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PeerJ 2021Rubber () is a perennial plant crop grown in many parts of Africa, South East Asia, and South America, especially within the hot and humid climatic regions. Rubber seed,...
Rubber () is a perennial plant crop grown in many parts of Africa, South East Asia, and South America, especially within the hot and humid climatic regions. Rubber seed, either as feed or food, is a useful raw material to produce edible oil and protein. Despite the huge quantity of rubber seeds produced in Nigeria and its potential as a protein source, rubber seeds still appear neglected and under-utilised as feed/food given its perception as inedible and toxic due to the high concentration of cyanogenic glycoside. Therefore, the quest for effective processing technique(s) that would enhance its food use application is very fitting. This current study was directed to determine the changes in anti-nutrient, phytochemical, and micronutrient contents of different processed rubber seed meals. Specifically, the rubber seeds underwent processing, which employed boiling and the combined action of boiling and fermentation methods that brought about three seed meal flour groups, i.e., raw (RRSM), boiled (BRSM), and fermented (FRSM) seed meals. These were subsequently analysed for anti-nutrient/phytochemical (oxalate, phytate, tannin, phenols, saponin, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), alkaloids, flavonoids, and trypsin inhibitors), and micronutrient (which involved minerals (magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, sodium, manganese, lead, and selenium) and vitamin (vitamin B1, B2, B3, C, E, and beta carotene)) contents. The results showed that the processing methods used to achieve the RRSM, BRSM, and FRSM, reduced the anti-nutrients (phytate, tannin, and oxalate) below the acceptable limits, and the HCN below the toxic levels. Importantly, the processing methods herein have not yet succeeded in removing HCN in the (processed) rubber seed meals, but can be seen to be heading toward the right direction. The FRSM obtained significantly lower ( < 0.05) anti-nutrient/phytochemical, but significantly higher ( < 0.05) mineral contents, compared with the other groups (RRSM and BRSM), except for flavonoids that obtained a 30% increase over the BRSM. Some mineral and vitamin contents could be lost in the BRSM compared to the others (RRSM and FRSM) in this study. Additionally, the FRSM obtained higher vitamin contents, after those of RRSM. Overall, the combined action of boiling and fermentation should be recommended for the proper utilisation of rubber seed as food/feed.
PubMed: 34055479
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11327 -
Data in Brief Aug 2021This research data set contains data related to experimental dataset on the effect of the electron acceptors in energy generation from brewery wastewater via a microbial...
This research data set contains data related to experimental dataset on the effect of the electron acceptors in energy generation from brewery wastewater via a microbial fuel cell. The presented data gives information on the generation of electricity and waste minimization as various electron acceptors adopted in microbial fuel cells. Dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) system was assembled with aluminium mesh electrode as an anode and sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene membrane for proton exchange as a cathode at 500-2000 mg/L chemical oxygen demand (COD). A 0.4 and 0.6 M of Potassium permanganate (KMnO) and potassium cyanide K[Fe(CN) were used anaerobically as a mediator for electron acceptor in the cathode chamber. Furher more, The pH, COD, total nitrogen, biochemical oxygen demand, total phosphorous, total suspended solid and electrical conductivity for the raw brewery wastewater were measured. Inaddition, the voltage generated and the current density have been obtained for both (KMnO) and K[Fe(CN) electron acceptors. Moreover, the COD removal efficiency, Columbic efficiency, voltage generation, current, and power density were measured.
PubMed: 34409139
DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107272 -
Toxicological Sciences : An Official... Sep 2019This in vitro study evaluated the "triple protocol" of dry decontamination, the ladder pipe system (a method for gross decontamination), and technical decontamination...
This in vitro study evaluated the "triple protocol" of dry decontamination, the ladder pipe system (a method for gross decontamination), and technical decontamination for the decontamination of hair following chemical contamination. First, we assessed the efficacy of the 3 protocols, alone or in combination, on excised porcine skin and human hair contaminated with either methyl salicylate (MS), phorate (PHR), sodium fluoroacetate (SFA), or potassium cyanide (KCN). A second experiment investigated the residual hair contamination following decontamination with the triple protocol at different intervals postexposure. In a third experiment, hair decontaminated after exposure to MS or PHR was evaluated for off-gassing. Though skin decontamination was highly effective, a substantial proportion (20%-40%) of the lipophilic compounds (MS and PHR) remained within the hair. The more water-soluble contaminants (SFA and KCN) tended to form much smaller reservoirs within the hair. Interestingly, substantial off-gassing of MS, a medium volatility chemical, was detectable from triple-decontaminated hair up to 5 days postexposure. Overall, the decontamination strategies investigated were effective for the decontamination of skin, but less so for hair. These findings highlight the importance of contaminated hair serving as a source of potential secondary contamination by contact or inhalation. Therefore, consideration should be given to the removal of contaminated hair following exposure to toxic chemicals.
PubMed: 31241158
DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz145 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2021Sodium azide is an old poison with toxicity comparable to potassium cyanide. It would seem to be completely forgotten however, between 2000 and 2020, the number of...
Sodium azide is an old poison with toxicity comparable to potassium cyanide. It would seem to be completely forgotten however, between 2000 and 2020, the number of intentional ingestions and murders committed with sodium azide significantly increased. Furthermore, due to its extreme instability, sodium azide is difficult to detect, which poses an additional risk when used to commit a crime. In this study, the epidemiology of sodium azide exposures between 1920 and 2020 was investigated. For the determination the azide concentration in biological samples, a simple, precise and selective headspace gas chromatography method (HS-GC-FID/FID) was developed and fully validated. The limit of quantification was 0.65 µg/mL; and the limit of detection was 0.35 µg/mL; precision and accuracy did not exceed 20%. The stability study was conducted for various biological fluids (urine, bile, blood, gastric content) for 91 days in the refrigerator (4 °C) and the method for stabilization of azide was presented. The addition of a mixture of borax and sodium fluoride (w/w 3:1) to the test tubes can stabilize this poison. The described unique technique of collecting the biological samples poses a great potential for azide detection in clinical and toxicology laboratories even long time after human exposure to this substance.
Topics: Azides; Chromatography, Gas; Sodium Azide
PubMed: 34330976
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95104-5 -
RSC Advances Oct 2019Sapitinib (AZD8931, SAP) is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family (pan-erbB) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In multiple tumor cell lines, SAP has been shown to...
Sapitinib (AZD8931, SAP) is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family (pan-erbB) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In multiple tumor cell lines, SAP has been shown to be a much more potent inhibitor of EGF-driven cellular proliferation than gefitinib. In this metabolic study, we tested the generation of reactive intermediates from SAP using human liver microsomes and a capturing agent (potassium cyanide) to trap the iminium reactive intermediates. The same metabolic reaction was further repeated in the presence of methoxyamine to trap aldehyde intermediates. The identification of SAP metabolites revealed that the hydroxylation metabolic reaction represents the major metabolic pathway occurring at the piperidine moiety. We characterized six phase I metabolites in addition to three reactive intermediates (, two iminiums and one aldehyde), therefore suggesting two probable SAP-bioactivation pathways. We hypothesized that the piperidine ring nitrogen (cyclic tertiary amine) activated the two adjacent α-carbons within the ring. The oxidative dealkylation of the -acetamide group led to an unstable aldehyde that was trapped using methoxyamine, generating an oxime adduct that was detected using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study presenting the structural characterization of SAP reactive intermediates.
PubMed: 35529145
DOI: 10.1039/c9ra03926k -
Life Sciences Dec 2020We investigated the involvement of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) on the cardiorespiratory control in rats from dams fed with a low-protein diet.
AIMS
We investigated the involvement of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) on the cardiorespiratory control in rats from dams fed with a low-protein diet.
MAIN METHODS
Male offspring were obtained from dams fed a normoprotein diet (NP, 17% casein) and low-protein diet (LP, 8% casein) during pregnancy and lactation. Direct measurements of arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR) and respiratory frequency (RF) were recorded in awake 90-day-old at resting and after losartan potassium through either intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinjections or intravenous (IV) administration. Cardiovascular variability was evaluated by spectral analysis. Peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity was assessed through the potassium cyanide (KCN; 40 μg/0.1 ml/rat, IV). Gene expression was evaluated by qPCR, and MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) expression was evaluated by western blot.
KEY FINDINGS
The LP offspring had higher mean AP (MAP) and RF than NP offspring. In the spectral analysis, the LP rats also showed higher low frequency of systolic AP (NP: 2.7 ± 0.3 vs. LP: 5.0 ± 1.0 mmHg). After ICV losartan, MAP and RF in LP rats remained higher than those in NP rats, but without changes in HR. The peripheral chemoreflex was similar between the groups. LP group had lower gene expression of Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) (NP: 1.13 ± 0.06 vs. LP: 0.88 ± 0.08). Peripherally, LP rats had larger delta of MAP after IV losartan (NP: -9.8 ± 2 vs. LP: -23 ± 6 mmHg), without changes in HR and RF.
SIGNIFICANCE
In rats, the RAS participates peripherally, but not centrally, in the maintenance of arterial hypertension in male offspring induced by maternal protein restriction.
Topics: Animals; Arterial Pressure; Diet, Protein-Restricted; Female; Heart Rate; Hypertension; Lactation; Losartan; Male; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Renin-Angiotensin System; Respiratory Rate
PubMed: 33049280
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118574 -
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Jan 2020In a previous work we showed that the organophosphate pesticide (OP) chlorpyrifos (CPF) reduces the protective chemoreflex and baroreflex responses in rats. However,...
In a previous work we showed that the organophosphate pesticide (OP) chlorpyrifos (CPF) reduces the protective chemoreflex and baroreflex responses in rats. However, whether the antidotes atropine (ATR) and pralidoxime (2-PAM) are capable of restoring these reflex functions remains unexplored. Rats were poisoned with CPF (30 mg.kg, i.p.) and one hour after the intoxication, ATR (10 mg.kg, i.p.) and 2-PAM (40 mg.kg, i.p.) were administrated separately or in combination. Cardiorespiratory parameters were recorded in awake rats 24 h after CPF. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) variability and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (sBRS) were derived from undisturbed recordings (30 min), while chemoreflex was assessed through potassium cyanide (KCN) i.v. injections (10, 20, 40, 80 μg/rat). CPF poisoning increased SBP variability and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio of the HR variability spectrum, indicating autonomic imbalance with increased cardiac sympathetic tone. sBRS was not changed. Treatment with 2-PAM restored SBP variability, whilst both antidotes increased LF/HF ratio. CPF poisoning reduced the hypertensive, bradycardic and tachypneic chemoreflex responses. Chemoreflex-induced hypertensive response was restored by 2-PAM treatment, while ATR recovered the bradycardic response. Both antidotes restored the chemoreflex tachypneic response. Our data show distinct effects of ATR and 2-PAM on cardiorespiratory parameters affected by OP poisoning. While 2-PAM rescued the chemoreflex hypertensive response, ATR reversed chemoreflex bradycardic dysfunction. Although 2-PAM clinical use is questioned in some countries, our data indicate that summation of effects of both antidotes appears beneficial on the cardiorespiratory system and peripheral chemoreflex function.
Topics: Animals; Antidotes; Atropine; Baroreflex; Blood Pressure; Bradycardia; Cardiovascular System; Chlorpyrifos; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Heart Rate; Insecticides; Male; Organophosphate Poisoning; Pralidoxime Compounds; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Respiratory System
PubMed: 31931016
DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.114879 -
Analytical Chemistry Jan 2020The hemoglobin content of blood is an important health indicator, and the presence of microscopic amounts of hemoglobin in places where it normally does not occur, e.g....
The hemoglobin content of blood is an important health indicator, and the presence of microscopic amounts of hemoglobin in places where it normally does not occur, e.g. in blood plasma or in urine, is a sign of diseases such as hemolytic anemia or urinary tract infections. Thus, methods to detect and quantify hemoglobin are important for clinical laboratories, blood banks, and for point-of-care diagnostics. The precipitation polymerization of -isopropylacrylamide by hemoglobin-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is used as an assay for hemoglobin quantification relying on the formation of turbidity as a simple optical read-out. Dose-response curves for pure hemoglobin and for hemoglobin in blood plasma, in urine, in erythrocytes, and in full blood are obtained. Turbidity formation increases with the concentration of hemoglobin. Concentrations of hemoglobin as low as 6.45 × 10 mg mL in solution, 4.88 × 10 mg mL in plasma, and 1.65 × 10 mg mL in urine could be detected, which is below the clinically relevant concentrations in the respective body fluids. Total hemoglobin in full blood is also accurately determined. The reaction can be regarded as a polymerization-based signal amplification for the sensing of hemoglobin, as the analyte catalyzes the formation of radicals which add many monomer units into detectable polymer chains. While most established hemoglobin tests involve the use of highly toxic reagents such as potassium cyanide, the polymerization-based test uses simple and stable organic reagents. Thus, it is an environmentally friendlier alternative to established chemical assays for hemoglobin.
Topics: Acrylamides; Biocatalysis; Body Fluids; Hemoglobins; Humans; Polymerization
PubMed: 31790204
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04290 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2021Modern day hospital treatments aim at developing electrochemical biosensors for early diagnosis of diseases using unconventional human bio-fluids like sweat and saliva...
Modern day hospital treatments aim at developing electrochemical biosensors for early diagnosis of diseases using unconventional human bio-fluids like sweat and saliva by monitoring the electron transfer reactions of target analytes. Such kinds of health care diagnostics primarily avoid the usage of human blood and urine samples. In this context, here we have investigated the electron transfer reaction of a well-known and commonly used redox probe namely, potassium ferro/ferri cyanide by employing artificially simulated bio-mimics of human sweat and saliva as unconventional electrolytes. Typically, electron transfer characteristics of the redox couple, [Fe(CN)] are investigated using electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Many different kinetic parameters are determined and compared with the conventional system. In addition, such electron transfer reactions have also been studied using a lyotropic liquid crystalline phase comprising of Triton X-100 and water in which the aqueous phase is replaced with either human sweat or saliva bio-mimics. From these studies, we find out the electron transfer reaction of [Fe(CN)] redox couple is completely diffusion controlled on both Au and Pt disc shaped electrodes in presence of sweat and saliva bio-mimic solutions. Moreover, the reaction is partially blocked by the presence of lyotropic liquid crystalline phase consisting of sweat and saliva bio-mimics indicating the predominant charge transfer controlled process for the redox probe. However, the rate constant values associated with the electron transfer reaction are drastically reduced in presence of liquid crystalline phase. These studies are essentially carried out to assess the effect of sweat and saliva on the electrochemistry of Fe redox couple.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Dielectric Spectroscopy; Electrochemical Techniques; Electron Transport; Ferricyanides; Ferrocyanides; Oxidation-Reduction; Saliva; Sweat
PubMed: 33828136
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86866-z -
Frontiers in Physiology 2021Carotid bodies (CBs) are peripheral chemoreceptors, which are primary sensors of systemic hypoxia and their activation produces respiratory, autonomic, and...
Carotid bodies (CBs) are peripheral chemoreceptors, which are primary sensors of systemic hypoxia and their activation produces respiratory, autonomic, and cardiovascular adjustments critical for body homeostasis. We have previously shown that carotid chemoreceptor stimulation increases directly recorded cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (cardiac SNA) which increases coronary blood flow (CoBF) in conscious normal sheep. Previous studies have shown that chemoreflex sensitivity is augmented in heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that carotid chemoreceptor stimulation would increase CoBF to a greater extent in HF than control sheep. Experiments were conducted in conscious HF sheep and control sheep ( = 6/group) implanted with electrodes to record diaphragmatic electromyography (dEMG), flow probes to record CoBF as well as arterial pressure. There was a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP), CoBF and coronary vascular conductance (CVC) in response to potassium cyanide (KCN) in both groups of sheep. To eliminate the effects of metabolic vasodilation, the KCN was repeated while the heart was paced at a constant level. In this paradigm, the increase in CoBF and CVC was augmented in the HF group compared to the control group. Pre-treatment with propranolol did not alter the CoBF or the CVC increase in the HF group indicating this was not mediated by an increase in cardiac sympathetic drive. The pressor response to CB activation was abolished by pre-treatment with intravenous atropine in both groups, but there was no change in the CoBF and vascular conductance responses. Our data suggest that in an ovine model of HF, carotid body (CB) mediated increases in CoBF and CVC are augmented compared to control animals. This increase in CoBF is mediated by an increase in cardiac SNA in the control group but not the HF group.
PubMed: 34122147
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.681135