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The aim of the study was to characterize the prevalence of comorbidities and molecular genetic status in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and non-familial hypercholesterolemia (non-FH). This cross-sectional observational study included 323 patients. Assessments comprised personal and family histories, physical examination, fasting lipid profiling, and molecular genetic testing. Patients with FH were not characterized by an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In contrast, the non-FH group demonstrated a pronounced cardiometabolic comorbidity profile with a high prevalence of recurrent chronic pancreatitis. Patients with probable or definite FH had a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease and peripheral atherosclerosis, whereas myocardial infarction (MI) was common across all studied groups. Among patients with definite and probable FH, pathogenetic variants were identified in 78.2% and 71.4%, respectively, predominantly in the Show less

Maternal physical activity during pregnancy has been shown to confer benefits on the brain functions of offspring. This study investigated the positive effects of maternal exercise during pregnancy on enhancing hippocampal synaptic plasticity and resilience to stress-induced depressive behavior in adult murine offspring. Using a mouse model with mother mice engaged in voluntary wheel running during pregnancy, we assessed changes in long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, synaptic protein expression, and behavioral responses to chronic stress in adult male and female offspring from exercised dams compared with those from sedentary dams. We found that maternal exercise enhanced LTP in offspring of both sexes. Western blot analysis of hippocampal synaptoneurosome extractions revealed significant main effects of maternal exercise on increasing the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), PSD-95, synaptophysin, and phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit GluN2A and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor subunit GluA1. Maternal exercise significantly increased synaptophysin levels in both male and female offspring, with sex-specific effects on increasing PSD-95 levels in male offspring and increased p-GluN2A levels in female offspring from exercised dams. Golgi staining revealed a significant increase in hippocampal dendritic spine density in female offspring only. Maternal exercise-induced improvements in hippocampal synaptic plasticity were associated with reduced depression-like behaviors in both male and female offspring exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. Additionally, male offspring displayed reduced anxiety-like behavior, while female offspring showed no significant anxiolytic changes. These findings elucidate the sex-specific effects of maternal exercise on enhancing hippocampal synaptic plasticity, which may contribute to increased resilience against stress-induced depressive behaviors in adult offspring. Show less

T2D mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly prevalent in South Asia, often affecting individuals with normal BMI, a phenotype described as metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW). While randomized trials demonstrate that low-carbohydrate diets can induce remission, long-term, real-world evidence in non-obese, predominantly vegetarian South Asian populations remains scarce. To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a culturally adapted low-carbohydrate diet in an N-of-1 longitudinal study with systematic, multi-domain follow-up. A 49-year-old male with new-onset T2D (HbA1c 7.2%) began a phased initiation (~100 g/day carbohydrate), nutritional ketosis (<30 g/day carbohydrate), and long-term stabilization (~100 g/day). Assessments included continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) periodically, standardized mixed-meal challenges, advanced lipid and apolipoprotein panels including ApoB and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], hs-CRP, liver and renal function, and serial cardiovascular, skeletal, and ophthalmic imaging over 10-years. The study was monitored through regular physician assessments and follow-up. HbA1c remained between 4.7 and 5.3% without medication for a decade. CGM showed >90% time-in-range with reduced variability (CV decreased from approximately 18-12%), Lp(a) decreased (43.4 → 25.3 mg/dL), and hs-CRP remained <1 mg/L. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) remained 0 across three scans, with CT angiography confirming CAD-RADS 0. CIMT showed no stenosis. Bone mineral density and ophthalmic imaging showed no deterioration. This report offers a detailed N-of-1 longitudinal characterization of decade-long, medication-free remission of T2D in a metabolically obese normal weight South Asian male. Observations at approximately 100 g per day carbohydrate intake suggest that moderate carbohydrate restriction may represent a physiologically plausible and culturally compatible approach for long-term metabolic management in similar phenotypes. While broader applicability requires validation in larger cohorts, these findings provide a rationale for further evaluation of moderate carbohydrate restriction as a feasible dietary strategy in South Asian and comparable settings. Show less

Regular physical activity can improve the blood lipid profile, yet athletes may still experience dyslipidemia. This study examined lipid profiles in Turkish endurance and strength athletes in relation to the dietary intake. Eighty-four participants, including strength athletes ( Endurance athletes had a lower body mass index (BMI), body fat (%), fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio than strength athletes and non-athletes ( Endurance athletes displayed a more favorable lipid profile than strength athletes and non-athletes. Group differences in lipids likely reflect a combination of adiposity, dietary patterns, and sport-specific behaviors. Show less

“Surrogate” definitions of intrinsic subtypes, which imply the Ki67 proliferation marker, help to clinically distinguish luminal breast carcinomas (Lum BC). Here, mass spectrometry–based proteomics can help analyse the protein content of malignant and normal cells and eventually distinguish patient samples from healthy controls at the molecular level. In this work, peripheral blood CD14 + monocyte proteomes of the LumA, LumB-HER2 − and LumB-HER2 + subtypes and those with benign disease were compared to healthy controls (HCs). Among differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-39686-y. Show less

Current therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD) demonstrate limited efficacy and fail to address disease progression. In the present study, we present HSN-G1, a novel ginsenoside-enriched pharmaceutical formulation that employs a dual-target mechanism through the modulation of amyloid clearance pathways and cholinergic neurotransmission. HSN-G1 demonstrates a reproducible ginsenoside profile enriched with Re (33.27 mg/g), Rd (25.00 mg/g), and Rg3 stereoisomers (12.18 mg/g), ensuring pharmaceutical-grade reproducibility. HSN-G1 enhanced amyloid-beta (Aβ) clearance in microglial cells, with significantly greater effects observed in SRA-overexpressing cells, suggesting SRA-dependent clearance mechanisms. In APP/PS1 transgenic mice, six-week oral administration of HSN-G1 (100-400 mg/kg) elicited significant dose-dependent improvements in cognitive performance. Male mice exhibited more stable and consistent enhancements in both passive avoidance and spatial memory tests compared to vehicle controls (p < 0.001), while both sexes demonstrated comparable reductions in brain Aβ levels (approximately 45%) and differential increases in acetylcholine (73% in males; 55% in females, p < 0.01). HSN-G1 administration enhanced the expression of neurotrophic factors, with NGF upregulation predominantly observed in males, whereas BDNF, CNTF, and GDNF were consistently elevated across both sexes. These findings establish HSN-G1 as a promising disease-modifying agent with standardized composition and therapeutic efficacy, surpassing the limitations of conventional single-target approaches. The superior efficacy of HSN-G1 compared to existing treatments validates its potential for clinical development, highlighting the significance of sex-specific therapeutic responses in future AD therapeutics. Show less

Mild depression in women is a distinct disorder with unclear immune mechanisms. This study aims to identify peripheral inflammatory biomarkers and to explore acupuncture's immunomodulatory effects via Olink proteomics. Thirty female participants (18-45 years) were assigned to healthy controls (HC), mild depression (MD), and acupuncture treatment (ACU). Plasma samples were analyzed using the Olink https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=189355, identifier ChiCTR2300068054. Show less

Ischemic stroke is a heterogeneous disease influenced by inflammation, coagulation dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances. However, integrated analysis incorporating these biological domains for patient stratification remain limited. A retrospective study of 132 ischemic stroke patients was conducted. Clinical, coagulation, inflammatory, and metabolic parameters were collected. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied for dimensionality reduction and visualization. PCA revealed underlying heterogeneity among patients. Validated Data driven clustering identified biologically distinct ischemic stroke subtypes based on inflammation, coagulation, and metabolic profiles. This stratification highlights the heterogeneity of ischemic stroke and may inform future personalized approaches to risk assessment and management. Show less

We investigated the associations of genetic risk score for Alzheimer's disease (GRS-AD) with cardiometabolic risk from early childhood over a 20-year follow-up. The STRIP study included 1062 children at baseline. GRS-AD was calculated for 631 participants using 22 independent genetic risk variants, including APOE ε2 and ε4 alleles, and excluding them (non-APOE-GRS-AD). We repeatedly measured waist circumference, high-density (HDL-C) and low-density (LDL-C) lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and blood pressure. The data were analysed with generalised additive mixed models. GRS-AD was directly associated with serum LDL-C (unstandardised β = 0.140, 95% CI = 0.084 to 0.195) and inversely with HDL-C (β = -0.026, 95% CI = -0.044 to -0.009). GRS-AD was inversely associated with serum HDL-C in males (β = -0.044, 95% CI = -0.070 to -0.018) but not in females (β = -0.010, 95% CI = -0.032 to 0.012). The associations were diluted when the non-APOE-GRS-AD was applied. A genetic predisposition to AD may alter lipid metabolism from early childhood. While Alzheimer's disease and cardiometabolic diseases may have shared genetic determinants, the associations between genetic susceptibility for Alzheimer's disease and increased cardiometabolic risk from childhood to young adulthood are poorly understood. We investigated the associations of genetic risk score for Alzheimer's disease with cardiometabolic risk from early childhood over a 20-year follow-up. We found that a higher genetic risk score for Alzheimer's disease was associated with higher LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and ApoB, and with lower serum HDL cholesterol and ApoA1. These findings suggest that a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease may alter lipid metabolism from early childhood. Show less

Most patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia fail to achieve adequate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering. Here we carried out a randomized trial to test the safety and efficacy of obicetrapib, a highly selective cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor that lowers LDL cholesterol levels in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and an LDL cholesterol level ≥70 mg dl Show less

Lanthanum (La), the second most produced rare earth element, is detected in various environmental and human samples. Epidemiological studies have reported a strong association between La exposure and liver injury. However, the effects of early La exposure on liver development and underlying mechanisms remain limited. Here, we evaluate the hepatotoxicity of LaCl Show less

IntroductionAging and metabolic disease enhance inhaled particulate toxicity. Nanoparticles (NPs) are rapidly coated with biomolecules forming a biocorona (BC), upon entering the body and may contribute to the susceptibility. Aging and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are progressive conditions resulting in biomolecule alterations over time potentially influencing susceptibility. We hypothesize NP-biomolecule interactions are altered during aging and throughout MetS progression.MethodsC57BL/6J mice at 6 weeks of age were fed a healthy diet or a high-fat western diet. BALF was collected after 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 or 24 weeks on diets. NP-biomolecules interactions were compared between healthy and MetS to determine age- and disease progression-related BC variations (proteins and lipids).ResultsUnique BCs were determined to form at each time point indicative of aging for the healthy and aging and disease progression for the MetS. Comparisons between healthy and MetS BCs at each time demonstrated distinct biomolecule interactions attributable to disease. Comparisons determined both unique protein and lipid content as well as quantitative differences. Proteins such as apolipoprotein A-IV, complement C3 and lipids such as PE (37:5), PE (O-38:5), PE (P-38:4), PC(40:7), PC(39:0), and PC(O-40:0) were identified on the MetS BC suggesting disease progression modifications. Proteins such as pulmonary surfactant protein A, fibrinogen alpha-chain and lipids such as CE (19:0)-NH4, DG (36:7), and DG (35:0)_C18:0 were increasingly present in the healthy BC over time, suggesting age-related interactions.DiscussionOverall, unique BCs were identified demonstrating the impact of age and disease progression on BC formation which will aid in understanding initial pulmonary NP-biomolecular interactions potentially contributing to susceptibility. Show less

A narrow range of food consumption and/or restricted eating is a core feature of avoidant/restrictive food intake (ARFI) disorder. However, there is limited knowledge of developmental characteristics of children with ARFI and its etiological influences, which constrains research, prevention, and intervention efforts. To estimate the prevalence of ARFI phenotypes in a population-based sample, examine developmental characteristics across childhood, and investigate the genetic architecture of ARFI using genome-wide association analyses. This preregistered study used data from children born from 1999 to 2009 in the population-based Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), with mother-reported data on ARFI symptoms at 3 and 8 years and linkage with diagnostic data from population health registries. Data were analyzed from March 2024 to May 2025. Multiple items were used to identify children with broad ARFI. These children were subclassified into 3 groups based on symptom persistence: ARFI-broad transient (only at age 3 years), emergent (only at age 8 years), and persistent (ages 3 and 8 years). Children in these groups with 1 or more indicators of clinical significance (eg, nutritional deficiency) were further classified into ARFI-clinical subgroups. ARFI groups were compared across developmental characteristics from 6 months to 14 years. Genome-wide methods were used to examine single-nucleotide variant (SNV) heritability (SNV-h2), conduct genetic association analyses, and quantify genetic correlations with other phenotypes. Of 35 751 children with available ARFI assessments at 3 and 8 years (18 236 male [51%]), the prevalence of ARFI-broad persistent, transient, and emergent was 2129 (6.0%), 6338 (17.7%), and 3001 (8.4%), respectively. The prevalence of ARFI-clinical persistent, transient, and emergent was 624 (1.8%), 1157 (3.2%), and 484 (1.4%), respectively (2265 [6.3%] overall). Children with ARFI-broad persistent exhibited more developmental difficulties compared with children with no ARFI. SNV-h2 ranged from 8% to 16%. Two independent genome-wide significant loci were identified. For ARFI-clinical, a significant association was identified with ADCY3 (z = 5.42; P = 3.03 × 10-8). Small to moderate genetic correlations were observed for ARFI-broad, ARFI-clinical and mental health, cognitive/educational, anthropometric, food-associated, and gastrointestinal disorder phenotypes. This cohort study found that the prevalence of ARFI in the general pediatric population was substantial, and affected children had an associated elevated risk of developmental difficulties across multiple domains. Findings suggest a need for broad support interventions and advance understanding of the genetic underpinnings of ARFI. Show less

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has a high rate of death and disability. LncRNA-TUG1 is essential for the pathological changes secondary to ICH. The purpose of this work was to investigate the possible mechanism by which TUG1 inhibits neural repair subsequent to ICH through adjusting miR-381-3p/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). After the ICH model was created, miR-381-3p agomir and pcDNA-TUG1 were injected. The neural function of rats was estimated using the modified neurological severity score. To quantify the expression of genes and proteins, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR were used. To confirm the interaction between TUG1 and miR-381-3p and between miR-381-3p and BDNF mRNA, a luciferase reporter assay was employed. In rats treated with miR-381-3p agomir, a trend of improvement in neurological dysfunction was observed, while the pcDNA-TUG1-treated ones showed deterioration. Furthermore, miR-381-3p agomir increased, while pcDNA-TUG1 reduced the expression level of BDNF in ICH rats. TUG1 and BDNF mRNA were validated to attach directly to miR-381-3p. Overexpressing TUG1 inhibited the level of BDNF by sponging miR-381-3p and antagonized its protective effect on neural repair in ICH rats. Our study suggests that TUG1 can sponge miR-381-3p to downregulate BDNF expression and inhibit neural repair following ICH, demonstrating a potential signaling pathway that is conducive to a better understanding of the pathological mechanisms of ICH. Show less

Activity of SERCA (sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca In vivo [U- CDN1163 increased cardiac ATPase activity, decreased cytosolic Ca SERCA activation promotes flux from nonglucose substrates to fuel cardiac mitochondrial metabolism in obese mice. Show less

Emerging evidence links the plasma lipidome to venous thromboembolism, but its causal relationship with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remains unexplored. This study aimed to systematically screen for potential causal associations between 179 plasma lipid species and PVT risk, aiming to identify candidate biomarkers and explore underlying biological pathways. Using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal relationships between 179 plasma lipid species and PVT. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) was the primary method, heterogeneity and pleiotropy were applied to evaluate potential pleiotropy and heterogeneity, and leave-one-out analysis verified result reliability. For lipid species showing nominally significant associations with PVT, lead SNPs were mapped to candidate genes to explore potential biological mechanisms. IVW analysis identified nominally significant associations ( Our study suggests potential links between specific plasma lipid species and PVT, although these associations did not survive rigorous multiple testing correction. It provides preliminary evidence that certain lipid species, notably phosphatidylcholine and sterol esters, may be implicated in PVT risk. The mapping of these lipids to candidate genes involved in lipid metabolism (FADS1, FADS2, APOE, APOA5, LIPC) offers mechanistic hypotheses for future research. Further studies are required to validate these preliminary associations and assess their translational potential. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12986-026-01084-6. Show less

Wilson disease (WD) and familial hypertriglyceridemia (FHTG) are both genetic metabolic diseases, and their comorbidity is extremely rare. This article reports a case of WD with FHTG in a 12-year-old Chinese boy. The patient was diagnosed due to elevated transaminase levels, combined with clinical manifestations, copper metabolism indexes, lipid profile analysis, and genetic testing results (pathogenic mutations of Show less

Retatrutide (LY3437943) was developed as a drug to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Retatrutide, a not endogenously occurring peptide, stimulated the glucagon receptor (GCGR), the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor (GIPR), and the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in cell cultures; increased the activity of adenylyl cyclases (AC); and thus augmented the 3',5' cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. We tested the hypothesis that retatrutide increased force of contraction (FOC) in human right atrial preparations (HAP) from adult patients. HAP were obtained during open heart surgery from patients who suffered from severe coronary heart disease. We noted that cumulatively applied retatrutide starting at 10 nM (up to 100 nM the highest concentration tested) elevated FOC in HAP in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In the additional presence of the phosphodiesterase III inhibitor cilostamide (1 µM), retatrutide was more potent and more effective to increase FOC in HAP. Under these conditions, retatrutide shortened the time of muscle relaxation in HAP. These positive inotropic effects of glucagon were diminished by a GLP1-R antagonist, by a GIPR antagonist, and by a CGCR antagonist but not by propranolol, an antagonist at β-adrenoceptors. The effects of retatrutide on FOC were also reduced by 100 nM ryanodine, an inhibitor of the ryanodine receptor in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, by 1 µM carbachol, a M-cholinoceptor agonist, and by 1 µM (-)-N Show less

Human genetic analyses have identified numerous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci in noncoding regions associated with obesity-related traits; however, the functional contributions of such SNP loci to obesity are largely unknown. The noncoding variant rs713586, with its risk allele C, is linked to two candidate genes, DNAJC27 and ADCY3, potentially implicated in obesity. However, whether rs713586 primary targets ADCY3 or DNAJC27 gene to regulate body weight and what molecular mechanisms underlie this process remain unclear. We conducted bioinformatics analyses using BMI data from the UK biobank and GIANT consortium, and prioritised functional variants on chromosome 2 linked to ADCY3 gene for experimental validation. The variant rs713586 was identified as a functional regulator of ADCY3 and DNAJC27 expression. We investigated the molecular mechanisms by which rs713586 participates in obesity through epigenetic regulation. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and genome-editing in cell lines were conducted to assess the impacts of the rs713586-C risk allele or a proximal enhancer (Enh) on ADCY3 and DNAJC27 promoter activity and expression levels. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Dnajc27 was performed in mice to evaluate its role in obesity. Mechanistic studies examined the interactions between the rs713586-T or -C alleles and the transcription factor ZFP42. Additionally, we assessed the DNA methylation patterns within the Enh and promoter regions of ADCY3 to evaluate their impact on ADCY3 expression. First, the rs713586-C risk allele significantly reduced the promoter activity of ADCY3 and DNAJC27 and thus reduced their expression levels. However, Dnajc27 knockout mice did not develop obesity, thereby excluding DNAJC27 as the target gene through which rs713586 mediates obesity. Further, we demonstrate that the rs713586-C allele impaired ZFP42 binding, leading to decreased TET1 recruitment and increased DNA methylation in the Enh and promoter regions of ADCY3, ultimately suppressing its expression. Given that ADCY3 is a well-established gene involved in obesity, we conclude that the rs713586-C risk allele may associated with obesity susceptibility, concomitant with downregulated ADCY3 expression. Our findings establish the rs713586-ZFP42-TET1-ADCY3 epigenetic regulatory axis, providing insights into the mechanism of rs713586-mediated obesity pathogenesis. National Natural Science Foundation of China and Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province of China (32470645, 32070567, 32202840), and Priority-Funded Postdoctoral Research Project, Zhejiang Province (ZJ2025118). Full funding details are provided in the Acknowledgements. Show less

The Juvenile form of Batten disease is a neurodegenerative disease with symptoms starting in the first decade and ending in death in the third decade of life. The gene defective in this form of Batten disease, Show less

Physical exercise and nutritional strategies have become powerful tools for improving brain health, boosting cognitive performance, slowing cognitive decline, and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, primarily by influencing neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This review examines the impact of various exercise types (endurance, high-intensity interval training, and resistance) along with dietary approaches (ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting) on BDNF, with a focus on their potential to promote cognition and neuroprotective benefits, particularly in the middle-aged and older population. Several molecular and physiological pathways may be involved, including activation of the PGC-1α-FNDC5-BDNF pathway, lactate signaling, increased blood flow to the brain and body, splenic platelet release, and stimulation of TrkB, IGF-1, irisin, and cathepsin B. Nutritional interventions may also boost BDNF through mechanisms involving β-HB and Notch 1 signaling. Research from both animal and human studies highlights the potential benefits of exercise and dietary modifications in supporting brain health and cognitive function. However, differences in study design and methodological limitations make it difficult to draw firm conclusions. These effects appear to be influenced by factors such as exercise characteristics (intensity, modality, and duration), the timing of blood collection, and the type of cognitive assessments. Future studies should focus on identifying the most effective intervention protocols and mechanisms, as well as understanding the individual factors that influence responsiveness to neurotrophic changes. Overall, targeted exercise and dietary strategies offer a promising approach to maintain brain health and reduce cognitive decline associated with aging and disease. Show less