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PubMed2026

Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in multiple myeloma: a systematic review and trial sequential meta-analysis on image quality and radiation dose.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis comparing the effects of PCD-CT versus EID-CT on image quality (sharpness) and radiation dose (CTDIvol) in patients with bone lesions due to multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Central was conducted from inception to October 2025. Studies comparing PCD-CT and EID-CT in MM patients were included. Methodological quality was assessed using ROBINS-I, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: A total of 41 studies were identified that matched our search criteria. After duplicate removal and screening, five studies (n = 170 patients) were included in the systematic review, with four contributing to the meta-analysis. PCD-CT showed a significant pooled mean difference in image sharpness (mean difference, + 0.99 points; 95% CI, 0.62-1.37; p < 0.001). PCD-CT also demonstrated a reduction in radiation dose (mean difference, -4.95 milligrays; 95% CI, -8.39 to -1.50; p = 0.005). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) confirmed stability of pooled estimates, with conclusive evidence for image sharpness improvement, and suggestive yet incomplete evidence for radiation dose reduction. CONCLUSION: Compared to EID-CT in MM, PCD-CT significantly improves subjective image sharpness as supported by trial sequential analysis. Conventional meta-analysis suggested a reduction in radiation dose with PCD-CT; however, trial sequential analysis indicated that the cumulative evidence remains inconclusive. Further large-scale studies are suggested to confirm the magnitude of the radiation dose reduction benefit.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dosimetric Parameters of the Heart and Its Substructures in Predicting Cardiac Events or Survival in Patients With Lung Cancer After Radiation Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The predictive value of radiation dose to the whole heart (WH) and cardiac substructures (CS) for cardiac events (CEs) and survival in patients with lung cancer remains uncertain. The goal of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide an evidence-based estimate of the relationship between these associations. A systematic meta-analysis was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Series. Outcomes were classified into major adverse cardiac events (MACE), arrhythmias, pericardial effusion, and survival. Depending on heterogeneity, random- or fixed-effects models were applied to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for univariable and multivariable analyses. A total of 80 studies, including 21,645 patients, were analyzed. Of these, 25 studies reported CEs, and 69 reported survival outcomes. Among 91 WH and 215 CS parameters evaluated, several showed significant associations. Key findings from our meta-analysis include: (1) left anterior descending (LAD) V15 was significantly associated with MACE. The mean heart dose (MHD), as well as ventricle and LAD doses, were significantly associated with ischemic events. (2) Multiple CS parameters were associated with different arrhythmia subtypes. (3) MHD, heart V5/V35/V55 and pericardial doses were significantly associated with pericardial effusion. (4) MHD was significantly associated with survival; CS parameters also showed predictive value, and especially, heart base dose being the most significant. (5) We also identified several thresholds with potential predictive values, such as LAD V15 <10% for MACE, left pulmonary vein (LPV) V55 <2%, and right pulmonary vein (RPV) V10 <54% for atrial fibrillation (AF), right atrium (RA) V60 <0.03 cc for non-AF supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, and left main artery (LMA) V10 ≥1 cc for bradyarrhythmia. This study identified 130 WH and CS dosimetric parameters associated with CEs and 131 with survival outcomes. These findings enhance our understanding of radiation-induced heart injury mechanisms and provide guidance for potential protective and intervention strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Base editing reversal of radiation sensitivity in NHEJ1 immunodeficiency.

Inherited defects of DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair can result in radiosensitive/radiation-sensitive (RS) SCID (RS-SCID). We applied base editing to reverse NHEJ1 mutations in patient fibroblasts, exemplifying how this technology can help interrogate RS sequence variants.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

A systematic review and meta-analysis of radiation-induced oral complications in head and neck cancer: Prevalence and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced oral complications, notably xerostomia and oral mucositis (OM), are common and debilitating in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), adversely affecting swallowing, nutritional intake, and overall quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to quantify the prevalence of radiation-induced xerostomia and OM and synthesize their impact on dysphagia and nutritional status among HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches were performed in MEDLINE, Scopus, SciFinder, Embase, and PubMed for studies published between January 2019 and December 2025. Data from 51 studies were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence was 85% (95% CI: 81.6-87.9%) for xerostomia and 88.3% (95% CI: 73.9-95.3%) for any-grade OM. Severe OM (Grade 3-4) had a prevalence of 39.5% (95% CI: 23.1-58.8%). These complications were strongly interrelated and significantly associated with dysphagia (69.8%; 95% CI: 53.1-83.7%), malnutrition (66.6%; 95% CI: 37.3-95.9%), and poor QoL (pooled mean QoL score: 64.13/100). Studies employing advanced radiation techniques (e.g., IMRT) demonstrated a lower prevalence of xerostomia (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42-0.80) compared to conventional RT. CONCLUSION: Radiation-induced oral complications (xerostomia & OM) remain prevalent and clinically significant burden in HNC patients, contributing to a cascade of functional impairments and diminished QoL. These findings highlight the need for preventive strategies, symptom management interventions, and the broader adoption of advanced RT techniques. Longitudinal research is warranted to further evaluate long-term outcomes and guide patient-centered care models.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Outcomes of Stage IVA Cervical Cancer Treated with Radiation Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

FIGO stage IVA cervical cancer, defined by bladder or rectal mucosal invasion without distant metastasis, is an uncommon but clinically challenging disease with limited high-quality evidence to guide management. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate survival outcomes, treatment-related morbidity, and prognostic factors in patients with stage IVA cervical cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and PROSPERO registration (CRD42024602426), PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched through February 2025. Eleven studies comprising 492 patients met eligibility criteria. Pooled random-effects analyses demonstrated 2-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates of 41.5% (95% CI, 28.1-55.0), 34.2% (95% CI, 21.1-47.3), and 30.9% (95% CI, 16.0-45.8), respectively. Corresponding overall survival rates were 56.0% (95% CI, 46.2-65.9), 45.9% (95% CI, 35.9-55.9), and 34.8% (95% CI, 26.4-43.3). Weighted median disease-free survival and overall survival were 15.6 and 33.6 months, respectively. The pooled incidence of vesicovaginal or rectovaginal fistula was 23.7% (95% CI, 12.9-34.6). Adverse prognostic factors included pelvic nodal involvement, hydronephrosis, rectal invasion, omission of brachytherapy, and total EQD2 below 80-85 Gy. Concurrent chemoradiation and completion of brachytherapy were consistently associated with improved outcomes. Despite curative-intent treatment, long-term survival remains poor and treatment-related morbidity substantial. Durable pelvic control remains the principal therapeutic challenge. Concurrent chemoradiation with adequate-dose brachytherapy appears essential for optimal outcomes, while future stage IVA-specific studies incorporating image-guided adaptive brachytherapy, advanced radiotherapy techniques, and systemic treatment intensification are needed to improve survival and reduce treatment-related morbidity.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) uses in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS): diagnosis with brain metastasis (BM) - A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases (BM) are the most common intracranial tumors in adults, and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has become a mainstay of management. However, several diagnostic challenges persist in the SRS pathway, particularly the differentiation of radiation necrosis (RN) from true tumor progression, which conventional MRI and even advanced imaging techniques often cannot reliably resolve. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer the potential to address these diagnostic limitations. This systematic review synthesizes current literature on AI applications for MRI-based diagnostic decision support in BM patients undergoing SRS, with a focus on radiomics and deep learning tools for distinguishing RN from progression, classifying molecular and histologic subtypes, and predicting treatment response. METHODS: A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched using a targeted query combining terms related to AI, brain metastasis, diagnosis or imaging, and SRS. After screening 483 records and applying strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included. Data were extracted on study design, cohort characteristics, imaging modality, AI methodology, validation strategy, and reported diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Among the 18 included studies, AI models demonstrated strong performance across diagnostic tasks in the BM-SRS pathway. The differentiation of RN from true tumor progression was the most extensively studied application, addressed by 14 of 18 studies, with reported AUCs ranging from 0.71 to 0.94. Support vector machines, random-forest ensembles, convolutional neural networks, and transformer-based multimodal architectures were widely used. The literature evolved from single-sequence radiomic classifiers in 2018 to multimodal deep learning frameworks fusing imaging with clinical and genomic data in 2025. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MRI was the dominant imaging input, and texture-based radiomic features (GLCM, GLSZM, GLDM, and wavelet-derived features) were the most consistently predictive. The highest-performing models reached AUCs of 0.85-0.91 through multimodal integration of imaging with clinical and genomic features, and consistently outperformed expert neuroradiologist read on matched cases. Remaining studies addressed longitudinal segmentation-based detection of local failure and adverse radiation effects, BRAF mutation status in melanoma BM, early Gamma Knife treatment response, and primary tumor histology classification, with more variable performance. CONCLUSION: AI models, particularly those integrating MRI-derived radiomic features with clinical and genomic data, show high accuracy in supporting diagnostic decisions for BM patients treated with SRS. The post-SRS differentiation of radiation necrosis from true tumor progression has reached the greatest level of maturity and is closest to clinical translation, with potential to reduce unnecessary biopsies, personalize surveillance intervals, and rationalize treatment-pathway decisions. Other diagnostic applications, including molecular subtyping and primary tumor histology classification, remain exploratory and require further multicenter validation. Integration of AI tools into multidisciplinary tumor-board workflows, combined with prospective validation and standardized reporting, will be essential to realize the full clinical benefits of AI in SRS for brain metastases.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Nonviral transposon‑engineered stem cells characterization: dose‑dependency between vector copy number and transgene expression.

Genetically engineered stem cells hold substantial promises for advancing regenerative medicine, yet ensuring their genomic safety remains a critical challenge. A key safety concern is vector copy number (VCN), which defines the number of integrated transgene copies per genome. Although ddPCR is used to assess VCN in virally transduced cells, its application in transposon‑engineered systems is limited. In this study, we extended VCN determination to non‑viral, transposon‑engineered stem cells. In alignment with FDA recommendations, the primary objective was to establish a robust and quantitative framework for interim VCN determination at the time of lot release. Specifically, we demonstrate that reliable interim VCN estimates increase in a dose‑dependent manner with increasing plasmid input. In addition, strong linear correlations between VCN and both EGFP median fluorescence intensity (MFI) and gene‑of‑interest (GOI) protein expression validate the accuracy of this framework. Furthermore, comparison of two distinct GOIs revealed gene‑specific differences in expression efficiency. Together, these findings validate a standardized VCN determination workflow that quantitatively links plasmid dose, genomic integration, and functional transgene expression. This workflow provides a systematic characterization of engineered cells, offering comprehensive information to support downstream risk‑based analyses to ensure the genomic safety and stability of the final cell product.

Transgenes↗

PubMed2026

Efficient rDNA-mediated multi-copy integration of gene clusters in Aureobasidium melanogenum.

Aureobasidium melanogenum is a promising non-conventional yeast chassis for synthetic biology. However, techniques recombining large genetic fragments, such as gene clusters, are still unavailable, hindering further metabolic reprogramming in this chassis. To achieve multi-copy integration of genes, we employed highly repetitive ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences in A. melanogenum as homologous recombination sites for large genetic fragments. First, integration efficiency of three different regions of A. melanogenum rDNA were investigated: RNA polymerase I promoter region (rDNA1, 1.0 kb), partial 26S rDNA region (rDNA2, 1.0 kb), and RNA polymerase I terminator region (rDNA3, 1.0 kb). Our findings revealed that the highest copy numbers and expression stability were observed for the short heterologous green fluorescent protein gene (gfp, 0.7 kb) and the long native polyketide synthase gene (pks, 7.0 kb) after rDNA1-mediated integration. Specifically, the copy numbers reached 7.0 and 8.0 for gfp and pks, respectively, and they remained stably expressed in the genome after 120-h subculturing. Furthermore, an 11.0 kb gene cluster (comprising the native pks, phosphopantetheinyl transferase (npg1), and scytalone dehydratase genes (scd) responsible for melanin biosynthesis) was integrated at the rDNA1 site, resulting in stable recombination with 15.0 copies and an approximately 12-fold increase in melanin production. Overall, the convenience and efficiency of the proposed rDNA-mediated multi-copy insertion strategy will facilitate superior metabolic engineering of A. melanogenum chassis cells.

Multigene Family↗

PubMed2026

Early and late CTCAE and patient-reported outcomes following lung cancer radiotherapy: A sex-stratified descriptive analysis from the REQUITE cohort.

BACKGROUND: Long-term prospective data on lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy are limited, restricting understanding of outcomes and sex-specific characteristics. The multicentre REQUITE study provides standardized follow-up data from an international cohort. METHODS: We analysed longitudinal data from 530 lung cancer patients treated with radical radiotherapy (sequential or concurrent chemoradiotherapy, or stereotactic body radiation therapy [SBRT]) between 2014 and 2017 at 16 centres in Europe and the USA. Healthcare professionals prospectively recorded 21 pulmonary, oesophageal, neurological, cardiac, and skin adverse events using CTCAE v4.0. Patient-reported outcomes assessed symptoms, quality-of-life, fatigue, and physical activity. Adverse event incidence was stratified by sex, radiotherapy technique, chemotherapy administration, smoking status, and other clinical factors. RESULTS: At 12 months, 309 patients were evaluable, with 151 having follow-up beyond one year. Pulmonary adverse events were most frequent (40% grade ≥ 2), mainly dyspnoea and cough. Women had higher rates of oesophagitis, and more frequently reported dysphagia, and chest wall pain, while men experienced a higher frequency of cardiac adverse events. Exploratory subgroup analyses identified significant sex-related differences in grade ≥ 3 pulmonary adverse events following SBRT and in overall grade ≥ 2 oesophageal adverse events among patients with clinical stage I-II and those aged >70 years. Patient-reported outcomes showed persistent fatigue and reduced physical activity, particularly in females. Symptom prevalence and severity varied by sex, age, treatment modality, smoking status, and clinical stage. CONCLUSION: The REQUITE-Lung cohort provides prospectively collected real-world data on radiotherapy-related adverse events in lung cancer patients. This study describes patterns of adverse events and patient-reported outcomes according to sex, age, and treatment characteristics. These findings are hypothesis-generating and may support future validation in independent and pooled datasets.

Patient-reported outcomes↗

PubMed2026

Using Organoids to Unlock the Potential of Human Torpor for Spaceflight.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper reviews the current understanding of the potential for humans to enter a state of torpor/hibernation, and discusses the possibility of inducing torpor in astronauts for long-duration space travel, including some of the physiological, technological, and ethical considerations associated with its implementation. By exploring means to induce torpor in various human organoid systems, we hope such research can provides insights to comprehensive solutions to overcome some of the major hurdles that limit the potential for human to enter a state of torpor during long-duration deep-space missions, and contribute to the ongoing efforts to make such missions more feasible and safer for astronauts. RECENT FINDINGS: On future deep space missions such as NASA's planned missions to the Moon, Mars, and near-Earth asteroids, astronauts will be continuously exposed to environments that are radically different from those on Earth, each presenting multiple logistical and physiological challenges. Beyond the well-documented physiological effects of microgravity, space travelers will encounter a complex radiation environment that may contribute to significant short- and long-term adverse effects on human physiology and increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. Besides these physical challenges, life support systems must also be designed to mitigate psychological impacts of long-term isolation and confinement - all of which collectively pose formidable engineering problems. Hibernation/torpor is a state of prolonged inactivity and metabolic depression used by a wide variety of mammals to survive periods of cold temperatures and food scarcity, including some primates and perhaps even an extinct early line of hominins that lived nearly half a million years ago. Since modern humans share common ancestry with these hominins and hibernating primates, it is likely the human genome encodes the necessary genetic information to hibernate, or at least enter the similar, more transient state of torpor. The reduced body activity, lowered metabolism, and decreased energy requirements that characterize torpor suggest that developing means of inducing such a state in astronauts could address these challenges, including providing a degree of radioprotection. SUMMARY: This review explores the potential application of human torpor as a countermeasure to address the many challenges posed by long-duration spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO), discusses various natural hibernating model systems for studying means of inducing a torpor-like state in humans, and highlights the vast potential of using human organoids to test and validate mechanisms that govern induction and maintenance of torpor to identify the means to one day safely induce this state in astronauts to provide additional protection from the myriad stressors of spaceflight.

Astronaut Health↗

PubMed2026

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

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

Fluoxetine↗

PubMed2026

Ultrasound-guided high-voltage vs conventional pulsed radiofrequency in elderly cervical radiculopathy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with cervical radiculopathy present therapeutic challenges owing to comorbidities and medication-related risks. Long-term pharmacotherapy and surgical interventions are often suboptimal, necessitating evaluation of optimized pulsed radiofrequency strategies under image guidance. OBJECTIVES: This superiority trial compared the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency (HVP-PRF) versus conventional pulsed radiofrequency (C-PRF) for pain management in elderly patients with cervical radiculopathy. METHODS: This single-center, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial enrolled patients aged 60-85 years with cervical radiculopathy, randomly assigned (1:1) to HVP-PRF (70 V) or C-PRF (45 V). Procedures were performed under ultrasound guidance with sensory/motor stimulation confirmation and temperature ≤42°C. The primary outcome was change in upper-limb radiating pain on the Numeric Rating Scale (ΔNRS) from baseline to 3 months. Secondary outcomes included Neck Disability Index (NDI), neck pain NRS, Patient Global Impression of Change, responder rates, rescue analgesia use, and adverse events. Follow-up occurred at 1 week, 1, and 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were randomized and 101 received treatment. At 3 months, HVP-PRF demonstrated significantly greater radiating pain improvement versus C-PRF (adjusted mean difference 1.24, 95% CI 0.46-2.02, P=0.002). Functional improvement (NDI) was superior in the HVP-PRF group at 3 months (AMD 6.47, 95% CI 2.11-10.83, P=0.004). Responder rates (≥50% pain reduction) were higher with HVP-PRF at 3 months (68.75% vs. 42.22%, OR 3.01, P=0.011) and 6 months (65.22% vs. 43.18%, OR 2.52, P=0.035). Rescue analgesic use was lower in the HVP-PRF group during 1-3 months intervals (both P<0.05). Adverse event rates were comparable (27.45% vs. 32.00%). CONCLUSION: Under ultrasound visualization and electrical stimulation-based target confirmation with temperature control ≤42°C, HVP-PRF provided greater and more durable relief of upper limb radiating pain compared with C-PRF in elderly patients with cervical radiculopathy, with a comparable safety profile.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Can't see the forest for the trees: The influence of marker type on inferred phylogenetic relationships in a cosmopolitan bat genus.

Fine-resolution information on species relationships and biological diversity is critically needed to guide conservation efforts amidst rapid environmental changes. Systematics, which forms the foundation of this knowledge, has been revolutionized by phylogenomics, utilizing genome-scale datasets. However, the use of diverse marker types, non-comparable taxon sampling, and outgroup selection can lead to conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses. These inconsistencies complicate study comparisons and hinder our ability to assess marker-specific impacts on phylogenetic resolution. The phylogenetic reconstruction of the bat genus Myotis, encompassing over 140 species and characterized by a rapid radiation in the last 20 million years, has been particularly influenced by these challenges. Achieving phylogenetic resolution in Myotis is particularly complex due to subtle interspecific differences in both morphological and molecular traits. Mitochondrial and nuclear markers often produce discordant trees, influenced by hybridization, introgression, and methodological variations. In this study, we employed a consistent taxonomic sample set of 44 Myotis taxa to evaluate the impact of five different genetic marker types on phylogenetic reconstruction. We observed significant discordance between topologies derived from conserved nuclear and mitochondrial markers and found that transposable elements were inadequate for resolving relationships across the entire genus. Our results also clarify the placement of previously problematic taxa within the genus. These findings emphasize the importance of aligning genetic marker choice with specific phylogenetic questions and highlight the influence of taxonomic and methodological variation on phylogenomic outcomes. This work provides a framework for improving phylogenetic inference in rapidly radiating groups and enhances our understanding of evolutionary history in Myotis.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Evaluation of the clinical and mechanistic role of MCM2 expression in the prediction of meningioma recurrence after radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative radiotherapy is an effective treatment for meningiomas; however, treatment response varies among patients. In addition, practical methods for predicting tumor recurrence after radiotherapy have not been well established. Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2), a key regulator of DNA replication licensing, was recently implicated in highly proliferative molecular subtypes of meningioma. In this study, the authors evaluated whether MCM2 immunohistochemical expression predicts response to radiotherapy in patients with meningiomas. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with WHO grade 1-3 meningiomas treated with resection followed by radiotherapy at a single institution between July 2003 and November 2023. The MCM2 labeling index was assessed immunohistochemically, and patients were stratified into MCM2-high and -low groups using a cutoff of 35%. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the interval from the completion of radiation therapy to postoperative radiological tumor recurrence or regrowth. Patients who showed no progression were censored at their last follow-up. PFS was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and subsequently evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models. To further investigate the biological mechanisms associated with MCM2 expression, comprehensive transcriptomic analyses, including gene set enrichment analysis, was performed to elucidate the molecular processes that occur within MCM2-high tumors. RESULTS: The study population included 15 men (42%) and 21 women (58%), with a mean age of 63 years. Ten tumors (28%) were classified as MCM2-high meningiomas and 26 (72%) as MCM2-low meningiomas. High MCM2 expression was significantly associated with WHO grades 2-3 histology and higher Ki-67 labeling indices. During a median follow-up of 2.52 years, tumor progression after radiotherapy occurred in 47% of the patients. High MCM2 expression (HR 8.34, p = 0.03) was significantly associated with shorter PFS and remained an independent predictor of recurrence after adjustment for WHO grade, tumor size, and Ki-67 labeling index. Transcriptomic analyses of MCM2-high tumors revealed upregulation of cell proliferation-related pathways, accompanied by increased signaling through the E2F8-CHEK1 axis associated with radiation resistance and suppression of the TNF-α signaling pathway implicated in radiosensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: In meningiomas, high MCM2 expression is associated with early recurrence following radiotherapy. The study findings suggest that this association is driven by diverse biological mechanisms related to cell cycle regulation and radioresistance. Immunohistochemical assessment of MCM2 expression may serve as a practical and accessible biomarker for risk stratification and may support the future development of individualized postoperative radiotherapy strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Recovery of polysaccharides from marc and pomace through sequential extractions assisted by ultrasound, enzymes and acid maceration.

This study evaluated the pilot-scale recovery of polysaccharides from Vitis vinifera pomace/marc using sequential extraction strategies combining high-power ultrasound (UAE), enzymes (EAE), and acid maceration (AAE). Laboratory-scale trials identified optimal conditions for enzyme dosage and liquid/solid ratio (L/S). Pilot-scale trials demonstrated that the extraction sequence and the processing byproducts influenced extraction efficiency, total soluble polysaccharide in the extract (TSP), and polysaccharide composition. Post-maceration at pH 3.2, with/without the maximum enzyme dose after UAE in a L/S of 1.3/1, improved structural polysaccharide extraction from Viura pomace, while Tempranillo marc showed better recovery of pectic families and TSP with UAE + EAE. Separating grape pomace extract (UAE) from the post-maceration stage at pH 3.2 produced two extracts: E1, with higher yield (19.9%), enriched in structural polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, and E2, enriched in high and medium molecular weight pectic polysaccharides (58.03%), a low degree of esterification (17.1%) and more complex rhamnogalacturan structures.

Polysaccharides↗

PubMed2026

Pcgf5 controls the exit from totipotency in mouse embryonic stem cells.

Mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) cultures contain a rare subpopulation of two-cell-like cells (2CLCs) that transiently reactivate a two-cell embryo-like transcriptional program characteristic of zygotic genome activation (ZGA), including the endogenous retrovirus MERVL and Zscan4, and thereby regain a totipotent-like state. Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1)-mediated H2AK119ub1 has been implicated in restraining entry into the 2C-like state through Pcgf6, yet the factors governing exit from this state and loss of totipotency remain poorly defined. Here, we show that among the six Pcgf paralogs, Pcgf5, which is most prominently upregulated in 2CLCs and forms an MERVL-driven chimeric transcript (Pcgf5MT2C_Mm) during ZGA in 2-cell embryos, controls exit from the 2C-like state in mouse ESCs. Using a reporter ESC line carrying MERVL-tdTomato and Zscan4c-EGFP (MtZG), we manipulated Pcgf5 dosage bidirectionally. Doxycycline (Dox)-inducible overexpression (OE) of Pcgf5 reduced the double-positive (DP) 2C-like population. Conversely, CRISPR-mediated knockout (KO) of Pcgf5 by targeting a common exon shared by all Pcgf5 variants (hereafter, total Pcgf5) increased the DP population. Time-lapse imaging directly confirmed that these changes reflected genuine differences in duration of the 2C-like state: OE shortened, whereas KO prolonged, the time cells spent in this state. These findings reveal that a Polycomb group factor controls not only entry into but also exit from the 2C-like state.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification, structural characterization, and evolutionary analysis of growth-related gene families in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).

The somatotropic axis encompassing growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), myostatin (MSTN), and prolactin (PRL) signalling cascades is the master regulator of somatic growth, metabolism, and development in vertebrates. African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), a commercially pivotal aquaculture species, now possesses a chromosome-level reference genome (CGAR_prim_01v2); however, a systematic, genome-wide characterization spanning all five interconnected growth-related gene families has not previously been undertaken in this species. Here, we identified and characterized 15 growth-related genes spanning gh1, ghra, ghrb, Igf1, Igf2a, Igf2b, igf1ra, Igf1rb, Igf2r, Mstna, Mstnb, prl, prlra, prlrb, and smtlb distributed across 13 chromosomes. Complete one-to-one orthology with zebrafish confirmed strong dosage-balance conservation across >120 million years of teleost divergence. Physicochemical analysis resolved a clear biochemical dichotomy between compact, basic secreted ligands (19.88-45.81 kDa; pI up to 10.02) and large, acidic, heavily glycosylated membrane receptors (56.82-270.80 kDa; pI 4.85-5.97). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed 3R whole-genome duplication origins for all paralog pairs, while synteny analysis revealed a disruption of the ancestral gh1-prl chromosomal block in C. gariepinus, a finding that warrants further comparative and functional investigation. This genomic atlas provides the sequence and structural information including exon-intron boundaries, domain architecture, and chromosomal coordinates needed as a prerequisite for future marker-assisted selection and CRISPR-based myostatin-editing efforts in African catfish aquaculture, though translation into applied breeding outcomes will require subsequent functional and expression studies.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

UV-based homogeneous disinfection process for removal of antibiotic resistance genes: Efficiency, mechanisms and influencing factors.

The proliferation and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments pose a serious threat to global public health. Ultraviolet-driven homogeneous advanced oxidation processes (UV-AOPs) represent a prospective suite of technologies for the efficient removal of ARGs. This review critically assesses recent advances in the application of UV-AOPs, specifically UV/hydrogen peroxide (UV/H2O2), UV/peracetic acid (UV/PAA), UV/persulfate (UV/PS), and UV/chlorine (UV/Cl), for the elimination of extracellular ARGs and intracellular ARGs. The underlying mechanisms involve direct ultraviolet-induced DNA damage, including pyrimidine dimer formation and strand breakage, as well as oxidation mediated by radicals such as hydroxyl radicals, sulfate radicals, carbon-centered radicals, and reactive chlorine species. The relative contribution of radical and non-radical pathways is strongly influenced by water chemistry and process conditions. We further expound on the critical operational and environmental factors governing ARG removal kinetics, including UV wavelength and fluence, oxidant type and dosage, ARG sequence characteristics, pH, ubiquitous anions, and dissolved organic matter, which collectively affect radical generation, quenching, and reaction microenvironments. Notably, for i-ARGs, UV-AOPs facilitate degradation not only through direct radical attack but also by disrupting cellular integrity and permeabilizing membranes, thereby enhancing the exposure of genetic materials to oxidative and photolytic damage. This review synthesizes current understanding to provide a mechanistic basis for the design and optimization of UV-AOP systems, highlighting their potential as effective barriers against the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in water reuse and purification scenarios.

Disinfection↗