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We introduce a versatile method for preparing a quantum state whose amplitudes are given by some known function. Unlike existing approaches, our method does not require handcrafted reversible arithmetic circuits, or quantum table reads, to encode the function values. Instead, we use a template quantum eigenvalue transformation circuit to convert a low-cost block encoding of the sine function into the desired function. Our method uses only four ancilla qubits (three if the approximating polynomial has definite parity), providing order-of-magnitude qubit count reductions compared to state-of-the-art approaches, while using a similar number of gates if the function can be well represented by a polynomial or Fourier approximation. We demonstrate the algorithmic utility of our method, including preparing Gaussian and Kaiser window states.
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has transformed transcriptomic studies by enabling gene expression profiling at the resolution of individual cells within and across a broad range of tissue types, revealing cellular heterogeneity that is obscured in bulk tissue transcriptomes. Over the past decade, improvements in microfluidics and library preparation have drastically increased throughput, allowing tens of thousands of cells to be assayed in a single experiment. Although initially developed in animal systems, scRNA-seq has rapidly emerged as a powerful and widely adopted approach in plant biology. Beyond transcriptomics, the integration of single-cell data with chromatin accessibility, proteomics, metabolomics, and spatial omics is enabling a system-level understanding of plant gene regulation and cellular organization. Network-based analytical frameworks further support the reconstruction of gene regulatory networks and the interpretation of complex single-cell data. In this review, we summarize the current technological landscape of plant single-cell studies, discuss key experimental and analytical challenges, and review emerging strategies for validating single-cell discoveries. We also discuss future directions in applying single-cell technologies to woody perennials plants and bioenergy-relevant crops, emphasizing their potential to accelerate the discovery of cell type-specific regulatory mechanisms underlying growth, stress resilience, and biomass production.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors, frequently accompanied by comorbid psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Symptom overlap complicates diagnosis, whereas the absence of tailored clinical guidelines contributes to variable practices and the risk of over- and undertreatment. The current article examines the efficacy and safety of guanfacine extended-release (GXR) for the treatment of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and associated behavioral symptoms in children with ASD and comorbid psychiatric conditions. Current evidence supports GXR as an effective nonstimulant option with a tolerable safety profile, particularly for children with co-occurring anxiety or sleep disturbance or those who are poor candidates for stimulant therapy. Careful titration and ongoing monitoring remain essential given this population's heightened sensitivity to adverse effects. For psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, these findings underscore the importance of individualized, family-centered care; ASD-specific assessment; and interdisciplinary collaboration. Ethical prescribing, ongoing clinical monitoring, and meaningful caregiver engagement are essential to optimizing outcomes and enhancing quality of life for children with ASD and comorbid psychiatric conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the narrative of old-age vulnerability and disengagement. Using data from a nationally representative sample of German adults (NT1 = 2,007, NT2 = 733; age range 16-94 years), we investigated changes in aging-related beliefs and behaviors between 2016 and 2022. Specifically, we considered perceived expectations for active aging (PEAA), positive age stereotypes, and preparation for age-related changes in the domains of physical health, mental health, and social engagement. The average PEAA and positive age stereotypes significantly decreased across age groups and domains whereas preparation for age-related changes decreased slightly and only in the social engagement domain. Residual change analyses revealed a greater reduction in PEAA across domains among respondents with (vs. without) children in the household. In those with more pronounced populist political beliefs, PEAA in the social engagement domain diminished more. None of the focal predictors predicted change in positive age stereotypes. Surprisingly, working in an occupation disrupted by the pandemic (compared with relatively undisrupted occupations) predicted more positive change in preparation for age-related changes in the mental health domain. Overall, the public discourse regarding older people and old age during the pandemic may have contributed to the worsening of aging-related beliefs. The stability in preparation suggests that such behaviors served to adapt to the unique circumstances of the pandemic.
The post-dispensing process of Pharmacy Intravenous Admixture Services (PIVAS), including verification, packaging, transportation, nurse receipt and verification, and clinical administration, involves multiple high-risk steps associated with intravenous medication safety. However, existing risk management studies have primarily focused on internal preparation procedures within PIVAS, with limited attention to the external circulation processes after admixture preparation. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was applied to systematically identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential risks in the post-dispensing workflow of finished intravenous infusions. Risk priority numbers (RPNs) were calculated based on severity, occurrence, and detectability scores. High-risk failure modes were defined as those with an RPN ≥120 or a severity score ≥8. Targeted corrective interventions were subsequently implemented for these high-risk processes. A total of six high-risk failure modes were identified across the post-dispensing workflow. Following FMEA-based interventions, the total RPN score of these six high-risk failure modes decreased from 707 to 394, representing a 44.3% reduction. In addition, the incidence of real-world risk events decreased significantly between 2020 and 2022 (p < 0.001), indicating substantial improvements in medication safety and process quality. FMEA is an effective and practical tool for extending quality control from internal admixture preparation to the complete post-dispensing process in PIVAS. The implementation of FMEA facilitated the establishment of a closed-loop risk management framework and improved the safety of intravenous medication administration.
Rice cultivation is an important source of agricultural methane emissions, and country-level monitoring is needed to evaluate how emission pressure evolves together with rice-sector production and market conditions. This study provides an exploratory dynamic monitoring assessment of methane emissions in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam over the period 2000-2023. Annual data from FAOSTAT were used to examine methane emissions, methane emission intensity, rice production indicators, producer prices, and Food CPI. Long-term trends were evaluated using the Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator. Dynamic associations were assessed using a parsimonious panel vector autoregression, with unit-root and residual-based cointegration diagnostics, first-difference robustness analysis, alternative Cholesky orderings, generalized impulse responses, and residual-bootstrap confidence intervals. The trend results reveal heterogeneous methane-emission trajectories across the three countries. Methane emissions declined significantly in Indonesia, increased significantly in the Philippines, and showed no statistically significant trend in Viet Nam. In contrast, methane emission intensity declined in all three countries, indicating that total emissions and intensity-based performance may move in different directions. The revised PVAR(1) results suggest that methane-emission responses are statistically associated with selected agricultural and price-related innovations, particularly producer-price innovations under the baseline recursive ordering. However, first-difference results show that many responses are concentrated in the short run, and FEVD results are sensitive to identification assumptions. Generalized impulse response-based decomposition indicates that methane-emission variability is primarily own-driven under ordering-invariant assumptions. Overall, the findings support a cautious monitoring interpretation. Rice-sector methane assessment should track both total emissions and emission intensity while considering production scale, harvested area, and dynamic adjustment patterns. The study provides exploratory evidence for three rice-producing countries and highlights the importance of transparent data construction, parsimonious modelling, and robustness checks when using aggregate country-level data to assess methane-emission dynamics.
Cell transplantation using cell sheet technology is a promising regenerative approach that enables the delivery of a large number of viable cells while preserving cell-cell interactions and extracellular matrix. However, the clinical application of autologous cell sheets is limited by donor-site invasiveness, prolonged preparation time, and high manufacturing costs. Allogeneic cell sheets may overcome these limitations, but their therapeutic effects and immunological profiles require further clarification. In this study, we investigated the tissue-repair effects and immune responses associated with allogeneic skeletal muscle-derived cell (SMDC) sheet transplantation. In vitro analyses showed that human SMDCs suppressed activated T-cell proliferation in a cell number-dependent manner, lacked co-stimulatory molecules, and expressed immune checkpoint ligands, suggesting a potentially low-immunogenic and immunomodulatory phenotype. For in vivo evaluation, L8-derived syngeneic comparator sheets and allogeneic SMDC sheets derived from different rat strains were transplanted onto the serosal surface in a rat gastric ulcer model. SMDC sheet transplantation promoted early ulcer repair without increasing systemic inflammatory responses, as assessed by serum C-reactive protein levels. Histological analyses revealed limited macrophage and T-cell infiltration at the transplantation sites, although the extent of local immune responses varied depending on donor-recipient strain combinations. Transcriptomic analysis of ulcer tissues showed that the L8-derived syngeneic comparator and selected allogeneic groups shared downregulation of inflammation-related pathways, whereas another allogeneic donor strain induced a distinct transcriptional profile. These findings suggest that allogeneic SMDC sheets can promote early tissue repair without inducing overt systemic inflammatory activation. However, donor-recipient strain compatibility may influence local immunological and transcriptional responses after transplantation. The observed effects are consistent with early paracrine and immunomodulatory mechanisms, although direct cell tracking and more detailed immunological analyses are required. Allogeneic SMDC sheets may represent a potential ready-to-use strategy for gastrointestinal tissue repair, provided that appropriate donor selection and further preclinical validation are performed.
The interaction of light with nanostructured materials enables control over emission processes and photonic environments at the nanoscale. In this work, we investigate the dye-dependent fluorescence modulation induced by dielectric nanostructures using thin films based on ZnO nanorods (NRs). Two representative fluorophores with emission spanning the visible spectral range, Nile Blue and Coumarin 6, were embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) spacer layers of varying thicknesses and spin-coated onto ZnO NRs films prepared by a drop-coating protocol. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to quantify modifications in emission intensity and excited state dynamics arising from the interaction between the fluorophores and the nanostructured substrate. Both dyes exhibited pronounced fluorescence enhancement in the presence of the ZnO NRs, reaching up to ∼ 15× for Nile Blue and ∼ 9× for Coumarin 6 relative to glass substrates, dependent on the PVP layer thickness. Time-correlated single photon counting measurements revealed modest lifetime reductions upon deposition on ZnO, indicating that fluorescence enhancement is not dominated by strong radiative-rate modification or interfacial charge transfer. The results suggest that the observed emission amplification arises from a combination of excitation-field enhancement and improved emission extraction mediated by wavelength-dependent scattering from the ZnO NRs. The excitation-wavelength dependence of the enhancement is consistent with scattering-assisted redistribution of the excitation light, which may increase the effective excitation experienced by the fluorophores. Additionally, numerical aperture-dependent fluorescence measurements and polarization-resolved anisotropy investigations are consistent with scattering-assisted redistribution and extraction of emitter photons that would otherwise remain partially trapped within the PVP film by total internal reflection.
Using elemental lead (Pb0) as a precursor offers an upstream and atom-economical alternative route for perovskite synthesis. However, producing perovskite solar cells (PSCs) from Pb0 remains fundamentally challenging because Pb0 is hard to convert to Pb2+ via ordinary approaches, while any remaining Pb0 acts as deep-level defects in perovskite. To address this challenge, Pb0 first reacts with I2 in N,N-dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide, yielding well-dispersed PbI2 colloidal precursors that facilitate subsequent full conversion to perovskites through vapor-solid reaction with formamidinium iodide vapors. Devices starting from Pb0 perform much better than those from as-purchased PbI2, in both efficiency and stability, achieving vapor-assisted solution-processed 22.65% efficiency under simulated AM1.5G illumination (over 20.65% from PbI2). These findings suggest that high-quality perovskites may also be prepared from PbI2 alternatives, even its upstream material Pb.
Nanoscale precipitates are central to the functional and mechanical performance of many advanced alloys, yet their characteristics and spatial distributions can be directly resolved only by electron microscopy. In this poster-style article, focused ion beam-prepared TEM lamellae are used to provide a microscopy-focused overview of nanoprecipitate populations in two representative precipitate-controlled systems: a Ni-rich NiTi shape memory alloy and a multicomponent Al-Ce-(Er,Sc,Zr) aluminium alloy. In the NiTi alloy, a short heat treatment at 560°C for 1 min produced a recovered, subgrained matrix containing lenticular Ni4Ti3 precipitates with nanoscale dimensions. Representative TEM observations show precipitates located within the matrix and near dislocation-rich regions and subgrain boundaries, suggesting a local spatial association with the deformation substructure. In the Al-Ce-(Er,Sc,Zr) alloy, TEM analysis of aged samples shows coarse Al11Ce3 intermetallic phases within an Al matrix containing fine nanoscale precipitates consistent with L12-Al3(Er,Sc,Zr) type precipitates. Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) confirms the ordered L12 structure through superlattice reflections. Together, these case studies illustrate how FIB-TEM workflows enable direct visualisation of precipitate morphology, coherency, and spatial distribution across distinct alloy systems.
Rapid molecular diagnostics remain constrained by two fundamental bottlenecks: nucleic acid extraction and slow thermocycling, which together limit true point-of-care deployment. Here we report ultrafast plasmonic nanocavity thermocycler (PNT) for direct real-time reverse transcription PCR (DRT-qPCR) at a point-of-care level. The PNT features a plasmonic nanocavity of clustered Au, silicon dioxide (SiO2), and Au thin film, with Pt resistance temperature detector and a white light-emitting diode (WLED). Under WLED illumination, the PNT shows highly efficient photothermal conversion with rapid heating (20.4 °C/s) and cooling (7.5 °C/s) rates, completing 40 thermocycles in 269 s. The PNT is compactly integrated with a microlens array fluorescence camera and a disposable PCR cartridge into a palm-sized real-time PCR system. The DRT-qPCR completes sample preparation, reverse transcription, and PCR amplification in less than 15 min, achieving amplification efficiency comparable to a commercial benchtop PCR machine. Clinical validation with 60 SARS-CoV-2 samples demonstrates 87.1% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 93.3% diagnostic accuracy, with all false negatives successfully detected upon retesting. The PNT-based DRT-qPCR can provide a precise and scalable solution for rapid molecular diagnostics in decentralized and time-sensitive settings across diverse infectious diseases.
Sumyong Nature (SN) is a kimchi- and soybean-derived fusion-fermented microbial supernatant prepared from Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Weissella cibaria, and Bifidobacterium longum. This study examined the in vitro effects of SN on UVB-induced damage and skin-related cellular responses in human keratinocytes. Cell viability assays, gene expression analysis, luciferase reporter assays, immunoblotting, scratch wound-healing assays, and LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis were conducted. SN showed no significant cytotoxicity in HaCaT or HEK293T cells at concentrations up to 75 μg/mL. In UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, SN improved cell viability, suppressed MMP-1 expression, increased HAS-1 expression, and modulated UVB-responsive stress-related markers, including SOD-1, Nrf2, and HO-1. SN also promoted wound closure in keratinocytes and was associated with changes in NF-κB-, AP-1-, CREB-, and MAPK-related signaling responses under the tested conditions. LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis tentatively identified several candidate constituents, including pectolinarin and aloeresin-related compounds. Collectively, these findings suggest that SN exerts multiple beneficial in vitro effects in keratinocyte-based assays, warranting further mechanistic investigation and validation in advanced experimental models.
To evaluate the effect of different preparation designs and ceramic thicknesses on the fracture resistance and failure mode of maxillary premolars with non-carious cervical lesions restored with milled lithium disilicate laminate veneers. Seventy-eight sound maxillary premolars were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 13) based on preparation design and thickness: BC3 (0.3 mm buccal reduction), BR3 (same as BC3 with composite resin restoration filling the lesion), BRO3 (same as BR3 and 1 mm occlusal reduction for buccal cusp slopes), BC5, BR5, and BRO5; prepared as contralateral groups but with buccal reduction of 0.5 mm. All specimens were restored with lithium disilicate laminate veneers, subjected to 10,000 thermocycles and 240,000 chewing cycles (49 N), and then loaded to failure at a 45° angle. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and chi-square tests (α = 0.05). There was a significant main effect of preparation design on fracture resistance (p < 0.001), whereas ceramic thickness (p = 0.470) and the interaction between design and thickness (p = 0.138) did not reach statistical significance. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the failure mode between tested groups (p < 0.001) with predominant Type II unrepairable failure in the ceramic material, leaving the tooth intact for BRO groups. All tested designs provided mean fracture resistance values within the physiological bite force range for all tested groups for the premolar region, this must be interpreted alongside the failure mode distribution. BC and BR preparation designs demonstrated a clinically meaningful rate of catastrophic Type IV root fractures, whereas BRO preparations produced predominant cohesive ceramic failure Type II. The thickness of the lithium disilicate laminate veneers, whether 0.3 or 0.5 mm, did not significantly affect fracture resistance or failure patterns.
We report on the translational dynamics of ions in fluorine-free gels prepared using a flexible lithium salt comprising a (2-methoxyethoxy)acetate (MEA) anion, ethylene glycol (EG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). 1H and 7Li Pulsed-Field-Gradient (PFG) NMR were performed on thin (0.2 mm) and thick (0.7 mm) films of the gels at different orientations with respect to the external magnetic field and magnetic gradients. Two diffusional decay components are observed: a slow mode linked to PVA network oscillations and a fast mode from mobile ions with diffusivities up to three orders of magnitude higher. It is found that Li+ cations are not directly bound to the network, but they have a distribution of diffusion coefficients. A similar trend is observed for diffusivities of the organic anion, (MEA), revealed from the fast component of diffusional decays in 1H PFG NMR. The diffusivities of ions have an orientational dependence on the films and are higher in thick films in the normal orientation with respect to the external magnetic field. The temperature dependence of Li+ diffusivities does follow the Arrhenius behavior. An interesting observation is that an elongation of the gel films by stretching reduces Li+ cation diffusivities and leads to broadening of the 7Li NMR resonance lines, suggesting that the transport properties of the ions are strongly governed by the structural constraints and internal stresses in the gel network.
Spin-coated polymer films store molecular recoiling stress in kinetically trapped chain conformations, providing an extra driving force for dewetting beyond capillarity. I develop an analytical framework connecting this preparation-induced nonequilibrium stress, continuum viscoelastic thin-film hydrodynamics, and the activity-enhanced elasticity of active entangled polymer melts containing flexible chains. Activity generates grip forces at entanglement junctions, enhancing the elastic plateau by (1 + α)-where α is the activity parameter, growing linearly with chain length and Péclet number-and opening a fast grip-force relaxation channel on the timescale τg ∼ L, far shorter than the reptation time τd ∼ L3. The molecular recoiling stress decays biexponentially: the fast grip channel releases on τg, while the slow channel relaxes on the segmental timescale τeff ≪ τd, set by conformational rearrangements within the spin-cast film rather than by whole-chain reptation. Dewetting hole growth in all three rim-geometry regimes obeys Rp = KpΦact(t) with the same integrated active stress function Φact; the early-stage small-hole regime gives exponent n ≈ 1, consistent with polystyrene film experiments. Four unambiguous activity signatures emerge: a biexponential decay in sequential hole nucleation velocities with a kink at tinc ∼ τg and slow slope measuring τeff; a reversed morphological fingerprint in which both rim height and rim width are suppressed-because activity raises both the hole growth driving stress and the restoring modulus by the same factor (1 + α); a double maximum in the rim-width time trace above a universal activity threshold α > e2 ≈ 7.4, with the first peak Wmax,1 = [(1 + α)τg/τd]2/3 < 1 and the second peak recovering the passive value exactly for all α via the algebraic identity (1 - f)(1 + α) = 1; and a shift in slip length from bpass ∼ L3 to bact ∼ L2, reducing the rim width by a factor L2/3.
The shape of dispersed phase particles is an important factor that influences the properties of composites and suspensions. Plate-like particles have attracted great attention in the development of high-performance electro-responsive electrorheological (ER) suspensions due to their unique shape. However, how the plate-like shape influence the ER effect remains unclear because very few suitable electro-active particles with different shapes but the same volume and chemical structure are available. This limits the material design. Herein, we prepared oblate poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) spheroids with different plate-like shape parameters (axial ratio, q) by uniaxial thermomechanical squeezing of uniform spherical PIL particles with high ER activity. Because no chemical reaction is involved and identical spherical PIL particles are used as precursor, the oblate PIL spheroids have the same chemical composition and structure, the same particle volume and density, uniform size and shape, leaving the plate-like shape or q as the sole factor influencing the ER effect. Under electric fields, we investigated the ER effect of the suspensions of the oblate PIL spheroids and compared it with that of their spherical and rod-like prolate counterparts. The results showed that the ER effect of the oblate PIL spheroids increases as q decreases. The ER effect of the oblate PIL spheroids with low shape anisotropy is still higher than that of their spherical counterpart. This is different from the behavior of prolate PIL spheroids with low shape anisotropy, which show a lower ER effect than their spherical counterpart. Based on dielectric spectroscopy and microscopic structure observations, we analyzed the mechanism underlying the influence of the plate-like shape on the ER effect and its difference from that of the rod-like shape.
To standardize the in-house radiolabeling procedure of [161Tb]Tb-DOTATATE and to assess its physicochemical characteristics to facilitate the clinical application of somatostatin receptor-targeted radionuclide therapy. [161Tb]Tb-DOTATATE was prepared by reconstituting DOTATATE in sodium acetate buffer (pH 4.5), along with ascorbic acid as a radio-stabilizer. The mixture was then incubated for 1 h at 100 °C. The radiochemical yield and radiochemical purity (RCP) of the final product were determined using radio-thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and radio-HPLC. Radionuclide identification was confirmed by high-purity germanium (HPGe) spectroscopy. In addition, the labeled product partition coefficient (log Po/w) and in-vitro plasma protein binding (PPB) were also tested. The in-vitro stability of the product was studied in saline and human serum using instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC) methods for up to 7 days. Heating time affected the radiolabeling yield, which was greater than 99% at 1 h and 40% at 30 min in a dry bath. The RCP obtained was greater than 99% as measured by the radio TLC scanner using the ITLC method. HPGe spectroscopy confirmed the radionuclide identity. The radiolabeled product exhibits good hydrophilicity, acceptable PPB, and stable in-vitro behavior in both saline and human serum for up to 7 days. The radiolabeling protocol produced high-quality, reproducible [161Tb]Tb-DOTATATE with excellent physicochemical properties. This validates the feasibility of in-house production of [161Tb]Tb-DOTATATE and provides a basis for future preclinical and clinical research into its therapeutic potential.
Despite advances in lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory medications, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent studies have identified the gut microbiota as a key modulator of cardiovascular health via the gut-heart axis. This review investigates the molecular processes by which microbial metabolites affect atherogenesis. Proatherogenic substances like trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), which are produced from dietary precursors through gut microbial and hepatic metabolism, aggravate foam cell production, platelet aggregation, and vascular inflammation. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate and propionate, have been shown to protect against atherosclerosis by activating G-protein-coupled receptors, regulating gene expression, and improving endothelial function. Additionally, secondary bile acids, tryptophan derivatives, and phenylacetylglutamine have emerged as important microbial metabolites involved in vascular disease. The review also summarizes various therapeutic strategies such as use of probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, precision microbiome editing (using bacteriophages and CRISPR-Cas systems), and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for targeting gut-heart axis. Multi-omic systems combined with artificial intelligence can now detect disease-specific microbial signatures, improving risk stratification and paving the way for precision microbiome-based therapeutics. However, challenges such as determining causality, regulatory intricacies, and inter-individual variability in host-microbiome interactions remain. Despite these obstacles, the gut-heart axis provides a disruptive paradigm in preventive cardiology by emphasizing tailored microbiome therapies as a complement to traditional ASCVD care.
Hypoadrenocorticism in cats is a rare endocrine disorder that should be considered in patients presenting with vague, intermittent, or waxing and waning clinical signs. Chronic gastrointestinal signs, poor growth, or episodes of hypovolemic shock should raise clinical suspicion. British Shorthair cats may be overrepresented among affected cats, and clinicians should be particularly alert when this breed presents with compatible signs. Definitive diagnosis requires an ACTH stimulation test, which should be performed prior to the initiation of any glucocorticoid treatment to avoid diagnostic interference. In clinically stable cats, baseline cortisol measurement may be used as an initial screening tool. However, as no feline-specific thresholds have been validated, the commonly used cut-off of >2 µg/dL (>55 nmol/L) to rule out hypoadrenocorticism should be interpreted with caution, as it may be less reliable than in dogs. Long-term management involves lifelong glucocorticoid replacement, typically using oral prednisolone. Cats generally require higher maintenance doses than dogs to maintain clinical stability. Mineralocorticoid deficiency is managed with subcutaneous administration of an extended-release desoxycorticosterone preparation (Zycortal®) given monthly at a starting dose of 2,2 mg/kg - substantially higher than canine doses. As an alternative, daily oral fludrocortisone acetate (Florinef® or Astonin®H) could be used at 0,01-0,02 mg/kg/day in selected cases. Regular monitoring of sodium and potassium levels is essential to adjust mineralocorticoid dosages and optimize treatment. Because affected cats cannot mount an adequate stress response, additional glucocorticoid supplementation («glucocorticoid boost») is required during stressful situations or concurrent illness. Owners must be educated about the signs of adrenal crisis, which can be more subtle and difficult to recognize in cats compared to dogs. Emphasis should be placed on consistent medication administration and routine veterinary monitoring to ensure long-term disease control and quality of life. Hypoadrenokortizismus bei Katzen: Neue Erkenntnisse zu klinischen Merkmalen, Diagnose und Behandlung Der Hypoadrenokortizismus ist eine seltene Endokrino­pathie der Katzen, an die bei unspezifischen, intermittierenden oder schubweise auftretenden klinischen Symptomen gedacht werden sollte. Bei chronischen gastrointestinalen Beschwerden, mangelnder Gewichtszunahme oder wiederkehrenden Episoden eines hypovolämischen Schocks sollte an einen Hypoadrenokortizismus als Verdachtsdiagnose gedacht werden. Britisch-Kurzhaar-Katzen könnten überrepräsentiert sein, weshalb bei dieser Rasse bei entsprechenden Symptomen besondere Aufmerksamkeit geboten ist. Die definitive Diagnose erfordert einen ACTH-Stimula­tionstest, der vor Beginn einer Glukokortikoidtherapie durchgeführt werden muss, um diagnostische Verfälschungen zu vermeiden. Bei klinisch stabilen Katzen kann die Messung des basalen Cortisolspiegels als initialer Screening-Test herange­zogen werden. Da jedoch bislang keine katzenspezifischen Schwellenwerte validiert wurden, sollte der häufig verwendete Grenzwert zum Ausschluss eines Hypoadrenokortizismus von >2 µg/dL (>55 nmol/L) mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden, da er möglicherweise weniger zuverlässig ist als beim Hund. Die Langzeittherapie umfasst eine lebenslange Glukokortikoidsubstitution, typischerweise mit oral verabreichtem Prednisolon. Katzen benötigen im Vergleich zu Hunden in der Regel höhere Erhaltungsdosen, um eine klinische Stabilität zu erreichen. Der Mineralokortikoidmangel wird durch eine monatliche subkutane Injektion des Depotpräparats Desoxycorti­costeron (Zycortal®) in einer Anfangsdosis von 2,2 mg/kg behandelt; diese Startdosis liegt deutlich über der für den Hund empfohlenen Dosis. Alternativ könnte eine tägliche orale Gabe von Fludrocortisonacetat (Florinef® oder Astonin®H) in einer Dosis von 0,01–0,02 mg/kg/Tag erfolgen. Die regelmässige Kontrolle der Natrium- und Kaliumwerte ist essenziell, um die Mineralokortikoiddosis individuell anzupassen und die Therapie zu optimieren. Da betroffene Katzen keine adäquate Stressreaktion entwickeln können, ist während Stresssituationen oder begleitender Erkrankungen eine zusätzliche Glukokortikoidgabe («Glukokortikoid-Boost») erforderlich. Besitzer sollten umfassend über die Anzeichen einer Nebennieren-Krise aufgeklärt werden, die bei Katzen subtiler und schwieriger zu erkennen sein kann als bei Hunden. Eine konsequente Medikamentengabe und regelmässige tierärztliche Kontrollen sind entscheidend für eine langfristige Krankheitskontrolle und eine gute Lebensqualität. L’hypoadrénocorticisme chez le chat est un trouble endocrinien rare qu’il convient d’envisager chez les patients présentant des signes cliniques vagues, intermittents ou fluctuants. Des signes gastro-intestinaux chroniques, un retard de croissance ou des épisodes de choc hypovolémique doivent éveiller la suspicion clinique. Les chats British Shorthair pourraient être surreprésentés parmi les chats atteints et les cliniciens doivent être particulièrement vigilants lorsque cette race présente des signes compatibles. Le diagnostic définitif nécessite un test de stimulation à l’ACTH, qui doit être réalisé avant le début de tout traitement aux glucocorticoïdes afin d’éviter toute interférence diagnostique. Chez les chats cliniquement stables, la mesure de la cortisolémie de base peut servir d’outil de dépistage initial. Cependant, comme aucun seuil spécifique aux félins n’a été validé, la valeur seuil couramment utilisée de 2 µg/dL (55 nmol/L) pour exclure l’hypoadrénocorticisme doit être interprétée avec prudence, car elle peut être moins fiable que chez les chiens. La prise en charge à long terme implique un traitement substitutif à vie par glucocorticoïdes, généralement sous forme de prednisolone par voie orale. Les chats nécessitent généralement des doses d’entretien plus élevées que les chiens pour maintenir une stabilité clinique. La déficience en minéralocorticoïdes est traitée par l’administration sous-cutanée d’une préparation de désoxycorticostérone à libération prolongée (Zycortal®) administrée mensuellement à une dose initiale de 2,2 mg/kg – nettement supérieure aux doses canines. À titre d’alternative, l’acétate de fludrocortisone (Florinef® ou Astonin®H) peut être administré par voie orale à raison de 0,01 à 0,02 mg/kg/jour dans certains cas. Une surveillance régulière des taux de sodium et de potassium est essentielle pour ajuster les doses de minéralocorticoïdes et optimiser le traitement. Les chats atteints étant incapables de mettre en place une réponse adéquate au stress, une supplémentation supplémentaire en glucocorticoïdes («boost glucocorticoïde») est nécessaire lors de situations stressantes ou en cas de maladie concomitante. Les propriétaires doivent être informés des signes de crise surrénale, qui peuvent être plus subtils et difficiles à reconnaître chez les chats que chez les chiens. L’accent doit être mis sur l’administration régulière des médicaments et un suivi vétérinaire de routine afin d’assurer le contrôle à long terme de la maladie et la qualité de vie. L’ipoadrenocorticismo è un’endocrinopatia rara nei gatti, che dovrebbe essere presa in considerazione in presenza di sintomi clinici aspecifici, intermittenti o ricorrenti. Nei casi di disturbi gastrointestinali cronici, mancato aumento di peso o episodi ricorrenti di shock ipovolemico, l’ipoadrenocorticismo dovrebbe essere incluso tra le diagnosi differenziali. I gatti di razza British Shorthair potrebbero essere sovrarappresentati, pertanto in questa razza è necessaria particolare attenzione in presenza di sintomi compatibili. La diagnosi definitiva richiede un test di stimolazione con ACTH, che deve essere eseguito prima dell’inizio della terapia con glucocorticoidi per evitare interferenze diagnostiche. Nei gatti clinicamente stabili, la misurazione del cortisolo basale può essere utilizzata come test di screening iniziale. Tuttavia, poiché non sono ancora stati validati valori soglia specifici per il gatto, il valore comunemente utilizzato per escludere l’ipoadrenocorticismo di 2 µg/dL (55 nmol/L) deve essere interpretato con cautela, in quanto potrebbe essere meno affidabile rispetto al cane. La terapia a lungo termine prevede una sostituzione glucocorticoidea per tutta la vita, generalmente con prednisolone somministrato per via orale. Rispetto ai cani, i gatti richiedono solitamente dosi di mantenimento più elevate per raggiungere una stabilità clinica. Il deficit di mineralocorticoidi viene trattato con un’iniezione sottocutanea mensile del preparato depot desossicorticosterone (Zycortal®) a una dose iniziale di 2,2 mg/kg; tale dose è significativamente più alta rispetto a quella raccomandata per il cane. In alternativa, si può utilizzare la somministrazione orale quotidiana di fludrocortisone acetato (Florinef® o Astonin® H) alla dose di 0,01–0,02 mg/kg/die. Il monitoraggio regolare dei livelli di sodio e potassio è essenziale per adattare individualmente la dose di mineralocorticoidi e ottimizzare la terapia. Poiché i gatti affetti non sono in grado di sviluppare una risposta adeguata allo stress, durante situazioni stressanti o malattie concomitanti è necessaria una somministrazione aggiuntiva di glucocorticoidi («boost» glucocorticoideo). I proprietari devono essere adeguatamente informati sui segni di una crisi surrenalica, che nei gatti può essere più subdola e difficile da riconoscere rispetto ai cani. Una somministrazione costante dei farmaci e controlli veterinari regolari sono fondamentali per garantire un buon controllo della malattia e una qualità di vita soddisfacente.
The recent advances in Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), from task-specific assistants to autonomous agentic artificial intelligence (AI) are changing how research is conceived, conducted, and written. Across this spectrum AI can now assist with literature searches and synthesis, protocol drafting, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation, particularly in computational domains. Yet AI outputs remain error-prone, opaque, and carry real stakes for patients, learners, and equitable outcomes, making strong foundational research skills more important than ever. This article offers practical guidance for medical educators responsible for research training in an AI-augmented environment. Drawing on published work on biomedical research competencies and emerging scholarship on AI in medical education, and our own experience, twelve tips are organized around three themes: understanding the changing AI landscape, protecting non-delegable human responsibilities, and teaching new AI-era competencies. AI-augmented research does not reduce the need for research education; it changes which skills deserve the most attention. Medical curricula should now emphasize critical appraisal, ethical reasoning, verification of AI outputs, and assessment strategies that distinguish independent mastery from AI-assisted performance.