Search Results (133,824)

Background: Hepatitis B and C viral infections remain a significant global health challenge, despite the implementation of an effective direct-acting antiviral (DAAs) and nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). Current HBV therapy is not curative as stopping therapy usually leads to active disease in most patients requiring long-term treatment. Although current HCV-DAAs are highly effective they fall short due to arising drug-resistance and have limited ability to avert re-infections. Furthermore, current HCV DAA treatments lead to the reactivation of occult HBV infection, compromising the effectiveness of current antiviral therapies, and increasing the risk of severe liver complications like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, current treatments do not restore the immune dysfunction, a characteristic of chronic HBV infection. Given the global burden of disease, there is an urgent need for more effective therapy that can shorten the duration of treatment and achieve high rates of HBsAg reduction. Combining an antiviral to reduce viral antigen burden and an immunomodulator to boost the immune response could provide an effective treatment for HBV/HCV infections. Methods: In this study, we explored the potential of a novel bacterial therapeutic agent, heat-killed Caulobacter crescentus (HKCC), as an alternative and/or adjunct host-based therapy for HCV and HBV infections. Here, we have investigated the antiviral effects of the HKCC-stimulated human PBMCs using in vitro HCV and HBV infection models to assess viral replication, viral relapse responses, protein expression, and cytotoxicity. Results: Our findings reveal that HKCC induced a multi-functional cytokine response (IFN, TNF, IL-2, IL-10, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-22) in PBMCs obtained from multiple healthy donors. Supernatants collected from these HKCC-stimulated human PBMCs, alone and in combination with antivirals, strikingly inhibited HCV replication and viral relapse responses without inducing any cytotoxic effects on HCV-1a replicon cells. In addition, these PBMC supernatants, with or without antivirals, led to the suppression of HBV DNA replication and inhibited HBsAg and HBeAg production in HepG 2.2.15 cells. Conclusions: In conclusion, HKCC is a promising candidate for eliminating HBV and HCV infections, and warrants further investigation to potentially contribute to the development of a novel host-based immunotherapy. Full article

Dendrochronological research has focused on species from temperate environments due to their high dendrochronological potential. However, in recent decades, advances in dendrochronology have been reported for species from tropical environments, which may be useful for analyzing the effects of climate variability. The objective of this study was to analyze the wood anatomy of Bursera simaruba, Sideroxylon foetidissimum, Gliricidia sepium, Vitex gaumeri, and Lysiloma latisiliquum from the island of Cozumel to identify their dendrochronological potential. The qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics were evaluated in accordance with the International Association of Wood Anatomists (IAWA) List of Microscopic Features for Hardwood Identification. B. simaruba, L. latisiliquum, and V. gaumeri exhibit dendrochronological potential (i.e., the development of distinct growth rings), unlike the S. foetidissimum, G. sepium. Differences in vessel diameter, vessel wall thickness, vessel density (number of vessels per mm²), fiber diameter, fiber lumen diameter, and fiber wall thickness between earlywood and latewood within the growth rings of these three species with dendrochronological potential indicate the formation of distinct growth rings. These findings contribute to the anatomical characterization and validation of growth-ring identification in tropical tree species for which anatomical and dendrochronological information remains scarce, thereby reinforcing the scientific foundation of tropical dendrochronology. Furthermore, they improve our understanding of the influence of climatic variables on tree growth and provide a valuable foundation for climate reconstructions at sites with limited or incomplete instrumental records, such as the Mexican Caribbean. Full article

The present study evaluated the protective effects of Oralis SB^® (Osb), a commercial multi-strain probiotic formulation, in a ligature-induced experimental periodontitis (EPD) Sprague–Dawley rat model. Male rats were subjected to ligature placement and orally administered Osb (1.25 × 10⁸, 1.25 × 10⁹, and 6.25 × 10⁹ CFU/head) or received single-strain treatments with each of the four constituent strains (1.25 × 10⁹ CFU/head) for 10 days. Periodontal changes were assessed by microbiological, biochemical, histological, and bone-related analyses. Ligature placement markedly increased anaerobic bacterial counts, neutrophil-associated myeloperoxidase activity, and inflammatory mediator production in gingival tissues, accompanied by elevated gingival IgA levels and impaired expression of epithelial tight junction-related genes, including claudin-1, claudin-5, occludin, and zonula occludens-1. Osb administration significantly attenuated bacterial overgrowth, restored gingival IgA contents, and suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators. Osb also reduced malondialdehyde level and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity, as markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress, and decreased metalloproteinase-8 expression in gingival tissue. In addition, Osb effectively prevented alveolar bone deterioration by improving focal bone mineral density, reducing osteoclast numbers, and restoring the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB/osteoprotegerin balance. Histological evaluation further confirmed that Osb alleviated gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss. Notably, the lowest dose of Osb (1.25 × 10⁸ CFU/head) consistently produced significantly greater protective effects than each of the four individual component strains across all measured parameters. Osb exerted protective effects against EPD by modulating anaerobic microbial overgrowth, inflammatory and oxidative responses, epithelial barrier integrity, and alveolar bone resorption. These findings support the therapeutic potential of Osb in periodontitis. Full article

Background/Objectives: The obesogenic environment is a key factor in the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a major global public health challenge. Mangiferin (Mgf) is a C-glycosylated xanthone, and its preventive and therapeutic potential stems from its multisystemic pharmacological profile. This review integrates findings on Mgf in the management of metabolic syndrome, aiming to identify gaps and propose prospective studies to enable the scaling up of Mgf for clinical applications. Methods: To this end, a literature search was conducted, the level of evidence was identified, and the available scientific information on Mgf in metabolic syndrome was synthesized from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from 2016 to 2025. Results: Mgf improves overall metabolic dysfunction by activating the AMPK pathway, reduces inflammation by activating Nrf2, suppressing NF-κB, and decreasing pro-inflammatory mediators (COX-2, IL-6, NLRP3), modulates CB1 and PPAR receptors and other markers associated with obesity (adiponectin, leptin, resistin), as well as autophagy processes. However, most of the evidence comes from in silico, in vitro, and preclinical studies, with few clinical observations. Conclusions: This underscores the need to integrate studies on the correlation between the bioavailability of Mgf and norathyriol with the regulation of the microbiota, as well as their effects on metabolomic and epigenetic mechanisms in MetS. Full article

Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, infects diverse animal species and reflects environmental contamination. However, the global seroprevalence of B. pseudomallei in animals remains incompletely characterized. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261306404). PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched for observational studies reporting seroprevalence of B. pseudomallei in animals. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted by animal group, geographic region, diagnostic method, and indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) cut-off value. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results: Twenty studies involving 78,914 animals were included. The pooled seroprevalence of B. pseudomallei was 11% (95% CI: 6–19%), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 98.1%, p < 0.0001). Wildlife showed the highest prevalence (16%; 95% CI: 10–25%), followed by livestock (11%; 95% CI: 6–19%). Significant geographic variation was observed (p < 0.0001), with higher prevalence reported in North America (18%) and Southeast Asia (10%). Seroprevalence estimates varied according to diagnostic method and IHA cut-off values. Sensitivity analyses yielded similar pooled prevalence estimates after exclusion of small studies, supporting the stability of the overall findings despite persistent heterogeneity. Conclusions: Exposure to B. pseudomallei is widespread among animal populations and influenced by geographic and methodological factors. Standardized diagnostic approaches and expanded animal surveillance are needed to improve understanding of melioidosis epidemiology within a One Health framework. Full article

This review summarizes current data on the role of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and their host genes (SNHGs) in the development of bladder cancer (BC). It examines snoRNA biogenesis, classical functions (rRNA modification), and non-canonical oncogenic mechanisms, including microRNA sponging, sdRNA production, and protein interactions (EZH2, DNMT3A, hnRNPK). The factors involved in the deregulation of snoRNA/SNHG expression during tumour transformation are described, such as amplifications, epigenetic changes, and transcriptional control (c-Myc, p53). Studies have shown that in BC, the majority of snoRNAs/SNHGs (SNHG1, SNHG3, SNHG6, SNHG13, SCARNA12) act as oncogenes, activating the PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, and c-Myc pathways, thereby enhancing proliferation, EMT, invasion, and metastasis. Suppressor molecules (SNHG2/GAS5) are also discussed. The clinical potential of snoRNAs as prognostic signatures (SNORS), diagnostic biomarkers (SNHG1 in urine), and therapeutic targets (e.g., SNHG3) is analyzed. Thus, snoRNAs and SNHGs represent a promising class of molecules for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for BC, although further investigation in prospective studies is required. Full article

We theoretically study the single ionization of liquid water by impact of fast electrons. A realistic description of the wavefunction for an isolated water molecule in the liquid phase is obtained by means of a Wannier orbital formalism. In this way, we consider ionization from the most external orbitals 1B₁, 2A₁, 1B₂ and 1A₁ of a single liquid water molecule. Triple, double, single differential and total cross sections are computed through a first order model with proper Coulomb conditions for the ionized electron. We compare our calculations with measurements and other theoretical results for liquid and gaseous phases. An analysis of the main features of the cross sections is performed. Previous theoretical works found almost no discrepancies between these observables in spite of the physical dissimilarities of both phases. In this work, we compare our results with other theories and with the available experiments for vapor. We report interesting differences between the differential and total cross sections of the mentioned phases. Full article

Pollinators play a critical role in agricultural productivity and the maintenance of flowering plant diversity, yet their health is increasingly threatened by multiple environmental stressors. While research has traditionally focused on pathogens, pesticides, habitat loss, and nutritional limitation, fungal secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, remain an underappreciated risk factor. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the presence, exposure pathways, and biological impacts of key mycotoxins, including aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin, in bee-collected pollen and bee bread. We discuss how contaminated food matrices act as reservoirs of chronic exposure, linking forager activity, nurse bee physiology, brood development, and colony-level outcomes. Evidence from laboratory studies highlights sublethal effects on survival, hypopharyngeal gland development, immunity, and gut microbiota, with potential interactions with pathogens, nutritional stress, pesticides, and climate change. Furthermore, we extend these insights to wild pollinators, emphasizing differences in colony size, diet breadth, and detoxification capacity. Analytical methods for detecting mycotoxins, including HPLC, LC-MS/MS, and ELISA, are evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and relevance to field exposure. By integrating environmental concentrations with laboratory toxicity thresholds, this review identifies critical knowledge gaps and proposes a mechanistic framework linking mycotoxin exposure to colony-level risk. The findings underscore the need for targeted monitoring, improved risk assessment, and multi-stressor evaluation to safeguard both managed and wild pollinator populations. Full article

Background: Low-birth-weight (LBW, <2500 g) infants are at increased risk of suboptimal hepatitis B vaccine responses; yet, data on their immunogenicity patterns and modifiable determinants remain limited. This study aimed to assess hepatitis B vaccine immunogenicity in LBW infants and to examine whether postnatal catch-up growth and maternal–neonatal characteristics are independently associated with antibody levels. Methods: We enrolled 511 LBW infants who completed the recommended 3-dose hepatitis B vaccination series at 0, 1, and 6 months. Blood samples were collected 4–6 weeks after completion of the full vaccination series. Geometric mean concentration (GMC) and seroprotection rate (SPR, anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/mL) were evaluated. Catch-up growth was quantified as the change in weight-for-age Z-score between 6 and 8 months of age (ΔWAZ). Multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent predictors of log-transformed antibody titers, adjusting for gestational age, maternal hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity, maternal body mass index (BMI), maternal fasting glucose, maternal thyroid disease, infant hemoglobin at 6 months, and ΔWAZ. Results: The overall SPR was 99.41% (508/511), with a GMC of 1045.37 mIU/mL (95% CI: 916.24–1192.70). SPR remained consistently high across all subgroups. In multivariable analysis, ΔWAZ was not significantly associated with antibody levels (β = −0.063, p = 0.571). Maternal HBsAg positivity showed no significant association (β = −0.104, p = 0.792). Maternal thyroid disease was independently associated with higher antibody levels (β = 0.793, 95% CI: 0.213–1.373, p = 0.007). None of the other covariates reached statistical significance. Conclusions: Hepatitis B vaccination demonstrated high immunogenicity in LBW infants, with very high seroprotection rates. Postnatal catch-up growth did not independently influence antibody levels. The significant positive association between maternal thyroid disease and infant antibody response warrants further prospective investigation. Full article

Wireless communication above $300\mathrm{GHz}$ requires highly sophisticated analog circuit design due to severe frequency dependent ohmic losses. The complexity of such electronic hardware motivates exploring wireless quantum optical communication approaches even for the 6G “terahertz (THz) range” $\left[300\mathrm{GHz},10\mathrm{THz}\right]$. In this work, the classical radio frequency (RF)-based inner physical layer (PHY) transceiver blocks of channel coded wireless communication systems are replaced by wireless quantum optical transceiver blocks. Short range concepts employing LEDs as transmitters are particularly attractive, owing to their low implementation cost and practical simplicity. In contrast to laser based wireless quantum optical transmission over multipath channels, the quantum mechanical density operator ${\underline{\rho }}_{\mathrm{RX},[{\mathfrak{s}}_i,b_i]}$ and the transition probability $\gamma ({\mathfrak{s}}_i,{\mathfrak{s}}_{i+1})$ required by the quantum data detection must be revised accordingly. Furthermore, the novel interpretation introduced here, in which the extrinsic information is treated as a diversity branch rather than as an estimate of the a priori information, facilitates turbo equalization that still can accomodate varying a priori information. However, due to the limited uncoded transmission performance achievable with such systems, the incorporation of sophisticated channel coding schemes appears imperative. The authors therefore investigate the combination of sophisticated channel coding techniques, such as polar coding, with LED based wireless quantum optical transmission technologies. All numerical results assume a cryogenically cooled receiver front-end (approximately 10 K), yielding thermal noise levels. Operation at room temperature in the 6G THz range $\left[300\mathrm{GHz},10\mathrm{THz}\right]$ would require an average number ${\overline{N}}_{\alpha }$ of thermal noise photon values of approximately 5 to 20, which is beyond the scope of this feasibility study. The results show that the proposed paradigm enables simple, robust, and practically viable wireless quantum optical communication systems with favorable transmission performance. Additional gains are achieved through iterative turbo equalization. The results also suggest that the proposed approach can pave the way toward robust and economically viable future communication solutions. Full article

Solar-driven photocatalysis has attracted increasing interest as an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for the mineralization of pollutants. In this work, carbon-doped g-C₃N₄/V_oBiOBr composites rich in oxygen vacancy (denoted as CCN/V_oBOB) were prepared by combining calcination with a solvothermal method, using glucose as the carbon source. The obtained composites were comprehensively characterized by XRD, TEM, and XPS to investigate their crystal structure, morphology, and surface chemical states, and their photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the degradation of organic pollutants. Among the prepared samples, 3.2 wt% CCN/V_oBOB exhibited the best photocatalytic performance, reaching 98% degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and 95% degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) within 90 min, which was significantly superior to that of V_oBOB and g-C₃N₄/V_oBOB. This enhanced activity can be attributed mainly to the synergistic effects of oxygen vacancy, carbon doping, and heterojunction construction. Their combined action not only regulates the band structure of V_oBOB effectively, but also greatly inhibits the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. These results were further supported by UV-Vis DRS and transient photocurrent measurements. Radical trapping experiments indicated that superoxide radicals (O₂⁻) were the dominant active species during the reaction. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided further evidence for the above conclusions. On the basis of both experimental observations and theoretical analysis, a reasonable photocatalytic reaction mechanism was proposed. This work offers a useful strategy for designing highly efficient photocatalysts through the synergistic integration of oxygen vacancy, nonmetal doping, and heterojunction engineering, and thus promotes the application of photocatalytic technology in pollutant degradation. Full article

Background: Ketogenic diets are used as a non-pharmacological treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy in childhood and adolescence. However, the potential micronutrient deficiencies associated with ketogenic diets have not been adequately investigated in vulnerable groups, such as children and adolescents, and detailed dietary analyses are lacking. Methodology: Optimized ketogenic daily meal plans were created for adolescents aged 10–18 years with different ketogenic ratios of 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1. Micronutrient supply was calculated using PRODI^® nutrition software (version 7.3, Nutri-Science GmbH, Freiburg, Germany), based on the German Nutrient Database and compared with DGE/ÖGE reference values. Nutrients below 95% of the reference values were classified as potentially critical. Results: The results showed that micronutrient density decreased with increasing dietary restriction. Vitamin D and fiber were below reference values for all ratios and age groups. The 3:1 ratio exhibited deficiencies in potassium, zinc, fluoride, and several B vitamins. Overall, the 1:1 ratio provided the most favorable nutrient coverage, though vitamin B₁ and fluoride remained insufficient. The results indicate that potentially critical micronutrients are highly sensitive to ketogenic ratios in adolescents. Conclusions: This analysis enables the identification of relevant nutrients to be more targeted, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all approach of supplementation should be replaced by options differentiated by age and dietary restrictions. Full article

Jackfruit seeds, a by-product of the jackfruit processing industry, comprise a substantial proportion of starch. As a result, jackfruit seeds are emerging as a viable source of fermentable sugars for fermentation processes. In this study, α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis TKU004 was employed to hydrolyze gelatinized jackfruit seed starch slurry, and the hydrolysis conditions were systematically optimized using the Box–Behnken design (BBD) coupled with response surface methodology (RSM). Three independent variables, including incubation temperature (40–60 °C), enzyme-to-substrate ([E]/[S]) ratio (5–10 U/g), and reaction time (2–6 h), were evaluated, with dextrose equivalent (DE, %) as the response. The optimal hydrolysis parameters were determined to be 47 °C, an [E]/[S] ratio of 10 U/g, and a reaction time of 5.1 h, yielding a predicted DE of 31.72%. Experimental validation confirmed a DE of 32.85 ± 1.12%, in close agreement with the model prediction. HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysis of the hydrolysate revealed a composition of 14.20% glucose, 56.51% maltose, and 29.29% maltooligosaccharides, indicating that this process is well-suited for producing high-maltose syrup. In short, this study demonstrates the feasibility of valorizing jackfruit seed waste into value-added carbohydrate products through enzymatic hydrolysis with B. licheniformis α-amylase. Full article

The role of gut microbiota and intestinal dysbiosis in promoting inflammaging in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been the focus of intense research over the last years. Some alterations at the phyla level, such as abundance of Proteobacteria and reduction in Firmicutes/Bacteroidites (F/B) ratio and saccarolytic populations, have been consistently reported in CKD. Other mechanisms include microbial translocation through a “leaky gut” and subsequent molecular mimicry, immune dysregulation (unbalance between T reg and Th17 subsets), and epigenetic interactions. Alterations of metabolic pathways and of bacterial metabolites, such as butyrate and other short chain fatty acids (SCFA), also appear to play a key role in modulating progression of CKD. On the other hand, microbiota-based therapy appears promising and includes diet, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Modulation of microbiota could correct critical alterations, such as F/B ratio and T reg/Th17 unbalance, blunting inflammaging and potentially reducing progression of CKD and cardiovascular disease. Despite current limitations, gut microbiota is emerging as a powerful environmental factor which could be harnessed to interfere with key mechanisms leading to inflammaging in CKD. Full article

The present work explores the modelling and design of Interface Acoustic Wave (IAW)-based delay lines in SiO₂/ZnO (4 µm)/SU-8/SiO₂ multilayer stacks and demonstrates that, by properly tailoring the acoustic wavelength and the SU-8 layer thickness, IAW delay lines can achieve performances comparable to, and in some cases superior to, those of conventional Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) delay lines based on SiO₂/ZnO (4 µm) structures. In particular, the proposed devices exhibited untuned insertion losses down to 12 dB, propagation losses as low as 0.052 dB/λ, and electromechanical coupling coefficients K² approaching 4%, exceeding those calculated for the corresponding SAW devices. The obtained results support the feasibility of compact, high-performance, and potentially packageless acoustic-wave devices for future telecommunications and sensing applications, especially in harsh or contamination-prone environments. Full article