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关键词： SMOKING   OXIDATIVE STRESS   INFLAMMATION   HORMONES   ARMY   FITNESS  

摘要： Purpose To determine whether physical performance adaptation is impaired in smokers during early stages of military training and to examine some of the putative mechanistic candidates that could explain any impairment. Methods We examined measures of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA], lipid hydroperoxides), inflammation (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6), antioxidants (vitamins A and E and carotenes) and hormones (cortisol, testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-1) in 65 male British Army Infantry recruits (mean +/- SD age, 21 +/- 3 yr;mass, 75.5 +/- 8.4 kg;height, 1.78 +/- 0.07 m) at week 1, week 5, and week 10 of basic training. Physical performance (static lift, grip strength, jump height, 2.4 km run time, and 2-min press up and sit up scores) was examined and lower-leg muscle and adipose cross-sectional area and density measured by peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography. Results Basic military training, irrespective of smoking status, elicited improvement in all physical performance parameters (main time effect;P < 0.05) except grip strength and jump height, and resulted in increased muscle area and decreased fat area in the lower leg (P < 0.05). MDA was higher in smokers at baseline, and both MDA and C-reactive protein were greater in smokers during training (main group effect;P < 0.05) than nonsmokers. Absolute performance measures, muscle characteristics of the lower leg and other oxidative stress, antioxidant, endocrine, and inflammatory markers were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Oxidative stress and inflammation were elevated in habitual smokers during basic military training, but there was no clear evidence that this was detrimental to physical adaptation in this population over the timescale studied.

关键词： orange tree   bark   wood   extractives   maceration   ultrasound-assisted extraction   accelerated solvent extraction   autoclaving  

摘要： Orange orchards are typical Mediterranean crops and a major feature of the heritage of the Mediterranean basin, where they play an important environmental and economic role. Their high availability, low price, and potential industrial application make the development of new and valuable uses of the orange's biomass of high interest. This research was focused: (i) on recognition and mapping of orange cultivation in the Basilicata region;(ii) on the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of extracts;(iii) on identification of extractives' traits. To achieve these objectives, the anti-oxidative properties and chemical compounds of the extracts from orange orchard biomass were analyzed. Different extraction techniques were applied, including maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, and autoclaving. Results demonstrated the potential antioxidant activity of the bark and wood of orange-tree biomass, which has not been investigated before. The relative antioxidant capacity index showed that bark extracts were more effective than wood ones, and accelerated solvent extraction was the most effective process for recovering antioxidants. Chemical characterization by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) showed the presence of different natural compounds, including caffeic acid, alkaloids, and flavonoids. The development of innovative applications that use biomass derivatives could lead to their possible use in the market as a commodity for the chemical or cosmetic industries, giving new added value to the current use of biomass from agricultural practices. Through multi-criteria analysis it was possible to recognize the sustainability of these cropping models and their ecological function, using them for the preservation of environmental resources, environmental quality, and quality of life. (c) 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

关键词： Freshwater fish   Fish health   Oxidative stress   Pharmaceuticals   Pollution  

摘要： The short-term effects of ivermectin (IVMT) on the oxidative stress and biochemical parameters of Clarias gariepinus juvenile was assessed under semi-static conditions at concentrations of 9 to 25 mu g L-1 for up to 4 days. Juveniles were highly sensitive to ivermectin, with an LC50 of 15 mu g *** antioxidant enzyme profile assessed included glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT). General stress biomarkers such as serum glucose, protein, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also determined at 24-h, 48-h, 72-h, and 96-h exposure durations. Lipid peroxidation showed significant (p < 0.05) decreases in higher concentrations (21 mu g L(-1)and 25 mu g L-1) and durations of exposure (72 h and 96 h). Significant concentration-dependent increases (p < 0.05) were recorded in the liver function enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) when compared to the control. GPx decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in higher concentrations (21 mu g L(-1)and 25 mu g L-1) and durations of exposure (48-96 h). Protein showed significant concentration-dependent decreases, while glucose recorded a mixed trend. The changes in the hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities and serum metabolites were indicative of oxidative stress induced by IVMT. This showed that IVMT is toxic to fish and should be used with utmost caution.

关键词： fermented soybean   fermentation   antioxidant activity   amino acid   isoflavones   nutritional composition  

摘要： Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a good source of natural antioxidants and commonly consumed as fermented products such as cheonggukjang, miso, tempeh, and sufu in Asian countries. The aim of the current study was to examine the influence of novel endophytic bacterial strain, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RWL-1 as a starter for soybean fermentation. During fermentation, the cooked soybeans were inoculated with different concentrations (1%, 3%, and 5%) of B. amyloliquefaciens RWL-1. The changes in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2 ' -azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, total phenolic contents, isoflavones (Daidzin, Genistin, Glycitin, Daidzein, Glycitein, and Genistein), amino acids (aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, cysteine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, histidine, arginine, and proline) composition, and minerals (calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, nickel, lead, arsenic, and zinc) were investigated. The level of antioxidants, total phenolic contents, isoflavones, and total amino acids were higher in fermented soybean inoculated with 1% B. amyloliquefaciens RWL-1 after 60 h of fermentation as compared to control, 3% and 5% B. amyloliquefaciens RWL-1. Additionally, fermented soybean inoculated with 5% B. amyloliquefaciens RWL-1 showed the highest values for mineral contents. Changes in antioxidant activities and bioactive compounds depended on the concentration of the strain used for fermentation. From these results, we conclude that fermented soybean has strong antioxidant activity, probably due to its increased total phenolic contents and aglycone isoflavone that resulted from fermentation. Such natural antioxidants could be used in drug and food industries and can be considered to alleviate oxidative stress.

关键词： spared nerve injury   neuropathic pain   behavior   electrophysiology   immune cells  

摘要： Neuropathic pain is a pathological condition induced by a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system, with symptoms like allodynia and hyperalgesia. It has a multifaceted pathogenesis as it implicates several molecular signaling pathways involving peripheral and central nervous systems. Affective and cognitive dysfunctions have been reported as comorbidities of neuropathic pain states, supporting the notion that pain and mood disorders share some common pathogenetic mechanisms. The understanding of these pathophysiological mechanisms requires the development of animal models mimicking, as far as possible, clinical neuropathic pain symptoms. Among them, the Spared Nerve Injury (SNI) model has been largely characterized in terms of behavioral and functional alterations. This model is associated with changes in neuronal firing activity at spinal and supraspinal levels, and induces late neuropsychiatric disorders (such as anxious-like and depressive-like behaviors, and cognitive impairments) comparable to an advanced phase of neuropathy. The goal of this review is to summarize current findings in preclinical research, employing the SNI model as a tool for identifying pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain and testing pharmacological agent.

关键词： HMGA2   AT-hook   adipogenesis   intrinsically disordered protein   stem cell  

摘要： The mammalian high-mobility-group protein AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is a small DNA-binding protein and consists of three "AT-hook" DNA-binding motifs and a negatively charged C-terminal motif. It is a multifunctional nuclear protein directly linked to obesity, human height, stem cell youth, human intelligence, and tumorigenesis. Biochemical and biophysical studies showed that HMGA2 is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) and could form homodimers in aqueous buffer solution. The "AT-hook" DNA-binding motifs specifically bind to the minor groove of AT-rich DNA sequences and induce DNA-bending. HMGA2 plays an important role in adipogenesis most likely through stimulating the proliferative expansion of preadipocytes and also through regulating the expression of transcriptional factor Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) at the clonal expansion step from preadipocytes to adipocytes. Current evidence suggests that a main function of HMGA2 is to maintain stemness and renewal capacity of stem cells by which HMGA2 binds to chromosome and lock chromosome into a specific state, to allow the human embryonic stem cells to maintain their stem cell potency. Due to the importance of HMGA2 in adipogenesis and tumorigenesis, HMGA2 is considered a potential therapeutic target for anticancer and anti-obesity drugs. Efforts are taken to identify inhibitors targeting HMGA2.

关键词： Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD)   Niemann-Pick disease type B (NPB)   Biomarkers   Clinical endpoints   Biochemical markers   Imaging parameters  

摘要： Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency (ASMD), or Niemann-Pick type A/B disease, is a rare lipid storage disorder leading to accumulation of sphingomyelin and its precursors primarily in macrophages. The disease has a broad phenotypic spectrum ranging from a fatal infantile form with severe neurological involvement (the infantile neurovisceral type) to a primarily visceral form with different degrees of pulmonary, liver, spleen and skeletal involvement (the chronic visceral type). With the upcoming possibility of treatment with enzyme replacement therapy, the need for biomarkers that predict or reflect disease progression has increased. Biomarkers should be validated for their use as surrogate markers of clinically relevant endpoints. In this review, clinically important endpoints as well as biochemical and imaging markers of ASMD are discussed and potential new biomarkers are identified. We suggest as the most promising biomarkers that may function as surrogate endpoints in the future: diffusion capacity measured by spirometry, spleen volume, platelet count, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, liver fibrosis measured with a fibroscan, lysosphingomyelin and walked distance in six minutes. Currently, no biomarkers have been validated. Several plasma markers of lipid-laden cells, fibrosis or inflammation are of high potential as biomarkers and deserve further study. Based upon current guidelines for biomarkers, recommendations for the validation process are provided.

关键词： biochemistry and genetics   flipped classroom   molar calculations   undergraduate teaching  

摘要： The flipped classroom is a relatively new active learning pedagogical intervention, gaining popularity as a blended learning methodology. The flipped classroom comprises two distinct parts, directed learning carried out at the student's own pace away from the classroom and an interactive, class-based activity encouraging problem-solving and experiential learning. This research presents a 1-year study to measure student performance and perception toward a flipped classroom approach to teaching core biochemical calculations to first-year undergraduate biochemistry and genetics students. A post-task questionnaire showed an overall positive student perception with an associated significant improvement in the end of module summative assessment. These results suggest that this teaching approach offers some advantages over more traditional teaching pedagogies.

关键词： carbon magnetic nanoparticles   zebrafish   behavior analysis   neurotransmitters   ecotoxicity   phenomic analysis  

摘要： Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained much attention in the field of biomedical engineering for therapeutic as well as diagnostic purposes. Carbon magnetic nanoparticles (C-MNPs) are a class of MNPs categorized as organic nanoparticles. C-MNPs have been under considerable interest in studying in various applications such as magnetic resonance imaging, photothermal therapy, and intracellular transportof drugs. Research work is still largely in progress for testing the efficacy of C-MNPs on the theranostics platform in cellular studies and animal models. In this study, we evaluated the neurobehavioral toxicity parameters on the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) at either low (1 ppm) or high (10 ppm) concentration level of C-MNPs over a period of two weeks by waterborne exposure. The physical properties of the synthesized C-MNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Raman, and XRD spectrum characterization. Multiple behavior tests for the novel tank, mirror biting, predator avoidance, conspecific social interaction, shoaling, and analysis of biochemical markers were also conducted to elucidate the corresponding mechanism. Our data demonstrate the waterborne exposure of C-MNPs is less toxic than the uncoated MNPs since neither low nor high concentration C-MNPs elicit toxicity response in behavioral and biochemical tests in adult zebrafish. The approach combining biochemical and neurobehavioral approaches would be helpful for understanding C-MNPs association affecting the bioavailability, biosafety, interaction, and uptake of these C-MNPs in the living organism.

关键词： Proline   Target of rapamycin (TOR)   Growth performance   Amino acid profiles   Blood-biochemistry   Nibea diacanthus  

摘要： Amino acids can act as signaling molecules in protein synthesis and animal growth by regulating several genes in the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of dietary proline on growth performance, body composition, amino acid profiles, blood-biochemistry and expression of TOR pathway-related genes in juvenile Nibea diacanthus. Fish (450 juvenile N. diacanthus) were assigned to six dietary proline supplementation groups (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 g kg(-1) of dry diet). The results revealed that the growth performance and feed utilization of N. diacanthus were not significantly improved with dietary proline level (P > 0.05). Whole-body crude protein and some amino acids in muscle tissue were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the supplemental dietary proline, while the levels of hepatic GOT and GPT increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of dietary proline. The transcript level of TOR in muscle was significantly affected by dietary proline level, while the mRNA levels of 4EBP, S6K1, TSC and GTPBP in muscle were relatively unaffected. In conclusion, our results indicate that (1) dietary proline promotes protein synthesis, and (2) proline may promote protein synthesis by regulating the transcription of TOR but not 4EBP, S6K1, TSC and GTPBP.