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PubMed2025

Uncovering parental exposure risks of TCPP: Impaired development and metabolic homeostasis in zebrafish offspring.

As brominated flame retardants are phased out, tris (1‑chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), a phosphorus-based flame retardant, has emerged as a prominent detectable flame retardant in the environment. However, TCPP has been found to exhibit endocrine-disrupting effects on organisms, raising significant safety concerns. In our study, we utilized the zebrafish model to explore the toxic effects of parental TCPP exposure on offspring and uncover its regulatory mechanisms through metabolomics analysis. Moreover, the impact on the nervous system and lipid metabolism was examined through behavioral analysis and specific staining. Our findings demonstrated that both embryonic and parental TCPP exposure induced developmental disorders in larvae, along with decreased locomotor activity and disordered lipid metabolism homeostasis. Parental exposure to TCPP, exhibiting stronger developmental toxicity than direct embryonic exposure, notably led to reductions in crucial energy substrates such as amino acids and carbohydrates. Meanwhile, embryonic TCPP exposure primarily affected the endogenous lipid-related metabolites including phospholipids, lipid-soluble vitamins, steroids and fatty acids, promoting lipid accumulation in larval liver and subcutaneous tissue. What's more, continuously parental and embryonic exposure showed the most pronounced effects on zebrafish development and metabolic regulation. Our study highlights the risk posed by parental exposure to TCPP on offspring zebrafish, underscoring the need for comprehensive consideration of the impact from parental exposure in pollutants regulation.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

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

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

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Bioactive peptides for meat quality and preservation: Integrating peptidomics and computational screening.

Bioactive peptides generated from meat proteins, fermented meat products, and slaughter by-products have attracted increasing attention as functional molecules for improving meat quality and preservation. In meat systems, peptides can be produced through endogenous postmortem proteolysis, microbial fermentation, gastrointestinal digestion, or controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of underutilized animal by-products. These peptides are closely associated with key meat science endpoints, including postmortem tenderization, oxidative stability, color retention, flavor development, microbial inhibition, and the valorization of processing by-products. However, although high-resolution peptidomics has greatly expanded the identification of meat-derived peptide sequences, their translation into practical meat applications remains limited by matrix interactions, processing stability, sensory constraints, safety concerns, and insufficient validation in real meat systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in meat-related peptidomics and computational screening, including sequence-based prediction, machine learning, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, stability assessment, and safety-oriented filtering. Particular attention is given to how these approaches can prioritize peptides with antioxidant, antimicrobial, flavor-modulating, and preservation-related functions under meat-specific technological constraints. By integrating peptide generation pathways, mass spectrometry-based identification, in silico prioritization, and meat quality endpoints, this review proposes a stage-gated framework for translating meat-derived bioactive peptides from discovery to application. Future research should strengthen matrix-specific validation, standardized peptidomic reporting, and safety assessment to support the use of bioactive peptides in meat quality improvement, clean-label preservation, and circular utilization of meat industry by-products.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Ecotoxicological responses of aquatic macrophytes to 2,4-D: A global synthesis of species sensitivity and ecological risk.

The widespread use of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has raised concern about its persistence, mobility, and effects on non-target aquatic vegetation in freshwater ecosystems. Here, we provide a global synthesis of the ecotoxicological responses of aquatic macrophytes to 2,4-D based on a PRISMA-guided systematic review of 86 peer-reviewed studies published between 1947 and 2025. A consistent gradient of species-specific sensitivity was observed across macrophyte growth forms. The submerged species Myriophyllum spicatum showed high susceptibility, with EC₅₀ values of 0.04-0.182 mg/L and marked growth inhibition at low concentrations, whereas floating species such as Lemna minor and Pontederia crassipes were more tolerant, requiring higher concentrations (7.08 to >100 and 8.1 mg/L, respectively) to produce comparable effects. Importantly, this sensitivity ranking was consistent across laboratory and field experimental settings. These interspecific differences likely reflect variation in herbicide uptake, translocation, and detoxification capacity associated with growth form. The overlap between EC₅₀ values for M. spicatum and regulatory thresholds for 2,4-D in surface waters suggests that current limits may be insufficient to protect sensitive submerged macrophyte communities. Regarding remediation, L. minor and Salvinia natans emerged as the most promising candidates for phytoremediation, while P. crassipes showed limited capacity to reduce herbicide concentrations in water. Despite advances, no study directly compared oxidative stress biomarkers between submerged and floating species, representing a critical gap in understanding the biochemical basis of the sensitivity gradient. Overall, this synthesis highlights the need to account for taxon-dependent sensitivity when evaluating the ecological risks of 2,4-D and provides a basis for improving regulatory frameworks and management of herbicide contamination in freshwater ecosystems.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

PubMed2026

Diagnostic criteria and severity assessment for syndesmosis injury using magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review.

High ankle sprains involving syndesmosis injury present challenges in both diagnosis and severity assessment. Magnetic resonance imaging is widely regarded as the preferred modality for evaluating syndesmosis injury and related structural damage. This systematic review primarily examined the diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging. Secondarily, it explores grading and prognostics of syndesmosis injuries with magnetic resonance imaging and identified possible imaging parameters predictive of injury severity. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Complete, and Scopus was performed through February 12, 2025, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Peer-reviewed human studies in English that used magnetic resonance imaging to assess syndesmosis injury were included. Excluded were review articles, case reports, abstract-only studies, and biomechanical or cadaveric investigations. Twenty-seven studies comprising 1931 ankles met inclusion criteria. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for complete tears of the anterior and posterior inferior tibiofibular ligaments. Ancillary signs such as the ring-of-fire edema pattern, distal tibiofibular joint effusion, and widening of the distal joint space exhibited high specificity with variable sensitivity and may assist in grading injury severity. Magnetic resonance imaging in chronic syndesmosis injury primarily detects fibrotic scarring and post-injury changes. Evidence gaps remain regarding the parameters that best determine injury severity and indicate early surgical intervention in competitive athletes. Consolidating multiple magnetic resonance imaging findings into standardized diagnostic criteria may improve reliability and clinical decision-making.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genomic characterization and pathogenicity of ruminant Listeria monocytogenes isolates in a murine oral infection model.

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen; its ruminant isolates display zoonotic characteristics, causing similar clinical signs in humans, including abortion and encephalitis. However, data on whole genome sequencing and pathogenicity of ruminant L. monocytogenes isolates remain sparse. This study aimed to analyze the genotypic characteristics of L. monocytogenes isolates from ruminants with listeriosis. Furthermore, we assessed the in vivo pathogenicity of four ruminant L. monocytogenes isolates, characterized via whole-genome sequencing-based genetic clustering, in orogastrically inoculated mice. The isolate LM18 (serotype 1/2b, ST224, SL6178) had the lowest lethal dose compared to the other three isolates including previous hypervirulence type (serotype 4b, ST1, SL1) and caused secondary bacteremia in lungs, with sustained bacterial loads in the spleen and liver. Genomic (listeria pathogenicity island -1 and -3) and virulence gene (actA and llsX) mutation analyses associated with virulence suggested from well-recognized studies could not elucidate the virulence of the isolates. SSI-1, which only exists in the isolate LM18 (serotype 1/2b, ST224, SL6178), may help L. monocytogenes survive in the gastrointestinal environment, thereby affecting its virulence. Further research should investigate the role of SSI-1 in the pathogenicity of L. monocytogenes. Moreover, additional studies utilizing larger datasets of ruminant isolates are required to validate our genotypic characterization and to obtain a comprehensive picture of further genotypic differences crucial for L. monocytogenes pathogenicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Artificial Intelligence for Diagnosis, Risk Stratification, and Prognosis of Neuroblastoma - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To synthesizes evidence on artificial intelligence (AI) performance in neuroblastoma (NB) diagnosis, risk stratification, prognosis, and genomic characterization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024539475) across five databases. Meta-analyses used random-effects models with logit-transformed Area Under the Curve (AUCs) and cluster-robust standard errors. AI models were classified as Machine Learning Models (MLM) or Hybrid Nomograms (HN) based on their construction methodology. RESULTS: Of 3,742 articles identified, 53 were included. MLMs demonstrated higher point estimates than radiologists in differential diagnosis (AUC: 0.87 vs. 0.83), though this difference was not statistically significant and carried substantial uncertainty. HNs achieved stronger performance in risk stratification (AUC: 0.87). AI-derived nomograms (AUC: 0.9) and gene signatures (AUC: 0.8) outperformed conventional prognostic markers descriptively. Chemotherapy response prediction remained below clinical utility thresholds across all model types. Only 33.9% of models reported calibration and 24.5% underwent external validation. CONCLUSIONS: AI demonstrates proof-of-concept across multiple NB clinical domains. However, clinical adoption remains premature given persistent gaps in external validation, calibration, dataset size, and pediatric-specific model development. Future studies should test these models prospectively in multicenter pediatric cohorts, ideally through COG or SIOPEN, using shared definitions for diagnosis, risk group, treatment response, and survival outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Mechanisms of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Aging and Emerging Rejuvenation Strategies.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSCs) aging is a complex biological process driven by both cell-intrinsic alterations and extrinsic cues from the bone marrow niche. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for developing therapies against aging-related hematopoietic disorders. This review synthesizes recent advances in the molecular mechanisms underlying HSCs aging, including microenvironmental aging, genomic instability, epigenetic dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and aberrant nuclear mechanotransduction. We summarize that the functional decline of HSCs during aging drives a compensatory expansion of the phenotypically defined stem cell pool, leading to an aberrant increase in cell number. We also highlight aging-associated HSCs heterogeneity, including CD150high and P-selectin-positive subsets that enrich for myeloid-biased or functionally compromised HSCs states while emphasizing that surface phenotype alone may not fully indicate functional rejuvenation. Finally, we discuss emerging rejuvenation strategies-including targeting myeloid-biased HSCs, modulating inflammatory pathways, and implementing epigenetic or metabolic interventions-supported by cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell multi-omics, gene editing, and computational modeling. These approaches hold promise for counteracting age-related hematopoietic decline and restoring immune competence.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Artificial intelligence-derived myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance for prognosis in cardiomyopathy: A systematic review of a sparse evidence base.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and parametric mapping, is an established predictor of adverse events in cardiomyopathy. We assessed whether artificial intelligence (AI) quantification of fibrosis adds independent prognostic value. METHODS: We searched six databases, a clinical-trials register, and a preprint server from inception to 13 June 2026. Eligible studies used AI to generate a fibrosis marker in adults with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, with covariate-adjusted outcomes over ≥12 months. Risk of bias was assessed using PROBAST, PROBAST+AI, and QUIPS. Fewer than three comparable studies precluded meta-analysis; certainty was rated using GRADE. RESULTS: Of 448 records (381 after de-duplication), 18 full texts were reviewed and two included, one peer-reviewed and one preprint. In an ischemic-cardiomyopathy registry (Ghanbari et al.; n = 216 analytic, 26 events), AI-derived dense LGE scar predicted arrhythmic events (univariable hazard ratio [HR] 2.35, 95% CI 1.33-4.15), and AI-derived but not manual scar improved discrimination beyond guideline criteria (area under the curve 0.63 to 0.68; p = 0.02). In a nonischemic dilated-cardiomyopathy preprint (Kim et al.; n = 347, 119 events), automated extracellular volume ≥30% predicted cardiovascular death or heart-failure hospitalization (adjusted HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.32-3.03). Both were at high risk of bias, with data-derived thresholds and no external validation. CONCLUSIONS: Across only two studies, AI-derived fibrosis was independently associated with adverse cardiovascular events, but its added value over manual quantification remains unproven. Certainty was very low. The evidence base is sparse and not yet ready for clinical use.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Identification and formation pathways of oxidation products of chlorinated paraffins during ozonation in municipal wastewater.

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) cannot be efficiently removed by conventional water treatment processes and are continually discharged into the aqueous environment. Ozonation can effectively remove lipophilic and persistent pollutants. However, the degradation behaviors of short-chain CPs (SCCPs), medium-chain CPs (MCCPs), and long-chain CPs (LCCPs) in wastewater during the ozonation process remained unknown. In this study, ozonation treatment achieved removal efficiencies of 61 % for SCCPs, 66 % for MCCPs, and 51 % for LCCPs from wastewater within 30 min. Approximately 147 oxidative products of SCCPs, MCCPs, and LCCPs were non-targeted identified through Ph4PCl-enhanced ionization with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. These oxidation products were structurally classified into three categories: carbon chain breakage (53 products), HCl-elimination (27 products), and hydroxylation (67 products). Twenty-three di-hydroxylated CPs were newly identified among the products. Hydroxylation was the predominant pathway for SCCPs, producing di-hydroxylated SCCPs ((OH)₂-SCCPs) with a higher generation rate constant (KG = 22.28 × 10⁻² min⁻¹) compared to other products. MCCPs and LCCPs mainly underwent carbon chain breakage and hydroxylation, generating shorter carbon chain congeners, (OH)2-SCCPs, and di-hydroxylated MCCPs ((OH)2-MCCPs). The KG values of (OH)2-SCCPs (10.56 × 10-2 min-1) and (OH)2-MCCPs (12.05 × 10-2 min-1) generated from the MCCPs were the highest, and the KG values of MCCPs (6.49 × 10-2 min-1), SCCPs (6.27 × 10-2 min-1), and (OH)2-SCCPs (4.74 × 10-2 min-1) generated from the LCCPs were higher than those of other products. These results comprehensively clarify the oxidation efficiencies and pathways of CPs during ozonation. Future studies must explore the potential risks associated with the oxidation products.

Water Pollutants, Chemical↗

PubMed2026

Assessment of the role and effectiveness of nurse-led multimodal intervention in the rehabilitation of dysphagia in patients with brain tumors.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a common complication in patients with brain tumors, which has a profound adverse impact on patients' health status and quality of life. However, there is a relative lack of research on the rehabilitation of dysphagia in brain tumor patients, especially regarding the role and effectiveness of nurse-led multimodal interventions in the rehabilitation of dysphagia in brain tumor patients, which lacks systematic assessment and in-depth discussion. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the role and effectiveness of a nurse-led multimodal intervention in improving swallowing function and quality of life in brain tumor patients with dysphagia. METHODS: In this study, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was used to select 120 dysphagia patients among brain tumor patients admitted to our hospital during the period of January 2024 to May 2024 as the study subjects, and they were stratified and randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 60) and a control group (n = 60). While the control group received conventional nursing care and treatment protocols, the intervention group received a nurse-led multimodal intervention program, including personalized swallowing training, nutritional support, psychological care, and a family-participatory rehabilitation program, which was developed and dynamically adjusted by nurses, rehabilitation therapists, and dietitians. Differences in data before and after the intervention were analyzed using the paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and between-group comparisons were made using the independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Both the intervention and control groups showed improvement in swallowing function among the patients. The Kubota drinking test score, Saito's swallowing function grading, and the quality of life scores for patients in the intervention group showed a significant enhancement compared to those in the control group (P < 0.05), indicating that the intervention was more effective than the control. When compared within groups, all scores in both the intervention and control groups improved gradually with the time of intervention (P < 0.05). The improvement was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a nurse-led multimodal intervention is significantly effective in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with brain tumors. The intervention provides comprehensive rehabilitation support for patients through multidisciplinary collaboration and personalized care and has certain clinical promotion value.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of STK Spray® for semen stain localization on solid surfaces: A specificity and sensitivity study.

Semen identification is a crucial step in sexual assault cases. The aim of this study was to assess STK Spray®, a presumptive test for semen, under controlled conditions including, simulated crime scene stains detection. Easy to use, it can be sprayed directly onto different surfaces and visualized under UV light. Several tests were performed on five different substrates (ceramic tile, drywall, metal, wood, and faux leather). The spray was able to enhance semen fluorescence, especially in diluted samples, with characteristic "globular" spots. Although it showed good specificity, false positives could be obtained with 10% bleach. The fluorescence signals were quantified using ImageJ™ and showed a statistically significant substrate-dependent variability. Mixture analysis indicated that saliva did not interfere with detection of semen, while urine partially suppressed the signal and blood markedly affected its interpretation. Simulation tests with UV lamp comparisons confirmed the importance of choosing the right detection method and the utility of this presumptive test in combination with additional immunochromatographic tests. A preliminary signal retention test showed stable fluorescence for up to two years when stains were stored appropriately. Finally, complete DNA profiles (100% of alleles) were obtained from all samples (n = 24) after exposure to the reagent and UV light. Because of its ability to enhance semen signal, especially on specific surfaces, and its rapidity of use and detection, STK Spray® may represent a useful aid in the preliminary screening phase.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

In silico identification of DNMT1 inhibitors from the PlantCyc database through computational approach to assess the anti-cancer potential of nutraceutical compounds in breast cancer.

Breast cancer accounts for a disproportionate share of global cancer-related deaths, with 670,000 fatalities and 2.3 million new diagnoses recorded in women during 2022 alone. Existing treatment modalities carry considerable toxicity burdens, and resistance to available agents remains an unresolved clinical problem. DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), the enzyme chiefly responsible for maintaining genome-wide methylation patterns during DNA replication, has been mapped out as a high-value target in breast cancer because its dysregulation silences tumour suppressor genes through promoter hypermethylation. The present work involves hierarchical in silico workflow to screen 4549 plant-derived compounds from the PlantCyc database (v16.0.3) against the human DNMT1 catalytic domain (PDB ID: 4WXX). Ten top-scoring compounds were taken forward for molecular docking via AutoDock Vina; Quercetin and Kaempferol both recorded the highest binding affinities at -9.5 kcal/mol, Wogonin (-9.3 kcal/mol) and Xanthohumol (-8.1 kcal/mol) also emerged as strong binders. Pharmacokinetic evaluation using ADMET-AI confirmed that all 10 compounds met Lipinski's rule of five, with human intestinal absorption values at or above 0.98. Wogonin and Xanthohumol were selected for a 100 ns all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in GROMACS due to their well-rounded ADMET profiles and limited existing data on their specific interactions with DNMT1 in breast cancer. Across all measured trajectory metrics, backbone RMSD, residue fluctuation, radius of gyration, solvent-accessible surface area, and intermolecular hydrogen bond count, Wogonin formed a more stable, compact complex. These findings suggest that Wogonin and Xanthohumol are non-toxic nutraceutical candidates suitable for DNMT1 targeted epigenetic therapy, with computational foundation strong enough to facilitate future in vitro and in vivo validation work.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Continuous Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracic Paravertebral Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Thoracotomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare postoperative analgesia using continuous ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) versus thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB), with dynamic visual analog scale (VAS) during coughing as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included static VAS (at rest), hemodynamic changes, side effects, total opioid consumption, time of first rescue analgesia, length of hospitalization, anesthesia recovery time, postanesthesia care unit stay, time to first ambulation, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: The study included 40 cases scheduled for elective thoracotomy admitted to the cardiothoracic surgery unit of Menoufia University Hospital. Patients were equally randomized into 2 groups, 20 patients each receiving either ultrasound-guided ESPB or TPVB (control group). Both groups received 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine as a loading dose followed by continuous infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine at 5 mL/h, with patient-controlled boluses of 20 mL on demand. RESULTS: Dynamic visual analogue pain scale scores were significantly lower in the ESPB group at 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours ( P =0.008, 0.035, 0.001, 0.006). Morphine consumption was significantly reduced in the ESPB group ( P < 0.001). Hypotension was more frequent in TPVB (40% vs. 10%, P =0.028). No significant differences were observed in hospital stay or patient satisfaction. DISCUSSION: The utilization of continuous ultrasound-guided ESPB demonstrated better postoperative visual analogue pain scale scores and a significant decrease in opioid consumption, with fewer side effects than TPVB.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Building phenotypic character matrices for phylogenetic inference: exploration of 35 years of practice.

Recent methodological development in phylogenetic inference has focused predominantly on molecular data. However, renewed interest in other data types, particularly morphological data, has followed from the increased recognition of the power of total evidence and tip-dating approaches, including fossil data, for inference of time-scaled trees and rates of evolution. However, attention has largely focused on the improvement of models of morphological evolution and other analytical tools with much less discussion about data acquisition itself. Here we review past and current practice for describing and collecting morphological data for phylogenetic inference. We present a systematic review of 164 phylogenetic analyses conducted over the last 35 years and focused on a diverse group of extinct arthropods: trilobites. Trends in increasing matrix size, data type, and coding strategy are evident. Where present, polymorphic characters have been predominantly derived from discretized continuous characters, although increasingly practitioners are utilizing alternative approaches for the treatment of quantitative characters. Not surprisingly, traditional indices that describe character consistency are highly correlated with matrix size but show surprising variation at different taxonomic scales. More recent attempts to describe data quality using information theory imply that characters can have high information content even if data are missing for many tips, providing support against the exclusion of characters because of missing data. In consideration of this, as well as advances in the study of developmental biology and variational complexity, we identify several avenues for increasing the quality and quantity of morphological data going forward.

Phylogeny↗

PubMed2026

Effect of knee and hip joint positions on passive stiffness of the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis in healthy individuals.

Passive muscle stiffness is a key determinant of musculoskeletal function and is influenced by structural components such as titin, connective tissue, and fascia. However, the effects of joint position, muscle depth, and sex on quadriceps passive stiffness remain unclear. To investigate the passive stiffness of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) under different joint configurations, muscle depths, and between sexes using shear wave elastography (SWE). Thirty-six healthy young adults (18 men and 18 women) participated in this randomized crossover study. Passive stiffness was assessed in four positions of knee flexion: supine with 60° (SUP60), supine with 20° (SUP20), sitting with 60° (SIT60), and sitting with 20° (SIT20). SWE measurements (m/s) were obtained from 30 regions of interest (ROIs) per muscle, categorized into superficial, intermediate, and deep levels. Data were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). A significant effect of position was observed, with higher stiffness values in the SUP60 condition for both RF and VL (p < 0.001). Superficial regions consistently exhibited greater stiffness compared to intermediate and deep regions across all positions (p < 0.001). Additionally, men demonstrated significantly higher stiffness values than women (p < 0.001). Significant interactions were found between position and muscle, as well as position and depth. Quadriceps passive stiffness is influenced by joint position, muscle depth, and sex. The SUP60 position elicits the highest stiffness, while superficial muscle regions are consistently stiffer. These findings highlight the non-uniform mechanical behavior of the quadriceps and may have implications for clinical assessment, rehabilitation, and exercise prescription. Clinical trial registration: This study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov in June 06th, 2023. Register number NCT05905406. Link to access https//clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05905406.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

ORBIT: Oncogenic Representation Learning via Bi-Prototype Contrastive Learning in Hyperbolic Space for cancer driver gene identification.

Accurate identification of cancer driver genes is crucial for precision oncology but remains challenging due to the complexity of integrating heterogeneous data and modeling dynamic biological systems. To address these limitations, we propose ORBIT (Oncogenic Representation Learning via Bi-Prototype Contrastive Learning in Hyperbolic Space). Our framework synergistically fuses multi-omics profiles with functional network data using a context-adaptive graph reweighting mechanism to capture cancer-specific dynamics. The model employs a bi-prototype contrastive learning strategy within hyperbolic space, which aligns gene representations around distinct driver and non-driver semantic anchors while preserving the intrinsic hierarchy of biological networks. Comprehensive evaluations demonstrate that ORBIT achieves highly competitive stability in pan-cancer analysis while consistently outperforming state-of-the-art methods in cancer-specific predictions. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis confirms that the model effectively segregates core cancer pathways, and drug sensitivity profiling validates the clinical relevance of the identified drivers. By integrating hyperbolic geometry with context-adaptive learning, ORBIT offers a robust and interpretable paradigm for precision medicine. The source codes and datasets are publicly accessible at https://github.com/spcho-dev/ORBIT.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The knee-ankle link: impact of knee varus severity on distal joint malalignment and concomitant pathologies.

BACKGROUND: Knee varus deformity is traditionally managed as an isolated joint pathology; however, persistent distal symptoms following proximal realignment suggest a more extensive kinetic chain dysfunction. The degree to which knee varus severity dictates distal malalignment and secondary pathologies remains poorly quantified in the current literature. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420261363327). A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was performed from inception to April 2026. Studies examining the relationship between knee varus (HKA angle) and radiographic distal alignment or pathologies were included. Data synthesis utilized random-effects models, with prevalence analyzed via generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included in the final synthesis. While pooling of continuous radiographic parameters was limited by high statistical heterogeneity in Talar Tilt (I2 = 96.5%), individual large-cohort data (Huang et al.) indicated that severe knee varus (HKA > 10°) was associated with increased odds of concomitant ankle osteoarthritis (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.28-4.11) and a specific cohort prevalence of 37.1%. Furthermore, single-arm prevalence data revealed divergent trends across different study populations, with compensatory hindfoot valgus reaching 69.9% in some cohorts and rigid varus up to 63.9% in others. CONCLUSIONS: Severe genu varum is associated with distal kinetic chain alterations and concomitant ankle pathologies. However, due to the extreme heterogeneity and divergent distal adaptations observed across different cohorts, standardized knee-centric protocols may be insufficient. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are required to establish phenotype-specific rehabilitation guidelines.

Humans↗