Exposure of environmental trace elements in prostate cancer patients: A multiple metal analysis.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men. To elucidate the connection between trace elements (arsenic: As, cadmium: Cd, lead: Pb, chromium: Cr, and nickel: Ni) and the risk of PCa, we analyzed trace element levels in the serum, urine, and tissues of PCa patients, while also examining their smoking status. We correlated these levels with their smoking habits. Notably, levels of Cd (P ≤ 0.05) and As (P ≤ 0.01) were significantly higher in the tumor tissue than in adjacent tissues. No significant differences were observed in the levels of Pb, Cr and Ni. Additionally, urinary Cd levels in 70% and arsenic levels in 2.3% of the PCa cohort were markedly higher than the CDC-reported cutoff (Cd ≤ 0.185 µg/L & As ≤100 µg/L). None displayed elevated levels of urinary Pb, Cr, and Ni. Conversely, in serum samples, the concentration of arsenic exceeded the CDC-determined limit (As ≤1.0 µg/L) in 31.69% of PCa patients. However, only 7.04% of patients had higher serum Cd levels than the CDC standard values (Cd ≤ 0.315 µg/L), while all PCa patients exceeded the Cr CDC limit (Cr ≤ 0.16 µg/L) and the Ni CDC limit (Ni ≤ 0.2 µg/L). On the contrary, no significant differences were observed in serum Pb (Pb ≤ 35.0 µg/L). Our findings establish a positive link between Cd and arsenic tissue concentrations and the risk of PCa. Subsequent studies are essential to determine whether elevated trace element levels pose a risk for the development of prostate carcinogenesis. Interestingly, among the PCa cohort comprising smokers, notably higher Cd levels were observed only in tumor tissues (P ≤ 0.01) and urine (P ≤ 0.05) compared to other elements or in other specimens.

Genomic analysis, simultaneous production, and process optimization of extracellular polymeric substances and polyhydroxyalkanoates by Methylobacterium sp. ISTM1 by utilizing molasses.

In the current study, the isolated Methylobacterium sp. ISTM1 simultaneously produced both extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in a single-step process. The yield of biopolymers (EPS and PHA) was enhanced by optimizing the process parameters of EPS and PHA production. Methylobacterium sp. ISTM1 was able to produce 7.18 ± 0.04 g L-1 EPS and 1.41 ± 0.04 g L-1 PHA simultaneously at optimized culture conditions i.e., 9% molasses and pH 7. The genomic analysis of the strain has identified the involved genes and pathways in the production of EPS and PHA. Both the biopolymers were found non-toxic according to the cytotoxicity analysis. The results of the current study present the potential of the bacterium Methylobacterium sp. ISTM1 produces non-toxic biopolymers by utilizing agro-industrial waste (molasses) that can be harnessed sustainably for various applications.

Energy security, economic growth and environmental sustainability in India: Does FDI and trade openness play a role?

India is one of the world's largest emerging economies and, therefore, has a critical role to play in ensuring global sustainability, while the Indian economy is also prioritizing energy security. The paper explores the dynamic linkages between energy security captured through national-level energy use, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic output, carbon emissions, and trade openness in India spanning the period from 1978 to 2016 in a multivariate framework based on the theoretical premise of an Environmental Kuznets Curve. Time series econometric modelling based on the ARDL model and VECM Granger causality tests are employed for this purpose. The results confirm the presence of a co-integrating relationship and finds a strong energy-output-CO2-FDI long-run nexus. A 1% increase in FDI results in a 0.013% reduction in energy use. Energy use is found to be Granger caused by output, carbon emissions, FDI and trade openness in the long-run. The adoption of energy-efficient techniques through FDI is essential for reducing carbon emissions in India based on our findings. The Indian government should also galvanize FDI inflow in the renewable energy sectors by assuring incentives to investors to concurrently achieve favorable macroeconomic outcomes and ensure sustainable economic development. These are globally important policy lessons for other developing and emerging economies.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis and characterization: A proteogenomic and process optimization study for biovalorization of industrial lignin.

The strain Burkholderia sp. ISTR5 (R5) was studied for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production on Kraft lignin (KL) and lignosulfonate (LS) as substrates. During the initial screening, the maximum PHA mass fraction in biomass produced on KL and LS was 23% and 18%, respectively, at 96 h. PHA production on KL was further optimized using the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) model of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). After optimization, a 42.5% increase in PHA production and a 32.2% increase in the total cell biomass was observed. PHA was characterized by GC-MS, TEM, FTIR, NMR, and fluorescence microscopy. It was found to be a small chain length PHA with a copolymer of poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV). The degradation of PHBV was also studied using this strain; it was observed that R5 completely degraded PHBV in 120 h. Genomic and proteomic analysis of R5 revealed numerous enzymes for the metabolism of lignin degradation and PHA production.

Biosorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous solution by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by Parapedobacter sp. ISTM3 strain isolated from Mawsmai cave, Meghalaya, India.

In the current study, EPS producing strain Parapedobacter sp. ISTM3 was isolated from Mawsmai cave, Meghalaya, India. The strain ISTM3 showed enhanced EPS production (4.65 ± 0.10 g L-1) at optimized parameters, i.e., pH 8 and 3% molasses as a carbon source. The extracted EPS was structurally characterized by GC-MS, NMR, and FTIR analysis to investigate its monomer compositions, functional groups, and linkage analysis. GC-MS study confirmed the heteropolymeric nature of EPS, whereas the FTIR study confirmed the presence of an aliphatic group, amine group, uronic acid, and saccharides group in the EPS structure. Biosorption of heavy metals by EPS from an aqueous solution was investigated by using heavy metals mixture (Zn2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Cr6+, Fe2+, and Cd2+) with 20 mg L-1 concentration of each metal. EPS showed the highest removal efficiency and metal adsorption capability for Cr6+ as compared to other heavy metals studied. Also, metal adsorption capability (19.032 mg g-1) and removal efficiency (95.10%) of Cr6+ by EPS were further increased in acidic conditions (pH 5.0). FTIR and SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the biosorption mechanism of EPS. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms were employed to discover the biosorption parameters for Cr6+ uptake with a concentration range of 10-200 mg L-1 by EPS (1 g L-1). The Langmuir model was found to better fit the Cr6+ adsorption by EPS having a maximum adsorption capacity of 33.783 mg g-1. With this, the present study highlights the EPS production potential of Parapedobacter sp. ISTM3, as well as the potential of extracted EPS for heavy metals removals via adsorption.

Conjugated linoleic acid producing potential of lactobacilli isolated from goat (AXB) rumen fluid samples.

OBJECTIVE: The present investigation was aimed to explore the potential of lactobacilli for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) production, isolated from rumen fluid samples of lactating goats. METHODS: A total of 64 isolates of lactobacilli were obtained using deMan-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) agar from rumen fluid of goats and further subjected to morphological and biochemical characterizations. Isolates found as gram-positive, catalase negative rods were presumptively identified as Lactobacillus species and further confirmed by genus specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The phylogenetic tree was constructed from the nucleotide sequences using MEGA6. RESULTS: Out of the 64 isolates, 23 isolates were observed positive for CLA production by linoleate isomerase gene-based amplification and quantitatively by UV-spectrophotometric assay for the conversion of linoleic acid to CLA as well as gas chromatography-based assay. In all Lactobacillus species cis9, trans11 isomer was observed as the most predominant CLA isomer. These positive isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene-based PCR sequencing and identified to be different species of L. ingluviei (2), L.salivarius (2), L. curvatus (15), and L. sakei (4). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study concluded that lactic acid bacteria isolated from ruminal fluid samples of goat have the potential to produce bioactive CLA and may be applied as a direct fed microbial to enhance the nutraceutical value of animal food products.

Effect of n-3 PUFA-rich fish oil supplementation during late gestation on kidding, uterine involution and resumption of follicular activity in goat.

We have shown that dietary supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA)-rich fish oil (FO) around the breeding time improved the utero-ovarian functions in the goat. Here, we investigated the effect of FO supplementation during the periparturient period on serum n-3 PUFA, prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PGFM), placental expulsion, uterine involution, resumption of oestrus and neonatal vigour. Rohilkhandi goat in advanced gestation (n = 16) was divided into two equal groups. One group was supplemented with FO containing 26% n-3 long-chain PUFA at the rate of 156 mg per kg body weight, while the control group was fed isocaloric palm oil (PO) from -3 to +3 week of kidding. Dietary FO increased serum concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by 7.3- and 6.6-fold, respectively, after 6 weeks of supplementation. Goats in FO group expelled the foetal membranes 99.1 min earlier (p < .01) than those of PO group. Further, dietary FO significantly decreased the serum PGFM on day 7 post-partum. However, no difference was found on uterine involution, which was complete by day 20 post-partum in either group. Resumption of follicular activity by day 5 post-partum was 87.5% in the FO as compared to 25% in the PO group (p < .05). Similarly, occurrence of behavioural oestrus by day 90 post-partum was 57.1% in goats of the FO group while none of does was in the PO group (p < .01) expressed oestrus. It was concluded that feeding FO-rich diet during -3 to +3 weeks of kidding decreased the PGFM till day 7 post-partum, hastened the expulsion of foetal membranes and reduced the time from kidding to first post-partum oestrus in Rohilkhandi does.

Isolation, characterization and conjugated linoleic acid production potential of bifidobacterial isolates from ruminal fluid samples of Murrah buffaloes.

In the present study, we investigated the potential of Bifidobacterium spp., isolated from ruminal fluid samples from buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) production. A total of 294 isolates were obtained from 86 ruminal fluid samples using Bifidus Selective Medium (BSM) medium, and based on phospoketolase assay, 24 isolates were presumptively confirmed to be Bifidobacterium species. Further, the isolates were confirmed morphologically, biochemically and by PCR assays for genus specific (16s rDNA) and transaldolase genes. All 24 strains were positive for conversion of linoleic acid (LA) to CLA by spectrophotometric screening. Gas chromatographic analysis showed that the strains produced cis9, trans11 and tran10, cis12 CLA isomers in LA-supplemented deMan-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) broth. The strains were identified as B. thermophilum (n = 21) and B. pseudolongum (n = 3) based on 16 rDNA sequence analysis. The study shows that Bifidobacterium spp., present in the rumens of buffaloes produce CLA from LA and the strains may have the potential to be used as probiotics to enhance the nutraceutical value of ruminant food products.

Biochemical Characterization of Fungus Isolated during In vitro Propagation of Bambusa balcooa.

BACKGROUND: Bambusa balcooa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) is a multipurpose bamboo species, which is native of the Indian subcontinent. B. balcooa is regarded as one of the best species for scaffolding and building purposes because of its strong culm. Other uses include paper pulp, handicrafts, and products of the wood chip industry. Due to these various uses in industries, this species has been identified as one of the priority bamboos by the National Bamboo Mission. OBJECTIVE: This study is designed to analyze the identification of fungus and develop the strategy to eliminate the contamination during in vitro establishment of B. balcooa through nodal part. Fungus contamination is a problem which is encountered during in vitro establishment of B. balcooa cultures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, fungus contamination from in vitro cultured plant has been isolated and subjected to partial sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene to identify the fungus strain. Experiments were designed to develop a strategy for removal of the fungus contamination with the help of antifungal compounds and commercial antimicrobial supplement supplied by HiMedia. RESULTS: Fusarium equiseti was identified as endophytic fungus. It was observed that antimicrobial supplement at concentration of 500 µl/l was more effective concentration to remove fungus contamination and not showed any detrimental effect on growth parameters of shoot. CONCLUSION: This experiment would help in identification and to get rid of fungal contamination and improve the in vitro establishment of B. balcooa cultures for large-scale propagation. SUMMARY: Endogenous fungus was isolated from contaminated culture of B. balcooa, and it was identified as Fusarium equiseti and submitted to NCBI under accession no. KP274872. The endophytic fungus had shown substantial production of amylase, cellulase, and protease media. Gibberellic acid (GA3) production by F. equiseti was maximum on the 7th day on inoculation. Abbreviations used:B. balcooa: Bambusa balcooa, F. equiseti: Fusarium equiseti, PDA: Potato dextrose agar, PCR: Polymerase chain reaction, MS: Murashige and Skoog's, BAP: 6-Benzylaminopurine, ITS1/4: Internal transcribed spacer region 1/4, GA3: Gibberellic acid.