Biomedical Journal最新文献

{"title":"Systematic analysis of mushroom body-innervating dopaminergic neuron activity in different physiological states in Drosophila","authors":"Peng-Shiuan Lee ,&nbsp;Meng-Hsuan Chiang ,&nbsp;Tony Wu ,&nbsp;Chia-Lin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100907","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100907","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Thirst and hunger are fundamental survival drives that modulate various aspects of animal behavior through specific neural circuits. Previous studies have demonstrated that dopaminergic neurons (DANs) innervating the mushroom body (MB) in the <em>Drosophila</em> brain play essential roles in innate and learned thirst- and hunger-dependent behaviors, with most experiments focusing on acute water or food deprivation. However, it is unclear whether acute water or food deprivation alters dopamine production and neural activity in MB-innervating DANs.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>We genetically expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) in MB-innervating DANs using broadly and specifically labeled GAL4 lines under satiety, thirst, and hunger states. The brains were immunostained with anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to assess dopamine biosynthesis. Additionally, the transcriptional reporter of intracellular Ca²⁺ (TRIC) was expressed in these DANs using the same GAL4 lines to monitor neural activity under different internal states. Normalized anti-TH and TRIC signals in specific MB compartments were compared between the satiety and thirst groups and between the satiety and hunger groups using unpaired two-tailed <em>t</em>-tests.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Neither TH levels nor neural activity in the 13 subtypes of MB-innervating DANs exhibited significant differences during the satiety, thirst, and hunger conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study suggests that 16-h water deprivation or 24-h food deprivation does not significantly alter dopamine production and neural activity in MB-innervating DANs. These findings offer insights into the independence of baseline dopaminergic activity from internal states in thirst- or hunger-related behaviors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100907"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144862097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clearing the fog, but not the entire picture: Elastase pretreatment for ALK FISH in lung cancer","authors":"Xiaoman Liu ,&nbsp;Jiachun Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100971","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100971"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147526078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neuropeptide FF receptor 2 overexpression aggravates lipid accumulation and metabolic dysfunction in mice with diet-induced metabolic stress","authors":"Hsiang-Ting Hsu ,&nbsp;Chun-Chun Hsu ,&nbsp;Yun-Jou Liao ,&nbsp;Hui-Yun Li ,&nbsp;Yao-Chang Chiang ,&nbsp;Ya-Tin Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Obesity is a major contributor to metabolic dysfunction and is driven by complex genetic, behavioral, and physiological factors. Neuropeptide FF receptor 2 (NPFFR2) has been implicated in regulating feeding behavior, as well as energy and glucose homeostasis. However, its precise role in obesity and metabolic disorders remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the systemic role of NPFFR2 in obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>The role of NPFFR2 was examined using wild-type and <em>Npffr2</em>-overexpressing transgenic mice subjected to 15 weeks of high-fat high-sucrose diet to induce obesity. Systemic, tissue-specific, and serum metabolic profiles were analyzed, with a particular focus on lipid abnormalities in the liver and adipose tissues.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>Npffr2</em> overexpression exacerbated obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction, including accelerated body weight gain, impaired glucose homeostasis, altered fat composition, adipose tissue inflammation, and dysregulated lipid metabolism. In addition, hypertrophy of both hepatocytes and adipocytes was aggravated in <em>Npffr2</em>-overexpressing mice, collectively contributing to excessive energy storage and reduced metabolic efficiency.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings suggest that NPFFR2 may contribute to the regulation of energy balance and lipid metabolism, potentially via central regulatory pathways. These findings highlight the need for mechanistic studies to clarify its region-specific roles and therapeutic potential in metabolic disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100913"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circulating Short-Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) profiles as a biomarker of gut-brain axis dysfunction: A meta-analysis for the SCFA signature in major depression","authors":"Quang Le Do ,&nbsp;Ikbal Andrian Malau ,&nbsp;Hoan Thi Nguyen ,&nbsp;Jiaming Liu ,&nbsp;Jane Pei-Chen Chang ,&nbsp;Kuan-Pin Su","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100968","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100968","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is increasingly viewed through the lens of the neuroinflammatory hypothesis and gut-brain axis dysfunction. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), the primary metabolites produced by the gut microbiota, are vital signaling molecules that maintain intestinal barrier integrity, modulate peripheral immunity, and influence microglial function. While individual studies suggest altered SCFAs levels in MDD, a definitive, quantitative synthesis establishing a robust biomarker signature is currently lacking. This meta-analysis aimed to precisely characterize the signature of SCFAs (acetic, propionic, butyric, and isobutyric acid) in MDD patients compared to healthy controls.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We systematically searched major databases across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies quantifying SCFAs levels up to September 15, 2025. Studies examining SCFAs levels in depressed patients and depressive-like murine models, as well as studies investigating SCFAs interventions for depressive-like behavior, were selected for synthesis. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The effect sizes were synthesized using a random-effects model and presented as standardized mean differences.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eight human and 52 murine studies were included in the meta-analyses. Depressed patients showed significantly lower concentrations in blood (plasma and serum) of propionic (SMD = −0.60, p-value = 0.007), butyric (SMD = −0.50, p-value = 0.006), isobutyric (SMD = −0.72, p-value = 0.020), valeric (SMD = −0.43, p-value = 0.040) and isovaleric acids (SMD = −0.75, p-value = 0.002). Secondary analysis of MDD patients confirmed consistent reductions. High heterogeneity was observed. In murine models, SCFAs depletion was frequently observed, while supplementation improved depressive-like behaviors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>MDD is characterized by a significant, quantifiable deficit in the circulating SCFAs metabolome, which provides strong empirical validation for the gut-brain axis hypothesis in depression. We advocate for the investigation of SCFAs as novel, measurable peripheral biomarkers and targeted therapeutic agents (e.g., butyrate supplementation) for precision nutritional psychiatry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100968"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147497673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of blue light-filtering and premium intraocular lenses on postoperative falls: A nationwide target trial emulation in Taiwan","authors":"Jiahn-Shing Lee ,&nbsp;Pei-Ru Li ,&nbsp;Yi-Ling Hu ,&nbsp;Ken-Kuo Lin ,&nbsp;Lai-Chu See","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100917","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100917","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Falls are a leading cause of injury and premature death in older adults, and cataract surgery reduces fall risk. Concerns existed that blue-light filtering (BF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) might impair light transmittance and increase fall risk. We aimed to compare fall incidence and injury diagnoses among patients who received bilateral cataract surgery with premium BF, premium non-BF, and standard non-BF IOLs.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>We emulated a target trial by enrolling 26,730 well-matched patients per IOL cohort who underwent bilateral cataract surgeries between 2011 and 2017 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. They were followed until a fall, death, withdrawal, or December 31, 2022. Propensity score matching minimized baseline differences across groups.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Fall incidence increased over time, from 9.07 to 21.13 per 1000 person-years. The premium BF-IOL (12.94) and premium non-BF-IOL (13.12) groups had lower fall rates than the standard non-BF-IOL group (14.85). Both Cox and Fine-Gray models showed significantly lower fall risks for premium BF-IOL (HR 0.86, SHR 0.92) and premium non-BF-IOL (HR 0.88, SHR 0.91) compared to standard IOLs. There was no significant difference in fall risk between premium BF-IOL and premium non-BF-IOL (HR/SHR 0.99). While hospitalization rates post-fall (68.6 %) and 30-day fatal fall rate (1.29 %) were comparable, standard IOLs were associated with significantly higher fracture rates.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We found no evidence that BF-IOLs increase fall incidence. Both premium IOL groups consistently had lower fall rates than standard non-BF-IOLs, suggesting that socioeconomic factors, in addition to IOL type, may contribute to this reduction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100917"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145306763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occlusal disharmony attenuates inhibitory synaptic transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex and contributes to anxiety","authors":"Juan Li ,&nbsp;Jiayao Zhang ,&nbsp;Ming Xu ,&nbsp;Qi Zhang ,&nbsp;Weicai Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2025.100909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>It has been well-validated that Occlusal Disharmony (OD) induces negative emotions, especially anxiety. While it leads to considerable frustration for both doctors and patients, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and effective treatment has been lacking. The present study aims to explore the pathological mechanisms of OD induced anxiety and to find a straightforward yet effective treatment strategy for this ostensibly intricate clinical phenomenon.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>OD mice were established through binding a metal tube to their right mandibular incisor. Then, the mental state of the mice was assessed by various behavioral experiments. Additionally, the mood of OD mice was also evaluated similarly before and after the injection of mifepristone. Furthermore, neuronal excitability in the mPFC was examined by immunofluorescence and electrophysiology, with the potential mechanisms investigated through Western blotting.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>OD mice exhibited anxiety-like behavior, and the administration of mifepristone, an anxiolytic drug, could alleviate it. Subsequently, an increase in neuronal excitability was observed, accompanied by a reduction in the frequency and amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In addition, the expression of erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (ERBB4) and neuregulin 1 (NRG1), proteins associated with inhibitory neurotransmitter release, were found to be significantly downregulated in the mPFC.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>OD attenuates GABAergic synaptic transmission in the mPFC, which may be the neural mechanism of anxiety caused by OD. But this phenomenon could be effectively alleviated by anti-anxiety treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100909"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144941086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Steatosis paradox: Unraveling pathways of suppressive effect of hepatic steatosis on hepatitis B virus","authors":"Shang-Chin Huang ,&nbsp;Jia-Horng Kao","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100969","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100969","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global intersection of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has revealed an intriguing clinical paradox: hepatic steatosis is frequently associated with lower hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral loads, higher rates of HBsAg seroclearance, and even favorable clinical outcomes. Accumulating data suggest that lipid accumulation transforms hepatocytes into a hostile microenvironment for HBV through at least four pathways, including immune modulation, metabolic reprogramming, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and impaired autophagy. Deciphering these molecular pathways not only explains the unique natural history of CHB patients with concurrent MASLD but also highlights novel therapeutic targets such as selective modulators of cellular stress that could complement existing antivirals or immune enhancers to facilitate functional cure. In this review, the current evidence regarding the cellular mechanisms underlying the suppressive effect of steatosis on HBV is summarized, providing a translational roadmap for exploiting these virus-host metabolic interactions to develop next-generation, novel host-targeting therapies against HBV.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100969"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147526112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to: “Clearing the fog, but not the entire picture: Elastase pretreatment for ALK FISH in lung cancer”","authors":"Sheng-Chi Hsu ,&nbsp;Tsai-Hsien Hung ,&nbsp;Hsiao-Chun Wu ,&nbsp;Kwai-Fong Ng ,&nbsp;Tse-Ching Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100973","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100973"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147572146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum to “Long non-coding RNAs as modulators of metabolic reprogramming for endogenous heart regeneration: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential” [Biomed J 49 (2) (2026) 100914]","authors":"Xueping Wu ,&nbsp;Yehui Lv ,&nbsp;Zhihong Li ,&nbsp;Zhifang Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100996","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100996","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100996"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147980357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-COVID-19 epidemiology of pneumococcal disease in Taiwan: escalating serotype replacement and antimicrobial resistance in all ages.","authors":"Chih-Ho Chen, Hsin-Chieh Li, Mei-Hua Hsu, Chen-Ting Yin, Lin-Hui Su, Mei-Chen Ou-Yang, Shu-Shen Cheng, Cheng-Hsun Chiu","doi":"10.1016/j.bj.2026.100999","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2026.100999","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study delineated the evolving epidemiology of pneumococcal disease in Taiwan, focusing on emerging serotypes, antimicrobial susceptibility, and genotypes before and after the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Culture-confirmed pneumococcal disease (CCPD) was analyzed across four Chang Gung Memorial Hospitals in Taiwan in 2019∼2024. Serotypes, multi-locus sequence types, and penicillin and ceftriaxone susceptibility of pneumococcal isolates were determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The incidence of CCPD dropped from 16.09 in 2019 to 5.39 in 2021, followed by a rise to 9.04 in 2024, per 100,000 population. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) accounted for 13.0% (126/969) of CCPD. The most common serotypes for CCPD were 23A (28.4%), 15A (14.2%), 19A (9.5%), and 15B/C (8.7%). Serotype coverage was 24.8% for PCV13, 36.4% for PCV20, and 78.2% for PCV21. Non-PCV13 serotypes contributed to approximately three fourths of CCPD. Penicillin non-susceptibility of non-PCV13 serotypes (59.7%) surpassed that of the PCV13 serotypes (45.7%) in 2024. Penicillin and ceftriaxone non-susceptibility of the isolates from children was higher than that from adults, and such non-susceptibility was more common in isolates from sputum than that from blood. Clonal complex 166 has been emerging as the predominant lineage (27.8%, 269/969), primarily composed of serotypes 23A (85.5%, 230/269) and 11A (6.7%, 18/269).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study shows continuously escalating penicillin and ceftriaxone resistance among pneumococcal isolates after the pandemic. Lower β-lactam susceptibility in pediatric upper respiratory tract isolates and adult sputum isolates appear to be derived from the serotype shift for CCPD.</p>","PeriodicalId":8934,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Journal","volume":" ","pages":"100999"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148052234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}