Ecological floating beds (EFBs), plant-substrate floating treatment systems, have been widely implemented in aquatic ecological restoration, where microbes play crucial roles in nutrient cycling and material transformation. However, the ecology of viruses in EFBs remains poorly understood. Here, prokaryotic and metagenome-derived viral communities in a full-scale EFB were analyzed over 12 months utilizing 84 samples from biofilms, plant roots, and surrounding water. Viral communities, dominantly by Caudoviricetes (96.7%), exhibited temporal and habitat-dependent responses that contrasted with their prokaryotic hosts. Deterministic processes, primarily temperature and total organic carbon, shaped viral community composition and auxiliary metabolic gene (AMG) repertoires. Temperate viruses were enriched in biofilms and roots (8.91%-13.45%) compared to water (7.75%), indicating distinct interactions with attached prokaryotes and highlighting these niches as potential metabolic hotspots. Virus-host linkage analyses connected viruses to dominant prokaryotes and revealed abundant AMGs (n = 3,703; 238 types), including genes implicated in carbon, phosphorus and sulfur transformations. Furthermore, prokaryotic C/N/P/S-cycling gene repertoires showed stronger coupling in attached habitats, whereas viruses carrying element-cycling AMGs were relatively more abundant in water. These findings provide a genome-resolved view of habitat-dependent viral community structure and auxiliary metabolic potential in EFBs, identifying attached habitats as important compartments for future validation of virus-host interactions and their possible links to restoration-related biogeochemical processes.
Photoswitchable adhesives realized by azobenzene groups exhibit important applications in flexible electronics, micro/nanotransfer printing, and soft robots. Such phototriggered reversible adhesives, however, suffered from a contradiction between adhesion strength and switchability. Here, we present a hyperbranched polymer with terminal groups of azobenzene as a photoswitchable adhesive. This adhesive demonstrates both a high adhesion strength and a high switching ratio after UV light irradiation. By introducing abundant hydrogen bonds into the hyperbranched polymer through selecting the appropriate monomer, the cohesive strength and interfacial interactions were enhanced, thereby improving the adhesion strength of the adhesive. Simultaneously, due to the presence of azobenzene groups, the hyperbranched polymer underwent a significant solid-liquid phase transition under UV irradiation, disrupting its cohesive strength and achieving strong switchability. On the basis of the comprehensive evaluation of both adhesion strength (8.07 MPa) and switching ratio (53.80) on glass, our optimal adhesive outperforms previously reported azobenzene-based reversible adhesives. This hyperbranched polymer provides an alternative to developing switchable adhesives for advanced manufacturing.
In recent years, only a few cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cell carcinoma (MAC-SRC) have been reported, and detailed endoscopic imaging features remain poorly characterized. This is likely because these tumors are often already at an advanced stage at diagnosis, rendering endoscopic examination infeasible. We herein report a young Asian male diagnosed with sigmoid colon MAC-SRC (60% mucinous adenocarcinoma, 40% signet-ring cell carcinoma). A 27-year-old male presented with recurrent vomiting for 20 days. Abdominal computed tomography showed marked thickening of the sigmoid colon wall. Colonoscopy demonstrated luminal stenosis and rigidity, with extensive erosive lesions covered by abundant, difficult-to-irrigate white mucus; the lesion measured 8 cm in length. Biopsy confirmed mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent left hemicolectomy, and postoperative pathology verified MAC-SRC. Four months after initiating chemotherapy, the patient continues treatment with no changes in lifestyle, diet, or work compared to the pre-illness state. Compared with conventional adenocarcinoma, MAC-SRC in young patients shows distinct clinical features and carries a high risk of missed diagnosis. Colonoscopy with adequate biopsy is essential. This patient initially presented with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Timely intervention was initiated following endoscopic detection of mucosal abnormalities and confirmatory biopsy findings. The endoscopic characteristics we describe provide diagnostic evidence for MAC-SRC and have important clinical implications.
BACKGROUND Solitary fibrous tumor of the liver (SFTL) is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm. Most patients are asymptomatic, and lesions are discovered accidentally. Lacking specific imaging manifestations, SFTL is prone to misdiagnosis, making accurate preoperative diagnosis vital for clinical treatment. Thus, multimodal imaging is indispensable for preoperative evaluation. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with an asymptomatic liver mass identified during a routine health examination. Initial contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) revealed a hypervascular lesion with abundant peripheral blood flow and distinct intratumoral tortuous vascular signals. To further characterize these findings, ultrasound localized microscopy (ULM) was employed. This advanced imaging technique vividly delineated the characteristic "staghorn-shaped" branching vessels within the tumor, providing a pivotal preoperative clue highly suggestive of SFTL. Preoperative multi‑modality imaging demonstrated that the tumor was hypervascular and located adjacent to the inferior vena cava, making direct resection highly risky. In view of its hypervascularity and unfavorable anatomical location, neoadjuvant transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed preoperatively to reduce tumor volume. This downsizing successfully transformed a potentially high-risk resection into a feasible procedure, enabling a subsequent safe and margin-negative surgical resection. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of SFTL and corroborated the presence of the characteristic staghorn vascular pattern observed on imaging. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, combined CEUS and ULM effectively displays characteristic vascular signs of SFTL to assist differential diagnosis. Preoperative TACE is an effective neoadjuvant approach for anatomically difficult SFTL to facilitate radical surgery. Further large-sample long-term follow-up studies are needed to verify the conclusions, due to limited single-case data.
Transforming abundant agricultural residue into high-performance carbonaceous adsorbents has emerged as a green and cost-effective strategy for the efficient removal of dyes from contaminated effluents. In this study, activated carbon adsorbents (referred to as PNSAC-x) were synthesized from peanut shells (PNS) using phosphoric acid as a cost-effective activating agent. Activation was conducted at a relatively low temperature of 400 ℃, employing PNS: H3PO4 weight ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3. The developed carbons were evaluated for their adsorption performance in removing crystal violet (CV) as a model cationic dye. Among the synthesized samples, PNSAC-3 (1:3 ratio) exhibited superior performance, achieving 98.9% CV removal within only 20 min at natural pH, with an adsorbent dosage of 0.3 g L- 1 at 25 °C. Comprehensive characterization confirmed that PNSAC-3 possesses an amorphous structure with a well-developed porous network, reaching a maximum adsorption capacity of 145 mg g-1 under the investigated conditions. Cost analysis demonstrated the economic feasibility of PNSAC-3 production, with an estimated cost as low as 115 LE kg⁻¹ using commercial-grade phosphoric acid. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.998), while the equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.999). Thermodynamic studies indicated a spontaneous and endothermic adsorption process with increased feasibility at elevated temperatures. pH-dependent studies showed that the adsorption process involved both electrostatic forces and non-electrostatic interactions, including hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic effects, and π-π interactions. PNSAC-3 also demonstrated excellent reusability, retaining more than 94.4% of its adsorption efficiency after five adsorption-desorption cycles. These findings underscore the potential of PNSAC-3 as a highly efficient and cost-competitive adsorbent for the large-scale removal of cationic dyes from industrial wastewater.
Protein self-assembly is a fundamental biological process of great importance for the design and synthesis of biomaterials. Developing the ability to precisely manipulate protein assembly would greatly expand both our understanding of the process and our biotechnological capabilities. Within bacteria, proteins that self-organize to form bacterial microcompartments (MCPs) offer an excellent model system for studying protein self-assembly and advancing biomaterial design capabilities. MCPs consist of irregular polyhedral shells that encase an enzyme core that acts as enzymatic nanoreactors. In isolation, the abundant shell proteins of the 1,2-propanediol utilization (Pdu) MCP, PduA and PduJ, have a high propensity to self-assemble into tubular structures, analogous in form to carbon nanotubes. Here, we modulate higher-order assembly of PduA and PduJ hexamers by systematically altering their charge through charge inversion and supercharging across multiple platforms including heterologous overexpression and cell-free protein synthesis. Overexpression and cell-free experiments show that increasing the overall negative charge of assembling subunits consistently promotes self-assembly into tubular structures. Using molecular simulations, we determined the preferred bending angle adopted by the hexameric proteins to predict the most probable self-assembled structures, including honeycomb-like sheets and nanotubes. Simulations of closed PduA and PduJ tubes show the interactions responsible for tube stability, chirality, and radius. In vivo, we find that these charge-altered hexamers are assembly competent within the native MCPs inSalmonella entericaLT2. Our results collectively reveal that both electrostatic interactions and fields generated by charges on proteins can be leveraged to control protein-based nanostructures.
The increasing dependence on fossil fuels and the resulting climate and air quality challenges underscore the need for low-carbon energy carriers such as hydrogen. Despite its abundant fossil resources, Iran faces growing environmental pressures and emission reduction commitments, necessitating alternatives like biohydrogen. This study provides a comprehensive strategic-environmental assessment of biohydrogen development in Iran by integrating a structured literature review, SWOT analysis, Fuzzy Delphi expert elicitation, Internal and External Factor Evaluation (IFE/EFE), and the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM). Of a total of 412 records initially identified, 67 articles met the inclusion criteria, which focused on strategic planning in the energy or environmental sectors and explicit reporting of SWOT factors. A panel of 20 experts in energy, environmental biotechnology, and biohydrogen systems validated and refined the environmental factors, resulting in the identification of 17 strengths, 14 weaknesses, 13 opportunities, and 13 threats. QSPM was applied to quantify the relative significance of these factors and prioritize strategic actions. The IFE and EFE scores of 3.57 and 3.03, respectively, position biohydrogen development in an aggressive ST strategic zone, indicating strong internal capacity supported by favorable macro-environmental conditions. QSPM prioritization revealed oxygen-control strategies for nitrogenase and hydrogenase activity as the most attractive option (score = 6.05), followed using low-cost carbon sources or industrial waste streams (5.95) and hybrid biomass-coal technologies (5.74). This framework provides a robust basis for strategic planning and supports policy, investment, and research directions for large-scale biohydrogen deployment.
The present rise in temperature, pCO2 and altered precipitation impact lake water alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) dynamics. Such changes on carbonate chemistry have been shown to modify calcification of shell-forming phytoplankton in marine ecosystems. Similar responses in freshwater systems remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigate the direct effects of DIC concentration changes on the calcification state of Phacotus lenticularis, a globally abundant unicellular freshwater phytoplankton. The flagellated green algae are major contributors to modern lake carbonate production during bloom formation. P. lenticularis shells have a high CaCO3 content compared to other pelagic calcifiers and are likely more sensitive to changing lake water carbonate chemistry. We isolated 12 P. lenticularis strains and exposed them to an ecologically relevant range of DIC (0.2 to 12 mmol L-1 total scale) in a culture experiment. By means of high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and automatic image analysis we measured functional responses and strain-specific variability in response to DIC changes. All P. lenticularis strains showed reduced shell thickness by up to 60% and dissolved calcite crystals structures at declining DIC < 4 mmol L-1, while increasing DIC > 4 mmol L-1 had no significant effect on shell morphology. We also found no dependence of growth rates up to a lethal DIC of >10 mmol L-1, pointing to an efficient photosynthetic rate of P. lenticularis in an under-saturated as well as saturated inorganic carbon environment. Phacotus strains showed a preadaptation to ambient DIC concentrations measured in their lake of origin. Strains from the more environmentally dynamic lake Gönningersee exhibited more variable growth rates and cell densities compared to strains from the more stable Großer Ostersee. We hypothesize, that reduced availability of dissolved inorganic carbon and a lowered saturation state with regard to calcite will drive a negative calcification response in P. lenticularis. However, intraspecific variations in sensitivity to DIC changes were evident in our study and may represent a geographically available potential to adapt to new stressors.
Akkermansia is an important, diderm gut microbe associated with positive health outcomes. Recent advances in Akkermansia genomics have revealed great diversity in the genus, leading to the discovery of novel species and subspecies. Our knowledge of their individual interactions with the host is limited. One of the key questions concerning diderm commensals centers on their lipopolysaccharide and its outer membrane component, lipid A. Commensals must employ strategies that prevent eliciting lipid A-induced inflammation and resist cationic antimicrobial peptides, allowing them to colonize the host. In this study, lipid A was examined across representative isolates of five Akkermansia species to lay the foundation for investigating these host-microbe interactions across the genus. Lipid A of A. muciniphila, A. massiliensis, A. biwaensis, A. ignis, and A. durhamii (N = 55) were analyzed by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization mass spectrometry. All Akkermansia species produced lipid A modified with phosphoethanolamine (pEtN), which is associated with antimicrobial resistance and immune evasion. The relative abundance of modified lipid A varied among the species and positively correlated with decreased susceptibility to the antimicrobial peptide colistin. Intriguingly, the relative abundance of modified lipid A was independent of colistin presence. Instead, it increased as bacteria entered the stationary growth phase. Using proteomics approaches, cell envelope biogenesis-associated proteins were identified that could be involved in the associated outer membrane remodeling. To summarize, this study reports a novel lipid A modification and associated phenotypes in Akkermansia. Further work is warranted to determine its significance in the Akkermansia interactions with host cells in the gut. Akkermansia is a beneficial gut bacterium linked to metabolic and immune health. Yet we still know little about how different Akkermansia species interact with the human host. One key factor in these interactions is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a molecule on the bacterial surface that can either stimulate or dampen inflammation. Here, we show that all investigated species share a chemical modification of LPS not previously reported in Akkermansia. This modification is associated with decreased sensitivity to antimicrobial peptide colistin and becomes more abundant as bacteria enter stationary phase, suggesting it is part of a regulated adaptation strategy rather than simply a response to antibiotic exposure. By identifying and functionally examining the modification, this work provides new insight into mechanisms that may support persistence in the intestinal environment.
Bone cells are known to express multiple purinergic receptors. These are involved in various aspects of bone physiology depending on the cell type and receptor involved, both in normal and disease states, with extracellular ATP being particularly abundant in the bone microenvironment. The P2X7R subtype has been the subject of in-depth research in bone homeostasis. Different splice isoforms and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been discovered in the P2RX7 gene, these have functional implications on the receptor, conferring both gain of function (GOF) and loss of function (LOF), with consequences for bone phenotype, turnover and mass. We examined the full length P2RX7A, truncated P2RX7B, their co-expression and different receptor SNPs. The SNPs included the c.489C > T variant (p.His155Tyr) GOF, c.946G > A (p.Arg307Gln) LOF and c.1513A > C (p.Glu496Ala) LOF. The effect of these isoforms and SNPs on the normal cellular behaviour of the TE85 osteoblastic cell line were measured for intracellular calcium uptake, pore formation, cell proliferation, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralisation, and changes in osteogenic gene expression. The results demonstrate that transfection of P2RX7 isoforms and SNP variants influenced several important bone processes. Compared to TE85 cells all isoform variants had an increased calcium response with only the co-transfected P2RX7AB having pore formation. This variant also had the highest mineralisation and ALP activity but was the least proliferative. Of the co-transfected SNP variants only the TE85 + P2RX7B + 155Y GOF cell line had both pore formation and an increased calcium response. Mineralisation was lower in all SNP cell lines as was ALP activity, however, proliferation was increased. Mechanistically, gene expression arrays showed that Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1) increased in the highly proliferative cell variants. Osteogenic genes such as Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), ALP and collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) were increased in the cell variants that had high mineralisation and ALP activity, and were decreased in the highly proliferative variants, demonstrating multiple bone phenotypes depending on GOF or LOF. In conclusion, this study extends our knowledge into the role of the P2X7R in maintaining bone homeostasis and provides assessment of P2RX7 polymorphisms in osteoblasts. In future this could help to identify associations between specific variants and increased/reduced bone mineral density or accelerated bone loss/fracture risk in a number of bone related conditions.
Genomes are pervasively transcribed, leading to stable and unstable transcripts that influence 3-dimensional genome organization and gene regulation. High sensitivity and nucleotide resolution are required to resolve mammalian transcriptomes. Here, we exploit the sensitivity of 4-thiouridine (4sU) in two nucleotide-resolution methods: Single-Nucleotide resolution 4sU sequencing (SNU-Seq) and size-fractionated 4sU-Seq (sf4sU-Seq). sf4sU-Seq involves gel isolation of abundant 4sU-labelled promoter-proximal transcripts, enabling nucleotide resolution mapping of transcription start sites and promoter-proximal pauses (PPPs) around +63 nucleotides on Pol II-transcribed loci. SNU-Seq maps the precise position of polymerases on transcription units, including paused Pol II at the PPP, validated using sf4sU-Seq, and enables the discovery of thousands of divergently transcribed intragenic and intergenic regions of open chromatin, many uncharacterized. Conversely and consistent with extensive epigenetic priming, hundreds of the >10 000 regions of acetylated open chromatin lacking detectable transcription using SNU-Seq, show IFNγ-dependent induction of divergent transcription, linked at selected loci to the formation of promoter-enhancer loops. At other primed regions, formation of promoter-enhancer loops is coincident with divergent transcription at the enhancer but precedes transcription of pre-mRNA from the promoter, supporting distinct priming mechanisms. Thus, 4sU-based methods, coupled to chromatin analysis, enable detailed characterization of genome structure, transcription, and responsiveness.
Industrial bearing fault diagnosis is constrained by the scarcity of labeled data. Although abundant data is available from diverse equipment, its heterogeneity in sampling parameters, operational conditions, and label granularity hinders direct use by existing methods. To bridge this gap, we propose a Multi-source Domain Adaptive Siamese Network (MDASN) to exploit such heterogeneous data effectively. It integrates multi-domain sample alignment for unified preprocessing, a Bidirectional Importance Attention mechanism to dynamically localize discriminative fault characteristics, and a detail division strategy for fine-grained feature learning. Evaluations on five bearing datasets show that MDASN significantly improves diagnostic accuracy, with gains of 26% on laboratory data and 24% on industrial data. Using only one sample per class, it achieves 86.74% accuracy in a challenging wind turbine bearing task, demonstrating strong potential for robust, data-efficient bearing health monitoring.
The rapid emergence and dissemination of plasmid-mediated mcr genes have raised significant public health concerns. Given the spread of colistin resistance across the natural environment, humans, and animals, the water environment serves as a crucial connecting medium. To address critical gaps in the literature on the dissemination of mcr variants in environmental samples, we prepared the first report on the prevalence of mcr genes in wastewater and river water samples in Poland. We designed the study at the river-basin scale to provide comprehensive insight into colistin resistance mediated by mobile mcr genes in the aquatic environment. Moreover, this is the first study to examine seasonal variation in mcr genes, conducted simultaneously on wastewater and river water samples. The research involved collecting wastewater from 17 wastewater treatment plants (including facilities that receive hospital wastewater) and river water at 8 points along the Pilica River across four seasons. We demonstrated that mcr-1, mcr-4, and mcr-5 were detected in all samples, both wastewater and river water, with mcr-5 the most abundant. The wastewater treatment process was completely ineffective at eliminating mcr-5 genes. In addition, significant differences in the prevalence of mcr-1, mcr-4, and mcr-5 were observed between warmer and colder seasons, indicating a seasonal effect on the dissemination of colistin resistance genes in environmental samples. The present findings help clarify the role of wastewater and rivers in the spread of last-resort drug resistance genes and their significance for public health.
Basidiomycetous red yeast Rhodotorula sp. is prevalent and abundant in the open ocean. This study reports the draft genomes of the Rhodotorula sp. strains HGY1 and HGY2. The strains are capable of producing carotenoids, such as β-carotene, and are regarded as potential hosts for biorefinery.
In this study, ricotta cheese exhausted whey (RCEW), an abundant dairy by-product, was evaluated as a low-cost substrate for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production by Cupriavidus necator DSM 428 through an integrated process strategy combining substrate conditioning, enzymatic lactose hydrolysis, oxidative stress modulation, and cultivation under controlled bioreactor conditions. Shake-flask experiments demonstrated that RCEW supported efficient biomass formation (1.60 g L⁻1) and high intracellular PHB accumulation (71.4% of dry cell weight, DCW), while supplementation with coffee oil extract increased biomass up to 4.41 g L⁻1 and PHB titer to 2.87 g L⁻1. Controlled oxidative stress further enhanced polymer accumulation, with hydrogen peroxide addition (5.0 mmol L⁻1 at 24 h) promoting intracellular PHB contents up to 80.8% DCW. Cultivation in a stirred-tank bioreactor confirmed process robustness, and fed-batch cultivation resulted in PHB concentrations up to 3.85 g L⁻1 (77.9% DCW) using a chlorine-free downstream recovery protocol. The recovered polymer consisted exclusively of 3-hydroxybutyrate units and exhibited a high-molecular weight (876 kDa). Overall, these results demonstrate the feasibility of producing high-quality PHB from RCEW using a non-recombinant C. necator strain, supporting the development of sustainable bioprocesses for dairy by-product valorization. KEY POINTS: Thermally conditioned ricotta cheese exhausted whey supports efficient PHB production by C. necatorCoffee oil supplementation enhances biomass formation whereas oxidative stress promotes PHB accumulationFed-batch cultivation and chlorine-free recovery support process efficiency and sustainability.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (hereafter PFAS) are widespread and persistent compounds that pose a threat to human and wildlife health. Wildlife monitoring is essential to understand the extent of PFAS contamination and its ecological drivers. Seabirds are good bioindicators of PFAS contamination of the marine environment, yet some areas, including the French coastlines, remain poorly covered. Here, we quantified 11 legacy PFAS in the plasma of 9 seabird species (n = 340 chicks) from 30 sites along the French Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Linear perfluorooctanesulfonic acid was by far the most abundant PFAS. Oceanic piscivorous species (Northern gannets Morus bassanus, black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla and Scopoli's shearwaters Calonectris diomedea) had the highest PFAS concentrations compared to Larus sp. gulls and shags Gulosus aristotelis. Overall, Mediterranean seabirds had lower perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid and higher perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid concentrations compared to Atlantic seabirds. At a finer spatial scale, chicks sampled near estuaries had a slightly higher PFAS burden, suggesting local riverine inputs. This first large-scale survey of PFAS in French seabirds reveals substantial heterogeneity in PFAS contamination across French coastal environments. Future work should address the sources of this PFAS contamination and quantify its toxicological consequences, given that sampled chicks may be at risk based on previous avian studies reporting PFAS-related health effects.
Rho GTPases orchestrate actin dynamics and tumor cell motility, but their prognostic relevance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. We aimed to identify Rho GTPase-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), build a prognostic model, evaluate important gene expression against clinicopathological features, and examine CTTN function in vitro. Transcriptomic data from GSE53625 and TCGA-ESCC were used. Rho GTPase-linked DEGs from tumor-normal comparisons entered univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariable Cox analyses to construct a risk-score model; immune infiltration and a nomogram were also evaluated. For CTTN, 60 paired ESCC tissues were examined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, and 18 additional pairs by qPCR, with correlations to clinicopathological variables and survival. ESCC cell lines were used to test the effects of CTTN expression on migration, invasion, and proliferation. We identified 107 Rho GTPase-related DEGs enriched in actin cytoskeleton-remodeling pathways. Five genes (RHOV, RHOA, PIK3R1, CTTN, ARHGEF37) formed a prognostic signature that separated patients into high-risk and low-risk groups with different outcomes and remained associated with outcome after adjustment for available clinicopathological variables. However, stage and nodal status differed between risk groups, indicating that the signature may partly capture aggressive clinicopathological features. High-risk tumors showed differences in inferred immune-cell abundance, including B-cell, NK-cell, mast-cell, and neutrophil populations. CTTN was consistently upregulated versus normal tissue, especially in advanced-stage and nodal-metastatic disease, and enhanced ESCC cell migration and invasion in vitro. We developed an exploratory Rho GTPase-based prognostic model for ESCC and identified CTTN as a candidate adverse prognostic marker and functional contributor to ESCC cell migration and invasion. The model, immune-infiltration findings, nomogram, and CTTN-related mechanistic interpretations require further validation in larger prospective cohorts and additional experimental systems.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has been recognized as a seafood contaminant. In the current investigation, MP contamination was assessed in surface water and the tissue of gut, gills, and muscles of 280 individuals of 14 species of commercially important pelagic fishes collected from five major fishing harbors of Gujarat state, India. MPs extraction was carried using standard protocols. A total of 4033 MP particles were extracted fish specimens. The maximum and minimum MP contamination was recorded in Thryssa setirostris and Trichiurus lepturus, respectively. The highest MP abundance was found in the surface water and fish specimens collected from the Sartanpar and lowest from Jakhau. Overall, muscle tissue showed higher contamination than gut and gill tissue. Fibers were recorded dominant having black and blue colours belonging to the size range of <500 μm. The chemical composition of extracted MPs revealed polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), and rubber as polymer compositions of MPs. Contamination factors, pollutant load index, and polymeric hazard index classified all the study sites under very high risk of MP pollution. The findings of meta-analysis of 136 peer-reviewed articles published from 2011 to 2025 revealed the MP contamination in 317 marine pelagic fishes globally. Fiber shape MPs with black and blue colours belonging to size range of 500 μm-1 mm was dominant. Polyethylene was recorded as dominant plastic polymer in 317 marine pelagic fishes. The findings conclude the greater risk of MP pollution in pelagic fishes and in humans due to consumption of contaminated sea-food.
Thoracic aortic aneurysms involving the root and ascending aorta progressively enlarge and can lead to life-threatening acute aortic dissections, collectively termed thoracic aortic disease (TAD). Oxidative stress due to an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS), has been implicated in TAD pathogenesis by promoting vascular inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and smooth muscle cell (SMC) apoptosis. Cobinamide (Cbi), a potent antioxidant and vitamin B12 analog, has been reported to slow aortic aneurysm growth in TAD mouse models. We evaluated its efficacy in mice administered β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) to induce TAD, a model in which aneurysms progress to dissections. C57BL/6J mice of both sexes were administered either BAPN alone or BAPN plus Cbi in drinking water from postnatal day 21 (P21). Survival analysis showed that 56% of mice in the BAPN group died from aortic rupture by P49, whereas mortality increased to 91% in the BAPN+Cbi group (P=0.049). Necropsy confirmed thoracic aortic rupture as the cause of death. At P35, proximal aortic analyses showed that Cbi significantly reduced ROS abundance in the ascending aorta, based on decreased dihydroethidium staining and lower oxidative stress markers, including protein carbonylation and DNA oxidation by 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine staining. Cbi did not affect aortic diameters by echocardiography, or elastic fiber fragmentation. Cbi was associated with reduced oxidative stress in aortic tissue, it did not prevent aortic dissection and was associated with increased rupture-related mortality in the BAPN model. These findings highlight context-dependent roles of ROS in TAD and the importance of carefully evaluating antioxidant strategies in dissection-prone settings.
Lake Góreckie, a dimictic postglacial lake located in a strictly protected area (the Wielkopolski National Park, western Poland, central Europe), has experienced long-term eutrophication driven by historical sewage discharge, agricultural runoff, and internal nutrient loading. From 2009 to 2022, restoration measures, including aeration, phosphorus inactivation, and fish biomanipulation, were implemented to improve water quality. This study assessed the lake's current state in 2022, immediately after cessation of reclamation, and in 2025, three years later, using physico-chemical parameters, phytoplankton, and macrophyte communities. Despite similar nutrient concentrations water transparency and hypolimnetic oxygen content improved markedly in 2025, along with a decline in phytoplankton abundance and biomass and a recovery of submerged vegetation, particularly charophytes. These changes coincided with increased water levels and prolonged spring mixing in 2025, and were preceded by the long catchment afforestation. Our results highlight the complex interplay between catchment hydrology, long-term afforestation, nutrient dynamics, and primary producers in shaping lake ecosystem recovery and provide critical insights for adaptive management of eutrophic lakes located in protected areas subject to anthropogenic pressure.