Category Archives: RESEARCH ARTICLE

Impact of packaging system on the microbial quality of chilled rabbit meat over 21 days of storage

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Abstract

The pace of life is accelerating, so we are seeking ways to optimize the shelf life of products. To achieve this goal, the microbiological quality of rabbit meat was assessed at 7, 14, and 21 days under refrigerated conditions, utilizing two storage methods, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VAC). Maintaining high levels of hygiene is critical not only during slaughter but also during subsequent technological processes and meat storage. The research concluded that the MAP method was more effective at extending the shelf-life of fresh rabbit meat than the VAC method. Additionally, increasing the CO2 concentrations in meat significantly decreased the Pseudomonas bacteria population (after 14 and 21 days of storage). Conversely, the gaseous mixture containing 70% O2 significantly decreased the Enterobacteriaceae population in the sample after 21 days of storage. Moreover, the MAP storage method considerably impeded microbial growth, particularly the total yeast and mold count, lactic acid bacteria count, and Pseudomonas spp. count. This study's findings demonstrate that rabbit meat can be stored for 21 days in a modified atmosphere containing appropriate concentrations of gases such as gaseous carbon dioxide and oxygen.

The influence of redox modulation on hypoxic endothelial cell metabolic and proteomic profiles through a small thiol‐based compound tuning glutathione and thioredoxin systems

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The influence of redox modulation on hypoxic endothelial cell metabolic and proteomic profiles through a small thiol-based compound tuning glutathione and thioredoxin systems

The intracellular redox state of endothelial cells facing low oxygen and oxidative stress was regulated via the pro-glutathione molecule I-152, a co-drug of N-acetylcysteine and cysteamine. The principal redox couples, GSH/GSSG, and NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H were affected by hypoxia and in turn, modulated with I-152. Glutathione and thioredoxin-related pathways were enhanced after treatment and ROS production was alleviated. Strategies to fine-tune the redox balance could ameliorate the cell response to hypoxic environments.


Abstract

Reduction in oxygen levels is a key feature in the physiology of the bone marrow (BM) niche where hematopoiesis occurs. The BM niche is a highly vascularized tissue and endothelial cells (ECs) support and regulate blood cell formation from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). While in vivo studies are limited, ECs when cultured in vitro at low O2 (<5%), fail to support functional HSC maintenance due to oxidative environment. Therefore, changes in EC redox status induced by antioxidant molecules may lead to alterations in the cellular response to hypoxia likely favoring HSC self-renewal. To evaluate the impact of redox regulation, HUVEC, exposed for 1, 6, and 24 h to 3% O2 were treated with N-(N-acetyl-l-cysteinyl)-S-acetylcysteamine (I-152). Metabolomic analyses revealed that I-152 increased glutathione levels and influenced the metabolic profiles interconnected with the glutathione system and the redox couples NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H. mRNA analysis showed a lowered gene expression of HIF-1α and VEGF following I-152 treatment whereas TRX 1 and 2 were stimulated. Accordingly, the proteomic study revealed the redox-dependent upregulation of thioredoxin and peroxiredoxins that, together with the glutathione system, are the main regulators of intracellular ROS. Indeed, a time-dependent ROS production under hypoxia and a quenching effect of the molecule were evidenced. At the secretome level, the molecule downregulated IL-6, MCP-1, and PDGF-bb. These results suggest that redox modulation by I-152 reduces oxidative stress and ROS level in hypoxic ECs and may be a strategy to fine-tune the environment of an in vitro BM niche able to support functional HSC maintenance.

Nomilin and its analogue obacunone alleviate NASH and hepatic fibrosis in mice via enhancing antioxidant and anti‐inflammation capacity

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Nomilin and its analogue obacunone alleviate NASH and hepatic fibrosis in mice via enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammation capacity

Nomilin and obacunone exert beneficial effects on MCD-, BDL-, and CCl4-induced NASH mice. Nomilin and obacunone alleviate NASH and liver fibrosis via enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammation capacity.


Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatic fibrosis are leading causes of cirrhosis with rising morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, there is no appropriate treatment for NASH and hepatic fibrosis. Many studies have shown that oxidative stress is a main factor inducing NASH. Nomilin (NML) and obacunone (OBA) are limonoid compounds naturally occurring in citrus fruits with various biological properties. However, whether OBA and NML have beneficial effects on NASH remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that OBA and NML inhibited hepatic tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration and liver fibrosis progression in methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-treated and bile duct ligation (BDL) NASH and hepatic fibrosis mouse models. Mechanistic studies showed that NML and OBA enhanced anti-oxidative effects, including reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) level, increase of catalase (CAT) activity and the gene expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and Nrf2-keap1 signaling. Additional, NML and OBA inhibited the expression of inflammatory gene interleukin 6 (Il-6), and regulated the bile acid metabolism genes Cyp3a11, Cyp7a1, multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (Mrp3). Overall, these findings indicate that NML and OBA may alleviate NASH and liver fibrosis in mice via enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammation capacity. Our study proposed that NML and OBA may be potential strategies for NASH treatment.

Hazards of swine slurry: Heavy metals, bacteriology, and overdosing—Physicochemical models to predict the nutrient value

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Abstract

In this work, 124 samples of slurry from 32 commercial farms of three animal categories (lactating sows, nursery piglets, and growing pigs) were studied. The samples were collected in summer and winter over two consecutive years and analyzed for physicochemical properties, macronutrient and micronutrient, heavy metals, and major microbiological indicators. The results were found to be influenced by farm type and to deviate especially markedly in nursery piglets, probably as a consequence of differences in pig age, diet, and management. The main potential hazards of the slurries can be expected to arise from their high contents in heavy metals (Cu and Zn), especially in the nursery piglet group, and from the high proportion of samples testing positive for Salmonella spp. (66%). Linear and nonlinear predictive equations were developed for each animal category and the three as a whole. Dry matter, which was highly correlated with N, CaO, and MgO contents, proved the best predictor of fertilizer value. Using an additional predictor failed to improve the results but nonlinear and farm-specific equations did. Rapid on-site measurements can improve the accuracy of fertilizer value estimates and help optimize the use of swine slurry as a result.

Physical and chemical characterization of the femur during and after the body development period in male and female guinea pigs

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Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to reveal the physical and chemical characterization of the bone structures during body development periods (prepubertal period, period between adolescence and adulthood) and after (young adult period and old adult period) in male and female guinea pigs. In this study, 40 guinea pigs (20 male, 20 female) were used. Morphometric measurements, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis for mineral levels, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis for surface area, and porosity analysis were applied to the bones. The male guinea pigs had greater values than females in the other three categories, with the exception of the second group, when the females have higher values in morphometric measurements. Ca levels rose up to the third group, as did P levels in the males, peaking in the third group and declining in the fourth. As with phosphorus, there was a progressive rise in females from the first to the fourth group. Fe, Zn, and Sr elements had the greatest values in both genders in the first group. In all four groups, the females had greater Zn levels than males. The highest Ca/P ratio was found in the third male group and the fourth female group. This study revealed that adolescence, adulthood, and gender are effective in the physical and chemical characterization of bone structure in guinea pigs.

Assessment of relationships between bullous pemphigoid and neurological diseases: A bidirectional two‐sample Mendelian randomization study

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Abstract

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most prevalent autoimmune vesiculobullous skin illness that tends to affect the elderly. Growing evidence has hinted a correlation between BP and neurological diseases. However, existing observational studies contained inconsistent results, and the causality and direction of their relationship remain poorly understood. To assess the causal relationship between BP and neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and stroke. A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) adopted independent top genetic variants as instruments from the largest accessible genome-wide association studies (GWASs), with BP (n = 218 348), PD (n = 482 730), AD (n = 63 926), stroke (n = 446 696), and MS (n = 115 803). Inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted mode methods, weighted median, and simple mode were performed to explore the causal association. Multiple sensitivity analyses, MR-Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier (PRESSO) was used to evaluate horizontal pleiotropy and remove outliers. With close-to-zero effect estimates, no causal impact of BP on the risk of the four neurological diseases was discovered. However, we found that MS was positively correlated with higher odds of BP (OR = 1.220, 95% CI: 1.058–1.408, p = 0.006), while no causal associations were observed between PD (OR = 0.821, 95% CI: 0.616–1.093, p = 0.176), AD (OR = 1.066, 95% CI: 0.873–1.358, p = 0.603), stroke (OR = 0.911, 95% CI: 0.485–1.713, p = 0.773) and odds of BP. In summary, no causal impact of BP on the risk of PD, AD, MS and stroke was detected in our MR analysis. However, reverse MR analysis identified that only MS was positively correlated with higher odds of BP, but not PD, AD and stroke.

Rigosertib is more potent than wortmannin and rapamycin against adult T‐cell leukemia‐lymphoma

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Rigosertib is more potent than wortmannin and rapamycin against adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma

HTLV-1 downregulation of the mRNA level may occur as a negative feedback response to increased PI3K-Akt-mTOR phosphorylation by HTLV-1. Rigosertib was more effective than wortmannin and rapamycin in inducing cell cycle arrest, as well as a significant late apoptosis in the Inf-3T3 and MT-2 cells.


Abstract

Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection can cause adult T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ATLL), an incurable, chemotherapy-resistant malignancy. In a quest for new therapeutic targets, our study sought to determine the levels of AKT, mTOR, and PI3K in ATLL MT-2 cells, HTLV-1 infected NIH/3T3 cells (Inf-3T3), and HTLV-1 infected patients (Carrier, HAM/TSP, and ATLL). Furthermore, the effects of rigosertib, wortmannin, and rapamycin on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to inhibit the proliferation of ATLL cells were examined. The results showed that mRNA expression of Akt/PI3K/mTOR was down-regulated in carrier, HAM/TSP, and ATLL patients, as well as MT-2, and Inf-3T3 cells, compared to the healthy individuals and untreated MT-2 and Inf-3T3 as controls. However, western blotting revealed an increase in the phosphorylated and activated forms of AKT and mTOR. Treating the cells with rapamycin, wortmannin, and rigosertib decreased the phosphorylated forms of Akt and mTOR and restored their mRNA expression levels. Using these inhibitors also significantly boosted the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53 in the MT-2 and Inf-3T3cells. Rigosertib was more potent than wortmannin and rapamycin in inducing sub-G1 and G2-M cell cycle arrest, as well as late apoptosis in the Inf-3T3 and MT-2 cells. It also synergized the cytotoxic effects of vincristine. These findings demonstrate that HTLV-1 downregulation of the mRNA level may occur as a negative feedback response to increased PI3K-Akt-mTOR phosphorylation by HTLV-1. Therefore, using rigosertib alone or in combination with common chemotherapy drugs may be beneficial in ATLL patients.

SUMO2/3 promotes the progression and oxaliplatin resistance of colorectal cancer through facilitating the SUMOylation at Ku80‐K307

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SUMO2/3 promotes the progression and oxaliplatin resistance of colorectal cancer through facilitating the SUMOylation at Ku80-K307

We describes the role for SUMO2/3 during oxaliplatin resistance in CRC and assessed the contribution of Ku80 SUMOylation in this process. Overexpression of SUMO2/3-promoted CRC cell proliferation, invasion, migration in vitro and in vivo. SUMOylation of K307 in Ku80 attenuated the DNA damage of CRC cells caused by oxaliplatin and was consistent with an antiapoptotic role for SUMO2/3.


Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide and is typically treated with the FOLFOX regimen (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin). However, oxaliplatin resistance remains a serious clinical problem. In the present study, we found that SUMO2/3 was overexpressed in CRC tissues and exogenous overexpression of SUMO2/3 promoted CRC cell proliferation, extension, and invasion and positively regulated the cell cycle. In contrast, SUMO2/3 gene knockdowns inhibited migration and repressed cell viability in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we found that SUMO2/3 was recruited to the cell nucleus and suppressed oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis of CRC cells. Moreover, Ku80, a DNA-binding protein essential for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, was confirmed to bind with SUMO2/3. Notably, Ku80 undergoes SUMOylation at K307 by SUMO2/3 and this correlated with apoptosis in CRC cells suffering oxaliplatin stress. Collectively, we found that SUMO2/3 plays a specific role in CRC tumorigenesis and acts through Ku80 SUMOylation which is linked with the development of CRC-oxaliplatin resistance.

Adipose tissue‐derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease rat model: Emerging role of SIRT1

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Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease rat model: Emerging role of SIRT1

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rat model, and to explore the possible implication of SIRT1. Our data demonstrated that transplantation of Ad-MSCs alleviated cognitive impairment in AD rats. Additionally, they exhibited anti-amyloidogenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, as well as neurogenic effects. Furthermore, Ad-MSCs were found to mediate their therapeutic effects, at least partially, via modulating both central and systemic SIRT1 levels. Hence, the current study portrays Ad-MSCs as an effective therapeutic approach for AD management and opens the door for future investigations to further elucidate the role of SIRT1 and its interrelated molecular mediators in AD.


Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex form of neurodegenerative dementia. Growing body of evidence supports the cardinal role of sirtuin1 (SIRT1) in neurodegeneration and AD development. Recently, adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) have made their mark for a wide array of regenerative medicine applications, including neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Ad-MSCs in AD rat model, and to explore the possible implication of SIRT1. Ad-MSCs were isolated from rat epididymal fat pads and properly characterized. Aluminum chloride was used to induce AD in rats, and afterward, a group of AD-induced rats received a single dose of Ad-MSCs (2 × 106 cell, I.V per rat). One month after Ad-MSCs transplantation, behavioral tests were done, brain tissues were collected, then histopathological and biochemical assessments were performed. Amyloid beta and SIRT1 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whereas expression levels of neprilysin, BCL2 associated X protein, B-cell lymphoma-2, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and nerve growth factor in hippocampus and frontal cortex brain tissues were assessed using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our data demonstrated that transplantation of Ad-MSCs alleviated cognitive impairment in AD rats. Additionally, they exhibited anti-amyloidogenic, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, as well as neurogenic effects. Furthermore, Ad-MSCs were found to possibly mediate their therapeutic effects, at least partially, via modulating both central and systemic SIRT1 levels. Hence, the current study portrays Ad-MSCs as an effective therapeutic approach for AD management and opens the door for future investigations to further elucidate the role of SIRT1 and its interrelated molecular mediators in AD.

Relationship between refractive index and fatty acid composition by gas chromatography and near‐infrared fiber‐optic method in bovine fat

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Abstract

The causes of the difference in fatty acid composition between gas chromatography (GC) and near-infrared fiber-optic method (NIR) in bovine fat and their countermeasures were studied using absolute values of refractive index. Using intermuscular fat from 45 crossbreeds, refractive index was measured by using a refractometer, and saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were measured by NIR and GC. The correlation coefficients between GC and NIR in SFA and MUFA, as well as those between refractive index and GC or NIR (in SFA and MUFA), were all greater than or equal to 0.8 (p < 0.01). In samples with 3% or more difference between GC and NIR in SFA and MUFA, GC and NIR values were often located in opposite directions to the regression lines with regard to refractive index. GC reanalysis on these samples slightly increased the correlation coefficient between GC and refractive index and reduced the difference between GC and NIR by 1%–2%. Results indicate that measurement errors in GC and NIR are related to their more than 3% difference, and GC reanalysis based on refractive index may improve its accuracy.