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PubMed2026

LC-IMS-MS profiling of avocado acetogenins reveals tissue-dependent distribution and cultivar-specific metabolic signatures.

This study presents a comprehensive characterisation of acetogenin-related metabolites in avocado using an LC-IMS-MS workflow. A total of 26 metabolites were semi-quantified across peel, pulp and seed tissues from three cultivars (Hass, Bacon and Fuerte). The integration of ion mobility spectrometry enabled the generation of the first experimental database of collision cross section (CCS) values for avocado acetogenins, improving confidence in metabolite annotation. Results revealed a pronounced tissue-dependent distribution, with seeds and pulp as the primary reservoir of several acetogenins, whereas the peel consistently exhibited lower concentrations. In contrast, acetogenin levels remained largely stable throughout ripening. Clear cultivar-dependent differences were observed, with Hass displaying a distinct metabolic profile compared to Bacon and Fuerte. Multivariate analysis confirmed these findings, showing tissue-dependent cultivar differentiation. This study provides new insights into avocado chemical diversity and highlights the potential of avocado by-products as consistent and promising sources of bioactive acetogenins.

Persea↗

PubMed2026

Restrictive vs Liberal Transfusion Strategy in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Secondary Analysis of the TRAIN Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Anemia is a prevalent condition among patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the optimal hemoglobin (Hb) threshold to initiate red blood cell transfusion (RBCT) is not well defined. OBJECTIVE: To assess which of 2 different Hb thresholds for guiding RBCT in patients with anemia and TBI is associated with a more favorable neurological outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a preplanned secondary analysis of the Transfusion Strategies in Acute Brain Injured Patients multicentric randomized clinical trial, conducted in 72 intensive care units across 22 countries between September 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022. Follow-up was completed June 30, 2023. Only patients with TBI were included in the present analysis, conducted from February to May 2025. INTERVENTIONS: Liberal (transfusion at Hb <9 g/dL [to convert to g/L, multiply by 10.0]) vs restrictive (transfusion at Hb <7 g/dL) RBCT strategy over a maximum of 28 days. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the occurrence of unfavorable neurological outcome, defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended score of 1 to 5 (overall range, 1-8, with higher scores indicating more favorable outcome) at 180 days. In addition, 14 prespecified serious adverse events, including infection and cerebral ischemia, were assessed. Data were analyzed using both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol principles. RESULTS: Of 486 patients who presented with TBI (mean [SD] age, 46.8 [17.6] years; 347 [71.4%] male), 475 were included in the primary outcome analysis: 236 were randomized to the liberal transfusion strategy group and 239 to the restrictive transfusion strategy group. Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. In total, 534 RBCTs were administered in the liberal transfusion strategy group, compared with 246 RBCTs in the restrictive group. At 180 days after randomization, 138 patients (58.5%) in the liberal group had unfavorable neurological outcome compared with 161 patients (67.4%) in the restrictive group (relative risk [RR], 0.86 [95% CI, 0.75-1.00]; P = .047; fragility index = 1). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of secondary outcomes (eg, 28-day mortality: 42 of 240 [17.5%] vs 51 of 244 [20.9%]; RR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.58-1.21]; P = .34) or serious adverse events (eg, RR, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.88-1.43]; P = .34 for infection and RR, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.40-1.90]; P = .72 for cerebral ischemia). After adjustment for several confounders, being randomized to the liberal group was associated with a lower observed probability of unfavorable neurological outcome (odds ratio, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.38-0.94]; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized clinical trial, a liberal RBCT strategy was associated with a lower risk than a restrictive RBCT strategy of unfavorable neurological outcome at 180 days among patients with TBI. These findings should be interpreted with caution in light of the inherent uncertainty of the estimate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02968654.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

DNM1L depletion leads to accelerated heteroplasmy shifting of m.10191C allele through ATG7-dependent pathways.

Nucleotide composition bias in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) makes the heavy strand prone to form a DNA secondary structure called a guanine quadruplex (G4). This secondary structure has been shown to inhibit polymerase processivity in vitro. We previously identified pathogenic mtDNA variants that lead to increased G4-forming propensity, including a T to C mutation at m.10191 (m.10191 T > C) that causes Leigh syndrome. Cells treated with G4 binding agent (G4BA) berberine show a reduction in m.10191C pathogenic heteroplasmy levels. To help better understand the underlying mechanism behind berberine-induced heteroplasmy shift, we examined the relationship between mitochondrial fission and berberine-mediated shift. Here we show that knockdown of the fission factor DNM1L leads to an accelerated heteroplasmy shift towards the healthy mtDNA allele, lowering m.10191C by 10% in 3 weeks, compared to the 5 weeks required for berberine alone. The specific mechanism involves ATG7, as knockdown of ATG7 is able to partially delay this accelerated heteroplasmy shift. Taken together, we show that DNM1L knockdown is able to accelerate berberine-induced m.10191C heteroplasmy shifting through an autophagy-related mechanism.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Leveraging environmental applications and risks of coal gangue: A critical review on authigenic inorganic heavy metals, organic contaminants, and the removal of exogenetic contaminants.

Coal gangue (CG) as bulk solid waste has seriously threatened the ecosystem. Therefore, identifying the key risk drivers and exploring feasible disposal methods for CG are essential for developing a sustainable strategy. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive information that balances the contamination risks with the valuable constituents present in CG, which hinders its full potential for sustainable use without negative environmental impacts. Given the complex composition and associated risks, we propose that addressing the critical properties related to contamination is crucial for the efficient utilization of CG. On this premise, we summarized several practical resource pathways (ecological multifunctional materials, extraction of rare elements, and soil additives) that are more favorable for sustainable development relative to conventional disposals. Meanwhile, we also propose that coupling disposals could intensely reduce CG's environmental footprints and capital costs. Consequently, regardless of the number of challenges to be solved, we believe the CG has broad application prospects, and we hope this review will promote the conversion of CG into an asset with lower ecological and social impacts.

Metals, Heavy↗

PubMed2026

Functional and Nutritional Potential of Chickpea Protein Hydrolysates: A Systematic Review and Plant-protein Network Analysis.

Chickpea is a protein-rich legume increasingly explored as a substrate for functional plant-based ingredients. Chickpea protein hydrolysates (CPHs) and chickpea-derived peptides (CPs), obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis or simulated gastrointestinal digestion, may provide technological and biological properties while supporting the valorization of chickpea fractions and by-products. This review integrates a network analysis of title-abstract terms from 5,728 unique Scopus and PubMed records on plant protein hydrolysates with a systematic review of 72 studies focused on CPH production, peptide characterization, bioactivity, and translational gaps. The evidence indicates that CPHs and CPs show promising antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer-related activities, mainly supported by biochemical assays, cell models, and animal studies. However, heterogeneous hydrolysis protocols, incomplete peptide characterization, inconsistent bioactivity methods, limited scale-up evidence, and the absence of human intervention trials restrict translation. Future studies should prioritize standardized protocols, mechanistic validation, bioavailability, sensory and regulatory assessment, food-matrix validation, and clinical trials.

Cicer↗

PubMed2026

Beyond Glycaemia: Fear of Hypoglycaemia, Cognition and Functional Mobility After Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop Therapy in Older Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis of a Randomised, Single-Centre Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on psychological, cognitive and functional outcomes of advanced diabetes technologies in older adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains limited. We evaluated whether initiation of advanced hybrid closed-loop (AHCL) therapy was associated with changes in fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetes distress, psychological well-being, cognition, frailty-related measures and mobility-related function in adults aged ≥ 65 years with T1D. METHODS: This prespecified, exploratory secondary analysis was conducted within a single-centre, open-label, randomised, controlled, parallel-group trial including adults aged ≥ 65 years with long-standing T1D. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to initiate AHCL therapy using the MiniMed 780G system or to continue standard diabetes treatment. The secondary outcomes included WHO-5, the 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-II (HFS-II), Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Fried frailty phenotype and performance-based functional measures. No formal sample-size calculation was performed for these secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-one participants were randomised and 29 completed 12 months of follow-up and were included in the treatment-effect analyses. In the baseline-adjusted primary analysis, AHCL therapy was associated with a lower HFS-II score than standard treatment (adjusted mean difference -18.9; 95% CI: -32.4 to -5.4; nominal p = 0.008), although this finding did not remain statistically significant after Holm correction (adjusted p = 0.104) or in an exploratory model additionally adjusted for sex (difference -13.6; 95% CI: -32.2 to 5.0; p = 0.145). Diabetes distress, psychological well-being, global cognition and processing speed did not differ between groups. In sex-adjusted sensitivity analyses, the between-group differences remained statistically significant for 6-min walk distance (92.6 m; 95% CI: 36.8 to 148.3; p = 0.002) and Timed Up and Go performance (-2.27 s; 95% CI: -4.28 to -0.27; p = 0.028), but not for gait speed (0.27 m/s; 95% CI: -0.05 to 0.59; p = 0.099). At 12 months, 12 of 14 AHCL participants were robust and 2 were pre-frail; in the control group, 11 of 15 were robust and 4 were pre-frail. No participant was classified as frail at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this small, selected cohort, AHCL therapy was associated with a nominally lower fear-of-hypoglycaemia score and better performance on selected mobility-related tests over 12 months. The fear-of-hypoglycaemia finding did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons or additional adjustment for sex. Six-minute walk distance and Timed Up and Go remained statistically significant in the exploratory sex-adjusted sensitivity analyses, whereas the gait-speed difference did not. No measurable between-group deterioration in global cognition or processing speed was observed. These exploratory findings require confirmation in larger studies with balanced representation by sex and direct measurement of physical activity. These findings also support a person-centred clinical message: older age alone should not be regarded as a barrier to AHCL when treatment is introduced with individualised education and appropriate ongoing support.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Colchicine attenuates cardiac hypertrophy by targeting the macrophage-driven Interleukin-6 suppression.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most prevalent inherited cardiovascular disease, is strongly linked to progressive heart failure and sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, its underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood, and effective therapeutic strategies are still lacking. Here, we established two murine HCM models harboring high SCD risk-associated mutations. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed immune activation and enhanced fibrotic remodeling in the myocardium of these models. Therefore, we hypothesized that colchicine, a widely used anti-inflammatory drug known to reduce cardiovascular events in multiple cardiac disorders, may also represent a promising therapeutic candidate for HCM. As we expected, colchicine treatment attenuated pathological remodeling in our study, as evidenced by reduced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, decreased fibrosis, and downregulation of cardiac stress markers (Anp, Bnp) and fibrotic mediators (Ctgf, Col1a1, Col3a1). In addition, colchicine attenuated pro-inflammatory macrophage populations and suppressed IL-6 expression, thereby contributing to the preservation of cardiac function. These findings provide the first preclinical evidence that colchicine alleviates myocardial inflammation and fibrosis in HCM, underscoring its potential as a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce fibrosis, lower SCD risk, and improve patient outcomes.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Diet and sleep among college student populations: a systematic review.

College students are at-risk for both poor diet and poor sleep. We aimed to systematically review the evidence regarding associations between diet and sleep health within this population. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO from the earliest possible date through February 6, 2026. A total of 57 studies representing 44 countries were retained; most were cross-sectional. There were 22 studies that examined dietary patterns in relation to sleep, generally showing that healthier diet patterns, including the Mediterranean Diet, were related to better sleep quality. Among 20 studies that examined individual foods or nutrients, there was evidence that fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and lower intake of sugar-sweetened beverages were linked to better sleep health, although some findings were mixed. Finally, 15 studies related meal timing to sleep quality, showing that breakfast skipping and later last meals were associated with poor sleep health. Overall, these studies reveal robust cross-sectional associations between diet and sleep among college students, but more longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate directionality. Moreover, a key direction for future study is consideration of sleep and nutrition situated within the unique contexts of college settings and academic schedules.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Sodium supplementation strategies in preterm infants: effects on growth, electrolyte balance, and exploratory evidence on neurodevelopment - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study evaluated the effects of sodium supplementation on growth, electrolyte balance, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. A systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies were conducted using data from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar, including randomized controlled trials and observational studies involving infants born before 37 weeks of gestation. Twelve studies comprising more than 2,800 participants were analysed using random-effects models. Sodium supplementation was associated with improved weight gain and a significant reduction in the risk of hyponatremia (RR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08-0.96). Pooled incidence estimates indicated hypernatremia (32%) and intraventricular hemorrhage (29%) among supplemented cohorts; however, substantial heterogeneity was observed, and comparative risk estimates were limited. Only one study reported long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up, suggesting potential benefit; however, the available evidence remains limited and hypothesis-generating.These findings suggest that sodium supplementation may support growth and is associated with a lower risk of hyponatremia in preterm infants; however, hypernatremia and other morbidity estimates reported here are largely descriptive frequencies within supplemented cohorts rather than comparative treatment effects, and careful, individualized therapy with close monitoring is needed to minimize potential risks.

Growth outcomes↗

PubMed2026

Differences in circadian rhythm changes between myopic and non-myopic college students over 2 years.

This study aimed to characterize and compare the differences in circadian rhythm changes during 2 years between college students with myopia and non-myopia based on a longitudinal cohort study. Wake-up time and bedtime were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Chronotype was assessed using the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ). Circadian rhythm timing was determined by dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO), measured through hourly saliva collection from 21:00 to 01:00. A total of 450 college students (146 [32.4%] males) with a mean age of 18.65 ± 1.05 years were included, of whom 353 (78.4%) students had myopia. Compared with non-myopic individuals, myopic students slept later, woke up earlier, and exhibited lower rMEQ scores at baseline. Over the 2-year follow-up, both groups showed significantly earlier bedtimes, later wake-up times, and higher rMEQ scores. Only myopic students demonstrated a 45-minute delay in DLMO after the 2-year follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, linear mixed-effects models showed that myopic individuals had later bedtimes and earlier wake-up times. These findings indicate significant circadian rhythm changes in individuals with myopia, suggesting the potential of targeted sleep rhythm interventions on preventing myopia.

Myopia↗

PubMed2026

Messaging Strategies for Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Among People with Depression: A Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is strongly associated with higher tobacco use and lower quit rate; few communication campaigns have been designed with these mental health factors in mind. This scoping review compiles existing research on tobacco prevention and cessation messaging involving people with depression to identify gaps and opportunities for future message development. METHODS: Sources included PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, and ProQuest Central (November - December 2024). The 55 studies included examined tobacco prevention or cessation messages and measured depression, depressive symptoms, or mental health as a primary outcome or analytic covariate. Study characteristics, target population, delivery format, message content, theoretical frameworks, outcomes, and gaps were extracted. RESULTS: RCTs made up half (51%) of the included studies, and most (78%) were conducted in the U.S. Nearly half (46%) required participants to have a mental health condition. Interventions most often used interactive (65.5%) or text-based (47.3%) communication and focused on tobacco cessation (89%) rather than vaping (9%). Common outcomes included feasibility or acceptability (37.7%) and point prevalence abstinence (37.7%). Mental health-specific messages showed mixed effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Despite progress in integrating mental health into tobacco messaging, targeted interventions for people with depression remain limited. Few studies tested long-term outcomes or used biochemical verification; many relied on untargeted generalized messaging.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Impaired adaptation to smoke-derived phenolic compounds in Listeria monocytogenes CC204 from smoked salmon and trout.

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen in ready-to-eat smoked fish products. This study evaluated whether clonal complex affiliation contributes to variability in growth responses to stresses representative of smoked salmon and trout processing. Ten strains were studied, including strains from CC121, CC26 and CC204, the three major clonal complexes reported in the French smoked salmon and trout sectors, together with the EGDe reference strain. Strains were exposed to salt, cold, smoke-derived phenolic compounds and combined stress conditions. Growth responses were compared with whole-genome-based phylogeny, and the impaired phenotype observed under phenolic exposure was further investigated using viable counts, live/dead microscopy and comparative genomics. Growth profiles were partly structured by clonal complex, with strains from the same clonal complex showing similar behaviour across stress conditions. Salt and cold reduced growth globally, while smoke-derived phenolic compounds were the most discriminating conditions. CC204 strains showed markedly lower growth rates under phenolic exposure than CC121, CC26 and EGDe. This phenotype was not associated with loss of cultivability or significant loss of membrane integrity. Comparative genomics did not identify a clear gene-content determinant explaining the CC204 phenotype. These results suggest that CC204 has an impaired adaptive response to smoke-derived compounds, likely involving regulatory or physiological mechanisms.

Listeria monocytogenes↗

PubMed2026

Spatially resolved multi-omics analysis of indigenous Bacillus-fortified high-temperature Daqu.

Layer-dependent patterns associated with indigenous Bacillus fortification on high-temperature Daqu remain unclear. Here, six indigenous functional Bacillus strains were combined to fortify Daqu at three inoculation levels (QH4, QH5, QH6), with non-fortified as the control (CK). Upper, middle, and lower shelf-layer samples were profiled by physicochemical measurements, volatilomics, organic acid analysis, untargeted metabolomics, 16S/ITS amplicon sequencing, and metagenomics. PERMANOVA showed significant effects of treatment, spatial layer, and their interaction on physicochemical, volatile, bacterial, and fungal profiles (P = 0.001). Among the three inoculation levels, QH5 showed the most balanced performance: QH5_M exhibited the highest observed mean peak temperature (63.3 °C; +4.5 °C relative to CK_M), and its group-mean temperature remained ≥ 60 °C for seven consecutive days. Multi-omics analyses indicated coordinated, non-linear, and layer-dependent differences associated with indigenous Bacillus fortification, with QH5_M showing the most pronounced combined thermal, pyrazine, substrate, microbial, and predicted functional profile. These findings indicate that moderate indigenous Bacillus fortification was associated with distinct layer-dependent thermal and flavor profiles and coordinated microbial, metabolic, and predicted functional differences.

Bacillus↗

PubMed2026

Targeted sequencing reveals a distinct genetic alteration landscape in oral multiple primary squamous cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Oral multiple primary cancers (MPCs) are associated with poor clinical outcomes, yet their genomic characteristics remain insufficiently understood. DESIGN: Fifty-four formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples from 30 patients with oral MPCs were analyzed using high-depth targeted sequencing of a customized 14-gene panel derived from prior whole-exome sequencing data. Detected alterations were analyzed after removal of synonymous mutations. RESULTS: Non-silent genomic alterations were identified in 59.3% (32/54) of samples, involving 19 patients. A total of 70 variant loci across 13 genes were detected. AKAP13 was the most frequently mutated gene at both the sample (22.2%, 12/54), with recurrent mutations observed across multiple patients. In contrast, TP53 mutations occurred at a substantially lower frequency (11.1%, 6/54). Marked inter- and intra-patient mutational heterogeneity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: FFPE-based targeted sequencing enabled an initial characterization of genomic alterations in oral MPCs. Recurrent alterations in AKAP13, GLI2, JMJD1C, and DNAH8, together with the relatively low frequency of TP53 alterations, identify candidate genomic features for further investigation and provide a basis for future studies of the molecular basis of oral MPCs.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

CNNM2 in schizophrenia: multilevel evidence of genetic susceptibility, magnesium homeostasis, neurodevelopment and cognitive dysfunction.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a common psychiatric disorder with a complex, genetically and environmentally influenced etiology, but the specific pathogenesis remains unclear. In recent years, the SCZ susceptibility gene CNNM2 (encoding cyclin M2) located at the 10q24.32-33 locus has received widespread attention. The well-validated SCZ risk interval 10q24.32-33 harbors two independent risk variants: rs11191580 in NT5C2 (significantly associated with CNNM2 mRNA and protein levels) and rs7914558 in CNNM2. Results from functional genomic analyses indicate that lower CNNM2 expression is significantly associated with SCZ. Imaging genetics studies have demonstrated that carriers of risk alleles of CNNM2 SNPs exhibit alterations in brain structure. Animal model studies have revealed that Cnnm2 downregulation in mice leads to impairments in sensorimotor gating and cognitive function. As an Mg2+ transporter, CNNM2 primarily maintains systemic Mg2+ homeostasis. According to clinical studies, a proportion of patients with SCZ exhibit reduced Mg2+ concentrations in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. CNNM2 dysfunction may contribute to the pathology of SCZ by disrupting Mg2+ homeostasis, thereby affecting neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity. A systematic consolidation of current evidence supporting the involvement of CNNM2 in SCZ pathogenesis provides a direction for further investigation of the pathological mechanisms underlying this disease, and for identification of novel targets for clinical intervention..

Schizophrenia↗

PubMed2026

Early radiographic loss of intermetatarsal angle correction after single first TMT arthrodesis (Modified Lapidus) versus three-corner TMT arthrodesis.

INTRODUCTION: The Lapidus procedure treats hallux valgus with first-ray hypermobility. It can be performed as a single first tarsometatarsal (TMT) arthrodesis or a three-corner TMT construct with additional intermetatarsal fusion. Early loss of correction remains a concern. This study compared early radiographic stability between techniques. METHODS: Fifty patients (15 three-corner TMT arthrodesis, 35 single first TMT arthrodesis) treated between 2014 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), Méary's angle, and tibial sesamoid position were measured on weight-bearing radiographs at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Both techniques achieved significant correction. The three-corner TMT arthrodesis group showed greater initial IMA correction at 6 weeks (p = 0.020) and maintained a lower IMA at 6 months (p = 0.001). Early IMA loss was greater after single first TMT arthrodesis (1.5°±1.7° vs 0.6°±0.8°, p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Three-corner TMT arthrodesis was associated with greater early intermetatarsal stability than single first TMT arthrodesis.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

K-wire versus screw fixation in Scarf-Akin osteotomy for hallux valgus: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Retention of metal implants after Scarf-Akin osteotomy (SAO) may cause irritation and psychological discomfort, often necessitating a hardware removal procedure. This study aimed to introduce K-wire fixation, allowing for outpatient removal, and to compare it with screw fixation. METHODS: This retrospective study included 64 patients with hallux valgus, comprising 32 in the K-wire fixation group and 32 in the screw fixation group. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and patient satisfaction. Radiographic parameters included hallux valgus angle(HVA), intermetatarsal angle(IMA), and distal metatarsal articular angle(DMAA). RESULTS: Both groups showed significant clinical and radiographic improvement (P < 0.01). No significant between-group differences were observed in the other clinical or radiographic outcomes (P > 0.05). Treatment costs were significantly lower in the K-wire group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: K-wire fixation provides clinical and radiographic outcomes comparable to screw fixation, while avoiding the need for an additional procedure to remove the implant. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes co-occurrence with pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria throughout wastewater treatment processes.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are recognized hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogenic bacteria. Despite advancements in treatment technologies, the persistence of ARGs and pathogenic bacteria remains a concern. In this study, we analyzed the dynamic changes in ARGs and bacterial communities throughout the treatment processes within an anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) WWTP over one week by using HT-qPCR coupled with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The connectedness index, based on network analysis, showed that the dynamics of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were more strongly associated with potentially pathogenic bacteria than with non-pathogenic bacteria, suggesting that ARG immigration and dissemination in the WWTP were likely driven by potentially pathogenic taxa. The AAO treatment significantly reduced ARGs in final effluent (EF) (∼64 %) and residual sludge (RS) (∼81 %); however, potential hosts of ARGs such as Comamonas testosteroni and Clostridioides difficile persisted with minimal changes in relative abundance and remained detectable in EF and RS. Notably, the abundance of ARGs was lower in RS than in EF, and source tracking analysis identified influent as the primary source of ARGs and potentially pathogenic taxa in EF, underscoring the greater health risks associated with effluent discharge.

Wastewater↗