Browse publications by year: 2025

  1. Yu H
    Environ Sci Ecotechnol, 2025 Mar;24:100544.
    PMID: 40115027 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2025.100544
    Climate change is driving unprecedented transformations in aquatic ecosystems, where microorganisms play a fundamental role in maintaining ecological balance and human health security. Rising water temperatures, pollution intensification, and extreme weather events are driving significant shifts in microbial community structures. These changes facilitate the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms such as Vibrio cholerae and harmful algae like cyanobacteria, which thrive in warmer, nutrient-enriched environments. The resulting harmful algal blooms release potent toxins, such as microcystins, that contaminate drinking water and food supplies, leading to severe health impacts, including liver diseases and carcinogenesis. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance genes are spreading more rapidly due to climate-induced stressors, increasing the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and compounding the challenges for global health systems. This discussion article demonstrates that climate change influences aquatic microbial ecosystems through interconnected mechanisms, including shifts in gene transfer networks, alterations in microbial metabolism, and ecological feedback loops, ultimately increasing waterborne disease risks and antimicrobial resistance. Specific solutions are proposed, such as advancing wastewater treatment technologies to address climate-induced pollution, establishing global microbial monitoring networks leveraging remote sensing and molecular tools, and implementing early warning systems for waterborne disease outbreaks. Additionally, the discussion article emphasizes the critical role of international cooperation in funding and capacity-building efforts, particularly in developing regions with fragile infrastructures. By highlighting these pressing challenges and proposing actionable strategies, this research underscores the urgent need for integrated approaches to safeguard water resources, mitigate microbial hazards, and enhance public health resilience in an era of accelerating climate change.
  2. Al-Mnayyis AM, Gharaibeh H, Amin M, Anakreh D, Akhdar HF, Alshdaifat EH, et al.
    Front Big Data, 2025;8:1529848.
    PMID: 40115240 DOI: 10.3389/fdata.2025.1529848
    The categorization of benign and malignant patterns in digital mammography is a critical step in the diagnosis of breast cancer, facilitating early detection and potentially saving many lives. Diverse breast tissue architectures often obscure and conceal breast issues. Classifying worrying regions (benign and malignant patterns) in digital mammograms is a significant challenge for radiologists. Even for specialists, the first visual indicators are nuanced and irregular, complicating identification. Therefore, radiologists want an advanced classifier to assist in identifying breast cancer and categorizing regions of concern. This study presents an enhanced technique for the classification of breast cancer using mammography images. The collection comprises real-world data from King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH) at Jordan University of Science and Technology, consisting of 7,205 photographs from 5,000 patients aged 18-75. After being classified as benign or malignant, the pictures underwent preprocessing by rescaling, normalization, and augmentation. Multi-fusion approaches, such as high-boost filtering and contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE), were used to improve picture quality. We created a unique Residual Depth-wise Network (RDN) to enhance the precision of breast cancer detection. The suggested RDN model was compared with many prominent models, including MobileNetV2, VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, InceptionV3, Xception, and DenseNet121. The RDN model exhibited superior performance, achieving an accuracy of 97.82%, precision of 96.55%, recall of 99.19%, specificity of 96.45%, F1 score of 97.85%, and validation accuracy of 96.20%. The findings indicate that the proposed RDN model is an excellent instrument for early diagnosis using mammography images and significantly improves breast cancer detection when integrated with multi-fusion and efficient preprocessing approaches.
  3. Satapathy P, Khatib MN, Balaraman AK, R R, Kaur M, Srivastava M, et al.
    Public Health Pract (Oxf), 2025 Jun;9:100565.
    PMID: 40115446 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhip.2024.100565
    OBJECTIVES: Integrating digital technology into daily life has made video games a primary form of entertainment for adolescents worldwide. Despite their benefits, excessive gaming has emerged as a significant public health issue, recognized as a gaming disorder by the World Health Organization in the ICD-11. This study aims to assess the prevalence of gaming disorders among adolescents through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

    METHODS: A search was conducted across multiple databases until February 15, 2024. Observational studies that assessed the prevalence of gaming disorder were included. Nested Knowledge software was used for screening and data extraction. The quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Meta-analysis using a random effect model was used to synthesize prevalence rates. Statistical analyses were performed in R software version 4.3.

    RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 84 studies covering a diverse geographical scope totaling 641,763 individuals. The pooled prevalence of gaming disorder was 8.6 % (95 % CI: 6.9 %-10.8 %), (I2 = 100 %). Subgroup analysis revealed varying prevalence rates by country, with China reporting the highest rate at 11.7 % (95 % CI: 8.6 %-15.7 %). Meta-regression analysis highlighted an increasing trend in the prevalence of gaming disorder over the years, underscoring the growing impact of digital technologies.

    CONCLUSION: A significant prevalence of gaming disorder among adolescents is observed. With an increasing trend, fostering healthy gaming habits, enhancing awareness, and implementing effective intervention programs are crucial. This emphasizes the importance of global efforts in combating the growing challenge of gaming disorder among adolescents.

  4. Yang M, Chen X, Wang L, Ren X, Liu W, Li L, et al.
    Food Chem X, 2025 Feb;26:102314.
    PMID: 40115502 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2025.102314
    This study aimed to assess the correlation between moisture migration and texture, as well as viscoelasticity of Chinese yam during the evaporation stage of multiphase microwave drying (MMD). A comparison of different drying strategies (Scheme I, Scheme II, and Scheme III) revealed that the water molecule mobility decreased as drying proceeded. In samples with higher water content at the transition point, the rapid migration of water during evaporation stage could result in a more pronounced collapse of the cellular and pore structure, leading to a denser product with increased hardness. Additionally, changes in the samples' textural and viscoelastic properties were significantly correlated with the moisture states. As water mobility decreased, the movement of molecular chains was restricted, leading to increased rigidity in the sample. These findings can provide theoretical guidance for the process optimization of MMD to meet consumers' demand for high-quality dried products.
  5. Yakub N, Muda R, Yaakub M, Muhammed J
    Cureus, 2025 Feb;17(2):e79148.
    PMID: 40115700 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.79148
    Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, is a form of vasculitis that primarily affects the large and medium-sized arteries, which can lead to narrowing or blockage of the arteries. When GCA involves vital vessels such as the coronary arteries, aorta, or cerebral arteries, it can pose a serious risk to life. We present a case of a 61-year-old Malay woman with hypertension and chronic kidney disease who presented with a two-day history of sudden-onset visual loss in the right eye preceded by an inferior visual field defect for four days associated with both lower limb pain. Otherwise, there was no fever, headache, scalp pain, or jaw claudication. Her vision was hand movement and 6/6 in the right eye and left eye, respectively, with a positive relative afferent pupillary defect. Fundus examination showed a swollen 'chalky white' pallid appearance of the optic disc with splinter haemorrhage. The examination of the left eye was normal. Both temporal arteries were dilated, tortuous, and non-pulsatile. There were multiple painful necrotic skin lesions over both lower limbs. Blood tests showed a markedly high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (120 mm/hour) and C-reactive protein (144.2 mg/L). The temporal artery biopsy was suggestive of GCA, and the findings were supported by a biopsy from the necrotic skin lesions. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone for three days, and her vision maintained hand movement with no involvement of the left eye. She was discharged with oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg; however, one month later, she succumbed to death from cardiac complications.
  6. Seeni A, Baig AA, Murtey MD
    Anal Cell Pathol (Amst), 2025;2025:4029625.
    PMID: 40115867 DOI: 10.1155/ancp/4029625
    Background: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is common in elderly men. Previously, paddy waste (both husk and straw) reportedly had chemopreventive potential. The main aim of this study was to explore the chemopreventive properties of paddy waste against prostate disease. This study determines the antiproliferative activity of the paddy waste product in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods: Aqueous methanol extracts of paddy husk and straw were administered to SHRs for 17 weeks via drinking water, with no observed toxicity on dietary intake, body weight, liver, or kidney. The study used 18 male SHRs to model primary hypertension and 6 male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats as normotensive controls. The SHRs were divided into three groups: control (n = 6), paddy husk treated (n = 6, 15 mg/kg), and paddy straw treated (n = 6, 15 mg/kg), with treatment delivered in drinking water. Results: It managed to reduce blood pressure (72.0 mmHg; p  < 0.01) and the size of the ventral prostate to around 0.05% (p  < 0.01). Histological analysis revealed antiproliferative signs such as a reduction in the number of acini (7.50; p  < 0.01), epithelial height (10.55 µm; p  < 0.01), and epithelial acinar area (18.17%; p  < 0.01). Aqueous methanol extracts have arrested the cell cycle by downregulating (p  < 0.01) proliferative marker, Ki-67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Prostate cell growth is arrested by downregulation of androgen receptor (AR) which inhibited AR mRNA transcription (RTPCR analysis) and induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase through p27 and cyclin E2 (western blot analysis). Conclusion: In conclusion, paddy waste product especially husk is a better chemopreventive agent against prostate disease.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Blood Pressure/drug effects; Hypertension/drug therapy; Male; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Prostate/drug effects; Prostate/metabolism; Prostate/pathology; Rats, Inbred SHR*; Rats, Inbred WKY; Receptors, Androgen/metabolism; Oryza/chemistry; Waste Products; Chemoprevention/methods; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Rats
  7. Alotaibi FF, Buti J, Rocchietta I, Mohamed Nazari NS, Almujaydil R, D'Aiuto F
    PMID: 40116110 DOI: 10.1111/clr.14435
    OBJECTIVES: To systematically appraise the evidence on premature ridge resorption following various vertical ridge augmentation (VRA) techniques in healthy adult patients undergoing staged VRA procedures. The study aimed to identify VRA techniques resulting in the least premature bone resorption and to rank them using Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis (NMA).

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: Searches were conducted in six databases to identify randomised clinical trials (RCT) comparing staged VRA techniques with a minimum of 3 months follow-up. Relative premature bone resorption (PBR%) overall (primary) and in sites with uneventful versus complicated healing and need for additional bone grafting (NAG) (secondary) were chosen as outcomes. The risk of bias and certainty in evidence were assessed using Cochrane RoB 2.0 and GRADE tools. Bayesian models estimated treatment effects and rankings.

    RESULTS: Ten RCTs, involving 220 participants and 236 defects, were included. Nine RCTs reported mean PBR%, with a range from 6% to 44%, averaging 26%. Seven treatment groups were evaluated: onlay, onlay + barrier, inlay, guided bone regeneration, distraction osteogenesis (DO), tissue expansion + tunnelling (TET), and cortical tenting. Eight RCTs, involving 160 participants and 176 defects, contributed to the NMA. Compared to onlay, all groups had lower mean PBR%. Inlay had the highest probability of being ranked first (Pr = 0.55), followed by DO (Pr = 0.27) and TET (Pr = 0.15). Healing complications significantly increased PBR% (MD 10%, 95% CrI 4.4-15.7).

    CONCLUSION: VRA techniques preserving the periosteum (inlay, DO, and TET) exhibit less PBR compared with other techniques. When techniques involve full flap elevation, clinicians should anticipate volume loss at re-entry and consider greater grafting volumes to offset PBR. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO ID: CRD42023394396; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=394396.

  8. Ma X, Zhao W, Yang F, Chin KY
    Biomol Biomed, 2025 Mar 07;25(4):761-785.
    PMID: 39720988 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2024.11045
    Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that primarily affects the elderly worldwide. It is characterized by local inflammation, which can be targeted therapeutically using natural anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin. This scoping review explores the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of curcumin in OA management. A total of 50 relevant original studies published in English were selected from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using specific search strings, regardless of study type. These studies demonstrated curcumin's anti-inflammatory, protective, and anti-apoptotic effects on chondrocytes. Curcumin has been shown to stimulate chondrocyte proliferation and collagen production while inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase activity. These mechanisms contribute to curcumin's ability to alleviate pain and improve joint function in OA patients. While the findings highlight curcumin's potential in OA management, further research is needed to enhance its bioavailability and determine optimal formulations, dosages, and administration routes.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use; Humans; Apoptosis/drug effects
  9. Ho PJ, Loo CKY, Goh MH, Abubakar M, Ahearn TU, Andrulis IL, et al.
    medRxiv, 2025 Mar 03.
    PMID: 40093266 DOI: 10.1101/2025.02.27.25323002
    BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is multifactorial. Focusing on limited risk factors may miss high-risk individuals.

    METHODS: We assessed the performance and overlap of various risk factors in identifying high-risk individuals for invasive breast cancer (BrCa) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 161,849 European-ancestry and 18,549 Asian-ancestry women. Discriminatory ability was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). High-risk criteria included: 5-year absolute risk ≥1·66% by the Gail model [GAILbinary]; first-degree family history of breast cancer [FHbinary]; 5-year absolute risk ≥1·66% by a 313-variants polygenic risk score [PRSbinary]; and carriers of pathogenic variants in breast cancer predisposition genes [PTVbinary].

    FINDINGS: The 5-year absolute risk by PRS outperformed the Gail model in predicting BrCa (Europeansvs controls: AUCPRS=0·635 [0·632-0·638] vs AUCGail=0·492 [0·489-0·495]; Asiansvs controls: AUCPRS=0·564 [0·556-0·573] vs AUCGail=0·506 [0·497-0·514]). PRSbinary and GAILbinary identified more high-risk European than Asia individuals. High-risk proportions were higher among BrCa (16-26%) and DCIS (20-33%) compared to controls (9-15%) among young Europeans and all Asians. Fewer than 7% of BrCa, 10% of DCIS, and 3% of controls were classified as high-risk by multiple risk classifiers. Overlap between PRSbinary and PTVbinary was minimal (<0·65% Europeans, <0·15% Asians) compared to the proportion at high risk using PTVbinary alone (Europeans: 4·6%, Asians: 4·4%) and PRSbinary alone (Europeans: 13·9%, Asians: 8·5%). PRSbinary and FHbinary uniquely identified 5-6% and 9-11% of young BrCa, respectively.

    INTERPRETATION: The incomplete overlap between high-risk individuals identified by PRSbinary, GAILbinary, FHbinary, and PTVbinary highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to breast cancer risk prediction.

  10. Yan W, Rafiq M
    Work, 2025 Mar 19.
    PMID: 40105661 DOI: 10.1177/10519815251320273
    BackgroundGreen agile leadership (GAL) combines adaptability and environmental commitment to address sustainability challenges. In China resource-intensive healthcare sector, sustainable practices are vital to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).ObjectiveThis study investigates the influence of GAL on pro-environmental behavior (PEB), focusing on the mediating role of environmental passion (EP) and the moderating effect of face consciousness (FC).MethodsA quantitative research design was employed, utilizing survey data collected from a sample of employees in hospitals. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data and test the proposed relationships via MPLUS.ResultsThe study findings indicate that GAL has a significant positive impact on PEB. Additionally, EP was identified as a partial mediator in the relationship between GAL and PEB. The moderating effect of FC indicated that employees with higher levels of EP and greater FC in their work environment exhibit enhanced PEB within their organization.ConclusionsThe originality and value of this research lie in its comprehensive examination of the underlying mechanisms via mediating and moderating factors in the relationship between GAL and PEB. Specifically, this research contributes to the growing body of literature on GAL and PEB by shedding light on the mediating role of EP and the moderating role of FC. This study offers theoretical insights and practical recommendations for health industry to effectively manage PEB through GAL and the cultivation of EP and FC among employees.
  11. Rajendran A, Ramlal A, Raju D, Saini M, Bishnoi P, Subramaniam S
    Photosynth Res, 2025 Mar 19;163(2):24.
    PMID: 40106154 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-025-01144-7
    Soybean is a short-day crop and the long-duration variety takes 120 days for maturity. A protocol for rapid generation advancement in soybean breeding is worthwhile keeping in view its utility. The study emphasizes standardisation of physical conditions, especially using warm white and cool white light-emitting diodes to hasten flowering and pod setting in soybean (DS9712 genotype). Complete open flowers were obtained with a 16 L/8D (dark/light) photoperiod in 30 days. The results also highlighted the application of interventions of physical conditions and inputs, especially during the reproductive phase to shorten the seed-to-seed generation time by around 15 days in a low-cost method for soybean breeding. Breeding will be revolutionised in case economic speed breeding is combined with modern breeding technologies, thereby resulting in more generations per year.
    MeSH terms: Plant Breeding/methods; Seeds/growth & development; Seeds/physiology; Photoperiod*
  12. Noordin N, Siriphorn A, Chye Wah Y, Justine M
    PLoS One, 2025;20(3):e0318513.
    PMID: 40106417 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318513
    BACKGROUND: Declining intrinsic capacity (IC), encompassing domains such as locomotion, cognitive function, vitality, vision, hearing, and psychological well-being, is prevalent among older adults, impacting independence and quality of life (QoL). This study aims to develop and evaluate the Physiotherapy-led Person-Centered Integrated Care for Older People (PTICOPE) based on the WHO-ICOPE framework to enhance IC among older adults in Malaysia.

    METHODS: This is a 12-week, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involving 70 community-dwelling older adults aged 60-75, recruited from three Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas (PAWE) (Activity Center for Older Adults) in the Northern region of Malaysia. Participants will be randomized to either the intervention group, receiving the PTICOPE module workbook and guided use, or the control group, receiving general IC information, healthcare education, and self-care management. The recruitment of participants for this study has not yet commenced. Recruitment is expected to start after completing the validation of the PTICOPE module, however, it is anticipated that the recruitment start date is in February 2025 and will end in August 2025. Primary outcomes, including locomotor, psychological, cognitive, vitality, visual, and hearing functions using validated scales, will be collected at baseline, 4th, 8th, and 12th week of the study period. Secondary outcomes will evaluate QoL, activities of daily living, urogenital health, and oral health at baseline and 12th week. The normality of data will be checked. The independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, paired t-tests, and Repeated measures ANOVA will be used for data analysis, with a significant level at p 

    MeSH terms: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of Life*; World Health Organization; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Patient-Centered Care; Physical Therapy Modalities*; Independent Living
  13. Sherman J, Voigt M, Ancrenaz M, Meijaard E, Oram F, Williamson EA, et al.
    PLoS One, 2025;20(3).
    PMID: 40106428 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317862
    Wild orangutans (Pongo spp.) are captured and moved (wild-to-wild translocated) primarily to prevent crop foraging or out of concern for orangutans' survival in fragmented habitat. Little is known about wild-to-wild translocation frequency, circumstances, and possible species conservation and individual welfare outcomes. We investigated orangutan wild-to-wild translocations in Indonesia from 2005 to 2022 using primarily data from public sources and consultation with practitioners. At least 988 wild orangutans were captured for translocation during the study period, including many reproductively valuable resident females and adult males removed from unprotected fragmented forests and forest patches. Data on health condition (n = 808) indicated 81.7% were reported as healthy at time of capture. Information on post-capture disposition (n = 268) showed that only 23% were translocated immediately. Mean estimated killing combined with reported translocation removals was calculated to affect 3.3% of orangutans in Kalimantan, and 11.6% in Sumatra, both higher than the threshold of mortality from human actions expected to drive populations to extinction. Negative impacts are likely compounded where multiple individuals are translocated from the same area, and for the Tapanuli orangutan (P. tapanuliensis), which has the smallest population and range of all orangutan species. Data on reasons for capture (n = 743) indicated most translocations (69%) were conducted to address crop foraging and orangutan presence in or around croplands and plantations. Forest cover analysis around 104 orangutan capture sites with high resolution spatial information indicated that deforestation levels in the year preceding capture were not significantly associated with likelihood of captures for translocation. To improve conservation outcomes, wild-to-wild translocations should be used only in exceptional circumstances. Most orangutans should instead be monitored and protected in situ by addressing conflicts and maintaining the forests, including forest fragments, they are using. When translocation is necessary, post-release survival and potential conservation impacts must be monitored.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Animals, Wild/genetics; Female; Indonesia; Male; Ecosystem; Endangered Species; Forests
  14. Wang Y, Sun J, Guo X, Dong D, Luan C, Wang X
    PLoS One, 2025;20(3):e0318693.
    PMID: 40106460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318693
    OBJECTIVE: To explore the functional characteristics and principal component differences of electromyography in different phases of the gait cycle, to provide key parameters for identifying a complete gait, and to provide a reference for joint moment solving in the lower limb.

    METHODS: Twenty young men were selected to measure the natural gait EMG of 14 muscles of the lower limb using VICON and NORAXON devices. Gait was classified into two categories according to the Niyogi S A classification, integral EMG differences were compared, and principal component analysis was performed on the differing muscles to calculate Cohen's d values for significant differences and ΔIEMG values for non-significant differences.

    RESULTS: (1) Significant differences existed in the integral EMG of the left semitendinosus, right semitendinosus, right biceps femoris, and left gastrocnemius muscles, both lateral and medial. (2) Principal component analysis showed significant differences in the left semitendinosus for principal component five (P 

    MeSH terms: Adult; Humans; Male; Principal Component Analysis; Young Adult
  15. Zubaidi SN, Wong PL, Qadi WSM, Dawoud EAD, Hamezah HS, Baharum SN, et al.
    J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2025 Mar 12;260:116806.
    PMID: 40106911 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2025.116806
    The leaves of Annona muricata Linn. have long been utilized in traditional medicine for diabetes treatment, and there is no study that has employed a metabolomics approach to investigate the plant's effects in managing the disease. We aimed to explore the antidiabetic effects of the standardised A. muricata leaf extract on diabetes-induced rats by alloxan monohydrate (Ax) and nicotinamide (NA) using a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR)-based metabolomics approach. Absolute quantification was performed on the leaf extract using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Two different doses of the extract were administered orally for four weeks to diabetic rats induced with Ax + NA, and physical evaluations, biochemical analyses, and ¹H-NMR metabolomics of urine and serum were assessed. The results showed that quercetin 3-rutinoside was the most abundant compound in the 80 % ethanolic extract of A. muricata leaf. The induction of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the rat model was confirmed by the clear metabolic distinction between normal rats, diabetic rats, and metformin-treated diabetic rats. The low-dose of A. muricata leaf extract (200 mg/kg) was found to exhibit better results, significantly reducing serum urea levels in diabetic rats, with effects comparable to those of metformin. Additionally, metabolite analysis from ¹H-NMR metabolomics of serum and urine showed a slight shift toward normal metabolic profiles in the treated diabetic rats. Pathway analysis revealed alterations in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), pyruvate metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways in the diabetic rat model, which were improved following treatment with the A. muricata leaf extract. Overall, this study provides scientific support for its traditional use in diabetes management and offers new insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms.
  16. Mohd Nazir NZ, Lee KE, Ab Rahim AR, Goh TL, Mokhtar M, Rahim Wan Abdullah WA, et al.
    J Environ Manage, 2025 Mar 18;380:124811.
    PMID: 40106989 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124811
    Water stress, exacerbated by population growth and climate change, necessitates sustainable wastewater management solutions that promote resource recovery and environmental protection. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) offer a viable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment by leveraging natural processes for water purification and ecosystem restoration. However, the lack of standardised criteria for defining and evaluating NBS in wastewater management has led to inconsistencies in research and practice. This study conducts a systematic review of NBS applications in wastewater treatment, using Scopus and Web of Science databases, to delineate their fundamental attributes and establish a structured evaluation framework. By assessing NBS against seven key characteristics, i.e., natural processes, sustainability and resilience, biodiversity enhancement, multifunctionality, community and stakeholder involvement, cost-effectiveness and engineering approach, this study provides a comprehensive framework for distinguishing genuine NBS from other nature-inspired interventions. The findings contribute to improving the scientific rigour of NBS classifications, ensuring their scalability and fostering their integration into environmental management. This study offers a novel methodological approach to evaluating the effectiveness and applicability of NBS in wastewater management, facilitating their broader adoption and guiding future policy and research directions.
  17. Ruya PM, Silva MP, Reyniers G, Ruya GA, Lim SS, Wenten IG, et al.
    Water Res, 2025 Mar 15;280:123504.
    PMID: 40107210 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.123504
    Industrial use of critical metals such as cobalt (Co) and manganese (Mn) generates metal-containing wastewater. Sustainable and effective solutions are yet to be developed to recover these elements in reusable forms, mainly due to the low metal ion concentration and presence of organics (e.g., in green plastic production). Thus, this study aimed to explore the feasibility of metal ion recovery from synthetic wastewater containing metal ions (e.g., Mn2+, Co2+) and high content of organic acid using electrodialysis (ED)-based process, with a specific focus to understand the fundamental performance constrains and find effective routes to intensify the recovery efficiency. The parametric study in the conventional ED demonstrated that the choice of more electrically conductive receiving solution greatly promoted the metal ion transport rate (ITR) by ∼26 % and reduced the energy consumption to 0.0045 kWh/kg metal recovered; while an optimal applied voltage of 1 V was chosen to avoid energy penalty through water splitting. Nevertheless, inherent limitations to further improvement of mass transfer of metal ions were identified in conventional ED. To this end, the adverse effect of concentration polarization was overcome by applying a pulsed electric field (PEF) in ED, reaching Co2+ ITR of 0.537mg·cm-2·h-1, which was 40 % higher than the optimal in conventional ED. Also, the competitive ion (H+ from acetic acid in this study) transport was found to impede the effective transfer of metal ions across the membrane. Thus, a novel integration of ED with a pretreatment method (i.e., super critical water gasification (SCWG)) was proposed to remove the acid for significantly intensifying the metal ion recovery with 50 % shorter treatment time, which was simulated to demonstrate the potential of energy self-sufficiency. The findings highlight the importance of advancing beyond traditional process optimization to address the complexities of real-world wastewater treatment, contributing to the development of unconventional and more sustainable treatment technologies and closed-loop industrial solutions.
  18. Satapathy P, Gaidhane S, Bishoyi AK, Ganesan S, V K, Mishra S, et al.
    Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 2025 Mar 08;112(3):116767.
    PMID: 40107226 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2025.116767
    BACKGROUND: Despite global progress, South Asian countries account for a disproportionate burden of Acute hepatitis E (AHE). Understanding the burden of AHE in this region is crucial for targeted interventions.

    METHODS: We used Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data to assess the burden of AHE across eight South Asian countries from 1990 to 2021. Joinpoint regression was used to analyze temporal trends and Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC) was calculated to quantify trends. The relationship between age-standardized disability-adjusted life years rate (ASDR) and socio-demographic index (SDI) was assessed using smoothing spline model and Spearman rank correlation. Rates are expressed per 100,000 population.

    RESULTS: Bangladesh had highest age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) [33.27 (95 % Uncertainty Interval: 27.64 to 39.95)] and age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) [433.01 (359.61 to 519.76)], while India had highest ASDR [9.52 (4.33 to 18.42)]. Males had higher ASIR and ASPR than females in most South Asian countries, except Bhutan and India, and higher ASDR except in Nepal and Pakistan. Bhutan had the highest EAPC for both sexes in ASPR and ASIR, while India had the highest EAPC in ASDR, closely followed by Bhutan for both sexes. Age group 5-9 had the highest ASPR and ASIR whereas <1-year age group had the highest ASDR. There was an inverse relationship between ASDR and SDI (R = -0.49, p < 0.01).

    CONCLUSION: South Asia bears a high burden of AHE, with variations across countries. Improvements in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services are needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6.

  19. Soni D, Garg Y, Upadhayay S, Bhatia A, Basir B, Singh SK, et al.
    Eur J Pharmacol, 2025 Mar 17;998:177523.
    PMID: 40107337 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177523
    Auranofin (AUF) is a gold-based compound that has demonstrated a wide range of biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. However, the neuronal use of AUF is restricted due to its low bioavailability. Thus, to improve blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration and investigate its antiparkinsonian impact, the researchers developed AUF-loaded hybrid nanoparticles (AUFHNPs). This research delves into the neuroprotective potential of AUFHNPs against rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease (PD). The MTT assay, Acridine orange/Ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis were performed on SH-SY5Y lines. Also, AUFHNPs were prepared and characterized. For the in-vivo study, AUF, its NPs and rotenone were administered for 28 days, and behavioral parameters were performed on day 27 and 28. On the 29th day, animals were sacrificed, and brains were isolated for biochemical assessment, apoptotic and inflammatory markers evaluation, histopathology, and molecular examination. In-vitro results showed that AUF significantly restored cell viability and reduced apoptosis. Spherical-shaped NPs were observed under FE-SEM/TEM analysis. Administration of AUFHNPs in rats significantly restored motor activity and neuronal morphological changes by phosphorylating GSK-3β to increase the expression of Nrf2/HO-1. This study concludes that developing AUFHNPs increases AUF's bioavailability in the brain and exerts neuroprotection via modulating GSK-3β/Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.
  20. Mohamad B, Adamu AA, Rahayu S, Suciati P, Mona N, Raza SH
    Risk Anal, 2025 Mar 19.
    PMID: 40107842 DOI: 10.1111/risa.70006
    Over the past 5 years, Indonesia has faced numerous sudden crises due to its geographical location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. These events highlight the frequent occurrence of sudden crises in Indonesia and underscore the need for robust disaster preparedness and response systems. Effective crisis management requires a strategy that immediately informs organizations and the health sector of necessary actions. This study aims to investigate the effects of safety culture (SC), supportive environment (SE), management commitment (MC), and social media usage on internal crisis communication (ICC) during crises in Indonesia. It also compares the multiple regression models between employees in the private and public sectors. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with 567 full-time employees from various organizations who have been directly affected by crises. The findings reveal that, for public sector employees, all antecedents negatively impact ICC except for SC and MC. In contrast, for private sector employees, all antecedents positively impact ICC except for MC and the perceived usefulness of social media. This study highlights the importance of MC, an SE, SC, and the perceived usefulness of social media in determining employees' ICC during crises. The significance of an SE and SC on employees' perceptions of ICC is similarly emphasized.
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