Articles

Fenvalerate is a widely used synthetic pyrethroid insecticide with recognised toxicity to aquatic organisms. This study evaluated its toxic effects on zebrafish (Danio rerio) by assessing mortality, biochemical alterations, and protein profile changes following exposure to 20–100 µg/L fenvalerate. Mortality increased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. At 20 µg/L, mortality increased from 55% at 24 h to 82% at 96 h, while 40 and 60 µg/L resulted in mortality rising from 62% to 94% and 71% to 99%, respectively. Exposure to 80 µg/L caused 79–100% mortality, and complete mortality was observed at 80 and 100 µg/L after 72 and 96 h, respectively. Sublethal (LC50) exposure induced significant biochemical changes in gill and muscle tissues. Gill protein content decreased from 120.0 ± 1.22 mg/g in controls to 110.0 ± 1.40 mg/g after 96 h, whereas muscle protein declined from 80.2 ± 1.3 to 60.0 ± 2.7 mg/g. Lipid reserves were also markedly reduced, with muscle lipid content decreasing from 4.0 ± 0.46% to 3.1 ± 0.12% and gill lipid content from 6.5 ± 0.22% to 2.5 ± 0.31% after 96 h. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed distinct alterations in protein banding patterns between control and treated fish, indicating fenvalerate-induced changes in protein expression. These findings demonstrate that fenvalerate causes severe concentration- and time-dependent toxicity, leading to increased mortality, depletion of proteins and lipids, and altered protein profiles, highlighting its ecological risk to aquatic organisms and the utility of zebrafish as a sensitive model for pesticide toxicity assessment.

Introduction: In the Republic of Congo, Mombénzélé village’s an area endemic for cholera where environmental and socio-economic factors favor the persistence of the epidemic. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the indigenous peoples of Mombénzélé regarding cholera to design culturally appropriate and sustainable prevention strategies.Materials and methods: This was a preliminary cross-sectional pilot study, descriptive and analytical in nature, conducted from April 21 to 31, 2026, in the indigenous community of Mombénzélé (Impfondo district, Republic of Congo). The study assessed adults. Convenience sampling was used. Data were collected via a questionnaire in Lingala and face-to-face interviews, with secure data entry on tablets. Analysis using SPSS, including socio-demographic profiles, KAP variables, and chi-square tests (p < 0.05), was conducted in strict compliance with ethical principles and anonymization guidelines. Results: The population studied is predominantly male (60%) and without formal education (92%). Cholera is largely unknown to 92% of individuals, who believe exclusively in mystical causes. Hygiene practices are dangerous, with a complete lack of water treatment (100%) and systematic recourse to traditional healers (60%). Vulnerability is exacerbated by open defecation (56% in the river) and a refusal to use chlorinated water (88%). Sociodemographic factors significantly influence behaviors, notably age, which impacts funeral practices (p = 0.033), and educational level, which determines access to the river (p = 0.0033). The main activity influences the consumption of treated water (p = 0.0218) and determines (p = 0.000026) funeral practices. Household size impacts the perception of cholera lethality (p = 0.009) and guides the choice of funeral practices (p = 0.045).Discussion: A cholera epidemic has struck the Mombénzélé village, affecting 96% of adults and exacerbated by a complete lack of awareness of the symptoms and a rejection of chlorinated water. The health crisis has driven 76% of the population to traditional medicine. Conclusion: To contain the health crisis in Mombénzélé, it’s essential to deploy a strategy combining the training of bilingual mediators and the improvement of water infrastructure, in order to overcome the lack of information on the transmission of cholera and to adapt prevention to the realities and cultural barriers of the indigenous community.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) may be associated with peripheral neuropathy; however, IgG MGUS–associated chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is uncommon and generally follows a slowly progressive or relapsing course. We report a man in his early 40s who developed rapidly progressive sensorimotor weakness resulting in quadriparesis and inability to ambulate within eight weeks. Examination demonstrated severe proximal and distal weakness, glove-and-stocking sensory loss, and absent reflexes. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was markedly elevated, and nerve conduction studies/electromyography demonstrated acquired demyelination with secondary axonal loss. Evaluation identified IgG MGUS, supporting the diagnosis of MGUS-associated CIDP after alternative etiologies were excluded. Intravenous immunoglobulin was discontinued on day 3 following the development of a pulmonary embolism. The patient subsequently completed eight plasma-exchange sessions, with improvement in lower-extremity strength to 3/5, upper-extremity strength to 4/5, and sensory symptoms. He was discharged to rehabilitation with planned monthly plasma exchange.recognised clinical spectrum of IgG MGUS–associated CIDP and demonstrates that meaningful neurological improvement may occur with plasma exchange despite rapid progression and severe initial disability.

While canine pets offer significant psychological and physical benefits to their owners, especially children, there are well-documented health risks associated with pathogens that can be transmitted to humans.To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites, with an emphasis on zoonotic ones, in children and their dogs, and to identify risk factors associated with infection, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in children from primary schools in the Cerro municipality, province of Havana. One hundred and three children (36 with dogs and 67 without pets) from fifth and sixth grades were selected. Three stool samples were collected on alternate days, and one stool sample was collected from their pets using conventional coproparasitological techniques between September and December 2023. The results showed a prevalence of 38.8% of intestinal parasites in the children studied. Blastocystis spp. (30.1%) and Giardia duodenalis (17.5%) were the most prevalent zoonotic species. Ancylostoma caninum (8.3%) was the most frequent zoonotic parasite in dogs. Male sex was the only variable that showed statistical significance, associated with a higher risk of infection. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of intestinal parasites in the group of children with dogs compared to those without pets, and no statistical association in the analyzed epidemiological variablesIt is important to develop a One Health approach for the control of these zoonoses, as dogs can act as important sentinels of public health.

Introduction: Few studies have explored the vulnerability of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to developing cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. Objective: To describe the clinical, metabolic, and endocrine characteristics of a series of women with cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions and polycystic ovary syndrome, aiming to generate hypotheses regarding the potential pathophysiological mechanisms linking both conditions.Methods: A descriptive and hypothesis-generating study was conducted. The series consisted of nine women with a cytological diagnosis of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) who also met the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. Characterization included age, sexual behavior, toxic habits, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), metabolic parameters (insulin resistance, dyslipidemia), serum hormone levels (testosterone, prolactin, estradiol), human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 infection, grade of the lesion, and PCOS phenotypes. Results: The mean age was 37,11 ± 12,8 years. Abdominal obesity was detected in 55,5% and insulin resistance in 44,4% of cases. Hyperprolactinemia was present in 33,3%. HPV 16/18 infection was identified in 77,7% of cases. Most patients presented high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and PCOS phenotype D. Conclusion: The presence of HSIL in more than a third of the women in this case series is compatible with the hypothesis that PCOS, particularly those with insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, or hyperprolactinemia, may act as a multifactorial risk factor for cervical lesions, either independently or synergistically through metabolic and hormonal pathways that interact with HPV. These findings should be interpreted as preliminary observations that warrant confirmation in larger, controlled studies.

Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is the standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The impact of the type of urinary diversion on quality of life (QoL) remains debated. This cross-sectional study assessed QoL in 57 patients who underwent radical cystectomy between 2014 and 2022 at two urology departments in Rabat, Morocco, using the Bladder Cancer Index (BCI), the SF-36, and the Body Image Scale (BIS). Multiple linear regression identified socioeconomic status, body image perception, urinary discomfort, and comorbidities as the main determinants of QoL, with the type of urinary diversion playing an indirect role mediated through these factors. These findings underscore the need for a multidimensional approach when evaluating and optimizing QoL outcomes after radical cystectomy.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are two common conditions in aging men. Their association exceeds mere age-related coincidence and involves shared vascular, neurological, endocrine-metabolic and psychosexual mechanisms. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of ED in patients followed for symptomatic BPH, to identify factors associated with its severity, and to analyze the evolution of erectile function after medical treatment. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Urology Department A of Ibn Sina Hospital, Rabat, from August 1 to November 30, 2021. After excluding 37 records, 100 male patients aged 50 to 80 years followed for BPH were included. LUTS were assessed using the IPSS score and erectile function using the IIEF-5 score. Sociodemographic, clinical, biological, ultrasonographic, cardiovascular and therapeutic data were analyzed. The significance threshold was set at p < 0.05. Results: Mean age was 66 ± 15 years. The overall prevalence of ED was 72%, with 30% mild, 33% moderate, and 27% severe forms among interpretable cases. Only 25% of patients had spontaneously reported their sexual dysfunction. Factors significantly associated with ED were age (p < 0.001), LUTS severity by IPSS (p < 0.001), obesity (p < 0.001), and history of prostatic surgery (p < 0.01), arterial hypertension (p < 0.02) and nocturia (p < 0.05). Alpha-blocker–tadalafil combination therapy improved the IIEF-5 score by +4.3 to +5.2 points. Alpha-blockers alone did not significantly improve erectile function. Conclusion: ED is common and largely under-reported in patients with BPH. LUTS severity, particularly nocturia, is closely linked to erectile impairment. Systematic sexual assessment should be an integral part of BPH management, and the alpha-blocker–PDE5i combination represents a relevant therapeutic strategy in patients with associated ED.

Psychiatric disorders represent some of the most biologically complex challenges in medicine, arising from intricate interactions among genetic, epigenetic, environmental, developmental, and social factors. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have improved our ability to analyze large-scale biological datasets, identify biomarkers, and support precision medicine initiatives. However, the growing volume and complexity of genomic and multi-omic information increasingly challenge the capabilities of even the most advanced conventional supercomputers. Quantum computing offers a potential next step in biomedical discovery by enabling rapid analysis of multidimensional datasets, molecular simulations, and optimization problems relevant to genetic medicine and gene therapy. Extending these findings conceptually, we propose the forward-looking hypothesis that continued advances in quantum computing may eventually complement artificial intelligence and human expertise to facilitate increasingly sophisticated analyses relevant to psychiatric genetics and precision medicine. At present, no direct evidence of which we are aware demonstrates clinical implementation of quantum computing in psychiatric genomics. Accordingly, the concepts discussed in this Opinion should be viewed as a forward-looking scientific perspective that builds upon current advances in computational science and biomedicine while awaiting future experimental and clinical validation. Importantly, these advances should complement rather than replace human expertise. Human-in-the-loop systems remain essential for ensuring scientific rigor, ethical oversight, clinical judgment, and patient-centered care. The convergence of quantum computing, AI, genetic medicine, and human expertise may ultimately establish a transformative framework for future precision psychiatry and mental health therapeutics.

Poxviruses are big, double-stranded DNA viruses that can infect a variety of animal hosts, including humans. Other clinically significant poxvirus infections, such as monkeypox (mpox), cowpox, and molluscum contagiosum, continue to present new and re-emerging public health issues even after smallpox was eradicated. The epidemiology, transmission dynamics, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment approaches of the four main human poxvirus infections are all covered in this study’s methodical narrative synthesis.Relevant studies published between 2000 and 2025 were found by a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar; 34 of them were included in the final analysis. Results show that poxviruses differ significantly in host range, transmission patterns, and disease severity, despite sharing common biological traits including cytoplasmic replication and distinctive cutaneous lesion progression. While mpox has resurfaced worldwide, exhibiting persistent human-to-human transmission during the 2022–2023 outbreak, smallpox is still historically relevant because of its high fatality and successful eradication. Cowpox is still an uncommon zoonotic disease associated with animal reservoirs, while Molluscum contagiosum is still very common, especially in children and immunocompromised people. Antiviral medications like tecovirimat offer treatment options for severe cases, and advances in molecular diagnostics, especially polymerase chain reaction, have improved detection.The impact of dwindling population immunity and growing human-animal interaction is demonstrated by the resurgence and persistence of poxvirus diseases. To reduce future epidemics, more surveillance, better diagnostic capabilities, and integrated One Health policies are crucial.

Cancer is a highly heterogeneous and dynamic disease whose progression, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and immune escape are strongly regulated by the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems and animal models often fail to recapitulate the structural organization, multicellular interactions, biochemical gradients, and mechanical properties of native tumors, thereby limiting the translational efficiency of preclinical cancer research and drug development. In recent years, in vitro three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic tumor models-including tumor spheroids, tumor organoids, and tumor-on-a-chip systems—have emerged as powerful platforms for reconstructing physiologically relevant tumor microenvironments and investigating complex tumor behaviors.In this review, we systematically summarize the construction principles, biological characteristics, advantages, and limitations of major 3D biomimetic tumor models. We further discuss their recent applications in drug screening, precision medicine, tumor heterogeneity research, cancer stem cell investigation, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and immunotherapy evaluation. Particular emphasis is placed on the comparative advantages of different 3D systems in modeling dynamic tumor–microenvironment interactions and supporting translational oncology research. Additionally, we will discuss the current problems of vascularisation, extracellular matrix biomimetics, experimental reproducibility, standardisation, and large-scale clinical translation. Finally, we present some new directions for future work, including three-dimensional bioprinting, multi-omics technology, artificial intelligence, and multi-organ-on-a-chip platforms, which may further improve the physiological relevance and predictive power of next-generation tumor models.In short, this review has listed the current progress of 3D biomimetic tumour modelling and discussed some prospects for its use in mechanistic studies of cancer, drug discovery, etc.