Euterpe oleracea fruit (Açai)-enriched diet suppresses the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) infection

Background Cerebral malaria is one of the most severe complications attributed to protozoal infection by Plasmodium falciparum, gaining prominence in children mortality rates in endemic areas. This condition has a complex pathogenesis associated with behavioral, cognitive and motor sequels in humans and current antimalarial therapies have shown little effect in those aspects. Natural products with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have become a valuable alternative therapeutic option in the treatment of distinct conditions. In this context, this study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Euterpe oleracea (açai) enriched diet during the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by the inoculation of Swiss albino mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain. Methods After Plasmodium infection, animals were maintained on a feeding with Euterpe oleracea enriched ration and parameters such as survival curve, parasitemia and body weight were routinely monitored. The present study has also evaluated the effect of açai-enriched diet on the blood-brain barrier leakage, histological alterations and neurocognitive impairments in mice developing cerebral malaria. Results Our results demonstrate that between 7th–19th day post infection the survival rate of the group treated with açai enriched ration was higher when compared with Plasmodium-infected mice in which 100% of mice died until the 11th days post-infection, demonstrating that açai diet has a protective effect on the survival of infected treated animals. The same was observed in the brain vascular extravasation, where Evans blue dye assays showed significantly less dye extravasation in the brains of Plasmodium-infected mice treated with açai enriched ration, demonstrating more preserved blood-brain barrier integrity. Açai-enriched diet also attenuate the histopathological alterations elicited by Plasmodium berghei infection. We also showed a decrease of the neurological impairments arising from the exposure of cerebral parenchyma in the group treated with açai diet, ameliorating motor and neuropsychiatric changes, analyzed through the SHIRPA protocol. Conclusion With these results, we conclude that the treatment with açai enriched ration decreased the mortality of infected animals, as well as protected the blood-brain barrier and the neurocognitive deficits in Plasmodium-infected animals.

GPR120 prevents colorectal adenocarcinoma progression by sustaining the mucosal barrier integrity

GPR120 (encoded by FFAR4 gene) is a receptor for long chain fatty acids, activated by ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs), and expressed in many cell types. Its role in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC) is still puzzling with many controversial evidences. Here, we explored the involvement of epithelial GPR120 in the CRC development. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to mimic the conditional deletion of the receptor from gut epithelium. Intestinal permeability and integrity of mucus layer were assessed by using Evans blue dye and immunofluorescence for MUC-2 protein, respectively. Microbiota composition, presence of lipid mediators and short chain fatty acids were analyzed in the stools of conditional GPR120 and wild type (WT) mice. Incidence and grade of tumors were evaluated in all groups of mice before and after colitis-associated cancer. Finally, GPR120 expression was analyzed in 9 human normal tissues, 9 adenomas, and 17 primary adenocarcinomas. Our work for the first time highlights the role of the receptor in the progression of colorectal cancer. We observed that the loss of epithelial GPR120 in the gut results into increased intestinal permeability, microbiota translocation and dysbiosis, which turns into hyperproliferation of epithelial cells, likely through the activation of β -catenin signaling. Therefore, the loss of GPR120 represents an early event of CRC, but avoid its progression as invasive cancer. these results demonstrate that the epithelial GPR120 receptor is essential to maintain the mucosal barrier integrity and to prevent CRC developing. Therefore, our data pave the way to GPR120 as an useful marker for the phenotypic characterization of CRC lesions and as new potential target for CRC prevention.

Comparing Blind and Ultrasound-Guided Retrobulbar Nerve Blocks in Equine Cadavers: The Training Effect

In standing ophthalmic surgery in horses, a retrobulbar nerve block (RNB) is often placed blindly for anesthesia and akinesia. The ultrasound (US)-guided RNB may have fewer complications, but the two techniques have only been compared once in equine cadavers. This study compares the techniques for success and complication rates and analyzes the effect of training on US guidance. Twenty-two equine cadavers were divided into three groups: blind RNBs were performed bilaterally in eight cadavers, US-guided RNBs were performed bilaterally in seven cadavers, and after US-guided training, blind RNBs were performed bilaterally in seven cadavers. All RNBs were performed by the same two inexperienced operators, and a combination of contrast medium (CM; 1.25 mL) and methylene blue dye (1.25 mL) were injected (2.5 mL total volume). Needle positioning in the periorbita and the distance of the CM to the optic foramen were assessed using computerized tomography (CT). Dye spreading was evaluated by dissection. In group 1, 37.5% of the injections were in the optimal central position in the periorbita; in group 2, 75% and in group 3, 71.4%. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding needle position (groups 1 and 2 p = 0.056; groups 1 and 3 p = 0.069, groups 2 and 3 p = 0.8). The mean CM distribution distance was not significantly different between all groups. Group 1 had 18.75% intraocular injections versus 0% in group 2 and 7.1% in group 3 (not significant). US guidance showed no significant increases in accuracy nor decreases in complications. However, the effects on accuracy showed a trend towards significant improvement, and larger scale follow-up studies might show significant training effects on US guidance.

Double Rabi splitting in methylene blue dye-Ag nanocavity

We demonstrate a double Rabi splitting totaling 348 meV in an Ag nanocavity embedding of methylene blue (MB) dye layer, which is ascribed to the equilibrium state of monomer and dimer coexistence in MB dye. At low dye concentration, the single-mode strong coupling between the monomer exciton in MB dye and the Ag nanocavity is observed. As the dye concentration is increased, three hybridized plexciton states are observed, indicating a double Rabi splitting (178 and 170 meV). Furthermore, the double anti-crossing behavior of the three hybrid states is observed by tuning the Ag nanocube size, which validates the multi-mode strong coupling regime. It shows clear evidence on the diverse exciton forms of dye molecules, both of which can interact with plasmonic nanocavity, effectively. Therefore, it provides a good candidate for realizing the multi-mode strong coupling.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ СОРБЦІЙНИХ ВЛАСТИВОСТЕЙ ВОЛОКНИСТИХ МАТЕРІАЛІВ, МОДИФІКОВАНИХ ГЛИНИСТИМИ МІНЕРАЛАМИ

The paper presents the results of determining the sorption properties of nonwoven materials modified with clay minerals, obtained on the basis of fibrous waste, in relation to the methylene blue indicator to determine the possibility of using the created materials in the purification of light industry wastewater from dyes and heavy metal ions.Purpose. Determination of kinetic regularities of sorption (by methylene blue) of fibrous nonwoven materials modified with different types and amounts of clay adsorbents.Methodology. Nonwovens obtained from elastic fibrous waste of the textile industry were used as a basis in the work. They consisted of Lycra 162 C (PU) complex fibers and Nylon 6.6 f20 / 1 (PA-6.6) fibers in a ratio of 70/30 wt. %. For bonding the nonwoven material, adhesive bicomponent fibers Acebon 4/51 black (4 den) (BVCh) (20 wt%) were added to the initial composition. To enhance the sorption capacity of the PU / PA / BV 80/20 fabric, powders of montmorillonite clay (clay grade PBA-18) and palygorskite (clay grade PP-5) type were introduced in an amount of up to 40% by weight of the nonwoven material. Evaluation of the sorption properties of modified fibrous materials with different clay adsorbents was performed by determining the change in the optical density of MS solutions of a given concentration.Scientific novelty. It was found that fibrous materials modified by the studied samples of montmorillonite and paligorskite clays show high absorption capacity relative to the methylene blue dye due to its multilayer sorption. After 24 hours of processing, the degree of absorption is 70% when using clay brand PBA-18 in the amount of 40% by weight of the fibrous material, which is higher than when using clay brand PP-5 (45%) under the same conditions.Practical value. Sorption materials modified with clay minerals can be further used to treat wastewater from light and chemical industries from heavy metal ions.