EXCLI JournalPub Date : 2026-04-15eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.17179/excli2026-9442
Marco Alessandria, Franco Berrino, Giovanni M Malatesta, Alberto Donzelli
{"title":"Reply to the letter to the editor by Manzoli, Acuti Martelucci and Flacco (doi: 10.17179/excli2025-9176).","authors":"Marco Alessandria, Franco Berrino, Giovanni M Malatesta, Alberto Donzelli","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9442","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9442","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"476-478"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EXCLI JournalPub Date : 2026-04-15eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.17179/excli2026-9443
Lamberto Manzoli, Cecilia Acuti Martellucci, Maria Elena Flacco
{"title":"Second reply to the second letter to the editor by Alessandria, Berrino, Malatesta and Donzelli (doi: 10.17179/excli2026-9442).","authors":"Lamberto Manzoli, Cecilia Acuti Martellucci, Maria Elena Flacco","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9443","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"479-480"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139735/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genetic diagnosis and molecular characterization of three novel variations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene from Chinese patients with phenylketonuria.","authors":"Fan Yang, Hua-Feng Li, Wei-Jia Tang, Jin-Ping Zhu, Ji-Gang Qiu, Tian-E Cai, Li-Mei Yu, Ying Yu","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9271","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Loss-of-function variants in the human <i>phenylalanine hydroxylase</i> (<i>PAH</i>) gene are the most common genetic causal factors for Phenylketonuria (PKU). Currently, a broad spectrum of variations is recognized in the human <i>PAH</i> gene. However, the molecular function and clinical significance of some novel <i>PAH</i> variants remain unclear. Here, we report on five PKU-affected families carrying three novel <i>PAH</i> variants, including one missense variant (<i>PAH</i>: c.271C>A (p.Leu91Met)) and two deletions (<i>PAH</i>: c.206_208delCTT (p.Ser70del) and <i>PAH</i>: c.541_544delGAGG (p.Glu181Lysfs*13)). These variations constitute different compound heterozygous genotypes with other known pathogenic variants such as <i>PAH</i>: c.721C>T (p.Arg241Cys), <i>PAH</i>: c.168+5G>C, and <i>PAH</i>: c.1238G>C (p.Arg413Pro), which probably led to the patients' PKU etiopathology. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting showed that the protein levels of PAH (S70del) and PAH (E181Kfs*13) were significantly reduced compared with the wild-type control, although their transcript levels were not. Also, the enzyme activity of PAH (S70del) and PAH (E181Kfs*13) mutants was significantly decreased relative to the wild type (<i>P</i> < 0.001). <i>PAH</i>: c.271C>A (p.Leu91Met) had no significant effect on <i>PAH</i> mRNA and protein levels or enzyme activity. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the two deletions <i>PAH</i>: c.206_208delCTT and <i>PAH</i>: c.541_544delGAGG are clinically significant for pathogenicity. Our findings are anticipated to contribute to the advancement of prenatal diagnosis, population-based carrier screening, and genetic counseling for individuals affected by PKU, and is expected to help reduce the incidence of PKU and ameliorate the associated disease burden. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1).</p>","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"458-475"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139738/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Circadian clock regulation in lung health and disease: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.","authors":"Prabesh Baniya, Swekriti Puri, Nisha Panth, Rajan Thapa, Madhu Gupta, Sachin Kumar Singh, Rohit Bhatia, Gaurav Gupta, Kamal Dua, Keshav Raj Paudel","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9372","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Circadian rhythms are endogenous time-keeping mechanisms that organize physiological and cellular functions into approximately 24-hour cycles. These rhythms are generated by conserved molecular clocks composed of interconnected transcription-translation feedback loops involving core regulators such as CLOCK, BMAL1, PERIOD, CRYPTOCHROME, REV-ERB, and ROR proteins. While circadian regulation is best known for governing sleep-wake behavior, mounting evidence demonstrates that peripheral clocks exert critical control over organ-specific physiology. The lung represents a highly rhythmic tissue in which local circadian oscillators coordinate airway tone, immune surveillance, inflammatory signaling, epithelial repair, and metabolic homeostasis. Disruption of circadian timing arising from genetic alterations, environmental stressors, shift work, irregular light exposure, or chronic inflammation has emerged as an important contributor to the development and progression of multiple respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury, sleep-disordered breathing, and lung cancer. At the mechanistic level, dysregulation of clock genes alters inflammatory pathways, oxidative stress responses, mitochondrial metabolism, and cell-cycle control, thereby exacerbating tissue injury and impairing resolution and repair. Recognition of these temporal influences has prompted growing interest in circadian-based therapeutic strategies. Chronotherapy, which aligns drug administration with endogenous biological rhythms, and pharmacological targeting of clock components such as REV-ERBs and RORs, offer promising avenues to improve treatment efficacy while limiting adverse effects. This review integrates current insights into circadian clock architecture, lung-specific regulation, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic potential, highlighting circadian biology as a critical yet underutilized dimension of respiratory medicine. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1).</p>","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"427-457"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EXCLI JournalPub Date : 2026-04-07eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.17179/excli2026-9237
Helmi Ben Saad, Chamseddine Barki, Ismail Dergaa, Wissem Dhahbi, Halil Ibrahim Ceylan, Nasr Chalghaf, Abdelfatteh El Omri, Hanene Boussi Rahmouni
{"title":"Paracetamol in pregnancy: Navigating clinical uncertainty and avoiding the communication pitfalls of the \"measles, mumps, and rubella\" - autism controversy: A narrative review.","authors":"Helmi Ben Saad, Chamseddine Barki, Ismail Dergaa, Wissem Dhahbi, Halil Ibrahim Ceylan, Nasr Chalghaf, Abdelfatteh El Omri, Hanene Boussi Rahmouni","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9237","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9237","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>On September 22, 2025, the United States government announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would modify paracetamol (acetaminophen) labelling to warn of possible associations with autism, advising pregnant individuals to avoid the medication. This contradicts professional medical consensus and high-quality evidence, replicating communication failures of the 1998 MMR-autism controversy that caused vaccine hesitancy, disease outbreaks, and trust erosion. This narrative review synthesized epidemiological evidence on paracetamol safety in pregnancy, analyzed the September 2025 announcement through the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)-autism crisis lens, and proposed an evidence-based communication framework. We searched <i>PubMed</i>, <i>Embase</i>, <i>Web of Science</i>, and <i>Google Scholar</i>, supplemented with governmental statements, professional responses, and media analysis. The two highest-quality sibling-control studies (Swedish: 2.5 million; Japanese: 200,000 children) reported no causal associations between prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes after controlling genetic and familial confounding. Conversely, untreated maternal fever and pain carry established risks including neural tube defects, preterm birth, and maternal morbidity. The governmental announcement employed inflammatory categorical warnings contradicting FDA's nuanced advisory and scientific consensus. Professional organizations immediately issued strong rebuttals. This replicates MMR failures: governmental statements contradicting evidence, false media balance, and public confusion. The September 2025 announcement represents failure to apply MMR lessons. Healthcare providers must employ evidence-based shared decision-making emphasizing sibling-controlled studies show no causal relationship while untreated conditions carry established harms. The Precautionary Communication Principle provides framework for transparent uncertainty discussion without disproportionate alarm or undermining evidence-based medicine trust. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1).</p>","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"400-426"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139739/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EXCLI JournalPub Date : 2026-03-17eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.17179/excli2026-9258
Parteek Prasher, Mousmee Sharma
{"title":"Polymorphism engineering of mefenamic acid for enhanced pharmacokinetic performance.","authors":"Parteek Prasher, Mousmee Sharma","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9258","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mefenamic acid, a BCS Class II drug, continues to face the longstanding challenges related to its suboptimal solubility and variable absorption, which necessitates frequent dosing of the drug resulting in ulcerogenicity. Guided by its polymorphic forms, the co-crystallization of mefenamic acid offers a unique advantage over the other advanced formulation strategies, including hydrotropy, nanosizing, and complexation for improving the drug bioavailability. However, the contemporary research limited only to the proof-of-concept studies fails to provide a clinical evidence or translational insights, which necessitates the rational design of synthons and engineering of the solid-state landscape of the drug for developing the co-crystallization formulation of mefenamic acid. This commentary provides critical insights into the polymorphism-driven co-crystal design of mefenamic acid aimed at filling the critical gaps in scalability and clinical translation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"390-395"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139737/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147835613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EXCLI JournalPub Date : 2026-03-11eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.17179/excli2026-9340
Mairim R Serafini, Lucindo J Quintans-Júnior
{"title":"Cornered professors, a fragilized model, and graduate training… who holds it together?","authors":"Mairim R Serafini, Lucindo J Quintans-Júnior","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9340","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"387-389"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13077161/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147689062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
EXCLI JournalPub Date : 2026-03-06eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.17179/excli2026-9338
John Antonydas Gaspar, Krishnan M Dhandapani, David C Hess
{"title":"MAGEB16 as an epigenetic timing regulator linking X-chromosome biology to neurodevelopmental vulnerability in Autism Spectrum Disorder.","authors":"John Antonydas Gaspar, Krishnan M Dhandapani, David C Hess","doi":"10.17179/excli2026-9338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2026-9338","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>MAGEB16 (Melanoma-associated antigen B16) is an X-linked cancer-testis antigen belonging to the MAGE-B family, whose expression is tightly regulated by a promoter DNA-methylation switch that restricts transcription primarily to the male germ line under normal physiological conditions. In addition to its established roles in spermatogenesis and oncogenesis, emerging functional, epigenomic, and genetic evidence points to MAGEB16 as an epigenetically sensitive modifier of early developmental programs implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this study, we performed an integrative analysis combining MAGEB16's chromosomal context, molecular interaction networks, and methylation-dependent regulatory features, alongside experimental depletion datasets from pluripotent stem cells, perinatal cord-blood methylome data from ASD cohorts, peripheral transcriptomics linked to neuropsychiatric risk and recently reported genetic variant associations. Our synthesis identifies underlying evidence indicating that MAGEB16 participates in epigenetically regulated lineage specification processes during early embryonic development. We propose a unified model in which MAGEB16 acts as a dosage- and timing-dependent regulator of early lineage commitment. Disruption of its epigenetic control, particularly during X-chromosome-enriched developmental periods, may influence neurodevelopmental pathways toward ASD-associated phenotypes. These findings position MAGEB16 as a candidate epigenetic-susceptibility factor linking germline-restricted regulatory changes, that could influence early brain development and increase the risk for neurodevelopmental conditions. See also the graphical abstract(Fig. 1).</p>","PeriodicalId":12247,"journal":{"name":"EXCLI Journal","volume":"25 ","pages":"377-386"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13077175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147689105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}