Search Results (3,509)

Hair aging, a complex physiological process involving progressive hair thinning and loss of luster, is primarily driven by functional decline of hair follicle components and sebaceous glands due to cumulative oxidative stress. This decline manifests as dermal papilla cell (DPC) senescence, with reduced insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) secretion, impaired hair matrix keratinocyte proliferation, and decreased keratin synthesis. We investigated the restorative potential of poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) filler, a biostimulatory polymer with antioxidant properties, against these age-related changes. PDLLA filler treatment significantly reduced oxidative stress—as indicated by decreased 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels—in hydrogen peroxide-induced senescent human DPCs, alleviated cell-cycle arrest, and significantly upregulated IGF-1 secretion. Conditioned medium from PDLLA filler-treated DPCs stimulated proliferation and pan-keratin expression in senescent hair follicular keratinocytes (HFKs). Intradermal PDLLA filler injection in aged mice significantly reduced 8-OHdG levels, restored DPC proliferative capacity (indicated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA] positivity), increased IGF-1 expression within the dermal papilla, and enhanced HFK proliferation in the hair matrix. Consequently, PDLLA filler treatment robustly upregulated hair cortex keratins (K35, K85) and inner root sheath markers (AE15, K25, K71), leading to improved cuticle integrity and the attenuation of follicular miniaturization. Senescence within sebaceous glands was also mitigated, as evidenced by increased PCNA and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) expression, accompanied by enhanced hair shaft reflectivity and shine. Overall, PDLLA filler ameliorated senescence-associated phenotypes and restored senescence-associated functional decline, supporting its potential as an intervention for age-related hair thinning and quality deterioration. Full article

Osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs is increasingly recognized as a condition with systemic inflammatory and metabolic components, potentially influenced by body condition and sex. This study aimed to characterize phenotypic differences in circulating inflammatory, metabolic, and biochemical biomarkers in dogs with OA according to body condition and sex. In this cross-sectional study, client-owned dogs were classified as healthy controls, thin dogs with OA (TOA), or obese dogs with OA (OOA). Circulating cytokines, adipokines, cartilage degradation markers, and routine biochemical parameters were measured in blood samples, including interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-4, interleukin-10, adiponectin, C-terminal telopeptide of type II collagen, and standard metabolic and hepatic markers. Data were analyzed using linear models fitted on log-transformed values, with group and sex as fixed effects, complemented by adjusted and sensitivity analyses. TOA dogs showed significantly higher interleukin-1 beta concentrations compared with controls (multiplicative effect 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.82), indicating increased systemic inflammatory activity. In contrast, OOA dogs exhibited predominantly metabolic-associated alterations, including higher gamma-glutamyl transferase activity (multiplicative effect 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.46) and higher cholesterol concentrations (multiplicative effect 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.46). Several other biomarkers showed no clear group-related differences. Overall, these findings demonstrate that systemic biomarker profiles in canine OA vary primarily according to body condition, with secondary sex-related patterns, supporting the existence of biologically distinct OA phenotypes relevant for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Full article

Background: Saliva has been identified as a valuable diagnostic biofluid due to its non-invasive collection and its capacity to reflect oral and systemic biological processes. Advances in analytical chemistry, biosensing technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted data integration have broadened the applications of salivary diagnostics. Among salivary exposome components, heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, chromium, arsenic, and aluminum serve as biologically and clinically relevant indicators of environmental exposure, toxic burden, and disease-associated molecular disorders. Methods: This structured review integrates clinical, experimental, and translational studies published between January 2020 and January 2026 that examined salivary heavy metal profiling in relation to oral health. Evidence was identified using systematic searches of PubMed/MEDLINE and supplementary sources. Studies were qualitatively assessed regarding analytical methodologies, reported concentration ranges, biological mechanisms, disease associations, and the development of digital and AI-assisted diagnostic applications. Results: Thirteen human clinical studies and six animal or in vivo investigations met the inclusion criteria. Across these studies, altered salivary metal profiles were linked to oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, immune dysregulation, microbiome disturbances, and genotoxic markers relevant to periodontal disease, oral mucosal pathology, and the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was the predominant analytical platform, while emerging biosensor technologies showed potential for rapid detection and monitoring. Digital and AI-based approaches were identified as promising tools for integrating metallomic data with clinical and molecular biomarkers to support exposure-informed risk stratification. Conclusions: Salivary heavy metal profiling represents a biologically informative, non-invasive method for exposure-aware risk assessment in oral health. Although current clinical translation is limited by methodological variability, small cohort sizes, and the lack of standardized reference ranges, integration with digital biosensing platforms and explainable AI frameworks might facilitate scalable, precision-oriented salivary diagnostics. Full article

Alcohol exposure affects immune regulation and tissue homeostasis. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of innate immunity, not only defending against pathogens but also modulating processes such as inflammation. However, their tissue-specific regulation in response to alcohol remains poorly characterized, particularly in humans after acute intoxication. We evaluated the expression of AMPs in the peripheral blood of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD, n = 9), individuals with acute alcohol consumption (AAC, n = 9), and controls using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Additionally, we analyzed AMP expression in selected tissues of mice exposed to chronic ethanol feeding (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism model for 5 days) and performed a systematic review of AMP regulation in alcohol-related disorders (2005–2024; n = 36 studies, reflecting a limited and heterogeneous body of available evidence). Human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (LL-37), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) were significantly upregulated in patients with AUD, whereas LL-37 and LBP were significantly upregulated in AAC. In the livers of ethanol-fed mice, LEP2, LCN2, and LBP levels were markedly increased, whereas LL-37 and LEP1 were downregulated. Duodenal tissue exhibited upregulation of DEFB1. In adipose tissue, DEFA2 was significantly increased in peripheral depots, whereas only LCN2 was upregulated in brain tissue. The systematic review demonstrated complex, heterogeneous, and organ-dependent AMP regulation and also highlighted the paucity of human data on AAC, a gap that our study partially addresses. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that selected AMPs may serve as candidate markers of organ damage or microbial translocation and as possible therapeutic targets, a hypothesis that requires confirmation in larger, adequately powered studies. Full article

Background: Transtibial prostheses are commonly classified as endoskeletal or exoskeletal and differ in weight, adaptability, and mechanical response, which may influence gait performance. This study examined whether prosthesis type affects overground walking movement structure and neuromuscular control and assessed the relationship between walking speed and neuromuscular control. Methods: Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to kinematic marker data from 20 unilateral transtibial amputees using either endoskeletal (n = 10; 54.7 ± 6.1 years) or exoskeletal prostheses (n = 10; 57.9 ± 8.7 years) during self-selected overground walking. Principal movements (PMs) were extracted to represent functionally meaningful gait components. Movement structure was evaluated using the relative explained variance of PM positions (rVAR), whereas neuromuscular control was quantified using the root mean square of PM accelerations (RMS; acceleration magnitude) and the number of zero crossings (N; regularity/predictability). Group differences were examined using covariate-adjusted analyses, controlling for preferred walking speed. Results: No significant differences in walking movement structure were found between prosthetic types. Unadjusted analyses suggested greater swing-phase acceleration (PM₂) and lower neuromuscular variability across PM₁–PM₄ in the endoskeletal group; however, these effects were no longer significant after adjusting for BMI and walking speed. Walking speed showed strong associations with neuromuscular control (p ≤ 0.003), with faster speeds linked to greater swing-phase acceleration and reduced variability. Conclusions: Walking movement structure and neuromuscular control were comparable between prosthetic types, while walking speed emerged as a key factor in gait evaluation among transtibial amputees. Full article

The taxonomic status of Arbutus pavarii Pamp., a rare and geographically restricted species endemic to northeastern Libya, has long been debated, with some treatments considering it a synonym of A. unedo. To resolve this uncertainty, we applied an integrative molecular framework that combined multilocus DNA barcoding, phylogenetic inference, and multivariate statistical analyses. Five barcode loci—nrITS, matK, rbcL, trnH–psbA, and rps16—were analyzed using barcode-gap diagnostics, TaxonDNA identification tests, and single-locus and concatenated phylogenetic analyses. Barcode-gap analyses based on Kimura 2-parameter distances revealed clear and reproducible separation between intra- and interspecific variation for A. pavarii, particularly for nrITS and the concatenated multilocus dataset, whereas conserved plastid loci showed limited discriminatory power when used individually. Phylogenetic reconstructions consistently recovered A. pavarii as a strongly supported monophyletic lineage, distinct from A. unedo and other Mediterranean congeners, with congruent topologies across the nuclear, plastid, and combined datasets. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and heatmap clustering, further corroborate the genetic cohesion and distinctiveness of A. pavarii samples. Collectively, these results provide robust molecular evidence supporting the recognition of Arbutus pavarii as a distinct evolutionary lineage, rather than an intraspecific variant of A. unedo. This study established a reproducible multilocus framework for species delimitation in Arbutus and highlighted the importance of integrating nuclear and plastid markers to resolve complex taxonomic relationships. The clarified taxonomic status of A. pavarii has important implications for biodiversity assessment and conservation planning in the Mediterranean region, particularly in the Cyrenaican floristic province. Full article

Drought stress severely compromises the physiological integrity and secondary metabolism of medicinal plants. This study integrated physiological, biochemical, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analyses to investigate the effects of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on drought-stressed Ilex rotunda seedlings. Drought reduced relative water content by 29% and chlorophyll by >50%, while elevating H₂O₂ (76%) and malondialdehyde (120%). MeJA application mitigated these impairments, reducing oxidative markers by 25% and enhancing non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, as shown by a 74% increase in DPPH radical scavenging activity and a 141% rise in total phenolic content. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and pathway mapping confirmed a significant reprogramming of the phenolic metabolome, particularly within phenylpropanoid and benzoate biosynthesis pathways. Drought + MeJA-treated plants exhibited a distinct and enriched profile compared to both well-watered control and drought-stressed groups. This reprogramming specifically elevated key hydroxycinnamates, including verbascoside and neochlorogenic acid (increased by 50% and 52%, respectively), while suppressing alternative phenolic branches. These findings demonstrate that MeJA orchestrates a shift from enzymatic scavenging to a potent metabolite-based antioxidant system, positioning it as an effective elicitor for enhancing drought resilience and enriching the high-value phytochemicals in I. rotunda. Full article

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging has increasingly highlighted white matter abnormalities as a key component of affective disorders. Fast macromolecular proton fraction (MPF) mapping, a myelin-sensitive technique, recently revealed divergent patterns of white matter myelination in bipolar disorder (BD) and recurrent depressive disorder (RDD), with reduced MPF in RDD but elevated MPF in BD. These findings challenge uniform hypomyelination models of mood disorders. In this Communication, we propose a trajectory-oriented reinterpretation of these results, suggesting that MPF differences may reflect distinct neurodevelopmental and lifespan-related myelination trajectories rather than a simple marker of tissue damage. Elevated MPF in BD—observed particularly in relatively young patients—may indicate accelerated or dysregulated white matter maturation or activity-dependent myelin plasticity, whereas reduced MPF in RDD may reflect impaired maintenance of myelin integrity. We emphasize that MPF should not be interpreted as a unidirectional index of pathology and argue that it may serve as a phenotype-differentiating biomarker between BD and RDD, warranting further longitudinal and multimodal studies. Full article

Background/Objective: Intraoperative frozen section (FS) has long been used in thyroid surgery; however, its routine usefulness has shrunk with high-resolution ultrasound, standardized cytology, and molecular diagnostics. This narrative review synthesizes >20 years of evidence to clarify where FS still adds clinically meaningful value and where it does not. Methods: This study constitutes a narrative review of the contemporary literature spanning more than two decades, integrating prospective and retrospective evidence on FS performance in indeterminate/suspicious cytology (Bethesda III–V), NIFTP recognition, central compartment lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and prognostic intraoperative markers in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). It also examines how guidelines and emerging technologies influence intraoperative decision-making. Results: FS shows high specificity but limited sensitivity in Bethesda III–IV and Bethesda V cytology, offering minimal incremental diagnostic help in the settings with greatest preoperative uncertainty. FS cannot diagnose NIFTP because definitive classification requires complete capsular examination, incompatible with intraoperative pathology workflows. The most consistent value is FS of central compartment lymph nodes in PTC: it reliably detects macrometastases, enables real-time tailoring of surgical extent, and may reduce staged completion operations. In MTC, intraoperative assessment of desmoplastic stromal reaction appears promising as a prognostic marker; however, it remains investigational and not yet embedded in standard surgical algorithms. Guidelines internationally therefore de-emphasize routine FS. Meanwhile, evolving tools (quantitative imaging, molecular profiling, AI) are reshaping intraoperative decision-support, increasingly positioning FS as one component of a multimodal framework rather than a standalone arbiter. Conclusions: Routine FS is largely unsupported in modern risk-stratified thyroid practice due to the low sensitivity in key cytologic gray zones and inability to diagnose NIFTP. Its selective strength persists most clearly in central neck lymph-node assessment in PTC, where it can directly change intraoperative management. Future operative strategies will likely treat FS as an adjunct—contextualized and amplified by imaging, molecular data, and AI—rather than as a default diagnostic step. Full article

This pilot study aimed to investigate the role of the Klotho/FGF (fibroblast growth factor) system in biological features associated with premature aging, particularly inflammation and muscle dysfunction, focusing on its association with inflammatory markers, body composition, and muscle function in middle-aged adults. A total of 45 participants aged 50–60 years were enrolled, including 30 patients with obesity (22F/8M) and 15 healthy controls (11F/4M). Comprehensive assessments were conducted, including body composition analysis and muscle function tests. Evaluations of protein expression of Klotho, β-Klotho, FGF19, FGF21, FGF23, TFN-α and IL-10 were assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out to explore the relationships among variables. Significant differences were observed between the obese and control groups, with obese individuals exhibiting lower levels of Klotho and higher levels of TFN-α. The PCA revealed that higher Klotho levels were positively associated with better muscle function and lower inflammatory markers. These associations suggest that Klotho-related alterations may reflect biological processes linked to inflammation and muscle dysfunction in obesity. These findings suggest that alterations in the Klotho/FGF system may reflect biological pathways commonly associated with aging-related phenotypes in obesity, rather than direct measures of chronological aging. Given the exploratory design and limited sample size, these findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than evidence of causal mechanisms. Full article

Background: Liquid biopsy using bodily fluids enables noninvasive acquisition of diverse tumor-derived molecules for comprehensive characterization of tumor profiles. Metabolomic analysis, in particular, may accurately reflect disease pathogenesis and holds promise for clinical diagnostic applications. Objective: This study explored metabolic alterations associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using non-targeted metabolomic analysis of pancreatic juice to construct a preliminary diagnostic model based on selected metabolites. Methods: Pancreatic juice samples were collected intraoperatively and postoperatively from patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for PDAC (n = 11) and from those who had non-PDAC diseases, including benign conditions such as chronic pancreatitis and non-pancreatic malignancies such as distal bile duct adenocarcinoma and ampullary adenocarcinoma (n = 14). Non-targeted metabolomic analysis was performed using LC-QTOF-MS. Data were processed using MS-DIAL and MetaboAnalyst, and components showing intergroup differences were selected via PLS-DA. A diagnostic model was constructed using logistic regression based on annotated metabolites. Results: PLS-DA identified 56 discriminative components, of which 19 were successfully annotated. One metabolite was notably increased and 22 were relatively decreased in pancreatic juice of patients with PDAC. Among known metabolites that tended to decrease were isocitric acid, citric acid, and several oxidized fatty acids. A tentative logistic regression-based diagnostic model using these selected metabolites showed moderate discriminative performance. Citric acid was included in the final three-variable model, suggesting its potential as a candidate marker for PDAC discrimination. Conclusions: Pancreatic juice reflects PDAC-associated metabolic changes and may contain candidate diagnostic biomarkers. Metabolites annotated in this study may have potential as novel markers, and further studies on unknown components could help advance PDAC diagnosis and treatment. Full article

Terpinen-4-ol (TP4O) is a key monoterpene alcohol commonly used as a quality and authenticity marker in essential oils, cosmetics, herbal products, and pharmaceutical formulations. However, reliable and comparable quantification of TP4O across laboratories is challenged by variability in natural matrices and the limited availability of well-characterized, traceable reference materials. In this study, a high-purity certified reference material (CRM) of TP4O was developed and characterized by the National Institute of Metrology (Thailand). The material’s purity was determined using two independent and complementary approaches: a mass balance method (MB) method based on gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), Karl Fischer coulometric titration (KFT), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and a quantitative ¹H NMR (qNMR) method employing DSS-d₆ as an internal standard. The purity values obtained using the MB (98.41 ± 0.09%) and qNMR (99.13 ± 0.94%) methods were statistically equivalent (p > 0.05). Based on the combined evaluation, a certified purity value of 98.77% with an expanded uncertainty of 3.05% (k = 2) was assigned. Homogeneity and short- and long-term stability assessments confirmed the suitability of the material for its intended use. This TP4O CRM provides an SI-traceable, high-purity reference to support calibration, method validation, and quality assurance in analytical applications involving essential oil components. Full article

Milk is a primary source of vital nutrients and bioactive components fundamental to the growth and development of both newborn animals and humans. Produced by economically significant livestock species (including cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep and camels), milk is a complex matrix rich in caseins, vitamins, fats, and proteins. Beyond its classical nutritional profile, milk serves as a pivotal vehicle for milk-derived extracellular vesicles (mEVs). These specialized food-derived EVs (fEVs) exert pleiotropic effects that resonate with the One Health paradigm, linking animal well-being and human nutrition to broader ecosystem stability. mEVs offer unique advantages, such as high biocompatibility and gastrointestinal stability, also rendering them potential therapeutic tools as drug delivery systems. However, challenges remain regarding the standardization of mEVs and the variability of their molecular cargo. This review provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of mEVs across a diverse taxonomic range, including bovines, water buffaloes, yaks, camels, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, and humans, highlighting their distinct functional signatures. Indeed, a critical issue in mEV research is the isolation process: recommendations to minimize contamination from milk fat globules and casein micelles (which can cover EV signals) are given. Finally, current detection methods and instrumentation, with a specific focus on advancing flow cytometry (FC) approaches are discussed. Key insights include the use of conventional FC (with fluorescence triggering, the necessity of rigorous controls and calibration, and the utility of bead-based assays to overcome resolution limits) and imaging flow cytometry (IFC). In both technical approaches, the application of different EV generic fluorescent markers and the strategic selection of tetraspanins (i.e., CD9, CD63, CD81), is mandatory: we emphasize that selecting the correct antibody clones and accounting for inter-species cross-reactivity are essential steps for ensuring the accuracy and reproducibility of mEV research across mammalian species. Full article

Standing equine computed tomography (CT) acquisitions are susceptible to residual postural sway, which can introduce view-inconsistent motion and degrade image quality. External optical tracking based on ChArUco fiducials is a promising, low-cost strategy to enable projection-wise motion compensation, yet quantitative guidance on how camera–marker geometry affects pose-estimation performance remains limited. This CT-motivated benchtop study characterizes how the relative camera–ChArUco configuration influences both the accuracy (bias with respect to ground truth) and the precision (repeatability) of pose estimates obtained from RGB images using OpenCV ChArUco detection and reprojection-error minimization to estimate the rigid camera-to-board transformation. Controlled experiments systematically varied acquisition protocol (continuous repeated estimates at fixed pose versus cyclic repositioning), viewing angle over a wide angular range at two working distances, and camera-to-board distance over multiple depth settings. Ground truth for angular configurations was defined by a stepper-motor rotation stage, while distance ground truth was obtained by ruler measurements. Performance was summarized via mean absolute error and standard deviation across repeated measurements, complemented by variance-based statistical testing with multiple-comparison correction. Cyclic repositioning did not yield evidence of increased variability relative to continuous acquisitions, supporting view-by-view sampling. Viewing angle induced a consistent accuracy–precision trade-off for rotations: frontal views minimized mean error but exhibited higher variability, whereas oblique views reduced jitter at the expense of increased bias. Increasing working distance reduced repeatability, most prominently for depth-related components. Overall, these findings provide pre-clinical guidance for selecting camera/marker placement (moderately oblique viewpoints, limited working distance, sufficient image footprint) before in-scanner and in-vivo validation for standing equine CT motion compensation. Full article

Acrylate-based self-polishing copolymer antifouling paint particles (SPC-APPs) are persistent micropollutants that act as carriers for biocidal heavy metals, posing significant ecological hazards to aquatic ecosystems. Despite their toxicity, the occurrence, characterization, and metal-leaching risks of SPC-APPs in estuarine environments remain largely understudied. This study investigated the contamination characteristics of SPC-APPs in surface sediments from the Yangtze River Estuary, a hotspot of shipping activity. A multi-technique analytical protocol was employed, combining density separation with scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to characterize the morphology, quantify particle abundance, and assess the correlation between SPC-APPs and sedimentary heavy metals. SPC-APPs were ubiquitously detected across all sampling sites, with abundances ranging from (0.82 ± 0.15) × 10³ to (3.65 ± 0.42) × 10³ particles g⁻¹ dry sediment. A distinct distribution property (South Branch > North Branch > offshore shoal) was identified, primarily driven by shipping density and hydrodynamic sorting. Morphologically, particles exhibited irregular, abraded surfaces, with EDS confirming Cu (1.76~5.63 wt%) and Zn (0.27~3.65 wt%) as major metallic components. Py-GC/MS analysis identified specific mass fragments (m/z 41, 69, 87) as diagnostic markers. Strong positive correlations were observed between SPC-APP abundance and sediment Cu (r = 0.82, p < 0.01) and Zn (r = 0.76, p < 0.01) concentrations, indicating that these particles are a primary source of metal contamination. Ecological risk assessment based on sediment quality benchmarks showed that Cu in the South Branch reached 82~91% of the probable effect concentration (PEC), highlighting potential risks to benthic organisms. This study provides critical baseline data on the distribution and speciation of SPC-APPs, underscoring their role as vectors for toxic metals and the need for targeted pollution control in high-shipping-intensity estuarine regions. Full article