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Effects of a 12-week multicomponent exercise programme on physical function in older adults with cancer: Study protocol for the ONKO-FRAIL randomised controlled trial
Introduction Cancer in older adults is often associated with functional limitations, geriatric syndromes, poor self-rated health, vulnerability, and frailty, and these conditions might worsen treatment-related side effects. Recent guidelines for patients with cancer during and after treatment have documented the beneficial effects of exercise to counteract certain side effects; however, little is known about the role of exercise during cancer treatment in older adults. Materials and Methods This is a multicentre randomised controlled trial in which 200 participants will be allocated to a control group or an intervention group (the sample size has been calculated to detect a clinical difference of 1 point in Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, assuming an α error of 0.05, a β error of 0.20, and a 10 % loss rate). Patients aged ≥70 years, diagnosed with any type of solid cancer and candidates for systemic treatment are eligible. Subjects in the intervention group are invited to participate in a 12-week supervised multicomponent exercise programme in addition to receiving usual care. Study assessments are conducted at baseline and three months. The primary outcome measure is physical function as assessed by the SPPB. Secondary outcome measures include comprehensive geriatric assessment scores (including social situation, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive function, depression, nutritional status, polypharmacy, geriatric syndromes, pain, and emotional distress), anthropometric characteristics, frailty status, physical fitness, physical activity, cognitive function, quality of life, fatigue, and nutritional status. Study assessments also include analysis of inflammatory, endocrine, and nutritional mediators in serum and plasma as potential frailty biomarkers at mRNA and protein levels and multiparametric flow cytometric analysis to measure immunosenescence markers on T and NK cells. Discussion This study seeks to extend our knowledge on exercise interventions during systemic anticancer treatment in patients over 70 years of age. Results from this research will guide the management of older adults during systemic treatment in hospitals seeking to enhance the standard of care.
Thermal degradation mechanism of myricetin in palmitic acid
Dietary polyphenols are susceptible to degradation during high-temperature cooking, yet their transformation behavior in lipid-rich frying systems remains poorly understood. The thermal stability and degradation of myricetin in a simplified palmitic acid model under frying-relevant conditions was investigated. Myricetin degraded rapidly at 180 °C but remained relatively stable at 120 °C. UPLC–QTOF–MS/MS, supported by density functional theory calculations, suggested that myricetin transformation is temperature-dependent but primarily governed by lipid oxidation–derived radical and carbonyl chemistry. Vitamin C markedly delayed myricetin degradation by suppressing radical initiation and limiting o-quinone–centered downstream reactions. These findings highlight lipid oxidation as a key determinant of polyphenol stability during frying and clarify the protective role of antioxidants in lipid-rich thermal processing systems.
Quercetin Enhances Innate Immunity in Caenorhabditis elegans Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa via Redox Homeostasis and Immune Signaling
Background Quercetin (Que) is widely recognized for its antioxidant and cytoprotective activities, yet its host-directed immunomodulatory mechanisms during Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain UCBPP-PA14 (PA14) infection in the Caenorhabditis elegans model remains insufficiently defined. Purpose This study examined the protective effects of Que against PA14 and aimed to uncover previously uncharacterized metabolic and signaling mechanisms that contribute to enhanced host defense and epithelial homeostasis. Methods Survival, pharyngeal pumping, intestinal permeability, and PA14 intestinal colonization were assessed, accompanied by antioxidant enzyme profiling, targeted metabolomics of central carbon and glutathione metabolism, and immune-related transcriptional analyses. In vitro antibacterial and antibiofilm activities were also systematically evaluated to distinguish host- from pathogen-directed effects. Results Que significantly improved survival, restored pharyngeal pumping, maintained epithelial barrier integrity, and reduced PA14 colonization, whereas only sub-MIC antibiofilm activity with negligible effects on planktonic growth was observed in vitro, indicating a primarily host-centric mode of action. A key innovation of this work is the identification of dose-dependent redox rewiring, characterized by pentose phosphate pathway–glutathione remodeling, elevated NADP⁺, and disrupted GSH/GSSG and NADPH/NADP⁺ ratios. Additionally, Que induced glycolytic redistribution independently of total glucose levels. Transcriptionally, Que suppressed insulin/insulin-like signaling components (daf-2, age-1, pdk-1) and activated daf-16, alongside enhanced sek-1, skn-1, lys-7, and spp-1 expression. Conclusion These findings reveal a previously unrecognized metabolic–signaling axis through which Que evokes controlled redox perturbation to attenuate IIS, stabilize epithelial physiology, and strengthen antimicrobial defense independently of direct bactericidal effects.
A comprehensive review on purple corn kernels: phytochemical composition, bioactivity, bioaccessibility, health benefits, and industry applications
Background Purple corn (Zea mays L.) is a pigmented cereal crop distinguished by its high content of anthocyanins (ANCS) and other phenolic phytochemicals, which contribute to its characteristic color and biological functionality. In recent years, increasing consumer demand for natural and health-promoting food ingredients has stimulated growing scientific interest in purple corn due to its unique nutritional profile and functional properties. A comprehensive understanding of its phytochemical composition and associated bioactivities is therefore essential to support its high-value applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical products. Scope and approach This review critically summarizes recent advances in the phytochemical composition and bioactive properties of purple corn, with particular emphasis on gut microbiota modulation and its effects on metabolic health, including reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, emerging applications of purple corn–derived bioactive compounds in functional foods, delivery systems, and animal nutrition are highlighted, alongside current challenges and research gaps. Key findings and conclusions Purple corn is abundant in diverse bioactive compounds, with composition significantly influenced by cultivar, environmental conditions, maturity stage at harvest, and processing methods. Accumulating evidence from both in vitro and in vivo indicates its efficacy as a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agent, with additional antihypertensive, anti-obesogenic, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties. Innovative strategies, such as nanoencapsulation, show promise in improving stability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds in purple corn, which is notably rich in anthocyanins (typically ranging from 55.8 to 1970 mg/100 g dry weight). However, toxicological evidence and clinical trials are key limiting factors for developing successful applications for purple corn as a nutritional dietary supplement or nutraceutical. Future studies should emphasize in vivo validation, safety assessment, and advanced delivery systems to support the development of purple corn as a functional food ingredient and potential therapeutic agent.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning for precision prevention of cognitive decline: integrating multimodal biomarkers, lifestyle interventions, and natural medicines from prediction to clinical practice
Cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases are progressive, multifactorial conditions that may begin years before overt clinical diagnosis and reflect interactions among biological vulnerability, modifiable exposures, environmental determinants, and reduced brain resilience. This structured narrative review examines how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can integrate clinical, biological, behavioral, and digital data to support earlier, personalized, and clinically actionable strategies for preserving cognitive health. Drawing on evidence from aging neuroscience, biomarker research, digital medicine, lifestyle prevention, natural-product pharmacology, and translational AI, we propose an AI-enabled framework for precision prevention and early management of cognitive decline. Within this framework, AI may support multimodal data integration, individualized risk prediction, digital phenotyping, biomarker-based stratification, intervention selection, natural-compound prioritization, and longitudinal monitoring. Lifestyle interventions and natural medicines are considered complementary components of personalized care whose value depends on biological plausibility, standardization, target engagement, and measurable cognitive or biomarker effects. However, translation from benchmark datasets to clinical practice remains limited by insufficient prospective and external validation, poor interpretability, dataset bias, limited generalizability, inadequate calibration and clinical-utility assessment, and incomplete integration into real-world workflows. Overall, AI may provide the integrative architecture needed to combine multimodal biomarkers, modifiable risk profiles, lifestyle interventions, and natural-product pharmacology within dynamic, person-centered precision-prevention pathways. Its clinical value will depend on transparent reporting, representative datasets, prospective evaluation, and demonstrable improvement in clinical decisions and patient outcomes.