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Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024A miniaturized solid-phase extraction of two tropane alkaloids (TAs) and twenty-one pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from infusions of dry edible flowers using optimized...
Simultaneous Determination of 23 Pyrrolizidine and Tropane Alkaloids in Infusions from Dry Edible Flowers Using Optimized μSPEed Microextraction Prior to Their Analysis by UHPLC-IT-MS/MS.
A miniaturized solid-phase extraction of two tropane alkaloids (TAs) and twenty-one pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from infusions of dry edible flowers using optimized µSPEed technique was developed. The optimization of the µSPEed methodology involved testing different cartridges and comparing various volumes and numbers of loading cycles. The final conditions allowed for a rapid extraction, taking only 3.5 min. This was achieved using a C18-ODS cartridge, conditioning with 100 µL of methanol (two cycles), loading 100 µL of the infusion sample (seven cycles), and eluting the analytes with 100 µL of methanol (two cycles). Prior to their analysis by UHPLC-IT-MS/MS, the extracts were evaporated and reconstituted in 100 µL of water (0.2% formic acid)/methanol (0.2% ammonia) 95:5 (/), allowing for a preconcentration factor of seven times. The methodology was successfully validated obtaining recoveries ranging between 87 and 97%, RSD of less than 12%, and MQL between 0.09 and 0.2 µg/L. The validated methodology was applied to twenty samples of edible flower infusions to evaluate the safety of these products. Two infusion samples obtained from and were contaminated with 0.16 and 0.2 µg/L of scopolamine (TA), respectively, while the infusion of was contaminated with intermedine and lycopsamine (PAs) below the MQL.
PubMed: 38890967
DOI: 10.3390/foods13111740 -
Microbial Ecology Jun 2024Bacillus species appearas the most attractive plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides. The present study examined...
Bacillus species appearas the most attractive plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides. The present study examined the antagonistic potential of spore forming-Bacilli isolated from organic farm soil samples of Allahabad, India. Eighty-seven Bacillus strains were isolated and characterized based on their morphological, plant growth promoting traits and molecular characteristics. The diversity analysis used 16S-rDNA, BOX-element, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus. Two strains, PR30 and PR32, later identified as Bacillus sp., exhibited potent in vitro antagonistic activity against Ralstonia solanaceorum. These isolates produced copious amounts of multiple PGP traits, such as indole-3-acetic acid (40.0 and 54.5 μg/mL), phosphate solubilization index (PSI) (4.4 and 5.3), ammonia, siderophore (3 and 4 cm), and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (8.1and 9.2 μM/mg//h) and hydrogen cyanide. These isolates were subjected to the antibiotic sensitivity test. The two potent isolates based on the higher antagonistic and the best plant growth-promoting ability were selected for plant growth-promoting response studies in tomatoe, broccoli, and chickpea. In the pot study, Bacillus subtilis (PR30 and PR31) showed significant improvement in seed germination (27-34%), root length (20-50%), shoot length (20-40%), vigor index (50-75%), carotenoid content (0.543-1.733), and lycopene content (2.333-2.646 mg/100 g) in tomato, broccoli, and chickpea. The present study demonstrated the production of multiple plant growth-promoting traits by the isolates and their potential as effective bioinoculants for plant growth promotion and biocontrol of phytopathogens.
Topics: Bacillus; Soil Microbiology; Biodiversity; India; Plant Roots; Cicer; Solanum lycopersicum; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Rhizosphere; Phylogeny; Antibiosis; Siderophores; Indoleacetic Acids
PubMed: 38888737
DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02397-w -
Neural Regeneration Research Mar 2025JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202503000-00033/figure1/v/2024-06-17T092413Z/r/image-tiff The organotypic retinal explant culture has been established for more than a decade...
JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202503000-00033/figure1/v/2024-06-17T092413Z/r/image-tiff The organotypic retinal explant culture has been established for more than a decade and offers a range of unique advantages compared with in vivo experiments and cell cultures. However, the lack of systematic and continuous comparison between in vivo retinal development and the organotypic retinal explant culture makes this model controversial in postnatal retinal development studies. Thus, we aimed to verify the feasibility of using this model for postnatal retinal development studies by comparing it with the in vivo retina. In this study, we showed that postnatal retinal explants undergo normal development, and exhibit a consistent structure and timeline with retinas in vivo. Initially, we used SOX2 and PAX6 immunostaining to identify retinal progenitor cells. We then examined cell proliferation and migration by immunostaining with Ki-67 and doublecortin, respectively. Ki-67- and doublecortin-positive cells decreased in both in vivo and explants during postnatal retinogenesis, and exhibited a high degree of similarity in abundance and distribution between groups. Additionally, we used Ceh-10 homeodomain-containing homolog, glutamate-ammonia ligase (glutamine synthetase), neuronal nuclei, and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 immunostaining to examine the emergence of bipolar cells, Müller glia, mature neurons, and microglia, respectively. The timing and spatial patterns of the emergence of these cell types were remarkably consistent between in vivo and explant retinas. Our study showed that the organotypic retinal explant culture model had a high degree of consistency with the progression of in vivo early postnatal retina development. The findings confirm the accuracy and credibility of this model and support its use for long-term, systematic, and continuous observation.
PubMed: 38886961
DOI: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-01557 -
Human Genomics Jun 2024Sex-related differences in colorectal (CRC) incidence and mortality are well-documented. However, the impact of sex on metabolic pathways that drive cancer growth is not...
BACKGROUND
Sex-related differences in colorectal (CRC) incidence and mortality are well-documented. However, the impact of sex on metabolic pathways that drive cancer growth is not well understood. High expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) is associated with inferior survival for female CRC patients only. Here, we used a CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate HCT116 ASNS and HCT 116 ASNS cancer cell lines. We examine the effects of ASNS deletion on tumor growth and the subsequent rewiring of metabolic pathways in male and female Rag2/IL2RG mice.
RESULTS
ASNS loss reduces cancer burden in male and female tumor-bearing mice (40% reduction, q < 0.05), triggers metabolic reprogramming including gluconeogenesis, but confers a survival improvement (30 days median survival, q < 0.05) in female tumor-bearing mice alone. Transcriptomic analyses revealed upregulation of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1) in tumors from male and female mice with HCT116 ASNS xenograft. Estradiol activates GPER1 in vitro in the presence of ASNS and suppresses tumor growth.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study indicates that inferior survival for female CRC patients with high ASNS may be due to metabolic reprogramming that sustains tumor growth. These findings have translational relevance as ASNS/GPER1 signaling could be a future therapeutic target to improve the survival of female CRC patients.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Female; Male; Mice; Aspartate-Ammonia Ligase; HCT116 Cells; Colorectal Neoplasms; Receptors, Estrogen; Cell Proliferation; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Heterografts; Sex Factors; Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases with Glutamine as Amide-N-Donor
PubMed: 38886847
DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00635-3 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024The effectiveness of national policies for air pollution control has been demonstrated, but the relative effectiveness of short-term emission reduction measures in...
The effectiveness of national policies for air pollution control has been demonstrated, but the relative effectiveness of short-term emission reduction measures in comparison with national policies has not. Here we show that short-term abatement measures during important international events substantially reduced PM concentrations, but air quality rebounded to pre-event levels after the measures ceased. Long-term adherence to strict emission reduction policies led to successful decreases of 54% in PM concentrations in Beijing, and 23% in atmospheric nitrogen deposition in China from 2012 to 2020. Incentivized by "blue skies" type campaigns, economic development and reactive nitrogen pollution are quickly decoupled, showing that a combination of inspiring but aggressive short-term measures and effective but durable long-term policies delivers sustainable air quality improvement. However, increased ammonia concentrations, transboundary pollutant flows, and the complexity to achieving reduction targets under climate change scenarios, underscore the need for the synergistic control of multiple pollutants and inter-regional action.
PubMed: 38886390
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49539-9 -
Physiological Reports Jun 2024Although the liver is the largest metabolic organ in the body, it is not alone in functionality and is assisted by "an organ inside an organ," the gut microbiota. This... (Review)
Review
Although the liver is the largest metabolic organ in the body, it is not alone in functionality and is assisted by "an organ inside an organ," the gut microbiota. This review attempts to shed light on the partnership between the liver and the gut microbiota in the metabolism of macronutrients (i.e., proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids). All nutrients absorbed by the small intestines are delivered to the liver for further metabolism. Undigested food that enters the colon is metabolized further by the gut microbiota that produces secondary metabolites, which are absorbed into portal circulation and reach the liver. These microbiota-derived metabolites and co-metabolites include ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and trimethylamine N-oxide. Further, the liver produces several compounds, such as bile acids that can alter the gut microbial composition, which can in turn influence liver health. This review focuses on the metabolism of these microbiota metabolites and their influence on host physiology. Furthermore, the review briefly delineates the effect of the portosystemic shunt on the gut microbiota-liver axis, and current understanding of the treatments to target the gut microbiota-liver axis.
Topics: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Liver; Animals; Nutrients; Bile Acids and Salts
PubMed: 38886098
DOI: 10.14814/phy2.16114 -
Food Chemistry. Molecular Sciences Jul 2024Water bamboo shoots () is prone to quality deterioration during cold storage after harvest, which causes the decline of commodity value. Chlorophyll synthesis and lignin...
Water bamboo shoots () is prone to quality deterioration during cold storage after harvest, which causes the decline of commodity value. Chlorophyll synthesis and lignin deposition are the major reasons for quality degradation. This paper studied the influence of exogenous melatonin (MT) on the cold storage quality of water bamboo shoots. MT treatment could delay the increase in skin browning, hardness and weight loss rate, inhibit chlorophyll synthesis and color change of water bamboo shoots, while maintain the content of total phenols and flavonoids, and inhibit lignin deposition by inhibiting the activity and gene expression of phenylpropanoid metabolism related enzymes as PAL, C4H, 4CL, CAD, and POD. The results indicate that exogenous MT treatment can effectively inhibit the quality degradation of cold stored water bamboo shoots.
PubMed: 38883998
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochms.2024.100208 -
Environmental Microbiology Reports Jun 2024We describe the genome of an Eremiobacterota population from tundra soil that contains the minimal set of nif genes needed to fix atmospheric N. This putative diazotroph...
We describe the genome of an Eremiobacterota population from tundra soil that contains the minimal set of nif genes needed to fix atmospheric N. This putative diazotroph population, which we name Candidatus Lamibacter sapmiensis, links for the first time Eremiobacterota and N fixation. The integrity of the genome and its nif genes are well supported by both environmental and taxonomic signals. Ca. Lamibacter sapmiensis contains three nifH homologues and the complementary set of nifDKENB genes that are needed to assemble a functional nitrogenase. The putative diazotrophic role of Ca. Lamibacter sapmiensis is supported by the presence of genes that regulate N fixation and other genes involved in downstream processes such as ammonia assimilation. Similar to other Eremiobacterota, Ca. Lamibacter sapmiensis encodes the potential for atmospheric chemosynthesis via CO fixation coupled with H and CO oxidation. Interestingly, the presence of a NO reductase indicates that this population could play a role as a NO sink in tundra soils. Due to the lack of activity data, it remains uncertain if Ca. Lamibacter sapmiensis is able to assemble a functional nitrogenase and participate in N fixation. Confirmation of this ability would be a testament to the great metabolic versatility of Eremiobacterota, which appears to underlie their ecological success in cold and oligotrophic environments.
Topics: Soil Microbiology; Nitrogen Fixation; Tundra; Bacterial Proteins; Phylogeny; Nitrogenase; Oxidoreductases; Genome, Bacterial
PubMed: 38881156
DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13277 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Jun 2024Hepatic myelopathy is a very rare neurological complication of chronic liver disease. Patients habitually present with progressive pure motor spastic paraparesis. This...
BACKGROUND
Hepatic myelopathy is a very rare neurological complication of chronic liver disease. Patients habitually present with progressive pure motor spastic paraparesis. This neurological dysfunction is almost always due to cirrhosis and portocaval shunt, either surgical or spontaneous.
CASES REPORT
We report two cases of a 57-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman with progressive spastic paraparesis linked to cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The two patients are of Tunisian origin (north Africa). Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord of two patients was normal, while brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a T2 hypersignals of the pallidums. These signs, in favor of hepatic encephalopathy in the two patients with cirrhosis with isolated progressive spastic paraparesis without bladder or sensory disorders, help to retain the diagnosis of hepatic myelopathy.
CONCLUSION
Hepatic myelopathy is a severe and debilitating neurological complication of chronic liver disease. The pathogenesis is misunderstood and seems to be multifactorial, including the selective neurotoxic role both of ammonia and other pathogenic neurotoxins. Usually a pathological brain magnetic resonance imaging showing a hepatic encephalopathy was documented, contrasting with a normal spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging that contributed to diagnosis of hepatic myelopathy. Conservative therapies such as ammonia-lowering measures, diet supplementation, antispastic drugs, and endovascular shunt occlusion show little benefit in improving disease symptoms. Liver transplantation performed at early stage can prevent disease progression and could probably allow for recovery.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Male; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Adult; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Spinal Cord Diseases; Liver Cirrhosis; Paraparesis, Spastic; Hypertension, Portal; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 38880918
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04495-2 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024This study aimed to perform the first external validation of the modified Child-Turcotte-Pugh score based on plasma ammonia (aCTP) and compare it with other risk scoring...
This study aimed to perform the first external validation of the modified Child-Turcotte-Pugh score based on plasma ammonia (aCTP) and compare it with other risk scoring systems to predict survival in patients with cirrhosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. We retrospectively reviewed 473 patients from three cohorts between January 2016 and June 2022 and compared the aCTP score with the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI), model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and sodium MELD (MELD-Na) in predicting transplant-free survival by the concordance index (C-index), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis (DCA) curve. The median follow-up time was 29 months, during which a total of 62 (20.74%) patients died or underwent liver transplantation. The survival curves for the three aCTP grades differed significantly. Patients with aCTP grade C had a shorter expected lifespan than patients with aCTP grades A and B (P < 0.0001). The aCTP score showed the best discriminative performance using the C-index compared with other scores at each time point during follow-up, it also showed better calibration in the calibration plot and the lowest Brier scores, and it also showed a higher net benefit than the other scores in the DCA curve. The aCTP score outperformed the other risk scores in predicting survival after TIPS placement in patients with cirrhosis and may be useful for risk stratification and survival prediction.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Liver Cirrhosis; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; Ammonia; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Prognosis; ROC Curve; Severity of Illness Index; Adult
PubMed: 38880817
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64793-z