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15 pages, 643 KB  
Article
Determinants of Atherogenic Dyslipidemia and Lipid Ratios: Associations with Sociodemographic Profile, Lifestyle, and Social Isolation in Spanish Workers
by Pere Riutord-Sbert, Pedro Juan Tárraga López, Ángel Arturo López-González, Irene Coll Campayo, Carla Busquets-Cortés and José Ignacio Ramírez Manent
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(19), 7039; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14197039 (registering DOI) - 5 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is defined by the coexistence of high triglyceride concentrations, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and an excess of small, dense particles of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This lipid profile is strongly associated with an increased burden of cardiovascular [...] Read more.
Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is defined by the coexistence of high triglyceride concentrations, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and an excess of small, dense particles of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This lipid profile is strongly associated with an increased burden of cardiovascular disease and represents a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. To better capture this risk, composite lipid ratios—including total cholesterol to HDL-C (TC/HDL-C), LDL-C to HDL-C (LDL-C/HDL-C), triglycerides to HDL-C (TG/HDL-C), and the atherogenic dyslipidemia index (AD)—have emerged as robust markers of cardiometabolic health, frequently demonstrating superior predictive capacity compared with isolated lipid measures. Despite extensive evidence linking these ratios to cardiovascular disease, few large-scale studies have examined their association with sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and social isolation in working populations. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a large occupational cohort of Spanish workers evaluated between January 2021 and December 2024. Anthropometric, biochemical, and sociodemographic data were collected through standardized clinical protocols. Indices of atherogenic risk—namely the ratios TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and the atherogenic dyslipidemia index (AD)—were derived from fasting lipid measurements. The assessment of lifestyle factors included tobacco use, physical activity evaluated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern using the MEDAS questionnaire, and perceived social isolation measured by the Lubben Social Network Scale. Socioeconomic classification was established following the criteria proposed by the Spanish Society of Epidemiology. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors independently associated with moderate-to-high risk for each lipid indicator, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: A total of 117,298 workers (71,384 men and 45,914 women) were included. Men showed significantly higher odds of elevated TG/HDL-C (OR 4.22, 95% CI 3.70–4.75) and AD (OR 2.95, 95% CI 2.70–3.21) compared with women, whereas LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were lower (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.83–0.89). Advancing age was positively associated with all lipid ratios, with the highest risk observed in participants aged 60–69 years. Lower social class, smoking, physical inactivity, poor adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and low social isolation scores were consistently linked to higher atherogenic risk. Physical inactivity showed the strongest associations across all indicators, with ORs ranging from 3.54 for TC/HDL-C to 7.12 for AD. Conclusions: Atherogenic dyslipidemia and elevated lipid ratios are strongly associated with male sex, older age, lower socioeconomic status, unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, and reduced social integration among Spanish workers. These findings highlight the importance of workplace-based cardiovascular risk screening and targeted prevention strategies, particularly in high-risk subgroups. Interventions to promote physical activity, healthy dietary patterns, and social connectedness may contribute to lowering atherogenic risk in occupational settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cardiovascular Medicine)
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10 pages, 437 KB  
Article
Effects of a Hypocaloric Diet and Physical Training on Ventilatory Efficiency in Women with Metabolic Syndrome: A Prospective Interventional Study
by Caroline Simões Teixeira, Débora Dias Ferraretto Moura Rocco, Raphael de Souza Pinto, Alexandre Galvão da Silva and Alessandra Medeiros
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101520 - 3 Oct 2025
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial clinical condition characterized by the co-occurrence of abdominal obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as hypocaloric diets (HD) and structured physical training (PT), have shown promise in improving metabolic and functional [...] Read more.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial clinical condition characterized by the co-occurrence of abdominal obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as hypocaloric diets (HD) and structured physical training (PT), have shown promise in improving metabolic and functional outcomes in this population. The aim of this prospective interventional study was to evaluate the effects of a 16-week program combining HD with PT on ventilatory efficiency and cardiometabolic risk markers in women with MetS. Forty-one sedentary women (aged 45–55 years) with clinically diagnosed MetS underwent anthropometric, metabolic, nutritional, and cardiopulmonary assessments before and after the intervention. Participants engaged in 60 min exercise sessions three times per week and followed a personalized hypocaloric diet targeting 5–10% weight loss. Post-intervention analyses revealed significant reductions (p ≤ 0.05) in body weight (from 86.6 kg ± 3.3 kg to 78.2 kg ± 3.3 kg), body fat percentage (40.1% ± 0.6% to 33.4% ± 1.6%), and waist circumference (105.1 cm ± 1.2 cm to 95.7 cm ± 1.9 cm). Improvements were also observed in fasting glucose (from 117.1 mg/dL to 95.1 mg/dL) and triglycerides (158.8 mg/dL ± 9.1 mg/dL to 111.8 mg/dL ± 9.1 mg/dL), and in lean mass percentage (59.9% ± 6.5% to 66.6% ± 1.7%). Cardiopulmonary variables showed enhanced ventilatory function, with increased VO2peak (1.59 L/min ± 0.1 L/min to 1.74 ± 0.1 L/min), improved oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), and a steeper VO2/workload relationship. Resting heart rate and blood pressure declined significantly (69.9 bpm ± 2.0 bpm to 64.9 ± 1.8 bpm; 145.4 mmHg ± 3.9/80.2 ± 3.0 mmHg to 140.1 mmHg ± 2.7/75.2 ± 1.6 mmHg). In conclusion, the 16-week intervention combining HD with PT proved effective for reducing cardiometabolic risk factors and enhancing ventilatory efficiency, suggesting improved integration of oxygen uptake, transport, and utilization in the women with MetS assessed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Healthcare of Metabolic Diseases and Chronic Diseases)
24 pages, 1426 KB  
Review
Dietary and Pharmacological Modulation of Aging-Related Metabolic Pathways: Molecular Insights, Clinical Evidence, and a Translational Model
by Antonio Fernando Murillo-Cancho, David Lozano-Paniagua and Bruno José Nievas-Soriano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9643; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199643 - 2 Oct 2025
Abstract
Advances in geroscience suggest that aging is modulated by molecular pathways that are amenable to dietary and pharmacological intervention. We conducted an integrative critical review of caloric restriction (CR), intermittent fasting (IF), and caloric restriction mimetics (CR-mimetics) to compare shared mechanisms, clinical evidence, [...] Read more.
Advances in geroscience suggest that aging is modulated by molecular pathways that are amenable to dietary and pharmacological intervention. We conducted an integrative critical review of caloric restriction (CR), intermittent fasting (IF), and caloric restriction mimetics (CR-mimetics) to compare shared mechanisms, clinical evidence, limitations, and translational potential. Across modalities, CR and IF consistently activate AMP-activated protein kinase and sirtuins, inhibit mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling, and enhance autophagy, aligning with improvements in insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, low-grade inflammation, and selected epigenetic aging measures in humans. CR-mimetics, such as metformin, resveratrol, rapamycin, and spermidine, partially reproduce these effects; however, long-term safety and efficacy in healthy populations remain incompletely defined. Methodological constraints—short trial duration, selective samples, intermediate (nonclinical) endpoints, and limited adherence monitoring—impede definitive conclusions on hard outcomes (frailty, disability, hospitalization, mortality). We propose the Active Management of Aging and Longevity (AMAL) model, a three-level biomarker-guided framework that integrates personalized diet, chrono-nutrition, exercise, and the selective use of CR-mimetics, along with digital monitoring and decision support. AMAL emphasizes epigenetic clocks, multi-omics profiling, inflammatory and microbiome metrics, and adaptive protocols to enhance adherence and clinical relevance. Overall, CR, IF, and CR mimetics constitute promising, complementary strategies to modulate biological aging; rigorous long-term trials with standardized biomarkers and clinically meaningful endpoints are needed to enable their scalable implementation. Full article
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34 pages, 3009 KB  
Article
Merging Visible Light Communications and Smart Lighting: A Prototype with Integrated Dimming for Energy-Efficient Indoor Environments and Beyond
by Cătălin Beguni, Eduard Zadobrischi and Alin-Mihai Căilean
Sensors 2025, 25(19), 6046; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25196046 - 1 Oct 2025
Abstract
This article proposes an improved Visible Light Communication (VLC) solution that, besides the indoor lighting and data transfer, offers an energy-efficient alternative for modern workspaces. Unlike Light-Fidelity (LiFi), designed for high-speed data communication, VLC primarily targets applications where fast data rates are not [...] Read more.
This article proposes an improved Visible Light Communication (VLC) solution that, besides the indoor lighting and data transfer, offers an energy-efficient alternative for modern workspaces. Unlike Light-Fidelity (LiFi), designed for high-speed data communication, VLC primarily targets applications where fast data rates are not essential. The developed prototype ensures reliable communication under variable lighting conditions, addressing low-speed requirements such as test bench monitoring, occupancy detection, remote commands, logging or access control. Although the tested data rate was limited to 100 kb/s with a Bit Error Rate (BER) below 10−7, the key innovation is the light dimming dynamic adaptation. Therefore, the system self-adjusts the LED duty cycle between 10% and 90%, based on natural or artificial ambient light, to maintain a minimum illuminance of 300 lx at the workspace level. Additionally, this work includes a scalability analysis through simulations conducted in an office scenario with up to six users. The results show that the system can adjust the lighting level and maintain the connectivity according to users’ presence, significantly reducing energy consumption without compromising visual comfort or communication performance. With this light intensity regulation algorithm, the proposed solution demonstrates real potential for implementation in smart indoor environments focused on sustainability and connectivity. Full article
18 pages, 1552 KB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Manual ELISA and Ella, an Automated Instrument for ELISA, in Measuring Serum Galectin-3 Levels in Breast Cancer Patient Samples
by Ella G. Markalunas, Shannon E. Harold, David H. Arnold, Julie C. Martin, W. Jeffery Edenfield and Anna V. Blenda
Cancers 2025, 17(19), 3206; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17193206 - 1 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background: Circulating galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels have been indicated as a promising diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic target in breast cancer patients. Specifically, serum galectin-3 levels are traditionally measured using manual Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), but recent automated methods, such as Simple Plex assay [...] Read more.
Background: Circulating galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels have been indicated as a promising diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic target in breast cancer patients. Specifically, serum galectin-3 levels are traditionally measured using manual Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), but recent automated methods, such as Simple Plex assay by ProteinSimple™ run on an Ella instrument, have shown promising evidence of being more efficient and less error-prone than manual methods. This paper aims to assess whether there are differences in serum galectin-3 measurements between manual and automated ELISA methods. Methods: Serum galectin-3 levels were initially analyzed from one hundred and fifteen breast cancer samples using both manual ELISA and the Ella instrument. Following coefficient of variation (CV) and outlier analysis, ninety-five samples were analyzed further with JMP statistical software to perform Shapiro-Wilk, Spearman’s correlation, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and regression analyses. Results: The Ella instrument resulted in significantly lower CV values, confirming that it is more precise and reliable than manual ELISA methods. There was a moderate correlation between ELISA and Ella measurements (r = 0.49, p < 0.0001), but a Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that serum gaelectin-3 measurements obtained with the Ella instrument were significantly lower compared to those obtained with manual ELISA, with a mean difference of −5.19 ng/mL (p < 0.0001). Regression analysis showed a significant increase in the difference between manual ELISA and Ella measurements as serum galectin-3 levels increase (p < 0.0001). This difference in measurements between manual and automated ELISA techniques remained consistent when analyses were performed within each breast cancer stage, immunophenotype, and histology. Conclusions: While the Ella instrument is a fast and reliable tool, the discrepancies between manual ELISA and the Ella instrument in quantifying serum galectin-3 levels are important to consider prior to widespread use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Methods and Technologies Development)
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17 pages, 1180 KB  
Article
Enhancing Sweet Cherry Quality Through Calcium and Ascophyllum nodosum Foliar Applications
by Marlene Santos, Helena Ferreira, João Ricardo Sousa, Alice Vilela, Carlos Ribeiro, Marcos Egea-Cortines, Manuela Matos and Berta Gonçalves
Horticulturae 2025, 11(10), 1171; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101171 - 1 Oct 2025
Abstract
Climate change significantly impacts fruit production and yield, affecting its commercial value. Foliar fertilization emerges as a fast and targeted strategy to address crop nutrient deficiencies and enhance fruit quality. Sweet cherry is among the most highly valued and widely appreciated fruit crops [...] Read more.
Climate change significantly impacts fruit production and yield, affecting its commercial value. Foliar fertilization emerges as a fast and targeted strategy to address crop nutrient deficiencies and enhance fruit quality. Sweet cherry is among the most highly valued and widely appreciated fruit crops globally. This study was conducted over two consecutive years on the sweet cherry cv. Sweetheart. Calcium (300 g hL−1 and 150 g hL−1) and a seaweed-based biostimulant (150 mL hL−1 and 75 mL hL−1), as well as a combination of both nutrients (300 g hL−1 calcium and 150 mL hL−1 seaweed), in addition to a control treatment (water), were applied at the foliar level to improve sweet cherry quality. To assess cherry quality, including biometric, chromatic, texture, and biochemical parameters, as well as the sensory analysis, fruits from each treatment were harvested at the commercial maturity stage. Calcium treatments improved fruit size, total soluble solids, and firmness, while also delaying fruit ripening by increasing titratable acidity. The seaweed-based biostimulant enhanced fruit size, promoted color development, and accelerated ripening. Together, these findings highlight the crucial role of calcium in improving sweet cherry quality and underscore seaweed-based biostimulants as a promising and sustainable strategy for enhancing fruit quality. Although cherry quality is highly affected by environmental conditions, this study demonstrated that calcium fertilization, either alone or in combination with seaweed, enhances sweet cherry quality attributes, making it a suitable strategy for application in commercial orchards and for the global improvement of sweet cherry production. Full article
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33 pages, 6305 KB  
Article
Combined Effects of Atorvastatin and Glucose Deprivation on Metabolic Stress and Lipid-Raft Disruption in Glioblastoma and Breast Cancer Cells
by Walhan Alshaer, Yousef Ijjeh, Nowar Alsarayreh, Dana A. Alqudah, Alaa Rifai, Ahmed Abu-Siniyeh and Mohammad Alsalem
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(10), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101275 - 29 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Atorvastatin, a lipophilic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used for lipid lowering, also exhibits considerable anti-neoplastic activity. Although previous studies have shown that glucose starvation can potentiate several anticancer chemotherapies, atorvastatin has not been rigorously investigated for its impact on metabolic vulnerabilities and the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Atorvastatin, a lipophilic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used for lipid lowering, also exhibits considerable anti-neoplastic activity. Although previous studies have shown that glucose starvation can potentiate several anticancer chemotherapies, atorvastatin has not been rigorously investigated for its impact on metabolic vulnerabilities and the effects on cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in aggressive tumors. This work aims to evaluate the combined anticancer activity of atorvastatin with metabolic interventions, specifically glucose starvation, on U-87 (glioblastoma) and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative breast cancer) cell lines. Methods: U-87 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells were cultured in either normal or glucose-free media and treated with different concentrations of atorvastatin. The impact of atorvastatin on these cancer cells was analyzed by examining cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, and changes in membrane order within lipid rafts. Results: This study found that glucose starvation increased the sensitivity of U-87 cells to atorvastatin by lowering IC50 values and eliciting arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. MDA-MB-231 cells were less dependent on glucose for viability; however, atorvastatin consistently induced S-phase arrest across both metabolic states. Additionally, atorvastatin induced apoptosis in both U-87 and MDA-MB-231 cells, with the effect being more pronounced and dose-dependent in the fasting state with glucose. Interestingly, both Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 were consistently downregulated by atorvastatin in U-87 cells, regardless of the fasting state, corresponding to the induction of cell cycle arrest. Membrane lipid rafts exhibited decreased membrane order under glucose starvation, which was further decreased in response to atorvastatin in both cell lines, indicating a reduction in cholesterol. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that atorvastatin exhibits anticancer activity, characterized by both contextual and metabolic targeted effects, including a reduction in cancer proliferation, the triggering of cell cycle arrest via the downregulation of caspase pathways, and a decrease in membrane order. Notably, the combined activity of combining antilipemic agents with glucose-fasting provides potential metabolic strategies that could help create more effective and personalized approaches to cancer treatment. Full article
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31 pages, 8619 KB  
Review
A Critical Review: Gel-Based Edible Inks for 3D Food Printing: Materials, Rheology–Geometry Mapping, and Control
by Zhou Qin, Yang Yang, Zhaomin Zhang, Fanfan Li, Ziqing Hou, Zhihua Li, Jiyong Shi and Tingting Shen
Gels 2025, 11(10), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels11100780 - 29 Sep 2025
Abstract
Edible hydrogels are the central material class in 3D food printing because they reconcile two competing needs: (i) low resistance to flow under nozzle shear and (ii) fast recovery of elastic structure after deposition to preserve geometry. This review consolidates the recent years [...] Read more.
Edible hydrogels are the central material class in 3D food printing because they reconcile two competing needs: (i) low resistance to flow under nozzle shear and (ii) fast recovery of elastic structure after deposition to preserve geometry. This review consolidates the recent years of progress on hydrogel formulations—gelatin, alginate, pectin, carrageenan, agar, starch-based gels, gellan, and cellulose derivatives, xanthan/konjac blends, protein–polysaccharide composites, and emulsion gels alongside a critical analysis of printing technologies relevant to food: extrusion, inkjet, binder jetting, and laser-based approaches. For each material, this review connects gelation triggers and compositional variables to rheology signatures that govern printability and then maps these to process windows and post-processing routes. This review consolidates a decision-oriented workflow for edible-hydrogel printability that links formulation variables, process parameters, and geometric fidelity through standardized test constructs (single line, bridge, thin wall) and rheology-anchored gates (e.g., yield stress and recovery). Building on these elements, a “printability map/window” is formalized to position inks within actionable operating regions, enabling recipe screening and process transfer. Compared with prior reviews, the emphasis is on decisions: what to measure, how to interpret it, and how to adjust inks and post-set enablers to meet target fidelity and texture. Reporting minima and a stability checklist are identified to close the loop from design to shelf. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advance in Food Gels (3rd Edition))
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48 pages, 912 KB  
Review
Convergence of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) and Digital-Twin Technologies in Healthcare Systems: A Comprehensive Review
by Youngboo Kim, Seungmin Oh and Gayoung Kim
Signals 2025, 6(4), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/signals6040051 - 29 Sep 2025
Abstract
Modern healthcare systems are under growing strain from aging populations, urbanization, and rising chronic disease burdens, creating an urgent need for real-time monitoring and informed decision-making. This survey examines how the convergence of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) and digital-twin technologies can meet [...] Read more.
Modern healthcare systems are under growing strain from aging populations, urbanization, and rising chronic disease burdens, creating an urgent need for real-time monitoring and informed decision-making. This survey examines how the convergence of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) and digital-twin technologies can meet that need by analyzing how ISAC unifies sensing and communication to gather and transmit data with high timeliness and reliability and how digital-twin platforms use these streams to maintain continuously updated virtual replicas of patients, devices, and care environments. Our synthesis compares ISAC frequency options across sub-6 GHz, millimeter-wave, and terahertz bandswith respect to resolution, penetration depth, exposure compliance, maturity, and cost, and it discusses joint waveform design and emerging 6G architectures. It also presents reference architecture patterns that connect heterogeneous clinical sensors to ISAC links, data ingestion, semantic interoperability pipelines using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) and IEEE 11073, and digital-twin synchronization, and it catalogs clinical and operational applications, together with validation and integration requirements. We conduct a targeted scoping review of peer-reviewed literature indexed in major scholarly databases between January 2015 and July 2025, with inclusion restricted to English-language, peer-reviewed studies already cited by this survey, and we apply a transparent screening and data extraction procedure to support reproducibility. The survey further reviews clinical opportunities enabled by data-synchronized twins, including personalized therapy planning, proactive early-warning systems, and virtual intervention testing, while outlining the technical, clinical, and organizational hurdles that must be addressed. Finally, we examine workflow adaptation; governance and ethics; provider training; and outcome measurement frameworks such as length of stay, complication rates, and patient satisfaction, and we conclude that by highlighting both the integration challenges and the operational upside, this survey offers a foundation for the development of safe, ethical, and scalable data-driven healthcare models. Full article
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10 pages, 384 KB  
Article
Estimated Osmolality by Measured Conductivity in 24 h Urine Renal Stone Patients: A Useful Tool for Monitoring Dietary Sodium and Protein Excess
by Louange Luemba Sita, Pitchouna Ingole Mboliasa, Ernest Kiswaya Sumaili, Vincent Frochot, Remi Chieze, Emmanuel Letavernier, Jérémie Muwonga Masidi, Mireille Nganga Nkanga, Michel Daudon and Jean Philippe Haymann
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(19), 6898; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196898 - 29 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Monitoring of 24 h urine analysis is currently used to assess diet-related stone risk factors due in most cases to low hydration and high osmole intake accounting for urine supersaturation. The aim of our study is to test whether urine conductivity could [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Monitoring of 24 h urine analysis is currently used to assess diet-related stone risk factors due in most cases to low hydration and high osmole intake accounting for urine supersaturation. The aim of our study is to test whether urine conductivity could be a relevant surrogate marker of urine osmolality and a useful tool for monitoring salt and protein diets in primary care centers. Methods: 113 patients with kidney stone history referred for a routine evaluation of fasting and 24 h urine samples were included. Biochemical analysis of urine was performed, including measured osmolality (mUosm) and conductivity. Results: Among our population, 45% of patients have a low diuresis (high-risk group of stone recurrence) below the target of 2 L/day, with lower daily mUOsm and conductivity outflow compared to the low-risk patient group > 2 L/day (718 versus 852 mosm/Day, p < 0.0001, and 13,730 versus 17,890 mS/cm/day, p < 0.0001, respectively). Conversely to urine sodium and urea concentration, daily sodium and protein intake estimated by natriuresis and urea excretion are significantly lower in the high-risk group (p = 0.01 and <0.0001, respectively). In 24 h urine samples, osmolality and conductivity were strongly associated with diuresis. Moreover, a strong association between urinary osmolality and urine conductivity enables an estimated osmolality (eUosm) according to the following equation: eUosm = −41.656 + 0.057 × conductivity (r2 = 0.93; p < 0.001) with a 95% limit of agreement (LoA) ranging from −7.2% to +7.3%. An eUosm threshold value < 900 mOsm/day is independently associated with sodium and protein intake targets (odd ratio: 19.2 and 6.4-fold, respectively, p < 0.0001 and 0.01). Conclusions: 24 h urine measured conductivity appears to be a reliable, easy-to-use tool for the screening and monitoring of diet-related stone patients in primary care centers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nephrology & Urology)
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14 pages, 2329 KB  
Article
FBXO22 Suppresses Oxidative Stress-Induced ASK1 Activation and Cell Death via Ubiquitination-Dependent Degradation of TRIM48
by Naoki Kashiwabara, Keita Nagaoka, Kenshin Nakajima, Hiroki Tsukamoto, Yoshihisa Tomioka, Isao Naguro, Hidenori Ichijo, Takuya Noguchi, Yusuke Hirata and Atsushi Matsuzawa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9472; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199472 - 27 Sep 2025
Abstract
TRIM48 is a human-specific tripartite motif (TRIM) family protein with E3 ubiquitin ligase activity that plays a significant role in the oxidative stress response and tumor suppression. However, the mechanisms regulating TRIM48 expression remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that TRIM48 is [...] Read more.
TRIM48 is a human-specific tripartite motif (TRIM) family protein with E3 ubiquitin ligase activity that plays a significant role in the oxidative stress response and tumor suppression. However, the mechanisms regulating TRIM48 expression remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that TRIM48 is targeted for ubiquitination-dependent degradation by S-phase kinase-associated protein 1 (Skp1)-Cullin1 (Cul1)-F-box protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex, containing F-box protein 22 (FBXO22) as a substrate recognition subunit. We found that TRIM48 is a rapid turnover protein, as evidenced by the fast and drastic decrease in its protein expression level in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, which was suppressed by knocking down either Skp1, Cul1 or FBXO22. Exogenous FBXO22 expression promoted K48-linked polyubiquitination and degradation of TRIM48. FBXO22 deficiency accelerated oxidative stress-induced activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and cell death, which was reversed by additional TRIM48 knockdown. Collectively, our findings identify the FBXO22 SCF complex as a key negative regulator of TRIM48-driven ASK1-activation and cell death under oxidative stress. The dysregulation of this axis may underlie human-specific pathologies, such as tumorigenesis and oxidative stress-associated disorders, highlighting its potential as a target for novel therapeutic interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Focus on Antioxidants and Human Diseases)
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16 pages, 912 KB  
Article
Early-Life Exposure to Organic Chemical Pollutants as Assessed in Primary Teeth and Cardiometabolic Risk in Mexican American Children: A Pilot Study
by Vidya S. Farook, Feroz Akhtar, Rector Arya, Alice Yau, Srinivas Mummidi, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Roy Resendez, Sharon P. Fowler, Hemant Kulkarni, Vijay Golla, Mahua Choudhury, Jane L. Lynch, Donna M. Lehman, Daniel E. Hale, Ralph A. DeFronzo, John Blangero, David E. Camann, Ravindranath Duggirala and Suman N. Challa
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1494; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101494 - 27 Sep 2025
Abstract
Early-life exposure to organic chemicals (OCs) may influence childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk. These conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect minority populations such as Mexican Americans (MAs). However, information on the impact of organic chemicals on cardiometabolic risk in MA children [...] Read more.
Early-life exposure to organic chemicals (OCs) may influence childhood obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk. These conditions have been shown to disproportionately affect minority populations such as Mexican Americans (MAs). However, information on the impact of organic chemicals on cardiometabolic risk in MA children is limited. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to assess the extent to which exposure to organic chemicals influences cardiometabolic traits (CMTs) in MA children. We recalled 25 children from a previous study and collected 25 primary teeth from them. Chemical analyses of the teeth were performed using established protocols. Target analytes included acetaminophen (APAP); 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol (IMPy), diethyl phosphate (DEP), N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP). The organic chemicals most frequently detected in the teeth were APAP; the insect repellent DEET; plasticizers MnBP and MiBP; and the plasticizer-derived metabolite MEHP. These five analytes were included in association analyses with selected CMTs. After adjusting for covariate (age, sex, tooth-type) effects, we found significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations between MiBP and the following CMTs: fat mass, fasting insulin, and the homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Both MnBP and MEHP exhibited negative correlation with blood pressure measures and triglycerides, respectively. In addition, APAP showed a strong negative correlation with HDL-C (p = 0.009) and positive association with triglycerides (p < 0.10). These findings suggest a potential role for early-life exposures to organic chemicals in influencing cardiometabolic risk in MA children. Full article
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17 pages, 3414 KB  
Article
Optimization of Overdriving Pulse for Luminance Stability of Electrowetting Displays
by Yanjun Yang, Zichuan Yi, Wanzhen Xu, Jiashuai Wang, Qingsong Lu, Qifu Liu, Liming Liu and Feng Chi
Micromachines 2025, 16(10), 1085; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16101085 - 25 Sep 2025
Abstract
As a reflective display technology, electrowetting displays (EWDs) have the advantages of a paper-like appearance, fast response speed, and full-color capability. However, the use of an overdriving voltage to improve the response speed of EWDs can cause fluctuations in display luminance, which manifest [...] Read more.
As a reflective display technology, electrowetting displays (EWDs) have the advantages of a paper-like appearance, fast response speed, and full-color capability. However, the use of an overdriving voltage to improve the response speed of EWDs can cause fluctuations in display luminance, which manifest as glitches in the luminance change curve. In order to eliminate this luminance instability phenomenon, a new driving pulse is proposed, which consists of an overdriving phase, a switching phase, and a driving phase. Firstly, a simplified equivalent circuit model is proposed to apply a target voltage in the driving phase without break down of the hydrophobic insulating layer. Secondly, a COMSOL (Version 6.3) two-dimensional model is established to simulate the oil contraction process and conduct comparisons, so as to ensure the effectiveness of the overdriving pulse. Then, the overdriving phase is applied to improve oil response speed, and a linear function is used in the switching phase to alleviate glitch phenomena. Moreover, the influences of overdriving voltage, overdriving time, and linear switching time on the luminance curve are analyzed by charge trapping theory in order to obtain optimal performance. The experimental results show that the glitch phenomenon is eliminated effectively, and the luminance of the EWD is increased by 1.02% and 1.96% compared with the step switching pulse and PWM pulse, respectively, while the response time is shortened by 1.82% and 8.05% compared with the step switching pulse and PWM pulse, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonic and Optoelectronic Devices and Systems, Third Edition)
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20 pages, 2322 KB  
Article
Supplementation with Probiotic Camel Milk Powder Improves Serum Glucose and Cholesterol as Well as the Related Cytokines in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
by Yue Liu, Ming Zhang, Ran Wang, Shaoyang Ge and Bing Fang
Foods 2025, 14(19), 3318; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14193318 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 15
Abstract
Due to the close association between gut microbiota and diabetes, probiotic dairy products have drawn a lot of attention in the development of functional foods with anti-diabetic activity. In this study, 28 type 2 diabetic patients received 10 g of camel milk powder [...] Read more.
Due to the close association between gut microbiota and diabetes, probiotic dairy products have drawn a lot of attention in the development of functional foods with anti-diabetic activity. In this study, 28 type 2 diabetic patients received 10 g of camel milk powder supplemented with Bifidobacterium animalis A6 (BBA6) twice a day, taking camel milk powder as the placebo. After 4 weeks of intervention, there was a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, serum content of total cholesterol, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, MCP-1). And, in the CA group, the level of irisin and osteocrin increased significantly, while the level of osteonectin also increased, but with no significance. For the adipokines, the intervention of CA decreased the adiponectin, resistin, lipocalin-2, and adipsin levels significantly. Gut microbiota analysis suggested a significant enrichment in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium when compared with patients supplemented with camel milk powder alone. Furthermore, elevated fecal concentrations of glucose-1-phosphate, conduritol b epoxide, D-Arabitol, dehydroascorbic acid, and dl-p-Hydroxyphenyllactic acid, accompanied with a decrease in glycine, N-Acetylisatin, hydroxylamine, caprylic acid, maltotriose, and guaiacol, were found in patients of group CA. Compared with camel milk alone, the adding of BBA6 can significantly decrease fasting blood glucose in type 2 diabetic patients, while also improving dyslipidemia, chronic inflammation, and skeletal muscle functions, indicating the possibility of probiotic camel milk powder as a dietary treatment that targets metabolic syndromes such as diabetes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Functional Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Functional Foods)
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17 pages, 3841 KB  
Article
Sliding Performance Evaluation with Machine Learning-Based Trajectory Analysis for Skeleton
by Ting Yu, Zhen Peng, Zining Wang, Weiya Chen and Bo Huo
Data 2025, 10(10), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/data10100153 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 31
Abstract
Skeleton is an extreme sliding sport in the Winter Olympics, where formulating targeted sliding strategies, based on training videos to navigate complex tracks, is particularly important. To make in-depth use of training video records, this study proposes an analytical method based on Mixture [...] Read more.
Skeleton is an extreme sliding sport in the Winter Olympics, where formulating targeted sliding strategies, based on training videos to navigate complex tracks, is particularly important. To make in-depth use of training video records, this study proposes an analytical method based on Mixture of Gaussians (MoG) and K-means clustering to extract and analyze trajectories from recorded videos for sliding performance evaluation and strategy development. A case study was conducted using data from the Chinese national skeleton team at the Yanqing Sliding Center, obtaining 741, 834, and 726 sliding trajectories from three representative curves. These trajectories were divided into groups based on sliding completion time (fast, medium, and slow groups). The consistency of trajectories within each group was calculated to evaluate sliding stability, while trajectory patterns in the fast group were clustered and described based on the average values of multiple features (starting position, ending position, and apex orthogonal offset). The results showed that more skilled athletes exhibited greater sliding stability (lower ρC-values), and on each curve, there were sliding patterns that performed significantly better than others. This research quantifies the characteristics of athletes’ sliding trajectories on curves, facilitating the visual tracking of training effects and the development of personalized strategies. It provides coaches and athletes with scientific decision-making support and clear directions for improvement, ultimately enabling precise enhancements in training efficiency and competitive performance, while also laying a technical foundation for the future development of intelligent training systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Big Data and Data-Driven Research in Sports)
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