Potential effects of Whatsapp on maternal health services uptake during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Ghana.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic period Health Care Practitioners (HCPs) were seen to facilitate healthcare delivery by using their mobile phones also known as "informal mHealth", especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). WhatsApp has become popular in recent years with over 380 million users. It has therefore been identified that the effective use of WhatsApp by HCP for health could positively impact it.

Attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health and rights and their associations with reproductive agency: a population-based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

We investigated the association between values and attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality, with reproductive agency in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Using 2020-21 World Values Survey (WVS) data (n = 3,096), we utilized the SRHR Support Index including five subindices to gauge SRHR attitudes, the WVS Equality Index for gender equality values, and the perceived level of freedom of choice and control over whether, when, and how many children to have as a proxy for reproductive agency. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyse how values and attitudes differed between respondents of high vs low reproductive agency using the median as cutoff, stratified by country and sex.

A new guide for basic psychological support for persons affected by neglected tropical diseases: A peer support tool suitable for persons with a diagnosis of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis.

Background: People with disabilities due to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF), often encounter situations of stigma and discrimination that significantly impact their mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing services are often not available at the peripheral level in NTD-endemic countries, and there is a need for such services. Basic psychological support for persons with NTDs (BPS-N) from peers is an important potential solution for addressing mental wellbeing problems.

Quorum quenching nanoparticles against wound pathogens - A scoping review.

Introduction: Quorum sensing (QS) enables bacteria to coordinate colony-wide activities, including those associated with infections. Quorum quenching (QQ) inhibits QS and is a promising method for controlling bacterial infections. Several In vitro experiments have been conducted to identify nanoparticles (NPs) as potential quorum quenching inhibitors.

Evaluation of antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory action of selenium nanoparticles mediated through aspalathus linearis - An in vitro study.

Introduction: Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have drawn a lot of interest among researchers because of their distinct impact on antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory tests, antibacterial activity, and in the treatment of various diseases. A. linearis has shown great findings in biomedical applications because of its physio-chemical compounds such as Aspalathin, orientin, and isoorientin.

In vitro biological evaluation of silver nanoparticles synthesized using zingiber officinale and ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation.

Introduction: The biomedical potential of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesized with Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation was investigated in this study. The study aims to reveal their applications in various biomedical fields. The study evaluates the antioxidant, thrombolytic, and antimicrobial potential of Zingiber officinale and Ocimum gratissimum herbal formulation-mediated Ag NPs.

Anti-diabetic and anti-microbial activity of aspalathus linearis and syzygium aromaticum formulation mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles.

Introduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) exhibit a wide range of biomedical applications majorly used as antiinflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-microbial activity and other biomedical applications because they show less toxicity and are very compatible. Zinc metal is an inorganic and essential element in the human body at the trace level. ZnO NPs are also GRAS substances (Generally Recognized As Safe).

Ocimum gratissimum mediated synthesis of AgNPs - An in vitro analysis of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

Introduction: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are effective against almost all kinds of pathogenic organisms. The green synthesis of AgNPs utilizing extracts from medicinal plants is being researched to examine the therapeutic advantages of AgNPs because the chemical production of AgNPs is more toxic. In this study, the stem extract of Ocimum Gratissimum (OG) also known as Karunthulasi or wild basil for green synthesis of AgNPs and evaluating their antiinflammatory and antimicrobial effects.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review of Advancements in Diagnostics, Treatment, and Operational Efficiency.

Background And Aims: Artificial Intelligence (AI) beginning to integrate in healthcare, is ushering in a transformative era, impacting diagnostics, altering personalized treatment, and significantly improving operational efficiency. The study aims to describe AI in healthcare, including important technologies like robotics, machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and natural language processing (NLP), and to investigate how these technologies are used in patient interaction, predictive analytics, and remote monitoring. The goal of this review is to present a thorough analysis of AI's effects on healthcare while providing stakeholders with a road map for navigating this changing environment.

Modulating cytokine microenvironment during T cell activation induces protective RSV-specific lung resident memory T cells in early life in mice.

Maternal immunisation against respiratory viruses provides protection in early life, but as antibodies wane, there can be a gap in coverage. This immunity gap might be filled by inducing pathogen-specific lung tissue-resident T cells (TRM). However, the neonatal mouse lung has a different inflammatory environment to the adult lung which affects T cell recruitment.

Deep learning and genome-wide association meta-analyses of bone marrow adiposity in the UK Biobank.

Bone marrow adipose tissue is a distinct adipose subtype comprising more than 10% of fat mass in healthy humans. However, the functions and pathophysiological correlates of this tissue are unclear, and its genetic determinants remain unknown. Here, we use deep learning to measure bone marrow adiposity in the femoral head, total hip, femoral diaphysis, and spine from MRI scans of approximately 47,000 UK Biobank participants, including over 41,000 white and over 6300 non-white participants.

Genome-wide characterization of 54 urinary metabolites reveals molecular impact of kidney function.

Dissecting the genetic mechanisms underlying urinary metabolite concentrations can provide molecular insights into kidney function and open possibilities for causal assessment of urinary metabolites with risk factors and disease outcomes. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics provides a high-throughput means for urinary metabolite profiling, as widely applied for blood biomarker studies. Here we report a genome-wide association study meta-analysed for 3 European cohorts comprising 8,011 individuals, covering both people with type 1 diabetes and general population settings.

How have Ontario Public Health units engaged with faith-based organizations to build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among ethno-racial communities.

In Ontario, collaborations between Public Health Units (PHUs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) and other community organizations were implemented to deliver interventions aimed at building trust in vaccines among ethnoracial communities. This research sought to explore the processes of PHU engagement with FBOs, and challenges encountered. A qualitative research study based on in-depth interviews was conducted with 18 of the 34 Ontario PHUs who expressed an interest.

Attractive targeted sugar baits for malaria control in western Kenya (ATSB-Kenya): enrolment characteristics of cohort children and households.

Background: In western Kenya, a cluster-randomized trial is assessing the impact of attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) on malaria in children enrolled in three consecutive cohorts. Here, characteristics of children and households at enrolment, and factors associated with baseline malaria prevalence are described.

Methods: Children aged 1 to < 15 years were randomly selected by cluster (n = 70) from a census database.

Peony-shaped zinc oxide nanoflower synthesized via hydrothermal route exhibits promising anticancer and anti-amyloid activity.

Background: Cancer is the deadliest disease, and neurological disorders are also marked as slow progressive diseases, ultimately leading to death. Stopping two mouths with one morsel was the strategy that we used in this study.

Methods: We have synthesized peony-shaped zinc oxide nanoflowers (ZnO-NFs) and characterized them using various photophysical tools like UV-vis spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), FTIR, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and utilized these nanoflowers to monitor their anticancer and anti-amyloid activity.

Chronic kidney disease and aging: dissecting the p53/p21 pathway as a therapeutic target.

Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) are a group of multi-factorial disorders that markedly impair kidney functions with progressive renal deterioration. Aging contributes to age-specific phenotypes in kidneys, which undergo several structural and functional alterations, such as a decline in regenerative capacity and increased fibrosis, inflammation, and tubular atrophy, all predisposing them to disease and increasing their susceptibility to injury while impeding their recovery. A central feature of these age-related processes is the activation of the p53/p21 pathway signaling.

Baicalein, a natural flavonoid in gastrointestinal cancers treatment: recent trends and future perspectives.

Gastrointestinal cancer is a malignant condition of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) which affect multi-organs of digestive system, such as esophagus, stomach, biliary system, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Gastrointestinal cancer is a 5th most common malignant cancer and 4th major cause in cancer-related mortality rate. Various significant facilities are available that have reduced the radio-resistance, chemo-resistance, and their adverse side effects.

Machine Learning Driven by Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Classification of Alzheimer Disease Progression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: To diagnose Alzheimer disease (AD), individuals are classified according to the severity of their cognitive impairment. There are currently no specific causes or conditions for this disease.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess AD prevalence across different stages using machine learning (ML) approaches comprehensively.

Natural serine proteases and their applications in combating amyloid formation.

Background And Purpose: Amyloidosis is a group of diseases including diabetes type II and neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, prion disease, etc., where a common trait is observed; accumulation of misfolded protein at different parts of the body, especially the brain which manifests the typical symptoms like dementia, movement disorders, etc. These misfolded proteins, named amyloids, are protease resistant and thus it becomes difficult to manage these diseases in vivo.

Biodegradation of Organophosphorus Insecticides by Bacillus Species Isolated From Soil.

This study investigates the biodegradation of methyl parathion, an organophosphate pesticide used in paddy fields. Microbial degradation transforms toxic pesticides into less harmful compounds, influenced by the microbial community in the soil. To isolate different microbial colonies, soil samples from an organophosphorus-treated groundnut field were plated on nutrient agar and MSM with 1% glucose and 0.

Effect of a spatial repellent on malaria incidence in an area of western Kenya characterised by high malaria transmission, insecticide resistance, and universal coverage of insecticide treated nets (part of the AEGIS Consortium): a cluster-randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Spatial repellent products are used for prevention of insect bites, and a body of evidence exists on spatial repellent entomological efficacy. A new option for vector control, spatial repellent products are designed to release active ingredient into the air for disruption of human-vector contact thereby reducing human exposure to mosquito-borne pathogens. Clinical trials have shown spatial repellent epidemiological efficacy against Aedes-borne viruses but inconclusive outcomes against malaria.

Exosome-mediated delivery of CRISPR-Cas9: A revolutionary approach to cancer gene editing.

Several molecular strategies based on targeted gene delivery systems have been developed in recent years; however, the CRISPR-Cas9 technology introduced a new era of targeted gene editing, precisely modifying oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and other regulatory genes involved in carcinogenesis. However, efficiently and safely delivering CRISPR-Cas9 to cancer cells across the cell membrane and the nucleus is still challenging. Using viral vectors and nanoparticles presents issues of immunogenicity, off-target effects, and low targeting affinity.

An expert consensus statement on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies.

Biomarkers of ageing serve as important outcome measures in longevity-promoting interventions. However, there is limited consensus on which specific biomarkers are most appropriate for human intervention studies. This work aimed to address this need by establishing an expert consensus on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies via the Delphi method.