Endocrine-disrupting chemicals - pesticide regulatory issues from the EU perspective.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including substances used in plant protection products (PPPs), are a source of ongoing concern for the EU society. Under the EC Regulation 1107/2009, the endocrine-disrupting (ED) properties of active substances, safeners, and synergists used in PPPs shall be investigated. The scientific criteria established by the Regulation (EU) 2018/605 and the joint guidance of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)/European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provide the basis for this assessment.

Adult young as the fragile ontogenetic stage of the house crickets dietary exposed to GO nanoparticles - digestive enzymes perspective.

Graphene oxide nanoparticles (GO) (have promising properties for, electronics, energy, medicine, water purification, agriculture and food production industry. However, their potentially hazardous effects are still not satisfactorily recognized, so they are often included in the group of contaminants of emerging concern. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to assess the potentially harmful effects of orally administered GO on the digestive enzyme activities of the house crickets Acheta domesticus.

Decabromodifenyl Ether (BDE-209) in Surface Soils from Warsaw and Surrounding Areas: Characterization of Non-Carcinogenic Risk Associated with Oral and Dermal Exposure.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used for many years as flame retardants. Due to their physicochemical and toxicological properties, they are considered to be persistent organic pollutants (POPs). BDE-209 is the main component of deca-BDE, the one PBDE commercial mixture currently approved for use in the European Union.

Visceral Adipose Tissue: The Hidden Culprit for Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance in various tissues. Though conventionally associated with obesity, current research indicates that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is the leading determining factor, wielding more influence regardless of individual body mass. The heightened metabolic activity of VAT encourages the circulation of free fatty acid (FFA) molecules, which induce insulin resistance in surrounding tissues.

Assessment of Furan and Its Derivatives Intake with Home Prepared Meals and Characterization of Associated Risk for Polish Infants and Toddlers.

Furan and its derivatives are found in various heat-treated foods. Furan is classified as a possible human carcinogen. The European Union authorities recommend collecting data on the occurrence of these compounds, estimating consumer exposure, and taking measures to protect human health based on a scientific risk assessment.

Bidirectional Interaction between Tetracyclines and Gut Microbiome.

The escalating misuse of antibiotics, particularly broad-spectrum antibiotics, has emerged as a pivotal driver of drug resistance. Among these agents, tetracyclines are widely prescribed for bacterial infections, but their indiscriminate use can profoundly alter the gut microbiome, potentially compromising both their effectiveness and safety. This review delves into the intricate and dynamic interplay between tetracyclines and the gut microbiome, shedding light on their reciprocal influence.

Can Circadian Eating Pattern Adjustments Reduce Risk or Prevent Development of T2D?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition that occurs in insulin-resistant people with reduced glucose uptake. It is contributed to and exacerbated by a poor diet that results in accumulation of adipose tissue, high blood sugar, and other metabolic issues. Because humans have undergone food scarcity throughout history, our species has adapted a fat reserve genotype.

Application of Silsesquioxanes in the Preparation of Polyolefin-Based Materials.

This paper is a review of studies on the use of the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) of various structures in the synthesis of polyolefins and the modification of their properties, namely: (1) components of organometallic catalytic systems for the polymerization of olefins, (2) comonomers in the copolymerization with ethylene, and (3) fillers in composites based on polyolefins. In addition, studies on the use of new silicon compounds, i.e.

Validation of a Modified QuEChERS Method for the Determination of Selected Organochlorine Compounds in Honey.

Honey is considered to be a health-promoting food product. Therefore, it is assumed that it should be free of contaminants. Although the use of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was banned a few decades ago in developed countries, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are still detected in various environmental and biological matrices, including food.

The Neural Code for Taste in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract of Rats with Obesity Following Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Previous work has shown that taste responses in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS; the first central relay for gustation) are blunted in rats with diet-induced obesity (DIO). Here, we studied whether these effects could be reversed by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, an effective treatment for obesity. Rats were fed a high energy diet (60% kcal fat; HED) both before and after undergoing RYGB.

Ionic Liquids as Homogeneous Catalysts for Glycerol Oligomerization.

Ionic liquids (ILs) were used for the first time as catalysts for the glycerin condensation reaction. A series of imidazolium and ammonium ionic liquids differing in the length of the alkyl substituent (C, C, and C) and the type of anion (Br, CHCOO, and NaHPO) were synthesized using a typical two-step method. The structure of the obtained ILs was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance C NMR, and their base power was determined on the basis of the Hammett function.

Development of a 3D-Printed High Temperature Resin Cecal Fistula Implant for Long-Term and Minimally Invasive Access to the Gut Microbiome.

Microbiota dysbiosis has been associated with chronic diseases ranging from gastrointestinal inflammatory and metabolic conditions to neurological changes affecting the gut-brain neural axis, mental health, and general well-being. However, current animal studies using oral gavage and gnotobiotic animals do not allow for non-invasive long-term access to gut microbiome. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of 3D-printed fistula implants through the body wall and into the cecum of rats to obtain long-term access to gut microbiome.

Sprague Dawley Rats Gaining Weight on a High Energy Diet Exhibit Damage to Taste Tissue Even after Return to a Healthy Diet.

Many reports detail taste dysfunction in humans and animals with obesity. For example, mice consuming an obesogenic diet for a short period have fewer taste buds than their lean littermates. Further, rats with diet-induced obesity (DIO) show blunted electrophysiological responses to taste in the brainstem.

Managing the Microbiome: How the Gut Influences Development and Disease.

The microbiome lies at the forefront of scientific research, as researchers work to uncover its mysterious influence on human development and disease. This paper reviews how the microbiome is studied, how researchers can improve its study, and what clinical applications microbiome research might yield. For this review, we analyzed studies concerning the role of the microbiome in disease and early development, the common methodologies by which the microbiome is researched in the lab, and modern clinical treatments for dysbiosis and their possible future applications.

Gut microbiota composition modulates inflammation and structure of the vagal afferent pathway.

Vagal afferent neurons (VAN), located in the nodose ganglion (NG) innervate the gut and terminate in the nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) in the brainstem. They are the primary sensory neurons integrating gut-derived signals to regulate meal size. Chronic high-fat diet (HFD) consumption impairs vagally mediated satiety, resulting in overfeeding.

Theoretical Investigations on Interactions of Arylsulphonyl Indazole Derivatives as Potential Ligands of VEGFR2 Kinase.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) is a key receptor in the angiogenesis process. The VEGFR2 expression is upregulated in many cancers so this receptor is an important target for anticancer agents. In the present paper, we analyse interactions of several dimeric indazoles, previously investigated for anticancer activity, with the amino acids present in the VEGFR2 binding pocket.

Consumption of a high energy density diet triggers microbiota dysbiosis, hepatic lipidosis, and microglia activation in the nucleus of the solitary tract in rats.

Introduction: Obesity is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease. Consumption of high energy density (HED) diets is associated with hyperphagia, increased body weight and body fat accumulation, and obesity. Our lab has previously shown that short-term (4 weeks) consumption of a HED diet triggers gut microbiota dysbiosis, gut inflammation, and reorganization of the gut-brain vagal communication.

Selected arylsulphonyl pyrazole derivatives as potential Chk1 kinase ligands-computational investigations.

Protein kinases control diversity of biochemical processes in human organism. Checkpoint 1 kinase (Chk1) is an important element of the checkpoint signalling pathways and is responsible for DNA damage repair. Hence, this kinase plays an essential role in cancer cells survival and has become an important target for anticancer agents.

Mechanical ventilation as a surrogate for diagnosing the onset of abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in severely burned patients (TIRIFIC-study Part II).

Intra-abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a devastating complication in burn patients with a high mortality. Apart from high-volume resuscitation as known risk factor, also mechanical ventilation seems to influence the development of ACS. The TIRIFIC trial is a retrospective, matched-pair analysis.

The Dose Makes the Poison: Sugar and Obesity in the United States - a Review.

Two-thirds of the US population is either overweight or obese. Obesity is one of the major drivers of preventable diseases and health care costs. In the US, current estimates for these costs range from $147 to $210 billion per year.

Alternative toxicological methods for establishing residue definitions applied for dietary risk assessment of pesticides in the European Union.

Consumers are constantly exposed to trace levels of residues present in food commodities, arising from the use of pesticides. For this reason, assessing the risk caused by pesticide residues present in food requires not only identification and toxicological properties assessment of the active substance, but also of its metabolites, isomers, and degradates. This requires the use of many laboratory animals.

Roux‑en‑Y gastric bypass surgery triggers rapid DNA fragmentation in vagal afferent neurons in rats.

Previous studies have shown that Roux‑en‑Y gastric bypass (RYGB), one of the most effective weight loss treatments for obesity, results in neurodegenerative responses in vagal afferent gut‑brain connection reflected by microglia activation and reduced sensory input to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). However, it is not known whether RYGB‑induced microglia activation is the cause or an effect of the reported neuronal damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the order of neurodegenerative responses in vagal afferents after RYGB in the nodose ganglia (NG) and NTS in male and female rats.

Taste Responses in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract of Awake Obese Rats Are Blunted Compared With Those in Lean Rats.

Taste perception changes with obesity but the underlying neural changes remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we recorded taste responses from single cells in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS, the first synapse in the central gustatory circuit) in awake, diet-induced obese [(DIO; ≥ 8 weeks on a high-energy diet (45%fat, 17% sugar; HED)], and lean rats. Rats were implanted with a bundle of microelectrodes in the NTS and allowed to recover.

Thermal Stability and Flame Retardancy of Polypropylene Composites Containing Siloxane-Silsesquioxane Resins.

A novel group of silsesquioxane derivatives, which are siloxane-silsesquioxane resins (S4SQ), was for the first time examined as possible flame retardants in polypropylene (PP) materials. Thermal stability of the PP/S4SQ composites compared to the S4SQ resins and neat PP was estimated using thermogravimetric (TG) analysis under nitrogen and in air atmosphere. The effects of the non-functionalized and -alkyl-functionalized siloxane-silsesquioxane resins on thermostability and flame retardancy of PP materials were also evaluated by thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) and by cone calorimeter tests.