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Association between functional movement screen scores and athletic performance in adolescents: a systematic review
No full textThis study systematically reviews the literature examining the relationship between Funda mental Movement Screen (FMS©) scores and athletic performance in youth. We searched English language papers on PubMed/MEDLINE, SportsDiscus, CINAHL, and EBSCO for the following
inclusion criteria: Participants aged between 11 and 17 years, studies had to include the Functional
Movement Screen© (FMS©) and at least one of the following performance outcomes, highlighted
by athletic development models (i.e., long-term athletic development (LTAD), youth physical devel opment (YPD)): agility, speed, power, strength, endurance, and balance (YPD), fitness (LTAD), or
sport-specific skill (LTAD and YPD). A total of 3146 titles were identified, with 13 relevant studies
satisfying the inclusion criteria after full-text screening. The results of this systematic review suggest
that children and youth who score highly on the FMS© also tend to have better scores for agility,
running speed, strength, and cardiovascular endurance. The strength of associations was weak to
moderate in nature. Only one study was considered or controlled for biological maturation in their
analysis. These results provide evidence that, while there is a relationship between FMS© scores
and tests of athletic performance in youth, they are not the same thing and should be considered
conceptually different constructs
Fostering collective approaches in supporting perinatal mental healthcare access for migrant women: a participatory health research study
No full textPerinatal mental health is a growing public health concern. The mounting evidence
examining the prevalence of perinatal mental illness identifies specific vulnerabilities and risk factors
among migrant women. We know that migrant women experience persistent and systematic barriers
in accessing healthcare and that healthcare services do not always respond appropriately to migrant
women’s needs, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in supporting positive perinatal
mental health among migrant women. The purpose of this participatory health research study was to
explore perinatal mental healthcare for migrant women in Ireland, from the perspectives of a diverse
range of stakeholders (healthcare service providers, community organisations/networks/associations
and migrant women). A key focus of this study was to collaboratively explore solution-focused
approaches to improving access to supports and healthcare services for migrant women experiencing
perinatal mental illness. Following ethical approval, data were collected during three key convenings,
utilising the design principles of world café philosophies. Thematic analysis led to the generation
of the following two themes: Building Capability and Capacity and Empowering Migrant Women. The
main conclusions lie in the provision of whole-system approaches in collectively, collaboratively and
proactively planning strategies that address the many factors that affect access to healthcare services
for migrant women experiencing perinatal mental illness. Drawing on the collective perspectives of a
wide range of stakeholders, our innovative solution focused on providing recommendations aimed
at strengthening supports and healthcare services for migrant women
Modeling the chondrocyte-derived osteoblasts formation process reveals its molecular signature and regulation network.
No full textEndochondral ossification is a physiological process involving a sequential formation of cartilage and bone tissues. Classically, cartilage and bone formation have been considered independent processes at cellular level. However, the recently described multiple cell differentiation dynamics suggest that some bone cells are indeed the progeny of cartilage cells, or chondrocyte-derived osteoblasts. We hypothesized that the cartilage-to-bone phenotype transition is triggered by specific molecular events. First, the process was assessed in mouse bone tissue, and then, it was mimicked using in vivo cell implantation and in vitro serial differentiation protocols. Data indicates that cartilage cells transition to bone cell phenotype during postnatal physiological bone formation. This process can be reproduced using cartilage precursor cells coupled to specific implantation procedures or differentiation protocols. Gene expression profiling reveals that NOTCH, BMP and MAPK signaling pathways are relevant at the phenotype-switch, while the transcription factors Mesp1, Alx1, Grhl3 and Hmx3 are the feasible driver genes for chondrocyte-derived osteoblasts formation. Altogether, this report shows that endochondral ossification can be modeled using primary cell cultures and data indicate that this process is regulated by specific molecular events, previously described at skeleton morphogenesis during embryo development, and from now on also linkable to postnatal bone development and regeneration processes
The gatekeepers of growth: The neural roles and regulation of growth hormone-releasing hormone neurons.
No full textThe neuroendocrine control of growth is mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-somatic (HPS) axis. This involves the hypothalamic release of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which stimulates the pituitary secretion of growth hormone (GH). GH subsequently promotes growth both directly and indirectly by stimulating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) release from the liver. While extensive research has focused on the actions and mechanisms of GH and IGF1, comparatively little attention has been given to how GHRH neurons themselves are regulated. This review aims to provide insight into how GHRH neurons are controlled, emphasizing their intrinsic electrophysiological properties and the broader brain circuitry involved in detecting physiological signals such as hormonal and metabolic status. Central to this regulation is the balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs that generate the pulsatile secretion pattern essential for growth regulation. Somatostatin (SST) provides critical inhibitory control over both GH secretion and GHRH neuronal activity. Feedback from peripheral hormones and integration of environmental and metabolic cues can further shape GHRH neuron function. Developmental, sex-dependent, and species-specific variations in GHRH neuron regulation are also discussed, highlighting important avenues for future research. This review offers a neuroendocrine perspective on growth regulation, with important implications for understanding the brain's role in regulating growth and development
Topoisomerases regulate alternative transcription start site selection in yeast.
No full textMost genes are transcribed from multiple transcription start sites (TSSs), also known as alternative TSSs, which are highly regulated and can lead to various gene regulatory outcomes, including changes in translation efficiency and protein isoform expression. Transcription factors and chromatin regulators control alternative TSS selection. DNA supercoiling affects multiple aspects of transcription, including transcription initiation; however, its regulatory effect on genes with multiple TSSs is not known. Here, we investigated how depletion of topoisomerases, which resolve DNA supercoiling events, impacts alternative TSS usage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We depleted topoisomerases (Top1 and Top2) during early meiosis, where alternative TSS usage is prevalent, and applied an improved TSS sequencing protocol. We show that supercoiling affects alternative TSS usage at almost 600 genes. Increased alternative and aberrant TSS usage was observed near and within open reading frames, likely resulting from transcription-induced supercoiling originating from upstream alternative TSSs. Top1/Top2 co-depletion most strongly affected genes with highly used, widely spaced alternative TSSs. Our correlative analyses support a model where DNA supercoiling release during transcription is critical for correct TSS selection
Wild passerines as potential carriers and sources of avian influenza viruses in Ukraine.
No full textWild waterfowl and shorebirds are the primary reservoir of influenza A viruses in nature. The role of wild birds from other taxonomic groups remains insufficiently studied or is a subject of debate. This applies in particular to Passeriformes, the most diverse avian order, accounting for approximately 60% of the global bird population, where the role in circulation of influenza A viruses is underexplored. We used serological, virological, and PCR-based methods to survey avian influenza viruses in Passeriformes birds (65 species, 20 families) in Ukraine over a 20-year period, 2004-2025. Antibodies to influenza viruses were detected in serum and egg yolk of seven passerine species, with average seroprevalence 1.24% in sera and 8.94% in yolk samples. Seroprevalence varied across species, ranging from 1.96 to 27.2%. Virological screening resulted in the isolation of two viruses from Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris) of the subtypes H1N1 and H7N1. The overall infection rate based on virus isolation was 0.15%, while local infection rate in Fieldfares reached 11.1%. According to PCR results, 41 positive samples were detected, representing 3.61% of all tested birds (ranging from 1.42-9.1%), and by location ranged from 6.25-9.1%. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of H1N1 (Fieldfare), H7N1 (Fieldfare), H3N8 (Great Tit Parus major) influenza viruses confirmed them as Eurasian lineage low pathogenic avian influenza viruses and with close relatedness to viruses of the same subtypes circulating among wild waterfowl.</p
Triply responsive control of ion transport with an artificial channel creates a switchable AND to OR logic gate
No full textIon channels are ubiquitous in Nature, performing complex and essential tasks in our bodies. Synthetic chemists have begun to understand how to form artificial channels, which hold great promise as components in artificial cells, and in synthetic biology more widely. Future generations of these systems will be critical in the treatment of channelopathies. Despite advances in synthetic ion transporters, the current generation cannot approach the selectivity and controllability of the biological ion channels they seek to emulate, and multimodal control over activity remains hard to achieve. Herein, we present a synthetic ion channel whose activity can be controlled by three orthogonal stimuli (light, pH, guest/ligand), based on a pillar[5]arene functionalized with photoswitchable ortho‐tetrafluoroazobenzene moieties. We demonstrate excellent control over ten photoswitches (E-to-Z 82%, Z‐to‐E quant.). We show that the most active Z‐isomer forms dimeric ion channels in membranes. Single molecule planar bilayer conductance studies show high and low conductance states dependent on irradiation wavelength. We demonstrate that this activity can be modulated over 170‐fold by controlling pH, irradiation, and guest addition. We use these three stimuli to design a pH switchable AND to OR logic gate system, creating a powerful addition to the canon of synthetic ion channels
Dynamic allele usage of X-linked genes ameliorates neurodevelopmental disease phenotypes in brain organoids.
No full textWhile random X-chromosome inactivation in female cells of placental mammals silences one allele of the majority of X-chromosomal genes, a considerable fraction is only incompletely and variably inactivated. Human model systems to study the dynamics of incomplete X-inactivation are limited mostly to postmortem tissue, thereby disregarding developmental trajectories. Here, we used clonal human female induced pluripotent stem cells to track allele-specific expression of X-chromosomal genes along neural differentiation. We discovered dynamic reactivation and late-silencing of gene expression from the inactive X-chromosome leading to differentiation-induced locus- and lineage-specific usage of the two X-chromosomal alleles. In brain organoids modeling Opitz BBB/G syndrome, an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder, reactivation of alleles from the inactive X-chromosome rescued cellular phenotypes and led to intermediate manifestations in female tissue. Taken together, our data demonstrate that alleles on the inactive X-chromosome can serve as a critical reservoir dynamically used during differentiation, thereby enhancing resilience of female neural tissue
Assessing seroprevalence and infection dynamics of oncogenic gammaherpesviruses in South African paediatric patients presenting with inflammatory conditions
No full textKaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) are oncogenic gammaherpesviruses with high prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. Both viruses are typically acquired during childhood, establishing lifelong latency. While viral reactivation into the lytic cycle has been mainly studied in adult HIV-infected populations—and more recently in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) co-infection—the dynamics of KSHV and EBV infection in children remain poorly understood. Here, we characterize pediatric patients (n = 175; median age 4.6 years; IQR 2.0–8.3) presenting with inflammatory conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa (from July 2020 to February 2024). Including a healthy, non-inflammatory control group, we found widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (70.9% seropositivity), with 72.6% of the children being seropositive for EBV and 19.4% for KSHV. There were no significant differences in seroprevalence between children with inflammatory conditions and healthy controls for any of these viruses, although SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were significantly higher in the inflammatory group, while EBV immune responses were lower in children presenting with inflammation. Among the KSHV-seropositive children, no active viremia was detected (as determined by the absence of viral DNA in the peripheral blood). In contrast, 34.4% of EBV-seropositive children had detectable EBV viral load, with a modestly higher proportion in the inflammatory group. However, EBV viral load levels were comparable between children diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), Kawasaki Disease (KD), and other inflammatory conditions. Logistic regression analyses revealed that increasing age was significantly associated with higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 and EBV seropositivity, but not KSHV. Notably, the risk of EBV DNA detection in the peripheral blood decreased with age. In summary, this study suggests effective immunological control of gammaherpesvirus infections in HIV-negative paediatric patients, even in the presence of inflammatory conditions that might otherwise trigger viral reactivation
Datasets associated with: Integrase anchors viral RNA to the HIV-1 capsid interior.
No full textDatasets associated with: Singer, M.R., Li, Z., Rey, J.S. et al. Integrase anchors viral RNA to the HIV-1 capsid interior. Nature (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10154-x</p