Introduction: Occupational stress is a significant concern in high-risk industries such as oil and gas exploration, where demanding roles and hazardous environments can adversely affect employee health and productivity. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of occupational stress and its impact on employee well-being and productivity among workers at an exploration and production plant in Kakinada, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 149 employees aged 18–60 years, selected using the systematic random sampling from various departments. Standardized tools, including the Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised, Job Descriptive Index, and Hersey and Goldsmith Productivity Questionnaire, were used to assess occupational stress, job satisfaction, and productivity. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation were used for data interpretation. Results: The key occupational stressors identified were role overload (RO) (mean = 3.15, standard deviation [SD] =1.23) and Role Ambiguity (Mean = 3.12, SD = 1.04). A negative correlation between RO and job satisfaction was also observed. In contrast, interpersonal relationships (IR) showed a positive correlation with job satisfaction and productivity, highlighting the importance of a supportive work environment. Conclusion: RO and ambiguity are significant occupational stressors that negatively affect job satisfaction and productivity among oil and gas plant workers. Supportive IR can enhance these outcomes. Targeted interventions to reduce role stress and improve workplace relationships are essential to enhance employee health and organizational performance
Background: Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are increasingly detected in human pregnancy-related matrices, including placenta, cord blood, meconium, and amniotic fluid, raising concern about in utero exposure during critical windows of development. Despite rapid growth in this field, evidence on maternal–fetal translocation, underlying biological mechanisms, and perinatal consequences remains heterogeneous and unevenly integrated across study types. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically synthesize human, animal, and in vitro evidence on MPs/NPs exposure during pregnancy and early life, with a focus on placental translocation, mechanistic plausibility, and reported perinatal outcomes. Methodology: FollowingPreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, we conducted a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and preprint servers through September 8, 2025, without language restrictions. Eligible studies included human biomonitoring and epidemiologic investigations, controlled animal experiments, and placental-relevant in vitro models. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment using risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions for human studies and Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation’s tool for animal studies. Evidence was integrated using a Bayesian qualitative synthesis framework, which weighted findings according to internal validity, cross-model consistency, and translational relevance rather than formal meta-analysis. Results: Among 4,493 screened records, 34 studies met the inclusion criteria (22 primary studies and 12 contextual secondary sources). Human biomonitoring consistently demonstrated the presence of MPs/NPs in placental and fetal compartments across multiple regions. Epidemiologic evidence suggested associations with reduced fetal growth and shorter gestational duration, although inference was limited by small sample sizes and observational designs. Experimental models provided convergent mechanistic support, implicating oxidative stress, ferroptosis, endocrine perturbation, metabolic reprogramming, and neurodevelopmental disruption. Risk-of-bias ratings were frequently moderate, reflecting exploratory scope rather than compromised analytical rigor. Conclusions: This review offers an integrated appraisal of MPs/NPs within the fetal ecosystem, supporting placental translocation and biologically plausible pathways of harm while acknowledging current epidemiologic limitations. The findings underscore priorities for standardized detection methods, prospective pregnancy cohorts, and proportionate preventive strategies spanning clinical practice and environmental policy.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented restrictions on human mobility and economic activities, providing a natural experiment to examine short-term changes in urban air quality. Kathmandu Valley, a densely populated basin-shaped city is particularly vulnerable to air pollution. Aims and Objectives: This study assessed changes and temporal trends in particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations in the Valley before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. Materials and Methods: Daily air quality data from seven ground-based monitoring stations were obtained for the period January 2018 to mid-June 2020. Pollutant trends were analyzed using non-parametric Mann–Kendall tests and Theil–Sen slope estimators, with comparisons made between lockdown (24 March–14 June 2020) and corresponding pre-lockdown periods in previous years. Results: PM2.5 and O3 exhibited pronounced seasonal variability, with PM2.5 peaking during winter and O3 during spring and summer. During the lockdown period, mean PM2.5 and O3 concentrations declined by 31.66% and 8.17%, respectively, compared with the average of the same period in 2018–2019. Trend analysis showed statistically significant declining monthly trends for PM2.5 (–9.55 µg/m³; 95% CI: –15.87 to –5.26) and O3 (–1.68 µg/m³; 95% CI: –3.22 to –0.01). Conclusion: The observed reductions in PM2.5 and O3 during the lockdown period likely reflect decreased anthropogenic emissions, although seasonal and meteorological influences cannot be excluded. These findings highlight the potential for sustained, non-lockdown policy interventions, such as cleaner transport and energy strategies, to improve urban air quality in Kathmandu Valley.
Climate change represents a primary driver among multiple anthropogenic factors and constitutes one of the most significant threats to global public health, the health of domesticated animals and wildlife, and environmental integrity in the One Health concept in the 21st century. Among its diverse impacts, vector-borne diseases (VBDs) including zoonoses have emerged and reemerged as particularly climate-sensitive health outcomes, reflecting the strong influence of climatic variables on vector ecology, pathogen transmission dynamics, and host–vector interactions. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and changes in humidity are fundamentally reshaping the ecology, abundance, and geographic distribution of disease vectors, including hematophagous arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, biting midges, blackflies, lice, fleas, and sandflies. This narrative review examines the intersection of climate change impacts and VBD prevention strategies, addressing contemporary challenges faced by public health systems worldwide. We analyze how climate variables affect vector biology, pathogen development, and transmission dynamics for major VBDs including malaria, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile virus, and leishmaniasis. The review synthesizes current evidence on climate-driven geographic range expansions, altered seasonality of transmission, and emerging outbreak patterns. We evaluate prevention and control strategies in the context of climate adaptation, including integrated vector management, novel biotechnologies such as Wolbachia-based approaches, climate-informed early warning systems, and vaccine development. Special attention is given to the Eastern Mediterranean region, where climate projections indicate increasing VBD suitability. The evidence demonstrates that climate change necessitates fundamental adaptations in public health surveillance, vector control programs, and health system preparedness. Effective responses require integration of climate data into disease forecasting, enhanced intersectoral collaboration through One Health approaches, and sustained investment in both traditional and innovative vector control technologies. This review provides preventive medicine practitioners in a One Health approach with an evidence-based framework for addressing climate-sensitive VBDs.
This review examines the growing body of evidence connecting exposure to air pollution with thyroid dysfunction across various populations and life stages. Recent epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic investigations increasingly identify air pollution – both particulate matter and gaseous pollutants – as a potential endocrine disruptor affecting thyroid function. Evidence suggests that airborne contaminants, especially fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅; particles with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm), may disrupt thyroid hormone balance, contribute to autoimmune thyroid conditions, and potentially increase thyroid cancer risk. Key biological mechanisms underlying these associations include oxidative stress, inflammation, direct endocrine disruption, neuroendocrine system disruption, and epigenetic alterations. Particularly susceptible populations include pregnant women, developing fetuses, children, older adults, and individuals with preexisting thyroid conditions or compromised thyroid function. This review identifies significant research gaps, including the need for enhanced exposure assessment methodologies, longitudinal studies, and investigation of component-specific effects within air pollution mixtures, particularly heavy metals. Given the essential role of thyroid hormones in metabolism, development, and numerous physiological processes, these findings carry noteworthy inferences for clinical practice and public health policy. The development of targeted interventions, improved screening protocols, and stronger air quality standards are necessary to address this emerging public health concern. Comprehensive air quality management represents a promising approach to minimize the global burden of thyroid disorders.
Context: Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) infections, including Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection, intestinal parasitic infections, and dyspepsia symptoms, pose significant health concerns among young adults. Aim: This study assesses the prevalence of these infections and their associated risk factors among Medical Laboratory Technician Iyienu Mission Hospital Ogidi students aged 17–28 years. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 students, with data collected through structured questionnaires. Materials and Methods: 2 mL blood sample was collected using a plain tube for the analysis of H. pylori while a pea-size stool sample was collected with a wide-mouth clean universal container for fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and intestinal parasite investigation. The prevalence of H. pylori infection, intestinal parasites, and dyspepsia symptoms was determined, and associations with dietary habits, water sources, and lifestyle factors were analyzed using statistical tests. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0. Results: The prevalence rates for positive FOBT, H. pylori infection, intestinal parasites, and dyspepsia symptoms were 33.3%, 40%, 13.3%, and 60%, respectively. Majority of the students experiencing dyspepsia symptoms were found to have poor dietary habits, including frequent consumption of spicy foods (53.3%), skipping breakfast (66.7%), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use (60%). H. pylori infection was significantly associated with the source of drinking water and food intake ( P < 0.001), with a higher prevalence among students consuming borehole water (26.7%) and those eating from food vendors (30%). In addition, a significant correlation was found between H. pylori infection, dyspepsia symptoms, and positive FOBT results ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings highlight the high burden of GIT infections among students and emphasize the need for improved hygiene education, dietary modifications, and routine screening for H. pylori . Interventions targeting risk factors such as water sanitation and food safety are recommended to reduce infection rates.
Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly those in developing countries, including Ghana, face significant hurdles in complying with standard precaution (SP) protocols in their line of duty, thereby increasing their risk of vulnerability to blood-related pathogens. Objective: We investigated SP compliance in Ghana with the view of enhancing the practice of occupational safety and health standards. Methods: We examined 105 HCWs at the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital on awareness of SP and compliance with SP using a structured questionnaire. Results: Awareness of SP measures was adequate. Accessibility to SP resources always was 17.1%. Compliance with SP guidelines was insufficient, as less than three-quarters of HCWs were compliant. Only 59.0% and 55.2% of HCWs washed their hands always between patient contacts and after touching their surroundings, respectively. Using Chi-square test and at a significance level of P < 0.05, prior SP training was shown to be significantly related to healthcare personnel’ compliance with SP protocols ( χ 2 = 4.363, P = 0.037). Based on logistic regression analysis and at a significance level of P < 0.05, when adjusted, workers with 5 or more years working experience are 8.5 times more likely to be compliant with SP protocols compared with those with < 2-year working experience (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 8.549, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.028–71.077, P = 0.047). Those in the operating theater ward, if unadjusted, are 12 times more likely to be compliant with SP protocols than those in the surgical recovery ward (correlation OR = 12.000, 95% CI: 1.019–141.336, P = 0.048). Conclusion: To improve healthcare delivery standards, particularly compliance to SP protocols, hospital management should ensure continuation of frequent in-service training in infection prevention and control and more SP resources must be provided.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impairs cognition and memory. In the United States, the number of Americans, aged 65 and older, living with AD is expected to increase more than double from the year 2020 to 2060. The high prevalence and burden of the disease have led to increasing efforts in finding a potential treatment. Although there is currently no cure for AD, lecanemab has shown evidence of slowing AD progression. This mini-review provides a brief summary on the several clinical trials that led to its Food and Drug Administration approval for mild cognitive impair and dementia in AD, and the potential concerns surrounding the approval of the drug.
This narrative review critically examines the state of occupational noise regulation and hearing conservation in African low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), a region where the burden of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is escalating due to rapid industrialization and systemic weaknesses in regulatory design and implementation. Using structured searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and April 2025 was systematically identified and screened. Twelve eligible studies focusing on regulatory and policy aspects of occupational hearing conservation in African LMICs were included. An inductive thematic analysis revealed four core themes: The existence and variability of occupational noise regulations across countries, persistent implementation and enforcement challenges, limited and fragmented characteristics of hearing conservation programs (HCPs), and critical gaps in policy frameworks. The findings indicate that while several African LMICs have adopted regulations addressing occupational noise exposure, there is significant inconsistency in scope, content, and application. Weak enforcement mechanisms, inadequate training and monitoring systems, low health literacy among workers, and lack of integration with broader public health strategies hinder effective prevention of NIHL. High-risk industries such as mining, manufacturing, and construction remain disproportionately affected. Emerging evidence from innovative interventions and the underutilized role of audiologists highlights opportunities for integrated, contextually tailored HCPs. This review highlights the need for strengthened, context-sensitive, and enforceable regulatory frameworks that are aligned with international standards but tailored to local realities. It provides essential insights for policymakers, occupational health professionals, audiologists, and other stakeholders seeking to reduce the burden of NIHL and advance hearing conservation in Africa. By consolidating findings and offering implementation-focused recommendations, this review contributes to shaping more responsive and sustainable occupational health policy across the region.
Microplastics (MPs, 1 µm–5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, < 1 µm) have infiltrated virtually every corner of our environment and human tissues, raising concerns about potential health impacts, particularly regarding thyroid function. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence linking MP exposure to thyroid dysfunction and examines the mechanisms, vulnerable populations, and public health implications. We conducted a comprehensive narrative review of the literature on MPs and thyroid function, using electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, and included 62 articles relevant to MP-thyroid interactions. Multiple pathways link MP exposure to thyroid disruption: plastic additives, such as phthalates and BPA directly interfering with hormone production and signaling; environmental contaminants hitchhiking on MP surfaces; and the physical particles themselves triggering inflammatory and oxidative stress responses in thyroid tissue. Of particular concern are vulnerable populations – pregnant women, developing fetuses, and children – where even subtle hormonal disruptions may have lifelong consequences. Recent detection of MPs in human placenta, blood, and thyroid tissue confirms internal exposure. While significant research gaps remain, particularly regarding long-term human exposure effects, mixture toxicity, and dose-response relationships at environmentally relevant concentrations, emerging evidence suggests MPs represent a significant threat to thyroid health. A precautionary approach to minimize exposure is warranted, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Background: Medicinal plants and their extracts are often used as folk medicine in developing countries for the management and/or prevention of diseases. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activities of the hydroethanol extracts of the leaves, fruits with seeds, and fruits without seeds of Xylopia aethiopica against clinical isolates. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial and antifungal evaluation of the hydroethanol extracts of the leaves and fruits (with seeds and without seeds) of Xylopia aethiopoica was done, using clinically isolated strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Mucor indicus, and Rhizopus nigricans, gotten from a tertiary teaching hospital, were exposed to varying concentrations of the extracts using the agar well diffusion method. Results: The hydroethanol extract of the leaves of X. aethiopica had no antibacterial effect at 50 mg/mL but inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus at 100 mg/mL, 150 mg/mL, and 200 mg/mL concentrations, respectively. That of the fruits with seeds inhibited the growth of E. coli and P. aeruginosa at the different concentrations used in this study in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the fruits without seeds were effective against only S. aureus at 100 mg/mL, 150 mg/mL, and 200 mg/mL concentrations. However, the hydroethanol extracts of the three plant parts at the concentrations used had no antifungal activity. Conclusion: The hydroethanol extracts of the three plant parts used in this research exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The extract has the potential in combating drug-resistant bacterial and formulation of new antimicrobial agents.
Growing concerns about genetic determinism across biological research have intensified as complexity and uncertainty become impossible to ignore, and the study of environmental diseases is no exception. For decades, research has focused predominantly on specific genetic factors, whereas environmental dynamics have often been simplified, treated as constants, or rendered effectively invisible in experimental design and data interpretation. Although such simplification produces cleaner datasets and more “coherent” narratives, it obscures the biological reality in which organisms continually interact with, and are shaped by, changing environments. To advance this discussion, we introduce a broader evolutionary and systems –level perspective grounded in Genome Architecture Theory, including the distinction between genome-mediated macroevolution and gene-mediated microevolution, together with the emerging framework of evolutionary information management. These concepts highlight that disease cannot be fully understood through isolated molecular mechanisms alone; rather, it must be viewed as a dynamic phenotype shaped by stress responses, genome reorganization, and system-level information processes. We therefore call for a rethinking of environmental disease research, specifically, a redefinition of inheritance, environments, evolution, and disease – leading to a shift from narrowly defined molecular causation to an evolutionary – information framework that captures the full interplay between environmental stressors, genome reconfiguration, gene/epigenetic modification, and system-level adaptation.
Objectives: Insomnia is a common condition with limitations in treatment through cognitive behavioral or pharmacological therapies, including variable efficacy, side effects, and time commitment. Given the close association between the vestibular system and sleep regulation, this study aims to investigate whether patients with insomnia but without overt vestibular symptoms may have underlying vestibular dysfunction and whether addressing this dysfunction can ameliorate their sleep disturbances. Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, and observational study that will enroll patients with chronic insomnia. Utilizing the International Classification of Sleep Disorders edition 3 for chronic insomnia diagnosis, we screen patients for exclusion of overt vestibular dysfunction via the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and rule out insomnia primarily caused by depression or anxiety using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Subjects without these conditions undergo detailed vestibular function testing, including balance and gait assessments, Videonystagmography, video head impulse test, subjective visual vertical/horizontal, and ocular/cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential. Vestibular dysfunction will be correlated with insomnia severity as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: The primary outcome measures are the presence of insomnia patients with asymptomatic vestibular dysfunction (AVD) but not OVD and the relationship between the severity of vestibular dysfunction and the severity of insomnia as indicated by PSQI scores. The secondary outcome is investigating the types and prevalence of AVD in insomnia subjects. Conclusions: This study seeks to elucidate the impact of asymptomatic vestibular dysfunction (AVD) on insomnia and understand the types and prevalence of AVD in insomnia subjects. Outcomes would potentially change the diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms toward tailored vestibular-focused rehabilitation for insomnia improvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCRT2400085439.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are two growing epidemics across the globe. The two chronic, complex diseases have been increasingly linked through shared metabolic, inflammatory, and molecular pathways. Like many other complex diseases, MASLD and AD are caused by the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation, two hallmark features of MASLD and AD, are associated with pathological factors, such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and oxidative stress in both diseases. The liver’s inflammatory state can contribute to neurodegenerative processes in AD, and vice versa, the neuronal dysregulation caused by AD condition profoundly affects whole body metabolism, which can lead to fatty liver disease. This review aims to provide a brief view of the current understanding of the metabolic and inflammatory links between MASLD and AD and the molecular players underlying these pathological conditions.
Objectives: Follow-up observation of changes in intracranial plaques and lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) under the standard medical treatment can help further observe treatment effects. This study aims to observe the changes in symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis plaques and LSAs under conventional medical treatment using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI). Subjects and Methods: Thirty-eight symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenotic patients were consecutively enrolled from October 2016 to July 2018 and HR-MRI was performed within the two weeks of the onset of acute ischemic stroke. All patients received standard medical treatment, and HR-MRI was performed at 6 months and 12 months, respectively. The characteristics of plaques and LSAs quantitative analyzed were compared before and after medical treatment. Further analysis was conducted between the subgroups of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <1.8 mmol/L and LDL-C ≥1.8 mmol/L to explore whether a lower LDL-C level is more closely associated with improvement. Results: Ultimately, 23 patients completed the first examination, and among them, 8 patients completed the second examination. After an average of 8.3 months of treatment in 23 patients, the remodeling index (1.26 ± 0.22 vs. 1.14 ± 0.16, P = 0.008), plaque volume (58.92 ± 26.61 mm3 vs. 42.26 ± 19.60 mm3, P = 0.001), plaque burden (88.29 ± 5.88% vs. 83.42 ± 11.04%, P = 0.033, enhancement volume (20.29 [16.44, 28.59] mm3 vs. 12.00 [0.00, 18.13] mm3, P = 0.000), and enhancement index (EI,0.98 ± 0.44 vs. 0.61 ± 0.48, P = 0.000) were significantly decreased compared to baseline. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that only the EI (P = 0.019) and the contrast of signal intensity-based on the pituitary funnel (P = 0.035) exhibited statistically significant differences among these groups. A significant difference in PB (P = 0.01) was observed between the two LDL-C subgroups. Conclusions: HR-MRI can help evaluate the medical effects, different kinds of changes on culprit plaques indicate the effectiveness of standard medical treatment. While standard medical treatment can promote the stability of plaques, the relationship between treatment and changes in LSAs remains unclear. Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT02719652).
Urban environments of the 21st century present unprecedented challenges to human health, with environmental noise emerging as a critical determinant of cardiovascular well-being. This integrative analysis synthesizes contemporary understanding of noise-induced cardiovascular effects, incorporating insights from molecular biology, clinical research, and epidemiological investigations. The physiological response to noise encompasses both rapid adaptations and sustained modifications, including autonomic nervous system modulation, stress hormone cascades, and altered inflammatory pathways. Large-scale population studies demonstrate robust associations between chronic noise exposure and cardiovascular conditions, with particular emphasis on hypertension and coronary artery disease. The disruption of sleep architecture emerges as a central mechanism linking environmental noise to cardiovascular dysfunction. Vulnerability to these effects varies across populations, influenced by genetic, demographic, and preexisting health factors. Evidence supports a graded relationship between noise intensity and cardiovascular risk, suggesting a lack of safe threshold. These findings carry profound implications for urban planning and public health policy, highlighting the urgent need for innovative noise reduction strategies in modern living spaces.
