Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition最新文献

{"title":"Knowledge and perception as determinants of CRISPR application for infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country study in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone using regression and structural equation models.","authors":"Ebenezer Senu, Samuel Chijioke Ikechukwu, Clara Aboagye, George Kyei Agyen, Senesie Kamara, Valentine Christian Kodzo Tsatsu Tamakloe, Daniel Dzemedo Nouwati, Harriet Yeboaa Diawuo, Emmauel Earl Doku, Solomon Akpobi, Moses Asori, Alfred Effah","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01380-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-026-01380-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aim: </strong>Infectious diseases, particularly acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), remain a major global health burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries, despite advances in antiretroviral therapy. Emerging genome-editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas systems, hold promise for transforming the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. However, little is known about how these technologies are understood and perceived by individuals in high-burden regions, where significant implementation challenges may limit their adoption. This study assessed knowledge, perceptions, and the potential application of CRISPR technology for infectious disease control in Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 participants, including students, healthcare professionals, and researchers across the three countries. Data was collected using a well-structured questionnaire and analyzed using logistic regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify the predictors of potential CRISPR applications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed a significant gap, such that the majority (87.0%) of the participants demonstrated inadequate knowledge, with 70.7% exhibiting poor perception of CRISPR technology. Major barriers to implementation included funding constraints (81.7%) and inadequate infrastructure (62.3%). Adjusted multivariable logistic regression identified inadequate knowledge (aOR: 3.90; p < 0.0001) and poor perception (aOR: 1.96; p = 0.0060) as independent predictors of low CRISPR application potential. Structural equation modeling confirmed that knowledge significantly enhances perception (β = 0.55), and both constructs jointly influence the potential application of CRISPR gene editing technology.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is a critical deficit in knowledge and perception regarding CRISPR gene editing in Sub-Saharan Africa, which significantly hinders its potential application for infectious diseases. Comprehensive educational strategies and capacity building are essential to foster the adoption of CRISPR technology, especially in resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148361264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Household wealth, women's empowerment, and food insecurity in conflict-affected Southeast Myanmar.","authors":"Kate Teela Zeichner, Nicholus Tint Zaw, Hnin Hnin Tha Myint, Aye Nyein Ei, Hay Mar Wai, Tom Traill, Adam Richards","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01375-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01375-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To quantify inequities in food insecurity and other nutrition outcomes in conflict zones of Southeast Myanmar when women's empowerment, wealth, and educational attainment are considered in concert.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A stratified cluster survey in 74 villages was designed to evaluate a program delivering nutrition-sensitive interventions in areas of armed conflict. Primary outcomes included the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and standard indicators of infant and young child feeding (IYCF). We quantified inequities according to several axes of vulnerability including household wealth, maternal education, and women's empowerment, considered individually and in concert, by estimating crude- and multiply adjusted logistic regression models that also account for distance to food markets. Crude and adjusted relative concentration indices were used to summarize inequities in nutrition indicators and program coverage. Analysis accounted for the complex survey design.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 801 respondents 32% are illiterate and 59% reported household wealth in the poorest national quintile. One quarter (25.3%) of households reported moderate or severe food insecurity overall, with moderate to large inequities related to wealth (crude rCI -0.19) and education (-0.17), though only education inequities remained significant in adjusted models. Inequities for child and maternal nutrition outcomes except for minimum meal frequency were larger for household wealth (range in rCI, 0.14 to 0.34) and smaller for education (0.07 to 0.22). Women in wealthier households were more likely to report high empowerment, though women's empowerment was not associated with nutrition outcomes. Project coverage was concentrated among wealthier households.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Large inequities in food insecurity, dietary intake and women's empowerment exist in remote areas of Myanmar experiencing active armed conflict. Nutrition-sensitive intervention coverage also was inequitably distributed, suggesting that it is unlikely the nutrition project could reduce inequities in food and nutrition outcomes. Humanitarian agencies should routinely measure health inequities and identify delivery models that ameliorate them.</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13663196/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148352358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with severe acute malnutrition among children aged 2 to 23 months presenting with diarrhoea in urban hospitals in Bangladesh.","authors":"Sufia Islam, Shegufta Ahmed Chowdhury, Minhajul Islam Akash, Md Farhad Kabir, Tahmeed Ahmed, Christian Lehmann, Mohammod Jobayer Chisti","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01362-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01362-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years, accounting for over one-third of global child deaths.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study explored clinical and sociodemographic factors asociated with SAM in children aged from 2 to 23 months with diarrhoea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The \"Antibiotics for Children with Diarrhoea (ABCD)\" study was conducted from July 1, 2017, to July 10, 2019, with Bangladesh as one of the seven-country sites. The data were collected from the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). This secondary analysis was conducted among children who were excluded from the 35,504 children initially screened in the ABCD trial. Children were excluded if they had dysentery, suspected cholera, or had SAM, had comorbidities or had been treated with antibiotics for the last 14 days. Age and sex matched controls were randomly selected from excluded children without SAM in a 1:3 ratio of SAM children. SAM cases were compared with non-SAM controls using conditional logistic regression to identify associated factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 2,640 children, 660 were cases and 1,980 controls; 57% were male with a mean age of 10 months. Admission characteristics, including dehydration, fever, vomiting and hospital stays, were higher among SAM children (cases). In conditional logistic regression, dehydration was associated with higher odds of SAM (OR: 5.89, 95% CI: 3.48-9.97; p = 0.001). Cough (OR: 2.23 95% CI: 1.36-3.66) and not being breastfed (OR: 1.64 95% CI: 1.12-2.41) were also associated with increased odds (p < 0.05). Recent antibiotic use was shown to be a protective factor (OR: 0.77, 95% CI 0.63-0.95; p < 0.05). In addition, maternal underweight increased the risk, while higher levels of parental education were protective (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings underscore the importance of early detection of dehydration, breastfeeding and targeted interventions for families with lower educational levels to reduce the risk of SAM.</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148317559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of off-hours admission on in-hospital mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Tilahun Degu Tsega, Almaw Genet Yeshiwas, Tewodros Worku Bogale, Chalachew Yenew, Gashaw Melkie Bayeh, Ahmed Fentaw Ahmed, Meron Asmamaw Alemayehu, Abathun Temesgen, Wei Ma","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01377-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01377-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The findings of previous works of literature on the effects of off-hours admission on in-hospital mortality in sub-Saharan Africa were inconsistent and inconclusive. However, there is paucity of information as single summarized finding. Therefore, this review aimed to determine the pooled effects of off-hours admission on the in-hospital mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using studies from PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar up to 30/12/2025. Study quality, heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed accordingly. Pooled estimates were estimated using a random-effects model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to quantify the association between off-hours admission and in-hospital mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This review included 14 primary studies. The pooled magnitude of off-hours in-hospital mortality among all hospital admissions in sub-Saharan Africa was 12.39% (95% CI: 9.76, 15.02%). The nighttime mortality among the nighttime admissions was 26.1% (95%CI: 18.6, 33.6%). Besides, the pooled weekend's in-hospital mortality among weekends' admissions in sub-Saharan Africa was 31.5% (95% CI: 23.5, 39.5%). The pooled effects of off-hours admission on in-hospital mortality was higher for weekend admission (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.47) and nighttime admission (OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.40, 4.00) compared with weekday admission.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Off-hours admission may be associated with increased mortality; however, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to substantial heterogeneity and variability in study definitions.</p><p><strong>Registration: </strong>The protocol was registered at PROSPERO with reg. no \"CRD42024621339\".</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13576359/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148308206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical fitness and bone health among medical students in Southwest China: implications for health promotion in ethnically diverse populations.","authors":"Yongliang Wang, Fangyi Shu, Jianxin Xue, Jin Zhang, Yanfu Yuan, Yuanji Teng","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01376-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01376-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Medical students face elevated health risks due to academic stress and a sedentary lifestyle. Given the geographical and ethnic diversity of Southwest China, it is particularly important to understand the factors associated with physical fitness and bone health in this population. However, evidence regarding the physical fitness and bone health of medical students in this region remains limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 334 medical students (99 males and 235 females; aged 17-24 years) from Southwest China, comprising both Han and ethnic minority students. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, a composite physical fitness index (PFI) was derived from six standardized fitness tests, and calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using quantitative ultrasound. Gender-stratified analyses, partial correlations adjusted for age and BMI, and multiple regression models were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Male students showed higher prevalences of overweight/obesity (18.18% vs. 5.96%) and osteopenia (6.06% vs. 2.98%) than females. A nonlinear association was observed between BMI and physical fitness, with normal-weight students demonstrating the highest PFI. No significant differences were observed between Han and ethnic minority students in physical fitness or bone health indicators. Muscle strength emerged as the strongest predictor of BMD, with bent-leg sit-ups predicting BMD in females (B = 0.290, p = 0.020) and pull-ups predicting BMD in males (B = 0.543, p = 0.014).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physical fitness and bone health differed according to sex and BMI status among medical students in Southwest China. Muscle strength was identified as the most important modifiable factor associated with BMD. These findings support the development of sex-specific and culturally appropriate health promotion strategies to improve musculoskeletal health among ethnically diverse university populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13435402/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing delays in seeking medical care among elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Ningbo: a study conducted from 2015 to 2023.","authors":"Haiyan Tian, Jingjing Qi, Tong Chen, Xujun Qian, Weitao Yao, Guoxin Sang, Heng Fan, Siwei Tong, Tianfeng He","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01361-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01361-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>To investigate the factors causing delays in medical treatment for elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis over various time periods.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Data were collected from 7,821 elderly individuals aged 60 and above diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis between 2015 and 2023. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine the characteristics and influencing factors associated with delays in seeking medical care.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median delay time for elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Ningbo was 17 days, with a delay rate of 55.06%. Comparative analysis revealed that farmers and individuals from less economically developed areas faced higher risks of delay (OR = 1.097, 95% CI: 1.002-1.202; OR = 1.231, 95% CI: 1.120-1.354). Notably, the risk of delayed medical treatment decreased from 2020 to 2023 (OR = 0.793, 95% CI: 0.725-0.869) and among males (OR = 0.813, 95% CI: 0.735-0.901), compared to the period from 2015 to 2019 and females.Among various sources, health examination patients had a lower risk than referral patients (OR = 0.486, 95% CI:0.329-0.719), while those from other sources showed higher risk compared to referred patients (OR = 3.362, 95% CI:1.118-10.113 ). Additionally, there was a significant age difference between patients with and without delays (Z =-2.725 ,P = 0.006 ).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis often face delays in treatment. Contributing factors include being female, farmer, living in less developed areas, receiving referrals, and the years 2015-2019.</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13282880/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations of dietary live microbe intake with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged and older US stroke survivors: a prospective cohort study from NHANES 2003-2018.","authors":"Wei Chen, Qing Liu, Jing Fu, Jianghu Zhao, Ruoxi Huang, Qiansong He","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01368-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01368-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The relationships of dietary live microbe intake (DLMI) with all-cause mortality (ACM) and cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in stroke patients remain unclear. This study examined the links of DLMI with ACM and CVM in stroke patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A secondary analysis of the publicly available, fixed-cycle National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset was performed in this study. As such, no a priori sample size calculation was performed. All eligible participants aged ≥ 40 years with complete data from the 2003-2018 survey cycles served as the analytical sample. The stroke history was based on self-report without further specification of subtype (ischemic vs. hemorrhagic). Participants were followed until December 31, 2019, with a median follow-up of 6.0 years. DLMI was estimated based on a single 24-hour dietary recall and classified into low, medium, and high intake categories as an indicator of a dietary pattern characterized by the consumption of live-microbe-rich foods. Cox models, stratified, and sensitivity analyses were employed to ascertain the links of DLMI with ACM and CVM in stroke patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study included 1,313 stroke patients, among whom 539 experienced ACM and 209 experienced CVM. In the Cox models, compared with low DLMI, high DLMI had a lower incidence of ACM [Model 1: HR = 0.63 (95% CI: 0.44-0.91, p = 0.013); Model 2: HR = 0.61 (95% CI: 0.44-0.84, p = 0.003); Model 3: HR = 0.63 (95% CI: 0.46-0.88, p = 0.007)]. However, no significant association was observed between high DLMI and CVM. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses generally supported the robustness of these results.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher DLMI was associated with a lower risk of ACM among stroke survivors in this study. These exploratory findings highlight DLMI as a candidate for further investigation in dietary intervention strategies for this population. Future prospective studies are needed to establish its role and optimal implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13282848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the continuous midwifery care model in socially vulnerable women: a convergent parallel mixed methods study protocol.","authors":"Fatemeh Ahadi-Yulghunlu, Sakineh Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, Fatemeh Abbasalizadeh, Khadijeh Hajizadeh, Mojgan Mirghafourvand","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01364-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01364-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Social vulnerability during pregnancy correlates with an increased risk of negative maternal and neonatal outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) endorse the implementation of continuous care strategies to enhance outcomes. This project aims to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a continuous midwifery care model during pregnancy and delivery, as well as its impact on various maternal and neonatal outcomes for socially disadvantaged women in Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods/design: </strong>This research will utilize a convergent parallel mixed-methods framework. The study will be executed in two simultaneous phases: a quantitative randomized controlled trial and a qualitative descriptive analysis. In the quantitative phase, 92 socially disadvantaged pregnant women facing poverty or domestic violence or unplanned pregnancies will be recruited from health centers in Bonab, Iran, and randomly allocated to either an intervention group (n = 46) or a control group (n = 46). The intervention group will receive continuous midwifery care from 14 weeks of gestation until 6 weeks postpartum, whereas the control group will receive standard care. The primary outcomes encompass the experiences related to pregnancy and childbirth, as well as evaluations of maternal depression. Secondary outcomes encompass the mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal complications, and satisfaction with care. The qualitative phase will employ conventional content analysis of comprehensive, semi-structured interviews with women in the intervention group to investigate their perceptions and experiences regarding the care model. The outcomes from both phases will be amalgamated to yield a holistic comprehension of the model's influence.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study is the inaugural investigation in Iran assessing a continuous midwifery care model designed for socially disadvantaged women, utilizing a mixed-methods approach. The findings are expected to yield substantial evidence to inform the formulation of national policies and clinical guidelines designed to mitigate health disparities and enhance maternal and child health outcomes in at-risk communities.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) (IRCT20120718010324N84/ Date of registration 20250823). URL https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/74,206 .</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13531848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148283942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socioecological determinants of chronic disease multimorbidity in high-altitude Tibetan populations: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Yuanwu Zou, Lin Nan, Chen Chen, Xiaoxing Liu, Ciren Lamu, Huilan Feng, Lingxia Zeng","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01358-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01358-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dietary patterns are closely associated with the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Although large-scale national nutrition and health surveys have been conducted in China, evidence on dietary patterns and their associations with chronic diseases remains scarce in high-altitude regions, where unique dietary habits and lifestyles are prevalent.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among high-altitude residents using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) to assess dietary intake. Principal Component Analysis(PCA) was used to extract dietary patterns, and the scores were categorized into tertiles (from low to high: T1, T2, T3). Logistic regression models were used to examine their associations with chronic diseases, smoking, alcohol use, local tea drinking, and physical exercise.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five dietary patterns were identified: dry nuts and beverages, traditional Tibetan, three-high (characterized by high salt, high carbohydrate, and high fat intake), animal-predominant high protein, and high dietary fiber. Among the 606 participants, 39.9% reported having at least one chronic disease. Fully adjusted model showed that the three-high pattern (T2 vs. T1: OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.10-2.99; T3 vs. T1: OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.09-3.33), animal-predominant high protein pattern (T2 vs. T1: OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.42-3.94), smoking (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.06-3.35), and local tea drinking (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.13-3.02) were positively associated with chronic diseases. Conversely, the traditional Tibetan pattern (T2 vs. T1: OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28-0.80) and physical exercise (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-0.99) were negatively associated with chronic diseases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Among high-altitude populations, traditional Tibetan pattern and physical exercise appear to be protective factors against chronic diseases, while the three-high pattern, animal-predominant high protein pattern, smoking, and local tea drinking constitute potential risk factors. Modifying dietary pattern and lifestyle thus play a significant role in the prevention and management of chronic diseases in these unique environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13556025/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148277550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutritional modulation of male fertility: a molecular-focused scoping review.","authors":"Shalaka Ramgir-Naidu, Yusuf Abdulmalik Abubakar, Meghavi Soni","doi":"10.1186/s41043-026-01374-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s41043-026-01374-y","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Nutrition has a profound impact on male reproductive well-being through its influence on molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis, sperm function, and endocrine regulation. Elucidation of these nutrition-fertility relationships at the molecular level may inform future research directions, although clinical application remains uncertain. The review critically assesses how nutritional interventions regulate gene expression, protein synthesis, and cellular signaling pathways controlling sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Main body: &lt;/strong&gt;This review discusses molecular mechanisms connecting nutritional components to male fertility results. Micronutrients such as vitamins C, D, E, zinc, selenium, and folate have been implicated in oxidative stress regulation through molecular processes, primarily based on preclinical and observational evidence. Zinc has been primarily shown in experimental and observational studies to act as a cofactor in enzymes of testosterone biosynthesis, preserve sperm membrane phospholipid integrity through metallothionein binding, and modulate flagellar dynein ATPase activity; however, randomized controlled evidence remains limited. In mechanistic and animal studies, Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are incorporated into sperm membrane phospholipids in mechanistic and animal models, increasing membrane fluidity and influencing mitochondrial respiratory chain efficiency through cardiolipin modification; while human interventional findings remain heterogeneous. Mechanistic data indicate that Vitamin C quenches hydroxyl radicals as an electron donor, whereas coenzyme Q10 facilitates efficient mitochondrial electron transport, together inhibiting oxidative damage to sperm DNA; although clinical benefits are not consistently demonstrated. However, diets high in processed foods and saturated fats have been associated with increased lipid peroxidation and inflammatory signalling, which may adversely influence spermatogenesis, potentially involving epigenetic regulation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A scoping narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 2000-March 2025). Human, animal, and in vitro studies examining nutritional exposures, molecular mechanisms, and semen parameters were included.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;This review synthesizes molecular evidence linking nutrition to male fertility through defined biochemical and cellular pathways. By critically evaluating supportive, null, and context-dependent findings, it highlights where mechanistic data align with clinical observations and where translation remains limited. This study identifies key gaps in long-term adaptation, nutrient-gene interactions, and dose-response relationships, underscoring the need for well-designed clinical trials incorporating validated molecular biomarkers. The existing literature is predominantly deri","PeriodicalId":15969,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13520351/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148271589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}