There was no previous investigation regarding dietary sodium, sugar, and trans fatty acids (TFAs) in relation to odds of male infertility. We aimed to address this knowledge gap by evaluating the association of dietary sodium, sugar, and TFAs with infertility among Iranian men. This was a population-based case-control study on 600 Iranian men aged 20 to 55 yr (300 infertile and 300 fertile men), inhabited in Isfahan in 2024. Cases were picked from newly-diagnosed men seeking fertility care at main infertility centers in Isfahan. A validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire was applied to evaluate sodium, sugar, and TFAs intake over the past year. After adjustments for all potential confounders, men in the highest quartile of sodium had 71% higher odds (OR Q4 vs. Q1 = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.05-2.80) and those in the third tertile of TFAs had 78% higher odds (OR T3 vs. T1 = 1.78, 95%CI: 1.03-3.05) of infertility compared to their references. Although no significant association was observed between sugar intake and infertility in the total study population, there was a significant association in this regard among men with normal-weight (OR Q4 vs. Q1 = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.38-8.72). Unexpectedly, participants with overweight or obesity in third (OR Q4 vs. Q1 = 0.54, 95%CI: 0.30-0.98) and fourth quartile (OR Q4 vs. Q1 = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.28-0.99) of sugar were less likely to be infertile, compared to the first category. Our study suggested substantial associations between dietary sodium and TFAs and odds of male infertility, with the contribution of overall diet quality. Similar finding was obtained regarding the association of sugar intake and infertility among men with a normal weight.
While dietary factors are known to be associated with the development and progression of psoriasis, their effect on treatment efficacy remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the influence of tea consumption, sugar drinks, and high-fat foods on the treatment response in psoriasis. We undertook a prospective cohort study comprising 559 patients with psoriasis from Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital between 2022 and 2024. Data on demographics, lifestyle (including tea, sugary drinks, and high-fat food consumption), and disease severity (PASI, BSA, PGA) were collected via structured questionnaires at baseline, week 4, and week 8. The primary endpoints were the proportions of patients achieving PASI 50 responses at week 8. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol, and treatment regimen. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 software. In the psoriasis cohort (mean age 48.5 years; 73.2% male), 37.1% and 68.7% of patients consumed sugar drinks and high-fat foods ≥2 times/week, respectively. Frequent sugar drinks consumption (≥4 times/week) was independently associated with significantly reduced odds of achieving PASI 50 (adjusted OR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.08-0.75) and PASI 75 (adjusted OR=0.27, 95% CI: 0.07-1.00) at week 8. Moderate intake of high-fat foods (2-3 times/week) showed an inverse, borderline significant association with PASI 50 at week 4 (adjusted OR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.45-1.00). Tea consumption showed a non-significant association with treatment response (e.g, week 8 PASI 50 adjusted OR=1.44, 95% CI: 0.88-2.35), warranting further investigation in larger cohorts. This study demonstrates that high consumption of sugar drinks and high-fat foods is associated with suboptimal treatment response in psoriasis. Tea consumption was not significantly associated with treatment outcomes, although further investigation with larger cohorts may be warranted. These findings highlight the importance of integrating dietary assessment and counseling into comprehensive psoriasis management.
This study investigates and compares the sustainability of autumn and spring sugar beet production systems in Khorasan Razavi Province using emergy indicators. The primary objective of this research is to determine the environmental pressure exerted on the agricultural ecosystem by each system and to compare their reliance on renewable and non-renewable resources. Data on inputs and outputs of the autumn and spring sugar beet production systems were collected through two methods: face-to-face interviews and field surveys, as well as direct observations by the researchers. The total emergy input for the autumn and spring sugar beet systems was calculated as 2.93E + 16 and 3.28E + 16 sej (solar emjoules), respectively. Analysis of emergy indicators revealed that the majority of emergy inputs in both systems rely heavily on non-renewable resources, particularly groundwater, with groundwater accounting for 27.98% of the total emergy input in autumn systems and 34.40% in spring systems. The environmental sustainability index for both production systems was less than one, indicating weak sustainability. The standard and modified environmental loading ratios for the autumn sugar beet system were 110.88 and 20.11, respectively, while for the spring system, they were 209.82 and 26.46. The results of this study demonstrate that spring production systems impose greater environmental pressure on the agricultural ecosystem compared to autumn systems and exhibit lower sustainability. Although spring systems yield higher production per unit area, this comes at the cost of increased consumption of non-renewable resources. These findings underscore the necessity for optimal resource management and enhanced productivity in spring systems to mitigate environmental impacts. The results provide evidence-based guidance for policymakers and farmers in semi-arid regions.
Geographic authentication of refined sugar remains a major challenge in food analysis due to its exceptionally high purity and limited compositional diversity. In this study, a fragment-resolved stable isotope framework was developed to enable reliable origin discrimination without reliance on complex chemometric or machine-learning models. Using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry, sucrose-derived molecular fragments and their isotope-substituted counterparts were systematically resolved, yielding eight structurally meaningful isotope ratios (Rx). These fragment-level indicators exhibited stable and region-specific distributions across four major sugar-producing regions in China and provided substantially enhanced discriminatory power compared with conventional bulk δ13C analysis. Based on the Rx features, an interpretable μ ± σ interval-based model was established and successfully applied to the authentication of market samples. The proposed approach offers an interpretable, practical, and robust analytical strategy for refined sugar authentication and has potential utility in food quality control and traceability applications.
The biocatalytic conversion of green methanol, a promising feedstock, into high value-added products is seen as an attractive way to establish sustainable biomanufacturing. Although natural and engineered microorganisms can utilize methanol, efficiently converting C1 carbon into valuable chemicals in growing cells remains challenging because non-native pathways often suffer from low carbon utilization and limited catalytic stability. Here, we report the integration of an engineered enzyme cascade into resting cells and its coupling with a screened alcohol oxidase enzyme to develop an efficient and stable enzyme-resting cell cascade system for methanol conversion, achieving customizable production of L-erythrulose (C4 sugar) or L-sorbose (C6 sugar). This system shows a stimulated carbon atom economy for L-erythrulose production from methanol and significantly improved stability compared to free enzyme catalysis. By integrating enzyme cascades with durable resting cells, this strategy provides a versatile platform for converting methanol and other C1 substrates into value-added products.
A 6-year-old, intact female sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) presented for evaluation after experiencing progressive weight loss and lethargy. Sedated examination revealed a firm, 7-mm wide marsupium mass, and surgery was pursued after cytology results suggested epithelial malignancy. The patient's entire marsupium was surgically excised, and biopsy of the associated tumor revealed a primary mammary adenocarcinoma without vascular infiltration. Preoperative and postoperative antibiotics and meloxicam were used to decrease inflammation and infection following the procedure. At the 6- and 12-month recheck examinations, the initial patient was well-muscled and energetic with no signs of neoplastic recurrence. Case 1 had confirmed disease-free survival at 12 months. A second 6-year-old, intact female sugar glider presented for surgical consultation following the fine-needle aspiration of a bilobular marsupium mass. Analogous surgical protocols were implemented with the second patient. Subsequent biopsy revealed neoplastic epithelial cells consistent with a mammary adenocarcinoma. No local recurrence or disease progression has been reported for the second patient following the operation. Case 2 had owner-reported well-being at 11 months without clinical re-examination. To the authors' knowledge, these cases represent the first reported survival beyond 11 months following surgical treatment of mammary adenocarcinoma in P. breviceps, though long-term recurrence risk remains unknown.
The effective treatment of infection is hindered by the difficulty in simultaneously controlling bacterial burden and supporting tissue repair. Herein, a composite hydrogel system is developed by integrating a sugar-induced bacterial secretome (BS), derived from the living probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 in a state of overflow metabolism, into a collagen-based hydrogel network. Transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic analyses reveal pronounced metabolic reprogramming under arabinose induction, leading to a reshaped extracellular secretome profile, with BS displaying stable and reproducible antibacterial activity. Functional evaluations demonstrate the in vitro broad-spectrum inhibitory activity of BS against multiple pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with antibacterial effects more likely associated with the coordinated action of multiple components rather than by a single active molecule. The incorporation of BS into the collagen hydrogel enables localized retention and sustained bioactivity while preserving favorable cytocompatibility, effectively supporting the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and fibroblasts. In a mixed bacterial infection model, the resulting hydrogel (HAMA/BS@Col) significantly reduces the bacterial burden and enhances tissue regeneration. Overall, this work highlights BS as a functional antibacterial entity and develops a materials-based strategy that integrates infection control with regenerative support for the treatment of infection.
BackgroundHigh-sugar, high-fat diets (HSDFD) can lead to hepatic dysfunction, but the molecular mechanisms underlying protective compounds like sesamin remain unclear MethodsWe employed a multi-faceted approach combining in silico and in vivo techniques. Utilizing the AlphaFold database, we screened multi-species proteomes to identify potential sesamin targets. Molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA analysis were used to characterize sesamin-protein interactions. In vivo studies included single-cell RNA sequencing of hepatocytes from HSDFD-fed mice. We validated our findings using cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA), drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assays, Western blotting, and qPCR. ResultsHSDFD induced significant redistribution of hepatocyte subpopulations with high CYP1A2 abundance. Computational analysis identified CYP1A2 as a direct target of sesamin, with species-specific interaction patterns. Sesamin exhibited stable binding to CYP1A2, modulating its activity through subtle conformational changes. Key residues F451 and I386 were crucial for sesamin's regulation of CYP1A2-mediated ROS production. Sesamin supplementation ameliorated HSDFD-induced hepatic dysfunction by modulating fatty acid metabolism and oxidative stress responses. ConclusionOur study unveils CYP1A2 as a key molecular target of sesamin in HSDFD-induced hepatic dysfunction, providing new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for metabolic liver disorders.
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Quality defects in chocolate can be classified as physicochemical quality problems and structural instability (blooming). Both problems can be detected after production and generally take time to become visible. Therefore, early detection tools are necessary to prevent economic losses in the food industry. In this study, FTIR spectra collected at different stages of manufacturing were combined into spectral patterns to predict future quality defects, such as physicochemical defects (improper water activity, color, whiteness index, and hardness) and structural instability (fat and sugar bloom), using chemometrics. Accordingly, for uniform and defective chocolate production, five different conching processes, three different tempering processes, and two different cooling processes were used, and the samples were stored at 15°C, 20°C, and 28°C. To evaluate the defective samples, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy, visual appearance tests for structural instability, and physicochemical analyses were conducted. Results showed that storage at 28°C caused fat bloom in all samples, regardless of processing. Therefore, to evaluate the effects of production parameters on fat bloom, 20°C samples were used in partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models using spectral pattern. On the other hand, sugar bloom just appeared in the samples stored at 15°C, which were used for sugar bloom prediction PLS-DA models. Although fat and sugar bloom required time (4-8 months), physicochemical defects (unsuitable water activity, hardness, and color) appeared even in new production. PLS-DA models can predict these defects in new production, as well as formation of fat and sugar bloom during storage with 100% sensitivity and specificity in prediction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The chocolate industry can use this FTIR-based early prediction approach to reduce discarded products and economic losses and to improve the final product quality in the production line. This practical solution can be extended to different food matrices for monitoring of food production.
Fruit metabolism is highly sensitive to environmental variations, with climate change disrupting processes that determine fruit composition and quality. In grapes, elevated temperatures increase sugar accumulation but reduce anthocyanin levels as co-occurring responses under heat stress, leading to imbalances that affect wine typicality. To explore sugar signaling and its interaction with abscisic acid (ABA) in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic and phenotypic analysis using a "Gamay Fréaux" (GT) cell suspension model. Treatments included ABA combined with varying glucose concentrations, glucose analogs, and hexokinase inhibitors. High glucose levels increased anthocyanin concentration by 13.2% compared to low glucose levels, whereas exogenous ABA induced far stronger increases of 108.4% and 94.4% under low- and high-glucose conditions, respectively, relative to ABA-free controls. Additionally, mannose contributed to sugar signaling, with sugar-induced anthocyanin accumulation dependent on hexokinase-mediated phosphorylation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that while ABA strongly upregulated anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, the effect of glucose on these genes was modest. Notably, 3OM treatment induced upregulation of several structural genes but resulted in reduced anthocyanin accumulation, suggesting regulation primarily through post-transcriptional mechanisms and additional factors influencing post-translational control. By developing an open-source GT-transcriptome analysis tool and integrating it with anthocyanin quantification, we identified VviCIPK25 as a candidate gene whose expression correlates with anthocyanin accumulation in response ABA, and which may respond indirectly to sugar-induced phosphorylation status. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptomic resource for understanding anthocyanin regulation in grape cell suspensions and identifies VviCIPK25 as a candidate gene for future functional studies. Our findings also highlight the importance of post-transcriptional regulation in anthocyanin biosynthesis, as transcriptional changes do not always predict phenotypic outcomes.
Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) are central to plant carbon metabolism, acting as critical buffers that regulate tree growth and survival under environmental stress. In semiarid regions, increasing hydroclimatic variability poses significant challenges to forest sustainability. However, whether different NSC components (soluble sugars vs. starch) across distinct organs (aboveground vs. belowground) exhibit consistent relationships with tree growth and post-drought resilience remains poorly understood. We quantified soluble sugar and starch concentrations in leaves, branches, stems, and roots of four coexisting tree species in the Saihanwula Nature Reserve during the growing season. Principal component analysis, hierarchical partitioning, and linear mixed-effects models were combined with tree-ring-derived growth and drought resilience indices to evaluate the relationships between organ-specific NSC composition, radial growth, and drought resilience. We observed clear interspecific differences in NSC composition and drought resilience traits among the four coexisting tree species. Organ-specific NSC composition was more strongly associated with radial growth than with drought resilience. Within these relationships, organ-specific NSCs were explained as distinct functional specialization. Fine-root starch associated positively with radial growth and growth stability. Conversely, starch accumulation in stems was negatively associated with structural growth, strongly corroborating a growth-storage trade-off. In particular, readily metabolizable branch soluble sugars positively associated with post-drought growth recovery and hydraulic repairment following extreme water deficit. Our results suggested that NSC composition differed substantially among organs and species in this semiarid forest ecosystem. Soluble sugars and starch exhibited contrasting relationships with tree growth and drought resilience across aboveground and belowground organs. These findings highlight the importance of considering organ-specific NSC components separately when evaluating tree growth responses and drought resilience under increasing climate variability.
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, and serotyping is important to assess the burden of disease that is vaccine preventable. For serotyping, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) use a series of 12 real-time multiplex PCRs (rmPCRs) performed in quadruplex reactions; however, rmPCR reaction 5 (rmPCR-5) for serotypes 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D often failed at low DNA concentrations. This study investigated the cause of rmPCR-5 failure and provided alternative rmPCRs to resolve this issue. Quadruplex rmPCR target sequences were compared to S. pneumoniae reference genomes. Reactions rmPCR-5 [6ABCD, 6AB, 6BD, and 6CD] and rm-PCR-11 [37, 10F, 11BC, and 18CFBA] were compared to alternative reactions rmPCR-A1 [6ABCD, 10F, 11BC, and 18CFBA] and rmPCR-A2 [37, 6AB, 6BD, and 6CD]. All rmPCRs were tested using 10-fold serial dilutions of DNA from representative serotypes, and analytical specificity was assessed using DNA from other S. pneumoniae serotypes or various streptococci and Gram-positive cocci. Failure of rmPCR-5 was associated with overlapping 6ABCD and 6BD targets. Separation of these targets in the alternative rmPCRs-A1 and rmPCR-A2 allowed sensitive and specific detection and discrimination of serotypes 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D, without impacting the detection of serotypes 10F, 11BC, 18CFBA, and 37. This study highlights the importance of rigorous author and peer-review to avoid manuscript errors and unintended consequences. By explaining what caused rmPCR-5 failure and proposing alternative reactions rmPCRs-A1 and rmPCR-A2, this study demonstrates the value of scientific collaboration to ensure molecular assays best serve the scientific community. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that can cause life-threatening infections like pneumonia and meningitis, leading to millions of deaths worldwide each year. A key feature enabling S. pneumoniae to cause disease is its sugar coating, allowing it to avoid the immune system. These surface sugars are the target of S. pneumoniae vaccines. However, vaccines only protect against some sugars and understanding which ones are on the surface of S. pneumoniae is called "serotyping." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have protocols that allow us to predict S. pneumoniae serotypes by looking at its DNA. We found errors in the CDC protocols and provided a simple solution to fix them. Ultimately, having accurate serotyping protocols allows us to know how much disease is preventable by vaccine, allows us to monitor how well vaccine are working, and helps develop new vaccines if needed.
Cenchrus pauciflorus Benth. (field sandbur) is a highly invasive weed with strong drought tolerance. However, the contribution of seed-associated endophytes to its stress adaptation remains unclear. This study investigated whether seed endophytes enhance drought tolerance and growth in C. pauciflorus, with particular emphasis on microbial exopolysaccharide (EPS)-mediated mechanisms. A dominant seed endophyte, Kosakonia cowanii ZX1-2, was isolated and characterized for drought tolerance, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, and EPS synthesis. Its effects on seed germination, seedling growth, and drought responses of C. pauciflorus were evaluated using Petri dish and pot experiments under PEG-6000-induced osmotic stress. Antioxidant enzyme activities and EPS sugar composition were also analyzed. Strain ZX1-2 maintained stable growth under 14% PEG-6000 stress and produced 22.23 mg/L IAA. Under drought stress, ZX1-2 inoculation increased germination energy, root-to-shoot ratio, root length, and fresh weight by 72%, 46%, 62%, and 67%, respectively. In pot experiments under drought stress, ZX1-2 increased plant height, stem diameter, root length, and biomass by 34%, 47%, 40%, and 183%, respectively. EPS treatments further promoted growth. In the seed experiment, two-fold-diluted EPS increased germination rate, germination energy, root length, and shoot length by 75%, 61%, 188%, and 113%, respectively. In the pot experiment, two-fold-diluted EPS increased plant height, stem diameter, root length, and biomass by 40%, 201%, 54%, and 70%, respectively. EPS application also enhanced CAT, POD, and SOD activities and increased soluble protein and proline accumulation. Targeted sugar profiling detected 19 EPS-associated sugars, among which inositol, D-( +)-trehalose, maltose, and D-(-)-fructose were dominant. These findings suggest that K. cowanii ZX1-2 may enhance drought tolerance and growth in C. pauciflorus, and that EPS-associated changes in antioxidant defense and osmotic-related metabolites may contribute to this effect. This study provides evidence for a seed endophyte-driven mechanism that may contribute to the drought adaptation and invasion success of C. pauciflorus under increasingly arid conditions.
Heightened biological and sociocultural vulnerability among adolescent girls places them at increased risk of malnutrition in The Gambia, as elsewhere. This cross-sectional study therefore aimed to explore food consumption and nutrient intakes comparing urban and rural and nutritional status groups, providing novel data for The Gambia. Adolescent girls aged 10-19 years from urban or rural communities took part in the study. Participants completed a questionnaire collecting socio-demographic information. Anthropometric measurements were obtained to derive body mass index-for-age and height-for-age z-scores, and nutritional status (stunting, underweight, and overweight). Dietary intake was assessed using two interviewer-administered multiple-pass 24-hour dietary recalls. A total of 208 adolescent girls participated in the study. The diets of those in urban areas featured frequent consumption of processed cereals, sandwiches, and meat-based stews. By contrast, traditional porridges and fish-based stews predominated in the diets of rural participants. Overall, diets in both groups were energy-dense, but low in fruit and vegetables (180 g per day, on average), fibre and iron. Excess fat and carbohydrate as a percentage of energy intake featured in the diets of both groups. Despite greater intakes among the urban compared to rural adolescents for vitamin A (222 vs. 164 µg per day), vitamin D (2 vs. 1 µg) and calcium (390 vs. 289 mg), deficiencies were evident for both urban and rural participants. Higher intakes of free sugars among urban adolescents, inadequate vitamin C intakes among rural adolescents, and (in the context of deficient intakes overall) lower calcium intakes among adolescent girls who were stunted compared to those who were not (325 vs. 367 mg; p = 0.018), were also notable disparities. White rice provided nearly half of total energy intake, and nearly 40% of daily protein across settings. The predominance of sugar-sweetened beverages, and the importance of traditional sweetened drinks as a source of vitamin C, is also a notable concern. This study describes similarities and differences in urban and rural diets in The Gambia, with nutritional inequalities evident in both settings. The findings are context-specific and descriptive, but are likely to resonate with other West African contexts and underscore the need for targeted intervention strategies to address malnutrition among adolescent girls.
This study covers critical aspects of honey quality and safety assessment, including elemental profile, heavy metal content, and sugar authenticity, which have not previously been reported across all four governorates of Kurdistan. Forty-nine samples were collected from Erbil, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, and Halabja and analyzed for physicochemical and colorimetric properties; a subset of 20 samples, selected for their high bioactive compound content and antioxidant activity in preliminary screening, was further analyzed by HPLC sugar profiling and ICP-OES elemental analysis, with Manuka honey used as a reference standard. The concentration of proline in Halabja honeys, 191 ± 26 mg/kg (mean), exceeded the average Codex authenticity threshold, while lead in one Duhok sample (0.918 ± 0.004 mg/kg) exceeded the Codex limit, indicating localized contamination. The mineral range of Sulaymaniyah samples was wide (ash 0.10%-0.57 %), and Erbil samples had the highest viscosity (6,582 ± 9,428 mPa·s). Sugar profile results showed well-ripened samples (fructose/glucose ratio 1.1-1.7), though some samples showed possible adulteration. Potassium was the most abundant element (493.95-4,607.1 mg/kg). Te was consistently detected across all regions (0.374-0.632 mg/kg); however, as ICP-OES emission lines are susceptible to spectral interference, these values should be confirmed by independent analysis. The study establishes a baseline for the quality of regional honey, identifies contamination risks, and demonstrates that the majority of sampled honeys meet Codex physicochemical and safety standards, while identifying localized heavy metal contamination risks and emphasizing the need for botanical authentication. Findings from the HPLC and ICP-OES subset should be interpreted as descriptive of high-bioactivity honeys rather than representative of the full sample population.
This study explored bioethanol production from Taberau lignocellulosic biomass through fungal delignification, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation using MIL-100(Fe)-immobilized yeast. The fungal pre-treatment with Coriolopsis caperata enhanced laccase activity, reaching a maximum of 520 U/L at 12 days, and significantly reduced lignin content from 20.87% to 10.92%. This reduction improved cellulose accessibility and increased the availability of fermentable sugars during hydrolysis. Enzymatic hydrolysis results showed that fungal-treated biomass produced higher reducing sugar concentrations compared to untreated and control samples, indicating effective lignin removal. Fermentation was conducted under various conditions, with optimal ethanol production achieved at a yeast dosage of 2% (w/v) and a fermentation time of 4 days, resulting in an ethanol concentration of 11.57 g/L. Characterization using FTIR, XRD, and SEM confirmed successful immobilization of yeast on MIL-100(Fe) without structural degradation. The immobilized system demonstrated improved stability and reusability compared to free yeast. The obtained ethanol concentration is within the typical range for SHF-based lignocellulosic bioethanol production. The integration of fungal pre-treatment with MOF-based immobilization provides a promising and sustainable strategy, with potential for further improvement through process optimization and alternative fermentation approaches.
The accuracy of the FreeStyle Libre 2 system in critically ill patients needing insulin therapy remains inadequately evaluated. To evaluate the clinical and numerical accuracy of continuous glucose monitoring (FreeStyle Libre 2) and capillary glucometry (StatStrip) compared with central laboratory glucose in critically ill patients requiring insulin therapy. We conducted a diagnostic accuracy study, evaluating simultaneously two index tests, the FreeStyle Libre 2 and capillary glucose, compared to the central laboratory glucose (venous or arterial) as reference standard. The study included critically ill adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with diabetes or stress hyperglycemia, requiring insulin therapy, and ventilatory or vasopressor support. Numerical accuracy was assessed using ISO 15197:2013 criteria and Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD). Clinical accuracy was evaluated using Clarke and Parkes error grid analysis. A total of 157 paired measurements were collected. FreeStyle Libre 2 showed a MARD comparable to capillary glucose (10.43% vs 7.58%; p=0.14). Neither method met ISO 15197:2013 numerical accuracy criteria. In the clinical accuracy analysis, FreeStyle Libre 2 classified 100% of measurements within zones A+B on both the Clarke and Parkes grids, whereas capillary glucose achieved 97.6% and 100%, respectively. FreeStyle Libre 2 showed numerical accuracy comparable to capillary blood glucose and consistently reliable clinical performance in critically ill patients needing insulin therapy. These results support its potential as an alternative to capillary glucose monitoring in the ICU. More studies involving a greater number of hypoglycaemic events are required to confirm its effectiveness in this critical range. People admitted to intensive care units often require regular blood sugar checks, especially when they are receiving insulin. These measurements usually require finger-prick tests or blood samples. New devices, such as the FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor, can measure glucose continuously through a small sensor placed on the skin. This provides a more complete evaluation of glucose control, and reduces the need for repeated needle sticks. In this study, we evaluated the performance of FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor in critically ill adults by comparing its readings with blood sugar measurements obtained through laboratory testing and routine bedside testing (finger-prick tests). We analyzed 157 measurements from seven patients receiving intensive care. Overall, the sensor provided results that were close enough to laboratory measurements to support most clinical decisions. These results suggest that the FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor could be a useful tool for monitoring glucose levels in critically ill patients, potentially reducing the number of finger-prick tests required. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Mycobacteria are responsible for causing severe illnesses like tuberculosis and leprosy in humans. Studying the mycobacteria cell envelope presents a significant challenge due to its intricate lipid compositions and structural variations and also its harmful nature in a typical experiment setting. In this study, we use all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to study mycobacterial inner membranes (MIMs). By incorporating different types of phosphatidyl-myo-inositol-mannosides (PIMs) and their glycoconjugates such as lipomannan (LM) and lipoarabinomannan (LAM) lipoglycans, we have constructed both symmetric and asymmetric membrane systems to study the MIM structure and dynamics under varying compositions of each lipid type. Our results show that the phospholipid/PIM-rich inner leaflet remains stable and fluid, while the outer leaflet structure and dynamics are heavily governed by lipoglycan surface density. Importantly, as LM/LAM concentration increases, the polysaccharide chains shift from flexible, membrane-lying orientations to a compact brush-like state aligned with the membrane normal. This crowding significantly reduces the solvent-accessible volume and limits direct interactions between LM/LAM sugars and the outer leaflet surface. Furthermore, we observe that high lipoglycan presence in the outer leaflet slows lipid diffusion across the entire bilayer, demonstrating a dynamic coupling between the two leaflets. By resolving these LM/LAM sugar-level dynamics and their impact on membrane-wide properties, this study provides a molecular framework for future MIM modeling and simulation with various (peripheral) membrane proteins to better understand how the MIM functions as a regulated physical barrier and a platform for mycobacterial virulence.