Search Results (4,000)

Background/Objectives: Preoperative discrimination of benign from malignant adnexal masses remains a major clinical challenge, and circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are candidate non-invasive biomarkers. This exploratory, hypothesis-generating study—not a diagnostic validation study—evaluated serum hsa-miR-200c-3p as a candidate diagnostic biomarker for ovarian malignancy. Methods: Serum from 39 women with an adnexal mass and a surgical indication (20 benign, 19 malignant), all with histological confirmation, was analysed. Of 179 assayed miRNAs, 178 were tested for differential expression (miR-103a-3p as endogenous reference) using the Mann–Whitney U test with Benjamini–Hochberg false-discovery-rate (FDR) correction; hsa-miR-200c-3p, a pre-specified miR-200 family candidate, was evaluated by ROC analysis and compared with, and adjusted for, CA 125, HE4 and age. Results: The malignant group was substantially older and more frequently postmenopausal. Thirty-eight miRNAs were significant after FDR correction; hsa-miR-200c-3p was up-regulated in malignancy. In the complete-case analysis restricted to the 35 participants with a detectable marker (20 benign, 15 malignant), the AUC was 0.893 (95% CI 0.76–0.99); however, four high-grade serous carcinomas showed undetectable serum hsa-miR-200c-3p, and when these were included and imputed as low expression (all-case analysis, n = 39) the AUC fell to 0.705 (95% CI 0.51–0.88). hsa-miR-200c-3p did not demonstrate statistically superior performance to HE4 (AUC 0.93) or CA 125 (0.89), with overlapping confidence intervals; any incremental value beyond established markers and age was modest and exploratory. Conclusions: Serum hsa-miR-200c-3p is a preliminary candidate that requires prospective, age-matched, adequately powered validation with pre-specified assays and analysis plans. Full article

Background/Objectives: Exercise in hypoxic environments induces greater physiological stress than normoxic conditions, potentially limiting exercise performance through reduced skeletal muscle oxygenation and increased metabolic strain. Beetroot juice (BRJ), a dietary source of inorganic nitrate, may enhance nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and oxygen delivery under hypoxic conditions. This study examined the acute effects of BRJ supplementation on metabolic responses, skeletal muscle oxygenation, and cardiac function during submaximal exercise at a fixed heart rate under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Methods: Twelve healthy adult males completed four conditions in a randomized, crossover design, with double-blinding applied to the supplementation condition: normoxic condition + placebo (NPLA), normoxic condition + BRJ (NBRJ), hypoxic condition + placebo (HPLA), and hypoxic condition + BRJ (HBRJ). Participants ingested 70 mL of BRJ (400 mg NO₃⁻) or placebo 2.5 h before 30 min of submaximal exercise at 70% HRmax under normoxic (FiO₂ 20.9%) or hypoxic (FiO₂ 14.5%) conditions. A two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used to test the main effects of environment and treatment and their interaction for each outcome. Results: Hypoxic conditions required a significantly lower mechanical load and induced greater physiological stress. However, a significant environment × treatment interaction was observed for Deoxy_Hb, with HBRJ statistically indistinguishable from normoxic conditions, indicating a clear attenuation of the hypoxia-induced increase in oxygen extraction. In addition, a significant main effect of treatment without a significant interaction was observed for RER, and HBRJ did not differ significantly from NBRJ. Conclusions: BRJ supplementation may help attenuate hypoxia-induced skeletal muscle deoxygenation, as reflected in Deoxy_Hb, potentially via NO-mediated mechanisms; however, as circulating nitrate/nitrite concentrations were not directly measured and interaction effects were not confirmed for most variables, these findings should be regarded as preliminary evidence for the potential use of BRJ as a nutritional strategy in hypoxic exercise settings. Full article

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) remains a major threat to swine production, and its circulation after the African swine fever outbreak requires continued surveillance. This study investigated the temporal, regional, and genetic characteristics of PRRSV in Anhui Province from September 2019 to November 2024. Ten rounds of repeated cross-sectional surveillance were conducted at 147 slaughterhouses and 21 rendering plants. Tissue samples were collected by random, cluster, or risk-based sampling, pooled in groups of five, and tested by RT-qPCR. Representative positive samples with Ct values < 25 underwent ORF5 amplification, Sanger sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 994 site visits yielded 18,733 tissue samples. No positive samples were detected in autumn 2020 or spring 2021, whereas PRRSV was detected again from autumn 2021 and subsequently fluctuated. The highest site-level positivity was 41.18% in autumn 2023, and the highest estimated individual-level positivity was 4.66% in spring 2023. Regional differences were statistically significant, with the highest site-level positivity in northern Anhui, and pooled-sample positivity was higher in rendering plants than in slaughterhouses. All 24 ORF5 sequences belonged to PRRSV-2 and mainly clustered with NADC30-like, NADC34-like, or MLV/classical strains. These findings demonstrate temporal fluctuations and lineage coexistence, supporting continued multisource surveillance and broader genomic and antigenic evaluation. Full article

With the advent of the new definition, fatty liver disorders have been reframed into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and the mixed phenotype referred to as MetALD (MASLD and increased alcohol intake). This change reflects the real-world clinical practice, where metabolic dysfunction and alcohol frequently coexist and synergize to increase risks of steatohepatitis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While conventional non-invasive tests (NITs) remain the backbone of risk stratification, lipidomics and metabolomics can capture biological information on disease mechanisms and may improve early detection and prognosis. Here, we summarize the current evidence on circulating and tissue lipidomic and metabolomic signatures across MASLD, ALD and MetALD, discuss how the new definitions affect clinical risk assessment, and highlight recent studies which partially distinguish molecular fingerprints for mixed etiology disease. Full article

The rising global temperature and changing climate patterns have increased the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events, droughts, and heavy precipitation, significantly affecting agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems. Solar radiation management (SRM) has been proposed as a geoengineering strategy to mitigate these effects by reducing incoming solar radiation. This study evaluated future trends and variability in rainfall and temperature extremes in the Philippines under GeoMIP (G6Solar and G6Sulfur) and ScenarioMIP (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) projections. Using five General Circulation Models (GCMs) and a suite of 10 climate indices recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI), changes in extreme precipitation and temperature across different climate zones in the Philippines were assessed. Climate projections for the future (2041–2070) scenario were analyzed using bias correction, downscaling, and spatial interpolation techniques. Trend analysis was evaluated using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator, while variability was assessed through statistical methods. The results show widespread warming and increased extreme precipitation, but these trends vary significantly across regions. Non-uniform responses emerge across scenarios, with some northern regions experiencing decreases in specific precipitation indices despite the broader warming trend under SRM and non-SRM conditions. These findings provide critical insights into the potential impacts of SRM on future climate extremes in the Philippines and guidance on climate policy recommendations for decision-makers and stakeholders. Full article

Treat-to-target management in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) combines symptoms, fecal and serum biomarkers, endoscopy, histology, and cross-sectional imaging, but these measures frequently diverge. Discordance may reflect analytical variation, timing, disease location, phenotype, comorbidity, or partially non-overlapping biological processes. We performed a critical narrative review using a structured PubMed/MEDLINE search, supplemented by citation chaining and publisher searches. Guidelines, systematic reviews, diagnostic studies, cohorts, randomized trials, and selected mechanistic studies were prioritized. Fecal calprotectin (FC) and lactoferrin primarily reflect intestinal neutrophilic inflammation, whereas C-reactive protein (CRP) and related serum indices reflect a nonlocalizing systemic response. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) detects gastrointestinal bleeding, and leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) remains promising but insufficiently standardized. We distinguish five biological biomarker domains—namely, fecal–neutrophil; serum–systemic; epithelial/barrier; restitution/resolution; and fibrosis/extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling—from symptoms and clinical indices, pharmacologic measurements, and phenotype-directed reference assessments. Circulating barrier, repair, and matrix-turnover markers remain investigational. Reactive therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents has the most mature evidence. Vedolizumab and ustekinumab show exposure–response associations, but actionable thresholds are unvalidated, and clinical TDM is not established for newer biologics or oral small molecules. After objective confirmation of disease activity, the framework may support phenotype-directed therapeutic decisions but is not a validated algorithm. Clinically important disagreement should prompt assessment of sampling, assay, timing, infection, medication-related confounding, and pretest probability before phenotype-directed endoscopy, histology, imaging, or reactive TDM is selected. A single discordant result should neither trigger treatment escalation nor exclude active or structural disease. Full article

Distinguishing relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) from secondary-progressive disease (SPMS) remains a clinical challenge, as no single laboratory test reliably identifies the transition. We explored whether plasma extracellular-vesicle (EV) microRNAs could separate the two phenotypes. Four candidate EV-miRNAs: miR-30a-5p, miR-223-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-146a-5p, were quantified by qRT-PCR in plasma-derived EVs from 13 healthy controls (HC), 7 RRMS, and 16 SPMS patients, normalized to miR-16-5p. EVs were characterized by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential, confirming vesicles of expected morphology, size, and negative surface charge. Two miRNAs were informative. miR-155-5p was significantly downregulated in both RRMS and SPMS versus controls but did not differentiate the phenotypes (AUC 0.52), behaving as a disease-general marker. In contrast, miR-223-5p was selectively reduced in SPMS, to approximately one-quarter of control abundance, and provided the only signal distinguishing progressive from relapsing disease (AUC 0.73; rank-biserial −0.46). miR-30a-5p and miR-146a-5p were uninformative. These findings, consistent with the circulating/EV literature, suggest EV-miR-223-5p as a candidate marker of the progressive phenotype and EV-miR-155-5p as a disease indicator. Given the small cohort and near-detection-limit measurements, the study is hypothesis-generating and requires validation in larger, longitudinal cohorts. Full article

Recent journalism and media research increasingly uses embeddings, transformer-based models, and large language models, yet the methodological functions remain unevenly conceptualized. This article examines how vector-based and semantically oriented methods are incorporated into journalism and media studies and proposes a theory-informed framework of four recurrent methodological functions: semantic mapping, interpretive assistance, cross-scale articulation, and reflexive auditing. We conducted a structured review of English-language journal articles and review articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science between 2022 and April 2026. The review combined database retrieval, conservative LLM-assisted metadata screening, full-text analytical extraction, expert manual validation, descriptive analysis, exploratory association tests, and an embedding-based map built from article-level analytical profiles. The final corpus comprised 43 articles. Empirical studies of news texts predominated, and semantic mapping was the most frequent primary methodological function. The profile-based map identified four moderately differentiated and overlapping communities centered on reception and circulation, semantic mapping of news content, affective and evaluative discourse analysis, and methodological infrastructure-building. Community membership aligned more strongly with media domain than with study type or primary methodological function, although these patterns are interpreted heuristically given the small corpus and low expected cell counts. The findings show that these methods are best understood as components of hybrid research designs combining semantic formalization, interpretation, validation, and scale-sensitive analysis. Full article

Background: Executive functions (EFs) decline with aging, impacting functional independence. While resistance training (RT) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention, the optimal modality and duration for cognitive benefits remain unclear. Flywheel RT (FRT) imposes greater motor control and attentional demands than traditional RT (TRT), potentially enhancing EFs. Objective: To compare the effects of a 36-week FRT versus TRT program on executive function and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels in healthy older women. Methods: This parallel-group randomized controlled trial allocated 64 older women (overall mean age 66.8 ± 4.6 years; FRT group: 68.0 ± 4.8 years; TRT group: 65.5 ± 4.1 years) to either FRT (n = 25) or TRT (n = 21) for two weekly sessions over 36 weeks. Executive function was assessed using the Victoria Stroop Test (inhibitory control), Digit Span Test (working memory), and Trail Making Test (cognitive flexibility). Serum IGF-1 was quantified via chemiluminescence. Intention-to-treat analyses with ANCOVA were performed. Results: After 36 weeks, both groups showed significant within-group improvements in inhibitory control (mean reduction from pre to post: FRT: 15.2 ± 10.4 to 14.8 ± 7.4 s; TRT: 20.4 ± 11.8 to 15.6 ± 7.3 s; p = 0.028, ηp² = 0.38) and working memory (Digit Span Forward: FRT: 6.2 ± 1.7 to 7.9 ± 2.0; TRT: 6.7 ± 1.5 to 8.7 ± 1.8; p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.84). The B/A ratio of the Trail Making Test improved significantly more in the FRT group (73.0 ± 65.2 to 87.5 ± 68.1 s) compared to the TRT group (67.3 ± 54.1 to 137.7 ± 83.6 s; group × time interaction: p = 0.001, ηp² = 0.13). No significant changes in serum IGF-1 concentrations were observed in either group (FRT: 112.9 ± 25.4 to 115.3 ± 21.3 ng/mL; TRT: 104.7 ± 27.5 to 103.0 ± 28.9 ng/mL; p = 0.88, ηp² = 0.002). Adherence was high (only 4 out of 46 participants did not complete all 72 sessions), and no severe adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Flywheel training appears particularly effective for enhancing cognitive flexibility, likely due to its higher cognitive-motor demands. The absence of significant changes in circulating IGF-1 suggests that the observed cognitive benefits may not be mediated by systemic endocrine pathways, although this does not exclude the possibility of local central nervous system adaptations or changes in other neurotrophic factors not assessed in this study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is commonly accompanied by sleep disturbance and cognitive complaints, but the relationships among CRS, cognition, subjective sleep, and circulating inflammatory cytokines remain incompletely understood. Methods: In this case–control study, 80 adults with CRS and 98 controls completed validated sleep and sinonasal questionnaires and a 12-test cognitive battery assessing six domains. Plasma cytokines were measured in 101 participants with available biospecimens. Multivariable linear regression and exploratory correlation analyses were performed with false discovery rate correction. Results: Adjusted cognitive domain scores did not differ between CRS and controls. In age-by-group interaction models, CRS showed a nominally steeper age-associated decrease in episodic memory (β = −0.12, 95% CI −0.21 to −0.03; p = 0.009; q = 0.053), with weaker nominal patterns for working memory (β = −0.10, 95% CI −0.20 to −0.003; p = 0.044; q = 0.096) and visuospatial ability (β = −0.08, 95% CI −0.15 to −0.001; p = 0.048; q = 0.096). Plasma IL-6 was nominally higher in CRS after adjustment (β = 0.36, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.67; p = 0.026; q = 0.18) but did not remain significant after cytokine-level correction. Within CRS, exploratory analyses showed nominal inverse correlations between IL-6 and visuospatial ability (ρ = −0.36; p = 0.008; q = 0.236), as well as a nominal positive correlation between IL-13 and semantic memory (ρ = 0.33; p = 0.020; q = 0.236); however, none survived correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: Adults with CRS reported greater sleep-related burden and showed a nominally steeper age-related decrease in episodic memory. IL-6 and IL-13 showed nominal cognitive associations that did not survive correction, supporting the need for larger longitudinal studies to clarify clinical relevance. Full article

To achieve rapid, accurate, and quantitative detection of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), we aligned the available PPRV genomic sequences, screened for conserved regions, and designed specific primers and probes accordingly. An RT-droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) method was established, and a series of reaction conditions were optimized. Subsequently, the specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability of the method were subsequently evaluated. The results demonstrated that the RT-ddPCR method exhibited good specificity, with positive results obtained exclusively for PPRV and negative results for all other goat-derived viral or bacterial biological products and seed viruses tested. The method showed promising analytical sensitivity, with a LOD of 1.0 copies/μL for gene copy number. The method also demonstrated good repeatability, with coefficients of variation in all groups not exceeding 5%. In a preliminary clinical evaluation using 150 field samples, RT-ddPCR identified 113 positive cases, compared to 105 by RT-qPCR, with 8 additional low-copy-number positives detected exclusively by RT-ddPCR, and although the sample size is limited for precise diagnostic performance estimation, the assay showed 100% relative diagnostic sensitivity (105/105) and 82.2% relative diagnostic specificity (37/45), with almost perfect agreement between the two methods (κ = 0.87). As the positive signals in these discordant samples were too weak for independent confirmation by Sanger sequencing, they should be interpreted as “presumptive positives” requiring further investigation. The RT-ddPCR method established in this study enables sensitive and rapid detection of PPRV nucleic acid. However, detection of low-copy-number targets should be interpreted with caution, as it does not necessarily indicate active infection or epidemiologically significant virus circulation. This assay shows promise as a valuable research and surveillance tool for PPRV nucleic acid detection, particularly for confirming low-level viral RNA in samples near the detection limit of conventional methods, and could complement existing RT-qPCR-based approaches in PPR eradication programs. Full article

Background: The growing awareness of breast cancer’s molecular diversity has not changed the technical foundations of surgery itself, but it has profoundly reshaped how surgeons think about surgery. Rather than molecular biology prescribing specific surgery, it is the surgeon’s interpretation of biological behavior—tumor subtype, genomic risk, treatment responsiveness—that influences surgical timing, extent, and feasibility. This is particularly important in the developing world, where mastectomy continues to be the default surgery, not always because it is required, but because biological nuance is underutilized in surgical planning. This review integrates existing evidence, guidelines, and real-world clinical experience to show how a surgeon who understands tumor biology can meaningfully expand safe breast conservation, de-escalate axillary surgery, and align operative choices with systemic therapy. In essence, molecular biology becomes a lens through which surgeons can practice more personalized, precise, and less invasive surgery, without compromising oncologic safety. Recent findings: We present evidence-based algorithms focusing on Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-positive, and triple-negative subtypes, while discussing the nuances of multifocal and multicentric disease, metaplastic histologies, and discordant lesion management. The review addresses axillary management in the molecular era, specifying the appropriateness of sentinel lymph node biopsy, targeted axillary dissection, or completion axillary dissection, and how subtype-specific nodal responses to neoadjuvant therapy can guide de-escalation strategies. Through clinical vignettes, we exemplify how molecular integration into surgical planning can modify clinical courses, enabling oncoplastic conservation in downstaged tumors and justifying definitive resection in chemo-resistant cases. We examine the implications of germline and somatic genetic testing on surgical decision-making, particularly in relation to BRCA1/2 and PALB2 mutation carriers, alongside ethical and practical counseling considerations. Additionally, we review emerging biomarkers—such as circulating tumor DNA and immune and radiomic signatures—and propose research priorities for their incorporation into surgical trials. Conclusions: Effective implementation necessitates enhanced surgeon education, standardized assays, and multidisciplinary coordination to promote equitable access, consistent utilization of biology-driven algorithms, and rigorous quality oversight. This review furnishes breast surgeons with a pragmatic framework for translating molecular knowledge into multidisciplinary, patient-centered care pathways that optimize oncological safety, aesthetic outcomes, and overall quality of life. Full article

This study introduces a novel class of architected foam structures based on triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) geometries for passive battery thermal management. Unlike conventional cold plates that rely on active pumping or high-conductivity solid materials, the proposed TPMS-like foams leverage convective fluid transport within a lightweight, electrically insulating polymer matrix. We present the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of Schwarz Primitive TPMS structures manufactured via injection molding using silicone rubber, which has a comparable quality to additively manufactured polymer cold plates but with significantly lower manufacturing complexity and cost. The TPMS cold plates achieve passive fluid circulation without external pumps, reducing parasitic power consumption while maintaining thermal resistance values of approximately 23.5 K/W. Although its thermal resistance is higher than that of an aluminum plate of the same size (2.7 K/W), the TPMS cold plate is electrically insulating and offers additional safety benefits. Additionally, it can be fabricated from and filled with fire-retardant materials to prevent thermal propagation while maintaining a relatively low temperature gradient. Mechanical compression testing of TPMS foam samples with about 30% solid volume fraction showed a compressive strength of 86.2 kPa at 0.2 strain, equivalent to 30.5% of the compressive modulus of solid silicone (282.6 kPa). Compared to solid silicone plates (thermal resistance is 1420 K/W), the TPMS fluid-filled structures reduce thermal resistance by more than two orders of magnitude. This work establishes design rules, fabrication protocols, and performance benchmarks for TPMS-based passive cooling devices, offering a scalable pathway toward safer, lighter, and more energy-dense battery packs. Full article

Canine dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens is a vector-borne zoonotic infection of considerable veterinary and public health importance. Despite reports of the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. in neighboring countries, data on the molecular prevalence, species composition, and genetic diversity of these parasites in dogs from Kazakhstan remain limited. In the present study, owned, shelter, and stray dogs, which serve as the principal reservoirs of infection, were examined for the presence of microfilariae in blood, and the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. was molecularly confirmed. The study was conducted between September 2024 and January 2026 and included 751 canine blood samples collected from 10 regions of Kazakhstan. Initial screening was performed using the modified Knott test. Molecular identification was carried out through amplification of the mitochondrial cox1 gene, followed by DNA sequencing and comparative analysis with reference sequences available in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to assess the genetic relationships of the detected isolates. The overall molecular prevalence of Dirofilaria spp. was 3.6% (27/751). The highest infection rate was recorded in the Aktobe region (22.3%), while positive cases were also detected in the Akmola (2.7%), Kostanay (1.7%), and West Kazakhstan (1.8%) regions. Species identification revealed the predominance of D. repens, whereas D. immitis was detected only in Aktobe region. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the species identity of all obtained sequences and demonstrated a high degree of genetic similarity with Dirofilaria isolates previously reported from Europe and Asia. These findings confirm the circulation of Dirofilaria spp. among dogs in several regions of Kazakhstan and indicate the ongoing expansion of canine dirofilariosis in Central Asia. This study provides the first molecular genetic data on Dirofilaria spp. in dogs from Kazakhstan and highlights the need for continued epidemiological surveillance and assessment of potential risks to animal and human health. Full article

Bacterial tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have been reported in Latin America, but information on their prevalence in cattle and dogs in Bolivia are scant. In the present survey, blood serum samples from 95 cattle and 67 dogs living in different communities of Bolivian Chaco, a region in southeastern Bolivia, were tested for antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia canis, and Rickettsia rickettsii. Indirect immunofluorescence assays detected 54/95 (56.84%) cattle sera positive to one or more pathogens: 29/95 (30.5%) to A. phagocytophilum, 27/95 (28.42%) to R. rickettsii, 5/95 (5.26%) to C. burnetii; all sera were negative to B. burgdorferi s.l. Among canine sera, 11/67 (16.41%) were positive to at least one pathogen: 2/67 (2.98%) to C. burnetii, 3/67 (4.48%) to E. canis, 6/67 (8.95%) to R. rickettsii; all sera were negative to A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first serological survey investigating exposure to multiple TBPs in cattle and dogs from the Bolivian Chaco. Our findings suggest the circulation of A. phagocytophilum, E. canis, C. burnetii, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia among the animals living in this area. The results are relevant because these pathogens pose a significant threat to human and animal health and may result in substantial economic losses. Full article