Imaging Techniques and Biochemical Biomarkers: New Insights into Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PaC) incidence is increasing, but our current screening and diagnostic strategies are not very effective. However, screening could be helpful in the case of PaC, as recent evidence shows that the disease progresses gradually. Unfortunately, there is no ideal screening method or program for detecting PaC in its early stages. Conventional imaging techniques, such as abdominal ultrasound, CT, MRI, and EUS, have not been successful in detecting early-stage PaC. On the other hand, biomarkers may be a more effective screening tool for PaC and have greater potential for further evaluation compared to imaging. Recent studies on biomarkers and artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced imaging have shown promising results in the early diagnosis of PaC. In addition to proteins, non-coding RNAs are also being studied as potential biomarkers for PaC. This review consolidates the current literature on PaC screening modalities to provide an organized framework for future studies. While conventional imaging techniques have not been effective in detecting early-stage PaC, biomarkers and AI-enhanced imaging are promising avenues of research. Further studies on the use of biomarkers, particularly non-coding RNAs, in combination with imaging modalities may improve the accuracy of PaC screening and lead to earlier detection of this deadly disease.

Assessing pollution degree and human health risks from hazardous element distribution in soils near gold mines in a Colombian Andean region: Correlation with phytotoxicity biomarkers.

The assessment of human health risk due to the presence of hazardous elements in the environment is now necessary for environmental management and legislative initiatives. This study aims to determine the contamination by As, Cd, Pb, and Cr in soils near gold mines in three municipalities located in the Andean region of Colombia. One of the main objectives of the study is to explore possible correlations between the Lifetime Cancer Risk (LCR) and phytotoxicity biomarkers using a simple and rapid-response plant model, radish (Raphanus sativus L.). In the municipality of Yalí, Puerto Berrío, and Buriticá, the hazardous elements concentrations ranged from 8.1 to 35.5, 1.7 to 892, and 5.8 to 49.8 for As, 0.1 to 4.6, 0.1 to 65.2, and 0.5 to 18.2 for Cd, 18.5 to 201.3, 13.0 to 1908, and 189 to 2345 for Pb, and 5.4 to 118.4, 65.4 to 301, and 5.4 to 102.3 for Cr, respectively. The results showed that the biomarkers intracellular H2O2 concentration, antioxidant activity, and radicle elongation exhibited significant (P < 0.05) variations associated with the concentration of hazardous elements in the soils. Significant correlations (P < 0.05, r > 0.58) were found between the biomarkers and the LCR for Cd, Pb, and Cr, but not for As. The results using biomarkers reveal that soil pH and organic matter content are important variables that control the bioavailability of these elements in the soil. The use of indicators like LCR alone has limitations and should be accompanied by the use of biomarkers that allow for a better understanding of the biological system's response to exposure to potentially toxic elements. The results obtained show the urgent need to implement public policies to minimize exposure to hazardous substances in areas near gold mining projects.

Application of ecotoxicological tools to evaluate the quality status of mangroves under restoration in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

Ecotoxicological tools, namely biomarkers and bioassays, may provide insights on the ecological quality status of mangroves under restoration. We investigated how 1) physicochemical parameters and water bioassays using Artemia franciscana; and 2) quantification of sublethal (osmoregulatory capacity, biochemical, and oxidative stress) and individual biomarkers (density, length-weight relationship [LWR], parasitic prevalence) in the sentinel fiddler crab Minuca rapax, can improve restoration indicators in mangroves from the Yucatán Peninsula, Southern Gulf of Mexico. We showed that water quality was improved with restoration, but still presented toxicity. Regarding sublethal biomarkers, M rapax from restored areas lower osmotic regulatory capacity, higher oxidative stress, and showed lipid peroxidation. As to the individual biomarkers, the density, LWR, and the prevalence of parasites in M. rapax was higher in restored areas. The use of bioassays/biomarkers were useful as early warning indicators to better assess the health of mangroves under restoration.

Impact of chronic fluoxetine exposure on zebrafish: From fatty acid profile to behavior.

The consumption of antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, has increased over the years and, as a result, they are increasingly found in aquatic systems. Given the increasing use of zebrafish as an animal model in toxicological studies, this work proposed to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure, for 21 days, to fluoxetine at environmentally relevant concentrations (1, 10, 100, and 1000 ng/L). The behavioral tests performed did not reveal significant effects of fluoxetine. However, oxidative stress and changes in energy metabolism were detected after exposure to the highest concentrations of fluoxetine tested, namely a decrease in glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity (decrease of ca. 31%), increase in catalase (CAT) activity (increase of ca. 71%), and decrease in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity (decrease of ca. 53%). Analysis of the fatty acid profile (FA) revealed a decrease in the omega-3 FA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), C22:6 (decrease in relative abundance between 6% and 8% for both the head and body), an increase in omega-6 FA, linoleic acid (LA), C18:2, (increased relative abundance between 8% and 11% in the head and between 5% and 9% in the body), which may suggest changes in the inflammatory state of these organisms. The integrated analysis adopted proved to be useful in detecting subindividual effects of fluoxetine and modes of action in fish.

Unveiling stress markers: A systematic review investigating psychological stress biomarkers.

Psychological stress is a ubiquitous facet of modern life, impacting individuals across diverse contexts and demographics. Understanding its physiological manifestations through biomarkers has gained substantial attention within the scientific community. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases for peer-reviewed articles published within the past decade. Preliminary findings reveal many biomarkers associated with psychological stress across different biological systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, immune system, cardiovascular system, and central nervous system. This systematic review explores psychological, physiological, and biochemical biomarkers associated with stress. Analyzing recent literature, it synthesizes findings across these three categories, elucidating their respective roles in stress response mechanisms. Psychological markers involve subjective assessments like self-reported stress levels, perceived stress scales, or psychometric evaluations measuring anxiety, depression, or coping mechanisms. Physiological markers include heart rate variability, blood pressure, and immune system responses such as cytokine levels or inflammatory markers. Biochemical markers involve hormones or chemicals linked to stress. It includes cortisol, catecholamines, copeptin, salivary amylase, IL-6, and C-reactive protein.

Performance of Radiological and Biochemical Biomarkers in Predicting Radio-Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis Progression.

Imaging biomarkers permit improved approaches to identify the most at-risk patients encountering knee osteoarthritis (KOA) progression. This study aimed to investigate the utility of trabecular bone texture (TBT) extracted from plain radiographs, associated with a set of clinical, biochemical, and radiographic data, as a predictor of long-term radiographic KOA progression. We used data from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Biomarkers Consortium dataset. The reference model made use of baseline TBT parameters adjusted for clinical covariates and radiological scores. Several models based on a combination of baseline and 24-month TBT variations (TBT∆TBT) were developed using logistic regression and compared to those based on baseline-only TBT parameters. All models were adjusted for baseline clinical covariates, radiological scores, and biochemical descriptors. The best overall performances for the prediction of radio-symptomatic, radiographic, and symptomatic progression were achieved using TBT∆TBT parameters solely, with area under the ROC curve values of 0.658 (95% CI: 0.612-0.705), 0.752 (95% CI: 0.700-0.804), and 0.698 (95% CI: 0.641-0.756), respectively. Adding biochemical markers did not significantly improve the performance of the TBT∆TBT-based model. Additionally, when TBT values were taken from the entire subchondral bone rather than just the medial, lateral, or central compartments, better results were obtained.

Assessment of the impact of microplastic ingestion in striped red mullets from an Eastern Mediterranean coastal area (Zakynthos Island, Ionian Sea).

Monitoring microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment is an ongoing process, and our understanding of their impact on marine organisms is limited. The present study evaluates the effects of ingested MPs on the marine MP pollution bioindicator fish species Mullus surmuletus. The study follows a three-fold approach to assess the impact of MPs on marine organisms by investigating: 1) the ingestion of MPs, 2) the bioaccumulation of phthalate compounds as plastic additives, and 3) the evaluation of toxicological biochemical and cellular biomarkers. Striped red mullets were sampled in the marine protected area (MPA) of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos and coastal sites with high touristic pressure in Zakynthos Island in the Ionian Sea, Greece. Fewer ingested MPs and lower phthalate concentrations were found in fish inside the MPA compared to those sampled outside the marine park. However, no relationship was found between either phthalate concentrations or biomarker levels with the ingested MPs in the red striped mullets. Biomarker levels were influenced by season and site, but no effect could be attributed to the ingested MPs. The lack of association of biomarker responses and plasticizer bioaccumulation to MP ingestion can be explained by the low number of ingested MPs in the fish from Zakynthos coastal area as MP abundance ranged from 0.15 to 0.55 items per individual fish.

A Comprehensive Review of the Role of Biomarkers in Early Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurological, degenerative clinical condition depicted by the advancing loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which manifests itself as a myriad of sensorimotor and non-motor signs in patients. The disease occurs due to the reduced levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, which is primarily associated with functional characteristics regarding mobility and cognition. The basal ganglion is mainly involved in the generation of cognitive functions and therefore is the most significantly associated area in PD. Since the classical diagnosis and assessment of PD depends majorly on the appearance of motor characteristics, which only arise when ~60-80% of the dopamine neuronal cell death has already occurred, it is imperative we focus on identifying biomarkers that can help us assess and diagnose PD in the earlier stages of disease progression, thus providing a better prognosis for the patients. This review article will focus on the different biomarkers that are currently available and in use, divided under the headings of clinical, biological, imaging, and genetic biomarkers, and assess their specificity and sensitivity toward providing an early assessment of Parkinson's for the patients and the future of preclinical diagnostics using molecular biomarkers. PD affects over 1% of the population worldwide and only ranks second to Alzheimer's disease in the context of its incidence and consequent socioeconomic burden. While recent breakthroughs in biomarkers have dramatically improved patients' odds of survival and prognosis, it still remains primarily a symptomatic diagnostic tool. It is an area of research that requires to focus on creating more advanced approaches toward diagnosing PD early, involving clinical diagnostics, neuroimaging technology, and molecular biology collaborations to provide the highest degree of care and quality of life that a Parkinson's patient deserves.

Biochemical responses in Pacific oysters Magallana gigas (Thunberg, 1793): Tools to evaluate the environmental quality of aquaculture areas.

The discharge of sanitary sewage into the bays of the Florianópolis Metropolitan Area (Southern Brazil), has led to the contamination of oyster farms. Consequently, linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) were quantified in the sediment, and the biochemical responses in gills and digestive gland of oysters from six farms were assessed. Our findings revealed elevated levels of LABs in the sediment of the Imaruim and Serraria farms. Additionally, alterations were observed in the antioxidant enzymes: catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in both oyster tissue from the Serraria, Santo Antonio de Lisboa and Sambaqui farms. Furthermore, correlation analyses indicated strong and moderate associations between biochemical responses, organic contaminants, and certain physicochemical parameters. Consequently, our results demonstrated the activation of the antioxidant system in oysters, representing a protective response to the presence of sanitary sewage and other contaminants. Therefore, we propose the utilization of biochemical biomarkers for monitoring the environmental quality of farms.

Alteration of haematological and biochemical biomarkers after sub-lethal chronic malathion (Elathion®) intoxication in freshwater fish, Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822).

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of malathion (Elathion®) at two sub-lethal concentrations (0.36 and 1.84 mgL-1) for 45 days after the determination of 96 h-LC50 value (18.35 mgL-1) in a commercially important aquaculture species, Labeo rohita by assaying multiple biomarker approaches. Total erythrocyte count (TEC), and haemoglobulin count (Hb) were found to be decreased while total leucocyte counts (TLC) were increased (p < 0.05) in malathion-intoxicated fish. Malathion exposure significantly reduced (p < 0.05) serum protein levels while significantly increased (p < 0.05) blood glucose levels. RNA activity in muscle was reduced (p < 0.05) while DNA activity increased (p < 0.05) in malathion-intoxicated fish. Acid phosphatase (ACP) activities in the brain; lacate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in brain and liver were increased (p < 0.05), while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in the brain; succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities in the brain, liver and kidney; acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity in the brain; and ATPase activities in the brain, liver and kidney were reduced (p < 0.05) in comparison to control. Thus, the alteration in studied biomarkers was in a concentation-time dependent manner; however, it was more pronounced at the higher concentration at 45 days of exposure. The alteration in biomarker activity is probably a defensive mechanism/ adaptive response of fish to overcome the stress induced by malathion, which is a novel insight and possible impact on L.rohita. Our findings suggest malathion-induced stress, therefore, the use of malathion needs to be regulated to safeguard aquatic animals including fish and human health.

Toxic risk evaluation of effluents from a swine biodigester in the plant models Lactuca sativa and Allium cepa.

Pig farming is recognized as an activity with great polluting potential. The aim was to investigate possible environmental risks of effluents from the stabilization pond (SP) and the raw effluent (RE) from the biodigestion process of swine residues, in different concentrations in the models Lactuca sativa and Allium cepa. Seeds were germinated in different dilutions, 100% (C1), 50% (C2), 25% (C3), 12.5% (C4), 6.25% (C5), 3.12% (C6), 0.78% (C7), and 0.39% (C8). Distilled water was used as the negative control (CN) and trifluralin (0.84 g/L-1) as the positive control. Germination (GR), root growth (RG), cell cycle, and oxidative stress (OS) were analyzed. To assess OS, the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and the quantification of glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were analyzed. Data were submitted to ANOVA (one way), followed by the Kruskal-Wallis mean test (P ≤ 0.05). Chemical analysis showed high values of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. Dilutions (C1, C2, C3 RE) and (C1 and C2 SP) inhibited GR and RG of L. sativa and A. cepa than other concentrations. The mitotic index showed a reduction in C5 (RE), C6, and C7 (SP) of L. sativa and C3 and C4 (SP) of A. cepa in relation to CN and higher frequencies of chromosomal alterations. Regarding the OS, only the concentrations of SP treatment showed statistical difference in relation to the NC: in L. sativa model, GSH at (C5 and C8) concentrations and LPO (C7); in A. cepa model, SOD (C3 and C4), GST (C4, C5 and C6), GSH (C5 and C8), and CAT (C3 and C7). The alterations in metabolism are possibly related to the metals, such as zinc and copper, observed in high amounts in the raw waste. The results allowed us to conclude that the raw and stabilization pond effluents offer environmental risks, requiring caution and monitoring in the use of these effluents.

The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Depressive Symptoms and Their Biological Consequences in Healthy Adults: Results of a Polish University Student Study.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a long-lasting effect on both physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of ACEs and experienced stress on depression and the role of biological disturbances in this relationship in a student population. Potential participants filled out a screening questionnaire; 60 of 126 students met the inclusion criteria and were tested for the severity of stress and depressive symptoms, ACEs, dietary habits, and serum concentrations of biological markers. Depressive symptoms were related to a younger age (p = 0.012), a higher severity of stress (p = 0.001), ACEs (p = 0.007), and lower triglyceride (p = 0.01) and cortisol concentrations (p = 0.01). An inverse relationship between the triglyceride concentration and emotional abuse (R = -0.38) and emotional neglect (R = -0.33) was found. Occludin was positively associated with physical abuse (R = 0.31). Cortisol was inversely associated with emotional abuse (R = -0.35). Emotional neglect was associated with lipopolysaccharide binding protein (R = 0.38) and insulin levels (R = -0.31). The most promising multi-panel of biomarkers for recognizing mood symptoms included triglycerides, tight junction protein 1, and cortisol (cut-offs of ≤ 95.5 mg/dL, 0.72 ng/mL, and 134.63 ng/mL, respectively). This study confirmed the association between ACEs and depressive symptoms and the importance of psychological stress in developing mood disorders. ACEs could affect biological dysregulation. Some of the biological markers could be helpful in early detection of depression.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Defence Systems and Inflammatory Status in Basketball Elite Athletes.

Intense physical activity can induce metabolic changes that modify specific biochemical biomarkers. In this scenario, the purpose of our study was to evaluate how intense physical activity can affect oxidative metabolism. Following this, fifteen professional basketball players and fifteen sedentary controls were recruited and subjected to two samplings of serum and urine in the pre-season (September) and two months after the start of the competitive season (November). Our results have shown an increase in athletes compared to controls in CK and LDH in September (respectively, p-value 0.003 and p-value < 0.001) and in November (both p-value < 0.001), whereas ALT is increased only in November (p-value 0.09). GGT serum levels were decreased in athletes compared to controls in both months (in September p-value 0.001 and in November p-value < 0.001). A gene expression analysis, carried out using RT-PCR, has revealed that IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, xCT and GCLM are increased in athletes in both months (p-value < 0.0001), while IL-10 and CHAC1 are increased only in September if compared to the controls (respectively, p-value 0.040 and p-value < 0.001). In conclusion, physical activity creates an adaptation of the systems involved in oxidative metabolism but without causing damage to the liver or kidney. This information could be of help to sports doctors for the prevention of injuries and illnesses in professional athletes for the construction of the athlete's passport.

The toxicity effects of the individual and combined exposure of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tire rubber powder (RP) on Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus).

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is soluble in water and can contaminate water sources when it spills during transportation or leaks from underground storage tanks. Incomplete combustion releases MTBE as exhaust fumes that can be deposited on urban surfaces. Meanwhile, car tires erosion emits of large amounts of rubber dust (RP), easily transported to water bodies. Therefore, this study has the objective of assessing the toxicity of varying concentrations of MTBE (0, 2.5, 5.0 µL L-1) and RP (0, 5.0, 10.0 mg L-1 RP), both individually and in combination, over a period of 28 days on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). MTBE and PR decreased fish growth performance. Blood biochemical analytes indicated that MTBE and RP led to increasing Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities. Alterations related to glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and creatinine, plasma contents, were also observed. Increased antioxidant biomarkers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and malondialdehyde (MDA), was observed. Exposure fish to MTBE and PR changed metabolic profile of muscle tissue. Moreover, results showed that MTBE, its metabolites, and PR could accumulate in the muscle tissue of fish. Results suggest that MTBE and RP can impact fish health, both individually and when combined. The presence of MTBE enhances the toxicity of RP, indicating a synergistic effect. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to understand the impact of toxic compounds on aquatic environments and organisms' health.

Subfertility as Overlapping of Nutritional, Endocrine, Immune, and Cardiometabolic Dysregulations-A Study Focused on Biochemical Endophenotypes of Subfertile Couples.

Subfertility is a global health issue, and as many as 30% of cases are attributed to unexplained reasons. A hypercaloric, high-fat diet stimulates the expansion of pro-inflammatory gut microbiota with a consequent rise in circulating lipopolysaccharides. Adverse gut microbiota remodeling can exacerbate insulin resistance, while sex and thyroid hormones may influence the variability in gut microbiota. This cross-sectional study included 150 participants and was designed to determine a biochemical, nutritional-related pattern that may distinguish subfertile from fertile individuals and couples. A panel of 28 biomarkers was assessed. Four biochemical phenotypes of unexplained subfertility were found, including two metabolic and two immune, when assessed using binary logistic regression models. Two phenotypes were distinguished in women: cardio-metabolic with atherogenic dyslipidemia (LowHDL-cholesterol: OR = 10.9; p < 0.05) and autoimmune thyroid disorder (Highanti-thyroid-peroxidase: OR = 5.5; p < 0.05) and two in men: hepato-metabolic with elevated liver injury enzymes (HighHOMA-IR: OR = 6.1; p < 0.05) and immune type-2 response (HighIgE: OR = 6.4; p < 0.05). The chances of a couple's subfertility rose with the number of laboratory components of metabolic syndrome in the couple (OR = 1.7; p < 0.05) and if at least one partner had an elevated total IgE level (>100 kU/L) (OR = 6.5; p < 0.05). This study found that unexplained subfertility may be accompanied by mutually overlapping immune and metabolic dysregulations in individuals and couples. We propose one-time laboratory diagnostics taking into account the lipid profile, insulin resistance, anti-thyroid-peroxidase, and total IgE in both males and females with unexplained subfertility. This may allow for a one-time assessment of targeted medical and nutritional interventions and help optimize patients' health. The gut-organ axes related to subfertility are discussed in the context of the obtained results.

Effects of Inorganic and Organic Pollutants on the Biomarkers' Response of Cerastoderma edule under Temperature Scenarios.

Currently, there is increased chemical pollution, and climate change is a major concern to scientific, political and social communities globally. Marine systems are very susceptible to changes, and considering the ecological and economic roles of bivalve species, like Cerastoderma edule, studies evaluating the effects of both stressors are of great importance. This study intends to (a) determine the toxicity of copper (Cu) and oxyfluorfen at the lethal level, considering the temperature; (b) assess the changes in the antioxidant defence enzymes as a consequence of the simultaneous exposure to chemical and warming pressures; and (c) determine if lipid peroxidation (LPO) and neurotoxic effects occur after the exposure to chemical and temperature stressors. C. edule was exposed to Cu and oxyfluorfen at different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C) for 96 h. The ecotoxicological results reveal a higher tolerance of C. edule to oxyfluorfen than to Cu, regardless of the temperature. The antioxidant defence system revealed efficiency in fighting the chemicals' action, with no significant changes in the thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS) levels to 15 °C and 20 °C. However, a significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was observed on the organisms exposed to oxyfluorfen at 20 °C, as well as a decreasing trend on the ones exposed to Cu at this temperature. Moreover, the catalase (CAT) showed a significant increase in the organisms exposed to the two highest concentrations of Cu at 15 °C and in the ones exposed to the highest concentration of oxyfluorfen at 20 °C. Looking at the temperature as a single stressor, the organisms exposed to 25 °C revealed a significant increase in the TBARS level, suggesting potential LPO and explaining the great mortality at this condition.

Evaluation of treatments with radiotherapy alone and radiotherapy plus chemo-immunotherapy in patients with primary liver cancer based on blood biomarkers.

PURPOSE: It is critical to assess primary liver cancer patients likely to benefit from radiotherapy (RT) or RT plus chemo-immunotherapy. Many potential peripheral biomarkers from blood samples have been proposed for clinical application. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate treatments with radiotherapy alone and radiotherapy plus chemo-immunotherapy in patients with unresectable primary liver cancer based on blood biomarkers. METHODS: From January, 2017, to February, 2022, 63 unresectable primary liver cancer patients receiving radiotherapy alone (RT, n = 21) or radiotherapy plus chemo-immunotherapy (RT plus C/IT, n = 42) were included in this study. We compared the clinical outcomes and adverse effects of these two groups. Also, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS), and progress-free survival (PFS) were retrospectively analyzed. Finally, univariable and multivariable Cox analyses were used to explore the prognostic role of blood biochemical biomarkers. RESULTS: In this study, 1, 2, and 3 years of OS after RT treatment were 63.9%, 27.0%, and 13.5%, and after RT plus C/IT were 68.2%, 37.0%, and 24.7%, respectively (p = 0.617). Compared with baseline, white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes were significantly decreased after RT (p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively) or RT plus C/IT therapy (p=0.135 and p<0.001, respectively). In multivariable Cox regression analyses, higher lymphocyte counts before RT (pre-Lymphocyte) were associated with better OS and PFS (HR=0.439, p=0.023; HR=0.539, p=0.053; respectively), and higher lymphocyte counts before RT (pre- Platelets) were a poor prognostic factor associated with DMFS (HR=1.013, p=0.040). Importantly, OS and PFS were significantly better for patients (pre-Lymphocyte ≥1.10 x 109/L) (p=0.006; p=0.066, respectively). The DMFS was significantly better for patients (pre-platelets < 233.5 ×109/L) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our evaluation of blood biomarkers before and after radiotherapy or plus chem-immunotherapy for primary liver cancer revealed a potential marker for clinics to decide on precise treatment strategies.

Tracking Biomarker Responses to Exercise in Hypertension.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Strong evidence is evolving that physical exercise prevents hypertension and reduces blood pressure in patients with pre- and manifest HTN. Yet, identifying and confirming the effectiveness of exercise are challenging. Herein, we discuss conventional and novel biomarkers such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) which may track responses to HTN before and after exercise. RECENT FINDINGS: Evolving data shows that improved aerobic fitness and vascular function as well as lowered oxidative stress, inflammation, and gluco-lipid toxicity are leading biomarkers considered to promote HTN, but they explain only about a half of the pathophysiology. Novel biomarkers such as EVs or microRNA are providing additional input to understand the complex mechanisms involved in exercise therapy for HTN patients. Conventional and novel biomarkers are needed to fully understand the integrative "cross-talk" between tissues to regulate vasculature physiology for blood pressure control. These biomarker studies will lead to more specific disease markers and the development of even more personalized therapy in this field. However, more systematic approaches and randomized controlled trials in larger cohorts are needed to assess exercise effectiveness across the day and with different exercise types.

Field study of metal concentrations and biomarker responses in resident oysters of an estuarine system in southern Brazil.

Pollutant exposure is considered an important factor responsible for the decline in marine biodiversity of Latin American coastal ecosystems. This threat has been detected in an estuarine system in southern Brazil, which prompted an investigation into the long-term biological effects of a chronic metal contamination on resident oysters from the Laguna Estuarine System (LES). Here, we present the species- and size-specific variations of biomarker responses (catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione S-transferase, and protein carbonylation) in the gills and digestive gland of Crassostrea gigas and Crassostrea gasar. In parallel, concentrations of eight metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) in soft tissues were measured. Our analyses revealed that the metal levels exhibited decreasing order in both species: Zn > Fe > Al > Cu > Mn > Cd. Except for Cu and Al, metal concentrations did not differ between oyster species. Biomarker results highlighted that C. gasar presented higher antioxidant responses, whereas C. gigas showed increased biotransformation upon exposure to LES pollutants, which varied according to the tissue. However, C. gasar showed a significant higher content of protein carbonylation but was not related to metals. In our research approach, the observation of metals presence and biomarkers-related responses are considered biologically relevant from an ecotoxicological perspective and serve as a baseline for future pollution studies in estuaries of Latin America. Finally, we recommend adopting a suite of biomarkers in both C. gasar and C. gigas, regardless their size and weight, as sentinel organisms in future regional biomonitoring studies in southern Brazil.

Earlier biomarkers in fish evidencing stress responses to metal and organic pollution along the Doce River Basin.

The Doce River Basin (DRB) represents a well-described watershed in terms of contamination by metals, especially after a major environmental disaster of a mining tailing dam failure. Despite the massive mortality of the ichthyofauna, very few studies addressed the risks to the health of wild fish exposed to complex mixtures of pollutants from multiple sources. The present study proposed to investigate earlier responses of fish for assessing the impacts of multiple sources of pollution, considering: different niches of fish and target organs; and the influence of seasonality, associated with their probable sources of pollution. To achieve that, fish were collected along the DRB, and biomarkers responses were assessed in target organs and correlated with the levels of inorganic and organic contaminants. As one of the most prominent responses, fishes from the Upper DRB showed the highest expression of the metallothionein and oxidative stress parameters which were related to the higher levels of metals in this region due to the proximity of mining activities. On the other hand, higher levels of DNA damage and increased AChE activity from fish sampled in the Mid and Lower DRB were more associated with organic contaminants, from other sources of pollution than mining residues. The integrated biomarker responses also revealed seasonal variations, with higher values in fishes from the dry season, and pelagic fish showing greater variation within the seasons. The multivariate analysis integrating suitable biomarkers with chemical data represented an adequate strategy for assessing the ecological risks in the DRB, allowing the identification of distinct spatio-temporal impacts from multiple sources of contaminants. The continued exposure of the ichthyofauna representing future risks reinforces the need for ecological restoration and the protection of the fauna from the Doce River.