Road dust resuspension is one of the main sources of particulate matter with impacts on air quality, health and climate. With the aim of characterising the thoracic fraction, a portable resuspension ...chamber was used to collect road dust from five main roads in Oporto and an urban tunnel in Braga, north of Portugal. The PM10 samples were analysed for: i) carbonates by acidification and quantification of the evolved CO2, ii) carbonaceous content (OC and EC) by a thermo-optical technique, iii) elemental composition by ICP-MS and ICP-AES after acid digestion, and iv) organic speciation by GC–MS. Dust loadings of 0.48±0.39mgPM10m−2 were obtained for asphalt paved roads. A much higher mean value was achieved in a cobbled pavement (50mgPM10m−2). In general, carbonates were not detected in PM10. OC and EC accounted for PM10 mass fractions up to 11% and 5%, respectively. Metal oxides accounted for 29±7.5% of the PM10 mass from the asphalt paved roads and 73% in samples from the cobbled street. Crustal and anthropogenic elements, associated with tyre and brake wear, dominated the inorganic fraction. PM10 comprised hundreds of organic constituents, including hopanoids, n-alkanes and other aliphatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), alcohols, sterols, various types of acids, glycerol derivatives, lactones, sugars and derivatives, phenolic compounds and plasticizers. In samples from the cobbled street, these organic classes represented only 439μgg−1PM10, while for other pavements mass fractions up to 65mgg−1PM10 were obtained. Except for the cobbled street, on average, about 40% of the analysed organic fraction was composed of plasticizers. Although the risk via inhalation of PAH was found to be insignificant, the PM10 from some roads can contribute to an estimated excess of 332 to 2183 per million new cancer cases in adults exposed via ingestion and dermal contact.
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•Dust loadings<1mgPM10m−2 were obtained for asphalt paved roads.•These values are lower than those reported for other cities.•Dust loadings about 50 times higher were found for a cobbled pavement.•OC & EC accounted for small PM10 mass fractions, while inorganic components dominate.•OC comprised hundreds of organic constituents; plasticizers were the most abundant.
IntroductionEating disorders are potentially severe, complex, and life-threatening. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and treat all the comorbidities that could worsen the prognosis.ObjectivesThe ...aims of this work are to assess if substance use disorders are frequently comorbid in patients suffering from eating disorders, what are the problems associated with drug consumption among these individuals, and what are the best therapeutic strategies in this dual psychiatric diagnosis.MethodsWe carried out a narrative review, by searching on PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using the expression “eating disorders and substance use disorders”. We included all types of scientific articles published between 2018 and 2022, and information was extracted regarding the objectives of this review.ResultsThe prevalence rates of substance use in eating disorders are higher than in general population. For eating disorders in general, substance use disorder (SUD) is the third most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity. According to a meta-analysis published in 2019, the lifetime prevalence rate of a comorbid SUD was 21.9% (95% CI 16.7-28.0). SUDs were more frequently comorbid among individuals with the binge/purge type, which has a specific phenotype characterized by greater impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and problems with executive control. Individuals with this dual diagnosis had a higher number of psychiatric comorbidities, were more likely to be prescribed mood stabilizers, and were more sensitive to reward.Research suggests that eating disorders patients with co-occurring SUDs experience lower rates of treatment response, higher relapse rates, more severe medical complications, greater impairment, poorer long-term outcome, and are at higher risk of early mortality.To date, there is limited information guiding the concurrent treatment of eating disorders and SUDs. Dialectical Behavior Therapy for SUDs seems to be a promising treatment, but more research on its efficacy will be essential for establishing treatment protocols for these patients.ConclusionsSUDs have an impact on treatment response and increase mortality among people with eating disorders. The prevention and treatment of SUDs in this patient group is thus imperative to reduce mortality and increase the quality of life of these patients.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
•Silver catfish were acclimated in hypoxia and posteriorly exposed to Mn.•Hypoxia acclimation decreased Mn accumulation in vital organs of silver catfish.•Hypoxia acclimated fish showed reduced ...oxidative damages in different vital organs.•Hypoxia acclimation prevents molecular changes in pituitary hormones.•Hypoxia acclimation reduces Mn toxicity and oxidative damages, possibly by hormesis.
The aim of this study was to assess the Mn toxicity to silver catfish considering Mn accumulation and oxidative status in different tissues, as well as pituitary hormone expression after acclimation to hypoxia. Silver catfish acclimated to hypoxia for 10 days and successively exposed to Mn (9.8mgL−1) for an additional 10 days exhibited lower Mn accumulation in plasma, liver, kidneys and brain and prevented the hematocrit decrease observed in the normoxia group. Hypoxia acclimation also modified Mn-induced oxidative damage, which was observed by lower reactive species (RS) generation in gills and kidneys, decreased lipid peroxidation (LP) levels in gills, liver and kidneys and decreased protein carbonyl (PC) levels in liver, kidneys and brain. Manganese accumulation showed positive correlations with LP levels in gills and kidneys, as well as with PC levels in gills, liver and brain. In addition, hypoxia acclimation and Mn exposure increased catalase (CAT) activity in gills and kidneys and Na+/K+-ATPase activity in gills, liver and brain. Silver catfish that were acclimated under normoxia and exposed to Mn displayed increased pituitary prolactin (PRL) and decreased somatolactin (SL) expression. Interestingly, hypoxia acclimation prevented hormonal fluctuation of PRL and SL in fish exposed to Mn. These findings indicate that while the exposure of silver catfish to Mn under normoxia was related to metal accumulation and oxidative damage in tissues together with endocrine axis disruption, as represented by PRL and SL, hypoxia acclimation reduced waterborne Mn uptake, thereby minimizing oxidative damage and changes in hormonal profile. We hypothesized that moderate hypoxia is able to generate adaptive responses, which may be related to hormesis, thereby ameliorating Mn toxicity to silver catfish.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of manganese (Mn) on silver catfish exposed to different levels of dissolved oxygen. Silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) were exposed to increasing ...concentrations of Mn (4.2, 8.4 or 16.2mgL−1) under either normoxia (100 percent saturation) or moderate hypoxia (51.87 percent saturation) for 15 days. Under normoxia, Mn exposure increased lipid peroxidation (LP) in brain and kidney; it increased gluthatione (GSH) levels in brain and decreased catalase (CAT) activity in both tissues. Moderate hypoxia was able to prevent Mn-induced LP in brain and to reduce this oxidative parameter in kidney; GSH level was increased in brain, while CAT activity was reduced in both tissues. Activity of isolated mitochondria of liver and gills was reduced by Mn exposure under both levels of dissolved oxygen, but this effect was more prominent in normoxia. As expected, liver, kidney and gills showed an increase of Mn accumulation according to waterborne levels, and these parameters presented positive relationship. The highest waterborne Mn (8.4 and 16.2mgL−1) resulted in greater accumulation under normoxia, indicating that moderate hypoxia can stimulate mechanisms capable of reducing Mn accumulation in tissues (though not in blood). Moderate hypoxia can be considered a stress factor and Mn an aquatic anthropogenic contaminant. Therefore we hypothesized that these two conditions together are able to invoke defense mechanisms in juvenile silver catfish, acting in a compensatory form, which may be related to adaptation and/or hormesis.
► Silver catfish were exposed to Mn under normoxia and moderate hypoxia. ► Under moderate hypoxia, Mn caused lower lipid peroxidation in brain and kidney. ► Under hypoxia, Mn was related to mitochondrial survival in liver and gills. ► Normoxia caused higher Mn accumulation in liver, kidney and gills, but not in plasma. ► Moderate hypoxia reduces Mn toxicity and oxidative damages, possibly by hormesis.
Mitochondrial inner membrane uncoupling proteins (UCP) dissipate the proton electrochemical gradient established by the respiratory chain, thus affecting the yield of ATP synthesis. UCP ...overexpression in plants has been correlated with oxidative stress tolerance, improved photosynthetic efficiency and increased mitochondrial biogenesis. This study reports the main transcriptomic responses associated with the overexpression of an UCP (AtUCP1) in tobacco seedlings. Compared to wild-type (WT), AtUCP1 transgenic seedlings showed unaltered ATP levels and higher accumulation of serine. By using RNA-sequencing, a total of 816 differentially expressed genes between the investigated overexpressor lines and the untransformed WT control were identified. Among them, 239 were up-regulated and 577 were down-regulated. As a general response to AtUCP1 overexpression, noticeable changes in the expression of genes involved in energy metabolism and redox homeostasis were detected. A substantial set of differentially expressed genes code for products targeted to the chloroplast and mainly involved in photosynthesis. The overall results demonstrate that the alterations in mitochondrial function provoked by AtUCP1 overexpression require important transcriptomic adjustments to maintain cell homeostasis. Moreover, the occurrence of an important cross-talk between chloroplast and mitochondria, which culminates in the transcriptional regulation of several genes involved in different pathways, was evidenced.
Feed additives such as monensin (MON) and virginiamycin (VM) are widely used in feedlots diets to maximize rumen fermentation. However, the knowledge about the effects of MON and VM combinations in ...specifics feedlot periods and the benefits of this association are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of withdrawal of MON when associated with VM during the adaptation and finishing periods on feedlot performance of Nellore cattle. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block replicated six times (four animals/pen) in which 120 Nellore bulls (378.4 ± 24.4 kg) were allocated in 30 pens and fed for 112 days according to the following treatments: (T1) MON during the entire feeding period; (T2) VM during the entire feeding period; (T3) MON+VM during the adaptation period and only VM during the finishing period 1 and 2; (T4) MON+VM during the entire feeding period; (T5) MON+VM during the adaptation and finishing period 1 and only VM during the finishing period 2. After 112 days on feed, no treatment effect was observed for DMI (
≥ 0.12). However, bulls fed T5 had greater (
= 0.05) final BW and ADG when compared to T1, T2, and T4. Cattle from T3 and T5 groups presented heavier HCW (
= 0.05) than that fed T1, T2, and T4. Nellore bulls fed T1 and T5 had lower (
< 0.01) DMI variation than those receiving T2. The withdrawal of MON when associated with VM during the final third of the feedlot period improved overall final BW, ADG, and HCW when compared to bulls fed either MON or VM, but did not positively impact feedlot performance when compared to cattle that had MON withdrawn at the end of the adaptation period.
The emissions of volatile organic compounds from
Quercus suber (cork oak) were investigated at two rural sites in Portugal using a branch enclosure method with subsequent analysis by gas ...chromatography/flame ionization detection.
Q. suber leaves released important amounts of monoterpenes, mainly in the form of limonene,
α-pinene,
β-pinene and sabinene. However, significant temporal and intraspecific variations in the relative abundance of the dominant compounds were found during this survey. Emissions from
Q. suber were strongly dependent on light and temperature, showing a similar behaviour to that of plant species known to be isoprene producers. But, this work also revealed that, although at lower rates, emissions of monoterpenes continued in the dark for several hours. Emission rates were quite well predicted by algorithms based on the Guenther and Tingey equations; correlations of measurements with modelled data were, on average,
r
2
=
0.80
. A pronounced seasonal variation was recorded for the emissions of monoterpenes. During the 1-yr study period, standard emission rates ranged between a minimum of 0.2
μg
g
dw
−1
h
−1
, in winter, and a maximum of 20–30
μg
g
dw
−1
h
−1, in summer.
Stingless bee honey (SBH) is gaining attention due to its nutritional, sensorial, and medicinal characteristics. This study focuses on the combination of physicochemical properties, antioxidant ...capacity, mineral profile, and mass spectrometry-based fingerprints, using a chemometric approach to differentiate SBH (
= 18) from three different Brazilian biogeographical zones (Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest). The physicochemical properties of SBH varied, resulting in a wide range of water activity, moisture, total soluble solids, pH, and total and free acidity. The Caatinga honey showed the highest and the lowest contents of phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. The antioxidant free-radical scavenging assays demonstrated that the Brazilian SBH has a high antioxidant potential. The mineral profile of honey samples from the Atlantic Forest revealed higher contents of Ca and Fe while the Cerrado and Caatinga honey showed the highest P contents. Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) analysis separated the samples into three groups based on the biogeographical zones of harvest. The main separation factors between groups were the
/
326 ion and the Fe content. Univariate analysis confirmed that Fe content is important for SBH discrimination. The present results indicate that the origin of SBH can be determined on the basis of mineral profile, especially Fe content.
Background and Purpose
Intestinal mucositis is a common side‐effect of irinotecan‐based cancer chemotherapy regimens. This mucositis is associated with cytokine activation and NO synthesis. ...Production of IL‐18 is up‐regulated in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, we have investigated the role of IL‐18 in the pathogenesis of irinotecan‐induced intestinal mucositis.
Experimental Approach
Wild type (WT), IL‐18 or caspase‐1 knockout mice were treated with either saline or irinotecan (60 mg·kg−1 per 4 days, i.p.) or the IL‐18 binding protein (IL‐18bp, 10 mg·kg−1) before irinotecan. On day 5, diarrhoea was monitored and proximal intestinal strips were obtained for histopathology, in vitro gut contractility, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inducible NOS (iNOS) activity, and detection of IL‐18 expression.
Key Results
Irinotecan induced severe diarrhoea accompanied by intestinal injury (villi shortening and increased crypt depth). Additionally, irinotecan treatment increased MPO and iNOS activity, iNOS immunostaining and IL‐18 expression in WT mice compared with saline treatment. The IL‐18 production was associated with macrophages. In vitro, intestinal smooth muscle strips were hyperresponsive to ACh after irinotecan treatment. Increases in MPO and iNOS activity, intestinal contractility and diarrhoea were prevented in caspase‐1 knockout and IL‐18 knockout mice, and in IL‐18bp‐treated WT mice. Furthermore, the Survival of irinotecan‐treated mice was increased and iNOS immunoexpression and IL‐18 production prevented in IL‐18 knockout mice.
Conclusions and Implications
Targeting IL‐18 function may be a promising therapeutic approach to decreasing the severity of intestinal mucositis during irinotecan treatment regimens.
Essential and fixed oils have been researched as alternatives to chemical acaricides. The activity of volatile compounds from essential oils (1,8‐cineole, citral and eugenol) at 1.0% (w/v) and fixed ...oil (castor oil) at 0.3% (w/v) dissolved in 2.0% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + 0.2% (w/v) Tween 80® was assessed against Rhipicephalus microplus using immersion tests. 1,8‐cineole (29.0%) and castor oil (30.2%) had the highest reproductive inhibition rate. A second experiment was performed to verify the effect of the 1,8‐cineole (10.0% w/v) and, or castor oil (0.3% w/v) on tick reproduction using different solubilizing agents. The highest reproductive inhibition was observed for the combination of 1,8‐cineole/castor oil (94.1%) and 1,8‐cineole in 2.0% (w/v) sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) (92.8%). A third experiment showed morphological changes in R. microplus oocytes at different stages of development, as well as in pedicel cells. The most intense effects were observed when ticks were immersed in the formulation containing 1,8‐cineole (10.0% w/v) and castor oil (0.3% w/v) dissolved in 2% (w/v) SLES. These findings highlight the potential of this formulation as an alternative for managing cattle ticks as their cytotoxic effects can reduce R. microplus reproductive success.
1,8‐cineole and, or castor oil in different solubilizing agents were evaluated against Rhipicephalus microplus.
Sodium lauryl ether sulphate (anionic surfactant) increased tick reproductive control with 1,8‐cineole and, or castor oil.
Cattle tick oocyte development was affected by 1,8‐cineole and, or castor oil in sodium lauryl ether sulphate.