Developing the aquaticity level in healthy adolescents. A randomized control study.

Unlabelled: Aquaticity is an important parameter of human aquatic performance and behavior and can be objectively assessed by the aquaticity assessment test. Low aquaticity score can unveil a person's high risk in the water while it could dictate the specific characteristics that need to be addressed or developed for improving water competence.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to assess whether human aquaticity can be developed by systematic exercise and which type of training is more effective in improving aquaticity score.

Beyond balance: the impact of adult sex ratios on reproduction and longevity in Zophobas morio rearing.

Over the years, the study of adult sex ratio is a topic that has gained attention for its impact on reproductive outcomes and aging across various insect species. However, there is still limited research focused on insects reared for food and feed production. To address this gap, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of different adult sex ratios on the reproductive dynamics and longevity of the superworm, Zophobas morio (F.

Assessing the Impact of Irrigation and Biostimulants on the Yield and Quality Characteristics of Two Different St. John's Wort Cultivars in Their Second Growing Season.

The perennial species , commonly known as St. John's Wort, is well regarded for its medicinal attributes, particularly its strong anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects. L.

Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants' Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis.

A critical meta-analysis of the past decade's investigations was carried out with the aim of assessing the use of plant-based techniques for soil remediation. Potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminated soils were selected since these contaminants are considered hazardous and have long-term effects. Furthermore, energy, aromatic, and medicinal plants were studied as their high-value products seem to be affected by PTEs' existence.

Invasion History and Dispersion Dynamics of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly in the Balkan Peninsula.

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), (Wiedemann 1824; Diptera, Tephritidae), is considered one of the most important pests, infesting more than 300 species of fresh fruit and vegetables worldwide. The medfly is an important invasive species, which has spread from the eastern part of sub-Saharan Africa to all of the world's continents in recent centuries. Currently, the medfly is expanding its geographical range to cooler, temperate areas of the world, including northern areas of Mediterranean countries and continental areas of Central Europe.

Postprandial Glucose Response in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients and Possible Antioxidant Properties of a Plant-Based Snack Bar.

Daily, more and more people consume snack bars that may have an impact on blood glucose levels. The aim of the present study was to compare the acute effects of a common snack and a plant-based snack bar (PB) that was developed at the University of Thessaly as a functional diabetic snack on blood glucose and insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Adults with T2DM ( = 10) treated with oral medications were studied in a randomized, crossover clinical trial.

Burdens of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease attributable to sugar-sweetened beverages in 184 countries.

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, an updated and comprehensive assessment of the global burden attributable to SSBs remains scarce. Here we estimated SSB-attributable T2D and CVD burdens across 184 countries in 1990 and 2020 globally, regionally and nationally, incorporating data from the Global Dietary Database, jointly stratified by age, sex, educational attainment and urbanicity.

Addressing the emerging threat of Oropouche virus: implications and public health responses for healthcare systems.

Oropouche fever is an increasingly significant health concern in tropical and subtropical areas of South and Central America, and is primarily spread by midge vectors. The Oropouche virus (OROV) was first identified in 1955 and has been responsible for numerous outbreaks, particularly in urban environments. Despite its prevalence, the disease is often under-reported, making it difficult to fully understand its impact.

Gaming Platforms for People with ASD.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a significant impact on a person's social, emotional, and communication functioning. According to research, individualized instruction can significantly improve these deficits. One of the most successful methods of achieving this outcome is by gaming platforms that provide serious games (SGs).

Achieving malaria-free: Egypt's journey to WHO certification and global implications for disease control.

Egypt's recent malaria-free certification by the World Health Organization (WHO) marks a significant achievement in public health, underscoring the effectiveness of sustained national efforts in disease eradication. This milestone, achieved after nearly a century of strategic intervention, highlights the importance of integrated public health programmes and cross-sector collaboration. Egypt's journey involved early initiatives to reduce human-mosquito contact, the establishment of malaria control stations, and comprehensive outbreak management strategies.

Enhancing the European power system resilience with a recommendation system for voluntary demand response.

Climate change, geopolitical tensions, and decarbonization targets are bringing the resilience of the European electric power system to the forefront of discussion. Among various regulatory and technological solutions, voluntary demand response can help balance generation and demand during periods of energy scarcity or renewable energy generation surplus. This work presents an open data service called Interoperable Recommender that leverages publicly accessible data to calculate a country-specific operational balancing risk, providing actionable recommendations to empower citizens toward adaptive energy consumption, considering interconnections and local grid constraints.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of childhood tuberculosis in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a leading cause of infection-related deaths worldwide. Children with underdeveloped immune systems are particularly vulnerable, experiencing symptoms akin to common childhood illnesses. Early diagnosis and treatment typically yield positive outcomes.

Renal survival and treatment of adult patients with Primary Focal Segmental glomerulosclerosis: A historical cohort study of the National Greek Registry.

Background/objective: Primary Focal and Segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the most common causes of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Our aim was to describe a large cohort of patients with primary FSGS, identify risk factors associated with worse renal survival and assess the impact of different immunosuppressive regiments on renal survival.

Methods: This was a historical cohort study of adults who were diagnosed with primary FSGS from March 26, 1982, to September 16, 2020.

Gender-stereotypical attribution of fear and fearlessness in preschool children.

Fear and fearlessness are two distinct emotional responses that can occur when a person faces a potentially dangerous situation. These responses seem to be linked to gender stereotypes (fearful female and fearless male). This study examines whether preschool children attribute fear and fearlessness stereotypically in relation to gender and whether their attributions vary as a function of age and gender.

Uptake and Acceptability of HIV Self-Testing Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Male Partners in Sub-Saharan Africa: Benefits, Challenges, and Delivery Strategies.

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) offers a novel solution for increasing HIV testing among pregnant and postpartum women and their male partners, especially in low-resource settings. These groups often face barriers such as stigma, fear, and limited access to traditional HIV-testing services.

Methods: We reviewed qualitative and quantitative studies focusing on HIVST implementation in both public and private healthcare settings among pregnant and postpartum women and male partners in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), analyzed uptake, male involvement, and barriers.

The Reliability and Validity of the Greek Version of the Child Abuse Report Intention Scale (CARIS) Questionnaire for Midwives, Along With Factors Associated With Their Intention to Report Child Abuse and Neglect.

Objective:  Child maltreatment is a serious public health issue with unquestionable short- and long-term consequences. The midwives' role in the prevention, identification, and reporting of child abuse and neglect (CAN) is crucial for children's well-being. The Child Abuse Report Intention Scale (CARIS) questionnaire was designed to measure factors influencing Taiwanese nurses to report child abuse and has been used in many studies worldwide.

Characterization of a carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate of a patient in an intensive care unit in Greece: A study of resistome, virulome, and mobilome.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major pathogen associated with hospital-acquired infections, particularly those involving multidrug-resistant strains. Carbapenem resistance, often driven by carbapenemases such as KPC, VIM, OXA-48, and NDM, poses a significant challenge in clinical settings. This study reports on K.

Updated WHO list of emerging pathogens for a potential future pandemic: Implications for public health and global preparedness.

Historically, pandemics constitute a major nuisance to public health. They have a debilitating impact on global health with previous occurrences causing major mortalities worldwide. The adverse outcomes are not limited to health outcomes but ravage the social, economic, and political landscapes.

DE-PASS Best Evidence Statement (BESt): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Effectiveness of Trials on Device-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour and Their Determinants in Children Aged 5-12 Years.

Background: To combat the high prevalence of physical inactivity among children, there is an urgent need to develop and implement real-world interventions and policies that promote physical activity (PA) and reduce sedentary behaviour (SB). To inform policy makers, the current body of evidence for children's PA/SB interventions needs to be translated.

Objectives: The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify modifiable determinants of device-measured PA and SB targeted in available intervention studies with randomized controlled trial (RCT) and controlled trial (CT) designs in children and early adolescents (5-12 years) and to quantify the effects of the interventions within their respective settings on the determinants of PA/SB and the outcomes PA and SB.

Cough in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE) belongs to the spectrum of chronic suppurative lung diseases and is characterised by persistent wet/sputum-productive cough and airway dilatation. Morphological and structural changes in the airways lead to changes in airflow, impair breathing-induced mucus transport and sliding, and reduce the shear forces of cough. Moreover, mucus hyperviscosity contributes to compromised ciliary activity and the pathogenesis of the disease.

Combining Tenebrio molitor frass with inorganic nitrogen fertilizer to improve soil properties, growth parameters, and nutrient content of Sonchus oleraceus crop.

This study evaluates the impact of yellow mealworm frass in combination with an inorganic nitrogen fertilizer on growth, yield, and nutrient concentration in annual sowthistle plants. It was found that the combined application of yellow mealworm frass (YM-frass) as basal fertilizer and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer (INF) as top dressing increased the shoot biomass of annual sowthistle up to 67.2 % compared to the INF treatment (100 kg N/ha).

CRISPR-Cas Systems in the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status, Potentials, and Future Directions.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health concern that threatens the efficacy of existing antibiotics and poses significant challenges to public health and the economy worldwide. This review explores the potential of CRISPR-Cas systems as a novel approach to combating AMR and examines current applications, limitations, and prospects.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering publications published from 2014 to August 2024.

Valsalva Maneuver during Computed Tomography for the Diagnosis of Tracheal Diverticulum: A Case Report.

Tracheal diverticula constitute a subtype of paratracheal air cysts that are characterized by a connection with the trachea through a thin neck. Patients with tracheal diverticulum rarely develop symptoms and are usually diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) performed for an unrelated indication. However, identifying the communication with the trachea on imaging may be challenging.