The ubiquity of plastic pollution has rendered dietary microplastic (MP) ingestion unavoidable, introducing an unrecognized yet pervasive threat to human nutritional health. This review systematically synthesizes evidence from rodent and aquatic animal models, in vitro human gut microbiota simulations, and cross-sectional human observational studies to conceptualize the "MP-gut microbiota-nutrition axis" as a unifying mechanistic framework. Our synthesis delineates 4 interconnected pathways triggered by MP-induced gut dysbiosis: 1) disrupted energy harvest via short-chain fatty acid depletion and bile acid dysregulation; 2) compromised gut barrier integrity leading to metabolic endotoxemia; 3) impaired micronutrient bioavailability; and 4) appetite dysregulation through the gut-brain axis. These hazardous effects are amplified by Western-style diets and early-life exposure, positioning MP as a direct environmental determinant linking pollution to the triple burden of malnutrition. By critically evaluating dose relevance across >75 studies published between 2020 and 2025, this review rejects the notion of plastic pollution as a distant ecological concern and reframes it as a proximate, modifiable driver of global malnutrition requiring urgent integration into public health and policy.

Closely related insect species with different feeding habits may exhibit divergent physiological responses to starvation. Here, we compared the predatory Arma chinensis and the phytophagous pest Halyomorpha halys under identical starvation conditions. A. chinensis survived significantly longer than H. halys (females: 39 vs. 9 days; males: 29 vs. 7 days), with slower body weight decline. Starvation severely suppressed reproduction in both species, associated with arrested ovarian development and downregulation of vitellogenin (Vg) genes. In carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, A. chinensis showed relatively stable expression of key metabolic genes, while H. halys exhibited transient upregulation followed by rapid attenuation. These results suggest that feeding habits may drive divergence in physiological and molecular responses to starvation. The strong starvation tolerance of A. chinensis may have implications for its use in biological control, while the vulnerability of H. halys to food deprivation could be relevant for pest management strategies.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, and to evaluate age-, sex-, and season-specific variations in serum 25(OH)D levels among Somali children and adolescents. This retrospective cross-sectional study included pediatric outpatients aged 0-18 years who attended a tertiary care hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, between January 2020 and August 2025. Serum 25(OH)D levels were analyzed in 2961 participants and categorized as deficient (<12 ng/ml), insufficient (12-20 ng/ml), or sufficient (>20 ng/ml) according to Global Consensus Recommendations. Participants were stratified by age group, sex, and season. Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric tests, with P < .05 considered statistically significant. Mean serum 25(OH)D levels decreased progressively with age, with the highest concentrations observed in infants aged 0-1 year (53.8 ± 18.1 ng/ml) and the lowest in adolescents aged 12-18 years (27.4 ± 13.1 ng/ml). Vitamin D deficiency was absent in infants and rare in children aged 1-6 years, but increased substantially in older age groups, reaching 9.4% deficiency and 23.7% insufficiency among adolescents. Males consistently exhibited higher serum 25(OH)D levels than females across all age groups and seasons (P < .001). Seasonal variation was observed, with the lowest mean levels recorded during July-September. Despite abundant year-round sunlight, vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are prevalent among Somali children, particularly in adolescents and females. These findings highlight the need for age- and sex-specific public health strategies, including targeted screening and supplementation beyond early childhood, to improve 25(OH)D status in pediatric populations living in sun-rich environments.

Malnutrition is a significant problem with prognostic relevance. Feeding via a PEG tube is the most common form of long-term enteral nutrition, but current data on complications, quality of life under and satisfaction with the tube are not available.

Conflicts are unavoidable aspect of human existence, causing disruptions in livelihoods, infrastructure, socioeconomic systems and healthcare access. Among the most severe effects of conflict are those on maternal and child health (MCH) services, on which there is a notable scarcity of research. Consequently, this scoping review examines the impact of conflict on the accessibility of MCH services and their associated treatment outcomes and identifies limitations. A review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews and the Joanna Briggs Institute Methods Manual for scoping review to map works of literature regarding the effects of conflict on MCH across nine databases (PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Google Scholar) published in English between January 2000 and May 2024. The quality of the studies was evaluated using NIH tools, resulting in 17 classified as good, 5 as fair and 1 as poor, which was subsequently excluded. A narrative synthesis was employed to categorise the findings based on predisposing, enabling and need factors. Out of 612 records, 23 studies (from 15 countries, predominantly qualitative) confirmed that conflict limits access due to insecurity and displacement (enabling factors, n = 18 studies), modifies health-seeking behaviours (predisposing, n = 12) and increases mortality and malnutrition rates (need, n = 15). (NGO) Non-Governmental Organisation and community outreach efforts were found to alleviate some of these effects (notably in Pakistan and Afghanistan). In addition, three studies examined the intersections of pandemic and conflict, highlighting compounded disruptions. Given the prevalence of ongoing conflicts, it is crucial to comprehend their effects and mitigate the health repercussions for women and children, a topic that warrants significant academic inquiry.

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by impairment of neuronal functions and neuronal loss. Huntington's disease is one of the neurodegenerative diseases caused by the formation of mutant Huntingtin protein aggregates in the brain. The other pathological reasons behind this disease are oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and excitotoxicity, which lead to impairment of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric functions. The vitamins are considered an essential part of a healthy diet, as they tend to increase the nutritional value of the diet. Insufficient intake of macro- and micronutrients can deteriorate human health, which may lead to malnutrition. Nowadays, these vitamins are also considered molecules to manage neurodegenerative disease with the intention of a dual response, along with nourishment. In vivo research reflects the antioxidant potential of vitamins and also functions as an integral part of various metabolic processes of the body that play a vital role in the pathology of Huntington's disease. Despite several neuroprotective properties, current research on vitamins remains limited. The review focuses on evidences exploring the functional significance of vitamins in maintaining neuronal and brain health and their possible impact on the symptoms and pathogenesis of Huntington's disease. It also highlights how the vitamins' potential is at stake to reach the clinical perspective, along with different strategies to overcome their limitations using novel drug delivery and biomarker-based approaches.

Dysphagia is a common and clinically significant complication in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), contributing to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and reduced quality of life. However, its prognostic significance in terms of survival and swallowing outcomes remains unclear. A narrative review was conducted using PubMed to identify relevant studies published between January 2000 and April 2026. Dysphagia in IIM is associated with increased mortality, primarily due to aspiration-related complications and underlying disease severity. Emerging evidence indicates that this association may be modified by the presence of malignancy, particularly in dermatomyositis. Swallowing outcomes are heterogeneous: some patients show improvement with immunosuppressive therapy or intravenous immunoglobulin, whereas others experience persistent or progressive dysfunction, especially those with inclusion body myositis. Key prognostic factors include age, disease subtype, autoantibody status, and baseline severity of dysphagia. Dysphagia in IIM should be recognized as a clinically important manifestation associated with both survival and functional outcomes. Early identification and appropriate management are essential to improve patient prognosis. Further prospective studies are needed to establish standardized assessment and risk stratification strategies.