Life-Basel最新文献

Segment regeneration in earthworms is a remarkable example of postembryonic morphogenesis, yet its fidelity and cellular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The present study investigated posterior segment regeneration in adult specimens of the earthworm model Eisenia andrei from wound closure to the 5th postoperative week using anatomical, histological, and ultrastructural approaches. Rapid wound closure occurred through fusion of the cut edges of the body wall and midgut without direct involvement of coelomocytes. The regeneration blastema consisted of dedifferentiated epithelial and muscle cells, innervated by fibers from the last intact ventral nerve cord ganglion. Coelomocytes accumulated in the last intact segments and were primarily involved in debris clearance. Notably, early regenerating tissues lacked collagen fibers, which appeared only after the third postoperative week and remained sparse until the fifth week, whereas original segments exhibited intense, region-specific collagen deposition. Transmission electron microscopy revealed characteristic cytological changes in distinct stages of body wall regeneration, including muscle dedifferentiation and the emergence of collagen-producing fibroblasts. These findings indicate that early cell migration, proliferation, and orientation in the blastema proceed independently of collagen and that collagen functions as a delayed structural scaffold, supporting tissue integrity without impeding regeneration. Importantly, no scar formation was observed between old and new tissues, resembling scarless fetal wound healing. Overall, we clarified previously controversial cellular mechanisms and propose a new, comprehensive model for the early stages of segment regeneration. Our results highlight that coordinated dedifferentiation, spatiotemporal extracellular remodeling, and delayed collagen deposition underlie effective, scar-free regeneration in earthworms, offering insights into conserved mechanisms of regenerative repair across metazoans and potential strategies for enhancing tissue regeneration in mammals.

Chronic diabetic wounds are characterized by persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and defective tissue remodeling, leading to delayed healing. Cordyceps militaris, a medicinal fungus with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, has shown therapeutic potential in metabolic disorders; however, its role in diabetic wound repair remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the wound-healing effects of an aqueous extract of C. militaris using in vitro keratinocyte models and a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model. C. militaris treatment significantly accelerated wound closure, improved epidermal regeneration, and enhanced skin barrier integrity. Mechanistically, C. militaris restored HIF-1α and TGF-β1 expression, promoted cell proliferation and fibroblast activation, and increased the expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1 and MMP-2, indicating enhanced extracellular matrix remodeling. In parallel, excessive inflammatory responses were attenuated, as evidenced by reduced IL-6 and TNF-α levels, along with activation of SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathways. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that C. militaris promotes a balanced wound-healing microenvironment and represents a promising natural therapeutic candidate for the treatment of diabetic wounds.

Chronic stress (CS) contributes to male infertility, reduced testosterone levels, and impaired semen quality. CS models induced by glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone (DEX), negatively affect sperm parameters and testicular health, notably by promoting testicular apoptosis. While individual plant extracts have been studied for their ability to mitigate stress-induced reproductive dysfunction, the preventive effect of the Tri Garn Pis (TGP) polyherbal extract in DEX-induced CS (DexCS) has not previously been investigated. This study evaluated the effects of TGP extract on testicular function, sexual behavior, and sperm quality in DexCS male mice. Seventy-two ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, DexCS, TGP (50, 100, and 200) + DexCS, and TGP200. Mice received TGP (50, 100, 200 mg/kgBW) for 14 days before DEX co-treatment for 28 days. Behavioral and reproductive assessments included depression-like behavior tests, sexual behavior, sperm quality, testicular histopathology, steroidogenesis proteins (AR, CYP11A1, StAR), and apoptosis markers (Hsp70, caspase-3, caspase-9). TGP extract-which is rich in phenolics and flavonoids with antioxidant activity-improved depressive behavior, sexual performance, testicular histology, and low sperm quality. TGP also upregulated testicular StAR expression while reducing caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels. TGP prevents testicular apoptosis, sexual dysfunction, and poor sperm motility induced by DexCS.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most prevalent malignancies in men and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Over the last century, PCa modelling has evolved from basic cell-based to more complex systems. Despite this, the clinical translation of research findings is limited by the constraints of current preclinical models. In this review, rat and zebrafish models are highlighted due to their long-standing and emerging translational relevance, respectively. Rat models have played a pivotal role in understanding carcinogenesis and supporting the preclinical evaluation of drugs currently approved for clinical use, such as antiandrogens and androgen-deprivation agents. In parallel, zebrafish models are increasingly recognized as powerful complementary tools for studying tumor biology, metastasis, and drug response, offering unique advantages for high-throughput and personalized medicine approaches. We summarize historical milestones, current advances, and translational perspectives, emphasizing how combining multiple model systems can bridge the gap between molecular research and clinical application. Collectively, the development and refinement of these models represent essential steps toward more predictive and ethically responsible PCa research.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide, with ischemic stroke accounting for approximately 62.4% of all cases. This condition often results in persistent motor dysfunction, significantly reducing patients' productivity. The effectiveness of rehabilitation therapy is crucial for post-stroke motor recovery. However, limited access to rehabilitation services particularly in low- and middle-income countries remains a major barrier due to a shortage of experienced professionals. This challenge also affects home-based rehabilitation, an alternative to conventional therapy, which primarily relies on standard evaluation methods that are heavily dependent on expert interpretation. Electromyography (EMG) offers an objective and alternative approach to assessing muscle activity during stroke therapy in home environments. Recent advancements in deep learning (DL) have opened new avenues for automating the classification of EMG data, enabling differentiation between post-stroke patients and healthy individuals. This study introduces a novel methodology for transforming EMG signals into time-frequency representation (TFR) spectrograms, which serve as input for a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The proposed Tri-CCNN model achieved the highest classification accuracy of 93.33%, outperforming both the Shallow CNN and the classic LeNet-5 architecture. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of spectrogram amplitude distributions revealed distinct patterns in stroke patients, demonstrating the method's potential for objective stroke assessment. These findings suggest that the proposed approach could serve as an effective tool for enhancing stroke classification and rehabilitation procedures, with significant implications for automating rehabilitation monitoring in home-based rehabilitation (HBR) settings.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can disseminate through effluents from seafood processing facilities (SPFs), posing environmental and public health risks. This study assessed changes in coliform load and antimicrobial resistance patterns in effluents from two SPFs in Tema, Ghana, before and after upgrades to effluent treatment systems between 2022 and 2024. A total of 19 effluent samples were collected per SPF in 2021-2022, 20 effluent samples each per SPF in 2024, and 8 potable water samples each per SPF in 2024. Median coliform counts declined significantly in both facilities (SPF-1: 920 to 35 MPN/100 mL; SPF-2: 280 to 9.5 MPN/100 mL; p < 0.001), representing a 96% overall reduction. Escherichia coli prevalence decreased markedly in SPF-2, although Pseudomonas aeruginosa emerged after treatment upgrades. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and multidrug resistance declined, particularly in SPF-1, but persisted across both facilities. Potable water used for seafood processing showed low but detectable coliform contamination. Despite substantial reductions in coliform bacterial load, the continued presence of resistant gram-negative bacteria highlights the need for sustained AMR surveillance, mandatory effective effluent treatment, and routine disinfection of potable water to protect public health.

Background: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is characterized by progressive myocardial infiltration leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy and heart failure. While left ventricular assessment has traditionally dominated prognostic evaluation, right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and RV-pulmonary artery (PA) coupling have emerged as critical determinants of outcomes. Objectives: This review synthesizes current evidence on RV-PA coupling as a prognostic marker in cardiac amyloidosis, examining measurement methodologies, prognostic significance, pathophysiological mechanisms, and clinical applications. Methods: We comprehensively reviewed the recent literature on RV-PA coupling in CA, focusing on studies published from 2020 to 2025, including both AL and ATTR subtypes. We analyzed data from multicenter cohorts, prospective registries, and validation studies examining the relationship between RV-PA coupling indices and clinical outcomes. Results: RV-PA coupling, most commonly assessed using the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) ratio, consistently demonstrates strong independent prognostic value for mortality and heart failure outcomes in CA patients. Impaired coupling (TAPSE/PASP < 0.45 mm/mmHg) identifies high-risk patients with hazard ratios ranging from 1.98 to 4.17 for adverse outcomes. In a multicenter cohort of 283 patients, TAPSE/PASP < 0.45 mm/mmHg was independently associated with death or heart failure hospitalization (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.32-2.96, p = 0.001) and significantly improved risk reclassification (NRI 0.46-0.49). In ATTR-specific populations receiving disease-modifying therapy, impaired coupling (TAPSE/PASP ≤ 0.382 mm/mmHg) predicted three-year mortality with an adjusted HR of 2.99. The coupling index provides incremental value over individual RV parameters by accounting for afterload conditions and demonstrates consistent prognostic performance across both AL and ATTR subtypes. Conclusions: RV-PA coupling represents a robust, easily obtainable prognostic marker that should be routinely assessed in CA patients for risk stratification and clinical decision-making. The TAPSE/PASP ratio can be calculated from standard echocardiographic examinations without additional cost or time, making it practical for widespread implementation. Future research should focus on standardizing measurement protocols, establishing disease-specific thresholds, evaluating coupling trajectories with novel therapies, and integrating coupling assessment into staging systems and management algorithms. The strong prognostic signal, pathophysiological relevance, and ease of measurement position RV-PA coupling as an essential component of comprehensive cardiac amyloidosis evaluation.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), as the core microorganisms in silage fermentation, play a crucial role in improving silage quality and ensuring feed safety, making the screening, identification, and functional characterization of LAB strains a significant research focus. Researchers initially isolate and purify LAB from various samples, followed by identification through a combination of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular biological methods. Systematic screening has been conducted to identify LAB strains tolerant to extreme environments (e.g., low temperature, high temperature, high salinity) and those possessing functional traits such as antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, production of feruloyl esterase and bacteriocins, as well as cellulose degradation, yielding a series of notable findings. Furthermore, modern technologies, including microbiomics, metabolomics, metagenomics, and transcriptomics, have been employed to analyze the structure and functional potential of microbial communities, as well as metabolic dynamics during the ensiling process. The addition of superior LAB inoculants not only facilitates rapid acidification to reduce nutrient loss, inhibit harmful microorganisms, and improve fermentation quality and palatability but also demonstrates potential functions such as degrading mycotoxins, adsorbing heavy metals, and reducing methane emissions. However, its application efficacy is directly constrained by factors such as strain-crop specific interactions, high dependence on raw material conditions, limited functionality of bacterial strains, and relatively high application costs. In summary, the integration of multi-omics technologies with traditional methods, along with in-depth exploration of novel resources like phyllosphere endophytic LAB, will provide new directions for developing efficient and targeted LAB inoculants for silage.

Neonatal neuroinflammation, driven by microglial activation and cytokine signaling, contributes to brain injury and adverse neurodevelopment outcomes. Perinatal inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-17, prime microglia and influence circuit vulnerability. This study investigated whether oxytocin pretreatment attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory priming in BV-2 microglial cells. BV-2 microglia were preincubated with oxytocin (33 ng/mL) for 2 h, followed by lipopolysaccharide (0.5 µg/mL) for 2 h. Expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, a microglia marker, in BV-2 cells was assessed by immunofluorescence. After lipopolysaccharide treatment, the gene expression of BV-2 cells was assayed at 1, 2, and 6 h post stimulation by RT-qPCR and RNA-seq. Functional characterization of gene expression profile was performed. Analyses of gene expression profile of BV-2 cells by RT-qPCR and RNA-seq revealed that oxytocin pretreatment attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced transcriptional activation, including interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 upregulation. Pathway enrichment analyses suggested that oxytocin-responsive genes were linked to the interleukin-17 signaling pathway. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed enrichment for genes related to cytokine production, membrane raft, and chemokine activity. Oxytocin pretreatment mitigates lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial activation by modulating the interleukin-17-interleukin-6/cyclooxygenase-2 axis, suggesting its potential role for oxytocin as an endogenous modulator of neuroinflammation during early brain development.

Sarcopenia and physical frailty are interconnected geriatric syndromes that frequently coexist in older adults, sharing common pathophysiological pathways. However, their early detection in community settings is limited by resource constraints and by the lack of simplified, scalable diagnostic tools. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence and overlap of sarcopenia and frailty in a real-world public health screening programme and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a pragmatic two-step algorithm. In September 2025, a total of 256 consecutive community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years underwent standardized assessment using the SARC-F questionnaire, handgrip strength dynamometry, and selective bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Sarcopenia was defined according to 2019 EWGSOP2 criteria, and frailty according to the Fried phenotype. Confirmed sarcopenia was identified in 37 participants (14.5%, 95% CI 10.7-19.1%) and frailty in 31 (12.1%, 95% CI 8.6-16.7%), with substantial overlap (77.4% of frail individuals also had sarcopenia; Cohen's κ = 0.62). The two-step algorithm (Step 1: SARC-F ≥ 4; Step 2: handgrip strength and BIA only in screen-positive participants) demonstrated excellent accuracy for confirmed sarcopenia (AUC 0.913, 95% CI 0.871-0.955), with sensitivity 91.9%, specificity 81.3%, and a 53.9% reduction in BIA use. Factors independently associated with confirmed sarcopenia included older age, BMI < 22 kg/m², physical inactivity, and higher SARC-F score. A simple, function-centered two-step approach enables efficient and scalable identification of sarcopenia and frailty in community settings, supporting early preventive strategies to preserve physical function.