MicroRNAs as a Suitable Biomarker to Detect the Effects of Long-Term Exposures to Nanomaterials. Studies on TiO2NP and MWCNT

The presence of nanomaterials (NMs) in the environment may represent a serious risk to human health, especially in a scenario of chronic exposure. To evaluate the potential relationship between NM-induced epigenetic alterations and carcinogenesis, the present study analyzed a panel of 33 miRNAs related to the cell transformation process in BEAS-2B cells transformed by TiO2NP and long-term MWCNT exposure. Our battery revealed a large impact on miRNA expression profiling in cells exposed to both NMs. From this analysis, a small set of five miRNAs (miR-23a, miR-25, miR-96, miR-210, and miR-502) were identified as informative biomarkers of the transforming effects induced by NM exposures. The usefulness of this reduced miRNA battery was further validated in other previously generated transformed cell systems by long-term exposure to other NMs (CoNP, ZnONP, MSiNP, and CeO2NP). Interestingly, the five selected miRNAs were consistently overexpressed in all cell lines and NMs tested. These results confirm the suitability of the proposed set of mRNAs to identify the potential transforming ability of NMs. Particular attention should be paid to the epigenome and especially to miRNAs for hazard assessment of NMs, as wells as for the study of the underlying mechanisms of action.

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Integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profiling of long-term survivors with normal allograft function after lung transplantation

10.1183/13993003.congress-2019.pa3354 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alberto Mendoza-Valderrey ◽

Susana Gómez-Olles ◽

Ricardo Gonzalo ◽

Alex Sánchez-Pla ◽

María P. Hernández-Fuentes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Transplantation ◽

Mirna Expression ◽

Expression Profiling ◽

Allograft Function ◽

Mirna Expression Profiling ◽

Long Term Survivors

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Nanoplastics and Arsenic Co-Exposures Exacerbate Oncogenic Biomarkers Under an in Vitro Long-Term Exposure Scenario

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1042926/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ricard Marcos ◽

Irene Barguilla ◽

Josefa Domenech ◽

Laura Rubio ◽

Alba Hernández

Keyword(s):

Cell Transformation ◽

Arsenic Exposure ◽

Transformation Process ◽

Physical Interaction ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Water Contaminants ◽

Potential Health ◽

Exposure Scenario

Abstract Background The increasing accumulation of plastic waste and the widespread presence of its derivatives, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPLs), call for an urgent evaluation of their potential health risks. In the environment, MNPLs coexist with other known hazardous contaminants and, thus, an interesting question arises as to whether MNPLs can act as carriers of such pollutants, modulating their uptake and their harmful effects. In this context, we have examined the interaction and joint effects of two relevant water contaminants: arsenic and polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPLs), this last being a model of nanoplastic. Methods Since both agents are persistent pollutants, the potential effects have been evaluated under a chronic exposure scenario and measuring different effect biomarkers involved in the cell transformation process. Thus, cells previously transformed by chronic arsenic exposure were further exposed to PSNPLs, arsenic, and the combination PSNPLs/arsenic for 12 weeks. Results Interestingly, a physical interaction between both pollutants was demonstrated by using TEM/EDX methodologies. Results also indicate that the continuous co-exposure enhances the DNA damage and the aggressive features of the initially transformed phenotype. Remarkably, co-exposed cells present a higher proportion of spindle-like cells within the population, an increased capacity to grow independently of anchorage, as well as enhanced migrating and invading potentials when compared to cells exposed to arsenic or PSNPLs alone. Conclusions This study highlights the need for further studies exploring the long-term effects of contaminants of emerging concern such as MNPLs, and the importance of considering the behavior of mixtures as part of the hazard and human risk assessment approaches.

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Autophagy Modulators and Neuroinflammation

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867325666181031144605 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 955-982 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kyoung Sang Cho ◽

Jang Ho Lee ◽

Jeiwon Cho ◽

Guang-Ho Cha ◽

Gyun Jee Song

Keyword(s):

Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽

Neurological Disorders ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Critical Role ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Mechanisms Of Action ◽

Scientific Interest ◽

Therapeutic Tools ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Background: Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the development and progression of various neurological disorders. Therefore, various studies have focused on the development of neuroinflammation inhibitors as potential therapeutic tools. Recently, the involvement of autophagy in the regulation of neuroinflammation has drawn substantial scientific interest, and a growing number of studies support the role of impaired autophagy in the pathogenesis of common neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: The purpose of this article is to review recent research on the role of autophagy in controlling neuroinflammation. We focus on studies employing both mammalian cells and animal models to evaluate the ability of different autophagic modulators to regulate neuroinflammation. Methods: We have mostly reviewed recent studies reporting anti-neuroinflammatory properties of autophagy. We also briefly discussed a few studies showing that autophagy modulators activate neuroinflammation in certain conditions. Results: Recent studies report neuroprotective as well as anti-neuroinflammatory effects of autophagic modulators. We discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of action of these drugs and their potential limitations as therapeutic agents against neurological disorders. Conclusion: Autophagy activators are promising compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders involving neuroinflammation.

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Enhanced Seasonal Exchange of CO2 by Northern Ecosystems Since 1960

Science ◽

10.1126/science.1239207 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 341 (6150) ◽

pp. 1085-1089 ◽

Cited By ~ 221

Author(s):

H. D. Graven ◽

R. F. Keeling ◽

S. C. Piper ◽

P. K. Patra ◽

B. B. Stephens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Boreal Forests ◽

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽

Ecosystem Models ◽

The North ◽

Ecological Changes ◽

Term Change ◽

Major Shift ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Global Carbon

Seasonal variations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Northern Hemisphere have increased since the 1950s, but sparse observations have prevented a clear assessment of the patterns of long-term change and the underlying mechanisms. We compare recent aircraft-based observations of CO2 above the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans to earlier data from 1958 to 1961 and find that the seasonal amplitude at altitudes of 3 to 6 km increased by 50% for 45° to 90°N but by less than 25% for 10° to 45°N. An increase of 30 to 60% in the seasonal exchange of CO2 by northern extratropical land ecosystems, focused on boreal forests, is implicated, substantially more than simulated by current land ecosystem models. The observations appear to signal large ecological changes in northern forests and a major shift in the global carbon cycle.

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Acute and chronic exposure to air pollution in relation with incidence, prevalence, severity and mortality of COVID-19: a rapid systematic review

Environmental Health ◽

10.1186/s12940-021-00714-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Patrick D. M. C. Katoto ◽

Amanda S. Brand ◽

Buket Bakan ◽

Paul Musa Obadia ◽

Carsi Kuhangana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Short Term ◽

Incidence And Mortality ◽

Acute And Chronic Exposure ◽

Anthropogenic Pollutant ◽

Incident Cases ◽

Incidence Prevalence

Abstract Background Air pollution is one of the world’s leading mortality risk factors contributing to seven million deaths annually. COVID-19 pandemic has claimed about one million deaths in less than a year. However, it is unclear whether exposure to acute and chronic air pollution influences the COVID-19 epidemiologic curve. Methods We searched for relevant studies listed in six electronic databases between December 2019 and September 2020. We applied no language or publication status limits. Studies presented as original articles, studies that assessed risk, incidence, prevalence, or lethality of COVID-19 in relation with exposure to either short-term or long-term exposure to ambient air pollution were included. All patients regardless of age, sex and location diagnosed as having COVID-19 of any severity were taken into consideration. We synthesised results using harvest plots based on effect direction. Results Included studies were cross-sectional (n = 10), retrospective cohorts (n = 9), ecological (n = 6 of which two were time-series) and hypothesis (n = 1). Of these studies, 52 and 48% assessed the effect of short-term and long-term pollutant exposure, respectively and one evaluated both. Pollutants mostly studied were PM2.5 (64%), NO2 (50%), PM10 (43%) and O3 (29%) for acute effects and PM2.5 (85%), NO2 (39%) and O3 (23%) then PM10 (15%) for chronic effects. Most assessed COVID-19 outcomes were incidence and mortality rate. Acutely, pollutants independently associated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality were first PM2.5 then PM10, NO2 and O3 (only for incident cases). Chronically, similar relationships were found for PM2.5 and NO2. High overall risk of bias judgments (86 and 39% in short-term and long-term exposure studies, respectively) was predominantly due to a failure to adjust aggregated data for important confounders, and to a lesser extent because of a lack of comparative analysis. Conclusion The body of evidence indicates that both acute and chronic exposure to air pollution can affect COVID-19 epidemiology. The evidence is unclear for acute exposure due to a higher level of bias in existing studies as compared to moderate evidence with chronic exposure. Public health interventions that help minimize anthropogenic pollutant source and socio-economic injustice/disparities may reduce the planetary threat posed by both COVID-19 and air pollution pandemics.

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Blood–brain barrier disruption and ventricular enlargement are the earliest neuropathological changes in rats with repeated sub-concussive impacts over 2 weeks

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88854-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bailey Hiles-Murison ◽

Andrew P. Lavender ◽

Mark J. Hackett ◽

Joshua J. Armstrong ◽

Michael Nesbit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Blood Brain Barrier ◽

Hippocampal Formation ◽

Brain Barrier ◽

Lateral Ventricles ◽

Blood Brain Barrier Disruption ◽

Blood Brain ◽

Brain Barrier Disruption ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractRepeated sub-concussive impact (e.g. soccer ball heading), a significantly lighter form of mild traumatic brain injury, is increasingly suggested to cumulatively alter brain structure and compromise neurobehavioural function in the long-term. However, the underlying mechanisms whereby repeated long-term sub-concussion induces cerebral structural and neurobehavioural changes are currently unknown. Here, we utilised an established rat model to investigate the effects of repeated sub-concussion on size of lateral ventricles, cerebrovascular blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and biochemical distribution. Following repeated sub-concussion 3 days per week for 2 weeks, the rats showed significantly enlarged lateral ventricles compared with the rats receiving sham-only procedure. The sub-concussive rats also presented significant BBB dysfunction in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal formation, whilst neuromotor function assessed by beamwalk and rotarod tests were comparable to the sham rats. Immunofluorescent and spectroscopic microscopy analyses revealed no significant changes in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, lipid distribution or protein aggregation, within the hippocampus and cortex. These data collectively indicate that repeated sub-concussion for 2 weeks induce significant ventriculomegaly and BBB disruption, preceding neuromotor deficits.

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Measurements Methods for the Development of MicroRNA-Based Tests for Cancer Diagnosis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22031176 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 1176

Author(s):

Francesca Precazzini ◽

Simone Detassis ◽

Andrea Selenito Imperatori ◽

Michela Alessandra Denti ◽

Paola Campomenosi

Keyword(s):

Expression Profiling ◽

Clinical Stage ◽

Response To Therapy ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Molecular Tools ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Circulating Micrornas ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Mirna Expression Profiling ◽

Technological Limitations

Studies investigating microRNAs as potential biomarkers for cancer, immune-related diseases, or cardiac pathogenic diseases, among others, have exponentially increased in the last years. In particular, altered expression of specific miRNAs correlates with the occurrence of several diseases, making these molecules potential molecular tools for non-invasive diagnosis, prognosis, and response to therapy. Nonetheless, microRNAs are not in clinical use yet, due to inconsistencies in the literature regarding the specific miRNAs identified as biomarkers for a specific disease, which in turn can be attributed to several reasons, including lack of assay standardization and reproducibility. Technological limitations in circulating microRNAs measurement have been, to date, the biggest challenge for using these molecules in clinical settings. In this review we will discuss pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical challenges to address the potential technical biases and patient-related parameters that can have an influence and should be improved to translate miRNA biomarkers to the clinical stage. Moreover, we will describe the currently available methods for circulating miRNA expression profiling and measurement, underlining their advantages and potential pitfalls.

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How Can SMEs Become More Sustainable? Modelling the M-Commerce Consumer Behaviour with Contingent Free Shipping and Customer Journey’s Touchpoints Optimisation

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13126845 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 6845

Author(s):

Eliza Nichifor ◽

Radu Constantin Lixăndroiu ◽

Silvia Sumedrea ◽

Ioana Bianca Chițu ◽

Gabriel Brătucu

Keyword(s):

Consumer Behaviour ◽

Business Models ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Transformation Process ◽

Analytic Hierarchy ◽

Negative Experience ◽

Free Shipping ◽

Hierarchy Process ◽

Function Construction

Digital technology is leading the transformation of business models into sustainable ones, expanding and changing the competitiveness scenario. This paper aims to promote a new sustainable retailer model shaped by contingent free shipping theory and the optimisation of the customer’s journey, enriching the scientific literature by proposing a consumer behavioural model that highlights the contribution of four selected touchpoints to the sustainable transformation of SMEs. The research was elaborated by deploying a framework that presents five analysis methods, namely, an additive function construction, a TOPSIS method, a Spearman rank correlation coefficient calculation, a content analysis and an analytic hierarchy process, which engender the new model. Discovering nine distinguished categories of e-tailers, the sustainable retailer profile was developed and the touchpoint with the greatest contribution to the transformation process was identified. The results of the study allowed the authors to propose the model as a solution to withstand the preponderant negative experience provided by analysed e-tailers to digital buyers, representing the opportunity for SMEs’ sustainable transformation and long-term growth in a competitive, ever-growing market.

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Remediation of mercury-contaminated soils and sediments using biochar: a critical review

Biochar ◽

10.1007/s42773-021-00087-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Qian Yang ◽

Yongjie Wang ◽

Huan Zhong

Keyword(s):

Health Risks ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Functional Materials ◽

Redox Conditions ◽

Existing Problems ◽

Soils And Sediments ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Biochar Amendment

AbstractThe transformation of mercury (Hg) into the more toxic and bioaccumulative form methylmercury (MeHg) in soils and sediments can lead to the biomagnification of MeHg through the food chain, which poses ecological and health risks. In the last decade, biochar application, an in situ remediation technique, has been shown to be effective in mitigating the risks from Hg in soils and sediments. However, uncertainties associated with biochar use and its underlying mechanisms remain. Here, we summarize recent studies on the effects and advantages of biochar amendment related to Hg biogeochemistry and its bioavailability in soils and sediments and systematically analyze the progress made in understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for reductions in Hg bioaccumulation. The existing literature indicates (1) that biochar application decreases the mobility of inorganic Hg in soils and sediments and (2) that biochar can reduce the bioavailability of MeHg and its accumulation in crops but has a complex effect on net MeHg production. In this review, two main mechanisms, a direct mechanism (e.g., Hg-biochar binding) and an indirect mechanism (e.g., biochar-impacted sulfur cycling and thus Hg-soil binding), that explain the reduction in Hg bioavailability by biochar amendment based on the interactions among biochar, soil and Hg under redox conditions are highlighted. Furthermore, the existing problems with the use of biochar to treat Hg-contaminated soils and sediments, such as the appropriate dose and the long-term effectiveness of biochar, are discussed. Further research involving laboratory tests and field applications is necessary to obtain a mechanistic understanding of the role of biochar in reducing Hg bioavailability in diverse soil types under varying redox conditions and to develop completely green and sustainable biochar-based functional materials for mitigating Hg-related health risks.

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Management problems in the pregnant diabetic

Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review ◽

10.1017/s096553950000070x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 29-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

FA Van Assche

Keyword(s):

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Pathological Condition ◽

Metabolic Adaptation ◽

Medical Complication ◽

Mother And Child ◽

Insulin Dependent ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Near Future ◽

Pregnant Diabetic

Major progress has been made in the knowledge and management of diabetes and pregnancy. However diabetes in pregnancy remains an important medical complication, with implications for mother and child in both the short and the long term. There are still controversies concerning the diagnostic criteria of gestational diabetes and concerning the best strategry for the treatment of this disorder. There is even less agreement about whether gestational diabetes is a pathological condition. The perinatal mortality in gestational diabetes has recently become as low as that in the general population. This has led to the conclusion that gestational diabetes is no more than a variant of metabolic adaptation during pregnancy. However, fetal hyperinsulinism is present in gestational diabetes, resulting in macrosomia, neonatal complications and most probably long term consequences. Improvements in the care of the preexisting insulin-dependent pregnant diabetic have been achieved but further progress in understanding the underlying mechanisms and in preventing and treating the disease are important goals for the near future.

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