Search Results (23,698)

Marine plastic debris provides persistent artificial substrates for microbial colonization, yet the fungal component of the plastisphere remains poorly characterized. Using ITS metabarcoding and culture-based isolation approaches, we characterized the early mycobiome associated with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic pellets deployed in an Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) marina. The sequence-based communities were taxonomically heterogeneous, with only a limited effect of polymer type. Ascomycota, Zoopagomycota, and Basidiomycota were the dominant phyla identified by the ITS sequence analysis, while Linderina and Starmerella were the dominant genera. In contrast, the cultured isolates belonged exclusively to the phyla Ascomycota and Mucoromycota, with the Aspergillus genus accounting for 52.3% of the isolates. We further recorded physiological responses of 11 Aspergillus isolates to pristine and UV-weathered PET, including attachment, pigmentation, and plastic gravimetric weight loss. A. niger OC26 also exhibited strong peroxidase activity, together with a broad transcriptional response to PET exposure, including 216 upregulated genes and significant enrichment of peroxidase- and membrane-associated functions. UV weathering induced a limited but distinct additional transcriptional shift. Together, these findings indicate that early plastic-associated fungal communities in the EMS are taxonomically diverse and include metabolically versatile Aspergillus strains that mount distinct physiological and transcriptional responses to PET exposure. Full article

Oral delivery of bioactive compounds in veterinary medicine offers important opportunities to improve animal health, productivity, and welfare, but its effectiveness is often limited by species-specific gastrointestinal physiology. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of microencapsulation strategies for oral veterinary delivery, focusing on species-specific gastrointestinal barriers and the formulation approaches developed to overcome them. Monogastric and ruminant animals present distinct gastrointestinal environments that compromise the stability, bioavailability, and therapeutic performance of orally administered compounds. In monogastrics, gastric acidity, digestive enzymes, gastrointestinal transit, and microbiota-mediated interactions represent major barriers, whereas in ruminants, ruminal fermentation, prolonged retention, and physicochemical conditions may cause premature degradation of bioactive compounds. These barriers significantly hinder the successful use of probiotics, enzymes, essential oils, nutrients, vaccines, and veterinary drugs. However, microencapsulation has emerged as a promising solution, providing a protective barrier that improves compound stability, enhances gastrointestinal survival, and enables controlled or site-specific release. By preserving bioactivity and modulating release kinetics, microencapsulation contributes to improved delivery efficiency and functional performance. A distinctive feature of this review is the integration of species-specific gastrointestinal physiology with microencapsulation technologies to provide a rational framework for designing oral delivery systems in veterinary medicine, rather than focusing solely on individual encapsulation technologies. Current challenges related to material selection, formulation optimisation, and industrial scalability are discussed. Overall, this review highlights that integrating gastrointestinal physiology with advanced microencapsulation technologies is essential for developing effective, targeted, and sustainable oral delivery systems, ultimately supporting improved animal health, productivity, and welfare. Full article

Soil salinity is a major constraint on global crop productivity, highlighting the importance of strategies to enhance plant stress tolerance. This study investigated whether root-associated fungal endophytes derived from a salt-tolerant quinoa ecotype could establish associations with a salt-sensitive ecotype and confer systemic physiological and molecular stress-mitigation responses. Fungal endophytes—two Alternaria spp. and one Setophoma sp.—were isolated from roots of Pandela (salt-tolerant genotype) and inoculated BO75 (salt-sensitive ecotype) under severe salt stress (400 mM NaCl). Physiological (potential photochemical efficiency, survival), biochemical (malondialdehyde, proline), molecular (expression of ion transporter genes CqSOS1 and CqNHX1), and elemental (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻ distribution by μ-XRF) responses were evaluated. In the salt-sensitive BO75 genotype, endophyte inoculation was associated with improved stress performance, evidenced by reduced oxidative damage (lower MDA), higher proline accumulation, and enhanced photochemical efficiency. Furthermore, the reduced expression of CqSOS1 and CqNHX1 suggests an improved ionic balance in inoculated plants. Conversely, re-inoculating Pandela yielded negligible effects, suggesting that these endophytes primarily benefit genotypes lacking inherent salt tolerance. These findings indicate that transferring fungal endophytes from halophytic ecotypes can significantly mitigate stress in sensitive genotypes, highlighting their potential for enhancing crop resilience in saline environments. Full article

Background/Objective: Polypharmacy, conventionally defined as the concurrent use of five or more medications, has emerged as a critical public health challenge in aging populations worldwide. Polypharmacy in older adults, driven by multimorbidity and age-related physiological changes, increases the risk of adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, falls, cognitive impairment, non-adherence, and preventable hospitalization. This study aims to provide a structured narrative synthesis of the current evidence on the incidence, risk factors, and clinical management of polypharmacy in elderly patients, with particular emphasis on deprescribing strategies, interdisciplinary care models, patient education, and digital clinical decision support technologies. Methods: A structured narrative literature review was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using Boolean combinations of MeSH and free text terms including ‘polypharmacy,’ ‘elderly,’ ‘deprescribing,’ and ‘medication review.’ Eligible sources were peer-reviewed primary studies published between January 2016 and June 2026 that enrolled adults aged ≥65 years and reported validated prescribing review approaches, such as the STOPP/START criteria. The review drew on 40 primary studies spanning randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs, which were interpreted and synthesized narratively across the principal thematic domains of polypharmacy management. Results: Polypharmacy was independently and consistently associated with DDIs, preventable hospitalizations, and functional decline across diverse clinical settings. Pharmacist-led medication reviews and interdisciplinary, team-based interventions produced the most robust improvements in prescribing appropriateness and meaningful reductions in potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Electronic clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have demonstrated measurable benefits for safe deprescribing at scale, although usability limitations, incomplete workflow integration, and clinician resistance are significant implementation obstacles. Conclusions: Effective management of polypharmacy in older adults requires a multicomponent, patient-centered strategy that integrates evidence-based deprescribing algorithms, principally the STOPP/START criteria, sustained interdisciplinary collaboration, structured patient education, and technology-assisted decision support. Full article

Background/Objectives: Isorhamnetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid with reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Although its biological activities have been extensively investigated, its effects on ovarian cell physiology remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of isorhamnetin on the viability, steroid hormone secretion, apoptosis, and growth factor signalling in human ovarian cell lines representing both non-tumour and tumour phenotypes. Methods: Human granulosa (HGL5), granulosa tumour (COV434), and epithelial ovarian carcinoma (OVCAR-3) cell lines were treated with isorhamnetin at concentrations of 5–80 μg/mL for 24 h. Cell viability was determined using the AlamarBlue^TM assay. The secretion of progesterone, 17β-estradiol, and the presence of transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2), transforming growth factor β receptor 2 (TGFBR2), and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Isorhamnetin significantly reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with tumour cell lines exhibiting greater sensitivity than non-tumour granulosa cells. A significant decrease in viability was observed in OVCAR-3 cells from 10 μg/mL onward, whereas COV434 cells showed significant reductions at concentrations of 20 μg/mL and higher. In contrast, HGL5 cell viability was significantly affected only at the highest concentration (80 μg/mL). No significant changes were detected in the secretion of progesterone, 17β-estradiol, TGF-β2, or TGFBR2 in any of the examined cell lines. A significant reduction in AIF production was observed only in HGL5 cells treated with 80 μg/mL isorhamnetin. Conclusions: Isorhamnetin preferentially decreased the viability of ovarian tumour cells while exerting only limited effects on non-tumour granulosa cells, indicating preferential cytotoxic activity toward malignant ovarian cells. The absence of significant changes in steroid hormone production and TGF-β suggests that its antiproliferative effects involve molecular pathways that were not investigated in the present study. These findings support further investigation of isorhamnetin as a potential natural compound for ovarian cancer prevention or adjunctive therapy. Full article

Background: Chronic postamputation pain—phantom limb pain (PLP) and residual limb pain—is a major barrier to rehabilitation, with symptomatic neuroma formation a key peripheral contributor. The regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) provides a physiologic target for transected nerves. This review evaluated the effect of prophylactic RPNI, performed at the time of amputation, on pain-related outcomes. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and MinhaBVS were searched through 23 November 2025 for comparative studies of prophylactic RPNI versus standard nerve management in major limb amputation. Primary outcomes were symptomatic neuroma incidence and PLP; chronic opioid use was a secondary outcome. Dichotomous outcomes were pooled using random-effects risk ratios (RR); for outcomes with zero events in one arm, the fixed-effect Peto odds ratio (OR) was used as the primary estimate. Risk of bias was assessed with ROBINS-I and certainty with GRADE. Results: Five comparative cohort studies (238 patients) were included; the primary pooled outcomes were derived from three of these cohorts (symptomatic neuroma, 196 patients; phantom limb pain, 181 patients), with two further studies contributing supportive descriptive data. Prophylactic RPNI markedly reduced symptomatic neuroma formation (0/97 vs. 20/99; Peto OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.05–0.29; p < 0.001; I² = 0%) and PLP (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.40–0.69; p < 0.001; I² = 0%). Chronic opioid use at 12 months was also reduced (Peto OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.05–0.29; p < 0.001). Findings were consistent across pediatric, dysvascular, and oncologic populations. Certainty was low to very low. Conclusions: Prophylactic RPNI is associated with substantial, consistent reductions in symptomatic neuroma, phantom limb pain, and chronic opioid use after limb amputation. Despite reliance on low-certainty observational data, these consistent findings suggest that prophylactic RPNI may be a useful component of active nerve management; confirmation in prospective, adequately powered comparative studies is required. Full article

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and tumor heterogeneity remains a major obstacle to effective therapy. In vitro reconstruction of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is particularly challenging because of its complexity, dynamic nature, and spatial heterogeneity, which limits the predictive value of conventional models for anticancer drug evaluation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has attracted increasing attention in cancer therapy owing to its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway therapeutic characteristics. However, the complexity of TCM formulations and the diversity of their bioactive constituents make their pharmacological mechanisms difficult to elucidate using conventional experimental models. Microfluidic tumor microenvironment-on-a-chip (TME-on-a-chip) platforms integrate engineered cell culture with dynamic perfusion systems to recapitulate key structural, biochemical, and cellular features of the TME, thus providing a more physiologically relevant platform for anticancer research. With advantages such as low sample consumption, precise spatiotemporal control, multicellular co-culture, and real-time monitoring, these platforms provide a promising strategy for evaluating the efficacy and microenvironment-dependent effects of TCM-derived compounds and formulations. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the construction of TME-on-a-chip models, including multicellular organization, extracellular matrix simulation, vascularization, and immune microenvironment reconstruction, and discuss how these systems can be applied to key questions in TCM-based anticancer research. We further analyze current technical and methodological challenges that limit their broader adoption in TCM research and highlight future directions for promoting mechanism-driven and precision-oriented development of TCM in cancer therapy. Full article

The intensive use of chemical fertilisers has reduced nutrient uptake efficiency in plants, mainly due to salinisation. This effect has prompted the investigation of alternative forms of plant nutrient management. One of the promising solutions to this is the use of microbial inoculants, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, analysed 36 peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2025 across 18 countries to assess the effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), both alone and in combination with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), on maize growth, physiology, and biochemical responses. The main finding was that soil P availability was the primary factor determining whether inoculation was successful. This was especially noted in soils with soil-available P of less than 17 mg P kg⁻¹ of soil. Soil texture and pH also played key roles in both single AMF inoculation and dual AMF-PGPR inoculation. Several studies showed that dual inoculation improved maize stress tolerance by coordinating antioxidant activity, osmotic balance, and hormonal signalling, rather than through simple additive growth effects. Overall, the findings suggest that AMF-based inoculation is most effective when applied strategically in reduced-input, phosphorus-limited, or drought-prone maize systems, rather than as a universal solution. These results support targeting inoculation toward resource-constrained systems where returns are most likely, especially P-deficient soils. Full article

The continued rise in fishmeal prices and the scarcity of fishery resources have led to an increase in the use of plant-based protein sources in compound feed, making mold contamination in compound feed a frequent occurrence. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in aquaculture feed can seriously harm fish growth and liver health; it is extremely toxic, posing an even greater risk to carnivorous fish such as grouper. Lycopene, a natural carotenoid, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory physiological functions and may act as a functional feed additive to mitigate damage induced by mycotoxins. This study utilized hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂) as the experimental model. An 8-week feeding trial was performed to systematically assess the impact of lycopene supplementation at levels of 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/kg to a basal diet containing 800 μg/kg AFB1 on the fish’s growth performance, antioxidant capacity, liver health, inflammation-related gene expression, and hepatic transcriptome. The results showed that adding 200 mg/kg lycopene to the feed significantly increased the FWB and SGR (p < 0.05) of hybrid grouper. An appropriate amount of lycopene could enhance the antioxidant capacity of serum and liver, significantly increase the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and significantly decrease serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity while increasing albumin (ALB) levels (p < 0.05). An amount of 200 mg/kg lycopene significantly alleviated AFB1-induced hepatocyte vacuolation, steatosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration, while the protective effect of higher doses was weakened. The gene expression results showed that 200 mg/kg lycopene significantly upregulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes such as cat, sod, and nrf-2, and increased the expression level of the anti-inflammatory factor il10 (p < 0.05). The transcriptome analysis identified a total of 621 differentially expressed genes, which were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, fatty acid metabolism, PPAR signaling pathway, redox process, ferroptosis, NF-κB signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. In summary, the addition of 200 mg/kg lycopene to the feed can effectively alleviate the growth inhibition and liver damage caused by AFB1 in hybrid grouper. Its mechanism of action may be related to enhancing antioxidant defenses, improving liver tissue structure, regulating lipid metabolism, and maintaining immune homeostasis. The research results indicate that lycopene can be used as a natural functional feed additive to alleviate AFB1 toxicity in hybrid grouper aquaculture. Full article

Viticulture is increasingly being threatened by the effects of climate change, particularly rising temperatures and prolonged drought, which can adversely affect vineyard management, productivity, and grape quality. To enhance vineyard resilience under Mediterranean conditions, this study evaluated the effectiveness of using two mineral particle films—calcined kaolin and basalt powder—as short-term adaptation tools for Nocera (Vitis vinifera L.) grapevines grown in the Faro DOC area (Sicily). Treatments were applied at key phenological stages to assess their capacity to mitigate thermal stress and preserve physiological activity during the hottest summer periods. Both formulations significantly improved yield components compared with untreated vines, primarily by reducing berry dehydration and maintaining bunch and berry mass. Treated vines also showed enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, higher stomatal conductance, and improved water use efficiency, indicating effective protection of the photosynthetic apparatus against heat- and light-induced stress. Must composition benefited from the treatments, demonstrating higher total soluble solids. The polyphenolic profile revealed treatment-specific metabolic responses: kaolin promoted higher flavanol and antioxidant accumulation, whereas basalt powder favored phenolic acids and UV-protective flavonols. Overall, mineral particle films proved to be valuable tools for sustaining productivity and grape quality in hot, dry seasons, supporting vineyard resilience without altering technological maturity. Full article

In response to the growing problem of immune decline in honeybees (Apis mellifera), we investigated the potential of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract as a natural dietary supplement. The experiment was conducted under constant laboratory conditions, and worker bees were divided into three groups: a control group fed standard sugar syrup without additives, experimental group A1 receiving syrup supplemented with a low concentration of Ashwagandha extract, and experimental group A2 receiving a higher concentration of the extract. Hemolymph samples were analyzed at regular intervals for total protein concentration, protease and protease inhibitor activities, as well as non-enzymatic markers such as glucose and triglycerides. Ashwagandha supplementation increased total protein concentration and stimulated the proteolytic system in both experimental groups, with generally stronger effects in bees receiving the higher dose. At the same time, the balance between proteases and their inhibitors was maintained, indicating a coordinated and controlled physiological response. The supplemented bees also showed higher levels of glucose and triglycerides, suggesting improved energy status and metabolic support. Overall, the results indicate that Ashwagandha extract may act as a promising natural supplement supporting honeybee physiological resistance and immune homeostasis. Full article

Mild hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) exposure might influence ventilatory and gas-exchange responses. We investigated the effects of mild HBO exposure at 1.3 atmospheres absolute (ATA) on VE/VCO₂ and related variables at rest in healthy young men. Using a single-group repeated-measures design, pre, steady (20–50 min at 1.3 ATA), and post-phases were compared in 16 participants. The primary outcome was VE/VCO₂, calculated as minute ventilation (VE) divided by carbon dioxide output (VCO₂); VE, VCO₂, and partial pressure of end-tidal CO₂ (PETCO₂) were secondary outcomes. Linear mixed models and Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons were used. Using the primary bin-wise calculation, VE/VCO₂ increased significantly from 39.9 ± 1.0 in the pre-phase to 43.8 ± 1.0 in the steady phase and decreased to 38.8 ± 1.0 in the post-phase. VE and PETCO₂ showed no phase effects; VCO₂ decreased significantly during the post-phase. However, an alternative calculation based on phase-averaged VE divided by phase-averaged VCO₂ produced the opposite phase-dependent pattern. Among eight participants completing both HBO and normobaric normoxic conditions, the exploratory Condition × Phase interaction was significant for both calculations, although phase patterns differed between methods. Thus, the direction of the VE/VCO₂ change depended on the calculation method, and its physiological significance remains uncertain. Full article

Background/Objectives: Patients with pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or chronic heart failure (CHF) are a particularly high-risk surgical population in whom postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) drive a disproportionate share of morbidity, prolonged stay and mortality. Prehabilitation—the structured optimization of functional reserve during the preoperative interval—has emerged as a proactive, largely non-pharmacological strategy to raise that reserve before the surgical insult. Yet the evidence base is organized predominantly by surgical procedure and enrolled in mixed populations, so the patients with the least physiological reserve—those with established COPD or CHF—remain comparatively understudied. This narrative review takes the comorbidity, rather than the incision, as its organizing axis. Methods: We summarize the pathophysiology that links chronic cardio-respiratory disease to perioperative respiratory failure; appraise the principal non-pharmacological interventions, with the respiratory components (inspiratory muscle training, pulmonary rehabilitation, breathing techniques) as the core and exercise, nutritional, psychological, and smoking-cessation elements as the multimodal context; and re-read the surgical evidence through the lens of the underlying disease. Results: A cross-surgical meta-analysis indicates that preoperative exercise training reduces PPCs (relative risk ≈ 0.52) with no significant difference in effect across surgery type or training modality, supporting a comorbidity-centered rather than procedure-centered framework. We address practical determinants of implementation—timing, patient selection, adherence, home-based and telemonitored delivery, and low-resource applicability—and highlight two cross-cutting problems: heterogeneity of intervention prescription and the lack of standardized PPC definitions. Conclusions: The scarcity of disease-specific evidence is itself the central finding, revealing a mismatch between clinical risk and research investment. Full article

In conventional anaerobic digestion (AD) of livestock manure, temperature regulation faces an inherent paradox: thermophilic conditions facilitate pathogen inactivation but inhibit methanogenesis, whereas mesophilic conditions enable efficient methane production but are less effective at eliminating pathogens. This study systematically analyzed the methanogenic performance, microbial physiology, and the dynamics of biosafety factors during AD of chicken manure at 4 °C, 35 °C, and 55 °C. Additionally, a ceramic membrane (CM) coupled with ozone micro-nano bubbles (O₃-MNBs) backwashing was configured for advanced digestate purification. Contrary to conventional understanding, mesophilic conditions (35 °C) simultaneously achieved optimal methanogenic efficiency (277.83 mL/gVS) and the efficient removal of viruses (66.65%) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) (>77.11%), supported by a more diverse microbial community. While thermophilic conditions (55 °C) inactivated certain viruses, methanogenic efficiency was significantly inhibited by thermal stress. Moreover, the residual plasmid-borne ARGs were 3.04-fold higher than under mesophilic conditions. The integration of CM filtration with O₃-MNBs backwashing effectively retained and inactivated pathogens while reducing the membrane fouling rate by 83.97%. The integration of mesophilic digestion, membrane filtration, and O₃-MNBs processes synergistically achieved efficient energy recovery and robust pathogen control, providing technical support for the safe treatment and high-value resource utilization of manure. Full article

Oligosaccharides are plant immune elicitors with recognized roles in seed germination, root development and stress regulation. However, most studies have focused on single oligosaccharides or the independent effects of rhizosphere microorganisms. The coordinated regulation of plant physiological networks and microbial communities by oligosaccharide-based seed coatings remains poorly understood, especially for xanthan oligosaccharides. Here, using wheat root transcriptomics, rhizosphere 16S rRNA sequencing, and physiological assays, we found that a xanthan oligosaccharide composite seed coating significantly improved germination potential, germination rate and seedling vigor. It promoted root and shoot growth under field conditions, optimized the balance of auxin, gibberellin and abscisic acid, activated endosperm hydrolytic enzymes and accelerated nutrient mobilization. Transcriptomics revealed stage-specific regulation of membrane lipid metabolism, hormone signaling, antioxidant defense, carbon/nitrogen metabolism and ABC transporters. Microbiome analysis showed selective enrichment of beneficial genera (Devosia, Paenarthrobacter, Citricoccus), which were positively associated with root nitrogen metabolism and MAPK signaling. Collectively, the coating promoted wheat growth and was associated with stress-related physiological and molecular responses; however, direct stress-challenge and functional-validation experiments are required to verify stress-tolerance mechanisms. Full article