Mitochondrial Ca2+ Dynamics in MCU Knockout C. elegans Worms

Mitochondrial [Ca²⁺] plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial function, controlling ATP production and apoptosis triggered by mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload. This regulation depends on Ca²⁺ entry into the mitochondria during cell activation processes, which is thought to occur through the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU). Here, we have studied the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ dynamics in control and MCU-defective C. elegans worms in vivo, by using worms expressing mitochondrially-targeted YC3.60 yellow cameleon in pharynx muscle. Our data show that the small mitochondrial Ca²⁺ oscillations that occur during normal physiological activity of the pharynx were very similar in both control and MCU-defective worms, except for some kinetic differences that could mostly be explained by changes in neuronal stimulation of the pharynx. However, direct pharynx muscle stimulation with carbachol triggered a large and prolonged increase in mitochondrial [Ca²⁺] that was much larger in control worms than in MCU-defective worms. This suggests that MCU is necessary for the fast mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake induced by large cell stimulations. However, low-amplitude mitochondrial Ca²⁺ oscillations occurring under more physiological conditions are independent of the MCU and use a different Ca²⁺ pathway.     

The Methyl Ester of 2-Cyano-3,12-Dioxooleana-1,9-Dien-28-Oic Acid Reduces Endometrial Lesions Development by Modulating the NFkB and Nrf2 Pathways

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease. Here, we aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative role of the methyl ester of 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO-Me) on endometriosis. An endometriosis rat model was constructed by intraperitoneally injecting recipient rats with an equivalent of tissue from the uterus of a donor animal. Endometriosis was allowed to develop for seven days. CDDO-Me was administered on the 7th day and for the next 7 days. On day 14, rats were sacrificed, and peritoneal fluid and endometriotic implants were collected. CDDO-Me displayed antioxidant activity by activating the Nfr2 pathway and the expression of antioxidant mediators such as NQO-1 and HO-1. Moreover, it reduced lipid peroxidation and increased glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. CDDO-Me also showed anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peritoneal fluids and NFkB activation. It, in turn, reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the endometriotic loci and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in the peritoneal fluids, leading to increased apoptosis and reduced angiogenesis. The reduced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory microenvironment decreased implants diameter, area, and volume. In particular, CDDO-Me administration reduced the histopathological signs of endometriosis and inflammatory cells recruitment into the lesions, as shown by toluidine blue staining and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. CDDO-Me strongly suppressed α-SMA and fibronectin expression and collagen deposition, reducing endometriosis-associated fibrosis. In conclusion, CDDO-Me treatment resulted in a coordinated and effective suppression of endometriosis by modulating the Nrf2 and NFkB pathways.     

Atrazine Inhalation Causes Neuroinflammation,Apoptosis and Accelerating Brain Aging

Background: exposure to environmental contaminants has been linked to an increased risk of neurological diseases and poor outcomes. Chemical name of Atrazine (ATR) is 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N′-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, and it is the most commonly used broad-spectrum herbicide in agricultural crops. Several studies have demonstrated that ATR has the potential to be harmful to the brain’s neuronal circuits. Until today nobody has explored the effect of ATR inhalation on young and aged mice. Methods: young and aged mice were subject to 25 mg of ATR in a vehicle made with saline and 10% of Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) every day for 28 days. At the end of experiment different behavioral test were made and brain was collected. Results: exposure to ATR induced the same response in terms of behavioral alterations and motor and memory impairment in mice but in aged group was more marked. Additionally, in both young and aged mice ATR inhalations induced oxidative stress with impairment in physiological antioxidant response, lipid peroxidation, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (nf-κb) pathways activation with consequences of pro-inflammatory cytokines release and apoptosis. However, the older group was shown to be more sensitive to ATR inhalation. Conclusions: our results showed that aged mice were more susceptible compared to young mice to air pollutants exposure, put in place a minor physiologically response was seen when exposed to it.     

Co-Ultra PEALut Enhances Endogenous Repair Response Following Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

This study aimed to assess the neuro-regenerative properties of co-ultramicronized PEALut (Glialia^®), composed of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and the flavonoid luteolin (Lut), in an in vivo model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and patients affected by moderate TBI. An increase in neurogenesis was seen in the mice at 72 h and 7 d after TBI. The co-ultra PEALut treatment helped the neuronal reconstitution process to restore the basal level of both novel and mature neurons; moreover, it induced a significant upregulation of the neurotrophic factors, which ultimately led to progress in terms of memory recall during behavioral testing. Moreover, our preliminary findings in a clinical trial suggested that Glialia^® treatment facilitated neural recovery on working memory. Thus, co-ultra PEALut (Glialia^®) could represent a valuable therapeutic agent for intensifying the endogenous repair response in order to better treat TBI.     

Effects of sub-lethal concentrations of hexanal and 2-(E)-hexenal on membrane fatty acid composition and volatile compounds of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli

In recent years, the interest in the possible use of natural alternatives to food additives to prevent bacterial and fungal growth has notably increased. Plants and plant products can represent a source of natural alternatives to improve the shelf-life and the safety of food. Some of these compounds, i.e. hexanal, hexanol, 2-(E)-hexenal and 3-(Z)-hexenol, produced throughout the lipoxygenase pathway have important roles in plant defence with a protective action towards microbial proliferation in wounded areas. Otherwise, hexanal and 2-(E)-hexenal have evidenced a marked antimicrobial activity against food spoilage and pathogenic microbial species both in model and real systems. The precise mechanisms of action of all these antimicrobial compounds are not yet clear. Because the usage of these compounds as antimicrobials in foods has to be supported by the comprehension of mechanisms of action of these compounds, the overall purpose of this work was to study the modifications of the cell membrane and volatile compounds of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli during the growth in the presence of sub-lethal doses of these two aldehydes. The results obtained evidenced that the tested molecules induced noticeable modifications of the composition of cell membrane and the volatile compounds produced during the growth. Although specific differences in relation to the species considered were identified, 2-(E)-hexenal and hexanal induced a marked increase of some membrane associated fatty acids, both linear and branched fatty acids as well as unsaturated fatty acids, and released free fatty acids.     

Effect of vacuum frying on main physicochemical and nutritional quality parameters of pineapple chips

BACKGROUND: Slices of MD‐2 pineapple hybrid were vacuum fried at 24 kPa according to a central composite experimental design that simultaneously varied frying time (6.3–7.7 min) and temperature (106.3–117.7 °C). Major physicochemical and nutritional quality factors were measured and modelled using a second‐order polynomial equation. RESULTS: Moisture content, water activity a_w, colour parameters L*, C* and H* and total vitamin C content decreased while total phenolic content and dehydroascorbic acid content increased with increasing frying time and temperature. Oil content, hardness and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity reached minimum values near the centre of the experimental field. By superimposing contour curves, it was determined that processing conditions of 6.9 min frying time and 112 °C frying temperature produced pineapple chips with a golden colour (L*≥ 60, C*≥ 50, H*≥ 80), an a_w of less than 0.29, a moisture content of about 4% and a hardness of less than 1.9 N, giving rise to a crispy texture. Oil content was about 20% (d.b) and residual total vitamin C content (～90 mg per 100 g wet basis (w.b.)) was high. Phenolic compound content was about 150 mg gallic acid equivalents per 100 g w.b. and antioxidant capacity was around 22 µmol Trolox equivalents g^?1 w.b. CONCLUSION: Vacuum frying is a dehydration process that produces healthy fruit snacks which partially preserve the fruit's original colour and nutritional compounds and have a high hydrophilic antioxidant capacity. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antimicrobial Activity of Pd‐Doped ZnO Sol‐Gel‐Derived Films

Palladium doped ZnO was prepared by the sol‐gel and dip‐coating techniques, starting with zinc acetate and palladium chloride as precursors, followed by its hydrolysis in methanol. Acetic acid was incorporated to adjust pH, as well as acetylacetonate and monoehtylamine as stabilizers. The sol was later dipped 3 times in silica substrates. Structural, morphological, and antimicrobial properties of the films were investigated for three palladium contents (1.0, 2.5, and 5 mol %). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the films have a hexagonal structure after been annealed at 500°C. X‐ray photoelectron Spectroscope (XPS) showed that Pd is present in its oxidized form. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) from films showed a crack free and smooth surface (Ra= 18 nm), composed of cross‐linked particles. The synthesized films presented antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomona aeruginosa. It was observed that the higher Pd content (5 mol %) presents the higher antimicrobial ratio, 64.07%, for the E. coli, whereas for the P. aeruginosa, the lower Pd content (1 mol %), shows the higher antimicrobial ratio, 76.43%.     

Comparative study of initial stages of copper immersion deposition on bulk and porous silicon

Initial stages of Cu immersion deposition in the presence of hydrofluoric acid on bulk and porous silicon were studied. Cu was found to deposit both on bulk and porous silicon as a layer of nanoparticles which grew according to the Volmer-Weber mechanism. It was revealed that at the initial stages of immersion deposition, Cu nanoparticles consisted of crystals with a maximum size of 10 nm and inherited the orientation of the original silicon substrate. Deposited Cu nanoparticles were found to be partially oxidized to Cu₂O while CuO was not detected for all samples. In contrast to porous silicon, the crystal orientation of the original silicon substrate significantly affected the sizes, density, and oxidation level of Cu nanoparticles deposited on bulk silicon.