Plant functional traits link environmental conditions to plant performance and adaptation. Growing evidence suggests that intraspecific trait variation can be as important as differences between species, yet large intraspecific studies of in-situ variation remain rare. While most studies have focused on plant morphological traits, the concentrations of elemental nutrients in seeds have received much less attention so far. We conducted a large-scale in-situ study of the widespread annual ruderal grass Hordeum murinum. We sampled 2070 individuals from 207 populations across a large part of its native range in Europe and North Africa. We measured seed ripening phenology and growth-related traits in-situ and analyzed concentrations of elemental nutrients in the seeds. We found that Hordeum murinum grew larger, produced seeds later, and had heavier seeds in colder and wetter regions. Plants growing in denser vegetation were taller and produced heavier seeds but formed fewer spikes. Concentrations of elemental nutrients in the seed generally declined with seed weight and were primarily driven by climatic variables, whereas soil conditions had only minor effects on plant traits and seed nutrients. Population identity explained a substantial proportion of trait variation, indicating a possible genetic component. Our findings provide a comprehensive view of how Hordeum murinum responds to environmental gradients across its European distribution. Climatic variables, particularly temperature, are key drivers of reproductive timing and concentrations of elemental nutrients in the seed, whereas local environmental conditions, such as biotic pressures, are more critical for growth-related traits. Together, these patterns indicate that Hordeum murinum modulates its growth and reproductive investment along environmental gradients, balancing phenology, stress tolerance, and limited competitive capacity.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rapidly growing global public health problem. There is growing evidence that the emergence and dissemination of AMR genes and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are linked to antibiotic use in animals raised primarily for food. The use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry farming in India has led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) and their impact on human health. Resistant bacteria can be transmitted via the food chain, direct contact with animals and the environment. Recent surveillance studies in India have shown that AMR exists in humans and in animal production systems as well as in the environment, making it evident that AMR are interdependent in human, animal and environmental production systems. Governmental efforts such as the National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR and the ban on colistin use in livestock for food production are important measures, but there is still work to be done. While these are positive measures, there are still gaps in monitoring, antimicrobial stewardship and knowledge among stakeholders. This brief communication highlights the public health issues posed by livestock-associated AMR in India and the need for robust One Health surveillance, judicious antibiotic use, and coordinated government initiatives to prevent the emergence of resistance.
The integration of large language models (LLMs) into orthopedic surgical decision-making represents a growing area of research. This study aimed to compare the surgical recommendation capabilities of ChatGPT-4.0, ChatGPT-4o, and ChatGPT-5 models in simulated cases of hallux valgus deformity. A total of 50 simulated cases were constructed using fundamental clinical data related to hallux valgus pathology and were individually submitted to 3 models. For each case, a surgical recommendation and a brief rationale were obtained. The responses were compared based on content alignment, adequacy of justification, and consistency with established surgical algorithms. Additionally, textual outputs were evaluated using DISCERN and multiple readability indices. All 3 models demonstrated overall algorithmic consistency. However, the ChatGPT-5 model provided the most context-aware and clinically consistent recommendations, followed by ChatGPT-4o and ChatGPT-4.0. Concordance rates with surgical algorithms were 70% for ChatGPT-4.0, 82% for ChatGPT-4o, and 90% for ChatGPT-5. DISCERN scores were 51, 56, and 62, respectively. ChatGPT-5 also achieved superior performance across readability metrics, including Flesch Reading Ease Score, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, and Gunning-Fog Index, indicating improved textual clarity and reduced complexity. The ChatGPT-5 model demonstrated the highest contextual accuracy, consistency, and readability in surgical decision support for hallux valgus surgery, highlighting the progressive improvements of newer LLMs. Nonetheless, ChatGPT-4.0 and ChatGPT-4o also exhibited compatibility with surgical algorithms, indicating potential utility in generating patient education and informational content.   Cite this article as: Karadamar ÖL, Aydilek A. Evaluation of surgical recommendation algorithms in hallux valgus cases using ChatGPT models: an artificial intelligence approach based on 50 simulated scenarios. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2026; 60(2), 0580, doi: 10.5152/j.aott.2026.25580.
With growing research on the use of psychedelics to treat mental health conditions, greater attention to the psychosocial procedures accompanying substance administration is warranted. This scoping review aims to categorize psychosocial protocols used in research involving psychedelics as psychiatric treatment according to their purpose, denomination, format, therapeutic orientation, formalization, and duration. Experimental and observational studies were identified through online search platforms, covering Ayahuasca, Dimethyltryptamine, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, Ibogaine, Mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Psilocybin, and 4-hydroxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine, yielding 62 eligible studies that were also assessed for methodological quality. Seven categories were defined, reflecting distinct emphases on the substance, participant, research team, and sociocultural context. Although limited reporting and heterogeneity remain methodological challenges, these features reveal divergent research intentions and contextual constraints. The proposed parameters suggest a shared language to describe, compare, and examine psychosocial protocols across studies and reduce conceptual uncertainty in the field. This review may facilitate research decision-making and support the development of structured and replicable study designs, while predicting flexibility to accommodate individualized, culturally responsive, and population-specific care. Ultimately, researchers explicitly defining the intended purpose of psychosocial protocols may improve its transparent reporting, and evaluation. Future research should balance methodological rigor with attention to real-world studies, interdisciplinary perspectives, and demographic diversity for responsible advancing.
Concerns around the overuse of policing to address mental health concerns have fueled growing recognition of the need for alternatives to traditional law enforcement responses to mental health crises. This has given rise to the implementation of interdisciplinary response models, including police-only responses and the widespread adoption of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training, as well as co-responder models and mobile crisis response. However, the body of research on the effectiveness of these models is still emerging. Researchers and scholars have conventionally centered law enforcement in much of this work, whether aiming to understand how police address crises or comparing non-police or co-response models to police-led responses. Limitations in data availability, standardized language, measurement, and operational definitions-combined with a lack of clarity around partnerships-make it difficult to understand which models are being implemented and how they function across communities. Addressing these limitations may expose an opportunity to shift away from police as the default and to consider possibilities for crisis systems in which mental health support is provided without routine law enforcement involvement.
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple crop for millions of people worldwide, yet its productivity is constantly under threat from pests such as fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith), stem borers (Busseola fusca Fuller and Chilo partellus Swinhoe), maize aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch), and maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky). These pests can cause devastating losses of 20-50% in the field and up to 40% during storage. The pests are increasingly resistant to chemical insecticides, and there are growing concerns about environmental and health impacts. Sustainable alternatives are urgently needed. This review brings together insights from 34 studies (2000-2025) on plant-based insecticides, cultural practices, and their integration for maize pest management. Across the selected studies, larval mortality due to botanical extracts ranged from 45% to 92%, depending on the plant species used, formulation, and target pest. These values reflect the range reported in different studies rather than results from a formal meta-analysis. Cultural practices like intercropping, crop rotation, adjusting planting dates, and field sanitation lowered pest pressure by 18-80% and boosted yields by 8-45%. Combining these approaches was even more powerful, reducing fall armyworm damage by 65-88%, increasing yields up to 52%, and supporting beneficial insects. Despite these successes, challenges remain, especially in understanding how farmers adopt these methods and how they perform across different locations and seasons. Overall, this evidence shows that integrated, environmentally friendly strategies can protect maize, support farmers, and promote resilient, low-input farming systems. Future work should focus on long-term field trials, practical adoption, and socio-economic benefits to make these strategies widely accessible. A systematic literature search was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar covering studies published between 2000 and 2025.
The growing burden of frailty, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy among older adults presents major challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. These interrelated conditions are known to worsen clinical outcomes, yet data from the region are limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and clinical impact of frailty, complex multimorbidity, and polypharmacy among hospitalized older adults in Oman. A prospective, multicenter cohort study was conducted in general internal medicine wards of two tertiary hospitals in Oman. Patients aged ≥ 65 years were consecutively enrolled and assessed for frailty using Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), multimorbidity using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and a definition of complex multimorbidity (≥ 3 chronic conditions), and polypharmacy (≥ 5 medications). Clinical outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, HD/ICU admission, 30- and 90-day mortality, and 30- and 90-day readmission. Multivariable regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used. Among 369 patients, high frailty, complex multimorbidity, and polypharmacy were present in 139 (37.67%), 126 (34.15%), and 243 (65.85%) patients, respectively. Higher frailty was associated with longer LOS (6.49 vs. 4.88 days, p < 0.01) and increased in-hospital mortality (15.11% vs. 3.54%, p < 0.01). High frailty independently predicted 30-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.68, p < 0.01) and 90-day mortality (aOR 3.53, p < 0.01). Complex multimorbidity independently predicted 30-day readmission (aOR 1.92, p = 0.015), 30-day mortality (aOR 2.12, p = 0.026), and 90-day mortality (aOR 2.42, p < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier and adjusted Cox regression analyses showed lower 90-day survival and higher mortality risk among patients with high frailty (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.16, 95% CI 1.69-5.89, p < 0.001) and complex multimorbidity (aHR 1.85, 95% CI 1.15-2.98, p = 0.011). Frailty, complex multimorbidity, and polypharmacy were common among hospitalized older adults in Oman. High frailty and complex multimorbidity were the most consistent predictors of adverse outcomes, supporting early recognition, structured geriatric assessment pathways, and future targeted patient-centered interventions.
Increasing agricultural productivity to meet the growing population's food requirements has now become the main focus of scientific and policy-driven research. But the intensive use of synthetic fungicides has caused potential harm to humans and the environment. Microalgae are gaining recognition as promising sources of bioactive compounds for sustainable agricultural applications. The comparative antifungal potential of different microalgae using various polar solvents, and the study of molecular docking between major antifungal compounds obtained from microalgal extracts and fungal targets, remain unexplored. Therefore, the present study focuses on the antifungal properties of two freshwater microalgal strains (Tetradesmus sp. PV683316 and Scenedesmus sp. PV683315) isolated from aquatic ecosystems of Uttarakhand, India, against Botrytis californica. Microalgal extracts were prepared in different solvents, i.e., methanol (TdME and ScME), ethanol (TdEE and ScEE), and acetone (TdAE and ScAE), and screened for antifungal activity via the poisoned food technique. Morphological changes in B. californica were studied using SEM treated with the ethanol extract of TdEE. A diverse set of bioactive compounds present in microalgal extracts was identified through GC-MS. In this study, TDEE (100 µL/mL) showed up to 82.60 ± 0.83% mycelial growth inhibition of B. californica as compared to other microalgal extracts prepared in different solvents. The study also revealed that TdEE reduced the formation of conidia and conidiophores of Botrytis californica. Major compounds detected in GC-MS analysis of TdEE were benzyl-diethyl-(2,6-xylylcarbamoylmethyl)ammonium benzoate (29.27%), benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester (15.06%), lidocaine (14.81%), benzoic acid 4-ethoxy-ethyl (7.95%), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (5.26%), and 1-(4-Ethoxyphenyl)propan-1-ol (3.28%). These findings highlight the potential of microalgae as eco-friendly sources in sustainable agriculture as antifungal agents for crop protection.
Kidney disease (KD) poses a growing global health burden, with obesity contributing to its development. The body roundness index (BRI), a novel anthropometric measure reflecting visceral adiposity, may better predict KD risk than body mass index, but longitudinal evidence is limited. In this prospective cohort study, we analyzed 8401 adults aged ≥ 45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, free of KD at baseline. BRI was calculated from waist circumference and height. Incident KD was ascertained via physician-diagnosed questionnaires during 4 follow-ups (2013-2020). Cox proportional-hazards models were used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), with adjustment for multiple covariates. Dose-response relationships were evaluated using restricted cubic splines and 2-piecewise linear regression, with subgroup analyses performed to examine effect modification. During follow-up, higher BRI was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident KD (HR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02-1.19; P = .017). Participants in the highest BRI quartile had a 47% greater risk compared with the lowest quartile (HR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.06-2.05; P = .022), with a significant dose-response trend (P for trend = .014). Restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a significant overall association (P overall = .037) without evidence of nonlinearity (P nonlinearity = .307) and a meaningful inflection point (P for likelihood ratio test = 0.378). Subgroup analyses demonstrated generally consistent associations, with a significant interaction observed for dyslipidemia status (P for interaction = .037). In middle-aged and older Chinese adults, higher BRI independently predicts incident KD in a linear dose-response manner. BRI, as a simple and noninvasive measure of body fat distribution, may serve as a practical tool for early identification of individuals at elevated KD risk, supporting strategies targeting central adiposity in KD prevention.
Seafloor litter has become a growing environmental concern to marine ecosystems and coastal economies. To better understand the environmental behavior of seafloor litter, it is important to characterize its spatial patchiness at local scales. However, the local-scale patch size of seafloor litter has rarely been quantified. Thus, a patch size spectrum method was developed to estimate local-scale patch size from bottom-trawling survey data. The method utilized geostatistical simulations to relate observed area-normalized catches with simulated area-normalized catches under varying potential patch sizes. Cross-validation demonstrated predictive accuracy with a typical relative error of ∼20% and 31% in worst-performing cases. Application to experimental bottom-tow data collected from Tokyo Bay showed the local-scale patch size of 134 m, substantially smaller than the trawling transect length (∼2.8 km). Moreover, the local-scale patch size remained temporally stable between two survey periods. This method provides a novel framework for quantifying local-scale heterogeneity in seafloor litter distribution, and it is broadly applicable to other forms of integrated line transect sampling, such as benthic organism surveys and environmental monitoring where within-transect spatial resolution is limited.
Periprosthetic fractures following total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty are complications associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. As the volume of primary arthroplasty continues to increase in the United States, the incidence and overall burden of periprosthetic fractures are expected to rise accordingly. However, contemporary trends and future projections in emergency department (ED) visits and operative management for these injuries remain incompletely characterized. There were three national databases that were queried to identify the national volume of ED visits for periprosthetic hip and knee fractures between 2017 and 2022, as well as to capture inpatient and outpatient surgical management for these fractures during the same period, including fixation, arthroplasty, or combination procedures. Patients who presented with periprosthetic joint infections were excluded. National surgical volumes were calculated, and future projections through 2035 were modeled using linear and Poisson regression. Between 2017 and 2022, 224,456 patients presented to the ED with periprosthetic hip and knee fractures, of whom 155,335 underwent surgical treatment. Based on regression modeling, annual ED visits are projected to increase substantially by 2035, reaching 43,324 to 53,128 visits for periprosthetic hip fractures and 40,952 to 108,301 visits for periprosthetic knee fractures. Surgical volume is similarly expected to rise, with 22,750 to 29,017 procedures for periprosthetic hip fractures and 23,743 to 31,400 procedures for periprosthetic knee fractures annually. The mean hospital costs are projected to increase to $50,919 to $81,194 per case, with charges exceeding $300,000 for complex surgical procedures. Periprosthetic hip and knee fractures constitute a rapidly growing source of healthcare utilization in the United States. The increasing volume, high acuity, and projected growth of these injuries highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies, system-level resource planning, and optimization of multidisciplinary care pathways to mitigate their expanding clinical and economic impact.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly prescribed to adolescents for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with growing interest in extending their use to conditions such as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS). However, adolescence represents the critical window for peak bone mass acquisition, and the implications of pharmacologic weight loss during this developmental period have received limited attention. Furthermore, this commentary addresses potential concerns related to eating disorder risk and future reproductive outcomes in this population. This commentary examines the emerging concerns regarding bone health, reproductive safety, eating disorder risk and endocrine development when GLP-1 RAs are used in adolescent populations. Adult studies demonstrate improvements in weight loss, insulin resistance, and menstrual regularity with GLP-1 RA therapy. In adolescents with obesity, clinical trials of liraglutide and semaglutide show significant weight reduction without short-term effects on growth or pubertal development. However, adolescence represents a critical period for peak bone mass acquisition, and rapid pharmacologic weight loss may theoretically impair bone mineral accrual. Evidence from adult populations suggests modest reductions in bone mineral density associated with weight loss, while structured exercise may mitigate these effects. GLP-1 RAs are not recommended during pregnancy, and no data exist on reproductive outcomes following adolescent exposure. Additionally, the potent appetite-suppressing effects of these agents raise concerns about potential misuse or exacerbation of eating disorders in adolescents, a population uniquely vulnerable to body image pressures. GLP-1 RAs represent a promising adjunct therapy for adolescents with obesity, T2DM, and PMOS, but long-term skeletal, reproductive, psychological, and endocrine outcomes remain uncertain. Careful patient selection, bone health monitoring, incorporation of resistance exercise, contraceptive counseling, and screening for disordered eating may be essential when these therapies are considered in adolescent populations.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 amplification. The lack of therapeutic targets contributes to its poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Nowadays, there is growing evidence that post-translational modifications (PTMs) play important roles in shaping the aggressive nature, immune microenvironment, and metabolic pathways in many tumor types. Here, in this review, we comprehensively summarized the roles of key PTMs, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, protein methylation, SUMOylation, lactylation, glycosylation, β-hydroxybutyrylation, and succinylation in TNBC. We discussed detection technologies for each PTM, detailed their molecular mechanisms and biological functions, and suggested therapeutic strategies targeting these modifications. Moreover, we reviewed PTM crosstalk networks and their clinical implications. Finally, we discussed the translational challenges and propose solutions for developing PTM-based diagnostics and therapies for TNBC. An evidence stratification framework was applied to grade the strength of the reviewed findings, distinguishing mechanistically validated, correlative, and clinically actionable evidence.
The therapeutic and health benefits of geothermal water are widely recognized; its specific chemical components, particularly fluoride (F-) and the increasing levels of nitrate (NO3-), have raised growing concerns about potential risks. Nevertheless, scientific understanding of the enrichment mechanisms and associated health threats of F- and NO3- in geothermal water remains limited in Northwestern Shandong Province (NWS). This study systematically investigates geothermal waters in NWS by integrating hydrogeochemical analysis with deterministic-probabilistic health risk assessment models. The objectives are to reveal their hydrochemical characteristics, elucidate the enrichment mechanisms of F- and NO3-, and evaluate their potential non-carcinogenic health risks to humans. The results indicate that the enrichment of F- in NWS geothermal water is primarily governed by natural hydrogeochemical processes, manifested as the synergistic effects of fluoride dissolution, calcium-bearing mineral precipitation, alkaline environment, and positive cation exchange. In contrast, the elevated NO3- levels are clearly attributed to anthropogenic influences such as agricultural activities. Under the conventional exposure scenario of skin contact (e.g., bathing), both deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments consistently demonstrate that the non-carcinogenic risks for adults and children are generally acceptable (mean HI < 1, with zero exceedance probability). However, the critical risk arises from non-routine exposure pathways: assessment of accidental geothermal water ingestion reveals a significantly elevated non-carcinogenic risk for children, with the HQ exceedance probabilities (> 1) for F- and NO3- reaching 44.25% and 43.68%, respectively, whereas the corresponding probabilities for adults are only 2.6% and 12.16%. Sensitivity analysis indicates that exposure duration and frequency (exposure opportunity) are the primary controlling factors for adults, whereas children exhibit extreme sensitivity to body weight parameters, with their lower exposure dose per unit body weight significantly amplifying health risks. This study reveals that accidental ingestion (especially by children) constitutes a significant but long-neglected health threat. Accordingly, it is recommended that geothermal resource management prioritize protective measures and educational interventions targeting children in areas lacking public awareness.
In the present study, multi-locus phylogenetic analysis based on the actin, β-tubulin, and calmodulin gene sequences was used to assess the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships among Pyricularia isolates collected from pearl millet, rice, finger millet, foxtail millet, and various weed species. The analysis also aimed to confirm the identity of Pyricularia spp. causing blast in pearl millet. Most of the isolates from pearl millet and associated weeds (Brachiaria ramosa, Imperata cylindrica, and Cenchrus spp.,) were clustered separately from those infecting rice, finger millet, and foxtail millet. A subset of eleven pearl millet isolates consistently formed a distinct lineage across all three gene trees. The sequences of Magnaporthe salvini, M. rhizophila, M. poae, M. grisea, M. oryzae, Pyricularia pennisetigena and P. penniseticola isolates for actin, and calmodulin genes from the NCBI database were also included for species identification. Based on multilocus clustering, the 11 pearl millet isolates, which clustered separately in all three gene trees, were identified as P. penniseticola, whereas the remaining 48 pearl millet isolates and 12 weed isolates were identified as P. pennisetigena. Actin, and calmodulin genes-based haplotype analysis generated phylogenetic cluster/species-specific unique haplotype fingerprints. These findings also indicate the need to investigate the role of weed hosts in epidemiology of pearl millet blast and to examine the distribution patterns of P. pennisetigena and P. penniseticola across diverse pearl millet growing ecologies.
A growing body of evidence suggests that air pollution is associated with an increased risk of brain disorders, yet evidence on combined exposure remains limited and mechanisms are unclear. Using UK Biobank data, we constructed a composite air pollution score (APS) by calculating a weighted sum of PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10, NOx, and NO2 concentrations. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine associations between APS and brain disorders. Due to temporal ambiguity that precluded causal inference, mediation analyses were exploratory, aiming to identify biomarkers along the air pollution-to-brain disorder pathway rather than to establish causality. After full adjustment, compared with the lowest APS quartile, the HRs (95% CIs) for brain disorders were 1.004 (0.975-1.035), 1.048 (1.017-1.080), and 1.043 (1.010-1.077) for the second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively. Each increment of 12 units in APS (per interquartile range) elevated risks of brain disorders (HR = 1.022, 95% CI = 1.008-1.036), neurological disorders (HR = 1.036, 95% CI = 1.010-1.062), and psychiatric disorders (HR = 1.031, 95% CI = 1.013-1.049). Metabolites, erythrocyte-related biomarkers, and liver and renal biomarkers were identified as potential pathway markers. These findings identify potential targets for early detection and prevention of brain disorders and carry public health significance.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers curative potential for hematologic malignancies and immune disorders, yet pulmonary complications remain major contributors to non-relapse morbidity and mortality. Traditionally attributed to immune suppression and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), these complications are increasingly recognized to involve disruption of pulmonary microbial communities. A growing body of clinical and experimental evidence indicates that HSCT-associated perturbations in the lung microbiome, driven by conditioning, antimicrobials, immune injury, and infection, are associated with distinct post-transplant pulmonary phenotypes and, in some cohorts, with mortality risk. Whether these microbial shifts represent causal contributors to lung injury or contextual biomarkers of immune vulnerability remains unresolved, and this distinction carries direct implications for microbiome-targeted intervention. Dysbiotic shifts in the lung have been associated with both infectious and non-infectious complications, including idiopathic pneumonia syndrome, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, and fibrotic lung disease. Gut-lung microbial crosstalk may amplify or reflect systemic immune dysfunction, though the directionality of this relationship remains incompletely characterized. Multi-omics approaches, integrating metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics, are beginning to define the host-microbiome interaction signatures that distinguish injury subtypes and predict outcomes. This review synthesizes mechanistic insights into lung microbiome-immune interactions after HSCT, critically appraises the methodological constraints on the current evidence base, and evaluates microbiome-based interventions, including fecal microbiota transplantation, inhaled postbiotics, and precision antimicrobials, as candidate strategies for respiratory protection in transplant recipients, while acknowledging that prospective interventional evidence in this population remains limited.
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the post-myocardial-infarction heart is sustained by re-entry arising from slow and heterogeneous impulse propagation within the infarct border zone. Seminal histological and electrophysiological studies demonstrated that re-entry is enabled by conduction corridors of surviving myocardial bundles embedded within fibrotic scar. However, growing experimental and clinical evidence indicates that this structural concept alone does not fully account for the complex electrophysiological behaviours observed in infarct-related VT. In this review, we examine the evolution of the arrhythmogenic substrate following myocardial infarction and the development of the critical slow-conducting pathway known as the 'diastolic isthmus'. Post-infarct remodelling that includes inflammatory, fibrogenic and chronic maturation phases transforms the border zone into a heterogeneous, multicellular environment, wherein surviving cardiomyocytes coexist with (myo)fibroblasts, immune cells, adipocytes and neural elements. The interactions among these cellular populations influence impulse propagation through modifications in electrotonic coupling, paracrine signalling and membrane excitability modulation. Within these constrained myocardial strands, minor alterations in intercellular coupling or ionic currents can substantially affect conduction velocity and propagation safety, leading to delayed activation while preserving the conditions necessary for re-entry. Furthermore, we discuss how these changes contribute to the three-dimensional architecture of re-entrant circuits and the implications for identifying the arrhythmogenic substrate during electroanatomical mapping, as well as the interaction between ablation energy and heterogeneous infarct tissue. Collectively, these observations challenge the traditional conception of VT corridors as passive fibrotic channels. Instead, scar-related ventricular tachycardia represents an evolving electrophysiological phenomenon resulting from progressive multicellular remodelling of the infarct border zone.
The growing demand for high-specific-energy storage has revived interest in lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs), whose theoretical energy density far exceeds that of conventional lithium-ion battery systems. However, their practical use is limited by sluggish reaction kinetics, parasitic reactions, high overpotentials, and the buildup of insulating lithium peroxide, all of which hinder reversibility and cycling stability. Manganese oxides (MnOx) have emerged as promising cathode catalysts because of their abundance, low cost, tunable oxidation states, and diverse structural features. Their tunnel, layered, and spinel architecture provide adaptable environments for O2 reduction and evolution, Li+ transport, and the conversion of reaction intermediates. Recent progress demonstrates that structural engineering of MnOx, through pore-structure tuning, surface-site modulation, defect introduction, heteroatom doping, and composite fabrication, can significantly optimize lithium peroxide formation and decomposition. These strategies regulate catalyst electronic structures and reaction pathways, thereby influencing Li2O2 formation/decomposition behavior, reducing side reactions, lowering polarization, and enhancing catalytic activity. This review summarizes recent advances in MnOx-based catalysts for non-aqueous LOBs, emphasizing structure-activity relationships and mechanistic understanding. By outlining remaining challenges and key design guidelines, we aim to support the rational development of next-generation catalysts for practical LOB deployment.
The increasing availability of large chemical libraries and bioactivity datasets has created a growing need for cheminformatics tools capable of extracting interpretable structure-activity relationship (SAR) information across structurally diverse chemical series. However, many existing approaches rely on rigid scaffold definitions, descriptor-based clustering, or manually curated groupings, often limiting the identification of SAR trends spanning partially overlapping chemotypes. Here, we present SARgate, an open-source cheminformatics platform designed to organize chemical libraries into structurally coherent subsets and facilitate multi-level SAR exploration within a unified graphical environment. Starting from Bemis-Murcko scaffolds, SARgate applies automated aggregation procedures to derive generalized cores based on minimal shared substructures, enabling flexible R-group decomposition and improved recognition of chemically related series. Developed in Python using RDKit as the core cheminformatics engine, SARgate integrates dataset curation, scaffold organization, R-group analysis, matched molecular pair analysis (MMPA), stereochemical evaluation, similarity assessment, and structure-activity landscape visualization into a single interactive workflow accessible to users with different levels of computational expertise. The utility of SARgate is demonstrated through representative case studies involving AKT1 and IL4I1 inhibitor datasets derived from public repositories, externally curated collections, and manually assembled patent-derived libraries. These applications show that SARgate can recover known SAR determinants, identify activity-driving substituents and stereochemical constraints, reveal context-dependent effects, and support mechanistically interpretable medicinal chemistry insights directly from large-scale bioactivity data.