Search Results (21,815)

Rising global temperatures and more frequent heat waves pose a growing threat to public health, particularly among older adults. Age-related declines in thermoregulatory capacity such as reduced sweating, impaired vasodilation, and diminished hypothalamic responsiveness make it more difficult to cope with elevated nighttime temperatures. These thermal challenges disrupt sleep by prolonging sleep onset, fragmenting slow-wave and REM sleep, and suppressing melatonin secretion. Importantly, sex-related differences in thermoregulatory aging—particularly menopause-associated vasomotor instability in women and testosterone-related autonomic changes in men—further modulate individual vulnerability to heat-induced sleep disruption. Beyond sleep, heat-induced stress affects metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune systems, promoting insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, sympathetic overactivation, and chronic inflammation. Socioeconomic disparities, urban heat island exposure, and differential access to cooling infrastructure function as critical environmental modifiers that amplify biological vulnerability, particularly in disadvantaged older populations. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge on the specific thermoregulatory mechanisms of sleep disruption induced by heat stress in older adults. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing effective interventions, including environmental cooling, circadian-aligned behaviors, and targeted public health strategies, to mitigate the compounded risks of heat exposure and preserve healthy sleep in aging populations. However, many proposed mechanistic pathways are primarily derived from animal models, and controlled human studies specifically targeting heat-exposed older adults remain scarce. Full article

Persistent inflammatory and metabolic stress contribute to impaired tissue repair, particularly under diabetic conditions. Agave potatorum is traditionally used in Mexico to treat inflammation and wounds; however, its safety profile and potential to modulate stress-associated biological responses remain poorly investigated. This study evaluated the safety, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. potatorum and its fractions. Safety was assessed using human keratinocytes and fibroblasts, as well as an acute oral toxicity assay (OECD Guideline 420) in female CD-1 mice. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using a TPA-induced ear edema model, while wound-healing activity was assessed in normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic male CD-1 mice. The hydroalcoholic extract exhibited a favorable safety profile, showing low cytotoxicity at therapeutically relevant concentrations and no signs of systemic toxicity at 2000 mg/kg. The hydroalcoholic extract and its EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions significantly reduced TPA-induced ear edema. The n-BuOH fraction also accelerated wound contraction in diabetic mice from day 6 onward, whereas only limited effects were observed in normoglycemic animals. A. potatorum exhibits a favorable preclinical safety profile and modulates biological responses associated with inflammatory stress, supporting its therapeutic potential for chronic diabetic wound healing. Full article

The distribution of white spots on the shell is one of the remarkable characteristics of the appearance of Portunus trituberculatus, but there have been no reports on its characteristics and genetic analysis. In this study, seven parameters of white spots were extracted based on computer vision, including white spot number (WSN), white spot area (WSA), white spot regional area (WSRA), percentage of white spot area (PWSA), percentage of white spot regional area (PWSRA), white spot number of white spot regional area (WSNRA), and white spot number of carapace area (WSNCA). Using 22 full-sib families, we estimated genetic parameters of these white spot traits and their genetic correlations with growth carapace area (CA). Results demonstrated that these parameters exhibit continuous variation, but the performance of these white spot indicators was not consistent. Based on comprehensive principal component analysis (PCA), they could be categorized into three distinct groups within the full-sib families. The heritability estimated under the animal model ranged from 0.00 to 0.35 for white spot traits and was 0.18 for CA. Most white spot traits showed low to moderate heritability. The genetic correlations among WSN, WSA, WSRA, PWSA, and CA were significantly positive, indicating that selection for one of these traits would result in the improvement of others. This study presents the first estimation of characteristics and genetic parameters of white spot traits of P. trituberculatus, providing valuable information for understanding these traits and facilitating the optimization of breeding strategies for this species. Full article

The evolving understanding of the regulation of allergic airway inflammation has offered new approaches for asthma therapy. For example, our understanding of the role of alarmins, Th2 cytokines and eosinophils has allowed the development of biologics that have revolutionized therapy for severe asthma. However, many questions remain and several of our patients are still not controlled with the current available therapies. Many immune cells have been implicated in asthma pathophysiology, but one cell that is missing from these studies is the monocyte. Monocytes (Mos) are bone marrow-derived cells that circulate in the blood and develop into macrophages and/or dendritic cells following migration to peripheral tissues. Macrophages (Møs) and dendritic cells have been implicated in the development and progression, of allergic airway inflammation, but also in tissue repair after inflammation. Recent studies in animal models suggest a major role for Mos in allergic airway inflammation, primarily through their ability to mediate recruitment of eosinophils and/or neutrophils to the airways. However, there is little information regarding the role of monocytes in human asthma. Here we review the literature regarding the presence and functions of peripheral blood and airway Mos in human asthma and suggest further work that needs to be done to consolidate the information on Mo functions. Studies show changes in Mo numbers and activation status in the peripheral blood of patients with asthma, changes that in many cases correlate with disease severity and/or activity. Studies also show altered phenotype of Mos present in the airways of patients with asthma. Detailed human studies need to be performed, if possible, studies that include therapeutic interventions, to allow for a full understanding of the role of Mos in asthma. Full article

Campylobacter spp. are a major foodborne zoonosis, and poultry slaughterhouses are One Health interfaces where animal carriage, environmental reservoirs and worker exposure intersect. We performed a comprehensive systematic review and meta-regression to quantify how slaughter stages and in-plant interventions affect Campylobacter concentration and prevalence on poultry carcasses and meat. The Scopus literature search engine was accessed to collect articles that focused on observational studies and challenge tests, reporting results on Campylobacter concentrations or prevalence in both pre-stage/non-intervened and post-stage/intervened groups. From a total of 4080 studies initially retrieved, 71 were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis, yielding 1256 observations. Meta-regression models were adjusted according to the type of outcome measure: log₁₀ reduction for concentration outcomes and ln risk ratio (ln RR) for prevalence outcomes. Meta-analysis showed reductions in Campylobacter counts after scalding (0.898 log₁₀ reduction on neck skin p < 0.001), carcass rinsing with water (0.523 log₁₀, p = 0.043), and after sanitisation combined with chilling (0.692 log₁₀, p < 0.001). Although significant, chilling was found to slightly decrease Campylobacter prevalence by 8% (95% CI: 1–17%; ln RR = 0.082, p = 0.032). Intervention strategies reducing Campylobacter concentrations included processing in colder climates (autumn and winter) (1.927 log₁₀, p = 0.005), application of plant extracts (1.493 log₁₀, p = 0.008), use of organic acids (1.192 log₁₀, p < 0.001) and chemical carcass sanitisation (1.031 log₁₀, p < 0.001). Organic acids also reduced the prevalence of Campylobacter in poultry carcass slaughter groups (ln RR = 1.079, p = 0.009), whereas freezing did not reach statistical significance (0.740 log₁₀, p = 0.288). Environmental synthesis highlighted high pooled prevalence in transport crates (0.833, 95% CI 0.765–0.885) and among operators (0.732, 95% CI 0.404–0.917), supporting their role as reservoirs and vectors. Meta-regressions demonstrated that the measured effectiveness of slaughter stages and intervention strategies were driven by key moderators, namely, sample weight, type of sample, type of chemical/organic acid/extract and its concentration, mode of application and storage time. Despite substantial heterogeneity and small study effects for concentration, the evidence supports the implementation of a multi-barrier One Health strategy combining the control of incoming contamination, hygiene of equipment and personnel, and optimised rinsing/sanitisation and chilling to reduce consumer risks. Full article

Viral infections are the main cause of asthma exacerbation, particularly in children. Impaired interferon induction by the airway epithelium has been linked to increased asthma exacerbation during viral infections. Several studies have suggested that epithelial cells in asthmatic mice induce low levels of type I and type III interferons, which leads to increased viral load. However, emerging evidence suggests that epithelial cells from asthmatic individuals induce delayed interferon responses. This study aimed to assess the ability of asthmatic and healthy epithelial cells to mount interferon-associated responses after exposure to viral stimuli. Variations in gene expression associated with interferon response were analyzed using datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Airway epithelial cells derived from healthy and asthmatic individuals were infected with RNA virus and then subjected to microarray or RNA sequencing. Lung tissues obtained from the animal models (mice and rats) were analyzed using RNA sequencing. Further data analysis was performed using integrated differential expression and pathway analysis (iDEP). Viral infection of airway epithelial cells derived from healthy and asthmatic subjects induces strong expression of interferon- and interferon-related genes. Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) were robustly induced in both asthmatic and healthy human epithelial cells after viral infection. However, the induction of virus-induced interferon-related responses was significantly lower in the lung tissues of animals with pre-allergic inflammation. Although previous studies have reported that the antiviral-interferon response is impaired or diminished in asthmatic individuals, our findings suggest that interferon-associated transcriptional responses are preserved in the airway epithelial cells of asthmatics during viral infection. This suggests that asthmatic epithelial cells induce an antiviral immune response, characterized by the induction of interferon-associated genes necessary for viral removal. Future studies should investigate the mechanisms underlying virus-induced asthma exacerbation. Full article

The purpose of this study was the chemical design, synthesis, and evaluation of the anticonvulsant potential of 15 novel thiazolyl-methylthio-quinazolin-4(3H)-one hybrid compounds (4a-o). The compounds were designed based on a scaffold that reunited thiazole and quinazolin-4(3H)-one heterocycles of two well-known anticonvulsants, clomethiazole and methaqualone, through a condensation reaction. The compounds were evaluated in vivo for anticonvulsant activity using the pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure animal model. A Rotarod test was employed to evaluate the neuromotor coordination after the administration of the tested compounds, and a flumazenil antagonism assay was subsequently performed to investigate if the observed anticonvulsant effects were mediated through the compounds’ interaction with the GABA_A receptor. The in silico assessment consisted of molecular docking, evaluation of the druggability, and ADMETox prediction. All compounds presented anticonvulsant activity to varying degrees. The most notable activity was observed in compounds 4k (ED₅₀ = 84.313 mg/kg) and 4c (ED₅₀ = 178.165 mg/kg). The in vivo results positively correlated with the observations drawn in the molecular docking study on the human α₁β₂γ₂ GABA_A receptor and on the NR1 ligand-binding core of the NMDA receptor. The potential of anticonvulsant activity was also supported by the druggability and ADMETox predictions that highlighted an increased possibility of brain–blood barrier permeation, supported by the computed parameters TPSA, logD, and logBB. The results of the flumazenil antagonism assay additionally highlighted the possible mechanism of action of compounds 4c and 4k as positive allosteric modulators of the GABA_A receptor. Preliminary evaluation confirmed the anticonvulsant potential of the tested compounds, with further testing being necessary for a better understanding and confirmation of the activity. Full article

Oxidative stress significantly impairs wound healing by prolonging inflammation and damaging surrounding tissue. l-(+)-Ergothioneine (EGT), a naturally occurring thione–thiol antioxidant transported by OCTN1, exhibits potent cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the study was to investigate whether EGT applied topically to the periwound region can accelerate healing via transdermal antioxidant action. Full-thickness excisional wounds were created on the dorsum of Wistar rats. Animals were divided into three groups: the untreated rats (control), the rats treated with EGT at concentrations of 130 or 650 μg/cm² applied on gauze positioned in the periwound region. Wound areas were measured over 15 days. Healing kinetics were analyzed using Logistic and Weibull models. The results showed that in the EGT-treated groups wound closures accelerated compared with controls. The Logistic model predicted ~ 70% healing in controls vs. > 90% in EGT-treated animals by day 15. The 130 μg/cm² dose of EGT achieved near-maximal efficacy, while its higher loading had no substantial additional benefit. Topically applied EGT in the periwound region significantly enhances healing, supporting its role as a transdermally active antioxidant and a promising strategy for advanced wound care. Full article

When UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) carry out wildlife inspection for biodiversity protection, there are challenges such as low target, complex background, variable shape and serious occlusion, which lead to insufficient accuracy and a high misjudgment rate of the existing lightweight detection model. We propose an improved lightweight YOLOv8n model, which aims to achieve higher accuracy and more real-time animal target detection under the UAV platform. To address the issue of small target features being easily lost in the deep network, we introduce a dynamic upsampling convolution for accurate feature-aware upsampling, which can effectively reconstructs target details and suppress background noise. In order to enhance the feature discrimination ability of the model in complex environments, a convolution block attention mechanism was integrated in the model, and the key features of the target were adaptively focused through the channel–spatial dual attention mechanism. Finally, in order to improve the positioning accuracy in dense and occluded scenes, we used MPDIoU loss function to optimize the bounding box regression, and achieve more stable and accurate alignment by minimizing the vertex distance between the prediction box and the real box. Experiments on public data sets show that the detection accuracy and efficiency of the proposed model are significantly improved compared with the original YOLOv8n: the number of model parameters is reduced by 10.7%, the amount of calculation is reduced by 9.9%, and the inference speed is improved by 25%. In terms of comprehensive performance, our method achieved a mAP@0.5 of 96.4%, a mAP@0.5:0.95 improvement of 6.0 percentage points, and an F1 score of 93.5%, while also significantly reducing the false positive rate. Experiments on self-made aerial animal data sets further fully verify that the algorithm can achieve high-precision real-time animal target detection in the actual UAV platform. Full article

Multi-scale label hierarchies with diverse semantic levels often give rise to similarity conflicts among sample pairs, posing a critical challenge to conventional deep metric learning (DML) methods. To address this issue, we propose Cross-Scale Partial Order Metric Learning (CSPOML), which is designed to enhance the hierarchical consistency of embeddings across different semantic levels. Specifically, we introduce a partial-order weight function to quantify the consistency of higher-level ancestor labels, and we design a cross-scale positive-pair consistency constraint together with a negative-pair trend-suppression mechanism to regulate similarity behavior across scales. Furthermore, we incorporate an uncertainty-aware proxy modeling strategy at the fine level to alleviate the noise introduced by ambiguous samples, thereby improving the structural alignment of the embedding space. Extensive experiments on three dynamic hierarchical metric learning datasets, DyML-Vehicle, DyML-Animal, and DyML-Product, show that CSPOML achieves consistent improvements on mAP and ASI while remaining competitive on Recall@1 across different semantic levels. These results support the effectiveness of the proposed cross-scale partial-order modeling. Full article

Background/Objectives: Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has emerged as a promising adjunctive agent in periodontal therapy. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and human clinical studies regarding the effects of resveratrol on periodontal disease, with the clinical component focusing on systemically healthy non-smoking patients. Methods: Electronic searches of MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were conducted for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Eligible studies included periodontal-related in vitro cell models, in vivo experimental periodontitis models, and randomized clinical trials assessing resveratrol as an adjunctive therapy. Data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and meta-analyses were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: Fifteen studies were included (five in vitro, six in vivo, and five human randomized controlled trials). Meta-analysis showed the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on the lipopolysaccharide-induced protein expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8 in vitro, with low to moderate heterogeneity. In animal studies, resveratrol significantly attenuated ligature-induced dental alveolar bone loss, IL-1β protein, and relative mRNA expression. However, reductions in relative mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 were inconsistent and highly heterogeneous; in contrast, nanoparticle- and liposomal-modified resveratrol consistently and significantly reduced these mRNA levels. In human trials, adjunctive resveratrol was associated with improvements in probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level compared with root planing alone in patients with periodontitis, as well as reductions in bleeding and plaque indices in patients with periodontal diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis. Conclusions: Resveratrol suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro and attenuates alveolar bone loss in vivo, with enhanced and more consistent molecular effects observed using modified formulations. Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that resveratrol may be associated with modest adjunctive effects on periodontal outcomes in systemically healthy non-smokers. However, given the limited number of clinical trials, small sample sizes, heterogeneity among studies, short follow-up periods, and limited certainty of the evidence, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Further well-designed RCTs with longer follow-up periods are required to determine their clinical relevance. Full article

The global expansion of K-pop has increased demand for AI-driven choreography learning. However, existing motion recognition models often struggle to capture fine-grained rhythm patterns and dynamic motion transitions across consecutive frames, limiting their ability to provide accurate and objective feedback. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Large Language Model-based Dance Generative Control (L-DGC), an integrated framework for controllable dance generation and evaluation. The framework comprises four stages: a Visual Analysis Phase (VAP) for skeletal extraction; an Audio Analysis Phase (AAP) for rhythmic synchronization; a Multimodal Data Phase (MDP), which employs Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Transformer architectures to evaluate movement accuracy; and a three-dimensional (3D) Transformation Phase (3TP), which converts two-dimensional (2D) skeletal data into 3D character animations within the Unity engine. Guided by an LLM, the framework performs real-time inference and iterative refinement to optimize choreographic data without requiring subjective expert assessment. By quantifying choreographic components and transforming 2D motion data into 3D representations, L-DGC provides an objective evaluation framework for dance learning. The proposed system has significant potential for artificial intelligence (AI)-based dance education, real-time feedback applications, and automated audition platforms in the entertainment industry. Full article

Exposure to high altitudes for hours or days is defined as acute hypobaric hypoxia (AHH) condition, which rapidly engages adjustments such as signaling pathways involving inflammation, immune modulation and oxidative stress, whose dysregulation has been described as contributing to the pathophysiology of high-altitude illnesses, due to insufficient acclimatization, such as developing acute mountain sickness (AMS). Given its traditional high-altitude use and bioactive properties, Senecio nutans (S. nutans) extract, or chachacoma (CH), has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy to mitigate high-altitude related pathobiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of S. nutans on acclimatization, regarding the status of oxidative stress, inflammation, immune and symptoms associated with AMS in an animal model exposed to AHH. Twenty-eight female Wistar rats (≈3 months old) were randomly allocated into four experimental groups (n = 7 each): normobaric normoxia (NX), normobaric normoxia plus S. nutans administration (NX+CH), acute hypobaric hypoxia (AHH; 48 h exposure), and acute hypobaric hypoxia plus S. nutans administration (AHH+CH). S. nutans was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 80 mg/kg, one hour prior to hypoxic exposure. Outcomes included body weight, food intake, hematological parameters, lung histopathology, pulmonary mRNA expression of HIF-1α, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and VEGF, and lipid peroxidation in lung tissue assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. After 48 h of AHH, animals exhibited a decrease in body weight and food intake, increase in hematocrit level and total leukocytes, as well as lung injury characterized by thickening of alveolar walls and inflammatory infiltrates. In addition, AHH induced an increase in pulmonary IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expression. In contrast, S. nutans administration partially attenuated hypoxia-induced body weight loss, mitigated the rise in hematocrit levels, and reduced lung damage, while returning total leukocyte counts to control levels. Notably, S. nutans also decreased the hypoxia-induced overexpression of IL-6 and IL-1β. Regarding lipid peroxidation, no significant differences were observed among groups. These findings suggest that S. nutans exerts a protective effect against acute hypobaric hypoxia by attenuating inflammatory responses and preserving pulmonary structure, thereby supporting its potential as a preventive strategy to mitigate early pathophysiological alterations associated with high-altitude exposure. Full article

Zoonotic diseases represent an increasing health, economic, and social risk in the context of intensified movement of people, animals, and goods, which creates conditions for their rapid spread and the emergence of pandemics. The One Health approach provides an integrated framework that brings together human, animal, and environmental health in order to enable more effective risk management. This study aims to examine the role of insurance and financial mechanisms in zoonotic risk management in the context of One Health. The review identifies four main categories of mechanisms relevant to zoonotic risk management: human health insurance, animal insurance and compensation schemes for livestock producers, public emergency financing mechanisms, and integrated risk-sharing models. The analysis shows that these mechanisms often operate within separate sectors, which may limit their effectiveness in managing complex health threats. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of zoonotic risk management depends not only on the availability of financial resources, but also on how these mechanisms are integrated across sectors. In this context, insurance mechanisms are considered tools for both cost compensation and risk management. They support prevention, early detection, and disease control. The need for their integration within the One Health framework is emphasized. It is also necessary to develop models that ensure a more equitable distribution of risk and financial sustainability for the population as a whole. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis addressed through a One Health framework. However, recent European Union (EU) surveillance data reveals a marked divergence in progress between the human and animal sectors. This study analyzes the most recent monitoring reports (European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network and European Sales and Use of Antimicrobials for Veterinary Medicine, 2024) to compare the effectiveness of mitigation strategies across sectors. The findings expose a clear paradox: while the veterinary sector has achieved a structural 24.3% reduction in antimicrobial sales in the EU since 2018, human medicine has recorded a 2% increase in overall consumption, diverging from established reduction targets. From a qualitative perspective, veterinary medicine has nearly eliminated the use of critically important antimicrobials in the AntiMicrobial Expert Group (AMEG) (category B), including polymyxins and third-generation cephalosporins, which now account for only 0.24% of total sales. In contrast, human medicine continues to struggle to contain antimicrobial resistance in key sentinel pathogens, notably Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, companion animals, representing 97.9% of non-food-producing animal biomass, emerge as a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria due to the intensive use of broad-spectrum oral formulations. The results indicate that the veterinary regulatory model, centered on binding volume reduction and preventive strategies, has been more effective in reducing overall antimicrobial consumption compared to the voluntary, guideline-based stewardship approaches currently used in human medicine. Achieving meaningful control of antimicrobial resistance will require human medicine to adopt the same level of structural rigor already implemented in animal production systems. Full article