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“Spirituality as a coping strategy for infertility” : a scoping review
Naab, Florence; Van der Wath, Anna Elizabeth; Kyei, Josephine M.; Armah, Deborah (Springer, 2025-08)
Infertility affects not only the psycho-socio well-being of couples and individuals but also their spiritual well-being, further awakening spiritual desires along with the unmet needs of parenthood. Spirituality has received less attention as compared to the vast knowledge of literature shared on psychosocial issues of infertility. This study examined the role of spirituality as a coping strategy in overcoming stressors associated with infertility. A scoping review was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, Medline, Pro Quest, and Science Direct. The screening of titles, abstracts, and full text was done using searches such as spirituality, coping strategy, infertility, couple, individual, and women. A systematic review (PRISMA) and qualitative studies (COREQ guidelines) tools were adapted to ensure methodological quality. Finally, retrieved data were extracted: authors, year, country, aim of study, study design and sample characteristics, and major findings. Strong spiritual connection, spiritual support, and forgiveness helped couples and individuals living with infertility cope better despite the enormous psychosocial stressors encountered. The findings of the study revealed that couples and individuals who employed spirituality as a coping strategy had improved quality of life, increased hope, experienced enhanced well-being, reduced emotional stressors, and further increased success rate in treatment.
Tracing nutrient allocation in capital breeding baleen whales using amino acid stable isotope analysis: a novel method to infer protein balance and reproductive status
Busquets-Vass, Geraldine; Carroll, Emma L.; Lübcker, Nico; Constantine, Rochelle; Childerhouse, Simon; Baker, C. Scott; Dunshea, Glenn; Hindell, Mark; Cranswick, Annabelle; Lundquist, David; Newsome, Seth D. (Springer, 2025-11)
Assessing reproductive status and the nutrient allocation strategies animals use to reproduce is integral for evaluating their vulnerability to environmental change; however, the elusive nature of many animals hinders our ability to assess the impact of these vital life history events on homeostasis. We developed a proxy for assessing protein balance in capital-breeding southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) based on carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope analysis of amino acids (AA) in skin biopsy samples (n = 82) collected from free-ranging whales. Most AA in lactating females (cows) had higher δ13C but lower δ15N values in comparison to adult non-lactating females and adult males, suggesting they route fat stores for milk production and use protein reserves to maintain tissues. Lower AA δ15N values are likely associated with protein sparing and/or modifications to the urea cycle to retain or recycle nitrogen during reproduction. Nursing calves had distinctive AA δ13C and δ15N patterns compared to cows and adults, likely driven by the acquisition of protein from milk and the use of maternal resources in utero to support the high metabolic demands associated with rapid growth. Adult males and non-lactating adult females had nearly identical AA δ13C and δ15N patterns, suggesting they use similar nutrient allocation strategies while fasting. Patterns in δ13C and δ15N values among AA yielded correct classification of demographic groups with 98% accuracy and identification of lactating cows with 100% accuracy, showing that this new method holds promise for identifying the reproductive status of capital breeding mammals.
Vicarious racism, direct racism, and mental health among racialized minority healthcare workers
Hennein, Rachel; Tiako, Max Jordan Nguemeni; Bonumwezi, Jessica; Tineo, Petty; Boatright, Dowin; Crusto, Cindy A.; Lowe, Sarah R. (Springer, 2025-02)
BACKGROUND : Racism-related stress is a root cause of racial and ethnic disparities in mental health outcomes. An individual may be exposed to racism directly or vicariously by hearing about or observing people of the same racial and/or ethnic group experience racism. Although the healthcare setting is a venue by which healthcare workers experience both direct and vicarious racism, few studies have assessed the associations between direct and vicarious racism and mental health outcomes among healthcare workers. METHODS : In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the relationships between direct and vicarious racism and symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety among healthcare workers in the USA in 2022. RESULTS : Our sample consisted of 259 healthcare workers identifying as a racialized minority, including 68 (26.3%) who identified as mixed-race, 61 (23.6%) East Asian, 36 (13.9%) Black, 33 (12.7%) South Asian, 22 (8.5%) Southeast Asian, 21 (8.1%) Middle Eastern/North African, and 18 (6.9%) another race. The mean age was 37.9 years (SD 10.1). In multivariable linear regression models that adjusted for demographics, work stressors, and social stressors, we found that increased reporting of vicarious racism was associated with greater symptoms of anxiety (B = 0.066, standard error = 0.034, p = .049). We did not identify significant relationships between vicarious and direct racism and symptoms of posttraumatic stress or depression in the fully adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS : Our findings should be considered by academic health systems to mitigate the negative impact of racism on healthcare workers’ mental health.
Neurocritical care organization in the low-income and middle-income countries
Prabhakar, Hemanshu; Lele, Abhijit V.; Kapoor, Indu; Mahajan, Charu; Shrestha, Gentle S.; Rao, Chethan Venkatasubba; Suarez, Jose I.; Livesay, Sarah L.; Shafiq, Faraz; Popugaev, Konstantin; Santosa, Dhania; Zada, Obaidullah Naby; Yang, Wanning; Nisha, Hosne Ara; Mijangos-Mendez, Julio C.; Agaba, Peter Kaahwa; Mijangos-Mendez, Julio C.; Agaba, Peter Kaahwa; Portilla, Juan Luis Pinedo; Tuahir, Yalew Hasen; Shanmugam, Puvanendiran; Arruebarrena, Yanet Pina; Videtta, Walter; Vasquez-Garcia, Sebastian; Raheem, M. Samy Abdel; Yimer, Fasika; Padayachy, Llewellyn; Naranjo, Luis Silva; Arriaga, Pedro; Myei, Chann; Matuja, Sarah Shali; Fadalla, Tarig; Viarasilpa, Tanuwong; Lundeg, Ganbold; Salisu-Kabara, Halima M.; Tsan, Samuel Ern Hung; Gutierrez, Simon P.; Yankae, Leroy P.; Konkayev, Aidos; Chaikittisilpa, Nophanan; Sampaio, Gisele; Bui, Tuan Van; Mariano, Geraldine Seina L.; Sabillon, Gisselle Aguilar; Blanco, Pablo; Ortiz, Williams; Gallardo, Angel Jesus Lacerda; Arun, Oguzhan; Mani, Kalaivani (Springer, 2025-08)
BACKGROUND : This study aimed to assess the organization, infrastructure, workforce, and adherence to protocols in neurocritical care across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with the goal of identifying key gaps and opportunities for improvement. METHODS : We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 408 health care providers from 42 LMICs. The survey collected data on the presence of dedicated neurointensive care units, workforce composition, access to critical care technologies, and adherence to evidence-based protocols. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and comparisons were made across different geographical regions (East Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa) and economic strata [low-income countries (LICs), lower middle-income countries (LoMICs), and upper middle-income countries (UMICs)]. RESULTS : Only 36.8% of respondents reported access to dedicated neurointensive care units: highest in the Middle East (100%), lowest in sub-Saharan Africa (11.5%), highest in LoMICs (42%), and lowest in LICs (13%). Access to critical care technologies, such as portable computed tomography scanners (9.3%; UMICs 11%, LICs 0%) and tele-intensive care unit services (14.9%; UMICs 19%, LICs 10%), was limited. Workforce shortages were evident, with many institutions relying on anesthesia residents for 24-h care. Adherence to protocols, including those for acute ischemic stroke (61.7%) and traumatic brain injury (55.6%), was highest in Latin America and the Caribbean (72% and 73%, respectively) and higher in UMICs (66% and 60%, respectively) but remained low in LICs (22% and 32%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS : The study highlights critical gaps in infrastructure, workforce, and technology across LMICs, yet it also underscores the potential for improvement. Strategic investments in neurointensive care unit capacity, workforce development, and affordable technologies are an unmet need in resource-limited settings. These findings offer a road map for policymakers and global health stakeholders to prioritize neurocritical care and reduce the disparities in patient outcomes globally.
Identity of Ixodes ugandanus Neumann, 1906 (Acari: Ixodidae), reinstatement of I. ampullaceus Warburton, 1933 as a valid species and redescription of I. aulacodi Arthur, 1956, parasites of rodents and other animals in sub-Saharan Africa
Apanaskevich, Dmitry A.; McCooey, Elizabeth M.; Greiman, Stephen E.; Apanaskevich, Maria A.; Ahmed, Rokeya; Yessinou, Roland E.; Matloa, Dikeledi; Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia; Mans, Ben J.; Horak, Ivan Gerard (Springer, 2025-08)
The identity of Ixodes (Afrixodes) ugandanus Neumann, 1906 (Acari: Ixodidae) is established and its male and female are redescribed based on specimens collected on rodents (Rodentia: Muridae, Thryonomyidae) in Ethiopia and Uganda. Lectotype of I. ugandanus is designated here. Ixodes (Afrixodes) ampullaceus Warburton, 1933 is reestablished as a valid species and its female is redescribed based on specimens collected on rodents (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae), carnivorans (Carnivora: Viverridae) and a bird (Galliformes: Numididae) in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Ixodes mossambicensis Santos Dias, 1952 is synonymized with I. ampullaceus. Male and female of Ixodes (Afrixodes) aulacodi Arthur, 1956 are redescribed in greater detail based on specimens collected on rodents (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae) in Benin, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast. All available literature data on these taxa are critically analyzed and discussed. We sequenced the mitochondrial genome of I. aulacodi, compared it to other Ixodes Latreille, 1795 species, and according to our phylogeny from 10 protein-coding mitochondrial genes of 33 Ixodes species, I. aulacodi forms a clade with the only other Afrixodes Morel, 1966 having a sequenced complete mitochondrial genome, Ixodes rubicundus Neumann, 1904.