scholarly journals Are Titania Photocatalysts and Titanium Implants Safe? Review on the Toxicity of Titanium Compounds

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2065
Author(s):  
Agata Markowska-Szczupak ◽  
Maya Endo-Kimura ◽  
Oliwia Paszkiewicz ◽  
Ewa Kowalska
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Titanium Implants ◽  
Jet Engines ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Domestic Products ◽  
Titanium Compounds ◽  
Excessive Accumulation ◽  
Ecological Functioning

Titanium and its compounds are broadly used in both industrial and domestic products, including jet engines, missiles, prostheses, implants, pigments, cosmetics, food, and photocatalysts for environmental purification and solar energy conversion. Although titanium/titania-containing materials are usually safe for human, animals and environment, increasing concerns on their negative impacts have been postulated. Accordingly, this review covers current knowledge on the toxicity of titania and titanium, in which the behaviour, bioavailability, mechanisms of action, and environmental impacts have been discussed in detail, considering both light and dark conditions. Consequently, the following conclusions have been drawn: (i) titania photocatalysts rarely cause health and environmental problems; (ii) despite the lack of proof, the possible carcinogenicity of titania powders to humans is considered by some authorities; (iii) titanium alloys, commonly applied as implant materials, possess a relatively low health risk; (iv) titania microparticles are less toxic than nanoparticles, independent of the means of exposure; (v) excessive accumulation of titanium in the environment cannot be ignored; (vi) titanium/titania-containing products should be clearly marked with health warning labels, especially for pregnant women and young children; (vi) a key knowledge gap is the lack of comprehensive data about the environmental content and the influence of titania/titanium on biodiversity and the ecological functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

scholarly journals Recent Development on Plant Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Enzymes and Their Functions in Plant Development and Stress Signaling

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Adesola J. Tola ◽  
Amal Jaballi ◽  
Hugo Germain ◽  
Tagnon D. Missihoun
Keyword(s):  
Plant Development ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Stress Signaling ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Stresses ◽  
Aldehyde Dehydrogenases ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Excessive Accumulation

Abiotic and biotic stresses induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which subsequently causes the excessive accumulation of aldehydes in cells. Stress-derived aldehydes are commonly designated as reactive electrophile species (RES) as a result of the presence of an electrophilic α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are NAD(P)+-dependent enzymes that metabolize a wide range of endogenous and exogenous aliphatic and aromatic aldehyde molecules by oxidizing them to their corresponding carboxylic acids. The ALDH enzymes are found in nearly all organisms, and plants contain fourteen ALDH protein families. In this review, we performed a critical analysis of the research reports over the last decade on plant ALDHs. Newly discovered roles for these enzymes in metabolism, signaling and development have been highlighted and discussed. We concluded with suggestions for future investigations to exploit the potential of these enzymes in biotechnology and to improve our current knowledge about these enzymes in gene signaling and plant development.

scholarly journals The Role of Oxidative Stress in NAFLD–NASH–HCC Transition—Focus on NADPH Oxidases

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 687
Author(s):  
Daniela Gabbia ◽  
Luana Cannella ◽  
Sara De De Martin
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Nadph Oxidases ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

A peculiar role for oxidative stress in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its transition to the inflammatory complication non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as in its threatening evolution to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is supported by numerous experimental and clinical studies. NADPH oxidases (NOXs) are enzymes producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), whose abundance in liver cells is closely related to inflammation and immune responses. Here, we reviewed recent findings regarding this topic, focusing on the role of NOXs in the different stages of fatty liver disease and describing the current knowledge about their mechanisms of action. We conclude that, although there is a consensus that NOX-produced ROS are toxic in non-neoplastic conditions due to their role in the inflammatory vicious cycle sustaining the transition of NAFLD to NASH, their effect is controversial in the neoplastic transition towards HCC. In this regard, there are indications of a differential effect of NOX isoforms, since NOX1 and NOX2 play a detrimental role, whereas increased NOX4 expression appears to be correlated with better HCC prognosis in some studies. Further studies are needed to fully unravel the mechanisms of action of NOXs and their relationships with the signaling pathways modulating steatosis and liver cancer development.

scholarly journals The Complexity of FGF23 Effects on Cardiomyocytes in Normal and Uremic Milieu

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1266
Author(s):  
Andreja Figurek ◽  
Merita Rroji ◽  
Goce Spasovski
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Fibroblast Growth ◽  
Normal Kidney ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Therapeutic Possibilities

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) appears to be one of the most promising biomarkers and predictors of cardiovascular risk in patients with heart disease and normal kidney function, but moreover in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review summarizes the current knowledge of FGF23 mechanisms of action in the myocardium in the physiological and pathophysiological state of CKD, as well as its cross-talk to other important signaling pathways in cardiomyocytes. In this regard, current therapeutic possibilities and future perspectives are also discussed.

scholarly journals Applications of Microwave Energy in Medicine

Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Alexandra Gartshore ◽  
Matt Kidd ◽  
Lovleen Tina Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Wave ◽  
Food Processing ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Medical Industry ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Microwave Energy ◽  
Living Matter ◽  
Medical Treatments ◽  
Potential Benefits

Microwaves are a highly utilized electromagnetic wave, used across a range of industries including food processing, communications, in the development of novel medical treatments and biosensor diagnostics. Microwaves have known thermal interactions and theorized non-thermal interactions with living matter; however, there is significant debate as to the mechanisms of action behind these interactions and the potential benefits and limitations of their use. This review summarizes the current knowledge surrounding the implementation of microwave technologies within the medical industry.

scholarly journals Investigation of COVID-19 comorbidities reveals genes and pathways coincident with the SARS-CoV-2 viral disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary E. Dolan ◽  
David P. Hill ◽  
Gaurab Mukherjee ◽  
Monica S. McAndrews ◽  
Elissa J. Chesler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Biomedical Ontologies ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Gene Sets ◽  
Significant Enrichment ◽  
Intense Research

AbstractThe emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic initiated intense research into the mechanisms of action for this virus. It was quickly noted that COVID-19 presents more seriously in conjunction with other human disease conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and lung diseases. We conducted a bioinformatics analysis of COVID-19 comorbidity-associated gene sets, identifying genes and pathways shared among the comorbidities, and evaluated current knowledge about these genes and pathways as related to current information about SARS-CoV-2 infection. We performed our analysis using GeneWeaver (GW), Reactome, and several biomedical ontologies to represent and compare common COVID-19 comorbidities. Phenotypic analysis of shared genes revealed significant enrichment for immune system phenotypes and for cardiovascular-related phenotypes, which might point to alleles and phenotypes in mouse models that could be evaluated for clues to COVID-19 severity. Through pathway analysis, we identified enriched pathways shared by comorbidity datasets and datasets associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals PASTORALISM IN THE MAGHREB: A REVIEW ON ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ASPECTS

AGROFOR ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid EL BILALI ◽  
Gianluigi CARDONE ◽  
Francesco BOTTALICO ◽  
Giovanni OTTOMANO PALMISANO ◽  
Roberto CAPONE
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Pastoral Communities ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Land Degradation And Desertification ◽  
Regional Projects

Pastoralism is a livelihood system based on extensive production of livestock (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, camels) mainly on marginal lands. It is a traditional activity in the Mediterranean in general and the Maghreb (viz. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) in particular. This review casts light on research regarding pastoralism in the Maghreb. In particular, the paper analyses the benefits of pastoralism as well as the challenges faced by pastoralists in the region from the environmental, sociocultural, economic and political points of views. A search performed in July 2020 on the Web of Science yielded 113 documents and 68 of them were included in the systematic review. The analysed literature emphasizes the negative impacts of pastoralism and the challenges faced by pastoral communities in the Maghreb. These include climate change, land degradation and desertification, poverty and livelihood vulnerability as well as the ongoing erosion of pastoral culture and traditions. Doing so, scholars question the future of pastoralism in the region and highlight the need for its adaptation and transformation through, among others, moving towards agro-pastoral systems. There is a dearth of articles that highlight the positive impacts and benefits of pastoralism in the Maghreb. However, the literature shows that pastoralism has a long tradition and is an integral part of the Maghrebi culture and history, and values the traditional knowledge of pastoralists as well as their adaptive capacity. The review shows that there is a gap in research on pastoralism in the Maghreb especially regarding economics. In this context, regional projects such as PACTORES (Pastoral ACTORs, Ecosystem services and Society as key elements of agro-pastoral systems in the Mediterranean) result crucial to bridge the current knowledge gap and foster the sustainable development of pastoralism in the Maghreb and the Mediterranean at large.

scholarly journals Phytogenics in Aquaculture: A Short Review of Their Effects on Gut Health and Microflora in Fish

2020 ◽  
pp. 246-259
Author(s):  
Christopher Marlowe A. Caipang
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Research Initiatives

Increasing pace in aquaculture development to meet the growing food requirements of the population has greatly compromised the carrying capacity of the culture environment and has placed the aquacultured animals at heightened risk of getting diseases due to pathogens. At present, chemotherapy is widely used as means to prevent or treat infectious diseases in aquaculture; however, the use of these drugs poses multiple negative impacts on fish and human health, as well as the environment. Recently, research initiatives are focused on the use of plant products and their derivatives as a means of controlling diseases in aquaculture. They are regarded as a promising alternative to the use of chemical treatments for infectious diseases in fish. Plant-derived products or phytogenics have been shown to stimulate appetite and promote weight gain in farmed animals, act as immunostimulants, and possess potent anti-pathogenic properties in fish. Their potency is mediated by the presence of bioactive molecules including alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and flavonoids, among others. Moreover, nutritional strategies are geared towards the use of these phytogenics in modulating immune and physiological responses, as well as promoting optimum health and microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract of fish. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the use of phytogenic feed additives in aquaculture by focusing on how these substances act as modulators of health and bacterial community in the gut of fish.

scholarly journals The potential current distribution of the coypu (Myocastor coypus) in Europe and climate change induced shifts in the near future

NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 129-160
Author(s):  
Anna Schertler ◽  
Wolfgang Rabitsch ◽  
Dietmar Moser ◽  
Johannes Wessely ◽  
Franz Essl
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Current Distribution ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Grid Cells ◽  
Myocastor Coypus ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Management Recommendations

The coypu (Myocastor coypus) is a semi-aquatic rodent native to South America which has become invasive in Europe and other parts of the world. Although recently listed as species of European Union concern in the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation, an analysis of the current European occurrence and of its potential current and future distribution was missing yet. We collected 24,232 coypu records (corresponding to 25,534 grid cells at 5 × 5 km) between 1980 and 2018 from a range of sources and 28 European countries and analysed them spatiotemporally, categorising them into persistence levels. Using logistic regression, we constructed consensus predictions across all persistence levels to depict the potential current distribution of the coypu in Europe and its change under four different climate scenarios for 2041–2060. From all presence grid cells, 45.5% showed at least early signs of establishment (records temporally covering a minimum of one generation length, i.e. 5 years), whereas 9.8% were considered as containing established populations (i.e. three generation lengths of continuous coverage). The mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10), mean diurnal temperature range (bio2) and the minimum temperature of the coldest month (bio6) were the most important of the analysed predictors. In total, 42.9% of the study area are classified as suitable under current climatic conditions, of which 72.6% are to current knowledge yet unoccupied; therefore, we show that the coypu has, by far, not yet reached all potentially suitable regions in Europe. Those cover most of temperate Europe (Atlantic, Continental and Pannonian biogeographic region), as well as the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. A comparison of the suitable and occupied areas showed that none of the affected countries has reached saturation by now. Under climate change scenarios, suitable areas will slightly shift towards Northern regions, while a general decrease in suitability is predicted for Southern and Central Europe (overall decrease of suitable areas 2–8% depending on the scenario). Nevertheless, most regions that are currently suitable for coypus are likely to be so in the future. We highlight the need to further investigate upper temperature limits in order to properly interpret future climatic suitability for the coypu in Southern Europe. Based on our results, we identify regions that are most at risk for future invasions and provide management recommendations. We hope that this study will help to improve the allocation of efforts for future coypu research and contribute to harmonised management, which is essential to reduce negative impacts of the coypu and to prevent further spread in Europe.

scholarly journals Usnic Acid Derivatives as Cytotoxic Agents Against Cancer Cells and the Mechanisms of Their Activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Guzow-Krzemińska ◽  
Katarzyna Guzow ◽  
Anna Herman-Antosiewicz
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Parent Compound ◽  
Usnic Acid ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Cytotoxic Agents ◽  
Lead Compound

Abstract Purpose of Review This article summarises recent research on modifications of the structure or formula of usnic acid (UA), a lichen secondary metabolite, in order to obtain derivatives with higher bioavailability, potency and selectivity against cancer cells and presents the current knowledge on the mechanisms of action of such compounds. Recent Findings Numerous approaches have been undertaken to improve bioactivity of UA concerning its use as an anticancer drug. Among them, the synthesis of UA salts or complexation with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin to improve its solubility and the encapsulation using different carriers (including various nanomaterials) to stabilise UA in biological fluids and improve their penetrance to, and release in, cancer cells were applied.. Synthetic modification of the UA structure has been explored to obtain more active and cancer-specific derivatives. Recent work indicates that some modifications of the C or A ring of UA selectively increase its antiproliferative potential against cancer cells. Moreover, specific changes in the UA structure allow to obtain derivatives which inhibit enzymes important for the cancer cells’ survival, such as mTOR, Pim, TDP1 or PARP. Some of them have been shown to enhance anticancer activity of the already approved chemotherapeutics, such as topotecan. Others, when used in an animal cancer xenograft model, were superior to UA in retardation of tumour growth and less toxic that the parent compound. Summary UA is a promising lead compound for synthesis of anticancer drugs. Further work on its modifications, mechanisms of activity and validation in animal models is critical for development of effective therapeutics.

scholarly journals Investigation of COVID-19 comorbidities reveals genes and pathways coincident with the SARS-CoV-2 viral disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary E. Dolan ◽  
David P. Hill ◽  
Gaurab Mukherjee ◽  
Monica S. McAndrews ◽  
Elissa J. Chesler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Diseases ◽  
Bioinformatics Analysis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Biomedical Ontologies ◽  
Phenotypic Analysis ◽  
Gene Sets ◽  
Significant Enrichment ◽  
Intense Research

AbstractThe emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic initiated intense research into the mechanisms of action for this virus. It was quickly noted that COVID-19 presents more seriously in conjunction with other human disease conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and lung diseases. We conducted a bioinformatics analysis of COVID-19 comorbidity-associated gene sets, identifying genes and pathways shared among the comorbidities, and evaluated current knowledge about these genes and pathways as related to current information about SARS-CoV-2 infection. We performed our analysis using GeneWeaver (GW), Reactome, and several biomedical ontologies to represent and compare common COVID-19 comorbidities. Phenotypic analysis of shared genes revealed significant enrichment for immune system phenotypes and for cardiovascular-related phenotypes, which might point to alleles and phenotypes in mouse models that could be evaluated for clues to COVID-19 severity. Through pathway analysis, we identified enriched pathways shared by comorbidity datasets and datasets associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document