Search Results (6,261)

Objectives: To investigate the effects of Roxadustat and recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on glycemic control and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in non-dialysis type 2 diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients with anemia. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 449 patients, who were divided into three groups—the rHuEPO group (n = 252), the Roxadustat group (n = 102), and the switch group (n = 95)—in which patients were converted from rHuEPO to Roxadustat. All treatments lasted for more than three months. Changes in HbA1c and other indicators within groups as well as differences among groups were evaluated. Results: In the rHuEPO group, HbA1c levels decreased from 7.08 ± 1.19 to 6.41 ± 0.60 (p < 0.001), and they returned to baseline levels by 6–12 months (p > 0.05). In the Roxadustat group, HbA1c fluctuated but none of the differences reached statistical significance (p > 0.05). In the switch group, HbA1c decreased during rHuEPO treatment (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline after switching to Roxadustat (p > 0.05). No significant changes in blood glucose levels were observed in any group after treatment (p > 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that changes in iron metabolism parameters, erythrocyte parameters, inflammatory markers, and glucose-lowering or lipid-lowering regimens had no significant effect on the change in HbA1c in the Roxadustat group (F = 0.834, p = 0.620), while the multivariate model of rHuEPO group also lacked statistical significance (F = 1.142, p = 0.170). After treatment, all three groups showed improvements in anemia, iron metabolism, renal function, inflammatory markers, and lipid profiles compared with baseline (p < 0.05). Additionally, further improvements in these parameters were observed after the transition from rHuEPO to Roxadustat (p < 0.05). Compared with rHuEPO group, the Roxadustat group exhibited significantly greater increases in hemoglobin, red blood cell count, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin, and serum iron (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In non-dialysis DKD patients with anemia, rHuEPO can significantly decrease HbA1c values, while Roxadustat does not. Roxadustat offers advantages over rHuEPO in terms of efficacy and assessment of glycemic control. Full article

Currently, the B-cell response patterns induced by viral antigens in avian disease models and their detailed immunological characteristics still require comprehensive elucidation at the single-cell level. In this study, we employed single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) and B cell library technology to conduct an in-depth analysis of B cells in the spleens of mice with inactivated duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) as model antigen. This study aimed to investigate the immunological characteristics of the virus antigen in the mouse model and characteristics of B-Cell Receptors. The results showed that the DHAV-1 group had distinct changes in splenic B cell subset counts, proportions, and intercellular communication. Additionally, an increased trend in communication strength between Gm26917+B and Gm11837+B cells was observed, with enriched expression of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) and lymphotoxin (LT) detected in the DHAV-1 group. Furthermore, the DHAV-1 group exhibited a prominent combination of the IGHV1 family and IGHV3-1/IGHJ3 in the heavy (H) chain variable region. Compared with the CK group (negative control group), the amino acid sequence length and diversity of the CDR3 region in the DHAV-1 group exhibited a decreasing trend. In summary, our findings characterize the immunological features of splenic B cells in mice after immunization with inactivated DHAV-1, and provide a preliminary characterization of DHAV-1-induced B cell transcriptional states and BCR repertoire features, generating testable hypotheses for subsequent mechanistic investigations of B cell-mediated immune responses to viral antigens. Full article

Objective: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO), also known as Ogilvie syndrome, is a rare but serious complication following cesarean section (CS). Identifying factors associated with its occurrence is critical for early recognition and prevention. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available evidence on factors associated with ACPO following CS. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search across five databases (PubMed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and CBM) from inception to December 2025. Studies investigating factors associated with ACPO after CS were eligible. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. For factors reported in at least two studies, pooled odds ratios (ORs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Five case-control studies comprising 484 patients (103 ACPO cases and 381 controls) were included, of which four were rated as good quality. Twenty-five potential associated factors were analyzed. Several pre-/intraoperative factors demonstrated statistically significant associations with ACPO risk, including concomitant anemia (OR = 8.94, 95% CI: 2.59–30.88), previous abdominal surgery (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.28–4.47), surgery duration > 1 h (OR = 4.11, 95% CI: 2.20–7.67), and blood loss > 1000 mL (OR = 5.72, 95% CI: 2.10–15.58). Intraoperative blood loss as a continuous variable (WMD = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.14–2.46) was also significantly associated with ACPO. In contrast, emergency cesarean section, opioid use, and type of anesthesia were not significantly associated. Regarding postoperative features, bed rest > 12 h (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.29–5.49), postoperative fever ≥ 38 °C (OR = 3.82, 95% CI: 1.94–7.54), elevated postoperative white blood cell count (WMD = 1.22, 95% CI: 0.30–2.14), and lower postoperative hemoglobin level (WMD = −0.50, 95% CI: −0.83 to −0.18) were significantly associated with ACPO. However, these factors may represent consequences of perioperative complications or components of the early clinical presentation of ACPO. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis identified multiple perioperative factors associated with ACPO following CS. However, the use of univariate data from a limited number of studies limits interpretability. Prospective cohort studies are needed to clarify whether these factors play a causal role in the development of ACPO. Full article

Background/Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with gut dysbiosis linked to early-life antibiotic use and Staphylococcus aureus colonization. Gum Arabic (GA), a prebiotic, may modulate this dysbiosis and influence AD-related microbial balance. This study evaluated whether GA could support AD-associated probiotics-Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium infantis-under amoxicillin- or azithromycin-containing conditions, examined the response of S. aureus under the same screening conditions, and developed GA-phospholipid-based semisolid carriers for topical application. Methods: Probiotic strains were cultured with 1–5% GA in the presence and absence of antibiotics, and viable cell counts were assessed. Sixteen topical formulations containing propylene glycol or isopropyl myristate in a hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine base were prepared and screened for rheological properties and galactose release using in vitro release testing (IVRT) and HPLC-UV. Results: GA at 1–2% concentrations promoted probiotic growth in antibiotic-free conditions. GA preserved B. infantis viability under azithromycin exposure in this in vitro screening model. For S. aureus, numerical CFU differences were observed between antibiotic-only and GA-containing conditions; however, the present screening design was not intended to determine antibiotic interaction outcomes. Formulations F14 (2% GA + 7% IPM) and F15 (3% GA + 7% IPM) exhibited optimal spreadability. IVRT showed that 6 h cumulative galactose release varied by formulation (F6 > F10 > F14 > F15). Conclusions: GA demonstrated dose-dependent prebiotic activity and preserved B. infantis viability under azithromycin exposure in this in vitro screening model. For S. aureus, the observed CFU differences between antibiotic-only and GA-containing conditions should be considered exploratory only and do not allow for conclusions regarding interference with antibiotic efficacy. Optimized GA-HPC systems with suitable rheological and release characteristics represent promising candidates for further preclinical investigation. Full article

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary disorder affecting red blood cells’ shape and functional capacity. Individuals with SCD report relatively high co-occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). In addition, these children also have higher rates of enuresis (incontinence) and pica, disorders prevalent in children with developmental delays. Both enuresis and pica can have negative effects on mental health, but their pathophysiology, especially in SCD, remains unclear. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the rates of pica and enuresis in a pediatric SCD clinic to compare the co-occurrence of NDDs and enuresis/pica. Methods: To do so, we performed a cross-sectional explanatory retrospective chart review of 275 pediatric SCD patients. Results: Our SCD cohort had a 27% prevalence of enuresis, 9% prevalence of pica, and 24% prevalence of one or more NDDs. We noted significant inter-group overlap between pica/enuresis and other risk SCD severity factors. NDDs were approximately twice as frequent in SCD patients with pica or enuresis compared to those without. While pica was associated with HbSβ⁺, it was not linked to disease severity indicators. Enuresis was associated with hydroxyurea usage (66.7% vs. 42.6%, p = 0.001) and reticulocyte counts, indicative of higher disease severity. Conclusions: Clinically, these results are the first to show co-occurrence between pica, enuresis, and NDDs in SCD. We suggest that the occurrence of pica or enuresis may serve as an indicator for previously unknown NDD risk. Together, these results underscore the need for targeted screenings of pica and enuresis in SCD populations. Full article

The growth and development of adipose tissue in sheep tails are closely associated with adipocyte proliferation and differentiation. However, the functional role and regulatory mechanisms of the FGF8 gene in sheep preadipocytes remain incompletely understood. In this study, liposome-mediated transfection was employed to overexpress the FGF8 gene and assess its effects on the proliferation and differentiation of sheep preadipocytes. The results of the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay indicated that the overexpression of FGF8 promoted preadipocyte viability of preadipocytes. Subsequently, this was verified by RT-qPCR analysis, which showed significant upregulation of proliferation marker genes, including CyclinB (p < 0.001) and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) (p < 0.01), while CyclinD mRNA expression increased compared with the control group, though the increase was not statistically significant. During adipogenic induction, the mRNA expression levels of differentiation markers, such as Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein Alpha (C/EBPα), Adipocyte type Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (FABP4), and Adiponectin, initially increased and then decreased. The expression of all four markers peaked on day 10 of induction, exceeding levels observed in the control group. In vitro experiments showed that FGF8 affected the proliferation and differentiation of sheep preadipocytes and may be involved in the regulation of tail fat deposition. Full article

Acute heat stress frequently causes mass mortality in farmed red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), yet the mechanisms underlying immune collapse remain poorly understood. We established an acute heat stress model (37 °C, 6 h) and performed an integrative analysis combining hemocyte profiling, redox and immune assays, RNA-seq, and qRT-PCR. Heat stress significantly increased mortality and disrupted the hemocyte system, with a ~25% reduction in total hemocyte count and a selective decline in granular cells. This was associated with severe redox imbalance, evidenced by ROS/H₂O₂ accumulation, suppressed SOD and CAT activities, and lipid peroxidation damage. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1446 differentially expressed genes, indicating concurrent activation of ER stress and autophagy alongside suppression of energy metabolism. Key gene validation confirmed upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors (CASP3, P53) and ER stress markers (GRP78, XBP1), consistent with hemocyte depletion. These findings provide multi-level evidence that acute heat stress triggers a redox crisis (“oxidative burst–defense suppression”), which in turn activates ER stress and apoptosis, leading to selective loss of granular cells and systemic immune compromise. This study establishes a mechanistic framework for understanding heat-induced mortality in crustaceans and offers a theoretical basis for developing targeted interventions to enhance thermal resilience in crayfish aquaculture. Full article

Bisphenol A (BPA) has long been used in plastics, resins, and food packaging materials; however, extensive research has demonstrated its reproductive, developmental, and endocrine-disrupting effects. Consequently, BPA has been increasingly restricted and replaced with structural analogues. Among these, tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPF) has emerged as one of the most widely used substitutes, particularly in epoxy resins and food-can coatings. Although initially regarded as a safer alternative, accumulating evidence suggests that TMBPF may exert multiple toxicological effects, raising concerns about its potential developmental neurotoxicity. The present study aimed to investigate the neurodevelopmental effects of TMBPF using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. First, a developmental neurotoxicity assay employing Sox1−GFP mouse embryonic stem cells was used to evaluate cytotoxicity using the cell counting kit-8 assay and neural differentiation based on green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence intensity. The results indicated developmental neurotoxic potential according to the established discrimination index. Subsequently, pregnant and lactating mice were exposed to TMBPF daily from gestational day 10.5 to postnatal day 20, and their offspring were assessed for behavioral performance as well as changes in the expression of neurodevelopment-related genes in the brain. Behavioral analyses encompassed multiple domains, including memory and learning, social behavior, anxiety-related responses, and spontaneous locomotor activity, suggesting alterations in these functional outcomes. Molecular analyses further demonstrated changes associated with dopaminergic and cholinergic signaling, synaptic plasticity, neuronal activity markers, neuropeptides, and inflammatory pathways. Collectively, these findings provide the first evidence in a mammalian model that maternal exposure to TMBPF may influence offspring neurodevelopment. These findings suggest potential implications for human exposure to TMBPF, particularly through food-contact materials, and warrant further mechanistic and dose–response studies. Full article

Rumination time is considered a sensitive behavioral indicator of physiological and metabolic status in dairy cows, yet its relationships with biochemical and milk quality parameters under commercial robotic milking conditions remain insufficiently described. This study combined precision monitoring technologies, serum biochemical profiling, and in-line milk analysis to evaluate physiological differences among early-lactation Holstein cows according to rumination time. A total of 88 cows were classified into three rumination time categories (>527, 412–527, and <412 min/day). Milk production traits, milk quality indicators, and blood biochemical parameters were compared among groups, and univariable regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with rumination time. Cows in the low rumination group showed higher milk temperature, electrical conductivity, and somatic cell count, as well as lower milk protein percentage. They also showed higher concentrations of total protein, urea, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, while triglyceride concentrations were lower. Regression analysis identified electrical milk conductivity, creatinine, magnesium, potassium, and chloride as variables associated with rumination time. These findings indicate that reduced rumination time is associated with changes in milk quality and biochemical parameters in early-lactation dairy cows, suggesting that rumination monitoring may provide useful information for identifying cows experiencing physiological and metabolic challenges under commercial farming conditions. Full article

To evaluate seminal oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, apoptosis-related activity, and Sertoli cell biomarkers in infertile men with grade 3 varicocele versus normozoospermic controls, and to assess postoperative changes after varicocelectomy. This prospective observational case–control study included 39 infertile men with grade 3 clinical varicocele and 44 normozoospermic controls. Seminal plasma levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1), reduced glutathione (GSH), nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), caspase-3, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and inhibin B were measured by ELISA. Testicular volume, semen parameters, and diagnostic performance were also evaluated. Compared with controls, patients with varicocele had lower testicular volumes and impaired semen parameters. Seminal 8-OHdG and caspase-3 levels were higher, whereas SOD and inhibin B levels were lower. Baseline MDA, GPx-1, GSH, NRF2, KEAP1, and AMH levels did not differ significantly. After varicocelectomy, sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive and total motility, total motile sperm count, morphology, and round cell count improved significantly. Postoperatively, caspase-3, MDA, and KEAP1 decreased, whereas SOD, GPx-1, GSH, NRF2, and inhibin B increased significantly. 8-OHdG showed a borderline decrease, and AMH remained unchanged. SOD showed the best diagnostic performance. Grade 3 varicocele is associated with oxidative DNA damage, impaired antioxidant defense, increased apoptotic signaling, and altered Sertoli cell-related seminal biomarkers. Varicocelectomy partially restores redox homeostasis, which may contribute to improved spermatogenic function. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity represents a critical risk factor for various chronic illnesses and metabolic dysfunctions, underscoring the urgency of identifying safe, food-based interventions to curb fat over-accumulation. Mesona procumbens Hemsl. (Hsian-tsao) is a traditional Chinese herb known for its antioxidant and health-promoting properties; however, it remains unclear how its phenolic acid profiles contribute to anti-obesity activity. This research explored the anti-adipogenic potential of various Hsian-tsao ethanol extracts, focusing on how their phenolic profiles influence lipid suppression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods: Ethanol extracts prepared using different ethanol concentrations were analyzed for total polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, and phenolic acid profiles. Adipocytes were exposed to 0, 100, and 250 μg/mL of Hsian-tsao ethanol extract for 48 h duration to monitor changes in cell count and intracellular triglyceride levels. Results: Among all fractions, the 40% ethanol extract (40EEHT) possessed the most robust antioxidant capacity and highest polyphenol content, specifically showing enriched levels of caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and total phenolic acids. Notably, while 40EEHT influenced cell density at certain concentrations, it significantly and specifically reduced intracellular triglyceride content, indicating a potent inhibitory effect on lipid storage independent of changes in cell number. Comparative analysis using phenolic acid standards revealed that caffeic acid exerted the strongest inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation, suggesting that it is a key contributor to the anti-adipogenic activity of 40EEHT. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings demonstrate that phenolic acid profiles, particularly caffeic acid enrichment, critically contribute to the potential anti-adipogenic effects of specific ethanol extracts of M. procumbens. Therefore, Hsian-tsao ethanol extracts represent a promising natural source for the development of functional ingredients targeting obesity and related metabolic disorders. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and metastasis is the leading cause of BC-related death. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a prerequisite for metastasis. This study examined the diagnostic and prognostic value of CTCs for assessing metastatic risk and recurrence in BC. Methods: The Chiline CATCH^® Circulating Target Cell Enrichment System, an automated negative selection platform, was used to enrich and enumerate CTCs from the peripheral blood of patients with BC. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and cell-surface Vimentin (CSV) were used as markers for CTC identification. Results: CSV⁺ CTC counts, but not EpCAM⁺ CTC counts, were increased in patients with BC at higher metastatic risk. A cut-off of >4.5 CSV⁺-CTCs/2 mL blood yielded a sensitivity of 0.56 and specificity of 0.92 for identifying patients at high metastatic risk. CSV⁺-CTCs outperformed conventional serum tumor markers, including cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), in identifying patients with high metastatic risk, and their combined use further improved risk stratification. An elevated CSV⁺-CTC count (≥5 cells/2 mL blood) was significantly associated with worse progression-free survival in patients with BC. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CSV⁺-CTCs may serve as a biomarker for metastatic risk stratification and recurrence monitoring in BC when measured using an automated negative selection platform. Full article

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are valuable liquid-biopsy biomarkers, yet their extreme rarity makes high-purity, high-throughput enrichment challenging. In spiral inertial microfluidics, high cell loading induces long-range hydrodynamic interactions that broaden the focused blood-cell stream; consequently, a subpopulation completes the ~0.5 and ~1.0 Dean-cycle migrations with a phase delay, compressing the CTC–blood cell gap and degrading purity. Here we propose a Dean-cycle phase-regulated double-spiral design informed by this phenomenon. This design aims to mitigate the stream-broadening effect by boosting the Dean number during the first half-cycle to promote synchronized blood-cell migration and shifting the CTC equilibrium position near one full cycle to further widen the CTC–blood cell separation. We implement this strategy in a second-generation double-spiral microfluidic chip (SDMC) and scale it to a four-channel parallel array (ASDMC). Under optimized conditions, ASDMC processes diluted whole blood (hematocrit = 4%) without the need for red blood cell (RBC) lysis or antibody labeling, achieving a sample throughput of 1200 μL·min⁻¹. Specifically, it exhibits a mean recovery rate of 98.8% across three spiked tumor cell lines (MCF-7, PC-9, and Mahlavu) and a mean white blood cell (WBC) depletion efficiency of 93.3%. In a pilot clinical testing of 20 patients (NSCLC and HCC), enriched fractions enabled immunofluorescence identification of CK⁺CD45⁻DAPI⁺ CTCs, with an exploratory trend of increasing CTC counts with advanced disease stage (4–34 cells·mL⁻¹). These results describe a scalable, label-free platform, and the observed purification performance aligns with our proposed mechanism: Dean-cycle phase regulation to mitigate blood-cell migration lag. Our findings support further technical validation and clinical assessment in larger cohorts. Full article

Marine-derived bioactive peptides have attracted increasing attention as value-added functional ingredients. In this study, peptides (<3 kDa) were prepared from yellowfin tuna processing by-products and further fractionated by Sephadex G-25 gel filtration. The major fraction (TBP-MF) exhibited markedly improved compositional homogeneity compared with the unfractionated hydrolysate (TBP), providing a well-defined peptide system for subsequent characterization and biological evaluation. Physicochemical analyses demonstrated that TBP-MF possessed enhanced thermal stability and a more ordered secondary structure, characterized by pronounced β-sheet enrichment, as revealed by TGA/DSC, FTIR, and circular dichroism analyses. Morphological and colloidal characterization further showed that TBP-MF formed relatively uniform lamellar and fibrous assemblies with a narrower particle size distribution and reduced electrostatic stabilization, indicating a higher tendency toward ordered self-association. Peptidomic profiling combined with in silico analysis revealed that TBP-MF was enriched in short peptides with relatively higher PeptideRanker scores and a functional motif distribution containing relatively more neuro-related annotations, although angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)- and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV)-related motifs remained predominant in both groups. In differentiated PC12 cells, TBP-MF exhibited excellent cytocompatibility and induced a stable, concentration-dependent increase in the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) readout (OD₄₅₀), indicating enhanced cellular metabolic activity and/or increased cell number. In addition, TBP-MF significantly increased intracellular levels of key neurochemical factors associated with sleep-related regulation, including tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), serotonin (5-HT), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Overall, this study highlights yellowfin tuna by-products as a promising marine resource for bioactive peptides and suggests that fractionation-driven structural refinement is associated with neuro-related biological activity in differentiated PC12 cells. These findings support the potential application of marine by-product-derived peptides as functional ingredients in health-related fields. Full article

Accurate biomass quantification is important for evaluating growth kinetics and performance of microalgal and microalgal–bacterial wastewater treatment systems. However, small-scale studies frequently encounter methodological limitations due to low biomass concentrations, limited sampling volumes, and/or interference from non-biotic solids in complex wastewaters. This work adopts a two-fold approach: (i) a concise review of current biomass quantification methods for bench-scale systems, and (ii) an experimental evaluation of a gravimetric protocol for complex wastewaters. The review discusses commonly applied techniques, highlights their strengths and weaknesses, and identifies research gaps in data comparability and reproducibility. The laboratory investigations evaluated the effects of key factors, namely culture volume (250 mL to 1 L), test aliquots (2.5 mL to 10 mL), and the absolute weight of total suspended solids (3.43 g to 14.5 g) on total suspended solids measurements. Aliquots containing <5 mg total suspended solids produced statistically significant variability, whereas reliable and reproducible results were obtained when >8–10 mg absolute total suspended solids per aliquot was present. In complex wastewater matrices, approximately 18% of total suspended solids consisted of non-volatile solids, demonstrating that the method can systematically over-estimate true dry cell weight in microalgal–bacterial systems. The findings emphasized the need for procedural standardization. Finally, a practical gravimetric protocol is proposed for both axenic and consortium-based small-scale studies dealing with complex wastewater, providing an evidence-based roadmap for obtaining more reliable biomass estimations. Full article