All Articles

Honour and Shame as Moral-Emotional Identity Regulation in Diaspora: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Young British South Asian Women

Abstract:

Honour and shame are central moral constructs within many South Asian communities, yet their psychological internalisation in diasporic contexts remains underexamined. This qualitative study explored how young British South Asian women (aged 18–25; N = 6) understand and negotiate honour in relation to gender, religion, and identity. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Six interrelated themes illustrated honour as a gendered and relational system sustained through anticipatory shame, behavioural surveillance, and sexual double standards. Participants described internalised self-monitoring, bicultural identity tension, and strategic resistance through selective compliance and religious reinterpretation. We propose that honour and shame in minority diaspora contexts function as a moral-emotional identity-regulation system characterised by anticipatory shame, relational accountability, and boundary maintenance und...

Characterization of People Receiving 2-Drug Regimens (2DR) for HIV Management in Italy

Abstract:

To describe the clinical features and real-world treatment of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) using fixed-dose or free combinations of 2-drug regimens (2DR) of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Efficacy and Safety of Pulsed Magnetic Therapy in Sleep related Disorders: A Remote, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract:

Sleep disturbances are common and are associated with impaired daytime functioning, reduced quality of life, and increased health risks. Non-pharmacological neuromodulatory interventions have gained interest as alternatives to hypnotic medication. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has been proposed as a non-invasive approach to improve sleep quality and recovery, but evidence from large, well-controlled trials remains limited.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed magnetic field therapy (PMT) on sleep quality, sleep-related symptoms, daytime functioning, and well-being in adults with heterogeneous sleep complaints. 

Pnpla3/Adiponutrin Deficiency in Mice Does Not Contribute to Steatohepatitis, Fibrosis or Cholestatic Liver Injury

Abstract:

A sequence variation (I148M) in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) gene has been linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and the progression of MASLD and other chronic liver diseases towards fibrosis and cancer. To elucidate the role of PNPLA3 in metabolic liver injury, cholestasis or liver fibrosis, we utilized Pnpla3 knockout (KO) mice and investigated the impact of PNPLA3 deficiency on the inflammatory, cholestatic, and fibrotic phenotypes induced by MCD diet, bile duct ligation (BDL), 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidin (DDC) diet and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), respectively. Upon MCD feeding, Pnpla3 KO and WT mice lost comparable amounts of white adipose tissue and showed similar degrees of liver injury. In addition, a down-regulation of genes regulating fatty acid oxidation was observed in Pnpla3 KO mice under chow diet, while no differences between experimental groups were seen in the...

Morphological Attributes and Yield of Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd) Under the Application of Spiritual Blessing/Biofield Energy Treatment (BET)

Abstract:

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is a widely consumed vegetable. This study aimed to assess the impact of spiritual blessing (biofield) energy treatment (S/BET) known as the Trivedi Effect^® on a plant’s growth and yield when applied to both seeds and soil.

Health System Support Mechanisms for HIV Status Disclosure Among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Mukono District, Uganda

Abstract:

Health systems play a crucial role in supporting HIV status disclosure, which is essential for HIV prevention, treatment adherence, and psychosocial support. Understanding how health systems support disclosure is vital for improving HIV care outcomes.

A Review and Update on the Biochemical Basis of Conscious Breathing (Pranayama)

Abstract:

Breathing has long been recognised as a vital process in Eastern traditions such as YOGA and Ayurvedic medicine, where Pranayama is regarded as a transformative practice that harmonises body and mind. While the East developed sophisticated systems of breath regulation for health and self-awareness, the West largely overlooked their significance until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A group of pioneering physicians, sometimes referred to as "the pulmonauts", including Christian Bohr, Konstantin Buteyko, and Peter M Litchfield, explored the physiological foundations of respiration. They emphasised the benefits of slow, nasal breathing and its relationship to both physical and emotional well- being. In the 21st century, contemporary researchers and practitioners such as James Nestor, J. Patrick McKeown and Anders Olsson have expanded this understanding through the fields of biochemistry, phys...

Anchors of the Self: Cultivating Life Longings (Sehnsucht) and Goals in LGBTQ+ Therapeutic Discourse

Abstract:

We have highlighted the significant harm caused by internalized homophobia in LGBTQ+ individuals and the dimensions of internalized identity that often dim and redirect Motivations and Longings for a meaningful and valuable life for individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. We surveyed the dimensions of Life Goals and Longings as a basis for building motivation and a sense of worth in the individual, which forms the foundation of emotional well-being. From the perspective of the need for Longings and Life Goals, we identified relevant focal points in empowering work to establish these anchors within LGBTQ+ individuals. This process primarily focuses, alongside interpersonal and social dimensions, on the internal feelings associated with an individual's sense of identity. We emphasized the importance of having unique, personally tailored Longings for LGBTQ+ clients that are rooted in the dimensions ('virtues') of what is called 'character.’ As Hammack and Toolis (2014...

Acquired Haemophilia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract:

Acquired haemophilia (AHA) is a rare coagulation disorder secondary to autoantibodies against coagulation factor, most commonly factor VIII with potential for life threatening bleeding episodes. We report a case of an 88-year-old female presenting with frank haematuria three weeks after catheter insertion. Her background was of Alzheimer’s Dementia, Asthma and Bullous Pemphigoid for which she was on low dose maintenance prednisolone (5mg). Laboratory tests showed haemoglobin 98g/dl and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of 60s, with corrected prothrombin time 52s. Fibrinogen 5.39. As such coagulation factors were tested which revealed factor VIII of 0%. Her case was complicated by urinary tract sepsis, as such she was treated with oral prednisolone 60mg without immunosuppressive agent usage. A pan-CT scan revealed likely mesothelioma for which she declined further investigation. This case report will describe a rare presentation of AHA associated with bullous pe...

Rehabilitation With Corticobasal and Compressive Implants with Polished Surface in Case of Failure with Two Stage Implants-Article

Abstract:

The aim of this article is to present alternative possibilities for corrective intervention using corticobasal implants, following the failure of treatment with two stage implant in cases of extensive edentulism, multi-segmented edentulism, and the development of peri-implantitis 1 at the level of these implants. For this purpose, a case was selected involving a patient treated with two stage implants in a multi-segmented manner, in the distal regions of the maxilla and mandible, where the implants were affected after 12 years by peri-implantitis in proportions ranging from 20% to 100% in different areas of bone, with a predominance in the vestibular area. The decision was made to remove the affected two stage implants, as well as the remaining deciduous teeth, with or without periodontal conditions, but whose position on the arch made improperly rehabilitation, both functionally and aesthetically impossible, and m...