Biofabricated 3D Intestinal Models as an Alternative to Animal-Based Approaches for Drug Toxicity Assays.

Background: The main challenge in new drug development is accurately predicting the human response in preclinical models.

Methods: In this study, we developed three different intestinal barrier models using advanced biofabrication techniques: (i) a manual model containing Caco-2 and HT-29 cells on a collagen bed, (ii) a manual model with a Caco-2/HT-29 layer on a HDFn-laden collagen layer, and (iii) a 3D bioprinted model incorporating both cellular layers. Each model was rigorously tested for its ability to simulate a functional intestinal membrane.

Intrinsic Coexistence of Miscibility and Segregation in Gold-Silver Nanoalloys.

Bimetallic nanoparticles are used in numerous applications in catalysis, plasmonics or fuel cell technology. The addition of the second metal to the nanoparticles allows enhancing and fine-tuning their properties by choosing their composition, size, shape and environment. However, the crucial additional parameter of chemical structure within the particle is difficult to predict and access experimentally, even though segregated core-shell structures and random alloys can have drastically different physicochemical properties.

Effects of biochar on soil contaminated by metals and metalloids from slag disposal of an old environmental liability in Ribeira Valley, Brazil.

Contamination with potentially toxic metals and metalloids (PTMs) in mining areas poses significant environment and human health risks. Using biochar as an amendment can be a cost-effective and eco-friendly method to reduce PTM bioavailability in contaminated soils, thus lowering plant uptake. This study investigated biochar derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) at three pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500, and 700 °C) and two application rates (1% and 5%, w/w) for the remediation of slag-contaminated soils from an old environmental liability in the Ribeira Valley (Brazil).

Racial and ethnic disparities in alcohol-associated liver disease hospitalizations in Brazil before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction And Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a greater incidence of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and simultaneously magnified health-related inequalities. We evaluated the impact of race and ethnicity on ALD-related hospitalizations in Brazil.

Materials And Methods: An interrupted time series analysis was used to estimate ALD-related hospitalization in public hospitals in Brazil.