Tag: pubmed

Reprod Health. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1186/s12978-026-02401-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Menstrual health plays a crucial role in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, there is a gap addressing HRQoL in relation to broader aspects of menstrual health definition. This study aims to analyse the relationship between menstrual health and self-reported health-related quality of life in women and people who menstruate (PWM) ≥ 18 years in five regions of Spain (Andalusia, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Catalonia, and Galicia).

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey-based study with gender perspective was conducted. Thirty-two healthcare centres took part in the study across five regions of Spain between May and September 2023. Participants were women and PWM aged 18 or over with at least one menstruation in the last 6 months. Self-reported sociodemographic, menstrual health and HRQoL variables (using EQ-5D-5 L scale) were collected. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models were performed. EQ-VAS scale was employed to perform sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS: A total of 1,381 women and PWM were included (Mean age = 34.63, SD = 10.06). The mean of EQ-5D-5 L index was 0.88 (SD = 0.13) and EQ-VAS was 73.63 (SD = 22.60). Several menstrual health variables were significantly associated with lower HRQoL. The strongest associations were observed for high frequency of premenstrual symptoms (β= -0.144; 95%CI= -0.139 to -0.090), high impact of premenstrual symptoms (β= -0.071; 95%CI= -0.102 to -0.040), high impact on social participation during menstruation (β= -0.104; 95%CI= -0.128 to -0.080), moderate frequency of menstrual poverty (β= -0.054; 95%CI= -0.078 to -0.029) and menstrual pain intensity (β= -0.047; 95%CI= -0.068 to -0.025).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the substantial impact of menstrual health on HRQoL, particularly in some EQ-5D-5 L domains (usual activities, anxiety/depression, and pain/discomfort). From a public health perspective, it is important to recognise menstrual health as a relevant component of overall well-being of women and PWM. Specifically paying greater attention to menstrual health relation to general pain, emotional health and participation in daily activities when designing health promotion and primary healthcare interventions.

PMID:42410478 | DOI:10.1186/s12978-026-02401-1

BMC Nutr. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1186/s40795-026-01421-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a critical period for establishing dietary behaviours that influence immediate health, reproductive outcomes, and long-term risk of non-communicable diseases. Female adolescents are particularly vulnerable to poor nutrition due to increased biological demands and sociocultural constraints. Examining the relationship between nutrition knowledge and behavioural perceptions within a theoretical framework is essential for developing effective interventions.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 in-school female adolescents aged 13-17 years in public and private secondary schools in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. A pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, nutrition knowledge, and perceived dietary behaviour using the Health Belief Model (HBM) framework. Independent samples t-tests, Pearson’s correlation, chi-squares test, and six parallel linear regression models were fitted one per HBM construct as the dependent variable with nutrition knowledge as the primary predictor and age, school setting, household income, and household size as covariates. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 15.19 ± 1.05 years. Overall nutrition knowledge was moderate, with a mean score of 56.52 ± 13.26. Nutrition knowledge was positively associated with perceived severity, perceived benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy, and negatively associated with perceived barriers. Nutrition knowledge was not significantly associated with perceived susceptibility. In multivariate analysis, nutrition knowledge remained significantly associated with perceived severity (β = 0.196, η² = 0.041), perceived benefits (β = 0.179, η² = 0.033), perceived barriers (β = -0.344, η² = 0.118), cues to action (β = 0.286, η² = 0.083), and self-efficacy (β = 0.225, η² = 0.052), but not perceived susceptibility (p = 0.124).

CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition knowledge is significantly associated with HBM-based dietary perceptions among in-school female adolescents. Strengthened, theory-driven nutrition education, particularly in public schools, may reinforce favourable dietary cognitions theoretically linked to healthier eating practices.

PMID:42410468 | DOI:10.1186/s40795-026-01421-1

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01837-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Normobaric hyperoxic recovery has been proposed as a post-exercise strategy to improve subsequent exercise performance, but the overall performance evidence and the consistency of accompanying physiological recovery markers remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis primarily evaluated the effect of normobaric hyperoxic recovery on subsequent performance, with selected physiological outcomes interpreted as secondary and exploratory evidence.

METHODS: We systematically reviewed studies examining normobaric hyperoxic recovery after exercise. Performance was prespecified as the primary outcome. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), heart rate (HR), and blood lactate (BLa) were treated as secondary outcomes. After full-text verification, 19 reports were retained, yielding 21 study entries for synthesis. Because many studies used crossover, repeated-measures, or within-subject designs and most did not report sufficient paired-variance information, the main quantitative syntheses used arm-level summary statistics and random-effects models with standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g).

RESULTS: The primary performance analysis included 16 study entries and estimated a small-to-moderate effect in favor of normobaric hyperoxic recovery (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.63; I² = 0%). This estimate was not materially altered in leave-one-out, trim-and-fill, fail-safe N, and prespecified structural sensitivity analyses. For secondary outcomes, 10 study entries contributed to the BLa analysis, which showed no clear pooled effect (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.43; I² = 0%). Although funnel-plot asymmetry was detected for BLa, trim-and-fill did not materially alter the pooled estimate. HR results were based on 2 exploratory study entries and showed no clear pooled effect (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI -0.35 to 0.93; I² = 0%). SpO₂-related outcomes were highly heterogeneous (I² = 90.0%), and this inconsistency persisted after sensitivity analyses, supporting narrative rather than pooled inferential interpretation.

CONCLUSIONS: Normobaric hyperoxic recovery was associated with a modest, directionally consistent effect in favor of subsequent performance. In contrast, the secondary physiological outcomes provided limited and inconsistent evidence. No clear pooled effect was observed for blood lactate, heart-rate findings were exploratory, and SpO₂ outcomes were too heterogeneous to support a stable pooled conclusion. Overall, the findings suggest a possible performance benefit of normobaric hyperoxic recovery, while physiological outcomes should be interpreted as descriptive and hypothesis-generating rather than as evidence of a consistent physiological recovery response.

PMID:42410467 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-026-01837-z

Biotechnol Biofuels Bioprod. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1186/s13068-026-02789-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Culture contamination is a critical problem in microalgae cultivation, often leading to the loss of affected batches and significant financial losses. Therefore, repurposing this contaminated biomass as a fuel source is one of the most viable valorisation outlooks, as the presence of contaminants in the energy sector is not as relevant as in cosmetic or food applications. This work evaluated the viability of this approach using a culture of Parachlorella kessleri contaminated with initially unknown micro-organisms. Microscopy analyses identified Tetradesmus sp. and bacilli as contaminants. The biochemical composition of this contaminated sample was compared to regular and nitrogen-starved cultures, showing no statistically significant differences from the regular batch. This resemblance also extended to the biodiesel profile, highlighting the suitability of valorising contaminated microalgae in biofuel applications. However, the evaluation of nanomechanical properties revealed that P. kessleri cells from the contaminated batch had Young’s modulus remarkably higher than values reported in the literature, indicating that the cell disruption step could be more energy intensive. Hence, contaminated biomass remains biochemically suitable for biofuel valorisation, but potentially requires more energy-intensive processing.

PMID:42410466 | DOI:10.1186/s13068-026-02789-9

BMC Psychol. 2026 Jul 7. doi: 10.1186/s40359-026-05078-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cancer caregiving imposes substantial physical, psychological, and social burdens, particularly in resource-limited settings such as Palestine. However, evidence regarding factors associated with caregiver quality of life (QoL) in this context remains limited.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 primary caregivers of cancer patients recruited from five major Palestinian hospitals between March and September 2025. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, including the validated Arabic version of the SF-36v2. QoL was assessed across physical and mental domains. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multiple linear regression models were applied to identify independent predictors.

RESULTS: The mean age of caregivers was 36.5 ± 12.3 years, and most were female (67.9%) and married (69.9%). Overall QoL was moderate (mean total score = 56.38 ± 16.00), with lower mental than physical component scores (MCS: 52.53 ± 17.31 vs. PCS: 60.23 ± 17.53). Regression analysis showed that higher education and middle income were independent protective factors for overall, physical, and mental QoL (p < 0.05). In contrast, being a housewife, having a chronic illness, experiencing marital dissolution, and being the patient’s daughter were associated with poorer outcomes. Gender and residency were not independent predictors after adjustment.

CONCLUSION: Caregiver QoL is primarily shaped by socioeconomic position and family role rather than demographic characteristics alone. Targeted psychosocial and financial support strategies are needed to reduce caregiver burden in vulnerable subgroups.

PMID:42410456 | DOI:10.1186/s40359-026-05078-0

Philos Ethics Humanit Med. 2026 Jul 6;21(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s13010-026-00225-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Commitment to professional ethical principles is one of the fundamental pillars in improving the quality of nursing care and preserving patients’ human dignity. Given the key role of nurses in direct interaction with patients, examining the extent of adherence to nursing ethics in clinical settings is of great importance. Considering the significance of ethics in nursing practice, this study was conducted to assess the level of adherence to nursing ethical principles among nurses at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Saqqez in 2024.

METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 118 nurses working at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Saqqez in 2024, selected through simple random sampling. The data collection tools included a demographic information questionnaire and a standard questionnaire assessing nurses’ adherence to professional ethical codes. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 with descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: The findings showed that 61.86% of the nurses had a moderate level of ethical performance. The highest adherence to professional ethical codes was observed in the domain of “nurses and professional commitments” (58.79 ± 1.01), while the lowest was in the domain of “nurse and colleague” (8.18 ± 0.95).

CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that the level of adherence to professional ethics among nurses at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Saqqez is mostly moderate. This can be considered a warning sign regarding the quality of nursing care and patient satisfaction. Despite relatively favorable performance in the area of professional commitment, weaknesses in interpersonal communication, especially in the nurse-colleague domain, require special attention. It is therefore recommended that continuous training and retraining programs in professional ethics be developed and implemented to improve nurses’ ethical awareness and skills, enhance interprofessional interactions, and promote ethical-based care.

PMID:42410449 | DOI:10.1186/s13010-026-00225-2

Crit Care. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1186/s13054-026-06172-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of albumin-based fluid resuscitation on mortality in adults with septic shock.

DESIGN: Systematic review and dual frequentist-Bayesian meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials (RCTs), following PRISMA guidelines and preregistered protocol (CRD420261325998).

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Scopus were searched from inception to February 2026.

METHODS: Eligible RCTs comparing albumin-based resuscitation strategies versus crystalloid-based resuscitation in adults with septic shock were included. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at the longest available follow-up (up to 90 days). The analysis utilised random-effects models, subgroup analyses, and Bayesian methods.

RESULTS: Seven trials (n = 3273) were included. Three trials primarily recruited septic shock patients, while data from the remaining were derived from subgroups or extracted strata. At the longest available follow-up, albumin-based fluid resuscitation was associated with a statistically significant 10% reduction in the relative risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83-0.99; p = 0.02; I² = 0%). Bayesian analysis under the primary weakly informative prior yielded a posterior probability of mortality reduction of 94.7% (P[RR < 1.0]). Pre-specified subgroup analyses by albumin formulation, dosing strategy, and trial-level baseline serum albumin did not show evidence of effect modification.

CONCLUSION: In adults with septic shock, albumin-based resuscitation strategies are associated with a statistically significant reduction in mortality at the longest available follow-up, with a directionally concordant Bayesian estimate. A mortality benefit is therefore plausible, but the supporting evidence is indirect and imprecise (GRADE: low certainty). Adequately powered trials specifically addressing albumin fluid resuscitation in septic shock are warranted.

PMID:42410446 | DOI:10.1186/s13054-026-06172-w

BMC Health Serv Res. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1186/s12913-026-15065-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The National Volume-Based Procurement (NVBP) policy was implemented in China in 2018 to address escalating pharmaceutical expenditures. This study aimed to describe long-term price trends, regional variations in bid-winning drug prices, and supply stability during the 2018-2024 implementation period.

METHODS: Data were obtained from the Shanghai Sunshine Pharmaceutical Procurement Platform and the Comprehensive Service Platform for NVBP. Price trends of bid-winning and alternative drugs were analyzed using monthly procurement data for Batches 1-7, excluding the insulin-specific sixth batch.Laspeyres, Paasche, and Fisher price indices were calculated using January 2018 as a common index anchor to standardize long-term price comparisons, rather than as a batch-specific pre-policy baseline. Regional disparities in bid-winning drug prices were examined using official bid-winning results for Batches 1-5 and Batches 7-10, with purchasing power parity indices estimated by the national product dummy method. Supply shortages were measured as monthly regional order-delivery gaps during the first post-implementation year of each included batch and classified into five severity levels.

RESULTS: Bid-winning drugs showed substantial price declines after implementation, with Laspeyres, Paasche, and Fisher indices decreasing by approximately 55%-85%, 60%-85%, and 50%-80%, respectively. Prices remained stable at low levels without obvious rebound. Alternative drugs showed smaller and more fluctuating declines of approximately 5%-40%, 5%-40%, and 10%-40%, respectively. Supplementary interrupted time-series analysis of the Fisher index showed significant negative immediate level changes for bid-winning drugs across all included batches, whereas alternative drugs showed smaller and less consistent immediate changes. Regional PPP point estimates were generally lower in economically developed regions than in the western region, although many individual batch-region comparisons were not statistically significant. First-year supply shortages ranged from approximately 17% to 33% across batches. Lower-priced drugs were more frequently observed in higher shortage-severity categories, with drugs priced below 0.5 CNY accounting for 77.6% of severe shortages.

CONCLUSION: This nationwide descriptive study documented sharp and sustained price declines for bid-winning drugs, smaller and heterogeneous declines for alternative drugs, persistent regional price disparities, and supply shortages under China’s NVBP. These findings suggest a policy tension between price reduction, regional equity, and supply security.If these descriptive associations reflect underlying procurement mechanisms, future policy refinements may consider regional price-differential monitoring, dynamic price-adjustment mechanisms for extremely low-priced drugs, supply guarantee requirements, and reward-penalty mechanisms for procurement participants.

PMID:42410444 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-026-15065-1

Lipids Health Dis. 2026 Jul 6. doi: 10.1186/s12944-026-02991-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that metabolic disturbances underlie pregnancy losses, imposing a substantial public health burden among young women of reproductive age. Glycolipid metabolism 7 factors (GLM7) is a composite glycolipid metabolism index derived from routinely measured metabolic indicators; however, its relevance to pregnancy loss in young women remains unexamined.

METHODS: The present study analyzed publicly available data from the 2009-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles. Participants were categorized as having no pregnancy loss, single pregnancy loss, or recurrent pregnancy loss (≥ 2 losses). GLM7 was calculated as the logarithm of the product of age, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The association between GLM7 and pregnancy loss categories was evaluated, potential dose-response patterns were explored, and effect modification by selected sociodemographic and behavioral factors was assessed.

RESULTS: Of the 736 women included in the analysis, 300 (37%) reported a history of pregnancy loss. In binary analyses, higher GLM7 was initially associated with pregnancy loss (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.03-1.44); however, the association was attenuated after adjustment for the number of pregnancies (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.99-1.44). In multinomial analyses, higher GLM7 levels were not significantly associated with single pregnancy loss. In contrast, higher GLM7 remained independently associated with recurrent pregnancy loss after adjustment for all covariates (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02-1.42; P = 0.046). Women in the second to fourth quartiles had significantly higher odds of recurrent pregnancy loss than those in the lowest quartile. No significant nonlinearity was observed in the association between GLM7 and recurrent pregnancy loss (P for nonlinearity = 0.265). No statistically significant interaction was observed across the subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: In this nationally representative sample of U.S. women aged 18-35 years, higher GLM7 levels were more robustly associated with recurrent rather than isolated pregnancy loss. The findings suggested that cumulative glycolipid metabolic burden may be particularly relevant to repeated reproductive failures and serve as indicators to improved strategies for early reproductive risk identification and preventive healthcare for women.

PMID:42410437 | DOI:10.1186/s12944-026-02991-6

BMC Med Educ. 2026 Jul 7. doi: 10.1186/s12909-026-09834-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Following the transition of the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 to Pass/Fail scoring, research productivity and the ability to communicate scholarly work effectively are increasingly important for residency applicants. While medical schools have expanded access to research opportunities, structured training that prepares students for research dissemination remains limited. To address this gap, the Student Opportunities for Advancement in Research Office implemented and evaluated the Medical Student Research Presentation (MSRP) series, a feedback-rich program designed to support research communication skill development and presenter confidence among medical students.

METHODS: The MSRP was hosted monthly from December 2024 to November 2025 to support medical students across two campuses. Student participants delivered 7-minute research presentations followed by a 3-minute question-and-answer session with reviewers, who provided feedback using a standardized rubric. Program evaluation was conducted using a 33-item post-session survey guided by the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize presenter motivations, perceived usefulness of the session, changes in confidence across presentation skills, and application of feedback to scholarly products.

RESULTS: Twenty-eight medical students presented during the study period, with 17 (60.7%) completing the post-session survey. All respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the MSRP provided actionable feedback and would recommend the program to peers. The most frequently reported areas of improvement included communication (76.5%), confidence (70.6%), and responding to audience questions (70.6%). Directional confidence gains were observed across presentation skills, with first-time presenters showing the largest gains in explaining research clearly and answering audience questions, and presenters with prior presentation experience demonstrating the strongest gains in engaging the audience. Most participants reported incorporation of feedback into revised presentations (64.7%), manuscripts (41.2%), or conference presentations (35.3%). Thirteen participants (76.5%) reported applying to present their MSRP talk at other conferences. Among those who applied (n = 13), 76.9% were accepted to present.

CONCLUSIONS: The MSRP is a transferable research presentation program that supports medical students’ confidence, communication skills, and early scholarly dissemination. By providing structured, feedback-rich presentation practice prior to formal conferences, the MSRP addresses a gap between project execution and scholarship in the undergraduate medical education research pipeline.

PMID:42410434 | DOI:10.1186/s12909-026-09834-z