-
Toxics Dec 2023Toxicological evaluations of flavor chemicals for use in inhalation products that utilize heat for aerosol generation are complicated because of the potential effect...
Toxicological evaluations of flavor chemicals for use in inhalation products that utilize heat for aerosol generation are complicated because of the potential effect heat may have on the flavor chemical. The objective was to develop a thermal degradation technique to screen flavor chemicals as part of a toxicological testing program for their potential use in ENDS formulations. Based upon published data for acetaldehyde, acrolein, and glycidol from ENDS products (common thermal degradants of propylene glycol and glycerin), the pyrolizer temperature was adjusted until a similar ratio of acetaldehyde, acrolein, and glycidol was obtained from a 60/40 ratio (/) of glycerin/propylene glycol via GC/MS analysis. For each of 90 flavor chemicals, quantitative measurements of acetaldehyde, acrolein, and glycidol, in addition to semiquantitative non-targeted analysis tentatively identifying chemicals from thermal degradation, were obtained. Twenty flavor chemicals transferred at greater than 99% intact, another 26 transferred at greater than 95% intact, and another 15 flavor chemicals transferred at greater than 90% intact. Most flavor chemicals resulted in fewer than 10-12 tentatively identified thermal degradants. The practical approach to the thermal degradation of flavor chemicals provided useful information as part of the toxicological evaluation of flavor chemicals for potential use in ENDS formulations.
PubMed: 38250972
DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010016 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2024Accurate determination of the concentration of alcohols and their metabolites is important in forensics and in several life science areas. A new headspace gas...
Accurate determination of the concentration of alcohols and their metabolites is important in forensics and in several life science areas. A new headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method has been developed to quantify alcohols and their oxidative products using isotope-labeled internal standards. The limit of detection (LOD) of the analytes in the developed method was 0.211 µg/mL for methanol, 0.158 µg/mL for ethanol, 0.157 µg/mL for isopropanol, 0.010 µg/mL for n-propanol, 0.157 µg/mL for acetone, and 0.209 µg/mL for acetaldehyde. The precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated, and the relative standard deviation percentages were found to be less than 3%. This work demonstrates the application of this method, specifically in quantifying the concentration of oxidative products of alcohol and other minor alcohols found in hand sanitizers, which have become an essential household item since the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from the major components, the minor alcohols found in hand sanitizers include methanol, isopropanol, and n-propanol. The concentration range of these minor alcohols found in ethanol-based hand sanitizer samples was as follows: methanol, 0.000921-0.0151 mg/mL; isopropanol, 0.454-13.8 mg/mL; and n-propanol, 0.00474-0.152 mg/mL. In ethanol-based hand sanitizers, a significant amount of acetaldehyde (0.00623-0.231 mg/mL) was observed as an oxidation product, while in the isopropanol-based hand sanitizer, acetone (0.697 mg/mL) was observed as an oxidation product. The concentration of acetaldehyde in ethanol-based hand sanitizers significantly increased with storage time and temperature, whereas no such increase in acetone concentration was observed in isopropanol-based hand sanitizers with storage time and temperature. In two of the selected hand sanitizers, the acetaldehyde levels increased by almost 200% within a week when stored at room temperature. Additionally, exposing the hand sanitizers to a temperature of 45 °C for 24 h resulted in a 100% increase in acetaldehyde concentration. On the contrary, the acetone level remained constant upon the change in storage time and temperature.
Topics: Humans; Methanol; Acetaldehyde; Hand Sanitizers; Acetone; 2-Propanol; 1-Propanol; Temperature; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Pandemics; Ethanol
PubMed: 38248538
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010074 -
Journal of Microbiology and... Apr 2024Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious negative consequences on health, including addiction, liver damage, and other long-term effects. The causes of hangovers...
Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious negative consequences on health, including addiction, liver damage, and other long-term effects. The causes of hangovers include dehydration, alcohol and alcohol metabolite toxicity, and nutrient deficiency due to absorption disorders. Additionally, alcohol consumption can slow reaction times, making it more difficult to rapidly respond to situations that require quick thinking. Exposure to a large amount of ethanol can also negatively affect a person's righting reflex and balance. In this study, we evaluated the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to alleviate alcohol-induced effects and behavioral responses. Two LAB strains isolated from kimchi, WiKim0168 and WiKim0172, were selected for their ethanol tolerance and potential to alleviate hangover symptoms. Enzyme activity assays for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were then conducted to evaluate the role of these bacteria in alcohol metabolism. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, these strains were assessed for their ability to reduce blood alcohol concentrations and protect against alcohol-induced liver damage. The results indicated that these LAB strains possess significant ethanol tolerance and elevate ADH and ALDH activities. LAB administration remarkably reduced blood alcohol levels in rats after excessive alcohol consumption. Moreover, the LAB strains showed hepatoprotective effects and enhanced behavioral outcomes, highlighting their potential as probiotics for counteracting the adverse effects of alcohol consumption. These findings support the development of functional foods incorporating LAB strains that can mediate behavioral improvements following alcohol intake.
Topics: Animals; Ethanol; Alcohol Dehydrogenase; Rats; Male; Probiotics; Lactobacillales; Blood Alcohol Content; Liver; Administration, Oral; Leuconostoc mesenteroides; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; Levilactobacillus brevis; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Fermented Foods; Aldehyde Oxidoreductases
PubMed: 38247212
DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2312.12040 -
Environmental Health Perspectives Jan 2024The association between alcohol and certain cancers is well established, yet beyond ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde, little is known about the presence of other... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The association between alcohol and certain cancers is well established, yet beyond ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde, little is known about the presence of other carcinogenic compounds in alcoholic beverages, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as benzo[a]pyrene (a Group I carcinogen).
OBJECTIVES
We summarized the published literature on PAH levels in alcoholic beverages to identify potential gaps in knowledge to inform future research.
METHODS
Medline and Scopus were searched for primary research published from January 1966 to November 2023 that quantified PAH levels among various types of alcoholic beverages, including whisky, rum, brandy, gin, vodka, wine, and beer. Studies that were not primary literature were excluded; only studies that quantified PAH content in the specified alcoholic beverages were included.
RESULTS
Ten studies published from 1966 to 2019 met the criteria for review. Other than beverage type, no publication reported selection criteria for their samples of tested alcohol products. Studies used a variety of analytical methods to detect PAHs. Of the 10 studies, 7 were published after 2000, and 6 assessed products. Of the studies, 7 examined spirits; 3, beer; and 4, wines. Benzo[a]pyrene was most prevalent among spirit products, particularly whisky, with values generally exceeding acceptable levels for drinking water. Some beer and wine products also contained PAHs, albeit at lower levels and less frequently than spirit products.
DISCUSSION
PAHs are found in some alcohol products and appear to vary by beverage type. However, there is an incomplete understanding of their presence and levels among large, representative samples from the range of currently available alcohol products. Addressing this gap could improve understanding of alcohol-cancer relationships and may have important implications for public health and the regulation of alcohol products. In addition, novel methods, such as direct mass spectroscopy, may facilitate more thorough testing of samples to further investigate this relationship. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13506.
Topics: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Benzo(a)pyrene; Alcoholic Beverages; Beer; Wine; Ethanol; Carcinogens
PubMed: 38241192
DOI: 10.1289/EHP13506 -
Journal of General and Family Medicine Jan 2024A 2-year-old girl developed dermatitis with atypical brown crusts after ethanol disinfection. Since many Oriental people have genetically reduced acetaldehyde...
A 2-year-old girl developed dermatitis with atypical brown crusts after ethanol disinfection. Since many Oriental people have genetically reduced acetaldehyde dehydrogenase type 2 (ALDH2) activity, ethanol disinfection causes acetaldehyde to accumulate in the skin, resulting in dermatitis.
PubMed: 38239994
DOI: 10.1002/jgf2.657 -
Cell Communication and Signaling : CCS Jan 2024Use of nicotine containing products like electronic cigarettes (e-Cig) and alcohol are associated with mitochondrial membrane depolarization, resulting in the...
BACKGROUND
Use of nicotine containing products like electronic cigarettes (e-Cig) and alcohol are associated with mitochondrial membrane depolarization, resulting in the extracellular release of ATP, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), mediating inflammatory responses. While nicotine effects on lungs is well-known, chronic alcohol (ETH) exposure also weakens lung immune responses and cause inflammation. Extracellular ATP (eATP) released by inflammatory/stressed cells stimulate purinergic P2X7 receptors (P2X7r) activation in adjacent cells. We hypothesized that injury caused by alcohol and e-Cig to pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (hPAEpiC) promote the release of eATP, mtDNA and P2X7r in circulation. This induces a paracrine signaling communication either directly or via EVs to affect brain cells (human brain endothelial cells - hBMVEC).
METHODS
We used a model of primary human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (hPAEpiC) and exposed the cells to 100 mM ethanol (ETH), 100 µM acetaldehyde (ALD), or e-Cig (1.75 µg/mL of 1.8% or 0% nicotine) conditioned media, and measured the mitochondrial efficiency using Agilent Seahorse machine. Gene expression was measured by Taqman RT-qPCR and digital PCR. hPAEpiC-EVs were extracted from culture supernatant and characterized by flow cytometric analysis. Calcium (Ca) and eATP levels were quantified using commercial kits. To study intercellular communication via paracrine signaling or by EVs, we stimulated hBMVECs with hPAEpiC cell culture medium conditioned with ETH, ALD or e-cig or hPAEpiC-EVs and measured Ca levels.
RESULTS
ETH, ALD, or e-Cig (1.8% nicotine) stimulation depleted the mitochondrial spare respiration capacity in hPAEpiC. We observed increased expression of P2X7r and TRPV1 genes (3-6-fold) and increased intracellular Ca accumulation (20-30-fold increase) in hPAEpiC, resulting in greater expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers. hPAEpiC stimulated by ETH, ALD, and e-Cig conditioned media shed more EVs with larger particle sizes, carrying higher amounts of eATP and mtDNA. ETH, ALD and e-Cig (1.8% nicotine) exposure also increased the P2X7r shedding in media and via EVs. hPAEpiC-EVs carrying P2X7r and eATP cargo triggered paracrine signaling in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) and increased Ca levels. P2X7r inhibition by A804598 compound normalized mitochondrial spare respiration, reduced ER stress and diminished EV release, thus protecting the BBB function.
CONCLUSION
Abusive drugs like ETH and e-Cig promote mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress in hPAEpiC and disrupts the cell functions via P2X7 receptor signaling. EVs released by lung epithelial cells against ETH/e-cig insults, carry a cargo of secondary messengers that stimulate brain cells via paracrine signals.
Topics: Humans; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; Nicotine; Culture Media, Conditioned; Endothelial Cells; Ethanol; Brain; Extracellular Vesicles; Adenosine Triphosphate; DNA, Mitochondrial
PubMed: 38225580
DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01461-1 -
ACS Catalysis Jan 2024The compound material titanium oxycarbide (TiOC) is found to be an effective electrocatalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of ethanol to CO. The complete course of...
The compound material titanium oxycarbide (TiOC) is found to be an effective electrocatalyst for the electrochemical oxidation of ethanol to CO. The complete course of this reaction is one of the main challenges in direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs). While TiOC has previously been investigated as catalyst support material only, in this study we show that TiOC alone is able to oxidize ethanol to acetaldehyde without the need of expensive noble metal catalysts like Pt. It is suggested that this behavior is attributed to the presence of both undercoordinated sites, which allow ethanol to adsorb, and oxygenated sites, which facilitate the activation of water. This is a milestone in DEFC research and development and opens up innovative possibilities for the design of catalyst materials for intermediate temperature fuel cells.
PubMed: 38205023
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c04097 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023The bioactive conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA) can be microbiologically produced by different probiotic strains when in the presence of α-linolenic acid (α-LNA). Food...
The bioactive conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA) can be microbiologically produced by different probiotic strains when in the presence of α-linolenic acid (α-LNA). Food matrices are a good vector, such as has been previously demonstrated with fermented milk enriched with microbial CLNA by DSM 20091 from lipase-hydrolyzed flaxseed oil. The aim of the present work was to further assess the nutritional, biochemical and organoleptic properties of the developed dairy product, as well as its storage stability throughout 28 days at 4 °C, proving its suitability for consumption. Milk lactose hydrolyzed into glucose (0.89 g/100 g) and galactose (0.88 g/100 g), which were further metabolized into lactic (0.42 g/100 g), acetic (0.44 g/100 g) and propionic (0.85 g/100 g) acids. Titratable acidity reached 0.69% and pH 4.93. Compared with the control (no CLNA), fat content was slightly higher (2.0 g/100 g). Acetic acid was the major volatile (83.32%), lacking important dairy flavor contributors, like acetaldehyde. Sensory analysis revealed predominant astringency and bitterness. No microbial concerns arose during storage, but the CLNA content increased, and some saturated fatty acids seemed to oxidize. In conclusion, the CLNA-enriched fermented milk revealed reasonable compositional properties, yet further improvements are needed for optimal consumer acceptance and a prolonged shelf-life.
PubMed: 38201050
DOI: 10.3390/foods13010021 -
BMC Plant Biology Jan 2024Drought stress can substantially restrict maize growth and productivity, and global warming and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events are likely to result in...
BACKGROUND
Drought stress can substantially restrict maize growth and productivity, and global warming and an increasing frequency of extreme weather events are likely to result in more yield losses in the future. Therefore, unraveling the molecular mechanism underlying the response to drought stress is essential for breeding drought-resilient crops.
RESULTS
In this study, we subjected the 3-leaf-period plants of two maize inbred lines, a drought-tolerant line (si287) and a drought-sensitive line (X178), to drought stress for seven days while growing in a chamber. Subsequently, we measured physiological traits and analyzed transcriptomic and metabolic profiles of two inbred lines. Our KEGG analysis of genes and metabolites revealed significant differences in pathways related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids. Additionally, our joint analysis identified proline, tryptophan and phenylalanine are crucial amino acids for maize response to drought stress. Furthermore, we concentrated on tryptophan (Trp), which was found to enhance tolerance via IAA-ABA signaling, as well as SA and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) consequent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. We identified three hub genes in tryptophan biosynthesis, indole-3-acetaldehyde oxidase (ZmAO1, 542,228), catalase 1 (ZmCAT1, 542,369), and flavin-containing monooxygenase 6 (ZmYUC6, 103,629,142), High expression of these genes plays a significant role in regulating drought tolerance. Two metabolites related to tryptophan biosynthesis, quinolinic acid, and kynurenine improved maize tolerance to drought stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species.
CONCLUSIONS
This study illuminates the mechanisms underlying the response of maize seedlings to drought stress. Especially, it identifies novel candidate genes and metabolites, enriching our understanding of the role of tryptophan in drought stress. The identification of distinct resistance mechanisms in maize inbred lines will facilitate the exploration of maize germplasm and the breeding of drought-resilient hybrids.
Topics: Seedlings; Zea mays; Droughts; Tryptophan; Reactive Oxygen Species; Plant Breeding; Gene Expression Profiling; Amino Acids
PubMed: 38185653
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04712-y -
Scientific Reports Jan 2024The aim of this study was to analyze whether it is possible to brew beer without using cereals so that the produced beverage could be easily accessible for the...
The aim of this study was to analyze whether it is possible to brew beer without using cereals so that the produced beverage could be easily accessible for the population suffering from celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders. Green lentil seeds were malted and then mashed using a congress mashing procedure to assess their advantages and disadvantages in the brewing process. Based on the congress mashing procedure, the mashing process needed to produce beer was developed, and beers were produced from the lentil malts germinated during malting for 96 h, 120 h and 144 h. It was possible to produce beers from the lentil malts; however, they were characterized by a lower alcohol content, lower degree of attenuation and some discrepancies between the concentrations of various volatiles (such as acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and 1-propanol) compared to the control beer produced from barley malt.
Topics: Beer; Lens Plant; Seedlings; Glutens; Edible Grain; Hordeum
PubMed: 38177258
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50724-x