A new review article published in The Open Biochemistry Journal by Dr. Maria Trapali of the Laboratory of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Cosmetic Science, Department of Biomedical Medicine, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Attiki, Greece — together with co‑authors Sara Ouari, Nadia Benzidane, Lekhmici Arrar, and Noureddine Bribi

The scale of the problem is immense: in 2024, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that approximately 589 million adults worldwide were living with diabetes, with more than 80 percent of cases concentrated in low‑ and middle‑income countries where access to standard treatment is limited. Conventional drugs carry side effects, keeping interest in plant‑based alternatives strong. This review set out to move beyond traditional claims and evaluate what the scientific literature reveals — at the molecular level — about how these plants exert anti‑diabetic effects.

A new review article published in The Open Biochemistry Journal by Dr. Maria Trapali of the Laboratory of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Cosmetic Science, Department of Biomedical Medicine, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Attiki, Greece — together with co‑authors Sara Ouari, Nadia Benzidane, Lekhmici Arrar, and Noureddine Bribi

The scale of the problem is immense: in 2024, the International Diabetes Federation estimated that approximately 589 million adults worldwide were living with diabetes, with more than 80 percent of cases concentrated in low‑ and middle‑income countries where access to standard treatment is limited. Conventional drugs carry side effects, keeping interest in plant‑based alternatives strong. This review set out to move beyond traditional claims and evaluate what the scientific literature reveals — at the molecular level — about how these plants exert anti‑diabetic effects.

Nearly one in three early-career researchers (ECRs) report elevated psychological distress, according to the largest and most comprehensive meta-analysis to date on mental health among ECRs. Researchers from the University of Vienna synthesized evidence from almost 230 independent samples across nearly 150 studies, comprising close to 140,000 ECRs, to estimate the prevalence and severity of mental health problems in this population. The findings were published in Nature Human Behaviour.

Family- and individual-based therapy both help children with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder eat more foods, while family-based therapy also boosts weight gain.

Conventional kitchen sponges (including pot scrubbers) are not only teeming with a wide variety of microorganisms, but can also harbor pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli. A new study conducted by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) shows that these bacteria can colonize kitchen sponges, multiply and spread from them to other kitchen surfaces. Notably, the sponges showed no visible signs of bacterial contamination: they had no noticeable odor and did not appear dirty or greasy. The researchers therefore emphasize the importance of replacing kitchen sponges regularly to help prevent infections in the home. “Quite a few cases of foodborne infection originate in private households, and they are not always limited to a day or two of feeling unwell,” says BfR President Andreas Hensel. “Such infections can be particularly hazardous for vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions, as well as young children.” The study has been published in the Journal of Food Protection.