Search Results (3,369)

What are the main findings?Migraine care in Italy is characterized by a mismatch between healthcare resource utilization and clinical needs, with limited primary-care involvement, repeated specialist consultations, and healthcare nomadism.Healthcare resource utilization is substantial, including extensive diagnostic testing—predominantly brain imaging—as well as emergency department visits, detoxification cycles, and repeated access to headache centers. Full article

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant plasma protein and plays essential roles in regulating oncotic pressure, transporting endogenous and exogenous compounds, and maintaining redox balance. Because of its biochemical properties, HSA is widely used in clinical medicine, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical development. However, albumin is not a static molecule. It undergoes numerous post-translational modifications (PTMs), including oxidation, glycation, carbonylation, carbamylation, and aggregation, which can significantly alter its structure, ligand-binding properties, antioxidant capacity, and pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, commercial albumin products exhibit substantial heterogeneity arising from differences in source material, manufacturing processes, formulation conditions, and storage practices. This review summarizes the current understanding of PTMs affecting human serum albumin, with particular emphasis on their molecular origins and functional implications. We discuss how physiological, pathological, and manufacturing-induced modifications influence albumin activity and contribute to variability among commercial albumin products. In addition, we examine established and emerging applications of PTM-modified albumin in diagnostics, critical care, extracorporeal detoxification, drug delivery, nanomedicine, and regenerative medicine. Finally, we highlight current challenges related to product heterogeneity, quality control, regulatory assessment, and discuss future opportunities in albumin-based technologies. A deeper understanding of albumin PTMs is essential for improving critical care and developing next-generation albumin-based biomedical products. Full article

The persistent threat of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) drives the need for advanced detection and protective technologies. Polymers, with their tunable structures, ease of functionalization, and lightweight nature, have emerged as a versatile platform in this field. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in polymer-based materials for CWA sensing and protection, with emphasis on interaction mechanisms and structure–property relationships. In the realm of sensing, the working principles of polymer-based systems are rooted in electron transfer, hydrogen bonding, fluorescence quenching, and colorimetric response. Conductive polymers enable chemiresistive detection through charge transfer; hydrogen-bond acidic polymers provide selective recognition of organophosphorus agents; conjugated polymers exploit fluorescence quenching via the “molecular wire” effect; and polydiacetylenes offer visible color changes for naked-eye detection. Representative materials and their performance metrics are critically compared. For protection and decontamination, current polymer systems are designed around four synergistic mechanisms: barrier action, physical adsorption, filtration, and catalytic degradation. Barrier layers based on crosslinked networks or graphene/MOF composites suppress agent permeation while maintaining breathability. Porous polymers such as polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) and coordination polymers provide high-capacity adsorption through tailored surface functionality. Electrospun nanofiber membranes effectively filter aerosolized agents with low air resistance. Catalytic composites incorporating Zr-MOFs or single-atom catalysts enable hydrolysis of nerve agents and oxidation of blister agents under ambient conditions, with recent advances achieving self-buffering and solid-state operation. Despite significant advances, challenges remain in selectivity, environmental stability, and balancing protection with wearer comfort. Future directions point toward multifunctional systems that integrate detection, protection, and self-detoxification within wearable polymer platforms for next-generation chemical defense. Full article

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species, is a widespread feed contaminant with nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, immunotoxic, reproductive, and teratogenic effects. Despite the particular susceptibility of rabbits to OTA, information on ochratoxicosis in this species remains limited. This review summarizes current evidence on OTA occurrence, toxicokinetics, mechanisms of toxicity, clinicopathological effects, immunotoxicity, and preventive strategies in rabbits. Following gastrointestinal absorption, OTA has a high affinity for plasma proteins and preferentially accumulates in the kidneys and liver. Its toxicity is mediated by the inhibition of protein synthesis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, apoptosis, and immune dysregulation, ultimately leading to renal and hepatic injury, hematological and biochemical alterations, impaired growth, and reproductive toxicity. OTA-induced immunosuppression may also increase susceptibility to secondary infections, including Pasteurella multocida. Importantly, pathological and biochemical alterations may occur following relatively low-level exposure, while residual OTA levels may persist in tissues after exposure is discontinued. Effective prevention of OTA contamination in feed is therefore crucial for controlling ochratoxicosis. Microbial and enzymatic detoxification, probiotics, and phytogenic additives represent promising approaches for the prevention and mitigation of OTA toxicity; however, further studies in rabbits are needed to establish their efficacy and optimal application and to evaluate the effects of different OTA doses, early biomarkers, and tissue residue kinetics. Full article

Soil salinization restricts potato yield by inducing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and oxidative damage. Exogenous silicon (Si) can alleviate salt-induced oxidative injury, yet the concentration-dependent mechanisms remain unclear in potato. Here, we conducted a tiered investigation combining phenotypic, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses. An in vitro gradient screening under 0.3% NaCl stress identified 1.0 mM Si as optimal. Compared with NaCl-alone treatment, 1.0 mM Si enhanced Catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POD), and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activities by approximately 2.1-fold, 2.3-fold, and 1.3-fold, respectively. This Si supplementation also dramatically reduced ROS accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) staining and decreased Malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Subsequent pot experiments under 100 and 200 mM NaCl confirmed that 2.0 mM Si most effectively alleviated oxidative injury, accompanied by increased proline, higher relative water content, and reduced ROS and MDA. These data demonstrated that Si exerts dose-dependent protection by orchestrating both enzymatic (SOD, POD, CAT) and non-enzymatic (proline, glutathione) antioxidant systems. Transcriptome profiling coupled with Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and RT-qPCR revealed eight candidate hub genes, with antioxidant defense-related StGSH1 (glutathione synthesis) and StPRX52 (peroxidase) as key components, alongside genes involved in protein homeostasis and osmotic adjustment. Collectively, our findings establish optimal Si regimes and demonstrate that Si mitigates salt injury primarily through enhancing antioxidative capacity and ROS detoxification, providing candidate genes for antioxidative breeding in potato. Full article

The rapid proliferation of electronic waste (e-waste) threatens the global blue economy through toxic heavy metal leaching (Cd, Pb, Hg) into coastal ecosystems. Coastal cities heavily dependent on tourism often view e-waste management as a budgetary burden rather than an economic necessity. This study examines e-waste valorization in Alexandria, Egypt, managing 21,900 tons/year. Under baseline conditions, unmanaged disposal inflicts USD 1290 million/year in resident health and tourism losses. An advanced circular strategy integrating wetland phytoremediation, heavy metal extraction, and biomass pyrolysis is evaluated. Capital and operational expenditures reach USD 36.3 million/year (USD 1.66/kg e-waste). Incorporating shadow pricing for a conservative 1% avoided damage assumption yields USD 12.9 million/year, while secondary recovery (metals, biochar, carbon credits) and detoxification add USD 32.92 million/year. Furthermore, life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates a 65.8% environmental damage reduction, translating to USD 8.49 million annually that directly contributes to the project’s cash flow. Integrating these revenues improves financial feasibility, shortening the payback period from 9.77 to 4.56 years and boosting the internal rate of return from 0.4% to 17.6%. Because project viability holds up to an e-waste threshold of ~0.046 kg/(capita⋅day), future research must explore alternative management options for higher generation volumes, securing tourism-driven economies and aligning with the 2030 sustainable development agenda. Full article

Dopamine metabolism lies at the intersection of enzymatic catalysis, redox chemistry and cellular compartmentalisation, forming a tightly regulated network that sustains neurotransmission while limiting intrinsic chemical reactivity. In catecholaminergic neurons, dopamine is both an essential signalling molecule and a redox-active substrate prone to oxidation, aldehyde formation and quinone chemistry, requiring coordinated synthesis, storage, degradation and detoxification. Recent advances in structural biology and chemical enzymology have revealed detailed conformational regulation and specific protein interactions among key components of this system—including tyrosine hydroxylase, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase—while suggesting that their spatial organisation may contribute to the control of metabolic flux and exposure to reactive intermediates. Building on previous work on dopamine dyshomeostasis, oxidative stress and reactive metabolites, this Review addresses a less explored integrative question: how structural organisation, catalytic chemistry, intracellular compartmentalisation and redox control collectively influence neuronal resilience. Dopamine metabolism is therefore conceptualised as a chemically constrained and structurally integrated network in which cofactor dynamics, vesicular sequestration, enzyme interactions and redox buffering regulate metabolic flux while limiting reactive intermediates. Disruption of this network—through impaired compartmentalisation, cofactor imbalance, oxidative and nitrosative stress, or neuroinflammatory signalling—can shift dopamine toward electrophilic and oxidative toxicity, contributing to nigrostriatal vulnerability. Neuromelanin formation, reactive nitrogen species signalling and aldehyde accumulation further link dopamine metabolism to mitochondrial dysfunction and immune activation. This framework highlights limitations of therapies centred predominantly on dopamine replacement and supports mechanism-driven approaches aimed at restoring metabolic and redox homeostasis in Parkinson’s disease. Full article

Arsenic (As) contamination in paddy soils poses a persistent threat to food safety and human health through rice consumption. The environmental fate of As in flooded paddy soils is governed by complex physicochemical and microbially transformations, yet the role of biologically active interfaces remains poorly understood. Periphyton, a ubiquitous and metabolically active biofilm at the paddy soil–water interface, may play a critical role in regulating As speciation and behavior. Herein, we integrated biofilm development, microscopic and elemental characterization, bacterial community profiling, and As-transforming functional gene analysis to elucidate the role of periphyton in As transformation potential. Results showed that periphyton formed a heterogeneous three-dimensional matrix composed of microbial aggregates, extracellular matrix-like materials, and mineral particles. Periphyton-associated As was 2.37 mg kg⁻¹ in the irradiated-soil sample and 1.16 mg kg⁻¹ in the natural-soil sample, whereas dissolved As in the overlying water was 2.06 and 5.85 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The natural-soil composite showed higher bacterial richness and diversity indices than the irradiated-soil composite, with 2615 versus 1124 observed ASVs and Shannon indices of 8.63 versus 7.22. Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria dominated both communities. The coexistence of aioA, arrA, arsC, and arsM indicated the potential for concurrent As(III) oxidation, As(V) reduction, detoxification, and methylation. In the natural-soil composite, aioA, arrA, and arsM reached 1.84 × 10⁶, 1.99 × 10⁶, and 2.63 × 10⁶ copies g⁻¹ sample, respectively. These values were 2.4-, 9.8-, and 7.2-fold higher than those in the irradiated-soil composite, whereas arsC remained relatively stable. These findings indicate that periphyton provides a structured microbial interface with the genetic potential for multiple As transformation pathways. We propose that paddy periphyton represents a structurally and microbiologically complex interface linking microbial assembly with As-transforming functional potential. Full article

Lipid peroxidation has long been viewed primarily as a destructive process—a chaotic, free radical-driven cascade culminating in membrane damage and cell death—although its beneficial aspects have been increasingly recognized over the past decades. However, a growing body of evidence challenges this inflexible hypothesis, as exemplified by the recent demonstration that lipoxin A₄, a product of directed enzymatic lipid oxygenation, actively suppresses ferroptosis. In this review, we synthesize the emerging paradigm of directed lipid oxygenation as a regulated, adaptive mechanism that may function as a physiologically regulated lipid antioxidant barrier. We contrast the stochastic chemistry of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation with the stereospecific, enzymatically driven oxygenation catalyzed primarily by lipoxygenases (LOXs), cyclooxygenases (PTGSs), and cytochrome P450 enzymes, and hypothesize that these two modes compete for polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) substrates, thereby determining cellular outcomes. We further examine how enzymatic lipid oxygenation generates bioactive oxylipins, including specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), that activate cytoprotective transcriptional programs such as the NRF2 pathway. Central to this framework is the coupled operation of LOX-mediated oxygenation and GPX4-mediated hydroperoxide detoxification: the protective outcome depends on GPX4 as the gatekeeper that channels LOX products toward protective signaling rather than ferroptotic accumulation. The implications for ferroptosis are particularly profound: unchecked lipid peroxidation drives ferroptotic cell death, whereas directed enzymatic lipid oxygenation may oppose it. Whether this constitutes an endogenous barrier remains a hypothesis, and our model does not depend on depletion of the PUFA substrate pool. Finally, we outline therapeutic opportunities and outstanding questions for the field. Full article

Global environmental contamination by heavy metals, organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants continues to threaten ecosystem and human health. Engineered nanomaterials and modified biochar are widely studied remediation materials because of their high specific surface areas, reactive or sorptive sites, and tunable surface properties. This narrative critical review compares the two material classes in terms of remediation mechanisms, development trajectories, evidence scales, practical applications, technical limitations, environmental risks, sustainability performance, and future research needs. Across the reviewed evidence, engineered nanomaterials often enable rapid contaminant transformation under optimized laboratory conditions, whereas modified biochar more commonly supports contaminant immobilization, soil improvement, and potential carbon storage. The review distinguishes adsorption, degradation, immobilization, mineralization, and detoxification and classifies application evidence from laboratory batch tests to full-scale use. Particular attention is given to nanomaterial–biochar hybrids and to trade-offs involving nanoparticle stability, transformation products, regeneration, and end-of-life management. The available evidence remains dominated by laboratory studies, while comparable life-cycle, techno-economic, chronic-toxicity, and long-term field data are limited. Accordingly, the principal research challenge is to demonstrate not only removal performance, but also durability, ecological safety, economic feasibility, and net environmental benefit under realistic conditions. Full article

Fusarium mycotoxins are frequent natural contaminants of oats, posing significant challenges for food safety and processing. This review critically evaluates the behaviour of major Fusarium mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins, zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (FUMs), emerging toxins and selected modified forms, throughout oat processing and in derived products. Evidence consistently shows that the most effective mitigation occurs during early physical processing. Cleaning, sorting, and particularly dehulling can substantially reduce mycotoxin levels, with reductions exceeding 80–90% reported for some mycotoxins and processing conditions, mainly through the removal of outer grain layers and defective grains in which mycotoxins are preferentially concentrated, although this results in the concentration of toxins in by-products such as hulls and bran. Subsequent operations—including milling, flaking, and fractionation—primarily redistribute mycotoxins within product streams rather than eliminate them. Conventional thermal processes, such as steaming, kilning, baking, and porridge preparation, generally lead to limited reductions due to the high thermal stability of these compounds, whereas extrusion of oat flour can achieve high reductions under specific conditions. However, mycotoxins can persist and be transferred into final products, indicating that processing alone cannot ensure complete detoxification. By integrating technological, chemical, and regulatory perspectives, this review proposes a value-chain framework to support risk assessment, industrial decision-making, and future research directions for oats. Full article

Steroid hormones occur widely in wastewater, sludge, sediments, soils, and receiving waters, where exposure at low concentrations can elicit pronounced endocrine effects. Microbial transformation is an important removal process, yet loss of a parent compound may reflect phase partitioning, structural modification, steroid-ring cleavage, or mineralization. For synthetic steroids such as 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and synthetic progestins, structural compatibility with entry enzymes and downstream metabolic modules further constrains transformation depth. This review organizes current knowledge around transformation depth, linking substrate recognition to aerobic and anaerobic ring-cleavage pathways, HIP-related downstream metabolism, physiological function, and community carbon flow. Aerobic 9,10-seco and estrogen 4,5-seco pathways and the denitrifying 2,3-seco pathway are supported by metabolite, enzymatic, and genetic evidence, whereas Fe(III)-reducing, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic systems mainly document reversible redox and stereochemical transformations of natural estrogens. We further distinguish growth-linked utilization, cometabolic modification, and potential detoxification-related homeostatic responses, and examine how community functional organization may extend pathway continuity. Finally, evidence is integrated across metabolic potential, active transformation, and steroid-derived carbon flow, while endocrine-risk outcomes are treated as a parallel environmental endpoint. This framework emphasizes that parent-compound removal alone does not establish degradation depth or risk reduction. Full article

Daily supplements have emerged as a compelling strategy for heavy metal detoxification (e.g., Hg and Pb), given that conventional chelation therapy lacks chronic exposure data and is heavily reliant on the doctor’s experience. Among such natural agents, Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris), a commercially available supplement, is known for its notable heavy metal-binding capacity and ancillary benefits. Yet, the detoxification mechanisms of action of C. vulgaris have remained largely unexplored. In this study, our transcriptomic and signaling analyses demonstrated that the chemically characterized aqueous extract of C. vulgaris may have attenuated Hg²⁺-induced mitotic catastrophe in HEK-293 cells and was predicted to activate AKT signaling and modulate the expression of zinc finger protein-related genes. Furthermore, in corresponding DMT1-overexpressing cells, the protective effects of the extract were associated with the modulation of translation and ubiquitination pathways. These changes may coincide with the partial recovery of the two major ribosomal stress surveillance pathways. Intriguingly, under conditions in which Hg²⁺ did not provoke the more severe ribotoxic stress response, the C. vulgaris extract appeared to alleviate Hg²⁺-induced ribosomal stress by engaging both ribosomal quality control and the integrated stress response, particularly the response of GCN2 to amino acid deficiency. Ultimately, these findings suggest the protective effect of C. vulgaris extract against Hg²⁺ toxicity is associated with DMT1 at the transcriptome level, warranting further experimental investigation of its potential as a nutraceutical adjuvant in mercury detoxification. Full article

Aphis spiraecola is a major pest of fruit trees worldwide, causing significant yield reductions and economic losses in apple production. Chemical control remains the primary and most effective method for managing A. spiraecola in the field. Imidacloprid, the first neonicotinoid insecticide, effectively targets piercing–sucking pests. However, the time-dependent response of A. spiraecola to imidacloprid exposure has not been well characterized. In this study, we assessed the susceptibility of an A. spiraecola population from Zhengzhou to imidacloprid. Enzymatic assays revealed that the activities of cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and carboxylesterases (CarEs) were significantly increased following imidacloprid treatment. A synergism assay further demonstrated that the P450 inhibitor PBO and the CarE inhibitor TPP significantly enhanced the imidacloprid toxicity against A. spiraecola. Transcriptome analysis revealed that LC₅₀ imidacloprid treatment induced time-dependent changes in gene expression at 12, 24, and 36 h. A total of 46 P450 genes, 42 esterase genes, and six GST genes were identified in the transcriptome of A. spiraecola. Five detoxification enzyme genes, CYP380C6, CYP6CY19, GSTS3, GSTL, and CarE6, were significantly overexpressed, as confirmed by both transcriptomic and qPCR analysis. Moreover, RNAi-mediated knockdown of CYP6CY19 and CarE6 substantially increased aphid sensitivity to imidacloprid compared with the dsGFP control group. These results demonstrate that CYP6CY19 and CarE6 play an important roles in determining A. spiraecola susceptibility to imidacloprid. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the rational and scientific use of imidacloprid in aphid management. Full article

Body size is a critical trait shaping ectotherm thermal tolerance, yet how body size mediates thermal acclimation remains poorly understood in insects. Here, we conducted 15-day daily cold (9 °C, 2.5 h) and heat (30 °C, 2.5 h) acclimation treatments on large, medium, and small Solenopsis invicta workers, followed by extreme temperature survival assays and comparative RNA-seq transcriptome profiling to uncover size-dependent acclimation phenotypes and molecular regulatory pathways. Survival results revealed that both cold and heat acclimation significantly boosted extreme thermal resistance of medium and small workers, whereas large workers exhibited inherently low mortality under lethal temperatures with no significant acclimation-induced survival improvement. Transcriptomic analyses showed striking body-size-specific transcriptional reprogramming: medium workers produced the largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under both acclimation regimes, followed by large workers, while small workers displayed minimal transcriptional shifts. Functional enrichment highlighted core pathways including lipid and small-molecule cryoprotectant metabolism, cuticle/membrane homeostasis, ion transport, antioxidant detoxification and sensory nervous signaling. Notably, hundreds of odorant receptor genes were sharply downregulated in acclimated medium workers, suggesting potential repression of olfactory function. Unlike acute thermal stress, long-term repeated acclimation triggered only mild transcriptional fluctuations of heat shock proteins with limited fold changes. Our findings demonstrate that thermal acclimation capacity in red fire ant workers is strongly correlated with body size, and coordinated remodeling of metabolic, osmotic, and chemosensory gene networks underpins this thermal plasticity. This body-size-dependent acclimation mechanism advances our understanding of invasive ant climate adaptation and helps predict their range expansion risks under global warming. Full article