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PubMed2026

How do women with a history of childhood sexual abuse experience the preconception and perinatal period? A qualitative systematic review.

CONTEXT: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a public health issue that predominantly affects women and has both short- and long-term consequences. The perinatal period can represent a challenge, but also an opportunity to identify a history of CSA and to provide sensitive care that may help prevent the intergenerational transmission of trauma. AIM: To describe and understand the experiences and coping strategies of women who are survivors of child sexual abuse and are transitioning to motherhood. METHOD: We conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies according to a protocol registered in PROSPERO, following methodological standards and reporting the results according to the ENTREQ guideline. A search was conducted on five databases up to July 2025. Two authors independently selected the articles and assessed their methodological quality. Data were analysed using thematic synthesis and the confidence in the findings was evaluated according to GRADE-CERQual. RESULTS: We included 21 qualitative studies that resulted in six themes. The findings reveal how women who experienced child sexual abuse and are transitioning to motherhood may experience this stage with ambivalence-ranging from revictimisation to identity reconstruction-where perinatal care emerges as a potential healing vehicle throughout this process. CONCLUSIONS: The perinatal period becomes a window of opportunity to heal deep wounds, with perinatal care playing a key role. The findings support trauma-informed perinatal care, underpinned by reflective practice and a holistic approach. Further work is needed to improve the identification of child sexual abuse, enhance professional training and review current practices to ensure sensitive care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Cis-regulatory variation in the MdCKX6 promoter is associated with allele-specific expression and fruit size in apple.

Fruit size is a key determinant of apple fruit quality and market value and is strongly influenced by phytohormone-regulated cell proliferation and expansion during early fruit development. Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) enzymes regulate cytokinin homeostasis by irreversibly degrading active cytokinins, but the contribution of natural variation in CKX genes to fruit size remains poorly understood. Here, we identified MdCKX6 as a candidate regulator of fruit growth in apple (Malus domestica). MdCKX6 exhibited pronounced allele-specific expression during fruit development in the cultivar 'Royal Gala'. Sequence analysis identified a promoter SNP associated with differential promoter activity and allele-specific expression. Genotyping of diverse apple cultivars and wild Malus accessions revealed a significant association between MdCKX6 promoter genotype and fruit size. Cultivars carrying low-expression alleles produced larger fruits, whereas high-expression alleles were associated with smaller fruits. To investigate gene function, MdCKX6 was overexpressed in tomato, resulting in reduced fruit size. Histological analyses of the transgenic tomato fruit revealed smaller pericarp cells. Transcriptome analysis of transgenic fruits revealed widespread changes in genes associated with cell-cycle regulation, cell wall modification, hormone-related processes, and transcriptional regulation. Together, these results identify MdCKX6 as a potential negative regulator of apple fruit growth and reveal an association between cis-regulatory variants, gene expression, and fruit size. This study provides new insights into the role of cytokinin metabolism in fruit development and highlights regulatory variation in MdCKX6 as a potential target for apple breeding.

Malus↗

PubMed2026

Robust optimisation for photon radiotherapy: A scoping review of models, paradigms, and reporting.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Robust optimisation offers an alternative to conventional margin-based photon radiotherapy planning by explicitly modelling uncertainty, but practice is variable and not standardised. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to map robust optimisation for photon external beam radiotherapy. Electronic searches of Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar (2000-2025, English language) identified planning studies that incorporated modelled uncertainties into the optimisation process and reported at least one robustness-related outcome. Data were charted on clinical context, uncertainty models, optimisation paradigms, robustness metrics and evidence for clinical implementation. RESULTS: Seventy-one studies were included. Most investigated prostate, breast or lung cancer and used intensity-modulated radiotherapy or volumetric-modulated arc therapy in commercial or research treatment planning systems. Scenario-based worst-case (minimax) optimisation was the dominant paradigm in clinically oriented work, while chance-constrained, conditional value at-risk, distributionally robust and adaptive formulations were confined to small methodological series. Uncertainty modelling focused mainly on rigid set-up error; fewer studies incorporated respiratory motion, inter-fraction anatomical change, dose-calculation uncertainty or biological variation. Robustness was evaluated with diverse scenario-based dose-volume metrics, probabilistic coverage measures, composite robustness indices and, less often, biological endpoints. Direct clinical implementation reports were scarce. CONCLUSION: Robust photon planning is technically feasible and generally maintains or improves target coverage and organ sparing compared with margin-based planning. However, heterogeneity in uncertainty models, optimisation configuration and robustness reporting limits comparison and synthesis. Pragmatic minimum standards are proposed to support future consensus and wider clinical adoption.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Intraskeletal Variation in Cortical Bone Quantity in a Medieval Italian Sample: A Multivariate Exploratory Approach.

Bioarcheologists interpret skeletal health by examining variability within and between individuals. Studies of bone loss have generated contradictory and conflicting results regarding the onset and severity of age-related bone loss on a global and temporal scale, perhaps due to mismatched methodologies. Intraskeletal comparisons of bone tissue prove challenging precisely because of heterogeneous baselines in quantity and remodeling of cortical bone throughout the skeleton, as well as evolutionary histories and environmental impacts on growth and development. Here we analyze cortical bone indicators from the rib, metacarpal, and femoral cortical bone in a subset of individuals (n = 72) regions from the medieval Italian archaeological site of Pieve di Pava. To facilitate intraskeletal comparisons across elements with different biological baselines, we standardize cortical bone parameters using z-scores. Variation in relative intraskeletal cortical bone was assessed using accessible multivariate methods (principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis). Results suggest an association between femoral and metacarpal cortical bone values, with stochastic trends in metacarpal and femoral relative bone quantity in relation to the rib bone quantity at the sample level. Our study demonstrates that while intraskeletal analyses are challenging, they are made more robust by synthesizing multivariate methods alongside exploratory data analysis (EDA) methods to tack between sample-level and individual-level scales and variability. Ultimately, we advocate for leveraging multivariate techniques not as a final step, but rather as a means of generating new hypotheses and challenging tendencies to a priori establish typological groups in the research process.

Skeleton↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic changes in the gut mucosa of fasting northern elephant seal pups reveal immune modulation during early microbiome establishment.

Fasting is an integral component of the life-history of many species. Following abrupt weaning, northern elephant seal pups (Mirounga angustirostris) undergo an extended post-weaning fast of approximately 60 days. During this period, enteric bacterial diversity increases, suggesting that host immune regulation may facilitate the establishment of microbial communities. However, the molecular processes occurring within the intestinal mucosa during this transition remain poorly understood. To investigate these mechanisms, we characterized transcriptional changes in the enteric mucosa of male and female northern elephant seal pups sampled at weaning and after one month of fasting. Total RNA isolated from rectal swabs was sequenced and aligned to the Mirounga angustirostris reference genome. Differential gene expression and gene set enrichment analyses were used to identify genes and pathways associated with fasting and sex-specific responses. Fasting was accompanied primarily by transcriptional downregulation, including genes involved in antimicrobial defense, inflammation, protein turnover, and epithelial remodeling. In contrast, several genes associated with B-cell activity and immune recognition were upregulated. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed coordinated activation of immune-regulatory pathways indicating dynamic modulation of intestinal immunity rather than generalized immune suppression. Pronounced sex-specific differences were also observed. Male pups exhibited transcriptional patterns consistent with enhanced immune tolerance, whereas females showed broader immune-pathway activation, including enrichment of pro-inflammatory and stress-response pathways. Several non-coding RNAs also displayed sex-specific changes in expression. Together, these findings suggest that fasting induces transcriptional remodeling of the gut and may contribute to immune regulation during a critical period of microbiome establishment in northern elephant seal pups.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

A horizontally acquired gene mediates insect cocoon pigmentation in the eri silkmoth, Samia ricini.

Holometabolous insects make cocoons during larval-pupal metamorphosis to protect the pupal phase. The materials used for cocoon construction vary widely. Lepidopteran insects typically secrete silk to form cocoons, which display diverse colors. The eri silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini, is an economically important domesticated species that mostly produces white cocoons, with some varieties producing red cocoons. The enzyme kynureninase (KYNU), acquired from bacteria by horizontal gene transfer, has previously been implicated in insect coloration, while the tryptophan metabolite 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA) has been identified as a red pigment. However, exactly how KYNU is involved in cocoon pigmentation remains unclear. Here, we report that a horizontally transferred bacterial gene encoding KYNU regulates red cocoon formation. Metabolomic analysis revealed a high accumulation of 3-HAA in red cocoons, confirming its role as the primary pigment and associating the coloration with tryptophan metabolism. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis indicated that SrKYNU is highly expressed in the silk glands and significantly downregulated in the red cocoon strain compared to the white cocoon strain. Genomic sequencing identified a 141 bp deletion in the upstream regulatory region of KYNU in the red cocoon strain compared to the white cocoon strain. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed that this deletion significantly reduced promoter activity. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of SrKYNU in the white-cocoon strain resulted in mutants producing red cocoons with elevated 3-HAA content. These findings reveal that the horizontally transferred gene SrKYNU exhibits tissue-specific expression and regulates cocoon coloration in S. ricini, illustrating that horizontal gene transfer can play an important role in regulating an insect physiological process.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Vaccine preferences and their role for vaccine confidence and uptake: a meta-ethnography.

Vaccine confidence and uptake are influenced by individuals' preferences regarding vaccine composition, quality, or administration pathways. However, literature synthesizing available qualitative insights into individuals' vaccine preferences remains limited. We therefore conducted a meta-ethnographic systematic review of the qualitative literature on vaccine preferences to identify opportunities for enhancing vaccine confidence and uptake. We implemented a comprehensive search strategy and screened 5,528 studies across seven research databases published between 2001 and 2023. We identified and synthesized 97 qualitative articles to delineate factors influencing consumers' vaccine preferences. Our findings revealed four primary domains shaping individuals' vaccine preferences: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion. First, individuals' preferences for vaccines often hinge on perceived quality and safety of the product itself, which can, for example, be associated with vaccine brand or origin, especially in the case of novel vaccines. Second, people prioritize convenience in terms of vaccination sites and delivery methods (wanting vaccinations offered at their doorstep or in local peripheral clinics); evidence regarding preferred groups to administer the vaccines was mixed. Third, the price of vaccines and the secondary costs associated with vaccination played a role in uptake considerations. Finally, both the sources of information (such as healthcare workers, community volunteers, and religious authorities) and the methods of promoting vaccine information (including face-to-face consultations during clinic visits and the distribution of leaflets or banners), emerged as crucial factors shaping decision-making processes. Overall findings highlight the importance of addressing multifaceted preferences to enhance vaccine confidence and uptake. By understanding individuals' vaccine preferences, strategic recommendations can be developed to optimize vaccination programs and ensure acceptability and utilization.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

In situ product monitoring in heterogeneous reaction of gaseous trimethylamine on Fe2O3/Fe(NO3)3: Effect of environmental factor and particle property.

Gas-particle reactions represent an important atmospheric heterogeneous transformation process for organic amines (OAs). Environmental factors and particle properties may impact the gas-particle reaction products. Although the products from gas-particle reactions can be monitored by various in situ techniques, related data remain scarce. Here, the interfacial and gaseous products from the reaction of trimethylamine on Fe2O3/Fe(NO3)3 particles under light irradiation with mixed NO2, O2, SO2 and H2O were monitored using in-situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Dark reaction of gaseous trimethylamine on Fe2O3/Fe(NO3)3 generated two interfacial products types: N-containing ones (CH3NCH2, CH3NO2, (CH3)2NCHO, and CH3N(OH)CHO) and N-free ones (alcohols, aldehydes and acids), both accumulating with reaction progression. Light irradiation and O2 oxidation enhanced formation of these products, while NO2 promoted the production of CH3NO2 and (CH3)2NCHO. H2O and SO2 occupied the active sites of particles to inhibit the formation of all products. Compared to Fe(NO3)3, Fe2O3 showed absolute dominance in contribution to the formation of products. Considering the smaller particle size of Fe2O3 and excess Fe(NO3)3, the physical mixing of them reduced the generation of interfacial products. Furthermore, gaseous products of CH3OH, HCHO, CH3CHO, HCOOH and CH3COOH detection clarified the N-free interfacial products. The presence of Fe(NO3)3 inhibited the formation of HCOOH and favored the formation of CH3CHO in the gas phase. By combining product information with thermodynamic calculations, the heterogeneous reaction pathways of trimethylamine were tentatively proposed. These findings provide a guiding significance for the migration of OAs in real atmospheric environment.

Methylamines↗

PubMed2026

Getting to the Core of the Matter-Assessing the Role of Replication in Metabarcoding-Based sedaDNA.

Replication is central to most experimental and sampling designs, increasing inferential power and capturing fine-scale data heterogeneity. However, its importance remains poorly evaluated in some ecological and evolutionary settings. This is the case of metabarcoding studies using DNA recovered from sedimentary archives, in which biological signals integrate ecological information through depositional and burial processes, yet are commonly inferred from a single sediment core per site. Here, we evaluated the effect of different types of replication using sedimentary DNA metabarcoding data from two genetic markers (mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S) using a nested sampling design. The design included three intertidal sites, three spatially separated sediment cores per site (biological replicates), two sediment horizons per core, and eight PCR (technical) replicates per sediment sample. Variance partitioning showed that site identity and sediment age group together explained > 70% of the variation in beta diversity, indicating that among-site spatial and stratigraphic differences were the dominant drivers of community composition. PERMANOVA likewise identified non-significant effects of biological replication. Among PCR replicates from the same sediment sample, richness varied substantially, whereas Shannon diversity was more consistent. Despite this variability, differences in community composition among technical replicates remained smaller than those associated with biological replication or site identity, indicating a limited influence on broader ecological patterns. Community composition was highly similar among replicate cores within sites, consistent with stratigraphic coherence. These results indicate limited within-site heterogeneity and suggest that, under stratigraphically coherent conditions, increasing biological replication may provide little additional information, whereas enhancing technical replication and stratigraphic resolution can improve ecological inference from sedimentary DNA metabarcoding datasets.

DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic↗

PubMed2026

Mapping the Molecular Evolution and Role of Wild Rice GLYIII Protein-Encoding Genes in Abiotic Stress Response.

To address the need for sustainable food production amid rapid global climate change, developing rice varieties that grow optimally even under harsh conditions is essential. An effective approach in this direction would be to harness the stress resilience traits of the crop wild relatives (CWRs) of rice. Among the various crucial stress-responsive genes, the Glyoxalase III (GLYIII) gene family is of utmost importance for its ability to detoxify the toxic glycolytic byproduct, methylglyoxal (MG), in a less energy-intensive, single-step process, as well as for its multifaceted cytoprotective role. In our study, a comprehensive genome-wide search across the Oryza genus revealed that GLYIII genes are conserved across wild rice genotypes. Their number has expanded during domestication, driven by gene duplications. Interestingly, only a few orthologous pairs showed positive selection, suggesting that the functions of most others need to be constrained and or conserved.We found that higher GLYIII activity, Total Antioxidant Capacity, endogenous glutathione (GSH) levels, and free radical scavenging activity contributes to the stress resilience of wild rices O. punctata, O. meridionalis, and O. nivara, in addition to other factors. , , . , . Our qRT-PCR analysis revealed differential expression of the OpGLYIII, OmGLYIII, and OnGLYIII genes across different developmental stages and in response to various abiotic stresses. Furthermore, we report that wild rice GLYIII proteins, specifically OpGLYIII-3, OmGLYIII-3, and OnGLYIII-5, exhibit high catalytic efficiency over a broad pH range and at higher temperatures under in vitro assay conditions. Overexpression of these proteins was found to impart substantial stress resilience to the transformed E. coli cells. These findings collectively suggest that GLYIII proteins constitute a key component of the abiotic stress response machinery in wild rice.

Oryza↗

PubMed2026

A versatile reversed-phase liquid chromatography charged aerosol detection method for streamlined monitoring of QS-21 content and stability in liposomal adjuvant formulations.

Identifying and quantifying an active adjuvant along with its degradants in drug formulations is essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of the drug product. QS-21 is a potent adjuvant that is being evaluated in several clinical trials and is currently formulated in licensed vaccines that protect against shingles, malaria, and RSV. In aqueous environments, QS-21 is subject to hydrolytic degradation that is influenced by pH and temperature, resulting in the formation of a degradant known as QS-21 Hydrolyzed Product, QS-21 HP, which can occur during manufacturing and/or prolonged storage. The intact QS-21 and QS-21 HP induce distinct immune response profiles, making it critical to monitor the degradation of QS-21 in vaccine adjuvant formulations. To date, there has been a paucity of reliable assays for QS-21, its isomers, and degradant QS-21 HP in liposomal adjuvant formulations available that can be transferred seamlessly in quality control (QC) environments. Herein, we introduce a simple and QC-friendly liquid chromatography coupled to a charged aerosol detector (LC-CAD) enabled by stationary phase screening combined with in silico method development optimization. The method exploits 2.7 μm fused-core phenyl hexyl particles, ensuring its versatility in standard and ultra-high pressure LC systems. This approach demonstrates a high correlation between predicted retention time (RT) and experimental outcomes with overall ∆RT < 4%. In addition, this assay shows great linearity, precision, specificity, and accuracy to advance process development characterization of new vaccine formulations.

Liposomes↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide insights into the evolutionary and demographic history of the red alga Mazzaella laminarioides: Evidence for speciation with ancient migration along the southeast Pacific coast.

The mechanisms driving lineage divergence in red algae remain unexplored, despite the group's remarkable diversity and ancient evolutionary history. The red alga Mazzaella laminarioides, a Chilean intertidal species complex composed of three parapatric cryptic lineages (North, Center, South), offers a valuable system to evaluate these processes, as its life history combines severe dispersal limitation with a haploid-diploid cycle that may influence the emergence of reproductive barriers. We reconstructed its evolutionary history using whole-genome sequencing and nuclear genome assembly of representative individuals from each lineage. Phylogenomic analyses based on 1,507 single-copy orthologs recovered three deeply divergent lineages with limited nuclear discordance consistent with incomplete lineage sorting. For both splits, demographic modelling was most consistent with an Ancient Migration scenario, although support over strict isolation was moderate, suggesting that divergence may have begun with low asymmetric ancestral gene flow followed by subsequent loss of connectivity, demographic bottlenecks, and later population expansion. Coding sequence analyses revealed lineage-specific dN/dS heterogeneity; only one South-lineage locus passed FDR correction (metaxin-1, mitochondrial protein import), with two further South-lineage candidates in chlorophyll and heme biosynthesis falling below the FDR threshold. Together, these signals suggest that divergent selective pressures on energy acquisition may have contributed to divergence at the southern end of the distribution. These results add to the small but growing body of whole-genome data for red algae and, alongside recent macroalgal studies, suggest that ancestral connectivity could be a recurrent feature of lineage divergence even in marine organisms with extremely restricted dispersal.

Rhodophyta↗

PubMed2026

An oxidative stress - and immunotherapy-related six-gene signature defines immune subtypes and predicts prognosis and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and the tumor immune microenvironment jointly shape hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and response to immunotherapy, yet integrated biomarkers linking these processes are lacking. METHODS: Transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were used to identify oxidative stress- and immunotherapyrelated differentially expressed genes (OSIRDEGs). Functional enrichment, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and LASSO-Cox regression were used to construct a prognostic signature. Consensus clustering, TIDE, CIBERSORT and ssGSEA characterized immune phenotypes. Somatic mutation, copy-number and drug-response data were integrated to assess genomic alterations and drug sensitivity. Expression of model genes was validated by qRT-PCR and western blotting in HCC cell lines. RESULTS: We identified 24 OSIRDEGs enriched in cell-cycle and mitotic pathways. WGCNA intersection yielded 18 module genes, from which a six-gene signature (BUB1B, CDKN2A, CENPE, HMMR, PTTG1, SPP1) was derived. The signature robustly stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different progression-free and disease-free survival in both TCGA-LIHC and GSE14520. Based on signature expression, two molecular subtypes were defined, exhibiting distinct survival, immune landscapes and predicted immunotherapy responsiveness. Model genes harbored recurrent alterations and showed significant correlations with anticancer agents. All six genes were upregulated at mRNA and protein levels in metastatic HCC cell lines versus normal hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: We systematically explored the landscape of OSIRDEGs in HCC, and proposed a validated six-gene signature that refines prognostic stratification, delineates immunerelevant HCC subtypes and highlights candidate biomarkers for therapeutic selection and mechanistic investigation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Community pharmacists' perspectives on resupplying and prescribing contraceptives: a descriptive qualitative study in Australia.

OBJECTIVES: Australia has commenced implementing contraceptive resupply and prescribing by community pharmacists to improve equity in method access. This study aimed to investigate pharmacist's acceptability of hormonal contraceptive resupply and prescribing. METHODS: Participants were recruited via convenience sampling and had provided contraceptive counseling consistent with the ALLIANCE intervention (i.e. structured, patient-centered, effectiveness-based care) to women seeking the emergency contraceptive pill or presenting prescriptions for medical abortion medicines. This qualitative descriptive study was embedded within the ALLIANCE trial, whose process evaluation included semi-structured interviews with pharmacist participants. The interview guide, containing questions on pharmacists' views of the resupply and prescribing service, was reviewed by the ALLIANCE Trial Chief Investigators and piloted in June 2024 with the SPHERE Pharmacy Advisory Circle. Thirteen questions were developed using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Two researchers conducted line-by-line coding using an iteratively refined codebook, with codes mapped to TFA constructs to examine operationalization in pharmacists' delivery of hormonal contraception. KEY FINDINGS: Although pharmacists (n = 24) perceived that the service could be cost- and time-saving to patients, they raised concerns of unintentionally removing general practitioner (GP)-led monitoring of patients and overstepping GPs' roles. While pharmacists felt confident in their expertise and generally supported the service, they expressed hesitation about initiating contraceptive prescriptions, for which they felt further training and access to comprehensive medical records were required. Additional barriers included increased workload pressures, lack of reimbursement, and inadequate staffing. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, providing a resupply service appears to be acceptable to community pharmacists because it relies on the GP's initial assessment but prescribing less so. However, evaluation is needed post-implementation to explore sustainability, feasibility, and long-term impact on patient outcomes.

contraception↗

PubMed2026

Antagonistic regulation by mango MiSPL9a and MiSPL9b regulates flowering time, drought and salt stress in Arabidopsis.

SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) transcription factors, which are unique to plants, contain a highly conserved SBP domain that regulates gene expression by binding to downstream targets. They play critical roles in various biological processes, especially in the regulation of flowering in plants. In this study, two SPL-like genes (MiSPL9a and MiSPL9b) were identified from mango genomic and transcriptomic data, and their sequence, expression and function were further analyzed. Sequence analysis revealed that MiSPL9a and MiSPL9b have open reading frames of 1173 bp and 1158 bp, respectively, with slight differences in the number of cis-regulatory elements within their promoter regions. Expression analysis under stress conditions revealed distinct patterns: MiSPL9a expression significantly differed under drought stress but did not significantly differ under salt stress, whereas MiSPL9b expression responded significantly to salt stress but changed minimally under drought stress. Phenotypic analysis of the transgenic Arabidopsis lines revealed that MiSPL9a overexpression delayed flowering, whereas MiSPL9b overexpression promoted early flowering. Under stress conditions, compared with wild-type plants, MiSPL9a-overexpressing plants presented increased drought tolerance but did not significantly differ. In contrast, MiSPL9b-overexpressing plants were sensitive to salt stress, with no notable phenotypic differences observed under drought conditions. Physiological assays revealed that under drought stress, MiSPL9a transgenic plants presented significantly reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and increased proline (Pro) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Under salt stress, MiSPL9b transgenic plants presented opposite trends in terms of these physiological markers. In summary, both MiSPL9a and MiSPL9b are involved in the regulation of plant flowering time and stress responses, but their functions differ.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2026

Occupationally relevant vibrations and the brain: frequency-dependent proteomics signatures in a rat model.

INTRODUCTION: Occupational exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV), particularly in agricultural environments, has been associated with adverse cognitive and physiological effects. This study examined the neurophysiological impact of WBV in a rat model at 4 Hz and 30 Hz, frequencies representative of off-road and on-road vehicle operation. METHODOLOGY: Forty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control (0 Hz), low-frequency (4 Hz), or high-frequency (30 Hz) vibration conditions. After three days of exposure, brain tissues were collected and analyzed using mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify differentially expressed proteins. RESULTS: Proteomic profiling revealed distinct, frequency-dependent alterations in brain protein expression. Compared with controls, 32 cognition-related proteins were differentially regulated at 4 Hz and 29 at 30 Hz, with 13 differing between the two vibration conditions. Principal component analysis showed clear separation among groups, indicating unique proteomic signatures for each exposure frequency. Functional enrichment and protein-protein interaction analyses demonstrated involvement of synaptic plasticity, cytoskeletal organization, calcium regulation, and neurotransmitter release. Exposure to 4 Hz was associated with the upregulation of proteins involved in calcium homeostasis and synaptic integrity, suggesting potential disruption of cognitive processes. In contrast, 30 Hz increased the expression of proteins related to axonal guidance and neuroprotection, indicating a less clearly adverse response that may reflect adaptive or potentially beneficial effects. DISCUSSION: These findings provide new insight into biological mechanisms underlying WBV-induced cognitive changes and underscore the importance of vibration frequency in shaping neurophysiological outcomes. They also establish a foundation for future studies integrating proteomics with behavioural assessments in animals and humans.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Faster N1 latency in response to homeostatic-like plasticity of PREPs is impaired during pain: A randomized-placebo capsaicin-pain study.

INTRODUCTION: Homeostatic-like plasticity (HP-like) stabilizes cortical excitability through long-term potentiation and depression-like mechanisms. The efficacy of homeostatic regulation in the corticomotor system is impaired during pain, which may have functional relevance for chronic pain. This study investigated whether a cortical HP-like response could be assessed by nociceptive stimulation, and if such response was impaired by experimental tonic pain. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy participants completed placebo and capsaicin sessions, with 11 sham controls for time and design. HP-like plasticity was induced with two blocks of anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex. The N1 (TP7) and N2P2 (Cz) components of electrically induced pain-related evoked potentials (PREPs) were assessed from the volar forearm before and after patch application, and again immediately and 20 min after HP-like induction. An HP-like response was defined by PREP decrease after induction, and further normalization to baseline. RESULTS: Anodal tDCS did not induce an HP-like regulation of PREP amplitudes. Interestingly, an HP-like response was observed as a fastening of N1 latency after HP-like induction, which returned to baseline values after 20 min. The latter effect was impaired during capsaicin-induced pain, where N1 was slower. The N2P2 component showed habituation over time in all sessions. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that investigates the HP-like regulation of nociceptive-evoked responses. An HP-like response was observed as a shortening of N1 latency, suggesting that early nociceptive processing may be susceptible to homeostatic regulation. In contrast, the later component, N2P2, showed habituation over time, which prevented evaluation of HP-like effects.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The Animal Variant Classification Guidelines v2: An Update With New Criteria and Improved Clarifications.

The Animal Variant Classification Guidelines (AVCG) were developed to standardize and objectify the classification of putative disease-causing variants. These guidelines are sufficiently reproducible and are used to classify previously published and new disease-causing variants across species. Here, the guidelines are updated (AVCG.v2), based on a three-phase decision process. Overall, four new criteria and seven clarifying comments were added. The number of criteria has increased from 23 to 27, with three new criteria supporting pathogenicity and one new criterion supporting benign classification. Pharmacogenomic variants were determined to fall within the scope of the guidelines. These updated guidelines are being used by the Variant Pathogenicity Working Group (VPWG), part of the Animal Genetic Testing Standardization standing committee, which is a committee of elected members of the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG). Under the auspices of ISAG, the VPWG retrospectively classifies published putative disease-causing variants. The pathogenicity label for a variant will be presented in the variant tables of Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA; https://omia.org/). The AVCGv.2 criteria and recommendations were developed by the expertise of the animal genetics community and the ISAG Executive Committee through the Animal Genetics Testing Standardization Committee endorses and strongly encourages their use to evaluate the evidence supporting pathogenicity of putative disease-causing variants.

Animals↗