Search Results (16,717)

People living with and beyond cancer often face ongoing challenges related to nutrition, wellbeing, and long-term health. Many individuals express a need for evidence-based, tailored dietary support, yet practical approaches to sustaining healthy eating behaviours remain limited. Culinary nutrition interventions, which integrate nutrition education with hands-on culinary skills, may help address these needs; however, their effects have not been systematically synthesised. This systematic review evaluates the impact of culinary nutrition interventions, delivered alone or in combination with physical activity or mental health components, on dietary intake, psychosocial and health-related outcomes, anthropometric measures, clinical and metabolic markers, and feasibility among individuals living with or beyond cancer. Following PRISMA guidelines, 18 studies were identified across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science (last searched in April 2025) and narratively synthesised. A total of 1173 participants were included, with sample sizes ranging from 4 to 190 participants per intervention. Interventions were well received and rated as highly acceptable, with strong engagement and minimal adverse effects. Across studies, statistically significant improvements were reported in dietary intake (7/13 studies), quality of life (4/5), mental health (5/6), self-efficacy (2/3), symptom management (3/4), self-reported cognitive health (1/1), food-related behaviours (2/2), selected anthropometric measures (4/8), and selected metabolic biomarkers (4/6). The evidence suggests that culinary nutrition interventions hold promise as supportive, behaviour-focused strategies aligned with oncology nutrition guidelines and responsive to patient needs. However, due to heterogeneity across interventions and outcomes, and variability in methodological quality as assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, quantification of effects was not possible, limiting interpretation of the evidence. Further high-quality studies using comparable outcome measures and longer-term follow-up are needed to quantify the magnitude of effects, assess their durability over time, and inform the integration of culinary nutrition programmes into cancer care. This systematic review is registered under the PROSPERO ID CRD42024567041 and was funded by the RCSI Research Summer School Fund. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises mainly Crohn’s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). The Western model suggests that environmental factors, immunological factors, the gut microbiome, and genetic disposition all contribute to the onset and sustained symptoms that define CD, although the pathogenesis of CD remains unresolved. Current studies propose that in individuals who are genetically susceptible, genetic factors linked to immune dysregulation, in combination with environmental exposure, can result in dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier dysfunction, leading to immune dysregulation. In Malaysia, the incidence of IBD is rising with CD increasing disproportionally compared to UC, and the incidence of CD currently mirrors that of the United Kingdom in the 1930s, which now has one of the highest incidences worldwide. Given the suggested role of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in CD in Western countries, which is subject to some controversy, this review summarises for the first time the current evidence on genetic, environmental, and microbial factors that could contribute to the rise of Crohn’s disease in Malaysia and proposes preventive approaches. We note the increasing reliance of Malaysia on imported cattle and milk products from areas of high Johne’s Disease prevalence to meet increasing demand and changes in milk preferences in the Malaysian population, both key indicators for human-MAP exposure in the Western model. Therefore, should MAP be shown to be associated with CD in Malaysia, some preventative measures are suggested, such as screening imported and native beef and dairy cattle, dairy products and ultimately water, both recreational and potable. Full article

Purpose: Despite existing signatures, there remains a lack of robust autophagy-based biomarkers validated across multi-omics datasets and independent clinical cohorts in ESCC. The aim of our study was to develop an autophagy-related prognostic model for ESCC. Methods: Using transcriptomic data of ESCC from GEO/TCGA and autophagy-related genes (ARGs) from five autophagy-specific datasets, we identified the intersection between ARGs and tumor-normal differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We constructed a prognostic model using stepwise multivariate Cox regression based on these genes in GSE53625 (n = 179), validated in TCGA-ESCC (n = 94) through survival analysis and ROC curve, and analyzed the prognostic value of candidate genes in in-house ESCC samples. Results: We successfully established a robust prognostic 4-ARGs model comprising NBEA, CLOCK, NLRX1, and MAGEA3 (training: p < 0.0001, validation: p = 0.013). In the in-house ESCC cohort (n = 14), NLRX1 was verified as a reliable prognostic factor for disease-free survival (p = 0.043). Significant correlations were observed between signatures and the immune microenvironment, and the model effectively predicted patients’ responses to immunotherapy. Conclusion: We developed a novel 4-ARGs prognostic model and identified NLRX1 as a potential autophagy-dependent biomarker. These findings underscore its utility as a valuable tool for prognosis, risk stratification, and therapy guidance in ESCC. Full article

Background: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) ranks as the sixth largest food crop worldwide and serves as an important cash and energy crop. Heavy-metal-associated isoprenylated plant proteins (HIPPs) are metallochaperones involved in metal homeostasis and stress adaptation in vascular plants. However, research on the identification and function of HIPPs in cassava has been poorly explored. Methods: This study conducted a pan-genome-wide investigation to identify and characterize MeHIPPs in 31 cassava accessions. Subsequent analyses examined their physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, phylogeny, Ka/Ks, chromosomal localization, synteny, gene structure, and cis-acting elements. Additionally, the expression profiles of MeHIPPs in different tissues and cell subsets and under different stress conditions were analyzed using transcriptome data and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: A total of 59 MeHIPP pan-genes were identified, including five core genes, 22 softcore genes, 17 dispensable genes, and 15 private genes, which were unevenly distributed on chromosomes. Based on phylogenetic analysis, these genes were classified into five major subgroups. Evolutionary analyses indicated that segmental duplication predominated in family expansion and that most members may be subjected to purifying selection. Cis-element analysis highlighted the importance of MeHIPPs in plant adaptation to environmental stress. The expression profiles suggested widespread involvement of MeHIPP genes in response to Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis (Xpm) infection and drought stress. Different MeHIPP genes exhibited varying transcript levels in different tissues and cell subsets. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the selected MeHIPP genes had distinct expression patterns under Cd stress. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the functional characteristics of MeHIPP genes and their evolutionary relationships, laying a theoretical foundation for further functional research on stress resistance. Full article

Phospholipids are essential membrane constituents that regulate diverse cellular processes, yet most current workflows rely on relative quantification using high-resolution LC–MS. We developed and validated a highly selective targeted method that couples liquid chromatography with differential mobility spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry (LC–DMS–MS/MS), providing enhanced selectivity and reduced background noise. The assay quantifies 63 phospholipid species across four classes, achieving excellent recoveries and limits of quantification in the low ng per mg tissue range. Applied to tissues from a colon cancer study in mice, the method enabled the absolute quantification of 47 species, 22 of which were significantly increased in tumor tissue versus adjacent non-tumor tissue. While phosphatidylcholines were the most abundant class overall, the largest fold changes were observed in long-chain phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine species. LC–DMS–MS/MS thus offers a robust, selective platform for absolute phospholipid quantification and for detecting disease-associated lipid remodeling. Full article

Insects exhibit a range of ecological relationships with plants, including pollination, seed dispersal, parasitism, predation, and herbivory. Interactions between insects and plants are shaped by internal daily timekeeping systems in both sets of organisms termed circadian clocks. This review describes the impact of the circadian clocks of insects and plants on herbivory, which is highly relevant not only to natural ecosystems, but also to agriculture and forest management. Following an introduction to the circadian clocks of plants and insects, we discuss the circadian organization of relevant aspects of plant metabolism and defense. Next, we describe how insect clocks govern herbivory-associated physiology and behavior before exploring how rhythmic processes in plants and insects interact to temporally control herbivory. Finally, we describe how insights from the clock control of herbivory may inform pest management strategies and what future research in this area may contribute. Full article

Brain diseases such as ischaemic stroke, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and glioma were characterized by high mortality and disability rate, and oxidative stress remains a major obstacle in treatment. Plasma–nanomedicine synergistic treatment technology provides a very attractive treatment strategy based on complementarity. This technology integrates cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) with nanomedicine. CAP produces active substances that regulate oxidative stress, while nanomedicine is specially designed for targeted delivery, controlled release, and microenvironmentally responsive activation of therapeutic agents. This integration generates new therapeutic functions and significantly improves the overall therapeutic effect. Despite the broad prospects of this emerging technology, researchers in the fields of medicine, physics, or pharmacy have not yet paid much attention to it. To fill this research gap, this review describes the physicochemical properties and biological effects of CAP and summarizes the latest advances in plasma nanomedicine strategies in the field of brain disease intervention, and reviews the four major nanomedical categories—metal-based, inorganic non-metallic, polymer-based and hydrogel systems—and their clinical applications in the treatment of brain tumors, strokes and neurodegenerative diseases in conjunction with CAP. Finally, we highlight a number of key challenges—limited resources of special CAP equipment, incomplete understanding of the mechanism, obstacles to transformation application—and put forward the future research direction to promote the development of accurate, safe, and clinical transformation value plasma–nanomedicine therapy for brain diseases. Full article

Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis (CRLM) represents a major clinical challenge, and acquired resistance to radiotherapy (RT) significantly limits therapeutic efficacy. A deep and comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving RT resistance is urgently required to develop effective combination strategies. Here, we aimed to dissect the dynamic cellular landscape of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and identify key epigenetic regulators mediating radioresistance in CRLM by integrating cutting-edge single-cell and spatial omics technologies. Methods and Results: We performed integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) on matched pre- and post-radiotherapy tumor tissues collected from three distinct CRLM patients. Employing a robust machine-learning framework on the multi-omics data, we successfully identified MORF4L1 (Mortality Factor 4 Like 1), an epigenetic reader, as a critical epigenetic mediator of acquired radioresistance. High-resolution scRNA-seq analysis of the tumor cell compartment revealed that the MORF4L1-high subpopulation exhibited significant enrichment in DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways, heightened activity of multiple pro-survival metabolic pathways, and robust signatures of immune evasion. Pseudotime trajectory analysis further confirmed that RT exposure drives tumor cells toward a highly resistant state, marked by a distinct increase in MORF4L1 expression. Furthermore, cell–cell communication inference demonstrated a pronounced, systemic upregulation of various immunosuppressive signaling axes within the TME following RT. Crucially, high-resolution ST confirmed these molecular and cellular interactions in their native context, revealing a significant spatial co-localization of MORF4L1-expressing tumor foci with multiple immunosuppressive immune cell types, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), thereby underscoring its role in TME-mediated resistance. Conclusions: Our comprehensive spatial and single-cell profiling establishes MORF4L1 as a pivotal epigenetic regulator underlying acquired radioresistance in CRLM. These findings provide a compelling mechanistic rationale for combining radiotherapy with the targeted inhibition of MORF4L1, presenting a promising new therapeutic avenue to overcome treatment failure and improve patient outcomes in CRLM. Full article

Non-long terminal repeat (Non-LTR) retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that replicate through a “copy-and-paste” mechanism, enabling their expansion within the genome. Aberrant activation of these elements can induce genomic instability, elicit cellular stress responses, and activate inflammasome signaling, leading to tissue injury and disease. The central process of sterile inflammation involves the release and recognition of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), endogenous molecules that initiate inflammatory responses and form a common basis for many sterile inflammatory disorders. Recent studies have identified non-LTR retrotransposons as key endogenous triggers of DAMP-like signaling that drive sterile inflammation in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, contributing to the development of neurodegenerative and other chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding how non-LTR retrotransposons, particularly LINE and SINE elements, influence sterile inflammation and disease pathogenesis. We highlight how their mobilization reshapes genomic architecture and gene regulation, and how the resulting signaling cascades promote chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and tissue injury. We also discuss emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at suppressing retrotransposon activity or interrupting downstream inflammatory signaling for treating sterile inflammation-related diseases. Full article

This study aimed to screen candidate genes related to body size traits in Dongfeng sika deer bucks by genome-wide association analysis. A total of 266 adult Dongfeng sika deer underwent 20× whole-genome resequencing. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed using a mixed linear model (MLM), and gene annotation was conducted on SNP loci. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were subsequently conducted to identify biological functions and pathways associated with body size regulation. The GWAS results screened 774 SNP sites significantly associated with body size. Functional enrichment analysis further identified that four genes—CDH4, TSHR, SLC23A2, and RIMS1—were potentially associated with body size traits. This study provides a reference basis for subsequent functional exploration of candidate genes. Full article

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), redefined from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a global health concern driving the search for dietary interventions based on natural compounds. Phloroglucinaldehyde (PGA), a primary phenolic metabolite of the widely consumed anthocyanin cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) found in berries and other fruits, has emerged as a promising candidate due to its potential higher bioavailability than its parent compound. This study investigates the protective effects of PGA against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced MAFLD. Using both in vitro (LO2 cells) and in vivo (C57BL/6J mice) models, we found that PGA administration significantly attenuated body weight gain and hepatic steatosis, while reducing serum levels of TG, TC, liver transaminases (AST & ALT), and insulin resistance (p < 0.05). Further liver lipidomic profiling revealed that PGA supplementation specifically down-regulated 46 lipid species (p < 0.05), predominantly triglycerides characterized by long-chain and very-long-chain saturated fatty acids. Mechanistically, PGA enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.05) and decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05) and exerted anti-inflammatory effects by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF, MCP-1) (p < 0.05) and endotoxin levels (p < 0.05). Correlation analyses further linked the down-regulated lipids to improvements in oxidative stress and inflammation. Our findings underscore that PGA, a key bioactive metabolite derived from dietary anthocyanins, alleviates MAFLD through its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, highlighting its potential as a functional food ingredient or nutraceutical for metabolic health. Full article

Drought stress severely limits wheat growth, development and yield. Endophytic fungi play a crucial role in plant growth and drought resistance. In agricultural production, they hold significant application potential as biocontrol agents capable of mitigating drought-induced damage. However, the mechanisms underlying changes in endophytic fungal community structure under drought stress remain unclear. Our study employed amplicon sequencing to investigate the structure of endophytic fungal communities in wheat roots under different water treatments, comparing structural and functional changes between different treatments. Results revealed that drought stress led to the greatest accumulation of relative abundance in the phylum Ascomycota (86.4%). At the genus level, Stachybotrys (increase 994.2%), Fusarium (increase 94.6%) and Aspergillus (increase 295.6%) showed the most significant increases in relative abundance. Co-occurrence network and Sankey diagram analysis revealed that wheat roots formed a drought-specific endophytic fungal community centered around Stachybotrys, Fusarium and Aspergillus, which indirectly enhanced crop drought tolerance. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for future agricultural strategies to improve crop drought resistance through precise regulation of microbial communities. Full article

Bt Cry toxins remain the cornerstone of transgenic crop protection against Lepidopteran pests, yet field-evolved resistance, particularly in invasive species such as Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa armigera, can threaten their long-term efficacy. This review presents a comprehensive and unified mechanistic framework that synthesizes current understanding of Bt Cry toxin modes of action and the complex, multilayered regulatory mechanisms of field-evolved resistance. Beyond the classical pore-formation model, emerging evidence highlights signal transduction cascades, immune evasion via suppression of Toll/IMD pathways, and tripartite toxin–host–microbiota interactions that can dynamically modulate protoxin activation and receptor accessibility. Resistance arises from target-site alterations (e.g., ABCC2/ABCC3, Cadherin mutations), altered midgut protease profiles, enhanced immune regeneration, and microbiota-mediated detoxification, orchestrated by transcription factor networks (GATA, FoxA, FTZ-F1), constitutive MAPK hyperactivation (especially MAP4K4-driven cascades), along with preliminary emerging findings on non-coding RNA involvement. Countermeasures now integrate synergistic Cry/Vip pyramiding, CRISPR/Cas9-validated receptor knockouts revealing functional redundancy, Domain III chimerization (e.g., Cry1A.105), phage-assisted continuous evolution (PACE), and the emerging application of AlphaFold3 for structure-guided rational redesign of resistance-breaking variants. Future sustainability hinges on system-level integration of single-cell transcriptomics, midgut-specific CRISPR screens, microbiome engineering, and AI-accelerated protein design to preempt resistance trajectories and secure Bt biotechnology within integrated resistance and pest management frameworks. Full article

This study investigates whether fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can alleviate gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) through modulation of fatty acid metabolism, competition for nutrients, production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and restoration of mucus layer integrity. To elucidate the mechanisms by which FMT regulates colonic microbial function and host metabolic responses, 80 male Bal b/c mice were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (n = 20 per group): Normal Diet Group (NDG), High-Fat Diet Group (HDG), Restrictive Diet Group (RDG), and HDG recipients of NDG-derived fecal microbiota (FMT group). The intervention lasted for 12 weeks, during which body weight was monitored biweekly. At the end of the experiment, tissue and fecal samples were collected to assess digestive enzyme activities, intestinal histomorphology, gene expression related to gut barrier function, and gut microbiota composition via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that mice in the HDG exhibited significantly higher final body weight and greater weight gain compared to those in the NDG and RDG (p < 0.05). Notably, FMT treatment markedly attenuated HFD-induced weight gain (p < 0.05), reducing it to levels comparable with the NDG (p > 0.05). While HFD significantly elevated the activities of α-amylase and trypsin (p < 0.05), FMT supplementation effectively suppressed these enzymatic activities (p < 0.05). Moreover, FMT ameliorated HFD-induced intestinal architectural damage, as evidenced by significant increases in villus height and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (V/C) (p < 0.05). At the molecular level, FMT significantly downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-1α, TNF-α) and upregulated key tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, ZO-1) and mucin-2 (MUC2) relative to the HDG (p < 0.05). 16S rRNA analysis demonstrated that FMT substantially increased the abundance of beneficial genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium while reducing opportunistic pathogens including Romboutsia (p < 0.05). Furthermore, alpha diversity indices (Chao1 and ACE) were significantly higher in the FMT group than in all other groups (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced microbial richness and community stability. Functional prediction using PICRUSt2 revealed that FMT-enriched metabolic pathways (particularly those associated with SCFA production) and enhanced gut barrier-related functions. Collectively, this study deepens our understanding of host–microbe interactions under HFD-induced metabolic stress and provides mechanistic insights into how FMT restores gut homeostasis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for diet-induced dysbiosis and associated metabolic disorders. Full article

The spore characteristics of ferns play an important role in taxonomy; however, comprehensive spore data for most species of the genus Platycerium remain scarce. In this study, spores of Platycerium were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We established the first comprehensive dataset on spore morphology in Platycerium. Based on morphological characteristics, we classified the spores into four distinct types, each described in detail. Spore surface ornamentation proved to be an effective diagnostic feature for Platycerium coronarium, P. madagascariense, P. ridleyi, and P. stemaria. The systematic significance of spore morphology in Platycerium was discussed, while no significant linear correlation was found across Platycerium between spore sizes and genome sizes. Our findings are important for understanding the relationship between spores and ploidy levels in Polypodiaceae and their evolutionary implications. Full article