Radon (Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that poses a significant lung cancer risk. Subsurface fault zones can act as pathways for fluid and gas migration, potentially amplifying Rn accumulation. This study investigates the impact of fault zones on Rn concentrations within a 25 km area in the Northern Upper Rhine Graben, Germany - a region with available detailed geophysical exploration data and active neotectonic faulting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Aging is the strongest risk factor for most chronic diseases. The rising burden of an aging population and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), contributes to escalating costs for society. Several non-pharmaceutical interventions can lower the risk of NCDs, including common mental disorders (CMDs), and may slow down biological aging, as evidenced by outcome markers such as epigenetic clocks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are 12-fold more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (T2D) 4-6 years after delivery than women without GDM. Similarly, GDM is associated with the development of common mental disorders (CMDs) (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a challenge in clinical medicine and drug development. Highly sensitive novel biomarkers have been identified for detecting DILI following a paracetamol overdose. The study objective was to evaluate biomarker performance in a 14-day trial of therapeutic dose paracetamol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: With the rise of smartphone ownership and increasing evidence to support the suitability of smartphone usage in healthcare, the light source and smartphone camera could be utilized to perform photoplethysmography (PPG) for the assessment of vital signs, such as heart rate (HR). However, until rigorous validity assessment has been conducted, PPG will have limited use in clinical settings.
Objective: We aimed to conduct a scoping review assessing the validity of resting heart rate (RHR) acquisition from PPG utilizing contact-based smartphone devices.
Background: Controversy over treatment for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a barrier to appropriate treatment. Energy management or pacing is a prominent coping strategy for people with ME/CFS. Whilst a definitive definition of pacing is not unanimous within the literature or healthcare providers, it typically comprises regulating activity to avoid post exertional malaise (PEM), the worsening of symptoms after an activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The current paper details findings from Elena+: Care for COVID-19, an app developed to tackle the collateral damage of lockdowns and social distancing, by offering pandemic lifestyle coaching across seven health areas: anxiety, loneliness, mental resources, sleep, diet and nutrition, physical activity, and COVID-19 information.
Methods: The Elena+ app functions as a single-arm interventional study, with participants recruited predominantly via social media. We used paired samples -tests and within subjects ANOVA to examine changes in health outcome assessments and user experience evaluations over time.
Background: Despite an abundance of digital health interventions (DHIs) targeting the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), it is unclear what specific components make a DHI effective.
Purpose: This narrative umbrella review aimed to identify the most effective behavior change techniques (BCTs) in DHIs that address the prevention or management of NCDs.
Methods: Five electronic databases were searched for articles published in English between January 2007 and December 2022.
Aims: This study offers an empirical exploration of self-assessed digital competencies of students, most of whom studied in nursing courses, using a discipline-based self-assessment survey tool. A range of digital competencies were explored: information and communication technology proficiency and productivity, information literacy, digital creation, digital research, digital communication, digital learning and development, digital innovation, digital identity management and digital well-being.
Design: A cross-sectional empirical study.
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and common mental disorders (CMDs) are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Lifestyle interventions mobile apps and conversational agents present themselves as low-cost, scalable solutions to prevent these conditions. This paper describes the rationale for, and development of, "LvL UP 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Maintaining physical and mental health is essential for healthy ageing. It can be supported by modifying lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet. Poor mental health, in turn, contributes to the opposing effect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Public Health
April 2023
Background: Changing lifestyle patterns over the last decades have seen growing numbers of people in Asia affected by non-communicable diseases and common mental health disorders, including diabetes, cancer, and/or depression. Interventions targeting healthy lifestyle behaviours through mobile technologies, including new approaches such as chatbots, may be an effective, low-cost approach to prevent these conditions. To ensure uptake and engagement with mobile health interventions, however, it is essential to understand the end-users' perspectives on using such interventions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAround 5.5-6.5 months of age, infants first attend to object size and perceive its mass cues in simple collision events.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiodiversity loss and degradation of natural habitats is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Of all marine habitats, biogenic reefs created by once-widespread shellfish, are now one of the most imperilled, and globally scarce. Conservation managers seek to protect and restore these habitats, but suitable baselines and indicators are required, and detailed scientific accounts are rare and inconsistent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is limited understanding of the challenges experienced and supports required to aid effective advocacy of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA). The purpose of this study was to assess the challenges experienced and supports needed to advocate for the GAPPA across countries of different income levels.
Methods: Stakeholders working in an area related to the promotion of physical activity were invited to complete an online survey.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
November 2022
The present study aimed to determine the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) in hypoxia on maximal oxygen uptake (VO) compared with HIIT in normoxia with a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA)-accordant meta-analysis and meta-regression. Studies which measured VO following a minimum of 2 weeks intervention featuring HIIT in hypoxia versus HIIT in normoxia were included. From 119 originally identified titles, nine studies were included ( = 194 participants).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 22-year-old woman with complete Fontan palliation for tricuspid valve hypoplasia and chronic anemia presented to a local hospital for swelling of her left arm. Initially, the patient was hemodynamically stable without dyspnea or chest pain. Admission hemoglobin was 53 g/L and D-dimer 0.
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