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Human mitochondria contain a circular genome that encodes 13 subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system. In addition to their role as powerhouses of the cells, mitochondria are also involved in innate immunity as the mitochondrial genome generates long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) that can activate the dsRNA-sensing pattern recognition receptors. Recent evidence shows that these mitochondrial dsRNAs (mt-dsRNAs) are closely associated with the pathogenesis of human diseases that accompany inflammation and aberrant immune activation, such as Huntington's disease, osteoarthritis, and autoimmune Sjögren's syndrome. Yet, small chemicals that can protect cells from a mt-dsRNA-mediated immune response remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the potential of resveratrol (RES), a plant-derived polyphenol with antioxidant properties, on suppressing mt-dsRNA-mediated immune activation. We show that RES can revert the downstream response to immunogenic stressors that elevate mitochondrial RNA expressions, such as stimulation by exogenous dsRNAs or inhibition of ATP synthase. Through high-throughput sequencing, we find that RES can regulate mt-dsRNA expression, interferon response, and other cellular responses induced by these stressors. Notably, RES treatment fails to counter the effect of an endoplasmic reticulum stressor that does not affect the expression of mitochondrial RNAs. Overall, our study demonstrates the potential usage of RES to alleviate the mt-dsRNA-mediated immunogenic stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Plasmas are used in various forms and with various functions in gynaecology. Knowledge on plasma–tissue effects and target coverage is crucial to achieve complete treatment, reduce recurrence, and limit damage to healthy tissues. In this review, historical and future plasma applications are summarized, and the depths of (non-)thermal effects are evaluated in tissues of the female pelvis. A literature search was performed in the Medline Ovid, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Fourteen articles were found with data on thermal effects depth. For plasma-assisted electrosurgical devices, depths (<2.4 mm) relied on current dispersion in tissue. In turn, for electrically neutral argon plasma, depths remained superficial (<1.0 mm). The depth and uniformity of cold atmospheric plasma effects requires further investigation. This review identifies upcoming and potentially high-gain applications of plasma in the field of gynaecology, of which the therapeutic effectiveness must be examined in translational and clinical studies. Medical use of (non-)thermal plasmas is an emerging field in gynaecology. However, data on plasma energy dispersion remain limited. This systematic review presents an overview of plasma devices, fields of effective application, and impact of use factors and device settings on tissues in the female pelvis, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina, vulva, colon, omentum, mesenterium, and peritoneum. A search of the literature was performed on 4 January 2023 in the Medline Ovid, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Devices were classified as plasma-assisted electrosurgery (ES) using electrothermal energy, neutral argon plasma (NAP) using kinetic particle energy, or cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) using non-thermal biochemical reactions. In total, 8958 articles were identified, of which 310 were scanned, and 14 were included due to containing quantitative data on depths or volumes of tissues reached. Plasma-assisted ES devices produce a thermal effects depth of <2.4 mm. In turn, NAP effects remained superficial, <1.0 mm. So far, the depth and uniformity of CAP effects are insufficiently understood. These data are crucial to achieve complete treatment, reduce recurrence, and limit damage to healthy tissues (e.g., prevent perforations or preserve parenchyma). Upcoming and potentially high-gain applications are discussed, and deficits in current evidence are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation and consumption of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) are increasing globally. As the usage of chemical fertilizers and pest control agents during its cultivation may lead to soil, water and air pollution, there is an emerging need for environment-friendly, biological solutions enabling increased amounts of healthy crop and efficient disease management. Microbiological agents for agricultural purposes gained increasing importance in the past few decades. Our goal was to develop an agricultural soil inoculant from multiple microorganisms and test its application potential in sweet potato cultivation. Two Trichoderma strains were selected: Trichoderma ghanense strain SZMC 25217 based on its extracellular enzyme activities for the biodegradation of plant residues, and Trichoderma afroharzianum strain SZMC 25231 for biocontrol purposes against fungal plant pathogens. The Bacillus velezensis strain SZMC 24986 proved to be the best growth inhibitor of most of the nine tested strains of fungal species known as plant pathogens, therefore it was also selected for biocontrol purposes against fungal plant pathogens. Arthrobacter globiformis strain SZMC 25081, showing the fastest growth on nitrogen-free medium, was selected as a component with possible nitrogen-fixing potential. A Pseudomonas resinovorans strain, SZMC 25872, was selected for its ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid, which is among the important traits of potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). A series of experiments were performed to test the selected strains for their tolerance to abiotic stress factors such as pH, temperature, water activity and fungicides, influencing the survivability in agricultural environments. The selected strains were used to treat sweet potato in two separate field experiments. Yield increase was observed for the plants treated with the selected microbial consortium (synthetic community) in comparison with the control group in both cases. Our results suggest that the developed microbial inoculant has the potential to be used in sweet potato plantations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the successful application of a fungal-bacterial consortium in sweet potato cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive impairment is a common comorbidity in patients with COPD, significantly impacting health and clinical outcomes. Yet it remains under investigated and is largely overlooked. Although the exact cause of cognitive impairment in patients with COPD is still unclear, factors such as hypoxemia, vascular disease, smoking, exacerbation, and physical inactivity have been suggested. While international guidelines recommend identifying comorbidity in patients with COPD, such as cognitive impairment, cognitive assessment is not yet part of the routine assessment. Unidentified cognitive deficits in patients with COPD may have severe impacts on clinical management, resulting in an inability to maintain functional independence, poor self-management, and a greater dropout from pulmonary rehabilitation programs. There is a need to consider cognitive screening as a part of COPD assessment to promote early detection of cognitive impairment. Recognizing cognitive impairment early in the course of the illness allows the development of individualized interventions to meet patients' needs and improve clinical outcomes. Pulmonary rehabilitation should be tailored to cognitively impaired patients with COPD to maximize the benefits and minimize the incompletion rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammaging is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. It results in the development of thrombosis and atherosclerosis. The accumulation of senescent cells in vessels causes vascular inflammaging and contributes to plaque formation and rupture. In addition to being an acquired risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, ethanol can induce inflammation and senescence, both of which have been implicated in cardiovascular diseases. In the current study, we used colchicine to abate the cellular damaging effects of ethanol on endothelial cells. Colchicine prevented senescence and averted oxidative stress in endothelial cells exposed to ethanol. It lowered the relative protein expression of aging and senescence marker P21 and restored expression of the DNA repair proteins KU70/KU80. Colchicine inhibited the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκ-B) and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in ethanol-treated endothelial cells. It reduced ethanol-induced senescence-associated secretory phenotype. In summary, we show that colchicine ameliorated the ethanol-caused molecular events, resulting in attenuated senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype in endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skin is the outermost protective barrier of the human body. Its role is to protect against different physical, chemical, biological and environmental stressors. The vast majority of studies have focused on investigating the effects of single environmental stressors on skin homeostasis and the induction of several skin disorders, such as cancer or ageing. On the other hand, much fewer studies have explored the consequences of the co-exposure of skin cells to two or more stressors simultaneously, which is much more realistic. In the present study, we investigated, using mass-spectrometry-based proteomic analysis, the dysregulated biological functions in skin explants after their co-exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). We observed that several biological processes were dysregulated, among which autophagy appeared to be significantly downregulated. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry analysis was carried out to validate the downregulation of the autophagy process further. Altogether, the output of this study provides an insight into the biological responses of skin to combined exposure to UV + BaP and highlights autophagy as a potential target that might be considered in the future as a novel candidate for pharmacological intervention under such stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophils release decondensed chromatin or extracellular traps (NETs) in response to various physiological and pharmacological stimuli. Apart from host defensive functions, NETs play an essential role in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant diseases. In recent years, studies have been performed on photo-induced NET formation, mainly activated by UV radiation. Understanding the mechanisms of NET release under the influence of UV and visible light is important to control the consequences of the damaging effects of electromagnetic radiation. Raman spectroscopy was applied to record characteristic Raman frequencies of various reactive oxygen species (ROS) and low-frequency lattice vibrational modes for citrulline. NETosis was induced by irradiation with wavelength-switchable LED sources. Fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize and quantify NET release. The ability of five wavelengths of radiation, from UV-A to red light, to induce NETosis was investigated at three different energy doses. We demonstrated, for the first time, that NET formation is activated not only by UV-A but also by three spectra of visible light: blue, green, and orange, in a dose-dependent manner. Using inhibitory analysis, we established that light-induced NETosis proceeds through NADPH oxidase and PAD4. The development of new drugs designed to suppress NETosis, especially when induced by exposure to intense UV and visible light, can help to mitigate light-induced photoaging and other damaging effects of electromagnetic radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing the therapeutic range of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTAPP) for biomedical applications is an active research topic. For the first time, we examined the effect of plasma on-times in this study while keeping the duty ratio and treatment time fixed. We have evaluated the electrical, optical, and soft jet properties for two different duty ratios of 10% and 36%, using the plasma on-times of 25, 50, 75, and 100 ms. Furthermore, the influence of plasma on-time on reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) levels in plasma treated medium (PTM) was also investigated. Following treatment, the characteristics of (DMEM media) and PTM (pH, EC, and ORP) were also examined. While EC and ORP rose by raising plasma on-time, pH remained unchanged. Finally, the PTM was used to observe the cell viability and ATP levels in U87-MG brain cancer cells. We found it interesting that, by increasing the plasma on-time, the levels of ROS/RNS dramatically increased in PTM and significantly affected the viability and ATP levels of the U87-MG cell line. The results of this study provide a significant indication of advancement by introducing the optimization of plasma on-time to increase the efficacy of the soft plasma jet for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytochemical investigation of the roots of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Sophora flavescens led to the isolation of two novel prenylflavonoids with an unusual cyclohexyl substituent instead of the common aromatic ring B, named 4′,4′-dimethoxy-sophvein (17) and sophvein-4′-one (18), and 34 known compounds (1–16, 19–36). The structures of these chemical compounds were determined by spectroscopic techniques, including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HRESIMS data. Furthermore, evaluations of nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells indicated that some compounds exhibited obvious inhibition effects, with IC50 ranged from 4.6 ± 1.1 to 14.4 ± 0.4 μM. Moreover, additional research demonstrated that some compounds inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells, with an IC50 ranging from 0.46 ± 0.1 to 48.6 ± 0.8 μM. These results suggest that flavonoid derivatives from the roots of S. flavescens can be used as a latent source of antiproliferative or anti-inflammatory agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acids have received growing interest in Leishmania biology with the characterization of the enzymes allowing the complete fatty acid synthesis of this trypanosomatid parasite. This review presents a comparative analysis of the fatty acid profiles of the major classes of lipids and phospholipids in different species of Leishmania with cutaneous or visceral tropism. Specificities relating to the parasite forms, resistance to antileishmanial drugs, and host/parasite interactions are described as well as comparisons with other trypanosomatids. Emphasis is placed on polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolic and functional specificities, in particular, their conversion into oxygenated metabolites that are inflammatory mediators able to modulate metacyclogenesis and parasite infectivity. The impact of lipid status on the development of leishmaniasis and the potential of fatty acids as therapeutic targets or candidates for nutritional interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a very common dental problem that can have a negative impact on the quality of life and can lead to invasive dental procedures. Prevention of DH and control of symptoms are highly desirable. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) has been shown in vitro to block dentinal tubules and in vivo to be a safe and effective additive in oral care products that reduce DH clinically. This study's aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current evidence that HAP-containing oral care products reduce DH. Databases were searched, and only clinical trials in humans were included; studies conducted in vitro or on animals were not included. Publications in a foreign language were translated and included. We found 44 published clinical trials appropriate for systematic analysis. More than half of the trials had high-quality GRADE scores. HAP significantly reduced dentin hypersensitivity compared to placebo (39.5%; CI 95% [48.93; 30.06]), compared to fluoride (23%; CI 95% [34.18; 11.82]), and with a non-significant tendency compared to other desensitizing agents (10.2%; CI 95% [21.76; −19.26]). In conclusion, the meta-analysis showed that HAP added to oral care products is a more effective agent than fluoride in controlling dentin hypersensitivity and may be superior to other desensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high-power laser systems, the primary cause of contamination of optical components and degradation of spatial cleanliness is laser-induced sputtering of particles. To mitigate this problem, laminar flow is frequently utilized to control the direction and transport of these particles. This study characterizes the properties of laser-induced sputtering particles, including their flying trend, diameter range, and velocity distribution at varying time intervals. A time-resolved imaging method was employed to damage the rear surface of fused silica using a 355 nm Nd: YAG pump laser. The efficacy of laminar flow in controlling these particles was then assessed, with a particular focus on the influence of laminar flow direction, laminar flow velocity, particle flight height, and particle diameter. Our results indicate that the optimal laminar flow velocity for preventing particle invasion is highly dependent on the maximum particle attenuation distance (or safety distance), which can vary by up to two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, a laminar flow velocity of 0.5 m/s can effectively prevent particle sedimentation. Future research will aim to optimize laminar flow systems based on these findings to achieve high surface cleanliness in high-power laser systems with minimal energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A contemporary agricultural production system relying on heavy usage of agrochemicals represents a questionable outlook for sustainable food supply in the future. The visible negative environmental impacts and unforeseen consequences to human and animal health have been requiring a shift towards the novel eco-friendly alternatives for chemical pesticides for a while now. Microbial-based biocontrol agents have shown a promising potential for plant disease management. The bacteria of the genus Bacillus have been among the most exploited microbial active components due to several highly efficient mechanisms of action against plant pathogens, as well as a palette of additional plant-beneficial mechanisms, together with their suitable properties for microbial biopesticide formulations. Among other bioactive metabolites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been investigated for their biocontrol applications, exhibiting the main advantage of long-distance effect without the necessity for direct contact with plants or pathogens. The aim of this study is to give an overview of the state-of-the-art in the field of Bacillus-based VOCs, especially in terms of their antibacterial, antifungal, and nematicidal action as the main segments determining their potential for biocontrol applications in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purple rice flour was modified using heat–moisture treatment (HMT) in three cycles using an oven (OHMT) and autoclave (AHMT) at temperatures of 100 °C and 120 °C, and with moisture levels of 20%, 25%, and 30%. X-ray diffraction was used to analyze the changes in the molecular structure. The swelling capacity, solubility, and starch digestibility, including rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS), were studied in both native and modified purple rice flour. the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities were also evaluated. Both OHMT and AHMT resulted in a decrease in swelling capacity, solubility, and RDS, but an increase in RS and SDS values compared to the native purple rice flour. All samples showed an increase in relative crystallinity. Both treatments also had an impact on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities, leading to a decrease in total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, and the scavenging activity of DPPH and ABTS radicals compared to the native purple rice flour. The findings suggest that HMT can both improve the functional properties of purple rice flour and hold potential for use in various food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial biocontrol agents are efficient and environment-friendly in eradicating plant pathogenic bacteria. In recent years, Bacillus velezensis has gained popularity as a potential biocontrol agent in many countries. Several B. velezensis-based biocontrol products, previously identified as B. amyloliquefaciens or B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum, have received commercial approval, particularly in China and Europe. In this study, we compiled recent research findings on B. velezensis related to the production of antimicrobials, volatile organic compounds, induction of disease resistance, and the effect of this bacterium on plant growth promotion and yield. However, some recent research indicates that this important resource is also linked to several diseases in crops, including peach, onion, and potato, and the negative aspects of this bacterium in terms of its virulence traits to infect crops have not been summarized before. In this review, we compile the recent reports of this bacterium in term of its beneficial properties in agriculture. In addition, we also discuss several reports about its harmful effect on several crops as well. Therefore, due to the inherent pathogenicity of this bacterium to several crops, care must be taken when using it in a novel crop cultivation technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a subtype of stroke with high morbidity and mortality. The main causes of a poor prognosis include early brain injury (EBI) and delayed vasospasm, both of which play a significant role in the pathophysiological process. As an important mechanism of EBI and delayed vasospasm, oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of aSAH by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the mitochondria, hemoglobin, or enzymatic pathways in the early stages of aSAH. As a result, antioxidant therapy, which primarily targets the Nrf2-related pathway, can be employed as a potential strategy for treating aSAH. In the early stages of aSAH development, increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes and detoxifying enzymes can relieve oxidative stress, reduce brain damage, and improve prognosis. Herein, the regulatory mechanisms of Nrf2 and related pharmacological compounds are reviewed, and Nrf2-targeted drugs are proposed as potential treatments for aSAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the use of drones grows, so too does the demand for physical protection against drone damage resulting from collisions and falls. In addition, as the flight environment becomes more complicated, a shock absorption system is required, in which the protective structure can be deformed based on the circumstances. Here, we present an origami- and kirigami-based structure that provides protection from various directions. This research adds a deformation capacity to existing fixed-shape guards; by using shape memory alloys, the diameter and height of the protective structure are controlled. We present three protective modes (1: large diameter/low height; 2: small diameter/large height; and 3: lotus shaped) that mitigate drone falls and side collisions. From the result of the drop impact test, mode 2 showed a 78.2% reduction in the maximum impact force at side impact. We incorporated kirigami patterns into the origami structures in order to investigate the aerodynamic effects of the hollow patterns. Airflow experiments yielded a macro understanding of flow-through behaviors on each kirigami pattern. In the wind speed experiment, the change in airflow velocity induced by the penetration of the kirigami pattern was measured, and in the force measurement experiment, the air force applied to the structure was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling waste brine from the Kimchi production process is an important environmental and industry issue. We applied an underwater plasma to reduce food-borne pathogens in the waste brine. The capillary electrodes supplied by alternating current (AC) bi-polar pulsed power were applied to treat 100 L of waste brine. The inactivation efficacy was analyzed using four different agars (Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA), Marine agar (MA), de Man Rogosa Sharpe Agar (MRS), and Yeast Extract–Peptone–Dextrose (YPD), respectively. The microbial population was reduced linearly with treatment time, irrespective of culturing medium. The inactivation followed the log-linear model (R2: 0.96–0.99). The reusability of plasma-treated waste brine (PTWB) was determined by five parameters (salinity, pH, acidity, reducing sugar, and the population of microorganisms) of salted Kimchi cabbage, and they were compared with newly made brine (NMB) and waste brine (WB), respectively. The results showed that the quality of salted Kimchi cabbage prepared by PTWB was not significantly different from that of NMB, indicating that the underwater plasma treatment is feasible to reuse waste brine in the salting process of Kimchi production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with a low response to standard anti-cancer therapies. There is an unmet need to develop new therapeutic strategies to improve the clinical outcomes of current treatments. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a promising approach for cancer treatment, and has displayed anticancer efficacy in multiple preclinical models. Recent studies have shown that the efficacy of CAP is positively correlated with intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. This suggests that aggressively increasing intracellular ROS levels has the potential to further improve CAP-mediated anticancer efficacy. Glutamine plays an important role in cellular ROS scavenging after being converted to glutathione (GSH, a well-described antioxidant) under physiological conditions, so reducing intracellular glutamine levels seems to be a promising strategy. To test this hypothesis, we treated esophageal cancer cells with CAP while controlling the supply of glutamine. The results showed that glutamine did affect the anticancer effect of CAP, and the combination of CAP stimulation and glutamine deprivation significantly inhibited the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis documented a significant increase in more than 10% in apoptosis and necrosis of esophageal cancer cells after this synergistic treatment compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Thus, these results provide the first direct evidence that the biological function of CAP can be modulated by glutamine levels and that combined CAP stimulation and glutamine deprivation represent a promising strategy for the future treatment of esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP4B1 can bioactivate a wide range of xenobiotics, such as its defining/hallmark substrate 4-ipomeanol leading to tissue-specific toxicities. Similar to other members of the CYP4 family, CYP4B1 has the ability to hydroxylate fatty acids and fatty alcohols. Structural insights into the enigmatic role of CYP4B1 with functions in both, xenobiotic and endobiotic metabolism, as well as its unusual heme-binding characteristics are now possible by the recently solved crystal structures of native rabbit CYP4B1 and the p.E310A variant. Importantly, CYP4B1 does not play a major role in hepatic P450-catalyzed phase I drug metabolism due to its predominant extra-hepatic expression, mainly in the lung. In addition, no catalytic activity of human CYP4B1 has been observed owing to a unique substitution of an evolutionary strongly conserved proline 427 to serine. Nevertheless, association of CYP4B1 expression patterns with various cancers and potential roles in cancer development have been reported for the human enzyme. This review will summarize the current status of CYP4B1 research with a spotlight on its roles in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds, structural properties, and cancer association, as well as its potential application in suicide gene approaches for targeted cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, there is an explosion of available data for processing and analysis in any domain. However, signal processing efficiency is limited by the Von Neumann structure for the conventional computing system. Therefore, the design and construction of artificial synapse, which is the basic unit for the hardware-based neural network, by mimicking the structure and working mechanisms of biological synapses, have attracted a great amount of attention to overcome this limitation. In addition, a revolution in healthcare monitoring, neuro-prosthetics, and human–machine interfaces can be further realized with a flexible device integrating sensing, memory, and processing functions by emulating the bionic sensory and perceptual functions of neural systems. Until now, flexible artificial synapses and related neuromorphic systems, which are capable of responding to external environmental stimuli and processing signals efficiently, have been extensively studied from material-selection, structure-design, and system-integration perspectives. Moreover, low-dimensional materials, which show distinct electrical properties and excellent mechanical properties, have been extensively employed in the fabrication of flexible electronics. In this review, recent progress in flexible artificial synapses and neuromorphic systems based on low-dimensional materials is discussed. The potential and the challenges of the devices and systems in the application of neuromorphic computing and sensory systems are also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) has been associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis and cardiovascular disease. Adipose tissue plays a major role in lipid metabolism, mobilization and distribution. We have compared the histological and transcriptomic profiles of the subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissues from subjects with severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery with (Ob-HTG, n = 37) and without HTG (Ob-NTG, n = 67). Mean age and BMI were 51.87 ± 11.21 years, 45.78 ± 6.96 kg/m2 and 50.03 ± 10.17 years, 44.04 ± 4.69 kg/m2, respectively. The Ob-HTG group showed higher levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and prevalence of hypertension. The degree of fibrosis was increased by 14% in SAT from the Ob-HTG group (p = 0.028), while adipocyte size distribution was comparable. Twenty genes were found differentially expressed in SAT and VAT between study groups. Among them, only SAT expression of FABP4 resulted significantly associated with circulating triglyceride levels after adjusting for other covariates and independently explained 5% of the variance in triglyceride levels in the combined model. This relationship was not found in the cohort of lean or overweight patients with normotriglyceridemia (non-Ob, n = 21). These results emphasize the contribution of SAT to triglyceride concentrations in obesity and indicate that FABP4 may be a potential drug target for the treatment of HTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity-induced neuroinflammation is a chronic aseptic central nervous system inflammation that presents systemic characteristics associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) and the presence of microglia and reactive astrogliosis as well as the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The obesity pandemic is associated with lifestyle changes, including an excessive intake of obesogenic foods and decreased physical activity. Brain areas such as the lateral hypothalamus (LH), lateral septum (LS), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) have been implicated in the homeostatic and hedonic control of feeding in experimental models of diet-induced obesity. In this context, a chronic lipid intake triggers neuroinflammation in several brain regions such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. This review aims to present the background defining the significant impact of neuroinflammation and how this, when induced by an obesogenic diet, can affect feeding control, triggering metabolic and neurological alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement production is the primary source of global CO2 emissions in the construction industry. Blast furnace slag (BFS) has been examined as a potential substitute for cement to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, this substitution increases the long-term strength and improves the chemical resistance of mortar. However, a glassy film is formed on the surface of BFS while it is generated as a byproduct, lowering the initial strength of mortar. Notably, this film is destroyed in an alkaline environment. Thus, several studies have used solutions with various alkali activators. However, alkali activators are unsafe, as they are strong alkaline materials, and have low economic efficiency. This study experimentally improved the initial hydration reactivity of a mortar containing BFS as a substitute for cement, thereby improving its initial strength. We observed an increase in carbonation resistance. In addition, this study focused on evaluating the compressive strength and carbonation resistance of mortar prepared using BFS and alkaline water obtained from the electrolysis of a K2CO3 electrolyte. Results show that alkali-activated mortar using an electrolyzed alkaline aqueous solution has higher strength and contains more hydration products than that using conventional mixing water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of truck registrations and the traffic volume have increased continuously in urban areas, the problem of truck illegal parking on the roadside has become more serious in Korea. Although the government presented the necessity and the construction plan of the truck public parking lots through the '4th Comprehensive Plan for Expansion of Truck Resting Facilities', there is no detailed guideline for the local government of where to construct them. The previous studies on the location selection of the parking lots have mainly focused on passenger cars and buses, but not trucks, and the process for candidate location selection was not mentioned. To fill this gap, this study presents a decision-making process for the location selection of truck public parking lots in urban areas based on mixed-integer programming; it includes a candidate location selection by spatial analysis and an optimal location determination by the application of the competitive p-median algorithm. A case study of Incheon was conducted to validate the presented decision-making process. This study introduced a systematic decision-making process that includes standards establishment, data processing, and methodology application; it is universalistic enough to be utilized as a guideline for the government to efficiently construct truck public parking lots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the major causes of death worldwide, ranking as the fifth most incident cancer in 2020 and the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality. The majority of GC patients are in an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, presenting a poor prognosis and outcome. Current GC treatment approaches involve endoscopic detection, gastrectomy and chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in an adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting. Drug development approaches demand extreme effort to identify molecular mechanisms of action of new drug candidates. Drug repurposing is based on the research of new therapeutic indications of drugs approved for other pathologies. In this review, we explore GC and the different drugs repurposed for this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the role of adenylyl cyclase type 7 (AC7) in microglia's immune function, we generated AC7 gene knockout (AC7 KO) clones from a mouse microglial cell line, BV-2, using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. The ability of BV-2 cells to generate cAMP and their innate immune functions were examined in the presence or absence of ethanol. The parental BV-2 cells showed robust cAMP production when stimulated with prostaglandin-E1 (PGE1) and ethanol increased cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner. AC7 KO clones of BV-2 cells showed diminished and ethanol-insensitive cAMP production. The phagocytic activity of the parental BV-2 cells was inhibited in the presence of PGE1; AC7 KO BV-2 cells showed lower and PGE1-insensitive phagocytic activity. Innate immune activities of the parental BV-2 cells, including bacterial killing, nitric oxide synthesis, and expression of arginase 1 and interleukin 10 were activated as expected with small effects of ethanol. However, the innate immune activities of AC7 KO cells were either drastically diminished or not detected. The data presented suggest that AC7 has an important role in the innate immune functions of microglial cells. AC7's involvement in ethanol's effects on immune functions remains unclear. Further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly active and earth-abundant catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) play vital roles in developing efficient water splitting to produce hydrogen fuels. Here, we reported an effective strategy to fabricate a completely new nitrogen-doped MoS2/COF-C4N vertical heterojunction (N-MoS2/COF-C4N) as precious-metal-free bifunctional electrocatalysts for both HER and OER. Compared with MoS2 and COF-C4N, the obtained vertical N-MoS2/COF-C4N catalyst showed enhanced HER with a low overpotential of 106 mV at 10 mA cm−2, which is six times lower than MoS2. The superior acidic HER activity, molecular mechanism, and charge transfer characteristic of this vertical N-MoS2/COF-C4N were investigated experimentally and theoretically in detail. Its basic OER activity is almost equal to that of COF-C4N with an overpotential of 349 mV at 10 mA cm−2, which showed that the in-situ growing method maintains the exposure of the C active sites to the greatest extent. The preparation and investigation for vertical N-MoS2/COF-C4N provide ideas and a research basis for us to further explore promising overall water-splitting electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A straightforward one-pot synthesis of 6-aryl-2-azido-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine derivatives 3 by the [3+3] cyclocondensation of 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-methoxybut-3-en-2-ones [1, F3CC(O)CH=C(R1)OMe, where R1 = Ph (a), 3,5,5,6,8,8-hexamethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl (b), 4-PhC6H4 (c), 4-FC6H4 (d), furan-2-yl (e), thiophen-2-yl (f)] with 2-aminotetrazole monohydrate (2) under basic conditions is described. Tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine is the most probable intermediate product in the reaction, though it has not been identified. Copper-catalyzed click reaction of 3 with phenylacetylene (4) afforded 6-aryl-2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidines 5. All products were characterized using multinuclear 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR, IR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The structures of 2-azido-4-phenyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine (3a), 6-(furan-2-yl)-2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine (5e), and 2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-6-(thiophen-2-yl)-4-(trifluoro-methyl)pyrimidine (5f) have been determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ulleung Basin of the East Sea is a biological hotspot, but studies on the macrobenthos therein are lacking. To evaluate the macrobenthos species diversity and community structure in the Ulleung Basin, we conducted a survey from 2017 to 2021. A total of 262 species of macrobenthos was detected by the survey, and the average habitat density was 243 individuals/m2. The average biomass of macrobenthos was 43.7 g/m2, and the average Shannon and Wiener's diversity index was 2.3 (0.69–3.61). The dominant species were the polychaetes Terebellides horikoshii, Chaetozone setosa, Scalibregma inflatum, and Aglaophamus sp. and the bivalvia Axinopsida subquadrata. The community structure of macrobenthos differed according to water depth, and a correlation analysis using environmental variables showed that the community was affected by water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. The macrobenthic fauna in the Ulleung Basin was greatly influenced by water depth, the sedimentary environment was different, and the dominant species were also different. In addition, there was little seasonal change compared to the East Sea coast. Our findings will facilitate further investigation of benthic ecosystems throughout the East Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usual extraction processes for analyzing foods, supplements, and nutraceutical products involve massive amounts of organic solvents contributing to a negative impact on the environment and human health. In recent years, a new class of green solvents called natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have been considered a valid alternative to conventional solvents. Compared with conventional organic solvents, NADES have attracted considerable attention since they are sustainable, biodegradable, and non-toxic but also are easy to prepare, and have low production costs. Here we summarize the major aspects of NADEs such as the classification, preparation method physicochemical properties, and toxicity. Moreover, we provide an overview of novel extraction techniques using NADES as potential extractants of bioactive compounds from foods and food by-products, and application of NADEs in food analysis. This review aims to be useful for the further development of NAES and for broadening the knowledge of these new green solvents in order to increase their use for the extraction of bioactive compounds and in food analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry is a formidable technique to monitor surface deformation with a millimeter detection resolution. This study applies the Persistent Scatter-Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSARTM) technique to measure ground subsidence related to a twin-tunnel excavation in downtown Los Angeles, USA. The PSInSARTM technique is suitable for urban settings because urban areas have strong reflectors. The twin tunnels in downtown Los Angeles were excavated beneath a densely urbanized area with variable overburden depths. In practice, tunneling-induced ground settlement is dominantly vertical. The vertical deformation rate in this study is derived by combining Line of Sight (LOS) deformation velocities obtained from SAR images from both ascending and descending satellite orbits. Local and uneven settlements up to approximately 12 mm/year along the tunnel alignment are observed within the allowable threshold. No severe damages to aboveground structures were reported. Furthermore, ground movements mapped one year before tunnel construction indicate that no concentrated ground settlements pre-existed. A Machine Learning (ML)-based permutation feature importance method is used for a parametric study to identify dominant factors associated with the twin-tunneling induced uneven ground subsidence. Six parameters are selected to conduct the parametric study, including overburden thickness, i.e., the thickness of artificial fill and alluvium soils above the tunnel springline, the distance between the two tunnel centerlines, the depth to the tunnel springline, building height, the distance to the tunnel, and groundwater level. Results of the parametric analysis indicate that overburden thickness, i.e., the thickness of artificial fill and alluvium soils above the tunnel springline, is the dominant contributing factor, followed by the distance between tunnel centerlines, depth to the tunnel springline, and building height. Two parameters, the distance to the tunnel, and the groundwater level, play lesser essential roles than others. In addition, the geological profile provides comprehension of unevenly distributed ground settlements, which are geologically sensitive and more concentrated in areas with thick artificial fill and alluvium soils, low tunnel depth, and high groundwater levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation induces photodamage towards cellular macromolecules that can progress to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. The topical administration of compounds that maintain the redox balance in cells presents an alternative approach to combat skin oxidative damage. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) can act as antioxidants due to their enzyme-like activity. In addition, a recent study from our group has demonstrated the photoprotective potential of tannic acid (TA). Therefore, this work aimed to synthesize CNPs associated with TA (CNP-TA) and investigate its photoprotective activity in L929 fibroblasts exposed to UVB radiation. CNP conjugation with TA was confirmed by UV–Vis spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Bare CNPs and CNP-TA exhibited particle sizes of ~5 and ~10 nm, superoxide dismutase activity of 3724 and 2021 unit/mg, and a zeta potential of 23 and −19 mV, respectively. CNP-TA showed lower cytotoxicity than free TA and the capacity to reduce the oxidative stress caused by UVB; supported by the scavenging of reactive oxygen species, the prevention of endogenous antioxidant system depletion, and the reduction in oxidative damage in lipids and DNA. Additionally, CNP-TA improved cell proliferation and decreased TGF-β, metalloproteinase-1, and cyclooxygenase-2. Based on these results, CNP-TA shows therapeutic potential for protection against photodamage, decreasing molecular markers of photoaging and UVB-induced inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present review describes the concept of probiotics for plants and analyzes the prospects for using actinomycetes as producers of these drugs. The minimum requirements for plant probiotic microorganisms are proposed, similar to those for human probiotic microorganisms. These are utility, efficiency and safety for plants, as well as mandatory isolation from plant samples. It is noted that these requirements are usually met by endophytic and rhizosphere microorganisms that stimulate plant growth and protect them from phytopathogens. Evidence is given for the possibility of attributing actinomycetes to probiotic plant bacteria, due to the close relationship of these microorganisms with plants, their wide distribution in populations of endophytic and rhizosphere microorganisms, and the presence of phytoregulatory activity. This review provides examples of genera and species of actinomycetes that are promising producers of probiotics for agronomically important crops. The most studied and commercialized are representatives of the Streptomyces genus. The current state, prospects, and problems in commercialization of probiotics based on actinomycetes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch and flour from various plants have been widely used for sundry applications, especially in the food and chemical industries. However, native starch and flour have several weaknesses, especially in functional, pasting, and physicochemical properties. The quality of native starch and flour can be improved by a modification process. The type of modification that is safe, easy, and efficient is physical modification using hydrothermal treatment techniques, including heat moisture treatment (HMT) and annealing (ANN). This review discusses the hydrothermal modifications of starch and flour, especially from various tubers and cereals. The discussion is mainly on its effect on five parameters, namely functional properties, morphology, pasting properties, crystallinity, and thermal properties. Modification of HMT and ANN, in general, can improve the functional properties, causing cracking of the granule surface, stable viscosity to heat, increasing crystallinity, and increasing gelatinization temperature. However, some modifications of starch and flour by HMT and ANN had no effect on several parameters or even had the opposite effect. The summary of the various studies reviewed can be a reference for the development of hydrothermal-modified starch and flour applications for various industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cow manure is an abundant residue and poses a problem regarding recycling. Intensive animal farming produces manure, which, if not properly managed, can contaminate nearby water bodies and soils with nutrient excess. There are 1.9 billion cattle worldwide, with a calculated capacity to produce 7.6 billion tons per year. Feeding of these cows is carried out mainly with cellulosic material. Therefore, cow manure contains an important fraction of lignocellulose. Cow manure can be valorized using such lignocellulosic fractions as the raw material of several fermentative processes. This fraction can be transformed into sugar, which can, in turn, be used to feed lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB produces lactic acid (LA), which can later be polymerized to poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a bioplastic with promising market forecasts. This review describes the most updated processes for all of the necessary steps to produce lactic acid from lignocellulosic biomass with LAB. Key process parameters to obtain PLA from lignocellulose are reviewed and analyzed herein, including lignocellulosic fraction extraction, sugar transformation, pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, purification, and polymerization. This review highlights the potentiality to obtain lignocellulose from cow manure, as well as its use to obtain PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etiology of hyperglycemic-induced depressive behaviors is unclear. We hypothesized that long-term hyperglycemia may induce long-lasting disturbances in glutamatergic signaling and neural damages, causing depressive behaviors. To prove our hypothesis, a C57BL/6N mouse model of hyperglycemia was maintained for 4 weeks (equivalent to approximately 3 years in humans), after which insulin treatment was administered for an additional 4 weeks to normalize hyperglycemia-induced changes. Hyperglycemic mice showed depressive-like behaviors. Glutamatergic neurons and glial cells in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were affected by hyperglycemia. Insulin treatment improved blood glucose, water intake, and food intake to normoglycemic levels, but did not improve depressive-like behaviors. Glutamatergic signaling decreased with long-term hyperglycemia and did not normalize with insulin-induced normoglycemia. Importantly, hyperglycemia-induced changes in the mPFC were almost not reversed by the 4-week insulin treatment. In particular, levels of insulin receptor beta subunit (IRβ), IRS-1, vesicular glutamate transporter 1, glutamine transporter SNAT2, phosphate-activated glutaminase, and GLUT-3 were not changed by insulin. Nitration and the dephosphorylation of IRβ in the PFC also did not improve with insulin treatment. Therefore, our results suggest that hypoactive glutamatergic activity in the mPFC is involved in diabetic-associated depressive behaviors, and it is difficult to cure with glycemic regulation alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary supplements are widely available products used by millions of people around the world. Unfortunately, the procedure of adding pharmaceutical and psychoactive substances has recently been observed, in order to increase the effectiveness of supplements in the form of hemp oils. For this reason, it is extremely important to develop analytical methods for the detection of substances prohibited in dietary supplements and food products. In the present study, using the LC–MS/MS technique, an innovative method for the detection and quantification of 117 synthetic cannabinoids and 13 natural cannabinoids in dietary supplements and food products in the form of oils during one 13-min chromatographic run was developed. Each method was fully validated by characterization of the following parameters: The limit of detection was set to 0.1 ng/mL (100 µg/g, 0.01%). The limit of quantification ranged from 0.05 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL. The criteria assumed for systematic error caused by methodological bias (±20%) resulting from the recovery of analytes after the extraction process, as well as the coefficient of variation (CV) (≤20%), were met for all 130 tested compounds. The positive results of the validation confirmed that the developed methods met the requirements related to the adequacy of their application in a given scope. Additionally, methods developed using the LC–MS/MS technique were verified via proficiency tests. The developed analytical procedure was successfully used in the analysis of hemp oils and capsules containing them in the studied dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and complex neurodegenerative disease. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are a major class of drugs used in AD therapy. ROCK2, another promising target for AD, has been associated with the induction of neurogenesis via PTEN/AKT. This study aimed to characterize the therapeutic potential of a novel donepezil–tacrine hybrid compound (TA8Amino) to inhibit AChE and ROCK2 protein, leading to the induction of neurogenesis in SH-SY5Y cells. Experiments were carried out with undifferentiated and neuron-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells submitted to treatments with AChEIs (TA8Amino, donepezil, and tacrine) for 24 h or 7 days. TA8Amino was capable of inhibiting AChE at non-cytotoxic concentrations after 24 h. Following neuronal differentiation for 7 days, TA8Amino and donepezil increased the percentage of neurodifferentiated cells and the length of neurites, as confirmed by β-III-tubulin and MAP2 protein expression. TA8Amino was found to participate in the activation of PTEN/AKT signaling. In silico analysis showed that TA8Amino can stably bind to the active site of ROCK2, and in vitro experiments in SH-SY5Y cells demonstrate that TA8Amino significantly reduced the expression of ROCK2 protein, contrasting with donepezil and tacrine. Therefore, these results provide important information on the mechanism underlying the action of TA8Amino with regard to multi-target activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreaks caused by RNA and DNA viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox, pose serious threats to human health. The RLR and cGAS-STING pathways contain major cytoplasmic sensors and signaling transduction axes for host innate antiviral immunity. In physiological and virus-induced pathological states, the activation and inactivation of these signal axes are tightly controlled, especially post-translational modifications (PTMs). E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) are the direct manipulator of ubiquitin codons and determine the type and modification type of substrate proteins. Therefore, members of the E3s family are involved in balancing the host's innate antiviral immune responses, and their functions have been extensively studied over recent decades. In this study, we overviewed the mechanisms of different members of three E3s families that mediate the RLR and cGAS-STING axes and analyzed them as potential molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of virus-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adzuki bean is well known as a potential functional food that improves metabolic complications from obesity and diabetes. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) has been implicated to have an important role in obesity and diabetes. However, the protective roles of adzuki bean MY59 extract (ABE) on insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis are not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ABE on LCN2 expression in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. ABE reduced HFD-induced fat mass and improved insulin resistance. In addition to hepatic steatosis, HFD-fed mice showed many apoptotic cells and neutrophils in the epididymal fat pads. However, these findings were significantly reduced by ABE supplementation. In particular, we found that increased LCN2 proteins from serum, epididymal fat pads, and liver in HFD-fed mice are significantly reduced by ABE. Furthermore, ABE reduced increased heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase-1 expressions in adipose tissue and liver in HFD-fed mice. We found that hepatic nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 expression in HFD-fed mice was also reduced by ABE. Thus, these findings indicate that ABE feeding could improve insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis by decreasing LCN2-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress in HFD-fed mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over a hundred years of study on the favourable effect of ketogenic diets in the treatment of epilepsy have contributed to a long-lasting discussion on its potential influence on other neurological diseases. A significant increase in the number of scientific studies in that field has been currently observed. The aim of this paper is a widespread, thorough analysis of the available scientific evidence in respect of the role of the ketogenic diet in the therapy of neurological diseases such as: epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine. A wide range of the mechanisms of action of the ketogenic diet has been demonstrated in neurological diseases, including, among other effects, its influence on the reduction in inflammatory conditions and the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the restoration of the myelin sheath of the neurons, the formation and regeneration of mitochondria, neuronal metabolism, the provision of an alternative source of energy for neurons (ketone bodies), the reduction in glucose and insulin concentrations, the reduction in amyloid plaques, the induction of autophagy, the alleviation of microglia activation, the reduction in excessive neuronal activation, the modulation of intestinal microbiota, the expression of genes, dopamine production and the increase in glutamine conversion into GABA. The studies discussed (including randomised controlled studies), conducted in neurological patients, have stressed the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of epilepsy and have demonstrated its promising therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine. A frequent advantage of the diet was demonstrated over non-ketogenic diets (in the control groups) in the therapy of neurological diseases, with simultaneous safety and feasibility when conducting the nutritional model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria are implicated in a wide range of functions apart from ATP generation, and, therefore, constitute one of the most important organelles of cell. Since healthy mitochondria are essential for proper cellular functioning and survival, mitochondrial dysfunction may lead to various pathologies. Mitochondria are considered a novel and promising therapeutic target for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various human diseases including metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. For mitochondria-targeted therapy, there is a need to develop an effective drug delivery approach, owing to the mitochondrial special bilayer structure through which therapeutic molecules undergo multiple difficulties in reaching the core. In recent years, various nanoformulations have been designed such as polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, inorganic nanoparticles conjugate with mitochondriotropic moieties such as mitochondria-penetrating peptides (MPPs), triphenylphosphonium (TPP), dequalinium (DQA), and mitochondrial protein import machinery for overcoming barriers involved in targeting mitochondria. The current approaches used for mitochondria-targeted drug delivery have provided promising ways to overcome the challenges associated with targeted-drug delivery. Herein, we review the research from past years to the current scenario that has identified mitochondrial dysfunction as a major contributor to the pathophysiology of various diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the recent advancements in mitochondria-targeted drug delivery strategies for the pathologies associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to unbuffered and buffered water treatment by means of atmospheric pressure cold plasma of electrical discharges. The interest in the activation of these two liquids by plasma-induced, gaseous-phase chemistry ranges over a wide area of potential applications and interdisciplinary scientific fields. These include biology, medicine, sanitation, environmental restoration, agriculture, etc. Atmospheric pressure cold plasma is here produced in the form of a plasma jet and set into physical contact with the liquid specimens. The operational window of the treatment, in terms of plasma reactivity, is determined by means of UV-NIR optical emission spectroscopy, and the treated liquids are probed in a variety of respects. Evaporation rate, temperature, acidity and basicity, resistivity, and oxidation-reduction potential are measured as a function of the treatment time, either in-situ or ex-situ. The formation of principal reactive oxygen species, i.e., •OH, H2O2 and O 2 • − , with a plasma jet mean power lower than 400 mW, is eventually demonstrated and their concentration is measured with original methods borrowed from the biology field. The experimental results are linked to reports published over the last ten years, which are compiled in a brief but meaningful review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the validity of PET/CT scans in the preoperative identification of lymph node metastases (LNM) and compare them with postoperative outcomes. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 87 patients with a solitary lung nodule or biopsy-proven non-small cell lung cancer treated in our institution from 2009 to 2015. Patients were divided into two groups and four subgroups, depending on pre- and postoperative findings. Results: According to our analysis, PET/CT scan has a sensitivity of 50%, a specificity of 88.89%, a positive predictive value of 63.16%, and a negative predictive value of 82.35%. Among the patients, 13.8% were downstaged in PET-CT, while 8% were upstaged. In 78.2% of cases, the PET/CT evaluation was consistent with the histology. Metastases without extracapsular invasion were seldom recognized on PET/CT. Conclusions: This analysis showed the significance of extracapsular tumor invasion, which causes an inflammatory reaction, on LNM, which is probably responsible for preoperative false-positive findings. In conclusion, PET/CT scans are very effective in identifying patients without tumors. Furthermore, it is highly probable that patients with negative findings are free of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure causes a breakdown of collagen, oxidative stress, and inflammation. UVB activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), activator protein-1 (AP-1), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, we evaluated 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+) radical scavenging activity and the photoprotective effect of lactic acid bacteria LAB strains, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus genera in UVB-exposed skin fibroblasts. Nine LAB strains displayed antioxidant activity by regulating superoxide dismutase in UVB-exposed skin fibroblasts. Four LAB strains (MG4684, MG5368, MG4511, and MG5140) recovered type I procollagen level by inhibiting MMPs, MAPK, and AP-1 protein expression. Additionally, these four strains reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines by inhibiting oxidative stress. Therefore, L. fermentum MG4684, MG5368, L. rhamnosus MG4511, and S. thermophilus MG5140 are potentially photoprotective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclophosphamide (CYP) is used to treat different malignancies and autoimmune disorders in men. This chemotherapy frequently reduces tumors, which is beneficial, but also causes infertility because of severe oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the bladder and testes brought on by its metabolite, acrolein. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of a novel food, açai berry, in preventing CYP-induced damage in the bladder and testes. Methods: CYP was administered intraperitoneally once during the experiment at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight diluted in 10 mL/kg b.w. of water. Açai berry was administered orally at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Results: The administration of açai berry was able to reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, apoptosis, and histological changes in the bladder and testes after CYP injection. Conclusions: Our findings show for the first time that açai berry modulates physiological antioxidant defenses to protect the bladder and testes against CYP-induced changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish predation is restricted in areas with high aquatic macrophyte coverage; however, bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), an exotic fish species, can consume prey even in such spaces. Here, we hypothesized that the cladoceran community structures in three wetlands (Upo, Jangcheok, and Beongae) with abundant macrophytes within the Nakdong River basin, South Korea, were influenced by high abundance and foraging activities of L. macrochirus. The study areas were dominated by L. macrochirus with body sizes < 10 cm, and their cladoceran consumption was higher than that of larger size classes. Most of the cladoceran species that were highly consumed by L. macrochirus were pelagic (i.e., Daphnia obtusa and Daphnia pulex); epiphytic species were consumed less (i.e., Chydorus shpaericus, Alona retangula, and Pleroxus laevis). We hypothesize that epiphytic cladoceran species are not easily explored by L. macrochirus. Selective consumption of pelagic species by L. macrochirus was reflected in the seasonal cladoceran distribution. Epiphytic species were the most abundant, whereas pelagic species abundance was relatively low. The low density of pelagic cladoceran species further increased the epiphytic species abundance. We conclude that the dominance of L. macrochirus introduced into Korean wetlands has been sufficient to change the cladoceran community structure; therefore, the abundance of epiphytes cladocerans in other countries or regions needs to be provided priority to the dominance and consumption pattern of L. macrochirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The estrogen decline during perimenopause can induce various disorders, including cognitive impairment. Phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones, lignans, and coumestans, have been tried as a popular alternative to avoid the side effects of conventional hormone replacement therapy, but their exact mechanisms and risk are not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of isoflavone-enriched soybean leaves (IESLs) on the cognitive impairment induced by ovariectomy in female mice. (2) Methods: Ovariectomy was performed at 9 weeks of age to mimic menopausal women, and the behavior tests for cognition were conducted 15 weeks after the first administration. IESLs were administered for 18 weeks. (3) Results: The present study showed the effects of IESLs on the cognitive function in the OVX (ovariectomized) mice. Ovariectomy markedly increased the body weight and fat accumulation in the liver and perirenal fat, but IESL treatment significantly inhibited them. In the behavioral tests, ovariectomy impaired cognitive functions, but administration of IESLs restored it. In addition, in the OVX mice, administration of IESLs restored decreased estrogen receptor (ER) β and PI3K/Akt expression in the hippocampus. (4) Conclusions: The positive effects of IESLs on cognitive functions may be closely related to the ER-mediated PI3/Akt signaling pathway in the hippocampus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel diagnosis method based on the rotor slip is proposed in the paper to correctly detect current and speed sensor failures during the induction motor drive (IMD) operation. In order to enhance reliability and avoid confusion in the diagnosis algorithm due to the influence of measured signal quality, each fault type is determined in a priority order defined by the diagnosis method. Based on the features of the IMD applying the field-oriented control (FOC) technique, an innovative model uses the measured currents and reference speed as the input signals to estimate the rotor slip for the current sensor fault detection. After verifying the quality of the feedback of the current signals, a speed sensor fault function is continued, and performs according to relations among the reference speed, estimated speed based on the sliding mode method, and measured rotor speeds. Finally, the estimated quantities are selected to replace the wrong measured current or speed signals. The feasibility of the proposed approach is verified by simulations using Matlab-Simulink software as well as by practical experiments using an IMD prototype with a rated power of 2.2 kW and a DSC-TMS320F28335-based control system. The obtained simulation and experimental results demonstrated the feasibility, effectiveness, and reliability of the proposed diagnosis technique in detecting sensor failures and maintaining the stable operation of the IMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]