Background: Middle age involves shifts in neuromuscular and functional aspects that impact women’s motor fitness and gait. Among women in this age range, balance, coordination, reaction time, and gait pattern declines can increase the risk of functional limitations later in life. Although multicomponent exercise programmes have proven benefits for older women, there is a lack of evidence for middle-aged women, particularly for short-duration interventions. Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the impact of a six-week multicomponent exercise programme on some motor fitness components and gait patterns of middle-aged women. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 40 apparently healthy women aged 40-55 years old into two groups. Based on a non-repeated random number, all the volunteers were divided into two groups; control group (N=20) and experimental group (N=20). The experimental group completed a supervised six-week multicomponent exercise program, while the control group maintained their usual daily activities. The motor fitness variables and their assessing tools included reaction time (ruler drop test), hand-eye coordination (alternate-hand wall-toss test), and balance (unipedal balance test). The 10 m walk test was used to assess gait performance. The intervention program was conducted four days a week for about 50 minutes, with difficulty increased each week. Results: The experimental group offered improvements in all of the assessed components of motor fitness and in gait performance. However, between group differences did not reach significance, although in the experimental group there were positive changes in reaction time, coordination, balance, and speed of gait. Conclusion: Positive trends were observed in motor fitness and gait parameters in middle-aged women after participating in a six-week, multicomponent exercise program. Findings demonstrate that short-term, structured multicomponent exercise programs may be effective in preventing decline in functional mobility and midlife neuromuscular efficiency; however, longer term exercise interventions are required to achieve significant improvements.

Background: Lower back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life globally. While numerous factors have been implicated in its aetiology, the role of anthropometric variables such as stature remains understudied, particularly in sub-Saharan African populations. This study investigates the relationship between stature and lower back pain among adults in Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving 410 adult participants was conducted using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Data collected included sociodemographic information, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), physical activity levels, occupational characteristics, and the presence and severity of LBP. Statistical analyses including Pearson correlation, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess associations and predictive relationships between stature and LBP. Results: The prevalence of LBP among participants was 43.4%. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between stature and LBP occurrence (r = -0.184, p = 0.001), indicating that shorter individuals reported LBP more frequently. Pain severity was significantly higher among those in the lower stature category (<160 cm) (χ² = 14.2, p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis identified sedentary occupation, frequent lifting, physical inactivity, high BMI, and short stature as significant risk factors for LBP. Logistic regression confirmed stature as an independent predictor of LBP, with the odds of experiencing LBP decreasing by approximately 4% for every 1 cm increase in height (OR = 0.96, p = 0.006). Conclusion: Stature is a significant anthropometric predictor of lower back pain among adults in Irrua. Individuals of shorter height are more vulnerable to both the occurrence and severity of LBP, particularly when compounded by modifiable lifestyle and occupational risk factors. These findings underscore the need for height-sensitive ergonomic designs, preventive health screening, and policy interventions that incorporate anthropometric diversity into public health planning.

ATD angle is important dermatoglyphic trait that is being used for medical purposes. The study aimed at determining the ATD angle of autistic and control subjects in Nigeria. A total of 200 subjects was used, 100 autistic (82 males and 18 females) and 100 (65 males and 35 females) control subjects. The subjects were selected from various special schools in Nigeria using convenient sampling. Scanning method was used to collect the data. After that an Autocad software was used to measure the three tri-radii on the palm to get Atd angle. The data obtained were analysed using SSPS and Mann-Whitney U test was used to test for the results. The result showed a lower atd angle for autism than control subjects for both sexes and both hands and for females’ subjects. However, the left hand of male autistic subjects showed higher Atd angle when compared to the control subjects. The results revealed no significant difference between the Atd angle of autistic and control subjects (P>0.05) in Nigeria. Conclusively, the study deduced that ATD angle alone may not be enough in screening autism as it may not differentiate autism from control.

This study investigates how Financial Technology (FinTech) contributes to the development of a sustainable finance ecosystem in Middle Eastern countries with a focus on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. The research uses a qualitative research design and secondary data, the study evaluates the current state of FinTech adoption, its role in advancing ESG-led financial practices and the barriers limiting effective implementation. The findings shows that strong growth in digital financial services but persistent challenges related to regulation, infrastructure and technological capability. The study concludes with policy recommendations to improve FinTech-driven sustainability and long-term financial resilience across the region.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) presents a significant public health burden in Kerala, India, where oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in pathophysiology. This prospective interventional observational study aimed to evaluate the effect of fresh Amla (Phyllanthus Emblica) juice supplementation on Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels over a six-month period. The study was conducted at a Government Health Center in Kerala involving 156 patients with diagnosed T2DM (>5 years), baseline HbA1c between 7–9%, and strictly defined criteria excluding smokers and alcohol consumers to isolate the intervention's effect. Participants received daily supplementation of fresh Amla juice (equivalent to four fruits) for six months alongside stable standard pharmacological management. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and six months. The study cohort demonstrated high compliance with the intervention. The mean baseline HbA1c was 8.12 ± 0.54%, decreasing to 7.47 ± 0.48% post-intervention, representing a statistically significant mean reduction of 8.0% from baseline (p < 0.05). No significant adverse events were reported. Adjunctive supplementation with fresh Amla juice resulted in significant glycemic improvement in non-smokers and non-alcoholics, supporting the integration of dietary antioxidants in diabetic care protocols.

Background: Dermatoglyphics, the study of unique, immutable epidermal ridge patterns, emerges from the same embryological ectoderm as the nervous system during early gestation. This shared origin posits it as a potential phenotypic marker for neurodevelopmental anomalies like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most studies are from Western populations, with a paucity of gender-stratified data from South Asia. Objectives: This study aimed to conduct a gender-wise comparative analysis of digital dermatoglyphic patterns between autistic and neurotypical children in Northern Bangladesh, to identify potential pattern deviations associated with ASD. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study enrolled 100 Bangladeshi children aged 5–15 years: 50 diagnosed with ASD (38 male, 12 female) and 50 age-matched neurotypical controls (26 male, 24 female). Bilateral fingerprints were acquired using a ZKT ECO biometric scanner and classified into Arch (A), Ulnar Loop (UL), Radial Loop (RL), and Whorl (W) patterns using DigiDoctors software (v1.0.1). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v23.0, employing Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests where appropriate. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Significant inter-group differences were observed (p<0.001). The autistic group exhibited a higher frequency of: Arch (12.6% vs. 4.4%; OR=3.15, 95% CI: 1.89-5.25), Whorl (36.4% vs. 32.4%), and Radial Loop (3.6% vs. 1.2%). Ulnar Loops were significantly lower in the autistic group (47.4% vs. 61.6%). Gender-stratified analysis revealed autistic males had significantly higher frequencies of Arch, Whorl, and Radial Loop compared to neurotypical males. Autistic females showed a pronounced increase in Arch pattern (16.67% vs. 2.92%; p<0.001) but lower frequencies of Whorl and Radial Loop. Radial Loops were absent in autistic females. Conclusion: This study provides the first gender-stratified dermatoglyphic profile of autistic children in Bangladesh, revealing distinct pattern deviations that differ between males and females. The findings support the hypothesis of altered ectodermal development in ASD and suggest dermatoglyphics could serve as a low-cost, non-invasive adjunctive tool in multidisciplinary ASD assessment, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further large-scale, familial, and genetic correlational studies are warranted.

The growing resistance of Salmonella typhi to antibiotics is a major public health challenge, justifying the search for natural therapeutic alternatives. This study aims to evaluate in vitro the antibacterial activity of essential oils of Syzygium aromaticum and Cymbopogon citratus on a strain of S. typhi isolated in Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized organoleptically and physicochemically. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar diffusion method, supplemented by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and then statistically analyzed by ANOVA. The results show a higher extraction yield for S. aromaticum (0.85%) than for C. citratus (0.31%). The essential oil of S. aromaticum showed more pronounced antibacterial activity (inhibition diameter: 10 mm) compared to that of C. citratus (3 mm) and the reference antibiotics. The MIC of S. aromaticum was estimated at 80%, indicating concentration-dependent activity. Thus, the essential oil of S. aromaticum is an effective source of natural antibacterial agents against S. typhi, although further studies (molecular and in vivo) are needed.