Search Results (249)

The Lidia cattle breed is featured in several traditional popular bullfighting festivals throughout Spain, including the “Toro de Cuerda” event, in which the animals are subjected to intense physical exercise. However, the physiological impact and welfare implications of these activities remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the stress response and muscle damage in Lidia breed bulls during roping bull celebrations through comprehensive blood analysis. Blood samples were collected from 53 adult male Lidia bulls before and after a standardized 45 min continuous running exercise during traditional roping bull events in four Spanish autonomous regions. Hematological parameters, muscle enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate), and stress hormones (cortisol and ACTH) were analyzed. Significant increases (p < 0.05) were observed in leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and post-exercise platelets. Muscle enzymes showed marked elevations, with creatine kinase increasing up to 10-fold above baseline values. Stress hormones, cortisol and ACTH, also demonstrated significant increases. Despite the magnitude of these changes, all parameters remained within established reference ranges for the bovine species. This study provides the first physiological assessment of Lidia cattle during popular bullfighting celebrations, establishing baseline data for evidence-based welfare evaluation and management protocols. Full article

Background and Objectives: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may cause extensive multi-organ pathology, particularly in the lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver. While hypercoagulability—often signaled by elevated D-dimer—has been thoroughly investigated, the concurrent pathological findings across organs and their interrelation with distinct D-dimer levels remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the pathological changes observed in autopsied or deceased COVID-19 patients, focusing on the prevalence of organ-specific lesions, and to perform subgroup analyses based on three D-dimer categories. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 69 COVID-19 patients from a Romanian-language dataset, translating all clinical and pathological descriptions into English. Pathological findings (pulmonary microthrombi, bronchopneumonia, myocardial fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, and renal tubular necrosis) were cataloged. Patients were grouped into three categories by admission D-dimer: <500 ng/mL, 500–2000 ng/mL, and ≥2000 ng/mL. Laboratory parameters (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and clinical outcomes (intensive care unit [ICU] admission, mechanical ventilation, and mortality) were also recorded. Intergroup comparisons were performed with chi-square tests for categorical data and one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous data. Results: Marked organ pathology was significantly more frequent in the highest D-dimer group (≥2000 ng/mL). Pulmonary microthrombi and bronchopneumonia increased stepwise across ascending D-dimer strata (p < 0.05). Myocardial and renal lesions similarly showed higher prevalence in patients with elevated D-dimer. Correlation analysis revealed that severe lung and heart pathologies were strongly associated with high inflammatory markers and a greater risk of ICU admission and mortality. Conclusions: Our findings underscore that COVID-19-related organ damage is magnified in patients with significantly elevated D-dimer. By integrating pathology reports with clinical and laboratory data, we highlight the prognostic role of hypercoagulability and systemic inflammation in the pathogenesis of multi-organ complications. Stratifying patients by D-dimer may inform more tailored management strategies, particularly in those at highest risk of severe pathology and adverse clinical outcomes. Full article

Objectives: Kawasaki Disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis associated with systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the level and clinical significance of soluble ST2 (sST2) in children with KD. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 287 pediatric KD patients treated at the Pediatric Cardiology Department of Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, from November 2021 to December 2022. Patients were stratified into subgroups based on the presence of myocardial damage (MD), coronary artery lesions (CAL), multi-organ involvement (MOD; ≥3 organs) and/or intravenous immunoglobulin-resistant KD (IVIG-R KD). In each group, we analyzed the correlation between sST2 levels and various laboratory parameters, including white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (HB), platelet count (PLT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), D-dimer, and albumin (ALB). Results: Patients in the CAL group were significantly younger and predominantly male (p < 0.05). In the MD, CAL, MOD, and IVIG-R KD groups, levels of sST2, CRP, NT-pro BNP, and D-dimer were significantly higher than in their respective comparison groups (p < 0.05). sST2 showed weak positive correlations with WBC, CRP, IL-6, NT-pro BNP, and D-dimer, and weak negative correlations with HB and ALB (p < 0.05). sST2, HB, and IL-6 were identified as independent risk factors for MOD (p < 0.05). sST2 and HB were independent risk factors for IVIG-R KD (p < 0.05). Among acute-phase patients, four cases had sST2 levels > 200 ng/mL—all were classified as IVIG-R KD and MOD; three of these also developed coronary artery aneurysms (CAA). Conclusions: Elevated sST2 levels in the acute phase of KD may serve as a clinical indicator of IVIG-R KD, CAA, MOD, and MD. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of Carthamus caeruleus L. root juice (CRJ), which is used in the traditional medicine of Algeria. The product was characterized by colorimetric assays (total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins) and by RP-HPLC-DAD analysis. Experiments were conducted in vitro to assess the ability of CRJ to stabilize human erythrocyte membranes under various stress conditions and inhibit albumin denaturation, a process linked to inflammation. An in silico study was also performed to investigate the inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and assess the phenolic constituents with the highest activity. Moderate levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins were assessed; among these, 22 compounds were identified via chromatographic analysis. While present at low concentrations, some of these compounds, including myricetin, luteolin, and quercetin, are known to exhibit bioactivity at micromolar levels. CRJ provided erythrocyte membranes with notable protection against disruption caused by hypotonic NaCl solutions (protection levels of 90.51%, 87.46%, and 76.87% at NaCl concentrations of 0.7%, 0.5%, and 0.3%, respectively), heat stress (81.54%), and oxidative damage from HClO (75.43%). Additionally, a protection of 61.5% was observed against albumin denaturation. Docking analysis indicated favorable COX-2 binding for myricetin, luteolin, and quercetin. In conclusion, the root juice derived from C. caeruleus demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in silico. However, further studies, including in vivo investigations, are necessary to confirm efficacy and fully elucidate the mechanisms of action. Full article

Objective: 3-Nitrotyrosine (3-NT) is a byproduct of tyrosine nitration, mediated by reactive nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite and nitrogen dioxide. It serves as a marker of cellular damage, inflammation, and nitric oxide activity. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by systemic involvement and increased oxidative stress. In RA patients, cardiovascular disease has emerged as the leading cause of mortality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum 3-NT levels and various disease characteristics in RA patients, with a particular focus on cardiovascular comorbidities. Methods: A total of 168 RA patients were recruited. They underwent comprehensive evaluations, including disease-related characteristics and disease activity indices. Furthermore, a comprehensive lipid panel, measures of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome criteria, and carotid ultrasound to evaluate intima–media thickness and the presence of carotid plaques were conducted. 3-NT serum levels were measured. A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between the disease characteristics and 3-NT. Results: After multivariable analysis, C-reactive protein was independently associated with higher serum levels of 3-NT. In contrast, disease characteristics and Disease Activity Score 28-joint count (DAS28) calculated using C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate, showed no significant association with 3-NT levels. Likewise, cardiovascular comorbidities, including lipid profiles, insulin resistance indices, metabolic syndrome, and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis did not demonstrate any significant relationship with 3-NT levels. Conclusions: While 3-NT levels are influenced by inflammation, they do not appear to be strongly associated with disease characteristics, cardiovascular risk, or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in RA patients. This emphasizes the complexity of oxidative stress in RA. Full article

Background and Objectives: Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with oxidative stress. It has been reported that oxidative stress caused by disruption of redox signaling can cause molecular damage, activate dendritic cells, lymphocytes, and keratinocytes, and lead to angiogenesis, inflammation, cell necrosis, and apoptosis by increasing the levels of lipid peroxidation products. In this study, serum levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were analyzed to gain insight into the oxidative balance in patients with PV. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 59 PV patients and 40 healthy volunteers as the healthy control group. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, routine hematologic parameters [fasting blood glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), blood lipid levels, hemogram parameters], disease duration, and disease severity were recorded on data forms. The levels of ADMA, MDA, and GSH were analyzed using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Results: When analyzed in terms of demographic characteristics, no statistically significant difference was observed between the patient and control groups. When examined in terms of biochemical variables, white blood cell (WBC) values were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (t: 2.825; p < 0.05). Although waist circumference, BMI, glucose, CRP, ESR, lipids, platelet count, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the patient group, this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). ADMA (t: 4.532; p < 0.05) and MDA (t: 9.598; p < 0.05) values were found to be higher and GSH (t: −4.717; p < 0.05) values were found to be lower in the patient group compared to the control group. When correlation analysis was performed between the parameters, a significant relationship was found only between GSH values and ADMA values (r: −0.256; p < 0.05). Accordingly, as the patients’ GSH values increased, ADMA values decreased. Conclusions: Increased WBC, ADMA, and MDA levels, and decreased GSH levels in PV patients reveal the critical role of oxidative stress and inflammation in the disease process. Evaluation of these biomarkers may contribute to the identification of new targets for the treatment of PV and the development of more effective management strategies. Full article

The emergence of mcr-1-mediated colistin resistance has become a critical global health concern, highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches to restore colistin’s therapeutic potential. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of four matrine-type alkaloids—namely, matrine, oxymatrine, sophocarpine, and sophoramine—against mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli. While these alkaloids showed limited efficacy when used alone, the combination of matrine with colistin exhibited remarkable synergistic effects, as demonstrated by checkerboard assays and time-kill curve analyses. The matrine–colistin combination caused minimal erythrocyte damage while effectively attenuating resistance development in vitro. This synergy was further corroborated in a murine infection model, where the combination significantly reduced bacterial loads in target tissues. Mechanistic studies revealed that the matrine–colistin combination enhances antimicrobial activity by disrupting bacterial membrane integrity, increasing intracellular colistin accumulation, and triggering reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative damage. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of matrine as a promising adjuvant to overcome colistin resistance, providing a novel therapeutic approach to address the challenge of infections cause by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Full article

Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) can enter the human body and be absorbed into the bloodstream to produce monomethyl phthalate (MMP). MMP in the environment can also enter the bloodstream. However, little is known about the toxicity of the phthalate metabolite MMP in most organisms. In this study, the erythrocyte toxicity of MMP and a preventive approach were investigated using Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats as the model animal under MMP concentrations of 5–250 mg/kg (sub-chronic exposure in vivo) and 1.25–100 μg/mL (acute exposure in vitro). The experimental results indicate that the interaction of MMP with erythrocytes caused oxidative damage, which decreased the number of red blood cells and the hemoglobin content and increased the content of methemoglobin and the iron release of hemoglobin in rat blood. However, the above results were not observed when MMP directly interacted with hemoglobin. The antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E improved the above blood indicators in rats. The results of this study provide certain theoretical guidance for the evaluation of the potential risks of phthalate metabolites. Full article

Glyoxal (GO) is a reactive dicarbonyl derived endogenously from sugars and other metabolic reactions within cells. Numerous exogenous sources of this compound include tobacco smoking, air pollution, and food processing. GO is toxic to cells mainly due to its high levels and reactivity towards proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. We speculate that glyoxal could be involved in erythrocyte protein damage and lead to cell dysfunction. The osmotic fragility and level of amino and carbonyl groups of membrane proteins of erythrocytes incubated for 24 h with GO were identified. The amount of thiol, amino, and carbonyl groups was also measured in hemolysate proteins after erythrocyte treatment with GO. In hemolysate, the level of glutathione, non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC), TBARS, and activity of antioxidant enzymes was also determined. The study’s results indicated that GO increases erythrocyte osmotic sensitivity, alters the levels of glutathione and free functional groups in hemolysate proteins, and modifies the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Our findings indicate that GO is a highly toxic compound to human erythrocytes. Glyoxal at concentrations above 5 mM can cause functional changes in erythrocyte proteins and disrupt the oxidoreductive balance in cells. Full article

We focused on evaluating oxidative stress as a major mechanism of cell damage in patients with COVID-19 infection by simultaneously assessing standard oxidative stress biomarkers in vivo—for the very first time in this specific combination—alongside typical clinical biomarkers of inflammation. Standard biomarkers were used to evaluate the oxidative stress status and antioxidant activity in the blood plasma of COVID-19 patients and healthy controls. These included TBARSs (Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Substances), SOD (Super Oxide Dismutase), CAT (catalase), GRA (glutathione reductase) activities, and AOC (antioxidant capacity). All clinical inflammation data confirmed a highly activated immune response in the tested COVID-19 patients: WBCs (white blood cells) were increased by nearly 100%, LYMs (lymphocytes) increased by ~30%, CRP (C-reactive protein) rose by over 2200%, and the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) increased by ~320% compared to established maximum control levels. The results confirmed that the infection involved a free-radical-mediated damage mechanism: TBARS levels increased almost 3-fold, the AOC decreased more than 4-fold, SOD was increased nearly 5-fold, CAT was increased by 1.4 times, and GRA was suppressed by 2.5 times. COVID-19 was associated with oxidative stress and suppressed antioxidant activity. All these changes contribute to the severity of the disease, complications, and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Full article

Background: Valproic acid (VPA) is a mainstay of treatment for epilepsy. Although VPA is generally considered well tolerated, it has serious adverse effects related to the pathological impact on cerebral perfusion and oxidative metabolism, leading to progressive encephalopathy. Erythrocytes directly deliver oxygen to the tissues. To understand how the brain pathology may be related to limited oxygenation, it is important to determine whether VPA-related changes occur in the intracellular erythrocyte metabolism responsible for the oxygen transport function. Methods: To determine whether different therapeutic VPA doses affect major metabolic pathways in rat erythrocytes, the activity of rate-limiting enzymes and levels of metabolites of glycolysis, the Rapoport–Luebering shunt, the pentose phosphate pathway and the antioxidant systems were measured. Results: Our data showed that VPA-induced G6PD inhibition leads to profound oxidative stress, increased MetHb formation and decreased 2,3-DPG and ATP levels in erythrocytes that underlie the loss of their oxygen transport function, thus being a cause of a brain energy crisis that precedes encephalopathy. Conclusions: The measurement of parameters in metabolic pathways modulating the redox-signaling and oxygen-carrying capacity of erythrocytes is needed for further elucidation of complex mechanisms underlying VPA-induced brain hypoperfusion and encephalopathy. Full article

In the present study, exopolysaccharides (EPS-1, EPS-2, and EPS-3) were extracted from Lactobacillus graminis, and their chemical compositions, bioactivities, and cytotoxicity were comprehensively studied. A higher yield was observed for EPS-1 and EPS-2 with 14.38% and 9.24%, respectively. The chemical composition in the samples was studied using FT-IR analysis. The EPS-1 (1 mg/mL) showed higher antioxidant activities with 34.5 ± 6.6% and 93.6 ± 2.3% of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, respectively. In the cellular antioxidant assay, the EPS-1 protected oxidative stress-mediated cellular damage in AAPH-treated NIH3T3 cells. In addition, EPS-1 (0.25 mg/mL) treatment augmented the viability of AAPH-stressed RAW264.7 cells (~80%) than AAPH-treated cells (~50%) by reducing the ROS level and associated oxidative damage. Toxicity studies indicated that EPS-1 (1 mg/mL) did not induce notable cytotoxic effects in NIH3T3 cells, RAW264.7 cells, and erythrocytes. Altogether, the findings of this research suggest that L. graminis could be a source of biocompatible polysaccharides with antioxidant properties. Full article

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived lipid-bound vesicles divided into apoptotic bodies, microvesicles (MVs), and exosomes based on their biogenesis, release pathway, size, content, and functions. EVs are intercellular mediators that significantly affect muscle diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a fatal X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to muscle degeneration. Mdx mice are the most commonly used model to study the disease, and in this study, we phenotypically characterized plasma MVs from mdx mice by flow cytometry. Furthermore, we assessed the ability of plasma MVs to modulate muscle inflammation, damage, and/or regeneration by intramuscular injection of MVs from mdx mice into mdx or DBA/2 mice as a control. In both mouse lineages, platelets and erythrocytes were the primary sources of MVs, and CD3⁺ CD4⁺ MVs were observed only in mdx mice. We also observed that plasma MVs from mdx mice induced muscle damage in mdx mice but not in DBA/2 mice, while plasma MVs from DBA/2 mice did not induce muscle damage in either mouse lineage. These results indicate that plasma MVs from mdx are potentially pathogenic. However, this condition also depends on the muscular tissue status, which must be responsive due to active inflammatory or regenerative responses. Full article

Erythrocytes, the most abundant blood cells, are a prevalent cell model for the analysis of the membrane-damaging effects of different molecules, including drugs. In response to stimuli, erythrocytes can change their morphology, e.g., shape or volume, which in turns influences their main function to transport oxygen. Membrane active molecules can induce hemolysis, i.e., release of hemoglobin into the blood plasma. Free hemoglobin in the blood circulation is toxic causing serious health problems including vasoconstriction, high blood pressure and kidney damage. Therefore, early recognition of the risk of massive hemolysis is highly important. Here, we investigated surfactant induced hemolysis applying UV–vis spectrophotometry. Saponin, sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100, detergents known to provoke hemolysis at different concentrations and by different mechanisms, were applied to initiate the process. Whole absorption spectra of erythrocyte suspensions in the range 300–750 nm were recorded every 15 s for following the process in real-time. The hemolysis process, with respect to morphological changes in the erythrocytes and their influence on the oxygenation state of hemoglobin, was characterized by the absorbance at 700 nm, the height relative to the background and the wavelength of the Soret peak. The results suggest that these UV–vis spectrophotometry parameters provide reliable information in real-time; not only about the process of hemolysis itself, but also about pre-hemolytic changes in the erythrocytes, even at sub-hemolytic surfactant concentrations. Full article

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are biocompatible and biodegradable, making them an attractive alternative to traditional antimicrobial agents and chemical preservatives. Here, a novel α-helix amphiphilic anionic AMP Lc149 was screened from a large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) using a Bacillus subtilis expression system. Lc149 is a hypothesized protein fragment not annotated in the genome of a large yellow croaker. Both extracellular protein and recombinant Lc149 (rLc149) exhibited significant killing effects against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Vibrio harveyi. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that rLc149 had the ability to disrupt bacterial cell membranes, causing irregular cell morphology, severe cell membrane damage, cytoplasm agglutination, and intracellular content leakage. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry further confirmed bacterial cell destruction and mortality rates of over 80%. Gel retardation assays and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis showed that rLc149 was unable to bind to bacterial DNA, but did reduce bacterial protein contents. Additionally, rLc149 maintained antibacterial activity against E. coli and V. harveyi upon exposure to temperatures of 25–100 °C, UV radiation time of 0–60 min, pH levels of 3–12, and different proteases. Biosafety assays revealed low hemolytic toxicity to erythrocytes of large yellow croaker, rabbit, and shrimp, and low cytotoxicity to large yellow croaker kidney cells and HEK 293T cells. More deeply, rLc149 also possessed significant killing activity against parasites. Therefore, rLc149 can be considered an antibacterial and antiparasitic drug in fisheries. Full article