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PubMed2026

Multi-omic biomarkers in cardiovascular disease: Discovery to clinical translation.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating improved risk stratification and early detection strategies. Multiomics approaches that integrate genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics offer unprecedented opportunities for biomarker discovery and precision medicine in cardiovascular care. This narrative review examines the current landscape of multiomics biomarkers for CVD, tracing their evolution from discovery to clinical translation. We synthesize evidence from recent studies evaluating the clinical utility of integrated omics approaches across diverse cardiovascular conditions, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. High-throughput proteomics has identified novel protein signatures that enhance cardiovascular risk prediction beyond traditional risk factors. Metabolomics has revealed pathway-specific biomarkers, including trimethylamine N-oxide and lipid species, associated with atherogenesis. Polygenic risk scores derived from genomic data demonstrate incremental value when combined with clinical risk scores. Multiomics biomarkers represent a transformative approach to cardiovascular risk assessment and disease management.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Viral surveillance beyond detection: JMTV and the need for ensemble approaches in emerging virus discovery.

The recent report by T. Murillo, L. E. Enrique Chaves-González, S. Temmam, S. Bermúdez, et al. (Microbiol Spectr 14:e04078-25, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04078-25) expands the known geographic and ecological range of Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) by detecting the virus in Amblyomma mixtum ticks collected from horses in Costa Rica. This is an important finding because A. mixtum can feed on wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, creating a possible interface for virus movement across various hosts. The study also places the Costa Rican virus in a wider phylogenetic context, linking it to JMTV diversity reported from other regions. However, the detection of viral RNA in ticks should not be interpreted as proof of local disease, human infection, or active transmission, especially in the absence of supporting results. Instead, it reflects an important signal for careful viral surveillance. Here, I discuss how JMTV illustrates the need for ensemble approaches that combine field sampling, phylogeny, segment-level genome analysis, serology, experimental validation, and data-driven virus discovery tools.

emerging viruses↗

PubMed2026

Discovery of NAT-6-321056 as a novel modulator of VEGFR2 signaling to suppress tumor angiogenesis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is a master regulator of angiogenesis and cancer progression. However, current VEGFR2 modulators face significant challenges, including off-target toxicity and acquired resistance, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutic agents with improved efficacy and safety profiles. Here, we reported that virtual screening of 39,442 natural products from the ZINC natural products-derived library, coupled with molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate the binding stability of candidate compounds, identified NAT-6-321056 as a highly promising modulator of VEGFR2 signaling. Biological evaluations demonstrated that NAT-6-321056 exerted potent inhibition on the growth of a broad spectrum of cancer cells, including both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. In EA.hy 926 endothelial cells and SK-N-DZ neuroblast cells, the compound significantly suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion. Microscale thermophoresis (MST) confirmed direct binding of NAT-6-321056 to VEGFR2 with favorable affinity. Kinase profiling against a panel of 33 kinases indicated that NAT-6-321056 exhibited a multi-kinase modulation profile. Mechanistic studies revealed that NAT-6-321056 suppressed the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and was associated with reduced VEGFR2 phosphorylation and attenuation of the downstream ERK/JNK/AKT signaling pathways. Moreover, NAT-6-321056 exhibited robust in vivo anti-angiogenic effects in both the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and transgenic zebrafish vascular fluorescence imaging models. Computational absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction suggested acceptable drug-like properties. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that NAT-6-321056 is a promising modulator of VEGFR2 signaling with potent anti-angiogenic activity and represents a viable candidate for cancer therapy.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2↗

PubMed2026

Discovery and characterization of multifunctional bioactive peptides from Alaska Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) milt: hybrid in silico, in vitro, and proteomic approaches.

The growing demand for multifunctional bioactive peptides has sparked interest in underutilized marine by-products as sustainable bioresources. This study explored Alaska Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) milt protein as a novel source of peptides with anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, and anti-diabetic effects. Protein composition was analyzed via LC-MS, followed by in silico digestion and bioactivity prediction. Molecular docking identified peptides targeting DPP-IV, α-glucosidase, ACE, GLP-1 receptor, COX-2, MuRF1, and the 20S proteasome. Among the candidates, a promising peptide (CLPPH) was synthesized and validated in vitro, demonstrating inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production, DPP-IV, ACE, and α-glucosidase. These results highlight CLPPH's potential as a multifunctional bioactive peptide and support the valorization of Alaska Pollock milt as a sustainable source for functional foods and nutraceutical applications.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Application of causal discovery of factors driving dissolved oxygen in estuarine environments.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in estuarine bottom waters are a manifestation of multiple, interacting physical and biogeochemical processes, yet identifying their independent contributions remains challenging. Here, we analyze monthly water quality monitoring data from eight stations across Long Island Sound from 1994 to 2022 using a causal discovery framework (PCMCI+) and transformation of forcing variables. Our goal is to identify and isolate variables that causally influence bottom DO and improve predictive models by minimizing overfitting and multicollinearity. PCMCI+ reveals surface-layer temperature as the most important and consistent negative driver of bottom DO, followed by stratification. Wind events exhibit only brief relief by advection and mixing, while river discharge shows no direct causal link to DO, making it less influential than previously thought. Biogeochemical variables, including chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), nitrate and nitrite, and particulate carbon, influence DO through both contemporaneous and time-lagged pathways, often with signs that shift depending on the process. The derived models were evaluated by comparing skill scores, mean squared error, and Akaike Information Criterion. Both model types perform well, with coefficient of determination values exceeding 0.90 at multiple stations using only 3-5 predictors. Our analysis reveals that the best causal predictors are surface-layer temperature, stratification, Chl-a, and particle carbon. This approach provides a scalable framework for improving prediction models and understanding the mechanistic links that control the seasonal variability of DO in estuarine systems.

Estuaries↗

PubMed2026

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests: performance, pitfalls, and progress.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have revolutionized malaria diagnosis in endemic settings. RDTs are simple to use and accurate for clinical cases, although sensitivity is reduced at parasite densities below 200 parasites/μl. However, increasing prevalence of hrp2/3 gene deletions in certain areas threaten utility of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2)-based RDTs, and lingering HRP2 antigenemia can generate false-positive results after parasite clearance. This review summarizes current performance of malaria RDTs, threats to their validity, and recent innovations to improve their performance and continued role in malaria diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Most World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified RDTs perform well for clinical diagnosis, with only occasional exceptions, including a recently reported issue affecting several countries. RDT sensitivity is generally related to malaria transmission intensity, with higher proportions of false-negative results in lower-transmission areas. Newly prequalified lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH)-based RDTs perform well for both Plasmodium falciparum in areas with >5% hrp2/3 gene deletions and for Plasmodium vivax diagnosis. Several point-of-care alternatives to RDTs, including micro-fluidic devices, hemozoin-detecting devices, and automated hematology analyzers, have shown promising results in small studies, but require larger-scale trials before widespread use. SUMMARY: RDTs remain a critical tool in clinical diagnosis of malaria, and newer pLDH-based tests perform well in areas where hrp2/3 gene deletions threaten validity of HRP2-based RDTs.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Diagnostic accuracy of nuclear STAT6 immunohistochemistry for solitary fibrous tumour: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nuclear STAT6 immunohistochemistry is the diagnostic surrogate for the NAB2::STAT6 fusion of solitary fibrous tumour (SFT); its sensitivity is established, but specificity varies for unexamined reasons. This review quantified pooled accuracy and tested whether antibody clone and nuclear threshold govern specificity. PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched to 29 June 2026 for studies reporting nuclear STAT6 immunohistochemistry against a reference standard (NAB2::STAT6 confirmation and/or expert consensus) in SFT and comparators, with extractable two-by-two data. Two reviewers screened, extracted data and applied QUADAS-2. A bivariate generalised linear mixed model gave summary sensitivity and specificity, and exploratory subgroup analysis and meta-regression tested antibody clone, anatomical site and reference-standard type. Twenty-three studies (1216 SFT and 4715 comparators) were included. Summary sensitivity was 98.7% (95% confidence interval 96.7-99.5) and specificity 99.1% (97.8-99.6); the diagnostic odds ratio was approximately 8656. The monoclonal YE361 subgroup (8 studies) reached specificity 99.9% (99.3-100), with one false positive among 861 comparators, versus 98.1% (96.0-99.1) for polyclonal and other antibodies. False positives concentrated in dedifferentiated liposarcoma and prostatic stromal tumours. Estimates were stable after removing studies at higher risk of bias (98.9%/99.1%) and on leave-one-out analysis; the Deeks test was non-significant (p = 0.08). Nuclear STAT6 immunohistochemistry is therefore highly sensitive and specific for SFT, and the residual specificity loss is structured and largely avoidable: the monoclonal YE361 read at a strict nuclear threshold is preferred, with MDM2 and CDK4 applied to exclude dedifferentiated liposarcoma when nuclear STAT6 is unexpectedly positive.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Theta-range SEEG stimulation for intracranial mapping: extending conventional 1-Hz and 50-Hz protocols.

OBJECTIVE: Electrical brain stimulations (EBS) are central to epileptic network identification and functional mapping during stereo-electroencephalography, yet stimulation frequencies remain empirical, and standardized across patients and brain regions, producing false negatives and false positives, and potentially compromising surgical outcome. We prospectively investigated theta-range EBS (7 Hz) in the temporal lobe, a prominent physiological frequency band in this region, and compared it with conventional 1-Hz and 50-Hz protocols. METHODS: We analyzed 1,408 temporal EBS in 25 drug-resistant epileptic patients. Epileptic responses (afterdischarges, seizures) and clinical signs were assessed across the epileptic network and temporal structures (amygdala, hippocampus, neocortex, parahippocampal gyrus, white matter), and confronted to stimulation parameters (frequency, intensity, duration, total charge). RESULTS: At matched intensity and duration, 7-Hz EBS were associated with a higher occurrence of afterdischarges and clinical signs than 1-Hz EBS in several temporal structures. Effects on usual seizure induction were less consistent. Comparisons with 50 Hz showed no systematic significant differences, with responses observed at one or both frequencies depending on structure and outcome. When controlling for total charge, frequency-related differences were attenuated. Some effects were sporadically observed at both intermediate frequency and charge quantity. CONCLUSIONS: EBS responses emerge from the interaction between all electrical parameters and anatomical location and local excitability, and can hardly be disentangled. However, 7-Hz EBS can provide complementary clinical information during temporal-lobe mapping, with a targeted approach. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings support targeted evaluation of broader stimulation parameter spaces, including intermediate frequencies, rather than routine reliance on fixed low- and high-frequency protocols alone.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Use of indocyanine green fluorescence versus patent blue V dye for sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer, a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard for axillary staging in early breast cancer. While the combination of radioisotope and blue dye (e.g., patent blue V, PBV) remains the standard, it has limitations including logistics, variable identification rate (IR), and allergic potential. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence is a promising alternative, but high-quality comparative evidence is needed. METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Forty patients with early-stage, node-negative breast cancer were allocated to SLNB using either ICG (n = 20) or PBV (n = 20). All patients subsequently underwent completion level I-II axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as the pathological reference standard for diagnostic performance assessment. Primary outcome was sentinel lymph node (SLN) IR. Secondary outcomes included detection time, number of SLNs retrieved, false-negative rate (FNR), and safety. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. The SLN IR was significantly higher with ICG (100% [20/20]) than with PBV (75% [15/20], p = 0.047). ICG was associated with a significantly shorter median detection time (14.5 vs. 24.0 min, p < 0.001) and retrieved more SLNs (mean: 3.6 vs. 2.4, p = 0.002). Most critically, ICG demonstrated 100% sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and overall diagnostic accuracy, with a 0% FNR. In contrast, PBV achieved a sensitivity of 75%, an overall diagnostic accuracy of 90%, and an FNR of 25%. No ICG-related adverse events occurred. PBV caused skin discoloration in 75% of patients and one (5%) allergic reaction. CONCLUSION: ICG fluorescence achieved a higher SLN IR, shorter detection time, higher sensitivity, lower FNR, and fewer tracer-related adverse events than PBV as a single tracer for SLNB in patients with early-stage breast cancer. These findings suggest that ICG is a promising standalone tracer when radioisotope mapping is unavailable. Larger multicenter studies are required before widespread adoption can be recommended.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomics in environmental pollution research: Advances, challenges, and future directions.

Environmental proteomics has emerged as a powerful approach for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying pollutant-induced biological effects. Although this field has developed rapidly, the systematic review of recent proteomics applications in environmental pollution research remains limited. This review explored the emerging roles of toxicoproteomics in biomarker discovery and mechanistic elucidation, as well as ecotoxicoproteomics in ecological risk assessment and bioremediation strategies. Here, we review the field, highlighting recent trends such as the integration of proteomics with genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to provide a comprehensive view of biological responses to environmental stressors. We further discuss the growing application of artificial intelligence in improving proteomics data interpretation and accelerating biomarker discovery. In addition, recent technological advances in environmental proteomics are highlighted, including next-generation tissue microarray proteomics, nanoscale proteomics, single-cell proteomics, and spatial proteomics. Despite its potential, proteomics faces challenges, such as high operational costs, computational complexity in analysis, and technical limitations in low-abundance protein detection. We propose that the convergence of proteomics with artificial intelligence and multi-omics approaches offers promising solutions to these challenges, enhancing the practical application of proteomics in environmental monitoring and risk assessment.

Proteomics↗

PubMed2026

Extent of resection as an independent predictor of survival for patients with glioblastoma as defined by the new WHO 2021 classification.

OBJECTIVE: Extent of resection (EOR) has previously been demonstrated to have an impact on survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). However, with the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 reclassification of GBMs based on IDH-mutation status, patients with "IDH-mutant GBMs," who typically survive long term, were reclassified as WHO grade 4 IDH-mutant astrocytomas and removed from the GBM taxonomy. Therefore, it is unknown whether the previously reported impact of resection on survival was a false-positive result due to the inclusion of the less aggressive IDH-mutant tumors in previous datasets. This study aimed to determine the extent to which EOR remains an independent predictor of survival in patients with WHO 2021 GBM after the reclassification of IDH-mutant grade 4 astrocytomas. METHODS: All cases of GBM tumors (based on the pre-2021 GBM classification) that were newly diagnosed between 2005 and 2021 were identified in our institutional database and subsequently reclassified based on the updated WHO 2021 criteria using IDH status. Multivariable statistical analyses of demographic information, survival time, and EOR based on volumetric MRI were performed to determine the independent predictors of survival for the whole group of patients and for IDH-wildtype GBM patients exclusively. Additional analyses were performed to identify an EOR threshold for improvement in survival. RESULTS: Of the 523 tumors classified as GBM based on the pre-2021 taxonomy, 52 (9.9%) cases were reclassified as WHO grade 4 IDH-mutant astrocytomas, and the median survival of patients in this group was 7.9 years, whereas median survival of the IDH-wildtype GBM patients was 1.4 years. Multivariate analyses of the whole group demonstrated that IDH-mutant astrocytomas were associated with reduced hazard of death. In both the whole group (n = 523) and in IDH-wildtype GBMs (n = 471), higher EOR of the contrast-enhancing (CE) tumor was associated with reduced hazard of death, whereas older age or male sex was associated with increased hazard of death. Because most patients (90%) had high EOR values (> 81%), a statistically meaningful EOR threshold could not be established. CONCLUSIONS: These analyses demonstrated that EOR of the CE tumor is an independent predictor of survival and that greater EOR is associated with improved survival in WHO 2021 IDH-wildtype GBMs even after excluding grade 4 IDH-mutant astrocytomas. However, an absolute EOR threshold below which resection did not improve survival could not be established, raising concerns about prior cutoff assessments.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Biological characterization of Candida parapsilosis haploids induced by voriconazole.

OBJECTIVES: Candida parapsilosis is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen causing serious human infections in nosocomial settings. It has long been thought that C. parapsilosis has a diploid genome with a high homozygosity between chromosome homologs. METHODS: In this study, we report the discovery of C. parapsilosis haploids induced by voriconazole, a triazole with broad antifungal activity against fungal pathogens, in an experimental evolutionary assay. RESULTS: The haploid strains were able to undergo auto-diploidization under in vitro culture conditions or during systemic infection at a low frequency. Compared to the progenitor diploid strain, C. parapsilosis haploid and auto-diploid strains exhibited a reduced ability of invasive growth and biofilm formation. Global transcriptional expression analysis indicated that haploid and auto-diploid strains had a similar transcriptomic profile, which showed a remarkable difference from the progenitor diploid strain perhaps due to the loss of chromosome heterozygosity. Moreover, the haploid and diploid strains had distinct fungal burdens in different animal tissues, suggesting the haploid state could have a colonization advantage over the diploids in certain tissues such as the brain and spleen. CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of C. parapsilosis haploids not only sheds lights on the biology of this important fungal pathogen, but also provides a tool for genetic modifications for the field.

Voriconazole↗

PubMed2026

The mighty microproteins: from versatile cellular regulators to precision medicine therapeutics.

Microproteins, are tiny proteins encoded by small open reading frame (sORF), translation of these non-canonical open reading frames (ncORFs) has been implicated in diverse biological processes and diseases. This review summarizes recent developments in the discovery, biogenesis, and functional characterization of microproteins, and their involvement in various disease, with special focus on their roles in cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, neurodegenerative and immune-related disorders. We emphasize the regulation of key cellular pathways by microproteins, including mitochondrial homeostasis, apoptosis, metabolic reprogramming, and immune signaling, all of which affect disease initiation and progression. Emerging evidence also supports their potential as disease biomarkers and therapeutic candidates for precision medicine. Finally, the review critically discusses the current challenges including discrepancies in microprotein annotation, the limitations of ribosome profiling and proteogenomic approaches, the gap between computationally predicted and experimentally validated microproteins, and the need for rigorous orthogonal validation by means of CRISPR-based genome editing, ribosome release assays, mutational analysis, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and functional studies. Finally, we review recent development of AI-assisted ORF prediction, single-cell translatomics, spatial proteomics, and integrated multi-omics as emerging technologies reshaping. Microprotein discovery and functional annotation. Finally, we discuss the translational potential of microproteins and highlight the remaining challenges to clinical application, including peptide stability, pharmacokinetics, tissue-specific delivery, immunogenicity, and the need for rigorous preclinical and clinical validation. Together, this review provides an updated and critical overview of the rapidly evolving microprotein field and highlights future research priorities for translating these molecules into clinically useful biomarkers and precision therapeutics.

Microproteins↗

PubMed2026

A genome-wide coverage-based pipeline for the identification of host-derived candidate DNA biomarkers from cell-free blood.

We have created a new data-analysis pipeline for the discovery of host-specific candidate DNA biomarkers derived from sequencing data of cell-free blood. Unlike approaches that rely on specific molecular or genetic signatures, our method leverages the coverage distribution of cell-free DNA sequences mapped to a reference genome, applying statistical analyses to identify informative short genomic regions for biomarker discovery. The pipeline is applicable to diverse diseases and can be used to analyze cell-free DNA sequences from plasma or serum to identify candidate biomarkers that are characteristic of disease states in mammals. Core functionalities were developed in Java and integrated with open-source software tools for the preprocessing of raw sequencing data, complemented by Python scripts for the machine-learning analysis and statistical validation. The pipeline is designed for HPC use and users can access the pipeline through a Galaxy workflow, which offers a user-friendly web interface for input selection prior to execution and analysis progress monitoring. Performance tests, carried out using duplicate sets of COVID-19 samples and controls, showed linear scalability of execution time with an increasing dataset size, as well as a substantial reduction in execution time through parallelized computation, whereby each HPC node is used to process the data of one chromosome. Further statistical tests confirmed the quality of the pipeline's results by showing that the set of identified candidate biomarkers remained stable across varying dataset sizes.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2026

Hydroxyl Radical Inactivation of Vesicle-Cloaked and Free Murine Norovirus: Linking Biomolecular Oxidation to Lifecycle Disruption and Infectivity Loss.

Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) play a central role in inactivating human viruses during advanced oxidation processes for water and wastewater treatment, solar disinfection, and natural attenuation in sunlit aquatic environments. Human norovirus, a leading cause of gastroenteritis, is efficiently transmitted through water and exhibits strong environmental persistence. The recent discovery of vesicle-cloaked virus clusters (viral vesicles) further challenges water treatment and reuse, particularly for norovirus elimination. We investigated •OH inactivation kinetics and mechanisms of murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), a human norovirus surrogate, in free-virus and vesicle-cloaked forms. •OH rapidly inactivated both MNV-1 vesicles and free MNV-1 with second rate constants of ∼1010 M-1 s-1; however, the vesicle membrane provided a 2.24-fold protective effect to cloaked MNV-1, resulting in slower inactivation kinetics than those of free MNV-1. •OH oxidized viral capsid proteins and genomes together with vesicle proteins and lipids, resulting in impaired CD300lf receptor and cell-based binding, disrupted genome replication, and diminished viral assembly. Despite these biochemical and functional impairments, most vesicle structures remained largely intact following •OH exposure. This study establishes a quantitative framework linking biomolecular damage to viral infectivity loss through functional impairment and lifecycle disruption, providing mechanistic insights into advance water disinfection strategies and public health protection.

Norovirus↗

PubMed2026

Feasibility of implementation, diagnostic accuracy, and end-user impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-based ureteral stent tracking tool in a pediatric population.

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Ureteral stent tracking systems have reduced stent retention in adults, but their accuracy and impact in pediatrics have been minimally explored. With low event rates in children, such tools may yield high false positives, raising questions on balancing event prevention with provider burden. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, diagnostic accuracy, and end-user impact of an Electronic Surveillance Tool for Evaluating Nephroureteral stent Tracking (eSTENT) at our institution. STUDY DESIGN: eSTENT, implemented in 1/2024, flags ureteral stents at risk for retention based on implant documentation, expected explant date, and explant documentation. Monthly reports are generated for stents missing explant documentation. We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance of eSTENT from 1/2024-8/2025 at our pediatric hospital. A usability survey including a validated 1-7 implementation score (higher = easier implementation) was distributed to pediatric urologists and operating room nurses. RESULTS: Of 172 cases with ureteral stent placement, eSTENT flagged 28 events (16%) in 24 patients. Of these, 26 represented documentation gaps where explant had been appropriate. Two flags had no documentation of explant, representing near miss events that were identified. No retained stents occurred, consistent with high sensitivity and modest specificity. There were no flags in the last 6 months of the study period. Survey response rate was 100% for surgeons and 55% for nurses. Before eSTENT, stents were not routinely tracked. All surgeons and 93% of nurses reported no added burden, despite occasional misidentification of retained stents. Three surgeons found eSTENT beneficial, four were neutral, and free-text responses generally cited eSTENT's "fail safe" nature as positive. Nurses suggested improvements, including user support and integrated documentation reminders. The average implementation score among both groups was 6/7, indicating easy adoption. DISCUSSION: While the impact of stent tracking tools in adult literature has been positive, our study emphasizes the feasibility of broader adoption at a pediatric hospital. Integration of eSTENT may avoid the potentially devastating consequences of a retained stent. Prioritizing sensitivity over specificity appears acceptable for a "never event" in patient safety. Our study is limited by the retrospective nature of data collection and survey bias. CONCLUSIONS: Though no stents were retained in the study period, eSTENT appropriately flagged two cases without added burden to most end-users. Further optimization is warranted, but adoption in pediatric centers may enhance care reliability.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genome mining of alkaliphilic cyanobacterial consortia: identification of biosynthetic gene clusters in Sodalinema and associated heterotrophs.

Alkaline soda lakes are high-pH environments that host specialized microbial communities with potential for biotechnology and natural product discovery. We characterized three Sodalinema-dominated cyanobacterial consortia enriched from Canadian soda lakes over 510 days. Using hybrid metagenomic sequencing and metatranscriptomics across pH, alkalinity, and temperature gradients, we reconstructed high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes and assessed functional activity. All consortia converged toward cyanobacteria dominance and exhibited temperature optima between 21°C and 30°C. Phylogenetic analysis placed Sodalinema genomes within a distinct clade affiliated with Candidatus Sodalinema alkaliphilum. Genomic analysis indicated complete biosynthetic pathways for vitamin B5, vitamin B7, and the molybdenum cofactor, but incomplete pathways for vitamins B1, B9, and B12, consistent with patterns observed in Sodalinema yuhuli. Metatranscriptomic profiles showed increased expression of genes involved in phycocyanin and carotenoid biosynthesis at pH 10.2 relative to pH 8.5. Biosynthetic gene cluster analysis revealed that most secondary metabolic potential resided in heterotrophic community members. Roseinatronobacter encoded pathways for N-acyl homoserine lactones, osmoprotectants, betalactones, and prodigiosin, while Alkalimonas, Wenzhouxiangella, and members of the Kiloniellales encoded clusters for lanthipeptides, cyclodipeptides, hydrogen cyanide, and pyrroloquinoline quinone. These findings indicate functional partitioning within the consortia and highlight the contribution of heterotrophs to secondary metabolism.IMPORTANCEAlkaline soda lakes contain microbial communities adapted to high pH that remain underexplored for biotechnology. This study focuses on Sodalinema, a filamentous cyanobacterium that dominates enriched consortia from Canadian soda lakes, and its associated heterotrophic partners. We show that while Sodalinema drives primary productivity, heterotrophic bacteria encode most of the pathways for antimicrobial and signaling compounds. These interactions may support community stability and defense against competing microorganisms. By linking genomic potential with gene expression, this work identifies alkaline cyanobacterial consortia as a source of bioactive compounds and provides a framework for exploring extremophilic microbial communities for natural product discovery.

Sodalinema↗

PubMed2026

Origins and timing of somatic variants in the brain.

Somatic variants accumulate in human brain cells throughout the lifespan. Variant allele fraction has traditionally been used as a proxy for both the developmental timing of somatic variants and their functional effect, based on the assumption that earlier mutations are shared by larger cell populations and therefore have greater potential for severe phenotypes. However, recent discoveries challenge this simplified model. Variables such as developmental bottlenecks, lineage restriction, and cellular and molecular context play critical roles in shaping the distribution and functional impact of somatic variants in the brain. These insights support a shift toward a context-dependent framework for interpreting somatic mosaicism.

Humans↗