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Biotechnol Biofuels 2019 1;12:73. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

1Biomass Conversion Laboratory, R&D Center for Petrochemical Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.

Background: Butanol is an important biofuel and chemical. The development of butanol-tolerant strains and the identification of functional butanol-tolerant genes is essential for high-yield bio-butanol production due to the toxicity of butanol.

Results: BW25113 was subjected for the first time to error-prone PCR-based whole-genome shuffling. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2019 Mar 28;52:e20180292. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Laboratório de Dermatomicologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brasil.

Introduction: The treatment of mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) is difficult due to the toxicity and route of administration of standard drugs. Miltefosine is an oral agent used for leishmaniasis treatment; however, no data exist regarding its use for ML in Brazil. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of miltefosine for ML treatment compared to that of pentavalent antimonial in a pilot study. Read More

Environ Toxicol Chem 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

ExxonMobil Biomedical Science, Inc, Annandale, NJ, USA.

The OECD 236 Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity Test guideline relies on 4 endpoints to describe exposure related effects (coagulation, lack of somite formation, tail-bud detachment from yolk-sac, and presence of heartbeat). Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos were used to investigate these endpoints along with a number of additional sublethal effects (i.e. Read More

World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2019 Mar 26;35(4):59. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Food Science and Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, People's Republic of China.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been widely used to produce alcoholic beverages and bio-fuels; however, its performance is remarkably compromised by the increased ethanol concentration during the fermentation process. In this study, RNA-sequence analysis was used to investigate the protective effect of green tea polyphenols (GTP) on S. cerevisiae cells from ethanol-induced damage. Read More

Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2019 02;39(2):169-174

School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233030, China.

Objective: To investigate the effects of methanol-ethyl acetate partitioned fractions from (MEDS) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer H1975 cells.

Methods: The systemic solvent extraction method was used to preliminary separation of the effective fractions in the methanol extract of . The cytotoxicity of each extract (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/mL) was tested using MTT assay. Read More

Pharm Res 2019 Mar 19;36(5):70. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705-2222, USA.

Purpose: To prepare an oligo(lactic acid)-rapamycin prodrug (o(LA)-RAP)-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) micelle for injection and characterize its compatibility and performance versus a RAP-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelle for injection in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Monodisperse o(LA) was coupled on RAP at the C-40 via DCC/DMAP chemistry, and conversion of o(LA)-RAP prodrug into RAP was characterized in vitro. Physicochemical properties of o(LA)-RAP- and RAP-loaded PEG-b-PLA micelles and their antitumor efficacies in a syngeneic 4 T1 breast tumor model were compared. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 18;14:1255-1268. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China,

Background: Combination therapy employing siRNAs and antitumor drugs is a promising method for the treatment of solid tumors. However, regarding combined treatments involving siRNAs and chemotherapeutic reagents, most prior research has focused on the enhanced cytotoxicity against tumor cells conferred by downregulation of the targeted protein.

Purpose: We developed D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS)-modified cationic liposomes (LPs) to simultaneously deliver doxorubicin (Dox) and the Bcl-2 siRNA (siBcl-2) for synergistic chemotherapy. Read More

Cell Mol Biol Lett 2019 26;24:17. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

3Faculty of Chinese Medical Science, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 13 Wuhe Road, Qingxiu District, Nanning, 530222 Guangxi China.

Objective: We investigated the protective effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on injury related to acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) induced by isoproterenol (ISO).

Materials And Methods: Rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, ISO, ISO + propranolol (10 mg/kg), ISO + TMP (10 mg/kg) and ISO + TMP (20 mg/kg). The rats in the three ISO + groups were pretreated with propranolol or TMP, while the rats in the control and ISO groups were pretreated with an equal volume of saline. Read More

Pharm Res 2019 Mar 8;36(4):61. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.

Purpose: Interpenetrating network system (IPN), consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG) -diacrylate (PEGdA) and modified gelatin, is a biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogel and has been studied for the local delivery of bioactive molecules and drugs. Gold(III) porphyrin(AuP) is a stable metal compound in the development for anticancer application when administered systemically. The aim of this work is to develop a novel formulation for AuP based on IPN for local delivery. Read More

Pharm Biol 2019 Dec;57(1):112-119

b School of Basic Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Nanchang , China.

Context: Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (Eucommiaceae) has various medicinal properties. Our previous studies revealed that Eucommia ulmoides has a protective effect on hyperuricaemia.

Objective: This study investigates the effect of Eucommia ulmoides cortex ethanol extract (EU) on hyperuricaemia and explores the underlying mechanism in Kunming mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Read More

J Biomed Nanotechnol 2019 Apr;15(4):717-727

Colorectal cancer has become the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, which has posed challenges to current conventional therapies. Hence, we propose an alternative approach to the existing therapeutics for colorectal cancer treatment. In this work, we prepared thermosensitive micelles based on poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(caprolactone)poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) copolymers (PAL-micelles) that were used to encapsulate phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) as an sustained drug delivery system. Read More

J Forensic Leg Med 2019 Apr 21;63:7-10. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China. Electronic address:

Acute poisoning is a public health threat that leads to morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this retrospective study, we evaluated autopsies from deaths caused by acute poisoning from 2008 to 2017 at the School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University (SFMCMU) in the Liaoning Province, northeast China. A total of 140 poisoning deaths were investigated and the demographic characteristics, causes and manner of death, toxics category were analyzed. Read More

Pharmacology 2019 28;103(5-6):291-302. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Inner Mongolia People's Hospital, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, China,

Background/aims: Rhapontigenin (RPG) is a stilben derivative and is known to bear several effects such as antiallergic, anticoagulative, hypoglycemic, antiangiogenic, and purgative. The investigation was conducted to evaluate the cardioprotective efficacy of RPG in rats having acute myocardial infarction (MI) induced by isoproterenol (ISO).

Methods: Animals were divided into 6 groups: group I (control group), group II (ISO-treated), group III (1. Read More

BMC Complement Altern Med 2019 Feb 28;19(1):52. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, 5117, South Africa.

Background: Senecio serratuloides DC is used in folk medicine for treating hypertension, skin disorders, internal and external sores, rashes, burns and wounds. This study aimed at investigating the antihypertensive effects of the hydroethanol extract of S. serratuloides (HESS) in N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced hypertension in rats. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2019 Apr 15;168:154-175. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan. Electronic address:

A novel class of spiroimidazolidine-2',4'-diones substituted with aryl sulfonyl group at different positions was designed and synthesized. The target compounds were evaluated for their potential to release insulin from MIN6 cell line derived from in-vivo immortalized insulin-secreting pancreatic cells. The MIN6 cells represent an important model of beta cells, which as passage numbers increases, lose the first phase but retain partial second phase glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), similar to patients in early type 2 diabetes onset. Read More

J Photochem Photobiol B 2019 Apr 21;193:39-50. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (Biotechnology), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector-67, S.A.S. Nagar, 160062, Punjab, India. Electronic address:

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is reported to be a promising technique to eradicate various cancers. As most of the photosensitizers (PSs) are hydrophobic in nature, thus, the effective delivery of PSs at the targeted site is the main hurdle associated with PDT. Zinc phthalocyanine and Zinc naphthalocyanine are reported as good PSs, however, highly hydrophobic characteristics restrict their use for clinical applications. Read More

J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol 2018 ;37(4):273-289

Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention, Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences amia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.

The protective efficacy of methanolic bark extract of Acacia catechu Willd. (MEBA) against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon toxicity was investigated. Acacia catechu is considered one of the most potent medicines for various diseases in Ayurveda, a traditional system of Indian medicine. Read More

Enzyme Microb Technol 2019 May 23;124:17-22. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

Introduction: Ethanol is considered a comparatively clean biofuel, and its large scale production has been a long time concern. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be the suitable microorganism for large scale ethanol production, but production of other alcohols like butanol and using lignocellulosic substrates is restricted due to lacking tolerance toward toxicity of alcohols, and compounds released from substrates. This study aimed to produce a tolerant strain by using pprI gene of Deinococcus radiodurans. Read More

Environ Toxicol 2019 May 22;34(5):666-673. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) are fluorinated intermediates used in manufacturing specialty polymer and surfactants, with 8:2 FTOH the homologue of largest production. FTOHs were found to pose acute toxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, developmental toxicity and endocrine-disrupting risks, whereas research regarding immunotoxicity and its underlying mechanism, especially on specific immune cells is limited. Here, we investigated the immunotoxicity of 8:2 FTOH on immature immune cells in an in vitro system. Read More

Exp Parasitol 2019 Apr 19;199:17-23. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. Electronic address:

Exposing second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita in vitro to a phenolic compound sometimes fails to cause J2 mortality, but in tests in vivo the same compound may reduce the infectivity and population of the nematode. This work aimed to study the effect of phenolic compounds on M. incognita through in vitro and in vivo assays. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 4;14:963-976. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Key Laboratory of Textile Science & Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China,

Introduction: Combined therapies utilizing inhibitors to remove pathogens are needed to suppress lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced periodontal disease. We prepared a novel, multi-agent delivery scaffold for periodontal treatment.

Methods: In this study, we synthesized SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and SB203580 (a p38 inhibitor) drug-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-block-caprolactone copolymer via dialysis method. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Feb 13;11(2). Epub 2019 Feb 13.

School of Chemistry and Environment, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.

According to a previous study, YGDEY from tilapia fish skin gelatin hydrolysates has strong free radical scavenging activity. In the present study, the protective effect of YGDEY against oxidative stress induced by ethanol in HepG2 cells was investigated. First, cells were incubated with YGDEY (10, 20, 50, and 100 μM) to assess cytotoxicity, and there was no significant change in cell viability. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 May 6;664:915-926. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.

There is concern that psychoactive drugs present in the aquatic environment could affect the behaviour of fish, and other organisms, adversely. There is considerable experimental support for this concern, although the literature is not consistent. To investigate why, fish were exposed to three concentrations of the synthetic opiate tramadol for 23-24 days, and their anxiolytic behaviour in a novel tank diving test was assessed both before and after exposure. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 May 11;235:268-278. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Physiology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP-São Paulo State University, CEP 18618-689 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC. (Myrtaceae), an Amazonian medicinal plant known as "pedra-ume-caá," is popularly used as a natural remedy for inflammation, wounds, infections, diabetes, fever, and flu. Its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and gastroprotective effects have already been characterized. Read More

Org Biomol Chem 2019 02;17(9):2413-2422

Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025, India.

Odorants constitute a small and chemically diverse group of molecules with ethanol functioning as a key odorant that induces reproductive toxicity and adverse chronic effects on the liver. Analytical tools designed so far for the detection of odorant molecules are relatively invasive. Therefore, a tool that can measure the corresponding rate changes of ethanol concentration in real-time is highly desirable. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 May 29;222:656-664. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Crude oil released into the environment contains many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Alkylated PAHs are more abundant than unsubstituted PAHs and their toxicity is also of serious concern. Among the various physical, chemical, and biological weathering processes of crude oils, photodegradation is one of the most important for determining the environmental fate of oil residues. Read More

Chem Biol Interact 2019 Apr 2;302:61-66. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.

Alcohol induces various cutaneous changes, such as palmar erythema and jaundice. However, alcohol-induced skin hyperpigmentation due to melanin deposition has not been reported. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), one of 19 human ALDH isozymes, metabolizes endogenous and exogenous aldehydes to their respective carboxylic acids. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 02 4;10(1):587. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.

Culture contamination, end-product toxicity, and energy efficient product recovery are long-standing bioprocess challenges. To solve these problems, we propose a high-pressure fermentation strategy, coupled with in situ extraction using the abundant and renewable solvent supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO), which is also known for its broad microbial lethality. Towards this goal, we report the domestication and engineering of a scCO-tolerant strain of Bacillus megaterium, previously isolated from formation waters from the McElmo Dome CO field, to produce branched alcohols that have potential use as biofuels. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 May 31;172:232-239. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Universidad San Jorge, Campus Universitario, Autov A23 km 299, 50830, Villanueva de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address:

The final fate of many drugs is release into the natural aquatic environment. It is necessary to assess the toxicity caused by this situation and the associated concerns for human beings. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a common biomodel used to assess toxicity in aquatic environments. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 May 28;235:8-18. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Division of Endocrinology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Lucknow 226031, India. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cassia occidentalis L., a synonym of Senna occidentalis (belongs to Caesalpiniaceae family) is an annual plant. Pursuing a lead from a folk practice prevalent since the late nineteenth century in Andhra Pradesh, a Southern state of India, of use of Cassia occidentalis leaf and stem for treating patients with fracture and bone diseases, we have not only confirmed its fracture healing activity but also demonstrated efficacy in preventing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO), the commonest form of medication-induced bone loss caused chiefly due to impairment of bone formation. Read More

Ter Arkh 2018 Aug;90(7):23-29

National Research Center for hematology, Moscow, Russia.

Aim: A comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of different therapeutic strategies in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET).

Materials And Methods: Patients with PV or ET, diagnosed according to the criteria WHO 2016 were included in the study. The primary endpoint - 6 months of therapy (clinical-hematological and molecular responses). Read More

J Occup Health 2019 Jan;61(1):19-35

Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.

Objectives: 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol (2EH), a fragrance ingredient and a raw material for the production of plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, is responsible for sick building syndrome (SBS). This review aims to clarify the 2EH characteristics as an indoor air pollutant such as indoor air concentration, emission mechanism, toxicity, and clinical effects.

Methods: Scientific publications in English that has been made available on PubMed as of June 2018 and ad hoc publications in regional languages were reviewed. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 15;14:639-647. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

NIH-RCMI Center for Environmental Health, College of Science Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS, 39217, USA,

Background: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and their functional derivatives are of great interest because of their many biomedical applications. GNPs are increasingly being incorporated into new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in medicine. Consequently, there has been a strong push to fully understand their interactions with blood components. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 27;2018:7845629. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Center for Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.

Objective: Organic nitrates such as isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN) and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) are used for the treatment of patients with chronic symptomatic stable coronary artery disease and chronic congestive heart failure. Limiting side effects of these nitrovasodilators include nitrate tolerance and/or endothelial dysfunction mediated by oxidative stress. Here, we tested the therapeutic effects of the dual endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist macitentan in ISMN- and ISDN-treated animals. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Mar 13;219:981-988. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Resources and the Environment, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Khuzestan Province, Iran.

In the present study, sub-lethal effects of chlorpyrifos, alone (25 and 50 μg L) and in combination with Polyethylene glycol (5 and 10 mg L), on common carp were investigated. Exposure to chlorpyrifos caused significant changes in all blood biochemical parameters compared to control groups. Total protein, triglyceride, glucose levels, as well as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activities in plasma changed after exposure to 10 mg L polyethylene glycol (PEG), while fish exposed to PEG did not show any significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities and albumin and globulins levels. Read More

Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2019 Feb 24;36(2):244-253. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

a School of Food Engineering , University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Campinas , SP , Brazil.

The formation of toxic compounds, potentially carcinogenic, during food processing has been considered an important food safety issue. Among them, particular attention has been given to 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE), 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol esters (2-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE), which can be formed during vegetable oil refining, especially palm oil. These substances may pose a health risk to humans due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Apr 11;221:519-525. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Federal University of Uberlândia, Department of Environmental Health, Laboratory of Environmental Health, Santa Mônica Campus, Avenida João Naves de Ávila, 2121, 38.408-100, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Federal University of Uberlândia, Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Umuarama Campus, Avenida Pará, 1720, 38.400-902 Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:

Surfactants have been continuously detected within aquatic environments as a consequence of their use on a global scale. Lipopeptides are biosurfactants naturally produced by Bacillus subtilis that have been explored as green alternatives. The assessment of ecotoxicological parameters of synthetic and biogenic surfactants are required for evaluating toxicity values and to verify the eco-friendly behaviour of the biological compounds. Read More

Biophys Chem 2019 03 14;246:25-34. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy; Centre for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, FI 50019, Italy; Operative Unit, University of Siena, CampoVerde, Calabria, Italy.

Tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein are among the major phenolic compounds in fruits, leaves and oils from Olea europaea L. These natural antioxidants molecules revealed several beneficial effects on human health, but a low bioavailability and accessibility to targeted site. Liposomes are drug/nutraceutical delivery carriers, used for driving bioactive molecules to desired target tissues, decreasing potential side effects and protecting the encapsulated molecule from enzymatic metabolic processes. Read More

Nanoscale 2019 Jan;11(4):2027-2036

Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education and Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China.

An innovative tungsten-based multifunctional nanoplatform composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified tungsten nitride nanoparticles (WN NPs) is constructed for tumor treatment. The PEG-WN NPs not only possess strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance, high photothermal conversion efficiency, and excellent photothermal stability, but also effectively inhibit tumor cells upon 808 nm laser irradiation. After coating with thiolated (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (MUA-CD) on the surface, such a nanoplatform can also be used for drug delivery (such as DOX) and presents a synergistic tumor inhibition effect both in vitro and in vivo. Read More

Indian J Pharmacol 2018 Sep-Oct;50(5):227-235

Department of Pharmacy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous cranberry extract (ACE) on MK-801-induced psychosis in mice.

Materials And Methods: MK-801-treated mice were administered ACE (1 and 2 g/kg, p.o. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 9;2018:2720763. Epub 2018 Dec 9.

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.

Microalgae are one of the most promising feedstocks for biodiesel production due to their high lipid content and easy farming. However, the extraction of lipids from microalgae is energy intensive and costly and involves the use of toxic organic solvents. Compared with organic solvent extraction, supercritical CO (SCCO) has demonstrated advantages through lower toxicity and no solvent-liquid separation. Read More

Talanta 2019 Apr 5;195:8-16. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China; International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116024, PR China. Electronic address:

Abrin is a cytotoxic protein isolated from seeds of leguminous plants and has become a potential bioterrorism weapon for its high toxity and difficult detection. In the early stage of poisoning, Arbin can damage cells and induce apoptosis. Raman spectroscopy is a molecular fingerprint that can identify and compare various intracellular substances. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Jan 5;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

Gut dysbiosis and altered short-chain fatty acids are associated with ethanol-induced liver injury. SCFA are fermentation byproducts of the gut microbiota known to have many beneficial biological effects. We tested if a designer synbiotic could protect against ethanol-induced gut-liver injury. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Apr 3;171:240-246. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.

Previous studies demonstrated long-term stimulation of some commercial personal care products (PCPs) on freshwater luminescent bacteria Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67 (Q67). However, whether a certain component can affect mixture's hormetic effect is still unknown. Read More

J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019 Jan 5;38(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, DAVIS Research Building 3096A, 8700 Beverly Blv, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.

Background: Ethanol abuse promotes breast cancer development, metastasis and recurrence stimulating mammary tumorigenesis by mechanisms that remain unclear. Normally, 35% of breast cancer is Erb-B2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 2 (ERBB2)-positive that predisposes to poor prognosis and relapse, while ethanol drinking leads to invasion of their ERBB2 positive cells triggering the phosphorylation status of mitogen-activated protein kinase. StAR-related lipid transfer protein 10 (STARD10) is a lipid transporter of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE); changes on membrane composition of PC and PE occur before the morphological tumorigenic events. Read More

Talanta 2019 Mar 9;194:554-562. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Water Environment and Agriculture Product Safety, Central South University, Changsha 410083, Hunan, China. Electronic address:

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were prepared by adjusting the ratio of carbon sources (citric acid) and nitrogen sources (ethanolamine). This N-CDs fluorescent probe had been successfully applied to rapidly, sensitively and selectively determine the concentration of mercury ion (Hg) with a linear range of 0.1-5. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Feb 3;26(5):5111-5121. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A pot experiment was performed to examine the role of foliar applied mannitol (M) in chromium (Cr) stress alleviation in different maize cultivars. Two maize cultivars, one tolerant (6103) and one sensitive (9108) to chromium stress, were grown in soil treated with three concentrations of Cr (0, 5, and 10 mg kg) and three levels of mannitol (0, 50, and 100 mg L). Chromium stress decreased the overall growth of plants by reducing the plant height, root/shoot dry weight, chlorophyll contents, and enzymatic activities, while exacerbated the severity of reactive oxygen species in both maize cultivars. Read More

J Plant Res 2019 Jan 3;132(1):81-91. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Laboratorio de Fisiología y Química Vegetal, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150, Col. Lajas Maciel, CP 29039, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico.

The seeds of Annona macroprophyllata Donn. Sm. contain idioblasts with toxic acetogenins, including laherradurin and rolliniastatin-2, in relatively high proportions. Read More

AAPS PharmSciTech 2019 Jan 2;20(1):23. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, 115 S. Grand Avenue, S228 PHAR, Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, USA.

Direct pulmonary delivery is a promising step in developing effective gene therapies for respiratory disease. Gene therapies can be used to treat the root cause of diseases, rather than just the symptoms. However, developing effective therapies that do not cause toxicity and that successfully reach the target site at therapeutic levels is challenging. Read More