SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Tobacco Products”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

230 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed2026

Protective association of the ELMO1 rs741301 variant against diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy: a systematic meta-analysis of case-control studies.

CONTEXT: Diabetes mellitus (DM), an endocrine disorder, is characterised by persistently elevated blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production. Diabetic nephropathy (DN), is a critical complication associated with DM, often leading to end-stage renal failure and increased mortality. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between the ELMO1 rs741301 polymorphism and susceptibility to DN among individuals with diabetes. METHOD: A systematic literature search was conducted for studies published between 2014 and 2024 using Embase, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Eligible case-control studies investigating the association between ELMO1 rs741301 and DN among individuals with DM were selected according to predefined inclusion criteria. Nine case-control studies comprising 880 individuals with DM and 1008 individuals with DN were included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: The pooled analysis demonstrated a significant protective association between the ELMO1 rs741301 polymorphism and DN under the allelic model (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67-0.88), recessive model (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61-0.90), and dominant model (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53-0.88). In contrast, no statistically significant association was observed under the over-dominant model. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the ELMO1 rs741301 polymorphism may be associated with a reduced susceptibility to DN among individuals with DM. These findings provide evidence for a potential genetic contribution of ELMO1 to DN susceptibility and may help improve understanding of the genetic factors underlying diabetic complications. Further well-designed studies in diverse populations are warranted to validate this association.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pharmacokinetic Differences Between Fast-Acting, Standard, and Placebo Cannabis Edibles.

INTRODUCTION: Edibles have become the second-most used cannabis product in legal U.S. states, wherein 64% of cannabis consumers reported using edibles within the past year. Among expansions to the legal cannabis industry are the newly marketed "fast-acting" edible compounds, which may address many of the issues associated with edible use related to overdose and dose management. The study hypotheses were that fast-acting edibles would reach peak concentration significantly faster than standard edibles and placebo edibles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty participants completed three arms within-subjects designed study to test hypotheses. The three arms were ingestion of a (1) fast-acting edible, (2) a standard edible, and (3) a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) terpene-derived placebo edible that was indistinguishable from the two THC-containing edibles. Blood plasma was analyzed for the presence of THC and THC analytes. The pharmacokinetic parameters tested were time to max concentration (Tmax), maximum concentration (Cmax), terminal half-life (t1/2), and area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Results supported study hypotheses in that Tmax was significantly faster for the fast-acting edible, observed 30 min post-ingestion and, on average, 30 min earlier than the Tmax for the standard edible. There were no significant differences between the fast-acting and standard edibles on Cmax, t1/2, and AUC; however, both the fast-acting and standard edibles were significantly different compared with the placebo across all pharmacokinetic parameters. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that the microencapsulation technology used to create the fast-acting edible enabled analyte concentrations to peak significantly faster compared to the standard and placebo edibles.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Desert-derived Ensifer sp. SA403 enhances potato salt tolerance by reshaping rhizosphere microbiome functions and host responses.

Soil salinization increasingly threatens global food security, and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), a moderately salt-sensitive crop, is particularly vulnerable to saline soils. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer a promising strategy to improve crop performance, yet how PGPR interact with native microorganisms to enhance potato salt tolerance remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a desert-derived PGPR strain, Ensifer sp. SA403, which substantially enhanced potato performance under high salinity across sterile, non-sterile and field conditions. Physiologically, inoculation with SA403 reduced shoot Na⁺ accumulation and increased the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio; notably, these effects were markedly stronger in non-sterile substrates than under sterile conditions, indicating that SA403-mediated ion homeostasis relies on cooperation with the resident microbiota rather than on the strain acting alone. Metagenomic profiling indicated that SA403 strain reshaped rhizosphere communities, significantly enriching beneficial taxa such as Priestia and Bradyrhizobium, and upregulated functional pathways involved in glutathione and sulfur metabolism. Furthermore, host transcriptomic analyses showed that SA403 modulated plant responses to salt stress, with differentially expressed genes enriched in jasmonic acid signaling, ethanolamine metabolism and amino-acid biosynthesis pathways. Field trials on saline soils confirmed that SA403 significantly increased seedling emergence and tuber weight. Together, our results demonstrate that SA403 functions as a biological mediator that optimizes rhizosphere microecology and coordinates ion balance and host signaling to enhance potato salt tolerance. These findings support the potential of SA403 as a robust PGPR-based tool for sustainable potato production on saline soils.

Rhizosphere↗

PubMed2026

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) of polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) dental implants: A systematic review of the effect of printing parameters on mechanical behaviour and surface quality.

PURPOSE: This systematic review evaluated how FDM printing parameters influence mechanical behaviour and surface characteristics of 3D-printed PEEK and identified parameter combinations linked to the most favourable mechanical performance and surface quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An electronic search was conducted in: MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Compendex (last update: January 2025). Studies that evaluated the effect of FDM printing parameters on mechanical and surface properties of PEEK were included. Outcomes comprised compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, surface hardness, roughness, and wettability. RESULTS: Of 4005 reports screened, 54 manuscripts were included. 92.6% (n = 50) of articles showed low risk-of-bias, while 7.4% (n = 4) showed medium risk-of-bias. Tensile strength was the most investigated mechanical parameter (78%), followed by elastic modulus (41%), flexural strength (30%), compressive strength (20%), and fracture toughness (6%). Surface roughness was the most evaluated surface property (30%), followed by hardness (17%) and wettability (6%). Across studies, higher printing temperatures, lower printing speed, thinner layer thickness, and maximum infill ratio in a horizontal printing orientation were associated with higher strengths, less warpage, increased accuracy, and improved surface quality. CONCLUSION: Specific combinations of FDM printing parameters can significantly improve the mechanical and surface properties of PEEK. However, it is difficult to meet all the optimal conditions simultaneously. Thus, balancing between different parameters must be considered in practical production.

Benzophenones↗

PubMed2026

Non-coding RNAs and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is responsible for 70% of dementia cases worldwide, with tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid-β plaque accumulation representing its core pathological hallmarks. Genetic predisposition, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation contribute to disease onset and progression. Non-coding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs) are a class of RNAs which control gene expression and whose dysregulation in AD patients has been linked to amyloid production, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which ranges from impaired energy metabolism to disrupted mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics. Our descriptive systematic review surveyed the involvement of ncRNAs in mitochondrial dysfunction in AD across experimental and clinical literature. We identified multiple microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) that directly regulate mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial autophagic, and apoptotic pathways, mitochondrial dynamics, and protein import mechanisms in AD models. Among the most important candidates demonstrating clinical dysregulation, miR-140 and lncRNA NEAT1 regulate mitophagy, while miR-9, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-485 are implicated in mitochondrial biogenesis and miR-204 in mitochondrial autophagy. LncRNA BDNF-AS, miR-148a-3p, miR-21-5p, and miR-103a-3p emerged as regulators of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway with confirmed clinical dysregulation. Multiple ncRNAs control mitochondrial dynamics, of which miR-195, miR-124, and miR-455-3p have also been studied in AD patients. Additionally, several ncRNAs were found to indirectly regulate mitochondrial fission, autophagy, and apoptosis, although the underlying mechanisms require further characterization. Thus, while ncRNA-centered AD research is in its early stages, current mechanistic and translational evidence supports mitochondrially relevant ncRNAs as promising candidates for biomarker and therapeutic development.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed2026

Shielding performance and clinical applicability of lead-free materials in computed tomography.

Owing to the high radiation exposure associated with computed tomography (CT) examinations and the image quality degradation caused by conventional radiation shielding materials, this study evaluated the dose reduction performance and image quality maintenance potential of a newly developed lead-free composite shielding material. This material was composed of bismuth, tungsten, tungsten carbide, aluminium, and polyurethane. Phantom-based dose measurements demonstrated that the shielding material achieved dose reduction rates ranging from 17.6% to 37.6%, depending on tube voltage. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and changes in tube current-time product (mAs) under a scout-based automatic exposure control (AEC) protocol were analysed according to the presence or absence of the shielding material across regions. For the clinical evaluation, CT scans were performed on four patients. Furthermore, the images were reviewed to evaluate whether this material affected image quality. The shielding material exhibited radiation reduction levels comparable to those reported in previous studies. SNR and CNR analyses showed minor statistical variations in certain regions; however, most differences were not statistically significant, and even significant differences remained within a range that did not compromise diagnostic image quality. Under the scout-based AEC protocol, the use of the shielding material resulted in less than 1% variation in mAs values. No visually perceptible artefacts or clinically significant image quality degradation were observed. The proposed composite shielding material demonstrated the potential to mitigate some limitations of conventional shielding materials and showed preliminary clinical feasibility as an adjunctive strategy for radiation dose reduction in CT examinations.

Radiation Protection↗

PubMed2026

Transformation of antibiotics mediated by iron-bearing minerals: A review.

Iron-bearing minerals are ubiquitous in water, sediments and soil, where their surface chemical properties and redox activity can play an important role in degradation of trace antibiotics. This review systematically summarizes the roles of various iron-bearing minerals in chemical transformation and microbial degradation of antibiotics and reaction mechanisms involved, and refines the critical idea for iron-driven control of antibiotics with trace level in natural environment. Overall, antibiotics removal in the presence of iron-bearing minerals involves combination of adsorption, surface oxidative degradation, photo-induced degradation, Fenton-like reaction and microbial degradation. Adsorption of antibiotics by Fe(III)-minerals involves electrostatic interaction, complexation, H-bonding, π-π interaction and hydrophobic interaction. Adsorbed antibiotics form complexes with Fe(III)-minerals, undergoing electron transfer to generate radical intermediates, subsequently generating final products through hydroxylation, dealkylation, and deamination. Additionally, Fe(III)-minerals can be excited to produce electrons and holes under sunlight and to produce antibiotics-degrading hydroxyl radical through O2 reduction, H2O oxidation and ligand-to-metal charge transfer. Reduced iron minerals can activate oxygen to participate in Fenton-like degradation reactions. Finally, antibiotics are mainly removed by bio-driven Fenton reaction and direct enzyme biodegradation. The presence of iron-bearing minerals can promote antibiotics microbial degradation by providing nutrients for microorganisms or by changing microbial activity and microbial community structure. Existing problems and future research directions are identified. New insights for application of iron-bearing minerals in transformation of antibiotics are proposed. The work aims to suggest new methods and insights for pollution control and remediation of emerging contaminants including trace antibiotics in the natural environment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling Identifies a Core Gene-Metabolite Axis Driving African Swine Fever Virus Replication in the Soft Tick Ornithodoros lahorensis.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes an incurable swine disease with nearly 100% mortality, posing a catastrophic threat to global pig production. The soft tick Ornithodoros lahorensis acts as a critical biological vector that sustains persistent ASFV replication and mediates long-distance viral transmission, yet the molecular mechanisms governing ASFV-tick interplay remain poorly understood. Here, we integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics to systematically dissect molecular changes in O. lahorensis across three infection stages: Uninfected control, early infection (7 days post-infection, dpi), and late persistent infection (21 dpi). Multi-omics integration revealed that ASFV extensively remodels tick host metabolism, predominantly activating purine/pyrimidine metabolism, lipid biosynthesis, and energy metabolism. We further characterized a conserved regulatory module consisting of 12 core genes and 8 signature metabolites that collectively support ASFV genome replication and virion assembly. Three hub metabolic genes (TK1, ATP5F1B, and IMPDH) were selected for functional validation via siRNA silencing in ticks; individual gene silencing suppressed ASFV loads by 89.2%, 91.5%, and 87.8%, respectively (p < 0.001***). This work represents the first comprehensive multi-omics investigation of ASFV infection in O. lahorensis. We identified tick-specific molecular targets to block vector-mediated ASFV spread and established a standardized multi-omics analytical pipeline for tick-virus interaction research. Our findings elucidate the mechanistic basis of long-term ASFV persistence in soft ticks and deliver novel actionable clues for developing vector-targeted ASF intervention strategies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Genomic and Molecular Interaction Analysis of NodD1 in a Novel Bradyrhizobium yuanmingense sp. B64 Isolate for Nodulation and Symbiosis of Legume Plants.

Rhizobial bacteria are known for their ability to fix nitrogen for leguminous plants and their essential function for sustainable agriculture. This study characterizes the taxonomic status and functional potential of the Bradyrhizobium B64 isolate using integrated genomic and molecular approaches. The whole genome of the B64 isolate was sequenced via Illumina paired-end technology. Species delimitation was performed using average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA Hybridization (dDDH). The NodD1 protein structure was modeled using AlphaFold3 and validated by Ramachandran plot analysis. Molecular docking was then conducted to evaluate interactions between NodD1 and four signaling flavonoids: Apigenin, Daidzein, Genistein, and Naringenin. Genomic analysis revealed a maximum ANI of 94.4% and dDDH values between 51.4 and 62.4%. Since these values fall below the standard prokaryotic thresholds (ANI < 95%; dDDH < 70%), the B64 isolate is identified as a novel species. Physiological assays confirmed nitrogen fixation (1.97 ppm), IAA production (3.67 ppm), and phosphate solubilization (26.10 ppm). Structural validation showed 100% of NodD1 residues in allowed regions, ensuring high model reliability. Docking simulations demonstrated strong binding affinities across all flavonoids, with binding free energies ranging from - 8.8 to - 9.0 kcal/mol. Daidzein exhibited the highest thermodynamic stability (- 9.0 kcal/mol), whereas apigenin showed the most extensive residue interaction network. The B64 isolate is a novel Bradyrhizobium species with a high symbiotic capacity. The stable NodD1-flavonoid interactions provide a molecular basis for efficient nodulation, positioning B64 as a promising candidate for developing lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO)-based biofertilizers.

Bradyrhizobium↗

PubMed2026

Non-smoked cannabis consumption formats and Cannabis Use Disorder severity in an illicit setting: Evidence from Chile, 2020-2024.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) has become an increasing public health burden, particularly in Chile. Non-smoked cannabis formats and products have been independently associated with CUD but remain understudied in the region. This study compares CUD severity among individuals aged 12 to 65 in Chile who consume cannabis via edibles, vaporization or both versus those who exclusively smoke it. METHODS: We obtained secondary data from three waves of the Chilean National Survey on Drugs in the General Population (ENPG), a three-stage stratified probabilistic sampling design study conducted in 2020, 2022, and 2024. Our pooled cross-sectional sample included individuals (n = 3543) who reported cannabis use in vaped, edible, both vaped and edible or exclusively smoked format in the past 12 months. We used a partial proportional odds model to estimate the association between CUD severity and consumption formats. RESULTS: Cannabis vaping group showed higher odds of presenting at least mild CUD (OR = 6.21 [95% CI: 3.75-10.3]), as did the edible group (OR = 1.73 [95% CI: 1.08-2.78]) and both group (OR = 5.92 [95% CI: 2.72-12.87]), compared to exclusive smokers. However, only the vaped group demonstrated higher odds for all severity levels. CONCLUSION: Compared with exclusive smokers, users of vaporizers and/or edibles showed a stronger association with CUD. This association may be explained by consumption patterns and total THC exposure. Further research is needed to characterize the average THC exposure by consumption format, acknowledging contextual confounders such as the legal framework.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Mapping the Molecular Evolution and Role of Wild Rice GLYIII Protein-Encoding Genes in Abiotic Stress Response.

To address the need for sustainable food production amid rapid global climate change, developing rice varieties that grow optimally even under harsh conditions is essential. An effective approach in this direction would be to harness the stress resilience traits of the crop wild relatives (CWRs) of rice. Among the various crucial stress-responsive genes, the Glyoxalase III (GLYIII) gene family is of utmost importance for its ability to detoxify the toxic glycolytic byproduct, methylglyoxal (MG), in a less energy-intensive, single-step process, as well as for its multifaceted cytoprotective role. In our study, a comprehensive genome-wide search across the Oryza genus revealed that GLYIII genes are conserved across wild rice genotypes. Their number has expanded during domestication, driven by gene duplications. Interestingly, only a few orthologous pairs showed positive selection, suggesting that the functions of most others need to be constrained and or conserved.We found that higher GLYIII activity, Total Antioxidant Capacity, endogenous glutathione (GSH) levels, and free radical scavenging activity contributes to the stress resilience of wild rices O. punctata, O. meridionalis, and O. nivara, in addition to other factors. , , . , . Our qRT-PCR analysis revealed differential expression of the OpGLYIII, OmGLYIII, and OnGLYIII genes across different developmental stages and in response to various abiotic stresses. Furthermore, we report that wild rice GLYIII proteins, specifically OpGLYIII-3, OmGLYIII-3, and OnGLYIII-5, exhibit high catalytic efficiency over a broad pH range and at higher temperatures under in vitro assay conditions. Overexpression of these proteins was found to impart substantial stress resilience to the transformed E. coli cells. These findings collectively suggest that GLYIII proteins constitute a key component of the abiotic stress response machinery in wild rice.

Oryza↗

PubMed2026

Littoral and wetland vegetation decrease carbon emissions from dry inland waters.

Lakes are recognized as active components of the inland water carbon (C) cycle, as organic matter is processed by microbial respiration, inducing large carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions. In the context of long-lasting drought periods, large uncertainties remain about: (1) the influence of wet-dry cycle on CO2 and CH4 fluxes in littoral zones and lacustrine wetlands; and (2) the contribution of emergent vegetation to C fluxes in dry inland waters. At the water-land interface of two shallow lakes, this study focuses on CO2 and CH4 fluxes from vegetated and bare dry inland waters in relation to hydrological fluctuations. Three seasonal campaigns were conducted to measure daytime CO2 and CH4 fluxes in pelagic, littoral and wetland surface waters, as well as in temporarily air-exposed sediments, using floating and static chambers, respectively. Our results reveal that wet-dry cycle in the littoral zone and wetlands strongly influence gaseous C fluxes through contrasting patterns, especially in late summer, when the biological processes are most active (primary production and respiration). In air-exposed littoral zones, organic-poor sandy sediments presented the lowest CO2 and CH4 emissions, whereas in air-exposed lacustrine wetlands, water-saturated sediments accumulated high amounts of plant-derived organic matter, promoting intense microbial activity and the highest C emissions. However, amphiphytes and helophytes vegetation in exposed littoral zones and wetlands reversed the direction of C fluxes, inducing the highest CO2 uptake due to high photosynthesis rates. This study underlines the relevance of considering vegetation in dry inland waters, particularly in lacustrine littoral zones and wetlands, to obtain comprehensive lake C budgets, especially under climate change scenarios.

Wetlands↗

PubMed2026

From commensal to pathobiont: The emergence of virulence-enhanced Escherichia coli in China's food-animal systems - insights with future implications.

A fundamental shift in Escherichia coli epidemiology is being driven by convergence of virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance within linked human-animal-environment systems. In China, the rapid growth of food-animal production, extensive antimicrobial use, and complex food networks are accelerating the emergence and dissemination of virulence-enhanced E. coli pathobionts. This review synthesizes recent epidemiological, genomics, and outbreak data to characterize China's evolving landscape of food-animal-associated E. coli. We highlight a significant shift from classical pathotypes to hybrid lineages that simultaneously carry virulence factors and last-resort antibiotic resistance determinants, including mcr-1, tet(X4), and blaNDM. These traits disseminate rapidly via plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer, facilitating rapid adaptation and enabling cross-sectoral One Health transmission. National surveillance, foodborne outbreak investigations, and whole-genome sequencing data show that food-animal reservoirs are active evolutionary niches that drive pathogen diversity and fitness, rather than serving merely as contamination sources. Whole-genome sequencing also pinpoints high-risk clones (e.g., ST394) and plasmid-mediated co-selection of virulence and AMR. The emergence of hybrid pathotypes (e.g., STEC/ETEC) and AMR-virulence co-selection challenges traditional classification and limits the effectiveness of conventional surveillance approaches. The 2017 colistin ban reduced mcr-1, yet ongoing resistance and emerging tet(X4) demand integrated surveillance. Collectively, these findings call for reconceptualizing E. coli as a dynamic genomic entity embedded within a unified ecological network. Addressing this threat requires an integrated One Health strategy including genomic surveillance, agricultural antimicrobial stewardship, and coordinated food-environment-clinical monitoring to prevent high-risk clone emergence and global spread.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Nebivolol treatment improves hypertension-induced endothelial cell dysfunction by reducing TGF-β1-dependent senescence and normalizing mitochondrial indices.

OBJECTIVES: Serum from patients with hypertension (HT) causes endothelial cell (EC) damage, leading to senescence and dysfunctional phenotype. This study investigated whether serum from patients treated with the antihypertensive drugs could normalize EC activity. METHODS: This study involved 71 patients with newly diagnosed HT, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups based on the antihypertensive treatment: amlodipine, nebivolol, or perindopril. Serum samples collected before and 6 weeks after treatment were applied to ECs in vitro to assess their angiogenic activity, cellular senescence, mitochondrial metabolism, and oxidative stress. RESULTS: Results showed that exposure of ECs to serum from patients treated for 6 weeks significantly altered EC function, with varying effects among the drugs. Serum from nebivolol-treated patients produced the most consistent benefits, reducing EC proliferation and HIF-1α expression, likely due to lower levels of angiogenic factors such as angiopoietin-1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Additionally, this serum contained reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (E-selectin, P-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)) and lower TGF-β1, which are linked to HT-related EC senescence. Nebivolol treatment decreased senescence biomarkers such as SA-β-Gal, 53BP1, and p16, with SA-β-Gal reduction comparable to that of TGF-β1 neutralizing antibodies. Oxidative stress was reduced, indicated by lower oxidized DNA product levels. CONCLUSIONS: Nebivolol was the most effective at reducing the factors, associated with HT induced cellular senescence of endothelium, through reducing TGF-β1.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Novel environmental contaminant 6PPD-quinone promotes malignant phenotypes in colorectal cancer cells and identifies candidate response-associated genes.

6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), an oxidative transformation product of the widely used tire antioxidant 6PPD, is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with bioaccumulation potential and widespread human exposure. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates a positive association between urinary 6PPDQ levels and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk; however, its biological effects on CRC-related phenotypes and associated molecular responses remain unclear. We integrated bioinformatics analysis, prognostic modeling, molecular docking and dynamics simulations, and in vitro experiments to investigate cellular and molecular responses to 6PPDQ in CRC models. Predicted 6PPDQ targets were intersected with CRC prognosis-related genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas, followed by functional enrichment and LASSO regression to construct a prognostic risk model, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year AUC values of 0.727, 0.754, and 0.778, respectively. Molecular docking and 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations suggested interactions between 6PPDQ and candidate proteins, including CPT2, SHC2, SRMS, and STK35. Functional assays showed that 6PPDQ exposure altered proliferation, wound-closure capacity, and invasion in Caco-2 and HCT116 cells across the nanomolar concentration range, with non-monotonic and cell-line-dependent responses. In contrast, NCM460 cells showed no increase in EdU incorporation at 10 or 100 nM, whereas reduced proliferation at higher concentrations was accompanied by increased LDH release. 6PPDQ also altered the expression of several prognosis-associated candidate genes. These findings identify cellular phenotypes and candidate molecular responses associated with 6PPDQ exposure under the tested in vitro conditions, but do not establish their causal roles or in vivo relevance. Further mechanistic and in vivo studies are required.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

First identification and molecular subtyping of Blastocystis spp. in donkeys in Aksaray province, Türkiye.

Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist worldwide that can infect humans and animals. Although its molecular epidemiology in Türkiye is mostly focused primarily on humans and livestock, equids have received limited attention despite their traditional roles and frequent contact with humans and other animals in rural environments. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence and subtype (ST) distribution of Blastocystis spp. in donkeys in Aksaray Province, providing the first molecular data on donkeys in Türkiye. A total of 182 fresh fecal samples were collected from donkeys in nine villages within Aksaray province. Genomic DNA was extracted, and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene fragment of Blastocystis spp. was amplified via PCR analysis. Positive isolates were sequenced bidirectionally for identification and subsequent phylogenetic analysis of Blastocystis in donkeys. The overall molecular prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in donkeys was 4.4% (8/182). The infection rate was higher in young donkeys (under 3 years old; 8.33%) than in adults (3 years or older; 2.46%). However, this difference was not statistically significant. Sequence analysis of the positive PCR products revealed the presence of one known livestock-specific subtype, ST10. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the ST10 isolates characterized in this study clustered with isolates identified from different hosts. This study provides the first molecular data on Blastocystis presence in donkeys in Türkiye. The exclusive detection of ST10 suggests potential cross-species transmission, likely facilitated by the traditional practice of co-housing donkeys with other animals in confined barns. These findings indicate that donkeys may contribute to Blastocystis transmission, underscoring the importance of a "One Health" approach in future epidemiological surveillance.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Is ophthalmology a pain-free career? A systematic review and meta-analysis of musculoskeletal pain among ophthalmologists.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the pooled prevalence, anatomical distribution, and occupational impact of work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) pain among ophthalmologists, and to identify modifiable ergonomic risk factors. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published data. The protocol was preregistered (PROSPERO CRD42023422368) and reported in accordance with PRISMA. PARTICIPANTS: The participants were 6691 ophthalmologists from 21 studies. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed) were searched for peer-reviewed quantitative studies reporting MSK pain prevalence in ophthalmologists. Pooled estimates with 95% CI were calculated using random-effects models; heterogeneity was quantified using I². MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of overall and site-specific MSK pain; effects on workload and productivity; prevalence of treatment or mitigation strategies. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of any MSK pain was 70% (95% CI: 65%-75%; I² = 92%); neck (41%; 95% CI: 35%-47%; I² = 95%), lower back (36%; 95% CI: 32%-39%; I² = 87%), and shoulder pain (28%; 95% CI: 22%-35%; I² = 91%) were most common. Pain led to workload modification in up to 44% and contributed to reduced clinical volume, sick leave, or contemplation of early retirement. Forty-six percent (95% CI: 22%-71%) pursued no treatment; 39% (95% CI: 30%-49%) used medical therapy; and 29% (95% CI: 20%-41%) sought physiotherapy. Heterogeneity was high across studies, reflecting differing case definitions and self-reported measures. CONCLUSIONS: MSK pain affects most ophthalmologists, particularly in the cervical and lumbar regions and frequently alters practice patterns. These findings underscore the need for early ergonomic training, structured micro-breaks, and workspace redesign. Prospective intervention trials are required to establish causality and quantify benefit.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into the coordinated regulation of signaling, apoptosis, immunity, and metabolism during Sinonovacula constricta larval metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis is a critical ontogenetic transition for marine bivalves, marking the shift from planktonic to benthic lifestyles, where successful transformation dictates survival. The razor clam Sinonovacula constricta is economically important; however, low larval metamorphosis rates remain a major bottleneck in seedling production. To elucidate the mechanisms governing this process, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of S. constricta larvae at pre- and post-metamorphosis stages using Illumina sequencing. A total of 3701 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 3254 up-regulated and 447 down-regulated genes. Functional annotation of the respective top 20 significantly up-regulated and down-regulated DEGs indicated their potential pivotal roles in signal transduction (e.g., up-regulated: CAV1, CHRNA2; down-regulated: APP, NOTCH1), cellular proliferation and differentiation (e.g., up-regulated: TUBA, EGF1; down-regulated: KIF23, TTC25), transcriptional and epigenetic regulation (e.g., up-regulated: NFIL3; down-regulated: OVO, HMX1), substance transport (e.g., up-regulated: LRP2, LRP1B; down-regulated: SLC51A, Slc33a1), substance metabolism (e.g., up-regulated: CPK3, CYP26A1; down-regulated: RDMT1, ADAC), immunomodulation (e.g., up-regulated: CPN2, CRISP2), and protein homeostasis (e.g., up-regulated: HSP27, NAS-27). Functional enrichment analysis further revealed that DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to signal transduction and developmental regulation (e.g., Ras, TNF), cell death and homeostasis (e.g., apoptosis), immune responses (e.g., Toll-like receptor), energy metabolism (e.g., lipid), cardiovascular related (e.g., Fluid shear stress), cell junction and architecture (e.g., Tight junction), and infectious disease (e.g., measles). These results suggest a synergistic interplay between signaling, apoptosis, immunity, and metabolism during S. constricta metamorphosis. This study advances our understanding of marine bivalve metamorphosis and offers candidate genes for further mechanistic studies.

Animals↗