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A review on the environmental distribution, toxic effects, bioaccumulation characteristics and risk assessment of short-chain chlorinated paraffins.

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are synthetic chemicals, widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers. As emerging contaminants, short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their persistence, chronic toxicity, long-range transport potential and bioaccumulation potential. This review synthesizes global data on SCCPs' environmental occurrence, toxicological impacts, and bioaccumulation characteristics. SCCPs are ubiquitously detected in various environmental media, including water, sediment, air, soil, and biota. Ecotoxicological studies reveal that SCCPs have lethality, carcinogenicity, growth and developmental toxicities, organs toxicities and endocrine-disrupting effects across species, which pose risks to ecological systems and human health. In addition, the bioaccumulation effects of SCCPs in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems were analyzed, and proposed the key factors affecting the bioaccumulation of SCCPs. Finally, the risk assessment of SCCPs contamination in the surface water and the soil was carried out, and all soil and most water bodies were found to be low risk. The present study could provide scientific basis and reference for environmental management of CPs products.

Paraffin

Targeting Gasdermins for Therapeutic Interventions in Central Nervous System Injury.

Central nervous system (CNS) injuries are the leading cause of permanent disability and premature death in adults worldwide, with their incidence continuing to rise amid social development. These injuries not only severely impair the quality of life but also impose a heavy burden on the global public health system. Current clinical interventions, such as decompression and thrombolysis, can alleviate primary injury but fail to effectively reverse the secondary neuroinflammatory damage. Traditional anti-inflammatory therapies, which cannot block the upstream source of the inflammatory cascade, have led to repeated failures in global clinical translation research over the past decades. Gasdermins were first characterized in studies of systemic inflammatory diseases. These proteins form transmembrane pores to drive the release of proinflammatory factors and inflammatory cell death, serving as key mediators of host innate immunity. Recent studies have revealed that gasdermins play critical roles in regulating the initiation and amplification of neuroinflammation following CNS injury. To clarify the therapeutic potential of gasdermins as targets for injury repair, this review systematically summarizes the structure and function of gasdermins, as well as their cell-specific activation and regulatory mechanisms. We further elaborate on their pathological roles in these injuries and the corresponding therapeutic strategies, aiming to provide a theoretical reference for basic research and clinical translation in this field.

Humans

Insights into the regulation of the HOTAIR proximal promoter.

HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA) is a HOXC-cluster long intervening non-coding RNA (lincRNA) whose cancer relevance is tightly coupled to how its transcription is wired into hormone, hypoxia, inflammatory, and developmental signaling. HOTAIR is known to associate with cancer cell proliferation, motility, tumor invasion, and metastasis. The present mini-review focuses on the regulatory architecture and mechanistic complexity of HOTAIR transcriptional regulation, with emphasis on three organizing principles. First, we consider the impact of promoter choice between a canonical proximal promoter (P1), which supports the 2.2-2.4 kb transcript, and an alternative upstream promoter/TSS (P2), which contributes to context-dependent transcription initiation. Second, we examine the long-distance enhancer-promoter communication between HOTAIR distal enhancer and P1/P2. Third, we summarize the recent epigenetic and epi-transcriptomic mechanisms involved in HOTAIR transcript initiation and elongation. A combination of these events determines isoform-specific transcription to govern cell-type-, context-, and cancer specific modulation of HOTAIR expression that promotes tumor formation and cancer progression. Finally, the review proposes how large-scale RNA datasets, long-read sequencing, and isoform-specific studies can refine our understanding of this versatile lincRNA's regulation.

Humans

Cross-species variant-to-function analyses implicate MEIS1 in conferring sleep abnormalities and impaired cerebellar development.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous loci for insomnia, yet functional validation of effector genes remains limited because most risk variants lie in noncoding regions, and the true causal gene is not known. Here, we use prior human cell-based variant-to-gene mapping to nominate six insomnia effector genes and test them in zebrafish, a tractable diurnal vertebrate model well suited for sleep phenotyping. Our CRISPR-based behavioral screening identifies the MEIS1 ortholog, meis1b, as a regulator of sleep maintenance, with crispants displaying impaired nighttime-specific sleep maintenance and increased sleep latency. Comparative chromatin analyses reveal conserved regulatory architecture spanning the human insomnia-associated locus and selectively implicate meis1b, whereas the duplicated ohnolog meis1a was dispensable. Developmental profiling further shows that meis1b is expressed in cerebellar granule progenitors, paralleling human MEIS1 expression, and that its disruption impairs cerebellar development. Together, these findings establish zebrafish as an efficient vertebrate platform for functional interrogation of GWAS candidates and support an evolutionarily conserved cerebellar role for MEIS1 in sleep maintenance.

Animals

ER proteostasis failure in HYOU1 deficiency alters B cells, neutrophils, and interferon signalling.

Hypoxia upregulated 1 (HYOU1) is a stress-inducible ER chaperone. We investigated 2 unrelated patients carrying biallelic HYOU1 variants and presenting with primary immunodeficiency. Patient 1, homozygous for p.Pro444His, displayed failure to thrive, hypoglycemia, B cell lymphopenia, and neutropenia. Patient 2, compound heterozygous for p.Arg262Gln and p.Pro757_Glu758insAla, exhibited recurrent infections, enteropathy, and hypogammaglobulinemia. In Patient 1, while HYOU1 transcription was preserved, the protein was severely reduced. Tunicamycin treatment of dermal fibroblasts showed a blunted unfolded protein response and defective induction of ER stress-responsive genes. Immunophenotyping showed near-absence of circulating B cells, and single-cell RNA sequencing of bone marrow identified an arrest at the pro-B cell stage. Neutrophils displayed hypogranulation and dysregulated IFN- and apoptosis-associated transcriptional signatures, unresponsive to G-CSF. HYOU1 deficiency hence results in ER stress-induced proteostasis failure that simultaneously impairs adaptive immunity through B cell developmental arrest and innate immunity through neutrophil dysfunction and IFN pathway imbalance. This work expands the spectrum of HYOU1 deficiency and further identifies ER proteostasis as a central determinant of immune homeostasis.

Journal Article

Molecular Determinants and Therapeutic Targeting of Stop Codon Readthrough in Eukaryotic Translation.

Accurate translation termination is essential for proteome integrity and in eukaryotes is primarily governed by the release factors eRF1 and eRF3, which ensure precise recognition of stop codons and efficient release of nascent polypeptides. However, proteome integrity is challenged by mutations that generate premature termination codons (PTCs), leading to truncated, nonfunctional proteins and degradation of the aberrant transcript via nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Collectively, these events account for ∼1800 human genetic diseases. Translational readthrough, the process by which near-cognate tRNAs decode stop codons and allow ribosomes to continue elongation beyond the stop codon, represents a possibility to suppress PTCs and restore full-length protein synthesis. Initially discovered in viruses as a mechanism to expand coding capacity, readthrough is now recognized as a regulated feature of eukaryotic gene expression influenced by both cis-acting sequence elements and trans-acting factors. Recent evidence highlights the remarkable context dependence of readthrough, revealing variation across transcripts, tissues, and developmental stages. In this review, we examine the molecular determinants that define stop codon recognition and readthrough efficiency, with particular emphasis on nucleotide context. We further discuss the mechanisms and binding sites of small molecules that promote PTC readthrough, and summarize the clinical development landscape of readthrough-inducing compounds for the treatment of diseases caused by nonsense mutations.

Humans

Comparative genomics and full-length transcriptome profiling of wing morphs in Tetrix grossus (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).

Wing polymorphism represents a paradigmatic dispersal-reproduction trade-off, yet its molecular basis remains uncharacterised in the phylogenetically distant pygmy grasshoppers (Tetrigidae). Here we integrate comparative genomics across ten orthopteran species with full-length transcriptomics of long-winged (FL) and short-winged (FS) Tetrix grossus. OrthoFinder recovered 118 orthogroups specific to T. grossus. Against a backdrop of pronounced gene-family contraction (36 expansions versus 222 contractions; net -186, mirrored at the ancestral Tetrix node, +37/-140), we identified an ancestral, Tetrix-specific expansion of hormone-regulation (12 genes; fold enrichment 7.93) and lipid/carbohydrate-metabolic families organised into syntenic clusters, alongside 513 positively selected genes enriched for integrin-mediated cell adhesion (6 genes), a process relevant to epithelial and appendage morphogenesis. Full-length transcriptomics of one long-winged (FL) and one short-winged (FS) adult female detected 7530 (FL) and 7515 (FS) expressed genes, with 794 FL- and 776 FS-restricted transcriptome-derived SNP-associated genes. The FL morph was enriched for an EGFR/Ras-Rho developmental-patterning axis and neuromuscular flight genes, whereas the FS morph was enriched for insulin/peptide-hormone response and growth-regulatory loci. Overall, we present genomic resources and testable hypotheses concerning the evolution and regulation of wing morphs in Tetrigidae rather than a validated genetic architecture of wing-morph determination.

Animals

A case report of Xp21 contiguous gene deletion syndrome with adrenal crisis and sensorineural hearing loss: clinical highlights and management pitfalls.

OBJECTIVES: To report a rare association of Xp21 contiguous gene deletion syndrome (CGDS) featuring sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. CASE PRESENTATION: A male infant presented with a salt-wasting adrenal crisis consistent with X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita. His follow-up clinical course during childhood revealed global developmental delay and SNHL, the latter of which has been under-reported in the literature for this condition. At five years of age, the development of progressive proximal muscle weakness and markedly elevated creatine phosphokinase levels led to a diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The patient also exhibited pseudohypertriglyceridemia and elevated urinary glycerol, consistent with glycerol kinase deficiency. While initial exome sequencing failed to detect the genetic abnormality, subsequent chromosomal microarray analysis identified an Xp21 CGDS involving NR0B1, IL1RAPL1, DMD, and GK. Treatment of adrenal insufficiency with fludrocortisone and hydrocortisone was complicated by the higher steroid doses required for the management of DMD, resulting in exogenous Cushing syndrome and associated complications. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the necessity of evaluating for Xp21 CGDS in patients presenting with adrenal crisis and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary management to optimize outcomes in this complex pediatric endocrine disorder.

Humans

Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals Shared Downstream Pathways in Craniofacial Pathology.

Treacher Collins syndrome and Nager syndrome are craniofacial developmental disorders caused by defects in ribosome biogenesis and RNA splicing, respectively, yet they exhibit overlapping abnormalities affecting neural crest cell-derived craniofacial structures. To investigate shared downstream pathogenic mechanisms, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of zebrafish polr1c and sf3b4 mutant models from our previous studies. Comparative analysis identified 17 shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between polr1c and sf3b4 mutants, with the majority of shared genes dysregulated in the same direction, indicating a coordinated rather than random transcriptional response. Gene ontology analysis identified ATP-dependent protein folding chaperone activity as the only shared molecular function, driven in part by upregulation of hsp90aa1.2, indicating a common proteostasis response. Because chaperone activity is linked to extracellular matrix (ECM) protein processing, we cross-referenced DEGs from both mutants against the curated zebrafish matrisome. Three of the 17 shared DEGs (serpinh1b, il11a, and lepa) were matrisome-associated and upregulated in both mutants. Serpinh1b, a collagen-specific chaperone, was strongly expressed in craniofacial cartilage and mesenchymal populations during pharyngeal arch development and exhibited nearly identical fold changes in both mutants. Il11a is of particular interest because its receptor, IL11RA, is known to be associated with human craniosynostosis, suggesting potential relevance to craniofacial development. Together, it is possible to hypothesize that shared chaperone-associated transcriptional changes, together with altered ECM-related gene expression, may contribute to polr1c- and sf3b4-associated craniofacial disorders, warranting further functional validation.

Extracellular Matrix

Nimodipine in animal models of demyelination relevant to multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory neurodegenerative disease in which axonal injury, neuronal death, and demyelination occur. Treatment for MS relapses remains limited, which alleviates acute loss of function but has no impact on long-term disability. This study aimed to perform a systematic review of the effects of nimodipine on experimental demyelination models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and Cuprizone models in rodents. METHODS: This study was conducted following the PRISMA statement. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The primary outcome was EAE clinical disease severity (peak clinical score and/or cumulative disease burden). Secondary outcomes included relapse activity (when reported), histological myelin outcomes, oligodendrocyte lineage markers, neuroaxonal injury markers, and inflammatory readouts. Risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool. RESULTS: Out of 4660 results, 5 studies were included in the systematic review (four EAE studies and one cuprizone model). Nimodipine was administered using heterogeneous regimens (oral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, or osmotic pump delivery; 1-30 mg/kg/day). The included studies reported the variable effects of nimodipine on relapse-related outcomes, myelination, inflammatory processes, and neuroprotection in the EAE model of MS. Across EAE studies, nimodipine generally reduced clinical disease severity or cumulative burden, although relapse-related outcomes were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: Preclinical evidence suggests that nimodipine may attenuate disease severity and demyelination and may promote repair-related processes in rodent models relevant to MS. However, to evaluate the clinical applicability of nimodipine in MS patients, well-powered, transparently reported preclinical replication and early-phase clinical studies are required before clinical translation.

Animals

Association between fruit and vegetable intake and risk of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Depression is a leading cause of global disability, and identifying modifiable lifestyle factors is a public health priority. We conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies examining the association between fruit and vegetable intake and incident depression. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched through November 2025. Data on study characteristics, dietary assessment, outcomes, effect estimates, and covariates were independently extracted by two reviewers. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled relative risks (RRs), and linear and non-linear dose-response relationships were assessed. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I2, and evidence certainty was rated with GRADE. Thirteen cohorts with 385,449 participants and 26,592 depression cases were included. Highest versus lowest combined fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a 37% lower risk of depression (RR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.80). Each 200 g/day increase corresponded to a 16% risk reduction (RR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.74-0.94). Separate analyses showed that fruit and vegetable intake reduced depression risk by 16% and 12%, respectively, with a non-linear dose-response for vegetables. These findings indicate that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with lower depression risk, supporting dietary strategies as a potential approach for mental health prevention. However, given the observational nature of the included studies, these results should be interpreted with caution, as residual confounding may partially account for the observed associations. Registration: This study was registered at PROSPERO (CRD420261279998).

Humans

Impact of climate change on pediatric health outcomes.

Climate change has become one of the most critical health issues globally in the twenty-first century with children bearing the disproportionate burden of the burden since they are more vulnerable than adults because of their physiological, behavioral, and developmental capacities. It is a systematic review that rates the evidence of the relationship between climatic exposures such as heat, air-pollution, and extreme weather events and pediatric health outcomes. The number of peer-reviewed studies involved was 23 published in 2000-2025, which represented different geographic areas and study designs and assessed acute and chronic health outcomes. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the ROBINS-I tool were used to evaluate the methodological quality, and the majority of the studies had low to moderate risks of bias. The narrative synthesis shows that there are always links between air pollutants especially PM2.5, NO2 and O3 and respiratory morbidity, prevalence of asthma and hospitalization of children. Amplified temperatures as well as heat waves were associated with increased cases of heat illness, dehydration, and febrile state in infants and young children. There were elevated cases of diarrheal and vector-related infections, especially in low-resource settings, which were linked to extreme weather events especially floods. Although the overall results were similar, significant differences in the regions and methods were found, and low-income countries show little evidence. In addition, exposures as analyzed in most studies were usually considered individually, which may have underestimated the cumulative or compound climate risks.

Humans

Does Timing Matter? Age of First Mobile Phone Acquisition and Psychological Outcomes in Middle and Late Adolescence.

The age at which adolescents acquire their first smartphone has decreased markedly in recent years; however, evidence on its long-term effects on psychosocial adjustment remains limited. This study investigated whether age at first mobile phone acquisition is associated with psychosocial functioning in middle and late adolescence, including social integration and competence, emotion regulation difficulties, disordered eating behaviors and problematic social media use (PSMU). The sample comprised 1179 adolescents aged 15-17 years (53.8% female). Linear regression and generalized additive mixed models were used to examine both linear and nonlinear associations, adjusting for age, gender and school clustering. Earlier smartphone acquisition was linearly but weakly associated with greater emotion regulation difficulties, disordered eating and PSMU, even after adjustment for covariates. In contrast, associations with social integration and competence were nonlinear: acquiring a first smartphone between ages 6 and 10 or after age 13 was associated with lower social integration in adolescence, whereas acquisition between ages 11 and 13 was linked to higher social functioning. These findings suggest that the developmental timing of first smartphone access shows a modest association with subsequent psychosocial functioning during middle and late adolescence. Focusing on the timing of access, alongside other demographic and contextual factors, may contribute to a better understanding of digital influences on adolescent well-being.

Humans

Prevalence of psychosis in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Psychotic disorders are a major contributor to global disability, yet prevalence data from South Asia which inhabits a quarter of the world's population, remain limited. Reliable estimates are essential for health service planning, policy, and closing the substantial treatment gap. This review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of psychosis prevalence across South Asia. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Global Health, and Medline to 18 December 2024 for DSM- or ICD-based prevalence studies in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in community or clinical populations were included. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled prevalence using the logit transformation. Heterogeneity was explored with meta-regression of key methodological variables (publication year, diagnostic system, residential setting). FINDINGS: Thirty-one studies from five countries were included. Among community-dwelling adults, pooled point prevalence was 0.85% and lifetime prevalence was 1.40%, with inter-country differences (India 1.18%, Pakistan 2.13%, Nepal 2.90%). Clinical samples showed substantially higher proportions of individuals with psychosis in service settings (11.44%), reflecting concentration of cases in treatment-seeking samples. Data for children and adolescents were limited and summarised narratively. Heterogeneity was high across meta-analyses, and exploratory meta-regression did not identify any significant moderators. INTERPRETATION: Psychosis prevalence estimates in South Asia appear higher than global averages but should be interpreted cautiously due to substantial heterogeneity and methodological variation; nevertheless, they highlight the need for culturally sensitive screening, improved detection, and strengthened mental health services.

Humans

Epitranscriptomic erasers in bivalves: Evolutionary divergence and species-specific transcriptional plasticity of the ALKBH family under acute thermal stress.

The AlkB homolog (ALKBH) family of Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases mediates nucleic acid demethylation, thereby governing RNA metabolism and genomic stability. Despite their pivotal roles in epitranscriptomic regulation across vertebrates, the evolutionary dynamics and functional significance of ALKBH proteins in bivalve mollusks remain largely unexplored. Here, we present a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis of 210 ALKBH genes identified across 35 bivalve species. Our analyses reveal a distinct evolutionary trajectory characterized by the lineage-specific loss of ALKBH4 and the restricted distribution of ALKBH5 to the Mytilidae family, contrasting sharply with vertebrate repertoires. Using the noble scallop (Chlamys nobilis) and Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) as model systems, we demonstrate that ALKBH genes exhibit conserved spatiotemporal expression patterns, with pronounced enrichment in gonadal tissues and during metamorphic transitions, implicating these enzymes in gametogenesis and larval development. Furthermore, comparative thermal stress experiments reveal divergent transcriptional plasticity: the subtropical scallop C. nobilis mounts rapid, transient induction of ALKBH1/2/6 under heat shock, whereas the eurythermal oyster C. gigas maintains sustained ALKBH3 expression, potentially underpinning its superior thermal tolerance. Conversely, cold stress elicits bimodal regulation in C. nobilis, with ALKBH1/2 upregulation contrasting with ALKBH6/7/8 suppression. These findings illuminate the functional diversification of bivalve ALKBH genes and their potential utility as molecular biomarkers for assessing developmental competence and thermal resilience in shellfish aquaculture.

Animals

Disentangling oscillatory and aperiodic neural activity in autism: A spectral parameterization analysis of neurofeedback intervention.

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by atypical neural oscillations and heterogeneous alterations in excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance, the directionality of which varies across individuals, neural circuits, and developmental stages. While Alpha-band neurofeedback (NFB) is a promising intervention, its underlying neurophysiological mechanisms remain unclear, partly due to the conflation of periodic and aperiodic signals in traditional EEG analysis. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial recruited 40 children with ASD, assigned to either an experimental group (Alpha-training NFB) or a no-feedback group. Resting-state EEG and behavioral assessments (SRS, ABC) were collected pre- and post-intervention. We employed spectral parameterization to decompose neural activity into aperiodic (1/f slope, offset) and periodic (periodic alpha power, center frequency) components. RESULTS: NFB training yielded significant behavioral improvements in social cognition and relating skills. Physiologically, the experimental group exhibited a significant steepening of the aperiodic slope (increased exponent), reflecting a reduction in neural noise and potential optimization of inhibitory modulation. Furthermore, we observed enhanced periodic alpha power and an acceleration of the alpha center frequency (ACF), indicative of improved neural efficiency and maturation. These physiological shifts in frontal and occipital regions were significantly correlated with improvements in behavioral scores. CONCLUSION: Alpha-training NFB was associated with improvements in caregiver-rated behavioral scores and modulated spectral features of resting-state EEG in children with ASD. These findings validate the utility of spectral parameterization markers in evaluating neuromodulatory interventions.

Humans

Pathway incompatibility between NF-κB and RAS signaling constrains oncogenicity in B-cell leukemia.

Oncogenic pathways do not always cooperate; in some contexts, their co-activation is antagonistic and suppresses tumorigenesis, a phenomenon we termed pathway incompatibility. However, the mechanisms underlying this antagonism and the role of receptor context in shaping these interactions remain unclear. During normal B-cell development, precursor B-cell receptor (pre-BCR) signaling supports survival and proliferation of early B-cell precursors before transition to expression of the mature B-cell receptor (BCR). B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), the most common childhood cancer, is characterized by developmental arrest prior to BCR expression, and approximately 35% of cases harbor activating RAS-ERK mutations that mimic pre-BCR-dependent survival signaling. NF-κB plays context-dependent roles in B-cell malignancies, but whether it influences the compatibility between oncogenic RAS signaling and BCR expression remains poorly understood. Activation of canonical NF-κB induced apoptotic depletion of RAS-driven B-ALL cells. Mechanistically, NF-κB suppressed pre-BCR-dependent survival signaling while promoting expression of BCR components. Consistent with this shift, oncogenic RAS signaling was poorly tolerated in BCR-positive cells unless BCR expression was disrupted. Pharmacologic activation of NF-κB reduced ERK signaling and selectively impaired viability of RAS-driven B-ALL cells, with enhanced effects in combination with ERK inhibition. Together, these findings show that canonical NF-κB signaling promotes BCR expression, which constrains oncogenic RAS activity, and establish pathway incompatibility as a mechanism through which receptor context can limit oncogenic potential.

Cancer biology

The Impact of Hemoglobin Concentration on Prognosis in Patients With Diabetic Foot: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes and Clinical Management.

BackgroundDiabetic foot (DF) complications, including diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), lead to significant morbidity, disability, and economic burden. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels may influence the prognosis of DF patients, but their relationship with adverse clinical outcomes remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between hemoglobin concentration and the risk of adverse outcomes in diabetic foot patients, including amputation and mortality.MethodsWe followed PRISMA guidelines to conduct a systematic literature review. A meta-analysis was performed on observational studies assessing the impact of hemoglobin levels on amputation, mortality, and ulcer incidence. A random-effects model was applied, and risk bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.ResultsA total of 22 observational studies involving 10,984 patients were included. Our meta-analysis revealed that lower hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with a higher risk of amputation (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, P < .001), and lower hemoglobin concentrations were found in amputation cases compared to non-amputation cases (SMD = -0.14, 95% CI: -0.24 to -0.04, P < .01). However, no significant association was found between hemoglobin levels and mortality (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.33-2.89, P > .05). Sensitivity and publication bias analyses indicated robust results.ConclusionLower hemoglobin levels were associated with higher odds of amputation in patients with diabetic foot. However, pooled effects were small and heterogeneity was substantial across studies; therefore, hemoglobin likely functions primarily as a marker of overall disease burden and perioperative risk rather than a proven modifiable target. Prospective interventional studies are needed to determine whether correcting anemia improves limb outcomes and survival.

Humans