Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most common chronic liver disease globally, affects nearly one-quarter of adults. Its escalating prevalence is driven by rising rates of obesity associated with sedentary lifestyles, high-caloric Western diets, and population aging. While early-stage MASLD, characterized by simple steatosis, is largely reversible, it can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which is marked by inflammation, hepatocyte injury, and fibrosis. MASH poses a risk for the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The liver maintains systemic energy homeostasis through dynamic, nutrient-responsive transcriptional programs that regulate gluconeogenesis, lipid storage, fatty acid oxidation, and detoxification; consequently, gene expression profiles change significantly between fed and fasted states to respond to nutritional cues. Sex dimorphism in gene expression markedly shapes MASLD susceptibility and progression, largely mediated by the interplay of sex chromosome-linked genes, hormonal cues, and their downstream regulatory networks. These transcriptional programs drive divergent metabolic and nutrient stress responses that ultimately influence disease trajectory. This review synthesizes current knowledge on sex- and age-dependent transcriptional regulation in liver and its influence on development of MASLD, integrating findings from animal models, human studies, and multi-omics datasets. Ultimately, understanding how these gene expression differences shape lipid metabolism, inflammation, fibrogenesis, and nutrient-stress responses is essential for developing more precise and effective therapeutic strategies.

People living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are at high risk of malnutrition, making it essential to monitor their nutritional status through measurements of body composition and energy expenditure. However, validity of equations, as alternatives to reference standards for assessing these parameters in ALS, is unclear. This systematic review evaluates criterion validity of equations to estimate body composition and energy expenditure in ALS. Four electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and Cochrane) were systematically searched from inception until July 7th, 2025. Studies were included if criterion validity of an instrument or method for estimating body composition or energy expenditure was examined in people diagnosed with ALS. Methodological quality was assessed using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) risk of bias checklist. Criterion validity was rated as sufficient (+), indeterminate (?) or insufficient (-) based on COSMIN criteria for good measurement properties. Results were qualitatively summarised. Twelve studies were included: five evaluated the criterion validity of equations to estimate body composition using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) or anthropometry, and seven to estimate resting or total daily energy expenditure. No equation was rated as sufficient for criterion validity across studies. Equations to estimate body composition and energy expenditure should be applied with caution, as no equation exhibited high criterion validity in ALS. ALS-specific equations require further validation, and ideally, new equations tailored to the unique physiological characteristics of ALS should be developed. CRD42024573509.

In the German guidelines on intra-operative haemodynamic management, we emphasise that 'even in fluid-responsive patients, the indication for fluid administration should be determined individually based on haemodynamics and clinical context'. Being 'fluid responsive' is a normal physiological state and does not necessarily indicate that a patient requires fluids. The Frank-Starling mechanism does not illustrate a causal relationship where an increase in cardiac preload (as an independent variable) leads to a subsequent increase in cardiac output (as a dependent variable). Rather, the evolutionary purpose of the Frank-Starling mechanism is to match cardiac output to variations in venous return caused by exercise or changes in posture. Clinicians should not routinely attempt to maximise stroke volume or cardiac output by giving fluids in patients having surgery because it is unlikely that surgical patients require their maximal cardiac output, as energy expenditure during major surgery with general anaesthesia is roughly one quarter lower than resting awake energy expenditure. In summary, clinicians should not routinely give repeated fluid boluses simply to use the full preload reserve in patients having major noncardiac surgery. Decisions to give - or not give - fluids must incorporate considerations that extend far beyond the physiological condition of 'fluid responsiveness'.

This study aimed to investigate cardiac adaptations and energy expenditure of jumping horses after water treadmill (WT) training. Six trained horses were evaluated before (PRETR) and after (TR) a WT training (20 min, twice/week, water at carpus height) for 10 weeks. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at PRETR and TR with phased array transducer (1.9-4 MHz) to obtain interventricular septal thickness (IVS), LV internal diameter (LVID), and posterior wall thickness (LVPW) at end-diastole (d) and systole (s) and heart rate (HR). Left ventricule end diastolic volume (Vd) and end systolic volume (Vs), fractional shortening (FS%), ejection fraction (EF%), stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) were calculated. Then, animals were performed a show jumping field test (SJT) using a HR monitor and energy expenditure (EE), cost of transport (COT) and metabolic power (Pmet) were calculated. Blood samples were obtained before and at 240 min of recovery for cardiac troponin analysis (cTnI). Data was analysed using paired t-test (p < 0.05). WT training led to significant increases of IVSd (∼2.56 vs. ∼2.79 cm; p = 0.001), LVPWs (∼4.21 vs. 4.48 cm; p = 0.032), EF% (∼75.0 vs. ∼78.6%; p = 0.049), FS% (∼46.8 vs. 50.2%; p = 0.048), CO (∼16.7 vs. ∼21.3 L/min; p = 0.015) and HR (31.2 vs. 36.3 bpm; p = 0.031); and a significant decrease of LVIDs (∼5.99 vs. 5.68 cm; p = 0.002) and cTnI levels. Significant improvements were observed for EE (1000.3 vs. 573.5 J/kg/min; p = 0.046) and COT (0.428 vs. 0.237 beats/kg/m x103; p = 0.036), with animals reaching higher speeds (12.9 km/h vs. 17.0 km/h) after the training program. The inclusion of WT in the routine training of show jumping horses induced cardiac structural and functional adaptations, enhancing myocardial contractility and overall cardiac efficiency.

Reduced energy requirements during pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation measured by indirect calorimetry.

Insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes and predates the development of frank hyperglycemia. Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling plays a critical role in glucose homeostasis, as both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have been linked to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. The mechanism behind the effects of TH action on insulin sensitivity is incompletely understood, but the liver is thought to play a key role. Indeed, resmetirom, a selective thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ) agonist, has recently been approved for treatment of liver fibrosis, and more THRβ agonists are currently in phase 2-3 clinical trials for use in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. As insulin resistance is closely associated with this disease, it is crucial that we understand the role of hepatic THRβ in glucose homeostasis. Thus, we hypothesized that TH, acting via the THRβ, is a key regulator of hepatic glucose metabolism. In wild-type (WT) and liver-specific THRβ knock-out (L-TRBKO) mice we analyzed the effect of changes in thyroid status and diet on glucose homeostasis and insulin signaling. Mice were assessed under basal conditions on a chow fed diet, under hypothyroid conditions using a propylthiouracil/low iodine diet with and without T3 treatment and following a high-fat diet. We measured glucose tolerance, hepatic insulin signaling, liver histology, energy expenditure and skeletal muscle metabolism. In high-fat diet fed WT and L-TRBKO mice we addidionally analyzed the effect of a single i.p. injection of T3. Finally we studied insulin signaling in human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated to hepatocytes (iHeps) both with and without THRβ expression. In contrast to our hypothesis, we found that insulin signaling in mice was not impacted by the selective deletion of THRβ only in hepatocytes. Both WT and L-TRBKO mice have similar glucose homeostasis under basal conditions and developed hyperglycemia on a high-fat diet. Further, a single dose of T3 administered to high-fat diet fed insulin-resistant mice improves insulin sensitivity to the levels of control chow-fed mice in both WT and L-TRBKO male mice. This single dose of T3 also increased glucose transporter expression in skeletal muscle. In iHeps, THRβ1 was not required to activate insulin signaling, and T3 treatment did not affect insulin signaling. T3 signaling impacts glucose homeostasis independently of its actions through the THRβ1 in hepatocytes in both a murine and human model.

Metabolic insights into the 3xTg-AD Alzheimer model mice: Unraveling the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and beyond.

Transmembrane protein 68 (TMEM68) is a recently identified TAG synthase that is highly expressed in the brain and regulates central nervous lipid homeostasis. The global deficiency of TMEM68 in mice causes reduced adipose tissue mass indicating a role in energy homeostasis. In this study we further explored the role of TMEM68 in adipocyte TAG metabolism and whole-body energy metabolism. We show that TMEM68 deficient mice exhibit a delay in fat mass gain with reduced adipocyte size and TAG levels starting between 3 and 4 weeks of age. This is accompanied by reduced serum leptin levels and impaired glucose tolerance but unchanged cold tolerance. While TMEM68 deficient mice were fully responsive to pharmacological lipolytic stimulation, they failed to maintain plasma fatty acid levels upon fasting. Assessment of invitro differentiated adipocytes confirmed TMEM68 as a positive regulator of adipocyte TAG storage and revealed an additional function in regulating adipocyte glycerophospholipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In summary, our data indicate that TMEM68 functions beyond brain lipid metabolism in regulating adipocyte lipids and whole-body energy homeostasis.

Mitofusin 2 in central nervous system disorders: Roles in mitochondrial dynamics and therapeutic Implications.

Dynamic changes and functional analysis of the vaginal microbial communities in reproductively dysfunctional giant pandas.

Obesity, a global health crisis driven by excessive body fat accumulation, predisposes individuals to metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and fatty liver disease. Although genetic and environmental factors play roles in the pathogenesis of obesity, recent transcriptomic studies have revealed that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), act as key regulators of crucial pathways in obesity, including adipogenesis, inflammation, insulin resistance, and energy homeostasis. This review synthesizes emerging evidence on the roles of lncRNAs and circRNAs in obesity and its complications, emphasizing their utility as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We further discuss challenges in translating ncRNA biology into clinical practice and propose integrative strategies to advance precision medicine for obesity.

Methionine aminopeptidase 1D preserves myogenic cell integrity via maintaining mitochondrial activity.

Selective separation of naphthalene sulfonic acids and salts from wastewater by electric field-assisted nanofiltration membranes.

ADGRL4 induces adipose browning and weight loss via AKT activation.

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) causes progressive muscle weakness, limits function and may lead to altered muscle co-contraction patterns to accomplish task performance and joint stability. In this study we examined time-changes in co-contraction of scapular and humeral muscles in persons with FSHD vs. healthy controls during reaching. Participants with FSHD (N=12, 56.0±14.5 yrs) and age-matched healthy controls (N=12, 55.8±13.1 yrs) performed ipsilateral and contralateral reaching to target. Surface electromyograms, kinematics and maximum voluntary force data were recorded. The co-contraction index CI1 was calculated as mean over the whole movement and further compared over time using statistical parametric mapping. During contralateral reaching, mean co-contraction of the trapezius ascendens-serratus anterior (TA-SA) muscle pair was higher in persons with FSHD vs. healthy controls (P=0.007, Delta CI1: +16, Hg: 1.15) and increased in the last phase of reaching (P<0.008, Delta CIi1: +30 to+48, normalized time: 75-100%), consistent with a pattern of high excitation of the TA muscle in FSHD participants. The increase in TA-SA co-contraction in FSHD during contralateral reaching is required to accomplish scapular stability and mobility, in the presence of muscle weakness when approaching the target. A higher co-contraction has implications for higher energy expenditure and affects joint loads.

Combined effects of glyphosate and ambient temperature on the energy management of a lizard: Evidence from a controlled exposure study.

GPS tracking reveals complex resource acquisition strategies of pastoralists in East Africa

Marine debris entanglement is a growing threat to pinnipeds, with acute consequences including injury, restricted movement, and increased energy expenditure now well documented. The use of drones to monitor populations and estimate entanglement prevalence is growing. Drone-borne colour (RGB) cameras enhance detection of conspicuous debris, but thin or transparent materials such as fishing line are often missed. Thermal infrared (TIR) imaging may improve detection by highlighting heat from wounds or disrupted fur caused by entanglement. We assessed the efficacy of drone-borne RGB and TIR imaging for detecting entanglements in Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) at Seal Rocks, south-eastern Australia. Across 54 drone surveys using representative commercial RGB+TIR sensors and concurrent handheld imaging, we captured imagery of entangled and non-entangled individuals. The resultant orthomosaic images and videos were classified by reviewers with relevant experience, and reviewer performance was assessed using generalised linear mixed models to estimate recall and precision. Entanglements were clearly visible in handheld TIR via elevated heat signatures. Similar thermal anomalies were visible in 81% of RGB+TIR drone detections of marine debris entanglements, with 95% reviewer agreement. RGB+TIR videos achieved the highest estimates and most reliable balance of recall and precision, followed closely by RGB alone, though differences were not always statistically significant. Importantly, fishing line was effectively detected in dual RGB+TIR drone imagery. This study presents the first use of drone-borne TIR imaging to detect marine debris entanglements and demonstrates that combining RGB and TIR video maximises detection performance.

Anorexia nervosa in partial remission with comorbid OCD: orthorexic cognition as a potential maintaining factor — a case report

Numerical assessment of plasticity development and energy expenditure of ant-like microtunnelling