Coltsfoot ( L.; Asteraceae): modern methods of extraction, phytochemistry, nanoparticles synthesis, ethnopharmacology, and biological activities.

L. (Asteraceae), commonly known as coltsfoot, is a widely recognised medicinal plant, traditionally used for treating respiratory, digestive, and circulatory ailments. Its therapeutic potential is attributed to a diverse phytochemical profile comprising alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, which contribute to its reported neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities.

Gender-Specific Interactions Between Adiposity, Alcohol Consumption, and Biological Stress Biomarkers Among College Students in the United States.

Background: Obesity is a well-documented risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases associated with insulin resistance. However, research on its relationship with alcohol intake and stress markers, such as cortisol and α-amylase, remains limited, particularly among young adults in the general population.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between adiposity measures, alcohol intake, and biological stress biomarkers among college students.

Whole grains are not equal: the role of fiber structure and phytochemicals in health.

Precision nutrition seeks to optimize human health by tailoring dietary interventions to individual genetic, metabolic, microbial, and lifestyle profiles. In this context, whole grains (WGs) serve as ideal candidates, as their diverse fiber structures and grain-specific phytochemicals interact dynamically with host physiology and the gut microbiome. This review examines six widely consumed WGs: wheat ( L.

Exploring the impact of a high-fat diet on the serotonin signaling in gut-brain axis.

Serotonin is a critical neurotransmitter that regulates a wide range of physiological, neurological, and behavioral functions. While peripheral serotonin, primarily produced in the gut, modulates gastrointestinal motility and vascular tone, central serotonin that is synthesized in the brain governs processes such as food intake, emotion regulation, memory, learning, and sexual behavior. Chronic consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) disrupts serotonin signaling across the gut, brain, and the gut-brain axis, which supports bidirectional communication between these systems.

Insights into Phenolamides in Whole Grain Barley: Chemical Profile and Their Levels in Barley-Based Products.

Barley ( L.) is a nutrient-rich whole grain (WG) with pharmacological potential, partly attributed to its phenolamide content. Using ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRESI-MS) integrated with Global Natural Products Social (GNPS) molecular networking, we identified 50 phenolamides in WG barley, including 13 agmatines, 14 spermidines, two putrescine conjugates, and 21 hordatines.

Sustainable nanomanufacturing: two-dimensional materials transfer using a bioderived and biodegradable supportive polymer.

Current methods for transferring 2D materials typically rely on non-biodegradable support polymers, which have a detrimental impact on the environment due to the extensive use of solvents required for polymer removal and the introduction of transfer-induced defects. In this study, we present an approach for synthesizing a biodegradable polyester, poly-angelica lactone (PAL) derived from bio-based raw materials, angelica lactone (α-AL). The biodegradability of the synthesized PAL is activated through a specific mechanism, which has been validated by FTIR and H NMR.

Rapid Neurological Decline in a Patient With Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: A Case Report.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, rapidly progressive spongiform encephalopathy caused by the accumulation of misfolded prion proteins, which undergo a transformation from the normal alpha-helix configuration (PrPC) to abnormal beta-pleated sheets (PrPSc). The disease typically leads to a rapidly progressive decline in motor, neurologic, and functional abilities, often culminating in severe disability or death within months. However, the rate of progression can vary significantly among patients, as well as the classification of CJD; being either sporadic, genetic, or acquired (infectious) with some cases demonstrating an exceptionally accelerated course.

Evaluating the Role of Food Security in the Context of Quality of Life in Underserved Communities: The ISAC Approach.

Quality of life (QOL) is a multifaceted concept involving a variety of factors which define the overall well-being of individuals. Food security, which implies a resilient food system, is one factor that is central to the calculus of the QOL status of a community considering that food is a staple of life. Advancing food security as a strategy for attaining sustained improvement in community QOL hinges on recognizing that food security is embedded in a matrix of other factors that work with it to generate the QOL the community experiences.

Dynamin regulates PLK-1 localization and spindle pole assembly during mitosis.

Accurate cytokinesis is essential for maintaining genomic integrity. Although the GTPase dynamin has been well studied for its role in vesicular trafficking, its function during mitosis remains poorly understood. In this study, we uncover a novel role for the dynamin homolog, DYN-1, in regulating mitotic spindle pole assembly and the spatiotemporal localization of the key mitotic kinase Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1).

Health, Safety, and Aging in Elderly Farmers in the United States and Beyond: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Objectives: Understanding elderly farmers' health and risk factors is fundamental to preventing agricultural injuries and illnesses as the farming population ages. Few reviews have focused on how aging impacts farmers' health and safety. This study reviews scientific literature that characterizes aging farmers' physical and mental health, work-related risk factors, and potential interventions to support healthy work and aging.

Investigating the effects of ultrasound and alkaline pH on protein recovery from Acipenser baerii heads: Insight into ultrastructural, functional and antioxidant attributes.

This study investigated the effects of ultrasound combination and alkaline pH adjustment on protein extraction from Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). Optimal protein extraction, solubility, and essential amino acid content were achieved at pH 11.5, within the tested range of 10.

Effect of Acute Gut Butyrate Delivery on Blood Pressure in Black Individuals With Hypertension: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: Hypertension is a global health crisis linked to increased heart disease and stroke. Black individuals have the greatest burden of hypertension and related diseases. Recent research suggests that the gut microbial production of short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, is associated with blood pressure (BP) regulation.

Influence of Different Litter Regimens on Ceca Microbiota Profiles in -Challenged Broiler Chicks.

A 14-day study was conducted to evaluate the effect of litter type (dirty litter, DL; fresh litter, FL) and Enteritidis SE challenge (no challenge, NC; challenge, SE) on the growth performance and cecal microbial composition of neonate chicks. Day-old chicks ( = 240, Ross 708 male) were allocated to a 2 × 2 factorial design consisting of four treatments: chicks raised on dirty litter (CONDL), chicks raised on fresh litter (CONFL); and chicks raised on litter types similar to CONDL and CONFL but inoculated with 7.46 × 108 CFU SE/mL at d 1 (CONDLSE and CONFLSE).

Frequency of Electronic Personal Health Record Use in US Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study of a National Survey.

Background: Electronic personal health records (ePHRs) hold significant potential to improve health management for older adults by enhancing access to medical information and facilitating communication with health care providers. However, usage remains low among individuals aged 65 and older. While existing research has identified barriers such as low self-efficacy, limited digital literacy, and usability challenges, the specific factors influencing the use of ePHRs among older adults are not yet fully understood.

Outcomes of Human Metapneumovirus Infections in Nursing Home Residents: A Matched Cohort Analysis.

Background: Identified in 2001, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection can lead to hospitalization and death, especially in older adults and children.

Methods: This retrospective, propensity-matched study compared cases of hMPV infection with cases of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection for hospitalization and death outcomes in older adults living in Community Living Centers (CLCs), nursing homes operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. We evaluated electronic medical records from July 2017 to June 2024.

Pervasive Intestinal Carriage with Multiple Species of Extended Spectrum Cephalosporin-Resistant Enterobacterales in Children Admitted for Severe Acute Malnutrition at a Tertiary Hospital in Malawi.

Using culture-based screening of stool specimens, 80.3% of 188 children hospitalized for severe acute malnutrition in Malawi carried extended spectrum cephalosporin resistant Enterobacterales (ESCR-E) at admission. 38.

Nurse and parent perspectives of a neonatal intensive care unit redesign from open-bay to single-family rooms.

Objective: To assess nurse and parent perspectives of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) redesign from open-bay (OPBY) to single-family rooms (SFR).

Study Design: We analyze interviews with NICU nurses and surveys with parents/guardians of neonates discharged from the NICU in the OPBY compared to SFR settings.

Results: The SFR design increased privacy, eased facilitation of sterile and isolation procedures, and improved perceived comfort of parent participation in breastfeeding and kangaroo, or skin-to-skin, care.

Isolation, identification, and production optimization of natural functional pigments produced by LWT-1.

Natural microbial pigments are gaining attention for their potential in various applications due to their safety and sustainability. In this study, we isolated a high-yielding pigment-producing fungus identified as LWT-1. The predominant pigment compounds were isolated from the culture extract of LWT-1 through various chromatographic methods and identified as talaroconvolutins A () and B (), and talarofuranone ().

Short-term high-fat diet elevates oxidative stress in male but not female A53T mice without altering striatal dopaminergic markers.

High-fat diet (HFD) consumption influences the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD), with effects varying based on exposure duration. This study examined the impact of a short-term, lard-based HFD on motor and anxiety-like behaviors, as well as dopaminergic markers, in a PD mouse model (A53T mice). One-month-old male and female A53T mice were fed either a control (10 % kcal from fat) or an HFD (45 % kcal from fat) diet for three months.

Large Language Model (LLM)-Based Advances in Prediction of Post-translational Modification Sites in Proteins.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are vital regulators of protein function, influencing a myriad of cellular processes and disease mechanisms. Traditional experimental methods for PTM identification are both costly and labor-intensive, underlining the pressing need for efficient computational approaches. Early computational strategies predominantly relied on primary amino acid sequences and handcrafted features, which often lacked the contextual and structural understanding necessary for precise PTM site prediction.

A phase I dose escalation study of Polyphenon E in liver cirrhosis: Evaluation of safety and effect on liver γ-OHPdG levels.

Accumulation of the DNA adduct γ-hydroxy-1, N2-propanodeoxyguanosine (γ-OHPdG) is associated with HCC development. Theaphenon E-a green tea polyphenol extract dosed according to mg of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-suppresses the formation of γ-OHPdG and reduces hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in preclinical models. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of Polyphenon E (Theaphenon E equivalent) and its effect on liver γ-OHPdG levels in patients with cirrhosis.

Starches in Rice: Effects of Rice Variety and Processing/Cooking Methods on Their Glycemic Index.

Rice is a fundamental food source for more than fifty percent of the world's population, significantly contributing to human nutrition and food security. Like other cereal grains, rice is rich in starch, although it also contains protein, vitamins, and minerals. Regular consumption of white rice has been reported to be positively associated with the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in rice-consuming countries due to the high glycemic index (GI) of white rice.

Prospects and Trends in Biomedical Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Devices: A Review.

Designing and manufacturing devices at the micro- and nanoscales offers significant advantages, including high precision, quick response times, high energy density ratios, and low production costs. These benefits have driven extensive research in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS), resulting in various classifications of materials and manufacturing techniques, which are ultimately used to produce different classifications of MEMS devices. The current work aims to systematically organize the literature on MEMS in biomedical devices, encompassing past achievements, present developments, and future prospects.

Insight on the Mechanical Properties of Facile Hydrophobic-Barrier-Patterned Bacterial Nanocellulose via Self-Bonding Mechanism.

Enhancing the mechanical and structural properties of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is key to its use in sustainable nanocomposites. This study employed a hot-press drying method with hydrophobic barriers, folding BNC into four layers and pressing with carbon fiber and Teflon sheets. At 120 °C, carbon fiber-pressed BNC achieved a tensile strength of 43.

Cumin essential oil-infused chitosan-PVA composite coatings: An innovative approach for developing antimicrobial, antioxidant and functionalized polyethylene films.

This study introduces a green and innovative approach to functionalizing low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films by laminating bioactive composite coatings of chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) infused with Cumin essential oil (CEO). The functionalized films were thoroughly characterized for their physicochemical, mechanical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Incorporating the CEO into the chitosan-PVA matrix significantly enhanced the films' tensile strength, reduced moisture content, and improved water vapor barrier properties, making them highly suitable for food packaging applications.