Topic Review
COVID-19 and Sleep Disturbances
The need for adequate good quality sleep to optimally function is well known. Various physical, psychological, biological, and social factors have been investigated to understand their impact on sleep. However, understanding the etiological processes that are involved in causing sleep disturbances (SD) as impacted by stressful phases such as pandemics has not been well studied. Many such etiological and management strategies have surfaced during the “coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The occurrence of these SD in the infected and uninfected individuals poses a need to investigate factors linked to such occurrence during this phase. Some of such factors include stressful practices such as social distancing, masking, vaccines, and medications availability, changes in routines, and lifestyles. As the status of infection improved, a collective term for all the prolonged effects of COVID-19 after the resolution of the primary infection called the post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) surfaced. Apart from impacting sleep during the infectious phase, the aftereffects of this virus left an even greater impact during the PCS.
  • 946
  • 05 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Role of IMs for Evaluation of DW Safety
Water safety and quality are essential for human development, well-being, and ecosystem health. Ensuring access to safe water is one of the most effective measures to promote health and reduce poverty. The contamination level of raw water directly influences the efficiency of drinking water (DW) treatment, subsequently impacting the quality of the produced DW. The microbiological quality assessment of DW and drinking water sources (DWSs) is based on the detection of indicator microorganisms (IMs). However, the relationship between IMs and pathogens has been questioned, as pathogens have been detected even in the absence of IMs, and vice versa.
  • 266
  • 04 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Vitamin D: Cost-Effectively Overcoming Infections and Chronic Diseases
The prevalence of chronic diseases increases with age, especially in those with co-morbidities. The two most common denominators are the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and low concentrations of angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor-2 (ACE2). Whether vitamin D deficiency initiates or aggravates chronic diseases is unclear: the likelihood is both. Hypovitaminosis D negatively affects all body systems, especially the musculoskeletal and immune systems. Many chronic conditions and infections can be minimized using the right dose of vitamin D supplements administered at the right frequency (daily or once weekly) or direct sun exposure to one-third of the skin between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM, in summer like sunlight, for 20 to 60 minutes depending on the skin tone. It is advisable to wear sunglasses and a brimmed hat to protect one’s eyes and face. Maintaining the population serum 25(OH)D concentration above 40 ng/mL (i.e., sufficiency) ensures a better immune system, minimizing symptomatic diseases and reducing infections and chronic diseases. The best clinical outcome and longevity are expected from maintaining the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations between 50 and 80 ng/mL.
  • 905
  • 04 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Role of 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic Acid in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents a significant public health concern in modern society. Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which includes diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity, represents a modifiable risk factor for AD. MetS and AD are interconnected through various mechanisms, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, insulin resistance (IR), vascular impairment, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Therefore, it is necessary to seek a multi-targeted and safer approach to intervention. Thus, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), a unique hydroxy fatty acid in royal jelly, has shown promising anti-neuroinflammatory, blood–brain barrier (BBB)-preserving, and neurogenesis-promoting properties.
  • 457
  • 01 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Indoor Environmental Quality, Pupils’ Health, and Academic Performance
Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) relates to the conditions that exist within a building; these include indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal conditions, visual (e.g., lighting) and aural (e.g., noise) comfort, and their potential effects on building occupants. Classrooms have more students per square meter than other buildings such as offices, making them more crowded. Poor IEQ has been shown to influence learning and concentration, as well as impact the long-term health of students. A continuous classroom IEQ research review and appraisal are needed to summarize existing knowledge, which can help other researchers avoid research duplication and identify research gaps for future studies.
  • 195
  • 01 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Multitoxin Contamination
Mycotoxins, as natural products of molds, are often unavoidable contaminants of food and feed, to which the increasingly evident climate changes contribute a large part. The consequences are more or less severe and range from economic losses to worrying health problems to a fatal outcome. One of the best preventive approaches is regular monitoring of food and feed for the presence of mycotoxins. However, even under conditions of frequent, comprehensive, and conscientious controls, the desired protection goal may not be achieved. In fact, it often happens that, despite favorable analytical results that do not indicate high mycotoxin contamination, symptoms of their presence occur in practice. The most common reasons for this are the simultaneous presence of several different mycotoxins whose individual content does not exceed the detectable or prescribed values and/or the alteration of the form of the mycotoxin, which renders it impossible to be analytically determined using routine methods. When such contaminated foods enter a living organism, toxic effects occur.
  • 169
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Health Implications of Oxalates
Oxalate is an antinutrient present in a wide range of foods, with plant products, especially green leafy vegetables, being the main sources of dietary oxalates. This compound has been largely associated with hyperoxaluria, kidney stone formation, and, in more severe cases, systematic oxalosis. Due to its impact on human health, it is extremely important to control the amount of oxalate present in foods, particularly for patients with kidney stone issues.
  • 392
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Influence of Probiotics on Depressive Disorders
Depressive disorders have a major impact on occupational health and are costly to the economy and the healthcare system. Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic micro-organisms that, when ingested in adequate amounts, can colonize the intestinal tract and confer health benefits on the patient. Numerous studies have described the potential usefulness of certain probiotic strains in the treatment and prevention of depressive disorders, with differing results.
  • 255
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Dysfunction of Biliary Sphincter of Oddi
Biliary Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is one of the main causes of post-cholecystectomy pain. Biliary SOD is classified into three types according to Milwaukee classification, based on clinical presentation as well as laboratory and/or imaging abnormalities. As a functional disorder, SOD is classified according to Rome IV criteria. Currently, patients with post-cholecystectomy pain and SOD are mostly diagnosed by the Rome IV criteria. The management of SOD most often involves non-pharmacologic treatment, and high-level evidence supports sphincterotomy in type 1 and 2 SOD. Emerging high-quality data show no effect of sphincterotomy for patients with type 3 SOD. However, ERCP with biliary sphincterotomy is associated with post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis rates from 10% to 15%.
  • 285
  • 30 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Robotic Surgery
The advent of robotic surgical systems had a significant impact on every surgical area, especially urology, gynecology, and general and cardiac surgery. 
  • 323
  • 30 Aug 2023
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