Exposure to low concentrations of heavy metals alone and in combination induces histopathological and genotoxic effects in fish (Labeo rohita)

Background: The terrestrial and agro-aquatic ecosystems are continuously at the pity of human's negative impacts. Extensive and indiscriminate application of agrochemicals like heavy metals, industrial wastes, germicides, drug residues and different feed additives has become serious threats to public health. The current experimental trial was executed to investigate genotoxic potential of different heavy metals in fresh water fish (Labeo rohita).Methods: A total of 120 active, healthy, free from  disease and internal parasites fish having three months of age were procured from local fish breeding center and were kept in glass aquarium having 100 liter water. After two weeks of acclimatization, fish were arbitrarily distributed and placed in different eight groups (A-H). Prior to start of experiment, acute toxicity of various heavy metals alone such as lead, cadmium, chromium and in combination (Pb +Cr), (Cr+Cd), (Cd+Pb) and (Pb+Cr+Cd) mixture were determined in-term of 96-h LC50 and lethal doses for Labeo rohita. After assessment of acute toxicity, all the fish were exposed to three sub-lethal concentrations (5, 7 and 9%) of heavy metals alone and in combinations for a period of 30 days in triplicate experiments.Results: Different clinical ailments like, increased surface breathing, loss of coordination, rapid opercular movement, erratic swimming, air gulping, jerking movement and tremors were noted in fish. Histopathological observations of gills of various fish exhibited severe microscopic alterations. Results on micronucleus assay exhibited increased frequency of formation of micronuclei in red blood cells, while comet assays showed significantly increased DNA damage in peripheral erythrocytes in-term of arbitrary units of comets, average percentile rate of damaged cell and genomic damage index.Conclusion: From the results of our experimental study, it can be concluded that fresh water fish are useful and reliable bio-indicators of heavy metal toxicity. Micronucleus and comet assays showed that heavy metals alone and in combination induced DNA damage in fish.Keywords: Labeo rohita; Heavy metals; Histopathology; Erythrocytes; DNA damag

Probiotics: mechanism of action, health benefits and their application in food industries

Probiotics, like lactic acid bacteria, are non-pathogenic microbes that exert health benefits to the host when administered in adequate quantity. Currently, research is being conducted on the molecular events and applications of probiotics. The suggested mechanisms by which probiotics exert their action include; competitive exclusion of pathogens for adhesion sites, improvement of the intestinal mucosal barrier, gut immunomodulation, and neurotransmitter synthesis. This review emphasizes the recent advances in the health benefits of probiotics and the emerging applications of probiotics in the food industry. Due to their capability to modulate gut microbiota and attenuate the immune system, probiotics could be used as an adjuvant in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cancer, and gastrointestinal diseases. Considering the functional properties, probiotics are being used in the dairy, beverage, and baking industries. After developing the latest techniques by researchers, probiotics can now survive within harsh processing conditions and withstand GI stresses quite effectively. Thus, the potential of probiotics can efficiently be utilized on a commercial scale in food processing industries

Probiotics: mechanism of action, health benefits and their application in food industries

Probiotics, like lactic acid bacteria, are non-pathogenic microbes that exert health benefits to the host when administered in adequate quantity. Currently, research is being conducted on the molecular events and applications of probiotics. The suggested mechanisms by which probiotics exert their action include; competitive exclusion of pathogens for adhesion sites, improvement of the intestinal mucosal barrier, gut immunomodulation, and neurotransmitter synthesis. This review emphasizes the recent advances in the health benefits of probiotics and the emerging applications of probiotics in the food industry. Due to their capability to modulate gut microbiota and attenuate the immune system, probiotics could be used as an adjuvant in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cancer, and gastrointestinal diseases. Considering the functional properties, probiotics are being used in the dairy, beverage, and baking industries. After developing the latest techniques by researchers, probiotics can now survive within harsh processing conditions and withstand GI stresses quite effectively. Thus, the potential of probiotics can efficiently be utilized on a commercial scale in food processing industries

Nicotine smoking is associated with impaired cognitive performance in Pakistani young people

Nicotine smoking is the most common mode of tobacco smoking among young people. It affects the areas of the brain associated with memory, attention, and learning. This study has investigated the effect of nicotine smoking on cognitive performance. One hundred male volunteers (50 nicotine smokers and 50 nonsmokers) aged 18–30 years with similar socioeconomic backgrounds were recruited for this study. Clinical history of participants was obtained using a questionnaire. Their brain health and handedness were determined using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI), respectively. The dependent variables examined in the study were attention-switching tasks (AST), pattern recognition memory (PRM), and choice reaction time (CRT). These parameters were assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Battery (CANTAB). The average ages of participating smokers and nonsmokers were 24.02 ± 3.41 years (mean ± standard deviation) and 22.68 ± 1.87 years, respectively. MMSE and EHI scores of smokers were 28.42 ± 1.09 and 99.75 ± 1.77, respectively; for nonsmokers, these scores were 28.54 ± 1.34 and 98 ± 1.91, respectively. The mean score for AST correct latency/delay was significantly higher (p = 0.050) in smokers (620.26 ± 142.03) than in nonsmokers (570.11 ± 108.39). The percentage of correct AST trials was significantly higher (p = 0.000) in nonsmokers (96.95 ± 2.18) than in smokers (83.75 ± 11.22). The PRM percent correct were significantly higher (p = 0.000) of nonsmokers (93.42 ± 8.34) than of smokers (79.75 ± 13.44). The mean correct latency for CRT was significantly higher (p = 0.009) in smokers (509.87 ± 129.83) than in nonsmokers (455.20 ± 65.73). From this data, it can be concluded that nicotine smoking is linked with impaired cognitive functions in smokers

Optimization of gallic acid-enriched ultrasonic-assisted extraction from mango peels

Gallic acid is recognized as a notable bioactive compound among secondary polyphenolic metabolites. In the current study, gallic acid-enriched extracts were obtained from mango peels using different solvents (ethanol or water) via ultrasound-assisted extraction, and optimized yields were compared with the conventional extraction technique (decoction). Independent variables for the optimization through response surface methodology were ethanol concentration (0–60%), solvent ratio (10–50 mL/g), temperature (30–60℃), and time (10–30 min) for ethanolic extraction. However, extraction carried out by using water had extraction conditions of pH (2–8), solvent ratio (20–0 mL/g), extraction temperature (40–70℃), and time (30–60 min). The optimized yield of gallic acid obtained through ethanol was 5.75 ± 0.21 mg/g, whereas 3.14 ± 0.24 mg/g of gallic acid was quantified in extraction through water. The results were compared with the aforementioned conventional method of decoction, and it was concluded that the ethanolic extracts of mango peels showed the highest gallic acid yield and total flavonoid contents. The obtained extracts could be a potential source of polyphenolics, especially gallic acid, for use in nutraceuticals as well as in other food applications

Low PSA radiographic disease progression on C11‐choline PET

Abstract Background For men with prostate cancer, radiographic progression may occur without a concordant rise in prostate‐specific antigen (PSA). Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of radiographic progression using C‐11 choline positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in patients achieving ultra‐low PSA values and to evaluate clinical outcomes in this patient population. Methods In a single institution study, we reviewed the prospectively maintained Mayo Clinic C‐11 Choline PET metastatic prostate cancer registry to identify patients experiencing radiographic disease progression (rDP) on C‐11 choline PET scan while the PSA value was less than 0.5 ng/mL. Disease progression was confirmed by tissue biopsy or response to subsequent therapy. Clinicopathologic variables were abstracted by trained research personnel. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Intergroup differences were assessed using the log‐rank test. A univariate and multivariate Cox regression model was performed to investigate variables associated with poor survival after rDP. Results A total of 1323 patients within the registry experienced rDP between 2011 and 2021, including 220 (16.6%) men with rDP occurring at low PSA level. A median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 54.7 (19.7–106.9) months elapsed between the time of prostate cancer diagnosis and low PSA rDP, during which 173 patients (78%) developed castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Sites of low PSA rDP included local recurrence (n = 17, 8%), lymph node (n = 90, 41%), bone (n = 94, 43%) and visceral metastases (n = 19, 9%). Biopsy at the time of rDP demonstrated small‐cell or neuroendocrine features in 21% of patients with available tissue. Over a median (IQR) follow‐up of 49.4 (21.3–95.1) months from the time of low PSA rDP, 46% (n = 102) of patients died. Factors associated with poorer survival outcomes include advanced age at rDP, CRPC status, bone and visceral metastasis (p value <0.05). Visceral metastases were associated with decreased overall survival (p = 0.009 by log‐rank) as compared with other sites of rDP. Conclusions Men with prostate cancer commonly experience metastatic progression at very low or even undetectable PSA levels. Periodic imaging, even at low absolute PSA values, may result in more timely identification of disease progression

Ciprofloxacin-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles against Antimicrobial Resistance: An In Vivo Assessment

Metallic nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), have been extensively studied as drug delivery systems for various therapeutic applications. However, drug-loaded-AuNPs have been rarely explored in vivo for their effect on bacteria residing inside tissues. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a second-generation fluoroquinolone with a broad-spectrum of antibiotic properties devoid of developing bacteria resistance. This research is focused on the synthesis and physical characterization of Ciprofloxacin-loaded gold nanoparticles (CIP-AuNPs) and their effect on the colonization of Enterococcus faecalis in the liver and kidneys of mice. The successfully prepared CIP-AuNPs were stable and exerted enhanced in vitro antibacterial activity against E. faecalis compared with free CIP. The optimized CIP-AuNPs were administered (500 &micro;g/Kg) once a day via tail vein to infected mice for eight days and were found to be effective in eradicating E. faecalis from the host tissues. Moreover, unlike CIP, CIP-AuNPs were non-hemolytic. In summary, this study demonstrated that CIP-AuNPs are promising and biocompatible alternative therapeutics for E.-faecalis-induced infections resistant to conventional drugs (e.g., beta-lactams and vancomycin) and should be further investigated