BMC Genomics - Distribution and phylogenetic analysis of porcine parvoviruses in the wild boar population of Russia

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) are native to Russia, as well as across almost all of mainland Europe. They can serve as a reservoir for various infectious agents, including zoonotic pathogens.

Porcine parvoviruses (PPVs) are small, non-enveloped viruses which are found in wild boars and are pathogenic. For example, PPV1 causes reproductive losses in pig production with clinical signs including embryonic death and infertility. A study carried out in Russia aimed to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of PPVs (PPV1-PPV7) among wild boar populations. The authors sampled 108 free-living wild boars from 3 regions in Russia between 2021 and 2024. The authors extracted nucleic acid from the samples and carried out qPCR. Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were also carried out. 

The authors found that all seven PPV species were detected among wild boars, with at least one of them observed in around 91% of the boars. The phylogenetic analysis of PPV1 revealed that most of the isolates were assigned to the group with 27a-like strains from Europe. Novel PPVs isolates found were distributed in numerous clusters with isolates from wild boars as well as domestic pigs from different countries.

The study highlighted the need for future research to look at the circulation of PPVs in both wild boar and domestic pig populations, and the evolution of PPVs and the direction of infection transmission routes. 

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - A scoping review of digital technologies in antenatal care: recent progress and applications of digital technologies

Antenatal care (ANC), also known as prenatal care, is crucial for promoting the health and well-being of pregnant individuals and their unborn children. The compliance, effectiveness, and accessibility of ANC services are influenced by a number of factors such as healthcare infrastructure, knowledge and socio-demographic characteristics. Digital health services have emerged to address these challenges and have significantly advanced maternal and foetal health outcomes by enabling real-time monitoring, personalised care, and improved access to critical information and support. 

This scoping review aimed to assess the features and effectiveness of digital health modalities in ANC with a focus on their applicability, outcomes and recent advancement. After screening was carried out using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 126 studies were eligible for data extraction. 

The authors concluded that digital health technologies have proven to be transformative in ANC with tools (such as mHealth apps, wearables and tracking devices) effectively supporting communication, monitoring and education. Although they highlight that in-person visits remain essential for managing high-risk pregnancies and complex medical conditions. The integration of digital interventions with physical visits provides a holistic approach to optimise clinical outcomes. 

BMC Nutrition - Application of Nordic Keyhole and Nutri-Score for assessment of nutritional quality of plant-based dairy analogues

In recent years the interest in plant-based dairy analogues (such as oat, almond and soy), has increased and the market is estimated to continue growing in the future. This has been driven by medical reasons, such as lactose intolerance, or for lifestyle choices including veganism and animal ethics concerns. 

Given this projected increase, it is necessary to assess the nutritional quality of these analogues and the role of Front-of-pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) schemes. In Europe, the two main voluntary FOPNL schemes are Keyhole and Nutri-score.

In this study, the authors applied Keyhole and Nutri-Score criteria to plant -based dairy analogues (milk, yoghurt, cheese, cream, fat spread and ice cream analogues). Nutritional data were collected from 222 plant-based dairy analogues available in the Swedish market during 2022. Product information, ingredient lists and health and nutritional claims were collected from the manufacturers’ websites for all plant-based dairy analogue groups. This information was used to assess these analogues against the Keyhole and Nutri-Score. 

The study found that there was a significant variability in the eligibility of plant-based dairy analogues for Keyhole and Nutri-Score labelling. The assessment based on Keyhole and Nutri-Score criteria demonstrated that the interpretation of the nutritional quality within the food category might depend on the type of FOPNL scheme. In addition, the Keyhole and Nutri-Score often diverged in classifying most plant-based dairy analogues as products with optimal nutritional quality. The authors highlighted the need for comprehensive assessments and complementary labelling systems to guide consumer choices across plant-based dairy analogues. 

BMC Veterinary Research - Associations between body composition, metabolic mediators and osteoarthritis in cats

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease in cats and its prevalence rises steeply with age. In most clinical cases of OA in cats, the initiating cause remains unknown. It is widely known that obesity is a risk factor for human OA but in cats, it is unclear if excess body fat is a risk factor for OA. 

In this study, the authors collected data from 72 cats which underwent clinical examination, an orthopedic examination, blood sampling and whole-body computed tomography (CT) examination. Using the whole-body CT images, the presence and severity of OA was determined.

OA was commonly detected with whole-body OA scores being higher in more overweight cats compared to leaner cats. A relationship between increased body fat and total OA load in cats was found; a larger body size, in combination with increased body fat, could be an additional predisposing factor for cats developing OA. 

The authors highlighted that their findings suggest it may be beneficial to keep cats lean in order to reduce the risk of OA, particularly in larger sized cats. Further research into the role of metabolic mediators in the pathogenesis of feline OA is warranted. 

BMC Digital Health - Evaluation of a novel interactive virtual reality environment for mindfulness skills training

Mindfulness meditation has become an area of interest in recent years in both scientific research and popular culture as a potential tool for improving overall wellbeing, including reducing anxiety and depression. Using virtual reality (VR) technology in meditation practices has gained attention from researchers with clinical experts previously agreeing that VR was a feasible and acceptable format for mindfulness.

The authors of this pilot study sought to evaluate the impact of an interactive VR environment-based mindfulness meditation on mindfulness skills development among undergraduate health science students.

The study found a significant improvement of just under 5% in mindfulness score for the VR cohort compared to the control cohort. The VR environment had enhanced enjoyment of the mindfulness practice and led to improvements in state mindfulness scores. Overall, the students were able to escape from reality and be immersed in a relaxing environment which increased adherence and motivation to practice.

The authors highlighted future research should evaluate the long-term impact of VR-based training on mindfulness practice and whether the environment could be used for live guided mindfulness practice within VR.