Assessment of the public health status under the influence of odourous emission components of food and agro-industrial enterprises

Introduction. This paper studied the impact of atmospheric air pollution by odourous emissions of enterprises on the health, quality of life, and various somatic and emotional disorders in the population of the neighbouring residential areas. Material and methods. According to official medical statistics, the analysis of the incidence rate of residents of a municipality with a population of about 50 thousand people, where there are objects of the agro-industrial complex and food industry that are sources of pronounced odours data. The study of the influence of air pollution with odourous substances on health, emotional state and quality of life was conducted by a questionnaire survey of residents living at various distances from enterprises that are sources of odours. Results. The incidence rate of digestive system diseases in the studied municipality is 1.6 and 1.9 times higher than in Russia. The incidence rate of endocrine system diseases and metabolic disorders is 2.2 and 2.4 times higher, respectively. The survey results showed the presence of several sources of “offensive” odours in the municipality, primarily the enterprises for the production of bone meal and instant coffee. The survey enabled to identify the priority pathologies in residents of the nearest territories: diseases of the endocrine system, digestive organs, and circulatory system, the frequency of which decreases with distance from enterprises, which is consistent with the results of the study on the incidence rate in the present territory. This may be because odours present in the atmospheric air contribute to the state of maladaptive stress, the main targets of which are the digestive organs and the endocrine system. Conclusion. Atmospheric air pollution with odourous substances is one of the indicators affecting the health of the population and making a significant contribution to the formation of the incidence structure of residential areas located near the sources of odours.

Incidence of Cancer in Patients with Irritable Bowl Syndrome

(1) Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) represents one of the most common disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI). As recent data has suggested an increased cancer incidence for IBS patients, there is an ongoing debate whether IBS might be associated with a risk of cancer development. In the present study, we evaluated and compared incidence rates of different malignancies including gastrointestinal cancer in a large cohort of outpatients, with or without IBS, treated in general practices in Germany. (2) Methods: We matched a cohort of 21,731 IBS patients from the IQVIA Disease Analyzer database documented between 2000 and 2019 in 1284 general practices to a cohort of equal size without IBS. Incidence of cancer diagnoses were evaluated using Cox regression models during a 10-year follow-up period. (3) Results: In 11.9% of patients with IBS compared to 8.0% without IBS, cancer of any type was diagnosed within 10 years following the index date (p < 0.001). In a regression analysis, this association was confirmed in female (HR: 1.68, p < 0.001) and male (HR = 1.57, p < 0.001) patients as well as in patients of all age groups. In terms of cancer entity, 1.9% of patients with and 1.3% of patients without IBS were newly diagnosed with cancer of digestive organs (p < 0.001). Among non-digestive cancer entities, the strongest association was observed for skin cancer (HR = 1.87, p < 0.001), followed by prostate cancer in men (HR = 1.81, p < 0.001) and breast cancer in female patients (HR = 1.80, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: Our data suggest that IBS might be associated with cancer of the digestive organs as well as with non-digestive cancer entities. However, our findings do not prove causality and further research is warranted as the association could be attributed to life style factors that were not documented in the database.

Performance of Co-Housed Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) and Glowlight Rasboras (Trigonostigma hengeli) Fed Commercial Flakes and Lyophilized Natural Food

Little to no research has been conducted thus far regarding aquarium fish nutrition. In order to ensure the welfare of house-kept ornamentals, such studies should take into account that there are distinct biological differences occurring between different fish species/taxa, especially in regard to the structure of their digestive organs. Accordingly, a 12-week trial was executed to assess the effects of two commercial flakes and a mix of lyophilized natural food on the condition of co-reared neon tetras, Paracheirodon innesi (Characidae), and glowlight rasboras, Trigonostigma hengeli (Danionidae). The four feeding groups were as follows: (T)—Tetra flakes; (O)—Omega flakes; (TO)—Tetra + Omega; (TOL)—Tetra + Omega + Lyophilizate (twice a week). There were no differences in final body weight (FBW) between the feeding groups of either species, but in the case of neon tetras, FBW increased significantly from the initial value only for the T group. However, histological observations and measurements of digestive organs (livers, intestines) showed pronounced differences between the two species. The supplementation with natural food in group TOL caused lipoid hepatic degeneration only in the rasboras. The healthiest histological structure of livers and longest intestinal folds were found in group T of the tetras and group TO of the rasboras. Whole-mount staining for bone and cartilage did not reveal any significant deformities or differences in terms of bone mineralization. In conclusion, it was outlined that concurrent feeding of co-housed, anatomically diverse ornamental fish species is a highly ambiguous task, because the nutritional strategy applied for a community tank may yield radically divergent effects, most of which may remain unnoticed when depending only on external body observations and measurements. Most emphatically, this was highlighted in regard to the dietary supplementation with natural food—although no significant effects were observed in neon tetras, severe lipoid liver degeneration occurred in glowlight rasboras.

CONCOMITANT PATHOLOGY IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

The discrepancy between the data of different authors on the prevalence of comorbidity pathology in patients with bronchial asthma, in particular the digestive organs, and the impact of comorbidities during asthma has led to the feasibility of this study.

The Ribosome Biogenesis Factor Ltv1 Is Essential for Digestive Organ Development and Definitive Hematopoiesis in Zebrafish

Ribosome biogenesis is a fundamental activity in cells. Ribosomal dysfunction underlies a category of diseases called ribosomopathies in humans. The symptomatic characteristics of ribosomopathies often include abnormalities in craniofacial skeletons, digestive organs, and hematopoiesis. Consistently, disruptions of ribosome biogenesis in animals are deleterious to embryonic development with hypoplasia of digestive organs and/or impaired hematopoiesis. In this study, ltv1, a gene involved in the small ribosomal subunit assembly, was knocked out in zebrafish by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology. The recessive lethal mutation resulted in disrupted ribosome biogenesis, and ltv1Δ14/Δ14 embryos displayed hypoplastic craniofacial cartilage, digestive organs, and hematopoiesis. In addition, we showed that the impaired cell proliferation, instead of apoptosis, led to the defects in exocrine pancreas and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in ltv1Δ14/Δ14 embryos. It was reported that loss of function of genes associated with ribosome biogenesis often caused phenotypes in a P53-dependent manner. In ltv1Δ14/Δ14 embryos, both P53 protein level and the expression of p53 target genes, Δ113p53 and p21, were upregulated. However, knockdown of p53 failed to rescue the phenotypes in ltv1Δ14/Δ14 larvae. Taken together, our data demonstrate that LTV1 ribosome biogenesis factor (Ltv1) plays an essential role in digestive organs and hematopoiesis development in zebrafish in a P53-independent manner.

Weight and Lenght of Digestive Organs of Super Native Chickens Fed of Amorphophallus companulatus Tuber Flour

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of Amorphophallus companulatus (AC) tuber flour in feed on the weight and length of the digestive organs of super-native chickens. This research was conducted for 8 weeks. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 5 replications (P0 = feed without AC tuber flour, P1 = feed containing 5% AC tuber flour, P2 = feed containing AC tuber flour 7.5%, and P3 = feed containing 10% AC tuber flour). The results showed that the use of AC tuber flour in the super free-range chicken feed had a very significant effect (P<0.01) on the weight and length of the small intestine and significantly (P<0.05) on pancreatic weight, but had no effect (P>0 .05) against gizzard. It was concluded that AC bulbs could be used up to 10% in super-free-range chicken feed. the use of AC tuber flour as much as 7.5% in super free-range chicken feed resulted in the highest intestinal weight, intestinal length, and pancreas weight.

Diseases of the digestive organs and COVID-19

With a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), gastroenterological symptoms are often detected, which is due to both the damage to the digestive organs by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the exacerbation of chronic diseases, as well as aggressive multicomponent therapy. The severity of gastroenterological manifestations, primarily impaired liver function, is associated with a more severe and complicated course of COVID-19 infection. Numerous mechanisms of damage to the digestive organs in COVID-19 have been identified: direct damage by the virus due to resuscitation and multicomponent therapy, impaired central and peripheral nervous regulation, immunothrombotic syndrome, virus persistence in the gastrointestinal tract, induction of autoimmune reactions by the virus, humoral disorders (changes in serotonin levels, bradykinin, activation of mast cells). Violation of the microbial-tissue complex of the intestine and the permeability of the intestinal barrier, induced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, ensures the formation and progression of chronic systemic inflammation, cytokine aggression, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, which affect the severity of the infection. Therapy for patients with COVID-19 should include therapeutic approaches aimed at correcting disorders of the intestinal microbiota, intestinal barrier permeability, and relief of gastroenterological manifestations (bibliography: 20 refs).