Search Results (957)

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common functional disorder in paediatric populations and is associated with significant psychological burden and impaired quality of life. Although oxybutynin is widely used as first-line pharmacological therapy, a substantial proportion of children exhibit incomplete symptom control or limited tolerability. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuromuscular excitability may provide additional therapeutic benefit. This retrospective observational study evaluated the clinical impact of an adjunctive nutraceutical formulation containing myo-inositol, microlipodispersed magnesium, folic acid, and vitamin C (LEVIGON™ PRO, Sanitpharma; Milan, Italy) in children with OAB receiving oxybutynin. Methods: Medical records of children diagnosed with OAB were retrospectively reviewed. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 120 patients aged 5–15 years were included and allocated to two groups based on documented treatment: oxybutynin plus LEVIGON™ PRO (Group A, n = 60) or oxybutynin alone (Group B, n = 60). The primary outcome was complete daytime urinary continence at Day 112. Secondary outcomes included weekly incontinence episodes, voiding frequency, bladder wall thickness, uroflowmetry parameters, and Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC) scores. An exploratory subgroup analysis was performed in 34 children with impaired fasting glucose (ifg), assessing fasting glucose, insulin, and homa-ir. results: by day 112, complete daytime continence was achieved in 61.7% of patients in group a and 48.3% in group b (absolute risk difference 13.4%; nnt ≈ 7.5; p = 0.14). across secondary endpoints, the combination therapy group showed significantly greater longitudinal improvements (group × time interaction, p < 0.05), including reductions in weekly incontinence episodes, voiding frequency, post-void residual volume, and ppbc scores, as well as increases in mean voided volume, qmax, and reductions in bladder wall thickness. in the ifg subgroup, greater reductions in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and homa-ir were observed in group a compared with group b (p < 0.01). Both treatments were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported. conclusions: adjunctive nutraceutical therapy combined with oxybutynin was associated with greater improvements in several clinically relevant secondary outcomes in children with OAB, with a favourable tolerability profile. Although the primary endpoint did not reach statistical significance, the overall pattern of findings may suggest a possible additive benefit; however, these findings may be influenced by residual confounding inherent to the retrospective observational design. Therefore, the results should be considered hypothesis generating and require confirmation in prospective randomized controlled trials. Full article

Hearing loss (HL) is a common sensory disorder, with syndromic forms accounting for ~30% of genetic cases. Due to phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, accurate diagnosis remains challenging. Exome sequencing (ES) offers a powerful tool to uncover the underlying genetic causes. This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of syndromic hearing loss (SHL) in North African Moroccan patients through ES. Seven individuals with suspected SHL were recruited from Hassan II University Hospital, Fez. After clinical and audiological assessments, ES was performed to identify causal genetic variants. Two of the participating individuals had Usher syndrome, and one each had Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Wolfram syndrome, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, and Waardenburg syndrome. The causes of all these syndromes were determined, with pathogenic variants in MYO7A, USH1G, SMC1A, WFS1, KCNQ1, CHD7, and MITF. Across the combined cohort of reported Moroccan SHL cases, variants in CHD7 and MYO7A were among the most frequently observed, while USH1G and MITF variants were rare. This study enhances the understanding of SHL in North Africa, revealing a high level of locus and allelic heterogeneity. Examining disparate populations yields novel insights into the etiology of SHL, which can subsequently enhance genetic diagnosis and tailored management strategies. Full article

Introduction: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in iodine-sufficient regions and often presents with subclinical hypothyroidism. Selenium (Sel) has immunomodulatory effects, while myo-inositol (MI) may enhance thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) signaling. This study evaluated whether adding myo-inositol to selenium provides additional benefit compared with selenium alone in these patients. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted from inception to 7 March 2026. Studies comparing myo-inositol plus selenium (MI + Sel) with Sel monotherapy were included. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a frequentist random-effects model. Outcomes of interest included TSH, free T3 and T4, thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb), and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed to assess the robustness of significant findings. Results: Three studies involving 288 patients were included (151 receiving MI + Sel and 137 receiving Sel alone). Combination therapy significantly reduced TSH levels compared with Sel monotherapy (SMD −1.26; 95% CI −1.51 to −1.00; p < 0.01; I² = 0%), and TSA suggested that this finding may be robust, although the evidence is limited by the small number of studies. TgAb levels were also significantly reduced (SMD −0.51; 95% CI −0.78 to −0.24; p < 0.01; I² = 0%); however, TSA indicated a potential risk of type I error. No significant differences were observed for T3 (SMD 0.15; 95% CI −0.09 to 0.38; p = 0.22; I² = 7%), T4 (SMD −0.01; 95% CI −0.72 to 0.69; p = 0.97; I² = 88%), or TPOAb (SMD −0.18; 95% CI −0.44 to 0.09; p = 0.20; I² = 0%). Conclusions: MI combined with Sel was associated with a significant reduction in TSH levels compared with Sel alone in patients with HT and subclinical hypothyroidism, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit. However, given the limited number of studies, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further large randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the effects on thyroid function and autoimmunity. Full article

MYO16 has previously been identified as a candidate gene in studies of meat productivity in sheep, but its complete sequence and the potential impact of polymorphisms on the functional properties of the gene in sheep remain understudied. The aim of this study was to analyze genetic variation in the MYO16 gene region in sheep and to identify polymorphisms that, according to bioinformatic prediction, are capable of changing the amino acid sequence of the protein or are associated with allele-specific differences in transcription factor binding motifs potentially significant for gene regulation or protein structure. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for genomic DNA from Manych Merino rams (n = 30) on an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. Variants within the MYO16 region were extracted and annotated. For each variant, ±30 bp reference and alternative sequences were scanned with FIMO using the JASPAR 2020 Vertebrates PWMs to detect allele-specific gain or loss of significant motif hits. TFLink (Mus musculus) was used to retain only TFs with MYO16 listed as a target. In the MYO16 gene region, 10,318 variants were detected. The coding region contained 54 SNPs, including 15 missense variants. In silico TFBS scanning identified 23 variants showing allele-specific gain or loss of significant motif hits, involving motifs for EBF1, CTCF, NRF1, SPI1, NFE2L2, JUN, and GFI1. We examined polymorphism in the ovine MYO16 gene region and identified candidate variants to be tested for association with productivity traits in future genotype–phenotype studies. Full article

In collaborative robotics, efficiency and user experience play a central role. This study looks at how perceived performance differs from measured performance when comparing two ways of controlling industrial robots: traditional teaching pendants and wearable EMG-based gesture control. A Myo Armband was used as an accessible 8-channel EMG platform, and three experiments were carried out on a Universal Robots UR10e to test pick-and-place tasks and precision positioning. Time and accuracy data were gathered together with blind feedback from 13 participants through a multi-criteria analysis framework. Even though the teaching pendant turned out to be more accurate in every scenario, 85% of participants still rated gesture control higher in overall satisfaction. These results point to a notable gap between what users perceive and how they actually perform and suggest that user experience deserves more weight in the design of future robot control interfaces. Full article

Phytate (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) is a polyphosphate found in plant-based foods whose intestinal absorption mechanisms are insufficiently understood. Due to its high affinity for calcium, phytate can deplete extracellular calcium and potentially affect tight junction integrity, which could increase paracellular permeability. This study investigated the permeation of phytate across Caco-2 cell monolayers depending on calcium concentration. Differentiated Caco-2 cells were cultured on semi-permeable membranes and incubated with various phytate concentrations (0.17–1.66 mM) in media with low (2.1 µM) or normal (1.8 mM) calcium concentration. Phytate permeability and tight junction integrity were analyzed using HPLC and Lucifer yellow as a paracellular marker. At low calcium concentration, significant permeability was observed starting from 0.55 mM phytate (~60% at 1.66 mM), while at normal calcium concentration, significant permeability was only detectable at 1.66 mM. The increased Lucifer yellow permeation correlated with phytate permeation and confirmed tight junction disruption. Phytate that reached the basolateral side at physiological calcium concentration precipitated completely as insoluble calcium–phytate complex. These results demonstrate that phytate can pass intestinal epithelium via the paracellular pathway and increase the paracellular permeability, especially at low apical concentrations of calcium. Full article

This study investigated the synergistic effects of liquid fermentation of rapeseed meal (RSM) on feed microbiota, growth performance, and muscle development in growing pigs. RSM was fermented using four compound probiotics and eleven enzyme preparations, and microbial changes were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Seventy-two Duroc × Jingfen White pigs were randomly assigned to three groups: soybean meal (Ctrl), RSM, and fermented RSM (FRSM). FRSM showed higher trichloroacetic acid-soluble protein (TCA-sp) content and significantly lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), and toxins (TS) (p < 0.01). Fermentation increased microbial diversity, with higher abundances of Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. Compared with Ctrl and RSM, the feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) decreased in the FRSM group (p < 0.01). FRSM also improved serum antioxidant capacity, enhanced intestinal villus height (VH)and villus height/crypt depth ratio (VH/CD), and upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin) and the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 (p < 0.01). FRSM group also increased myofiber diameter and cross-sectional area in the longissimus dorsi and elevated MyoD, MyoG and Myf5 expression (p < 0.01). RNA-seq revealed 2094 differentially expressed genes enriched in metabolic pathways. Overall, FRSM improved growth performance, intestinal health, and muscle development in growing pigs, which may guide the development of protein resource utilization technologies. Full article

Fat color is one of the most important economic traits influencing consumer preference and the market value of meat products. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying abdominal adipose tissue color differentiation in the Kazakh horse, this study employed a multi-omics strategy, integrating targeted metabolomics (fatty acid and amino acid profiling), untargeted metabolomics, and transcriptomic analyses. Two types of adipose tissue, white adipose tissue (WAT, n = 8) and yellow adipose tissue (YAT, n = 8), were selected for systematic comparative analysis. Fatty acid composition analysis revealed no significant differences between WAT and YAT in total saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content (p > 0.05). However, the levels of C15:0 and C17:1 were significantly higher in YAT than in WAT (p < 0.05), with C21:0 showing a very significant increase (p < 0.01). In contrast, the level of C22:1n9 was significantly lower in YAT (p < 0.05). Amino acid analysis indicated that the aspartic acid content in WAT was approximately 3.3 times higher than in YAT (p < 0.01). Through analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data, a total of 378 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 51 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified. Further integrative analysis of metabolomic and transcriptomic data identified LPGAT1, AKT2, and ADH5 genes, along with metabolites such as stearate and myo-inositol, as potential key regulatory factors and biomarkers associated with fat color differentiation. This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms governing adipose tissue color variation in horses and their implications for meat quality. Full article

Childhood myopia progression remains a major global public health concern, and spectacle lenses designed to induce peripheral myopic defocus have emerged as a non-pharmacological strategy for myopia control; however, real-world evidence from European populations remains limited. This retrospective observational study evaluated the 12-month real-world effectiveness of cylindrical annular refractive element spectacle lenses in a Turkish pediatric cohort. Children aged 5–15 years who wore myopia-control spectacle lenses from the CARE platform or single-vision lenses were included. Cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL) were measured at baseline and at 12 months. The primary outcomes were 12-month changes in SER and AL. Multivariable generalized estimation equations were applied to account for inter-eye correlation and to adjust for age and gender. A total of 168 eyes were analyzed (85 with single-vision lenses; 83 with myopia-control lenses). After 12 months, the myopia-control group demonstrated significantly slower progression than the single-vision group, with mean SER changes of −0.40 ± 0.92 D versus −0.77 ± 0.74 D and axial elongation of 0.17 ± 0.25 mm versus 0.31 ± 0.30 mm, respectively. Treatment group remained a significant predictor of both refractive progression (p = 0.008) and axial elongation (p = 0.003). Age was independently associated with axial length change (p < 0.001), whereas gender was not. These findings provide real-world European evidence supporting the role of defocus-modulating spectacle lenses in pediatric myopia management. Full article

Sarcopenia is a degenerative condition that imposes a substantial global public health burden, yet safe and effective interventions remain limited. Nutritional support is regarded as an important strategy to mitigate age-related muscle loss and improve physical function in older adults. Due to time and cost constraints, dexamethasone (DEX)-treated models are often used as an alternative to age-related sarcopenia models. This study investigated the effects of pumpkin seed protein peptides (PSPP) and vitamin D on DEX-treated mice. In vitro, PSPP attenuated senescence-associated phenotypes, reduced cellular injury, and partially alleviated DEX-treated myofibrillar atrophy, as evidenced by decreased Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression and increased MyoD expression. In vivo, PSPP and vitamin D, particularly in combination, ameliorated DEX-treated declines in muscle mass, grip strength, and endurance. Histological analyses further demonstrated improvements in myofibrillar architecture and muscle fiber cross-sectional area. In addition, each intervention was associated with increased ATP content, elevated interleukin-10 and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde levels. Collectively, these findings suggest that PSPP, either alone or combined with vitamin D, may alleviate DEX-treated sarcopenia, potentially through the modulation of mitochondrial homeostasis, attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and promotion of myogenic regeneration. Full article

Saline-alkali stress restricts crop yield by disrupting nutrient and water uptake, ionic balance, and oxidative homeostasis. Although myo-inositol enhances tolerance to abiotic stress, its role in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) under saline-alkali conditions remains unclear. To investigate the effects of exogenous myo-inositol on sugar beet growth under saline-alkali soils, a pot experiment was conducted using six myo-inositol concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 g L⁻¹). Myo-inositol significantly influenced plant performance in a concentration-dependent manner. The 0.6 g L⁻¹ treatment produced the highest shoot and root fresh and dry weights, nearly doubling shoot biomass compared with the control. Shoot N and P contents increased markedly at 0.6 g L⁻¹, while their concentrations remained relatively stable, indicating biomass-driven nutrient accumulation. Myo-inositol reduced Na accumulation while maintaining stable K, Ca, and Mg concentrations, thereby improving ionic balance. Antioxidant capacity was enhanced, with superoxide dismutase and catalase activities significantly elevated. Root total length and surface area increased substantially, whereas specific root length and surface area decreased, suggesting improved root morphological development. Soil alkaline phosphatase activity was also stimulated at higher myo-inositol treatments. Overall, moderate myo-inositol application (with regression analysis indicating an optimum of approximately 0.56 g L⁻¹) improved sugar beet growth through enhanced nutrient acquisition, ionic balance, antioxidant capacity, and root development, offering practical insights for its use as a growth regulator in saline-alkali crop production. Full article

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic complication of pregnancy, affecting approximately 14% of pregnancies globally. Despite the frequent normalization of glycemic parameters immediately after delivery, GDM is an important precursor of subsequent chronic disease, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Current international guidelines suggest just a strictly observational approach during the immediate puerperium, recommending metabolic screening only between 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. This has contributed to the creation of a therapeutic “orphan window” where women receive no specific metabolic support, leaving their metabolic status unassessed and unmanaged. We postulate that the immediate postpartum period represents a critical window of “metabolic plasticity” where the abrupt cessation of placental hormones offers a unique opportunity to restore insulin sensitivity and promote “beta-cell rest” before the onset of irreversible dysfunction. Consequently, this narrative review and perspective examines the epidemiological urgency of the GDM-to-T2DM transition and provides a biological rationale for early pharmacological or nutraceutical intervention. Specifically, we discuss the limitations of metformin and present the hypothesis of myo-inositol combined with alpha-lactalbumin as a safe, lactation-compatible “bridging therapy” to preserve beta-cell function, improve compliance, and modify the natural history of diabetes in this high-risk population, highlighting that this theoretical proposal requires validation through future clinical trials. Full article

Myo-inositol (MI) is recognized as a potential stress regulator capable of alleviating abiotic stress. The objective of this study is to analyze the role of MI in the salt stress response of Daucus carota L. and its potential mechanisms. “Hongxin Qicun” carrot seedlings were subjected to five treatments: control; salt stress (50 mM NaCl); and salt stress combined with 50, 100, or 200 μM of MI. Through an integrated approach combining physiological assays, non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT), and gene expression profiling, we found that salt stress severely inhibited seedling growth, disrupted K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis, and triggered excessive H₂O₂ accumulation. Exogenous MI application mitigated these salt-induced damages, with 100 μM MI exerting the optimal effect. MI enhanced Na⁺ efflux and reduced K⁺ efflux in carrot roots under salt stress. Inhibitor experiments indicated that MI-promoted Na⁺ efflux relies on active transport via the plasma membrane (PM) Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter system, and qRT-PCR analysis showed that this response was accompanied by the upregulation of DcSOS1. Furthermore, MI contributes to K⁺ homeostasis by synergistically modulating PM H⁺-ATPase and high-affinity potassium transporters. The established proton gradient helps reduce salt-induced K⁺ loss through depolarization-activated potassium channels and non-selective cation channels. MI treatment decreased electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde content, and H₂O₂ accumulation by enhancing the activities of the plant antioxidant defense system. Meanwhile, MI upregulated the expression of myo-inositol oxygenase (DcMIOXs) genes, which may contribute to osmotic balance maintenance and facilitate ROS scavenging. In conclusion, exogenous MI alleviates salt-induced physiological disorders in Daucus carota L. by coordinately regulating K⁺/Na⁺ and ROS homeostasis, with 100 μM identified as the optimal concentration for this effect. Full article

Myogenic mechanobiology governs how mechanical cues regulate myocyte organization, alignment, and functional maturation; however, in vitro platforms that enable quantitative control and real-time readout of myogenic mechanical microenvironments remain limited. Here, we engineered a pneumatic-driven organ-on-a-chip platform integrating six parallel culture units and a bead-embedded flexible PDMS membrane to deliver cyclic mechanical strain and enable quantitative stress–strain mapping in cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells. Finite element-guided optimization ensured effective membrane deformation, and the platform generated stable and tunable cyclic strain with a strong linear relationship between applied negative pressure (50–700 mbar) and membrane stress and strain. Plasma treatment combined with type I collagen coating restored myogenic cell adhesion and growth on PDMS to levels comparable to standard culture conditions. Under 13% cyclic strain, both cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells exhibited pronounced and highly uniform alignment, with cellular polarity oriented perpendicular to the stretch axis. Moreover, cyclic loading significantly enhanced the expression of contractile maturation markers, including MYH7 in cardiomyocytes and MYH6 in skeletal muscle cells (all p < 0.05), whereas expression of the differentiation regulator MyoG remained unchanged, indicating that mechanical stimulation preferentially promotes structural organization and contractile maturation rather than lineage commitment. Collectively, this quantitatively programmable organ-on-a-chip represents a bioengineered microdevice for studying myogenic mechanobiology, revealing conserved mechanosensitive alignment and maturation responses across myogenic lineages and providing a versatile framework for biomedical engineering research, disease modeling, and mechanotherapeutic screening. Full article