Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the most common malignancies of the urinary tract worldwide. Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of treatment for muscle-invasive and advanced disease and has substantially improved clinical outcomes, yet primary and acquired resistance frequently leads to treatment failure and disease recurrence. Classical mechanisms, including altered drug uptake and efflux and detoxification by glutathione or metallothioneins, account for only part of this phenotype. Recent work in BCa increasingly points to cisplatin resistance as a multilayered cellular adaptation involving coordinated changes in drug handling, stress responses, and cell-death control. Drawing primarily on studies published between January 2020 and April 2025, while incorporating selected foundational studies from the preceding decade, this review maps cisplatin resistance in BCa within a structured "cell membrane and tumor microenvironment-cytoplasm-nucleus and chromatin-organelles" framework. Particular emphasis is placed on the interaction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell programs with stromal and immune signals at the membrane level; on metabolic rewiring, ferroptosis regulation, and stress-activated signaling cascades in the cytoplasm; on reinforced DNA damage response pathways and RNA- or chromatin-directed epigenetic remodeling in the nucleus; and on the resetting of apoptotic, autophagic, and mitophagic thresholds at the organelle level. Across these compartments, recurrent regulatory nodes and signaling axes are outlined, and areas are delineated where mechanisms are supported by convergent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence versus those that remain primarily exploratory. By viewing cisplatin resistance in BCa as an integrated and dynamic network spanning cellular compartments, this multilayered synthesis aims to refine current mechanistic concepts and to provide a rationale for biomarker development and combination strategies designed to prevent or overcome cisplatin resistance.
Various speech therapies are available for treating poststroke aphasia; however, the effects of these strategies on poststroke aphasia have yet to be compared. We conducted a network meta-analysis to investigate the effects of different speech therapies on quality of life and language performance for patients with poststroke aphasia. This systematic review and network meta-analysis was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023465936) on October 2, 2023. We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library electronic databases from their inception to September 20, 2023. We included trials that (1) involved participants with poststroke aphasia regardless of phase; (2) adopted speech therapy as the intervention; (3) applied either no intervention or another speech therapy as the control treatment; (4) reported quality of life or language performance as outcomes. The network meta-analysis was performed using the online tool ShinyNMA (version 1.01). We examined 17 articles involving 931 patients. Our analyses revealed that both multimodality aphasia therapy and constraint-induced aphasia therapy prompted significant improvements in quality of life. However, no specific speech therapy showed statistically significant superiority over no intervention across isolated language domains. All significant results were also clinically meaningful. No significant inconsistencies were observed between the results of direct and indirect comparisons. Our results suggest that multimodality aphasia therapy and constraint-induced aphasia therapy show promise for improving quality of life in patients with poststroke aphasia. However, no single speech therapy demonstrated statistical superiority over no intervention across specific language domains.
Background: Although the link between the gut microbiota and hypertension has been investigated, its specific role in the increasing prevalence of this disease in Thailand, influenced by changing dietary patterns, remains unexplored. This cohort study investigated the association between the gut microbiome and hypertension-related dietary habits in Thai subjects. Methods: The fecal microbiomes of 31 Thai adults, including non-hypertensive (NHT, n = 12) and hypertensive (HT, n = 19) subjects, were grouped and analyzed according to their dietary and medical records. Alpha and beta diversity analyses were performed to determine significant differences (p < 0.05) in microbial diversity between groups. Variations in the microbiome profiles were identified using Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) based on a linear discriminant analysis score > 2.0 (p < 0.05). Multiple Factor Analysis (MFA) was employed to integrate anthropometric data, dietary consumption, and gut microbiome, enabling the visualization of features driving overall variation. Functional profiles of the gut microbiome were predicted using PICRUSt2 based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) categories. Differential abundance and microbial-functional associations were evaluated using ALDEx2 and HAllA, respectively. Results: Our exploratory analysis suggests that hypertension-related differences are strongly associated with host factors (age and clinical profiles) rather than diet or microbial composition. Key taxonomic signatures of the HT group include the expansion of Phascolarctobacterium and depletion of Alistipes, which relates to anthropometric and blood profiles. Functional analysis revealed a profound restructuring of the gut ecosystem in the HT group, characterized by functional dysbiosis where microbial-functional association patterns shift distinct from changes abundance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the gut microbiota's potential role in hypertension may involve altered interaction dynamics, which may provide a new perspective for targeted interventions in the Thai population.
This study compared the effects of complex training (CT) versus resistance training (RT) on agility, strength and power in elite modern pentathletes during precompetition periods. Ten male modern pentathletes from the Chinese national team participated. They first completed the RT mesocycles (eight weeks), followed by the CT mesocycles (eight weeks), with detraining microcycle (two weeks) in between for rest. Agility (three-cone test, TCT), strength (one-repetition maximum back squat, 1RM-BS; isometric mid-thigh pull peak force, IMTP), and power (counter-movement jump, CMJ; reaction strength index, RSI) performance were assessed at four time points: before RT (T0), at the end of RT (T1), before CT (T2) and at the end of CT (T3). The results revealed that the TCT improved significantly from T2 to T3 (p = 0.006), with a significant difference between T3 and T1 (p = 0.002), but no significant improvement was observed from T0 to T1 (p = 0.383). The 1RM-BS and IMTP improved significantly from T0 to T1 (p < 0.001, p = 0.006), from T2 to T3 (all p < 0.001), and T3 was significantly improved compared to T1 (all p < 0.001). CMJ and RSI also showed significant improvements from T0 to T1 (p = 0.002, p = 0.015), from T2 to T3 (p < 0.001, p = 0.015), and T3 was significantly better than T1 (p = 0.001, p = 0.037). These findings indicate that greater improvements in agility, strength, and power were observed during the CT mesocycle compared with the RT mesocycle in elite modern pentathletes during the precompetition period.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), produces outcomes ranging from mild illness to death. Although in-hospital prognostic factors are well described, long-term mortality data are scarce, particularly from middle-income countries with relatively young populations. We therefore quantified one-year all-cause mortality and identified independent predictors in a large Turkish cohort support follow-up planning and prevention for high-risk groups. We retrospectively included all adults (≥18 years) with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented to Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital between 1 March 2020 and 31 January 2021, covering the pre-vaccination period in Türkiye. Demographics, smoking status, and ICD-10 coded comorbidities were extracted from hospital's electronic medical record system and national electronic health database. Follow-up was complete: 98.9% had 365 days; the remaining 168 had 360-364 days and were administratively censored, with no losses to follow-up. Missing smoking data was imputed by multiple imputations with chained equations. One-year survival status was obtained from the death registry. Risk factors were examined by Cox proportional hazards models after verifying assumptions. Among 14,975 patients (median age 40 years, interquartile range 28.5-52.2; 50.8% male), 357 deaths occurred within 365 days, giving one-year mortality of 2.4% (95% CI [2.1-2.6]%). Non-survivors were older (71.8 vs 39.5 years), more often male (63% vs 50.5%), and had higher rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and cancer. In multivariable analysis each additional year of age increased risk by 10%. Other independent predictors were male sex, type 2 diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and cancer. Smoking was inversely associated with mortality after inverse-probability weighting. Model discrimination was excellent. Only cancer showed minor time-dependency, mainly within the first 60 days of follow-up; two-thirds of cancer-related deaths occurred by day 60. Bootstrap optimism correction confirmed robustness. One-year mortality after COVID-19 in this relatively young Turkish population was low yet clinically meaningful. Persistent excess risk among older adults, men, and patients with cancer or major cardiometabolic disease supports structured post-acute surveillance, prioritized vaccination boosters, and aggressive management of underlying conditions. The inverse association with smoking is probably due to residual or unmeasured confounding and should not influence practice. These findings refine long-term risk stratification and can guide resource allocation as COVID-19 becomes an endemic threat external validation that incorporates vaccination status and viral variants is warranted.
Thrombocytopenia frequently occurs after major surgery and is linked to negative clinical outcomes. This study aimed to predict thrombocytopenia occurrence in patients following neurosurgery using a logistic regression model. We retrospectively analyzed 1,109 postoperative patients who had neurosurgery between January 2010 and December 2020 at the Dong Yang People's Hospital. We obtained medical records, encompassing demographic details, clinical outcomes, and laboratory results, from the hospital's database. The variables included in the model were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Data from the research participants were split into training and test sets. The training dataset was employed for constructing a logistic regression model, while the test dataset was utilized to test the model's performance. Additionally, we performed subgroup analysis by etiology. Among 1,109 patients, 103 developed thrombocytopenia (9.3%). Patients with thrombocytopenia had a longer hospital stay and mechanical ventilation time than those without. The eight predictive variables selected through LASSO regression for modeling were: hypertension, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, serum total bilirubin and albumin, International Normalized Ratio, thrombocytocrit, first measured systolic blood pressure and use of vasoactive drugs. The logistic regression model demonstrated satisfactory discriminative ability, showing an area under the curve of 0.916 (95% confidence interval [0.886-0.947]) for the training set and 0.883 [0.817-0.950] for the test set, coupled with high specificity (>0.9) but low recall (0.414 training, 0.364 test) at a cutoff value of 0.5. Calibration curves also indicated good predictive accuracy for both sets. Subgroup analysis revealed that the model for acute brain injury achieved a robust optimism-corrected AUC of 0.905, with precision improving from 0.545 to 0.664. The logistic regression models from this study have the potential to predict thrombocytopenia following neurosurgery and can serve as clinical decision-support tools for early intervention.
Plesiosaurs were a clade of Mesozoic aquatic reptiles exhibiting high diversity in neck length. Although their body sizes have long attracted scientific and public attention, mass estimates grounded in rigorous skeletal reconstructions are notably lacking. Existing data often rely on historical museum mounts or outdated illustrations from old literature, casting doubt on their reliability. The body masses of many species also remain unknown to date. To bridge this knowledge gap, the present study employs a hybrid paradigm: (1) establish a standardized protocol for accurate skeletal reconstruction of plesiosaurs, with particular emphasis on deriving ribcage morphology from dorsal rib orientation; (2) uniformly apply this protocol to build multiple plesiosaur models spanning multiple clades, whose body masses are estimated using the cross-sectional method, a recently developed volumetric-density approach for mass estimation; and (3) identify reliable skeletal mass proxies by means of regression analysis. Regression models were also employed to estimate the dimensions of unpreserved skeletal elements. Model fit and predictive accuracy were assessed using sample-size corrected Akaike Information Criterion values and per cent prediction errors, respectively. Rigorous body reconstructions were developed for 27 taxa covering all major plesiosaur clades, with body mass estimates ranging from 79 kg to 12,824 kg. This range sufficiently captures the size diversity seen across most plesiosaurs. These reconstructions were used to evaluate the performance of various skeletal elements as body size proxies. Among the tested metrics, trunk length and the mean volume of dorsal vertebral centrum were identified as the most robust predictors of plesiosaur body mass. Critiques of the hybrid approaches often focus on inconsistent modeling criteria and limited taxonomic sampling. The present framework seeks to mitigate these concerns through uniform reconstruction standards applied across multiple plesiosaur clades. Potential uncertainties in soft-tissue restoration and limitations of the mass equations are explicitly addressed. By providing both rigorous skeletal reconstructions and practical mass-estimation tools, this work narrows the knowledge gap regarding the body masses of Mesozoic aquatic reptiles, and facilitates subsequent biomechanical and macroevolutionary studies on plesiosaurs.
Icriomastax Enderlein, 1912, stat rev. historically treated as a subgenus of Ischnotoma Skuse, 1890, has remained taxonomically neglected since the description of its last species in 1945. Here, we provide a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the group, based on a matrix with 153 morphological characters across 61 taxa. Parsimony analyses under equal and implied weighting consistently recovered Icriomastax as a monophyletic group, supporting its elevation to full genus status. In contrast, Ischnotoma and Holorusia Loew, 1863 were recovered as paraphyletic, and the position of Is. (Neotipula) remained unstable, reinforcing the need for a broader review of Ischnotoma sensu lato. Additionally, we describe five new species: Icriomastax catia sp. nov., Icriomastax coscaroni sp. nov., Icriomastax craigi sp. nov., Icriomastax lopesae sp. nov., and Icriomastax monnei sp. nov. These results provide a new and consistent taxonomic framework and highlight the relevance of morphology-based systematics for underexplored lineages in Tipulidae. Our results raise questions about Southern Hemispheric diversification patterns in Tipulidae and offer a basis for future integrative studies combining morphological and molecular data.
The Hanzhong catchment is the primary agricultural area in the upper reaches of the Danjiangkou Reservoir. The challenge of quantifying natural as well as anthropogenic point and nonpoint inputs of riverine phosphorus (P) in this catchment severely hinders P management for the reservoir's upstream regions. For the first time, a Bayesian stable isotope mixing model based on the phosphate oxygen isotope (δ18O-PO4) data from three hydrological periods was employed to apportion natural and anthropogenic sources and discern the influence of environmental factors. Riverine phosphate mainly derives from natural sources during the normal flow period (approximately 44%). Enhanced leaching due to monsoon precipitation promotes natural inputs in most catchments. During the low flow period, the extensive application of basal fertilizer resulted in a marked rise in agricultural sources (58%). Correlation analysis indicates that wastewater input is affected by built-up land area. Conserving water and improving water efficiency are crucial for minimizing wastewater input in the Hanzhong catchment. The fertilizers applied to farmland are dominated by chemical fertilizers. Reducing chemical fertilizer usage contributes to decreasing agricultural inputs. Increased rainfall and temperature result in greater input from natural sources. This work highlights that controlling agricultural sources, especially during the low flow period, is the primary task for P management in the Hanzhong catchment and further reveals that the primary P pollution source (livestock and poultry breeding) in the Hanzhong catchment, identified by prior research, may enter water bodies from cropland in the form of basal fertilizer.
Specialized suction feeders independently evolved in several odontocete (toothed whale) lineages, with paradigmatic examples in sperm whales and beaked whales. Although little is known about feeding behavior in most cetacean species, many studies have identified morphological correlates of feeding ecology, such as skull shape. Here, we develop a suction specialization index (SSI) to quantify the extent of suction specialization in 68 extant odontocete taxa. This metric incorporates 10 morphological characters historically associated with suction feeding, including skull and hyoid osteology, dentition, and soft tissue structures. Our analyses show that both SSI and individual morphological characters reliably distinguish suction-feeding odontocetes from other taxa. Reduced dentition, non-occluding teeth/jaws, specialized palate, and weak jaw adductors were the strongest predictors. The blunt, wide rostrum was the weakest predictor. The distribution of SSI in the morphospace demonstrates that lineages of suction-feeding odontocetes specialize without converging on skull shape. Our results suggest that quantifying specialization across a suite of morphological predictors can provide a robust framework for reconstructing feeding ecology in extinct taxa. Our findings also highlight the interplay of convergence and constraint in vertebrate feeding systems, ultimately contributing to a broader understanding of how specializing on feeding behavior (e.g., suction) manifests across many different forms.
Nuclear medicine is a critical specialty involving the use of radioactive materials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Nurses working in these departments are frequently exposed to ionizing radiation, placing them at occupational risk. Despite the availability of safety guidelines, the extent of nurses' awareness of and adherence to radiation protection protocols remains uncertain. This study was conducted to assess the level of radiation safety awareness among nurses in nuclear medicine departments across Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 19 January to 24 March 2025 using a structured, self-administered questionnaire distributed via online platforms. A total of 233 registered nurses participated and met the predefined inclusion criteria. The data were analyzed using SPSS, focusing on descriptive statistics and inferential tests to evaluate awareness, knowledge, and protective practices. Most nurses demonstrated moderate-to-good general awareness of radiation safety. However, gaps were identified in specific areas, including knowledge of dose limits, use of personal dosimeters, and formal training. Notably, over half of the participants had not received structured radiation safety education, and adherence to protective practices, such as exposure time, distance, and shielding, was inconsistent. Institutional support was found to be present in many settings; however, protocol enforcement varied widely. The study reveals a need for enhanced, continuous radiation safety training and stronger institutional enforcement to ensure consistent protective practices among nurses in nuclear medicine. Improving awareness and compliance is essential for both staff safety and quality patient care.
Patients undergoing surgery for traumatic spinal fractures are at high risk for postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE), with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) incidence approaching 20% despite standard prophylaxis. This highlights the need for enhanced and specialized risk stratification. We aimed to develop and internally validate a preoperative prediction model for postoperative lower extremity DVT in this population. This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 1,676 patients who underwent surgery for traumatic spinal fractures at a single center between January 2020 and March 2025. Postoperative DVT was diagnosed via ultrasonography. Predictors were identified from 29 candidate variables through univariate analysis, followed by stepwise multivariable logistic regression. Model performance was evaluated using discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC), calibration (calibration plot, Hosmer-Lemeshow test), and clinical utility (decision curve analysis, DCA). A nomogram was constructed for visualization. The postoperative DVT incidence was 14.3% (239/1,676). Six independent preoperative predictors were identified: prolonged bed rest > 72 hours (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.208, 95% CI [3.319-8.171]), pre-existing lower extremity vascular disease (aOR = 2.938, 95% CI [1.641-5.258]), elevated D-dimer (aOR = 1.582 per mg/L, 95% CI [1.448-1.729]), elevated fibrinogen (aOR = 1.434 per g/L, 95% CI [1.138-1.807]), severe neurological impairment (American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale grade A/B), and advanced age (aOR = 1.019 per year, 95% CI [1.003-1.035]). The model exhibited robust discrimination (AUC: 0.891 in the training set, 0.885 in the testing set), excellent calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow P > 0.7), high sensitivity (90.5-91.2%), and moderate specificity (74.3-74.5%). DCA confirmed its clinical utility across a wide range of threshold probabilities. This study developed and validated a novel preoperative nomogram for predicting postoperative DVT in patients undergoing surgery for traumatic spinal fractures. Incorporating six readily accessible variables, this tool enables individualized risk stratification and may inform targeted prophylactic strategies.
Adolescents with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) exhibit difficulties in language abilities, affecting their capacity to produce and/or comprehend spoken language. In addition to a main language deficit, DLD is often associated with impairments in executive functioning (EF), including working memory (WM). A longitudinal study was conducted with 38 participants: 12 adolescents with DLD and 26 typical development (TD) peers. Visuospatial WM was assessed using the Backward Corsi Task (BCT) at three time points. Adolescents with DLD consistently scored lower than TD on the BCT across all three waves. A significant main effect of wave was also found, indicating that performance improved over time. However, improvements were only significant from Wave 1 to Wave 3, and not between adjacent waves. No significant Group-by-Wave interaction was observed, suggesting similar developmental trajectories across groups. The findings suggest that while adolescents with DLD show improvements in visuospatial WM over time, their performance seems to remain consistently below that of their TD peers. This may indicate that visuospatial WM difficulties associated with DLD persist into adolescence. These results might be partly explained by the task's engagement of the central executive component, as tasks with high executive demands could account for the observed group differences.
Clinical trial registration and adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement are essential for improving transparency, reducing reporting bias, and enhancing the interpretability of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, the extent to which these practices are endorsed by journals and implemented in published trials varies across disciplines and publication contexts. This study aimed to evaluate journal policies regarding clinical trial registration and adherence to the CONSORT statement, and to assess registration and reporting practices among RCTs published in Chinese- and English-language medical journals in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of obstetrics and gynecology journals publishing RCTs between 2019 and 2024. Journal instructions for authors were reviewed to determine requirements for clinical trial registration and CONSORT adherence. Published RCTs were assessed for trial registration status and the inclusion of a CONSORT flowchart. Journal characteristics, including membership in the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and endorsement of CONSORT, as well as funding support, were extracted. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and percentages, and group comparisons were performed using Chi-square tests. A total of 59 journals (51 English-language and eight Chinese-language) and 1,234 RCTs were included. Among the English-language journals surveyed, 70.6% (36/51) required clinical trial registration and 49.0% (25/51) mandated adherence to the CONSORT statement, compared with 12.5% (1/8) of Chinese-language journals requiring either practice in their journal policies and instructions for authors. Overall, 84.1% (1,038/1,234) of RCTs were registered and 83.5% (1,030/1,234) reported a CONSORT flowchart. Registration and reporting practices were more frequently observed in journals with explicit registration requirements, CONSORT endorsement, ICMJE membership, and funding support. In this sample of obstetrics and gynecology journals, substantial differences were observed in journal policies and in the implementation of clinical trial registration and CONSORT-related reporting practices between Chinese- and English-language publications. These findings highlight the association between journal policies and reporting transparency, while underscoring the need for continued efforts to strengthen trial registration and reporting standards within the field.
Carotenoids are essential plant pigments with key roles in stress tolerance and human nutrition. β-carotene is a major provitamin A carotenoid, and understanding the genetic basis of its natural variation in Capsicum annuum is important for nutritional improvement. However, carotenoid accumulation is a complex quantitative trait influenced by multiple metabolic and regulatory pathways. An extreme-phenotype genome-wide association study (XP-GWAS) was conducted using pooled genomic DNA from 92 C. annuum accessions representing contrasting extremes of β-carotene content. Fruit carotenoid levels from previously characterized accessions were used to establish high- and low-content groups, while genomic DNA from these same accessions was subjected to high-throughput paired-end sequencing. Variant calling yielded 19,066,129 raw variants, which were filtered to 1,025,269 high-confidence single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for association analysis. XP-GWAS identified 91 SNPs showing significant allele frequency differences between high- and low-β-carotene pools (FDR < 0.05), with 19 located on assembled chromosomes and 72 on unanchored scaffolds, limiting their immediate utility for functional validation and breeding applications. Among these, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) exhibited the most prominent clustered association signal, with multiple significant SNPs overlapping the HPPD gene on chromosome 5. Based on prior studies, HPPD is known to participate in plastoquinone biosynthesis, which indirectly supports carotenoid desaturation; however, the present study identifies a statistical association rather than functional validation in C. annuum. Additional SNPs were detected near genes involved in sulfur metabolism, ribosomal function, signaling, and non-coding RNAs, and are interpreted as exploratory, hypothesis-generating signals requiring further validation. This pooled XP-GWAS prioritizes HPPD and several additional genomic regions as candidate loci associated with β-carotene variation in C. annuum. Given the exploratory design, pooled sequencing strategy, and prevalence of unanchored scaffold signals, these associations should be viewed as hypothesis-generating and require independent validation before functional or breeding applications.
Long COVID following SARS-CoV-2 infection is a public health concern. Brain fog, a symptom of long COVID, has an impact on patients' daily lives and health. However, studies on the effects of COVID on college students are limited. This cross-sectional study included students from two tertiary institutions in Taizhou, China. Data were collected using WeChat-based electronic questionnaires on the Wen-Juan-Xing survey platform from July 20, 2023 to August 7, 2023. Chi-square analyses and binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the factors contributing to brain fog. A total of 1,071 students participated in the survey. Of these 1,071 students, 13.7% (147/1,071) reported experiencing long COVID, of whom 27.2% (40/147) reported symptoms of brain fog. Significant associations with brain fog were observed for the following factors: age (> 20 vs. ≤ 20 years, odds ratio (OR) = 4.360, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.620-11.740]), clinical classification of COVID-19 (OR = 2.940, 95% CI [1.230-7.010]), and a decreased sense of smell and taste (OR = 5.110, 95% CI [1.240-21.110]). This study highlights the significant prevalence of long COVID brain fog among college students and identifies key associated factors, underscoring the need for specific, focused interventions and support for affected individuals.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The identification of effective molecular targets is crucial for advancing precision medicine and prognostic strategies. This study aims to uncover key CRC biomarkers through integrative bioinformatics analyses, providing mechanistic insights for therapeutic development. We analyzed three CRC datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis was performed to identify instrumental variables (IVs), which were subsequently used in Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis with CRC Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data. MR-associated genes were intersected with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to screen disease-related key genes. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Additionally, immune cell infiltration and gene-immune correlation analyses were performed. Finally, validation was performed using independent GEO, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets, summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in CRC cell lines. A total of 776 upregulated and 981 downregulated DEGs were identified. Nine key genes were prioritized: ATP13A4, CD1C, METTL7A, SLC18A1, CREB5, CXCR1, GZMB, HECW2, and TEAD2, predominantly involved in cytokine receptor interaction pathways. CIBERSORT analysis revealed increased activated CD4+ memory T cells and M0 macrophages, alongside decreased plasma cells and natural killer (NK) cells in CRC. Key genes demonstrated significant correlation with immune cell subsets (e.g., neutrophils, mast cells), highlighting their role in CRC immunobiology. Validation via SMR and qRT-PCR assays demonstrated significant dysregulation of four target genes (CXCR1, HECW2, ATP13A4) (P < 0.05). This study suggests that CXCR1, HECW2, and ATP13A4 may be involved in CRC development, providing a reference for targeted and immunotherapy research.
The growing prevalence of celiac disease and gluten intolerance is driving up the need for gluten-free food choices suitable for both adults and children. This research evaluates the formulation of a gluten-free bar, utilizing rice flour, soybean flour, or a composite blend, with other enriching elements. Five different gluten-free bars were prepared from varying ratios of rice and soybean flour, and their proximate composition, colorimetric, and sensory properties were compared to wheat-based control bar. The sensory analysis revealed that the formulation with 10% soybean and 30% rice blend ratio showed an overall higher acceptability score over the other formulations and compared to the control bar (total mean score = 45.72 and 42.94, respectively). Moreover, it has a favorable proximate composition of 10.5% protein, 4.6% fiber, and only 19.9% fat content compared to other formulations. The 40% rice flour formulation had the least sensory and chemical attributes compared to other formulations. The 10:30 soybean-rice formulation with fortifying ingredients achieved superior consumer acceptability while maintaining an optimal proximate profile, establishing an evidence-based benchmark for the industrial scale-up of high-protein, gluten-free bars. However, further research is required to optimize shelf-life stability for commercial distribution.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects the quality of life (QOL) and daily functioning of young women. Dietary and nutritional intake are a suggested approach to alleviate PMS symptoms However, lifestyle factors of female students, such as living alone or dietary restrictions, may exacerbate PMS symptoms. This study investigated the relationship between PMS symptoms and eating behaviors among female university and graduate students, identifying dietary behavior factors that may exacerbate or alleviate these symptoms. An online survey was targeted female university and graduate students aged 18 to under 25. The questionnaire included basic information, PMS symptoms, and eating behaviors. PMS symptoms were assessed using the Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS/PMDD) Questionnaire. Eating behaviors were evaluated using the Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Eating behavior scores across PMS severity groups were compared using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey-Kramer tests. Among the 164 participants, the "Severe PMS group" had a significantly higher "Total" score (p = 0.04) than the "Moderate PMS" (Cohen's d = 0.907) and the "No/Mild PMS" (Cohen's d = 0.886) groups. And the "Severe PMS group" had a significantly higher sub-score "Hunger and satiety" on the Eating Behavior Questionnaire than the "Moderate PMS" (Cohen's d = 1.039) and the "No/Mild PMS" (Cohen's d = 0.915) groups. PMS severity was associated with eating behaviors, particularly hunger and satiety, suggesting that foods that promote fullness or stabilize blood sugar levels may help alleviate PMS symptoms. Addressing eating behaviors, alongside nutritional intake, may be an effective approach to managing PMS symptoms. However, establishing a causal relationship between these factors requires longitudinal research.
Our understanding of Late Jurassic sauropod faunas heavily relies on the fossil record of the northern hemisphere. During the last two decades, paleontological fieldwork in the Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian Cañadón Calcáreo Formation of Argentina has yielded several sauropod remains. Here we present a new taxon, Bicharracosaurus dionidei gen. et sp. nov., represented by a partial vertebral column and a fragment of the ilium. Anatomical as well as histological evidence suggest that the new specimen represents an adult individual. The posterior dorsals of Bicharracosaurus show great similarity with isolated mid- to posterior dorsal vertebrae previously referred to a diplodocid (MPEF-PV 1324) from the same formation. Some characters that supported a diplodocid position of the isolated vertebrae (pleurocoels with anteroventral fossa, dorsal margin of the pleurocoel angular and at the level of the neural canal) are also present in Bicharracosaurus. The phylogenetic position of Bicharracosaurus was tested using two recent datasets that include a large sample of basal eusauropods and basal neosauropods. The overall evidence supports a position of Bicharracosaurus within Macronaria with several analyses and diagnostic characters suggesting brachiosaurid affinities. Given the incomplete nature of the isolated vertebrae MPEF-PV 1324, their position is unstable across several analyses, but they show close affinities with either Bicharracosaurus or Diplodocidae. Despite the similarities between Bicharracosaurus and Tehuelchesaurus benitezii, a macronarian from the same formation, only in some of the phylogenetic results these two species were recovered as closely related, whereas in most analyses, Tehuelchesaurus formed a clade with Janenschia robusta as basal macronarians or non-neosauropod eusauropods. In addition, several diagnostic characters of Bicharracosaurus are absent in Tehuelchesaurus and vice versa. Our results also show that other putative macronarian taxa have incongruent positions depending on the dataset, even when controlling for taxonomic scope hindering our understanding of the early evolution of the clade.