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PubMed2026

Chinese herbal medicine Xiangsu Hewei Granules in treating non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease with liver stomach stagnation heat syndrome: A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Xiangsu Hewei Granules are an herbal preparation that has shown potential for controlling symptoms of nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD) in preliminary studies. However, high-quality randomized controlled evidence for its use in NERD remains lacking. AIM: To verify the efficacy and safety of Xiangsu Hewei Granules in treating NERD with liver stomach stagnation heat syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase III trial included 480 patients (aged 18-65 years) with confirmed NERD (GerdQ≥8; negative H. pylori) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) liver stomach stagnation heat syndrome. Patients were randomized 3:1 to receive either Xiangsu Hewei Granules or placebo, thrice daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes were the effective rate of the response based on visual analog scale (VAS) scores for heartburn and acid regurgitation at week 8. The secondary outcomes included reductions in the TCM syndrome score, etc. RESULTS: 479 participants (mean age 48.5 years, SD10.2; 54.3% female) entered the full analysis set and safety set (360 tests group; 119 control group, 1 participant in the control group withdrawing before medication). At week 8, compared with the control group, the test group demonstrated significantly better effective rate of VAS score response for heartburn(76.39% vs 21.01%, 95% CI 55.38 (45.98, 62.94) %, p < 0.01),acid regurgitation (79.72% vs 23.53%, 95% CI56.39 (46.90, 64.12) %, p < 0.01), and TCM syndrome score (69.23% vs 30.13%, p < 0.01) at week 8. CONCLUSION: In this selected population of NERD patients with liver-stomach stagnation heat syndrome (e.g., negative H. pylori, no pH-impedance phenotype, and low anxiety/depression scores), Xiangsu Hewei Granules demonstrated efficacy and safety in improving heartburn, acid regurgitation, and TCM syndrome scores. However, generalizability to the broader NERD population and its comparative effectiveness against standard proton pump inhibitor therapy require further investigation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Recent advances in supramolecular macrocycle-based artificial light-harvesting systems.

Artificial light-harvesting systems (ALHSs) inspired by the antenna function of natural photosynthesis provide molecular platforms for collecting excitation energy and directing it to emissive or reactive acceptors. In many supramolecular ALHSs, however, practical performance is limited by poorly defined donor-acceptor orientation, aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), interfacial defects, and limited stability in aqueous or complex media. Supramolecular macrocycles-particularly pillar[n]arenes (PAs), cucurbit[n]urils (CBs), calixarenes (CAs), cyclodextrins (CDs), and supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs)-offer a useful design space because their cavities, pre-organized scaffolds, and reversible non-covalent interactions can confine chromophores, tune local donor/acceptor ratios, and modulate Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). This Review systematically examines the unique structural advantages and assembly mechanisms of the five macrocyclic families, with an emphasis on their use in constructing ALHSs-from single-step to cascaded FRET-and in advancing aqueous photocatalysis, near-infrared bioimaging, panchromatic fluorescence modulation, and singlet oxygen generation. The resulting structure-property-application framework is intended to guide the rational design of macrocycle-assisted photofunctional materials while avoiding overextension of the photosynthesis analogy.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Chalcone-indole hybrid scaffolds as promising anticancer drug candidates: a mini-review.

Cancer treatment is hampered by severe systemic side effects, poor tumor selectivity, and multidrug resistance (MDR). Molecular hybridization integrates chalcone and indole, two privileged antitumor pharmacophores, into one scaffold to generate chalcone-indole hybrids that synergistically enhance antitumor potency, improve tumor targeting, and reverse MDR. This mini-review analyzes literature from 2020 to 2026 on chalcone-indole anticancer hybrids. Based on structural modification patterns, the reported hybrids are categorized into four subgroups: simple substituted, α/β-position modified, N-1 fatty acid-substituted, and multi-pharmacophore fused hybrids. For each category, we summarize structure-activity relationships (SARs), antiproliferative activity, selective toxicity, molecular mechanisms, and in vivo xenograft performance. Most lead compounds exert tumor-suppressive effects via tubulin polymerization inhibition, G2/M cell cycle arrest, ROS overaccumulation, and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. Representative hybrids 10a, 12a, 21a, and 25a exhibit remarkable efficacy against drug-resistant colorectal, lung, and breast tumors with favorable in vivo safety. We highlight the application potential of different subtypes for specific malignancies, including α/β-modified analogues for resistant colorectal cancer, N-1 fatty acid-platinum conjugates for platinum-resistant lung cancer, NLRP3 inhibitor 7a for oral cancer, and multi-pharmacophore fused derivatives for broad-spectrum activity. Current bottlenecks limiting clinical transformation are discussed. This review provides structural design rules for developing novel chalcone-indole targeted anticancer agents.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Glycerophospholipid remodeling under osmotic stress in grass carp gills.

Salinity fluctuations represent a pervasive environmental challenge for freshwater fishes, yet the cellular and metabolic programs governing early osmoregulatory responses remain understudied. Here, we investigated the time-dependent gill responses of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) subjected to an acute, sublethal salinity increase 9 parts per thousand (ppt). Histological and biochemical analyses revealed progressive gill lesions accompanied by elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lipid peroxidation, indicating rapid tissue injury under osmotic stress. Integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic profiling uncovered pronounced temporal reprogramming, consistently highlighting glycerophospholipid metabolism as a central axis of response. In particular, phosphatidylcholine (PC) species exhibited dynamic remodeling, coupled with transcriptional enrichment of lipid turnover, membrane transport, and innate immune pathways. Network-based integration identified a PC-centered remodeling module characterized by accelerated PC headgroup turnover, disruption of the PLA2-LPCAT2 lyso-PC reacylation cycle, and enhanced ABC transporter-associated lipid and sterol export, reflected by cholesteryl sulfate accumulation and a shifted n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid-derived oxylipin signature. Functional assays further demonstrated that PC and linoleic acid (LA) supplementation improved cell viability and alleviated oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory signaling in grass carp cells under salinity challenge. Collectively, these findings reveal phospholipid-centered membrane remodeling as an early, integrative mechanism linking osmotic stress to gill injury and immune activation in freshwater fish, providing insights into potential strategies of environmental stress adaptation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Mechanistic Insights Into the Association Between Gut Microbiota Diversity and Atherosclerosis, Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Peripheral Arterial Disease Progression.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome has emerged as a potential contributor to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). While observational studies link dysbiosis to CVD, causal relationships remain uncertain. METHODS: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from human observational studies, clinical interventions, and experimental models to distinguish association from mechanistic plausibility and clinical causality. Literature was searched through July 2026 in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus. RESULTS: Microbial metabolites-including trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-modulate endothelial function, immune cell programming, platelet activity, and plaque stability through receptor-mediated signaling and epigenetic regulation. SCFAs demonstrate potentially protective effects via GPCR and HDAC pathways, while TMAO is associated with atherothrombotic risk. However, much mechanistic evidence derives from preclinical studies. Heterogeneity from diet, geography, host characteristics, renal function, and medications substantially influences microbiota-CVD associations. CONCLUSION: The gut-vascular connection is biologically plausible, but definitive clinical causality remains unproven. Microbiome-directed therapies (dietary modulation, pre/pro/synbiotics, targeted metabolite inhibition) are investigational. Prospective, standardized, adequately powered human studies with clinically meaningful outcomes are essential before routine cardiovascular application.

Gastrointestinal Microbiome↗

PubMed2026

The Complete Mitochondrial Genome of a Newly Recorded Chinese Species of Diglyphus sabulosus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Insights into Its Phylogenetic Position.

Diglyphus Walker, 1844 is an economically important genus which many species acting as biocontrol agents against agromyzid leafminer pests, but there is a lack of mitogenomic data on the evolutionary relationships within this genus, hindering a comprehensive understanding of its evolutionary history. We used traditional morphological methods to identify species, and present the first complete mitochondrial genome sequence and characterization of features of Diglyphus sabulosus and further infer its phylogenetic position based on the amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). The complete mitochondrial genome of D. sabulosus is 15,690 bp in length, including 13 PCGs, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and a control region. The AT content of the whole genome sequence was 81.0%, indicating a significant AT bias. All protein-coding genes have the typical ATN as the start codon and TAA as the stop codon. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the amino acid sequences of 13 PCGs revealed that all species within the family Eulophidae constituted a monophyletic clade, supporting the monophyly of this family. D. sabulosus and D. poppoea form a well-supported sister group, representing the species with the closest phylogenetic relationship within the analyzed taxa. In this study, the mitogenome structure was analyzed and the taxonomic status of D. sabulosus was clarified, thus providing a theoretical basis for understanding the phylogenetic relationships of Diglyphus.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

How do we counsel patients on short- and long-term complications after hypospadias repair? - A survey study.

INTRODUCTION: Hypospadias correction remains one of the most performed pediatric urologic procedures, affecting up to 1/150 males born in the United States. Current studies suggest that surgical counseling has a significant impact on shared decision making, decisional regret, and long-term follow-up. However, no set paradigm currently exists for long-term follow-up or counseling. We sought to obtain consensus from established pediatric urologists the optimal content and potential short, intermediate, and long-term complications to be considered when counseling patients and parents of patients with hypospadias. METHODS: We conducted an IRB-approved survey study, which sampled the responses of Pediatric Urologists from National and International listservs. A google scholar search was performed using key words including "hypospadias" and "long-term complications." Descriptions of pertinent short, intermediate and long-term complications were identified and compiled from existing patient handouts. Survey items were then developed asking respondents to rate proposed descriptions, provide potential edits, and describe their overall approach to counseling. RESULTS: A total of 290 surgeons were contacted with 120 (41 %) responding. In total, 89 respondents (74 %) identified as male and 105 (88 %) had undergone a pediatric urology fellowship. Most surgeons described a reliance on verbal counseling (95 %) with the assistance of hand-drawn diagrams (75 %) to explain long-term care, rather than electronic or audiovisual materials (3-12 %). Of note, fewer surgeons endorsed routine discussion of long-term complications (Range 29.2 %-50.8 %) than shorter-term complications (56.7 %-89.2 %). On a Likert scale, physicians reported that they were mostly satisfied (72 %) with their current approaches to counseling. DISCUSSION: Perioperative counseling has an important yet often overlooked role in surgical care. The aim of this study was to better understand current counseling practices in pediatric hypospadias to identify gaps in urologic care and areas for improvement as one of the most common conditions treated by pediatric urologists. Our results suggest that surgeons who perform hypospadias repairs have potential to include more comprehensive discussion during post-operative follow-up. We proposed a preliminary counselling guide for these concerns which incorporates language from the most commonly selected complication description by survey respondents. Future studies will involve expert consensus and patient input to confirm the adequacy of the content, the method of delivery, content appearance, and accommodations for health literacy. Limitations of the study include small sample size and response bias. The results are reflective of the summed responses of participants and are not reflective of individual providers or practices. Importantly, this study omits the input of other advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners, physician assistants, etc.), nurses, and ancillary staff who are also crucial to hypospadias care. The proposed counseling guide represents a first attempt at creating standardization of hypospadias counseling. CONCLUSION: Surgeons who perform hypospadias repair do not routinely discuss long-term complications after repair, though are overall satisfied with their counseling practices. Better tools, such as improved multimodal counseling guides, could be used to deliver this counseling efficiently and accurately to ensure patients receive optimal long-term care. Future studies will focus on developing educational materials for short, intermediate, and long-term counseling on complications after hypospadias repair with input from patients and clinicians.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Optimizing eco-engineering pedogenesis of bauxite residues: Synergistic effects of humus and FeSO4/sulfur on microbial community and function.

Eco-engineered pedogenesis represents a promising approach for soil amelioration of bauxite residues (BRs) through exogenous organic matter. However, the role of humus in mediating this process remains poorly understood, significantly impeding the eco-engineering rehabilitation of BRs. In this study, we conducted pot experiments and subsequent microbial analysis to evaluate the individual improvement of humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and corn straw (SWZ) on the BRs' pedogenesis. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that both FA and SWZ were more effective than HA in steering microbial community assembly, as community diversity, dominant taxa enrichment, and species' interaction were all significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the FA/SWZ treatments than in HA treatments. Notably, the combination of FA with FeSO4 specifically enriched halophilic taxa, while FA coupled with sulfur (S) significantly improved the connectivity and complexity of the microbial network, as the average connection degree increasing from 1.008 to 1.113. Hydrolytic enzyme activity assays further indicated that FA, especially when combined with S, was the most effective treatment in restoring microbial function during BR pedogenesis. These findings highlight FA as a critical driver of microbial restructuring and functional recovery in BRs. Moreover, its efficacy can be enhanced by co-amendment with FeSO4 or S. This study provides important theoretical and practical insights for optimizing organic-inorganic amendment strategies to accelerate the eco-engineering pedogenesis of bauxite residues.

Humic Substances↗

PubMed2025

Uncovering parental exposure risks of TCPP: Impaired development and metabolic homeostasis in zebrafish offspring.

As brominated flame retardants are phased out, tris (1‑chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), a phosphorus-based flame retardant, has emerged as a prominent detectable flame retardant in the environment. However, TCPP has been found to exhibit endocrine-disrupting effects on organisms, raising significant safety concerns. In our study, we utilized the zebrafish model to explore the toxic effects of parental TCPP exposure on offspring and uncover its regulatory mechanisms through metabolomics analysis. Moreover, the impact on the nervous system and lipid metabolism was examined through behavioral analysis and specific staining. Our findings demonstrated that both embryonic and parental TCPP exposure induced developmental disorders in larvae, along with decreased locomotor activity and disordered lipid metabolism homeostasis. Parental exposure to TCPP, exhibiting stronger developmental toxicity than direct embryonic exposure, notably led to reductions in crucial energy substrates such as amino acids and carbohydrates. Meanwhile, embryonic TCPP exposure primarily affected the endogenous lipid-related metabolites including phospholipids, lipid-soluble vitamins, steroids and fatty acids, promoting lipid accumulation in larval liver and subcutaneous tissue. What's more, continuously parental and embryonic exposure showed the most pronounced effects on zebrafish development and metabolic regulation. Our study highlights the risk posed by parental exposure to TCPP on offspring zebrafish, underscoring the need for comprehensive consideration of the impact from parental exposure in pollutants regulation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals heterogeneous stress responses and Mg2+-mediated survival mechanisms in Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus during freeze-drying and storage.

Maintaining the viability of lactic acid bacteria during dehydration and subsequent storage remains a significant challenge. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal the heterogeneous stress responses of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, identifying seven distinct transcriptional clusters across the liquid culture, freeze-drying, and storage phases. The dominant clusters in the freeze-drying and storage were not completely consistent, showing significant functional differentiation. Genomic stability may be important for survival during freeze-drying and storage, while intracellular energy homeostasis appears important for viability during storage. The magnesium transporter mgtB was highly expressed in clusters tolerant to freeze-drying and storage, suggesting a critical role for Mg2+ homeostasis. Further experimental validation confirmed that Mg2+ treatment significantly bolstered stress resistance, increasing immediate post-freeze-drying survival by over 2-fold (up to 92.90%) and post-storage survival by over 5-fold (up to 5.98%). Proteomic data indicated that Mg2+ supplementation correlated with the maintenance of several biological functions potentially relevant to bacterial survival during freeze-drying and storage, including DNA repair, translation, and central carbon metabolism. These findings provide a map of microbial stress resistance through population heterogeneity and offer a potential strategy that may be adapted for enhancing the stability of other industrial lactic acid bacteria products.

Freeze Drying↗

PubMed2026

Unraveling a Diagnostic Enigma: A TECPR2 Case Solved Through Multi-Omic Genomics.

TECPR2 is a key regulator of autophagy, encoded by the TECPR2 gene. Pathogenic variants in this gene have been linked to a rare hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy with intellectual disability (HSAN9). We report a teenage female with a syndromic intellectual disability disorder associated with neuromuscular abnormalities. Multi-omics analysis including genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, together with muscle biopsy from the affected individual, were used in this clinical case. Through trio exome sequencing we identified two heterozygous variants in the TECPR2 gene, NM_014844.4: c.480G>A; p.(Gln160=) and c.2846C>A; p.(Ala949Glu). Both were classified as variants of uncertain significance due to the lack of supporting evidence for pathogenicity. Subsequent long-read sequencing phased the variants and confirmed they were in trans. Additional functional studies using RNAseq and proteomics analyses verified the pathogenicity of the variants. This case study demonstrated the value of a multi-omics assisted analysis, which complemented the traditional phenotype-first approach in reaching a definitive clinical diagnosis.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Protein profiling and GC-MS product analysis provide insights into lignite solubilization and bioconversion by Lysinibacillus sphaericus strain SH19.

Lignite biosolubilization offers a mild route for valorizing low-rank coal, although the microbial processes that accompany solubilization remain incompletely defined. Here, an endogenous isolate designated Lysinibacillus sphaericus strain SH19 was evaluated using nitric-acid-pretreated Shengli lignite. Under the selected working conditions (4 M nitric-acid pretreatment, initial pH 8, 40°C, and 16 days), the apparent solubilization rate reached 66.81%. Changes in A450, residual solid mass, culture pH, and extracellular protein concentration showed that chemical pretreatment and bacterial culture were both associated with the release of soluble lignite-derived material. SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed treatment-associated differences in extracellular and intracellular protein patterns. LC-MS/MS analysis of excised protein spots yielded 85 candidate protein assignments; the revised supplementary table reports PEAKS scores, sequence coverage, peak area, and unique-peptide counts and highlights the limited support for several entries. GC-MS analysis produced 33 tentative library assignments in the solubilized fraction, but siloxane- and silyl-related signals were treated as possible analytical background, and no pathway was inferred from these assignments alone. Together, the data identify strain SH19 as a promising lignite-biosolubilizing isolate and provide candidate proteins and product signals for future validation. The proposed process model remains exploratory because direct enzyme assays, inhibitor experiments, carbon-balance measurements, transcriptomic or genetic validation, complete GC-MS blank subtraction, and authentic-standard confirmation were not available.

Bacillaceae↗

PubMed2026

Workplace Safety Champions: Strengthening safety culture through nurse engagement.

Workplace violence is a growing concern in health care, disproportionately affecting frontline nurses and nursing assistants. Despite high prevalence, underreporting remains a barrier to effective prevention and response. This article describes the development, implementation, and outcomes of a Workplace Safety Champion program designed to increase reporting of violent incidents and strengthen a culture of safety. A multidisciplinary task force developed an evidence-based Workplace Safety Champion course that emphasizes de-escalation strategies, reporting processes, and staff support. Champions were appointed across inpatient and emergency units and integrated into a hospital-wide Workplace Safety Champion Council. Program evaluation used course completion data and posttraining surveys. The organizational goal of having at least one trained champion in 90% of inpatient and emergency units was exceeded, with 98% of units represented (N = 93 champions). More than 85% of learners reported intent to change their response to workplace violence, and 90% endorsed improved knowledge of resources and de-escalation strategies. The Workplace Safety Champion program successfully improved staff awareness, reporting, and engagement in workplace violence prevention. Embedding champions across units can serve as a sustainable strategy to strengthen safety culture and support frontline health care workers.

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

Enhancement of secondary organic aerosol formation from isoprene photooxidation by ammonia.

Ammonia (NH3) can participate in atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation by reacting with organic acids and carbonyl compounds in particle phase, but its influence on the gas phase chemistry remains unclear. This study performed a series of smog chamber experiments to investigate the influence of NH3 on the formation of SOA from isoprene photooxidation by OH radicals. Both gas and particle phase products were measured with a series of state-of- art instruments including a nitrate ion chemical ionization mass spectrometer (nitrate-CIMS) and high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-TOF-AMS). Our results showed that in the presence of NH3 SOA in the chamber significantly increased, along with an enhanced oxidation of isoprene. CIMS analysis further showed that NH3 in the chamber homogeneously reacts not only with gas-phase organic acids but also with gaseous low volatility oxygenated organic molecules (OOMs) to generate extremely low volatility and ultralow volatility NH3-OOMs clusters. Quantum chemical calculation showed that NH3 can spontaneously interact with OOMs to form NH3-OOMs clusters by forming hydrogen bonds with RCOOH, R-OOH, and R-OH. These clusters can promote new particles formation and particle growth through nucleation and condensation, directly enhancing the isoprene SOA production with a contribution of 78% to the enhanced SOA. Moreover, the formation of NH3-OOMs clusters also results in more isoprene consumed by OH radicals, indirectly increasing the SOA production with a contribution of 22 % to the enhanced SOA. Our work for the first time clarified a synergetic effect of NH3 on isoprene SOA formation, which should be accounted for by models.

Aerosols↗

PubMed2026

The gut microbiota-obesity axis in the pathogenesis and prognosis of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) remains a major global health concern, accounting for 11.7% of all cancer cases and ranking as the second leading cause of female cancer-related deaths worldwide. Increasing evidence highlights the interplay between gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis and obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction in BC progression. This review aims to elucidate the role of GM in obese patients with BC. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases for publications from July 2015 to January 2025. Search terms combined BC, GM, obesity, dysbiosis, immunity, and microbiome. Article selection prioritized studies investigating microbial alterations in BC patients, mechanistic links between obesity and cancer progression, and GM-targeted interventions. Both original studies and authoritative reviews were included, supplemented by manual reference screening. DISCUSSION: Obesity may trigger systemic inflammation, altered adipokine secretion, and disrupted steroid hormone metabolism via gut-derived β-glucuronidase activity, thereby exacerbating BC occurrence and recurrence. GM dysbiosis-driven metabolites such as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can activate oncogenic signaling pathways and immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), fostering tumor immune evasion. Conversely, dietary interventions, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can alleviate dysbiosis, strengthen gut barriers, and restore anti-tumor immunity, improving chemotherapy response and reducing recurrence. However, challenges persist in deciphering BC subtype-related microbial signatures and optimizing microbiota-targeted therapies. CONCLUSION: Future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causal relationships, validate microbial biomarkers, and translate preclinical findings into clinical applications. Addressing the gut-breast axis may offer transformative potential for precision oncology in obesity-driven BC.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Influencer-driven lifestyle and wellness framing of intoxicating hemp products may normalize youth cannabis use.

Hemp-derived intoxicating cannabis products (DICPs) have rapidly expanded across the U.S. marketplace and are increasingly promoted on social media platforms popular among youth. This commentary highlights emerging concerns about influencer-driven DICP promotion on Instagram, where intoxicating hemp and cannabis products are embedded within lifestyle, wellness, fitness, sobriety, harm-reduction, and entertainment narratives. In ongoing monitoring of Instagram posts from leading DICP brands, we observed influencer posts that featured young-looking creators, aspirational wellness imagery, humor, slang, fast-cut editing, mocktail-making scenes, and claims positioning DICPs as "hangover-free," safer, or substitutes for alcohol or other drug use. Such content may reduce perceived risk, increase product appeal, and normalize cannabis use, particularly when promotional posts resemble organic (non-promotional) peer-culture content rather than advertising. Existing platform guidelines and regulatory approaches may inadequately address this form of influencer marketing. Enforcement is more actionable when sponsorship is clearly disclosed; however, influencers often omit brand sponsorship disclosures entirely or use vague disclosures. The absence of a disclosure does not necessarily mean that a post is non-promotional. Platforms should develop policies and algorithm-assisted surveillance approaches that identify DICP influencer content using youth-oriented cues, lifestyle and wellness framing, brand tags or links, and unverified reduced-risk or therapeutic claims.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Integrative machine learning and transcriptomic analysis reveals molecular mechanisms underlying low survival rate in larval Chinese Bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis).

Chinese Bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis) is a Class I protected marine fish endemic to China. Low larvae survival during artificial breeding severely hinder population recovery. To investigate the molecular mechanism of high mortality in larval fish, this study performed RNA-seq on liver from naturally deceased (ND) and mass-dead (MD) individuals, combined with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and random forest (RF) algorithms to screen for core signature genes. A total of 873 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 112 upregulated and 761 downregulated genes. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed significant enrichment in amino acid metabolism disorders, one‑carbon folate pool impairment, PPAR signaling abnormalities, ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion pathway, indicating widespread metabolic suppression accompanied by extracellular matrix remodeling and signaling disturbances in the livers of MD fish. MAD pre-filtering combined with dual machine learning algorithms yielded 18 robust core signature genes, among which SLC38A4, MMP1, FADD, FKBP5, and APOB were consistently identified as high-frequency core genes by both algorithms. SLC38A4 exhibited the highest importance score in the RF model and was significantly downregulated, making it the primary molecule distinguishing ND from MD phenotypes. ROC curve analysis showed that both models achieved an AUC of 1.000 (95% CI lower bound: 0.610), confirming the precise discriminatory ability of the core genes. GSEA further demonstrated significant enrichment of this core gene set in ND samples. This study provides the first systematic elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying liver dysfunction in low survival rate B. taipingensis, characterized by amino acid transport impairment, metabolic reprogramming, and structural remodeling, offering theoretical foundations for health assessment, early mortality risk warning, and artificial breeding conservation of this species.

Animals↗