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Abstract Aims Alcohol use alters the reward signaling processes contributing to the development of addiction. We studied the effects of alcohol use disorder (AUD) on brain regions and blood of deceased women and men to examine sex-dependent differences in epigenetic changes associated with AUD. We investigated the effects of alcohol use on the gene promoter methylation of GABBR1 coding for GABAB receptor subunit 1 in blood and brain. Methods We chose six brain regions associated with addiction and the reward pathway (nucleus arcuatus, nucleus accumbens, the mamillary bodies, amygdala, hippocampus and anterior temporal cortex) and performed epigenetic profiling of the proximal promoter of the GABBR1 gene of post-mortem brain and blood samples of 17 individuals with AUD pathology (4 female, 13 male) and 31 healthy controls (10 female, 21 male). Results Our results show sex-specific effects of AUD on GABBR1 promoter methylation. Especially, CpG −4 showed significant tissue-independent changes and significantly decreased methylation levels for the AUD group in the amygdala and the mammillary bodies of men. We saw prominent and consistent change in CpG-4 across all investigated tissues. For women, no significant loci were observed. Conclusion We found sex-dependent differences in GABBR1 promoter methylation in relation to AUD. CpG-4 hypomethylation in male individuals with AUD is consistent for most brain regions. Blood shows similar results without reaching significance, potentially serving as a peripheral marker for addiction-associated neuronal adaptations. Further research is needed to discover more contributing factors in the pathological alterations of alcohol addiction to offer sex-specific biomarkers and treatment.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Phaseaoli pericarpium (bean pods) is a pharmacopeial plant material traditionally used as a diuretic and antidiabetic agents. Diuretic activity of pod extracts was reported first in 1608. Since then Phaseoli pericarpium tea figures in many textbooks as medicinal plant material used by patients. Aim of the study Despite the traditional use of extracts from Phaseolium vulgaris pericarp, limited information is available on bioactivity, chemical composition, and bioavailability of such preparations. The following study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, the in vitro permeability of selected extract's constituents over the Caco-2 permeation system, and potential antivirulence activity against uropathogenic Escherichia coli of a hydroalcoholic Phaseoli pericarpium extract (PPX) in vitro to support its traditional use as a remedy used in urinary tract infections. Material and methods The chemical composition of the extract PPX [ethanol:water 7:3 (v/v)] investigated by using UHPLC-DAD-MSn and subsequent dereplication. The permeability of compounds present in PPX was evaluated using the Caco-2 monolayer permeation system. The influence of PPX on uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strain NU14 proliferation and against the bacterial adhesion to T24 epithelial cells was determined by turbidimetric assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The influence of the extract on the mitochondrial activity of T24 host cells was monitored by MTT assay. Results LC-MSn investigation and dereplication, indicated PPX extract to be dominated by a variety of flavonoids, with rutin as a major compound, and soyasaponin derivatives. Rutin, selected soyasaponins and fatty acids were shown to permeate the Caco-2 monolayer system, indicating potential bioavailability following oral intake. The extract did not influence the viability of T24 cells after 1.5h incubation at 2 mg/mL and UPEC. PPX significantly reduced the bacterial adhesion of UPEC to human bladder cells in a concentration-dependent manner (0.5–2 mg/mL). Detailed investigations by different incubation protocols indicated that PPX seems to interact with T24 cells, which subsequently leads to reduced recognition and adhesion of UPEC to the host cell membrane. Conclusions PPX is characterised by the presence of flavonoids (e.g. rutin) and saponins, from which selected compounds might be bioavailable after oral application, as indicated by the Caco-2 permeation experiments. Rutin and some saponins can be considered as potentially bioavailable after the oral intake. The concentration-dependent inhibition of bacterial adhesion of UPEC to T24 cells justifies the traditional use of Phaseoli pericarpium in the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections.

In the current era, the importance of proper hand hygiene to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases has become difficult to debate. Yet, compliance rates remain low and are affected by many factors, amongst which is user acceptability of hand hygiene products.The present study aimed at investigating drivers of preference towards different hand hygiene formulations.Three different formulations (liquid, foam and gel) of the same brand were randomly and blindly evaluated by 54 participants based on the WHO Protocol for Evaluation of Tolerability and Acceptability of Alcohol-based Handrubs.The majority (76%) of respondents indicated that the product formulation impacted their level of compliance with hand hygiene protocols. The preferred formulation was liquid, with 50% of participants ranking it as first choice. General product satisfaction, the product texture, the drying speed and the ease of application, were the statistically significant drivers for participants to rank a formulation as their first choice vs not ranking it as their first choice.When designing alcohol formulations and implementing hand hygiene protocols, understanding drivers of preference for formulations may enhance product user acceptability and therefore compliance with hand hygiene.

Climate change is a global problem, which affects the various geographical regions at different levels. It is also associated with a wide range of human health problems, which pose a burden to health systems, especially in regions such as Africa. Indeed, across the African continent public health systems are under severe pressure, partly due to their fragile socioeconomic conditions. This paper reports on a cross-sectional study in six African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia, and Kenya) aimed at assessing their vulnerabilities to climate change, focusing on its impacts on human health. The study evaluated the levels of information, knowledge, and perceptions of public health professionals. It also examined the health systems’ preparedness to cope with these health hazards, the available resources, and those needed to build resilience to the country’s vulnerable population, as perceived by health professionals. The results revealed that 63.1% of the total respondents reported that climate change had been extensively experienced in the past years, while 32% claimed that the sampled countries had experienced them to some extent. Nigerian respondents recorded the highest levels (67.7%), followed by Kenya with 66.6%. South Africa had the lowest level of impact as perceived by the respondents (50.0%) when compared with the other sampled countries. All respondents from Ghana and Namibia reported that health problems caused by climate change are common in the two countries. As perceived by the health professionals, the inadequate resources reiterate the need for infrastructural resources, medical equipment, emergency response resources, and technical support. The study’s recommendations include the need to improve current policies at all levels (i.e., national, regional, and local) on climate change and public health and to strengthen health professionals’ skills. Improving the basic knowledge of health institutions to better respond to a changing climate is also recommended. The study provides valuable insights which may be helpful to other nations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 lockdown significant improvements in urban air quality were detected due to the absence of motorized vehicles. It is crucial to perpetuate such improvements to maintain and improve public health simultaneously. Therefore, this exploratory study approached bicycle infrastructure in the case of Munich (Germany) to find out which specific bicycle lanes meet the demands of its users, how such infrastructure looks like, and which characteristics are potentially important. Methods: To identify patterns of bicycle infrastructure in Munich exploratory data is collected over the timespan of three consecutive weeks in August by a bicycle rider at different times of the day. We measure position, time, velocity, pulse, level of sound, temperature and humidity. In the next step, we qualitatively identified different segments and applied a cluster analysis to quantitatively describe those segments regarding the measured factors. The data allows us to identify which bicycle lanes have a particular set of measurements, indicating a favorable construction for bike riders. Results: In the exploratory dataset, five relevant segment clusters are identified: viscous, slow, inconsistent, accelerating, and best-performance. The segments that are identified as best-performance enable bicycle riders to travel efficiently and safely at amenable distances in urban areas. They are characterized by their width, little to no interaction with motorized traffic as well as pedestrians, and effective traffic light control. Discussion: We propose two levels of discussion: (1) revolves around what kind of bicycles lanes from the case study can help to increase bicycle usage in urban areas, while simultaneously improving public health and mitigating climate change challenges and (2) discussing the possibilities, limitations and necessary improvements of this kind of exploratory methodology.

Sustainability usually refers to the ability to maintain a certain standard of human lifestyle without causing environmental damage or any other destruction to nature and biodiversity. It is beneficial for human health and well-being in addition to socio-economic benefits and contributes to environmental integrity. However, as Robert Swan (1956) once stated: “the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it”—this is true even today; namely, there are still serious threats to the planet and there is “a short time period” for action. We all have to be obliged to save the planet in which we live throughout our daily and local activities. In this study, the authors provide an overview of the meaning of sustainable tourism and its relationship to all global Sustainable Development Goals established by UN (2015) as one way to achieve a brighter sustainable future and society for everyone, leaving no one behind. More specifically, the case of Kosovo and its potential for the development of sustainable tourism is analyzed. In this case, the authors aim to present the potential to serve the local tradition, culture, diversity, and inclusiveness through sustainable actions in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The influence of different processing routes and grain size distributions on the character of the grain boundaries in Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) and the potential influence on failure through formation of percolating lithium metal networks in the solid electrolyte are investigated. Therefore, high quality hot-pressed Li7La3Zr2O12 pellets are synthesised with two different grain size distributions. Based on the electron backscatter diffraction measurements, the grain boundary network including the grain boundary distribution and its connectivity via triple junctions are analysed concerning potential Li plating along certain susceptible grain boundary clusters in the hot-pressed LLZO pellets. Additionally, the study investigates the possibility to interpret short-circuiting caused by Li metal plating or penetration in all-solid-state batteries through percolation mechanisms in the solid electrolyte microstructure, in analogy to grain boundary failure processes in metallic systems.

The Pan-African Consortium for the Evaluation of Anti-Tuberculosis Antibiotics (PanACEA) was designed to build tuberculosis (TB) trial capacity whilst conducting clinical trials on novel and existing agents to shorten and simplify TB treatment. PanACEA has now established a dynamic network of 11 sub-Saharan clinical trial sites and four European research institutions.In 2011, a capacity development program, funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), was launched with four objectives, aiming at strengthening collaborating TB research sites to reach the ultimate goal of becoming self-sustainable institutions: networking; training; conducting clinical trials; and infrastructure scaling-up of sites.Assessment in six sub-Saharan TB-endemic countries (Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) were performed through a structured questionnaire, site visits, discussion with the PanACEA consortium, setting of milestones and identification of priorities and followed-up with evaluations of each site. The results of this needs-based assessment was then translated into capacity development measures.In the initial phase, over a four-year period (March 2011 - June 2014), the programme scaled-up six sites; conducted a monitoring training program for 11 participants; funded five MSc and four PhD students, fostering gender balance; conducted four epidemiological studies; supported sites to conduct five Phase II studies and formed a sustainable platform for TB research (panacea-tb.net).Our experience of conducting TB clinical trials within the PanACEA programme environment of mentoring, networking and training has provided a sound platform for establishing future sustainable research centres. Our goal of facilitating emergent clinical TB trial sites to better initiate and lead research activities has been mostly successful.