The discovery of a mosasaurine tooth (NDGS 12217) in the Hell Creek Formation, Morton County, North Dakota, adds to the growing evidence that mosasaurs, tr

Intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure is a chronic stressful condition that prevalently affects women’s health and quality of life. As a chronic s

Physical activity, grip strength, sedentary behaviors, and sleep duration were found to be associated with risk of developing stroke and dementia. However,

Background Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is common among midlife women. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry bioactive cargo that may mediate or reflect disease processes, but their role in hepatic steatosis in postmenopausal women remains unexplored. Methods We conducted liquid chromatography data-independent acquisition–mass spectrometry on serum-derived EVs from 275 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Michigan site of the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (MI-SWAN). Participants were grouped by hepatic steatosis status (n = 75), assessed via standardized ultrasound at the 2010 follow-up visit. Fasting serum samples were processed using size exclusion chromatography to isolate EVs. Differential EV protein abundance was evaluated by ANCOVA, adjusting for ethnicity and diabetes status, and applying Benjamini–Hochberg correction. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify enriched biological pathways. Results Among 469 detected EV proteins, 60 differed by hepatic steatosis status (p < 0.05), with two proteins remaining significant after multiple testing correction: complement C4A (C4A) and afamin (AFM). GSEA indicated enrichment in lipid metabolism and innate immune activation pathways. Subgroup analyses revealed racial and disease severity-specific differences in EV protein profiles. In Black women (n = 172), AFM, C4A, and APOA1 were significantly elevated, while in White participants (n = 103), no proteins reached significance, although AFM displayed a nonsignificant trend toward higher abundance. In participants with severe hepatic steatosis (n = 43), subgroup analysis showed increased COL18A1, AFM, PRG4, and INHBE and decreased C4A and APOA1. INHBE was the only protein consistently elevated across all three subgroups, whereas others showed subgroup-specific enrichment, such as immunoglobulins in Black women and complement or coagulation proteins in White participants and those with severe steatosis. Analysis of hepatic transcriptomic datasets demonstrated consistently higher INHBE expression across the MASLD spectrum, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), while AFM expression was significantly higher in the MASH vs. steatosis comparison. Conclusions This study demonstrates that circulating EV proteomes differ by hepatic steatosis status in postmenopausal women. While exploratory, candidate EV proteins such as INHBE and AFM merit validation as biomarkers and potential contributors to MASLD in this high-risk population.

Aquaculture Science and Management is an open access peer-reviewed journal that aims to publish innovative research about the welfare and management of ...

Despite limited researches revealed potential relationship between dietary habits and diseases in recent years, there is still a lack of systematic underst

Background The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is strongly associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and is particularly rich in polyphenols, bioactive compounds with potential cardioprotective effects. However, the specific phenolic compounds underlying these benefits remain unclear. The objective of this study was to develop a urinary multi-metabolite signature of phenolic compounds reflecting MedDiet adherence and to evaluate its prospective association with CVD risk. Methods In a case–cohort nested study within the PREDIMED trial, we measured 62 phenolic metabolites in spot urine by liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry at baseline and after 1 year in 1180 individuals: 653 incident CVD cases (stroke, myocardial infarction, CVD death, or heart failure) and a random subcohort of 603 participants (76 overlapping cases). We applied elastic net regression to derive a urinary multi-metabolite signature prospectively associated with MedDiet adherence, measured by the validated 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). Multivariable Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD by levels of the multi-metabolite signature. Results The urinary multi-metabolite signature, comprising eight phenolic compounds selected by elastic net regression, was inversely associated with CVD risk in a dose–response pattern (HR per SD = 0.80 (0.68–0.94); HR Q4 vs Q1 = 0.48 (0.30–0.78); p-trend = 0.002). The metabolites included in the signature were derived from foods typical of the MedDiet, particularly virgin olive oil, wine, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. After 1 year, MedDiet interventions significantly increased urolithin A metabolites (derived from walnuts) compared to the control group. Conclusions We identified a urinary multi-metabolite signature of MedDiet adherence that is prospectively associated with lower CVD incidence. These findings support that polyphenols derived from the MedDiet showed inverse associations with cardiovascular outcomes. Trial registration The study was registered with the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 35739639.

Mpox, primarily endemic to Central and West Africa, has seen a concerning global rise in recent years. There is a critical need to synthesize evidence on s

The ovaries play essential roles in providing oocytes for fertilization and secreting sex hormones that regulate various organ functions. Autophagy has been implicated in the modulation of ovarian functions, yet its mechanisms of action are complex and context-dependent. Within the ovary, autophagy fulfills a dual function, serving as a critical mechanism in facilitating oocyte development, maintaining granulosa cell viability, regulating hormone synthesis, ovulation and luteal function. Conversely, dysregulation of autophagy can interact with other death signals, leading to cell death of ovarian cells, and has been linked to the development of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Emerging evidence suggests that pharmacological modulation of autophagy exerts significant therapeutic effects on POI and PCOS. Despite this association, numerous unresolved issues persist in this field of research. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the context-dependent roles of autophagy in ovarian physiology and disorders, and proposes potential applications of autophagy-based interventions as therapeutic strategies for addressing ovarian dysfunctions.

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex immune-mediated disease with a strong female predominance. This sex bias may be linked to the presence of two X chromosomes, which are not always adequately dosage compensated by X chromosome inactivation (XCI). Disruption in X-linked transcriptome expression may contribute to altered immune function and increased susceptibility to autoimmunity. Methods To investigate the role of X-linked gene expression in SLE, we performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of 27 immune cell types from 125 female SLE patients and 66 healthy controls. We further applied a multivariate approach to integrate X-linked gene expression across all immune cell types and classify SLE patients. Additionally, we extended these models to other chromosomes and explored the correlation between autosome disease markers, including members of the XIST-interactome, and X-linked expression. Results We observed a significant increase in X-linked gene expression in T cells, B cells and plasmablasts, while monocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells exhibited the opposite trend. Multivariate models based solely on X-linked expression were highly accurate and highlighted key disease-associated markers. Interestingly, autosome-based models relied on markers highly correlated with X-linked gene expression and components of the XIST-interactome, which regulates XCI. Notably, we found that XIST lncRNA was consistently downregulated across multiple cell types, particularly in monocytes and Th1 cells. Such downregulation correlated with increased expression of SLE-associated genes, interferon signalling, and epigenetic regulators like KMT2D. Further analysis revealed extensive dysregulation of the XIST-interactome in SLE, predicting X-linked transcriptome alterations in a cell-type-specific manner. Conclusions Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of X-linked gene expression across immune cells in SLE. Our study highlights the complexity of X-linked transcriptional changes, with distinct patterns observed across both innate and adaptive immune cell types. These findings offer novel insights into the role of the X-transcriptome in sex-biased autoimmune susceptibility and may support future efforts to identify molecular targets relevant to SLE pathogenesis.

The gut microbiota are increasingly recognised as key mediators of diet-related health outcomes. This systematic review primarily aimed to comprehensively

Editorial Open access Published: BioData Mining 18, Article number: 78 (2025) Cite this article 415 Accesses 14 Altmetric Metrics The rise of large language models (LLMs) has revolutionized biomedical data science, transforming the way we access, synthesize, and reason over data and information.

Background The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and thyroid hormone sensitivity remains unclear. Thyroid hormone sensitivity indices may reveal subclinical hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis dysregulation beyond conventional hormone levels. Methods We analyzed 718 euthyroid adults who underwent overnight sleep monitoring, using thyroid‑stimulating hormone index (TSHI), thyroid feedback quantile-based index (TFQI), parametric thyroid feedback quantile-based index (PTFQI), thyrotroph T4 resistance index (TT4RI), thyrotroph T3 resistance index (TT3RI) and the ratio of free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine (FT3/FT4 ratio) to assess central and peripheral thyroid hormone sensitivity. Analysis of covariance assessed differences across OSA severity after adjusting for age and BMI. Multivariable linear regression examined associations between OSA severity and thyroid hormone sensitivity indices in sex-stratified models. Correlations between OSA-related parameters and thyroid hormones sensitivity indices were further explored using quadratic prediction plots. Results Among females, OSA patients showed higher FT4 and significantly increased TFQI, PTFQI, TSHI, and TT4RI, but lower FT3/FT4 ratio compared with non-OSA. TFQI (P for trend = 0.0395) and TT4RI (P for trend = 0.0293) were positively correlated with increasing OSA severity. OSA was independently associated with elevated TFQI (β = 0.26, 95% CI 0.010–0.42, P = 0.001), PTFQI (β = 0.20, 95% CI 0.05–0.35, P = 0.011), TSHI (β = 0.24, 95% CI 0.03–0.44, P = 0.025), and TT4RI (β = 6.82, 95% CI 0.59–13.05, P = 0.033). apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were significantly correlated with TT4RI (P = 0.034, 0.021, respectively). No significant associations were observed in males. Conclusions OSA is associated with impaired central and peripheral thyroid hormone sensitivity in euthyroid females, but not in males.

Dairy Science and Management is a new open access peer-reviewed journal that aims to publish innovative research about the welfare and management of dairy ...

It remains unclear whether modifying dietary carbohydrate intake affects insulin concentration and sensitivity in children and adolescents with overweight/

Background This study aimed to assess the prevalence of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist use and interest in using medications for weight loss among adults (≥ 18 years) in Great Britain. Methods Nationally representative household survey, January–March 2025 (n = 5893). Participants were asked whether they had used medication in the past year to manage type 2 diabetes (excluding insulin), reduce the risk of heart disease, or support weight loss and, if so, whether they had used any of five specific GLP-1 or dual GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. Those who had not used medication to support weight loss in the past year were asked how likely they would be to consider doing so in the next year. Estimates were reported stratified by participant characteristics and extrapolated to the national population. Results Overall, 2.9% [2.4–3.4%]— approximately 1.6 million adults—reported using a GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medication to support weight loss in the past year, with 1.7% [1.4–2.1%] (~ 910,000 adults) using them exclusively for this purpose. Of those who used them exclusively for weight loss, the majority (91.4% [85.6–97.2%]) reported using medications licensed for this purpose in Great Britain, most commonly Mounjaro (tirzepatide; 80.2% [71.9–88.6%]). Of those who had not used weight-loss medication in the past year, 6.5% [5.7–7.3%] (~ 3.3 million adults) expressed an interest in doing so in the next year. Use and interest were more prevalent among women, people in mid-life, and those reporting past-month psychological distress. Interest was also higher among people facing greater socioeconomic disadvantage. Conclusions In the first quarter of 2025, an estimated 4.9 million adults in Great Britain—nearly one in ten—either had recently used a GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP medication to support weight loss or were interested in doing so in the near future. A substantial minority reported using a type of GLP-1 medication that was not licensed for weight management, suggesting off-label use. Interest was particularly high among less advantaged socioeconomic groups, while use was similar across groups, highlighting the importance of addressing equity in access. These findings underscore the need to monitor who is accessing these medications and to ensure their safe, appropriate, and equitable provision.

Introduction The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth is increasing and in-utero exposure to maternal diabetes is a known risk factor, with higher risk associated with pregestational T2D exposure compared to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exposure. We hypothesize this differential risk is reflected in DNA methylation (DNAm) changes induced by differential timing of in-utero exposure to maternal diabetes, and that exposure to diabetes throughout pregnancy (T2D) compared to exposure later in development (GDM), induces different DNAm signatures and different T2D risk to offspring. This study presents an epigenome-wide investigation of DNAm alterations associated with in-utero exposure to either maternal pregestational T2D or GDM, to determine if the timing of prenatal diabetes exposure differentially alters DNAm. Methods We performed an epigenome-wide analysis on cord blood from 99 newborns exposed to pregestational T2D, 70 newborns exposed to GDM, and 41 unexposed to diabetes in-utero from the Next Generation birth cohort. Associations were tested using multiple linear regression models while adjusting for sex, maternal age, BMI, smoking status, gestational age, cord blood cell type proportions and batch effects. Results We identified 27 differentially methylated sites associated with exposure to GDM, 27 sites associated with exposure to T2D, and 9 common sites associated with exposure to either GDM or T2D (adjusted p value < 0.05 and effect size estimate > 0.01). One site at CLDN15 and two unannotated sites were previously reported as associated with obesity. We also identified 87 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with in-utero exposure to GDM and 69 DMRs associated with in-utero exposure to T2D. We identified 23 DMR sites that were previously associated with obesity, three with T2D and five with in-utero exposure to GDM. Furthermore, we identified six CpG sites in the PTPRN2 gene, a gene previously associated with DNAm differences in blood of youth with T2D from the same population. Conclusion Our findings support that in-utero exposure to maternal diabetes is associated with DNAm alterations in offspring. Moreover, the timing of maternal diabetes in-utero exposure (GDM or T2D) produces overlapping but distinct DNAm patterns, suggesting that the window of exposure to maternal diabetes produces different molecular modifications and may reflect, at least in part, the difference in risk for youth-onset T2D in offspring. We also identified sites in this study that have been previously associated with T2D or obesity, which may serve as potential early-life biomarkers of exposure and/or risk, warranting further investigation in longitudinal studies.

Background Elevated serum cholesterol levels are linked to an increased risk of colorectal adenomas and colorectal cancer (CRC), yet the role of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in CRC development remains unclear. This study explores the impact of cholesterol on tumor growth and the potential therapeutic effects of Lactobacillus and Simvastatin. Methods We utilized a cecal tumor xenograft mouse model with Ldlr−/− mice to assess the effects of high cholesterol levels on tumor growth. Additionally, the role of gut microbiota remodeling and cholesterol-lowering strategies was investigated using Lactobacillus supplementation and Simvastatin treatment. Results Ldlr−/− mice on a high-cholesterol diet developed significantly larger tumors (P < 0.05) and exhibited exacerbated malignancy, as indicated by HE and Ki-67 staining. Lactobacillus supplementation reduced tumor growth (P < 0.05), lowered serum cholesterol levels, and altered the gut microbiota composition, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa. Simvastatin treatment reduced PD-L1 expression in CRC cells by lowering cholesterol levels, which was associated with decreased CRC proliferation, reduced serum LDL levels, and enhanced T cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. Conclusion Elevated serum cholesterol promotes CRC progression, while gut microbiota remodeling through Lactobacillus supplementation and cholesterol-lowering interventions, such as Simvastatin, show potential in mitigating tumor growth and enhancing antitumor immune responses. These findings highlight the importance of cholesterol management in CRC treatment strategies.

Care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has traditionally relied on in-person visits for disease management. However, technological advances have paved the way for innovation in healthcare delivery in the IBD space, most notably through mobile health applications (apps). These apps have many capabilities including, but not limited to, helping patients track symptoms and food intake, communicating with medical providers, connecting with nutritionists, providing access to mental health resources, and providing education about IBD. Given the ubiquity of smartphones and increasing prevalence of technology involvement in healthcare, there is a plethora of apps available for personal and professional use in IBD care. We reviewed and compared some of the most studied and popular apps available on the marketplace to help clinicians understand the state of mobile technologies for IBD and see the potential value of integrating apps in the traditional IBD care model. Furthermore, we review the current state of wearable technology and explore next steps in technology development to further augment care for patients with IBD. IBD is a lifelong disease, without a cure, and a multidisciplinary management approach is critical. Health apps offer unique opportunities for an integrated management strategy, empowering patients to have more involvement in their care, and providing clinicians with real-time clinical data to tailor more personalized treatment plans.

Diagnosing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in general population settings is challengin

Background Aging theory suggests that animals should reproduce early at a cost to longevity, leading to a fecundity-longevity trade-off. Social insects with long-lived reproductive queens and short-lived helper workers are notable exceptions, primarily attributed to selection on queen lifespan in the protected nest and increased extrinsic mortality of workers performing risky outside tasks. By creating different age groups of non-reproductive workers in an ant where workers can replace reproductive queens and by isolating single workers with and without helpers, we investigated the effect of age on reproductive and parenting abilities and the impact of help on reproductive worker lifespan. Results Isolated workers could become reproductive and raise offspring to adulthood despite commencing reproduction at ages twice the median lifespan of non-reproductive worker ants. Experimentally selected old workers converged with workers half the median age to a common lifespan maximum of about 600 days in the absence of worker help. However, most reproductive workers surviving beyond this point were associated with at least one helper worker and showed a marked lifespan increase. In a separate test, helper presence increased the median life-span at least 2.6-fold in single, isolated workers compared to helperless workers. Conclusions Helper presence may be a primary reason for the longevity differences between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals in social insects similar to cooperatively breeding birds and mammals while mechanisms associated with selection on queen lifespan have evolved secondarily. Contrary to many ant species with high extrinsic mortality, some with sexual reproduction invest in reproductive capacities until advanced age.