Tag: pubmed

Environ Monit Assess. 2026 Apr 22;198(5):487. doi: 10.1007/s10661-026-15330-0.

ABSTRACT

Urban environmental noise has emerged as a critical public health risk globally due to its extensive impact on human life and health. This study conducts a comprehensive assessment of Urban Environmental Noise (UEN) and Urban Traffic Noise (UTN) across 36 major Chinese cities from 2007 to 2023, integrating spatiotemporal analysis, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), and economic valuation. Results indicate that UTN (median 66 to 70 dB) consistently exceeds UEN (median 52 to 56 dB), with significant spatial differentiation observed across the studied cities. Spatially, high-density hub cities (such as Beijing, Shijiazhuang, and Chongqing) bear a substantially higher health burden from noise pollution. Furthermore, the estimated health burden is dominated by sleep disturbance (YLD_HSD), which consistently outweighs noise annoyance (YLD_HA). Nonlinear relationships were also observed between noise levels and the attributable environmental burden. The annual economic loss attributed to traffic noise across these cities is estimated at 3.59 billion USD, representing a significant economic cost to sustainable urban development that has previously been overlooked. These findings suggest that noise pollution prevention and control in China need to shift from compliance-based monitoring to health-centric interventions and localized noise management strategies are urgently required.

PMID:42014604 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-026-15330-0

Biogerontology. 2026 Apr 21;27(3):90. doi: 10.1007/s10522-026-10437-w.

ABSTRACT

Aging is a complex process influenced by various factors, including gut microbiota and food likings. Focusing on gut and dietary health is a crucial strategy for promoting long-term health and active aging. This study investigates the reciprocal causal relationships between gut microbiota, food likings and aging using Mendelian Randomization (MR) approaches. We leveraged the summary statistics of gut microbiota (n = 5,959), food likings (n = 161,625), and three aging phenotypes including telomere length (n = 472,174), facial aging (n = 423,999), and frailty index (n = 175,226). We performed bidirectional MR analyses to explore the causal effects of gut microbiota and food likings on aging, and mediation analyses to discover potential mediating gut microbiota and food likings. We discovered numerous correlations between gut microbiota, food likings, and aging. Notably, we identified that Lachnospira rogosae and CAG-83 sp000435555 influenced the frailty index through diet fizzy drinks liking, while UBA2922 sp900313925 had an effect through F-wine liking. Our findings provide insights into these complex interactions and offer a basis for personalized dietary interventions to slow aging and improve health, potentially informing new strategies for preventing age-related diseases.

PMID:42014597 | DOI:10.1007/s10522-026-10437-w

Arch Womens Ment Health. 2026 Apr 22;29(3):67. doi: 10.1007/s00737-026-01701-6.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Mother-infant bonding disorders have the potential to impact infant development and maternal mental health during the perinatal period. In Mexico, the limited information regarding their prevalence is associated with the absence of validated instruments for their detection. The Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) is one of the most widely used instruments internationally, although it reports high psychometric heterogeneity depending on the context. The objective of this study was to adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of a Mexican version of the PBQ (PBQ-Mx) and to establish its sensitivity and specificity in Mexican mothers.

METHODS: The PBQ-Mx was administered to 455 women in the first postpartum year. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and an Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis were performed. A ROC curve analysis was also performed on a subsample of 134 mothers with a clinical diagnosis of the quality of mother-infant bonding using the Stafford Interview to determine sensitivity, specificity, and a cut-off point.

RESULTS: The original 25-item structure of the PBQ was confirmed, exhibiting good overall reliability (α = 0.82, Ω = 0.86), though factor 3 (infant-focused anxiety) demonstrated low reliability. IRT analysis confirmed the validity of the theoretical model. The prevalence of mother-infant bonding disorders was 7%. The cut-off point of ≥ 12 demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88% (AUC = 0.980).

CONCLUSIONS: The PBQ-Mx demonstrated psychometric properties that support its use as a valid and reliable tool for the early detection and research of mother-infant bonding difficulties in the Mexican postpartum population.

PMID:42014588 | DOI:10.1007/s00737-026-01701-6

JACC Adv. 2026 Apr 20;5(5):102749. doi: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102749. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:42013524 | DOI:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102749

Int Dent J. 2026 Apr 20;76(3):109561. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2026.109561. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Mandibular movement is a complex physiological process essential for orofacial function. Patients with disc displacement without reduction (DDWoR) exhibit significant kinematic impairments, which are thought to arise from structural joint damage and neuromuscular dysregulation. This study characterised mandibular movement in DDWoR using the Jaw Motion Analyzer. Through quantitative trajectory analysis and principal component analysis, we identified the primary variation patterns in mandibular kinematics. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of key movement parameters. This work provides a basis for functional movement-based assessment and objective diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders.

METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 40 DDWoR patients and 20 matched healthy controls. Mandibular movement trajectories were recorded using the Zebris Jaw Motion Analyzer system during standardised tasks. Trajectory symmetry was analysed via mathematical programming. Statistical analyses included group comparisons, principal component analysis and ROC curve evaluation to identify diagnostic kinematic indicators.

RESULTS: DDWoR patients exhibited significant kinematic alterations compared to healthy controls. Bilateral DDWoR patients showed reduced protrusive and opening movement ranges. In contrast, unilateral DDWoR patients demonstrated relatively asymmetrical patterns characterised by asymmetric condylar trajectories with increased lateral excursion ranges. Principal component analysis between the bilateral DDWoR group and the healthy group revealed 2 dominant variation patterns explaining 53.69% of total variance. ROC analysis identified excellent diagnostic value for sagittal opening symmetry (AUC = 0.901) and good value for incisal point inclination (AUC = 0.813).

CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm distinctive and heterogeneous mandibular movement patterns in DDWoR, revealing several parameters with diagnostic potential to inform functional assessment and personalised treatment strategies for temporomandibular disorder.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study identifies specific mandibular movement signatures in DDWoR patients, providing objective kinematic parameters for functional assessment. These findings facilitate early diagnosis, enable real-time treatment monitoring and support the development of personalised rehabilitation strategies for temporomandibular disorders.

PMID:42013519 | DOI:10.1016/j.identj.2026.109561

Int Dent J. 2026 Apr 20;76(3):109563. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2026.109563. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the relationship between oral frailty (OF) and cognitive impairment in older adults and explore the association between OF and different domains of cognitive function.

METHODS: A total of 461 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China were selected as the participants. The number of natural teeth, daily toothbrushing frequency and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index scale for older adults were used to assess OF. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale.

RESULTS: The prevalence of OF was 33.4%. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 65.7%. Compared with the non-OF group, the OF group was associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment (OR = 1.959). Older adults with low oral function were associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment. OF was significantly associated with cognitive impairment in older adults aged ≥80 years (OR = 2.468). OF was associated with 2 domains of cognitive function: visuospatial and executive function (OR = 0.532), language domain (OR = 0.821).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a correlation between OF and oral function and cognitive impairment in older adults in the community, and the association between OF and cognitive function is significant in older adults aged ≥80 years. OF in older adults was associated with worse screening performance in the domain of executive function and language function.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This cross-sectional study revealed the association between OF and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. The significance of this finding is not only to confirm the statistical association between oral and cognitive health, but also to suggest that oral and cognitive health dimensions, which are closely related but often managed separately, should be considered and synergistically promoted when designing community health intervention programs.

PMID:42013517 | DOI:10.1016/j.identj.2026.109563

Child Abuse Negl. 2026 Apr 20;176:108065. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.108065. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Child sexual assault (CSA) is a critical public health issue that disproportionately affects children in environments marked by family instability and limited school protection. Empirical evidence from Latin American school settings remains scarce.

OBJECTIVE: To examine individual, familial, digital, and school-related factors associated with sexual victimization among students in Itagüí, Colombia.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A total of 205 students aged 8-17 years from three public schools participated in the study.

METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical design was used. Sexual victimization was operationalized as a binary composite outcome based on four items capturing non-consensual sexual contact, coercion or threats, requests to expose intimate body parts, and grooming-like situations indicating imminent sexual risk. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were employed to estimate associations.

RESULTS: Overall, 32.1% of students endorsed at least one indicator of sexual Victimization or risk. Exposure to physical violence or threats was strongly associated with sexual victimization (OR 7.38; 95% CI 1.68-32.45). Knowing someone who had been victimized and family alcohol consumption also increased risk. Perceived school safety (OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.03-0.55) and knowledge of children’s rights (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01-0.47) emerged as significant protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Sexual victimization in this school population was significantly associated with household violence and specific environmental vulnerabilities, whereas perceived school safety and knowledge of children’s rights emerged as protective correlates. These findings highlight key factors relevant for early identification and prevention.

PMID:42013491 | DOI:10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.108065

J Strength Cond Res. 2026 Apr 22. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005469. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Zheng, S, Wang, S, Cao, Q, and Li, H. The impact of aquatic training on athletic performance and physical recovery in competitive athletes: A meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-To evaluate the effects of aquatic training on performance and physical recovery in competitive athletes, particularly its impact on explosive power, speed, agility, strength, aerobic capacity, and balance. This study used a meta-analysis approach to search relevant literature in the Web of Science and Scopus databases since their inception. The selected studies were limited to English-language articles that met predefined inclusion criteria. All included studies were randomized controlled trials or controlled experiments, with subjects being competitive athletes with a systematic training background. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were used for data analysis, and statistical analysis was conducted using R (version 4.3.0). A total of 13 studies were included in the analysis, with 392 subjects. Aquatic training significantly improved athletes’ explosive power (SMD = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.0.50 to 1.07, p < 0.001), speed (SMD = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.89 to 1.38, p < 0.001), and agility (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.0.15 to 0.78, p = 0.004). However, the improvement in strength (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI = -0.32 to 0.96, p = 0.321) and balance (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI = -0.35 to 1.19, p = 0.282) was not statistically significant, and there was high heterogeneity in the studies on aerobic capacity (SMD = 1.92, 95% CI = -1.47 to 5.32, p = 0.267). In addition, aquatic training showed a modest yet positive effect on physical recovery, including improvements related to injury rehabilitation and fatigue relief (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.63, p = 0.004). As an effective supplementary training method, aquatic training significantly enhances athletic performance, especially in explosive power, speed, and agility. It has beneficial effects on injury recovery and post-training fatigue reduction. Although the effects on strength and aerobic capacity require further validation, aquatic training has proven to be an important tool in sports training and rehabilitation with promising application potential.

PMID:42013467 | DOI:10.1519/JSC.0000000000005469

JMIR Med Inform. 2026 Apr 21;14:e94813. doi: 10.2196/94813.

ABSTRACT

The rapid integration of large language models into electronic medical record systems introduces a critical theoretical vulnerability. Drawing on foundational computer science proofs of “model collapse,” this viewpoint introduces the concept of “Clinical Model Autophagy”-a systemic degradation of diagnostic integrity that occurs when clinical artificial intelligence (AI) models are recursively trained on unverified, AI-generated synthetic data. As these recursive models may progressively regress toward statistical means, they undergo “Interpretative Drift,” a clinically concerning phenomenon where rare pathological variances are systematically erased and complex diseases are homogenized into benign averages. To prevent the irreversible contamination of health care data ecosystems, the author urgently proposes the Data Purity Standard (DPS). The DPS mandates the cryptographic watermarking of all AI-assisted clinical entries for provenance tracking, alongside the establishment of “Human Vaults.” These physically segregated repositories of physician-verified heritage data will serve as immutable biological anchors to safely guide future AI training, ensuring the long-term reliability of digital health infrastructure.

PMID:42013455 | DOI:10.2196/94813

J Particip Med. 2026 Apr 21;18:e84705. doi: 10.2196/84705.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Maternal health during the perinatal period is a global public health priority. While antenatal education is widely implemented, conventional lecture-based models often fail to achieve sustained behavior change. Innovative approaches that integrate experiential learning with digital support may enhance maternal knowledge, self-management, and pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a combined experiential class and online logging intervention for pregnant women in China and to explore the mechanisms underpinning its impact on health practices and service experiences.

METHODS: A mixed methods design was used in a district-level maternal and child health hospital in Beijing. In the quantitative arm, 40 women (intervention group, n=20; control group, n=20) were enrolled in a quasi-experimental comparison. Outcomes included knowledge-attitude-practice indicators, service satisfaction, and clinical birth outcomes. Given the limited sample size, a qualitative arm was conducted to complement statistical findings: semistructured interviews with 20 women (10 per group) were analyzed thematically. Quantitative and qualitative results were integrated during interpretation to provide a comprehensive evaluation.

RESULTS: Compared with the experiential class alone, the combined intervention was associated with higher knowledge scores (mean difference 1.6 points, 95% CI 0.8-2.4), stronger adherence to recommended health practices (composite adherence score difference 1.0, 95% CI 0.4-1.6), and higher overall service satisfaction (mean difference 0.6, 95% CI 0.2-1.0). Across multiple domains, a higher proportion of participants in the intervention group met dietary, exercise, and supplementation recommendations. Clinical outcome differences were exploratory, as the study was not powered for these end points. Qualitative analysis revealed 3 mechanisms, such as empowerment and self-efficacy, practice and persistence, and systemic/environmental support, through which the intervention influenced experiences and practices.

CONCLUSIONS: The experiential class plus online logging model is feasible and acceptable in a real-world antenatal setting. Although limited by a small sample size, findings suggest that the intervention improves maternal knowledge, health practices, and service experiences and may inform future adequately powered trials to evaluate pregnancy outcomes. Qualitative insights highlight mechanisms of health practice change and provide contextual depth, underscoring the value of mixed methods designs in maternal health research.

PMID:42013442 | DOI:10.2196/84705