Digital Commons Network^™

Pneumococcal Colonization In Pediatric Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, Liset Olarte, Jennifer E Schuster, Ibrahim Ahmed, Kristina G Hulten

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite the increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease among pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, pneumococcal colonization has not been evaluated in this population. We prospectively assessed longitudinal pneumococcal colonization in 22 pediatric HCT recipients from conditioning therapy to 100 days post-HCT. A higher likelihood of pneumococcal colonization was observed in the late post-HCT period (weeks 9-14) compared with the early post-HCT period (weeks 1-8), with odds increasing with each additional week after conditioning.IMPORTANCEThis is the first study to longitudinally evaluate pneumococcal colonization in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients from the onset of conditioning therapy to 100 days post-HCT. …

Tau Pathology In Epilepsy: Emerging Mechanisms And Translational Opportunities, Arjune Sen, Xin You Tai, Aristea Galanopoulou, Maria Thom, Eleonora Aronica, Lucy Vivash, Martin Hardmeier, Action Amos, Stephan Rueegg, Matthias Koepp, Yaroslav Winter, Christoph Helmstaedter, Jeffrey L Noebels, Hilal A Lashuel, Terence J O'Brien

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The onset of epilepsy in adulthood occurs most commonly after 55 years of age. Given the ageing global population, this disorder represents an increasing burden on healthcare and society. The bidirectional link between epilepsy and dementia is a focus of intense research with underlying tau pathology highlighted as a potential mechanistic link. In this review, we examine the evidence for tau-related neurodegenerative processes in epilepsy beginning with how changes in biochemical and structural properties of the tau protein can lead to abnormal phosphorylation and pathological aggregation. We consider the role of tau in seizure occurrence and cognitive difficulties in experimental …

The Stigma Experiences Of The African American Transgender Individual In Mental Health Settings, Linda Shaw Henley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The intersection of race, gender identity, and systemic marginalization has profound implications for mental health outcomes, particularly among African American transgender individuals. Addressing African American transgender individuals’ stigma experiences in mental health settings is important because transgender individuals have dual minority statuses, wherein racism, stigma, transphobia, and institutional neglect converge, significantly impacting their access to affirming and effective mental health treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the stigma experiences of the African American transgender individual in mental health settings. The phenomenon of interest in this study was stigma experiences in mental health settings with mental health providers. …

Cytoskeletal Protein Expression In Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Psychoneuroimmunological Perspective On Sars-Cov-2, James Birch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened concerns about health disparities among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Limited understanding of the biological factors underlying health variability may hinder efforts to reduce disparities and improve care for neurodivergent populations. Guided by the psychoneuroimmunology framework, this quantitative study investigated whether cytoskeletal gene expression was associated with neuroimmune variability in ASD and SARS-CoV-2 populations. Three genes –Nck-associated protein 1 (NCKAP1), WAS/WASL-interacting protein family member 1 (WIPF1), and actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 1B (ARPC1B)—were evaluated using two publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus datasets GSE212645 (ASD vs. sibling-matched controls, N = 40) and GSE152641 (SARS-CoV-2-positive vs. …

Fostering Active Learning In Reproductive Health Classes Among Undergraduates Of A Nigerian Public University: The Role Of Cognitive Restructuring Health Education, Ndubuisi Friday Ugwu, Adewumi Segun Igbinlade, Adijat Bolanle Adams, Uchenna Anselm Anibueze, Gabriel Aderibigbe Oyegbami, Chinyere Chrysantus Onwurah, Sabina Nwakaego Igwilo, Olufemi M. Olubamise, Folasade Adediran, Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun Phd, Jacob Kehinde Opele, Loveth Nnenna Ugwu, Amos Olorunwa Agbojo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: This study examined the efficacy of the cognitive restructuring health education (CRHE) intervention in improving participatory learning in sexual and reproductive health classes among students at a Nigerian public university.

Methods: The study employed a randomized pretest/posttest control group design involving 130 undergraduates from Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria. Participants were randomly assigned to either a 2-week intensive health education–based cognitive restructuring program (n = 65) or a waitlist control group (n = 65). Interaction behavior was assessed at pretreatment, at post-treatment, and at a 6-week follow-up using the 14-item Interaction Behavior Checklist (reliability = 0.85). …

Longitudinal Genomic Surveillance Of Sars-Cov-2 In A University Microcosm Reflects Global Evolutionary Trends, Sankar Prasad Chaki, Melissa M Kahl-Mcdonagh, Benjamin W Neuman, Loni A Taylor, Rebecca S B Fischer, Blake M Hanson, Marlisa S Hardy, Jo Ann Culpepper, Eric Boerwinkle, Kurt A Zuelke

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

SARS-CoV-2 transmission has declined, yet ongoing viral evolution continues to pose public health challenges. This study conducted long-term (2020-2024) genomic surveillance within a large and globally diverse university community. Viral genomes obtained from clinical (n = 1,786) and surveillance (n = 888) testing samples were classified under clade, lineage, and variant systems, and compared with global genomic data sets. Local patterns broadly paralleled global evolutionary trends, including the phased emergence of major variants, episodic introductions of new lineages, and shifts in dominant clades. Lineage diversity peaked during fall semesters and was highest among undergraduate-aged individuals, with similar distributions …

Biophysical Insights Into A Cryptic Ligand Site In The Hydrophobic Core Of Human Pcna, Alexis N. Dispensa, Sharon N, Greenwood, Jason Yang, Daniel E. Logatto, James Fusco, E. Railey White, Roderic G. Eckenhoff, Zhiwei Liu, Brian P. Weiser

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Proteins contain small pockets that form due to imperfections in residue packing or the rotational and conformational movement of amino acids. In this work, we used the fluorescent probe 1-aminoanthracene (AMA) to detect a small ligand pocket in the hydrophobic core of human proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is a critical protein for DNA replication and repair. Fluorescence measurements of AMA reported that the core of PCNA had a dielectric constant (ε) of 4, which was very apolar and similar to cyclohexane (ε = 2). Protein mutagenesis, photoaffinity labeling, and molecular dynamics simulations localized the binding site for AMA …

Coherent Two-Photon Backscattering And Induced Angular Quantum Correlations In Multiple-Scattered Two-Photon States Of The Light, Nooshin M. Estakhri, Theodore B. Norris

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

We present the emergence of coherent two-photon backscattering, a manifestation of weak localization, in multiple scattering of maximally entangled pure and fully mixed two-photon states and examine the effect of entanglement and classical correlations. Quantum correlations in backscattering are investigated for finite three-dimensional disordered structures in the weak localization regime, as well as systems of a small number of scatterers with specified spatial arrangements. No assumptions are made about the statistical behavior of the scattering matrix elements. Furthermore, we study the interplay between quantum correlations induced by multiple scattering and the correlations that may be present in the illumination fields, …

Constructing A Lower-Bound Estimate Of The Global Number Of Insect Species On A Hyperdiverse Empirical Foundation, Robert Colwell, Laura Melissa Guzman, Dirk Steinke, Anne Chao, Daniel H. Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs, Austin Baker, Jose L Fernández-Triana, Paul D.N. Hebert, Frank Joyce, Robert Puschendorf, Donald L.J. Quicke, Rodolphe Rougerie, M. Alex Smith, Nelson Zamora, Michael J. Sharkey

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Estimating the number of insect species on Earth is a daunting challenge. The current consensus estimate—about six million species—is likely far too low, as we will show. Our estimate of the global number of insect species rests on a sample of more than 1,600,000 DNA-barcoded insect specimens representing 53,945 species from 15 “core” Malaise traps deployed in dry forest, cloud forest, and rainforest ecosystems of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in Costa Rica. Even this massive sample fails to reveal the full extent of ACG insect species richness. To estimate total ACG insect richness, we adjust the observed count …

Examining The Moderating Roles Of Religious Coping And Belonging In The Relationship Between Moral Injury, Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Within The Israeli Defense Forces Reservist Soldiers, Rotem Z. Moshe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the moderating roles of religious coping and belonging in the relationship between moral injury and psychological distress, among Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reservist soldiers. This study investigated whether religious coping predicted moral injury, depression, anxiety, and stress, and examined whether religious coping and belonging moderated the relationship between moral injury and psychological distress. Exposure to potentially morally injurious events during military service is associated with increased risk for adverse mental health effects, particularly in times of prolonged conflict. Research on protective factors that mitigate these outcomes remains limited. Pointed by religious coping and belongingness frameworks, this study …

Tree Layer Composition And Regeneration Status Of Quercus Floribunda Lindl. On Different Aspects Of Nainital Catchment In Kumaun Himalaya, Ambica Agnihotri, Ashish Tewari, Shahbaz Ali

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Oaks are climax-forming species found at various elevations in the Himalayas between 2100– 2700 masl. However, aspect-wise regeneration patterns of Quercus floribunda in the Nainital catchment remain poorly documented. While previous studies focused on oak forest structure, the present study provides new insight into aspect-wise variation in the regeneration stages of Q. floribunda in relation to microclimatic conditions. The present study aims to evaluate tree composition and the regeneration status of Q. floribunda forests across different slope aspects in the Nainital catchment area of the Kumaun Himalaya. Four sites representing different slope aspects were selected in the Nainital catchment. Soil …

Dietary Fat Intake And Its Influence On The Association Between Liver Fat And Brain Choline Metabolism In Young Saudi Women, Halima S. Hawesa, Mansour E. Shanawani, Haya A. Alshegri, Mahasin G. Hassan, Amal I. Alorainy, Nouf A. Alroqaiba, Shanoo G. A. Sheikh

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: Fat-rich nutrition may influence the neurochemical consequences of hepatic lipid accumulation. This study examined whether percent energy from fat modifies the association between liver fat and the brain (Cho/Cr) ratio in healthy young women. Methods: A total of 109 healthy Saudi women aged 18–25 years underwent brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) to quantify Cho/Cr ratios. Liver fat was estimated using MRI-based proton density fat fraction (PDFF), and lipid intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable regression models tested the interaction between liver fat and fat-derived energy intake, followed by simple slopes analysis, regression …

Artificial Intelligence In Pharmaceutical Care: Transforming Drug Discovery, Development, And Patient-Care Delivery, Abdulrahman G. Alharbi, Abdulrahman A. Aljabri

Saudi Medical Journal

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into pharmaceutical care represents a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery, offering unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize medication management, accelerate drug development, and enhance patient outcomes. This comprehensive review synthesized evidence from global literature (2021–2025) examining AI applications across drug discovery and development, clinical trials optimization, medication therapy management, and pharmacy operations. The AI demonstrated prediction accuracies of 86–98% in drug discovery, 80% improvement in clinical trial recruitment efficiency, and 32.7% increase in medication adherence over standard care. The global AI drug discovery market, valued at \$1.5 billion (2023), is projected to reach \$11.8 billion by …

The Use Of Platelet-Rich Plasma For De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: A Systematic Review With Limited Meta-Analysis, Abdullah W. Abumadian, Mohanad I. Binibrahim, Abdurrahman H. Sultan, Mohammed A. Addas, Hattan Y. Bamagaus, Sultan K. Alhaddad, Motasem O. Bamabad, Bayan A. Ghalimah

Saudi Medical Journal

Introduction: De Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQT) is a painful wrist condition that impairs daily activities. Corticosteroid (CS) injections are commonly used for symptom relief, but their effects may diminish over time. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a regenerative alternative that promotes tissue healing rather than merely suppressing inflammation. This systematic review and limited meta-analysis compare the efficacy and safety of PRP versus CS injections in DQT. A limited meta-analysis was chosen due to the high heterogeneity between studies (I² = 98.7%). Methodology: A comprehensive literature search identified six studies comparing PRP and CS injections. Pain and functional outcomes …

The Role Of The Nlrp3 Inflammasome In Preeclampsia And Implantation Failure: A Molecular Review, Ari Budi Suryawinata, Mariel Tania Darmayani, Listyani Suhargo

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a critical multiprotein complex of the innate immune system that functions as a molecular sensor for a wide array of danger signals. While its activation is essential for host defense and tissue homeostasis, its dysregulation is increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of numerous inflammatory disorders. This review article synthesizes the current molecular understanding of the NLRP3 inflammasome, focusing on its dual role in health and disease. We first provide a concise overview of the canonical two-step mechanism of NLRP3 activation and the intricate molecular checkpoints including genetic factors, post-translational …

Effects Of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation During Pregnancy And Lactation On Immune Development In Offspring: A Systematic Review, Kurnia Maidarmi Handayani, Ghaniyyatul Khudri, Laura Zeffira, Widia Sari

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: Vitamin D, a fat-soluble prohormone, is essential for skeletal health and plays a key role in immune regulation. Deficiency is common among pregnant and lactating women, raising concerns as fetal and neonatal vitamin D status relies entirely on maternal stores. Insufficiency during these periods is linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, and immune-mediated disorders. This review examines the effects of maternal vitamin D supplementation on the immune development of offspring.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251117397). Experimental rodent studies published between 2019 and 2022 that investigated maternal vitamin …

Association Between Underpants Fit And Semen Quality: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study, Harnam Kaur, Unnop Jaisamrarn, Paweena Thuwanut, Chanakarn Suebthawinkul, Jiayu Li

Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Background: The effect of underpants type on semen parameters remains controversial. Conducting such a study in the Thai population will contribute valuable region-specific data.

Objectives: This cross-sectional research studied the influence of fit of underpants worn on various semen parameters including semen volume, sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology and sperm DNA fragmentation among Thai male partners in Bangkok, Thailand.

Methods: Thai male partners aged 20–55 years who sought infertility treatment from Reproductive Biology Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok were recruited from March to June 2024. All participants completed questionnaire covering socio-demographics, disease history, and type of underpants worn …

Values-Based Leadership In Public Discourse: How University Leaders Frame Character And Commitment, Heather Carroll, Jeff Fritz, Sarah Williams, Cheryl A. Maurana

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Public leadership speech is a consequential site of ethical positioning where institutional values are named, contested, and interpreted under pressure, and where the choice of virtue language shapes where attention is directed. Analyzing published quotations from university leaders during the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, we examine how virtue language functioned as a public act of values-based leadership through a socio-ecological framework for flourishing that treats character as dynamic and relational. We find that leaders constructed ethical stances by anchoring commitment to moral virtues that named goods, intellectual virtues that narrated deliberative process, and occasionally pairing both …

Moral Identity, Joseph P. Hester

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Foundationally, our communal awareness offers a complexity of meaning, but don’t be deterred, it also provides an avenue for understanding ethics, suggesting a definition of “humanity” as “community.”

The Character Fractal: A Theory Of Virtue Replication In Organizations, Kevin Davis, Scott Kozlak, Matthew M. Orlowsky, David Levy

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Organizational ethics has long been treated as an individual problem requiring individual solutions: the right traits, the right training, the right people in the right roles. This paper argues that framing is fundamentally insufficient. While character and virtue ultimately reside in persons, character development within organizations emerges through recursive ethical interactions shaped by incentives, narratives, feedback loops, and habituation structures cultivated by systems leaders. It replicates, or fails to, across every scale of human interaction, from the unobserved micro-decision of a single employee to the macro-level architecture of executive leadership. Drawing on Mandelbrot's fractal geometry, Lorenz's chaos theory, Kauffman's complexity …

Advanced Hybrid-Green Ultrasound–Infrared–Microwave Trifolium Repens Essential Oil Isolation With Multi-Target Ethnomedicine Bioactivity Against Neuropathy, Inflammation And Multidrug-Resistant Infection, Sara Al Ayoubi, Ibrahim Abdelwahab, Maha Aboul-Ela, Abdalla El- Lakany, Karim Raafat

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Trifolium repens (white clover) is rich in bioactive volatiles with therapeutic potential. This study developed an advanced hybrid ultrasound–infrared–microwave hydro-distillation (UIMHD) method for efficient essential oil (EO) isolation and investigated its active sesquiterpene, pseudoionone, for multi-mechanistic neuroprotection in diabetic neuropathy (DN). The optimized UIMHD system synergistically combined ultrasound cavitation, infrared heating, and microwave hydro-distillation, enhancing yield and reducing time versus conventional extraction. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) profiling identified pseudoionone as the dominant constituent. Pharmacological evaluations were performed in alloxan-induced diabetic mice to assess antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant activities. Cytokine modulation (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10), oxidative stress markers (CAT, GSH, TBARS), …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of I-Fiber Pearl On Reducing Body Fat Accumulation In Obese Females: A Randomized, Double-Blind, And Placebo-Controlled Trial, Hung-Hsuan Kuo, Chia-Chun Chen, Ching-Chang Cho, Chun-Tse Tsai, Shiuan-Chih Chen, Chin-Lin Hsu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Obesity is a growing public health challenge worldwide, strongly linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Inulin, a soluble, fermentable fiber derived mainly from Jerusalem artichoke and chicory, has been reported to improve weight management and metabolic health. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of inulin-enriched tapioca pearls (I-fiber pearl) on body composition and lipid parameters in obese women. Methods: Fifty women (BMI ≥ 27 or waist > 80 cm; age 20–50 years) were randomized to receive either I-fiber pearl or placebo (2 packs/day, 100 g/pack) for 12 weeks. Anthropometric indices, body composition, and blood biochemistry …

Spatial Distribution: Effect Of Oxygen Availability On Gut Microbiota Adhesion And Colonization, Ruixue Ding, Xiaotong Sun, Yinan Wang, Binbin Tu, Yue Liang, Qi Lin, Fuqiang Zhao

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host digestion and immune regulation; however, most existing research relies on fecal sampling, leaving uncertainty regarding whether fecal microbiota can accurately reflect the symbiotic microbial components at distinct gut sites. To address this gap, this study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to systematically analyze the microbial composition of three spatial compartments in the rat colon: luminal contents, mucus layer, and epithelial tissue. The results revealed notable differences in microbial communities across the three compartments. The luminal contents, which were closely associated with the fecal microbiota, exhibited high microbial abundance, encompassing gram-positive bacteria, …

Effect Of Cosmetic Whitening Ingredients’ Lipophilicity On Melanocyte Cytotoxicity: A Systematic Review, Lord Sam B. Liston, Zach Uriel Cabije, Enrico John Belleza, Catherine Ortega, Mark Niño Melgo, Vanbeth Camson, Sabrina Dahlizar, Pajaree Sakdiset, Gea Abigail Ecoy, Gerard Lee See, Florencio Jr. Arce

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Tyrosinase is an enzyme involved in the early stages of melanin synthesis. Melanin, which gives skin its pigment, is the most targeted molecule in the development of skin-whitening cosmetic products. Consequential risks of chemically induced skin diseases are associated with the usage of skin-whitening products that contain tyrosinase-inhibiting compounds. Currently, products containing tyrosinase inhibitors on the market lack collective analysis of their toxicity on melanocytes. Moreover, national regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA) place the burden of ensuring the safety of whitening products on manufacturers, risking bias and selective reporting. In fact, the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive does not include more than half …

The Protective Potential Of Intestinal Bifidobacterium-Derived Extracellular Vesicles With Unique Lipid Composition Against Blue Light-Induced Damage In Retinal Cells, Wei-Hsuan Hsu, Pin-Hsuan Su, Hao-Yuan Chien, Tzu-Ming Pan, Bao-Hong Lee

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Bifidobacterium longum is a probiotic that resides in the intestine, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by microorganisms have garnered attention in recent years for their role in regulating host health. This study found that triacylglycerol, cholesteryl esters, and free fatty acid (18:0 and 16:0) are primarily composed of lipids in B. longum-derived EVs by lipidomics assay. Such lipid composition facilitates the entry of EVs into ARPE-19 cells and protects the cells from oxidative death induced by blue light exposure. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that treatment with B. longum-derived EVs can regulate phosphoinositide 3-kinase and mTOR, thereby enhancing the survival …

Systematic Verification Of Saliva-Based Biosignatures For Oral Cancer Via Targeted Metabolomics, Ya-Ju Hsieh, Yu Chang, Chi Yang, Nai Hsuan Teng, Jau-Song Yu, Kai-Ping Chang, Wen-Chen Chen, Lichieh Julie Chu, Yi-Ting Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a major global health challenge, and early detection is essential for improving patient outcomes. To identify reliable salivary biomarkers, we performed a targeted metabolomics study using ¹³C₂/¹²C₂-dansylation, integrating candidate metabolites from published OSCC metabolomics datasets and systematically verifying them through LC-MRM-MS. A panel of 26 metabolites was quantified in saliva samples from 299 subjects, including healthy controls (n = 98), oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD I, n = 50; OPMD II, n = 53), and OSCC patients (n = 98). Among these, cadaverine, N-acetylcadaverine, choline, glycine, and …

Phthalate Exposure And Lipid Disruption In Taiwanese Children: Insights From Serum Lipidomic Approach, Tzu-Hsin Yen, Wei-Chen Tseng, Sheng-Han Lee, Zhi-Yi Du, Wan-Yu Lin, Mei-Huei Chen, Ching-Chun Lin, Ching-Chun Lin, Hui-Ju Wen, Hao-Jan Liang, Yue-Leon Guo, Pau-Chung Chen, Ching-Yu Lin

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that raise particular concern for children, who generally experience higher exposure levels and are more susceptible to environmental pollutants. To understand potential molecular mechanisms, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 256 Taiwanese children aged 8–10 years from two population-based cohorts: the Taiwan Birth Panel Study and the Taiwan Early-Life Cohort. Serum phosphocholine-containing lipids were profiled by liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and associated with urinary levels of 12 phthalate metabolites. Multiple linear regression models, adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic factors, revealed that mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), an oxidative metabolite of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), …

Applications Of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy In Pediatric Clinical Metabolomics: From Research To Future Perspectives, Chieh-Ni Kuo, Meng-Han Chiang, Hsien-Ju Lee, Yu-Ying Yu, Eric Yi-Liang Shen, Chih-Yung Chiu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Metabolomics studies small-molecule metabolites to provide insights into health and disease, supporting early diagnosis and personalized medicine. Advances in mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) have expanded its use in metabolic, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. In pediatrics, high-resolution NMR metabolomics has been instrumental in identifying age-related metabolic changes during early childhood and their associations with growth, nutrition, and disease risk. However, a comprehensive review of its clinical applications and future potential remains limited. This review highlights how utilizing specific NMR pulse sequences, such as CPMG and NOESY, allows for precise and non-destructive metabolic profiling of diverse biofluids, supported by …

The Evolution Of Desi-Msi: A Comprehensive Look At Preprocessing And Quantification Strategies For Metabolomics, Cheng-Hung Yang, Hung-Yao Ho, Chen-Yu Chang, Mei-Ling Cheng

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has become an indispensable tool in metabolomics for visualizing the spatial distribution of biomolecules within tissues. Due to its direct, ambient analysis capability, desorption electrospray ionization (DESI-MSI) has evolved from a rapid screening tool into a precise and reliable quantitative platform. We delve into its technical principles and particularly review the criticality of sample preprocessing, highlighting the paradigm shift from a "no-preprocessing" approach to one of "optimized preprocessing." The paper details how factors like sample preservation, choice of embedding agents, washing, drying, and on-tissue chemical derivatization all impact data quality. We also discuss how the addition …

Advanced Technologies Of Single-Cell Metabolomics Unveiling Cellular Metabolic Heterogeneity For Biological And Biomedical Research, Shang-Che Kuo, Ting-Wei Tsao, I-Fan Wang, Ying-Lan Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Metabolomics provides direct insights into cellular physiology, yet it faces greater analytical challenges compared to genomics and transcriptomics due to the chemical diversity, instability, and environmental sensitivity of metabolites. Conventional bulk metabolomics averages signals across cell populations, thereby masking cellular heterogeneity critical for understanding disease mechanisms. Recent breakthroughs in single-cell metabolomics (SCM), driven by advances in mass spectrometry, microfluidics, isotope tracing, and spatial omics, have enabled the detection of metabolic diversity at unprecedented resolution. SCM has uncovered cell-type-specific biomarkers, revealed metabolic reprogramming in cancer and immunity and revealed disease progression. These studies highlight SCM’s transformative potential in biomarker discovery, clinical …