Development of the fish invitrome for animal-free environmental risk assessment of chemicals.

Given the need to reduce animal testing for environmental risk assessment, we aim to develop a fish invitrome, an alternative fish modular framework capable of predicting chemical toxicity in fish without the use of animals. The central module of the framework is the validated RTgill-W1 cell line assay that predicts fish acute toxicity of chemicals (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Test Guideline (OECD TG) 249). Expanding towards prediction of chronic toxicity, the fish invitrome includes two other well-advanced modules for chemical bioaccumulation/biotransformation and inhibition of fish growth.

Systematic review on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in breastmilk and neuro-behavioral development: insight into the early ages of life.

Breast milk (BM) is the main nutrition source for infants that plays a key role on growth and development. Human milk composition includes endogenous and exogenous substances, including endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are man-made environmental chemicals present in everyday environment and food that can disrupt the programming of endocrine signalling pathways during development, resulting in adverse effects that may not be apparent until much later in life.

Optimising medium chain carboxylate production in xylan mixed-culture monofermentation.

This work investigates the optimization of medium-chain carboxylate (MCC) production through xylan mixed-culture monofermentation. The pH screening in batch assays showed that the hydrolysis stage and selectivity towards MCC precursors were optimised at pH 6. Subsequently, a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) were operated at different Hydraulic Retention Times (HRT), revealing that the SBR at HRT 2 days yielded the highest caproic acid since lactic acid availability and chain elongation process were balanced.

Enhanced production, functionalization, and applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates from organic waste: A review.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent a promising class of biodegradable polyesters synthesized by various microorganisms as energy storage compounds. Their versatility and environmental friendliness make them potential candidates for replacing conventional plastics across numerous applications. However, challenges such as limited mechanical properties, high production costs, and thermal instability have hindered their widespread adoption.

An effective approach for lignin-based bamboo adhesive preparation via swelling crosslinking.

The preparation of lignin-based adhesives from sustainable lignin sources has garnered increasing attention from many researchers in recent years. However, developing high-performance and environmentally friendly lignin-based adhesives through a simple and efficient approach remains a significant challenge. In this study, aminated corn stover lignin (ACSL) was prepared by aminating corn stover lignin (CSL) using glutaraldehyde and ethylenediamine.

A review on chitosan and chitosan-based bionanocomposites: Promising biological macromolecules for sustainable corrosion inhibition.

Corrosion is a significant issue affecting industrial metal surfaces, resulting in material degradation, economic losses, and safety concerns. This review comprehensively examines chitosan and its nano and bionanocomposite forms as sustainable, eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors, emphasizing key innovations in their development and application. The article highlights chitosan's ability to form protective films, which inhibit corrosion by creating a barrier on metal surfaces.

Synthesis and evaluation of KX-01 analogs with an exploration of linker attachment points for antibody-drug conjugates.

KX-01 (tirbanibulin, Klisyri®) is a recently FDA-approved drug for treating actinic keratosis, with a distinct dual mechanism of action combining microtubule disruption and non-ATP-competitive Src inhibition. This unique mechanism and novel chemotype highlight KX-01's potential as a payload for antibody-drug conjugates. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated KX-01 derivatives to enhance anticancer potency and explore functional groups suitable for antibody conjugation.

Interfacial sorption of 17β-E2 on nano-microplastics: effects of particle size, functional groups and hydrochemical conditions.

Nano-microplastics and 17β-E2 have been frequently detected as emerging high-concern pollutants in aquatic systems, and their interaction at the solid/liquid interface has become a research focus in environmental studies. The interfacial sorption kinetics and equilibrium characteristics of 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) on nano-polystyrene (Nano-PS) with different particle sizes and organic functional group modifications were systematically investigated in aqueous environments in this study. The interfacial interaction mechanism between Nano-PS particles and 17β-E2 was elucidated by utilizing SEM, FTIR, XPS and BET techniques.

Uncovering the active ingredients of Xinbao pill against chronic heart failure: A chemical profiling, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics integrated study.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Xinbao pill (XBP) is a renowned Chinese patent medicine, primarily efficacious in warming and nourishing the heart and kidneys, supplementing Qi to boost Yang, and promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. XBP has been utilized for the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) for nearly 30 years, but the lack of clarity regarding the active ingredients of XBP against CHF has hindered its clinical application and further promotion.

Aim Of The Study: To comprehensively elucidate the efficacy-specific ingredients and potential mechanism of XBP against CHF.

Latest advancements and trends in biomedical polymers for disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical application.

Biomedical polymers are at the forefront of medical advancements, offering innovative solutions in disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical use due to their exceptional physicochemical properties. This review delves into the characteristics, classification, and preparation methods of these polymers, highlighting their diverse applications in drug delivery, medical imaging, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. We present a thorough analysis of the recent advancements in biomedical polymer research and their clinical applications, acknowledging the challenges that remain, such as immune response management, controlled degradation rates, and mechanical property optimization.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Female Reproductive Aging.

Female reproductive aging often affects women's emotional, physical, and physiological well-being. Ovarian aging is characterized by fluctuations in reproductive hormones and determines the age at which menopause occurs. Understanding potentially modifiable factors that influence this process is essential for addressing health disparities, improving quality of life, and informing relevant public health strategies.

A cis-regulatory element controls expression of histone deacetylase 9 to fine-tune inflammasome-dependent chronic inflammation in atherosclerosis.

Common genetic variants in a conserved cis-regulatory element (CRE) at histone deacetylase (HDAC)9 are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke and coronary artery disease. Given the consistency of this association and its proinflammatory properties, we examined the mechanisms whereby HDAC9 regulates vascular inflammation. HDAC9 bound and mediated deacetylation of NLRP3 in the NACHT and LRR domains leading to inflammasome activation and lytic cell death.

Green synthesis of a fluorescence optical probe for Fe based on Barberry derived carbon quantum dots: Deep insight on interaction from experimental and theoretical approach.

A green facile method was developed to synthesize the carbon quantum dots from barberry, a native plant, as a new carbon source. The synthesis strategy is a simple one-step hydrothermal process without requiring hazardous chemical reagents. The spherical structure of b-CDs with an average particle size of 3.

Application of the Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment (IATA) for evaluating endocrine disruption potential of selected pyrethroids by H295R steroidogenesis and ER/AR transcriptional activation.

Pyrethroids, which are widely utilized in agriculture, household products, and public health for their potent insecticidal properties, elicit significant concerns regarding their potential endocrine-disrupting effects. However, previous studies have yielded inconsistent data, largely due to the absence of a standardized screening system. To address this limitation, the present study introduces an Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment (IATA) to evaluate the endocrine-disrupting potential of pyrethroids, aligned with the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework.

Phosphorus release under short-term submergence of pasture soils in critical source areas.

Critical source areas (CSAs) can act as a source of phosphorus (P) in surface waters by releasing soil P to porewater during frequent rainfall events. The extent of P release under short-term, frequent submergence has not been systematically studied in CSAs in New Zealand. A study was conducted to explore the potential of three contrasting dairy and sheep/beef farm soils (Recent, Pallic and Allophanic soils) to release P to porewater and pondwater under short-term and frequent submergence.

Confined CHA-HCR system for sensitive and specific detection of ANXA2 mRNA in adenomyosis tissues.

Isothermal, enzyme-free amplification techniques, such as the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA), have gained significant attention for mRNA analysis. Despite their potential, these methods still face challenges, including false positives and low amplification efficiency. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a confined catalytic hairpin assembly and hybridization chain reaction (CHA-HCR) system that utilizes cholesterol-modified hairpin probes to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of mRNA detection.

Street-scale black carbon modelling over the West Midlands, United Kingdom: Sensitivity test of traffic emission factor adjustments.

Black carbon is harmful for climate, environment, and human health. Road traffic is one of the major sources for black carbon in urban areas. This study develops a street scale air quality model configuration for the dispersion of black carbon concentrations across the West Midlands, UK, incorporating updated road traffic emission factors.

An integrated and multifunctional homemade cell sensor platform based on Si-d-CQDs and CRISPR-Cas12a for CD31 detection during endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays a crucial role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and various disease processes. Cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) is a significant marker in EndMT. Detecting CD31 is essential for early-stage monitoring of EndMT and diagnosing atherosclerosis.

A novel Cu-coordinated fluorescent sensing system for specific detection of glyphosate and its applications in environmental and biological systems.

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide widely used in agriculture, and its overexposure poses significant health and environmental risks. Herein, a novel Cu-coordinated fluorescent sensing system (HYBC-Cu system) based on acylhydrazone groups was designed, capable of glyphosate-specific recognition. The HYBC-Cu system was constructed with simple steps, with the advantages of short recognition time (< 1 min), good specificity, anti-interference, and excellent sensitivity (LOD = 95 nM).

A dual action electrochemical molecular imprinting sensor based on FeCu-MOF and RGO/PDA@MXene hybrid synergies for trace detection of ribavirin.

In this study, we designed a molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor based on the reduced graphene oxide/polydopamine@Mxene (RPM) and FeCu-MOF for the detection of antiviral drug ribavirin (RBV). The RPM composite enhances the active surface area and electron transport capacity of the sensor, and the incorporation of FeCu-MOF can not only further improve the catalytic performance of the material, but also enables the sensor to harness the electrical reduction signal of HO. Furthermore, we developed an optimized molecularly imprinted polymer via density functional theory (DFT) to enhance the sensor's specificity and sensitivity for RBV detection.

Focus on brown dog tick-transmitted Rocky Mountain spotted fever in dogs and people: shared threats and solutions.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) kills people and dogs in rural communities throughout the Americas and in urban epidemics in Brazil and Mexico. The companion Currents in One Health by Foley et al, AJVR , March 2025, addresses the urban ecology of this devastating disease across the Americas. Cases acquired from Dermacentor spp ticks are sylvatic and sporadic, in contrast with peridomestic cases from Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, which relies on dogs as hosts.

History of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines for non-animal test methods in Japan.

The number of alternatives to animal tests (non-animal test methods) for human health developed globally account for more than 40% of the test methods in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals (TGs). Within the TGs, the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) has standardized 16 OECD TGs for human health, implemented four major revisions, and developed one test method for the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) S10 guidelines on photosafety. This review describes trends in the OECD and Japan that mainly focus on international standardizations of non-animal test methods for human health.

ADSL promotes autophagy and tumor growth through fumarate-mediated Beclin1 dimethylation.

As an enzyme with a critical role in de novo purine synthesis, adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) expression is upregulated in various malignancies. However, whether ADSL possesses noncanonical functions that contribute to cancer progression remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) activated by lipid deprivation or ER stress phosphorylates ADSL at S140, leading to an enhanced association between ADSL and Beclin1.

SLC25A1 and ACLY maintain cytosolic acetyl-CoA and regulate ferroptosis susceptibility via FSP1 acetylation.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death characterized by excessive lipid hydroperoxides accumulation, emerges as a promising target in cancer therapy. Among the solute carrier (SLC) superfamily, the cystine/glutamate transporter system antiporter components SLC3A2 and SLC7A11 are known to regulate ferroptosis by facilitating cystine import for ferroptosis inhibition. However, the contribution of additional SLC superfamily members to ferroptosis remains poorly understood.

Identification of novel 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives as ELOC binders with potential to modulate CRL2 complex formation.

The VHL-containing cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL2) complex is an E3 ligase commonly used in targeted protein degradation (TPD). Hydroxyproline-based ligands that mimic VHL substrates have been developed as anchor molecules for proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) in TPD. To expand the chemical space for VHL ligands, we conducted fragment screening using VHL-ELOB-ELOC (VBC) proteins.