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International Breastfeeding Journal Jun 2024Despite global public health organizations endorsing breastfeeding or human milk (HM) as the optimal source of nutrition for infants, detailed knowledge of how HM...
BACKGROUND
Despite global public health organizations endorsing breastfeeding or human milk (HM) as the optimal source of nutrition for infants, detailed knowledge of how HM composition influences infant growth is lacking. In this commentary we summarize and interpret the key findings of a large systematic review on HM components and child growth (N = 141 articles included). We highlight the most consistent associations, discuss study quality issues, explore socio-economic and time trends in this body of research, and identify gaps and future research directions.
KEY FINDINGS OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
We grouped HM components into three categories: micronutrients (28 articles), macronutrients (57 articles), and bioactives (75 articles). Overall, we struggled to find consistent associations between HM components and infant growth. The majority of studies (85%) were of moderate or low-quality, with inconsistent HM collection and analysis strategies being identified as the most substantial quality concerns. Additional quality issues included failing to account for potential confounding by factors such as breastfeeding exclusivity and maternal body mass index.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR FUTURE HUMAN MILK RESEARCH
Many opportunities exist for the future of HM research. Using untargeted metabolomics will expand our understanding of HM components beyond previously defined and well-understood components. Machine learning will allow researchers to investigate HM as an integrated system, rather than a collection of individual components. Future research on HM composition should incorporate evidence-based HM sampling strategies to encompass circadian variation as well as infant consumption. Additionally, researchers need to focus on developing high quality growth data using consistent growth metrics and definitions. Building multidisciplinary research teams will help to ensure that outcomes are meaningful and clinically relevant.
CONCLUSION
Despite a large body of literature, there is limited quality evidence on the relationship between HM composition and infant growth. Future research should engage in more accurate collection of breastfeeding data, use standardized HM collection strategies and employ assays that are validated for HM. By systematically evaluating the existing literature and identifying gaps in existing research methods and practice, we hope to inspire standardized methods and reporting guidelines to support robust strategies for examining relationships between HM composition and child growth.
Topics: Humans; Milk, Human; Infant; Breast Feeding; Infant, Newborn; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Anthropometry; Female; Child Development
PubMed: 38943170
DOI: 10.1186/s13006-024-00652-x -
BMC Oral Health Jun 2024Tissue conditioners are used for treating and improving the tissues supporting complete dentures. On the other hand, recent advances in nanotechnology have...
BACKGROUND
Tissue conditioners are used for treating and improving the tissues supporting complete dentures. On the other hand, recent advances in nanotechnology have revolutionized various fields of science, including dentistry. The present study aimed to investigate novel antimicrobial applications of copper oxide nanoparticle-based tissue conditioner used in complete prostheses.
METHODS
The present experimental study included 126 tissue conditioner samples with different concentrations of copper oxide nanoparticles (20%, 10%, 5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, 0.625%, and 0% w/w). The samples were incubated with Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans in 24-well plates for 24 h. Then, samples from the wells were re-incubated for 24 h, and the microorganisms were counted.
RESULTS
The culture media containing E. faecalis and P. aeruginosa showed significantly different growth between different nanoparticle concentrations following 24 h (P < 0.001), showing a reduction in bacterial growth with increased nanoparticle concentration. Both bacteria did not show any growth at the 20% concentration. However, C. albicans showed significant differences in growth between different nanoparticle concentrations following 48 h (P < 0.001), showing a reduction in growth with increased nanoparticle concentration. Also, the least growth was observed at the 20% concentration.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the CuO nanoparticles were prepared using a green synthesis methon in the suitable sizes. Moreover, the tissue conditioners containing CuO nanoparticles showed acceptable antimicrobial properties against E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans.
Topics: Copper; Enterococcus faecalis; Candida albicans; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Anti-Infective Agents; Denture, Complete; Nanoparticles; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles
PubMed: 38943115
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04534-w -
BMC Medical Genomics Jun 2024Iodine deficiency-induced goiter continues to be a global public health concern, with varying manifestations based on geography, patient's age, and sex. To gain insights...
Exploring the potential of genetic analysis in historical blood spots for patients with iodine-deficient goiter and thyroid carcinomas in Switzerland and Germany (1929-1989).
Iodine deficiency-induced goiter continues to be a global public health concern, with varying manifestations based on geography, patient's age, and sex. To gain insights into clinical occurrences, a retrospective study analyzed medical records from patients with iodine deficiency-induced goiter or thyroid cancer who underwent surgery at the Community Hospital in Riehen, Switzerland, between 1929 and 1989. Despite today's adequate iodine supplementation, a significant risk for iodine-independent goiter remains in Switzerland, suggesting that genetic factors, among others, might be involved. Thus, a pilot study exploring the feasibility of genetic analysis of blood spots from these medical records was conducted to investigate and enhance the understanding of goiter development, potentially identify genetic variations, and explore the influence of dietary habits and other environmental stimuli on the disease.Blood prints from goiter patients' enlarged organs were collected per decade from medical records. These prints had been made by pressing, drawing, or tracing (i.e., pressed and drawn) the removed organs onto paper sheets. DNA analysis revealed that its yields varied more between the prints than between years. A considerable proportion of the samples exhibited substantial DNA degradation unrelated to sample collection time and DNA mixtures of different contributors. Thus, each goiter imprint must be individually evaluated and cannot be used to predict the success rate of genetic analysis in general. Collecting a large sample or the entire blood ablation for genetic analysis is recommended to mitigate potential insufficient DNA quantities. Researchers should also consider degradation and external biological compounds' impact on the genetic analysis of interest, with the dominant contributor anticipated to originate from the patient's blood.
Topics: Humans; Switzerland; Thyroid Neoplasms; Goiter; Iodine; Male; Female; Germany; History, 20th Century; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Adult
PubMed: 38943113
DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01947-y -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jun 2024Solar Fenton is an important and extensively used advanced oxidation process (AOP) to degrade pharmaceutical pollutants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the...
Solar Fenton is an important and extensively used advanced oxidation process (AOP) to degrade pharmaceutical pollutants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of simultaneous degradation of the mixed pollutants (amoxicillin, acetaminophen, and ciprofloxacin) for an aqueous solution using the solar Fenton process. Operating parameters such as pH, iron doses, HO doses, pollutant concentrations, and time were studied. From the experimental results, the ideal conditions were obtained for the removal of mixed pollutants such as pH 3, Fe 0.04 mM, HO 4 mM, the concentration of the mixed pollutants 5 mg/L, solar radiation 400 W/m, and time 10 min, respectively. The pseudo-first-order kinetics were utilized to investigate the degradation efficacy of the mixed pollutants. The result of the study indicates that the degradation efficiency was > 99% for the mixed pollutants. A maximum of 63% mineralization was observed, and hydroxyl radical scavenger effects were studied. The best optimal conditions were applied to assess the spiked wastewater (municipal wastewater (MWW) and hospital wastewater (HWW)). The highest elimination rates for AMX, ACET, and CIP were observed as 65%, 89%, and 85% for MWW and 76%, 92%, and 80% for HWW, respectively. The degraded by-products were detected by LC-ESI-MS in the water matrix (aqueous solution and spiked wastewater), and ECOSAR analysis was performed for the transformed products. The study concluded that the solar Fenton technique is promising and effective for the removal of mixed pollutants from the water matrix.
Topics: Water Pollutants, Chemical; Hydrogen Peroxide; Kinetics; Iron; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Sunlight; Wastewater; Oxidation-Reduction; Ciprofloxacin; Acetaminophen; Amoxicillin
PubMed: 38942963
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12837-2 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024The increasing water contamination by toxic heavy metals, particularly hexavalent chromium, has become a significant environmental concern. This study explores the...
The increasing water contamination by toxic heavy metals, particularly hexavalent chromium, has become a significant environmental concern. This study explores the pyrolysis of termite-processed biomass, specifically Pinus elliottii particleboard and its termite droppings (TDs), to produce biochar and its application for chromium (VI) adsorption. Termite droppings, rich in lignin, and particleboard, rich in cellulose, were pyrolyzed at various temperatures to assess the effect of biomass composition on biochar properties. The study found that lignin-rich termite droppings produced biochar with higher fixed carbon content and specific surface area than cellulose-rich particleboard biochar. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed significant molecular structure changes during pyrolysis, which influenced the adsorption capabilities of the biochar. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that TD biochar exhibited significantly higher chromium (VI) adsorption capacity, attributed to its distinct chemical composition and enhanced surface properties due to higher lignin content. These findings underscore the crucial role of lignin in producing efficient biochar for heavy metal adsorption, highlighting the practical applicability of termite-processed biomass in water purification technologies.
Topics: Charcoal; Lignin; Chromium; Animals; Cellulose; Biomass; Adsorption; Isoptera; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Pyrolysis; Pinus; Water Purification; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
PubMed: 38942919
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65959-5 -
Methods in Enzymology 2024Vanadium-dependent haloperoxidases (VHPOs) are a unique family of enzymes that utilize vanadate, an aqueous halide ion, and hydrogen peroxide to produce an electrophilic...
Vanadium-dependent haloperoxidases (VHPOs) are a unique family of enzymes that utilize vanadate, an aqueous halide ion, and hydrogen peroxide to produce an electrophilic halogen species that can be incorporated into electron rich organic substrates. This halogen species can react with terpene substrates and trigger halonium-induced cyclization in a manner reminiscent of class II terpene synthases. While not all VHPOs act in this capacity, several notable examples from algal and actinobacterial species have been characterized to catalyze regio- and enantioselective reactions on terpene and meroterpenoid substrates, resulting in complex halogenated cyclic terpenes through the action of single enzyme. In this article, we describe the expression, purification, and chemical assays of NapH4, a difficult to express characterized VHPO that catalyzes the chloronium-induced cyclization of its meroterpenoid substrate.
Topics: Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; Terpenes; Cyclization; Vanadium; Substrate Specificity; Peroxidases; Enzyme Assays
PubMed: 38942514
DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.024 -
Journal of Environmental Management Jun 2024Volcanic eruption is associated with the release of large volumes of pollutants in the environment, which can pose a risk to humans and other living organisms. The...
Volcanic eruption is associated with the release of large volumes of pollutants in the environment, which can pose a risk to humans and other living organisms. The elemental and radioisotope composition of ash released during the Shiveluch Volcano eruption in 2023 was analyzed using ICP-MS and low-background gamma spectrometry. The ash consisted of 59% SiO, 16.7% AlO, 5.3% CaO, 4.6 % NaO, 4.5% FeO, 1.4% KO, 0.48% TiO, 0.17% PO, 0.15% S, 0.078% MnO and 44 trace elements. Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index were calculated in order to evaluate the potential health risks to children and adults due to exposure to contaminants via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact. All values were below the unit, indicating a low probability of non-carcinogenic and cancerogenic risk occurrence in target groups. The average activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides were 350, 12.4 and 4.84 Bq/kg for K, Ra and Th. Radiological indices, including external and internal risk assessment, radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose, gamma index, and excess lifetime cancer risk were calculated to estimate the radiological hazard for the population. The values of all indices were below the recommended safety limits, indicating a low level of hazard for the exposed population.
PubMed: 38941854
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121616 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Jun 2024Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice, a global environmental issue, poses a significant threat to human health due to its widespread presence and potential transfer through... (Review)
Review
Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice, a global environmental issue, poses a significant threat to human health due to its widespread presence and potential transfer through the food chain. Selenium (Se), an essential micronutrient for humans and plants, can reduce Cd uptake in rice and alleviate Cd-induced toxicity. However, the effects and mechanisms of Se supplementation on rice performance in Cd-contaminated soil remain largely unknown. Here, a global meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the existing knowledge on the effects and mechanisms by which Se supplementation impacts rice growth and Cd accumulation. The result showed that Se supplementation has a significant positive impact on rice growth in Cd-contaminated soil. Specifically, Se supplementation decreased Cd accumulation in rice roots by 16.3 % (11.8-20.6 %), shoots by 24.6 % (19.9-29.1 %), and grain by 37.3 % (33.4-40.9 %), respectively. The grain Cd reduction was associated with Se dose and soil Cd contamination level but not Se type or application method. Se influences Cd accumulation in rice by regulating the expression of Cd transporter genes (OSLCT1, OSHMA2, and OSHMA3), enhancing Cd sequestration in the cell walls, and reducing Cd bioavailability in the soil. Importantly, Se treatment promoted Se enrichment in rice and alleviated oxidative damage associated with Cd exposure by stimulating photosynthesis and activating antioxidant enzymes. Overall, Se treatment mitigated the health hazard associated with Cd in rice grains, particularly in lightly contaminated soil. These findings reveal that Se supplementation is a promising strategy for simultaneous Cd reduction and Se enrichment in rice.
PubMed: 38941835
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135043 -
Current Sports Medicine Reports Jul 2024
Review
Topics: Humans; Ferritins; Athletes; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Iron
PubMed: 38941544
DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000001178 -
Biological Trace Element Research Jun 2024Trace element bioaccumulation in marine organisms is a rising international issue due to possible health concerns for humans. Thirteen trace elements were analyzed in...
Trace element bioaccumulation in marine organisms is a rising international issue due to possible health concerns for humans. Thirteen trace elements were analyzed in the sediment, water, and muscular tissue of Red Sea fish. Additionally, the average daily intake (EDI), the cancer risk (CR), the hazard index (HI), and the target hazard quotient (THQ) of those elements have been taken into consideration when evaluating any possible health concerns related to their consumption. All species presented quantifiable values in muscle for all the analyzed elements (arsenic (As), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), boron (B), iron (Fe), barium (Ba), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and mercury (Hg), except for Cd and Hg, being Fe and Zn the most accumulated elements in all species. Conversely, in water samples, most elements were undeleted except for aluminum, boron, iron, and zinc. All Red Sea fish, however, had concentrations of Zn, Ni, Fe, Cu, and Mn below the upper limit allowed, although most species had higher levels of As, Cr, and Pb (0.48 ± 0.83-5.10 ± 0.79, 1.97 ± 0.46-5.25 ± 0.67 and 2.12 ± 1.01-6.83 ± 0.93 µg/g, respectively).The studied Red Sea fish showed contamination degrees (CD) of Mn, Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn, and Pb were ≤ 1, indicating minimal contamination, with As and Cr showing higher contamination degrees. However, the pollution index values (MPI-elements) can be represented according to ascending order: Lethrinus ramak < Cephalopholis hemistiktos < Pagellus affinis < Trachurus japonicus < Cheilinus lunulatus < Siganus luridus < Parupeneus forsskali < Caesio suevica. The study found that edible tissues are safe for human consumption, with HI values for children and adults less than ten, indicating negligible non-cancer hazards. However, fish consumption presents health risks due to chromium, lead, and arsenic, with THQ values several times greater than 1, and CR-Ni, CR-Cr, and CR-As values exceeding the acceptable 10 value in all studied species. This study provides critical insights into trace element contamination in marine fish species, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and proactive measures to ensure safe marine fish consumption in the Aqaba Gulf.
PubMed: 38941061
DOI: 10.1007/s12011-024-04246-w