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PubMed2026

Effects of Moderate-Frequency Resistance Training on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Resistance training (RT) effectively manages cardiometabolic risk factors in adults, but the specific effects of moderate-frequency RT (2-3 sessions/week) in adults with overweight or obesity are understudied. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate moderate-frequency RT's effects on cardiometabolic risk factors in this population and quantify effect sizes. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library searched up to July 2025. ELIGIBILITY: English randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing RT (≥ 7 weeks) to nonexercise control; nonathletic adults ≥ 18 years with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. PARTICIPANTS: 454 participants across 12 RCTs (mean age 58.93 ± 12.87 years; mean BMI 31.2 ± 3.5 kg/m2; ~50% female). RESULTS: RT significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure (MD = -1.53 mmHg; 95% CI: -2.16 to -0.91; p < 0.01), LDL-C (MD = -0.25 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.08; p < 0.01), and triglycerides (MD = -0.17 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.30 to -0.04; p = 0.01). No significant effects on systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, waist circumference, glycemic markers, total cholesterol, or HDL-C. Subgroup analyses showed larger LDL-C/triglyceride improvements with concurrent dietary control. CONCLUSION: Moderate-frequency RT inconsistently improves cardiometabolic risk factors, benefiting diastolic blood pressure, LDL-C, and triglycerides but not glycemic or other parameters. Combining with dietary control may enhance benefits, supporting RT as a complementary strategy in multimodal lifestyle interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO: CRD42022343167.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Aflibercept With Versus Without Reduced-Fluence Photodynamic Therapy for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiographic Changes From a Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To report the longitudinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) changes in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy or in combination with reduced-fluence PDT. DESIGN: Image analysis of a double-masked, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial. SUBJECTS: 55 eyes of 55 treatment-naïve participants with symptomatic macular PCV completing 52 weeks of follow-up. METHODS: Participants underwent protocolized, multimodal imaging, including OCT, OCTA, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography at baseline, week 12, and week 52. Quantitative OCTA parameters included total lesion area, branching neovascular network (BNN) area, and BNN vessel density (VD). Qualitative features included trunk vessel presence and OCTA signal within the polypoidal lesion (PL). Eyes were categorized by treatment arm and PL closure at week 52. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Longitudinal OCTA changes and predictors of PL closure at week 52. RESULTS: We included 55 eyes (28 combination therapy and 27 monotherapy). Total lesion area decreased at week 12 but returned toward baseline at week 52 (combination: 3.72 ± 3.01mm2 at baseline, 2.86 ± 2.50mm2 at week 12, 3.59 ± 3.26mm2 at week 52; monotherapy: 3.77 ± 2.23mm2 at baseline, 3.27 ± 2.36mm2 at week 12, and 3.47 ± 2.58mm2 at week 52). BNN area decreased at week 12 and remained reduced at week 52 in both treatment arms (combination: 2.29 ± 2.08 mm2 at baseline, 1.46 ± 1.36mm2 at week 12, and 1.53 ± 1.32mm2 at week 52; monotherapy: 2.39 ± 1.85mm2 at baseline, 1.87 ± 1.68mm2 at week 12, and 1.82 ± 1.38mm2 at week 52). BNN VD reduction was greater in the combination arm at week 12 (-10 ± 15% vs - 3 ± 12%, P = .02). The proportion of eyes with trunk vessels increased over time in both arms (combination: 35.7% at baseline, 59.3% at week 12, and 67.8% at week 52; monotherapy: 25.9% at baseline, 44.4% at week 12, and 71.4% at week 52). In multivariable analysis, baseline BCVA predicted BCVA change at week 52 (β=-0.96 [-1.21 to -0.72], P < .01), and baseline CST predicted CST change (β=0.93 [0.75 to 1.10], P < .01). Greater reduction in BNN VD at week 12 was independently associated with PL closure at week 52 (OR 0.62 [0.39 to 0.97], P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Early reduction in BNN vessel density, rather than reduction in lesion size, was associated with subsequent PL closure. OCTA-derived vascular changes may serve as noninvasive biomarkers for predicting treatment response in PCV.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Urban Design Quality and Clinical Mental Health: A Systematic Review.

ObjectivesThis systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on core urban design dimensions that affect clinical mental health outcomes and examines how environmental exposures mediate or moderate these relationships.BackgroundUrban design has increasingly been recognized as a determinant of psychological well-being, yet a standardized framework to evaluate its mental health impact remains underdeveloped.MethodsFollowing PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically reviewed 19 quantitative empirical studies published through January 2025, examining relationships between outdoor urban design features and validated clinical mental health indicators across four major databases.ResultsFindings reveal that urban design influences clinical mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress, cognitive decline) through two objective spatial scales: street-level features (imageability, enclosure, human scale, complexity) and neighborhood environments (land use mix, density, green infrastructure). Environmental exposures (traffic, noise, air pollution) operate as perceptual and experiential mechanisms that mediate or moderate the mental health effects of these spatial design features.ConclusionsWe propose an integrated three-domain conceptual framework distinguishing objective spatial design scales from subjective exposure mechanisms. This framework provides evidence-based guidance for urban planners and policymakers toward creating mentally healthier urban environments.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A Dynamic Nomogram to Predict Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) involves multiple metabolic disorders. This study aimed to identify high-risk populations for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients with MetS and to establish a dynamic predictive nomogram. METHODS: A total of 627 patients with MetS from six regions in Zhejiang Province were enrolled and categorized into MAFLD and non-MAFLD groups, then randomly assigned to training and validation sets at a ratio of 7:3. Independent predictors of MAFLD were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and multivariable logistic regression analyses. These predictors were then used to construct a dynamic nomogram. RESULTS: A total of 627 patients with MetS were included in the final analysis, of whom 77.0% (483/627) were diagnosed with MAFLD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), total cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), MetS-defined dysglycemia, and education level as independent risk factors for MAFLD. MetS-defined dysglycemia showed the highest odds ratio (OR) for MAFLD development [OR = 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-3.29]. Although the number of MetS components and the metabolic syndrome score were significantly associated with MAFLD in univariate analysis, they were not independently associated with MAFLD in the multivariate model. A dynamic nomogram for predicting MAFLD risk in patients with MetS was developed and internally validated. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.834 (95% CI: 0.787-0.880) in the training set and 0.839 (95% CI: 0.771-0.899) in the validation set, indicating strong predictive performance. Bootstrap internal validation demonstrated good agreement between predicted and observed outcomes in calibration curves. Decision curve analysis further indicated favorable clinical applicability of the nomogram. CONCLUSION: BMI, WC, TC, ALT, MetS-defined dysglycemia, and education level are independent risk factors for MAFLD. A dynamic nomogram for predicting MAFLD risk in patients with MetS was successfully developed and validated.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Musculoskeletal Outcomes: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, but their effects on musculoskeletal health remain completely misunderstood. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review/meta-analysis aims to synthesise clinical data on the effects of GLP-1 RAs on key relevant bone, muscle, and joint outcomes. METHODS: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (both via Ovid® platform) and Embase were searched from inception to March 2025 to identify relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or real-world evidence (RWE) studies to be included. This bibliographic search was completed manually. A random-effect model meta-analysis was performed for any outcome reported in at least 2 studies. Subgroup analyses were performed on the type of GLP-1 RAs, type of comparator used and study design. Sensitivity analyses (i.e., leave-out sensitivity analyses and analyses restricted to the most adjusted effect estimate) were performed to test the robustness of the data. The strength of evidence was assessed using GRADE. This work has been performed in adherence with PRISMA statement. (PROSPERO Record ID: CRD420251024082). RESULTS: From 1148 potentially relevant references, 60 articles (46 RCTs, 13 RWE studies and 1 pharmacovigilance study, comprising 1,250,717 individuals) met our inclusion criteria. Different GLP-1 RAs were represented across the panel of studies, i.e., semaglutide, liraglutide, exenatide, dulaglutide, tirzepatide (dual agonist gastric inhibitory polypeptide [GIP]/GLP-1) and others. No effect on bone outcomes (i.e., bone mineral density [all sites] and fractures [all sites]) were observed when the meta-analytical models included the most adjusted effect size. Regarding muscle outcomes, a significant decrease of lean body mass/fat-free mass was consistently observed with GLP-1 RAs in the global model (k = 28, standardised mean difference [SMD] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.8; -0.23, I2 88%, p-value for heterogeneity <0.0001), which remained robust in all sensitivity analyses. Subgroup analyses showed that the effect was mainly driven by liraglutide and semaglutide, with a decrease in lean body mass/fat-free mass observed when GLP-1 RAs were compared with placebo. No publication bias was found. Regarding joint outcome, models revealed no significant change in The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, physical function and stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis is the first to investigate the effects of GLP-1 RAs on a large panel of musculoskeletal health outcomes. While no significant effects were observed on bone- or joint-related outcomes, GLP-1 RAs were associated with reductions in lean body mass/fat-free mass, although the certainty of evidence was low and these changes appeared largely related to weight loss. Whether these changes translate into clinically meaningful impairments in muscle function or physical performance remains uncertain. Further studies in this field, including those looking at muscle function, strength or performance and using multivariate models considering confounding are needed to better reinforce the models and final findings.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Comparative analysis of histological and transcriptomic characteristics in caudal muscles of nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus), siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis), and their hybrids.

Crocodylus niloticus and Crocodylus siamensis are high-value aquaculture species. C. niloticus is large-bodied but less abundant, while C. siamensis grows fast but is small-sized. Their hybrids combine parental advantages, yet relevant research is scarce. This study compared the histological and transcriptomic characteristics of the caudal muscle across the three taxa. HE staining indicated that C. niloticus had significantly larger myofiber diameters (p < 0.05); C. siamensis had the smallest, and the myofiber density of hybrids was much closer to that of C. siamensis. Masson's trichrome staining indicated that C. niloticus had the thickest collagen fibers (p < 0.05), C. siamensis the thinnest, and hybrids exhibited highly similar histological traits to C. siamensis. C. niloticus had higher LDH and SDH activities in caudal muscles, whereas the hybrid crocodile indicated the highest CK activity. Transcriptomic analysis identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were enriched in growth, muscle metabolism, and energy allocation pathways via GO/KEGG annotations. PPI analysis screened 24 hub genes related to energy metabolism. This study systematically reveals caudal muscle differences, providing insights into growth-related molecular mechanisms and theoretical support for crocodile artificial breeding.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests: performance, pitfalls, and progress.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have revolutionized malaria diagnosis in endemic settings. RDTs are simple to use and accurate for clinical cases, although sensitivity is reduced at parasite densities below 200 parasites/μl. However, increasing prevalence of hrp2/3 gene deletions in certain areas threaten utility of histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2)-based RDTs, and lingering HRP2 antigenemia can generate false-positive results after parasite clearance. This review summarizes current performance of malaria RDTs, threats to their validity, and recent innovations to improve their performance and continued role in malaria diagnosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Most World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified RDTs perform well for clinical diagnosis, with only occasional exceptions, including a recently reported issue affecting several countries. RDT sensitivity is generally related to malaria transmission intensity, with higher proportions of false-negative results in lower-transmission areas. Newly prequalified lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH)-based RDTs perform well for both Plasmodium falciparum in areas with >5% hrp2/3 gene deletions and for Plasmodium vivax diagnosis. Several point-of-care alternatives to RDTs, including micro-fluidic devices, hemozoin-detecting devices, and automated hematology analyzers, have shown promising results in small studies, but require larger-scale trials before widespread use. SUMMARY: RDTs remain a critical tool in clinical diagnosis of malaria, and newer pLDH-based tests perform well in areas where hrp2/3 gene deletions threaten validity of HRP2-based RDTs.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparison of Traditional Chinese Exercise and Equipment-Based Exercise on Glycaemic Control and Vitamin D Levels in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients With Prediabetes: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes is a critical window for preventing progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Both vitamin D deficiency and physical inactivity are associated with impaired glucose metabolism. This study compared the effects of Traditional Chinese Exercise (TCE) and Kuanle Equipment Exercise (KEE) on glycaemic measures, lipid profiles, body composition and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] in middle-aged and elderly adults with prediabetes. METHODS: We conducted a 12-week, single-centre, randomised controlled trial involving 62 participants with prediabetes (mean age 55.2 ± 8.4 years; 88.7% female). Participants were randomly assigned to control (usual care, n = 21), TCE (n = 20), or KEE (n = 21). Primary outcomes included fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h OGTT glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum 25(OH)D3. Secondary outcomes comprised triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and body composition. RESULTS: At baseline, mean serum 25(OH)D3 was 21.53 ± 3.90 nmol/L. At 12 weeks, both TCE and KEE improved FPG, 2-h OGTT glucose, HbA1c and 25(OH)D3 versus control (all p ≤ 0.001). Relative changes in FPG were -9.4% (TCE) and -15.2% (KEE) versus -1.5% (control); corresponding changes were -14.6% and -21.2% for 2-h OGTT glucose, -6.7% and -12.9% for HbA1c, and +60.6% and +81.9% for 25(OH)D3. Direct TCE-KEE comparisons were not significant (all p > 0.05). In an exploratory analysis, change in 25(OH)D3 was inversely associated with change in 2-h OGTT glucose (partial r = -0.358, p = 0.006), but not with FPG, HbA1c, or triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: Both TCE and KEE improved glycaemic outcomes and increased serum 25(OH)D3 compared with usual care in middle-aged and elderly adults with prediabetes. Although KEE produced numerically larger estimates, direct between-group comparisons were not significant, and the superiority of KEE over TCE was not established. These vitamin D findings require confirmation in trials that quantify sunlight exposure and dietary vitamin D intake.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

The circadian clock proteins PRR modulate root hair development via the RHD6/RSL module in Arabidopsis.

Root hairs, derived from trichoblasts, are critical for plant growth and environmental adaptation. Although environmental cues are known to influence root hair development, how endogenous timing systems such as the circadian clock integrate into the core transcriptional network governing root hair formation remains unclear. Here, we show that the circadian clock-associated protein PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR5 (PRR5) physically interacts with ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE6 (RHD6) and RHD6 LIKE1 (RSL1), two basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors essential for root hair initiation. Genetic analyses suggest that PRR proteins contribute to root hair development under long-day conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana. Simultaneous disruption of PRR5, PRR7, and PRR9 results in defective root hairs, whereas PRR5 overexpression markedly increases root hair density and length. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses reveal that PRRs enhance the expression of RHD6, RSL1, and multiple downstream root hair-responsive genes, while modulating their temporal expression patterns. Furthermore, PRR5-mediated root hair promotion requires RHD6/RSL1, and PRR proteins enhance RHD6-dependent activation of the RSL4 promoter. PRRs also contribute to root hair development under phosphate-deficient and salt-stress conditions. Together, these findings establish a molecular framework in which PRR proteins regulate the RHD6/RSL network to coordinate root hair development and environmental responses.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2026

Elucidating the evolution of meat quality, water distribution, microstructure, and protein structure during sous-vide and micro-pressure cooking.

This study investigated the evolution of eating quality (colour, texture and volatile flavour compounds), water status, microstructure and protein structure of pork meat under different cooking methods. The methods analysed included traditional cooking (TC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 100 °C), sous-vide cooking (SV: 1, 2, 3 and 4 h, 60 °C) and micro-pressure cooking (MC: 10, 20, 30 and 40 min, 120 °C). Across the three cooking processes, as cooking time increased, cooking loss, lightness, yellowness, P23, β-sheet, random coil and surface hydrophobicity of the meat samples increased. By contrast, redness, P22, hydrogen proton density, esters content, α-helix, β-turn and sulfhydryl group content decreased. Moreover, the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), adhesiveness, hardness, springiness, gumminess, chewiness, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and fluorescence intensity of the meat samples, initially increased and then decreased as cooking progressed. SV resulted in higher water-holding capacity (WHC), improved redness and increased alcohol and ester levels, whereas MC produced softer meat and greater water mobility. Furthermore, MC enhanced the degree of microstructural damage and protein structural unfolding in the meat. MC requires less time to achieve textures and flavours similar to those obtained using the TC and SV methods. Thus, MC is an efficient cooking method for the catering industry to obtain desired meat quality rapidly.

Cooking↗

PubMed2026

Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A PET imaging in parkinsonian α-synucleinopathies: a systematic review.

Synaptic dysfunction is increasingly recognized as an early and biologically relevant component of α-synucleinopathies. However, conventional imaging biomarkers mainly assess dopaminergic dysfunction, glucose metabolism, or structural damage rather than presynaptic density itself. Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) PET enables in vivo assessment of presynaptic terminal integrity and may provide complementary information in Parkinson's disease (PD), Parkinson's disease dementia/dementia with Lewy bodies (PDD/DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). This systematic review synthesized the available evidence on SV2A-targeted PET in parkinsonian α-synucleinopathies, focusing on regional imaging patterns, clinical associations, longitudinal findings, and methodological determinants of interpretation. Seventeen reports were included. In PD, the most recurrent finding was reduced SV2A binding in the substantia nigra, although additional involvement of brainstem, caudate, striatal, thalamic, raphe, or cortical regions was reported in selected cohorts. In PDD/DLB, abnormalities appeared broader and more cortical, with evidence of association between cortical SV2A binding and cognitive performance. In MSA, one study suggested a distinct infratentorial and cerebellar pattern with potential relevance for phenotypic stratification. SV2A PET is a promising research biomarker for biological characterization of synucleinopathies. However, the field remains limited by small cohorts, methodological heterogeneity, variable quantification strategies, limited longitudinal evidence, and potential cohort overlap. Multicentre validation and harmonized protocols are required before clinical translation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Maternal transfer of nonylphenol drives oxidative, immune, and epigenetic dysregulation in zebrafish offspring.

Nonylphenol (NP), a widespread surfactant and endocrine-disrupting pollutant, poses significant ecological and public health risks globally; however, its transgenerational effects remain poorly understood. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio), we compared chronic maternal NP exposure (50 and 100 µg/L, 28 days) with acute embryonic exposure (0.22 µmol/L) during 0-3 days post-fertilization (dpf) to delineate mechanistic differences in toxicity. Maternal NP exposure produced severe developmental defects in offspring, including edema, axial curvature, impaired swim bladder inflation, reduced growth, cardiac dysfunction, and decreased viability. These phenotypes were accompanied by systemic molecular disruptions including oxidative stress, altered estrogen receptor (ER) expression, dysregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and suppressed innate immune response characterized by attenuated neutrophil/macrophage density, reduced CD68 and complement protein C3 expression, diminished nitrite load, and downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators at both transcript and protein levels. Maternal exposure further induced apoptosis and persistent epigenetic reprogramming (alterations in DNA methylation and histone-modifying enzymes), hallmarks of transgenerational toxicity. In contrast, direct embryonic NP exposure elicited morphological abnormalities without significant lethality, accompanied by induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, and MAPK activation, reflecting an augmented inflammatory response. These mechanistic contrasts reveal that maternal NP exposure is a potent driver of systemic, heritable molecular reprogramming, whereas embryonic exposure triggers acute inflammatory pathways. Together, our findings underscore the global relevance of NP as a transgenerational toxicant, advocating for its urgent inclusion in ecotoxicological risk assessments and regulatory frameworks.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Modelling peak microbial pollution events caused by combined sewer overflows in a source-to-sea system.

Predicting peak microbial pollution events in downstream coastal bathing waters caused by combined sewer overflows (CSOs) is essential for protecting public health. In urban areas, wastewater effluents, CSOs, and surface runoff can contribute to elevated microorganism loads to downstream waters. These pressures are likely to be intensified by growing population density and more frequent heavy rainfalls due to climate change. This study developed a process-based model to simulate Escherichia coli (E. coli) emissions, transport, and fate from the initial sources to coastal beaches. A three-year retrospective simulation (2017-2019) shows that E. coli concentrations in CSO discharges varied widely across the catchment (4.6 - 7.3 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)). 99th percentile E. coli concentrations (4.0 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)) at the inland water outlet were dominated by local CSO emissions, whereas 90th percentile E. coli concentrations (3.6 (log10 CFU 100 ml-1)) reflected cumulative upstream contributions from both CSO and effluent emissions. With the simulation accuracy of 89%, the model reliably reproduced the E. coli dynamics on the downstream beach and showed strong performance in representing peak concentrations based on Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function (CCDF) analysis. The process-based model enables quantitative tracking of source contributions and identification of pollution hotspots, providing support for mitigation measures. The study lays down a source-to-sea modelling framework for representing pollution transport across the aquatic continuum and provides a transferable tool for microbial pollution forecasting and climate adaptation planning.

Climate projection↗

PubMed2026

Reprogrammed Komagataella phaffii for enhanced secretory expression of human lactoferrin.

Human lactoferrin (hLF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein of the transferrin family derived from milk and mucosal secretions, which exhibits antibacterial, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory functions, and is an important component of infant formula. Conventional methods for lactoferrin expression are often inefficient, primarily due to inadequate protein synthesis capabilities and poor stability within microbial hosts. Herein, a Komagataella phaffii yeast strain capable of high-level secretory expression of hLF was constructed by reprogramming the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and vacuole using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. A dual-expression cassette containing the AOX1 promoter, an α-secretion signal peptide, the hLF gene, and a terminator was integrated into three different sites of the K. phaffii genome. The stepwise strategy combining expansion of the ER membrane involved in protein synthesis with knockout of vacuolar proteases further enhanced hLF production. Subsequently, 0.1 g/L FeCl₃ was added to the medium to reduce the toxicity of hLF and improve its stability. After high-density cultivation of K. phaffii through optimization of cultivation conditions in shake flasks and a 5 L bioreactor, the secretory intact hLF titer reached 2214 mg/L, representing a 76.3-fold increase achieved through these engineering strategies. In addition, antibacterial experiments demonstrated that this secretory hLF had a significant inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast. Overall, the developed K. phaffii protein expression platform enabled efficient production of lactoferrin, demonstrating its potential for expressing other lactoproteins.

Lactoferrin↗

PubMed2026

Neurocorrelates of nocturnal enuresis in pre-adolescent children.

INTRODUCTION: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a common neurodevelopmental condition, yet its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study leverages the large-scale Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset to identify structural and functional brain correlates associated with active symptoms and the resolution of bedwetting. METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from 3472 participants aged 9-10 years, children were categorized into three groups: active nocturnal enuresis (ANE, n = 225), history of nocturnal enuresis (HNE, n = 1171), and healthy control groups (CG, n = 2076). Multimodal neuroimaging protocol evaluated macrostructural properties via structural MRI (sMRI), microstructural white matter integrity via diffusion MRI (dMRI), and functional connectivity via resting-state fMRI (fMRI). Group differences were evaluated using linear models within an ANCOVA framework, adjusting for intracranial volume and handedness with False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the ANE group exhibited a significant volume deficit in the right caudate, decreased sulcal depth in the left insula, and lower internal correlation within the Cingulo-Opercular Network (CON). Conversely, the dry HNE group demonstrated significant structural adaptations, including bilaterally larger putamen volumes and increased right caudate volume compared to the ANE group. The HNE group also showed increased microstructural density (decreased mean diffusivity) in the bilateral hippocampus and an increased cortical surface area in the left insula. Both NE groups demonstrated persistently reduced functional coupling within the CON. CONCLUSIONS: Nocturnal enuresis appears to be associated with a potential complex central signaling deficits. Reduced internal correlation within the CON across both active and former bedwetters indicates a potential for impairment in processing internal homeostatic bladder signals during sleep.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Integrated photoelectrocatalytic reduction and oxidation processes to achieve efficient degradation of fluoxetine in pharmaceutical wastewater.

Fluorinated organic compounds have been frequently detected in aquatic environments, with the widespread use of fluorinated drugs. The existing processes of urban sewage treatment plants are difficult to completely remove these pollutants containing the persistent C-F bonds. In this work, an integrated system of UV-activated sulfite and UV-assisted electrochemical oxidation was innovatively constructed for efficient degradation of fluoxetine. For the UV-activated sulfite unit system, when the sulfite dosage was 0.5 mmol/L and the initial pH was about 10, the defluorination efficiency of 5 mg/L fluoxetine wastewater under nitrogen atmosphere was about 98 %. Subsequently, the UV-assisted electrochemical oxidation unit system was employed to treat the reduced wastewater mentioned above. When the sodium chloride dosage was 25 mmol/L, the initial pH was about 5, and the current density was 30 mA/cm2, the total organic carbon (TOC) removal of the wastewater arrived at 65 %. Active species capture experiments and ESR tests confirmed that hydrated electrons, hydroxyl, and chlorine radicals were the main components for the efficient degradation of fluoxetine. According to the analysis of Fukui function and HPLC-MS, the degradation pathway of pollutants was proposed including defluorination and mineralization. Meanwhile, the toxicity of intermediates was predicted using the ECOSAR program. In addition, the verification test of actual wastewater treatment indicated that the defluorination and TOC removal efficiency of fluorouracil by the integrated system were similar to those for fluoxetine. This work provided a new approach for the efficient degradation of fluorinated organic pollutants in pharmaceutical wastewater.

Fluoxetine↗

PubMed2026

Implementing a novel digital health platform for self-management of postmenopausal osteoporosis: A qualitative study of user experiences, perspectives and implementation outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis self-management requires scalable support, and digital health platforms may meet this need. This study aimed to characterise the experiences and perspectives of postmenopausal women who participated in a 12-month randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a digital voice assistant (DVA) delivered osteoporosis self-management intervention, and to assess key implementation outcomes. METHODS: This was a qualitative analysis of interviews with postmenopausal women from the intervention arm (DVA group) of the RCT. The DVA program broadcast education videos, medication reminders, home-based exercise, nutrition advice and monthly quizzes through a DVA device. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed and managed in NVivo through reflexive thematic analysis, guided by the Practical Planning for Implementation and Scale-Up and Proctor's implementation outcome taxonomy frameworks. Evidence weighting summarised participant coverage and code density. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 25 (88%) DVA group participants completed semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified seven themes mapped to Proctor's implementation outcomes. Evidence weighting indicated strong support for the intervention's appropriateness and acceptability, moderate support for its adoption, fidelity, feasibility and sustainability, and limited support for costs. Participants valued clear audiovisual guidance, conversation-based interactions with natural language, and flexible home-based access to self-management. CONCLUSION: Digital health platforms for osteoporosis self-management appear feasible, acceptable and sustainable among postmenopausal women. Findings indicate that these platforms are approaching readiness for evaluation in implementation-focused settings, contingent on streamlined content, reliable delivery modalities, accessible user support, clear privacy regulations and pragmatic pricing models.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of rumen fluid transplantation on longissimus dorsi muscle development in Xizang sheep: An association analysis based on transcriptomic and serum metabolomic profiles.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of rumen fluid transplantation (RFT) on the growth and development of the longissimus dorsi muscle in female Xizang sheep. After RFT, muscle lightness differed significantly between the two groups, with the LDC group showing significantly higher lightness than the LDT group. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between groups in other muscle phenotypic traits, including drip loss, pH, cooking loss, shear force, redness, and yellowness. Antioxidant-related indices (SOD, GSH-PX, MDA, CAT, and T-AOC) also showed no significant differences between groups. Histological analysis revealed that muscle fiber length, width, and density were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group. Transcriptomic analysis identified 515 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 419 were downregulated. KEGG analysis indicated that genes involved in muscle development-related pathways, such as cell adhesion and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, were predominantly downregulated. Key serum metabolites (L-kynurenine, IPA, allantoin, and propionylcarnitine) showed highly significant positive correlations with muscle fiber growth indices. In contrast, metabolites such as l-carnitine, acetylcarnitine, and citrulline were negatively correlated with muscle fiber growth, but positively correlated with the expression of muscle structure-related genes (COL11A1 and EFNA5) and with meat lightness. Overall, this study provides new insights into the potential molecular basis by which RFT influences muscle growth and development. However, the mechanisms by which RFT affects muscle development and meat quality-related traits remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

Animals↗