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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005933.].
Surfactant-free microemulsions (SFMEs) are unique microemulsions, which form from immiscible liquids (generally called oil and water components) in the presence of amphi-solvents rather than traditional surfactants. Our understanding of SFMEs is still limited. One of the questions to be explored is whether the surfactant-free systems can form the middle-phase (or Winsor III) microemulsions like the surfactant-containing systems. In the current work, the phase behavior of the ternary mixture of n-hexadecane (HDA), n-butanol (BuOH), and water was investigated at different temperatures (20-90 °C), where amphi-solvent BuOH is completely miscible with HDA (oil) but partially miscible with water. The single-phase, two-phase, and three-phase patterns were observed for the ternary mixture, depending on its composition. The area of the three-phase region in the ternary phase diagram decreases with an increase in T (20-55 °C). The mesoscale structuring of the ternary mixture samples with different existing states was determined using dynamic light scattering, electrical conductivity, and cryogenic and negative-staining transmission electron microscopy techniques. The middle phase of the three-phase systems was identified as the bicontinuous (BC) microemulsion, demonstrating that the middle-phase (or Winsor III) microemulsion can be formed without traditional surfactants. In addition, the Winsor I, II, and IV microemulsion systems were also identified in the ternary mixture. This work provides a better understanding of the features of SFMEs.
Hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC) is a heterogeneous and dynamic disease. Endocrine therapy (ET) + cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors remain the standard-of-care first-line therapy for ABC. However, the treatment landscape is rapidly evolving as our understanding of the complex biology underlying this common subtype advances. Predicting how a patient's cancer might respond to ET across lines of therapy and understanding optimal sequencing in clinical practice are key unmet needs. A range of established and emerging clinical characteristics and biomarkers, including endocrine receptor expression, presence of specific mutations (e.g., ESR1, PIK3CA), and visceral disease, are currently used to guide treatment decisions. However, international guidelines have variable definitions of ET resistance and sensitivity, making delivery of individualized care in clinical practice challenging. Considering this unmet need and leveraging the existing evidence for both prognostic and predictive markers of therapeutic response, we propose that idea of ET suitability be used as a complement to ET resistance and sensitivity. We consider ET suitability to be the clinical assessment of whether a patient could benefit from ET, where benefit is defined not solely by tumor response but by a clinically relevant constellation of characteristics and markers possibly predicting the durability of disease response and symptom control. Several unresolved questions remain regarding issues such as disease heterogeneity, optimal treatment sequencing, and biomarker precision, but further work and ongoing studies will help to support the evolution of guidelines and provide clarity around the effective application of this quickly developing field to daily clinical practice.
Fertilization is crucial for enhancing soil fertility and crop yields, primarily by modifying soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities, which subsequently influence soil carbon storage. Due to the unique flooded conditions of rice cultivation, paddy soils exhibit distinct microbial compositions and carbon storage mechanisms compared to upland soils. However, indiscriminate fertilization, without a thorough understanding of the underlying soil carbon pool storage and turnover mechanisms, not only yields suboptimal results but also poses environmental risks. Currently, a comprehensive literature review exploring the impacts of fertilization on crop growth and soil fertility accumulation mechanisms within rice cultivation systems remains lacking. This review summarizes the nutrient characteristics and turnover mechanisms in paddy soils, revealing slower organic matter turnover and stable soil organic carbon due to the unique paddy soil anaerobic environment. Microbial mineralization and organic matter accumulation vary with the planting cycle. We discuss the impacts of fertilization on soil fertility and microbial communities, highlighting the superior and more environmentally friendly effects of organic fertilizers. Importantly, a saturation threshold exists for soil carbon storage; exceeding this limit renders fertilization ineffective. Appropriate fertilizer application positively impacts microbial communities by modifying soil pH and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, this paper elaborates on the mechanisms of microbial-mediated carbon sequestration and its influencing factors. Future research leveraging a clear understanding of paddy soil nutrient mechanisms should integrate synthetic biology, materials engineering, and data-driven intelligent decision-making systems. This approach promises to be an effective pathway toward achieving intelligent, green, and high-yielding rice cultivation.
Cellulose, a primary component of plant cell walls, is synthesized by cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) at the plasma membrane. Targeting this process with cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors (CBIs) has significantly advanced our understanding of plant cell wall formation and provided valuable compounds for herbicide development. Here, we identified a fungal natural product, 8-methyldichlorodiaporthin (MDD), as a broad-spectrum plant CBI. Structure-activity relationship analyses demonstrate that methylation modifications on the isocoumarin ring and chlorination of the side chain are crucial for MDD-induced growth inhibition. A chemical forward genetic screen in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed two semidominant CESA1 mutations, causing A903T and H1024Y substitutions, that confer insensitivity to MDD. Both mutations locate to transmembrane domains of CESA1, and we show that MDD depletes CSCs from the plasma membrane and reduces cellulose content. Further genetic analyses indicate that the cesa1mddi1-1 A903T mutant also confers resistance to CBIs quinoxyphen and C17, but not to CBIs isoxaben, indaziflam, or ES20. Stacking additional point mutations conferring resistance to other CBIs, cesa3ixr1-1 G998D, and cesa6es20-r3 G935E into the cesa1mddi1-1 A903T background yields multiple-drug-resistant lines that maintain normal growth. These findings establish MDD, as a natural CBI that likely targets CESA1, thereby extending our understanding of CSC regulation and abilities to develop multidrug-resistant crop varieties. These findings offer unique perspectives for weed management and plant biotechnology.
Postpartum family planning (PPFP) within 12 months after childbirth is crucial to prevent unintended pregnancies and ensure healthy birth spacing for better maternal and child health outcomes. As Millennials and Generation Z dominate the reproductive-age population, understanding how generational identity intersects with socioeconomic factors is critical to designing equitable reproductive health interventions. To assess socioeconomic inequality and identify key determinants of PPFP utilization among Millennial and Generation Z women in Indonesia. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2023 Indonesia Health Survey, a nationally representative dataset. The sample included women aged 15-49 who had given birth in the past five years. Respondents were grouped into two cohorts: Millennials (born 1981-1996) and Generation Z (born 1997-2012). Logistic regression identified determinants of PPFP use, while socioeconomic inequality was assessed using the concentration index and decomposition analysis. Among Millennial women, PPFP utilization was significantly associated with maternal and partner education, employment status, household wealth, parity, pregnancy intention, delivery-related factors, and access to maternal health services. In contrast, among Generation Z women, PPFP utilization was mainly associated with partner's education, employment status, household wealth, delivery complications, and service access, while parity and pregnancy intention were not significant. Socioeconomic inequality in PPFP use was more pronounced among Millennials (CI = -0.069, p<0.001) than Generation Z (CI = -0.024, p=0.313). Generational differences were associated with differences in PPFP determinants and equity patterns, underscoring the potential value of generation-sensitive approaches to promote more equitable access.
Are there differences in lifestyle and environmental exposures, and clinical characteristics between patients with histologically confirmed endometriosis residing in regional and metropolitan locations in Australia, and their impact on phenotype and disease severity? A retrospective study of patients with histologically confirmed endometriosis and detailed phenotypic mapping willing to participate in a Lifestyle and Environmental Risk Factor questionnaire. Demographic, lifestyle, environmental and clinical factors were compared between patients residing in regional and metropolitan locations in Australia, and between patients presenting with different lesion types. Body mass index (BMI; mean ± SD 27.16 ± 5.39 and 25.22 ± 4.93, respectively) and exposure to animal and plant toxins (14.0% and 3.0%, respectively; P = 0.0020) and pesticides (20.0% and 6.0%, respectively; P = 0.0059) were higher in regional participants compared with metropolitan participants. Increasing age (mean ± SD 36.26 ± 8.09, 40.84 ± 7.81 and 33.88 ± 8.39, respectively; P < 0.0001), leiomyomata (16.4%, 19.5 and 6.8%, respectively; P = 0.03) and infertility (63.9%, 63.4% and 40.9%, respectively; P = 0.04) were associated with higher rates of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and ovarian endometrioma (OMA) compared with superficial disease (SUP). Mental and behavioural problems were reported more often in patients with SUP and DIE than OMA (52.4%, 59.2% and 38.1%, respectively; P = 0.01). This study suggests significant differences in environmental exposures and lifestyle factors between patients with endometriosis living in regional areas of Australia compared with patients with endometriosis living in metropolitan areas of Australia. These findings emphasize the importance of environmental and lifestyle considerations in understanding the clinical variability of endometriosis.
The spread of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains among different hosts, including humans, domestic animals, and synanthropic animals, has become a current public health challenge. A comprehensive analysis of bacterial isolates in animals and meat products throughout South America is essential to improve the understanding of their distribution and the different mechanisms of resistance in developing countries. This review aims to evaluate the different studies on ESBL-producing E. coli in animals and meat products in South America, from 2020 to 2024. A systematic search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Latindex from January 1, 2020 to May 1, 2024. Studies published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese on ESBL-producing E. coli from animal sources (dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, cows, rats, and meat products) were conducted across South America. Eighty percent of the included articles reported blaCTX-M genes, with the blaCTX-M-2 gene being the most common with 48.2%. This gene was found mainly in chickens, followed by dogs, cows and pigs. The ST10 clone was the most prevalent, reported in 40% of the included studies, while ST155 was evidenced in 30%. Other clones, such as ST117 and ST131, were identified in 20% of the studies. The increasing prevalence of blaCTX-M resistance genes in E. coli in South American countries highlights the need for effective surveillance and control measures in the animal environment. The inappropriate use of antibiotics in livestock requires multidisciplinary approaches, such as the One Health approach, to address this problem.
Steroid hormones influence affective behavior and its underlying neural networks. However, distinguishing between organizational and activational hormonal effects, along with effects of socialization, remains challenging, limiting the understanding of the mechanisms underlying affective neurobehavioral differences. Individuals with differences in sex development (DSD), such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), offer a unique opportunity to examine how alterations in prenatal steroid hormone exposure have a role in shaping brain development and human behaviors. This review aims to examine how, and to what extent CAH and CAIS, can inform broader neuroendocrine mechanisms of affective behavior. It starts with an overview of experimental psychology and human imaging work on the role of steroid hormones in affective behavior, highlighting the main challenges in the field in human research, and the rationale for including CAH and CAIS. It then summarizes findings from behavioral studies, experimental psychology, and neuroimaging research in CAH and CAIS to discuss how this research contributes to the understanding of the organizational role of steroid hormones on affective outcomes. Although the current evidence is limited and heterogeneous, this review highlights the contribution of prenatal hormonal variability, particularly prenatal androgen exposure, in shaping affective behavior and underlying neural networks. It also highlights how steroid hormones, chromosomal sex, timing of hormonal exposure, developmental stage and psychosocial factors interact in influencing affective outcomes. Advancing this work through neuroimaging and standardized experimental paradigms has the potential to specify the mechanistic pathways through which steroid hormone variability influences behavior. This work can also inform targeted interventions and support emotional well-being and quality of life for individuals with CAH and CAIS.
This scoping review was performed to analyze the available evidence on the association between micronutrient status and red cell distribution width (RDW) in adults. As a measure of erythrocyte size variability (anisocytosis), RDW has emerged as a prognostic biomarker in diverse diseases. It is hypothesized that nutritional factors may influence RDW, leading to decreased variability of red cell size and thereby enhancing the stability and lifespan of the red blood cell. However, to our knowledge no comprehensive review has yet examined how micronutrition may affect RDW in adult populations without conditions that are known to increase anisocytosis. This review was performed to improve understanding of how micronutrition may affect RDW through a scoping review protocol following the PRISMA-ScR framework and explore the literature that describes the use of and outcomes of supplementation. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in February 2025, and after peer review, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) appraisal tool was used to assess the rigor of each study design. The scoping review identified 10 articles that met the inclusion criteria. These studies examined a range of nutrients, including vitamins A, D, and E, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and dietary fiber. Several studies suggested that higher micronutrient status or supplementation is associated with lower RDW values. However, study designs and findings were variable and not uniform across all nutrients. Some nutrients (eg, vitamin A, vitamin E) showed no significant associations in individual studies, and 1 trial reported no change in RDW with an algae-based supplement. Results of this review indicated that micronutrition can have a measurable influence on RDW, suggesting a possible nutritional approach to modulate this emerging hematologic biomarker. Optimizing micronutrient intake could contribute to lower RDW, although the current evidence is preliminary. Further research is needed to confirm if these associations have longstanding effects to reduce RDW and determine whether improving micronutrient status can translate into better health outcomes.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, including olfactory dysfunction, which may precede motor manifestations by up to 10-20 years. Given the role of olfaction in flavor perception and dietary behavior, olfactory impairment may significantly affect nutritional status and quality of life in individuals with PD. This opinion article discusses the relationship between olfactory dysfunction and dietary habits in PD, highlighting the scarcity and inconsistency of the available evidence. While some studies suggest that lower diet quality and reduced intake of specific nutrients are associated with worse olfactory performance, others found no significant correlations. We argue that these inconsistencies largely reflect methodological limitations. Future studies should adopt supervised data collection, validated olfactory tests, and culturally adapted dietary tools. Clarifying whether specific dietary patterns influence olfactory performance or whether olfactory impairment drives inappropriate eating behaviors is essential for better understanding disease progression and informing clinical strategies aimed at improving symptoms, nutritional status, and quality of life in people living with PD.
Accumulating preclinical evidence has highlighted the importance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compartmentalization and transport. However, detailed structural characterization in humans remains challenging. This study utilized contrast-enhanced T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging on 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a cohort of 477 patients, primarily with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), to provide a noninvasive in vivo diseased model to delineate distinct subarachnoid compartmentalization and potential leptomeningeal arteriovenous perivascular shunting. We characterized a homogeneous CSF milieu within the ensheathed periarterial glymphatic space. This environment, structurally defined by the perivascular membrane, exhibited uniform tracer intensities across both proximal and distal arterial segments (p = 0.118) on both static and dynamic models, opposed to the heterogeneous CSF appearance observed outside the perivascular membrane. We also observed nodal tracer enrichment in specific locations of the leptomeningeal perivenous space (PVeS) across initial and follow-up MRI. Furthermore, the periarterial tracer enrichment intensities matched those in these nodal portions of the PVeS but significantly exceeded those in the non-nodal portions (p < 0.0001). A dynamic MRI subgroup analysis further revealed that the periarterial tracer kinetics were nearly identical to those of these PVeS nodes. Notably, the nodal-non-nodal gradient of the tracer intensity was significantly amplified in participants exhibiting overt periarterial tracer leakage (p = 0.0006). Although we could not directly visualize the arteriovenous perivascular shunting demonstrated in animal models, our findings may be supportive of potential human periarterial and meningeal border pathways. By establishing a diseased model-based imaging framework to characterize these glymphatic microstructures noninvasively, our results offer a preliminary basis for understanding the perivascular CSF environment and a hypothesized periarterial and meningeal border pathways in living humans.
Accurate and reliable 3D scene reconstruction is a key component of intelligent surgery, enabling enhanced spatial understanding and data-driven analysis in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). However, existing clinical systems are often bulky and workflow-incompatible, while vision-based Structure-from-Motion methods struggle with sparse textures and specularities, leading to unstable pose estimation and high computational cost. To address these limitations, we present SurGSplat++, a progressive, pose-free Gaussian splatting framework for monocular surgical scene reconstruction that requires no auxiliary hardware or pre-computed camera poses. Experiments show that SurGSplat++ achieves improved geometric stability, reduced pose drift, and superior novel-view synthesis compared with existing approaches. By producing accurate and consistent 3D reconstructions, the proposed method provides a practical solution for post-operative analysis, pre-operative planning, and data-driven surgical modeling in clinical environments. Code will be released at https://surgsplus.github.io/.
Only 33% to 53% of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with sickle cell disease (SCD) complete the transition process to adult health systems. Examine transition-readiness practices in a pediatric SCD ambulatory clinic to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities to enhance transition preparation for AYAs. A program evaluation using policy review and data from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Transition Readiness Assessment Tool was analyzed, and current transition practices were evaluated using the Got Transition Framework. Findings from the ASH tool showed strong knowledge of disease (M=3.26/4) and medication (M=3.33/4) but low confidence in scheduling appointments (M=2.24/4) and understanding insurance (M=1.71/4). Variability in transition readiness across domains and gaps in standardized assessment frequency and documentation were identified. Policy review revealed strengths in early transition education but limited operational guidance for readiness tracking and patient feedback. Final program recommendations were (1) integration of the ASH tool into clinic policy with defined roles and assessment frequency; (2) development of age-based transition readiness benchmarks to support longitudinal monitoring and targeted interventions; and (3) implementation of voluntary exit interviews to capture patient-reported transition experiences and guide program improvement.
As a major component of air pollution in urban environments, dust particles are similar in size to pollen grains. When deposited on the stigma, dust may occupy the space for pollen deposition and reduce the adhesion of pollen, potentially leading to a decrease in plant female fitness. Unfortunately, to date, the relevant evidence remains scarce. A dust simulation experiment was conducted on 29 plant species at the Yan'an Botanical Garden. The effects of dust deposition on the stigmatic surfaces were examined using microscopy, and female fitness was compared between experimental (dust) and control (non-dust) groups. We demonstrated that dust significantly occupied stigma surfaces and absorbed stigma secretions. The dust simulation treatment significantly decreased the fruit and seed set but did not influence the fruit length or weight. Moreover, plants with wet or more exposed stigmas showed greater susceptibility to dust, evidenced by relatively lower fruit and seed set in both the non-dust and dust treatments. Dust significantly reduces the reproduction of plants by altering the microenvironment of the flower stigma, including absorbed stigma secretions and occupied stigma surfaces, and its principal effect is observed during the critical pre-fertilization phase. Although our study significantly advances the understanding of the harmful effects of pollutants on plant reproduction, much remains to be learned and the underlying mechanisms need to be investigated in the future.
Despite significant improvements in the overall survival of Wilms tumor (WT), a subset of patients still experiences poor outcomes. Programmed cell death (PCD) pathways are pivotal in cancer progression. A deeper understanding of their roles in WT is crucial for harnessing these mechanisms to optimize risk stratification. Key tumor-associated genes were identified through limma differential analysis and WGCNA, and subsequently integrated with 12 distinct PCD patterns. TARGET-WT transcriptomic data was divided into training and validation sets to construct and validate a risk stratification model. It was subsequently integrated with clinical information to build a comprehensive prediction model. Immune infiltration and drug sensitivity analyses were performed. External validation was performed using scRNA-seq data from GSE200256. Key tumor-associated genes were enriched in multiple PCD pathways. The risk stratification model was constructed using 4 genes selected via the machine learning algorithm, stratifying the cohort into high- and low-risk groups. In the overall WT cohort, the high-risk group exhibited worse prognosis, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year AUC values of 0.820, 0.721, and 0.728, respectively. DCA demonstrated the superior predictive accuracy of the comprehensive prediction model. The high-risk group showed lower infiltration of TH17 cells and increased sensitivity to paclitaxel and sorafenib. Finally, the expression landscape of hub genes was validated in the single-cell dataset. These results highlight a critical role for PCD genes in the progression and immune regulation of WT. Targeting these genes offers a promising avenue for improving clinical management of patients identified as high-risk.
Oral manifestations can be the initial sign of systemic diseases such as Behcet's disease (BD) and Sjogren's syndrome (PSS). Their frequency and morphology vary widely, and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) often mimics BD ulcers, complicating differentiation on clinical grounds. Nonspecific aphthoid lesions are also seen in PSS. This study aimed to identify distinctive metabolic patterns in saliva that could discriminate BD, PSS, and RAS using global metabolite profiling. Saliva samples were collected from 43 patients (BD, n = 24; PSS, n = 10; RAS, n = 9) after fasting and abstaining from oral activities for at least 90 minutes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was employed for metabolite profiling. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were used to distinguish groups. Variable importance in projection (VIP) scores were calculated from partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and ANOVA was applied to compare metabolite abundance. Forty-two metabolites were identified and categorized into amino acids, organic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, and others. PCA and HCA demonstrated clear dis-crimination among BD, PSS, and RAS. Metabolites with VIP > 1 included malonic acid sorbitol, pyroglutamic acid, aspartic acid, decanoic acid, hexadecenoic acid, and L-proline. Notably, malonic acid and aspartic acid were significantly elevated in BD compared to PSS and RAS, suggesting their diagnostic potential. Global salivary metabolite profiling by GC/MS provides distinct metabolic signatures enabling discrimination among BD, PSS, and RAS. This approach may enhance understanding of oral mucosal manifestations in systemic autoimmune diseases.
Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic microorganisms that fix CO2 through oxygenic photosynthesis during the day and rely on heterotrophic metabolism at night. In nature, the availability of inorganic carbon (Ci) is often limited, posing a major constraint on photosynthetic efficiency. To overcome this, cyanobacteria have evolved a sophisticated CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) that enhances the catalytic performance of the primary carboxylating enzyme, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO). The CCM functions by elevating intracellular CO2 concentrations around RubisCO to suppress its oxygenase activity and enhance CO2 fixation efficiency. Central to this system is the carboxysome, a proteinaceous microcompartment that encapsulates RubisCO and carbonic anhydrase, facilitating efficient conversion of bicarbonate (HCO3 -) to CO2 and its subsequent fixation. This is complemented by multiple Ci transporters that mediate active uptake of CO2 and HCO3 -. Five major transport systems have been characterized: two specialized NDH-1 complexes for CO2 transport and its conversion into HCO3 -, and SbtA, BicA, and BCT1 for HCO3 - uptake. Recent structural studies on CCM uptake systems have revealed key mechanisms of HCO3 - transport, CO2 hydration and transport coupling. These insights provided a deeper understanding of how these systems enhance Ci acquisition and maintain photosynthetic efficiency across diverse environmental conditions and various CO2 regimes. Moreover, the CCM is tightly regulated at both transcriptional and post-translational levels to balance energy usage and carbon demand. This review outlines our current insights into the molecular architecture, transport dynamics, and regulatory networks of the cyanobacterial CCM, emphasizing its critical role in photosynthesis and its potential as a model for bioengineering enhanced CO2 fixation or for engineering synthetic bacterial microcompartments.
Pierce's disease (PD) of grapevines, caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, is a major constraint on viticulture in various regions of the world. An unusual and understudied feature of PD is the capacity of some grapevines to recover after winter dormancy, becoming asymptomatic and the bacterium is no longer detected in the plant. Ovewinter recovery has been documented for over four decades and is reproducible under both field and controlled conditions, yet outcomes vary across cultivars, environments, and pathogen strains. Similar phenomena have been reported in related pathosystems, including X. fastidiosa infections of almond and phytoplasma-associated diseases of grapevine, providing comparative insights. We review ecological and biological factors that influence overwinter recovery, highlighting the role of winter climate, timing of infection, host cultivar differences, pathogen population dynamics, and vector activity. Evidence suggests that overwinter recovery is not solely attributable to cold-induced pathogen mortality but also involves host-mediated processes, potentially including an immune reset during dormancy. These findings link recovery to broader ecological consequences, influencing pathogen persistence, disease epidemiology, and the geographical distribution of PD under current and future climate conditions. Despite decades of observation, the mechanistic basis of recovery remains unresolved. Key gaps include the identification of host traits underlying recovery, the contribution of pathogen genotype, and the integration of climate variables into predictive models. Addressing these gaps will be essential not only for understanding disease ecology but also for anticipating the impact of climate change and informing management strategies for PD and related vector-borne vascular diseases.
Endometriosis (EMs) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by ectopic endometrial growth. This study aimed to identify and analyze potential signatures of pyroptosis-related genes in EMs. We conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis using transcriptomic datasets from the GEO database to identify pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (PRDEGs) in endometriosis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA), Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network construction were applied to explore the functional relevance of PRDEGs. A candidate gene signature was constructed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression based on pyroptosis scores, and its predictive performance was evaluated in an independent dataset. The expression of key PRDEGs was validated by RT-qPCR in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissue samples from patients (n = 10 each). Based on the pyroptosis score, endometriosis samples were divided into high- and low-score groups, with a significant difference in score distribution between the two groups. This score was primarily used to characterize the pyroptosis-related stratification features within the samples. Further screening of differentially expressed genes identified five candidate diagnostic-related genes (KIF13B, BAG6, MYO5A, HEATR2, and AK055981). The model constructed using these genes showed moderate discriminatory ability in an independent dataset. RT-qPCR results confirmed differential expression of KIF13B, BAG6, MYO5A, and HEATR2 between ectopic and normal endometrial tissues, and several IL-17 pathway‑related genes exhibited consistent trends. This study suggests a potential role for pyroptosis in endometriosis and identifies a candidate gene signature. These findings may provide new clues for understanding inflammation- and cell death-related mechanisms in endometriosis and serve as a reference for future studies conducted in larger cohorts and under more rigorous validation frameworks.