Stunting, a chronic form of malnutrition characterised by impaired linear growth, remains a significant global public health concern. While supplementation programmes have shown potential to improve growth outcomes, long-term implementation may be constrained by poor adherence, high costs and limited sustainability. Increasing reliance on ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-cook (RTC) foods in low- and middle-income countries highlights the potential of nutrient-dense food-based approaches that align with existing dietary practices. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesise existing evidence on the development and evaluation of functional food products intended to support the prevention or management of stunting among children, with a focus on formulation strategies and nutritional characteristics. Using the Population-Concept-Context (PCC) framework, 22 studies were identified, encompassing various product categories, including complementary foods, bakery products and ready-to-use supplementary foods. Formulations primarily used cereal-based staples combined with protein- and lipid-rich ingredients, with selected products incorporating micronutrient fortification or bioactive ingredients. Differences in ingredient combinations, nutrient targets and processing approaches resulted in wide variation in nutrient composition, particularly in energy density, fat and selected micronutrients. Achieving the intended nutrient profile required careful ingredient selection and proportioning, along with appropriate processing. Evidence on the effects of these products on stunting outcomes remains limited. Overall, the findings highlight the need to consider ingredient composition, nutrient targets and processing together when developing nutrient-dense RTE and RTC food products for young children.

Tissue-interfaced bioelectronics require fibers that are conductive, strong, and bioactive, properties difficult to combine because conductive fillers that improve percolation tend to disrupt hydrogel networks and bioactivity. Twist densification was recently shown to convert collagen hydrogels into superhelical yarns with tendon-like mechanics. We extend this strategy to conductive composites by incorporating silver nanowires (AgNWs) into collagen hydrogels and co-assembling them into fibers. The completed gel network locks nanowires in place; subsequent twisting and cross-linking induce an approximately 60-fold volumetric densification and align collagen fibrils and AgNWs into a superhelical architecture. Incorporating the conductive phase before densification decouples electronic percolation from gel-network formation, allowing high conductivity (>24 S/mm) and preserved collagen bioactivity to coexist in a single yarn. A quantitative model attributes this conductivity to densification-driven volumetric percolation, alignment-enhanced longitudinal transport, and a mechanical route to junction de-insulation. Consistent with this model, sub-percolating yarns show a strain-induced decrease in resistance attributable to Poisson-contraction-driven junction compaction. The dense collagen matrix modulates Ag+ release, suppressing the cytotoxic burst release of bare nanowires while sustaining antibacterial activity. The yarns function as conductive surgical sutures in porcine tissue and as building blocks for woven smart textiles that integrate strain sensing with electrical stimulation.

Solanum elaeagnifolium (silverleaf nightshade, SLN) is a globally invasive perennial weed with reproductive plasticity and complex defence systems that significantly impact crop yields by invading fields of staple, commercial and ornamental crops. Despite being a host to multiple insect herbivores, the molecular programming enabling its rapid adaptation to defend against diverse feeding guilds remains poorly resolved. Here, we report a comprehensive de novo transcriptomic assembly and comparative analysis of S. elaeagnifolium challenged by two distinct herbivores: the piercing-sucking generalist cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora and the chewing specialist tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Differential gene expression analysis revealed a massive difference in the scale of the plant's response; aphid infestation resulted in 14,799 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), whereas hornworm feeding triggered a more localized response of 4235 DEGs. Guild-specific co-expression networks and transcription-factor enrichment (907 DEGs in aphid-challenged versus 196 in hornworm-challenged) point to two distinct regulatory responses. This reprogramming strategy was characterized by enriched KEGG pathways for sphingolipid metabolism and MAPK signalling in aphids. Conversely, hornworm infestation resulted in significant enrichment of cell wall organization, pectin catabolism and callose synthesis. Functional enrichment of network hub genes further revealed aphid-specific chromatin remodelling and DNA repair activity, while hornworm hub genes were associated with ribosome biogenesis and auxin-responsive GH3-family enzymes implicated in jasmonate conjugation. These contrasting findings indicate that SLN does not deploy a generic wound response but instead reallocates transcriptional resources according to feeding mode. This guild-specific defensive plasticity likely underlies part of the exceptional invasive success of SLN across diverse environments.

Craniosynostosis, resulting from the premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures, often requires invasive surgery for treatment. Currently, the spatiotemporal regulation of calvarial ossification during suture development is largely focused on cellular and molecular patterns. Using physicochemical imaging and nanomechanical mapping, we identified a unidirectional osteo-periosteal interface characterized by calcium phosphate deposition gradient during early postnatal calvarial development. Lineage tracing and dynamic bone formation assays revealed that Mmp13-positive osteoprogenitors, derived from Erg-expressing suture mesenchyme, establish this osteo-periosteal interface and drive asymmetric calvarial osteogenesis in mice. In the Twist1± craniosynostosis model, mineralization patterns initially resembled those of wild-type mice; however, misregulation of the PAK1/MMP13/BMP7 signaling cascade at the dura side triggered bilateral mineralization within the coronal suture, ultimately leading to bone fusion. Importantly, early localized inhibition of MMP13 overactivation, achieved by applying CL-82198 (a small-molecule MMP13 inhibitor) in a thin 20% gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel-based 'Suture Patch', preserved coronal suture patency in Twist1 mutants via a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Our work identifies a unilateral osteo-periosteal interface that is critical for coronal suture patency, reveals the regulatory role of non-cellular components in calvaria development, and proposes a minimally invasive strategy to preserve asymmetric osteogenesis in cranial sutures for the treatment of craniosynostosis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Craniosynostosis is a premature skull suture fusion that currently requires invasive surgery. We discover a unidirectional mineralization gradient driven by Mmp13+ osteoprogenitors. In a craniosynostosis model, this asymmetric process becomes bilateral and pathological. Leveraging this insight, we engineer a 200-μm hydrogel "Suture Patch" that delivers a small-molecule Mmp13 inhibitor locally. A single application in newborn mice preserves suture patency in 80% of treated animals, corrects skull deformity, and restores progenitor pools-without surgery. Our work integrates advanced materials characterization, single-cell biology, and translational bioengineering to provide both a fundamental revision of suture development and a practical, minimally invasive biomaterial therapy for the debilitating pediatric disorder.

Background and Clinical Significance: Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract and an uncommon cause of small bowel obstruction in adults, in which the diverticulum or a band arising from it typically constricts the adjacent bowel. Entrapment of the diverticulum itself within a pre-existing fibrous band is exceedingly rare; Case Presentation: A 42-year-old man with no previous abdominal surgery presented with colicky abdominal pain, distension and bilious vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated small bowel loops dilated to 35.4 mm with a pelvic transition point of undetermined cause. At emergency laparotomy, a fibrous ileo-mesenteric band delimited a constricting orifice through which the Meckel's diverticulum had herniated and become strangulated at its base, with secondary obstruction and ischemia of the adjacent ileum. Division of the band restored perfusion; the bowel remained viable and stapled diverticulectomy was performed without segmental resection. The patient recovered without complications. In most reported cases of Meckel's diverticulum causing small bowel obstruction, the diverticulum or a band arising from it constricts the adjacent bowel. In this case the mechanism is reversed: the diverticulum was the entrapped structure itself, herniating through and strangulating within the orifice of a pre-existing ileo-mesenteric fibrous band. This configuration is exceptionally rare; Conclusions: Meckel's diverticulum should be considered among the possible causes of small bowel obstruction in adults with no history of abdominal surgery. Recognition of this unusual anatomical configuration may facilitate intraoperative identification and appropriate assessment of bowel viability.

Mycotoxins threaten food safety, public health, and trade in Africa, where cereals are staple foods largely produced and consumed through informal systems. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on pre- and post-harvest mycotoxin management in African cereal systems and translates it into an integrated adaptive framework for policy and practice. A structured literature search conducted in Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus identified 9,817 records, of which 33 primary studies met the eligibility criteria. The included studies covered interventions across the cereal value chain, including biocontrol, chemical pest management, drying, storage, and processing practices. Biocontrol interventions, particularly atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus products such as Aflasafe reduced aflatoxin levels by 60-100% across the reviewed studies, with long-term field evidence showing that more than 95% of treated grains remained below 20 µg/kg in Nigeria and 75% below 4 µg/kg in Senegal. Bt maize also reduced fumonisin contamination by approximately 74% in South Africa. Post-harvest interventions, including improved drying, hermetic storage, sorting, and HACCP-based processing, achieved variable but substantial reductions, with hand sorting reducing aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 to less than 6% and 5% of initial levels, respectively, and HACCP-based processing reducing aflatoxins to below 5 µg/kg. However, persistent constraints, including climate variability, limited infrastructure, low awareness, gender inequities, informal market dominance, and fragmented regulatory frameworks, continue to limit large-scale effectiveness. These findings informed an Integrated Adaptive Mycotoxin Management Framework grounded in a One Health perspective to support sustainable mycotoxin risk reduction in African cereals.

Asian rhinoplasty often requires additional tip support because the medial crura are frequently weak, short, or asymmetrical. Although septal extension grafts provide strong support, rigid fixation may reduce physiological tip mobility and efface the infratip break. We describe the dual-pillar medial crural reinforcement technique, which strengthens each medial crus while preserving its native contour. A retrospective review was performed of 42 Asian rhinoplasty patients treated between 2023 and 2025. The technique was used in patients with inadequate tip projection (Goode ratio <0.55), weak or asymmetrical medial crura, and a preference for preserving dynamic tip mobility. Thin cartilage grafts (0.8-2.0 mm) were individually shaped and secured along each medial crus as paired bilateral reinforcement with interrupted 5-0 polydioxanone sutures without rigid septal coupling. Outcomes included Goode ratio, infratip break angle, tip mobility (pragmatic 4-point clinical grading), and patient satisfaction. Mean Goode ratio improved from 0.51 ± 0.03 to 0.58 ± 0.02 (P < 0.001), and mean infratip break angle improved from 139 ± 7 to 118 ± 5 degrees (P < 0.001). Grade 3 physiological tip mobility was observed in 38 (90%) patients, whereas 4 (10%) patients showed grade 2 mobility. Mean patient satisfaction was 8.7 ± 0.9 on a 10-point visual analog scale. No complications requiring revision occurred. The dual-pillar technique provides structural reinforcement of the medial crura without changing their native shape. By preserving natural contour, infratip break, and dynamic tip mobility, it offers a useful alternative or adjunct to more rigid tip-support techniques in Asian rhinoplasty.

Introduction Irreparable rotator cuff tears represent one of the greatest challenges in contemporary orthopedic surgery, imposing significant functional limitation and requiring reconstruction strategies with high mechanical fixation strength. The choice between different suture materials and anchoring techniques directly influences the initial biomechanical stability of the repair, determining construct safety during the critical period of biological healing. Objective To evaluate and compare the load-to-failure of four tendon repair configurations in humeral head synthetic models (Sawbones®; Pacific Research Laboratories, Inc., Vashon, WA, USA), combining two surgical sutures - Ethibond® USP 5 (Ethicon Inc., Raritan, NJ, USA; braided polyester) and FiberWire® USP 2 (Arthrex Inc., Naples, FL, USA; ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) - with two fixation techniques: double metal anchor and transosseous tunnel. Methods Linear tensile mechanical tests to failure were performed on 20 shoulder models, with five samples per experimental group. The tendon was simulated using synthetic leather strips (corino), secured with a five-pass epitendinous running suture. Maximum load to failure was measured with a calibrated dynamometer in kilogram-force (kgf) and converted to Newtons (N). Inclusion criteria restricted the analysis to failures exclusive to the suture material, excluding any structural construct failure. Results All configurations exceeded the 200 N biomechanical threshold considered safe for early rehabilitation. The Ethibond® transosseous tunnel group showed the highest mean strength (357.55 N; SD ± 46.7), followed by FiberWire® with double anchor (330.88 N; SD ± 18.3), transosseous FiberWire® (296.36 N; SD ± 8.6), and Ethibond® with double anchor (293.41 N; SD ± 43.9). Between-group Welch's t-tests showed a trend toward higher strength for the Ethibond® transosseous configuration versus Ethibond® double anchor (p = 0.056), and a significant difference between FiberWire® double anchor and FiberWire® transosseous (p = 0.010); pooled main effects of suture material and fixation technique alone were not significant, suggesting an interaction between suture caliber and fixation geometry. Conclusion In this synthetic model, the transosseous technique combined with high-caliber polyester suture produced the greatest mean mechanical strength, although the advantage over anchor fixation did not reach statistical significance. Surgeons may achieve biomechanically safe and cost-effective fixation using transosseous tunnels with Ethibond® USP 5, reserving anchors and FiberWire® for cases in which tear geometry precludes tunnel creation.

Conventional techniques for repairing an irreparable posterosuperior massive rotator cuff tear (MRCT) typically fail1,2. The supraspinatus tendon reconstruction (STR) technique offers a systematic approach to achieve both anatomic restoration and functional recovery of the supraspinatus tendon1. The use of autografts for reconstruction is challenged by their limited availability, inadequate dimensions, and donor site morbidity. The Ligament Augmentation and Reconstruction System (LARS; MovMedix) is a synthetic ligament consisting of fibers made of polyethylene terephthalate that is used as an alternative to autograft; however, concerns remain regarding inadequate graft integration with bone3. In contrast, fascia lata autografts demonstrate enhanced interface healing with both the supraspinatus muscle and the bone at the footprint4-6. The present article describes a unique arthroscopic STR approach involving a hybrid LARS-fascia lata graft for irreparable posterosuperior MRCTs.