News from Science China Press

Type 2 diabetes affects far more than glucose metabolism. Researchers have reported that a 16-week personalized exercise delivered broad health benefits for people with type 2 diabetes and abdominal obesity. Beyond reducing body fat, the intervention increased skeletal muscle mass, improved glycemic regulation and physical fitness, and enhanced cognitive performance. The findings suggest that personalized exercise should be viewed as a comprehensive therapeutic strategy rather than simply a weight-loss tool.

A new review in Science Bulletin proposes a "virulence phenotype-first" framework to assess the clinical risk of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKP). It argues that functional virulence expression—not just genetic markers—should guide real-time risk stratification for this emerging superbug.

Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University and UNSW Sydney have developed a dual-side electrosynthesis system that simultaneously converts plastic waste and biowaste into Succinic Acid, a key building block for biodegradable plastics, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals. By directing both the anodic and cathodic reactions toward the same target product, the system achieves an unprecedented succinic acid yield of 169.1%, surpassing the conventional single-electrode limit. The process combines the electrooxidation of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)-derived 1,4-butanediol and the electroreduction of biomass-derived maleic acid, demonstrating a profitable and scalable pathway for circular chemical manufacturing.

Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) disproportionately affects the elderly and is expected to be the most frequent cranial surgical indication by 2030. Yet, no globally accepted evidence-based practice guidelines currently exist, and significant controversy continues over key treatment approaches, including middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE), perioperative supportive pharmacotherapy, and the handling of anticoagulant therapy.

Litchi fruit harbors beneficial surface microbes that change predictably during storage. A 9‑day study of litchi peel microbiota identified multiple key bacterial genera linked to storage progression. A random forest model based on these biomarkers accurately predicted fruit freshness. Among the isolates, Gluconobacter sp. Lc45 strongly inhibited two major postharvest pathogens (Peronophythora litchii and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), offering the potential of native microbiota for freshness monitoring and eco‑friendly disease control.

Scientists have discovered a novel infection-associated organelle, termed the “virulensome,” in the nematode-trapping fungus Dactylellina haptotyla. Previously observed only as mysterious electron-dense structures, virulensomes are now shown to form specifically in response to nematode stimulation. They function as cellular hubs enriched with diverse virulence factors. These organelles rapidly deploy pathogenic molecules into the host, revealing a previously unknown strategy underlying fungal infection. The findings were published in SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences.