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Here, we describe and characterize catastrophic pelvic fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses in California. We reviewed retrospectively racehorse autopsy reports from horses that died spontaneously or were euthanized because of complete pelvic fractures in California between 1992 and 2018. The exercise history of affected horses was compared with eventmatched control horses. Catastrophic pelvic fractures were sustained by 133 horses. Pelvic fractures were 2.7% of all musculoskeletal fatalities. Pelvic fractures occurred during training (48.0%), racing (35.0%), and non-exercise (17.0%). Horses ≤4-y-old were affected most frequently (73.5%); horses ≥5-y-old were affected less frequently (26.5%). Fractures were more common in females (68.1%) than in geldings (23.1%) and intact males (8.8%). Bilateral fracture occurred in 46.9% of horses. The ilium was fractured alone or with other pelvic bones in 90.3% of horses; 28.4% of these cases included bilateral iliac wing fractures. Preexisting periosteal calluses associated with the catastrophic fracture line were observed in 31.9% of horses with pelvic fractures. Calluses were frequently associated with ilial fractures (88.9%). Of horses with complete pelvic fracture, 25.7% died spontaneously, and 89.6% of those deaths were a consequence of massive internal bleeding from lacerated blood vessels. The horses with pelvic fractures had fewer races (spaced farther apart), exercised less intensely throughout their career, and had more lay-ups than control horses. They also had 31% less exercise time and 40% fewer events since the last lay-up than control horses. Factors associated with these events, such as preexisting injuries, should be identified to enable recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of catastrophic pelvic fractures.

This cross-sectional study used data from the 2019 National Health Survey to explore the association between sexual orientation and time since last Papanicolaou test in Brazil, by means of Poisson regression with robust variance, to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The participants were 45,307 women, of whom 720 (1.85%) were non-heterosexual, that is, 394 (0.97%) homosexual and 326 (0.88%) bisexual. A negative association was found between sexual orientation and time of less than three years since last Papanicolaou test, among both women aged ≥18 years and those 25-64 years old (the target-population for cervical cancer screening in Brazil), with prevalences of, respectively, 17% (PR=0.83; 95%CI 0.76-0.90) and 14% (PR=0.86; 95%CI 0.78-0.96) lower among non-heterosexuals. That is, in Brazil, homosexual and bisexual women are less likely to have had a Papanicolaou test in the prior three years than heterosexual women, which calls for efforts by health services in Brazil to offer those women this important test. Este estudo seccional utilizou dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2019 para explorar a associação entre orientação sexual e tempo de realização do último exame de Papanicolaou no Brasil por meio de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta, que estimou razões de prevalências (RP) brutas e ajustadas e respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%). Participaram 45.307 mulheres, sendo 720 (1,85%) não heterossexuais, isto é, 394 (0,97%) homo e 326 (0,88%) bissexuais. Uma associação negativa entre orientação sexual e tempo de realização do último exame de Papanicolaou menor que três anos foi evidenciada tanto entre mulheres com idade ≥18 anos quanto entre aquelas de 25-64 anos (população-alvo do rastreamento do câncer do colo do útero no país), com prevalências, respectivamente, 17% (RP=0,83; IC95% 0,76-0,90) e 14% (RP=0,86; IC95% 0,78-0,96) menores entre as não heterossexuais. Portanto, no Brasil, mulheres homo e bissexuais apresentam menor probabilidade de realizar exame de Papanicolaou em tempo menor que três anos quando comparadas às heterossexuais, o que reclama esforços dos serviços de saúde do país para oferecer esse importante exame àquelas mulheres. Este estudio transversal utilizó datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2019 para explorar la asociación entre la orientación sexual y el tiempo transcurrido desde la última prueba de Papanicolaou en Brasil utilizando la regresión de Poisson con varianza robusta, que estimó las razones de prevalencia (RP) cruda y ajustada y sus respectivos intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC95%). Participaron un total de 45.307 mujeres, de las cuales 720 (1,85%) no eran heterosexuales, es decir, 394 (0,97%) homosexuales y 326 (0,88%) bisexuales. Se encontró una asociación negativa entre la orientación sexual y el tiempo transcurrido desde la realización del último examen de Papanicolaou inferior a tres años, tanto entre las mujeres de ≥18 años como entre aquellas de 25-64 años (la población objetivo del tamizaje del cáncer de cuello uterino en el país), con tasas de prevalencia un 17% (RP=0,83; IC95% 0,76-0,90) y un 14% (RP=0,86; IC95% 0,78-0,96) más bajas entre las mujeres no heterosexuales, respectivamente. Por lo tanto, en Brasil, las mujeres homosexuales y bisexuales presentan menos probabilidades de someterse a un examen de Papanicolaou en menos de tres años en comparación con las mujeres heterosexuales, lo que exige esfuerzos por parte de los servicios de salud del país para ofrecer este importante examen a estas mujeres.

Colorectal cancer is a major public health concern with a high mortality rate. Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) and total colonoscopy (TCS) are recommended screening methods; however, their cost-effectiveness varies by country. This study addressed the lack of comprehensive cost-effectiveness analyses comparing TCS with the current FIT-based screening in Japan. We developed a microsimulation-based decision analytic model to compare FIT-based screening (current practice) with TCS-based screening (alternative) in a hypothetical cohort of 10 000 Japanese adults over a 60-year period. The analysis was conducted from the healthcare payer perspective, with both costs and health outcomes discounted annually by 2%. We adhered to the 2022 Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards reporting guidelines and incorporated Japan-specific data on costs, participation rates, and disease progression. In the base-case analysis, FIT-based screening was more cost-effective than TCS-based screening. TCS-based screening also yielded fewer quality-adjusted life-years, making it the less favorable approach. Sensitivity analyses showed that FIT remained the dominant screening across most parameter variations. In Japan, the current FIT-based colorectal cancer screening is more cost-effective than TCS-based screening. Efforts should focus on improving FIT program participation to achieve greater public health benefits, rather than transitioning to a costlier and less effective alternative.

Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) is a leading cause of ICU admission and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Yet, epidemiological data on AHRF remain limited, and current management strategies largely derive from studies on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined the prevalence of AHRF among ICU patients receiving supplemental oxygen or respiratory support for at least 4 hours, as well as initial respiratory support strategies and associated outcomes. Multicenter registry-based cohort study, 2014-2023. Nine university of Toronto affiliated ICUs. Adult ICU patients receiving supplemental oxygen or respiratory support who met AHRF criteria, defined as Pao2/Fio2 less than or equal to 300 mm Hg or, if Pao2 was not available, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2)/Fio2 less than or equal to 315, within the first 24 hours of ICU admission. None. The primary outcome was AHRF prevalence. Secondary outcomes included ICU length of stay, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) duration, ventilator-free days, and ICU mortality, stratified by AHRF severity. Of 21,714 patients recorded in the registry, 10,832 (50%) met AHRF criteria, of whom 76% required IMV. Most received lung-protective ventilation. With increasing AHRF severity, ICU length of stay and IMV duration increased, while ventilator-free days and probability of ICU discharge at 30 days decreased. ICU mortality was 23% overall and 47% among patients on IMV with severe AHRF. AHRF is common early after ICU admission among patients requiring supplemental oxygen or respiratory support and is frequently managed using ARDS-based strategies. A pragmatic, standardized, and operationally feasible definition of AHRF may improve patient recognition, enable comparisons across studies, and guide future research.

This study aimed to investigate the differences in perception of depressive symptoms, loneliness, and social support from friends between young adults with and without Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) engagement in the past year. Moreover, we proposed a model analyzing the moderating effect of NSSI engagement in the mediating role of perceived social support from friends between depressive symptoms and loneliness. A total of 320 young adults with a history of NSSI (aged 18-35 years) were assigned to two groups: NSSI engagement within the last 12 months (n = 160) and no NSSI episode in the previous 12 months (n = 160). Hayes' PROCESS macro for mediation analysis in SPSS was used to test the hypothesized model. Participants with NSSI engagement in the last 12 months manifested significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness. Conversely, young adults without NSSI engagement in the last 12 months manifested higher levels of social support from friends. This study found that social support from friends mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and loneliness. Moreover, the moderation model was significant, explaining that the indirect effect of social support from friends was significantly stronger among participants without NSSI engagement in the last 12 months. This study highlights the intricate interplay between depressive symptoms, loneliness, and social support from friends in a sample of Portuguese young adults with NSSI engagement behaviors in the last 12 months. These findings emphasize the need for a better understanding of factors that contribute to NSSI engagement behaviors particularly among young adults. Group with present NSSI reported higher depressive symptoms and loneliness.Group with present NSSI perceived less social support from friends.Group without NSSI in the last 12-months had more friend support, thus, less lonely.

Animals must continually balance foraging with the risk of predation. In complex natural environments, this means quickly distinguishing between threats and harmless situations. We investigated how site-associated coral reef fishes escape in response to visual cues mimicking predator attacks, using controlled underwater presentations of looming stimuli at varying speeds. We measured escape responses across species and social contexts, and compared them to predator attack speeds observed in the same habitat. Escape probability increased sharply with the speed of the looming stimulus, with no responses at low speeds. Stimulus speeds that triggered escape responses matched those of predator attacks, whereas speeds similar to those of cruising predators never triggered a response. The two species differed in behavior: Brown Chromis ranged farther from shelter and responded more readily, whereas Bicolor Damselfish stayed close to shelter and responded less. Contrary to expectations, social context did not affect responses. These findings demonstrate that reef fish are highly sensitive to the approach speed of objects, with species-specific behavior further shaping their responses. By combining realistic visual threats with natural predator attack data, this study offers insight into how animals make rapid escape decisions in complex, real-world environments.

This study aims to characterize the social roles of adolescents (15-19 years old) in the Brazilian macro-regions in the years 1991, 2000, and 2010, through the analysis of their profiles based on individual characteristics, household structure, and intra-household interpersonal relationships. Differentiation is made between adolescent mothers and non-mothers. To define the profiles, data from the aforementioned Brazilian demographic censuses and the latent class analysis (LCA) technique were used. The results indicate that over time, adolescent pregnancy has become less associated with leaving the family home or entering a marital union. Teenage marriage is also less linked to leaving the family home, as well as to inactivity in the workforce for both adolescent mothers and non-mothers. Furthermore, returning or staying at the family home seems to be more acceptable after the end of a relationship or an early pregnancy not followed by union. O estudo objetiva caracterizar os papeis sociais das adolescentes (15-19 anos) nas macrorregiões brasileiras nos anos de 1991, 2000 e 2010, por meio da análise de seus perfis baseados em características individuais, estrutura domiciliar e relações interpessoais intradomiciliares. A diferenciação é feita entre adolescentes mães e não mães. Para a definição dos perfis, foram utilizados dados provenientes dos censos demográficos brasileiros dos anos citados e a técnica de análise de classes latentes (LCA). Os resultados indicam que ao longo do tempo, a gravidez na adolescência tornou-se menos associada à saída do domicílio familiar ou à união conjugal. A união na adolescência também está menos ligada à saída do domicílio familiar, assim como à inatividade na força de trabalho para adolescentes, tanto mães quanto não mães. Além disso, o retorno ou permanência na casa de origem parece ser mais aceitável após o término de uma relação ou uma gravidez precoce não seguida de união. Este estudio tiene como objetivo caracterizar los roles sociales de las adolescentes (15-19 años) en las macrorregiones brasileñas en los años 1991, 2000 y 2010, a través del análisis de sus perfiles basados en características individuales, estructura domiciliaria y relaciones interpersonales intra-domiciliarias. Se realiza una diferenciación entre adolescentes madres y no madres. Para la definición de los perfiles, se utilizaron datos provenientes de los censos demográficos brasileños de los años mencionados y la técnica de análisis de clases latentes (LCA). Los resultados indican que, con el tiempo, el embarazo en la adolescencia se ha vuelto menos asociado con la salida del hogar familiar o la unión conyugal. La unión en la adolescencia también está menos vinculada a la salida del hogar familiar, así como a la inactividad en la fuerza laboral para adolescentes, tanto madres como no madres. Además, el regreso o permanencia en la casa de origen parece ser más aceptable tras el término de una relación o un embarazo precoz no seguido de unión.

Microplastics (MPs, less than 5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs, less than 1 μm) have become widespread environmental contaminants with significant implications for human health. Owing to their small size, large surface area, and physicochemical reactivity, MPs and NPs readily interact with biological membranes, promote cellular uptake, and accumulate within organelles such as mitochondria, lysosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum. ROS overproduction disrupts mitochondrial dynamics, induces DNA damage, alters lipid metabolism, and affects redox-sensitive signalling pathways, including MAPK, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, p53, and TGF-β. These molecular events collectively initiate apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, and genotoxicity. At the systemic level, experimental MP and NP exposure has been associated with hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiopulmonary injury, reproductive impairment, neurotoxicity, gut microbiome dysbiosis, endocrine disruption, and elevated cancer risk. Furthermore, MPs and NPs can act as vectors of co-contaminants, increasing the bioavailability and toxicity of associated pollutants such as plasticizers and heavy metals. This review consolidates current understanding of the sources, cellular uptake, ROS-mediated mechanisms, and multi-organ toxicological effects of MPs and NPs.

Colorectal (bowel) cancer and its treatment can seriously affect a person's quality of life, including physical, social, work‑related, and emotional wellbeing. Young people with colorectal cancer experience worse psychological wellbeing, including marked emotional distress and prominent levels of anxiety. This disease is less common in people under 50, but cases of early‑onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) are rising around the world. The object of this research was to derive a deeper understanding of the challenges and impact on quality of life faced by EOCRC compared to older patients following a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Recruitment of participants from a larger mixed method project of surviving EOCRC patients from 2013 to 2023 and a matched sample of colorectal cancer patients. 1 Participants invited to take part in an in‑depth semi-structured interview conducted by telephone or virtual meeting and audio taped, transcribed, and analysed using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Twenty participants participated in interviews. Three themes (Headspace, physical impact and future) and eight corresponding sub themes encompassing poorer psychological quality of life, emotional distress and heightened anxiety faced by EOCRC. Barriers in current diagnostic services and treatment pathways more often reported by EOCRC. Older and younger cancer patients highlight a shift from active to passive social roles with both groups reporting substantial reductions in overall quality of life and role functioning, but longer lasting impact for EOCRC, who are focused on family, fertility, career, and survival. A review of current diagnostic services and treatment pathways is required, tailoring care for all patients and importantly address the unique needs of EOCRC. Colorectal (bowel) cancer and its treatment can seriously affect a person’s QoL, including physical, social, work‑related, and emotional wellbeing. It is still less common in people under 50, but cases of early‑onset colorectal cancer are rising around the world.Younger adults are often building careers, forming long‑term relationships, and raising families, so cancer can disrupt their lives in separate ways than it does for older people. Research so far has not fully explored these differences, but this study shows that a colorectal cancer diagnosis and its treatment have a particularly strong negative impact on the QoL of younger patients.Young people with colorectal cancer tend to experience worse psychological wellbeing, including marked emotional distress and elevated levels of anxiety. These findings highlight the need for diagnostic services and treatment pathways to be better tailored to support all people with colorectal cancer, and to specifically address the unique needs of those under 50 years of age.

United States (US) military medical research has contributed substantially to advancements in trauma care, infectious disease management, and public health systems, among other domains. Extending beyond military readiness, many innovations have resulted in civilian healthcare applications. Prior national survey data indicated generally favorable views of military medical research despite limited public awareness of its scope and impact. Nonetheless, limitations of that support remain incompletely characterized, particularly regarding ethics, cost, transparency, and civilian applicability. This study aimed to further characterize the values and concerns associated with public support for US military medical research. This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from 2,055 US adults assessing awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward military medical research. We examined associations between concerns, such as safety, ethics, cost, privacy, civilian relevance, and participants' perceptions of research value, views on the US military, and trust in US military medical research findings. Associations were assessed using chi-square tests with P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.05 considered significant, and effect sizes were reported using Cramer's V. Among respondents, 55% agreed that military medical research follows rigorous scientific and ethical standards, while 37% were neutral and 9% disagreed. Concerns related to ethics, cost, and civilian relevance were significantly associated with reduced trust and less favorable perceptions toward military medical research. Concerns about ethics demonstrated one of the strongest and most consistent associations across analyses. Respondents expressing unfavorable views of both the US military and US military medical research reported higher levels of concern across multiple domains than those with favorable views of both. Conversely, individuals interested in learning more about military medical research demonstrated higher levels of trust in research findings. Public support for US military medical research appears substantial but conditional, as perceptions may be strongly influenced by concerns regarding ethics, cost, and civilian relevance. These findings suggest that trust in military medical research extends beyond perceptions of scientific rigor alone and may also reflect broader institutional expectations of transparency and public benefit. Additionally, the association between interest in learning more and higher levels of trust suggests that public engagement may represent a mechanism to improve perceptions and demonstrate transparency and relevance.

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) patients with visual dependency rely more on visual cues and may have altered oculomotor responses to visual motion. This study examined early eye movement responses to large-field motion stimuli-the ocular following responses (OFRs)-in 30 PPPD patients and 29 healthy controls. Participants viewed horizontal motion in peripheral and/or central visual fields while eye movements were recorded. OFR velocity 200&#xa0;ms after stimulus onset and suppression efficacy were analyzed across four central field sizes from 5&#xb0; to 42&#xb0; radius. Both groups exhibited strong OFRs to stimuli in the central visual field that increased with the size of the stimulation area. When the central visual field was stationary and the surrounding area moved, patients showed significantly higher eye velocity than controls. Both groups could partially suppress OFRs, but healthy controls were more effective at suppressing eye movements during peripheral stimulation. Patients also showed greater visual dependency on the dynamic subjective visual vertical (2.2&#xb0; vs. 1.2&#xb0;), which correlated with OFR magnitude. Overall, PPPD patients were less able to keep their eyes still during peripheral visual motion, producing greater retinal slip and disrupting volitional fixation-an abnormality that may contribute to dizziness and discomfort in visually complex environments.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disorder caused by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes. PNPLA3 is one of the most important genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism, and its dysregulation contributes to triglyceride accumulation and the development and progression of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of interval aerobic training and Echium officinalis on PNPLA3 gene expression and liver function in male Wistar rats with Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Forty male Wistar rats (8-10 weeks old, 250-300&#xa0;g) were randomly assigned to four groups: control, interval training, echium officinalis, and interval training&#x2009;+&#x2009;echium officinalis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was induced by feeding the rats a high-fat diet for four weeks. Interval aerobic training was performed on a rodent treadmill, five days per week for eight weeks. Echium officinalis(200&#xa0;mg/kg body weight) was administered orally by gavage five days per week before exercise sessions. After the end of the protocol, rats were euthanized and sampled, liver enzyme levels (ALT and AST) were measured, and PNPLA3 gene expression in liver tissue was assessed using real-time PCR. Eight weeks of interval training and echium officinalis significantly reduced ALT levels compared with the control group, while AST changes were less pronounced. PNPLA3 gene expression was significantly downregulated in all experimental groups, with the greatest reduction observed in the combined training&#x2009;+&#x2009;echium officinalis group(p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Body weight changes were influenced by echium officinalis consumption, while interval training alone did not significantly affect weight. Integrating herbal supplementation with structured exercise may provide a synergistic approach to ameliorate hepatic steatosis and modulate genes involved in lipid metabolism.

The development of aqueous batteries, such as zinc-ion batteries, is attracting ever-increasing attention, especially in the area of electrolyte engineering. However, conventional aqueous batteries usually suffer from slow kinetics and electrolyte crystallization at low temperatures. Herein, we, for the first time, propose a polymer-like aqueous electrolyte (PLE) with fast kinetics by modifying Marcus theory parameters (dielectric constant). The PLE benefits from the coordination of multiple low-polarity molecules with low dielectric constants around zinc, resulting in an ultra-low glass transition temperature (the liquid state at -110 &#xb0;C) and fast low-temperature kinetics (an overpotential of less than 0.35 V at -60 &#xb0;C and 0.5 mA cm-2). Meanwhile, high-entropy-engineered solvents reconstruct the solvation sheath in the electrolyte system, reduce the solvation recombination energy, and significantly promote the reversible cycle of the zinc anode (exceeding 8000 h at 0.1 mA cm-2). More practically, even at a low temperature of -40 &#xb0;C, the polyaniline||Zn cell exhibits one of the best performances. This work provides a rational strategy for aqueous energy storage for the exploration of extraterrestrial survival at ultra-low temperatures.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts, challenging the growth, hydraulic function and survival of woody plants. Poplar is a fast-growing species widely cultivated for biomass and cellulose production, but it is also highly sensitive to water deficit, with substantial variation among species and clones. This study compared the drought responses of two Populus&#xd7;canadensis clones, 'Tucano' and 'San Martino', under gradually imposed, prolonged water stress. Physiological traits and intrinsic wood anatomical characteristics revealed different strategies between clones for coping with drought. 'Tucano' clone exhibited faster stomatal closure under moderate stress compared to the 'San Martino' clone and a greater resistance to embolism formation. The resistance was further supported by specific intrinsic wood anatomical traits, including higher vessel density, increased vessel clustering, greater theoretical hydraulic conductivity, thicker cell walls and higher wood density. Conversely, the delayed stomatal closure, the less negative P50 value, and the distinct xylem anatomical structure observed in 'San Martino' suggest a significantly higher vulnerability to prolonged water deficit. 'Tucano' adopts an effective drought-avoidance strategy, integrating stomatal regulation, intrinsic wood anatomy and carbon allocation to balance hydraulic safety with growth and wood quality. The study highlights specific traits as key determinants of drought resistance and supports the selection of specific clone for poplar cultivation in future climate scenarios characterized by water scarcity.

Visually conspicuous sexually dimorphic traits such as body size, coloration, weapons, and ornaments are less effective in nocturnal mammals, favoring the evolution of signals in alternative sensory modalities. Acoustic and chemical signals, in contrast, function well in low-light environments, and chemical cues in particular may act as honest indicators of individual quality, as physiological condition and immune responses can alter odor profiles. Reproductively active male fringe-lipped bats, Trachops cirrhosus, exhibit a sexually dimorphic forearm crust characterized by a strong odor and seasonal enlargement coincident with female fertility. Crust size is positively correlated with testosterone levels, and males with larger crusts are more frequently found roosting with multiple females, suggesting a role in sexual signaling. Previous work identified six major chemical components of the crust. Here, we evaluated inter-individual variation in both chemical composition and compound concentrations of the crust. Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed twelve volatile organic compounds detected in crust samples, with individual males containing an average of 7&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;3 chemical compounds. Chemical composition and chemical concentrations varied substantially among individuals, indicating that male crusts are not composed by a determined set or standardized ratios of compounds. Instead, chemical profiles were highly individualized. Crust size was positively associated with both chemical diversity and compound abundance. Larger crusts (>&#x2009;10&#xa0;mg) contained more compounds and higher overall concentrations than smaller crusts. Cholesterol and Cholest-7-en-3-ol were the most consistently detected compounds across males. Five of six previously reported compounds were confirmed. Concentrations of individual compounds differed by several orders of magnitude among males, and some compounds were absent in certain individuals. These results indicate pronounced individual chemical variability in male forearm crusts, supporting the hypothesis that this trait functions as a complex and individualized chemical signal potentially relevant to mate choice and sexual selection.

Modern intensive swine production systems have progressively reduced weaning age from conventional weaning ages of around 30 days to 21 days or less, aiming to improve sow reproductive efficiency and increase production flow. Although this strategy has enhanced productivity, it has also created a mismatch between the piglet's chronological age and biological maturity, particularly at gastrointestinal, metabolic, endocrine, and immune levels. This review provides an integrated analysis of the evolution of early weaning and its physiological, nutritional, and productive implications within a systemic framework. Current literature suggests that early weaning disrupts intestinal and metabolic maturation, contributing to enzymatic immaturity, structural alterations of the intestinal epithelium, microbiota dysbiosis, activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and early negative energy balance. These changes reduce feed intake, impair average daily gain, increase inter-animal variability, and elevate susceptibility to post-weaning disorders. Although nutritional interventions, including specialized diets and functional additives, have partially mitigated these effects, they have also increased system complexity and dependence on technological inputs. From a General Systems Theory perspective, early weaning can be understood as an emergent property of intensive production systems, with implications for productivity, animal health, welfare, and sustainability. Collectively, the reviewed evidence highlights the importance of aligning weaning management with physiological maturity and supports integrative strategies such as precision nutrition, tailored transition diets and omics-based tools to improve post-weaning adaptation.

In less than a year, SARS-CoV-2 managed to displace Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as the leading cause of death worldwide due to a single infectious agent. Both pathogens affect the respiratory tract, mainly the lungs. However, the impact that a possible Mtb + SARS-CoV-2 co-infection can have on the host response is still unknown. Herein we depict a rigorous system to evaluate the complex interaction between two simultaneous infections in vitro in a lung epithelial cell line (A549). Overall, the process includes eight steps: (1) Mtb culture, (2) cell maintenance, (3) preparation of viral stocks, (4) determination of infectious titers, (5) Mtb and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection, (6) determination of intracellular bacterial load, (7) SARS-CoV-2 viability test, and (8) optional UV-C validation assay for infectivity reduction. This comprehensive protocol will allow experimentalists to study the pathogenesis of co-infection in vitro and facilitate collaborative work in the literature. &#xa9; 2026 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: In vitro coinfection model using Mtb and SARS-CoV-2 in human lung epithelial cells.

This narrative review focuses on the relationship between perceived family support and suicide risk in adolescence (10-19 years, with some evidence extending into young adulthood), emphasizing the role of family support as a buffer against stressful life events. Suicide and suicidal behavior among adolescents are one of the major social and health problems of the 21st century. An emerging body of studies has explored the risk and protective factors independently, but less specific research has examined how these factors relate to each other. Specifically, family support appears to be one of the most significant attenuators of suicide risk in the presence of stressful life events or adverse circumstances. It is also worth considering the possible differential effects depending on other variables such as gender or age.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a heterogeneous, comorbidity-driven syndrome of increasing global prevalence, with Asian patients displaying a distinctive and clinically relevant epidemiologic and biological profile. Compared with Western cohorts, Asian patients are often younger and less overtly obese based on body mass index. However, they carry substantial burdens related to diabetes, chronic kidney disease, anemia, and hypertension, resulting in adverse health outcomes that are disproportionate to chronological age. Asian HFpEF shows marked region-specific patterns: Northeast Asian cohorts exhibit an older, leaner, atrial fibrillation-related phenotype, whereas South and Southeast Asian cohorts exhibit earlier onset, greater metabolic-renal multimorbidity, and worse prognosis. Mechanistically, visceral adiposity, systemic inflammation, immunometabolic dysregulation, structural remodeling, and accelerated cardiac aging converge to drive HFpEF across Asian patients, often at lower body mass index thresholds than recognized in Western models. Current diagnostic frameworks require Asian-specific validation, and dedicated multiomics and phenotyping studies are essential to advance precision medicine for HFpEF globally.