Pathophysiological impacts of exposure to an endocrine disruptor (tetradifon) on α-amylase and lipase activities associated metabolic disorders

Metabolic, skeletal, and cartilage effects of a high-fat diet and the therapeutic impact of MGL3196 are age- and sex-dependent in mice

Aged individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) may suffer from complications of common comorbid conditions like osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. MGL3196 (MGL) is a therapeutic thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) agonist that has been shown to rescue non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by enhancing lipid metabolism. In a previous study, we demonstrated that MGL treatment protected against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced adiposity but increased HFD-induced trabecular bone loss in male mice. In this study, we explored the impact of MGL treatment on adiposity, bone, and cartilage in aged-21-month-old C57BL/6 J mice after a 12-week HFD regimen. Our results show that MGL reduced body weight as well as adverse effects caused by HFD adiposity, in male mice only. Aged HFD-fed male mice experienced cortical bone loss, in contrast to the trabecular bone loss observed in adult male mice. Notably, MGL treatment further exacerbated the cortical bone loss. Mechanical testing of tibias from aged male mice by 3-point bending revealed a reduced maximum load and tibia stiffness with HFD and MGL treatment. Transcriptome analyses for cortical bone formation regulators unveiled a decreased expression of Wnt16 and increased expression of the Wnt inhibitor, Sost, in the bones of HFD-fed male mice. Additionally, measurements of articular cartilage indicated that MGL treatment reduced articular cartilage degradation in both sexes, which was attributed to aging and a HFD. Our findings suggest tailored therapies are necessary to address the adverse effects of a HFD on fat, bone, and cartilage metabolism, specifically considering factors such as age and sex.

Unraveling the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and anxiety: An integrative epidemiological and bioinformatic perspective

BACKGROUND

The evidence linking endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to anxiety in adults is currently sparse, while the effects of various categories of EDCs on the risk of anxiety, along with the underlying mechanisms, remain poorly understood.

METHODS

Four EDCs-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, pesticides, and phthalates-were quantified in 3927 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2007-2012). We employed five statistical models to assess the individual and joint impacts of EDCs on anxiety risk. Causal mediation analysis frameworks were constructed to explore the mediating role of oxidative stress (OS). We identified potential biological mechanisms linking analytes to outcomes using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), MalaCards, and Open Targets, followed by enrichment analyses with Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).

RESULTS

In individual chemical analyses, nine PAHs were significantly associated with increased anxiety risk (P < 0.05). Mixed-effects analyses showed that co-exposure to EDCs positively correlated with anxiety, primarily due to 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-FLU) and 3-hydroxyfluorene (3-FLU). Bilirubin mediated 5.42 % of the anxiety linked to the PAH mixture. The inflammatory genes TNF and IL-6 were identified as key biological stressors, with enrichment analysis indicating significant involvement in reactive oxygen species metabolic processes and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the association between EDCs and anxiety in a representative U.S. population, indicating that exposure to PAHs may elevate anxiety risk through OS, inflammation, and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. Further longitudinal study were merited to support our results.

Neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of Urtica dioica extract against chlorpyrifos-induced toxicity: an in vivo study

This study examines the neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of Urtica dioica ethanolic extract (UDExt) and melatonin (Mel) in mitigating chlorpyrifos (CPF)-induced toxicity in rats, with melatonin serving as a standard antioxidant. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: (I) Control, (II) UDExt (200 mg/kg), (III) Mel (20 mg/kg), (IV) CPF (10 mg/kg), (V) UDExt + CPF, and (VI) Mel + CPF. UDExt and Mel were administered for 7 days prior to CPF exposure, followed by a treatment of 14 days. The findings revealed that CPF exposure significantly impaired hematological parameters (WBC, PLT, LYM), increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) in brain and cerebellar tissues compared to control rats. Behavioral tests, including the open field test, showed that CPF reduced locomotor activity and increased anxiogenic symptoms. The Y-maze test revealed impaired recognition memory, and the tail suspension test indicated increased depressive symptoms. Histological analysis revealed neuronal damage in the brain and cerebellum tissues. Treatment with UDExt or melatonin, following CPF exposure, significantly improved hematological parameters, reduced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, normalized antioxidant enzyme activities, and alleviated neurobehavioral alterations. Histopathological analysis also showed that UDExt or melatonin combined with CPF notably reduced neuronal damage in the brain and cerebellum. UDExt and melatonin mitigated the CPF-induced neurobehavioral alterations associated oxidative injury.

Protective effects of Juglans regia oil on lead acetate-induced reprotoxicity in rats: an antioxidant, histological and computational molecular study

BACKGROUND

Lead (Pb) is a metal that affects many body systems, primarily the male reproductive system. This study aimed to examine the phytochemical profiling and beneficial effects of Juglans regia oil (JRO) in alleviating lead-induced reprotoxicity-associated oxidative injury in rats. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: control group received no treatment, Pb group was exposed to 0.344 g kg-1 bw of Pb acetate, Pb + JRO group was co-treated with Pb plus walnut oil (0.9 g kg-1 bw) and JRO group received walnut oil only.

RESULTS

Pb-treated rats showed significantly decreased gonado-somatic index, count and viability of sperm. Testosterone levels decreased in Pb-treated animals. Besides, Pb disrupted the oxidative/antioxidative status, the plasmatic lipase activity and testicular Pb content. Furthermore, Pb produced testis histopathological features, especially cell degeneration, atrophy and tubular disarrangement. Co-treatment with JRO was found to be effective for recovering the increased testicular oxidative damage-associated histological features in the Pb group. This was supported by the in silico modeling results.

CONCLUSION

The in silico analyses revealed that JRO compounds bound androgen receptor and RAC-alpha serine/threonine kinase with high affinities, which together with pharmacokinetic properties and molecular interactions satisfactorily support the beneficial in vivo findings in the Pb + JRO group of rats. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Association of antinuclear antibody positivity with liver disease severity in pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

Background

Although antinuclear antibody (ANA) is frequently observed in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), its clinical significance in children remains unclear and controversial. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of ANA positivity and the factors associated with it in pediatric MASLD patients without concurrent autoimmune hepatitis.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients aged 4-18 years diagnosed with MASLD and tested for ANA from January 2015 to December 2020 at 10 hospitals in Korea. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 26.0 and P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Out of the 439 patients included, ANAs were present in 89 (20.3%); 51 (57.3%) patients had ANA titer <1:80; 22 (24.7%), <1:160; 10 (11.2%), <1:320; and 6 (6.7%), <1:640. Compared to ANA-negative patients, aspartate aminotransferase (AST, P = 0.003) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, P = 0.007) levels were significantly higher in ANA-positive patients. The ALT to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) score was also associated with the ANA-positive patients (P = 0.005). To predict ANA positivity using APRI, the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was 0.597 (p = 0.004), and the APRI cutoff value of >0.893 could predict ANA, with sensitivity and specificity of 42.7% and 72.9%, respectively.

Conclusions

ANA positivity in pediatric MASLD is associated with greater liver enzyme elevation and increased risk of fibrosis, highlighting the need for careful monitoring in ANA-positive patients.

Gynura procumbens leaf extract-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system offers enhanced protective effects in the hepatorenal organs of the experimental rats

Gynura procumbens, known as longevity spinach, is a plant traditionally used in tropical Asian countries for its anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-hypertensive, and anti-hyperglycemic properties. The current study aimed to enhance the hepatorenal protective activity of Gynura procumbens leaf extract (GLE) by developing a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS). SMEDDS-GLE exhibited the formation of small micelles with a mean droplet size of 231 nm. This resulted in a significant enhancement in the dispersion of GLE in water, as evidenced by a dispersibility that was at least 4.8 times greater than that of GLE alone. In the rat model of hepatic injury induced by cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.), the administration of SMEDDS-GLE (75 mg-GLE/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced liver damage, observed by histological examination and reduced levels of plasma biomarkers associated with hepatic injury. Furthermore, according to histological examination findings and plasma biomarkers assessment, SMEDDS-GLE enhanced the nephroprotective benefits of GLE in the rat model of acute kidney injury. Based on these findings, a strategic application of the SMEDDS-based approach could be a viable choice to enhance GLE's nutraceutical properties.

Cadmium-induced pancreatic toxicity in rats: comparing vitamin C and Nigella sativa as protective agents: a histomorphometric and ultrastructural study

The study aimed to assess the toxic effect of cadmium (Cd) on the exocrine and endocrine functions of pancreas, the changes in pancreatic tissue after Cd withdrawal, and the protective effects of vitamin C (VC) and Nigella sativa (NS) against Cd-induced damage. Rats were assigned to: control, Cd-treated (0.5 mg/kg/d intraperitoneal [IP] injection), VC and Cd-treated (receiving 100 mg/kg/d VC orally and Cd concomitantly), NS and Cd-treated (receiving 20 mg/kg/d NS and Cd, simultaneously), and Cd withdrawal (receiving Cd for 30 d then living free for recovery for other 30 d). Blood samples were collected and post-sacrifice pancreatic specimens were processed for light and electron microscope study. Quantitative analyses of pancreatic collagen area%, pancreatic islet parameters, β cell density, and insulin immunoexpression were done. Fasting blood glucose was significantly increased in Cd-treated and Cd-withdrawal groups, while co-treatment with VC and NS caused significant reductions (p < 0.05). Cd-induced extensive degenerative changes in pancreatic acini and islets at light and ultrastructure levels. Obvious fibrosis and congestion of blood vessels were noticed. Significant reductions in pancreatic islet number, volume, and surface area and diminished beta cell count and insulin immunoexpression were observed. After withdrawal of Cd, the whole pancreatic tissue still showed a serious impact. Concomitant treatment with VC or NS obviously reduced these degenerative changes and significantly improved pancreatic islet parameters and insulin immunoexpression. VC showed a better amendment than NS, but this difference was statistically insignificant. Therefore, VC and NS could be used as prophylactic agents that lessen Cd consequences on the pancreas.

The investigation of the toxicity of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) by using in silico toxicity prediction platform ProTox- 3.0

From the past to the present, many chemicals have been used for the purpose of flame retardant. Due to PBDEs' (Polybrominated diphenyl ether) lipophilic and accumulative properties, some of them are banned from the market. As an alternative to these chemicals, OPFRs (organophosphorus flame retardants) have started to be used as flame retardants. In this article, acute toxicity profiles, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, blood-brain barrier permeability, ecotoxicity and nutritional toxicity as also AHR, ER affinity and MMP, aromatase affinity, CYP2C9, CYP3A4 interaction of the of 16 different compounds of the OPFRs were investigated using a computational toxicology method; ProTox- 3.0. According to our results, eight compounds were found to be active in terms of carcinogenic effect, whereas two compounds were found to be active for mutagenicity. On the other hand, all compounds were found to be active in terms of blood-barrier permeability. Fourteen compounds and four compounds are found to have ecotoxic and nutritional toxic potency, respectively. Eight compounds were determined as active to AhR, and four chemicals were found to be active in Estrogen Receptor alpha. Eight chemicals were found to be active in terms of mitochondrial membrane potency. Lastly, three chemicals were found to be active in aromatase enzymes. In terms of CYP interaction potencies, eight compounds were found to be active in both CYP2C9 and CYP3A4. This research provided novel insights into the potential toxic effects of OPFRs. However, further studies are needed to evaluate their toxicity. Moreover, these findings lay the groundwork for in vitro and in vivo toxicity research.

An intelligent spectral identification approach for the simultaneous detection of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in aquatic environments

With the rapid progression of industrialization, the application and release of endocrine disruptors (EDCs), including bisphenol A (BPA), octylphenol and nonylphenol have significantly increased, presenting substantial health hazards. Conventional analytical techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, are highly sophisticated but suffer from complex procedures and high costs. To overcome these limitations, this study introduces an innovative spectral methodology for the simultaneous detection of multiple aquatic multicomponent EDCs. By leveraging chemical machine vision, specifically with convolutional neural network (CNN) models, we employed a long-path holographic spectrometer for rapid, cost-effective identification of BPA, 4-tert-octylphenol, and 4-nonylphenol in aqueous samples. The CNN, refined with the ResNet-50 architecture, demonstrated superior predictive performance, achieving detection limits as low as 3.34, 3.71 and 4.36 μg/L, respectively. The sensitivity and quantification capability of our approach were confirmed through the analysis of spectral image Euclidean distances, while its universality and resistance properties were validated by assessments of environmental samples. This technology offers significantly advantages over conventional techniques in terms of efficiency and cost, offering a novel solution for EDC monitoring in aquatic environments. The implications of this research extend beyond improved detection speed and cost reduction, presenting new methodologies for analyzing complex chemical systems and contributing to environmental protection and public health.

Effects of High Pressure on In Vitro Bioavailability of Curcumin Loaded in Whey Protein Isolate/Carrageenan Composite Emulsion Gel: In Vitro Digestion Coupled with Cell Culture Model

The oral bioavailability of curcumin is inherently low, which significantly limits its application in food systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of high-pressure processing on the stability and bioaccessibility of curcumin within an emulsion gel during simulated gastrointestinal transit and to assess its cellular uptake. Our findings suggest that increasing pressure levels and high κ-carrageenan concentrations can enhance the stability of the curcumin delivery system. Elevated κ-CG concentrations were found to retard the action of proteases on dissociating protein molecules from the gel network. The emulsion gel effectively slowed the release of free fatty acids and reduced the curcumin release rate during the gastric phase. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that higher pressures induced the formation of a more uniform and dense network structure in the gel. While the gel network structures were well-preserved after gastric digestion, they were disrupted into smaller particles following intestinal digestion, with particle size increasing with higher applied pressures. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that the digesta from the intestinal phase was highly toxic to Caco-2 cells. Among the tested samples, the emulsion gel prepared with 1.0% κ-CG at 600 MPa demonstrated the highest curcumin bioavailability, reaching 63.82 ± 7.10%. These findings underscore the potential of HPP-induced emulsion gels as a viable delivery system for enhancing curcumin bioaccessibility and cellular uptake.

Hazard identification of endocrine-disrupting carcinogens (EDCs) in relation to cancers in humans

Endocrine disrupting chemicals or carcinogens have been known for decades for their endocrine signal disruption. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are a serious concern and they have been included in the top priority toxicants and persistent organic pollutants. Therefore, researchers have been working for a long time to understand their mechanisms of interaction in different human organs. Several reports are available about the carcinogen potential of these chemicals. The presented review is an endeavor to understand the hazard identification associated with endocrine disrupting carcinogens in relation to the human body. The paper discusses the major endocrine disrupting carcinogens and their potency for carcinogenesis. It discusses human exposure, route of entry, carcinogenicity and mechanisms. In addition, the paper discusses the research gaps and bottlenecks associated with the research. Moreover, it discusses the limitations associated with the analytical techniques for detection of endocrine disrupting carcinogens.

Chitosan oligosaccharide alleviates and removes the toxicological effects of organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos residues

The abuse of chlorpyrifos (CHP), a commonly used organophosphorus pesticide, has caused many environmental pollution problems, especially its toxicological effects on non-target organisms. First, CHP enriched on the surface of plants enters ecosystem circulation along the food chain. Second, direct inflow of CHP into the water environment under the action of rainwater runoff inevitably causes toxicity to non-target organisms. Therefore, we used rats as a model to establish a CHP exposure toxicity model and studied the effects of CHP in rats. In addition, to alleviate and remove the injuries caused by residual chlorpyrifos in vivo, we explored the alleviation effect of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on CHP toxicity in rats by exploiting its high water solubility and natural biological activity. The results showed that CHP can induce the toxicological effects of intestinal antioxidant changes, inflammation, apoptosis, intestinal barrier damage, and metabolic dysfunction in rats, and COS has excellent removal and mitigation effects on the toxic damage caused by residual CHP in the environment. In summary, COS showed significant biological effects in removing and mitigating blood biochemistry, antioxidants, inflammation, apoptosis, gut barrier structure, and metabolic function changes induced by residual CHP in the environment.

Organic–Inorganic Manganese (II) Halide Hybrid Combining the Two Isomers Cis/Trans of [MnCl4(H2O)2]: Crystal Structure, Physical Properties, Pharmacokinetics and Biological Evaluation

A manganese (II) complex templated by hexahydro-1,4-diazepinediium as a counter ion was grown by slow evaporation from an aqueous solution at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the compound (C5H14N2)[MnCl4(H2O)2] crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2/c of the monoclinic system. The crystal structure of the Mn(II) complex is characterized by an alternation of 0-dimensional organic and inorganic stacks linked together by N/O-H…Cl and N-H…O hydrogen bonds, which lead to a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture. In this structure, the inorganic layer is built up by independent anionic moieties combining the two isomers cis/trans of [MnCl4(H2O)2]2−. The thermal decomposition was studied by TGA-DTA techniques. The optical band gap and Urbach energy were obtained by Tauc’s equation. The direct and indirect band gap values are found to be 4.58 and 4.44 eV, respectively. Weak antiferromagnetic interactions are present in the molecule under study, according to magnetic measurements. An agar well diffusion technique was used to assess the synthetic compound’s biological activity, and the results showed that it has potent antibacterial (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) properties. Interestingly, the synthesized compound also displayed antilipase activity. These biological activities have been confirmed by the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic analyses.

Occurrence, seasonal variations, and eco-risk of currently using organochlorine pesticides in surface seawater of the East China Sea and Western Pacific Ocean

We studied 19 targets currently using organochlorine pesticides (CUOCPs) from 98 samples in the Western Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea collected in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The samples were analyzed using a novel High-throat/High-volume Solid-Phase Extraction method. Eighteen individual CUOCPs were above the method detection limits. The levels of ∑₁₉CUOCPs ranged from 0.13 to 17.80 ng/L, with an average of 3.13 ± 14.67 ng/L. Dicofol was the main pollutant in the Western Pacific Ocean, while Pyridaben dominated the East China Sea. In the summer, land-source input was the primary source in the Western Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea. Historical residues were the main source in the East China Sea in spring. In the summer, the ecological risk assessment results indicated a relatively low risk to the Western Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea.

Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Potential of Teucrium polium against Liver Damage Associated Hepatotoxicity and Oxidative Injury in Rats: Computational, Biochemical and Histological Studies

This study investigated the druggability, pharmacokinetics and ethyl acetate extract of Teucrium polium (EA T. polium) and the protective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver cirrhosis in rats. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and scavenging activity of the extract were examined. The in vivo protective study was based on the use of an animal model of CCl₄-induced liver cirrhosis. Four groups of rats have been used: Group I: control rats; Group II: received CCl₄ in olive oil (0.5 mL/kg); Group III: received the EA T. polium (25 mg/kg) of pretreatment for seven days by gavage then CCl₄ in olive oil by gavage for 15 days. Group IV: received the EA of T. polium for seven days (25 mg/kg). EA T. polium was found to possess significant antioxidant capacity. CCl₄ caused a hepatotoxicity associated increase in both levels of AST and ALT, which were reduced back to normal values following EA T. polium pretreatment. Hepatotoxicity associated structural modifications of liver tissues and increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD) and carbonyl proteins (CP), associated decreases in several assessed antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT). The in vivo findings on the protective effect of T. polium were supported by its druggability, its pharmacokinetic properties and molecular docking assays. These results confirm the modulatory antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of T. polium in this experimental liver cirrhosis model. T. polium phytochemicals are good candidates for further pharmaceutical explorations and drug design.

Antioxidant and Protective Effects of Artemisia campestris Essential Oil Against Chlorpyrifos-Induced Kidney and Liver Injuries in Rats

This study is aimed to elucidate the possible antioxidant and protective effects of Artemisia campestris essential oil (ACEO) against the deleterious effects of chlorpyrifos (CPF) in rats. The in vivo study revealed increases in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and the serum contents of creatinine, urea, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins (LDL), and glucose in rats treated with CPF as compared to controls. Meanwhile, hepatic and renal activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver and kidney decreased and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased. Some histopathologic features were noticed in liver and kidney of the CPF group. Interestingly, ACEO alleviated the biochemical disruptions and reduced these hepato-renal morphologic changes.

Effect of Opuntia ficus indica extract on methotrexate-induced testicular injury: a biochemical, docking and histological study

Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic medicine used in the treatment of several types of cancer and inflammatory diseases. It exhibits several drawbacks especially on highly dividing and developing cells. This study aimed to assess the role of Opuntia ficus indica ethanolic extract on testicular damage induced by MTX in rat. MTX was administrated for 10 days (20 mg/kg). Extract of cactus cladodes (Opuntia ficus indica) was given to MTX-treated rats (0.4 g/kg). Spermatozoa were collected from cauda epididymis and analyzed for sperm count and motility. Testis samples were used for histopathological and oxidative stress studies (assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, protein carbonyls (PCs), catalase (CAT) glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities). Moreover, levels of testosterone were measured in serum by radioimmunoassay. Our results showed that MTX had destructive effects on sperm count and motility associated with significant decrease in testosterone levels in MTX group. This effect was then confirmed by docking results. Testis of MTX group showed increased oxidative stress status. In fact, PCs and MDA were increased and CAT, GPx and SOD were decreased suggesting increased reactive oxygen species and deficiency in enzymatic antioxidant. These findings were associated with disrupted testicular morphology as assessed by histological study. Cladodes extract had protective effects on rat's gonad histology, oxidative stress and improve both sperm parameters (count and motility) and serum testosterone levels. In conclusion, our results suggested that Opuntia ficus indica cladodes extract improved MTX-induced testicular injury and possess potent fertility boosting effects in rats.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.