Search Results (5,742)

Medicinal and aromatic plants’ properties, still an interesting research area, are attributed to the presence of various specialized products that possess important pharmacological activities. In the present study, six medicinal/aromatic plants (Sideritis cypria, Origanum dubium, Melissa officinalis, Mentha piperita, Thymus capitatus, and Salvia fruticosa) were evaluated for their phytochemical and nutritive composition, as well as their biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties. The results obtained indicate that M. piperita was rich in proteins and minerals such as N and Mg, while S. cypria accumulated more K, Na, P, and Ca. The highest content of phenols and flavonoids was observed in M. piperita, followed by O. dubium and T. capitatus, which eventually influenced their high antioxidant capacity. NMR screening revealed the presence of (i) triterpenoids and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in M. officinalis; (ii) terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acid derivatives in S. fruticosa; (iii) flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives in M. piperita; (iv) phenolic monoterpenes in O. dubium and T. capitatus; and (v) terpenoids, flavones, and phenylethanoid glycosides in S. cypria. The results of the antimicrobial activity showed that the tested samples overall had quite good antimicrobial potential. High antibacterial activity was found in O. dubium and T. capitatus, while O. dubium and S. cypria exhibited great antifungal activities. The studied species also had an important effect on the viability of female-derived and colon cancer cells. In particular, in colon cancer cells, the extracts from T. capitatus, M. officinalis, M. piperita, and S. fruticosa exhibited a stronger effect on cell viability in the more metastatic cell line at significantly lower concentrations, indicating an important therapeutic potential in targeting highly metastatic tumors. This finding is worth further investigation. The present study unveiled interesting phytochemical profiles and biological properties of the six medicinal/aromatic plants, which should be further explored, contributing to green chemistry and the possible creation of natural health products for humans’ health/nutrition and additives in cosmetics. Full article

With the acceleration of urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem functions of urban wetlands are facing serious challenges. The loss of aquatic plants in urban wetlands is becoming more frequent and intense due to human activities; nevertheless, the effects of aquatic plants on wetland ecosystems have received less attention. Therefore, we conducted field investigations across 10 urban wetlands in Jinan, Shandong Province, as a case in North China to examine the relationships between aquatic plant coverage and phytoplankton diversity, as well as resource use efficiency (RUE) in urban wetlands. Multivariate regression and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze the water quality, phytoplankton diversity, and RUE. The results demonstrate that the increase in aquatic plant coverage significantly reduced the concentration of total nitrogen and suspended solids’ concentrations and significantly increased the phytoplankton diversity (e.g., species richness and functional diversity). The aquatic plant coverage significantly affected the composition of phytoplankton functional groups; for example, functional groups that had adapted to still-water and low-light conditions became dominant. Furthermore, the increase in phytoplankton diversity improved phytoplankton RUE, highlighting the importance of aquatic plants in maintaining wetland ecosystem functions. This study may provide a scientific basis for the management strategy of aquatic plants in urban wetlands, emphasizing the key role of appropriate aquatic plant cover in maintaining the ecological stability and ecosystem service functions of wetlands. Full article

The “teeth-as-tools” hypothesis posits that Neanderthals used their anterior teeth as a tool or a third hand for non-dietary purposes. These non- or para-masticatory activities (e.g., tool-making or food preparation prior to ingestion) have also been described in other past and extant human populations, and other Primates. Cementum is the mineralized tissue that covers the tooth root surface and anchors it to the alveolar bone. Under certain conditions (e.g., mechanical stress, infection), its production becomes excessive (i.e., beyond the physiological state) and is called ‘hypercementosis’. Several studies in dental anthropology have established a correlation between the teeth-as-tools and hypercementosis. The present work aims to characterize the different patterns of cementum apposition on archeological teeth and discuss their supposed etiology. Using microtomography and confocal microscopy, the patterns of cementum apposition (i.e., thickness, location, and surface characteristics) were analyzed in 35 hypercementotic teeth (Sains-en-Gohelle, France; 7th–17th c. A.D.). Four groups were identified with distinct hypercementosis patterns: (1) impacted, (2) infected, (3) hypofunctional, and (4) hyperfunctional teeth. Characterizing hypercementosis can contribute to documenting the oral health status (paleopathology) and/or masticatory activity of individuals, even from isolated teeth. This has implications for the study of fossil hominins, particularly Neanderthals, known for their use of anterior teeth as tools and frequent and substantial occurrence of hypercementosis. Full article

Salivary proteins from mosquitoes have received significant attention lately due to their potential to develop therapeutic treatments or vaccines for mosquito-borne diseases. Here, we report the characterization of LTRIN (lymphotoxin beta receptor inhibitor), a salivary protein known to enhance the pathogenicity of ZIKV by interrupting the LTβR-initiated NF-κB signaling pathway and, therefore, diminish the immune responses. We demonstrated that the truncated C-terminal LTRIN (ΔLTRIN) is a dimeric protein with a stable alpha helix-dominant secondary structure, which possibly aids in withstanding the temperature fluctuations during blood-feeding events. ΔLTRIN possesses two Ca²⁺ binding EF-hand domains, with the second EF-hand motif playing a more significant role in interacting with LTβR. Additionally, we mapped the primary binding regions of ΔLTRIN on LTβR using hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) and identified that ⁹¹QEKAHIAEHMDVPIDTSKMSEQELQFHY¹¹⁸ from the N-terminal of ΔLTRIN is the major interacting region. Together, our studies provide insight into the recognition of LTRIN by LTβR. This finding may aid in a future therapeutic and transmission-blocking vaccine development against ZIKV. Full article

Parasites are very diverse and common in both natural populations and in stocks kept in aquacultural facilities. For most cultured species, there are important bacteria and viruses causing diseases, but eukaryotic parasites are also very important. We review the various combinations of aquacultured species and eukaryotic parasitic groups and discuss other problems associated with aquaculture such as eutrophication, zoonotic species, and invasive species, and we conclude that further development of aquaculture in a sustainable manner must include a holistic approach (One Health) where many factors (e.g., human health, food safety, animal health and welfare, environmental and biodiversity protection and marketability mechanisms, etc.) are considered. Full article

The issue of bone volume loss is playing an increasing role in bone tissue engineering. Research has focused on studying the preparation and use of different types of human or xenogenic materials and their osteogenic properties. An alternative source for this purpose could be autologous extracted teeth. The simple preparation protocol, minimal immune response, and rapid organizing of the newly formed bone with optimal mechanical properties predispose autologous hard teeth tissues (HTTs) as a promising material suitable in the indication of augmentation of maxillary and mandible defects, comparable to other high-end augmentation materials. The aim of this study was to experimentally evaluate the osteogenic potential of ground native autologous HTTs prepared by different demineralization procedures, aimed at potentiating the osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties of their organic components. The results indicate that the most effective preparation process for HTT stimulation is the application of Cleanser for 10 min followed by exposure to 0.6 N HCl for 5 min with a wash in phosphate-buffered saline solution. Full article

Loss of function of the Retinoblastoma gene (RB1) due to mutations is commonly seen in human osteosarcomas. One of the Rb1 gene functions is to facilitate cell fate from mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts and prevent adipocyte differentiations. In this study, we demonstrate that a stable reduction of Rb1 expression (RbKD) in murine osteoblasts causes them to express higher levels of PPAR-ɣ and other adipocyte-specific transcription factors while retaining high expression of osteoblast-specific transcription factors, Runx2/Cbfa1 and SP7/Osterix. Inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in osteoblasts is another mechanism that causes osteoblasts to transdifferentiate to adipocytes. We found that preosteoblasts exposed to osteoblast differentiating media (DP media) increased GJIC. RbKD cells showed reduced GJIC along with a reduction in expression of Cx43, the protein that mediates GJIC. Other membrane associated adhesion protein Cadherin 11 (Cad11) was also decreased. Since PPAR-ɣ is increased with Rb1 loss, we wondered if the reduction of this transcription factor would reverse the changes observed. Reduction of PPAR-ɣ in control osteoblasts slightly increased bone-specific expression and reduced adipocytic expression as expected along with an increase in Cad11 and Cx43 expression. GJIC remained high and was unaffected by a reduction in PPAR-ɣ in control cells. Knockdown of PPAR-ɣ in RbKD cells reduced adipocyte gene expression, while osteoblast-specific expression showed improvement. Cx43, Cad11 and GJIC remained unaffected by PPAR-ɣ reduction. Our observations suggest that increased PPAR-ɣ that happens with Rb1 loss only affects osteoblast-adipocyte-specific gene expression but does not completely reverse Cx43 gene expression or GJIC. Therefore, these effects may represent independent events triggered by Rb1loss and/or the differentiation process. Full article

BACKGROUND. Glucosensing elements are widely distributed throughout the body and relay information about circulating glucose levels to the brain via the vagus nerve. However, while anatomical wiring has been established, little is known about the physiological role of the vagus nerve in glucosensing. The contribution of the vagus nerve to inflammation in the fetus is poorly understood. Increased glucose levels and inflammation act synergistically when causing organ injury, but their interplay remains incompletely understood. We hypothesized that vagotomy (Vx) will trigger a rise in systemic glucose levels and this will be enhanced during systemic and organ-specific inflammation. Efferent vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) should reverse this phenotype. METHODS. Near-term fetal sheep (n = 57) were surgically prepared using vascular catheters and ECG electrodes as the control and treatment groups (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Vx + LPS, Vx + LPS + selective efferent VNS). The experiment was started 72 h postoperatively to allow for post-surgical recovery. Inflammation was induced with LPS bolus intravenously (LPS group, 400 ng/fetus/day for 2 days; n = 23). For the Vx + LPS group (n = 11), a bilateral cervical vagotomy was performed during surgery; of these n = 5 received double the LPS dose, LPS800. The Vx + LPS + efferent VNS group (n = 8) received cervical VNS probes bilaterally distal from Vx in eight animals. Efferent VNS was administered for 20 min on days 1 and 2 +/10 min around the LPS bolus. Fetal arterial blood samples were drawn on each postoperative day of recovery (-72 h, -48 h, and -24 h) as well as at the baseline and seven selected time points (3–54 h) to profile inflammation (ELISA IL-6, pg/mL), insulin (ELISA), blood gas, and metabolism (glucose). At 54 h post-LPS, a necropsy was performed, and the terminal ileum macrophages’ CD11c (M1 phenotype) immunofluorescence was quantified to detect inflammation. The results are reported for p < 0.05 and for Spearman R2 > 0.1. The results are presented as the median (IQR). RESULTS. Across the treatment groups, blood gas and cardiovascular changes indicated mild septicemia. At 3 h in the LPS group, IL-6 peaked. That peak was decreased in the Vx + LPS400 group and doubled in the Vx + LPS800 group. The efferent VNS sped up the reduction in the inflammatory response profile over 54 h. The M1 macrophage activity was increased in the LPS and Vx + LPS800 groups only. The glucose and insulin concentrations in the Vx + LPS group were, respectively, 1.3-fold (throughout the experiment) and 2.3-fold higher vs. control (at 3 h). The efferent VNS normalized the glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS. The complete withdrawal of vagal innervation resulted in a 72-h delayed onset of a sustained increase in glucose for at least 54 h and intermittent hyperinsulinemia. Under the conditions of moderate fetal inflammation, this was related to higher levels of gut inflammation. The efferent VNS reduced the systemic inflammatory response as well as restored both the concentrations of glucose and the degree of terminal ileum inflammation, but not the insulin concentrations. Supporting our hypothesis, these findings revealed a novel regulatory, hormetic, role of the vagus nerve in the immunometabolic response to endotoxin in near-term fetuses. Full article

Histidine residues play crucial roles in shaping the function and structure of proteins due to their unique ability to act as both acids and bases. In other words, they can serve as proton donors and acceptors at physiological pH. This exceptional property is attributed to the side-chain imidazole ring of histidine residues. Consequently, determining the acid-base dissociation constant (Ka) of histidine imidazole rings in proteins often yields valuable insights into protein functions. Significant efforts have been dedicated to measuring the pKa values of histidine residues in various proteins, with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy being the most commonly used technique. However, NMR-based methods encounter challenges in assigning signals to individual imidazole rings and require a substantial amount of proteins. To address these issues associated with NMR-based approaches, a mass-spectrometry-based method known as histidine hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (His-HDX-MS) has been developed. This technique not only determines the pKa values of histidine imidazole groups but also quantifies their solvent accessibility. His-HDX-MS has proven effective across diverse proteins, showcasing its utility. This review aims to clarify the fundamental principles of His-HDX-MS, detail the experimental workflow, explain data analysis procedures and provide guidance for interpreting the obtained results. Full article

Cellular senescence is defined as an irreversible cell cycle arrest accompanied by morphological and physiological alterations during aging. Red ginseng (RG), processed from fresh ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) with a one-time steaming and drying process, is a well-known beneficial herbal medicine showing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. The current study aimed to investigate the benefits of RG in alleviating hepatic cellular senescence and its adverse effects in 19-month-old aged mice. We applied two different intervention methods and durations to compare RG’s effects in a time-dependent manner: (1) oral gavage injection for 4 weeks and (2) ad libitum intervention for 14 weeks. We observed that 4-week RG administration was exerted to maintain insulin homeostasis against developing age-associated insulin insensitivity and suppressed cellular senescence pathway in the liver and primary hepatocytes. Moreover, with remarkable improvement of insulin homeostasis, 14-week RG supplementation downregulated the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and its downstream transcriptional factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in aged mice. Lastly, RG treatment significantly reduced the senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal)-positive cells in primary hepatocytes and ionizing radiation (IR)-exposed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Taken together, we suggest that RG can be a promising candidate for a senolytic substance by preventing hepatic cellular senescence. Full article

This article presents recent findings as regards distribution of cells producing serotonin and dopamine in the larval central nervous system at different developmental stages, including four pelagic larval stages (zoea I–IV), a semibenthic postlarval stage glaucothoe (megalopa), benthic juveniles, and adult red king crabs, Paralithodes camtschaticus, made by using immunocytochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. We have shown that the serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons are present long before the onset of metamorphosis. In the red king crab b larval nervous system, the changes become particularly pronounced during the first metamorphosis from zoea IV to glaucothoe, which may be related to the development of the segmental appendages and maturation of motor behaviors in decapods. This work presents the distribution and dynamics of the development of serotonergic and dopaminergic neuronal networks in king crab show, the potential roles of serotonin and dopamine in the modulation of olfactory and visual processing in the early stages of larval development, and also the mechanosensory and chemosensory processing in the glaucothoe stage during settlement and in their transition from a pelagic to benthic lifestyle. Full article

Lysosomes are the main organelles responsible for the degradation of macromolecules in eukaryotic cells. Beyond their fundamental role in degradation, lysosomes are involved in different physiological processes such as autophagy, nutrient sensing, and intracellular signaling. In some circumstances, lysosomal abnormalities underlie several human pathologies with different etiologies known as known as lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). These disorders can result from deficiencies in primary lysosomal enzymes, dysfunction of lysosomal enzyme activators, alterations in modifiers that impact lysosomal function, or changes in membrane-associated proteins, among other factors. The clinical phenotype observed in affected patients hinges on the type and location of the accumulating substrate, influenced by genetic mutations and residual enzyme activity. In this context, the scientific community is dedicated to exploring potential therapeutic approaches, striving not only to extend lifespan but also to enhance the overall quality of life for individuals afflicted with LSDs. This review provides insights into lysosomal dysfunction from a molecular perspective, particularly in the context of human diseases, and highlights recent advancements and breakthroughs in this field. Full article

The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii is the most reared shrimp in China, but it is often affected by hypoxia stress in the process of seedling culture and adult crayfish culture. The oxygen consumption rate and asphyxiation point of juvenile crayfish (1.17 ± 0.03 g) and subadult crayfish (11.68 ± 0.11 g) at different temperatures (20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 °C) were studied. The survival, glycolysis, and expression of antioxidant genes were compared under 24 h acute hypoxia stress (1, 2, and 3 mg/L) and normal dissolved oxygen (7.5 mg/L). The results showed that the oxygen consumption rate and asphyxiation point of juvenile and subadult crayfish increased with increasing temperatures (20–28 °C). At the same temperature, the oxygen consumption rate and asphyxiation point of juvenile crayfish were significantly higher than those of subadult crayfish (p < 0.05). Within 24 h, the three hypoxia stress environments did not lead to the death of crayfish, indicating that P. clarkii has a strong ability to adapt to hypoxia. Hypoxia stress significantly affected the activities of antioxidant and anaerobic metabolic enzymes and gene expression in juvenile and subadult crayfish. The activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the content of lactic acid (LD) in the hepatopancreas of juvenile and subadult crayfish in the hypoxia stress groups increased significantly. The expression levels of SOD mRNA, CAT mRNA, Hsp70 mRNA, and crustin 4 mRNA in the hepatopancreas of juvenile and subadult crayfish in the hypoxia stress groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05), and the higher the degree of hypoxia stress, the higher the expression of each gene. The results showed that the antioxidant system of juvenile crayfish was more sensitive to hypoxia environments, and hypoxia stress resulted in increased stress levels in juvenile crayfish and subadult crayfish. Full article

Background: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) use during pregnancy continues to rise as it is known to decrease the likelihood of HIV transmission from mother to child. However, it is still unknown whether foetal exposure to (ART) may affect the foetal environment, predisposing the offspring to cardiometabolic risk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically review the cardio-metabolic effects of in utero exposure to HIV/ART on offspring. Methods: We carried out a systematic review and obtained literature from the Google scholar, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Two independent reviewers evaluated the titles, abstracts, and full-length English contents. Data from the eligible studies were included. Results: The search yielded 7596 records. After assessing all of these records, 35 of the full-length articles were included in this systematic review. Several studies showed that low birth weight, small head circumference, and altered mitochondrial content were more common among HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected children (HUU). A few studies demonstrated elevated triglyceride levels, lower levels of insulin, and increased blood pressure, oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, cardiac damage, and myocardial dysfunction among HEU children compared with HUU children. Conclusion: Most findings showed that there were cardio-metabolic health risk factors among HEU children, indicating that maternal exposure to HIV and ART may negatively affect foetal health, which may lead to cardio-metabolic morbidity later in life. Full article