bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Effect of Biochar on Soil Properties, Microbial Activity and Vicia faba Properties Affected by Microplastics Contamination
Authors: Elbasiouny Heba , Mostafa Azza A. , Zedan Amina , Elbltagy Hala M. , Dawoud Sherifa F. M. , Elbanna Bodor A. , El-Shazly Safaa A. , El-Sadawy Amany A. , Sharaf-Eldin Aisha M. , Darweesh Marwa , Ebrahim Al-Zahraa E. E. , Amer Sara Mohamed , Albeialy Nour Osman , Alkharsawey Doaa Shokry , Aeash Nora Rabiea , Abuomar Amira Osama , Hamd Rehab Elsayed , Elbehiry Fathy
Published: January 2023

Microplastics (MPs) contamination is an emerging issue globally; however, adverse impacts of MPs on soil, plants and microbial activity have not been intensively studied. In this study, the potential effect of different levels of MPs (1.5, 7.5, 15%) has been investigated on soil properties, plant properties (Vicia Faba) and microbial activities through a pot experiment. The effect of biochar (BC: 2%) to mitigate the adverse effects of MP has also been examined. Soil properties (pH, EC, OM, CaCO3 and some elements) have significantly differed due to contamination of soil by MPs as well as by adding BC to the soil. The pH and CaCO3 were significantly increased more than in the control, while EC, TDS, available P, Mn and Fe were significantly decreased lower than the control, which implies adsorption on microplastic. Plant properties, such as enzymes, chlorophyll and fresh and dry weight in roots, were adversely affected by MPs contamination; however, BC mitigated this effect, especially with low contamination levels of MPs. The fresh and dry weight of the shoot was not significantly affected by MPs. The cytogenetic analysis showed that the mitotic index was significantly reduced compared to the control (9.39%), while BC increased the mitotic index at 1.5% MPs (7.11%) although it was less than the control. The percentage of abnormalities of V. faba root tip cells under different levels of MPs was significantly increased more than the control; however, BC mitigated this effect, especially at 7.5% MPs. The total count of bacteria and fungi even in soil or in the rhizosphere area did not follow a clear trend; however, the effect of BC was clear in increasing their activities. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were also significantly affected by MPs and BC. In this study, the BC level was low, however, it mitigated some adverse effects of MPs, especially at 1.5 and 7.5% of MPs. Thus, the BC could be promising in mitigating the negative impacts of MPs when applied with suitable levels that need more future studies.
Physiological Responses of the Bivalves Mytilus galloprovincialis and Ruditapes decussatus Following Exposure to Phenanthrene: Toxicokinetics, Dynamics and Biomarkers Study
Authors: Dellali Mohamed , Mardassi Khadija , Harrath Abdel Halim , Mansour Lamjed , Pacioglu Octavian , Aldahmash Waleed , Nahdi Saber , Badraoui Riadh , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Boufahja Fehmi
Published: January 2023

The aim of the current study was to assess the multifaceted effects of the polycylic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene, mainly used in the colouring, explosive, and pharmaceutical industries, on the physiology of two bivalve species with economic value as seafood, namely, the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincyalis and the European clam Ruditapes decussatus. The current study assessed how the phenanthrene affected several biomarkers and biometric endpoints in both bivalves, based on an in vivo experiment in silico approach. The bivalves were exposed during four time slots (i.e., 7, 15, 21, and 28 days) to two concentrations of phenanthrene in water (50 µg/L and 100 µg/L). For the clam R. decussatus, an additional contamination of sediment was applied due their typical benthic lifestyle (50 µg/kg and 100 µg/kg). The phenanthrene significantly reduced the ability of bivalves to tolerate desiccation and their Median Lethal Time, and also inhibited the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in a time-dependent manner. The activity of catalase indicated that bivalves also experienced oxidative stress during the first 21 days of the experiment. The significant decline in catalase activity observed during the last week of the experiment for the mussel M. galloprovincyalis supported a depletion of enzymes caused by the phenanthrene. The phenanthrene has also toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic properties, as assessed by the in silico approach. Overall, the results obtained suggest that the bivalves Ruditapes decussatus and M. galloprovincyalis can be used as a sentinel species in monitoring studies to assess the environmental impact of phenanthene in marine ecosystems. The significance of our findings is based on the fact that in ecotoxicology, little is known about the chronic effects, the simultaneous use of multiple species as bioindicators, and the interactions molecular modelling.
Microplastic Interactions and Possible Combined Biological Effects in Antarctic Marine Ecosystems
Authors: Bargagli Roberto , Rota Emilia
Published: January 2023

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are the most remote regions on Earth, and their quite pristine environmental conditions are increasingly threatened by local scientific, tourism and fishing activities and long-range transport of persistent anthropogenic contaminants from lower latitudes. Plastic debris has become one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous synthetic wastes in the global environment, and even at some coastal Antarctic sites it is the most common and enduring evidence of past and recent human activities. Despite the growing scientific interest in the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the Antarctic environment, the lack of standardized methodologies for the collection, analysis and assessment of sample contamination in the field and in the lab does not allow us to establish their bioavailability and potential impact. Overall, most of the Southern Ocean appears to be little-affected by plastic contamination, with the exception of some coastal marine ecosystems impacted by wastewater from scientific stations and tourist vessels or by local fishing activities. Microplastics have been detected in sediments, benthic organisms, Antarctic krill and fish, but there is no clear evidence of their transfer to seabirds and marine mammals. Therefore, we suggest directing future research towards standardization of methodologies, focusing attention on nanoplastics (which probably represent the greatest biological risks) and considering the interactions of MPs with macro- and microalgae (especially sea-ice algae) and the formation of epiplastic communities. In coastal ecosystems directly impacted by human activities, the combined exposure to paint chips, metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), contaminants of emerging interest (CEI) and pathogenic microorganisms represents a potential danger for marine organisms. Moreover, the Southern Ocean is very sensitive to water acidification and has shown a remarkable decrease in sea-ice formation in recent years. These climate-related stresses could reduce the resilience of Antarctic marine organisms, increasing the impact of anthropogenic contaminants and pathogenic microorganisms.
Effects of Hermetia illucens Larvae Meal and Astaxanthin as Feed Additives on Health and Production Indices in Weaned Pigs
Authors: Szczepanik Kinga , Furgał-Dierżuk Iwona , Gala Łukasz , Świątkiewicz Małgorzata
Published: January 2023

Weaning is a critical period in farming, and therefore, searching for health-promoting feed additives of natural origin is necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of full-fat H. illucens larvae meal (HI) and astaxanthin (AST) supplementation on the growth performance and health status of weaned pigs. The experiment was carried out on 48 pigs (8.7 kg) divided into six groups: I—control; II—2.5% HI; III—5% HI; IV—2.5% HI and AST; V—5% HI and AST; VI—AST. The experiment lasted from the 35th to 70th day of age, and animals were fed ad libitum. The results obtained indicate that HI meal and astaxanthin had no effect on feed intake and utilization, weight gain, or organ weight. Additionally, blood parameters remained within the norms. It seems that astaxanthin supports the inhibition of oxidative stress, which became apparent in the case of some red blood cell parameters. The 2.5% HI and AST supplementation can reduce the susceptibility of pork fat to oxidation (lower adipose tissue TBARS). However, 5% HI in feed was not beneficial because of the adverse changes in some red cell indices, and it should be combined with the antioxidant AST to improve these indices.
Evaluation of Haemostasis in Dogs Affected by Resectable Malignancy
Authors: Bruno Barbara , Maurella Cristiana , Gianella Paola , Mengozzi Giulio , Ferraris Erica , Borrelli Antonio
Published: January 2023

Dogs with neoplasm are at risk of thrombosis, yet there is no information on the haemostatic alterations that may result from the surgeries performed to remove neoplastic masses. The aim of this study was to observe the characteristics of haemostasis in dogs undergoing surgery to remove a malignancy by means of rotational thromboelastometry and thrombin generation. Haemostasis was assessed immediately before surgery (T0), 24 h after surgery (T1), and two weeks after surgery (T2). Statistically significant differences were found between the thromboelastometric parameters at T0 vs. T1, with increases observed in MCF, the α angle, and G parameters in the ex-TEM and in-TEM profiles. In the thromboelastometric analysis performed after surgery differences were identified between T1 and T2, with a decrease observed in parameters such as CFT, MCF, the α angle, and G. Between T0 and T2, only a significant decrease in CT was detected in the fib-TEM profile. No differences were found in the comparison among the results obtained via thrombin generation. In dogs with resectable malignancies, the surgeries performed to remove cancer affected coagulation, causing a tendency towards hypercoagulability. The interference with coagulation was transient, and 2 weeks after surgery, the thromboelatometric results returned to those obtained before surgery (T0).
Prediction of Ammonia Concentration in a Pig House Based on Machine Learning Models and Environmental Parameters
Authors: Peng Siyi , Zhu Jiaming , Liu Zuohua , Hu Bin , Wang Miao , Pu Shihua
Published: January 2023

Accurately predicting the air quality in a piggery and taking control measures in advance are important issues for pig farm production and local environmental management. In this experiment, the NH3 concentration in a semi-automatic piggery was studied. First, the random forest algorithm (RF) and Pearson correlation analysis were combined to analyze the environmental parameters, and nine input schemes for the model feature parameters were identified. Three kinds of deep learning and three kinds of conventional machine learning algorithms were applied to the prediction of NH3 in the piggery. Through comparative experiments, appropriate environmental parameters (CO2, H2O, P, and outdoor temperature) and superior algorithms (LSTM and RNN) were selected. On this basis, the PSO algorithm was used to optimize the hyperparameters of the algorithms, and their prediction performance was also evaluated. The results showed that the R2 values of PSO-LSTM and PSO-RNN were 0.9487 and 0.9458, respectively. These models had good accuracy when predicting NH3 concentration in the piggery 0.5 h, 1 h, 1.5 h, and 2 h in advance. This study can provide a reference for the prediction of air concentrations in pig house environments.
Microbiological Biodiversity of Regional Cow, Goat and Ewe Milk Cheeses Produced in Poland and Antibiotic Resistance of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Them
Authors: Nalepa Beata , Markiewicz Lidia Hanna
Published: January 2023

(1) Unique sensory values of traditional and regional dairy products made them more and more popular among consumers. Lactic acid bacteria naturally occurring in these products can express antibiotic resistance and be a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in the environment. The aim of the study was to characterize the microbial diversity of twenty regional cheeses produced from non-pasteurized cow, goat and ewe milk, and investigate the phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance (AR) of lactic acid bacteria isolated from these products. (2) Conventional microbiological methods were applied for the enumeration of lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli and lactococci) and their isolation, and for the enumeration of Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and spores. The disc diffusion method was applied for phenotypic AR. The PCR-based methods were used for strain identification, microbiological diversity of cheeses (PCR-DGGE), and for AR gene detection. (3) Among 79 LAB isolates the most frequent species were L. plantarum (n = 18), Leuc. lactis (n = 17), Lc. lactis (n = 11), Leuc. mesenteroides (n = 9) and L. pentosus (n = 8). Additionally, by using the PCR-DGGE method, DNA of L. casei was found in nine products. Lactobacilli (5.63–8.46 log cfu/g) and lactococci (6.15–8.41 log cfu/g) predominated over Enterococcus (max. 4.89 log cfu/g), Staphylococcus (max. 4.18 log cfu/g), and Enterobacteriaceae (mostly up to 4.88 log cfu/g). Analysis of phenotypic resistance to tetracycline (30 µg), erythromycin (15 µg), and chloramphenicol (30 µg) showed that 29% of LAB isolates were resistant to one antibiotic, 8%—to two, and 12%—to all tested antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance genes (AGR) for tetracycline (tet(M), tet(L), tet(W)), erythromycin (erm(B)) and chloramphenicol (cat-TC) were detected in 30 (38%), 29 (36.7%) and 33 (43.4%) LAB isolates, respectively. Among 31 LAB isolates phenotypically susceptible to all tested antibiotics, only 5 (16%) had no ARGs. (4) The results obtained in our work shed light on the potential threat posed by the widespread presence of ARGs in LAB present in regional cheeses.
Horse Husbandry–Nutrition, Management and Welfare
Authors: Noble Glenys K.
Published: January 2023

Nutrition is the foundation of health and welfare, going hand in hand with horse husbandry [...]
Levobupivacaine Combined with Cisatracurium in Peribulbar Anaesthesia in Cats Undergoing Corneal and Lens Surgery
Authors: Costa Giovanna L. , Leonardi Fabio , Interlandi Claudia , Spadola Filippo , Fisichella Sheila , Macrì Francesco , Nastasi Bernadette , Macrì Daniele , Ferrantelli Vincenzo , Di Pietro Simona
Published: January 2023

The aims of the study included evaluating the effects of levobupivacaine combined with cisatracurium on akinesia and mydriasis when administered by peribulbar injection, and evaluating if the chosen dose of cisatracurium is enough to avoid the use of systemic neuromuscular blockade in cats. The animals were divided into four groups as follows: group L received 1.25 mg kg−1 levobupivacaine administered by peribulbar injection; group LC received the same dose of levobupivacaine combined with 0.01 mg kg−1 of cisatracurium administered by peribulbar injection; group C received 0.01 mg kg−1 of cisatracurium administered by peribulbar injection; group GC received 0.01 mg kg−1 of cisatracurium intravenously. Physiological variables, intraocular pressure, akinesia, and mydriasis were measured before and up to 30 min after peribulbar injection. The onset of akinesia, duration of akinesia, and train of four (TOF) were evaluated. Physiological variables remained in the physiological range in all groups. Effective akinesia and mydriasis were observed in all groups. The (TOF) was 0.9 in all groups. Throughout the study was observed in group LC a shortened onset of akinesia and a prolonging its duration. The peribulbar injection of cisatracurium and levobupivacaine provided effective akinesia and mydriasis, and shortened the onset of akinesia while prolonging its duration.
Effect of Feeding System on Muscle Fiber Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Nutritional and Organoleptic Traits of Goat Meat
Authors: Dou Lu , Jin Ye , Li Huijiao , Liu Chang , Yang Zhihao , Chen Xiaoyu , Sun Lina , Zhao Lihua , Su Lin
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding system on muscle fiber composition, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat. Goats that grazed on flatland (whole area with about 0% inclination, FG group) and mountain range (whole area with about 40% inclination, MG group) were selected for the analysis. The results showed that grazing on flatland increased oxidized-twitch fiber percentage, the expression of the MyHC IIa gene (p < 0.001), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.001), and radical scavenging ability (RSA) (p < 0.05); meanwhile, the MyHC IIb gene expression (p < 0.01) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p = 0.001) were decreased. Feeding system affected nutritional and organoleptic traits of goat meat, and grazing on flatland increased protein content, total content of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), pH45min, a* value, and variety of volatile flavor compounds but decreased the content of saturated fatty acid (SFA), shear force, and b* value. In addition, the key flavor substances were screened using relative odor activity value (ROAV), including hexanal, heptanal, (E)-2-octenal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, (E)-2-nonenal, and 1-octen-3-ol. Among them, 1-octen-3-ol and (E)-2-nonenal were the most contributing flavor compounds in the FG and MG groups, respectively, providing distinctive odor to goat meat.
Transcriptomic Study on the Lungs of Broilers with Ascites Syndrome
Authors: Guo Dongqing , Zhang Jian , Han Yufeng , Cui Liang , Wang Huimin , Wang Keyao , Li Peiqi , Deng Ruiqiang , Kang Jie , Duan Zhibian
Published: January 2023

Although broiler ascites syndrome (AS) has been extensively studied, its pathogenesis remains unclear. The lack of cardiopulmonary function in broilers causes relative hypoxia in the body; hence, the lung is the main target organ of AS. However, the transcriptome of AS lung tissue in broilers has not been studied. In this study, an AS model was successfully constructed, and lung tissues of three AS broilers and three healthy broilers were obtained for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and pathological observation. The results showed that 614 genes were up-regulated and 828 genes were down-regulated in the AS group compared with the normal group. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation revealed the following up-regulated genes: FABP4, APLN, EIF2AK4, HMOX1, MMP9, THBS1, TLR4, BCL2; and down-regulated genes: APELA, FGF7, WNT5A, CDK6, IL7, IL7R, APLNR. These genes have attracted much attention in cardiovascular diseases such as pulmonary hypertension. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that multiple metabolic processes were enriched, indicating abnormal lung metabolism of AS in broilers. These findings elucidate the potential genes and signal pathways in the lungs of broilers with AS and provide a potential target for studying the pathogenesis and preventing AS.
Continuous Infusion of High Doses of Cefepime in Intensive Care Unit: Assessment of Steady-State Plasma Level and Incidence on Neurotoxicity
Authors: Jean-Michel Vanessa , Homey Corentin , Devos Patrick , Delannoy Pierre-Yves , Boussekey Nicolas , Caulier Thomas , Leroy Olivier , Georges Hugues
Published: January 2023

Continuous infusion (CI) with high doses of cefepime is recommended in the empirical antimicrobial regimen of critically ill patients with suspected Gram-negative sepsis. This study aimed to determine factors associated with cefepime overdosing and the incidence of cefepime-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) in these patients. We performed a retrospective study including all patients receiving cefepime treatment between January 2019 and May 2022. The plasma level of cefepime defining overdosing was over 35 mg/L. Neurotoxicity was defined according to strict criteria and correlated with concomitant steady-state concentration of cefepime. Seventy-eight courses of cefepime treatment were analyzed. The mean cefepime plasma level at steady state was 59.8 ± 29.3 mg/L, and overdosing occurred in 80% of patients. Renal failure and a daily dose > 5 g were independently associated with overdosing. CIN was present in 30% of patients. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with CIN were chronic renal failure and a cefepime plasma concentration ≥ 60 mg/L. CIN was not associated with mortality. Overdosing is frequent in patients receiving high doses of cefepime by CI. Steady-state levels are higher than targeted therapeutic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic objectives. The risk of CIN is important when the plasma concentration is ≥60 mg/L.
Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Different Hospitals in Pakistan: Findings and Implications
Authors: Saleem Zikria , Haseeb Abdul , Godman Brian , Batool Narjis , Altaf Ummara , Ahsan Umar , Khan Faiz Ullah , Mustafa Zia Ul , Nadeem Muhammad Umer , Farrukh Muhammad Junaid , Mugheera Muhammad , Rehman Inaam Ur , Khan Asma Fareed , Saeed Hamid , Hossain Mohammad Akbar , Raafat Mohamed , Radwan Rozan Mohammad , Iqbal Muhammad Shahid
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced antimicrobial use in hospitals, raising concerns regarding increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through their overuse. The objective of this study was to assess patterns of antimicrobial prescribing during the current COVID-19 pandemic among hospitals in Pakistan, including the prevalence of COVID-19. A point prevalence survey (PPS) was performed among 11 different hospitals from November 2020 to January 2021. The study included all hospitalized patients receiving an antibiotic on the day of the PPS. The Global-PPS web-based application was used for data entry and analysis. Out of 1024 hospitalized patients, 662 (64.64%) received antimicrobials. The top three most common indications for antimicrobial use were pneumonia (13.3%), central nervous system infections (10.4%) and gastrointestinal indications (10.4%). Ceftriaxone (26.6%), metronidazole (9.7%) and vancomycin (7.9%) were the top three most commonly prescribed antimicrobials among surveyed patients, with the majority of antibiotics administered empirically (97.9%). Most antimicrobials for surgical prophylaxis were given for more than one day, which is a concern. Overall, a high percentage of antimicrobial use, including broad-spectrums, was seen among the different hospitals in Pakistan during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Multifaceted interventions are needed to enhance rational antimicrobial prescribing including limiting their prescribing post-operatively for surgical prophylaxis.
State of Knowledge on the Acquisition, Diversity, Interspecies Attribution and Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance between Humans, Animals and the Environment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Meier Hélène , Spinner Keira , Crump Lisa , Kuenzli Esther , Schuepbach Gertraud , Zinsstag Jakob
Published: January 2023

Resistance to antibiotics is considered one of the most urgent global public health concerns. It has considerable impacts on health and the economy, being responsible for the failure to treat infectious diseases, higher morbidity and mortality rates, and rising health costs. In spite of the joint research efforts between different humans, animals and the environment, the key directions and dynamics of the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) still remain unclear. The aim of this systematic review is to examine the current knowledge of AMR acquisition, diversity and the interspecies spread of disease between humans, animals and the environment. Using a systematic literature review, based on a One Health approach, we examined articles investigating AMR bacteria acquisition, diversity, and the interspecies spread between humans, animals and the environment. Water was the environmental sector most often represented. Samples were derived from 51 defined animal species and/or their products A large majority of studies investigated clinical samples of the human population. A large variety of 15 different bacteria genera in three phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria) were investigated. The majority of the publications compared the prevalence of pheno- and/or genotypic antibiotic resistance within the different compartments. There is evidence for a certain host or compartment specificity, regarding the occurrence of ARGs/AMR bacteria. This could indicate the rather limited AMR spread between different compartments. Altogether, there remains a very fragmented and incomplete understanding of AMR acquisition, diversity, and the interspecies spread between humans, animals and the environment. Stringent One Health epidemiological study designs are necessary for elucidating the principal routes and dynamics of the spread of AMR bacteria between humans, animals and the environment. This knowledge is an important prerequisite to develop effective public health measures to tackle the alarming AMR situation.
Development of Novel Tetracycline and Ciprofloxacin Loaded Silver Doped Hydroxyapatite Suspensions for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Predoi Daniela , Iconaru Simona-Liliana , Predoi Mihai-Valentin , Buton Nicolas
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study consisted of the development of new materials with antimicrobial properties at the nanometric scale that could lead to an increase in therapeutic efficacy and reduction of toxic side effects. This work focuses on obtaining and characterizing stable suspensions with narrow size distribution with antimicrobial properties. The stability of the suspensions obtained by an adapted co-precipitation method was evaluated by ultrasonic measurements. The size and size distribution of the particle populations were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Both methods of analysis showed a narrow distribution of particles. DLS gave a monomodal distribution with hydrodynamic diameters around 38 nm for ciprofloxacin embedded in silver doped hydroxyapatite (AgHA-C) and 45.7 nm for tetracycline embedded in silver doped hydroxyapatite (AgHA-T). The average diameters calculated from SEM were 17 nm for AgHA-C and 19 nm for AgHA-T. Both Ciprofloxacin and Tetracycline influenced the hydroxyapatite structure, which led to the appearance of new vibrational bands characteristic of the specific chemical composition in the FTIR spectrum. The antimicrobial properties of the AgHA-C and AgHA-T suspensions were assessed using the most common reference microbial strains Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The results of the in vitro antimicrobial assays determined that the AgHA-C and AgHA-T suspensions exhibited exceptional antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the data revealed that the antimicrobial activity increased with the increase of the incubation time.
Multiplex PCR Detection of Common Carbapenemase Genes and Identification of Clinically Relevant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Complex
Authors: Hatrongjit Rujirat , Chopjitt Peechanika , Boueroy Parichart , Kerdsin Anusak
Published: January 2023

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) species are top priority pathogens according to the World Health Organization. Rapid detection is necessary and useful for their surveillance and control globally. This study developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) detection of the common carbapenemase genes NDM, KPC, and OXA-48-like, together with identification of Escherichia coli, and distinguished a Klebsiella pneumoniae complex to be K. pneumoniae, K. quasipneumoniae, and K. variicola. Of 840 target Enterobacterales species, 190 E. coli, 598 K. pneumoniae, 28 K. quasipneumoniae, and 23 K. variicola. with and without NDM, KPC, or OXA-48-like were correctly detected for their species and carbapenemase genes. In contrast, for the Enterobacterales species other than E. coli or K. pneumoniae complex with carbapenemase genes, the mPCR assay could detect only NDM, KPC, or OXA-48-like. This PCR method should be useful in clinical microbiology laboratories requiring rapid detection of CRE for epidemiological investigation and for tracking the trends of carbapenemase gene dynamics.
Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infections in the United Kingdom versus Egypt: Trends and Potential Natural Products Solutions
Authors: Elwakil Wafaa H. , Rizk Soha S. , El-Halawany Ali M. , Rateb Mostafa E. , Attia Ahmed S.
Published: January 2023

Acinetobacter baumannii is a problematic pathogen of global concern. It causes multiple types of infection, especially among immunocompromised individuals in intensive care units. One of the most serious concerns related to this pathogen is its ability to become resistant to almost all the available antibiotics used in clinical practice. Moreover, it has a great tendency to spread this resistance at a very high rate, crossing borders and affecting healthcare settings across multiple economic levels. In this review, we trace back the reported incidences in the PubMed and the Web of Science databases of A. baumannii infections in both the United Kingdom and Egypt as two representative examples for countries of two different economic levels: high and low–middle income countries. Additionally, we compare the efforts made by researchers from both countries to find solutions to the lack of available treatments by looking into natural products reservoirs. A total of 113 studies reporting infection incidence were included, with most of them being conducted in Egypt, especially the recent ones. On the one hand, this pathogen was detected in the UK many years before it was reported in Egypt; on the other hand, the contribution of Egyptian researchers to identifying a solution using natural products is more notable than that of researchers in the UK. Tracing the prevalence of A. baumannii infections over the years showed that the infections are on the rise, especially in Egypt vs. the UK. Further concerns are linked to the spread of antibiotic resistance among the isolates collected from Egypt reaching very alarming levels. Studies conducted in the UK showed earlier inclusion of high-throughput technologies in the tracking and detection of A. baumannii and its resistance than those conducted in Egypt. Possible explanations for these variations are analyzed and discussed.
Comprehensive Analysis of Metabolites in Brews Prepared from Naturally and Technologically Treated Coffee Beans
Authors: Jeszka-Skowron Magdalena , Frankowski Robert , Zgoła-Grześkowiak Agnieszka , Płatkiewicz Julia
Published: January 2023

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Therefore, this study analyzed 49 coffee samples of Arabica and Robusta species of different geographical origins and the treatment of beans including three degrees of roasting with the use of LC-MS/MS. This is the first study to present a comprehensive analysis of Kopi Luwak coffee brew metabolites in comparison to fully washed coffees and the drying post-harvest treatment of Arabica or Robusta coffee brews. Kopi Luwak showed higher levels of caffeine and theophylline in comparison to the analyzed washed and unwashed Arabica coffees, as well as a different proportion of caffeoylquinic isomers. There was no difference between Kopi Luwak and other Arabica coffees in terms of the concentration of vitamin B3, amines, and phenolic acids. This was confirmed in PCA. The steaming and roasting of beans as well as the addition of black beans influence the concentration of 4-CQA and the nicotinic, ferulic, and quinic acids content.
Co-Treatments of Gardeniae Fructus and Silymarin Ameliorates Excessive Oxidative Stress-Driven Liver Fibrosis by Regulation of Hepatic Sirtuin1 Activities Using Thioacetamide-Induced Mice Model
Authors: Lee Jin A , Shin Mi-Rae , Choi JeongWon , Kim MinJu , Park Hae-Jin , Roh Seong-Soo
Published: January 2023

Gardeniae Fructus (GF, the dried ripe fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) has traditionally been used to treat various diseases in East Asian countries, such as liver disease. Silymarin is a well-known medicine used to treat numerous liver diseases globally. The present study was purposed to evaluate the synergistic effects of GF and silymarin on the thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis of a mouse model. Mice were orally administered with distilled water, GF (100 mg/kg, GF 100), silymarin (100 mg/kg, Sily 100), and GF and silymarin mixtures (50 and 100 mg/kg, GS 50 and 100). The GS group showed remarkable amelioration of liver injury in the serum levels and histopathology by observing the inflamed cell infiltrations and decreases in necrotic bodies through the liver tissue. TAA caused liver tissue oxidation, which was evidenced by the abnormal statuses of lipid peroxidation and deteriorations in the total glutathione in the hepatic protein levels; moreover, the immunohistochemistry supported the increases in the positive signals against 4-hydroxyneal and 8-OHdG through the liver tissue. These alterations corresponded well to hepatic inflammation by an increase in F4/80 positive cells and increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hepatic protein levels; however, administration with GS, especially the high dose group, not only remarkably reduced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the liver cells but also considerably diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines, which were driven by Kupffer cell activations, as compared with each of the single treatment groups. The pharmacological properties of GS prolonged liver fibrosis by the amelioration of hepatic stellate cells’ (HSCs’) activation that is dominantly expressed by huge extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules including α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen type1 and 3, respectively. We further figured out that GS ameliorated HSCs activated by the regulation of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) activities in the hepatic protein levels, and this finding excellently reenacted the transforming growth factor-β-treated LX-2-cells-induced cell death signals depending on the Sirt1 activities. Future studies need to reveal the pharmacological roles of GS on the specific cell types during the liver fibrosis condition.
An SPM-Enriched Marine Oil Supplement Shifted Microglia Polarization toward M2, Ameliorating Retinal Degeneration in rd10 Mice
Authors: Olivares-González Lorena , Velasco Sheyla , Gallego Idoia , Esteban-Medina Marina , Puras Gustavo , Loucera Carlos , Martínez-Romero Alicia , Peña-Chilet María , Pedraz José Luis , Rodrigo Regina
Published: January 2023

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited retinal dystrophy causing progressive vision loss. It is accompanied by chronic and sustained inflammation, including M1 microglia activation. This study evaluated the effect of an essential fatty acid (EFA) supplement containing specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), on retinal degeneration and microglia activation in rd10 mice, a model of RP, as well as on LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. The EFA supplement was orally administered to mice from postnatal day (P)9 to P18. At P18, the electrical activity of the retina was examined by electroretinography (ERG) and innate behavior in response to light were measured. Retinal degeneration was studied via histology including the TUNEL assay and microglia immunolabeling. Microglia polarization (M1/M2) was assessed by flow cytometry, qPCR, ELISA and histology. Redox status was analyzed by measuring antioxidant enzymes and markers of oxidative damage. Interestingly, the EFA supplement ameliorated retinal dysfunction and degeneration by improving ERG recording and sensitivity to light, and reducing photoreceptor cell loss. The EFA supplement reduced inflammation and microglia activation attenuating M1 markers as well as inducing a shift to the M2 phenotype in rd10 mouse retinas and LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. It also reduced oxidative stress markers of lipid peroxidation and carbonylation. These findings could open up new therapeutic opportunities based on resolving inflammation with oral supplementation with SPMs such as the EFA supplement.
The Influence of Solvents and Colloidal Particles on the Efficiency of Molecular Antioxidants
Authors: Katana Bojana , Kókai Kata Panna , Sáringer Szilárd , Szerlauth Adél , Takács Dóra , Szilágyi István
Published: January 2023

The radical scavenging activity of three molecular antioxidants (trolox, rutin and ellagic acid) was investigated in different solvents with and without added polymer-based colloidal particles (SL-IP-2). Rutin and ellagic acid showed poor solubility in water, preventing the accurate measurement of the effective antioxidant concentration values, which were determined in ethanol/water (EtOH/H2O) mixtures. The presence of trolox and rutin changed neither the surface charge properties nor the size of SL-IP-2 in these solvents, while significant adsorption on SL-IP-2 was observed for ellagic acid leading to overcharging and rapid particle aggregation at appropriately high antioxidant concentrations in EtOH/H2O. The differences in the radical scavenging capacity of trolox and ellagic acid that was observed in homogeneous solutions using water or EtOH/H2O as solvents vanished in the presence of the particles. Rutin lost its activity after addition of SL-IP-2 due to the larger molecular size and lower exposure of the functional groups to the substrate upon interaction with the particles. The obtained results shed light on the importance of the type of solvent and particle–antioxidant interfacial effects on the radical decomposition ability of molecular antioxidants, which is of crucial importance in industrial processes involving heterogeneous systems.
Life on Magnet: Long-Term Exposure of Moderate Static Magnetic Fields on the Lifespan and Healthspan of Mice
Authors: Fan Yixiang , Yu Xin , Yu Biao , Ji Xinmiao , Tian Xiaofei , Song Chao , Zhang Xin
Published: January 2023

All living organisms on the Earth live and evolve in the presence of the weak geomagnetic field, a quasi-uniform static magnetic field (SMF). In the meantime, although the effects of moderate and high SMFs have been investigated on multiple aspects of a living organism, a long-term SMF exposure of more than 1 year has never been reported. Here, we investigated the influence of a moderate SMF (70–220 mT head-to-toe) long-term continuous exposure (1.7 years) to two different SMF directions on healthy male C57BL/6 mice. We found that not only was the lifespan of the mice prolonged, but their healthspan was also improved. The elevated plus maze test and open field test show that SMFs could significantly improve the exploratory and locomotive activities of the aged mice. The Morris water maze test shows that SMFs could improve their spatial learning ability and spatial memory. Tissue examinations reveal that SMFs have an ameliorative effect on oxidative stress in the brain of aged mice, which was reinforced by the cellular assays, showing that SMFs could protect the PC12 cells from D-gal-induced senescence by increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reducing the malonaldehyde levels. Therefore, our data show that the 1.7-year SMF exposure can improve both the lifespan and healthspan of naturally aged mice due to reduced oxidative stress, which indicates that SMFs have the potential to be used as an adjuvant physical therapy to reduce the ageing-induced health risks to benefit animals, and even humans.
Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of Catalase in Stress Physiology, Innate Immunity, Testicular Development, Metamorphosis, and Cryopreserved Sperm of Pacific Abalone
Authors: Hossen Shaharior , Sukhan Zahid Parvez , Kim Soo Cheol , Hanif Md. Abu , Kong Il-Keun , Kho Kang Hee
Published: January 2023

Catalase is a crucial enzyme of the antioxidant defense system responsible for the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the molecular regulation of catalase (Hdh-CAT) in stress physiology, innate immunity, testicular development, metamorphosis, and cryopreserved sperm of Pacific abalone. Hdh-CAT gene was cloned from the digestive gland (DG) of Pacific abalone. The 2894 bp sequence of Hdh-CAT had an open reading frame of 1506 bp encoding 501 deduced amino acids. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed Hdh-CAT localization in the digestive tubules of the DG. Hdh-CAT was induced by different types of stress including thermal stress, H2O2 induction, and starvation. Immune challenges with Vibrio, lipopolysaccharides, and polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid sodium salt also upregulated Hdh-CAT mRNA expression and catalase activity. Hdh-CAT responded to cadmium induced-toxicity by increasing mRNA expression and catalase activity. Elevated seasonal temperature also altered Hdh-CAT mRNA expression. Hdh-CAT mRNA expression was relatively higher at the trochophore larvae stage of metamorphosis. Cryopreserved sperm showed significantly lower Hdh-CAT mRNA expression levels compared with fresh sperm. Hdh-CAT mRNA expression showed a relationship with the production of ROS. These results suggest that Hdh-CAT might play a role in stress physiology, innate immunity, testicular development, metamorphosis, and sperm cryo-tolerance of Pacific abalone.
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Commercial Moringa oleifera Food Supplements
Authors: Llorent-Martínez Eulogio J. , Gordo-Moreno Ana I. , Fernández-de Córdova María Luisa , Ruiz-Medina Antonio
Published: January 2023

Moringa oleifera has been reported to possess a high number of bioactive compounds; hence, several food supplements are commercially available based on it. This work aimed to analyze the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of commercial food supplements. The phenolic composition of methanolic extracts was determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn), and the antioxidant activity was assessed by ABTS·+ and DPPH assays. Thirty-three compounds were identified, and all the main compounds were quantified, observing that the main contribution to the phenolic profile was due to kaempferol and quercetin glucosides. The antioxidant activity in both assays agreed with the phenolic content: the higher the phenolic levels, the higher the antioxidant activity. The obtained results were compared with those previously published regarding Moringa oleifera leaves to establish the potential benefits of food supplement consumption in the diet.
Two or Four Weeks Acute: Chronic Workload Ratio Is More Useful to Prevent Injuries in Soccer?
Authors: Fousekis Andreas , Fousekis Konstantinos , Fousekis Georgios , Vaitsis Nikolaos , Terzidis Ioannis , Christoulas Kosmas , Michailidis Yiannis , Mandroukas Athanasios , Metaxas Thomas
Published: January 2023

This study was conducted to determine if the acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) is related to the incidence of non-contact injuries. The purpose is to compare the external load of injured and non-injured soccer players with the same characteristics, such as position and age. The present analysis considers both the four and the two weeks preceding an injury. Physical characteristics were recorded and analyzed through global positioning systems (GPS) evaluation over one season of 24 competitive microcycles, 144 training sessions, and 32 matches in a total of 35 professional soccer players from the Greek Super League 1 and Super League 2. The loads calculated were total distance (TD), 15–20 km/h, 20–25 km/h, 25–30 km/h, accelerations (ACC) > 2.5 m/s2, and decelerations (DEC) > 2.5 m/s2). Nine injured athletes exceeded the critical threshold of an ACWR > 1.3 several times compared with non-injured athletes that did not reach this level. The present study showed that ACWR is related to a subsequent occurrence of injury but that the threshold of an ACWR can vary. This seems to be mainly influenced by assessing the load of the last two weeks compared with that of the four weeks before the injury.
Efficient Capture of Sr2+ Ions by a Layered Potassium Neodymium Phosphate
Authors: Yao Yuexin , Sun Haiyan , Guo Yanling , Cheng Cheng , Zhuang Tinghui , Liu Jiating , Feng Meiling , Huang Xiaoying
Published: January 2023

90Sr has a long half-life, strong radioactivity, and high mobility. The removal of radioactive strontium from the water environment is of great significance to human safety and the sustainable development of nuclear energy. In this study, a two-dimensional rare earth phosphate K3Nd(PO4)2 efficiently captured Sr2+ ions in aqueous solutions. At room temperature, the adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and pH dependence experiments of K3Nd(PO4)2 for Sr2+ ions were examined (V/m = 1000 mL/g, 12 h contact time). The experimental results show that the maximum adsorption capacity of K3Nd(PO4)2 for Sr2+ (qmSr) was 42.35 mg/g. The removal efficiency for Sr2+ (RSr) was 87.47% within 24 h. It had a good affinity with Sr2+ ions in neutral or even high alkaline environments (distribution coefficient KdSr = 1.46 × 106 mL/g, RSr = 99.93%). The adsorption mechanism was attributed to the ion exchange between Sr2+ and K+ ions by batch adsorption experiments combined with multiple characterizations, including XPS, EDS, and PXRD. This is the first report of Sr2+ removal by ion exchange via rare earth phosphate materials with a two-dimensional structure. This work provides insight into the future development of rare earth phosphates as ion exchange materials for radionuclide remediation.
Centralized vs. Decentralized: Performance Comparison between BigchainDB and Amazon QLDB
Authors: Lupaiescu Sergiu , Cioata Petru , Turcu Cristina Elena , Gherman Ovidiu , Turcu Corneliu Octavian , Paslaru Gabriela
Published: January 2023

Decentralized databases have gained popularity in the last few years in different areas, such as: traceability, supply chains or finance. Leveraging this type of emerging technology will improve knowledge sharing, as well as the transparency and traceability of the data for digital systems. In a similar way, the characteristics are advertised by the centralized ledger technologies, which are manufactured by large cloud service providers such as Amazon. The present study analyzes the performance of two ledger technologies: BigchainDB (i.e., the decentralized blockchain database) and Amazon QLDB (i.e., the centralized ledger database with transparent and immutable characteristics). For the purposes of comparison, we have integrated these technologies into our traceability platform, which is called the Smart Tracking Platform (STP), and performed a series of experiments enabling us to acquire data for different metrics, such as CPU or memory usage for both the reading and writing operations. The findings of the present study show that QLDB has an overall better performance compared to BigchainDB, based on the metrics that have been considered. From the perspective of database ledger implementation, Amazon QLDB proved to be an integrated solution, easier to use, while BigchainDB comprises a more complex system to be implemented and developed, but is more flexible. Although both systems are almost ready to use solutions for local environments, when it comes to configuration and setting up the communication between nodes within a production environment, BigchainDB adds a layer of complexity from a DevOps perspective, while Amazon QLDB completely overcomes it. Depending on the area considered and the identified needs, both BigchainDB and Amazon QLDB can be considered as suitable solutions for a ledger database.