Genetic and biochemical determinants in potentially toxic metals resistance and plant growth promotion in Rhizobium sp LBMP-C04.

The association of bacteria resistant to potentially toxic metals (PTMs) with plants to remove, transfer, or stabilize these elements from the soil is an appropriate tool for phytoremediation processes in metal-contaminated environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Rhizobium sp. LBMP-C04 for phytoremediation processes and plant growth promotion in metal-contaminated soils.

Behavioral, metabolic, and biochemical alterations caused by an acute stress event in a zebrafish larvae model.

Animal welfare is a growing concern in aquaculture practices. Stress induced by handling or transportation can lead to negative impacts on the sector. Zebrafish has raised as an important aquaculture model, but still with few focus on its stress response in early life stages.

Effects of a Cyperus esculentus L. plant-based beverage on FVB/n female mice.

This work evaluated the effects of the consumption of a plant-based beverage (Cyperus esculentus L., Adansonia digitata L., and thermal water) on the physiological parameters of mice over a 28-day period.

A Comprehensive Study on the Amino Acids and Tryptophan-Derived Molecules in Iberian Wine Vinegar.

Wine vinegar, valued for its ancient origins and culinary versatility, has garnered scientific interest due to its complex composition and potential health benefits. This study aims to explore the nutritional and bioactive properties of different wine vinegars, focusing on their amino acid content, particularly tryptophan-derived molecules such as serotonin and melatonin. White wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, port wine vinegar, and balsamic vinegar from the Douro and Rioja regions were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and solid-phase extraction (HPLC-SPE).

Red Grape By-Products from the Demarcated Douro Region: Chemical Analysis, Antioxidant Potential and Antimicrobial Activity against Food-Borne Pathogens.

Wine production is one of the most important agricultural activities. The winemaking process generates a considerable volume of different residues characterized as by-products, such as pomace, seeds, stems, and skins. By-products are rich in polyphenols with antioxidant and antibacterial properties and may act as bacteriostatic or bactericidal agents against food-borne pathogens, improving food safety by enhancing antibiotic efficacy and reducing bacterial resistance.

Update on infections with in European wildlife and a report in a red fox, , in Portugal.

, also known as the "oriental eye worm", is a zoonotic parasitic nematode with a wide range of hosts, particularly wild and domestic carnivores, but also lagomorphs and humans. Currently, ocular thelaziosis presents an expanding distribution range throughout Europe, including Portugal. This study provides an update on .

Comparative Analysis of TLS and UAV Sensors for Estimation of Grapevine Geometric Parameters.

Understanding geometric and biophysical characteristics is essential for determining grapevine vigor and improving input management and automation in viticulture. This study compares point cloud data obtained from a Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) and various UAV sensors including multispectral, panchromatic, Thermal Infrared (TIR), RGB, and LiDAR data, to estimate geometric parameters of grapevines. Descriptive statistics, linear correlations, significance using the F-test of overall significance, and box plots were used for analysis.

The effect of the production system on the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle in Arouquesa cattle.

Arouquesa cattle breed is an autochthonous Portuguese breed produced under a traditional mountain system that need improvement without affecting beef quality. The aim of this work is to compare the proteomics profiles of the Longissimus thoracis muscle from Arouquesa animals produced under different production systems. Sixty weaners were produced under the following systems: traditional (TF) and traditional with starter feed supplementation (TF + S1) with weaning and slaughtering at 9 months, the S1 + S2 (weaning at 5 months and grower supplement until slaughter) and two rearing periods with finishing supplementation (TF + S3 and S3).

Refinement of intranasal delivery in rats: A cadaveric study.

The intranasal route enables direct delivery of multiple substances from the nose to the brain, through olfactory and trigeminal pathways, bypassing the blood-brain barrier and avoiding systemic absorption. Despite the potential of this route, the various administration approaches make data reproducibility and interpretation challenging, emphasizing the necessity to establish a consistent methodology. Considering this, the aim of our study was to assess and compare the distribution of two dye volumes (30 µl and 50 µl) in the nasal cavity of rat cadavers.

Impacts of Climate Change and Mitigation Strategies for Some Abiotic and Biotic Constraints Influencing Fruit Growth and Quality.

Factors such as extreme temperatures, light radiation, and nutritional condition influence the physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes associated with fruit development and its quality. Besides abiotic stresses, biotic constraints can also affect fruit growth and quality. Moreover, there can be interactions between stressful conditions.

Meningitis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila in Oreochromis niloticus: Proteomics and druggability of virulence factors.

Meningitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria is a serious public health problem, causing morbidity and mortality in both children and adults. Here, we propose a novel experimental model using Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to study neuroinflammation. The fish were infected with Aeromonas hydrophila, and the course of infection was monitored in the peripheral blood.

Determination of speed and assessment of conditioning in horses submitted to a lactate minimum test-alternative approaches.

The maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) is a well-known gold standard method for determining the aerobic capacity of athletic horses. Owing to its high cost and complex execution, there is a search for standardized exercise tests that can predict this value in a single session. One of the methods described for this purpose is the lactate minimum test (LMT), which could be more accurate despite being adequate to predict MLSS.

Exploring Aromatherapy as a Complementary Approach in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review.

Palliative care, a cornerstone of comprehensive healthcare, prioritizes quality of life for individuals with life-threatening illnesses. Aromatherapy, with its holistic approach and patient-reported benefits, emerges as a promising complementary therapy for managing symptoms and enhancing well-being in palliative care. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the efficacy of aromatherapy interventions in symptom management, with a focus on pain, anxiety, nausea, and sleep disturbances among palliative care patients.

Antinociceptive Analysis of Natural Monoterpenes Eugenol, Menthol, Carvacrol and Thymol in a Zebrafish Larval Model.

In the last decade, a considerable number of studies have broadened our knowledge of the nociceptive mechanisms of pain, a global health problem in both humans and animals. The use of herbal compounds such as eugenol, menthol, thymol, and carvacrol as analgesic agents has accompanied the growing interest in this area, offering a possible solution for this complex problem. Here, we aimed to explore how these natural substances-at three different concentrations (2, 5 and 10 mg/L)-affect the pain responses in zebrafish () larvae exposed to 0.

Walk or be walked by the dog? The attachment role.

Background: The human-animal bond has been recognized as having positive effects on the health and well-being of both humans and pets. The present study aims to explore the influence of attachment on physical activity (PA), lifestyle, and health outcomes of dog owners (DO), highlighting the mutual benefits resulting from the relationship between DO and dogs.

Methods: Thirty-eight DO and their dogs participated in this study.

Gut-Brain Axis Impact on Canine Anxiety Disorders: New Challenges for Behavioral Veterinary Medicine.

Anxiety disorders in dogs are ever-growing and represent an important concern in the veterinary behavior field. These disorders are often disregarded in veterinary clinical practice, negatively impacting the animal's and owner's quality of life. Moreover, these anxiety disorders can potentially result in the abandonment or euthanasia of dogs.

Cortisol Quantification for Assessing Stress-Induced Changes in Zebrafish Larvae.

The stress response, mainly mediated by cortisol, plays a critical role in the regulation of physiological and behavioral homeostasis through a variety of mechanisms. Different aquatic animal models have been widely employed to understand the pathobiology of stress and stress-related brain disorders. The early life stress can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis and induce cellular and molecular impairments that impact the brain functioning later in life.

Protocol of Geometric Morphometrics for Teratogenicity Testing.

Geometric morphometrics (GM) enables a quantitative study of shapes and forms allowing the identification and characterization of teratogenic malformations. The GM methodology offers several advantages in comparison to traditional biometric methods, such as higher detail and precision analysis. In this chapter, we describe the recent application of the Procrustes method with ImageJ and MorphoJ programs in the characterization of developmental malformations.

Virus as Teratogenic Agents.

Viral infectious diseases are important causes of reproductive disorders, as abortion, fetal mummification, embryonic mortality, stillbirth, and congenital abnormalities in animals and in humans. In this chapter, we provide an overview of some virus, as important agents in teratology.We begin by describing the Zika virus, whose infection in humans had a very significant impact in recent years and has been associated with major health problems worldwide.

Development Features on the Selection of Animal Models for Teratogenic Testing.

Today, the use of animal models from different species continues to represent a fundamental step in teratogenic testing, despite the increase in alternative solutions that provide an important screening to the enormous quantity of new substances that aim to enter the market every year. The maintenance of these models is due to the sharing of similar development processes with humans, and in this way they represent an important contribution to the safety in the use of the compounds tested. Furthermore, the application of advances in embryology to teratology, although hampered by the complexity of reproductive processes, continues to prove the importance of sensitivity during embryonic and fetal development to detect potential toxicity, inducing mortality/abortion and malformations.

Guidelines on Developmental Toxicity Tests: Brief Insights.

Developmental toxicology is a constantly evolving research field which needs to attend to a complex underlying regulatory network. In order to ensure human health and environmental safety, new substances have to be tested for toxic effects on reproduction and development, before being commercialized. Traditional in vivo mammalian models represent the intricacy of human development and provide more adequately an assessment of the interaction of chemical compounds with the reproductive system.

Updating an Overview of Teratology.

In this chapter, the authors aim to update an overview of the principles of teratology, beginning with the definition of teratology, the critical point at which this process occurs, and some of the most common etiological agents that improve our understanding of teratology.Modern teratology has greatly improved in recent years with advances in new methods in molecular biology, toxicology, animal laboratory science, and genetics, increasing our knowledge of ambient influences. Nevertheless, there is a lot to do to reduce the influence of hazardous intervening agents, whether they target our genetics or not, that can negatively affect pregnancy and induce congenital development disorders, including morphological, biochemical, or behavioral defects.

Beyond the Bottle: Exploring Health-Promoting Compounds in Wine and Wine-Related Products-Extraction, Detection, Quantification, Aroma Properties, and Terroir Effects.

Health-promoting compounds in wine and wine-related products are important due to their potential benefits to human health. Through an extensive literature review, this study explores the presence of these compounds in wine and wine-related products, examining their relationship with terroir and their impact on the aromatic and flavor properties that are perceived orally: sunlight exposure, rainfall patterns, and soil composition impact grapevines' synthesis and accumulation of health-promoting compounds. Enzymes, pH, and the oral microbiome are crucial in sensory evaluation and perception of health promotion.

Microbial, Physicochemical Profile and Sensory Perception of Dry-Aged Beef Quality: A Preliminary Portuguese Contribution to the Validation of the Dry Aging Process.

Beef dry-aging consists of a selection of unpackaged prime cuts placed in a controlled environment cold room for several weeks. The goals are to concentrate flavors like nutty and beefy and to improve tenderness. The aim of this study was to verify the microbiological and physicochemical behavior and sensory perception of meat during a sample process example of meat dry-aging.

Development and validation of a minimally invasive protocol for assessing oxidative stress markers in exfoliated oral cells.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and validate a minimally invasive protocol for characterizing oxidative stress markers in exfoliated oral cells.

Materials And Methods: Exfoliated oral cells were collected from healthy volunteers. The protocol included the utilization of specific fluorescent probes to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and reduced glutathione (GSH).