Low Concentrations Research Articles

Development, characterization, and assessment of PLAROsomal vesicular system of curcumin for enhanced stability and therapeutic efficacy

Abstract Background Curcumin (CUR) is a natural polyphenol and one of the key phytoconstituents found in the rhizomes of Curcuma Longa. It exhibits various pharmacological properties, encompassing antioxidant, anticancer effects, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory, among several others. A significant drawback of using CUR is its limited bioavailability, which primarily depends on gut microorganisms responsible for converting it into its bioavailable form. Therefore, the contemporary study intended to formulate a novel PLAROsomal vesicular delivery of CUR, i.e., CUR-PLAROsomes employing a design of experiments approach to examine the influence of various process parameters, such as particle size and drug percentage release. Result The prepared CUR-PLAROsomes were characterized for their physicochemical properties using various hyphenated tools. The CUR-PLAROsomes exhibited sizes ranging from 40 to 300 nm, and the optimized batch demonstrated a drug entrapment of 86.38 ± 0.22%. In-vitro anticancer studies were conducted using human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (COLO320DM) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7). CUR-PLAROsomes exhibited significant in-vivo anti-inflammatory potential against carrageenan-induced paw edema. CUR-PLAROsomes were more potent against COLO320DM and MCF-7 cell lines, even at lower concentrations, than pure CUR. Conclusion Furthermore, based on the observations, it exhibits potential as an anti-inflammatory agent, suggesting that PLAROsomes are an effective vesicular drug delivery system. Highlights Newly introduced PLARosome is a next generation of Liposomes which have gain popularity owing to its better adaptability to overcome leakage problem of vesicular drug delivery system. This is the pioneer attempt to prepare Curcumin-loaded PLARosome as an anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity. Nano size of the PLAROsomes may contribute to enhance the efficacy of Curcumin as a target specific drug delivery system. Site specific delivery of phytoconstituents is possible by use of PLAROsomes as a novel drug delivery system. Graphical abstract

Toxic effects of chlorpyrifos on biochemical composition, enzyme activity and gill surface ultrastructure of three species of small fishes from India.

The effects of chlorpyrifos, a frequently detected organophosphate in aquatic ecosystems, on biochemical (protein and glycogen) contents and oxidative enzyme activities (catalase and lipid peroxidation) in liver, muscle and gill tissues of three freshwater fish Trichogaster fasciata, Mystus vittatus and Heteropneustes fossilis were evaluated after 21-day exposure to 1 and 10% of 96h LC50 of this pesticide, which were 1.63 and 16.3µg L-1; 5.87 and 58.7µg L-1 and 2.12 and 21.2µg L-1, respectively. On comparing with control, significant reductions in protein concentration were found in liver, muscle and gill of the three fishes treated with both higher as well as lower concentrations of the pesticide except in gill of M. vittatus and liver of H. fossilis treated with the lower concentrations. Glycogen content reductions were significant in the liver and muscle of the fishes, as well as gill tissue of T. fasciata treated with the two pesticide concentrations. Significant elevations of catalase activity were found in liver of the three fishes treated with the higher concentrations, in muscle tissues of both T. fasciata and M. vittatus treated with both the concentrations and in gills of the three fishes except H. fossilis treated with the lower concentration of the pesticide. Significant elevations of lipid peroxidation level were also found in liver of all the three fish species treated with the higher concentrations, in the muscle tissue of M. vittatus as well as in the gill of T. fasciata and H. fossilis treated with both the concentrations of the pesticide. Chlorpyrifos exposed gill ultrastructure of T. fasciata, M. vittatus and H. fossilis revealed concentration-dependent effects of the pesticide on gill surface ultrastructure which include distortion of primary and secondary lamellae, deterioration of pavement cell and microridge structures, extrusion of red blood cells (RBCs), secretion of mucous layer on filament, sloughing of primary lamellae and clumping of secondary lamellae. The present study parameters could serve as useful biomarkers for evaluating the risk of pesticide toxicity to fish. These findings also point out the possible health risks to the consumers of these fish captured from contaminated water bodies.

Association between homocysteine levels and mortality in CVD: a cohort study based on NHANES database.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health concern with increasing incident cases and deaths. Homocysteine (Hcy) has been investigated for its potential association with CVD, researchers have debated the extent to which Hcy should be considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, as only 50% of CVD can be explained by classical risk factors. We conducted a prospective cohort study using NHANES 1999-2006 data, analyzing 1,739 US patients aged at least 30 with CVD. Cox proportional hazards regression and restricted cubic splines were used to examine the relationship between Hcy levels and mortality, adjusting for covariates. A total of 1,739 participants with cardiovascular disease (CVD) were enrolled, with a median follow-up period of 126 months. Among them, 1,194 participants died, including 501 deaths due to cardiovascular causes. After adjusting for covariates, the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CVD mortality at different levels of homocysteine (Hcy) (T1 (< 9.3), T2 (9.3-12.5), T3 (> 12.5)) were 1.26 (0.92, 1.73) (T2), and 1.69 (1.14, 2.51) (T3) (P for trend = 0.0086). The HR and 95% CI for all-cause mortality at different levels of Hcy were 1.22 (1.05, 1.42) (T2) and 1.64 (1.29, 2.09) (T3) (P for trend < 0.0001). Elevated Hcy levels were associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality and CVD deaths, even at levels below the conventional threshold. The nonlinear relationship was observed, with inflection points at 14.5 µmol/L for all-cause mortality and 14.6 µmol/L for CVD mortality. Subgroup analyses revealed interactions with age, serum vitamin B12, and smoking. Our study supports the notion that elevated Hcy levels are associated with higher all-cause and CVD mortality risks in CVD participants. The impact of Hcy on health outcomes can be observed at lower concentrations than previously thought.

Chemical analysis of toxic elements: total cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic and inorganic arsenic in local and imported rice consumed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Rice consumption is a pathway for human exposure to toxic elements. Although rice is a major staple in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) there is limited published data about its toxic element composition. Both imported and locally grown Hassawi rice in Saudi Arabia were collected, digested then analysed by HPLC-ICP-MS for inorganic arsenic (i-As) and byICP-MS for As, Cd, Pb and Hg. Of these toxic elements, i-As was present at concentrations that might give rise to material concerns about human exposure and public health. Hassawi rice (mean 43 ± 5µg/kg) was found to have significantly lower concentrations of i-As than imported rice (mean 73 ± 8µg/kg). The estimated exposure of adults consuming imported rice in one KSA city reached 0.3µg/kg-bw/day, within the margin of safety of the recently withdrawn WHO PTWI for i-As of 2.1µg/kg-bw/day and higher than EFSA's 0.06µg/kg-bw/day skin cancer BMDL05.

The impact of hemoglobin concentration on farrowing duration in sows

Abstract Concerns have been raised about the prevalence of anemia in sows, yet our understanding of its consequences, particularly its impact on the farrowing process, remains limited. This study investigated the relationship between hemoglobin concentration (HbC) and farrowing duration in sows. A total of 101 sows (n = 16 parity 0, 15 parity 1, 24 parity 2, and 46 parity 3 sows) were monitored for blood HbC (Hemocue Hb 201 device) from the ear vein before farrowing (d112 of gestation) and between 40 to 48h after farrowing (d2). Sows were categorized as anemic (HbC &amp;lt; 10 g/dL), or non-anemic (HbC ≥ 10 g/dL) based on their d112 HbC (i.e., pre-farrowing status). Surveillance cameras recorded the farrowing process for each sow, complemented by human observation. Farrowing duration was defined as the time elapsed between the first piglet born and the last piglet born. All piglets were individually weighed within 18h of birth, and stillborn piglets were identified using a lung flotation test conducted within 1h of birth. The correlation between sow HbC, farrowing duration, and stillborn piglets was assessed using the PROC CORR procedure in SAS. Additionally, the effect of HbC category on labor duration was tested using the PROC MIXED procedure, with total piglets born included as a covariate. Anemic sows had a prolonged farrowing (7.2 h ± 0.92 minutes, P &amp;lt; 0.001) compared to non-anemic sows (3.5 h ± 0.88 minutes) and negative correlation was observed between pre-farrow HbC and farrowing duration (r = -0.62, P &amp;lt; 0.001). There was a weak correlation between farrowing duration and stillborn piglets (r = 0.32, P = 0.01). No correlation was observed between farrowing duration and total born (r = 0.22, P = 0.11). There was no difference in total born (16.41 ± 0.7 vs 16.3 ± 0.7) between anemic (&amp;lt;10 g/dL) and non-anemic (≥ 10 g/dL) sows, respectively. Factors such as barn temperature on the day of parturition and feed intake the day prior did not influence the observed differences in labor duration between anemic and non-anemic sows. In conclusion, maintaining HbC above 10 g/dL appears beneficial for sows, as lower concentrations of HbC are associated with prolonged labor and increased removal rates. Blood HbC could serve as a valuable biomarker for identifying at-risk sows, thereby aiding in improving herd management and productivity.

Highly Monodisperse Stable Gold Nanorod Powder for Optical Sensor.

Gold nanorods (GNRs) as plasmonic metal nanoparticles are valuable for optical applications due to their tunable plasmonic properties. However, conventional colloidal GNRs face significant optical instability during storage, which limits their practical use. In this work, we developed a highly dispersible GNR powder using an octadecyl trimethylammonium bromide (C18TAB)-assisted freeze-drying method, preserving the optical and chemical sensing properties of GNRs for over 4 months. Compared with C16TAB, C18TAB significantly enhances the GNRs dispersibility even at lower concentrations. Our study demonstrates that C18TAB forms a sponge-like crystal structure that prevents aggregation during the freeze-drying process. The resulting GNR powder retains its plasmonic features and water dispersibility, achieving near-identical optical properties to those of fresh GNR solutions. This stability enabled creation of a liquid-free colorimetric test kit with a long shelf life. This work marks a significant step forward in the use of GNRs as standard analytical reagents, opening new avenues for real-world applications.

The effect of three urease inhibitors on H. pylori viability, urease activity and urease gene expression

BackgroundTreatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections is challenged by antibiotic resistance. The urease enzyme contributes to H. pylori colonization in the gastric acidic environment by producing a neutral microenvironment. We hypothesized that urease inhibition could affect H. pylori viability. This work aimed to assess the effects of acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), ebselen and baicalin on urease activity, bacterial viability and urease genes expression in H. pylori isolates.MethodsForty-nine H. pylori clinical isolates were collected. Urease activity was assessed using the phenol red method. The urease inhibition assay assessed inhibitors' effects on urease activity. Flow cytometry assessed the effect of inhibitors on bacterial viability. Real time PCR was used to compare urease genes expression levels following urease inhibition.ResultsUrease activity levels differed between isolates. Acetohydroxamic acid inhibited urease activity at a concentration of 2.5 mM. Although baicalin inhibited urease activity at lower concentrations, major effects were seen at 8 mM. Ebselen's major inhibition was demonstrated at 0.06 mM. Baicalin (8 mM) significantly reduced ATP production compared to untreated isolates. Baicalin, ebselen and acetohydroxamic acid significantly reduced H. pylori viability. Increased urease genes expression was detected after exposure to all urease inhibitors.DiscussionIn conclusion, higher concentrations of baicalin were needed to inhibit urease activity, compared to acetohydroxamic acid and ebselen. Baicalin, ebselen and acetohydroxamic acid reduced H. pylori viability. Therefore, these inhibitors should be further investigated as alternative treatments for H. pylori infection.

Mutant prevention concentrations, in vitro resistance evolution dynamics, and mechanisms of resistance to imipenem and imipenem/relebactam in carbapenem-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates showing ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) variants selected during ceftazidime/avibactam treatment usually develop susceptibility to carbapenems and carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitors, such as imipenem and imipenem/relebactam. We analyzed imipenem and imipenem/relebactam single-step mutant frequencies, resistance development trajectories and differentially selected resistance mechanisms using two representative K. pneumoniae isolates that had developed ceftazidime/avibactam resistance during therapy (ST512/KPC-31 and ST258/KPC-35). Mutant frequencies and mutant prevention concentrations were measured in Mueller-Hinton agar plates containing incremental concentrations of imipenem or imipenem/relebactam. Resistance dynamics were determined after incubation for 7 days in 10 mL MH tubes containing incremental concentrations of each antibiotic or combination, up to 64 times their baseline MIC. Two colonies per strain from each experiment were characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing. The impact of KPC variants identified in resistant mutants on β-lactam resistance was investigated by cloning experiments. Imipenem/relebactam suppressed the emergence of resistant mutants at lower concentrations than imipenem, slowed down resistance development for both strains, and the resulting mutants yielded lower MICs of carbapenems and carbapenem/β-lactamase inhibitors than those selected with imipenem alone. Characterization of resistant mutants revealed that imipenem resistance was mainly caused by inactivation of OmpK36 and mutations in the KPC β-lactamase. Imipenem/relebactam-resistant mutants also maintained OmpK36 alterations, but mutations in KPC were much less frequent compared with those selected with imipenem alone. Genetic and biochemical characterization of the KPC derivatives identified in the resistant mutants confirmed their role in carbapenem resistance. Our data positions imipenem/relebactam as an attractive therapeutic option for combating ceftazidime/avibactam-resistant KPC-producing K. pneumoniae infections.

Gender-modulated influence of BDNF concentration and Val66Met polymorphism on cognitive outcomes in chronic limb ischemia patients

IntroductionWhile numerous studies have established associations between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cognitive functioning, limited research has delved into the role of BDNF concerning cognitive outcomes in atherosclerosis-related conditions. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between cognitive performance, serum BDNF levels, and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism in individuals diagnosed with chronic limb ischemia (CLI).Participants and procedureThe study encompassed 159 CLI patients (52 females, 107 males) aged 59-73 years. Genetic analysis involved assessing the BDNF Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism using a TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay and the ViiA™ 7 Real-Time PCR System. Serum BDNF levels were quantified. Cognitive functioning was evaluated through a computerized battery of tests, including the simple reaction test (SRT) for speed and accuracy assessment, verbal memory test (VMT) for short and long-term memory evaluation, and the GoNoGo test for cognitive control and inhibition.ResultsGender differences in cognitive performance were observed, with women excelling in VMT, while men demonstrated superior performance in SRT and the GoNoGo test. No statistically significant differences were noted between the Met/Met or Met/Val and Val/Val subgroups. However, notable differences emerged in female Met carriers, exhibiting superior VMT scores but more incorrect Go responses in the GoNoGo test. Conversely, female Val homozygotes showed significantly more incorrect NoGo responses compared to male Val homozygotes. In men carrying the Met allele, higher BDNF concentrations correlated with improved GoNoGo test results (r = 0.248, p = 0.01). Conversely, in women with the Val/Val variant, lower BDNF concentrations were associated with better VMT scores.ConclusionsThis study underscores the sex-specific impact of BDNF serum levels and the BDNF polymorphism on cognitive processes among CLI patients. The findings highlight the nuanced influence of BDNF in shaping cognitive functioning, emphasizing the need for further research into these sex-dependent associations.

Development and Clinical Validation of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Measuring Ruxolitinib in Steroid-Refractory Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A First Step Towards Optimized Treatment.

This non-interventional, prospective, single-center study aimed to develop a technique to measure ruxolitinib (RUX) concentrations and provide preliminary data on the distribution of plasma drug levels in patients with steroid refractory (SR) GvHD. Between April 2023 and May 2024, we analyzed 48 blood samples from 29 patients with SR-GvHD. Median individual plasma concentrations varied across different RUX doses and largely overlapped: 39.2 ng/mL at 10 mg b.i.d (range: 0-73), 13.1 ng/mL at 10-5 mg (range, 6.1-35.6), and 31.6 ng/mL at 5 mg b.i.d (range: 0.7-99.9). Samples taken under non-optimal temperature conditions showed a lower median concentration of 0.77 ng/mL (range: 0-7.4 ng/mL). The four patients who did not respond at days +28 and +180 after RUX initiation (3 with lower gastrointestinal aGvHD, and 1 with ocular, hepatic, and pulmonary cGvHD) showed a median concentration of only (7.4 ng/mL (range, 0-29) ng/mL) with full dosing. The introduction and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying plasma RUX concentrations was feasible in our center. Administering predetermined and fixed doses of RUX in patients with SR-GvHD showed highly variable and overlapping plasma drug concentrations. This underscores the potential importance of RUX- pharmacokinetics (PK) monitoring.

Evaluation of laboratory findings indicating pancreatitis in healthy lean, obese, and diabetic cats.

Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus, which commonly coexists with pancreatitis in cats. However, obesity has not previously been associated with pancreatitis in cats. To evaluate factors affecting serum concentrations of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI), trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI), cobalamin and folate in clinically healthy lean, overweight and obese, or diabetic cats. Seventy-nine client-owned cats (27 healthy lean [LN, BCS 4-5/9], 30 healthy overweight and obese [OW, BCS 7-9/9], and 22 diabetic [DM]) were included. Cross-sectional study. The cats underwent physical examination, and blood tests. Linear regression models compared differences in fPLI, fTLI, cobalamin, and folate concentrations. Fisher's exact test assessed the proportions of cats with fPLI and fTLI indicative of pancreatitis, and hypocobalaminemia. A random forest algorithm identified explanatory variables for cats having fPLI levels indicative of pancreatitis. No LN cats, while 6/30 (20%) of OW and 10/22 (45%) of DM cats had fPLI concentrations indicative of pancreatitis. Body condition score (P = .02) and body weight (P = .002) were positively associated with fPLI levels in LN and OW cats. Higher fPLI, and lower cobalamin concentrations were associated with higher age across groups. Body condition score and body weight were associated with higher fPLI levels in nondiabetic cats. A larger proportion of OW and DM cats had fPLI concentrations indicative of pancreatitis compared to LN cats. Whether this indicates subclinical pancreatitis remains to be determined. Hypocobalaminemia was less frequent in OW compared to DM cats.

Titanite as an indicator of granite fertility and gold mineralization in the Xiaoqinling gold province, North China Craton

The Xiaoqinling gold province, located in the southern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), is the second largest gold-enriched region in China. In this region, the Mesozoic Huashan (HS) and Wenyu (WY) plutons are the major magmatic intrusions coeval with gold mineralization, although they show contrasting characteristics in the distribution of gold. In this study, we use geochemical features of titanite determined by LA-ICP-MS and EPMA analyses and elemental mapping to decipher the mechanisms that led to the difference in gold enrichment related to the two plutons. Titanite from the Wenyu granitic pluton exhibits significantly higher (La/Sm)N, (La/Yb)N, ΣLREE/ΣHREE ratios, and ΣREE concentration and slightly higher (Gd/Yb)N values than those of the Huashan Pluton, suggesting that the Wenyu pluton might have experienced more complex magmatic evolution, widespread hydrothermal alteration, and higher silica activity in the melt than the Huashan pluton. The titanite grains from the Huashan pluton show higher (Nb/Ta)N and (Lu/Hf)N values and significantly lower Zr concentration than those of the Wenyu pluton. The titanite grains from the Wenyu pluton show higher vanadium and gallium concentrations and Fe/Al ratio than those of the Huashan pluton, indicating comparatively higher fo2. Furthermore, the titanite grains from Wenyu pluton indicate higher water content in the magma. In addition, magma mingling and magmatic hydrothermal fluids derived from the crust/mantle are critical sources for ore-forming materials. These results suggest that the Wenyu pluton is more conducive to gold migration and enrichment than the Huashan pluton.

Energy harvesting through the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on polyurethane/cellulose nanocrystal

This study investigates how physical and mechanical properties affect the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Polyurethane (PU) was prepared using two methods: (i) one-step PU (non-chain extended polyurethane) and (ii) two-step PU (chain extended polyurethane) via the prepolymer method; both types were filled with different concentrations of nanocrystalline cellulose. Mechanical properties significantly influence the deformation at the material interface that occurs during contact or friction. Key surface characteristics, including surface energy, geometry, and physicochemical properties, affect the effective contact area and potential distribution. One-step PU with 0.1 % CNC demonstrates a maximum capacitance of 29.20 pF, a voltage of 2.04 V, an electric current of 0.43 µA and power of 0.89 µW, representing a 74.5 % increase in power compared to the neat one-step PU, exhibits significant potential for TENG applications. Performance improvements are associated with lower concentrations of cellulose nanocrystals, enhanced hydrogen bonding, and beneficial surface energy. The observed enhancements in output are attributed to improved internal polarization from well-dispersed crystalline nanocellulose, increased crystallinity of the soft segment, and reduced charge transfer mechanisms due to amino groups in the chain extender. However, the impact of the molecular structure and conformation of polyurethanes on triboelectrification remains unclear, highlighting the need for theoretical models and experimental data. This research provides a practical approach for developing stretchable triboelectric materials with enhanced mechanical properties, emphasizing the importance of considering factors such as mechanical parameters, nanofiller content, and surface physicochemical properties to optimize TENG design.

Toxicity assessment of Cd and Cu on physicochemical parameters of green microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda

AbstractDue to immobilization of heavy metals in the environment, it is necessary to evaluate their toxic effects on living cells. In this study, ecotoxicity of Cd and Cu was studied on inhibition of growth, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll b (Chl b), protein thiol groups and changes in bioconcentration factor (BCF). Cadmium toxicity was confirmed to be higher than Cu on Scenedesmus quadricauda. While in the lower concentrations of Cu the specific growth rate (SGR) was increased, in the presence of Cd only inhibition was confirmed. Level of Chl a was decreased more than level of Chl b. Only at low of Cu concentrations up to 0.07 mg L-1 the specific growth rate and both photosynthetic pigments increased compared to control. We observed a high bioaccumulation of Cd and Cu in the cells through bioconcentration values. We determined a negative correlation between protein thiol groups and the Chl a (r=-0.461, p&lt;0.01) and Chl b (r=-0.416, p&lt;0.01), respectively, in Cu presence that indicates higher consumption of protein thiol groups probably due higher level of oxidative stress in the cells. Although, we did not confirm this significant correlation for cells cultivated in the presence of Cd, we found significant negative correlation between Cd accumulation and Chl a (r=-0.643) or Chl b (r=-0.699), respectively. S. quadricauda could be suitable candidate for bioremediation of contaminated waters (e.g. in algae-bacteria consortium) because has high capacity of Cd and Cu bioaccumulation and still have enough protein thiols to protect against damage of possible higher oxidative stress.

Diverse effects of fluorescent labels on alpha-synuclein condensate formation during liquid-liquid phase separation.

Liquid-liquid phase separation is an emerging field of study, dedicated to understanding the mechanism and role of biomolecule assembly into membraneless organelles. One of the main methods employed in studying protein and nucleic acid droplet formation is fluorescence microscopy. Despite functioning as an excellent tool for monitoring biomolecule condensation, a few recent reports have presented possible drawbacks of using fluorescently labeled particles. It was observed that fluorescent tags could alter the process of protein liquid-liquid phase separation and even promote their aggregation. In this study, we examined the influence of three different protein labels on alpha-synuclein phase separation in vitro and determined that the changes in droplet formation were related to both the type, as well as concentration of the fluorescently tagged alpha-synuclein. Both protein-based labels (mCherry and eGFP) induced the formation of significantly larger droplets, while fluorescein-tagged alpha-synuclein generated an abundance of small condensates or noticeably inhibited the process of LLPS. The study also revealed that alpha-synuclein with protein-based labels could self-associate at much lower concentrations than its untagged counterpart, forming either large droplets or protein aggregates.

Evaluating the human abuse potential of concurrent use of electronic cigarettes and low nicotine cigarettes among adults who smoke.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated its intention to reduce the nicotine content of combustible cigarettes to render them less addictive. This study evaluated the impact of providing adults who smoke with both very low nicotine content cigarettes (VLNCCs) and electronic cigarettes (ECs) of varying nicotine content on measures of human abuse potential. Participants (n = 213) were adult combustible cigarette users. They smoked their usual brand cigarettes (UBCs) during Phase 1 (baseline; week 1) and were provided with and encouraged to exclusively use VLNCCs during Phase 2 (weeks 2-4). During dual-product Phases 3 (weeks 5-7) and 4 (weeks 8-10), participants received both VLNCCs and ECs (assigned to one of two EC devices in higher or lower nicotine concentrations and choice of flavor), with instructions to use them freely in Phases 3 and 4. Assessments included product use, exposure, acceptability, risk perception, and withdrawal-related measures. Results indicated that participants used significantly fewer UBCs during the VLNCC and dual-product phases and smoked fewer VLNCCs during the dual-product phases than the VLNCC-only phase. Neither EC liquid nicotine concentration nor flavor influenced product use. The three study product phases resulted in less product liking and more withdrawal symptoms than the UBC phase. These results suggest that adults who smoke are able to switch much of their tobacco product use from UBCs to VLNCCs and will substitute combustible UBCs and VLNCCs with noncombustible nicotine-containing ECs, but most remain dual users, at least in the short term. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effect of calcium application on rice ears for suppressing cesium transfer from roots to brown rice.

Researchers have stressed that crops may absorb radioactive cesium (Cs) in the soil and translocate it to its edible parts. Therefore, a method was developed to suppress Cs absorption through high K fertilisation. However, this method is less effective for rice plants after ear emergence, thus demanding the application of a suppression method at this stage. In this study, we test whether immersion of ears in a Ca solution during its ripening period could suppress the translocation of Cs from roots to brown rice. The results show that the translocation of Cs absorbed from the hydroponic solution to brown rice is reduced based on the Ca concentration applied to the ears. In addition, differences in the inhibition of translocation were observed among the different Ca salts. In addition, the effect of immersion of ears in Ca solution on Cs translocation was effective at lower concentrations than that effective for K.

The Application of Mulberry Elements into a Novel Form of Easy-to-Prepare Dried Smoothie

The European market offers a variety of functional foods targeted at prediabetic and diabetic patients, with different approaches to reducing postprandial glucose levels. The utilization of white and black mulberry in new products could be an area of interest to many conscious consumers. The study aimed to design a novel form (dried) of easy-to-prepare product by applying nutritious mulberry in various proportions and creating an aesthetically appealing smoothie product with a distinctive taste profile. Such an easy-to-prepare form of smoothie was obtained by utilizing the freeze-drying process, while typical market smoothies are liquid. Sensory evaluations of the fresh, dried, and reconstructed smoothies and their basic characteristics were conducted. Moreover, antiradical tests (with ABTS+• and DPPH•), the phenolic compound profile (HPLC/PDA), and the L*a*b profile were analyzed. The results of the sensory evaluation tests were divided into two groups: Polish and foreign panelists. It was observed that mulberry-licorice drop-based smoothies were preferred fresh. Yet dried and reconstituted capsule-based smoothies were favored overall. Generally, both Polish and foreign panelists preferred lower concentrations of mulberry and licorice extracts (DB) in fresh smoothies, while in dried or reconstructed smoothie form, panelists scored higher (DC) and lower (DB) concentrations quite similarly (favored both concentrations). From the group of identified phenolic compounds, cinnamic acid derivates dominated all analyzed smoothies. Many analyzed types of flavonoids (quercetin, rutin, kaempferol) and naringenin were found in the smoothies. Some differences were noted in the antiradical tests but were only statistically significant for DPPH• scavenging activity, which was higher for the DB1, DB2, and DC1 samples. Generally, even higher addition of licorice and mulberry did not negatively affect panelists’ ratings and the analyzed activities.

Cultivation conditions and their impact on yerba mate ecophysiology and antioxidant potential

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of light and shading on yerba mate's ecophysiology and antioxidant potential. To this end, an experiment was carried out in an entirely randomized design, with three treatments, being cultivated in full sun (Ts), in agroforestry (Ta), and in native forest (Tm). Photosynthesis activity and chlorophyll, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins , and antioxidant activity were analyzed to determine the best cultivation environment that influences the ecophysiology and antioxidant potential of Yerba mate. Ts environment yielded higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins. Shaded environments showed greater antioxidant activity. Chlorophyll and photosynthesis indices differed in shaded environments, with Tm having higher concentration and photosynthetic activity and Ta having lower concentration and photosynthetic activity. The results show that PAR positively influenced the biochemical parameters. Shading was more efficient for antioxidant activity, and agroforestry contributed to greater antioxidant activity. The highest concentrations of chlorophyll and highest photosynthetic activity were found in yerba mate in native forests.

Alterations Expression of Key RNA Methylation (m6A) Enzymes in Testicular Tissue of Rats with Induced Varicocele.

Epigenetics impacts male fertility and reproductive disorders. RNA modifications, like m6A, influence RNA metabolism. Varicocele contributes to male infertility, and oxidative stress affects sperm function. This study investigates the expression of key RNA modification enzymes in a rat varicocele model, aiming to elucidate the relationship between varicocele, oxidative stress, and fertility. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into Control, Sham, and Varicocele induction groups. Varicocele was induced in the rats surgically. After 8 weeks, testicular tissues and sperm were collected for analysis, including histopathological assessment and evaluation of sperm parameters, functional tests, and gene expression of key RNA modification enzymes: METTL3 as a writer, ALKBH5 and FTO as erasers, and YTHDF2 as a reader involved in recognizing m6A-modified RNA using qRT-PCR. One-way ANOVAwithpost-hoc Tukey HSDwas used forcomparing tests within groups. Varicocele induction resulted in histological changes in testicular tissues, including irregularly variable-sized seminiferous tubules. Sperm parameters were significantly affected, with lower concentration, motility, and higher percentage of abnormal sperm in the varicocele group. Increased levels of oxidative stress markers (Sperm lipid peroxidation, and intracytoplasmic ROS) and sperm DNA damage were observed, indicating the presence of oxidative stress in varicocele. Moreover, the expression of key enzymes involved in RNA metabolism was downregulated in the varicocele group. These findings highlight the detrimental impact of varicocele on testicular health, sperm quality, and gene expression, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of male infertility associated with varicocele.