Donor scarcity limits islet transplantation for type 1 diabetes. Early postnatal piglets are a potential xenogeneic source of endocrine tissue, yet their immature islet cell clusters (ICCs) remain insufficiently characterised with respect to size and maturation. Here, we quantified ICC size heterogeneity in pancreata from six 14-day-old piglets using insulin and glucagon immunofluorescence staining and large-area immunofluorescence imaging with automated whole-section analysis. ICCs were classified as small (1-2 endocrine cells), intermediate (3-5 endocrine cells), or large (≥6 endocrine cells). Well-developed ICCs reaching ∼100 µm in diameter were consistently identified in all animals and exhibited an intermingled β- and α-cell cytoarchitecture similar to that of adult pig and human islets. The densities of small, intermediate, and large clusters were largely comparable among littermates and across piglets, suggesting a consistent distribution of ICC size classes at this postnatal age. Quantitative composition analysis revealed a strong predominance of insulin-positive area. In small and intermediate ICCs, we observed mean β/α cell ratios of 3.7 ± 0.4 and 3.8 ± 0.4, respectively. In large ICCs, the proportion of glucagon staining was significantly higher, decreasing the β/α cell ratio to 2.2 ± 0.3. Together, these data point to a reproducible distribution of ICC sizes in 14-day-old piglet pancreata, including a population of morphologically well-developed, ∼100 µm-sized clusters. These findings from native pancreatic tissue provide a morphological basis for further evaluating 14-day-old piglets as a potential donor source for xenogeneic islet transplantation.

Plant-derived phenolic compounds are increasingly recognized for their antioxidant properties and biological activities. However, the relationship between phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential in Quercus myrsinaefolia Blume remains insufficiently understood. In this study, leaf materials were extracted with 80% ethanol and subsequently fractioned into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions. Phytochemical profiles were characterized by HPLC and GC-MS analyses, while antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and reducing power assays. Pearson correlation analysis was further performed to investigate the relationships between phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities. Among all fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity, corresponding to its highest total phenolic (278 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid contents (75.1 mg QE/g extract). HPLC analysis revealed that this fraction was enriched in bioactive phenolic acids and flavonoids, including chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, myricetin, and kaempferol, whereas the ethanol extract contained a broader but less concentrated phytochemical profile. GC-MS analysis identified diverse metabolites, including phenolics, fatty acid derivatives, and terpenoids, suggesting possible synergistic contributions to antioxidant activity. Pearson correlation analysis further demonstrated that total phenolic and flavonoid contents were strongly associated with antioxidant capacity, whereas condensed tannin content showed comparatively weaker relationships. Overall, these findings demonstrate that antioxidant activity in Q. myrsinaefolia is primarily governed by phenolic composition rather than extraction yield, highlighting the ethyl acetate fraction as a promising natural source of antioxidant phytochemicals for functional food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical applications.

The human body is a complex and irregular system that generates diverse physiological signals. In the era of wearable technology, an increasing number of physiological signals can be continuously monitored, generating rich time series data that capture the dynamic physiological fluctuations and may reveal subtle signs of dysregulation. For example, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems generate glucose time series data. As such, new metrics harnessing the time series nature of physiological signals may serve as sensitive markers of health. Of them, complexity focuses more on the dynamical characteristics of physiological signals and can reveal hidden information that linear methods may miss, allowing for the handling of nonstationary data and providing a more precise capture of individual differences. Importantly, the complexity of physiological signals may reflect the regulatory capacity, adaptability, and functional reserves of the body, which are often impaired in chronic diseases and during aging. Using CGM-derived glucose complexity as a representative example, this review discusses the clinical significance and applications of complexity in chronic diseases and aging. Finally, we outline future directions for complexity-related research, particularly regarding the roles of artificial intelligence (AI), wearable devices, and clinical translation.

The purpose was to create a Cartesian coordinate system (CCS) within the mandibular ramus relating to specific anatomical landmarks, which can then be used to analyse the mandibular ramus further. Therefore, STL files of mandibular rami were imported into the specifically created program CTinA. Anatomical landmarks, such as the Loukota line and the posterior edge of the mandibular ramus, were marked by hand. Afterwards, a CCS was created, which is related to the marked structures. This means, a reproducible CCS for the mandibular ramus and condyle was established referencing anatomical landmarks. In conclusion, the introduction of the CCS enables standardised clinically interpretable analysis of morphology and may support implant design, such as osteosynthesis plates made from magnesium alloys. Compared to the best-fit alignment, it relies on anatomical landmarks and may be more robust in cases of morphological variation and remodelling.

Microbial infectious diseases pose a significant threat to global health. Early and accurate pathogen identification directly influences antimicrobial strategies and patient outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as key mediators of intercellular signaling and can transport nucleic acids and proteins from both host and pathogen sources. Proteomic analysis of EVs captures pathogen activity, host response, and tissue injury, offering a review-focused perspective on biomarker discovery for microbial infectious diseases.

Resistant maltodextrin (RMD) is a water-soluble dietary fiber with prebiotic properties. This study investigated the effects of RMD on skeletal muscle atrophy and associated molecular and microbial changes in eighteen-month-old mice fed a standard chow diet (SCD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. RMD supplementation improved muscle strength, endurance, and muscle mass under both dietary conditions. In HFD-fed mice, RMD also reduced fat accumulation and adipocyte size. Gut microbiota analysis showed distinct responses to RMD according to dietary condition, including enrichment of Lactobacillus and Alloprevotella under SCD and Allobaculum and Akkermansia under HFD. RMD also increased fecal SCFA levels under HFD conditions and was associated with increased expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related and myogenic genes in skeletal muscle. These findings indicate that RMD attenuates skeletal muscle atrophy in aged mice in association with changes in gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolites, and muscle-related gene expression.

Polyvinyl alcohol eye drops contain high-molecular-weight polymeric raw materials and excipients whose synthesis, storage, and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes may introduce or generate residual monomers, thereby affecting the quality, safety, and stability of the formulation. Therefore, establishing a reliable analytical method for the simultaneous determination of multiple residual monomers is essential for improving the quality control of such ophthalmic formulations. In this study, a dual-wavelength reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitative determination of 2-pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP), and vinyl acetate (VA) in polyvinyl alcohol eye drops. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a NanoChrom 300 C18 column using an isocratic mobile phase consisting of water, methanol, and acetonitrile (90:5:5, v/v/v), with detection at 205 and 235 nm. The greenness and environmental sustainability of the proposed method were comprehensively evaluated using three complementary assessment tools: the Analytical Eco-Scale, the Analytical Method Greenness Score (AMGS), and the Modified Green Analytical Procedure Index (MoGAPI). The results demonstrated that the method is simple and provides satisfactory sensitivity, accuracy, and precision, making it suitable for the determination and quality control of the target residual compounds in ophthalmic formulations containing povidone as an excipient.