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PubMed2026

Associations Between Paternal Pre-Conceptional Body Mass Index and Lifestyle Factors and Offspring Weight Development.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that pre-conceptional paternal factors, including BMI and diet, may influence offspring development. OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations between paternal BMI, dietary protein intake, glycemic index (GI), smoking and alcohol consumption and offspring development during the first 5 years of life. METHODS: This secondary analysis of an RCT included 162 father-child pairs from pregnancies among women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity. Paternal characteristics were reported at gestational week 15, reflecting the preceding 3 months. Offspring anthropometry was measured at birth, 6 and 18 months, 3 and 5 years. Associations were examined using linear mixed models and linear regression models. RESULTS: No consistent associations were found between paternal characteristics and offspring outcomes from birth to 3 years. At age 5, higher paternal BMI was associated with higher offspring BMI z-score (β = 0.07 (CI: 0.03; 0.10)), fat mass index (β = 0.07 kg/m2 (CI: 0.02; 0.12)) and fat-free mass index (β = 0.05 kg/m2 (CI: 0.01; 0.08)). Lower paternal protein intake was associated with higher offspring BMI z-score (β = 0.54 (CI: 0.07; 1.01)) and fat-free mass index (β = 0.60 kg/m2 (CI: 0.13; 1.07)), while moderately higher protein intake was associated with higher waist-to-height ratio (β = 0.03 (CI: 3.00 × 10-3; 0.05)). Higher paternal GI was associated with lower offspring BMI z-score (β = -0.04 (CI: -0.08; -2.14-10-3)) at age 5. Smoking and alcohol were not associated with offspring outcomes. CONCLUSION: Paternal BMI was associated with offspring outcomes at age 5 years, while findings for paternal dietary factors were less consistent.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Bioepidemiology of cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac amyloidosis, primarily due to immunoglobulin light chain (AL) or transthyretin (ATTR) amyloid, is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure. Modern diagnostic advances suggest that ATTR, particularly in older adults, may be more prevalent than historically reported. METHODS: All Olmsted County decedents aged ≥40 years from 1970 to 1976 were identified. Available ventricular myocardium from retained paraffin blocks was screened histologically for amyloid using sulfated Alcian blue staining; positive cases underwent grading and proteomic typing by laser microdissection coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Beyond prevalence estimation, this analysis characterizes amyloid type, deposition grade and distribution, associated comorbidities, and cause-of-death patterns, comparing amyloid-positive decedents with age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Of 2,566 eligible deaths, 1,028 autopsy cases with evaluable myocardium formed the study cohort (mean age 70.5 years; 61.1% male; 97% White). Cardiac amyloid was present in 52 cases giving an overall prevalence of 5.1% (95% CI: 3.8-6.6, which rose from 0% under age 60 to 37.5% (95% CI: 21.1-56.3) in those ≥90 years (p < 0.001). While prevalence estimates were higher in men above age 80 compared to women, there was no evidence of an interaction of age and sex (p = 0.90). The quantity of amyloid was sufficient for typing in 38 cases: ATTR (84.2%), AL (7.9%), serum amyloid A (5.3%), and apolipoprotein A-IV (2.6%). Adjusted estimates assuming untyped mild cases were ATTR-type increased ATTR prevalence to 4.5% (95% CI: 3.3-5.9) overall. Comorbidity profiles were similar between amyloid-positive and negative groups, though syncope and leg weakness were more common in amyloid-positive decedents. CONCLUSIONS: In an unselected autopsy cohort, cardiac amyloid was common, particularly ATTR in older adults. Prevalence increased steeply after age 80. These findings suggest that ATTR amyloidosis is not rare and is likely underdiagnosed and has similar prevalence in women and men, despite the male predominance reported in the literature.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The gonadal matrisome and its correlation with sex change in the ricefield eel Monopterus albus.

The matrisome is a comprehensive list of genes in the genome of an organism, which encodes proteins constituting or interacting with the extracellular matrix (ECM). The gonadal ECM is important for folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. This study characterized the composition of the matrisome and the expression of matrisome genes in the gonad of ricefield eel, a protogynous sex-changing teleost, during sex change. A total of 838 matrisome genes were identified in the genome of ricefield eel through an in-silico orthology-based approach, of which 482, 443, 429, and 570 matrisome genes were shown to be expressed in the gonads of female (F), early intersexual (EI), mid-intersexual (MI), and late intersexual (LI) fish, respectively. Differentially expressed matrisome genes (DEMGs) were observed across all the sexual stages as well as in each category of ECM components. Analysis of DEMGs in the comparison between EI and F revealed dramatic upregulation of adam8a, mmp9, and s100a11 while downregulation of col4a5, col15a1b, clec3ba, f13a1, and ccl44, which were further confirmed by qPCR analysis. Together, these findings revealed significant changes in the expression of many matrisome genes, particularly three regulator genes, adam8a, mmp9 and f13a1, as female ricefield eels initiate sex change, suggesting that gonadal tissues undergo dramatic remodeling involving the regression of ovarian tissues and the development of testicular tissues to facilitate this process. These data provide valuable resources for further unraveling the roles of matrisome genes in gonadal development of ricefield eel and other vertebrates.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Ablative radiotherapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To prove the oncological benefit of ablative radiotherapy in patients with up to five metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) a single-centre randomised trial was initiated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This monocentric, randomised, phase II clinical trial enrolled patients with up to five prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive bone or lymph node metastases developing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression during androgen deprivation (ADT) or ADT and androgen-receptor targeted therapy. Participants were randomised (2:1) to receive metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) or observation (OBS) without changing systemic therapy. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients having PSA progression within 1 year, with statistical analyses conducted using intention-to-treat principles. Here, results of a planned interim analysis of the primary endpoint are reported. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients (12 in the observation arm and 18 in the MDT arm) were enrolled, PSA progression within 1 year occurred in 44% of the MDT group vs 75% in the OBS group (P = 0.14, not significant). The median time to PSA progression was significantly longer in the MDT arm (12.4 months) compared to the OBS arm (2.9 months, P = 0.03). The pre-defined criteria to discontinue the study were not met. Limitations include the single-centre design and small sample size at interim analysis. CONCLUSION: This pre-planned interim analysis of the primary endpoint did not meet the discontinuation criteria of the study protocol, suggesting that MDT in oligometastatic CRPC may extend the time to PSA progression without immediate change of systemic therapy. The continuation of the study in a multicentre setting is planned (Institutional funding by the TU Dresden, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04141709).

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A narrative review of what cohorts have taught us and how they have laid the foundation for much of our understanding of type 2 diabetes.

This narrative review provides a historical perspective on how observational research on type 2 diabetes has been developed and consolidated over the last 50 years and how well-designed cohort studies will provide us with knowledge for research and practice in the future and aid guideline development. We have included data from a large number of cohorts from every continent that have been used to study the development and/or progression of type 2 diabetes, including cohorts that are general population-based, disease-based, intervention-based and registry-based. We have structured the results from the past 50 years based on the following themes: diagnosis and screening, complications, risk factors and pathophysiology. We also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of observational research when compared with other research designs. Finally, we discuss the emerging and future directions for type 2 diabetes research using cohorts, which include novel developments, such as artificial intelligence, precision health and the exposome. We conclude that cohort research has significantly advanced our understanding of type 2 diabetes and aided guideline development, and complements experimental work, such as human randomised controlled trials and animal studies. Both approaches are essential and complementary in our pursuit to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the development and progression of type 2 diabetes, and to change dogma, practice and policies for better outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impact of renal dysfunction on immediate versus staged revascularization of non-culprit lesions in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: a pre-specified subgroup analysis of the randomized MULTISTARS AMI trial.

BACKGROUND: Renal dysfunction might affect outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: In MULTISTARS AMI, patients with STEMI and MVD were randomized to immediate or staged PCI of non-culprit lesions. In this pre-specified analysis, patients were stratified according to the presence of renal dysfunction at baseline, defined at an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Patients with an eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 were excluded from the trial. The primary endpoint was a composite of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, unplanned revascularization, or hospitalization for heart failure at 1 year. RESULTS: In MULTISTARS AMI, 108 (13%) of 832 patients had renal dysfunction. The primary endpoint occurred more frequently in patients with renal dysfunction (19.4% vs. 11.2%, unadjusted HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.13-2.94), primarily driven by higher rates of death. Among patients with renal dysfunction, the rates of the primary end point were 14.5% and 24.5% in the immediate and staged PCI groups (unadjusted HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.23-1.33). There was no interaction between renal dysfunction and the randomized treatment assignment with respect to the primary end point (adjusted HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.8-2.20, pint 0.82). The occurrence of acute renal insufficiency was statistically similar in patients with renal dysfunction who underwent immediate and staged PCI (10.9% vs. 18.9%, unadjusted HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.22-1.72, pint 0.09). Renal dysfunction at baseline emerged as a strong risk factor for the development of acute renal insufficiency (adjusted HR 5.0, 95% CI 2.30-10.70, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes with immediate compared to staged multivessel PCI did not appear significantly altered by the presence of renal dysfunction at baseline. (Supported by Boston Scientific; MULTISTARS AMI ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03135275).

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Lateral Femoral Condyle Angle Is an Anatomic Risk Factor for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Primary Injury and Secondary Graft Rerupture.

PURPOSE: To define the lateral femoral condylar angle (LFCA)-a parameter measuring condylar inclination-and assess its predictive capacity for primary and recurrent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. METHODS: Patients aged 18 to 50 years who underwent primary ACL reconstruction between 2017 and 2022 were screened. Those with graft rerupture were matched 1:1:1 by sex, age, body mass index, and meniscal status to ACL-intact controls and patients without graft failure during a minimum 48-month follow-up. LFCA was measured as the angle between the long axis of the distal femur and the axis of the lateral femoral condyle, alongside 38 established parameters using preoperative 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging scans. Intergroup differences were assessed with one-way analysis of variance; multivariate regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses identified independent predictors and evaluated predictive performance. RESULTS: The study included 540 patients (180 per group: primary ACL injury, rerupture, controls). One-way analysis of variance revealed a significant gradient in LFCA across controls (81.3°, 95% CI: 80.8-81.8°), primary injuries (81.9°, 95% CI: 81.5-82.3°), and reruptures (84.2°, 95% CI: 83.7-84.6°) (P < .001). In multivariate models adjusted for baseline factors, LFCA independently predicted primary injury (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.13-1.42, P < .001; area under the curve [AUC] = .576) and rerupture (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.21-1.76, P < .001; AUC = .704). Combined models incorporating LFCA with tibial slopes, notch angle, and notch height achieved an AUC of .847 for primary injury prediction, whereas models with LFCA, lateral condylar flexion curvature radius, slope asymmetry, and tibial AP distance reached an AUC of .817 for rerupture. LFCA alone with lateral condylar flexion curvature radius yielded an AUC of .777 for rerupture prediction. Sex-stratified analyses confirmed LFCA predicted rerupture in both male patients (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.19-1.75) and female patients (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.16-1.92), and primary injury in male patients (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.15-1.48). CONCLUSIONS: LFCA is an independent predictor of ACL injury, showing particular strength in identifying Asian patients at high risk for graft rerupture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case-control study.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Modelling peak microbial pollution events caused by combined sewer overflows in a source-to-sea system.

Predicting peak microbial pollution events in downstream coastal bathing waters caused by combined sewer overflows (CSOs) is essential for protecting public health. In urban areas, wastewater effluents, CSOs, and surface runoff can contribute to elevated microorganism loads to downstream waters. These pressures are likely to be intensified by growing population density and more frequent heavy rainfalls due to climate change. This study developed a process-based model to simulate Escherichia coli (E. coli) emissions, transport, and fate from the initial sources to coastal beaches. A three-year retrospective simulation (2017-2019) shows that E. coli concentrations in CSO discharges varied widely across the catchment (4.6 - 7.3 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)). 99th percentile E. coli concentrations (4.0 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)) at the inland water outlet were dominated by local CSO emissions, whereas 90th percentile E. coli concentrations (3.6 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)) reflected cumulative upstream contributions from both CSO and effluent emissions. With the simulation accuracy of 89%, the model reliably reproduced the E. coli dynamics on the downstream beach and showed strong performance in representing peak concentrations based on Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function (CCDF) analysis. The process-based model enables quantitative tracking of source contributions and identification of pollution hotspots, providing support for mitigation measures. The study lays down a source-to-sea modelling framework for representing pollution transport across the aquatic continuum and provides a transferable tool for microbial pollution forecasting and climate adaptation planning.

Climate projection↗

PubMed2026

Timeliness of publication of randomized controlled trials in rheumatology: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the (1) timeliness of publication of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in rheumatology, (2) impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on time to publication, and (3) factors associated with publication delays. METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase, EBM Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2023 for Phase 3, superiority, parallel-design RCTs that evaluated any treatment for a rheumatologic illness or a rheumatologic treatment for COVID-19 and reported clinical primary efficacy outcome. Outcomes of interest were time to publication after trial completion and publication delay of >2 years after trial completion. RESULTS: 448 RCTs were included in this systematic review. Median time from completion to publication was 549 days and 65.9 % RCTs were published within 2 years of completion. Compared with RCTs on rheumatologic diseases, RCTs on COVID-19 were published sooner (253 vs. 549 days; p < 0.001) and were more likely to be published within 2 years (adjusted OR 9.49, 95 % CI 2.07 to 43.61). Compared with RCTs completed before March 1, 2020, RCTs completed after March 1, 2020, were published sooner (327 vs. 724 days; p < 0.001) and were more likely to be published within 2 years (adjusted OR 9.40, 95 % CI 5.14 to 17.21). Time from RCT completion to submission accounted for most (67 %) of the time to publication. CONCLUSIONS: Publication delay continues to be an important concern in dissemination of clinical research. Most of the delays in publication were attributable to delays in submission to journals after trial completion.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Aflibercept With Versus Without Reduced-Fluence Photodynamic Therapy for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiographic Changes From a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To report the longitudinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) changes in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy or in combination with reduced-fluence PDT. DESIGN: Image analysis of a double-masked, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial. SUBJECTS: 55 eyes of 55 treatment-naïve participants with symptomatic macular PCV completing 52 weeks of follow-up. METHODS: Participants underwent protocolized, multimodal imaging, including OCT, OCTA, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography at baseline, week 12, and week 52. Quantitative OCTA parameters included total lesion area, branching neovascular network (BNN) area, and BNN vessel density (VD). Qualitative features included trunk vessel presence and OCTA signal within the polypoidal lesion (PL). Eyes were categorized by treatment arm and PL closure at week 52. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Longitudinal OCTA changes and predictors of PL closure at week 52. RESULTS: We included 55 eyes (28 combination therapy and 27 monotherapy). Total lesion area decreased at week 12 but returned toward baseline at week 52 (combination: 3.72 ± 3.01mm2 at baseline, 2.86 ± 2.50mm2 at week 12, 3.59 ± 3.26mm2 at week 52; monotherapy: 3.77 ± 2.23mm2 at baseline, 3.27 ± 2.36mm2 at week 12, and 3.47 ± 2.58mm2 at week 52). BNN area decreased at week 12 and remained reduced at week 52 in both treatment arms (combination: 2.29 ± 2.08 mm2 at baseline, 1.46 ± 1.36mm2 at week 12, and 1.53 ± 1.32mm2 at week 52; monotherapy: 2.39 ± 1.85mm2 at baseline, 1.87 ± 1.68mm2 at week 12, and 1.82 ± 1.38mm2 at week 52). BNN VD reduction was greater in the combination arm at week 12 (-10 ± 15% vs - 3 ± 12%, P = .02). The proportion of eyes with trunk vessels increased over time in both arms (combination: 35.7% at baseline, 59.3% at week 12, and 67.8% at week 52; monotherapy: 25.9% at baseline, 44.4% at week 12, and 71.4% at week 52). In multivariable analysis, baseline BCVA predicted BCVA change at week 52 (β=-0.96 [-1.21 to -0.72], P < .01), and baseline CST predicted CST change (β=0.93 [0.75 to 1.10], P < .01). Greater reduction in BNN VD at week 12 was independently associated with PL closure at week 52 (OR 0.62 [0.39 to 0.97], P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Early reduction in BNN vessel density, rather than reduction in lesion size, was associated with subsequent PL closure. OCTA-derived vascular changes may serve as noninvasive biomarkers for predicting treatment response in PCV.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

The Factors That Contribute to Dysfunctional Behavior in Active Military Personnel: An Umbrella Review.

Dysfunctional behavior in active military personnel is a complex and challenging issue for military forces worldwide. Effective management of this issue requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to dysfunctional behavior in military populations. The current study presents an umbrella review that synthesized and analyzed the existing literature on contributory factors to dysfunctional behavior in active military personnel using a systems thinking-based framework. Eleven systematic reviews were identified as eligible for inclusion in the umbrella review. The synthesis identified 14 contributory factors to the following types of dysfunctional behavior: suicidal behavior, substance misuse, domestic violence perpetration, and destructive leadership. The analysis indicated that existing literature focuses on contributory factors relating to the military personnel themselves and not influences in the broader military system or wider society. Additionally, few studies have sought to understand how factors interact to create dysfunctional behavior. Future research would benefit from the use of systems thinking-based frameworks and methods to investigate the factors, across the broader military system and society, that contribute to dysfunctional behavior in active military personnel.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Inactivation of Aspergillus flavus spores by dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma: Kinetics, physiological properties and proteomic analysis.

A. flavus, as a pathogen, poses a grave threat to both human and livestock health, significantly influencing agricultural production as well. This study aimed to investigate the inactivation effect and mechanism of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBD-CP) on A. flavus spores. The results exhibited that DBD-CP effectively inactivated A. flavus spores by the Weibull + Tail model. Furthermore, the physiological and proteomic analysis revealed that DBD-CP destructed cell wall and membrane integrity, causing cellular protein leakage and increasing membrane penetration of ROS generated from DBD-CP. Although intracellular ROS was excessively accumulated, the protein levels and activities of SOD and CAT were decreased, indicating that intracellular redox homeostasis was disrupted by DBD-CP. Subsequently, DBD-CP treatment induced cellular protein oxidation and changed protein structures, resulting in unstable protein structures. Meanwhile, protein synthesis and degradation in A. flavus spores were disturbed by inhibiting ribosome biogenesis, initiation process and NEDD8-mediated UPS, which did not compensate for the loss of protein caused by oxidative damage and leakage, leading to A. flavus spore inactivation. Besides, DBD-CP could attenuate A. flavus virulence by downregulating hydrolytic enzymes and CFEM-related proteins. This study provides novel insight into the inactivation mechanism of DBD-CP against A. flavus spores, which establishes a basis for the application of DBD-CP in controlling pathogenic fungi contamination in grains and crops, promoting the development of DBD-CP in food and agricultural decontamination.

Spores, Fungal↗

PubMed2026

Incidence and risk factors for malignancy in patients with incidental solitary pulmonary nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The increasing use of chest imaging has led to a higher detection rate of incidental solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs), often causing patient anxiety. Determining the malignancy rate and associated risk factors is crucial for developing appropriate follow-up strategies to prevent overdiagnosis, overtreatment, or missed diagnoses. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the malignancy rate and risk factors in patients with incidental SPNs. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to June 30, 2025. Data on malignancy rates and potential risk factors were extracted from eligible studies. All pooled analyses were performed using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Fifty-four studies involving 19,985 patients were included. The pooled malignancy rate for incidental SPNs was 56.7% (95% CI: 51.5-62.0), with significant between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 98.5%, p < 0.001). The pooled effect size showed a minimal change after adjustment for potential publication bias using the non-parametric Trim-and-Fill method (54.7%; 95%CI: 50.9-58.8). Risk factor analysis identified that older age, history of cancer, cigarette smoker, larger nodule diameter, spiculation, upper lobe location, lobulation, pleural indentation, vascular convergence, solid nodules, family history of cancer, and irregular or ill-defined margins were significantly associated with an increased risk of malignancy. Conversely, male sex, presence of calcification, and clear borders were significantly associated with a reduced risk of malignancy. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides a comprehensive assessment of malignancy rates and risk factors in incidental SPNs. The high pooled malignancy rate should be interpreted considering the significant heterogeneity and the inclusion of a high proportion of retrospective studies and populations from high-risk regions. Nonetheless, these findings offer essential evidence for clinical risk stratification, supporting optimized follow-up and informed decision-making.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Clustering patterns of behavioral and metabolic risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in Iran: findings from a national STEPS survey.

BACKGROUND: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality in Iran, driven by behavioral and metabolic risk factors that frequently co-occur. OBJECTIVE: To identify patterns of co-occurring behavioral and metabolic NCD risk factors among Iranian adults and characterize their demographic and socioeconomic correlates. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 16,618 adults aged ≥25 years who participated in Iran's 2021 nationally representative STEPS survey. Thirteen behavioral and metabolic variables, including physical activity, nutrition score, smoking frequency, alcohol intake, salt intake, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid markers, were entered into a K-means clustering analysis. Clusters were characterized by their risk profiles and demographic/socioeconomic attributes. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between cluster membership and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS: Five distinct behavioral-metabolic clusters emerged. The smokers-drinkers (SD) cluster (3.1%) comprised mostly older, less-educated men with high smoking and alcohol use. The healthy-low-risk (HLR) cluster (40.3%) showed favorable profiles and included younger, more educated individuals. The physically active (PA) cluster (6.6%) was characterized mainly by younger men with markedly high physical activity levels. The dyslipidemic (DLP) cluster (26.0%) exhibited high dyslipidemia and overweight prevalence, while the hypertensive-diabetic (HTD) cluster (24.0%) had the highest obesity, hypertension, and diabetes rates, common among older urban adults. CONCLUSION: Behavioral and metabolic NCD risk factors in Iran formed five distinct co-occurrence patterns. Nearly half of adults belonged to metabolically high-risk clusters, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies that combine lifestyle interventions with screening and management of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Joint association of sedentary behaviour and physical activity with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the joint association of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among adults. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane for English studies published between January 2010 and February 2025 that examined the joint association of PA and SB (fatal and non-fatal) CVD among adults and pooled their results through meta-analyses using study-level data. Using findings from 17 studies, the pooled effect size for the lowest PA + highest SB group was 1.78 (95% CI: 1.59-2.00), suggesting increased risk for CVD compared with the reference group (i.e. highest PA + lowest SB). Compared with the same reference group, we found an increased risk for CVD in the lowest PA + lowest SB (HR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.12-1.40) and the highest PA + highest SB (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06-1.27) groups. Subgroup analyses according to domains or types of PA and SB exposure, outcome measures, and exposure measurement method revealed a similar pattern. In conclusion, individuals with the lowest PA combined with the highest SB may experience an increased risk for CVD events compared with those with the highest PA and lowest SB. There was also an increased risk for individuals with a combination of either low PA + low SB and high PA + high SB, albeit to a lesser extent. Although substantial study-level heterogeneity exists, the results highlight the potential value of considering both behaviours jointly in relation to CVD risk.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The combination of morphogenic regulators BABY BOOM and GRF-GIF improves maize transformation efficiency and promotes leaf regeneration.

Transformation is an indispensable tool for plant genetics and functional genomics. Although stable transformation in maize is no longer a major obstacle, there remains a need for accessible and efficient methods for academic laboratories. Here, we present the GGB system, a rapid and efficient approach optimized for immature embryo transformation in B104 and other maize lines. This system combines two distinct morphogenetic regulators, the wheat GRF4-GIF1 chimera and the maize BABY BOOM (BBM) transcription factor (hence the name "GGB") with a modified QuickCorn protocol, enabling regeneration of transformed maize plantlets in c. 2 months with an efficiency 7-fold higher than when compared to either morphogenic factor used in isolation. Expression of both regulators did not significantly affect development, eliminating the need to excise them after regeneration. However, transmission of the transgenic GGB construct through pollen was significantly reduced, potentially aiding transgenic line containment. We show that the GGB system is adaptable for CRISPR-Cas9 editing and reporter line generation. Furthermore, stable GGB transformants exhibited high leaf regeneration capacity via somatic embryogenesis. RNA-seq time-course profiling of GGB leaf cultures identified additional factors that could promote regeneration and led to the discovery of asparagine and trehalose as additional media components that significantly enhanced leaf regeneration.

Zea mays↗

PubMed2026

Liver Cancer Risk and Incidence Attributable to Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Meta-Analysis and Population-Attributable Modeling Study of Over 1.2 Million Individuals.

HIV-induced immune suppression and chronic inflammation elevate the risk of cancer progression. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between January 1, 1984 and October 13, 2023 to assess the association between HIV infection and liver cancer. People living with HIV (PLHIV) had a higher risk (pooled relative risk = 3.36, 95% CI: 2.72-4.15). The global PAF for HIV-attributed liver cancer was 1.43% in 2019, with a three-fold increase over the past 30 years. The Asia-Pacific region recorded the second highest new cases of HIV-attributed liver cancer in 2019, and the highest age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) in Eastern and Southern Africa. Particularly, the ASIR of HIV-attributed liver cancer increased rapidly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with the highest estimated annual percentage change reaching 22.98%. PLHIV have an increased risk and incidence of liver cancer. In regions with high burden of HIV-attributed liver cancer, it is essential to integrate prevention and effective treatment for HIV, viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and liver cancer.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Divergent responses of the gill, hepatopancreas, and eyestalk to acute alkalinity stress in Penaeus vannamei: Osmoregulatory compromise, metabolic trade-off, and endocrine disruption.

The expansion of aquaculture into inland saline-alkali waters is constrained by high carbonate alkalinity (CA), a severe environmental stressor for crustaceans. However, the systemic molecular mechanisms underlying its lethal toxicity remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed a comparative transcriptomic approach to investigate the tissue-specific responses of Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei, under acute lethal stress (48 h-LC50). We focused on three functionally distinct organs: the gill, hepatopancreas, and eyestalk. The results revealed a systemic but highly tissue-specific transcriptomic response. The gill, as the primary interface, exhibited severe structural impairment and critical failure of osmoregulation, highlighted by the significant downregulation of delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS). In contrast, the hepatopancreas initiates a profound metabolic trade-off, sacrificing growth-related pathways to bolster a robust antioxidant defense system, as evidenced by the activation of sulfur metabolism and high protein turnover. The eyestalk displayed a striking disconnect between hyperactivated stress signaling pathways (e.g., mTOR/FoxO) and the collapse of its protein secretory machinery, marked by the suppression of the ER translocon component Sec61. Collectively, our findings suggest that lethal alkalinity toxicity in P. vannamei results from systemic collapse driven by a complex interplay of osmoregulatory failure, metabolic trade-offs, and endocrine disruption. This study provides a comprehensive molecular snapshot of an organism at its physiological limit, offering novel insights into the adaptive strategies and ultimate tolerance boundaries of crustaceans in extreme environments.

Animals↗