Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and serious nosocomial infection in mechanically ventilated preterm infants and is increasingly caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative organisms. Tigecycline, a glycylcycline with broad activity against many such pathogens, is not approved below 18 years of age and carries a boxed warning for excess mortality that is most pronounced in hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Its role, if any, in preterm infants with VAP is undefined. Objectives: To systematically identify and appraise all human evidence on the efficacy (clinical cure, microbiological eradication, survival) and safety (adverse events, mortality) of tigecycline used to treat VAP or nosocomial pneumonia during mechanical ventilation in preterm infants and neonates. Methods: A PRISMA 2020 structured search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, trial registries, regulatory documents, Google Scholar and reference lists was designed without language or date restrictions. Eligible reports described tigecycline treatment of pneumonia/VAP in neonates or young infants; pediatric case series and syntheses were retained as contextual evidence. Because only case reports and small non-comparative series were anticipated, a narrative synthesis was pre-specified; JBI tools and GRADE were planned for appraisal and certainty. Results: No randomized controlled trial, controlled observational study, or study dedicated to tigecycline for VAP in preterm infants was identified. Direct evidence meeting the full eligibility criteria (preterm neonate, VAP specifically, separately extractable outcomes) was limited to two case reports of extremely preterm neonates with VAP successfully weaned after tigecycline-based salvage combination therapy. Six further neonatal/young-infant reports initially considered were, on full-text re-review, reclassified as contextual (not index) evidence because they described non-VAP infections (sepsis, or CNS infections such as ventriculitis/meningitis), non-preterm ages, or mixed-infection series without separable VAP data. Reported outcomes were generally favorable in published cases but are subject to severe selection and publication bias; thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia and hepatic enzyme elevation were the principal adverse signals, against a class-level mortality signal concentrated in VAP. Quantitative pooling was not appropriate. The overall certainty of evidence was very low. Conclusions: There is no direct, credible efficacy or safety evidence supporting tigecycline for VAP in preterm infants. Available data neither establish benefit nor exclude harm. Based on this very-low-certainty evidence and on regulatory/class-level safety data rather than on demonstrated efficacy, tigecycline warrants consideration only as a last-resort, combination salvage option for culture-confirmed pan- or extensively drug-resistant pathogens when no safer alternative exists, with intensive monitoring and, ideally, within a registry or trial. Adequately designed neonatal pharmacokinetic and comparative safety studies are urgently needed. Registration: PROSPERO CRD420261450972 (registered 14 July 2026).
Periodontal disease is highly prevalent in dogs and is closely associated with the composition and functional characteristics of the oral microbiome. However, clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of targeted canine probiotics in preventing post-procedural plaque accumulation remains critically limited, representing a significant knowledge gap in veterinary dentistry. In this randomized pilot study, the aim was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic supplementation in reducing dental calculus accumulation and alleviating clinical signs of oral inflammation in dogs. Statistically significant differences were observed between the study and control groups for all evaluated oral health parameters. The Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) was considerably lower in the probiotic-treated group than in the control group (p = 0.008). Similarly, significant differences were found for the Dental Plaque Index (p = 0.020) and the Dental Calculus Index (p = 0.018). These results indicate that, after 56 days of probiotic administration, the dogs receiving the probiotic preparation exhibited noticeably better oral health than those in the control group. These observed clinical effects may be consistent with mechanisms proposed in the previous probiotic literature, such as competitive inhibition of biofilm-forming bacteria; however, direct microbiome modulation was not experimentally assessed in this study. The results suggest that probiotic supplementation may represent a promising adjunctive strategy in canine dental prophylaxis by limiting dental calculus accumulation and reducing clinical signs of oral inflammation. These findings provide preliminary clinical evidence of a potential adjunctive benefit, suggesting that post-procedural probiotic administration may support plaque control and help alleviate early signs of oral inflammation in dogs.
Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence is rising at 3–5% per year. Autoantibody (AAB) screening identifies at-risk children pre-symptomatically, yet the clinical significance of single AAB positivity and its short-term trajectory remain incompletely characterized. Methods: Five T1D-associated AABs (anti-GAD65, anti-IA2, anti-ZnT8, ICA, IAA) were measured in 210 Bulgarian children (160 with first-degree T1D relatives, 50 controls). Seven single-AAB-positive children received lifestyle counseling (low-glycemic-index diet, physical activity ≥ 60 min/day) and were reassessed at 3 or 6 months with repeat AAB panels, HbA1c, blood glucose and C-peptide. Results: Anti-GAD65 was the most frequent single AAB (n = 3), followed by anti-ZnT8 (n = 2), anti-IA2 (n = 1) and IAA (n = 1). None developed a second AAB or metabolic abnormalities. Titer dynamics were heterogeneous: two children showed apparent seroreversion (in one, substantially confounded by concurrent immunosuppressive therapy for an unrelated condition), one showed a ~15-fold titer reduction while remaining seropositive, one showed a minimal titer decrease, and three displayed mildly increasing titers. None progressed to multiple autoantibody positivity, and all maintained normal metabolic profiles. Conclusions: Favorable short-term outcomes were observed during follow-up of children with single autoantibody positivity. These findings suggest that single AAB positivity may follow a non-progressive course in some children. However, this study design cannot distinguish the contribution of lifestyle counseling from natural variability. Prospective controlled studies with larger cohorts, HLA stratification and longer follow-up are needed to determine whether lifestyle interventions can independently alter autoantibody dynamics and delay T1D progression.
In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), clinicians often ask whether young age is associated with more aggressive disease or patients more likely to tolerate curative-intent multimodality treatment. The prognostic meaning of age after surgery remains uncertain. We analyzed a retrospective multicenter surgical cohort of patients with resected non-metastatic PDAC. Candidate clinical variables were evaluated in univariable Cox models. The prespecified primary multivariable model included age, sex, N status, T stage, and CA19-9 status. Adjuvant therapy was evaluated in a sensitivity model. The cohort included 696 surgical patients; 70 (10.1%) were aged < 55 years. Median overall survival was 34.4 months in patients aged < 55 years versus 22.0 months in those aged ≥ 55 years (log-rank p = 0.019). In the primary multivariable model, age < 55 years remained independently favorable (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.49–0.89; p = 0.007). Elevated CA19-9 value independently predicted worse survival (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.13–1.71; p = 0.002). The sensitivity model confirmed favorable associations for young age and not elevated CA19-9 value. In surgically managed PDAC patients, young age and normal CA19-9 value carried independent favorable prognostic information. Prognosis was also shaped by nodal status, T stage, and receipt of adjuvant therapy.
Migratory birds host diverse ectoparasites, but molecular information on avian chewing lice from Central Asia remains limited. We characterized ectoparasites recovered from wild birds during spring and autumn migration at the Shakpak Ornithological Station, Kazakhstan, and molecularly characterized selected chewing lice. Field records from 20 April–10 May and 25 September–13 October 2025 were consolidated. Representative lice from four host species were photographically examined, and five selected isolates from a black kite (Milvus migrans), two barn swallows (Hirundo rustica), a European roller (Coracias garrulus), and a European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) underwent PCR amplification, bidirectional Sanger sequencing of a partial mitochondrial cox1 fragment, and phylogenetic analysis. Among 1882 examined birds, 99 ectoparasites were recovered, comprising 88 chewing lice and 11 blood-feeding flies. Because ectoparasite counts were available only as aggregate host-taxon records and were not linked to individual birds, the field data describe specimen recovery only and cannot be used to estimate infestation prevalence, mean abundance, or mean intensity. The five sequenced isolates were tentatively assigned at genus level to Craspedorrhynchus sp. (BL1), Brueelia sp. (BL2–BL3), Capraiella sp. (BL4), and Meropoecus sp. (BL5), with GenBank accessions PZ756682–PZ756686. Photographic morphology was broadly concordant with these genus-level placements, although bootstrap support was modest (54–58%). These findings provide baseline molecular data on migratory-bird chewing lice in Kazakhstan and support expanded individual-host, slide-mounted voucher, and multilocus surveillance.
Sugar composition is a critical determinant of fruit quality in fleshy fruits, influencing both organoleptic properties and nutritional value. Akebia trifoliata, an emerging fruit crop, possesses pulp rich in soluble sugars, vitamins, and polyphenols, making it suitable for fresh consumption, medicinal applications, and food processing. However, the molecular mechanisms governing sugar metabolism and accumulation in this species remain largely unexplored. We systematically evaluated the sugar content dynamics across different A. trifoliata germplasms and performed comparative transcriptomic analysis between high-sugar-accumulation (S4) and low-sugar-accumulation germplasms (S19) at three developmental stages (IM: the fruit is hard and immature; MA: the pulp remains firm, but the peel begins to soften and crack; and PM: the fruit is fully mature, and the pulp becomes shiny, translucent, soft, and edible). A total of 10,269 differentially expressed genes were identified with KEGG enrichment analysis, revealing significant enrichment in pathways directly associated with sugar biosynthesis. Through the analysis of weighted gene co-expression networks, a co-expression module significantly correlated with total sugar accumulation was identified, and qRT-PCR was used to verify that the expression levels of 29 candidate genes involved in carbohydrate synthesis were higher in the high-sugar-accumulation type than in the low-sugar-accumulation germplasm. These findings not only advance our understanding of the molecular basis of fruit quality development in this underutilized crop but also lay the foundation for the future breeding of A. trifoliata varieties with high-sugar greater nutritional value and processing qualities for the food industry.
The aim of this study was to examine the modifying effect of body mass index (BMI) on the association of genome-wide association studies (GWAS)-significant for the level of sex hormones polymorphic loci with pre-eclampsia (PE). The work carried out genotyping of specially selected (according to data from previously conducted GWAS) 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)that determine the content of various sex hormones in the organism. The sample of 891 pregnant women included two subgroups (they were formed based on the BMI values of women before pregnancy (pre-pregnancy BMI [preBMI]): preBMI < 25 (n = 592; 279 with PE/313 without PE) and preBMI ≥ 25 (n = 299; 152 with PE/147 without PE). The Firth’s penalized regression was used for the search of associations between SNPs and PE. As a whole, in the investigated cohort of women (PE [n = 431]/control group [n = 460], n = 891), an association of interactions of rs117585797 anoctamin-2 × preBMI with PE was found: ORA = 0.86, 95%CIA = 0.76–0.96, ppermt = 0.020. The results of our associative analysis in the two cohorts under consideration indicated the presence of a significant association only among women with preBMI < 25: SNP rs117585797 anoctamin-2 (C > A) was linked with PE risk (ORA = 2.69, 95%CIA = 1.26–5.72, ppermt = 0.011, power = 91.77%). In the women group with preBMI ≥ 25, we did not identify significant associations. The PE-associated locus rs117585797 of the anoctamin-2 gene and 14 of its LD variants were functionally significant for 57 proteins involved in PE-significant biological pathways such as regulation of gene expression, hormone- and estrogen-dependent processes, embryonic development, and adipogenesis. In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate a BMI—specific correlation between GWAS-significant for estradiol levels polymorphism rs117585797 anoctamin-2 (C > A) and PE: this SNP was PE-associated in preBMI < 25 pregnant women and not linked with PE risk in preBMI ≥ 25 pregnant women.
Background: Social interaction requires the efficient extraction and integration of visual information. Although atypicalities in global processing and visual perception have been reported in autism, their relationship with self-reported social-skills-related autistic traits remains unclear. Methods: Using an extreme-groups design, 179 university students completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Individuals with scores at least ±1 SD were selected to form high-AQ (n = 20) and low-AQ (n = 22) groups. Participants completed two complementary psychophysical tasks assessing object perception under increasing visual noise and global–local visual processing. Results: The high-AQ group showed reduced recognition under high visual noise and slower responses under the global-incongruent condition. In the exploratory regression, visual-noise accuracy explained significant variance when entered alone, whereas global-incongruent Navon performance explained incremental variance and was the only significant unique contributor in the final model (R2 = 0.280). Conclusions: These findings suggest that, within the selected extreme-AQ sample, AQ Social Skills scores are associated with complementary visual mechanisms responsible for extracting relevant information from noisy environments and integrating spatially distributed visual information into coherent global representations. These behavioural findings are consistent with a possible link between visual processing and self-reported social traits and with theoretical models proposing a role for magnocellular-dependent dorsal visual computations in social perception, although these neural mechanisms were not directly assessed.
Population aging has intensified the search for natural compounds capable of promoting healthy aging and preventing age-related diseases. Among medicinal plants, species of the genus Crataegus (hawthorn) have attracted increasing attention because of their rich phytochemical composition and broad spectrum of biological activities. This review summarizes and critically evaluates current evidence on the geroprotective potential of Crataegus species, integrating data from phytochemical, pharmacological, and mechanistic studies. Particular attention is given to the major bioactive constituents of Crataegus, including flavonoids, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, metabolic, and anticancer properties. We discuss the growing evidence that these phytochemicals target multiple hallmarks of aging by modulating oxidative stress, chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging), mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Their biological effects are mediated through key signaling pathways involved in cellular homeostasis and longevity, including Nrf2/ARE, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, AMPK, and SIRT1. The review also critically examines findings from in vitro, in vivo, and available clinical studies, highlighting both the therapeutic potential and current limitations of Crataegus-based interventions for age-related disorders. Although preclinical evidence strongly supports the multi-target geroprotective properties of Crataegus species, clinical validation remains limited. Overall, Crataegus represents a promising source of natural geroprotective agents with the potential to promote healthy aging through the modulation of multiple aging-related molecular pathways. Future well-designed clinical studies are essential to establish their efficacy, safety, optimal dosage, and long-term therapeutic value in humans.
Hypertension is a major attributed cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure, yet the cellular mechanisms linking chronic hemodynamic and neurohormonal stress to progressive nephron loss remain incompletely defined. Interpretation is further complicated by the clinical heterogeneity and limited pathological validation of hypertensive nephrosclerosis. Autophagy and mitophagy are important intracellular quality-control pathways and have been increasingly implicated in hypertensive kidney injury. In this review, we critically appraise the available evidence using a multidimensional ACGEM framework that evaluates autophagy/mitophagy measurement (A), cell-type resolution (C), genetic manipulation (G), experimental causality (E), and disease-model relevance (M) as independent dimensions. The available literature does not support a uniform increase or decrease in autophagy during hypertensive kidney disease. Rather, autophagic responses appear to depend on renal cell type, hypertensive stimulus, disease stage, and the component of the pathway being measured. In podocytes, chronic angiotensin II exposure provides evidence of impaired autophagic flux with a protective role for intact autophagy, whereas mineralocorticoid stress can induce a compensatory increase in autophagic flux. Tubular studies likewise suggest protective roles for effective autophagic and mitochondrial quality control, although direct cell-specific causal evidence in hypertensive models remains limited. Across the field, most studies rely on static autophagy-associated markers and bulk kidney measurements, while dynamic flux assessment, cell-specific genetic approaches, and direct evaluation of lysosomal competence remain uncommon. Observations from APOL1-associated kidney disease, chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities, proteinuric overload, aging, and obesity provide mechanistic or pathological precedent for lysosomal vulnerability but do not constitute direct evidence for classical hypertensive nephrosclerosis. We therefore propose, as a falsifiable working hypothesis rather than an established mechanism, that lysosomal clearance may become rate limiting in a subset of hypertensive CKD. Testing this model will require longitudinal, cell-type-resolved flux measurements, direct assessment of lysosomal function, and pathological validation in biopsy-confirmed human hypertensive nephrosclerosis.
Aquaculture is a field that has developed rapidly over the past decade with the emergence of intensive farming systems that have significantly increased global fish production. However, this intensification has also led to the emergence of diseases caused by various pathogens, often resulting in extensive antibiotic use and, consequently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Consequently, research has focused on finding other sustainable alternatives to avoid the overuse of antibiotics and to protect both human and animal health. Probiotics and prebiotics have been extensively studied for their wide range of effects on growth, immunity, and the control of various pathogens. Through their complex mechanisms, they can also improve water quality, mitigate the effects of various physicochemical stressors, and enhance reproduction. This review aims to present the evolution of these concepts, with an emphasis on their effects, which often vary depending on the type of additive used, the dose, and the fish species.
Limestone karst habitats in tropical Asia support specialized and geographically restricted plant diversity, yet many areas remain incompletely explored. During botanical surveys of limestone habitats in northeastern Thailand, a distinctive, yellow-flowered population of Boesenbergia was discovered in Phu Pha Man District, Khon Kaen Province. Morphological observations were conducted on living plants in the natural population and spirit-preserved material, supplemented by comparisons with protologues, published descriptions, and herbarium material. Patterns of phenetic similarity among ten selected Boesenbergia taxa were evaluated using 32 morphological characters, Gower distance, UPGMA clustering, and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA). The population is described here as Boesenbergia calcicola Boonma, Saensouk & P.Saensouk, sp. nov. It is morphologically most comparable to B. petiolata but differs by its conspicuously exserted inflorescence, shorter bracts and flowers, distally puberulent floral tube, smaller puberulent lateral staminodes, and distinctive labellum color pattern. Phenetic analyses were used to summarize patterns of overall morphological similarity among the examined taxa. The species is currently known only from its limestone type locality at approximately 385 m a.s.l. and is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient (DD). This discovery further documents localized Boesenbergia diversity associated with limestone karst habitats in northeastern Thailand.
The Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii, Brandt, 1869) is a potamodromous freshwater species with major ecological and commercial importance. Natural populations across the main Siberian River basins have declined so severely that the species is now classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This narrative analysis synthesizes current scientific knowledge regarding the ecology, reproductive biology, conservation status, and nutritional value of products derived from A. baerii, with the aim of providing an integrated perspective on this species, which has recently been introduced into Romanian aquaculture and occupies the interface between biodiversity and human consumption needs. The species’ remarkable ecological and morphological plasticity, which underlies its wide natural distribution in the Ob, Irtysh, Yenisei, and Lena River basins, has also made it the dominant species in global sturgeon aquaculture, commercially farmed in Europe, Asia, and South America. Reproductive management in farming systems relies on hormonal induction, non-invasive maturity assessment, and controlled hatchery practices, while emerging no-kill technologies enable repeated caviar harvesting without sacrificing the female, improving both ethical standards and economic efficiency. From a nutritional standpoint, A. baerii yields two high-value products: caviar, a rich source of the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, whose dietary intake has been associated with cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental benefits in the broader nutrition literature, and meat, characterized by high-biological-value protein, a favorable amino acid profile, and significant omega-3 content. By-products such as skin, swim bladders, glands, and cartilage contribute to the higher-value utilization of the species within the circular bioeconomy. Still, notable gaps remain in genetics and sex determination methods, in early life behavioral ecology, and in cryopreservation protocols. Future work should also look at more sustainable feed formulations and new value-added products.
Background: Lipedema is a chronic progressive condition affecting approximately 10% of women, characterized by disproportionate subcutaneous adipose tissue accumulation and pain in the lower extremities. Standardized assessment methods for pain evaluation in lipedema remain limited. The Progressive Pain Check (PPC) method represents a potentially valuable tool for standardized pain assessment in lipedema patients. Objective: To evaluate the inter-rater reliability of the PPC method for clinical assessment of evoked pain in lipedema patients. Methods: Two independent assessors performed PPC evaluations. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC(2,1), two-way random-effects, absolute agreement, single-measurement] with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: This study included 429 women diagnosed with lipedema (mean age 41.2 ± 11.5 years, mean disease duration 27.2 ± 12.6 years). Patient characteristics revealed mean BMI of 29.5 ± 6.9 kg/m2, predominantly Type III lipedema presentation, and disease onset during adolescence (mean age 14 ± 9.3 years). The PPC method demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability between two independent assessors across all examined anatomical districts. Conclusions: The PPC method shows promise as a simple, repeatable, and standardized clinical tool for evoked pain assessment in lipedema patients. The demonstrated inter-rater reliability supports its potential utility in clinical practice. Further research is warranted to evaluate its intra-rater reliability, concurrent validity, and responsiveness in monitoring treatment effects.
Long-term crewed space missions will have significant constraints on the weight and volume of supplies. The food needed and the management of the waste produced present a challenge, demanding technologies that effectively recycle nutrients. Using microbiological processes may be a way to meet this challenge. Here, we suggest that byproducts of anaerobic wastewater digestion (organic acids, H2, and CO2) could be paired with waste CO from atmospheric regeneration to produce microbial biomass, specifically Acetobacterium woodii and Rubrivivax gelatinosus, as a food source. First, we showed that the thermodynamics of key reactions are favorable. Next, we conducted nutritional analyses to evaluate suitability of A. woodii and R. gelatinosus as potential food supplements. A. woodii biomass consisted of 21% protein and 11% lipid on a dry mass basis. R. gelatinosus biomass consisted of 54% protein and 21% lipid on a dry mass basis. Finally, we conducted growth experiments for R. gelatinosus under varied (ammonium) acetate concentrations. Following the observation that an intermediate amount of acetate produced the most biomass, a second growth experiment showed that a high level of acetate, rather than ammonium, wasthe observed inhibiting factor. This perspective hopefully inspires new research establishing systems where waste products are recycled via microbial growth during long-term space flight.
Nursery habitats sustain fish populations by supporting early life stages and buffering environmental variability, yet their functioning under climate oscillations remains poorly understood in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. We analyzed ichthyoplankton assemblages in the Gulf of Tortugas, Colombia (2010–2020), to assess taxonomic composition, spatiotemporal variability, and environmental drivers. ENSO cycles and local oceanographic conditions were evaluated as determinants of nursery function and resilience using richness estimators, diversity indices, Caswell’s neutral model, and multivariate approaches (PERMANOVA, PERMDISP, CAP, BIOENV). Assemblages were dominated by Cetengraulis mysticetus, with recurrent contributions from Sciaenidae, Haemulidae, Gerreidae, and Carangidae—families of artisanal fisheries importance. ENSO phases explained interannual variability: El Niño years reduced diversity and weakened retention, whereas La Niña years supported more balanced assemblages. Spatial heterogeneity revealed central retention zones and peripheral diversity hotspots. Environmental gradients, particularly chlorophyll-a, zooplankton biomass, transparency, and pH, consistently structured larval distribution, reflecting the coupling of productivity, water quality, and circulation. These findings demonstrate that the Gulf of Tortugas functions as a dual nursery system and ecological node of resilience, underscoring the importance of protecting such habitats for ecosystem-based fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in a changing ocean.
Cancer immunotherapy faces significant challenges in treating “cold” tumors, which respond poorly to current strategies. Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in women and is a representative immunosuppressive cold tumor. The luminal A subtype of breast cancer exhibits an immune-cold phenotype, with MCF-7 cells used as a representative cell model. Here, we identified (3β,5α,8α)-5,8-epidioxyergost-6-en-3β-ol (EEO), isolated from Gymnopilus orientispectabilis, as an inducer of immunogenic cell death (ICD) hallmarks in MCF-7 cells, including cell surface exposure of calreticulin (CRT) and the extracellular release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as ATP and High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1). These ICD-associated events subsequently promoted CRT-dependent dendritic cell (DC) activation in a co-culture system with bone marrow-derived DCs and MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, surface-exposed CRT enhanced the phagocytosis of EEO-treated MCF-7 cells by DCs, and this phagocytic activity promoted DC maturation, as indicated by increased cell surface levels of the maturation markers major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) and cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86). Moreover, CRT knockdown in MCF-7 cells reduced surface CRT exposure following EEO treatment, thereby suppressing DC-mediated phagocytosis and subsequent DC maturation. Taken together, these findings suggest that EEO is a promising candidate for enhancing the antitumor efficacy of existing breast cancer immunotherapies through ICD-mediated DC maturation and converting immunologically cold tumors into hot tumors.
Despite the high global prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders, access to early clinical assessment remains limited for many. Although this field has grown rapidly, existing reviews have focused primarily on technical performance, with limited systematic attention to whether current models meet the prerequisites for clinical implementation. This scoping review mapped methodological approaches across this domain and evaluated clinical readiness using five predefined indicators: sample size adequacy, external validation, prospective data collection, real-world evaluation, and model explainability. Searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore (March 2026) identified 2463 records; 34 studies (37 dataset evaluations) were included. The majority of studies (91%) were published from 2022 onwards. Depression was the primary target in 91% of studies, while only one study addressed anxiety. Hand-crafted acoustic features were the most frequent (57%), while classical machine learning was the most common model type (32%). External validation was conducted in only 32% of evaluations and real-world testing in 8%. Clinical readiness was classified as Low in 24%, Moderate in 65%, and High in 11% of evaluations. No evaluation met all five indicators simultaneously. These findings apply primarily to voice-based depression screening; 36 of 37 evaluations targeted depression, and the evidence base for anxiety disorders is limited to a single evaluation, precluding comparable characterisation for that condition. The principal challenges to clinical implementation are insufficient external validation, reliance on laboratory conditions, narrow linguistic coverage, and inconsistent metric reporting. The framework applied in this scoping review provides a replicable structure for assessing the clinical validity of AI-driven psychiatric screening tools.
Background: Lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) is a common upper-limb musculoskeletal disorder causing pain during gripping activities, reduced work capacity, and functional limitation. LET is currently considered a predominantly degenerative condition characterized by collagen disorganization, extracellular matrix changes, neovascularization, and impaired tendon healing. Objective: To evaluate short-term clinical and functional outcomes of a multimodal protocol including focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (f-ESWT), ultrasound-guided intralesional injection of low-molecular-weight peptides (LWPs) derived from hydrolyzed bovine collagen and therapeutic exercise in patients with chronic LET unresponsive to standardized conservative therapy. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 11 screened patients; 10 completed follow-up. Eligibility required age ≥ 18 years, symptoms ≥ 3 months, positive provocation tests, ultrasound-confirmed common extensor tendon pathology, and incomplete response to prior treatment. All patients received f-ESWT before ultrasound-guided LWPs injection and performed progressive loading exercises. Outcomes included Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), grip strength, and clinical provocation tests at baseline (T0; Day 0) and at T1 (Day 51, 30 days after injection). Results: PRTEE pain improved by 31.2 points (95% CI 22.2–40.2; Cohen’s d_z = 2.48) and PRTEE function by 32.6 points (95% CI 26.7–38.5; d_z = 3.95). Mean maximal strength and maximal strength improved by 4.61 kg (95% CI 2.89–6.32) and 4.02 kg (95% CI 2.36–5.68), respectively. Clinical test severity decreased by an estimated 2.5 points (95% CI 2.0–3.0). No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Patients showed clinically meaningful short-term improvements in pain, function, and strength following the sequential multimodal management strategy. However, the retrospective design, small sample, lack of control group, and short follow-up preclude causal attribution and require confirmation in prospective controlled studies.
(1) Background: Adipocyte differentiation involves coordinated changes in mitochondrial activity, redox balance, and cellular metabolism. Here, we examined how quercetin affects lipid accumulation and associated mitochondrial-redox and metabolic features during 3T3-L1 adipogenic differentiation by combining functional assays with time-resolved 1H NMR metabolomics. (2) Materials and methods: 3T3-L1 cells were differentiated for six days in the absence or presence of 20 μM quercetin. Lipid accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and intracellular metabolite profiles were assessed at defined stages of differentiation. (3) Results: Quercetin reduced lipid accumulation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ROS accumulation, particularly at the mid-to-late stages of adipogenic differentiation. 1H NMR analysis showed lower lipid-associated resonances and changes in metabolites related to energy metabolism, choline metabolism, and amino acid metabolism in quercetin-treated cells. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed separation of the metabolic profiles of untreated and quercetin-treated cells at each measured stage. The variables contributing to this separation included lipid-associated resonances, lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, choline-related metabolites, and selected amino acids. (4) Conclusions: The results indicate that quercetin reduces lipid accumulation during adipogenic differentiation in association with changes in mitochondrial-redox status and intracellular metabolic profiles. Overall, the findings support stage-dependent alterations of metabolic profiles in quercetin-treated 3T3-L1 cells during adipogenic differentiation.
