For psychoneuroendocrinology, accurate measurement of progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) in saliva is crucial for understanding the menstrual cycle phase and its impact on physiology and behavior. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) are the preferred methods and are more often found in research labs, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) may provide a more valid salivary steroids assessment. In this study, we aimed to compare the performance of LC-MS/MS, ELISA, and RIA to measure salivary P4 and E2. Samples were collected from 120 participants, 81 men and 39 women, in the morning and evening. Additionally, women provided samples during the early follicular (cycle days 3-5) and luteal cycle phases (cycle days 21-23) using the forward-count method. The study considered natural hormone fluctuations (e.g., the diurnal and menstrual cycles) and quality control samples as validity criteria for method evaluation. A total of 336 samples and quality control samples were analyzed using one RIA, two ELISA, and two LC-MS/MS methods across four labs. Correlational analyses were performed to assess inter-lab x inter-method reliability, intra-lab x inter-method reliability, and inter-lab x intra-method reliability. For P4, natural hormone fluctuations in menstrual cycles were detected by all methods. However, in contrast to both LC-MS/MS methods, all immunoassays (IAs) detected an unexpected diurnal decline of P4. For E2, they were found only by LC-MS/MS and RIA. In terms of means, for P4 and E2, ELISA and RIA produced higher values compared to LC-MS/MS. For P4, the inter- and intra-method convergence was r ≥ .92. As for E2, inter-method correlations were between r = -.12 and r = .23, while the ELISA intra-method comparison showed a correlation coefficient of r = .85. Our findings suggest that while LC-MS/MS, RIA, and ELISA were capable of meeting most of the specified criteria for P4, only LC-MS/MS and RIA were able to perform similarly sufficiently at low E2 levels. LC-MS/MS provided more accurate and reliable measurements for P4 and E2, especially at low concentrations, but encountered challenges, too. Although RIA showed comparable performance to LC-MS/MS, it still suffered partly from cross-reactivity. ELISA often overestimated hormone levels and exhibited greater divergence. These differences highlight the importance of carefully selecting methods and considering their limitations in research applications.

Development of sensitive and specific indirect ELISA tests for the detection of antibodies against bovine leukemia virus in serum and milk samples.

4D-printed ELISA needle panel meter.

Field-deployable modular absorbance analysis platform with standardized electronics for point-of-care diagnostics.

Research note: Effects of scalding on feather corticosterone concentrations in broiler chickens.

Ketogenic diet attenuates high fat diet induced obesity in rats: insights into hepatic and intestinal tissues.

Gastrointestinal parasites, especially Ostertagia ostertagi - the stomach worm - are known to affect the health and productivity of cattle. This study investigates the level of O. ostertagi antibodies on Swedish dairy farms and aims to investigate differences in the parasitic exposure over 20 years. Bulk-tank milk (BTM) samples were taken from 509 farms across Sweden, and the results were analysed along a north-south gradient in relation to three main country regions. Antibody levels against the stomach worm were quantified using a standardised and validated enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for the detection of antibodies in milk samples and compared with those obtained from similar samples from 2005/6. A questionnaire was also sent to farmers to update information on location, herd size, management practices including anthelmintic control measures. The results of the two studies (i.e. 2024 and 2005/6) were visualised for comparison. Statistical analysis of BTM-antibodies revealed significantly higher levels in the two northernmost regions (Norrland and Svealand) in 2024, while the increase in the southernmost region (Götaland) was not significant. There were also differences in husbandry practices: in 2024 herds were larger, the use of pour-on solutions was more common, and the grazing season was slightly longer, while in 2005/6 the heifers were housed later and dewormed less frequently. In this study, the BTM-ELISA test is used as a non-invasive and cost-effective method for mapping parasite hotspots and provides insight into the dynamics of O. ostertagi exposure over the years.

A case-controlled study of serum BDNF, GDNF, and NGF levels in autistic youth with and without bipolar disorder.

The 28-spotted potato ladybird beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) is a globally significant pest of solanaceous crops, including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), a staple food crop critical for global food security. Current pest management heavily relies on synthetic pesticides, raising concerns about resistance evolution, environmental contamination, and food safety. This study explores the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry3A and Cry3B proteins as a viable alternative against H. vigintioctopunctata larvae. Transgenic potato plants (cultivar E3) expressing Cry3A and Cry3B genes were successfully engineered via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Molecular analyses confirmed stable transgene integration and high expression levels in single-copy transgenic lines, with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay further verifying stable accumulation of Bt proteins. Bioassays using transgenic foliage demonstrated rapid and significant larval mortality, exceeding 31.67% within 24 h and reaching 100% in some lines by day 13, in contrast to minimal mortality (17.5%) in wild-type controls. Moreover, transgenic plants exhibited substantially reduced foliar damage, confirming strong protective efficacy. This study is the first to report the insecticidal activity of Cry3A and Cry3B proteins against H. vigintioctopunctata, thereby expanding the application scope of Bt-mediated resistance in potato. Our findings highlight the potential of transgenic potato as a sustainable and effective tool for managing this devastating pest, offering a promising strategy to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and mitigate associated risks. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of the administration of probiotic complexes of Bacillus coagulans and Clostridium butyricum on intestinal barrier damage induced by 5-fluorouracil in rats.

Oligosaccharides ameliorate insulin resistance and hepatic metabolism by promoting the leptin/POMC axis to accelerate short stature growth and development.

The retinal nerve fiber layer mean thickness in patients with early Parkinson's disease reflects striatal dopamine function.

Dentin bonding agents and camphorquinone-induced cytotoxicity, 8-isoprostane and prostaglandin production is associated with CYP450, NQO1, NQO2, GST, and GSH peroxidase in human dental pulp cells.

Pilot study of β-endorphin concentrations in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction using a newly validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

This study aimed to elucidate the role of neuronaI precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated 4-like (NEDD4L), a developmentally downregulated E3 ubiquitin ligase, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Serum NEDD4L levels in RA patients (during both stable and active disease stages) and healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyze NEDD4L expression in synovial tissues from RA patients compared to traumatic control subjects. In animal experiments, the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 was administered to inhibit NEDD4L degradation, and its effects on joint inflammation and bone erosion were evaluated in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model. At the cellular level, NEDD4L overexpression and knockdown models were constructed in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs). The effects of NEDD4L on RA-FLS proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed using CCK-8, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Transcriptome analysis of the NEDD4L-knockdown model provided further insights into the associated diseases and pathways. Finally, the impact of NEDD4L on key proteins of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (DVL2, GSK3β, p-GSK3β, β-catenin) was examined via Western blotting and immunofluorescence, systematically investigating the mechanism of NEDD4L in RA pathogenesis both in vivo and in vitro. NEDD4L expression was downregulated in the serum and synovial tissues of RA patients. Functional assays demonstrated that NEDD4L knockdown enhanced the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of RA-FLSs and promoted the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, whereas NEDD4L overexpression exerted opposite effects. In CIA rats, MG-132 intervention alleviated joint inflammation and bone destruction, concomitant with restored synovial NEDD4L expression. Mechanistic studies further revealed that NEDD4L influences the biological behavior of RA-FLSs by regulating key components of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. NEDD4L modulates the migration, invasion, and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion of RA-FLSs via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for RA. Key Points • NEDD4L knockdown activates Wnt/β-catenin pathway (DVL2, GSK3β, β-catenin). • Promotes IL-6/TNF-α secretion and cell invasiveness. • NEDD4L overexpression shows opposite effects. • Potential therapeutic target for RA.

The protective effect and mechanism of phycocyanin on diabetic retinopathy in rats.

Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking and experimental validation reveals the anti-pharyngitis mechanism of Humei Qingyan granule.

Burn injury induces systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation with neurobehavioral sequalae in mice.