The immune system’s evolution is crucial for its role in fighting pathogens and involvement in autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. The GFI1 gene family plays a role in the regulation of the function of immune cells, including neutrophils and CD4 + T cells. GFI1 consists of two members, GFI1A and GFI1B. GFI1A is vital for myeloid and lymphoid differentiation, while GFI1B is crucial for generating red blood cells and platelets. Both genes share a repressor SNAG domain and C2H2 zinc finger domains. However, the full relationship between their structure and function remains unclear. We aimed to decipher the relationship between structural evolution and novel functionalization in the GFI1 gene family. We employed a comprehensive phylogenetic approach that integrated tree construction, ancestral state reconstruction, positive selection analysis, motif mining, and non-homology-based functional prediction to trace GFI1 family evolutionary history over 700 million years. Our analysis revealed that the GFI1 gene family originated from a single ancestral gene in early metazoans and underwent multiple lineage-specific duplication events in invertebrates, jawless vertebrates, and jawed vertebrates, indicating adaptive diversification across evolutionary lineages, albeit without evidence of significant positive selection. We identified new motifs in the less-characterized middle regions, such as the SPOP-binding motif in GFI1A, potentially regulating cytokine production in CD4 + T cells, and the FEDFW motif, possibly involved in neutrophil recruitment. These motifs are unique to GFI1A in higher vertebrates. In GFI1B, we discovered a unique EPLRP motif, a separase cleavage site linked to sister chromatid separation. Our results indicate that GFI1 has evolved new functions to adapt to the complexity of the vertebrate immune system.

The T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is a major component of the adaptive immune system that reflects host-pathogen co-evolution. Previous paleogenomic studies have focused primarily on deciphering major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity; however, TCR repertoire diversity in ancient human populations remains largely unexplored. We investigated whether TCRαβ and TCRγδ CDR3 sequences can be recovered from ancient human whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data using TRUST4 assembly. Ten ancient WGS samples spanning approximately 35,000 years from the Upper Paleolithic to the medieval period across Eurasia and Africa were analysed; eight samples were retained following quality filtering. TCRαβ (TRA + TRB) and TCRγδ (TRG + TRD) chains were analysed separately throughout. The primary analysis was conducted on 279 productive TCRαβ sequences across eight samples, with rarefaction curves confirming near-complete sampling of the recoverable library (Good's Coverage mean 0.991 ± 0.015). In contrast, only 42 productive TCRγδ sequences were recovered (median approximately 5 per sample), which is insufficient for meaningful characterisation. TCRαβ V-gene composition showed non-random structure confirmed by PERMANOVA on Bray-Curtis distances (F = 1.544, p = 0.006). These findings demonstrate that TCRαβ CDR3 sequences are recoverable from ancient bulk WGS data across a broad range of preservation conditions, geographic locations, and chronological periods, while TCRγδ recovery is insufficient at standard WGS depth. While findings should be regarded as preliminary pending replication in larger dedicated datasets, the structured patterning observed across multiple independent analytical approaches suggests a recoverable immunological signal in ancient genomic data.

Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, holds a prominent place in both culinary and medicinal practices worldwide. This study is the first to present a comprehensive analysis of ginger-related patents, aiming to elucidate patterns and trends in innovation surrounding this versatile plant. The analysis, conducted using The Lens database, encompasses 7193 patent documents retrieved on April 26, 2025. Annual patent counts illustrate a significant increase in ginger-related patents over the years, with a notable rise observed since 2010. Analysis of the Cooperative Patent Classification system provides a structured framework for organizing these patents, revealing predominant covered categories such as food compositions, plant extracts, and tea substitutes. Additionally, the top-cited patents underscore the diverse applications of ginger, ranging from therapeutic formulations to food and beverage additives. Furthermore, examination of frequently mentioned diseases in ginger patents identifies respiratory ailments, digestive disorders, and skin conditions as key therapeutic areas. These findings show the multifaceted nature of ginger’s pharmacological properties and its potential in addressing various health challenges. Overall, by focusing on ginger as a key food and medicine plant, this study highlights the significance of patent analysis in understanding the innovation landscape of medicinal plants and nutraceuticals, and is specifically opening the ways for future research and development in ginger utilization for global health promotion and sustainable development.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with diverse genetic and environmental origins. Rodent models, particularly mice, have proven invaluable in studying the underlying mechanisms of ASD, offering insights into the genetic mutations and neurobiological processes that may contribute to the disorder in the human population. This review examines key rodent models to study genetic and environmental factors affecting the etiology and pathogenesis of ASD. While these models successfully mimic many core ASD symptoms, they face limitations in fully replicating the social and cognitive complexities of human ASD. Future research should prioritize improving models of gene-environment interactions and exploring humanized approaches to bridge the gap between animal studies and clinical applications. These efforts are essential for advancing our understanding of ASD and developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Objective: It is important to cover energy targets among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) to minimize weight and skeletal muscles loss. This study aimed to assess the agreement between indirect calorimetry (IC) and predictive equations for determining resting energy expenditures (REE) in HNC patients receiving home enteral nutrition (HEN). Research methods and procedures: Patients included in the study had to be diagnosed with HNC, be adults, have artificial access to the digestive tract, and participate in HEN. All measurements were conducted in the morning after prior patient preparation. Body weight and height were measured using a scale with an integrated height meter. A phase-sensitive, single-frequency bioimpedance analyzer was utilized to conduct bioelectrical impedance analysis. REE was measured using IC with a canopy hood and calculated using 27 different equations. Differences between variables were analyzed using appropriate t-tests and their non- parametric counterparts. The Bland-Altman test was used to assess the types of differences between measured REE (mREE) and predicted REE (pREE). Results: The examined patients (n = 71, 73.2% male) had a mean age of 63.99 11.42 years and a BMI of 22.84 3.59 kg/m2. The most common diagnosis was malignant tongue cancer. Most patients had stage III cancer. Treatment included surgery combined with radiotherapy or only chemoradiotherapy in most cases. The median duration of treatment and HEN was 206 days and 97 days, respectively. Men had a significantly higher REE than women. The Owen, Fredrix, Ireton-Jones, Korth, Weijs-Kruizenga, and Marraw,h equations estimated REE without significant statistical differences from IC and showed the smallest percentage error between pREE and mREE. The Korth equation had the smallest average mean difference between pREE and mREE, reducing the REE value average by 7 274 kcal/day. The highest percentage of individual accurate predictions for pREE was obtained with the Fredrix (48%), Weijs-Kruizenga (48%), Korth (45%), and MarraPhA (45%) equations. Conclusion(s): The predictive equations examined in this study cannot replace IC for determining REE in HNC patients at the individual level. When equations are used, special attention should be given to planning HEN to account for possible discrepancies between pREE and mREE. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Aim: This manuscript summarizes the key scientific and practical outcomes of the #DHPSP2024 digital networking event, focusing on emerging trends in digital health technologies, innovations in patient safety, and their implications for improving healthcare delivery. Methods: The #DHPSP2024 event was held from June 18 to 20, 2024, on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, connecting professionals and stakeholders in digital health and patient safety from different sectors. Data from posts on X and LinkedIn were analyzed for geographical distribution, engagement metrics (impressions, likes, shares), top hashtags, and frequently used terms. A qualitative analysis of the central themes and key online messaging discussions of the network event was also conducted. Results: On X, 2,329 posts by 179 participants from 38 countries generated over 231,000 impressions, with the most activity in Austria, China, and India. LinkedIn engagement included 3,475 likes, 217 comments, and 2,030 shares. Both platforms highlighted core themes such as digital health, patient safety, treatment quality, research on natural compounds, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Online messaging discussions emphasized technologies like telemedicine and artificial intelligence as critical tools for enhancing care delivery and patient safety. Participants also promoted special issues of scientific journals and explored collaborative research opportunities. Conclusions: The #DHPSP2024 event underscored the pivotal role of digital technologies in transforming healthcare, particularly in improving the quality and safety of interventions. The findings demonstrate how digital networking events, grounded in open innovation, foster global research communities, accelerate knowledge exchange, and support the integration of clinically relevant digital solutions. The strong engagement reflects growing interest in leveraging digital platforms to advance health outcomes and professional development. Overall, the event contributed to greater visibility of ongoing research, encouraged interdisciplinary cooperation, and may positively influence both the adoption of innovations in healthcare practice and the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish and other natural sources, are essential polyunsaturated fats with significant health benefits. This study provides an overall quantitative literature analysis on omega-3 fatty acids. Bibliometric data were collected through the search string TOPIC = ("omega-3 fatty acid*" OR "omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid*" OR "omega-3 fatty acid*" OR "omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid*" OR "n-3 fatty acid*" OR "n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid*" OR "omega-3 oil*"). It yielded 35,575 publications indexed in the online Web of Science Core Collection database. Using VOSviewer software, term maps were generated to visualize frequently mentioned terms together with their citation data. The literature had a steady growth since the 2000s and predominantly consists of original articles, with a ratio of 5.4:1 compared to reviews. The most productive author was Professor Philip C. Calder from University of Southampton, whereas the most productive country was the United States. Fish is a common source of omega-3 fatty acids mentioned by the literature, along with olive oil, corn oil, soybean oil, flaxseed, microalgae, linseed oil, vegetable oil, and seafood. Recurring medical conditions mentioned by the literature included inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, depression, and diabetes. This bibliometric review highlights the dominant contributors, major research themes, and emerging applications of omega-3 fatty acids in human and animal health.

The microbiota, comprising all the microorganisms within the body, plays a critical role in maintaining good health. Dysbiosis represents a condition resulting from an imbalance or alteration of the microbiota. This study comprehensively investigates the patent literature on dysbiosis over the past 20 years.

Curcumin, the major bioactive compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a subject of intensive research, due to its multiple bioactivities. Previous studies have investigated metabolic effects of curcumin in humans or established animal research models such as mice, but studies with farm animals have been scarce. In this work, we aimed to study the effects of curcumin supplementation in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), on the serum activities of seven important carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, (3-glucuronidase, alpha-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase, (3-glucosidase, (3-galactosidase, N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, and mannosidase. Curcumin was supplemented at a dose of 50 g per animal, per day, and serum activities of the studied enzymes were determined at the start (day 0), middle (day 14), and end (day 28) of the supplementation period. A tendency for increased activity of all studied enzymes was observed upon supplementation with curcumin, with the activity levels of five of the enzymes displaying statistically significant upregulation at day 28 ((3-glucuronidase, alpha-galactosidase, (3-galactosidase, N-acetyl-hexosaminidase, and mannosidase). These upregulated activities are in general indicative of increased carbohydrates turnover and detoxification processes, and might provide clues for a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of curcumin in vivo, as well as for novel approaches to rationally impact animal or human health and wellbeing through targeted supplementation.

Background: Respiratory tract infections are a common health issue, driving interest in preventive strategies like nutritional supplements, while evidence on their usage and effectiveness remains limited. In this context, social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), provide a unique opportunity to gather large-scale public health-related data. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to survey participants’ uses and opinions on nutritional supplements in prevention or treatment of respiratory tract infections, by using X. Methods: A survey was conducted between 1st and 15th December 2022. A single open-ended question “Which are the best dietary supplements to counteract respiratory infections?“ was asked. One week after the start of the survey, a poll was posted to get more relevant information and boost the survey’s reach. Total endorsements were calculated for each tweet posted as the total sum of replies, retweets, and likes. Results: The open-ended question received a total of 118 retweets, 39 quotes, and 371 likes, while the poll received 56 retweets, 13 quotes, and 67 likes. A total of 495 replies, 2,251 retweets, 5,118 likes, and 148 quotes were received for the question and its related tweets. Vitamin D (1,607 endorsements), zinc (1,347 endorsements), vitamin C (803 endorsements), magnesium (694 endorsements), and honey (661 endorsements) were the nutritional supplements that received most endorsements. Conclusion: Various foods, drinks, and natural ingredients have been suggested as potentially helpful for counteracting respiratory infections. Approximately half of respondents indicated using such supplements for themselves. The result of this study supports the idea that the X platform can be used as an effective survey tool to study global health-related behaviours and trends.

The Zingiberaceae family, including among others, galangal (Alpinia galanga), turmeric (Curcuma longa), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), and ginger (Zingiber officinale), has been widely used in traditional medicine and culinary practices worldwide due to its diverse health-promoting properties. This mini-review aims to provide a concise overview of Zingiberaceae species’ medicinal potential and identify key areas for further research to facilitate their integration into modern medicine. Herein we summarize the existing research on the pharmacological activities of these species, with a focus on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardiovascular, digestive, and metabolic effects. Aside from the reported biological effects of traditional formulations and phytopharmaceutical preparations, emphasis is given to the primary bioactive compounds identified in these plants including diverse phenolics, terpenes, and various other secondary metabolites. Mechanisms contributing to therapeutic benefits. Moreover, highlighted is the promise of these plants for future development of drugs and nutraceuticals despite current challenges, particularly bioavailability issues and the need for more clinical studies.

IntroductionOxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defenses contribute significantly to liver dysfunction, particularly with aging. This study evaluated the dose- and age-dependent effects of dietary ginger (Zingiber officinale) supplementation on liver antioxidant defense systems in mice.MethodsMale Swiss Webster mice aged 3, 6, and 12 months (n = 48 per age group) received standard feed or feed supplemented with either 0.6% or 1.8% dried ginger powder for 3 months. Liver tissue was analyzed for multiple antioxidant parameters, including DPPH radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, vitamin C levels, total phenolic content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations.ResultsThe results demonstrated significant age-dependent declines in several antioxidant parameters in control animals, including DPPH scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, vitamin C levels, total phenolic content, and SOD activity. Ginger supplementation produced differential effects based on both dose and age. While 3-month-old mice showed decreased DPPH radical scavenging with ginger supplementation, both 6- and 12-month-old mice exhibited significantly increased activity. Higher-dose (1.8%) ginger supplementation enhanced GSH levels across all age groups, with effects being most pronounced in older mice. SOD activity remained unaffected by ginger supplementation across all groups. MDA levels were significantly reduced by 1.8% ginger supplementation in 3-month-old mice, with smaller, dose-dependent but non-significant reductions in older groups.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that ginger’s effects on liver antioxidant systems are both dose- and age-dependent, with generally stronger beneficial effects observed at higher doses and in older animals. The observed dose- and age-dependent variations emphasize the importance of personalized supplementation strategies and provide a foundation for future research into the molecular mechanisms underlying ginger’s antioxidant effects.

Aim: This study aimed to identify and analyze the top 100 most cited digital health and mobile health (m-health) publications. It could aid researchers in the identification of promising new research avenues, additionally supporting the establishment of international scientific collaboration between interdisciplinary research groups with demonstrated achievements in the area of interest. Methods: On 30th August, 2023, the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) electronic database was queried to identify the top 100 most cited digital health papers with a comprehensive search string. From the initial search, 106 papers were identified. After screening for relevance, six papers were excluded, resulting in the final list of the top 100 papers. The basic bibliographic data was directly extracted from WOSCC using its “Analyze” and “Create Citation Report” functions. The complete records of the top 100 papers were downloaded and imported into a bibliometric software called VOSviewer (version 1.6.19) to generate an author keyword map and author collaboration map. Results: The top 100 papers on digital health received a total of 49,653 citations. Over half of them (n = 55) were published during 2013–2017. Among these 100 papers, 59 were original articles, 36 were reviews, 4 were editorial materials, and 1 was a proceeding paper. All papers were written in English. The University of London and the University of California system were the most represented affiliations. The USA and the UK were the most represented countries. The Journal of Medical Internet Research was the most represented journal. Several diseases and health conditions were identified as a focus of these works, including anxiety, depression, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Conclusions: The findings underscore key areas of focus in the field and prominent contributors, providing a roadmap for future research in digital and m-health.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been utilized for medicinal and culinary purposes for thousands of years. Its extensive history showcases diverse uses and health benefits. In this study, we conducted a thorough analysis of the scientific literature landscape surrounding ginger using bibliometric techniques, aiming to explore recurring topics, trends, influential contributors, and main journals publishing ginger-related research. Utilizing the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, we identified 9,881 relevant papers published up to October 4, 2023. The analysis revealed an exponential growth in both publication and citation counts since the mid-2000s. Key phytochemical constituents, including gingerols and shogaols, emerged as focal points of research. The most frequently mentioned medical condition term identified was 'Cancer' (n = 577), followed by 'Obesity' (n = 180) and 'COVID' (n = 176). Journals such as the Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Food Chemistry played leading roles in sharing ginger-related articles. Our bibliometric study offers a broad overview of ginger research, highlighting a significant increase in scholarly interest globally. This analysis not only contributes quantitative insights to the existing literature but also provides a roadmap for future investigations on ginger. The scientific literature positions ginger as a promising candidate for addressing contemporary health challenges, inviting further exploration and clinical studies.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of pomegranate juice consumption on bone histomorphometric parameters using an animal model. The animals (rats) were divided into 7 experimental groups. The groups differed in the concentration of pomegranate juice administered. The control group received only water, the other groups were supplied with commercial or freshly squeezed pomegranate juice at concentrations of 10%, 25% and 50%. To study the structure of the proximal end of the tibia, a Skyscan 1174 X-ray microtomography device, equipped with a 1.3Mp FW VDS camera, was used. The proximal end (metaphysis) of the left tibia was examined. The following bone tissue parameters were analysed: bone mineral density (BMD) (mm3), the number of trabeculae (Tb.N) (mm-1), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) (mm) and trabecular thickness (Tb. Th) (mm), BS/BV(mm-1). It was found that 25% pomegranate juice, both freshly squeezed and commercial, significantly increased bone density (BMD), increased trabecular thickness (Tb.TH), and reduced the distance between trabeculae (Tb.SP) compared to the control group and groups receiving juice at other concentrations. The highest BMD, the thickest trabeculae and the smallest distance between trabeculae were observed after the application of fresh 25% pomegranate juice. Thus, it can be concluded that pomegranate juice, especially freshly squeezed, improves bone density.

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are most commonly characterized by age-related loss of homeostasis and/or by cumulative exposures to environmental factors, which lead to low-grade sustained generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), chronic inflammation and metabolic imbalance. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (NRF2) is a basic leucine-zipper transcription factor that regulates the cellular redox homeostasis. NRF2 controls the expression of more than 250 human genes that share in their regulatory regions a cis-acting enhancer termed the antioxidant response element (ARE). The products of these genes participate in numerous functions including biotransformation and redox homeostasis, lipid and iron metabolism, inflammation, proteostasis, as well as mitochondrial dynamics and energetics. Thus, it is possible that a single pharmacological NRF2 modulator might mitigate the effect of the main hallmarks of NCDs, including oxidative, proteostatic, inflammatory and/or metabolic stress. Research on model organisms has provided tremendous knowledge of the molecular mechanisms by which NRF2 affects NCDs pathogenesis. This review is a comprehensive summary of the most commonly used model organisms of NCDs in which NRF2 has been genetically or pharmacologically modulated, paving the way for drug development to combat NCDs. We discuss the validity and use of these models and identify future challenges.

This study examined the influence of feeding frequency on the morphology of the reproductive tract in broiler breeder hens, with a focus on the liver, ovary, and oviduct. A total of 364 hens and 52 roosters, starting at 31 wk of age and continuing until the end of their 38th week, were divided into 13 groups with varying feeding frequencies (1, 2, or 3 times daily). Significant changes in reproductive and metabolic parameters were observed, where feeding hens twice or thrice daily resulted in significantly reduced ovary weight and follicle counts (P P < 0.001), while liver weight increased (P P < 0.05). These findings suggesting complex interactions between feeding practices and reproductive efficiency.

This study examined the influence of feeding frequency on the morphology of the reproductive tract in broiler breeder hens, with a focus on the liver, ovary, and oviduct. A total of 364 hens and 52 roosters, starting at 31 wk of age and continuing until the end of their 38th week, were divided into 13 groups with varying feeding frequencies (1, 2, or 3 times daily). Significant changes in reproductive and metabolic parameters were observed, where feeding hens twice or thrice daily resulted in significantly reduced ovary weight and follicle counts (P < 0.001), while liver weight increased (P < 0.05). These findings suggesting complex interactions between feeding practices and reproductive efficiency.