by Dana Shamshtein  and Timur Liwinski

Received: 06 December 2021;  Published: 17 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2201003

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness that places a great burden on global health. A ketogenic diet, which has traditionally been used for treating refractory epileptic disorders, is being increasingly explored for its potential of alleviating other neuropsychiatric conditions. Providing an up-to-date summary on the ketogenic diet’s potential to alleviate MDD, its neurobiological basis, and preliminary clinical evidence. A structured literature survey was performed, and a narrative review was wr [...]

by Phil Ayers  , Megan Harlow  and LeAnn Scott

Received: 30 December 2021;  Published: 15 February 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2201002

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a complex medication administered to adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients. PN is recognized as a high-alert medication by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) has published several key recommendations regarding safe use of PN. This manuscript will review several of the important PN papers published in 2020-2021 by ASPEN.

by Alicia Stapp  , Madalyn Falkenheiner  and Kenya Wolff

Received: 15 November 2021;  Published: 13 January 2022;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2201001

It is recommended that children ages 3-5 receive 180 minutes of physical activity a day, with at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Despite these recommendations, a majority of preschoolers are not provided opportunities in the early childhood education setting to meet these daily recommendations through either structured or unstructured physical activity. Accordingly, the number of young children identified as overweight or obese over the past couple of decades has increased. Critical to a [...]

by Madalina Neacsu  , Susan E. Anderson  , Pola Verschoor  , Nicholas J. Vaughan  , Graham W. Horgan  , Toine Hulshof  , Sylvia H. Duncan  , Susan Duthie  and Wendy R. Russell

Received: 08 October 2021;  Published: 17 December 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2104002

Wheat bran cereals are an important source of dietary fibre. The aim of the study was to investigate if a high intake (120 g) of fibre rich breakfast cereal (which delivers the UK Government guidelines for fibre intake in one serving but is three-fold higher than the manufacturers recommended serving) has additional potential health benefits compared to the recommended serving (40 g, containing 11 g of dietary fibre). To assess this, the study determined the short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiles in human faecal, u [...]

by Alex T. Von Schulze  , Marie van der Merwe  , Chad D. Touchberry  and Richard J. Bloomer

Received: 03 August 2021;  Published: 15 October 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2104001

Poor dietary habits can lead to obesity and insulin resistance—both of which can impair basal heat shock protein (HSP) expression and the HSP stress response in skeletal muscle. It remains unclear if impairments in HSP expression occur during the early stages of diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction. We determined if basal HSP expression (HSP70, HSP60, HSP25) was impaired in sedentary or exercised rats following the onset of diet-induced obesity. Male Long-Evans rats (N=6-7/group) were assigned to a [...]

by Nilesh Sankeshware  , Ayesha Mulla  , Shrikant Hulkane  , Asmita Prabhune  , Ibrahim M. Banat  and Surekha K. Satpute

Received: 26 April 2026;  Published: 25 August 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2603007

Since 1894, hydrogels (HGs) have advanced from simple water-swollen colloids to poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA)-based biomedical materials introduced in 1960. Further, the journey continued towards innovative, stimuli-responsive hybrid systems in 2025. Once limited to wound dressings and contact lenses, HGs have now formed a multi-billion-dollar market. Biohydrogels (BioHGs) are biomaterials with remarkable physicochemical properties, enabling their widespread applications. However, several challenges al [...]

by Terlumun Adagba

Received: 26 January 2026;  Published: 24 August 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2603006

The growing demand for sustainable, resource-efficient construction materials has heightened interest in agricultural waste-derived supplementary cementitious materials, among which cassava peel ash (CPA) has emerged as a promising alternative. This review critically evaluates cassava peel ash (CPA) as a potential pozzolanic material for cement and concrete applications, with emphasis on its physicochemical characteristics, fresh and hardened performance, and durability behaviour. The literature indicates that CPA, [...]

by Yandiswa Mabhude  , Adewale Oluwaseun Fadaka  , Samantha Meyer  , Kwazikwakhe Bethuel Gabuza  , Abram Madimabe Madiehe  , Mervin Meyer  and Nicole Remaliah Samantha Sibuyi

Received: 20 January 2026;  Published: 16 July 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2603005

Food and water are essential resources for human survival; however, the increasing global population, urbanization, and climate change have placed a significant strain on their availability and safety, with major implications for public health and economic stability. Microbial contamination of food and water remains a critical global challenge, with bacteria responsible for more than 90% of foodborne illnesses. In the past decade, pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria have been the leading cause [...]

by Shahriar Abubakri  , Gilson R. Lomboy  and Douglas B. Cleary

Received: 10 February 2026;  Published: 15 June 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2602004

The use of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) offers a sustainable alternative to traditional virgin aggregates in concrete production, helping mitigate the environmental impacts associated with mining and construction waste disposal. RCA is characterized by the presence of attached mortar from previous concrete applications, which significantly influences the mechanical properties of the aggregates, as well as mix design and the overall performance of new concrete incorporating these recycled materials. This paper [...]

by Ali A. Al-Allaq  , Abdullah A. Abdulhakeem  , Jwan Kh. Hammood  and Hassan Fouad

Received: 03 December 2025;  Published: 07 April 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2602003

The cartilage is avascular and has limited regenerative capacity, posing a significant clinical challenge. Conventional treatments often do not restore hyaline cartilage, leading to progressive osteoarthritis. Recent advances in tissue engineering have focused on integrating biomaterials, stem cells, growth factors, and gene-delivery approaches. In addition, in vivo models serve as critical platforms for translational validation. Biomaterial scaffolds, including polycaprolactone, silk fibroin, chitosan, and composi [...]