Increase In Concentrations Research Articles

Effects of the 2022 Oder River environmental disaster on fish gill structure.

The 2022 Oder River disaster was one of the most significant harmful events in recent European river history, with an estimated 60% reduction in fish biomass in the lower section of the river. While the prevailing hypothesis attributes associated fish kills to toxins from golden algae Prymnesium parvum, our histopathological study on the gills of 2 common cyprinid fish species, namely vimba bream Vimba vimba (L.) and roach Rutilus rutilus (L.), collected from the lower Oder River at 3, 4, and 6 mo after the disaster, suggests another mechanism. Vimba bream showed damage to the epithelial layer of lamellae and increased mucus production. Roach exhibited interlamellar cell mass (ILCM), lamellar damage, including hypertrophy of epithelial cells, lamellar fusion, as well as significant thickening of the water-blood barrier compared to controls. These findings suggest that adverse factors, most likely the increase in toxin concentrations resulting from reduced water levels together with elevated temperatures and low precipitation, triggered the formation of ILCM, increasing the susceptibility of fish to hypoxia. Fish species with a capacity for adaptive interlamellar hyperplasia, such as common bream Abramis brama, roach, and common perch Perca fluviatilis, accounted for the largest number of deaths during the disaster. Vimba bream, which showed no ILCM, were observed only sporadically, with mortality confined to a single area of the Oder. In conclusion, fish capable of adaptive hyperplasia, whereby the gills attempt to protect themselves by developing ILCM, appear to be particularly vulnerable in conditions of aquatic hypoxia.

Summer urban synergistic effects of anthropogenic pollutants and low-molecular-weight biogenic volatile organic compounds on secondary organic aerosol presented by PM1.

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are emitted by urban vegetation and can interact with anthropogenic pollutants to generate secondary organic aerosols (SOA) that are atmospheric pollutants in urban environments. In urban forests, SOA comprise up to 90% of all fine aerosols (particulate matter smaller than 1μm [PM1]) in the summer. PM1 can greatly affect urban air quality and public health. The formation of SOA is affected by both environmental conditions and the presence of light BVOCs-predominantly isoprene, pentene, butene, and 1,3-butadiene. These factors exhibit complex interactions and nonlinear relationships. In this study, high-frequency field observations were conducted in two urban forest sites in Shanghai during the summers of 2022 and 2023. Data were collected regarding the concentrations of light BVOCs; SOA; and the anthropogenic pollutants NOx, O3, and SO2, as well as solar radiation, temperature, and humidity. A model was developed to identify the synergistic effects of anthropogenic pollutants, meteorological factors, and BVOCs on SOA concentrations. Increases in short-term SOA concentrations were most strongly correlated with O3, which had a synergistic effect alongside NOx. The empirical analysis indicated that 0.144-0.585μg/m3 SOA is produced per μg/m3 of urban BVOCs but can be augmented by 0.072-0.491μg/m3 in the presence of O3, NOx, and SO2. However, long-term feedback mechanisms in urban forests contribute to the maintenance of stable SOA concentrations. The field data and models in this study provide a scientific basis for regulating atmospheric pollutants in urban forests under real-world conditions and offer intuitive and straightforward solutions for managing complex urban air pollution. Synopsis: Anthropogenic pollutants NOx, O3, and SO2 boost BVOCs' SOA production in summer urban forests. Short-term, pollutants are restrictive factors in SOA generation, but long-term forest SOA production exhibits negative feedback.

Impact of aerosol-photolysis interaction on the ozone concentration in the upper boundary layer on Mountain Everest.

Previous research has revealed that, during the late afternoon, the ozone (O3) concentration tends to elevate at the northern perimeter of Mount Everest (5200m above sea level). This increase is attributed to the natural gradient of rising O3 concentration with height, exacerbated by the corresponding downstream mountain winds. Our recent field observations corroborate this finding, showing a consistent increase in O3 concentrations by approximately 13.5±2.5 ppbv/km at a similar observational site. Despite these observations, the precise cause of this height-dependent increase in O3 remains elusive. In this study, we show that the influence of aerosol-photolysis interaction can partially explain the increment of O3 with height based on the field measurement results of the aerosol microphysical properties. Results show that the mean aerosol single scattering albedo, asymmetry factor, scattering angstrom index, and absorption angstrom index on the edge of the Mountain Everest were 0.98, 0.70, 1.3, and 0.66 respectively. The photolysis ratio increases with the height based on the tropospheric ultraviolet and visible model simulations with the measured aerosol optical properties. Sensitivity experiments further demonstrate that the unique microphysical properties of aerosols at Mount Everest result in a higher increment rate of the nitrate oxide photolysis rate with height (1.93×10-3/kms) compared to those observed in Beijing (1.53×10-3/kms). This difference leads to an additional increase in ozone concentration by 1.8 ppbv (from 69.1 ppbv to 70.9 ppbv) at the top of the boundary layer. Our study underscores the significant impact of aerosol-photolysis interactions on ozone concentrations and offers insights that could potentially advance our understanding of the sources of ozone in the upper troposphere over the Tibetan Plateau.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between serum vitamin D and continuous metabolic syndrome score among children and adolescents: roles of levels of inflammation in peripheral blood

BackgroundSerum vitamin D deficiency is intricately linked to metabolic disorders, however, evidence on its association with continuous metabolic risk in children and adolescents remains insufficient. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and continuous metabolic risk.MethodsThe cross-sectional analysis involved 4490 participants aged 6 ~ 18, and the longitudinal investigation included 1398 individuals aged 6 ~ 12 years. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Continuous Metabolic syndrome risk score (CMSRS), incorporating waist, blood pressure, blood lipid levels, and glucose metabolism as four components, utilizes age- and gender-specific Z scores to evaluate metabolic risk. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to visualize dose–response relationships and generalized linear models (GLM) were used to estimate potential associations. Mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediating role of levels of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).ResultsThe RCS indicated a negative linear association between serum 25(OH)D levels and CMSRS (P-overall = 0.0066, P-nonlinear = 0.1393). GLM revealed that compared to Q1, with the quartiles of serum 25(OH)D concentrations increase, the β value ranged from 0.028 (95% CI: − 0.093, 0.037) to 0.001(95%CI: − 0.067, 0.069), and then to -0.074 (95%CI: -0.146, -0.003, P for trend = 0.0659). For every 10 ng/mL increase in serum 25(OH)D concentration corresponded to the β value change -0.058 (95%CI: -0.098, -0.017). This association was more pronounced in younger or overweight/obese individuals. Furthermore, in the longitudinal study, as the baseline quartile of serum 25(OH)D concentration increased, the estimated change of subsequent CMSRS indicated a decreasing trend, ranging from -0.085 (95%CI: -0.203, 0.032) to -0.166 (95%CI: − 0.285, − 0.046), and then to − 0.174 (95%CI: − 0.296, -0.053, P for trend = 0.0031). The mediating proportion of levels of NLR was 7.2%.ConclusionsHigher serum 25(OH)D concentration is significantly associated with reduced CMSRS in children and adolescents, and adequate serum vitamin D levels play a prominent role in preventing long-term metabolic disorders, partly meditating by inflammation in peripheral blood.

Assessment of the Impact of Monocrotophos on the Haematological and Histological Parameters of the Freshwater Fish Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)

This study investigated the acute sublethal toxicity of Monocrotophos on the behavioural, haematological, and histological parameters of the freshwater fish Labeo rohita. Fish exposed to Monocrotophos (10 ppm and 100 ppm) exhibited notable behavioural alterations, including loss of equilibrium, frequent surfacing, heightened mucus secretion, irregular locomotion, and erratic swimming behaviour. The 96-hour LC50 value for L. rohita was determined to be 48.50 ppm. Sub-lethal concentrations (10, 20, 40, and 60 ppm) were employed to assess the effects of acute exposure over a period of 30 days. The increase in Monocrotophos concentrations led to a consistent decrease in total RBC count and haemoglobin levels, although the total WBC count showed a proportional rise with both concentration and length of exposure. Histopathological analysis revealed significant structural damage to the gill and liver tissues in the treated fish relative to the controls. The findings highlight the substantial behavioural and physiological alterations caused by Monocrotophos exposure in L. rohita. In order to reduce the adverse impact of this chemical on aquatic ecosystems, stringent regulation and attentive application are essential.

In Situ Characterization of Dust Storms and Their Snow‐Darkening Effect Over Himalayas

AbstractIn this study, we used satellite observations to identify 10 typical dust‐loading events over the Indian Himalayas. Next, the aerosol microphysical and optical properties during these identified dust storms are characterized using cotemporal in situ measurements over Mukteshwar, a representative site in Indian Himalayas. Relative to the background values, the mass of coarse particles (size range between 2.5 and 10 μm) and the extinction coefficient were found to be enhanced by 400% (from 24 ± 15 to 98 ± 40 μg/m3) and 175% (from 89 ± 57 Mm−1 to 156 ± 79 Mm−1), respectively, during these premonsoonal dust‐loading events. Moreover, based on the air mass trajectory, these dust storms can be categorized into two categories: (a) mineral dust events (MDEs), which involve long‐range transported dust plumes traversing through the lower troposphere to reach the Himalayas and (b) polluted dust events (PDEs), which involve short‐range transported dust plumes originating from the arid western regions of the Indian subcontinent and traveling within the heavily polluted boundary layer of the Gangetic plains before reaching the Himalayas. Interestingly, compared to the background, the SSA and AAE decrease during PDEs but increase during MDEs. More importantly, we observe a twofold increase in black carbon concentrations and the aerosol absorption coefficient (relative to the background values) during the PDEs with negligible changes during MDEs. Consequently, the aerosol‐induced snow albedo reduction (SAR) also doubles during MDEs and PDEs relative to background conditions. Thus, our findings provide robust observational evidence of substantial dust‐induced snow and glacier melting over the Himalayas.

Effect of administration of nanoparticles of human chorionic gonadotropin on testicular hemodynamics, testicular volume, testicular echotexture, and circulating testosterone and nitric oxide in pubescent goat bucks under heat stress conditions

The current study investigated the effect of a single administration of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and its nanoparticles (NPs) on testicular hemodynamics using Doppler ultrasonography, testicular volume, testicular echotexture (PIX), and circulating testosterone and nitric oxide (NO) in pubescent goat bucks during summer months. Fifteen Baladi goats were divided into three groups (5 in each) and subjected to a single intramuscular administration of one ml of physiological saline ( control group), one ml containing 500 IU of hCG (hCG group) or one ml containing 125 IU of hCG NPs (hCG NPs group). Testicular hemodynamics assessment was done just before administration (0 h), and at 2, 4, 6, 24, and daily till 7 days after administration. Testicular volume and PIX were measured and analyzed by B-mode ultrasonography and computer analysis software. Testosterone and NO concentrations were measured using commercial kits. Results revealed significant decreases (P ˂0.05) in Doppler indices values (resistance index and pulsatility index) especially at 24 h in the hCG group (0.314 ± 0.01, 0.382 ± 0.01, respectively) compared with the hCG NPs group (0.428 ± 0.01, 0.567 ± 0.02, respectively), and the control group (0.464 ± 0.006, 0.64 ± 0.01, respectively). There were significant increases (P < 0.001) in testicular volume, PIX, testosterone, and NO concentrations in hCG NPs and hCG groups compared to the control group. There were no significant differences between the hCG NPs and hCG groups (P ˃ 0.05) in testicular volume and PIX, while testosterone significantly increased in the hCG group compared to the hCG NPs group and NO was significantly increased in the hCG NPs group compared to the hCG group. In conclusion, a single administration of hCG or its NPs improved testicular vascularization, testicular volume, and circulating testosterone and NO in pubescent goat bucks. So, hCG NPs could be recommended for improving the reproductive performance of goat bucks under heat-stress conditions.

Air quality and the risk of acute atrial fibrillation (EP-PARTICLES study): A nationwide study in Poland.

Air pollution remains the single largest environmental health risk factor, while atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia globally. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between short-term exposure to air pollution and acute AF admissions. Individual data on AF hospitalization in the years 2011-2020 were collected from the National Health Fund in Poland (ICD-10: I48.XX). To obtain high-resolution data on air pollution we applied a modelling method using the GEM-AQ model. Associations between air pollution exposure and acute AF admissions were estimated using generalized additive models with Poisson regression. Over the analysed period, we recorded 252,566 acute admissions due to AF. Each 10 µg/m3 increment of PM2.5 and NO2 concentration, 1 µg/m3 of SO2 and 10 ng/m3 of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) concentration on the day of exposure resulted in 1.13% (0.70%-1.55%), 1.65% (1.05%-2.26%), 0.11% (0.01%-0.21%), and 0.3% (0.04%-0.55%) increases in acute AF admissions, respectively. The estimates are larger for women and older people. Stronger associations between PM2.5 and BaP concentrations and AF admissions in poorly urbanized areas were noted. Areas with high gross domestic product levels were more affected by the increase in NO2 concentrations, resulting in a 0.2% (1.001-1.003) increase in AF admissions. Exposure-response functions show steeper slopes of the pollutant-outcome associations in the lower ranges of exposures, far below World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline norms. For the zero-emission scenario, we estimate avoidable AF admissions - 5,873 for PM2.5 (95% CI 3,679 to 8,047) and 3,295 for NO2 (2,108-4,477). Air pollution acts as a triggering factor and can be associated with acute AF hospitalisations. PM2.5 and NO2 have an impact on AF even at concentrations levels below WHO air quality guideline norms.

Unravelling the mechanism of transient coastal upwelling in the southeastern Arabian Sea triggered by Cyclone Michaung

Abstract This study investigates the impact of Cyclone Michaung on coastal dynamics and biological changes in the southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS). Utilizing data from a moored autonomous buoy, the water quality nowcasting system (WQNS), and multi-satellite datasets, the research documents significant changes in sea surface temperature (SST), salinity, and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were driven by cyclone-induced upwelling and downwelling processes in the SEAS. The findings revealed that the passage of Cyclone Michaung led to a transient coastal upwelling event along the southwest coast of India (SWCI), marked by a notable decrease in SST and DO and an increase in salinity and chlorophyll-a concentrations, indicating enhanced biological production. The wind stress strengthening and changing wind pattern, almost parallel to the coast, initiated this process through wind-induced Ekman pumping, which uplifted the biological activity in the region.&amp;#xD;

Assessment of bacteriological and immunological markers in urinary tract infection and the effect of antibiotics on the isolated bacteria.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are recognized as the second most common medical condition, following respiratory infections. Despite the availability of numerous efficacious antibiotics for the management of UTIs, the rising incidence of bacterial resistance presents significant challenges in the treatment of these infections. Bacteria are endowed with the ability to reproduce and develop resistance mechanisms against antibiotics. The current investigation aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of bacterial isolates from urinary tract infections (UTIs) to a variety of antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, amikacin, gentamicin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, meropenem, and novobiocin. Additionally, the study sought to quantify the levels of the inflammatory immune marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) in UTI patients. It also explored the correlation between IL-6 levels in UTI patients and healthy controls, as well as the relationship between IL-6 levels and blood parameters in both infected and healthy individuals. The present study involved the collection of 155 samples from patients diagnosed with urinary tract infections of both genders and varying age groups, ranging from 15 to 75 years, at Salah al-Din General Hospital. The findings revealed that 102 urine samples tested positive for bacterial growth, resulting in a prevalence rate of 68%. In contrast, 53 urine samples were negative for bacterial growth, reflecting a prevalence rate of 32%. The diagnostic outcomes for all isolates, following the application of laboratory diagnostic methodologies, revealed a diverse array of bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The immunological analysis revealed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in IL-6 concentrations in the positive control group compared to the levels observed in the infected cohort. Our study concluded that significant antibiotic resistance in UTI pathogens, emphasizing the need for tailored treatments.

A leucine responsive small RNA AbcR200 regulates expression of the lactate utilization (lut) operon in Acinetobacter baumannii DS002.

Noncoding small RNAs are essential for modulating bacterial gene expression, especially under carbon and nutrient-limited conditions. In this study, by employing both in silico and molecular hybridization tools, we identified a carbon source responsive small RNA in A. baumannii DS002. Expression of corresponding gene, abcR200, located at the intergenic region of omt (O-methyltransferase) and orf72 genes, is under the transcriptional control of a global transcriptional factor, Leucine Responsive Regulatory Protein (Lrp). A sequence motif that serves as a target for Lrp was found overlapping the abcR200 promoter (PabcR200). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) demonstrated that Lrp oligomers, formed under low leucine conditions, strongly interacted to the PabcR200. However, the observed interactions were disrupted in the presence of leucine, as leucine promoted dissociation of Lrp to monomers and dimers, the conformation unfavourable to interact with PabcR200. The abcR200 promoter activity increased with increase of exogenous leucine concentrations, and at 2 mM maximum promoter activity was observed. The AbcR200 target mRNAs were identified by analysing the transcriptome of abcR200 negative strain of A. baumannii. Intriguingly, in abcR200 negative background, expression of lut (lactate utilization) mRNA has increased, suggesting that lut mRNA as one of the mRNA targets for AbcR200. Consistent of this observation, there existed extensive sequence complementarity between AbcR200 and lut mRNA, especially in the regions coding LutP, LutE and LutR. In support of the observed sequence complementarity, the levels of lut mRNA encoded proteins got elevated in abcR200 negative HS002 strains suggesting a role for AbcR200 in translational inhibition of lut mRNA.

Effect of Major Impurity in the Vanadium‐Rich Solution on the Growth of NaV2O5 Crystals under Hydrothermal Conditions

NaV2O5 is a promising cathode material for ion batteries with high capacity and good cycle performance. The high concentration of vanadium and low impurity in vanadium‐rich solution makes it possible to be used as raw material for vanadium product preparation. Vanadium solution containing impurity was prepared to investigate its influence mechanism on NaV2O5 crystal precipitation. The influence of four major impurity elements on the precipitation of NaV2O5 following the order of P &gt; Al &gt; Si &gt; Fe. With the increase of impurity concentrations, vanadium conversion rate and V content of the precipitates decreased to varying degrees, while impurity content increased. When concentrations of Fe, Al and Si were high, the resulting precipitate was still NaV2O5, but the crystal structure changed. The AlOH and SiOH hider the condensation between VOH and broke the rod into irregular flakes and blocks. As P concentration gradually increased, the precipitates changed from NaV2O5 to VO2(H2O) 0.5 and then to Na3.053((V5O9)(PO4)2(OH)0.1(H2O)8, meanwhile, the morphologies changed from rod to plate, then to cross‐like, and finally to cube. Revealing the influence of impurity in vanadium‐rich solution on the growth of NaV2O5 crystal is conducive to the popularization of the process.

Short-Term Effect of Air Pollution on Daily Hospital Visits for Anxiety Disorders in Southern China with Low Pollution Concentrations.

The global prevalence and burden of anxiety disorders (ADs) are increasing. However, findings on the acute effects of air pollution on ADs remain inconclusive. We evaluated the effects of short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3), on daily hospital visits for ADs. A generalized additive model was used to perform a time-series analysis on data from a Southern China city's medical insurance system between 1 March 2021, and 31 July 2023. Although the daily levels of most pollutants (PM10, SO2, CO, NO2 and O3) were consistently below China and WHO's Ambient Air-Quality Standards, significant associations were observed between daily hospital visits for ADs and all six air pollutants. Each interquartile range increase in concentrations resulted in the largest odds ratios of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.16) at lag1 for PM2.5, 1.19 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.34) at lag07 for NO2, 1.14 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.23) at lag02 for CO, 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.25) at lag07 for PM10, 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.12) at lag7 for SO2 and 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.15) at lag7 for O3, respectively. The effects of NO2 and CO remained robust across subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. Females and middle-aged individuals showed stronger associations than other subgroups. The findings underscore the necessity for public health efforts to alleviate the impact of air pollution on mental health, even in low-concentration settings.

The Relationship of Th1/Th2 Cytokine Polarization at Parturition in Cows and SOCS3 Level With Some Postpartum Diseases.

Th1/Th2 polarisation and suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 (SOCS3) are important indicators of the humoral and cellular immune system activity in cows. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of postpartum diseases with the levels of Th1/Th2 polarisation and SOCS3 at the time of parturition. The study examined 180 cows (90 with normal parturition [NP] and 90 with dystocia [D]). Blood samples were taken from the cows once at the time of calving. Two subgroups were created among cows with NP: those without the postpartum disease (NP [-], n = 45) and those with postpartum disease (NP [+], n = 45). Likewise, two subgroups were created among D cows: those without postpartum disease (D [-], n = 45) and those with postpartum disease (D [+], n = 45). Cytokine analyses were performed using species-specific commercial ELISA kits. In the NP (-) group, it was found that Th1/Th2 cytokine polarisation was in the Th1 direction due to the increase in the concentration of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 in four subgroups grouping with different types of parturition and diseases. It was concluded that it would be appropriate to strengthen cellular immunity. In cases of postpartum diseases, Th1/Th2 polarisation shifted towards Th2 due to the increase in IL-4 and IL-5 concentrations in cows that performed NP and developed mastitis in the postpartum period. These results suggest that it would be beneficial to support the Th2 aspect (i.e. humoral immunity) in cows that have undergone NP and develop mastitis in the postpartum period.

A ten-year historical analysis of urban PM10 and exceedance filters along the Northern Wasatch Front, UT, USA.

The Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA) is reducing in size, which raises several ecological concerns, including the effect of an increasing area of dry playa exposed by the retreating lake. This study focuses solely on concerns about the toxicity of metals in the dust blowing off the playa. Although considerable efforts have been made to understand aeolian dust in urban areas along the Wasatch Front, located just east and south of the Great Salt Lake, there is still a need to consolidate existing research and to conduct a compositional analysis of the dust found in these urban areas. We investigated the dust reaching urban monitoring sites around the Great Salt Lake that are managed by the Utah Division of Air Quality. By analyzing historical data, we found that the decrease in the Great Salt Lake's surface area has not led to a statistically significant increase in dust events in urban areas. Windrose plots align with prior research, indicating that heightened dust levels in urban areas coincide with winds originating from the south or west, passing over identified playas and deserts such as the Milford Flats, Sevier Dry Lake, Tule Dry Lake, Great Salt Lake Desert, Dugway Proving Grounds, and the West Desert of Utah. Metallic compositional analysis of urban dust was used to evaluate potential health risks associated with the dust using the hazard quotient, air regional screening levels, and cancer risk methods. This analysis revealed no significant increase in concentrations of toxic metals. However, this is not to preclude a risk of dust-related health concerns, especially due to pre-existing arsenic and lead levels. SYNOPSIS: This study provides insights into dust-related health risks and environmental impacts in Utah, analyzing dust exposure from shrinking Great Salt Lake.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of benzhydrylpiperazine-based novel dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity.

Piperazine derivatives were screened using the ChEMBL database, paving the way for the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel series of dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors and identifying their role in mitigating cancer cell proliferation. Compound 9d with 4-Cl substitution at the terminal phenyl ring showed promising inhibition of COX-2 (IC50 = 0.25 ± 0.03 μM) and 5-LOX (IC50 = 7.87 ± 0.33 μM), outperforming the standards celecoxib (IC50 = 0.36 ± 0.023 μM) and zileuton (IC50 = 14.29 ± 0.173 μM), respectively. The two most active derivatives 9d and 9g indicated a significant anti-inflammatory response in a paw edema model by inhibiting PGE2, IL-6, and TNF-α and an increase in IL-10 concentrations. Interestingly, 9d effectively reduced pain by 55.78%, closely comparable to the 59.09% exhibited by the standard indomethacin, and was also devoid of GI, liver, kidney, and cardiac toxicity. Furthermore, 9d demonstrated anti-cancer potential against in vitro A549, COLO-205, and MIA-PA-CA-2 human cancer cell lines and an in vivo Drosophila cancer model. The pharmacokinetic investigations revealed that 9d has good oral absorption characteristics.

Effects of low phosphorus diets on phosphorus balance and plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks during the transition period in dairy cows.

Our aim was to determine the effects of P intake on P balance, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and bone resorption during the final 4 weeks prepartum and the first 8 weeks of lactation. Sixty pregnant multiparous Holstein Friesian dairy cows were assigned to a randomized block design with repeated measurements and dietary treatments arranged according to a 2 × 2 factorial design. The experimental diets contained 3.6 (high phosphorus, HP) or 2.2 (low phosphorus, LP) g P/kg DM during the dry period (Dry-HP and Dry-LP, respectively) and 3.8 or 2.9 g P/kg DM during 56 d after calving (Lac-HP and Lac-LP, respectively). The level of dietary P, expressed as g/kg DM, of Dry-LP was 18% greater than recommended by the Dutch Central Bureau for Livestock feeding, while the P content of Lac-LP was, across the 8 wks of lactation, 24% lower than recommended. Both P intake and fecal P excretion decreased in the dry period to increase again in subsequent lactation. Cows fed high dietary P excreted more P in the feces than cows fed low dietary P pre- and postpartum. Cows in both Dry-HP and Dry-LP were in positive P balance in the dry period. Cows in both Lac-LP and Lac-HP were in negative P balance after calving, with the negative P balance being more pronounced in Lac-LP than in Lac-HP. Serum concentrations of PTH, and apparent total-tract OM and NDF digestibility, were neither affected by any 2-way or 3-way interaction between time of sampling and dietary treatments nor by the P concentration of the experimental diets during the pre- and postpartum period. Before calving, serum carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks (CTX) concentrations were basically similar between Dry-HP and Dry-LP. After calving, serum CTX concentrations increased, with a more pronounced increase when Lac-LP was fed compared with Lac-HP. The results suggest that when feeding diets containing low P (2.9 g/kg DM) postpartum, cows excreted less P in the feces than at recommended dietary P (3.8 g P/kg DM) without negative impact on OM and NDF digestibility. The increase in serum CTX concentrations, without increasing serum PTH concentrations upon feeding low P, indicates a prominent role of bone resorption to meet P demands in the first 8 weeks postpartum. The present trial focused on the final 4 weeks of gestation and the subsequent 8 weeks of lactation, but long-term effects of low dietary P during early lactation on serum PTH and on bone P dynamics in mid and late lactation need to be further investigated.

Прогностическое значение экспрессии галектина-1 опухолевыми плазматическими клетками и концентрации некоторых сывороточных цитокинов (IL-2, IL-6, TNF) у пациентов с моноклональной гаммапатией неопределенного значения и множественной миеломой

AIM. To study the prognostic value of the galectin-1 expression by bone marrow (BM) tumor plasma cells (PCs) and the concentration of serum cytokines (interleukins [IL-2, IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]) in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (ММ). MATERIALS &amp; METHODS. The trial enrolled 129 patients: 77 patients with newly diagnosed MM (median age 64 years) and 52 patients with MGUS (median age 62.5 years) followed-up at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology from 2018 to 2023. All patients underwent general clinical examination as well as BM aspirate cytology with myelogram and iliac BM core biopsy with immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of BM biopsy. RESULTS. In the BM biopsy, the IHC analysis revealed a significant increase of galectin-1 expression (measured by expressing tumor PC count) in MM vs. MGUS patients (p &lt; 0.001). Galectin-1 expression defined as expressing tumor PC count was significantly higher in patients with progressing MGUS compared to progression-free MM patients (p &lt; 0.001). The median galectin-1 expression level was 8.5 % (Q25 0.2 %; Q75 15.7 %) in progression-free MGUS patients and 37.4 % (Q25 24.7 %; Q75 64.0 %) in progressing MGUS patients. Among MM patients, no significant differences were identified either in those with and without tumor progression. The IHC analysis of BM core biopsies in MM patients showed that high galectin-1 expression level is associated with pronounced vasculature but not with fibrotic changes, it also identified an increase in serum concentrations of IL-2 and TNF as well as a direct correlation with β2-microglobulin level. With MGUS progression into ММ, there was a direct correlation between galectin-1 expression level and serum M-protein. An increase of IL-2 concentration was registered only when MGUS progressed into ММ. CONCLUSION. The results of this study indicate the evidence of a high level of galectin-1 expression by tumor PCs in MM. In MGUS, an increase of galectin-1 expression by clonal BM PCs was associated with the disease progression. Galectin-1 expression by clonal BM PCs can well be clinically used as a marker for MGUS progression into MM.

Innovative engineering of superoxide dismutase for enhanced cardioprotective biocatalysis in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

The present research compares the stability, catalytic activity, and cardioprotective benefits of the designed superoxide dismutase (SOD) variation SOD-M3 to those of the naturally occurring enzyme, along with additional alternatives. SOD-M3 exhibited a 51.5 % increase in expression yield, reaching 50 mg/L, compared to the wild-type's 33 mg/L. In structural biology, the average distance between atoms of stacked proteins or molecules is measured by RMSD. Testing the precision of protein-ligand docking models is a typical application. The projected structure closely resembles the reference or native structure when the RMSD is low. The enzyme's durability improved significantly, resulting in negligible aggregation in the Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) and root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 2.1 Å. SOD-M3 catalytically increased superoxide radical scavenging capability by 40 % and inhibited nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction by 90 % at 1 μg/mL concentration. The material exhibited increased stability, as seen by its decomposition temperature (Tm) of about 80 °C, as opposed to 65 °C in the wild-type strains. In cardiomyocyte protection experiments, SOD-M3 reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) production by 55 % while decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations by 60 %. Since a 51.5 % increase in expression yield for SOD-M3 indicates improved production efficiency, which makes large-scale manufacturing more viable for clinical applications, it is therapeutically essential. Higher expression yields mean more cost-effective manufacture for enzyme-based therapy research and commercialization. In vivo, SOD-M3 decreased myocardial infarction diameter by 44 % while improving cardiac function, including increased ejection percentage and fractional contraction. The histopathological investigation revealed undamaged heart tissue and less necrotic areas. The results reported here demonstrate SOD-M3's superior activity of enzymes, cardioprotective perspective, and stability, making it a promising therapeutic alternative for illnesses related to cellular oxidation & ischemic cardiac diseases. An increase in enzyme concentrations can enhance the obtaining of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which build up during ischaemia episodes; therefore, this increase is essential. Improving the enzyme's solubility and stability by site-directed modifications makes SOD-M3 more stable and effective in physiological circumstances where its activity is crucial for therapeutic efficacy maximization. A further benefit of increased expression yield is that it can lower manufacturing costs, which will help get SOD-M3 into clinical settings. These modifications raise SOD-M3's cardioprotective potential, making it a strong contender for novel therapies against cardiac ischemia-reperfusion impacts.

Summer profiles: Tracing currently used organophosphorus pollutants in the surface seawater of the Arctic Ocean.

We investigate the spatial distribution and potential ecological impact of Currently Used Organophosphorus Pollutants (CUOPPs) in the Arctic Ocean, focusing on the East Siberian Sea, Laptev Sea, and high Arctic regions. Analyzing surface water samples collected during a scientific expedition aboard the "Xuelong 2" in August and September 2021, we detected 38 out of 83 targeted CUOPPs, including Phorate, Paraoxon, and Azinphos-ethyl, with concentrations exhibiting significant geographical variance. The results reveal a pronounced increase in CUOPP concentrations towards the Arctic poles, diverging markedly from the patterns observed in the East China Sea, thereby highlighting distinct regional pollution profiles and environmental interactions. Our findings suggest various potential sources and transport mechanisms for CUOPPs, indicating complex pollutant dynamics. Furthermore, the study delves into the influence of Arctic sea ice dynamics on the distribution patterns of CUOPPs, underscoring the pivotal role of environmental factors such as surface currents. Ecological risk assessments conducted for essential Arctic species pose a high ecological risk in the Arctic Ocean, with a "Summer Alert" effect. This investigation elucidates the intricate relationship between CUOPPs dispersal in the Arctic and the broader implications of climate change, offering critical insights into the emerging environmental challenges in polar ecosystems.