The effectiveness and uses of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) in drug delivery systems are examined in this work. Important results include the improved drug encapsulating efficiency: CNPs showed up to 90% encapsulation for different therapeutic agents. Furthermore, the research shows that CNPs provide extended-release patterns, greatly enhancing medication bioavailability especially for hydrophobic compounds. One interesting outcome was the greater drug stability in acidic surroundings, which are common in the stomach, where CNPs turn into a gel and later inflate in the intestine where the drug is released. Moreover, CNPs showed a 2–3-fold improvement in the absorption of encapsulated pharmaceuticals relative to traditional formulations, therefore indicating their capacity to overcome the problems of low oral bioavailability. These nanoparticles’ pH-sensitive character produced a 50–70% increase in drug release at certain pH values, hence maximizing therapeutic results. Significantly less systemic toxicity was seen in the in vivo tests, and at therapeutic dosages there were no noted side effects. Histological study confirmed the biocompatibility and non-toxicity of CNPs, therefore attesting their fit for long-term usage. These results highlight the great potential of CNPs in providing effective, focused, continuous drug release, hence improving therapeutic effectiveness and patient compliance.

Background. Xyloglucan, a film-forming agent, improves intestinal mucosa resistance to pathologic damage. The efficacy, safety, and time of onset of the antidiarrheal effect of xyloglucan were assessed in children with acute gastroenteritis receiving oral rehydration solution (ORS).Methods. This randomized, controlled, open-label, parallel-group, multicenter, clinical trial included children (3 months–12 years) with acute gastroenteritis of infectious origin. Children were randomized to xyloglucan and ORS, or ORS only, for 5 days. Diarrheal symptoms, including stool number/characteristics, and safety were assessed at baseline and after 2 and 5 days and by fulfillment of a parent diary card.Results. Thirty-six patients (58.33% girls) were included (n=18/group). Patients receiving xyloglucan and ORS had better symptom evolution than ORS-only recipients, with a faster onset of action. At 6 hours, xyloglucan produced a significantly greater decrease in the number of type 7 stools (0.11 versus 0.44;P=0.027). At days 3 and 5, xyloglucan also produced a significantly greater reduction in types 6 and 7 stools compared with ORS alone. Xyloglucan plus ORS was safe and well tolerated.Conclusions. Xyloglucan is an efficacious and safe option for the treatment of acute gastroenteritis in children, with a rapid onset of action in reducing diarrheal symptoms. This study is registered with ISRCTN number65893282.

Background and Objectives: Psychological distress is a pervasive yet often undertreated aspect of the cancer experience, contributing to reduced quality of life, poorer treatment adherence, and worse health outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of non-pharmacological, evidence-based psychological interventions on distress, depression, anxiety, coping capacity, and quality of life in adult cancer patients. Interventions were grouped into three domains: structured psychotherapeutic therapies (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [CBT], Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [ACT], Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy [MCP]); mindfulness and stress reduction programs (e.g., Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction [MBSR], Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy [MBCT]); and coping and resilience-enhancing modalities (e.g., Promoting Resilience in Stress Management [PRISM], expressive writing). Materials and Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, 42 randomized controlled trials published between 2015 and 2025 were included. A stratified meta-analytic approach calculated pooled standardized mean differences for each intervention class and outcome. Heterogeneity, subgroup, and moderator analyses explored drivers of effect variability. Results: Structured psychotherapeutic interventions yielded the largest effects, especially for depression. Mindfulness-based interventions produced moderate but significant improvements in distress and emotional regulation. Coping and resilience programs provided smaller yet statistically significant gains in adaptive coping. Between-study heterogeneity was moderate, partly explained by intervention type, delivery modality, and cancer subtype. Conclusions: These findings support integrating psychosocial care into standard oncology protocols and endorse its routine implementation as a core component of comprehensive cancer treatment.

Air pollution (AIRP) remains a critical public health and environmental challenge in developing Asia, where rapid industrialization and fossil fuel dependence continue to undermine population health and longevity. This study examines the impact of AIRP on life expectancy (LIFE) and investigates whether renewable energy adoption moderates this relationship. AIRP is proxied by carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, which capture pollution-intensive energy systems, industrial activity, and agricultural practices that jointly generate health-damaging co-pollutants, particularly in contexts where consistent long-term data on ambient pollutants such as PM₂.₅ are unavailable. Using balanced panel data for 30 developing Asian countries from 2000 to 2023, we apply fixed effects, system GMM, and Lewbel IV-2SLS estimators to address unobserved heterogeneity, endogeneity, and persistence in health outcomes, while accounting for key socioeconomic and healthcare-related confounders. The results indicate that higher CO₂ and N₂O emissions significantly reduce LIFE, with CO₂ exerting a relatively stronger adverse effect. Importantly, greater renewable energy adoption weakens the negative association between emissions and LIFE, suggesting a mitigating role of clean energy transitions. While acknowledging that LIFE is influenced by multiple structural factors beyond AIRP, the findings provide robust evidence that renewable energy expansion can contribute to improved environmental quality and long-term health outcomes. These results highlight the potential co-benefits of clean energy policies for environmental sustainability and public health, offering cautious and policy-relevant insights aligned with SDG 3, SDG 7, and SDG 13.

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of burnout in Romanian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey for Students (MBI-GS(S)). The presence of burnout was assessed based on Exhaustion (EX), Cynicism (CY) and Professional Efficacy (PE) subscales. The secondary aim of the study was to identify the presence of intentional shift in medical specialty compared to their initial pursued choice within the population investigated. Data was collected online at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 through a licensed, customized MBI-GS(S) questionnaire from a sample of 126 Romanian medical students at the two leading medical schools in the country, Iasi (N = 56) and Cluj Napoca (N = 70). Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations were also applied to describe the data set (age and gender of participants) and the relationship between variables (EX, CY, PE). Subsequently, the MBI-GS(S) group report revealed that 36.5% of the medical students in the sample (46) experienced burnout, with problematic results both in Exhaustion and Cynicism. Exhaustion and Cynicism, which contribute to burnout, showed high scores compared to the average scale (EX = 3.5/2.4; CY = 2.8/1.8), while the Professional Efficacy score was relatively high (PE = 3.8/4.4), showing a protective effect and burnout reduction. One of the main conclusions is that the consequences of burnout in medical students plays a significant role in shaping the future healthcare practitioners’ perception of the medical profession and of patients’ wellbeing. Exhaustion and Cynicism are mainly associated with depersonalization and disconnection from the patient. Another conclusion of the study is that about one third of the respondents (30% Cluj students and 37.5% Iasi students) considered changing residency options. The pandemic has also revealed the limitations of and challenges facing current medical education, and that further research is required to assess the trends in prevalence of burnout in medical students.

Background and Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are on the rise worldwide because the range of etiologic agents involved is very diverse and their antimicrobial resistance poses a threat to population health in the third millennium. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive clinical–epidemiological study in a hospital with a neurosurgical profile in northeastern Romania (“Prof. Dr. N. Oblu” Clinical Emergency Hospital in Iasi), during 2020–2024. The study is centered on the involvement of Acinetobacter spp. in the occurrence and evolution of HAIs. Results: The highest incidence of Acinetobacter spp. HAIs was recorded in the intensive care unit (ICU)—82.78% compared to neurosurgical wards (15.38%), with predominance in males (69.23%) and rural residence patients (55.67%). Most HAIs were represented by ventilator-associated pneumonia (42.13%) and lower respiratory tract infections (23.08%). Strains with high virulence and pathogenicity (CR-MDR, ESBL-MDR) were found, with the highest proportion of CR-MDR strains (88.27%). Conclusions: Our study provides useful data for surveillance of the antimicrobial resistance of pathogens involved in HAIs at the hospital level and for guiding antibiotic therapy in hospital-acquired infections.