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PubMed2026

Effects of antidepressant administration on physical performance and perceived exertion in athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Antidepressants are commonly prescribed in athletes with depressive disorders, yet their potential effects on physical performance and perceived exertion remain unclear, and existing evidence is limited and inconsistent. AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of antidepressant use on objective physical performance and perceived exertion in athletes. METHOD: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus through March 2025. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English that enrolled elite, competitive, or recreational athletes; compared antidepressant administration with placebo or no treatment; and reported at least one objective or subjective performance-related outcome. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models, and pooled mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251123740). RESULTS: Ten crossover RCTs involving 99 male athletes were included. Interventions included a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (reboxetine), a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (bupropion), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine or paroxetine). Acute antidepressant administration was associated with a small increase in rating of perceived exertion (RPE; mean difference 0.52 points on the Borg 6-20 scale, 95% CI 0.01-1.04; p < 0.05). No significant overall effects were observed for time-trial performance, mean power output, heart rate or blood lactate. However, subgroup analyses showed that reboxetine significantly impaired time-trial performance (mean difference 3.62 min, 95% CI 0.18-7.06; p < 0.05) and reduced mean power output (mean difference - 19.97 W, 95% CI - 36.87 to - 3.06; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term antidepressant administration in athletes was associated with a small increase in perceived exertion, without consistent impairment in objective physical performance. As the current evidence derives exclusively from male athletes and acute exposure, further research should clarify its relevance to female athletes and to longer-term antidepressant treatment in athletes with depressive disorders.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Acute Haemodynamic and Perceptual Responses to Graded Intradialytic Exercise in Patients on Maintenance Haemodialysis: A Randomised Crossover Trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute responses to graded intradialytic exercise in people receiving haemodialysis remain incompletely characterised. OBJECTIVES: To examine acute haemodynamic and perceptual responses to graded intradialytic resistance exercise compared with a non-exercise control condition. DESIGN: Randomised crossover trial. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight clinically stable adults receiving maintenance haemodialysis. MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed seated control and graded lower-limb resistance exercise targeting Borg category-ratio 10 ratings of 3, 5 and 7. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, rating of perceived exertion and acute fatigue were measured before, immediately after and 30 min after each condition. RESULTS: Responses increased progressively with perceived intensity. Compared with control, higher perceived intensity increased systolic blood pressure by 14.9 mmHg (95% confidence interval = 12.7-17.0), diastolic blood pressure by 8.4 mmHg (6.8-10.0), mean arterial pressure by 10.6 mmHg (9.2-12.0) and heart rate by 15.5 beats per minute (12.9-18.1). Rating of perceived exertion increased by 6.7 points (95% confidence interval = 6.3-7.1). Mean peripheral oxygen saturation remained between 95.1% and 97.5%, with no value below 90%. Recorded symptoms occurred in 13 out of 48 higher perceived-intensity sessions; no serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Graded, rating-guided intradialytic resistance exercise produced clear acute dose-response haemodynamic and perceptual changes. These findings support supervised individualisation of acute exercise dose but do not establish long-term safety or superiority of higher perceived-intensity training. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: PACTR202606476360900.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Positive psychology interventions during pregnancy: A systematic review.

Positive psychology interventions (PPI) have been applied and demonstrated evidence in various population groups. The present systematic review focused on the types and influence of PPI on the physical and psychological health of pregnant women. Studies that matched the selection criteria were identified on EBSCOhost, PsychINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and four positive psychology journals. From the 2528 records identified, finally eight studies were included in the review. PPI in this review were delivered utilising various positive psychology components such as hope, gratitude and optimism based on existing theories, for example, the strengths theory, broaden-and-build theory, and hope theory. Most interventions were conducted from 14 gestational weeks onwards and were delivered via virtual platforms or mobile applications. As a result of this systematic review, it was identified that PPIs for maternal well-being were aimed at improving (1) physical health, including labour pain, nausea and vomiting; (2) psychological health, including stress, emotions, anxiety and depression; and (3) subjective health, including life satisfaction, perceived social support and quality of life. Most of the selected studies provided significant evidence towards improvement of well-being outcomes from administering PPI. For future studies, in-depth PPI integrated coping and support approaches should be further evidenced among diverse pregnant populations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The Impact of Chatbot Type and Normative Messaging on Chatbot Usage Intention Based on the Health Technology Acceptance Model: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Digital health tools, such as health chatbots, may improve access to scalable health support, but adoption remains inconsistent. Existing models do not fully integrate technology acceptance factors with health motivation factors relevant to digital health use. OBJECTIVE: This study proposed and tested the health technology acceptance model and examined whether normative message framing and chatbot type were associated with health motivation, technology acceptance, and intention to use a health chatbot. METHODS: In October 2025, we conducted a 4 × 2 between-participants online experiment with 1000 US adults recruited from a nationally representative YouGov panel. Participants were randomized to 1 of 8 conditions varying norm message type (self-oriented, peer-oriented, expert-oriented, or family-oriented) and chatbot type (AI-powered or rule-based) in a cancer prevention and genetic risk information scenario. Outcomes included descriptive norms, injunctive norms, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, trust, privacy concerns, and usage intention. Data were analyzed using a multivariate ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc tests and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Peer-oriented and family-oriented messages produced higher usage intention than expert-oriented messages, and peer-oriented messages also increased descriptive norms, injunctive norms, self-efficacy, and trust. AI-powered chatbots were associated with higher usage intention (P=.02) and greater trust (P=.008) than rule-based chatbots. In regression analyses, the model explained 50.8% of the variance in usage intention. Usage intention was positively associated with descriptive norms (β=0.087; P=.003), injunctive norms (β=0.078; P=.009), perceived susceptibility (β=0.051; P=.03), perceived benefits (β=0.253; P<.001), and trust (β=0.33; P<.001), and negatively associated with perceived severity (β=-0.047; P=.049) and privacy concerns (β=-0.11; P<.001). Perceived ease of use and self-efficacy were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The health technology acceptance model was a useful framework for explaining the intention to use a health chatbot by combining technology acceptance and health motivation constructs. Both social design features and chatbot design features shaped adoption-related beliefs, with peer-oriented and family-oriented framing and AI-powered chatbots showing particular promise. Trust and privacy concerns remained central determinants of intended use.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Associations Between Short Video Exposure, Empathy and Attitudes Toward End-Of-Life Care Among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM: This cross-sectional study examined the associations between short video exposure, nursing students' empathy, and attitudes toward end-of-life (EOL) care, and tested whether perceived impact is statistically consistent with an indirect pathway in these relationships. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: In total, 534 undergraduate nursing students were included. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire, including the Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions Student version for empathy assessment. Statistical analysis for correlation and mediation analysis (PROCESS macro) was performed. RESULTS: 85.96% of students watch short videos for more than 30 min daily, with more than 60% of them viewing EOL-related content. Students with prior caregiving experience or formal palliative care education showed significantly higher empathy and more positive attitudes (p < 0.05). Exposure to medical and EOL-related short videos was positively correlated with perceived impact, empathy, and positive EOL attitudes, with effect sizes ranging from very weak to modest (r = 0.10 to 0.27). The data were consistent with an indirect pathway between short video exposure and empathy via perceived impact (indirect effect = 0.04; 95% bootstrap CI [0.01, 0.08]). However, for EOL attitudes, short video exposure showed a direct association rather than an indirect pathway via perceived impact (direct effect = 0.09, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, short video exposure was modestly associated with nursing students' empathy, with data consistent with an indirect pathway via perceived impact; the observed associations explained only approximately 1% to 7% of the variance in the outcome variables. However, reshaping EOL attitudes may require more systematic education beyond brief video exposure. These findings are hypothesis-generating and await validation through longitudinal and experimental research using standardized video content. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nursing educators should consider integrating curated short video content into palliative care curricula to enhance students' empathy and perceived impact of end-of-life education. However, brief video exposure alone may be insufficient to reshape deeper end-of-life attitudes, suggesting the need for comprehensive, multi-modal educational strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Stigma, discrimination-related events, and determinants among adult people living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Systematic review and indicator-level meta-analysis.

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with 0.4 million new cases diagnosed annually. With its wide variety of visible and invisible manifestations, people living with SLE report being exposed to stigmatization, which impacts their personal and professional lives. However, the current literature is unclear on whether healthcare management teams assess this concern during follow-up. This study aims to synthesize existing evidence on the prevalence and determinants of stigma among people living with SLE.MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis gathered evidence from observational studies identified from three databases on 16 July 2025. Dual independent screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment (using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) were performed. Results were synthesized using descriptive statistics, narrative synthesis, and indicator-level meta-analyses.ResultsWithin the past two decades, 11 studies comprising 2254 people living with SLE reported and measured stigma- and discrimination-related events using various scales. Stigma was found to be prevalent across its three constructs: interpersonal, perceived, and intrapersonal stigma. This review demonstrated that people living with SLE reported a moderate overall burden of stigma (34.71 [95% CI 26.15, 43.27]), with average stigma scores indicating psychological impact. Additionally, nearly one in two persons (46% [95% CI 28-66%]) experienced at least one form of stigma or discrimination, most commonly social isolation and unfair treatment. Mental health associations were correlated with higher stigma burden.ConclusionThis review demonstrates that stigma and discrimination are not just social challenges but also critical determinants of health. With cautious interpretation, pooled evidence reveals a consistent high prevalence of stigma and discrimination, which act as "toxic" stressors, creating a vicious cycle with psychological stress and psychiatric manifestations and disease activity. There is an urgent clinical need to move beyond a mere biological approach to disease assessment and management and to begin screening for the "invisible" burden of invalidation and discrimination.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Functional Reading Activities to Motivate and Empower: Maintenance of Reading Outcomes for Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Following a Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: This study examined whether the effects of Functional Reading Activities to Motivate and Empower (FRAME), a functional, strategy-based reading comprehension intervention for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), were maintained 6 months following the completion of the intervention and explored participants' perceptions of the intervention's feasibility, relevance, and perceived impact. METHOD: Participants were 44 young adults with IDDs (ages 18-26 years) who participated in a previously reported randomized controlled trial (FRAME participants: n = 23; controls: n = 21). Trial outcomes were assessed via telepractice at pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up. Six-month maintenance analyses focused on outcomes that demonstrated significant posttest group differences: use of (a) reading comprehension strategies (proximal) and (b) reading comprehension questions (distal). Participant perceptions (social validity) were collected post-intervention from FRAME participants using a structured interview protocol with closed- and open-ended items. RESULTS: At the 6-month follow-up, FRAME participants demonstrated sustained but reduced improvements in strategy use relative to controls (p = .040). Between-groups differences were not maintained for reading comprehension questions (p = .091). Participants reported high acceptability and perceived relevance of FRAME, with qualitative themes reflecting perceived improvements in comprehension, self-improvement, and increased independence. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that FRAME supports sustainable gains in reading comprehension strategy use and is perceived as meaningful and feasible for young adults with IDDs, although additional supports may be needed to promote sustained improvements in distal comprehension outcomes. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.33307218.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Innovation-related perception as a key driver of alternative protein acceptance: evidence from an early-stage model for cultivated meat and algae-/microalgae-based alternative protein products in Italy.

Alternative proteins are increasingly considered part of the transition toward more sustainable food systems, yet their diffusion depends critically on consumer acceptance. This study investigates the early-stage acceptance of two alternative protein categories in Italy-cultivated meat and algae-/microalgae-based alternative protein products. Focusing on the first three phases of acceptance, the analysis examines how innovation-related perception (IRP) shapes consumer perceived value (CPV), consumer perceived risk (CPR), and subsequent affective (AFF), cognitive (COG), and conative (CON) responses. Data were collected through an online survey administered to 238 Italian respondents and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that IRP is the main upstream driver of early-stage acceptance in both product domains: more favourable perceptions strongly increase perceived value and reduce perceived risk. In turn, CPV exerts a much stronger influence than CPR on both affective and cognitive attitudes. A tentative cross-model comparison suggests only a descriptive variation in the final transition toward conative acceptance: affective and cognitive responses were both significant in the two models, with a relatively larger affective coefficient for cultivated meat and more balanced coefficients for algae-/microalgae-based products. Overall, the findings support a process-based interpretation of alternative protein acceptance and highlight the central role of innovation-related perception in shaping early consumer responses. These results provide relevant implications for communication strategies, product positioning, and policy actions aimed at improving the acceptability of alternative proteins in food cultures characterised by strong culinary traditions.

Italy↗

PubMed2026

Acceptability of capillary point-of-care testing: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and synthesise evidence on the acceptability and perceived experience of finger-prick point-of-care testing (POCT) among patients and clinicians across healthcare settings. DESIGN: Systematic review conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane and Web of Science were searched from inception to January 2024 and re-run in July 2025, supplemented by citation tracking of relevant studies. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies reporting patient and clinicians' experiences, perceptions, satisfaction or acceptability relating to finger-prick POCT for any health condition or blood parameter were eligible. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods designs were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted independently by two reviewers and synthesised using thematic analysis and narrative synthesis. Methodological quality was appraised using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: 21 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 9128 participants (17 quantitative, 3 qualitative, 1 mixed methods). Across diverse clinical contexts, finger-prick POCT was reported as generally acceptable, less distressing and perceived as a convenient alternative to venous sampling in comparative studies. Thematic synthesis identified two major themes: (1) enhancing the patient-clinician relationship through improved engagement, communication and understanding of care and (2) clinical implications of finger-prick POCT on clinicians' workflow, confidence and skill acquisition. Finger-prick POCT was perceived to promote personalised consultations, enable immediate discussion of results and streamline decision-making. Clinicians highlighted its potential to expand task sharing, improve efficiency and strengthen continuity of care, although concerns regarding training, reliability and quality assurance were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Finger-prick POCT is generally acceptable to patients and clinicians, improving comfort, convenience, engagement and perceived efficiency. Implementation should prioritise training, infrastructure and quality assurance frameworks to maximise clinical and experiential benefits. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024512130.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

"Everybody thinks that it won't happen to them": A mixed-methods study of HIV prevention strategies among people experiencing homelessness who use drugs.

BACKGROUND: HIV disproportionately affects people experiencing homelessness, particularly those who use drugs. Although effective prevention strategies exist, uptake remains suboptimal in high-risk populations. Limited research has examined how this population engages with HIV prevention strategies and the contextual factors shaping behaviors. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study of adults (≥18 years) experiencing homelessness with recent drug use, recruited from three Boston sites (Feb 2024-Jan 2025). Participants completed a survey assessing HIV prevention strategy uptake. A subsample completed in-depth interviews on factors influencing behavior. Guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework, we coded qualitative data and identified themes to help contextualize uptake. RESULTS: Among 196 participants, mean age was 48; 61% identified as male and 44% as non-Hispanic White. Forty-two percent reported condomless sex, and among those who had ever injected drugs (n = 123), 24% reported syringe sharing in the prior three months. Only 9% reported current PrEP use, and 12% had ever used HIV self-tests. Qualitative findings highlighted perceived control as a key facilitator, while low perceived HIV risk hindered uptake across strategies. Additional barriers varied by strategy and included partner dynamics and substance use affecting condom use, structural constraints affecting syringe use, and knowledge, stigma, and cost concerns affecting PrEP and self-testing. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of people experiencing homelessness who use drugs, HIV prevention strategy uptake was suboptimal, with particularly low PrEP and HIV self-testing use. Qualitative findings suggest that interventions to promote HIV prevention strategy uptake in this population should leverage perceived control, address perceived risk, and target strategy-specific interpersonal and structural barriers.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Understanding and Usefulness of Effect Size and Certainty of Evidence: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Evidence-Based Practice Competencies Among US Registered Dietitians.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding of absolute and relative effect estimates, and determining effect size and certainty of evidence corresponding to effect estimates, represent fundamental evidence-based practice competencies that promote informed clinical decision-making. While research has been conducted in the medical profession, based on our literature review there is no published research on these competencies in the nutrition and dietetics profession. METHODS: Among registered dietitians, our main objectives were to assess (1) their understanding and perceived usefulness of three absolute and two relative effect estimate approaches to determine effect size, (2) their perceived usefulness of certainty of evidence, and (3) factors influencing their understanding and perceived usefulness. We conducted a web-based, cross-sectional survey by recruiting dietitians from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (United States). Participants received effect estimates based on hypothetical dietary interventions vs. usual diet for reducing myocardial infarction risk. RESULTS: Of the 11,050 dietitians who received the survey link, 210 participated, and only completers (n = 114) were included in our analysis. Participants demonstrated a similar understanding of the relative (27.6%) and absolute (27.5%) effect estimates, with Risk Difference being the best understood approach and Number Needed to Treat being the least (30.7% vs. 24.6% correct responses). While perceived usefulness scores were similar between five approaches, they were highest when data was presented as Relative Risk [mean (SD): 4.82 (1.50)]. Dietitians rated the usefulness of certainty of evidence favorably [mean (SD): 5.07 (1.83), on a 7-point scale], and no factors were associated with correct understanding. CONCLUSION: Dietitians may have limited understanding of effect size thresholds presented in our survey, a finding mostly consistent with surveys of other health professionals. To optimize informed decision-making between dietitians and clients, dietetic programs and continuing education platforms should consider additional training on effect estimate approaches (relative and absolute), and determining effect sizes and certainty of evidence for effect estimates.

Clinical nutrition↗

PubMed2026

Branded packaging raises likelihood of cigarette purchasing in an experimental retail setting by increasing craving.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to branded cigarette packaging in retail settings has been shown to be associated with purchasing behavior, but the mechanisms underlying this effect are unclear. This study tested whether cigarette craving and perceived health harms mediate the effect of branded packaging on cigarette purchasing in a simulated retail environment. METHODS: Young adults aged 21-34 who currently smoke cigarettes (n = 290) completed an experimental shopping task in the RAND StoreLab, a life-sized replica of a convenience store. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) branding present, in which branded cigarette packages were displayed; and (2) branding absent condition, in which branded elements were removed and packages were standardized in a brown-green color and uniform text. Cigarette purchases were recorded, and participants completed post-shopping measures of cigarette craving and perceived health harms. Causal effect decomposition analyses were used to assess whether these variables mediated the effect of study condition on the likelihood of purchasing cigarettes. RESULTS: Craving, but not perceived health harms, partially mediated the effect of branded packaging on cigarette purchasing. Exposure to branded packs increased the likelihood of purchasing by elevating craving (average mediated effect = 2.4%, 95% CI 0.2% - 5.0%, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Branded cigarette packaging appears to increase cigarette purchasing at least in part by increasing cigarette craving at point of sale. Interventions that address craving management in retail settings (e.g., just-in-time interventions, prn nicotine replacement therapy) may help mitigate the impact of branding on young adults' cigarette purchasing.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification of the peanut HD-Zip gene family and AhHDZ15 positively regulating salt and drought stress in heterologously overexpressed Arabidopsis.

Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors play important roles in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, bioinformatic analyses and functional studies of HD-Zip family in peanut are scarce. In this study, 128 AhHDZ genes were identified and classified into four subfamilies in the phylogenetic analysis. Transcriptomic data and RT-qPCR analysis indicated the expression levels of AhHDZ4 and AhHDZ15 were significantly elevated in response to 12 h of salt stress, while AhHDZ4/15/60/69/126 all showed a progressive increase over time in response to drought stress. AhHDZ15 protein was localized in the nucleus. Under salt and drought stress, the germination rates of AhHDZ15-overexpressing in Arabidopsis were significantly higher than wild-type (WT), and root lengths were also significantly longer than WT. In addition, the SOD, CAT, chlorophyll content, and Relative Leaf Water Content (RLWC) value of leaves in AhHDZ15-overexpressing lines were significantly higher than WT, while the MDA content was significantly lower than WT. The above results indicate that heterologous overexpression of AhHDZ15 enhanced salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, AhHDZ15 could bind to the L1-box element of the AhVNI2 promoter, thereby activating AhVNI2 transcription and enhancing the expression of downstream salt stress-responsive genes. These findings implies a potential function of AhHDZ15 in peanut that requires further validation.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2026

Functional characterization of the MdFLZ2 gene in drought and salt stress tolerance in apple.

Drought and salt stress are significant environmental limitations that severely constrain plant growth and productivity, therefore, enhancing stress tolerance is a key goal in crop improvement. The plant-specific FCS-like zinc finger (FLZ) proteins have been identified as important regulators of stress adaptation. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide characterization of the FLZ gene family in apple and functionally characterized MdFLZ2. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that MdFLZ2 was differentially expressed across various tissues and transcriptionally induced by both drought and salt stress. Subcellular localization assays demonstrated that the MdFLZ2 protein is localized to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The overexpression of MdFLZ2 in apple calli, Arabidopsis and tomato conferred increased resistance to drought and salt stress. In addition, yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays confirmed that MdFLZ2 interacted with MdSnRK1.1, and similar interactions were also detected between other MdFLZ family members and MdSnRK1.1. Collectively, our findings suggest MdFLZ2 as a positive regulator of drought and salt tolerance and highlight its potential to serve as a genetic resource for abiotic stress improvement.

Malus↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification and characterization of ABC transporters and their expression in response to saline-alkaline stress and WSSV infection in Fenneropenaeus chinensis.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play crucial roles in stress responses across organisms, yet their functions in Fenneropenaeus chinensis remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified 42 FcABC genes (FcABCs) in the F. chinensis genome and analyzed their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and chromosomal distributions. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the FcABCs into eight subfamilies (ABCA-ABCH), with conserved motif and domain compositions within each subfamily. Expression analysis showed that several FcABC genes, including FcABCG5, FcABCA1, and FcABCC3, were significantly induced under saline-alkaline stress in gill and hepatopancreas tissues. In contrast, most FcABCs were downregulated after WSSV challenge, though a subset (e.g., FcABCB1, FcABCC1) exhibited early upregulation. Functional validation via RNA interference demonstrated that knockdown of FcABCG5 increased shrimp mortality under saline-alkaline stress. Cis-regulatory element analysis revealed an enrichment of stress- and immune-related elements in FcABC promoters. Protein-protein interaction network predictions indicated potential roles for FcABCs in cholesterol metabolism and organic anion transport. Our findings provide insights into the roles of FcABC genes in stress adaptation and immune defense, offering candidate genes for the breeding of stress-resistant shrimp varieties.

Animals↗

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

Brief Report: Beyond Testing: Exploring the Psychosocial Impact of HIV Self-Testing Among Ugandan Gender-Diverse Sex Workers.

BACKGROUND: The psychosocial effect of HIV self-testing (HIVST) on sex workers' self-esteem, depression, alcohol misuse, perceived sex work stigma, and empowerment remains poorly characterized. We hypothesized that HIVST would reduce sex work stigma and improve these psychosocial outcomes by enabling private, autonomous testing and reducing exposure to stigmatizing healthcare encounters. SETTING: Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the Empower study (NCT03426670), an open-label randomized trial in which 117 cisgender female, transgender female, and cisgender male sex workers were assigned 1:1 to monthly HIVST plus quarterly clinic-based testing, or to quarterly clinic-based testing alone, and followed for 12 months. Self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), alcohol misuse (RAPS4), perceived sex work stigma (adapted Female Sex Worker Stigma Scale), and empowerment were assessed quarterly. Mixed-effects regression models, adjusted for baseline values, evaluated intervention effects. RESULTS: Data from 117 participants were analyzed, including 7 early disenrollments. Over 12 months, HIVST participants reported significantly lower perceived sex work stigma than standard of care participants (β = -0.38, P = 0.04; monthly reduction P = 0.003), although the rate of decline did not differ significantly between arms (interaction P = 0.08). Self-esteem and depressive symptoms improved in both arms, with no between-arm differences (interaction P = 0.41 and 0.32). Alcohol misuse and empowerment showed no significant arm differences. CONCLUSION: HIVST may reduce sex work stigma without adverse psychosocial effects, supporting its integration into combination HIV prevention for gender-diverse sex workers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Acetic acid-induced translational repression involves eIF2B body formation and Ded1 sequestration into stress granules in yeast.

Elucidating the physiological impact of acetic acid stress and the corresponding yeast responses is essential for advancing fundamental biology and improving industrial alcoholic fermentation. Despite numerous genome-wide studies, information on the effects of acetic acid stress on yeast translational regulation remains limited. We found that a sublethal concentration of acetic acid (35 mM, 0.2% v/v) causes translational repression, accompanied by the formation of eIF2B bodies and the phosphorylation of eIF2α, both of which are involved in the regulation of translation initiation. Acetic acid also caused the sequestration of Ded1, a DEAD-box RNA helicase crucial for translation initiation, into stress granules. Removal of acetic acid restored translational activity and the proper localization of eIF2B and Ded1, indicating the reversibility of acetic acid-induced translational repression. Furthermore, when yeast cells were pretreated with 0.05% acetic acid, translational repression under subsequent 0.2% acetic acid stress was attenuated in wild-type cells but not in hrk1Δ cells. This indicates that Hrk1, a Pma1 activator, is required to sufficiently enhance tolerance to acetic acid-induced translational repression. These findings provide novel insights into the physiological effects of acetic acid stress on translational activity and translation-related factors in yeast cells.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae↗