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        <title>Frontiers in Physiology | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Physiology | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
        <generator>Frontiers Feed Generator,version:1</generator>
        <pubDate>2026-08-17T22:31:24.47+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1837224</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1837224</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Gastrointestinal metabolites: a potential bridge connecting gut microbiota and myocardial metabolic reprogramming in acute myocardial infarction]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jingxin Zhang</author><author>Xiang Xiao</author><author>Xuefei Gao</author><author>Jiazhen Li</author><author>Haoyue Shi</author><author>Jing-Yan Han</author><author>Yin Li</author><author>Lin Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundGut microbiota plays a significant role in the occurrence and progression of multisystem disease. Previous studies have indicated that the intestinal microenvironment is closely linked to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, yet its underlying mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to explore the association between the gut microbiota-metabolite network and cardiovascular function with the transcriptomic changes in the myocardium of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mice.MethodsEight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were adaptively fed for 7 days and then divided into the AMI model group and Sham group. After surgery, multiple approaches were used to assess the physiological and pathological changes in mice. At 7 days post-surgery, cardiac sections were analyzed using H&E staining and Masson staining. The gastrointestinal contents collected from the AMI and Sham group mice were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics and apical myocardial tissues were harvested for transcriptomic detection. followed by multi-omics association analysis between the differential gut microbiota and metabolites. Taking metabolites as the bridge, an integrated multi-omics correlation analysis was conducted.ResultsCompared with the Sham group, mice in the AMI group exhibited obvious myocardial pathological damage and significant depletion of gut microbiota such as Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Allobaculum, and Akkermansia. These changes may be associated with regulation of pathways such as retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, glycerophospholipid metabolism, riboflavin metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis, and metabolites such as nitrogen/aromatic metabolites, phospholipid metabolites, and oxidative stress related metabolites. Myocardial transcriptomic results revealed that genes such as Sdha, Hadha and Hsdl2 were significantly downregulated in the AMI group, and the DEGs were highly enriched in pathways including fatty acid β-oxidation, mitochondrial respiratory chain and ATP metabolism, suggesting severe energy metabolism disorder in the myocardium of AMI mice.ConclusionsMyocardial injury in AMI may show a link between the remodeling of gut microbial structure. Correlative correlations indicate that altered gastrointestinal metabolites, as products of gut microbiota, are closely associated with myocardial metabolic reprogramming after AMI, whereas causal effects remain to be verified by further functional experiments.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1884017</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1884017</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effects of unilateral versus bilateral training on linear sprint and change-of-direction performance in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Chen Dong</author><author>Yugang Zhang</author><author>Min Sun</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundUnilateral training may enhance sprint and change-of-direction (COD) performance in athletes, but existing evidence is inconclusive.MethodsWe searched CNKI, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO up to 1 September 2025 for randomized controlled trials comparing unilateral versus bilateral training in athletes and reporting speed-related outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed with PEDro. Random-effects meta-analyses computed mean differences (MD), and GRADE was used for certainty grading.ResultsFourteen studies (415 male athletes, aged 9–27 years) were included. Unilateral training showed no significant pooled effects on 10 m, 20-m, or 30 m sprints (overall I² = 58%), the T-test (I² = 59%), or COD to the right (COD-R, I² = 44%). The 505 test was not pooled because of very high heterogeneity (I² = 92%) and conflicting individual findings. Significant improvements favoring unilateral training were observed for 5 m sprint (Z = 2.01, P = 0.04) and COD to the left (COD-L, Z = 2.13, P = 0.03). Age subgroup analysis (<18 vs. ≥18 years) did not moderate 10 m sprint results (P = 0.64). Overall evidence quality was low to moderate.ConclusionUnilateral training confers selective, small-magnitude benefits for 5 m sprint and COD-L, but these results are preliminary. The COD-L finding rests on only three studies (63 athletes), and the 5-m finding on four studies (113 athletes). Given the exclusively male sample and wide age range (9–27 years), generalization requires caution. Unilateral training did not universally improve all sprint or COD measures. While results for 30-m sprint, T-test, and COD-R were relatively consistent, the 505-test evidence should be interpreted with caution because of high heterogeneity. Future large-scale RCTs should explore applicability across sports, age groups, and sexes, with attention to maturational status and training age in younger populations.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=1031255, identifier CRD420251031255.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1874479</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1874479</link>
        <title><![CDATA[DCLA-Net: dual-encoder cross-level alignment network for ultrasound-based ectopic pregnancy mass segmentation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yan Cheng</author><author>Xiaokang Ding</author><author>Weiwei Zhu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionBenefiting from its real-time imaging capability and non-invasive nature, ultrasound imaging has become an important modality for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. However, the segmentation of ectopic pregnancy masses in ultrasound images remains a challenging task due to low image contrast, indistinct boundaries, severe noise, and substantial variations in lesion size and shape.  To tackle these issues, we propose DCLA-Net, a dual-encoder cross-level alignment network for ectopic pregnancy mass segmentation.MethodsSpecifically, DCLA-Net adopts a dual-encoder architecture composed of a convolutional neural network (CNN) branch and a Transformer branch, which are designed to capture local details and global contextual information. To enhance the integration of features from different semantic levels, a multi-scale context-aware fusion module (MSCAFM) is introduced to strengthen feature interaction and alignment across hierarchical representations. In addition, cross-level connections are established between the encoder and decoder to promote information propagation and alleviate the loss of fine details during feature transmission. Furthermore, a dual-attention fusion module (DAFM) is incorporated into the decoding stage to adaptively integrate channel-wise and spatial features, thereby improving feature representation capability.Results and DiscussionTo evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, extensive experiments were conducted on a clinical Ectopic Pregnancy Mass dataset and a publicly available Carotid dataset. On the Ectopic Pregnancy Mass dataset, DCLA-Net achieved Dice of 0.8455, Mcc of 0.8425, and Jaccard of 0.7341. On the Carotid dataset, it obtained Dice of 0.9597, Mcc of 0.9588, and Jaccard of 0.9227. Compared with state-of-the-art methods, DCLA-Net consistently achieves superior performance across all evaluation metrics on both datasets. In addition, ablation studies were performed to further validate the effectiveness of each proposed component. The results demonstrate that the dual-encoder architecture, MSCAFM, and DAFM all contribute positively to the overall segmentation performance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1935418</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1935418</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Vagal pathways and heart rate variability in recovery after caesarean delivery: a framework for multimodal autonomic-immune phenotyping]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Yi Zhang</author><author>Shuang Guo</author><author>Qingjun Zeng</author><author>Haishan Cui</author><author>Chunmei Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Recovery after caesarean delivery involves interacting inflammatory, autonomic, neuroendocrine, nociceptive and psychosocial processes. This Mini Review examines whether vagal pathways and heart rate variability (HRV) can provide a mechanistic and measurable framework for studying that recovery. The inflammatory reflex and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway offer a biological rationale: neural signals can restrain cytokine production through an autonomic-immune circuit that includes splenic sympathetic signalling, norepinephrine-responsive acetylcholine-producing T cells and the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) on macrophages. However, the anatomy and relative vagal and sympathetic contributions to this circuit remain debated. HRV, particularly the root mean square of successive differences and high-frequency power under standardized recording conditions, indexes cardiac parasympathetic modulation rather than whole-body vagal activity or splenic anti-inflammatory output. Pregnancy is accompanied by substantial autonomic adaptation, and postpartum HRV follows a dynamic trajectory, but existing longitudinal data do not establish when individual values return to pre-pregnancy baselines. In obstetric anaesthesia, HRV has mainly been studied as a preoperative predictor of spinal anaesthesia-induced hypotension; evidence for serial HRV as a recovery measure remains limited. We therefore propose a testable framework in which standardized longitudinal HRV is paired with inflammatory biomarkers, patient-reported recovery and clinical milestones after caesarean delivery. Non-invasive interventions such as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, slow-paced breathing and HRV biofeedback are plausible probes of this framework, but their target engagement and clinical effects require rigorous sham-controlled evaluation. HRV should be treated as a candidate component of multimodal recovery phenotyping, not as a direct measure of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1908547</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1908547</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Structured MOAKS-based MRI features for predicting medial joint space narrowing progression: a comparative osteoarthritis initiative study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Minggui Bao</author><author>Ahmad Alkhatatbeh</author><author>Jiankun Xu</author><author>Hongjiang Chen</author><author>Zhonglian Huang</author><author>Xiaohui Lu</author><author>Tariq Alkhatatbeh</author><author>Jun Hu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundKnee osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of pain and disability, yet baseline radiographic severity grading provides only modest prediction of structural progression. We evaluated whether structured MRI-derived MOAKS features improve prediction of full-grade medial joint space narrowing (JSN) progression, and whether deep multimodal fusion adds value beyond structured feature models.MethodsWe performed a patient-independent internal-validation study using the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Full-grade medial joint-space-narrowing (JSN) progression was defined as an increase of at least one grade between baseline and fixed 48-month central radiographic readings from the same longitudinal reading project. The final analytic cohort included 2,899 knees from 2,392 participants, partitioned at the participant level into training, validation, and held-out test sets of 2,050, 421, and 428 knees. We compared a radiographic baseline model (RBM), raw-MOAKS model (RMO), structured MRI/radiographic model (SMR), and radiograph-plus-MOAKS ResNet50 fusion model (XMF). AUPRC was primary; uncertainty was estimated with 2,000 patient-cluster bootstrap replicates.ResultsProgression prevalence was 10.0%. On the held-out test set (40 progressor knees), AUPRC/AUROC were 0.220 (95% CI 0.142–0.331)/0.748 (0.663–0.827) for RBM, 0.412 (0.260–0.576)/0.805 (0.726–0.878) for RMO, 0.345 (0.219–0.507)/0.801 (0.725–0.871) for SMR, and 0.301 (0.191–0.464)/0.768 (0.679–0.852) for XMF. Compared with RBM, AUPRC increased by 0.192 (0.087–0.313) for RMO and 0.125 (0.042–0.233) for SMR; the corresponding AUROC differences were 0.057 (−0.012 to 0.123) and 0.053 (0.004–0.105). XMF did not improve on SMR in AUPRC or AUROC (differences −0.044 [−0.135 to 0.060] and −0.033 [−0.092 to 0.018], respectively). A stronger clinical-radiographic comparator achieved AUPRC/AUROC 0.251/0.759, increasing to 0.355/0.813 after adding MOAKS.ConclusionBaseline MOAKS features provided prognostic information beyond radiographic or clinical-radiographic severity for fixed 48-month medial JSN progression. In this selected MOAKS-scored cohort, adding a baseline-radiograph ResNet50 encoder did not improve discrimination over the structured models. The finite number of test events, selected MOAKS availability, calibration requirements, and lack of external validation preclude claims of clinical readiness.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1886745</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1886745</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Skeletal muscle–heart crosstalk in chronic kidney disease: hierarchical signaling networks underlying myocardial metabolic reprogramming and fibrotic remodeling]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Haijing Lu</author><author>Boyin Liu</author><author>Jiazhou Ji</author><author>Lin Shuai</author><author>Jingyuan Cao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Cardiovascular disease is a major complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and often develops alongside skeletal muscle wasting and sarcopenia. These abnormalities are usually studied as separate consequences of CKD, but they may also be linked through shared systemic stressors and inter-organ communication. CKD exposes both skeletal muscle and the myocardium to a persistent uremic milieu characterized by toxin retention, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and metabolic disturbance. In this setting, skeletal muscle–heart crosstalk may shift from an adaptive homeostatic program to a maladaptive network that contributes to myocardial metabolic dysfunction and fibrotic remodeling. Under physiological conditions, and especially during exercise, skeletal muscle releases myokines and extracellular vesicles carrying miRNAs, proteins, and other regulatory molecules that support myocardial substrate utilization, mitochondrial function, and repair responses. In CKD, however, altered myokine profiles and dysregulated extracellular vesicle cargoes may act on cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, promoting impaired metabolic flexibility, extracellular matrix deposition, and progressive cardiac remodeling. The heart may also feed back on skeletal muscle through cardiac-derived endocrine signals and neurohumoral pathways, further reinforcing muscle wasting and systemic dysfunction. In this review, we summarize current evidence on skeletal muscle–heart communication under physiological, exercise-related, and CKD-associated conditions, with emphasis on myokines, extracellular vesicles, and miRNA-mediated signaling. Better definition of this axis may help identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CKD-associated sarcopenia and cardiovascular disease.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1960627</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1960627</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Uncovering physiological mechanisms of aquatic organisms under environmental stress in a changing climate]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Analía Ale</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1912453</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1912453</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Predicting athletic performance in track and field athletes based on wearable physiological and psychological indicators: an interpretable machine learning study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Pengfei Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Track-and-field performance fluctuates week to week under the joint influence of training load, recovery, autonomic regulation, and psychological readiness, and wearables now enable continuous physiological monitoring; however, whether bodily signals and readiness markers contribute differently to performance prediction across technical and physical events remains unclear. In a prospective longitudinal study, 132 competitive track-and-field athletes (71 physical-event, 61 technical-event) were monitored over a planned 14-week athlete-week design. One-week lagged morning LnRMSSD, resting heart rate, sleep duration and quality, session-RPE load, cognitive anxiety, and self-efficacy were used to predict subsequent standardized weekly performance change. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models were evaluated with athlete-level grouped cross-validation. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) summarized feature contributions, and OLS interaction models with athlete-clustered robust standard errors tested moderation by event type. The integrated XGBoost model showed the highest overall prediction among the evaluated feature sets (mean outer-fold R² = 0.510, RMSE = 0.505, MAE = 0.406; within-athlete centered sensitivity R² = 0.177–0.306), and readiness measures added a consistent increment beyond monitoring-only features (mean ΔR² = 0.088). SHAP identified the ordinal competitive-level code as the largest single contribution (23.4%), followed by lagged physiological and self-efficacy features. Interaction analyses gave partial evidence of event-sensitive moderation, mainly for psychological readiness in technical events, whereas aggregated physiological and load interactions were non-significant. Sensitivity analyses showed that predictive performance decreased after removing the competitive-level code (R² = 0.366) and in within-athlete centered models, indicating that the headline R² reflected both stable athlete-level stratification and week-to-week monitoring signals. Overall, integrated wearable physiological and psychological monitoring can help predict and characterize week-to-week performance change in track-and-field athletes, with the most consistent event-sensitive signal involving psychological readiness, particularly self-efficacy, in technical events, while not implying causal mechanisms.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1902583</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1902583</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Agreement and reliability of force-plate, smartphone-based, and wearable-sensor countermovement jump assessments for neuromuscular monitoring in male professional volleyball players]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Bartosz Wilczyński</author><author>Tymon Środa</author><author>Mateusz Sikorski</author><author>Mariola Gepfert</author><author>Jakub Jarosz</author><author>Katarzyna Zorena</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundCountermovement jump testing is widely used to infer lower-limb neuromuscular performance, readiness, fatigue, and adaptation in applied exercise physiology. However, commercially available force-plate, inertial-sensor, and smartphone-based systems use different signal sources and calculation methods, which may affect the physiological interpretation of jump-performance changes.ObjectiveTo evaluate the agreement and test–retest reliability of bilateral and single-leg countermovement jump outcomes obtained from force plates, an inertial measurement unit, and a smartphone application in male volleyball players.MethodsTwenty professional male volleyball players were enrolled. Bilateral and left/right single-leg countermovement jump trials were recorded concurrently using VALD ForceDecks, MyJump Lab 3, and Baiobit. VALD impulse–momentum-derived jump height was used as the reference outcome. Agreement analyses compared MyJump Lab 3 and Baiobit with VALD using bias, limits of agreement, ICC(2,1), SEM, and MDC95. Test–retest reliability was assessed between two sessions separated by 12 days. Sensitivity analyses examined VALD flight-time-derived height, MyJump flight time, best-trial values, and strict quality-control exclusions.ResultsMyJump Lab 3 systematically overestimated VALD impulse–momentum jump height by +1.88 to +4.16 cm. This discrepancy was markedly attenuated when VALD flight-time-derived height was used as the reference, while MyJump flight-time bias was negligible, indicating a calculation-method effect rather than temporal event-detection error. Baiobit showed smaller mean bias in some single-leg conditions but poorer individual-level agreement, with wider limits of agreement and less consistent absolute-agreement ICCs. VALD showed the strongest bilateral CMJ reliability (ICC = 0.929; MDC95 = 2.79 cm), whereas single-leg reliability was generally lower.ConclusionCommercially available jump-testing systems can lead to method-dependent differences in the interpretation of neuromuscular performance. Device-, task-, and metric-specific measurement error should be considered before using jump-height changes to infer readiness, fatigue, or adaptation in professional male volleyball players.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1902975</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1902975</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Development and validation of an AI-driven blood glucose prediction system for pilots based on continuous glucose monitoring]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Dalong Guo</author><author>Guangyun Wang</author><author>Dexin Kong</author><author>Zhen Tian</author><author>Baosen Tan</author><author>Yufei Qin</author><author>Zhaoting Yang</author><author>Yubin Zhou</author><author>Haocheng Yin</author><author>Yimeng Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[During flight, pilots are exposed to unique environmental factors such as low air pressure, acceleration, and psychological stress, which can lead to altered glucose metabolism that poses a threat to flight safety. Traditional fingerstick blood glucose monitoring has drawbacks such as the need for intermittent readings, time-consuming procedures, and passive monitoring. Conventional continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can only display historical and real-time glucose data and lacks predictive capabilities. In the present study, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven blood glucose prediction system for pilots based on CGM and a multimodal transformer was developed with the aim of achieving proactive early warning of blood glucose risks among pilots. Sixty healthy male volunteers aged 25–50 years were recruited. Subjects completed 180 simulated flight experiments, during which multimodal data such as CGM glucose level, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and physical activity levels, were simultaneously collected to establish a scenario-specific dataset in aviation. A multimodal transformer model was developed to predict future blood glucose levels at 15, 30, and 60 min, and its performance was compared with baseline models such as linear extrapolation, long short-term memory (LSTM), and gated recurrent unit (GRU).The results showed that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the model for the prediction of blood glucose at 30 min was 7.2%, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was 9.4 mg/dL, which indicated a significantly superior prediction performance compared with the baseline models. For hypoglycemia event prediction, sensitivity was 92.5%, specificity was 89.7%, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.94. A Clarke error grid analysis revealed that 98.7% of the predicted points fell within the clinically accurate region, which could potentially provide pilots with approximately 32 min of lead time for intervention. This system proved capable of accurately predicting blood glucose fluctuations during flight. Therefore, it may aid in shifting the metabolic health management of pilots from passive monitoring to proactive prevention, and serve as a novel tool for assuring aviation medical safety.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1835158</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1835158</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Quantifying gravity-dependent and gravity-independent ventilation distribution by hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI in restrictive and airway diseases]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kunyu (Kimi) Du</author><author>David Mummy</author><author>Robert Tighe</author><author>Loretta Que</author><author>Bastiaan Driehuys</author><author>Yuh-Chin T. Huang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[RationaleHyperpolarized 129XeMRI can be used to quantify ventilation heterogeneity. The radio-frequency bias correction method has been shown to preserve the physiological ventilation gradient in healthy individuals. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and obese asthma would have worsened gravity-dependent and gravity-independent ventilation distribution gradients.MethodsWe analyzed 3-dimensional HPXeMRI ventilation images from our databank using both the conventional N4ITK and the RF bias correction methods. We divided the lung regions equally into apical/middle/basal compartments (gravity independent) and anterior/middle/posterior compartments (gravity dependent). We averaged the ventilation signals within each compartment and calculated ventilation differences (ΔV˙) between basal and apical compartments (ΔV˙B-A) and between posterior and anterior compartments (ΔV˙P-A).ResultsWe included 10 younger (age: 23 ± 3 years), 10 older healthy subjects (age: 62 ± 7 years), 30 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (age: 74 ± 6 years) and 10 obese asthma patients (age: 40 ± 10 years). Younger and older healthy subjects had greater ventilation in the basal compartment (ΔV˙B-A=0.20 ± 0.17 and 0.11 ± 0.15 respectively) and the posterior compartment (ΔV˙P-A=0.08 ± 0.06 and 0.13 ± 0.16 respectively). Twenty-five IPF patients had positive ΔV˙B-A (0.17 ± 0.08) and ΔV˙P-A (0.11 ± 0.07). Five patients had negative ΔV˙P-A (-0.17 ± 0.09, p<0.0001) with three also having negative ΔV˙B-A (-0.04 ± 0.01, p=0.049). Six obese asthma patients had positive ΔV˙P-A (0.13 ± 0.08). Four patients had negative ΔV˙P-A (-0.11 ± 0.15, p=0.017) with two also having negative ΔV˙B-A (-0.17 and -0.09).ConclusionsWith the RF depolarization bias correction method, we showed physiological ventilation gradients in healthy subjects and detected abnormal (inverse) ventilation gradients in a subgroup of patients with IPF and obese asthma, despite low ventilation defect percentage (VDP), and mild or no spirometry abnormalities. The abnormal ventilation gradients may reflect the heterogeneity of the disease that may be associated with different treatment response and prognosis. These will need to be explored in future studies with a different design including larger populations.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1695483</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1695483</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Psychological monitoring in isolated, confined, and extreme environments: promise and challenges of ecological momentary assessment]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Clara Richard</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Personnel in Isolated, Confined, and Extreme (ICE) environments face unique psychological stressors that can compromise performance, safety, and mission success. Traditional psychological monitoring approaches, predominantly retrospective questionnaires and clinical interviews, may inadequately capture the dynamic nature of psychological adaptation in these demanding contexts. This mini-review examines the potential role of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) as part of a comprehensive approach to psychological monitoring in ICE environments. We review current monitoring practices across spaceflight, polar, submarine, and remote field operations, and evaluate emerging technologies including EMA, wearable sensors, and digital biomarkers. While EMA offers theoretical advantages through real-time data collection and reduced recall bias, implementation faces substantial obstacles including technological constraints, participant burden, cultural considerations, and validation challenges. Limited empirical evidence suggests that hybrid approaches combining multiple assessment modalities may be most promising for operational implementation. We propose a framework for developing next-generation psychological monitoring systems that balance scientific rigor with operational feasibility, emphasizing environment-specific validation and the inherent sample-size constraints of ICE settings.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1889633</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1889633</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Beyond the apnea–hypopnea index in COPD–OSA overlap syndrome: a mechanism-informed framework for nocturnal oxygenation and ventilation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Xize Zhang</author><author>Xue Han</author><author>Shaodan Hu</author><author>Li Shi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundIn chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)–obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) overlap syndrome, the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) confirms and grades OSA but does not fully explain nocturnal hypoxemia or carbon dioxide retention.ObjectiveWe propose a post-diagnostic, mechanism-informed framework for interpreting nocturnal oxygenation and ventilation after both COPD and OSA have been objectively confirmed.MethodsThis targeted narrative review synthesized PubMed literature and major guideline sources through 20 May 2026. Reporting followed established narrative-review quality principles, and evidence use was categorized as guideline-supported, direct overlap-syndrome observational evidence, indirect COPD or OSA evidence, or physiological inference.ResultsThe framework separates three baseline mechanisms: event-related upper-airway obstruction, sustained low-baseline oxygenation or gas-exchange impairment, and sleep-related hypoventilation or chronic hypercapnia. Residual hypoxemia after optimized positive airway pressure or noninvasive ventilation is treated as a post-treatment reassessment scenario rather than a baseline phenotype. Suggested core reporting includes the AHI measurement method, hypopnea rule, oxygen desaturation threshold, time spent below specified oxygen saturation thresholds, mean and verified minimum oxygen saturation, rapid eye movement and supine exposure, treatment context, oximetry settings, and carbon dioxide monitoring when indicated.ConclusionAHI remains essential for diagnosing OSA, but oxygenation and ventilation in overlap syndrome may be better interpreted by mechanism. The proposed framework is an interpretive and reporting scaffold rather than a treatment algorithm, and its clinical utility, reproducibility, and prognostic value require prospective validation in well-characterized cohorts.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1852707</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1852707</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sternocleidomastoid muscle morphology is independently associated with neck strength and endurance in athletes and para-athletes]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Sandra Rozenstoka</author><author>Elena Comadran de Barnola</author><author>Santa Kauzena</author><author>Gundega Akuratere</author><author>Zinta Galeja</author><author>Daira Deicmane</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundNeck functional capacity is clinically relevant in sports medicine for performance support, screening, and injury prevention in sports characterized by acceleration, contact, and sustained precision demands. Ultrasound can quantify local muscle morphology and may improve interpretation of neck performance beyond crude anthropometry (e.g., neck girth) and global strength indicators.ObjectiveTo determine whether sternocleidomastoid (SCM) cross-sectional area (CSA) and neck anthropometry are associated with neck function (strength, endurance, range of motion), and whether SCM morphology explains function beyond age, BMI, general strength (handgrip), and sport-domain context in a male cohort of athletes, para-athletes, and physically active controls.MethodsCross-sectional comparative study (n=195 men) including athletes across sport domains, para-athletes, and controls. Outcomes were isometric neck strength (flexor and extensor), neck flexor endurance, and active neck ROM. SCM CSA was assessed by standardized musculoskeletal ultrasound; neck girth served as an anthropometric comparator. Analyses included Pearson correlations and adjusted linear regression models controlling for age and BMI. Explanatory value beyond general strength was evaluated by adding handgrip strength, and independence from sport-domain context by adding sport domain as a covariate.ResultsSCM CSA correlated positively with flexor strength (r=0.34, p<0.001), extensor strength (r=0.25, p<0.001), and flexor endurance (r=0.28, p<0.001), and showed a weak inverse association with extension ROM (r=−0.17, p=0.017). In adjusted models (age, BMI), SCM CSA was independently associated with flexor strength (β=1.32 kg per cm²; p<0.001) and flexor endurance (β=0.53 min per cm²; p<0.001), but not extensor strength. SCM CSA remained associated with flexor strength and endurance after adjustment for handgrip strength and sport domain. Additional within- versus between-domain analysis supported a within-domain SCM association for flexor strength and endurance rather than a purely between-domain aggregation effect. Neck girth did not provide comparable independent explanatory value for strength or endurance outcomes.ConclusionsSCM morphology is independently associated with neck performance, particularly flexor strength and endurance. Ultrasound-based SCM assessment provides measurable but limited additional information beyond neck girth, handgrip strength, and sport-domain context. These findings support its cautious use as an adjunct measure alongside objective cervical functional testing, rather than as a stand-alone screening tool.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1910107</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1910107</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Prostaglandin E2 modulates contractility of mouse bladder smooth muscle cells]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rok Šumak</author><author>Igor But</author><author>Andraž Stožer</author><author>Jurij Dolenšek</author><author>Tamara Serdinšek</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundProstaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an important local mediator in the urinary bladder, where it contributes to the regulation of detrusor excitability and is implicated in pathological conditions such as overactive bladder. Although previous studies have shown that exogenous PGE enhances bladder contractile activity, its effects on calcium signaling in individual detrusor smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and its interaction with cholinergic stimulation remain incompletely understood.MethodsAcute detrusor tissue slices were prepared from adult female NMRI mice and loaded with the calcium indicator Calbryte 520 AM. Confocal calcium imaging was used to quantify spontaneous and stimulated intracellular Ca2+ activity in individual SMCs. The effects of PGE2 alone and in combination with increasing concentrations of carbachol (CCh) were assessed by measuring oscillation active time, frequency, and duration of Ca²+ events. Tissue contractions were evaluated by visual inspection of image sequences.ResultsPGE2 increased spontaneous Ca2+ activity in detrusor SMCs, as reflected by a significant increase in active time due to increases in oscillation frequency, while oscillation duration remained unchanged. PGE2 also recruited additional SMCs into an active state and induced localized tissue contractions. In the presence of PGE2, lower concentrations of CCh evoked greater Ca²+ activity than under control conditions, suggesting that PGE2 increased baseline detrusor excitability and reduced the additional cholinergic input required to evoke detectable Ca²+ activity. This effect was again mediated predominantly by an increase in oscillation frequency rather than duration. At the tissue level, PGE2 enhanced CCh-induced contractility and shifted generalized contractions to lower CCh concentrations.ConclusionsPGE2 acts as a local excitatory modulator of mouse detrusor smooth muscle, increasing spontaneous Ca2+ activity and sensitizing the tissue to cholinergic stimulation. These effects are associated primarily with frequency-based modulation of Ca2+ oscillations and may represent a cellular mechanism contributing to detrusor overactivity under conditions of increased prostaglandin signaling.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1912219</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1912219</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Toward a neuroergonomic understanding of spatial disorientation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Jerome Carriot</author><author>Isabelle Mackrous</author><author>Pascale Brochu</author><author>Simon Corcos</author><author>Marc-Antoine Pelletier</author><author>Maurice J. Chacron</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Despite decades of research, spatial disorientation, which is the incorrect perception of one’s orientation relative to gravity, remains one of the leading causes of aviation mishaps. In this mini-review, we highlight the role of the vestibular system towards generating disorientation. Specifically, in the absence of other cues, the brain is incapable of distinguishing between the acceleration caused by a static force such as gravity from that experienced in an accelerating vehicle, which leads to an ambiguity leading to acceleration being wrongly interpreted as tilts. Finally, because vestibular signals interact with autonomic, respiratory, and vascular regulation, we propose multimodal physiological monitoring as a testable research strategy for characterizing unstable self-motion estimation, while emphasizing that percept-specific detection requires controlled labeling and prospective validation.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1869905</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1869905</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Nutraceutical potential of prekese (Tetrapleura tetraptera) fruit extract: synergizing growth performance, oxidative stability, and economic viability in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Samuel B. Umma</author><author>Yetunde E. Agbeja</author><author>Raphael Z. Agu</author><author>Bilal A. Paray</author><author>Eijaz A. Bhat</author><author>Robert M. Iorhiin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study evaluated the effects of dietary Prekese (Tetrapleura tetraptera) fruit extract (PFE) on the growth, haemato-biochemical profile, antioxidant status, and economic efficiency of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Five isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isolipidic diets were formulated with graded PFE levels: 0.0 (control), 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 g/kg. Fish (5.20 ± 0.05 g) were fed twice daily to satiety for 60 days. Gas chromatography- mass spectral analysis of PFE identified 29 compounds, primarily linoleic (20.46%), myristic (14.53%), and oleic (12.49%) acids. Dietary PFE significantly enhanced growth in a dose-dependent manner (P< 0.05). The 20.0 g/kg inclusion yielded a higher final body weight (35.04 g) and weight gain (571.97%), a 121.9% increase over the control. Polynomial contrasts identified 20.0 g/kg as the upper limit for growth and feed efficiency in this study. Haematologically, PFE increased red and white blood cell counts, suggesting improved hematopoietic and immune function. Serum biochemistry showed elevations in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphate at 15.0 – 20.0 g/kg PFE, though within physiological ranges. Importantly, PFE supplementation significantly reduced oxidative stress, evidenced by decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde levels (P< 0.05), indicating enhanced systemic antioxidant capacity. Economic analysis revealed that despite a 96.73% increase in feed cost, 20.0 g/kg PFE increased net profit per fish by 136.8% and significantly improved the benefit-cost ratio. In conclusion, PFE is a viable nutraceutical for Nile tilapia. At a higher inclusion of 20.0 g/kg, PFE boosts growth, mitigates oxidative stress, and maximizes economic returns in sustainable aquaculture.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1867073</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1867073</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Optimal exercise dose for resistance training to improve HbA1c levels in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and a Bayesian network meta-analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Huarui Li</author><author>Shidong Yang</author><author>Xuefeng Wang</author><author>Zhiwei Wang</author><author>Wei Zhang</author><author>Xuehai Zhang</author><author>Shouliang Huang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundThe high prevalence of overweight or obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is strongly associated with impaired quality of life and an increased risk of long-term complications. Poor glycemic control remains a fundamental clinical challenge in this population. Although resistance training (RT) is an effective intervention for improving HbA1c levels, the optimal dosing parameters​ (e.g., frequency, intensity, volume) have not been systematically established. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to investigate the dose-response relationships​ between various RT regimens and HbA1c reduction in overweight or obese individuals with T2DM.MethodsThis systematic review and network meta-analysis, conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, included randomized controlled trials on resistance training in patients with T2DM who were overweight or obese, conducted from the inception of the databases through January 19, 2026. Comprehensive data extraction covered training dose, resistance training protocols, participants’ demographic characteristics, and study duration.ResultsA total of 10 studies involving 633 participants (mean age: 60.03 ± 7.77 years; mean BMI: 30.69 ± 6.64; Male: 32.7%) were included in this study. The results of our network meta-analysis showed that resistance training variables (e.g., frequency, intensity, period, and training volume) were effective in improving HbA1c in overweight or obese patients with T2DM. Among them, the effective dose range for frequency of resistance training was 3 times/week, resistance training intensity was 30-62%, resistance training period was 17–23 weeks, resistance training time was 45 minutes per session, resistance training exercises was 10 exercises per set, resistance training repetitions was 13–18 reps, resistance training sets was 2–4 sets, resistance training volume was 1000–2100 reps per week. the analysis suggested a potential optimum around of resistance training to improve HbA1c in overweight or obese patients with T2DM is 3 times/week (MD=-0.35, 95% CrI [-0.62, -0.08]), 44% 1RM (MD=-0.41, 95% CrI [-0.74, -0.08]), 23 weeks (MD = −0.35, 95% CrI [−0.68, −0.02]), 45min (MD = −0.32, 95% CrI [−0.62, −0.01]), 10 exercises (MD = −0.32, 95% CrI [−0.63, −0.01]), 18 reps (MD=-0.38; 95% CrI [-0.74, -0.02]), 3 sets (MD=−0.36, 95% CrI [−0.63, −0.10]), 1,500 reps/week (MD = −0.51, 95% CrI [−0.86, −0.15]).ConclusionResistance training effectively improvesHbA1c in overweight or obese patients with T2DM. A recommended 23-week program includes 3 sessions per week at 44% 1RM, 45min per session, featuring 10 exercises per set, 3 sets, and 18 repetitions per exercise, totaling up to 1500 reps weekly.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420261341070.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1905092</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1905092</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Homocysteine promotes ferroptosis through NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy in THP-1 macrophages]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yu Yang</author><author>Weiya Zhang</author><author>Dandan Huang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionAs an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS), hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) exerts its pathogenic effects primarily through the induction of macrophage ferroptosis. As a selective autophagic process mediated by nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), ferritinophagy directly influences ferroptosis via its regulation of cellular iron balance. However, whether homocysteine (Hcy) regulates macrophage ferroptosis through ferritinophagy remains unclear.MethodsHuman acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells were differentiated into macrophages and subsequently treated with Hcy. Ferroptosis was assessed by measuring glutathione (GSH) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fe²⁺ content, and mitochondrial morphology. Protein expression of NCOA4, FTH1, and GPX4 was examined, and GPX4 methylation was evaluated. The involvement of ferritinophagy was further verified using the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin‑1 (Fer‑1) and the inducer Erastin. Activation of the IL‑6/STAT3 signaling pathway was also examined, along with its reciprocal regulation with ferroptosis.ResultsHcy treatment promoted ferroptosis in THP‑1 macrophages, as indicated by decreased GSH levels, increased ROS and Fe²⁺ levels, and characteristic mitochondrial morphological changes. Hcy also enhanced GPX4 methylation, resulting in reduced GPX4 expression. Mechanistically, Hcy upregulated NCOA4 and downregulated FTH1, suggesting activation of NCOA4‑mediated ferritinophagy; these effects were reversed by Fer‑1 and augmented by Erastin. In addition, Hcy activated the IL‑6/STAT3 pathway, and its crosstalk with ferroptosis was confirmed by the reciprocal modulation with Fer‑1 and Erastin.DiscussionCollectively, our study indicates that Hcy promotes ferroptosis in THP-1 macrophages through NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy, and the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway plays a key role in this process. Therefore, targeting Hcy may represent a potential treatment strategy for AS.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1903705</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2026.1903705</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effects of exercise interventions on fall-related functional performance in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or low bone mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis with an exploratory analysis of reported consistency with ACSM recommendations]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-08-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Shixian Li</author><author>Neng Pan</author><author>Lulu Niu</author><author>Min Yao</author><author>Shuai Zhao</author><author>Chenming Liu</author><author>Dongying Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of exercise on fall-related functional performance in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or low bone mass and to explore whether intervention effects differed according to the reported consistency of the exercise prescription with American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations.MethodsSix electronic databases were searched from inception to 3 May 2026. Immediate post-intervention mean differences for the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and 30-second sit-to-stand test (30STS) were pooled using inverse-variance random-effects models with restricted maximum likelihood estimation, Hartung–Knapp inference, and prediction intervals. Prespecified exercise-prescription components were classified as meeting, unclear or unreported, or not meeting the ACSM criteria.ResultsEighteen trials contributed 21 intervention arms. Exercise improved TUG performance (MD = −1.57 s, 95% CI −2.52 to −0.63; I² = 88.5%) and 30STS performance (MD = 3.88 repetitions, 95% CI 1.93 to 5.83; I² = 87.6%). The estimated effect on BBS was highly uncertain (MD = 3.37 points, 95% CI −2.68 to 9.43; I² = 83.6%). Formal tests found no evidence of a difference between the high and low/uncertain reported-consistency groups for TUG (p = 0.733), BBS (p = 0.985), or 30STS (p = 0.262). Prediction intervals crossed the null for all three outcomes. Certainty of evidence was low for TUG and 30STS and very low for BBS.ConclusionExercise may improve functional mobility and repeated sit-to-stand performance, whereas the effect on BBS remains highly uncertain. The available analyses do not demonstrate superior effects for interventions with higher reported consistency with ACSM recommendations; the subgroup findings are exploratory.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261353752, identifier CRD420261353752.]]></description>
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