Tag: pubmed

BMC Infect Dis. 2025 Oct 9;25(1):1262. doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-11595-x.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Diarrhea is a public health challenge, the leading cause of malnutrition, morbidity, and mortality for children under five years globally. The disease is more common in low and middle-income countries such as Asia and Africa. While several studies were conducted on the prevalence of diarrheal disease among children under five, none of them showed the pooled prevalence of diarrheal disease. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and its determinants of diarrhea among children under five in East Africa.

METHODS: We searched articles published between January 01/2020, to October 31/2024, on the prevalence of diarrheal disease among children under five years old using different databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. We included studies that were published only in the English language and report the prevalence of diarrhea among children under five in East African countries. To get the total number of children under the age of five in our study, we summed the sample sizes from chosen studies.We checked the quality of each study using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) quality assessment scale, and we performed the analysis by random effect model using statistical software STATA version 17 and R version 4.4.2.

RESULT: A total of 162,388 children under five years were included in this review. About 93.33% of studies were conducted using cross-sectional study designs. The overall pooled prevalence of diarrhea among children under five in East Africa was 24.6% (95% CI: 22.7%, 26.6%). Improper waste disposal mechanism (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.53), large family size (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.72), two and above children under five years (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.27, 2.03), unprotected source of water (OR=1.92, 95% CI: 1.39, 2.65), not vaccinated from rotavirus (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.85), unprotected toilet type (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.21), and households who spent more than thirty minutes to fetch water (OR = 1.35 95% CI: 1.05, 1.73) were risk factors responsible for the prevalence of diarrheal disease among children under five years.

CONCLUSIONS: The pooled prevalence of diarrhea among children under five in East Africa is still at a high level. The finding of this study recommends intervention on family planning initiatives, improving sanitation practices, increasing access to healthcare, providing access to clean water, rotavirus vaccination, and well-established waste disposal mechanisms, which could be the critical issues to reduce the prevalence of diarrheal disease among children under five years.

PMID:41068656 | DOI:10.1186/s12879-025-11595-x

BMC Public Health. 2025 Oct 9;25(1):3444. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24424-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Understanding the contraceptive preferences of currently married women who are not using any method but intend to do so in the future is critical for addressing unmet need and informing targeted family planning strategies. In Bangladesh, despite progress in contraceptive uptake, disparities persist across socio-demographic groups and geographic regions. This study examines the determinants of preferred future contraceptive methods among non-using but intending women in Bangladesh using a multilevel analytic framework.

METHODS: We used data from the 2014 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), focusing on 3,662 currently married women aged 15-49 who were not using any contraceptive method but intended to adopt one in the future. The outcome variable, preferred future contraceptive method, was categorized into three groups: Pill (reference), Injection, and Other methods (e.g., condom, sterilization, Norplant). A two-level multinomial logistic regression model was applied, with women (level 1) nested within administrative divisions (level 2), using a Bayesian estimation approach.

RESULTS: The Pill was the most preferred method overall (49%), followed by Other methods (30%) and Injection (21%). Preference patterns varied by age, education, parity, wealth, and place of residence. Women with higher education had significantly greater odds of preferring other methods over pills (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.14-2.51), while those with more children were more likely to prefer injections. Urban women were more inclined to prefer other methods compared to rural women (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.14-1.71). The analysis revealed significant variation across divisions, highlighting contextual influences on contraceptive preferences.

CONCLUSIONS: Contraceptive preferences among non-using but intending women in Bangladesh are shaped by a complex interplay of individual and regional factors. Programs aiming to reduce unmet need and method discontinuation should adopt tailored strategies that consider age, education, parity, and regional disparities. Enhancing method choice, promoting female education, and improving service delivery in underserved regions are essential for achieving reproductive health equity and advancing national and global family planning goals.

PMID:41068653 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-025-24424-2

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2025 Oct 9;25(1):726. doi: 10.1186/s12872-025-05161-1.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in combination with the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) could predict mortality risks in the normal population. Our studies have focused on their additive effects on patients with cardiovascular-kidney metabolic syndrome (CKM) syndrome stages 0-3.

METHODS: Participants were sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves modeled the associations between the TyG index, eGDR, and mortality. Cox proportional regression models, Kaplan-Meier (KM) curve and subgroup analysis were performed to investigate the combined association. Machine learning was used in the development of predictive models.

RESULTS: A total of 11,206 participants with CKM syndrome stages 0-3 were involved. The median follow-up time was 104 days, in which 1,079 cases of all-cause death and 299 cases of cardiovascular death were recorded. The RCS curve proved that the associations of the TyG index and eGDR with mortality followed a J-shape and an L-shape, respectively. Compared with the low TyG/high eGDR group, the all-cause mortality rate in TyG ≥ 8.72 and eGDR < 10.8 group was 14.9%, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.338 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.448-7.696), while the cardiovascular mortality rate was 4.8%, with an HR of 1.786 (95% CI: 1.023-3.119).

CONCLUSIONS: In individuals with CKM syndrome stages 0-3, it is more advisable to integrate the TyG index and eGDR when assessing insulin resistance and predicting the risks of long-term mortality.

PMID:41068649 | DOI:10.1186/s12872-025-05161-1

Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025 Oct 8;260:105652. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105652. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Amid rising academic pressures and heightened job market demands, college students increasingly experience mental health challenges.

AIMS: This study explores how physical exercise affects ego depletion among college students, using the self-control resource model to understand the underlying processes.

METHODS: The study included two parts. First, we surveyed 1032 college students (average age: 20.29 years; 592 males, 440 females) to examine the relationships among negative life events, self-control, physical exercise, and ego depletion. In the second part, 104 students (average age: 19.89 years; 54 males, 50 females) participated in a four-week exercise intervention. They completed three 18-minute high-intensity exercise sessions per week, totaling 12 sessions, to assess changes in self-control and ego depletion.

RESULTS: The survey results showed that negative life events were linked to increased ego depletion and lower self-control. Self-control partially explained how negative life events affected ego depletion. Additionally, regular physical exercise reduced the negative impact of stressful life events on self-control, especially at higher levels. The exercise intervention significantly improved students’ self-control and reduced ego depletion.

CONCLUSIONS: Physical exercise serves as a protective factor that helps students maintain self-control and resist ego depletion under stress. By integrating large-scale survey data with an experimental intervention, this study uniquely provides both correlational evidence and preliminary causal insight into the role of exercise in mitigating ego depletion among college students.

PMID:41066864 | DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105652

Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025 Oct 8;260:105649. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105649. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The proposed meta-analysis study examines the pedagogical role of artificial intelligence (AI)-based interventions in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education through a synthesis of empirical evidence of 23 peer-reviewed experimental and quasi-experimental experiments published in 2019-2025. Scheduling a strict systematic review process in accordance with the PRISMA principles, the work investigates AI solutions, including chatbots, automated writing assessment platforms and virtual reality applications, assessing their effectiveness in relation to various demographic groups of learners, teaching environments, and language achievements. The effects sizes were calculated using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software and g of Hedge on a random-effects model. The combined findings reported a statistically significant and large overall effect (g = 1.10, SE = 0.18, 95 % CI [0.75, 1.44]) that means that AI-ready pedagogies improve EFL learning outcomes significantly, especially regarding such aspects as the accuracy of writing, fluency in speaking, and motivation of the learners. In addition, other beneficial affective effects of using AI included the reduction of anxiety and motivation and enjoyment among the learners. Subgroup analyses also indicated that the kind of measurement tool had a pronounced moderating effect on effect size, with affective variables (e.g., motivation, engagement) having stronger increases than only quantitative variables (e.g., word count). Heterogeneity was high (I2 = 92.66) in order to highlight the role of contextual and methodological differences. The findings are part of the increasing literature on AI in language learning that provides empirical data on informing educational practices to guide further studies on the adoption of the concept of intelligent technologies in EFL teaching.

PMID:41066858 | DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105649

J Neuroimmunol. 2025 Oct 4;409:578767. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2025.578767. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causal relationship between monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), depression, schizophrenia (SCZ), and anxiety disorders, using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).

METHODS: Summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were utilized to examine the relationship between MCP-1 levels and NPDs. MCP-1 summary data were obtained from the IEU OpenGWAS database, while GWAS summary statistics for NPDs were primarily sourced from the FinnGen consortium, with additional replication datasets from the IEU OpenGWAS and UK Biobank. The primary analytical approach was the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, complemented by weighted median, MR-Egger regression, and both weighted and simple mode methods in bidirectional MR analyses. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q test, and horizontal pleiotropy was evaluated using MR-Egger regression and the MR-PRESSO test. Results from multiple GWAS sources were synthesized using meta-analysis to provide robust and comprehensive estimates.

RESULTS: In primary MR analysis, IVW results indicated a statistically significant association between elevated MCP-1 levels and increased risk of AD (OR: 1.108; 95 % CI: 1.003-1.224; P_IVW = 0.044) and SCZ (OR: 1.245, 95 % CI: 1.014-1.529, P_IVW = 0.036). No evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was observed (P > 0.05), and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis supported the robustness of these findings. However, no causal associations were identified in replication MR analyses for MCP-1 with any of the NPDs (P_IVW > 0.05). Meta-analysis further confirmed the significant association between MCP-1 levels and AD risk (OR: 1.096, 95 % CI: 1.017-1.182, P = 0.017), while no significant causal relationships were observed for the other NPDs.

CONCLUSION: Elevated MCP-1 levels are causally associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk but not with other NPDs, indicating a disease-specific role and therapeutic potential in AD.

PMID:41066853 | DOI:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2025.578767

Pregnancy Hypertens. 2025 Oct 8;42:101261. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2025.101261. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies in temperate regions have observed an increased risk of preeclampsia in the winter, while studies conducted in tropical regions have found an increased risk during the rainy season. The effectof season of conception and delivery have been inconsistent and poorly studied in moderate climates such as Los Angeles.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the effects of the season of delivery on the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 24,843 predominantly Hispanic womenwho delivered at a large, urban safety nethospital from1995 and 2008. Logistic regression and multivariable multinomial logistic regression were used to estimateodds ratios and 95% CIs.

RESULTS: Mothers who delivered in the wet season had a significantly increased risk of developing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared to those who delivered in the dry season (OR = 1.11, 95 % CI: 1.02, 1.21). When stratifying based on disease severity, only mild preeclampsia indicated an association with season of delivery (OR = 1.12, 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.25). The effect for severe preeclampsia (OR = 1.12, 95 % Cl: 0.96, 1.31) and eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (OR = 0.80, 95 % CI: 0.49, 1.31) did not reach statistical significance, though power was limited in the more severe categories. Results evaluating season of conception as the outcome were similar to those for the season of delivery.

CONCLUSIONS: Among the predominantly Hispanic women who delivered at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California between 1995 and 2008, deliveries in the wet, winter season were associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

PMID:41066836 | DOI:10.1016/j.preghy.2025.101261

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater. 2025 Oct 6;173:107223. doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107223. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

As the largest organ of the human body, the skin serves as a crucial protective barrier against external damage. While traditional approaches to skin injury treatment increasingly struggle to meet clinical demands, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as an innovative approach for tissue-engineered skin regeneration. Nevertheless, challenges persist regarding the mechanical integrity of bioprinted constructs, particularly post-printing graft shrinkage. This review systematically examines three key strategies for enhancing the mechanical properties of 3D bioprinted skin grafts: (i) Biomaterial innovation through novel material development and composite systems that substantially improve structural stability; (ii) Advanced structural design incorporating bioinspired architectures, topological optimization, and gradient configurations to achieve biomimetic mechanical performance; (iii) Post-fabrication processing techniques involving novel crosslinking methods and parameter modulation to reinforce mechanical strength. By critically analyzing these synergistic enhancement strategies, this work establishes a conceptual framework to guide future research in developing clinically viable 3D bioprinted skin substitutes with optimal biomechanical functionality.

PMID:41066831 | DOI:10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107223

Comput Biol Med. 2025 Oct 8;198(Pt A):111117. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.111117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder, the etiology and pathogenesis of which are currently unclear. Brain imaging genetics, which analyzes genetic factors and neuroimaging phenotypic data in association, is an effective technique for identifying AD-related biomarkers. With the rapid advancement of imaging and genetic sequencing technologies, the association between multimodal imaging data and genetic data has gradually received widespread attention. However, how to make full use of the complementary information between multimodal data is an urgent problem to be solved. Therefore, Multimodal Adaptive Fusion Deep Association Analysis Model (MAFDAA) is proposed to solve the above problems. Firstly, a novel multi-head attention graph convolutional model is proposed to extract and reconstruct complementary information among multimodal data, thus constructing a comprehensive representation of brain information. Secondly, the representation module statistically encodes genetic data to obtain genetic representations, while embedding demographic information as a supplement to the genetic representation. Subsequently, in the association analysis module, nonlinear correlation analysis is conducted between genetic representations and brain reconstruction data, yielding latent association vectors for subsequent research. Finally, the diagnostic module diagnoses the subjects and identifies AD-related biomarkers based on the association analysis results. The experimental results demonstrate that MAFDAA exhibits excellent diagnostic performance. Additionally, the identified biomarkers were analyzed from different perspectives, establishing a new approach for studying the complex genetic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases from a micro to macro scale.

PMID:41066822 | DOI:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.111117

Appl Radiat Isot. 2025 Oct 6;226:112246. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.112246. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) has designated Rice and Napa cabbage, which account for a large proportion of the Korean diet, as staple foods for continuous radioactivity monitoring. Assessing internal exposure from food ingestion is essential for public health and radiation safety. This study evaluated the radioactivity concentrations of these foods and quantified annual effective doses from their ingestion. Samples of Rice and Napa cabbage collected from 15 regions nationwide from 2014 to 2023 by Regional Radioactivity Monitoring Stations (RRMSs) were analyzed for K-40 and Cs-137. Soil types were classified using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil texture triangle, and regional variations in food radioactivity concentrations were assessed relative to soil texture. Based on these data and intake statistics from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the annual effective dose from K-40 ingestion was calculated using the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) dose conversion factor of 0.062 μSv/Bq. K-40 concentrations ranged from 1.65 to 75.6 Bq kg^-1-fresh in Rice and 10.4-122 Bq kg^-1-fresh in Napa cabbage, with cabbage averaging about three times higher. The estimated annual effective doses were 7.53 μSv for Rice and 10.1 μSv for cabbage, corresponding to ∼0.7 % of natural background exposure (2400 μSv y^-1) and ∼5.8 % of the dose from total food ingestion (290 μSv y^-1). These results demonstrate that the radiological impact of staple food consumption in South Korea is negligible and provide a scientific basis for food-based environmental radioactivity monitoring and radiological emergency preparedness.

PMID:41066797 | DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2025.112246