Association of bioimpedance-derived parameters with pulse wave velocity: Phase angle, extracellular to intracellular water ratio, and body cell mass.

This study investigated the association between parameters derived from bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) and arterial stiffness, as measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) pulse wave velocities. Data from 292 Japanese adults were analyzed. BIS was used to assess the phase angle (PhA), extracellular water to intracellular water ratio (ECW/ICW), and body cell mass-to-free fat mass ratio (BCM/FFM).

Culture-independent meta-pangenomics enabled by long-read metagenomics reveals associations with pediatric undernutrition.

The human gut microbiome is linked to child malnutrition, yet traditional microbiome approaches lack resolution. We hypothesized that complete metagenome-assembled genomes (cMAGs), recovered through long-read (LR) DNA sequencing, would enable pangenome and microbial genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses to identify microbial genetic associations with child linear growth. LR methods produced 44-64× more cMAGs per gigabase pair (Gbp) than short-read methods, with PacBio (PB) yielding the most accurate and cost-effective assemblies.

Preparation of functional metagenomic libraries from low biomass samples using METa assembly and their application to capture antibiotic resistance genes.

A significant challenge in the field of microbiology is the functional annotation of novel genes from microbiomes. The increasing pace of sequencing technology development has made solving this challenge in a high-throughput manner even more important. Functional metagenomics offers a sequence-naive and cultivation-independent solution.

Effects of gut microbiota on cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization and case-control study.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests a potential role of the gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the relationship between the gut microbiome (GM) and PD dementia (PDD) remains debated, with their causal effects and underlying mechanisms not yet fully understood.

Methods: Utilizing data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs), this study applied bidirectional and mediating Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal relationship and underlying mechanisms between the GM and PDD.

Unifying DNA methylation-based cell-type deconvolution with .

Summary: Cell-type deconvolution is widely applied to gene expression and DNA methylation data, but access to methods for the latter remains limited. We introduce , a new R package that simplifies access to DNA methylation-based deconvolution methods predominantly for blood data, and we additionally compare their estimates to those from gene expression and experimental ground truth data using a unique matched blood dataset.

Availability And Implementation: is available at https://github.

Scopus-based bibliometric analysis of research trends in silage feed and its impact on rumen fermentation in ruminants.

Background And Aim: Silage plays a pivotal role in ruminant nutrition, significantly influencing rumen fermentation, animal productivity, and environmental sustainability. Despite extensive research on silage and fermentation, a comprehensive synthesis of global trends and collaborations in this domain has not been systematically explored. This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of global research on silage feed and its effects on rumen fermentation in ruminants.

Dietary Consumption of Type 2 Resistant Starch and d-Fagomine Delays Progression of Metabolic Disturbances in Male Rats on High-Fat Diet.

High-fat (HF) diets contribute to obesity, insulin resistance, fatty liver, gut microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative stress, and low-grade chronic inflammation. This study evaluated the preventive effects of dietary Type 2 resistant starch (RS2) from high-amylose maize and low-dose d-fagomine (FG) from buckwheat on these metabolic disturbances. Male Wistar-Kyoto rats (9-10 weeks old) were assigned to four diet groups for 10 weeks: standard (STD) diet, HF diet (45% kcal from fat), HF + RS diet (15% RS2), and HF + FG diet (0.

Bacillus drives functional states in synthetic plant root bacterial communities.

Background: Plant roots release root exudates to attract microbes that form root communities, which in turn promote plant health and growth. Root community assembly arises from millions of interactions between microbes and the plant, leading to robust and stable microbial networks. To manage the complexity of natural root microbiomes for research purposes, scientists have developed reductionist approaches using synthetic microbial inocula (SynComs).

Learning ecosystem-scale dynamics from microbiome data with MDSINE2.

Although dynamical systems models are a powerful tool for analysing microbial ecosystems, challenges in learning these models from complex microbiome datasets and interpreting their outputs limit use. We introduce the Microbial Dynamical Systems Inference Engine 2 (MDSINE2), a Bayesian method that learns compact and interpretable ecosystems-scale dynamical systems models from microbiome timeseries data. Microbial dynamics are modelled as stochastic processes driven by interaction modules, or groups of microbes with similar interaction structure and responses to perturbations, and additionally, noise characteristics of data are modelled.

Rickettsia lanei, sp. nov. (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), a Newly Recognized Pathogen of Humans Associated with the Rabbit Tick, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Acari: Ixodidae).

Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (the rabbit tick) is one of the most broadly distributed hard tick species in the Americas. In 2018, investigators amplified DNA from a spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) species found in host-seeking larvae and nymphs of H. leporispalustris collected in northern California and proposed the name Candidatus "Rickettsia lanei" using results obtained via multilocus sequence typing.

Pharmacological insights into gut microbiota modulation in systemic lupus erythematosus: Mechanisms, treatment strategies, and clinical implications.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by widespread inflammation and immune system dysregulation. Recent research suggests that the gut microbiota may play a role in the development of SLE by modulating immune system responses, affecting cytokine production, and altering the activity of T and B cells lymphocytes. As a result, there is a growing interest in microbiota-targeted therapies, including probiotics, dietary changes, and fecal microbiota transplantation.

Umbelliferone Alleviates Sleep Deprivation Induced Cognitive Impairment through the Modulation of Gut Microbiota.

Sleep deprivation (SD) is a major contributor to cognitive impairment, often accompanied by central neuroinflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The tryptophan (TRP) pathway, activated via indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), serves as a critical link between immune activation and neuronal damage. Umbelliferone (UMB), a naturally occurring coumarin compound, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and microbiota-modulating properties.

Lactococcal mobile genetic elements harbour a diverse phage defensome rich in restriction-modification systems.

The genomes of 43 distinct lactococcal strains were reconstructed by a combination of long- and short-read sequencing, resolving the plasmid complement and methylome of these strains. The genomes comprised 43 chromosomes of approximately 2.5 Mb each and 269 plasmids ranging from 2 to 211 kb (at an average occurrence of 6 per strain).

Glycyrrhizin alleviates renal damage in MRL/lpr mice by modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis and regulating the RTK-PKCα axis: insights from reverse network pharmacology.

The present investigation elucidates the therapeutic potential of glycyrrhizin, the predominant triterpene saponin isolated from (licorice), in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disorder characterized by multisystemic involvement and therapeutic recalcitrance. Comprehensive interrogation of multiple disease-specific databases facilitated the identification of crucial SLE-associated molecular targets and hub genes, with MAPK1, MAPK3, TP53, JUN, and JAK2 demonstrating the highest degree of network centrality. Subsequent molecular docking simulations and binding affinity assessments revealed compounds with exceptional complementarity to these pivotal molecular targets, establishing as a pharmacologically promising botanical source and glycyrrhizin as its principal bioactive constituent meriting comprehensive mechanistic investigation.

Unraveling Novel Mechanisms Controlling Heterosis in seeds: Advances and Biotechnological Applications in crops.

Heterosis refers to the superior performance of hybrids over their parents (inbred lines) in one or more characteristics. Hence, understanding this process is crucial for addressing food insecurity. This review explores the traditional genetic models proposed to explain heterosis and integrates them with emerging perspectives such as epigenetic studies and multi-omics approaches which are increasingly used to investigate the molecular basis of heterosis in plants.

Changes in fecal bacterial and fungal diversity, blood short chain fatty acids, and metabolomics in stage IV colorectal cancer patients.

Background And Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in fecal microbial diversity and metabolic product levels in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim was to provide new research strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC.

Methods: Fecal and blood samples were collected from both stage IV CRC patients and healthy individuals.

The evolutionary relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages and type 2 diabetes mellitus since 1989.

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and progressive decline in pancreatic beta cell function. It is a public health problem of great magnitude that has been increasing globally over the last 4 decades. The latest research has found that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), as an important dietary risk factor, are closely related to the occurrence and development of T2DM.

Dietary methionine regulation of cognitive function: Evidence, mechanisms, and implementation strategies.

Cognitive disorders, a rapidly growing public health concern, can be prevented by a healthy diet. Several studies have shown that protein intake is a key modulator of cognitive function. The development of precision nutrition has allowed the study of specific amino acids within proteins, with many studies reporting that the level of methionine (Met) intake plays a central role in modulating cognitive function.

Preparation and Characterization of Polysaccharides From Grifola frondosa and Their Human Intestinal Flora-modulating Effect.

A novel and efficient hydrogen peroxide/ascorbic acid-assisted extraction method for the preparation of Grifola frondosa polysaccharide (GFP) was developed, and two GFP fractions (GFP-H and GFP-L) with different molecular weights (Mws) were obtained by separation with ultrafiltration. Both high Mw component (GFP-H, Mw 396.4 kDa) and low Mw component (GFP-L, Mw 12.

Breaking the reproducibility barrier with standardized protocols for plant-microbiome research.

Inter-laboratory replicability is crucial yet challenging in microbiome research. Leveraging microbiomes to promote soil health and plant growth requires understanding underlying molecular mechanisms using reproducible experimental systems. In a global collaborative effort involving five laboratories, we aimed to help advance reproducibility in microbiome studies by testing our ability to replicate synthetic community assembly experiments.

A Porcine Monoclonal Antibody Targeting a Conserved GP4 Epitope Protects against In Vivo Infection via the Induction of Broad-Spectrum PRRSV Neutralization.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) imposes substantial economic losses on global swine production. While modified live vaccines remain the primary prevention tool, their efficacy is compromised by the genetic variability of PRRSV. This study developed a broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets a conserved viral epitope as an alternative therapeutic strategy.

A Multimodal Observational Case-Control Study Exploring Gut Microbiota-Hippocampus Alterations in Individuals With High Positive Schizotypy From the General Population.

Background: The hippocampus plays a critical role in psychosis, with reduced volume observed across the psychosis continuum. These structural changes are associated with cognitive deficits, symptom severity, and increased risk of psychosis progression. Elevated hippocampal perfusion and glutamate/GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) imbalance further suggest metabolic dysregulation as a key mechanism.

Dynamic male mouse gut microbiota signature linked to improved wound healing of a novel salecan hydrogel dressing.

Salecan-based hydrogel (thereafter called Sal-hydrogel) dressings and gut microbiota have been associated with enhanced wound healing. However, the relationship between these two factors remains unclear. This study investigated the dynamic characteristics of the intestinal microbiota in relation to the Sal-hydrogel dressings and their role in promoting wound healing.

Gut dysbiosis is linked to severe steatosis and enhances its diagnostic performance in MASLD.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease globally, with rising prevalence linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Excessive liver fat accumulation (steatosis) worsens disease progression and MASLD prognosis. Moreover, gut microbiota dysbiosis might promote steatosis, accelerating the disease progression to severe stages.

Uncovering the Anti-Atherosclerotic Effect of Isoquercitrin via Microbiome Metabolic Modulation and Network Pharmacology.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is increasingly recognized as a disease influenced not only by lipid metabolism and inflammation but also by the gut microbiota and their bioactive metabolites. Isoquercitrin (ISO), a natural flavonoid with food-medicine homology, has shown promising antiatherosclerotic potential, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, ISO administration significantly reduced plaque burden, improved lipid profiles, and restored gut microbial balance by enriching beneficial taxa, such as , , and .