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A novel 4-thiazolidinone derivative Les-6490 (pyrazol-4-thiazolidinone hybrid) was designed, synthesized, and characterized by spectral data. The compound was screened for its antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi and showed activity against Staphylococcus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) 820 μM). The compound was studied in the rat adjuvant arthritis model (Freund's Adjuvant) in vivo. Parietal and fecal microbial composition using 16S rRNA metagenome sequences was checked. We employed a range of analytical techniques, including Taxonomic Profiling (Taxa Analysis), Diversity Metrics (Alpha and Beta Diversity Analysis), Multivariate Statistical Methods (Principal Coordinates Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling), Clustering Analysis (Unweighted Pair-group Method with Arithmetic Mean), and Comparative Statistical Approaches (Community Differences Analysis, Between Group Variation Analysis, Metastat Analysis). The compound significantly impacted an increasing level of anti-inflammatory microorganisms (Blautia, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Succivibrionaceae, and Coriobacteriales) relative recovery of fecal microbiota composition. Anti-Treponemal activity in vivo was also noted. The tested compound Les-6490 has potential prebiotic activity with an indirect anti-inflammatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of different amounts of zinc methionine on the blood biochemistry, hematological parameters and productivity of growing rabbits. Studies have been conducted on 15 rabbits of the Termon white breed, which were randomly divided into three groups of 5 animals in each – one control and two experimental. Animals of the control group were fed with the commercially granulated feed, whereas animals in the experiment group G1 and G2 were fed with the same basal ration supplemented with 10 and 20 mg/kg Zinc-Methionine, respectively. The supplement was added from 50 days of animal age during 40 days. Samples of blood from the marginal ear vein were taken for biochemical and hematologic researches at ten days’ intervals during experimental periods. Body weight gain was determined by weighing. High Zn supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), as compared to control group, while other hematological parameters of rabbits remained unaffected. Results showed that serum albumin concentration were significantly increased on the 70th and on the 80th days of study (P < 0.05) in rabbits received zinc-methionine compared to control animals, while total protein content did not change. The creatinine concentration in the blood of rabbits of the both experimental groups was decreased (P < 0.05) on the 90th day of experiment, as compared to the control. Total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were decreased significantly during all period of feeding ZnMet-supplemented diet in both experimental groups. Serum ALT and AST constituent were not significantly affected by dietary treatments comparing to the control. However, serum ALP activity significantly (P < 0.05) increasedon the 80th day of experiment in rabbits fed Zn-Met at the both doses. Also, LDH content was significantly increased (P < 0.05) on the 80th and 90th day of the research in high dose-treated rabbits (G2 group), compared to the low dose-treated animals or control group (P < 0.05). Conclusively, the results revealed that fortification of diet with Zn-Met at level of 10 and 20 mg/kg could significantly enhance the nutrients digestibility of growing rabbits without harmful effect on blood constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts and natural disasters affect entire populations of the countries involved and, in addition to the thousands of lives destroyed, have a substantial negative impact on the scientific advances these countries provide. The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are just a few examples. Millions of people have been killed or displaced, their futures uncertain. These events have resulted in extensive infrastructure collapse, with loss of electricity, transportation, and access to services. Schools, universities, and research centers have been destroyed along with decades' worth of data, samples, and findings. Scholars in disaster areas face short- and long-term problems in terms of what they can accomplish now for obtaining grants and for employment in the long run. In our interconnected world, conflicts and disasters are no longer a local problem but have wide-ranging impacts on the entire world, both now and in the future. Here, we focus on the current and ongoing impact of war on the scientific community within Ukraine and from this draw lessons that can be applied to all affected countries where scientists at risk are facing hardship. We present and classify examples of effective and feasible mechanisms used to support researchers in countries facing hardship and discuss how these can be implemented with help from the international scientific community and what more is desperately needed. Reaching out, providing accessible training opportunities, and developing collaborations should increase inclusion and connectivity, support scientific advancements within affected communities, and expedite postwar and disaster recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate how chronic low-dose chlorpyrifos exposure of female Wistar rats before and during pregnancy affects behavioural parameters in their offspring. Four months before pregnancy, we exposed three groups of rats to chlorpyrifos doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg kg-1 body weight every day for 30 days, whereas one group received a single 30 mg kg-1 dose on gestational day 6. When the offspring of the exposed rats grew up, we studied their anxiety rate, motor activity, and cognitive abilities using the respective behavioural tests: open field test, dark/light box, and the extrapolation escape test. The offspring of rats exposed before pregnancy had significantly higher activity rate than controls, and even showed motor agitation and hyperactivity signs. The offspring of rats exposed to the single dose had difficulties solving the extrapolation escape test and showed poorer short- and long-term memory performance. This confirmed that even pre-pregnancy chlorpyrifos exposure can cause neurobehavioral consequences in offspring. Even though the mechanisms of the observed changes remain unclear and need further investigation, these data seem alarming and may serve as an important argument for revising the terms of safe pesticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts and natural disasters affect entire populations of the countries involved and, in addition to the thousands of lives destroyed, have a substantial negative impact on the scientific advances these countries provide. The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are just a few examples. Millions of people have been killed or displaced, their futures uncertain. These events have resulted in extensive infrastructure collapse, with loss of electricity, transportation, and access to services. Schools, universities, and research centers have been destroyed along with decades' worth of data, samples, and findings. Scholars in disaster areas face short- and long-term problems in terms of what they can accomplish now for obtaining grants and for employment in the long run. In our interconnected world, conflicts and disasters are no longer a local problem but have wide-ranging impacts on the entire world, both now and in the future. Here, we focus on the current and ongoing impact of war on the scientific community within Ukraine and from this draw lessons that can be applied to all affected countries where scientists at risk are facing hardship. We present and classify examples of effective and feasible mechanisms used to support researchers in countries facing hardship and discuss how these can be implemented with help from the international scientific community and what more is desperately needed. Reaching out, providing accessible training opportunities, and developing collaborations should increase inclusion and connectivity, support scientific advancements within affected communities, and expedite postwar and disaster recovery., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press GigaScience.)