Background: A cesarean section (CS) is a method of childbirth involving a surgical cut made in the abdominal and uterine wall to deliver the infant. But while it saves the lives of women and infants, it has been implicated in several immediate and long-term complications and adverse consequences as a result of its ineffective use. This study attempts to address the major public health issue of the inappropriate use of CS by exploring its impact on maternal, neonatal, and child health. More specifically, the study aims to investigate the immediate and long-term health impacts on the mother, including her physical and mental health, as well as the immediate and long-term psychosomatic consequences on the neonate’s, infant’s, and child’s health as a result of the inappropriate use of CS. Methods: A scoping review was conducted spanning from 2015 to 2025 according to the PRISMA criteria and checklist. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria comprised original articles with clear exposure and outcome written in English, and studies that did not involve reviews of any kind or letters to the editors. Results: The review identified 42 relevant studies. The results showed several immediate and long-term complications of CS in mothers, neonates, infants, and children, while its ineffective use carries equally high risks, such as high levels of morbidity and mortality. Conclusions: This scoping review presents the problems that arise in the immediate and long-term health of mother and child from the improper use of cesarean section and underlines the need for immediate action and measures to be taken by health policy makers.

Membranous tunneling tubes (TTs) are a recently discovered new form of communication between remote cells allowing their electrical synchronization, migration, and transfer of cellular materials. TTs have been identified in the brain and share similarities with neuronal processes. TTs can be open-ended, close-ended or contain functional gap junctions at the membrane interface. Gap junctions are formed of two unapposed hemichannels composed of six connexin (Cx) subunits. There are evidences that Cxs also play channel-independent role in cell adhesion, migration, division, differentiation, formation of neuronal networks and tumorigenicity. These properties of Cxs and TTs may synergetically determine the cellular and intercellular processes. Therefore, we examined the impact of Cxs expressed in the nervous system (Cx36, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45, and Cx47) on: 1) cell mobility; 2) formation and properties of TTs; and 3) transfer of siRNA between remote cells through TTs.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection presents a significant health risk in endemic regions, especially for pregnant women, who face higher risks of severe complications, including maternal and fetal mortality. The recombinant HEV vaccine, HEV239, has demonstrated high efficacy in the general population, yet data on its safety and efficacy in women of a childbearing age remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of HEV239 in this specific population, with a focus on pregnancy-related outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were included if they reported outcomes on HEV239′s safety or efficacy in women of childbearing age, with data being extracted and analyzed for immunogenicity, HEV incidence, and maternal adverse events. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane and Newcastle Ottawa Scales, and a random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Results: Three studies, enrolling over 23,000 participants, were included in the current systematic review, with two meeting the criteria for meta-analysis. HEV239 demonstrated high efficacy in preventing hepatitis E infection, with no significant increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes such as stillbirth or elective termination. However, there was an elevated risk of miscarriage (odds ratio [OR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99–2.57). The analysis revealed high heterogeneity for miscarriage outcomes (I² = 67%), reflecting variability in study designs and populations. Conclusions: HEV239 is effective in preventing HEV infection among women of childbearing age, although caution is advised when administering the vaccine near conception due to potential miscarriage risks. Future studies should focus on understanding the biological mechanisms and timing-specific safety to guide vaccination recommendations.

Background/Objectives: Childbirth, although generally a positive life event, can sometimes be experienced as traumatic, leading to postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. Emergency caesarean section and operative vaginal delivery are associated with elevated psychological distress, while factors such as lifetime trauma, domestic violence, anxiety, and coping strategies may further increase vulnerability. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 113 postpartum women who delivered via emergency caesarean section (73.5%) or operative vaginal delivery (26.5%) in two tertiary hospitals in Athens, Greece (March–July 2023). Data were collected at three time points: the second postpartum day, six weeks postpartum, and three months postpartum. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sample characteristics. Chi-square tests were performed for categorical variables and independent sample t-tests for continuous variables. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, with results expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: At six weeks postpartum, 14.2% of participants met full diagnostic criteria for P-PTSD. Postpartum post-traumatic stress was strongly associated with higher state and trait anxiety, fewer positive coping strategies, and exposure to domestic violence (lifetime, during pregnancy, and in the past year). Women with traumatic childbirth experiences had a 14.7-fold higher risk of developing P-PTSD. Lifetime trauma, particularly physical or sexual abuse and exposure to disasters, further increased vulnerability. Over the last three months, 50% of those initially diagnosed continued to meet the diagnostic criteria. Multivariate analysis identified traumatic childbirth, state anxiety, and domestic violence during pregnancy as significant predictors of postpartum post-traumatic stress. Conclusions: Postpartum post-traumatic stress is a significant and underestimated consequence of high-risk deliveries. Screening for domestic violence and trauma history during pregnancy, assessing perinatal anxiety, and providing trauma-informed psychological support are critical to reducing maternal psychiatric morbidity and promoting maternal-infant well-being.

Enhancing the inclusion of neurodiverse students in higher education institutions represents a significant and evolving challenge for educators. Recognizing learning difficulties and equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively work with and communicate with neuro-diverse students are crucial steps toward achieving social inclusion. Aim – to explore the neurodiversity of Lithuanian college students and its link to learning difficulties and supporting measures. Two developmental adult disorders were presented to illustrate the expression of neurodiversity including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A cross-sectional survey included 512 students from Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution. The survey assessed 39 attributes related to students’ learning difficulties and supporting measures. The nine scales, consisting of 39 items, demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.76. Due to the unequal and smaller sample sizes of attention deficit hyperactivity and autism spectrum disorders having students, non-parametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis) were used. Spearman's correlation coefficient (R²) was used for correlation analysis. Results. Nearly a quarter of the students associate their neurodiversity with ADHD, with 22.3 % suspecting they have the condition and 2 % noted that this is confirmed. 4.7% of students consider themselves to be on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with 0.6% having a confirmed diagnosis. Statistically significant differences were identified in the relationship between ADHD and attention difficulties at home, college, sensory sensitivity and specific learning difficulties (p ≤ 0.05). ADHD and ASS suspected of having students tend to have lower grade point average (GPAs). Students who suspect or confirm having ADHD express a higher preference for organizational tools compared to those without ADHD, with a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05). Preferences for explanations and illustrations are higher among those suspecting ADHD (p ≤ 0.05). The analysis of expectations from lecturers and organization concerning ASD shows minimal variation among groups (p≥0.05). Conclusions. Neurodiversity among students is a relevant phenomenon that is associated with learning difficulties that interfere with achieving good learning outcomes. However, the role of the teacher and organization is exclusively relevant for the ADHD student group. For ASD students and neurotypical students, universal approaches are appropriate.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that commonly affects women during their reproductive years, influencing fertility and family planning decisions. This study explores the psychological, social, and medical factors associated with reproductive choices in women with MS. Objectives: To identify factors influencing reproductive choices in women with MS and assess the role of psychological, social, and disease-related variables in fertility decision. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 women diagnosed with MS, recruited from specialized clinics and support groups. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing social support, psychological well-being, relationship dynamics, reproductive motivation, and quality of life. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of childbearing. Results: Women with relapsing-remitting MS (73.9%) were significantly more likely to have children than those with progressive forms (p = 0.001), while those using fingolimod (100%) remained childless (p = 0.008). Higher mental health scores (p = 0.035) and fatalistic motivation (p = 0.005) were associated with childbearing, while increased health-related concerns (p = 0.006) were more prevalent among mothers. Marital status (p = 0.001) was a significant factor, with all unmarried women being childless. However, logistic regression analysis did not identify any single independent predictor of childbearing (p > 0.05), suggesting that reproductive decisions are influenced by multiple interrelated factors rather than a single dominant variable. Conclusions: This study highlights the complex interplay of disease progression, psychological resilience, and treatment choices in reproductive decisions among women with MS. Findings emphasize the need for individualized reproductive counseling, considering both medical and psychosocial factors. Future research should incorporate longitudinal studies to better understand the evolving reproductive trajectories of women with MS.