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PubMed2026

Light regulates capsaicinoid biosynthesis via the CaHY5-CaBBX2-CaACS8 module in pepper.

Capsaicinoids are a class of unique alkaloids that confer the pungent taste to pepper fruits. However, it remains largely unknown how light regulates the biosynthesis of capsaicinoids. We conducted a metabolic analysis on light- and dark-adapted pepper fruits. The results showed that dark-adapted pepper fruits had lower capsaicinoid contents and correspondingly downregulated transcription of capsaicinoid biosynthetic genes (CBGs), indicating that light plays a crucial role in capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, silencing of CaHY5, a pivotal transcription factor gene in the light signaling pathway, decreased the content of capsaicinoid and suppressed the expression of CBGs, whereas transient overexpression of CaHY5 generated exactly opposite results. CaHY5 can bind to the G-box motif in the promoters of CaBBX2 and CaACS8, thereby enhancing their transcriptional levels. The activated CaBBX2 then binds to the T/G-box in the CaACS8 promoter to stimulate its expression. CaBBX2 or CaACS8 silencing led to decreased levels of capsaicinoids, while their transient overexpression produced increased capsaicinoid contents. Collectively, our results indicated that the light-activated CaHY5-CaBBX2-CaACS8 regulatory module plays a pivotal role in capsaicinoid biosynthesis. These findings provide new insights into the influence of light on capsaicinoid biosynthesis and potential targets for activation of this biosynthetic pathway in pepper.

Capsicum↗

PubMed2026

Effects of exercise on aerobic capacity in people with prehypertension or hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This study aimed to quantify the effects of exercise on aerobic capacity in people with prehypertension or hypertension and to identify exercise prescription parameters that optimize improvements. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus from inception to 24 October 2025. Data were pooled using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Exercise significantly improved aerobic capacity in people with prehypertension or hypertension (SMD = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.61-1.15; P  < 0.00001), with multicomponent training demonstrating superior efficacy. Exploratory subgroup analyses suggest that longer programs (≥12 weeks), lower frequency (<3 sessions/week), 60-min sessions or longer, total weekly exercise less than 180 min, and professional supervision may be associated with better outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Superficial Cervical Plexus Block and Quality of Recovery after Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Whether adding a bilateral superficial cervical plexus block to a thyroidectomy enhanced recovery pathway improves postoperative quality of recovery remains uncertain. METHODS: In a single-center prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adults undergoing thyroidectomy with general anesthesia, participants were randomized to bilateral superficial cervical plexus blocks with 0.25% bupivacaine or saline. All participants received multimodal analgesia with dexamethasone, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and incisional local anesthetic. The primary outcome was quality of recovery, measured by the QoR-40 survey, on postoperative day 1. Secondary outcomes included the need for rescue opioid, total opioid consumption, nausea, vomiting, antiemetic administration, length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and opioid use on postoperative day 1. RESULTS: A total of 160 participants were randomized to receive a superficial cervical plexus block with bupivacaine 0.25% (n = 78) or saline (n = 82). On postoperative day 1, mean QoR-40 scores were 174 (95% CI, 170 to 178) for bupivacaine and 173 (95% CI, 169 to 177) for saline. The adjusted mean difference between bupivacaine versus saline was 0.91 (95% CI, -3.57 to 5.40; P = 0.688). There were no significant between-group differences in the need for opioids in the PACU or on postoperative day 1, nausea, vomiting, or PACU length of stay. However, the total amount of opioid administered in the PACU was lower in the bupivacaine group (median [interquartile range], 0 [0 to 8]) compared with the saline group (2 [0 to 20]; Hodges-Lehmann location shift, 0 morphine milligram equivalents; 95% CI, -4 to 0; P = 0.017), and fewer participants in the bupivacaine group received rescue antiemetics (3 [3.8%] vs . 13 [16%]; difference, -12%; 95% CI, -22% to -1.8%; P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral superficial cervical plexus blocks did not improve quality of recovery after thyroidectomy when added to a multimodal analgesic regimen including dexamethasone, acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and incisional local anesthetic but were associated with lower total PACU opioid consumption.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Once-weekly IcoSema versus once-daily insulin glargine U100 in type 2 diabetes management (COMBINE 4): an open-label, multicentre, treat-to-target, randomised, phase 3b trial.

BACKGROUND: Stepwise treatment intensification is recommended for managing type 2 diabetes, including insulin initiation when non-insulin glucose-lowering medications are insufficient. Guidelines recommend combining a GLP-1 receptor agonist with basal insulin to improve glycaemic efficacy while reducing weight gain and hypoglycaemia risk. COMBINE 4 evaluated the efficacy and safety of IcoSema, a once-weekly combination therapy of basal insulin icodec and semaglutide (a GLP-1-receptor agonist) versus insulin glargine U100 (glargine U100) in people with type 2 diabetes on oral glucose-lowering medications. METHODS: COMBINE 4 was a 40-week, randomised, open-label, treat-to-target, phase 3b trial conducted across 97 sites in nine countries. Adults (aged ≥18 years) with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c ≥8·0%) receiving oral glucose-lowering medications were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio without stratification to IcoSema or once-daily glargine U100. The titration target was 3·9-5·0 mmol/L (70-90 mg/dL). The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c and the secondary confirmatory endpoint was change in bodyweight, both from baseline to week 40, evaluated in all randomly allocated participants. Adverse events were recorded during weeks 0-45. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06269107) and is complete. FINDINGS: Of 653 individuals screened between Feb 15 and Aug 6, 2024, 151 did not meet screening criteria and 17 withdrew before initiating treatment; 243 were randomised to IcoSema and 242 to glargine U100. Of the 485 randomly allocated participants, 286 (59%) were male and 199 (41%) were female, and median age was 58 years (range 26-82). For HbA1c, from baseline (9·57% for IcoSema and 9·50% for glargine U100), mean change to week 40 was greater with IcoSema versus glargine U100 (-3·32 vs -2·44 percentage points; estimated treatment difference [ETD] -0·88 percentage points [95% CI -1·12 to -0·63]), confirming superiority of IcoSema (p<0·001). From baseline to week 40, mean bodyweight decreased with IcoSema and increased with glargine U100 (-0·79 vs 3·81 kg; ETD -4·61 kg [95% CI -5·46 to -3·75]), confirming superiority of IcoSema (p<0·001). Rate of combined clinically significant (blood glucose <3·0 mmol/L [<54 mg/dL], confirmed with a blood glucose meter) or severe hypoglycaemia (severe cognitive impairment requiring external assistance for recovery) was statistically significantly lower with IcoSema versus glargine U100 (0·29 vs 0·59 episodes per person-year of exposure; estimated rate ratio 0·56 [95% CI 0·32 to 0·97]; p=0·04). Gastrointestinal disorders were the most frequently reported adverse events with IcoSema. INTERPRETATION: Once-weekly IcoSema demonstrated superior HbA1c reduction and bodyweight change, with lower rates of clinically significant or severe hypoglycaemia, versus glargine U100, suggesting that IcoSema might be an effective once-weekly treatment option for insulin-naive individuals with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral glucose-lowering medications. FUNDING: Novo Nordisk.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

HRAS promotes mutant NRAS-driven transformation with codon and allele specificity.

Wild-type RAS family members determine the signaling and therapeutic response in cancers driven by mutant HRAS and KRAS because they activate alternate RAS effector pathways. Here, we found that the requirement for wild-type RAS to support mutant NRAS-driven transformation correlated with codon-specific differences in GTP hydrolysis. NRAS with mutations at either Gly12 (G12X) or Gly13 (G13X), which retained the GDP-GTP cycling function, had modest autonomous transforming potential. In contrast, NRAS with GTP-locking mutations at Gln61 (Q61X mutants) was uncoupled from receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) input, rendering wild-type RAS an obligate partner for RTK-stimulated signaling and oncogenesis. In RASless cells expressing mutant NRAS, reintroduction of wild-type HRAS was sufficient to restore signaling and transformation. Global dependency mapping in human cancer cells revealed functional partitioning, wherein mutant NRAS promoted MAPK signaling and wild-type HRAS promoted PI3K-AKT survival signaling. Consequently, allele-specific or pan-RAS(ON) inhibitors synergized with inhibitors of proximal RTK signaling or of wild-type HRAS or KRAS to overcome this signaling plasticity. Pan-RAS(ON) and HRAS inhibition was synergistic for all NRAS mutants tested, with Q61X mutants showing greater sensitivity. These findings define the signaling partnership between mutant NRAS and wild-type HRAS as a targetable vulnerability and provide a biochemical blueprint for dual RAS inhibition in NRAS-mutated malignancies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Plasticity of hepatic metabolism in Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in response to cyclic hypoxia.

The emergence of cyclic hypoxia puts aquatic organisms' homeostasis under significant strain. Energetic metabolism as well as protein synthesis and folding are particularly altered during hypoxia, while reoxygenation imposes an oxidative challenge. Currently, little is known about how hypoxia-sensitive organisms respond to large oxygen fluctuations. Our previous work on Arctic char revealed that this salmonid, despite being strongly affected by acute hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R), can successfully reestablish homeostasis, notably through adjustments to hepatic mitochondrial metabolism. However, the mechanisms underlying this acclimation remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that Arctic char remodel their hepatic proteome to optimize energy metabolism, reorganize oxygen-demanding pathways, and maintain cellular homeostasis during repeated H/R cycles. By exposing Arctic char to two or fifteen days of diel cyclic hypoxia, we confirmed this species' limited capacity to respond to acute H/R. Nevertheless, after fifteen cycles, fish adjusted their energetic metabolism through coordinated regulation of carbohydrate and lipid pathways and upregulation of amino acid metabolism. Mitochondrial metabolism was strongly reorganized, particularly at the ubiquinone-Complex III interaction level, alongside adjustments in proline utilization and protein processing. Moreover, protein processing and folding pathways were stimulated in both mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. However, chronic cyclic hypoxia may still promote non-mitochondrial ROS production, DNA replication stress, and impaired immune function. This study highlights how a hypoxia-sensitive fish progressively reorganizes its metabolism and oxygen-demanding pathways to establish a phenotype adapted to chronic cyclic hypoxia, while also revealing the physiological costs associated with this acclimation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Identification and functional characterization of a novel antiviral chicken interferon-υ.

Interferons are critical mediators of antiviral immunity in vertebrates. While type IV interferon (IFN-υ) has been identified in fish and amphibians, its existence and function in chickens remained unknown. Through systematic genomic screening, we identified and cloned a novel chicken interferon gene, designated ChIFN-υ. Phylogenetic analysis placed ChIFN-υ within a distinct clade alongside zebrafish and clawed frog IFN-υ, confirming its identity as a type IV interferon, with minimal homology to classical type I, II, or III IFNs. Expression profiling revealed constitutive ChIFN-υ expression in mucosal and immune tissues of healthy chickens, exhibiting a distinct developmental shift: highest in trachea and small intestine in 1-day-old chicks, shifting to spleen and lung in 4-week-old chickens. ChIFN-υ expression was strongly upregulated following H9N2 AIV infection. Functionally, recombinant ChIFN-υ protein activated the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) and Mx promoter in a dose-dependent manner and significantly inhibited the replication of both vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and H9N2 AIV in DF-1 cells. In vivo, early treatment with exogenous ChIFN-υ significantly reduced pulmonary and tracheal viral loads and decreased oropharyngeal and cloacal virus shedding in H9N2-infected chickens. In conclusion, this study identifies and functionally characterizes the type IV interferon in chickens, elucidating the evolutionary status, regulated expression, and antiviral efficacy of ChIFN-υ. These findings highlight its potential as a candidate for developing interferon-based therapies against avian viral diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive analysis suggests CRIF1 is a potential target in breast cancer associated with prognosis and immune infiltration.

BACKGROUND: CRIF1 is a multifunctional factor that regulates cell biological processes such as the cell cycle, cell proliferation, and energy metabolism, and it is a new molecule that contributes to the poor prognosis of many malignancies. However, its involvement in breast cancer development is not fully known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To investigate the relationship between CRIF1 expression, prognosis, and clinical characteristics using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-BRCA). The relationship between CRIF1 expression and the immunological microenvironment was investigated using CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE. Breast tissue and CRIF1 expression were validated by IHC. A tiny interfering plasmid was designed to transiently transfect breast cancer cell lines, and proliferation-related functional tests were carried out. The effect of sh CRIF1 on tumor formation was confirmed using a subcutaneous tumor experiment in naked mice. RESULTS: We discovered that CRIF1 was highly elevated in breast cancer tissues and associated with a poor prognosis. CRIF1 stimulates breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Knockdown decreased PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, which boosted autophagy activity. Immune infiltration research revealed that patients with high CRIF1 expression had higher CD8+ T cell expression but reduced macrophage M2 expression. CONCLUSION: Upregulation of CRIF1 in breast cancer cells enhances malignant behavior, which may be mediated by PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and is linked to cellular autophagy.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Influence of microplastics on microalgal performance during wastewater polishing.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that are increasingly accumulating in aquatic ecosystems due to excessive anthropogenic activity and insufficient mitigation strategies, posing serious environmental and public health risks. Their impact on wastewater (WW) treatment processes remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the effects of five MPs commonly found in WW - polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, low-density polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene - on the physiology and bioremediation performance of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris in synthetic WW (SWW). Metabolic responses were assessed via esterase activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), while nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and glucose removal were monitored to evaluate bioremediation efficiency. MPs inhibited esterase activity and elevated ROS levels, indicating oxidative stress. Nevertheless, C. vulgaris maintained a high bioremediation capacity (> 75 % N, > 60 % P, and > 70 % for glucose). Environmental conditions modulated microalga response to MPs exposure. Under N-limited conditions, C. vulgaris exhibited enhanced nutrient uptake and biomass production, but a 12 h/12 h light/dark photoperiod reduced N removal but stimulated glucose consumption via heterotrophic metabolism. In contrast, C-limited conditions exacerbated oxidative stress and compromised nutrient removal, resulting in residual concentrations exceeding legal limits. These findings highlight that environmental factors can either mitigate or exacerbate the physiological stress induced by MPs, ultimately affecting WW polishing. This work provides a comprehensive insight into the cellular and metabolic effects of MPs on microalgae and supports C. vulgaris as a resilient and sustainable approach for nutrient and carbon removal in MP-contaminated WW systems.

Microalgae↗

PubMed2026

Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies in Neurosurgical Training: Enhancing Skills and Surgical Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the role of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) in neurosurgical education and training. DESIGN: Systematic review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. SETTING: A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for English-language studies published between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2026. PARTICIPANTS: Studies involving neurosurgeons, fellows, residents, and medical students (maximum sample size: n = 48) were included. RESULTS: Of 7,204 initially identified studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. VR was primarily used for surgical simulation (100% of VR studies) and anatomical education (62.5%). AR demonstrated broader applications, including preoperative planning (40%) and intraoperative support (30%). MR was evenly distributed across simulation, planning, and intraoperative support (40% each). The most frequently improved outcomes were training effectiveness (52%) and technical proficiency (44%). Methodological quality scores, assessed using the Modified Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MMERSQI), ranged from 39.5 to 84.5, indicating varied rigor. CONCLUSION: VR, AR, and MR technologies show potential to enhance surgical precision, technical skills, and educational outcomes in neurosurgical training. However, standardization of methodologies and cost-effective solutions remain essential. Future research should focus on long-term clinical impact and integration of AI-driven training models.

Virtual Reality↗

PubMed2026

The Effect of Slow Deep Breathing Relaxation Exercise on Pain and Anxiety Levels During and Post-Chest Tube Removal After CABG.

Chest tube removal after coronary artery bypass graft is frequently reported by patients as stressful and painful, highlighting the need for effective nonpharmacological interventions. Slow deep breathing relaxation exercises (SDBREs) may serve as a simple nursing strategy to reduce discomfort. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of SDBRE on pain and anxiety during and after chest tube removal following coronary artery bypass grafting in Nablus hospitals. An experimental design was used with 80 patients recruited from 2 hospitals. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 40) that practiced SDBRE or a control group (n = 40) that received standard care. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, the Numeric Pain Scale, and the Visual Anxiety Scale. Data collection occurred from March to October 2024. The intervention group reported significantly lower pain scores during removal (M: 5.325 vs 7.125, P < .001) and after removal (P < .001). Anxiety scores were significantly lower both during and after removal (P < .001). Pain correlated with duration, with more complex operations and prolonged chest tube insertion linked to higher scores. SDBRE significantly reduced pain and anxiety during and after chest tube removal, supporting its integration into routine postoperative nursing care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Functional neuroimaging subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) exhibits substantial clinical heterogeneity that may reflect underlying neurobiological diversity. Neuroimaging-based subtyping may advance precision psychiatry by identifying biologically distinct subgroups with differential treatment responses. This study systematically synthesized evidence from functional neuroimaging subtyping studies in OCD to identify reproducible neurobiological subtypes, characterize their clinical profiles, and establish a consensus-based classification framework. We reviewed 40 original studies employing machine learning, clustering, normative modeling, or classification approaches, encompassing approximately 8,150 patients. Consensus clustering identified three reproducible neurobiological subtypes. The Limbic-Hyperactive subtype, comprising approximately 40% of patients, exhibited amygdala and insula hyperconnectivity, elevated anxiety levels, predominant contamination and washing symptoms, and favorable response to cognitive-behavioral therapy. The Fronto-Striatal-Hypoconnected subtype, comprising approximately 35% of patients, demonstrated reduced orbitofrontal-striatal connectivity, cognitive inflexibility, predominant checking and ordering symptoms, and a favorable response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The Global-Disrupted subtype, comprising approximately 25% of patients, exhibited widespread connectivity disruption, greater symptom severity, and poor treatment response. Support vector machine classification achieved 81.5% accuracy for subtype assignment, though classification of OCD versus healthy controls showed limited generalizability in multisite settings (AUC 0.567-0.673). These findings support a neuroimaging-based framework for personalized treatment selection but require prospective validation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Predictive evolutionary genomics: principles, validation, and practice.

Climate change and habitat loss are driving rapid evolutionary responses in populations world-wide, which creates an urgent need for evolutionary forecasting in conservation and agriculture. Such forecasting can be categorized into three time scales: trait-based models that use multivariate quantitative genetic equations to project correlated phenotypic responses up to c. 20 generations, allele-based analyses that model allele frequency dynamics up to 100 generations, and composite adaptation scores that aggregate many small effects to yield predictions across longer horizons. However, these approaches have remained largely disconnected. Here, we present a Bayesian framework that integrates these three complementary approaches for evolutionary prediction. Our framework combines genomic, phenotypic, and environmental data to yield probabilistic predictions with explicit uncertainty. We show how predictive evolutionary forecasts can be validated with experimental evolution, field experimentation, historical specimens, and reciprocal transplants. These validated forecasts can help advance conservation and agricultural programmes by helping predict which populations are at risk of future extinction, optimizing breeding programmes for future climates, and planning ecosystem management under environmental change. By supporting a shift towards more predictive approaches in evolutionary biology, this framework may help improve our ability to manage biodiversity and food security in a changing world.

Genomics↗

PubMed2026

Clinical and endocrine correlates of genetic etiologies in severe hypospadias: Study from 34 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Hypospadias is a prevalent congenital anomaly (0.3%-1.0%); however, severe hypospadias (defined as proximal cases with the meatus at the penoscrotal junction, scrotum, or perineum) is a rare and clinically challenging entity with a multifactorial etiology. This study aimed to characterize the interrelationships among the clinical, endocrine, and genetic profiles in children with severe hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 34 male patients with severe hypospadias. Preoperative hormone levels were measured using two methods: chemiluminescent immunoassay for luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17α-OHP), and other steroids. Genetic analysis was conducted via whole exome sequencing. RESULTS: The diagnostic yield of clinically relevant genetic variants (including pathogenic and likely pathogenic, and variants of uncertain significance) in our cohort was 41.2% (14/34) of patients. Patients carrying these variants exhibited a more complex phenotypic profile compared to non-carriers, including a significantly higher rate of patients with ≥3 associated malformations and a greater prevalence of cryptorchidism. Furthermore, the group with clinically relevant variants showed selective elevations in adrenal-derived precursors, specifically 17α-OHP and DHEA. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations of both 17α-OHP levels and the T/DHT ratio with the number of associated malformations. CONCLUSION: This study reveals significant genetic heterogeneity in patients with severe hypospadias. Those carrying genetic variants was associated with more severe clinical phenotypes, while certain endocrine variations, including the elevation of adrenal-derived hormones, were also observed in this cohort.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Ancient DNA and Human Physiology.

Ancient DNA (aDNA) enables the reconstruction of chronologically sampled genomes from ancient humans, animals, plants, pathogens, and microorganisms, as well as environmental DNA, providing a record of biological changes through time. Improvements in short and degraded DNA extraction methods and low-cost sequencing now enable the generation of broad, cross-regional datasets that expand evolutionary analyses from past population demography to biological mechanisms. By tracking temporal shifts of allele frequencies, integrating functional genomics resources (e.g., gene expression, chromatin structure variation), modeling population demography to separate selection from genetic drift, and aligning genetic changes with archaeological, cultural, and climatic data, aDNA has the potential to link sequence variation to physiological function within their temporal and environmental contexts. In this review, we summarize illustrative case studies from aDNA research spanning complex traits, dietary adaptations, and responses to pathogens and other environmental changes, showing how human biology has evolved under multiple selective pressures through time. These dated signals help triage experimental work and expose mechanisms that are rare or absent in living cohorts. Although some challenges remain, such as geographic and temporal sampling disparities, limitations in data resolution and variant detection, and genotype-phenotype uncertainties, rapid methodological progress and stronger ethical frameworks are expanding what can be inferred, making aDNA a promising tool for refining physiological pathways, their timing, and their drivers.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Electroencephalographic evidence of cortical network disruption preceding overt cardioinhibition during tilt-induced reflex syncope.

OBJECTIVE: Reflex syncope is a common cause of transient loss of consciousness. However, the early cerebral mechanisms underlying cardiovascular changes remain poorly understood. Our objective was to investigate early cerebral changes by quantitatively analyzing EEG activity preceding overt cardioinhibition during tilt-induced reflex syncope. METHODS: EEG recordings from patients undergoing tilt testing were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who experienced reflex syncope were compared to those who did not. Spectral and functional connectivity analyses were performed across baseline, pre-cardioinhibition, and syncopal phases. RESULTS: Prior to the onset of cardioinhibitory pathological reflex, a significant increase in theta-band spectral power was observed in the right temporal region, accompanied by a widespread increase in functional connectivity within the same frequency band. These findings suggest the involvement of brain networks before cardioinhibition. CONCLUSIONS: EEG changes in the theta band (power and functional connectivity) were observed before overt cardioinhibition during tilt-induced reflex syncope. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings support the hypothesis of cortical processing preceding cardioinhibition in reflex syncope. EEG may represent a valuable complementary tool for improving the understanding and diagnosis of these events.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Quantification of appetite-regulating hormones in children with hypothalamic and common obesity.

CONTEXT: The pathophysiology of hypothalamic obesity (HyOb) remains incompletely understood with no effective treatments. OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in appetite-regulating hormone concentrations between patients with HyOb, common obesity, and lean controls. DESIGN: Multiway cross-sectional case-control study of patients aged 2 through 19 years. SETTING: Two tertiary pediatric endocrinology centers. PATIENTS: Cases were obese (body mass index [BMI] > +2 SD score [SDS], "HyOb") and lean ("HyLean") patients with congenital (septo-optic dysplasia) or acquired (suprasellar brain tumor) hypothalamic disorders. Controls had common obesity ("Ob") or nonhypothalamic disorders and normal BMI ("Lean"). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relationships between the Dykens' Hyperphagia Questionnaire Score (DHQS), plasma or serum concentrations of leptin, insulin, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, oxytocin, acylated ghrelin, agouti-related peptide and copeptin, and BMI SDS. RESULTS: Dykens' Hyperphagia Questionnaire Score did not differ between HyOb and Ob patients (24 [17-34] vs 24 [18-31]) but correlated with BMI SDS in patients with hypothalamic disorders (P = 0.02). HyOb and Ob patients exhibited similarly increased anorexigens (insulin, leptin) and decreased orexigens (ghrelin, agouti-related peptide) compared to HyLean and Lean patients. The rate of BMI increase was independently associated with lower αMSH (β = -0.23 [-0.36 to -0.11], P = .0007) and ghrelin (β=-0.004 [-0.01 to 0.00], P = .001) concentrations, suggesting that αMSH replacement may be a therapeutic target for HyOb. HyLean patients demonstrated intermediate insulin responses to glucose compared to other subcohorts. CONCLUSION: In our cohort, patients with HyOb appeared indistinguishable from Ob in terms of their appetite and appetite-regulating neuroendocrine circuitry. Higher αMSH concentrations are associated with reduced weight gain and may be a target for therapeutic intervention.

alpha-MSH↗

PubMed2026

Elucidating the evolution of meat quality, water distribution, microstructure, and protein structure during sous-vide and micro-pressure cooking.

This study investigated the evolution of eating quality (colour, texture and volatile flavour compounds), water status, microstructure and protein structure of pork meat under different cooking methods. The methods analysed included traditional cooking (TC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 100 °C), sous-vide cooking (SV: 1, 2, 3 and 4 h, 60 °C) and micro-pressure cooking (MC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 120 °C). Across the three cooking processes, as cooking time increased, cooking loss, lightness, yellowness, P23, β-sheet, random coil and surface hydrophobicity of the meat samples increased. By contrast, redness, P22, hydrogen proton density, esters content, α-helix, β-turn and sulfhydryl group content decreased. Moreover, the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), adhesiveness, hardness, springiness, gumminess, chewiness, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and fluorescence intensity of the meat samples, initially increased and then decreased as cooking progressed. SV resulted in higher water-holding capacity (WHC), improved redness and increased alcohol and ester levels, whereas MC produced softer meat and greater water mobility. Furthermore, MC enhanced the degree of microstructural damage and protein structural unfolding in the meat. MC requires less time to achieve textures and flavours similar to those obtained using the TC and SV methods. Thus, MC is an efficient cooking method for the catering industry to obtain desired meat quality rapidly.

Cooking↗

Results for “40&#x2009;Hz gamma-frequency auditory stimulation”

Results for “40 Hz gamma-frequency auditory stimulation”