Search Results (2,909)

Saliva has emerged as a promising diagnostic fluid for viral infections, enabling the direct analysis of viral genetic material and the detection of infection markers such as proteins, metabolites, microRNAs, and immunoglobulins. This comprehensive review aimed to explore the use of saliva as a diagnostic tool for viral infections, emphasizing its advantages and limitations. Saliva stands out due to its simplicity and safety in collection, along with the convenience of self-collection without the need for healthcare supervision, while potentially being comparable to urine and blood in terms of effectiveness. Herein, we highlighted the significant potential of saliva in assessing viral loads and diagnosing viral infections, such as herpesviruses, HPV, PyV, TTV, SARS-CoV-2, and MPXV. The detection of viral shedding in saliva underscores its utility in early diagnosis, the monitoring of infection progression, and evaluating treatment responses. The non-invasive nature of saliva collection makes it an appealing alternative to more invasive methods, promoting better patient compliance and facilitating large-scale screening and surveillance. As such, we further highlight current evidence on the use of saliva as a prognostic tool. Although a significant amount of data is already available, further investigations are warranted to more comprehensively assess the added benefit from the utilization of salivary biomarkers in the clinics. Salivary biomarkers show great promise for the early detection and prevention of viral infection complications, potentially improving disease management and control at the population level. Integrating these non-invasive tools into routine clinical practice could enhance personalized healthcare strategies and patient outcomes. Future studies should focus on establishing standardization protocols, validating the accuracy of salivary diagnostics, and expanding clinical research to enhance the diagnostic and monitoring capabilities of salivary biomarkers. Full article

Three-dimensional printing technology has emerged as a versatile and cost-effective alternative for the fabrication of electrochemical sensors. To enhance sensor sensitivity and biocompatibility, a diverse range of biocompatible and conductive materials can be employed in these devices. This allows these sensors to be modified to detect a wide range of analytes in various fields. 3D-printed electrochemical sensors have the potential to play a pivotal role in personalized medicine by enabling the real-time monitoring of metabolite and biomarker levels. These data can be used to personalize treatment strategies and optimize patient outcomes. The portability and low-cost nature of 3D-printed electrochemical sensors make them suitable for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. These tests enable rapid and decentralized analyses, aiding in diagnosis and treatment decisions in resource-limited settings. Among the techniques widely reported in the literature for 3D printing, the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique is the most commonly used for the development of electrochemical devices due to the easy accessibility of equipment and materials. Focusing on the FDM technique, this review explores the critical factors influencing the fabrication of electrochemical sensors and discusses potential applications in clinical analysis, while acknowledging the challenges that need to be overcome for its effective adoption. Full article

The last decade has seen a significant growth in the adoption of low-cost air quality monitoring systems (LCAQMSs), mostly driven by the need to overcome the spatial density limitations of traditional regulatory grade networks. However, urban air quality monitoring scenarios have proved extremely challenging for their operative deployment. In fact, these scenarios need pervasive, accurate, personalized monitoring solutions along with powerful data management technologies and targeted communications tools; otherwise, these scenarios can lead to a lack of stakeholder trust, awareness, and, consequently, environmental inequalities. The AirHeritage project, funded by the EU’s Urban Innovative Action (UIA) program, addressed these issues by integrating intelligent LCAQMSs with conventional monitoring systems and engaging the local community in multi-year measurement strategies. Its implementation allowed us to explore the benefits and limitations of citizen science approaches, the logistic and functional impacts of IoT infrastructures and calibration methodologies, and the integration of AI and geostatistical sensor fusion algorithms for mobile and opportunistic air quality measurements and reporting. Similar research or operative projects have been implemented in the recent past, often focusing on a limited set of the involved challenges. Unfortunately, detailed reports as well as recorded and/or cured data are often not publicly available, thus limiting the development of the field. This work openly reports on the lessons learned and experiences from the AirHeritage project, including device accuracy variance, field recording assessments, and high-resolution mapping outcomes, aiming to guide future implementations in similar contexts and support repeatability as well as further research by delivering an open datalake. By sharing these insights along with the gathered datalake, we aim to inform stakeholders, including researchers, citizens, public authorities, and agencies, about effective strategies for deploying and utilizing LCAQMSs to enhance air quality monitoring and public awareness on this challenging urban environment issue. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments, cognitive decline, and affective changes. Beyond the well-described motor symptoms, neuropsychiatric symptoms play a crucial role in PD disability burden. Novelty seeking, a trait extensively studied within various models of personality, may influence the manifestation of these non-motor symptoms. Methods: A narrative review of articles determined relevant by the author(s) was undertaken. Results: The literature indicates that PD patients typically exhibit low novelty seeking initially. However, dopaminergic therapies can increase novelty-seeking behaviors, sometimes leading to impulse control disorders (ICD). Studies using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) suggest a complex interplay between disease state, medication, and baseline personality, which is not fully elucidated. High novelty seeking scores predict a higher risk of ICDs, yet they also correlate with a more benign clinical phenotype and improved quality of life post-DBS surgery. Conclusions: Novelty seeking is a significant trait in PD, influencing non-motor symptoms and treatment responses. Understanding its neurobiological basis and clinical implications could lead to better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies through the use of objective, practical tools for disease monitoring, individualized therapy, and pharmacological development. Full article

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers, primarily due to its late diagnosis and limited treatment options. This review examines the challenges and potential of using immunotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer, highlighting the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a promising tool to enhance early detection and monitor the effectiveness of these therapies. By synthesizing recent advancements and identifying gaps in the current research, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how AI and immunotherapy can be integrated to develop more personalized and effective treatment strategies. The insights from this review may guide future research efforts and contribute to improving patient outcomes in pancreatic cancer management. Full article

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral renowned for its exceptional tensile strength, chemical resistance, and low thermal and electrical conductivity. Due to these properties, it has been widely used in various industries. However, asbestos exposure is strongly linked to severe health conditions, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Although over 70 countries have banned asbestos-containing materials, significant health risks persist due to ongoing use and poor management practices in many regions. To mitigate these risks, robust occupational health measures are essential. These include safe removal protocols, comprehensive worker training, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), regular exposure monitoring, rigorous compliance checks, and severe penalties for non-compliance. Moreover, effective asbestos waste management and the development of advanced disposal technologies are essential to reducing risks. Public awareness campaigns, regulatory enforcement, and a global ban on asbestos production, use, and export are also necessary, particularly in countries where asbestos is still in use. Lessons from asbestos management in Australia and New Zealand provide valuable insights for nations currently dealing with asbestos issues. This paper reviews current practices in asbestos surveying, removal, and disposal, comparing them to the stringent regulatory frameworks in Australia and New Zealand. It highlights strategies that can be adopted globally to ensure safer management and complete elimination of asbestos. Full article

In recent years, skin-mounted devices have gained prominence in personal wellness and remote patient care. However, the rigid components of many wearables often cause discomfort due to their mechanical mismatch with the skin. To address this, we extend the use of the solderable stretchable sensing system (S4) to develop a wireless skin temperature-sensing smart adhesive. This work introduces two novel types of progress in wearables: the first demonstration of Bluetooth-integration and development of a thin-film-based stretchable inverted-F antenna (SIFA). Characterized through RF simulations, vector network analysis under deformation, and anechoic chamber tests, SIFA demonstrated potential as a low-profile, on-body Bluetooth antenna with a resonant frequency of 2.45 GHz that helps S4 retain its thin overall profile. The final S4 system achieved high correlation (R = 0.95, p < 0.001, mean standard error = 0.04 °C) with commercial sensors during daily activities. These findings suggest that S4-based smart adhesives integrated with SIFAs could offer a promising platform for comfortable, efficient, and functional skin-integrated wearables, supporting a range of health monitoring applications. Full article

This review addresses the ongoing challenges in asthma management, particularly focusing on patient adherence to inhaler therapy. Asthma, a chronic condition characterized by variable respiratory symptoms and airflow obstruction, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality if not properly managed. Despite advances in inhaler technology and therapeutic options, non-adherence remains a significant barrier to optimal asthma control. This review explores both intentional and unintentional non-adherence, influenced by factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and the complexity of inhaler devices. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) provides guidelines aimed at improving adherence through targeted interventions, and this review examines their application. Common inhaler technique errors, including incorrect inhalation speed, not exhaling before inhaling, and failure to hold breath post-inhalation, are identified as major contributors to inadequate asthma control. Furthermore, the review explores the emerging role of electronic monitoring devices (EMDs), such as CapMedic and DigiHaler, which offer real-time feedback to enhance inhaler technique and adherence. The role of biomarkers in assessing adherence and the potential of personalized treatment strategies, including biologic therapies, are also discussed. Overall, addressing adherence requires a comprehensive approach that integrates patient education, tailored interventions, and technological innovations to achieve better clinical outcomes in asthma management. Full article

Access to reliable water supply is critical for sustainable development and public health, yet many peri-urban and rural communities in the developing world face challenges such as poor maintenance, faulty infrastructure, and inadequate governance of water services, hindering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In Emina-Boadi, a small town in Kumasi, Ghana, residents increasingly rely on boreholes due to substandard service from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). This shift highlights concerns about water reliability, quality, and affordability, impacting public health and hindering progress toward SDG 6. This case study assesses water service levels using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as quantity, quality, affordability, accessibility, and reliability, focusing on sources like boreholes, hand pumps, piped water, hand-dug wells, rainwater, and surface waters. The study aims to delineate the roles of different water providers, understand community dynamics, and evaluate contributions to rural development and SDG 6 through stakeholder interviews and questionnaires. By leveraging the WASHCost framework, which aims to improve planning methods and the provision of water and sanitation services by addressing the lack of cost information in rural and peri-urban areas, and the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) framework, which monitors progress toward global targets related to water, sanitation, and hygiene, the study categorizes indicators and draws connections among them. The findings reveal a significant preference for borehole services, with 87% usage and an 83% reliability rate compared to 13% for GWCL. Daily water consumption averages 60.75 L per person, with on-premises access improving water collection efficiency to 7 min. Dissatisfaction with GWCL services highlights the need for improved delivery aligned with community needs and SDG targets. Adopting sustainable management practices, enhancing infrastructure, and improving governance are crucial for ensuring safe and affordable water access for all residents of Emina-Boadi and similar communities. Full article

In elderly monitoring or indoor intrusion detection, the recognition of human activity is a key task. Owing to several strengths of Wi-Fi-based devices, including their non-contact and privacy protection, these devices have been widely applied in the area of smart homes. By the deep learning technique, numerous Wi-Fi-based activity recognition methods can realize satisfied recognitions, however, these methods may fail to recognize the activities of an unknown person without the learning process. In this study, using channel state information (CSI) data, a novel cross-person activity recognition (CPAR) method is proposed by a deep learning approach with generalization capability. Combining one of the state-of-the-art deep neural networks (DNNs) used in activity recognition, i.e., attention-based bi-directional long short-term memory (ABLSTM), the snapshot ensemble is the first to be adopted to train several base-classifiers for enhancing the generalization and practicability of recognition. Second, to discriminate the extracted features, metric learning is further introduced by using the center loss, obtaining snapshot ensemble-used ABLSTM with center loss (SE-ABLSTM-C). In the experiments of CPAR, the proposed SE-ABLSTM-C method markedly improved the recognition accuracies to an application level, for seven categories of activities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antiplatelet therapy after emergent carotid stenting (eCAS) represents a challenge in balancing the risk of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) and in-stent thrombosis (IST). Post-procedural platelet function monitoring may guide antiplatelet therapy and could potentially improve outcomes due to fewer post-procedural complications. Methods: Consecutive eCAS patients (2019–2021) were included in a single-center retrospective observational study. Patients treated with eCAS received peri-procedural eptifibatide followed by dual antiplatelet treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel. The effect of platelet ADP inhibition by clopidogrel was monitored using the Multiplate^® Analyzer (Roche). Clopidogrel non-responders were changed to ticagrelor treatment. The primary outcome was defined as a favorable outcome at 90 days using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0–2 versus 3–6. Safety outcomes included ICH, IST, and mortality. Data were analyzed and compared in clopidogrel- and ticagrelor-treated patients using Fischer’s exact test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 105 patients had eCAS, and 28 patients (27%) were clopidogrel non-responders and were changed to treatment with ticagrelor. The favorable outcome was more frequent in ticagrelor-treated patients, 23 (82%), than in clopidogrel-treated patients, 44 (57%), p = 0.036. Numerically, ICH, IST, and mortality were more frequent in clopidogrel-treated patients, but none of the differences were statistically significant. In multivariate analyses, ticagrelor treatment was significantly associated with the favorable outcome, OR = 3.89 (95% CI: 1.09–13.86), p = 0.036. Conclusions: One in four eCAS patients were clopidogrel non-responders. This study suggests that personalized antiplatelet treatment therapy was safe, and that changing treatment to ticagrelor in clopidogrel non-responders was associated with better outcomes in eCAS patients. Full article

This review explores the prevalence and impacts of muscular power and dynamic balance motor asymmetry among football players, emphasizing its impact on performance and injury risk. Motor asymmetry frequently occurs in football, largely due to the sport’s specific demands, including the frequent use of one leg for kicking and passing. While some motor asymmetry may lead to functional specialization and does not always hinder performance, significant imbalances are often linked to an increased risk of injuries, particularly to the lower extremities. Dynamic balance motor asymmetry is also associated with a higher risk of non-contact injuries, underscoring the importance of joint stability in preventing such injuries. However, the direct impact of balance motor asymmetry on performance metrics like sprint speed and agility is less definitive, suggesting that compensatory mechanisms or training adaptations could mitigate potential negative effects. Technological advances in assessment, such as motion capture systems and wearable devices, have enhanced the precision of asymmetry evaluations, enabling more targeted interventions. In addition, personalized training interventions, informed by real-time data from these technologies, allow for tailored rehabilitation and performance optimization, addressing asymmetry-related risks early. Despite these technological advancements, there is a significant gap in understanding how motor asymmetry affects underrepresented groups, such as female football players and youth athletes. Further research is needed to investigate motor asymmetry in these populations, particularly to assess the long-term impact on injury risk and performance. Addressing these gaps will provide valuable insights into the development of gender- and age-specific training interventions. This review recommends a multidisciplinary approach, integrating biomechanics, sports medicine, and coaching insights, to develop comprehensive strategies for managing motor asymmetry in football. Such strategies, supported by real-time monitoring and tailored interventions, will be crucial for optimizing player performance, minimizing injury risk, and improving training and rehabilitation programs tailored to the diverse needs of football players. Full article

There is growing international interest in assessing population exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, especially those generated by mobile-phone base stations. The work presented here is an experimental study in which we assess exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in a university environment, where there is a site with mobile-phone antennas and where a large number of people live on a daily basis. The data were collected with a personal exposure meter in two samplings, one walking at ground level and the other using an aerial vehicle at a height higher than the buildings. The geo-referenced electric-field data were subjected to a process in which a theoretical model was adjusted to the experimental variograms, and heat maps were obtained using kriging interpolation. The research carried out is of great relevance, since it provides detailed measurements of the electromagnetic radiation levels both at ground level and at significant heights, using innovative methodologies such as the use of drones. Furthermore, the results obtained allow for contextualizing the exposures in relation to international safety limits, highlighting the importance of rigorous monitoring in everyday environments. Full article

Introduction: Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) and, consequently, the chronicity associated with this life event have a growing prevalence and a significant impact on the life and daily life of each person who experiences it. It is necessary to reflect on the care needs of this group of vulnerable people. Comfort is a concern, and its improvement is a desired outcome of healthcare. To achieve this, it is necessary to know the needs of the people who are the focus of care. Aim: This paper aims to understand the needs of comfort care in the lived experience of comfort for survivors of ASCT. Methodology: Qualitative approach using van Manen’s phenomenology of practice. We uncovered the phenomenon through phenomenological interviews, which integrated narratives and illustrative episodes that reflected the lived experience of 20 survivors. Participants in the study were people who had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation, who were monitored on an outpatient basis and who met the following conditions: (i) were over 18 years old; (ii) had undergone SCT at least 3 months previously; (iii) had no evidence of disease relapse; (iv) were able to express themselves verbally, providing information relevant to the study, as well as expressing emotions and feelings. Descriptions of lived experiences were collected from participants between July 2020 and May 2021. In the phenomenological reflection on the lived descriptions, we followed the “stages” epoché, reduction, and vocative. Results: The following themes emerged from the ASCT survivor’s lived experience of comfort related to comfort care needs: continuous follow-up, reference nurse, information, assistance in adapting to the new self, mental health intervention, spiritual support, adaptation to changes in sexuality, physical rehabilitation, and job reintegration. Conclusion: This study reveals the importance of continuous follow-up for ASCT survivors. Survivors experience major changes in their lives in the long term and require a response from health professionals to find comfort in their daily lives. Full article

Humans have long delighted in being entertained by captive wild animals. In zoos and aquariums, animal–visitor interactions allow visitors to experience direct or indirect contact with animals. Well-managed animal–visitor interactions can help zoos and aquariums contribute to their educational objectives by eliciting pro-conservation behaviours from visitors while providing good animal welfare for the animals involved. However, some interactions are dysfunctional because they cause physical and psychological harm to the animal and reinforce negative values and beliefs towards conservation. We aimed to assess how dysfunctional animal–visitor interactions are and whether accreditation by zoological associations reduced the number of such interactions. We visited Thai zoos in person and conducted online monitoring of facilities in Southeast Asia. We report 1165 animal–visitor interactions in nine Southeast Asian countries in 225 zoos and aquariums. Taking photos with animals (“selfies”) and riding on animals were scored as the animal–visitor interactions that were the most dysfunctional. The number of animal–visitor interactions was not less in accredited zoos, and there was little difference among countries. Behaviour change needs to form a strategy for change, in addition to robust legislation and improved efforts by zoological associations to push members to maintain standards and mentor non-accredited facilities. Full article