Misconceptions and facts

In this editorial we comment on the article titled "Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity: The BE-FIT-IBD study" published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2023; 29 (41): 5668-5682. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are emerging as a significant global health concern as their incidence continues to rise on a global scale, with detrimental impacts on quality of life. While many advances have been made regarding the management of the disease, physical inactivity in these patients represents an underexplored issue that may hold the key for further and better understanding the ramifications of IBD...

BACKGROUND: Knowledge and awareness studies reveal the basic information of the community and the misconceptions in relation to practices of a disease. The identification of such factors is important as they directly influence the health care-related interventions. Hypertension is one of the emerging noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) globally. So, we conducted this study to assess the status of our community regarding hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 300 hypertensive patients to assess the knowledge and awareness by a hypertension fact questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: Neuromyths are commonly held misconceptions about the brain, often generated by a misunderstanding of scientifically established facts. To date, limited research has explored the pervalence of neuromyths about neurodevelopmental disorders in the teacher population. METHOD: The current study investigated the prevalence of teachers' general and neurodevelopmental neuromyths among 820 Italian teachers. RESULTS: Italian teachers correctly identified 73% of general neuromyths and 70% of neurodevelopmental neuromyths...

BACKGROUND: Despite the elevated COVID-19 risk for older adults with cancer, vaccine hesitancy poses a significant barrier to their immunization. Intriguingly, there is limited research on the prevalence of willingness to receive the second booster dose and associated determinants in older adults with cancer. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to ascertain the level of awareness about COVID-19 vaccines and to uncover the factors influencing the willingness to receive the second booster among Chinese cancer patients aged 65 years and over...

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a major health concern for women. Historically there has been a misconception that men are at greater risk, because CVD tends to occur earlier in life compared to women. Clinical guidelines for prevention of heart disease are currently the same for both sexes, but accumulating evidence demonstrates that risk profiles diverge. In fact, several CVD risk factors confer an even greater risk in women relative to men, including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and raised triglycerides...

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic conditions. Its clinical manifestations are not restricted to seizures but often include cognitive disturbances and psychiatric disorders. Prospective population-based studies have shown that people with epilepsy have an increased risk of developing mood disorders, and people with a primary mood disorder have an increased risk of developing epilepsy. The existence of common pathogenic mechanisms in epilepsy and mood disorders may explain the bidirectional relation between these two conditions...

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, a chronic noncancerous gynecologic condition commonly characterized by disruptive physical and psychosocial symptoms, can be disabling. Individuals in the United States with endometriosis who are unable to work before retirement age can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Given the multi-step process of disability review, it is important to better understand how disability decisions are made. This study aimed to examine approaches and rationales of U...

In terms of vitamin D food fortification, there are a number of important considerations in relation to selection of the food vehicle and fortificant. While there has been much research focus on the ability of fortified foods to improve vitamin D status, other considerations, such as sensory properties and acceptability, cost, and public attitudes around vitamin D-fortified foods, have received less attention. Thus, the present narrative review aimed to summarize the existing knowledge around these important considerations...

Background: The ever-increasing popularity of home aquariums, most often involving freshwater varieties, has exploded in recent years partially due to the Coronavirus pandemic and related to stay-at-home public health precautions for social distancing. With this ever-increasing popularity of aquariums as a hobby, and whether this involves freshwater or marine fish species, a number of important economic, ecological, and public health issues arise for both fish and hobbyists alike. Materials and Methods: This review highlights the history and genesis of aquariums as both a hobby and an important economic factor (industrial, commercial) for many countries on a global basis...

In order to identify the basic patterns of behavior that reflect the attitude of Russians to their health, a large corpus of relevant scientific literature was analyzed, as well as actual statistical data and the results of representative sociological studies concerning various aspects of both self-preserving and self-destructive behavior of Russians. As a result, four basic models of behavior were formed and described, which differ in a set of positive and negative attitudes and characteristic lines of behavior in relation to one's health («a convinced healthy lifestyle person», «a beginner healthy lifestyle person», «irresponsible» and «self-destructive»)...

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder is one of the most burdensome severe mental disorders, characterized by high levels of personal and social disability. Patients often need an integrated pharmacological and non-pharmacological approach. Lithium is one of the most effective treatments available not only in psychiatry, but in the whole medicine, and its clinical efficacy is superior to that of other mood stabilizers. However, a declining trend on lithium prescriptions has been observed worldwide in the last 20 years, supporting the notion that lithium is a 'forgotten drug' and highlighting that the majority of patients with bipolar disorder are missing out the best available pharmacological option...

In the excitation of muscle contraction, calcium ions interact with transmembrane transporters. This process is accompanied by energy consumption and heat liberation. To quantify this activation energy or heat in the heart or cardiac muscle, two non-pharmacological approaches can be used. In one approach using the "pressure-volume area" concept, the same estimate of activation energy is obtained regardless of the mode of contraction (either isovolumic/isometric or ejecting/shortening). In the other approach, an accurate estimate of activation energy is obtained only when the muscle contracts isometrically...

This study sought to assess perceptions towards and reasons for participation in research bronchoscopy studies in a high TB burden urban setting. Additionally, the study aimed to identify areas of pre- and post-procedural concern among healthy adults approached to participate in research bronchoscopy. A cross sectional qualitative study was undertaken at the Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Collaboration Tuberculosis Research Project Clinic at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants at their pre-bronchoscopy visit (n = 17) and after they had undergone bronchoscopy (n = 23) to examine their perceptions and experiences with the procedure...

BACKGROUND: Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a complex condition with neurological symptoms but no clear structural or biochemical explanation. Myths and misconceptions about FND can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This study aimed to assess knowledge and common myths about FND among medical students and practitioners. METHODS: Data were collected from 324 participants using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographics, general information about FND and myths about FND...

It was recently suggested to end the usage of the term cell wall in microbiology (including prokaryotes and fungi) because it represented an inappropriate and potentially misleading metaphor (Casadevall and Gow, 2022). The analysis of the arguments for such a move from the viewpoint of the plant physiologist indicates that the suggestion is based on misunderstandings, first, of the early history of cell biology and its terminology; second, of the development of modern concepts of cell wall function since the late 19th century; and third, of the nature of metaphors and their role in scientific communication...

The paper re-examines the principal methodological questions, arising in the debate over the cosmological standard model's postulate of Dark Matter vs. rivalling proposals that modify standard (Newtonian and general-relativistic) gravitational theory, the so-called Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) and its subsequent extensions. What to make of such seemingly radical challenges of cosmological orthodoxy? In the first part of our paper, we assess MONDian theories through the lens of key ideas of major 20th century philosophers of science (Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos, and Laudan), thereby rectifying widespread misconceptions and misapplications of these ideas common in the pertinent MOND-related literature...

Patients with epilepsy (PWE) may experience seizure emergencies including acute repetitive seizures despite chronic treatment with daily antiseizure medications. Seizures may adversely impact routine daily activities and/or healthcare utilization and may impair the quality of life of patients with epilepsy and their caregivers. Seizures often occur at home, school, or work in a community setting. Appropriate treatment that is readily accessible for patients with seizure urgencies and emergencies is essential outside the hospital setting...

This oration examines the multifaceted nature and skills of leadership in the field of public health from the eyes of public health practitioner. Through diverse examples from personal and professional experiences, the oration debunks common misconceptions surrounding leadership and underscores its capacity to motivate and steer individuals or groups towards a shared vision. It challenges the notion that leaders must possess all-encompassing knowledge, instead emphasizing the significance of traits such as courage, confidence, strategic thinking, and collaboration...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypnosis, a mind-body treatment dating back to early human history, has regained attention in the last decade, with research suggesting its effectiveness for varied physiological and psychological ailments such as distress, pain, and psychosomatic disorders. However, myths and misconceptions have prevailed among the general public and clinicians, hindering the adoption and acceptance of hypnosis. It is important to distinguish myths from facts and discern what is hypnosis and what is not to enhance the understanding, acceptance, and adoption of hypnotic interventions...

INTRODUCTION: Across its historical trajectory, epilepsy has frequently been linked to evil forces, particularly in the sub-continent. This research was created to find out if educated Pakistanis still believe that epilepsy is caused by being possessed by spirits (Jinns). The objective of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding epilepsy within the educated populace of Pakistan. METHOD:  After approval from the Ethical Review Committee, a population-based cross-sectional design was conducted in Chakwal District, Pakistan between February 1, 2018, and June 1, 2020, to evaluate the general knowledge and attitudes of the public toward epilepsy...