International journal of health sciences

Synthetic aminoglycoside derivatives as anti-virulence agents against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

2026-09-25T05:08:38+00:00

Acinetobacter baumannii presents a severe clinical challenge in critical care due to its rapid acquisition of drug resistance and its ability to form dense biofilms on medical equipment. While traditional antibiotic research focuses almost exclusively on essential bacterial viability targets, targeting virulence factors at sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) offers an alternative approach to reduce pathogen persistence without driving immediate resistance. This systematic review synthesizes the literature published between January 2010 and July 2026 that evaluates chemically modified aminoglycoside derivatives designed to bypass aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs) and impair A. baumannii virulence pathways. Evidence from the included studies indicates that targeted modifications to the 2-deoxystreptamine core, specifically inserting hydrophobic or amphiphilic side chains, restore susceptibility in carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) strains. Furthermore, these derivatives significantly reduce biofilm biomass (often by over 80% at 21×MIC) and restrict surface twitching motility. Computational docking models across these studies point to multi-target engagement, where modified derivatives interact directly with outer membrane protein A (OmpA), the quorum-sensing receptor AbaR, and the response regulator BfmR. Rational scaffold engineering of aminoglycosides offers a viable approach to develop dual-action agents that combine direct antibacterial activity with phenotypic disarming.

Prevalence, risk factors, and postural-ergonomic exercise intervention for musculoskeletal pain among school-going children

2026-09-12T08:30:28+00:00

Background: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among school-going children is a significant concern globally, with varying prevalence rates and associated factors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among school-going children, evaluate associated risk factors, and propose a school-based postural and ergonomic exercise education programme to address the identified risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 303 students aged 12–15 years from schools around Chidambaram. Data were collected using the modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (M-NMQ), numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), and youth physical activity questionnaire (Y-PAQ), along with demographic details and environmental factors. Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant associations. Results: This study revealed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (90.09%) among participants, with significant correlations (p < 0.001). This study also suggests that increased backpack weight, screen time, and physical activity are associated with a higher risk of MSP. Conclusion: This study emphasises the need for education on proper backpack use, responsible screen time, and physical activity to mitigate the risk of pain among school-going children. A structured postural and ergonomic exercise education programme, incorporating backpack ergonomics, screen-time breaks, and corrective exercises, low-cost strategy to reduce this burden.

Climate-induced health shocks, financial inclusion, and poverty dynamics in selected Sub-Saharan African Countries

2026-10-03T14:27:59+00:00

This study examines the dynamic relationships among climate-induced health shocks, financial inclusion, and poverty dynamics in five Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries which employing annual panel data spanning from 2000 to 2023, sourced from the World Development Indicators. The study adopts the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator within an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) panel framework. The results reveal that financial inclusion is found to significantly increase per capita consumption expenditure in the long run, confirming its role as a poverty-reducing mechanism. Thus, malaria incidence exerts a strong and statistically significant negative effect on per capita consumption, accentuating the persistent economic burden of climate-sensitive infectious disease. Particularly, cholera incidence yields no significant effect, consistent with its localised and episodic epidemiological pattern. Domestic health expenditure is positively associated with consumption over the long run, though country-level heterogeneity is pronounced. Ditto for Granger causality results confirm unidirectional causation from malaria burden and health expenditure to poverty levels. The study concludes with the following policy recommendations: as such, effective poverty alleviation in SSA requires simultaneous investment in climate-resilient health systems and inclusive financial services, with particular attention to institutional efficiency and equitable access.

Building students’ mental resilience in the digital era: A thematic analysis of coping strategies and the integration of Hindu teachings in dealing with academic pressure

2026-10-08T05:52:57+00:00

Academic pressure is a common challenge experienced by university students and can affect their emotional state, behavior, and psychological well-being. This study aims to understand students’ experiences in dealing with academic pressure, identify their coping strategies, and interpret these experiences from the perspective of Hindu teachings. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach involving 24 students from the State Hindu University Gde Pudja Mataram. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that academic pressure is primarily triggered by academic workload, limited time, and demands for academic achievement, which may lead to anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. The dominant coping strategies were oriented toward emotion management, while problem-focused coping remained suboptimal. Digital technology was used both adaptively and less adaptively. From a Hindu perspective, these findings are consistent with the concepts of Karma Yoga, Tri Hita Karana, Dhyana, Vairagya, and Satsang. Integrating psychological coping strategies with Hindu spiritual values can support students’ mental resilience holistically by strengthening emotional regulation, social support, and spiritual practices in everyday academic life.

The Effect of General Strength and Plyometric Training on Sprint, SBJ, CMJ in Prepubertal Age

2026-09-12T17:31:17+00:00

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week general strength and plyometric training program on sprint and jump performance in prepubertal male football players aged 9 to 11. Twenty beginner players were assigned into two groups the treatment group (n = 10) which received the intervention, while the control group (n = 10) carried with their usual football activities. 30meter sprint, standing broad jump (SBJ), and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance was measured before and after the intervention. The experimental group trained three times per week using a combination of bodyweight strength and plyometric exercises. A mixed ANOVA showed that the experimental group's SBJ performance had significantly improved (p =.027), with the mean distance 1.229 m to 1.482 m. Although not statistically significant, CMJ data showed a positive trend toward improvement (p =.065), with the mean height 20.46 cm to 21.91 cm, The 30M sprint performance showed no discernible differences (p =.295). The findings suggest that general strength and plyometric training effectively enhances lower-body explosive power in young athletes, particularly for horizontal jump performance. Such training in early athletic development may provide long-term performance benefits.

NUTRITIONAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MELON SEED POWDER AS DIETARY SUPPLEMENT FOR DIABETES INTERVENTION

2026-09-11T20:17:28+00:00

Introduction:

Watermelon seed powder holds significant potential in management of diabetes due to its rich fibre and bioactive compounds content.

Objective: This study determined the proximate, mineral and phytochemical constituents of watermelon seed powder using locally sourced watermelon seeds in Ghana.

Methods: Proximate analysis was performed using standard procedures whereas minerals was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Folin-ciocalteau assays were used to determine total phenol, flavonoid and tannin contents of the watermelon seed powder. Microbiological assays to determine the total aerobic bacteria (TAC) and fungal (TFC) loads were carried out using the pour plate and spread plate approaches on plate count agar (PCA) and Saboraud dextrose agar (SDA) respectively. The shelf life was estimated by mathematical modeling of the biological data using the Statgraphics Centurion XV software at storage temperatures of 5⁰C, 27⁰C and 37⁰C.

Results: TAC of 1.20×10³cfu/g and TFC of 5.2×10¹cfu/g with estimated shelf-life of 2 months at room temperature and 16 months when refrigerated. Carbohydrates (6.02%±0.71), fibre (39.89%±0.45), fat (26.75%±0.42). Ca (27.01mg/Kg), Cu (0.42mg/Kg), Mg (13.09mg/Kg), Zn (0.73mg/Kg), Na (89.48mg/Kg), K (77.02mg/Kg) and Fe (0.47mg/Kg) were detected in the seed. Phenols (54.75mg/g), tannins (82.17mg/g) and flavonoids (2.05mg/g) were also found in the watermelon seed powder.