Search Results (15,242)

Bariatric surgery is a highly effective therapeutic strategy in the treatment of severe obesity, but it carries significant risks, both in the short and long terms. However, many of these complications can be avoided by appropriate patient selection, comprehensive assessment of clinical conditions, and structured follow-up including clinical, nutritional, and psychological monitoring. Achieving these objectives requires a meticulous program involving the entire multidisciplinary team and lays the foundations for proper patient compliance. Furthermore, recent studies have begun to explore the systemic effects of bariatric–metabolic surgery, with benefits extending far beyond simple weight loss and effects on both morbidity and mortality. Research has documented improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, insulin sensitivity, and hormonal balance, with substantial effects on the three main comorbidities of obesity: cardiovascular risk and hypertension, T2DM, and OSAS. In conclusion, bariatric surgery, while highly effective in treating severe obesity and its comorbidities, involves significant anatomical and physiological changes that alter nutrient absorption and digestion. These changes can lead to a number of short-, medium-, and long-term nutritional complications that require close monitoring and targeted dietary interventions. Full article

Phenol red is a widely used, low-cost, label-free colorimetric pH indicator that bridges traditional colorimetric assays with modern quantitative imaging and cell-based screening platforms. Its protonation-dependent absorbance shift (430–560 nm) allows for the real-time monitoring of extracellular acidification, which indirectly reflects cellular metabolism, growth, and respiration. Although phenol red lacks the molecular specificity of genetically encoded or fluorogenic biosensors, it remains useful in systems where pH changes are effective proxies for physiological processes. Existing tissue digestion protocols often overlook key parameters, especially pH control and enzyme cofactor use. This study presents a straightforward, spectrophotometric method to monitor and adjust the pH of low-volume (1 mL) buffered enzymatic dissociation media using phenol red and a plate reader. We titrated dissociation solutions to physiological pH (~7.4) using spectrophotometric pH measurements validated against conventional glass pH probe readings, confirming method reliability. Accurate pH assessment is critical for isolating viable primary cells for downstream applications such as tissue engineering, single-cell omics, and neurophysiological assays. We highlight that papain-based dissociation media supplemented with L-cysteine can be acidic (pH 6.6) if unadjusted, compromising cell viability. This accessible approach enhances reproducibility by promoting pH documentation concerning dissociation conditions that contribute to advancing consistency in biomedical, cellular, neuronal, and tissue engineering research. Full article

Pediculosis produced by the presence of the human head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis DeGeer, 1767) and the body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus L., 1758) remains a neglected tropical disease in Nigeria, where permethrin-based pediculicides are widely used. However, the resistance status of lice populations has not been previously assessed. Knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroids is primarily driven by two mutations—T917I and L920F—in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC) gene. This study investigated the presence of these mutations in 85 head and body lice collected from school-age children in two settlements in Nigeria. The T917I mutation was detected in head lice at frequencies ranging from 21% to 76%, and in body lice from 10% to 95%, with significant variation between sites and louse types. Remarkably, all lice examined carried the L920F mutation, regardless of T917I genotype, a pattern not previously reported in body lice. These findings suggest that pyrethroid resistance is well established or under active selection in the study populations. This is the first report of kdr mutations in human lice from Nigeria and highlights the urgent need for resistance monitoring programs. Early genetic surveillance of these mutations can inform treatment strategies and help prevent widespread resistance in lice populations, preserving the efficacy of available pediculicides. Full article

Mathematical modeling is a key tool for describing and predicting the dynamic behavior of anaerobic digestion. Studies combining the co-digestion of aquaponics effluent (AE) and cattle manure (CM) with kinetic modeling remain scarce, particularly regarding the estimation of the apparent kinetic constant of hydrolysis constants and energy conversion indicators. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the bioenergy potential of co-digesting aquaponics effluent (AE) and cattle manure (CM), with an emphasis on kinetic modeling and energy conversion. The experiments were carried out in a bench-scale Indian-type anaerobic biodigester. Different AE, CM, and water (W) (0:1, 1:0, 1:1, 1:3, 3:1 W:CM, and 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 AE:CM) ratios were tested to identify the most efficient substrate combination for biogas production. The 1:3 AE:CM ratio achieved the best performance, with the Gompertz model providing the best fit for cumulative production and the first-order model accurately estimating k. This ratio yielded the highest cumulative biogas production (72.2 L kg⁻¹ substrate), shorter lag phase, higher production rate, and greater energy conversion efficiency. Comparative analysis revealed that 1:3 AE:CM outperformed both 1:3 A:CM and CM alone, highlighting the positive influence of aquaponics effluent on microbial activity and process stability. These results demonstrate that anaerobic co-digestion of AE and CM, particularly at the 1:3 ratio, is a viable and efficient strategy for renewable energy generation in rural areas, while promoting waste valorization and enhancing environmental and energy sustainability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rheum officinale, an ethnomedicinal plant, has roots widely employed in modern pharmacological formulations. However, many of its biological activities remain only partly recognized. Furthermore, the metabolome and biological activity of its edible petioles, often considered a waste product, have received limited scientific attention. Methods and Results: The examination of anti-inflammatory properties of both root and petiole extracts (1–50 µg/mL) revealed the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine release from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a reduction in ALOX5 gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and the significant inhibition (>60%) of cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase activities. Importantly, no cytotoxic effects were detected at the tested concentrations. Conclusions: The petiole extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory efficiency comparable to, or exceeding that of the root extract, suggesting that R. officinale petioles could be valuable source of bioactive compounds for future investigations. Full article

Ruminant in vitro methodologies use washing with neutral detergent solution (NDS) after incubation to mimic ruminant digestion, which is physiologically different compared to that of horses. Our objectives were to determine if washing feed samples with NDS before in vitro fermentation (PRE) would suppress fiber digestion versus a post-incubation wash (POST), and to compare in vitro digestibility of forage-based feed mixtures with added soluble carbohydrates (CARB), soluble protein (PROT), or soluble carbohydrates and soluble protein (C+P) to only-forage samples (CONT). Dried, ground feed mixtures sealed in ANKOM filter bags were placed in Daisy^II incubators for 48 h in a split–split-plot batch culture design. Digestibility was determined as in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD), in vitro acid detergent fiber digestibility (IVADFD), in vitro hemicellulose digestibility (IVHD), and in vitro true digestibility (IVTD). The PRE treatment decreased IVHD for CARB versus POST (p = 0.007). Pooling all mixtures, PRE decreased IVTD (p = 0.001), IVADFD (p = 0.036), and IVHD (p = 0.001) and tended to decrease IVNDFD (p = 0.072). The CARB mixture increased IVTD versus all other mixtures (p < 0.001). Pre-washing with NDS suppressed in vitro fermentation by removing soluble carbohydrates. Without removal of soluble carbohydrates to mimic in vivo digestion, fiber digestibility is likely overestimated. Full article

A major limitation to the conversion of OFMSW via anaerobic fermentation is the high concentration of animal-derived wastes, which can inhibit the process due to ammonia accumulation. This study assessed the reusability of ammonia-loaded, dark fermentation (DF) liquor at two reuse cycles, derived from the fermentation of protein/lipid-rich substrates. Mitigation strategies such as ammonia stripping and biochar addition were evaluated against unstripped and unrecycled bioreactors. The initial slurry was generated from DF of substrates with varying compositions of proteins and lipids, which yielded characteristic results, and subsequently applied under four operational variations namely biochar addition, ammonia stripping, and unstripped and unrecycled bioreactors. Biochar addition effectively mitigated against ammonia accumulation across both cycles. In the first cycle, it produced the highest hydrogen yield, outperforming stripped and unstripped bioreactors by 53.8%, and 76.9%, respectively. In cycle 2, biochar further outperformed stripped and unstripped bioreactors by 44.1% and 42.4%. Despite a higher ammonia exposure, microbial consortia in the unstripped bioreactors acclimatised more effectively than stripped bioreactors in the second cycle. The main limiting factor was not conversion efficiency but electron diversion due to competing metabolic pathways. This study provides new insights into biohydrogen enrichment from animal-derived wastes, while emphasising mitigation strategies amid freshwater savings. Full article

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that requires its emissions to be mitigated. A significant source for methane emissions is in the form of the biogas that is produced from anaerobic digestion in wastewater reclamation and landfill facilities. Biogas has a high valorization potential in the form of its bioconversion into ectoines, an active ingredient in skin care products, by halotolerant alkaliphilic methanotrophs. Cultures of Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z were grown in bench scale stirred-tank reactors to determine factors to improve methane uptake and removal. Tangential flow filtration was also implemented for a bio-milking method to recover ectoine from culture media. Methane uptake and reactor productivity increased, with a temperature of 28 °C compared with 21 °C. Decreasing the methane gas bubble diameter by decreasing the sparger pore size from 1 mm to 0.5 µm significantly improved methane removal and reactor productivity by increasing mass transfer. Premixing methane and air before sparging into the reactor saw a higher removal of methane, while sparging methane and air separately created an increase in reactor productivity. Maximum methane removal efficiency was observed to be 70.56% ± 0.54 which translated to a CH₄-EC of 93.82 ± 3.36 g CH₄ m⁻³ h⁻¹. Maximum ectoine yields was observed to be 0.579 mg ectoine L⁻¹ h⁻¹. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-temperature disintegration of Chlorella vulgaris using solidified carbon dioxide (SCO₂) on the efficiency of anaerobic digestion of microalgae biomass. The novelty of this study resides in the pioneering application of SCO₂ for the pretreatment of C. vulgaris biomass to enhance methane fermentation. This approach integrates mechanical disruption of cell walls with improved solubilization of organic fractions at low temperatures, providing an innovative and energy-efficient strategy to boost biomethanogenesis performance. This study was carried out in four stages, including characterisation of substrate properties, evaluation of organic compound solubilization following SCO₂ pretreatment, and fermentation under both batch and continuous conditions. Analysis of dissolved COD and TOC fractions revealed a significant increase in the bioavailability of organic matter as a result of SCO₂ application, with the highest degree of solubilization observed at a SCO₂/C. vulgaris biomass volume ratio of 1:3. In batch reactors, CH₄ yield increased significantly to 369 ± 16 mL CH₄/g VS, methane content in biogas reached 65.9 ± 1.0%, and kinetic process parameters were improved. Comparable enhancements were observed in continuous fermentation, with the best scenario yielding 243.4 ± 9.5 mL CH₄/g VS. Digestate analysis confirmed more efficient degradation of organic fractions, and the stability of methanogenic consortia was maintained, with only moderate changes in the relative abundance of the main groups (Methanosarcinaceae, Methanosaeta). Energy balance calculations indicated a positive net effect of the process. This study represents a pioneering application of SCO₂ pretreatment in the context of microalgal biomass and highlights its high potential for intensifying anaerobic digestion. Full article

Bile acids, the primary components of bile, are cholesterol-derived molecules synthesized in the liver and secreted to the small intestine. Besides their primary digestive roles, bile acids have antimicrobial properties and serve as an environmental cue for intestinal pathogens, modulating the expression of virulence factors, e.g., toxins and effector proteins. Whereas timely recognition and neutralization of pathogenic toxin effectors by the host is critical, our understanding of the effects of bile on their structure and function is limited. In this work, we found that bile effectively protected cultured IEC-18 enterocytes from the mixture of Aeromonas hydrophila secreted toxins, containing hemolysin, aerolysin, and RtxA (MARTX). To explore whether these effects have broad specificity, we employed biochemical and biophysical techniques to test the in vitro effects of bile and bile acids on several effector domains of MARTX and VgrG toxins from Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas hydrophila, and catalytic domains of TcdA and TcdB toxins from Clostridioides difficile. Bile compromised the structural integrity of the tested effectors to various degrees in a protein charge-dependent manner. Bile and bile acids promoted exposure of hydrophobic residues and the unfolding of most, but not all, of the tested effectors, facilitating their precipitation and cleavage by chymotrypsin. Bile also inhibited specific activities of the tested effector enzymes, partially due to imposed oxidation of their catalytic residues. To summarize, this work validated bile as a non-proteinaceous factor of innate immunity, capable of compromising the structural integrity and function of the effector domains of various bacterial toxins. Full article

Microplastic (MP) contamination represents a global threat to aquatic ecosystems, yet its biological effects remain poorly understood. This study investigates the short-term impacts of polyethylene (PE) microparticles on two amphipod species: the semi-terrestrial Cryptorchestia garbinii and the aquatic Echinogammarus veneris. Amphipods are exposed to MPs both in water and through dietary intake. After 24 h, C. garbinii ingested an average of 9.6 ± 1.2 particles per individual, while E. veneris ingested 12.5 ± 2.8 particles, confirming an active uptake of microplastics. The mean particle size decreased from ≌50 µm in the food tablets to 18–25 µm in the digestive tract, suggesting fragmentation during digestion and highlighting the ecological role of amphipods in generating smaller, potentially more bioavailable particles. Both species exhibited a marked increase in DNA damage, together with variations in energy-reserve allocation (glucose, glycogen, and lipids) consistent with acute metabolic stress. To our knowledge, this represents the first evidence of genotoxicity ever reported in C. garbinii, expanding current understanding of the biological responses of amphipods to plastic pollution. These findings highlight the vulnerability of detritivore species to MPs exposure and, given their role in nutrient cycling, emphasize the need for further research on the ecological implications of MPs contamination. Full article

Small pelagic fish, such as sardines and sprats, are an affordable and nutritionally rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and bioactive peptides. While their nutritional value is well established, the impact of standard household cooking methods on their immunomodulatory potential and effects on intestinal integrity remains poorly understood. Fish were prepared using five culinary techniques (raw, boiled, steamed, baked, and fried), digested via the INFOGEST protocol, and applied at 1% concentration in a Caco-2 co-culture model combined with lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. NO and TNF-α production, and epithelial permeability were assessed. Steamed sardines induced the highest NO levels (122%) in activated macrophages, while raw sardines inhibited NO production (73%). Baked sardines and raw sprats triggered higher TNF-α production (>400 pg/mL). Boiled sardines and baked sprats caused the strongest disruption of epithelial permeability (>13%), whereas steamed sardines and raw sprats preserved barrier integrity (<11%). Notably, digested baked and fried fish preserved suppressive effects on NO and TNF-α even after translocation across the epithelial layer. Culinary processing significantly modulates the bioactivity of fish. In general comparison, steaming is gentler than dry heat cooking methods, as it better preserves anti-inflammatory effects and barrier-promoting properties. These findings highlight the relevance of cooking practices in modulating the functional benefits of fish consumption. Full article

Deep-sea mussels of the genus Bathymodiolus exhibit adaptability to nutrient-poor deep-sea environments by establishing nutritional intracellular symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria harbored within the gill epithelial cells. However, this poses a conflict for the innate immune system of the host, which must balance the tolerance of beneficial symbiotic bacteria with the need to eliminate exogenous microbes. This review synthesizes existing knowledge and recent findings on Bathymodiolus japonicus to outline the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing this symbiotic relationship. In the host immune system, hemocytes are responsible for systemic defense, whereas gill cells are involved in local symbiotic acceptance. Central to the establishment of symbiosis is the host’s phagocytic system, which non-selectively engulfs bacteria but selectively retains symbionts. We highlight a series of cellular events in gill cells involving the engulfment, selection, retention and/or digestion of symbionts, and the regulatory mechanism of phagocytosis through mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1, which connects bacterial nutrient supply with host immune and metabolic responses. This integrated model of symbiosis regulation, which links immunity, metabolism, and symbiosis, provides a fundamental framework for understanding how hosts establish and maintain a stable coexistence with microbes, offering a new perspective on symbiotic strategies in diverse organisms. Full article

The aim of this study was to develop a dynamic factorial model for predicting amino acid requirements in Hy-Line Gray laying hens during critical early growth stages (0–84 days), addressing the need for precision feeding in modern poultry production systems. Methods: Four sequential trials were conducted. In Trial 1, growth curves and protein deposition equations were developed based on fortnightly body composition analyses, with parameters evaluated using the Akaike and Bayesian information criteria (AIC and BIC). In Trial 2, the carcass and feather amino acid profiles were characterized via HPLC. And established the amino acid composition patterns of chicken feather protein and carcass protein (AAF and AAC). In Trial 3, maintenance requirements were quantified through nitrogen balance studies, and in Trial 4, amino acid patterns of feather protein (APD) and apparent protein digestibility (ADD) were established using an endogenous indicator method. These datasets were integrated through factorial modeling to predict age-specific nutrient demands. Results: The developed model revealed the following quantitative requirements (g/day) for 18 amino acids across developmental stages: aspartic acid (0.1–0.863), glutamic acid (0.170–1.503), serine (0.143–0.806), arginine (0.165–0.891), glycine (0.258–1.279), threonine (0.095–0.507), proline (0.253–1.207), alanine (0.131–0.718), valine (0.144–0.737), methionine (0.023–0.124), cysteine (0.102–0.682), isoleucine (0.086–0.458), leucine (0.209–1.067), phenylalanine (0.086–0.464), histidine (0.024–0.133), lysine (0.080–0.462), tyrosine (0.050–0.283), and tryptophan (0.011–0.060). The model demonstrated strong predictive validity throughout the 12-week growth period. Conclusion: This integrative approach yielded the first dynamic requirement model for Hy-Line Gray layers during early development. The factorial framework enables precise adjustment of amino acid provisions to match changing physiological needs and has high potential value in optimizing feed efficiency and supporting sustainable layer production practices. Full article

Wheat bran (WB) is a rich source of phenolic compounds (PCs) with antioxidant capacity (AOX). Approximately 90% of these PCs are bound to the cell wall matrix, which limits their bioavailability. Fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an effective strategy to release these bound phenolics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fermentation on the release of bound PCs in WB and their AOX during an in vitro digestion system. WB was fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 2, 4, and 6 days and subsequently subjected to simulated digestion. Free PCs were extracted with methanol, while bound PCs were obtained through alkaline hydrolysis. Total PCs were quantified using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and AOX was assessed through DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays. The content of bound PCs significantly increased after fermentation (p < 0.05): 30.24 ± 0.06 mg GAE/g (day 2), 27.18 ± 0.40 mg GAE/g (day 4), and 28.41 ± 0.40 mg GAE/g (day 6), compared with unfermented WB (7.7 ± 0.21 mg GAE/g) (p < 0.05). AOX was notably enhanced; DPPH reached its peak on day 4 (47.38 ± 0.07 µmol TE/g) (p < 0.05). TEAC was highest on day 2 (26.20 ± 0.43 µmol TE/g) compared with the control (20.14 ± 0.22 µmol TE/g) (p < 0.05) and FRAP showed a slight improvement on day 6 (57.38 ± 0.10 µmol TE/g) relative to the control (56.22 ± 0.13 µmol TE/g) (p < 0.05). Fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae promotes the release of bound PCs in WB and enhances its AOX, highlighting its potential as a functional food ingredient. Full article