All Articles

A New Model of Body Composition: Concept and Design Features of the DBA-Model

Abstract:

Indices, based on data such as height and weight in general and in particularly the body mass index (BMI), are often used to assess overweight. However, there is limited capacity to differentiate the amount of fat mass between individuals. This review refers to an anthropometric model called Dahlmann-Body-Analysis (DBA), which uses simple anthropometric parameters to define a Reference Weight (Ref-Wt). It is based on hand circumference as a proxy for the skeletal frame and, in addition, the circumference of the abdomen as a proxy for central obesity. Processed through a network of algorithms, the DBA model enabled to differentiate the Difference Weight – that means the difference between the Actual Weight and the Reference Weight – into fat mass and skeletal muscle mass.

The DBA-model resembles the 2-component model of Albert R. Behnke, which he considered as a living functional construct including essential fat. The DBA-model matches with Behn...

Spiritual Blessing Energy Treatment as an Approach for Boosting Growth and Yield of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.)

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to improve the growth and yields of bottle gourd plants after exposure with spiritual blessing energy treatment (SBET) to the seeds and land. Twenty-one morphological traits of leaves, fruit, seed, and twenty-eight phenological parameters were employed to evaluate bottle gourd’s growth and yields after SBET. Results of bottle gourd showed a diversifiable characteristic of leaves, fruits, and seeds. Nine qualitative traits exhibited with distinct differences in the biofield-energy treatment group compared to the control. At harvest, growth-related phenological parameters such as plant vine length, number of branches, internodal length, and leaf width were significantly improved in the treatment group by 65.43% (p ≤ 0.001), 51.78% (p ≤ 0.01), 49.40% (p ≤ 0.001), and 40.82% (p ≤ 0.001), respectively, compared to the control. Addit...

Histologic and Histomorphometric Evaluation of Implant Osseointegration of a Dental Implant Three Years in Function Removed Due to Abutment Fracture

Abstract:

For the edentulous patient, dental implant therapy is the accepted treatment to replace one or more missing teeth as implant survival rates are greater than 90%. Unfortunately, surgical removal of dental implants occurs for a variety of reasons. As human studies are limited, this case report provides an opportunity to evaluate the peri-implant characteristics in a dental implant removed from a patient using histology. In our patient, the implant was removed three years after completion of the prosthetic phase due to fracture of the abutment that could not be removed from the implant. Histological examination of the implant revealed mature lamellar bone in direct contact with the implant surface. Histomorphometric evaluation revealed a bone-to-implant contact (BIC) of 73.6%.

Diabetic Mouse Delayed Wound Model Following Treatment with the NerveStim™ Neuropathy System

Abstract:

Delayed wound healing in diabetes is characterized by impaired angiogenesis, persistent inflammation, extracellular matrix dysregulation, and peripheral neuropathy. A preclinical study was conducted using a diabetic mouse delayed wound model to evaluate the surrounding tissue of a wound, (its periwound) and its tissue responses following treatment with the NerveStim™ Neuropathy System, a combination topical gel and neuromuscular electrical stimulation platform. Periwound tissue was harvested at Day 14 and analyzed using NanoString gene expression profiling. Treated animals demonstrated visibly increased periwound tissue thickness compared to untreated controls. Differential expression analysis identified 76 significantly upregulated and 17 downregulated genes. Upregulated pathways included angiogenesis (Vegfa, Fgf2, Pdgfb, Nos3), neurotrophic signaling (Ngf, Bdnf, Scn9a, Trpv1), macrophage polarization (Arg1, Mrc1, Il10), and extracellular matrix remodeling (C...

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the United Kingdom from Home-Collected Samples: A Cross-Sectional Laboratory Analysis of over 6000 Cases

Abstract:

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise globally, with >1 million new cases reported daily in 2020. In England, newly diagnosed STIs increased by 23.8% in 2022 compared to 2021. Many infections remain asymptomatic yet contribute to infertility, pregnancy complications, and neonatal morbidity. While routine screening often focuses on Chlamydia trachomatis, broader detection is limited by laboratory turnaround times and restricted test panels.

Honour and Shame as Moral-Emotional Identity Regulation in Diaspora: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Young British South Asian Women

Abstract:

Honour and shame are central moral constructs within many South Asian communities, yet their psychological internalisation in diasporic contexts remains underexamined. This qualitative study explored how young British South Asian women (aged 18–25; N = 6) understand and negotiate honour in relation to gender, religion, and identity. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Six interrelated themes illustrated honour as a gendered and relational system sustained through anticipatory shame, behavioural surveillance, and sexual double standards. Participants described internalised self-monitoring, bicultural identity tension, and strategic resistance through selective compliance and religious reinterpretation. We propose that honour and shame in minority diaspora contexts function as a moral-emotional identity-regulation system characterised by anticipatory shame, relational accountability, and boundary maintenance und...

Characterization of People Receiving 2-Drug Regimens (2DR) for HIV Management in Italy

Abstract:

To describe the clinical features and real-world treatment of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) using fixed-dose or free combinations of 2-drug regimens (2DR) of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Efficacy and Safety of Pulsed Magnetic Therapy in Sleep related Disorders: A Remote, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract:

Sleep disturbances are common and are associated with impaired daytime functioning, reduced quality of life, and increased health risks. Non-pharmacological neuromodulatory interventions have gained interest as alternatives to hypnotic medication. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has been proposed as a non-invasive approach to improve sleep quality and recovery, but evidence from large, well-controlled trials remains limited.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed magnetic field therapy (PMT) on sleep quality, sleep-related symptoms, daytime functioning, and well-being in adults with heterogeneous sleep complaints. 

Morphological Attributes and Yield of Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd) Under the Application of Spiritual Blessing/Biofield Energy Treatment (BET)

Abstract:

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is a widely consumed vegetable. This study aimed to assess the impact of spiritual blessing (biofield) energy treatment (S/BET) known as the Trivedi Effect^® on a plant’s growth and yield when applied to both seeds and soil.

A Review and Update on the Biochemical Basis of Conscious Breathing (Pranayama)

Abstract:

Breathing has long been recognised as a vital process in Eastern traditions such as YOGA and Ayurvedic medicine, where Pranayama is regarded as a transformative practice that harmonises body and mind. While the East developed sophisticated systems of breath regulation for health and self-awareness, the West largely overlooked their significance until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A group of pioneering physicians, sometimes referred to as "the pulmonauts", including Christian Bohr, Konstantin Buteyko, and Peter M Litchfield, explored the physiological foundations of respiration. They emphasised the benefits of slow, nasal breathing and its relationship to both physical and emotional well- being. In the 21st century, contemporary researchers and practitioners such as James Nestor, J. Patrick McKeown and Anders Olsson have expanded this understanding through the fields of biochemistry, phys...