residents of Anhui Province exhibit relatively low levels of HL, with notable disparities observed among different education levels, age groups, genders, and marital statuses. It is essential for health policymakers and public health practitioners to develop targeted health education and promotion strategies tailored to distinct subpopulations of residents.

PMID:39877921 | PMC:PMC11773482 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1493682

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1464307. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1464307. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Migrant female sex workers (MFSWs) can be exposed to various health risks due to their occupation, including mental and physical health, substance use, and experience of violence. However, they face substantial barriers to accessing healthcare services. The inadequate access to medical care for migrant female sex workers poses a challenge to the German healthcare system.

RESEARCH AIMS: This qualitative study aimed to identify and analyze the barriers to the use of health and mental health services by migrant female sex workers in Berlin and what should be done to improve the access to healthcare and to make it easier to use health and mental health services for migrant female sex workers. The data collected can be used to derive overarching recommendations and strategies for action.

METHODS: Semi-structured, guided interviews were conducted with 10 migrant female sex workers in Berlin, Germany. The interviews were audio recorded, and the content of the transcribed interviews was analyzed. A structuring qualitative content analysis, according to Kuckartz, with deductive-inductive category formation was conducted in MAXQDA 2022.

RESULTS: Barriers were analyzed at three levels: patient, provider, and system. The patient level was related to the patient characteristics: social structure variables, health beliefs and attitudes, personal enabling resources, community enabling resources, perceived illness, and personal health practices. The provider level was related to the provider characteristics: skills and attitudes. The system level was related to the system characteristics: the organization of the healthcare system on local and national levels. Moreover, needs for actions were identified, which can be used for deriving recommendations for the improvement of healthcare situation of migrant sex workers living in Berlin.

CONCLUSION/DISCUSSION: Health services and future intervention studies should consider barriers identified in this study to improve the health services utilization and health of sex workers as part of the effort to protect the right of humans to health.

PMID:39877916 | PMC:PMC11772168 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1464307

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1503938. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1503938. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate and analyze the current status of oral disease treatment among the older adult in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, while also assessing the continuing medical education (CME) needs of dental institution personnel regarding oral diseases in this population.

METHODS: Convenience sampling was used to investigate the oral disease treatment among older adults and to assess CME needs of dental institution personnel regarding oral diseases in this population across various oral medical and health institutions in Guangxi.

RESULTS: A total of 754 valid questionnaires were collected, of which 70.3% were from non-public oral health institutions. Out-of-pocket costs for older adults were as high as 91.3%. The per capita cost of older adult patients was beyond 500 yuan in 51.6% of the oral health institutions. In terms of CME training, 32.8% of dental institution medical personnel have participated in CME courses specifically on oral diseases in the older adult. Meanwhile, 69.9% of institutions have expressed a need for CME training on oral diseases in the older adult.

CONCLUSION: Non-public oral health institutions account for a significant proportion, and the older adult primarily pay out-of-pocket for oral disease treatment in these facilities. The high cost of treatment may pose a significant barrier to the older adult seeking oral healthcare. Increasing CME programs targeted at geriatric oral diseases can help enhance the treatment capabilities of dental healthcare workers and improve oral health outcomes for the older adult population.

PMID:39877915 | PMC:PMC11772203 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1503938

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 14;12:1422395. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1422395. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Preventing depression among nurses is a critical issue from the perspective of occupational welfare, but associations between depressive symptoms in nurses and stress-coping strategies remain unclear.

METHODS: In the present study, an epidemiological study was conducted based on a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Data obtained from 2,534 female nurses working at three general hospitals in Tokyo, Japan, were analyzed. Participants completed a questionnaire comprising 42 items, including depressive symptoms and stress-coping strategies, in addition to sociodemographic information and perceived mental stress.

RESULTS: Our study showed that the emotional distraction strategy “Engaging in hobbies or relaxing” was negatively associated with both depressed mood and loss of interest. In addition, the problem-solving strategy “Making an effort to think optimistically” was negatively associated with loss of interest. Conversely, use of avoidant strategies was positively associated with both depressive symptoms.

DISCUSSION: Our findings may indicate the importance of focusing on types of coping styles when developing strategies to prevent depressive symptoms in nurses.

PMID:39877913 | PMC:PMC11772202 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1422395

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 13;12:1455999. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1455999. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Female sex workers are a vulnerable hard-to-reach group. Research in this field is scarce due to several issues, such as methodological difficulties or societal stigmatization. Most of the available literature focuses on sexually transmittable diseases. This review and meta-analysis aim to compile literature on the mental health of female sex workers. We investigated the prevalence of as well as risk factors for mental disease among female sex workers globally.

METHODS: Utilizing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across several databases, ultimately analyzing data from 80 studies comprising 24,675 individuals in total.

RESULTS: Most of the studies stemmed from the United States (n = 24), followed by China (n = 12), India (n = 7) and Kenya (n = 5). Four studies were conducted in South Africa and three in Mexico. Two studies originated from Australia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Uganda. Single studies were identified from Scotland, Switzerland, Israel, Portugal, Mongolia, Malawi, Cameroon, Ukraine, Togo, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Puerto Rico, Ethiopia, and Moldova. The review highlights significant heterogeneity in the prevalence of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, suicidality, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use and dependence, investigating the influence of socio-economic, legal, and individual factors on these outcomes. The meta-analysis reveals that while factors like legal status of sex work and economic conditions did not show any impact, specific demographic characteristics, notably female sex workers living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), migrant female sex workers, or female sex workers engaged in substance use, exhibit notably higher mental health challenges.

DISCUSSION: These findings suggest the critical need for targeted mental health interventions and policy reforms that consider the complex interplay of various factors affecting sex workers. Future research should focus on under-researched regions and subgroups within this population to enhance understanding and support the development of comprehensive health services.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42022312737, available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022312737.

PMID:39877911 | PMC:PMC11773154 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1455999

J Multimorb Comorb. 2025 Jan 27;15:26335565251317380. doi: 10.1177/26335565251317380. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is a growing global concern, affecting patient outcomes and healthcare costs. In low- and middle-income countries, data on multimorbidity in primary care beyond prevalence is limited. Our study explored the demographic and clinical characteristics of multimorbidity among older people attending primary health care in Malawi.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on medical records from 15,009 older patients aged ≥50 years across three hospitals in Malawi (one tertiary, two district). Data from 2019-2021 was analyzed using R statistical software to examine patterns of multimorbidity (two or more chronic conditions). Outcome estimates were adjusted for sex, age, location, and year of clinic visit.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of multimorbidity, defined across 17 recorded chronic conditions, was 19.6%. Among the 2,941 cases of multimorbidity, 2,708 (92.0%) involved two chronic conditions, while 233 (8.0%) involved three. While most conditions increased steadily in prevalence with age, diabetes followed a different pattern, with higher prevalence among individuals aged 50-59 years (53.9%) and 60-69 years (52.4%) compared to those 70 years and older (40.3%). After adjusting for clinic visit year, gender, and study location, individuals aged 70 years and older were significantly less likely to have multimorbidity compared to those aged 50-59 years (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.52-0.62, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The study revealed a wide range of multimorbidity combinations among older people attending primary health care. Strategies to address multimorbidity in older people should include efforts to identify other, less common clusters of chronic conditions.

PMID:39877898 | PMC:PMC11773524 | DOI:10.1177/26335565251317380