Magnitude and determinants of intimate partner violence against women in Somalia: evidence from the SDHS survey 2020 dataset.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue across Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries, including Somalia. Understanding the prevalence and drivers of IPV against women is crucial for effective prevention and intervention efforts. However, limited research has focused on identifying these determinants specifically in the Somali context.

Prevalence and factors associated with female genital mutilation among daughters using Somalia Demographic Health Survey Data, SDHS 2020.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of female genital mutilation (FGM) among daughters of women aged 15-49 in Somalia using data from the 2020 Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey (SDHS).

Design: A cross-sectional study utilizing data from the 2020 SDHS.

Setting: Data was collected across Somalia, including urban, rural, and nomadic areas.

Prevalence and determinants of heart disease in Somaliland: An analysis of the 2020 Somaliland demographic and health survey (SLDHS).

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While data on heart disease prevalence in Somaliland is limited, the 2020 Somaliland Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS) provides a valuable opportunity to assess this critical public health issue.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2020 SLDHS, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

Prevalance and determinants of hypertension among adults in Somalia using Somalia demographic health survey data, SDHS 2020.

Background: Hypertension, a major global health concern, continues to affect millions of adults worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The burden of hypertension is particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, where limited healthcare resources and infrastructure pose unique challenges for effective prevention and management. Despite the pressing need for accurate data on hypertension prevalence and determinants, there is a dearth of research focusing on the Somali population.

The effect of the mechanodynamic lung environment on fibroblast phenotype via the Flexcell.

The lung is a highly mechanical organ as it is exposed to approximately 10 strain cycles, (where strain is the length change of tissue structure per unit initial length), with an approximately 4% amplitude change during quiet tidal breathing or 10 strain cycles at a 25% amplitude during heavy exercises, sighs, and deep inspirations. These mechanical indices have been reported to become aberrant in lung diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and asthma. Through recent innovations, various in vitro systems/bioreactors used to mimic the lung's mechanical strain have been developed.

Enterohepatic Shunt-Driven Cholemia Predisposes to Liver Cancer.

Background & Aims: Pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which kills millions annually, is poorly understood. Identification of risk factors and modifiable determinants and mechanistic understanding of how they impact HCC are urgently needed.

Methods: We sought early prognostic indicators of HCC in C57BL/6 mice, which we found were prone to developing this disease when fed a fermentable fiber-enriched diet.

Selective IgA Deficiency in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats With Gut Dysbiosis.

Background: The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is extensively used to study hypertension. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is a notable feature in SHR for reasons unknown. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is a major host factor required for gut microbiota homeostasis.

Immunoglobulin A, an Active Liaison for Host-Microbiota Homeostasis.

Mucosal surfaces in the gastrointestinal tract are continually exposed to native, commensal antigens and susceptible to foreign, infectious antigens. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) provides dual humoral responses that create a symbiotic environment for the resident gut microbiota and prevent the invasion of enteric pathogens. This review features recent immunological and microbial studies that elucidate the underlying IgA and microbiota-dependent mechanisms for mutualism at physiological conditions.

IL-10 Receptor Neutralization-Induced Colitis in Mice: A Comprehensive Guide.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and its receptor (IL-10R) have been foremost targets to understand inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. For the past several decades, IL-10-deficient (Il10 ) mice were considered one of the best models to study immune-mediated colitis. Several physiologic limitations with this model, e.

SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 expression, and systemic organ invasion.

A novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has created a global pandemic in 2020, posing an enormous challenge to healthcare systems and affected communities. COVID-19 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus-2 (CoV-2) that manifests as bronchitis, pneumonia, or a severe respiratory illness. SARS-CoV-2 infects human cells via binding a "spike" protein on its surface to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) within the host.

Enterobactin induces the chemokine, interleukin-8, from intestinal epithelia by chelating intracellular iron.

Iron is an indispensable nutrient for both mammals and microbes. Bacteria synthesize siderophores to sequester host iron, whereas lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is the host defense protein that prevent this iron thievery. Enterobactin (Ent) is a catecholate-type siderophore that has one of the strongest known affinities for iron.

Distinct iron homeostasis in C57BL/6 and Balb/c mouse strains.

C57BL/6 (BL6) and Balb/c mice exhibit prototypical Th1- and Th2-dominant immune predispositions, respectively. Iron is a proinflammatory metal ion; however, limited information is documented on the differences in iron homeostasis between BL6 and Balb/c strains. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which strain-level differences in these mice dictates the regulation of iron homeostasis during physiologic and inflammatory conditions.

Vancomycin prevents fermentable fiber-induced liver cancer in mice with dysbiotic gut microbiota.

Owing to their health benefits, dietary fermentable fibers, such as refined inulin, are increasingly fortified in processed foods to enhance their nutritional value. However, we previously demonstrated that when inulin was fed to Toll-like receptor 5 deficient (T5KO) mice susceptible to dysbiosis, a subset of them developed cholestasis and subsequently liver cancer in a gut microbiota-dependent manner. Therefore, we hypothesized that clearance of bacterial taxa, and thereby gut metabolites, involved in the onset and progression to liver cancer could abate the disease in these mice.

Fermentable fibers induce rapid macro- and micronutrient depletion in Toll-like receptor 5-deficient mice.

Functional fermentable fibers are considered essential for a healthy diet. Recently, we demonstrated that gut microbiota dysbiotic mice fed an inulin-containing diet (ICD) developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within 6 mo. In particular, a subset of Toll-like receptor 5-deficient (T5KO) mice prone to HCC exhibited rapid onset of hyperbilirubinemia (HB) and cholemia; these symptoms provide rationale that ICD induces cholestasis.

Altered nutrient status reprograms host inflammation and metabolic health via gut microbiota.

The metabolism of macro- and micronutrients is a complex and highly regulated biological process. An imbalance in the metabolites and their signaling networks can lead to nonresolving inflammation and consequently to the development of chronic inflammatory-associated diseases. Therefore, identifying the accumulated metabolites and altered pathways during inflammatory disorders would not only serve as "real-time" markers but also help in the development of nutritional therapeutics.