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Norgestrel drives mitochondrial collapse and plasma membrane impairment in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) sperm by triggering premature acrosome reaction.

The toxic mechanisms of norgestrel (NGT), an emerging marine pollutant, on the sperm from externally fertilized invertebrates remain elusive. This study employed an integrated physiological and multi-omics framework to elucidate how NGT (10 and 1000 ng/L) disrupts acrosome reaction (AR) signaling machinery, thereby impairing the functional integrity of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas, also known as Magallana gigas) sperm. Exposure to NGT triggered a significant, dose-dependent premature AR, characterized by elevated acrosin activity and a loss of acrosomal integrity. Multi-omics integration supports a model in which this premature exocytosis is linked to signaling disturbances, including disruption of calcium signaling and reduced transcript abundance of calmodulin (CaM) and the primary recognition protein zonadhesin (Zan). This signaling interference induced an premature AR, subsequently driving a cascade of bioenergetic and structural failures. At the mitochondrial level, NGT induced abnormal mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and elevated the transcript levels of antioxidant defense genes (e.g., peroxiredoxin-5, PRDX5). These alterations indicate the occurrence of mitochondrial collapse. Concurrently, scanning electron microscopy verified localized plasma membrane wrinkling and pore formation in sperm. In addition, NGT exposure decreased the transcript abundance of cytoskeleton-related genes, including solute carrier family 26 member 6 (SLC26A6), actin (ACT), and tubulin polymerization promoting protein family member 3 (TPPP3). These molecular changes further disrupted membrane phospholipid homeostasis, as represented by altered glycerophospholipid metabolism. At the same time, cumulative cellular stress was associated with decreased transcript abundance of cytoprotective factors (e.g., baculoviral IAP repeat-containing proteins, birc2) and changes in apoptosis-related genes consistent with activation of a caspase-8-mediated apoptotic programme. In conclusion, NGT, as a representative synthetic progestin, exerts reproductive toxicity by interfering with signaling mediators to induce premature AR, which subsequently exhausts metabolic energy and triggers plasma membrane impairment. These findings provide a critical mechanistic basis for the aquatic ecological risk assessment of synthetic progestins.

Animals

Sugar rationing during the first 1000 days and early onset cancer: a natural experiment.

BACKGROUND: The "first 1000 days" of life is a critical window for metabolic programming, while the long-term oncological consequences of nutritional exposures during this period remain understudied. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate whether restricted sugar intake in utero and during early childhood reduces risk of early onset cancer diagnosis and mortality in adulthood, utilizing a natural experiment. METHODS: We analyzed 63,819 United Kingdom Biobank participants born between October 1951 and March 1956, spanning the end of United Kingdom sugar rationing (September 1953). Leveraging a quasi-experimental birth cohort design, we compared participants exposed to sugar rationing in utero and during infancy with those unexposed. Early onset cancer incidence (&#x2264;50 y) and mortality were ascertained via integrated national Cancer Registry and hospital inpatient records. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models (including Gompertz distribution) were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), with exploratory site-specific analyses. RESULTS: Among 63,819 participants (56.3% female), 40,397 were exposed to rationing and 23,422 were unexposed. Early life sugar restriction significantly reduced early onset cancer risk (HR: 0.66; 95% confidence interval: 0.53, 0.81; P < 0.001). A dose-response relationship was observed, with peak protection in individuals exposed for &#x2264;24 mo postnatally. This protection was observed systemically across solid tumors, independent of specific cancer sites. Specificity was corroborated by null associations with negative controls (herpes zoster and cataract). No significant difference was found for cancer-specific mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Restricting sugar intake during the first 1000 days is associated with a reduced risk of early onset cancer, extending the disease-free lifespan. The divergence between reduced incidence and unchanged mortality suggests early life metabolic environments primarily influence tumor latency rather than biological aggressiveness. These findings highlight the potential long-term public health implications of early life dietary guidelines against the rising burden of early onset cancer.

Humans

Metabolomic Signatures of Inflammation in Chronic Kidney Disease.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Inflammation is associated with adverse kidney, cardiovascular, and mortality outcomes. Investigation of the metabolic milieu as it relates to inflammation may provide important insights into these disease processes. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension (AASK), Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, and Boston Kidney Biopsy Cohort (BKBC) participants with available metabolomics and inflammatory protein data. PREDICTORS: Baseline blood levels of 718 metabolites. OUTCOMES: Baseline and longitudinal changes in blood levels of tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2 (TNFR1, TNFR2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&#x3b1;), interferon-gamma (IFN-&#x3b3;), interleukins 6, 8, and 10 (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10), uromodulin (UMOD), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Multivariable linear regression and linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Among 491 AASK participants (mean age 54 years; 37% women; mean glomerular filtration rate, 45 mL/min/1.73 m2), 367 cross-sectional associations between metabolites and inflammatory proteins were significant after correction for multiple comparisons. The direction of association was mostly positive for TNFR1 (97%), TNFR2 (97%), IL-8 (77%), and IL-10 (100%); negative for UMOD (80%) and EGF (97%); and variable for TNF-&#x237a;, IFN-&#x3b3;, and IL-6. Pathways were distinct for several inflammatory proteins (eg, tryptophan metabolism for TNFR2). Forty-five associations between metabolites and longitudinal change in inflammatory proteins were identified. Notable metabolites included tigylcarnitine and N 2,N 5-diacetylornithine, which were associated with 2-year increases in TNFR1 and/or TNFR2, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol, where lower levels were associated with decreases in UMOD. In ARIC (n = 3,773) and BKBC (n = 413), replication of cross-sectional associations was excellent for TNFR1 (ARIC 83%; BKBC 85%) and TNFR2 (ARIC 64%; BKBC 79%) but poor for IL-8 (ARIC 3%; BKBC 3%). LIMITATIONS: Metabolite data limited to baseline visit; potential for residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS: Using an untargeted approach, multiple metabolites were cross-sectionally and longitudinally associated with inflammatory proteins in persons with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease

Blood Metabolomic Signatures of 1-Hour Glucose Predict Cardiometabolic Risk.

BACKGROUND: Elevated 1-hour glucose levels during an oral glucose tolerance test strongly predict type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether the fasting blood metabolome predicting 1-hour glucose could be a target for improving &#x3b2;-cell function, long-term glycemic trajectories, and reducing the risks of T2D and coronary heart disease. We also investigated whether plasma microRNAs derived from key metabolic organs regulate changes in a metabolomic risk score (MRS) for predicting 1-hour glucose. METHODS: Untargeted blood metabolomics and a frequently sampled 75-g oral glucose tolerance test were performed in participants from the OmniCarb trial (n=162). In an independent weight-loss dietary intervention trial (POUNDS Lost [Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies]), temporal changes in MRS and plasma microRNAs measured by genome-wide sequencing were analyzed. In addition, associations of MRS at baseline and its 10-year changes with long-term risk of incident T2D and coronary heart disease were prospectively investigated in the NHS (Nurses' Health Study). RESULTS: We created a fasting blood MRS for predicting 1-hour glucose (Pearson r=0.8) and found significant associations with half-day (diurnal) postprandial glucose excursions and insulin secretion after 5-week controlled feeding interventions varying in carbohydrate amount and glycemic index. In the POUNDS Lost trial, diet-induced changes in MRSs were related to 2-year trajectories of glucose metabolism; circulating microRNAs regulating cardiometabolic abnormalities were pivotal factors influencing these changes. In the NHS, women in the top 20% of MRS had a multivariate-adjusted relative risk of 3.80 (95% CI, 2.22-6.51) for T2D and 1.48 (95% CI, 1.04-2.12) for coronary heart disease compared with those in the lowest 20%. In addition, 10-year increases in plasma metabolites related to 1-hour glucose were linearly associated with a higher risk of T2D. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that fasting blood metabolomic signatures predicting elevated 1-hour glucose reflect disease pathophysiology and could be targets for preventing T2D and coronary heart disease.

blood glucose

Effects of carbohydrate mouth rinse on psychophysiological responses, kinematic variables and technical actions during small-sided soccer games.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of carbohydrate mouth rinsing (CHOMR) on various psychophysiological, kinematic, and technical actions during 4-a-side small-sided soccer games (SSGs). METHODS: In a randomized, crossover, double-blind design, 16 young male soccer players (age: 15&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1 years; height: 172.6&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;7.0&#x2009;cm; body mass: 57.8&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;7.9 kg) participated in two 4-a-side SSGs separated by one week following either CHOMR or placebo (PLA). During each SSGs, heart rate (HRmean, %HR, and HRmax), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), enjoyment, visual analogue scale (VAS) to perceived mental fatigue, mood states, total distance (TD), high-speed running distance (HSRD), average metabolic power (AMP), high metabolic load distance (HMLD), sprint distance (SD), acceleration (ACC), deceleration (DEC), and technical actions (e.g. passing, tackling, shooting, and interceptions) were assessed. RESULTS: Compared with PLA, CHOMR resulted in significantly higher RPE (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.025, g&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.86) and significantly lower VAS scores (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.010, g&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.71). In addition, the CHOMR condition showed significantly higher values for interceptions, successful tackles, unsuccessful tackles, unsuccessful shots, and goals (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05, g&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.96-2.02), whereas block values were significantly higher in the PLA condition. There were no statistically significant differences in HRmean, %HR, HRmax, enjoyment, TD, HSRD, AMP, HMLD, SD, ACC, DEC, successful passes, unsuccessful passes, successful shots, or mood states between the conditions (p&#x2009;>&#x2009;0.05). CONCLUSION: The current study findings suggest that CHOMR may enhance selected technical actions and lower VAS scores during 4-a-side SSGs, although it was also associated with higher RPE and did not alter the kinematic responses. In conclusion, CHOMR was associated with higher RPE, lower mental fatigue, and selective improvements in technical actions, with no significant effects on kinematic variables or HR.

Humans

Quantitative N-glycoproteomic analysis reveals glycosylation signatures of plasma immunoglobulin G in sepsis.

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated immune response to infection. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) plays a role in modulating immune responses. However, the precise IgG subclass-specific N-glycosylation profiles in patients with sepsis remain poorly characterized. METHODS: This study aimed to define the site-specific N-glycosylation signatures of plasma IgG subclasses in sepsis patients with different prognoses using quantitative glycoproteomics. By employing our established GlycoQuant strategy, we quantified the intact N-glycopeptides (IGPs) of IgG subclasses in 40 healthy controls and 40 sepsis patients with a clear prognosis. RESULTS: We identified 12 IGPs with altered abundances between patients with sepsis and healthy controls. After Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) correction of the 31 outcome-stratified IGP comparisons, IGP24 and IGP25 remained significant and met the prespecified fold-change criterion. Global BH correction across 124 IGP-clinical parameter correlations retained positive associations of IGP19, IGP22, and IGP23 with procalcitonin (PCT). In exploratory outcome-stratified ROC analyses, candidates were selected using the original unadjusted P-value and fold-change screen; five IGPs were evaluated, with IGP25 and IGP24 yielding the highest individual AUCs. Collectively, our findings underscore the potential of IgG subclass-specific glycosylation profiling as a novel translational approach for clinical applications in sepsis management. SIGNIFICANCE: Sepsis remains a leading cause of global mortality, with patient outcomes heavily dependent on timely diagnosis and accurate prognosis. The dysregulated host immune response, particularly involving immunoglobulins, is central to its pathophysiology. This study provides a significant advance in the field of clinical glycoproteomics by applying a quantitative, site-specific strategy to delineate the plasma IgG subclass N-glycosylation landscape in sepsis. We report, for the first time, a panel of subclass-specific intact IgG N-glycopeptides (IGPs) that are significantly altered in sepsis patients compared to healthy controls. The identified IGPs not only demonstrate diagnostic and prognostic potential but also show a significant correlation with procalcitonin, a key clinical severity index. These findings bridge a critical knowledge gap by moving beyond bulk IgG glycosylation analysis to subclass-resolved profiling, offering novel molecular insights into sepsis immunopathology. The identified glycosylation signatures hold substantial translational promise as a foundation for developing innovative, glycan-based biomarker panels to improve the precision management of this heterogeneous and life-threatening syndrome.

Humans

Associations of clinical and laboratory parameters with pediatric urolithiasis composition: A retrospective, single-center study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors associated with distinct stone compositions in children. METHODS: This retrospective study included 237 children aged <14 years who underwent stone composition analysis between July 2008 and November 2023. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control for confounding factors. RESULTS: The urate component (uric acid anhydrous, ammonium acid urate, and sodium urate) was most prevalent in infants, males, and non-Han children, whereas the calcium oxalate component predominated in older children. Analysis of coexisting components revealed urate is the most common partner to calcium oxalate (67.6%), and vice versa (82.8%). Struvite most frequently coexisted with carbonate apatite (60%), while carbonate apatite most often coexisted with calcium oxalate (54%). After PSM, the urate component was independently associated with host metabolic dysregulation, including lower high-density lipoprotein (&#x3b2; = -0.175, 95% CI: -0.279 to -0.071, p = 0.001) and with coagulation dysfunction, as evidenced by a prolonged prothrombin time (&#x3b2; = 0.595, 95% CI: 0.125 to 1.064, p = 0.014). Additionally, preoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) and congenital urinary tract anomalies were independently associated with both carbonate apatite and struvite components, with directionally consistent but quantitatively unstable signals in the struvite cohort, whereas the calcium oxalate component exhibited an inverse association with UTI (OR = 0.156, 95% CI: 0.030 to 0.819, p = 0.028). Furthermore, the carbonate apatite component was also independently associated with an elevated systemic immune-inflammation index (&#x3b2; = 416.53, 95% CI: 60.05 to 773.01, p = 0.024) and systemic inflammation response index (&#x3b2; = 1.286, 95% CI: 0.086 to 2.487, p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Urate component was prevalent in infants, males, and non-Han children, whereas calcium oxalate predominated in older children. After adjusting for confounders, urate composition was associated with metabolic abnormalities, the carbonate apatite component was linked to infection and anatomical malformations, and a similar directional pattern was observed in the struvite cohort.

Humans

Clinical outcomes of Epstein-Barr virus infection/reactivation following CAR-T cell therapy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection or reactivation is an emerging but underrecognized complication following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy and is likely associated with treatment-induced immune dysregulation. Data regarding its clinical impact remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reported occurrence, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of EBV infection or reactivation in adults undergoing CAR-T therapy. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception to March 2025 for studies reporting EBV infection or reactivation after CAR-T therapy in adults. Due to limited and heterogeneous data, results were synthesized descriptively. RESULTS: Five studies comprising 80 patients were included (median age, 55&#xa0;years; 52.6% male among patients with reported sex data [10/19]). Across the included studies, 11 EBV infection/reactivation events were identified among 80 described CAR-T recipients, representing 13.8% of the reported sample rather than a true incidence estimate. Among events with usable individualized timing data, the median interval from CAR-T infusion to EBV detection/reactivation was 9.8&#xa0;months (approximate range, 1-44&#xa0;months). Because EBV surveillance strategies and definitions were inconsistently reported across studies, this proportion should not be interpreted as a true incidence estimate. Four patients (36.4%) developed EBV-associated disease, including three cases of EBV-related lymphoproliferative disorder and one case of EBV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Among seven patients with reported post-CAR-T treatment response, four achieved Complete Remission/ Continuous Complete Remission; treatment response should be interpreted separately from final survival status. Confirmed EBV-related mortality occurred in 2/11 patients with reported EBV infection/reactivation and in 2/4 patients with EBV-associated disease; all-cause mortality could not be reliably estimated because patient-level vital status could not be fully attributed to the EBV-reactivated subgroup. Reported toxicities predominantly consisted of low-grade cytokine-release syndrome; however, toxicity data were limited. CONCLUSION: Although infrequently reported, EBV infection or reactivation after CAR-T therapy may be associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among affected patients. However, the available evidence is limited by the small sample size, heterogeneous study designs, and inconsistent EBV surveillance practices.

Humans

Sacral Neuromodulation in the Management of Refractory Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Sacral neuromodulation is currently used in the pediatric patient population for refractory lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). Evidence, however, is currently limited for institutional experiences of long-term outcomes for sacral neuromodulation in the pediatric patient population. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to perform a retrospective review of a large multi-institutional cohort of pediatric patients that underwent sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for refractory LUTD, focused on rates of symptom improvement, quality of life, and bowel-bladder dysfunction measures following device implantation. Secondary objectives included assessing device complication rates and device removals due to failure or successful resolution of symptoms. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients at three children's hospitals that underwent SNM device implantation for refractory LUTD. Patients 4-18 years of age who were diagnosed with refractory LUTD and managed at a participating institution with follow-up were included. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and post-operatively after two-stage device implantation at initial follow-up and annually until device removal or final follow-up. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2022, a total of 205 children underwent SNM procedures at three pediatric hospital centers. 204 patients completed the two-stage procedure for permanent device implantation with a median follow-up of 3.4 years (1.3, 4.9). One hundred seventy-eight patients reported partial (25%) or complete (54%) device response/symptom improvement by final follow-up. Comparison of patient-reported validated questionnaires completed at baseline and by final follow-up visit revealed significant improvement in median Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.004) and Vancouver Nonneurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction/Dysfunctional Elimination Syndrome bowel-bladder dysfunction (BBD) scores (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Of those with any device complication (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;43;21%), 19 patients required device revision, and 20 required complete device removal. Separately, twenty-eight patients (13%) underwent device removal due to resolution of symptoms or treatment success at a median period of 5 years (4,7). CONCLUSION: SNM use demonstrated a majority of patients reporting at least partial subjective symptom improvement following device implantation across multiple institutions by final follow-up. SNM is a viable treatment option for refractory LUTD in the pediatric patient if willing to undergo an invasive procedure and in which thorough counseling of risks and benefits has occurred.

Humans

A novel peptide encoded by circTLL1 drives osimertinib resistance in lung cancer by modulating the NT5C2/Ras/PI3K axis.

BACKGROUND: Acquired resistance to osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, remains a major clinical challenge in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been increasingly implicated in drug resistance, most studies have focused on their canonical role as microRNA sponges, while their capacity to encode functional micropeptides remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify novel circRNAs involved in osimertinib resistance and to characterize their regulatory functions at the protein level. METHODS: Osimertinib-resistant (OR) NSCLC cell lines were established and validated. High-throughput RNA sequencing was performed to compare the circRNA expression profiles between parental and OR cells. The function of the candidate circRNA was assessed through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, including cell viability assays, apoptosis analysis, and xenograft mouse models. Mechanistic investigations involved mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation and western blotting to explore its protein-coding potential and downstream signaling pathways. RESULTS: We identified a novel circRNA, termed circTLL1, that was stably and significantly upregulated in OR-NSCLC cells. Functionally, overexpression of circTLL1 promoted osimertinib resistance, whereas its knockdown restored drug sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we discovered that circTLL1 harbors an open reading frame (ORF) that is translated into a novel 90-amino-acid protein, which we designated circTLL1-90aa. Further investigation revealed that circTLL1-90aa directly interacts with and promotes the degradation of 5'-nucleotidase, cytosolic II (NT5C2), thereby uncoupling nucleotide metabolism from its normal regulatory constraints. The consequent downregulation of NT5C2 leads to elevated GTP levels and leading to the sustained activation of the downstream Ras/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our findings unveil a previously unrecognized circRNA/micropeptide/metabolism cascade underlying osimertinib resistance. The identification of the circTLL1-90aa/NT5C2/Ras/PI3K axis not only expands the functional repertoire of the non-coding genome but also provides new insights into the complexity of drug resistance. Given its selective upregulation in resistant cells, circTLL1-90aa holds promise both as a predictive biomarker for treatment stratification and as an actionable therapeutic target, offering a novel strategy to overcome osimertinib resistance in NSCLC patients.

Pyrimidines

Comparative efficacy and safety of pharmacokinetically guided and body surface area-based 5-fluorouracil dosing in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Body surface area (BSA)-based 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) dosing remains the standard in colorectal cancer despite substantial interpatient pharmacokinetic variability, which may lead to underexposure, treatment failure, or severe toxicity. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated whether pharmacokinetically guided 5-FU dosing improves efficacy and safety compared with conventional BSA-based dosing. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched from inception to the final search date. The search identified 1,802 records: PubMed/MEDLINE, 47; Embase, 118; and Scopus, 1,637 records. Comparative randomized and non-randomized studies evaluating pharmacokinetically guided, area under the curve-guided, or therapeutic drug monitoring-based 5-FU dosing versus BSA-based dosing in colorectal cancer were included. Random-effects models were employed. The risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. RESULTS: Five studies comprising 809 unique patients were included. Across the primary severe-toxicity analysis, the pooled denominator was 1,338 reported observations, including 625 in the PK-guided 5-FU dosing arm and 713 in the BSA-based 5-FU dosing arm, because one study reported severe toxicity by treatment cycle rather than by patient. PK-guided dosing was associated with lower severe or grade&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;3 toxicity (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.33-0.76; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001; I&#xb2;=79%). PK-guided dosing was also associated with a higher objective response rate (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.24-1.80; P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001) and disease control rate (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07-1.30; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001). Severe diarrhea was reduced (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.18-0.62; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0006), whereas mucositis, neutropenia/leukopenia, and hand-foot syndrome were not significantly different between dosing strategies. CONCLUSION: PK-guided 5-FU dosing was associated with lower severe toxicity and diarrhea and higher objective response and disease-control rates than conventional BSA-based dosing. However, the evidence was derived from a small and clinically heterogeneous group of studies, and progression-free or overall-survival benefits could not be established. The findings apply predominantly to metastatic colorectal cancer treated with infusional 5-FU within FOLFOX- or FOLFIRI-based regimens. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable. This study was a systematic review and metaanalysis, and not a clinical trial.

Humans

Adeno-Associated Virus Gene Therapy Translation: Lessons from Early Regulatory Meetings.

The Platform Vector-Gene Therapy (PaVe-GT) program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative that aims to develop adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies for four monogenic rare diseases, two organic acidemias and two congenital myasthenic syndromes. PaVe-GT's platform-based approach identifies and diminishes redundancies and applies efficiencies in preclinical, clinical, and regulatory activities. The program's hypothesis is that implementing these efficiencies can accelerate clinical trial initiation. Based on its platform-centric experience and public-serving mission, the PaVe-GT program actively shares its scientific and regulatory learnings with the public to benefit the development of similar gene therapy products for rare diseases. PaVe-GT's first investigational AAV gene therapy candidate is AAV serotype 9 human propionyl-CoA carboxylase alpha subunit (AAV9-hPCCA) for propionic acidemia caused by PCCA deficiency, which received initial feedback from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in an INitial Targeted Engagement for Regulatory Advice on CBER/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) ProducTs (INTERACT) meeting. Upon further product development that took into consideration the FDA's initial advice, the program obtained the Agency's feedback in pre-investigational new drug (IND) (Type B) and Type C meetings. Here, we share our experience from these meetings, including strategy, preparation, pre- and post-meeting feedback from the FDA, and lessons learned during the AAV9-hPCCA regulatory process, which the program plans to apply across the PaVe-GT platform. Topics discussed in the regulatory meetings included animal model and efficacy studies, toxicology study plans, manufacturing of the investigational AAV product, and clinical trial design. The main lessons learned from the pre-IND and Type C meetings for AAV9-hPCCA are: (1) Pharmacology/Toxicology studies in a single rodent species are sufficient for filing an initial IND; (2) FDA feedback guides product quality improvements and early development of a quantitative potency assay; (3) use of biomarkers as potential surrogate endpoints in a future efficacy trial benefits from collection of data in the natural history study and the first-in-human Phase 1/2 study; and (4) evidence from the Phase 1/2 clinical trial could be leveraged to support a license application. Lightly redacted regulatory documents and comprehensive templates developed by the PaVe-GT team are available on the PaVe-GT website.

Dependovirus

Using Organoids to Unlock the Potential of Human Torpor for Spaceflight.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper reviews the current understanding of the potential for humans to enter a state of torpor/hibernation, and discusses the possibility of inducing torpor in astronauts for long-duration space travel, including some of the physiological, technological, and ethical considerations associated with its implementation. By exploring means to induce torpor in various human organoid systems, we hope such research can provides insights to comprehensive solutions to overcome some of the major hurdles that limit the potential for human to enter a state of torpor during long-duration deep-space missions, and contribute to the ongoing efforts to make such missions more feasible and safer for astronauts. RECENT FINDINGS: On future deep space missions such as NASA's planned missions to the Moon, Mars, and near-Earth asteroids, astronauts will be continuously exposed to environments that are radically different from those on Earth, each presenting multiple logistical and physiological challenges. Beyond the well-documented physiological effects of microgravity, space travelers will encounter a complex radiation environment that may contribute to significant short- and long-term adverse effects on human physiology and increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. Besides these physical challenges, life support systems must also be designed to mitigate psychological impacts of long-term isolation and confinement - all of which collectively pose formidable engineering problems. Hibernation/torpor is a state of prolonged inactivity and metabolic depression used by a wide variety of mammals to survive periods of cold temperatures and food scarcity, including some primates and perhaps even an extinct early line of hominins that lived nearly half a million years ago. Since modern humans share common ancestry with these hominins and hibernating primates, it is likely the human genome encodes the necessary genetic information to hibernate, or at least enter the similar, more transient state of torpor. The reduced body activity, lowered metabolism, and decreased energy requirements that characterize torpor suggest that developing means of inducing such a state in astronauts could address these challenges, including providing a degree of radioprotection. SUMMARY: This review explores the potential application of human torpor as a countermeasure to address the many challenges posed by long-duration spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO), discusses various natural hibernating model systems for studying means of inducing a torpor-like state in humans, and highlights the vast potential of using human organoids to test and validate mechanisms that govern induction and maintenance of torpor to identify the means to one day safely induce this state in astronauts to provide additional protection from the myriad stressors of spaceflight.

Astronaut Health

Insights into the fate and dynamics of antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant Bacillus cereus during in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion.

Bacillus cereus, an important pathogen responsible for causing foodborne diseases worldwide, releases pore-forming enterotoxins, which target host epithelial cells, leading to osmotic lysis and ultimately manifesting as diarrheal syndrome. Moreover, some B. cereus strains carry antimicrobial resistance genes that confer multidrug resistance against a spectrum of antibiotics. Characterizing the survival traits of multidrug-resistant (MDR) B. cereus strains in the intestinal microenvironment is essential for developing targeted strategies to effectively manage diarrheal foodborne diseases caused by this pathogen. This study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to evaluate the pre- and post-digestion toxigenic potential, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and genetic diversity of MDR B. cereus strains isolated from food samples in Guangdong Province, China. The four B. cereus isolates investigated in this study exhibited a genetic diversity, as determined by multilocus sequence typing analysis of WGS data. All four isolates produced the diarrheal toxins Hbl, Nhe, and CytK to varying levels, indicative of their potential to cause outbreaks of foodborne diseases. Each of the four isolates exhibited resistance to more than three classes of antibiotics, fulfilling the criterion for multidrug resistance. At an initial concentration of 9 log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL, the intestinal concentration of these four isolates crossed the threshold required to induce widespread diarrhea in the general population. Under rice slurry protection, all tested isolates maintained intestinal concentration beyond the threshold when the initial concentration was increased to &#x2265;8 log CFU/mL. Moreover, the upregulations of genes associated with acid tolerance, bile tolerance and stress response were observed in the surviving MDR B. cereus isolates. Digestion markedly altered the antibiotic resistance profiles of the MDR B. cereus isolates. In the absence of a food matrix, the MDR isolates lost their resistance to imipenem, meropenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole post-digestion and was influenced by the initial concentration of the strains. In the presence of food matrix rice slurry, the effects of digestion on the antibiotic resistance of MDR B. cereus isolates can be mitigated, enabling them to maintain their antibiotic resistance to the greatest extent. Most remarkably, after digestion, the isolates Bce055 and Bce166 exhibited newly emergent resistance to cefotetan and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, respectively. Our findings clarify the fate of MDR B. cereus isolates in the gastrointestinal tract and inform the development of prevention and control strategies for foodborne diseases caused by this pathogen.

Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial

Longitudinal Repeated Protein Measurements in a Multiethnic Cohort Identify Novel Diabetes Biomarkers That Reveal Unique Disease Pathways.

There is up to a fourfold increase in diabetes biomarkers identified with longitudinal repeated versus single time point proteomic measurements. The increase in biomarkers identified with longitudinal repeated measurements is supported by a similar proportion being nominated as causal for type 2 diabetes with Mendelian randomization. Proteins unique to the longitudinal repeated analyses highlighted biological pathways (e.g., posttranslational protein modification and cellular structure and cycle regulation) that were distinct from pathways enriched among the shared proteins (e.g., small-molecule metabolic and catabolic processes). Longitudinal protein measurements identify additional novel disease biomarkers and disparate biological pathways compared with single measurement analyses.

Journal Article

Spinal meningiomas: histopathological grading using a benchmark radiomics model with notes on disease control.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal meningiomas (SMs) are common primary spinal tumors for which surgery is considered the first-line treatment when safe and feasible. The ability to extrapolate the tumor grade from preoperative imaging may significantly inform early patient expectation-setting regarding recurrence. Building on radiomics studies in cranial meningiomas, the authors aimed to construct a benchmark radiomics model to preoperatively identify the histological grade of SMs. METHODS: Institutional surgical records from May 2012 to November 2025 were queried for pathology-confirmed meningiomas below the foramen magnum, with preoperative contrast-enhanced imaging available for segmentation. SMs were classified as low-grade (WHO grade 1) and high-grade (WHO grade 2 tumors and grade 1 tumors with atypia). Tumors were manually segmented, and features were extracted using the PyRadiomics software package. An ensemble model of k-nearest neighbors, random forest, and support vector machine classifiers was trained using nested cross-validation on a subset of 10 features to differentiate tumor grades. Clinical data for the cohort were also extracted, and disease control in an adjunctive clinical series was assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included in radiomics analysis, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.879 and a mean F1 score of 0.748. The model's top 5 features were all texture features that differed significantly (p < 0.05) across low- and high-grade SMs. These included measures of tumor textural and contrast-enhancement heterogeneity, with overlap with features reported in radiomics models for histological grading of intracranial meningiomas. Fifty-five patients with a median radiographic follow-up of 22.2 (range 1.9-86.4) months remained for clinical analysis after exclusion of patients with less than 1 month of follow-up and syndromic meningiomas. Four recurrences occurred at a median of 20.8 (range 1.8-41.8) months. High-grade tumor pathology did not significantly impact progression-free survival (p = 0.682, log-rank test; Cox regression high vs low grade hazard ratio [HR] 0.62, 95% CI 0.06-6.11, p = 0.685). Subtotal resection was associated with poorer progression-free survival than gross-total resection (p = 0.004, log-rank test; Cox regression subtotal vs gross-total resection HR 10.62, 95% CI 1.46-77.05, p = 0.019). These findings remain contextualized within a relatively limited follow-up window and small recurrence event count, suggesting a need to characterize the interplay between tumor grade and extent of resection as drivers of local disease control in SMs. CONCLUSIONS: A preoperative radiomics model can stratify high-grade SMs using open-source tools applied to single-institution data.

Humans

Temporal proteomic analysis reveals a three-phase adaptation strategy in Phytophthora cinnamomi during salinity stress.

Phytophthora cinnamomi, a highly invasive hemibiotrophic oomycete, threatens global agriculture, forestry, and native ecosystems. Although drought and temperature effects on P. cinnamomi-host interactions are well studied, current knowledge of abiotic stress responses in P. cinnamomi remains largely centered on infection and phytopathology, with limited molecular insight into the pathogen's direct response to salinity independent of its host. To address this gap, we combined growth assays, time-resolved proteomics, and network analysis to define how P. cinnamomi responds and adapts to salinity exposure. Growth assays showed that NaCl-modified agar enhanced mycelial expansion in a concentration-dependent manner, with 100&#xa0;mM NaCl significantly increasing growth at 48, 72, and 96&#xa0;h compared with controls, while 50&#xa0;mM NaCl remained comparable to control conditions. Temporal proteomic analysis of 100&#xa0;mM NaCl treatment at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 24&#xa0;h post treatment revealed dynamic shifts in protein abundance. Early induction of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species)-detoxifying enzymes, including glutathione S-transferases and peroxidases, was consistent with ROS-specific staining assays. Network analysis identified modules enriched for redox regulation, ATP generation, ion transport, and translational control, highlighting multi-layered adaptation to elevated NaCl levels. Notably, clusters of conserved hypothetical proteins were strongly upregulated, indicating unexplored stress tolerance components in Phytophthora species. Here, we propose that P. cinnamomi rapidly activates a three-phase strategy involving metabolism readjustments, redox defenses, and cellular structure alterations under salinity conditions. With increasing soil salinization due to climate change, our study provides first mechanistic insights into P. cinnamomi's adaptive plasticity and ecological resilience to abiotic stress. SIGNIFICANCE: This study represents the first temporal proteomic analysis of salinity stress adaptation in Phytophthora cinnamomi, revealing a sophisticated three-phase adaptation strategy. This research fundamentally advances our understanding of how this globally destructive plant pathogen, P. cinnamomi, maintains environmental resilience. Our findings reveal proteome remodelling as a mechanistic framework for understanding stress tolerance in oomycetes, a group of microorganisms responsible for some of the world's most destructive agricultural and forest diseases. Our results show proteins involved in emergency damage control through metabolic recalibration to sustained adaptation. These findings have relevance for predicting pathogen behavior under climate change scenarios, where increasing soil salinity threatens agricultural productivity while simultaneously enhancing pathogen survival and virulence. Understanding how P. cinnamomi responds to prolonged salinity exposure may inform targeted biocontrol strategies and improve predictive models of disease pressure in salt-affected agricultural regions. The temporal analysis framework we present offers a broadly applicable approach for understanding microbial stress adaptation, with implications extending beyond plant pathology to environmental microbiology and biotechnology applications where stress tolerance is paramount.

Phytophthora

Intestinal content accelerates muscle protein degradation in red shrimp (Solenocera crassicornis) during refrigeration: Insights from metagenomics and metabolomics.

This study systematically explored the effects of intestinal components on muscle quality deterioration and protein degradation of red shrimp during refrigerated storage. The results demonstrated that refrigeration induced continuous quality degradation and muscle protein breakdown in red shrimp, whereas eliminating intestinal tissues effectively retarded muscle spoilage and protein degradation, and optimized muscle texture. The intestinal microorganisms could secrete extracellular proteases to promote muscle protein degradation were primarily Vibrio, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Photobacterium, and Shewanella. These microorganisms promote protein degradation by secreting zinc proteases, serine proteases, and aspartyl proteases. This study elucidates the molecular mechanisms of intestinal microbial metabolism influences the muscle protein degradation of red shrimp during refrigeration. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for precise regulation of intestinal-targeted microorganisms, thereby maintaining optimal quality of shrimps during refrigeration.

Animals