Search Results (3,852)

Background/Objectives: Adherence to a low-carbohydrate diet induces distinct metabolic adaptations, yet the acute endocrine responses to individual macronutrients within this adapted state remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to determine the acute, postprandial endocrine and glycemic kinetics following isolated isocaloric carbohydrate, protein, and fat boluses in healthy adults adapted to a low-carbohydrate diet. Methods: Participants (13 female, 11 male) completed three interventions which consisted of consuming an isovolumetric 300 kcal drink of either whey protein (PRO), dextrose (CHO), or olive oil (FAT) mixed with water. Blood was taken immediately prior to drink consumption and then every 30 min afterwards for 2 h in each condition. Continuous glucose monitoring occurred during each intervention. Results: Postprandial glucose remained stable following the FAT and PRO conditions, whereas the CHO condition significantly increased glucose concentrations over time (p < 0.01). Glucagon did not differ between FAT and CHO (p = 0.28) but increased following PRO compared to both FAT and CHO (p < 0.01). Insulin, C-peptide and amylin rose in the CHO condition, with smaller increases in PRO and minimal changes in FAT (p < 0.01). GLP-1 was elevated in the PRO condition compared to both FAT and CHO (p < 0.01), while GIP increased most in the CHO condition and differed across all treatments (p < 0.01). Ghrelin decreased after CHO and PRO, leptin did not significantly change across conditions, and both PP and PYY were lower in the CHO condition at later time points relative to FAT and PRO. Inflammatory markers showed minimal acute changes across conditions, although MCP-1 increased over time following PRO. Conclusions: In low-carbohydrate-adapted individuals, isolated macronutrient boluses elicit highly distinct, divergent endocrine signatures. The robust, acute glucagon response to pure protein does not cause short-term glycemic excursions, indicating that counter-regulatory incretin and insulinotropic pathways remain highly capable of preserving immediate glucose homeostasis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity and its metabolic comorbidities, including dyslipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are a growing global health burden, and current pharmacotherapies have limited efficacy and notable adverse effects. The gut microbiome has emerged as a key regulator of host metabolism, and its dysregulation is implicated in obesity. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. aqueous extract (PSRW) on metabolic dysfunction and gut microbiota composition in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rat model. Methods: HFD-induced obese male Wistar rats received PSRW, simvastatin, or their combination for 12 weeks. Serum lipids (TC, TG, HDL, LDL), liver enzymes (AST, ALT), and renal markers were measured, and gut microbiota were profiled by 16S rRNA (V4) sequencing with PICRUSt2/KEGG functional prediction. The phenolic composition of the same extract was characterized by HPLC in a companion study. Results: PSRW did not cause weight loss but significantly lowered serum TC, AST, and ALT, with efficacy comparable to simvastatin and significantly lower TG than control, though not significantly different from HFD. Co-administration of PSRW and simvastatin produced a greater reduction in TC and liver enzymes than either agent alone. HFD shifted microbial community structure and enriched pro-inflammatory phyla such as Desulfobacterota; PSRW partially reversed these changes, suppressing obesogenic Lachnospiraceae genera while enriching beneficial microbes including Dwaynesavagella, and functionally reprogrammed taxa such as Kineothrix and Muribaculum from detrimental to protective associations. HFD enriched microbial glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, whereas the PSRW simvastatin combination uniquely enhanced glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. Conclusions:P. sarmentosum extract ameliorates HFD-induced dyslipidemia and hepatotoxicity, and these effects are accompanied by remodeling of the composition and predicted functional capacity of the gut microbiome. Its ability to act in combination with statins highlights its potential as a candidate complementary therapy for hyperlipidemia and NAFLD. Full article

Phyllosphere microorganisms interact with host plants to regulate growth, promote nutrient uptake and enhance stress tolerance with host specificity, while arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi facilitate plant nutrient absorption and stress adaptation. Current poplar microbial studies mostly focus on hermaphroditic species, with limited research on dioecious poplars. This study selected four poplar species commonly hybridized with Populuscathayana and Populus deltoides in the Xinmin area of Liaoning Province as research subjects: two female plants, DM-9-18 and DX-08-01, and two male plants, 2111 and Qingshan poplar. We performed MiSeq high-throughput sequencing targeting bacterial 16S rRNA, fungal ITS, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) marker genes from poplar phyllosphere, coupled with chemical quantification of leaf, root and rhizosphere soil, to disentangle clone- and sex-associated divergence in microbial assemblages and their core environmental drivers. No significant gender differences were observed in leaf and rhizosphere nutrient levels and microbial α diversity, whereas male poplars had higher rhizosphere soil nutrients. Male and female poplars genotypes harbored distinct microbial ASVs. The dominant phyllosphere microbes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi exhibited gender-specific abundance variations, and nutrient content was the key factor shaping microbial communities. This study clarifies microbial community differences among the four selected hybrid poplar clones. While the experimental design confounds sex with host genotype, the observed patterns provide insights into potential sex-related variations. Our results advance the mechanistic understanding of how dioecious poplar genotype and sexual phenotype jointly filter leaf and root-associated microbial symbionts, with applied implications for hybrid poplar breeding and shelterbelt microbial regulation. Full article

Background: Wearable sensing technologies enable continuous monitoring of physiological states in athletes, yet age-related differences in autonomic and mechanical load among professional soccer players remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigated whether heart rate variability (HRV) indices and accelerometry-derived physical load differ between younger and older professional players during routine morning training sessions. Methods: Fourteen male professional soccer players were monitored using a wrist-worn biosensor. Participants were divided into two age groups: Group A (≤23 years, n = 7) and Group B (≥24 years, n = 7). The device was attached at 08:30 and recorded tri-axial acceleration and cardiac signals continuously until 11:30 (≈3 h). Extracted metrics included root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), percentage of NN intervals differing by more than 50 ms (pNN50), heart rate recovery (HRR), maximum heart rate, and total beat count. Group differences and position-based differences were evaluated. Results: Accelerometry-based physical load showed no significant difference between age groups. In contrast, HRV indices demonstrated age-related divergence: RMSSD was significantly higher in Group A compared to Group B (p = 0.031), suggesting greater parasympathetic activity in younger players. Total beat count was significantly higher in Group B (p = 0.015). pNN50 showed no group difference (p = 0.918). Pre- and post-session HRR did not differ significantly between groups, whereas maximum heart rate was significantly higher in Group A (p = 0.0017). Position-based comparisons revealed no consistent differences across metrics. Conclusions: Although mechanical load was comparable between age groups, autonomic markers—particularly RMSSD—indicated higher parasympathetic modulation in younger professional players. These findings align with established sports physiology literature but provide preliminary evidence derived from real-world data collected in professional soccer athletes using a compact wrist-worn biosensor. The results support the utility of wearable HRV monitoring for age-related physiological profiling in elite sports environments. Full article

Diets high in fat and refined carbohydrates reliably mimic key features of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), including hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and ongoing liver injury. This study evaluated the long-term, low-dose administration of Callistemon citrinus ethanolic leaf extract and its primary bioactive compounds: d-limonene, ellagic acid, gallic acid, and p-coumaric acid to prevent lipotoxicity in rats fed a high-fat–sucrose diet (HFSD). Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups: normal control group, an untreated HFSD group, and eight HFSD groups treated for 23 weeks with metformin, C. citrinus extract, the individual bioactive compounds, or a mixture of these compounds. We assessed body and organ weights, liver macroscopic features, serum markers of liver injury, oxidative stress biomarkers, histopathological changes, and hepatic fatty acid profiles. HFSD feeding induced significant body weight gain, hepatomegaly, severe tissue damage, elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glucose and triglycerides, alongside heightened hepatic oxidative stress, and altered saturated fatty acid profiles. Conversely, treatment with metformin and the natural compounds attenuated HFSD-induced liver injury to varying degrees. Improvements in histopathological severity and serum liver enzymes correlated with decreased oxidative stress biomarkers. Notably, ellagic acid, gallic acid, d-limonene, and the bioactive mixture, significantly improved hepatic fatty acid profiles, whereas p-coumaric acid exhibited more modest effects. These results demonstrate that long-term administration of low-dose treatment can successfully improve all evaluated metabolic, biochemical, and histological parameter, suggesting that modulating oxidative stress and liver lipid composition is strongly linked to the mitigation of liver injury in this experimental MAFLD model. Full article

Background/Objectives: Optic neuritis is associated with demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), but atypical presentations, particularly bilateral optic nerve involvement or coexisting systemic symptoms, necessitate broader diagnostic consideration. Case presentation: This case report describes a 50-year-old male with untreated, active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who presented with bilateral optic neuritis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed elevated myelin basic protein, positive oligoclonal bands, an elevated immunoglobulin G index, and an HCV viral load of 9.3 million international units/milliliter (IU/mL). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbits showed bilateral optic neuritis with perineuritis. The patient had no history of interferon therapy and lacked markers of cryoglobulinemia, making this a rare case of optic neuritis possibly associated with chronic hepatitis C viral infection. The patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) without corticosteroids, with some improvement in vision. Conclusions: This case adds to the expanding spectrum of multiple sclerosis (MS) mimics and underscores diagnostic challenges associated with atypical optic neuritis presentations, particularly in the setting of coexisting systemic viral infections. Full article

Background: Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent whose gonadotoxic effects, largely driven by oxidative stress and inflammation, pose a major threat to male reproductive health. This study evaluated whether hesperetin (HES) and hesperetin-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (HES-PLGA-NPs) can protect against cisplatin-induced testicular dysfunction in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. Methods: Sixty rats were randomly assigned to six groups: control, HES, HES-PLGA-NPs, cisplatin (CIS), CIS + HES, and CIS + HES-PLGA-NPs. CIS (7.5 mg/kg/week, i.p.) was given intraperitoneally for four weeks, while HES and nano-HES (50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) were orally administered concurrently. Reproductive hormones, testicular weight, sperm parameters, oxidative stress and antioxidant markers, NRF2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling, apoptotic indices, ferroptosis-related markers, histopathology, and GPX4/ACSL4 immunoexpression were assessed. Results: CIS caused marked reproductive dysfunction, including reduced testosterone, FSH, and LH, decreased testicular weight, and impaired sperm quality. These changes were associated with severe oxidative and nitrosative stress (↑ MDA, NO, 8-OHdG), depletion of antioxidant defenses (↓ SOD, CAT, GSH), reduced NRF2/HO-1, elevated NF-κB activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis-related changes (↑ Bax, caspase-3; ↓ Bcl-2), and ferroptosis-associated alterations (↑ Fe²⁺, TFR1, lipid ROS, ACSL4, 4-HNE; ↓ GPX4, SLC7A11). Both HES and HES-PLGA-NPs were associated with significant amelioration of these alterations, but the nanoformulation showed more pronounced protection, normalizing several oxidative and ferroptosis-associated markers toward control levels and more effectively preserving seminiferous tubule architecture and spermatogenesis. Conclusions: HES-PLGA-NPs were associated with multi-mechanistic protection against cisplatin-induced oxidative, inflammatory, apoptotic, and ferroptosis-associated damage in the testes, and may represent a promising nanoantioxidant candidate warranting further investigation for preserving male reproductive function during chemotherapy. Full article

Background: Plant-derived virus-like particles (VLPs) are emerging nanoplatforms for local cancer immunotherapy, yet their relative performance across structurally distinct particles remains insufficiently defined. Methods: We performed a comparative benchmarking study of eleven plant-derived VLPs spanning diverse architectures and functional properties using an integrated workflow of physicochemical characterization, immune-functional profiling, and in vivo evaluation. All VLPs were produced in endotoxin-minimized ClearColi BL21 (DE3), enabling assessment of intrinsic particle-associated immunostimulatory activity with reduced bacterial endotoxin confounding. Results: In vitro, several VLPs stimulated macrophage-associated responses and enhanced tumor cell killing, although classical M1/M2 polarization markers in RAW264.7 cells did not consistently predict functional cytotoxicity. In a subset of candidates, HEK-TLR3 reporter activity varied substantially under RNA-normalized conditions and was not predicted solely by total RNA content or apparent RNA size distribution. Five candidates were advanced to intratumoral evaluation in the male-derived B16-F10 melanoma model, where CCMV-ss and CMVtt showed trends toward reduced tumor progression and increased immune cell infiltration in male mice. Furthermore, host sex-associated differences in baseline immune features were observed, though these must be interpreted with caution given the H-Y antigen-driven immunogenicity inherent to the male-derived B16-F10 model in female hosts. Conclusions: This study establishes a standardized comparative framework linking plant VLP properties with immune-functional performance and identifies CCMV-ss and CMVtt as promising candidates for further development as locally administered cancer immunotherapy nanoplatforms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most frequent seizure disorder in childhood. Growing evidence suggests that systemic inflammatory responses may contribute to FS pathogenesis. Easily accessible inflammatory markers derived from routine blood tests, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), have been investigated as potential indicators of inflammatory status. This study aimed to explore the association between these biomarkers and FS in children. Methods: The medical records of 401 children were retrospectively evaluated, including 200 patients diagnosed with FS and 201 age-matched controls without a history of seizures. Demographic data and laboratory parameters were obtained, and NLR, PNI, and CAR were calculated. Group comparisons were performed using appropriate statistical tests. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to determine independent factors associated with FS, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate biomarker performance. Results: Compared with controls, children with FS had higher neutrophil counts, NLR, and CAR values, whereas lymphocyte counts and PNI values were lower (all p < 0.05). Male sex was more frequent in the FS group (62.5% vs. 47.8%, p = 0.004). In multivariable analysis, younger age, male sex, and increased NLR were independently associated with FS. However, CAR and PNI did not remain significant after adjustment. NLR showed the highest discriminative ability among the evaluated markers, although its diagnostic performance was limited (AUC = 0.647). Conclusions: NLR may reflect the inflammatory response associated with febrile seizures and could provide supportive clinical information. However, its moderate diagnostic accuracy prevents its use as a standalone diagnostic marker. Further studies are required to clarify its clinical utility. Full article

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory upper airway disease. Despite a higher radiological disease burden in males, clinical CRS diagnoses are disproportionately registered in females, suggesting systematic underdiagnosis in young men. The 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) represents the reference patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for sinonasal symptom burden. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sinonasal symptom burden and to identify associated clinical, laboratory, and lifestyle parameters in a large cohort of young male adults. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 500 young male adults underwent, as part of the conscription examination, standardized assessment including the SNOT-22, spirometry (FEV₁%), whole blood count (eosinophils), and serum CRP. SNOT-22 scores were categorized as none (0–20), moderate (21–50), and severe (>50). Associations were analyzed using Spearman correlation, Mann–Whitney U, and Chi² tests. Results: The mean SNOT-22 score was 18.8 (SD 15.2; range 0–73). A total of 38.2% of participants scored ≥21, indicating at least moderate sinonasal symptom burden. SNOT-22 correlated significantly with CRP (r = 0.117, p = 0.009) and inversely with relative FEV₁% (r = −0.103, p = 0.022). Eosinophils showed a numeric gradient across SNOT-22 categories (3.08% vs. 3.31% vs. 3.56%) without reaching significance. Conclusions: More than one third of young male adults reported significant self-reported sinonasal symptom burden. Symptom severity was associated with systemic inflammatory markers and reduced pulmonary function, supporting the unified airway concept. These findings support the utility of SNOT-22 as a low-threshold assessment tool for self-reported sinonasal symptom burden in preventive health examinations. Full article

Oxidative and nitrosative stress contribute to epileptogenesis and seizure-related neuronal injury through iron-mediated reactive oxygen species generation and excessive nitric oxide production. This study examined whether combining valproate (VALP) with the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) produces additional electrophysiological or biochemical effects in a penicillin-induced model of epileptiform activity. Male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups (n = 7/group): penicillin control, VALP (500 mg/kg), DFO (100 mg/kg), and VALP + DFO. Epileptiform activity was induced by intracortical penicillin and monitored by electrocorticography for 180 min, and spike frequency, spike amplitude, serum and hippocampal total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, and nitric oxide levels were measured. VALP, DFO, and their combination significantly reduced spike frequency and amplitude versus penicillin. Although VALP + DFO did not further suppress spike frequency or spike amplitude compared with VALP alone, the combination was associated with selected biochemical differences, including lower serum and hippocampal nitrite/nitrate surrogate levels and higher hippocampal total antioxidant status. These findings suggest that VALP + DFO produces selected, marker-specific biochemical changes beyond VALP monotherapy, without providing additional anticonvulsant efficacy in this acute model. The functional significance of these biochemical changes remains to be established. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pleural effusions are frequently encountered on pre-procedural computed tomography (CT) scans in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). While often regarded as a marker of congestion and advanced cardiovascular disease, their clinical and prognostic significance in contemporary TAVI populations remains poorly understood. This study investigated the relationship between AI-derived pleural effusion volume, cardiovascular dysfunction, and long-term mortality after TAVI. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI between 2016 and 2022 who had available pre-procedural CT imaging were retrospectively included. Pleural effusion volume was quantified using an artificial intelligence-based segmentation workflow and analyzed as categorical, continuous, log-transformed, and threshold-based variables. Associations with clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were evaluated using Spearman correlation analyses. Long-term mortality was assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression, and restricted cubic spline models. Results: A total of 470 patients were included (median age 82 years, 50.9% male). Pleural effusion was present in 124 patients (26.38%), including 73 (15.53%) with small, 26 (5.53%) with moderate, and 25 (5.32%) with larger effusions. Increasing pleural effusion volume was associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) (rho = 0.189, p < 0.001), higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure (rho = 0.224, p < 0.001), lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (rho = −0.236, p < 0.001), impaired right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling (rho = −0.267, p < 0.001), lower stroke volume index (rho = −0.229, p < 0.001), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (rho = −0.221, p < 0.001). Despite these associations, pleural effusion volume was not associated with long-term mortality in univariable analyses, multivariable Cox regression models, or restricted cubic spline analyses. In the fully adjusted model, log-transformed pleural effusion volume was not independently associated with mortality (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.93–1.08; p = 0.976). Conclusions: AI-derived pleural effusion volume is associated with markers of cardiovascular congestion and adverse hemodynamic remodeling in patients undergoing TAVI. However, pleural effusion burden does not independently predict long-term mortality, suggesting that its value lies primarily in phenotyping cardiovascular disease severity rather than risk stratification. Full article

Objectives: To determine whether concomitant polytrauma is independently associated with worse in-hospital outcomes among fall-related proximal humerus fracture (PHF) patients and whether fracture subtype is associated with heterogeneity in this association. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Program Participant Use File (ACS TQP-PUF; 2019–2022). Adults with PHF and a fall mechanism were included. Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, the five mFI-5 components, anticoagulant use, and calendar year. Non-home discharge (NHD) was restricted to survivors. Sensitivity analyses used 1:1 PSM (all primary covariates in propensity model; post-matching SMDs assessed) and restriction to ground-level falls. Results: Among 63,995 fall-related PHF patients (70.5% female; 75.8% aged ≥65 years), 3884 (6.1%) met polytrauma criteria (ISS ≥ 16); polytrauma patients were more often male (45.1% vs. 28.5%) and slightly younger (mean age 69.3 vs. 72.0 years). Polytrauma was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (aOR 7.05, 95% CI 6.14–8.09) and non-home discharge among survivors (aOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.79–2.12; crude 72.0% vs. 64.6%). ICU utilization (aOR 13.25, 95% CI 12.34–14.22) and any complication (aOR 3.41, 95% CI 3.07–3.79) are reported as descriptive markers subject to triage and ascertainment bias, respectively. The ICD-10 subtype-stratified mortality aORs ranged from 3.36 to 8.28 across five strata (exploratory; no formal interaction test performed). PSM (3884 pairs; n = 7768) and ground-level fall restriction produced estimates consistent with the primary analyses. Conclusions: Concomitant polytrauma was independently associated with substantially higher in-hospital mortality and non-home discharge after fall-related PHF, identifying a high-risk subgroup that warrants closer clinical attention. Full article

Background: Endurance exercise is known to induce the excessive production of reactive oxygen metabolites due to enhanced metabolic activity and inflammation, leading to oxidative stress and related injuries. Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate, is broadly acknowledged for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, along with other protective functions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short-term SFN precursor supplementation on maximal exercise-induced muscle damage, oxidative stress and endurance capacity in healthy adults. Methods: In a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design, 14 healthy participants (7 males, 7 females; age, 25.07 ± 1.04 years; weight, 65.28 ± 4.13 kg; height, 170.07 ± 3.46 cm; BMI, 22.48 ± 0.91) received SFN glucosinolate capsules (200 µmol/day) or placebo for 2 weeks during the first trial. Following a three-week washout period, the participants crossed over to the alternate treatment. Maximal exercise tests were performed following each supplementation (SFN or placebo) period. Blood samples were collected at baseline (before treatment), pre-exercise, post-exercise and 2 h after each exercise session. Results: SFN supplementation did not alter endurance capacity or blood cell counts; however, it significantly attenuated serum creatine kinase (CK) activity (p = 0.034; SFN, 121.52 ± 16.89; placebo, 291.84 ± 133.07) and the myoglobin (Mb) concentration (p = 0.011; SFN, 15.82 ± 1.95; placebo; 27.31 ± 5.71) following exercise. Analysis of oxidative stress markers showed no significant changes in the absolute values; however, in the d-ROMs (p = 0.038; SFN, 107.42 ± 2.39; placebo; 112.32 ± 2.11) and OXY-adsorbent tests (p = 0.032; SFN, 115.97 ± 4.15; placebo; 107.73 ± 3.88), the percent changes from the baseline showed a significant interaction with the supplement. These findings suggest that short-term SFN supplementation may mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage and oxidative stress, suggesting a modest influence on the circulating biomarkers associated with muscle damage without altering the endurance capacity of healthy people. Conclusion: SFN intake may be a beneficial, non-invasive strategy to modulate acute biochemical responses to exercise via the antioxidant defense system in physically active individuals. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are highly prevalent among African men. While single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in KLK3, HNF1B, and JAZF1 are established risk markers in Western cohorts, their specific allele frequencies and diagnostic utility remain poorly characterized in African populations. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness of High-Resolution Melting (HRM) PCR for germline SNP genotyping in a cohort of Nigerian men. Methods: Peripheral blood buffy coat DNA was extracted from 31 male participants attending the urology clinic at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, classified into PCa (n = 13), BPH (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 6). Real-time PCR and HRM analysis were optimized to genotype three specific risk variants: rs2735839 (KLK3), rs4430796 (HNF1B), and rs10486567 (JAZF1). Allelic discrimination was validated using sequence-verified, synthetic positive controls for homozygous wild-type and mutant variants. HRM analysis generated reproducible amplification and melting profiles that enabled clear discrimination of wild-type, heterozygous, and variant genotypes for all three loci. Results: The risk-associated alleles of KLK3 (G), HNF1B (C), and JAZF1 (T) occurred more frequently among patients with prostate cancer than among those with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Clinically, prostate cancer patients also presented with markedly higher PSA concentrations, older age at diagnosis, and higher Gleason scores, consistent with more aggressive disease. The optimized HRM workflow required less than two hours from amplification to genotype assignment and eliminated the need for post-PCR processing, making it suitable for routine molecular testing in resource-constrained laboratories. Conclusions: HRM-based genotyping of KLK3 (rs2735839), HNF1B (rs4430796), and JAZF1 (rs10486567) provides a highly reproducible, rapid, and low-cost molecular tool for mapping prostate disease risk variants. Because it requires no post-PCR processing, this closed-tube HRM workflow is ideally suited for resource-limited clinical settings to enhance early risk stratification and differentiate malignant PCa from benign BPH. Full article