Life-Basel最新文献

Floccularia luteovirens is an edible and medicinal fungus with great development value on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but its artificial domestication and cultivation are limited by the lack of systematic research on cultivation substrate formulas and key parameters. This study adopted the technical route of "preliminary screening-single-factor optimization-response surface collaborative optimization" to conduct research on the screening and optimization of its domestication cultivation substrate. Firstly, through the preliminary screening of 26 groups of formulas, a basic cultivation substrate formula with compatible complex nutrition and physical structure was determined. Secondly, single-factor experiments clarified that mixed sawdust was the optimal main substrate, corn flour was the optimal auxiliary substrate, the suitable substrate-to-water ratio was 1:1.6, and the suitable compactness was a substrate surface height of 12-12.5 cm (corresponding to a bulk density of 1.10-1.15 g/cm³ and a porosity of 60.6-63.3%). Finally, based on the response surface Box-Behnken model, with the main substrate, substrate-to-water ratio, and compactness as independent variables, and the total mycelial growth in 30 days as the response value, response surface optimization was performed to obtain the optimal formula: main substrate 76.002%, substrate-to-water ratio 1:1.721, and compactness 12.845 cm. Under these conditions, the mycelial growth reached 28.75 mm, which was highly consistent with the model's predicted value (28.012 mm), and the constructed quadratic regression model showed excellent fitness (R² = 0.9920, p = 0.0008). This study clarified the core influencing factors and adaptation mechanism of the cultivation substrate for Floccularia luteovirens, filled the research gap in the domestication cultivation substrate of this fungus, and provided basic technical parameters for its large-scale artificial cultivation.

Pathologic myopia has become a major global cause of blindness, making timely surgical management for myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) increasingly important. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors associated with functional and anatomical outcomes following surgery for MTM and to determine the optimal timing for intervention. This retrospective study included 33 eyes from 28 patients with MTM without full-thickness macular hole who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade. Better preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and lower foveal height were associated with better postoperative BCVA, whereas longer axial length, higher MTM, and higher Atrophy-Traction-Neovascularization (ATN) classification grade were correlated with thinner postoperative central foveal thickness. Foveal detachment (FD), ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption, and advanced MTM grade were associated with poorer functional and anatomical outcomes. Postoperative visual outcomes should be interpreted with caution, as they may have been influenced by lens-related factors, including combined cataract surgery, post-vitrectomy cataract progression, and posterior capsule opacity. Nonetheless, consistent anatomical improvement was observed, supporting early surgical consideration in eyes with MTM showing progressive macular traction or EZ disruption, even in the absence of FD. These findings highlight the importance of serial OCT monitoring and individualized surgical timing based on preoperative assessments.

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus have now reached pandemic proportions, and their association has become very common. Some patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes remain symptomatic, with chest pain present despite the implementation of evidence-based medical treatment and maximal therapy. A hypothesis increasingly confirmed in clinical practice is that epicardial or microvascular spasm, or both, are frequently responsible for the lack of symptom control or for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events. Our review provides the most up-to-date and in-depth analysis of the available literature to provide solid knowledge about coronary spasm in diabetes patients. We have deepened the substrate of coronary spasm in relation to the multiple and complex structural and functional abnormalities produced by chronic hyperglycemia, with the ultimate goal of allowing optimization of treatment and improving patient outcomes.

Rosacea is increasingly recognized as a complex inflammatory disorder extending beyond isolated cutaneous pathology, involving dysregulated interactions between the skin, gastrointestinal system, and central nervous system. The skin-gut-brain axis has emerged as a relevant conceptual framework for understanding this multifactorial disease, integrating gut microbiota dysbiosis, neuroimmune signaling, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and stress-related mechanisms. The aim of this narrative hypothesis-driven overview is to reframe rosacea as a neuroimmune disorder in which central nervous system involvement plays an active regulatory role, rather than as a purely peripheral or dermatological condition. We synthesize the mechanistically relevant evidence linking gastrointestinal inflammation and microbial imbalance with neurogenic inflammation, mast cell activation, sebaceous gland dysfunction, and aberrant innate immune responses in the skin, with particular emphasis on neurovascular and trigeminal pathways. A key novelty of this perspective lies in highlighting brain-centered mechanisms, including central sensitization, autonomic dysregulation, and stress-related neural modulation, as integral components of the skin-gut-brain axis in rosacea. By integrating peripheral and central processes, we propose rosacea as a model condition for studying neuroimmune dysregulation across interconnected regulatory systems. Finally, we discuss the clinical and translational implications of this framework and outline future research directions, focusing on autonomic regulation, patient stratification, and personalized, multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches.

The study aimed to determine whether placental lesions differ according to the duration of dystocia. Forty-seven placentas were obtained from 18 bitches that underwent emergency cesarean sections. For descriptive purposes, the cases were classified into four groups based on the duration of dystocia: Group A, up to 6 h; Group B, 6-11.9 h; Group C, 12-24 h; and Group D, more than 24 h. Forty-seven placentas were studied. Both macroscopic and microscopic characteristics were evaluated in each placenta. Descriptive data were presented, and logistic and multinomial regression models were used to assess whether dystocia duration (in hours) is associated with the presence and severity of placental macro- and microscopic lesions. An hour increment over the mean in the duration of dystocia showed a non-significant trend to increasing the presence of macroscopic necrosis (OR: 1.11, p = 0.09) and mineralization (OR: 1.10, p = 0.06), and it also increased the severity of macroscopic congestion (OR: 1.44; p = 0.01) and showed a non-significant trend to increasing the severity of polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltrate (OR: 1.18; p = 0.06). These findings highlight the importance of early obstetric intervention in all cases of dystocia to minimize fetal hypoxia and improve neonatal outcomes. Moreover, the placenta could serve as a biomarker for fetal distress, as the presence of severe lesions indicates an increased risk for reduced neonatal survival.

Brucellosis diagnosis remains challenging in resource-limited endemic settings. This retrospective case-control study evaluated the diagnostic utility of mean platelet volume (MPV) and hematological inflammatory ratios in brucellosis. Fifty patients with confirmed brucellosis and 50 age-matched healthy controls were included at a university hospital in Turkey (2015-2018). Complete blood count parameters, hematological ratios (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR]), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated diagnostic performance; multivariate logistic regression developed a combined model. Brucellosis patients showed significantly lower MPV (8.04 ± 0.95 vs. 8.56 ± 0.69 fL, p = 0.002), higher platelet counts (305.0 ± 116.0 vs. 246.0 ± 55.2 × 10³/μL, p = 0.002), lower NLR (median: 1.69 vs. 2.07, p = 0.013), and higher LMR (median: 5.28 vs. 4.12, p = 0.008). ESR demonstrated the best individual diagnostic performance (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.842). The combined model (MPV + ESR + CRP) achieved superior performance (AUC = 0.891, sensitivity 84%, specificity 86%). Limitations include the single-center retrospective design, lack of internal validation, and comparison with healthy controls only. Notably, healthy controls were deliberately selected to establish baseline hematological profiles associated with brucellosis rather than to differentiate it from other infections. Brucellosis presents a unique hematological profile with decreased MPV and altered inflammatory ratios. The combined model offers a potentially cost-effective screening approach for endemic settings, pending external validation.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been suggested as a supplementary approach for endometrial preparation in IVF. Clinical results continue to be inconsistent. This narrative review synthesises molecular and clinical information to elucidate the function of G-CSF in modifying endometrial receptivity and to identify patient categories most likely to benefit. A thorough assessment was conducted on published research on G-CSF administration in women with treatment-resistant thin endometrium, recurrent implantation failure, and unselected IVF populations. The research demonstrates that G-CSF has phenotype-dependent effects. Improvements in pregnancy and live birth rates are inconsistent and seem dependent on the reversibility of underlying tissue disease; nevertheless, G-CSF reliably increases endometrial thickness in instances of thin endometrium and may restore eligibility for transfer. G-CSF improves implantation and early pregnancy outcomes in repeated implantation failure patients without modifying endometrial morphology, indicating a functional mechanism linked to immune-stromal synchronisation rather than structural expansion. In contrast, randomised controlled studies show no therapeutic benefit in unselected IVF groups. Discrepancies in research outcomes may mostly be attributed to variations in patient phenotype, initial endometrial function, and the therapy setting. Thus, G-CSF should be considered a specific approach for endometrial conditioning rather than just a supplementary component of IVF.

Background: The medial pterygoid muscle (MPM) is frequently implicated in pain and dysfunction in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), owing to its functional complexity, susceptibility to overload, and rich neuromuscular control. Paradoxically, in patients rehabilitated with tubero-pterygoid implants, whose apices often penetrate or traverse the MPM attachment, no pain, trismus, or TMD-related symptoms are typically observed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of implant penetration into the medial pterygoid muscle using CBCT and clinical examination after surgery and during follow-up visits.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 56 patients receiving a total of 116 tubero-pterygoid implants protruding beyond the pterygoid process of the sphenoid bone. Patients were divided into two groups according to implant penetration depth (<2 mm and >2 mm), with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Clinical outcomes related to pain, muscle disorders, and TMD symptoms were assessed.

Results: Throughout the observation period, all patients remained free of pain, muscular disorders, and signs or symptoms of TMD, regardless of the degree of muscular penetration. Statistical analysis revealed no association between penetration depth and adverse clinical outcomes.

Conclusions: The combined clinical and statistical evidence indicates that transmuscular penetration of the MPM by tubero-pterygoid implants is safe and well tolerated. These findings challenge traditional assumptions regarding MPM sensitivity and provide important guidance for surgical planning and maxillary rehabilitation strategies.

Natural Killer (NK) cells contribute to airway inflammation in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). IL-33, elevated in SEA, may modulate NK cell function, but its effects are unclear. We analyzed peripheral blood NK cell subsets from five SEA patients and five healthy controls using flow cytometry, assessing CD56/CD16-defined subsets and markers, CD57, NKG2A, CD62L, and ICAM-1, at baseline and after 72 h IL-33 stimulation. SEA patients showed reduced mature cytotoxic NK cells and altered expression of adhesion and regulatory molecules. IL-33 selectively increased ICAM-1 and NKG2A in mature NK cells, while decreasing these markers in immature subsets. These findings indicate that IL-33 differentially regulates NK-cell phenotype and function, highlighting NK cells as dynamic mediators of inflammation in SEA.

The human microbiota is increasingly recognized as a key component of women's reproductive health. This narrative review examines the vaginal, endometrial, and gut microbiota and their roles in the pathogenesis of gynecologic and obstetric disorders, aiming to integrate current evidence into a clinically relevant framework. We review intrinsic (genetic, hormonal, and immunological) and extrinsic (environmental, lifestyle, and pharmacological) factors shaping microbial composition, with particular focus on dysbiosis and the role of the gut estrobolome within the microbiome in estrogen metabolism. The review synthesizes data on microbiota alterations associated with endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps and hyperplasia, gynecologic malignancies, pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, infertility, and adverse obstetric outcomes, including preterm birth and fetal growth restriction. Methodological approaches used to characterize the reproductive tract microbiota, such as vaginal swabs, endometrial sampling, and fecal analysis, are critically discussed, together with limitations related to low-biomass environments and contamination risk. Evidence regarding therapeutic modulation of the microbiota, including antibiotics, probiotics, hormonal therapies, and emerging microbiota-based interventions, is summarized, alongside the impact of gynecologic surgery on microbial translocation and long-term microbial balance. Overall, the available literature supports an association between microbiota alterations and multiple reproductive conditions, although causality remains incompletely established. Further standardized and longitudinal studies are needed to clarify mechanisms and guide microbiota-informed diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.