Conectar
by Natsuhiro Takahashi, Akihiko Fujita, Yuki Azetsu, Akiko Karakawa, Mie Myers, Masamichi Takami, Masahiro Chatani
Bone loss occurs in astronauts during prolonged spaceflight, thus indicating the sensitivity of skeletal homeostasis to altered gravitational environments. Previous studies have shown that microgravity affects osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, which suggests that osteoclasts possess mechanisms to sense and respond to gravity-generated mechanical forces. For testing of the related mechanisms, hypergravity can be experimentally reproduced with use of a centrifuge. In the present study, osteoclasts derived from mouse bone marrow were subjected to hypergravity under three conditions: 30G exposure using a non-CO2 centrifuge system, and short- or long-term exposure to 3G or 5G using an incubator-compatible centrifuge system. Cytoskeletal organization and resorptive function were assessed using TRAP (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) staining, F-actin visualization, and dentin pit assays. In addition, phosphoproteomic analysis was performed after short-term exposure to 5G hypergravity. Hypergravity exposure for as brief as 30 minutes compromised F-actin ring integrity, reduced fluorescence intensity, and promoted nuclear repositioning toward actin rings, whereas tubulin and vinculin localization remained unchanged, and the structural alterations corresponded to attenuated resorption pit formation. Quantitative phosphoproteomic profiling revealed coordinated hypergravity-dependent changes in phosphorylation across multiple cellular modules, including cytoskeletal organization, membrane trafficking, intracellular signaling, and nuclear regulatory pathways. Together, these results indicate that osteoclasts are sensitive to gravity-generated mechanical loading, with hypergravity rapidly modifying F-actin-associated cytoskeleton properties and reprogramming phosphorylation-dependent signaling networks, ultimately attenuating bone-resorptive activity. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how osteoclasts respond to altered gravitational loading conditions and have implications for skeletal adaptation during spaceflight and under altered mechanical loading conditions on Earth.To examine whether the use of a venous access-site closure device is associated with the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation under propofol sedation.
Observational study.
A single-centre retrospective observational study in Okayama, Japan.
We retrospectively analysed consecutive patients who underwent AF ablation under deep propofol sedation with adaptive servo-ventilation. A total of 686 patients were included. Patients were managed using a standardised sedation protocol with or without low-dose pentazocine. Patients treated with conventional manual compression for haemostasis (n=383) were compared with those treated using a venous access-site closure device (n=303).
Postprocedural bed rest duration and the incidence and timing of PONV were compared between groups. Associations between closure device use and PONV were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.
The primary outcome was the occurrence of PONV following AF ablation.
All procedures were completed under propofol sedation without conversion to general anaesthesia. The duration of postprocedural bed rest was shorter in the device group than in the conventional-compression group (mean difference –14.7 hours, 95% CI –15.2 to –14.0).
PONV occurred in 6/303 patients (2.0%) in the device group and 20/383 patients (5.2%) in the conventional-compression group, corresponding to a relative risk of 0.38 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.93), an OR 0.25 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.62) and a risk difference of –3.2% (95% CI –6.0% to –0.5%).
In multivariable analysis, use of a venous closure device was associated with a lower likelihood of PONV.
In this single-centre observational study, use of a venous access-site closure device was associated with a lower occurrence of PONV after AF ablation under propofol sedation. These findings suggest that postprocedural management strategies enabling earlier mobilisation may be associated with improved patient comfort; however, causal inference is limited by the observational design.
Hospital-at-home (HaH) is becoming more widely available to children with cancer, providing care in a familiar environment while upholding medical safety and quality. Little is known, however, about how these children experience their parents' caregiving in the context of HaH, how they perceive and interpret parental roles, what they require in daily care, and how they communicate these needs.
Seven children aged 7 to 12 years undergoing home-based cancer treatment were interviewed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). These interviews, conducted via telephone, were open-ended and exploratory, allowing the children to express their experiences freely.
One major theme—‘the child's voice’—emerged, encompassing two interrelated sub-themes: (1) parental presence as a condition of care; and (2) the strategies children use to express their voice. Parental presence was described as essential for emotional security, predictability and meaning, serving as both a psychological anchor and a temporal organiser in the child's daily life. The children expressed their voice through multiple forms—verbal, gestural, symptom-focused or silent—revealing their active participation in care and their capacity to preserve relational and emotional continuity within the family setting.
Children with cancer perceive HaH as more than a transfer of hospital treatment; they experience it as a shared relational experience built on parental presence and mutual understanding. Recognising and supporting the child's voice in its various forms is vital for ensuring that HaH becomes not only a site for medical care but also a meaningful space for living.
Our findings highlight the need for healthcare teams to take into account the variety of children's voices and grant them a real place in HaH. They are not simply recipients of care, but also active participants in the care relationship, capable of expressing their needs, emotions, and expectations in their own way.
No patient or public contribution.
To explore the influence of oral health-related knowledge, attitudes and practices on oral health risk-related behaviours of people in custodial settings.
Integrative review.
Scopus, ProQuest Central, Web of Science, Medline, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO and Education Research Complete were searched in March 2024 and December 2025.
Studies reporting on any individuals in custodial settings, at least one oral health-related knowledge, attitude or practice and at least one oral health risk-related behaviour (either smoking, alcohol, illicit substances or sugar consumption). Data related to custodial population's oral health knowledge, attitudes, or practices and oral health risk-related behaviour were extracted, synthesised narratively and reported thematically.
Findings from the 26 studies reveal that people in custodial settings had a general lack of oral health knowledge, and oral health risk-related behaviours were prevalent. The most common risk-related behaviours reported were tobacco use and free sugar consumption. Oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of this population were influenced by custodial healthcare systems and attitudes of dental professionals.
This review highlights the influence custodial healthcare and dental professionals have on the knowledge, attitudes, practices and risk-related behaviours of people in custodial settings. Oral health targeted interventions and strategies are required to improve oral health-related knowledge and attitudes thereby encouraging oral health practices among people in custodial settings.
This review will inform targeted oral health promotion programs that can improve oral health outcomes and experiences of this population.
People in custodial settings experience a disproportionate burden of oral diseases. This review underscores the need for proactive interventions and systemic reform to improve correctional healthcare experiences globally.
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) 2018.
No patient or public contribution.
Synthesises evidence on influencing factors contributing to poor oral health among people in custodial settings. Highlights impact of healthcare staff and custodial healthcare systems on population health. Highlights the necessity of oral health promotion programs to improve oral health knowledge and to promote oral health protective behaviours.
Tanzania carries a dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases while remaining vulnerable to emerging pandemics of public health concern. Since its independence in 1961, Tanzania has implemented successive health reforms aimed at expanding access and moving towards universal health coverage (UHC). Despite notable progress, inequities in access, quality and financial protection persist. This review examined how policy evolution (1961–2025) addressed or reinforced inequities and the lessons for building resilience and equity in UHC.
We conducted a scoping review of national health policies, strategies, legislation and the related literature (1961–2025), following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Eligible sources included government reports, strategic plans, evaluation reports and peer-reviewed or grey literature. Data were analysed using the Walt and Gilson Policy Triangle and mapped against the WHO Health Systems Building Blocks.
Out of 10 435 records identified, 60 documents met the inclusion criteria. Policy evolution reflected five broad reform episodes, ranging from postindependence centralisation to primary healthcare, structural adjustment and cost-sharing, sector-wide reforms and recent UHC-focused financing strategies. Reforms shifted from politically driven, top-down policies to participatory and evidence-informed approaches. Mapping showed progressive but uneven gains across service delivery, workforce, financing, governance, medicines and information systems. Six thematic shifts towards UHC were identified: fragmented to pooled financing, routine delivery to resilient systems, paper to digital systems, workforce numbers to distribution and skills-mix, state-only to mixed providers and expansion to effective coverage.
Tanzania’s reform trajectory illustrates adaptive progress, but persistent inequities in financing, workforce distribution and service access remain. Achieving equitable and resilient UHC will require stronger domestic financing, governance and primary care, with transferable lessons for other low- and middle-income countries.
This study aimed to (1) examine if activity fluctuations over 1 week differ between two groups: individuals who have received fatigue management advice versus those who have not, (2) examine the associations between activity fluctuations and fatigue, engagement in pacing, perceived risk of overactivity, quality of life, self-regulation and physical activity (PA) and if they differ for the two groups and (3) explore whether there are distinct pacing patterns across the week in adults with chronic conditions.
Exploratory cross-sectional observational study.
Participants were recruited from a fatigue management clinic in the UK and through university networks.
29 adults with chronic conditions who experience fatigue (18 received fatigue management advice; 11 did not).
The primary outcome was activity fluctuations (SD of accelerometer-derived vector magnitude counts per minute), measured using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT over 7 consecutive days. Secondary outcomes included fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), engagement in activity pacing, perceived risk of overactivity, quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Instrument), self-regulation of PA (Physical Activity Self-Regulation scale) and self-reported PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form).
No difference in activity fluctuations during the day was found between groups. Associations between self-regulation of PA and device-based PA with activity fluctuations significantly differed between groups (respectively, standardised regression (β)=1686.14; p=0.006 and β=288.83; p=0.042). Five distinct activity pacing patterns were identified through visual inspection of individual activity profiles: (1) high fluctuations in the morning, (2) high fluctuations in the afternoon, (3) high fluctuations at two time points, (4) consistent pacing pattern and (5) varied pacing patterns.
Individuals who received fatigue management advice demonstrated significant associations between activity fluctuations and self-regulation, suggesting a goal-directed approach, which could indicate that tailored support and goal setting could help in balancing rest and activity. This study also identified five distinct activity pacing patterns in individuals with chronic conditions, emphasising the need for tailored fatigue management instead of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.
Doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) has emerged as an efficacious strategy to reduce Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) and syphilis (sexually transmitted infections (STIs)) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBM). There is a need to identify prescribing criteria that maximise the number of STIs averted while minimising excessive use.
In this prospective longitudinal cohort study with repeated measures and biobehavioural data collection, participants completed a questionnaire and tested for STIs at each visit.
Community-based, population-level study conducted in three large Canadian cities between February 2017 and July 2023.
2449 GBM were recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS); 1998 had ≥1 follow-up visit, contributing 7551 person-years of observation. Eligible participants were aged ≥16 years, cis- or transgender men, reported sex with another man in the past 6 months and resided in Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver.
Adjusted rate ratios (aRR) of STIs, accounting for RDS recruitment, loss to follow-up and confounding were estimated using generalised estimating equations (GEE) Poisson regression. For identified STI risk factors, the proportions of STIs averted through doxy-PEP prescription (based on the efficacy of doxy-PEP for each bacterial STI) and the number needed to treat (NNT) for 1 year to avert one STI, assuming 100% adherence, were calculated.
Among 1998 participants, the combined incidence rate of any C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae and syphilis infection was 29.5 (95%CI 27.3 to 31.9) per 100 person-years. STI risk factors that had the most impact as doxy-PEP criteria were history of any of the three STIs in the past 12 months (P12M) (aRR=2.0, 95% CI 1.8 to 2.2, 36% STI averted, NNT=2.1); ≥10 male sexual partners in the past 6 months (P6M) (aRR=3.8, 95% CI 3.0 to 4.9, 41% STI averted, NNT=2.4); HIV-pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use P6M (aRR=1.7, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.0, 29% STI averted, NNT=2.5); use of any chemsex-related substance P6M (aRR=1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4, 28% STI averted, NNT=2.6); and group sex event attendance P6M (aRR=1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.3, 27% STI averted, NNT=2.3). Reporting≥10 male sex partners P6M represented the most useful criterion for syphilis prevention (52% syphilis infections averted, NNT=20). Prescribing doxy-PEP to GBM having any of the following STI risk factors, namely, ≥1 bacterial STI P12M, ≥10 male sex partners P6M, or HIV-PrEP use P6M, would substantially increase the proportion of all STI diagnoses potentially averted (60%) with minimal increase of the NNT (2.7).
This work informs on the impact of various doxy-PEP clinical prescribing criteria and demonstrates the benefit of focusing on any of the following three criteria: ≥1 bacterial STI P12M, ≥10 male sex partners P6M or HIV-PrEP use P6M.
Public health students face academic and training pressures as well as challenges arising from patient and community expectations, which may adversely affect their quality of life (QoL) and contribute to burnout and student dropout. This study aimed to examine psychological self-care, burnout and QoL as well as the factors associated with these outcomes among university students.
A cross-sectional study conducted between January and March 2024.
Universities in northern, southern and northeastern Thailand.
A total of 1426 health-related students aged 18–25 years were recruited using non-probability sampling.
Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF instrument (WHOQOL-BREF-THAI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory to assess emotional exhaustion (EE) and cynicism (CY) and a psychological self-care assessment.
Most participants (79.9%) reported a moderate level of QoL. The prevalence of burnout was 18.9%. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated statistically significant relationships between psychological self-care, EE, CY and QoL (all p values
Good mental healthcare behaviours and lower levels of burnout are associated with higher QoL among public health students. Universities and programme administrators should implement mental health support strategies, including routine screening, counselling services and self-care promotion, to reduce burnout and improve students’ overall well-being.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in Thailand and imposes a growing burden on the health system, driven by limited nephrology capacity and high rates of unplanned dialysis. The kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) estimates the risk of progression to kidney failure (KF) on age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. This study aims to validate and, if required, recalibrate the four-variable KFRE for the Thai population and to assess the potential impact of KFRE-guided referral strategies on clinical care and health system performance.
We will conduct a retrospective cohort study using linked, de-identified national health databases covering approximately 70% of the Thai population. Adult patients with CKD stages 3–5 will be included. KFRE performance will be evaluated at 2 and 5 years for discrimination and calibration. If miscalibration is identified, the model will be recalibrated using Cox-based methods. Simulations (1000 iterations) indicated that approximately 920 KF events by 5 years would be required to achieve the target standard errors for the calibration slope. A subsequent impact analysis will compare KFRE-guided referral with current Thai CKD guideline criteria and real-world practice using a decision-tree and Markov modelling framework.
Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Institute for the Development of Human Research Protections, Thailand (COA No. IHRP2025110), Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The requirement for informed consent was waived due to the use of anonymised secondary data. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and policy briefs to supplement evidence-based referral strategies and health system planning.
Addition of bevacizumab and paclitaxel as induction therapy prior to standard atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel in patients with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) may help to overcome vascular endothelial growth factor-associated resistance mechanisms that limit the immune-mediated antitumour efficacy of atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel.
The Induction Therapy of PTX+BV Followed by Atezolizumab+Nab-PTX for PD-L1+TNBC (INDUCE) study is a multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase II trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two cycles of induction therapy with bevacizumab and paclitaxel followed by atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel compared with standard atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel in patients with PD-L1-positive mTNBC. The primary outcome of the study is progression-free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours, V.1.1. We have estimated that 89 PFS events are needed to allow a power of 80% to detect a difference between treatment groups at a one-sided significance level of 10% in this study. The target sample size is set to 106 patients to account for dropouts.
The study protocol and informed consent form have been approved by the Certified Research Review Board at the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. Study results will be presented at international conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
jRCTs041240039 NCT06793553.
The COVID-19 pandemic had significant physical and psychosocial impacts on nurses. While the initial phases of the pandemic presented considerable challenges, these appear to have diminished over time. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Iranian nurses working in clinical settings during the post-pandemic period of COVID-19.
This is a qualitative study conducted using the conventional content analysis approach proposed by Granheim and Lundman (2004).
This study was conducted at secondary care hospitals in northwest Iran that served as referral centres for multiple provinces during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 18 nurses with at least 1 year of clinical experience in COVID-19 wards were recruited using purposive sampling. Participants were diverse in terms of gender, age and educational background. Nurses temporarily transferred from other wards were excluded.
‘Return to Normalcy’ emerged as the overarching theme, encompassing five main categories: Expansion of Knowledge, Changing Attitudes Toward the Disease, Improved Disease Management, Changing Nature of the Disease and Expansion of Facilities.
The findings suggest that, like other crises, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a temporary disruption. However, certain factors can expedite the transition back to normalcy. These include enhanced awareness of the disease, effective crisis management and improved access to diagnostic, therapeutic and protective resources.
Pharmacist prescribing has been introduced to alleviate pressures on hospital services and improve timely access to treatment. However, implementation in inpatient settings remains highly variable, with pockets of excellent practice alongside areas where prescribing roles are limited or absent. Traditional effectiveness reviews have demonstrated positive impacts of pharmacist prescribing on clinical and service outcomes yet offer limited insight into how contextual conditions and underlying mechanisms interact to produce results in complex hospital inpatient environments. This realist review aims to develop and refine programme theory (PT) explaining how pharmacist prescribing in hospital inpatient settings works, for whom, why and in what circumstances, with particular attention to the factors that support or constrain successful implementation.
The review will follow Pawson’s six-stage realist synthesis process andRealist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards guidance, moving iteratively between theory development, searching, selection, data extraction and synthesis. A multidisciplinary stakeholder advisory group and patient and public involvement group will work alongside the review team to feedback on the scope, refinement of context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOCs) and implementation recommendations. Initial programme theories will be developed and then refined using evidence from formal searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus alongside grey literature. Data will be extracted into a descriptive spreadsheet and coded in NVivo using deductive, inductive and retroductive approaches to identify, test and refine CMOCs. The final output will be a refined PT and practical recommendations to inform design, implementation and scaling of pharmacist prescribing roles in hospital inpatient care with attention to equity and acceptability for patients and multidisciplinary teams.
Ethics approval is not required for this realist review as it involves secondary analysis of published articles and grey literature. Dissemination will include peer-reviewed publications, presentations to pharmacy departments and professional bodies, as well as co-produced accessible materials with patient and public groups to support knowledge mobilisation. The review protocol has been registered on PROSPERO.
CRD420261283633.
Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and macrosomic births pose significant maternal and neonatal health risks, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to care are often limited. Despite well-established associations between LGA, macrosomia, and various risk factors, the relative contributions of these factors remain underexplored in LMICs. This study aims to identify risks factors for LGA and macrosomia in LMICs, with an emphasis on modifiable ones, and quantify their population attributable fractions (PAFs).
A systematic review will be conducted across the following databases: MEDLINE, Scopus and ProQuest Central and regional databases (Africa Index Medicus, Index Medicus for South Asia and Latin America and Caribbean literature of health sciences). Eligible studies will include observational studies, reviews and interventional research conducted between 2000 and 2025 that report on prevalence or association of risk factors for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) and/or macrosomia births in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Data extraction will encompass study characteristics, prevalence/incidence estimates, risk factor distributions and measures of association. Quality assessment will be performed by two independent reviewers using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational cohort, case–control and cross-sectional studies. While Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool will be used for randomised controlled trials and a Measurement Tool to Assess Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Meta-analyses using a random-effects model, which accounts for population heterogeneity, will synthesise risk estimates for factors examined in three or more studies from LMICs, up-to-date meta-analysis including all relevant studies identified through our search. Population attributable fractions for individual and combined risk factors will be calculated.
This systematic review will use only previously published information. Ethical approval is therefore not required. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and the findings will be presented at international conferences to engage relevant stakeholders including policymakers and public health organisations in LMICs with the aim of informing the development of targeted interventions to reduce the burden of LGA and macrosomia births in the region.
Chronic non-healing wounds represent a major global public health challenge. Their persistence is frequently attributed to localized biological deficits that cause them unresponsive to conventional therapeutic modalities. While Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) has demonstrated promising results as an adjunctive treatment by delivering highly concentrated growth factors, its clinical application is currently impeded by a lack of clinical standardization, particularly optimal injection frequency, interval, and dosage. The aim of this study is to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of a specific, non-intensive two-dose PRP injection protocol for accelerating the reduction of wound area in patients with various types of refractory chronic wounds. We conducted a prospective, single-arm, pretest-posttest study enrolling 18 patients with refractory non-healing wounds, defined as lesions persisting for a minimum period of 4 weeks which had failed to achieve definitive closure under optimized standard care. Autologous high-concentration PRP was injected intradermally around the wound margin at baseline (Day 0) and again 3 weeks later (Day 21). Wound area was digitally measured at baseline and subsequently at 7, 11 and 15 weeks. The primary outcome was the mean reduction in wound area (cm2) at the 15-week follow-up, assessed using a Paired Samples t-test. The mean patient age was 57.89 ± 15.64 years, and wounds had a mean chronicity of 15.83 ± 19.05 months. The PRP preparation achieved a mean platelet concentration 8.5 times greater than the peripheral blood threshold (first injection) and 7.0 times greater than the threshold (second injection), confirming high therapeutic quality. Analysis of the total cohort demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in mean wound area from baseline 27.41 ± 70.38 cm2 to 15 weeks 21.5 ± 68.96 cm2. Three patients (16.67%) achieved complete epithelialization. Subgroup trends suggested diabetic and venous ulcers responded more favourably than radiation-induced ulcers. The protocol was safe, with no systemic or severe localized adverse events observed among participants. The defined two-dose PRP injection protocol provides a clinically effective and safe adjunctive therapy that significantly promotes wound area reduction in challenging chronic non-healing wounds. This reproducible, low-frequency protocol offers a rationale for standardization in advanced wound care, warranting validation through future large-scale Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs).
by Lateef Oluwatoyin Busari, Zarat Oyindamola Iwalewa, Olabanji Ahmed Surakat, Adedapo Olufemi Adeogun, Akinlabi Mohammad Rufai, Kamilu Ayo Fasasi, Monsuru Adebayo Adeleke
Insecticide resistance in malaria vectors remains a global public health problem; however, little is known about resistance levels in Osun State, despite relatively high rates of malaria and distribution of insecticide-treated nets in the area. This study evaluates the resistance status of adult female Anopheles gambiae s.l to pyrethroids (permethrin, deltamethrin and alpha-cypermethrin) and an organophosphate (pirimiphos-methyl) insecticides and knockdown resistant (KDR) gene detection in six locations (Ido-Osun, Ipetumodu, Inisa, Ejigbo, Ijebu-Jesha and Ila) across the three senatorial districts in Osun State, Nigeria. Larval sampling was done between 0700hr and 1100hrs weekly between January and December 2022. Collected larvae were reared to the adult stage in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology laboratory of Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria and then identified morphologically using morphological keys. Insecticide bioassay was conducted with permethrin (0.75%), deltamethrin (0.05%), alpha-cypermethrin (0.05%) and pirimiphos-methyl (0.25%) using WHO procedure. The mosquitoes were subjected to molecular analysis to detect the KDR gene. Pirimiphos-methyl showed significantly higher knockdown at 60 minutes (KD60) and achieved 100% mortality compared with the pyrethroids tested (p Anopheles gambiae s.l as compared to pyrethroids. Therefore, there is a need to intensify insecticide resistance surveillance of Anopheles in Osun State to plan indoor residual spraying with pirimiphos-methyl and explore the use of PBO or dual active ingredient insecticides treated nets (ITNs) to address the potential impacts of pyrethroid resistance.Emotional and behavioural problems (EBPs) are receiving increasing attention at the global level, and preschool children are no exception. These issues have a significant impact on future development. Preventive interventions in preschool age are effective in preventing more serious disorders by improving social skills, emotional regulation and resilience in children. Although various preventive interventions have been developed and their effectiveness demonstrated, the evidence remains fragmented. At present, there has been no comprehensive study mapping EBPs prevention interventions at the preschool age level using the Neuman Systems Model approach.
This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews.The completed scoping review will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A systematic search will be conducted in four major databases, namely Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and online searches using Google Scholar, without language and publication year restrictions. Two reviewers will independently screen the literature according to the inclusion criteria and then extract the data. Any differences between the two reviewers will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. We will compile, summarise and analyse the extracted data and present the results in figures, tables and descriptive narratives to ensure clarity and facilitate comparison across studies.
Ethical approval is not required, as the review will use only published literature. Findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed international journal and may inform policy and practice in early childhood preventive interventions.
Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/zg6ty).
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent sleep disorder caused by recurrent upper airway collapse during sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most commonly prescribed treatment; however, adherence remains suboptimal, with non-compliance rates reported between 46% and 83%. Exercise-based interventions have demonstrated beneficial effects on respiratory muscle strength, upper airway function and sleep quality. This study aims to develop an interactive, web-based, game exercise platform (ApneaTheraPlay (ATP)) integrating respiratory, aerobic, strengthening and oropharyngeal exercises as an adjunct to CPAP therapy for individuals with OSAS, and to evaluate its effectiveness compared with a structured presleep exercise programme and a control condition.
This study is designed as a single-blinded, three-arm, parallel-group randomised controlled trial. Individuals diagnosed with OSAS who use CPAP will be randomly allocated to the ATP group, the structured presleep exercise group (SPEG) or the control group (CG). Participants in the ATP and SPEG groups will perform exercise sessions three times per week for 12 weeks (36 sessions in total). The ATP group will use a web-based, interactive, game-based exercise system, whereas the SPEG group will follow a conventional video-based exercise programme delivered in a non-interactive format. Participants in the CG will continue their usual activities and record daily physical activity using an activity diary. The primary outcome measures will be the Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index and nocturnal oxygen saturation parameters. Secondary outcomes will include sleep quality, daytime functioning, fatigue, muscle strength and function, CPAP adherence, psychological status and technology usability.
This study was approved by the Istanbul Medipol University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (E-10840098-202.3.02-6266; 17 September 2025). The study will comply with the guidelines established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) for clinical trial registration and reporting. The results of this trial will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentation at national and international scientific meetings. No individual participant data will be shared publicly. This study is supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK) under project number 225S257.
While health research about persons of South Asian ancestry has been conducted for decades in Canada, it often uses pathologising approaches that fail to consider historical, social and political factors shaping health disparities. Further, this research rarely engages South Asian communities in meaningful ways, reinforcing feelings of disconnect and longstanding mistrust. Greater collaboration and transparency are needed to build trust and generate credible findings. The aims of this research protocol are to (1) examine how community engagement has been implemented in health research involving South Asian populations, (2) explore the experiences of both South Asian community members and academics involved in community-engaged research and (3) develop a framework guiding health research with and for South Asian communities in Canada, titled PRinciples to Operationalize Community Engagement, Equity, and Sustainability in South Asian Health Research in Canada (PROCESS).
This ongoing codesigned concurrent multimethods study is being conducted with community partners across Canadian provinces. First, the scoping review is examining how community engagement has been operationalised in health research involving South Asian populations in Canada. We are performing a search in Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO databases for articles published between 2003 and 2024 referring to the concept of community engagement in South Asian health research. Two reviewers are independently completing abstract and full-text reviews based on preselected eligibility criteria. Data are being extracted from peer-reviewed studies using a data extraction framework. Findings will be aggregated and synthesised using descriptive content analyses. Second, a qualitative descriptive study is being conducted to explore the experiences of diverse stakeholders, including academics and community partners who are partaking in academic health research focused on South Asians. Semistructured interviews are being analysed using an inductive thematic content analysis. Results from the scoping review and qualitative interviews will be triangulated to detect emerging themes and patterns, which will enable the identification of principles to be incorporated within a draft of the PROCESS framework. In the final phase, we will use a modified Delphi process to iteratively codevelop the PROCESS framework with community partners and researchers across Canada.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Review Board at McGill University approved the study’s protocol (24-05-080). Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented in academic and community forums. Results will also be shared with diverse audiences across Canada through multiple formats, including articles, conferences, infographics and social media, with the aim of raising awareness and promoting the adoption of research principles and practices for engaging South Asian communities in health research. This research received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Grant #507768).
Spirituality is a crucial yet complex element of holistic nursing care, particularly when providing care for older adults with depression. In Thailand, depression poses a significant mental health challenge. Thai cultural values are deeply interwoven with individuals' beliefs, making spirituality a critical factor in addressing the care of older adults with depression. This study aimed to explore how older adults with depression experience spirituality and construct meaning from it in their daily lives.
An interpretative phenomenological study.
In-depth interviews of 30 older Thai adults living with depression (aged 60–85 years) from an outpatient psychiatric clinic in southern Thailand were conducted using semi-structured interview questionnaires. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was employed. Data were collected from June to August 2024.
Five themes emerged from the phenomenological data analysis: (1) elusiveness of spiritual meaning, (2) holding oneself together through inner power, (3) finding acceptance through faith in a higher power, (4) family ties shaping peace and despair, and (5) being guided and cared for.
This study highlights that older adults with depression perceive spirituality as essential for their well-being. Personal practices, such as meditation and chanting, played a key role in strengthening spirituality and reducing the risk of relapse in depressive symptoms, which are distinct for each older adult. Understanding spirituality's role in mental health guides nurses to develop strategies for providing more empathetic spiritual care.
Nurses must address depression in older adults through individualized practices to effectively empower their inner strength and coping mechanisms. Understanding each individual's spiritual practices is essential to help them harness their inner strength when coping with depression.
Chronic diseases require sustained medication adherence, yet nonadherence remains common, leading to poor outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Digital self-management technologies such as mobile health (mHealth) apps, SMS reminders, and web-based platforms offer scalable ways to support adherence, but evidence on their overall effectiveness across diverse contexts is fragmented.
To systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness of self-management technologies in improving medication adherence among adults with chronic diseases and to examine potential moderators of intervention impact.
Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and JMIR for peer-reviewed studies (January 2010–June 2025) evaluating digital self-management interventions with adherence outcomes and comparator groups. Eligible designs included RCTs, quasi-experimental, and controlled before-after studies in adults with chronic disease. Random-effects meta-analysis estimated pooled effect sizes (Cohen's d). Heterogeneity (I 2), subgroup analyses, and publication bias (Egger's, Begg's, trim-and-fill) were assessed.
Fifty-two studies were included, spanning 2015–2025. Early interventions (2015–2019) focused on feasibility, using SMS and basic web tools; later years (2021–2025) showed technological maturity, dominated by mHealth apps integrating monitoring, reminders, and education. The pooled random-effects effect size was d = 0.268 (95% CI 0.123–0.414, p = 0.0003), indicating a small-to-moderate benefit. Heterogeneity was high (I 2 = 89%). Medium-duration (10.8–24 weeks) interventions had the largest effect (d = 0.50), and effects varied markedly by country (e.g., Iran d = 2.29; Taiwan d = −0.94). Begg's test suggested possible publication bias; trim-and-fill adjustment increased the pooled effect to d = 0.366.
Digital self-management technologies yield a statistically significant, small-to-moderate improvement in medication adherence across chronic diseases, with potential underestimation due to selective reporting. Effectiveness is moderated by temporal trends, geography, intervention duration, and study design, underscoring the need for context-specific adaptation and methodological rigor. Future research should prioritize large, well-controlled trials, pre-registration, and exploration of cultural and systemic determinants to optimize intervention impact.
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