Minerals and the Menstrual Cycle: Impacts on Ovulation and Endometrial Health.

The role of minerals in female fertility, particularly in relation to the menstrual cycle, presents a complex area of study that underscores the interplay between nutrition and reproductive health. This narrative review aims to elucidate the impacts of minerals on key aspects of the reproductive system: hormonal regulation, ovarian function and ovulation, endometrial health, and oxidative stress. Despite the attention given to specific micronutrients in relation to reproductive disorders, there is a noticeable absence of a comprehensive review focusing on the impact of minerals throughout the menstrual cycle on female fertility. This narrative review aims to address this gap by examining the influence of minerals on reproductive health. Each mineral's contribution is explored in detail to provide a clearer picture of its importance in supporting female fertility. This comprehensive analysis not only enhances our knowledge of reproductive health but also offers clinicians valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies and the recommended intake of minerals to promote female reproductive well-being, considering the menstrual cycle. This review stands as the first to offer such a detailed examination of minerals in the context of the menstrual cycle, aiming to elevate the understanding of their critical role in female fertility and reproductive health.

Aluminum, a colorful gamechanger: Uptake of an aluminum-containing food color in human cells and its implications for human health.

Aluminum is added to many food colors to change their solubility. This study compares the aluminum-containing food color carmine with its aluminum-free version carminic acid (both E 120), hypothesizing that the addition of aluminum does not only change the color's solubility, but also its effects on human cells. We could show that carmine, but not carminic acid, is taken up by gastrointestinal Caco-2 and umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Clear differences between gene expression profiles of Caco-2 cells exposed to carmine, carminic acid or control were shown. KEGG analysis revealed that carmine-specific genes suppress oxidative phosphorylation, and showed that this suppression is associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson disease. Furthermore, carmine, but not carminic acid, increased proliferation of Caco-2 cells. Our findings show that a food color containing aluminum induces different cellular effects compared to its aluminum-free form, which is currently not considered in EU legislation.

Noncanonical atherosclerosis as the driving force in tricuspid aortic valve associated aneurysms - A trace collection.

Pathogenic mechanisms in degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) are still unclear. There is an ongoing debate about whether TAAs are caused by uniform or distinct processes, which would obviously have a major impact on future treatment strategies. Clearly, the ultimate outcome of TAA subgroups associated with a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) or a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the same, namely a TAA. Based on results from our own and others' studies, we decided to compare the different TAAs (TAV and BAV) and controls using a broad array of analyses, i.e., metabolomic analyses, gene expression profiling, protein expression analyses, histological characterization, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging. Central findings of the present study are the presence of noncanonical atherosclerosis, pathological accumulation of macrophages, and disturbances of lipid metabolism in the aortic media. Moreover, we have also found that lipid metabolism is impaired systemically. Importantly, all of the above-described phenotypes are characteristic for TAV-TAA only, and not for BAV-TAA. In summary, our results suggest different modes of pathogenesis in TAV- and BAV-associated aneurysms. Intimal atherosclerotic changes play a more central role in TAV-TAA formation than previously thought, particularly as the observed alterations do not follow classical patterns. Atherosclerotic alterations are not limited to the intima but also affect and alter the TAV-TAA media. Further studies are needed to i) clarify patho-relevant intima-media interconnections, ii) define the origin of the systemic alteration of lipid metabolism, and iii) to define valid biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease progression, and successful treatments in TAV-TAAs.

Low-entry-barrier point-of-care testing of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the population of Upper Austria from December 2020 until April 2021-a feasible surveillance strategy for post-pandemic monitoring?

Already at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, an extensive PCR and antigen testing strategy was considered necessary and subsequently also proved successful in order to limit the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on international and national levels. However, equally important will be the continuous monitoring of the seroprevalence status of populations from defined regions to detect-in a timely manner-any recurrence of infections or an eventual decline in antibody levels of vaccinated individuals, especially in the emerging post-pandemic situation. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies in the federal state of Upper Austria (Austria) during the period of December 2020 until April 2021. To achieve this goal, we have analyzed anonymized data on the immune status of self-referral volunteers that have been determined at local pharmacies through a low-entry-barrier point-of-care analysis approach. The seroprevalence values for immunoglobulin type G antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 antigens obtained by rapid diagnostic testing on peripheral blood from volunteers reflect the current population-based estimates reported in the literature as well as the positivity rates detected by PCR-screening analyses. In conclusion, broad-based monitoring of IgG antibodies by means of a point-of-care testing network represents a valuable tool to assess the current immune situation within regionally defined populations.