Search Results (2,430)

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common and potentially severe gastrointestinal condition characterized by acute inflammation of the pancreas. The pathophysiology of AP is multifactorial and intricate, involving a cascade of events that lead to pancreatic injury and systemic inflammation. The progression of AP is influenced by many factors, including genetic predispositions, environmental triggers, and immune dysregulation. Recent studies showed a critical involvement of the gut microbiota in shaping the immune response and modulating inflammatory processes during AP. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the emerging role of gut microbiota and probiotics in AP. We analyzed the implication of gut microbiota in pathogenesis of AP and the modification during an acute attack. The primary goals of microbiome-based therapies, which include probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and enteral nutrition, are to alter the composition of the gut microbial community and the amount of metabolites derived from the microbiota. By resetting the entire flora or supplementing it with certain beneficial organisms and their byproducts, these therapeutic approaches aim to eradicate harmful microorganisms, reducing inflammation and avoiding bacterial translocation and the potential microbiota-based therapeutic target for AP from nutrition to pre- and probiotic supplementation to fecal transplantation. Full article

Afforestation is regarded as a crucial approach to enhancing terrestrial carbon sinks. Nevertheless, in ecologically fragile regions, the impacts of afforestation on carbon in biomass and soil remain highly uncertain. This study employed field investigations to explore the effects of forestry ecological projects on carbon stocks in biomass and soil within the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and to deeply analyze its key influencing factors. The key findings are summarized as follows: (1) The total vegetation carbon stocks of arbor forests and shrub forests (ranging from 7.7 to 24.0 Mg/ha) are 1.3–6.8 times that of grasslands (ranging from 3.5 to 6.1 Mg/ha). Afforestation-induced changes in biomass carbon are primarily attributed to the increase in carbon storage within the arbor-shrub layer, while exhibiting negligible effects on herbaceous layer carbon. (2) The soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks (0–100 cm depth) of forestland, shrubland, and grassland are 39.6–64.5 Mg/ha, 40.7–100.2 Mg/ha, and 43.1–121.9 Mg/ha, respectively. There are no significant differences in SOC stocks among shrubland, forestland, and grassland at either the 10- or 25-year development stage. The SOC stocks of 40-year-old shrubland and forestland are 1.5 and 2.3 times that of grassland, respectively. (3) For 10-year-old and 25-year-old arbor and shrub afforestation, biomass carbon increased while SOC decreased, showing a trade-off. In the case of 40- year-old afforestation, both biomass carbon and SOC increased synergistically. (4) Results from the random forest analysis indicate that the understory herbaceous diversity in this region has a significant impact on biomass carbon sequestration, and that soil total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen determine SOC sequestration. (5) Partial least squares analysis further demonstrates that afforestation promotes the retention of SOC stocks by increasing soil nutrients (especially nitrogen and nitrogen availability). Afforestation in alpine and arid regions, especially 40-year shrub afforestation, holds great carbon sequestration potential. The supplementation of soil nitrogen and phosphorus can enhance the carbon sequestration of this system. Full article

Background: Moringa oleifera is one of the most famous plants used for medicinal purposes. Its leaf extracts have antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activities, and reduce swelling in ulcers. Objectives: The present article aimed to determine the metabolic profile of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts from two samples originating from India and to evaluate in vitro and ex vivo their biological activities. Methods: The antioxidant properties of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (methanol, 50% ethanol, and 70% ethanol) were studied in vitro for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. The ex vivo contractile effects of the extracts were determined by assaying circularly isolated smooth muscle (SM) strips from a rat’s stomach. Results: The obtained results indicated that one of the samples had amino acid and organic acid content approximately twice that of the second sample. In all the tests, the 50% ethanol extract of both samples showed better antioxidant activity (209 mM TE 100 g⁻¹ for the DPPH method). The 70% ethanolic extract of Sample 1 exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity, inhibiting Gram-positive Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. The 50% ethanolic extract of both samples exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity, demonstrating a twice better effect than the reference drug diclofenac. Finally, the pre-incubation of SM preparations with both samples significantly enhanced the ACh-induced contractile response, increasing it by 134% and 111%, respectively. Conclusions: The findings suggested potential applications of Moringa oleifera as a suitable candidate for antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic supplementation for alternative pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Full article

Strawberry fruits accumulate nutritionally critical anthocyanins and phytochemicals through light=quality-dependent metabolic regulation. This review systematically examines spectral modulation strategies for enhancing anthocyanin biosynthesis and fruit quality parameters. We demonstrate that dual red (660 nm) and blue (450 nm) irradiation optimally activates the flavonoid pathway, co-upregulating structural genes (CHS, F3H, DFR, ANS) and regulatory factors (FaMYB10, FaHY5). Mechanistic analyses reveal that blue light preferentially induces upstream phenylpropanoid enzymes (PAL, C4H, CHI), while red light enhances proanthocyanidin production through differential induction of LAR and ANR. Strategic supplementation with UV-C (254 nm, 1–2 kJ/m²/d) and far-red (730 nm, 15 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) improves anthocyanin spatial distribution via stress-mediated epidermal accumulation. Spectral optimization further coordinates flavor development by (1) balancing sucrose–hexose ratios through FaSPS1 modulation, (2) reducing organic acid content via FaMYB44.2 suppression, and (3) amplifying volatile esters (e.g., methyl anthranilate) through SAAT induction. Postharvest UV-C treatment (4 kJ/m²) extends shelf life by 30–35% through microbial inhibition and antioxidant system activation. Practical implementation frameworks propose phase-specific LED protocols related to vegetative growth (R:B = 3:1), flowering (R:B = 1:1), and maturation (R:B = 4:1) stages integrated with environmental sensors in controlled agriculture systems. These findings establish an actionable paradigm for photonic crop management, synergizing molecular precision with commercial horticultural operations to achieve sustainable yield enhancement (projected 22–28% increase) and nutraceutical enrichment. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of encapsulated postbiotics derived from various probiotic microorganisms, alone or in combination with inulin, on the growth performance, carcass traits, organ weights, blood parameters, and mRNA expression of selected hormones in broilers. A total of 588 one-day-old male Ross-308 chicks were randomly designated to six replicates of seven dietary treatments (initial body weight: 40.85 ± 0.56 g, per replicate, n = 14 chicks). The treatments consisted of a basal diet (C), supplemented with encapsulated postbiotics (0.30%) derived from Lactobacillus plantarum (ELP), Bacillus subtilis (EBS), or Enterococcus faecium (EEF), as well as combinations of these encapsulated postbiotics with 1.0% inulin (ELPI, EBSI, and EEFI) for six weeks. The results demonstrated that the body weight and body weight gain of birds that were fed diets supplemented with encapsulated postbiotics or their combinations with inulin significantly increased in comparison to the C group (p < 0.001). Feed intake (FI) remained unaffected during days 1–21, as did feed conversion ratios (FCR) during days 22–42, and days 1–42 demonstrated no significant differences (p > 0.05). However, FCR improved during days 1–21, and FI increased during days 22–42 and 1–42 (p < 0.05). Carcass yield, including breast, thigh, and abdominal fat yields, was enhanced (p < 0.001). Although the relative weights of the heart, spleen, pancreas, and liver were unaffected (p > 0.05), the relative weight of the bursa of Fabricius increased (p < 0.001). Serum antioxidant status and immunoglobulin A and M levels were higher, while liver enzymes, cholesterol, triglycerides, and total oxidant status were lower in the supplemented groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Serum glucose and protein levels remained unchanged (p > 0.05). The mRNA expression of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor was upregulated in the supplemented groups (p < 0.001). In conclusion, encapsulated postbiotics (0.30%) derived from different probiotics, alone or combined with inulin (1.0%), positively influenced growth performance, carcass traits, and immunity in male broilers. Full article

With growing importance in sustainable agriculture and environmental protection, the use of liquid organic fertilizers (LOFs) as a replacement for or supplement to chemical fertilizers has grown in popularity. The effectiveness of LOFs depends on the content of elemental nutrients as well as plant growth regulators. Three types of materials, i.e., brassica vegetables, mushrooms, and soybeans, were fermented for 60 days to produce LOFs. The soybean-based fertilizer (SOF) contained the highest concentrations of mineral nutrients (0.99% N, 0.11% P), organic carbon (6.75%), and IAA (24 µg/mL), followed by the mushroom-based fertilizer (MOF) and brassica-based fertilizer (BOF). During fermentation, polyamines (PAs) in LOFs dramatically increased with time, with MOF and SOF containing higher concentrations of PAs than BOF. Greenhouse-grown rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants at 21 d old were sprayed with diluted (1:75) solutions of LOFs or chemical fertilizers (CF) before being treated for 7 and 14 days with 100 mM NaCl. For both non-stress and salt-stress groups, the root and shoot dry weights, chlorophyll contents, net photosynthesis rates, and endogenous PAs of the LOF- and CF-treated plants were significantly higher than those of the plants receiving no fertilizers. The SOF was the most effective and enhanced growth and photosynthesis at a similar level as the chemical fertilizer and had good potential to be employed as an eco-friendly substitute for chemical fertilizer. Full article

Portuguese farmers seek evidence that organic fertilisers, particularly manure-based ones, can be safely used as partial replacements for mineral fertilisers (MFs), taking advantage of their nutrient and organic matter (OM) content. This study aimed to clarify the effects of applying organic fertilisers, especially under no-till practices in maize production. The experiment involved replacing basal mineral nitrogen (N) fertilisation with composted animal manure (CM) and pig slurry (PS) across three contrasting fields with varying soil characteristics, tillage techniques, and OM supplementation. Results indicated that site 1, which had the lowest clay and OM content, benefited the most from organic fertilisers, particularly in enhanced nutrient absorption in both maize leaves and grain. In this site, partial nutrient balance of N was significantly higher in the PS treatment (0.56 kg grain N exported kg N applied⁻¹) compared with the treatment with only MF (0.44). The impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions depended on site characteristics. CM led to higher emissions at site 2 (CH₄) and site 3 (N₂O), while PS did not increase GHG emissions at any site. Under no-till practices at site 3, CM resulted in higher global warming potential (154 kg CO_2-eq ha⁻¹) compared with the PS (128 kg CO_2-eq ha⁻¹) and MF (109 kg CO_2-eq ha⁻¹) treatments. Overall, this study suggests that organic fertilisers, particularly PS, can be a viable strategy for improving soil health and maintaining sustainable maize production in Portuguese agriculture. However, their effectiveness depends on factors such as soil texture, OM content, and tillage practices. In soils with lower OM content or under no-till practices, pig slurry emerges as a suitable alternative, replacing 30% of total mineral N fertilisation without compromising productivity or increasing GHG emissions. Full article

The isolation, structural elucidation, and synthesis of pure thiamin were achieved in 1936, marking a milestone in vitamin research. As an organic compound soluble in water, thiamin is essential for carbohydrate metabolism in plants and animals, and in its active form—as part of the thiamin pyrophosphate coenzyme—performs these functions. Thereby, thiamin represents an essential vitamin to human health and is involved in several pathways that regulate several pathophysiological mechanisms. Cardiovascular disease is significantly impacted by thiamine imbalance and its supplementation offers substantial improvements to the associated conditions. In this comprehensive review, we aimed to examine the dual role of thiamine deficiency and accumulation, focusing on an analysis of the causes of thiamine deficiency. We detailed the effects of thiamine deficiency on metabolism and on cardiovascular risk and heart failure, explaining the molecular mechanisms involved in metabolic dysfunction, and highlighting the role of B1 vitamin supplementation in diabetes mellitus management and atherosclerosis development and progression. Indeed, B1 supplementation counteracts oxidative stress and inflammation, significantly ameliorating glycemic and lipemic profiles. Additionally, we reported the beneficial effects of thiamine in counteracting cardiotoxicity induced by cancer therapy. Although preclinical data strongly support the benefits of thiamine, clinical trial findings are in contrast and contradictory, hampered by limitations such as small sample sizes and inadequate follow-up. Further research is needed to investigate thiamine’s potential benefits, overcoming current study limitations and evaluating its use as a supplemental therapy alongside standard treatments in different high-cardiovascular-risk conditions. Full article

Biodiversity is a foundation for maintaining ecosystem health and stability, while precise species identification is crucial to monitoring and protecting ecosystems. Subspecies of organisms, as carriers of genetic diversity, play key roles in ecosystem stability and adaptive evolution. Accurate identification of subspecies helps deepen our understanding of species distribution, ecological relationships, and change trends, providing a scientific basis for effective protection strategies. Therefore, this study proposes FineGrained-BioNet (FGBNet), a deep learning network model specifically constructed for fine-grained bio-subspecies image classification. The model combines a detail information supplement module, multi-level feature interaction, and a coordinate attention (CA) mechanism to improve the accuracy and efficiency of bio-subspecies classification. Through experimentation and optimization, the ConvNeXt is selected as the backbone network for FGBNet feature extraction, and the effectiveness of the multi-level feature interaction method is verified. Additionally, the optimal placement of the CA mechanism within the network is also explored. The experimental results show that, compared with ConvNeXt-Tiny, FGBNet achieved an increase of 6.204% in accuracy by increasing parameter quantity by only 5.702%, reaching an accuracy of 90.748%. This indicates that FGBNet significantly improves classification accuracy while maintaining computational efficiency. The proposed method facilitates more accurate subspecies classification, promoting the development of biodiversity monitoring and providing strong technical support for biodiversity conservation. Full article

Vitamin B12 is the common name for a group of cobalamins, which are cobalt corrines. Cobalamins are water-soluble B vitamins. Vitamin B12, as a coenzyme of various enzymes, is an essential component of many key metabolic processes in the body. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes dysfunction of various organs and systems in the body, including the central nervous system. Humans, like other animals, are unable to synthesize cobalamin. This vitamin must be supplied with a balanced diet. The only valuable dietary sources of cobalamin are foods of animal origin, especially offal (e.g., liver). Vegan and vegetarian diets are deficient in vitamin B12. People who follow this nutritional model require systematic cobalamin supplementation, usually in oral form. Other causes of cobalamin deficiency are various pathogenetic processes, in the course of which any of the stages of the complicated process of absorption of this vitamin from the gastrointestinal tract are impaired. Disorders of intestinal absorption of vitamin B12 require systematic supplementation of cobalamin parenterally (usually by intramuscular or subcutaneous injections) for the rest of life. Supplementary therapy with vitamin B12 may cause various adverse reactions, among which hypersensitivity reactions of various spectrums and intensity of symptoms are possible. According to available data, hypersensitivity to cobalamin is more likely after intramuscular or subcutaneous administration than in oral form. It also seems that long-term administration of cobalamin predisposes to allergy to vitamin B12, regardless of its chemical form. Although hypersensitivity to cobalamin is rather rare, it can also be of great clinical importance. This is due to the fact that vitamin B12 deficiency affects a significant part of the population, especially the elderly and those with chronic diseases that impair its absorption. In addition, supplementary therapy with cobalamin is long-term (usually lifelong) and there is no alternative form of treatment. For these reasons, solutions are sought that will allow for the safe continuation of treatment supplementing cobalamin deficiency. Various cyanocobalamin desensitization protocols are proposed, differing in duration, the dynamics of gradual dose increase, or the method of injection (intramuscular or subcutaneous). An analysis of available data in this field suggests that desensitization with cyanocobalamin seems to be an effective way to obtain tolerance to vitamin B12, allowing for long-term supplementation of this vitamin regardless of the chemical form, dose size, frequency, or route of administration. Full article

After the winemaking process, the residues formed are called wine lees, which represent a mixture of autolyzed yeasts deposited at the bottom of wine-storage tanks. Approximately 2.96 million tons of yeast result from the vinification of 49.4 million tons of grapes. The increased costs of removing these by-products from the wine industry, which is no longer required in the production process, offer us the opportunity to capitalize on various bioactive compounds through the circular economy concept and circular process. Wine lees resulting from the large-scale production of wine represent a raw material for the valorization of phenolic compounds, proteins, and polysaccharides, as well as pigments or organic compounds. The substantial nutrient resources available from wine lees are described extensively in this manuscript and range from vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids to food supplements, edible packaging, or food products such as bakery products. This review article explores the emerging horizons of winery waste utilization, unveiling the abundance of bioactive compounds and their manifold applications across the industrial realm. Full article

Background: The mechanisms underlying the progression and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in the context of extended morphine exposure remain poorly understood. Morphine consumption has been a pressing issue in many countries. While the physiological impact of extended morphine use is multifaceted, cancer patients with a history of extended morphine usage often have a poor prognosis. Methods: In this study, we investigated the impact of extended morphine treatment on the transcriptional profiles of TNBC. To this end, mice were administered morphine intraperitoneally for 14 days, followed by the implantation of EO771 cells, which are triple-negative breast cancer cells, into their mammary fat pad. After primary tumors were removed on the 38th day, a subset of mice was continuously given saline or morphine until the 68th day. Tumor size, organ metastasis, and tumor RNA expression were analyzed. Results: Our findings showed that extended exposure to morphine led to an increase in lung metastasis in the mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer. We analyzed RNA sequencing on tumors to compare their transcriptional profiles with or without metastasis. Through pathway analysis, we specifically examined the novel impact of morphine on the downregulation of taurine/hypotaurine biosynthesis. Given that morphine, droperidol (a dopamine receptor antagonist), and naloxone (an opioid receptor antagonist) might act through either opioid receptors or dopamine receptors, we further demonstrated that taurine mitigated EO771 cell invasion induced by morphine but not by droperidol or naloxone treatment. Additionally, morphine treatment markedly decreased the expression of GAD1, one of the enzymes essential for taurine biosynthesis, whereas droperidol and naloxone did not. Conclusions: The findings of morphine-induced reduction in GAD1 levels and the inhibition of invasion by taurine treatment suggest that taurine could serve as a potential supplement for triple-negative breast cancer patients who require morphine as part of their treatment regimen or due to their circumstances. Full article

Postpartum adaptation causes an increased formation of free radicals (FRs) in the organism, which can lead to development of various FR-mediated diseases (FRMDs) in the newborn. The present study investigates the kinetics of skin and blood carotenoid antioxidants in term and preterm infants and the influence of FRMD. In the first phase, a diffuse reflectance spectroscopy-based scanner was validated for non-invasive measurements of skin carotenoids in term infants (thenar eminence) by correlation with blood carotenoids via reflection spectroscopy. In the second phase, the skin and blood carotenoids of 22 term and 13 preterm infants with and without FRMD were assessed from birth until discharge. It could be shown that the scanner reliably assessed carotenoids in the infants’ skin. The term and preterm infants showed similar kinetics of skin carotenoids, which increased and entered a plateau after 3–4 days. In our cohort, FRMD did not have a significant influence on skin carotenoid concentration. This was due to immature sweat glands and an insufficient excretion of carotenoids. Skin carotenoids seem to be unavailable, suggesting that they may have to be supplemented in infants with FRMD. Blood carotenoid concentrations tended to be lower in preterm infants and infants with FRMD compared to healthy term infants. Full article

Background: Optimizing organ preservation techniques is imperative in the face of donor kidney shortage and high waiting list mortality. Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) has emerged as an effective method to improve graft function post-transplantation, particularly for deceased donor kidneys, prone to ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). The perfusion solution includes glucose to support kidney metabolism; however, its effect on mitochondrial function remains unclear. The present study investigated the effect of glucose supplementation during 24 h of oxygenated HMP on mitochondrial function in porcine kidneys. Methods: After 30 min of warm ischemia, porcine slaughterhouse kidneys were preserved for 24 h using HMP with one of the following three solutions: the standard HMP preservation solution, University of Wisconsin machine perfusion (UW-MP) solution, which contains glucose; the solution used for static cold storage, University of Wisconsin cold storage (UW-CS) solution, which lacks glucose; or the UW-CS supplemented with 10 mmol/L glucose. Tissue and perfusate samples were collected before, during, and after perfusion for further analysis. Results: ATP production, mitochondrial respiration, and oxidative stress markers were not significantly different between groups. Glucose was released into the perfusion solution even from kidneys without exogenous glucose supplementation in the perfusate. Conclusions: These results suggest that kidney mitochondrial respiration does not depend on the presence of glucose in the HMP perfusion solution at the start of perfusion, underscoring the need for further exploration of nutrient supplementation and mitochondrial function in organ preservation strategies. Full article

Wild oyster reefs have been harvested for centuries and continue to face anthropogenic pressures, including climate change, pollution, and habitat reduction. Oyster aquaculture has grown to supplement depleted wild stocks and strengthen local economies, but development has not occurred at the same rate across all regions. Across the United States, states have a variety of political and cultural influences that impact oyster aquaculture policy, constraining the ability to make direct comparisons among locations that could enhance aquaculture expansion in slower-to-develop states and regions. This research developed a four-part index to compare regulatory, production, and economic attributes of oyster aquaculture among 23 coastal states. The final index score—a summation of the four individual index components—provides a broad integrated view of oyster aquaculture across the U.S. The results indicate that coastal states in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and New England regions have the greatest number of resource and policy attributes in place to support oyster aquaculture, whereas coastal states in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Pacific region have relatively less in the way of aquaculture-supporting structures. As the oyster aquaculture industry continues to grow in the U.S., results from this study can help organizations involved in oyster aquaculture to make informed decisions to expand permitting, leasing, and production systems, following the model from states who have been active in oyster aquaculture for decades. Mindful and cautious improvements can facilitate sustainable sources of seafood and stable income generation for coastal communities while reducing pressures on wild stocks. Full article