Conectar
by Junjie Kuang, Jie Ju, Xin Xu
Aerobic and resistance exercises are the two most common modes of physical activity. They may cause some functional changes such as elevation of VO2max and muscle mass. However, descriptions of changes in complex molecular network induced by exercise are often insufficiently comprehensive, limiting the exploration of some new indicators. We utilized a metabolomics analysis method based on Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to investigate the metabolic characteristics of 10 healthy male college students at two time points before and after a single session of aerobic and resistance exercise. The analysis was conducted at both the metabolite and metabolic pathway levels. Notably, the concentrations of several amino acids including aspartic acid, glutamic acid, histidine and tryptophan exhibited significant changes following both modes of exercise. These findings offer a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular effects of acute exercise on the human body, contributing to evaluating post-exercise physiological states and screening for relevant metabolite indicators. Future research could employ multi-omics approaches to validate these results and explore the long-term impact of exercise on human metabolic profiles, linking specific metabolic pathways to functional outcomes.by Xin Xu, Ghada Homsi, Sherry T. Liu, Jennifer M. Gaber, Naa A. Inyang, Brian L. Rostron, Caryn F. Nagler, James Nonnemaker
BackgroundIn 2022, 3.7% of U.S. adults currently smoked cigars. This study assesses cigar-smoking-attributable fractions in U.S. healthcare expenditures and associated annual healthcare expenditures overall and by payer, including publicly funded healthcare programs.
MethodsData were obtained from the 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015–2017 National Health Interview Survey linked with corresponding panels from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data through 2018. The final sample (n = 53,733) was restricted to adults aged 25 + . Estimates from four-part models and data from the Personal Health Care component of the 2001–2018 National Health Expenditures Accounts were combined to estimate fractions of and annual healthcare expenditures attributable to cigar smoking. All models controlled for sociodemographic characteristics and health-related behaviors.
ResultsDuring 2001–2018, an estimated 1.8% (95% CI = 0.9%–3.4%) or $29.7 billion annually of U.S. healthcare expenditures could be attributed to cigar smoking. Most of this was funded by other third-party health insurance programs, a mix of private and public payers (e.g., Department of Veterans Affairs).
ConclusionsCigar smoking creates a preventable financial burden on the U.S. healthcare system. Health consequences associated with cigar smoking may remain after successful quitting. The findings underscore the importance of preventing initiation of cigar smoking and providing evidence-based cessation methods to reduce the health and economic burden of cigar smoking.
With an aging population worldwide, pressure injury (PI) is becoming a critical challenge for healthcare professionals. We aimed to investigate the difference in PI trend globally across age groups from 1990 to 2021.
This study utilized data from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2021 to determine the age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of PI stratified by age groups from 1990 to 2021. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to measure corresponding temporal trends.
Over three decades, the incident cases of PI have doubled from 1.1 million to 2.5 million worldwide. The incidence of PI showed an exponential rise with increasing age groups in 2021. The significant increasing trends were observed in the population aged 20–54 years (EAPC = 0.11) and 55+ years (EAPC = 0.55) from 1990 to 2021. The ASR among males has increased from 32.53 to 33.34 per 100,000 population, with an EAPC of 0.27, while the ASR among females decreased. The ASR was increased with higher income levels and the highest ASR was observed in the high-income region (49.95 per 100,000 population). Among six regions, the Americas had the highest ASR in 2021 (90.20 per 100,000 population), while South-East Asia showed the fastest increase (EAPC = 1.22).
The global burden of PI is a growing global health problem among the elderly population, particularly in the Americas. A greater incidence burden in males and high-income level regions was found. This study advocates for urgent attention to coping strategies for aging populations and older people with PI.
This study advocates for urgent attention to coping strategies for aging populations.
To identify and synthesise the levels of death anxiety and potential moderating factors in patients with advanced cancer.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
A comprehensive search was conducted across 10 electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Chinese Biomedical, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WANFANG, covering publications in both English and Chinese from inception through June 18, 2025.
Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Meta-analyses were conducted using STATA 16 software. Predefined subgroup analyses and meta-regression were carried out to examine variations in death anxiety among advanced cancer patients based on participant characteristics, disease-related factors, and study-level variables.
Twenty-one studies involving 4337 patients with advanced cancer met the inclusion criteria. These studies, published between 1978 and 2025, were conducted across five countries. Meta-analyses were performed separately for 16 studies using the original 15-item dichotomous Templer Death Anxiety Scale and 3 studies using an adapted five-point Likert version. Both analyses indicated high levels of death anxiety among patients. Differences in participant age, country, continent, and publication year contributed to the variation in findings.
Advanced cancer patients experience high levels of death anxiety, with age, country, continent, and publication year identified as key moderating factors. Targeting these factors through tailored interventions, promoting a supportive culture around death, and providing effective psychological training for patients can help reduce anxiety. These efforts aim to equip patients to understand and cope with the realities of death, ultimately improving their psychological well-being.
This review highlights the high levels of death anxiety in advanced cancer patients and identifies potential moderators. It underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve psychological care, particularly in end-of-life settings.
No patient or public contribution.
The review was registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD420251033114).
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