SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Disease Models, Animal”

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

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

1,595 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMed2026

Public health, public protest: The role of health burdens and healthcare access in protest mobilisation.

Health and politics are intertwined, yet few studies have examined the association between health and protest. This study examined whether population health burdens were associated with protest incidence and whether healthcare access modified these associations. Analysis was based on an unbalanced 2004-2023 country-year panel, combining protest counts from ACLED with rates for 22 GBD causes. Mixed-effects negative-binomial models estimated incidence-rate ratios (IRRs) with interactions for healthcare access (±1 SD). Two-way fixed-effects Poisson models were estimated as a benchmark to distinguish cross-national associations from within-country dynamics. Health burdens were systematically, but heterogeneously, associated with protest. Rates for several non-communicable burdens were associated with protest, notably musculoskeletal disorders (IRR 1.72, 95% CI 1.37-2.15), neoplasms (1.24, 1.06-1.44), substance-use disorders (1.32, 1.12-1.56) and HIV/AIDS and other STIs (1.24, 1.12-1.38). Higher healthcare access generally attenuated health-protest associations. Fixed-effects models confirmed several associations (e.g. HIV/AIDS, neoplasms) but revealed that others (e.g. maternal/neonatal disorders, enteric infections) were driven primarily by cross-national differences. Population health burdens were associated with cross-national variation in protest mobilisation. Chronic, non-communicable burdens were associated with heightened protest, whereas poverty-linked and early-life burdens were associated with lower mobilisation. Healthcare access was associated with attenuation of these relationships.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Longitudinal Prediction of Retinal Sensitivity Based on Disease Progression Quantified From Optical Coherence Tomography in Geographic Atrophy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between disease progression of geographic atrophy (GA) from optical coherence tomography (OCT) with retinal sensitivity (RS) in microperimetry (MP) over a 2-year follow-up period. METHODS: This is a longitudinal analysis of the OAKS Phase-III clinical trial. Both study and fellow eyes with GA that underwent imaging with the Spectralis OCT and consecutive MP examination were eligible. Pointwise quantification of ellipsoid zone (EZ) thickness, EZ and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) loss from OCT volumes was correlated with localized RS. A longitudinal predictive model using a Markov Chain framework was implemented to predict RS change over time based on OCT biomarkers. The modeling of morphological and functional progression was based on the fellow-eye cohort. RESULTS: A total of 39,681 MP points from 406 patients were analyzed. In the fellow eye cohort, baseline (BSL) EZ thickness was positively associated with RS (0.3 decibel [dB]/µm, P < 0.001). Decrease in EZ thickness between visits during follow-up was significantly associated with decrease in RS (0.1 dB / 1 µm change). RS was significantly lower in MP points within EZ loss during follow-up compared with MP points within the retina with measurable EZ (P < 0.001). The largest functional decline was observed within RPE loss, also associated with the highest probability of absolute scotoma (P < 0.001). Morphological progression to EZ and RPE loss was influenced by EZ thickness and the morphology of adjacent MP points (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Two exploratory endpoints were developed, namely quantification of EZ thickness and loss, and localized RS within high-risk OCT areas. RS decline during follow-up is associated with automatically quantified disease progression in OCT.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Noncombustible Nicotine or Tobacco Product Use After Smoking Cessation and Major Vision-Impairing Diseases: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the risk of major vision-impairing eye diseases among smokers who quit combustible cigarettes (CC) and switch to noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products (NNTPs) compared with those who completely quit using tobacco. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: About 179 273 adults from the Korean National Health Insurance Service who smoked CC in 2011 to 2012 and reported cessation in 2018 to 2019, classified into complete quitters and NNTP switchers. METHODS: This nationwide longitudinal cohort study followed participants for up to 6 years and identified incident major vision-impairing eye diseases (cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and refractive and accommodation disorders) using standardized diagnostic codes. Propensity score matching was applied to emulate a pseudo-randomized comparison, balanced on key demographic, clinical, comorbidity, and lifestyle characteristics. Subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) were evaluated using the Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards model accounting for all-cause mortality as a competing risk. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adjusted SHRs for incident major vision-impairing eye diseases. RESULTS: Among 32 316 matched participants followed for a mean of 4.6 years, 6328 incident major vision-impairing eye disease events occurred. The incidence was 41.1 and 44.0 per 1000 person-years for complete quitters and NNTP switchers, respectively. Switching to NNTPs was associated with an increased risk of major vision-impairing eye disease (SHR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13). The risk elevation was most pronounced for diabetic retinopathy (SHR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.00-1.53) and refractive and accommodation disorders (SHR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.12). These findings were robust across inverse probability-weighted and Cox proportional hazards models. The association remained consistent in sensitivity analyses and across clinical subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Transitioning from CC to NNTPs is associated with a modest but consistent increase in the risk of major vision-impairing eye diseases compared with complete nicotine abstinence. These findings challenge the assumption that substituting NNTPs for CCs is visually harmless and indicate that, from an ophthalmic perspective, complete cessation of all nicotine products should remain the preferred cessation goal.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Association of cancer antigen 15-3 with distant recurrence in immunohistochemically defined breast cancer subtypes in Canadian Cancer Trials Group MA.32.

BACKGROUND: Circulating levels of cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 have been associated with distant breast cancer recurrence; data on breast cancer subtypes are sparse. We examined associations of CA 15-3 with outcomes across immunohistochemically defined breast cancer subtypes in MA.32. METHODS: A total of 3649 participants with T1-3, N0-1, M0 breast cancer were randomly assigned; 2740 (75.1%) provided blood at entry (mean = 278 days postdiagnosis) and 6 months later. Prognostic associations of baseline and 6-month change in CA 15-3 with distant recurrence-free survival (RFS) were examined in luminal (estrogen receptor-positive and/or progesterone receptor-positive, HER2-negative), triple-negative (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2 negative) and HER2-positive (any estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor) breast cancer using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Mean age was 52 years. Breast cancer was luminal in 1589 (58.7%), triple negative in 655 (24.2%), and HER2 positive in 464 (17.1%) participants. Median follow-up was 96 months. CA 15-3 at study entry was not associated with outcome in any subtype. Rising CA 15-3 at 6 months was associated with poor distant RFS in luminal and triple-negative breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR] per 25% increase = 1.41, P < .0001, and HR = 1.35, P < .0001, respectively). New elevations in CA 15-3 at 6 months were adversely associated with distant RFS in those with luminal or triple-negative breast cancer (HR = 4.14, 95% CI = 2.69 to 6.38; P < .001; and HR = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.59 to 7.99; P = .002, respectively). In HER2-positive breast cancer, CA15-3 was not associated with distant RFS. CONCLUSION: Rising CA 15-3 was associated with reduced distant RFS in luminal and triple-negative breast cancer but not in HER2-positive breast cancer. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01101438.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Safe and Stable Germline Transmission of MSTN Mutations in Cattle.

With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, sustainable livestock production is critical. Gene editing of the myostatin (MSTN) gene represents a promising strategy to enhance muscle growth in cattle. In this study, MSTN-mutated founder (F0) cows were used to generate F1 offspring via ovum pick-up, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer. Four F1 calves were born, all confirmed to be heterozygous for the MSTN mutation. Long-term monitoring showed normal growth and no visible health abnormalities. Whole-genome sequencing identified SNPs, INDELs, and structural variants, most with minimal predicted functional effects. Proteomic profiling of Longissimus dorsi muscle quantified 2947 proteins, revealing only subtle expression differences between MSTN-mutated and wild-type cattle. These results demonstrate stable inheritance and confirm that MSTN editing does not disrupt genome integrity or protein expression. Overall, our findings support the safety and utility of MSTN gene editing to improve livestock productivity for future food security.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Discrimination, chronic stress, and multimorbidity in cohort of Black and Latina transgender women with HIV: Longitudinal findings from the LITE Plus study.

Black and Latina transgender women with HIV (BLTWH) are exposed to repeated, intersecting discrimination based on race, gender, and serostatus. Minority stress theory conceptualizes discrimination as minority-specific stressors that drive health inequities. Allostatic load theory posits a pathway between discrimination and chronic disease through multisystem physiological dysregulation caused by chronic stress. To test this pathway, a longitudinal cohort of 108 BLTWH, enrolled December 2020 - June 2022 in Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC, were followed for 24 months, with biomarkers measured at baseline, 12, and 24 months. Questionnaires administered every 6 months assessed anticipated discrimination, everyday discrimination, perceived stress, and other psychosocial factors. Multimorbidity was measured via self-reported non-HIV chronic conditions. In mixed-effects mediation models, allostatic load did not mediate relationships between multimorbidity outcomes and anticipated discrimination (β: -0.0004 [95% CI: -0.004, 0.003]) nor everyday discrimination (β: -0.002 [95%CI: -0.009, 0.003]). Perceived stress demonstrated indirect effects on multimorbidity in unadjusted models of anticipated discrimination (β: 0.024, [95% CI: 0.015, 0.081]) and everyday discrimination (β: 0.021 [95%CI: 0.016, 0.077]). Indirect effects remained significant, with attenuated effects (β: 0.020 for anticipated discrimination; β: 0.017 for everyday discrimination) after adjusting for social support, community connection, and resilient coping. Total effects were only significant for the adjusted model of everyday discrimination (β: 0.056 [0.014, 0.099]). Findings suggest discrimination impacted health through specific psychosocial pathways. Alongside efforts to eliminate intersectional discrimination, stress-lowering interventions and increased access to social support and community connection may be effective approaches to reducing multimorbidity in this highly marginalized group.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Diagnostic accuracy of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid-based testing for pulmonary cryptococcosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary cryptococcosis(PC) presents diagnostic challenges because of its non-specific clinical and radiological manifestations. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)-based testing, which includes latex agglutination (LA) and lateral flow assay (LFA), offers a minimally invasive diagnostic method, yet its pooled diagnostic accuracy remains unclear. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus from inception to May 2026. Studies evaluating BALF-based testing for PC with extractable 2 × 2 data were included. The methodological quality of relevant studies was assessed by the QUADAS-2 tool. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were estimated using a bivariate random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed by testing method and reference standard type. Heterogeneity was evaluated through paired forest plots, HSROC visualization, and exploratory bivariate meta-regression. RESULTS: The pooled sensitivity was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.81-0.91), and the specificity was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.982 - 0.995). The pooled positive likelihood ratio (PLR) was 88.00 (95% CI: 47.39 - 163.42), the negative likelihood ratio (NLR) was 0.13 (95% CI: 0.09 -0.20), and the DOR was 658.50 (95% CI: 285.36-1519.55). No significant threshold effect or publication bias was detected. Exploratory meta-regression suggested a possible assay-method effect in the joint model (P = 0.03), mainly driven by specificity (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the high accuracy of CrAg in BALF for the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis, supporting its role as an important adjunctive diagnostic tool, particularly when tissue biopsy is not feasible or rapid results are needed. Larger prospective studies with standardized protocols are needed to validate these estimates.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Variants in the interferon regulatory factor 5 gene confer genetic risk for systemic lupus erythematosus in a Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), integral to interferon signaling pathways, has been identified as a susceptibility locus for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nevertheless, the relationship between IRF5 variants and SLE risk within the Han Chinese demographic remains inadequately characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping of two functional single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in IRF5 was conducted in 167 individuals with SLE and 246 healthy controls utilizing sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP). Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were employed to assess associations. RESULTS: The rs10954213 variant demonstrated a significant association with SLE susceptibility under the recessive model (GG vs. AG+AA, OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.30-3.75, p = 0.003, adjusted p [pc] = 0.030) and homozygous model (GG vs. AA, OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.36-4.42, p = 0.003, pc = 0.032). Similarly, the rs2004640 variant was associated with an increased risk of SLE across allelic (T vs. G, OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.22-2.26, p = 0.001, pc = 0.011), dominant (TG+TT vs. GG, OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.19-2.63, p = 0.005, pc = 0.047), and homozygous models (TT vs. GG, OR = 3.72, 95% CI: 1.58-8.78, p = 0.002, pc = 0.016). Haplotype analysis identified protective haplotype HT1 (A/G, OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41-0.73, p < 0.001) and risk haplotype HT4 (G/T, OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.42-4.42, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that IRF5 gene variants substantially modulate susceptibility to SLE in the Han Chinese population. They hold potential as biomarkers for evaluating SLE risk and offer valuable perspectives into disease pathogenesis.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

CNOT1 is a potential YTHDF2 target that orchestrates maternal mRNA decay and zygotic genome activation during goat embryogenesis.

Timely and efficient degradation of maternal mRNA is essential for early embryonic development, which occurs from fertilization through the initiation of zygotic genome activation (ZGA). Yet, the regulatory mechanisms governing this process remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we investigated the function of CCR4-NOT transcription complex subunit 1 (CNOT1) during goat embryogenesis. We found that CNOT1 was upregulated during mammalian ZGA, and that its knockdown led to developmental arrest and a marked reduction in blastocyst formation. Moreover, CNOT1 knockdown impaired nascent RNA activity, resulting in 814 upregulated and 1014 downregulated genes, which were enriched for RNA splicing, regulation of chromosome organization, and RNA localization. RNA splicing analysis revealed differential splicing events in 2959 genes, of which 259 were downregulated following CNOT1 knockdown. Notably, CNOT1 was predicted to crosstalk with the m6A reader YTHDF2. Knockdown of YTHDF2 resulted in CNOT1 downregulation at the 8-cell stage in goats and increased transcription levels around polyadenylation sites during ZGA in mice. Together, these findings indicate that CNOT1 is a potential YTHDF2 target that orchestrates maternal mRNA decay and ZGA during goat embryogenesis. Our work provides new insight into the complex regulatory landscape underlying ZGA and may inform strategies to improve the efficiency of goat embryogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide scans reveal candidate genes associated with wing morph differentiation in Tetrix japonica.

Wing dimorphism is an important dispersal-related trait in insects, but its genomic basis remains poorly understood in pygmy grasshoppers. Here, we integrated genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses, population structure inference, selection scans, and functional annotation to investigate genomic differentiation between long- and short-winged Tetrix japonica. Principal component analysis (PCA), ADMIXTURE, and phylogenetic analyses revealed weak genome-wide separation between morphs, indicating differentiation on a largely shared genetic background. Genome-wide scans based on the fixation index (FST), nucleotide diversity ratios, and Tajima's D, using 50-kb non-overlapping windows and empirical top-5% outlier thresholds, identified multiple candidate regions across seven chromosomes. The broader long- and short-winged candidate sets spanned 9.35 Mb and 9.37 Mb and directly overlapped 82 and 77 genes, respectively. Candidate genes were associated with signaling/hormone regulation, membrane transport, metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, extracellular matrix structure, and development. Short-winged candidate genes were significantly enriched for ABC-type transporter activity and ATP hydrolysis activity. Because all individuals originated from a single laboratory-maintained population with weak genome-wide structure, these regions should be regarded as candidate loci from a screening-stage analysis that require validation in independent populations and by functional assays, rather than as confirmed targets of selection.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Comparative analysis of gut microbiota in yaks under different feeding management strategies during cold seasons.

Yaks (Bos grunniens) are crucial for the livelihoods of pastoral communities in cold regions, where feed scarcity during the cold season poses challenges to their health and productivity, underscoring the necessity of understanding how dietary management influences the gut microbiota. In this study, 24 yak steers matched for body weight and health status were randomly allocated to four groups: natural grazing or indoor feeding with roughage-to-concentrate ratios of 50:50, 70:30, or 90:10. Fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing and subsequent functional prediction of the microbiota. The results showed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla across all groups, and UCG-005 and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were the predominant genera. Concentrate supplementation during the cold season significantly enhanced microbial richness and diversity, with the 70:30 ratio exerting the most pronounced beneficial effects on microbiota structure and key taxa enrichment. These findings highlight the critical role of dietary management in shaping the yak gut microbiota during cold seasons and suggest that the 70:30 ratio optimally improves microbial community structure, thereby promoting yak health and productivity under harsh climatic conditions. Future research should explore the long-term implications of such dietary strategies.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Comparative genomics and full-length transcriptome profiling of wing morphs in Tetrix grossus (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).

Wing polymorphism represents a paradigmatic dispersal-reproduction trade-off, yet its molecular basis remains uncharacterised in the phylogenetically distant pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae). Here we integrate comparative genomics across ten orthopteran species with full-length transcriptomics of long-winged (FL) and short-winged (FS) Tetrix grossus. OrthoFinder recovered 118 orthogroups specific to T. grossus. Against a backdrop of pronounced gene-family contraction (36 expansions versus 222 contractions; net -186, mirrored at the ancestral Tetrix node, +37/-140), we identified an ancestral, Tetrix-specific expansion of hormone-regulation (12 genes; fold enrichment 7.93) and lipid/carbohydrate-metabolic families organised into syntenic clusters, alongside 513 positively selected genes enriched for integrin-mediated cell adhesion (6 genes), a process relevant to epithelial and appendage morphogenesis. Full-length transcriptomics of one long-winged (FL) and one short-winged (FS) adult female detected 7530 (FL) and 7515 (FS) expressed genes, with 794 FL- and 776 FS-restricted transcriptome-derived SNP-associated genes. The FL morph was enriched for an EGFR/Ras-Rho developmental-patterning axis and neuromuscular flight genes, whereas the FS morph was enriched for insulin/peptide-hormone response and growth-regulatory loci. Overall, we present genomic resources and testable hypotheses concerning the evolution and regulation of wing morphs in Tetrigidae rather than a validated genetic architecture of wing-morph determination.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

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

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

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Saliva-based RT-LAMP assays support heat shock protein 70 as a promising transcript marker for estrus identification in buffaloes.

Buffaloes do not exhibit overt estrus signs particularly during summer, leading to a significant economic loss to farmers. Previous studies have identified several candidate transcripts (HSP70, TIMP1, TLR4 and HSD17B1), abundant in buffalo saliva during estrus stage. However, there is no widely applicable technology for estrus detection targeting these transcripts. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assays for these candidate transcripts using buffalo saliva. Saliva samples were collected from 10 cyclic buffaloes and RT-LAMP assays were optimized for salivary RNA as well as direct saliva. Among the four candidate transcripts, HSP70 showed a statistically significant colour change (p-value = 0.0191) at the estrus stage compared to the diestrus stage. This abundance of HSP70 was also supported in large simulated population datasets (10,000 animals) generated using R. Further, the RT-LAMP assays were tested using direct saliva without RNA isolation, and the colour change in the samples during estrus suggested the feasibility of estrus identification using direct saliva, overcoming the tedious step of RNA isolation. The detection of HSP70 using either direct saliva or salivary RNA indicated its potential as a marker for estrus identification. Similarly, TLR4 appeared to be another potential biomarker for RT-LAMP reaction using direct saliva, but it needs further validation in both RNA and direct saliva samples. Overall, the proof-of-concept on RT-LAMP assays optimized for salivary transcripts in the present study would be useful for estrus identification in tropical production systems following further validation on a larger sample size.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Effect of Semaglutide on the Inflammatory Biomarker High-Sensitivity CRP in Patients With Established Cardiovascular Disease and Overweight or Obesity in SELECT: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In SELECT (Semaglutide Effects on Heart Disease and Stroke in Patients With Overweight or Obesity), among 17 604 patients with known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity, but not diabetes, randomization to the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist semaglutide significantly reduced the primary outcome of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke) compared with placebo (mean follow-up, 39.8 months). Inflammation, as indicated by plasma hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) level, is implicated as a biomarker predicting cardiovascular risk in obesity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. SELECT provides a unique opportunity to study the relationship among hsCRP, obesity, weight loss, and MACE outcomes in semaglutide versus placebo groups. METHODS: In this prespecified SELECT substudy, we evaluated whether baseline hsCRP levels predicted MACE risk and examined the relationships between changes in hsCRP levels and time to first MACE, baseline body weight, weight loss, and other clinical measures among treatment groups over time (104, 208 weeks) using multiple approaches, including Cox modeling. RESULTS: Baseline hsCRP level, which was similar in the semaglutide (geometric mean 1.96 mg/L) and placebo (geometric mean 1.91 mg/L) groups, was prognostic of future MACE. The risk of MACE increased across baseline hsCRP level <2, 2-<10, and ≥10 mg/L subgroups, including significant associations with cardiovascular and all-cause death. Semaglutide reduced hsCRP levels (-37.8% [104 weeks]) and risk of MACE across all hsCRP subgroups. Greater reductions in ratio-to-baseline hsCRP with semaglutide were associated with greater weight loss, but preceded major weight loss, evident by 4 and 8 weeks, and occurred among those without weight loss. Semaglutide-associated changes in hsCRP were independent of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, statin use, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease entry criteria. hsCRP reductions were found to be prognostic of decreased risk of MACE. Modeling suggests decreased inflammation as contributing in part to the benefits seen with semaglutide in SELECT. CONCLUSIONS: In SELECT, hsCRP data at baseline and in response to treatment with semaglutide support inflammation as a potential prognostic factor associated with cardiovascular risk in these generally well-treated patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity but not diabetes. These findings suggest that the MACE reduction observed with semaglutide versus placebo in SELECT may have partially involved a decrease in inflammation. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03574597.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Red Fox Populations (Vulpes vulpes L., 1758) in Natural and Anthropogenic Isolation.

This study presents a comparative analysis of the genetic structure and diversity of three red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) populations representing different microevolutionary scenarios: panmixia (free-ranging Belarusian foxes), geographic isolation (free-ranging Scottish foxes), and anthropogenic selection (farm-bred foxes). Using a validated set of STR markers, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to assess the genetic structure and the degree of genetic erosion across the studied groups. The wild red fox population in Belarus has been shown to maintain a state close to panmixia (PHWE = 0.090), characterized by a high effective population size (Ne = 694) and high allelic diversity. The island population from Scotland exhibits moderate gene pool depletion (Ne = 75.9) and a pronounced heterozygote deficiency (FIS = 0.18). Critical genetic erosion, which was characterized by a minimal effective population size (Ne = 60.2) and allelic fixation, was detected in the farm-bred group. The genetic distance between farm-bred and wild foxes (FST = 0.279; p = 0.001) reflects both the phylogeographic divergence between the Nearctic ancestors of farmed lineages and Palearctic wild populations, and the consequences of prolonged anthropogenic isolation, genetic drift, and selective breeding. These data indicate that artificial isolation and the impacts of genetic drift and targeted selection lead to a substantial depletion of the species' adaptive potential.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

A combined stimulus of acute fasting and exercise modulates hippocampal mitochondrial quality control in healthy mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Exercise and fasting are recognized for their ability to improve brain health and mitigate neurodegeneration. However, little is known about how these interventions acutely impact mitochondrial quality control mechanisms including mitophagy. METHODS: We examined the effects of a single bout of fasting and exercise (FEx) on hippocampal mitochondrial function and proteomic remodeling in male and female mice. To assess in vivo autophagy dynamics, we combined proteomics with chloroquine (CQ) inhibition of autophagic flux. Mice were assigned to sedentary (Sed), fasting (F), exercise (Ex), or combined FEx groups and received unilateral intrahippocampal injections of CQ or PBS following treatments. Four hours later, hippocampi were collected for analysis. RESULTS: LC3-II levels significantly increased in the FEx group only following CQ treatment, indicating enhanced autophagic flux. Proteomic profiling showed sedentary males failed to mount a robust response to FEx however females exhibited upregulation of proteins involved in the TCA cycle, glutathione metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting greater mitochondrial adaptability. Functional assays supported these findings, females showed increased complex IV activity post-FEx. The mitochondrial DNA / nuclear DNA ratio increased after FEx regardless of sex, and upstream regulator analysis predicted activation of mitochondrial biogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these data reveal sex-specific mitochondrial remodeling in response to acute fasting and exercise. Defining these normative responses is critical for understanding how mitochondrial adaptability shapes resilience or vulnerability to neurological challenges.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

The return of measles: a dangerous comeback.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Measles has reemerged as a significant global public health threat, with increasing morbidity and mortality associated with declining vaccination rates. This review summarizes current global outbreaks, history of measles, vaccination and elimination status, vaccine hesitancy, and outbreak response and lessons learned highlighting different novel digital epidemiological tools. RECENT FINDINGS: Measles continues to surge worldwide with an estimated 11 million infections in 2024, which is more than prepandemic levels. Developing and developed countries are both facing measles outbreaks, with the United States at risk of losing measles elimination status. Recent studies have showed that worldwide percentages of two-dose measles vaccination were lower than 95% that is required to interrupt measles transmission in all WHO regions. Novel epidemiological tools such as interactive simulators, real-time use of dynamic models, serosurveillance, and others are transforming measles outbreak response and enable earlier outbreak detection, tracking, and targeted public health interventions. SUMMARY: Vaccine hesitancy is one of the top global health threats and developing a tailored evidence-based approach is necessary to establish and maintain measles elimination.

Humans↗