There is broad consensus that successful repair of severe peripheral nerve injuries requires recreating key structural and cellular features of the natural regenerative process, particularly the action of Bands of Büngner (BoB), longitudinal Schwann cell (SC) structures that guide regenerating axons. Current biomaterial-based strategies have shown limited efficacy, in part because they do not sufficiently reproduce the anisotropic and cellular microenvironment established by BoB, resulting in disorganized axonal growth and reduced regenerative efficiency across long gaps. To address this limitation, a biohybrid scaffold designed to promote Schwann cell self-organization into Büngner-like structures through defined physical cues. Rather than relying solely on biochemical supplementation is developed, this system leverages anisotropic fiber architecture to induce SC alignment and early activation-associated phenotypic modulation. In this study, a self-organizing biohybrid BoB (BBoB) construct formed by Schwann cells within an aligned fiber-based scaffold is presented. It is demonstrated that these engineered structures recapitulate key morphological features of native BoB in vitro and promote enhanced axonal regeneration across a 11 mm sciatic nerve defect in vivo. Together, these findings support the concept that physically programmed Schwann cell organization within biomaterial conduits can enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, using clinically accessible biomaterials and autologous Schwann cells.

Epidemiological research on self-harm in older adults (aged 65+ years) remains scarce despite its growing public health significance amid global ageing.

This study aimed to analyse the global burden, risk factors and projections of self-harm mortality in adults aged 65+ years from 1990 to 2050.

Utilising data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, this research examined the spatiotemporal patterns of self-harm mortality and years of life lost by age, gender and socio-demographic index (SDI) in adults aged 65+ across 204 countries and territories (grouped into 21 regions) from 1990 to 2021. It also explored the changes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, identified key risk factors and projected the future burden of self-harm mortality through 2050.

Global self-harm deaths among older adults increased from 116 642 in 1990 to 167 920 in 2021, a rise of 43.96%. However, the age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) decreased by 39.56%, from 36.83 to 22.26 per 100 000. In 2021, central sub-Saharan Africa had the highest ASMR at 61.35 per 100 000, while North Africa and the Middle East recorded the lowest at 4.88 per 100 000. Male ASMR was 2.5 times as high as that of females (33.61 vs. 13.58 per 100 000), and adults aged 85 years and older were at particularly elevated risk. High alcohol use was identified as a major risk factor, especially for males. A U-shaped relationship between ASMR and the SDI was observed, with the lowest point at an SDI of approximately 0.70. Projections indicate a further 46.05% decline in ASMR to 12.01 per 100 000 by 2050.

These results highlight complex global trends in self-harm mortality and associated risk factors among older adults, emphasising the urgent need for sex-, age-, and region-specific interventions, enhanced social support and systematic risk monitoring to inform age-friendly self-harm prevention policies, and sustainable development support goals.

In-theater inhalation exposure to burn pit emissions (BPEs) and sand has been linked to respiratory issues, prompting a study to identify molecular alterations and potential biomarkers related to exposure and outcomes.

Using a complex in vivo exposure scenario to mimic in-theater inhalation exposures, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to clean air (Control), BPEs, Sand, or a combination of BPE + Sand via whole-body exposure chambers. After euthanasia, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected at 4 days and 90 days post-exposure, and bacterial amplicon sequence variants were identified using genomic DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Both BPE and BPE + Sand exposures significantly altered the lung microbiome, demonstrating increased mean alpha diversity and the highest number of unique ASVs. These changes in the lung microbiome began as early as 4 days post-exposure and continued throughout 90 days post-exposure. BPE and BPE + Sand groups had increased levels of Bradyrhizobium and Methylobacterium and decreased levels of Pseudomonas compared to the Control and Sand groups. The genera most associated with the differences at 4 days post-exposure between the BPE vs. Control and BPE + Sand vs. Control groups were Corynebacterium, Geobacillus, Sphingomonas, and Streptococcus. Interestingly, the lung microbiome from the Sand or Control groups was not significantly altered based on alpha or beta diversity and shared the most abundant genera.

These data indicate that BPE exposure significantly alter the lung microbiome, whereas sand inhalation exposures alone did not seem to cause significant changes, nor did they provide an additive effect when combined with BPE. While the sub-chronic exposure study design led to more subtle molecular alterations in the lung tissue than expected, BPE exposures resulted in distinct and significant microbiome compositional changes in the lung. The observed population shift provided a signature specific to the type of inhalation exposure. Further efforts could lead to an understanding of the role of individual lung microbiomes in inhalation exposure risks and outcomes.

The self is increasingly conceptualized as an embodied, predictive process in contemporary cognitive and affective neuroscience. The brain continually infers the causes of both exteroceptive and interoceptive signals in order to minimize prediction error and maintain allostatic balance. Within this framework, emotion can be understood as an inference about changes in bodily states. Parallel themes have long been articulated in traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM), where emotions are understood to modulate the flow of Qi and clinical practice is aimed at restoring dynamic balance through breath, movement, attention, acupuncture, and related interventions. This study brings these traditions into dialogue, arguing that the phenomenology of bodily patterns and the directional qualities of emotion in TEAM are compatible with predictive-processing accounts of interoception, allostasis, and affect regulation. We summarize key research on autonomic flexibility, emotional "body maps," and interoception; integrate clinical observations from acupuncture practice; offer testable cross-framework hypotheses; and outline implications for mental health and wellbeing. We advocate a pluralistic, pragmatic approach that acknowledges conceptual diversity while using points of convergence to guide research and practice, rather than forcing one framework into the terms of the other. Bridging modern neuroscience with traditional insights can support a more deeply embodied understanding of the self and provide new avenues for investigating the regulation of emotional life.

This literature review critically examines the design, validation, and application of non-invasive in-ear electroencephalography (ear-EEG) systems as emerging wearable platforms for long-term neurophysiological monitoring and intervention. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies published between 2010 and 2025 were systematically selected from four major databases and organized into four thematic domains: in-ear wearable system design and validation, multimodal sensing and stimulation, embedded intelligence, and brain-state monitoring and rehabilitation. The review focuses exclusively on wearable, ear-centered EEG technologies, explicitly excluding cochlear implants and other invasive or behind-the-ear systems. We analyze key engineering challenges unique to ear-EEG, including electrode placement constraints, mechanical-electrical coupling, motion robustness, power efficiency, and long-term wearability. The review highlights a growing transition toward compact, wireless ear-EEG systems with on-device signal processing and embedded machine learning, enabling real-time brain-state estimation under ambulatory conditions. Multimodal integration, combining ear-EEG with complementary sensors such as EOG, inertial units, and cardiovascular signals is shown to improve artifact awareness, contextual interpretation, and closed-loop capability. Beyond summarizing existing technologies, this review identifies critical gaps limiting clinical translation, including the lack of standardized validation protocols, limited embedded autonomy, and underexplored closed-loop neurofeedback and neuromodulation architectures. By synthesizing advances across hardware design, signal processing, and intelligent system integration, this work provides a systems-level roadmap for the future development of wearable, intelligent, and clinically robust ear-EEG platforms for mental health, neurorehabilitation, and continuous brain monitoring.

While there are many anecdotal claims and a growing body of literature on the health benefits of martial arts (MA) and combat sports (CS), research on their perception by practitioners is scarce.

This cross-sectional study (N = 268) explored the associations between self-rated health and perceived health benefits of MA/CS, by utilizing a MA/CS specific questionnaire as well as widely used measures for mental and physical health. Additionally, the association of training age (in years) and training frequency (per month) with perceived health benefits was examined.

The results of the hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses indicated that training frequency was not associated with perceived health benefits, whereas training age showed a small association. Interestingly, in an explorative step, current self-rated health was associated with additional variance in the perceived health benefits. Small to medium associations were found between mental and physical health.

It is concluded that health benefits are reported by MA/CS practitioners regardless of training age or frequency, and may therefore be relevant to a larger population. Nevertheless, future studies are needed to further explore these relationships using a longitudinal approach.

Psychological distress, such as stress, depression or anxiety, is a prevalent mental health concern during pregnancy. However, data on the association between prenatal maternal psychological distress and the risk of autism or autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in their offspring have not been synthesized systematically. We performed a meta-analysis to explore this issue and provide evidence regarding maternal mental health screening and ASD prevention.

Six electronic databases were systematically searched up to June 2025. English-language full-text observational studies were included, with no geographic or race restrictions. Studies that quantitatively assessed the association between maternal psychological distress during pregnancy and the risk of ASD in offspring were eligible for inclusion. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were assessed.

Among 484 full-text records screened, 22 studies were eligible. Data analysis demonstrated that offspring of mothers with prenatal psychological distress have a 72% higher likelihood of being diagnosed with ASD or autism after the age of two (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.50-1.97, p < 0.01) compared to those of mothers without distress. This association was observed across different study designs and ASD diagnostic ascertainment methods, although effect estimates varied. Substantial between-study heterogeneity was observed (I ² = 87.90%), largely attributable to differences in study design, ASD ascertainment and distress assessment rather than psychological distress subtype.

In this meta-analysis, prenatal maternal psychological distress was associated with an increased likelihood of an ASD diagnosis in offspring. Across the included studies, effect estimates were generally similar for stress, depression, and anxiety, despite substantial heterogeneity in study design and exposure assessment. This consistency suggests that elevated ASD risk is not confined to a single diagnostic category of maternal distress. At the same time, the findings should be interpreted considering the variability in how psychological distress was measured and controlled for across studies. Taken together, the results indicate that maternal psychological distress during pregnancy warrants attention in epidemiological research and routine antenatal care, without implying that specific psychiatric subtypes can be clearly distinguished in terms of offspring ASD risk.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251119825, PROSPERO: CRD420251119825.

Surf and hike therapies have been shown to significantly reduce depression symptom severity. However, the factors that moderate depression symptom reduction are not well understood and may support treatment recommendations. To identify potential moderators of symptom improvement, this study analyzed whether perceived exertion affected changes in depression symptom severity during surf or hike therapy.

Participants were 86 active duty service members with major depressive disorder from a previous randomized clinical trial. Exertion was measured using the modified Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale and assessed immediately after each of 6 weekly exercise therapy sessions. Study outcomes were depression/anxiety (4-item Patient Health Questionnaire-4) and positive affect (Positive Affect Schedule) scores from pre- to postsession.

Multilevel models demonstrated that surf and hike therapies significantly decreased depression/anxiety symptom severity and positive affect from pre- to postsession (ps < 0.001). Exploratory condition-specific analyses revealed that an average level of relative perceived exertion was associated with the greatest changes in depression/anxiety (p = 0.028) and positive affect (p = 0.074) during surf therapy. In hike therapy, higher and lower relative perceived exertion levels were related to greater reductions in depression/anxiety (p = 0.084), but exertion was not associated with changes in positive affect (p = 0.155).

Results suggest that the optimal level of perceived exertion required for maximizing benefit to depression/anxiety and positive affect may depend on the specific activity. Future investigations could consider examining other influences and contexts of exercise (e.g., environmental, social) to elucidate reasons for symptom change and maximize benefit for depression treatment.

Depression is a major global health concern, characterized by profound mental and physical debilitation that severely impairs quality of life. The World Health Organization projects that it will become the second-leading cause of global disease burden by 2030, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies. However, the pathogenesis of depression remains incompletely elucidated, and first-line pharmacological treatments, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are frequently limited by delayed clinical onset, suboptimal response rates, and notable adverse effects. In contrast, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its holistic philosophy and potential for multi-target modulation, offers a promising complementary approach. This review systematically synthesizes contemporary research on TCM for depression, covering botanical drug formulas, single medicinal botanical drugs, and their purified bioactive metabolites. We critically evaluate the proposed mechanisms-spanning monoaminergic regulation, modulation of neurotrophic factors, anti-inflammatory activity, and interactions between the microbiota-gut-brain axis-and discuss the associated translational challenges and future research directions.

People living with HIV (PLWH) may be exposed to harmful political, social, economic and environmental factors that exacerbate their risk of mental health conditions. Such factors can interact synergistically to worsen HIV and mental health-related outcomes, creating a syndemic. This study aims to review existing literature on mental health-related syndemics and their impact on HIV and mental health outcomes.

CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus and ProQuest were searched. We included observational studies that investigated a potential mental health-related syndemic and/or reported the impact of a syndemic on HIV outcomes (antiretroviral therapy [ART] adherence or viral suppression), or mental health outcomes (mental health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or psychological distress) among PLWH. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality and risk of bias. The impact of syndemic count on ART adherence and viral suppression was pooled using random effects using STATA and the remaining findings were synthesised narratively. PRISMA guidelines were followed.

32 studies were included with sample sizes ranging from 51 participants to 14,261. Six studies reported on mental health-related syndemics among PLWH, four of which found depression or distress to be the most influential syndemic factor. Mental health conditions within syndemics often cluster and are significantly associated with socioeconomic factors such as food insecurity, stigma and violence. Fifteen of 16 studies found a significant association between adherence and the number of mental health-related syndemics. Pooled odds ratio of seven studies showed a significant reduction in adherence (OR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.55 - 0.96); heterogeneity was high (I ² = 98.58%). Eleven of 13 studies found a significant association between the number of mental health-related syndemics and being virally suppressed. Four studies resulted in a significant pooled odds ratio for having detectable viral load (OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.10 - 1.44); heterogeneity was moderate (I ² = 52.38%).

Despite wide variation in how syndemics were defined and measured across studies, our findings suggest that mental health conditions, particularly depression, strongly influence synergising syndemics among PLWH, and mental health-related syndemics negatively impact ART adherence and viral load. These findings underscore the need for syndemic-informed holistic care models to address the intersecting burden of mental health conditions and psychosocial factors among PLWH.