Utility of abbreviated MRI in the post-treatment evaluation of rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Post-treatment evaluation of patients with rectal cancer (RC) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) burdens medical resources, necessitating an exploration of abbreviated protocols. PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of abbreviated MRI (A-MRI) for the post-treatment evaluation of RC patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included RC patients who underwent non-contrast rectal MRI and standard liver MRI, as well as abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for post-treatment evaluation. A-MRI comprised diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T2-weighted imaging of the upper abdomen and the pelvic cavity. Three radiologists independently reviewed A-MRI, CECT, and standard liver MRI in the detection of viable disease. The diagnostic performances were compared using a reference standard considering all available information, including pathology, FDG-PET, endoscopic results, and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: We included 78 patients (50 men, 28 women; mean age=60.9 ± 10.2 years) and observed viable disease in 34 (43.6%). On a per-patient-basis analysis, A-MRI showed significantly higher sensitivity (95% vs. 81%, P = 0.04) and higher accuracy (93% vs. 82%, P < 0.01), compared to those of CECT, while A-MRI showed comparable sensitivity (91% vs. 91%, P = 0.42) and accuracy (97% vs. 98%, P = 0.06) to that of standard liver MRI. On a per-lesion-based analysis, A-MRI exhibited significantly superior lesion detectability than that of CECT (figure of merit 0.91 vs. 0.77, P < 0.01) and comparable to that of standard liver MRI (figure of merit 0.91 vs. 0.92, P = 0.75). CONCLUSION: A-MRI exhibited higher sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy than those of CECT in the post-treatment evaluation of RC, while it showed comparable performances with standard liver MRI. A-MRI provides diagnostic added value in the follow-up of RC patients.

Highly efficient microbial inactivation enabled by tunneling charges injected through two-dimensional electronics.

Airborne pathogens retain prolonged infectious activity once attached to the indoor environment, posing a pervasive threat to public health. Conventional air filters suffer from ineffective inactivation of the physics-separated microorganisms, and the chemical-based antimicrobial materials face challenges of poor stability/efficiency and inefficient viral inactivation. We, therefore, developed a rapid, reliable antimicrobial method against the attached indoor bacteria/viruses using a large-scale tunneling charge-motivated disinfection device fabricated by directly dispersing monolayer graphene on insulators. Free charges can be stably immobilized under the monolayer graphene through the tunneling effect. The stored charges can motivate continuous electron loss of attached microorganisms for accelerated disinfection, overcoming the diffusion limitation of chemical disinfectants. Complete (>99.99%) and broad-spectrum disinfection was achieved <1 min of attachment to the scaled-up device (25 square centimeters), reliably for 72 hours at high temperature (60°C) and humidity (90%). This method can be readily applied to high-touch surfaces in indoor environments for pathogen control.

Mycoproteins and their health-promoting properties: Fusarium species and beyond.

Filamentous fungal mycoproteins have gained increasing attention as sustainable alternatives to animal and plant-based proteins. This comprehensive review summarizes the nutritional characteristics, toxicological aspects, and health-promoting effects of mycoproteins, focusing on those derived from filamentous fungi, notably Fusarium venenatum. Mycoproteins are characterized by their high protein content, and they have a superior essential amino acid profile compared to soybeans indicating excellent protein quality and benefits for human nutrition. Additionally, mycoproteins offer enhanced digestibility, further highlighting their suitability as a protein source. Furthermore, mycoproteins are rich in dietary fibers, which have been associated with health benefits, including protection against metabolic diseases. Moreover, their fatty acids profile, with significant proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids and absence of cholesterol, distinguishes them from animal-derived proteins. In conclusion, the future of mycoproteins as a health-promoting protein alternative and the development of functional foods relies on several key aspects. These include improving the acceptance of mycoproteins, conducting further research into their mechanisms of action, addressing consumer preferences and perceptions, and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. To fully unlock the potential of mycoproteins and meet the evolving needs of a health-conscious society, continuous interdisciplinary research, collaboration among stakeholders, and proactive engagement with consumers will be vital.

A combined in vitro-in silico method for assessing the androgenic activities of bisphenol A and its analogues.

Interactions between endocrine-disruptor chemicals (EDCs) and androgen receptor (AR) have adverse effects on the endocrine system, leading to human reproductive dysfunction. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an EDC that can damage both the environment and human health. Although numerous BPA analogues have been produced as substitutes for BPA, few studies have evaluated their endocrine-disrupting abilities. We assessed the (anti)-androgenic activities of BPA and its analogues using a yeast-based reporter assay. The BPA analogues tested were bisphenol S (BPS), 4-phenylphenol (4PP), 4,4'-(9-fluorenyliden)-diphenol (BPFL), tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPF), and tetramethyl bisphenol A (TMBPA). We also conducted molecular docking and dynamics simulations to assess the interactions of BPA and its analogues with the ligand-binding domain of human AR (AR-LBD). Neither BPA nor its analogues had androgenic activity; however, all except BPFL exerted robust anti-androgenic effects. Consistent with the in vitro results, anti-androgenic analogues of BPA formed hydrogen bonding patterns with key residues that differed from the patterns of endogenous hormones, indicating that the analogues display in inappropriate orientations when interacting with the binding pocket of AR-LBD. Our findings indicate that BPA and its analogues disrupt androgen signaling by interacting with the AR-LBD. Overall, BPA and its analogues display endocrine-disrupting activity, which is mediated by AR.

Age-stratified analysis of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis using cone-beam computed tomography.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate age-stratified radiographic features in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis using cone-beam computed tomography. Materials and Methods: In total, 210 joints from 183 patients (144 females, 39 males, ranging from 12 to 88 years old with a mean age of 44.75±19.97 years) diagnosed with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis were stratified by age. Mandibular condyle position and bony changes (flattening, erosion, osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, and subchondral pseudocysts in both the condyle and articular eminence, thickening of the glenoid fossa, joint space narrowing, and joint loose bodies) were evaluated through cone-beam computed tomography. After adjusting for sex, the association between age groups and radiographic findings was analyzed using both a multiple regression model and a multinomial logistic regression model (α=0.05). Results: The prevalence of joint space narrowing and protruded condyle position in the glenoid fossa significantly increased with age (P<0.05). The risks of bony changes, including osteophytes and subchondral pseudocysts in the condyle; flattening, erosion, osteophyte, and subchondral sclerosis in the articular eminence; joint loose bodies; and thickening of the glenoid fossa, also significantly rose with increasing age (P<0.05). The number of radiographic findings increased with age; in particular, the increase was more pronounced in the temporal bone than in the mandibular condyle (P<0.05). Conclusion: Increasing age was associated with a higher frequency and greater diversity of bony changes in the temporal bone, as well as a protruded condyle position in the glenoid fossa, resulting in noticeable joint space narrowing in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Discrepancies in Splenic Size Measurement: A Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound and Computed Tomography.

The accurate measurement of splenic size is essential for the diagnosis and management of various gastrointestinal and hematological conditions. While ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) are widely used imaging modalities for assessing splenic size, discrepancies between their measurements have been observed in clinical practice. This study aimed to analyze the measurement differences between US and CT and identify factors influencing these differences. A retrospective analysis of 598 asymptomatic patients who underwent both abdominal US and CT was conducted. Measurements of splenic size obtained from US, axial CT, and coronal CT scans were compared, and various factors such as patient demographics, operator experience, and imaging parameters were evaluated to elucidate their impact on the measurement discrepancies. The results revealed that US consistently underestimated splenic size compared to CT. The magnitude of the discrepancy was influenced by factors such as patient age, body mass index (BMI), depth of the spleen from skin on US and that on CT, visibility of the splenic hilum on US, sonic window quality, and operator experience. This study underscores the importance of considering these factors when interpreting splenic measurements obtained from different imaging modalities in clinical practice.

Optical nanomaterial-based detection of biomarkers in liquid biopsy.

Liquid biopsy, which is a minimally invasive procedure as an alternative to tissue biopsy, has been introduced as a new diagnostic/prognostic measure. By screening disease-related markers from the blood or other biofluids, it promises early diagnosis, timely prognostication, and effective treatment of the diseases. However, there will be a long way until its realization due to its conceptual and practical challenges. The biomarkers detected by liquid biopsy, such as circulating tumor cell (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), are extraordinarily rare and often obscured by an abundance of normal cellular components, necessitating ultra-sensitive and accurate detection methods for the advancement of liquid biopsy techniques. Optical biosensors based on nanomaterials open an important opportunity in liquid biopsy because of their enhanced sensing performance with simple and practical properties. In this review article, we summarized recent innovations in optical nanomaterials to demonstrate the sensitive detection of protein, peptide, ctDNA, miRNA, exosome, and CTCs. Each study prepares the optical nanomaterials with a tailored design to enhance the sensing performance and to meet the requirements of each biomarker. The unique optical characteristics of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), quantum dots, upconversion NPs, silica NPs, polymeric NPs, and carbon nanomaterials are exploited for sensitive detection mechanisms. These recent advances in liquid biopsy using optical nanomaterials give us an opportunity to overcome challenging issues and provide a resource for understanding the unknown characteristics of the biomarkers as well as the mechanism of the disease.

Characteristics of amylose-lipid complex prepared from pullulanase-treated rice and wheat flour.

This study aimed to evaluate the properties of amylose-lipid complexes in rice and wheat flours utilizing pullulanase as a debranching enzyme. Rice and flour were both treated with pullulanase before being combined with free fatty acids to form compounds denoted as RPF (rice-pullulanase-fatty acid) and FPF (flour-pullulanase-fatty acid), respectively. Our results showed that RPF and FPF had higher complex index and lower hydrolysis values than enzyme-untreated amylose-lipid complexes. Furthermore, RPF and FPF demonstrated lower swelling power and higher water solubility values, indicating changes in the physical properties of the starches. In vivo studies showed that RPF and FPF caused a smaller increase in blood glucose levels than untreated rice and flour, highlighting their potential use as functional food ingredients. These findings provide valuable information for the development of novel rice-and wheat-based foods with improved nutritional and physiological properties. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-023-01411-0.

Design and development of novel self-assembled catechol-modified bile acid conjugates as pH-responsive apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter targeting nanoparticles.

Catechol-based biomaterials demonstrate biocompatibility, making them suitable for a wide range of therapeutic applications when integrated into various molecular frameworks. However, the development of orally available catechol-based biomaterials has been hindered by significant pH variations and complex interactions in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In this study, we introduce a novel catechol-modified bile acid (CMBA), which is synthesized by anchoring the FDA-approved drug, ursodeoxycholic acid to the neurotransmitter dopamine. This modification could form a new apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) inhibitor (ASBTi) due to the bile acid moiety. The computational analysis using the TRAnsient Pockets in Proteins (TRAPP) module, coupled with MD simulations, revealed that CMBA exhibits a strong binding affinity at residues 51-55 of ASBT with a low inhibitory constant (Ki) value. Notably, in slightly alkaline biological conditions, CMBA molecules self-assemble into carrier-free nanoparticles with an average size of 240.2 ± 44.2 nm, while maintaining their ability to bind with ASBT. When administered orally, CMBA accumulates in the ileum and liver over 24 h, exhibiting significant therapeutic effects on bile acid (BA) metabolism in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mouse model. This study underscores the therapeutic potential of the newly developed catechol-based, pH-responsive ASBT-inhibiting nanoparticles presenting a promising avenue for advancing therapy.

The inhalation effect of Osmanthus fragrans var. Aurantiacus on physiological parameters in chronically stressed rats.

This study evaluated the effects of inhaling Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus (OFA) extracts in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats experiencing chronic stress. Rats were exposed to restraint stress or circadian disruption and were inhaled either distilled water or OFA extracts. Electronic nose (E-nose) analysis identified 35 volatile aromatic compounds (VACs) in OFA extracts. Chronic stress led to a decrease in body weight initially, serotonin concentration, and the weights of the liver, kidneys, and fat pads. Additionally, circadian disruption increased melatonin levels and decreased cholesterol concentrations. Inhalation of OFA increased dietary intake during the early phase and restored the tissue weights that have changed by chronic stress. Furthermore, it led to an increase in melatonin levels and changes in cholesterol levels. Taken together, our results indicate that OFA inhalation improves physiological changes caused by chronic stress through regulating dietary intake, restoring tissue weights, and modulating hormone and cholesterol levels.

Recent Studies on Metal-Embedded Silica Nanoparticles for Biological Applications.

Recently, silica nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable attention as biocompatible and stable templates for embedding noble metals. Noble-metal-embedded silica NPs utilize the exceptional optical properties of novel metals while overcoming the limitations of individual novel metal NPs. In addition, the structure of metal-embedded silica NPs decorated with small metal NPs around the silica core results in strong signal enhancement in localized surface plasmon resonance and surface-enhanced Raman scattering. This review summarizes recent studies on metal-embedded silica NPs, focusing on their unique designs and applications. The characteristics of the metal-embedded silica NPs depend on the type and structure of the embedded metals. Based on this progress, metal-embedded silica NPs are currently utilized in various spectroscopic applications, serving as nanozymes, detection and imaging probes, drug carriers, photothermal inducers, and bioactivation molecule screening identifiers. Owing to their versatile roles, metal-embedded silica NPs are expected to be applied in various fields, such as biology and medicine, in the future.

Comparative Analysis of Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity of Different Parts of Five Onion Cultivars Harvested in Korea.

Onions are typically consumed as the bulb, but the peel and root are discarded as by-products during processing. This study investigated the potential functional use of these by-products by analyzing the polyphenols, antioxidant compounds, and antioxidant activity contained in onions. In this study, the bulb, peel, and root of five onion cultivars ('Tank', 'Bomul', 'Gujji' 'Cobra', and 'Hongbanjang') harvested in Korea were investigated. Caffeic acid and quercetin were most abundant in the peel, whereas methyl gallate was the predominant polyphenol in the bulb. Both DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity were higher in onion peel and root than in the bulb. These findings suggest that onion peel and roots, which are often discarded, have abundant antioxidant substances and excellent antioxidant activity. This study provides basic data for the future use of onion peel and roots as functional ingredients with high added value.

Advances in nanobiosensors during the COVID-19 pandemic and future perspectives for the post-COVID era.

The unprecedented threat of the highly contagious virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes exponentially increased infections of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), highlights the weak spots of the current diagnostic toolbox. In the midst of catastrophe, nanobiosensors offer a new opportunity as an alternative tool to fill a gap among molecular tests, rapid antigen tests, and serological tests. Nanobiosensors surpass the potential of antigen tests because of their enhanced sensitivity, thus enabling us to see antigens as stable and easy-to-access targets. During the first three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial number of studies have reported nanobiosensors for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens. The number of articles on nanobiosensors and SARS-CoV-2 exceeds the amount of nanobiosensor research on detecting previous infectious diseases, from influenza to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. This unprecedented publishing pace also implies the significance of SARS-CoV-2 and the present pandemic. In this review, 158 studies reporting nanobiosensors for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigens are collected to discuss the current challenges of nanobiosensors using the criteria of point-of-care (POC) diagnostics along with COVID-specific issues. These advances and lessons during the pandemic pave the way for preparing for the post-COVID era and potential upcoming infectious diseases.

Impact of roasting conditions on physicochemical, taste, volatile, and odor-active compound profiles of Coffea arabica L. (cv. Yellow Bourbon) using electronic sensors and GC-MS-O using a multivariate approach.

This study investigated the effects of roasting conditions on the physicochemical, taste, and volatile and odor-active compound (OAC) profiles of Coffea arabica L. At 150 ℃, roasting increased chlorogenic acid, total flavonoids, and caffeine concentrations. However, umami and sourness sensor decreased during the roasting process. At 210 ℃ roasting, total flavonoid and caffeine concentrations increased during the roasting process. Aldehydes, ketones, and sulfur-containing compounds dramatically increased during the roasting at 210 ℃ for 20 and 30 min in E-nose analysis. Pyrazines were mainly generated during the roasting at 210 ℃ for 20 and 30 min, and pyrazines showed the highest concentrations among all OACs in GC-olfactometry (GC-O) analysis. E-tongue data showed the separation of beans by roasting temperature. However, the E-nose and GC-O data showed the separation of beans by both roasting temperature and time via multivariate analysis. We identified similar results and patterns in the E-nose and GC-O analyses.

Hydrogel-based technologies in liquid biopsy for the detection of circulating clinical markers: challenges and prospects.

Liquid biopsy, which promises noninvasive detection of tumor-derived material, has recently been highlighted because of its potential to lead us to an era of precision medicine. However, its development has encountered challenges owing to the extremely low frequency and low purity of circulating tumor markers, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating exosomes, and circulating tumor nucleic acids (ctNAs). Much effort has been made to overcome this limitation over the last decade, and an increasing number of studies have shown interest in the special characteristics of hydrogels. This hydrophilic and biocompatible polymeric network, which absorbs a large amount of water, can aid in the isolation, protection, and analysis of these low-abundance and short-lived circulating biomarkers. The role of hydrogels in liquid biopsy is extensive and ranges from enrichment to encapsulation. This review provides an overview of hydrogel-based technologies to pave the way in liquid biopsy.

p-Phenylenediamine-Bridged Binder-Electrolyte-Unified Supramolecules for Versatile Lithium Secondary Batteries.

The binder is an essential component in determining the structural integrity and ionic conductivity of Li-ion battery electrodes. However, conventional binders are not sufficiently conductive and durable to be used with solid-state electrolytes. In this study, a novel system is proposed for a Li secondary battery that combines the electrolyte and binder into a unified structure, which is achieved by employing para-phenylenediamine (pPD) moiety to create supramolecular bridges between the parent binders. Due to a partial crosslinking effect and charge-transferring structure of pPD, the proposed strategy improves both the ionic conductivity and mechanical properties by a factor of 6.4 (achieving a conductivity of 3.73 × 10-4 S cm-1 for poly(ethylene oxide)-pPD) and 4.4 (reaching a mechanical strength of 151.4 kPa for poly(acrylic acid)-pPD) compared to those of conventional parent binders. As a result, when the supramolecules of pPD are used as a binder in a pouch cell with a lean electrolyte loading of 2 µL mAh-1 , a capacity retention of 80.2% is achieved even after 300 cycles. Furthermore, when it is utilized as a solid-state electrolyte, an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.7% and capacity retention of 98.7% are attained under operations at 50 °C without external pressure or a pre-aging process.

Comparison between arthroscopic suture anchor fixation and open plate fixation in the greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (OR/IF) using a plate or patients undergoing an arthroscopic suture anchor fixation for the greater tuberosity (GT) fracture of the proximal humerus. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients undergoing OR/IF or an arthroscopic suture anchor fixation for the GT fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January, 2010 and December, 2020, 122 patients with GT fracture underwent operative fixation. Either OR/IF using proximal humeral locking plate (50 patients) or arthroscopic suture anchor (72 patients) fixation was performed. Fourteen patients were lost to follow-up and finally, 108 patients were enrolled in this study. We divided these patients into two groups: (1) OR/IF group (Group I: 44 patients) and arthroscopic anchor fixation group (Group II: 64 patients). The primary outcome was subjective shoulder function (shoulder functional scale). Secondary outcomes were range of motion, and complications including GT fixation failure, fracture migration, or neurologic complication. Also, age, sex, BMI, operation time, shoulder dislocation, fracture comminution, AP (anteroposterior), SI (superoinferior) size and displacement were evaluated and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Both groups showed satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes at mid-term follow-up. Between 2 groups, there were no significant differences in age, sex, BMI, presence of shoulder dislocation or comminution. Group II showed higher clinical scores except VAS score (p < 0.05) and longer surgical times (95.3 vs. 61.5 min). Largest fracture displacement (Group I vs. II: SI displacement: 40 vs. 13 mm, and AP displacement: 49 vs. 11 mm) and higher complication rate (p = 0.049) was found in Group I. CONCLUSIONS: Both arthroscopic anchor fixation and open plate fixation methods showed satisfactory outcomes at mid-term follow-up. Among them, OR/IF is preferred for larger fracture displacement (> 5 mm) and shorter operation time However, arthroscopic anchor fixation group showed better clinical outcomes and less complications than the OR/IF group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4, Case series with subgroup analysis.

Reinforcement of Positive Electrode-Electrolyte Interface without Using Electrolyte Additives Through Thermoelectrochemical Oxidation of LiPF6 for Lithium Secondary Batteries.

Owing to the limited electrochemical stability window of carbonate electrolytes, the initial formation of a solid electrolyte interphase and surface film on the negative and positive electrode surfaces by the decomposition of the electrolyte component is inevitable for the operation of lithium secondary batteries. The deposited film on the surface of the active material is vital for reducing further electrochemical side reactions at the surface; hence, the manipulation of this formation process is necessary for the appropriate operation of the assembled battery system. In this study, the thermal decomposition of LiPF6 salt is used as a surface passivation agent, which is autocatalytically formed during high-temperature storage. The thermally formed difluorophosphoric acid is subsequently oxidized on the partially charged high-Ni positive electrode surface, which improves the cycleability of lithium metal cells via phosphorus- and fluorine-based surface film formation. Moreover, the improvement in the high-temperature cycleability is demonstrated by controlling the formation process in the lithium-ion pouch cell with a short period of high-temperature storage before battery usage.

High-Performing and Capacitive-Matched Triboelectric Implants Driven by Ultrasound.

In implantable bioelectronics, which aim for semipermanent use of devices, biosafe energy sources and packaging materials to protect devices are essential elements. However, research so far has been conducted in a direction where they cannot coexist. Here, the development of capacitance-matched triboelectric implants driven is reported by ultrasound under 500 mW cm-2 safe intensity and realize a battery-free, miniatured, and wireless neurostimulator with full titanium (Ti) packaging. The triboelectric implant with high dielectric composite, which has ultralow output impedance, can efficiently deliver sufficient power to generate the stimulation pulse without an energy-storing battery, despite ultrasound attenuation due to the Ti, and has the highest energy transmission efficiency among those reported so far. In vivo study using a rat model demonstrated that the proposed device system is an effective solution for relieving urinary symptoms. These achievements provide a significant step toward permanently implantable devices for controlling human organs and treating various diseases.

A perspective on the role of physiological stresses in cancer, diabetes and cognitive disease as environmental diseases.

With rapid industrialization, urbanization, and climate change, the impact of environmental factors on human health is becoming increasingly evident and understanding the complex mechanisms involved is vital from a healthcare perspective. Nevertheless, the relationship between physiological stress resulting from environmental stressors and environmental disease is complex and not well understood. Chronic exposure to environmental stressors, such as air and water contaminants, pesticides, and toxic metals, has been recognized as a potent elicitor of physiological responses ranging from systemic inflammation to immune system dysregulation causing or progressing environmental diseases. Conversely, physiological stress can exacerbate susceptibility to environmental diseases. Stress-induced alterations in immune function and hormonal balance may impair the ability to detoxify harmful substances and combat pathogens. Additionally, prolonged stress can impact lifestyle choices, leading to harmful behaviors. Understanding the link between physiological stress and environmental disease requires a systematic, multidisciplinary approach. Addressing this complex relationship necessitates the establishment of a global research network. This perspective discusses the intricate interplay between physiological stress and environmental disease, focusing on common environmental diseases, cancer, diabetes, and cognitive degeneration. Furthermore, we highlight the intricate and reciprocal nature of the connection between physiological stress and these environmental diseases giving a perspective on the current state of knowledge as well as identifying where further information is necessary. Recognizing the role of physiological stress in environmental health outcomes will aid in the development of comprehensive strategies to safeguard public health and promote ecological balance.