Mindfulness-based training (MBT) can improve cognitive function, emotional regulation, and motor performance in sports settings. Given the importance of both technical skills and attentional abilities in soccer performance, this study aimed to investigate the impact of MBT on shooting, passing, and mindfulness in male novice players aged 10-14.

This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test-post-test design with a control group and was conducted from June to August 2024 at the indoor sports complex of Miandoab County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Forty novice male football players aged 10 to 14 years were recruited using a convenience sampling method and randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group through simple randomization using sealed, opaque envelopes. The intervention group received mindfulness-based training (MBT) combined with football skill training, whereas the control group received football skill training alone. The intervention period lasted four weeks, during which both groups trained three times per week. Each session for the intervention group consisted of 20 minutes of football skill practice followed by 20 minutes of MBT exercises, while participants in the control group completed 20 minutes of football skill practice only. Shooting skill, passing skill, and mindfulness, assessed using the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport (MIS), were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 26.

The intervention group showed significant improvements in mindfulness (Pre: 58.50±15.22, Post: 65.75±12.47, P<0.001), football shooting accuracy (Pre: 47.95±9.10, Post: 58.85±13.51, P=0.012), and passing accuracy (Pre: 7.00±1.55, Post: 9.65±3.01, P=0.028) compared with the control group, which showed no significant changes. Between-group analysis controlling for baseline scores confirmed these differences (mindfulness P=0.001, shooting P=0.001, passing P=0.001) with moderate to large effect sizes (partial η²=0.30-0.87), highlighting the practical significance of mindfulness training on mental and technical performance in novice male players.

Mindfulness-based training combined with football skill drills significantly enhances shooting and passing performance, as well as mindfulness levels, in novice male football players aged 10 to 14. Given the critical developmental stage and the school-based context of youth sports, integrating MBT practices into school football training programs can effectively improve both technical skills and mental focus. Coaches and educators are encouraged to implement mindfulness interventions as a practical, accessible approach to support the holistic development of young athletes within school environments.

This study develops a machine learning model to predict osteoporosis in Chinese postmenopausal women. The model was trained using the largest nationwide cohort and externally validated. It showed AUCs of 0.744-0.798 and demonstrated prognostic value for 5-year fracture risk, supporting population-level screening where DXA resources are limited.

Osteoporosis is highly prevalent among Chinese postmenopausal women, yet underdiagnosis remains due to limited DXA availability. We aimed to develop and validate a machine learning-based model for osteoporosis prediction using easily obtainable variables.

The model was trained using data from the largest nationwide cohort (China Osteoporosis Prevalence Study, n = 6,574) and externally validated in two independent cohorts: the China Vertebral and Osteoporosis Study (n = 1,758) and the Peking Vertebral Fracture Study baseline (n = 1,439). Five predictors selected via LASSO regression were used to train the prediction model. Model performance was evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) and calibration plot. To evaluate its ability to predict future fractures, the model was evaluated in a 5-year follow-up cohort (n = 795). A web-based calculator was developed for public use.

The model showed strong discrimination (AUC: 0.798 in the training cohort; 0.775 in the internal validation cohort; 0.750 and 0.744 in the external validation cohorts) and good calibration across all cohorts. A rule-out threshold (≥ 0.098) demonstrated high sensitivity (94.7%, 89.3%) and negative predictive value (91.3%, 92.7%) in two external cohorts. The model also demonstrated prognostic value for fracture risk stratification. In the 5-year follow-up, individuals classified as high risk had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of clinical fractures (HR 1.78; 95% CI, 1.06-2.99; P = 0.026), as well as higher rates of all fractures (15.9% vs. 9.5%; P = 0.015) and non-traumatic fractures (7.8% vs. 3.9%; P = 0.041).

This model demonstrated good performance in predicting osteoporosis among Chinese postmenopausal women and may facilitate two-step screening strategies.

Mpox remains endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where co-endemic infections and non-communicable comorbidities may influence disease severity and clinical outcomes. However, data on associated factors of adverse outcomes among hospitalised adults with mpox in African settings remain limited. This study aimed to describe the clinical profile of adults hospitalised with mpox in South Kivu Province, eastern DRC, and to explore associations between selected comorbid conditions, including HIV infection, malaria, and hyperglycaemia, and mpox disease severity, mortality, and hospitalisation duration. We conducted a multicentre retrospective observational study among adults admitted to five mpox treatment centres in South Kivu Province, DRC, between January 2024 and December 2025. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted from routine hospital registers. Mpox disease severity (available only for a subset of participants) was classified according to WHO criteria. Participants included adults with suspected, probable or laboratory-confirmed mpox according to WHO case definitions in use during the study period. In addition to mpox disease severity, outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality and duration of hospitalisation. Multivariable regression models were used to explore associations between selected comorbidities and clinical outcomes after adjustment for age and sex. Among 652 hospitalised adults included in the analysis, the median age was 26 years (IQR 21.0-35.0), and 383/652 (58.7%) were female. Among patients with recorded severity data (n = 104), moderate or severe mpox was documented in 88/104 (84.6%) patients. Overall mortality was 14/645 (2.2%). HIV infection was identified in 5 of the 71 participants tested (7.0%). Among participants with available test results, HIV infection appeared to be associated with higher mpox severity and mortality. Increasing age, but not HIV infection, malaria, or glycaemic status, was associated with longer hospitalisation. Because laboratory investigations were performed in only a subset of participants and missing data were substantial, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered exploratory. Prospective studies incorporating systematic laboratory testing and standardised clinical data collection are needed to better define factors associated with severe mpox in endemic African settings.

The oral and gut microbiomes form an interconnected ecosystem that may influence host defense. In the intensive care unit (ICU), endotracheal intubation, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and proton pump inhibitors can disrupt physiological barriers and may facilitate ectopic gut colonization by oral pathobionts. Such translocation could contribute to intestinal inflammation, barrier dysfunction, and systemic immune dysregulation; however, direct clinical evidence in critically ill patients remains limited and largely associative, and much of the mechanistic evidence derives from animal models or non-ICU populations. This hypothesis-generating narrative review synthesizes evidence across oral microbiology, gastroenterology, immunology, and critical care, while explicitly distinguishing clinically observed associations from preclinical mechanisms and proposed ICU pathways. Current evidence supports mechanical toothbrushing as a core component of oral care, whereas routine non-selective chlorhexidine use warrants caution. Saline irrigation and selective oropharyngeal decontamination may be considered in context, but evidence for protecting the gut through oral care remains insufficient for definitive practice recommendations. We also examine probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as investigational approaches and propose standardized prospective multicenter studies to test the oral-gut axis framework.

Interest in sustainable protein sources is increasing because of environmental concerns related to animal agriculture and the growing burden of chronic non-communicable diseases. Plant-derived bioactive peptides (PDBAPs), amino acid sequences released from dietary proteins, are gaining attention because experimental studies have reported activities relevant to hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer-associated processes. Although animal proteins have long been major sources of bioactive peptides, plant materials may offer advantages such as abundance, potentially lower production costs, and broad cultural acceptability; however, these benefits depend on the source, processing requirements, safety, and scale-up conditions. This review integrates plant sources, processing technologies, proposed mechanisms of action, and translational barriers. Current research covers traditional sources, including legumes and cereals, as well as agro-industrial by-products such as potato peels, spent coffee grounds, and broccoli stems. Modern processing strategies increasingly combine enzymatic hydrolysis or microbial fermentation with process-assisting technologies, including ultrasound treatment and subcritical water processing, to improve protein recovery or peptide release. Recent studies also examine proposed mechanisms of PDBAP activity, including Keap1/Nrf2-associated responses and inhibition of enzymes involved in metabolic disorders. Evidence is interpreted according to the stage of experimental validation, from computational prediction and cell-free assays to cellular, animal, and human studies. Key challenges remain, particularly digestive instability, uncertain systemic bioavailability, bitterness, safety standardization, and limited human clinical evidence. Future work should prioritize standardized extraction and analytical methods, optimized delivery systems, and robust clinical trials.

The rising burden of obesity and non-communicable diseases among young people has prompted global recommendations for healthier food environments, but evidence is limited across African universities. This study aims to assess the healthiness and spatial distribution of university food environments using in-store retail audits and outdoor food advertising assessments. Outdoor food advertisements were audited in two universities (excluding the University of Ibadan), while retail stores were assessed across three participating institutions within a 300-500 m radius of each campus. Data were collected using the INFORMAS protocol and the NEMS-S-MED in-store audit tool, respectively, alongside spatial analyses. A total of 76 food advertisements and 145 food retail stores were identified. Less than one-tenth (7.5%) of advertised products were healthy. Healthier foods in retail stores were predominantly characterised by moderately low (37.2%) and medium (31.7%) availability, while affordability was low (73.1%), resulting in over half being classified as having a low (51.7%) degree of healthiness. These differed significantly across institutions (p < 0.05), with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) having a more diverse, spatially dispersed and healthier food environment. There is a need to restrict unhealthy food advertising and encourage vendors' procurement and the sale of healthier foods.

Latin America and Africa face complex public health challenges shaped by social, environmental, and epidemiological factors. This study conducts a comparative analysis of publicly available national health strategies and national policy documents from 52 countries in Africa and 12 countries from Latin America, supplemented with data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The analysis focuses on five domains: social determinants of health, environmental health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and immunization. This study examines how these health priorities are represented in national policy frameworks. Across the reviewed country sample, national policy documents tend to emphasize challenges related to health care access, the growing burden of NCDs, and environmental risks. In selected Latin American countries, migration-related pressures, health system fragmentation, and uneven vaccination coverage are primarily highlighted. In selected African countries, policy priorities tend to focus on communicable diseases, infrastructure limitations, and large zero-dose populations. The study underscores policy priorities and highlights opportunities for cross-regional learning. Strengthening primary health care, improving domestic health financing, and enhancing environmental health governance emerge as key areas for policy development. These findings support the value of comparative policy analysis in informing context-sensitive and equity-oriented health strategies.

Exposure to physical inactivity (PI) may be a risk factor for the development of one or more noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs). The present study examined the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, as well as their various combinations, among the Brazilian population exposed to PI. A total of 323,448 Brazilian men and women aged 18 to 59 years from the 26 state capitals and the Federal District were contacted by telephone and answered questions regarding their physical activity (PA) and health conditions, including medical diagnoses of NCDs. Participants who reported not engaging in any type of PA at home, at work, during commuting, or during leisure time were assigned to the PI group, whereas the remaining participants comprised the control group. Physical inactivity was associated (p < 0.05) with a 16% and 28% higher prevalence of obesity among middle-aged female and male participants, respectively. It was also associated (p < 0.05) with a higher prevalence of combined diabetes and hypertension, diabetes and obesity, and hypertension and obesity, ranging from 49-273%, 60-113%, and 20-71%, respectively. Additionally, physical inactivity was associated (p < 0.05) with a 73-106% higher prevalence of the coexistence of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

Chronic inflammatory barrier diseases (CIBDs) affect many women of reproductive age, yet the safety of biologics during pregnancy remains inadequately investigated. This retrospective cohort study used the US Collaborative Network of TriNetX to evaluate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) among women with CIBD receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis), interleukin-23 inhibitors (IL-23is), or conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), compared with untreated CIBD controls and the general pregnant population. Among 1842 pregnant women with CIBD receiving systemic therapy, 1188 were exposed to TNFis, 170 to IL-23is, 370 to azathioprine (csDMARD), and 114 to methotrexate (MTX) (csDMARD). The incidence of any APO ranged from 11% in untreated CIBD controls to 19% with ustekinumab (IL-12/23i). Among treatment groups, rates were 17% with TNFis, 18% with IL-23is, 13% with azathioprine, and 15% with MTX, compared with 17% in the general pregnant population. APO rates were comparable between the overall TNFi group and the TNFi group excluding certolizumab pegol (CZP) (TNFi). In the only non-exploratory comparison, TNFi exposure was associated with higher risks of (pre-)eclampsia and hypertension but a lower risk of abortion or intrauterine death versus CIBD controls, with no significant difference for overall APO. No treatment group showed a markedly increased overall APO risk, supporting tailored decision-making that balances the consequences of uncontrolled maternal disease against individual treatment-associated risks.

Background:PPP1R1B has been implicated in tumor progression in several malignancies; however, population-level genetic evidence supporting its role in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between PPP1R1B and ICC risk and prognosis using genetic and multi-omics analyses. Methods: Multiple public datasets were integrated, including finn-b-C3_LIVER_INTRAHEPATIC_BILE_DUCTS, ebi-a-GCST90018583, eqtl-a-ENSG00000131771, GSE138709, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-ICC, and FU-iCCA. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to evaluate the genetic association between PPP1R1B expression and ICC risk. PPP1R1B expression patterns were further characterized using single-cell and bulk transcriptomic analyses. Expression validation was conducted using TCGA-ICC data and tissue microarray immunohistochemistry. Survival analyses were performed using the FU-iCCA cohort and institutional clinical samples. Results: MR analysis identified PPP1R1B as significantly associated with increased ICC risk (p < 0.05, OR > 1), and sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the results. Single-cell analysis demonstrated enrichment of PPP1R1B expression in malignant cell populations. Bulk transcriptomic datasets and immunohistochemical validation confirmed elevated PPP1R1B expression in tumor tissues. High PPP1R1B expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival. Conclusions: Genetic and multi-omics evidence supports PPP1R1B as a risk-associated and potential prognostic biomarker in ICC, providing a translational genomics framework for future biomarker development. These findings complement previously reported functional studies and strengthen the biological relevance of PPP1R1B in ICC.