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PubMed2026

Psychological consequences of AI-assisted training and the buffering role of mindfulness.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into athletic training is accelerating, yet its psychological implications for athletes remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on the transactional model of stress and the stress-buffering framework of mindfulness, this study examined whether mindfulness training can mitigate adverse psychological responses associated with AI-assisted training. Using a randomized controlled factorial design, 160 collegiate athletes were assigned to AI-assisted training or standard training, with or without concurrent mindfulness intervention, and assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Athletes exposed to AI-assisted training without psychological support exhibited increases in perceived stress and AI dependence over time. In contrast, these stress increases were substantially attenuated when mindfulness training was implemented alongside AI-assisted training. A significant AI × Mindfulness × Time interaction emerged for perceived stress at post-intervention, and difference-in-differences analyses corroborated a robust buffering effect. Mediation analyses further indicated that mindfulness training reduced stress partially through enhancing mindful awareness; a three-wave cross-lagged analysis showed that mindful awareness and stress were reciprocally related over time, with the hypothesized awareness-to-stress pathway remaining robust. Together, these findings suggest that AI-assisted training introduces a distinct form of evaluative pressure, and that mindfulness training may serve as an effective psychological buffer during the adoption of continuous algorithmic performance evaluation systems.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Three-dimensional porous nano-hydroxyapatite@gelatin composite as efficient adsorbent for uranyl ion removal from low-level radioactive wastewater.

The contamination of water resources by uranyl (UO22+) ions poses significant environmental and health risks, requiring the development of efficient and sustainable remediation strategies. Adsorption-based techniques have emerged as promising approaches in the field of UO22+ removal, but the design of cost-effective, high-capacity, and environmentally friendly adsorbents remains challenging. In this study, a three-dimensional porous nano-hydroxyapatite@gelatin (nHAP@Ge) composite was synthesized through glutaraldehyde cross-linking, combining the structural stability of Ge with the high uranium affinity of nHAP. The optimized nHAP@Ge, with a nHAP:Ge mass ratio of 1:0.5, exhibited exceptional UO22+ removal efficiency (97 %), along with high adsorption capacity (364.03 mg/g). Systematic characterizations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods revealed that the porous structure and surface functional groups (-OH, Ca2+, and PO43-) of the material synergistically contributed to binding UO22+ species. Furthermore, the incorporation of nHAP into the Ge framework resulted in enhanced thermal stability while significantly improving the UO22+ adsorption performance. This work presents a scalable, eco-friendly, and recyclable strategy for the effective treatment of uranium-contaminated water, with potential applications in nuclear wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2026

Are there any common effects in preclinical models of micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure? A systematic review.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging contaminants detected in food sources and the marine food chain, raising concerns about human health. Although no causal relationship has been established between MNP exposure and specific diseases, growing evidence suggests adverse developmental, behavioral, cognitive and biochemical effects. This systematic review synthesized evidence from common preclinical neurotoxicology models, including C. elegans, D. rerio, D. melanogaster, in vitro systems and rodents, to identify convergent developmental, behavioral and biochemical outcomes. The protocol was preregistered in OSF, followed PRISMA-P guidelines, applied PICOS criteria, and assessed methodological quality using the European Commission's ToxRTool. Overall, 185 studies were included. Consistent findings showed impaired survival and disrupted development across all models. Behavioral alterations affecting anxiety, memory, learning, sociability and locomotor activity were also consistently reported. In addition, numerous studies identified disruptions in the serotonergic (5-HT) system, including changes in neurotransmitter levels, transporters and metabolic enzymes. Despite methodological heterogeneity, these findings indicate that MNP exposure produces reproducible neurodevelopmental and neurochemical alterations across experimental models. Future studies should improve methodological harmonization, strengthen cross-model comparability and identify robust biomarkers and key mechanisms underlying MNP-induced neurotoxicity, facilitating translation to human health risk assessment frameworks.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Epigenetic Gene Networks Governing Immune State Transitions Across the Lifespan.

Immune function across development, tissue repair, aging, and disease depends not only on signaling pathways but also on epigenetic architectures that determine whether coordinated transcriptional programs can be accessed and resolved. Increasing evidence indicates that epigenetic gene networks regulate the accessibility and reversibility of semi-stable immune states, shaping plastic, homeostatic, reparative, and degenerative configurations. We propose the concept of epigenetic transition windows, defined as temporally and contextually restricted intervals during which epigenetic constraints are relaxed, permitting coordinated and reversible transitions between immune states. During development, these windows are broad and support immune tolerance and adaptive plasticity. In adulthood they become spatially and temporally restricted, preserving stability while enabling conditional adaptation. With aging, they progressively narrow, contributing to chronic inflammation, impaired repair, and increased vulnerability to neurodegeneration. Conversely, pathological persistence of regulatory permissiveness may underlie immune evasion and sustained plasticity in cancer. We outline operational genomic readouts for quantifying transition windows, including chromatin accessibility variance, enhancer switching dynamics, reversibility metrics, and cross-cell coordination indices, and derive experimentally testable predictions that distinguish this model from pathway-centric or damage-centric explanations. By reframing immune dysfunction as a failure of regulated state transition rather than excessive signaling alone, this framework integrates inflammaging, trained immunity, immune resolution failure, and tumor immune escape within a unified regulatory architecture and provides a systems-level perspective on immune adaptability across the lifespan.

Epigenesis, Genetic↗

PubMed2026

Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals Shared Downstream Pathways in Craniofacial Pathology.

Treacher Collins syndrome and Nager syndrome are craniofacial developmental disorders caused by defects in ribosome biogenesis and RNA splicing, respectively, yet they exhibit overlapping abnormalities affecting neural crest cell-derived craniofacial structures. To investigate shared downstream pathogenic mechanisms, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of zebrafish polr1c and sf3b4 mutant models from our previous studies. Comparative analysis identified 17 shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between polr1c and sf3b4 mutants, with the majority of shared genes dysregulated in the same direction, indicating a coordinated rather than random transcriptional response. Gene ontology analysis identified ATP-dependent protein folding chaperone activity as the only shared molecular function, driven in part by upregulation of hsp90aa1.2, indicating a common proteostasis response. Because chaperone activity is linked to extracellular matrix (ECM) protein processing, we cross-referenced DEGs from both mutants against the curated zebrafish matrisome. Three of the 17 shared DEGs (serpinh1b, il11a, and lepa) were matrisome-associated and upregulated in both mutants. Serpinh1b, a collagen-specific chaperone, was strongly expressed in craniofacial cartilage and mesenchymal populations during pharyngeal arch development and exhibited nearly identical fold changes in both mutants. Il11a is of particular interest because its receptor, IL11RA, is known to be associated with human craniosynostosis, suggesting potential relevance to craniofacial development. Together, it is possible to hypothesize that shared chaperone-associated transcriptional changes, together with altered ECM-related gene expression, may contribute to polr1c- and sf3b4-associated craniofacial disorders, warranting further functional validation.

Extracellular Matrix↗

PubMed2026

Simulating the effects of an alcohol minimum unit price policy on distilled spirits sales in 28 states of the USA.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable chronic disease risk factor. Alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) policies are not used in the United States despite evidence of associations with reduced drinking and alcohol-related harms. To inform potential population-level chronic disease prevention strategies, we estimated effects of various hypothetical MUPs on alcohol sales. METHOD: Simulation based on observational time-series data. We used weekly off-premises product-specific alcohol retail sales and prices in 28 states of the United States for November 2022-November 2023 from NielsenIQ to estimate the own-price elasticity of spirits and cross-price elasticities of wine, beer and ready-to-drinks with respect to spirits. Using estimated elasticities, we simulated changes in total alcohol sales associated with hypothetical spirits MUPs ranging from $0.10 to $1.10 per standard drink (0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol). RESULTS: A hypothetical MUP of $0.80 per standard drink on spirits yielded the largest estimated decrease in alcohol sales (-1.7%) and would affect 5374 of 26 249 spirits products. To reach the $0.80 MUP, the sales-weighted average price increase among affected products was $0.24 per drink. CONCLUSIONS: Minimum unit pricing policies on distilled spirits in the United States could shift purchasing behavior and help reduce alcohol-related harms.

alcohol policy↗

PubMed2026

A homogeneous immunoassay based on AlphaLICA technology for detecting florfenicol residues in animal-derived foods.

Florfenicol (FF), a broad-spectrum amide antibiotic widely used in livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, poses potential threats to food safety and public health due to its residual accumulation. In this study, a novel homogeneous immunoassay based on Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay (AlphaLICA) technology was developed for the first time for rapid screening of FF residues in milk and egg matrices. By covalently immobilizing the FF-BSA conjugate and goat anti-mouse IgG onto luminescent and photosensitive microspheres, respectively, the method achieved wash-free, homogeneous quantitative detection through a competitive immunoreaction. Under optimized conditions, the assay exhibited a linear range of 0.2-16.2 ng mL-1, with a limit of detection of 9.7 pg mL-1 and a limit of quantification of 183 pg mL-1. The intra- and inter-batch coefficients of variation ranged from 3.08% to 5.70% and 2.44% to 7.09%, respectively. Spike recovery rates in milk and egg matrices ranged from 93.18% to 107.17% (RSD ≤ 5.57%). Cross-reactivity with 11 other common antibiotics, including chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol, was below 0.1%, demonstrating excellent specificity. Comparative analysis with a commercial ELISA kit showed high consistency (r2 = 0.9332, p < 0.001). With high sensitivity, strong specificity, simple operation, and a detection time of only 10 min, this method provides a reliable technical platform for high-throughput, rapid monitoring of FF residues in milk and egg matrices.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Longitudinal Relations among Perceived Economic Stress, Teacher-Student Relationships, and Cybervictimization: Exploring Within-Person Links.

Family economic hardship has been identified as a risk factor for adolescents' cybervictimization. Nevertheless, existing studies have primarily focused on objective economic conditions, and little is known about the within-person association between perceived economic stress and adolescents' cybervictimization and the mediating mechanisms underlying this association. To fill these gaps, the random intercept cross-lagged model was employed to examine the dynamic relations among perceived economic stress, teacher-student relationships, and cybervictimization. The data were obtained from a sample of 2407 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 12.75, SD = 0.58, 50.23% girls at baseline) recruited from seven schools and assessed at three time points over one year. At the between-person level, there were no significant associations among perceived economic stress, teacher-student relationships, and cybervictimization. At the within-person level, perceived economic stress positively predicted later cybervictimization over time, and this effect was unidirectional. The bidirectional relations between perceived economic stress and teacher-student relationships remained stable over time. Cybervictimization significantly and negatively predicted subsequent teacher-student relationships across time, indicating a unidirectional predictive effect. Additionally, perceived economic stress indirectly predicted cybervictimization through teacher-student relationships. The findings highlight the importance of distinguishing within-person from between-person processes and shed light on the longitudinal role of teacher-student relationships in the association between perceived economic stress and cybervictimization.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Synchronicity of parent-child sleep and potential mechanisms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Existing evidence indicates that parent and child circadian rhythms are associated, but studies have mainly examined factors affecting child sleep health. This systematic review addressed two questions: a) is there a synchronous relationship between parent and offspring sleep? and b) what are the potential mechanisms? PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO, and Scopus were searched from inception to April 2025. Forty-six studies comprising over 100000 parent-child dyads across 16 countries were included. Results showed small-to-moderate parent-child synchronicity in sleep duration (r = 0.18, 95% CI [0.14, 0.23]), sleep efficiency (r = 0.30, 95% CI [0.19, 0.41]), bedtime (r = 0.34, 95% CI [0.20, 0.46]), and wake up time (r = 0.48, 95% CI [0.24, 0.66]), with stronger effects observed in mother-child dyads. Synchronicity in sleep continuity was moderate, whereas associations in sleep satisfaction were small and non-significant. Mechanisms included genetic and hormonal factors, bedtime routines, shared environments, and attachment. These findings are consistent with family systems theory's premise that sleep is a relational phenomenon. Observed synchronicity in sleep timing may partly reflect shared external constraints like work and school schedules. Most studies were cross-sectional, limiting causal or directional conclusions. Future research should adopt standardized methodologies and longitudinal designs to clarify mechanistic pathways.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

How the microbiome shapes epigenetic trained memory in neuroinflammation: Implications for neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly recognized as disorders involving immune dysregulation. However, the mechanisms underlying this dysfunction remain poorly characterized. Trained immunity has recently emerged as a potential contributor to immune dysregulation, particularly in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, where trained immunity is the epigenetic reprogramming of innate immune responses following an initial inflammatory stimulus, which increases responses to subsequent exposures. In parallel, although the brain has traditionally been viewed as an immune-privileged organ, growing evidence indicates that peripheral immune activity exerts significant influence on neuroinflammation in the brain. A major driver of peripheral immunity is the microbiome. Therefore, this perspective aims to present a conceptual framework for a relationship between the microbiome, trained immunity, and neurodegenerative diseases. We first summarize evidence of trained immunity in the brain and its role in neurodegeneration. Next, we highlight the role of the microbiome in peripheral immune modulation and in trained immunity. Finally, we propose potential mechanisms through which the microbiome may induce or modulate trained immunity in the brain. These include: 1) immunogenic microbial metabolites that cross the blood-brain barrier and alter host cell epigenetics; 2) migration of peripherally trained myeloid cells into the brain; 3) viral infection-induced trained immunity that may predispose to neurodegeneration. Together, this perspective suggests that microbiome-induced trained immunity offers a novel mechanism linking peripheral immune regulation with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration with implications for therapeutic targeting of epigenetic modification as a molecular prevention strategy for progression of neurodegeneration.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Surface shaving proteomics reveals a parasite-encoded protein embedded in the spore filaments of Ameson portunus.

The surfaces of microsporidian spores are frequently adorned with filamentous appendages of unknown origin and function. Although some studies suggest that these structures may be host-acquired, the absence of identified parasite-encoded components has hindered our understanding of their biogenesis and role in infection. Here, we applied surface shaving proteomics to profile the surface-exposed proteins of Ameson portunus -a microsporidian pathogen causing severe myopathy in portunid crabs. Our analysis identified 120 candidate surface proteins. Nineteen of these were highly enriched by both direct shaving and SDS-assisted methods, representing a high-confidence surfome. Among these, a previously uncharacterized protein, designated 8-2.11, was confirmed via immunofluorescence assay and immunoelectron microscopy. It was expressed early in development stage and specifically localized to the spore wall and hair-like projections (HLPs) of microsporidia. Notably, polyclonal antibodies against recombinant 8-2.11 recognized a native protein in spores, specifically labeled the HLP structures, and showed no cross-reactivity with host cells. Our results provide the first evidence of a parasite-encoded protein that is integral to HLP formation, challenging the prevailing hypothesis that these surface filaments are solely host-derived. This study establishes surface shaving as a powerful tool for microsporidian research and highlights 8-2.11 as a promising candidate for future functional studies on spore surface biology and host-parasite interactions.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Effects of exercise snacking on neuromuscular performance in insufficiently active adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of exercise snacking (ES) on neuromuscular performance in insufficiently active adults. METHODS: Six databases were searched from inception to July 17, 2026. Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of interventions involving insufficiently active adults undertaking ES interventions were included. Outcomes were functional performance, muscular strength, and muscular power. A three-level random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 or ROBINS-I, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. RESULTS: Nine studies (13 reports) involving 313 participants were included. In the primary three-level model, ES showed a small positive overall effect on neuromuscular performance (g = 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.58, p = 0.001), which remained supported under trial-clustered robust inference with small-sample adjustment. Domain-specific estimates for muscular power/velocity, functional performance, and muscular strength were positive but imprecise and were not statistically supported after small-sample robust adjustment. Robust moderator tests provided no evidence of between-subgroup differences, and the certainty of evidence was low for all outcomes. CONCLUSION: Current low-certainty evidence suggests that ES may produce a small improvement in overall neuromuscular performance. However, domain-specific effects remain uncertain because of the limited number of independent trials, and the overall prediction interval crossed zero, indicating uncertainty across future populations and settings. Larger, preregistered randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Biomimetic mesoporous silica nanosphere ameliorate experimental autoimmune uveitis by delivering sCD83.

Autoimmune uveitis (AU) is an autoimmune disease that may lead to blindness, but there are currently no precise targeted therapies for its prevention and treatment. Dendritic cell (DC) is key cell involved in the pathogenesis of AU, and specific regulation of their state can help improve AU. In this work, mesoporous silica nanospheres were loaded with the immunomodulator soluble CD83 (sCD83) and subsequently camouflaged with dendritic cell (DC) membranes to fabricate the nanocarrier DCM@MSN/sCD83 for treating experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). Research results show that DCM@MSN/sCD83 effectively alleviated the symptoms of uveitis in EAU, reduced the proportion of CD4+CD25-T cell/CD4+CD25+T cell and the percentage of DC in the eyes and cervical lymph nodes. It also decreased the expression of STING in Müller cell. Furthermore, the efficacy of DCM@MSN/sCD83 was found to be primarily targeting DC, and promoted the expression of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in DC by activating the phosphorylated HIF/STAT3 pathway, to induce the production of CD4+CD25+ T. This effect is superior to nanomedicine loaded with dexamethasone. Moreover，DCM enabled the nanocarriers to efficiently cross the blood-eye barrier and reach cervical lymph nodes, thereby regulating peripheral immunity. This research indicate that cell membrane-modified nanoparticles targeting homologous cells can effectively improve treatment efficiency and duration, which is potential therapy strategy for uveitis.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Metatranscriptomic analysis of viral sequences associated with Culex nigripalpus at an Alabama aquaculture site.

Mosquitoes associated with aquaculture habitats can harbor diverse viruses, yet the viromes of many locally abundant species remain poorly characterized. At an aquaculture-associated site in Auburn, Alabama, we surveyed mosquito populations and found Culex nigripalpus to be the dominant species collected. To characterize viruses associated with this mosquito, we performed RNA-seq on pooled female Cx. nigripalpus and compared complementary bioinformatic workflows for viral detection and genome recovery. One workflow removed host-associated reads by mapping to the closest available mosquito reference genome prior to assembly, whereas a second workflow used fully de novo assembly and viral database annotation. Additional protein-level filtering, cross-workflow comparison, and comparison of Trinity and rnaSPAdes assemblies were used to prioritize well-supported viral candidates. Across the original analyses, 16 submitted accessions corresponding to 12 collapsed virus/name groups were recovered, including Merida virus, Hubei mosquito virus 5, Zhejiang mosquito virus, Hubei virga-like virus 3, Rinkaby virus, Elemess virus, Qingnian mosquito virus, Serbia narna-like virus 2, XiangYun narna-levi-like virus 8, Ecclesville picorna-like virus, and baculovirus-like fragments. Several candidates were supported across multiple workflows, while others were recovered only under specific analytical conditions, indicating that candidate recovery was influenced by assembly and filtering choices. Selected viral contigs were independently supported by RT-PCR amplification. Overall, these results provide a first characterization of viral sequences associated with Cx. nigripalpus from an Alabama aquaculture-associated site and show that comparison across assembly and filtering strategies helped prioritize the most consistently supported viral candidates.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Patient-reported outcome measures for depression or anxiety symptoms in patients with cardiovascular disease: A COSMIN systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are common in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the measurement quality of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) used in this population remains unclear. This review aimed to evaluate the methodological quality, measurement properties, and certainty of evidence for depression and anxiety PROMs in adults with CVD and to inform instrument selection. METHODS: Following COSMIN and PRISMA guidance, four databases were searched from inception to February 2026. Studies assessing measurement properties of PROMs in adults with CVD were included. Methodological quality was evaluated using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist, and certainty of evidence was graded using an adapted GRADE approach. RESULTS: Sixty-six studies assessing 38 PROMs were included, comprising 29 generic and 9 CVD-specific instruments. Six PROMs met COSMIN Category A criteria: Cardiac Depression Scale-Short Form, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Major Depression Inventory. Four instruments were classified as Category C because of insufficient structural validity. Content-validity evidence was largely indeterminate or of limited certainty. Only 24 studies used confirmatory factor analysis or Rasch analysis, and no study assessed measurement error or responsiveness. Cross-cultural validity evidence was scarce. CONCLUSIONS: Six PROMs met Category A criteria, but selection should remain purpose- and context-specific. Particular attention should be given to somatic symptom overlap and intended clinical use. Further validation should prioritize content validity, measurement invariance, responsiveness, measurement error, and clinimetric performance.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive identification and evolutionary analysis of the Wnt gene family in bivalves: Insights into the larval development of the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis.

The Wnt gene family regulates fundamental developmental processes in metazoans, but its evolutionary composition and developmental deployment in bivalves remain largely unresolved. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of Wnt genes in 19 bivalve species and examined developmental expression profiles in the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis, with Crassostrea gigas and Chlamys farreri used for cross-species comparison. A total of 235 Wnt genes were identified and assigned to 12 subfamilies. No reliable Wnt3 ortholog was detected in any analyzed bivalve, supporting the view that Wnt3 loss occurred early during lophotrochozoan evolution rather than representing a lineage-specific absence. Most Wnt proteins retained the conserved WNT domain, indicating strong structural conservation, whereas lineage-specific copy-number variation and gene loss were observed among species. C. farreri and C. gigas each retained 12 Wnt genes and lacked Wnt3, whereas C. nobilis lacked Wnt3, Wnt7, and Wnt16. Developmental transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR revealed clear stage-specific expression patterns. In C. gigas, Wnt2/10/A were highly expressed during earlydevelopment and peaked around the D-shaped larval stage, while Wnt8 and Wnt11 showed distinct stage-specific peaks. By contrast, Wnt1/5/6/9 were more active during later larval development or juvenile formation. These results provide a comparative framework for bivalve Wnt evolution and identify candidate Wnt genes potentially involved in larval development and aquaculture-relevant developmental transitions.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Nutrition and Diet-Related Training and Curriculum in the US Predoctoral Dental Programs.

PURPOSE: Nutrition and diet are vital for oral and systemic health. It is unclear how well US predoctoral dental programs prepare students in nutrition screening and counseling. This study analyzed US dental school curricula on these topics. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was sent to the publicly available email addresses of 67 of 72 academic dental deans at US Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited dental schools. Items assessed availability, modes and hours of instruction, curricular topics, clinical integration, and instructors. Descriptive statistics summarized responses. RESULTS: A total of 21 academic deans responded, for an overall response rate of 29%. Most (85%) of responding academic dental deans reported that nutrition and diet education was mandatory, with none treating it as optional. Of these schools, 83% offered both classroom and clinical training, while 17% provided only didactic teaching. Didactic hours varied; 42% reported 10 or fewer hours. Foundational nutrition topics were common, although dietary guidelines such as MyPlate were reported less often (66%). Oral health-related nutrition content was broadly covered, with all respondents reporting instruction related to caries, erosion, periodontal disease, and oral dysfunction. Counseling content was less consistent, particularly public health nutrition (67%) and the impact of oral dysfunction on diet and nutrition (72%). CONCLUSION(S): Most responding academic dental deans report including nutrition and diet education in their curricula. However, it remains uncertain whether these topics are incorporated at schools that did not participate in the survey. Variability in curricular time, counseling, and teaching highlights the need for clearer competencies and more clinical training. Improving this could better prepare future dentists for common dietary risks affecting oral and systemic health.

dental caries↗

PubMed2026

Cardiovascular Drug Access in Australia and New Zealand: New PBS and PHARMAC Listings, 2023-2025.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Australia and New Zealand. Publicly subsidised access to new cardiovascular medications is governed by the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) in Australia and PHARMAC (Pharmaceutical Management Agency) in New Zealand, yet no consolidated resource catalogues recent listings across both jurisdictions. METHODS: We reviewed all new cardiovascular drug listings and indications on the PBS and PHARMAC schedules from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025. PBS data were obtained from the PBS Pricing and Policy Branch through the Cardiac Society for Australia and New Zealand. PHARMAC data were obtained via direct communication with PHARMAC and cross-referenced with public schedule information. Pivotal trial evidence, restriction criteria, and prescribing considerations were extracted from published literature and regulatory documents. RESULTS: Five new cardiovascular drugs were PBS-listed (inclisiran, mavacamten, tafamidis, icosapent ethyl and migalastat), two existing drugs received new cardiovascular indications (empagliflozin and dapagliflozin for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction) and prasugrel was relisted for acute coronary syndrome. One major change occurred on the PHARMAC schedule (empagliflozin for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction). CONCLUSIONS: The 2023-2025 period has seen notable additions to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in Australia, including the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, the first transthyretin stabiliser, expanded lipid lowering therapy options, and extension of SGLT2 inhibitor coverage across the heart failure ejection fraction spectrum. A pronounced access disparity persists between Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand↗