Butyrate reduces epithelial barrier dysfunction induced by the foodborne mycotoxin deoxynivalenol in cell monolayers derived from pig jejunum organoids.

The foodborne mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by species threats animal and human health through disruption of the intestinal barrier. Targeting the gut microbiota and its products appears as a promising strategy to mitigate DON intestinal toxicity. In this study, we investigated whether the bacterial metabolite butyrate could alleviate epithelial barrier disruption induced by DON.

Thiocoumarin-based Au(I) Complexes and Au(0) Systems over TiO as Hybrid Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Generation under UV-Vis Light.

This work focuses on the photocatalytic production of hydrogen from the photodehydrogenation of ethanol using several gold(I) complexes and gold(0) systems over titanium dioxide (P90 TiO) as hybrid photocatalysts. The photocatalytic systems are composed of at least one coumarin-based ligand, which can enhance the photocatalytic activity by its photon-absorbing capacity due to its chromophore properties. The photocatalytic behavior for hydrogen generation of the studied samples is compared under UV-vis light setting the total gold-based co-catalyst loading at 1 wt% onto the TiO photocatalysts and when the gold content is maintained at 0.

More than a mutagenic Aflatoxin B1 precursor: The multiple cellular targets of Versicolorin A revealed by global gene expression analysis.

Versicolorin A (VerA), a precursor of the potent carcinogen Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), is an emerging mycotoxin. Recent research has highlighted the mutagenic and genotoxic properties of VerA, yet several facets of its pronounced toxicity remain unexplored. In the present study, we investigated early (6 h) transcriptomic changes induced by VerA in differentiated intestinal cells in non-cytotoxic conditions (1 and 3 μM) and compared its effects to those of AFB1 at 1 μM.

Deoxynivalenol Induces Local Inflammation and Lesions in Tissues at Doses Recommended by the EU.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is frequently present in cereals at low levels, resulting in its occurrence in food and feed. DON has been proven to alter the immune response and induce inflammation in all species, with pigs exhibiting heightened sensitivity and exposure. However, no study has yet evaluated the effects of exposure to DON at the recommended levels in pig feed.

Origin, structure, and composition of the spider major ampullate silk fiber revealed by genomics, proteomics, and single-cell and spatial transcriptomics.

Spiders produce nature's toughest fiber using renewable components at ambient temperatures and with water as solvent, making it highly interesting to replicate for the materials industry. Despite this, much remains to be understood about the bioprocessing and composition of spider silk fibers. Here, we identify 18 proteins that make up the spiders' strongest silk type, the major ampullate fiber.

Patients with Thyroid Dyshormonogenesis and Variants: Molecular and Clinical Description and Genotype-Phenotype Correlation.

Thyroid dyshormonogenesis (THD) is a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases caused by the total or partial defect in the synthesis or secretion of thyroid hormones. Genetic variants in can cause partial to total iodination organification defects and clinical heterogeneity, from transient to permanent congenital hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to undertake a molecular characterization and genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with THD and candidate variants in .

Nutritional Quality of the Mid-Afternoon Snack of Schooled Children between the Ages of 3 and 12 Years in Three Areas in Spain.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the nutritional quality of mid-afternoon snacks for schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three areas of Catalonia (Spain).

Methods: A descriptive observational study collected information on habits and the mid-afternoon snack of 782 schooled children aged 3 to 12 years in three cities, Barcelona, Girona, and Lleida, located in Catalonia (Spain). The children's families voluntarily agreed to complete an online questionnaire that collected information about demographic data and snacking habits in the afternoon, as well as a record of mid-afternoon snack intake over three school days.

Genetic Causes and Genomic Consequences of Breakdown of Distyly in Linum trigynum.

Distyly is an iconic floral polymorphism governed by a supergene, which promotes efficient pollen transfer and outcrossing through reciprocal differences in the position of sexual organs in flowers, often coupled with heteromorphic self-incompatibility. Distyly has evolved convergently in multiple flowering plant lineages, but has also broken down repeatedly, often resulting in homostylous, self-compatible populations with elevated rates of self-fertilization. Here, we aimed to study the genetic causes and genomic consequences of the shift to homostyly in Linum trigynum, which is closely related to distylous Linum tenue.

The Physician Surprise Question in the Emergency Department: prospective cohort study.

Objectives: This study aims to test the ability of the surprise question (SQ), when asked to emergency physicians (EPs), to predict in-hospital mortality among adults admitted to an emergency room (ER).

Methods: This prospective cohort study at an academic medical centre included consecutive patients 18 years or older who received care in the ER and were subsequently admitted to the hospital from 20 April 2018 to 20 October 2018. EPs were required to answer the SQ for all patients who were being admitted to hospital.

Relationships between haptoglobin and inter-alpha trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 levels in local and peripheral blood and systemic inflammatory response syndrome in bitches with pyometra.

We aimed to assess the usefulness of monitoring inter-alpha trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) and haptoglobin (Hp) in peripheral and local blood in canine pyometra, and evaluation the relationships among acute phase proteins (APPs), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and the presence of bacteria. The material was collected from bitches with pyometra and from healthy ones. Blood was taken from the cephalic and uterine veins.

Facet-engineered TiO drives photocatalytic activity and stability of supported noble metal clusters during H evolution.

Metal clusters supported on TiO are widely used in many photocatalytic applications, including pollution control and production of solar fuels. Besides high photoactivity, stability during the photoreaction is another essential quality of high-performance photocatalysts, however systematic studies on this attribute are absent for metal clusters supported on TiO. Here we have studied, both experimentally and with first-principles simulation methods, the stability of Pt, Pd and Au clusters prepared by ball milling on nanoshaped anatase nanoparticles preferentially exposing {001} (plates) and {101} (bipyramids) facets during the photogeneration of hydrogen.

Effective policies to promote sugar reduction in soft drinks: lessons from a comparison of six European countries.

Background: Many countries have sought to incentivise soft drinks manufacturers to reduce sugar in their products as part of efforts to address a growing prevalence of obesity. Are their policies effective?

Methods: Using a difference-in-differences design, we compared trends in the sugar content of 10 695 new sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) launched between 2010 and 2019 in six European markets, including the UK and France (taxes designed to incentivise reformulation), the Netherlands (policy based on voluntary agreements to reduce sugar), Germany, Italy and Spain (no national policies).

Results: The announcement in 2016 and adoption in 2018 of the UK tax led to yearly reductions in average sugar content of 17% (95% CI: 15-19%) to 31% (13-48%) between 2016 and 2019, compared to 2015, while the 2018 French tax produced a 6% (95% CI: 5-7%) sugar reduction only in 2018, compared to 2017, shortly after it was redesigned to provide a stronger incentive for reformulation.

Microbiome of Free-Living Amoebae (FLA) Isolated from Fresh Organic Produce: Potential Risk to Consumers?

In response to growing global interest in organic agriculture, this study delves into the microbial landscape of organically grown raw produce with a focus on food safety. Vegetables that are consumed raw are potential vehicles for the transmission of any type of microorganism capable of causing human disease. Free-living amoebae (FLA) are ubiquitous protozoa found in many ecosystems and can serve as hosts to pathogenic bacteria.

Whole genome sequence of the deep-sea sponge Geodia barretti (Metazoa, Porifera, Demospongiae).

Sponges are among the earliest branching extant animals. As such, genetic data from this group are valuable for understanding the evolution of various traits and processes in other animals. However, like many marine organisms, they are notoriously difficult to sequence, and hence, genomic data are scarce.

Increased Amazon carbon emissions mainly from decline in law enforcement.

The Amazon forest carbon sink is declining, mainly as a result of land-use and climate change. Here we investigate how changes in law enforcement of environmental protection policies may have affected the Amazonian carbon balance between 2010 and 2018 compared with 2019 and 2020, based on atmospheric CO vertical profiles, deforestation and fire data, as well as infraction notices related to illegal deforestation. We estimate that Amazonia carbon emissions increased from a mean of 0.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity assessment of the emerging mycotoxin Versicolorin A, an Aflatoxin B1 precursor.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent natural carcinogen among mycotoxins. Versicolorin A (VerA) is a precursor of AFB1 biosynthesis and is structurally related to the latter. Although VerA has already been identified as a genotoxin, data on the toxicity of VerA are still scarce, especially at low concentrations.

Protozoan parasites and free-living amoebae contamination in organic leafy green vegetables and strawberries from Spain.

In this study, the presence of spp., sp., spp.

Bimetallic NiFe Nanoparticles Supported on CeO as Catalysts for Methane Steam Reforming.

Ni-Fe nanocatalysts supported on CeO have been prepared for the catalysis of methane steam reforming (MSR) aiming for coke-resistant noble metal-free catalysts. The catalysts have been synthesized by traditional incipient wetness impregnation as well as dry ball milling, a green and more sustainable preparation method. The impact of the synthesis method on the catalytic performance and the catalysts' nanostructure has been investigated.

Shifts in dietary patterns and risk of type-2 diabetes in a Caribbean adult population: ways to address diabetes burden.

Purpose: As the French West Indies are facing an ongoing nutrition transition with increasing type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevalence, our study aimed to evaluate the effect of potential shifts in dietary patterns on T2DM risk in French West Indian adults according to several scenarios.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional multistage sampling survey on dietary intake conducted in 2013 on a representative sample of Guadeloupeans and Martinicans adults (n = 1063). From previously identified current dietary patterns, we used PRIME-Diabetes, a comparative risk assessment model, to estimate the effect of potential shifts from the "transitioning" pattern to the "convenient," the "prudent," and the "traditional" ones on T2DM risks.

Brain injury biomarkers do not predict delirium in acutely ill older patients: a prospective cohort study.

Delirium is a common, serious, and often preventable neuropsychiatric emergency mostly characterized by a disturbance in attention and awareness. Systemic insult and inflammation causing blood-brain-barrier (BBB) damage and glial and neuronal activation leading to more inflammation and cell death is the most accepted theory behind delirium's pathophysiology. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between brain injury biomarkers on admission and delirium in acutely ill older patients.