Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a deadly malignancy owing to its late presentation and the limited sensitivity of current serum biomarkers and imaging for early detection. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which carry proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids that reflect tumor-stromal interactions, have emerged as promising biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment response. Several EV-derived proteins, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and DNA alterations linked to early carcinogenesis and therapeutic resistance have been identified. However, variability in pre-analytical handling and analytical platforms has hindered reproducibility. Global standardization efforts, such as European Liquid Biopsy Society (ELBS), The Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC), International Liquid Biopsy Standardization Alliance (ILSA), and Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV), are currently helping to unify methodologies for EV isolation and molecular profiling. Advances in analytical technologies have shifted the field from bulk EV measurements to high-resolution single-vesicle approaches. Techniques, such as nanoflow cytometry, super-resolution imaging, Raman spectroscopy, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering, enable the detection of rare, mutation-bearing, or functionally distinct EV subpopulations, which may enhance diagnostic precision. In gastroenterology, a major opportunity lies in integrating single-EV analytics with the endoscopic sampling of tumor-proximal fluids. EVs obtained from pancreatic juice, bile, duodenal fluid, or portal venous blood via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) provide spatially enriched molecular information beyond peripheral blood. Combining endoscopic access with particle-level EV characterization may allow real-time, mechanism-informed assessment of tumor biology and premalignant lesions, offering a promising strategy for early detection and risk stratification in PDAC. Together, these developments have positioned EV-based liquid biopsy as a rapidly maturing field with strong translational potential.

Background: Cognitive impairment and dementia impose increasing health and societal burdens, highlighting the need for scalable and objective approaches to characterize cognitive health across early identification and longitudinal monitoring. Traditional neuropsychological assessments have limited scalability and capture coarse performance outcomes, while digital technologies enable scalable multimodal assessment integrating cognitive, behavioral, and biological data. Accordingly, the Chinese mobile Brief Cognitive Test—Multimodal Integrated Neurocognitive Database (CmBCT-MIND) was established as a multicenter, smartphone-based multimodal database that integrates temporally coupled cognitive and behavioral data with complementary validated scales and biological measures for large-scale cognitive health research. Methods: This study represents the baseline phase of an ongoing longitudinal project initiated in July 2024. Participants without a history of diagnosed cognitive impairment were enrolled from three centers in Beijing. Each participant completed a clinical case report form, validated scales, and the Chinese mobile Brief Cognitive Test (CmBCT). Complementary molecular measures were obtained through fasting venous blood collection for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarker testing (p-tau217, Aβ40, Aβ42) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) sequencing. A subsample of participants also completed CmBCT with a professional eye-tracking device to capture gaze dynamics during cognitive tasks. Results: The current release of the CmBCT-MIND includes data from 682 participants, covering seven major domains: demographic information, validated scales, cognitive performance from the CmBCT, task-related parameters recorded during CmBCT, time-synchronized behavioral data including touch-interaction features and front-facing videos, molecular data from 481 participants, and eye-tracking recordings from 154 participants. Representative CmBCT-derived task metrics demonstrated expected group-wise differences between Normal and MCI participants, consistent covariate-adjusted associations with MoCA scores, stable effect directions across split samples, and moderate discriminative performance for MCI (AUCs 0.64–0.76). Conclusion: The CmBCT-MIND provides a comprehensive, standardized, and scalable resource for investigating cognitive health and digital biomarker discovery in aging populations. It links smartphone-based cognitive performance with temporally coupled behavioral features, complemented by demographic, neuropsychological, and biological data. The project serves as an evolving open platform that invites collaboration and secondary analyses to advance digital cognitive health research.

Loss, inflammation, and cognition: Understanding the lifecourse impact of early life parental disruption.

Objective To analyze the effect of plasma exchange on immune function in patients with hyperbilirubinemia of different severity after liver cancer surgery. Methods A total of 100 patients diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia following liver cancer resection at Ganzhou People's Hospital from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024 were enrolled as the study participants. Using a random number table, they were assigned to either a control group (conventional drug therapy, n=50) or an observation group (conventional drug therapy+plasma exchange therapy, n=50). All patients were further categorized by hyperbilirubinemia severity as mild, moderate, or severe. The distribution within the control group was 12 (mild), 25 (moderate), and 13 (severe); the distribution within the observation group was 14 (mild), 24 (moderate), and 12 (severe). Fasting venous blood samples were collected from all participants to assess immune function and other indicators. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to analyze the differences in immune function indicators across different severity levels and between the two groups before and after treatment, as well as the interactive effects of time point, group, and disease severity on the relevant scores. Results Compared with the pre-treatment levles, the immune, liver, and coagulation function indicators in both groups were significantly improved after treatment. Before treatment, as hyperbilirubinemia severity increased from mild to severe, levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), the Child-Pugh score for liver function, and the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score showed an upward trend, while the CD4+/CD8+ ratio showed a downward trend in both groups. After treatment, this trend persisted in both the control group and the observation group. Post-treatment comparisons between patients of the same severity level in the two groups showed that the observation group had significantly lower IgA, IgG, IgM, Child-Pugh, and ALBI score, and a significantly higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio than the control group. Furthermore, the magnitude of improvement in coagulation, liver, and immune function indicators was significantly greater in the observation group across all severity levels. The total clinical effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the observation group. GEE analysis showed that the levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM were significantly increased, while the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significantly decreased with the increase in the severity of hyperbilirubinemia. The levels of IgA, IgG, and IgM were significantly decreased and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significantly increased after treatment. The decline in IgA, IgG, and IgM levels in the observation group was greater than that in the control group, and the increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was also greater. The observation group demonstrated superior improvement in Child-Pugh and ALBI scores for patients with mild, moderate, and severe disease after treatment compared to the control group. Conclusion Plasma exchange therapy can effectively improve the immune, liver, and coagulation functions of patients with hyperbilirubinemia of different severity levels following liver cancer surgery, thereby offering significant clinical benefits.

The impact of medical ozone on renal ischemic/reperfusion injury: A prospective randomized controlled study in dogs.

Single-channel electrochemical biosensor for simultaneous monitoring of glucose and uric acid.

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection are the global public health challenge. Family members of the HBV and HCV infected patients have a high risk of exposure to many blood-borne diseases including Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C viral infections as well. So the objectives of the present study was to see the seropositivity of HBV and HCV among the family members of chronically infected viral hepatitis patients. Materials and methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 80 family members of 50 patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection. After ethical clearance and written consent, 1stdegree family members of those chronically infected hepatitis patients were explained about the objectives of the study and a standard questionnairewere introduced and recorded. Venous blood samples was taken from every participant with universal precautions and was tested by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Hepatitis B surface antigen, anti HCV. Data analysis was done later by SPSS. Results: Eighty (80) family members of HBV[45(90%)] and HCV[5(10%] positive cases were screened. Among the family member, male were 45(56.3%) and female were 35(43.8%) and male to male ratio 1.28:1. Total 23(28.8%)family members were vaccinated against HBV. HBsAg and Anti HCV screening status of the relatives revealed HBsAg and anti HCV was found positive in 4(5%) and 1(1.3%) cases respectively. Conclusion: Relatives of the HBV and HCV infected patients are also at risk. So they should take proper preventive measures and should be vaccinated. Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.24 (1); Jan 2025; Page 37-40

Metformin and exercise are first-line therapies for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, it is unclear whether the combination of metformin and exercise is synergistic or antagonistic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise on metformin pharmacokinetics and help clarify the contradictory outcomes regarding the combination of metformin and exercise. Nine healthy men completed three 24-h sessions. In all sessions, participants received a single oral dose of 1000 mg metformin. In two of the sessions, they performed a high-intensity interval exercise test, 0.75 h (session A) or 4.65 h (session B), after metformin administration; they performed no exercise in the third session (reference). Venous blood samples were collected pre-dose and at 0.66, 1.4, 2.1, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5.3, 6, 6.5, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 24 h after metformin administration. Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed, and a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model was constructed to detect covariates for explaining inter-individual and inter-occasion variability (IOV). Significant differences were found between sessions for all pharmacokinetic parameters except t1/2. The PopPK model showed that exercise in session A reduced apparent volume of distribution (V/F) and apparent total plasma clearance (CL/F) by 31% and 25%, respectively; exercise in session B reduced CL/F by 17%. Exercise affected metformin pharmacokinetics, leading to an increase in plasma metformin concentration and becoming a covariate that explains the IOV of metformin pharmacokinetics. Exercise should be performed during a specific time after metformin intake.

Impact of the menstrual cycle on oxidative stress, inflammation and iron status at high altitude.

Accuracy of Noninvasive Hemoglobin and Venous Blood Gas Hemoglobin Measurements in Comparison With the Laboratory Method in an Intensive Care Unit

Sickle cell anaemia (SCA), the most common monogenic disorder, affects 20-25million people globally and is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria, where the prevalence is 1-3%. Beyond its haematological complications, SCA is associated with chronic anaemia and oxidative stress, which may adversely affect ovarian function; however, this relationship remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate ovarian reserve in women with SCA using Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) and Antral Follicle Count (AFC) and assess the role of oxidative stress. This was a comparative cross-sectional study, conducted at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, over a 6-month period, in which 75 women with SCA (HbSS) in a steady/stable clinical state and 75 age-matched women with normal haemoglobin genotype (HbAA), were consecutively recruited. Relevant data was collected with the aid of interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. The study participants had their body mass index (BMI), venous blood AMH levels and oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde) levels, and transvaginal ultrasound for AFC assessed according to standard. Women aged < 18 or > 45 years and women on antioxidant medications were excluded. Data were analyzed using relevant inferential statistics with significance level set at 0.05%. HbSS participants had significantly lower median AMH (1.52 ng/ml, IQR 1.0-2.1) and AFC (12.0, IQR 9.0-13.0) compared to the HbAA group (AMH 3.80 ng/ml, IQR 2.7-7.8; AFC 15.0, IQR 12.0-16.0; p < 0.001 for both). Age showed a significant negative correlation with AMH and AFC in HbSS women (r = -0.301, p = 0.010; r = -0.360, p = 0.001). Superoxide dismutase levels were significantly reduced in the HbSS group (median 1.50 vs. 2.00 nmol/ml, p < 0.001), while glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde levels did not differ significantly. BMI and parity also differed, with HbSS women more likely to be underweight and nulliparous. Women with HbSS exhibited significantly lower ovarian reserve markers and altered oxidative stress profiles compared to their HbAA counterparts, with age emerging as a key determinant of ovarian reserve in HbSS. Within the oxidative stress parameters assessed, no significant correlation with ovarian reserve markers was observed. These findings suggest that other disease-related factors, beyond the oxidative stress indices measured in this study, may contribute to ovarian dysfunction in SCA.

Prostate biopsy is needed for diagnosing prostate cancer, the commonest cancer affecting men. Due to its lower rates of post-procedural infection compared to transrectal approaches, the use of transperineal approaches may increase. There is limited current evidence of serum biomarker changes following transperineal template prostate biopsy (TTPB) and their correlation with clinical outcomes. A within-group, repeated-measures observational study was employed. Venous blood samples were taken pre-TTPB (baseline) and at 30 and 240 min post-TTPB in 6 patients (median age 67 years, age range 63-76). The serum concentrations of 13 selective human growth factors were measured using the Luminex® Performance Assay. Patient medical notes were reviewed to assess clinical outcomes. Following TTPB, significant increases were demonstrated in the serum concentration of PDGF-AA and TGF-alpha (p ≤ 0.05). Significant decreases were observed in the serum concentration of EGF and Flt3 ligand (p ≤ 0.05). There were no significant differences in the serum concentrations following TTPB in: CD40 Ligand, G-CSF, GRO-beta, IL-8, IL-33, MIP-3 beta, PDGF-AB/BB, TRAIL, and VEGF (p ≥ 0.05). There were no significant post-operative complications. The significant increases in serum PDGF-AA and TGF-α, and significant decreases in serum EGF and Flt3 ligand could be explained by post-procedural inflammatory or paraneoplastic mechanisms. Further research into these biomarkers with larger cohorts may enable further understanding of their role pre- and post-operatively in TTPB and their correlation with clinical outcomes. This may be used to develop a clinical tool to predict or identify patients at risk of early post-TTPB complications.

To investigate maternal serum and placental osteopontin levels in pregnancies complicated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and to evaluate their association with composite adverse neonatal outcomes (CANO). A prospective case-control study was conducted at Etlik City Hospital between March and September 2024, including 40 women with pregnancies affected by FGR (34-39 weeks) and 40 gestational age-matched healthy control women. FGR was diagnosed using Delphi criteria. Maternal venous blood and placental samples were collected at delivery. Serum and placental osteopontin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Placental osteopontin concentrations were normalized to total protein by the Bradford method (ng/mg protein). Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U, χ2, and Fisher exact tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. A total of 80 participants were analyzed. Gravidity and parity were lower in the FGR group, whereas maternal age and body mass index were comparable. As expected, adverse perinatal outcomes were more frequent in the FGR group. Both maternal serum and placental osteopontin levels were significantly decreased in FGR cases compared with controls (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). ROC analysis demonstrated the best predictive performance for placental osteopontin normalized to total protein, with a cut-off of 61.2 ng/mg (area under the curve [AUC] 0.791, sensitivity 77.5%, specificity 70.0%). Lower osteopontin levels were also predictive of CANO (AUC up to 0.760, P < 0.001). In pregnancies complicated by FGR, osteopontin levels were significantly reduced in both maternal serum and placental tissue. This decrease may reflect impaired spiral artery remodeling and placental angiogenesis, contributing to the molecular mechanisms of placental insufficiency and adverse neonatal outcomes.

ABSTRACTBackground: The ATN (Amyloid/Tau/Neurodegeneration) framework provides a theory-driven approach to Alzheimer's disease (AD) classification using binary biomarker cutoffs, while unsupervised machine learning offers data-driven phenotyping. The concordance between these approaches in population-representative samples remains incompletely characterized.Objective: To compare plasma ATN classification with data-driven clustering methods and evaluate their associations with cognitive outcomes in a nationally representative cohort.Methods: We analyzed plasma biomarkers (Abeta42/40 ratio, p-tau181, NfL, GFAP) from 4,465 participants aged >=51 years in the Health and Retirement Study 2016 Venous Blood Study. ATN profiles were classified using literature-based cutoffs. We applied k-means clustering, Gaussian mixture modeling, and variational autoencoder (VAE) dimensionality reduction to identify data-driven biomarker phenotypes. Agreement between ATN and clustering was quantified using adjusted Rand index (ARI) and normalized mutual information (NMI). Longitudinal analyses examined associations with cognitive decline over 4 years (2016-2020).Results: The analytic sample included 4,465 individuals (mean age 69.7+/-10.4 years; 58.7 percent female; 75.8 percent non-Hispanic White). ATN classification yielded 14 profiles, with A+/T-/N- (27.4 percent) and A-/T-/N- (22.6 percent) most prevalent (Figure 2). K-means clustering identified 4 optimal clusters with distinct biomarker signatures. Agreement between ATN and clusters was modest (ARI=0.119, NMI=0.113). Sensitivity analysis excluding GFAP from clustering reduced agreement substantially (ARI=0.03 vs 0.119 with GFAP, 74.5 percent decrease), demonstrating that GFAP accounts for most of the observed concordance between clustering and ATN classification, with only one-third arising from the shared three biomarkers. Additional sensitivity analyses confirmed that k=4 provides finer biomarker resolution than k=3 by retaining biomarker-extreme subgroups, and that Cluster 4 represents a stable biological structure across distance metrics despite its small size. Cluster 1 (n=51, 1.2 percent) showed severe pathology; Cluster 3 (n=3,479, 78.6 percent) represented the largest and most heterogeneous group, encompassing the broad spectrum of minimal to moderate pathology across all ATN profiles; Cluster 4 (n=14, 0.3 percent) represented a small but stable non-AD biomarker-defined subgroup (Jaccard=0.779). The VAE revealed a localized nonlinear structure. Silhouette values in the latent space are not directly comparable to clustering silhouettes, but the VAE embedding showed clearer local separation, whereas PCA explained more variance (67.1 percent). Both ATN and clusters predicted 4-year cognitive decline (ATN R2=0.024, p<0.001; Clusters R2=0.019, p<0.001).Conclusions: Theory-driven ATN classification and data-driven biomarker phenotyping capture partially overlapping but largely distinct information. Modest concordance (ARI=0.119) reflects GFAP's contribution to shared structure, with most alignment arising from GFAP rather than from the three ATN biomarkers alone (ARI=0.03). The primary source of discordance remains the binary versus continuous representation of biomarker variation. Sensitivity analyses showed that k=4 provides finer biomarker resolution than k=3, and that Cluster 4 represents a small but reproducible biomarker-defined subgroup. Both approaches predicted cognitive decline with modest effect sizes (R2=1.9-2.4 percent), consistent with population-based studies. Integrating theory-driven and data-driven frameworks may support a more comprehensive characterization of AD-related pathology in population research.

During extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) management, early recognition and intervention are essential in cases of membrane oxygenator (MO) oxygenation failure. However, because the MO oxygen transfer (O2 transfer) capacity is influenced by various factors, clear evaluation criteria are lacking. Theoretical O2 transfer values provided by manufacturers are commonly used to assess MO performance; however, these values are presented only under standardized conditions. In this study, to develop an O2 transfer model for real-world ECMO settings, we conducted perfusion experiments using bovine blood under various venous blood compositions (hemoglobin concentration and oxygen saturation) and operational conditions (blood flow and fraction of delivered oxygen). Although substantial variability was observed in the relationships between O2 transfer and individual parameters, partial correlation analysis revealed significant associations with all factors, underscoring the need to incorporate them into the model. A multilayer feedforward neural network was employed to construct the model, achieving a high coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.992), demonstrating excellent predictive performance. The proposed O2 transfer model provides a framework for evaluating the oxygenation performance of MO under diverse ECMO conditions. By enabling comparison with real-time clinical data, it has the potential to support clinical decision-making and enhance the safety of ECMO management.

High-dose rifampicin could potentially shorten tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) and improve outcomes. We aimed to characterize population pharmacokinetics of standard- and high-dose rifampicin for TPT among individuals with tuberculosis infection. Intensive and sparse pharmacokinetic sub-studies were conducted in Indonesia, Canada, and Vietnam within the 2R2 randomized trial, which compared two months of high-dose rifampicin at 20 mg/kg/day (2R20) or 30 mg/kg/day (2R30) with four months of standard-dose rifampicin at 10 mg/kg/day (4R10) in adults and adolescents aged ≥10 years. Venous blood samples were collected after four weeks of treatment. Rifampicin pharmacokinetics were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Among 1368 trial participants, 440 were included in model development (51 intensive, 389 sparse sampling), with 191 (43%) assigned to 4R10, 159 (36%) to 2R20, and 90 (20%) to 2R30. A one-compartment model with saturable hepatic extraction and transit-compartment absorption best described rifampicin pharmacokinetics. Disposition parameters were allometrically scaled using fat-free mass. Country-specific differences, particularly variation in drug formulation, were associated with lower bioavailability in Canada (-21.8% [95%CI -27.9 to -18.0%]) and Vietnam (-12.3% [95%CI -17.7 to -7.9%]) compared with Indonesia. The 24-hour area under the concentration-time curve increased more than proportionally with dose and was higher across treatment arms in Indonesia, followed by Vietnam and Canada. High-dose rifampicin for TPT resulted in greater-than-proportional increases in exposure due to non-linear clearance at higher doses. Substantial between-country variability in exposure was observed, which may have been due to multiple factors, including differences in country-specific formulations, fat-free mass, and unmeasured confounders.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of integrating cervical length (CL), interleukin-6 (IL-6), placental alpha microglobulin-1 (PAMG-1), and fetal fibronectin (fFN) in predicting preterm birth among pregnant women with threatened preterm labor (TPL). This study retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 150 pregnant women admitted for TPL between January 2021 and December 2024. Participants were divided into two groups based on pregnancy outcome: full-term delivery (n=85) and preterm birth (n=65). Additionally, 100 healthy pregnant women with no history of adverse pregnancy outcomes who underwent routine prenatal examinations during the same period were selected as the healthy control group. All participants underwent transvaginal ultrasound to measure CL, and venous blood samples were collected to assess serum IL-6 levels. PAMG-1 and fFN levels were measured in vaginal secretions. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the three groups. However, significant differences in CL, serum IL-6 levels, and positive rates of PAMG-1 and fFN were detected. Pearson correlation analysis showed significant associations between CL, IL-6, PAMG-1, fFN, and preterm birth. ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC values for CL, IL-6, PAMG-1, and fFN alone were 0.798, 0.803, 0.753, and 0.754, respectively. The combined application of these markers yielded an AUC of 0.920, significantly higher than any single marker. The combined use of CL, IL-6, PAMG-1, and fFN significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy of preterm birth in patients with TPL.

Abstract Introduction: Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Sierra Leone, particularly among children under five, with those aged 0–2 years most vulnerable due to immature immune systems. Preventive interventions, such as Sulfadoxine–Pyrimethamine (SP), have reduced malaria incidence and severity, yet accurate diagnosis remains critical. Malaria can be detected using microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, or molecular methods, but result accuracy depends on blood sample quality. Venous collection provides larger volumes but is more invasive, while capillary sampling is quicker and less distressing for children. This study evaluates the accuracy of venous and capillary blood for malaria diagnosis post-SP administration, aiming to inform optimal pediatric practices. Method: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2024 in children aged 0–2 years at three selected hospitals (Ola During Children Hospital, King Harman Maternal and Child Health Hospital, and Rokupa Government Hospital) in Sierra Leone. A total of 150 children post-Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine administration were enrolled using purposive sampling. Blood samples were collected via venous and capillary methods for malaria diagnosis using RDTs and microscopy. Clinical assessments, parasite density counts, and demographic data were recorded. Ethical approval was obtained from the Sierra Leone Ethics Board. Results: The maximum capillary parasite density was 450,000, while the venous parasite density was 100,000. Capillary samples therefore had significantly higher maximum recorded density than venous samples. The mean density of venous parasites was 9,988.83, whereas the capillary parasite density was 24,353.22; compared to venous samples, the average parasite density in capillary samples was more than double. The standard deviation of venous parasite density was 19,031.034, while that of capillary parasites was 65,530.911. Conclusion: This study evaluated the accuracy of venous and capillary blood collection methods for malaria diagnosis and found that capillary samples consistently showed higher parasite densities compared to venous samples.

Background Proper establishment of the vaginal microbiota is critical to adolescent reproductive health. Pubertal hormonal and physiological transitions, compounded by social and environmental stressors, can alter microbiome composition and structure. Given its ecological vulnerabilities, adolescents in Kazakhstan’s Turkistan Region may face a higher risk of vaginal microbiota instability. The objective of this study is to examine the determinants and contributing factors of vaginal discharge in non-sexually active girls aged 13–19 Material and Method This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 211 adolescent girls with no history of sexual activity were included. The cohort was divided into two groups: 98 participants in Group 1 and 113 participants in Group 2. Vaginal and urethral swabs were collected from all subjects, and vaginal discharge samples were analyzed using standard bacteriological techniques. Venous blood was drawn to assess seropositivity. In addition, lead concentrations were measured in hair samples, as well as in water and soil from the participants’ residential environments. Results Vaginal discharge was reported significantly more often in association with dysmenorrhea, lower abdominal pain, malodor, itching, and acne vulgaris (p &lt; 0.05). Bacteriological analysis identified Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida spp., Escherichia coli, and Ureaplasma urealyticum as the predominant pathogens. Elevated lead concentrations were significantly more common in participants with complaints of vaginal discharge. Among environmental biomarkers, hair lead levels demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity in predicting the presence of vaginal discharge compared with water and soil measurements. Conclusion: Vaginal discharge in non-sexually active adolescents was linked to both clinical manifestations and environmental lead exposure, highlighting hair lead levels as a valuable diagnostic marker. BJMS, Vol. 25 No. 01 January’26 Page : 327-333

The venous and lymphatic outflows from organs may contain molecular signatures related to tissue function, but deep biomolecular analyses that compare outflow composition are lacking. Here, using blood and lymph samples from a piglet model system and mass spectrometry analysis, we compare protein and lipid cargo from 9 venous and 3 lymph depots centered on intestinal outflow. We obtained venous blood and plasma from piglets using new methods for dissection and sample collection. We applied mass spectrometry-based proteomics and lipidomics, using both a low-volume method and an additional proteomics sample preparation method, the Seer Proteograph XT high coverage method for the proteomics. We detected 622 proteins and 1315 lipids across lymph and plasma. With the additional Seer proteomics method, we detected a further 7771 proteins across a subset of samples. We observed both expected and novel enrichments of proteins, including CCL21 and IGFBP (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein) 7 as proteins strongly enriched in lymph. When comparing lymph depots, we found that thoracic duct lymph is distinct from lymph draining the proximal and distal small intestine, especially in their lipidomic profiles, reflecting differences in dietary lipid uptake. By performing integrative multiomics of proteomics and lipidomics, we show that apos (apolipoproteins), such as the related apoA1 and apoA2 proteins, correlate with different lipid profiles and may associate with distinct functions across the plasma depots. These data identify molecules and biomarkers selectively enriched in adjacent lymph and venous drainage depots from the gastrointestinal tract. The analyses and figures present in this work are expanded upon in an interactive companion Web application at gutveinlymphomics.com, facilitating access to our integrated multiomics and advancing understanding of biomolecular trends across the intestinal tract.