Search Results (807)

Background: Exercise-induced fatigue arises primarily from energy substrate depletion and the accumulation of metabolites such as lactate and ammonia, which impair performance and delay recovery. Emerging evidence implicates gut microbiota modulation—particularly via probiotics—as a means to optimize host energy metabolism and accelerate clearance of fatigue-associated by-products. Objective: This study aimed to determine whether live or heat-inactivated Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NB23 can enhance exercise endurance and attenuate fatigue biomarkers in a murine model. Methods: Forty male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were randomized into four groups (n = 10 each) receiving daily gavage for six weeks with vehicle, heat-killed NB23 (3 × 10¹⁰ cells/mouse/day), low-dose live NB23 (1 × 10¹⁰ CFU/mouse/day), or high-dose live NB23 (3 × 10¹⁰ CFU/mouse/day). Forelimb grip strength and weight-loaded swim-to-exhaustion tests assessed performance. Blood was collected post-exercise to measure serum lactate, ammonia, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatine kinase (CK). Liver and muscle glycogen content was also quantified, and safety was confirmed by clinical-chemistry panels and histological examination. Results: NB23 treatment produced dose-dependent improvements in grip strength (p < 0.01) and swim endurance (p < 0.001). All NB23 groups exhibited significant reductions in post-exercise lactate (p < 0.0001), ammonia (p < 0.001), BUN (p < 0.001), and CK (p < 0.0001). Hepatic and muscle glycogen stores rose by 41–59% and 65–142%, respectively (p < 0.001). No changes in food or water intake, serum clinical-chemistry parameters, or tissue histology were observed. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both live and heat-treated L. paracasei NB23 may contribute to improved endurance performance, increased energy reserves, and faster clearance of fatigue-related metabolites in our experimental model. However, these results should be interpreted cautiously given the exploratory nature and limitations of our study. Full article

(1) Background: Polyploid fish are highly important in increasing fish production, improving fish quality, and breeding new varieties. The loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), as a naturally polyploid fish, serves as an ideal biological model for investigating the mechanisms of chromosome doubling; (2) Methods: In this study, tetraploidization in diploid loach was induced by heat shock treatment, and, for the first time, the role of the key cell cycle gene cdk1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1) in chromosome doubling was investigated; (3) Results: The experimental results show that when eggs are fertilized for 20 min and then subjected to a 4 min heat shock treatment at 39–40 °C, this represents the optimal induction condition, resulting in a tetraploid rate of 44%. Meanwhile, the results of the cdk1 knockout model (2n cdk1^−/−) constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 showed that the absence of cdk1 significantly increased the chromosome doubling efficiency of the loach. The qPCR analysis revealed that knockout of cdk1 significantly upregulated cyclin genes (ccnb3,ccnc, and ccne1), while inhibiting expression of the separase gene espl1 (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: During chromosome doubling in diploid loaches induced by heat shock, knocking out the cdk1 gene can increase the tetraploid induction rate. This effect may occur through downregulation of the espl1 gene. This study offers novel insights into optimizing the induced breeding technology of polyploid fish and deciphering its molecular mechanism, while highlighting the potential application of integrating gene editing with physical induction. Full article

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-based therapies are the cause of 20–30% cases of gastric lesions in chronic users worldwide. Co-medication with omeprazole (OMP) is the most commonly used option to prevent these lesions, although this carries risks of its own; thus, alternatives are being explored, such as dietary antioxidant therapies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) on ibuprofen (IBP)-induced gastric ulcers in a rat model. Quinoa cookies were formulated with heat-treated quinoa using microwave radiation. The intestinal bioaccessibility of phenols and flavonoids, and the antioxidant activity of microwaved quinoa cookies (MQCs) were notably higher than quinoa cookies without thermal treatment (RQCs): 132% TPC, 52% TFC, 1564% TEAC vs. 67% TPC, 24% TFC, and 958% TEAC, respectively. Basal diets were supplemented with MQCs (20%) and quercetin (Q, 0.20%) as a reference flavonoid and administered for 30 days. Gastric lesions were induced by intragastric IBP doses, with OMP treatment as a positive control. Gastric damage index (macroscopic study), histological score (microscopic study), and plasma antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD and CAT) were evaluated. Macroscopic results showed that the addition of MQCs, Q, and OMP decreased the gastric damage index (GDI) by 50%, 40%, and 3%, respectively, as compared to IBP (GDI 100%). Histological analyses showed neutrophil infiltration and congested blood vessels in IBP-treated tissues; in contrast, the experimental diet groups showed lower infiltration for MQC > OMP > Q, respectively. A significant increase in SOD and CAT enzyme activity was observed in the MQC and Q groups as compared to the IBP group. We conclude that a reduction in the GDI and histological score was observed in IBP-induced murine models fed diets containing 20% MQC and 0.20% Q, demonstrating a preventive gastroprotective effect. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inflammation is a crucial and complex mechanism that protects the body against infections. In our study, we propose to provide scientific evidence for the anti-inflammatory properties of 1,3,5-triazine derivatives. Methods: Initially, we ensured the safety of the three synthesized derivatives by administering graded doses of up to 2000 mg/kg intraperitoneally in Wistar rats. Thus, the three derivatives were considered generally safe. We also evaluated their ability to reduce carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. Results: Compounds 1, 2, and 3 demonstrated stronger anti-inflammatory activity than indomethacin (10 mg/kg), achieving maximum inhibition at the fourth hour with percentages of 96.31%, 72.08%, and 99.69%, respectively, at a dose of 200 mg/kg, compared to 57.66% for the standard drug. To explore the mechanism, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, CRP) and oxidative stress markers were measured in paw tissue. All three compounds significantly reduced these markers more effectively than indomethacin and enhanced antioxidant levels (SOD and GSH) beyond those achieved by the standard treatment. Additionally, the compounds reduced COX-1 and COX-2 levels to values comparable to those in the normal (non-inflamed) control group. Conclusions: Compounds 1, 2, and 3 at doses of 200 mg/kg significantly (p  < 0.05) inhibited the heat-induced hemolysis of red blood cell (RBC) membranes by 94.6%, 93.9%, and 95.2%, respectively, compared to 94.5% produced by indomethacin. Consequently, we concluded that 1,3,5-triazine derivatives are a safe antioxidant agent with significant anti-inflammatory activity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and myasthenic syndrome (MSyn) are neurological disorders induced by different types of autoantibodies, characterized by generalized muscle weakness, sometimes involving the respiratory muscles and necessitating ventilatory support. One therapeutic option for severe Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is total plasma exchange (TPE). This procedure reduces the concentration of autoantibodies by extracting the patient’s plasma and replacing it with donor plasma. The TPE efficacy varies among different types of MG, and patient response to TPE is evaluated solely through clinical markers, such as muscle strength. So far, no laboratory method is available for monitoring TPE treatment progress. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine whether differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of blood plasma from myasthenic patients is an appropriate tool to monitor and evaluate their condition and the TPE effect. Methods: We performed DSC prior to and after TPE course on blood plasma from three patients with different types of MG: Case 1. Patient with Acetylcholine Receptor Myasthenia Gravis (AChR MG); Case 2. Patient with Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase Myasthenia Gravis (MuSK MG); Case 3. Patient with Myasthenic syndrome (MSyn). Results: DSC thermogram examination revealed increased plasma protein fractions, primarily immunoglobulins (IG), as well as to some extent fibrinogen, relative to a suppressed serum albumin fraction. Successive TPE procedures resulted in IG fraction decline in AChR MG (Case 1) and MSyn (Case 3), and upsurge of the IG fraction in MuSK MG (Case 2). These findings aligned with the clinical presentation of all three cases. Conclusions: DSC revealed distinct, very significant differences in the heat capacity profiles of blood plasma from MG patients relative to healthy controls, as well as strong TPE influence on the plasma thermal behavior. DSC showed promise as a reliable and informative technique for the monitoring of myasthenia and TPE effects across diverse myasthenic patient populations. Further research is needed to confirm and expand on these findings. Full article

The HepACAGA (Hepatic Arteriography and C-arm CT-Guided Ablation) technique, which integrates C-arm CT guidance with transcatheter C-arm CT hepatic arteriography (C-arm CTHA), significantly improves liver tumor ablation outcomes by enhancing tumor visualization, navigation, and the intraprocedural assessment of ablation margins. The two key advantages of using C-arm CT over conventional CT for image guidance are firstly that the entire procedure can be performed in the angiography suite, eliminating the need for patient transfer between the angiography suite (catheterization) and CT-room (ablation), and secondly, that integrated C-arm needle guidance software can greatly reduce the difficulty of needle placement. Beyond these advantages, the HepACAGA technique offers additional benefits across four domains: (1) the direct conversion of ablation to intra-arterial liver-directed therapies (e.g., radioembolization or chemoembolization) upon the intraprocedural detection of disease progression; (2) the direct combination of ablation with intra-arterial treatments or portal vein embolization in one session; (3) the enhanced ablation effect through heat sink effect reduction with adjunct bland embolization or balloon occlusion; and (4) the immediate hemorrhage control through direct embolization. This pictorial essay demonstrates the advantages of combining C-arm CT guidance with real-time C-arm CTHA in the percutaneous thermal ablation of liver tumors, with clinical cases illustrating each of the aforementioned four key domains. Full article

Thermomechanical processing has a significant impact on the porosity and mechanical properties of AISI 316L stainless steel produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). This work evaluated the effect of three heat treatment conditions: as-built (HT0), annealed at 650 °C for 3 h with air cooling (HT1), and annealed at 1050 °C for 1 h followed by water quenching (HT2), combined with cold and hot rolling at different strain levels. The most pronounced improvement was observed after 20% hot rolling followed by water quenching (HR + WQ), which reduced porosity to 0.05% and yielded the most spherical pores, with a circularity factor ($f_{circle}$) of 0.90 and an aspect ratio (AsR) of 1.57. At elevated temperatures, the matrix becomes more pliable, which promotes pore closure and helps reduce stress concentrations. On the other hand, applying heat treatment without causing deformation resulted in the pores growing and increasing porosity in the build direction. The fractography supported these findings, showing a transition from brittle to more ductile fracture surfaces. Heat treatment combined with plastic deformation effectively reduced internal defects and improved both structural integrity and strength. Full article

The insufficient optimization of calcination process parameters severely restricts the enhancement of rice husk ash (RHA) volcanic ash activity. In this study, an intelligent muffle furnace was used for multi-parameter coupled regulation, combined with microscopic characterization techniques, to elucidate the effects of temperature, cooling mode, heating rate, and holding time on the reactivity of RHA. The results showed that the effect of calcination temperature on the volcanic ash activity of RHA was dominant. RHA calcined at 600–700 °C showed a honeycomb porous structure, displayed broad amorphous SiO₂ diffraction peaks and up to 95% content of SiO₂, and exhibited the best volcanic ash activity. The increased crystallinity of RHA calcined at 800 °C led to a decrease in its activity. The subcooling treatment with distilled water effectively rebuilt the lamellar structure, reduced the crystallinity, and enhanced the reactivity. The samples incorporated with 600 °C calcined RHA showed higher compressive strength at 3 days compared to 800 °C calcined RHA. Full article

Lichens, symbiotic organisms with a high tolerance to harsh environments, possess a greater diversity of sterols than other organisms. Sterols are involved in maintaining membrane integrity, hormone biosynthesis, and signal transduction. (1) Background: A characteristic feature of lichen sterols is a high degree of unsaturation, which influences membrane properties. Desaturases play an important role in the synthesis of unsaturated sterols, in particular, sterol C-5 desaturase (ERG3), which controls the conversion of episterol to ergosterol. Earlier, we demonstrated that the treatment of the lichen Peltigera canina with low and elevated temperatures results in changes in the levels of episterol and ergosterol. (2) Methods: Here, for the first time, we identified ERG3 in P. canina and, using an in silico analysis, we showed that PcERG3 belongs to the superfamily of fatty acid hydrolyases. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted to determine the evolutionary relationships of PcERG3. (3) Results: A phylogenetic analysis showed that PcERG3 clusters with ERG3 from other Peltigeralian and non-Peltigeralian lichens and also with ERG3 from free-living fungi. This suggests that PcERG3 has an ancient evolutionary origin and is related to fungi with lichenized ancestors, e.g., Penicillium. The differential expression of PcERG3 in response to temperature stress, a dehydration/rehydration cycle, and heavy metal exposure suggests that it plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between more and less saturated sterols and, more generally, in membrane functioning. The multifaceted response of P. canina to abiotic stresses was documented by simultaneously measuring changes in the expression of PcERG3, as well as the genes encoding the heat shock proteins, PcHSP20 and PcHSP98, and PcSOD1, which encodes the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. (4) Conclusions: These findings suggest that PcERG3 is similar to the sterol C-5 desaturases from related and free-living fungi and plays important roles in the molecular mechanisms underlying the tolerance of lichens to environmental stress. Full article

Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a multifunctional protease inhibitor that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in various diseases. AAT has been reported to protect against renal injury via anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its role in mitigating renal inflammation and reducing high blood pressure induced by salt-loading has never been studied. Methods: In this study, we salt-loaded 129Sv mice to induce hypertension and then administered purified human AAT (hAAT) or the vehicle to investigate whether renal inflammation and associated inflammatory/signaling pathways are mitigated. Results: Western blotting and densitometric analysis showed administration of hAAT attenuated protein expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM1), CD93, CD36, and the toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR-2/4) in kidney lysates. Similarly, protein expression of two key inflammatory transcription factors, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and NF-Kappa B were shown to be attenuated in the kidneys of 129Sv mice that received hAAT. Conversely, hAAT treatment upregulated the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and immunohistochemistry confirmed these findings. Conclusions: Purified hAAT administration may be efficacious in mitigating renal inflammation associated with the development of hypertension from salt-loading, potentially through a mechanism involving the reduction of pro-inflammatory and injury-associated proteins. Full article

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan, poses significant risks to public health due to its widespread distribution and potential for severe congenital and neurological complications. The fast-replicating tachyzoite stage is crucial for acute infection and laboratory studies, yet effective inactivation methods remain inadequately explored. This study evaluates various chemical and physical approaches to inactivate T. gondii tachyzoites in vitro. Using a combination of GFP fluorescence and viability assays, we demonstrated the complete inactivation of tachyzoites with ethanol (≥30%), hydrogen peroxide (≥3%), o-hydroxydiphenyl fatty acid eutectic with peracetic acid (≥1%), and heat treatment at 60 °C for 30 min. Our findings highlight the importance of concentration, solvent choice, and exposure time in disinfection efficacy, providing a framework for improving laboratory safety protocols. These results contribute to the refinement of inactivation strategies, supporting safer handling and research on T. gondii in vitro while reducing reliance on animal models. Full article

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells known for their self-renewal capacity, tumorigenicity, and resistance to treatment. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) plays a complex role in cancer, exhibiting both pro-apoptotic and pro-tumorigenic effects. This study investigates the pro-tumorigenic role of TLR3, specifically its impact on CSCs in head and neck cancer. Methods: We have investigated Detroit 562, FaDu and SQ20B cell lines, the latter being stably transfected with a plasmid containing inducible shRNA for TLR3, by cultivating them to form tumor spheres in order to study CSCs. Results: Our findings demonstrate that TLR3 activation promotes stemness in head and neck cancer cell lines. This is evidenced by increased tumor sphere formation, promotion of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), upregulated stemness gene expression, and elevated aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Conditional TLR3 knockdown abolished tumor sphere formation, confirming its important role. Furthermore, TLR3 activation triggers the secretion of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) into the tumor microenvironment, leading to increased cancer cell migration. This was inhibited by DAMP inhibitors. In patient tissue samples, we observed co-localization of TLR3 with stemness markers CD133 and ALDH1, as well as with heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). We then explored potential CSC-targeted therapies, initially combining the apoptosis inducer poly (I:C) with DAMP inhibitors and γ-irradiation. While this combination proved effective in adherent cells, it failed to eliminate tumor spheres. Nevertheless, we discovered that proton radiotherapy, particularly when combined with aspirin (HMGB1 inhibitor) and poly (I:C), effectively eliminates CSCs. Conclusions: This novel combination holds promise for the development of new therapeutic strategies for head and neck cancers, particularly given the promising results of proton therapy in treating this disease. Full article

Commonly, accelerometers are used to determine the tension force in cables through an indirect process; however, it is necessary to know the mechanical parameters of each element, such as mass and length. Typically, obtaining or measuring these parameters is not feasible. Therefore, this research proposed an alternative methodology to indirectly estimate them based on historical information about the so-called classic instruments (accelerometers and hydraulic jack). This case study focused on the Rio Papaloapan Bridge located in Veracruz, Mexico, a structure that has experienced material casting issues due to inadequate heat treatment in some cable top anchor over its lifespan. Thirteen cables from the structure were selected to evaluate the proposed methodology, yielding results within 3.8% of difference compared to direct tension estimation generated by a hydraulic jack. Furthermore, to enhance data collection, this process was complemented using a computer vision methodology. This involved remotely measuring the vibration frequency of cables from high-resolution videos recorded with a smartphone. The non-contact method was validated in a laboratory using a vibrating table, successfully estimating oscillation frequencies from video-recording with a fixed camera. A field test on eight cables of a bridge was also conducted to assess the performance and feasibility of the proposed method. The results demonstrated an RMS Error of approximately 2 mHz and a percentage difference in the tension force estimation below 3% compared to an accelerometer measurement approach. Finally, it was determined that this composed methodology for indirect tension force determination is a viable option when: (1) cables are challenging to access; (2) there is no line of sight between the camera and cables outside the bridge; (3) there is a lack of information about the mechanical parameters of the cables. Full article

Pomegranates are rich in nutrients and classified among ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables. Although this ready-to-eat produce offers convenience, it presents risks associated with pathogenic microorganisms, highlighting the need for pre-sale disinfection. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) constitute an innovative non-thermal processing technology for food products, offering reduced heat generation and lower energy consumption compared to traditional ultraviolet (UV) irradiation methods. This study analyzed the effects of UV-LED technology on pomegranate seed quality over 0 to 5 days of storage. The results demonstrated significant increases in anthocyanins, polyphenols, ascorbic acid, and the antioxidant capacity in pomegranate following treatment, peaking on day 3. In contrast, the control group showed declining trends. After treatment, the aerobic mesophilic counts and counts of mold and yeast levels during storage measured between 2.73–3.23 log CFU/g and 2.56–3.29 log CFU/g, respectively, significantly lower than the control group. Non-targeted metabolomic analysis showed that UV-LED treatment prompted modifications in the biosynthetic pathways of flavonoids, flavonols, and anthocyanins. The expression of peonidin-3-O-rutinoside chloride increased by 46.46-fold within the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. In conclusion, UV-LED treatment represents a potential approach to the disinfection of ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables. Full article

Aflatoxins are toxic organic substances that are synthesized on the surfaces of seeds, nuts, and similar products by some fungi under elevated humidity. They decompose at temperatures well above 130 °C, so standard heating or autoclaving is an obsolete technique for the degradation of toxins on surfaces without significant modification of the treated material. Non-equilibrium plasma was used to degrade aflatoxins at low temperatures and determine the efficiency of O atoms. A commercial mixture of aflatoxins was deposited on smooth substrates, and the solvent was evaporated so that about a 3 nm thick film of dry toxins remained on the substrates. The samples were exposed to low-pressure oxygen plasma sustained by an inductively coupled radiofrequency (RF) discharge in either the E or H mode. The gas pressure was 20 Pa, the forward RF power was between 50 and 700 W, and the O-atom flux was between 1.2 × 10²³ and 1.5 × 10²⁴ m⁻² s⁻¹. Plasma treatment caused the rapid degradation of aflatoxins, whose concentration was deduced from the fluorescence signal at 455 nm upon excitation with a monochromatic source at 365 nm. The degradation was faster at higher discharge powers, but the degradation curves fitted well when plotted against the dose of O atoms. The experiments showed that the aflatoxin concentration dropped below the detection limit of the fluorescence probe after receiving the O-atom dose of just above 10²⁵ m⁻². This dose was achieved within 10 s of treatment in plasma in the H mode, and approximately a minute when plasma was in the E mode. The method provides a low-temperature solution for the efficient detoxification of agricultural products. Full article