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Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Feb 2021Fluoride, widely presented in drinking water and tea, may be detrimental or beneficial to the human health, depending on its dosages ingested. However, the relationship...
Fluoride, widely presented in drinking water and tea, may be detrimental or beneficial to the human health, depending on its dosages ingested. However, the relationship of different dosages of fluoride and gut microbiota is still unclear. In this work, the fermentation model using fecal samples provided by four volunteers was used to evaluate the effects of different dosages of fluoride (1, 2, 10 and 15 mg/L) on the gut microbiota in vitro. The result showed low dosages of fluoride (1 and 2 mg/L) had limited effect on the structure and functional Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway of gut microbiota. Furthermore, the low dosage of fluoride could promote the growth of beneficial gut microbiota, including Faecalibacterium and Lactobacillus. Whereas, the high dosage of fluoride (10 and 15 mg/L) significantly changed the composition and functional KEGG pathway of gut microbiota. Moreover, the high dosage of fluoride could also reduce the beneficial gut microbiota, including Faecalibacterium and Phascolarctobacterium, and increase the harmful bacterium including Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. Both low and high dosages of fluoride showed limited effect on the productions of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Thus, the beneficial or detrimental fluoride to gut microbiota depends on its dosages. The fluoride is expected to serve as a food additive in suitable dosage to improve human health through modulation of the gut microbiota. Moreover, more attention should be paid to toxicity of fluoride with high dosage to gut microbiota.
Topics: Bacteria; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Feces; Fermentation; Fluorides; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Lactobacillus; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 33373928
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111732 -
Animal Reproduction Science Dec 2022Sterlet Acipenser ruthenus is the smallest in size, early maturing, yet third in production scale among the sturgeon species and as such presents a good model to study...
Sterlet Acipenser ruthenus is the smallest in size, early maturing, yet third in production scale among the sturgeon species and as such presents a good model to study reproductive biology. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of preseason artificial reproduction and reduction of hormonal dosage on the egg quality in pond-reared sterlet. Therefore, a series of three trials were conducted in the period 2021 and 2022 (21 and 22) that evaluated three dosages of mammalian gonadotropin releasing hormone analog des-Gly-(d-Ala)-GnRH (40, 20, and 10 µg/kg) in both preseason (January) and seasonal (April) spawning batches (PRE and SEA). The greatest embryo survival was achieved in SEA-21-10 (84.8 ± 5.8 %) and the lowest in PRE-21-40 (31.0 ± 40.7 %). Overall results indicated that a dosage of 10 µg/kg leads to the highest embryo survival. Considering the season, latency time was significantly longer in preseason reproduction being on average about 6 h prolonged (35.1 ± 2.8 h vs. 41.4 ± 2.9 h) and it directly affected the embryo survival (linear correlation r = - 0.769, P = 0.003). Likewise, preseason reproduction yields more variable egg quality, due to impaired performance of later ovulating fish most likely due to lower oocyte maturation competence. The present study found expected latency time at 14 °C to be 37-41 h in the preseason and 31-41 h in season, while the recommended dosage is 10 µg/kg des-Gly-(d-Ala)-GnRH. Future studies should develop in vitro tools to evaluate the oocyte maturational competence to improve the egg quality in the preseason.
Topics: Animals; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Seasons; Ponds; Fishes; Reproduction; Mammals
PubMed: 36343523
DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107097 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2020Cannabis has been used for centuries for therapeutic purposes. In the last century, the plant was demonized due to its high abuse liability and supposedly insufficient... (Review)
Review
Cannabis has been used for centuries for therapeutic purposes. In the last century, the plant was demonized due to its high abuse liability and supposedly insufficient health benefits. However, recent decriminalization policies and new scientific evidence have increased the interest in cannabis therapeutic potential of cannabis and paved the way for the release of marketing authorizations for cannabis-based products. Although several synthetic and standardized products are currently available on the market, patients' preferences lean towards herbal preparations, because they are easy to handle and self-administer. A literature search was conducted on multidisciplinary research databases and international agencies or institutional websites. Despite the growing popularity of medical cannabis, little data is available on the chemical composition and preparation methods of medical cannabis extracts. The authors hereby report the most common cannabis preparations, presenting their medical indications, routes of administration and recommended dosages. A practical and helpful guide for prescribing doctors is provided, including suggested posology, titration strategies and cannabinoid amounts in herbal preparations obtained from different sources of medical cannabis.
Topics: Cannabidiol; Dronabinol; Herbal Medicine; Humans; Medical Marijuana; Plant Preparations
PubMed: 32429074
DOI: 10.3390/medicina56050237 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2022Model informed drug development is a valuable tool for drug development and clinical application due to its ability to integrate variability and uncertainty of data....
Model informed drug development is a valuable tool for drug development and clinical application due to its ability to integrate variability and uncertainty of data. This study aimed to determine an optimal dosage of ceftiofur against by ex vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model and validate the dosage regimens by Physiological based Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) model. The pharmacokinetic profiles of ceftiofur both in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) are determined. PD performance of ceftiofur against was investigated. By establishing PK/PD model, PK/PD parameters and doses were determined. PBPK model and PBPK/PD model were developed to validate the dosage efficacy. The PK/PD parameters, AUC/MIC, for bacteriostatic action, bactericidal action and elimination were determined as 44.02, 89.40, and 119.90 h and the corresponding dosages were determined as 0.22, 0.46, and 0.64 mg/kg, respectively. AUC/MIC and AUC /MIC are simulated by PBPK model, compared with the PK/PD parameters, the therapeutic effect can reach probability of target attainment (PTA) of 90%. The time-courses of bacterial growth were predicted by the PBPK/PD model, which indicated the dosage of 0.46 mg/kg body weight could inhibit the bacterial growth and perform good bactericidal effect.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cephalosporins; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pasteurella multocida; Swine
PubMed: 35409082
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073722 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023Hyperbilirubinemia is a common pathological condition in neonates. Free bilirubin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which can lead to bilirubin neurotoxicity.... (Review)
Review
Hyperbilirubinemia is a common pathological condition in neonates. Free bilirubin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which can lead to bilirubin neurotoxicity. In the context of predicting the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity, although the specificity and sensitivity of free bilirubin levels are higher than those of total serum bilirubin (TSB), free bilirubin is not widely monitored in clinical practice. The threshold TSB levels at which phototherapy must be administered have been established previously. However, TSB levels are not well correlated with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Currently, TSB levels are commonly used to guide phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Some clinical drugs can displace bilirubin from its albumin-binding sites, and consequently upregulate plasma bilirubin. Daily dosages play a vital role in regulating bilirubin levels. A drug with both a high protein binding capacity and high daily dosage significantly increases bilirubin levels in infants. Premature or very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are vulnerable to the upregulation of bilirubin levels as they exhibit the lowest reserve albumin levels and consequently the highest bilirubin toxicity index. Because bilirubin is involved in maintaining the balance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant agents, the downregulation of bilirubin levels is not always desirable. This review provides insights into the impact of protein binding capacity and daily dosage of drugs on the bilirubin levels in susceptible infants.
PubMed: 37371159
DOI: 10.3390/children10060926 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023In Taiwan, the pesticides dimethomorph and imidacloprid are recommended for pest control in vineyards. Therefore, tank-mixing of these two pesticides is usually a...
In Taiwan, the pesticides dimethomorph and imidacloprid are recommended for pest control in vineyards. Therefore, tank-mixing of these two pesticides is usually a routine practice before application. This study analyzed the influence of vineyard soil microbial flora under the recommended and high dosages (100 times the recommended dosage) of dimethomorph and imidacloprid. Individual and combined applications of pesticides were also tested through batches of soil incubation experiments. Four treatments-control (C), dimethomorph (DT), imidacloprid (IM), and mixed application of dimethomorph and imidacloprid (ID)-were used in the experimental design. From the soil metabolism, no significant reaction was observed after 2 months in the recommended dosage group, regardless of whether the pesticides were being applied individually or combined. For the high dosage, imidacloprid showed a higher effect than the co-exposure treatments, showing a possible prolonged effect after its repetitive application. From PCoA analysis, pesticide treatments altered the soil ecology after 2 months, and the effect of imidacloprid can be explicitly observed at high dosages. At the phylum level, can indicate pesticide application around the recommended dosage. It was inhibited by ID on day 7 and was augmented by all pesticides on day 63. The effect of the recommended dosage of pesticide mixtures after 2 months of incubation was revealed in the minor families and , while the high dosage treatments affected both the core and the minor families. Our findings verified the changes in the composition of microbial communities upon pesticide application, which would affect carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous cycles, and contaminant removal ability within the vineyard.
PubMed: 38029114
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1249167 -
Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia Mar 2022To determine the effect of butorphanol, administered by intravenous (IV) infusion, on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (MAC) in cats and to examine the...
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of butorphanol, administered by intravenous (IV) infusion, on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (MAC) in cats and to examine the dosage dependence of this effect.
STUDY DESIGN
Randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover experimental study.
ANIMALS
A group of six healthy adult male neutered cats.
METHODS
Cats were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen. A venous catheter was placed for fluid and drug administration, and an arterial catheter was placed for measurement of arterial pressure and blood sampling. Four treatments were administered at random with at least 2 week interval between treatments: saline (control), butorphanol low dosage (treatment LD; 0.25 mg kg IV bolus followed by 85 μg kg minute for 20 minutes, then 43 μg kg minute for 40 minutes, then 19 μg kg minute), medium dosage (treatment MD, double the dosages in LD) and high dosage (treatment HD, quadruple the dosages in LD). MAC was determined in duplicate using the bracketing technique and tail clamping. Pulse rate, arterial pressure, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide and arterial blood gas and pH were measured.
RESULTS
Butorphanol reduced MAC in a dosage-dependent manner, by 23 ± 8%, 37 ± 12% and 68 ± 10% (mean ± standard deviation) in treatments LD, MD and HD, respectively. The main cardiopulmonary effect observed was a decrease in pulse rate, significant in treatment HD compared with control.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Butorphanol caused a dosage-dependent MAC reduction in cats. IV infusion of butorphanol may be of interest for partial IV anesthesia in cats.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthetics, Inhalation; Animals; Blood Pressure; Butorphanol; Cats; Heart Rate; Isoflurane; Male
PubMed: 35033447
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaa.2021.12.004 -
Genome Biology and Evolution Nov 2022In insects, sex chromosome differentiation often results in unequal gene dosages between sexes. Dosage compensation mechanisms evolve to balance gene expression, but the...
In insects, sex chromosome differentiation often results in unequal gene dosages between sexes. Dosage compensation mechanisms evolve to balance gene expression, but the degree and mechanism of regulation often vary by insect species. In hemipteran species, the small brown planthopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatellus, is an injurious crop pest, with a sex chromosome type XX in females and XO in males. This species offers the opportunity to study dosage compensation and sex-biased gene expression. In this study, we generated a chromosome-level genome of SBPH using Oxford Nanopore Technologies and high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) technology. We also sequenced RNA-seq data from 16 tissue samples to annotate the genome and analyze gene dosage compensation. We finally obtained a 510.2 megabases (Mb) genome with 99.12% of the scaffolds anchored on 15 chromosomes (14 autosomes and 1 X chromosome) and annotated 16,160 protein-coding genes based on full-length cDNA sequencing data. Furthermore, we found complete dosage compensation in all L. striatellus somatic tissues, but lack of dosage compensation in gonad tissue testis. We also found that female-biased genes were significantly enriched on the X chromosome in all tissues, whereas male-biased genes in gonad tissues were enriched on autosomes. This study not only provides a high-quality genome assembly but also lays a foundation for a better understanding of the sexual regulatory network in hemipteran insects.
Topics: Animals; Female; Male; Dosage Compensation, Genetic; X Chromosome; Sex Chromosomes; Hemiptera; Gene Expression
PubMed: 36317697
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac160 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023Biochar (BC), a byproduct of agricultural waste pyrolysis, shows potential as a sustainable substitute material for ordinary silicate cement (OPC) in concrete...
Biochar (BC), a byproduct of agricultural waste pyrolysis, shows potential as a sustainable substitute material for ordinary silicate cement (OPC) in concrete production, providing opportunities for environmental sustainability and resource conservation in the construction industry. However, the optimal biochar dosage and fineness for enhancing concrete performance are still unclear. This study investigated the impact of these two factors on the mechanical and durability properties of biochar concrete. Compressive and flexural strength, carbonation resistance, and chloride ion penetration resistance were evaluated by varying biochar dosages (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%) and fineness dimensions (44.70, 73.28, 750, 1020 μm), with the 0% dosage serving as the control group (CK). The results showed that the addition of 1-3 wt% of biochar could effectively reduce the rapid carbonation depth and chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete. The compressive and flexural strength of BC concrete initially increased and then decreased with the increase in biocarbon content, BC with a fineness of 73.28 μm having the most significant effect on the mechanical strength of concrete. At the dosage of 3 wt%, BC was found to promote the hydration degree of cement, improving the formation of cement hydration products. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of sustainable and high-performance cement-based materials with the appropriate use of biochar as an additive.
PubMed: 37049102
DOI: 10.3390/ma16072809