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Population-level impact of HPV vaccination: a global systematic review of ecological, cross-sectional, and cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes approximately 4.5% of cancers globally, with the highest burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Since their introduction in 2006, HPV vaccination programs have led to substantial declines in HPV-related outcomes, although impact varies across settings. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the population-level impact of HPV vaccination on HPV infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or higher (CIN2+), genital warts, invasive cervical cancer (ICC), and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), and examined the influence of coverage, age at initiation, and vaccine type. The review followed PRISMA 2020. RESULTS: Of 13,549 records screened, 63 were included: 9 assessed HPV infection, 24 on CIN2+, 25 on genital warts, and 7 on ICC. Greatest reductions were observed in settings with at least 70% coverage and early vaccination prior to sexual debut, typically achieved through school-based programs. Reported declines ranged from 58-100% for HPV infection, 30-88% for CIN2+, 60-90% for genital warts, and 70-88% for ICC. CONCLUSIONS: HPV vaccination offers strong protection, especially when delivered early and at high coverage within schools. Expanding access and prioritizing underserved populations are essential to achieving global cancer prevention goals. Limitations include heterogeneity across designs, outcome definitions, and follow-up.

Humans

A Multi-omics Regulated Cell Death Framework Defines Immune Phenotypes and Guides Precision Therapy in Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is molecularly and immunologically heterogeneous, contributing to variable treatment response. Because regulated cell death (RCD) intersects with tumor metabolism, immune regulation, and therapeutic susceptibility, we built an RCD-centered framework for CRC stratification. Multi-cohort transcriptomic data were used to infer RCD subtypes with non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and non-negative least squares (NNLS). Genomic, bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomic datasets were integrated to characterize subtype-associated biology. Machine-learning models were developed for immunotherapy response and survival-risk estimation. Candidate compounds were screened by GDSC2-based drug-sensitivity modeling and molecular docking, and FSTL3 was functionally assessed in vitro. The framework separated CRC samples into two RCD-related phenotypes resembling immune-hot and immune-cold states. RCD1 showed immune activation and higher mutational burden, whereas RCD2 showed immune-suppressed features, intratumoral heterogeneity, and aggressive biology. RCD-associated signatures showed potential for predicting immunotherapy response and survival risk. Dasatinib was prioritized for immune-cold, high-risk tumors, with preliminary evidence supporting its activity in CRC cells, while functional assays suggested a role for FSTL3 in growth, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and apoptosis regulation. These findings suggest that RCD-based multi-omics analysis may refine CRC stratification and help generate therapeutic hypotheses.

Colorectal cancer

Parent-of-origin effects on allelic expression bias in interspecific poplar hybrids.

In hybrid plants, phenotypic outcomes are governed by interactions between the two parental genomes. However, the mechanisms underlying the interplay of divergent regulatory networks from these genomes remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared gene-level and allele-specific expression patterns, as well as differentially enriched pathways between F₁ and complex backcross (CBC) lines derived from a natural interspecific hybrid population of Populus fremontii (Pf) and P. angustifolia (Pa). Metabolic differences between Pf and Pa which exhibit low and high levels respectively of phenylpropanoid-derived condensed tannins were leveraged. Using individualized transcriptome references, differential expression and clustering analyses revealed CBC-biased and F₁-biased expression for genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism and photosynthesis, respectively. Biased expression of these genes at the allele level was also observed in F1. At the whole-transcriptome level, Pa-biased genes predominated in F₁ hybrids, and Pa alleles displayed more conserved expression patterns than Pf alleles across examined samples. Further analyses indicated that allelic expression bias was significantly associated with parental origin, which could be driven by sequence variations in cis-regulatory elements and differences in CpG island length. Our findings demonstrate strong parent-of-origin effects on divergent regulatory networks governing gene expression in poplar hybrids and provide clues for strategic parental selection tailored to specific metabolic pathways of interest.

cis-regulation

Memantine Augmentation for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Bipolar Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are frequently observed in patients with bipolar disorder and present a significant therapeutic challenge. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of memantine as an adjunctive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 46 patients with bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, stabilized on quetiapine and lithium, were randomly assigned to receive either memantine (n = 23) or placebo (n = 23) for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The memantine group showed a significant reduction in Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores compared with the placebo group (Cohen d = 1.57 vs 0.42, P < 0.001). Nausea was the most common side effect, but overall adverse effects were minimal. CONCLUSION: Memantine appears to be a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with bipolar disorder, warranting further investigation.

Humans

Frequent readmissions after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder and alcohol withdrawal syndrome impose substantial clinical and economic burdens, with repeated hospitalizations being common. We aimed to systematically review readmission rates following inpatient detoxification, assess variation across study designs and hospital settings, and identify key risk and protective factors. METHODS: We performed a literature search in Embase and Pubmed on 10/04/2026 focusing on studies assessing in hospital alcohol detoxification. Exclusion criteria included studies on substance use other than alcohol and outpatient or residential treatment. Main outcome was rehospitalization, and meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled readmission proportions. Secondary outcomes were risk factors and protective factors influencing the rate of rehospitalization. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included. The pooled proportion of readmissions following alcohol detoxification was estimated at 17% (95% CI: 14%-21%; 13 studies, n&#xa0;=&#xa0;287,896) within 1&#xa0;month, increasing to 44% (95% CI: 36%-52%; 8 studies, n&#xa0;=&#xa0;2,877) at 1&#xa0;year. Substantial between-study heterogeneity was observed. Subgroup analyses found no significant differences by hospital setting or time period. Findings for study aim and study design were mixed and based on limited data A small number of studies suggested associations with housing stability, employment, and treatment engagement. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that approximately one in six patients are readmitted within 1&#xa0;month and nearly half within 1&#xa0;year after inpatient alcohol detoxification. However, readmission rates varied considerably across settings and populations. Future research should evaluate targeted interventions to reduce readmissions among high-risk patient groups.

Humans

Evaluation of Prevalence of Obstetric Violence and its Associated Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Obstetric violence (OV) begins with a woman's initial contact with a health institution and can persist throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. Despite this, previous research has largely focused on the labor process. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of OV experienced by women during pregnancy, labor, or the postpartum period. We conducted systematic searches in five electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL Ultimate, MEDLINE Ultimate, and OVID) between April 27 and August 7, 2024. Studies were included if they involved women aged 18 and above who experienced mistreatment, abuse, disrespect, or OV during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period; employed quantitative cohort, descriptive, or cross-sectional designs; were written in English; reported the prevalence of OV and/or associated factors; and were published between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2023. Data synthesis involved meta-analysis, meta-regression, and narrative synthesis methods. A total of 41 studies, including 43,977 participants from 17 countries, were included. The meta-analysis revealed that the pooled prevalence of OV was 61.7% (95% CI [0.549, 0.680]; I&#xb2;: 99.258%). The meta-regression analysis showed that variables such as the country of study, income level of countries, study setting, study design, and risk of bias had statistically significant effects on OV. In addition, 40 risk factors and 14 protective factors were identified through narrative synthesis. This highlights the high prevalence of OV and the need to address the associated factors.

Humans

Chemical and sensory profiling of fermented, washed, and artificially flavored coffee beans: Insights into flavour quality, authenticity, and food safety implications.

This study establishes an integrated framework combining chemical profiling, sensory analysis, and molecular mechanism evaluation to compare flavour quality and authenticity among fermented, washed, and artificially flavored coffees. GC&#xa0;&#xd7;&#xa0;GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-HRMS showed that fermented samples had markedly higher ester and aromatic alcohol levels (total esters 74.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;7.8&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1; phenylethanol 27.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.2&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01), enhancing fruity-floral notes. Washed coffees contained the highest organic acid concentrations (45.2&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.8&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01), supporting brightness and umami. Artificially flavored coffees exhibited elevated exogenous aromatics (vanillin 21.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.1&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1) but significantly fewer Maillard products (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05) and reduced flavour retention (55% after 14 days). Molecular docking revealed higher theoretical binding affinities for naturally generated compounds, suggesting a potential molecular basis for their greater sensory persistence. The framework supports constructing coffee quality fingerprints and verifying flavour authenticity.

Flavoring Agents

The future of precision oncology and artificial intelligence in Belgium: scenarios and policy responses.

PURPOSE: Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, enables the provision of tailored health services to patients. In the prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancers, precision medicine is highly promising, given the increasing use of genomic profiling for diagnosis and adapting therapies in several tumor types. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can support this process by analyzing vast amounts of relevant data. However, high-quality data and financial investments in the health system are essential for the implementation of precision medicine and AI solutions in routine cancer care. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Building on the quantitative outcomes of a foresight exercise published in another study, this article collects qualitative data to gain more detailed insights into the future of precision oncology in Belgium and discusses the role of AI in this field. It reports the results of a series of expert workshops, focusing on four hypothetical future scenarios that are centered around technological and economic issues that must be overcome for the widespread use of precision oncology in Belgium. FINDINGS: The study concludes that all four scenarios discussed in the workshops would require supportive policy measures in Belgium, which should go beyond mere technological and economic considerations, such as involving patient associations and the public in policy design or creating multi-disciplinary expert groups for precision medicine. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to employ foresight methodology to illustrate possible future scenarios, scrutinize feasible approaches for implementing precision oncology in Belgium, and discuss the use of AI in this context.

Belgium

Metabolomic differences in the Ophiura sarsii complex from the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass and Bering Sea Cold Pool.

Metabolomics provides a functional readout of cellular physiology and can reveal metabolite-level differences associated with environmental and evolutionary contexts. Here, we used GC-MS- and LC-MS-based metabolomics to characterize metabolic profiles of the Ophiura sarsii complex from the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass (YSCWM) and the Bering Sea Cold Pool (BSCP). This metabolomics analysis identified 398 LC-MS/MS and 87 GC-MS/MS differential metabolites (DEMs). Marked metabolic differences were observed between the two taxa, involving antioxidant-related metabolites, central carbon-related intermediates, osmolyte-associated compounds, and membrane lipid components. O. sarsii vadicola from the YSCWM showed higher levels of glutathione, glucose, citric acid, D-ribulose 5-phosphate, and unsaturated lipid-related metabolites, indicating differences in antioxidant-related and energy-associated metabolic profiles. By contrast, O. sarsii from the BSCP was characterized by higher levels of sugar alcohols, particularly myo-inositol, together with differences in membrane lipid-associated metabolites. These results provide metabolomics-based evidence for metabolite-level physiological differences between two members of the O. sarsii complex sampled from the Yellow Sea Cold Water Mass and the Bering Sea Cold Pool, while the relative contributions of lineage divergence and site-specific environmental variation remain to be tested experimentally.

Metabolomics

Toxicological effects of propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate on gallstone pathogenesis: An integrated mendelian randomization, network toxicology, and experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone disease is a prevalent digestive disorder with substantial global socioeconomic burden. Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (PP), a widely used paraben preservative, exhibits potential metabolic and hepatic toxicity, yet its role in gallstone pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the causal association between PP exposure and gallstone formation and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. Network toxicology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation were applied to screen for core targets. In vivo experiments, transcriptome sequencing, Western blot (WB), and ELISA were conducted for mechanistic validation. RESULTS: MR confirmed a causal link between circulating PP levels and an elevated risk of gallstones (P&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05), with AKT1 identified as the key target. In mice, PP aggravated gallstone formation by activating the AKT1-NF-&#x3ba;B-CXCL1 pathway, enhancing hepatic inflammation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation; these effects were reversed by AKT inhibition. CONCLUSION: PP promotes gallstone formation via the AKT1-NF-&#x3ba;B-CXCL1-NETs axis. Our findings highlight PP as an environmental risk factor for gallstones, providing novel insights into their prevention and targeted therapy.

Animals

Complete mitochondrial genomes of eight cyclophyllidean tapeworms: genome pattern and phylogenetic analysis.

Cyclophyllidean tapeworms are widespread parasites of significant medical and veterinary importance. However, mitochondrial (mt) genomic resources for cyclophyllideans from China, particularly those recovered from wildlife hosts, remain comparatively limited. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mt genomes of eight cyclophyllidean isolates collected from diverse wild and domestic hosts in China, including two Hymenolepis sp. isolates and two Raillietina sp. isolates from China, and four additional isolates of previously sequenced Taenia species. The circular mt genomes ranged from 13,387 to 14,021&#xa0;bp in length, encoding 36 typical genes with variable non-coding regions. Comparative analysis revealed highly conserved gene composition and mostly conserved mt architecture, with localized rearrangement patterns detected among the cyclophyllidean lineages examined. In particular, all sampled Taeniidae exhibited a consistent trnL1-trnS2 arrangement, whereas the examined non-Taeniidae families showed the trnS2-trnL1 arrangement, confirming and extending, across additional wildlife-associated isolates, a previously proposed family-associated gene-order marker within Cyclophyllidea. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated amino acid sequences of the 12 protein-coding genes placed the eight isolates within their expected families, in topologies broadly consistent with previous mitogenomic studies. These data provide additional Chinese mitogenomic references, especially for underrepresented wildlife-associated isolates, and support family-associated gene-order patterns in Cyclophyllidea.

Animals

Evaluation of the intraoperative analgesic effects of perioperative electroacupuncture: a randomised, blinded clinical trial in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of perioperative electroacupuncture (EA) on intraoperative analgesic requirements in dogs undergoing tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, blinded, controlled clinical study. ANIMALS: A group of 29 client-owned dogs diagnosed with cranial cruciate ligament rupture that underwent TTA surgery. METHODS: Dogs were treated with EA at predefined acupuncture points (LI-4, ST-36, LIV-3, SP-6 and GB-34) perioperatively as additional analgesia (group EA, n = 14) or were allocated to the control group (group C, n = 15). All dogs were anaesthetised with a standardised protocol including methadone, dexmedetomidine, propofol and ketamine. The intraoperative delivery of sevoflurane and fentanyl was guided in response to signs of nociception by a purpose-designed flowchart, by the same anaesthetist who was blinded to treatment group. A Wilcoxon rank sum test was applied for the fentanyl consumption analysis. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure and end-tidal sevoflurane were descriptively analysed between groups for specific time points. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The EA group needed significantly less fentanyl with 0.7 (0-2.7) &#x3bc;g kg-1 hour-1 administered versus 2.0 (1.2-5.5) &#x3bc;g kg-1 hour-1 in group C (p = 0.031). Fifty percent of the EA group was not administered a fentanyl bolus, whereas all dogs in group C required at least one bolus. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Perioperative EA reduced mean fentanyl consumption by more than 60% in dogs undergoing TTA surgery.

Animals

Chemical Complementarities of Neuroblastoma Tumor-Resident TCR CDR3s and CMV Antigens are Associated with a Better Outcome.

A likely immune response to a virus can be detected via the presence of TCR CDR3s that (a) exactly match CDR3s known to bind viral antigens or (b) represent chemical complementarity to viral antigens. Previous studies, based on genomics approaches to characterizing anti-CMV TCR CDR3s in patient blood samples, have indicated the possibility that a systemic CMV infection is associated with worse outcomes for NBL, as well as for breast cancer. Thus, the association of NBL tumor-resident anti-CMV TCR CDR3s and patient outcomes was evaluated here, with results indicating that high levels of chemical complementarity between tumor-resident TCR CDR3s and CMV antigens represented a better outcome. This is in apparent contrast to results obtained via the previous study of blood sourced, anti-CMV TCR CDR3s representing a worse outcome. This study identified gene expression values associated with the tumor-specific anti-CMV TCR CDR3s, representing exact matches to known anti-CMV TCR CDR3s, which may assist in identifying a potential underlying mechanism effecting the better outcomes associated with the tumor-resident, anti-CMV TCR CDR3s. Overall, results here raise the question of whether an anti-CMV response directly against the tumor, or within the tumor microenvironment, is involved in reductions in tumor progression or responsiveness to treatment?

Humans

Applications of metal-organic frameworks in smart packaging for food freshness indication: a comprehensive review.

Smart packaging is extensively studied for its multifunctional capabilities in antimicrobial activity, preservation, and atmosphere modification. Recently emerged metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) freshness-indicating packaging becomes a key research direction in smart packaging owing to its distinctive functions and physicochemical properties. As multifunctional materials, the unique porous structure and tunable properties of MOFs provide a distinctive approach for developing food packaging applications dedicated to food freshness indication. Existing MOFs-based smart packaging still faces potential safety risks and technical challenges in practical applications, and there remains a lack of integrated discussion that combines synthesis strategies, packaging design, optimization, and safety assessment. This review elaborates on the application of MOFs in freshness-indicating smart packaging, focusing on diverse MOFs synthesis strategies, the formats of smart packaging, types of indicator signals, and qualitative/quantitative analytical methods. It also delves into the methodology concepts of MOFs-based smart packaging and evaluates MOFs safety in food packaging by addressing potential risks. Studies show that MOFs-based smart packaging achieves qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of food freshness through multiple signal modalities such as visible color change, fluorescence, and photothermal effects. This review emphasizes that safe MOFs design is critically important and should comply with the overall migration limit of <10 mg/dm2 specified in Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, lanthanide element limit of <0.05 mg/kg, and FDA threshold of 1.5 &#x3bc;g/person/day. Comprehensive safety assessment and intelligent sensing platforms will constitute pivotal directions for advancing MOFs-based smart packaging toward practical application.

Food Packaging

Endocrine-disrupting chemical-induced gene networks confer coronary heart disease risk revealed by causal inference and single-cell analyses.

BACKGROUND: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are linked to coronary heart disease (CHD), but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to identify EDC-related genes and evaluate their causal roles in CHD. METHODS: We curated EDC-related genes from a compound-gene interaction database and integrated them with CHD genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics and tissue-specific expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and Bayesian colocalization were applied to infer causality. Functional enrichment, single-cell RNA sequencing of human coronary arteries, and EDC-gene networks were further analyzed. RESULTS: After FDR correction, 39 genes were significantly associated with CHD risk via MR. Four genes-ZNF827, FCHO1, IPO9 (protective), and RPL13 (risk-increasing)-showed strong colocalization (PPH4&#x202f;>&#x202f;0.9). Pathway and single-cell analyses of coronary artery tissue indicated that vascular and immune pathways mediate these effects. An interaction network highlighted associations between specific EDCs and candidate genes implicated in CHD susceptibility. CONCLUSION: This integrative genomic study provides evidence that EDCs influence CHD susceptibility through distinct gene networks, revealing potential mechanisms and molecular targets for prevention and therapy.

Humans

Making waves: toward systems-level interpretation of hormonal and endogenous biomarkers in wastewater-based epidemiology.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has proven invaluable for population health monitoring, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet current WBE largely relies on exogenous markers such as drugs, pathogens, and their metabolites, limiting surveillance to what communities are exposed to. We argue for expanding WBE towards endogenous biomarkers, particularly hormones, which provide insights into physiological stress, metabolic function, and endocrine activity. Hormone-based WBE offers new opportunities to capture population-level biological responses to societal and environmental stressors, disasters, and chronic disease burdens at the community scale. This perspective outlines a systems-level framework for integrating hormonal signals in wastewater with clinical data, behavioral indicators, environmental factors, and digital markers to support more robust and context-aware public health surveillance. We highlight key technical considerations, interpretive challenges, and opportunities for translational pilot studies. By moving beyond exposure tracking toward more integrated interpretation of biological responses, hormone-informed WBE may contribute to more resilient, inclusive, and actionable public health infrastructure.

Humans

Targeted variant analysis of feline mediastinal lymphoma using MassARRAY and clinical associations.

Lymphoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in cats. This study used the Agena MassARRAY to genotype 40 variants across 17 genes in feline mediastinal lymphoma. These variants have previously been identified in tumors, including T- and B-cell lymphomas, acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemias, and mast cell tumors, in humans, dogs, and cats, using various methods. They were selected based on high prevalence reported in prior oncology studies, potential relevance to targeted therapy, and suitability for multiplex PCR amplification. Pleural fluid samples were collected from 76 cats with mediastinal lymphoma, including 69 domestic shorthairs, two Persians, two Siamese, two Wichienmaat, and one Scottish Fold. The most prevalent variants were found in the BCL2, KIT, STAT3, and ZEB1 genes. Specifically, BCL2 c.83275986G&#xa0;>&#xa0;A and c.83275992G&#xa0;>&#xa0;T were present in 71.1% and 57.9%, respectively. In cats with variant-positive in KIT c.163965724C&#xa0;>&#xa0;CT significantly reduced (11&#xa0;days) compared to wild-type cats (94&#xa0;days) (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). In cats with variant-positive in STAT3 c.42942437C&#xa0;>&#xa0;CA, resulted in shorter median survival compared to wild-type cats (18&#xa0;days vs. 77&#xa0;days, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.006). The findings suggest that the variant panel could be useful for the genomic landscape of feline mediastinal lymphoma and warrant further validation.

Animals

Comparative analysis of gut microbiota in yaks under different feeding management strategies during cold seasons.

Yaks (Bos grunniens) are crucial for the livelihoods of pastoral communities in cold regions, where feed scarcity during the cold season poses challenges to their health and productivity, underscoring the necessity of understanding how dietary management influences the gut microbiota. In this study, 24 yak steers matched for body weight and health status were randomly allocated to four groups: natural grazing or indoor feeding with roughage-to-concentrate ratios of 50:50, 70:30, or 90:10. Fecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing and subsequent functional prediction of the microbiota. The results showed that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla across all groups, and UCG-005 and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were the predominant genera. Concentrate supplementation during the cold season significantly enhanced microbial richness and diversity, with the 70:30 ratio exerting the most pronounced beneficial effects on microbiota structure and key taxa enrichment. These findings highlight the critical role of dietary management in shaping the yak gut microbiota during cold seasons and suggest that the 70:30 ratio optimally improves microbial community structure, thereby promoting yak health and productivity under harsh climatic conditions. Future research should explore the long-term implications of such dietary strategies.

Animals