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Journal of Hazardous Materials Jun 2024Contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses a significant threat to soil ecosystem health, yet there remains a lack of understanding regarding the...
Contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses a significant threat to soil ecosystem health, yet there remains a lack of understanding regarding the responses of soil microbial communities to prolonged PFAS exposure in field conditions. This study involved a three-year field investigation to track changes in microbial communities and functions in soil subjected to the contamination of a primary PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Results showed that PFOA exposure altered soil bacterial and fungal communities in terms of diversity, composition, and structure. Notably, certain bacterial communities with a delayed reaction to PFOA contamination showed the most significant response after one year of exposure. Fungal communities were sensitive to PFOA in soil, exhibiting significant responses within just four months of exposure. After two years, the impact of PFOA on both bacterial and fungal communities was lessened, likely due to the long-term adaptation of microbial communities to PFOA. Moreover, PFOA exposure notably inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity and reduced certain phosphorus cycling-related functional genes after three years of exposure, suggesting potential disruptions in soil fertility. These new insights advance our understanding of the long-term effects of PFOA on soil microbial communities and functions at a field scale.
PubMed: 38943893
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135008 -
Nutrition Research (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2024Canola meal, a by-product of processing canola into oil, reportedly contains high amounts of phenolic compounds and proteins. However, as canola meal is primarily used...
Canola meal, a by-product of processing canola into oil, reportedly contains high amounts of phenolic compounds and proteins. However, as canola meal is primarily used as feed for livestock, advances in multiple research fields are required to broaden its potential applications. Photoaging is caused by continuous exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. UV radiation generates reactive oxygen species and destroys collagen in the skin, thickening the epidermis, reducing elasticity, and causing wrinkles. We hypothesized that canola meal extract (CME) can mitigate the damage to skin associated with wrinkles induced by exposure to UVB radiation. To evaluate the anti-wrinkle effect, we administered CME orally to 40 female Hos:HR-1 hairless mice divided into 5 groups: (1) control mice, (2) a UVB group, and (3-5) CME-treated groups (CME-250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively). All groups except the controls were irradiated with UVB 3 times a week to create wrinkles due to photoaging. CME administration inhibited the increase of the number, mean length, and mean depth of wrinkles induced by UVB radiation as assessed using a skin replica. Histopathological image analysis revealed that CME administration resulted in a decrease in epidermal thickness and an increase in collagen content, while increasing catalase activity and hydroxyproline content in skin tissues. CME administration inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and decreased the production of collagenase and gelatinase. These results suggest that CME, an upcycled material, has the potential to develop into a healthful and functional food ingredient with anti-wrinkling effects.
PubMed: 38943729
DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.06.002 -
Journal of Evidence-based Medicine Jun 2024The effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality and all-cause mortality remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Impact of hormone replacement therapy on all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in colorectal cancer: A systematic review and dose‒response meta-analysis of observational studies.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality and all-cause mortality remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis to determine the effects of HRT on CRC mortality and all-cause mortality.
METHODS
We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library for all relevant studies published until January 2024 to investigate the effects of HRT exposure on survival rates for patients with CRC. Two reviewers independently extracted individual study data and evaluated the risk of bias between the studies using the Newcastle‒Ottawa Scale. We performed a two-stage random-effects dose-response meta-analysis to examine a possible nonlinear relationship between the year of HRT use and CRC mortality.
RESULTS
Ten cohort studies with 480,628 individuals were included. HRT was inversely associated with the risk of CRC mortality (hazard ratios (HR) = 0.77, 95% CI (0.68, 0.87), I = 69.5%, p < 0.05). The pooled results of seven cohort studies revealed a significant association between HRT and the risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.71, 95% CI (0.54, 0.92), I = 89.6%, p < 0.05). A linear dose-response analysis (p for nonlinearity = 0.34) showed a 3% decrease in the risk of CRC for each additional year of HRT use; this decrease was significant (HR = 0.97, 95% CI (0.94, 0.99), p < 0.05). An additional linear (p for nonlinearity = 0.88) dose-response analysis showed a nonsignificant decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality for each additional year of HRT use.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the use of HRT is inversely associated with all-cause and colorectal cancer mortality, thus causing a significant decrease in mortality rates over time. More studies are warranted to confirm this association.
Topics: Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Observational Studies as Topic; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Cause of Death
PubMed: 38943605
DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12622 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Although studies have assessed the association of metals and bisphenols with lipid metabolism, the observed results have been controversial, and limited knowledge exists...
BACKGROUND
Although studies have assessed the association of metals and bisphenols with lipid metabolism, the observed results have been controversial, and limited knowledge exists about the combined and interactive effects of metals and bisphenols exposure on lipid metabolism.
METHODS
Plasma metals and serum bisphenols concentrations were evaluated in 888 participants. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression models were conducted to assess individual associations of 18 metals and 3 bisphenols with 5 lipid profiles and dyslipidemia risk, respectively. The dose-response relationships of targeted contaminants with lipid profiles and dyslipidemia risk were captured by applying a restriction cubic spline (RCS) function. The bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was used to assess the overall effects of metals and bisphenols mixture on lipid profiles and dyslipidemia risk. The interactive effects of targeted contaminants on interested outcomes were explored by constructing an interaction model.
RESULTS
Single-contaminant analyses revealed that exposure to iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), and tin (Sn) was associated with elevated lipid levels. Cobalt (Co) showed a negative association with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC). Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) were associated with decreased HDL-C levels, with nonlinear associations observed. Vanadium (V), lead (Pb), and silver (Ag) displayed U-shaped dose-response relationships with most lipid profiles. Multi-contaminant analyses indicated positive trends between contaminants mixture and total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). The interaction analyses showed that SeFe exhibited synergistic effects on LDL-C and non-HDL-C, and SeSn showed a synergistic effect on HDLC.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggested that exposure to metals and bisphenols was associated with changes in lipid levels, and demonstrated their combined and interactive effects.
PubMed: 38942316
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174315 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jun 2024Cyanobacterial blooms have emerged as a significant environmental issue worldwide in recent decades. However, the toxic effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on aquatic...
Cyanobacterial blooms have emerged as a significant environmental issue worldwide in recent decades. However, the toxic effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on aquatic organisms, such as frogs, have remained poorly understood. In this study, frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of MC-LR (0, 1, and 10 μg/L) for 21 days. Subsequently, we assessed the impact of MC-LR on the histomorphology of the frogs' livers and conducted a global MS-based nontarget metabolomics analysis, followed by the determination of substances involved in lipid metabolism. Results showed that MC-LR significantly induced histological alterations in the frogs' hepatopancreas. Over 200 differentially expressed metabolites were identified, primarily enriched in lipid metabolism. Biochemical analysis further confirmed that MC-LR exposure led to a disorder in lipid metabolism in the frogs. This study laid the groundwork for a mechanistic understanding of MC-LR toxicity in frogs and potentially other aquatic organisms.
PubMed: 38942276
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124458 -
Environment International Jun 2024As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, increasing evidences suggest that the gut microbiota may play a crucial role in the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Thus,...
As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, increasing evidences suggest that the gut microbiota may play a crucial role in the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Thus, this study was aimed at investigating the influence of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of organisms exposed to environmental contaminants, i.e., plasticizers: phthalate esters. We found that in mice, exposure to dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) and bis -2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) decreased the blood glucose level and white fat weight, induced inflammatory responses, caused damage to liver and intestinal tissues, and disrupted the gut microbiota composition and SCFAs metabolism. Specifically, the Bacteroidetes phylum was positively correlated with BBIBP-CorV vaccine, while acetic acid was negatively associated with the vaccine. Interestingly, the BBIBP-CorV vaccine somewhat alleviated tissue inflammation and reduced the contents of acetic acid and propionic acid in mice exposed to DEHP and DOTP. These findings were confirmed by a fecal microbiota transplantation assay. Overall, this study revealed that exposure to DEHP and DOTP adversely affects the gut microbiota and SCFAs, while the BBIBP-CorV vaccine can protect mice against these effects. This work highlighted the relationship between BBIBP-CorV vaccination, gut microbiome composition, and responses to plasticizers, which may facilitate the development and risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and environmental contaminants on microbiota health.
PubMed: 38941942
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108851 -
Biochemical and Biophysical Research... Jun 2024Neonates undergo numerous painful procedures throughout their hospitalization. Repeated procedural pain may cause adverse long-term effects. Glucose as a...
BACKGROUND
Neonates undergo numerous painful procedures throughout their hospitalization. Repeated procedural pain may cause adverse long-term effects. Glucose as a non-pharmacological analgesia, is used for neonate pain management. In this study, potential mechanism of attenuate pain induced by glucose in neurodevelopment effect of neonate pain stimulus was investigated.
METHODS
Neonatal rats to perform a repetitive injury model and glucose intervention model in the postnatal day 0-7(P0-7). Pain thresholds were measured by von Frey test weekly. The puberty behavioral outcome, tissue loss and protein expression in hippocampus were analyzed.
RESULTS
Oral administration of glucose after repeated pain stimulation can maintain the hippocampal structure in, and reduce the expressions of corticotropin releasing factor (CFR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), therefore, resulted in long-term threshold of pain and cognitive improvement.
CONCLUSION
Exposure to neonatal repeated procedural pain causes persistent mechanical hypersensitivity and the dysfunction of spatial memory retention at puberty. In addition, glucose can relieve these adverse effects, possibly via decreasing CRF/GR levels to change the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
PubMed: 38941883
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150219 -
Investigational New Drugs Jun 2024The present study aimed to clarify the hypothesis that auger emitter I particles in combination with PARP inhibitor Olaparib could inhibit pancreatic cancer progression...
The present study aimed to clarify the hypothesis that auger emitter I particles in combination with PARP inhibitor Olaparib could inhibit pancreatic cancer progression by promoting antitumor immune response. Pancreatic cancer cell line (Panc02) and mice subcutaneously inoculated with Panc02 cells were employed for the in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively, followed by I and Olaparib administrations. The apoptosis and CRT exposure of Panc02 cells were detected using flow cytometry assay. QRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical analysis, and western blot were employed to examine mRNA and protein expression. Experimental results showed that I combined with Olaparib induced immunogenic cell death and affected antigen presentation in pancreatic cancer. I in combination with Olaparib influenced T cells and dendritic cells by up-regulating CD4, CD8, CD69, Caspase3, CD86, granzyme B, CD80, and type I interferon (IFN)-γ and down-regulating Ki67 in vivo. The combination also activated the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase stimulator of IFN genes (Sting) pathway in Panc02 cells. Moreover, Sting knockdown alleviated the effect of the combination of I and Olaparib on pancreatic cancer progression. In summary, I in combination with Olaparib inhibited pancreatic cancer progression through promoting antitumor immune responses, which may provide a potential treatment for pancreatic cancer.
PubMed: 38941055
DOI: 10.1007/s10637-024-01454-y -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jun 2024In pursuit of sustainable agricultural production, the development of environmentally friendly and effective biopesticides is essential to improve food security and...
In pursuit of sustainable agricultural production, the development of environmentally friendly and effective biopesticides is essential to improve food security and environmental sustainability. Bacteriophages, as emerging biocontrol agents, offer an alternative to conventional antibiotics and synthetic chemical pesticides. The primary challenges in applying phage-based biopesticides in agricultural settings are their inherent fragility and low biocidal efficacy, particularly the susceptibility to sunlight exposure. This study addresses the aforementioned challenges by innovatively encapsulating phages in sporopollenin exine capsules (SECs), which are derived from plant pollen grains. The size of the apertures on SECs could be controlled through a non-thermal and rapid process, combining reinflation and vacuum infusion techniques. This unique feature facilitates the high-efficiency encapsulation and controlled release of phages under various conditions. The proposed SECs could encapsulate over 9 log PFU g of phages and significantly enhance the ultraviolet (UV) resistance of phages, thereby ensuring their enhanced survivability and antimicrobial efficacy. The effectiveness of SECs encapsulated phages (T7@SECs) in preventing and treating bacterial contamination on lettuce leaves is further demonstrated, highlighting the practical applicability of this novel biopesticide in field applications. Overall, this study exploits the potential of SECs in the development of phage-based biopesticides, presenting a promising strategy to enhancing agricultural sustainability.
PubMed: 38940376
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403465 -
Annals of Agricultural and... Jun 2024Ultraviolet light in the UV-C band is known as germicidal radiation and was widely used for both sterilization of the equipment and creation of a sterile environment....
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE
Ultraviolet light in the UV-C band is known as germicidal radiation and was widely used for both sterilization of the equipment and creation of a sterile environment. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of inactivation of microorganisms deposited on surfaces with various textures by UV-C radiation disinfection devices.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Five microorganisms (3 bacteria, virus, and fungus) deposited on metal, plastic, and glass surfaces with smooth and rough textures were irradiated with UV-C light emitted by low-pressure mercury lamp and ultraviolet emitting diodes (LEDs), from a distance of 0.5 m, 1 m, and 1.5 m to check their survivability after 20-minute exposure.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Both tested UV-C sources were effective in inactivation of microorganisms; however, LED emitter was more efficient in this respect than the mercury lamp. The survival rate of microorganisms depended on the UV-C dose, conditioned by the distance from UV-C source being the highest at 0.5 m and the lowest at 1.5 m. For the tested microorganisms, the highest survival rate after UV-C irradiation was usually visible on glass and plastic surfaces. This observation should be considered in all environments where the type of material (from which the elements of technical equipment are manufactured and may be contaminated by specific activities) is important for maintaining the proper level of hygiene and avoiding the unwanted and uncontrolled spread of microbiological pollution.
Topics: Ultraviolet Rays; Disinfection; Fungi; Bacteria; Viruses; Surface Properties; Microbial Viability; Plastics; Glass
PubMed: 38940114
DOI: 10.26444/aaem/189695