Search Results (12,962)

Background/Objectives: Despite the availability of multiple pharmacological treatment options, up to one-third of patients with depressive disorders fail to achieve adequate symptom relief following first-line antidepressant therapy, representing a major unmet clinical need. Fatty acids—including short-chain (SCFAs), medium-chain (MCFAs), and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)—are increasingly implicated in depression pathogenesis through neuroinflammation, gut–brain axis signaling, and neurotransmitter metabolism, but their potential as predictors of antidepressant response remains largely unexplored. The primary aim is to evaluate whether baseline fatty acid profiles can predict pharmacological antidepressant treatment efficacy. The secondary objective is to assess the association between blood fatty acid profile and clinical presentation of depressive disorders. Methods: Sixty adults diagnosed with depressive disorders (ICD-11) at the initiation of a new antidepressant treatment will be recruited from psychiatric settings. Fasting blood samples collected at baseline will undergo gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and GC-MS quantification of SCFAs (acetic, propionic, and butyric acids). Clinical outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42). The primary endpoint is the change in BDI-II total score from baseline to week 6. Treatment response, defined as a ≥50% reduction in BDI-II total score at week 6, and remission, defined as a BDI-II score ≤12 at week 6, will be examined as secondary outcomes. Dietary habits, physical activity, quality of life, and anthropometric parameters will be collected as potential confounders. Discussion: This study is among the first prospective investigations to comprehensively characterize the circulating fatty acid spectrum as potential predictors of antidepressant outcomes. Findings may support identification of metabolic phenotypes of depression and contribute to personalized treatment strategies. Full article

The complex genus Achillea L. comprises more than 140 species distributed widely throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Several species are widely used in traditional medicine for their therapeutic properties, yet few studies have correlated their biological properties with the plant’s phytochemical composition. Among these, Achillea setacea Waldst. & Kit. is a perennial species traditionally used to treat digestive and inflammatory disorders. In this study, the essential oil of A. setacea, collected wild in North Macedonia, was analyzed spectrometrically and spectroscopically by GC-MS and NMR, respectively. A total of nineteen compounds were identified, with camphor (31.3%), 4-terpineol (11.3%), and eucalyptol (10.6%) being the main constituents. Furthermore, the biological activities of pure oil were evaluated, showing notable antioxidant properties, as well as antimicrobial effects against a panel of clinically relevant microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, its impact on human intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells was assessed, highlighting its potential relevance for gastrointestinal applications, in agreement with the traditional use of Achillea species for digestive disorders. Full article

Leaf litter decomposition is a key pathway for carbon transfer from forest ecosystems to soils and surface waters. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) released during early-stage leaching represents a potentially reactive fraction of this carbon pool; however, its molecular composition and short-term reactivity remain insufficiently characterised. This study provides a comparative characterisation of DOM released from composite leaf litter samples representing five common deciduous tree species (Betula pendula, Carpinus betulus, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, and Quercus robur) under controlled laboratory conditions. Leaf material collected from multiple trees per species was pooled to obtain a single composite sample; therefore, replicate leaching experiments represent procedural rather than biological replication. DOM was isolated using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) following trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatisation, while chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) were used as indicators of oxidative reactivity and short-term biodegradability. The applied analytical approach captures a selective and operationally defined fraction of DOM, primarily low-molecular-weight and derivatisable compounds; therefore, the results are interpreted as semi-quantitative compositional fingerprints. Carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, and low-molecular-weight organic acids dominated the detected fraction of DOM, with differences observed among composite samples. The composite samples representing A. glutinosa and P. tremula contained higher relative proportions of carbohydrate-related compounds, whereas the composite samples representing B. pendula and C. betulus showed higher relative contributions of aromatic compounds. Apparent differences in BOD₅ were observed among composite samples; however, these observations likely reflect procedural variability rather than independent biological effects. The results indicate variability in DOM composition and apparent reactivity among composite litter samples under controlled laboratory conditions. Due to the lack of biological replication and the selective nature of the analytical approach, the findings should be interpreted as exploratory and not as evidence of generalised tree-species effects. Full article

Newhall navel orange, a major citrus variety in China, shows considerable variation in fruit quality across production regions. To investigate the key factors driving the geographical variation, this study systematically compared the quality of Newhall navel oranges from 13 production areas and analyzed the relationships between volatile metabolites and climate variables. Our results revealed pronounced regional differences in both fruit physicochemical properties and volatile profiles. Total soluble solids, titratable acid content, and peel color parameters (L*, a*, b*) were identified as the core physicochemical indicators most strongly associated with quality variation. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), 106 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified, of which 56 were selected as potential differential markers via partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Correlation analysis and partial least squares regression (PLSR) revealed that annual mean wind speed (AMWS), mean diurnal temperature variation at the expansion stage (MDTV-ES), and mean wind speed, total sunshine duration, mean diurnal temperature variation at the degreening stage (MWS-DS, TSD-DS, MDTV-DS) were important meteorological factors related to volatile metabolism. The study clarified the geographical variations in physicochemical characteristics and volatile profiles of Newhall navel oranges, as well as the key climatic factors linked to volatile metabolism, providing a crucial theoretical basis for site-specific cultivation planning, demarcation of high-quality production areas, and targeted quality regulation of citrus varieties. Full article

Brown algae are important primary producers in coastal ecosystems, where they provide habitat and food for numerous marine species. For humans, they provide raw materials (food, animal feed, and ingredients for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics) as well as ecosystem services such as coastal protection and carbon sequestration. The molecular characterization of brown algae is necessary to understand their role in ecosystems, their biochemical resources, and responses to environmental stresses—knowledge that is crucial for the sustainable use and biotechnological applications of seaweed. Within this context, we analyzed more than 300 primary and secondary metabolites by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to elucidate the metabolic profiles of seven habitat-forming species of brown algae in the arctic and temperate seas. Metabolite profiles were discussed considering physiological and ecological characteristics of the different algae, thus revealing the taxon-specific biochemical signatures and metabolite patterns contributing to seaweed adaptation to their typical habitats. Three important groups of metabolites representing polyols, phenolic compounds, and organic acids, were analyzed and discussed in more detail. Our study revealed metabolic diversity of species from the same order and genus, thereby indicating a very distinct regulation at the molecular level to meet metabolic needs of the habitat. The knowledge of different compositions of algal extracts can be used to develop specialized applications for humans in cosmetic, medical, or nutritional sectors. Full article

Graphite foil is widely used as a sealing material in flange joints in the form of gaskets or gasket components. Predicting gasket permeability during stress relaxation remains challenging because both the compression state and the gas pressure affect leakage. No unified semi-empirical model based on the Darcy–Klinkenberg framework with compression pressure as a direct input has been available for use in flange-joint numerical simulations. Graphite foil gaskets with a density of about 1.0 g/cm³ and a thickness of ~1.5 mm were tested under compression pressures from 5 to 100 MPa. Helium leakage was measured at helium pressures from 0.5 to 8 MPa. Leakage and deformation during loading and unloading were recorded using EN 13555-based procedures. The results were analyzed using a Darcy–Klinkenberg formulation and equivalent slit- and capillary-based representations of the leakage channels. The second-order model reproduced the pressure-dependent leakage more accurately than the first-order Darcy approximation (R² ≥ 0.9985 vs. 0.916–0.992), particularly where slip-flow effects were significant. Exponential dependences of the intrinsic permeability and the Klinkenberg coefficient on deformation and power-law relations with compression pressure are proposed to model leakage during unloading. The proposed semi-empirical model allows estimation of graphite-foil permeability under stress relaxation with the use of EN 13555 test procedures and its subsequent implementation in numerical simulations of flange joints. Limits of the model’s applicability, including loading regime, ranges of compression pressure, gas pressure and anisotropic nature of permeability, are discussed. Full article

Gamma irradiation is one of the techniques widely authorized for the decontamination of dried herbs and spices. Its effect on the functional properties of essential oils, however, remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we examined the impact of gamma irradiation (at 5, 15, and 25 kGy) on the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, and insect-repellent activity of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil. The GC-MS analysis revealed that the citral-dominant chemotype remained stable across all irradiation doses, with geranial and neral constituting approximately 62–63% of the volatile profile. The antibacterial assays were done on five bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Inhibition zones showed no statistically significant differences across irradiation doses (p ≥ 0.05), while MIC (75–100 µg/mL) and MBC (125–150 µg/mL) values remained constant across all doses. DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP antioxidant assays revealed no dose-dependent changes (DPPH IC₅₀: 688–703 µg/mL; ABTS IC₅₀: 18–22 µg/mL; FRAP: 505–517 µg/mL ascorbic-acid equivalents). The essential oil exhibited pronounced repellent activity (87–99%) against adult Tribolium confusum beetles at 0.125 µL/cm², persisting for 24 h and unaffected by irradiation. Molecular docking of the major constituents (geranial, neral, geraniol, and β-myrcene) against key target proteins (3N7H, 3NVY, 4URM, and 8BN6) provided predictive support consistent with the observed activities, indicating plausible molecular interactions rather than confirmed target engagement. In silico ADME and toxicity profiling indicated favorable predicted pharmacokinetic properties and no major in silico toxicity alerts for the four modeled constituents. Taken together, these findings indicate that, under the conditions tested, gamma irradiation at food-decontamination doses produced no major shifts in composition and no statistically detectable changes in the measured bioactivities of C. citratus essential oil. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable crop protection strategies has intensified interest in plant-beneficial bacteria as alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals. In this study, the soil-derived bacterium Pseudomonas putida V01 was isolated and characterized for its antifungal and plant growth-promoting potential through an integrated approach combining biological assays, untargeted metabolomics, and in vivo plant experiments. Cell-free culture filtrates exhibited strong antifungal activity against major phytopathogenic fungi, completely inhibiting the growth of Sclerotium rolfsii and significantly reducing mycelial development of Alternaria alternata and Fusarium proliferatum by 40% and 20%, respectively. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) selectively inhibited Botrytis cinerea and A. alternata by 28% and 10%, respectively, and affected sporulation of F. proliferatum. Metabolomic profiling through LC-qTOF-MS and GC-MS analyses revealed a chemically diverse metabolome, including putatively annotated diketopiperazines, cyclic peptides, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids. VOC profiling indicated ketones and alcohols as the predominant volatile classes, with 2-undecanone and 2-undecanol among the most abundant compounds detected. In vivo assays on wheat seedlings showed significant increases in shoot growth, biomass accumulation, and chlorophyll content compared with untreated controls. These findings indicate that P. putida V01 combines complementary antifungal and plant growth-promoting activities associated with a diverse repertoire of diffusible and volatile metabolites. The integrated biological and metabolomic characterization highlights its potential as a multifunctional microbial inoculant for sustainable crop production and disease management. Full article

Background: Mitophagy is a mitochondrial quality-control pathway whose contribution to cancer stress tolerance may vary by cellular context. For essential oils, mechanistic interpretation is often limited by compositional variability and the limited number of studies addressing malignant and non-malignant comparisons under matched exposure conditions. Methods: Ylang Ylang essential oil (YY EO) was characterized by GC-MS-FID. Lung cancer cells (A549) and a salivary gland carcinoma model (HTB-41), together with non-malignant lung-related cells (BEAS-2B, MRC-5), were exposed to YY EO. Functional outcomes were assessed by WST-1 and LDH assays. Mitophagy-related and mitochondrial quality-control-associated genes were quantified by RT-qPCR (2^−ΔΔCt). Results: GC-MS-FID identified a terpenoid-rich mixture (99.31%), with germacrene D and β-caryophyllene among the major constituents. YY EO was associated with dose- and cell-type-dependent functional responses, with malignant cells showing reductions in WST-1 signal and stronger LDH-associated responses under the tested conditions, while non-malignant cells showed less pronounced functional changes. Transcriptional responses were context-dependent, with differential changes in mitophagy-related genes across cell lines. Conclusions: These findings provide comparative evidence of greater functional sensitivity in malignant cells, alongside cell-context-dependent mitophagy-related transcriptional responses. These observations are hypothesis-generating and remain limited to functional readouts and mRNA-level data. Within these limits, the present study provides a composition-anchored comparative dataset that may support future mechanistic studies in this area. Full article

Due to Ludwigia octovalvis’ aquatic habitat’s vulnerability to climate change, this study developed an in vitro regeneration system using indirect organogenesis to ensure sustainable production of biomass and secondary metabolites. Treatment T16 (0.1 mg/L BAP and 1.0 mg/L NAA) was identified as the optimal hormonal regimen for callus induction and shoot differentiation. Phytochemical analysis by GC-MS revealed that seedlings regenerated under treatment T16 exhibited a diverse profile of 18 phytoconstituents, enhancing the accumulation of phytosterols, terpenes, and tocopherols. In vitro biological evaluation demonstrated that T16 extract possesses significant antibacterial activity (MIC < 62.5 µg/mL) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and moderate antioxidant capacity. T16 extract showed anti-inflammatory effects superior to indomethacin at a low quantity (0.5 mg/ear) in adult CD1 mice of both sexes. In conclusion, the indirect organogenesis of L. octovalvis not only conserves the species but also optimizes its pharmacological potential, consolidating it as an efficient biotechnological platform for the development of advanced phytopharmaceuticals. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chromium contamination represents a major environmental challenge due to its detrimental effects on plant growth and agricultural productivity. Since dichromate uptake in plants occurs mainly through sulfate and phosphate transporters, identifying natural compounds capable of competitively inhibiting these transport pathways may provide an eco-friendly strategy for reducing chromium accumulation. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory potential of phytochemicals from Djiboutian medicinal plants against sulfate and phosphate transporters using an integrated computational approach. Methods: 49 phytochemicals identified by GC–MS from ten Djiboutian medicinal plants were screened against the sulfate transporter (7LHV) and phosphate transporter (7SP5) using molecular docking. Binding interactions were compared with sulfate, phosphate, and dichromate ions to evaluate potential competitive inhibition. The most promising compounds were further assessed through ADMET prediction and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate their pharmacokinetic properties and complex stability. Results: Molecular docking revealed binding energies ranging from −7.04 to −2.91 kcal/mol for 7LHV and from −6.50 to −0.62 kcal/mol for 7SP5, indicating variable binding affinities among the screened phytochemicals. Several compounds exhibited favorable interactions with key amino acid residues involved in anion transport, suggesting their potential to compete with dichromate uptake. ADMET analysis identified multiple compounds with favorable toxicity and drug-likeness profiles. Among them, cyclohexanepropanoic acid from Aloe djiboutiensis demonstrated the strongest binding affinity toward both transporters. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the structural stability of the protein–ligand complexes throughout the 100 ns simulation. Conclusions: This study identifies naturally occurring phytochemicals, particularly cyclohexanepropanoic acid, as promising competitive inhibitors of dichromate transport in plants. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for developing sustainable phytochemical-based strategies to mitigate chromium accumulation in crops and support future experimental validation. Full article

Exploitation of geothermal energy stored in hot dry rocks requires the application of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) technology, which enables artificial enhancement of reservoir permeability and improved heat extraction efficiency. This study addresses the assessment of geothermal potential in the Gorzów Block (NW Poland), an area identified as prospective for a CO₂-enhanced geothermal system (CO₂-EGS). Geological modeling was used as the primary tool to integrate structural, petrophysical, and thermal data in order to reduce exploration uncertainty and identify the most favorable reservoir interval. The workflow included structural interpretation and parameter modeling of key reservoir properties, with particular emphasis on porosity, clay mineral content, permeability, density, and temperature distribution. The results indicate that the optimal reservoir zone is located at depths of 4100–4300 m below ground level within Lower Permian volcanic formations (Autunian). At this depth, reservoir temperature reaches approximately 145 °C. The analyzed rocks exhibit low porosity (0.04), moderate clay content (0.12), very low permeability (0.008 mD), and an average density of 2.59 g/cm³, indicating tight reservoir conditions requiring hydraulic stimulation. The assessment is subject to limitations associated with the availability and spatial distribution of subsurface data, as well as uncertainties inherent in geological and petrophysical modeling of deep formations. Therefore, the identified reservoir interval and estimated parameters should be regarded as a preliminary assessment that requires further verification through additional exploration and reservoir testing. Nevertheless, the study confirms the value of integrated geological modeling for identifying deep geothermal reservoirs and supporting decision-making in EGS site selection. Full article

Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of exercise on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism, as well as its relationships with joint degeneration. Methods: To explore the impact of exercise on obesity-associated osteoarthritis (OA), rats were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS) diet with or without exercise. Histological staining and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to assess the effects of exercise on articular cartilage and subchondral bone. 16S rRNA sequencing and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were performed to analyze alteration in fecal gut microbiota and serum SCFAs. Results: Exercise prevented articular cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone loss in the HFS diet with exercise (HE) group compared to the HFS-diet control sedentary (HS) group. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that exercise reduced the relative abundances of families Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, genera Ruminococcus, Colidextribacter, Caproiciproducens, and the unidentified genus of Lachnospiraceae, while increased the relative abundance of genus Akkermansia. Metabolomic analysis indicated exercise prevented AA reduction in the HE group. In addition, the level of AA was negatively correlated with OA severity and with the abundances of families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, genus Colidextribacter and the unidentified genus of Lachnospiraceae. Conclusions: Exercise effectively preserves the integrity of the cartilage–subchondral bone unit. The observed modifications in gut microbiota and AA levels following exercise intervention may be associated with the protective mechanisms against obesity-associated OA. Full article

Sea buckthorn is rich in functional components but features high acidity and susceptibility to oxidative deterioration, leading to flavor defects such as sour–astringent taste and rancidity in single-fruit wine. Co-fermentation is an effective strategy for flavor and nutrition complementarity, but the dynamic evolution of volatile aroma during yeast–lactic acid bacteria combined fermentation of such wine remains unclear. This study employed ‘Zhuangyuan Huang’ sea buckthorn and ‘Marselan’ grape to produce the composite fruit wine via sequential co-fermentation, and systematically investigated dynamic aroma changes using HS-SPME-GC-MS, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and relative odor activity value (ROAV) analysis. Results revealed that post-fermentation, total detected volatile compounds increased from 90 to 118, with esters and alcohols rising by 24 and 11 respectively, serving as core contributors to enhanced aroma richness. ROAV analysis demonstrated this process significantly reduced the contribution of off-flavor acids, boosted the importance of floral, fruity, and sweet compounds, and elevated the sensory score from 26.8 to 84.1. OPLS-DA further confirmed significant inter-stage aroma differences with excellent intergroup discrimination. These findings confirm that this sequential fermentation breaks processing bottlenecks of high-acid fruits, reveals the synergistic flavor-modulating effects of multi-microbial sequential fermentation, and provides theoretical support for process optimization and high-value processing of composite fruit wine. Full article

Background/Objectives: Exposure to high and sustained levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in the peripartal period is the main cause of fatty liver disease in dairy cows. Rumen-protected choline is often fed as part of the nutritional management of peripartal cows, with in vivo and in vitro data indicating positive effects of this nutrient on alleviating liver lipid accumulation. Although hepatic molecular mechanisms associated with choline supply have been studied using a target gene, protein, or metabolite approach, application of high-throughput technologies could vastly enhance fundamental knowledge on the functional role of choline. The main objective was to challenge isolated hepatocytes with a mixture of NEFA and determine proteome- and metabolome-wide effects in response to choline supply. Methods: Three healthy female calves (1 d old, 30–45 kg) were sacrificed to harvest hepatocytes. During a 12 h incubation, isolated hepatocytes were challenged without NEFA (control), 1.2 mM NEFA (c9-18:1, 18:2, 16:0, 18:0, and c9-16:1 at 43.5%, 4.9%, 31.9%, 14.4%, and 5.3% of total NEFA, respectively), or NEFA for 6 h followed by 10 μM choline chloride for another 6 h (NEFA + Chol). iTRAQ labeling-based protein profiling and GC/MS-based metabolomics profiling were used to determine changes in proteins and metabolites. Differentially abundant proteins for each group comparison were determined at a threshold of 1.4-fold change. Differences in metabolite profiles were assessed via pairwise comparisons. A subset of differentially abundant proteins was validated via qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: Compared with the control, there were 90 proteins and 22 metabolites in the NEFA group, and 83 proteins and 29 metabolites in the NEFA + Chol. Compared with NEFA, there were 49 proteins and 17 metabolites in the NEFA + Chol group. Greater abundance of hexokinase-1 (HK1), fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (ALDOA), mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1), and increased concentrations of lactate with high NEFA treatment alone suggested greater glycolytic and TCA cycle activity. Accumulation of triacylglycerol in the NEFA group was associated with lipotoxicity and markers of inflammation, such as greater abundance of prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1), serious cell autophagy processes, such as greater abundance of cell division cycle 42 (CDC42), and NFκB-related proteins. Choline supplementation reduced TAG partly due to greater VLDL secretion driven by greater abundance of diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1), perilipin 3 (PLIN3), and apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3). In addition, a greater abundance of carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase 1b (CPT1B) with choline suggested enhanced mitochondrial β-oxidation. Activation of the CDC42/JNK pathway and ROS/NFκB axis-related proteins, along with depressed PI3K/AKT/RAC-related proteins, indicated enhanced mitochondrial autophagy in response to NEFA. Conclusions: Overall, data confirmed published effects of choline on TAG accumulation, VLDL secretion, and fatty acid oxidation, while highlighting negative effects of NEFA on the respiratory electron transport chain, autophagy, and inflammatory processes. Full article