Browse our Medical Journals - AKJournals
Among all scientific traditions alive, medical publishing has a good chance to be the oldest. The first fully peer reviewed academic journal, “Medical Essays and Observations” was launched in 1731 by the Royal Society in Edinburgh. Since then, hundreds of medical journals have been published worldwide. Medical publication in Hungary started in 1857 when the famous physician, Markusovszky founded “Orvosi Hetilap”, which has been published since then every week (with short breaks during the world wars). It is now a most prestigious piece in AKJournals’ portfolio, listed in Journal Citation Reports, with a remarkable impact factor.
Medical and Health Sciences
Abstract
The mechanical efficiency of the quadriceps femoris muscle-tendon unit likely depends on its structural and mechanical properties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the mechanical efficiency in vivo under various stretch-shortening cycle conditions and to investigate how the morphological and mechanical properties of the quadriceps femoris influence mechanical efficiency.
We used MRI to measure quadriceps femoris muscle and tendon morphological properties in young females (n = 9), and we determined mechanical efficiency during stretch-shortening cycle contractions using computer-controlled dynamometer. Testing protocol included contractions with moderate and maximal pretension level and stretching loads of 20 and 100J.
Greater mechanical efficiency was associated with larger knee flexion angles and increased positive work under moderate pretension levels with both 20 J (r = 0.67, P = 0.045; r = 0.82, P = 0.007) and 100 J stretch loads (r = 0.87, P = 0.006; r = 0.82, P = 0.007).
These findings suggest that lower stretching loads enhance muscle-tendon interaction efficiency by favoring tendon elongation during muscle-tendon unit lengthening, resulting in higher mechanical efficiency. No morphological or mechanical parameter of the muscle-tendon unit were linked to mechanical efficiency, suggesting that efficiency may depend more on muscle activation patterns than on structure.
Abstract
Purpose
Advanced glycation end-products are compounds that can promote ageing processes and contribute to the development of many chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular problems and kidney disease.
Materials/Methods
Our study included 108 people over 50 years of age, who were measured anthropometrically and whose lifestyle habits were assessed using a questionnaire. The level of advanced glycation end-product in the body was assessed using a skin autofluorescence device.
Results
Nearly half the subjects (48.1%) had skin autofluorescence values above the reference range. There were no significant differences in the proportions of men and women, or in terms of age groups, residence categories, BMI and waist circumference categories.
Conclusions
The lifestyle factors assessed showed no significant association with skin autofluorescence. Further studies are needed to investigate other factors and biochemical parameters associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain fungi has long been used by Indigenous cultures within ritual and ceremony for healing and spiritual purposes (Spiers et al., 2024). While emerging evidence points to psychedelic agents being novel avenues for the treatment of substance use disorders, the predominantly Western medical models of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) being developed lack Indigenous wisdom and input, raising concerns about cultural safety, efficacy, ownership, and continuing colonial dynamics. In Aotearoa (New Zealand), the enduring impacts of colonisation on Māori include the suppression of Indigenous wisdom, even as research affirming the knowledge and practice of traditional Māori healing is on the rise.
The Tū Wairua project will explore the integration of rongoā Māori (traditional Māori healing practices) with PAT for addressing problematic methamphetamine use (PMU) in Māori communities. This Māori-led project is driven by Kaupapa Māori methodology, rongoā Māori conceptualisations of health and informed by biomedical psychedelic science. Based at Rangiwaho Marae in Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne), a community with a high Māori population and a significant burden of PMU, the project aims to develop a decolonised culturally-appropriate approach to PAT to explore the efficacy of psilocybin in treating PMU.
This research represents a shift toward health interventions that respect and extend Indigenous wisdom, addressing the unique needs of Māori communities. It also seeks to develop a skilled Māori workforce to continue these healing practices, and challenge current legislation that restricts the use of Indigenous psychedelic medicines. In creating sustainable pathways for collective healing through a community-driven, culturally-resonant PAT, Tū Wairua charts new directions in Indigenous-led psychedelic science.
Abstract
Background and aims
Online platforms are popular for exchanging information about psychedelics, including consumption advice. The recent resurgence of public interest in psychedelics will likely intensify this. We aim to further the understanding among researchers, policy makers, medical practitioners, harm reduction practitioners, and social workers, of contemporary psychedelic information exchange and its impact on consumption. With a social learning perspective and a focus on online content, we investigate the use of various sources and types of information by people who have used psychedelics therapeutically, non-therapeutically, or not at all.
Methods
We deployed an online survey, obtaining a purposive sample of over 1,200 respondents. Approx. 55% had used psychedelics. We included items on seeking, obtaining, and using information about psychedelics. Data was analyzed using comparative frequency tables, comparing respondents across lifetime use of psychedelics (yes/no) and reason for using (therapeutical/non-therapeutical).
Results
Data showed strong preference for, and use of, online psychedelic information in all groups of respondents. Across groups, considerable differences were observed in patterns of information exchange, including source preferences, sources where information had been obtained, and types of content accessed.
Conclusions
We found evidence of differing online social learning environments where consumption practices are exchanged. Despite an increasing public focus on psychedelic therapy, online content thus also affects other uses of psychedelics. This content is accessed by people who have or have not used psychedelics, and thus affects both present and potential future use. This can be leveraged by public health institutions wishing to gain a voice in the psychedelic resurgence.
Abstract
Objectives
The objectives of study were to determine the most reliable umbilical artery (UA) Doppler sampling location for detecting fetal growth restriction (FGR) and compare indices between growth-restricted and adequate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses.
Methods
UA Doppler was done in 55 pregnant women with FGR and 120 with AGA and indices were recorded at three locations including fetal end, free-floating portion (FFL) and placental end (PE). Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis was performed to find out the accuracy of the Doppler indices for detecting FGR. Measurements at three portions of UA were compared with each other using repeated measures ANOVA in normal pregnancies.
Results
The sensitivity for differentiating AGA from FGR using pulsatility index (PI) was the same (94.5%) at all three locations. The specificity was highest at fetal end (FE) using PI values (99.2%) as well as for systolic to diastolic (S/D) ratio (100%). Likewise, sensitivity and specificity both were highest (89.1% and 99.2% respectively) at FE when resistive index (RI) was used for this differentiation.
Conclusion
Although UA Doppler is a well-known non-invasive method used for investigating fetoplacental circulation, indices taken at fetal-end of UA are more reliable in diagnosing cases of FGR which might be due to it being a fixed site.
Abstract
Background
Public health issues arising from excessive online gaming have garnered significant research interest. Existing studies indicate that, within the framework of the dual-systems theory, the equilibrium between the goal–directed and habitual control systems is disrupted in patients with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Nevertheless, the understanding of how this imbalance manifests within the brain is limited. This study aims to investigate real-time brain activity in individuals with IGD during the activation of both the goal–directed and habitual systems using electrophysiological techniques.
Methods
Twenty-four individuals with IGD and twenty-three matched recreational game users (RGUs) underwent electroencephalography (EEG) data collection while completing an outcome devaluation task. Differences between the two groups at the Fz, Cz, and Pz electrodes were compared using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results
The behavioral results revealed that the RGU group exhibited higher accuracy than the IGD group during the learning phase (t(45) = −3.08, p < 0.001, η 2 = 0.42). During the slip-of-action test, the IGD group made more action-slip responses for devalued outcomes than the RGU group (F (1,45) = 6.22, p = 0.016, η 2 = 0.12). The EEG experiment results indicated that, upon stimulus presentation during the slip-of-action test, the IGD group had significantly more negative average amplitudes at the Fz and Cz electrodes compared with the RGUs (−7.26 ± 6.28 μV; −5.18 ± 5.49 μV; F (1,40) = 5.54, p = 0.024, η 2 = 0.12; F (1,40) = 4.92, p = 0.032, η 2 = 0.11). Concurrently, the single-group analysis based on RGU revealed that habitual control appears to be associated with greater N2 and P3 amplitudes during the stimulus-locked phase.
Conclusions
The goal–directed system of individuals with IGD is impaired, manifesting in the increased cognitive resources required to activate the goal–directed system when they need to disrupt habitual responses. This suggests that the imbalance due to IGD within the dual systems may originate from an impaired goal–directed system rather than the overactivation of the habitual system.
Abstract
Background and aim
Video gaming (VG) and cannabis use are two behaviors that are particularly prevalent among adolescents and young adults, as they can both be sedentary activities that are used to help decompress. As such, this raises questions about the possible relationship between VG and cannabis use. The aim of the present review is to document the relationship between VG and cannabis use.
Methods
A scoping review identified 25 articles published between 2000 and February 2025, and presenting original findings on the relationship between VG and cannabis use.
Results
Results demonstrate that existing literature is heterogeneous in its methods and measures. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that a relationship does exist, as the majority of studies did find a positive relationship between VG and cannabis use, although several studies also found no significant relationship, and a few even found a negative relationship.
Discussion
Being a new and emerging subject, few studies exist exploring the relationship between VG and cannabis use. Thus, there is much that needs to be explored before drawing clear conclusions on what type of relationship exists between both behaviours. An inability to draw clear conclusions is, in part, due to a lack of consistency in the way both VG and cannabis use have been operationalized, and the use of convenience samples, which have created additional challenges that the field will need to address moving forward.
Abstract
The transition from qualitative to quantitative analysis marks a pivotal shift in medical sciences, moving from subjective assessments to objective, data-driven approaches. Historically, fields like laboratory medicine and genetics relied on qualitative methods, which often resulted in variability and inconsistency. The introduction of quantitative techniques, such as spectrophotometry in laboratory medicine and PCR in genetics, revolutionized diagnostics and research, leading to standardized criteria and personalized medicine. Radiology has embraced, and pathology is also embracing this transition, with quantitative imaging biomarkers and digital pathology enhancing diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is accelerating this shift, transforming medical practice by analyzing vast amounts of data with unprecedented speed and precision. In radiology, AI algorithms automate image interpretation, reducing variability and improving diagnostic accuracy. In pathology, AI enhances the quantification of histological features, providing reproducible and objective data. AI-driven predictive models forecast disease progression and patient outcomes, guiding personalized treatment strategies. However, the integration of AI introduces challenges, particularly the “black-box” phenomenon, where complex AI algorithms make accurate predictions without transparent decision-making processes. This lack of transparency can hinder validation, accountability, and trust. Additionally, the potential for bias in AI models necessitates rigorous training on large cohorts of patients, internal and external validation, and testing. A balanced regulatory framework is crucial to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI in healthcare. This includes ensuring transparency, rigorous validation, ethical standards, and continuous monitoring. By achieving this balance, the continued evolution of quantitative analysis and AI integration can enhance patient outcomes, ushering in a new era of precision medicine where data-driven insights inform every aspect of healthcare, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment. In conclusion, the shift to quantitative analysis and the integration of AI, or better, its “embedding” in clinical workflows, represents a fundamental breakthrough in medical sciences, driving innovation and improving the precision and reliability of medical practice.
Abstract
Introduction
Fatigue accumulation in the final 100 m of a 400-m sprint impairs neuromuscular coordination and biomechanics, often resulting in performance decline. This study investigated how fatigue affects lower-limb coordination, joint mechanics, and recovery patterns in competitive sprinters.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 trained male Chinese 400-m sprinters (age: 29.8 ± 2.7 years), allocated into control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15) groups. The experimental group completed five 80-m maximal sprints with decreasing rest intervals before running a 400-m sprint; the control group performed only the 400-m sprint. Kinematic and EMG data were recorded during the final 100 m. Recovery measures—Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Jump Height, Peak Force, and Peak Power—were assessed at 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, and 36 h post-sprint. Data were analysed using two-way ANOVA and paired t-tests.
Results
Fatigue significantly increased stride variability in the experimental group from 0.022 ± 0.010 m (Session I) to 0.035 ± 0.012 m (Session II, P < 0.0001), while hip flexion decreased from 33.1 ± 4.5° to 26.7 ± 3.9° (P = 0.0012), and CRP rose from 15.6 ± 2.9° to 24.1 ± 4.2° (P = 0.002). EMG activation declined in key muscles, including Rectus Femoris (0.28 ± 0.05 to 0.23 ± 0.05, P = 0.0035) and Soleus (0.21 ± 0.05 to 0.18 ± 0.04, P = 0.0003). RPE increased from 10.9 ± 2.05 to 19.5 ± 1.20 at 30 min post-sprint (P < 0.0001), with Jump Height decreasing from 49.5 ± 5.02 cm to 34.8 ± 5.10 cm (P < 0.0001), Peak Force from 17.8 ± 1.28 to 15.1 ± 1.42 N kg−1 (P = 0.0012), and Peak Power from 65.7 ± 6.03 to 50.4 ± 4.95 W kg−1 (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Fatigue in the final sprint phase significantly impairs joint coordination, muscle activation, and power output. These findings highlight the need for targeted fatigue-resistance training and individualized recovery protocols. A limitation is the all-male sample, which may affect generalizability.
