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Since ancient times, Artemisia annua (A. annua) has been used as a medicinal plant in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition, recent studies have investigated the cytotoxic effects of A. annua extracts towards cancer cells. The leading aim of the present research is to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of an hydroalcoholic extract of A. annua on two canine osteosarcoma (OSA) cell lines, OSCA-8 and OSCA-40, focusing on the possible involvement of ferroptosis. The quantitative determination of artemisinin concentration in the extract, culture medium and OSA cells was carried out through the use of an instrumental analytical method based on liquid chromatography coupled with spectrophotometric detection and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-MS/MS). OSCA-8 and OSCA-40 were exposed to different dilutions of the extract for the EC

The demand for mealworms as food is expected to increase over the coming years globally due to the recent sector development; however, consumer acceptance could vary among countries, hence, identifying drivers towards insects as food could help to develop different strategies to increase consumer acceptance, based on the location. Thus, this study aimed to explore consumers’ motivations to accept or reject whole and processed mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) in Belgium, China, Italy, Mexico, and the US (N = 3006). To reach this aim, an online survey with two open-ended questions was performed and responses were categorized into semantic groups based on their meaning. We identified what motivates consumers among different acceptance levels (“Yes, because…”, “Yes, but…”, “Maybe if…”, “No, because…”), and cross-country differences were investigated using hierarchical cluster analysis. “Healthiness” was the most frequent driver to accept whole and processed mealworms, except in Italy. “Aversion” and “dislike” were the most important barriers that led to rejecting these products across all five countries. However, some country differences exist. For example, Italian consumers often reported different motivations to either accept or reject mealworms, e.g., by giving less importance to health-related aspects and by showing more aversion towards the insect compared to the other countries. Reported reasons to reject mealworms were common between the traditional and non-traditional insect-eating countries.

Abnormalities in total Mg (tMg) concentration in plasma and/or serum are common in critically ill humans, and the association with increased mortality has been documented in several clinical studies in adults and newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Abnormalities in tMg were studied in hospitalized dogs, cats, and adult horses. Newborn foals were scarcely studied with regard to Mg concentration. The aims of the present study were: (1) to compare two analytical methods for the determination of tMg in plasma: the automated colorimetric method and the atomic absorption spectrometry; (2) to measure plasma tMg in healthy foals during the first 72 hours after birth and in sick foals during the first 72 hours of hospitalization; (3) to compare total plasma Mg concentration among healthy foals, foals affected by perinatal asphyxia syndrome (PAS), prematurity and/or dismaturity, and sepsis; (4) to evaluate tMg plasma concentration in surviving and non-surviving foals. One hundred seventeen foals were included in the study: 20 healthy and 97 sick foals. The automated method used in clinical practice probably overestimates plasma tMg. Due to its higher sensitivity and specificity, the atomic absorption spectrometry should be considered the method of choice from an analytical point of view, but requires an instrumentation not easily available in any laboratory and specific technical skills and competencies. Plasma tMg in healthy foals were included in the range 0.52 to 1.01 mmol/L and did not show any time-dependent change during the first 72 hours of life. In sick foals, tMg evaluated at T0 was statistically higher than tMg measured at subsequent times. Foals affected by PAS had a tMg at T0 significantly higher (P < 0.01) than healthy, septic, and premature and/or dysmature foals. The. t test found significantly higher (P < 0.01) plasma tMg measured at T0 in non-surviving than in surviving foals. Plasma tMg could be a useful parameter for the diagnosis of PAS and the formulation of the prognosis in critically ill foals.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight proteins characterized by a high cysteine content and give rise to metal-thiolate clusters. Most MTs have two metal clusters containing three and four bivalent metal ions, respectively. The MT gene family in mammals consists of four subfamilies designated MT-1 through MT-4. MT-3 is expressed predominantly in brain and MT-4 in differentiating stratified squamous epithelial cells. Many reports have addressed MT structure and function, but despite the increasing experimental data several topics remain to be clarified, and the true function of this elusive protein has yet to be disclosed. Owing to their induction by a variety of stimuli, MTs are considered valid biomarkers in medicine and environmental studies. Here, we will discuss only a few topics taken from the latest literature. Special emphasis will be placed on MT antioxidant functions, the related oxidation of cysteines, which can give rise to intra/intermolecular bridges, and the relations between MTs and diseases which could be originated by metal dysregulation.

The relationship between a supposed effect of molluscan extracts on bioluminescent bacteria and metal concentrations in the extracts was investigated. For this purpose a biotoxicological assay based on bioluminescent bacteria (BLB) and extracts from metal exposed molluscs, Scapharca inaequivalvis, was optimized to monitor Cd and Cu marine pollution. Cu and Cd concentrations increased in tissues of experimentally exposed molluscs. Molluscan extracts inhibited the bacterial luminescence, the inhibition decreasing as the time of mollusc exposure to metals increased, suggesting a reduction of the “bioactive” metals. In regard to the use of BLB test in environmental monitoring, the analysis of Cu, Cd, and metallothionein (MT) was first performed in tissues from molluscs collected in three different areas of Northern Adriatic Sea. Metal concentrations reached maximum values in the gills, while Cd was mostly bound to MT in the kidney. Significant differences in metals and MT concentrations were found depending on the sampling sites. The biotoxicological assay resulted slightly correlated with the biochemical parameters.