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PubMed2026

Foot exercise plus education versus brief advice for the treatment of plantar heel pain (FEET Trial): a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite foot muscle strengthening being a target of exercise interventions for plantar heel pain (PHP) no study has measured foot muscle outcomes, and existing research is limited by a lack of control (no treatment) comparisons. OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial and investigate the acceptability and credibility of comprehensive progressive foot exercise and education compared to brief advice for PHP. DESIGN: Randomised parallel group feasibility trial. METHOD: People with PHP were randomised (1:1 concealed allocation) to receive either foot exercise plus education or brief advice for twelve weeks. Primary outcomes included willingness to enrol, recruitment rate, adherence, logbook completion, dropout rate, early withdrawal reasons, adverse events, additional treatments sought, and credibility/expectancy. RESULTS: Twenty people with PHP (16 women; age 50 ± 9 years; body mass index = 30.7 ± 4.6 kg/m2) were recruited over 15 weeks (1.3 participants per week). Primary outcomes were willingness to enrol (80%), adherence (physiotherapy sessions attended: foot exercise plus education 85%, brief advice 100%; home exercise program: 62% daily sessions completed, 72% thrice weekly sessions completed), logbook completion (foot exercise plus education 75%, brief advice 90%), dropout rate (15%), and additional treatments sought (69%). There were no intervention-related adverse events, and credibility scores were higher for foot exercise plus education. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms feasibility and acceptability of a protocol comparing foot exercise plus education with brief advice in individuals with PHP, generating key insights to inform future trial design.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Should we consider excessive weights in pediatric kidney transplant recepient candidates?: A systematic review and meta-analysis of kidney transplantation outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: In adult populations, excess body weight has been associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes and mortality following kidney transplantation. In contrast, the influence of obesity on transplantation outcomes among pediatric populations is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the association between pre-transplant excess weight and post-transplant outcomes in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. MATERIAL & METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library, covering publications up to December 31, 2025. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the ROBINS-E tool. Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager version 5.4. RESULTS: From a total of 1465 records screened, six studies that included 65,483 participants were selected in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that pre-transplant excess weight was significantly associated with an increased risk of acute rejection (OR = 1.09; P = 0.009), delayed graft function (OR = 1.17; P < 0.00001), 1-year graft failure (OR = 1.16; P = 0.0002), and 5-year graft failure (OR = 1.13; P = 0.009). Although 5-year mortality was also higher among recipients with excess weight, this association was not statistically significant (OR = 1.08; P = 0.11). CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients with pre-transplant excess weight had higher post-transplant odds of acute rejection, delayed graft function, and both 1-year and 5-year graft failure compared to those without excess weight. These findings highlight the importance of assessing and managing excess weight prior to kidney transplantation to help prevent adverse outcomes in the future.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of phytosterols supplementation on hepatic lipid metabolism and metabolic outcomes in obese rodent models: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to synthesize and quantitatively assess the available evidence on the effects of phytosterol supplementation on hepatic lipid metabolism and obesity-related metabolic outcomes in obese rodent models, integrating biochemical, histological, and molecular evidence. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science). Data on study design, population, intervention, outcomes, and risk of bias were extracted and analyzed. A quantitative meta-analysis was performed. Meta-analysis showed reductions in body weight, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, glucose, liver weight, hepatic cholesterol, hepatic triglycerides, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. No significant changes were observed for adiposity index, HDL-C, insulin, or hepatic expression of PPARα, FAS, and SREBP1c. Conversely, CPT1A expression was significantly increased following PS supplementation. Subgroup analyses indicated that the beneficial effects on lipid and hepatic outcomes were generally consistent across rodent species (mice, rats, and hamsters), obesity induction models, and routes of administration, although the magnitude of responses varied between strains, with C57BL/6 mice showing more pronounced metabolic improvements. Additional analyses suggested that treatment duration and phytosterol composition may modulate specific outcomes, whereas dose-response meta-regression identified dose-dependent associations for serum and hepatic cholesterol, and PPARα expression in dietary supplementation studies. Overall, the available preclinical evidence suggests that phytosterol supplementation may improve several metabolic and hepatic outcomes in rodent models of obesity. However, the substantial heterogeneity across studies highlights the need for standardized experimental protocols and future clinical studies before these findings can be translated to human health.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Wildlife forensic DNA evidence links a suspected vehicle to a fatal lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) collision in Misiones, Argentina.

Vehicle collisions are recognized as a major driver of biodiversity loss, particularly in road-dense landscapes, exceeding the impact of invasive species and wildlife trafficking. For large-bodied, slow-reproducing, and low-abundance species, such as the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), this threat can have major impacts. Here, we present a wildlife forensic investigation in Misiones, Argentina, involving a tapir, a species afforded the highest level of legal protection as a Provincial Natural Monument. The fatal hit-by-vehicle (HBV) incident occurred in northern Misiones on 31 March 2019 along Provincial Route 19, in a portion that bisects Parque Provincial Urugua-í, with the driver involved in the collision leaving the scene. The suspect was later located and claimed that the damage to the vehicle resulted from a collision with a horse (Equus caballus) rather than a tapir. To legally resolve the incident, DNA (hair and blood) recovered from the suspected vehicle's bumper (evidence) was compared with tissue samples from the tapir carcass (reference). Genetic confirmation of species identity used a 110-bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, and individual identity was assessed using 12 species-specific microsatellite loci. These analyses confirmed that all evidence matched the tapir carcass at both species and individual levels, strongly supporting the association between the suspected vehicle and the HBV tapir, and refuting the alternative explanation proposed by the driver. This case demonstrates the value of using wildlife forensic genetics to reconstruct wildlife-vehicle collisions, supporting environmental law enforcement, and strengthening conservation efforts in the Atlantic Forest of Misiones, Argentina.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Evolutionary conservation of heat shock proteins in Blattodea and their roles in wing morphogenesis and ovarian development of Blattella germanica.

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are essential molecular chaperones for protein homeostasis and stress responses. However, the Hsp repertoires and functions in Blattodea remain underexplored. Our genome-scale survey of nine Blattodea species revealed 37-46 conserved Hsp90, Hsp70, and DNAJ (Hsp40) genes, with DNAJ the most abundant and Hsp90 the least. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the evolutionary conservation of three Hsp90, seven Hsp70, and 29 DNAJ subclades in Blattodea. Selection pressure analysis revealed predominant purifying selection (dN/dS ≪ 1) across lineages, strongest in DNAJ and highest in Hsp90 conservation. In Blattella germanica, expression of six representative BgHsp genes progressively increased during development, peaking in fifth-instar nymphs. Tissue expression profiling revealed that BgHspA1-2/3/4 were predominantly expressed in legs, BgDNAJB5 and BgHsp90AB1-2 were enriched in the fat body, and BgHsp90AB1 was highly expressed in the head. dsRNA injection targeting conserved Hsp gene regions achieved 61.9-94.1% knockdown of all six target genes. RNAi knockdown of six BgHsp genes disrupted wing morphogenesis, causing distinct phenotypes: wing whitening (56.7%, dsBgHspA1-4), unequal length (66.7%, dsBgHspA1-3; 76.7%, dsBgDNAJB5), and wing wrinkling (70%, dsBgHspA1-2; 63.3%, dsBgHsp90AB1; 76.7%, dsBgHsp90AB1-2). During ovarian formation, the developmental delay was most severe in the dsBgHsp90AB1 group, moderate in the dsBgHsp90AB1-2 and dsBgHspA1-2/3/4 groups, and weakest in the dsBgDNAJB5 group. Besides, knockdown significantly downregulated key developmental genes (apterous-a, nubbin, scalloped, ultrabithorax, wingless, and vitellogenin). These findings provide a reference for understanding the evolutionary patterns of Hsps in Blattodea, and offer mechanistic insights into the developmental regulation mediated by Hsps in this important public-health pest.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

An overview of the use of proteomics and peptidomics to characterize alternative protein foods.

The global protein transition is accelerating the development of alternative protein foods, mainly derived from plants, insects, algae, fungi, and cellular agriculture. Ensuring the authenticity, safety, and nutritional adequacy of these emerging protein matrices requires molecular-level characterization beyond traditional compositional analyses. Proteomics and peptidomics have emerged as transformative analytical platforms capable of decoding the molecular signatures that define protein origin, structural integrity, digestibility, functionality, and health potential. The review comprehensively examines the application of proteomics, and peptidomics for profiling alternative protein foods. Further, the source authentication strategies based on species-specific protein and peptide biomarkers, detection of adulteration in complex matrices, and allergenicity assessment is discussed. Special attention is also given to nutritional proteomics with protein digestibility, gastrointestinal peptide release, and identification of bioactive sequences. SIGNIFICANCE: The importance of this review is that proteomics and peptidomics are becoming central in the management of the fast-growing environment of alternative protein foods, such as plant-based, insect, algal, fungal, and cultured meat products. It provides an explanation of the application of mass spectrometry-based processes to decode molecular signatures defining the origin of proteins, their structural integrity, digestibility, allergenicity, and bioactive properties, and thus directly contribute to safety, nutritional analysis, and authenticity of the product. Presentation of the article includes the integration of the knowledge of traditional muscle foods with alternative systems of proteins, where validated protein and peptide biomarkers are used in authentication, fraud detection, and allergy risk assessment in a wide variety of matrices. It also indicates the role of nutritional proteomics and peptidomics in informing the formulation strategy to promote digestibility and release of health-promoting peptides. In general, this review will guide scientists, the food industry, and regulatory bodies to use modern proteomic technologies in quality assurance, and decision-making, for the advancementof sustainable protein-based foods.

Proteomics↗

PubMed2026

Genetic determinants of gestational diabetes mellitus in thai pregnant women: role of GCKR, CDKAL1, TCF7L2, NEDD1, and CMIP variants.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has a high global prevalence and arises from complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. GDM is associated with metabolic disturbances and chronic low-grade inflammation, both of which contribute to its pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between GDM and 135 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 20 genes related to metabolic traits. METHODS: In this case-control study, 152 pregnant women with GDM and 684 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) who underwent antenatal examination at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, were enrolled. Clinical data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Genomic DNA was isolated and subjected to whole-genome sequencing using the DNBSEQ-T7RS high-throughput sequencing platform. Genotype analyses were performed using R software, and haplotype analyses were conducted using the online SNPStats software. RESULTS: After adjusting for maternal age and pre-pregnancy body mass index, polymorphisms in TCF7L2 (rs34872471, rs7901695, rs4506565, rs7903146, rs12243326, and rs12255372), NEDD1 (rs10431408, rs11830756, rs249579, rs249585, and rs4762339), CMIP (rs2306115 and rs201681534), CDKAL1 (rs4710942), GCKR (rs2293572 and rs2293571), and GCK (rs5883890) were significantly associated with the risk of GDM. Haplotype analysis demonstrated that the TCF7L2 rs12243326-rs12255372 CA haplotype was associated with a decreased risk of GDM (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23-0.81), while the NEDD1 rs249579-rs249585-rs4762339 GGT haplotype was associated with an increased risk of GDM (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.08-1.82). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that genetic variations in TCF7L2, NEDD1, CMIP, CDKAL1, GCK, and GCKR contribute to GDM susceptibility in the Thai population.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A validated sensitive LC-MS/MS method and its application in elucidating the unique ocular pharmacokinetic profile of 0.01% atropine underpinning its clinical utility for myopia.

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantify atropine in ten rabbit ocular tissues enabling systematic characterization of the ocular pharmacokinetic profile of 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops after a single topical administration. The method demonstrated excellent linearity (coefficient of determination, R2 ≥ 0.9908) across all matrices, with lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.05 ng/mL for most tissues and 0.10 ng/mL for retina and lens; intra- and inter-day accuracy, precision, matrix effects, extraction recoveries, and stability all met the acceptance criteria. Following a single bilateral topical dose (50 μL/eye) in New Zealand White rabbits, atropine distributed rapidly into all 12 ocular compartments (the sclera further divided into three anatomical regions) with marked heterogeneity-the highest exposures were found in conjunctiva and cornea, a distinct anterior-to-posterior concentration gradient was observed in the sclera, sustained retention was noted in the retina (mean residence time from zero to the last measurable time point, MRT0-t 3.30 h), while aqueous and vitreous humor eliminated rapidly (elimination half-life, t₁/₂ < 0.7 h), and all tissues except aqueous humor followed a two-compartment model. This validated method and the comprehensive pharmacokinetic data reveal that topically applied 0.01% atropine achieves sustained exposure in key myopia-regulating tissues (retina, choroid, posterior sclera) with low exposure in side-effect target tissues (iris, ciliary body, lens).

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Studies on functional differentiation of xpr1a and xpr1b genes in zebrafish.

Xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor 1 (XPR1) is known to be involved in various biological processes, including phosphate homeostasis, cellular signaling, brain and vascular mineralization, whereas its specific contribution to bone development remains incompletely characterized. Due to genome duplication in teleosts, zebrafish Danio rerio possess two paralogous genes of XPR1 namely xpr1a and xpr1b, whose functional divergence remains unclear. The amino acid sequence similarity between zebrafish xpr1a and xpr1b was 83.26%. In situ hybridization demonstrated overlapping localization in the head and spinal cord at 24-48 hpf, while diverged by 72 hpf, with xpr1a becoming restricted to the head while xpr1b persisted in both regions. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate xpr1a and xpr1b mutants. The xpr1a mutants are comparatively healthy, viable but with mild growth reduction, whereas the xpr1b mutants display high mortality, reduced body length and severe vertebral deformities. Interestingly, all the double mutants died at the embryonic stage. Moreover, to further investigate the molecular and regulatory mechanisms, we conducted comparative transcriptome analysis on bone and brain tissues from xpr1b+/+ and xpr1b-/- zebrafish. In bone tissue, 6749 DEGs were identified, comprising 3846 upregulated and 2903 downregulated genes. These DEGs were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and ECM-receptor interaction. RT-qPCR validated results showed that seven osteogenesis-related genes (col1a1a, sp7, runx2b, col1a2, col1a1b, alp1 and entpd5), and two phosphate homeostasis related genes (slc20a2 and pdgfba), which are essential for skeletal mineralization and phosphate homeostasis, exhibited significantly downregulated expression in bone tissue of xpr1b mutant zebrafish. These results highlight the pivotal role of xpr1b in regulating skeletal mineralization and phosphate metabolism, thereby elucidating the functional specialization of XPR1 paralogs while providing a theoretical basis for understanding bone developmental mechanism in teleost vertebrates.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Clustering patterns of behavioral and metabolic risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in Iran: findings from a national STEPS survey.

BACKGROUND: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality in Iran, driven by behavioral and metabolic risk factors that frequently co-occur. OBJECTIVE: To identify patterns of co-occurring behavioral and metabolic NCD risk factors among Iranian adults and characterize their demographic and socioeconomic correlates. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 16,618 adults aged ≥25 years who participated in Iran's 2021 nationally representative STEPS survey. Thirteen behavioral and metabolic variables, including physical activity, nutrition score, smoking frequency, alcohol intake, salt intake, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid markers, were entered into a K-means clustering analysis. Clusters were characterized by their risk profiles and demographic/socioeconomic attributes. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between cluster membership and sociodemographic factors. RESULTS: Five distinct behavioral-metabolic clusters emerged. The smokers-drinkers (SD) cluster (3.1%) comprised mostly older, less-educated men with high smoking and alcohol use. The healthy-low-risk (HLR) cluster (40.3%) showed favorable profiles and included younger, more educated individuals. The physically active (PA) cluster (6.6%) was characterized mainly by younger men with markedly high physical activity levels. The dyslipidemic (DLP) cluster (26.0%) exhibited high dyslipidemia and overweight prevalence, while the hypertensive-diabetic (HTD) cluster (24.0%) had the highest obesity, hypertension, and diabetes rates, common among older urban adults. CONCLUSION: Behavioral and metabolic NCD risk factors in Iran formed five distinct co-occurrence patterns. Nearly half of adults belonged to metabolically high-risk clusters, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies that combine lifestyle interventions with screening and management of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Maternal obesity in rats results in male-specific increases in genome-wide DNA methylation in postnatal offspring liver.

Male-specific peripubertal DNA demethylation in the liver has been reported in mice. Here, we investigated whether it also occurs in rats, the influence of maternal obesity and whether DNA demethylation changes contribute to observed sex-specific effects of maternal obesity in offspring. Female rats were fed a high-fat, high-sugar 'cafeteria' (Caf) diet before mating with standard chow-fed males. The offspring liver methylome and transcriptome were examined. Body weight was higher in Caf-fed dams prior to mating, during gestation and at parturition. Male and female offspring from Caf-fed dams had lower birth weights but higher adult weights and adiposity than offspring from chow-fed dams. A comparison of DNA methylation in 3-week-old weaner males versus female siblings from chow-fed dams did not reveal the male-specific DNA demethylation that was previously reported in mice. However, strong maternal diet effects in male weaner offspring methylation were observed. A comparison of female weaners from chow- versus Caf-fed dams showed a range of differences, with 39% of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) having higher methylation in Caf offspring and 61% of DMRs having higher methylation in chow offspring. In stark contrast, 99% of maternal-diet-induced DMRs in male weaner offspring had higher methylation in offspring from Caf-fed dams. This suggests that maternal obesity induces widespread hypermethylation in the male offspring liver at weaning. However, a comparison with RNA sequencing data revealed limited transcriptional changes at this developmental stage or in adult offspring. While these data highlight how environmentally sensitive DNA methylation is in the male rodent perinatal period, these methylation changes may not be a major contributor to sex differences in developmentally programmed liver disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

A GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of olive leaf or olive pomace supplementation on cardiometabolic and anthropometric health markers.

AIMS: Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are major contributors to global morbidity and mortality, and dietary bioactives such as polyphenols may modulate key risk factors. Olive by-products, particularly olive leaves (OL) and olive pomace (OP), are rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardiometabolic effects demonstrated across in vitro, preclinical, and clinical studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: This GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis included 30 randomized controlled trials (n = 1726) evaluating OL or OP supplementation on 21 standardized biomarkers, encompassing inflammatory markers, lipid profile, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, anthropometric measures, and blood pressure. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models, with effect sizes calculated as mean differences (or standardized mean differences for oxLDL). Between-study heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics, and sensitivity and subgroup analyses explored potential sources of variability. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's test and funnel plots where appropriate. OL supplementation significantly improved lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, ApoB, oxLDL) and increased ApoA1, while reducing TNF-α, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body weight, and BMI. No significant effects were observed on glycemic markers. OP supplementation showed no consistent cardiometabolic benefits and was associated with an increase in IL-8. Certainty of evidence ranged from very low to high, with several outcomes downgraded due to imprecision, heterogeneity, or limited study numbers. CONCLUSION: These findings support the targeted use of OL as an adjunctive strategy for cardiometabolic risk management. Evidence for OP supplementation remains limited, underscoring the need for well-powered, high-quality RCTs to clarify its clinical effects.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Fasting-refeeding regimes induce compensatory growth and muscle transcriptomic remodeling in juvenile Qihe gibel carp (Carassius gibelio var. Qihe).

Compensatory growth, an important adaptive response in fish, holds considerable potential for improving feeding efficiency in aquaculture. To identify an optimal fasting-refeeding strategy for juvenile Qihe gibel carp (Carassius gibelio var. Qihe) and to clarify the mechanisms underlying the compensatory growth, we divided two-month-old fish into four groups, namely S0 group (continuous feeding for 28 days), S2 group (4 cycles of 2-day fasting followed by 5-day refeeding), S4 group (fasting for 4 days followed by refeeding for 24 days), and S8 group (fasting for 8 days followed by refeeding for 20 days), then growth performance, muscle tissue morphology, biochemical responses, and muscle transcriptomic profiles under different feeding regimes were investigated. After a 28-day aquaculture experiment, fish in the S4 group exhibited significantly greater body length and weight than those in the S0, S2, and S8 groups, indicating over-compensatory growth. Histological analysis further showed that muscle growth in the S4 group was mainly associated with myofiber hyperplasia. Different feeding regimes also induced distinct changes in hepatic antioxidant and metabolic enzyme activities, as well as intestinal digestive enzyme activities. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway was significantly enriched during compensatory growth. Key genes, including serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (sgk1) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (irs1), were predicted to play important roles in this process. Overall, these results indicate that fasting for 4 days followed by refeeding for 24 days (the S4 regime) is the optimal strategy for inducing compensatory growth in juvenile Qihe gibel carp. This study provides new insights into the morphological, physiological, and molecular basis of compensatory growth and offers a scientific foundation for developing efficient and sustainable feeding strategies for this species.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Exercise-induced chronic adaptations and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in patients with depression: A systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Although exercise has been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms, potentially by affecting the body's inflammatory response, evidence in this area remains inconsistent. This study synthesized the most recent evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the relationship between exercise-induced chronic adaptations and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with depression. METHODS: Eligible RCTs were identified from six electronic databases. Effect sizes were pooled using mean differences (MDs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Two independent researchers assessed the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. RESULTS: The review included 21 RCTs involving 1572 participants, six of which were included in the meta-analysis. No evidence of efficacy was observed for the chronic effects of exercise on the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) (MD = -0.01, 95% CI [-0.06, 0.04], p = 0.79), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (SMD = -0.30, 95% CI [-0.64, 0.04], p = 0.08), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (SMD = -0.18, 95% CI [-0.50, 0.14], p = 0.27) in patients with depression. However, the pooled results for certain markers were not robust. The certainty of evidence for each outcome was very low owing to inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence for exercise improving pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with depression during the chronic phase remains exploratory and uncertain. Well-designed, adequately powered studies incorporating a broader range of immune biomarkers and dynamic multi-time-point assessments are urgently needed to determine whether exercise-induced chronic adaptations can modulate inflammatory pathways in depression.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of acute inflammatory challenge on anhedonia and social reward processing: A randomized controlled trial of endotoxin.

Anhedonia is a core feature of depression that reflects reward system dysfunction. Acute inflammatory challenge has been shown to induce transient anhedonia and reward processing deficits, but its effects on distinct components of social reward processes remain poorly understood. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated anhedonia and social reward responsivity following acute inflammatory challenge. Low-dose endotoxin (0.8 ng/kg body weight; n = 18) or placebo (same volume of 0.9% saline; n = 22) was administered to female adults (ages 25-44). Anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Questionnaire) and blood samples for cytokine assessment were collected pre-infusion and 2 and 4 h post-infusion. Social reward motivation (wanting to engage in a social task) was assessed at a baseline eligibility visit and 2 h post-infusion. Sensitivity to positive social cues (attentional bias toward and recognition of happy faces) was assessed pre-infusion and 2 h post-infusion. Results showed that endotoxin increased anhedonic symptoms (p = .005) and decreased social motivation by 2 h post-infusion (p = .001); within the endotoxin condition, changes in both outcomes were associated with increases in TNF-α (p's < .04). A significant condition-by-time interaction for happy-face recognition (p = .011) was driven by increased accuracy in the placebo (p = .04) but not endotoxin (p = .43) condition. Endotoxin administration did not affect attentional bias toward happy faces. Findings suggest that acute inflammatory challenge induces anhedonia and reduces social motivation, with more limited effects on sensitivity to positive social cues, highlighting specific reward-related pathways through which immune activation may contribute to inflammation-associated depression. Future work could examine whether immune-related changes in social motivation contribute to motivational deficits in depression.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genotype II Live-Attenuated ASFV Vaccine Bearing 24 Genes Deletion in 3 Independent Regions Is Able to Provide Complete Protection Against Homologous Lethal Challenge.

African swine fever (ASF) is an acute, febrile, and highly contagious infectious disease of swine with the etiological agent of African swine fever virus (ASFV). The mortality rate of virulent strains is as high as 100%. Strengthening biosafety is so far the most effective way to prevent and control ASF. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a safe and effective vaccine. In this study, a Genotype II live-attenuated ASF vaccine bearing 24 genes deletion in 3 independent regions was constructed based on the highly virulent Eurasian strain ASFV CN/GS 2018 backbone. The resulting mutant ASFV-Δ24 is characterized by complete deletion of 24 genes distributed in 3 genomic positions of 852 to 11 468, 19 732 to 22 929, and 179 519 to 180 617, among which MGF100 and whole MGF300 families are pioneeringly removed. The ASFV-Δ24 displayed a delayed and reduced replication kinetics as well as aberrant icosahedral empty particles devoid of a nucleoid when compared to the parental virus. Animal experiments showed that ASFV-Δ24 was completely attenuated in animals as evidenced by stable body temperature and no ASF-compatible clinical signs in vaccinated pigs. The ASFV-Δ24 could provide complete homologous protection against lethal challenge, as vaccinated pigs demonstrated boosted antibody response, transient but low levels of viremia in blood and virus titers in organs as well as almost undetectable viral shedding. Gene deletions in multiple regions are helpful for prevention of virulence reversion. These results indicate that ASFV-Δ24 can be used as an effective and promising candidate vaccine to control the spread of ASFV.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Global prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults with obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered to exhibit increased prevalence among adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but the reported prevalence estimates among such patients vary. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the global prevalence of MetS in adults with confirmed OSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for all primary studies published in English that used standard polysomnography for OSA diagnosis and reported MetS estimates. At least two reviewers independently screened for eligible studies, extracted data, and graded the risk of bias using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomised Studies. Three-level random-effects model was applied for the meta-analysis, reporting pooled prevalence estimate with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Pre-specified subgroup analyses and meta-regression were also performed. Heterogeneity was quantified using I2 and chi-square statistics. RESULTS: A total of 102 studies were eligible for inclusion (34 013 adults with OSA from 28 countries). The combined MetS prevalence was 55.4% (95% CI: 51.0%, 59.8%). Considerable heterogeneity was noted among the included studies (I2 = 97.8%), whilst the risk of bias ranged from low to high. Subgroup analysis examining the effects of geographic region, study design, MetS definition, and apnea-hypopnea index threshold showed a significant variation in prevalence estimates across most subgroups (p < 0.0001). Meta-regression analysis indicated a positive association between mean body mass index (β = 0.0772, t = 4.56, p < 0.0001) and MetS prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: MetS has a high prevalence among adults with polysomnography-confirmed OSA, underscoring the need for prompt MetS screening in these patients. Future longitudinal and genetic/mechanistic studies should investigate the factors accounting for this association. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251073055.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Proteomic insights into hepatic responses to high soybean meal inclusion with citric acid supplementation in hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus) juveniles.

This study evaluated the growth performance and hepatic proteomic responses of juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus) juveniles fed diets containing 30% or 40% soybean meal (SBM), with or without 3% citric acid supplementation, and compared with a fishmeal (FM) control diet over a 10-week feeding trial. Fish fed 30% SBM (LSBM) showed a final body weight comparable to the FM group, whereas fish fed 40% SBM (HSBM) recorded significantly reduced growth and net protein utilization (NPU) (p < 0.05). Supplementation of citric acid in the 40% SBM diet (HSBM + CA) significantly improved NPU and partially restored growth relative to HSBM. LC-MS/MS based quantitative proteomics identified 1544 hepatic proteins and showed clear dietary segregation. Differentially expressed proteins were predominantly associated with reduced abundance of proteins involved in lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and the tricarboxylic cycle across all SBM diets, suggesting a shift in oxidative metabolic capacity. In contrast, LSBM induced upregulation of spliceosome-associated proteins and RNA processing components, suggesting adaptive post-transcriptional regulation under moderate SBM inclusion. In contrast, HSBM exhibited greater reduction in metabolic protein abundance without comparable upregulation of adaptive regulatory components, coinciding with reduced nutrient retention. Protein-protein interaction analysis further confirms the correlation between the regulation of spliceosomal clusters and mitochondrial lipid-catabolic modules. Citric acid supplementation did not markedly reverse hepatic metabolic protein changes but improved protein retention. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD081994. These findings suggest a tolerance limit between 30% and 40% SBM inclusion, with 30% inducing adaptive hepatic proteomic responses compatible with maintained growth performance.

Animals↗