Student research placements may contribute to enhancing health service research capacity and culture. However, little is known about their implementation in rural settings. The aim of this study was to explore the motivations, barriers, facilitators, benefits, and burdens of hosting student researchers in rural health services to inform a tailored, context-specific implementation tool. The study adopted a qualitative exploratory design using semi-structured interviews with staff members from rural health services across Victoria, Australia. A thematic analysis approach was applied to the data. The implementation tool was developed using findings from the interviews and the Quality Implementation Framework and the Getting to Outcomes Framework. Nine individuals from seven health services across Victoria participated in the interviews. Participants reported that motivations for hosting student researchers included strengthening university partnerships, enhancing research capacity, and supporting workforce recruitment. Key facilitators included strong university relationships, existing research infrastructure, flexible supervision models, and alignment with health service priorities. Barriers included limited time and staff capacity, conflicting expectations surrounding the placements, and lack of experience with rural health service research. While placements provided benefits such as increased research activity and strengthened partnerships with universities, they also created burdens related to supervision workload and accountability (eg data security, student outputs). The implementation tool derived from these findings consists of 11 steps to facilitate planning, implementing, and evaluating research placements in rural health services. This study describes the experiences of student research placements in rural health services, including challenges and benefits. Despite several barriers to implementation, student placements show promise in fostering local research capacity and culture. The tailored implementation tool developed in this study offers a resource for rural health services, with future research needed to test its utility.
This study aimed to evaluate whether combining phages with different properties enhances antibacterial efficacy against individual strains and enables the simultaneous control of multiple bacterial species belonging to different genera. Our phage collection was screened for phages active against Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Four phages were selected: AH-1, ECA2, phSE-5 and vB_VpS_LMAVpSH, originally isolated using A. hydrophila, S. Typhimurium, E. coli and V. parahaemolyticus as hosts, respectively. An initial phage cocktail (CK3) was prepared excluding phage SH, which was later included in a modified cocktail (CK4). Phage efficacy was evaluated in vitro (in nutrient-rich media and synthetic seawater) against bacterial strains individually and against mixed cultures of the four bacteria, for 12 h at 25°C. Both cocktails were associated with greater bacterial reduction compared with individual phage treatments, alongside reduced bacterial regrowth under the tested conditions. Although efficacy decreased in nutrient-limited conditions, phages still inhibited bacterial growth. The findings of this study provide experimental evidence of phage-bacteria interactions in multispecies systems and offer proof-of-concept evidence supporting further evaluation of phage cocktail approaches under aquaculture-relevant conditions.
Phycoremediation is essential for purifying wastewater of heavy metals to ensure a sustainable environment, as these components can be detrimental to organisms upon entering the food chain. Among heavy metals, nickel is vital at low concentrations due to its presence in the active sites of many metalloenzymes in algae. However, at high concentrations, it disrupts the functioning of many metabolic reactions. This study examines the effects of nickel treatment on the uptake of macro- and micronutrients in medium by algae via ion exchange pathways or in competition with other metals. The study aims to determine the effects of nickel exposure on macro- and micronutrient uptake in algae and evaluate the bioremediation potential of Desmodesmus pannonicus and Scenedesmus aldavei under varying NiSO4 concentrations. Additionally, it assesses growth responses, elemental composition changes, and alterations in functional groups to determine the tolerance and effectiveness of these algae in Ni(II) removal from contaminated environments. The bioremediation abilities of Desmodesmus pannonicus and Scenedesmus aldavei were evaluated spectrophotometrically by measuring growth rate, chlorophyll-a, and chlorophyll-b for 14 days. Bioremediation properties were also analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Growth parameters varied with concentrations (p ≤ 0.05). Both species were found to have bioremediation capabilities up to the concentration of 1 M NiSO4, which increased the absorption of Na+ ion content (p ≤ 0.05). However, the Mg(II), Ca(II), and K contents in the dry mass changed with the concentration (p ≤ 0.05). FTIR analysis was used to identify changes in specific functional groups in the samples, including carboxyl, amine, hydroxyl, and carbonyl. Desmodesmus pannonicus and Scenedesmus aldavei exhibit significant potential for Ni(II) bioremediation, showing tolerance to NiSO4 concentrations of up to 1 M. Compared to other organisms in the literature, Scenedesmus aldavei is an excellent model for phycoremediation studies.
This study investigated the physicochemical, microbiological, and consumer acceptance of kefir with and without paraprobiotics (inactivated kefir starter culture) and evaluated its effects on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Wistar rats. The pH, titratable acidity, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) values of the kefir samples ranged from 3.52 to 4.52, 0.71% to 1.58%, and 1.02 g/kg to 1.63 g/kg, respectively. The exopolysaccharide content of kefir samples produced by adding an inactive kefir starter culture before and after fermentation was higher than that of the control samples. The apparent viscosity values, flow behaviour index values, and consistency coefficient values of the kefir samples varied between 0.09 and 0.16 Pa·s, between 0.21 and 0.34, and between 1.44 and 2.79 Pa·sⁿ, respectively. During the storage period, the highest taste and overall acceptability scores were observed in kefir samples produced by adding inactive starter kefir culture before fermentation. In blood glucose measurements, although an increase was observed in the groups given kefir samples at the beginning, the values approached those of the control group by the end of the experiment. In the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results, a significant reduction in glucose levels was determined in the kefir groups compared to the T1DM group, while no statistically significant difference was observed among the kefir groups. These findings indicate that kefir, particularly when enriched with inactivated kefir starter culture before fermentation, offers improved textural and sensory profiles. However, the anti-hyperglycaemic potential may be primarily attributed to the kefir matrix, regardless of the addition of paraprobiotics before or after.
Tissue-engineered skin substitutes (TESS) represent a key therapeutic option for extensive cutaneous injuries when autologous grafting is limited; however, current constructs lack skin appendages, particularly hair follicles, resulting in incomplete functional and aesthetic restoration. A central barrier to engineering follicular structures within TESS is the rapid loss of hair-inductive features in cultured human dermal papilla (DP) fibroblasts and the difficulty of recreating epithelial-mesenchymal interactions required for early folliculogenesis. Here, we report a bioengineering platform that integrates self-organizing composite spheroids composed of adult human epidermal keratinocytes (KCs) and DP fibroblasts with laser-micropatterned collagen scaffolds to generate spatially defined hair peg-like structures within human TESS. Under optimized three-dimensional culture conditions, mixed KC-DP spheroids reproducibly undergo polarization, budding, and elongation to form hair peg-like structures that exhibit compartmentalized organization and expression of key follicle-associated markers. Transcriptomic analysis reveals activation of follicular-associated transcriptional programs in KCs, while DP fibroblasts retain DP-associated features under these conditions. When implanted into predefined microwells within collagen-based dermal scaffolds, these spheroids continue coordinated morphogenesis alongside epidermal stratification and dermal matrix formation, yielding engineered skin constructs containing spatially integrated hair peg-like structures. Although maturation into fully developed hair follicles remains to be achieved, this study establishes a scalable, clinically relevant platform for integrating early-stage follicular units into TESS. Collectively, these findings provide a foundation for future efforts toward appendage-inclusive skin regeneration using adult human cells. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Engineering human hair follicles in skin substitutes remains challenging because dermal papilla cells rapidly lose hair-inductive function during laboratory expansion, and existing organoid models are difficult to scale or integrate into engineered skin. Here, we present a laser-micropatterned collagen scaffold that spatially incorporates early-stage follicular units formed from human keratinocytes and dermal papilla cells. Through systematic optimization of cell state, spheroid configuration, culture conditions, and scaffold integration, mixed keratinocyte-dermal papilla cell spheroids reproducibly undergo polarization, budding, and elongation in 3D culture and retain hair peg-like organization after incorporation into micropatterned dermal scaffolds. This work advances hair follicle engineering toward clinically relevant skin constructs for studying human hair biology and regenerative skin therapies.
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are industrial chemicals with several applications, including heat and water resistance. These chemicals are ubiquitous in our environment, and human exposure to them has been linked to liver injury and disruption of lipid metabolism. This study investigated the effects of PFAS (fluorotelomer sulfonic acids 6:2 FTSA and 8:2 FTSA, and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA)) on hepatic lipid metabolism using in vitro human cell models. Initially, we assessed the effects of 10 μM PFOSA, 100 μM 6:2 FTSA, and 100 μM 8:2 FTSA in HepG2 monolayer (2D) cultures, focusing on their impact on lipid metabolism. Subsequently, HepG2 spheroids (3D) were exposed to PFOSA (10 μM), the most active compound tested, to elucidate its effects on lipid metabolism further. In the 3D culture, PFOS (10 μM) was used as a reference compound. The results showed that PFOSA was the most disruptive to gene expression and lipid profiles in both 2D and 3D HepG2 cell cultures among the tested PFAS. PFOSA repressed several genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in both HepG2 monolayer and spheroids (3D). Except for triacylglycerides(TAGs) and ceramide (Cer), most lipid species were significantly elevated in PFOSA-exposed HepG2 2D, compared to control. Notably, the effects of PFOSA were less pronounced in HepG2 spheroids. In HepG2 spheroids, the PFOSA toxicity profile resembled that of PFOS, suggesting a similar mechanism of action. Our findings highlight the need for further research on understudied PFAS.
Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection caused by Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. Although well recognized in parts of the southwestern United States, it remains underdiagnosed in Mexico and Central America. While most cases present as self-limited pulmonary infection, approximately 1% of immunocompetent individuals develop disseminated disease, with coccidioidal meningitis (CM) being the most severe manifestation. We describe a 46-year-old immunocompetent male from Oaxaca, Mexico, who presented with progressive headache, neurocognitive decline, and altered mental status. Initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis suggested cryptococcal meningitis, yet cryptococcal antigen testing and fungal cultures were negative. Empirical antifungal therapy produced only partial improvement. Given his occupational exposure in Texas and evolving clinical course, coccidioidomycosis was suspected. Serologic testing (enzyme immunoassay, EIA) and a coccidioidin skin test were positive, and prolonged CSF culture ultimately yielded Coccidioides spp., confirming CM. High-dose fluconazole led to progressive neurologic recovery, and the patient remains asymptomatic on maintenance therapy. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of CM in regions where coccidioidomycosis is not traditionally considered endemic. Non-specific presentations and initial negative studies may delay diagnosis, underscoring the importance of epidemiologic suspicion, repeated testing, and prolonged fungal culture. Early recognition and timely initiation of azole therapy are essential to prevent the high morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a frequent and serious infection among mechanically ventilated children in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), with oral colonization playing a key role in its pathogenesis. Effective oral hygiene measures are therefore crucial to reduce VAP incidence and improve clinical outcomes. This study aimed to compare the incidence of VAP in PICU patients receiving routine oral care versus toothbrushing with chlorhexidine, and to evaluate the impact on mechanical ventilation duration, PICU stay, and mortality with secondary outcomes including microbiological colonization, inflammatory markers, and inotropic support requirements. A parallel-group superiority randomized controlled trial. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 118 children aged 18 months to 16 years, including PICU patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥ 48 h. On admission, patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the intervention group received oral care with toothbrushing plus 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinse, while the control group received routine care with 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse only. Both procedures were performed three times daily. VAP was diagnosed according to CDC criteria. Quantitative and qualitative analyses assessed variables distinguishing VAP cases from controls, and multivariate logistic regression identified independent predictors of disease severity. The results of our study revealed that VAP occurred in 31 patients (52.5%) in the control group and 25 patients (42.3%) in the intervention group, indicating a lower incidence with toothbrushing plus chlorhexidine, although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.36). Among all participants, 45.8% died and 54.2% were discharged. Mortality was higher in the control group (53.7%) compared with the intervention group (46.3%), while discharge rates favored the intervention group (53.1% vs. 46.9%); however, these differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.46). Positive sputum cultures were more frequent in the control group (55.6%) than in the intervention group (44.4%), whereas negative cultures were more common among intervention patients (54.7% vs. 45.3%), with no significant difference between groups (p = 0.268). Although adding toothbrushing to routine chlorhexidine oral care did not produce a statistically significant reduction in VAP incidence or mortality, a consistent trend toward clinical benefit was observed across multiple outcome measures, including lower rates of positive sputum cultures, reduced inotropic support requirements, and fewer new pulmonary infiltrates. These findings highlight the potential value of enhanced oral hygiene in the PICU and support the need for larger multicenter studies to confirm its effect. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07287566. Registered on November 20, 2025. Retrospectively registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT07287566 . The full study protocol and the statistical analysis plan are included in this document and are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Heavy drinking is a core staple in the culture of college football tailgating. In response to the drinking culture of tailgates, scholars recommend that collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) implement innovative "sober tailgate" programming; however, little is known regarding how many colleges have sober tailgate programs, and how such programs are logistically implemented. As such, the purpose of this study was to explore these issues and contribute to the knowledge base on this topic within a socio-ecological perspective. In the fall semester of 2023, the leaders of CRPs at colleges with a football program and an advertised sober tailgate program were invited to complete an online questionnaire about their tailgate. From a total of 667 colleges with a football program, there were only 14 (2%) that had a CRP that advertised sober tailgate programming. From those, 7 (response rate = 50%) CRP leaders completed the study's questionnaire. CRP leaders reported that a variety of on-campus and off-campus groups (e.g., campus administration, treatment facilities, parents of students) help to fund and support sober tailgate programming. Even with common barriers to program implementation, most CRP leaders perceived sober tailgating as successful, well-attended, and led to a few attendees participating in future campus recovery meetings. Health promotion practitioners should consider implementing sober tailgates, and may want to use this study's findings for planning purposes.
Obesity is increasingly recognized as a state of chronic low-grade inflammation associated with altered immune cell function, yet the mechanisms driving these changes remain incompletely understood. This study investigated myeloid cell subpopulations and neutrophil behavior in adult participants exhibiting preclinical obesity (body mass index [BMI] 32-51 kg/m2, n = 12) compared to normal-weight controls (BMI 21-24 kg/m2, n = 9), correlating findings with metabolic and inflammatory markers. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry to quantify myeloid cell populations and TLR4/IL-1R surface expression. Neutrophils were cultured under normoxic (18% O2) or hypoxic (1% O2) conditions, with or without glutaminase inhibition, to assess spontaneous neutrophil death. Participants with preclinical obesity exhibited increased monocyte numbers and eosinophils, whereas total neutrophil numbers were not significantly different between groups, together with a higher percentage of HLA-DR-/low monocytes and activated immature (CD16-CD11b+CD10-) neutrophils. In participants under 60 yr of age, IL‑1R expression on monocytes was significantly increased in the obesity group. Significant metabolic differences were also noted, including higher A1c (5.9 ± 0.1% vs 5.3 ± 0.1%), hs-CRP (9.01 ± 3.33 vs 0.69 ± 0.17 mg/L), and alkaline phosphatase (102.33 ± 9.67 vs 65.75 ± 5.54 U/L) in the preclinical obesity cohort, alongside decreased mean cell hemoglobin. Ex vivo neutrophil culture revealed that hypoxia reduced spontaneous neutrophil death in both groups; however, this effect was significantly reduced by glutaminase inhibition specifically in neutrophils from participants with preclinical obesity, suggesting a heightened reliance on glutamine metabolism for survival under hypoxia. These findings demonstrate dysregulated myelopoiesis and altered neutrophil behavior in preclinical obesity, providing mechanistic insight into the early immune consequences of metabolic dysfunction.
The growing demand for microalgae-derived products, driven by their antioxidant capacity and high value functional compounds, is intensifying the need for more efficient and durable cultivation systems. However, biofouling remains a critical bottleneck, reducing productivity and increasing operational costs in photobioreactors. Although several antifouling solutions have been proposed, most are opaque and therefore incompatible with light-dependent microalgal processes. In this work, the antifouling performance of two novel transparent materials was evaluated using four species of industrially relevant microalgae: Arthrospira platensis, Tetraselmis chuii, Chlorella sorokiniana, and Haematococcus pluvialis. Their performance was benchmarked against conventional substrates (glass and PMMA) and established coatings, including PDMS and the commercial opaque Hempasil X3®. A sequential experimental approach was adopted. First, the influence of culture media and the N / P molar ratio on biomass productivity and cell adhesion was evaluated to identify representative cultivation conditions. Subsequently, transparent antifouling surfaces were assessed under prolonged culture conditions using the selected nutrient conditions. The results demonstrate that the developed transparent surfaces (with a PEG/PDMS-based coating and PMMA-based rigid material) significantly reduce cell adhesion and protein accumulation under biofouling-promoting conditions, reaching values close to commercial antifouling coatings. Cell adhesion was strongly species-dependent, with C. sorokiniana and H. pluvialis exhibiting the highest adhesion. These materials reduced microalgal adhesion by 45-74 % compared to conventional transparent materials such as PMMA and glass while maintaining high optical transparency within the visible range. Therefore, these transparent materials emerge as a promising strategy to enhance the efficiency, stability, and longevity of microalgae cultivation systems.
Morinda citrifolia (Noni) is a traditional medicinal plant widely utilized in tropical regions for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. While its traditional applications extend to skin and hair health, its specific pharmacological effects on hair follicle biology-particularly when its phytochemical profile and bioavailability are enhanced through fermentation-remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the pro-regenerative effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of fermented M. citrifolia extract (FME) as a potential therapeutic intervention for hair loss. The pharmacological effects of FME were evaluated using human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and ex vivo human hair follicle organ cultures. Assessments included cell viability, cell cycle progression, protein expression analysis, hair shaft elongation, and transcriptomic profiling. FME significantly enhanced hDPC viability and promoted cell cycle progression into the S-phase. Mechanistically, FME activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling by stabilizing β-catenin, thereby increasing the secretion of key hair growth factors (VEGF, bFGF, IGF2) and enhancing antioxidant defense. In ex vivo cultures, FME induced dose-dependent hair shaft elongation, prolonged the anagen phase, and preserved hair bulb architecture. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that FME upregulated stemness-related and hair structure pathways while downregulating matrix remodeling enzymes and pro-inflammatory signaling networks. FME promotes hair growth through the activation of dermal papilla cells and modulation of follicular signaling networks, primarily via the Wnt/β-catenin axis. These findings provide mechanistic evidence supporting FME as a promising and safe therapeutic candidate for alopecia.
Helicobacter pylori infection relates to multiple gastric diseases, and its eradication is becoming more challenging due to antimicrobial resistance to commonly used antibiotics, especially clarithromycin. The aim of this study is to describe the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of H. pylori isolates from Costa Rican patients. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed for 14 H. pylori isolates using the E-test method for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole, tetracycline, and rifampicin. Due to its importance, the point mutations A2143G and A2144G related to clarithromycin resistance were also studied using PCR-RFLP. Resistance to clarithromycin (29%), levofloxacin (29%), metronidazole (29%), and rifampicin (7%) was found in the studied isolates. These included three isolates with multidrug resistance. A2143G mutation was detected in one isolate and A2144G was detected in two isolates, and the presence of mutations correlated significantly with phenotypic resistance to clarithromycin (r=0.8321, p=0.0071). Antibiotic resistance was high in the studied isolates from Costa Rica. The number of isolates is small, but the results highlight the need for further studies to assess the antibiotic resistance as a growing problem in the country. H. pylori culture and phenotypic tests are difficult, but molecular testing can be used as a quick and cheap option to monitor clarithromycin resistance.
Satellite cells (SCs) are essential for skeletal muscle regeneration, but their function declines with aging, often associated with increased pro-apoptotic signaling. This study investigated the impact of in vitro serum starvation-as a model of acute microenvironmental and nutrient stress-on the apoptosis and differentiation potential of human SCs from young and aged donors. SCs were isolated from the Vastus Lateralis of young and aged subjects and cultured in serum-free medium for up to 72 h. We assessed apoptosis through Annexin V/PI staining, TUNEL assays, and caspase activity measurements, while transcriptional profiles were analyzed via RT-PCR. Aged SCs displayed a significantly higher susceptibility to stress-induced apoptosis compared to young controls, marked by the early upregulation of CASP9 and FOXO1. While typical nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was absent, we observed the activation of caspase-3 after 72 h of starvation. In aged cells, activated caspase-3 co-localized with myogenin and extranuclear DNA at sites of nuclear remodeling. Notably, treatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) prevented the formation of micronuclei and myotubes, further highlighting a non-apoptotic role for these enzymes. Aged SCs also showed a distinct cell cycle profile characterized by an enlarged G0/G1 phase and altered expression of CDK and CCNB1 genes. Our findings suggest that in human aged SCs, caspase enzymes serve a dual role: mediating a heightened stress response and facilitating the nuclear remodeling necessary for myogenic differentiation. These results clarify how intrinsic aging shapes the response of muscle stem cells under severe environmental and metabolic resource deprivation.
Probiotic strategies that attenuate virulence-associated toxins are increasingly recognized as effective approaches to mitigate disease progression. We screened for wildtype Bacillus strains from healthy chickens with the aim of identifying specific isolates capable of reducing Clostridium perfringens toxin production and necrotic enteritis (NE) lesions in chickens and consequently selected a strain (Bacillus subtilis CG4). The cell-free culture supernatant (CFS) of CG4 did not inhibit the growth of a C. perfringens Type G strain. However, the bacterium significantly reduced the level of NetB toxin (a key toxin for NE development) produced by C. perfringens. B. subtilis CG4 was therefore further characterized in vitro and evaluated in vivo for its ability to reduce NE. In the in vitro studies, CG4 produced nearly 3.0 × 10⁸ spores/mL and exhibited resistance to tetracycline and the penicillin only among tested antibiotics. In addition, the CG4 CFS was sensitive to heat and proteinase K treatments, suggesting the proteinaceous nature of a bioactive component. The proteolytic activity of CG4 CFS possessed a relatively broad substrate spectrum, which effectively digested bovine serum albumin (BSA) and casein. In a C. perfringens infection chicken trial that contained three groups of birds (no treatment, pathogen infection only, and pathogen infection with the treatment of CG4) and used a completely random design, the supplementation of B. subtilis CG4 in feed resulted in a significant reduction in NE lesions (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the birds infected with the pathogen only. The average NE sore of birds from the CG4-treated and C. perfringens-infected only groups were 2.47 and 3.75, respectively, while the untreated group had 0 NE lesions. Additionally, CG4-treated chickens exhibited a noticeable increase in body weight (p ≤ 0.05) at the end of trial, presumably through proteolytic activity in CG4.
The early environmental disturbances may have lasting effects on the sensitivity and acclimation abilities of organisms in later life stages or even in subsequent generations. However, measuring the responses of marine species with long generation times across multiple generations is challenging. Here, we investigated the inter-generational carryover effects of early hypoxia exposure on Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai), which takes two years to reach reproductive maturity. A five-year study revealed that embryonic hypoxia exposure in abalone parents (F0) has long-lasting effects, which makes offspring (F1) have higher specific growth rates and hypoxia tolerance despite these offspring having never been exposed to hypoxia. Embryonic hypoxia exposure did not reduce the genetic diversity (Na, Ne, I, Ho, He and F) of abalone between two generations, nor did it result in genetic differentiation (Fst and Nei's genetic distance) within a single generation. However, natural selection during the two-year culture period may have favoured F0 individuals with superior fitness traits to survive, ultimately driving genetic divergence among the F1 generation. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes (e.g., mthfr and shmt1) that reflect the single-generational, inter-generational, and multi-generational effects were involved in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activity and one carbon pool by folate. These genes might mediate the process by which F0 embryonic hypoxia exposure alters the adaptive traits of the F1 generation. This study revealed that the priming impacts of early hypoxia exposure might persist across generations through both genetic and non-genetic mechanisms, providing insights for protecting marine organisms under global climate change.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection with diverse clinical manifestations that frequently delay diagnosis because of its nonspecific presentation. Hematologic abnormalities have been described in affected patients; however, severe thrombocytopenia remains an uncommon finding. We present the case of a 50-year-old woman who was admitted with a four-day history of fever up to 39°C, diffuse abdominal pain, vomiting, and secretory diarrhea. Initial laboratory evaluation revealed leukopenia (2.7 × 10³/μL), severe thrombocytopenia (29 × 10³/μL), hyponatremia, and elevated liver enzymes. The patient remained hemodynamically stable and showed progressive clinical improvement with supportive management. As part of the etiologic workup, two independent blood cultures yielded Brucella melitensis, establishing the diagnosis of systemic brucellosis. Further evaluation identified a history of unpasteurized milk consumption, and the 2-mercaptoethanol test was positive. Treatment with doxycycline and rifampin was initiated, and the patient subsequently demonstrated progressive clinical recovery, recovery of leukocyte and platelet counts, and improvement in biochemical abnormalities. This case highlights the importance of considering brucellosis in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with acute febrile illness, severe thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia, even in the absence of classic focal manifestations of the disease.
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the leading cause of heart transplantation, with a 50% risk of progression to heart failure within 5 years. Conventional disease modeling approaches fail to recapitulate the sophisticated function of the human heart. Alternatively, heart-on-a-chip (HOC) platforms enable real-time monitoring of disease progression and drug responses using miniaturized engineered heart tissues. Here, we developed a functional HOC model using patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), reprogrammed from the patients' blood samples. The chip contains two cell-seeding chambers with flexible silicone pillars to support tissue formation. Healthy and DCM hiPSCs were differentiated into cardiomyocytes, combined with an optimized ratio of human cardiac fibroblasts, encapsulated in a fibrin/Geltrex hydrogel (containing fluorescent beads), and seeded in the device chambers. The tissue gradually compacted and started beating spontaneously. Immunofluorescence assay revealed structural abnormalities in DCM tissues, including reduced cell alignment and elongation. The tissue functional responses (e.g., calcium transients and beating) were investigated after 2 weeks of culture, revealing arrhythmia-like behavior in DCM tissue and highlighting functional hallmarks of the disease. Finally, the platform was validated using norepinephrine to assess the functional responsiveness of the tissues. These results demonstrate the potential of this system for disease modeling and future patient-specific investigations.
Although special education teachers are in short supply and preservice special education teachers' teaching intention is a critical predictor of future workforce supply, the mechanism through which career exploration is related to preservice teachers' teaching intentions in a family-oriented collectivist culture remains unknown. Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between career exploration and teaching intention, examining the chain mediating roles of career calling and perceived employability. Using a convenience sampling method, 436 preservice special education teachers in China participated in the study. Mediation effect analysis was conducted using bootstrapping in SPSS. The results revealed: (a) Career exploration was positively associated with teaching intention in the direct effect model, but the direct relationship became significantly negative in the chain mediation model (β = -0.14, SE = 0.07, 95% Bootstrap CIs [-0.27, -0.004]); (b) career calling independently mediated this association (β = 0.30, SE = 0.05, 95% Bootstrap CIs [0.21, 0.39]); (c) perceived employability independently mediated this association (β = 0.10, SE = 0.03, 95% Bootstrap CIs [0.05, 0.17]); and (d) a significant chain mediation effect was observed through career calling and perceived employability sequentially (β = 0.03, SE = 0.01, 95% Bootstrap CIs [0.01, 0.05]). These results suggest that strengthening legal and institutional support, improving social recognition, and optimizing training and practicum experiences with professional instruction, feedback, reflection, and summary may guide positive career exploration and strengthen teaching intention.
The association between higher levels of physical activity and lower cancer risk and mortality is well established. However, a causal link is yet to be proven. Recent studies showed a decrease in the proliferation rates of cultured human cancer cells when the human serum used to stimulate them was conditioned by acute exercise. Here, we tested the hypothesis that serum mediates some of the putative benefits of exercise on cancer through alterations to the growth pattern and susceptibility to chemotherapy agents of cancer cells. To this end, human non-small cell lung cancer cells were exposed to serum, collected before or after an acute exercise intervention, from two cohorts that differed significantly in their levels of physical activity and, accordingly, cardiorespiratory fitness, but were otherwise identical (non-exercisers and master athletes). Serum levels of glucose, lipids, albumin, C-reactive protein and cytokines were determined, and the impact of the serum responses to acute and lifelong exercise on cancer cell growth pattern and susceptibility to cisplatin were analysed. We found that acute exercise decreased the proliferation rate of the cells, yet shortened the lag phase of the cells after detachment, whereas lifelong exercise had the opposite effects. Significantly, we showed, for the first time, that lifelong exercise increased susceptibility to a chemotherapy agent, which might contribute to the decreased cancer mortality rates found among those cancer patients who exercise regularly. Similar to the cellular effects, changes to serum cytokine levels (several of them linked to the senescence-associated secretory phenotype) depended on whether serum was conditioned by acute exercise or by lifelong exercise.