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PubMed2026

Dual-tasking reveals severity-dependent reorganization of cortical beta energy landscapes in Parkinson's disease.

Dual-task impairment is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), yet the large-scale neural mechanisms underlying postural-motor interference remain poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how cortical network dynamics reorganize across disease severity when postural control competes with concurrent task demands. This study investigated EEG-derived beta-band cortical energy landscapes in healthy older adults, early-stage PD, and mid-stage PD during single- and dual-task conditions. Dual-task behavioral cost increased with disease severity for concurrent manual performance (p < 0.001), whereas a quadratic pattern was observed for postural performance. Energy landscape analysis revealed severity-dependent reconfiguration of cortical beta dynamics. Dual-task-related landscape changes in effective network flexibility (ΔNeff), landscape geometry (ΔEvar and ΔGmag), and dominant low-energy attractor organization (ΔLow mass and ΔLow area) showed significant monotonic trends (p < 0.05), reflecting progressive constrained cortical network dynamics with advancing PD severity. In addition, dual-task-related landscape alterations were associated with clinical severity, as indexed by Hoehn and Yahr stage (|r| = 0.353-0.423, p = 0.016-0.048), and showed associations with motor impairment, as measured by MDS-UPDRS part III scores (|r| = 0.333-0.455, p = 0.009-0.063). These findings demonstrate that dual-task demands induce severity-dependent reconfiguration of cortical beta energy landscapes in PD. Energy landscape geometry may capture systems-level neural constraints associated with dual-task susceptibility in PD, providing a physiologically grounded framework to characterize disease-related functional vulnerability.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into temperature regulation of proliferation and differentiation in skeletal muscle cells of Nibea albiflora.

Myogenesis involves sequential stages of muscle satellite cell activation, myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and fusion into multinucleated myotubes. Teleost muscle exhibits indeterminate growth and is highly sensitive to environmental temperature, yet the underlying mechanisms by which temperature regulate proliferation and differentiation remain poorly understood. In this study, we established a primary skeletal muscle cell culture from the yellow drum (Nibea albiflora), an economically important marine fish, and integrated morphological observations with comparative transcriptomics analysis to characterize cellular and molecular responses at 28 °C and 20 °C during both proliferation and differentiation stages. Phenotypic analysis revealed that 28 °C significantly enhanced both myoblast proliferation and myogenic differentiation ability compared with 20 °C. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that at 28 °C, differentiation upregulated extracellular matrix(ECM) organization, calcium signaling, and sarcomere assembly, while proliferation enhanced focal adhesion, growth factor signaling, and lipid metabolism. At 20 °C, differentiation was characterized by glutathione metabolism, and ferroptosis, while proliferation involved cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and negative regulation of signal transduction. Core myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), particularly myogenin, were strongly upregulated at 28 °C during the differentiation stage, serving as an internal control. Based on these findings, we propose a testable model that elevated temperature coordinates Ca2+-dependent MRF activation with ECM-integrin signaling to drive sarcomere assembly and muscle growth. Key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulating myogenesis in N. albiflora were also identified. This study provides a mechanistic framework for temperature adaptation in teleost skeletal muscle and identifies candidate genes for functional validation and marker-assisted selection, as well as a rationale for temperature management strategies to improve aquaculture yield of N. albiflora.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Aortoesophageal Fistula: Mending the Lethal Connection-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is a rare, life-threatening condition with limited high-quality evidence to guide management. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of PubMed and Scopus through December 2025, evaluating survival and complication outcomes according to treatment strategy and morphological severity. Patients were categorized into 5 groups: TEVAR alone, staged TEVAR followed by surgery, primary open or hybrid surgery, TEVAR with esophageal stenting, and supportive/palliative care. Outcomes were pooled as proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 167 reports representing 528 patients were included. Overall 30-day mortality was 31.2% (95% CI 27.0% to 35.7%) and 1-year mortality 41.2% (95% CI 36.2% to 46.4%). Infection occurred in 32.6%, reintervention in 20.2%, and recurrence in 13.2%. Staged TEVAR followed by surgery showed favorable survival (30-day 12.7%, 1-year 26.1%) but high infection (66.7%) and reintervention (43.2%) rates. TEVAR with esophageal stenting had the lowest early mortality (5.0%) but frequent reintervention (54.5%) and 1-year mortality of 33.3%. TEVAR alone demonstrated the lowest 1-year mortality among definitive strategies (25.5%) but notable recurrence (26.9%). Primary open or hybrid surgery carried higher early and late mortality, while supportive/palliative care had the worst outcomes. Morphological severity correlated strongly with mortality, infection, reintervention, and recurrence, with type IV lesions showing particularly poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Despite contemporary management, AEF carries high early and late mortality. Definitive strategies, particularly staged TEVAR followed by surgery, offer improved survival but increased complications. Morphology-guided, individualized management is recommended.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Reduced Length of ADT and ARTA With XRT in High-Risk Prostate Cancer (RELAX): A Randomised Controlled Trial.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of a short, intensified regimen of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and androgen receptor-targeted agent (ARTA) with curative-intent external beam radiotherapy (XRT) for high-risk prostate cancer (HRPCa) staged with prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The RELAX (Reduced Length of ADT and ARTA with XRT in high-risk prostate cancer) trial is a multicentre, phase II randomised non-inferiority trial comparing 9 months of ADT and 6 months of ARTA against the standard 24-month ADT, with definitive dose-escalated hypofractionated pelvic radiotherapy for PSMA-staged non-metastatic HRPCa. The primary endpoint is 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), defined from randomisation to first biochemical or clinico-radiological recurrence or any-cause death. Secondary endpoints include biochemical failure-free survival, metastasis-free survival, overall survival, testosterone recovery, treatment-related adverse effects, and patient-reported outcomes. Participants are monitored with serial serum PSA and testosterone levels, CTCAE and PRO-CTCAE assessments, and PSMA-PETCT at recurrence. The non-inferiority margin is set at 10% absolute difference from an expected 5-year DFS of 85% in the standard arm, with intention-to-treat analysis. The trial is ethics board approved and funded by institutional intramural grant, and registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06818682). RESULTS: The planned accrual of 206 participants commenced in February 2025, with nearly a third of enrolment completed till date. CONCLUSION: The RELAX trial incorporates contemporary standards of PSMA-based staging, dose-escalated hypofractionated radiotherapy, and ARTA for HRPCa. The results are expected to inform the efficacy of a shorter, intensified androgen suppression strategy against the prevailing standard of long-term ADT for these patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Incidence of Cirrhosis in Fibrotic Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis: A Meta-Analysis of Placebo Arms from Randomized Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with stage F2-F3 fibrosis represents the main target population for emerging pharmacotherapies. However, data on short-term progression to cirrhosis (F4) in this group remain limited. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of cirrhosis in placebo-treated patients with fibrotic MASH in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: In this single-arm meta-analysis, we systematically searched PubMed and Cochrane Library from inception to December 13, 2024, for pharmacological Phase ≥ 2 RCTs reporting cirrhosis events (detected in liver biopsy or clinical signs) among patients with fibrotic MASH receiving placebo. Incidence rates were pooled using generalized linear mixed models with Clopper-Pearson confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: We identified a total of 11 RCTs, including 586 patients with fibrotic MASH. Total follow-up was 657.23 person-years (PYs), with 83 cirrhosis events reported. The pooled incidence rate was 13.09 per 100 PYs (95% CI 7.81 to 21.12, I2 = 75.6%, τ2 = 0.682). In subgroup analysis, the incidence of cirrhosis was 3.40 per 100 PYs in MASH F2 (95% CI 1.10 to 10.02, I2 = 0%, τ2 = 0) and 17.90 per 100 PYs (95% CI 10.63 to 28.55, I2 = 70.2%, τ2 = 0.561) in MASH F3, with significant differences between stages (p = 0.006). Sensitivity analyses showed consistent estimates. Most RCTs were judged to have a low risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides stage-specific data on cirrhosis incidence in fibrotic MASH, highlighting the high short-term risk associated with MASH F3 in trial settings. These data may inform benchmarks to guide event expectations, enrichment strategies, sample size assumptions, and the interpretation of future MASH clinical trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Patient-reported outcomes in pediatric regional anesthesia trials: current use and limitations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review examines the current use and limitations of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in pediatric regional anesthesia research. Despite the increasing emphasis on patient-centered outcomes, existing pediatric outcome assessment frameworks may inadequately capture the pain experience and interference with daily living. RECENT FINDINGS: Across 17 identified randomized controlled trials and 15 ongoing studies, PROM use remains highly variable, with consistent reliance on observational pain scales such as the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability scale and limited incorporation of standardized, longitudinal health-related quality-of-life measures. SUMMARY: Current pediatric PROM frameworks remain fragmented, limiting comprehensive evaluation of recovery. Greater standardization and incorporation of developmentally appropriate, longitudinal outcome measures are needed to better align clinical research with meaningful patient-centered endpoints and to improve assessment of functional and psychosocial recovery.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Promoter Methylation of HOXA5 and NDRG2 in Multiple Myeloma Patients with Renal Impairment.

Renal impairment (RI) is frequently caused by multiple myeloma (MM), which makes clinical care more difficult if renal function deteriorates or renal failure develops. Thus, in this investigation, we looked at the relationship between HOXA5&NDRG2 promoter methylation in MM patients and evaluated their prognostic potential in predicting RI risk in MM patients. This study included 60 control volunteers and 120 MM patients. The promoter methylations of HOXA5&NDRG2 were quantitatively evaluated by real-time PCR (qPCR) after the extraction of gDNA from whole blood and then treated with bisulfite. The promoter methylation percentages of HOXA5&NDRG2 were significantly increased in MM patients (77.16 ± 2.43&45.49 ± 2.16;p < 0.05) when compared to controls (4.47 ± 0.61&3.33 ± 0.31,respectively), in stage II&III patients when compared to stage I patients and in patients with age ≥ 60 years when compared to patients with age < 60 years. While only the methylation percentage of NDRG2 promoter was significantly increased in MM patients with RI (53.61 ± 3.21,p < 0.05) when compared to MM patients without RI (37.37 ± 2.04). Results obtained from ROC curve revealed that both HOXA5&NDRG2 promoter methylation were good diagnostic tools for MM. The NDRG2 promoter methylation was good prognostic biomarker could predict renal while HOXA5 promoter in the prediction of MM staging. The Kaplan-Meier survival test showed that patients with higher HOXA5&NDRG2 promoter methylation had a shorter OS and a worse prognosis. Only NDRG2 promoter hypermethylation was significantly associated with the risk of RI development in MM patients. HOXA5&NDRG2 promoter hypermethylation may have roles in the molecular etiology of MM and could be used as a treatment regimen.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

High-dose radiotherapy in patients with high-risk prostate cancers treated with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (GETUG AFU 18): a randomised, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: For patients with high-risk prostate cancer, the role of dose-escalated radiotherapy in combination with long-term androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) is controversial, without any demonstrated benefit on cancer-specific or overall survival. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a 10 Gy dose increase, from 70 Gy to 80 Gy, on progression-free survival in men with high-risk prostate cancer. METHODS: In this multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial, we enrolled patients with high-risk prostate cancer, defined as prostate-specific antigen of 20 ng/mL or more, Gleason score of at least 8, or clinical stage T3-T4, from 25 centres in France. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) by minimisation, stratified by centre and previous pelvic lymph node dissection, to receive prostate-targeted dose-escalated external beam radiotherapy (80 Gy; 2 Gy per fraction for 8 weeks) or standard-dose external beam radiotherapy (70 Gy; 2 Gy per fraction for 7 weeks), combined with long-term ADT. Neither the participants nor the investigators were masked to the allocated treatment. The primary endpoint was 5-year progression-free survival defined as the time from randomisation to first biochemical (defined as prostate-specific antigen >nadir plus 2 ng/mL) or clinical (ie, local, regional, or metastatic) disease progression, analysed in the intention-to-treat population, with 197 events required. 5-year progression-free survival was the prespecified endpoint, and 10-year progression-free survival was additionally reported (post hoc) in view of the low number of events at 5 years. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00967863, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between April 6, 2009, and Jan 24, 2013, 505 patients with high-risk prostate cancer were enrolled; 250 were assigned to receive dose-escalated radiotherapy (80 Gy) and 255 to receive standard dose radiotherapy (70 Gy). All participants were male and ethnicity data were not collected. At a median follow-up of 9·5 years (IQR 8·5-10·3), 5-year progression-free survival was 91·4% (95% CI 87·0-94·4) in the dose-escalation group versus 88·1% (83·2-91·6) in the control group, and 10-year progression-free survival was 83·6% (77·8-88·0) versus 72·2% (65·3-78·0; stratified HR 0·56, 95% CI 0·40-0·78, p<0·0001). Grade 3 or worse adverse events assessed at 6 months (acute toxicity) were observed in 60 (24%) of patients in the dose-escalation group and 62 (25%) in the control group. The most frequent grade 3 or worse adverse events were sexual disorders (28 [11%] in the dose-escalation group vs 20 [8%] in the control group) and bladder or urethra disorders (12 [5%] vs 19 [8%]). Adverse events assessed at 5 years (late toxicity) occurred in 118 (70%) of 168 in the dose-escalation group and 122 (73%) of 168 in the control group; grade 3 or worse late toxicities occurred in 19 (8%) participants in the dose-escalated radiotherapy group versus 17 (7%) participants in the control group. The most common late grade 3 adverse event was bladder or urethra disorders (seven [4%] vs three [2%], respectively). Serious adverse events occurred in nine (4%) patients in the dose escalation group and nine (4%) in the control group; none were considered to be treatment related. There were no treatment-related deaths. INTERPRETATION: For patients with high-risk prostate cancer, radiotherapy at a total dose of 80 Gy, in combination with long-term ADT, improved progression-free survival and could be a potential option in this situation. However, given the low number of events, further research is needed to consolidate and confirm the benefit in dose-escalation in prostate cancer-specific survival and overall survival. FUNDING: French National Cancer Institute and AstraZeneca.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Views and Experiences of People With Dementia, Informal Caregivers and Professionals on Eating and Drinking Difficulties: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

AIM: This study aims to explore the views and experiences of people with dementia, informal caregivers and professionals regarding eating and drinking difficulties. DESIGN: A qualitative systematic review was conducted. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines were used to conduct this systematic review. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research, and the data were thematically synthesised using Thomas and Harden's three-stage method. DATA SOURCES: Six electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycINFO) were searched from their respective inception dates to August 2025 to identify relevant studies. RESULTS: Thematic analysis of the 16 included studies identified four key themes: (1) Physiological and psychological changes in people with dementia and caregivers; (2) factors influencing eating and drinking in people with dementia; (3) needs and recommendations for people with dementia, informal caregivers and professionals; (4) selection of eating methods for end-stage people with dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Eating and drinking difficulties affect the well-being of both patients and caregivers. A good dining environment improves mealtime pleasure but demands caregivers' time and energy. All parties emphasised the importance of effective communication. In end-stage dementia, professional assistance is crucial for enteral nutrition decisions. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Collaboration among patients, caregivers and professionals is vital for creating tailored nutritional plans and improving mealtime environments, thereby enhancing nutritional intake. In advanced dementia, providers must provide balanced information on comfort feeding versus enteral nutrition to aid decision-making. IMPACT: What problems were addressed in this study? This study addressed the lack of a consolidated, tri-perspective understanding of eating and drinking difficulties in dementia care settings. What are the main findings? Four key themes were identified: physiological and psychological changes, influencing factors, stakeholder needs and end-of-life decision-making. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? This will impact care practices for people with dementia and inform the training and support of informal caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

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↗

PubMed2026

L-glutamine supplementation improves porcine sperm quality and early embryo development during in vitro fertilization.

L-glutamine (Gln), as a key additive in porcine sperm capacitation medium and in vitro fertilization (IVF) systems, has been shown to significantly improve sperm motility and survival rates. However, its precise roles during porcine IVF and subsequent early embryonic development remain elusive. This study utilized an IVF model in pigs to investigate the effects of glutamine on sperm quality and embryonic development. We found that Gln supplementation during sperm treatment significantly improved sperm quality, as evidenced by reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and early apoptosis, while enhancing calcium ion levels and endoplasmic reticulum activity. Supplementing glutamine during embryo culture reduced polyspermy rates, promoted zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and accumulation of 5-ethynyluridine (EU) and histone modifications (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac) at the two-cell and four-cell stages, increased blastocyst formation rates and total cell numbers, while simultaneously reducing DNA damage and early apoptosis during the blastocyst stage. In summary, these findings demonstrate that Gln enhances porcine IVF outcomes by improving sperm quality, reducing polyspermy, and facilitating early embryonic development, thereby providing a basis for optimizing culture systems.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

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↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the CREB/ATF family and its potential role in melanogenesis in the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum).

Ruditapes philippinarum is an economically important bivalve species in China, and shell color is a trait of ecological and commercial significance. Melanin is a key determinant of shell color, and members of the CREB/ATF family have been reported to participate in melanogenesis in other organisms. In this study, members of the CREB/ATF family were systematically identified at the whole-genome level based on genomic and transcriptomic datasets, followed by analyses of their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and expression patterns. A total of six CREB/ATF family members were identified and classified into five subfamilies. Expression profiling and RT-qPCR validation revealed that most CREB/ATF genes were highly expressed in the mantle and displayed clear differences among shell-color phenotypes. Except for RpATF4 and RpCREBZF, most members exhibited relatively high expression levels in dark-colored shell strains, particularly in black and zebra-striped clams. Moreover, most genes showed low expression during early embryonic and larval stages but increased expression at the single-siphon spat and juvenile stages. These results suggest that the CREB/ATF family may be involved in melanin-associated shell-color regulation in R. philippinarum, providing important candidate genes and a theoretical basis for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of shell-color formation in mollusks.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Development of the zebrafish foveal analogue: a quantitative atlas of high-acuity zone growth and retinal regionalisation.

The vertebrate retina contains specialised regions for high-acuity vision, exemplified by the human fovea and its zebrafish analogue, the high-acuity zone (HAZ). Despite the widespread use of zebrafish to model retinal disease, a stage-resolved quantitative reference describing normal eye, photoreceptor layer (PRL) and lens growth has been lacking. Here, we apply contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to construct the first three-dimensional micro-CT normative atlas of wild-type zebrafish eye development across five larval stages [3, 5, 7, 10 and 18 days post-fertilisation (dpf)], mapping circumferential PRL thickness, eye and lens morphology, and compartment growth rates. Regional PRL thickening within the temporo-ventral region of the expected HAZ emerged by 5 dpf and was sustained by a localised redistribution of growth, persisting and extending towards the optic nerve through 18 dpf. The PRL, lens and eye grew through four phases, alternating between disproportionate PRL expansion and coordinated growth, while the eye remodelled from a nasal-dominant to a temporo-ventral-dominant form. This regional specialisation was protracted relative to gross ocular growth and could proceed independently of it, paralleling the extended postnatal maturation of the human fovea. This atlas provides a quantitative baseline for distinguishing disease-induced changes from normal variation, supporting zebrafish models of foveal hypoplasia and related disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Lipid metabolism in hepatopancreas and ovaries of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain during vitellogenesis.

Ovarian lipids are essential nutrients that fundamentally determine oocyte and offspring quality, and ultimately affect the reproductive performance of decapod crustaceans. Lipids accumulated in the ovaries during vitellogenesis are mainly derived from the hepatopancreas. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism in the hepatopancreas and ovaries during vitellogenesis remain largely unclear. In this study, comparative transcriptomic and lipidomic analyses were conducted on the hepatopancreas and ovaries of the mud crab Scylla paramamosain. From early to late vitellogenic stages, 454 lipid species were significantly increased and 17 decreased in abundance in the hepatopancreas, and 609 increased and 23 decreased in abundance in the ovaries. Meanwhile, there were 1481 upregulated and 963 downregulated transcripts in the hepatopancreas, and 3402 upregulated and 1478 downregulated transcripts in the ovaries. Subsequently, KEGG pathway co-enrichment analysis showed that the de novo biosynthesis of glycerophospholipids and glycerolipids was enhanced in the hepatopancreas, with upregulated ALDH, GPAT, plsC, PLPP, FASN, and HSD17B8 transcripts and elevated abundances of PC, PE, PS, PA, PG, DG, and TG species from the early to late vitellogenic stages in mud crabs. In contrast, glycerophospholipid catabolism and conversion were activated in the ovaries, with upregulated PLA2G, LYPLA1, NTE, GPCPD1, PLD_1, PGS1, and CRLS transcripts and elevated abundances of LPC, LPE, LPS species. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism during vitellogenesis in decapod crustaceans.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

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↗

PubMed2026

Clinical Efficacy and Learning Curve of Far-Lateral Approach (FLA) in Uni-Portal Non-Coaxial Spinal Endoscopic Surgery (UNSES) in the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Diseases: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Uniportal non-coaxial spinal endoscopic surgery (UNSES) via far-lateral approach (FLA) is an innovative minimally invasive procedure for lumbar degenerative diseases, particularly far-lateral disc herniation and foraminal stenosis. However, complex lateral lumbar anatomy and strict endoscope-instrument coordination create a distinct learning curve that may compromise early surgical efficiency and safety. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety, quantify the learning curve, and to provide clinical guidance for the standardized promotion and application of this technology. METHODS: A total of 40 consecutive patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent UNSES via FLA by a single surgeon between January 2025 and December 2025 were included. All data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software (IBM, USA). Primary outcomes included operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, and intraoperative complication rate. Secondary outcomes were VAS, ODI, and modified Macnab criteria at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The learning curve and the inflection point of the learning curve was determined using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. The differences in clinical indicators between early and proficient stage were compared. RESULT: Operation time, blood loss, and fluoroscopy times decreased significantly with case accumulation (p < 0.05). CUSUM identified an inflection point at the 16th case, after which operation time stabilized at (55.3 ± 8.6) min, much shorter than the early phase (89.5 ± 10.3) min (p < 0.001). Before the 16th case, the curve was in an upward trend; after the 16th case, the curve tended to be flat, indicating the proficiency stage. Postoperative VAS and ODI improved significantly than those before surgery at each follow-up time (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative VAS score and ODI between the two groups at each follow-up time point (p > 0.05). The total complication rate was 12.5% (5/40), were cured by conservative treatment. The total excellent-good rate was 90.0% (36/40). L5/S1 and Bertolotti's syndrome were independent factors affecting the learning curve. CONCLUSION: UNSES via FLA is a safe and effective minimally invasive technique for treating complex lumbar degenerative diseases. It has a certain learning curve, and the inflection point is about the 16th case. After mastering the key techniques such as anatomical positioning, endoscopic manipulation and hemostasis, the surgeon can gradually reach the proficiency stage, with significantly improved surgical efficiency and clinical efficacy, and controllable complications. This study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical training and technology promotion of UNSES via FLA.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

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↗