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PubMed2025

Selective Neurectomy Outcomes in Synkinesis Patients: The First 56 Consecutive Primary Cases with Minimum 1-Year Follow-Up.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluation of 1-year follow-up outcomes after selective neurectomy (SN) is essential to confirm sustained improvements in patient-reported, clinician-graded, and objective results. OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes of SN in synkinesis, using patient-reported outcomes (VAS), clinician-graded assessments (eFACE), and objective evaluations. METHODS: Synkinesis patients who underwent SN were included in the study. Patients with less than 12 months of follow-up were excluded. Visual analog scale (VAS) was assessed as patient-reported outcomes. The Electronic Clinician-Graded Facial Function Scale (eFACE) was also assessed. Objective evaluations were carried out via Emotrics Software. RESULTS: Fifty-six primary cases were included, with a mean patient age at surgery of 33.8 ± 11.0 years. Of these, 45 patients (80.3%) were female. The average duration between paralysis and surgery was 124.3 ± 103.3 months. The mean duration between surgery and evaluation was 19.7 ± 7.5 months (mean/SD). Preoperative and postoperative mean aggregate VAS scores were 35.5 ± 19.8 and 67.7 ± 16.5, respectively (p < 0.001). However, two patients (3.7%) reported worsening in moving food around in the mouth, and four patients (7.5%) reported worsening in drooling. All postoperative eFACE subscores except periocular demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.001). Emotrics analysis demonstrated improvement in all postoperative symmetry parameters, except in the periocular region. CONCLUSIONS: SN improves patient-reported outcomes, clinician-graded assessments, and objective measurements. However, periocular outcomes remain suboptimal, and functional deficits should be carefully considered.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Natural deep eutectic solvent in situ formation-based extraction method coupled to high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection for multiclass carbohydrates in hot pot bases.

A novel method was developed for the simultaneous extraction of fourteen multiclass carbohydrates from high-fat foods via the in situ formation of deep eutectic adducts from analytes and acetate ions. Different natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) composed of fructose and organic acids were tested as extraction solvents. A model NADES formulated with sodium acetate and fructose was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy. The critical extraction parameters were systematically optimized using multi-response surface methodology (MRSM) with a central composite design (CCD). The extract was analyzed using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) using a sodium hydroxide-sodium acetate eluent, which did not require organic solvents. This approach exhibited good linearity over the concentration range of 0.02-10 mg L-1, with correlation coefficients (r) ranging from 0.9994 to 0.9999. The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.06-0.42 mg kg-1 and 0.19-1.3 mg kg-1, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of liquid chromatography (LC). The protocol was successfully applied to the determination of fourteen carbohydrates in forty-five hotpot seasoning samples. The recoveries ranged from 86.3% to 104.1%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.9-7.1%. By integrating multiple techniques, this strategy simplifies operations, shortens extraction time, and achieves baseline separation of three carbohydrate classes that exhibit poor resolution using a conventional LC method. This study describes an efficient procedure for the simultaneous determination of multiple trace-level carbohydrates in complex samples using HPAEC-PAD.

Journal Article↗

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

Variations in the viral hepatitis C prevalence and treatment status by material hardship and cumulative risk among people who inject drugs.

People who inject drugs (PWID) are disproportionately impacted by viral hepatitis C (HCV). Among PWID, homelessness, poverty, and material insecurity elevate infectious disease risk. We hypothesized a positive association between material hardship (difficulty accessing basic needs) and lifetime diagnosis of HCV, and a negative association between cumulative risk (material hardship and years since first injection) and HCV treatment. From 2021-22, we conducted a survey among community-recruited PWID that included items on HCV outcomes, material hardship (a sum score of usually (4) to never (1) having difficulty finding food, clothing, shelter, restrooms, and showers in the past 3 months), and years since injection drug use initiation. We developed a latent variable, cumulative risk, by combining individual scores of material hardship indicators and years since first injection drug use. Among our sample of PWID (n = 471), 246 (53%) participants reported lifetime HCV diagnosis and 27% of those who tested positive for HCV reported ever or current treatment (n = 67). In modified-Poisson regression, a one-unit increase in material hardship score was associated with a 3% (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01%, 1.05%) increase in odds of HCV diagnosis. In latent modeling, among PWID testing positive for HCV, a one-unit increase in cumulative risk score was associated with a 0.28 (OR: -0.28, 95% CI: -0.50, -0.06), decrease in the Z-score odds of receiving HCV treatment. Findings emphasize structural interventions to strengthen material security and co-delivering basic needs with health services to improve HCV-related outcomes among PWID.

HCV↗

PubMed2026

Healthcare Access and Safety Training Gaps Among H-2 A Visa Agricultural Workers in Georgia.

The H-2 A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program, which supplies seasonal labor essential to U.S. food security, has grown over 230% in the past decade but is excluded from the National Agricultural Workers Survey. Although safety training is federally mandated and H-2 A workers are eligible for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage, compliance and healthcare access among these workers remain poorly documented. The aim of this pilot study was to assess workplace safety training, heat acclimatization practices, health insurance awareness and enrollment, and healthcare utilization among H-2 A workers in Georgia. In summer 2024, bilingual research assistants orally administered a cross-sectional Spanish-language survey to 51 H-2 A workers at a South Georgia laundromat, in partnership with the Latino Community Fund Georgia. The survey assessed demographics, occupational characteristics, safety training, heat acclimatization, health insurance awareness and enrollment, and healthcare utilization. Findings are self-reported. Among participants, 41% reported not receiving federally mandated pesticide safety training, and 59% received heat illness prevention training. Heat acclimatization was inadequate for 53% (29% received none). Additionally, 53% did not know the nearest hospital, 43% reported having health insurance, and 25% were unsure of their health insurance status. Overall, 71% had never visited a doctor's office, and of 22 insured workers, only 1 (2%) had used benefits this season. Substantial gaps in workplace safety training, heat acclimatization, and healthcare access were observed in this pilot study, consistent with prior evidence of persistent disparities in this population. Community-based outreach, bilingual health navigation, and market-based labor accountability models warrant further investigation to improve protections for H-2 A workers.

Agricultural workers↗

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

Effects of 12 weeks of resistance and concurrent training with graded protein intakes on lipid profile, kidney and liver biomarkers in middle-aged to older women.

PURPOSE: To examine secondary lipid, kidney-related, and liver-enzyme responses to three protein intakes during resistance training (RT) alone or the same RT plus cycling (CT) in middle-aged to older women. METHODS: In this randomized 2×3 factorial trial, 108 women aged 40-77 years were assigned to RT or CT and 0.8, 1.6, or 2.2 g kg-1 d-1 protein for 12 weeks. This complete-case secondary analysis included 83 participants. Linear mixed-effects models tested Time × Training, Time × Protein, and Time × Training × Protein effects, with false-discovery-rate-adjusted omnibus tests and Holm-adjusted contrasts. RESULTS: Triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and apolipoprotein B decreased and HDL-C increased in all conditions. Lipid changes differed by protein condition, and several were more favorable with CT; however, CT comprised RT plus additional cycling and greater exercise exposure. Urea, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, the blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio, and cystatin C increased, whereas three eGFR estimates decreased. Responses differed mainly between 0.8 and the two higher protein conditions, with little evidence of differences between 1.6 and 2.2 g kg-1 d-1. ALT, AST, and GGT differed by protein condition; AST and GGT also showed training-dependent responses. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary and exercise interventions modified lipid and clinical-chemistry responses. Because energy and food composition were not fully matched and CT added cycling to RT, the findings do not isolate protein dose or exercise modality. Changes in eGFR estimates and liver enzymes do not establish organ injury or long-term safety.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Study of prescription-indication of antivirals for herpesviruses in a Colombian population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To describe the utilization patterns and therapeutic indications of antivirals used for herpesvirus infections in Colombian patients. RESEARCH DESIGN/METHODS: A cross-sectional study on the use of antivirals for treating outpatients with herpesviruses between November 2023 and January 2024 in a Colombian population database. The Micromedex® database was used to identify Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indications, off-label uses, and potentially inappropriate indications. RESULTS: A total of 14,816 individuals were included (median age:53.0 years [IQR:35.0-65.0]; 60.5% women). Acyclovir was the most frequently prescribed antiviral (oral:77.3%; topical:43.4%). Overall, 56.1% received oral therapy only, 25.2% combined oral and topical therapy, and 18.7% topical therapy only. FDA-approved indications accounted for 29.1% of use (herpes zoster), off-label use for 26.9% (mainly prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients), and potentially inappropriate use for 25.3% (primarily topical treatment of herpes zoster). Acyclovir use (OR:5.93; 95%CI:4.60-7.64) and specialist care (OR:2.17; 95%CI:1.73-2.71) were associated with off-label use. CONCLUSIONS: Antiviral prescribing for herpesvirus infections in a group of patients in Colombia is largely driven by acyclovir, with a substantial proportion of off-label and potentially inappropriate use, particularly involving topical therapies for herpes zoster. These findings highlight significant gaps in adherence to evidence-based recommendations and underscore the need for targeted interventions to optimize prescribing practices.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparative phylogenomics and transcriptional regulatory networks of AQPs, HSPs, and LEA proteins in salt-stressed Portulaca oleracea.

Soil salinization severely threatens global food security, necessitating systematic investigations of halophytes like Portulaca oleracea to decode the molecular mechanisms of environmental resilience. Utilizing an integrated framework of deep learning-based genome annotation (58,817 predicted genes; 96.5% BUSCO completeness), multi-tissue RNA-Seq, phylogenomics, and gene regulatory network (GRN) inference, the synergistic orchestration of 78 aquaporins (AQPs), 525 heat shock proteins (HSPs), and 119 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins was elucidated. The active transcriptome, encompassing 39,065 expressed loci, revealed a systemic growth-defense trade-off. Tissues displayed distinct adaptive mechanisms: leaves modulated intracellular water balance via specialized AQPs, whereas adult roots maintained proteostasis through robust HSP20/HSP70 induction. Phylogenomic clustering across 154 species demonstrated that salinity tolerance constitutes an evolutionary mosaic, identifying 81 halophyte-exclusive orthogroups and 1129 species-specific clusters. Comparative topology across six independent GRNs (4.2M-5.3 M edges) unmasked a highly modular transcriptional reprogramming strategy governed by a core apparatus of 22 stress-exclusive regulators, with functional enrichment heavily prioritizing protein dimerization and chromatin remodeling. Theoretically, the distinct convergence of Trihelix transcription factors with guard cell differentiation pathways offers a candidate transcriptomic framework to explain the plant's characteristic C4-CAM photosynthetic plasticity under severe osmotic pressure. Practically, these evolutionary blueprints and specific master switches transcend single-gene transgenic limitations. Utilizing these root-sustained and stress-inducible targets under localized promoters provides a naturally optimized, network-level precision engineering roadmap to transfer robust, compartmentalized halotolerance to sensitive glycophytic crops.

Gene Regulatory Networks↗

PubMed2026

Tissue origins of the plasma proteomic response to glucose ingestion in humans.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Circulating proteins act as important hormonal signals of nutrient intake. We aimed to systematically characterise the time-resolved proteomic response to glucose ingestion in humans, and to assess its robustness following prolonged complete caloric restriction. METHODS: We conducted oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) in 11 healthy volunteers before and after 7 days of complete caloric restriction and measured the response of >2900 targets through high-resolution plasma protein profiling. RESULTS: We identified a signature of 44 proteins that changed significantly following glucose ingestion, which was reproducible after 7 days without food, and was strongly (20-fold) enriched for 'stomach-specific' proteins. We report that annexin A10 (ANXA10) shows the most significant post-glucose change observed, similar to the trajectories of secreted hormones. We present observational human evidence from multiple sources suggesting that ANXA10 is secreted upon sensing an increase in gastric pH, with the stomach as the major contributing tissue. Despite a profound metabolic shift after 7 days of complete caloric restriction, characterised by delayed insulin secretion and postprandial hyperglycaemia, only four proteins showed robust evidence for a differential trajectory during both OGTTs. This included plasma levels of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (WARS), for which we found a genetic association with glucose homeostasis and coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our exploratory study identifies the proteomic response to glucose ingestion and demonstrates its reproducibility despite major shifts in glucose homeostasis. We characterise the gastrointestinal origin of these changes, and hypothesise a hitherto under-recognised role for sensing of changes in gastric pH on the plasma proteome.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pharmacokinetics and safety of TBAJ-587, a novel antimycobacterial diarylquinoline, in healthy participants.

TBAJ-587 is a second-generation diarylquinoline with greater antimycobacterial activity and a potentially better safety profile than the first-generation bedaquiline. It is currently under development for the treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis. A first-in-human trial of TBAJ-587, including single and multiple ascending oral doses and a dedicated food-effect cohort, was conducted in 92 healthy adults. Plasma exposures of TBAJ-587 were generally linear for AUCtau and slightly subproportional for Cmax, with the major circulating active metabolite, M3, remaining low relative to the parent. A high-fat meal increased the mean Cmax and AUClast 3.46- and 2.26-fold, respectively. TBAJ-587 accumulated with multiple dosing over the 28-day period, with mean accumulation ratios across the three tested doses ranging from 1.69 to 2.32 for Cmax and from 2.74 to 3.73 for AUCtau. However, steady-state conditions were not yet reached on day 28. Mean terminal half-lives after 28-day dosing of TBAJ-587 ranged from approximately 80 to 111 days. There were no deaths or serious adverse events, and TBAJ-587 was generally safe and well tolerated at single doses of 25-800 mg under fasting conditions and multiple doses of 50-200 mg once daily for 28 days after a standard breakfast. In addition, no dose- or time-dependent effects were noted for any of the other safety and tolerability parameters, including no clinically significant effects on the QTc interval. These results support further investigation of TBAJ-587 for the treatment of tuberculosis.CLINICAL TRIALSThis study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04890535.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Development, feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of NutriSOS®: A behavioral mobile app to promote sustainable diets.

The primary objective of this study was to describe the development of the NutriSOS® app and to evaluate its feasibility and acceptability for its use in the NutriSOS® Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to promote sustainable diets. A secondary objective was to explore preliminary changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors and environmental impact following app use. The NutriSOS® app integrates personalized dietary advice, educational content, self-monitoring, and social interaction features. A single-arm, pre-post pilot study was conducted in 37 young Mexican adults over four weeks. Feasibility, acceptability, quality, and usability were assessed using online surveys, alongside exploratory changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors, environmental indicators, and their association with perceived behavioral determinants. Feasibility and acceptability were high overall, with favorable responses reaching up to 100% in key components such as the nutritional guide and learning modules, and above 90% for messaging, registration, and design. Greater variability was observed in some sections, particularly the 24-h recall (41-86%). Reductions in red and processed meat and ultra-processed food consumption were observed (from 3 to 1 times/week, p < 0.01), with ∼60% decreases in their related environmental footprints (p < 0.01) and favorable self-reported behavioral determinants (p < 0.0001). Physical activity type and intensity changed (p < 0.05). These findings support NutriSOS® as a feasible and acceptable tool, while highlighting areas for refinement, particularly those related to the time and effort required for data entry, prior to its implementation in the NutriSOS® RCT, in which its effectiveness will be formally evaluated.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Cefiderocol susceptibility rates in carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in a comparative, multicenter surveillance study in China.

BACKGROUND: Cefiderocol is a siderophore cephalosporin with potent, broad spectrum of activity against carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacteria. The objective of this surveillance study was to assess cefiderocol susceptibility in molecularly characterized CR Gram-negative pathogens collected from hospitalized patients across China. METHODS: Susceptibility testing was performed by the broth microdilution method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, using pre-prepared frozen 96-well microtiter Thermo Fisher plates. Susceptibilities to cefiderocol and most comparators were determined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoints, to tigecycline by US Food and Drug Administration breakpoints, and to colistin by European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing criteria. Carbapenemases were identified by whole-genome sequencing and polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of 149 CR Klebsiella pneumoniae, 95.3% were susceptible to cefiderocol (OXA-48-positive 100% [n = 15]; IMP-positive 100% [n = 9]; KPC-positive 95.4% [n = 108]; NDM-positive 88.2% [n = 17]) and against 103 NDM-positive CR Escherichia coli, cefiderocol susceptibility was 45.6%. Among comparator antibiotics, ceftazidime-avibactam was only active against K. pneumoniae carbapenemase-positive and OXA-48-positive K. pneumoniae isolates. Susceptibilities to tigecycline and colistin were between 22.2% and 97.1% and between 88.2% and 100% across CR Enterobacterales with different carbapenemases, respectively. High cefiderocol susceptibility rates were found for CR Pseudomonas aeruginosa (98.4%), CR Acinetobacter baumannii (99.6%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (99.6%). Among comparator antibiotics, only colistin showed high activity against CR P. aeruginosa (99.2%) and CR A. baumannii (99.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Cefiderocol susceptibility rates were ≥88% against a collection of carbapenemase-positive CR Gram-negative isolates, except for lower susceptibility in NDM-positive CR E. coli isolates. Continuous monitoring of cefiderocol susceptibility is warranted.

Cefiderocol↗

PubMed2026

Functional constipation in pregnancy and its association with dietary intake and physical activity: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FC) is a common complaint during pregnancy and has been reported to be associated with physical activity and dietary intake. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent findings. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of FC and examine its association with physical activity and dietary intake among pregnant women. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, 381 healthy pregnant women attending urban health centres in Tabriz, Iran, between January 2024 and February 2025, were selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. FC was diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Multivariable Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis was performed to identify factors associated with FC. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of FC throughout pregnancy was 37%. In the first trimester, 41 out of 73 women (56%) had FC, while in the second trimester 53 out of 146 women (36%), and in the third trimester 47 out of 162 women (29%) were affected. Multivariate GEE indicated that both higher dietary fibre intake (aOR= 0.88, 95%CI 0.86-0.91, p < 0.001) and higher fluid intake (aOR= 0.59, 95%CI 0.52-0.67, p < 0.001) were associated with a reduced risk of FC. A normal BMI was associated with a lower risk of FC (aOR= 0.35, 95% CI 0.16-0.77, p = 0.009), whereas, secondary education was associated with a higher risk (aOR= 2.81, 95%CI 1.33-5.95, p = 0.007). Physical activity (aOR= 1.00; 95%CI 1.00 to 1.01; p = 0.168), and other demographic characteristics (p > 0.05) were not independently associated with FC after adjustment. CONCLUSION: FC is highly prevalent during pregnancy and may adversely affect women's quality of life. Higher dietary fibre and fluid intake were associated with lower odds of FC, highlighting the importance of healthy lifestyle behaviours during pregnancy. Prospective longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Using Organoids to Unlock the Potential of Human Torpor for Spaceflight.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper reviews the current understanding of the potential for humans to enter a state of torpor/hibernation, and discusses the possibility of inducing torpor in astronauts for long-duration space travel, including some of the physiological, technological, and ethical considerations associated with its implementation. By exploring means to induce torpor in various human organoid systems, we hope such research can provides insights to comprehensive solutions to overcome some of the major hurdles that limit the potential for human to enter a state of torpor during long-duration deep-space missions, and contribute to the ongoing efforts to make such missions more feasible and safer for astronauts. RECENT FINDINGS: On future deep space missions such as NASA's planned missions to the Moon, Mars, and near-Earth asteroids, astronauts will be continuously exposed to environments that are radically different from those on Earth, each presenting multiple logistical and physiological challenges. Beyond the well-documented physiological effects of microgravity, space travelers will encounter a complex radiation environment that may contribute to significant short- and long-term adverse effects on human physiology and increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. Besides these physical challenges, life support systems must also be designed to mitigate psychological impacts of long-term isolation and confinement - all of which collectively pose formidable engineering problems. Hibernation/torpor is a state of prolonged inactivity and metabolic depression used by a wide variety of mammals to survive periods of cold temperatures and food scarcity, including some primates and perhaps even an extinct early line of hominins that lived nearly half a million years ago. Since modern humans share common ancestry with these hominins and hibernating primates, it is likely the human genome encodes the necessary genetic information to hibernate, or at least enter the similar, more transient state of torpor. The reduced body activity, lowered metabolism, and decreased energy requirements that characterize torpor suggest that developing means of inducing such a state in astronauts could address these challenges, including providing a degree of radioprotection. SUMMARY: This review explores the potential application of human torpor as a countermeasure to address the many challenges posed by long-duration spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO), discusses various natural hibernating model systems for studying means of inducing a torpor-like state in humans, and highlights the vast potential of using human organoids to test and validate mechanisms that govern induction and maintenance of torpor to identify the means to one day safely induce this state in astronauts to provide additional protection from the myriad stressors of spaceflight.

Astronaut Health↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of a Web-Based Educational eHealth Platform on Women's Health Literacy About Phthalate Exposure: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Phthalates are environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals widely used in plastics, cosmetics, food packaging, and personal care products. Women may experience frequent exposure through everyday consumer and household products. Improving phthalate-related health literacy may support informed exposure-reduction decisions; however, conventional health education provides limited opportunities for repeated, interactive, and individually tailored learning. OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of an eHealth educational intervention (Phthalates Free) in improving women's overall and domain-specific phthalate-related health literacy and examined the association between platform engagement and health literacy outcomes. METHODS: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in the outpatient department of a regional teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. A total of 114 women were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=58) receiving a 6-month eHealth platform-based education program and a control group (n=56) receiving conventional paper-based education. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2). The Phthalate Health Literacy Scale (10 items; α=.90, content validity index=0.93) measured overall and domain-specific literacy (health care, disease prevention, and health promotion). Longitudinal outcomes were analyzed using generalized estimating equations based on all available observations according to participants' original randomized assignments, with adjustment for waist circumference and pregnancy history. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare 6-month outcomes after adjustment for baseline scores. Platform engagement and perceived usability were assessed using back-end analytics and the System Usability Scale (SUS). RESULTS: At 6 months, the intervention group showed a significantly greater increase in total health literacy than the control group (+9.93 points, Wald χ²1=17.74; P<.001). Domain analyses revealed significant improvements in health care (+1.52; P=.001), disease prevention (+1.32; P=.001), and health promotion (+1.12; P=.001) domains. ANCOVA confirmed the between-group difference at T2 after adjusting for baseline scores (F1,109=11.43; P=.001; adjusted mean difference=7.15, 95% CI 2.96-11.34). Engagement analysis showed that high-engagement users (n=10) scored significantly higher in overall health literacy (t55=-3.00; P=.004) and all domains than general users. The SUS results (mean 84.7, SD 5.2; n=46, 79.3%) indicated high perceived usability. CONCLUSIONS: The Phthalates Free eHealth educational intervention significantly improved women's overall and domain-specific health literacy over 6 months. Higher platform engagement was associated with better health literacy outcomes. The intervention may serve as a practical adjunct to nurse-led education in outpatient and community settings by providing accessible, continuous, and evidence-based guidance on reducing phthalate exposure.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Trade-offs in avian parental care: a review of theory and meta-analysis of brood size manipulations.

The selective forces shaping parental care have been studied for over 50 years. While theoretical and experimental work has yielded qualitative progress, the large body of empirical work testing predictions about parental investment based on life-history trade-offs has yet to be synthesized. We first provide an overview of the core life-history theory exploring how selection might shape parental care. We then conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies that experimentally manipulated brood size in birds, a widely used experimental approach to manipulate parental investment. We extracted 313 estimates from 62 studies representing 31 species of birds from 19 different families and tested key predictions on trade-offs in parental care derived from theory. Our analysis provides strong support for some predictions about life-history trade-offs in parental care, but weak or equivocal support for others. Specifically, we found that overall, avian parents respond to brood size manipulations as predicted by life-history theory: they increased care in response to brood enlargement, and decreased care in response to brood reductions. Furthermore, for the same relative manipulation size, responses to brood reductions were greater than responses to brood enlargements. This finding is consistent with predictions derived from life-history theory based on some types of non-linear utility curves. However, many predictions derived from theory are not well supported by our comparative analysis. Species' life-history traits such as clutch size (a measure of current reproduction), adult survival, and broods per year (two measures of future reproduction), explained little, if any, among-species variation in response to brood size manipulations. Several factors may explain this. We highlight that brood size manipulations may affect more than just perception of the value of current reproduction, such as altering parents' perception of predation risk. Importantly, these unintended consequences could lead to asymmetric responses like those we observed. Other common experimental approaches - such as hormone manipulations, altering a partner's effort, and food supplementation - often affect multiple traits or fitness components simultaneously, or may involve cues that poorly match the evolved mechanisms guiding parental behaviour. Our review of both theory and experimental approaches suggests that there are multiple opportunities for more precise experiments. We offer several recommendations for effective designs. One is improved understanding of the biology underlying the functions relating to costs and benefits, with careful consideration of not only how the manipulation will affect only one of those, but also the mechanisms that might alter how parents perceive the manipulation. We also emphasize general principles, such as assessing alternative hypotheses and devising multiple independent tests. Armed with these recommendations, we believe there are new opportunities to increase the strength of inference achieved from studies aimed at understanding the trade-offs affecting the evolution of parental care.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Community-tailored One Health educational intervention to enhance knowledge and practices for zoonotic disease prevention in rural Thailand: A protocol for a prospective cluster randomised controlled Trial in Chanthaburi, Thailand (Saan Suk trial).

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic infectious disease risk arises at human-animal-environment interfaces where pathogen spillover can occur. Rural communities living in biodiverse settings may experience frequent contact with wildlife and shared environments through livelihoods, food practices, and economic activities. Reducing spillover risk and strengthening pandemic prevention requires both structural and individual-level change. Community-based interventions that promote awareness, risk perception, self-efficacy, pro-environmental behaviour, and safe coexistence with wildlife may support prevention by shifting behavioural determinants of zoonotic disease risk. The Saan Suk intervention was co-developed with rural communities in Thailand using a Human-Centred Design approach and is grounded in the Health Belief Model and One Health principles. The intervention is intended to be feasible, acceptable, and deliverable through Thailand's established Village Health Volunteer (VHV) system. METHODS: This protocol describes a parallel-arm, cluster-randomised controlled superiority trial that will be conducted during July - October 2026, in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. 24 villages will be equally randomised to the Saan Suk intervention or the current practice (control). In intervention villages, trained VHVs will deliver, once a week over four weeks, a multimodal One Health educational intervention designed to improve knowledge of zoonotic spillover, promote protective behaviours, reduce risky wildlife-related contacts, and support respectful coexistence with wildlife. Trained outcome assessment teams will conduct structured interviews with 42 adult participants per village, yielding a total sample size of 1,008 participants. The sample size was calculated for the primary outcome, accounting for clustering, with 90% power to detect a medium effect size (6 points on the 0-100 knowledge scale) at a significance level of 0.05, accounting for a design effect with an ICC of 0.028. The primary outcome is knowledge of zoonotic spillover, transmission pathways, risk factors, protective and risky behaviours, and safe coexistence with wildlife. Secondary outcomes include attitudes, self-efficacy, preventive and risky behaviours, and reported contacts with major local reservoir hosts. A structured questionnaire was developed, expert-reviewed, and piloted for the outcome assessment. Outcomes will be analysed using mixed-effects regression models with random effects for village and adjustment for relevant pre-specified confounders. Primary analyses will follow the intention-to-treat principle. DISCUSSION: This trial will evaluate whether a co-designed, VHV-delivered One Health educational programme can improve knowledge of zoonotic disease prevention and behavioural determinants in rural communities living in close contact with wildlife and shared ecosystems. If effective and feasible, Saan Suk could inform integration into routine VHV training and community-based zoonotic disease and pandemic prevention strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Saan Suk trial is registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS). Registration ID: DRKS00038582; date of registration: 11 May 2026.

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