Food status enhancement product and improving human reproductive function

Охрана репродуктивного здоровья предполагает множество направлений деятельности, в том числе мероприятия, направленные на коррекцию пищевого статуса мужчин и женщин репродуктивного возраста, особенно беременных и кормящих женщин. Объектом исследований являлся паштет печеночный профилактической и лечебной направленности с включением пищевой системы на основе альбумина пищевого, жмыха зародышей пшеницы и фасоли. Исследованы органолептические, функционально-технологические, реологические показатели качества и безопасности, микроструктура паштета, обоснованы параметры и режимы подготовки пищевой системы и готового изделия с ее применением. Установлено, что массовая доля таких нутриентов, как Fe, Zn, Na, P и водорастворимых витаминов (В и В), находилась на уровне 20 % и более от суточной потребности. Отмечено увеличение содержания в диапазоне от 20 до 50 % суточной потребности фолиевой кислоты, витаминов В, В, С и D, что позволяет отнести разработанный паштет к функциональному продукту. При этом содержание некоторых компонентов (Mn, Cu, витаминов В, В) превысило уровень 50 % суточной потребности, благодаря чему паштет также можно отнести к витаминизированным продуктам. Выявлено улучшение сбалансированности состава полиненасыщенных жирных кислот, в разработанном продукте соотношение омега-6 к омега-3 кислот соответствовало рекомендациям НИИ питания РАМН (5-10:1) и составляло соответственно (омега-6 : омега-3) 7:1. Биологическая ценность спроектированного паштета находится на высоком уровне и достигает значения 69,8 %, показатель КРАС 30,2 %, что свидетельствует о незначительном количестве избыточных аминокислот в белковой фракции продукта. The protection of reproductive health involves many areas of activity, including measures aimed at correcting the nutritional status of men and women of reproductive age, especially pregnant and lactating women. The object of research was liver pate of preventive and therapeutic orientation with the inclusion of a food system based on food albumin, wheat germ cake and beans. Organoleptic, functional-technological, rheological, quality and safety indicators, the microstructure of the pate are studied, the parameters and modes of preparation of the food system and the finished product with its use are justified. It was found that the mass fraction of nutrients such as iron, zinc, H, P and water-soluble vitamins (B and B) was at the level of 20 % or more of the daily requirement. There was an increase in the content of folic acid, vitamins B, B, C and D in the range from 20 to 50% of the daily requirement, which allows us to attribute the developed pate to a functional product. At the same time, the content of some components (manganese, copper, vitamins B, B) exceeded the level of 50 % of the daily requirement, so that the pate can also be attributed to fortified products. An improvement in the balance of the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids was revealed, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 acids in the developed product corresponded to the recommendations of the Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (5-10:1) and was respectively (omega-6 : omega-3) 7:1. The biological value of the designed pate is at a high level and reaches a value of 69.8 %, the RED indicator (30.2 %), which indicates an insignificant amount of excess amino acids in the protein fraction of the product.

Freestanding Fe3O4 / Ti3C2Tx MXene / polyurethane composite film with efficient electromagnetic shielding and ultra-stretchable performance

Electromagnetic pollution seriously affects the human reproductive system, cardiovascular system, people’s visual system, and so on. A novel versatile stretchable and biocompatible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding film has been developed, which could effectively attenuate electromagnetic radiation. The EMI shielding film was fabricated with a convenient solution casting and steam annealing with 2D MXene, iron oxide nanoparticles, and soluble polyurethane. The EMI shielding effectiveness is about 30.63 dB at 8.2 GHz, based on its discretized interfacial scattering and high energy conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, the excellent tensile elongation is 30.5%, because of the sliding migration and gradient structure of the nanomaterials doped in a polymer matrix. In addition, the film also demonstrated wonderful biocompatibility and did not cause erythema and discomfort even after being attached to the arm skin over 12 hours, which shows the great potential for attenuation of electromagnetic irradiation and protection of human health.

Multidimensional Impact of Climate Change on Human Reproduction and Fertility

Research has identified a multidimensional, interactive relationship between climate change variables and an adverse (mostly) impact on the mammalian reproductive systems, reproductive organs, and fertility in animals, but direct evidence establishing the impact of climate change on reproductive health and fertility in humans is limited. Climate change has established direct or indirect linkages with re-emergence, geospatial redistribution of pathogens of likely reproductive health significance in humans. Similarly, alterations in growth, mortality rate, reproduction, and spatiotemporal distribution of vectors (e.g., zika virus – Aedes aegypti) and intermediate hosts (e.g., Schistosomiasis – snail) of certain infectious diseases of reproductive health importance are influenced by climate change variables like temperature, precipitation, and humidity. The exposure channels or effect pathways, through which the regional and global climate change can directly or indirectly influence the human reproductive ability, health, fertility, progeny, and thus, ultimately, demography can broadly be classified as physical variables, chemical hazards, biological agents, factors related to psycho-socio-behavior, and economy. The chapter is an overall account of how each of these factors, as an inherent component of climate change has the potential to cause a variable degree of impact on human reproduction from a medical point of view. As human reproductive systems are highly vulnerable to diseases and other post-catastrophic effects of extreme climate change events, so it is high time to understand the adversity and resort to proper and sustainable control measures for a healthy reproductive life of future generations.

Characterization of the Gastrointestinal and Reproductive Tract Microbiota in Fertile and Infertile Pakistani Couples

The human microbiota is recognized as a vital “virtual” organ of the human body that influences human health, metabolism, and physiology. While the microbiomes of the gut, oral cavity, and skin have been extensively studied in the literature, relatively little work has been done on characterizing the microbiota of the human reproductive tract organs, and specifically on investigating its association to fertility. Here, we implemented a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) amplicon sequencing approach to sequence and characterize the gut and genital tract microbiomes from several married Pakistani couples. The recruited individuals included 31 fertile and 35 infertile individuals, with ages ranging from 19–45 years. We identified several fluctuations in the diversity and composition of the gut and genital microbiota among fertile and infertile samples. For example, measures of α-diversity varied significantly between the genital samples donated by fertile and infertile men and there was overall greater between-sample variability in genital samples regardless of gender. In terms of taxonomic composition, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes fluctuated significantly between the gut microbiomes of fertile and infertile samples. Finally, biomarker analyses identified features (genera and molecular functions and pathways) that differed significantly between the fertile and infertile samples and in the past have been associated with bacterial vaginosis. However, we emphasize that 16S amplicon data alone has no bearing on individual health and is merely representative of microbial taxonomic differences that could also arise due to multiple other factors. Our findings, however, represent the first effort to characterize the microbiome associated with fertile and infertile couples in Pakistan and will hopefully pave the way for more comprehensive and broad-scale investigations in the future.

The Exposome Approach in Allergies and Lung Diseases: Is It Time to Define a Preconception Exposome?

Emerging research suggests environmental exposures before conception may adversely affect allergies and lung diseases in future generations. Most studies are limited as they have focused on single exposures, not considering that these diseases have a multifactorial origin in which environmental and lifestyle factors are likely to interact. Traditional exposure assessment methods fail to capture the interactions among environmental exposures and their impact on fundamental biological processes, as well as individual and temporal factors. A valid estimation of exposure preconception is difficult since the human reproductive cycle spans decades and the access to germ cells is limited. The exposome is defined as the cumulative measure of external exposures on an organism (external exposome), and the associated biological responses (endogenous exposome) throughout the lifespan, from conception and onwards. An exposome approach implies a targeted or agnostic analysis of the concurrent and temporal multiple exposures, and may, together with recent technological advances, improve the assessment of the environmental contributors to health and disease. This review describes the current knowledge on preconception environmental exposures as related to respiratory health outcomes in offspring. We discuss the usefulness and feasibility of using an exposome approach in this research, advocating for the preconception exposure window to become included in the exposome concept.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and their detection in an IVF laboratory

The endocrine disruptors are chemicals with the capacity to influence physiological processes in the organism, most often through hormonal control. They are present in the environment and in the products of daily use. They are often found in food, released from plastic bottles for water, present in cosmetics or fertilizers. Latest research suggests that they can be released from plastics used in the IVF laboratories and can be even present in the manipulation and cultivation media used for isolation and fertilization of gametes and subsequent cultivation of embryos. Permanent and long-term utilization of these substances has adverse effects in human reproductive health, mainly by the means of interfering with synthesis and action mechanisms of reproductive hormones. Moreover, some endocrine disruptors show a range of adverse effects directly on the gametes or embryos cultured in the in vitro conditions. The article provides an overview on bisphenols detected in plastics and media commonly used in the IVF laboratory and considers their possible impact on effectiveness of the IVF methods in a human laboratory.

Feasibility of e-booklet learning media on the concept of human reproductive system

Educators are the major players in the teaching process to enhance the accomplishment of student learning results. Biology subject, mainly the concept of Human Reproductive System, necessitates media relevant to learning objectives, student conditions, and technology development. Hopefully, learning media can assist the learning process by being packaged attractively to reach learning standards. In this case, the selected form of learning media is E-Booklet. This study aims to describe the feasibility of E-Booklet Learning Media in Concept Human Reproductive Systems. The research technique involves the step-by-step study and development utilizing a 4D model: 1) define, 2) design, 3) develop, and 4) disseminate. The feasibility of the E-Booklet has indicated the results of testing by 3 (three) experts using a feasibility instrument. The Human Reproductive System E-Booklet test shows that the results are very feasible (4.49) utilized as a biology learning medium. The dissemination of E-booklets is done online through posters that contain links and barcodes of E-booklets that can be accessed via the internet.

Effects on Puberty of Nutrition-Mediated Endocrine Disruptors Employed in Agriculture

Pesticide residues are largely found in daily consumed food because of their extensive use in farming and their long half-life, which prolongs their presence in the environment. Many of these pesticides act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals after pre- or postnatal exposure, significantly affecting, among other things, the time of puberty onset, progression, and completion. In humans, precocious or delayed puberty, and early or delayed sexual maturation, may entail several negative long-term health implications. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the impact of endocrine-disrupting pesticides upon the timing of the landmarks of female and male puberty in both animals (vaginal opening, first estrus, and balanopreputial separation) and humans (thelarche, menarche, gonadarche). Moreover, we explore the possible mechanisms of action of the reviewed endocrine-disrupting pesticides on the human reproductive system. Access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food is fundamental for the maintenance of health and wellbeing. Eliminating the presence of hazardous chemicals in largely consumed food products may increase their nutritional value and be proven beneficial for overall health. Consequently, understanding the effects of human exposure to hazardous endocrine-disrupting pesticides, and legislating against their circulation, are of major importance for the protection of health in vulnerable populations, such as children and adolescents.

Roles for the 8-Oxoguanine DNA Repair System in Protecting Telomeres From Oxidative Stress

Telomeres are protective nucleoprotein structures that cap linear chromosome ends and safeguard genome stability. Progressive telomere shortening at each somatic cell division eventually leads to critically short and dysfunctional telomeres, which can contribute to either cellular senescence and aging, or tumorigenesis. Human reproductive cells, some stem cells, and most cancer cells, express the enzyme telomerase to restore telomeric DNA. Numerous studies have shown that oxidative stress caused by excess reactive oxygen species is associated with accelerated telomere shortening and dysfunction. Telomeric repeat sequences are remarkably susceptible to oxidative damage and are preferred sites for the production of the mutagenic base lesion 8-oxoguanine, which can alter telomere length homeostasis and integrity. Therefore, knowledge of the repair pathways involved in the processing of 8-oxoguanine at telomeres is important for advancing understanding of the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases and cancer associated with telomere instability. The highly conserved guanine oxidation (GO) system involves three specialized enzymes that initiate distinct pathways to specifically mitigate the adverse effects of 8-oxoguanine. Here we introduce the GO system and review the studies focused on investigating how telomeric 8-oxoguanine processing affects telomere integrity and overall genome stability. We also discuss newly developed technologies that target oxidative damage selectively to telomeres to investigate roles for the GO system in telomere stability.