Search Results (1,083)

High-level athletic performance requires the implementation of personalized strategies based on the analysis of metabolic pathways involved in energy production: phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative pathways. In this context, mitochondria play an essential role as the central regulator of energy production, being closely linked to these three pathways. Exercise boosts cellular respiration, which can also be optimized by nutritional interventions and targeted supplementation, promoting mitochondrial biogenesis, reducing oxidative stress and increasing ATP production. These metabolic adaptations improve athletic performance, accelerate recovery processes, and reduce the risk of injury, adapting to the physiological characteristics of each athlete. Moreover, some of these metabolic adaptations converge on specific targets whose expression or activity is also altered in mental disorders. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze mitochondrial adaptations induced by exercise and supplementation, evaluating their impact on the phosphagen, glycolytic, and oxidative metabolic pathways, as well as their relationship with optimizing performance and recovery in high-level athletes, with special attention to their potential application to mental health. Full article

Background: Acanthosomatidae (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidea), commonly known as parent bugs, is a comparatively small pentatomoid family whose biological distinctiveness is exemplified by the repeated evolution of maternal egg–nymph guarding in several lineages; however, mitogenomic data for this group remain limited. Acanthosoma murreeanum is an important representative of Acanthosoma, yet its complete mitochondrial genome and comparative mitogenomic characteristics have not been comprehensively studied. Methods: Here, we obtained the complete mitochondrial genome of A. murreeanum through sequencing, assembly, and annotation. We then characterized its mitogenomic structure, nucleotide composition, codon usage, RNA structural features, control-region organization, nucleotide diversity, evolutionary rates, and phylogenetic position. In addition, control-region characteristics were compared among available acanthosomatid mitogenomes to evaluate structural variation in the AT-rich region. Results: The sequenced mitochondrial genome of A. murreeanum is a circular molecule of 15,718 bp, comprising the standard set of 37 mitochondrial genes and a control region of 1104 bp. The genome exhibits a strong A + T bias (74.04%) and retains the typical mitochondrial gene order without gene rearrangement. Most protein-coding genes start with standard ATN codons, except COX1, which begins with TTG, whereas COX2 and ND5 terminate with incomplete stop codons. Most predicted tRNA genes displayed the conventional cloverleaf configuration, whereas trnS1 lacked a complete DHU arm and instead formed a simple loop. The control region was characterized by a 60 bp tandem-repeat unit and several conserved sequence motifs. Comparative analysis showed that control-region length, AT content, repeat-unit size, and motif composition varied among sampled Acanthosomatidae, while A. murreeanum and A. haemorrhoidale shared similar 60 bp tandem-repeat organization. Among the mitochondrial PCGs, ATP8 exhibited the highest level of variation, whereas COX1 was the most conserved. The Ka/Ks values of all genes were lower than 1, suggesting that these genes have evolved under purifying selection. Phylogenetic analyses based on maximum-likelihood and Bayesian-inference methods consistently supported a sister relationship between A. murreeanum and A. haemorrhoidale. Conclusions: This study provides a new mitogenomic resource for Acanthosomatidae and represents the first detailed comparative mitogenomic analysis within Acanthosoma. The results suggest that A. murreeanum retains a conserved mitochondrial genomic architecture, whereas variation in the AT-rich control region provides additional evidence for lineage-specific mitogenomic differentiation. These results provide useful insights into mitogenome evolution and phylogenetic relationships within Acanthosoma and closely related acanthosomatid groups. Full article

Despite being distinct clinical entities, major depressive disorder (MDD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) have some shared physiological pathways, including mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. Our interest was whether these common physiological mechanisms are reflected in brain activity variations as well. Therefore, this study aimed to identify common characteristics in resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) between the conditions by comparing features among patients with MDD, PD, and healthy controls. The methodology comprised two stages: analyzing differences between patients and healthy individuals and exploring consistent trends between PD and MDD, based on EEG data from PRED + CT database. Age-corrected regression analysis of five EEG features revealed PD and MDD had the following overlapping features: shared abnormalities in theta, alpha and beta relative power, as well as sample entropy in the delta (centroparietal, temporal, and parietal areas), theta (parieto-occipital), and gamma (central) bands. Furthermore, interhemispheric asymmetry was evident across all bands, especially in the frontal and centroparietal regions. When combining these findings with their directional trends (positive or negative), common EEG features included increased theta and decreased alpha-beta power, along with increased parieto-occipital and reduced gamma entropy at FCz. These findings suggest shared EEG markers between PD and MDD, supporting the potential for efficient neurological disorder diagnosis. Full article

Indigenous pig breeds in Vietnam represent an important genetic reservoir, offering traits adapted to local environments, cultural preferences, and disease resistance. However, rapid industrialization and the expansion of commercial breeds have endangered many indigenous populations. This review explores the trajectory of conservation efforts for Vietnamese local pig breeds, from the early use of microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA to recent advances in SNP genotyping. Firstly, we summarize the key characteristics and values of 26 local breeds. Secondly, we highlight key findings on genetic diversity, population structure, and inbreeding levels across major breeds. In addition, we discuss challenges in the development of conservation breeding programs and national strategies, as well as challenges in data generation, infrastructure, and policy implementation and provide potential solutions for these challenges. This review provides the first integrated synthesis linking breed-level genetic evidence to practical conservation recommendations for indigenous pigs in Vietnam. By identifying the key breeds for conservation priority, such as Huong, Van Pa, Soc, ChuProng, Co Aluoi, and Lung Pu, as well as highlighting the exotic introgression in H’mong pig populations, this review might provide a resource for sustainable conservation and use of Vietnam’s rich pig genetic resources. Full article

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a complex blood cancer that primarily affects relapsing or refractory patients receiving conventional chemotherapy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have anticancer properties with restricted clinical efficacy attributable to cyclooxygenase (COX)-induced toxicities. To address this issue, a group of benzylamide analogs of the classical NSAIDs (NSI-1–NSI-9) were developed and synthesized to mask the carboxylic acid moiety and minimize COX-induced adverse effects while maintaining anticancer activity. The cytotoxic effect of such substances has been demonstrated in some leukemia cell lines (HL-60, MV4-11, KG1a, and K562). NSI-5 exerted the highest anti-leukemic activity among these sulindac analogs, as determined at a sub-micromolar level in all cell lines studied, by IC50. This mechanistic data also demonstrated that NSI-5 induced apoptosis that was dose-dependent, especially in HL-60 cell lines, and increased the sub-G1 cell fraction. This apoptotic process was also accompanied by a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, which is characteristic of the induction of the intrinsic apoptotic process. Interestingly, NSI-5 decreased the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of most antioxidants (catalase and glutathione synthetase), as well as the redox balance. Gene characterization in vitro also suggested activation of apoptotic pathways, where expression of Bax, Bak1, and Caspase-3 increased, suggesting a potential p53-independent apoptotic pathway, in contrast to control for Bcl-2 expression. Collectively, these findings indicate that NSI-5 is a promising in vitro anti-leukemic lead compound, with activity associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and altered redox regulation. The observed effects are consistent with previously reported COX-independent activity of structurally related NSAID derivatives, and support further investigation of NSI-5 in preclinical models. Full article

Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) being the major determinant of poor prognosis. Tumor metabolic reprogramming and spatial heterogeneity complicate biomarker discovery and clinical management. This study aimed to characterize the spatial metabolomic landscape of CRC and identify progression-associated metabolic alterations and potential metabolic signatures for liver metastasis. Methods: A total of 23 tissue samples were collected from patients with CRC, with and without liver metastasis. Air flow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AFADESI-MSI) was used to map the spatial metabolite distributions. Region-of-interest analysis guided by histopathology enabled comparative metabolomic profiling across different tissue types. Multivariate statistical analysis, pathway enrichment, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to identify key metabolic alterations and evaluate potential biomarker performance. Results: Distinct spatial metabolomic profiles were observed across normal mucosa, primary tumors, liver metastases, and normal liver tissues. In primary colorectal tumors, amino acid, purine, and choline metabolism were significantly upregulated, whereas liver metastases were characterized by elevated levels of triglycerides, diglycerides, cholesteryl esters, and acylcarnitines, indicating enhanced lipid synthesis, incomplete fatty acid oxidation, and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. Progression-associated analyses across tissue types revealed consistently increasing trends in glycerides and acylcarnitines, along with heterogeneous alterations in amino acids and phospholipids. Furthermore, 122 differential metabolites were identified between metastatic and non-metastatic CRC, and a four-lipid panel demonstrated strong discriminatory performance. Conclusions: This study provides a spatially resolved characterization of metabolic reprogramming during CRC progression and liver metastasis, highlighting lipid and amino acid metabolism as key features and revealing the metabolic signatures of CRLM. Full article

Background and Objectives: The integration of chemotherapy (ChT) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become a standard approach in oncology. Although the addition of ICIs to double-agent ChT regimens has demonstrated clinical benefit in multiple studies, other trials have reported no significant improvement. ChT is hypothesized to potentiate the effects of ICIs through multiple mechanisms, including tumor antigen release and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to evaluate whether nivolumab enhances the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin or paclitaxel in lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell lines under immune-independent conditions. Materials and Methods: A549 lung alveolar carcinoma cell lines were treated with varying concentrations of nivolumab, cisplatin, and paclitaxel, individually and in combinations. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were assessed using mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, cell viability assays, and morphological evaluation of cellular and nuclear alterations characteristic of apoptotic cell death. Results: Nivolumab alone exhibited no cytotoxic activity. The combination of cisplatin at its IC₅₀ (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) (3 µg/mL) with 13 µg/mL nivolumab yielded the most pronounced cytotoxicity (89%) compared to cisplatin alone (49%, p < 0.001). Paclitaxel combined with nivolumab increased cytotoxicity to 69% versus 51% for paclitaxel alone (p < 0.05). The enhancement effect was greater with cisplatin than with paclitaxel. Notably, adding nivolumab to the cisplatin–paclitaxel combination reduced cytotoxicity from 73% to 64%. Mechanistic analysis revealed a significant reduction in Rhodamine 123 fluorescence intensity in drug-treated groups versus controls (p < 0.001), indicating loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, a hallmark of intrinsic apoptotic activation, suggesting apoptotic priming. Conclusions: Nivolumab potentiates the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin and paclitaxel in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells, with a more pronounced effect observed in combination with cisplatin. This enhancement is associated with mitochondrial membrane potential loss, supporting mitochondrial apoptotic priming as a potential underlying mechanism of drug synergy. Full article

Furuncular myiasis is rarely reported in Southeast/Eastern Europe and may be underrecognized or misdiagnosed in non-endemic settings. We described two imported furuncular myiasis cases diagnosed in Romania following travel to Peru and confirmed the etiologic agent by larval morphology and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing. We also conducted a narrative review of published case reports/series from Southeast/Eastern Europe (1900–2025) and summarized case characteristics. A previously healthy 31-year-old woman and 32-year-old man presented with painful furuncle-like lesions on the upper back near the shoulder and the posterolateral upper arm, respectively, associated with pruritus and a sensation of movement. Each lesion had a central punctum with intermittent air bubbles. Occlusion of the breathing pore with petroleum jelly facilitated mechanical extraction of one barrel-shaped larva per lesion. Microscopy showed features consistent with second-instar Dermatobia hominis larvae, and COI sequencing demonstrated 97.14–99.33% identity with reference D. hominis sequences. Literature review identified 25 travel-associated cases, with D. hominis involved mostly after travel to Central/South America. These cases highlight the value of travel history and key diagnostic clues for D. hominis myiasis in travelers that may enable timely diagnosis and minimally invasive management. Greater awareness and reporting are needed to better define epidemiology. Full article

Cutaneous melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer because of its aggressiveness, rapid metastasis, and high therapeutic resistance. The 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) classification emphasized that melanoma comprises distinct subtypes defined by cumulative sun damage, site of origin, and molecular characteristics, which explain differences in mutational burden, immunogenicity, and treatment response. Immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 therapy such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab changed the therapeutic landscape by restoring CD8+ T-cell activity and improving survival. Still, many patients show primary or acquired resistance influenced by low PD-L1 expression, loss of antigen presentation, tumor metabolic plasticity, and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Mitochondria are central to this process. They regulate ATP generation through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), redox control, apoptosis, and the metabolic programming needed for T-cell activation. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), hypoxia, nutrient restriction, and PD-1 signaling reduce mitochondrial biogenesis, increase fission and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and lead to exhaustion and impaired effector function. Moreover, tumor cells outcompete immune cells for key nutrients such as glucose and glutamine, while increased lactate production and extracellular acidosis further suppress mitochondrial respiration in T cells. Strategies to overcome resistance include restoring oxidative metabolism, activating PGC-1α, supplying metabolic substrates, and combining checkpoint blockade with inhibitors of glycolysis or glutaminolysis to enhance the immune response. Full article

Due to its high efficiency and safety, oocyte vitrification finds broad application in many fields of life sciences, such as clinical assisted reproduction and conservation of animal genetic resources. However, vitrification may cause cellular damage and reduce the quality of oocytes and their cumulus cells (CCs), which could be closely related to disorders in lipid metabolism. At present, the impact of vitrification upon the lipid profile of oocytes and CCs has not been systematically elucidated. In this study, we used porcine germinal vesicle cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) as a model to analyze their lipid characteristics after vitrification and in vitro maturation (IVM), utilizing untargeted lipid metabolomics. Our results showed that an overall count of 37 down-regulated and 8 up-regulated differential lipids was identified in the vitrified oocytes. Pathway analysis confirmed the enrichment in glycerophospholipid metabolism and fat digestion and absorption, etc. Combined with transcriptomic analysis, three enriched pathways were revealed, including the AMPK signaling pathway, metabolic pathways, and fatty acid elongation. On the other hand, a total of four down-regulated and eight up-regulated differential lipids were detected in the vitrified CCs. Pathway enrichment implicated autophagy, glycerophospholipid metabolism, etc. A joint analysis of metabolomic and transcriptomic data revealed four enrichment pathways, including cholesterol metabolism, fat digestion and absorption, regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, and metabolic pathways. Notably, the supplementation of lysophosphatidylcholine during IVM attenuated oxidative stress, enhanced mitochondrial activity, and enhanced the viability and embryonic development of cryopreserved porcine oocytes. The results indicate that vitrification alters lipids in oocytes and CCs, and the supplementation of lipids plays a role in improving the quality of vitrified oocytes. Full article

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell, primarily produced by mitochondria. Excess ROS trigger membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO), cause mitochondrial swelling, and release proapoptotic proteins into the cytoplasm, which can lead to apoptosis. It is assumed that antioxidants that reduce excessive ROS formation by mitochondria can increase the body’s resistance to stress factors. We investigated the effects of hypoxia and the antioxidant Ambiol (2-methyl-4-dimethylaminomethylbenzimidazole-5-ol dihydrochloride) on the functional characteristics of mitochondria, which were assessed by measuring lipid peroxidation intensity using spectrofluorimetry, mitochondrial membranes fatty acid composition using chromatography, mitochondrial morphology using atomic force microscopy, and respiration rate using polarography. Injecting mice with Ambiol at a dose of 10⁻⁶ mol/kg for 5 days prevented the stress-induced activation of lipid peroxidation, a decrease in the unsaturation index of C₁₈ and C₂₀ fatty acids in mitochondrial membranes, and swelling of these organelles. The drug also increased the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation during the oxidation of NAD-dependent substrates. Furthermore, Ambiol increased the lifespan of mice by 3.0–4.0 times under various types of hypoxia. Ambiol’s ability to maintain initial (control) levels of C₁₈ and C₂₀ unsaturated fatty acids appears to protect against stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Full article

Background/Objectives: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) effectively restores coronary flow in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury (MIRI) remains a major prognostic determinant. Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-c (MOTS-c) has shown cardiovascular protective effects, yet its association with MIRI is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum MOTS-c levels and MIRI in AMI patients. Methods: Seventy-two AMI patients undergoing PCI were enrolled and divided into MIRI (n = 34) and non-MIRI (n = 38) groups. Clinical data and MOTS-c levels in peripheral serum and intracoronary blood were compared. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed to identify MIRI predictors. Results: The MIRI group exhibited lower systolic blood pressure, preoperative thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade, and HDL-C, but higher total ischemic time, door-to-balloon time, culprit vessel stenosis severity, Killip grade and adverse event incidence (all p < 0.05). Postoperative peripheral serum MOTS-c levels were significantly lower in the MIRI group than in the non-MIRI group (p < 0.05), while preoperative peripheral and intracoronary MOTS-c levels showed no significant differences between groups. Multivariate logistic regression identified postoperative peripheral MOTS-c levels (OR = 0.986, 95%CI: 0.976–0.996) and preoperative TIMI grade ≥ 1 (OR = 0.036, 95%CI: 0.004–0.309) as independent protective factors for MIRI, whereas serum creatinine was identified as an independent risk factor. ROC analysis demonstrated that postoperative peripheral MOTS-c levels predicted MIRI with an area under the curve of 0.648. Conclusions: Postoperative peripheral serum MOTS-c levels represent an independent protective factor against MIRI in patients with acute myocardial infarction and suggest a potential predictive value for MIRI, although its clinical utility as a standalone predictor requires further validation through dynamic monitoring and larger-scale studies. This finding may offer a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic direction for MIRI. Full article

The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) superfamily plays important roles in a wide range of biological processes. The classification of CYP450 family members has been studied in some plants and animals; however, there are no reports on CYP450 family members in Exopalaemon carinicauda. Based on publicly available whole-genome data for E. carinicauda, we identified 58 CYP450 family members based on the genome-wide alignment and analyzed their domains, gene structures and chromosomal locations, as well as physicochemical properties of the encoded proteins. The results revealed that CYP450 family members, widely distributed across multiple chromosomes, exhibit diverse protein properties, gene structures, and conserved motifs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these members are primarily clustered into subfamilies 2, 3, and 4, and the mitochondrial clan, showing close genetic relationships with homologous genes from other crustaceans. In this study, we revealed the genetic structural characteristics of the CYP450 family in E. carinicauda. We identified candidate genes for future research on the molecular mechanisms of CYP450 in development and reproduction. These findings are expected to serve as a foundation for further studies in this field. Full article

Reliable identification of seafood species is critical for fisheries management and product authentication, especially when morphological characteristics are lost during processing. In this study, a multiplex PCR system was developed to distinguish seven cuttlefish species (six Sepia spp. and Sepiella inermis) commercially distributed in the Korean seafood market. Species identity was first confirmed by amplifying a mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) fragment (~658 bp) using universal primers (LCO1490/HCO2198), showing 99–100% sequence similarity to corresponding GenBank reference sequences. Analysis of genetic variation based on a 530 bp aligned region demonstrated complete interspecific differentiation without shared haplotypes among species. The number of haplotypes per species ranged from 5 to 21, with haplotype diversity values between 0.667 and 1.000. An extended COI fragment (~1200 bp) was further analyzed to identify diagnostic interspecific variation for marker development. Seven diagnostic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites were identified and used to design species-specific forward primers with diagnostic nucleotides positioned at the 3′ termini. Distinct amplicons (220–1099 bp) were generated and clearly resolved by agarose gel electrophoresis. Because simultaneous amplification of all seven primer pairs reduced amplification efficiency, the assay was divided into two multiplex sets. Under optimized conditions (56 °C), each species produced a single expected band without cross-amplification. This multiplex PCR system provides a rapid and sequencing-free approach for reliable species discrimination and can be effectively applied to fisheries monitoring and seafood authentication in commercial supply chains. Full article

A new species of shoveljaw carp, Scaphesthes zhejiangensis, is described from the Qiantang River basin and three independent rivers in Zhejiang Province, Southeast China. It is distinguished from other Scaphesthes species by the following combination of characteristics: a long, slender body (depth 19.9–22.2% SL); 46–49 lateral-line scales; 15–17 pre-dorsal scales; a short head (depth 66.8–73.3% HL); a wide mouth (width 36.2–45.3% HL); elongated maxillary barbels shorter than one-third of the eye diameter; reduced but visible rostral barbels; a slender, smooth last simple dorsal ray; and the absence of a longitudinal black stripe along the lateral line. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene supported the monophyly of S. zhejiangensis sp. nov., which formed a clade with S. virgulatum, S. macrolepis, and the S. barbatum species complex. Full article