Search Results (5,978)

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy associated with extra-intestinal manifestations. Sleep disorders may be frequent in CD patients. We aimed to investigate the quality of sleep in CD patients and to assess its relationship with clinical and biochemical parameters. Methods: We included patients with a proven diagnosis of CD under a gluten free diet at least twelve months prior to enrolment. All the participants completed the Sleep Scale from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS sleep scale) and the Sleep Problems Index II was calculated. A high SLP9 score indicated a bad quality of sleep and values >20 revealed sleep disturbance. Moreover, blood samples were collected and demographic and clinical data were recorded from each subject. Linear logistic regression was used for uni- and multivariate analyses; the b coefficient and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: We enrolled 53 patients, with the mean age being 42.75 ± 11.19 and 84.9% being females. The average hours of sleep per night were 6.47 ± 1.11. The mean SLP9 was 37.44 ± 20.65. Forty patients (75.5%) showed sleep disturbance, and 81.1% of patients had vitamin D insufficiency. According to univariate analysis, high SLP9 values (worse sleep) were inversely related to the number of sleep hours (b = −0.38, 95%CI: −11.8 to −2.2, p = 0.005) and to vitamin D levels (b = −0.57, 95%CI: −2.7 to −0.46, p = 0.009). In multivariate analysis only serum levels of vitamin D were inversely related to SLP9 (b = −0.47, 95%CI −12.8 to −0.43, p = 0.05). Conclusions: Low serum levels of vitamin D are independently associated with poor sleep quality in celiac patients. These findings need to be confirmed in future experimental and clinical studies. Full article

As the main byproduct of edible mushroom processing, mushroom stems are often discarded due to their rough texture and poor palatability, resulting in resource waste. However, as a ruminant animal, sika deer has good fiber digestion ability, providing the possibility for the resource utilization of mushroom stems. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Lentinus edodes stem powder (LESP) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical parameters, immune responses, and gut microbiota composition in sika deer fawns. A total of 120 weaned fawns (120 ± 10 days old; 35.0 ± 1.0 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, receiving a basal diet supplemented with 0% (control), 2.5% (LE1), 5% (LE2), or 7.5% (LE3) LESP for 35 days. Growth performance did not differ significantly among treatments (p > 0.05). However, apparent digestibility of ether extract and crude protein was significantly higher in the LE1 group (p < 0.05), while LE3 exhibited reduced digestibility of organic matter, ether extract, and crude protein (p < 0.05). Serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) levels increased with LESP inclusion, with the highest values observed in LE3 (p < 0.05). Serum glucose (GLU) decreased dose-dependently (p < 0.05). Immunoglobulin A (IgA), G (IgG), and M (IgM) concentrations were significantly elevated in LE2 and LE3 groups (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis revealed that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla. LE3 supplementation altered beta diversity and reduced microbial evenness. At the genus level, LE2 and LE3 increased the abundance of beneficial taxa such as Planomicrobium and Psychrobacter, while decreasing Ruminococcus and Clostridiaceae_Clostridium. In conclusion, adding 5% LESP to the diet can increase the digestibility of nutrients, enhance humoral immunity, and regulate the composition of the gut microbiota. This study promotes the transformation of mushroom stems from agricultural waste into functional feed additives, which helps reduce breeding costs, improve animal health, and provide a practical path for the coordinated and sustainable development of the edible mushroom industry and animal husbandry. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early risk stratification remains challenging in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The present study evaluated the prognostic value of 24 h high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-Troponin I) and assessed whether combining biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters improves short-term risk prediction. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 170 consecutive adult patients with confirmed NSTEMI who were admitted to a Medical Intensive Care Unit and prospectively enrolled between February 2022 and January 2023. Clinical, routine biochemical, inflammatory, hematological, lipid, and echocardiographic data were collected during index hospitalization. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I was measured at admission and again 24 h after hospitalization, with the 24 h value used as the principal marker of myocardial injury in the prediction analyses. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), defined as cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, urgent coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for worsening heart failure, within 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression, Cox regression, sequential prediction modeling, and internal bootstrap validation were performed. Results: MACEs occurred in 88 patients (51.8%). Twenty-four-hour hs-Troponin I, but not admission hs-Troponin I, was independently associated with MACEs (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.09–2.26; p = 0.015) and a shorter time to the first MACE event (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.07–1.78; p = 0.012). Lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was also independently associated with adverse outcomes. The addition of 24 h hs-Troponin I, LVEF, and C-reactive protein improved discrimination from an AUC of 0.665 to 0.759 (optimism-corrected AUC, 0.717), with corresponding improvements in reclassification. A simplified multimarker score was independently associated with event-free survival (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.53–3.64; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit with NSTEMI, the integration of 24 h hs-Troponin I, LVEF, and C-reactive protein improved short-term risk prediction beyond that of clinical variables alone. A practical multimarker model based on routinely available parameters identified patients at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes during early follow-up. Full article

Anaerobic digestion (AD) plays a key role in the circular bioeconomy by converting organic waste into renewable energy and facilitating the sustainable utilisation of waste materials. Agricultural and agro-industrial by-products are increasingly recognised as valuable AD feedstocks due to their widespread availability and significant bioenergy potential. However, many of these substrates contain plant-derived bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids and terpenes, which can influence microbial communities and process performance. Depending on their concentration and chemical characteristics, these compounds may inhibit microbial activity, impair process stability, and ultimately decrease methane production. This review critically synthesises current knowledge on the occurrence, bioavailability and biological activity of plant-derived bioactive compounds in agricultural feedstocks used for anaerobic digestion, with particular emphasis on their implications for process performance and reactor stability. The principal mechanisms through which phytochemicals influence anaerobic digestion include enzyme inhibition, membrane disruption, interference with syntrophic interactions and trace metal chelation. The available evidence demonstrates a pronounced dose-dependent response, whereby low concentrations may exert neutral or selective modulatory effects. In contrast, elevated concentrations disrupt microbial activity, leading to volatile fatty acid accumulation, prolonged lag phases and reduced methane production. Current mitigation strategies include substrate pretreatment, co-digestion, microbial adaptation, adsorbent-assisted detoxification and the use of DIET-promoting materials. An integrated evidence matrix is proposed to link phytochemical composition with reactor configuration, operational parameters and mitigation strategies, thereby providing a practical framework for feedstock-specific process optimisation. Overall, the available evidence demonstrates that reliable evaluation of agricultural feedstocks should extend beyond conventional biochemical methane potential assessment to incorporate phytochemical composition, microbial functional responses and key operational parameters. Such an integrated approach can improve the prediction of methane recovery and support evidence-based optimisation of anaerobic digestion within circular bioeconomy systems. Full article

While many studies indicate a bidirectional relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and depression, its precise nature remains unclear. The aim of the study was to determine the levels of inflammatory markers in oldest-old patients with diabetes and depressive symptoms and identify the risk factors associated with late-life depressive symptoms. In total, 195 participants with diabetes, aged 85 and above, were screened for depressive symptoms using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Clinical and biochemical data were also collected. Serum levels of inflammatory markers were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were increased in individuals with depression and correlated with each other as well as with HbA_1c levels, GDS scores, FBG and BMI. The multivariable analysis confirmed that of the three studied biomarkers, only TNF-α is independently associated with depressive symptoms when adjusting for demographic factors (Model 1) and cardiovascular burden (Model 3); however, its significance disappeared when controlling for glycaemic parameters (Model 2). Only TNF-α is independently associated with depressive symptoms in oldest-old patients with T2DM, though this relationship is tightly dependent on glycaemic control. Future studies should clarify whether IL-1β and IL-6 contribute to depressive symptoms through distinct pathophysiological pathways. Full article

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as pivotal post-transcriptional modulators of gene expression that govern animal growth and development processes. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located within the pre-miR-1453 precursor and growth traits, carcass traits, body size traits, and serum biochemical parameters in an F₂ chicken resource population derived from Gushi and Anka crosses (n = 860). Genotyping of the rs16159272 polymorphism (+31 bp C > T) was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and population genetic parameters, secondary structure prediction, and association analyses were conducted. The results showed that the SNP was moderately polymorphic (PIC = 0.3174) and significantly associated with hatch weight (p < 0.01; CT > TT > CC), as well as body weight at 2 and 4 weeks of age (p < 0.05; TT > CT > CC), but not with carcass or body size traits (p > 0.05). For serum biochemical parameters, total protein, cholinesterase, and creatine phosphokinase showed extremely significant differences across genotypes (p < 0.01), whereas albumin, globulin, and lactate dehydrogenase showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Structural prediction revealed that the C > T mutation increased the minimum free energy by 3.8 kcal/mol, reducing the stability of the pre-miR-1453 stem-loop. Target gene prediction and enrichment analysis indicated that pre-miR-1453 may participate in the regulation of chicken growth and serum biochemical parameters through pathways related to neuron development, cytoskeletal dynamics, and energy metabolism. These findings suggest that the pre-miR-1453 rs16159272 polymorphism could act as a candidate genetic indicator for marker-aided breeding in poultry. Full article

Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in modern agriculture. Toxicological studies have demonstrated that chronic glyphosate exposure is associated with the development of systemic disorders, particularly renal injury. Therefore, the search for effective therapeutic approaches to mitigate glyphosate-induced kidney dysfunction remains an important challenge in contemporary biomedicine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of C₆₀ fullerenes, as potent antioxidants, on the recovery of renal function following chronic glyphosate intoxication. The experiment was conducted on male Wistar rats that received glyphosate orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight daily for 16 weeks. Following the cessation of glyphosate exposure, animals in the experimental group were treated with a C₆₀ fullerene aqueous solution (C₆₀FAS) at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight daily for two weeks. The animals exhibited elevated blood creatinine and urea concentrations, a reduced glomerular filtration rate, increased fractional excretion of sodium, an electrolyte imbalance, and enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase after chronic glyphosate exposure. Therapeutic administration of C₆₀FAS contributed to an average improvement of 20 ± 2% in the investigated biochemical parameters at the end of the experiment, which is consistent with the findings of the histological analysis of kidney tissue. These results demonstrate the pronounced therapeutic effect of C₆₀ fullerenes, attributable to their ability to attenuate oxidative stress and promote the recovery of the filtration, tubular, and metabolic functions of the kidneys following chronic glyphosate intoxication. Full article

Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare metabolic disorder caused by homogentisic acid accumulation and characterised by ochronosis, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and progressive connective tissue damage. This study aimed to define the circulating proteomic alterations associated with AKU and assess their relationship with nitisinone treatment. Plasma samples from 11 patients with AKU and 6 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry using label-free quantification. Differentially abundant proteins were identified using thresholds of |log₂FC| ≥ 1 and Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate ≤ 0.01, followed by functional enrichment and treatment-stratified analyses. Twenty-two proteins were differentially abundant between AKU patients and controls. Complement components (C1R, C1S, C9, C4BPA, CPN2), fibronectin, clusterin, PGLYRP2, and haemoglobin subunits showed increased abundance, whereas most immunoglobulin chains, kallikrein, apolipoprotein A2, and alpha-1-antitrypsin showed decreased abundance. Functional enrichment highlighted complement activation, B-cell-mediated and humoral immune responses, immunoglobulin-related functions, platelet activation, and erythrocyte gas-exchange pathways. Correlation analysis linked several proteins, particularly CPN2, APOA2, C1R and C1S, to core biochemical parameters of disease activity. Treatment-stratified analysis identified fourteen proteins that remained significantly altered in both treated and untreated patients, forming a treatment-resistant core of the signature, while several complement-, coagulation-, and lipid-related proteins were significant only in one treatment subgroup. These findings define an AKU plasma proteomic signature dominated by complement activation and humoral immune alterations, together with extracellular matrix, erythrocyte-, and coagulation-associated changes. The persistence of most alterations across treatment groups suggests that residual systemic proteomic dysregulation remains despite nitisinone treatment. Full article

Microalgae represent a promising raw material for the bioeconomy and biotechnology. One of the key factors regulating their metabolism is light. However, the traditional approach to cultivation, aimed at maximising biomass productivity due to high lighting intensity, contradicts the principles of energy efficiency. In addition, the responses of soil microalgae to the spectral composition of light remain poorly understood, which creates a gap in fundamental knowledge. The Pleurastrum insigne CAMU MZ–Ch4 soil strain is a potent producer of valuable compounds. Physico-chemical and instrumental analysis, including spectrophotometric, chromatographic and gravimetric techniques, were used to determine the productive and biochemical parameters of the strain. It was shown that blue and red light with intensities of 90 and 150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ are optimal in absolute terms for the growth and CO₂ biofixation, green light for the accumulation of pigments and antioxidants, and low-intensity red light is the most energy efficient for the synthesis of lipids and other metabolites. Based on calculations of product-specific energy intensity, it was demonstrated that the “more light = more product” strategy increases metabolite energy intensity. Maximum bioeconomic efficiency (the minimum cost of electricity to produce a unit of a metabolite) is achieved with low intensity of red and blue light. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an increasingly prevalent disease closely linked to dietary habits and body composition, particularly reflected in lean mass and markers such as appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM). Low ASM can subsequently trigger metabolic abnormalities such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between the diet quality index, ASM, and MetS in individuals with MASLD from the Yucatan Peninsula. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in subjects with a MASLD diagnosis. Diet quality index, anthropometric and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Body composition analysis was utilized to estimate ASM. Correlations between ASM and anthropometric/biochemical parameters were analyzed. Furthermore, comparative analyses were performed between groups stratified by the presence of MetS and low ASM. Results: Fifty subjects were included in the study. Participants exhibited a significantly low diet quality index (57.6 ± 9.78 vs. 100, p < 0.001), alongside a high prevalence of both low ASM and MetS. ASM was positively correlated with BW, WC, and protein mass (p < 0.001), as well as with creatinine and ALT (p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with body fat percentage and TG (p < 0.05). Subjects with low ASM showed significant differences in BW, waist circumference, protein mass, and energy intake compared to those with normal ASM (p < 0.05). Individuals with MetS had higher glucose and blood pressure compared to non-MetS (p < 0.05). Additionally, among patients with MASLD and MetS, those with low ASM exhibited higher glucose and systolic blood pressure compared to those with normal ASM (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that adults with MASLD from the Yucatan Peninsula exhibited suboptimal diet quality according to the DQI-I, with a high prevalence of low ASM and MetS. These findings highlight the potential role of the muscle–liver axis in metabolic dysfunction in MASLD. Full article

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of fucoidan on contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in mice, focusing on the TLR4/NF-κB and Nrf2/GPX4 pathways. Methods: Five-week-old male ICR mice were randomly divided into normal control, contrast model, low-dose (100 mg/kg), and high-dose (300 mg/kg) fucoidan groups. Renal index, biochemical markers, histopathology, oxidative stress indicators, inflammatory cytokine levels, and the expression of TLR4/NF-κB, Nrf2/HO-1, and ferroptosis-related proteins were assessed. Untargeted metabolomics followed by KEGG pathway enrichment was also performed. Results: Our results showed that contrast successfully established the CI-AKI model, as evidenced by an increased kidney index, abnormal biochemical parameters, severe renal pathological damage, oxidative stress imbalance, inflammatory activation, ferroptosis, and metabolic disturbances. Fucoidan dose-dependently improved kidney index and biochemical markers, alleviated pathological injury, enhanced antioxidant capacity, suppressed inflammation and ferroptosis, and reversed metabolic pathway disorders (e.g., purine and glycerophospholipid metabolism), with the high dose showing more pronounced effects. Conclusions: Fucoidan could effectively ameliorate CI-AKI, and its effects are closely associated with the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, regulation of ferroptosis-related proteins, and improvement of key metabolic disturbances, suggesting a new research direction for the prevention of CI-AKI. Full article

Seminal plasma regulates sperm function; oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation can impair semen biochemical homeostasis. This study investigated seminal biochemical/enzymatic compounds and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) in seminal plasma and spermatozoa from normozoospermic men (>5th percentile) assessing their relationship with sperm quality. The strongest significant (p < 0.001 ***) negative correlations (r) were found for normal sperm morphology and albumin (ALB, r = −0.515 ***), cholesterol (CHO, r = −0.386 ***), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, r = −0.514 ***), sperm TEAC (r = −0.438 ***) and homocysteine (Hcy; r = −0.381 ***); sperm progressive motility with ALB (r = −0.495 ***), CHO (r = −0.349 ***), LDH (r = −0.355 ***) and sperm TEAC (r = −0.295 ***); sperm vitality with creatine kinase (CK, r = −0.486 ***) and LDH (r = −0.380 ***). Total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA) was positively correlated with sperm quality. After stratification, subjects with low-normal sperm parameters showed significantly higher levels of ALB, CHO, CK, LDH, interleukin 6 (IL-6), Hcy and sperm TEAC vs. high-normal parameter subjects. ALB, Hcy and LDH were increased in individuals with progressive motility, normal morphology and vitality < 25th percentile indicating their involvement in OS, inflammation and accessory gland activity. These findings suggest that World Health Organization lower reference limits are not a strict cutoff between normal and abnormal semen quality but rather define a baseline of biochemical efficiency and sperm function, highlighting the synergy between spermatozoa and seminal plasma. Full article

Objective: Hepatic steatosis commonly coexists with cardiometabolic risk factors, yet circadian blood pressure patterns in adults with hepatic steatosis remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to describe ambulatory blood pressure patterns in adults with ultrasonographically detected moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis. Methods: This single-center prospective observational study enrolled adults with grade 2 or 3 hepatic steatosis on abdominal ultrasonography between August 2023 and August 2024. All participants underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring after enrollment. Patients were classified as dipper or non-dipper according to nocturnal blood pressure decline, and clinical, biochemical, ultrasonographic, and ambulatory parameters were compared. Results: Among 137 patients, 43 (31.4%) had a dipper pattern and 94 (68.6%) had a non-dipper pattern. Grade 2 and grade 3 steatosis were present in 125 (91.2%) and 12 (8.8%) patients, respectively. In the exploratory multivariable analysis, age, sex, antihypertensive treatment, and ultrasonographic steatosis grade were not independently associated with non-dipping status. Ambulatory hypertension thresholds were met more often in the non-dipper group [72 (76.6%) vs. 25 (58.1%), p = 0.027]. Nocturnal hypertension was more frequent in the non-dipper group [72 (76.6%) vs. 22 (51.2%), p = 0.003]. The non-dipper group had higher 24-h systolic blood pressure [134.0 (122.0–145.0) vs. 130.0 (118.5–136.0) mmHg, p = 0.027]. The median nocturnal systolic blood pressure decline in the overall cohort was 6.0% [2.6–11.3], whereas daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were comparable between groups. Conclusions: Non-dipping blood pressure was frequent in adults with moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides a descriptive assessment of nocturnal blood pressure patterns in this selected hepatic steatosis cohort. Full article

Inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) comprises a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders in which the mechanisms linking genetic variation to molecular heterogeneity remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the contribution of lipid and retinoid metabolism to the molecular etiology of IRD through an integrative analysis of proteomic and biochemical data. A cohort of 203 patients with inherited retinal degeneration was genetically characterized by whole-exome sequencing (WES), followed by targeted profiling of lipid-related proteins, including apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL), together with the quantitative assessment of systemic lipid parameters. Integrative analyses identified a coordinated lipid–retinoid–photoreceptor metabolic network linking systemic lipid metabolism with photoreceptor-associated processes. Although conventional lipid measures largely remained within clinical reference ranges, their distributions revealed substantial biological variability. Lipid-associated network architecture defined distinct patterns of molecular organization and exhibited pronounced sex-dependent differences, with female patients displaying denser and more interconnected networks than male patients. Furthermore, the integration of genetic and protein expression demonstrated that variant pathogenicity is associated with the coordinated remodeling of lipid-related molecular states. Our findings identify lipid and retinoid metabolism as integral components of the molecular architecture underlying disease heterogeneity in IRD and reveal a lipid–retinoid metabolic network linking genetic variation to coordinated molecular remodeling. These results provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms contributing to photoreceptor-associated degeneration. Full article

Background: Contemporary antidiabetic therapy has evolved from a glucose-centered approach toward integrated cardiometabolic risk reduction. However, real-world evidence regarding treatment patterns and their association with glycemic and cardiovascular–renal profiles remain limited. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 250 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving non-insulin glucose-lowering therapy in routine specialist clinical practice. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, and pharmacological data were extracted from medical records. Glycemic control was assessed using HbA1c levels and HbA1c variation, while cardiovascular–renal parameters included estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid profile, blood pressure, and heart failure prevalence. Comparative analyses and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Results: The cohort had a mean age of 61.8 ± 11.3 years, and all patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus (100.0%). Obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and chronic kidney disease were highly prevalent. Metformin was the most frequently prescribed therapy (58.8%), followed by GLP-1 receptor agonists (28.8%) and SGLT-2 inhibitors (27.6%). Patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists or SGLT-2 inhibitors showed numerically lower HbA1c values and greater HbA1c reductions compared with conventional therapies. However, differences in HbA1c, CRP, and eGFR were not statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Longer diabetes duration independently predicted poor glycemic control, whereas increasing age was associated with a lower probability of HbA1c > 7%. Conclusions: Contemporary antidiabetic therapies were associated with favorable numerical cardiometabolic trends, although these associations did not remain statistically significant after multiple-comparison correction. The findings should therefore be considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Full article