Search Results (18,958)

Pluripotent stem cell (PSC) differentiation is orchestrated by intricate autocrine and paracrine signaling networks. Among these, exosomes, key components of the cellular secretome, are implicated as crucial mediators of intercellular communication via delivery of bioactive molecules, including microRNAs (miRNAs). This study investigated the role of exosomal miRNAs in stem cell differentiation using Dgcr8-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), which are incapable of producing mature miRNAs. Although the differentiation capacity was markedly impaired in these cells, partial restoration was observed following treatment with exosomes derived from differentiating wild-type mESCs. Exosomal miRNA uptake was confirmed, and gene ontology analysis revealed significant enrichment of pathways associated with cell fate determination, morphogenesis, and apoptosis regulation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis indicated that exosomal miRNAs modulated multiple osteoinductive signaling cascades, notably the MAPK and TGF-β pathways, in Dgcr8-deficient cells. Apoptotic markers were also downregulated, suggesting a protective effect conferred by the exosomal cargo. Collectively, our results suggest that exosome-mediated delivery of miRNAs may represent a fundamental mechanism by which pluripotent stem cells coordinate stress responses and differentiation trajectories, providing novel insights into the regulation of embryogenesis. Full article

Vertical transmission of plant pathogenic viruses is an important component of viral persistence, survival, and spread in agricultural production systems. This type of transmission is of considerable economic significance as it can cause major crop losses by serving as the initial focus of infection for future epidemics. Vertical transmission occurs when a virus is passed on to offspring either by direct invasion of the developing seed embryo from infected mother plants or through infected pollen grains after fertilization. We have recently demonstrated via high-throughput sequencing that mature seeds of the agriculturally important forage crop alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are associated with a broad range of viruses, some of which could potentially spread over long distances via seed. With the exception of the alfalfa mosaic virus, little is currently known about viral transmission through alfalfa pollen and its subsequent impact on the disease epidemiology of the crop. The objective of this study was to screen pollen from diverse alfalfa genotypes for pathogenic viruses and assess their risk of transmission. The pollen was collected from alfalfa genotypes selected for fungal disease resistance and agronomic performance in the USDA ARS pre-breeding program in Prosser, WA. Full article

Endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances collectively contribute to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) associated with blood stasis patterns. Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) is widely used clinically for the management of CVDs. Based on serum-exposed prototype profiling in rats, two pharmacology-driven core component sets of XFZYD were defined as the core set for the promotion of blood circulation and the elimination of blood stasis (CPBEB; HSYA, GRo, FA, β-ECD, AMY, ALB, PF) and the core set for the regulation of qi and the relief of pain (CRQRP; LIQ, NR, NAR, ROF, HSD, NHP, LTG, NRG, ISL, FNT, NOB, PD, SSa). CPBEB primarily targets vascular pathology by regulating endothelial dysfunction with dyslipidemia-driven arterial lipid deposition. Mechanistically, CPBEB is associated with improved endothelial function, reduced plaque instability, attenuated chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, normalized lipid and bile acid metabolism, and decreased thrombosis. CRQRP primarily modulates vascular tone and systemic energy metabolism. These effects are linked to enhanced AMPK/SIRT1-driven antioxidant defenses and mitochondrial homeostasis, increased NO/cGMP signaling, coordinated crosstalk among the TLR4/NF-κB, JAK/STAT, NLRP3, and PPAR pathways, and remodeling of the gut microbiota–immune network. In summary, this review integrates modern analytical approaches with network pharmacology and the literature evidence to clarify the material basis underlying XFZYD’s therapeutic effects in CVDs, thereby supporting the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine. Full article

Therapeutic termination of pregnancy (TToP) represents an intervention that is performed for medical reasons, such as risks to maternal health or severe fetal anomalies. Advances in prenatal screening and diagnostic tools—including serum markers, ultrasound, cell-free fetal DNA, chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis—have significantly improved early detection and clinical decision-making. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on the genetic, environmental and psychosocial determinants that influence the decision of the patients to pursue TToP. The literature search was performed primarily using PubMed database, while Scopus and Google Scholar were used to identify additional relevant studies. Some of the selected studies, as well as certain sections of this review, address both therapeutic and voluntary termination of pregnancy, whereas others focus exclusively on TToP. Moreover, this review describes the types of abortion (medical or surgical/aspiration) along with their management strategies to prevent or address potential complications. It is well known that demographic, cultural and socio-economic factors continue to influence the access to TToP, as well as the perceptions of it. Psychiatric comorbidities (such as anxiety, affective and psychotic disorders) are observed with a higher prevalence among women undergoing TToP and may influence both the decision and psychological outcomes post-procedure. While most women report emotional relief after TToP, some of them experience depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or substance misuse. Legal and ethical considerations further complicate access to safe abortion, leading to situations where patients may resort to unsafe procedures, which result in higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Data from the EUROCAT network show rising trends in congenital anomalies like trisomy 13, trisomy 18 and caudal regression syndrome (conditions commonly associated with TToP). Therefore, it is mandatory to form a multidisciplinary team in these cases, integrating medical, psychological and ethical dimensions. Ensuring safe, evidence-based and compassionate access to TToP remains a critical component of reproductive healthcare. Full article

Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy (MSDP) remains a major source of fetal toxicant exposure. We applied adductomics to profile reactive adducts at the human serum albumin cysteine-34 (HSA-Cys³⁴) locus, which integrates longer-term exposures. HSA-Cys³⁴ adducts formed by acrylonitrile and ethylene oxide, two tobacco-related toxicants previously linked to smoking in adults, were quantified and compared with cotinine and MSDP status. Their relationships with other reactive adducts were also examined. Neonatal dried blood spots (DBS) from 110 children were analyzed. Cotinine and 55 Cys³⁴ adducts were measured by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Associations were evaluated using linear regression, chi-square tests, and principal component analysis. Eighteen adducts differed significantly by MSDP status after Bonferroni correction (p ≤ 9.1 × 10⁻⁴). S-acrylonitrile was markedly elevated in exposed newborns, including those whose mothers reported smoking cessation after early pregnancy (p < 0.001). S-acrylonitrile correlated with 31 adducts related to oxidative stress and thiol metabolism, whereas cotinine correlated with eight. S-ethylene oxide, though detectable in DBS, showed no consistent association with MSDP. Adductomics analysis of newborn DBS sensitively captures molecular signatures of prenatal tobacco exposure and related oxidative stress. Acrylonitrile adducts appear to better reflect cumulative MSDP exposure than cotinine, highlighting the utility of adductomics for improved exposure assessment and mechanistic insight. Full article

Insects underpin key ecosystem services. Yet tree-associated insect communities remain comparatively poorly documented, particularly in temperate forests. This study aimed to characterize the diversity and abundance of insect assemblages associated with the predominantly insect-pollinated forest tree Tilia cordata Mill. in protected areas in Lithuania, and to assess the occurrence of known and putative pollinator groups within these assemblages. We quantified insect assemblages associated with Tilia cordata using two sampling methods but did not directly measure pollination effectiveness (e.g., pollen loads, visitation rates to flowers, or fruit/seed set). Consequently, our inferences refer to the presence and composition of potential pollinators rather than demonstrated pollination function or realized pollination services. Fieldwork was conducted over two years in six protected T. cordata sites in Lithuania using two complementary sampling methods: net sampling and sticky traps. Sampling was structured into three observation periods corresponding to T. cordata phenology: pre-flowering (I), flowering (II) and post-flowering (III). In total, 207 insect taxa from 15 orders were recorded by net sampling and 86 taxa from 11 orders by sticky traps. Net sampling showed significantly higher diversity (Shannon H = 3.81) than sticky traps (H = 2.10). Hemiptera, Coleoptera and Diptera were the most common groups, and most taxa occurred at low to moderate abundances, with only a few species showing local dominance in specific periods or sites. Taxa documented in the literature as significant pollinators were consistently present but at low relative abundances (about 5–10% in total). Insect assemblage composition and species proportions varied among phenological periods and between years, with no clear, consistent peak in overall insect abundance or diversity associated specifically with the T. cordata flowering phase. These findings indicate that T. cordata stands in protected areas harbor diverse insect assemblages typical of temperate deciduous and mixed forest habitats and include a broad spectrum of non-bees and other potential pollinators. Therefore, we did not detect a distinct peak in insect abundance or species richness during the T. cordata flowering period, indicating that flowering did not coincide with a pronounced maximum in pollinator-related insect activity. However, the quantitative patterns observed suggest that, in this context, T. cordata provides only modest support for pollinator guilds, and its role is better interpreted as one component of wider forest insect diversity rather than as a primary driver of pollination services. Full article

Background: Nurse coaching can reduce stress throughout the complex psychosocial process associated with the cancer journey, which affects numerous spheres, such as neurological, psychological, physical, and emotional ones. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature to assess the extent of stress reduction among cancer care adopting nurse coaching interventions. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO with id no. CRD420261290368 and performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The search approach was performed by mixing keywords with Boolean operators like “coaching intervention”, “oncology nursing” and “stress” throughout the CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. We assessed stress levels alongside the nurse coaching interventions using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer. Results: A total of three studies were included, comprising 112 participants. Heterogeneity among studies was very high and statistically significant (p < 0.001; τ² = 1.02; I² = 96.2%, with a 95% CI: [85.89; 99.90]); thus, a random-effects model (REML) was applied. A small, non-significant reduction in stress levels following the nurse coaching intervention, with an overall SMD of −0.35 (SE = 0.60; 95% CI: [−1.52, 0.82]; p = 0.556), was recorded. Conclusions: Attention to standardization of core coaching components, while preserving flexibility and personalization, will be critical to advancing implementation in routine oncology care. Overall, nurse coaching represents a promising adjunct to comprehensive cancer care, with the potential to support psychological well-being, empower patients and caregivers, and address the broader determinants of stress throughout the cancer experience. Full article

Background/Objectives: Global estimates suggest that approximately 43% of individuals living with diabetes remain undiagnosed, underscoring the need for early identification of adults at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to support timely preventive interventions. This scoping review aimed to map and summarize existing non-invasive screening tools for identifying adults at high risk of T2DM. Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Scopus were searched in accordance with the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies published between 1995 and 2026 that described screening tools for adult populations were included. Results: A total of 58 studies describing screening tools were identified. The tools were developed and applied across diverse populations and ethnic groups. Most were questionnaire-based, easy to administer, and low cost. Commonly included variables comprised demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, lifestyle factors, and clinical indicators associated with increased T2DM risk. Substantial heterogeneity was observed in tool structure and reported predictive components. Conclusions: This scoping review provides an overview of available screening tools for the early identification of adults at high risk of T2DM. The mapped evidence may inform future validation studies and support context-specific implementation in public health and clinical practice settings, including integration into digital platforms. Full article

Pinus oocarpa Schiede ex Schltdl. is the most important resin-producing conifer in Mexico, yet its morphological variation and seed transfer guidelines remain poorly defined for the Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS). This study evaluated variation in cone, seed, fascicle sheath, and needle traits, analyzed their associations with geographic and climatic factors, and delineated altitudinal seed zones and assisted migration distances. Most variation occurred among individual trees, with smaller but significant components among populations and provenances. All traits differed significantly among populations, provenances, and trees (p ≤ 0.0325), except for cone length, which showed no significant differences among populations (p = 0.0714). Multivariate analyses at both tree and provenance levels identified two differentiated population groups within the SMS. Several traits, including needle thickness, seed size, cone length, and seed weight, showed significant associations with environmental gradients. To realign provenances with projected climates for the 2030s, 2060s, and 2090s, upward altitudinal shifts of 165, 255, and 400 m are required. These findings support the implementation of a modified climate-adjusted provenancing strategy to reduce maladaptation risks and enhance climate resilience in reforestation and restoration programs. Full article

Sorghum is recognized as a potential functional ingredient with high resistance to digestion. Therefore, this study investigates the anti-digestive properties of eight different types of sorghum cultivars with distinct compositional differences. The results confirmed that the whole sorghum flours exhibit stronger anti-digestive properties compared to its isolated starch, indicating that non-starch components play a role in inhibiting starch digestion. However, there was no significant correlation between the differences in individual components among sorghum varieties and their resistance to digestion. Analysis of sorghum starch structure demonstrated that relative crystallinity and double-helix degree in the long-range ordered architecture show a significant positive correlation with resistant starch (RS). Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed that the relatively thick and dense layered structure of sorghum starch is associated with a lower degree of enzymatic hydrolysis. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis showed that higher weight-average molecular weight is associated with a higher RS content to a certain extent, while a higher PDI is unfavorable for the formation of digestion-RS structures due to its association with a reduction in the onset gelatinization temperature. Cultivars AH-3, AH-5, and AH-2 with higher molecular weight, narrower molecular weight distribution and denser nanoscale lamellar structures exhibit superior digestion resistance. This research provides a reference for the screening of low-glycemic-index sorghum varieties and their application in functional foods. Full article

The recycling of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units has become an important economic and environmental challenge as a growing number of offshore assets reach end-of-life. This study evaluates the comparative economic, environmental, and social performance of alternative FPSO recycling scenarios evaluated using a stochastic Monte Carlo simulation, focusing on five FPSOs that operated in Brazil and were scheduled for recycling either domestically or in Denmark. Twelve performance indicators were aggregated into sustainability indices using a Monte Carlo simulation with 100,000 iterations, enabling analysis of robustness and variability across ten recycling scenarios. The results indicate that Brazilian recycling scenarios (P-32 and P-33) outperform the Danish scenarios in terms of global performance, with Global Sustainability Index values predominantly ranging from 0.59 to 0.75, compared to 0.37 to 0.61 for the Danish cases. Differences in performance are mainly associated with towing distance, cost structure, and emissions. Social indicators show limited variability and act as a stabilizing component across scenarios. Plasma cutting presents slightly better environmental and economic results than LPG cutting, although it does not alter the overall ranking of scenarios. These findings support decision-making on FPSO recycling scenarios by highlighting the role of uncertainty and contextual factors, particularly in emerging recycling markets. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a globally important legume crop valued as a major source of plant-based protein and edible oil. Understanding the transcriptional programs underlying tissue-specific development is essential for improving seed quality and agronomic performance. Here, we present an integrative transcriptomic analysis of soybean based on 12 samples representing key seed developmental stages—including globular, heart, cotyledon, embryo, dry seed, mid-mature, and late-mature—and vegetative and reproductive tissues, including leaf, root, stem, flower bud, and seedling at 6 days after imbibition (6 DAI). Following data preprocessing and filtering, 54,880 genes were retained for downstream analysis. Principal component analysis revealed clear separation between seed and non-seed tissues, indicating that tissue identity is the dominant driver of transcriptomic variation. Analysis of the top 100 most variable genes further highlighted distinct expression modules associated with seed maturation and vegetative growth. Differential expression analysis identified 9785 genes exhibiting significant expression differences between seed and non-seed tissues, including 1139 upregulated and 8646 downregulated genes under relaxed statistical thresholds. Functional characterization of seed-upregulated genes revealed enrichment of biological processes related to storage metabolism, embryo development, and stress protection mechanisms associated with desiccation tolerance. In addition, co-expression network and correlation analyses demonstrated strong transcriptional coherence among seed tissues and distinct clustering of vegetative organs. Together, these results provide a comprehensive systems-level overview of transcriptional organization across soybean tissues and identify candidate gene sets relevant to seed biology, functional genomics, and crop improvement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common in pediatric patients, yet limited data exist on orthodontists’ knowledge, confidence, and clinical practices related to pediatric TMD. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterize orthodontists’ perceived knowledge, confidence, training, and practice patterns, and examine associations between routine screening behaviors and perceived confidence. Methods: A 34-item anonymous survey was distributed to orthodontists and orthodontic residents enrolled in or graduated from U.S. Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited programs. The survey assessed perceived knowledge, confidence in screening, diagnosis, and management of pediatric TMD, adequacy of residency training (on 0–10 numerical rating scale), frequency of routine TMD screening and examination practices, and referral patterns. Respondents were compared in study outcomes according to years of clinical practice with ANOVA. Respondents were categorized according to frequency of TMD screening (always/some of the time vs. sometimes/never) and compared in study outcomes using independent t-tests. Results: Out of 83 respondents, perceived knowledge (56.8 ± 26.9), confidence with screening (62.0 ± 30.5), diagnosis (59.4 ± 29.8), and management (50.8 ± 30.9) of pediatric TMD were moderate. Less than half of respondents (45.8%) reported routinely screening pediatric patients using standardized screening questions. Orthodontists who reported routine screening demonstrated significantly greater perceived knowledge and confidence in screening, diagnosis, and management compared with those who screened less frequently (all p’s ≤ 0.018, effect size between 0.57 and 0.78). Greater use of specific history-taking and clinical examination components was also associated with higher perceived confidence (all p’s between 0.001 and 0.046, effect size between 0.53 and 1.01). Confidence differed by years in practice, with lower scores reported among residents and mid-career practitioners (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Variability exists in orthodontists’ perceived knowledge, confidence, and clinical practices regarding pediatric TMD. Routine screening was associated with greater perceived competence. These findings highlight potential alignment between structured screening behaviors and self-reported confidence and may inform educational strategies in orthodontic training. Full article

Beef flavor is a trait difficult to evaluate since different senses (taste, touch, and smell) are involved in its perception. In the last 20 years, 102 Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), associated with the variability of different beef flavor notes, have been reported. These QTLs are spread on all chromosomes, including BTA X. In these QTL regions, 2509 genes are located and, among them, 594 are involved in the metabolic processes of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, the main meat components for the production of volatile substances responsible for flavor. Only 19 of these genes (ACSM2B, ACSM3, ACSM4, ACSM5, CHID1, DHCR7, EDEM3, GDE1, HEXB, IGF2, INS, NDUFAB1, PIGC, PNPLA2, PRDX6, SCNN1B, SIAE, SMG1, and UMOD) are also present in the QTL regions affecting pork flavor. The applied approach allowed us to strongly restrict the number of candidate genes to affect the variability of both beef and pork flavor. Full article

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease with a strong genetic component (~70% heritability). Early identification of individuals at risk is crucial for early intervention or risk assessment. Although polygenic risk scores (PRS) have shown promise in risk assessment, most current approaches remain constrained by linear assumptions and limited generalizability. We aimed to develop a neural network-driven classifier using T1D-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In addition, we explored the inclusion of an entropy-derived feature as a complementary variable, representing the degree of genetic variability within an individual’s genotype profile across the 67 T1D-associated SNPs, to evaluate its potential additive contribution to the model performance. We analyzed genotype data from 11,909 individuals in the UK BioBank (546 T1D cases and 11,363 controls). Sixty-seven well-known SNPs associated with T1D were utilized as inputs to the model, using two distinct allele-encoding strategies. A feed-forward neural network was evaluated under varying case–control ratios through five-fold cross-validation. Performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) on a held-out test set and on an external European cohort as a validation cohort. Across five-fold cross-validation, the best configuration achieved a median AUC of 0.903. On the held-out UK Biobank test set, the model generalized well, with an AUC of 0.8889 (95% CI: 0.8516–0.9262). A probability-based risk framework, constructed using five risk groups (“very low”, “low”, “intermediate”, “high”, and “very high” risk), yielded a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.9% for the “very low” risk group and a Positive Predicted Value (PPV) of 61.9% with a specificity of 97.3% for the “very high” risk group, assuming a 10% T1D prevalence. External validation in the German Diabetes Study reproduced clear case–control separation; for individuals with recent onset diabetes and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA+) vs. controls, specificity reached 91.9% in the “high” risk group (PPV of 94.3%) and 97.6% in the “very high” risk group (PPV of 95.7%). The proposed neural network reliably predicts T1D genetic risk using a compact SNP panel of 67 SNPs and maintains accuracy in both internal and external European cohorts. Its probabilistic output enables clinically interpretable risk thresholds, while entropy features contributed modestly to performance. These results demonstrate that a neural network-based approach achieves discriminative performance that is comparable to established T1D genetic risk models, while offering flexible probability-based risk stratification and architectural extensibility for future integration of additional features. Full article