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PubMed2026

Comparative genomic epidemiology of food- and patient-derived diarrheagenic Escherichia coli from sentinel surveillance in Southeast China.

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) remains an important foodborne pathogen, yet long-term comparative genomic surveillance data jointly characterizing food-derived and patient-derived isolates remain limited. This surveillance-based comparative study integrated antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing to characterize diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolates recovered from food and patient sources in Lishui, Southeast China, during 2018-2025, with emphasis on occurrence, resistance profiles, genomic backgrounds, and plasmid replicon-associated features. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for 258 selected isolates, and whole-genome sequencing was conducted for a curated analytical subset of 204 isolates. The sequenced subset was used for diversity-oriented comparative genomic analysis rather than for unbiased prevalence estimation of the entire DEC collection. EAEC predominated in both sources, although food-associated occurrence was heterogeneous across categories, with the highest recovery rate observed in raw meat. Patient-derived isolates showed a broader overall resistance burden, whereas food-derived isolates retained substantial resistance to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and florfenicol. Phylogenetic analysis showed partial overlap in genomic backgrounds between food-derived and patient-derived isolates, while representative resistance determinants displayed both broadly distributed and lineage-enriched patterns. Replicon-based plasmid profiling identified 42 plasmid types, including 12 detected in both sources, with IncF-related replicons predominating among these shared profiles. Several food-derived isolates carried multiple plasmid replicon types that were also observed in patient-derived isolates. Overall, food-derived and patient-derived DEC showed partial overlap in genomic backgrounds, resistance determinants, and replicon-defined plasmid profiles within this surveillance setting, while retaining source-associated heterogeneity. These findings should be interpreted as surveillance-based comparative evidence rather than as evidence of direct source attribution or transmission.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

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

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

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Redox Rewiring in Nicotine-Driven Gastric Carcinogenesis: Uncovering ROS-Dependent Oncogenic Circuits.

SIGNIFICANCE: Nicotine from tobacco products, secondhand smoke, and emerging delivery systems remains a major but underappreciated driver of gastric carcinogenesis (GC). Although reactive oxygen species (ROS) have long been implicated in tumor biology, current models incompletely explain how chronic nicotine selectively reprograms gastric epithelial signaling. This review advances the concept of redox rewiring, whereby nicotine establishes a persistent oxidative state that orchestrates multiple oncogenic programs via spatially compartmentalized NOX signaling. RECENT ADVANCES: We synthesize evidence for a unified model wherein nicotine activates nAChR/β-AR signaling, Ca2+ influx, PKC, and compartmentalized NOX-derived ROS to generate distinct oncogenic outputs. Beyond the established NOX/ROS/NF-κB/MAPK-driven IL-8 and MMP-9 axes, we integrate emerging evidence into three interconnected modules governing EMT/metastasis (ABL1/STAT3/COX-2/periostin), survival/chemoresistance (ERK/GLI1/Bcl-2), and invasion/immune evasion (miR-21/PDCD4). Collectively, these circuits suggest that ROS function not merely as damaging byproducts but as spatially organized signaling mediators dictating tumor behavior. CRITICAL ISSUES: A major challenge is distinguishing established mechanisms from incompletely validated models. The three proposed axes are testable hypotheses requiring experimental validation. Most data derive from in vitro studies with nonphysiologic nicotine concentrations, and artifacts from nonspecific ROS probes are common. Compensatory pathway activation and multi-target effects of natural products remain underexplored. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: We outline a precision-redox oncology roadmap linking pathway-specific biomarkers, mechanistically matched natural products, and biomarker-enriched trials. Priorities include genetic validation of the three axes, time-resolved ROS imaging, and pulsed natural product regimens. By reframing nicotine-driven GC as adaptive redox network remodeling, this review provides a framework for prevention, stratification, and next-generation therapy. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.

gastric cancer↗

PubMed2026

Effect of flavored on!® nicotine pouch products on smoking behaviors: A sequential, multiple assignment, randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether flavored versus unflavored nicotine pouch (NP) access affects cigarette reduction and smoke exposure among adults who smoke daily, and whether delayed flavor introduction affects these outcomes. METHODS: Adults who smoked ≥ 5 cigarettes/day (CPD) with interest in replacing cigarettes with NPs were enrolled in a remote, six-week, sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (n = 402 randomized; n = 400 analyzed). Participants were randomized to immediate access to seven NP flavors (Flavor), unflavored-only access for six weeks (Original), or unflavored-only for three weeks followed by flavor access (Delayed Flavor). Primary outcomes were ≥ 50% reduction in weekly mean expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) from baseline and mean CO at Week 6. Secondary outcomes included ≥ 50% CPD reduction, mean CPD, CO-verified 7-day abstinence, and incident smoke-free days. RESULTS: At Week 6, Flavor and Original did not differ in ≥ 50% CO reduction (14.3% vs 14.2%; IRR=1.0, 95% CI=0.6-1.8) or mean CO (18.3 vs 16.5 ppm; β=1.9, 95% CI=-1.3-5.0). CPD decreased across groups by Week 6, with no differences between Flavor and Original in ≥ 50% CPD reduction (50.3% vs 51.6%; IRR=1.0, 95% CI=0.8-1.2) or CO-verified abstinence (9.3% vs 8.9%; IRR=1.0, 95% CI=0.5-2.2). Flavor increased smoke-free days early, with attenuation over time. Among Week 3 non-responders, delayed flavor access increased ≥ 50% CPD reduction at Week 6 (33.3% vs 18.6%; IRR=1.8, 95% CI=1.0-3.2). CONCLUSIONS: NP access supported cigarette reduction regardless of flavor availability, but flavors may accelerate smoke-free days and improve response among individuals who do not reduce cigarette consumption with unflavored products alone.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Diversification of yeast proteins as an approach for the development of sustainable food systems.

Despite growing trend in sustainable protein sources, yeast proteins have mainly been explored as a source of bioactive peptides using a monospecies and general protein approach. The contribution of highly abundant protein fractions in the yeast proteome to peptide formation remains insufficiently investigated, limiting a comprehensive understanding of yeast proteins as optimized peptide sources. The current review presents a systematic analysis of yeast proteins as emerging protein sources and evaluates the suitability of high-abundance proteins as bioactive peptide precursors by in silico techniques. Moreover, brewery by-product and single-cell yeast protein approaches are compared in terms of composition and techno-functionality whereas peptide formation mechanisms (in situ and ex situ) and regulatory aspects for food applications are also addressed. Cytoplasmic metabolic proteins, particularly glycolytic enzymes (GAPDH), are identified as highly abundant fractions of the yeast proteome. Proteins associated with cell and organelle membranes also contribute substantially based on cellular localization. These findings imply that such proteins may act as key precursors of yeast-derived bioactive peptides. In silico hydrolysis with Alcalase suggests a tendency toward the generation of short-chain peptides (3-11/14 aa), which may support biological activity. Moreover, peptide profiles appear to vary across yeast species, highlighting the role of species diversity in peptide generation. While single-cell yeast protein allows more controlled production than brewery by-products, nucleic acid content in both may limit applications. Overall, yeast proteins appear to be metabolically adaptable and species-diverse sources for various biological peptides.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae↗

PubMed2026

Viral community in Aspergillus spp. isolated from commercially available fermented dried bonito.

Katsuobushi is a traditional processed seafood product used in Japanese-style cooking, and when it is produced through fermentation by fungi, it is called karebushi. The fungi involved in katsuobushi fermentation are collectively referred to as katsuobushi molds. We previously discovered seven novel viruses from katsuobushi molds and determined their genome sequences. However, our previous explorations used only nine fungal strains available from culture collections, leaving the diversity of viruses infecting fungi involved in katsuobushi fermentation unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to isolate fungi from commercially available karebushi and clarify the prevalence of viruses in the isolates. Karebushi produced by three manufacturers was obtained, and 30 fungal strains (including Aspergillus spp.) were isolated from each. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) fractions were prepared from the mycelia of the isolated strains. Electrophoresis suggested that a relatively high proportion of the isolates harbored dsRNA elements consistent with RNA virus infection (30-70% per manufacturer; 59% overall). Furthermore, dsRNA sequencing identified four novel viruses in isolates of Aspergillus chevalieri and Aspergillus montevidensis: a beny-like virus, a gammapartitivirus, a narnavirus, and a victorivirus, in addition to two previously reported viruses. Notably, this represents the first report of a beny-like virus in Aspergillus spp. This study provides insights into the diversity of viruses infecting fungi involved in katsuobushi fermentation.

Aspergillus↗

PubMed2026

Dealcoholized muscadine wine improved skin elasticity and oxidative stress biomarkers without affecting gut microbiome in women over 40 in a randomized controlled trial.

Muscadine wine has a unique polyphenol profile distinct from that of common wine, and limited research exists on its health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the effects of intake of dealcoholized muscadine wine (DMW) on skin health, oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers, and the gut microbiome. Seventeen healthy women were randomly assigned to consume 300 mL of DMW or a placebo daily for 6 weeks, separated by a 3-week washout period, in a randomized, single-blinded, crossover design. Skin health parameters were measured on the face and forearm. Oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed in plasma. Fecal bacterial DNA was sequenced using shotgun sequencing. DMW did not affect UVB-induced erythema compared to placebo. However, it significantly decreased transepidermal water loss and increased facial gross elasticity. Skin elasticity significantly improved on the forearm, whereas other skin parameters were not affected. DMW significantly decreased plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and advanced glycation end products compared with placebo. However, the abundance, diversity, and functions of the gut microbiome were not affected. Polyphenol-rich DMW administered for six weeks improved certain skin health parameters and reduced oxidative and inflammatory stress, without affecting the gut microbiome in healthy women.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Role of bioprocessing in modifying cardiometabolic outcomes of an oat-based dairy alternative in a randomised controlled clinical intervention.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A healthy diet rich in fibre-containing foods such as oats supports cardiometabolic health. Bioprocessing methods, including fermentation and enzymatic treatment, may further enhance the health benefits of oat-based foods by altering their physicochemical properties. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of consuming fermented and non-fermented oat-based products enriched with fibre and protein on cardiometabolic outcomes gastrointestinal symptoms, and to consider how assessed physicochemical and nutritional differences between the products might relate to any observed effects. METHODS: In a 12-week randomised crossover trial, 56 adults with mild metabolic deterioration consumed fermented (gurt) and non-fermented (porridge) oat-based products enriched with fibre and protein as part of their habitual diet for three weeks each. The study products were specifically developed and prepared for this study using identical ingredients. Primary cardiometabolic factors and gastrointestinal symptoms (GSRS) were measured at four time points, while secondary outcomes were assessed at baseline and after both product periods. Physicochemical and nutritional characterization of the study products included cereal β-glucan (BG) and protein molecular weight distribution, starch and sugar analysis, microscopy, acidity, and viscosity. RESULTS: During the gurt consumption, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations decreased (-0.15 ± 0.51 mmol/L, p = 0.028; and -0.12 ± 0.46 mmol/L, p = 0.047, respectively), with a minimal impact on blood pressure and GSRS scores. Additionally, ferritin was lower after the gurt compared with baseline (-4.00 [-16.50, 6.25] μg/L, p = 0.015). Similarly, ferritin levels were lower after the porridge period (-7.50 [-20.50, 4.25] μg/L), accompanied with a modest decrease in blood pressure and HbA1c. These effects, however, did not substantially differ between the product periods. Insulin showed a significant sequence effect (psequence∗time <0.05) and was analysed in sequence groups. Insulin levels significantly decreased during the gurt consumption in the group that started with the porridge (-2.22 ± 6.16 mU/L, p = 0.015). Fermentation and enzymatic treatment induced significant changes in BG MW, starch, and composition in the gurt, which may alongside with increased fibre intake during the intervention explain the observed results. CONCLUSION: Consuming a fermented, oat-based gurt as part of habitual diet may improve cholesterol metabolism, likely due to increased oat fibre intake rather than fermentation as such. Moreover, greater intake of oat-based products, regardless of processing, can reduce ferritin concentrations and marginally improve other cardiometabolic factors. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT06393114.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Indigenous and local knowledge inclusion in forest fauna research: A systematic review in the tropics.

Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) is an expression of biocultural diversity and is vital for inclusive and sustainable forest management and epistemic justice. We examine how researchers studying tropical forest fauna engage with ILK and the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) who are holders of this knowledge. We conducted a systematic review of 62 articles that focus on tropical forest fauna and ILK. We used a category-based quantitative and qualitative content analysis on the types of forest fauna studied and how research engages with, defines and represents ILK. We also evaluated the varied forms of inclusion of IPLC in the research. We find that less than half of the reviewed studies (25) explicitly define ILK, and only four studies reported including IPLC in the decision-making processes. Our findings reveal that science has not fully acknowledged and understood the depth of ILK and we suggest ways to address this in future research.

Forests↗

PubMed2026

Saliva-based RT-LAMP assays support heat shock protein 70 as a promising transcript marker for estrus identification in buffaloes.

Buffaloes do not exhibit overt estrus signs particularly during summer, leading to a significant economic loss to farmers. Previous studies have identified several candidate transcripts (HSP70, TIMP1, TLR4 and HSD17B1), abundant in buffalo saliva during estrus stage. However, there is no widely applicable technology for estrus detection targeting these transcripts. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assays for these candidate transcripts using buffalo saliva. Saliva samples were collected from 10 cyclic buffaloes and RT-LAMP assays were optimized for salivary RNA as well as direct saliva. Among the four candidate transcripts, HSP70 showed a statistically significant colour change (p-value = 0.0191) at the estrus stage compared to the diestrus stage. This abundance of HSP70 was also supported in large simulated population datasets (10,000 animals) generated using R. Further, the RT-LAMP assays were tested using direct saliva without RNA isolation, and the colour change in the samples during estrus suggested the feasibility of estrus identification using direct saliva, overcoming the tedious step of RNA isolation. The detection of HSP70 using either direct saliva or salivary RNA indicated its potential as a marker for estrus identification. Similarly, TLR4 appeared to be another potential biomarker for RT-LAMP reaction using direct saliva, but it needs further validation in both RNA and direct saliva samples. Overall, the proof-of-concept on RT-LAMP assays optimized for salivary transcripts in the present study would be useful for estrus identification in tropical production systems following further validation on a larger sample size.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Mineral-driven molecular signatures of energy metabolism underpin sperm motility in buffalo.

The success of spermatogenesis depends on the interplay of various biomolecules that ultimately determine sperm quality. In this study, RNA-seq analysis of frozen-thawed buffalo sperm (n = 8) revealed the presence of 263 mineral-associated genes (>1 FPKM) in high (n = 4) and 181 in low motile (n = 4) sperm groups. Among these, 177 mineral-associated genes were commonly expressed between them, and the majority were upregulated (>1 fold), LOC102391588 (ncRNA; 37-fold), ZNF699 (26.5-fold), MYZAP (13-fold), etc., in the high motile group. The expression of selected mineral-associated genes was validated. The top enriched functions in commonly expressed genes were regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (FDR: 4.7 × 10⁻2; ZNF331, ZNF692, ZNF180, etc.), followed by spermatogenesis (FDR: 2.9 × 10⁻2; CALR3, ADAM18, ADAM29, etc.), proton transmembrane transport (FDR: 4.0 × 10⁻2; ATP6V0E1, ATP1A4, ATP6V1B2, etc.) and flagellated sperm motility (FDR: 2.3 × 10⁻1; CATSPERD, EFCAB6, CABS1, etc.). Additionally, the chromatin remodeling pathway (FDR: 3 × 10⁻2; PTP4A1, PPM1A, DUSP1, etc.) emerged as the most significant and may suggest that these minerals influence genome packaging and sperm functionality. Mineral-associated genes were predominantly associated with zinc (49%), followed by calcium (20%), phosphorus (10%), iron (5%), sodium (2%), potassium (2%), copper (1%) and other trace elements (11%). Although the current study uses frozen-thawed sperm, the findings indicate that mineral-associated genes are crucial for promoting membrane stability, energy production, motility and chromatin integrity, which may contribute to the superior fertilizing ability of sperm.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Source- and Solubility-specific Choline, Gut Microbiota, and Dyslipidemia Risk: Trimethylamine N-oxide-associated and Non-trimethylamine N-oxide-Associated Patterns in a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary choline, a major precursor of the gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), is implicated in dyslipidemia risk; however, source- and form-specific associations and interactions with gut microbiota remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine longitudinal associations of source- and form-specific dietary choline with plasma TMAO and dyslipidemia and to identify gut microbiota interactions. METHODS: Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (2018-2023), dietary intake was assessed via 3 consecutive 24-h recalls in this prospective cohort study. Two-level generalized linear mixed-effects models were applied in 4828 adults (mean age: 55.9 ± 12.6 y, 56.6% females) to assess choline-dyslipidemia associations. Choline-TMAO and TMAO-dyslipidemia analyses were conducted in 1091 participants free of dyslipidemia at baseline. Among 7169 adults with gut microbiome data, Least Absolute Selection and Shrinkage Operator and logistic regression identified lipid-associated gut genera; TMAO relationships were examined in a subset of 693 participants. RESULTS: Higher intakes of total [Q4 compared with Q1: odds ratio (OR) = 1.261; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007, 1.580], red meat-derived (OR: 1.753; 95% CI: 1.196, 2.568), and lipid-soluble choline (OR: 1.304; 95% CI: 1.047, 1.624) were associated with higher risk of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), whereas vegetable-derived choline was inversely associated. Egg-derived and lipid-soluble choline were positively associated with plasma TMAO, which was prospectively associated with 5-y incident dyslipidemia (Q4 compared with Q1-OR: 1.620; 95% CI: 1.047, 2.509), elevated LDL cholesterol (Q3 compared with Q1-OR: 2.478; 95% CI: 1.187, 5.174), and hypertriglyceridemia (Q4 compared with Q1-OR: 1.829; 95% CI: 1.028, 3.225). Three TMAO-associated genera were identified: Lachnospiraceae and Phascolarctobacterium as pro-risk taxa and Turicibacter as protective. The adverse LDLcholesterol association of egg-derived choline was observed exclusively in Phascolarctobacterium-enriched individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary choline source and solubility differentially associated with dyslipidemia risk through TMAO-associated and non-TMAO-associated patterns, with gut microbiota as key modulators.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Plasma proteomics reveal SERPINA1 and CD59 as candidate biomarkers for COVID-19 severity stratification and prognosis prediction.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has been closely associated with coagulation abnormalities. However, existing biomarkers, including D-dimer and fibrin degradation products (FDP), exhibit limited accuracy in stratifying disease severity and predicting long-term clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to use proteomic analysis to identify plasma biomarkers associated with COVID-19 severity and prognosis, and validate their predictive utility for mortality and thromboembolic complications. METHODS: Plasma proteomic profiles were analyzed across three COVID-19 severity classes. Differential expression analysis and functional analysis were performed. Clustering analysis was used to identify proteins correlated with disease severity. Candidate biomarkers were validated in an independent cohort. Predictive performance of the biomarkers for mortality, sepsis and venous thromboembolism was evaluated using bootstrap-corrected ROC analyses and multivariable regression analyses. RESULTS: Proteomic analysis revealed progressive involvement of the coagulation and complement pathway with increasing disease severity. SERPINA1 and CD59 were identified as candidate biomarkers and exhibited significantly higher plasma levels in severe cases. Bootstrap-corrected ROC analyses demonstrated strong predictive performance: SERPINA1 achieved AUCs of 0.775 and 0.924 for 30-day and 12-month mortality, and CD59 achieved AUCs of 0.720 for sepsis; the combined model further improved prediction of 12-month mortality (AUC 0.946) and sepsis (AUC 0.904), outperforming D-dimer and FDP. Multivariable regression confirmed their independent prognostic value. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study identifies SERPINA1 and CD59 as candidate prognostic biomarkers in COVID-19, highlighting the role of coagulation and complement-related pathways in disease severity and warranting further prospective validation.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Double-Axis Maxillary Skeletal Expander Suggests Higher Expansion Efficiency in Early Activation: A Finite Element Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Conventional single-axis maxillary skeletal expanders (MSE) have some drawbacks, such as limited control over maxillary expansion and possible asymmetric expansion between the anterior nasal spine (ANS) and posterior nasal spine (PNS). This report introduces a double-axis maxillary skeletal expander (DAMSE) concept to overcome these drawbacks and enhance the efficiency of maxillary skeletal expansion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five different DAMSE designs were compared with a conventional single-axis MSE. Finite element analysis was performed to analyse their expansion efficiency, stress magnitude and distribution occurring in a simplified bone model. RESULTS: DAMSE outperformed the single-axis MSE and provided better control over ANS and PNS expansion. During early activation, the highest expansion efficiency (31.7%) was achieved by DAMSE Model V, 13% more efficient than the single-axis MSE. This efficiency was increased to 100.8% by combining the DAMSE Model V with midpalatal suture surgery. However, with the simplified bone model, the current study could not demonstrate that DAMSE can resolve the issue of asymmetric expansion between ANS and PNS. CONCLUSIONS: An appropriately designed DAMSE can be a promising tool for maxillary expansion treatment. DAMSE offers more efficient treatment than the conventional single-axis MSE while maintaining similar levels of patient comfort and invasiveness.

Finite Element Analysis↗

PubMed2026

Comparing Traditional Motor Speech Practice to Contextualized Speech Practice in Preschoolers With Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare retention of real-word targets across practice conditions (contextualized vs. motor-only) within a modified integral stimulation treatment for preschoolers with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). METHOD: A single-subject experimental design with alternating treatments was used with matched target sets randomly assigned to contextualized practice, motor-only practice, or no treatment. Three preschoolers with CAS completed 18 therapy sessions, each consisting of two 25-min blocks: one contextualized practice and one motor-only practice. Order of practice was randomized each visit. Changes in percent phonemes correct (PPC) and lexical stress accuracy, derived from blinded transcription, were explored with visual analysis and effect sizes (standardized mean difference, d statistic). RESULTS: Meaningful improvements (d > 1) were observed in PPC across words treated in contextualized practice for all three children immediately posttreatment and for two of three children at the 1-month follow-up. Meaningful improvements in the motor-only condition were observed in two of three children immediately posttreatment and at follow-up. No meaningful changes were observed in lexical stress across any conditions in any participant. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary support for the feasibility of a modified integral stimulation therapy that incorporates elements of linguistically grounded therapies (linguistic retrieval, recasts, expansions) that may facilitate target retention in some preschoolers with CAS. However, other elements should be explored in conjunction with integral stimulation to maximize clinical outcomes. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.33228981.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Nitrogen sources and concentrations shape algal odor compounds: Key drivers of β-cyclocitral and β-ionone in water bodies of the lower Yangtze River.

Taste and odor (T&O) compounds derived from cyanobacterial blooms pose escalating threats to freshwater security worldwide, yet the drivers of specific T&O metabolites remain poorly constrained. Here, we investigated the dual effects of nitrogen (N) sources and concentrations on the production of β-cyclocitral and β-ionone, two algal-derived T&O compounds, through integrated field surveys (54 sites across lakes and rivers) in the eutrophic lower Yangtze River, China, and laboratory cultivation of typical cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa and Pseudanabaena cinerea). Our field data revealed that the concentrations of β-cyclocitral and β-ionone in lakes and rivers were not significantly different, but increased with the trophic level index. Redundancy analysis and Mantel analysis showed that Microcystis and Pseudanabaena were potentially dominant contributors to β-cyclocitral and β-ionone in the water column. Structural equation modeling and variation partitioning analysis showed that enhanced nitrate (NO3--N) significantly promoted the production of these compounds. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that inorganic N (NaNO₃) maximized total T&O yields by promoting algal biomass, whereas organic N (urea and glutamic acid) elevated the T&O production per unit biomass by 1.5- to 9.5-fold. Notably, Pseudanabaena exhibited a 2.3-fold higher β-ionone yield than Microcystis, with greater sensitivity to N concentrations. Our study highlights the critical role of nitrogen pollution, both source and concentration, in the production of T&O compounds by phytoplankton and provides reference data for managing T&O issues in rivers and shallow lakes.

Norisoprenoids↗

PubMed2026

Depth-dependent microbial succession and interspecies hydrogen transfer drive pit mud maturation in Chinese strong-flavor baijiu fermentation.

Microbial communities in fermentation pit mud play a key role in determining the quality of Chinese strong-flavor baijiu (CSFB). However, the ecological processes underlying pit mud maturation across spatial and temporal scales remain unclear. In this study, amplicon sequencing and metagenomic analyses were employed to investigate the taxonomic succession, community assembly, and metabolic functions of bacterial and archaeal communities during the transition from fresh pit mud (FPM) to new pit mud (NPM) and old pit mud (OPM). A pronounced depth-dependent succession pattern was observed, with 4 cm representing a critical ecological boundary separating distinct community structures and maturation trajectories. During surface-layer maturation, community assembly shifted from stochastic to deterministic processes, accompanied by homogeneous selection and increasing network complexity. In contrast, stochastic processes remained dominant throughout deep-layer maturation. Metagenomic analyses revealed a functional transition from lactate and acetate production, primarily associated with Lactobacillus in FPM and NPM, to butyrate and caproate production associated with Clostridium and Caproiciproducens in OPM. This functional transition was accompanied by enhanced amino acid metabolism, which was associated with the enrichment of Proteiniphilum and Aminobacterium. Notably, methanogen-mediated interspecies hydrogen transfer (IHT) emerged as a key ecological feature during pit mud maturation. In OPM, IHT networks primarily involving Methanobacterium and Methanosarcina linked methanogenesis with reverse β-oxidation through diverse hydrogen-transfer pathways, reinforcing metabolic interactions underlying caproate production. These findings provide new insights into the ecological mechanisms underlying pit mud maturation and offer a theoretical basis for the directed cultivation of high-quality pit mud in CSFB production.

Hydrogen↗

PubMed2025

Detoxifying biotransformation of chloramphenicol by Exiguobacterium sp. CAP4 and its bioaugmentation of chloramphenicol biodegradation in simulated wastewater.

The extensive use of chloramphenicol (CAP) in livestock leads the accumulation of CAP in livestock manures, threatening environmental and human health. Therefore, eliminating or reducing CAP concentration in manures before its re-utilization and application through microbial remediation is necessary. Exiguobacterium sp. CAP4, isolated from the plastisphere in duck manures, was capable of degrading CAP with the biodegradation efficiency of 97.8 % at initial CAP concentration of 5 mg/L within 4 days. A total of twenty-four biotransformation products were determined, including two novel transformation products, TP166 and TP203, enriched the integrity of CAP biodegradation pathways. Furthermore, the biotransformation process was proposed as a detoxifying process through biotransformation products toxicity evaluation. Notably, Exiguobacterium sp. CAP4 successfully colonized in the cow manures after inoculation, and bioaugmented the biodegradation of CAP in virgin cow manures. This study significantly extended our understanding of the CAP biotransformation fate, and provided a promising bacterial strain for bioremediation of CAP containing wastewater in situ.

Chloramphenicol↗