World Population Research Articles

Ananas comosus (Pineapple): A Comprehensive Review of Its Medicinal Properties, Phytochemical Composition, and Pharmacological Activities

Herbal medicine, also known as phytomedicine, utilizes various plant parts like leaves, fruits, roots, bark, or flowers for their health benefits, standing as an alternative healthcare approach to conventional medicine. Traditional herbal remedies, integral to medical systems worldwide, notably in China and India, are gaining global recognition for their efficacy and fewer side effects. Approximately 80% of the world's population relies on traditional herbal medicine for primary healthcare, as per the World Health Organization. Ananas comosus (L.) Merril, commonly known as pineapple, belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, encompassing about 50 genera and 200 species. Pineapple, a perennial herbaceous plant, exhibits unique physical attributes, with its main parts including the stem, leaves, peduncle, multiple fruit, crown, shoots, and roots. Pineapple contains various amino acids, including tyrosine and tryptophan, along with bromelain, an enzyme aiding digestion by breaking down proteins. This review outlines previous research on the phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics of Ananas comosus, highlighting its diverse medicinal properties. From antimicrobial and anticancer activities to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects, pineapple demonstrates significant therapeutic potential across multiple health domains. Additionally, its nutritional value and traditional uses further underscore its importance as a versatile herbal remedy. Keywords: Ananas comosus, pineapple, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, medicinal properties, bromelain.

Diagnosis of pneumonia in paediatric age group by comparing two modalities chest x-ray versus ultrasonography at tertiary care hospital

: Up to 20 million cases of pneumonia in children ages 0 to 5 years require hospitalization each year, from total 150 million cases of pneumonia. The most common cause of death in children worldwide is pneumonia. Due to the general non-specificity of the signs and symptoms, clinical history and physical examination cannot reliably distinguish between the causes of respiratory cases. As a result, accurate diagnosis frequently requires medical imaging, but two-thirds of the world's population lack access to diagnostic imaging, which lead to increasing the consequences of respiratory illnesses. : To know the characteristic of pneumonia in x-ray and ultrasonography. To compare X-ray chest and USG for early diagnosis. : A Prospective observational study was conducted among 100 paediatric patients diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted in paediatric ward, at New Civil Hospital, Surat. : Out of total, 52.7% and 47.3% patients were Males and Females, respectively. 87.2% cases were fully immunized, while remaining were partially immunized. Sensitivity and specificity of chest X-ray is 83.4 % and 86.8 % respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of USG thorax is 96.8 % and 90.5 % respectively. Young children are at least four times more susceptible to radiation damage than adults.: In comparison to chest radiography, lung ultrasound has the potential advantages of being more sensitive and specific, radiation-free, subject to less regulatory constraints, relatively less expensive so it can be used in diagnosis in patients with pneumonia.

Glycosylated SARs Cov 2 interaction with plant lectins.

Lectins are non-immune carbohydrate-binding proteins/glycoproteins that are found everywhere in nature, from bacteria to human cells. They have also been a valuable biological tool for the purification and subsequent characterisation of glycoproteins due to their carbohydrate binding recognition capacity. Antinociceptive, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory activities and immune modulatory properties have been discovered in several plant lectins, with these qualities varying depending on the lectin carbohydrate-binding site. The Coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease that has swept the globe, killing millions and infecting millions more. Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations and the vaccination of a huge portion of the world's population, viral infection rates continue to rise, causing major concern. Part of the reason for the vaccine's ineffectiveness has been attributed to repeated mutations in the virus's epitope determinant elements. The surface of the Coronavirus envelope is heavily glycosylated, with approximately sixty N-linked oligomannose, composite, and hybrid glycans covering the core of Man3GlcNAc2Asn. Some O-linked glycans have also been discovered. Many of these glyco-chains have also been subjected to multiple mutations, with only a few remaining conserved. As a result, numerous plant lectins with specificity for these viral envelope sugars have been discovered to interact preferentially with them and are being investigated as a potential future tool to combat coronaviruses such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by preventing viral attachment to the host. The review will discuss the possible applications of plant lectins as anti-coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, antinociceptive, anti-inflammation and its immune modulating effect.

Cytomegalovirus UL44 protein induces a potent T-cell immune response in mice

Due to the severity of CMV infection in immunocompromised individuals the development of a vaccine has been declared a priority. However, despite the efforts made there is no yet a vaccine available for clinical use. We designed an approach to identify new CMV antigens able to inducing a broad immune response that could be used in future vaccine formulations.We have used serum samples from 28 kidney transplant recipients, with a previously acquired CMV-specific immune response to identify viral proteins that were recognized by the antibodies present in the patient serum samples by Western blot. A band of approximately 45 kDa, identified as UL44, was detected by most serum samples. UL44 immunogenicity was tested in BALB/c mice that received three doses of the UL44-pcDNA DNA vaccine. UL44 elicited both, a strong antibody response and CMV-specific cellular response. Using bioinformatic analysis we demonstrated that UL44 is a highly conserved protein and contains epitopes that are able to activate CD8 lymphocytes of the most common HLA alleles in the world population. We constructed a UL44 ORF deletion mutant virus that produced no viral progeny, suggesting that UL44 is an essential viral protein. In addition, other authors have demonstrated that UL44 is one of the most abundant viral proteins after infection and have suggested an essential role of UL44 in viral replication. Altogether, our data suggests that UL44 is a potent antigen, and favored by its abundance, it may be a good candidate to include in a vaccine formulation.

The Effect of Treated Wastewater Levels on the Rooting of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) Green Cuttings

The world population is growing, leading to a gradual decrease in available water supplies. Reusing wastewater is seen as beneficial for environmental conservation and mitigating water contamination. Recycled wastewater includes essential nutrients for agricultural growth, and its reuse can lower the need for fresh water in dry areas. This study examined the impact of diluted treated wastewater at various ratios on the roots and shoot growth of blackberry green cuttings. For this purpose, Jumbo blackberry green cuttings located at the Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Agricultural Practice and Research Center were used in 2023. In September, cuttings were taken and treated with a control (0 ppm IBA) and a 4000 ppm dose of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The cuttings were then planted in rooting tables with perlite and bottom heat (22±2 °C). From the time of planting, the cuttings were irrigated with treated wastewater from the university's wastewater treatment facility, diluted in five different doses (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 %). In the cuttings removed from the rooting medium after 90 days, the following were determined: survival rate (%), rooting rate (%), callus formation rate (%), number of roots (per cutting), root length (cm), root diameter (mm), fresh and dry root weight (g), chlorophyll a (µg/g DW), chlorophyll b (µg/g DW), and total chlorophyll content (µg/g DW). At the end of the trial, the positive effects of treated wastewater on rooting had been determined. The rooting rate was determined to be best in the Control (0 ppm IBA)+TWW100 application (73%). The research suggests that blackberry cuttings can be rooted using treated wastewater without the need for IBA

Individual and population-level variability in HLA-DR associated immunogenicity risk of biologics used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

While conventional in silico immunogenicity risk assessments focus on measuring immunogenicity based on the potential of therapeutic proteins to be processed and presented by a global population-wide set of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles to T cells, future refinements might adjust for HLA allele frequencies in different geographic regions or populations, as well for as individuals in those populations. Adjustment by HLA allele distribution may reveal risk patterns that are specific to population groups or individuals, which current methods that rely on global-population HLA prevalence may obscure. This analysis uses HLA frequency-weighted binding predictions to define immunogenicity risk for global and sub-global populations. A comparison of assessments tuned for North American/European versus Japanese/Asian populations suggests that the potential for anti-therapeutic responses (anti-therapeutic antibodies or ATA) for several commonly prescribed Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) therapeutic biologics may differ, significantly, between the Caucasian and Japanese populations. This appears to align with reports of differing product-related immunogenicity that is observed in different populations. Further definition of population-level (regional) and individual patient-specific immunogenic risk profiles may enable prescription of the RA therapeutic with the highest probability of success to each patient, depending on their population of origin and/or their individual HLA background. Furthermore, HLA-specific immunogenicity outcomes data are limited, thus there is a need to expand HLA-association studies that examine the relationship between HLA haplotype and ATA in the clinic.

Disparate outcomes in Hispanic patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease/steatohepatitis and type 2 diabetes: Large cohort study.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) are a growing health burden across a significant portion of the global patient population. However, these conditions seem to have disparate rates and outcomes between different ethnic populations. The combination of MASLD/MASH and type 2 diabetes increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and Hispanic patients experience the greatest burden, particularly those in South Texas. To compare outcomes between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patients in the United States, while further focusing on the Hispanic population within Southeast Texas to determine whether the documented disparity in outcomes is a function of geographical circumstance or if there is a more widespread reason that all clinicians must account for in prognostic consideration. This cohort analysis was conducted with data obtained from TriNetX, LLC ("TriNetX"), a global federated health research network that provides access to deidentified medical records from healthcare organizations worldwide. Two cohort networks were used: University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) hospital and the United States national database collective to determine whether disparities were related to geographic regions, like Southeast Texas. This study findings revealed Hispanics/Latinos have a statistically significant higher occurrence of HCC, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and liver fibrosis/cirrhosis in both the United States and the UTMB Hispanic/Latino groups. All-cause mortality in Hispanics/Latinos was lower within the United States group and not statistically elevated in the UTMB cohort. This would appear to support that Hispanic patients in Southeast Texas are not uniquely affected compared to the national Hispanic population.

Assessment of textile effluent treatment by immobilized Trametes pubescens MB 89 for plant growth promotion.

Industrialization and the ever-increasing world population have diminished high-quality water resources for sustainable agriculture. It is imperative to effectively treat industrial effluent to render the treated water available for crop cultivation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of textile effluent treated with Trametes pubescens MB 89 in supporting maize cultivation. The fungal treatment reduced the amounts of Co, Pb and As in the textile effluent. The biological oxygen demand, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids were within the permissible limits in the treated effluent. The data indicated that the irrigation of maize with fungal-treated textile effluent improved the growth parameters of the plant including root, shoot length, leaf area and chlorophyll content. Moreover, better antioxidant activity, total phenol content and protein content in roots, stems and leaves of maize plants were obtained. Photosynthetic parameters (potential quantum yield, electron transport rate and fluorescence yield of non-photochemical losses other than heat) were also improved in the plants irrigated with treated effluent as compared to the control groups. In conclusion, the treatment of textile effluent with the immobilized T. pubescens presents a sustainable solution to minimize chemical pollution and effectively utilize water resources.

Determination of the Prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides in Children under the Age of Five Years Attending at Kongowe Health Centre, Kibaha District, Pwani Region.

The worldwide distribution and occurrence show that more than 1.8 billion people, accounting for 28% of the global population, are infected with A. lumbricoides infection due to poor hygiene. The World Health Organization aims to eliminate morbidity from A. lumbricoides infection in children by 2030 by at least 75%. Surveys in the Pwani Region of Tanzania have shown poor hygienic risk factors due to high population and lack of sufficient toilets/latrines, poor sewage waste disposal, and insufficient clean drinking water that encourages the reproduction, transmission, and reinfection of A. lumbricoides. No study has been conducted in Pwani Region to determine the extent of A. lumbricoides infection among the population. This research tends to explore more about the status of A. lumbricoides infection in Kibaha District in the Pwani Region, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was done on 400 children (170 males and 230 females) who were under the age of 5 years old at Kongowe Health Centre. Collected data for A. lumbricoides infection measured were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, while data for sociodemographic findings and risk assessment were subjected to bivariate and multivariable analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 28.0.1.0 software (SPSS Inc., USA) at the level of significance of P < 0.05. Of the 400 children who participated in the laboratory testing of A. lumbricoides infection, 194 were found positive for A. lumbricoides infection. Amongst the 194 children who were found to be positive, 4.1%, 38.7%, and 57.2% were found to be in the age group of below 1 year old, 1 to 2, and 3 to 4 years old, respectively. The tabulated responses on the social demographic responses showed that 81.8% of the responses at P = 0.041 and 80.6% at P = 0.101 knew that A. lumbricoides infection is acquired from faeces and uncooked food, respectively, as 61.8% at P = 0.132 and 63.2% at P = 0.085 respondents did not accept that soil and dirty water, respectively, were not sources of A. lumbricoides infection. At P = 0.612 and P = 0.022, 64% and 91.2% of the respondents showed the importance of using latrines/toilets and washing fruits, respectively. Further results showed that 69.8% and 37.6% of the respondents reacted with no importance of washing hands with soap after using a toilet/latrine and no need to treat or boil water before drinking, respectively. A. lumbricoides infection has a high prevalence in infants of the Kibaha District of Tanzania, especially in Kongowe village. The infection is dominant in males compared to female children. The prevalence is due to risk factors such as inadequate sanitation, low level of education, knowledge, and awareness of prevention strategies.

Potential and Opportunities of Waste Biomass Valorization Toward Sustainable Biomethane Production

AbstractThe increasing global population has led to a surge in waste production across various fields including agriculture, industry, marine, and household, posing significant waste management challenges. Concurrently, the world is facing an energy crisis, emphasizing the crucial need for sustainable and renewable energy sources. This comprehensive review examines the potential of biomethane production from diverse waste biomass. Feedstock characteristics; anaerobic digestion (AD); biochemical pathways; factors influencing AD; various pretreatment methods such as physical, chemical, biological, and combined; existing policies supporting biomethane production; and potential new policy implications are discussed in this review along with the significance of waste‐to‐energy integration. Our findings indicate that lignocellulosic wastes, primarily agricultural waste, stand out as the most efficient biomass source for biomethane production due to their characteristics such as high carbon/nitrogen ratio, low ash content, and their abundant availability. Among pretreatment methods, combined pretreatment emerges as the most promising option, offering flexibility and effectiveness in enhancing biomethane production. Additionally, the two‐stage digester configuration proves advantageous in overcoming limitations associated with single‐stage digesters such as pH inhibition. Altogether, the review highlights that biomethane production from waste biomass through AD offers a sustainable solution.

Technical Perspective: Graph Theory for Data Privacy: A New Approach for Complex Data Flows

Nearly all of the world's population now uses online services that request personal information, covering almost every aspect of our lives. The abundance of personal data in digital form has brought incredible benefits to end users, enabling them to access personalized and advanced services based on the analysis of the data collected. This capability has dramatically improved the user experience in various application domains, ranging from healthcare to e-commerce, finance, logistics, and entertainment, to name a few. Numerous technological advancements in the field of big data have enabled this massive processing of personal data, and recent advances in AI data processing capabilities will expand the ways in which service providers will use personal data in the coming years. Machine learning algorithms, powered by AI, will be used to make increasingly accurate predictions about user behavior by uncovering hidden correlations within massive data sets. There is therefore a tension between the desire to fully exploit personal data in such ecosystems and the need to provide strong privacy and transparency guarantees to the individuals whose data is being exploited. Privacy protection is further complicated because data processing is typically not performed in isolation but through pipelines of different services, with each step making inferences about the personal data consumed by the services in subsequent steps.

Comparative evaluation of different oral iron salts in the management of iron deficiency anemia.

Anemia affects one-fourth of the world's population and is caused mostly by iron deficiency. Iron supplementation is the most essential strategy for preventing iron deficiency anemia. Conventional oral iron salts have many drawbacks such as poor absorption & bioavailability, and poor tolerability resulting in poor clinical outcomes. To compare the effectiveness and safety of ferrous ascorbate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous bis-glycinate, and Sucrosomial iron in the management of iron deficiency anemia. The study is a retrospective observational clinical study comprising 260 subjects with hemoglobin between 7-10g/dl. The patients were divided into four groups I, II, III, and IV, and received ferrous fumarate, ferrous ascorbate, ferrous bis-glycinate, and Sucrosomial iron respectively. Hematological profile and iron store indices were measured at baseline and month 3. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey multiple comparison test was used to assess statistical significance (P < 0.05) using GraphPad Prism V.9.3.1 software. The observational study showed that hemoglobin levels were significantly increased in the ferrous ascorbate group (11.86 ± 0.09; P < 0.0001), ferrous fumarate group (11.72 ± 0.08; P < 0.0001), ferrous bis-glycinate group (11.69 ± 0.11; P = 0.0003) and Sucrosomial iron group (12.20 ± 0.1; P < 0.0001) compared to the baseline. The Sucrosomial iron-supplemented group showed significantly higher improvement in hemoglobin levels and serum ferritin levels compared to conventional oral iron salts (P < 0.05) with a better safety profile. The Sucrosomial iron showed significantly higher improvement in hemoglobin levels and higher improvement in iron store indices parameters along with a good tolerability profile compared to other conventional oral iron salts.

Natriuretic peptide pathways in heart failure in the context of the analysis of the mechanism of action and potential usages of sacubitril/valsartan

Natriuretic peptide pathways in heart failure in the context of the analysis of the mechanism of action and potential usages of sacubitril/valsartan

Depression and its associated factors among adult hypertensive patients attending follow-up in South Gondar zone public hospitals, Ethiopia, 2023

IntroductionDepression is the most common public health issue affecting the world's population. Like patients with other chronic medical diseases, hypertensive patients experience many intense emotions which increase their risk for the development of depression. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of depression and its associated factors among hypertensive patients in South Gondar zone governmental hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was used in government hospitals of South Gondar Zone. A total of 311 patients were sampled randomly and included in the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used for analysis. Data were analyzed mainly by using descriptive statistics and binary logistics regression.ResultsA total of 311 patients participated with a 100% response rate. Almost half of the participants were female. The mean age of the respondents was 58.85 years. More than 60% of the respondents had a co-morbid illness. Among participants, 83 (26.7%) of hypertensive patients had depression. Being female, age, uneducated, having poor social support, the presence of co-morbid illness and complications, uncontrolled hypertension, having less than or equal to two dietary regimen and duration of hypertension greater than ten years were significantly associated with depression.ConclusionThe magnitude of depression was found to be high. This indicated that depression is a common co-morbid illness among hypertensive patients. Healthcare professionals and other stakeholders should consider and diagnose co-morbid diseases like depression among hypertensive patients. It is also better to give particular emphasis to highly vulnerable groups like females, elders, uneducated and those who have poor social support.

Global projections of heat exposure of older adults

The global population is aging at the same time as heat exposures are increasing due to climate change. Age structure, and its biological and socio-economic drivers, determine populations’ vulnerability to high temperatures. Here we combine age-stratified demographic projections with downscaled temperature projections to mid-century and find that chronic exposure to heat doubles across all warming scenarios. Moreover, >23% of the global population aged 69+ will inhabit climates whose 95th percentile of daily maximum temperature exceeds the critical threshold of 37.5 °C, compared with 14% today, exposing an additional 177–246 million older adults to dangerous acute heat. Effects are most severe in Asia and Africa, which also have the lowest adaptive capacity. Our results facilitate regional heat risk assessments and inform public health decision-making.

The voice of society in designing public recreational spaces (PRS) in an urban environment

Global urban population growth, climate change, and the energy crisis pose significant challenges for the local authorities and encourage a shift in local policy-making towards sustainable development. Local governments have to cater to public needs and expectations regarding recreational spaces and environmental protection by implementing innovative infrastructure solutions, including those based on renewable energy sources. In recent years, the debate on urban planning has centred on the placemaking approach and the implementation of the 15-minute city and smart city concepts. This novel approach promotes sustainable urban development that relies on the links between the natural environment, the economy, and society. The aim of this study was to explore the possibilities of urban planning solutions and the components of urban infrastructure that contribute to sustainable urban development in the context of improving the quality of local life. Local community needs were identified in a questionnaire survey and during a field investigation. The study was conducted in a medium-sized Polish city where public recreational spaces were redesigned in line with the principles of sustainable urban development. The results were used to propose universal urban development projects that address local needs and rely on renewable energy sources to create a sustainable future for society, the natural environment, and the climate.

Nursing care for patients with Alzheimer in Primary Care

Introduction: Alzheimer's is a significant challenge for healthcare systems, due to the increasing global aging population, which requires a comprehensive and patient-centered approach. Objective: The research has the general objective of analyzing nursing care for patients with Alzheimer's in primary care, and the specific objectives of contextualizing Alzheimer's disease and its characteristics; describe the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease; present the importance of the role of nursing professionals and what interventions are carried out. Methodology: This study is a systematic and integrative literature review, the search was carried out virtually from September 2023 to April 2014, in the databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), PUBMED (National Library of Medicine), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) and BDENF. Results: The 15 articles selected for results and discussion addressed the contextualization and characteristics of Alzheimer's disease, described the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment and concluded by integrating nursing into primary care, in addition to realizing the importance of patient-family monitoring. nursing. Conclusion: During primary care, nursing collaboration is crucial to providing holistic, personalized care to individuals and families affected by this debilitating condition. Recognizing the importance of early diagnosis, education and continuous monitoring, it is clear that nurses play a central role in the comprehensive approach to Alzheimer's, standing out as agents of change and support amidst the growing challenges faced by this increasingly growing population. vulnerable.

Cushion Gas Consideration for Underground Hydrogen Storage

Due to the increasing world population and environmental considerations, there has been a tremendous interest in alternative energy sources. Hydrogen plays a major role as an energy carrier due to its environmentally benign nature. The combustion of hydrogen releases water vapor while it also has a vast industrial application in aerospace, pharmaceutical, and metallurgical industries. Although promising, hydrogen faces storage challenges. Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) presents a promising method of safely storing hydrogen. The selection of the appropriate cushion gas for UHS is a critical aspect of ensuring the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the storage system. Cushion gas plays a pivotal role in maintaining the necessary pressure within the storage reservoir, thereby enabling consistent injection and withdrawal rates of hydrogen. One of the key functions of the cushion gas is to act as a buffer, ensuring that the storage pressure remains within the desired range despite fluctuations in hydrogen demand or supply. This is achieved by alternately expanding and compressing the cushion gas during the injection and withdrawal cycles, thereby effectively regulating the overall pressure dynamics within the storage facility. Furthermore, the choice of cushion gas can have significant implications on the performance and long-term stability of the UHS system. Factors such as compatibility with hydrogen, cost-effectiveness, availability, and environmental impact must be carefully considered when selecting the most suitable cushion gas. The present study provides a comprehensive review of different types of cushion gases commonly used in UHS, including nitrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide. By examining the advantages, limitations, and practical considerations associated with each option, the study aims to offer valuable insights into optimizing the performance and reliability of UHS systems. Ultimately, the successful implementation of UHS hinges not only on technological innovation but also on strategic decisions regarding cushion gas selection and management. By addressing these challenges proactively, stakeholders can unlock the full potential of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy carrier, thereby contributing to the global transition towards a low-carbon future.

Status of women in indian Parliament

The development of any nation only depends on the status of women in the society. Fifty percent of the world’s population comprises of women. In this male dominated society, women have always suffered. We need to make the women of our country strong socially, economically, and politically and we need to tell the men of our country about their wrongdoings. The position of women stays the same everywhere. In a country like India, on the hand the goddess is a women and on the other hand she is ill-treated, oppressed, suppressed, and exploited by the male of our society. The United Nations report states the “women constitutes half of the world population, perform nearly 2/3 work hours, receive the tenth of the world’s income and own less than one – hundredth percent of the world’s property. ”One of the major problem’s which women are dealing today is with the political participation(space).Not all women are given the equal rights in the society to choose their desired candidate or stand in elections or go for election campaigns or even be associated with political parties.

Caregiver Employees' Mental Well-Being in Hong Kong.

The rapidly aging global population has increased the demand for caregivers. Many caregivers simultaneously engage in paid employment, and the dual role makes the needs of caregiver employees conceivably more remarkable. However, there is a gap in the literature about the specific needs of caregiver employees. Caregiver employees (n = 1205) across Hong Kong caring for those ≥65 years were recruited for a cross-sectional face-to-face survey from December 2021 to January 2022, to evaluate mental well-being measured by the Short Warwick -Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted; significant variables (p < 0.05) were included in multiple linear regression, along with caregiver-friendly workplace policies' availability, to understand their association with their mental well-being. The mean score of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale among caregiver employees in this study was 24.9, with 7.2% indicative of probable clinical depression and 10.0% possible mild depression. In addition, the current study showed that 30.2% of the caregiver employees felt distressed about the caregiving role. Among external factors, family support (measured by the Lubben Social Network Scale) and workplace culture (measured by the Marshall Supervision Subscale) positively correlated with mental well-being with regression coefficients of 0.252 (p < 0.001) and 0.482 (p < 0.001), respectively. In the fully adjusted model, a negative regression coefficient was observed for overall spillover (-0.050, p < 0.001) and Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale scores, while positive regression coefficients were observed for overall self-rate (0.041, p < 0.001), Lubben (0.124, p < 0.001), and corporate culture (0.365, p < 0.001). Better Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale scores were observed when caregiver-friendly workplace policies were clearly stated than when they were made on a case-by-case discretionary basis. Caregiver-friendly workplace policies may be critical to Hong Kong's sustainable future, both economically and socially, as they ensure a healthy and productive workforce to support an aging population.