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461 papers

Status of On-Farm Artificial Insemination Services and Effectiveness of Oestrus Synchronization in Dairy Cattle Under Small-Scale Dairy Farming System.

Milkias T et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Background Hormonal synchronization of oestrous has been an available technology to improve the efficiency of field artificial insemination (AI) in the dairy sector. Objective This study was aimed at investigating the breeding practices, status of AI and effectiveness of oestrus synchronization (ES) on small-scale dairy farming in selected districts of the Wolaita Zone. Methods Cross-sectional survey and retrospective data on the oestrus synchronization were collected and analysed. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and indexed ranking procedures were applied to summarize the study data. Results The predominant mating system practiced by dairy farmers was AI (55.6%), and 73.5% of farmers apply controlled mating. The highest response rate to PGF 2 α administration was obtained for cattle of Sodo town (89.5%), followed by Boloso Sore (78.8%). A 30%-45.2% pregnancy rate was obtained across the study districts. Crossbred cattle have shown significantly (p > 0.001) higher response (87.1%) and pregnancy rates (47.9%) than the local animals. Likewise, 9.6%-18.5% of the birth rate was obtained from this study. Farmers' overall perceptions and desire to continue using oestrus synchronization were improving as a result of their application experiences over time. Moreover, shortage of AI inputs and AI technicians, heat detection skills, and inconsistency of the AI service during festivals, holidays, and weekends were reported as the major challenges prevailing in the study districts. Conclusions The study provided insights on improving input supply, accurate heat detection and intensified cattle management are necessities to enhance field AI services and increase pregnancy rates in synchronized animals.

Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Efficacy of Vitex pseudo-negundo in a Bovine Mastitis Model Experimentally Induced by Staphylococcus aureus in Rats.

Koç H et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Background Mastitis is one of the most prevalent and economically significant diseases in dairy cattle, causing to inflammation of the mammary gland and reduced milk yield. Objectives This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Vitex pseudo-negundo (VPN) extracts in an experimentally induced rat mastitis model. Methods Sixty female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups of 10. Group I served as the control group. Mastitis was induced by intramammary injection of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) (1.5 × 10 8 cfu/mL; 10 µL per gland) into the L4, L5, R4 and R5 mammary glands. Group III received intramammary gentamicin (0.25 mg/10 µL/day) for 5 days. Groups IV-VI received VPN extracts-water (0.2603 µg/kg/day), ethanol (0.0803 µg/kg/day) and petroleum ether (0.1042 µg/kg/day), administered at 10 µL per gland for the same duration. Rats were clinically monitored three times daily from the onset of clinical signs until euthanasia. Result SA infection significantly increased mammary gland weight, total oxidative status (TOS) and bacterial load and induced tissue pathology, while decreasing total antioxidant status (TAS). C-reactive protein levels remained unchanged. VPN significantly improved mammary gland weight, TOS, TAS, bacterial load and histological parameters (p Conclusion Preparations of VPN, particularly the water extract, demonstrated strong potential for restoring altered microbiological, biochemical and histological parameters in this rat mastitis model.

Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Cow Milk Risk Factors Associated With Bacterial Contaminations Along Dairy Value Chain in Lushoto and Handeni Districts, Tanzania.

Shija F et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Background Milk and milk products are of high nutritional value but mishandling of any kind along the value chain leads to contaminations that shorten shelf life and pose public health threats. Objectives To assess the milk handling practices, bacterial contaminations and determine selected milk-borne zoonotic pathogens along the dairy value chain in 14 villages. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lushoto and Handeni districts whereby 93 randomly selected respondents constituting farmers, vendors and restaurants/kiosks were interviewed and subsequently 166 milk samples were collected for microbiological enumeration and ascertain contaminations by Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Brucella abortus using standard protocols. Chi-square (χ 2 ) and confidence intervals were used to compare proportions of risk factors for milk microbial contaminations; a probability of p Results It was established that milking and milk storage was done under unhygienic conditions. Up to 92.1% of farmers had no training on livestock husbandry and milk handling practices. Mean bacterial counts in milk ranged between 3.3 and 5.8 log 10 , which is in line with the East African Standards (5.3 log10 cfu/mL). However, 87% and 93% of milk from farmers and vendors, respectively, had bacteria count above the recommended EAC standards of 2.0 × 10 5 cfu/mL implying poor microbiological quality. All milk samples had coliform plate count above EAC standards of 4.5 log CFU/mL. The mean bacterial count of 5.3 log10 cfu/mL was recorded with more counts in milk from vendors (4.6 to 6.1 log10 cfu/mL). Average levels of contamination in raw and pasteurised milk were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Factors related to hygienic practices of farmers along the milk production chain had no significant differences (p > 0.05) in microbial contamination. There was no E. coli O157:H7 contamination in milk, nonetheless B. abortus was detected in 37 out of 87 samples tested (42.5%) mostly from farmers. Conclusions Limited extension services, unhygienic practices along milk value chain contributed to high microbial contamination. Detection of B. abortus in milk is of public health significance due to its zoonotic potential. Therefore, the government and milk stakeholders should strengthen public and private livestock extension services for proper animal husbandry practices, improved milk value chain and control of zoonotic diseases.

Agricultural and Biological Sciences

A Prospective Evaluation of Glucagon Stimulation Test Safety in Adults With Chronic Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Snyder C et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Introduction Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a common and clinically significant consequence of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI). The glucagon stimulation test (GST) is widely used to assess growth hormone deficiency; however, the safety of GST has not been systematically evaluated in adults with chronic msTBI. Methods This prospective study enrolled 138 adults aged 18-65 years with chronic msTBI (≥ 1-year post-injury) from a single academic Brain Injury Center neuroendocrine registry. All participants underwent standardized GST with systematic symptom assessment at baseline and serial intervals over 240 min. Adverse events and symptoms were graded by severity using predefined clinical criteria, and participants were analysed by GHD status and by presence of any adverse event. Results GST was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events, test terminations, or prolonged sequelae. The most common adverse effect was nausea (30.4%), with vomiting in 9.4% of participants; antiemetics were required in 16.7% of cases. Female sex was significantly associated with nausea (p Conclusions In adults with chronic msTBI, the glucagon stimulation test demonstrates a favourable safety profile with transient, non-severe adverse effects and no serious neurological or metabolic complications. These findings support GST as a safe and practical method for evaluating growth hormone deficiency in this population.

Medicine

General Anaesthesia Versus Spinal Anaesthesia for Outpatient Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomised Trial Protocol.

Noppa E et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Introduction Same-day discharge after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasing, but the optimal anaesthetic technique for outpatient pathways remains uncertain. Neuraxial anaesthesia is widely recommended based on observational evidence, whereas fast-track programmes using short-acting total intravenous anaesthesia may facilitate early mobilisation and discharge. No randomised controlled trial has compared general anaesthesia (GA) with spinal anaesthesia (SA) specifically in outpatient primary THA/TKA using a same-day discharge target. Methods and analysis GASPS is a pragmatic, multicentre, parallel-group superiority randomised controlled trial. Adults scheduled for outpatient primary THA or TKA will be randomised 1:1 to GA or SA, with stratification by site and procedure (THA/TKA). The primary outcome is successful same-day discharge (discharge on the day of surgery) without readmission within 48 h after discharge. The five key secondary outcomes are time to fulfilment of hospital discharge indicators, quality-of-recovery (QoR-15) trajectories over postoperative Days 1-35, patients' qualitative experiences of anaesthesia and recovery, cost per quality-adjusted life-year and safety (adverse events); all remaining outcomes-including pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, opioid consumption, mobilisation and patient-reported outcomes (EQ-5D-5L and HOOS/KOOS)-are exploratory. An embedded qualitative study will explore patient experiences using semi-structured interviews, and an economic evaluation will compare costs and outcomes from healthcare and societal perspectives. Analyses will follow the intention-to-treat principle; a group sequential design with O'Brien-Fleming boundaries is planned for an interim analysis. Approval has been obtained from the Swedish Medical Products Agency. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and reporting in the EU Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS). Conclusion This study is designed to determine the most effective anaesthetic method for same-day discharge after primary TKA and THA. With increasing outpatient surgeries, this study will be helpful for optimisation of outpatient processes. Trial registration EU CT/CTIS: 2024-520127-89-00. Clinicaltrials gov: NCT07334132.

Medicine

Prevalence and Grade of Patellar Luxation in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Attending Primary-Care Veterinary Practices in Australia.

Son Y et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Objectives To identify risk factors associated with the prevalence and grade of patellar luxation in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) attending Australian veterinary practices. Methods Patient records (n = 321,517) were obtained from VetCompass Australia, data were cleaned, and diagnoses of patellar luxation were identified by keyword search. Two risk factor analyses were performed for dogs over 18 months of age: comparing case and control groups and assessing risk factors influencing the grade of patellar luxation within the case group. Results The 10-year prevalence of patellar luxation in this study was 12.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12-0.13). The greatest risk of patellar luxation diagnosis was in neutered dogs (odds ratio (OR): 3.00; 95% CI, 1.97-4.71) and dogs weighing 11 to Clinical significance Patellar luxation is a prevalent disorder in CKCS and awareness of this condition is important for early examination of at-risk animals and to avoid breeding from the affected population.

Veterinary

Exercise-Induced Extracellular Vesicles as Mediators of Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Insulin Sensitivity in Metabolic Adaptation.

Wang J et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Background Metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity share insulin resistance as a common feature, driven partly by mitochondrial dysfunction. Exercise-induced extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as mediators of inter-organ communication in metabolic regulation. Objective To synthesize evidence on exercise-induced EVs in mitochondrial adaptation and insulin sensitivity, and propose an integrative framework linking EV-mediated communication to systemic metabolic benefits: METHODS: Narrative synthesis of mechanistic, animal, EV transfer/inhibition, translational, and human studies. Results Exercise alters EV abundance and cargo, including mitochondrial proteins, metabolic enzymes, and microRNAs. These cargoes may activate energy-sensing, NAD + -dependent, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional pathways to enhance mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism. By improving substrate utilization and reducing lipotoxicity, mitochondrial ROS, ER stress, and inflammation, EV-mediated mitochondrial adaptation may boost insulin sensitivity and insulin signaling. EV transfer/inhibition studies support a contributory role for exercise-induced EVs in glucose homeostasis, though evidence remains context-dependent. Conclusions Exercise-induced EVs may link exercise stimuli to mitochondrial adaptation and systemic insulin sensitivity. The proposed "exercise-EV-mitochondrial adaptation-insulin sensitivity" framework offers a conceptual basis for understanding systemic metabolic adaptation and highlights translational potential for metabolic diseases. Future work should clarify causality, tissue specificity, pharmacokinetics, and standardization.

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Effectiveness of a Transdiagnostic Emotion-Focused Treatment in Clinical Care: A Sequential Single-Case Experimental Design.

Zetterberg H et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Background Chronic pain frequently co-occurs with emotional problems, highlighting the need for integrated treatment approaches. Previously, we evaluated a hybrid emotion-focused treatment with positive results. However, there is a dire need for studies evaluating treatments in 'real world' clinical contexts. Therefore, this study evaluated the effectiveness of this treatment in regular clinical care. Methods Using a sequential single-case experimental AB design with randomized baseline lengths (4, 5 or 6 weeks), pain, emotional problems and cognitive behavioural factors were assessed weekly across a 20-week study period. Additional outcome measurements were collected at pre-, post- and 12-month follow-up. Patients from primary and secondary care (final n = 31) with chronic pain and anxiety/depression were recruited, and their psychologists delivered the treatment. Individual effects were evaluated using non-overlap of all pairs and aggregated effects via multilevel shift models. Acceptability, adherence and fidelity were summarized, and responders and non-responders compared using group-level analyses. Results Most (87%) demonstrated a treatment response on ≥ 1 outcome, and over half (55%) on ≥ 3 outcomes. One-third were classified as broad responders. Aggregated analysis showed a significant effect on pain interference. The treatment was viewed as credible and acceptable, with greater satisfaction among responders. Non-responders showed more variability in attendance and lower progression through later treatment phases involving exposure. Conclusion The findings support the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the hybrid emotion-focused treatment for patients in routine clinical care. The treatment benefits most patients to some extent and a smaller subset of patients to a clinically significant extent. Significance statement This pragmatic trial evaluates effectiveness in a clinically representative patient sample reflecting the complexity of routine care, including pain and psychiatric comorbidity, sociodemographic diversity and health care utilization. The hybrid emotion-focused treatment represents one of several emerging approaches targeting pain-emotion connections. These findings extend results from a prior RCT and highlight the importance of evaluating interventions under real-world clinical conditions.

Medicine

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Swallowing and Dysphagia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Among the Community Dwelling Adults of South India.

Dodderi T et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Background Community awareness of swallowing and dysphagia plays a significant role in improving early-referral behavior. Literature reports that community awareness of swallowing and dysphagia in the Western countries to be low. Conversely, India has a diverse cultural, linguistic and healthcare-related factors which may influence the health-seeking behavior and early-referral of dysphagia. Hence, it becomes difficult to generalize the findings of existing literature. Aim The primary objective of this study was to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to swallowing and dysphagia among the community dwelling adults of South India. The secondary objective was to evaluate if age, sex and education levels were associated with these factors. Methods and procedures Community dwelling adults were recruited from Mangalore city, India for a cross-sectional survey using a convenience sampling design. A purposive built content validated 27-item questionnaire was distributed using Google Form and/or hard copies to the participants for data collection. Participant's responses were independently analyzed by two Speech Language Pathologists using open content analysis. The responses were summarized as percentages and categories and chi square test was administered to examine the association between age, sex and education levels and KAP enquiries at 0.05 level. Outcomes and results A total of 372 participants aged 20-79 years (mean age = 46.26; SD = 15.63) participated in the study. Participants demonstrated limited knowledge of signs, causes, complications and professional management of dysphagia. Aspiration was widely recognized as unsafe, yet only one-tenth correctly identified pneumonia as a complication of dysphagia. Less than one-fifth knew the treatment options for dysphagia. Attitudes reflected fear of choking, discomfort towards nasogastric-tube feeding and moderate willingness to seek help from healthcare professionals. Practices suggested low awareness of Heimlich maneuver, inconsistent food-texture modification and reliance on water to manage dry mouth. Age, sex and education levels were significantly associated with knowledge (saliva is important for chewing, avoid eating in public space to overcome stigma, early intervention helps regain swallowing abilities, age range frequently associated with dysphagia), attitude (fear of choking, preference to non-oral feeds), practices (using internet to find solutions for dysphagia, drinking water before meals or moistening food using water, changing food consistencies, using straw over cup) at p > 0.05 level. Conclusions and implications Community dwellers demonstrated insufficient knowledge, predominantly negative attitudes and unsafe self-management practices related to swallowing and dysphagia. Strengthened public education, early-referral pathways and inclusion of basic life-support skills are highly warranted to improve community awareness on swallowing and dysphagia. What this paper adds What is already known on this subject Community awareness of dysphagia is low in Western countries. Cultural beliefs, literacy, superstition and access to healthcare influence what people know, how they respond and when they seek help. Understanding knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of swallowing and dysphagia in India is critical for reducing self-management risks and improving early-referral behavior. What this study adds to existing knowledge The study provides the first structured KAP analysis on swallowing and dysphagia in an Indian community . Participants recognized aspiration as dangerous, yet lacked awareness of critical signs, causes, treatment options and responsible team members. Fear of choking was high, and most were uncomfortable with tube-based feeding. The public seldom employed safe compensatory strategies and very few were familiar with Heimlich maneuver or food-texture modification. Age, sex and education levels were significantly associated with multiple KAP variables. What are the clinical implications of this work? There is an urgent need to conduct more public awareness programs on prevention, early identification and intervention of dysphagia by healthcare professionals involved in dysphagia care. Efforts must be scaled to provide basic life support (BLS) skills training programs, including training in Heimlich maneuver, to the public.

Health Professions

Impact of acute kidney injury on clinical and functional outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a prospective cohort study.

Cordeiro ALL et al. · Jul 1, 2026

Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), associated with worse clinical outcomes. However, its impact on functional outcomes remains uncertain. Objective To evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery who developed AKI during hospitalization. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted with 60 patients evaluated preoperatively, at ICU discharge and at hospital discharge. Clinical and functional variables were collected, including the six-minute walk test (6MWT), sit-to-stand test (STS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), peripheral muscle strength, and the functional independence measure (FIM). Patients were divided into two groups: those with and those without AKI. Results Fifteen patients (25%) developed AKI. There was no significant difference in ICU length of stay between groups; however, hospital stay was longer in the AKI group (14 ± 5 vs. 9 ± 3 days), and mortality was higher. Patients with AKI showed a 33.53% reduction in the 6MWT distance at ICU discharge, with partial recovery by the time of hospital discharge. In the STS test, patients without AKI performed better at hospital discharge. In the TUG test, AKI patients showed better performance at discharge compared to those without AKI. FIM scores were lower in the AKI group, indicating reduced functional independence. Conclusion Patients with AKI presented worse clinical outcomes and lower functional independence, although they demonstrated potential for functional recovery by the time of hospital discharge, highlighting the importance of postoperative rehabilitation.

Medicine