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PubMed2026

Ramu stunt virus genome reveals previously unreported segments and nucleocapsid domain duplication in Mechlorovirus.

Ramu stunt virus (RmSV), a member of the genus Mechlorovirus within the family Phenuiviridae, was previously described as a six-segmented RNA virus infecting sugarcane. In this study, we re-examined type material and additional isolates using high-throughput sequencing and RT-PCR validation, revealing that RmSV possesses a nine-segmented genome, making it the largest reported in the Phenuiviridae. This expanded architecture includes duplicated RNA segments (RNA 2a and RNA 2b) encoding nucleocapsid-like proteins and two novel segments (RNA 7 and RNA 8). Comparative analysis showed that RNA 2a and 2b share about 84% amino acid identity, while RNA 5 encodes a third nucleocapsid homolog, indicating unprecedented domain redundancy. Structural modeling confirmed that all three nucleocapsid proteins maintain a conserved fold despite low sequence identity, with electrostatic mapping suggesting differential RNA-binding potential. Additionally, RNA 6 encodes a hypothetical protein structurally similar to the rice stripe virus disease-specific S-protein, implicating a role in symptom development. Transcript abundance analysis revealed RNA 6 as the most highly expressed segment across isolates. These findings revise the genomic composition of RmSV, highlight mechanisms of genome plasticity and adaptive evolution in plant-infecting bunyaviruses, and underscore practical implications for diagnostic assay design, resistance breeding, and biosecurity surveillance.

Genome, Viral↗

PubMed2026

Recent advances in electrode materials for electrochemical detection of zearalenone.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin commonly found in cereals, animal feed, and processed foods, making it an important concern for food safety and public health. Conventional chromatographic and immunological methods can detect ZEN; however, they often require expensive instruments, lengthy sample preparation, and skilled personnel, which restrict their use for rapid and on-site testing. Electrochemical sensors have attracted enormous interest of the scientific community because of their high sensitivity, rapid response, low cost, miniaturization potential, and compatibility with portable systems. The analytical performance of the electrochemical sensors is strongly influenced by electrode materials, morphology, conductivity, porosity, surface functionality, and the efficiency of bioreceptor immobilization. Despite several reviews on mycotoxin detection, a systematic assessment connecting electrode-material design, modification strategies, sensing mechanisms, and electroanalytical performance specifically for ZEN sensing remain limited. This review critically evaluates recent advances in metal oxides, carbon-based materials, metal-organic- and covalent organic frameworks, MXenes, polymers, and hybrid composites for electrochemical ZEN detection. Particular attention has been given to their roles in electron transfer, analyte enrichment, selectivity, and real-sample analysis. The review also compares the major limitations of current sensing systems, including complex fabrication, matrix interference, insufficient long-term stability, poor inter-electrode reproducibility, and limited scalability. Finally, future directions for developing robust, cost-effective, portable, and commercially viable ZEN sensors are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Bergamottin, a bioactive component of bergamot: dual inhibition of Japanese encephalitis virus internalization and genome replication.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is associated with high mortality and severe neurological sequelae, and existing prevention and control strategies remain insufficient. Therefore, the development of novel antiviral agents is of critical public health importance. This study systematically evaluated the antiviral activity and underlying mechanism of bergamottin, a natural product. Bergamottin exhibited significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects against JEV in multiple cell lines, including BHK-21, HuH-7, and Vero cells, demonstrating potent antiviral efficacy. Mechanistic investigations revealed that bergamottin primarily targeted the internalization and replication stages of the JEV life cycle, thereby effectively suppressing viral proliferation. Additionally, adaptive mutation screening indicated that the D389G mutation in envelope protein E confers drug resistance by potentially changing E protein conformation or reducing endocytic efficiency. In vivo experiment, bergamottin significantly reduced viral loads in mouse brain tissue and effectively improved the survival rate of infected mice. Our findings indicated that bergamottin exerted antiviral activity by dual targeting of key steps in the viral life cycle, making it a highly promising candidate for anti-JEV therapy. Further exploration of the antiviral properties of bergamottin is expected to facilitate its clinical development as a treatment for JEV infection.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Application of causal discovery of factors driving dissolved oxygen in estuarine environments.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in estuarine bottom waters are a manifestation of multiple, interacting physical and biogeochemical processes, yet identifying their independent contributions remains challenging. Here, we analyze monthly water quality monitoring data from eight stations across Long Island Sound from 1994 to 2022 using a causal discovery framework (PCMCI+) and transformation of forcing variables. Our goal is to identify and isolate variables that causally influence bottom DO and improve predictive models by minimizing overfitting and multicollinearity. PCMCI+ reveals surface-layer temperature as the most important and consistent negative driver of bottom DO, followed by stratification. Wind events exhibit only brief relief by advection and mixing, while river discharge shows no direct causal link to DO, making it less influential than previously thought. Biogeochemical variables, including chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), nitrate and nitrite, and particulate carbon, influence DO through both contemporaneous and time-lagged pathways, often with signs that shift depending on the process. The derived models were evaluated by comparing skill scores, mean squared error, and Akaike Information Criterion. Both model types perform well, with coefficient of determination values exceeding 0.90 at multiple stations using only 3-5 predictors. Our analysis reveals that the best causal predictors are surface-layer temperature, stratification, Chl-a, and particle carbon. This approach provides a scalable framework for improving prediction models and understanding the mechanistic links that control the seasonal variability of DO in estuarine systems.

Estuaries↗

PubMed2026

Integrated analysis uncovers exogenous induction and molecular regulation of erinacine A accumulation in Hericium erinaceus.

Erinacine A, a cyathane-type diterpenoid mainly from Hericium erinaceus mycelia, exhibits prominent neurotrophic and neuroprotective activities, making it a promising candidate for managing neurodegenerative diseases. However, its low abundance and unclear genetic regulatory mechanisms hinder its application as a nutraceutical. This study aimed to decipher its regulatory mechanisms and enhance production. Four exogenous inducers were screened, with salicylic acid (SA) and ergosterol (ERG) significantly increasing erinacine A content by 62.21% and 146.70% at 20 days, respectively. Transcriptome and WGCNA of inducer-treated sample identified darkorange and magenta modules associated with erinacine A biosynthesis, with the eri gene cluster enriched in the darkorange module and eriG and eriF as hub genes. Forward genetic analysis via QTL mapping of the HeD127 dikaryon population revealed significant phenotypic variation in erinacine A content (0.341-13.085 mg/g) and identified two loci (erA-1 and erA-2) explaining 18.63% of phenotypic variation. Integrating these forward and reverse genetic analyses revealed that salicylic acid and ergosterol synergistically regulate core carbon metabolic pathways to augment acetyl-CoA supply for the mevalonate pathway, suppressed competitive metabolism, enhanced diterpene skeleton construction and structural modification. These results deepen our understanding of the genetic and molecular basis governing accumulation of erinacine A, and facilitate its application in neuroprotective pharmaceuticals.

Diterpenes↗

PubMed2026

Ictal electroencephalography and heart rate as treatment criteria in electroconvulsive therapy: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Decades before the emergence of precision medicine, psychiatrists raised the question of whether specific seizure characteristics could help optimize electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as relationships between some of these characteristics and better outcomes were found. From 1990 onward, researchers focused on electroencephalography (EEG) and cardiovascular markers, which were broadly adopted by guidelines worldwide. However, the prognostic value of these markers is still controversial. Here, we provide a systematic summary of the studies on this topic. METHODS: We conducted a literature review on the use of ictal EEG and heart rate as outcome predictors in ECT using the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and PsycINFO databases. RESULTS: Thirty-seven studies addressing more than 100 quality markers fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Single EEG markers were assigned to five categories (postictal inhibition, amplitude, coherence, regularity, and seizure duration). Heart rate and composite markers were considered separately. In contrast to single EEG markers, heart rate and composite markers could be consistently linked to better outcomes in patients with depression. Only a few studies on schizophrenia could be retrieved. CONCLUSION: Multiparametric markers outperformed single markers. Furthermore, changes in heart rate during seizures were related to better outcomes. Although clinical assessment remains the cornerstone of treatment guidance decisions, EEG and cardiac monitoring could help prevent insufficient seizures during the period preceding clinical improvement. Evidence on schizophrenia remains limited. More randomized trials are needed to analyze the role of composite markers as prognostic tools.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The global prevalence of horizontal strabismus: A systematic review and meta-analysis with a focus on ethnic variation.

The prevalence of the 2 types of horizontal strabismus, esotropia and exotropia, varies considerably between studies. This variability has been attributed to factors such as geography/environment, research methodology, age of study subjects, and/or ethnicity. Comprehensive estimates of regional and global prevalences of esotropia and exotropia are lacking, making it difficult to recognize true patterns, trends, and etiologies. We compile prevalences and ratios of esotropia to exotropia from 315 population-based studies and 374 clinic-based studies. We analyze data to assess effects of ethnicity, geography, age, and we identify generational changes of horizontal strabismus. Major ethnicities differ in patterns and ratios of esotropia and exotropia prevalence, not only in Caucasians and East Asians, but also Latinos/Hispanics, South Asians, Africans, and Native Americans. Compared to population-based studies, clinic-based studies underestimate exotropia frequency. By weighing prevalences according to the population size of ethnicities, we estimate the worldwide prevalence of horizontal strabismus in the current generation at 1.81% (138.5 million people), comprising 60.0 million people with esotropia (0.67%) and 87.5 million with exotropia (1.14%). In the previous generation, the worldwide prevalence of horizontal strabismus was 1.64% (86.5 million people), comprising 50.5 million with esotropia (0.96%) and 36.0 million with exotropia (0.68%). Esotropia and exotropia prevalences differ between generations within the same ethnicity, indicating that extrinsic factors can modify the underlying intrinsic (genetic) disposition.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Overcoming the hurdles: A systematic review of barriers to self-initiated exercise in trauma recovery.

There is substantial quantitative evidence in support of exercise as beneficial for trauma recovery, particularly in targeting the neurobiological mechanisms disrupted by trauma. It is therefore important to understand the circumstances under which individuals may avoid exercise, ultimately preventing them from accessing the wellbeing benefits. Some qualitative articles have identified the factors which may prevent an individual from choosing to engage in exercise outside of a structured intervention (self-initiated exercise), but there lacks a synthesis across these differing articles. This systematic review aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence on trauma survivors' experience of barriers to self-initiated exercise. A systematic search of six databases was conducted to identify peer-reviewed qualitative findings on the perceived barriers to self-initiated exercise engagement, with six articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis revealed three key themes: Searching for Safety, Staying With The Trauma, and Costs of Exercise and Trauma. In their decision to exercise, trauma survivors negotiate many barriers: the physiological, social, and environmental threats to their safety, trauma-related dissociation, and the costs of both exercise and trauma weighed against competing recovery needs. The small number of included studies reflects the emerging nature of research in this area, but it may limit the transferability of the findings. Nonetheless, as the first of its kind, this systematic review collates the experience of barriers as a first meaningful, exploratory step towards addressing them in future research. Taken together, the findings underscore the importance of a trauma-informed approach to ensure exercise remains unimpeded for trauma survivors.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Differences in Radiological Risk Perceptions Following Online and In-Person Workshops.

Nuclear energy is widely regarded as a critical part of the pathway toward a secure, low-carbon electricity grid, yet long-term management of used nuclear fuel remains a persistent challenge. Although technically viable options for interim and consolidated storage exist, public concern and community opposition - rooted in historical distrust and risk perception - continue to complicate siting decisions. In response, recent federal efforts have emphasized collaboration-based approaches and community engagement, though empirical evidence on the effectiveness of different engagement strategies remains limited. This study examines how the structure and delivery of community engagement influence changes in public attitudes toward hosting interim used nuclear fuel storage facilities. Using survey data from 13 educational workshops around the United States, we evaluate: (1) the inclusion of trust-building content prior to technical content, and (2) engagement format, comparing online and in-person workshops. Analyses focus on participant changes in perceptions of safety, risk, and support for hosting, using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and other non-parametric hypothesis tests on surveys conducted before and after workshops. Results indicate that workshop participation is associated with some measurable attitude changes, with significant (p < 0.05) differences in response variability for some questions across workshop formats. In particular, when comparing nuclear energy to other clean energy sources, in-person workshop participants are substantially more likely to gain a more favorable opinion of nuclear energy than online participants. These findings contribute empirical evidence on how trust-building and delivery mode shape outcomes in public engagement on complex and contested energy policy issues such as storage of used nuclear fuel.

nuclear fuel cycle↗

PubMed2025

Autologous Fibrin Glue in Pterygium Surgery as an Alternative to Commercial Fibrin Glue.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous fibrin glue in pterygium surgery, comparing it with commercial fibrin glue in terms of postoperative complications, graft stability, and recurrence rate. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted, involving 42 patients with primary pterygium who underwent autologous conjunctival-limbal transplantation. The graft was fixed using autologous fibrin glue (Group 1, G1) or commercial fibrin glue (Group 2, G2). All patients underwent surgery performed by the same surgeon and were reevaluated on postoperative days 7, 30, 90, and 180 by an independent observer, assessing clinical parameters in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. RESULTS: No cases of severe adverse events were reported. Complete graft dehiscence occurred in 1 patient from G1. The G2 group had more cases of subconjunctival hemorrhage ( P = 0.0355). Pyogenic granuloma was observed in 1 patient from G2 and 2 patients from G1. There was no significant difference in recurrence rates between the groups (15% in G1 vs. 5% in G2; P = 0.2918). In both groups, graft dimensions tended to decrease slightly in the early postoperative period, followed by stabilization. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous fibrin glue demonstrated efficacy and safety comparable to commercial fibrin glue, making it a viable alternative to conjunctival graft fixation in primary pterygium surgery.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Neuromuscular blocking agents for tracheal intubation of critically ill adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Emergency tracheal intubation in critically ill adults is associated with a high risk of peri-intubation adverse events, making first-attempt success a key safety target. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether the use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) improves the proportion of first-attempt success and reduces adverse events during emergent intubations outside the operating room. METHODS: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials or nonrandomized studies comparing sedative-hypnotic plus NMBA versus sedative-hypnotic alone in critically ill adults undergoing emergency endotracheal intubation in nonoperative settings. Animal, cadaveric, manikin/simulation, and pediatric studies were excluded. Articles were screened on 21 August 2025, in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Web of Science Core Collection. MAIN RESULTS: Of 4736 screened citations, 13 studies (8 cohort; 5 before-after studies) were included in the quantitative analysis, with 14 072 participants. NMBA use was associated with higher first-attempt success, which ranged from 69 to 92% (pooled odds ratio, 2.72; 95% onfidence interval: 1.42-5.21; low-certainty evidence). Secondary outcomes related to adverse events were rated as very low certainty due to sparse data, inconsistent reporting, and serious imprecision. CONCLUSION: NMBA use during emergency intubation was associated with improved first-attempt success, although the certainty of evidence was low.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Facilitators and Barriers to Volunteers' Involvement in Palliative Care: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically synthesize qualitative evidence on facilitators and barriers to volunteer involvement in palliative care services, providing insights to inform strategies for strengthening volunteer support systems. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Medline, EBSCO, ProQuest, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, VIP, and Sinomed were searched from inception to December 2025 to identify qualitative studies examining factors influencing volunteer participation in palliative care. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. Data were analyzed using Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis approach and managed using NVivo 12.0 software, following the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies involving 1042 participants were included, yielding 68 findings. Facilitators included intrinsic motivation and meaning-making at the individual level; supportive relationships and teamwork at the interpersonal level; structured support and professional recognition at the organizational level; social recognition and resource integration at the community level; and institutional safeguards and governmental incentives at the policy level. Barriers included emotional burden and limited competencies at the individual level; relationship conflicts and insufficient collaboration at the interpersonal level; management deficiencies at the organizational level; community resource imbalances at the community level; and inadequate regulations and incentives at the policy level. CONCLUSION: Volunteer participation in palliative care is influenced by multiple interacting factors. Strengthening training and support systems, enhancing team collaboration, and improving institutional frameworks may help sustain volunteer engagement and improve the quality of palliative care services.

Palliative Care↗

PubMed2026

Complement component C4 and neuroimaging in psychiatry: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies suggest that the complement system contributes to the pathophysiology of various psychiatric disorders partly through neurodevelopmental effects linked to C4A protein levels variations. We conducted a systematic review to characterize how brain micro- and macrostructure and connectivity vary with proxies of in vivo brain C4A protein levels in both psychiatric and general-population cohorts. METHODS: We used Medline, Web of Science, and Embase, and included all studies published before April 14, 2025. Inclusion criteria were: (1) inclusion of healthy controls and/or individuals with psychiatric disorders assessed according to recognized diagnostic manuals (DSM or ICD); (2) use of MRI-based neuroimaging; and (3) use of genomic, transcriptomic and/or proteomic approaches as proxies of in vivo brain C4A proteins levels. RESULTS: From 317 identified articles, 11 were included. Associations between C4A levels and brain structure were heterogeneous across regions. Only the mOFC, dlPFC, and entorhinal cortex were implicated in more than one study. Findings for the mOFC and dlPFC varied by the type of metrics and clinical status, whereas higher C4A levels were more consistently associated with smaller entorhinal cortex surface area and cortical thickness in pediatric, middle-aged, and older general-population cohorts. In addition, one study found higher genetically predicted C4A expression to be associated with higher TSPO levels. CONCLUSION: The limited number of available studies and their methodological heterogeneity make synthesis challenging. However, biological hypotheses such as excessive synaptic pruning or broader inflammatory effects on the brain may provide plausible explanatory frameworks for the reported associations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A 4-year longitudinal wastewater surveillance of five gastroenteritis viruses and the correlation with clinical cases in Alberta, Canada.

Viruses are common causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. They are detected in large quantities in raw sewage making them amenable to wastewater-based surveillance (WBS). To monitor the prevalence of gastroenteritis viruses in wastewater and assess their correlation with clinical cases, wastewater samples collected between July 2020 and June 2024 from 12 wastewater treatment plants across Alberta, Canada were analyzed for norovirus (NoV) GI & GII, rotavirus (RoV), adenovirus (AdV), sapovirus (SaV) and astrovirus (AsV). Among the 5726 wastewater samples tested, AdV (80.5%) had the highest detection rate followed by NoV GII (75.6%), SaV (63.2%), NoV GI (59.4%), RoV (42.2%) and AsV (20.2%). Winter and spring seasonality was found for NoV and RoV in both wastewater and clinical disease. Public health interventions especially in the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on their burden with marked reduction in wastewater detected viruses and clinical cases. NoV showed a strong correlation between its level in wastewater and the number of clinical cases, while moderate correlation was observed for the other four viruses. Cross-correlation analysis showed that changes of viral RNA concentration in wastewater lagged behind reported gastroenteritis cases by approximately 6 days to 3 weeks. To our knowledge, this is the longest multi-region WBS study monitoring multiple gastroenteritis viruses spanning both COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic periods. The data obtained from this study supported WBS as a complementary tool to track population-based circulation of gastroenteritis viruses, providing actionable public health data.

Clinical cases↗

PubMed2026

Upscaling Genotyping by Amplicon Sequencing With GBAS-GUI.

Genotyping by amplicon sequencing (GBAS) is a relatively low-cost approach for generating genotypic data compared with established genomic methods, making it highly scalable and particularly suitable for large-scale genetic monitoring projects. However, most existing analytical pipelines are either marker-specific, insufficiently scalable, or lacking efficient data management systems for the long-term integration of genotypic information, limiting the full potential of GBAS. Here, we address this gap by introducing GBAS-GUI (https://github.com/sonnenbe-dot/GBAS-GUI), a pipeline capable of generating GBAS-based genotypic data for a wide variety of loci at scale. GBAS-GUI integrates a graphical user interface with multiple checkpoints to improve accessibility and robustness. It implements multiprocessing architecture and a relational database that links genotypic data with associated sample metadata to enhance scalability and data management. The pipeline further enables marker screening through automated calculation of polymorphism information content (PIC) and implements a strategy to recover homologous genotypic information from paralogous loci with non-overlapping amplicon length ranges. Using multiple empirical datasets, we demonstrate substantial improvements in processing speed, database management and handling artefacts related to co-amplification of unspecific regions and duplicates of the same genomic region. We further show that incorporating the full sequence information captured by an amplicon increases marker information content beyond what is achievable with length-based genotyping alone and expands the analytical versatility of GBAS. Overall, GBAS-GUI provides a robust, scalable and versatile framework that unlocks the potential of GBAS for large-scale population genetic and phylogeographic studies.

Genotyping Techniques↗

PubMed2026

Improved comprehensive profiling of fecal bile acids through chemical derivatization combined with HPLC-MS/MS analysis.

Bile acids (BAs) facilitate the digestion and absorption of fats and influence lipid and glucose homeostasis, making them potential therapeutic targets for obesity and related metabolic disorders. The liver and intestinal microbiota modify BAs structurally, generating diverse chemical forms and isomers. Comprehensive profiling of the BA pool is critical for understanding their key biological functions and as a therapeutic approach for related diseases. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) is usually chosen as the preferred method for BA detection due to the complex chemical structures, the wide range of actual concentrations and the complexity of fecal sample matrices. However, free BAs are difficult to ionize, resulting in low detection signals and a lack of characteristic structural fragments to assist in structural identification. In this method, the labeling reagent (2-aminoethyl) trimethylammonium (AETMA) is employed to label the carboxyl group of BAs. Compared with underivatized BAs, the detection sensitivity of unconjugated BAs was enhanced by 25-180 fold, while that of conjugated BAs increased by 6-160 fold. It also generates unique fragment ions and enhances MS response, facilitating the discovery of potential BAs. Methodological parameters were validated using 38 BAs as representatives. Through methodological validation, it was verified that the precision, recovery, matrix effect and stability parameters of the method met acceptable criteria. We also identified 61 confirmed BAs and 55 additional candidate BAs in human pooled fecal samples. It has been successfully applied to fecal BA analysis in obese populations, providing valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for obesity.

Tandem Mass Spectrometry↗

PubMed2026

Citizenship Status and Contraceptive Method Use Among Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Women in California.

Citizenship status confers rights and access to healthcare, yet little is known about how it impacts contraception use and type of method use. This study examined the role of citizenship status on contraceptive use among reproductive-aged (18-44 years), cis-gender Latinx and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women. This study used the 2017-2020 waves of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Inclusion criteria included cisgender, heterosexual Latinx and API women of reproductive age (18-44 years) who were at risk of becoming pregnant (N = 3,027). Participants were classified into the following categories based on their citizenship status: non-citizens without a green card, legal permanent residents (LPRs), naturalized citizens, and U.S.-born citizens. We conducted bivariate analyses using Pearson's chi-square tests and multivariable analyses using adjusted binomial logistic regressions to assess associations between citizenship status and use of any modern and reversible method of contraception and type of method used. Models were stratified by race/ethnicity. All analyses were weighted. Three-quarters (75.8%) of the sample were Latinx, 57.5% were U.S.-born citizens, 16.3% were naturalized citizens, 10.6% were LPRs, and 15.7% were non-citizens without a green card. There were no significant differences in the type of contraception method use by citizenship status among Latinx. Among API, naturalized citizens had lower odds of any use and condom use and naturalized citizens and U.S.-born citizens had higher odds of using pill or other hormonal methods and IUD or implant compared to non-citizens without a green card. This study makes important contributions in understanding the role of citizenship status as a social determinant of reproductive health for Latinx and API in California.

Citizenship status↗

PubMed2026

A versatile reversed-phase liquid chromatography charged aerosol detection method for streamlined monitoring of QS-21 content and stability in liposomal adjuvant formulations.

Identifying and quantifying an active adjuvant along with its degradants in drug formulations is essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of the drug product. QS-21 is a potent adjuvant that is being evaluated in several clinical trials and is currently formulated in licensed vaccines that protect against shingles, malaria, and RSV. In aqueous environments, QS-21 is subject to hydrolytic degradation that is influenced by pH and temperature, resulting in the formation of a degradant known as QS-21 Hydrolyzed Product, QS-21 HP, which can occur during manufacturing and/or prolonged storage. The intact QS-21 and QS-21 HP induce distinct immune response profiles, making it critical to monitor the degradation of QS-21 in vaccine adjuvant formulations. To date, there has been a paucity of reliable assays for QS-21, its isomers, and degradant QS-21 HP in liposomal adjuvant formulations available that can be transferred seamlessly in quality control (QC) environments. Herein, we introduce a simple and QC-friendly liquid chromatography coupled to a charged aerosol detector (LC-CAD) enabled by stationary phase screening combined with in silico method development optimization. The method exploits 2.7 μm fused-core phenyl hexyl particles, ensuring its versatility in standard and ultra-high pressure LC systems. This approach demonstrates a high correlation between predicted retention time (RT) and experimental outcomes with overall ∆RT < 4%. In addition, this assay shows great linearity, precision, specificity, and accuracy to advance process development characterization of new vaccine formulations.

Liposomes↗